posterity The conquest of Dublin being speedily and most happily atchieued not long after Dermot Mac Murgh Father in law to the Earle whom the Irish for his affection to the English call Dermot Ningall that is Dermot the Strangers friend breathed his last at Fernys dying plenus dierum 59 The fame of these successes wafting ouer the Irish seas and comming to the King made him resolue to passe in person thither that he might haue the honor of the Conquest and not approuing such forwardnes in the Earle who as some say went against his expresse commandement and indeed Giraldus who liued at that time cals his leaue no better then an Ironicall leaue and for that hee knew not to what insolency such faire fortune might in time allure as also for that they seemed to handle the Natiues too rigorously thereupon hee forbids by his Proclamations any vessell to carry any thing out of his Dominions into Ireland and commands all English to returne before Easter and leaue off their attempts or their estates in England should be seised for the King By which Edict these affaires were brought into fearefull extremity which was changed into better condition by the trauell of Herucius de Monte Marisco on the behalfe of the Earle and the aduenturers who finding the King in Glocestershire with an Army for Ireland appeased his displeasure vpon these termes That the King should haue the head City of the Kingdom Dublin with the adiacent Cantreds with all the Coast townes and Castles the rest to remaine to the Conquerours to hold of the King and of his Heires and so to bee vnder his protection as Subiects ought and as they were before which subiection it seemed to the King they ment to haue renounced 60 The Kings goodly Nauy lay in Milford hauen to which as hee iournied hee thundred against the Welsh Nobility comming to entertaine him for suffering Strongbow to depart At last being imbarkt he had a faire Gale which set him safe in Ireland with all his Forces at Waterford where first hee commits to prison Robert Fitz-Stephen whom the Citizens presented bound hauing held him in custody vnder color of doing good seruice because hee had entred Ireland without the Kings particular leaue yet soon after the King released him but depriued him of Weisford and the territories Then takes he the homages of such petty Kings and principall persons of the Irish as repaired dismissing them in honourable sort meaning to winne them by gentle and not exasperating courses and marching through Ossyrie to Dublin he takes ô Rotherick the King of Connaughts homage by Hugh Lacie and William Fitz-Aldelm last ly at Dublin he kept his Christmas in Royall state which to behold very many of the Irish Princes came thither 61 Mindfull now of his duty to God the Iland being calme and silent through the presence of such a mighty Monarch the most noble King of England and triumphator of Ireland as mine Author stileth him causeth a Synode to be holden at Cassils for reformation of the Irish Church where amongst sundry other constitutions to which the Irish Clergy did willingly submit it was decreed That all the Church-lands and their possessions should be altogether free from the exaction of secular men that from thenceforth all Diuine things should be handled in euery part of Ireland in such sort as the Church of England handleth them For saith the Constitution it is most iust and meete that as Ireland hath by Gods mercy obtained a Lord and King out of England so also that from thence they should receiue a better forme of life and maners then heretofore they vsed 62 The King continuing his politicke iealousies and thinking Strongbow to be as yet too great draws from his dependency Raimund Milo Cogan William Makarel and other of the best Captaines makes them his owne by bounty But before hee could fully establish that Kingdome the inseparable euil fate thereof which would neuer suffer it to enioy the blessed benefite of exact ciuility other affaires which he esteemed more necessary call him away and therefore hauing left Hugh Lacie at Dublin hee sets saile for England vpon Easter Monday and landed happily at Saint Dauids in Pembrookeshire from whence with all speed hee posteth into Normandie 63 In Normandy there attended for his arriuall two Cardinals sent as Legates at his owne request for taking his purgation concerning the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury whereof vpon oath that hee was no way consenting to that cruell and sacrilegious reuenge and declaring withall his infinite sorrow for hauing in his anger giuen occasion by rash words for others to doe that deede and giuing further oath to performe enioined penances he was by them absolued The condition of his absolutions were That hee should at his owne charge maintaine two hundreth Souldiers for an whole yeere for defence of the holy land That he should suffer Appeales to be made freely That hee should reuoke all customes introduced to the preiudice of the Churches liberty That he should restore and make vp the possessions of the Church of Canterbury That hee should freely receiue all such as were in banishment for Beckets cause c. Not long after Thomas was canonized by Pope Alexander and so not onely the victorie clearely giuen him against King Henry but a triumph also 64 Now beganne the wombe of rebellion and vnnaturall conspiracies to disclose the mischiefes which were ordained to exercise this right redoubted King and Warriour â—…hatched here at home by the malice some say of Eleanor his Queene at such time as hee was absent in Ireland so that as one writes God stirred vp the Kings owne bowells against himselfe Causes of this vnhappie dissention there were many First a Queene and Wife violentlie vindicatiue for wrong done vnto her Bed by the King who was immoderatlie addicted to varietie of loues then Ambition in an euill-naturd Child and lastlie pernicious Actors and instruments who for their owne ends nourished this cursed mischiefe so as if we should out of our stories recapitulate the seuerall occasions taken by the sonne against the father wee should rather shew you the colours then the causes For none of those causes which his Son pretended seemed great enough with men that feare God to beare out such continuall diuisions as followed 65 The head of this conspiracy was verie great and iustly verie terrible for on the side of King Henry the sonne there were the Kings of France and Scotland Richard and Geffrey two yonger sonnes of the King of England whom by their mothers perswasions they forsooke to follow the yongue King Dauid the Scotish Kings brother Philip Earle of Flanders a Peere of France and a potent Prince Matthew Earle of Boloigne Theobald Earle of Blois Hugh Earle of Chester Robert Earle of Leicester Hugh Bigot Earle of Norfolke Roger Mowbray and other great ones in great numbers so as nothing seemed wanting but onely a good cause which
bin twice endangered and had at both times been wonderfully preserued and while the young King by profound dissimulations plotted to bring both his Father and Brother Richard into subiection behold the hand of God by taking away the young King at Martell not farre from Linoges where his Father lay at siege gaue an end to this odious fowle and intricate contention 87 Thus was his life cut off like a Weauers threed say Authors who had by dying cut of the hope of many But whatsoeuer his life was which God thus shortned at his age of twentie and eight yeeres certainely his death was not inglorious but worthy to be set out in Tables at large as a pattern to disobedient Children for his Father refusing to visite him fearing his owne life but sending his King in signe of forgiuenes the dying Prince most humbly with flouds of teares kissing the same made a most sorrowfull confession of his sinnes and fecling death approch would needs be drawne as an vnworthy sinner out of his owne bed and laid vpon another strewed with ashes where his soule departed in a most penitent manner from his body which being related to the Father hee fell vpon the earth weeping bitterly and like another Dauid for his Absolon mourned very much O quam nefandum est saith one most grauely O how hainous a thing it is for sons to persecute the father for neither the sword of the fighter nor the hand of an enemy did auenge the fathers wrong but a feuer and a flux with excoriation of the bowels His body was buried by his own desire at Roan which yet was not done without trouble as if the factions of which hee was the cause in his life did by a kind of Fate not forsake him beeing dead for the Citizens of Mauns hauing enterred it they of Roan without menaces and the fathers expresse commandement could not obtaine it who thereupon was taken vp againe but his wife Queene Margaret was sent backe into France and his suruiuing sonnes were once againe reduced to due obedience not any enemie daring to appeare 88 Who would not haue thought that this stirring Prince should haue had opportunitie to end his daies in peace and glorie but it was otherwise ordained by God and ancient writers hold hee was principallie scourged for beeing drawne by seeming reasons of State to put off an holy enterprize the occasion whereof was laid as it were at his foote For Heraclius Patriarcke of Hierusalem drawne with the supereminent fame of King Henries wisdome valour riches and puissance trauailed from thence into England where at Clerkenwell by London in an assemblie of the States purposelie called the king made knowne to them That Pope Lucius had by ernest letters commended the lamētable state of the Holie-land and the Patriarcke Heraclius vnto him That Heraclius there present had stirred compassion and teares at the rehersall of the tragicall afflictions of the Easterne world and had brought with him for memorable signes that the suite was by common consent of the Countrey the Keies of the places of Christs Natiuitie Passion and Resurrection of Dauids Tower and of the holy Sepulchre and the humble offer of the Kingdom of Hierusalem with the Ensigne or Standard of the Kingdom as dulie belonging to him who was right heire thereunto to wit the sonne of Geffrey Earle of Aniou whose brother Fulke was king of Hierusalem 89 Neuerthelesse the King hauing at leftwise formally adiured the Lords to aduise him that which should bee most for his soules health it was thought fit to aid the cause with money but not to emploie his person northe person of any child hee had which was the Patriarcks last request and therupon to the vnspeakable griefe of the said Patriarcke and of the whole Christianitie of the East hee refused the said Kingdome and abandoned as noble an occasion of immortall renowne as euer any King of England had beene offered but gaue leaue to all such as would to take vpon them the Crosse and serue This Heraclius is hee who dedicated the Temple Church in London as by this Inscription ouer the Church doore in the Stone-worke doth appeare ANNO AB INCARNATIONE DOMINI M. C. LXXXV DEDICATA HEC ECCLESIA IN HONOREM BEATE MARIE A DNO ERACLIO DEI GRATIA SANCTE RESVRRECTIONIS ECCLESIE PATRIARCHA II IDVS FEBRVARII Q i EAM ANNATIM PETENTIBVS DE INIVNCTA Si PENITENTIA LX DIES INDVLSIT 90 Thus the sorrowfull Patriarcke being dismissed not forgetting as some doe write to thunder against the King for abandoning the cause brought back nothing but discomfort and despaire the Westerne Princes by the Diuels malicious Arts beeing wrapt and knotted in mutuall suspitions and quarrells indetermined whereupon shortly after ensued with the losse of Ierusalem the captiuity of Guido King thereof and of innumerable Christians besides whom Sultan Saladin Prince of the Musulmans or Saracens to the griefe and disgrace of all the Christian world did vanquish 91 But King Henries mind was more fixed on setling the state of his already-possessed Kingdomes and therefore in a great Parlament held at Oxford vnto which came Rhesus and Dauid Kings of South-Wales and North-Wales with other their chiefe Nobles which al did there sweare fealtie to the King he beeing desirous to aduance his sonne Iohn whom he exceedingly loued and commonly in sport hee called Sans-terrae hauing assured vpon him certaine Lands and Rents in England and Normandie did there verie solemnly giue him also the title Kingdome of Ireland for besides the foresaid Bull of Pope Adrian the fourth who for signe of inuestiture had also sent a ring of gold which were laid vp in the Records at Winchester Giraldus who liued in that age tells vs to omitte what hee writes of one Gurguntius that Guillomar King of Ireland was tributarie to the famous Arthur that Baion whence saith hee the Irish came was at that present vnder King Henrie the second and that the Irish Princes had voluntarily submitted themselues as vnto him who by the * Law of a Sociall warre was become their Soueraigne But that Author had not seene belike or did not remember when thus he went about to prooue a legall right in the King what others write of Egfrides vngodly spoiles in Ireland or of Edgars Charter in which is said to bee contained that he had vnder his rule the chiefe City of Ireland Dublin and the greatest part of the kingdome also But King Henrie strengthening his other rights with Grants of the Popes Adrian and Alexander obtained also of Vrban the third for Luciue the third who was Alexanders successor would not gratifie the the King therein that it should bee lawfull for him to crowne which of his sonnes hee would King of Ireland to whom hee sent a crowne of Feathers wouen with gold in all their Grants reseruing to the Roman See the Peters pence and
the same estate as in which King Richard found it 40 But the King of England though hee had very far excelled all the Christian Princes in great exploites at that iourney because* he had neither conquered Salaadine nor Ierusalem did mourne and parted pensiue In the holy-land hee left Henry Earle of Champaine who vpon taking the said Baruck was to haue beene crowned King of Ierusalem which Guido had resigned and hee left Guydo de Lusignian the late King of Ierusalem in Cyprus to whom hee had passed it in exchange for the other to aduance his Kinseman the said Earle of Champain which vpon that Title the familie of Lusinian for many descents after did possesse and enioy Thus Richard hauing ordered his affairs in the East parts sets saile homeward The Queenes Berengaria his wife and Ioan his sister with the Captiue Lady Daughter of the Cypriot Emperour vnder the conduct of Stephen de Turnham hearing of the Kings most heauie fortune soiourned at Rome about sixe moneths for feare of Richards enemies afterward came safe by Marsilia in Poictou 41 God whose cause was onely pretended in this voyage of the Christians did not seeme to approue the said truce for hee scattered the English with a terrible tempest and the opportunity of Conquest was so lost that hitherto it could neuer bee regained and the King of England letting it slippe when God had almost put the same into his hands did miserably fall into his enemies hands Certainelie the name of Richard was at that time growne terrible to Saladine who had receiued diuerslosses foiles and ouerthrowes at his haudes Moreouer the Saladines whole estate being endangered by such of his own sect as reputed him a meer vsurper hee could not long withstand the double impression of the Christian Cheualrie and of his owne Allies and Countrimen as indeed not long after* he died leauing his Empire fowly but iustly distracted by ciuill confusions whereas by this Truce the crafty Turke made the world see that the powers of two so potent Monarkes had in a manner effected nothing Richard could neuer haue time to return for accōplishment of his designs for which all Christendome hath at this howre reason to bee sorrowfull and hereofhimselfe* was very sensible so that hee would oftentimes crie out that hee was not alwayes wise alluding to this occasion lost 42 But the noble King hoping to pierce with speed through Germanie in disguise tooke to him the name of Hugo a Merchant the haire of his head and beard growne very long being the fitter to conceale him but in his iourney ouer land was neere to Vienna vnhappily discouered by the profusenesse of his expenses when hee saw he could not escape them in contempt of his fortunes he put on roiall garments and refused to yeeld but onely to the Duke himselfe who came with ioy as to a prey which he sore longed for but the rascall multitude cried things worthy of themselues calling him O barbarisme Traitour and some saying stone-him some cut off his head others hang him and because the inhumanity of this vsage may be suited with rimes as rude and ragged you shall in such heare the cause of this Arch-dukes malice growing first at Accon where the Author speaking of King Richard saith He gate it soone with his great Ordinance And on the walles his Banners full high set The Kings Armes he set vp also of France And King Guyes Armes of Ierusalem well bet The Duke of Oistrich Limpold without let Set vp his Armes after aboue them all Which King Richard did cast downe from the wall 43 And though it is certaine that this Author faines not this fact for that some such matter and told by * some with more disaduantage to Richards cause is by others related yet the grauest Authors agree that next to the common enuie at his vertues the greatest pretence was the murther of the Marquesse Conrad committed at Tyre by two cursed Assasines a* certaine sect in the East liuing vnder a Senior or Ruler whom they honor as a Prophet by whom they are sent forth to murther such Princes as fauor them not promising themselues the reward of immortality by obeying him in all things though with the losse of their owne liues Of which barbarous fact Henrie the Emperour and Leopold the Arch-duke whose neer kinsman Conrad was would seeme to beleeue that Richard was the Author though therin they toucht his princely reputation and integrity * most iniuriously for that the chiefe of that sect by their owne publike * letters written with the bloud of the shel-fish called Murex wherewith Scarlet vsed to be dyed acknowledging the fact declared the true cause thereof which was a particular Act of iniustice in Conrad himselfe There wanted not sundry other pretences as in such cases is vsuall as * that Richard had entred league with Tancred King of Sicilia the Emperours enemy and that hee had thrust the Cypriot their kinsman out of the Empire and kept his onely daughter Captiue But this booty being too great for a Duke the Emperour got into his custody meaning to coine much gold and siluer out of his most vniust affliction by sharpe imprisonment which could not make him in any act or speech or gesture of his shew beneath the Maiestie of a victorious Prince and King of England 44 The dismall newes thereof flying through the world presently disclosed who were sound or vnsure sorrow and dismay was euery where among his owne His carefull mother and other his fast friends sweare the realme to be true to King Richard watch the coasts and prouide for the security of the State with singular vigilancie assuring the Cities good Townes with Bulwarkes Walles and Munition On the contrary Earle Iohn being by the cunning inueigling and suggestions of his brothers professed foes not onely put out of all hope of his releasement but also incensed against him for intending the Crowne to his Nephew Arthur entred into an vnbrotherly attempt against his Soueraigne Lord the summe whereof take in the words of Thomas Walsingham who saith that Iohn with promises allured many to him through the whole Kingdom did carefully and speedily fortifie his holds in England and passing the seas entred into league with the King of the French that he might vtterly put his Nephew Arthur Duke of Britaine from that hope which the Britaines had conceiued of his promotion The Normans giuing any way to his disloiall practises hee swears fealty to Philip King of France his brothers most mortall enemie and also that he would take to wife the Lady Alice King Philips sister though polluted by his owne Father and for that cause reiected by King Richard Out of Normandy he posts into England sollicites Peeres and people and was loyally resisted but hee not quieted so labors to stirre the Scot and Welsh to
There were also taken 200. great horse whereof seuenscore had barbs and caparisons armed with yron King Richard in his owne person did most nobly for with one speare he threw to the earth Mathew de Mummerancie Alan de Rusci and Fulke de Giseruall took them So haue we vanquished the King of France at Gysors saith the King howbeit wee haue not done the same but God and our right by vs and in this fact we did put our owne head and kingdome in hazard aboue the counsell of all that were ours Howsoeuer therefore the French or others may slubber ouer such a noble Iourney wee haue not doubted vpon so good warrant to record the same 66 The warre continuing still many vertuous men laboured to make a finall accord and the new Pope Innocentius the third hauing proclaimed a new vndertaking of the Holy-warre sends a Cardinall Deacon to attone the two mighty Kings of France and England At length Articles of peace were drawne but Richard being farre before hand was nothing hastie to conclude and therefore put it off till his returne from Poictou whether hee went to chastice his rebels though * some say hee did then conclude the peace 67 At this enteruiew or treatie Philip King of France the sower of strife though he sought peace shewed to King Richard a deed in which Earle Iohn newly yeelds himselfe Liegeman to King Philip against his brother A wonderfull thing saith Houeden that Richard should beleeue it being perhaps but a Copie of that deuice or tricke if it were a deuice which they once had iointly put vpon the same Iohn as in the end of King Henry the second you heard who thereupon forthwith disseised the Earle his brother euery where But the Earle hauing searched and learned the cause of the Kings sudden displeasures whose loue hee had before redeemed with many loiall seruices Hee sends two men of Arms to the French Court who should on his behalf in what sort soeuer defend his honour and innocency against any his accusers but there was no man found in that Court neither King nor any other who would vndertake the proofe or maintenance thereof wherupon euer afterward Richard held his brother more deare and gaue lesse credite to King Philips words 68 But now ensued the fatall accident which drew the blacke cloud of death ouer this triumphall and bright shining starre of Cheualrie the vnworthy occasion of which misaduenture makes it the more lamentable which notwithstanding for a document to the Great ones against the outrage of Auarice and Cruelty God suffered thus to fal on him Widomare Vicount of Limoges hauing found a great * horde of gold and siluer sent no small portion thereof to King Richard as chiefe Lord with which being not contented as pretending that treasure troue was wholy his by vertue of his prerogatiue royall or else misliking that the Vicount should make the partition came with a power to a Castle of the Vicounts called * Chaluz where hee supposed the Riches were the Garrison of which place offered to yeeld the same and all therein if onelie their liues and limbs might be saued but hee would not accept of any conditions bidding them defend themselues as they could for he would enter by the sword and hang them all It grieues me to thinke that such a Prince should so forget himselfe but behold the seuerity of Gods iudgement An Arbalaster or Archibalista standing vpon the wall seeing his time charged his steele bow with a square arrow or quarrell making first his praier to God That hee would direct that shot and deliuer the innocency of the besieged from oppression Whereupon discharging it as the King was * taking a view of the Castle within the danger and distance of such an Engin the King vpon hearing the bow goe off stooping with his head was mortally wounded in the left shoulder the anguish perill wherof was extremely augmented by the butcherly and vnskilfull hand of the Surgeon who hauing drawne out the wood and not the enuenomed yron mangled the arme with cruell incisions before hee could preuaile the paine whereof hastned his end 69 Concerning the name of this tragicall Archer there is so much variety as that we could willingly take that vncertainety for a warrant to silence it being loth to ennoble him with our pen it being a thing worthily punishable with vter obliuiō to haue shed though defensiuely or but casually the bloud of such a King Mathew Paris in calling him Peter Basilij seemes to allude to some ominous conceit in Basilii which with the Greeks signifies a King him Thomas Walsingham followes therein as Mathew Paris followed * another there want not * some who also giue him a third name but Houeden who deliuers this accident as all the rest of this Kings life in the most probable and fullest manner cals him Bertram de Gurdonn applying vnto him certaine verses of Lucan in commendation of his vnapalled constācy when he came before King Richard where thou maist perhaps for satisfaction of thy mind with beholding some reuenge desire to know what became of the Actor After that the Castle by continuall assaults was taken and by the Kings command none left aliue but he as being reserued perhaps to some more shamefull death the king vpon a christian magnanimity for gaue him the fact which the party without shew of dismay did neither deny nor excuse but alledged the necessity of his case and the iustice of Gods worke in it for that the king had slaine his Father and two Brothers with his owne hand being hereupon set at liberty and one hundred shillings sterling giuen him by the king Markadey Captain of the Mercenarie Rowtes after the king was dead tooke him flead him quicke then by hanging ended his life 70 King Richard feeling the approch of certaine death disposed his worldly estate thus to his brother Iohn he gaue the kingdome of England and his other dominions with three parts of his Treasure commaunding such as were present to sweare him fealty to his Nephew Otho king of Almaine he bequeathed as it seemes all his goods and chattels money excepted and the fourth part of his said tresure he gaue to his seruants and the poore And hauing thus discharged his last cares toward the world concerning his transitory state he prepared himselfe for the presence of God strengthning his soule with hartie contrition confession and participation of the holy Sacrament commanding further that when he was dead his bowels should be buried at Charro◅ among the rebellious Poictouins as those who had only deserued his worst parts but his Heart to bee enterred at Roan as the City which for her constant loialty had merited the same and his Corps in the Church of the Nunnerie at Font-Ebrard in Gascoigne at the feet of his Father
towards the Subiect obtained an oath of Fealty to himselfe in remainder in case his brother should die childlesse hauing now therefore the way to those his designs made smoother by the last Wil of King Richard and allegiance of his Nobles then attending for these courses may facilitate but not make a iust claime wee may not thinke that either hee was cold now for the accomplishment of that which so hotely hee had before pursued or so nice as to neglect a Kingdome vpon scrupulous points of Titles and Right Propinquity of Bloud pleaded for Iohn as Lineall descent for Arthur the Kings Brother being neerer then his Brothers sonne but Iohn who knew that the weaker vse to argue their Titles whiles the stronger hold the possession resolued to trie the strength of his claime by no other Law then of Armes and therefore being at time of King Richards death in those forraine parts hee makes it his first care to fasten to himselfe by present largesse and large promises of future fauours the vsuall Rhetoricke of Competitours all the Stipendiary Souldiers and other Seruitours of his deceased Brother To winne himselfe the like assurance of loue at home and to settle it it might be an vniuersall quiet he forthwith despeeded into England there to concurre with Queene Eleanor his experienced mother three of the choisest men of the State Hubert Lord Archbishop of Canterbury William Marshall a potent Peere and Geoffry Fitz-Peter the great Iusticiar by whose seuerall interests the three States of Clergy Chiualry and Commonalty might best bee eyther allured to him by fauours or awed by feare himselfe the whiles posting to Chinon where King Richards great Treasure was kept as knowing that hee should hardly get or keepe a Crowne by Forces or Friends if hee wanted Coine Crowns to winne and hold such needfull Ayders 3 The Treasurer though himselfe with his Store Castles and Fidelity thus assured to the Earle had yet a powerfull Nephew the Castellan of Angiers wholy deuoted to Duke Arthur to whose vse hee yeelded vp that City and Castle with whom also sided the Nobility of Aniou Maine and Turaine surrendring those large Territories as to their liege Lord iointly auowing it to be the Law and Custom of those Signiories that the heritage which was to accrew to the elder Brother if hee had suruiued should descend vnto his Sonne But Constance Arthurs mother no lesse desirous to be Regent to a King for her son was but twelue yeeres young then Queene Eleanor disdainefull to goe below a Dutchesse did not dare to build her high hopes on so low grounds for that such subordinate Princes as fauoured her cause might easily be corrupted by faire meanes or crushed by foule and therefore vpon newes of King Iohns successes in England for with general applause and homages hee was now proclaimed King distracted with violent and Woman-like Passions Ambition of her sonnes Right Rage for his Wrong Feare of his Safety and not the least Emulation that Queene Eleanor whose Prudence and Grace with the English had swayed exceedinglie should effect more in a wrong then her selfe in a iust cause shee flies to Turon to the French King Philip to seeke a Wolfe to whom shee might commit her Lambe to whose Protection shee wholy surrenders his Person his Cause his Countries Philip pretending as Princes vse atender care of his neighbour Princes state but meaning indeede out of so wished a prize to raise aduantage to his owne forthwith without regard of Truth or Truce sworne to King Richard reenforceth all Arthurs Cities and Castles with his French Garrisons some of which had scarse put their foot into Maunz but King Iohn was at their heeles to prouide them their last lodging sacking that Citie and demolishing it to the ground for a terror to all others which after fealty once sworne vnto him as they had done should dare to reuolt 4 Queene Eleanor who hauing setled England in Peace was now come ouer to forward her sonne in the Warres and was present at the surprising of Maunz is censured to haue too much sharpened his edge against her Nephew Arthur and his friends out of her implacable disdaine and Enuie towards Constance her Daughter in-Law and appears no lesse for the King passing thence into Aniou left there his Captaines and Forces with his mother who made Angiers participate the Fortunes of Maunz the City ruined the Citizens captiuated whiles himselfe comming to Roan was there by the hands of Walter the Archbishop in the Cathedrall Church with great pompe on Saint Marks Festiual girt with the Ducall Sword of Normandy and crowned with a Coronet of Golden Roses taking his Oath for faithfull administration in that Dukedome which was the pledge or earnest of his vnquestionable admittance to the English Diademe which euery day now expected him Neither yet may wee thinke albeit King Iohns mature experienced age his home-bred and well knowne education his reannexing of Irelands Kingdom to Englands made his person more gracious then Arthurs that yet his Agents all this while in England found no rubbs in their way before all the Earles Barons Burgesses Free-holders could bee induced to disclaime Arthurs apparant Right and to sweare fealty to King Iohn against al men liuing yea many of the English Peeres who through their last Kings absence and others conniuences had habituated in them a conceit of vncontrouled Greatnes which they miscalled Liberties and Rights vnder vayle whereof they after drew not onely vndue restraints vpon the Regaltie but also infinite calamities and massacres on the people whose good they pretended in the great Assembly at Northamton yeelded onely to sweare a Conditionall Fealty to keepe Faith and Peace to King Iohn if hee would restore to euery of them their Rights which was the first seed of disloyalties which after grew to so great a height Thus howsoeuer all domesticke difficulties ouerblowne and Queene Eleanor left in Aquitane to prouide against Forraigne King Iohn arriued at Shoreham and the next day comes to London preparing for his Coronation to bee at Westminster the morrow following being Assention day 5 Strange it was to consider if ought bee strange in State-plots how men otherwise very prudent transported once with Wordly and seemingpoliticke respects can so wilfullie cloud their Reason as to attempt those things which leaue both a present staine on their Soules and a lasting disreputation both of their Integrity and Wisedome wherein so much they glory For what else did Hubert Archbishoppe of Canterbury the man so famoused as the Pillar of the Common-wealthes stabilitie incomparable for deepe-reaching Wisedome when in that sacred and celebrious Assembly of all the States addressing for the roiall Inauguration hee added
the Papacy though pretending perhaps the Originall Charter was consumed at Lyons where the Pope causing some say his owne Conclaue to bee set on fire so haue a pretence to extort a contribution from the Prelates there in councell the fire went farther then hee meant it should they made some flourish to renew their claime of homage and pension till in a Generall Parliament the Prelates Lords and Commons seuerally and ioyntly enacted that for somuch as neither King Iohn nor any other King could bring his Realme and people to such thraldom but by common assent of Parliament the which was neuer done and that in so doing hee did against his Oath at his Coronation besides many other causes of iust exception if therefore the Pope thence forward should attempt any thing therein the King with all his Subiects should with all their Forces and powers resist the same and rather hazard all their liues and liuelyhood then endure that vsurpation If Pope Paschall in the time of King Iohns grandfather hauing with much solemnity made some graunts to the Emperour Henry and confirmed them with an Anathema with the oathes of thirteene Cardinals and with religious receyuing of the blessed Sacrament yet because such grants were thought preiudiciall to his See solemnly disclaimed his owne Act and such his doing was aproued by a Clergy Councel as pretended to be done by feare how much more iustly might King Iohns Successors and his State by such approbation of their grand Councel free themselues of those seruitudes wherewith by anothers vniust forced vnwarrantable Act they were supposed to be enfettered 55 Though the Archbishoppe were so vnkind against the Pope the Aduancer of his Fortunes as to giue by his appeale so fatall a blow to his desired Crowne yet the Pope was not so ingrace as to die in his debt as quickly hee found in another Appeale which hee made to the Pope against his Legate for that he relying on Apostolicall indulgence not onely disposed of all Spirituall dignities to such as best liked the King but also to his owne Italians and Kinsmen though absent vnknowne vnsufficient vnworthy yea and some vnborne Which Legatine Tyranny vnsufferable in a Christian State though Simon Langton the Archbishops brother and Proctor vrged earnestly before the Pope yet the Legates Agent Pandulphus so displayed both the Archbishoppes feruentnes in vsing suck eager perswasions and appellation against the Kings subiection and the Prelates auarice in their vnreasonable exactions for restitution from the King being the most benigne modest and humble Prince that his eyes euer beheld that his Holines not onely conceiued exceeding hatred against the Archbishop and his cause but sent also his Authenticke Letters for repealing the Interdict vpon restitution onely of 13000. Markes more to the Prelates the King before had voluntarily offered them 100000 and that but by equall portions of fiue yeeres payment But the King who knew the Popes pleasure before these letters came to impart it hauing found that his French affaires had sustained vnreparable impeachments by his hitherto enforced delayes entrusting his Kingdome to the Legate and Earle Marshals custody was with his Forces passed into Poictou whiles in his absence the relaxation of the Interdict after more then sixe yeeres continuance was by the Legate in a Parliament solemnly promulged where his Successes were so fortunate that it being powerfully subdued great hope was conceiued the other Prouinces would follow Whence breaking with like victories into Britaine being there at the point to giue battle to Lewis the Dolphine his euerfaithlesse Poyctouins sodainely forsooke him and made him forsake his purpose But a greater impayrement of those his hopes was the defeature of his Confederate Otho the Emperour at the renowned Battle of Bouines where King Philip stricken from his horse by the hand of Reginald Earle of Bulloigne had there with his life ended the quarrell if a faithful Souldier had not couered him with his own Body and brauely sacrificed his life to saue his Soueraignes who thereupon recouered both his footing and the victory The heauy newes whereof concurring with his Barons outrages at home droue King Iohn on deare conditions to capitulate on a fiue yeeres Truce and return to bridle them at home whose attempts hee euer found most dangerous when hee was most busied abroad For vnder a pretext of Deuotion the vsuall maske for Treachery the Barons assembling at Saint Edmunds did euery man on the high Altar seuerally sweare to renounce their sworne fealty to the King and pursue him by Armes till they had enforced his consent to the Charter of liberties formerly by the Archbishop recommēded to them Which when afterward they came in person to challenge of the King as a part of his Oath taken at his Absolution hee seeing both their forces and affections addressed for violence was enforced with gentle language and promised satisfactions to desire till after Easter mature deliberation on so important a matter in which breathing time both in pollicie hee tooke new oath of loyalty through all the land and in deuotion vndertooke the Vow and Signe of the holy Warres choosing belike to die against faithles Turks rather then to liue amongst such vnfaithfull Subiects But neither Oathes nor holy vowes then esteemed the supreme priuiledge of protection could bee sufficient Bucklers to protect against such desperate attempters who at the prefixed weeke of Easter preparing themselues not for a Conference as with their Prince but for a Battle as against some hostile power trouped together at Stanford with an Army inestimable for number whose very principall Abetter and conspirer was Stephen the Archbishoppe the more pernicious person because to hide his false entendementes most assiduous in attendance about the King And him the King selecting to send to the Barons Army who were come on as farre as Brackley not farre from the King residing now in Oxford to know the contents of their desires hee brought a Schedule of their claimed liberties with a message of their resolutions if presently hee sealed not a Charter thereof vnto them they would compell him therto by forcible entrance on all his possessions Whereat his great heart highly disdaining hee demanded why they also demanded not his Kingdome those their exactions being grounded on no colour of reason and swearing neuer to enslaue himselfe to them by such a concession hee dismissed his Archbishop to return them his peremptory answere 56 Neither were the Barons lesse resolute in performance of their vow and message appointing for Head vnto that huge and heady rout Robert Fitzwalter whom they enstyled The Marshall of Gods Army and holy Church who first assayling Northampton Castle after fifteene dayes fruitlesse fury departed to Bedford
in regard of the great enmities betweene the Pope and Emperour to depart out of England There was also strait commandement giuen to the Italian Vsurers to leaue the most pure earth of his Realme meaning that his owne people was most innocent and free from such a sinne but saith one who durst write any thing hee thought by giuing the King money which is too much vsed to iustifie the wicked they for a great part remained still as loth to forsake such fat pastures And the Legat himselfe also staied so long till the Pope by wily inducements and forged calumniations had drawne the King both to relinquish the Emperour his brother in law and to suffer the Papall Excommunication to passe here against him and money also to be gathered to his impeachment A briefe taste of all the Popes proceedings against this glorious Emperour we may take from the Nobilitie of France who when the Pope offered the Empire vnto Robert the French Kings brother in their grand Councell refused to accept it charging the Pope with the Spirit of audacious rashnesse for deposing the Emperour not conuicted of any fault and whom a Generall Councell onely ought to censure not the Pope to whom no credit ought to be giuen being his Capital Enemie For that themselues knew he was a vertuous and victorious Emperor and one who had in him more religion then the Pope had Our Legat Ottho who now at length is gone was no sooner departed but Peter of Sauoy the Queens Vncle arriued to whō the King gaue the Earldome of Richmōd and entertained otherwise most magnificently This and the like largesse to strangers drew on the King much euill will who also in fauour of his Queene procured her Vncle Bonifacius to be chosen Archbishop of Canterbury in place of Edmunde who weary of his life in England by reason that he could not redresse the Popes detestable exactions and oppressions made choise of a voluntarie Exile at Pountney in France where he died with the honour and opinion of a Saint 63 The Kings imploiments hitherto haue almost wholly been taken vp either in the impatiencie of ciuill disturbations or in the too-patient sufferance of some forraine greeuances nourished within his Kingdome which gaue him perhaps little leasure minde or meanes to pursue any transmarine designe But now better prouided with money then with men and yet not sufficiently with money he takes shippe immediatly after Easter towards Poictou where the Earle of March now husband to Queene Isabell his mother expected his arriuall Hee committed the Gouernment of the Realme in his absence to the Archbishoppe of Yorke Thirtie Hogsheads or Barrels fraught with sterling money were shipt for that seruice There also went with him Richard Earle of Cornwall who was returned with much honour out of the Holy-land not long before and seauen other Earles with about three hundreth Knights besides other souldiers To resist the English the King of France who had giuen Poictou to his brother Alfonse assembled an Armie royall of foure thousand men of Armes excellently wel appointed and about twenty thousand choise Souldiers with a thousand Carts to carrie their other necessaries King Henrie vnderstanding that the King of France lay before Frontenay a Castle belonging to the Earle of March seeking to force it by assaults sent a messenger of defiance to him as a breaker of Truce Lewis a most iust and valiant P◅ince denied that euer hee brake the truce but that the King of England by ma◅ntenance of his Rebe◅s did rather seeme to i◅ringe the Peace Neuerthelesse hee offered so as the English would not protect his enemies the Earle of March and others to giue him Poictou and a great part of Normandy in satisfaction of his Fathers Oath and moreouer to enlarge the last truce with a longer terme of yeeres These so honourable safe and profitable conditions by the practise of the Poictouines who feared the French Kings indignation would proue too heauie for them to beare if the English abandoned their cause were vnfortunately refused 64 When the French King heard hereof it repented him that he had humbled himselfe so farre telling his Lords that he neither feared his Cosen of England nor all his forces but onely that Oath for restoring of the lands in France which his father made when hee was in England This scruple did so trouble the Kings mind on the behalfe of his dead Father that hee would admit no comfort till one of his Lords told him that the King of England by putting Constantine Fitz-Arnold to death for hauing spoken some words in honour of King Lewis his Father had first broken the truce This satisfied the French That whole businesse is thus concluded by Tilius Hugh Earle of March ouercome with the pride and perswasions of his wife ◅sabel would not doe homage to Alfonse the French Kings brother for shee was a cause to draw the English thither where things thriuing on his part but meanely Hugh is constrained in the end to doe both homage and fealty vnto Alfonse This onely must be added that he did vnfaithfully prouide for his priuate safety without the knowledge of the King of England at such time as he pretended otherwise 65 This treacherie lost the King all Poictou for whereas he principally tooke care for money presuming vpon the Earle for men when it came to the point the Earle was not onely not prouided but sware by the throat of God he neuer promised any such matter and denied he had set his Seale to any writing concerning such promises and that if any such sealed writing were as the King and his brother the Earle of Cornwall affirmed their mother his wife had forged it They were now in sight of the French Host before Tailbourg in Xainctoing when this improuident expostulation was made The King of England manifestly seeing his perill and hauing by his brother Earle Richards mediation whom many of the French did greatly honour because he had by composition been a meane at his arriuall to free them from the Saracens in the holy-land raised his camp by night and retreated with much more hast then good speed Not long after this the faire Citie of Xainctes in Xainctoing vpon displeasure conceiued by the Cittizens against the King because he had giuen the same to the Lord Hugh his halfe-brother sonne to the Earle of March first contriued a perfidious reuolt so closelie that if first the said Lord Hugh and then Guy de Lusinian his elder brother had not in good time signified the danger the King and all the English had been surprized by the French There was none among all the mutable Poictouins found respectiue of honor and loyaltie but onely one called Hertold Captaine of the famous Castle of Mirabell who in great sorrow repaired to the King of England praying counsell and assistance where the King with a downecast looke gaue
owners of such bodies as were beaten to the Earth vpon the first day these are worthily reckoned chiefe The King of Bohemia the King of Maiorca Charles Earle of Alanson brother-German to King Philip the Duke of Loraine the Duke of Burbon the Earle of Flanders the Earle of Sauoy both great Princes the Dolphin of Vi◅nois sonne to Himbert the Earle of S◅erre and Hareconrt whose brother Godfrey in pitty of his house his two Nephewes being slaine with their father forsooke the King of England after this battell and returned into Grace with the French the Earles of Aumarl Neuers c. sixe Earles of Almaine beside others of great account of all sorts Vpon the second day the Grand Prior of France who with his Archbishoppe of Roan had on the behalfe of their Prince and Country put on Arms. Of the Commons in both of these blacke dayes there fell about thirty thousand and some say foure times more in this last then in the other 101 We finde not one man of honour or note slaine vpon the English side so that this victorie may safely bee accounted among the wonderfull The spoiles of the Enemies bodies and carriages King Edward gaue wholy to his well deseruing souldiers The rule of their safety they being in a most populous enemy Countrie would not permit them to vse much curtesie to others as that which might haue proued cruelty to themselues but vpon the second day they tooke many prisoners though none of great name for they were spent in the day before It pleased the conquerour to proclaime a truce now for three dayes in the Country about that the people might come in to burie their dead but the bodies of the most noble hee himselfe caused to be conueied to Monstreal and there in his March towards Calais enterred 102 Thus by Gods fauour and the vnresistable force of the English Archers who in a manner did onely fight was King Edward put into a full and peaceable possession of a perfect victory which after hee had one night onely enioyed in the Forrest of Crescie hee dislodged with his conquering hoast marched straight toward Calais which hee presently inuested hauing decreed neuer to rise with his Armie from before it till without assault hee had carried the same For which cause he entrenched and fortified his Camp on all sides built vp Sheds couered with Reed and broome and other places and offices as to dwell in and stopping all reliefe by Sea whereof hee was Master with his Nauie There commanded in Calais for the French Sir Iohn de Vienne Marshall of France and the Lord Dandreghan with a very strong Garrison who concluded like good men of war to trie all extremities rather then to surrender the Piece which was so strong that to assault the same otherwise then with famine had beene friuolous These great Captaines seeing King Edwards resolution thrust forth of the Towne for sparing of food their poorer people aboue fifteene hundreth whom hee like a true Christian Prince turned not backe vpon the Towne but releeued for Gods cause with fresh victuals and two pence sterling each permitting them freely and securely to passe through his Camp to his great glory and vndoubtedly profite also hauing their hearty prayers for his happy successe and God for pay-master and rewarder of such his Beneficence 103 Many wayes were thought vpon by king Philip to raise this obstinate siege two principall an Army of French to fight with King Edward and a diuersion by inuasion wherein the Scots their perpetuall allies were forward Both in their seuerall times were put into execution That of the Scotish inuasion was first but with such successe as well declared it was Gods will all people hauing their encreasings zeniths and declinations that the English name should now be brought to the verticall point thereof without any thing being able to resist it 104 For Dauid the second King of Scots to grasand old Crownes The Pope sending a Messenger from Auignion with an ouerture to intercede for a peace had answere that the message must bee sent to the King his father for he co◅ not meddle without commandement from him Mean while hee disposed of things without impeachment and returnes laden with honor and spoiles to Burdeaux where the winter being spent he sets forth to new aduentures Hee had in his Armie about eight thousand braue expert and well disciplined Souldiers and with them aduanceth through Perigort Limosin into the bosome of France vp to the verie gates of Burgesse in Berie the terror of his name flying before to his great aduantage Thus satisfied for the present hee wheeles about with purpose to returne by Remorantine in Blasois which hee tooke and so through the Country of Iurain Poictou and Saintoin to his chiefe City Burdeaux But Iohn King of France hasting to goe beyond his father in misfortune hauing assembled a compleat hoast followed about the City of Poictiers ouer-tooke the inuincible Prince 115 When the Armies with the ods of six to one against the English were embattelled two Cardinals sent from Pope Clement laboured as they had done before to take vp the quarrell without stroke whereunto the Prince was with reason yeelding enough but King Iohn fatally presuming on his aduantage propounded such conditions as if in a manner the Prince of Wales had already beene at his commaund which with iust indignation were reiected It came hereupon to a most bloudy triall where if euer the Prince and English gaue full experiment of their valour for after long conflict and absolute discomfiture of al the 3. French battels the least of which exceeded al the Princes nūbers the King himselfe valiantly fighting and Philip his yongest sonne who with such boldnesse and zeale defended his distressed father as it purchased vnto him the Honourable surname of Hardie were taken prisoners 116 The English whose valiancy was most conspicuous were the Earles of Warwicke Suffolke Salisburie Oxford and Stafford the Lords Cobham Spenser Audley Berkley Basset c. of Gascoigne subiects to the Crowne of England the Capitall de Beuf the Lord Pumier Chaumont with others of lower title but not of vnequall valour Iames Lord Audley wanne immortall renowne at this bloudy battell where hee receiued many wounds and shared the Princes gift of 500. Markes land in Fee simple to his foure Esquiers who had continued with him in all the brunt and fury of danger It is the misfortune or glory of the French Nobles that in all great battels the losse fals heauily vpon them In this most disasterous ouerthrow there fell fifty and two Lords about seuenteene hundreth Knights Esquiers and Gentlemen bearing coates of Armes The chiefe Lords were Peter of Bourbon Duke of Athens high Constable of France Iohn Clermont Marshall George of Charney Lord great Chamberlaine c. and as many other
Saint Georges-bridge to goe whither they would Guy de Boutellier who was Captaine generall of Rouen became King Henries leigeman vnto whom he gaue all his lands and a charge vnder the Duke of Gloucester Immediately after the rendering of Rouen sundry other places of note yeelded themselues as Caudebec Monstreuillier Diepe Feschamp Arques Neufchastell Deincourt Eu Moncheaux Vernon Mante Gorney Harflewr Ponteur-de-Mer Mollineaux le Treict Tancaruille Abrechier Mauleurier Valemont Neufuille Bellaucombre Fontaines Le Boure Preaux Nougonder-uille Logempree Saint Germain Sur Cuylly Baudemont Bray Villeterre Charles-Maisnill Les Boules Guillen court Fanifontaines Le Becque Crepin Backeuille and diuers other places wherein Henry placed his Garrisons France generally troubled and trembling at the losse especially of Rouen Henrie ready to pierce forward and Charles declining through his infirmities encreasing the Duke of Burgogne who bare all the sway vnder that infirme King and therefore much hated by the Daulphin whose reuenge he feared much doubting Henries rising fortunes held it best to vphold his own greatnes by mediating a peace betwixt the two Kings For which end he sent his Ambassadours to Henry praying personall Conference to which he assented and assigned the place which was at Melun where in a field well trenched and ramparted with strong Gates two pauillions were arreard the one for the Kings to repose themselues in and the other for their counsell to consult in 58 Charles Isabell Burgogne and Katherine the Count Saint Paul with a thousand horse garding them thether came first King Henry with his brothers of Clarence and Gloucester attended vpon with a thousand horse held the appointment and now met the two Kings embraced each others Henry kissed Isabell and Katherine who indeed became a precious pearle in his eye Burgogne a little bending his knee did his reuerence to Henry who tooke him in his Armes and the two nations though mortall enemies demeaned themselues so ciuilly as no cause of quarrell was offered on either side much conference passed but nothing concluded Henries demands seeming to the French to bee so vnreasonable The treaty thus dissolued and all ready to depart King Henry not well pleased spake thus vnto Burgogne Cosen I may not wel digest this refusall but be you assured that either I will haue your Kings daughter and all my demands or else I will banish both you and the cut of France You speake your pleasure said the Duke but before you shall thrust the King them and me out of the Realme you will be weary of the enterprize 59 The treaty thus broke and danger nothing lesse the Burgundian altogether French and in heart no friend to the English reconciled himselfe vnto the Daulphin which deed was soone after the cause of his owne death and Henry displeased with this combination quickened his thoughts full of reuenge to prosecute the warre more sharpely then heretofore the first enterprize he made was vpon Ponthois vnto which Towne the last day of Iulie hee sent three thousand foote which before the breake of day and not discouered by the Centinels set their Ladders to the Wals mounted vp crying Saint George and so opening a Port let in their Companions The Signeur de L' Isle-Adam Marshall of France and Gouernour of the Towne affrighted at the surprize fled out at another Port towards Paris after whose exam ple aboue ten thousand Inhabitants did the like so as the English without resistance were Masters of the Towne where in great riches fell to the souldiers shares When King Charles at Paris heard of the losse of Ponthois in great feare with his wife daughter Burgundy and many noblemen to be further from the fire so neere at hand went vnto Troyes in-Champagne leauing Paris vnder the Gouernment of the Count Saint Paul and Eustach de Lactre Chancellor of France whilst Henry went forward with his intended enterprizes 60 For his brother of Clarence by three weekes siedge wan the Castell Gizors by composition the Earle of Huntington sacked Preaux burnt Bretuiell Clermont and the Castell of â—…endueil and Henry himselfe besieged the Castell of Guillart and Rochguien two of the strongest holds in Normandy which vppon compositions were surrendred and further preuailed more then the French wished For the Daulphin the only man that stood for the publike defence of France was miserably poore and for want of pay could make no great shew of followers in the field whose chiefe Counsellor was the Constable Armagnac an old craftie foxe that had euer sided with Orleance against the Burgundian And now fearing least his owne esteeme should be lessened or that Burgundy should be the Archite to crosse him the wise Achitophel or rather indeed thrust forward by destinie to be the scourge and fall of France he counselled the young Daulphin to seize vpon his mothers money iewels and plate for his further supply to the publike vse which immediately he did to aduance the estate but Queen Isabell impatient of these wrongs receiued in a womanish splene studies the reuenge wholy neglecting the common cause which gaue the English surer footing in France but the Daulphin to make good what he had done leades the King in iealousy that the Queenes designes were dangerous and altogether set for the alienation of the Crowne which he weake man no sooner heard then beleeued being euer ready to take her at the worst and neuer ouergone in her loue at the best 61 These sparkes of sedition thus blowne in the Court suspitions increasing and maligners still working Queene Isabell with her sister in law the Dutchesse of Bauier were sent prisoners to Blois and from thence to Eours where they were kept with strait guard three Gentlemen in Commission to take care of their safeties till then her fauours had gone with Orleance and with him had contested euer against Burgogne but now to quit her imprisonment shee reconciled her selfe vnto him and sollicited his assistance for her deliuerance Burgogne well perceiuing how much it would aduance his part to draw the Queene to be of his faction brake vp his siege then laid before Corbeill and with certaine choise troopes repaired toward Trours from whence immediately he sent the Queene word of his comming Shee faining deuotion to the Abbey of Marmonstier seated somewhat without the Towne made it known to her keepers and they not daring to contradict so great a Princesse mistrusting no danger attended her thitherward with a competent guard as they supposed where Fosseux and Vergie two especiall men in the Dukes trust were laid in the Ambush neere vnto the Abbey and hauing notice the Queene was come to Church came to salute her and to signifie that the Burgogne was in person to attend her seruice Her keepers conceiuing their seconds were not farre off as men dismayed told the Queen of some fear that an enemie was neere at
bee guilty of the crime although he confessed to be a true seruant to the Daulphin Notwithstanding had he not appealed to the Officers of Armes King Henries iudgement of death had gone against him for the Law Military as he there alleaged forbiddeth that any man hauing his brother in Armes within his danger should afterwards put him to death for any cause or quarrell and proued himselfe to be the Kings brother in Armes for that he had in the Countermine coaped in combat with the King Thus by a quirke of Heraldry acquitted from death he was neuerthelesse retained in prison the space of nine yeeres and lastly at the winning of Castle Galliard from the English was deliuered out of most strait imprisonment to the great ioy of the French 63 This execution of Iustice on those Murtherers was a great but not the only act of K. Henry at this great Parliament of three Estates of France in Paris For therein also was the finall accord betwixt the two Kings openly acknowledged by the French King as made by his free assent and with aduise of all the Councell of France whereupon it was there also ratified by the generall states of France and sworne vnto particularly vpon the holy Euangelists by all their Nobles and Magistrates spirituall and secular who also set their seales to the Instruments thereof which were sent into England to be kept in the Kings Exchecquer at Westminster King Henries glory thus ascended to the highest verticall in France his Court was not only honoured daily both with Courtly and military shewes and pastimes but also was still frequented both with forraine Ambassadors and domesticke Commissioners whose directions depended only vpon his voluntary assigne himselfe redressing all things at his pleasure placing and displacing Officers and Gouernors causing also a new Coyne to be made called a Salute wherein were the Armes of France and the Armes of England and France quarterly stamped King Charles the while in his Palace was but for fashions sake visited and but by some of his olde seruants his Sunne was drawne so neere vnto the setting The great affaires of France thus setled as well as that vnsetled time would permit King Henry minding to Crowne his Queene in England ordained his brother of Clarence a wise valiant and a great Captaine his Lieutenant generall of France leauing also the Duke of Exeter with 500. men of warres to keep Paris and so attended with great state he came to Amiens and Callais where taking to Sea he arriued at Douer vpon the third of February and was receiued of his Subiects as an Angell from heauen or another victorious Caesar on Earth 64 All things in a readines for his faire Queens Coronation vpon the foure and twentith of the same month with all roialty the same was solemnized at Westminster and the English rich diadme set on her head The feast was great with all Princely seruices and the state such as deserueth the report for the Queene sitting at Table at the right side of her Chaire kneeled the Earle of March holding a Scepter in his hand the Earle Marshall kneeling on the left side held another and the Countesse of Kent sate vnder the Table at her right foote vpon her right hand at Table sate the Bishops of Canterbury and Winchester and vpon the left the King of Scots the Dutchesse of Yorke and the Countesse of Huntington the Nobles giuing their attendance each man according to his office and place 65 Presently after Easter in the month of May a Parliament was held at Westminster whose chiefest intent was to haue meanes to continue the Kings Conquest in France but such was the state of those lauish times that to stop the current of this melting mint some minding more the heapes of their money then the spreading abroad of Englands faire Monarchy exhibited their Bils vnto the three estates in Parliament and petitioned vnto the King to commiserate the pouerty of the commons which as they said were beggered by these warres For which cause as it seemeth no subsidy or ayde was demanded but the King againe pawning his Crowne to his vncle Beaufort the rich Cardinall for twenty thousand pound before the said month was expired with foure thousand horse and foure and twenty thousand foote returned into France to follow those warres 66 Neither was his hast more then needed for Iohn Earle of Bucquhanan and Archbald Dowglas two valiant leaders of seuen hundred resolute Scots repaired into France to ayde the Daulphin and ioining with the French in Aniou meant to haue surprized the Duke of Clarence before he had beene aware in which enterprize foure stragling Scots taken and brought to his presence as he sate at dinner reuealed the intent and strength of the Enemy whose approach was verie neere at hand This newes no soo nesty and mercy which shall crowne my memory with glory and free mee from blame and slander which in long raignes can hardly be auoided but you haue iust cause to mourne at my vntimely death and it cannot bee but a generall griefe to my people that in such an Ocean of businesse yet depending I shall leaue you and them destitute of a Prince able to gouern but your sorrow ought to be so much the lesse when you call to mind the frailty of worldly thinges and that euermore there will bee somewhat wanting which wee desire My first request vnto you shall bee this that with an vnanimous affection to aduise foresee and prouide that the counsel which I name may be followed I further ernestly entreat you to loue my Infant Henry to instruct him with your wisdomes that by your counsell care and loue hee may be made able worthy to weild so great an Empire Comfort my deare wife the most afflicted Creature liuing extend your loues vnto her in the same proportion as I haue euer loued you Touching the publike I admonish and exhort you to brotherlie concord and neuer to breake league with Philip Duke of Burgundie and if you shall thinke it good let my brother Humfrey Duke of Glocester gouerne England and not depart vpon any occasion whatsoeuer vntill my sonne Henry be of yeeres to sway the estate and my brother Iohn Duke of Bedford with the assistance of Philip Duke of Burgundy to manage the Realme of France Concerning Charles commonly called the Daulphin either he must by your swords be made to submit himselfe or else you shall neuer be in quiet and it were as good to render him the possession of what you haue wherefore sleepe not and while you haue meanes and opportunity be industrious Lastly I beseech charge and command you howsoeuer time or occasion may perswade or inuite you to the contrary that Normandy receiued by my industry and your swordes being the ancient inheritance of the Crowne of England be not alienated for any cause whatsoeuer Among other things then enioined he willed that the
the land Then our Lord God was dread loued and honoured then within the land was peace and tranquility and among neighbours concord and charity then the malice of outward enemies was mightilie resisted and repressed and the land honourably defended with many great and glorious victories then the entercourse of Merchants was largely vsed and exercised by which thinges aboue remembred the land was greatly enriched so that aswell the Merchants and Artificers as other poore people labouring for their liuings in diuers occupations had competent gaine to the sustentation of them their housholds liuing without miserable and intollerable pouerty but afterward when that such as had the rule and gouernance of this land delighting in adulation and flattery and led by sensuality and concupiscence followed the counsell of persons insolent vicious and of inordinate auarice despising the counsell of good vertuous prudent persons such as aboue bee remembred The prosperity of this land dayly decreased so that felicity was turned into misery and prosperity into aduersity and the order of policy and of the law of God and Man confounded whereby it is likely this Realme to fall into extreme misery and desolation which God defend without due prouision of couenable remedy bee had in this behalfe in all goodly hast 3 Ouer this among other things more speciall wee consider how that the time of the raigne of K. Edward the fourth late deceased after the vngracious pretensed marriage as all England hath cause so to say made betwixt the said King Edward and Elizabeth sometimes wife to Sir Iohn Gray knight late naming her selfe and many yeeres heretofore Queene of England the order of all politicke rule was peruerted the lawes of God and of Gods Church and also the lawes of nature and of England and also of the laudable customes and liberties of the same wherein euery English man is inheritor broken subuerted and contemned against all reason and iustice so that the land was ruled by selfe-will and pleasure feare and dread all manner of equity and law laide apart and despised whereof ensued many inconueniences and mischiefes as murthers extortions and oppressions namely of poore and impotent people so that no man sure of his life land or liuelyhood ne of his wife daughter nor seruant euery good maiden and woman standing in dread to bee rauished and defloured and besides this what discords inward battels effusion of Christian mens bloud and namely by the destruction of the Nobles bloud of this land was had and committed within the same it is euident and notarie through all this Realme vnto the great sorrow and heauinesse of all true Englishmen And here also wee consider how that the said pretended marriage betwixt the aboue named King Edward and Elizabeth Gray was made of great presumption without the knowing assent of the Lords of this land and also by sorcery and witchcraft committed by the said Elizabeth and her mother Iaquet Dutchesse of Bedford as the common opinion of the people and the publike voice and fame is through all this land and hereafter if the cause shall require shall be proued sufficiently in time and place conuenient And here also wee consider how that the said pretensed marriage was made priuily and secretly without edition of banes in a priuate Chamber a prophane place and not openly in the face of the Church after the law of Gods Church but contrary thereunto and the laudable custome of the Church of England And how also that at the time of contract of the same pretended marriage and before and long time after the said King Edward was and stood married and troth-plight to one Dame Elienor Butler daughter of the old Earle of Shrewsbury with whom the same Edward had made a precontract of Matrimonie long time before hee made the saide pretenced marriage with the said Elizabeth Gray in manner and forme aforesaid which Premisses being true as in very truth they beene true it appeareth and followeth euidently that the said King Edward during his life and the said Elizabeth liued together sinfully and damnably in adultery against the law of God and of his Church And therefore no maruell that the Soueraigne Lord and the head of this land being of such vngodly disposition and prouoking the ire and indignation of our Lord God such hainous mischiefe and inconueniences as are aboue remembred were vsed and committed in the Realme among the Subiects Also it appeareth euidently and followeth that all the Issue and children of the â—…id King Edward beene bastard and vnable to inherite or to claime any thing by inheritance by the law and custome of England 4 Moreouer we consider how that afterwards by the three Estates of this Realm assembled in Parliament holden at Westminster the 17. yeere of the raigne of the said King Edward the fourth hee then being in possession of the Crowne and royall estate by Act made in the same Parliament George Duke of Clarence brother to the said King Edward now deceased was conuicted and attainted of high treason as in the same Act is contained more at large by cause and reason whereof all the Issue of the saide George was and is disabled and barred of all right and claime that in any case they might haue or challenge by inheritance to the Crowne and dignity royall of this Realme by the ancient law and custome of this same Realme Ouer this wee consider that ye be the vndoubted sonne and heire of Richard late Duke of Yorke very inheritor of the sayd Crowne and dignitie royall and as in right King of England by way of inheritance and that at this time the premisses duely considered there is none other person liuing but ye only that by right may claime the said Crowne and dignitie royall by way of inheritance and how that yee be borne within this land by reason whereof as we deeme in our mindes yee be more naturally enclined to the prosperitie and common weale of the same and all the three estates of the Land haue and may haue more certaine knowledge of your birth and filiation aforesaid We consider also the great wit prudence iustice princely courage and the memorable and laudable acts in diuers battels which as wee by experience know you heretofore haue done for the saluation and defence of this same Realme and also the great noblenesse excellencie of your birth and bloud as of him that is descended of the three most royall houses in Christendome that is to say England France and Spaine Wherefore these premisses by vs diligently considered we desiring effectually the peace traquilitie and weale-publique of this Land and the reduction of the same to the ancient honourable estate and prosperitie and hauing in your great prudence iustice princely courage and excellent vertue singular confidence haue chosen in all that in vt is and by this our writing choose you High and Mightie Prince our King and Soueraigne
Edmund de la Pole Earle of Suffolke sonne to Iohn Duke of Suffolke and of Elizabeth sister to King Edward the fourth in the sixteenth yeere of King Henries raigne wilfully slew a common person in his furie Henry not sorry to haue occasion of encreasing his popularity by presenting so great a person to exemplary iustice and in the same act to blemish the honour of a man whose quality was to him suspected caused him for the same to be arraigned The fact hee was perswaded to confesse and therupon had pardon The Earle neuerthelesse as a Prince of the bloud holding himselfe disgraced by hauing been seen a Prisoner at the Kings Bench Barre fled the land discontented and went to his Aunt the Dutchesse Dowager of Burgundie but within a while after being fairely reconciled hee returned After which notwithstanding whether it were by reason of debt the certaine attendant of vaine-spirited and base-braueminded Courtiers wherinto he had deeply thrown himself for his furniture at the celebration of his cosen Prince Arthurs marriage or for that the restlesse spirit of enuie in the Dutchesse had preuailed hee taking his brother with him fledde againe the next yeere after The King who had pardoned his life seemed now to repent his clemency though it is plaine hee spared him of purpose till hee might discouer more of a conspiracy which hee knew was in hammering but his flight troubled him not a little knowing the violent humor of that Lord and remēbring to what a dangerous bloudy issue his brother the Earle of Lincolne had once already brought things at the battell of Stoke in the beginning of his raigne 67 For remedy hee betakes himselfe to his wonted arts and therefore to learne the secrets of the enemy Sir Robert Curson Knight Captaine of the Castell of Hammes by Caleis faines himselfe a friend to the Earle and flies from his charge vnto him An office vnworthy of Knighthood neither can any good spirit in the world stoope it selfe to such double faced emploiment which besides the treacherous dissimulations thereof cannot but bee accompanied with wilfull impieties For who is admitted into trust vpon a contrary side without inuocations of Gods holy name protestations adiurations oathes the vtmost assurances which man can giue to man to beget a conuenient affiance in his sincerity but by this stratagem the king ransackes the bosomes and cabinets of his aduersaries discouering their designes and hopes Whereupon William Courtney Earle of Deuonshire being most nobly descended and hauing to his wife the Lady Katherine one of the daughters of K. Edward the fourth and sister to Queene Elizabeth wife of King Henry William de la Pole brother to the said Edmund Earle of Suffolke Sir Iames Tirrel Sir Iohn Windham Knights with other were attached and committed to custodie and afterward also George Neuil Lord Abergenie and Sir Thomas Greene Knight were likewise apprehended but were soone deliuered The Earle of Deuonshire though innocent for it is the misery of such great men that their owne innocency cannot alwayes procure their owne safety but their birth-right many times and often other mens designations without their least priuity is enough to hazard them yea it is in the power of any conspirator by bare nomination to doe as much so that it concernes them to haue an eye not to their owne onely but to the behauiour also of their whole Alliances and dependancies this Earle I say though innocent remained Prisoner during this Kings life and some yeeres of his sonnes raigne who set him at liberty The other William the Earle of Suffolkes brother had not so strict an hand holden ouer him But Sir Iames Tyrrell Lieutenant of Guines Castell and Sir Iohn Wyndham Welbourn seruant to Sir Iames Tyrrel Curson a Purseuant Mathew Iones yeoman and a Shipman were condemned of treason for aiding the Earle of Suffolke The two Knights were beheaded at Tower hill The Shipman quartered at Tiburne Curson and Iones suffered death at Guines 68 This so round and quicke dealing with the Earles complices and fauourers startled his shallow and raw inuentions and made their whole bulke to swarue and splinter but the King rested not so for vpon the Sunday before the feast of SS Simon and Iude in the same yeere of the said executions there was published at Pauls Crosse by the Kings procurement from Pope Alexander the sixth a Bull of Excommunication and curse against the said Earle of Suffolke Sir Robert Curson and fiue other persons by speciall name and generally all other which aided the Earle against the King to the disturbance of the Kingdome Thus did the most prudent Henrie pursue his enemies not onely with secret countermines and open weapons of Law before they could assemble to make any shew but also with spirituall lightening which doubtlesse had they beene vpon iust cause and by lawfull authoritie fulminated ought infinitely to bee dreaded of good Christians because as Saint Paul saith they deliuer ouer to Satan Sir Robert Curson was named of purpose to make the Earle secure of him which may well be called a perillous if not a prophane deuise though his Holinesse were made the instrument thereof Neither did the King leaue heere for by his letters and messengers he so preuailed with Pope Alexander as hee decreed by his Bull That no person should afterward haue priuiledge of Sanctuary who had once taken the same and come foorth againe and that if any Sanctuarie-man should afterward commit any murther robbery sacriledge treasons c. he should by lay force bee drawne thence to suffer due punishment This was of great vse to the King and preserued many subiects from precipitation for the abuse of Sanctuaries had beene an efficient of many troubles But the same Pope hauing sent Iohn Giglis his Receiuer to gather mony in England shewed himselfe much more fauourable to such as perpetrated those said hainous offences as also Vsury simony rapines adulteries or whatsoeuer offences excepting certaine offences against the Pope and Clergy c. when he sent a * Bull of pardons for money to all such offendors in England dispensing also thereby with such as kept away or by any fraud bad gotten the goods of other men which they should now retaine still without scruple of conscience so as they paid a ratable portion thereof vnto his Holinesse Receiuers Sir Robert Curson though before accursed by the Pope returnes when he saw fit time into England and withall into wonted fauour with his Soueraigne The Earle seeing himselfe thus stript of all hope to doe much harme wandred about Germany and France to finde repose but in the end quite tyred he put himselfe into the grace and protection of Philip then in Flanders who by the death of Isabella was King of Spaine in right of Ioan his wife eldest daughter of Ferdinando and Isabella where hee remained in banishment till King Phillip was
Sauage bearing her Traine * and Doctor Lee doing the rites of their coniunction who was afterwards consecrated Bishop of Chester Couentree and Lichfield and President of Wales 83 The Romanists much fearing that Babel would downe if Queene Anne might bee heard against wicked Haman sought to vnderproppethe foundations thereof with certaine deuises of their owne and that the same might passe without note of suspition they laid their forgery euen vpon Heauen it selfe whose pretended Oracle Elizabeth Barton commonly called the holy maide of Kent was made to bee and the pillers of this godlesse Fabricke were Edward Bocking a Moncke by profession and doctor of Diuinity Richard Masters Parson of Aldington the Town wherein she dwelt Richard Deering a Monke Hugh Rich a Frier Iohn Adestone and Thomas Abell Priests put to their helping handes and Henrie Gould Bachelour of Diuinity with Iohn Fisher the Reuerend father of Rochester imploied their paines to daube these downe-falling walles with their vntempered Morter The Scribes that set their pens for her Miracles were Edward Thwaites Gentleman and Thomas Lawrence Register besides Hankherst a Monke who writte a letter that was forged to bee sent her from Heauen and Richard Risby and Thomas Gould were the men which dispersed her Miracles abroad to the world This holy maide Elizabeth made a Votarisse in Canterbury was taught by Bocking her Ghostly Father and suspected Paramour to counterfeit many fayned trances and in the same to vtter many vertuous words for the rebuke of sinne vnder which more freely shee was heard against Luthers Doctrine and the Scriptures translation then desired of many neither so onely but that shee gaue foorth from God and his Saints by sundry suggestiue Reuelations that if the King proceeded in his diuorce and second marriage he should not raigne in his Realme one moneth after nor rest in Gods fauour the space of an houre But the truth discouered by Gods true Ministers this Oracle gaue place as all other such did when Christ by his death stopped their lying mouthes for her selfe and seuen of her Disciples were executed for Treason at Tiborne and the other sixe put to their fines and imprisonment With the like counterfeit reuelations and fained predictions this Generation of Hypocrites had brought Edward Lord Stafford Duke of Buckingham vnto his vnhappy ende when as by the working of Iohn de la Court his own Confessor together with Nicolas Hopkins a Monke of the Carthusian Order in the Priorie of Henton in Somersetshire who by his visions from heauen forsooth heartned him for the Crown but before his owne Coronet could aspire to that toppe hee worthily lost both head and all vpon Tower-hill for his treason Ann. Dom. 1521. Vnto such sinnes the world was then subiect and into such conceites their reputed holines had brought them not onely among the simple and vnlettered but euen with them that seemed to bee learned indeed for by certaine predictions foreshewing a great deluge Prior Bolton of Saint Bartholmewes in London was so fearefull that hee built him a house vpon the height of Harrow hill storing it with prouisions necessary to keepe himselfe from drowning in A. D. 1524. 84 But the Popes Holinesse fearing the euent of the game if euery man might set and cast at his Crowne thought it high time to lay hand on his own State and to keepe what was left lestal would bee gone to which end he sollicited many Christian Princes to stand on his part and among them sent his Brief vnto Iames the fift king of Scotland desiring his assistance against King Henry of England whom in his Consistory hee had pronounced to bee an Heretike a Schismatike a manifest Adulterer a publike murtherer a committer of Sacrilege a Rebell and conuict of Laesae Maiestatis for that hee had risen against him who was his Lord. And therefore he had iustly depriued him of his said Kingdom and would dispose the same to him and other Princes so as they would assist to recouer the same a very good prouision and very well foreseene for notwithstanding these boisterous blasts from Rome the King kept his Crowne and was rather feared of the Popes best Abetters then did feare any potent power that the world could afford whose thoughts were now busied for the Coronation of his Queen 85 For Queene Anne conceiued and perceiued with Child her royall Coronation was forthwith prepared which with all royall obseruances vpon the first of Iune being Whitsunday was performed and the seuenth of September following shee bare into the world that excellent Princesse which afterwardes proued the mirrour of the world euen Lady ELIZABETH our late and most famous Queene 86 True it is that the zealous conuersation of this godly Queene gaue great encouragements vnto many more publikely with boldnes to professe the Gospell so that the Ministers formerly fled in case of Religion returned againe into England where the new Testament translated by Tyndall was read but with such dislikes to the Bishoppes that they got it to be burnt Notwithstanding to tickle the Kings eare they preached against the Popes supremacy and tooke the oath for the King themselues abolished his authority by Act of Parliament and suppressed many Monasteries leauing their reuenewes to the Kings will faire introductions indeed for what they intended as the sequell of the sixe Articles by them procured doth manifestly shew and those purposely made against the maintainers of the Gospell whereof Queen Anne was the chiefe who first was most fauourable to those learned Diuines that laide mans saluation vpon the Rocke Christ next in procuring a tolleration from the king for them whose doctrine did daily vndermine the Papall foundation lastly she by no means would consent to marry the King vntill a lawfull diuorce was had for his separation from Lady Katherine his brother Arthurs wife which thing this Pope greatly withstood these were causes sufficient to moue his Holinesse to bend his brow and by his Instruments in Court to cutte off the principal mouer who foreslowing no time tooke the Ball before his rebound 87 For the Queene deliuered of a dead Child and the Kings affection wandring elsewhere gaue them occasion to worke on that Subiect which God in his wisdome would haue downe lest his deliuerance from the bondage of darkenesse should be attributed to any fleshly arme or that shee who then sate in the throne of the worlds full felicity should fixe her senses on so fickle a Center who hauing had experience what it was to bee a Prince must henceforth practise the patience of a poore prisoner which in the third yeere of her marriage and second of May to act the wofull Scene of her Tragedy shee came vpon the Stage being sent to the Tower of London and charged with high Treason against the King at whose first entrance shee fell on her knees before
of the battels Iâ—… Stow. A mistaking of the soulâ—…ieis which was the losse of the field Great Warwickâ—… slaine in fight Marques Montacute slaine in battell Nobles and others slaine at Barnet field Edw. Hast. Ioh. Stow. Rob. Fabian saith 1500. The Duke of Sommerset and the Faile of Oxford fled into Wales Rich. Grast Edward triumpheth and oâ—…eth his banner in S. Pauls Queene Margaret with Prince Edward landed at Weyâ—… The Lords comfort Queene Margaret Queenâ—… Margarets care for Prince Edward her sonne The opinions of the Lords King Edward prepareth against Queenâ—… Margaret King Henry committed to the Tower of London The ordering of Queene Margarets battels The ordering of K. Edwards battels The battell at Tewkesbury Edw. Hall This battell was fought vpon Saturday the 4. of May the 11. of K. Edwards raigne and yeere of Christ 1471. L. Wenlocke slain for not following Sommerset Lords slaine at Tewkesbury Prince Edward apprehended The Duke of Sommerset and others executed Prince Edward apprehended and 〈◊〉 answers Prince Edward most shamefully slaine Queene Margaret taken out of her Sanctuary The Northerne men submit vnto K. Edward Bastard Fanconbridge Captaine of the Lancastri Fauonbridge assaileth London The Citizens withstood his â—…ance Fauconbridge forced backe to his shipâ—… K. Edward with his Captiue Queene Margaret enter London King Henry â—…urthered in the Tower by Richard Duke of Glocester K. Henry carried bare-faced through the streetes of London Stowes Annals K. Henry bâ—…ied 〈◊〉 Chertsey and 〈◊〉 to Windsor The 〈◊〉 of K. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The vertues of K. Henry Holinshed Camb. Brit. in descript of Surrey Kings Colledge in Cambridge and Eaton in Barkshire found 〈◊〉 by K. Henry Queen Margaret ransoâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bastard Fauconbridge with his vnruly crew yeeld to King Edward Bastard Fauconbridge pardoned of life and rewarded with Knighthood Rob. Fabian Bastard Fauconbridge beheaded A. D. 1472. Henry of Richmond fled into Britaine The storie of Iohn Earle of Oxford Waters brake out of the Earth Iohn Stow. Annals The Earle of Oxford sent prisoner into France The hard and inhumane vsage of the Countesse of Oxford The storie of Lord Henry Holland Duke of Excester Phil. Comines lib. 3. cap. 4. Ed. Hall The vnlouing parts of an vnlouing wiâ—…e Ioh. Sâ—…w The Lord Henrie supposed to haue been drowned The Archbishop of Yorkes goods seized vpon K. Edward sends into Britaine to recouer Richmond and Pembrooke K. Edward abrogates King Henries lawes Burgundie sends for aid into England against France A. D. 1474. K. Edwards expedition into France Phil. Comines lib. 4. cap. 5. The great preparation of King Edward King Edwards 〈◊〉 Lewis his conference with the English Herald Lewis his conference with the English Herald K. Lewis moneth Gartar to be a meanes for peace Phil. Com. lib. 4. cap. 7. A counterfeit Herald sent to K. Edward The Heralds perswasions An English Herald sent to King Lewis The Duke of Burgundy commeth to the King Edw. Hall â—…ol 231. Burgundies hot speech vnto K. Edward K Edwards reply to his brother of Burgundy Burgundy departeth displeased from King Edward The conference for peace 〈◊〉 Amiens Coâ—…ioners for peace Conditions of the peace Lewis his liberality for â—…oy of the peace Ph. Com. l. 4. c. 9. The kings of England and France dâ—… to see each others 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 place of the kings A. D. 1475. Aug. 29. The 〈◊〉 of the two kings The Kings swear the league K. Lewis loth that Edward should visite Paris A. D. 1475. Sept. 2â—… Henry Earle of Richmond â—…ught after by K. Edward An intent pretended which asâ—…r came to passe Ralph Holinsh. pag. 701. Henry â—…arle of Richmond taketh Sanctuary The English Ambassador complaineth to the Duke of Britaine His Answere Sir Tho. Moore King Edward beloued of his subiects and loueth his subiects Io. Stow. K. Edward sent for the Maior and Aldermen of London to his huntings K. Edward somwhat licention slie giuen K. Edwards three Concubines Thomas Burdet accused of treason Engâ—… Register of Gray-Friers Lâ—…don The story of George Duke of Clarence Tâ—… attainder of the Duke of Clarence Iohn Stow. A. D. 1478. Rich. Graft A false prophecie of G. E. Phil. Comin lib. 4. cap. 10. The Duke of Clarence is suiter vnto Marie the daughter of Burgundie Io. Serres Clarnce imprisoned by his brother King Edward George Duke of Claâ—…ce condemned by Parliament And drowned in a But of malmesay K. Edwards â—…pentance for his brothers death The Duke of Clarence his issue Edward and Margaret the children of Clarence beheaded King Edward deceiued in King Lewis 〈◊〉 Serres Lady Elizabeth called 〈◊〉 the Daulphin A. D. 1480. Io. Lesâ—… Lady Cicely motioned in matriage vnto 〈◊〉 Prince of Scotland Lewis King of France interposeth the contract betwixt Prince Iames and Ladie Margaret Iames King of Scotland much â—…dded to his 〈◊〉 will Alexander Duke of Albanie banished Scotland Iohn Earle of Marre bled to death K. Iames threatneth warre against England Richard Duke of Glocester made the Kings Lieutenant against Scotland The Duke of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scotland 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 Holinsh. p. 707. Phil. Comines lib. 6. chap. 2. and 9. King Lewis dallâ—…th with King Edward King Edward vvould not beleeue vvhat was confidently tolde him A 〈◊〉 pretâ—… ded against France King Edward falleth â—…ke Thom. More King Edwards speeches at his death The perils of discord Tender youth is 〈◊〉 infected Great variance for small causes King Edwards good counsell What the nature of ambition is King Edwards vsuall oath King Edwards last request The raigne and death of King Edward Phil. Com. lib. 4 cap. 10. King Edward described Ph. Com. l. 6. c. 2. 〈◊〉 A. D. 1478. Stow. Edward 5. Monarch 55 King Edwards raigne vnfortunate and 〈◊〉 Aprill 19. A. D. 1483. Richard Duke of Yorke Richard Duke of Gloucester an vnnaturall vncle vnto the young King and his brother Richard Duke of Yorke was the father of Richard Duke of Glocester Women commonly maligne their husbands 〈◊〉 The description of Richard Duke of Glocester Richard Crooke-backe a good souldier He vvas the cause of Clorence his death Richard of Gloucester intended to be King eâ—…en whiles K. Edward liued The speech of Pottier at King Edwards death The vncle contriueth the destruction of his Nephewes Richards deepe pollicy King Edwards care to set peace betwixt the Queenes kindred and his The Queenes iealousie against the Lord Câ—…berlaine King Edward repaireth towards London The Queenes kindred only about the Prince The Duke seeketh to displace the Prince The crafty complaints of Richard Duke of Gloucester The effect that his pollicy took The conclusion of his designes Another crafty pollicy of Duke Richard The Queene yeldeth to the Dukes perswasion The Lords meet at Northampton The Keyes of the Inne kept by Richard Duke of Glaucester The L. Riuers much troubled at the sodaine action The L. Riuers imprisoned in Northampton The Dukes come to the King A quarrell picked in the kings presence Accusations against the Queens kindred
Saint Denisse which her selfe had caused to bee built EDVVARD SVRNAMED THE MARTYR THE THIRTIE ONE MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN HIS RAIGNE AND DEATH CHAPTER XLIII GReat were the troubles sidings that presently ensued the death of King Edgar about the election of one of his sons to succeed Queene Elfrida with Alferus Duke of Mercia and many other Nobles combined for young Ethelred disauowing Prince Edward as illegitimate and therfore not reputable for succession against them and Ethelred stood Dunstan and the Monkes holding their states dangerous their new-gotten footing vnsure if in the nonage of the King these their opposites should rule all vnder him whereas Edward was altogether wrought in their mould whose title they abetted as being lawfully borne and begot in the nuptiall bed of Queene Ethelfleda Their claimes thus banded amongst these States-men began to be diuersly affected among the Commons and had put the game to the hazard if the wisedome of Dunstan had not seene to the chase for a Councell being assembled to argue their rights the Archbishop came in with his banner and crosse and not staying for further debating de iure did de facto present Prince Edward for their lawfull King and the assembly consisting most of Clergy-men perswading peace drew the approbation of the rest and so was the Prince admitted and proclaimed their Soueraigne 2 He beganne his raigne at twelue yeares of age in the yeare of Saluation 975 and was soone after by Archbishop Dunstan crowned King at Kingston vpon Thamesis being the thirtie one Monarch since Hengist of the Englishmen His beginning was miserably afflicted with barrennesse of the ground 〈◊〉 mine amongst his people morraiâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their further terrour a fearefullâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which men thought to bee signes from heauen as sent from God for the sinnes committed against the married Clergy whose cause was much pittied especially of the Nobles whose complaints of wrongs they instantly vrged that without deserts they were expulsed from their ancient possessions a thing which neither God nor goodmen euer allowed and was contrary to the prescript rule of Christ that wils vs to doe as wee would be done vnto whereto the Monkes answered that Christ respected neither the person nor place but onely them that tooke vp the Crosse of Penance and followed him as themselues in their single life pretended to doe But they good men little knew the incumbrances of wiuing for otherwise they would haue felt that the condition of the married was more truly a suffering of the Crosse and enduring of Penance 3 These Church men thus diuided and rent were diuersly sided as affection did moue and that not onely of the meaner sort but euen of the Nobles great Ones for the Mercian Duke Alferus fauouring the iust cause of married Priests destroied the Monasteries in his Prouince cast out the Monkes and restored againe the ancient reuenewes to them their wiues contrariwise in East-Anglia the Priests went to wracke where the Monks were maintained by the authority of Edelwin their Duke who in their quarrell with the assistance of his brother Alfred and of Brightuoth Earle of Essex raised a mighty Army and stood with that power for their defence 4 The fire thus blown from a sparke to a flame was feared to mount higher if not quenched in time and therefore by mediation armes laid aside the cause was referred to be heard in Councel at Winchester first the assembly was held where after long dispâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…ch against the Monkes it was greatly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ide had 〈◊〉 â—…own 〈◊〉 â—…at the matâ—… vpon the refectorie Wall where the Councell sate To this great Oracle S. Dunstan desired them deuoutely to pray and to giue diligent eare for an answere who with as great bounty as they in deuotion made it not squemish to giue them this aduice God forbid it should be so God forbid it should be so said he you iudged well once and to change that againe is not good This was authority sufficient to suppresse the Priests who now with their wiues went downe the wind and indeed too blame they were to suspect this their Iudge who neuer was heard to giue wrong sentence before but they vnsatisfied men thought once more to blow the coale though therewith they were likely to burne their owne lips for perswading the people that this was but a subtile practise of the Monks in placing behind the wall a man of their owne who through a truncke vttered those words in the mouth of the Roode it was therfore instantly desired that the cause might once more come to scanning 5 This lastly was granted and a great assembly congregated at Cleue in Wiltshire whither repaired the Prelates with most of the States of the land besides Gentlemen and Commons an innumerable sort This Synode being set and the controuersie propounded a hote and sharpe disputation ensued and a while was maintained with many bitter inuectiues ill beseeming such persons But whether through the weakenesse of the foundation or the ouer-presse of weight or both the ioysts of this vpper-loft wherein the Councell was held suddainly brake and down fell the floore with all the people thereon whereof many were hurt and some slaine outright onely Archbishop Dunstan then President and mouth for the Monkes remained vnhurt for the Post whereon his chaire was set and not without miracle stood wholy vntouched Thus by this fall fel the cause of the secular Priests and the Monkish foundations vnderpropped with more surer pillars Dunstan vuburdened of many imputations the peoples affections drawne to the Monkes and the Priests at liberty now to accompany their wiues without any cure though not without care and all this was wrought by the prouidence of Dunstan and his strange preseruarion on the post no lesse wonderfull then that which with the like truth is related of him how when a huge beam of a house was suncke out of the frame and like to ruinate the whole building with onely making of the signe of the Crosse thereon with his fingers hee made it returne to his former place so wonderfully potent was he in such woodden miracles To which why should wee not giue credite since the very Harpe which hee had touched could worke miracles as when of it selfe it sounded melodiously that Hymne Gaudent in coelis animae Sanctorum c. Yea sith the blessed virgine Mary her selfe is said to haue come to solace him with her songs Cantemus Domino Sociae c. For as for Angels singing familiarly vnto him and Diuelsin shape of dogs foxes and beares whipped by him that was but ordinary as likewise his making the shee-diuel to roare when comming to tempt him to dalliance in shape of a beautifull lasse hee caught her by the nose with hote burning pincers and so spoilde a good face But to leaue those figments wherewith our Monkish stories are stuffed to
euen from his Child-hood and by him made fit both for Warre and Gouernment had not the variable inclination of his owne mind carried his actions past the limits of any staied compasse 3 Robert vpon discontents that Normandy was still detained before his Fathers sicknesse was gone into Germany to solicite their assistance for his right to that Duchie but hearing of his death hasteth into the Prouince and was there peaceably receiued and made their Duke which title notwithstanding seemed to him dishonourable his yonger brother being inuested to a Kingdome and himselfe disinherited no other cause mouing but his ouer-much gentlenes being by nature composed nothing so rough as was Rufus 4 The like emulation incited Odo Bishoppe of Baieux his vncle against Lanfranck the Archbishop who now ruled all and had worn him out of fauour with the Conquerour his halfe brother whom hee taught the distinction of imprisoning Odo as an Earle not as a Bishop now therefore seemed the time most fitting for a iust reuenge albeit that Rufus brought him from Normandy where he had beene captiuated and restored him his honours dignities in England yet hee vngratefull man enuying that Lanfranck should goe before him complotted the downefal aswell of the one as of the other And drawing into this conspiracy Robert Earle of Mortaigne and Hereford his brother with many other of the English Nobility wrote his letters into Normandy vnto his Nephew hastning him to repaire into England and recouer his right which by his meanes hee promised should soone bee effected 5 The busines thus wrought to Duke Roberts hand and the English resorting daily into Normandy assured his hopes of a happy successe onely the hinderance was want of money and that very much as the world then went with him hauing euer borne himselfe no lesse then his birth nor euer had made his bagges his summum bonum In these extremes he well saw the lesse was to bee followed and to set a Dukedom at stake to cast at a Kingdome he thought it ods sufficient though the chance were doubtfull Therfore to his younger brother Henry who had store of gold and wanted land hee morgaged the Countie of Constantine a Prouince in Normandy then sent to Odo that he should expect his landing on the West-coast of England by a day prefixed 6 The Bishop now growne bold vpon Duke Roberts great power shewed himselfe the first in the Action and fortifying Rochester beganne to molest the peace of Kent sending to his complices abroad to doe the like which was not long in performing for in the West Robert de Mowbrey Earle of Northumberland assisted by Geffrey Bishoppe of Constance sacked Bath and Berkley with a great part of Wilt-shire and strongly fortified the Castle of Bristow against King William In Norfolke Roger Bygod in Leicestershire Hugh Grentemeisnil did shrewdly wast those Countries Roger Mountgomery Earle of Shrewsburie with his Welshmen assisted by William Bishop of Durham the Kings domesticall Chaplain Barnard of Newmerch Roger Lacie and Ralph Mortimer all of them Normans or French-men with fire and sword past through the Country of Worcester and surely the stirres were so great and Duke Robert so fauoured that by the iudgement of Gemiticensis had he hasted his arriuage or followed the occasion the Crowne of England had easily been set vpon his head 7 All in an vprore and Rufus thus turmoiled he appointed his Nauie to scowre the seas and to impeach his brothers arriuage then gathering his forces and knowing well how to please the vulgar promiseth againe to abolish their ouer-hard lawes presently to put down all vniust Imposts and Taxations whereby the People were soone drawne to stand in his defence and among them Roger Mountgomery was reconciled to the King Thus now growne strong his enemies decreased he led his Armie into Kent where the sedition first beganne the Castles of Tunbridge and Horne he recouered as likewise Pemsey wherein his vncle Odo had strongly immured himselfe whose lacke of victuall by King Williams strait siege allaied the pride of that great-hearted man so that hee not onely surrendred the same but promised the deliuerie of Rochester also strongly manned with Eustace Earle of Boloigne and a sort of other gallant Gentlemen euen the flower of Normandy and Flanders 8 Odo comming to Rochester for the deliuerie of the Castle according to his promise was by them surprised and laid in strait prison whether in displeasure or vnder colour and with consent of Odo I will not say but certaine it is that the King tooke the matter so to heart that he sent forth his Proclamation through England commaunding that euery man should repaire to that siege whosoeuer would not be reputed a Niding a word of such disgrace and so distastiue vnto the English that multitudes seemed rather to flie then runne to that seruice whereupon the Castle was surrendred and Odo banished into Normandy lost all his liuings and honours in England 9 Whilest these things were in acting betwixt King William and his Barons Duke Robert with his Normans was landed at Southampton hauing passed some conflict with the Kings ships at the sea whom Rufus so feared if mine Author say true that he sent Messengers vnto him in most submissiue maner protesting that hee tooke not the crowne as his own by any right but rather to supply the time in his absence neither did hee account himselfe King but as his substitute to hold the crown vnder him yet seeing the matter had beene so farre passed and the Emperiall Crowne set on his head hee most humbly desired that it might so rest proffering to pay him three thousand Markes by yeere and to resigne it to him at his death whereat Duke Robert shaking his head belike he saw no other remedy easily consented and returned forth with into Normandy 10 And if we compare this with the Monke of Saint Albans report wee may well beleeue that William was forward enough in his offers though euer as vnready in performance for the Barons then being vp and he not able to allay them did that by his word which he could not by his sword protesting to them that he was willing to resigne the Kingdom and would be content either with Money or Possessions if those that were his Fathers Ouer-seers should thinke it meete and for any Ordinances touching the affaires of the Common weale he would referre it wholly to themselues prouided alwaies his owne honour should not thereby be impeached But when the Cloudes of these feares were altogether ouer-blowne no budde once appeared from these faire planted grafts 11 For Lanfrank deceased and both King depriued of a politike director and Common-welth of a principall Statist he presently shewed the bent of his inclination lauishly giuing where no deserts had engaged and exacting extreame tributes when
fauour according to the prophesie of King William his Father This battaile was fought and Normandy wonne vpon Saturday being the Vigill of S. Michael euen the same day forty yeares that William the Bastard set foot on Englands Shoare for his Conquest God so disposing saith Malmsbury that Normandy should be subiected to England that very day wherein England was subdued to Normandy 23 Robert Curtuoise that now vnfortunate Prince and William Mortaigne that valiant but head-strong Earle were forthwith sent into England and imprisoned the Earle in the Tower of London and the Duke in Cardiffe Castle in Wales after he had gouerned the Dutchy of Normandy nineteen yeeres and was for esteeme in Chiualrie accounted among the best Captains that the world then afforded had hee not beene as commonly martiall spirits vse to be too rash and vnstaied in his other enterprises which headinesse did now draw vpon him a penance of twenty sixe yeeres continuance in the afflicted state of a forlorne Captiue And Henry now no longer as a brother receiuing the keyes of Normandy as a Conquerour returned into England 24 But long it was not ere Duke Robert weary of this vnwonted duresse sought to escape and hauing liberty to walke in the Kings Meadowes Forrests and Parkes brake from his Keepers without any Assisters or meanes for security who being mist was presentlie pursued and taken in a quag-mire wherein his Horse lay fast whereupon the King hearing of this his attempt considering that woods were no walles to restraine the fierce Lyon and that to play with his claw was to endanger a state commanded him not onely a greater restraint and harder durance but also a thing vnfit for a brother to suffer but most vnworthy for Beauclearke to act both his eyes to bee put out causing his head to be held in a burning bason to auoid the deformity of breaking the eye-bais vntill the glassie tunicles had lost the office of retaining their light 25 Hauing thus quieted all forraine oppositions King Henry set his minde to preuent Domesticke and therfore about this time those Flemmings whose Lands the Seas had deuoured some few yeeres before and place was granted them in Cumberland first by King Rufus and afterwards by Henry were now by the King vpon better aduisement remoued into Wales both to disburden his Inland of such guests and that so they might bee a defence betwixt him and those euer-stirring people Which proiect nothing deceiued his expectation for by the testimony of Giraldus They were a Colony stout and strong and continually endured the warres of the Welsh a Nation most accustomed to seeke gaine by cloathing by triffique also and Marchandize by Sea and Land vndertaking any paines or perils whatsoeuer A people of very great power and as time and place requireth ready by turnes to take plough in hand and till the ground as ready also to goe into the field and fight it out and that I may adde thus much more saith hee a Nation most loially deuoted to the Kings of England and as faithfull to the Englishmen 26 By the which his policy he attained that which his brother Rufus could not who many a time had but small successe in those parts though otherwise euer sped most fortunatly in all his aduentures of warres But it is thought by some that as the Mountanous cragginesse of the Country and sharpnesse of the Aire encouraged them in their rebellion so the same impeached Rufus his successe But King Henrie saith Malmesburie who with many a warlike expedition went about to force the Welshmen euer stirring vnto Rebellion for to yeeld and to submit themselues in the end resolued vpon this whole some policie for to take down their pride he brought thither all the Flemmings that dwelt in England a great number of which Nation in those daies in regard of his mothers kindred by her Fathers side flocking hither were closely shrouded in England in so much as they for their multitude seemed burden some vnto the Realme Wherefore he sent them all together with their substance their Wines and Children vnto Rosse a Countrey in Wales as it were into a common auoidance thereby both to purge his own kingdome and also to quatle and represse the desperate boldnesse of his Enemies 27 And now being free from all feare of subuerters King Henry growing disdainefull saith Paris refused to fulfil what he had so oftē promised to his Nobles heaping threats vpon threats for God had bestowed on him three bounties wisdome victory and riches aboue any of his Predecessors but for all these hee shewed himselfe to God most vnthankeful And of his Clergy wee may say too regardlesse in suffering Anselm newly reconciled to lay heauy punishmēts vpon the married Priests putting many from their places because they denied to put away their Lawfull wiues whereof great contention followed and grieuous sinnes in short time committed both against God and Nature 28 Among these proceedings in England Philip King of France deceased and his sonne Lewis surnamed Crassus succeeded in his gouernement which how he stood affected to Henry was doubted and therefore to make sure worke the King sailed into Normandy furnishing his Townes Castles and Fortresses with all habiliments of warre with prouisions befitting such suspected times and so returning he found attending his comming the Ambassadors of Henrie the fourth Emperour as suters from their Master to obtaine Lady Maud the Kings daughter in Marriage then not past fiue yeeres of age which was willingly graunted and the espousals by way of Proxy solemnized with great feasts and magnificent triumphes 29 About which time the death of Archbishop Anselme happening gaue no small hope to the Clergy as themselues conceited againe to enioy the liberty of matrimoniall society wherein they were not a little deceiued for the King seemed willing that the Ecclesiasticall Ordinance before made should bee more neerely looked into whereupon men for feare and in the sight of men carried themselues accordingly but if in secret they did worse saith Eadmerus let the charge light on their own heads sith euery man shall beare his owne sinnes for I know saith hee that if Fornicators and Adulterers God will iudge the abusers of their owne Cosens I will not say their own Sisters and Daughters shal not surely escape his iudgement 30 The Kings peace which seemed to be secured by his new affinity with the Emperour and his glory raised to the high began now to bee enuied and his brother Duke Roberts extremities greatly to be pitied both by some English and also Normans For Foulke Earle of Aniou both threatned the reuenge and by corrupting the inhabitants wanne the City of Constance from his obeisance To stay whose irruptions King Henry passed into Normandy where hee vsed great extremity and put to death Helia Earle of Cenomania who held that
County against him for which cause Godfrey Earle of Gaunt tooke such displeasure that hee entred into that Earledome and marrying the said Helia his daughter kept the County perforce against King Henries great power But Robert de Beliasme that had escaped at Duke Roberts ouerthrow was then taken and committed prisoner to Warham Castle too gentle a punishment for so blood-thirstie a man whose nature was such that he delighted himselfe onely in cruelty an example whereof hee shewed vpon his owne sonne who being but a childe and playing withhim the father for a pastime put his thumbes in the boies eyes and thrust out the balles thereof 31 These warres somewhat asswaged King Henry returned into England where the people conceiued much grudge at his importable taxes and the Clergy no lesse at his reseruation of Church liuings in their vacancies vnder pretence of keeping them for the worthiest but how vnworthily he oftentimes bestowed thē may be gathered by that prety reproof of Guymundus his Chaplain who grieuing to see vnworthymen for the most part aduanced to Bishoprickes and other dignities when on the Rogation day he celebrated diuine seruice in the Kings Chappel being to read that lesson out of Saint Iames it rained not on the earth III. yeares and VI. moneths hee purposely read it it rained not one one one yeares and fiue one monethes All men either laughing or wondring at his reading the King checkt him for it and askt him the reason marry quoth he I see you bestow your preferments onely on such as can read so which secret touch the King well weighing did both presently preferre him to the gouernment of Saint Frideswides in the Vniuersity of Oxford and afterward was more carefull in all other his choices 32 The King had not beene long in England after his returne from Normandy before the Welshmen then a restlesse people were in Armes against such English as had set footing in that Country which were Gilbert Strangbowe Earle of Strygil and others whose lands in the south part Owen ap Cadogan sore molested and spoiled the like did Gruffith ap Conan Prince of North-Wales vpon Hugh Earle of Chesters County and both of them denied King Henry either seruice or tribute These Earles so incensed the King touching these and other outrages of the Welshmen that in a rage he vowed not to leaue one aliue in al North Wales nor in Powys-land and straight repairing thitherward diuided his Armie into 3. parts The first was led by Earle Gilbert against South-wales the second band by Alexander King of Scotland and Hugh Earle of Chester against North-Wales and the King himselfe lead the third vnder whose Standard was the chiefe strength of middle England But the Welsh seeing themselues far vnable to withstand this present preparation tooke into the Mountaines and Woods their surest holds where being followed with great difficulty many of them were slaine and the rest yeelded to King Henry who now as a Conquerour in triumph returned to London 33 Whither immediately resorted vnto him the Ambassadour of his sonne in law the Emperour to haue his wife Lady Maud now marriage-able to be sent vnto him to which request the King most willingly condescended and to furnish her forth accordingly laid a taxe vpon his Subiects taking three shillings for euery Hide of land wherupon shee was presently conducted by his greatest Peares into Germany and at Mentz married to the Emperour Henry the fourth being there consecrated and crowned his Empresse 34 Shortly after King Henry tooke the Seas for Normandy and there created his sonne William about the age of twelue yeeres Houeden saith but eight Duke of that Country causing the people to sweare him fealty whereof grew a custome that thenceforth the Kings of England made euermore their eldest sonnes Dukes of Normandy which done he returned and nothing recorded of his next yeres aduentures but onely that the Sea gaue place to the Sands and by low Ebbes restored some part of her treasures that long had laien hid and buried in her depth the riuers likewise forgat their wonted swiftnes and as it were seemed vnwilling to pay their ancient tribute into that deiected Element and among them Thamesis not the least whose waters so failed for two daies that betwixt London Bridge and the Tower she became passable and scarse two foot deepe 35 King Henry free now from all forraine domesticall trouble onely Gruffith ap Rees somewhat vnquiet in Wales gaue his thoughts to assure the Crowne into his line and to ordaine lawes for the well gouerning of his people for calling an assembly at Salisbury caused the Estates both Spirituall and Temporall to sweare fealty to himselfe and to his sonne Willam the Hope of succession then reforming many abuses and ending certaine contentions both of his Nobles and Prelates laid here the first foundation of our High Court of Parliament for the English Kings in elder times ordered the affaires of the Common-wealth by their Edicts by their officers and by the Gouernours of euerie Country and seldome had the ioint aduice of their people sauing onely at beginning of their gouernment and in time of warre whereas now the Subiect best vnderstanding his owne grieuances hath both liberty in choice of their Knights and Burgesses as also free voice to complaine thereof in that honourable assembly 36 At this time Theobald Earle of Blessis Nephew vnto King Henry vpon occasion of displeasure rose vp in Armes against the French King to whose aid King Henry sent whereat Lewes found himselfe sore agrieued and drew to his side Baldwine Earle of Flanders and Foulke Earle of Aniou who together tooke oath to dispossesse Henry of Normandy and to make William the sonne of the Curtoise Duke thereof to whom it belonged by right and descent to which also many of the Nobles of Normandy consented pittying the wrong of the noble spirited Child and the wretched captiuity of the blind and ouer-borne Father 37 Henry as wisely wrought against their designes and leauying a great taxe vpon his Subiects passeth therewith into Normandy where vniting the aides of the foresaid Theobald as also of the Earle of Britaine with his English hee made a great shew in the field at which time King Lewes with the Earles of Flanders and Aniou being entred Normandy and hearing of King Henries approch and power staid scarsly one night but as mē without hart or courage returned and left the Country for him so that all things seemed well quieted for a yeare or two nothing disturbing King Henries peace excepting only the expectance of the Popes Legate whom hee prohibited to enter England and the death of his Queene Maud the very mirrour of piety humility and princely bounty 38 But coales of displeasure kindled betwixt King Henry and Lewes of France were not quite extinct though they
by the Duke of Bury one of the French Kings vncles to frustrate this enterprize he alleaged that the King of England had mustred ten thousand horsemen and one hundreth thousand Archers for his defence whereas the Admirall Iohn de Vienna affirmed that hauing seene the forces of the English they were but eight thousand horsemen and threescore thousand foot and he might well say hauing seene for though Aemylius bring him in speaking to the French King and vaunting that he had encountred them yet nothing is truer then that the English returned out of Scotland without the least offer of battell The Admirall was willing indeed to haue fought but when he saw our Armie from the hil-tops his furie gaue place to reason 50 While the Armie was vpon the way toward Scotland the Kings halfe-brother the Lord Iohn Holland wickedly slew the Lord Stafford sonne to the Earle of Stafford not farre from Yorke being vpon his iourney to the Queene whose fauoured Knight he was For which heinous homicide the King seised vpon his whole estate denying to his mothers most earnest praiers any pardon or grace for his brother Which was to her so greeuous that within fiue or sixe daies after shee gaue vp the Ghost at Wallingford The young Lord tooke Sanctuary at Beuerley and the King by his iustice herein wanne the hearts of the said Earle of Stafford the Earle of Warwick the Lord Basset and other great men of Staffords kindred and friends neither did this empeach at all the present voyage 51 The Scots and French in Scotland seeing themselues vnable to withstand such forces had so retired themselues and all their goods that when the English should come they as Walsingham pleasantly saith could see no quicke things left but onlie Owles That which was greene in the fields the horses deuoured or trampled down yet such harme as the materials of buildings were capable of was done Edenburgh also and the noble Abbey of Mailrosse were fired The Duke of Lancaster perswaded the King to march beyond the Frith or Scottish Sea as his great Ancestors had done to seeke out his enemies but he very suspicious that the Duke gaue him this counsell with a purpose to betray him to destruction by famine and want which he was there to looke for expressed much displeasure and returned The Dukes wordes notwithstanding and behauiour were tempered with much duty and modesty but that would not serue till the Lords peeced their affections together by intercession in the best manner the time would suffer But the English host was scarce returned and discharged when the Scots and French sodeinely powred themselues forth vpon our Countrey and did whatsoeuer hurt the shortnes of time in their incursion could permit 52 To resist and endammage the French there were appointed Admirals for the narrow Seas the Master of Saint Iohns and Sir Thomas Percie Knight the Earle of Northumberlands brother who did nothing worthy their fame or place Only the Townesmen of Portsmouth and Dart maund forth a few ships at their owne perill and charge wherewith entering the riuer of Sein vpon which the renowned Citties Roan and Paris are situated suncke some of their enemies ships tooke others and among them one of Sir Oliuer de Clisson's the goodliest that France had The successe answered their hopes and they were enriched with the spoiles of their aduersaries whom thus they compelled to beare the charge of their proper mischiefe 53 Meanewhile that the French lay at Sluse attending the approch of their kings vncle the Duke of Burie who fauoured not this enterprize of inuasion but sought aswell by delaies as by perswasion and authority to make it frustrate they of Gaâ—…t had gotten the Towne of Dam by the good liking of the Inhabitants to whom the French gouernment was odious For recouery whereof the French King drew his armie prepared against England to the siege of Dam which the same being first secretlie abandoned after a moneths siege and many repulses giuen to the French was by him recouered This and other things did so protract the great expedition intended that after wast of infinite treasure Charles returned home without hauing seene England which was by these meanes most graciouslie freed by God from so dangerous and greatly-feared an impression But that the English might the better endure the same Iohn King of Portugall hauing lately in a great and bloodie battell where some of the English deserued well of him ouerthrowne the Castilians and thereby setled his estate sent into England sixe Gallâ—…ys throughly well appointed for Sea-seruice though as God would there was no need of them 54 Of those French which after the Cloude of warre at Sluce was dispersed into ayte passed ouerland into their Countreys many were taken and slaine by the Gauntiners Their nauie was not lesse vnfortunate for at one time the English of Callis tooke of them eighteene and the rage of weather brake and sunke diuers so that this Brauado was not onely costly to the French by reason of the charges but hurtfull in the losse of time men shippes and hoped glorie Such are the euents of humane enterprises where God is not pleased to giue successe The English thus deliuered from feare make a road into France out of Callis and with a prey of foure thousand sheepe and three hundreth head of great cattell besides an hundreth good prisoners returned safe to their Garrison 55 The multitude of memorable things which present themselues to vs in the liues of our English Monarches is such that if wee did not vse choise and in their relation breuity wee should not relieue our Readers of that molestation with which the vaste volumes of former labours doe oppresse the memorie The Laitie at the Parliament now holden at London had yeelded to aide the King with a Fifteenth vpon condition that the Clergie should succour him with a Tenth and an halfe against which vniust proportion William de Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury most stifly opposed alleadging that the Church ought to bee free nor in any wise tâ—… bee taxed by the Laitie and that himselfe would rather die then endure that the Church of England the liberties whereof had by so many free Parliaments in all times and not onely in the raign of this King been confirmed should be made a bond-maide This answere so offended the Câ—…mons that the Knights of the Shires and some Peeres of the land with extreme fury besought That Temporalities might bee taken away from Ecclesiasticall persons saying that it was an Almesdeed and an Act of Charity so to doe thereby to humble them Neither did they doubt but that their petition which they had exhibited to the King would take effect Hereupon they designed among themselues out of which Abbey which should receiue such a certaine summe and out of which another I my selfe saith a Monke of Saint Albans heard one of those Knights confidently sweare that hee
hand whereunto shee answered I am not ignorant who they are and thereupon commanded to apprehend those her keepers her libertie thus got shee became wholy for Burgogne and by his meanes was made the Regent of France and her picture stamped vpon the Seale of that State 42 By birth shee was a Germane and daughter to Stephen Duke of Bauier of an imperious spirit and vnreconcileable enuie not ouermuch beloued of her husband and as the nature of most women are not ouermuch fauouring his fauorites whose femall authority and hatred against her owne sonne Daulphin Charles sore bruised the Crowne which her weake husband ware his foregone infirmities and her new sprung Regency were now as two fludgates set open to let in the deluge of France hers is to be spoken of in the intercourse of the English his manie times hath beene but not made knowne how it came therefore a while in that subiect before we passe forward in this place let vs reade what others haue writ 43 This Charles the sixt and sicke-braind King of France was the sonne of King Charles surnamed the wise who with Salomon his wiser might haue demanded this question who can tell whether his sonne shal be a wiseman or a foole for the flower of his youth and commendable dispositions of his middle age promised great hopes of a valiant moderate and most happie Prince only inclined to choller and reuenge as by the occasion of his lunacy is easilie seene which chanced on this manner 44 Peter Craon a Courtier his minion and an inward fauorite of the Duke of Orleance the Kings brother blabbed out some secrecy of the said Dukes amorous passions vpon a wanton Lady vnto his Dutchesse Valentine who but lately married and so soon deceiued of bed took the wrong no lesse then it was nor letted shee as who can let a woman to speake to tell him his faults on both sides of his head the Duke could not hide what shee too well knew and therefore sought to satisfie her with complements of kind words but the Curtaine-sermons nightly enlarged vpon the same text made him many times to lie awake with little deuotion God wot to heare and often to rise when hee would faine haue slept which caused him lastly to complaine to the King that Craon had and would betray their ouermuch trust The cause no more but yet too much against a Prince Craon with all disgrace was discharged the Court who not able to brooke such an open indignity assaulted Cliston the Constable in a murthering manner as the only man as he thought that wrought his disgrace and escaping Paris fled into Britaigne whose Duke was his kinseman and an enemy to the Constable 45 King Charles transported with choller of this double offence mindes to draw Craon by force out of Britaine to iustifie himselfe whom the Councell had declared guilty of high Treason and enemie to the Crowne of France and resolues in person to enterinto Britaine forthwith the expedition for men and manner of proceeding made Charles to loose both meate and sleepe so as the vexation of minde and distemperature of body carried apparant shewes in his face in so much that the Dukes of Berry and Burgogne mistrusting the worst counselled that his iourney might be staid his Physitians disswade him in regard of his health the summer extreme hot and his blood as then ouer subiect to dangerous feuers New deuises were wrought to stay him at home giuing it forth that Craon was fled Britaigne and in Arragon was imprisoned by the Queene All this notwithstanding needes would he forward so forward is man when his fate will so haue it 46 He departed Meaux in Iulie the yere very hot his head couered with a great Cap of scarlet his body wrapped in a thicke veluet Ierkin warme enough for winter his mind distempered with choller griefe and despite and his body wearied with watching distasture and want of rest Thus entring the forrest of Meaux about noone-tide a man bare-headed and bare legged attired in a Coat of white rugge stepped sodainely forth from betwixt two trees and caught hold of his bridle staid his horse saying King ride no further but returne backe for thou art betraied Charles whose spirits were otherwise dulled and his blood greatly distempered was amazed at the voice which seene his seruants ranne to this man and with blowes forced him to leaue the reines of the horse and so without any further search the man vanished away 47 The troopes of his nobles diuided because of the dust King Charles was followed by the Pages of his Chamber who ouercharged with heat and distemperature tooke no great paines to guide their horse so that thronging together he which bore the Kings Lance let it fal vpon him who had on his head the Kings helmet and in the falling made a clattering noise The King much musing vpon the words spoken and now withall hearing this vnexpected noise was from a pensiue melancholy suddainely strucke into a raging Lunacy supposing himselfe to be betraied indeed and transported with this frensie he drawes his sword and made towards his Pages with a maine crie his brother Orleance not knowing the cause hasted among them whom Charles likewise pursued and with the like rage ranne at his vncle of Burgogne thus spending himselfe and his horse out of breath all incompassed the still raging man tooke from him his sword disrobed him for heate and cheered him with flatterings and faire spoken words his brother and vncles saluted him but hee knowes them not sits mute sighing and panting and with troubled amazement moues both body and head so that all signes of Phrensie appeared in this poore Prince and the eminent misery that was to fall vpon France very apparant to the inseeing Statists but now to proceed 48 Iohn Duke of Burgogne ill disgesting the threats that King Henry had giuen and ioined in league with the Daulphin as we haue said was notwithstanding suspected to be a great enemy to the State and as the Giants are faine to heape mountaine vpon mountaine for steps of assent to pull Iupiter out of his throne so by sinister Counsellors Burgogne was accused of some intended stratageme as meaning to mount the Chaire where the Daulphin should sit Charles therefore from Monstrean-Surfault yonne a Towne in Brie sent for the Duke vnto Troyes in Champagne to conferre further vpon the effecting of their affected accord as also to imploy their vnited forces vpon the common enemie the English a third cause likewise was alleaged and that was to haue him his meanes for a reconciliation to his mother the Regent whose wrath besides him no man could pacifie 49 The Duke mistrusting no snake in the grasse thought all things as sure as they were faire in shew and accompanied with many noble-men fiue hundred horse and two hundred Archers he repaired to Monstreau at whose Gate the Daulphin
Chancellor as being a person very dangerous vnto both 10 The news of these home-contentions comming to the Duke of Bedford into France easily drew him home though the state of that Realme could not well want his presence For Iohn Duke of Britaine notwithstanding his late renouation of league with the Regent at Amiens iealous of the English greatnes turned sodeinely to Charles and with him Arthur Earle of Richmond his brother This puts fresh spirit into the drooping Prince Arthur is by Charles made Constable of his France in place of the Scottish Earle who was slaine at the bloody Battell of Vernoil The Duke of Britaine ouerliues this reuolt but a small time Arthur to declare his forwardnes on the behalfe of Charles assembleth about twenty thousand men and with them sodeinely besiegeth S. Iean a Towne of Normandy vpon the frontier of Britaine which Edmund Duke of Sommerset Gouernour of Normandy had lately fortified and stuft with souldiers The vnexpected arriuall of the French did greatly at the first perplex the English but vpon better aduise they valiantly sallied out vpon them both before and behind which stroke so great terrour into the enemy that with losse of their Artillery and many of their people they forsooke the siege To redeeme this dishonour he turnes his fury vpon the Countrey of Angioâ—… which in many parts he depopulates and spoiles The Regent being resolued to returne into England leaues behind him Beaâ—…champ Earle of Warwicke as lieutenant who was lately arriued in France hauing six thousand fresh Souldiers in his company 11 The presence of the Duke of Bedford Regent of France was to the State of England very necessary For the wisdome and authority of so great a Prince being eldest vncle to the King and one whom many great deedes made famous allaied the distemper which he found at his arriual It was a worke worthy of his labour and he also found it to be a worke indeed and not easily effectuable The differences were debated first at Saint Albans then at Northampton lastly in a Parliament at Leicester which continued there till toward the end of Iune The Duke of Bedford himselfe to auoid the note of partiality for that his brother of Glocester was a party did not intermeddle otherwise then as in Generall words to perswade amity but the whole cause was referred to arbitrators of greatest Nobility and prudence by whose endeuours all those differences and greeuances were equally thrust into one sacke to be sealed vp for euer by obliuion and without mention of amends on either side the Duke and Bishop the one hauing sworne by his Princehood the other by his Priesthood truly to obserue the award shooke hands and were fully for that time reconciled After which holy and necessary worke of priuate attonements ensued acts of festiuitie and honor For in the same Towne of Leicester the young King not then fiue yeeres of age was at the high feast of Pentecost dubbed Knight by the Regent of France Immediately whereupon the King honored Richard Earle of Cambridge who by the fatall errour of the Counsell was at this Parliament created Duke of Yorke the same who was father to Edward the fourth with the order of knighthood and about forty more with him This Richard Duke of Yorke was hee who brought vpon this Kingdome and nation most dolefull diuisions to the vtter extirpation of all the male lines of either house that is to say his owne and that of Lancaster whereof the young King was head From Leicester the King was conueighed to Killingworth and Thomas Duke of Excester dying Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke was constituted Guardian and Tutor to the King 12 The Regent hauing thus worthily prouided for the quiet estate of the King and Country returns to his charge in France There went ouer at the same time a choise and great number of fresh men vnder the conduct of that immortally renowmed the L. Talbot whose victories saith Polydor were so many that his name was not onely most dreadfull to the French but most famous through the world euen at this present That yee may know the man not to haue beene studious of fine Phrases vpon the one side of his sword-blade was engrauen Sum Talboti and vpon the other this boisterous blunt sentence Pro vincere inimicos meos The Duke of Alanzon taken at the Castell of Vernoil was set at liberty vpon payment of two hundreth thousand Scutes of gold At Mountarges about Orleance the English receiued an ouerthrow with the losse of about fifteene hundreth of their numbers and in Britaine the French sustained great dammages by a Captaine of the Duke of Sommersets These were petty matters They of Mantz in Maine had drawne in the French by night who massacred the English William Earle of Suffolke Captain of the place sends to Iohn Lord Talbot for succour It came and that so vnexpectedly that the French were alike distrest All but souldiers were spared and many also of them though thrust into prisons The Traitours which had caused so much mischiefe had their deserts by death From hence the Lord Talbot marched to other enterprises The quality of our taske cals vs to the maine 13 Thomas Lord Montacute Earle of Salisbury being with the Regent at Paris and considering what forces of men and all prouisions the English then enioied bethought himselfe of some action which might answere the greatnesse of his owne name and of the publike meanes The siege of Orleance is by him propounded to the Councell The credite of the Motioner was alone an argument of power to conuince the possibility His desires were therefore furnished with all competent prouisions They of Orleance hearing what a storme was comming for the name of this Earle was worthily terrible with great diligence ordaine for their defence The Suburbes answerable in bignesse to a good City they leuell with the earth that the enemie might not from thence annoy them Men victuals munition and constant intentions to fight for their liberty and safegard abounded The Earle of Sarisburie the Lord Talbot and a dreadfull puissance vnder most expert commanders present themselues before it Orleance was and is an Episcopall See a Parliament Towne and Vniuersity richly scituate vpon the riuer of Loir whose best glory it is being the chiefe City which that renowned streame watereth No enemies appearing abroad he approacheth close to the walles Assaults prouing vain he entrencheth about it and to secure his Campe casts vp ramparts and other works one of which by reason of the hugenesse thereof was called London by the name of the chiefe-City of England The Fort which stood at the Bridge foot beyond the Loyr hee seiseth vpon and closeth them vp on euery side Charles of France could minister no sufficient succor God when mans helpe failes interposeth his hand which as all of vs daily feele so is it most conspicuous in the deliuerance of
vpon that string and then said hee to the Queen that he nothing doubted but that those Lords of her honourable kinne which as yet remained vnder arrest should vpon the matter examined doe well inough and as towards her noble person neither was neither could be any ieopardy 34 Whereby should I trust that quoth the Queene in that I am guiltlesse as though they were guilty in that I am with their enemies better loued then they when they hate them for my sake in that I am so neere a kin to the King and how farre they be off if that would helpe as God grant it hurt not and therefore as for me I purpose not as yet to depart hence And as for this gentleman my sonne I minde that he shall be where I am till I see further for I assure you for that I see some men so greedy without any substantiall cause to haue him makes me much more fearefull to deliuer him Truly Madame quoth he the more vnwilling that you be to deliuer him the more vnwilling other men be to suffer you to keepe him least your causelesse feare might cause you farther to conuey him and many there be that thinke he can haue no priuiledge in this place which neither can haue will to aske it nor malice to deserue it and therefore they reckon no priuiledge broken though they fetch him out which if you finally refuse to deliuer him I verily think they will so much dreadhath my Lord his vncle for the tender loue he beareth him lest your grace should hope to send him away 35 Ah sir quoth the Queene hath the Protector so tender zeale that he feareth nothing but least he should escape him thinketh he that I would send him hence which is not in plight to send out and in what place could I account him sure if he be not sure in the Sanctuary which there was neuer Tyrant yet so diuelish that durst presume to breake And I trust God is as strong now to withstand his aduersaries as euer he was But my sonne can deserue no Sanctuary and therefore he cannot haue it Forsooth he hath found out a goodly glosse by which that place that may defend a thiefe may not saue an innocēt but he is in no ieopardy nor hath no need thereof would God he had not Thinketh the Protector I pray God hee may proue a Protector thinketh hee that I perceiue not whereunto his painted Processe draweth It is not honorable that the Duke abide here It were comfortable for them both that he were with his brother because the King lacketh a play fellow forsooth I pray God send them both better playfellows then him that maketh so high a matter vpō so trifling pretext as though there could none be found to play with the King but his brother that hath no list to play for sicknes come out of Sanctuary out of his safegard to play with him As though Princes as yong as they be could not play but with their Peeres or Children could not play but with their kindred with whom for the most part they agree much worse then with strangers But the Childe cannot require the priuiledge who tolde him so he shall heare him aske it if he will Howbeit this is a gay matter suppose hee coulde not aske it suppose hee woulde not aske it suppose hee woulde aske to goe out if I say hee shall not if I aske the priuiledge but for my selfe I say he that taketh him out against my will breaketh the Sanctuarie Serueth this liberty for my person onely or for my goods also you may not take hence my horse from me and may you take my child from me He also is my ward for as my learned Councell sheweth me sith he hath nothing by discent holden by Knights seruice the law maketh his mother his Gardian Then may no man I suppose take my ward from me out of Sanctuary without the breach of Sanctuary And if my priuiledge could not serue him nor he aske it for himselfe yet sith the law committeth to me the custodie of him I may require it for him except the law giue a child a Gardian only for his goods and lands discharging him of the cure and safe-keeping of his body for which only both lands and goods serue And if examples be sufficient to obtaine priuiledge for my child I need not farre to seeke them for in this place in which now we be and which is now in question whether my child may take benefit of it mine other sonne now King was borne kept in his Cradle and preserued to a more prosperous fortune which I pray God long to continue And as you all know this is not the first time that I haue taken Sanctuary For when my Lord my husband was banished and thrust out of his Kingdome I fled hither being great with Child and here I bare the Prince and when my Lord my husband returned safe againe and had the victory then went I hence to welcome him home and from hence I brought my babe the Prince vnto his father when hee first tooke him in his armes And I pray God that my sonnes Pallace may be as great a safegard vnto him now raigning as this place was sometime to the Kings enemie In which place I intend to keepe his brother since mans law serueth the Gardian to keepe the Infant The law of nature wils the mother to keepe her child Gods law priuiledgeth the Sanctuary and the Sanctuary my sonne sith I feare to put him in the Protectors hands who hath his brother already and were if both failed inheritour to the Crowne and the cause of my feare hath no man to doe to examine But yet I feare no further then the law feareth which as learned men tell me forbiddeth euerie man the custody of them by whose death hee may inherit lesse land then a Kingdome I can no more but whosoeuer he be that breaketh this holy Sanctuary I pray God shortly send him need of a Sanctuary when hee may not come to it for taken out of Sanctuary I would not that my mortall enemy were 36 The Lord Cardinall perceiuing that the Queene waxed euer the longer the further off also that shee beganne to kindle and chafe and speake more biting words against the Protector and such as he neuer beleeued and was also loath to heare hee said to her for a finall conclusion that he no longer would dspute the matter but if shee were content to deliuer the Duke to him and to the other Lords present he durst lay his body and soule both in pledge not onely for his surety but also for his estate And if she wou'd giue a resolute answere to the contrary he would forthwith depart therewithall and shift who so would with this businesse afterward for he neuer intended more to moue her in that matter in which shee thought that hee and all others also saue herselfe lacked either witte or truth wit if they
Thomas Audley Lord Chancellor the Duke of Norfolke and Thomas Cromwell Secretary her bringers desiring God so to helpe her as sne was guiltlesse of those things whereof shee was accused beseeching those Lords to bee Petitioners vnto his Maiesty in her behalfe who lamenting her case left her Prisoner with Sir William Kingston Constable of the place 88 I will in no wise excuse her guilt hauing had iudgement and death by law though others and that vpon iust occasions before mee haue done but will speake from them what they haue said and namely one that wrote thereof vnto a worthy and reuerent person in whose defence his wordes are these Iâ—…seemeth very plaine that the crimes supposed against this Christian Queène Anne were matters contriued by the deuise of the Pope and his Instruments her enemies None of them all that were accused in the same Treason confessing the Act euen vnto death but haue left direct Testimonies in writing to the contrary one meane Groome excepted namely Marke Smeton made confession vpon some promise of life belike but had his head cut off before hee was aware or had time to recall what he had said The like did Cromwell the Secretary signifie to the King after the prisoners had beene throughly examined in the Tower by the Councell who wrote thus in his letter on the same day many things haue been obiected but nothing confessed onely some circumstances haue been acknowledged by Marke And so doth Cranmer Archbishoppe of Canterbury in his letter of comfort vnto the King who sore lamented that such a starre was fallen if her gilt could bee proued and willed his Highnesse to stand in defence of the Gospell as shee had done without any report of confessing or acknowledging any such Acts as were obiected which as Sleidon writeth were Adultery and incest but vniustly saith he as it is supposed and proued since With her were executed certaine Gentlemen of the Kings Priuie Chamber namely Norris Weston Brewton and one Marks which contrary to his conscience as it is reported for hope of preferment subscribed to a bill whereby hee condemned both himselfe and all the rest 89 For vpon the seuenth of May her brother George Bullen Lord Rochford for his supposed offence with these foure before named were all of them beheaded vpon the Tower hill but none of them confessing the Action I haue heard it reported that Rochford the Queenes brother comming to her bed side to solicite a suite leaned thereupon to whisper her in the eare which the Spials gaue forth that hee did so to kisse the Queen howsoeuer they are dead and the Queene must die who two dayes before had beene arraigned in the Tower the Duke of Norfolke being her Iudge to her inditement shee answered so effectually that shee seemed to cleare all matters laid to her charge yet was shee found guilty and vpon the nineteenth day of May was brought to a Scaffold erected on the Greene within the saide Tower where in presence of many noble men the Lord Mayor of London the Shiriffes and some principall commoners shee is said to haue spoken these words in their presence 90 Good Christian people I am come hither to die for according to the Law and by the Law I am iudged to death and therefore I will speake nothing against it I come hither to accuse no yee shall be iudged heereafter to be shedars of some of Crystyn blood and destroiers of your euyn Crysten From Robart Aske chiefe Captaine of the Comynalty assembled in pilgrimage For the Barony and Cominalty of the same By mee Robert Aske yn the name of all the Comynalty and Barony Of such terrour and haughty spirit was this Captaine Aske that when Lancaster an Herald at Armes was sent to declare the Kings message in Pomfret Castle which the Rebels had got by surrender from the Lord Darcy hee so blustred out his answers that the daunted man excusing himselfe to bee but a messenger fell before him on his knees till the Archbishop of Yorke tooke him vp saying it was not beseeming the Coate hee wore to prostrate to any but onely to his Soueraigne Reade likewise if you please this strange Mandate from some meane man among them the false suggestion that they possessed the ignorant with and the Oath whereunto these holy Pilgrimes were sworne as I finde them recorded by themselues in these very words To the Commyns of Hawkeside parish Bailiffs or Constables with all the Hamlets of the same Welbeloued we greet you well and whereas our brother Pouerty and our brother Rogers goith forward is openly for the aide asistance of your faith and holy Church and for the reformation of such Abbeys and Monasteries now dissolued and subpressed without any Iust cause Wherefore gudde brethers For asmuch as our sayd brederyn hath send to vs for ayde and helpe wee doe not onely effectualy desire you but also vnder the paine of deadly sinne wee comaunde you and euery of you to bee at the stoke Greene beside Hawkeside-kirke the Saturday next being the xxviij day of October by xi of the Clokke in your best array as you will make aunswer before the heigh Iudge at the dreadfull day of Dome and in the payne of pulling downe your Houses and leasing of your gudds and your bodies to be at the Capteyns will For at the place aforesaid then and there yee and we shall take further direction concerning our faith so farre decayed And for gudde and laudable Customes of the Country And such naughty inuentions and strange Articles now accepted and admitted so that our said brother bee subdued they are lyke to goe furthwards to vtter vndoing of the Commyn welth 97 And the more to drawe forward the rude multitude which were forward enough of themselues they set forth in writing these slanderous vntruths against the King 1 The first is that no infant shall receyue the blessed Sacrament of Baptisme bott onlesse an trybett to bee payd to the King 2 The second is that no man vnder xx1. Landes shall eyte no brede made of Wheate ner Capon chekyn gois ner pigge bott onlesse to pay a trybett to the King 3 The third is that for euery ploghe land the King will haue en trybett with other diuerse extreme vrgent causes and hertely fareye well The Oath of the holy Pilgrimes Ye shall nat enter into this our Pilgrimage of Grace for the Commyn welth but only for the loue that you doe bere vnto Almyghty Godde his faith and to holy Churche militant the maintenance thereof to the preseruation of the Kings person his issew to the purifying of Nobilitie and to expulse all vilayne blode and euill Councellers agaynst the Commyn welthe from his Grace and the priuie Counsel of the same and that ye shall nat enter into oure said Pilgramege for no particuler proffite to your selfe nor to doe no displeasure to no priâ—…ey person but by