of pope Benet the .v. of that name And the thyrde cause was for that he occupyed the sayd Paule wythout lycence lefull authoryte of y e courte of Rome Than Stigandê° proued that benyuolence of kynge wyllyam For where before he made to him louyng and frendly countenauÌ„ce dyd vnto hym greate reuerence than he chauÌ„ged all his myldenesse into sternesse and exceuted hym by y e popes authoryte so that in the ende Stigandus was depryued of hys dygnytye and kepte in wynchester as a prysoner y e terme of hys lyfe It is recorded of hym that he was so couetous and sparyng y t he wold take nothynge of hys owne vsed to swere by Alhalowes that he had not one peny But that othe was proued vntrewe after hys deth by a lytell keye that was founde fastened about hys necke For by that keye was founden greate treasour vnder the erth in mo places than one In thys counsayle also were put downe dyuers other bysshoppes abbotes and pryours by the meanes of kynge wyllyam and all to the entent that he myghte preferre Normans to the rule of the chyrch as he hadde preferred hys knyghtes to the rule of the teÌ„peraltye that he myght stande in the more suerty of the land In thys counsayle saynt wolstanÌ„ that than was bysshop of worceter axed besely of the kynge certayne possessyons fallen into hys handes by the deth of Aldredê° laste archbyshop of yorke that were wyth holden by y e sayd Aldredus But the kyng myght not here than of any suche maters for hurtyng of the lyberty of the chyrche of yorke Than vpon wytsonday after the kynge gaue the sayd archebysshopryche of yorke vnto Thomas a chanon of Bayon sent for Lamfrank an other Norman than abbot of Cadomonency and gaue vnto hym the archebysshopryche of Caunterbury Thys Lamfranke was an Italyan borne and was perfytely lerned in y e scyence of theologye or holy wrytte ryght apte in gouernynge of thynges bothe spyrytuall and temporall Upon our lady daye the AssumpcyoÌ„ the kynge made hym archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury Than Thomas that was chosen archebysshop of yorke came vnto Lamfranke for to be sacred as the vsage wolde Of whom Lamfranke axed an othe his professyon in wrytynge concernyng his obedyence Thomas answered and sayde that he wolde neuer do that but yf he myghte therof here suffycyent authoryte and skylfull reasons byndynge by the whyche it myght be knowen that he shulde so do with out any preiudyce of hys chyrche Than Lamfranke shewed and proued skylfully that hys askynge was reasonable and ryghtfull But yet Thomas wolde not assent but with sayde it and went for that tyme from Lamfrank vnsacred shewed vnto the kyng that Lamfranke entended to do wronge to hym and to his chyrche of yorke Than the kyng callyng Lamfrank before hym sayd than he trusted more in his cunnyng than he dyd in good fayth or reason But he answered so reasonably vnto y e kyng that in the ende Thomas by the coÌ„maundement of the kyng was fayne to come agayne to Lamfranke to be sacred and wrote hys professyoÌ„ with hys owne hande of hys obedyence and radde it in the whyche was conteyned that he shulde be obedyent in all that belongeth to the worshyp of god and all crysteÌ„ fayth â–ª which done he was sacred so deê‘ted And shortly after Lamfranke axed toke professyoÌ„ of all y e byshoppes of EnglaÌ„d THE CCXXI CHAPITER IN the .v. yere of wyllyam the conquerours reygne Edwyn and Marcharus erle of Mercia and of Northumberlande beynge in fere of daunger voyded y e kynges court secretly and were rebelles som what of tyme. But at length it turned to bothe theyr harmes For Edwyne was slayn as he went toward Scotlande and erle Marcharus wyth y e bysshop of Dorcham named Egelwynus toke the ile of Ely for theyr sauegarde But the kynge held them so shorte that in processe they were fayne to yelde them to the kynges grace and mercy Than he sent the bysshop to the abbey of Abyndon to be kept there as a prysoner where he was so dayntely fed that he dyed for hunger But some wryters testyfye that he was so hyghe herted that after he knewe he shuld remayne there as prysoner he wolde neuer ete mete after And erle Marcharus was had to the towre of London In the .vi. yere of hys reygne kyng wyllyam as before is touched went wyth a great army into Scotland and subdued Malcoâ—yne theyr kynge as before I haue shewed in the precedynge chapyter In the .vii. yere of kyng wyllyam Thomas archebysshop of yorke not beynge content to be vnder the rule and obedyence of Lamfranke appealed to the courte of Rome so that the sayde two archbysshoppes appered both in proper persone before the pope Alexaunder afore named In whose presence Lamfranke was so well fauoured that where Thomas aboue named and Remigius byshop of Dorchester were for skylfull causes depryued of theyr croyses and rynges he by hys fauour meanes restored them to theyr former dygnytees The cause of Thomas was for that he had holpen duke wyllyam to warde hys iourney into Englande For the whyche the sayd duke promysed hym a bysshopryche yf he opteyned vyctory And y e other was depriued for y t he was proued a prestes sonne Than Thomas moued the cause of the prymacy of Caunterbury of subieccyon that to hym shuld belonge and sayde that these two sees were farre asonder that is to meane Caunterbury and yorke and that nother of them by the constytucyons of Gregory shulde be subiecte vnto other but that the one is more worthy than the other for so myche as he is of elder tyme. To thys answered Lamfranke and sayd that y e constytucyons of Gregory made no mencyoÌ„ of CauÌ„terbury but of yorke London Than the pope remytted thys mater to be determyned before y e kyng the byshoppes of England and gaue y e palle vnto Lamfranke But for this terme or word palle is to many one vnknowen I shall therfore here shewe vnto you what thynge it is This palle is an indument y â— euery archbyshop must haue is not in full authoryte of an archbyshoppe tyll he haue receyued hys palle of the pope and is a thynge of white like to y e breded of a stole But it is of a nother fassyon For where y e stole is made in length and is worne about the prestes necke thys is ioyned togyder aboue so that it lyeth a parte therof vppon the shulders And that one ende hangeth streyght downe to the grounde before and that other behynde garnysshed in dyuers places therof wyth crosses And where the stole is worne nexte vnto the albe whan the preste is reuested to masse thys palle is worne vpon thys vestymente ouermoste of all whan an archebysshoppe syngeth hys masse whan Lamfranke had thus sped hys nedys at Rome he wyth y e other two bysshoppes retourned into Englande where thys mater hangyng in varyaunce bytwene
hym in hys courte therfore Malcoline departed from the kynge in great dyspleasur For the whyche and other causes the warre bytwene England and Scotlande was reuyued so that vppon saynt Bricius daye folowyng Malcolyne wyth hys retynewe foughte wyth an erle named Robert and thā erle of Northumberlande and there was slayne wyth hys eldest sonne Edwarde For sorowe wherof Margaret quene of Scotlande and syster vnto Edgare Ethelynge as in the fyrste chapyter of the story of wyllyā Conqueroure is shewed dyed soone after Than the Scottes made Dunwalde brother of Malcolyne theyr kynge and put by hys sonnes But by the ayde of kynge wyllyam Edgare whyche of some wryters is named Dunkam was made kynge as eldest sonne of Malcolyne In the .vii. yere of the reygne of kynge wyllyam Auncelyne or Anselme that was archbyshop of yorke was remoued to Caunterbury as affermeth one cronycle But Polycronycon and Guydo sayen that Hugh erle of Chester beynge sycke and diseased in the .vi. yere of wyllyam Rufus sent into Normādy for Anselme than abbot of Barry for thre causes The fyrste to vysyte and se hym and to be reconcyled of hym as the man that he moste trusted The seconde cause was that he shuld releue some abbays of Englande that the kynge vexed wyth greuous trybutes And the thyrd cause was y t he shuld foūd an abbay at Chester whych place he after buylded made one Rycharde his chapleyne fyrst abbot of y e place and sone after he was made archbysshop of Caunterbury where by it appereth that the sayd see was voyde ouer the terme of thre yeres Thys sayd .vii. yere Englande Normandye were greued wyth trybute and moreyne of men so sharply that tyllynge of the erth was spared or putte of for that yere there after ensued great hūger Thys yere also y e Scottes slewe theyr kyng Edgar and restored agayn to the rule of the lande the forenamed Dunwalde And many grysly and vncouth syghtes were thys yere sene in England as hostes of men fightyng in y e skye and fyre lemys other And the holy bysshop wolstone of worceter dyed soone after of whom it is shewed y t he sondry tymes warned rebuked Englyshmen for theyr mysseliuyng and sayd for theyr offenses they were so punysshed of the Normans But the Englyshmen excused them selfe and sayde that the Normans were worse in lyuynge than they where vnto the byshop answered and sayd that god vsed the wyckednesse of thē in Englyshmen For by the wycked he punysshed y e wycked And so doth god suffer the deuyll to punysshe synners in hell he hym selfe is punysshed wyth them Of thys wolstone it is radde that kynge wyllyam wold haue put hym from hys see to the entente that he myghte put another into hys see wherof thys holy man beynge warned yode vnto the kynge and sayde to hym I am enfourmed that thou wylte take from me the whiche a better man thā thou arte gaue vnto me wherfore of whom that I receyued so noble a gyfte to hym wyll I gyue it agayn and than take it from hym yf thou may And whan he hadde so sayde to the kynge he yode to the sepulture of Edward the confessoure and after y t he had made his prayers there he pytched hys crosse in y e marble stone that laye vppon the graue But no man myghte plucke out the staffe tyll wolston came thyther hym selfe and pulled it out at the kynges cōmaundement wherfore the kynge seyng that maruayle suffred hym to enioye hys benefyce styll In the .x. yere of willyam Rufus stryfe and dyscencyon fell bytwene hym and Anselme bysshop of Caunterbury for Anselme myght nat call hys synodys nor correcte the byshoppes but as the kynge wolde The kynge also chalenged the inuestiture of bysshoppes and pylled the spyrytualtye and temporaltye with vnreasonable taskes trybutes the which he spent vpon the towre of London the makynge of westmynster hall And ouer that the kynges seruauntes greued and pylled englysshmen vnreasonably And to thys mysery was ioyned the vnsaceable couetous of Ranulphe that was somtyme chapelayne vnto wyllyam conquerour the whyche was at thys day the kynges procuratour and gadered hys taskes ouer all He was so couetous and so euyll dysposed that he wolde leuye .iii. taskys for two He pylled the ryche and bare downe the poore and caused many men to lose theyr landes for smal causes and therfore the kynge had hym in hys synguler fauoure And by hys meanes byshoprykes were boughte and solde as playnly as other marchaundyses For that tyme clerkes vsed busshed and brayded heddys longe tayled blasynge clothes shynynge golden gyrdels and rode wyth gylte spurres wyth vsynge of dyuers other enormytees All whyche vyces Anselme wolde haue corrected but he lacked assystence of hys bretherne y e bysshoppes For the whyche cause other he departed the londe wherewyth the kyng beynge mysse contented sente after hym suche persons as robbed and spoyled hym and entreted hym in most cruell maner For the whyche dede Raufe bysshoppe of Chychester blamed the kynge and also rebuked all such bysshoppes as had refused the partye of Anselme had fauoured the kynge in causes cōcernynge the foresayde varyaunce And forthermore he wythstode the kynge and hys offycers in takynge of fynes of prestes for cryme of fornicacyon For whyche causes the kyng wyth the sayd Raufe was sore amoued and dyscontented and opteyned such fauour that he suspēded many chyrches of hys dyoses But in the ende Raufe demeaned hym in suche wyse that he hadde hys owne wyll and his chyrches enlarged and freed that before were stopped wyth thornes And the kynge gaue vnto hym y e fynes of prestes within his dyosis and endued y e see of Chychester with many greate gyftes And vpon a tyme kynge wyllyam was rydynge towarde hys dysporte of huntynge and sodeynly a messenger came vnto hym and sayde that the cytye of Cenemonia in Normandye was beseyged wherfore he wythout longe taryenge or aduysement toke the streyght way to these syde and sent to hys lordes chargynge them to folow whan the sayd lordes came to hys presence they aduysed hym to tarye tyll his people were assembled But he wolde nothynge do after theyr counsayle but sayd such as hym loued he shortely wyste well wolde folowe hym and so yode to shyp settyng aparte all parels The mayster of the shyp was afrayde he sawe the weder so darke so clowdy and counceyled the kynge to tary tyll the wynde wolde blowe more fauorably But he commaunded hym to make all the spede that he cowde vpon hys lyfe sayenge that he neuer harde that euer any kyng was drowned And so he passed the see and landed in Normandy and gathered to hym there hys knyghtes whan the capytayne of the syege whose name was Helyas knewe of the kynges landyng he fered and anone began to breke the syege But by treason he was taken and brought to the kynges presence To whom the kynge shewed suche
For thys sentence arose mortall warre betwene the sayde syr Charles syr IohnÌ„ In the whych the .ii. kynges of Englande FrauÌ„ce toke partye so that kyng Edwarde ayded syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort kynge Philip hys neuew syr Charles Thanne syr Iohanne de Mountforte before the sentence gyuen feryng the sequell of the same departed froÌ„ the court and gat hym into a stroÌ„ge towne of Brytayne there held hym wherof kyng Philip beynge aduertised sente syr IohnÌ„ his sonne duke of NormaÌ„dy hys brother syr Charles erle of Alenson for to warre vpon y e sayd syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tsort The which sped theym with a noÌ„bre of people into BrytaynÌ„ besieged a stroÌ„ge castell staÌ„dyng in an yle by y e ryuer of Loyer And after the wynning therof they yode vnto y e citie of NauÌ„tes the which y e cytezyns yelded vnto theÌ„ without stroke And soon after as testifieth y e FreÌ„ch story vpoÌ„ certayne coÌ„dicioÌ„s couenaÌ„tes y e sayd syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort yelded hiÌ„ vnto y e duke of NormaÌ„dy y e whyche seÌ„t hym vnto y e kyng his father to Parys where by the sayd kynge he was imprysoned in the castell of Louure But how it was by fauour or otherwyse â–ª he escaped prysoÌ„ after .ii. yeres prysonemeÌ„t Or after some wryters he was after .ii. yeres deliuered vpon certayn coÌ„dicions wherof one was y t he shulde nat come in Brytayne nor any thynge medle or haue to do in y e couÌ„tre But thys prysonemente of syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort nat withstaÌ„ding the warre was maynteyned in BrytaynÌ„ by y e freÌ„des of the sayd syr IohnÌ„ many townê castelles therof was holdeÌ„ to the vse of y e sayde syr IohnÌ„ wherof to shew vnto you y e circuÌ„stauÌ„ce proces it wolde aske a loÌ„ge tyme. But y e coÌ„clusion fyne of this warre shal be shewed in y e story of y e .vi. Charles sonnÌ„ of kyng IohnÌ„ In the .xv. yere of this Philip the erle of Salysbury accoÌ„panied with syr Roberte of Artoys other noble meÌ„ entred Brytayn ayded the freÌ„des of syr IohnÌ„ de mouÌ„tfort in doyng great domage to y e couÌ„tre breÌ„t moche of y e French kynges nauy In assaylyng wherof syr Robert of Artoys was wouÌ„ded in the thygh with a gunne whereupoÌ„ he laye syke vpoÌ„ y e ensued a flux so therof dyed after coÌ„ueyed into EnglaÌ„de there buryed And soon after kyng Edward entred FrauÌ„ce wyth a stroÌ„g army But a peas was at wene hym the FreÌ„che kyng condiscended for a certayne terme by laboure of .ii. cardinales as before in y e .xvi. yere of kyng Edward is declared and in this yere kynge Philip arered a taske of his people called a Gabell in FreÌ„che This was prouyded y t no subiect of y e kynges nor other within hys laÌ„de shuld bye any salt but of the kynge at hys pryce And ouer that he arered lowed the coynes moneys of hys lande to the greate auauÌ„tage of hym selfe and enpouerisshyng of his sayd subiectes by meane wherof he fyll in great hatered of hys people In the .xvi. yere of hys reygne a great dyscencion grewe amonge the nobles of NormaÌ„dy by reason of partyes takyng some wyth IohnÌ„ of Harecourt and other wyth syr Roberte Barthran than Marshal of FrauÌ„ce for couenauÌ„tes of maryge apoynted betwene y e sonne of the sayde syr Robert vpoÌ„ that one partye y e doughter of syr Roger BaconÌ„ whose wyfe or maydes mother was than maryed vnto syr Godfrey de Harecourt brother of that aboue sayd syr IohnÌ„ vppon the other partye For varyauÌ„ce wherof greate warre was lykely to haue ensued yf the kynge the sooner had nat sent strayt commauÌ„dement that eyther partye shulde kepe hys peace to apere before hym and hys lordes at Parys and there to haue theyr greuauÌ„ce by hym hys lordes determyned At whyche day of apperaunce the sayde syr Godfrey appered nat nor none for hym but coÌ„trary the kyngê commauÌ„dement assyeged syr wyllin Berthran bysshop of BaynÌ„ and brother to the foresayd syr Roberte than beyng in a castell And whan he sawe he myght nat preuayll agayne hym he than drewe vnto the EnglysshmeÌ„ and ayded them agaynst the Frenche kynge In thys yere also kynge Phylype entendynge to releue the duchye of Burgoyn wyth whete whyche there than was scaÌ„t ordeyned that certayn quarters of whete shulde be gadered in the countrees of Terroner of Orleaunce Gastenoys so sent into Burgoyn But y e studyauÌ„tes of Orleaunce with the burgeyses comons of the cytie toke therwith such grefe that of one mynde they wente downe vnto the ryuer of Loyer where at y e season certayne shippes laye freyght wyth vytayll to be had vnto the sayd countre there fet out the grayen spoyled it in suche wyse that moche therof came neuer to good And that done many of that company beynge nedy and poore yode vnto vyllages there by and robbed y e people dyde moche harme whaÌ„ the prouost or ruler of OrleauÌ„ce behelde thys rage ryot of the people and coÌ„sydered the multytude of theym he forbare for a tyme tyll they were somdele asswaged And than wyth suche company as he had of hys offycers and other he toke a certayne of theym and put theym in sondrye prysons tyll he knew farther of the kynges pleasur But it was nat longe after that the other of that affynyte herynge of the enprysonement of theyr felowes asseÌ„bled theym of newe and lyke woode men ranne vnto the prysons nat a lonely delyuered theyr felowes but also many other whych laye there for great causes crymes some suche as were coÌ„dempned to deth for theyr transgressyons whan noticioÌ„ of this great outrage and ryot came vnto y e kyng anone he sent thyder .ii. knyghtes of hys court with a puyssaunt army chargyng them to take all suche as were occasyoners and begynners of thys Riot and as many as were founde culpable to be put vnto deth The whych knyghtes accordyng to theyr commission wyth ayde of y e prouost of OrleauÌ„ce toke suche as were dempte gylte of thys cryme haÌ„ged them vpon the common gybet or galous of the cytye amonge the whych were dyuers clerkes and one a deaken within orders And in the same yere and moneth of Auguste a noble knyght of Brytayne called syr Olyuer de ClyconÌ„ for treason y t he hadde conspyred agayne kyng Philippe or for he had fauoured kyng Edwardê partye was taken by a trayne at a iustes or tournameÌ„te holden for y e same cause at Parys and shortly after iudged to deth as fyrst drawen through the cytye vnto the place of iugement theruppon a scaffold purposely ordeyned was byheded and after hys body with chaynes hanged vpon the gybet hys hed standyng there ouer vpoÌ„ a stake or after an other auctour had vnto y e cytye of Nauntes in Brytayne there pyght vpon a gate of y e
all pompe and pryde of thys worlde accompanyed hym in the felowshyp of poore men and yode vnto Rome in pylgrymage wyth great deuocyon when he hadde ben kynge of the westsaxons as before is sayde xxxvii yeres After whose departyng the foresayde Etheldreda hys wyfe went vnto barkynge .vii. mylys froÌ„ London where in the abbay before of Erkenwalde foundyd she contynued and ended an holy lyfe wheÌ„ she hadde ben abbesse of the same place a certayn of tyme. It is sayd testifyed of wyllyam wryter of kynges that this Iue was the fyrste kynge that grauntyd a peny of euery fyre house thorow this realm to be payed to the courte of Rome whych at this daye is called Rome stote or Peter pens and yet is payed in many places of Englande But why yt was graunted the cause is not here shewed how be it yt shall be shewyd after Francia THE CXLII CHAPITER CLodoueus y e thyrd of y e name son of the secoÌ„d Theodoricus beganne his domynyon ouer the realme of Fraunce in the yere of grace .vi. hondred .lxxx. and .x and the thyrd yere of Iue then kyng of westsaxons Of this Clodoueus is of wryters lefte no maner of memorye soundynge to good or euyll but Pepyn before named contynued as master of the paleys by all the tyme of the reygne of y e sayd Clodoueus The whych after that he hadde borne the name by the space of .iii. yeres he dyed wythoute yssue and was buryed by his father By reason of whose deth the sayde kyngedome fell by successyon vnto hys brother Childebert THE CXLIII CHAPITER CHildebertus the second sonne to Theodoryche and brother of Clodoueus foresayde began his domynyon ouer y e realme of FrauÌ„ce in the yere of grace .vi. hundred .lxxx. and .xiii and the .vi. yere of Iue then kynge of westsaxons In tyme of whose reygne also the foresayde Pepyn contynued as chefe ruler of the kynges house all be yt y e he for such other charge as he had of ouerseyng of the realme set in hys place a substâ—tute or depute as his sonne Grimonart and other Thys Pepyn contrary to the lawe of the chyrche helde besyde hys lawfull wyfe called Pleâ—trude a womaÌ„ named Alpayd For the whyche the holy bysshop of Treet named Lamberte blamynge and rebukynge the sayde Pepyn of the brother of the forenamed Alpayde whyche is called Dodon or Dodoin was slayne martyred in the yere of our lorde .vi. hundred .lxxx. and .xii as testyfyeth Antoninus in the .vi. chapyter of the â—iii tytle of the seconde parte of hys worke called summa Antonini And as affermeth the sayde Antoninus also the Frenche cronycle the sayde Pepyn receyued of the sayd Alpayde a sonne whom he named Charlys whyche Charlys was after surnamed Marcellus was ryghte profytable to the realme of Fraunce as after shall appere Of the foresayd kyng Chyldebert is nothynge lefte in wrytyng worthy memory excepte that he receyued of hys wyfe a sonne named Dagobert and kepte the name of a kynge by y e terme of .xvii. yeres as sayth the cronycle in French and than dyed and was buryed in the abbey of Caus in y e chyrch or chapell of saiÌ„t Stephan THE CXLIIII CHAPITER DAgobertê° the seconde of that name and sonne of Chyldebert before named began his reygne ouer the Frenchmen in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and .x the .xxiii. of Iue than kynge of westsaxons The whyche was vnder the rule of Plectrude the wyfe of Pepyn than dede and of Theodowald than mayster of the paleys Thys Plectrude as before is shewed was stepmother to Charlys sonne of Pepyn and of Alpayde wherfore she berynge malyce to the sayd Charlys caused hym to be holden as prysoner wythin Coleyne where he so as prysoner remaynynge the foresayd Theoldowalde exercysed suche tyrannys and putte vpon the people suche exaccyons y e dyscensyon grewe bytwene hym and the lordes of FrauÌ„ce so that dyuers coÌ„flyctes and skyrmysshes were had amonge the nobles of Fraunce for partyes were taken vpon eyther sydes whereby the kynges partye at length was wekyd And fynally the sayd Theoldowalde was depryued of hys rome and one Rangafredus was made mayster of y e paleys The whyche beynge Accompanyed with conuenyent strength toke with hym the kynge and coÌ„ueyed hym thorow the forest of CharboÌ„nur tyll he came vnto y e ryuer of Mense In y e which passetyme the forenamed Charlys beynge as aboue is sayde prysoner by fauoure of hys kepars or otherwyse brake pryson and escapyd And shortly after dyed the kynge whan he hadde reygned or borne the name of a kynge as other of hys progenytours hadde done by y e terme of .xi. yeres leuyng after hym nother chylde as than knowynge nor nere of a lye whyche was cause of mysorder of the tytle of Fraunce as afterwarde shall appere THE CXLV CHAPITER DAnyell that of y e Frenchmen was after named Chilperich was by assente of them made kynge in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and xxi and the .xxxiiii. yere of Iue than kynge of westsaxons Thus as testyfyeth mayster Robert Gagwyne and also the Frenche cronycle was a preste or clerke and for his wysedome was cherysshed before tyme in the kynges paleys in y e whyche tyme and season he sufferyd hys crowne to be ouer growen Or ellys after Antoninus this Danyell after y e deth of Dagobert for so mych as he lefte after hym none of y e royall blode the Frenchemen supposynge hym to be apte for y e rule of the lond for suche experyence as before tyme in hym had be proued kepte hym secrete a certeyne of tyme tyll his heyre was fully growen and than declared hym to be the brother of Dagobert and chaungyd hys name and called hym Chylperych so by one assente admytted hym for kynge of Fraunce Charles before spoken of sonne of Pepyn beynge escapyd the daunger of prysonement sought and compassyd by all maner of wayes how he myghte obteyne the rome that sometyme hys fader occupyed And thys to brynge to effecte he purchasyd to hym a yonglynge of fayre goodly maners stature named Clothayre and sayd that he was descendyd of y e royall blode of Fraunce by meane wherof in shorte tyme he gaderyd to hym greate strength wherof heryng Chylperych commaunded Rangafrede to assemble hys knyghtes to wythstoÌ„de the purpose of Charlys And soone after bothe hostes mette nere vnto the forenamed ryuer of Mense where was foughte a strong and cruell batayle of y e whych Rangafrede was vyctor and compellyd Charles to forsake the felde But he shortly afterward assemblyd and gaderyd agayne togyder all suche as before were dysperklyd and fought efte wyth the sayde Rangafrede at a Place called Ablane Of the whyche batayle wyth great dyffyculte Charlys was lastly wyctour and chasyd Rangafrede and hys hoste greatly demynysshed lassyd Than thyrdly these two hostes met in a felde called the wyne felde where also was present the sayd Danyell or Chilperych hauynge in
done by Offa kynge of Mercia for so myche as in his days flowred that famouse clerke Alcumus or Albinus the whych as sayth the frenche cronycle was fyrste fouÌ„der of the scole of Parys and of Papya as is before shewyd in y e story of Charlys the great in the thyrd chapyter of the sayde storye when Adeulphus hadde thus sped hys besynes and pylgrymage at Rome he retournyd by Fraunce where at that tyme was kyng of that lande Charlys the Ballyd of whom he was ioyouslye receyued And after he hadde dysportyd hym there a season he spousyd the doughter of the sayde Charlys in the .xx. yere of the reygne of the sayde Adeulphus as testyfyeth Policronica in the .xxx. chapiter of his .v. boke whych shuld be the yere of the reygne of the sayde Charlis the .xi. But of this mariage is nothynge touchyd in the frenche cronycle Then Adeulphus takynge leue of the kynge toke shyppynge and landed in Englande wyth his wyfe Indyth by name And for that he contrary the law made in y e tyme of Brigthricus sette his wyfe in the kynges trowne and magnyfyed her lyke a quene the lordes of his lande arose agayne hym and pullyd from hym a great parte of his domynyon and made his eldeste sonne ruler therof whyche all was done in reproche of Ethelburga whyche slew her lorde Brigthricus as before is shewyd Lastly the mater was appeasyd and he to his kyngly honour restoryd About this tyme Bertulphê° kyng of Mercia slewe wyckydly in the holy tyme of Penthecoste saynte wyl stone whose holy bodye was buryed at RepyngedoÌ„ And in y e place where thys holy wylstone was slayne stode a pyller of lyghte .xxx. dayes after And in the yere folowynge dyed the sayde Bertulphus After whose deth Burdredus was made kynge of Mercia or myddell Englande the whyche before tyme hadde spousyd the doughter of kynge Adeulphus In the later dayes of thys Adeulphus the Danys dyd myche harme in Lyndesey and also in kent and frome thens came to London and robbed and spoyled the cytye wherfore Adeulphus gaderyd his people and lastely mette wyth them in Southerey vppon a downe called Oclea and there dyscomfyted theym not wythoute shedynge of great plente of the Anglis blood and forsyd them to take the see so that after they landed in eest Anglia as after shall appere Then lastely dyed thys good kynge Adeulphus or Ethelwolphê° when he hadde ruled hys subictes nobly by accorde of moste wrytes fully .xxii. yere and was buryed at wynchester leuynge after hym four sonnys aforesayde Francia THE CLXIII CHAPITER CHarlys y e yongeste son of Lewys the mylde began hys reygne ouer the chefe part of FrauÌ„ce in y e yere of our lorde .ix. hundred .xli and the .ix. yere of Adeulphus then kynge of westsaxons the whyche as before is sayd was surnamed Ballyd Anon as his father was buryed his brother Lothayre to whome the father as ye fore behaue harde had coÌ„myttyd y e guydynge of this Charlys by the entysynge of his brother Lewys malygned agayn this Charlis and sought many wayes to put hym from such landes as his father had gyuen hym This sayd Lothayr was after the deth of his father emperour and Lewys the yonger brother was duke or knyght of Bayon But for Charlis was yongest and had to his parte the pryncypall porcyon of Fraunce whych was called myddell Fraunce therfore his .ii. bretherne specially Lewys malygned greuously agayne hym wherof this Charlis beynge somdeale infourmed bare hym so wysely so egally to his subiectes that he hadde theyr loues and fauours and trustyd alway by theyr good ayde that he shulde be of power to wythstande theyr vnkynde malyce And lyke as the hydde fyre in processe breketh oute and shewyth great lyght and flammy blase euen so dyd thys couerde malyce at the laste breke oute to great ire and opeÌ„ wrath For after foure yeres was passyd the sayde two bretherne with oute defyaunce or groundely cause of warre assygned or assembled a great hoste suche lyke before thys daye hadde not ben sene and entryd the lymyttes of kynge Charlys Then Charlis assembled in all y e haste hys lordes and requyred theyr aydes and counsayll to wythstande the malyce of hys bretherne And when he hadde knowelege of theyr good myndes anon theyr knyghtes were gaderyd and all thynge was redy to the fyghte Nowe in thys whyle the two bretherne wyth theyr peple were comen to a place callyd Fountayns or FouÌ„tanet where to Charlis spedde hym And when both hostes were nere eyther partye made prouysyon to subdue his enymye Then were the bataylles on bothe partyes orderyd assygned to theyr standardes and capytaynes and the wynges set to the moste auauntage what shuld I lenger processe of this ordynaunce make fynally the shote of arblasters beganne on both sydes whyche ouer threwe many an horse and man and specyally the fore rydars that putte theym selfe in prese wyth theyr longe and sharpe launcys to wynne the fyrste brunte of the felde Pytye yt was to beholde the goodly bryght armyd knyghtes lyeÌ„g and walowynge wyth theyr great stedys in the felde wyth dedly woundes gapynge agayne the son y t were slayne at the fyrst encountre But when the shote was spent and the speres to shateryd then both hostes ranne to gyther wyth Rowlandes songe so that in shorte whyle the grene felde was dyed into a perfyte redde For there was heddes armes legges trunkys of ded mennys bodyes lyenge as thycke as floures growe in tyme of maye in the floryshynge medowys myserable and pyteouse yt was to beholde the persones halfe lyuynge and halfe ded with theyr grysely woundes pyteously gronynge and cryenge wythoute comforte So that there was shewyd all rygoure wythoute mercy and all crueltyes wythout compassyon Thus duryd this mortall fyghte by a longe season that doutefull yt was to knowe whyche partye hadde thauauÌ„tage of other Howbeit Charlys was putte to an afterdeale by .ii. meanes The fyrste was for so mych as Charlis entendyd to haue forborne for the reuerence of the hygh feste as the daye of the ascensyon of oure lorde that daye not to haue foughten And the seconde was that he was farre lesse in nomber whyche two causes of dysauauÌ„tage not with standynge yet in the conclusyon he wanne the honoure of that iourney But not wythoute great losse of hys peple and many of the nobles of his lande where of the frenche boke rehersith the names But for they be to vs vnknowen I passe theym ouer And as yet is testyfyed of many wryters there was slayne that daye mo Frencheman then was slayn at any felde euer before that day wherof the nomber is not expressyd for yt was so great Then Lothayre was forced to take Aquisgrany for his safegard and Lewys ellys where But Charlys wyth a small coÌ„pany that to hym were lefte folowed his Bretherne and coÌ„strayned Lothayre to forsake y e citye thens to go vnto Lyon a cytye y e standeth at
and fette there his aimes hys sayde wyfe then lyenge at the castell of warwyke not knowynge of any man what he was tyll lastely he was visited with so sore sykenes that he knew well that he shuld dye wherefore he sente hys weddynge rynge vnto hys wyfe requyrynge her in all haste to come and speke wyth hym whych she obeyed in humble wyse and sped her vnto the sayd Heremytage wyth all womanly dylygence and fande hym deed at her commynge whom she besprent with many a salt tere And as she was enfourmed of the messenger as he dyed she buryed hym ryghte there And more ouer as saith my sayd authour he monyshed her by the sayd messenger that she shulde prouyde for her selfe for she shuld also alter her mortall lyfe the .xv. day folowyng which also she obeyed and made suche prouisyon that she was in that place buryed by hym All whyche mater the sayde Dane Iohn̄ Lydgate affyrmeth that he toke out of the boke of Gerarde Cambres̄ whyche wrote mych of the dedes and storyes of the prynces of Englande as Policronica and other authour testyfyen and as the sayde Lydgate in the ende of his sayde treatyse wytnessyth as by the mater folowynge appereth For more authorite as of this mater This translacyon such as in sentēce Out of laten made by the cronycler Called of old Gerardus Cambrēce whyche wrote the dedes wyth great dylygence Of them that were in weste Saxon crowned kynges Greatly cōmendyd for theyr knyghtly excellence Guy of warwyke in hys famouse wrytynges AL whyche sayde treatyse is shewyd at length in meter of viii stauys after the maner of the precedentes by the dylygent labour of the sayde Dane Iohn̄ Lydgate The whyche I haue here sette in for so mych as yt concernyth mater that was done in the tyme of the reygne of thys Ethylstane The whyche after the accorde of moste wryters ▪ broughte thys lande agayne to one monarchye and reygned as kynge therof by the full terme of .xvi. yeres and was buryed at the monastery of Malmysbury leuynge after hym no chylde wherfore the rule of the land fyll vnto Edmunde his brother Francia THE CLXXXVI CHAPITER LEwys the sonne of Charlis y e symple beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchmen in y e yere of our lorde ix hundred and xxxiiii and the .ix yere of Ethelstane then kynge of Englande ye haue harde before in the ende of the storye of Charlys y e symple how Elgina the quene wyth Lewys her yonger sonne was fledde into England to her father Edward the elder wherfore y e lordes of Fraūce not knowynge where she with the Chylde was gone chose the forenamed Rauf for theyr kynge After whose deth the said lordes of Fraūce beynge ascertayned of the beynge of the sayd Lewys in England sent vnto hym the archbyshop of Senys Hughe surnamed le graunde desyrynge hym to restore into Fraunce and take therof possessyon Then Elgina herynge the message of the lordes and trustyng vnto thē by counsayll of her frendes made her redy wyth her son sayled shortly after into Fraunce where she was receyued wyth myche honour shortly after crowned her sonne Lewys kynge at the cytye of Laon̄ This Lewys is named y e .v. Lewys In the thyrde yere of whose reygne fyll a scarcytye of corne vytayll by reason wherof ensued a great famyn in so myche that people voyded the realme many dyed for defaut For as wytnesseth the frenche cronycle a quarter of whete was then worth .xx. poūde of y e money which is of value after sterlynge money .l. s. or there about This kyng beryng in mynd the murder and treason done agayn his father by Hebert as before in the storye of Charlis the symple is declared cast and ymagined in his mynde how he myght wythout shedynge of blood reuenge the deth of his fader and after many ymagynacyons and thought is reuolued in his mynde he lastely dyuysed a letter the whych he charged a seruaunt of his to brynge to hys presence when he was sette amonge his lordes in counsayll when kynge Lewys hadde compassed this in hys mynde he for nedes of hys realme called a great coūsayll of his barony at Laon̄ whyther amonges the other the sayde Heberte erle of Uermendoys was warned to come And when the kynge was ascertayned of theyr commynges he apoynted a secrete cōpanye in harnes to be in a secrete chamber nere vnto the place of the sayde counsayll and at conuenient tyme after yode vnto the same and all his lordes wyth hym And when he hadde a season commoned wyth hys lordes of suche maters as hym lyked sodeynly came one to hym and sayd that a man was cōmen wyth a letter dyrected to hys grace oute of Englande the whych he commaunded to be broughte vnto hys syghte when the kyng hadde vnfolde the letter and radde a parte therof he smyled whereof the lordes beynge ware purposed the kynge to haue receyued some iewyllys or ioyous nouellys oute of Englande whyle the kynge was aboute to delyuer this letter to his scribe or secretory one of hys lordes sayde vnto hym Syr we truste ye haue some iocande mery tydynges oute of Englāde that ye haue cause of smilyng I shall shewe the cause to you sayde the kyng There is dwellyngin England a kynnesman of myne named Harman the whych is a man of gret myghte and myne especyall frende He shewyth me by this letter that an husbandeman or a vyleyne badde or requyred hys lorde vnto his howse to dyner and vnder the coloure therof he slewe hys sayde lorde And for the sayde Harman thynketh the law of that lande to fauourable for such an haynous dede hetherfore writeth to me to haue myne aduyse in thys mater wherfore sens ye be all present I praye you shewe to me your opynyons in this mater whych with one voyce sayde y t the murderer was worthy to suffer the moste shamefull and cruell deth to be hanged and strangled in a rope But for y e kynge wolde be certaynely enfourmed of the consentes of theym all he began at the hygest and so pursued theym tyll he came to Hebert erle of Uermēdoys the whych alowed the sentēce as the other hadde done Then the kynge made a token to y e walshemen betwene hym them before appoynted so y e anon they were present sette sure hold vppon the sayde Hebert To whom the kynge sayd Hebert thou art the husbondman or vilayne y t I haue spoken of whych slew his lord vnder colour of byddynge or gestynge hym in hys house For traytoursly thou dydeste requyre my lorde and father vnder thyne house or castell of Peron̄ and there not remembrynge the kyndnes to the by hym before dayes shewyd nor thyne allegyauntes and trouthe that toward hym thou shuldest haue borne kept hym lyke a prysoner and lastely murderyd hym to the greate daunger agayne god to the world shame wherfore accordynge to thy desert and after thyne own sentence and iudgemēt take now
fermely bounde to kepe as well by hostages taken as other suertye the kynge retourned into England ioynyng this kyngedome to hys other So that here is rekened the ende of this kyngdome whyche shulde endure as before is shewyd in the C.ix. chapyter of thys worke by the terme of foure hundred .ix. yeres In the same yere that the kynge hadde thus subdued the danys a strong sykenesse toke hym wherfore he sent for holy byshoppe Dunstane to come vnto hym The whych Dunstane in goynge towarde the kynge harde a voyce saye vnto hym now restyth kynge Edredus in peace At tyme of whych voyce thus sayenge the horse of that holy byshop fyll to the grounde and dyed wythout hurtynge of hys mayster Then this holy man continued his iourney and fande the kynge dede at his commynge whome he buryed wyth great reuerence in the monastery or cathedrall chyrche of the cytye of wynchester in the .xxviii. yere of his age and the .x. yere of hys reygne as testyfyeth Guydo and other THE CXC CHAPITER LOtharius the eldest sonne of the v. Lewys began his reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lordes incarnacy on .ix. hundred lv and y e .viii. yere of Edredus then kynge of Englande Thys Lothayr by meanes of Thebaude or Theobalde erle of Chartres toke partye agayne Rycharde duke of Normandye And for to haue agayn hym som groūdely cause he sent vnto y e duke monyshynge hym to haue in mynde the fayth and allegyaunce that the dukes of Normandye ought to bere vnto the kynges of Fraūce And for maynteynynge of the same and for other maters that he hadde to speke wyth hym of he wylled hym to come to a place appoynted where all such maters myght haue farther expedicion All whyche commaundement or request was graunted of the duke when the kynge had receyued this answere from the duke wherof he demyd before the contrary he sent for Arnolde erle of Flaundres Godfrey erle of Angewe and Theobalde before named By whose counsaylles after many argumentes made the kynge agreed to call the duke vnto the ryuer of Isayr there to betraye hym At which daye place appoynted y e duke with a cōuenyent cōpany came vnto the sayd ryuersyde there abydyng the cōmyng of Lothayr vppon y e other syde whyche lastly came thyther wyth a great people wherof when the duke was ware he fered treason for the whyche cause he sent espyes to knowe of the kynges entent And they as wyse mē espyed all the purpose of the hoste and shortely retourned and shewed to the duke that he was in great daunger The whyche shortely after apperyd for the Frenchemen began to passe the ryuer in great nomber Then duke Rychard consyderyng that he was of so litell myght to with stande the great power of the Frēche hoste sente a parte of his men to defende the passage wyth the remenaunt retourned vnto the cytye of Roan̄ wherof the kynge beyng ware that the duke was hym escaped called agayne his people wyth great dyspleasure retourned vnto Laon. It was not longe after y t the kyng assembled a great hoste of Burgonyons and Frenchemen entred into Normandye and beseged the cytye of Bayon and lastly wanne it by the treason of one Gylberde a smyth belongynge vnto y e erle Theobald aboue named when the kynge hadde thus wōne y e citye of Bayon he betoke the kepynge therof vnto the sayde erle The whyche puttynge therin a strength of knyghtes yode vnto a castell called Harmauyle besegyd yt wyth a certayn of knyghtes In whyche season the kynge for nedes of his realme retourned into Fraunce when duke Rycharde was ware of the kynges departure he wyth hys people passed the water of Sayn̄ costed the countrey fyll sodaynely vppon erle Theobalde lyenge at the foresayd syege and slewe of his men vi hūdred .xl. persons and put the erle in such a fere that he scaped with great daunger and fledde with smal company tyll he came to his owne citye of Charters Then duke Rycharde consyderyng the great malice of his foon strēgth of them sent vnto the kynge of Denmarke then named Erarde requyryng him of ayde or helpe for to withstande the malyce of his enymyes The whych Erarde receyued gladly that message promysed to them all theyr request shortely after sent to the sayd duke a great army of Danys which sped thē by y e see tyll they came to to the place where the water of Sayn̄ falleth into the see wherof the duke beynge aduertysed in short space drew vnto them wyth his people and so with them entred the coūtrey of y e erle of Chartris in wastyng destroynge it wythout mercy and after entred the landes of Fraunce in pyllynge robbynge brennynge wastynge yt and slew y e people with out mercy and pytye For this mysery tyranny thus exercysed by the Danys y e kyng beyng therwyth confused sente for the bysshoppes of his land to haue theyr aduyce Amonges the which the bishop of Chartris beynge present was by the hole counsayll admitted to go to the duke and knowe the cause why that he beynge a crysten man made suche destruccyon of the crysten people and occupyed the land of crysten men with so manyfolde harmes and seathes and to conclude the trew or trewce for a certayne of tyme. The sayde byshoppe accomplyssynge the kynges pleasure was answered of the duke that this vexacyon that he put the lande of Fraunce to was for the iniurye y t the kyng hadde before tyme done vnto hym yet cōtynued the same in holdynge from hym hys cytye of Bayon the whych he hadde gyuen to his great enymy the erle of Chartris So that in conclusyon a restraynte of warre was graunted vppon condycyon that by a day assygned the kynge wold apoynte a day of communycacyon and in the meane tyme restore vnto hym hys cytye of Bayon when the kynge had receyued y e answere from the duke he made suche meanes that y e duke receyued his city of Bayon with all dyspeasure forgyuen agayn y e forenamed Theobald whych was done by medyacyon of a relygyous munke as affermeth the Frenche boke And after the daye of metynge was appoynted at a place called Gyndolfoss where the duke made ordynaūce for receyuynge of y e kyng and cōmaunded the paynyms and Danis to behaue them reuerently agayne the kynge and his people the whych was obeyed in all due maner And y e kyng there receyued with myche honour hadde vnto the duke many goodly wordes requyrynge hym to forget all his former vnkyndnesse trustynge to shewe vnto hym suche pleasures in tyme to come that shulde recompence all the former displeasures and vnkyndnes by him before commytted wyth whyche fayre speche the duke takynge yt wythout dyssymulacyon was well satysfyed and content so that after assuraunce of amytye and peace betwene theym stablysshed eyther gyuynge vnto other great and ryche gyftes they departed as frendes The whych
neuew vnto Edward the confessour as before is shewed beganne hys domynyon ouer thys realme of Englande the .xv. daye of October in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousand .lxvii and y e ix yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kyng of Fraunce and was crowned kynge of the same vppon Crystmas daye nexte folowynge of Aldredus archbyshoppe of yorke for so myche as at that tyme Stigandus archbysshoppe of Caunterbury was then absent or durste not come in the pÌ„sence of the kynge to whome he ought no great fauour as in the sequele shall appere when wyllyam had sette in quyet a great parte of thys lande he betoke the gydyng therof to his brother the byshop of Bayon and in lent folowynge sayled into Normandye and led wyth hym the chefe rulers of England for doute of sturryng in tyme of his absence Amonge the whyche the two erles Marcarê° and Edwyne rulers of Northumberlande Mercia were two wyth also Stigandus and Edgare Ethelynge To the why the Stigandus wyllyam shewed great reuerence and couÌ„tenaunce of fauoure But all proued to great dissymulacyon after as was shewed by the depryuynge of the sayd Stigandus and prysonment of hym in wynchester towne by a longe terme and season In the next wynter whan wyllyam had sped hys besynesse in Normandy he retourned into England wyth greate pompe and sette a greuous trybute vpon the Englyshmen By reason wherof some partyes of the lande rebelled agayne hym and specyally the cytye of Excetour the whyche defended hym for a certayne of tyme. But lastly by force he wanne the sayde cytye and punysshed the cytesyns greuously For thys and other sterne dedes of wyllyam Marcharus erle of Northumberlande wyth Edgare Athelynge and dyuers other as hys moder and two systers Margarete and Crystyan sayled into Scotlande But another cronycle telleth y t Edgare entendynge wyth Agatha hys moder and hys two systers to haue sayled into Almayne where he was borne was by tempest of the see dryuen into Scotlande where of Malcolyne than kynge of Scottes they were ioyously receyued And in processe of tyme the sayde Malcolyne caste suche loue vnto the sayd Margaret that he toke her to wyfe as before is touched in the fyrste chapyter of the story of Canutê° Of the which Margaret the sayde Malcolyne receyued .ii. doughters and .vi. sonnes wherof thre named Edgare AlexauÌ„der Dauyd were kynges of Scotlande nexte folowynge theyr fader And Molde one of y e foresayd doughters was after maryed vnto the fyrst Henry kynge of Englande And the other doughter Mary was maryed to Eustace erle of Bolongii Of Molde the fyrste doughter Henry receyued .ii. sonnes named wyllyam and Rychard the whych bothe dyed before theyr fader as after in y e story of the sayd Henry shall appere And he receyued also two doughters named Molde and Mary whych Molde or Mawde was maryed to y e fyfte Henry emperour of Almayne After whose deth she was agayne maryed to Godfrey of Geoffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Aungeowe Of whom descended Henry surnamed shorte mantell and kynge of Englande called Henry the seconde And the other doughter Mary was maryed vnto the erle of Blaynes of whoÌ„ descended Molde or Mawde that was wyfe vnto kynge Stephen Than it foloweth that thys wyllyam after thys foresayd trybute so leuyed of the Englysshemen and knowynge of the depertynge of the lordes foresayde kepte the other the streyter But it was not longe after that Marcharus was reconsyled to the kynges grace and fayled agayn as folowynge shall be shewed For thys and other causes whyche were tedyous to shewe wyllyam exalted the Normans and gaue vnto them the chyefe possessyons of the lande so that they dayly encreased in great honour and welth and the Englysh men as faste decayed Kynge wyllyaÌ„ also made .iiii. stronge castels where of two be sette at yorke the thyrde at Lyndetyngham or Notynghm and manned them wyth Normans and the .iiii. at Lyncolne About the thyrde yere of his reygne Harolde Canutus sonnes of Swanus kynge of Denmarke came on lande in the North of Humber wyth a stronge nauy and in all haste drew them towarde yorke Than the Normans whyche hadde the rule of the towne and castelles feryng that the Englysshemen wolde ayde the Danys and wyth the houses of the suburbes of the towne haue fylled the towne dyches sette the suburbes on fyre wherof y e flame was so bygge and wyth the wynde so stronge that it toke into the cytye brent a parte therof wyth the mynster of saynt Peter In tyme wherof the Danys by fauour of some of the citesyns entred the cytye and slewe more than thre thousande of the Normans But it was not longe or kynge wyllyam chased the Danys to theyr shyppes and toke so greate dyspleasure wyth the inhabytauntes of that prouynce that he destroyed the land lyenge bytwene yorke and Durham in suche wyse that .ix. yeres after or there about the lande laye vnlabored vntylled onely out taken saynt IohnÌ„s lande of Beuerley the which was for borne by reason of a wreche done by dyuyne power vpon one of kynge wyllyams knyghtes The whych as he was besyed in wastyng and spoylynge of the sayde countre fyll sodeynly wyth hys horse so that hys horse brake hys necke and the knyghtes face was turned to his backe And of the famyne that the people of that countre susteyned wonders are reported that they shuld eate all maner of vermyn as cattes rattes dogges other so harde they were kepte by the warre of the kyng And in that yere also Molde or Mawde the wyfe of kynge wyllyaÌ„ was crowned quene of England of Aldredus archebysshop of yorke In the .iiii. yere of the reygne of thys kynge the Scottes with Malcolyne theyr kynge entred Northumberlande and wasted and destroyed sore that countre and slewe there in myche people and many they toke prysoners helde theÌ„ as bonde men But in the .vi. yere of hys kyngdome wyllyam made such warre vppon the Scottes that he lastely forced the sayde Malcolyne to swere to hym bothe homage and feauty as it is wytnessed of wyllyam of Malmesbery and other wryters THE CCXX CHAPITER Kynge willyam by counsayle of the erle of Hortford and other caused the abbeyes of Englande to be serched And what money in them at that season was founde he caused it to be brought to hys treasour For the whyche dede after the exposycyoÌ„ of some authours the sayd erle was punysshed as after shall be shewed Soone vpon thys in the tyme by twene Easter and wytsontyde was holden a solempne counsayle at wynchester of the clergy of Englande At the whyche counsayle were presente two cardynalles sent from y e second Alexaunder than pope In thys couÌ„sayle Stygandus archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury was depryued from his dygnytye and that for thre skylles The fyrste was for that he had holden wrongfully that bysshopryche whyle Robert the archebysshop was lyuynge The seconde cause was for that he hadde receyued the Paule
pytye that he suffered hym to be at hys lybertye whyche after the opynyon of wyllyam de regibus was done more of pryde than of compassyon THE CCXXV. CHAPITER IN the .xi. yere of the reygne of thys wyllyam the rede at a towne called Fynchanster in the couÌ„trey of Barke shyre a welle caste out blode as before it hadde done water And after by the space of .xv. dayes great flames of fyre were sene in the elemeÌ„t in sundry places and tymes Thys yere also y e two erles of Shrewesbury and of Chester eyther named Hugh by the kynges commauÌ„dement entred wyth theyr knyghtes the I le of Man or Anglesaye slewe therin many welshemen and gelded many moo Amonge the whyche a preste named Kynredus was draweÌ„ out of a chyrch and serued of y e same wyse and also cut hys tunge out of hys hed and put out hys one eye But this preste was of such vertue that by myracle he was restored to helthe within .iii. dayes ensuynge In the whyche season and tyme the kynge of Northganys or Norwaye wan the iles called than Orcades and now Orkeys after came wyth hys strength into the foresayd ile of Man where at the same season were the sayde two erles Than bytwene them was mortall fyght in y e whyche Hugh erle of Shrewesbury was stryken with an arowe in y e eye and dyed wythin .viii. dayes after But as sayth Guydo the Danys were chased and the Englysshemen hadde the vyctory Kyng wylliam was mych in Normandye for so myche as Robert his brother was all thys season in the holy land of whose actes shall some deale be towched in y e story of Henry the fyrste And wyllyam had myche payne to rule the Normans for they rebelled often agayne hym In the .xii. yere of hys reygne he came out of Normandye and when he saw the hall of westmynster y t he had caused to be buylded he was therwyth dyscontented that it was so lytell wherfore as it is rehersed of some wryters he entended yf he had lyued to haue made a larger and y t to haue serued for a chaumber Robert Losaunge that somtyme had ben abbot of Ramsey and than bysshop of Thetforde by gyfte of a thousand pounde to the kyng repented hym after and bewept that vnskylfull dede and toke hys waye to Rome and dyd for it hys enioyned penaunce and after retorned into Englande and turned hys see from Thetforde to Norwyche founded there a fayre monastery of hys owne goodes not of the patrymony of crystes chyrch But therin is a dowt to consyder For he was fyrste an abbot and after a bysshop About thys tyme by the meanes of one Stephen Hardynge a munke of Sherbourne an Englyshman of y e order of Sisteaux or whyte muÌ„kes had hys begynnynge in the wyldernesse of Cystery within the prouynce of Burgoyne as wytnesseth Ranulf munke of Chester But other wryters as Jacobus Phylyppus the authour of Cronica cronicaruÌ„ Matheolus wyth other sayen that this Stephen was the second abbot of y e place y t it was fyrste fouÌ„ded by the meanes of one Robert abbot of MolyneÌ„se in the yere of grace M.xcviii whyche to folow theyr sayeng shuld be in the .ix. yere of the reygne of this kyng This order was after brought into Englande by one called walter Espeke that fouÌ„ded the fyrste abbay of that relygyon at Ryuall about y e yere of grace .xi. C.xxxi The whyche shulde be about the .xxxi. yere of the fyrste Henry than kyng of England Somwhat of theyr relygyon is towched in the .x. chapyter of the .viii. boke of Polycronycon After that kynge wyllyam as before is sayde was retourned out of Normandy many wonderfull prodygyes and tokyns were shewed in England as the swellyng or rysyng of y e water of Thamys in suche wyse that it drowned dyuers townes and dyd mych harme by out passyng his boundys in dyuers places about LoÌ„don and ellys where Also the deuyll was sene walke in mannes lykenesse wyth dyuers other thynges whyche I ouerpasse The kyng was warned of this and tolde by his famylyers y t god was not coÌ„tent with his lyuing But he set all at nought and made of it a scoffe or a iape In the .xiii. yere of his reygne and begynnynge thereof as the thyrde daye of Auguste after the sayenge of Ranulfe thys kyng wyllyam beyng at hys dysporte of huntynge wythin the newe forest by glaunsynge of an arowe shot of a knyght named walter Tyrell was wounded to the deth in the .xliiii. yere of hys age After whyche dede the sayde walter escaped and saued hym self for few there were that hym pursued And so the kynge thus wounded was layde vppon an horse lytter and so conueyed to wynchester where shortly after he dyed and was buryed Of this man myghte be made a myche lenger story yf all hys dedes shulde be towched The whych toke vpon hym great thynges and mych gretter enteÌ„ded yf he myght haue lyued The daye before he was slayne one axed of hym where he wold kepe hys Crystmasse At Poytiers sayde the kynge for the erle entendeth to go towarde Hierusalem and I woll assaye to haue hys erledome in morgage for well I knowe he must cheuyche for money to perfourme that iourney The day that wyllyaÌ„ dyed he helde in his haÌ„des the .iii. bysshopryches of CauÌ„terbury of winchester and of Salysbury and dyuers abbayes of the whyche he let some to terme Also he refrayned y â— money y â— of olde tyme was payed to Rome called Rome scotte Of this wyllyaÌ„ reportyth Henry of HuÌ„tyngdoÌ„ sayth y t though this maÌ„ were lyght of som thynges yet he was stedfast stable of his promyse so y t what he ê“mysed good or euyll shuld be ê‘formed And though he were named couetous yet it shuld seme y t he was liberall as sheweth by this narracyoÌ„ folowyng Upon a season when the abbot of a place in Englande was dede two munkes of the same place the which before hadde gatheryd money made theyr frendes to kynge willyam and offered large offers eyther of them to be promoted to that dygnyte There was also a thyrde munke the which of mekenesse of humylyte folowed the other two to the entent that vppon hym that the kynge had admytted for abbot he wolde haue gyuen attendaunce and as his chapelayn to haue wyth hym returned The kynge called before hym the .ii. munkys seuerally and eyther out profered other And as he caste hys eye asyde he espyed the thyrd the whych he demed hadde comen also for the same cause Then the kynge called hym and asked yf he wold geue any more then his bretherne had offered to be abbot But he answered to the kynge and sayde that he wolde nother offer nor yet gyue for yt one peny nor wold haue so great a charge by any meane wrongefull when the kynge had well vnderstanden thys thyrde munkes answere he sayde that he was best worthy to be
in lawe wyllyam son of kynge Henry whyche hadde maryed hys doughter About the .xx. yere of the reygne of kyng Henry quene Molde or Mawde hys wyfe dyed in Normandy the whyche in her youthe was set by her father kyng of Scottes into a nunry and there ware vsed the vayle and habyte of a nunne For the whiche cause when kynge Henry was agreable to take her vnto wyfe thys mater fell in great despucyon Anselme then archebyshop of Caunterbury was sore agayne that maryage a season of tyme. But at length yt was suffycyeÌ„tly proued that she was there as a fygure a woman worynge that habyte wythoute professyon of order And this was thus ordered by her father to the ende to put by vnworthy wowers Thys of wryters was reputed for a blessyd and holy woman after the lyuynge of a worldly woman when kynge Henry had contynued in Normandy vppon the season and terme of .iii. yeres he toke shyppyng at Haterflete in Normandy and sayled happely into Englande the same day that is to meane y e .xxiiii. day of Nouember as sayth some wryters And shortly after willyaÌ„ duke of Normandy wyth Rycharde his brother Notha the countesse of Persye Rycharde erle of Chester with his wyfe the kynges nyce and the archdekyn of Herforde and other to the nomber of a hundred .lx. persones toke shyppynge at the sayde porte were all drowned a bocher onely excepte whyche mysfortune fell by the ouersyght of the maister and other which fell at a dyssencyon in the nyghte amonge them selfe by reason wherof they ranne vppon a rocke as shewed the foresayde bocher From this dauÌ„ger wyllyam duke of NormaÌ„dy was escaped and was in the shyppe bote nere vnto the lande But when he harde the lameÌ„table crye of the CouÌ„tesse Notha he commaunded the rowers to returne and saue the sayd Countesse whych done by what mysfortune I can not saye after she was receyued into the bote were it by tempeste or ouer chargynge of the bote or otherwise they were all swalowid of the see so that none of them was after fouÌ„de but ê‘te of theyr goodes Of this duke wyllyaÌ„ some desclaunderous wordes are lefte in memory both in the englyshe cronycle and also of other wryters the whyche I ouerpasse THE CCXXIX CHAPITER IN the .xxi. yere of hys reygne kynge Henry made y e parke of wodestoke be syde Oxenforde with other plesures to the same And Fouques erle of Angiers returned out of the holy land and maryed the syster of her that before he had maryed vnto wyllam duke of Normandye vnto the son of Robert Curthose and gaue wyth her the erledome of Conomanna And stryfe began to kyndell betwene kynge Henry the sayd Fouques for the wytholdyng of the dowre or ioynture of hys fyrste doughter maryed wnto wyllyam the kynges sonne In the .xxiii. yere of kynge Henry dyed Raufe archbyshoppe of Caunterbury and one named wyllyaÌ„ was set in y e see after hym And the kynge in thys yere beganne the foundacyon of y e abbay of Redyng And IohnÌ„ a cardynall of Rome was sente from Calyxte the seconde of that name theÌ„ beynge pope for certayne maters coÌ„cernynge the pope In the tyme of whyche hys so beynge here the cardynall made sharpe processe agayne prestes that norysshed Crysten moyles and rebuked them by open publyshement and otherwyse so that he wan hym here but small lytle fauoure But this dyssymuled doctour toke so great feruence in the correccyon of the iudgement of prestes of Englande that he forgate the lore and couÌ„sayll of his famous pope Caton whyche in the boke of his counsayll or of wysedome thus sayth Quae cuspare soses ea tu ne feceris ipse Turpe est doctori cum cuspa redarguit ipsum The whyche two verses maye be englyshed as foloweth Auyse y e well let reason be thy guyde when other folke thou arte aboute to blame That suche defaute in the be not espyed For yf there be then shalt thou haue the shame A mannes honoure suche thynges woll reclayme It ys full foule when that a man woll chese If that hys dede agayne hys wordes preche This couÌ„sayll was not remembred of the sayd Cardynall For in the euenynge after he had lewdely blowen his horne and sayde it was a detestable synne to aryse from the syde of a strumpet sacre the body of Cryste he was taken wyth a strumpet to his open shame and rebuke In the .xxv. yere of kynge Henry was called a counsayll at London where the spyrytualty condescended that the kynges offycers shulde punyshe prestes that cheryshed the foresayde mulys But the sayd offycers toke money and sufferyd the prestes to spurre theyr mulys at theyr pleasure whyche offyce at this daye is so clerely renouÌ„ced of al spyritual men y t neyther kyng nor bishop taketh for yt any synes nor yet correccyon necessarye to be done for the same In the .xxvii. yere of his reygne as reporteth an olde Cronycle the gray freres by procuryng of y e kyng came fyrste into Englande and had theyr fyrst house buylded at Caunterbury And aboute this tyme by moste accorde of writers dyed Henry the .iiii. emperour of that name whyche as before is touched maryed Molde the doughter of kyng Henry After whose deth the sayde empresse came vnto her father into Normandye when kyng Henry was ascertaynted of the deth of Henry the emperour for so myche as he hadde none heyre male he caused soone after the more party of hys lordes of England as well spirytuall as temporall to swere in his presence that they shuld kepe y e land of Englande to the vse of Mawde y e empresse yf he dyed wythoute yssue male and she then suruyued In the .xxviii. yere of kyng Henry Geffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Angeou maryed Molde the empresse Of the whyche two descended Henry the second that after Stephan was kyng of Englande In this yere also the kynge had dyuers monycyons and vysyons For amonge other ferefull dremys he saw a great company of clerkys with dyuerse wepons whyche manassed hym for dette that he shuld owe vnto them And when they were passed he thought y t he was manassed to deth of his own knyghtes And lastely apperyd to hym a great company of byshoppes whych thretened hym and wolde haue smytten hym wyth theyr crosses By this monicyon he toke remorce in his conscyence and dyd great dedes of charyte in Normandye where he hadde sene these visyons And after his coÌ„myng then into Englande in satysfaccyon of wronges done to the chyrche as affermeth Guydo he then founded the abbay of Redynge before spoken of And ouer that he releasyd vnto Englyshe men the Dane gelt that was by his father his brother renewed In the .xxx. yere of this kyng Henry dyed the erle of Flaundres and kynge Henry as sayth Ranulfe was by agrement of Lewys the Frenche kyng made erle as next heyr enherytour to the sayde erledome But it is not there expressed by
to the entent he myght fortyfye theym wyth his knyghtes to wythstande the empresse whose cūmynge he euer fered And y e yere folowynge he wāne wyth strength the castellys of Glowceter of Herford of webley of Brystowe of Dudley of Shrewesburye for the whyche cause Robert erle of Glouceter began to wythdrawe hys allegeaunce from kynge Stephan This Robert was the son of Henry the fyrst by reason of baste and for thys dyspleasure sent letters vnto Molde the empresse hys syster promysynge to her great ayde to wynne her ryght In the meane whyle that the empresse made prouysyon for her iourney kynge Stephan concluded a maryage betwene Eustace his sonne and Constaunce the kynges syster of Fraunce doughter of Lewys the great the whyche contynued the amyte betwene England and Fraūce Then in the moneth of Iuly and vi yere of Stephan Molde the empresse as testyfyeth Henry the chanon in hys .ix. boke entred this land by the porte of Portesmouthe and so kepte on her iourney tyll she came to Brystowe and dyd great harme by the meane of her passage through the countrey In whyche tyme of her sayde landynge kyng Stephan laye at the syege of walyngforde castell But as soone as he harde of the landynge of the empresse he anon sente oute commyssyons for more strength and so drewe towarde hys enymyes But in this tyme and season Robert erle of Glowceter and Ranulfe erle of Chester wente vnto the empresse wyth all the power that they might make The empresse herynge the great power commynge wyth the kynge drewe to the cytye of Nycoll now called Lyncolne and there helde her a longe season for all that the kyng myght do But lastely the empresse wyth her people escaped and the kynge was possessyd of the cytye and there bode tyll Candelmas After whyche season erle Robert and Ranulfe before named with a great power of walshmen y e power of the empresse came agayn the kynge where as when bothe hostes were nere ioynyng the erle Ranulfe of Chester spake to his knightes and sayd I requyre you that I that am cause of your parell may be the fyrst that shall entre into the parell Then answered erle Robert and sayd yt is not vnworthy to the y t axeste the fyrst stroke and dignyte of this fyght For to the yt is syttynge for noblesse of blood and vertue of strength in the whyche thou passest other men But the kinges false othe moueth men to warre and to fyght where we muste now wynne the mastry or be ouercomē And he y t hath none other socour is cōstrayned to defende hym by knyghtly and stronge dedes of armes of manhode And so shall we now agayne theym that by entryked wyth gyle wyckednesse as Robert erle of Mellent the erle also of Albemarll and Symon of Hampton the which is a man of great boste and of small myght Then kyng Stephan prepayred to set forwarde hys people and erle Baudewyne had wordes of comfort to the kynges peple sayde Men y t shall fyghte to theym is behouefull thre thynges The fyrst is ryght of y e cause leste men fal in parell of soule The second is quantyte of men of armys leste men be oppreste wyth excedynge nomber And the thyrde is the effecte corage of strēgth of knightes y t the quarel shuld not fayle for lacke of hardy and assured fyghtynge As touchynge whyche thre poyntes I truste we be well sped But ye take hede farthermore what enymyes we haue fyrste we haue agayne vs Robert erle of Glouceter whyche vseth great manasses and executeth lytle or small dedys In mouth he is a lyon but in harte he is a shepe He is pompous in speche and darke in vnderstandyng There is also Ranulfe erle of Chester a man wythout reason and full of folehardynesse redy and preste to all conspyracy and vnstedfastnesse of maner and dedes hasty and furyouse of hart and vnware of parellys He assayeth oft to acheue great dedes but he bryngeth none to effecte And what he fyrsly and fresshely begynneth he cowardely and fayntly forsaketh as vnhappy and vngracyous in all his dedys and is ouercomen in euery place For he holdeth wyth hym banyshed men scullers And the mo of them that be in a company the soner they be ouercomē and weke they be in fyghtyng for eyther of theym putteth truste in his felowe whyle hym selfe is ouerthrowen But or he myght haue finyshed his wordes to moste mennys audyence the crye of the enymyes wyth noyse of trumpettes and gruntyng of horsys approched and smote to gyther and forth go the arowes and gresely cruell fyghte was contynued vppon bothe sydes for the whyle y t yt enduryd where through the grene feld was turned into a perfyte redde so that many a pale wan vysage was there sene yeldynge the gooste wyth armys and legges disseueryd and departed A longe whyle thys fyghte stode in questyon whyther partye shulde obteyne vyctorye But in the ende kynge Stephans partye gaue backe and fledde and he full knyghtly abode on felde wyth a fewe of his knyghtes and was taken and so was brought vnto the empresse the whyche commaunded hym to be conueyed vnder sure kepyng vnto Brystowe where he was kepte as a prysoner from the sayde tyme of Candelmasse vnto holy Roode daye next ensuynge Aboute this tyme was founded the Abbay of Stratforth Langthorne wythin .iiii. myles of London by a knyght called syr wyllyam de Moūtfychet THE CCXXXIII CHAPITER WHen the empresse hadde wonne this vyctorye and had commytted the kyng to warde as before ye haue harde she was not therwith a lytle exalted but thoughte in her mynde that she was in a suerty of the possessyon of the hole realme But she was disceyued for Kent toke partye wyth kynge Stephan But yet after this victory thus obteyned the empresse came vnto wynchester and after to wyltone to Oxenforde to Redynge and to saynte Albonys into the whyche cytyes and townes she was receyued wyth all honoure And fynally she came to London for to entre the state of the lande At her whyche there beynge the quene made assyduat laboure for the delyuerye of the kynge her husbande promysynge that he shulde surrender the lande into her possessyon and he to be come a religyous man other ellys a pylgryme to hys lyues ende But all was in vayne for she myght purchace no grace as then vppon no maner of condycyons The cytezens of London also made great laboure that they myghte vse the lawys of Edwarde the confessoure as they were graunted by wyllyam Conqueroure and not the lawys of her father whyche were of more straytnesse wherof in no wyse they of her coūsayll myght haue any graunte For this the cytezens were dyscontentyd and knowynge that the countrey of Kent wolde strength theyr partye ordeyned to haue taken her But she beynge therof warned departed in haste and lefte behynde her hyr store of housholde and so fledde vnto Oxynforde where she
of .x. thousande pounde for the exployte of his voyage And farther more he sold to the olde byshoppe of Durham hys owne prouynce for a great summe of money and creatyd hym erle of the same wherfore the kynge sayde after in game I am a wonders crafty man for I haue made a new erle of an old byshop By suche meanes the kyng emptyed many byshoppes and ryche prestys bagges and fylled hys cofers And ouer that he graunted oute annuytyes and fees oute of the crowne as though he roughte nothynge of hys retournynge For this dede some of hys famylyers as they durste blamed hym But he sayde to thē y t in tyme of nede it was good polycy for a man to ayde hym wyth his owne And more ouer he ioyned ther to that yf London were hys at that tyme of nede he wolde sell yt yf he myght gete a conuenyent marchaūt that for yt were able to paye An other waye he hadde also to gather money for he hadde lycence of pope Innocent the thyrd of that name to dyspence wyth suche as hym lyked wythin his realme for takyng vppon theym the crosse Anno domini M.C.xci.  Anno domini M.C.xcii  Iohn̄ Herlyon  Balliui  Anno secundo  Roger duke  IN the seconde yere in the moneth of October kynge Rycharde betoke the guydynge of the lande vnto the byshoppe of Ely then chaunceller of Englande and sayled into Normandye where settynge the coūtrey vnder sadde guydyng shortly after mette with the Frenche kyng Phylyp the second the whych ioyntly yode to Turon and there ouer passyd the shortnesse of wynter In whyche passe tyme makynge eyther wyth other assuraunce for contynuaunce of so great a iourney at the sprynge of y e yere these two princes toke theyr voyage towarde the holy lande that is to meane kyng Rycharde by y e see and knnge Phylyppe by the lande and appoynted to mete agayn in the land of Scicilia or Scycyll In this meane tyme in England the Iewes in dyuers places of y e realme as Lyncolne Staunforde and Lynne were robbed and spoyled and at yorke to the nomber of foure hundred mo cutte theyr mayster veynes and bled to deth The two kynges accordynge to theyr appoyntemēt met in Scycyll where grudge beganne to kyndle betwene theym for correccyon of theyr souldyours Then the French kyng departyd agayne from kynge Rycharde the whyche there made certayne ordynaunces for warre as a towre or castell of tymber whyche he named Mategryffons and also prouyded for vytayll for both hostes In thys tyme also the kynge of Cyprys hadde taken two shyppes of kynge Rycharde and denyed the delyuery of theym wherfore the sayde Rycharde entryd the land of Cypris makynge therin sharpe warre chasyd so the kynge from cytye to cytye that lastely he yelded him vnto kyng Rycharde vppon condicyon that he shulde not be throwen in bondes of iron wherof kynge Rycharde in kepynge of hys promyse caste hym in bondes of syluer when kynge Rycharde hadde dwellyd there vppon two monethes and hadde taken his pleasure of that coūtrey and taken amendes at his own wyll for hys shyppes then he departed from the sayde yle of Cypris and sayled towarde Acon or Acris In whyche course so kepynge towarde Acris he encountred a great shyppe of the Soudans of Sury fraughte wyth great ryches and toke yt and so came at length to y e cytye of Acris where at that tyme lay before y e sayd towne the Frenche kynge wyth hys hoste and had lost a lytle before two thousande of hys men whyche were partyd from hys hoste to haue done an enterpryse vppon the Turkes but they were layde for dystressed Then as testyfyeth Peter Dysroy kynge Rycharde was ioyously receyued of the Frenche kynge After whose commynge yt was not longe that the sayd cytye was gyuen vp by appoyntement as foloweth and as affermeth the sayde Peter and also the cronycle of Fraunce Fyrste that the Sarasyns shulde departe out of the cytye leuynge behynde theym horse harneys vytayll and all other thynge belongynge to warre Also they shulde cause to be restoryd all such prysoners of crystē men as they had vnder theyr kepyng wyth other couenauntes whyche I passe ouer And thus was the cytye of Acris yelden into the crysten mennes handes in the moneth of Auguste the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .lxxx. and xii But when yt came to the partyng of the praye of the cytye there beganne malyce to kyndle hys bronde whych was not lyghtly after quenchyd Of thys varyance betwene these two kynges of England of Fraūce dyuers maners are shewyd For Polycronica sayth that yt beganne by reason that kynge Rycharde denyed vnto kynge Phylyp halfe hys wynnynges in Cypris accordyng to the couenauntis betwene theym assured at Turon But kyng Rychard sayd that the cōuencyon there made stretched no forther then to suche goodes as was wonne wythin the lymytes or boundes of the holy lande Another grudge was by reason that the French kyng ayded not y e erle of Champeyne beynge in dystresse of nede wherfore the sayde erle beynge discontent sayde to the Frēche kyng Syr hytherto I haue done accordynge to my dutye but hereafter I shall do as I am compellyd be nede For your grace hath hytherto cherysshed me but for myn but now I shal go to hym y t is more redy to gyue thē to take and so departed to kyng Rycharde of the whyche he had all hys pleasure The thyrde cause was as sayth Ranulph for as mych as kyng Rycharde at hys begynnyng in Scycyll maryed the syster of the kynge of Nauerne where before he hadde promysed to mary the syster of the sayde kynge Phylyppe But of these artycles speketh nothyng the french cronycle all be it he layeth greate defaute vnto kynge Rycharde sayeng in sedycyous and vyle wordys that kyng Rycharde falsly brake hys appoyntmentes and kepte no promesse that by hym was made Moreouer the sayd cronycle sayth that he solde the ile of Cyprys vnto the Templers for .xxx. thousande marke and after toke it agayne frō them by strength and delyuered it vnto Guy de Lesygnan that was the laste crystened kynge of Hierusalem And ouer this the sayde frenche cronycle sayth that he toke from a knyght of the duke of Ostrych the sayd dukes banner and in despyte of the sayde duke trade it vnderfote and dyd vnto it all the despyte he myghte And ouer all thys where as Conradus Markes of Tyre was traytorously slayn by two of his owne seruauntes that kyng Rycharde shulde laye the charge therof vnto the frenche kynge For these grudges and sykenesse wyth also fere of treason to be wrought bytwene Saladyne the Soudā and kynge Rycharde as affermeth or allegeth the foresayde authoure kynge Phylyppe wyth a small company of shyppes departed from Acō or Acris sayled to Puyll or Poyll and there restynge hym a season cōtynued hys iourney vnto Rome and so lastely into hys owne prouynce of Fraunce
chase of them self a capitayn of low byrth called Dauid so wyth wyues and chyldren passed the next countreys wyth robbynge and spoylyng and grew shortly in great strength and after subdued the partes many other vycyne countreys and grewe lastely vnto great domynyon and lordshyppe in the eest partes of the worlde so that lately theyr prynce or souerayne ys called the great Cahan In this yere as wytnessyth Polycronycon the kynge of Scottys dyd homage to kynge IohnÌ„ at LyncolnÌ„ and sware vpon the crosse of Hubert archbishoppe of Caunterbury in the presence of a legate of Rome .xiii. byshoppes to be trew lyege man to hym and to hys heyres kynges And in this yere one Estate called abbot of Flay came into Englande and amonge other myracles by hym shewyd he blessed a well besyde the towne of wye in kent so y e men and women drynkyng of that water were curyd of dyuerse maladyes But lastly he dyspleasyd so the byshoppes of England y t he was glade to leue the lande after sayled into Normandy Anno domini M.CC.ii  Anno domini M.CC.iii  Arnolde  Balliui  Anno .iii.  Rycharde  About the moneth of December in y e thyrd yere of IohnÌ„s reygn in the prouynce of yorke were sene .v. moonys One in the Eest the seconde in the weste the thyrd in the North y e fourth in the South and the fyfte as it were set in the myddes of the other and yode .vi. tymes in compassynge the other as yt were by the space of an howre and vanyshed away soone after Thys yere in the moneth of February kynge Phylyp callyd a parliameÌ„t at Uerdon where yt was amonge other maters concluded that kynge IohnÌ„ as hys lyege man shulde appere at his parlyameÌ„t holdeÌ„ at Paris wythin .xv. dayes of Eester next folowynge But for so myche as kynge IohnÌ„ nor none for hym apperyd to shewe some lawfull impedymeÌ„t the Frenche kynge therfore entryd the duchy of Normandy and toke the castellys of Bounte of Gentelyne and Gurnay and seased into hys handes all suche landes as Hugh de Gurnay held gaue them vnto Arture foresayde duke of Brytayne And more ouer he gaue to the said Arture y e couÌ„tye of Angeou with two hundred prysoners and a certayne of money to defende the sayde countrey agayn kynge IohnÌ„ when kynge IohnÌ„ had vnderstandynge of all the cruell dealynge of kynge Phylyppe he callyd a counsayll and there asked ayde and was graunted a new ayde to wythstande the Frenche kynges malyce And about Lammasse after the kyng with a fayre coÌ„pany sayled into Normandye and so spedde hym into the countrey of Angeou for so myche as he was enfourmed that Arture hys neuew and duke of Brytayne warryd wythin the same and toke hym prysoner with certayne other knyghtes as syr Hugh le Bruns syr Godfrey de Losyngham wyth dyuerse other At whych tyme kynge Phylyppe lay at the syege of the castell of Arques and herynge of thys dyscomfyture brake vp hys syege to the entent to haue rescowyd the sayde duke But when he was warned that he shulde come to shorte he then chaunged his purpose and went vnto the cytye of Towrys and wanne yt by strength And after for that wynter drew nere he returned into Fraunce In which season also kynge IohnÌ„ retourned wyth his prysoners into Englande In this yere by counsayâ—l of the burgeysys of the cytye of London were chosen .xxxv. of the moste substancyall and wyseste myn whyche after some were called the counsayll of the cytye Of the whych yerely the bailyuys were chosen and after the mayre and shryues were taken of the same nomber Anno domini M.CC.iii  Anno domini M.CC.iiii Balliui Normand Blondell Anno .iiii.  IohnÌ„ of Ely  IN thys fourthe yere of kynge IohnÌ„ were sene many wonderfull tokens For ouer the wynter the whyche passyd in length and hardenesse many yeres before gone wonderfull wederynge as of excedynge lyghtenynges thunders and other stormes of wynde and rayne appetyd and therwyth hayle of the bygnesse of hennes egges the whyche perished frute and corne besydes other hurtes and harmes done vppon houses and yong catell goynge a brode Also spyrites were sene in the ayer in lykenesse of foulys berynge fyre in theyr bylles the whych sette on fyre dyuerse houses And soone there after dyed Hubert archbyshop of Caunterbury In whose place was chosen coÌ„trarye to the mynde of y e kynge by the more partye of the couent of CauÌ„terburye mayster Stephan Langton All be yt some there were that accordynge to the kynges pleasure named the byshoppe of Norwyche and some other For thys eleccyon the kynge was greuousely amouyd agayne the munkes and wolde in no wyse alowe or admyt theyr eleccyon wherfore they sent theyr eleccyon vnto pope Innocynt the thyrde y e whyche admytted the sayde mayster Stephan and refused the other and sacryd hym at Uyterb a citye of Italy and sent hym after with letters of comendacyon vnto kyng IohnÌ„ to take the possessyon and frutes of his benefyce Kynge IohnÌ„ wyth thys was sore amouyd in so myche y t he warned hym his lande and dyuers of the munkes of Caunterbury that fauored hys cause Aboute Ester kynge IohnÌ„ sayled into Normandye for the Frenche kynge had recommencyd his warre in the countye of Guyan and wanne therin dayly dyuerse stronge holdes and castellys and alleyd wyth hym the erle of Alenson and hadde great ayd of the Portuyns and Brytons And when he had brought that countrey vnder his subieccyon he then retourned by Normandye and wanne Conket the vale of Ruell and the yle of Audeley In this season the forenamed pope sente the abbot of Casmer into Fraunce to refourme these two prynces with whome was also accompanyed the abbot of Cressons the whyche endeuored theym so that they were nere agreed of a peace But for they wolde that the Frenche kynge shulde repayre and ameÌ„de suche houses of relygyon as he had hurte ouerthrowen in Guyan and other places belongynge to the crowne of Englande therfore he forsoke the peace not withstandyng that kynge IohnÌ„ in lyke wyse shuld haue repayred all lyke houses apperteynynge vnto y e crowne of Fraunce Then the Frenche kynge in the ende of Auguste layde syege to the castell of Raydepount assauted yt by the terme of .xv. dayes contynually But the soundyours wythin defendyd yt so manfully that they slewe many of theyr enymyes so y e kynge Phylyppe was fayne to gyue backe tyll he hadde deuysed newe engynes after the warre fassyon By reason wherof he lastely wanne the sayde castell and toke there .xx. knyghtes and an hundred and .vii. yomen and other and .xxi. arblasters And when he hadde fortefyed that castell wyth Frenche men he then yode to the castell of Gaylarde and layde hys ordynaunce to that as he hadde done to that other But he laye there a moneth or he myghte do to yt any hurte or harme In all whych season kyng IohnÌ„ warryd vppon
Caunterbury wyth the other exylys landed in Englande and after in processe of tyme met wyth the kynge at wynchester where the kyng receyuyd hym with a ioyouse coūtenaūce and after there was assoyled of the sayde archebyshop But yet was not the interdiccyon of the land releasyd for so myche as the kyng at that day hadde not made restitucyon vnto the archbyshope and other accordynge to the thyrde artycle before rehersyd For the whych as testyfyeth the Englyshe boke he payed vnto the archbyshoppe thre thousande marke and to the other by partyculers .xv. thousande marke After whyche thynges performed and done the interdyccyon was adnullyd and fordone in the moneth of Iuly and yere of our lord xii hundred and .xii when yt had standen in force full .vi. yeres as mych as from the .xxvi. daye vnto the moneth of Iuly whyche is vppon .iii. monethes and odde dayes Anno domini M.CC.xiii  Anno domini M.CC.xiiii  Raufe Eylande  Henry fyz Alwyn  Anno .xiiii.  Constantyne le Iosne  IN thys .xiiii. yere of the kyng for that he wolde not holde the lawes of saynte Edwarde and also for displeasure that he bare to diuers of them for they wolde not fauoure hym agayne the pope and for other causes whyche here be not manyfestyd the kyng fell at dyssencyon with hys lordes in so mych that great people were reysyd on eyther partyes But for the kynges partye was the stronger the erle of Chester with the other lordes toke the cytye of London and helde them therin a certayn of tyme. The whych cronycle of Caxton wyth other sayen that a great parte of this varyaūce betwene kyng Iohn̄ and his barons was for because the kynge wolde wythout skylfull dome haue exyled the sayde erle of Chester whyche to hym hadde no cause but for so myche as before seasons he hadde often tymes aduysed the kynge to leue hys cruelnesse and his accustomed auowtry the whych he exercysyd wyth his brothers wyfe and other But by the meanes of the archebyshoppe of Caunterbury and other prelatys a peace was taken for a whyle In this yere vppon the daye of the translacyon of saynt Benet or y e .xi. day of Iuly a great parte of the Borough of Southwarke was brent And in the moneth of Auguste nexte folowynge was great and myche harme done in London by fyre Soone after to stablyshe the peace betwene the kynge and hys lordes an assemble was made on Berham downe where the kynge and the lordes mette wyth great strenght vpon eyther syde where a charter or wrytyng was dyuysed and made there sealyd by the kynge so that the baronye was wyth yt contentyd and departyd in peasyble wyse eueryche man into hys countrey Anno domini M.CC.xiiii  Anno domini M.CC.xv.  Martyne fyz Alys  Roger fyz Aleyn  Anno .xv.  Peter Batte  IN thys .xv. yere of the kynge the peace whych in the laste yere was betwene kyng Iohn̄ and his baronyes agreed was by the kynge vyolate and broken wherfore the lordes assembled to them great powers made sharpe cruell warre vppon the kynge in so myche that he was constrayned to sende into Normandye for ayde and socoure into other places Then shortely after came into Englande a Norman knyghte whyche brought wyth hym a companye of Normannes Flemmynges Pycardes This knyght or capitayn was named Foukes de Brent y e whiche wyth his company was so cruell that he destroyed as well relygyous houses as other and wrought mych harme to the lande and putte the lordes to the worse Then the kynge made Foukes and other of hys company wardeyns of castellys strūge holdes in Englād The lordes seyng the kynge perseuer in hys wronge and wolde in no wyse be enduced to holde his owne grauntes but to execute all thynge after pleasure and nothynge after lawe or iustyce cast in theyr myndes howe they myghte brynge the lande in a better rule or state and by one aduyse and consent wrote vnto Phylyp kyng of Fraūce that he wolde sende some noble man into Englande and they wolde rendre y e lande vnto hym In this whyle kyng Iohn̄ causid to be drawen and hangyd at London one Pyers of Pomfrette for the sayde Peter had monyshed dyuers mysse happes that shulde come to hym for his vycyous lyfe and also for he had often warned kynge Iohn̄ that he shuld reygn but .xiiii. yeres the whyche he ment wythout payenge of trybute For after he was become feodary to the pope he thought the pope reygned as pryncypall lorde of the land and not he For the whyche and for other malyce he putte that vertuous man to deth Of whom in y e .xxxiii. chapiter of the .vii. boke of Policronycon are many vertues shewed the which I ouer passe for lengthynge of the tyme. Anno domini M.CC.xv.  Anno domini M.CC.xvi.  Salomon Basynge  Roger fyz Aleyn  Anno .xvi.  Hugh Basynge  UPpon saynt Andrewes euen or the .xxix. daye of Nouember in the .xvi. yere of hys reygne kynge Iohn̄ after he had lyen a certayne of tyme wyth hys ordynaunce aboute the castell of Rouchester in Kent he wanne the sayde castell and toke therin certayne gentylmen that hadde conspyred agayne hym the whyche he sente to dyuers prysons And the barons helde theym to gyther at London abydynge the commynge of Lewys son to the Frenche kynge the whyche nere about ascencyon tyde landed in Englande wyth a stronge armye and so came to Rochester and layd syege to the castell and wāne yt wyth lytle payne for so mych as yt was greatly febled wyth the assaurys lately made by kynge Iohn̄ and syn that tyme not suffycyently repayred And when he had wonne the sayde castell he caused all the straungers therein taken to be hanged and after came to London where certayne allyaunces and couenauntes were stablished betwene the lordes hym and receyued of them homage as affermeth Policronicon And after theyr maters betwen them there fynyshed he with the lordes departed from London and gatte the castellys of Rygat of Gylforde and and of Frenham and from thens to wynchester where the cytye was yelden vnto them wyth all the holdes and castellys there about as wolnesey Odyham and Beawmere And about saynte Margaretes daye he wyth the lordes came agayne to London at whose commynge the towre of London was gyuen vp to theym by appoyntement And where Roger fyz Aleyn hadde tyll that tyme rulyd the cytye of London as mayre he for so myche as he was accusyd to the lordes to be fauorable to the kynges partye was then dyscarged of that offyce and one called Serle Mercer was chosen in hys place and so cōtynued tyll Mychelmas folowynge In thys passe tyme kynge Iohn̄ beynge thus ouer sette wyth hys lordes sent messengers to y e pope shewynge to hym the rebellyon of hys lordes and how they laboryd hys destruccyon wherfore the pope in all haste sent a legate
Mychaell Tony and Adam Basynge the whyche before were sente by the mayre to such frendes as they had in the courte to knowe the cause of the kynges hyghe dyspleasure The whych brought worde that the kyng was well mynded vnto the citye but he was in full purpose to haue suche persones chastised that hadde oppressyd the comynaltye of the same Uppon the morow folowynge came vnto y e Guyldhall IohnÌ„ Mansell wyth other of the kynges counsayll the whych to the people there assembled shewyd many fayre plesaunt wordes Amonge the whych he declared that the kynges mynde wyll was to correcte all suche persones as had oppressyd the comynaltye of that his deryste belouyd cytye and asked of the commons whyther they wolde be agreable vnto the same The whych incontynently many suche as knewe litle what the mater ment cryed with out dyscrecyon ye ye ye nothynge regardynge the lybertye of the cytye And after y e grauÌ„t thus had of the coÌ„mons the sayde IohnÌ„ Mansell dyschargyd the mayre shryues chamberleyn of theyr offyces and delyueryd the custodye therof vnto the constable of the towre and putte in the rome of the shryues Mychaell Tony and IohnÌ„ Audryan And ouer that all rollys of tollys and tallages before made were delyueryd vnto the sayd IohnÌ„ MaÌ„sell the whych he there sealyd and redeliueryd them vnto the chamberleyne when the coÌ„mons hadde beholden all thys besynesse they retourned vnto theyr housys all confusyd This mater thus orderyd the sayd IohnÌ„ Mansell wyth dyuerse of the kynges counsayll kept theyr courtes dayly the sondayes excepte tyll the fyrste sondaye of lent the whych that yere was the .xxv. daye of February callyng before hym .xii. wardes of y e cytye Of the whyche .xii. wardes of eueryche of them was takeÌ„ thre men so â–ª that of those .xii. wardes .xxxvi. meÌ„ were impanellyd and sworne for to enquyre of the foresayd artycles and what personys of the cytye had offendyd in them This courte thus kept and holden at Guyldehall no man was callyd to answere nor no questyon put vnto any person by the sayd enquest or by any other Uppon the sayd sonday of lent the mayre aldermen and shryues wyth the sayd enqueste foure men of euery warde were chargyd to appere at westmynster before the kynge at whych apperaunce they were couÌ„termauÌ„dyd tyll vppon the nexte morowe At whyche season they commyng into the kynges exchekyr fonde syttyng there the erles of Glouceter and of warwyke IohnÌ„ Mansell Henry Baa iusticys the coÌ„stable of the towre the custos of the cytye and dyuers other of the kynges counsayll Then was callyd by name Rafe hardell that yere may â—e Nycholas Batte Nycholas fyz Iosne Mathew Bokerel IohnÌ„ Tolesham and IohnÌ„ le Mynoure aldermen Then sayde IohnÌ„ Mansell y t the kynge by his lawes and inquysycyon of the cytesyns of the cytye had founden theym culpable that they had wronged and hurte the comynaltye of hys cytye by dyuers meanes as by the sayde inquysycyons apperyd and forthwyth causyd yt to be redde before them And wheÌ„ the more parte therof was redde he sayd vnto theym thus may you se that the comynaltye of the sayde cytye hath ben by you greuously oppressyd and by your meanys and counsayll the common weale of the same dystroyed as by alterynge of the tollys and other good auncyent customys turnynge them to your synguler auauntage lucre All whyche maters the sayde Rafe and his company denyed and that the commons was not by any suche meanys by them nor none of them greuyd or hurte and that they offryd to be iustyfyed and iudged by the lawe and customys of the cytye Then Henry Baa iustyce askyd of them whyther they wolde byde the aduenture of the enquery that they hadde harde redde before or ellys stande vppon the sayeng of the other wardes that yet had not ben sworne but they kepte theym to theyr fyrste answere Then IohnÌ„ Mansell frayned of y e mayre what was theyr lawe and custome The mayre answered and sayde that for trespace of a cytesyn done agayne y e kynge he shulde defende hym by .xii. of the sayde cytesyns and for murder or sleynge of a man by .xxx. cytesyns for trespace agayn a straunger by the othe of .vi. and hym selfe Then after many reasons made by the sayde IohnÌ„ Mansell and also by the mayre and his aldermen daye was gyuen to them to appere vppon the morow before the kynge and his counsell Uppon the day folowynge y e kyng wyth many of his lordes syttynge in the sayde exchekyr the foresayde inquysycyon was redde And that done the mayre and aldermen were called in by name and two aldermen more whyche before were not callyd that is to saye Arnolde Thedmare Henry walmode when Rafe Hardell had harde the kynge speke in the mater he toke suche fere that he and Nycholas Batte wythout farther answere put them in the kynges grace sauyd to theym theyr lybertyes and fraunchyses of the cytye But the other .vi. besought the kyng of his ryght wysenes that they myghte then be demyd after the lawes and customys of the cytye Then was layde vnto theyr charge that ouer many wronges by theym done to the kynge and the comynaltye of the cytye they had alteryd y e kynges beame and orderyd it to the aduauntage of them selfe and other ryche men of the cytye wherun to the partyes answeryd and sayde that the alteracion of the beame was not done by them onely but by y e aduyce and consente of .v. hundred of the beste of the cytye For where before tyme the weyer vsyd the lene hys draught towarde the marchaundyse so that the byar hadde by that meane x. or xii pounde in a draught to hys aduauntage and the seller so myche dysauauntage nowe for indyfferencye and egalytye of both personys or marchauÌ„tys was ordeyned that the beame shulde stand vpryght y e cleâ—â—e therof enclynynge to neyther partie as yt doth in weyenge of golde and syluer and the byer to haue alowed of the seller for all thynges .iiii. pouÌ„de onely in euery draught After these reasons and other by theym made the kynge commaunded that vpon the mornynge folowynge a folkmoot shulde be callyd at Paulys crosse so that courte was dyssoluyd and the mayre the other returned to London Uppon the morowe the folkmoot beynge at Pawles crosse assemblyd these .vi. aldermen heryng the murmuracion of the common people and knowynge that the aldermen nor the worshypfull of the city shuld haue litle or no sayeng in thys mater ferynge theyr cause yode into a chanons house of Powlys where at that tyme the sayde Iohan Mansel and other sent from the kynge taryed the assemblynge of the people and shewyd vnto theym that they entedyd not any lenger to plede wyth the kynge but were contentyd to put them fully in the kynges grace and mercy sauyng alway to them and all other cytesyns theyr lybertye and fraunchyse of the cyte After whyche agrement the sayde
that done he caused to be caste vnto the erthe .iii. C. of y e fayrest houses of the cytye And after certayne suÌ„mes of money by hym receyued towarde hys charge he departed thens towarde Tholowse there by aduyce of hys barony for so moche as wynter was towarde he retourned into Fraunce so sped hym on hys iourney that vppoÌ„ the euyn of all Saintes he came to a place called MouÌ„te Pauncer in the prouynce of Aluerne where he was takeÌ„ with stronge sykenesse and dyed within .iiii. dayes after whose corps with grete honour was conueyed vnto saynt Denys there buryed by hys father when he had reygned .iii. yeres leuynge after hym a sonne the whych is nowe named saint Lowys and was than of y e age of .xii. yeres or nere thereaboute LOwys the .x. of that name surnamed saint Lowys and son of the .ix. Lowys laste kynge began hys reygne ouer the lande of FrauÌ„ce in the moneth of Nouember and yere of grace .xii. C. .xxvi. and y e .x. yere of Henry the .iii. then kynge of Englande The whyche for hys tendernesse of youthe was thought insufficyent to take so greate a charge and specyally of y e duke of Brytayne thaÌ„ named Peter Mancler the whyche encensed and styred many noble men agayne the sayde Lowys But at length by prouysyon of quene Blanche hys mother and other lordes he subdued hys enemyes at Raynes was crowned in the moneth of DeceÌ„ber folowyng of the bysshop of Soy sons for so moche as at that tyme y e see of Raynes was voyde The .iiii. yere of hys reygne and of hys age .xvii. he buylded the house of relygyon called Royan mount settherin monkes of Cysteauxe ordre whyte monkes and endewed theym with ryche possessyons It was nat longe after that great varyaunce fyll betwene the vnyuersytye or studientes of Parys and the cytezeyns of the same in suche wyse that the studyentes were in purpose to haue lafte y e cytye to haue kepte theyr study ellys where Of y e whych stryfe the frenche boke expresseth nat the cause but saythe that the kynge made good spede to agree theym for so moche as kyng HeÌ„ry of Englande had made laboure to the sayde studyentes to come into hys countre to enhabyte theym there with many great pryueleges But in coÌ„clusion y e frenche kynge so entreated theÌ„ that they agreed to reste there styll And that of a congrueÌ„ce for they myghte dwell in no lande where they shulde more surely be defended For y e kyng of Fraunce bereth the floure de Lyce for one of that causes that is to saye for to defende the clergy And the fayth of Chryste betokeneth the myddle leef And the thyrde betokeneth Chyualry So that by the chyualry the clergy is defended whych mayâ—teyne the faythe of the holy chyrche Aboute thys season kynge Lowys maryed to hys fere Margarete the doughter of the erle of Prouynce Soone after y e matrymony was solepnysed Frederyk the secoÌ„de before in y e story of HeÌ„ry the .iii. mynded Emperour of Almayne set vnto Lowis requyrynge hi y e he wolde mete hym at a place called Ualcolour to y e ende that he myght commoÌ„ with hym whyche request kynge Lowys accepted with a goodly company kepte there hys daye of metynge But whan the Emperour was ware that he was commen thyder wyth suche a company he fayned hym syke and broke hys appoyntement wherfore the frenshmen construyed that yf the kynge had comen thyder with a small or weke company he wolde haue conueyed hym into hyghe Almayn and there to haue kepte hym tyll he had of hym hys pleasure concernynge the warre betwene kynge Henry and hym or in other thynges But when kynge Lowys espyed the delucyon of the Emperour he then retourned into Fraunce It was nat longe after that y e kynge was enfourmed of the obstynacy of the Albygensis the whyche of longe tyme had beÌ„ effected with dyuers poyntes of herysy and many tymes recoÌ„cyled by the kynges of Fraunce and other yet fallen agayne to the sayde errour wherfore the kynge sent vnto syr Iohan Beawmount the whych ioyned vnto theym chargynge hym to enuade that countre and to waste and distroy it tyll he had forced theym to restore to the chyrch suche goodes as they before had taken frome it and ouer that to cause theym to make amendes to the good chrysten people whyche they had harmed by meanes of theyr rapynes and exorcyoÌ„s UpoÌ„ whyche commaundement thus froÌ„ y e kynge receyued the sayde Iohan with a competent nombre of knyghtes entred the sayd couÌ„tre and layde syege to a stroÌ„g castell named MouÌ„t Royall And after many forte assautes wanne the sayd castell manned it with Frenchemen And than yode to an other stronge holde than named Saygos and there lykewyse ordered the same And after wastyng the countre wanÌ„e from theym many townes holdes so that in the ende he forced the chyefrules of that prouynce to obey theym to all hys hestê and delyuered to hym suertyes or hostagys for the perfourmaunce of the same So y t he retourned into FraÌ„ce with greate pompe and honour and receyued of the kyng at hys home coÌ„mynge great thanke with many ryche gyftes Aboute the .xv. yere of kynge Lowys the warre was quyckened betwene thys Lowys HeÌ„ry the .iii. than kynge of Englande for causes before shewed in the .xxvi. yere of the sayde Henry And after that warre as there is shewed ended the kynge whyche was towarde the cytye of Lyon to haue vysyted the pope Innocent the .iiii. whyche thyder was fled for fere of Frederik the fore named Emperour was taken with a sykenesse named dyssenterya of the flux wherwith he was so greuously vexed that he laye longe at a towne called Poyntoyse and was in great ieopardy of lyfe where lastly after many pylgrymages for hym done with prayers and other obseruaunces longe to accompt lastly it came to hys mynde that yf it pleased god to restore hym to hys helth he wolde make a vyage into the holy lande there warre vpon Chrystes enemyes After whyche promyse solemply auowed he mended dayly and was sone after restored vnto hys helthe whan the kynge was recouered and retorned vnto Parys he called a couÌ„sayll of spyrytuall and temporall there shewed vnto theym of the promesse whyche he had made requyryng theÌ„ of theyr assystence and ayde wherin he fonde hys lordes were agreable And in the tyme and season y t prouysyon was made for that iourney the kynge wyth a goodly company rode vnto the abbey of Cluny to vysyte the foresayd pope and he taryed with hym .xv. dayes And after hys matter with hym sped wyth playne remyssyon to hym graunted and all other that kept with hym that vyage he retourned into Fraunce And vpoÌ„ wytsondaye folowynge he kepte a great courte of hys landes at MeleoÌ„ where in presence of them he called before hym Beatryce doughter vnto the erle of Prouince and syster to
of theyr pryncys y t is to mene the corps of Lewys and theyr naturall prynce Phylyppe hys son and of the obseruaunces done and great assembles of the lordes spirytuall and temporall to welcome theyr prynce and doynge of theyr duties euery man according to honour But after al these ceremonies in due order fynyshed prouysyon was made for the coronacyon of the kynge The whyche was crowned at the cytye of Raynes vppon the daye of the assumpcyon of our lady in the yere of grace .xii. hundred .lxxi. SHortely after that the solempnyte of this coronacyon was passed kynge Phylyppe for his recreacyon rode into the countrey of Uermendoyse where after he had derestyd hym a season Robert erle of Artoys requyred hym to vysyte hys countrey where he was receyuyd of the burgeysys of Artoys wyth great honour and gladnes and there was feastyd with all disport and gladnes by a certayne of tyme after The whiche expyryd he returned into FrauÌ„ce About the thryde yere of his reygne the erle of Foys contrary y e kynges pleasure toke partye agayn Getarde a knyght lorde of the castell of Casseboun or Tasseboun y e which before had slayn y e brother of the erle of Armenac specyall freÌ„d of the sayd erle of Foyz whyche sayde two erles to reuenge the deth of theyr sayd brother pursued the sayde Gerarde so narrowly that for his sauegarde he refused his owne castell and fled vnto a castell of the kynges and there helde hym wyth his wyfe chyldren and substauÌ„ce But when the two erles were ware therof they sped them thyder wyth theyr powers and layd syege to the castell and in the ende threwe it downe to the grounde and slewe all the souldyours that they there founde as well the kynges seruauntes as other hopynge to haue founde theyr enymye Gerarde the whyche was escapyd thens secretly when the rumour of this dede came vnto the kynge he dysdayned sore that dede and toke yt ryght grevously In so myche that he called hys lordes and by theyr counsayll assembled hys knyghtes and entred wyth force the prouince of the erle of Foyz The whyche herynge of the kynges great dyspleasure fortyfyed hys castell and there helde hym The which was so besette wyth rokkes of stone that the kynge myght not wynne to yt wyth ease wherfore the kynge coÌ„maunded the rokkes to be cutte with masons and other worke men made a solempne othe that he wold not depart thens or he hadde the erle and his castell at his pleasure when the erle hadde beholden the great power of his enymyes and the prouysyon of the kyng to wynne his castell wyth other ieopardyes he made meanes to the kynge for grace and fynally putte hym and his into his mercy Then the kynge commauÌ„ded hym to be bounde and so to be conueyed to the casrell of Beauquesu where he was imprysoned by an hole yere after And the kyngâ—â—eased all hys landes and set a certayne of hys knyghtes to kepe hys castell and caryed hys wyfe and chyldren wyth hym into Fraunce But after a yere runne the kynge was so laboured to by the frendes of the sayd erle that he was eularged from pryson and vppon suertye suffred to serue in the kynges courte where he bare hym so well y t fynally the kyng made hym knyght restored hym to all his laÌ„des But what fyll of y e erle of Armenac the story sheweth not Aboute the .vi. yere of his reygne kynge Phylyppe maryed Mary the doughter of the erle of Burbon or after some the doughter of Iohan the duke of Braban the whych he loued entyerly wherof Peter de Broshe then beynge lorde chamberlayne hauynge enuy and disdayn sought the wayes and meanes to mynyshe the great loue betwene her lord and her and fonde by his meane that a sonne of y e kynges named Lewys was prysoned the whyche dede he by subtyle secrete meanes as though yt had nothyng comen of hym layde yt to y e charge of the quene For this y e kyng made many maner of inquysycyons as well by sorcery as other But in al his workes he found his quene gyltlesse wherfore he sufferyd the mater to passe tyll he myght haue more assured profe in that mater Aboute thys season Ferdinandus kynge of Castyle that before tyme hadde maryed Blanche doughter of saynt Lewis dyed leuyng after hym two sonnes borne of y e sayd Blanch named Ferdinande and Alphons whych by couenaunt at the mariage made shulde be heyres vnto the kyngdome of Spayne and Castyle But the father of this Ferdinande so beynge dede contrary hys honour and promise wrote vnto the lordes of Castyle amonestynge theym that they shulde admytte for theyr kynge hys seconde son named SaÌ„xyon or Sanxio and swere to hym both feautye homage The whyche was all done accordyng to hys commaundement so that Blanche was dyspoynted of her dower and her chyldern of theyr ryght and enherytauÌ„ce For y e which kyng Phylyppe her brother was greuously dysconteÌ„tyd and for reforma cyon therof sente vnto the kynge of Spayn his chefe boteler wyth other desyryng hym to perfourme all such couenauÌ„tes as betwene hym and his fader were coÌ„cluded at the maryage of his syster Blanche or at the laste yf that he refusyd y t to do y t he wold sende hys sayde syster wyth her two chyldern sauely into Fraunce In coÌ„clusyon y e mother wyth her two chyldern were brought by the sayde boteler vnto the kynge wythoute other pleasure other in worde or in dede For the whyche he the yere folokyng gaderyd a stronge hoste and passed wyth theym by Poyteau and Gascoyne tyll he came vnto a towne ioynynge to the border of Spayne named Sainterre where the kyng met another party of his hoste There by counsayll of some of his lordes the kynge concluded to retourne into Fraunce for daunger of wynter that was coÌ„mynge and other hyd causes But the rumour in the hoste went y t some of the kynges counsayll hadde receyued rewardes of the kynge of Spayn By meane wherof the kyng loste that iourney and returned into Fraunce to his great dyshonour and damage In tyme of kynge Phylyppes returne into Fraunce tydynges were broughte to hym that Eustace de Beau Marche whom the kyng had appointed to haue the gydyng of the countrey or kyngdome of Nauarye was besyeged in the citye of Pampulyne wherfore y e kyng coÌ„maunded y e erle of Artoys to spede hym thyder to rescowe the sayde Eustace The whyche behauyd hym so manfully that he rescowed the sayde Eustace and chasyd Garsymerans chefe styrrer of that rebellion and brought the people of that countrey agayne to due subieccyon whyle the erle of Artoys was thus occcupyed in the sayd countrey messangers came to hym from the kynge of Spayne requyrynge hym sene that he was so nere that he was so nere y t he wold come disport him there for a season wher of y e erle of Artoys sent kyng Philip worde hauyng of hym
in all that he myght and caused his brother to man and vytayll dyuers castelles within walys specyally the castell of Swandon wherin he mych trusted and gatheryd vnto hym the walshemen by gyftes and other meanes so that he was very stronge wherof when the kynge was informed he wolde therunto gyue no credence tyll he had sent thyther and receyued from theÌ„s the certaynte But for so myche as wynter was toward and he myghte nat conueniently go thyder wyth any power he therfore prouyded to send men and vytayl to strength the castelles of Flynt Rutlande and other holdes whyche he there had and wyth prouysyoÌ„ made to warre vppon theym in the begynnynge of the nexte yere suffered that wynter to passe Anno domini M.CC.lxxxi  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.lxxxii  wyllyam Mazerer  Henry waleys  Anno .x.  Nycholas wynchester  IN thys .x. yere y e kyng heryng more and more of the vnstedfastnes of the walshe men for to let them of theyr purpose to greue hys holdes beforenamed he sente thyder with a crewe of sowdyours the erles of Northumberland and of Surrey with whome amonge other went syr Rogyer Clyfforde syr wyllyam Lyndesey syr Rycharde Tanny many other noble knyghtes and squyres The whyche with greate corage entrede into walys and made with the walshemen many skyrmysshes tyll lastly vpon Palme sondaye Dauyd with a great power of walshmeÌ„ met with the sayde lordes knyghtes at a place nere to a towne called Hanardyne where betwene theÌ„ was a sore fyght But in the ende the losse fyll to the Englysshmen For there were slayne syr wyllyam Lyndesey syr Rycharde Tanny with many other and syr Rogyer Clyfforde was taken After whyche ouerthrowe of the Englysshmen the sayde Dauyd layde syege vnto the castelles of Flynt and of Rutlande And his brother in that season warred and occupyed the landes of syr Edmunde Mortymer and wanne the towne called Lambatre vaure and there threwe the walles therof downe to the grounde Thys towne is also called Abreswith It was nat longe after or the brute of thys ouerthrowe of the EnglysshmeÌ„ came vnto y e towne wherfore he sped hym the faster thyderwarde Anno domini M.CC.lxxxii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxxiii  Rauffe Blunt  Henry walys  Anno .xi.  Hawkyn Betnell  IN thys .xi. yere vppon the day of saynte Leonarde or the syxt daye of Nouembre whyle kynge Edwarde was thus occupyed in rescowynge of hys men whyche were besyged of Dauyd syr Rogyer Clyfforde wyth other whyche entended to make a reysynge vppon the walsh men was drowned by foly vppon a brydge made of bargys and plankes to haue passed a water betwene Snowdon and Anglyssey And the thyrde daye of Decembre folowynge was Lewelyne prynce of walys slayne by syr Edmunde Mortymer and hys company and hys hed sente vnto the kynge thaÌ„ beyng at Rutlande The whyche he sent vnto London chargynge that yt beset vppon the toure of London Of thys Lewelyne a walshe metrycian made these foure verses folowynge Hic iacet Anglorum tortor tutor venedorum Princeps wallorum Lewelinus regula morum Gemma ceuorum flos regum preteritorum Forma futurorum dux laus lex lux populorum whyche verses are thus to meane as foloweth Of Englysshmen the scourge of walshe the protectoure Lewelyn the prynce rule of all vertue Gemme of all lyuers and of all other the floure whyche vnto dethe hath payde hys dette due Of kynges a mirrour that after hym shall sue Duke and prayse and of the lawe the ryght Here in thys graue of people lyeth the lyght But an Englysshe metrician wrote other .iiii. verses in dyspraysynge of the sayd Lewelyn as foloweth Hic iacet errorum princeps ac predo virorum Proditor Anglorum fax liuida secta reorum Numen wallorum trux dux homicida piorum Fex troianorum stirps mendax causa masorum The whyche maye in thys wyse be Englysshed Here lyeth of errour the prynce yf yewyll ken These and robbour traytour to Englysshmen A dym bronde a sect of doers yll God of walshmen cruell without skyll In sleyng the good and leder of the badde Lastly rewarded as he deserued hadde Of Troyans blode the drastes and nat sede A rote of falshode and cause of many yll dede Anno domini M.CC.lxxxiii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxiiii  Iordan Goodchepe  Henry waleys  Anno .xii.  Martyn Box.  IN thys .xii. yere the kynge beynge stylle in walys pursued Dauyd the brother of Lewelyn from towne to towne so that lastly he was taken and broughte vnto the kynge aboute the natyuyte of saynt IohnÌ„ and so holden in warde tyll the kyng had there sped hys nedes Then the kyng had all the countre at hys wyl and gaue vnto Englyssh lordes townes in the myddes of walys and deuyded the couÌ„tre into shyres and ordeyned there shyryfes and other offycers as then were vsed in Englande At Aberconow he made a stronge castell where before was a house of whyte monkes The whych he remouyd thens and ordeyned for them in some other place He also made than the castel of CarnaruaÌ„ fast by Snowdon and repayred agayne the towne of Lambatre or Abreswyth which Lewelyn had before betyn downe Also he garuysshed the castelles and holdes standyng vpon the see syde with Englysshmen and made Englysshemen lordes of the groundes belongyng to the same And whan y e kyng had set that couÌ„tre in rule theÌ„ about Mychelmasse he retourned so Shrewysbury where he set a parlyament In the tyme wherof the forsayd Dauyd as chyef styrrer begynner of al thys warre was there deinyd to be drawen haÌ„ged quartered so he was shortly after at y e sayde towne of Shrewysbury hys hede sent to LoÌ„don set by the hed of hys brother Lewelyn And thys yere was the fyrste son of kyng Edwarde borne whyle the kyng was in walys at y e castel of Carnaruan By reason wherof he was after named Edward of Carnaruan He was born vpoÌ„ y e day of saiÌ„t Mark or y e .xxv. day of April This yere also one LaureÌ„ce Duket a cytezyn of LoÌ„doÌ„ was fouÌ„de dede hanged within sait Mary bow chyrch of chepe For y e which enqueres were made lastely for y t dede were ataynted these .vii. ê‘sons folowing y t is to say Reygnold of lancaster Robert Pynnot Paule of Stepynhith Thomas Cordwayner IohnÌ„ Tolanson Thomas Russell and Robert Scotte the whyche were all for that dede drawyn hanged And a woman for the same dede was also brent And Rauffe Crepyn Iourdan Good chepe Gilbert Clerk and Geffrey Clerke were also attaiÌ„t for the same cause But they were repryed and sent vnto the toure of LoÌ„don where they remayned loÌ„ge after and lastly delyuered And in thys yere the greate conduyte standynge agayne saynte Thomas of Acres in Chepe was begon to be made In this yere also stryfe and vnkindenes beganne to kyndelle betweene the kynge the erle of
theyr weyghtes founde and proued false And ouer y t all suche wares as they shuld have weyed at the kynges beame they weyed moche therof in theyr sayd houses to the hynderaunce of y e kynges custome For whyche offeÌ„ces agayne theym proued to the nombre of .xx. of the sayd straungers were arrested and sent vnto the toure of LoÌ„don and theyr weyghtes brent consumed in westchepe of London the thursdaye before the feast of Symon and Iude. And fynally the sayd marchauntes were delyuered by fyne makynge to the kyng of a thousande .li when they had suffered by a season harde vyle prysonement Anno domini M.CC.lxxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.lxxxvii  Thomas Crosse.  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xv.  wyllyam Hawteyn  IN thys .xv. yere the Iewes of Englande were sessed at great summes of money whych they payd vnto the kyng But of one other auctour it is sayd that the commons of Englande graunted to the kyng the v. parte of theyr mouables for to haue the Iewes banysshe out the laÌ„de For whiche cause the sayd Iewes to put the commons from theyr purpose gaue of theyr free wylles great summes of money to y e kyng whych sayeng appereth to be trewe for the sayd Iewes were exyled within few yeres after Thys yere about the begynnynge of May the kynge sayled to Burdeux and frome thens he rode into Fraunce where as witnesseth y e freÌ„sh boke he was honourably receyued of Phylyp le Beau or Philyp the fayre than kynge of Fraunce and after receyued homage of the sayd Edward for the duchy of Guyan And when kynge Edwarde had taryed a season in Fraunce he retourned vnto Burdeux whyther came vnto hym a certayne ambassadours from the kyng of Spayne with the whych he helde longe dalyaunce wherfore of y e freÌ„sh kyng he was suspected that he shuld allye hym with the kyng of Spayne agayne the Frenche kynge And thys yere as testyfyeth Policronycon the somer was so excedyng vote that men dyed for hete And thys yere whete was so plentuous that it was solde at London for xl.vi a quarter Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxvii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxviii  wyllyam Herforde  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xvi.  Thomas Stanys  IN thys vvi yere of kynge Edwarde saynt Thomas of Herforde was translated And thys yere fyll dystauÌ„ce betwene syr Payne Tip toft wardeyn of certayn castels in walys a walsh knyght called syr Ries ap Mordek So y t sundry skyrmysshes were foughten betwene them many men slayne vpon bothe sydes to the great dystourbaunce of all y e countre Thys yere vpon saynt Margaretes euyn or the .xix. daye of Iulii fyll wonderfull great hayle that the lyke therof was nat of men than lyuynge seen And after that ensued coÌ„tynuell rayne whyche dysteÌ„peryd the grouÌ„d in such wyse that the yere folowyng whete was sold for .xviii. d. a busshel and thys yere for .xiiii. d. And so encreased yerely after duryng y e reygne of the kynge and after in hys soÌ„nes days tyll it was lastly solde for .xl. s. a quarter and aboue Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxviii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxix  wyllyam Betayn  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xvii.  IohnÌ„ of Caunterbury  IN thys .xvii. yere the warre before in the yere laste paste betwene syr Payn Typtoft syr Ryes contynuynge to the entente that the sayd Ryes myght reuenge hys cause agayne the sayd syr Payne he arrecyd a greate multytude of walshemeÌ„ and brent and wasted dyuers fownes in walys so that the kynge then beynge in Normandy sente 〈◊〉 the â—tle of Cornewayll then beynge the kynges lyeu tenaunte in Englande that he shuld sende thyder an army of knyghtes to withstande the malyce of the walshmen The whych preparyd shortly an army yode with them into the borders of Northewalys where he with hys coÌ„pany bare hym so knyghtly that in the ende the sayd Ryes was takeÌ„ brought vnto porke where he was after drawen hanged and quartered Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xc  Full 〈◊〉 saynt Edmunde  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xviii.  Salaman Langforde  IN thys .xviii. yere vppon once Lady cuyn Assumpcion kyng Edwarde was honorably receyued of the cytezeyns of London and so conueyed vnto westmynster where shortely after were broughte before hym many greuous complayntes of dyuers of hys iustyces as syr Thomas weylande Adam Stretton and other The whych the kynge caused streyghtly to be examyned and lastly were founde gylty of such trespasses and causes as they were accused of wherfore some of theym were outlawed and loste suche goodes as they hadde and the other punysshed by longe enprysonemente and lastely delyuered by payenge of greate fynes Anno domini M. CC.lxc  Anno domini M. CC.lxci  Thomas Romayn  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xix.  wyllyam de Lyre  IN thys .xix. yere the kynge ordeyned y t all woll whych shuld be sold vnto straungers shulde be brought vnto Sandewyche where the staple therof longe after was as it is now at y e towne of Caleys And thys yere were the Iewes banysshed the lande for the whych cause the coÌ„mons gaue vnto the kyng a quindecym or fyftene Thys yere also syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter maryed dame Iane doughter of kyng Edwarde Thys was called Iohanne of Acrys for she was born at Acrys wheÌ„ kyng Edwarde was there vpon hys great iourney And soone there after in the same yere the duke of Brabannys sonne wedded Margarete the syster of the sayd Iohanne Anno domini .xii. C. lxci  Anno domini M. CC.lxcii  Rauffe Blount  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xx.  Hamonde Boxe  IN thys .xx. yere begynnynge of the maryes yere and also of the kynges .xx. yere that is to meane vpon the euyn of saynt Andrewe or the .xxix. day of NoueÌ„bre dyed quene Elyanore the kynges wyfe and was buryed at westmynster in the chapel of saynt Edwarde at the fete of HeÌ„ry the thyrde where she hath .ii. were tapers brennyng vpon her tumbe both daye and nyght whyche so hath contynued syne the day of her buryenge to thys present daye Thys gentyll woman as before is towched in the xxxviii yere of kyng Henry the third was syster vnto the kyng of Spayn By whome kyng Edwarde had .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Iohn Henry Alphons and Edwarde whych Edwarde succeded his father by reason that the other .iii. died before theyr father Also he had by her .v. doughters The fyrste Elyanore was maryed vnto wyllyam erle of Barre the seconde Iohan of Acrys was maryed as before is sayde vnto the erle of Glouceter the thyrde Margarete was maryed to the dukes sonne of BrabaÌ„t the .iiii. Mary by name was made a menchon at Ambrysbury the .v. named Elyzabeth was maried vnto the erle of Holande and after hys deth she was maryed vnto Humfreye Boherum erle of Hereforde And
thys yere dyed also the olde quene Elyanore wyfe vnto HeÌ„ry the thyrde and mother to thys kyng Edwarde whose herte was buryed at the graye freres in London and her body at Ambrysbury in the house of Nunnes Anno domini M.CC.xcii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xciii  Henry Bale  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xxi.  Elys Russell  IN thys .xxi. yere the kyng helde hys great courte of parlyament at London to the whyche with dyuers lordes of that prouince came the kyng of Scottes And after he had contynued there a conuenyente season he was coÌ„ueyed with dyuers lordes ferre vpoÌ„ hys iourney towarde hys owne countre And in thys yere as one Rychard Bagle offycer of the sheryfes of London was ledynge a prysoner towarde the Gayole the whyche he before had arrested thre men rescowed the sayde prysoner and toke hym from the offycer The whych were pursued and taken and by iugemente and lawe than vsed broughte into westchepe and there had theyr ryghte handes smyten of by the wrestes Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xciii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xciiii  Robert Rokysley  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xxii.  Martyn Awbry  IN the .xxii. yere of kynge Edwarde vpon the daye of saynt Tyburce and Ualeryan or the .xiiii. daye of May fyll a woÌ„derfull snow and therwith and excedynge wynde By vyolence wherof greate harme was done in sundry places of Englande In remembraunce whereof a Metrycyan made these verses folowynge Crastino Tiburci sanctorum Valeriani Nix cadit immanis ventus vehemens boriasis Euulsit siluas vulsit quas reperit herbas â—des dampnose detexit impituose Quas clam prostrauit sic plurima daÌ„pna paraâ—it The whyche verses may thus be Englysshed as here after foloweth The morow folowynge Tiburce Valerian The blessed sayntes of snow fyll suche plentie That at that day was no lyuyng man That myght remembre of so great quantyte The Northyn wynde blewe wyth such fyerste That houses trees with herbys it ouer cast And many other harmes by sande eke by see Of that wynde came the whyse that it dyd laste IN thys yere also about y e ende of the moneth of Iulu dyed freer Pekham than archebysshop of Caunterbury In whose see was after stalled mayster Robert of wynchester And aboute the myddes of Septembre folowynge the erle of Barre a frenche man maryed Elyanore y e kynges doughter in y e towne of Brystowe And about the ende of thys yere dyed Alexandre kyng of Scottes where soone after ensuyd great warre and trouble for the enherytaunce of that lande as in some parte shall after appere And thys yere whete was solde at London for .ii. s. a busshell In this yere also as wytnesseth the Frenche cronycle Phylyp le Beawe thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce made warre in Gascoyne and Guyau for the cause as there is shewed sayeng that kyng Edwarde vnder coloure to haue made a vyage into the holy lande gathered a great army and sodeynly entred into Normandy bothe by lande and water dyd moche harme in spoylynge and takyng dyuers shyppes of Fraunce and brynnyng and spoylyng diuers townes of the same and after came vnto the towne of Rochell where to it the Englysshemen made dyuers assautes wherby the dwellers also the towne susteyned moche harme wherof the kynge of Fraunce beynge enfourmed sent vnto kyng Edward monisshing hym to come vnto hys parlyamente also to make satysfaccyon for suche harmys as hys people had done within hys domynyon of Fraunce and Normandy But for that kyng Edwarde refused that to do therfore y e sayd Phylyp le Beawe sent Rauffe de Neell thaÌ„ coÌ„stable of Fraunce into Gascoygne with a greate myghty power the whyche made sharpe warre vppon y e Gascoynes But the Gascoines with helpe of the Englysshemen defended theym in suche wyse that great hurt was done vpon bothe partyes ThaÌ„ fynally as testifyeth the sayd frenche cronycle to the entent that kyng Edwarde myghte make the better clayme to al the hole duchy of NormaÌ„dy he sent the Frenche kynge worde y t he wolde gyue ouer into hys handes the duchye of Guyan holde no lande of the kyng of Fraunce Anno domini M.CC.xciiii  Anno domini M.CC.xcv  Henry Boxe  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xxiii.  Richarde Glouceter  IN thys .xxiii. yere the walshemen by styrryng of one named Madok rebelled agayne the kynge wherfore he in all haste spedde hym vnto westchester and about the feast of saynte Nycholas wan frome the walshmen the ile called Anglesya or the I le of Manne and buylded newe the cytye castell of Beau Maryse and broughte the vnstedfast walshemen to newe reclayme then caused the woodes of y e countre to be hewyn downe wherein before tymes they vsed to hyde theym as a cony dothe in hys claper and repayred so the castelles and stronge holdes with buyldynge of some newe that he caused the walshmeÌ„ to thryue agayne theyr wylles For by the strengthe of those castelles they were kepte from theyr olde accustomed rauyns and stelynges and put so in execucyon by the rulers of the sayd castelles stronge holdes that they fyll vnto occupacyon and to byenge and sellyng and gathered treasoure and beganne to lyue after the maner of EnglisshemeÌ„ so that more and more that countre grewe to more restefulnesse and peace In thys yere also the frenchemen arryued at Douer wyth a certayne of shyppes beynge vnder the rule of syr Mathew de mounte morency and of syr Iohan Harcourte knyghtes and spoyled that towne and brent a parte of yt In whych skyrmysshe was slayne or martyred an holy man named saynte Thomas of Douer And in this yere as testifieth y e frenche cronicle Charles de Ualoys brother vnto kyng Phylyp of Fraunce was sent by hys sayd brother into Gascoygne with a greate hooste The whyche Charles layde hys syege vnto the castell of Ryon wherin at that tyme were syr Iohan Seyn IohnÌ„ IohnÌ„ de Brytayne the whych manfully vygorously defendyd the sayd castel agayne the Frenchmen all that yere and more as in the next yere shall appere Anno domini M.CC.xcv  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.xcvi  IohnÌ„ Dunstable  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xxiiii.  Adam Halyngbery  IN this .xxiiii. yere the kyng for the great warre y t he had wyth the Frenche kyng and els where coÌ„maunded a new subsidie to be leuied vpon all the sarplers of wolle goyng out of Englande with all fellys and hydes in lyke maner And ouer that all suche money as before was grauÌ„ted by the clergy of Englande towarde the defence of the holy lande the kyng then for reporte that he hadde from Rome of the popes maners thaÌ„ Bonyface the .viii coÌ„maunded it to be brought vnto hys tresoury And by a coÌ„uocacioÌ„ made of the sayd clergye he had graunted towarde hys nedes halfe of theyr spyrytuall temporall landes begynnyng at .xx. marke benifice so ascendyng vpward the whych was nat
than they by the fyrst metyng had auaūced thē self And yfayde of Guy de Namour sone vnto the erle of Flaunders had nat the soner been comyn vnto them the sayde erle of Artoys had that day wonne the renowne of the felde Thā the sayd Guy with a fresshe compapany of Almaynes and other bolde sowdyours coragyously entred the felde and bete downe y e Frenchemen egerly Than was the medle newe begon in so feruent wyse that men horse fyll downe to the grounde wondersly thycke And euer the erle of Artoys where so euer he wente he slewe moche people before hym But the Flemynges kept them so hole togyder y t he myght neuer dysseuer them and slewe of the nobles of Fraunce great plentye whiche mortalite thus contynuynge y e stremes of blode ran wonders to beholde And alway the Frenche partye weked more more Lastly the erles of saynt Poule and of Boleyn with Robert the sonne of this erle of Cleremounte and other with the nombre of .ii. M. horsemen seynge the rage and woodnes of the Flemynges whiche so cruelly slewe and bet downe the Frenche men settynge a parte all honour and knyght hode shamefully fled out of the feld leuyng the erle of Artoys in y e myddel of his enemyes whiche lyke vnto the lyon rampaunte contynued in one sleynge kyllynge the Flemynges without mercy or pyte But the Flemynges lyke wood tygres were so enraged vpon the Frenchemen y e they wolde neuer leue them tyll they by pure force draue them into theyr tentes where they slewe of theym a a great multytude In this batayll were slayne the foresayd erle of Artoys Godfray de Braban nere kynnesman to the sayd erle lorde of wyrson Adam the erle of Dabenmale Iohn̄ the sonne of y e erle of Henaut Rauf de Neell cōstable of Fraunce Guy his brother marshal of the hoste Renolde de Try Esmer chamberlayne of Cancaruyle Iaques y e sonne of Godfrey de Braban Pyers Floot Iohan Bruillis maister of y e arbalasters knyghtes many mo mē of name to the nombre of CC. and aboue besyde esquyers and other men of lower degrees as yomen gromes pages to the nōbre of .xii. M. The whiche after this vyctorye the Flemynges dyspoyled and suffred the caryns of them to lye in y e felde that all wylde bestes fowles myght them perysshe and deuoure whan this yonge knyght syr Guy hadde thus opteyned vyctorye of the Frenchmen he reioyced not a lytle and soone therafter layde syege vnto the I le or a castell soo named and gat it also were it by trecheri or other wyse Then the townes of Iper of Gaunt of Douaye and diuers other of that countre obeyed to hym and cōdyscended and agreed to take partye eyther of them with other agayne the Frenche kynge Than kynge Phylyp herynge of the great dysconfyture of his men made countenaunce of mournynge and specyally for his true knyght the erle of Artoys Kynge Phylyp then after for to reuenge the foresayd dyspleasure to hym doone by y e Flemynges assembled by our lady day Assumpsion next ensuynge an excedynge nombre of men of armes entendynge to haue entred Flaundres vtterly to haue destroyed a great parte of that countre so drewe towarde his enemyes so that he pyght y e tētes of his vanward within .ii. myles of his enemyes and there lay to his excedynge charge cōsiderynge the great multytude of his hoost by all y e moneth of Septēbre Of y e nōbre of this hoost I haue doubte to wryte For mayster Gagwyn sayth y e nōbre was so great y t it may nat be byleued y t sheweth wel by y e expressemēt of y e nōbre made by y e Frenche cronycle For he saythe they were an hūdreth tyme an C.M .xl. tymes .xl. M. By whiche sayeng somdele appereth how y e Frenchmē cā make men soūge But how it was for all this great excedynge nōbre of Frēchmē y e Flemynges laye styll vnhurte or assawted And fynally vp on a great substancyall cause as ye after shal here this great hoste was dissolued or returned euery mā to his awne kynge Phylyp with smal honour into Fraūce wherof y e Frēchmē sayth y e occasion or cause was thus Kynge Edward of Englāde whiche vnto y e Flemynges bare great affeccion cōsideryng y e great daunger they were in and he at y e tyme myght nat thē ayde nor socour of a pollicy cast in his mynde with an heuy or mornynge coūtenaūce shewed vnto y e quene syster vnto kyng Phylyp y e he was very heuy sorowfull for his brother hers y e kyng of Fraūce wherof whē wherfore she had frayned the cause he answered sayde y t he had certayne knowlege y t at suche tyme as the Flemynges he shulde mete in batayle that his lordes cōpany shulde leaue hym amonge his enemyes for he was solde vnto them before hande wherof whan y e quene was thus ascertayned anone in all possible hast she sent letters messangers vnto the Frenche kynge counfaylynge hym to be well ware of that treason and daunger To the whiche he gyuynge credence shortely after sente frome hym the sayd great company of people and he with a certayne as aboue is sayd retourned īto Fraunce After whyche departynge the flemynges were so bolde y ◠forthe wyth they entred into Pycardy the countre of Artoys and spoyled brent dyuers townes of the same But in the yere folowyng as testyfyeth the sayd frēche cronicle y e Flemynges of Bruges were foughten with of Otthon than duke of Burgoyn to whome by reason of maryage the Frenche kyng had gyuen the erledome of Artoys he of them slewe with the ayde of the Frenchemen .xv. thousande In thys .xvii. yere about mydsosomer Phylyp an other sonne of the erle of Flaundres whyche had by a certayn terme passed ben in the court of Charles de Ualoys by hym put in truste to receyue certayne summes of money in Scicill to y e vse of pope Bonyface the .viii sodaynely departed and with a stronge company of Almaynes came into Flaundres to ayde assiste his brother whome the Flemynges or Brabanders receyued with great ioy by the comforte of hym inuaded the borders landes of the Frenche kyng boldly assautyd the castell of saynt Omers But for they there gat none aduauntage but loste many of theyr men they forsoke that yode vnto a towne belongyng to the Frēche kyng called Thorouan Moryne the whyche in processe they wanne and spoyled About thys tyme dyed Bonyface the .viii. of that name than pope a man of euyll name and fame the whyche by hys trechery caused hys predecessour Celestyne the .v. that was a good holy man to resygne and leue his papacie And by thys meane when thys sayd Celestyne had syttē in Peters chayre a short tyme this Bonyface espyeng hys innocency whyche was all sette to the seruice of
y e other syde laye in howge nombre for to defende the passage of the Frenchmen In whyche tyme season fell suche plenty of rayne that the ways waxed noyous foule in all that countrey By reason whereof vytayll whyche thā was as aboue is sayd scant was than more scars And ouer y e the feelde where the hoste laye was so wete myry that men and beastes were to greuously noyed wherefore in conclusyō y e kyng consyderyng those great hynderaunces harmes to hys lordes comōs that he myght in no maner wynne ouer to hys enemyes he retourned as other before times had done with lytell honour into Fraūce to y e great losse of y e kynges ordenaūce other stuffe that myght nat be caryed thēs by reason of depenes of the way For whych cause causes the kyng was so soore displeased y t he made then a great othe that yf he myght lyue tyll the yere folowyng y t he shuld be sette so the Flemynges y t they shuld nat escape hys daūger y t he shuld neuer take treatye nor ende with thē except they wolde fully holy put thē in his grace mercy But in the yere folowynge about y e feest of Pentecoste whē the sayd Lewys had scantly reygned ii yeres he dyed at Boys in Uyncent the .vi. daye of Iunii honorablye was buryed at saynt Denyse leuyng after hym none issue male wherfore hys brother Phylype succeded hym in the kyngdome Francia PHylyp the .v. of that name and brother of the forenamed Lewys whyche for his heygth was surnamed Phylyp the longe began hys reygne ouer y e Frēchmē in y e yere of our lorde M.CCC and .xvii and the .x. yere of Edwarde the seconde than kynge of Englande But fyrste he reygned but as regent of Fraūce for so moche as Clemence the wyfe of kynge Lewys was left of her sayd husbande with chylde The whiche in processe of tyme was delyuered of a man chylde named Iohan that dyed shortly after After whose dethe y e sayd Phylyp was forthwith proclaymed kynge of Fraunce and crowned at Parys aboute Chrystmas folowynge al be it y t the duke of Burgoyn with other for a whyle with sayd that coronacyon and wolde haue preferred the doughter of Lewys last deed But other of the lordes and nobles of Fraunce wolde not be agreable y t a woman shulde enheryte so great a kyngdome By meane wherof vnkyndnes kyndled atwene the kynge and the sayd duke But by wyse medyatoures they were after acorded in suche wyse that the sayd duke maryed the eldest doughter of y e kynge In this passe tyme suche meanes were made by the Flemynges that an vnyte and accorde was stablysshed atwene Fraunce and them for y e tyme that it helde whiche peace as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle was laboured and ended by a cardynall named Iosselyn sent frome y e .xxii. Iohan than pope so that by medyacyon of the sayd cardynall the erle of Flaūdres was receyued vnto y e kynges grace and at Parys dyd vnto y e Frenche kynge his homage sware vnto hym feawtye In the thyrde yere of the reygne of this Phylyp the prouost of Parys hauyng in his pryson a Pycarde a man of great rychesse whiche for felony or lyke cryme was iudged to be hanged The sayd prouoste for great benefyte to hym doone and payment of great summes by y e sayd Pycarde toke an other poore innocent man put hym to dethe in stede of the sayd Pycarde Of the whiche offence whā due profe of it was made before the kynges counceyll the sayd prouoste for the same dede was put vnto lyke iudgment In the fyfth yere of the sayd Phylyp all the lazaryes of the countrey of Langadocke were brente for so moche as they were accused of theyr owne confessyon proued that they had poysoned and entended to haue poysoned all the welles of that countrey And for many Iewes were vnto them consentynge therfore many of them suffered lyke iudgment In this yere also for somoche as in those dayes in dyuers places of Fraunce a fonde prophecy was broughte vp amōge the comune people that shepherdes and herdes shulde wynne the holy lande Than they assembled thē selfe in dyuers places and companyes and lastly came togyder at Parys where they were so many in nombre by reason of other of the comune people that fell vnto them that the Prouost of Parys was not of power to withstande thē so that they brake prysones and toke out suche persones as them pleased and from thens wente beggynge and robbynge tyll they came into Langedocke where they fel vpon the Iewes and robbed theym of all suche mouables as they myght fynde and slewe of theym also wherfore the other of the Iewes ferynge the sayd comunes gathered them with theyr wyues chyldren to the noūbre of .v. C. into a towre and thought to defende them theyr wyues and chyldren from the sayd herdes But anone as they hadde wyttynge therof they assawted the sayd towre so egerly that in the ende seynge they myght not escape for very despyte they threwe theyr chyldren downe at theyr hedes after slewe eyther other for they shulde not fall in the handes of theyr enemyes or elles to auoyde y e peynes of the fyre whiche the herdes hadde begunne to fasten vpon the sayd towre whā the sayd Herdes hadde thus robbed and slayne y e Iewes of Langdocke they departed thens and yode towarde a a countrey called Carcasson entendynge lyke robbery as they before had vsed wherof y e countrey beynge warned stopped kepte so the passages withstode them with suche power and strengthe that they dysseuered thē selfe by small companyes so that many of them were taken and hanged the other fled in saue gardynge them selfe and so this folysshe prophecy was ended with synne and shame Kynge Phylyppe by meane of yll coūseyle sette a great taske vpon his comunes that is to meane the fyfth parte of theyr mouable goodes For the whiche consyderynge he had no charg of warres ī no place they murmured grudged wonder sore But how it was or this taxe was leuyed he fell in a feuer quarteyne a great flyx whiche sekenesse fell vpon hym by prayer of the comunes after the Frenche boke for leuyenge of y e sayd greuous taxe Than for hym was made many solempne processyons other prayers How be it in lōge processe he dyed whan he had languysshedde from the begynnynge of August tyl the .viii. day of Ianuary Upon whiche day he dyed whan he had reygned .iiii. yeres .vii. monethes odde dayes leuynge after hym none heyre male wherfore the crowne dyscēded vnto his brother Charles erle of the Marches Francia ¶ Charles the fyfth CArolus the fyfth or Charles the yongest of the thre bretherne or sonnes of Philyppe le Bewe begāne his reygne ouer y e Frenchmē in y e moneth of Ianuary yere of our lorde M.CCC and .xxii and the .xv. yere of
had reygned fyue yeres and odde dayes leuynge after hym none heyre of hys body excepte the quene was than wyth chylde whyche chylde dyed soone after y e byrthe wherfore some questions for that kyngedome were moued as before touched in the ende of the fourthe yere of thys Charles after shal be forther expressed Anglia Edwarde the thyrde EDwarde the .iii. of that name sonnÌ„ of Edward the seconde and of Isabell y e alonely doughter chylde of Phylip le Beawe or Phylyppe the fayre father to Charles laste kynge of Fraunce beganne to reygne as kynge of Englande his father yet lyuynge the syx twenty daye of Ianuary in the ende of the yere of grace a thousande thre hundreth and syx and twenty and the fourth yere of Charles the fyfth last kynge of Fraunce and was crowned at westmynster vppon the daye of the puryfycacyon of oure Lady nexte ensuynge In hys begynnynge came forthe plentye and gracyous happes for the erthe tooke plentye the ayre tempoure the see quyetnesse and to the chyrche grewe peace In thys fyrste yere he confermed the lybertyes and fraunchyses of y e cytye of London and ordeyned that the mayre for the tyme beyng shuld sytte in all places of iugement within the lyberty of the same for chiefe iustyce the kynges persone onely excepte that euery alderman that hadde ben mayre shuld be iustyce of peace in all London and Myddelsex eueryche alderman that hadde not be mayre shulde be iustyce of peace wythin his owne warde And also he graunted to the cytezyns the fee ferme of London for .iii. hundreth pownde that they shulde not be constrayned to go out of the cytye to fyghte or defende the land for any nede Also that after that daye the fraunchyse of the cytye shulde not be seasyd into the kynges handes but onely for treason or rebellyon done by the hole cytye And Southwerke was admytted to be vnder the correccyon and rule of the citye and the mayre of London to be baylyffe of Southwerke and the mayre to chose ordeyne such a baylyffe of that borough as hym lyked whiche ordinaunce endureth to this day In the moneth of Apryll for so mych as meanes were made by the frere prechours or the blacke freres for the delyuery of kynge Edwarde the .ii. out of pryson therfore he was had out of the castell of Kenelworth coÌ„ueyed vnto y e castel of Berkeley where after about saynt Mathewys tyde the sayde Edward by y â— meanes of syr Roger Mortimer was myserably slayne Of this Edward are lyke opinyoÌ„s as were of Thomas of Lancaster whyche I referre to goddys iudgement For certayne it is that for hys former wyld and insolent lyuynge he toke greate repentaunce And so he hadde great cause for durynge hys reygne there was hedyd and put to deth by iugement vppon xxviii barons and knyghtes ouer y t noble men that were slayne in Scotlande by hys infortunyte Kynge Edwarde as yet beynge of tender age not passing .xv. yeres heryng of the great pryde and presuÌ„pcyon of the Scottes and howe they dayly warred vpon the borders and entryd the lande in brennynge and spoylyng his people assembled hys people about Easter so sped hym toward Scotland In whych meane tyme the Scottes were entred the land were comen as farre as StaÌ„hop in Uiridale and had lodged theÌ„ in the woddes of Stanhop parke in dyuers bushementys wherof y â— kyng beyng enfourmed made such prouysyon that he beset them rouÌ„de about and trusted well to haue brought theÌ„ vnder hys subieccyon But when the kynge thoughte to be of them moste sure by treason of some of hys hoste the Scottes were clene escaped and retourned into Scotlande wherof y e fame ranne vpon syr Roger Mortymer But how so it was y â— kyng loste that iournay and retourned into Englande with lytle worshyppe And here ye shall vnderstand that to this day the olde mayre and shyryâ—â—es y t is to meane Hamunde Chyckwell Benet Fulham and IohnÌ„ Canston stode in offyce tyll y e day folowyng of SymoÌ„ Iude which was almost y â— full of y e fyrst yere of y e sayd Edward the .iii. And then for the residue of the fyrst yere for the more party of the second yere was electe and charged the mayre and shyryffes folowynge Anno domini M.CCC.xxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxvii  Henry Darcy  Rycharde Betayne  Anno .i.  IohnÌ„ Hawteyne  IN the ende of the fyrste yere of thys kynge Edwarde begynnyng oâ— thys mayres yere the kynge after Crystmas maryed dame Phylyppe y e erles doughter of Henawde in the cytye of yorke in the euyn of y e conuersioÌ„ of saynt Paule or y e .xxiiii. daye of Ianuary And soone after the kyng about y e feast of Pentecoste helde hys parlyament at Northampton At the whych parlyament by euyll couÌ„sayl wherof syr Roger Mortymer the olde quene bare the blame the kynge made wyth the Scottes an vnprofytable and a dyshonorable peace For fyrste he released to theym theyr feauty and homage Also he delyuered vnto theym olde auncyent wrytynges sealed wyth the seales of the kynge of Scottes and of dyuerse lordes of that lande bothe spyrytuall temporall with many other charters patentes by the whyche y e kynges of Scottes oblyged them to be feordaryes vnto y t crowne of Englande At whyche season also was delyuered certeyne iewelles whych before tymes had ben woÌ„ne froÌ„ y e Scottes by kynges of England Amonge the whych the blacke crosse of Scotlande is specyally named a relyke accompted of great preciosyte And nat alonely the kyng by hys synystre couÌ„sayll lost hys tytle and ryght that he had to the realme of Scotlande as farre as the sayd couÌ„sayl might helpe it but also all lordes barones all other men of England that had any landes or rentes within Scotlande loste theyr ryghte in lyke maner excepte they wolde dwel vpon the sayd landes and becomme the kynge of Scottes lyege men And soone after was concluded a maryage betwene Dauyd le Bruze sonne of Robert le Bruze and Iane the kynges syster whyche of diuerse writers is surnamed Iane of the towre or Iohan of Towers Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxviii  Symon Fraunces  Hamonde Chyckewell  Anno .ii.  Henry Combmartyn  IN thys yere whyche at thys daye was the seconde yere of the kyng Dauyd foresayd the son of Roberte le Bruze thaÌ„ kynge of Scottes maryed vppon the daye of mary Magdaleyne at hys towne than of Berwyke y e fore named Iane syster vnto the kynge of Englande But it was nat longe after or the Scottes in despyte of the Englysshemen called hyr Iane make peace And also to theyr more derysyon they made dyuerse truffes roundes and songes of the whyche one is specially remembred as foloweth ¶ Longe beerdys hartles Paynted hoodes wytles Gay cotes graceles Maketh Englande thryfteles whyche ryme
very fast with the Frēch kynge called hys counsayll to hym to haue theyr aduyce howe he myght beste ordre hym selfe and hys people In whych coūsayll were dyuers opynyons so that many thoughte it better for dyuerse consyderacyons whyche were longe to reherce that the erle shulde rather preferre the amyte of the kynge of Englande thā of the kynge of Fraunce Of whyche opynyon was a greate furtherer or promoter a knyghte of Flaunders called Countryssye ▪ wyth whome the erle beynge for that cause discontent sent hym to pryson And soone after at the request of the Frenche kynge whyche layed vnto hys charge that he hadde receyued greate summes of money of the kyng of Englande for to procure and styre the Flemynges agayne hym he was behedded for whyche dede the dwellers of Gaunte and of Bruges were so miscontente that they vtterly refused y e erle hys counsayll made theym stronge to withstande hys displeasure Than y e erle was constrayned to gather hys lordes knyghtes for the more part of y e cōmons were agayne hym And in short proces after met in playn batayll ī a place called Marchie where after lōge fyghte the erle his holte was put to flyghte forced for hys safegard to take a castel named Mal or Malet In which season kyng Edward beynge enfourmed of y e amytie y t the Flemynges bare towarde hym anon sent vnto them a knyght called syr Galtyer or walter de Magny with a goodly company of archers well apoynted the whyche arryued in an I le called than Cazāter whome the erle of Flaunders with a certayn of hys knyghtes encountred gaue vnto the Englysshemen batayl But in the ende the erle was shamefully chased and many of hys gentylmen slayne and takē as syr Iohn̄ Rodes syr wyllyā Gyll syr Nycholas Chaūcy with many other slayne And syr Guy bastarde brother vnto the erle with dyuerse other taken of y t which some were sent as prysoners into Englande whan the Frenche kyng had vnderstandynge of the deuysyon that was betwene the erle and hys subiectes how faythfull y e erle was vnto hym entendynge to wynne by fayre meanes the fauour of y e Flemynges whyche he knewe well he myght nat wynne by rygoure Than he sente vnto Gaūt the bysshop of saynt Denys with other whych made vnto y e rulers of y e towne of Bruges and other townes there assembled many fayre behestes promyses Amōge y e whych one was that the Frēch kyng wolde acquyte vnto them delyuer vnto theyr vse all suche lordshyppes seygnoryes as he than withheld of theyrs and hys progenytours before hym But all was in vayn For kyng Edward had so sped hys nedes with thē by the meanes of one named Iaques de artiuele a mā of Gaūt which was of great substaūce passyng other in boldenes capacyte of wytte discreciō y t the sayd towne of Gaūt with Bruges Ipre Courtryke or Courtrey Cassyle and other there about condyssended and promysed ioyntly and hooly to refuse y e Frēche kynge to take the kynge of Englandes partye and the rather for the warre whych before tyme Philip de Ualoyes made vpon them in the begynnyng of hys reygne as in y e fyrst yere of the story of the sayde Phylyp shall after appere Anno domini M.CCC.xxxvii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xxxviii  wyllam of Pountfreyt  Henry Darcy  Anno .xiii.  Hugo Marbre  IN thys .xiii. yere kynge Edwarde with quene Philip hys wyfe for more assured stablysshemēt of amyte to be had betwene hym and the Holanders Selāders Brabāders passed the see in the begynnyng of y e moneth of Iunii sayled wyth a goodly cōpany into the coūtrey of Brabāt the quene thā beynge great with chyld where of the erle of Brabāt he was Honorablie receyued In whyche season of hys there beynge kyng Edwarde gat vnto hym many frendes Amonge the whych Lewys of Bauyere whych than toke vpon hym as Emperour all be that before that tyme he was of the .xxii. Iohan than pope accursed was one Thys Lewys had such fauoure vnto kyng Edwarde that he assygned ▪ and ordeyned hym for Uycayr of y e empyre by reason of whyche offyce kyng Edwarde made oute hys commaundementes dyd many thynges to hys aduauntage and profyte In thys season quene Phylyppe lyenge at Andwarpe was delyuered of a man chylde that was named Lyonell And Phylyp de Ualoys hauynge knowelege of all thys demeanure of kynge Edwarde gathered vnto hym greate strenthe so that he had about hym innumerable people and taryed with them at Amyas and there about from y e ende of August tyll y e begynnyng of Octobre And whā he sawe that kyng Edwarde came nat he deuyded y e great hoste in retournyng many of theym into theyr owne countreys and the other he sente vnto stronge holdes castelles for to let y t passage of kynge Edwarde and hys hoste into the lāde of Fraunce And in thys passe tyme the Frenche kynge had sent dyuerse shyppes vnto the see wyth men of warre for to take englysshe marchaūtes other that came in theyr course And so befelle that they encountred with .ii. great shyppes of Englande called the Edward and the Cristofer the whiche as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle were freyght with greate rychesse and also well manned Anone as eyther was ware of other gonnes and shot of longe bowes arblasters were nat spared on nother syde so that betwene thē was a cruell fyghte but nat egall For of the Frenchemē were .xiii. sayles great and smal and of the Englysshe men but fyue that is to meane these two foresayd great shyppes two barkys and a caruyll the whyche thre small shyppes escaped by theyr deliuer saylynge the ii abode and fought beyonde .ix. houres in so moche that there was slayn vpon both partyes aboue .vi. C. men But in the ende the sayd .ii. shyppes were taken broughte into y e Frēch kynges stremes and many of the Englysshemen that were sore wounded were cast into the see In thys yere also the sayd Frenschemē of that Nauy landed at Southāpton sodeynly and spoyled the towne and brente a great parte therof And ouer this the Frenche kynge made warre in Gascoyn and wanne there dyuerse smal pyles and one strōge castell standing in the countrey of Gascoyne called Agenoys whych castell was named Pēne But all this season was kyng Edwarde in Almayne made allyaunce with dyuerse prynces of that coūtrey and other and toke assuraūces of them that they shulde ayde assyste hym to wynne hys ryght and tytle y ◠he had to y ◠crowne of Fraūce after returned into Flaūders wher he taryed all thys mayres yere Anno domini M.CCC.xxxviii  Anno domini M.CCC.xxxix  wyllyam Thorney  Andrew Awbry  Anno .xiiii.  Roger Forsham  IN thys .xiiii. yere kynge Edwarde spedyng hys busynesse in Almayn Flaūders as in y e precedynge
at his sendyng to come in all spedy wyse But so soone as the sayde syr Godfrey was nere vnto the towre a busshment of sawdyoures were sente out at a possterne the whiche closed hym and his Frenchemen vpon all sydes slewe of them many Amonge the whiche syr Henry de Boys knyght with syr Gautyer de Ualence and syr Robert of Beuuays knyghtes were slayne And the sayd syr Godfrey taken sore wounded and the lorde of Mountmorency escaped with great dauÌ„ger the whithe gaue warnynge vnto the other company and returned theym into Fraunce Than the sayd Godfrey de Charney was layde vpon aborde and so presented vnto kynge Edwarde the whiche had suche pyte of hym that he coÌ„maunded his owne surgyons to loke vnto hym and to cure hym in theyr best maner And whaÌ„ he was somdeale cured he was sente as a prysoner with other into Englande In this yere also the kynge caused to be coyned grotes halfe grotes the whiche lacked of the weyght of his former coyne .ii. s. vi d. in a li. Troy And aboute the ende of August sessed the mortalyte or dethe in London y e whiche was so vehemet and sharpe within y e sayd cytie that ouer the bodyes buried in churches and churcheyerdes monasteries and other accumed buryeng places was buryed that same yere in the charterhouse yerde of London .l. M. persones and aboue This yere also was y e yere of Iubile or clene remyssyon whiche is kept at Rome at euery .l. wynter ende lyke as the yere of Iubile or grace is contynued at Cauntorbury And thys yere by the laboure of two cardynalles sent from pope ClemeÌ„t the .vi was a peace coÌ„cluded bytwene the two kynges of Englande of FrauÌ„ce for a yere nere vnto the owne of Caleys wherefore the stablysshynge of the sayde peace for the sayde yere assembled the two sayde cardynalles And for the kynge of Englande the bysshoppe of Norwyche than treasourer and chyefe chanceller of the kynge with other vnto hym by the kynge assygned And for the Frenche kynge was there the bysshop of Laone and the abbot of saynt Denys wyth other And the .xxiii. daye of the moneth of Auguste In thys yere and yere of our lorde .xiii. hundreth and fyfthty dyed Phylyppe de Ualoyes kyng of Fraunce Anno domini M.CCC.xlix  Anno domini M.CCC.l.  IohnÌ„ Notte  Rycharde Kyllyngbury  Anno .xxv.  wyllyam worcestre  IN thys .xxv. yere about y e feast of the decollacyon of saynte IohnÌ„ Baptyste in the latter ende of August a noble man of Spayne called syr Charles to whome kynge Iohan of Fraunce had newely gyueÌ„ the erledome of Angolesme entendynge to wynne some honoure vpon the Englysshemen wyth a stronge nauy of Spaynardes entrede y e Englysshe stremys and dyd moche harme vnto kynge Edwardes frendes So that the kyng about the season abouesayde mette wyth the sayde nauy vpon the cooste of wynchelsee where betwene the kynge and them was a longe and mortall fyghte to y e greate losse of moche people vppon bothe partyes But in the ende god sente vnto the kyng vyctory so that he chased hys enemyes and wanne frome theym .xxii. of theyr shyppes after moost wryters wyth many prysoners And thys yere syr Thomas of Agorne whiche as in the .xxii. yere of thys kyngê reygne toke prysoner syr Charles de Bloys and other was slayne by chaunce medle of a knyght of Fraunce or Brytayne called syr Rauffe de Caours And thys yere were solempne messangers sente vnto Rome for to conclude and parfyte the peace betwene the two kynges of Englande and of Fraunce So that kynge Edward shulde resygne and gyue vp all hys tytle and clayme that he made vnto the crowne of Fraunce the French kynge shulde clerely gyue vnto hym all the duchye of Guyan wyth all suche landes as at any tyme before were taken by any of hys progenytoures from it And that kyng Edwarde and hys heyres kynges shuld freely holde and occupye the sayde duchye wythout doynge of homage to any Frenche kyng after that day But the conclusyon of thys matyer was so prolonged and deferred by y â— pope and such delayes as dayly ben vsed in the courte of Rome that the erle of Derby wyth other whyche were appoynted for the kynge of Englande retourned wythoute spede of theyr cause wherfore kynge Edwarde made new prouisyoÌ„s to warre vpon kyng IohnÌ„ of Fraunce Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.li  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lii  IohnÌ„ wrothe  Andrewe Awbry  Anno .xxvi.  GybbonÌ„ Stayndrope  IN thys .xxvi. yere the castel of Guynys was yolden vnto the Englysshmen dwellynge in Caleys whyche as testyfyeth the French cronicle was done by treason of a FreÌ„ch man named Guyllyam de BeaucoÌ„roy For the whyche treason the sayd Guyllyam was shortely after put in execucyon in the towne of Amyas And about the myddell of August vppon the euyn of our Lady assumpcyon syr Guy de Neale than marshall of Fraunce wyth a stronge coÌ„pany gaue bataylle vnto the Englysshemen than beynge in Brytayn in the whych the sayde syr Guy with the lord of Brykebet and the Chaste leyne of Beaunais with many other noble men were slayne many takeÌ„ prysoners Anno domini M.CCC.li  Anno domini M.CCC.lii  IohnÌ„ Peche  Adam Fraunceys  Anno .xxvii.  IohnÌ„ Stodeney  THe somer of thys .xxvii. yere was so dry that it was many yeres after called the drye somer For from the latter ende of Marche tyll the latter ende of Iuly fyll lytell rayne or none by reason wherof many inconuenyences ensued And one thynge whyche is specyally noted corne the yere folowynge was scante whereof the pryce thys yere began to enhaunce greatly and beuys and mottons were also dere for scantnesse of grasse and pasture and that aswell was expert in Fraunce as in the I le of EnglaÌ„de Anno domini M.CCC.lii  Anno domini M.CCC.liii  IohnÌ„ welde  Adam Fraunceys  Anno .xxviii.  IohnÌ„ Lytell  IN thys .xxviii. yere kynge Edwarde holdynge hys parlyament at westmynster amonge other thynges there enacted soone after Pentecoste created the erle of Derby duke of LaÌ„castre â—yr Rauffe Stafforde was created erle of Stafforde Than thys duke of Lancastre was sent agayne ouer the see wherein the ende of this yere as witnesseth IohnÌ„ Froysarde he was appealed of the duke of Bryswyke a duke of the couÌ„tre of Almayne of certayne wordes contrary hys honoure for the whych he waged batayll with the sayd duke in the court of the Frenche kyng Than thys Henry whych of some wryters is named Henry Bolyngbroke duke of Lancastre purchased hys sauffe conduyte of the Frenche kyng and kepte hys day appoynted for that bataylle in a felde called in Frenche La preauxclers where for them was ordeyned a place lyested and cloosed in goodly wyse kynge Iohan beynge presente wyth the more parte of hys nobles of FrauÌ„ce And there came in fyrst into that feld the
towarde the ryuer of Ancherre and so vnto Burdeaux In all whyche iourney they passed wythout fyghte or batayll natwithstādyng the great hurte domage they dyd vnto y e townes coūtres as they passed Excepte at a place or towne called Orchye a knyght of Fraūce called syr Iohn̄ de Uyenne encountred .l. speres and .xx. archers that were strayed from theyr hoste and set vppon theym and slew some parte of theym and toke the resydue of theym prysoners So that the Frenche boke sayth for so moche as for lacke of meate for theyr horses and other paynfull thynges that in that iourney to theym happened that though that iournay were vnto the Englysshemen honorable to ryde so ferre in the kynges lāde vnfoughten wyth yet it was to theym very paynfull cōsyderyng the manyfolde chaunces fallynge to theym as losse of horses and other thynges duryng that passage Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxiii  Iohn̄ Awbry  Adam of Bury  Anno .xlviii.  Iohn̄ Fysshyde  IN thys .xlviii. yere were sente fro the pope than beyng the .xi. Gregory the archebysshop of Rauenne and the bysshop of Carentras for to treate of the peace betwene the .ii. kynges of Englande and of Fraūce The whyche assembled them at Bruges in Flaundres whyther also for kynge Edwardes partye came the duke of Lancastre and the bysshope of Londō wyth other And for Charles the Frenche kynge appered there the duke of Burgoyne the bisshop of Amyens and other The whyche cōmyssioners after they had spente a greate parte of the lente in disputacions of thys matter the partyes for the Frenche kynge desyred a lycence of the legates that they myghte ryde vnto Parys and shewe vnto y e kyng the offycers of the englysshe partye and so to retourne with hys pleasur wherupon it was agreed that a certayne shulde ryde to shew vnto the Frenche kynge y t the Englysshemen abode styffely vpon the souerayntye that the kynge of Englande and hys heyres kynges shal enioy all the former landes comprysed in the peace made betwene hym and Iohn̄ than kyng of Fraūce as before is shewed in the .xxxiiii. yere of thys kyng wyth out homage or other duyte for them doynge For thys matter as sayth y e Frenche cronycle kyng Charlys assembled at Parys a great parte of y e nobles of hys realme wyth many other wyse mē doctours of dyuynite to haue that case suffyciently argued and debated In the whyche coūsayl it was plenerly determyned that the kyng myght nat gyue ouer the sayd souerayntye without great peryll of hys soule as there was shewed by diuers resons whan thys reporte was brought vnto Bruges y e sayd treaty was dissolued wythoute any conclusyon takynge excepte the peace was contynued tyll the feast of all sayntes next ensuynge Anno domini M.CCC.lxxiii  Anno domini M.CCC.lxxiiii  Rycharde Lyons  wyllyam walworth  Anno .xlix.  wyllyam wodhowce  IN thys yere that is to vnderstande in the begynnynge of thys mayres yere and ende of the xlviii yere of kyng Edwarde a new wyse cōplayned vpon to the kyng y t he was throwen into pryson where he lay many yeres after Than kyng Edwarde created Rychard sonn̄ of prynce Edward prynce of walys gaue vnto hym y e erledomes of Chester and Cornewayll And also for the kyng waxed feble sykely he than betoke the rule of the lande vnto syr Iohn̄ of Gaunt duke of Lancastre and ordeyned hym as gouernour of the lande whyche so contynued durynge hys fathers lyfe In thys yere also the tenaūtes or menyall seruaūtes of the erle of warwyk made a ryot vpon the monkes of Euyshm̄ and slewe hurte many of the abbottes tenauntes spoyled and brake hys closures and warynnes and sewed theyr pondes and waters and dyd vnto them many displesures to the vtter ruyne of that monastery ne had the kyng y ◠soner haue sente downe to the erle hys letters chargynge hym to sease withdraw hys men from that ryot whych afterwarde was pacified without any notary punysshement of suche persons as were begynners or executours of that ryot Anno domini M.CCC.xcvi  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xcvii  Androwe Pykman  Nycholas Bembre  Anno .lii.  Nycholas Twyforde  IN thys .lii. yere and .xii. daye of the moneth of Apryl syr Iohn̄ Mynster worth knyght for certayne tresons of the whych he was conuict before the mayre and other iustyces of the kyng in the Guyld halle was thys foresayd daye at tyborne put in execucion that is to meane hanged heded and quartered hys hed sette after vpō Lōdon brydge The cause of whose dethe was for so moche as he beynge put in trust by the kyng receyued greate summes of money to paye wyth the kynges sowdyours the whyche he kepte vnto hys owne vse and deceyued the kynge and hys sowdiours And whan therof he was to the kyng accused he feryng punysshement fledde into Fraunce there conspyred newly agayne his natural prynce so lastly was taken and receyued hys meryte In thys yere also began a wōderfull cysme in the churche of Rome For after the deth of the pope the .xi. Gregory was chosen .ii. popes wherof the fyrst was named the .vi. Urbā and that other the seuenth Clement the fyrste an Italy on borne and that other a Frencheman Of the whyche ensued suche dyscorde in eleccyon of the pope that by the terme of .xxxix. yeres after there was euer .ii. popes in suche auctorytye that harde and doughtefull it was to knowe whether was indubitat pope And vpon the .xxii. daye of the moneth of Iuny dyed at hys manour of Shene now called Rychmoūt kyng Edward y e thyrde of that name whā he had reygned .li. yeres and .v. monethes and odde dayes leuyng after hym .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Leonell duke of Clarence Iohn̄ of Gaūt duke of Lancastre Edmund of Lāgley duke of yorke and Thomas of woodstok erle of Cambrydge Of the whyche sonnes wyth other nobles of hys realme he was honourably cōueyed frō his sayd manour of Shene vnto the monastery of westmynster and there solempnely wythin the chapell of saynt Edwarde vppon the south syde of the shryne wyth thys Epytaphyor superscrypcion in a table hangyng vpon hys tombe ¶ Hic decus Anglorum flos regum preteritorū Forma futurorum rex clemens pax populorum Tercius Edwardus regni complens iubileum Inuictus pardus pollens bellis Machabeus The whych is thus to be vnderstāde in our mother tūge as folowynge Of Englyshe kynges here lieth the beauteuous floure Of all before passed myrrour to them shall sue A mercifull kynge of peace conseruatour The .iij. Edwarde The deth of whome maye 〈◊〉 All Englysshmē for he by knyghtehode due was lyberde inuict and by feate Marciall To worthy Machabe in vertu peregall PHylyp de Ualoys erle of Ualoys sonne of Charles de Ualoys brother vnto y e .iiii. Philip was admitted for
saued And in the moneth of Iâ—ny folowynge the cardynall of wynchester with a warly company passed the see entendynge to haue made warre vpon the heretykes or lollers inhabyted in the countre of Prage But how it was for nede of men that the regeÌ„t hadde in FrauÌ„ce the cardynall chauÌ„ged his purpose and taryed there a season with the sayde regent After some wryters it was for to strengthe and replenysshe certayne holdes that weked by reason of a coÌ„flycte that the Englysshemen hadde with the Frenchemen At the whiche the lorde Talbot was taken prysoner and the lorde Scalys with many other to the nombre of .iii. M. Englysshe men were slayne and taken But after the opynyon of the FreÌ„che cronycle this vyctorye shulde be opteyned by Iane or Iohan called in Frenche la puzele de dieu in the .xi. yere of this kynge Of y e forsayd heretykes of Prage speketh somdeale the auctour of Cronica Cronicarum and sheweth that the chyef capytaynes of theym were named Procapius Saplicius and Lupus a preest with other bothe lerned and vnlerned And PolicronicoÌ„ sheweth in y e .xix. chapyter of his laste boke that in the twelfe yere of kynge Henry the foresayd thre capytaynes were slayne with one mayster Peter clerke beynge an Englyssheman taken on lyue with dyuers other and of y e sayd heretykes slayne at .ii. iournayes ouer two and twenty thousandes Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxx  wyllyam Ruffe  wyllyam Estfelde mercer  Anno .viii.  Raffe Holande  IN this eyght yere vpon y e day of saynt Leonarde the .vi. day of Nouembre kynge Henry beynge vpon the age of nyne yeres was solemply crowned iÌ„ saint Peters churche of westmynster At whose coronacyon were made syxe thyrty knyghtes of the bathe And after that solempnyzacyon in the sayde churche fynysshed an honorable feest in the great hal of westmynster was kepte where y e kynge syttyng in his astate was serued with .iii. courses as here vnder ensueth Frument wyth venyson Uyand royall planted losynges of golde Bore hedes in castelles of golde and enarmed Befe wyth motten boylyd Capon stewyd Sygnet rosted Heyron rosted Great pyke or luce A rede leche wyth lyons coruyn therein Custarde royall wyth a lyoparde of golde syttyng therin and holdyng a floure delyce Frytour of sunne facyon wyth a floure delyce therein A sotyltye of saynt Edwarde and saynt Louys armyd vppon eyther hys cote armoure holdyng betwene them a fygure lyke vnto kyng HeÌ„ry standynge also in hys cote armoure and a scrypture passyng from theym both sayeng beholde .ii. parfight kynges vnder one cote armour And vnder the fete of the sayde sayntes was wryten thys balade Holy sayntes Edwarde and saint Lowice Conserue this braunche borne of your blessed blode Lyue amonge cristen moste soueraygne of price Enheritour of the flouredelice so gode This sixt Henry to reygne and to be wyse God graunt he may to be your mode And that he may resemble your knightehude and vertue Pray ye hertely vnto our lord Jesu Uiand blank barred wyth golde Gely party wryten noted wyth Te deum laudamus Pygge endored Crane rosted Byttore Conyes Chekyns Partryche Pecok enhakyll Great Breme A whyte leche planted wyth a rede antelop wyth a crowne aboute hys necke wyth a chayne of golde Flampayne powdered wyth leopardes floure delyce of golde A frytoure garnysshed wyth a leopardes hede .ii. Estryth feders A sotyltie an emperour a kynge arayed in maÌ„telles of garters which fygured SigismuÌ„de y e emperour and HeÌ„ry the .v. And a fygure lyke vnto kyng HeÌ„ry y e .vi knelyng tofore them wyth this balade takkyd by hym Agayne miscreauÌ„tes the emperour SigismuÌ„de Hath shewed his myght which is imperiall And Henry the .v. a noble knyght was founde For Christes cause in actes marciall Cherysshed the churche to lossers gaue a fall Gyuyng example to kynges that succede And to theyr braunche here in especiall Whyle he doth reygne to loue god drede Quynces in compost BlauÌ„d sure powderyd wyth quarter foyles gylt Uenyson Egrettes Curlew Cok and partryche Plouer Quayles Snytes Great byrdes Larkys Carpe Crabbe Leche of .iii. colours A bake meate lyke shylde quartered red whyte set wyth losynges gylt floures of borage A frytour cryspyd A sotyltie of oure Lady syttynge wyth her chylde in her lappe and she holding a crowne in her haÌ„de Saint George saynt Denys knelynge on eyther syde pÌ„sented to her kyng Henryes fygure beryng in haÌ„de thys balade as foloweth O Blessed lady Christes mother dere And thou saynt George that called art her knight Holy saint Denys o marter moste entere The sixt Henry here present in your syght Shedeth of your grace on hym your heueÌ„ly lighte His tender youth with vertue doth auaunce Borne by discent by title of right Iustly to reygne in Englande in Fraunce THis soleÌ„pne coronacyon with all honour and ioye finysshed prouycyon was made for the kynges iournay into Fraunce In whyche passetyme that is to meane vpon y e xxiii daye of Ianuary an heretyke was brent in Smythfelde And vpon the morowe next folowynge was in that felde foughten a stronge fyght betwene IohnÌ„ UptonÌ„ Appellant IohnÌ„ Downe Defendant But for they quyt theym bothe so manfully the kynge at length relesed theyr quarell and pardoned theÌ„ of theyr trespas Than vppon saynt Georges day folowyng or the .xxiii. day of Apryll the kynge toke shyppynge at Douer and landed the same daye at Calays hauynge in hys company .ii. dukes of yorke and Northfolke thre bysshoppes of Bathe Ely and Rochester eyght erles that is to meane of Huntyngdon Stafforde warwyke Orenforde Deuynshyre Morteyne of Ewe and of Urmund and .xi. barons that is to saye lord Bowchier Beawmounde Typtost Fytzwater Roos Arundell Awdeley Fawcunbrydge Gray Codnoor the lorde Scroope and the lorde wellys In thys tyme and season that the kynge laye thus at Calays many skyrmysshes were foughten betwene the Englysshemen and the Frenchemen in dyuers partyes of Fraunce And greately the Frenchemen preuayled by y e helpe of a woman which they as before is touched named the Mayden of god So that lastly she wyth her company came to a towne called Compeyne to the entent to remoue the syege layde thereunto by y e duke of Burgoyne and other of the Englysshe capytaynes And theruppon the .xxiii. daye of May she gaue batayll vnto Englysshmen and Burgonyons and faughte wyth theym longe tyme. But in the ende by the manhode of a Burgonyon knyghte named syr IohnÌ„ Luxemburghe she was taken on lyue and her company dystressed and she caryed to the citie of Roan and there kept a season for so moch as she feyned her with child But whanne the contrary of it was knowen she was there foriuged and brente Of thys woman Gaguynus maketh a great processe of her parenty and of her fyrste takynge vppon her whereof a parte I entende to shewe after in the .vi. yere of Charles nexte folowynge kynge of
the monastery of saynt Antony Charlys brother to the kynge caused .iiii. letters to be deuysed wherof one he sent to the bysshoppes and spyrytuall men within the cytye the seconde to the consulles or hed men the thyrde to y e scolers of the vnyuersyte and y e .iiii. vnto the comynaltye Of whyche letters the entent ensueth that he nor none of hys company was comen thyder as an enemye to the cytye or to make warre agayne it or the comon weale of the land but for the encreace and augmentacyon therof to the vttermost of theyr powers After receyte of whyche letters and the mater in them conteyned well vnderstaÌ„den and debatyd certeyne oratours for the sayde .iiii. partyes were assygned as thre for the spyrytuall men thre for the consuls thre for the vnyuersyte thre for comynaltye whose names I ouer passe The whyche wyth the bysshop of Parys were sent vnto the barons after longe communycacyon wyth them hadde retourned to the cytie with such report as foloweth Fyrste the lordes wolde that the inhabytauntes of the cytye shulde coÌ„syder the condycyons of the kynge y t whyche yerely oppressyth his subiectes with taskes and other greuouse seruagys Secondaryly how he despyseth y e noble blode of hys realme and draweth to hym vylaynes and men of no reputacyon by whose couÌ„sayls onely all the comon weale of y e land is ruled and guyded Thyrdely how he ruleth hys subiectes by force and wyll wythout mynystracyon of iustyce and hym selfe in all couÌ„sayls and parlyaments is iudge in all causes and callyth hys selfe counsayls and parlyamentes more for hys synguler weale than for the comoÌ„ weale of his realme Fourthely how he enhaunsyth men of lowe byrthe vnto greate honours and causyth noble men to be obedyent vnto them entendynge to brynge the same ignoble men for to be egall wyth the prynces of the lande Fyftely how the lawes be delayed and bolstred by suche as stande in his fauour where thorugh as thys daye lawe is wyll and wyll is lawe and no man almoste in any suerty of lyfe or goodes in so moche that dayly many ben banysshed and put to deth for vnlefull causes and also to any noble man at this daye no power or rome of honour belongeth so that to wylde bestes in the forestes apperteyneth more lybertye and suertye than the more partye of the kynges subgettes Syxtly the greate taskes and summes of money whych dayly be leuyed of the comoÌ„s ben not spent in the kynges honourable nedes and for the comon weale of the realme but are spent nysely ryottously and brybed out of y e kynges cofers For whyche enormytees mysgouernauÌ„ce with many other the sayde lordes were thyder comen in defensyble araye for y e sauegarde of theyr owne persons as to the hed and pryncypall cytie of the realme for to haue ayde and counsayle to refourme the foresayd euyls not with standynge any harme vnto the kynges persone or yet to remoue hym from his regally or kyngly maieste but to enduce hym aduertyse hym to that that shuld be his honour and the weale of hys realme and to lyue in welthe and honour as hys noble ê“genitours haue lyued before hym For the whyche causes and consyderacyons wyth many other whych I passe ouer the sayde lordes as y e kynges trewe subeittes and frendes vnto the comon weale of the lande and of that cytye desyre to entre there to refresshe them and theyr people and to pay truely for all thynge that they shulde take wythout doyng harme or vyolence to any persone All whyche requestes and maters of the lordes shewed vnto the inhabytauntes of the cytye by fauour of some frendes that they there had it was with the more partye well acceptyd and thought conuenyent that they sayde nobles shuld be receyued into the cytye How be it that after longe debatynge of thys mater by meane of the forenamed erle of Donoyse a sparynge of thys receyte of the lordes shuld be tyll they had forther knowlege of the kynges pleasure whyche prouysyon the sayd erle fande for so mych as he was secretely warned of the kynges thyder comynge And vpon thys agremeÌ„t the cytye rested For suertye wherof suche as were within the cytye of the kynges seruauntes and frendes rode dayly nyghtly about y e cyty wyth a stronge company in harneys to se the people kepte in due order Than vppon the daye folowynge came vnto Parys a capytayne of y e kynges named MouÌ„talbone and wyth hym a good bend of men the whyche shewyd vnto the cytesyns that the kyng was comyng out of Normandye with a great host of The lordes beynge warned enbatayled them in the foresayde playne of saynte Antoyn to shewe the strength of theyr hoste vnto the cytye or suche as were therin as theyr enemyes where they so lyenge certayne knyghtes of the kynges party diuerse and sondry tymes brake out by sodeyne resys and skyrmysshed wyth the lordes people to the lytell hurte of bothe partyes In the whych passe tyme kynge Lewys comynge out of Normandye was receyued into the cytye where after hys comynge he put in execucyon .v. persons named IohnÌ„ worter Eustace and Arnolde worter IohnÌ„ Coart and Fraunceys Hasle The whyche persons were accusyd to hym to be chyefe occasyoners of the legacyon made vnto the lordes Of whyche sayde .v. persons thre as IohnÌ„ Coart Fraunceys Hasle Arnolde worter were messengers assygned in the sayde legacyon for the consuls of Parys and the forenamed Eustace worter was one of the thre assygned for the clergye The kynge thus beynge in possessyoÌ„ of the cytye many and dyuers assautes and skyrmysshes bytwene hys knyghtes and the lordes were made but no notary batayle for the kynge was ferre weker And ouer that in thys tyme season the sayde lordes gat vnto them sondry castels and stronge holdes Than at length meanes of a peace was offeryd by y e kynge For concludyng wherofê for the kynge was admytted the erle of Mans with certayne other persons And for the barons was assygned IohnÌ„ sonne vnto the duke of Calabre Lewys erle of saynt Poule and other the whyche assembled and coÌ„moued togyder by sondry tymes .ix. dayes In whyche season came vnto the kynge a newe strength of soudyours out of Normandye the whych the kyng appoynted to kepe the subarbes of saynt Marcell Thys treaty thus hangyng wythout conclusyoÌ„ or ende takynge vppon the .xiiii. day of October in the .vii. yere of y e reygn of thys Lewys was proclaymed thorough the cytye and also the hoste a day of lenger treuce so that thanne the lordes wythdrewe theym vnto theyr stronge holdes and castels holdynge wyth them many soudyours whyche fyll to robbynge and other vnlefull actes to the greate daunger and hurte of the lande And at suche seasons as the arbytrours met to fynysshe this great mater among other thynges offeryd by the kynge he graunted to gyue vnto hys brother Charlys for hys porcyon all Champayne wyth the lordshyppe
Moste virgynall floure of all moste excellent Persynge of angelles the hyest Hierarchy Ioye and be glad for god omnipotent Hath the lyft vp and sette moste worthily Aboue the nomber and gloryous company Of his blessyd sayntes wyth moste hye dignite Nexte after hym moste honoured to be This fyrst parte to be accompted from the fyrste yere of Brute vnto the laste yere of the foresayde dyscorde or vnto the fyrste yere of Mulmutius includyth of yeres .vii. hundred and foure ¶ Thus endeth the fyrste parte THE SECONDE PARTE THE XXVIII CHAPITER MUlmutius Dunuallo or as some haue Dunuallo Mulmutius the sonne of ClotenÌ„ as testyfyeth the englyshe boke also Gaufride was venquesshour of y e other dukes or rulers and began his reygn ouer the hole monarchy of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousand vii hundred .xlviii. This is named in the englyshe cronycle Donebant the whyche was a noble man causyd to be made wythin the cytye of Troynouant a temple and named it the temple of peace The whyche after some opynyons is that place or feld where y e market of wollen cloth is holden called or named Blakwelhall He also made many good laws the which were long after vsed called Mulmutiê° lawes These lawes holy Gyldas wrote wyth great dylygence out of the brettishe speche into latyne And longe tyme here after y e Aluredus kynge of England turned those lawes oute of latyne into englyshe He also gaue pryuylege to temples to plowghes cytyes and to the wayes ledynge to y e same And as some authours wytnesse he beganne the foure hye wayes of Brytayne the whych were fynyshed and perfyted of Belinus his sonne as after at length shall be declared The olde cronycle testyfyeth y t this Mulmutius whyche he in his boke nameth Molle made the two townes of Malmesbury and Uyes And all other writers afferme that this Mulmutius after he hadde stablyshyd his lande and sette his Brytons in good and conuenyent order by the aduyce of his lordes he ordeyned hym a crowne or dyademe of gold caused hym selfe to be crowned wyth great solempnyte after the vsaunce of pagane lawe then vsed And for this cause after the opynyon of some wryters he is named the fyrste kyng of Britayn And all y e other before rehersyd are named rulers dukes or gouernours Then yt foloweth in the storye when Mulmutiê° had guyded y e land well and honorably by the terme of xl yeres he dyed and was buryed in the foresayde temple of peace within Troynouant or LoÌ„don leuynge after hym two sonnes named Belinus and Brennus THE XXIX CHAPITER BElinus and Brennê° the two sonnes of Mulmutius beganne to raygne ioyntly as kynges of Brytayne in the yere of the world iiii thousande .viii. C. viii so that Belinus held to hym Loegria or Logiers walys and Cornewayll and Brennus held to his parte all y e land ouer beyonde Humber with which partycyon eyther of them was coÌ„tentyd pleasyd as testyfyeth Polycronica by the terme of .v. yeres After the whyche terme endyd and expired Brennus entendynge to haue more lande or all arose agaynste his brother Belyne and made vppon hym mortall warre In the whych warre Brennus was ouersette and was coÌ„pelled to flye the land and sayle vnto Armorica now named lytell Britayn or as sayth Gaufryde into a countre called Allebrog as after shal be more playnely declared and there allyed hym after the foresayde terme as before is sayd of .v. yeres was expyryd as affermeth Policronica For Gaufryde sayeth in his boke made of the hystory of Brytons y t after y e terme of .v. yeres afore sayde were expyred and runne Brennus by sterynge of yonge and euyll counsayll enteÌ„dyng as before is sayde sayled vnwetyng his brother into Norway and there maryed the doughter of Elfunge or Elfynge then ruler or duke of Norwaye when this was shewed vnto Belyn consyderynge the sodayne departyng in all haste he seasyd Albania and all the other lande apperteynyng to Brenne into his owne hand and strengthed the cytyes and other stronge places wyth his owne sowdyours wherof when Brenne was warned he in all possyble haste assembled a great people of the Norwayes and toke hys shyppynge to sayle into Brytayne And as he was kepynge his course vpon the see he was encountred wyth Guilthdacus kynge of Denmarke the whych had lyen in awayte for hym for loue of y e wenche y t Brennus had maryed for before tyme he had requyred her of Elfungeher fader wheÌ„ those .ii. flotê were mette strong shotte and fyght was vppon both partyes But fynally the Danes ouercame the Norwayes or Norganys and toke the shyppe by strength whych the weÌ„che was in y t whych anone was brought vnto the shyppe of Guilthdake and Brenne wyth a fewe of his shyppes lefte was fayne to sauegarde hym selfe by flyght when Guilthdake hadde thus obteyned y e vyctorye entendynge to haue sayled towarde Denmarke in shorte whyle after y e tempestes came so hydous vppon the see that hys nauye was deuyded and scatered that one frome the other in suche wyse that he was in fere to haue ben drowned And at the ende of fyue dayes not wetynge where he was wyth fewe shyppes landed in the couÌ„tre of Northumberlande where at that tyme was Belyn prouydyng defence agayne his brothers coÌ„myng wherof when word was brought vnto Belyn of the landynge of the fore sayde Danoys prynce wyth a small company he reioysed yt and coÌ„mauÌ„ded hym wyth his shyppes company to be put in sure holde kepynge It was not long after but BreÌ„ne hadde reculyd and gaderyd to gyder the more parte of hys nauye before as ye haue harde chased And when he hadde theym newely ryggyd and vytayled he herynge of the aryuayll of Guilthdacus in NorththuÌ„berlaÌ„d with his wife sent wordê of manace vnto his brother Belyn wyllyng hym to sende vnto hym his wyfe wroÌ„gfully rauyshed by Guilthdacus also to restore vnto him his land patrymony or ellys he wold shorthely inuade his lande yt for to waste his enymy to destroye The whych desyre or request of Belynus was playnely and shortely denyed whych knowlege had Brennê° shortly after landed in a parte of Albania and made towarde his brother and his brother towarde hym so y t theyr hostes met nere vnto a wood named at that day Calater or Calaterium where betwene them was a mortall batayll in so myche that mych people fyll vpon both partyes But lastly the Brytons wanne the felde and chasyd the Norganys or Norways vnto theyr shyppes chasynge sleyenge them without pyty And as affermeth myne authour y e fyght was so cruell and sharpe that there was slayne to the nomber of .xl. M. men After this dyscumfyture Brenne was constrayned to flee and wyth fewe in nomber recoueryd the lande of Gallia Belinus hauyng thus victorye of his enemyes after thankes and oblacyons made vnto his goddes after the pagane law he then assembled his lordes
as witnesseth Gaufryde was a Pict that was myche loued and greatly fauouryd of Constantyne so that he myghte at all tymes come to the kynges presence The whyche beyng an erraunt traytoure and sechynge conuenyent tyme to execute his detestable treason by a secrete meane slewe the kynge in his chamber when he hadde ben kyng after moste wryters tenne yeres THE LXXXI CHAPITER COnstantius sonne of Constantyne by meane of Uortigernus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde foure hundred and .xliii. This as before is touched for so myche as his fader thought he was not very apt to take so great a charge as to gouerne the lande after hym became a relygious man in the monastery before named Or as some wryters meane the sayd Constante of pure deuocyon that he hadde to god and saynt Amphiabyl made hym selfe a monke vnwyttynge the kynge his fader and other his frendes But how or in what maner so euer he became a monke trouth it is that Uortigerus or Uortigernus after y e deth of Constantyne founde suche meanes that he was taken out of the abbey and crowned kynge of Brytayne By meane wherof the sayde Uortiger had all the rule of the land so that Constante hadde but onely the name This Uortyger then consyderynge the innocencye and myldenes of the kyng cast in his mynde how he myght be kynge hym selfe And amonge other meanes founde to haue aboute y e kynges persone an hundred Pictes or after some Scottes y e whych he ordeyned for a garde for the kynges persone which done he bare hym in such wyse agayne the Pictes by meanes of great gyftes otherwyse that they at length had Uortyger in such fauoure that they feryd not to saye openly that Uortyger was more worthy to be kyng theÌ„ Constant. In this whyle Uortyger gatte into his possessyon the kynges treasour and what was of hym coÌ„maunded was done though other therat murmured and grudge And euer in ryght and wronge he fauoured the foresayd Pictes or Scottes The whyche at length perceyuynge his corrupte mynde when they sawe that they had conuenyent tyme fyll vpon the kynge and hym slewe or murderyd After whych cruell dede by theym done they presentyd the hed of Constante vnto Uortiger then beyng at London wherof when he was ware to the ende that the Brytons shulde thynke that dede to be done agayne his mynde and wyll wepte made semblaunt of all sorowe and heuenes and causyd the sayde hundred knyghtes to be taken in all haste after and theym by dome and lawe of y e laÌ„d to be be heddyd by reason wherof he was taken not culpable or innocent of the kynges deth when the kynges deth was knowen to suche persones as hadde the kepyng of the two yonger bretherne Aurelius and Uter they in all haste for the more sauegarde of them fledde into lytell Brytayne there kept theym tyll yt pleasyd god ortherwyse to purueye for theym And thus as ye haue herd was kynge Constante slayne when he hadde reygned after moste wryters fyue yere THE LXXXII CHAPITER UOrtigernus duke of y e Iuesses or Uortigerê° erle of Iewesses after called westsaxons was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred and .xlviii. and the .xviii. yere of Clodio kyng of FrauÌ„ce whych after y e deth of Constant by strength and otherwise was made kynge and ruled the land not all wythout trouble For yt was not longe or the Pictes whych hauyng knowlege of the deth and iudgemeÌ„t of theyr knightes and kynsmen that they inuaded the north partes of the lande doynge therin great harme and domage And ouer that many dyuerse of the great of the Brytons perceyuyng that the kyng Constant was not murderyd all wythout consent of the sayde Uortyger rebelled agayne hym and dayly sent and say led ouer into lytell Brytayne to the ayde and assystence of the foresayde chyldern of Constant whyche putte the sayde Uortiger to great vnrestfulnesse and the more for that that he wyst not nor knewe not in whom he myght putte his truste and confydence in wyth these perturbauÌ„ces was medled plenty of corne frute y t the lyke therof had not ben sene many yeres passyd wherwyth was ioyned lechery pestylence with many other incoÌ„ueniences so y e vice was accoÌ„pted for small or none offence The which reygned not onely in the temporalty but also in the spiritualtie hedes of the same So y e euery maÌ„ turned the poynt of his spere agaynst the trewe innocent man the coÌ„mons gaue them all to dronkeÌ„nes and ydelnes where thorough ensued fyghtynge stryfe and mych enuy Of which foresayd myschyues ensued mych mortalyte and deth of men that the lyuyng scantly suffysed in some countres to bury the dede And ouer this y e kyng was so hard beset with y e forenamed enymyes that he was coÌ„strayned as affermyth Policronica to sende for paynems as the SaxoÌ„s to helpe to withstand his enemyes and defende his lande and also he dayly ferid the landyng of Aurely and Uther Uortyger thus beynge beset wyth many aduersytyes in vysytynge hys lande and then beynge for dyuerse causes hym mouyng at Dorobernia or Caunterbury tydynges came to hym of the arryuynge of thre longe shyppes full of armed men at the yle of Tenet wherof fyrst he made countenaunce as though he hadde ben in doute whether it had ben the two brethern of Constant or none But wheÌ„ the same was blowen aboute y t they were none enymyes anon he caused the leders of them to be brought vnto his presence freynynge of theym the cause of theyr landyng of theyr nacyon and countre The whych answered vnto the kynge and sayd they were of the couÌ„tre of Germany and put out of theyr countre by a maner sorte or lot at soÌ„dry tymes vsed with in the sayde lande the whyche was vsed for so myche as the people therin encreasyd so faste that wythoute such prouysyon had the couÌ„tre shuld not suffyce for the people the whych was suche as foloweth At sondry tymes when the sayd couÌ„tre was replenyshed of people the prynces and rulers therof wolde assemble at a certayne place and call before theym the lusty yonge folkes Of the whych they wold chose out a certayne nomber and appoynte to them certayne dukes or leders with all thyng necessary to the warre And them so garnyshed wold coÌ„maunde to serche theyr adueÌ„ture to wynne some lande by theyr knyghthode where they myght inhabyte theÌ„selfe By whych vse custome thus longe vsyd now was fallen to theyr lotte to do as theyr fore faders had done before theym wherfore syns fortune had brought them to this land they besought the kyng that he wold take them to his seruyce they wold be redy to fyght for y e defence of him and his countre And when the kyng hadde enquyred farther he fouÌ„de that they had two leders named Hengistê° and Horsus and they and theyr people were called Saxons The
entende in the declarynge of thys story of Clothayre to expresse the remanaunte in as shorte wyse as I goodly may And fyrst ye shall vnderstaÌ„d that after thys fredegunde had as before is shewed causyd her lorde to be slayne she ferynge that at length her vntrouth shulde be dyscoueryd wyth all her goodes in shorte tyme after yode vnto Paris and there in the monasterye or house of our ladye held her And for she wold be in more suerty and also her son the sayd Clotharius shuld be the streÌ„ger in his domynyon and kingdome therfore she sent messengers vnto Gunthranus kynge of Orleaunce brother to her lorde Chilperich requyryng hym of fauoure and ayde that he wolde of his goodnesse be tutour defendour of her yonge sonne Clotharius The whych not denyenge the requeste of Fredegunde spedde towarde Paris in all haste where wyth the assent of other nobles of the realme he toke the gydynge of the yonge kynge By whose aduyse and coÌ„maundement the sayde Clotharius was conueyd shewyd thorough many of the chefe cytyes of his lande But in lykewyse as Gunthranus wyth other bysyed theym selfe to strength Lotharius in hys ryghte euen so were other of the nobles of FrauÌ„ce by the meanes of Brunechyeldis wyfe some tyme of Sygebert yongest sonne of Lothayre the fyrst the whyche Sygebert receyued of hys sayde wyfe two sonnes named Chilperich and Chyldebert of the whych two Chilperich suruyued the other that dyd all theyr entent to promote Chyldebert to the porcyon of hys father that Chilpericus father of Lotharius occupyed after the deth of Sigebert forenamed Here dyscordeth the frenche cronycle froÌ„ myne authour Gagwyne For there yt is sayd y e Brunechield with the other of her assent wold then by theyr meanes haue pÌ„ferred a bastard son of the forenamed Sygebert called Theodoricê° to the kyngdome of FrauÌ„ce An other authour sayth that this Theodorich was the son of Childericê° afore named whyche was the sonne of Sygebert But to folowe mayster Gagwyne This Childebert whych by y e former sayeng rehersyd in y t C. and .xiiii. chapiter of this treatyse was delyueryd from y e handes of Chilperich his vncle by meanes of the erle of Poytow named GuÌ„debald this with a small coÌ„pany came vnto Paris where of y e cyteseÌ„s he was kept out For y e which soon after he sent a noble man of his named Gillon with other as ambassadours vnto GuÌ„thranê° And where among other thynges of hym requyred they axed of him FredeguÌ„d to suffer deth for y â— she had by her subtylty caused to be murdred bothe Sygebert father to theyr kynge and also Chilpericus her owne husbande yt was of him vtterly denyed Wherfore this sayd Gyllon sayd vnto GuÌ„thranus syr kynge knowe thou for certayne synnes thou haste refused this peace to the offeryd of thy neuewe that the deth of thy brother shall cleuâ— to thy hedde wyth these wordes the kynge beynge greatly amoued commaunded the ambassadours to be putte oute of his court and when they were in the strete all fylthe and ordoure to be caste vppon theym as enymytyes And varyaunces thus kyndelyng betwene these two kinges Gunthranus soone after sent Fredegunde into Neustria or Normandy caused her there to be kepte not farre from y e citye of Roan whyther to her came many noble men of FrauÌ„ce in coÌ„fortynge her and also mouynge her for the trouble she was in promysynge to her ayde to the vttermoste of theyr power But when that Fredegunde apperceyuyd the great fauoure that Brunechyelde stode in of the nobles of Orleaunce or Fraunce she enuyenge her welth and honoure called to her an homycyde a felon called Holderyche to whom the sayde FredeguÌ„de pmysyd great treasour yf he coude by venyme or otherwyse brynge to deth the sayde Brunechieldis By meane of whych promyse he grauÌ„ted to brynge her entent about shortely after drewe vnto the court of the sayde Brunechyeldis where he fyll in suche famylyaryte wyth dyuerse of her courte that he came many seasons to the pÌ„sence of y e quene But by what happe I can not saye lastely he was taken in suspeccyon and so tormentyd pyned that he coÌ„fessyd y e cause of his thyder coÌ„myng and by whom he was sent with all y e other cyrcuÌ„staunce of the matter After whych coÌ„fessyon so made he was to betyn arrayed in moste vyle maner and so sent agayn to FredeguÌ„d And when he was comen to her presence and shewed what tourment he had suffred for her cause she incontyneÌ„t in fulfyllyng of her malycyous purpose commaunded that his handes and fete shulde be stryken of and so lette go to the ende that yt shulde be thought that she had not desyred hym to that besynesse Aboute thys tyme season arose a yonge maÌ„ in a corner of Fraunce the whych by his subtyle wytte named hym selfe to be the sonne of the fyrst Lotharius and brother vnto Gunthranê° The which by synystre meanes and crafty gatte the fauoure of the lordes of Guyan and by theyr assystence held and occupyed a great parte therof And after somdele of hys counsay les to Gunthranus by hys espyes disclosyd this sayde yonge man beyng named GuÌ„doaldus sent vnto Gunthranus an ambassade and requyryd hym to be restoryd to a porcyon of hys faders goodes Addyng therto that yf he denyed the sayde Gundoaldus wolde wyth a strong armye repayre out of Gwyan and get hys ryght wyth strength that to bryng about he shulde also haue great ayde of Chyldebert his neuewe aboue named whan kynge Gunthranus had at leyser herde the message he in dysdaynyng the same coÌ„maunded them to be sette vppon horse backes theyr facys towarde the tayle and so with betynge and vylanye to be dryuen thorough the town It was not long after that a daye was appoyntyd betwene Gunthranus and Childebert at whych day both prynces met with great companyes lordes And wheÌ„ they were sette in theyr counsayll Gunthranê° coÌ„maunded the foresayd messyngers of Gundoaldus to be brought to fore them there agayne to recyte theyr foresayde message whych done he shewyd furthermore that the sayd Gundoalde had before tyme dispoyled the doughter of I hil peryche named Rygonde of all such rychesse as she wyth her conueyed when she went towarde Spayne to be maryed of the whyche some lordes of Childebert were of counsayll whyche vnto the sayde two prynces was thought trewe for so myche as the sayde lordes then accusyd were absent from that great counsayll THE CXXIII CHAPITER AFter many and great actes concludyd by thys counsayll betwene these two foresayd prynces Gunthranus in open audyence admytted hys neuewe Chyldebert for his heyre for so mych as he had none heyre of hys bodye commyttynge the rule therof to hym before all that were there And after toke hym aê‘te and shewyd to hym whych of his nobles he shulde take to counsayll and whyche he shuld refuse And specyally he warnyd hym to be well ware
grounde And for y t more cruelty or terrour to the people to be shewyd he eryd the stretys of the sayde cytye and sewe theym wythsalte for a sygne and token that he wolde haue that cytye subuertyd for euer The whyche ruyne to thys daye appereth for there where the olde cytye stode is now called y e olde Poytiers and where that other standyth nowe is called the newe cytye of Poytiers The cause of thys destruccion of the citye countre as sayeth mayster Roberte Gagwyne was for that that y e erle of Poytiers rebellyd agayne the kynge Thus this man that whylome was a lambe was now turned to a tygre And ouer hys cruelnesse he was gyuen to all sensuall luste of hys body in so myche that where so he rode he hadde folowynge hym a company of strumpettes besyde suche as he kept in dyuerse places of his realme appareylyd and fed lyke vnto quenes For thys rule other vyces vsyd by the kynge Pepyn then mayster of the paleys was put in great wyte and blame of dyuerse lordes of the lande thynkynge that by hys counsayle and sufferaunce the kyng was so lad and guyded This was y e fyrst Pepyn The seconde was mayster of the placys in that tyme of the seconde reygne of the fyrste Theodoricus and was surnamed Uetulê° and Breuis whyche is to meane old and lytle And y e .iii. Pepyn was son of Carolus Marcellus The fyrste Pepyn was graundefader to the seconde by the moders syde and the seconde was graunsyr to the .iii. by y e mannes syde whyche thyrde Pepyn was by hole assent of Frenchmen ordeyned kyng of FrauÌ„ce as after shall appere was father vnto the kynge named Charlis the great and emperour of Rome All whyche Pepyns descendyd of the blood of Austracye and hadde great possessyons wythin that prouynce when the forenamed Pepyn vnderstode the grudge and murmour of the lordes whyche they bare agayne hym for the kynges demeanour he by theyr aduyces toke vnto hym a nother great lorde named Martyn to be vnto hym assystent and ouer that he caused y e blessyd man Amandus to accompany y e kynge By whose couÌ„sayle the kyng somdeale refrayned hym from vyce but not all as the good byshop hym aduertysed In this tyme Heybart the kynges halfe brother dyed and also hys son shortly after named Chilperych By reason of whose dethes the lordshyp and countrey of Tholouse fell to the possessyon of Dagobert It was not longe after that a people called Asclauons or Sclauons made warre vpon the couÌ„trey of Austracy These also are called Bulgaris and ioyne vppon a parte of Austracy Of these tydynges when Dagobert was lerned he sped hym into Austracy and there assembled a myghtye hoste of knyghtes so sped him tyll he came nere hys enymyes But y e sayd Sclauons hauynge knowlege of the kynges great hoste agreed by oratours to hym sent to contynue the trybute that they before tyme payde y e which was yerely fyue huÌ„dred oxen where thorough y e warre was appesyd for that tyme and newe allyaunce vpon both partyes confermed After the whych peace thus stablysshyd y e kyng made his son Sigebert as kynge ruler of that lordshyp of Austracy assygnynge to hym the bisshop of Colayn named Cunbert and the erle Palatyne named Agasyle to be hys tutours and rulers contynuynge his yeres of youth And that done y e kyng retourned into FrauÌ„ce where soone after he receyued of hys wyfe a sonne named Clodoueus the whych of many wryters is called Lodouicus or Lowes To thys Lowes the father at couenable tyme after gaue the countyes of Burgoyne and Neustria or Normandy Then the kynge graunted to the house of saynte Denys a fayre to be kepte yerely in the moneth of Iune in a felde nere vnto the sayde monasterye and that no marchaunte of Paris nor good towne there about shulde sell any marchaundyse but onely in the fayre wyth many other customes to the great auauncement of that house And after the kynge hadde subdued the Gascoynes and the Brytons of Armorica or lytle Brytayne he then assembled a multytude of bysshoppes for to dedycate and halowe the monasterye of saynte Denys in moste solemne wyse where a great myracle was shewyd of the clensyng of a leper or lazar that durynge the nyght laye wythin the sayde chyrch and there beyng in his deuoute prayers sawe our sauyour Cryste accompanyed wyth Peter and Paule and also the holy martyrs saynte Denys wyth hys two felowes entre the chyrche by one of the wyndowes and after halowed the sayde chyrch whyche after came to the sayd lazar and commaunded hym to shew vnto the byshoppes y t he in proper person hadde halowed the sayd chyrche and for a token and knowlege of y e same he hadde receyued hys helthe And for more recorde of the trouth of this mater our sauyour Cryste as wytnessyth mayster Robert Gagwyn also the frenche cronicle drewe of the skynne of the face of the sayde lazar and threwe yt agayne a stone where yt remayneth at thys daye to be sene The whyche token when Dagobert and his byshoppes vppon the morne after behelde and sawe they beynge greatly ameruaylyd laft of any forther besynesse touchynge the dedyfyenge of the sayde chyrche For thys myracle great concurse of people yerely in the .vi. kalendis of Marche coÌ„myth wyth great deuocyon vnto y e sayd monastery there makyng theyr oblacions fermly beleuyng that the sayde chyrch was halowed with Crystes own hand when Dagobert had this besynesse wyth other ê‘fyted endyd he then called a great counsayll of his lordes spyrytuall and teÌ„porall at hys cytye of Biguage where he beyng set betwene his .ii. sonnes Sigebert Clodoueus he made a long preposycyon oracyon concernynge the allegyaunce whyche he exhorted hys lordes to owe and bere to hym for the terme of his lyfe and after to hys two sonnes there beynge prensent And then he exhorted his .ii. sonnes charitably to loue and that they shulde in moste fraternall wyse contynue theyr lyues The whyche preposycyon fynyshed he there in that presence made his testament that before he hadde causyd to be wryten in iiii sondry skynnes endentyd to be rad and then sealyd wyth certayn of theyr sealys wherof that one he wyllyd to be kept in the treasory of saynt Denys the .ii. in the treasorye of the cytye of Lyons the .iii. in the tresory of Mees in Austracy whyche howe is named Lorayne and the .iiii. in the kynges tresorye And when the kynge had orderyd hys matiers som deale to hys purpose he dyssoluyd thys counsayll and coÌ„maundyd eueryche estate vnto hys owne countre and after was somwhat besyed wyth the rebellyon of the forenamed BrytoÌ„s and Gascoynes such other maters the whyche I passe ouer for length of tyme. Then the kynge lastely was syke of the flyx and was brought by hys desyre vnto the monastery of saynte Denys where after he had commytted hys wyse Nantyld
so into Italy towarde Rome But Lewys hys brother and kynge of Germanye beynge therof warnyd sent in all haste hys sonne Lewys wyth a stronge hoste to lette hys passage But how it was for fere or other meane the sayd Lewys yeldyd hym to hys vncle Charlys the Ballyd wherewith the father beyng greuously dyspleasyd sent hys seconde sonne namyd Charlō to withstande the passage of the sayd Charlys But thys for fere or other cause that he sawe that he myghte not preuayle agayne hys vncle retornyd hym agayne to hys father After whose retorne he for so mych as the sayd Lewys kyng of Germany well perceyued that hys brother Charlys was paste his daunger he than with a more nomber ioyned vnto his sonnes hoste entryd y e londe of Fraūce in domagynge it to the vttermoste of hys power In whyche season Charlys the Ballyd kepte on his iourney toward Rome wherof heryng the .viii. Iohn̄ than pope sent agayne hym certayn persones of honoure and welcomyd hym as Augustus or emperour And after hys comynge thyther the sayde pope receyued hym wyth greate reuerence and crowned hym wyth the imperyall dyademe and denouncyd hym as emperoure THE CLXV CHAPITER CHarlys y e Ballyd thus beyng authorysed for emperour exersyd hym for a tyme for the nedys of the chyrche of Rome after toke hys leue of the pope retorned vnto Papye a cytye of Italy where he callynge a generall counceyle of the lordes of the empire other he by theyr aduyses prouyded and ordered dyuerse thynges for the weale of y e sayd empyre And ouer that by theyr agrementes he ordeyned for hys lyeu tenaunt or debyte of the sayde empyre in hys absence a noble man brother to hys wyfe recent named Besonne or Beson and assygned to hym such people as was thought necessarye and conuenyent whan Charlys had sped hys nedys in Papye he hyed hym into Fraunce But or he came wythin the terrytory therof word was brought to hym that hys brother Lewys was retorned into hys owne countreye wythout greate domage done to the realme of Fraunce In processe the emperoure came to Parys where he was receyued of the cytesens wyth moste tryumphe ioye and kepte hys Eester tyde at saynte Denys It was not longe after that Charlys was thus returnyd into Fraūce but that he receyued messengers frō hys brother kynge of Germany the which in his name claymed his part of the empyre as hys ryghte and enherytaunce whiche answere for that tyme was deferryd with pleasaunte wordes so that at the nexte worde y t he hadde from his sayd brother was that he was dede and buryed in the chyrche of saynte Nazer in Frankeborught wherof whā Charlys was ascerteyned anone he yode vnto Foūtenays and sent hys messengers to the lordes of the countrey commaūdynge them that they shulde meete hym at the cytye of Mettes Thys foresayd Lewys lefte after hym two sonnes named Lewys and Charlon as before is towched the whych deuyded bytwene them theyr fathers patrymony so that Lewys had Germany and Charlon hadde Bayon Thys Lewys ferynge hys vncle Charlys gaderyd to hym a stronge power of Saxons and of Thorynges And in the tyme of theyr assemble he sent an ambassade of certeyne byshhoppes temporall lordes vnto hys vncle Charlys prayeng hym of hys loue and fauour wyth other requestes to hym made of the whyche they myghte purchase no graunte wherof whan they were retornyd he hauynge by them knowlege y e sayde Lewys incontinently wyth his hoste drewe nere vnto the Ryne But thys Lewys was not so couert ī his work and assemblynge of hys people but that hys vncle had therof wyttynge and purueyed hys people as faste vppon that other syde so that he wyth an hoste was redy to fyghte with the sayd Lewys whan Lewys was ware of y e great power that the emperour hadde assembled he made no haste to passe y e water but houed and caused his people to falle vnto prayer And Charlys also ferynge hys neuewe vnder a colour sent alegacyon of entreaty Durynge the whyche entreaty the emperour contrary to hys honoure led his peple by a secrete waye thynkyng to haue fallen vpon his neuew sodeynly and by that meane to haue dystressyd hym But Lewys beynge ware of hys vncles treason prouyded so for hys peple kepte them in suche araye that they receyued theyr foo men vpon theyr speres poyntes to theyr great damage For where the greate rayne and tedyousnesse of the harde and strayte wayes whych they hadde passyd hadde sore tyred and weryed them than the fresshe fyersnesse of theyr enemyes whyche they thoughte they shulde haue takē slepynge and vnpurueyed abasshed thē in such wyse that they were soone ouercomen and fled from the felde as shepe fle frō the wolfe By meane of the whych flyght great slaughter of them was made many nobles greate estates of Fraūce both slayne and taken prysoners and the emperoure hym selfe scapyd wyth greate daunger And of the prysoners that were takē they were so nere spoyled y t they were fayne to take vyne leues to couer wyth theyr secrete mēbres ye shall vnderstand y ◠thys warre bytwene the emperoure Charlys the Ballyd and hys brothers sonne Lewys was for the prouynce of Austracy or Lorayne the whyche somtyme belonged to the emperoure Lothayr and halfe brother to Charlys The whych countreye after thys batayle was by medyatours set in an order Than the emperoure wyth great trauayle came to a town called Tyguy And Lewys kepte hys waye to Dandonyquyke and from thens to Ayes the chapell In this whyle the Danes or Normans knowynge that Charlys was occupyed in the warre agayne hys neuewe apparayled them a stronge hoste and entred ofte the landes of Fraunce But for Charlys was at y e tyme letted wyth chargeable busynesse he therfore sent a noble man agayne them called Comarde vnto the ryuer of Sayne to wythstande the sayde enemyes And also to hym was gyuen counceyle to haue wyth them cōmunicacyon to make a peace yf he myghte And to thys trouble immedyatly was ioyned another For ī this tyme and season a cytye belongyng to the chyrch of Rome rebellyd wherfore to wythstand theyr malyce the pope than beynge Iohn̄ the .viii. of that name sent messengers to Charlys for the defence of the sayd lōdes and other And soone after the pope for to haste the sayd emperoure or ellys to quyckē his deputye before named to assemble the Italyans and other people there adioynaūt came downe to the cytye of Papye taryed there the emperours comynge Charlys thā beset with trowbles assembled hys knyghtes sped hym towarde Italy And whan he was passyd the mountaynes worde was brought to hym of the popes beynge in Papy wherfore he sped hym thyder with all dylygence In thys tyme season Charlone the brother of Lewys and sonne of Lewys kynge of Germany whyche Charlone as before is shewyd was duke of Bayon or Bayory gaderyd a stronge hoste and
the sayde Danys they as tyrauntes and cruell enymyes to Crystes fayth hadde spoyled many chyrches and temples and a monasterye of saynt Peter in Corby and throwen yt downe to the ground After which vyle and cruell dede by theym done Lewys gaue vnto them batayll and slew of them great nomber and chased the remanaunt But after this vyctorye ensuyd a great wonder For when the crysten hadde as before is sayde chasyd the pagans or Danys they retourned as confusyd and dysparkled lyke as all the hoste of Danys hadde theym pursued so that well was hym that myghte ronne fastest and hyde hym selfe from the daunger of his enymy For yt was thought to them and apparent to theyr syght that theyr enymyes folowed at theyr backes wyth all kynde of wepyn and yet folowed thē no man The whych fere flyght of Frenche men as sayth myne authour was sent to theym by dyuyne purueaunce for so myche as they so often before tyme had won the pryce of theyr enymyes and had not therfore gyuen due thanke vnto god but referred yt to theyr owne strenghtes and vertue Then the Danys herynge of this dysparklyng of the crysten hoste reassembled theyr power and ppayred them to new fyght wherfore y e kyng called to gyther his knyghtes so as before is sayd dysparkled and mette wyth theym nere vnto the aboue named ryuer of Lyger But when both hostes were wythin a days iourney the kynge was aduysed by some of his coūsayll y t he shulde not as then fyght wyth thē For the whych cause he yode vnto Compeynge and there kept the feast of Crystemasse And whyle the kynge was lodged in Cōpeynge he delyueryd his hoste vnto a noble man of his land named Theodorych wyllynge hym to go agayne the Danys Of whose exployt or spede myne authoure maketh no mencyon but sayeth that soone after the foresayde feast the kynge spedde him to Turon̄ where he sent to rayse the Brytōs of lytell Britayn to with stande the foresayde enymyes In the whyche passetyme he was there taken wyth a maladye from thens in a lytter caryed vnto saynte Denis where he dyed was buried Or as sayth maister Gaguyn he dyed at Turon̄ and was after cōueyed vnto saynt Denys and there buried But for all wryters ioyne the reygn of these two bretherne in one therfore I wyll now shewe vnto you the fyne or conclusyon of the other brother called Charlys or Charlemayn the whyche all thys whyle mayntened the syege aboute Uyenne where his brother as before is touchyd left hym To whom the lordes of Fraūce sente in all haste gyuynge to hym knowlege of the deth of his brother and also of the great daunger that the land was in by reason of the Danys wherof when the sayd Charlys hadde thus wyttynge he lefte a parte of hys people at the sayde syege and wyth the other deale he sped hym towarde Champayne for so mych as he was enfourmed that the Danys were drawen towarde that coste And as he was in hys iourney worde was broughte vnto hym that Uyenne was delyueryd vnto suche persones as he hadde there left to maynteyne the syege And after thys came a nother messenger whyche shewyd to hym that the Danys hadde destroyed dyuers chyrches in Champayne and other places and howe the byshoppe of Meaws that agayne theym hadde ladde an host of people was of them slayne and hys people chasyd and ouer thys at the foresayde ryuer of Lyger an other hoste of Danis with theyr leder called Hastynges was assembled The whych in that partyes wasted the countrey as the other in other places dyd whyche somdeale apasled the herte of the kynge Charlys How beyt by the comforte that he hadde dayly receyued from the lordes of Fraunce he kepte on hys iourney and made towarde the next of his enymyes But when he drew nere vnto them were yt for his own cowardyse or of the counsayll of his lordes he fell to a communycacyon of peace And fynally concluded that Godfrey the prynce of Danys to cōfesse the fayth of Cryste and to be crystened shulde enioye the hole prouynce of Fryse And wyth in the same he wyth hys Danys to inhabyte theym The whyche condycyon of peace was the begynnynge of greate sorowe and losse vnto Fraunce as after shall appere For all be yt that the sayd Godfrey to deceyue the Frenchmen shewed outwarde countenaūce to be crysten man for a whyle he shortely after wyth an hoste of .xl. thousande Danys entred the land wastynge the countrey tyll he came to Parys and layde there hys syege about the same citye But by the arch byshoppe of Parys then named Iosselen̄ and the inhabytaunces of the same the cytye was manfully defended so that he with his Danys was fayne to breke hys syege and from thens yode to the cytye of Laon̄ and wan yt by strength and after yt spoyled and robbed and after brent And fro thens to Soysons in pyllynge and destroyeng the countrey as they went in so cruell wyse that the bysshoppes and prestys fled from theyr chyrches wyth relyques and anournamentes or ornamētes belongyng to the same as the bodyes of saynte Germanye saynte Remigius and dyuers other In y e tyme of this persecucyō lyke as the lande of Englande was in great daunger so also was the land of Fraunce by meane of these pagans or myscreauntes Danys The whyche resortyd from that one realme to that other and releued theym selfe in that one land whē they were chased oute of that other But one myshappe amonges other befell in Fraunce at these dayes For Charlys theyr kynge was taken from theym in suche wyse that no wryter leueth of hym any mencyon how he dyed nor when he dyed nor no mencyon is made in the frenche cronycle nor of myne auhoure howe longe whyle he and hys brother Lewys reygned All by Uyncent historyall and Antoninus whych groūded hym vppon the sayde Uyncent and Iacobus Philippus saye that these two foresayde bretherne regned togyder and alone by the terme of .v. yeres wythoute more And the frenche cronycle and also myne authour sayen that Lewys dyed wythoute heyre and that Charlys lefte after hym a sonne whyche was named Lewys and after for his symple dedes surnamed in laten Nihil faciens or in frēche Ryen fezant whyche is to meane in our speche nought doynge But who that lysteth wele to aduertyse remēber the order of thys cronycle he shall fynde in this latter sayenge some dyscorde For where yt is sayde that thys Charlis shulde leue a sonne after hym to my yt semeth that consyderynge hys youth he shulde not be of any lawfull age to gette a chylde For by all lyklyhode of conuenyence of the storye yf all be veryfyed as yt is before declared he coude not passe y e age of .viii. yeres at the moste wherfore yt muste folowe of a congruence that other they reygned lenger tyme or ellys thys chylde or heyre Lewys aboue named was the sonne of some other man
kynges subieccyon Henry archbyshoppe of Huntyngdon that wrote myche of the cronycles of Englande in prayse of thys noble woman Elfleda made dyuers dytyes of the whyche some ben expressyd as foloweth Cesers tryuÌ„phes were not so myche to prayse As was of Elfleda that sheldes so ofte dyd rayse Agayne her enymyes this noble ven queresse Uirago and made whose vertue can I not expresse WHen Edwarde hadde reconciled these foresayde townes he then buylded a new towne for agayn the olde towne of Nothyngham on the south syde of the ryuer of Trent and made a brydge ouer the sayd ryuer betwene the sayd .ii. twones And as wytnessyth Policronica the yere folowynge in the sayde towne or cytye of Notyngham two kinges that is to saye of Scotlande and walys yeldyd them vnto kynge Edwarde The cause why nor of warre betwene theym to be contynued is not of hym expressyd How be yt dyuers bokes of writers of cronycles of Englande as of Marianê° the Scot wyllam of Malmesbury Henry of Huntyngdon other yt is shewyd that this Edwarde subdued the kynges of Scotlande and of CuÌ„brys aboute the .ix. yere of hys reygne And of the sayde authours yt is also testifyed that about the .xx. yere of the reygne of the sayde Edwarde these sayde kynges of Scottes and Cumbrys shulde chose this kynge Edwarde for theyr chefe lord and patrone whyche shuld be about this season before expressyd Then this noble prynce Edwarde after these thynges set by hym in an order he in the northe ende of Mercia by the ryuer of Merce buylded a cytye or towne and named yt Thylwall and strengthyd yt wyth knyghtes And after repayred the cytye of Maynchester that sore was defaced with warre of y e Danys After which notable dedis by y e puyssaunt prynce fynyshed wyth the maryage of hys chylder and many other whyche I omytte and passe ouer for length of tyme fynally this noble man dyed when he hadde reygned wyth great trauayle by the terme of .xxiiii. yeres at Faryngdon and from thens conueyed to wynchester and there enteryd in the monastery of saynt Swythyne leuyng after hym dyuers sonnes as before is shewed of the which Ethelstane was eldest Francia THE CLXXXI CHAPITER CHarlys surnamed the symple sonne of Lewys the .iiii. or Ryen Fayzand began hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon as wytnessyth Iacobê° Philippus and other .ix. hundred .iiii and the thyrde yere of Edwarde the elder than kynge of Englande In tyme of whose reygne the Danys whyche contynuelly ouer the terme of .l. wynters that is to saye from y e x. yere of Charlys the Ballyd somtyme kynge of Fraunce vnto y e sayd dayes had wasted and spoyled the lande not wythstandyng y e agrementes made bytwene Charlys the emperour and them as before in y e story of the .iiii. Lewys is shewed yet they wyth greate hostes aryued in the couÌ„tre of Neustria or Normandy robbed and spoyled the countre before them and slewe the people thereof wythout pytye and from cytye to cytye kepte on theyr iourney tyll they came vnto the cytye of Roan wherof the bysshop beynge in greate drede of subuersyon of the cytye and destruccyon of the crysten people wyth in the same delyuered the cytye by appoyntment that he wyth y e people myghte departe thens wythout bodely harme whyche vnto the sayde Danys was a greate strength and hurte to the lande of Fraunce Of thys hoste of Danys was ruler and leder a myscreaunt named Rollo the whyche was a man of lowe byrthe but he was of greate strength The whyche whan he had a season rested hym and hys hoste refresshed them wythin the cytye of Roan he than set forth hys waye coÌ„mauÌ„dyng hys vawnewarde to kepe theyr iourney towarde Parys And for y e more spede to be made he shypped hys Danis ryght there and one parte he sent by the ryuer of Sean the seconde by the ryuer of Lyger or Leyr and the thyrde by the water Geronde Than the Danys that passyd by the ryuer of Leyr came at length to the cyte of Nauntes and wan that cytye by strength and slewe therin moche people And the byshop of the same named Guymerte beynge at masse they slewe at the aulter And whan they had spoyled that cytye the countre there about than yode they to the cytye of Angiers brent and robbyd it most cruelly And that done they yode vnto Towres and layde syege to that cytye The which by the presens of the holy body of saynt Martyne whych at that tyme was wythin y e cytye it was a whyle preserued But soone after the munkes feryng the sworde of the Danys fled the cytye secretly and toke the body wyth them And soone after the Danes had the towne at theyr wyll and brent the abbay before the town or staÌ„dynge without the towne and spoyled and robbed the cytye townes thorough the countre of Guyan whan the Danys had thus subdued the more parte of Neustria or Normandy They wyth theyr duke Rollo by y e ryuer of SeynÌ„ drewe towarde Parys And fyrst entred the landes of Burgoyne and Auerne in effecte to Senons wherof heryng the monkes of the monastery of Flory where the body of saynte Benet than rested they toke that holy treasoure and bare it vnto Orlyaunce layde it in the chyrche of saynt Anyan tyll the persecucyon were ouer passed Of thys monastery was at that dayes lyuynge a defensour by promyse before made whose name in latyne is called Sigillosus in FreÌ„ch Sigillophes an erle whych was taken for patrone of the same abbaye To whom in the nyght folowynge that the monkes were fled as before is sayd saynt Benet appered blamed hym y t he none other wyse had defended y e place of hys Sepulture wyth whych visyon the sayd erle beynge feryd gaderyd vnto hym vpon the daye folowyng such small power as he than myghte make set vpon the Danys and draue them backe slewe of them a great nomber And y e prayes that he there wan he offered to god and saynte Benet by whose prayers he knewe well that he opteyned that vyctory In tyme y t the Danys thus persecuted the countre of Fraunce and the kynge was not of power them to resyst for so mych as Charles knew well that the bysshop of Roan named Franke was in good fauour of Rollo he therfore sent hym in ambassade to the sayd Rollo to requyre a trewe or trewse for thre monethes the whych was grauÌ„ted The which trewse ended the sayd Rollo beseged the cytye of Chartrys Duryng whiche syege the duke of Burgoyne named Richarde wyth hys retynue assayled the Danys In tyme of which fyght Ebalde erle of Poytowe was present and draue backe y e Danys wherwyth the bysshop of the cytye beynge encoraged toke wyth hym y e smocke of our lady whyche at those dayes was kepte there wyth greate reuerence and wyth the cytesyns other issued out of
theyr enemyes Of thys message the kynge was ryght fayne and forthwith sped him tyll he came to Roan wher he was accordynge to hys honour receyued For the whyche cause he sent in all hast vnto Arnulfe erle of FlauÌ„ders monassynge hym that he sease of his warres in Bayon tyll he receyued farther knowlege The kyng thus restyng in Roan deuysed hys maters at hys pleasure so that the Normayns obeyed them to all hys requestes And for y e good aberynge that Barnarde the Dane was of agayne the kynge he graunted to hym the gydynge of the yonge duke And whan he shulde departe he ordeyned as hys deputye one named Raoull or Rauf The whyche after the kynges departure behaued hym so cruelly to the Normans that they were very irke of hym And ouer thys the foresayd Barnard ferynge the kynges retorne and other more greuous punysshement than they before hadde susteyned sent his messengers vnto Grolle kynge of Denmarke than beynge at Chyerbourk wyllyng hym to assemble his people and to make of them two hostes wherof to sende y e one by lande and that other by water so to entre the couÌ„tre of Normandy in wastyng and spoylynge it by reason wherof he myghte brynge the kynge to some coÌ„munycacyon whych all was done as the sayd Barnarde had deuysed whan the kynge had wyttyng of the Danys that wyth so grete a multytude were entred the prouynce of Normandy he assembled hys hoste and sped hym thytherwarde and in processe of tyme came vnto the cytye of Roane where by hys counsayle it was condyscended that a metynge and frendly communycacyon shulde be had bytwene the kynge the sayd Grolle at a place called in Frenche Herlycum where at the day appoynted bothe prynces mette wyth bothe hostes standynge or hauynge a lytell dystauÌ„ce of And whyle the two prynces were there in communycacyon of the deth and murder of duke willmÌ„ a Dane markynge Herloyne For whose causes as before is shewed duke willmÌ„ was slayne with a spere wounded hym so greuously that he dyed forthwyth whych dede hys brother called Lambert wyth other of y e Frenchmen entendynge to reuenge wyth theyr wepons fylle vppon the Danys whyche them receyued with greate vyolence So that of that a fraye ensued a skyrmysshe and after the skyrmysshe a sore batayle For bothe hostes ioyned on bothe sydes and faught cruelly eyther with other a longe whyle But in the ende the Frenchmen had the worse and were compelled to flee And the kynge to saue hys lyfe fledde also whyche by reason of hys vntrusty horse was taken and kepte secrete a certayne of tyme by his taker But lastly he was discouered and brougth to the cytye of Roane as a prysoner The kynge thus beynge in holde vnder the kepynge of the Danys Engeberge hys wyfe makynge for hym grete dole and sorowe toke her iourney to the kynge of Germany whose doughter she was besechyng hym to prouyde for the delyuerye of her lorde and husbande But of hym had she no socour but rather dyscoÌ„fort shewyng to her that the trowble that her husbande susteyned he had well deserued for his vnstedfastnesse that he agayne wyllyam the duke Rycharde hys sonne had vsed wherfore the quene beynge thus answered of her father rode vnto Hugh le graunde besechyng hym of helpe in this greate nede The which at the request of the quene sent vnto Barnard erle of Senlys requiryng to moue some wayes to the Danys for the enlargynge of the kynge By whose labour and meanys lastely a counsayle was kepte at saynt Clere vpon the ryuer of Ept. where after many argumentes reasons made fynally it was agreed that the kyng shulde be enlarged tyll an other day of coÌ„munycacyon layenge for pledges hys sonne and heyre named Lothayr the bysshop of Senlys and y e bysshop of Beauuayze whyche done the kynge was set at large and forth wyth rode vnto the cytye of Laon. where he abode the other daye of coÌ„munycacyon whyche after was holden at y e foresayd ryuer of Ept. And concluded a peas whyche lasted but a shorte whyle after Thys peas thus confermed Grollo the kynge of Danys wyth greate gyftes was retorned from whens he was desyred And Richarde the yonge duke toke vpon hym the rule of hys owne Signory and grewe and encreased forthwardly wherof Hugh the graunde takyng hede and beholdynge hys wyse demeanure and conuersacyon made suche labour and meanes vnto Barnarde erle of Senlis y t he maried to him his doughter named Emmacet wherof beynge enfourmed the French kynge caste in hys mynde thys greate alyaunce bytwene the yonge duke and two grete perys of hys lande and thoughte y t these .iii. knâ—t in amyte and alyaunce shulde dysturbe hym whan them lyked wherof he called to hym Arnold erle of Flaunders by whose counsayle he sent the sayde Arnolde vnto Ottho kynge of Germany requyrynge hym of ayde to warre vpon y e Normayns and to breke thys affynyte of thys yonge duke of Hugh le graunde and of Barnarde erle of Senlys and for his labour he shuld haue to hym and to hys heyres the prouynce or lordshyp of Lorayne Ottho wyth thys couetous promesse deceyued asseÌ„bled his knyghtes and at the day and place appoynted met wyth the kynge and wyth theyr people sped them to Roan and layde siege vnto y e cytye And whyle the kynges were occupyed in wastynge and brennynge the vylages nere vnto the cytye to put the Normans in the more fere Ottho sent hys neuewe wyth a certayne of hys people in secrete wyse to the gates of the cytye But whan he was comen to the gate that opened towarde the ryuer of SaynÌ„ and thoughte there to wynne hys enterpryse y e cytesyns issued out vppon hym sodeynly and gaue to hym batayle and slewe hym and many of hys company and the remenaunt they chased froÌ„ the walles of the cytye whan Ottho had wyttyng of the ouerthrowe of hys men and deth of his neuew whom he entyrely loued he made inward heuynesse and caste in his minde how he myght reuenge the deth of hys neuewe But whan he approched the cytye and behelde the strength therof wyth also the fyersnesse of the NormaÌ„des he repented hym of enterprysyng of that iourney and torned all hys hatered vnto Arnolde erle of Flaunders by whose sterynge and counsayle that vyage was fyrste begon in so mych that he sought the meanes to brynge y e sayd Arnolde into the handes of the Normans wherof Arnolde beynge warned trussed his stuffe and harneys secretly and in the nyght stale away and so retorned into Flaunders with his retynew The whych thyng knowen to the two kynges in as secrete wise as they myghte departed also from y e siege But yet therof theyr enmyes beynge ware pursued them slewe many of theyr company And or the yere that thys was done in had roÌ„ne hys full compas Lewys the kynge dyed and was buryed in the temple of the holy bysshoppe saynte Remygius wythin the cytye of
of the age of .xvi. yere when he was admytted for kynge and that he was not crowned kynge tyll he hadde reygned the full terme of .xii. yeres whych terme ended and expyred he was enoynted and crowned kynge in the cytye of Bathe vppon a whytsondaye fallyng then vpon the .xv. day in May of Dunstane and Oswolde byshoppes that one of Caunterburye and that other of yorke In the begynnynge of his reygn he called home holy Dunstane that before was exyled of kyng Edwyne whych Dunstane harde aungellys synge peace be to the lande of Englyshemen Then he made DuÌ„stane that was abbot of Glastenburye byshoppe of worceter and vnyed and knyt into one the prouynce and lorshyppes of Englande and made of theym one monarchye and kyngedome In many places he putte away clerkes and prestes that lyued vycyously and sette there for theym munkes And as wytnessyth Guydo Policronica and other he buylded and repayred to the nomber of .xl. houses of relygyon wherof Abyndon Peterburgh Thorney Ramesey and wyltonÌ„ were parcell of theym And at wynchester in the newe abbay he putte in munkes where before dayes were seculer prestes The cause wherof was for so myche as the prestes fled or neglygently slowthed the dyuyne seruyce of god and sette vykers in theyr places whyle they lyued at theyr pleasure in other places and spente the patrymonye of that chyrche after theyr sensuall wyll Then kynge Edgar gaue to the vykers the lande that before belonged to the prebendaryes trustynge therby that they wolde do theyr duetyes But yt was not longe to or the sayd vycares were as neglygent as the other wherfore fynally the kyng by authoryte of pope IohnÌ„ the .xiii. of that name voyded clerely the prestes ordeyned there moÌ„kes though some of hys prelates where not therwyth contented This Edgar kepte suche iustyce and dyd so sharpe execucyon that neuer before his days was vsyd lesse felony or robberyes And for he wold haue the rauenous bestes destroyed thorough hys lande he caused Ludwallus prynce or kynge of walys to yelde to hym yerely by way of trybute thre hundred woluys By meane wherof wythin the space of .iiii. yeres after in Englande and walys myght scantely be founden one wolf a lyue It is wytnessyd of dyuers authours that Kynadus kynge of Scotlande dispysed Edgar for that that he was lytell of stature wherof Edgar beynge warned desyred the sayd Kynadus to dyner and made to him good countenaunce After whych dyner ended he toke the sayd Kynadus by y e arme and so wyth hym helde company tyll they came into y e feldes where beynge dysseuered from bothe theyr seruauntes Edgar drew from vnder his garment two swordes desyred Kynadus to take the chose of theym sayd to hym nowe thou hast good laysure to a saye thy strength wyth myne that before tyme thou haste so myche dyspysed And lette vs nowe proue whyche is more worthy to be subiecte to other It is not syttynge for a knyghte to make great boste at the borde and to do lytell in felde when the Scottyshe kynge hard the kyng thus challenge hym he knew well his wordes before spoken were disclosyd to y e kynge wherof he was not a litle abashed But for apeace y e kynge he behaued hym so lowely and gaue to hym suche plesaunte wordes that the kynge forgaue the trespace This Edgar amonge other of hys polytyke dedes vsed in the somer tyme to scowre the see wyth certayne shyppes of warre And agayn y e wynter he prouyded to laye the sayd shyppes in sure hauens and had redy in his owne seruyce and in hys lordes houses a certayne nomber of soâ—dyours that were alway redy when the kyng had nede of them And his shyp maysters were in wages wyth hym thorough the yere that euer atteÌ„dyd vpon the shippes to se that nothyng fayled that vnto theym was necessary By meane wherof he kepte hys land in great quyete fro outward enmyes And in the wynter he vsed to ryde ouer the land and to se how hys offycers entreated the people And yf any were accused of extorcyon or other crymes and agayne them suffycyently proued he dyd vppon all suche sharpe correccyon And for so mych as in his days grete multytude of Danys dwelled in dyuers places of England which vsed many vyces specyally great drynkynge wherof ensued dronkenesse and many other vices to the euyll examples and hurte of hys commons and subiectes he therfore ordeyned certayne cuppes with pynnes or nayles set in them and ordeyned made a law that what person dranke past that marke at one drought shuld for fayte a certayn peny wherof the one half shuld fall to the accusour that other half to the ruler of y e brough or towne that the offence was done in It is told of this Edgar by dyuers authours y t he vpon a season beyng at Chester entred y e ryuer of Dee there syttynge in a bote toke the rule of the helme and caused .viii. kynges whyche of Guydo are called regulâ— whyche is to meane small or lytell kynges or vnder kinges y e whyche he commaunded to rowe hym vp and downe the ryuer vnto saynte IohnÌ„s chyrche and from thens to hys owne paleys in token y t he was lorde kynge of so many prouynces This noble Edgar had two wyues By the fyrste y t was called Egelfleda the whyte he hadde a son that was named Edwarde He was after kynge and slayne by reason of hys stepmoder Alfrita called in the englyshe cronycle Estrylde And vpon his seconde wyfe Alfrida or Estrylde he gat a son named Egelredus or after the englyshe boke Eldrede which was kynge after Edwarde the martyr as after shall be shewyd And of saynte wylfryth whych of some wryters is accoÌ„pted for a meÌ„chon he had a doughter named saynte Edyth in ê“cesse of ryme But this was of bast and not in wedloke For as Guydo and Policronicon testyfyen this virgyne wylfryth knowynge that the kyng caste to her vnlawfull loue put vppon her the habyte of a nuÌ„ne thynkyng thereby to wythdrawe the kynges loue But that not wythstandynge she was at length brought to the kynges bedde For whych dede he was greatly blamed of the holy byshop Dunstane and dyd therfore vii yere penauÌ„ce by the heste or byddynge of the sayde Dunstane And the forenamed wylfrith after y e chyld borne lyued so relygyousely y t she is now coÌ„pted for a saynt in heuen Of her doughter Edyth yt is radde that at lawefull age she was at wyltonÌ„ shorne a nunne where she vsyd more gayer apparell then was thought coÌ„uenyent to her religyon For y e which she beynge blamed of the holy bysshop Ethelwolde answered Goddes dome that maye not fayle is pleasyd onely wyth conscyence wherfore I truste that vnder these clothes maye be as clene a soule as vnder other y e ben of lasse shewynge Many vertues ben rehersed of this holy virgyn Edyth in the .ix. chapyter of the .vi. boke of
Policronycon The which I passe ouer for length of the mater THE CXCIII CHAPITER EDgar thus rulynge the lande after the deth of his fyrst wyfe Egelfleda worde was broughte to hym of y e beaute of Alfrida or Estrild doughter of Orgarus erle of Deuenshire wherfore he sent a knight of his court named Ethelwold to espy whether the mayde were of such beautye as she was reported of or not chargynge hym yf she were so beautyous that then he shulde aske her to wyfe for the kynge But this knyght hauyng syght of this mayden was so wounded wyth the darte of the blynde god Cupyde that he forgate his trouth and allegiaunce y t he shuld owe to his mayster and souerayne and retourned shewynge to the kynge that she was nothynge of the beaute that she was reported of but of meane fayrenesse as other women were wherfore he besought the kynge consyderyng she was her fathers heyre a good maryage that he wolde be so good lord to hym as to wryte vnto her fader y t he myght haue her to wyfe The why the grace he obteyned and at length was maryed vnto her In processe of tyme the fame of the beaute of thys woman sprange so wyde that lastly yt came to the erys of Edgar wherwyth the kynge in mynde beynge sore dyscontentyd wyth Ethilwolde whyche hym had dysceyued yet kepte good countenaunce and made semblaunte as though he hadde nothynge forced y t mater And vpon a tyme as yt were in game warned this Ethilwolde y t then was an erle by reason of hys wyfe or otherwyse that he wold lodge one nyght in his house appoynted the daye when yt shulde be wyth thys monyssyon the erle beynge nothynge contented ranne home nygh deed for fere and prayed his wyfe of helpe in that tyme of nede and y t she wold in all that she myght make her self as fowle and as vnsemely as she coude and shewed to her all the resydue of y e mater Then y e woman cast in her mynde the great dyspleasure y t might ensue toward her agayn god to make that fowle whych he hadde made goodly and fayre and also to her lorde and husbande agayne the kynge thynkyng that he shuld cause her thus to do to the ende to mocke and dysceyue hym wherfore in consyderacyon of the premysses she enourned her in moste costly and shewynge aparayll And ouer y t yf dame nature hadde had any thynge forgoten or mysprinted in her she left not that by womaÌ„s helpe might be amended or refourmed and at the kynges coÌ„mynge receyued hym wyth all ioy and gladnesse By whyche meanes this yonge amorous kyng was soon caught in the dyuylles snare so that he sette reason a parte and folowed his own sensualyte And for to bryng his purpose the better about he kept forth a countenaunce as he had ben well contentyd wyth all thynge and desyred the erle that he wolde wyth hym ryde on huntyng into the wood of welwerley that now is called hore wood where he awaytynge his season tyme strake the erle thorough the bodye wyth his shafte so that he dyed soon after And then he maryed this Elfryda or Estrylde shortely hadde by her Egelredus as before I haue shewyd For the whyche dede sayth Ranulf this Elfrida buylded an house of nunnes at warwell But other authours saye yt was for the slayeng of her stepson Edwarde Also the englyshe cronycle sheweth that this Ethilwolde was slayne by an other meane and not by the kyng About this tyme dyed Oddo archbyshoppe af Caunterbury that was of the nacyon of Danys Of hym is tolde a longe processe in the .x. chapyter of the .vi. boke of Polycronycon And after hym Bryglinus that then was byshoppe of wynchester was made hys successour But for he was not suffycyent for so great a charge he went agayne to wynchester And holy Dunstane byshop of London of worceter was sacryd archbysshoppe of Caunterbury and went to Rome and receyued the palle of pope IohnÌ„ the .xiii. of that name This Dunstane was fyrste abbot of Glastynbury and byshoppe of London worceter and lastely archbyshoppe of Caunterbury In his dayes the order of munkes was religyous and Full of vertues For it hadde relygyous rulers clere of scyence and of clergy so that then men were lad as mych wyth other dedes and good examples of vertuous lyuynge as by theyr famous vertuous prechyng Than Edgare as before ys sayde was crowned kynge at the cytye of Bathe of Dunstane archbysshop of Caunterbury and Oswolde archbysshop of yorke whan he hadde ruled thys lande .xii. yeres The cause why it was so longe or this Edgar were enoynted was as testyfyeth Guydo for hys vnlefull Lechery and specyally for the offence done wyth wylfryde For the whyche dede he was of Dunstane ioyned to .vii. yeres penaunce The whyche penaunce durynge he was kept from the sayd enoyntement as affermeth the sayde Guydo But for what cause so euer it was by agrement of dyuers wryters he was not crowned tyll he had reygned .xii. yeres It is also tolde of thys Edgare that he beynge vpon a season at the towne of Andâ—uyr he was enamoured vpon a noble mannes doughter whyche was of passynge beautye made suche meanes by force or other wyse that the parentes were agreed that the kynge shulde haue hys pleasure But the moder subtyll of wytte bethoughte her of a whyle and sent a seruaunt of hers whych was both comely and fayre to the kynges bed In the mornynge whan the daye began to waxe clere the woman began to styrre and wolde haue departed from the kynge But the kynge refrayned her and asked the cause of her so hasty departyng For I muste be at my worke wyth my felowes sayde the woman at myne houre to kepe my taske And whan the kynge had questyoned wyth her further he lerned that she was a bonde woman and asked of the kynge fredome for y â— nyghtis seruyce The kyng at this had good game and cherysshed that damosell so after that he made her lady of Lordes For these insolent wanton dedes it is sayde that by the counsayle of the holy Dunstane he buylded repayred so many abbeys and houses of relygyon as aboue is rehersed Thus thys noble Edgare passyng his tyme in vertue medled with vyce lastly had wyttynge of the rebellyon of y e Brytaynes or walshmen wherfore he assembled hys knyghtes and entred the lande and dyd them grete harme and waste And among other prayes spoyled the countre of GlamorganÌ„ and also toke or spoyled the countre of Ono and toke the bell of saynt Eltutus which serued for hys chyrche that was taken by vyolence wyth other stuffe hanged it about an horse necke In puttynge it to teÌ„porall seruyce to the dyspleasure of that saynte But for the vyolent takynge therof as Ranulf expresseth in an vndertyde whan kyng Edgar was layde to take hys reste the sayd Eltutus apered and smote the kyng
nother stronge cytye called AualonÌ„ and not wythout great daunger wanne yt also at length and after receyued the countrey wyth dew obeysaunce and ordered yt at hys own pleasure and so retourned into Fraunce Arnolde erle of Sens vsed great tyranny amonges the byshoppes mynysters of the chyrche wherfore Leophricus byshop of that see thorough the ayde and counsayll of Regnalde byshop of Parys put oute the sayde Arnolde and delyuered the cytye vnto kynge Robert But the brother of the sayde Arnolde with a certayne of his knyghtes fled to the castell and yt helde wyth strength wherfore the kynge layde syege to the sayd castel and at length wan yt and toke the brother of Arnolde named FromoÌ„de and sent him to OrleauÌ„ce there to be prisoned where he dyed shortly after This Robert as saith the frenche boke buylded fyrst y e castell of MouÌ„t for t He founded also dyuers monasteryes and teÌ„ples and at OrleauÌ„ce the teÌ„ple of saint AnyanÌ„ at Stamps a chyrche of our lady dyuers other in dyuers places of hys realme And he endowed the chyrche of saynte Denys wyth many great lyberties and hadde especyall deuocyon to saynte ypolyte ouer all other sayntes It is radde of this kynge Robert that vppon a season when he hadde longe whyLe lyen at the syege of a castell nere vnto Orleaunce and sawe yt was defuse to wynne be strength he vpon y e daye of saynt Anyan yode vnto Orleaunce there in the quere bare a cope and dyd helpe to synge the dyuyne seruyce And after when he was in his deuocyoÌ„s in the masse whyle when the preste was at the coÌ„secracion and sayd thryse Agnê° dei the walles of the castell fyll wythout stroke of gunne or other engyne and hys enemyes submytted them to hys grace Many vertues myght I shew more of this vertuous price y â— which I passe ouer for length of the tyme and conclude thus that when he had reygned after moste accorde of wryters and ruled hys lande nobly .xxx. yeres he dyed and was buryed in the house of saynte Denys leuynge after him of his fyrst wife ConstauÌ„ce a sonne named Henry and one other named Robert and of hys seconde wyfe .ii. sonnes named Symonde and Almaryche But yt shulde seme by the sequele of the next storye that Constaunce shuld be laste wyfe the other the fyrste and deuorced from hym for some cause so that her chyldern shulde not be legyttymat all be yt the authoure of this maketh no mencyon Anglia THE CCIIII CHAPITER EDmunde Ironsyde the sonne of Egelredus and also Canutus y e sonne of Swanus kyng of DeÌ„marke beganne to rule the Englyshemen in the yere of our lorde a thousande .xvi and the .xix. yere of Robert then kynge of Fraunce For y e Londoners wyth assysteÌ„ce of some of y e lordes of England fauoured EdmuÌ„de But the more party of the lordes fauoured Canutê° specylly the spiritualtye y e before tyme had sworne feauty to hys father And he then beynge at SouthamptonÌ„ swore to them to be vnto them a good trewe iustice and to entreate the people soberly and ryghte wysely Then Edmunde beynge of the archbyshop of yorke crowned at LoÌ„don and the solemnyte fynyshed and ended he sped hym into westsaxon and subdued y t countrey In whych tyme Canutus whych in y e englyshe storye is called Knough drewe wyth hys people to LoÌ„don and wold there haue entred But that was hym forboden of the Londoners For the whiche he layde hys ordynaunce aboute the cytye en tendynge to haue entred perforce But it was not long or he was fayne to breke his syege to depart thens when Canutus was put of from London he drewe westwarde and mette in processe wyth Edmunde in Dorsetshyre besyde Gyllyngham where betwene theym was foughten a stronge and cruell batayll But in the ende Canutus was ouercomen compelled to forsake the felde After thys they mette agayne in worceter shyre where they fought a more stroÌ„ger batayll For this was so strongly bydden by y e men coude not iudge whych parte had the better or which the worse But as wytnessyth Policronica eyther of theym departed froÌ„ other eyther for werynesse of fyghte or for lak of the daye But vppon the morne folowynge both hostes ioyned agayne fought egerly Contynuynge whych fyght Edricus espyenge Edmunde to be at auauntage of wynnynge of the feld sodaynly pyght a dede mannys hed vppon a spere hed and cryed to the hoste of Englyssmen fle fle ye Englyshemen saue your selfe loo here is the hedde of EdmuÌ„de your kyng But Edmunde therof beynge warned spedde hym towarde that parte of the felde and behaued hym so comfortably amonges hys men that by hys knyghtely courage hys people recoueryd that they before had loste and coÌ„tynued the batayll tyll nyght in suche wyse that he hadde rather the better then the worse and caused Canutus to refuse that countrey and to retourne towarde London agayne Then Edmunde beyng aduertysed that Canutus was retourned towarde London he folowed hym and passed the ryuer of Thamys and delyueryd the cytye from daunger of the Danys and afterwarde encountred the Danys at a place called Brentforde where with them he had a cruell fyght and scom fyted theym at length In thys passe tyme Emma y e wyfe of Egelredus ferynge the fortune of the warre sent her two sonnes Alphrede and Edwarde vnto her brother Richarde the seconde of that name and fourth duke of Normandy But Edricus then whyche as before is sayd was euer subtyle of wyt consyderynge the good fortune of Edmunde and hys knyghtely courage thought that at length he shuld ouercome the Danys wherfore to saue hys lande and also to brynge aboute hys malycyouse treason he sought the wayes and meanes howe he myght stande in hys grace and fauour And at length obteyned his entente and swore to hym to be hys trewe subiecte when kynge Edmunde had a season soiorned at LoÌ„don he then made towarde the Danys that then were in Kent and met wyth theÌ„ at a place called Okefforde or Otforde there scomfyted them and chasyd Canutê° to the yle of Shepey And there Canutus toke shypyng sayled about the land entred lastely in y e couÌ„trey of Mercia spoyled a parte therof Then the two hostes met soone after at a place called Asshedown where after longe fyghte Edricus wyth his retynew fledde to the comforte of the Danys By meane wherof kyng Edmunde was put to the worse for many noble men were slayne vppon his party Amonges the whyche the byshop of LyncolnÌ„ the abbot of Ramysey were two that thyther were come to treate a peace betwene bothe prynces But wheÌ„ this was layde to y e charge of Edricê° he by his vntrew meanes so excused hym that no man myght charge hym with any defaut Thus contynuynge thys mortall warre betwyxte these two marcyall prynces to the grete desolacyoÌ„ mortalyte of the people one of the knyghtes of the
orderyd in his lande deuyded his sayd lande in foure partes That is to meane the fyrst princypall which at those dayes was westsaxon he helde vnder hys owne gydyng Eestenglande whych coÌ„teyned Norff. Suff. he betoke to the rule of y e erle Turkyllê° a Dane of whome somwhat is in the .iii. chapyter of y e story of Egelredê° Mercia he betoke to the subtell erle Edricus And the .iiii. Northumberlande vnto a Dane named Hircius But lyke as the man of Inde at no tyme chauÌ„ged his colour so this Edricus chauÌ„ged neuer his fals maners But not wythstandynge the great benefytes that he dayly receyued of his prynces there as he to other hadde ben false and dysceyuable in dayes past euen so nowe he demeaned hym agayne Canutus wherfore he beynge accused proued wyth defaute was commauÌ„ded of the kyng to haue iudgement The whyche was done immediatly his hedde for dyuerse causes smyten of and yt wyth the bodye for spyte caste into a fowle and fylthy place But Ranulf sayth that he was slayne by the kynges agrement wythin his paleys at London and his body wyth the hed throwne after into the towne dyche Thus wyth shame he ended that in falshode dyssymulacyoÌ„ had contynued myche of his lyfe Aboute the .ix. yere of his reygne Canutê° called a parliament at Oxenford where amonges other thynges yt was enacted that Englyshmen Danys shuld holde the lawes of Edgar lately kynge In this pastyme dyed Swanus brother to Canutus kynge of Denmarke wythout issue wherfore that lande fyll to Canutus For the which cause he wyth a stronge army sayled thyther to take the possessyon and to set the countrey in an order or after some wryters to apeas wythstande the wandelys y t then had perced that lande and done therin myche harme where GoodwynÌ„ the erle whose doughter Edwarde the confessour after maryed wyth a certayne nomber of Englyshmen fyll vpon y e wandalys by nyght dystressed theym in suche wyse that Canutus had of them his pleasure For this dede the kyng had erle GoodwynÌ„ euer after in good fauoure and loued Englyshmen more specyally And when he was returned into Englande he shortely after or before maryed Emma the wyfe lately of Egelredus Of the whych he receyued in processe of tyme a son named hym Hardicunitus or after some Hardykynitus after the Englyshe boke Hardyknough And aboute this tyme fyll voyde y â— see of Lyndesser or Durham to the whyche by dyuyne inspyracyon and knowlege receyued by a voyce from the tumbe of saynt Cuthbert blessed EdmuÌ„de after thre yere of vacacyon was electe to that see But ye shal vnderstande that thys was not saynte Edmunde of Ponteney For he was archbyshoppe of Caunterbury in the dayes of Henry the thyrde THE CXCVI. CHAPITER CAnutus about the .vii. yere of his reygne by exhortacyon of Egelnothus then archbishop of CauÌ„terbury translated the body of saynt Elphegus late archbyshoppe of the sayd see martyred by the Danys as before is shewed in the seconde chapiter of the storye of Egelredus and shryued hym in hys owne chyrche of Caunterbury foresayde In the tyme also of thys Canutus aboute the .xvi. yere of hys reygne the Scottes rebelled agayne hym wherfore he with a great army entred Scotlande at length ouercame the kynge of that lande named then Malcolyne and brought them agayne to hys subieccyon as is recorded in the bokes of Marianus the Scot. By reason of whych vyctory Canutus was then kynge of .iiii. kyngdoms of England of ScotlaÌ„d of Denmarke and Norwaye Then as wytnessyth dyuerse authours after he had betaken this lande of Englande to the gydynge of Leofricus Egelnothus and other he then returned into Denmarke And from theÌ„s he yode to Rome in the .xv. yere of his reygn made there great offerynges to saynte Peter and Poule redemed the scole of Saxons fre of all former trybute graunted as before in the storyes of Iue and Offa and other kynges of Saxons is som deale more touched whyche redempcyon of tribute as sayth Guydo was called Rome Scot. But it shall seme in that sayenge some douteth for so myche as at thys daye in dyuers places of EnglaÌ„d as in Northamptonshyre and other the peter pens are yet gaderyd Canutus also after he had in Rome accomplyshed his purpose he in hys returne towarde Englande executed wonderfull dedes of almes in releuynge of the poore and other goftly workes payde great good for raunsom of crysten prysoners amonges other of his dedes It is wytnessyd that he shulde agree with the pope that was called Benet the .viii. of that name pay to hym certayne summes of money that his archbyshoppes after y t daye myghte haue the pall wythoute payenge of money therfore And wheÌ„ he was comen in the citye of Papia in Italy in hys way home warde he there brought the arme of saynte Augustyne the doctour for a hundred pounde of syluer and a talent of golde And here is to be noted that there be thre maners of taleÌ„tes The fyrst and grettest is of y â— weyght of .vi. score pounde weyghte the seconde of the weyght of .lxxii pounde and the thyrde and leest of .l. pounde weyght Then yf we reken this talent with the leest in a pouÌ„de of gold after troye weyght is .xii. vuces and in .l. pounde is .vi. huÌ„dred vnces and euery vnce of fyne golde is worth xl s. By whyche reason this talent shulde be in value to the summe of xii hundred pounde This precyous relyque y e kyng gaue vnto his trusty frende Leofricus y e whych he myche loued and trusted and remayned at Couentre many yeres after whyle Canutus was occupyed in thys iourney coÌ„playnt was brought vnto hym of some mysse demeanurs and rule that were occupyed and exercysed in his absence wythin this realme wherfore he wrote home letters to the lordes chargynge theym straytely that all such defautes were redressed agayne hys coÌ„myng home Thys kynge as wythnesseth Guydo was of great magnyfycence and vsed suche iustyce and temperaunce that in his dayes in the weste partes of the worlde was no prynce of renowne as was Canutus And ouer that he was gretly beloued dradde of hys subiectes In the tyme of this Canutus as tessyfyeth Guillelmus de pontificibus a munke of GlasteÌ„bury named Bryghtwolde whyche was after bysshop of wylton beynge in hys contemplacyon and prayer bethoughte hym on the lynage of Englyshe kynges And in that thought fyll into a slumber in whyche tyme of his slepe he sawe saynte Peter the apostle standynge by hym and holdynge in hys hande Edwarde the sonne of Egelredus which then was in Normandy the whyche to his thynkynge he saw saynte Peter saker y e sayde Edward as kynge of Englande And shewed to hym farther how holy this Edwarde shulde be in hys lyuynge and how he shuld reygne as kynge .xxiii. yeres Then thys monke frayned saynt Peter of the ofsprynge of thys Edwarde and who shulde be
before is rehersed by y e terme of CC.lv. yeres THE CCX CHAPITER EDward the son of Egelredus of Emma hys last wyfe began his reygne ouer England in the yere of our lord M .xliii and the xiiii yere of Henry then kynge of Fraunce The whyche after the deth of Hardykinitus was sente for into Normandye and pledges layde for hym that he wythout fraude shulde be made kynge And then he came wyth a few straunges But as sayth Marianus some of the lordes had sent for Edwarde the outlaw son of Edmunde Ironsyde for to be theyr kynge But after the affyrmaunce of the said authour when he knew that Edwarde hys neuewe was in possessyon of the lande he wolde medle hym no farther Then thys Edwarde by the great aduyse of GoodwynÌ„ erle of west Saxon and of Leofricê° erle of Chester was crowned kyng at westmynster of Edsius then archbyshop of Caunterbury wedded in processe of time after Goditha the doughter of erle Goodwyne whych of Guydo is called Editha The whych he entreatyd in suche wyse y t he put her not from his bed nor yet delte wyth her fleshely whyther yt were for hate of her kynne or forloue of chastite y e trouth is not shewed But all wryters agreen that he coÌ„tynued his lyfe with outen offence wyth women This kyng discharged Engleshmen of y e great tribute called Dane gelt y t whych before is sundry tyme spoken of so y t after y e daye yt was no more gaderyd And also he subdued y e Brytons or walshmen that made warre wythin the bondes of y e land But after y t theyr duke or leder called Gryffyn or Gryffyth with ayde of y e Irysh men entred the ryuer of Seuerne toke many prayes and departed agayne wythout fyght In the tyme of the reygne of thys Edwarde Emma his moder was accused to be familyer with y e byshop of winchester UpoÌ„ which accusacioÌ„ by couÌ„sayll of erle GoodwynÌ„ he toke from her many of her iewellys caused her to be keptsomdele more straitly in the abbay of warwell and the byshop he coÌ„mytted to the examynacyon and correccyon of the clergye But his moder more sorowynge the defame of AlwynÌ„ the byshoppe then her awne estate wrote vnto dyuers byshoppes and besought them of iustyce affermynge y t she was redy to abyde all leful most sharpest triall Then dyuers of y e byshoppes made laboure to the kynge for her and for the byshop But Robert then archebyshop of Caunterbury beyng wyth theyr laboure dyscontended sayde to them in this maner My brethern bisshoppes sayd he how dare ye defende her that is a wyld beste and not a woman she hath defamed her own son the kynge and nempned her lecherours lemman goddes owne preste But be yt so that the woman wolde purge the preste who shall then purge the woman that is accused to be consentynge to the deth of her sonne Alphred and procured venym to the poysonyng of her son Edwarde But how so yt be that she be gylty or gyltlesse yf she woll go barefoted for her selfe .iiii. steppes for the byshop .v contynually vpon .ix. plough sharys brennynge and fyre hote then yf she escape harmelesse he shall be assoyled of this chalenge and she also Thys was of her graunted and the daye of purgacyon assygned At which day y e kyng grete part of his lordes were present but this Robert fayled were yt for pyte or otherwyse Thys Robert was a monke of an house in Normandy and came ouer by the sonde of the kynge and was fyrste made bysshoppe of London and after archbysshopppe of Caunterbury Then the nyght before Emma shulde make her purgacyon she went vnto the shryne of saynt Swythune at wynchester and there kneled all that night in prayer and receyued dyuyne coÌ„forte Upon the morne she was blyndefelde and ladde vnto the place betwene .ii. men where the iron laye glowynge hote and passed the .ix. sharys vnhurte Then at last she sayde Good lorde when shall I come to the place of my purgacyon when they opened her eyen and she sawe that she was paste the payne she kneled downe and thanked God and saynte Swythune Then the kynge repented hym and restored to her that he before hadde taken from her and asked of her forgyuenesse But the archebyshoppe of Caunterburye fledde into Normandye And thys Emma gaue then vnto the monastery of that holy confessour saynt Swythune .ix. maners and the bysshoppe other .ix. as affermeth Polycronica and other It was not long after that kyng Edwarde gaderyd a stronge nauye at SouthamptonÌ„ or more verely in the hauen of Sandwyche for so myche as he was warned that Swanus kynge of Denmarke entended to make warre vppon hym But Polycronycon sayth that he gadederyd thys nauy to wythstande Harolde Harfagar then kyng of North ganys that entended to haue entred Englande But he was letted by y e forenamed Swanê° y t shortely after made warre vpoÌ„ y e sayd Harold An other cronycle shewyth that the Danys and Norgayns whyche is to meane men of Norway were agreed to come ioyntly into England And whyle the kynge was shyppyng of his mne one brought forth a bole full of mede or meth to drynke vpon bon vyage And after that came bole after bole so that after drynke came dronkenes after iangelyng iangelynge tourned into stryfe stryfe tourned into fyghtynge where thorough many were slayne the other turned to theyr owne so that that iourney was lefte of But the legeÌ„de of hys lyfe in the chyrche telleth that he beynge at masse in the chyrche of westmynster vppon a whytsondaye in the tyme of the leuacyon of the sacrament he laught wherof the lordes beynge aboute hym meruayled greatly and after frayned of hym the cause wheruÌ„to he answered and sayde that the Danys wyth the Norwayes of one assente were purposed to haue comen into thys lande and here haue taken prayes But as the kynge of Danys shuld haue entred hys shyp he fyll into the see and was drowned so that I truste in my days they shall not nor none other straungers make any warre in this lande THE CCXI. CHAPITER IN the tyme of thys Edwarde fyll passynge great snowe the whyche began in the begynnynge of Ianuary and so contynued tyll the xvii daye of Marche or saynte Patrykes daye wherof the great quantyte fyll in the weste countreys of Englande And after that ensued great deth of men and moreyne of beftes and by lyghtnynge the corne vpon the ground that yere was wonderfull brent and wasted Aboute the .x. yere of Edwarde as moueth Policronyca and in the moneth of September Eustace erle of BolongnÌ„ came a lande at Douer whyche erle hadde wedded after the sayenge of the sayde authour kynge Edwardes syster Thys was parted frome hys companye in so secrete wyse that hys knyghtes were fayne to serche for hym wenynge to them that he hadde ben slayne by some of the dwellers of the towne In the
dresse So in tyme passed was vsed great sadnesse In the chyrche But nowe men lyghte be wherfore the maners muste wyth men agree SO that by such light answere they planed or excused y e sharpenesse of theyr mysse lyuynge About this tyme whyche shuld by Ranulff be about the .xii. yeare of y e reygne of Edward Marianê° the Scot that before I haue often named that wrote myche of y e dedes of y e kynges of England at the age of .xxv. yeres forsoke the world went on pylgrymage was after shorne munke at Coleyne in Almayne in the abbay of Scottes whyche Marianus after some wryters was in great fauoure with Malcolyne kyng of Scottes In the .xiii. yere of kynge Edward the Scottes rebelled agayn y e kyng wherfore Sewarde erle of Northumberlande by the kynges commaundement gadered a great hoste and entred that lande and behaued hym so manfully that in processe he subdued the Scottes chased y e kynge out of his couÌ„trey so that after kyng Edwarde gaue that kyngedome vnto MalcolynÌ„ sonne of the kynge of Cumbrys to beholden of hym hys heyres kynges as chefe lordes of Scotlande Uppon Ester mondaye aboute the sayde yere GoodwynÌ„ syttynge at the kynges bourde wyth other lordes in y e castell of wyndsore yt happed one of the kynges cuppe berers to stumble and to recouer agayne so that he shedde none of the drynke wherat GoodwynÌ„ lough and sayde nowe that one brother hath susteyned that other wherby he ment that the one fote or legge hathe sustayned y e other from fallynge wyth whyche wordes the kyng marked him sayd Ryght so my brother Alfrede shuld haue holden me ne had Goodwyn ben The erle then conceyued that the kynge suspected hym of hys brothers deth and sayde vnto the kynge in defendynge hys vntrouth syr as I perceyue well it is told to the y t I shuld be y e cause of thy brothers deth So mought I sauely swalowe this mor fel of brede y t I here hold in my haÌ„de as I am giltlesse of the dede But as soone as he had receyued the brede forthwyth he was choked Then the kynge commauÌ„ded hym to be draweÌ„ from the table and so was conueyed to wynchester and there buryed Marianus sayth that as erle GoodwynÌ„ sat at the kynges table at wynchester he was sodaynly taken with a palsye or some other sykenes vpon the Ester mondaye and dyed y e thyrd day after And his lordshyppes were gyuen vnto Harold his eldest sonne then lyuynge Haroldes erledome was gyuen to Algarus the sonne of Leofricus whych was the erledome of Oxenford after some wryters It was not longe after y e kynge Edwarde sent vnto the .iiii. Henry than emperour of Almayne Aldredus bysshop of worceter wyth other noble men prayenge hym that he wolde sende vnto England hys cosyn Edwarde sonne of EdmuÌ„de Ironsyde for so myche as he entended to make hym hys heyre The whyche request was fulfylled so that he came into Englande soone after the whych as ye haue harde before was named Edwarde the outlawe But as witnessyth Guydo and other the yere after that he came into Englande he dyed at London and was buryed at westmynster Thys yere folowynge kynge Edwarde thorough yll counsayll exiled wythout gylte Algarus the sonne of Leofricus The whych assocyat hym wyth Gryffyne kynge or duke of walys and destroyed y e countre of Harforde dyd mych harme to y e towne and set the mynster on fyre and slew vii chanons therof Then the kyng sent Harolde agayn hym the whiche chased the walshmen into theyr own boundes and recoueryd the sayde towne by appoyntement holden by the sayde Algarus and amended all hurtes before done by the walshmeÌ„ and lastely recouncyled the sayde Algarus and his companye vnto the kynges grace THE CCXIII. CHAPITER ABoute the .xv. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed y e noble duke Sewarde ruler of Northumberland of the flux of whome Guydo reherseth dyuers notable actes whyche I passe ouer Of whom yt is radde that when he sawe well he shulde dye he caused hys armour to be put vppon hym and so armed and syttynge in a cheyre hauynge all the ryghtes of the chyrch sayde that so yt became a knyght and man of honour to dye not lyenge as an other mene man and so dyed was buryed at yorke And hys erledome was after gyuen to Tosty or Costy son of GoodwynÌ„ In the yere folowynge or .xvi. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed also y e good erle Leofricus erle of Mercia and of Chester and was buryed in the abbay of Couentre the whyche before he hadde buylded This man purchased many great pryuyleges for y e towne of Couentre and made it free of all maner of toll excepte onely of horse For the whyche to haue also free the comen fame telleth that after longe requeste made vnto hym by his wyfe named Godina he grauÌ„ted her to haue yt therof freed wyth that that she wolde ryde naked thorough the towne by meane wherof yt was freed Then Algarus hys son was erle after hym Harolde then the eldeste sonne of GoodwynÌ„ was in great authoryte ruled myche of the kynges armye The yere folowyng Algarus was accused by malyce exylded the land wherfore he fled agayne to Gryffyne duke of walis as he before had done of whom he was ioyously receyuyd and maynteyned The kynge therof beyng infourmed sent Harolde into walys to make warre vppon Gryffyne The whyche quytte hym in so knyghtely wyse that he chased the walshmen brent the sayde Gryffyns paleys at a place callyd RutlanÌ„ and his nauy and then returned into Englande about mydlent But aboute rogacyon dayes nexte folowyng the sayde Harolde with his brother Tosty was sente thyther agayne wyth a stronge army At whyche season they destroyed a great parte of walys in conclusion brought the walshmen vnto dew subieccyon and forced theÌ„ to gyue pledges for the contynuance of the same And that done pursued so sore vppon the sayde Gryffyne that in the ende his owne people for purchase of theyr owne lyues slewe the sayde Gryffyne and sent his hed vnto Harolde in the moneth of Auguste so that after the deth of thys Griffyne by the commaundement of the kynge the couÌ„trey of walys was commytted to the gydynge of the .ii. bretherne of Gryffyne the whyche had fauoured more the kynges party in tyme of the foresayd warre then theyr brother And this warre in walys thus brought to ende Harold by his polycy recouncyled agayne Algarus erle of Mercia to y e kyngê grace so that he contynued in hys fauoure durynge hys lyfe after About thys tyme a woman of Bakley in Barkshyre vsed yll craftes of sorcery The whyche as she was syttynge vpon a daye at a feste or great dyner a crowe that she had lykyngly fedde and brought vp kreked louder then he was accustomed to do â–ª when the woman harde that noyse her knyfe fyll out of her hande she waxed sodaynly pale And
with y t she beganne to syghe and sorow sayd alas this daye is my soule comen to the laste sorow And so after that she had spoken those wordes a messanger came to her and sayde that her son and all her mayny was dede sodaynly Then she was conueyed to her owne and was full syke wherfore in haste she sent for an other son of hers that was a monke a doughter y t was a nunne at whose coÌ„myng she sayd to them in thys wyse I am the woman that haue vsed yll crafte and enyll lyuynge and in vayne I hoped to haue ben saued by your bedes and prayers But now I praye you that ye woll releue my tourmentes and paynes for of my soule the iudgement is gyuen wherfore in case that ye maye kepe my body from tourment sewe it in an hartes skyn and laye it in a troughe of stone and hyll it wyth lede close and iuste and after do bynde it wyth barres of iron in moste strongest and sure wise and cause ye .xl. ê‘sons to synge psalmes by nyght and vppon the morne as many masses And yf I lye so stylle iii. nyghtes than burye my body on the .iiii. daye But all thys was for noughte For the fyrste nyght whyle the psalmes were in sayeng y e stroÌ„ge bandes were sodaynly to brokeÌ„ and one wyth a gresely loke was sene vppon an horse backe all blacke cast thys woman behynde hym so rode forth wyth so greate crye and noyse that it was harde as sayth Polycronycon .iiii. myles thens Thys wolde I not haue shewed but that I fynde it wryten and recorded of diuers authours Than to retourne to our fourmer story as wytnessyth myne authoure Ranulfe about y e .xx. yere of y e reygne of kynge Edwarde Harolde sayled towarde Normandye to vysyte hys brother wylnotus and Hacun hys neuewe the which as ye before haue harde were layde there for pledges for the peas to beholden vppon erle Goodwyns syde agayne the kynge But he in his course of saylyng was weder dryuen by tempeste into the countre or prouynce of Pontyfe or more verely into the puynce of PouÌ„tyth where he was taken as a prysoner and sent vnto duke wyllyam of Normandy The whyche forced hym to swere that he in tyme folowynge shulde marye hys doughter that after the deth of kynge Edward he shulde kepe the lande of England to hys behofe accordyng to the wyll and mynde of Edwarde after some wryters And after the opynyon of a nother cronycle wryten in latyn the sayd Harolde for to be in the more fauour of duke wyllyaÌ„ shewed to hym that kynge Edwarde in presence of hys barony had admytted the sayde wyllyam for his heyre and couenauÌ„ted wyth hym that yf he ouerlyued the kyng he wold in saue wyse kepe the lande to hys vse For the whyche tydynges promyse wyllyam grauÌ„ted to hym hys doughter to wyfe y t than was wythin lawfull yeres of maryage wyth greate dower And for to cause Harolde to be the more stabler in hys promyse kepynge he delyuered to hym Hacun hys neuew and sonne of hys brother Swanus whyche he myche desyred and kepte styll wylnotus the brother of y e sayd Harolde After whiche couenauntes suffycyentely stablysshed and enacted Harold departed from duke wyllyam wyth greate and ryche gyftes and in processe of tyme landed in Englande And at hys comynge to the kynges presence he shewed to hym all that he had done in the foresayde maters where wyth the kynge was well coÌ„tented as affermeth the sayd latyne cronycle THE CCXIIII CHAPITER IN the .xxii. yere of kynge Edwarde as testyfyeth Ranulfe Tostius the brother of Harolde was for cause not shewed disconted in the kynges courte and went vnto Harforde in the marche of walys where at that tyme the seruauntes of Harold by coÌ„mauÌ„dement of theyr mayster were besyed to make prouysyon for to receyue the kynge But whan thys Tostius was thyder comen he cruelly slewe the sayde seruauÌ„tes of hys brother hacked them in small pecys and caste them after in meresowce or salte And that done sent worde vnto the kynge y t yf he wolde come vnto hys feest he shulde lacke no powdered mete what so euer he hadde besyde Thys cruell dede sprange wyde so that for it he was hated of all meÌ„ in so mych that hys owne tenauntes the men of NorthuÌ„berland of which prouynce he than was lorde of arose agayne hym and toke froÌ„ hym that he hadde and lastely chaced hym into Flaunders wyth a fewe persons than a waytynge vppon hym But y e vertuouse kyng Edward not beyng contented wyth the comons doynge consyderynge it to be done wythout hys aduyce and coÌ„mauÌ„dement sent thyder Harolde to do correccyon vppon the heddes or capytayns of the Northumbers wherof they beynge acerteyned coÌ„tynued theyr strength and mette wyth Harolde hys people and sent hym to vnderstaÌ„de that they were frely borne and frely nourysshed that they myght nat suffer no cruelnesse of dukes Also they had lerned of theyr elders soueraynes to meyntayn fredom or to suffer deth and to lyue in quyetnesse vnder an easy duke whan Harolde had receyued thys message and aduertysed y e strength of the NorthuÌ„bers he perceyued well that wythout greate effusyon of blode he myghte not correcte the mysse doers wherfore it semed to hym better to fauour the couÌ„tree than to take hede of the synguler profyte of hys brother so that he retorned to the kynge wyth thys answere and purchased theyr pardon of hym and also procured so y e kyng y e he assygned to them an other duke or erle that was named Malcarus And Tostius hys brother wyth hys wyfe chyldern remayned in Flaunders durynge the kynges lyfe Kynge Edwarde in the .xxii. yere of hys reygne syttyng at mete vpon Eester day in his paleys of westmynster sodaynly lowghe whan other dyd talke and eate whan thys blessyd man had dyned and was entred into his chamber his famylyers asked of hym y e cause of hys lawghyng To whom he answered for y e same selfe tyme sayd he .vii. slepers that in the mount Seleon besydes Ephesym in Asya the lasse had slepte two hundred yeres or there about vpon the ryght syde the selfe same tyme they tourned them and shall slepe agayne vpon that other syde .lxxiiii. yeres Though thys be tolde of Ranulphe other syth in thys sayenge appereth some dyscordaunce wyth other wryters also wyth the former sayenge of the sayde Ranulphe in the .xxii. chapyter of hys .iiii. boke of PolycronycoÌ„ where he sayth that the sayd .vii. slepers were closed in y e caue the fyrst yere of Decius and so sleped contynuyngly to the laste tyme or yeres of Theodocius the youger than emperour by whyche reason they shulde slepe about y e season or space of .ii. hundred yere as aboue is sayd and than arose and shewed them to that sayd Theodocius emperour and many other dyed soone after as wytnessyth
the sayde two archebysshoppes was had in coÌ„munycacion For tryall wherof Bedaes story was brought forth â–ª where in it appered that from the fyrste Augu styns tyme to Bedaes last dayes vppon the season of a hundred .xxxix. yeres the archbysshop of Caunterbury had prymacy of all the bysshoppes of England thaÌ„ called Brytayn and of Irlande also and that the archbyshoppes of Caunterbury had kept couÌ„sayles nere vnto yorke and cleped therunto the bysshoppes of yorke and made some byshoppes depryued dyuers from theyr dygnytyes and to this were adioyned certayne pryuyleges that were graunted for this maner of doynge when Thomas had harde all the allegacyons he denyed all and layd for hym the pystle in the whych pope Gregorye demed that the chyrche of yorke and of London shulde be euen perys and neyther of theym subiecte to other To this was answered by Lamfrank that he was not byshop of LoÌ„don nor this questyon was not moued for the chyrche of London But Thomas sayde that Gregory had grauÌ„ted to Augustyne power to haue vnder hym all y e byshoppes of Englande and that London at y e day was the pryncypall see of all Englande All be yt y t the popes mynde was that betwene LoÌ„don and yorke shulde be no dyuersyte of honour because they were archeflamynes and that by theyr vnyte all other myghte lyâ—e vnder dewe obedyence And though Augustyne chaunged y e see from London to Caunterbury yet Gregory wolde not that Augustyne successours shuld be aboue the bysshoppes of yorke For he wolde then haue set in hys epystle these wordes folowynge I graunte to the Augustyne and to thy successours But for he wold y t no such power shuld stretche to his successours therefore he made no meÌ„cyon of his successours Lamfranke to this answered and sayd If that authoryte were graunted to Augustyne alone not to hys successours yt was a symple gyfte y t the pope gaue vnto Augustyne that was so famylyer wyth hym and namely whyle Augustine ordeyned nor sacred no byshoppe of yorke whyle he lyued For y e see was full durynge his lyfe by reason wherof he put not hys authoryte in execucyon But pryuyleges of popes confermeth this dignyte to Augustynes successours of Caunterbury and demeth that yt is skyll and good reason that all the chyrches of Englande shulde take lore and lyghte of that place For of that welle or place proceded fyrst the doctrine of Cristes fayth And where thou sayest Thomas that Gregory myght yf he had wolde haue confyrmed all thynge vndowtably wyth thys worde successours that is soth But yet the lackynge of this worde dothe no preiudyce to the chyrche of Caunterbury For when that Cryste sayde to Peter I shall gyue to the the kayes of the kingdome of heuen he myght haue also sayd yf he wold I graunt the same power to thy successours And though he sayde not so yet he ment the successours of Peter nothynge of reuerence nor yet of authoryte but the dyspensacyon of holy chyrche and offyce of the same was and is holy in theym whyche onely spryngeth by vertue of Cryste into Peter and from Peter into his successours And yf thou can dyscerne betwene false and soth loke what hath strength in all hath strength in the parte and what hath strength in the more hath also streÌ„gth in y e lesse The chyrche of Rome is as yt were all of all chyrches other chyrches ben as membres therof lyke as one man is the kynd of all synguler men and euery synguler man is the kynd of all mankynde so in some maner of wyfe the chyrch and the see of Rome is as yt were the kynde and conteyneth all in comparyson to other chyrches and yet in euery chyrch remayneth the full holenes of Crystes fayth And also the chyrche of Rome is greattest of all chirches and what hath strength in that chyrche shall haue streÌ„gth in lesse chyrches so that the power that is fyrste gyuen to euery chyrche shall sprynge into the successours of the same but yf yt be by some specyall thynge excepted out taken Therfore I coÌ„clude as Cryst sayde to Peter so he sayde to all the byshoppes of Rome and so consequeÌ„tly was sayde to Augustynes successours of Gregorye as was sayde vnto Augustyne wherfore yt muste appere that lyke as Caunterbury is subiecte to Rome so muste yorke be subiecte to Caunterbury whych sent to yorke prechours to teache and preache vnto them the ryghte fayth And where thou sayeste that Gregory wolde that Augustyne shuld haue his see at London yt may not stand wyth reason For who wolde trowe that so noble a discyple as Augustyn was wold wythstande or do agayn hys maysters wyll or agayne holy decrees And yf yt were so as thou haste alledged what is that to me that am not bishop of London as oft before I haue sayd Therfore yf this mater may thus sease wythout more stryfe so be yt ended And yf thou desyrest contynuaunce of plee I shall not fayle the but defende my ryghte and offyce gladly By these reasons other at length Thomas was ouercomen and grauÌ„ted gladly that the farther brynke of Humber shulde be the begynnyng of hys dioces And ouer y t yt was there demed that in all thynges concernynge the worshyppe of god and the fayth of holy chyrch the archbyshop of yorke shuld be subiecte to the archbyshoppe of Caunterburye So that yf the archebyshoppe of Caunterburye wolde call a couÌ„sayll in any parte of Englande the archebyshoppe of yorke shulde be therat wyth all the byshoppes of hys prouynce and be also obedieÌ„t vnto the lawfull hestes And at all seasons when the archbysshop of Caunterbury shuld be sacred the archebyshoppe of yorke with the byshoppes of y e chyrche shulde come to CauÌ„terbury and saker hym there And yf the archebyshoppe of yorke shuld be stalled or sacred theÌ„ shall he come to Caunterburye and ellys where in all Englande where the archebyshop of Caunterburye woll hym assygne and there to be sacred of hym and he shall make to hym an othe with professyon and obedyence when Lamfranke harde this iudgement gyuen thus he reioysed inwardely And for yt shulde remayne of recorde that his successours shuld not newely plede for that cause he caused yt to be regestred in moste substancyall wyse And ouer that sent a pystle for that cause to Alexander forenamed pope of all this doenge wyth the professyon of Thomas the archbyshop foresayd Of this Lamfrank is many notable thynges wryten of diuers writers And after some he is admytted for a saynte THE CCXXII CHAPITER ABoute the .x. yere of kynge wyllyams reygne Roger erle of Hereforde by whose counsayl the kynge as before ys sayde hadde serched all the abbayes of England whyche erle hadde wedded hys syster vnto Rauf erle of eest Angles that is to saye of Norf. and Suff agayne the kynges mynde he wyth the sayde Raufe made conspyracy agayne the kynge caused an other erle by theyr
subtyle meanes to be agreable vnto theyr vntrouth whyche erle had to name walref But at length when thys erle walref hadde knowen the fyne of theyr entent he went vnto Lamfranke and shewed to hym the hole mater By whose counsayll he shortely after sayled vnto the kyng then beynge in Normandye and dysclosed the mater to hym and putte hym holy in hys grace and mercye when the kynge had harde of these tydynges he made good semblaunt vnto this erle walref and sped hym the faster into Englande But howe so yt was the forenamed two erles were warned of dysclosynge of this mater in such wyse y t they gaderyd to theym suche strength that y e kyng coude not haue them at his pleasure but as he was fayne by stronge haÌ„de to chase and outlawe theym And for he fayled of his purpose of them he emprysoned erle walref at wynchester and lastely caused hym to be hedded more of tyranny then of iustyce as affermeth myne authoure whose corps was buryed at the abbay of Crowlande In the .xi. yere was holden a great counsayll or synode of the clergye of the lande in saynt Paules chyrche of London where amoÌ„ges many thynges ordeyned for the rule of y e chyrch of England dyuers byshoppes sees were transported from one place to another as Selwey to Chychester KyrtonÌ„ to Exeter welles to Bathe Shyrbourne to Salysbury Dorchester to Lyncolne and the see of Lychefelde to Chester whyche thynges thus ordered wyth many other for the chyrche the sayde counsayll was dyssolued In the .xiii. yere of hys reygne after the deth of Herman byshoppe of Salysbury succeded OsmuÌ„de y e kynges chaunceller The whyche buylded there a new chyrch and brought thyther clerkes that were garnyshed wyth vertue and connynge And he hym self wrote bounde bokes that were occupyed in the dyuyne seruyce of the chyrche as the ordynall or consuetudynary the whyche at this daye is occupyed in the more partye of Englande wyth walys and Irlande and is nowe named Salysbury vse or the ordynary after Salysbury vse In the .xv. yere of his reygne Robert the eldest sonne of kynge wyllyam the whyche was surnamed Curthose or Shorthose and shorte bote also for he myght not haue the duchy of Normandy whych his father hadde somtyme assygned and gyuen vnto hym and after for hys wyldenesse hadde agayne resumed yt he wyth fauoure and ayde of y e French kynge Phylyppe and of Lewys hys sonne toke prays in that duchy and put hys father to myche trouble in so myche that at length the father the sonne met in playne felde with .ii. great hostes and eyther wyth other faught a cruell batayll It is radde that durynge thys batayll wyllyam was throweÌ„ from his horse and in great ieopardy of hys lyfe wherof hys sonne Robert beyng ware was so moued wyth pytye y t he rescowed his father and delyuered hym free from all daunger of his enymyes But howe so yt betyde of the kynge trouth yt is that many of his men were slayn his second son wyllyam the rede sore hurte so that in the ende kynge wylliam was fayn to refuse the felde and gatte at that tyme none aduauntage of his sayde sonne For the whiche dede and rebellyon thus made by the sonne y e fader accursed hym after the opynyon of some wryters whyle kyng wyllyam was thus occupyed in Normandy the Northumbers waxte sterne rebell and slewe in theyr rage walkerus the bishop of Durham but for what cause myne authour expressyth not Aboute thys tyme warynge erle of Shrewesbury made two abbayes in the worshyp of god and saynte Mylborgh wherof one was set in the suburbes of Shrewesbury and y e other at wenioke In the .xvii. yere of kyng wyllyam a cursed stryfe was arered betwene Thurstone abbot of Glastenbury a Norman and his munkes wherof a part of the cause was that the abbot despysed wold haue set a part such songe and offices as by pope Gregory and Augustyn his dyscyple of old tyme to them was assygned wolde haue compelled them to haue folowed the vse of one wyllyaÌ„ of FescampÌ„ And ouer that this Thurstone wasted and speÌ„ded the goodes of y e place inordynatly in lechery and by other insolent meanes and wythdrew froÌ„ the munkes theyr olde accustomed dyet For the whyche causes fyrst beganne great wordes wyth chydyng and after strokes and fyghtes so y t the abbot gat vnto hym armed men and fyll vppon hys munkes slewe two of them at y e hygh alter and wouÌ„ded of theym .xviii. And the munkes wyth fourmes and candelstyckes defended theym in suche wyse that they hurte many of the armed men Then the complaynte was brought before the kyng by whose iudgemeÌ„t Thurstone was agayne returned vnto Cadony froÌ„ wheÌ„s he was brought and the muÌ„kes were spredde abrode into dyuers houses thorough Englande But yt is sayde that in the tyme of wyllyaÌ„ the Rede this ThurstonÌ„ obteyned the rule of that abbay agayne for the pryce of .v. hundred pounde In the .xix. yere of his reygne kyng willyam then raysed a new maner of trybute For he caused to be gadered thorough England of euery hyde of lande .vi. sÌ„ An hyde of lande conteyneth .v. yerdes and euery yerde conteyneth foure acres And so an hyde of lande conteyneth .xx. acres an acre conteyneth .xl. perches in length and .iiii. in brede .iiii. acres make a yerde and .v. yerdes make an hyde and .viii. hydes make a knightes fee. By the whyche reason a knyghtes fee shuld welde a hundred .lx. acres and that is demed for a plough tyll a yere And not longe after he caused to be serchyd howe myche lande eche of hys barons helde how many knyghtes fees how many townes what nombre of men and of bestes were wyth in this lande wherof he commaunded a boke to be made whyche all was done For the whyche dede this lande was after greued wyth many sondry plages as after shall appere In the .xx. yere of the reygne of kynge wyllyam Canutus kynge of Denmarke wyth helpe of the Flemmynges to whome he was called wyth a great armye came towarde Englande But by the prouysyon of the kynge they were so fered that they were let of theyr iourney Then kyng wyllyam gaue vnto .iii. of his champyons .iii. byshopryches To Moryce he gaue London to willyam he gaue Thetforde and to Robert he gaue Chester whych Robert was after remoued to Couentre Of this Robert reporteth Ranulfe that he scraped froÌ„ one beme of his chirch in Couentre .v. huÌ„dred marke to fyll wyth y e hande of kyng wyllyam For erle Leofricus y t was duke of Mercia in the tyme of Edwarde the coÌ„fâ—ssour had adourned that chyrch with great ryches of golde syluer other precyous iewelles In thys yere Edgare Ethelynge whych was reconcyled vnto the kynges fauoure by lycence of the kynge sayled into Apulia Then beganne the forsayde plages to sprynge For greate morayne fell vppon the brute bestes and brennyng
what maner of tytle or successyon In the .xxxii. yere of the kyng dyed Robert Curthose the kynges broder the whyche he hadde kept as prysoner in the castell of Cardyfe from the iiii yere of his reygn or there about whose corps as before is shewed was buryed at Glouceter before the hyghe alter And aboute this tyme was founded the pryorye of Norton in the prouynce of Chester by one wyllyam the sonne of Nychelle And the abbay of Combremer in the same prouynce was also founded aboute the same tyme. In the .xxxv. yere of kynge Henry was borne of Molde the empresse Henry shorte mantell or Henry the seconde The whyche as after shall be shewed was consentynge to the martyrdome of saynt Thomas of Caunterburye Kynge Henry beyng in Normandy after some writers fell from or wyth hys horse whereof he cought hys deth But Ranulphe sayth he toke a surfet by etynge of a lamprey ther of dyet when he hadde reygned full xxxv yeres and odde monethes Then y e kynges bowellys were drawen out of hys body and then salted wyth myche salte And for to auoyde the stenche whych hadde infected many men the body was lastely closed in a bulles skynne and yet yt was not all stynted He that clensed the hed dyed of the stenche of the brayn Then lastely the body was brought into England buryed in the abbay of Redynge that he had before founded Then y e fame of hym was blowen abrode as yt is blowen of other prynces and sayde y t he passed other men in .iii. thynges In wytte in eloquence and fortune of batayll And other sayde he was ouercomen wyth iii. vyces wyth couetyse wyth cruelty and wyth luste of lechery One other made these verys of hym as folowen Kynge Henry is dede bewte of the world for whom great dole Goddes now maken for theyr kynde brother For he is sole Mercurius in speche Marce in batayll harte stronge Appollo Iupiter in hest egall with Saturne and enymye to Cupido Kyng he was of right man of most myght and glorious in raynyng And when he left his crowne theÌ„ fell honour downe for mysse of suche a kynge Normandy than gan lowre for losse of theyr floure sange wel away Englande made mone Scotlande dyd grone for to se that daye Francia THE CCXXX CHAPITER LEwys the sonne of the fyrste Phylyp beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .vii. to reken his begynnynge from the deth of his father and the .vi. yere of the fyrste Henry then kyng of England This Lewys as before is touched was admytted to the rule of the land certayn yeres or hys father dyed and was surnamed Lewes the great for grossenesse of his body Anon as this Lewys had fynyshed the obsequy of the funerallys of hys father he wythoute taryenge called a counsayll of hys lordes spyrytuall and temporall at the cytye of Orleaunce where of the byshoppe of the same see wyth other adioynynge he was solemnly anoynted crowned But not wythout grudge of the archbyshoppe of Raynes for so mych as of custome the Frenche kynges vsed there to be crowned Soone after the coronacyon of Lewys Guy le Rous and Guy de Cressy his sonne whych before tyme hadde ben at debate and warre with Lewys and Lewys had from them taken y e castel of Gurnaye this Guy le Rous wyth hys sonne seynge they might not preuayle agayn the kyng awayted theyr tyme and season and espyed when Endo hys owne broder and erle of Corbueyll went forth on huntynge and toke hym as a prysoner kept hym in the castell of Bawdum whereof the cause was for so myche as the sayde Endo wolde not assyste nor ayde y e sayd Guyle Rous his brother agayne the kynge when thys was knowen anon the frendes and tenauntes of the sayde erle shewyd this mater vnto the kynge besechynge hym that he wolde ayde and assyste theym to recouer theyr naturall lorde wherunto the kynge granÌ„ted and forth wyth sent a knyght or captayn of his named Auncelyne accompanyed with .xl. horsmen before for so myche as yt was shewyd vnto the kyng y t such as had y e rule of the castell wolde receyue suche persones as were sent from hym and delyuer the castell wyth the prysoner vnto them Uppon whyche appoyntemeÌ„t thys Ancelyne as before is sayd was sent to entre this castell But all contrary to the former ê“mise made this Auncelyne was betrayed and taken and many of his men slayne hym selfe set in prison where the sayd erle of Corbuayll was wherof when the kynge was enfourmed he was passynge greuously dyscontent wherfore in all haste he sped him thyther compassed y e castell wyth a stronge syege and those that were wythin defended them manfully In the tyme of the whyche syege nother Guy the fader nor Guy hys sonne were with in the sayde castell of Baudum But Guy y e son as a lusty and iuperdous knyght put hym self in aduenture dyuers wayes and tymes to haue entred the sayde castell for comfort of his men but all was in vayn Fynally the kynge made so sore and cruell assautes that he wan the fyrst warde wyth great dyffycultye and after the hole and delyueryd the erle and Auncelyn his stewarde y e which were in great doute of theyr lyues And such as he toke prysoners of the soldyours some he put to deth and some he prisoned to theyr lyues ende to the terrour and fere of other In processe of tyme after at a place called the Roche of Guy whych one Guy of olde tyme had buylded dwel lyd at this daye one of that stocke named also Guy the whyche hadde to wyfe a fayre and good woman the doughter of one wyllyaÌ„ a Norman whyche wyllyam entendynge to dysheryte the sayde Guy and to be lord of that stronge place vppon a tyme when the sayde Guy was in y e chyrch or chapell to here his dyuyne seruyce entred the chyrche wyth a certayn of harnessed knightes vnder theyr man tellys and fell vppon hym and all to hewe hym wherof herynge the wyfe ranne as a madde woman and fell vppon her husbande to the enteÌ„t to saue hym from the strokes But the tyrauntes were so cruell y t they forbare nothynge of theyr cruel tye but wounded her wyth her husbande so that both were slayne and that done entred the castell and slew all suche as they found therin when this willyam fader to y e wife of Guy or broder to her as affermeth maister Robert Gagwyne was possessed of y e castell of Guyon he thought therby to rule all the countrey enuyron But the gentylles and commons he rynge of thys shamefull murder assembled theÌ„ to gither of one mynde whyle some of them yode to the kyng to enfurme hym of that cruell dede the other prepared abyllementes of warre and layde syege to the sayde castell The kynge Lewys herynge of this shamfull dede and the wynnynge of so stronge
e stroÌ„ger where after dyuers assautes made the kyng conceyued well y t he was dysceyued A cause of this treason as sayth y e foresayde Peter was this The erle of FlauÌ„dres which by dyuerse experymeÌ„tes saw that the cytye was lyke to be goten made supplycacyon to the kynge and the lordes that he myghte haue the rule of the cytye at suche tyme as yt were wonne the which to hym was grauÌ„ted wherof beynge aduertysed dyuerse Suryons of y e couÌ„trey borne dysdayned that a straunger shuld be lorde of theyr enherytaunce and for that condesceÌ„ded and agreed to that treason by mean wherof the crysten prynces loste theyr trauell Then the crysten prynces seynge y t they were thus deluded toke theyr aduyce howe they myght contynewe theyr pylgrimage vnto the holy citye of Hierusalem But in this counsayl sourded and quykened so many opynyons that eche was contraryous vnto other By mean wherof the emperour was so dyscontented that he toke leue of the Frenche kynge and other and so returned into hys own countrey But the Frenche kynge taryed there in that costes a yere after and dyd there but lytle worthye any memory All be yt of this vyage the frenche boke maketh a great longe processe touchynge the wynnyng of the cytye of Anteoche wyth hys beynge and counsayllys kepynge wythin Hierusalem other thinges there rehersed But for I se the mater dysagreable to other wryters and also thynke that myche therof is fayned I therfore passe yt ouer howe be yt that to some persones suche fablys ben full pleasaunte to here wherfore all suche I remytte vnto the sayde french cronicle somwhat I shall folowe the authour Gyraldê° y t which wyth other testyfyen that Lewys in his returne towarde Fraunce waxed syke for y e long forberyng of his wife wherfore by thaduyce of phisycyons also of byshops he was couÌ„sayled to take a wenche because his wyfe was so farre from hym But y e kyng wythstode that counseyll and sayde that hym hadde bene leuer to be syke and dye of goddes hande then to lyue in spouse brekynge offende hys lawes And so the kyng put himselfe to the mercy of god and receyued helth shortly after Also it is told of hym that he vsed to faste euery frydaye brede and water and by his famylyers he was counsayled that he shulde leue that faste for wekynge of hym selfe fede a hundred of poore men euery frydaye the whyche vnto god shuld be myche more acceptable To this he answered and sayde we wold gladly fede so many poore men or mo but our fastynge woll we not breke For wythout the profyte that yt doth vnto the soule yt profyteth also right myche to the body For the purgacyon and reste of one daye helpeth myche to put of the superfluyte of the other and also yt maketh the sharper apetyte when Lewys was retourned into Fraunce for what happe yt is of the frenche cronycle made doutefull he was from Elyanour hys wyfe deuorced of the whych he hadde receyued before .ii. doughters as before is touched the whyche in processe of tyme folowynge was maried vnto Henry duke of Normandy whych maryage was a new occasyon of the warre betwene Englande and Fraunce For the landes of Poytowe wyth Gascoyne and Guyan Lewys claymed by his former possessyon Henry by reason of the maryag of y e sayd Elyanour as heyr to the sayde landes Of the whyche warre shal be shewed in the story of y e sayde Henry folowyng After whyche deuorce thus made kynge Lewys maryed the yongeste doughter of the kynge of Spayne that was named CuÌ„staunce and she dyed of her fyrst chylde Then for so myche as kynge Lewys hadde none heyr male by couÌ„sayll of his barony he maryed the thyrd wyfe the whych was the yongeste doughter of Thybaude erle of Bloys was named Alys This sayde erle dyed and left after hym .iiii. sonnes and .v. doughters The eldest sonne named Henry was erle of Troys the seconde named Thybaude was erle of Bloys the thyrd named Stephan was erle of Sancorum or Sauncorer and y e fourth named wyllyam was archbysshoppe of Raynes The eldeste of the doughters was duches of Burgoyne the seconde was countesse of Barre the thyrde was maryed fyrst to the duke of Puell and after to a knyght named syr william de Goer the fourth was countesse of Perche and the fyfte as before is sayd quene of FrauÌ„ce whych was a woman garnyshed wyth many vertues as the storye declareth THE CCXXXV CHAPITER IN processe of tyme after the solemnisacyon of this maryage complaynte was brought before the kynge of the erles of CleremouÌ„t and Puy or Puyll sonne of the duke before rehersyd and of the erle of Plomet that they shuld spoyle and wast the chyrches and landes to the sayde chyrches belongynge For the which dedys the kynge commaunded the sayd .iii. erlys to warde but not with out warre and shedynge of blood And after the subduynge of y e sayd thre erlys a knyght or great man of myght called wyllyam y e erle of Chalon wyth a company of tyrauntes assembled for to robbe and spoyle the chyrche of saynte Peter of Cluny in Burgoyne wherof herynge the prestes and mynysters of the chyrche to the entent to mytygate to appeace the cruelty of the sayde tyrauÌ„tes dyd vpon them the ornamentes of y e sayd chyrche and yode agayne them with processyon wyth a great companye them folowynge of the people of the towne and the countrey there about in peseable and charytable wyse But when the sayde tyrauntes approched vnto the sayde coÌ„pany with out compassyon and pyty as turkes ranne vppon crysten men or wyth lesse Pytye so ranne they vppon the prestes and other and spoyled them of all the sayde ornameÌ„tes and slew of that coÌ„pany to the nomber of .v. huÌ„dred or mo after spoyled the sayde chyrche of suche stuffe as was therin lefte It was not longe after or kynge Lewys had wyttynge of this cruell dede wherfore in auengynge the chyrche he gatheryd a conuenyent power and spedde hym thyther But the sayde wyllyam erle of Chalon herynge of the kynges coÌ„mynge fled y e couÌ„trey so y t the kyng myght haue no certayne knowlege where he became wherfore the kyng entred and seased his landes and gaue the moyty therof to y e duke of Burgoyn as chefe lorde of that soyle and that other halfe he gaue vnto the erle of Neuers to whose auncetry in tyme passed the sayd moyty apperteyned And that done he commaunded inquyry to be made of his accessaryes the prebensons or prebendars of the whyche he punyshed by dyuerse maner of tormentes and dethes to the great contentacyon of the countrey when the kynge hadde thus fynished this vyage and was returned into Fraunce soon after was knowlege brought vnto him that the Burgonyons men of the towne of Uerdeley rebelled agayne the hed chyrch or abbay of that towne and enteÌ„dyd to haue done some vylany to the
abbot and munkes of the same wherfore the kynge spedde hym thyther in all haste But for theyr sauergarde the munkes were compelled to fortyfye the chyrche and to defende them by force of armys so that betwene them and the Burgonions many an arbalaster and stone was shot cast And for the kynge myght not so hastly furnyshe hym of his soldyours he therfore sent vnto the erle of Neuers by whose meane as to the kyng was shewed this ryot began commaundynge hym that he shuld se this ryot appeased and that the chyrch of Uerdeley were restored of suche harmys as to theym was done by the inhabytauntes of the towne But of thys cōmaundement the erle set but lytle so that the burgeses perseuered in theyr erroure wherfore the abbot sente agayne to the kynge besechyng hym of his moste gracyouse ayde and socoure Then the kynge herynge of the erles dysobedyence was therwyth greatly dyspleasyd and suspected y e erle to be partye in the cause sped hym y e faster thetherwarde But when the erle was enfourmed of the kynges cōmynge he somdeale feryd and mette wyth the kynge at a place called Moret and there demeaned hym in suche wyse that the kyng forgaue his offense Then he promysed that the kynges pleasure shulde be fullfylled in all thynge as he hadde before cōmaunded wyth more as yt lyked hym to dyuyse Uppon whych promyse so made he commaunded that the Burgonyons shulde fyrste refrayne theym of that rebellyon agayn the chyrch and that they shuld newly be sworne to be obedient vnto the abbot and vnto hys successours as theyr p̄decessours had ben ouer that for the hurtes harmys y t they had done to the place at that season they shulde paye to the sayde abbot and couēt .lx. thousand sous A sous is in value after sterlyng money i. d. ob so that .lx. thousand sous amounteth in sterlyng money .iii. hundred lxxv pounde After whych ende thus made the kynge retourned into Fraunce It was not longe after that y e kyng receyued of quene Alys hys wyfe a sonne and named yt Phylyppe But for y e kyng Lewys had made many pylgrymages and vsed many ways of charyte in gyuynge of almes and otherwyse for to haue a sonne to be his heyre therfore he surnamed this chylde A dieu done a chyld gyuen of god Then thys Lewys for the intollerable dedes of the Iewes whiche in these dayes had great inhabytynge wyth in the lande of Fraūce vsed vsery sleynge of Crysten chyldren he ponyshed many by deth and many he banyshed his lande but yet many remayned Of this Lewys dedes is lytle more cronacled excepte when his son Philyppe was of the age of .xiii. yeres his fader caused hym to be crowned and resygned to hym all the rule of the lande and dyed the yere folowynge at Parys in the moneth of October in the yere of grace .xi. hūdred and .lxxix. By whyche reason he reygned to reken from his faders deth to his owne vppon .xliii. yeres and was rychely enterred by y e meane of his last wife at the monastery of Barbell the whyche he founded in hys yonge days After whose deth y e sayd quene Alys adorned his sepulture in the moste rychest maner wyth gold syluer and precyous gemmys vppon whose tombe was grauen these two versis folowyng as a counsayll left vnto his sonne Phylyppe 〈◊〉 superos tu qui super es successor honoris Degener es si degeneris a laude prioris whyche versys are to be vnderstanden as after foloweth Nowe take good hede thou that doest ouer lyue Hym that in honoure and vertue dyd excelle Se thou alter not nor thy selfe depryue But folowe hym which was of honoure the well For yf thou do not men shall of the tell Thou arte degenerate and growen out of kynde Thy progenytours laude hauynge nothynge in mynde Anglia THE CCXXXVI CHAPITER HEnry the second of that named sonne of Geffrey Plātagenet erle of Angeou and of Molde y e empresse doughter of Henry y e first began hys reygn ouer the realme of England in the moneth of October the yere of our lorde god .xi. hundred and .lv and. y e xix yere of Lewys the viii then kynge of Fraunce Thys Henry was somdeale redde of face brode of breste shorte of body therwyth fatte the whych to aswage he toke the lesse of metes and drynkes and exercysed myche huntynge He was resonable of speche and well lettered orped and also noble in knyghthode wyse in counsayll and dred to myche distenyes He was also free and lyberall to straūgers and harde and holdynge from hys famylyers seruauntes And whome he loued enterely or hated harde it was to turne hym to the contrary He was slowe of answere vnstedfaste of promyse gylefull of dede open spouse breker hamour of holy chyrch and alwayes vnkynde to god He also loued reste and peace to the ende he myghte the more folowe hys delectacyon pleasure wyth mo vyces rehersed by Gyralde the whyche for length I passe ouer This Henry yet as wytnessyth Ranulfe was not all bareyn of vertues For he was of so gret courageousnes that he wolde often say that all the world suffysyth not to a coragyous harte And he encreasyd hys herytage so myghtyly that he wanne Irlande by strength and toke wyllyam kynge of Scottes and ioyned that kyngdome to his owne From the suthe Occean to the north ylandes of Orkeys he closed all the landes as yt were vnder one pryncypate and spradde so largely hys empyre that men rede not of none of hys progenytours that hadde so many prouynces and countreys vnder theyr domynyon and rule For besyde the realme of Englande he hadde in hys rule Normandy Gascoyn and Guyan Angeou and Chynon And he made subiecte to hym Aluerne and other landes And by hys wyfe he obteyned as her ryghte the mountes and hyllys of Spayne called montes Pyrany Of the whyche wyfe Elynoure by name deuorced as before ys sayde from the viii Lewys kynge of Fraunce he receyued .vi. sonnes and thre doughters Of the sonnes fyue were named wyllyam Henry Rycharde Godfrey and Iohn̄ The eldeste of the maydens hight Molde or Maude and was maryed to the duke of Saxon the seconde Elyanoure to the kynge of Spayne and the thyrd named Iane to wyllyam kynge of Scycyle Thys Henry was prosperouse in hys begynnynge and vnfortunate in hys ende and specyally in the last fyue yeres of hys reygne For in the fyrst of those fyue yeres his strength beganne to mynyshe the seconde yere he loste a vyage in Irlande the thyrde he loste Aluerne agayne the kynge of Fraunce the fourth yere he loste Butyrycan and the fyfte yere he loste the cytye of Cenomenea and Turon wyth many holdes to theym belongynge Thys Henry the seconde ascertayned of the deth of Stephan spedde hym into Englande and was crowned the sondaye before Crystemasse daye of Theobalde archbyshoppe of Caunterbury in westmynster chyrch
The fyrste yere of hys reygne he subdued Irlande And soone after Thomas Beketh whyche after was byshoppe of Caunterbury was made chaunceller of Englonde This kynge caste downe dyuers castellys that before in tyme of kynge Stephan were buylded other for dyspleasure of the owners or ellys for the fere they shulde be strengthed agayne hym And also he banyshed many of the lordes and gentylmen that kynge Stephan hadde in hys fauoure Aboute the thyrde yere of hys reygne in the moneth of October were sene in the fyrmament two sunnys and in the mone was sene a redde crosse But of thys wonder sheweth the authoure of Cronica cronicaruÌ„ and sayth that aboute thys tyme in Italy in the moneth of Nouember appered thre sunnys by the space of thre owres in the weste and the yere folowynge appered thre monys whereof the myddle mone hadde a redde crosse ouerthwarte the face whyche there ys noted for a prodygy or a token of the scysme that after fell amonges the cardinallys for eleccyon of the pope AlexaÌ„der the thyrd whyche scysme by meane of the fyrste Frederyke then emperoure endured almoste .xx. yeres Also aboute this tyme Adryan the fourthe of that name was pope an Englysheman borne in the towne of saynte Albon of whome is more declared in the begynnynge of the .xxii. chapyter of the .vii. boke of Polycronycon Also in thys yere the kynge wente wyth a stronge armye into walys and after he hadde sette that countrey in an order and quyet he buyldyd a stronge castell at Rutlande and founded the abbaye of Basyngewerke In the .vi yere of hys reygne thys Henry maryed hys seconde son Henry vnto the kynges doughter of FrauÌ„ce that is to meane Lewys the viii whyche the sayde Lewys receyued of hys seconde wyfe named Constaunce the doughter of the kyng of Spayne as before ye haue harde in the seconde chapyter of y e story of the sayd Lewys This mayden was named Margaret By reason of whych maryage was appeased the warre that was begonne betwene Fraunce and Englande for the landes of Poyâ—owe and other the whyche kynge Henry helde by reason of hys wyfe In y e whych warre mych harme was done and more wolde haue ensued yf yt hadde not by thys meane haue ben agreed In the .vii. yere of his reygn Theobalde archbyshoppe of Caunterbury dyed and Thomas Beket chaunceller of Englande was archebysshoppe â–ª after hym of whome more shall folowe In the same yere kyng Henry with a stronge hoste yode to Scotlande and made so cruell warre vppon willyam kynge of that lande that lastely he was taken and dyd to the sayd Henry recompensacyon in yeldynge vnto hym the cytye of Carlell the castell of Bamburghe the newe castell vpon Tyne wyth dyuers other holdes and a great parte of Northumberlande the whyche he hadde wonne from the borderers And after fewtye and homage done by the sayde wyllyam vnto the kynge and a certayne summe of money by hym promysed wythin .ix. monethes folowynge the kynge suffred hym to go at large But an other authour sayth that the kynge of Scottys was not taken but strongely besyeged in a towne or castell so that fynally he was forced to agree to the foresayde couenauntes In the .viii. yere the cytye of CauÌ„terburye was fyred by neglygence a great part therof brente And in that season the archbyshoppe Thomas beganne to replye agayne y e kynges mynde for thynges that the kynge dyd exercyse agayn the liberties of the chyrche THE CCXXXVII CHAPITER IN the .ix. yere of hys reygne the kynge for dyuerse causes coÌ„cernyng y e nedes of his realme called a parliament at hys towne of Northampton Durynge whyche parlyament dyssencyon fell betwen the kynge and Thomas archbyshop of Caunterburye for dyuerse actes and ordinaunces that the kyng there procured to passe agayne the lybertyes of holy chyrch the whych Thomas gaynstode and denyed wherfore the kynge toke a great dyspleasure with Thomas in so myche that shortely after he was fayne to flee the lande and in processe of tyme spedde hym to Rome where he complayned hym to Alexaunder the .iii. of that name then pope and there contynued and in Fraunce and in other places in poore estate by terme of .vi. yeres and more when kynge Henry hadde certayne vnderstandynge that Thomas was thus departed out of hys lande he seased his maners and temporall landes into hys hande so that hys mouable goodes were spoyled and rauenyd amonge the kynges offycers In the .xiiii. yere of his reygne the kynge crowned Henry hys eldest sonne then lyuynge kynge of Englande at westmynster whyche was done to the derogacyon or harme of the archbyshoppe Thomas as yt is wytnessyd in hys legende and for that doynge Roger archbyshoppe of yorke whyche crowned hym was accursed But an other authour sayth that the kynge crowned Henry hys sonne to the ende he myght haue ful power and authoryte to rule thys lande and the people of the same whyle hys father was occupyed in Normandye and other countreys where hys landes laye In myche of thys season that thys blessyd man Thomas was thus banyshed the lande the kynge sente ouer byshoppes and proctours to complayne vppon hym to the pope for well nere all the bishoppes of Englande were agayne hym And yf any toke hys parte they durste not speke for the displeasure of theyr temporall lorde so that this blessed man defended the quarell of the chyrche alone In the .xvi. yere of y e reygne of kyng Henry Lewys the kynge of FrauÌ„ce agreed kynge Henry and the archbysshoppe the kynge then beynge in Normandye Uppon whyche agrement thys blessyd man came to hys owne chyrche of Caunterbury and there so restynge hym sente for such persones as had spoyled and taken perforce the goodes of the chyrche aduertysynge theym by fayre meanes to restore the sayde goodes and to be reconcyled to the chyrche as trewe crysten men shulde But when he sawe that he myght not reconcyle theym by fayre meanes he then vsed compulsaryes and denounced them accursed but if they restored the goodes of the chyrche by a certayne day wherewyth the partyes beynge agreued sayled ouer to the kynge into Normandye and shewyd vnto hym greuous complayntes and more greuouse then the cause or mater requyred For the whych the kynge which hadde not yet quenched the bronde of malyce in hys harte the whyche he bare agayne thys holy man gaue lyght credence vnto those complayntes and was sore ferueÌ„tly amoued agayne the holy man Thomas in so myche that vppon a daye herynge the complayntes of this blessyd mannes aduersaryes he sayd in oppeÌ„ audyence of hys knyghtes that yf he had any good knyghtes about hym he had ben adueÌ„ged of that traytour longe or that tyme. At the tyme of whyche wordes vtterynge was present syr wyllyam Bryton syr Hugh Moruyle syr wyllyam Tracy and syr Regnolde fytz Urle whych foure knyghtes thynkyng that they shuld to theyr mayster do a synguler pleasure yf they slewe thys blessyd man hastely takynge aduyse
eche of them of other of one wyll and mynde toke shyppyng and sayled to Douer and in all haste spedde theym vnto Caunterburye where the .v. daye of Cristmasse they executed theyr tyrannye and martyred that blessyd archebysshoppe at that aulter of sayne Benet wythin hys owne chyrche in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousande a hundred and .lxx as yt ys wytnessyd by these versys folowyng Anno milleno centeno septuageno Anglorum primas corruit ense Thomas The whych is to vnderstande in our vulgare as thus ¶ The yere to reken from Crystes incarnacyon A thousande an hundred and seuentye therunto The prymate of Englande wyth great abomynacyon was slayne wyth sworde Thomas that wolde not do The kynges hest whyche erred the ryghte fro Of the chyrche and lybertyes of the same wherby of honoure he wanne perpetuall fame After this cruell dede thus by the foure knyghtes done wherwyth the kynge after some wryters was not contented the kynges fortune beganne to decreace and fall so that he hadde after thys many aduersyteys where before he knewe not of lyke trouble In the .xvii. yere of his reygne the kynge made a iourney into Irland where wyth great trauayle he subdued the Iryshe And after wyth helpe of the prymate and byshoppe of Arnache he refourmed the maner of the dwellers and people of that countrey and that in thre thynges specyally Fyrste in rulynge and orderynge of the chyrche by the curates how they shuld order theyr dy uyne seruyce and mynyster the sacramente of matrymonye as yt was in Englande and other crysten regyons The seconde was how that the laye people shuld behaue theym to theyr curates and what wyse they shulde paye and offer to god theyr tythes The thyrde was for makyng of theyr testamentes Thys was ordeyned that euery man shulde make hys laste wyll in p̄sence of his neyghbours or at leste cause yt to be rede in theyr presence And fyrste he shuld reken what he ought and to sette so myche of hys goodes And yf he had a wyfe and chyldren then the resydue of hys goodes hys dettys beyng payde to be deuyded in thre partes one to the wyfe the seconde for the chyldren and the thyrde to be spente for the weale of the soule And yf he hadde no chyldren then the halfe to hys soule and that other halfe to his wyfe And yf he hadde no wyfe nor chyldren then to dyspose hys goodes at hys pleasure In the returne of the kynge oute of Irlande was a wonder thynge shewed vnto hym vppon whytesondaye whyche in the calender is called dominica in Albys whē the kyng shuld take his horse sodeynly appered vnto hym a man of pale wanne colour barefote and in a whyte kyrtell the whyche bodely spake vnto the kynge in the langage of duche and sayde syr kynge Criste greetyth the we le and hys mylde moder mary with also Iohn̄ Baptyst and Peter and commaunde the streyghtly that no Markettes nor seruyle workes be holden vppon the sondaye in the landes of thy lordeshyppe oute take that longeth to dressynge of mete And yf thou do after thys byddynge I assure the that all thynge that thou begynnest to good entent or of good purpose thou shalt bryng yt to good ende The kynge lyked nothynge thys speche and sayd to the knyghte that helde hys brydell Aske of thys chorle whether he haue dremed all thys that he telleth wherunto thys man answered whyther I haue mette thys tale in my dreme or not take thou hede well of my saynge For and thou do not as I haue aduertysed the amende thy lyfe thou shalte shortely here suche thynges that thou shalte be heuy fore to thy lyues ende The kyng toke all in game and the man vanyshed sodeynly that the kyng his knyghtes wonderyd of hys departynge wherof when the kynge was warned both of hys fyrste sodeynly apperynge and of hys departynge the kynge sette yt nere hys mynde and entendyd to do some thynges after that mannys counsayll But how yt was yt had no forwarde After that the blessed man Thomas was martyred the munkes by assent of the kynge chase Rycharde pryour of Douer the whyche was a man of euyll lyuynge and wasted the goodes of y e chyrch inordynatly THE CCXXXVIII CHAPITER ABoute the .xx. yere of the kynges reygne he purchased a dyspensacyon for the vyage that before he hadde solempnely auowed before .ii. cardynallys to go into the holy lande and to ieoperde hys proper persone agaynst Crystes enymyes The whyche dyspensacyon was grauntyd vppon one condycyon that he shulde buylde thre abbays in Englande In fulfyllynge wherof the kynge put oute of the howse of waltham seculer chanons and set there in theyr stede chanons reguler And for the seconde he auoyded the munkes oute of the house of Aumbrysbury and sette there menchons that he hadde brought from beyonde the see And for the thyrde he renewed coursely the charter house of wytham besyde Salysburye By whyche thre dedes he thought hym selfe excused of hys former promyse Then beganne his sonnes to make warre vppon hym the whyche were ayded by the Scottyshe kynge and the two erles of Chester and of Lyncolne The cause of whyche warre was after the declaracyon of some wryters for so myche as the kynge hadde emprysoned Elyanoure hys wyfe and kepte that wenche Rosamounde agayne all good order But other say yt was for certayne landes in Normandye whyche by ayde of the Frenche kynge Rycharde the .iii. sonne of byrthe and seconde then lyuynge wolde haue taken from hys father Of thys warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle Then as testyfyeth Ranulfe this innaturall warre endured by the terme of two yeres to the great dysturbaunce of the kynge and of hys realme tyll the kynge wyth great deuocyon vysyted the graue of the holy martyr saynte Thomas After whyche pylgrymage was by hym fynysshed in shorte processe after wyllyam kynge of Scottes and the two forenamed erlys of Chester and Lyncolne were taken at the castell of Anwyke But yet he lefte not the company of the forenamed Rosamunde to the whych wenche he hadde made an house of wonder workyng so that no creature man or woman myghte wynne to her but yf he were instructe by the kynge or suche as were ryght secrete with hym touchynge that mater Thys house after some wryters was named Labyrinthus or Dedalus worke or house whyche ys to meane after moste exposytours an howse wroughte lyke vnto a knot in a garden called a mase But the common fame telleth that lastely the quene wan to her by a clew of threde or sylke and delte wyth her in suche maner that she lyued not longe after Of the maner of her deth spekyth nothynge myne authoure but when she was dede she was buryed at the howse or monasterye of Goddestow besyde Oxenforde with these versys vppon her toumbe Hic iacet in tūba Rosa mūdi sed nō rosa mūda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere
solet The whythe versys to our vnderstandynge may thus as folowyth be englyshed and expowned The Rose of the worlde but not the clene floure Is here now grauen to whom bewtye was lent In thys graue full darke nowe ys her bowre That by her lyfe was swete and redolent But now y t she is frō this lyfeblente Though she were swete nowe fowly doth she stynke A myrrour good for all that on her thynke Longe tyme after the deth of the sayde Rosamounde in the sayde abbaye was shewed a cofer of the sayd wenches of the length of two fote in whych apperyd fyghtynge geaūtes stertlynge of bestes swymmynge of fyshes and flyenge of fowlys In the forsayde .xx. yere after the opynyon of Guydo the kynge had the seconde monicyon of mendynge of hys lyfe by an Iryshe man y t told vnto hym many secret tokens whyche the kynge supposyd no man had knowen but hym selfe But yet the kynge toke lytell hede therunto In the .xxii. yere of his reygne after the forsayde takynge of y e Scottyshe kynge and .ii. erlys the .xi. day before Septēber wyllyam kynge of Scottys by assent of the lordes spyrytuall and temporall dyd homage to kyng Henry at hys cytye of yorke where the sayde wyllyam graunted by hys letters patentys that he and his successours kynges of Scotland shuld make theyr homage and fydelyte vnto the kynges of Englande as often as they shal be necessaryly requyred And in sygne and token of that subieccyon the kyng of Scottes offered hys hatte his sadell vppon the aulter of saint Peter in y e chyrch of york whyche for a remembraunce of that dede the sayd hat sadell were there kepte many yeres after And ouer y t the lordes of Scotland swore that if theyr kynge at any tyme wold wythdrawe hym from allegeaunce they wold all aryse agayn hym and be to hym as enymyes tyll he were returned to his fayth kepyng of his promyse And for the more strēgth of the sayd cōposycyon the kynge of Scottis came after to y e kyng Henries parlyament holden at Northāpton and a nother season into Normandye Ranulfe munke of Chester sayth that Lewys the .viii. of that name kynge of Fraunce delyueryd vnto kynge Henry a doughter of hys to haue in guydynge and to haue ben maryed vnto Rycharde hys son the whyche after the deth of Rosamoūde he defloured of her vyrgynyte After whyche dede as affermyth the sayde authoure the kynge was in wyll to haue wedded that damoysell For expedicyon wherof he made great meanes ta Hugūcia a cardynall then beynge in his land that he wold make a dyuorce betwene hym and Elyanoure the quene And thys he dyd to the ende to haue the more fauoure of the Frenchemen that by theyr ayde he myghte the better dysheryte hys sonnes But he fayled of his purpose and also yt turned to hys owne harme For by this means he caused the sayde Rycharde hys sonne to shewe all hys demeanour vnto the Frenche kynge so that by hys informacyon vnkyndnesse kyndled betwene them two therof ensued mortall warre as sayth the englyshe cronycle and also Polycronycon But of thys warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle nor of none other durynge the lyfe of the sayd Lewys after this daye which dyed in the .xxiiii. yere of thys Henry But the warre that was betwen the two kynges of England and of Fraunce was betwene thys Henry and Phylyppe sonne of thys Lewys as after shal be shewed About the .xxiiii. yere of thys kyng as wytnessen dyuerse wryters fell wonderfull wederynge and tempest of thunder in myddewynter tyme in Hampshyre and other places by violence wherof a preste amonges other was slayn And in the somer folowynge about Mary Magdalene tyde fell hayle of suche bygnesse y t yt slew both men and bestes And about this tyme were the bonys of kynge Arture and his wyfe Gueynour founde in the vale of Aualon whose here of the hed of the sayde Gweynour was then hole and of freshe coloure but so soone as yt was touched yt fell in powder whyche bonys were translated and buryed wythin the chyrche of Glastenburye and were founden by a synger of gestis vnder an holow oke .xv. fote wythin the grounde whyche fyndynge and translatynge is an obiecte to y e fantastycall sayeng of the walshemen that afferme hys commynge agayne to reygne as he before dyd Then hadde kynge Henry the seconde monycyon by a knyghte called syr wyllyam Chesterby or Lyndesey the whyche warned hym specyally for the reformacyon of .vii. artycles The fyrste was that he shuld sette better dylygence to the defence of holy chyrche and maynteynynge of the same The seconde that he shulde se hys lawes executed wyth better iustice then at those days was vsed The thyrd was that he shuld surmyse no mater agayn ryche men and by that mean plucke from them theyr landes goodes The fourth that he shulde restore all suche landes and goodes gotten by suche vnlawfull meanes or by any other The fyfte that he shuld for no medetarye ryghtfull sentence but suffer the ryght to haue hys processe The vi that he shulde se to the payment of hys subiectes for suche stuffe as was dayly taken to his vse also to the payment of hys seruauntes and souldyours wages whych dayly fell to robbynge for defaute The .vii. and the laste was that he shulde in all haste voyde the Iewys of hys lande whyche dayly wrought great sorowe to his commons and to leue theym somwhat to spende in theyr iourney But as he toke the other monycyons so he toke thys and cōtynued hys lyfe as he before hadde done THE CCXXXIX CHAPITER IN the .xxviii. yere of his reygn after moste writers dyed Henry his eldeste sonne then lyuynge y e whych as before is sayde was crowned to the derogacyon of the martyr saynte Thomas And in thys yere whyche shulde be the .iiii. yere of Phylyppe the seconde or of Phylyppe surnamed Gyuen of god the warre beganne betwene kynge Henry and hym wherof was occasyon as testyfyeth the sayd Frenche cronycle the denyenge of the deferrynge of homage that shuld be done to the sayde Phylyppe of Rycharde then eldest sonne of kyng Henry for the lādes of Poytow An other cause also was that where certayne couenauntes were stablyshed and enrolled betwene kynge Henry and Lewys father of thys Phylyp at the maryage of Henry his sonne and Margarete syster of Phylyppe for certayne holdes and castellys wherof y e castell of Gysours was one whych were delyueryd in dower wyth the sayde Margarete vppon condycyon that yf the sayde Henry hadde yssue by y e sayde Margarete then the sayde castellys to remayne to the sayde heyres and yf the sayde yonge Henry dyed without yssue of y e sayde Margarete that then the sayde castellys and holdes to be reuerted vnto the crowne of Fraunce and for that kynge Henry denyed or deferred these two poyntes and wold not answere when he was called the Frenche kynge therfore entred the
shewed in folio clxxiiii Lorde Talbot was slayne as appereth fo cc Lorde Egremonde was commytted to Newgate as is shewed fo ccii Lorde wellys conspyred agayne the kynge folio ccxviii Lorde chamberlayne beheded as is shewed fo ccxx Losse of Normandy as is shewed folio cxcviii Lowys sonne vnto the French kyng warred in Englande fo xvii Lowys retourned into Fraunce as appereth fo xviii Lowys sayled into the holy lande folio xxv Lowys gaue sentence agayne the barons fo xxxvi Lowys the .ix. of that name and son̄ of Phylyp the seconde beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of oure lorde M.CC. and .xxiii and the .vi. yere of the thyrde kynge Henry than kyng of Englande and reygned yeres .iii. By thys kynge retourned the blode of Charles into y e possessyon of the crowne of Fraunce folio xlvi Lowys the .x. of that name a chylde of .xii. yeres and sonne of the abouenamed the .ix. Lowys whyche is named saynt Lowys began his reygne ouer Fraunce in the yere of our lord M.CC. and .xxvi and the .ix. yere of the iii. Henry than kinge of Englād and reygned yeres .xliii as appereth folio xlvii Lowys the .xi. by accompt and sonne of Phylyp the .iiii beganne to reygn ouer Fraunce in the yere of our lord M.CCC and .xv and the .viii. yere of the seconde Edwarde than kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .ii. folio lxxxiii Lowys the .xii. of y e name afte the accōpt of thys boke .x. after the frēche accōpt wherof y e cause is before shewed son̄ of the laste Charles begā to rule y e Frenchmē in y e yere of our lord M.iiii C. and .lviii .xxxvi. yere of Hēry the .vi. thā kyng of Englande reygned yeres .xxvi. fo ccix Lowys refused lordes company and counsayll fo ccix Lowys rescueth Parys fo ccx Losse of townes and castelles in Normandy folio cxxxvii MAruayles sene in the fyrmament folio xii Mayre of London presenment loke in folio xxvii Mayr and hys bretherne foūd gylty in hurtyng the cōmons fo xxix Mayre and cytezeyns agreed to the lordes fo xxxi Macys of syluer were fyrste graūted to offycers of London fo xci Men of Norwyche enraged fo xlv Manhode of Mathew de Roya foli liiii Marchaunte straungers encroched vpō the cytezyns of Lōdon and were punysshed fo lix Maddocke a walshman rebelled as it is shewed fo lxi Mariage of the .ii. Edward fo lxxiiii Malyce sprange amonge the lordes of Flaunders fo lxxxv marueylous heyle fylle fo lx Mychaell Tony mayre of London adiuged loke in fo lvi mortmayne was fyrst enacted fo lvi Mortymer was howgely auaunced folio lxxxvii Mortymer was put to deth as it is shewed fo lxxxviii money borowed of the cytye of London folio xcii Martyn Pysdo Parycyen was put to cruell deth fo cxxxv maner of cysme in the church of Rome loke in fo cxxxviii Maner of the metyng of the kynges of Englande of Fraunce fo cxlvii many knyghtes of the bathe made folio clxiii Maruayles of Thamys fo clxx masses ordeyned by kyng Henry the fyfte as it is shewed in folio clxxviii Maner of treaty betwene the landes of Englande and of Fraunce loke in folio clxxxviii maryage was dyspoynted fo cxcii Maryage concluded fo cxciii manhode of chalons fo cxcv Maximilian and the Frenche kynge dyscorden fo ccxxviii Margaret syster vnto Edwarde the iiii departed from London towarde the see fo ccxvii monycyon dyuyne was gyuen to the Frenche kynge fo clviii Mountague a noble man was slayn folio clx mummyng made for treason as is shewed fo clxv Murder was punysshed fo clxvii NOumbre of wardes in y e citye of London fo ii Names of twelfe perys of England folio xxx New tolle was brought vp fo xliiii Nycholas Brembre wyth other was put to deth fo cxliiii Nauye of Frenchemen dystressed as is shewed fo lv Newe coyne of syluer was stryken folio lvii New dyspleasure kynge Rycharde toke agayne y e cytye of London fo cl Newe coyne of golde smitten as appereth in fo clxx OCtoboon the popes legate was pursued of the clergy of Englande for causes shewed in fo xxii Occasyon of the fraye in Fletestrete folio cxlv Occasyon of dyspleasure betwene kynge Rycharde and the duke of Glouceter fo cxlix Of the chere and curious receyuyng of kyng Henry by the Frēnche kyng folio xxxii Offycers charged and dyscharged as it is shewed folio xxxiii Of kyng Iohn̄s pledges fo cviii Ordre of seruytoures in the tyme of quene Katherins coronaciō fo clxxvi Orleaunce that cytye was besyeged folio clxxxii Othes sworne by the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce for peace kefolio cvii Olyuer Dāman and Danyell sometyme chyef counsayllours of Lowys the Frenche kynge were hanged as appereth fo ccxxviii PReface of thys werke as apereth fo I Peace was taken betwene the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce folio xi Phylyp kynge of Fraunce warred vpon kyng Iohn̄ fo xi Phylyp brake the peace fo xii Pope Innocente sente vnto kynge Iohn̄ fo xiii Parlyamente holden at London folio xix Pyers of Pountfret for hys vertue put to deth fo xvii Parlyament holden at Mertone folio xxii Periurye was punysshed as appereth fo xxv Parlyament holden at Oxenforde as apereth fo xxx Parlyament holden at westmynster folio xxxi Parlyament holden at Oxenforde as is shewed fo xxxvi Parlyament holden at westmynster folio xxxviii Parlyament holden at westmynster folio xlv Peace was made betwene the kynge and Gylbert de Clare as is shewed folio xliii Punysshement of Londoners as is shewed fo xl Phylyp the thyrde of that name and sonne of saynte Lowys was made kynge of Fraunce in the yere of our lorde M.CC.lxx and the .liii. yere of the thyrde Henry than kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .xv. fo li Phylyp the .iiii. of that name and son̄ of the .iii. Phylyp la beawe or fayre began to reygne ouer Fraunce in y e yere of our lorde a M.CC.lxxxvi the .xiiii. yere of the fyrste Edwarde than kyng of England and reygned yeres .xxxix. fo lxviii Phylyp the .v. of that name and surnamed the longe sonne of the fourth Philyppe and brother to Lowys the xi by accompt begā hys reygne ouer Fraunce in the yere of grace a M.iii C. and .xvii the .x. yere of Edwarde the .ii. than kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .v. fo lxxxiii Phylyppe de Ualoys erle of Ualoys and the sonne of Charlys de Ualoys brother to the fourthe Philippe was nat wythoute some stryfe chosen and ordeyned for protectoure of the lande of Fraunce and after kyng of the same the .ii. daye of February in the yere of oure lorde M.iii. C. and .xxviii and the .ii. yere of Edwarde the .iii. than kyng of Englande and reygned in greate trouble yeres .xxii. fo cxvi Phylyppes actes in Italye as appereth folio liiii Parlyament holden at westmynster folio lvi Plees remoued from London as is shewed fo lvi
Saynte Mychaell there Crepelgate warde xxv Saynte Mary magdaleyn in mylke strete Saynt Mary in Aldermanbury Saynt Mychaell in Hogynlane Saynt Albons in woodstrete Saynt Alphy by Crepulgate Saynt Olaff in Syluer strete Saynt Gylys wythout the gate The summe of the paryshe chyrches wythin London C.xiii. HEre after ensue the howsys of relygyon monasteryes colleges chapellys and other beynge no paryshe chyrches wythin the cytye The cathedrall chyrch of saynt Poule in the ende of Chepe The pryory of saynte Barthelmewe in Smythfelde The hospytall or spytyll a cell of the sayde pryory The charter house standyng wythin the warde of Crepulgate Elsynge spytall wythin the sayde warde The chapell of our Lady of Bedlem in Byshoppes gate warde The house of saynt Elyne in y e same warde of nunnys The pryory of Crystes chyrche with in Algate Saynte Anne abbaye wythin Portsokyn warde of whyte munkys The howse of y e Meneressys of close nunnys wythin the same warde The chapel of our lady of Barkyng in the towre warde An howse of crossed frerys in the same warde A colege of saynt Antony in y e warde of Bredstrete A colege of saynte Thomas called Acrys standynge in Chepe An house of frere Augustynes in Brode strete warde An house of gray frerys standyng in the warde Faryngedon wythin An house of blacke freres standynge by Ludgate within y e foresaid warde An house of whyte freres standynge in Flete strete A chyrche or college called the Temple standynge at Temple barre A chapel standyng in pardon chyrch yarde wythin Poulys A chapell standyng in y e chirch yarde at Poulys ouer the charnell house A chapell standynge wythin Crepell gate saynt Iamys in the wall A chapell called Pappey staÌ„dyng besyde Bishoppes gate founded by the prestes of that fraternyte A chapel of corpê° Cristi in y e Pultry A chapell of saynt Thomas of CauÌ„terbury staÌ„dyng vpon LoÌ„donbridge A chapell standynge in yelde Hall yarde of our Lady A colege of prestes standynge by Poulys called saynte Martyne le graunde The summe of housys of relygyon chapellys and other .xxvii. westmynster The abbbaye of westmynster The kynges newe chapell Saynte Stephans chapell Saynt Margaretes chyrche A chapell at Totehyll A chapell of saynt Anne in Totehyll strete Saynte Iamys in the felde A chapell at Rauncyuale A paryshe chyrche therby of saynte Martyne A chapell of our lady of Pewe Chyrches monasteryes chapellys and other housys wherin god is dayly seruyd standynge in the cyrcuyte of the cytye wythoute the wallys and fyrste wythoute Algate A paryshe chyrche of our ladye standynge wythoute the barrys called whyte chapell A colege of saynte Katheryne standynge on the eest ende of the towre of London A paryshe chyrch or chapell wythin the sayde towre of saynte Peter Southwarke The monastery of Bermundsey A paryshe chyrch of Mary Magdaleyne standynge faste by A paryshe chyrche of saynt George A paryshe chyrch of saynt Magaret An hospitall or college of saynt Thomas A paryshe chyrche of saynte Olas A monastery of chanoÌ„s callyd saynt Mary Ouereys and with a paryshe chyrche of saynt Mary Magdaleyn standynge faste thereby wythout the Temple barre A paryshe chyrch of saynte Clement A chapell of saynte Spyryte Saynte Ursula at strande wythoute Smythfelde The pryorye of saynte IohnÌ„ in Hierusalem A house of nuÌ„nys named ClerkeÌ„wel A a chapell in pardon chyrche yarde wythout Byshoppes gate Shordyche paryshe chyrche Saynte Mary spytell A house of nunnys callyd Halywell And of the dyuyne houses without the cytye .xxviii. The summe of all the dyuyne houses wythin the cytye and wythoute is a hundred and .lxviii. RIcharde the fyrst of that name and seconde sonne of Henry the second beganne hys reygne ouer EnglaÌ„d in the moneth of Iuly and yere of our lorde .x. hundred .lxxx. and .x and the .xi. yere of the seconde Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce Thys Rycharde prouyded besely to sette good rule in NormaÌ„dy when he hadde harde of hys fathers deth and after spedde him into England where he was ioyously receyued in the moneth of September folowynge and thyrde daye he was crowned at westmynster of Baldwyn archbyshoppe of Caunterburye Uppon the whyche daye the Iewys of Englande and specyally suche as dwellyd within London and nere about assembled of them a certayn nomber and presumyd farther then requyred for theyr authoryte For whyche presumpcyon they were fyrste rebuked after one of theÌ„ strykeÌ„ which thyng sene of the coÌ„mon people supposyd that to be done by the kynges commaundement wherfore in a fury as those that they hated as the deuyll for theyr vsury other vnhappy condycyons they fell vppon theym and chased them to theyr houses them robbed and spoyled wythout pytye and brent some of theyr housis wher of the rumour ranne to westmynster to y e kynges audyeÌ„ce wherfore in all haste he sent downe gyuyng strayte coÌ„maundement that they shuld cease of that ryot But the people were in suche ire and wodenesse that they refrayned not for all the kinges sonde tyll they hadde executed the fyne of theyr malyce And all be yt that thys ryot was after greuously shewyd agayne the commons of the cytye yet yt passed vnpunyshed for the great nomber of the transgressours And the sayde daye of coronacyon all prysoners that lay in any pryson aboute London at the kynges sute or for other small or fayned accyons were frely delyueryd Soone after the kynge gaue many dygnytyes and to hys brother IohnÌ„ he gaue the prouynces of Notyngham Deuonshyre and Cornewall and creatyd hym erle of Lancaster And then the kynge ordeyned the cytye of London to be ruled by two baylyues whose names were as foloweth Anno domini M.C.xc.  Anno domini M.C.xci.  Henry of Cornehyll  Balliui  Anno primo  Rycharde fyz Ryuer  IT was not longe after that y e the kynge hadde thus exalted hys brother IohnÌ„ as before is shewwyd but that he also preferryd hym to the maryage of the erle of Glouceters doughter by reason wherof he was lorde of that erledome These great auauÌ„cementis made him after vnkynde to his broder and by pryde therof to coueyt afterwarde the hole kyngdome Thys yere kynge Rycharde was assoyled of the offence that he had vsyd in rebellyon agayne hys father In recompeÌ„sacyon wherof as testyfyeth the authour Guydo he voluntaryly toke vppon hym and promysed to warre vppon Crystes enymyes All be yt that other wryters shewe that yt was for that that hys father had so wylled hym by hys lyfe But for what cause so yt was preparacyon and prouysyon for that iourney was made from that daye forthwarde Thys yere also the kynge enlarged Elyanoure hys moder whyche long before at the commaundement of his father her husbande was as a prysoner kepte in secrete kepynge After whych enlargyng y e land was mych guydyd by her counsayll And thys yere as sayth Ranulfe kynge Rycharde gaue ouer the castellis of Barwyke and Rochysburghe to y e Scottyshe kyng for the summe
sharpnes of Baldwyne had somdeale greued theym And though thys Baldwyne were a good man holy in his lyuynge yet one thyng he dyd to the derogacyon of the munkes of Caunterburye for he purposyd to put the prerogatiue of the eleccyon of the archbishoppe from the munkes And because therof he beganne to buylde great houses nere vnto the munkes chyrche by fauour of the kynge Henry the seconde but not wythout shedynge of blood and there entendyd to haue set in secular chanons with prebendys and suffraganes of bysshoppes for to treate wyth the sayde chanons of the foresayde eleccyon to put by the mūkes clerely But the munkes when they sawe they myght no lenger resyst Baldwyn they then appealed to the pope Innocent the thyrde by whose cōmaundemēt that worke ceasyd and so stode vnfynysshed tyll the sayde Baldwyne was dede After whose deth the munkes made that worke playne wyth the grounde Treuisa translatoure of Policronycon sayth yt was wonder that Baldwyn wolde in that maner deale wyth the munkes consyderyng he was fyrst archdeacon then white munke and then abbot after byshop of worceter and last archbysshoppe to brynge men of more imperfyte lyfe into y e place of men more perfyte to chaunge religyous men for seculer men But yet the sayde Treuisa allowyth Baldwynes dede or entent for good For he sayth that Criste was the hedde of holy chyrch and callid and made his apostles bysshoppes but none of them was munke or yet frere wherfore Baldwyne dyd better to preferre the relygyon whyche Cryste made then the relygyon whyche was instytuted and ordeyned by man Anno domini M.C.xcvii  Anno domini M.C.xcviii  Gerarde de Antiloche  Balliui  Anno .viii.  Robert Duraunt  IN in the moneth of Ianuary and .viii. yere of the reygne of kynge Rycharde when the sayde Rycharde had sufferyd harde prysonement vppon the terme of a yere and thre monethes he was deliuered out of Pryson for the summe of an hundred thousande pounde of sterlynge money For pledge wherof he lefte in the kepynge of the emperoure the bysshoppes of Roan and of Bathe But not for all for a great parte was payed or the kynge were delyueryd For payment of whyche raunsom all the wolle of whyte munkes chanons was taken and solde rynges and crosses of prelates wyth vessels and chalyces of all chyrches thorough y e land ouer that .xxvii. shrynes were scraped or spoylyd of y e gold syluer that vppon theym before tyme was layd for no pryuylege of holy chyrch nor other persone at that season was sparyd Then kynge Rycharde came vnto Swyne in Flaūdres and taryed there two monethes other to abyde the wynde or ellys to make prouysyon for thynges whych he neded There the emperours men had almost taken him agayn So the emperour forthought y e deliuery of king Rychard as Pharao forthought the delyuery of the chyldren of Israel Then the kyng toke shippyng and lāded in y e ende of Marche at Sandwyche from thens came streyghte vnto Lōdon where he was receyued wyth all ioye and honour And when he had a season rested hym there he wyth a certayn nomber of knyghtes rode to Nothyngam wan y e castell and after the castell of Tykhyll by force of armes and set the wardeyns of theym in warde And that done he called a counsayll of hys lordes at wynchester where by authoryte of the sayd coūsayll he depryued Iohn̄ hys brother then beynge in Fraunce of all honour and toke from hym al suche landes as he before had gyuen to hym crowned hym soone after agayn kyng of England in the sayd cytye of wynchester After the whych coronacyon he called a parlyament by vertue wherof he resumyd all parētes and annuytees fees and other grauntes before hys voyage by hym solde and graunted and caused the partyes to be contentyd wyth such reuenous and profytes as they had receyued of the sayde offyces or landes in tyme of hys absence and sparyd not any persone for any sufficience of wrytyng y t to hym before was made when kynge Rycharde hadde by these foresayd meanes gaderyd some money he then in the moneth of Iuly sayled into Fraunce and besegyd a castell callyd Arques and spedde there as wytnessyth Polycronyca dyuersly whyche worde dyuersly may well here be spoken For who so redyth the frenche cronycle he shall fynde that the Frenche kynge was vyctor But and he rede the englyshe boke than shall he fynde kynge Rycharde vyctour wherfore me thynketh Ranulphe sayde well when he sayde they spedde dyuersely For yt is so dyuerse by the reporte of wryters that the certayntie to whom the honoure shulde be gyuen is harde to be knowen All be yt that in the countrey of Bloys as wytnessyth y e sayde frenche cronycle kynge Rycharde scaryd the Frenche hoste and toke the kynges somer horse wyth parte of hys treasour But in shorte whyle after a trewce was concludyd betwene these two kynges for a yere Then Iohn̄ whyche hadde tourned to the Frenche kyng agayne his owne brother seynge that the fame and honoure of hys brother feblenesse of his own power made meanes to Elyanoure hys mother by whose medyacyon he was recōcyled to hys brother the kynge after became hys trew knyght when the kynge and hys brother Iohn̄ were thus agreed they rode ouer the lande to vysyte y e countreys and se howe they were guyded by the offycers of the kynge Amonge other two there were whyche shewyd that they wolde do many thynges to the kynges profyte the one was abbot of Cadonence wythin Normandye and that other was named wyllyam wyth the longe berde The abbot warned the kynge of the fraude of hys offycers wherby he thought by the ponyshement of hys offycers he shulde wynne great fauoure of the people Then thys abbot gate a warrant of the kynge and at London callyd dyuerse offycers before hym for to yelde to hym theyr accompte But he dyed shortly so that hys purpose came to small effecte And wyllyam wyth the longe berde shewyd to the kynge the outrage of the ryche men whych as he sayd sparyd theyr owne and pyllyd the poore people It is sayd that this willyam was borne in London purchasyd that name by vse of hys berde He was sharpe of wytte and somedeale lettred a bold man of speche and sadde of countenaunce and toke vppon hym greatter dedes then he coulde welde and some he vsyd cruelly as apperyth in appechynge of hys own brother of treason the whyche was a Burges of London and to hym hadde shewed great kyndnesse in his youthe This willyam styred and excyted the cōmon peple to desyre loue fredom̄ and lybertye and blamed the excesse and outrage of ryche men By suche meanys he drew to hym many great companyes and wyth all hys power defended the poore mennys cause agayne the ryche and accused dyuers to the kynge shewyng that by theyr meanys the kynge loste
redounde vnto theyr dyshonour For the Frenche cronicle sayth that these two hostes thus as aboue is sayde lyenge to gyther wythout skyrmshe or assaute kynge Rycharde contrary the opinyon and mynde of hys lordes wyth a few accompanyed and vnharnaysed shuld come to y e Frēche kynges tente and there in presence of hys lordes shulde do homage to the Frenche kynge for the duchye of Normandye and coūteys of Angeou and of Poytyers and there swore to the kynge to kepe peace duryng his lyfe and after .viii. dayes met agayn and fynyshed the sayde peace wyth assuryd othe vppon eyther partye and after departed as frendes eyther resortyng into theyr owne countrey But yt semed a feynte peace For within foure monethes or lesse folowynge kynge Rycharde wyth hys hoste entred the prouynce of Berry and layd syege to the castell of wyersoune and gate yt by strength and after yode to the castell of Noryncourte the whyche was delyueryd to hym by appoyntement when kyng Phylyppe harde of the wynnynge and ouerthrowe of the castell of wyersoun he in damagynge of kynge Rychard layde syege to the castell of Aubeuyle and yt assayled egerly Buy yt was so stronge and so well defendyd by the Normannys that the Frenche kynge was holden of when kynge Rycharde had garnyshed and fortifyed the castell of Noryncourte wyth all thynge necessarye to the warre he drewe hym towarde Aubeuyle to remoue kynge Phylyppe from that syege and fell vppon the Frenche men vnwarely But the Frenchemen quyt theym so knyghtly that they chased kyng Rycharde and hys people and toke a Norman knyghte named Guy de Thonars a man of great hardynes And then kynge Phylyppe returned to the castel and towne of Aubeuyle and assauted it more sharpely so that in the ende y e souldyours of the town yeldyd yt wyth the castell for a certayne summe of money And when he hadde possessyon of the towne he threw downe the castell playne wyth the ground and after strengthed the towne wyth Frenche men and then yode to the castell of Gysours and from thēs resorted to the forenamed castell of Noryncourte and assayled yt in so cruell maner that shortely he wanne yt and toke therin .xv. knyghtes and .xxiiii. yemen wyth plente of vytayll and armour In thys tyme and season kynge Richarde gadered newe strength and allyed hym wyth Baldwyn erle of Flaūdres and with Renolde erle of Dampmartyn and of Boleyne By whose meanes as wytnessyth the frenche boke kynge Rychard wasted sore the countrey of Fraunce and brent therin some townes and vyllages and toke therein many ryche prayes Anno domini M.C.xcix  Anno domini M.CC.  Constantyne fyz Arnolde  Balliui  Anno .x.  Robert le Beawe  ABout the begynnynge of the moneth of October and .x. yere of Rycharde the sayde Rycharde entryd the countrey of Unequecyne wyth a stronge hoste and made therin cruell warre in destroyenge of the countrey and assauted the castell of Gysours and threwe to grounde a stronge holde called Courcellys and brent there about many vyllages wherwyth kynge Phylyppe was so greuousely amouyd y t wyth a small noumber of knyghtes he percyd the hoste of Englyshemen and entryd the castell or towne of Gysours But of his men were taken a certayn nōber as Alayne de Russy Mathewe de Melly Guyllyam de Mello and many other wyth the whyche prysoners and many riche prayes kyng Richarde then departed leuynge the Frenche kynge wythin Gysours It was not longe after that kynge Rycharde was thus departed but that kyng Phylyp callyng to mynde the great losse and dishonour that he had receyued by that warre of kynge Rycharde assembled a great army and entred the duchy of Normandy and wasted the coūtrey from Nuesbourth to Beawmōt le Rogyer And that done he returned into Fraunce and lycēcyd hys knyghtes to go eche man into hys owne countrey when kynge Phylyppe hadde thus fynyshed hys warre in Normandye kynge Rycharde then wyth hys armye entred the forenamed countrey of Unequecyn and also Beawuoysyn and toke wythin theym as he before had done ryche many prayes and with theym departed whom the byshop of Beawuays beyng a good knyghte and hardy of his handes wyth a companye of knyghtes and other folowyd to haue rescowyd the prysoners that kynge Rycharde had taken But they were taken and a certayne of hys company slayne Then the erle of Flaundres by the ayde of the Englyshe men toke the towne of saynt Omer from y e Frēche men In this season Innocent the Pope before named sente a legate into Fraunce named Peter de Capys to refourme the warre betwene the two prynces The whyche at that tyme was in such dysioynte that he coulde not brynge yt to any frame and specyally as sayth the Frenche boke because kynge Richarde wolde not delyuer hostages gagys as y e Frēche kynge wolde Then kynge Rycharde after Cristmas besyeged a castel nere vnto Lymogys Thys castell in y e Frēche cronycle is called Chalons in the englyshe boke yt is named Gayllarde The cause of this syege as saith most wryters was for certayne ryche treasour founden wythin the lordshyppe or sygnyory of kynge Rycharde the whyche one wydomer vycounte of Lemonke hadde founden and wyth helde from kynge Rycharde and for hys sauegarde fledde vnto the forenamed castell and defendyd yt manfully from the fyrste weke of lent tyll the .vi. daye of Apryll Uppon the whyche daye kynge Rycharde walkynge vnwysely about the castell to espye the feblenes therof one named Betrāde Guedon markyd the kynge and wounded him in the hedde or after some writers in y e arme with a venemous quarell After which woūde receyued by the kynge he commaunded sharpe assaute to be made in the whyche assaute the castell was won Then he made enquery who yt was that so had wounded him the which was brought vnto the kynges presence and named hym self as aboue is sayde or after some writers Peter Basyle Then the kynge demaūded of him why he shuld so lye in a wayte to hurte hym rather then any of his felowys For thou slew my father my bretherne sayde he wherfore I entendyd to auenge theyr deth what someuer became of me Then y e kyng forgaue hym his offence and sufferyd him to go at lyberte And the other of y e soudyours taken in that castell the kynge commaunded to be hanged But Polycronycon sayth that after kynge Rycharde was dede the duke of Braban whych then was present causyd the sayde Bartrande to be taken and flayne quycke and after hanged Then kynge Rycharde dyed the .iii. daye after that is to say the ix daye of Apryll and was buryed at Fount Eborard at the fete of hys father Howe be yt some wryters say that his harte was buryed at Roan his body as before is sayde and hys bowellys at Carleyll in Englande when he hadde reygned .ix. yeres .ix. monethes and odde dayes leuynge after hym none yssue Of thys Rycharde a metrycyan made these
after smote hym wych hys crosse vpon the lefte syde Upon the morne after the pope was fouÌ„den dede and hys bedde all blody But of thys is nothynge in the cronycle or storye of Innocent After that sayenge of Polycronycon this byshoppe Grostehede shuld dye in the .xxxvii. yere of thys kynge Henry the whyche sayenge agreeth better with the storye except that the sayde pope lyued after the deth of the sayde byshoppe .vi. yere Anno domini M.CC.l.  Anno domini M.CC.li.  Humfrey Basse.  IohnÌ„ Norman  Anno .xxxiiii.  wyllyam fyz Rycharde  IN this .xxxiiii. yere was an excedynge wynde the whyche in sondry places of England dyd great harme whyche was in the begynnynge of this yere vppon the daye of Symon and Iude. About thys tyme in the duchy of Burgoyne as testyfyeth Fasciculus temporuÌ„ and other an hyll remouyd from hys proper place and glode by many a myle and lastely ioyned hym vnto other hyllys In the whyche glydynge or ronnynge the sayde hyll oppressyd or slewe v. thousande people And thys yere Symon fyz mary alderman of London for hys dysobedyence and euyll counsaill that he gaue vnto Margarete Uyell before in the xxxi yere of thys kynge touchyd wyth other secret labours and maters entendyd by hym to the hurte of the cytye was dyschargyd of hys aldermanshyppe and put oute of the counsayll of the cytye Anno domini M.CC.li.  Anno domini M.CC.lii  Laurence Frowyke  Adam Basynge  Anno .xxxv.  Nycholas Batte  IN thys .xxxv. yere of kynge Henry beganne the frere Augustynes to buylde or inhabyte them in walys in a place callyd woodhouse And in this yere maryed kyng Henry his doughter Mary or after some wryters Margarete vnto Alexander kynge of Scottys at the cytye of yorke and dyd receyue homage of the sayde Alexander for the kyngedome of Scottes or for the prouynce of Scotlande in lyke maner as many of his progenytours had done dyuerse and many tymes before as in this worke both before thys tyme and also after is shewyd Anno domini M.CC.li.  Anno domini M.CC.lii  wyllyam Durham  IohnÌ„ Toleson  Anno .xxxvi.  Thomas wymborne  IN thys .xxxvi. yere the kynge graunted vnto the shryues of London that they shulde yerely be alowyed of .vii. pounde for certayne pryuyleges or grounde belongynge to saynte Paules chyrche the whych at this daye is allowyd by the Barons of the kynges excheker to euerey shryue when they make theyr accompte in the offyce of the pype Also thys yere was grauÌ„ted by the kynge for the citesens more ease that where before tyme they vsyd yerely to present theyr mayre to y e kynges presence in any such place as he then were in Englande that nowe from thys tyme forthwarde they shulde for lacke of the kynges presence beynge at westmynster presente theyr mayre so chosen vnto the barons of hys Excheker and there to be sworne admyttyd as he before tymes was before the kynge Anno domini M.CC.lii  Anno domini M.CC.liii  IohnÌ„ Northampton  Nycholas Batte  Anno .xxxvii.  Rycharde Pycarde  IN thys .xxxvii. yere the water of the see aboute the daye of saynte Paulyn in the moneth of Ianuary rose of suche heyghte that yt drowned many vyllagys and housys nere vnto yt in dyuerse places of Englande And thys yere the kynge the quene and syr Edwarde his son wyth Bonyface archebyshoppe of Caunterburye and dyuerse other nobles of the realme sayled into Normandye and taryed at Burdeaux a certayne of tyme. But of theyr dedys or cause of theyr saylynge thyther is no mencyon made in the cronycle of England How be yt in the FreÌ„che boke yt is shewed y t the cause was to ioyne Edwarde the kynges sonne vnto the syster of y e kyng of Spayne by maryage This yere also the water of Thamys sprange so hygh that yt drowned many housys about the waters syde by meane wherof myche maâ—chaundyse was peryshed and loste And thys yere the cytezyns hadde graunted of the kynge that no cytesyns shulde paye scauage or tolle for any bestes by them brought as they before tymes hadde vsyd Anno domini M.CC.liii  Anno domini M.CC.liiii  Robert Belyngton  Rycharde Hardell  Anno .xxxviii.  Ranfe Aschewye  IN thys .xxxviii. yere by procurement of syr Rycharde erle of Cornewayll for dyspleasure whyche he bare towarde y e citye for exchauÌ„ge of certayne grounde to the same belongynge the kynge vnder coloure that the mayre hadde not done due execucyon vppon the bakers for lackynge of theyr syzys seased the lybertyes of the cytye That ys to be vnderstanden that where the mayre and comynaltye of the cytye hadde by the kynges graunte the cytye to ferme wyth dyuerse customys and offyces for astynted and ascertayned summe of money now the kyng sette in offycers at hys pleasure the whiche were accomptable vnto hym for all reuenues and profytes that grew wythin the sayde cytye But wythin foure dayes folowynge the feste of saynte Edmunde the byshop or by the .xix. daye of Nouember the cytesyns agreed wyth the sayde erle for .vi. hundred marke After whych agrement wyth hym concluded they soone after were restoryd vnto theyr lybertyes This yere syr Edward the kynges sonne and heyre was maryed vnto Eleanour y e kinges sister of Spayn And in the Cristmas weke the kyng landed at Douer and y e quene wyth hym wyth many other lordes when the kynge was comen to London he was lodgyd in the towre where he sent for to come vnto hym the mayre and the shryues wyth whom he resoued greuously for the escape of one callyd IohnÌ„ Gate This IohnÌ„ had murderyd a pryour allyed vnto the kynge The mayre layde the charge of this mater from hym vnto y e shryues for so myche as to theym belonged the kepynge of all prysons wyth in the cytye so that the mayre returnyd home and the shriues remayned there as prisoners by y e space of a moneth after or more And in theyr places and for theym were chosen Steuen Oystergate Henry walmoode But how the old shryues passyd out of the kynges daunger I fynde not Anno domini M.CC.liiii  Anno domini M.CC.lv.  Stephan Oystergate  Rycharde Hader  Anno .xxxix.  Henry walmoode  IN this .xxxix. yere in the feaste of saynte Etheldrede dame Eleanour wyfe vnto the kynges son syr Edwarde came vnto London where she was honorably receued of the cytesyns and the cytye rychely curteyned and garnyshed wyth dyuerse ryche clothes where the kynge was present at her commynge And she was honorably coÌ„ueyed through the cytye to saynte IohnÌ„s wythoute Smythfelde and there lodgyd for a whyle But after she was remouyd vnto Sauoy It was not longe after y t the kyng seasyd the lybertyes of the cytye for certayne money whyche y e quene claymed for her ryght of the cytesyns so that about saynte Martyns tyde in
heyres kynges of Englande and that the gates of the cytye were kepte wyth armyd men as before by the kynge of Romaynes was dyuysyd This yere also at a fayre kept at Northampton varyaunce fell betwene the Lōdoners and men of the towne so that betwene the cytesyns and them contynued longe sute and plee for a mā of Northampton that then was slayne to the great vexacyon trouble of both partyes But in the ende the cytye had the better This yere also aboute Eester the Barons of the lande wyth the consente of the Perys dyschargyd syr Hugh le spencer and admyttyd for hym syr Phylyp Basset in his rome of chefe iustyce vnwittyng the kyng For whych cause and other grudge and dyspleasure beganne of newe to kyndle betwene the kynge and hys lordes whyche encreasyd more and more But by polycy of the kynge of Almayne and some prelatys of the land yt was set in quyet for a whyle hardely to the ende of that yere Anno domini M.CC.lx.  Anno domini M.CC.lxi  Iohn̄ Northampton  wyllyam fyz Rycharde  Anno .xlv.  Rycharde Pycarde  IN this .xlv. yere shortely after Alhalowyn daye the Barons admyttyd and made shryues of dyuerse shyres of Englande and dyschargyd suche as the kynge before had admyttyd and named them Gardayns and kepers of the countyes shyres And ouer that the Barons wolde not suffer the iustyce that the kynge hadde admyttyd to kepe the plees lawes callyd Itinerarii but suche as were of theyr admyssyon wherwith the kynge was greuously dyscontented in so mych y e after that season he laboured that he myght do dysanull the former ordynaunces statutes and to cause them to be broken in so myche that vppon the seconde sondaye of lent folowynge the kynge commaundyd to be redde at Paules crosse a bull of the graunte of pope Urban the .iiii. of that name as a confyrmacyō of an other bull before purchased of hys predecessoure Alexander the .iiii for to assoyle the kynge and all other that before had sworne to the mayntenaunce of the foresayde artycles made at Oxenforde and after causyd the sayde absolucyon to be shewyd thorough the realme of Englande walys and Irlande gyuynge streyghte charge to all his subiectys that none be so hardy to wythstāde nor dysobey the sayd absolucyon And yf any were foūden dysobedyent to his commaundemēt that he were streyght put in pryson and not to be raunsomyd nor delyueryd tyll y e kynges pleasure were forther knowen About the feast of saynt Albon in the moneth of Iuny the kynge of Almayne toke shyppyng and sayled into Almayne And the kynge at a folkmoot holden vppon the sonday after saynt Peters daye in y e moneth of Iuly hadde lycence to sayle into Fraunce And the morowe after he departyd from London towarde the sees syde wyth the quene and other lordes hys two sonnes syr Edward and syr Edmunde beynge at that season in Guyan when the kyng hadde ben a season in Fraunce he returnyd vnto Burdeaux where he fell syke by occasyon wherof he taryed in those partyes tyll saynte Nycholas tyde nexte folowynge And in thys yere dyed Rycharde Clare erle of Glowceter and syr Gylbert de Clare hys sonne was erle after hym To whom the father gaue great charge that he shulde vpholde the forenamed ordynaunces Anno domini M.CC.lxi  Anno domini M.CC.lxii  Phylyppe walbroke  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlvi.  Rycharde Tayloure  IN thys .xlvi. yere in the feaste of saynte Martyne or the .xi. day of Nouēber a Iew fell at varyaunce wyth a crysten man in Colchyrch in the warde of Chepe woūdyd the crysten man within the same chyrche wherfore the people of the citye in a fury pursued the sayd Iew to hys house and there slew hym after fell vpon the other Iewes and robbyd and slew many of them And the euen of saynte Thomas the apostle folowynge the kyng landed in Englande at Douer came to Lōdon the wednysdaye before .xii. day This yere y e froste began about saynt Nycholas daye and so contynued by y e space of a moneth more so feruently that Thamys was ouer froren that men passed ouer on horsbacke And in the same wynter y e kynges lytell halle at westmynster with other houses adioynyng to the same were peryshed wyth fyre by the neglygence of a seruaūt of the kynges In this yere also vnkyndnesse beganne to growe betwene the Londoners and the Constable of the towre for that he cōtrary the lybertye of the cytye toke certayne shyppes passyng by the towre wyth whete and other vytayll and toke yt into the sayde towre makynge the price at his pleasure wherfore great harme had ensued had not ben the polycy of wyse men whyche was shewyd vnto the kynges counsayll by whose dyreccy on the matter was cōmytyd vnto syr Phyllyppe Basset then chefe iustyce and other to set an order and rule betwene the sayde partyes Then before hym were brought all euydēces and pryuyleges for the aduauntage of both partyes where fynally after longe plee argument yt was fyrmely demyd and adiudgyd that yf the constable or any other offycer of the towre wold at any tyme take any whete or other vytayll to the vse of the kyng or of y e towre that he shuld come vnto the market holden wyth in the cytye and there to haue yt .ii. d in a quarter wythin y e mayres pryce and other vitayll after the same rate And if he or any of his offycers wold do contrarye to that ordynaūce that then the shryues shulde make report vnto the kynges counsayll and to wythstāde hym in all that he myght so that the kynges peace were kepte In this yere also many murmures and grudgis were tolde in many places of the land supposynge y e warre shulde in shorte processe haue ensued betwene the kyng and his lordes for the bull of dyspensacyon before in that other yere shewyd But by help and mediacyon of good wyse men these murmures grudges were so appeasyd that the kynge agreed agayn to the mayntenaūce of the sayd statutes sent hys wryttes wherin the sayde artycles were comprysed into all shyres of England gyuynge streyght commaūdement to all men to obserue and kepe the same and suche other as were to theym ioyned by the dyscrecyon of the erle marshall the erle of Leyceter syr Phylyp Basset syr Hugh Bygot and other the whyche shortely after was reuoked and denyed wheruppon the archbysshoppe of Caunterbury feryng that after myght ensue made hym an errande to Rome and so by lycence of the kyng and of the lordes departed the lande and so kepte hym out tyll the trouble was appeased and seased Then vppon mydlent sondaye the mayre and the commons beynge present at a folkemote holden at Paulys crosse before syr Philyppe Basset and other of the kynges counsayll the mayre was sworne to be trewe to the kynge and to his heyres kynges And
Guyldhall or other places symple and vndyscret persons shuld haue the voyce and the worshypfull meÌ„ lytell or nothyng regarded wherof ensuyd dayly myche vnhappynes and sorow as after shall appere The Barons then to obteyne the more fauour of y e cytye wyllyd them to shewe yf they hadde any of theyr libertyes wythdraweÌ„ that they myght agayne to theym be restored and also to dyuyse some new to theyr weale and profyte and they wolde laboure to the kynge that they myghte haue theym graunted For the whych comforte of the lordes the mayre called the commons to the Guyldhall and shewed to them the beneuoleÌ„ce of the sayd lordes willed them that euery ofâ—ycer for hys offyce to deuyse such thynges as myght be benefycyall for the cytye wheruppon they counsaylled to gyther and made a note in paper of dyuers statutes prouysyons and ordynaunces to be graunted whyche myght more properly be named abhomynacyons For they were deuysed to theyr synguler profyte to y e great hurt of all other marchauÌ„tes commynge to the citye and to all other fayres and markettes of Englande and also preiudycyall to the vnyuersall weale of the realme The whyche when they were ouersene by the heddes of the cytye yt was shewyd vnto the sayd coÌ„mons that theyr ordynaunces were not lefull nor charytable orderyd and therfore they knewe well they shulde not be admytted wyllyng theÌ„ to deuyse other But all was in vayne By meane wherof both those other that were ryght necessary for the coÌ„mon weale of the cytye were reiected put of Then y e Barons vpon the morowe folowynge saynt Iamys daye departed from London towarde wyndesore to se the gydynge of the castell where at theyr commynge they putte out the foresayde allyauntes before set in by syr Edward the kinges son the whyche assocyat wyth other yode vnto Fulham where the kynge then lay and shewyd to hym that the Barons had spoyled them of suche goodes as they hadde and that wythout cause But the kynge put them of for that season and warned them to sue to hym agayne about Mychelmasse when more of his couÌ„sayll was with hym then they shuld haue iustyce Uppon the second daye folowyng the feaste of saynte Mathew or the xxiii daye of september the kynge the quene with his sonnes and other nobles of thys land toke shyppyng and sayled into Fraunce to be present at the Frenche kynges parlyaament then holden at Bonony And the morow after the octabis of saynt Mychaell he landed agayne at Douer And the frydaye folowynge he came vnto London And vppon the tuesday folowyng passed a queste of .xii. knyghtes of Mydd sworne vpon a iury betwene the abbot of westmynster and the cytye for certayne pryuyleges that the cytesyns of London claymed wythin westmynster where by the sayde iurye it was founden before Gylbert of Prestone then chefe Baron of the kynges excheker that the sâ—ryues of London at those days myght lawfully enter into the town of westmynster and all other tenemeÌ„tes that the abbot then hadde wythin Myddelsex vnto the gate of the sayd abbay and there to make summons and dystrayne for lacke of apparaunce all and eueryche tenaunte of the sayde abbot About the quindena of saynt Mychaell the fourmer complaynt of the allyauntes and other whyche as aboue ye haue harde was shewed before the kyng and y e lordes in the parlyament holden at westmynster where lastely yt was sentencyd that the Barons shulde restore all suche goodes as they and theyr companye hadde taken from all suche persons before that daye as well to allyauntes as other both spyrytuall and temporall and also that suche menyall seruauntes as shulde be dayly in the kynges house and about his person shulde be suche as the kynge wolde chose and admyt hym selfe the whyche ii artycles the Barons vtterly denyed wherfore the olde rancoure toke place and dyssencyon kyndled his fyre of malyce agayn betwen the kynge and his lordes feruently Anno domini M.CC.lxii  Anno domini M.CC.lxiii  Robert Moumplere  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlvii.  Robert de Suff.  IN thys .xlvii. yere by procurement and styrynge of the Barons the commons of the cytye of London chase vnto theyr mayre for that yere Thomas fyz Thomas and wythout counsayll of the aldermen sware at Guyldehall vppon the day of Symon and Iude and made no presentement of hym vppon the morowe folowynge nother to the kyng nor yet to the Barons of the kynges excheker as they of ryght ought to haue done For the whych presumpcyon the kynge was greuously dyscontentyd agayne the cytye Soone after the kynge aduertysynge well y t the citye wolde take the Barons partye and causyd syr Edwarde his son to take the castell of wyndesore by a trayne wherof when he knewe that he was in possessyon the kynge erly in a mornynge a lytell to fore Crystemas departed from westmynster rode vnto the sayde castell whyther shortely after came also many of the lordes that were vppon the kynges partye And as faste the lordes and knyghtes whych helde wyth the erle of Leyceter drew them toward Lonlon so y t on eyther partye was mych people assembled In the whyche passe tyme some well dysposyd laboryd a concorde betwene the kynge hys lordes By whose meanes fynally yt was agreed by bothe partyes that all maters concernynge the fore sayde artycles of statutes and ordynauÌ„ces made at Oxenford and after by the .xii. Perys that the Frenche kynge shuld deme and iudge whych shulde be holden and whyche not And as he demyd both partyes promysed assuredly to abyde Upon whiche agrement copyes were made of the sayde statutes and wyth letters shewynge the effecte of the fourmer agrement sent vnto the sayde kynge of Fraunce then beynge saynt Lewys And in the Crystmas weke folowynge the kyng toke shyppynge with syr Edward his son and other of his counsayll and sayled into Fraunce for the foresayde cause And for the partye of the sayd Barons was sent ouer syr Peter de Mountforde and other Then before Lewys kynge of Fraunce those statutes were sore argued vppon both parties How be yt in the ende the Frenche kynge callynge before hym both parties vpon the day before y e conuersyon of saynt Paule or the .xxiiii. daye of Ianuary syttynge in iudgement gaue expresse sentence that all and eueryche of the sayde statutes and ordynaunces shulde be from y e daye foreward vtterly foredone and set at noughte and all suche bandes and promyses that the kyng or any other had made for the mayntenaunce of the same shulde be adnulled cancellyd and the kynge and all other for any mater concernynge those statutes set at lybertye After whyche sentence thus gyuen the kynge retourned into Englande so that he came to London the .xv. daye of Februarye But the Barons beynge sore amoued wyth this sentence notynge greate parcyaltye vnto the Frenche kynge departed from London westwarde so into the marchys of walys
where they drew to them great power and warred vppon the landes and castellys of syr Roger Mortymer threw some of them vnto the grounde and spoyled of hys what they myghte fynde and ouer that brent of hys manours and houses In whose ayde syr Edwarde the kynges sonne commynge hys people were dystressyd and he almoste taken For redresse of whyche maters a newe parlyameÌ„t was appoynted to be holdeÌ„ at Oxenforde in the quindena of Eester nexte folowynge whyche came neuer to effecte All be yt an other cronicle sayth that from this parlyament then holden at Oxenforde the kynge and his lordes parted all dyscorded Then the barons drewe towarde London the kynge remayned at woodstok And then newe assuraunce by wrytynge endentyd was made betwene the comynaltye of the cytye and the Barons wythoute consent of many of the rulers of the sayde cytye wherfore the commons as men enraged made of theym self two capytaynes whych they named constables of the cytye y t is to say Thomas de Pyweldon Stephan Bukerel At whose commaundement by tollynge of the great belle of Paules all the cytye shulde be redy shortely in harnes to gyue attendaunce vppon theyr sayd capytaynes About the begynnynge of lent the constable of the towre syr Hughe le Spenser came wyth a fayre company of men of armys before hym into the cytye and desyred assystence of the forenamed constables The whyche commaunded the sayd belle to be â—olled By meane wherof the people shyt theyr shoppes and came out in harneys in great multytude The whyche after proclamacyon made that they shulde â—olowe theyr capytaynes wythout knowlege what to do or whyther to go folowed theyr sayde capytaynes and so yode vnto Thystelworth vppon two myles beyonde westmynster there spoyled the manour of the kynge of Romaynes and sette yt after vppon a fyre And that done hys water mylles other commodities that he there had put theym to vtter ruyne And after wyth great noyse and crye returned vnto London This dede as sayth myne authour was cause of the mortall warre folowynge For where before tyme the sayde kynge of Romaynes hadde ben for allyaunce that was betwene hym and the erle of Glouceter a treatye of peace to be hadde betwene the kynge and his Barons after that dede done he was enymy vnto them to the vttermoste of his power The kynge herynge of thys ryâ—â—gaderyd vnto him great power And for he harde that syr Peter de MouÌ„t forde was at Northampton gatherynge of people to strength the Barons partye he spedde hym thyder and wanne the towne vppon hym by force and slewe many of hys men and fynally toke hym syr Symon the son of the erle of Leyceter wyth dyuers other on lyue the which with many burgeyses of that towne that hadde take theyr partyes the kynge sent vnto dyuers prysons and some he closyd wythin the castell of y e same towne In thys passe tyme on Palmesondaye weke all the Iewes in London were spoyled and robbed the nomber of .v. huÌ„dred of them were slayn and dyuers of theyr mansyons brent and destroyed and suche as of them were saued were conueyed for great mede vnto the towre and there kept from the fury of the commons wherof the occasyon was for so myche as a Iewe wolde haue forced a crysten man to haue gyueÌ„ to hym more then ii d. for the vsure of .xx. s. for a weke For ye shall vnderstand that at those dayes by lycence graunted vnto the Iewes of the kynge they myght take by vsury of euery man y t of theym wolde borowe money .ii. d. of a pouÌ„d for a weke lendyng and so of greter of smaller summes after that rate And soon after the Iewes were thus punyshed many houses of relygyon wythin y e citye and nere there about were serched for goodes of alliauÌ„tis and myche founde wherof a parte was brought vnto the lordis but the more parte was stolen and brybed In whyche season the kynge passed by diuers couÌ„treys and lastely came into Southsex with a strong power wherof herynge the lordes made preparacyon to go towardes hym In all whyche tyme the wardeyns of the v. portes kepte the see wyth shyppes that no straungers shulde entre the lande to ayde the kynge agayne the Barons Then in the ende of Apryll the Barons wyth a multytude of the cytye whyche they put in vawarde departed from London takyng theyr iourney towarde the kynge And when they were well onwarde vpon they re way worde was brought vnto them that the kynge wyth an huge power was at Lewys wherfore they by an hole assent dyuysed a letter and sent yt in y e name of all the Barons vnto the kynge whose names here vnder folowe but not all Syr Symonde de Mounforde erle of Leyceter and hyghe stewarde of Englande Syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter Syr Robert Ferres erle of Derby Syr Hugh le Spenser chefe iustice and syr Henry de Mountford son and heyre to the erle of Leyceter Syr Rycharde Gray Syr Henry Hastynges Syr IohnÌ„ fyz IohnÌ„ Syr Robert de Uenpount Syr IohnÌ„ Gyuyle Syr Robert Roos Syr wyllyam Marmyon Baldwyne wake Syr Gylbert Gyfforde Syr Nycholas de Megraue Syr Godfrey de Lucy Syr IohnÌ„ de Ueysy Syr wyllyam de Mounthdesey whyche letter sealed wyth the seales of the sayde erle of Leycester and of Glouceter conteyned as foloweth TO the most excellent lord the kynge Henry by the grace of god kynge of Englande lorde of Irlande and duke of Gwyan the Barons other faythfull your seruauntes theyr fydelyte and othe to god and to you coueytynge to kepe sendyng to you due salutyng with all reuerence and honour vnder due obeysaunce Lyketh yt youre hyghnes to vnderstaÌ„de that many beyng about you haue before tymes shewyd vnto your lordshyppe of vs many euyll vntrewe reportes and haue founde suggestyons not alonely of vs but also of your selfe to brynge this your realme vnto subuersyon Know your excellency that we entende nothyng but helth and suerty to your person to the vttermoste of our powers and not onely to our enmyes but also to yours and of all this youre realme we entende vtter greuaunce and correccyon Besechynge your grace her after to gyue vnto theym lytell credeÌ„ce for ye shall fynde vs your trew and faythfull subiectes to the vtter moste of our powers And we erle of Leyceter and erle of Glouceter at the request of other and for our selfe haue put to our seales the .x. day of the moneth of May. The answere vnto this foresayde letter HEnry by y e grace of god kyng of Englande lorde of Irland and duke of Guyan to Symonde de Mountforde Gylbert de Clare theyr coÌ„plyces where as by warre generall ê‘turbauÌ„ce in this our realme by you begon contynued wyth also brennynges and other hurtes and enormytyes that euydently apperyth that your fydelyte to vs due ye haue not kept nor y e suerty of our person ye haue
lytell regarded for so mych as our lordê other our trusty frendes whyche dayly byde wyth vs ye veryn and greue and theym pursue to the vttermost of your powers and yet dayly enteÌ„de as ye by the reporte of your letters haue vs ascertayned we the greue of them admyt take for our owne specyally when they for theyr fydelyte whyche they to vs dayly impende stande and abyde by vs to oppresse your ifidelyte and vntrouthe wherfore of your fauoure or assuraunce we sette lyttell store but you as our enymyes we vtterly defye wytnesse our selfe at our towne of Lewys the .xii. daye of this moneth of May. And ouer this the kyng of Romaynes syr Edwarde the kynges sonne and the other lordes beyng theÌ„ with the kynge sente vnto them a nother letter wherof the tenour ensuyth RIcharde by the grace of god kynge of Romaynes alwaye Augustus and Edwarde the noble fyrst begotten son of the kyng of England all other Barons fermely standynge and abydynge wyth our souerayne lorde the kynge to Symonde be MouÌ„tford Gylbert de Clare and all other theyr false felowes By the letters whych ye sent vnto the kynge our moste souerayne lorde we vnder stande that we are defyed of you Neuerthelesse this worde of dyffyaunce apperyd vnto vs suffycyently before by the depredacyon and brennyng of our manours and carienge away of our goodes wherfore we wyll that ye vnderstande that we defye you as our mortall publyke enmyes And when so euer we may come to reueÌ„gement of the iniuryes y t ye to vs haue done we shal acquit it to y e vttermost of our powers And where ye put vppon vs that nother trewe nor good counsayll to our souerayne lorde the kynge we gyue ye therin say falsely and vntrewly And yf y e saieng ye syr Symonde de Mountforde and syr Gylbert de Clare wyll iustifye in the courte of our souerayne lord we are redy to purchase to you suerty safe commynge that there we may proue our trew and faythfull innocencye your false and traytorouse lyenge wytnessyd wyth y e seales of Rychard kynge of Romaynes syr Edwarde forenamed Gyuen at Lewys the .xii. daye of May. WHen the Baronys had receyued these letters from the kyng and his lordes they perceyued well that there was none other mean but defeÌ„de theyr cause by dynt of sword wherfore they puttyng theyr trust in god spedde theym forth toward the kynge And vppon a wednysday beynge then the .xxiiii. daye of May erly in the mornynge both hostes met where after the LoÌ„doners had gyuen the fyrst assaute they were betyn backe so that they began to draw from the sharpe shot and strokes to the discomforte of the Barons hoste But y e Barons encoraged and comforted theyr men in suche wyse that not alonely the freshe and lusty knyghtes fought egerly but also suche as before were scomfyted recoueryd theyr vertue strength fought wythout fere in so myche that the kynges vaward lost theyr places Then was the felde coueryd wyth dede bodyes gaspynge gronyng was hard on euery syde For eyther was desyrous for to bryng the other out of life And the fader sparyd not the son nor the son y t fader AllyauÌ„ce at y e tyme was turned vnto dyffyaunce and crysten blood that daye was shad wythoute pytie Thus duryng the cruell fyght by the more parte of y e day lastely the victory fyll to the Barons so y t there was taken the kynge the kynge of Romayns syr Edwarde the kynges son wyth many other noble men to the nomber of .xxv. Barons and Banerettes people slayn a great multytude ouer .xx. thousande as sayth myne authours when the Barons had thus obteyned vyctorye prouysyon was made for y e saufe kepyng of the prysoners so that all were sent vnto dyuers castellys and prysons except the kyng his brother the kynge of Almayne syr Edwarde his son the whych the Barons helde wyth theym tyll they came to London Then a new graunte was made by the kynge that the foresayd statutes shuld stande in strength And yf any were thought vnreasonable they to be corrected and amendyd by foure noble men of the realme that is to meane .ii. of the spyrytualtye and .ii. of the temporaltye And yf those .iiii. myght not agree that then the erle of Angeou and duke of Burgoyn to be iudges of that mater And this to be fermely holden and obeyed by the kynge and hys brother the kynges graunted that theyr sonnes heyres shuld remayne wyth the Barons as prysoners tyll all thynge were fynysshed accordynge to the former agrement And vppon thys was a parlyament appoynted to be holden at London at Penthecoste folowynge but that came neuer to purpose TheÌ„ the tuesday before the Assencyon day peace was proclaimed in London betwene the kynge and hys Barons And vppon the daye folowynge the kynge the Barons came vnto London with the kynge of Romayns syr Edwarde the kynge sonne Then syr Edward as pledge for the kyng and syr Henry sonne vnto the kynge of Almayn were sent vnto the toure and there lodged and from theÌ„s vnto Douer castell And the kyng was lodged in the byshoppes palays by Paules and the kynge of Almayne with dyuers other within the towre Then yt was agreed by the kynge that for his more suertye and for the weale of the lande that the erle of Leyceter shuld be ressyauÌ„t in the kynges courte Uppon the whyche agrement other many of the prysoners were set at large In this passe tyme before the felde of Lewys y e quene the kyng of Romayns had sent ouer y e see for souldy ours to ayde the kynge agayne the Barons whych now were comen in great nomber vnto Douer there houed in y e see to haue laÌ„ded wherof herynge the Barons sent the kyng of Romayns to the castell of Berkham stede as prisoner tyll the sayde allyauntes were retourned and caused kynge Henry wyth a great power to ryde thyder and force the sayde hoste of straungers to retourne into theyr owne countreys And when the kynge had returned the sayde straungers he shortly after wyth agrement of the barons sayled ouer into Fraunce and retourned agayne wythin short terme Anno domini M.CC.lxiii  Anno domini M.CC.lxiiii  Osbert wynter  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlviii.  Phylyppe Taylour  IN this .xlviii. yere the lordes of the marches about the feast of Crystmasse assembled theym in those costes and dyd myche harme vppon the lordeshyppes and manours of the erlys of Leyceter and of Glouceter standynge in the marches of walys wherfore the kynge rode shortely after to Glouceter and called there a counsayl of his lordes By authoryte of whych counsayll yt was enacted that as many of y e sayd lordes as came not in by the octauis of saynte Hyllary nexte folowynge yelded them vnto the kynges grace shuld be exyled And by the sayd couÌ„sayll was also agreed
that in y e sayd octaues shulde a parlyament be holdyn at westmynster At whyche daye the kyng wyth his lordes spyrytuall and temporall and commons of hys lande beganne his forsayde parlyament Durynge the whyche yt was there shewed the kynge beynge present that he nor syr Edward his son nor none of theym shulde after that daye greue or cause to be greuyd the erles of Leyceter and of Glouceter y e Barons Banerettes or knyghtes the citesyns of London and Barons of the .v. portes nor none other ê‘sons or persones of hyghe or low degree that was vpon the partye of the sayd erles for any mater of dyspleasure done agayne the kynge and the sayd syr Edwarde his sonne at any tyme before that day And that to vphold the kynge before hys lordes was sworne And after that was shewed and rad a charter of pardon concernynge the sayde cause and a confyrmacyon of the statutes of the foreste wyth many other actes and statutes before graunted of the kynge Then in the feaste of saynt Gregory folowynge or the .xii. daye of Marche syr Edwarde the kynges son y t beforne was also sworn to performe such promyses as the kyng had made before in the parliament was delyueryd at lyberte also syr Henry the kynges son of Almayne the whych had ben kept as pledge as ye before haue harde vppon the terme of .ix. monethes odde dayes vpon assurauÌ„ce made that y e sayd syr Edwarde shuld dwel and abyde in the kynges courte and not to departe from thens wythoute lycence of the kyng and of a certayne of the Barons After this many instrumentes bandes were made by the kynge and syr Edwarde his son for the performaunce of couenaunts paccyons made betwene the kynge and the Barons whyche shortly after came to small effecte In the season betwene Easter and Penthecoste for orderynge of the aforesaid statutes made at Oxenford fell deffencyon betwene the erles of Leyceter of Glouceter so that wordes of dyspleasure was vtteryd betweene them the kynge and they also beynge then at Glouceter Then the kynge and his Barons had laboure to set theym at vnyte and reste And vppon the see the Barons of the .v. portes robbed and spoyled all men that they myght take sparynge nother Englyshe marchauntes nor other Of whych prayes as y e coÌ„mon fame then went some of the Barons of the lande hadde good parte In the whytson weke folowynge y e kynge wyth the erle of Leyceter and syr Edwarde hys sonne wyth many other lordes beynge at Herforde in y e edge of walys the sayd syr Edward secretly and wythout lycence departed from the courte and yode vnto Chester where he accoÌ„panyed to him the erle of Glouceter and y e lordes of the Marches the erle of wareÌ„ne syr Roger Mortymer and other from thens went vnto Glouceter breking the brydges as he went to the entent that he were not folowed tyll he had assembled his power when knowlege of thys came vnto the erle of Leyceter he in al hast sent vnto syr SymoÌ„de his son y t he shuld gather his knyghtes vnto hym The which accordyng to y e coÌ„maundemeÌ„t assembled vnto hym myche people with them drew toward wynchester so that he came before the cytye vppon the euyn of the translacyon of saynte Swythyn or the .xiiii. daye of the moneth of Iulye where he was shyt out for so mych as the cytesyns knewe not whyther he came as the kynges frende or not And also lytell before they hadde receyued a letter from syr Edwarde wyllynge theym to holde theym out of the cytye For these causes the citesyns closed theyr gates agayn the sayd syr Symonde and hys companye But yt was not longe or the cytye was yelden Then they spoyled the town and slewe the more partye of the Iewes that dwellyd wythin the same And that done layd syege vnto the castell and assauted it But for tydynges were fayned of the coÌ„mynge of syr Edwarde with hys power they departyd shortely thens and so yode vnto Kenelworth Uppon the laste daye of Iuly syr Edwarde wyth hys hoste came vnto Kenelworth foresaid and fyll sodaynly vppon the hoste of the forenamed syr Symonde and wyth shedynge of lytell blood toke there prysoners the erle of Oxenforde wyllyam de mount Canyse Adam de Newmarket syr Balwyne wake and Hughe Neuyle wyth dyuers other and syr Symonde fledde into the castell and so escaped Then these forenamed prysoners were all sent vnto Glouceter and there putte in suer kepynge In this meane whyle syr Symonde erle of Leyceter toke leue of the kynge whyche then from Herforde passed the ryuer of Seuerne and so yode vnto worceter And y e erle with great payne passed the brydges before by syr Edwarde broken and passed the couÌ„treys in gaderynge of people as he went so y t in processe he had wyth hym stronge power wherof herynge syr Edwarde costed towarde hym and the .vi. daye of August met wyth hym at Euysham in worceter shyre where betwene theym was foughten a cruell fyght In y t whych at length was slayn the sayd syr Symonde and syr Henry his sonne and heyre syr Hughele Spenser syr Peter de Mountforde and many other noble men that helde vppon the Barons partye After whych scomfyture some malycyous dysposed persons in despyte of the erle cut of his hode his dimyssaryes and fastyned them vppon eyther syde of hys nose and after made a present therof vnto the wyfe of syr Roger Mortymer Hys fete also and his handes were cut from the body and sente to sondry places and the trunke of hys bodye buryed wythin the chyrch of Euysham Of this erle speketh Ranulphe muÌ„ke of Chester in his boke of Policronycon and calleth hym Symon the ryght wise sayynge that god wrought for hym myracles after his deth the whyche forfere of the kynge and syr Edwarde his sonne were kept close and secret so that no man durste speke of them Soone after this victory thus obteyned by syr Edward y e kyng he met by whose authorytyes all prysoners theÌ„ which were in hold in dyuers places by y â— coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of y e sayd syr Edward were set at lybertie many other dayly accused set in for them And about the natyuyte of our lady a parliameÌ„t was holdeÌ„ at winchester where by authoryte of y e same all statutes ordinauÌ„ces before made by y e Barons at Oxenforde in the .xli. yere of y e kyng were vtterly fordone set at nought and all bondes wrytynges made by the kyng or any other for the obseruynge of the same were cancellyd and broken Also at thys couÌ„sayll was ordeyned that all such as had fauoured the Barons were they in pryson or at large shulde be disherited And then y e kyng resumed into his hande all grauntes before made and gyuen to any person And for syr Symounde de Mountforde myght not agree wyth the kynge at the parlyament he was restored to the castel of Kenelworth as he
Bysshoppes for theyr dysobedyence shulde be corrected And for thys Octobon the foresayde legate thys yere at a counsayl holden by hym and the clergy of Englande at Paules chyrche in LondoÌ„ suspended the sayde Bysshoppes theym sente vnto Rome to be assoyled of the pope beynge at thys daye Clement the .iiii. Anno domini M.CC.lxv  Anno domini M.CC.lxvi  Edwarde Blont  Thomas fiz Thomas  Anno. .l.  Peter Aunger  IN thys .l. yere vppon the euyn of saynt Thomas the apostle before Crystmas was yelden by appoyntement the castel of Kenelworth At the whyche the kynge with hys power had lyen as before is sayd froÌ„ mydsomer tyll that day and thaÌ„ gyuen ouer by syr Henry Hastynges hys complyeys vppon condycyon y t he and all the other shulde haue lyfe and lym and horse harneys with all thynges within the castell to theÌ„ belongynge and a certayne tyme of leyser to cary a way the same And in thys yere in the tyme of Lent were y e wardeyns of the .v. portes recoÌ„cyled to y e kynge by fauour of syr Edward the kynges sonne And natwithstandynge the greate harmys they had done by rouyng vppon the see aswel to Englysshe marchauntes as to other they had to them confermed all theyr fourmer pryuyleges And ouer that to theym was grauÌ„ted y t yf any man Englysshe or other wolde sewe for restitucyon of good by theÌ„ before taken or for the deth of any of they re frendes before slayne that all suche complayntes shuld be sued shewed in theyr courtê there to haue theyr maters determyned nat ellys where But what the cause was of thys ende thus made atwene y e kyng theÌ„ it is nat shewed But y e coÌ„mon fame at y t day ran y t the sayd wardeins of y e v. portes had at thys day y e dominioÌ„ of the see wherfore y e kyng was fayn to folowe theyr pleasures About the feast of Philip Iacob y e kyng helde hys parlyameÌ„t at Nort haÌ„pton At y t whych were coÌ„fermed y e olde fraunchyses lybertyes by the kyngê progenytours before grauÌ„ted vnto the cytye of LoÌ„don with a new grauÌ„t for y e shyre of Middelsex And at thys parlyament were dysheryted many noble men of the lande y t before tyme had taken the barons partie For whyche cause they accompanied theym togyder robbed and reuyd in diuers coostes of the lande toke the towne of LyncolnÌ„ spoyled it after raunsomed many of the ryche burgeyses of the towne and toke the ile of Ely streÌ„gthed it in suche wyse that they helde it longe after Anno domini M.CC.lxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxvii  IohnÌ„ Adryan  willmÌ„ Fiz Rycharde  Anno .li  Luke Badecot  IN thys .li. yere at the chosyng of the mayre certayne contrauersies fyll attwene the rulers the commons of the cytye of London wherfore by aduice of the mayre and aldermen syr Roger Leydorne with other came vnto y e Guylhalle beyng harnesed vnder theyr gownes and vppon the fryday folowyng Alhalowyn called the commons to the eleccion of the new mayre where the best of the cytye gaue y e nominacyoÌ„ vnto Alei sowch diuerse of y e other cryed vpon Thomas fyz Thomas whych at that tyme was prysoner in wyndesore castell wherfore the sayd Roger with y e assystence of the mayre and other toke the sayde Rascal and euyll disposed persones and sent theÌ„ vnto dyuers prysons Thys yere also the gentylmen that helde the I le of Ely brake oute sondry tymes and dyd moche harme in Northfolke in Suffolke and Cambrydgeshyre and toke the cytie of Norwyche and after the spoylynge thereof caryed awaye with theym many of the cytezeyns beynge ryche and fynaunced theym at great summes of money lyued therein that I le lyke vnto out lawes By thys and other many hurtes in dyuers places of the laÌ„de was done by theuys and other yll dysposed people whereof the charge was euer layde vnto the fore name gentilmen TheÌ„ the legate laboured vnto the kynge that the sayde disheryted gentylmen myght purchase theyr laÌ„des of hym by fyne and raunsome By whose laboure the kynge lastly agreed that the sayd gentylmeÌ„ shuld haue theyr landes agayne by fynes of .v. yere value of theyr lande As he that myght dyspende .xx. li. by yere shulde paye an C. li. and so other after that rate except syr Robert ferers Erle of Derby syr IohnÌ„ de la warre and hym that strake of y e fyste of the kynges purseuauÌ„t And some other persones whyche were of small hauoure shulde be fyned by discrecyon of the kynges counsayll but this toke no conclusyon Anno domini M.CC.lxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxviii  Thomas Basynge  Aleyn South  Anno .lii.  Robert de Cornehylf  IN thys .lii. yere for what hap is nat expressed syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Gloceter refused y e king and in the marche of walys gadered vnto hiÌ„ a stronge power To whome also drewe syr IohnÌ„ Eyuile other of the company disherited And after the feest of Crystmasse with a greate hoost came nere vnto London that tyme the Popes legate Octobonus beynge lodged at the toure of LoÌ„doÌ„ whan the mayre and aldermen of the cytye were ware of the erles commynge with so stronge a power nat knowynge whether he were the kynges frende or nat shytte the gates agayne hys fore ryders And for the kynge nor none of hys couÌ„sayll was than nere vnto the cytye the mayre and aldermen went vnto the legate and requyred hys counsayl whether they shulde suffre the erle to entre iÌ„to the cytye or nat wherunto the legate answered that he thought nat the contrary for he knewe wele that he was the kynges trewe subyect freÌ„de It was nat loÌ„ge after that a messanger came from the erle vnto the mayre wyllynge to haue lycence to passe thorugh the cytye into Southwerke where he entendyd to lodge hym and hys people whyche was graunted and so the erle passed thorough the cytye and was lodged in South werke To whoÌ„ came shortly after by Southerey syde syr IohnÌ„ Eyuile with a greate company Than the mayre kepte the gate of y e brydge shyt and watched it dayly with a certayne of armyd men and euery nyght caused the draw brydge to be drawen the waters syde dayly and nyghtly to be watched with many armyd men In lytell processe of tyme after the legate and the erle agreed in suche wyse that the erle by hys aduyce was suffered with a certayne of hys people to be lodged within y e cytye By reason wherof he dayly drewe more more of hys people into the cytye so that fynally many thynges were ordered by hym many of the commons toke hys partye agayne the mayre and aldermen Then in the Easter weke he toke y e keyes of the brydge and of the gates from the offycers of the cytye and delyuered them to
into the holy lande the xx peny of euery mannes substaunce mouable thorough out hys lande of the lay fee and of the spyrytualty by assent of y e .x. Gregorye then pope .iii. dysmes to be leuyed in thre yeres Anno domini M.CC.lxx  Anno domini M.CC.lxxi  walter Porter  IohnÌ„ Adryan Uyntyner  Anno .lv.  IohnÌ„ Taylour  IN thys .lv. yere the kynge of Romains coÌ„cludid a couenauÌ„t betwen y e kyng syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter for a vyage to be taken into the holy lande by the sayd erle for the kynge For the whych vyage the saide erle shuld haue toward his charge .viii thousand mark and at the takyng of his shyppyng other iiii thousande marke and to be redy by the fyrst daye of May next folowynge and yf the erle were not redy at the see syde at that day with his company to take his shyppynge he shuld then forfayte to y e kyng .ii. M. marke For suertie wherof y e sayde erle shuld delyuer into the kynges possessyon his castell of Henleger standynge vppon y e marche of walis But this cam after to no purpose wherfore y e cause is not shewyd But y e iourney was perfourmed by syr Edwarde the kynges sonne as after shall be to you declared In this passe tyme the cytesyns of London contentyd so well syr Edwardes mynde that he laboured so for them to the kynges grace that they had then theyr chartour so coÌ„fermyd that they shuld after theyr auncyent lybertyes chose of them self a mayre and two shryues and y e sayd shryues to haue the offyces therunto belongynge to ferme as they to fore hadde excepte that wheretofore they payde for the fee ferme .iii. hundred and l. punde nowe they shulde pay .iiii. hundred and .l. pouÌ„de After whyche confyrmacyon thus grauÌ„ted and passed by y e kynges brode seale the cytesyns vppon the .xiiii. daye of Iuly assembled at the Guyldhall chase for theyr mayre IohnÌ„ Adryan draper and for shyreffes walter Porter and IohnÌ„ Tayller And vppon y e xvi daye folowynge syr Edwarde beynge present presented them vnto y e king at westminster where they were admitted sworne And then was syr Hugh of Othon dyschargyd of that rule of the cytye Then the citesyns of theyr fre wyll gaue vnto the kynge an C. marke to syr Edwarde .v. huÌ„dred marke whyche gyft the kyng well accepted And soone after they receyued theyr chartour of confyrmacyon berynge date the .xxi. day of Iuly and yere of the kynges reygne .lv. And for the former conuencyon betwene the kyng and the erle of Glouceter was not holden syr Edwarde toke vppon hym the kynges crosse To whom the kynge gaue all suche money as was graunted of y e lay fee as before is shewyd then toke his leue of the kyng and after toke shyppynge at Douer the .xx. daye of August and so sayled to Burbeaux with his wyfe and other noble company And for that holy Lewys then kyng of Fraunce was gone he taryed at Burdeaux a certayne season and after sped hym with his forsayd company toward y e cytye of Thunys where y e Frenche kyng was But or he came thyder saynt Lewys was dede And y e peace coÌ„cluded betwene Phylyppe hys son and the kynge of Thunys wherfore syr Edwarde entendynge to greue goddes enmyes wyth some knygtes of Fraunce whych enteÌ„ded the same toke leue of the Frenche kynge and of syr Charlâ—s hys vncle then kynge of Scycyle sayled further into the holy lande and arryued at a porte of Acris or Acon For at y e daye in the holy lande was no mo cytyes in the possessyon of cristen men but that and the cytye of Tyre wyth certayne castellys wherunto the crysten fled often for socoure agayne the Sarazyns when syr Edwarde was comeÌ„ to y e cytye of Acon y e crysten knyghtes receyued hym with gret honour gladnesse and lodged hym in theyr beste maner where he taryed by the space of a yere after as aftermeth y e french cronycle For yt was not longe after his commynge thyder but that the Soudane of Sury the whych had wonne al the countreys there about came thyther wyth a great power of Sarazyns and assauted the towne vygurously But syr Edwarde with the ayde of crysten men bare hym so knyghtly that he defended the cytye and the castellys to the same belongynge terrytores of the same that the Soudane for all hys great multytude and power gate there lyteil honoure notwytstandynge that he hadde in hys hoste as affyrmeth the frenche cronycle ouer an hundred thousande Sarazyns And more affyrmeth the sayde cronycle that syr Edwarde in his polycyes and manfull actes so honorably behauyd him that he neuer dyd such acte in all his lyfe folowynge all be it that after he dyd many of grete honour But none that was lyke vnto the actes that he there accomplyshed and brought vnto ende By reason wherof his name amonge infidelys was had in memory many yeres after Of the honoure of thys marcyall knyght I haue shewed the lenger rehersall for so myche as I fynde yt testyfyed of the French men the which I knowe well by theyr other cronycles that they make of Englysh prynces must be of great authoryte or ellys by them yt shuld not so specyally haue ben noted And more ouer I am assured that yf a Frenche prynce had deseruyd suche a generall pryce yt shulde haue ben set out and artyculed euery acte thereof that yt shulde haue conteyned a large worke the specyaltyes therof declared to they re moste laude and honour Then thys noble prynce beynge thus in Acon and dayly puttynge the Suryens to shame and great damages they seynge they might not preuayle agayn hym by strength of vatayll cast how they myght destroy hym by treason and sente vnto hym a Sarazyne in name of a messanger the whyche in tellynge of hys fayned message wouÌ„ded hym wyth a knyfe enuenomyd of the whyche wounde he laye longe or he were therof cured But after confessyon made by the Sarazyn of all hys coÌ„passed treason he was put vnto cruell deth In thys yere also fyll downe the steple of saynt Mary Bow in Chepe of LoÌ„don slew women chyldren Anno domini M.CC.lxxi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxii  Gregory Rokkysle  IohnÌ„ Adryan wyntener  Anno .lvi.  Henry waleys  IN this .lvi. yere in the moneth of Nouember at the parliameÌ„t holden at westmynster the marchauÌ„tes of LoÌ„don and other places of Englande complayned them to y e kyng that the countesse of Flaundres had taken from them certayne gooddes amountynge to a great summe Uppon whych complaynt the kyng sent to her to make restytucyon But for noâ—e was had the kyng coÌ„maunded that all men born in y e partyes in Englande shulde be arrested and they theyr goodes to be vnder suer kepynge By the whych meane in conclusyon she sent ouer embassadours and besought the kyng that
Leycester whych after grewe to the great dysturbauÌ„ce of dyuers townes of Englande and specyally of the cytye of London as after some dele shall appere Anno domini M.CC.lxxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxxv  Stephen CornÌ„hyll  Gregory Rokesle  Anno .xiii.  Robert Rokesby  IN thys .xiii. yere vpon the day of the conuersioÌ„ of saynt Paule or y e .xxv. day of Ianuarii y e kynge ceased the fraunchese and lybertyes into hys handes and discharged the mayre of London thaÌ„ beyng Gregory Rokkisle admytted for custos or gardeyn of the cytye StephaÌ„ SaÌ„dewyche The whyche contynued in that offyce tyll the moÌ„day folowyng the puryfycacyon of our Lady At whyche season the sayd StephaÌ„ was dyscharged and syr IohnÌ„ BretonÌ„ knyght charged for the resydue of y e yere The cause of thys dyspleasure that the kyng had vnto the cytye is nat shewed of no certaynte But in an olde panflete it appereth that the sayd Gregory Rokkisley toke certayne brybes of the bakers and suffered them to sell brede lackynge .vi. vnces or .vii. oz in a peny lofe for y e whyche the kynge shuld be sore dyspleased But yet to me it semeth no conuenyent cause to sease the lybertyes of the cytie for the offence of one man wherfore it is to presuppose y t it was for a more greuous cause And in this yere was fully fynisshed and ended the new werke of y e chyrch of westmynster vnto the ende of the quere begonne as before is shewed in the thyrde yere of the .iii. HeÌ„ry By whyche reason it shuld apere y t thys chyrche shuld be in edyfyenge vpon lxvi yeres Of the fyrste fundacyon of thys chyrche are dyuers opinioÌ„s For as before is shewed in y e thyrde Chapytre of the story of Carce and v. parte of thys werke thys chyrche was fyrste founded by a cytezeyne of LondoÌ„ and after reedyfyed by saynt Edwarde and lastly by kynge HeÌ„ry the .iii. But in the same abbey of west mynster where of lykelyhode y e most certaynte is to be had it is regystred that thys sayd chyrche was a temple of the Brytons longe or they receyued the fayth of Chryste And in the tyme of theyr crysten kynge Lucius it was hallowed of Augustyne hys felowes And secundaryly it was reedyfyed by Sebertus than kynge of Estsaxons or Essex aboute the tyme whan Ethelbert kyng of Kent buylded saynt Paules chyrch of LondoÌ„ whyche was after the tyme that Lucyus receyued the fayth of Chryste vppon .iiii. C. yeres Than thyrdly it was buylded by saynt Edwarde the confessoure whiche reygned vpon CCCC and .xl. yeres after the sayde Sebertus And fourthly or lastly by the foresayd Henry y e thyrde whiche began his reygne after the dethe of saynt Edwarde C.l. yeres Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxv  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxvi  walter Blount  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xiiii.  Iohan wade  IN the .xiiii. yere of kynge Edwarde at a parliament holden at westmynster were made y t statutes called Additamenta Gloucestrie whiche is to meane addicioÌ„s of statutes made and put to suche as before tyme were made at y e parlyameÌ„t holdeÌ„ at Glouceter The which statutes were made to refourme suche ê‘sones as mysused the landes and tenementes commynge to them by reason of y e dower or landes of theyr wyues so that the the chyldren of the seconde husbande putt by y e ryghtfull enherytoures or suche as were nexte alyed vnto the fyrst donours By reason of whiche statutes and addicions now in this parliameÌ„t made suche mysorder was refourmed In this yere or nere there aboute in a towne of Almayne called Traiect many men and women as wytnesseth y e auctour of Cronica cronicarum were dauÌ„syng vpoÌ„ a brydge whiche lay ouer a ryuer called Moose In whiche tyme of theyr dysporte dauÌ„synge came by a preest berynge the sacrameÌ„t towarde a seke man wherof the sayd men and women beynge in reuell toke no regarde vnto the sacrament nor dyd to it any honour reuerence But were it by the wreche of god or otherwyse shortly after the preest was passed ouer the brydge brake by meanes wherof nere vnto the nombre of CC. persones were drowned And aboute this same season in the couÌ„tre called in Englysshe the Swetezers a woman was delyuered of a chylde that from y e nauyll vpwarde had .ii. complete bodyes as iiii armes and two hedes with two bodyes to the wast and downeward but .ii. legges the whiche with y e fore sayd armes be clypped eyther others body And an other woman bare a chylde or a monstre wherof the heed and the face was lyke vnto a man all the body lyke vnto a lyon with tayle and fete and all other fetures accordynge to the same In this yere also a cytezyn of London named Thomas Pywylesdon y t whiche in y e tyme of y e barons warre before in the story of kynge Henry shewed had ben a capytayne and a great styrrer of the commons of the sayd cytie for to maynteyne the barons partie agayne the kynge was newly accused that he with other of euyll dysposycyon shulde make conuentycles and assembles to the newe dystourbaunce of the cytie wherof reporte was made vnto the kynge the whiche remytted the enquery therof vnto syr Rauffe Sandewyche than custos or gardeyne of the cytie TheÌ„ the sayde Thomas with other was putte in sure kepynge tyll the mater were duly enquyred of After whiche inquysycyon made and founde reporte was made vnto the kynge Then the kyng sent downe a wrytte and commaunded it to be proclaymed shortly after within the boundes of the cytye wherof the effecte was thus that the sayde Thomas PywelysdoÌ„ wylyam de Heywoode Rycharde de Coundris Rycharde le Cofferre Robert de Derby Albyne de Darby wyllyam Mayo Mercer and Iuo Lyng Draper with diuers other to y e noÌ„bre of .l. persones shuld be banysshed out of y t cytye for euer And if any of the sayd .lviii. persones were at that tyme of the proclamacioÌ„ voyded y e cytye for fere or otherwyse that they shuld so remayne and nat to retourne vnto the cytie vpoÌ„ payne of lyfe losynge In thys yere also where as of olde tyme longe before thys season y e marchauntes strauÌ„gers commynge with theyr marchaundyse were lodged within cytezeyns of the cytye of London and solde all theyr marchaundyses by the procuryng of hys host for the whyche hys sayd hoost had a certayne of euery .li by meanes of the sayd marchauntes strauÌ„gers it was at thys daye brought to passe y t they myght hyre to theÌ„ houses for to dwel in and for stowage of theyr wares so that no cytezeyne shulde entermedle hym with the sayd strauÌ„gers nor yet theyr wares by meane whereof they vsed many disceytes bothe i vtterauÌ„ce of false wares and also by theyr weyghtes whyche they vsed in theyr owne houses to the great hurt of the hole realme of Englande wherfore sodaynly serche was made and
sore warreyd of the Frenche kynge in somoche that he hadde wonne the towne of Margquet and the countre theraboute And for to put the sayde Guy vnto the more trouble the sayd Frenche kynge caused Robert erle of Artoys to inuade the couÌ„tre of FlauÌ„dres toward Pycardy encountred with y e sayd Guy nere vnto a towne called Furnes wher atwene y e said .ii. erles was foughteÌ„ a sharpe bataâ—l so that many men were slayne vpon bothe partyes After whiche fyght the Erle of Flaunders spedde hym towarde Gaunt where as kynde Edwarde than soiourned the erle of Artoys drewe hym towarde y e FreÌ„che kynge the whiche shortly after was receyued into the towne of Bruges In whiche tyme and season whyle y e sayd .ii. kynges laye thus at eyther towne a meane of peas was there treated of so that fynally a peas was coÌ„cluded atwene the .ii. kynges and atwene the Frenche kynge and Guy erle of FlauÌ„ders vnto the feest of all sayntes than next ensuenge And froÌ„ that day vnto the feast of all sayntes thaÌ„ .ii. yeres folowyng After whiche peas so stablysshed kynge Edwarde departed from the towne of Gaunte yode to Burdeaux And y e Frenche kynge retourned into Fraunce And prysoners were delyuered on bothe partyes In this tyme and season whyle kynge Edwarde was thus occupyed in FlauÌ„ders the Scottes by the entysement of the Frenche kynge to the entent to cause kynge Edwarde to kepe his countre that he shulde nat ayde the erle of Flaunders beganne to make warre vpon the kynges soudyours whiche y e kynge had lafte there in dyuers holdes And also entred vpon y e borders of NorthuÌ„berlande made sharpe warre vpon the inhabytauntes of that countre And for that syr IohnÌ„ Bayloll theyr kynge after some wryters was at y â— tyme prysoner in the towre of London or els voyded the couÌ„tre for fere of the kynge of Englande therfore the sayde Scottes made them a capytayne the whiche was named wyllyam waleys a man of vnknowen or lowe byrth to whom they obeyed as vnto theyr kynge Anone as y e kynge herde of the rebellyon of the Scottes which to hym was no great wonder consyderynge theyr greate vnstedfastnesse he wrote his letters vnto syr HeÌ„ry Persy erle of NorthuÌ„berlande to syr wyllyam Latymer and to syr Hugh Cressyngham than tresourer of Englande and to other that they in all goodly haste shulde make prouysyon to withstande the Scottes The whiche persones after receyte of the kynges letters spedde them all in spedy maner so that they entred Scotlande shortly after and coÌ„pelled y e Scottes to returne backe vnto a towne named Streuelyn where iÌ„ a skyrmyssh foughteÌ„ atwene the Englysshe and the Scottes syr Hugh Cressyngham forenamed with dyuers Englysshemen was slayne But yet the Scottes were holden so strayte of the Englysshe hoost that after that skyrmysshe they wolde nat of a certayne tyme come in playne felde but kepte theym within theyr castelles and stroÌ„ge holdes And this yere atwene Easter and wytsontyde certayne ê‘sones of LondoÌ„ brake vp the tunne in the warde of Cornhyll and toke out certayne persones that thyder were commytted by syr IohnÌ„ Bryton then custos or gardeyn of the cytie for nyght walkynge For y â— whiche ryot the sayde persones that is to meane Thomas Romayne and viii other were afterwarde greuously punysshed as fyrst by prysonmeÌ„t and after by fynes And this yere the kynge in y e moneth of October came into EnglaÌ„de and so to wynchester where the cytezyns of London made suche laboure vnto his grace that shortly after they opteyned graunte of theyr lyberties and fraunchyses that had in some parte be kepte from them by y e terme of .xii. yeres more So that vpon the daye of the translacyon of saynt Edwarde kynge and confessour next folowyng they chase them a mayre of them selfe where by all the foresayd tyme theyr custos or gardeyn was appoynted by y e kyng or by suche as y e kyng wold assygne But ye shall vnderstande that this was not redemed without great summes of money For after some wryters the cytezyns payde for it to the kynge .iii M. marke Also this yere kyng Edwarde put out of his proteccyon certayne Alyauntes whiche were rychely benefyced in England The cause was for the sayd alyauntes wolde nat ayde y e kynge with theyr goodes as y e other of his lande dyd but purchased an inibicyon of pope Boniface the .viii that they and theyr goodes shulde be fre from all the kynges dymes or taskys Therfore y e kyng ceased theyr temporaltyes and suffered theÌ„ with theyr spyritualtes tyl they were agreed with the kynge Anno domini M.CC.xcviii  Anno domini M.CC.xcix  Richarde Reffham  Henry waleys  Anno .xxvii.  Thomas Sely.  IN this .xxvi. yere after Chrystmasse certayne persones made a dyggyng and a serche in y e churche of saynt Martynes le grauÌ„de in LoÌ„don for certayne tresoure that there shulde be hydde as it was reported of a gardiner But theyr labour was in vayne for nothynge was there founde For the whiche dede y e deane of Poules the seconde sonday of lent folowynge denounced all theÌ„ accursed that were at that dede doynge or consentynge to the same In this yere aboute y e begynnyng of Aprell the kynge rode towarde Scotlande and appoynted his lordes with theyr companyes to mete with hym at yorke where with hym met a great hoost y t whiche he ladde into Scotlande and brent and spoyled the countre as he went and taryed a season at Barwyke And from thens he spedde hym in wynnynge of the townes and castelles as he went tyll he came nere to a towne named Fawkyrk or Fankyrk where vpon y e day of mary Magdaleyne or y e .xxii. day of Iulii met with hym y e power of Scotlande and gaue vnto hym a sore fyght But in the ende the vyctory fyll vnto the EnglysshmeÌ„ so that of the Scottes were slayne in y e felde as affyrme dyuers wryters ouer the nombre of .xxxii. M. and of Englysshmen but barely .xxviii. persones After whiche scomfyture the Scottes yelded to the kynge the more partye of the stronge holdes castelles that they tofore had holden agayne hym and made vnto hym newe othe and promysse and yelded them selfe vnto his grace and mercy And whan he had set that countre in an ordre and rule he thaÌ„ retourned into EnglaÌ„de and so to LoÌ„don where by y e aduyce of some of his counsayll he sodeynly daÌ„pned certayn coynes of money called pollardes crocardes rosaries caused theÌ„ to be broughte to newe coynage to his great aduauÌ„tage ye haue before herde in that other yere how that a truce or a peas was stablysshed at wene the kynge and y e kynge of Fraunce for the space of .ii. yeres and more the whiche fynally was concluded this yere that kynge Edwarde for a peas to be had bytwene both regyons shulde take vnto wyfe Margarete the suster of Philip
meÌ„ by goddes haÌ„de and punysshment so that what with warre of the Scottes and for hungre and deth by mortalite and syckenesse the people of y e lande was wonderslye wasted and perysshed But al those monycyons amended not the kynge of his inordynate lyuynge Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xviii  Iohan Pryoure  Iohan wentgraue  Anno .xi.  wyllyam Furneux  IN this .xi. yere y e kynge assembled a newe host and went into NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„de to resyste the malyce of the Scottes whiche dayly made assawtes vpon the bordours and entred ferre within the lande wherfore for great dystresse nede of fyghting men the kynge had moch people out of y e southe and east partyes of Englande Amonge the whiche contrary to theyr lybertye the cyte of London was constrayned to fynde at theyr costes and charge CC. men and so sent theym to yorke whan the kynge at yorke hadde receyued his people frome sundry countrees and good townes of Englande he with a conuenyent noumbre rode towarde Berwyke so sped his iournayes that at lengthe he came nere vnto Berwyke and layde his syege aboute y e fame But whyle the kynge was besyed in assawtynge of the towne the Scottes brake ouer the water of Swale in great noumbre leuynge the cooste where the kynges people laye in secrete wyse came downe into the marchis of yorke shyre and there slewe the people and robbed them in moost cruell wyse wherefore y e arche bisshop of yorke constrayned of pure necessyte to defende that countre gathered vnto hym an vnredy dispurueyed hoost for y e warre as pryours clerkes chanons and other spyrituel men of the churche wyth husbande men and other vnapte people and so with great nombre of men and fewe warly or discrete cheuetaynes yode agayne y e Scottes and them encouÌ„tred at a place called Mitton vppon Swale the .xii. day of the moneth of Octobre and gaue vnto theÌ„ batayle But for lacke of wyse and warely prouysyon the EnglysshemeÌ„ were beset of theyr enemyes vpon euery side so that of them was slayne a great multytude the remenaunt shamefullye put to flyghte by reason wherof the sayde archebisshop with the abbot of Selby and other were preseruyd And for so many spyrytuell meÌ„ were slayne in thys batayl therfore it was after named of many wrytters the whyte batayll whan the kynge was enfourmed of this ouerthrowe of the Northyrne men and for it drewe towarde wynter he therfore brake vp hys siege and retourued vnto yorke and soone after forther into EnglaÌ„d Than was nothyng done without y e aduyces and couÌ„ceylys of syr Hughe the speÌ„cers the father and the sonne By whose entysemeÌ„t many thynges were done in Englande to the great grudge as well of the noble men of the realme as of the commons of the same so y t they were had in as greate hatred and indygnacyon as before tymes was Pyers of Gaâ—eston And many euyll reportes and great extorcyoÌ„s were of theÌ„ reported as lightly men shall do that ben oute of the fauoure of the common people Anno domini M.CCC.xviii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xix  IohnÌ„ Pontenay  IohnÌ„ wengraue  Anno .xii.  IohnÌ„ Dallynge  IN this .xii. yere the kyng helde hys greate counceyll at yorke where coÌ„trary the mynde of y e lordes syr Hughe Spencer the sonne was made hyghe chaumberlayne of EnglaÌ„de By reason wherof he bare hym so hawtely and so prowde that no lorde of thys lande myght gaynsaye hym in any thynge that he thoughte good wherof grewe the occasyon of the barons warre as after foloweth In thys passetyme for asmoche as y e foresayd cardinalles might nothyng do concernyng the peace betwene Englande and Scotlande the kynge purchased a curse of the .xxii. Iohan then pope to accurse Robert le Bruze and all suche as wyth hym helde or maynteyned and it to stande so in strenght tyll the sayd Robert had recompensed kynge Edwarde for all suche harmys as hys lande had by hym receyued also tyl he had reedifyed the monasteryes and churches by hym and hys caste downe in Englande and restored to them suche spirytuell goodes as the Scottes had reued and taken from them But all thys auayled nothyng but putte the kyng and the realme to great coste charge so that y e comons were vexed and trowbled many maner of ways and theyr possessyons and moueable goodes taken from them vpon surmysed feyned causes so that many were vtterly vndoon and a fewe synguler mysguyded persones auauÌ„ced whan the more partye of the barones of Englande behelde this mysery of the people how they were punyshed by the hande of god and also by the ygnoraunce of the kynge they in secrete maner assembled them togyder at a towne called ShyrbornÌ„ in 〈◊〉 and there condisceÌ„ded for a reformacyon of this myschefe to remoue from the kynge the sayd SpeÌ„sers bothe the father and the sonne And this to brynge aboute syr Thomas erle of Lancastre syr Humfrey Bohum erle of Hereforde syr Iohan Moubray baroÌ„ syr Roger Clyfforde baroÌ„ syr Goselyn Danyell baroÌ„ syr Roger Toket Roger Benefeelde syr Roger Mortymer Syr whyllyaÌ„ SullaÌ„de syr wyllyam Elmynbrydge syr Iohan Gyfforde and syr Iohan Tyers barons and knyghtes with dyuers other sware eche of theÌ„ to staÌ„de by other tyll they had amended the state of the realme And soone after by theyr aduyce and agrement syr Iohan Moubraye syr Roger Clyfforde and syr Goselyn Danyel with a stronge company entred vpon the manours and castelles of the sayde Spensers standynge in the marche of wales and them spoyled and destroyed Of the whiche ryot the SpeÌ„sers complayned them to the kynge In punysshent wherof the kynge callynge to hym dyuerse of his couÌ„ceyll at wyndsore there determyned that the sayde syr Iohan Moubraye syr Roger Clyfforde syr Goselyn Danyell with other theyr assystentes shulde appere before the kynges counsayle shortly after and there to make answere vpon that ryot And yf they refused that to do that than they shulde auoyde the lande shortly after as banysshed men But no day of apparence by theym was kepte wherfore proclamacyons were made in dyuers placys of the realme and at London the .xvi. daye of Marche that the sayde syr Iohan Moubray syr Roger Clyfforde and other shuld auoyde the lande within .x. dayes folowynge vpon payne of dethe wherof herynge y e lordes and barones before named assembled theym a more strenger power and vpon that sent a messynger vnto y e kynge besechynge hym humbly to remoue frome his persone and couÌ„seyle the Spensers y e which dayly dyd vnto hym great dyshonour and to the comune weale of the realme great hynderauÌ„ce The kynge herynge this humble request nothynge with it beynge contente but ferynge greatly the destruccyon of his owne persone assembled his couÌ„feyle for reformacyon of this mater where it was concluded that the kynge shulde call a parlyamente at London there to be holden in the 〈◊〉 folowynge And
other and there was taken the erle of Lancastre syr Roger Clyfforde syr Iohan Moubraye syr Roger Tuckettes syr wyllyam Fyzwyllyam with dyuerse other ladde vnto porke And thys feelde was foughten as wytnesseth Polycronycon the .xv. daye of Marche in the ende of y t yere of oure lorde a thousande thre hundreth twenty It was nat longe after that syr Hugh Daniell and syr Barthew de Bladysmoore were taken And syr Thomas erle of Lancastre was brought agayn to his owne towne of Pountfret where he was broughte in iugement before syr Aymer de Ualaunce erle of Penbroke syr Iohan Brytayne erle of Rychemounde syr Edmunde of woodstoke erle of Kent syr Hughe Spenser the father â–ª and syr Roberte Malmestorp iustyce wyth other and before them fynally adiuged to haue hys hedde stryken of whereof execucyon was done the twelef daye of Aprell in the begynnyng of the yere of grace after the rekenynge of the chyrche of EnglaÌ„de M.CCC.xxi Of this erle Thomas are dyuerse opynyons For some wryters shew of hym to be a seynt But PolicronicoÌ„ in y e .xlii. chapytre of hys .vii. boke sheweth otherwyse But what so euer erthlye men in such thynges deme it is farre frome the secrete iugemente of god so that to hym and hys sentence such thynges are to be referred From thys tyme forthwarde by y e terme of .v. yeres ensuyng y t fortune of the Spensers hugely encreased And as faste the quenes dyscreased tyll she was releued by the kynge of of Fraunce than Charles the .v. of y e name and brother vnto hyr as after shal be shewed Than to retourne vnto oure former mater vpon the foresayde daye that erle Thomas was thus put in execucyon syr Roger Tutkettes syr wyllyam FizwyllyaÌ„ syr waren of Iselde or Isell syr Henry of Bradborne syr willyaÌ„ Cheyny Barones knyghtes were drawen hanged theyr hedes smytren of and sent vnto London whyche all were putte to deth at PouÌ„tfrete foresayd with an esquyre called Iohan Page And at yorke soone after was drawen heded syr Roger Clyfford syr IohnÌ„ Moubray syr Goselyne Danyell Barons And at Brystowe syr HeÌ„ry womyngton syr Henry Monforde Banerettes at Glowceter syr IohnÌ„ Giffard syr wyllyaÌ„ Elmyngbrydge knyghtes and at London syr IohnÌ„ Tiers or Tryers baron and at wynchelsâ—e syr Thomas Culpepyr knyght and at wyndesore syr Fraunceys walden ham baron and at Caunterbury syr Barthew de Bladismoore syr Bartholl de Asbornham baronys And at Cardeeffe in walys was putte to lyke execucyon syr wyllyaÌ„ Flemyng knyght vpon whose soules and all crysten Iesus haue mercy whan the kyng had thus subdued his barons he soone after aboute the feast of the assencyon of oure Lorde kepte hys parlyamente at yorke Durynge whyche parlyament syr Hugh Spenser the father was made erle of wynchester and syr Andrew of Harkeley erle of Carleyle or after some wryters Cardoyll and dysheryted all suche as before hadde holden wyth the erles of Lancastre and of Hereforde except syr Hugh Dandell and fewe other the whych syr Hugh was receyued to grace by reason that he had maryed a kynneswoman of the kynges There was also ordeyned or soone after that mayster Roberte Baldok a man of euyll fame shuld be chauÌ„celer of EnglaÌ„de Than forfaytes tynes were gathered into the kynges treasoury without sparyng of pryui leged places or other so that what myght be fouÌ„de all was seased for y e kyng By reason wherof moche treasoure was brought vnto the kynges coffers besyde great thynges y t were brybed and spoyled by the officers of dyuers shyres Anno domini M.CCC.xxi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxii  Rycharde Constantyne  Hamonde Chykwell  Anno .xv.  Rychard Hakeney  IN thys .xv. yere the kyng gadered the .vi. peny of temporall mennes goodes through Englande Irelande walys that to hym was graunted at the foresayd parlyameÌ„t for the defence of the Scottes which was payed wyth great murmoure grudge consyderyng the manyfolde myseryes that the common people at those dayes were wrapped in This yere also the sone appered to mannes syght as blode and so continued by the space of .vi. houres that is to meane in the moneth of Octobre and laste daye of the sayde moneth from vii of the clocke in the mornyng tyll one of the same day After some wryters about thys tyme y e Scottes entendyng to wynne an enterpryse in Irelande and for to wynne that contrey to theyr obeysaunce entered it with a stronge hoste vnder theyr capytayne Edwarde le Bruze brother to the Scottisshe kyng But howe it was by ayde of Englysshe men or of them selfe the Irysshe quyt them so well and bare theÌ„ so manfully that they vaynquysshed the Scottes and chased theÌ„ out of that countrey In y e whych chase fyght y t sayd Edward le Bruze many of the noble men of Scotlande were slayne Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxii.  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxiii  IohnÌ„ Grantham  Hamonde Chykwell  Anno .xvi.  Rycharde of Ely  IN this .xvi. yere y e kyng made greate prouysyon for to make a voyage into Scotland so y t about the begynnyng of August he entred that countrey But the Scottes consyderyng the great multytude of his hoste drewe them into the mountaynes other places where as the Englysshemen myght nat wynne to theÌ„ and all to the entent for to wery and tyre the kynges great hoste Than diâ—erse maladyes fell amonge the Englysshmen so that many of theÌ„ dyed and were loste in that iournay aswel for lacke of vytayl as by infyrmyte sykenesse so that the kyng for theyse causes other was constrayned to retourne into Englande about y e natyuyte of our Lady where of the scottes beynge enfourmed syr Iamys Dowglas with other capytayns of y e Scottes wyth a stronge hooste folowed or costed y e kyng in suche wyse that about the feest of saynte Luke they had almooste taken the kynge at dyner at an abbey called Bella Launde or Beyghlande Thant he kynge of pure constraynte defended hym and withstoode the Scottes as he myghte But after shorte and weke fyghte the kynge was compelled to flee by that meane to saue hym selfe In thys skyrmysshe was taken syr Iohan Brytayne erle of RychemoÌ„de and the kynges treasoure was there spoyled and borne away and the ordenaunce belongynge to the hoste great parte of it was by the Scottes conueyed into Scotlande Than the Scottes in theyr retournyng homewarde wan the castell of Norham robbed the towne of Northallerton and other Of thys losse and harmes way syr Andrewe of Harkeley put in wyte by mysledynge of the kynges hoste as in the nexte yere shal be shewed Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxiiii  Adam Salesbury  Symon Franceys  Anno .xvii.  IohnÌ„ of Oxynforde  IN thys .xvii. yere the kyng beynge enfourmed that he hys people were so put vnto dyshonoure as in the precedyng yere is touched
his enemyes For subdie wherof the cytezyns of London were constrayned to fynde at theyr propre costes an hundred men of armys the whyche contrary theyr lybertyes with a condycyon that after that daye it shulde be no president they sent vnto Portchestre In thys season passe tyme the quene with syr Edwarde hyr son with a small company of Englysshemen and a crewe of Henawders of the whych syr IohnÌ„ of Henawde the erles brother was capytayne toke shyppynge in those partyes had y e wynde so fauorable vnto them that they landed in Englande at a porte called Orwell besyde Harwyche in Suffolke the .xxv. day of SepteÌ„bre without any resistens of meÌ„ of warre agayne hyr made To whome after hyr landyng the people of the couÌ„tre drewe by great companyes so sped hyr towarde London At thys tyme of the quenes thus laÌ„dyng the kyng was at hys cytye of LondoÌ„ But wheÌ„ he harde of the great people y t drewe to hyr out of all countres he fered wherfore in safegardyng of hym self he fled wyth a small companye towarde walys lefte mayster walter StapyltoÌ„ bisshop of Exceter behynd hym to haue the rule of the cytye of London It was nat longe after the kynges departyng that y e quene sent a letter vnto the mayre comynaltie of the cytye requyred of them ayde to subdue the oppressours of y e comoÌ„ weale of the realme But to that letter was made none answere Therefore she wrote the secoÌ„de tyme aduertysyng them of theyr landynge of the entent that she had to refourme y e enormytyes mysgouernauÌ„ce of the lande in admonestyng them of theyr ayde socoure as by the tenure of y e sayd letter more playnly appereth wherof the circumstauÌ„ce I haue left out of thys boke for so moche as I fynde varyaunce in the contentes thereof and also for the copyes there of ben sette oute in the cronycles of Englande and dyuers other bokes Than thys sayde letter was tacked vpon the crosse in Chepe whyche at that daye was called the newe crosse In the nyght before the day of saynt Denys or the .ix. day of October And other copyes of the same were fastened in dyuerse other places of y e cytye wherof one was fastened vpoÌ„ the mayres gate After whyche letter thus publysshed in the cytye the bisshop of Exceter to whome as before is sayd the kyng had commytted the rule of the cytye sent vnto the mayre to haue the keyes of the gates of the cytye by vertue of hys commission By the whych he stode so fermely vsed so sharpe wordes in the kynges name that varyaunce grew betwene hym the cytezyns so ferfourth that the commons of the cytye in theyr rage toke the sayd bysshop the .xiiii. day of Octobre and hym with .ii. of hys housholde esquyers beheded vnreuerently at y e standard in weschep And the same daye was taken for a spye a cytezyn called IohnÌ„ Marshal whych fauoured the Spensers ê‘tye in y e same place also beheded without processe of lawe And then the corps of y e sayde bysshop with hys .ii. seruauÌ„tes were haryed to Thamys syde where the sayd bysshop had begonne to edyfye a toure and there in the rubbusshe and sande of the same they buryed or conueyed these thre bodyes whyche dispyte to hym was done after some auctoures for so moche as he had vsurped of the comoÌ„ grounde of the cytie in settyng of the sayd toure But for what cause was he thus vngoodly vnreuerentely delte with no mencion is made And in thys passe tyme the quene easely a foote space folowed y e kyng which by thys season was coÌ„mâ— to Brystow hauyng with hym the SpeÌ„sers his dyffamed chauÌ„celler mayster Robert Baldocke syr IohnÌ„ erle of Arundell other where by theyr counsayls it was agreed that syr Hugh SpeÌ„ser the father shulde remayne there and haue the rule of the towne castell whyle the kynge with the other toke shyppynge sayled frome thens into walys to rayse the walshemen And so the kyng with syr Hugh Spenser the sonne the other toke shyppyng at Brystowe so sayled into waâ—ys when the certaynte therof came vnto the quene anone she sent to Brystow the erle of Kent the kynges brother syr IohnÌ„ of Henawde wyth dyuerse other for to take syr Hugh Spenser the father The whyche put them in suche deuour that they tooke the sayde syr Hugh and lefte a certayne to holde the towne castell tyll the quene with hyr power came thyther â–ª In the whyche tyme they sped them into walys and in processe tooke y e kynge hys chaunceller the erle of Arundell and syr Hughe Spenser the sonne and broughte them all to the towne of Hereforde And in thys whyle the cytezeyns of London wan the towre of LondoÌ„ and kept it vnto the quenes vse Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxv  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxvi  Gylbert Moordon  Rycharde Betayne  Anno .xix.  IohnÌ„ Cotton  IN thys .xix. yere and begynnynge of thys mayres charge vppon the morowe folowynge the feaste of Symon and Iude the same daye that the mayre rode to westmynster to take hys charge the same day at Brystow was syr Hugh Spenser the father putte to dethe and after buryed at wynchestre And vppon saynte Huys daye folowynge or the .xviii. daye of Nouembre was syr Hugh hys sonne draweÌ„ hanged and quartered at Herforde and hys hed sent to London and set amonge other vpon the brydge The comon fame of hym went that after he was taken he wolde take no maner sustenauÌ„ce wherfore he was the sooner put vnto deth Of this Hugh a versyfyer made these two verses folowynge Punis cum lignis a te miser ensis ignis Hugo securis equus abstulit omne decus whiche verses to them that vnder stande no latyne maye in thys wyse be expowned or englysshed wyth ropes were thou bounde and on the galowe honge And from thy body thyne hed wyth swerde was kytte Thy bowels in the fyre were throwe and burned longe Thy body in foure pecys eke wyth an axe was slytte wyth horse before drawyn fewe men pytyenge it Thus wyth these turmentys for thy synnes sake from y e wretched Hugh all wordly welthe was take In thys meane tyme and season the kynge was conueyed vnto the castell of Kenelworthe and there kepte vnder the garde of syr Henry of Lancaster or brother vnto the erle Thomas of Lancaster that was behedyd at Pounfrette And mayster Robert Baldoke the kynges chauncelloure was sent vnto London and put into the pryson of Newgate where after he dyed myserably The erle IohnÌ„ of Arundell was also put to deth at Herforde wythin foure dayes of syr Hugh the yonger Spenser Then y e quene wyth syr Edwarde hyr sonne and with a goodly company of lordes and gentylmen retourned vnto London and there of the cytesyns wyth greate honoure and ioye was receyued vppon the daye of saynte Barbara or the .iiii.
aboute Lammesse sayled into Braban and there helde hys couÌ„sayl with hys frendes and by theyr aduyces made clayme to y e hole crowne of Fraunce as hys ryghtefull enherytaunce for more auctorytye of the same entermedeled the armes of England with y e armys of FrauÌ„ce as ye se them at this daye Then kynge Phylyp beyng of these thynges warned gathered an howge hoste came with them to a towne called Uermendoys And kyng Edwarde with hys people entred y e couÌ„trey called Theresse breÌ„t wasted y e couÌ„trey before hym ThaÌ„ kyng Philip drew toward the Englisshe hoste and came vnto a place or towne called in freÌ„ch BuyroÌ„ Fosse where he entended as sayth y â— frenche boke to haue set vpon y e Englysshemen But by counsayl of hys lordes for dyuerse causes he was let to hys dyspleasure For after y e daye he myght fynde no conuenyent tyme for to assayle hys enemyes so that in conclusyon eyther hoste departed froÌ„ other without batayll or fyght and kynge Edwarde toke hys wey towarde Gaunt kyng Phylip retourned into Fraunce Than kynge Edwarde by meanes of hys frende Iaques de Artyuele had all hys pleasure of the towne of Gaunt receyued of them othe and homage And after dyuerse conclusioÌ„s with them and other takeÌ„ he leuyng there the quene after the testymony of some wryters retourned agayne into EnlaÌ„de left with the quene which thaÌ„ was great with chylde y e erles of Salysbury of Oxynforde whyche in y e kynges absence ayded well y e Flemynges agayne the FreÌ„ch kyng dyd dyuerse marcyall actes whyche I here passe ouer But iÌ„ ê“ces y e erle of Salysbury was takeÌ„ prysoner diuers englyssh men slayne at y e assaut of a towne called y e I le in FlauÌ„ders or of flauÌ„ders Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xl  Adam Lucas  Andrewe Awbry  Anno .xv.  Bartholomewe Marres  IN thys .xv. yere whyle y e kyng was busyed in Englande to make prouysyoÌ„ for mete money to withstande the FreÌ„che kyng aswell for the warre that the sayde Frenche kyng made vpoÌ„ the Flemynges other beyng y e kynges frendes as for hys owne particuler causes y e quene as before is sayd beyng at the towne of Gaunt was deliuered of a sonne which after was named IohnÌ„ about Crystmas in the begynnynge of thys mayres yere ende of this .xiiii. yere This chyld whaÌ„ he came to mannes astate was surnamed IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t was fyrst erle of RychemouÌ„t after duke of LaÌ„caster also fast as kyng Edwarde ê“uyded for abylemeÌ„tes of warre in EnglaÌ„de so fast hasty prouysyoÌ„ made the FreÌ„ch kyng to withstande kyng Edward both by laÌ„de by water so y t he had a great stroÌ„ge nauy vpoÌ„ see Kyng Edward thaÌ„ in y e moneth of Iunii with .ii. C. sayles tooke shyppynge sayled towarde FlauÌ„ders vpoÌ„ the see met or came vnto hym syr Robert Morley with y e north nauye of EnglaÌ„de so y t he had in al aboue .iii. C. sayles And at myd somer vppon saynte IohnÌ„s euyn he fought with the freÌ„ch kynges nauy whyche lay in a wayte for hym nere to the towne called the Sluse Of thys nauy whyche were in noumber by the reporte of the freÌ„che boke vpoÌ„ iiii C. sayles wherof were chyefe admyralles syr Hugh Queret syr Nycholas Buchet one named Barbe Noyre or in Englysh Blacke berde the whych capytayns or admyralles anone as they espied y e englyssh flote they made towarde theÌ„ to begyn the fyght .iiii. galeys set vpoÌ„ a shyppe of auauÌ„tage which sayled before y e other named y e ryche Oliuer the which .iiii galeys the fore named Barbe Noyre had the cunduyt of assayled thys sayd shyppe on euery parte bet her with gunneshot her men with hayl shot excedyngely so that of the men within her were many slayn and mo wouÌ„ded lykely to haue ben shortly won ne had beÌ„ the rescous of her coÌ„pany thaÌ„ were the sayd foure galeys soone becleped with y e English nauy so cruelly assayled that they were borded or they myghte be rescowed Then approched the hole flote vpon bothe sydes with hydous ferefull dynne noyse of gunnes with terryble flamynge of wylde fyre other with thycke shot of quarelles arowes and crusshynge of shyppes y e hydous woÌ„derfull it was to beholde so that many a soule was there expelled from theyr bodies iÌ„ shorte whyle This mortall and cruell fyght coÌ„tynued as sayth the Frenche story by y e space of .viii. howres or more iÌ„ suche wyse y e harde it was to knowe whether parte had the better so many deed and wounded men were cast into the see that the water whiche was in cyrcuyte aboute them was coloured or dyed as reed But in y e ende by grace great maÌ„hode of y e kynge whiche there was sore wouÌ„ded And by his great conforte y e Frenchemen were chased and many of theyr shyppes bowged taken with many prysoners in them Amonge the whiche the forenamed admyralles or capytaynes syr Nycholas Buchet syr Hugh Queret were .ii the whiche in despyte of the Frenchemen were hanged vpon y e sayles of theyr shyppes which they were takeÌ„ in And amoÌ„ge the shyppes that were at this season taken were recouered the .ii. foresayd shyppes named the Edwarde and y e Crystofer the whiche before were taken by the Frenchemen as it before is shewed in y e .iii. yere of this kynge In this batayle also as is testyfyed of many and dyuerse wryters were slayne vpon the noumber of .xxx. M. Frenchemen al be it y e Frenche boke nameth so many to be slayne vpon bothe partyes excuse this mysfortune by the neglygence of syr Nycholas Buchet whiche kepte the FreÌ„che nauy so longe within the hauen that they were so closed in with the Englysh nauy y t a great nouÌ„bre of them myght neuer stryke stroke nor shote theyr ordenaunce but to the hurte of theyr owne company whaÌ„ kynge Edwarde had optayned this tryumphaunt vyctory of his enmyes he yelded great thaÌ„kes vnto god How be it he was fayne to tary a season with in his shyppe by reason of a wouÌ„de y e which he had receyued in his thyghe In whiche season y e quene his wyfe came to vysyte hym and retourned agayne vnto GauÌ„t And after a fewe dayes passed y e kynge departed from Swynne rode vnto our lady of Ardenbourghe sent his nauy in the nexte hauen to Brugys moche of his people vnto the towne of GauÌ„t And whaÌ„ he had accoÌ„plished his pylgrymage he rode vnto Brugys and from thense vnto GauÌ„t where of the dwellers he was ioyously receyued Than kynge Edwarde there called a great counsayle by the whiche it was determyned that he shulde prepare .ii. hostes wherof y t one shuld be of y e meÌ„ of GauÌ„t of y e townes there aboute of y e
wyth many great enormyties And in that that ye thynke to haue the Flemynges in your ayde we thynke vs to be assured that the good townes and the commons wyll behaue theym in suche wyse agayne vs and agayne our cosyn the erle of Flaunders that they wyll saue theyr honoure and trouthe And in that that they haue mysse done tyll nowe hathe ben by euyll counsayl of suche people which regarde nat the common weale of the people but of theyr owne profyte onely Gyuen in the feelde of the pryory of saynt Andrew besyde Ayre vnder the seale of our secrete sygnet in absence of oure greate seale the thyrty day of the moneth of Iule It was nat longe after that the Frenche kynge hadde thus rescribed vnto kyng Edwarde but that a messynger came vnto hym frome Tourney for hasty rescouse for the towne was dayly and sharplye assauted of the Englysshe hoste wherefore in all haste he sente thyther the duke of Athenesse the vycounte of Thonart the vycount of Dannaye with dyuerse other to y e nouÌ„ber of .xv. men of name with great nouÌ„ber of peple The whych sped theÌ„ streyght vnto y e mount of Cassyle But or they came the sayd mount was gotten by y e Flemynges so that of theyr lodgynge they were dyspoynted By reason wherof they fered to set vpon the Englysshe hoste or yet to trauayll for y e remouyng of the sayd syege of Tourney but toke theyr counceyll swarâ—ed from Cassyle and entred y e lande of the erle of Barry and dyd moche harme therein And when they hadde there executed theyr pleasures they retourned vnto the Frenche kynge In thys meane whyle kyng Philip counsayled with hys lordes whether it were better for hym to drawe towarde Tourney to remoue y e siege or to go into Flaunders and to make warre vpon the townes that helde with kyng Edwarde By whych couÌ„sayll it was thought moste honorable that he shulde endeuer hym selfe to remoue y e sayd syege After whiche conclusioÌ„ so taken he with hys hoste drewe towarde Tourney and in the ende lodged hym and hys people at a place or towne called at that daye Bowyns within .iii. myles of Tourney in whose coÌ„pany was y e kynge of Nauerne the kynge of Bohemy or Beame the dukes of Normandy of Loreyne of Athenesse or AtheÌ„s the erles of Alensone of Flaunders and of Sauoy with other to the nouÌ„bre of .xiiii. erles besyde vycountes baronettes and knyghtes to a great noumbre And with kynge Edwarde were these lordes folowynge the erle of Herford the erles of NorthamptoÌ„ of Derbye of SouthaÌ„pton of Oxynforde of Henawd of Harflete and of rondell Also of straungers the duke of Geldre and of Sclauonye Brabant with many other vycountes banerettes and knyghtes whych I passe ouer And thus laye these two prynces with two great and myghty hostes within fyue myles withoute great batayll or fyghte a certayne of tyme. But euer in meane whyle the towne of Tourney was assayled of y e Englysshe men and Flemynges the whych defended them manfully and well In the whyche passe tyme the countesse of Henaude whyche was mother vnto the quene of EnglaÌ„de and as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle syster vnto the Frenche kynge a woman of passynge discrecyon and eloquency with y e ayde of other prynces as the kyng of Beame and other laboured suche a meane of treaty y t a daye of dyet was betwene the two kynges appoynted all be it that dyuerse of kyng Edwardes counsayll were sore agayne it and specyally Iakes de Artyuele Than for kyng Edwardes party was assygned the bysshoppe of Lyncolne syr Geffrey Scrope syr IohnÌ„ of Henaude brother to the erle syr wyllyaÌ„ Cheyny wyth other And for the FreÌ„che kyng was assygned the kynge of Beame the erles of Armenake of Sauoy syr Lewys de Sauoy and other And to the ende that thys appoyntement myght take the better effecte a daye of trewce was concluded tyll mydsomer folowynge But moste wryters testyfyen that kynge Edwarde lefte the syege before Tourney for defaut of money and neglygeÌ„ce of his slowe procuratours in EnglaÌ„de that sped nat hys nedes there as they shulde For that one cause and for that other the kynge with hys hoste departed thense vnto Gaunt and taryed there a certayne of tyme. In whych season the fore named lordes and knyghtes met at Tournay and there debated the maters of chalenge of kynge Edwarde and certayn artycles concernynge the countrey of Flaunders In whyche counsayll it was grauÌ„ted by the Frenche kynges partye that y e Frenche kynge shulde frely departe towarde the maryage of kynge Edwardes chyldren with the hole seygnoryes of Gascoyn and Guyan and the erledome of Poytyers in so fre maner that no offycer of the French kyng shuld medle or haue to do with in any parte of those lordshyppes And for FlauÌ„ders it was by the sayd lordes graunted that the commons of that couÌ„trey in all customes and lawes shuld be iuged ruled as they of olde tymes had vsed and also that all bondes and oblygacyons that in tymes passed the chyefe townes had made to the Frenche kynge for any cause shulde be cancelled and delyuered And of theyr erle they shulde be acquyted in lyke wyse for all offeÌ„ces done before that day Also all censuryes or curses y t they before were wrapped in shulde be clerelye adnulled reuoked with other coÌ„clusions and offers whych I passe ouer Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xl  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xli  Rycharde Berkynge  Iohan Oxynforde  Anno .xvi.  Iohan Rokyslee  IN thys .xvi. yere kynge Edwarde vpon saynt Andrewes euyn came to the towre of London and sent for suche lordes as before he hadde made hys procuratours to leuye hys money in hys absence and for theyr negligeÌ„ce mysdemeanure cast theÌ„ in prysoÌ„ But in this voyage that the kyng passed from that other syde of the see into England he had excedynge tempest of wether so that he passed with great fere and dauÌ„ger whych tempest after the opynyon of some wryters was rered by the negromauncers of the French kyng to the ende to haue peryshed the kyng or els to gyue hym the lesse courage to take the see agayne In thys yere also were sent from y e .xii. Benet thaÌ„ pope two cardynalles to treate of a peace betwene the kynges of Englande of Fraunce The whych concluded a peace betwene the sayd two kynges aswell for them as for other countreys whych to theÌ„ were allyed for the terme of .iii. yeres and more In whyche tyme it was agreed that bothe the sayd kynges by theyr proctours shulde publysshe declare before the pope theyr claymes and causes to the ende that by hym and his couÌ„sayl a fynall dyreccion coÌ„corde myght be set betwene theym whych agremente of the sayde cardynalles was thus concluded in the towne called Malestrete aboute the feaste of saynte Gregory in lente beynge there presente for the kynge of Englande the erles of
Derbye and of Northampton wyth other and for the Frenche kynge the dukes of Burbon of Burgoyne with other for hys party But thys agremente stoode to lytle effecte For it nat wyth standynge the warre betwene these two kynges was contynued so that eyther fortyfyed theyr frendes and allyes And soone after happened that where Iohan duke of Brytayn dyed wythout issu variaunce fel betwene Charles de Bloys and IohnÌ„ erle of Mountforde for the tytle of that dukedome so that betwene theÌ„ mortall warre was exercysed as in the story of Phylyppe de Ualoyes shall after more playnly be declared whyche warre so contynuynge the kynge of EnglaÌ„de ayded y e party of the erle of Mountforde and the FreÌ„ch king ayded Charles de Bloys And ouer that duryng the terme of y e sayde treuce the French kyng made warre vpon the Gascoynes as after shall apere And in Scotlande some styrynge was made thys yere by excytynge of the Frenche kynge in so mych that the kynge was fayne to sende thyder a crewe of soudiours to strength suche holdes as he there helde And in thys yere was y e quene delyuered of a man chyld at y e towne of Langeley the whyche after was named Edmunde and surnamed Edmunde of Langley Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xli  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xlii  IohnÌ„ Luskyn  Symond Fraunces  Anno .xvii.  Rycharde Kyslyngbury  IN thys .xvii. yere kynge Edwarde at the request of dyuers of hys yonge lordes and knyghtes suffered to be exercysed certayn poyntes and feates of warre as iustys turnamentes and other whych were executyd at Dunstable where the kynge and the quene were present wyth the more partye of the lordes and ladyes of the lande Thys yere dyed the forenamed IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne by reason of whose deth the warre as in the precedynge yere is touchyd grewe bytwene the sayde Charlys de Bloyes and the erle of Mountforde Thys Charlys de Bloyes made his claym to that duchery by tytle of his wyfe that was doughter of Guy vycount of Lymogys and seconde brother of the foresayde IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne And IohnÌ„ erle of Mountfort claymed by the tytle that he was thyrde brother vnto the forenamed duke But of thys mater I entende to shewe more playnely and of the ende therof in the story of Phylyp de Ualoys as before I haue sayde and rather there than here bycause the fayte therof was not done in Englande but in Brytayne wherof the sayde Phylyppe pretendyd rule and chyefe sygnory Anno domini M.CCC.xlii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliii  IohnÌ„ Stewarde  IohnÌ„ Hamonde  Anno .xviii.  IohnÌ„ AyleshmÌ„  IN thys .xviii. yere the kynge shortely after Easter callyd a parlyament at westmynster In tyme wherof Edwarde hys eldeste sonne was creatyd prynce of walys And many ordynauÌ„ces for the weale of y e lande there were enactyd whych for length I passe ouer In thys yere also Clement the .vi. of y e name whyche newly was made pope toke vpon hym to gyue dyuers bysshopryches and benefyces which then fell voyde in Englande wherwyth the kynge was nothynge contented in so mych that he sent out coÌ„myssyons and strayte commaundementes that no man in tyme folowynge shulde present or inducte any suche persone or persones that so by the pope were promoted wythout y e agremente of the kynge as farre as towchyd hys prerogatyue The sayd pope Clement was fyrste archebysshoppe of Roan and munke of saynt Benettes order a Frencheman of byrth and before called Peter a man of excellent cunnyng but a waster of goddes patrymony promoted to y e dygnyte by instaunt laboure of the Frenche kyng which sent hys sonne IohnÌ„ duke of Normandy the duke of Burgoyn vnto the cytye of Auynyon or AuygnoÌ„ to procure and further the eleccyon By meane wherof he was there chosen pope aboute the vii day of May and tronysed in the sayd moneth of May in the begynnynge of the yere of grace after thaccompte of the chyrche of Englande M.CCC .xliii. By meanes and fauoure of whyche pope the Frenche kynges causes and maters betwene kynge Edwarde and hym were some deale promoted For as testyfieth the Frenche boke the French kyng thys yere put to deth one mayster HeÌ„ry de Malestrete a graduat man and brother vnto syr Godfrey de Malestrete knyght lately also put to deth by the sayde Frenche kynge for theyr fydelyte whyche they bare towarde kyng Edward as hys feodaryes wherof kynge Edwarde made hys coÌ„playnt vnto the pope of thys and other thynges to be done contrary the constytucyons of the former peace concluded by the two cardynalles and had therof no remedye In thys yere also kynge Edwarde made a coyne of fyne golde and named it the Floryne that is to say the peny of the value of syxe s. viii d. the halfe peny of the value of thre s. iiii d and the far thynge of the value of .xx. d. whyche coyne was ordeyned for hys warres in Fraunce for the golde therof was nat so fyne as was the noble whyche he before in hys fourthen yere of hys reygne had caused to be coyned Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliiii  Geffrey wychyngham  Iohan Hamonde  Anno .xix.  Thomas Legge  IN thys .xix. yere the kyng held a solempne feaste at hys castell of wyndsore where betwene Candel masse and lent were holden or executed many marcyall actes as iustes tournamentes with diuerse other at the whyche were present many strauÌ„gers of other landes And in y e ende therof he there deuysed the order of the garter and after stablisshed it as at thys daye it is contynued In this yere about midsomer kyng Edward wyth a stronge armye sayled vnto Sluse and so into lytle Brytayne But for he was dyspoynted of the ayde of the Flemynges by reason of the deth of hys trusty frende Iaques de Artyuele whyche than was slayn of the Flemynges of Gaunt by a coÌ„spyracy that they made agayne hym by suche as fauoured the partye of y e French kyng he tourned home into Englande agayne the same yere leuynge behynde hym the erle of Salysbury with a stronge company to ayde IohnÌ„ erle of MouÌ„tforde agayn syr Charles de Bloys The whyche IohnÌ„ by the ayde of the EnglysshmeÌ„ wan diuerse townes holdes in Brytayne vpoÌ„ the sayd syr Charles his FrenchmeÌ„ But in the ende of thys yere he was taken with such sykenes y t he dyed in a towne called Corentyne After whose deth the sayd Charles posseded the more parte of the duchye of Brytayne Thys yere the kyng sent y e erle of Derby with a stroÌ„g army into GuyaÌ„ for to ayde the erle of NorthaÌ„pton whome y e kynge before had left there at Burdeaux to streÌ„gth that couÌ„trey agayne the French men To whome after the dethe of the forenamed syr IohnÌ„ erle of Mountforde drewe many of the soudyours that were on his partye Anno domini M.CCC.xliiii Â
forenamed duke Appellaūte after thys noble duke of Lācastre to the great honour of all Englande And soone after dyuers obseruaūces accordyng to the law of armys done solempne othes taken eyther set in the rest to haue rōne the fyrst course But kynge Iohan of hys especyall grace ceased y e mater toke the quarell into hys handes so that eyther of theym departed the felde wythout any stroke strykynge and pacyfyed the appeale to the honoure of the duke of Lancastre as wytnesseth the Frenche boke nat wyth standynge he was the French kynges enemye And soone after the sayde duke of Lancastre wyth other nobles assygned to hym by the kyng of England wentte to Auynyon wyth the archebysshoppe of Roan than chaunceller of Fraunce and the duke of Burbō and other appoynted for the kynge of Fraunce to conclude efte a peace betwene theyr two prynces The whyche at the cytye beforesayd were harde at lengthe before the newe pope than named Innocente the .vi. whych also lyke to hys predecessour was a Frencheman and cardynall of Lymosyne in Normādy called by hys proper name Stephan Aubert In conclusyon after great argumēte made on eyther partye before the pope and hys counsayl fynally it was agreed that y e peace betwene the .ii. kynges shuld be kept holden inuiolate tyll mydsomer next folowynge Anno domini M.CCC.liii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.liiii  wyllyam Tontynghm̄  Thomas Legge  Anno .xxix.  Rycharde Smert  IN thys .xxix. yere kynge Edward by the aduyce of hys coūsayll for so moche as the townes of Flaunders brake theyr promyse before tyme made and helde nat the bādes of amyte by theym promysed by the lyfe of Iaques de Artyuele but fauoured the Frēche kynges partye therefore he with drewe from theym the markettes and staples of wolles that in sondry townes of Flaunders had than lately by the prouycyon of the foresayd Iaques to theyr greate aduauntage vsed to be kept and ordeyned than the sayde staples to be holden in sondry good townes of Englande as westmynster Chychester Lyncolne Brystowe and Caunterbury And shortely after Easter the Frenche kynge sent hys eldest sonne Charles dolphyne of Uyenne into Normandy for to take the rule of y e countre and specially for to sease certayne landes castelles whyche at y e daye belonged vnto the kyng of Nauerne whyche than was oute of the Frenche kynges fauour for the deth of syr Charles of Spayne constable lately of Fraūce y t he had by his meanes murdered in a towne called the Aygle in Normandy vpō .ii. yeres before passed And whyle y e sayd dolphyne was thus besyed in Normādy he made suche meanes to y e rulers therof that they graūted vnto hym ayde of .iii. M. mē for .iii. moneths at theyr proper costes and charges Of thys soone after sprange suche tydinges y t the kyng of Englād was enfourmed that the Frēch kyng had gyuen to hys sonne Charles y e duchy of Normandy with all Gascoygne Guyan and howe y e Normānes had graūted vnto y e sayd Charles .iii. M. mē for .iii. moneths to warre at theyr costes vpō y e Englyshmē whych as y e Frēch boke testifieth was graūted to hym onely to defēde y e kyng of Nauerne y t came to Cōstātyne shortly after for to repossesse all such lādes as the sayd dolphyn of hys had there seased for that wyth a bygge armye made warre vpon the sayd dolphyn But were it thus or otherwyse trouth it is as diuers wryters agreē in the moneth of October and ende of thys yere prynce Edwarde wyth a great hoste entred Gascoyne and passed by Tholouse and passed the ryuer of Gerounde or Geron̄ and so passed by Carcassyon and brent the bulwerkes of that cytye and from thens he rode to Nerbon̄ in pyllyng spoylynge the countre as he went And in the same yere kynge Edwarde wyth his power landed at his towne of Caleys where he rested hī by all y e tyme of this mayres yere And in this yere was the house of the freres Augustynes of Londō fynysshed whyche was reedyfyed by syr Humfrey Bohum erle of Hertforde and Essex whose body lyeth buryed in the quere of the sayde house or chyrche before the hygh aulter Anno domini M.CCC.liiii  Anno domini M.CCC.lv  Thomas Forster  Symon Franceys  Anno .xxx.  Thomas Brandon  IN this .xxx. yere the kynge as ye before haue herde beyng at Caleys shortly after the feast of Alhalloyne toke his iournay towarde the Frenche kynge and contynued his iournay tyll he came to a towne named Hesden and brake there the Frenche kynges parke toke suche pleasures as hym there lyked In whiche season of his there beynge tydynges were brought vnto hym y t y e Scottes had gotē y e towne of Berwyke and how they made dayly assautes to wynne the castell wherfore the kyng made the more hasty spede and returned to Caleys and so into Englande For whiche cause sayth y e Frenche cronycle y t kynge Edwarde fled from the Frenche kynge y t than with a strōge power came from Amy as vnto saynt Omers Than kynge Edwarde sped hym into Scotlande so y t in the moneth of Ianuary and begynnynge of the xxx yere of his reygne and .xxvii. day of the sayd moneth he layd his syege to y e towne of Berwyke had it yolden vnto hym in shorte processe of tyme after And that doone he entred ferther into the lande and subdued y e cheyf townes holdes as he went pursued the Scottysshe kynge so narowly that in the ende he was fayne to submytte hym to y e kynges grace as prysoner and resygned his power into the kynges hande And whan kynge Edwarde had set that coūtre in a rule he returned with the Scottysshe kyng agayne into Englande and called his courte of parlyament at westmynster In y e whiche amōge other thynges to the kynges auauntage was graunted to the mayntenaunce of his warres .l. s. of a sacke of woll for y e terme of .vi. yeres But it contynued lenger though the marchaūtes staplers therat grutched Than let vs now retourne vnto that noble prynce Edward the fyrst begotten sonne of the kynge whych by all thys tyme warred vppon the Frenchmen as in y e precedynge yere is touchyd So that lastly he retourned to Burdeaux wyth many ryche prysoners and pyllages to the great honoure of hym selfe and the greate auauncement of hys soudyours And all be it that in that countrees whyche he then passed were the erles of Armenake and of Foyze of Poytyers and of Cleremount wyth syr Iames de Burbon̄ and many other knyghtes the whyche hadde dowble the people as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle that the prynce had yet passed he from Tholous to Nerbon̄ fro Nerbon̄ to Burdeaux wythout batayle And after the prynce hadde there a whyle rested hym and hys people and sent dyuers of hys prysoners in to Englande he wyth hys hoste entred the
shortly after was called a greate couÌ„sayll for maters whyche in the story of kynge Iohanne shall after be shewed whan the feelde was thus fynysshed prynce Edward after dewe thaÌ„kes and louynges gyuen to god and saynt George for thys tryuÌ„phauÌ„t vyctory he with his sayd prysoners sped hym toward Burdeaux where y e sayd kyng was kept tyll Easter after Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lv.  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lvi.  Rycharde NotynghmÌ„  Henry Pycharde  Anno .xxxi.  Thomas Dosell  IN thys .xxxi. yere that is to say the .xvi. daye of the moneth of Apryll y e noble prynce Edwarde thaÌ„ vppon the age of .xxviii. yeres toke shyppynge wyth hys prysoners at Burdeaux and arryued in EnglaÌ„de shortly after And the .xxiiii. daye of Maye he was with great honoure gladnesse receyued of the cytezyns of London and so conueyed vnto the kynges palays at westmynster wher the kynge syttynge in hys astate in westmynster hal receyued hym with due honour and after conueyed to a lodgynge for hym prouyded where he laye a certayne season And after was y e sayd French kyng had vnto a place called Sauoy whyche thanne was a pleasaunt palays fayre lodgynge belongynge that tyme vnto y e duke of Lancastre and after brente dystroyed by Iak Strawe and hys fawtours in the .iiii. yere of Rychard the seconde nexte kyng of Englande as in y e sayd yere after shal be shewed In whyche place the sayde Frenche kynge laye longe after And in the wynter folowyng were royall iustes holden in smythfelde of LondoÌ„ and many goodly knyghtly feates of armys doon to the great honoure of the kyng all his realm and gladdyng of all beholdours At the whych dysporte was present the kyng of Englande the FreÌ„ch kyng and y e kyng of Scottes wyth many noble astates of all the .iii. prouinces or kyngdomes wherof the more partye of the straungers were than prysoners Anno domini M.CCC.lvi  Anno domini M.CCC.lvii  Stephyn Caundysshe  IohnÌ„ Stody  Anno xxxii  Bartylmewe frostelynge  IN thys .xxxii. yere pope Innocent the syxte of that name sent into Englande twoo cardynalles to treat of a peace betwene y e two kyngê The whyche two cardinalles taryed the more parte of a yere in London other places of the lande to brynge theyr purpose to some effecte but they sped lytell of theyr cause And in thys yere after moste wryters Dauyd le Bruze kyng of Scottes was delyuered frome the castell of OdyhmÌ„ at hys lybertye whan he had put kynge Edwarde in a suerty of an hundreth thousande markes for hys raunsome Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lvii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lviii  IohnÌ„ Bernes  IohnÌ„ Luffyn  Anno .xxxiii.  IohnÌ„ Burys  IN thys .xxxiii. yere as wytnessyth the Frenche cronycle syr Robert Knollys syr Iames Pype with other of theyr retynewe warred in Brytayne And as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle in the moneth of Marche and x. daye of the sayd moneth the sayde capytaynes wyth one whyche the Frenche boke nameth Thomlyn Fowke came erely in the mornynge vnto a towne that was nere vnto Incerre called Kegennes beynge in the rule of Englysshmen where the sayde capytaynes takyng wyth theÌ„ more streÌ„gth yode streyght vnto the foresayde towne of Ancerre beyng wythin two Englyshe myles and scaled the walles wyth ladders and quyt them so maÌ„fully that they had the rule of the town or the sonne rysynge And in that castell was taken prysoner syr Guyllyam de Chalon the sonne of the erle of Ancerre hys wyfe and many other In takynge of whyche towne and castell fewe folkes were slayne how be it there were of armed men aboue two thousande as sowdyours to defende the towne Then the Englyshmen serched so nere that as the comoÌ„ fame wente they fande iewellys as they hadde ben preuy to the hydyng of theym and that of greate value Amonge the which as sayth the sayd cronycle they fande certayne skynnes the whyche were valued at .v. thousande motons of golde ye shall vnderstande that a moton is a coyne vsed in Fraunce and Brytayne and is of value after the rate of sterlynge money vppon .v. s. or there aboute whan the Englysshemen hadde pylled and spoyled the towne by the space of .viii. dayes and raunsomed suche as were of any substaunce then they shewed vnto the rulers of the towne that they wolde sette it vppon a fyre excepte that they wold gyue vnto theym a certayne summe of money For the whych after longe treaty of thys mater the rulers of y e towne to haue possessyon therof and to haue it preserued froÌ„ fyre agreed to gyue vnto the Englysshe capytaynes .xl. thousande motons and lx perlys valued at .x. thousande motons whyche .l. thousande motons shulde amounte after the rate of sterlynge money to .xii. thousand and .v. hundreth pownde or nere aboute So that what they fande wythin y e towne of any value they bare it with theym excepte the iewellys and ornamentes of the chyrch of saynt Germayne the whyche goodes and iewelles they toke for pledge of suche money as was vnpayde of the foresayd .xl. M. motons of golde for the rauÌ„some of the towne For y e whyche goodes the towne of Ancerre was bounde vnto the hedes of the chyrch to pay for or to redeme y e sayd goodê by the feastes of mydsomer nexte folowynge or ellys to paye yerely inperpetuyte to y e sayd chyrch in maner of quyte rent .iii. M. motoÌ„s wherof y e value is shewed in the fyrst chapyter of Phylyp the .iiii. And ouer all thys the dwellers of the towne agreed that y e Englyshmen shuld brenne the gates of y e towne and in dyuers partyes of the towne throw the wallys to the grounde Uppon .iiii. dayes folowynge the ende of the sayd agremente the foresayd syr Iames Pype and syr OthaÌ„ of Holande other to the nombre of xvi or .xviii. Englysshmen enteÌ„dyng to haue wonne some enterpryse were layd for by the sowdyours of a place called the great Semyre and by theÌ„ taken holden as prysoners And in the moneth of Apryll next ensuyng a towne called in Frenche Dabygny sur le Metre was by the Englysshemen gotten in lyke maner fourme as was the foresayd towne of Ancerre And the .ii. daye of Maye was wonne by syr Robert Knolles hys company a towne called Chasteleyn sur Lounayn and pylled it as they dyd the other And after wyth theyr pyllage and prysoners amoÌ„ge the whyche were many women and chyldren of .iiii. of fyue yeres of age the sayd EnglyshmeÌ„ yode to the new castell vpon Loyre And ye shall vnderstande that the partye of the Englysshemen was greately strengthed by the helpe of the kyng of Nauerne and of syr Phylyppe his brother and other as more playnely shal be shewed in the Frenche cronycle or story of kynge Iohan folowynge And thus the sayde syr Roberte Knolles wyth ayde of the kynges men of Nauerne dayly wanne many
appeled the prynce of walys in the Frenche kynges courte that he hadde broken the peace and wronged theym contrary the peace stablysshed betwene Englande FrauÌ„ce requyred the FreÌ„ch kyng y t the sayd appeale myght haue due processe agayne the sayd prynce The whyche as sayth the French cronicle kynge Charles deferred for certayne causes there towched whyche were to longe to reherce Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxvii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxviii  Adam wymbynghmÌ„  Symon MordonÌ„  Anno .xlii.  Robert Gyrdeler  IN thys .xliii. yere or more certaynly in the ende of the precedynge yere one walter Bernes mercer was vpon the day of y e traÌ„slation of saynt Edwarde kyng and confessoure or the .xiii. daye of Octobre chosen by the mayre aldermen mayre of the cytye of London But howe it was for lacke of substaunce or by other impedymente which is nat noted the sayd walter vpon the daye of Symonde Iude folowynge whaÌ„ he shulde haue taken hys othe at Guylde halle apered nat wherfore in hys rome by eleccyon of the foresayde mayre and aldermen was admytted for that yere folowynge Symonde MordonÌ„ fysshmonger mayre of that cytye And in thys yere and moneth of Marche Peter kynge of Castyle whyche by the ayde of the Sarazyns dwellyng in the borders of Spayn hadde wonne and recouered somme parte of the lande of Castyle encountrede wyth hys bastarde brother Henry beforesayde and gaue vnto hym batayll nere to a towne called Sybylle where after longe fyght the sayde Peter was scomfyted and moche of hys people slayne and hym dryuen vnto a castell oute of the whyche he was shortly after by treason gotteÌ„ presented vnto hys brother forenamed by whose senteÌ„ce he was iÌ„medyatly byheded After whose deth the sayd Henry enioyed the hole lande of Castyle whych infortunytie myschauÌ„ce fylle to thys Peter after dyuers wryters for so moche as he cruelly slew hys owne wyfe y e doughter of the duke of BurbonÌ„ And in thys yere and moneth of Maye the kynge of Fraunce in hys hyghe court of parlyamente holdeÌ„ at Parys proceded in iugemente vpon the appellacyons before made by the erle of Armenak the lorde of Bret and erle of Perogort agayne prynce Edward as before is towched in the precedynge yere wherupon dyscorde and varyaunce began to take place betwene the .ii. kynges in so moche y t by meane of the sayd .iii. lordes natwythstandyng that they were before sworne to be to the kyng of EnglaÌ„de trewe lyege men dyuers townes of the countre of Poyteaw yelded them to the Frenche kynge as Albeuyle Rue the more partye of the sayde townes of the sayd countre wherupoÌ„ ambassades were sente vppon bothe partyes dyuers meanes of treaty were comoned whyche conteyneth a longe werke wyth resonynge made vpon the same But in conclusyoÌ„ all came to none effecte So that breche of the peace whych before betwene y e ii kynges was so substaÌ„cially concluded was brokeÌ„ eyther kyng for his partye made prouysioÌ„ for the warre In so moch y e kynge Charles spedde hym to Roan in Normandy there in y e moneth of Iuly rigged his nauy to set theym forewarde for to warre vpon Englande In whyche tyme season y e kyng Charles was thus occupyed in NormaÌ„dy the duke of LaÌ„castre laÌ„ded at Caleys with a stroÌ„ge company of archers other warryours froÌ„ thens passed to ThoroueÌ„ne so to Ayre in wastyng the countre with irne fyre as he went wherfore y e French kyng in defence of those partyes sente the duke of Burgoyne with a puyssaunt armye to withstaÌ„de the sayde duke of LaÌ„castre The whych duke of Burgoyne sped hym iÌ„ such wyse y t about y e .xxiiii. day of August he lodged hys hoste vpon the mouÌ„tayne of Turnehan nere vnto Arde. And the English hoste was lodged betwene Gygowne Arde so that y e frountes of both hostes were within a myle Betwene whome were dayly skyrmysshes and small bykerynges without any notarye batayll And whaÌ„ the sayd duke of BurgoynÌ„ had thus kept the sayde mount froÌ„ the .xxiiii. day of Auguste vnto the .xii. day of SepteÌ„bre he remoued hys hoste yode vnto HesdeÌ„ For the whych dede he was after blamed of kyng Charles hys brother After whych departure of the FreÌ„chemen the duke of Lancastre with hys hoste tooke y e waye towarde Caus or Caux passed the ryuer of SuÌ„me so rode toward Harflew entendynge as sayth the FreÌ„che boke to haue fyred the Frenche kynges nauy But at theyr coÌ„myng thyder y e towne was so stroÌ„gly maÌ„ned y t they dyd there lytell scathe wherfore the sayd duke departed shortly thens and spedde hym into the countrye of Poyteau and so came vnto the towne of Albeuyle where wythout the Frenchemen encountred hym and gaue vnto hym batayll In the whych was taken syr Hugh ChastelonÌ„ knyght with other knyghtes esquyres burgeyses of the towne and vpoÌ„ .xvi. score FreÌ„chmen slayne whyche sayde prysoners to the nombre of fyue fourty were sent vnto Caleys y e duke with hys company yode vnto Burdeaux in spoylyng of the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ as he went Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xlviii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lix  IohnÌ„ Pyell  IohnÌ„ Chychester  Anno .xliiii.  Hugh Holdyche  IN thys .xliiii. yere and moneth of Ianuary dyed the erle of warwyke at Caleys after he was retourned from the duke of Lancastre whyche was a man of great fame And in y e moneth of August dyed that noble woman quene Phylype wyfe vnto Edwarde the thyrde The whyche was a greate benefactoure vnto the chanoÌ„s of saynt Stephans chapell at westmynster And soon after dyed dame BlauÌ„ch somtyme the wyfe of Henry duke of Lancastre was buryed at Poules vpon the noâ—thsyde of the hyghe aulter by her husbande where she ordeyned for hym and her .iiii. chauÌ„tres for euer an annyuersarye yerely to be kept At the whych ouer great thynges be set vnto the deane chanons of the churche she ordeyned that the mayre beynge presente at the masse shuld offre .i. d. and take vp .xx. s the shyryffes eyther of them a peny and to receyue eyther of them a marke y e chaÌ„berlayn of the cytie .x. s the sword berer .vi. s. .viii. d and euery officer of the mayres there present .xxii. d and to euery offycer to the nombre of .viii eyther of theym .viii. d. admytted for the shyreffes The whyche obyte at thys daye is holden But by reason that the lande is decayed these forenamed summes ben greately mynysshed so that the mayre at thys daye hath but .vi. s. viii.d bothe the shyreffes syxe s. eyghte d and other after that rate In thys yere also the kynge helde hys parlyament at westmynster In the whych was graunted vnto hym iii. fyftenes to be payde in .iii. yeres folowynge And by a conuocacyon of the clergye was also grauted vnto hym .iii. dysmes to be payde in lyke maner And in thys yere
certayn laÌ„des within that duchy The whych variaunce to apese the kyng toke therein somme payne But no direccion he myght set therein so y t the sayd duke and syr IohnÌ„ departed with wordes of dyffiauÌ„ce And shortly after y e sayd syr IohnÌ„ accompanyed with dyuers noble meÌ„ of Almayne entred y e duchy of Burgoyne and therin dyd moche harme to the couÌ„tre and people and gat certayne castelles and theÌ„ fortyfyed with Almaynes ThaÌ„ y e duke hauyng in his ayde y e kyng of Nauerne the duke of NormaÌ„dy â–ª with y e erle of EscaÌ„ps and of FlauÌ„dres â–ª assâ—eged y e castel of Chausy at y e ende of .vi. wekes wan y e same and after yode vnto the cytye of Besenson layd siege to it also But whaÌ„ he had leyne there a loÌ„ge season he was fayne to coÌ„clude a trewes his host was in such 〈◊〉 of vytayll By reason of whych peas or trewes y e hostes were deseuered the ende of y e warre vnparfyted But in the ende folowynge by meane of y e FreÌ„ch kyng a dyreccioÌ„ was takeÌ„ betwene the sayd ê‘tyes And thys yere kyng Philip sent certayne messeÌ„gers vnto kyng Edward vpoÌ„ certayn demauÌ„des for y e castel of yauÌ„tes other for y e which coÌ„trauersie fyrst begaÌ„ to kyndle betwene the sayde .ii. prynces as in y e .x. yere of Edward is touched with the other yeres folowyng In the .ix. yere of this Philip apered a blasyng sterre After the whych ensued greate mortalytye within the realme of FrauÌ„ce aswel of men as of beestes And in this yere a nother maÌ„ of y e prouynce of LaÌ„gedok named Arnolde of NormaÌ„dy was heded hanged vpoÌ„ y e coÌ„mon gybet of Parys for asmoch as by hys meanes it was proued that the EnglyshmeÌ„ had wonne the castell of Paracoll And in the .x. yere of kynge Philip kyng Edward of EnglaÌ„d sent syr Barnard de Bret into FlauÌ„dres for causes touched shewed in the .xii. yere of the sayd Edward And in y e .xi yere of this Philip kyng Edward sayled into BrabaÌ„t alyed hym wyth Lowys y e Empour And whyle the Frenche kyng taryed with hys hoste at saint Quyntyne in Uermandoys kyng Edward entred into Fraunce and spoyled and brent a parte of Treresse nat without some note or 〈◊〉 of Cowardyse arrected to the FreÌ„ch kyng and hys hoste of hys owne subgectes And in the same yere began the towne of GauÌ„te to rebell wyth other townes of FlauÌ„dres by the mocion of Iaques de Artyuyle as in the .xiiii. yere is shewed of kyng Edward the thyrde In the twelf yere of thys Philip whych y e FreÌ„ch boke calleth the yere of confusyon kynge Edwarde beynge retourned into Englande the Frenche kynge assembled a myghty hoste to go agayne the Henauders Flemynges Brytons came with the sayde hoste vnto Arras and sent from thens a part of hys people with hys sonne IohnÌ„ than duke of Normandy into Henaude for to warre vppon the countrey there whyche went streyght vnto Cambraye after layd siege to that castel called Esthandune And wythin .xv. dayes folowynge the Frenche kynge hys father came vnto the sayd syege wyth innumerable people The whiche castell at th ende of a moneth after the kynges coÌ„mynge was gyueÌ„ vp by apoyntement And that done y e kynge remoued hys siege to a castell of the bysshoppe of Cambray named Thune standynge vpon the ryuer of Lescaut â–ª where the kynge laye longe tyme withoute harme doynge vnto y e sayde castell At lengthe the duke of Brabant with the erle of Gerle with a stronge hoste of dyuers nacyons came for to remoue that siege so that the Frenche hoste lay vpon that one syde of the ryuer the Brabanders vpoÌ„ that other But by meane of .iiii. brydges whych were made ouer that ryuer bothe hostes at sondry tymes mette faughte dyuers sharpe skyrmysshes to the losse of people vppon bothe partyes But in the ende the castell was so betyn wyth gonnes y t the capytayne therof put all hys mouables in a shyp and after wyth such sowdyours as were lefte entred the sayde shyp sette the castell vppon a lyght fyre wherof whan the Frenche kynge was ware in all haste he caused the walles to be scaled and so entred stanched the fyre And the same nyght the hoste of Brabanders departed also whan the kynge haâ— thus wonâ—â— thys castell he than sente the dukes of Normandy of Burgoyn vnto a towne named Quesnoy And whan y e sayd dukes had brent a parte of that towne other vyllages there about they retourned agayne vnto y e FreÌ„ch hoste And shortly after the kynge retourned into Fraunce there made prouycyon to sende forthe hys nauy to mete wyth kyng Edwarde whych were to the nombre of .iiii. huÌ„dreth or aboue the whyche as in the .xv. yere of Edwarde the thyrde is before shewed mette the Englysshe nauy and there at a place called y e SwynÌ„ were ouercommen AFter thys great victory thus opteyned by the kynge of Englande the Frenche kynge wyth a great hoste herynge comfortable tydynges of the discomfiture of syr Roberte de Artoys before the towne of saynte Omers as before in the .xv. yere of kyng Edward is also shewed sped hym tyt he came to the pryory of saynte Andrew where he taryenge wyth hys people certayne lettres were sent to hym by kynge Edwarde â–ª wherof the tenour with the answere of the same are set out in the forsayd xv yere with other maters apparteynynge to the actes of bothe prynces whan the peace was concluded betwene the sayde kynges as in y e sayd xv yere is declared y e kyng of FrauÌ„ce retourned to hys owne And in y e .xiii yere of hys reygne dyed IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne After whose deth Charles de Bloys IohnÌ„ de Mountfort claymed seuerally to be enherytours of that duchy whyche Charles was sonnÌ„ vnto the erle of Bloys neuew vnto the Frenche kynge by reason y â— Margareâ—â— hys syster was mother vnto the sayde Charles The whych Charles had maried the doughter of Guy de Brytayne vycount of Lymoges secoÌ„de brother of the forenamed IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne And y â— sayd IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tforte was the thyrde brother vnto the forsayd IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayn now dede So that thys questyon of thys clayme rested vpon thys poynt whether the doughter of the secoÌ„d brother shuld enheryte y e duchy or y e yonger brother consideryng y t IohnÌ„ the eldest brother dyed without heyre of hys body and Guy the seconde brother without heyre male wherfore the thyrde brother IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort claymed to be duke of Brytayne whiche case and question was brought before y e FreÌ„ch kynge hys lordes there debated argued by a longe season But in y e ende sentence passed agayn syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort Charles de Bloys was put in possession of y e duchy by kyng Philip to whome the sayd Charles dyd hys homage for the same
y e entent that he myght of authoryte shewe them vnto the comynaltye of the cytye desyred wrytyng The whyche the duke to appease the people though it were some deale cōtrary hys mynde and pleasure graūted vnto hys request For the whych graunt dyuers of the sayd offycers as the chaunceller or cardynall and other absentyd them selfe and came not in Parys by a tracte of tyme after The .xxx. daye of Ianuary ensuynge the duke at the requeste of the sayde prouost sent certeyne offycers vnto the house of syr Symonde de Bucy and of syr Nycholas Brake and of Enguerran of the Celer and of Iohn̄ Prylle whyche before wyth other were accusyd of mysgouernaunce of the realme whose houses were by the sayd offycers kepte and inuentuaryes made of suche goodes as than remayned wythin the sayde houses And that done the duke sent out commyssyons that the thre estates shulde reassemble at Parys the xv daye of February next folowyng whyche was obserued and kepte whan y e sayd .iii. estates were agayne assembled in the parliament chaumber at Parys in the presence of the duke and hys brethern wyth dyuers other nobles of Fraūce mayster Robert Coke bysshop of Laon by the cōmaundement of the sayd duke made a longe preposycyon of the mysguydynge of the kynge and the lande by the meane of yll offycers as well by chaungynge of the moneys as other many vnlefull excysys and taskys to the greate inpouerysshynge of the comynaltye of the reame greate dysclaunder to the kynge and to the synguler enrychynge and auauncement of the sayd offycers wherfore the .iii. estates prayen and specyally the poore comons that all such offycers may be remoued from theyr offyces and other that shall be thought more benefycyall for the kynge and hys realme to be admitted Of the which the cardynall was noted for pryncypall and other to y e noumbre of .xxi. wherof some were ryghte nere vnto the duke AFter whyche preposicyon or oracyō thus by the sayd bysshop ended syr Iohn̄ de Pygqueny in the name of the .iii. astates offered that the sayde .iii. astates shuld gyue vnto the kyng .xxx. M. mē for an hole yere wyth y ◠that all thynges myght after that daye be ordered as the bysshop had before deuysed All whyche artycles were vnto them by the duke graūted And inconueniētly all such offycers as they before had named were clerely auoyded and other such as by y e sayd .iii. astates were though moste necessary were put and chosen to theyr roumes excepte that some of the olde as maisters of thaccomptes and some of the presydentes maysters of the requestes were holden in for a tyme to practes shewe vnto y e new how they shuld ordre and guyde the sayd offyces And the .xxvi. daye of the moneth of Marche was a newe money proclaymed thorough Parys suche as the sayde .iii. astates had newly deuysed Upon the .vi. day of Apryll was proclaymed in Parys that y e people shulde nat paye suche subsydes as y e iii. astates had ordeyned for the wagynge of .xxx. M. men aforesayde or for the kynges fynaūce and also that the sayde .iii. astates after that daye shulde no more assemble for any causes or maters before touched tyll they had farther knowlege of y e kynges pleasure For the whych proclamacion the cytezyns of Parys were greuously amoued agayne the bysshop of Sēs the erle of Ewe cousyn Germayne to the kynge and agayn the erle Cācaruyle By whose meanes they sayde thys proclamacyon was purchasyd And treuth it is that the sayd archbysshop of Sens wyth the sayd .ii. erlys were sent from the kynge from Burdeaux yet there beynge to the entent that they shuld se the sayde proclamacyon put in vre But so soone as the sayd proclamacyon was made they herynge of the murmour of the people of the cytye sped them thens shortely after Then vpon this y e comons waxed so wyld that they lefte theyr occupacyons drewe them to cōuentyculys and cōpanyes and hadde many vnsyttyng wordes by the kynge and hys counsayle wherof in auoydynge of inconuenyency the duke commaunded a watche to be kepte wythin the cytye bothe by daye and by nyght and certayne gates of the cytye kept shytte and the remenaunt watchyd wyth men of armes Upon the eyght daye of Apryll then beynge Easter euyn a nother proclamacyon was made all contrary to that other by vertue wherof it was charged that the foresayde subsydie shulde be leuyed and that also the thre estates shulde reassemble at Parys the .xv. daye after Easter and there to procede vpon all such maters as before were by them begonne Upon the .vi. day of Apryll the Frenche kynge shypped at Burdeaux and so was conueyed into Englande lyke as before is shewed in y e xxxi yere of kynge Edwarde And aboute mydsomer folowyng y e duke of Lancaster whyche by a longe season had lyen before a towne in Brytayne named Rosne brake vp hys syege takyng of them of that towne for a fynaūce .lx. M. scutys of golde A scute is worth .xi. d. sterling About the feste of Mary Magdalene in the moneth of Iuly controuersy and varyaunce began to aryse amonge the parsōs assygned for the thre estates wherof the cause was for so mych as the sessyng which they had auewed sessed for the .xxx. M. men wolde nat extēde vnto the sūme by large great sūmes So y t the clergy answered y t they wolde paye no more than they were fyrst sessed vnto And in lyke maner answered such as were apoynted for the lordes for the good townes wherfore y e archebysshop of Raynes whych before was one of the chefe rulers of them refused theyr partye and drewe hym all to the duke By meanes of whyche controuersy many of theyr actes fayled suche as before were put out of theyr offyces were agayne restored About the myddel of August the duke sent for the prouost Charles Cusake wyth Iohn̄ de la I le the which bare y e pryncipal rule within the cytye and also were great sayers doers in the assembles of the iii. astates had takē vpon thē moch rule in y e busynes so that moche of y e busynes was ruled by them theyr meanes To whome the duke gaue strayght commaūdemente that they shuld cease of theyr auctorities nat to deale any more with the rule of the realme but onely to the good rule gouernaūce of the cytye of Parys And that done the duke rode aboute vnto dyuers good townes made request vnto them for ayde and also to haue the money to be curraūt amōg them whych as before is shewed the x. daye of Decembre was at Parys proclaymed But he sped lytle of hys purpose In thys meane whyle the cytezyns of Parys of one wyl mynde offered before saynt Remyge a taper of waxe of wonderfull lengthe and greatenesse the whyche they ordeyned to brenne day and nyght whyle it wold laste And shortely after they sent
vnto the duke so plesaunt message y t he retourned agayne vnto the cytye whome they receyued with all honor and reuerence And vpon the morow after hys retourne the prouost wyth certayne other of the cytye shewed vnto the duke that they wolde make a greate shyfte for hym towarde the mayntenaunce of hys warres And to brynge that mater to good conclusyon they besought hym y t he wolde assemble at Parys shortly a certayn persones of .xx. or .xxx. good townes there nexte adioynaunt The whych was vnto thē graunted so y t shortely after there assembled at Parys vpō lxx persones the whyche helde theyr counsayll to gyther by sundry days Howe be it in the ende they shewed vnto the duke that nothynge they myght brynge to effecte without assemble of the .iii. astates besoughte hym that they myght be efte reassembled trustyng that by theyr presence the dukes mynde shulde be contente and satysfyed Upon whyche requeste the duke sent hys cōmyssiōs chargyng y e sayd iii. astates to apere before hym at Parys the wednysday nexte folowynge y e day of al sayntes And full fayne he was to do all thyng that the citezyns of Parys hym requyred to do for as testyfyeth the Frenche Cronycle he was so bare of money that he hadde nat suffycyente to defende hys cotydyan charge IN the .viii. yere of kynge Iohn̄ and wednysday after Alhalowen day the .iii. astates reassembled at Parys and helde theyr counsayll within the blacke freers Durynge whych coūsayll the kyng of Nauern̄ that longe had ben holden in pryson wythin the castell of Alleux was deliuered by the meanes of syr Iohanne Pyquygny than gouernoure of the countrey of Arthoys and after conueyed by the sayd Iohn̄ vnto y e town of Amyas whan y e kyng of Nauerne was thus set at large anon his syster and other of hys frendes made meanes vnto the duke of Normandy for an vnyte a peace to be had betwene them and by them a meane was foūden that the kyng with such as were in hys company shulde come vnder saufe conduyt to Parys to common with the duke whā dyuers of the .iii. astates as such as were of Chāpeyn and Burgoyn knewe of the comyng of the kyng of Nauerne vnto Parys they without leue takyng departed And vpon the euyn of saynt Andrew the sayd kynge entred Parys wyth a greate companye of men of armes Amonge the wyche was the bysshop of Parys with many other of y e sayd cytye Upon the morowe folowynge the daye of saynt Andrew the kynge entēdynge to shewe hys mynde vnto the comynalte of the cytye caused an hyghe scaffolde to be made by y e wall of saynt Germayn where he was lodged where moche people beynge assembled he shewed vnto them a lōge processe of hys wrongefull enprysonemente and of the mysgydynge of the lande by meanes of ille offycers wyth many couerte wordes to y e dyshonoure of the Frenche kynge and iustyfycacion of hym selfe and excusynge of hys owne dedes and so retourned into hys lodgyng Uppon the thyrde daye of December the prouoste wyth other of the cytye yode vnto the duke and in the names of the good townes or commynaltyes of the same requyred of hym that he wolde do vnto the kynge of Nauerne reason and iustyce To whome it was answered by y e bysshop of Laon that the duke shuld nat allonly shewe vnto the kyng reason iustyce but he shuld also shewe vnto hym frendely brotherhode with all grace curtesy And all be it that at that season many of y e dukes coūsayll were present to whome the gyuyng of that answere had more cōueniently apperteyned thā to y e sayde bisshop yet they were at that tyme in suche fere that they durste nat moue any thynge that shuld soūde cōtrary the displeasure of the kynge of Nauerne or of the prouoste other Thā it was agreed that vpon y e saterdaye folowynge the kynge and the duke whyche as yet had nat spoken togyther shuld mete at the place of the syster of the sayd kyng where they met with vnfrendely coūtenaūce after they had communed there a lōge season departed with litle loue or charite And vpon the mūday folowyng were shewed vnto the duke hys coūsayle certayne requestes desyred by the kyng of Nauerne the whych the duke was forsed to graunt whereof the substaunce was that the kynge shuld haue agayn and enioye al such lādes castelles and townes with all mouables to them belōgynge as he was in possessyō of y e daye that kyng Iohn̄ was taken within the castel of Roan and ouer that he shuld be pardoned of all offences by hym done agayne the crowne of Fraunce before that daye and all other hys adherentes or suche as had taken hys partie before y t tyme. And soone vpon thys was ordeyned that the erle of Harcourt and other whyche kyng Iohn̄ had caused to be beheded and after to be hāged vppon the commō gybet of Roan shuld be delyuered vnto theyr frendes to be buryed at theyr pleasures After whych conclusions taken and assuraunces made as farre as the dukes auctoryte wolde extende vnto syr Almary knyghte Menlene knyghte wyth thre or foure men of honoure mo were sente into Normandye to repossesse the kyng of Nauerne in all such lādes castelles and townes as he before tyme was in possessiō of wyth all mouables vnto the sayd landes apperteynynge And than the sayde kynge and duke helde famylyer company and dyned and souped togyther often sythes at the manoir or lodgyng of quene Iohan syster vnto the sayd kynge and other places Also the sayde kynge delyuered out of prysone all prysoners as well spyrytuall as tēporall suche as were thought any thyng fauourable vnto hys cause Amonge the whyche some there were that for theyr demerites were adiuged to perpetuall prysone In thys tyme season tydynges sprange within the cytye of Parys that the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce were agreed and that kyng Iohan shulde shortely returne into Fraunce By reason of whyche tydynges the kyng of Nauerne made the more haste to dyspache hym oute of Parys so y t he with hys company departed from Parys the .xx. daye of Decēber rode toward the cytye of Maunte in Normādy Soone after the kyng was thus departed dyuers enemyes to the noumbre of .x. or .xii. C. came within .iiii. or .v. myles of Parys whyche were demyd to be of the company of syr Phylip brother vnto the kyng of Nauerne These robbed and pylled the countrey thereabout in so moch that the people of the coūtrey of Preaux and Trappes and other there aboute were constrayned with theyr mouables to flee vnto Parys wherfore the duke sente out hys letters and cōmyssyons for to assemble hys knyghtes to withstande the sayd enemyes But the sayde cytesyns of Parys caste an other way and thought it to be done to the greuaunce or correccion of them For dowte wherof the prouost with other that had y e gouernaunce of the
with a company of .viii. C. men in harnesse rode vnto the cytye of Meaux wherof y e mayre of that cytie they were ioyfully receyued contrary hys promesse before made vnto the regent where with assystence of the sayde mayer other of that cytye they entended to haue taken the wyfe of the sayd regent with other noble women thaÌ„ there soiournyng wyth hyr and so to haue conueyd them vnto Parys there to haue kepte them tyll the cytezyns myghte purchase the fauour grace of the regent But whaÌ„ the erle of Foyse whych thanne hadde the rule of the sayde gentylwomen knewe theyr entente anone he gathered vnto hym hys coÌ„pany and wyth assysteÌ„ce also of som of the sayd cytye he made vppon .vi. or .vii. C. men in harnesse and yssued boldly agayne the foresayde persons and skyrmysshed wyth theym In which skyrmysshe in the ende the meÌ„ of Parys were sconfited and chased the mayre of Meaus named IohnÌ„ Soulas taken with other which after for theyr rebellyoÌ„ were put in execucion And after thys victory thus opteyned in reueÌ„gemeÌ„t of the deth of a knyghte called syr Lewys de Chambly there slayn with other gentylmen for the vntrouth of y e cytie the foresayd erle set fyre vpon a syde of the cytye breÌ„t a great parte therof as well churches as other which fyre was scaÌ„tly stenched in .viii. days after In thys whyle the kynge of Nauerne herynge of the greate harme distruccioÌ„ that the company of Guyllyam Calley made of gentylmen in MouÌ„tmereÌ„cy other places lyke as before is shewed yode agayne hym nere vnto a place called CleremouÌ„t encountred hym and his people and gaue vnto theym batayll and slewe moch of his people and toke hym on lyue caused hys hede to be stryken of And soone after the cytezyns of Parys sente vnto hym requyrynge hym to drawe towarde theÌ„ At whose requeste he sped hym thytherwarde and entred the cytye vpoÌ„ the .xv. daye of Iuny and was coÌ„ueyed vnto sait Germayne in Pree there lodged And vpoÌ„ the morne he weÌ„te vnto the comon halle of the citie where the comoÌ„s beyng assembled he made vnto them a loÌ„ge plesaunt oracioÌ„ of the great kyndenesse that he had founde in many of y e good townes of FrauÌ„ce specially in the cytye of Parys For the whych they had bounde hym to take theyr partye agayne all other makyng none excepcyoÌ„ After which tale by hym ended Charles Cusake stode vp shewed vnto the people what ruynous poynt the laÌ„de stode in for lacke of a wyse hedde gouernoure wherfore he exhorted y e people to chose y e kyng for theyr gouernour whyche than was so done he there toke vpon hym the rule promysed with them to lyue and dye Upon the xxii day of the sayd moneth of Iuny y e kyng of Nauerne with a coÌ„pany of vi M. speres of the citye other departed from Parys and rode vnto a towne called Gonnesse where an other company of the cytye taryed for hym from thens rode towarde SeÌ„lys But whaÌ„ the gentylmen of hys hoste vnderstode that he had takeÌ„ vppon hym to be capytayne of the cominaltye where agayn the more partie of the nobles of Fraunce were of the contrary partye they left hym many of them specially suche as were of the duchye of Burgoyne and wyth congy of hym taken resorted into theyr couÌ„treys whaÌ„ the regent had vysyted dyuers countreys wonne vnto hym the beniuolence of y e same had also gathered vnto hym greate strength he spedde hym towarde Parys lodged hym in the ende of the moneth of Iuny in a place called in Frenche le Pount de Charenton fast by Boyes in Uyncent In whose coÌ„pany were noumbred vpon .xxx. M. horsemen so that the countre there about was pylled wasted with that hoste wherof herynge the kynge of Nauerne retourned backe agayne and came wyth hys hoste vnto saynt Denys wythin .ii. myles of Parys And the cytye of Parys was kepte daye nyght that no man myghte entre or go out wythout lyceÌ„ce of y e prouoste other rulers therof In this meane whyle that the sayde two prynces lay thus with theyr two hostes about the cytye quene Iohan syster vnto the kynge made an instauÌ„t labour vnto the regent for grace for the cytezyns By whose meanes a comucacioÌ„ was appoynted to be holdeÌ„ betwene the kynge the regente the eyght day of Iuly at a place called y e wynde mylle faste by the house of saynt Anthony At whyche metynge it was lastly accorded betwene y e sayd prynces that the kyng of Nauerne shulde do hys best to brynge the cytezyns of Parys vnto due obedyence And yf he sawe in theym suche obstynacy that they wolde nat do theyr dutye to gyue for theyr rebellyon suche summes of money as by hym the regent shuld be thought accordynge that than the kynge shuld vtterly refuse theyr partye and turne vnto the regeÌ„t with all hys power And ouer that the kyng for all demaundes that he coude aske of the regent for any cause ouer the agremeÌ„t betwene them laste made shuld haue iii. C.M. floryns of gold wherof an C.M. to be payed that daye .xii. monethes and yerely after .l. M. tyll the fulle were payed And farther it was accorded that the kynge after y t daye shulde take partye with the regente agayne all persones excepte onely y e kynge of Fraunce And to the ende y t thys accorde shulde be fermely holdeÌ„ vppon bothe sydes the bysshoppe of Lyseux there beynge presente wyth many other lordes saÌ„ge there masse within the tente where thys accorde was concluded and after agnus dei sware the two prynces vpon the sacrament that withoute collusyon or fraude they shulde obserue and kepe eueryche artycle of the sayde accord After whyche conclusyon thus takeÌ„ the regent repayred vnto hys hoste the kynge vnto saynt Denys Than vppon the morowe the kynge entred Parys and conueyed thyther wyth hym but a certayne so taryed there all that daye wythoute any reporte sendyâ—ge vnto the regent And the seconde daye for y e more streÌ„gthynge of the towne he sent for certayne Englysshe sowdyours as archers and other and sette them in the towne wagys nother sente nor retourned vnto the regente with any answere Than towarde the nyght how it was assaut was made by som of the regentes people vppoÌ„ a parte of the town so that dyuers men were slayne vpon bothe sydes but the mo vppon the partye of the cytye Than the kynge of Nauerne vpoÌ„ the morowe retourned vnto sait Denys leuynge within the cytye y e foresayde streÌ„gthe of Englyshmen wyth other whan the regente was ware of the kynges beynge at saynt Denys he sent vnto hym and hym requyred of perfourmauÌ„ce of suche accorde as lately betwene theym was condissended syns by hys meanes he myght nat enduce the cytezyns to due obedyence that he wolde accordynge to
hys promesse take partye with hym wherby they and other enemyes to y ◠comon welth myght be recoūceyled whereunto the kynge answered and sayd that the regēt had brokē y e sayd accorde For where he by hys dylygēce laboure had brought the cytezyns to a nere poynt of recōciliacyon submyssiō the regent by the meane of that assaute whyche he made vnto the towne caused the sayd cytezeyns to renoūce all theyr former graunt to bynde them vpō theyr former wyl fulnesse After whyche answere thus gyuen by the kyng the regēt caused his people to passe y e ryuer of Sayne by a brydge made of botes and so to brenne the towne of Uyttry diuers other townes robbed pylled the coūtrey there about Upō the .xiiii. day of Iuly dyuers of the towne of Parys issued oute of the towne with the ayde of the Englyshmen endeuoured them to haue socoured the sayde towne of Uyttry with also to haue destroyed y e brydg At whych iournay they bare them so well that with theyr shotte they woūded many of theyr enemies and toke prysoner the regentes marshall named syr Reynolde de Fountaynes with dyuers other after retourned vnto theyr cytye Upon the .xix. day of Iuly y e quene Iohn̄ syster vnto y e kyng of Nauern̄ with the archebysshop of Lyons the bysshop of Parys with certayne other temporall persones of the cytye yode vnto a place assygned withoute the towne where with them met the regent certayne of hys coūsayll at lengthe cōcluded an unyte and cōcorde betwene the sayd regent cytesyns without farther payne or exacciō to be put vnto them excepte that the sayd cytesyns shuld humbly submytte thē vnto the regent in aknowlegyng theyr offēce askyng of hym mercy grace for the same ouer y t to be ordered forther as the kynge of Nauerne the sayd quene Iohn̄ with the duke of Orleaūce the erle of El cāps wolde deme adiuge and that graunted the regēt to opyn all ways passages as well by lāde as by water that al marchaūtes may passe as they before tymes vsed in lykewise they of the cytye to opyn the gates of the towne and to receyue all straungers AFter whych agremente thus cōcluded agreed with all other before made betwene the kyng the regent to be maynteyned vpholden the regēt sent from hym moch of hys people appoynted the sayd bisshoppes the other for the towne to mete with hym y e .iiii. day folowynge at a place called Laiguy syr Marne where he wolde haue also the kynge of Nauerne the other to perfyghte and clerely fynysh the sayd agremēt vpō thys made proclamacions thorough the hoste that a good and perfyght peace was agreed wherefore many of the hoste for dyuers causes theym mouynge yode towarde the cytye trustyng there gladly louynglye to be receyued But vpōn y e morne whan they came vnto the gates they fande them watched with harnessed men whyche wolde none suffre to entre but suche as them lyked amōg the whyche one named Macequetta seruaunte of the regētes was mysse entreated And nat withstādyng that accorde yet the mouable goodes of suche as were with the regent had houses within the cytie where disperbled and stroyed Upon the .xxi. day of Iuly euyn of mary Magdaleyne a stryfe began to kyndell within the cytye so that y e cytesyns complayned them vpon the Englysshemen surmysynge agayne thē dyuers causes By meane wherof the comonte in a fury yode vnto the palaye of Necl where at y t tyme many of the capytaynes of the Englysshemen dyned wyth the kynge of Nauerne vpon whome they fell sodeynly and slewe of them vpō .xxiiii. after in diuers places of y e citie toke the other deale to the noūbre of .iiii. C. or thereupon and closed theym in dyuers prysons with whych doyng the kynge of Nauerne with also the prouoste and other the gouernoures of the cytye were right fore discontented wherfore vpō the day folowyng the kynge assembled the comynaltye at theyr comon halle entendynge by plesaūt wordes to haue caused them to haue ben repētaunt of the murder of the foresayd capytaynes also to haue gotten the remenaunte oute of pryson But the more the kynge spake for the Englysshemen the more woder were they dysposed agayne theym sayenge y t those whyche were within the cytye shulde nat alonely be putte to deth but also suche as were at sait Denys whyche there spoyled that towne countrey enuyron and had had suche wordes vnto the kynge y t in the ende he wyth the prouost the other gouernoures were fayne to graunte vnto them that they wolde go with theym for to helpe to dystres the sayde Englysshemen And so the same daye agayne nyght the comōs yssued by the gate of saynt Honoure the kynge of Nauerne with the prouost theyr company went out by y e wyndemylle so that in the sayd assēbles of the kynge the comons were noumbred vppon .xvi. C. speres and of foote men vpon .viii. M. whan the kynge with hys company was comē into the feelde where the sayd wyndemylle stādeth he houed there well vp on halfe an houre to se what y e other company wolde do The whych sent out .iii. speres to espye where the Englyshmen were and espyed of theym vpō .xl. or .l. that apered by a woddes syde nere vnto saynt Clow and wenynge that the sayde Englysshemen there had bē no mo retourned shewed what they had sene whereupon the sayde comons in all haste spedde theym thyther And whā they were within the daunger of theyr shotte y e Englysshmen issued oute of dyuerse parties of the wode and woūded and slewe many of them wherwith the other beynge fered fled incontinently whome the Englysshemen pursued so cruelly that they slewe of the fote men vpon .vi. C. in all whych season the kyng of Nauern̄ and also y e prouost with theyr peple stode styl neuer moued towarde thē for theyr defence or ayde After thys scomfyture thus susteyned by the Parysyens the kyng lefte the cytye and rode vnto saynt Denys and the prouoste wyth hys company returned vnto Parys where he was receyued wyth hydyous noyse and crye aswel of womē as mē for y t he so cowardly had suffered hys neyghbours to be woūded and slayne By reasō of this the murmure of the people encreased dayly more and more agayne the prouost so that in maner a party was taken betwene the prouoste and the other gouernours of the cytye and the comynaltye For the comons wolde haue put to deth many of the prysoners of the Englysshemen but y e prouost with hys affynyte let them and preserued them from theyr fury and malyce And vpon the .xxvii. daye of Iuly beynge frydaye the sayd prouost beyng encōpanyed wyth .viii. score or ii C. mē in harnesse yode vnto Louure and other prysons and toke out y e sayd Englysshemen
laÌ„des as shuld be assygned vnto y e kyng they cowde nat agre wherfore y e regeÌ„t in coÌ„clusyoÌ„ seÌ„t vnto the erle of StaÌ„ps or Escamps chargyng hiÌ„ to say y t he to y e entent to haue his good wyl had offered vnto hym reasonable offers whyche yf he wolde accepte he wolde be fayne therof and yf nat he let hym vnderstaÌ„de y t he shulde haue no peace wyth hym whyle he lyued By reason of whyche message y e couÌ„sayles on bothe partyes conceyued none other but that this treaty shuld haue concluded no amyte nor peace But howe it was by counsayll or of hys owne lyberalyte whan the kyng had degested this mater in his mynd by all that nyght folowynge he on y e morowe sent for the counsayll of the regent wylled them to shewe vnto the regeÌ„t that he consydered well in hys mynde the great daunger mysery whyche the realme of Fraunce stode in wherfore he beyng of the naturall house of FrauÌ„ce and one of y e Flouredelyce ought to se y e mayntenaunce of the honour of the same And for that that no ruyne of the sayde realme shulde to hym yf any fell after be areâ—ted therfore he was coÌ„tented to set a parte all suche great offers promyses as to hym before tyme had ben offered promysed to holde hym onely contented wyth hys owne righte as he before tymes had enioyed And to y e ende that thys hys wyll pleasure myght to the people be knowen he wylled the regent that the people of that towne of PouÌ„toyse shuld be assembled in the court of that castell that he myghte declare it to them in propre persone The whych accordyng to his mynde was done All whyche rehersall he made before the regeÌ„t and comynalte of the towne promysyng there to delyuer out of hys possessioÌ„ all suche townes castelles and holdys as he had won syn he stode enemye to the crowne of FrauÌ„ce to become true subiecte vnto the kyng louyng neuewe and freÌ„de vnto y e regeÌ„t frome y t daye foreward wherof the regeÌ„t all the coÌ„mons were very glad ioyfull all be it that some trusted lytle to this accorde nor yet to y e coÌ„tinuauÌ„ce therof consyderynge the manyfolde accordes whych before tymes had ben betwene them coÌ„cluded After which accorde thus ended the kynge wyth hys people retourned to Mâ—iant y e regeÌ„t to Paris appoyntyng betwene them to meate at Parys the fyrst day of Septembre next folowyng ACcordyng to y e appoyntmeÌ„te made at Pountoyse betwene the kyng and y e regeÌ„t vpon the fyrste day of Septembre begynnyng of y e x. yere of kyng IohnÌ„ the sayd kynge regent met at Parys where atwen them was holden famylyer coÌ„pany and great kyndenesse shewed vppon eyther partye There also they counceyled how they shulde withstaÌ„de the kyng of Englande whych enteÌ„ded to entre Fraunce shortely after wyth a stroÌ„ge power And after many amytees and frendely dealynges betwen theÌ„ executed y e kyng rode to MeleoÌ„ to delyuer that towne and castel into the regentes possessyon as the story sheweth But whaÌ„ he was coÌ„myn thyther were it with hys wyl or coÌ„trary the sowdyours toke greuouse tolles of all wynes and other marchaundyses that passed that waye whyche after was knowen to be for y e wage sowde of the Nauaroys and Englisshemen whych helde the sayd towne and castell And so y t FrenchmeÌ„ were constrayned to paye the wages of theyr enemyes whyche greued them very sore consyderynge that manyfolde harmes and pyllages of theym before were receyued And after the kyng had auoyded the sayde sowdyours he departed rode vnto MauÌ„t leuyng Creyell in the possessioÌ„ of Englyshmen other And ouer these manyfolde myseryes and myschyeues thus fallyng in the realme of FrauÌ„ce there fell so great habundauÌ„ce of water in the Heruest season that y e corne was loste so that it rose to an hyghe pryce to the greate damage of the comon people And in the moneth of Nouembre folowyng the kynge of Englande with prynce Edwarde other many lordes with a stroÌ„ge power laÌ„ded at Calays so perced Fraunce by Artoys in Pycardy Uermendoys subdued the couÌ„trees before hym tyll he came to Reynes lyke as before is shewed in the .xxxiiii. .xxxv. yeres of kyng Edward where all thys mater wyth y e tenoure of the peace betwene the sayde kynges of Englande and of Fraunce is more at lengthe declared The laste daye of the moneth of Decembre one Marten of Pysdo burgeyse of Parys was draweÌ„ vnto the place of iugemeÌ„t there vpon a scaffolde had fyrste hys armes cutte of after hys legges by the thyes lastly hys hed than he was quartered hys .iiii. quarters sette vppon iiii pryncypall gates of the cytye hys hede sette vpoÌ„ the pyllory The cause of thys iugemente was for so moche as one called Denysot Palmer to whome he had discouered his couÌ„sayll and caused hym to be as an accessary in all hys workes had accused hym that the sayd Marten had agreed couenaunted with certayne offycers capytaynes of the kyng of NauernÌ„ that they at a tyme appoynted shuld haue entred the cytye of Parys to haue slayne the regente other to haue had the cytye at theyr rule and pleasure And so the season thaÌ„ of y e .x. yere tyl y t moneth of Iuly passed in the warres treaty before touched so that the .viii. day of Iuly the Frenche kyng laÌ„ded at Calays there taryed as prysoner tyl the .xxv. daye of Octobre folowynge as before in y e .xxxiiii. yere of kyng Edward is more playnly shewed Than vpon the .xxix. day of Octobre and begynnynge of hys .xi. yere kyng IohnÌ„ came to saynte Omers where he taryed tyll the fourth daye of Nouembre And the .xi. day of December he came vnto saynte Denys where vnto hym vpoÌ„ y e .xii. day came the kynge of Nauerne whyche had nat sene hym sen he was delyuered from pryson brought with hym certayne hostages whyche the Frenche kynge had sente vnto hym for hys saufegarde puttynge hym holy in y e FreÌ„che kynges grace mercy And vpon the morowe folowyng he was newly sworne vnto the kynge to be hys trew faythfull sonne subiect and the kyng agayn vnto hym to be hys kynde father good gracyous soueraygne lorde And forthe wyth were sworne the duke of Normandy Philip brother vnto the sayd kyng of Nauerne to maynteyne all couenauntes made to be made betwene the sayd .ii. kynges so that they were fynisshed coÌ„cluded by the .xviii. day of Ianuary nexte folowyng And soone after retourned the sayd kyng of Nauerne vnto Maunt. And kyng IohnÌ„ vpon the .xiiii. daye of December wyth great tryumphe was receyued into Parys And whanne he was comyn vnto hys palays the prouost of marchauntes wyth certayne burgeyses of the cytye in the name of the comynaltye of the same presented hym with a present
syr Symonde Burley knyghte syr Iames Bernes and syr Robert Belknappe knyghtes and a sergeaunt of armes called IohnÌ„ Uske the whyche by auctoryte of the sayde parlyamente were conuycte of treason and for the same put to execucyon at Tybourne and at the Towre hyll And IohnÌ„ Holt IohnÌ„ Locton Richarde Gray willyam Burgth and Roberte Fulthorpe iustyce with the other foresayd lordes whiche as before is said voyded the lande were by auctoryte of the sayd court of parlyamente banysshed exyled the lande for euer Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxviii  Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxix Goldesmythe Thomas Austeyne  Syr Nycholas Twyfforde  Anno. xii  Adam Cathyll  IN the .xii. yere and moneth of Nouembre yet durynge the ê‘lyament was executed in Smythefylde of London a marcyall Iustes and tournement where as all suche persones as came in vpon y e kynges partye theyr armour and apparayle was garnysshed with whyte hertes crownes of golde about their neckes And of that shorte were .xxiiii. with .xxiiii. ladyes also apparayled as aboue is sayd ladde with .xxiiii. cheynes of golde the horses of them and so conueyed them thoroughe the cytie vnto Smythefelde frome the Towre of London where the king the quene and many other great estates beynge present after proclamacions by the herroddes made many goodly and marcyall actes of warre were there put in vre to the great recreacion and comforte of the kynge and quene and all other beholders of the same To this dysporte came many straungers Amonge the whiche the erle of saynt Poule the lorde Ostreuaunt sonne and heyre vnto y â— duke of HolaÌ„de and a yonger sonne of the erle of Ostryche were greatly commended And whan this Iustes had contynued by sondrye tymes by the space of .xxiiii. dayes to the great comforte and recreacyon of many yonge and lusty bachellers desyrous to wynne worshyppe and to the kinges great honoure that by all that season kepte open housholde for all honeste comers it was fynysshed the strauÌ„gers retourned to their couÌ„treys with many ryche gyftes Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxix  Anno domini M. CCC.lxxxx Grocer IohnÌ„ walcot  wyllyam Uenour  Anno. xiii  IohnÌ„ Loueneâ— Â IN thys .xiii. yere of kynge Rychard an esquier of y e prouince of Nauerne by Fraunce accused an Englysh esquyer called IohnÌ„ welshe of certayne poyntes of treason For the tryall wherof a day of fyght was betwene them taken to be foughten in the kynges palays at westmynster where eyther of theym kept hys daye fought there a stronge fyght But in the ende IohnÌ„ welshe was vyctoure and constrayned that other to yelde hym where after he was dyspoyled of hys armoure and drawen to tyburne and there haÌ„ged for hys vntrouthe Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xc  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xci  IohnÌ„ Fraunces  Adam Bamme  Anno. xiiii  Thomas vyuent  IN thys .xiiii. yere of kyng Rychard syr IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t duke of Lancastre wyth a goodly coÌ„pany of men of armes sayled into Spayn to clayme suche landes as he there shulde haue in the ryght of dame CoÌ„staunce hys wyfe whyche was the doughter of Peter ryghtfull kynge of Spayne as in the .xl. yere of kyng Edward the thyrde is more playnly declared whan the sayde duke was vpon that other syde of the see there came vnto hym the kynge of Portyngale wyth a stronge army and so entred the terrytory of Spayne But whether it were of the Englishe men longe or of the Portyngaleys moche harme was done to the Spanyardes in robbynge and pyllyng of the countrey whyche was cause of grudge betwene the kyng of Portyngale and the duke and caused many Spanyardes whyche oughte to theÌ„ good wyll to wythdrawe and depart from them In reformacyoÌ„ of which ille certayn persones aswel English as Portyngaleys that were founde gyltye of suche robbery were putte vnto deth by meane whereof the other fered so that where by that meane the kynge and the duke were before put to great afterdeale by reasoÌ„ of reformacyon of that ille they gat dayly vppon theyr enemyes so that in processe of tyme folowyng y e kyng of Spayne was dryuen of necessyte to treate wyth the duke of a peace concorde Of the whyche peace as wytnesseth Polycronycon in hys last boke and .vii. chapyter the condycioÌ„ was that fyrste for a fynall concorde the kynge of Spayne shuld marye y e duke eldest doughter name CoÌ„stauÌ„ce and that done he shulde gyue vnto y e duke in recoÌ„pensacyon of hys costes so many wedges of golde as shulde charge or lade .viii. charettes and ouer that yerely durynge the lyues of the sayde duke and hys wyfe he shuld at hys propre coste and charge delyuer to the dukes assygneys .x. M. marke of golde wythin y e towne of Bayon And after thys peace was stablysshed and suertyes taken for the perfourmaunce of the same the duke departed wyth the kynge of Portyngale To whome shortelye after he maryed hys second doughter named dame Anne In thys yere also for cruel warre whyche the Turkes made agayne the Ianueys or men of Ieane they requyred ayde of the kynges of Englande and Fraunce For whyche cause oute of Englande was sente a noble warryour called erle of Alby wyth two thousande of archers and out of Fraunce the duke of Burbon and the erle of Ewe wyth .xv. C. speres The whych kept theyr iournay tyll they came vnto a cytye in Barbary named Thunys somtyme belongynge to the sayde Ianuays where the sayd Englyshe Frenchemen bare them so manfully wyth the ayde of y e Ianuayes that in proces of tyme they wanne y e sayde cytye froÌ„ the Turkes and put y e Ianuayes agayne in possessyon therof toke of theym many prysoners the whyche were exchaunged for chrysten prysoners before taken and ouer that forsed the sayd Sarazyns to yelde vnto the Ianuayes .x. M. ducates of gold for confyrmacyon of a peace for a certayne tyme. But the French cronycle sayth that for so moche as the duke of Burbon hadde vnderstandynge y t the duke of Lancaster made warre vpon kyng IohnÌ„ of Spayn he therfore lefte thys iournay and ayded hiÌ„ agayne the sayde duke of Lancaster to hys lytle honour But howe so euer it was many of the EnglyshmeÌ„ were loste in those countreys by reason of the flyxe and other sykenesses Also Antoninus sayeth that the Sarazyns at thys iourney were nat dyspossessed of the cytye of Thunys but for a trewes to be hadde for two yeres they graunted vnto the chrysten men a certayne summe of money and restytucyon of many chrysten prysoners Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xci  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xcii  IohnÌ„ Chadworth  Draper   IohnÌ„ Heende  Anno. xv  Henry Uamere  IN thys .xv. yere of kynge Rycharde he kepynge hys Crystmas at hys manour of woodstocke the erle of Penbrooke beynge yonge of age was desirouse to lern to iuste and requyred a knyghte named syr IohnÌ„ saynte Iohan to renne wyth hym certayne courses At
bothe hoostes of bothe prynces or suche coÌ„panyes as before either of them was appointed to bryng Here if I shuld brynge in the dyuers metynges of y e sayd princes and the curyous seruices that eyther caused other to be fed serued within eyther of theyr tentes or of theyr dalyaunce or pastymes continuynge the season of their metynges and the dyuersyte of the manifolde spices and wynes whiche there was ministred at y e said season with all y e ryche apparell of the sayde pauilyons cupbordes garnysshed with plate rich iewels it wold aske a loÌ„ge tracte of tyme. But who y t is desirous to knowe or here of the cyrcumstauÌ„ce of all y e premysses let him rede y e worke of maister IohnÌ„ Froysarde made in Frenche and there he shall se euery thynge touched in an ordre And here I shall shortly touch the giftes y t were gyuen of eyther of y e princes of their lordes And fyrst king Rychard gaue vnto y e Frenche kynge an hanap or basyn of golde with an ewer to y e same ThaÌ„ againwarde y e FreÌ„che king gaue vnto him iii. staÌ„ding cuppes of golde with couers garnisshed with perle stone a shippe of golde set vpon a bere rychely garnysshed with perle stone Than at theyr seconde meting king Rycharde gaue vnto him an ouche set with so fyne stones y t it was valued at .v. C. marke sterlynge where agayne the Frenche king gaue vnto him .ii. flaggons of golde a tablet of golde and therein an ymage of saint Mychaell rychely garnisshed Also a tablet of gold with a crucifixe therin well and rychely dyght Also a tablet of golde with an ymage of the Trynite rychely set with perle and stone Also a tablet of gold with an ymage of saynt George in likewise set with perle and stone whiche all were valued at the summe of .xv. C. marke Than king Richarde seyng y e bouÌ„te of the Frenche kinge gaue to hym a bauderyke or coler of golde set with greate dyamantes rubyes and balessys beyng valued at .v. M. mark the whiche for the preciosyte thereof that it was of such an excellency and fynesse of stuffe the Frenche kynge therfore ware it aboute his necke as often as the king and he mette together Than the Frenche kyng gaue vnto hym an ouche a spyce plate of golde of great weyght and valued at .ii. M. marke Many were the ryche gyftes that were receyued of lordes and ladyes of bothe prynces Amonge the whiche specially are noted .iii. giftes whiche kyng Richarde gaue vnto the duke of OrleauÌ„ce for the which he receyued agayne of the duke trebyll the value For where his were valued at a M. marke the dukes were valued at thre thousaÌ„de marke Finally whan y e said princes hadde thus eyther solaced with other concluded all maters concernynge the abouesayde maryage the Frenche kyng delyuered vnto kyng Rycharde dame Isabell his doughter sayenge these wordes folowynge Ryght dere beloued sonne I delyuer here to you the creature y t I most loue iÌ„ this worlde next my wife my sonne besechynge y e father in heuen that it may be to his pleasure and of the weale of you and youre realme and that the amyte atwene the .ii. realmes in auoydyng of effusyon of chrysten mens blode maye be kepte inuyolet for the terme atwene vs coÌ„cluded whiche terme was .xxx. wynter as expresseth the Frenche Cronycle After whiche wordes with many thankes giuen vpon eyther parties preparacyon was made of deê‘tinge And after kynge Rycharde had conueyed the Frenche kynge towarde Arde he toke his leaue and returned vnto his wyfe The which was immediatlye with great honoure conueyed vnto Caleys and there after to the kyng spoused as before to you I haue shewed After the which solempnisacion with al honour ended the kynge with his yonge wyfe toke shyppyng and so within short whyle landed at Douer and from thens sped hym towarde London wherof the cytezens beynge warned made out certayne horsemen well appointed in one lyuetye of coloure with a conysaunce brodered vpon theyr sleues whereby euery felyshyppe was knowen from other The whyche with the Mayre and hys bretherne clothed in scarlet met the kynge and the quene vpon the Blacke hethe after due salutacyon and reuerente welcomes vnto theim made by the mouthe of the recorder the sayd cytezens conueyed the kynge vpon his wey tyll he came to Newyngton where the kynge commaunded the Mayre with his company to returne to the cytie for he with hys lordes ladyes was appointed that nyght to lye at Kenyngton It was nat longe after but that she was from Kenington brought with great pompe vnto the Towre of London At whyche season was so exceding prece at London brydge that by reason therof certayne persones were thruste to deth amonge the whyche the pryoure of Typtre a place iÌ„ Essex was one And vpon the morowe folowynge she was conueyed throughe y e cytie with all honoure that myghte be deuysed vnto westmynster there crowned quene vpon the sonday beynge than the .viii. day of Ianuary In the somer folowynge the kynge by sinistre counsell delyuered vp by a poyntement the towne of Breste in Brytayne to the duke whiche was occasyon of displeasure atwene the kyng and y e duke of Gloucestre hys vncle as in the yere folowyng shal be more clerely shewed Anno domini M. CCC.lxxxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCC.lxxxxvii Goldesmythe Thomas wylforde  Adam Bame  Anno. xx  wyllyam Parker  IN this .xx. yere of kynge Rycharde and moneth of February the kinge holdynge a sumptuous feest in westmynster halle many of the soudyours whiche were newely comen from the towne of Brest foresayd presed into the hall and kepte a rome together whiche companye whan the duke of Gloucestre hadde beholden and frayned and knowen what men they were and howe the sayde towne was gyuen vppe contrary his knowlege was therewith in his mynde sore discomforted In so moche that whan the kynge was entred hys chaumbre and fewe nere vnto hym he sayde vnto the kynge Syr haue ye nat sene the felawes y t satte in so great noumbre to daye in your halle at suche a table And the kynge answered yes and axed of the duke what coÌ„pany it was To whom the duke answered saide Sir these ben youre souldyours comen from Breste and as nowe haue nothynge to take to nor knowen at howe to shyfte for theyr lyuynge and the rather for that as I am enfourmed they haue benne before tyme euyll payed Than said y e king it is nat my will but y t they shulde be well payed And if any haue cause to coÌ„playne let them shewe it vnto our tresourer and they shal be resonably answered In resonynge of this mater farther the duke said vnto the kyng Syr ye ought to put your body to payne for to wynne a stroÌ„ge holde or towne by feate of warre or ye toke vpon you to sell or delyuer any towne
Huntyngedon the whiche than was created duke of Exeter Also of the erle of Somerset was made a marques of Dorset And for the erles fyrste the lorde of westmerlande named Dane Raâ—y Neuyll was made erle of westmerlande the lorde Tresorer syr wyllyaÌ„ Scrope was made eâ—le of wylshyre and syr IohnÌ„ de Mountague was made erle of Salesbury And whan this busines was fynisshed the parlyament was remoued vnto Shrewysbury vnto Hyllarye terme where it was fynysshed to many mennes dyspleasures dysherytynge of many trewe heyres Anno domini M. CCC.lxxxxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCC.lxxxxviii Mercer wyllyam Askeham  Rycharde whyttyngton  Anno. xxi  IohnÌ„ wodecoke  IN this .xxi. yere of kynge Rycharde the people of the lande murmured and grudged sore againe the kynge his counsell for so moche as the goodes belongynge vnto the crowne were disperblyd gyuen to vnworthy persones by occasyon whereof dyuers charges and exaccyons were put vpon the people Also for that the chefe rulers aboute the prynce were of lowe byrthe and of small reputacyon and the men of honoure were kepte out of fauoure Also for that the duke of Glouceter was secretely murdred without processe of the lawe and many thynges elles mysordered by the laste parlyament whereof the wyte and blame was layed vnto the kynge and other persones after named as well for wrongefull dysherytynge of sondrye persones at the sayde parlyamente suche as were menyall seruauntes of the foresayde duke of Gloceter and of the erles of Arundell and of warwyke contrarye hys owne proclamacyons made concernynge suche maters Also that where dyuers patentes grauntes passyd the kynges great seale as well for pardons and other great maters yet for the kynges singuler auauntage suche fewe persones as bare the rule about hym many of theym were called agayne Also where for sheryffes and other offycers of all shyres of Englande were wonte to be named .iiii. by discrete ê‘sones as iuges other of y e whiche the kyng shulde assygne two for the yere folowynge he of his owne wylle pleasure wolde refuse them chose suche .ii. as hym lyked the which he knewe well wolde lene more to his weale than to the coÌ„men weale of this lande or of his subiectes Also that where before tymes y e kynges of Englande vsed to sende out commyssyons vnto burgeses of cyties townes to chose of theyr fre lybertie suche knyghtes of the shyre as they thought mooste wealefull for the comen weale of the sayde shyre lande nowe kyng Rycharde wolde appoynte the persones and wylle them for to chose such as than he named wherby his singuler causes were preferred and the commen causes put by Also kinge Rycharde thoroughe euyll counsell commaunded by his letters vnto the sheryffes of all shyres fewe excepted that all persones of honoure within theyr countyes as well spirytuall as temporall shulde make certayne othes in generall wordes and ouer that to wryte and seale certayne bondes for perfourmaunce of the sayde othes and also for blanke chartour which many men of substaunce were constrayned to seale to theyr great charges The people contynually murmured and grudgyd for these iniuryes and many mo whyche at the tyme of his deposynge were artyculed agayne hym in .xxxviii. sondry artycles with also the rumoure that ranne vpon hym that he had letten to ferme the reueneus of y e crowne to Busshey Bogot and Grene whiche caused as well the noble men of the realme to grudge agayn hym as other of the comon people Thus coÌ„tynuynge this mysorder within the lande dyed syr IohnÌ„ of Gaunt duke of Lancaster at the bysshoppe of Elyes place in Holborne and from thens was caried vnto saint Pouls and there vppon the north syde of y e quyre honorably buryed At whose enterremente all the chefe lordes of Englande were present For whom after was fouÌ„dyd by dame BlauÌ„che hys wyfe an honorable anniuersary as before I haue shewed in y e .xliiii. yere of Edwarde the thyrde whiche of right ought to be set in this place This yere also aboute the feste of saynt Bartholomew fell discencyon discorde bytwene y e duke of Herforde the duke of Norfolke wherfore the duke of Herforde accused y e other that he hadde taken .iiii. thousande marke of the kynges of suche money as he shulde therwith haue waged certeyne sowdyours at Caleys whiche he lefte vndone toke the same money to hys owne vse But an other wryter sayth that as y e sayde two dukes rode vppon a tyme from the parlyament towarde theyr lodgynges y e duke of Norfolke sayd vnto that other Syr se you not how varyable the kyng is in his wordes and how shamefully he putteth his lordes and kynesfolkes to deth and other exileth and holdeth in pryson wherfore full necessary it is to take kepe and not for to truste myche in hys wordes For without dowte in tyme to come he wyll by suche lyke meanes brynge vs vnto lyke deth distruccyon Of whiche wordes the sayde duke of Herforde accused that other vnto the kynge wherfore eyther wagyd batayle with other before the kynge To whom daye of metynge was gyuen to eyther vpon the .xi. daye of September to fyghte within lystes at CoueÌ„tre where all thynge was ordeyned for At whiche place at y e day assygned thyder came the sayde two dukes and appered in the felde before the kynges presence redy to do theyr batayle But y e kyng anone forbad that fyght and forthwith exyled the duke of Herforde for x. yeres and the duke of Norfolk for euer whiche sentence was shortely after put in execucyon Thanne the duke of Herforde sayled into FrauÌ„ce and there taryed a season But for lacke of ayde and comforte he departed thens and came into Brytayne And the duke of Norfolke passed dyuers countreys and lastely came vnto the cytie of Uenyce and there endyd his lyfe And soone after thys was maister Roger walden a chapeleyne of the kynges made archebysshoppe of Caunterbury the whyche was a speciall louer vnto the citie of London and made great labour for them vnto the kynges grace y e greuously with them was of newe dyspleased for so moche as he was enfourmed of them y t they shulde counsell with other sheriffes to withstaÌ„de certayne actes made in the laste parlyament for y t which the comynaltie of the cytie was endyted with other sheryffes In redresse wherof by couÌ„sell of the sayd archebysshoppe of maister Robert Braybroke than bisshoppe of LoÌ„don the cytezens made a lamentable supplicacyon vnto the kinge whiche by ayde fauoure of the sayd two bysshoppes other louers of y e cytie y e kinges yre indignacyon by meane of that lowly supplicacyon was some parte appeased withdrawen But yet to contente a ê‘te of y e kinges mynde many blanke chartours were deuysed broughte into the cytie which many of y e most substancyall men of the same were fayne to seale to theyr payne and charge in conclusyon
admytted it were nedefull vnto the realme in auoydyng of all suspeccyon and surmyses of ylle dysposed persones to haue in wrytynge and regestred the manyfolde crymes and â—efautes before done by the sayd Rycharde late kynge of Englande to the ende that they myghte fyrste be openly shewed vnto the people and after to remayne of recorde amonge the kynges recordes The whyche were drawen and compyled as before is sayde in .xxxviii. artycles and there shewed redy to be radde But for other causes than more nedefull to be preferred the redynge of the said artycles at that season were diffâ—ered and put of whyche artycles for that that they wolde aske longe tyme to wryte also wolde to some reders â—e but small pleasure to rede I haue therfore lefte theym out here of thys worke which at lengthe are sette ouâ— in the boke of the Mayres and yere of Drewe Barentyne than mayre of London Than for so moche as the lordes of the parlyament hadde well consydered this voluntary renouncement of kynge Rycharde and that it was behouefull necessary for the weale of the realme to procede vnto the sentence of his deposayll they there appoynted by auctorytie of the states of the sayde parlyament the bisshop of saynte Asse the abbotte of Glastenburye the erle of Gloucester the lorde of Barkeley wyllyam Thyrnynge iustyce Thomas Erpyngham and Thomas Graye knightes that they shulde gyue and â—ere open sentence to the kynges deposicyon whervpon the sayde commyssyoners leynge there their hedes together by good delyberacion good couÌ„sell and auysement and of one assent agreed amonge them that the bishop of saint Asse shulde publisshe the sentence for theym and in their names as foloweth In the name of god Amen we IohnÌ„ bysshope of saynt Asse or Assenence IohnÌ„ abbot of Glastynbury Rycharde the erle of Glocester Thomas lorde of Berkeley wyllyam Thyrnynge Iustyce Thomas Erpyngham and Thomas Graye knyghtes chosen and deputed specyall commyssaryes by the thre estates of thys present parlyament representynge the hole bodye of the realme for all suche maters by the sayd astates to vs committed we vnderstandynge and considerynge the manyfolde crymes hurtes and harmes done by Rycharde king of EnglaÌ„de and mysgouernaunce of the same by a longe tyme to the great decaye of the sayde lande and vtter ruyne of the same shortly to haue ben ne had the especiall grace of our lorde god therevnto put y e soner remedy also furthermore auertysinge y t the sayde kinge Rycharde knowyng his owne insufficiencie hath of his owne mere volunte and fre wyll renounced and gyuen vp the rule and gouernaunce of this lande with all ryghtes and honoures vnto y e same belongynge and vtterly for his merytes hath iuged hym selfe nat vnworthy to be deposed of all kyngely mageste astate royall we the premysses well consyderynge by good and dilygente delyberacyon by the power name and auctoryte to vs as aboue is sayd coÌ„mytted pronounce discerne and declare the same kynge Rycharde before thys to haue be to be vnprofytable vnable vnsufficyent and vnworthy to the rule and gouernauÌ„ce of the foresayde realmes and lordeshyppes all other thappurtenaunces to the same belongynge And for the same causes we pryue him of all kyngely dygnyte and worshyppe of any kynglye worshyppe in him lefte And we depose him by our sentence â—ifynityfe forbyddynge expressely to all archebysshoppes bysshoppes all other prelates dukes marqueses erles barons and knyghtes to all other men of the foresayd kyngdome and lordeshyppes or of other places belongynge to the same realmes and lordeshippes subiectes and lyeges what so euer they be y t none of them from this tyme forthwarde to the foresaid Rycharde as kynge lorde of y e foresayde realmes lordeshyppes be neyther obedyeÌ„te nor attendaunt After whiche sentence thus openlye declared the said astates admytted forthwith the same persones for theyr procuratours to resygne and yelde vp vnto kynge Rycharde all theyr homage fealtie whyche they had made oughte vnto hym before tymes and for to shewe vnto hym if nede were all thynges before done that concernyd his deposynge The whych resygnacyon at that tyme was spared and put in respite tyll the morowe nexte folowynge And anone as thys sentence was in thys wyse passyd and that by reason therof the realme stode voyde without hede or gouernoure for the tyme the said duke of Lancaster rysing froÌ„ y e place where he before sate standing where all myght beholde hym he mekely makynge the sygne of the crosse vppon his forhede and vpon hys breste after sylence by an officer was commaunded sayd vnto the people there beyng these wordes folowyng In the name of the father sonne and holy ghoste I Henry of Lancastre clayme the realme of Englande and the crowne with all the appurtenaunces as I that am dyscended by ryght lyne of the bloode commynge from that good lorde kynge Henry the thyrde through y e ryght that god of hys grace hath sente to me wyth helpe of my kynne of my frendes to recouer the same y t which was in point to be vndone for defaut of good gouernaunce due iustyce After whyche wordes thus by hym vttered he retourned set him down in the place where he before had sytten Than the lordes apperceyuynge and herynge thys clayme thus made by thys noble man eyther of theym frayned of other what he thoughte And after a dystaunce or pauâ—e of tyme the archebysshope of Cauntorbury hauyng notycyon of the lordes myndes stode vp asked of the commons yf they wolde assente to the lordes whych in theyr myndes thoughte the clayme by the duke made to he ryghtefull and necessary for the welthe of the realme of them all wherunto with one voyce they cried ye ye ye After whyche answere the sayde archebysshop goynge vnto the duke settynge hym vpon hys kne had vnto hym a fewe wordes The whyche ended he rose takynge the duke by the ryght hande â–ª ladde hym vnto the kynges sete wyth greate reuerence sette hym therein after a certayne knelynge and orison made by the sayde duke or he were therein sette And whan the kynge was thus set in hys trone to the greate reioysynge of the people the archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury beganne there an oracion or colacyon in maner as after foloweth Uâ—â— dominabitur in populo primo ReguÌ„ capitulo .ix. These ben the wordes of the hygh and mooste myghty kynge spekynge to Samuel hys prophete techyng hym how he shuld chose and ordeyne a gouernoure of hys people of Israel whan the sayde people asked of hym a kynge to rule theym And nat wythout cause maye these wordes be sayde here of oure lorde the kynge that is For yf they be inwardely conceyued they shall gyue to vs mater of consolacion and comforte whan it is sayde that a maÌ„ shall haue lordeshyp and rule of the people nat a chylde For god threteneth nat vs as he sometyme thret the people by I saye sayenge
his vnstedfastnesse vntroth by hym before vsed as in sundry places before in the storyes of kyng IohnÌ„ Charles hys sonnÌ„ are manyfestly shewed In thys yere also a batayll was done at Parys betwene .ii. knyghtes of the duke of Alenson whereof the cause ensuyeth Thys sayd duke had in hys court two knyghtes whereof that one was named IohnÌ„ CarengoÌ„ or Carongyon and that other Iaquet Gryâ—er whyche were bothe in good fauoure of theyr mayster Thys Carongon were it for delyte to se straunge countreys or cause of other auenture as pilgrymage or other departed out of FrauÌ„ce leuyng hys wyfe in a castel or fortresse of his owne whyche wyfe was goodly and fayer After whose departynge were it for beauty of the womaÌ„ or for euyll wyl that he bare towarde hys felow this Iaquet Gryse entryd the castel berynge hys wyfe on hande that he was comyn to se that house whyche shewed so fayre outwarde The woman castynge no parell acceptynge hym for her husbaÌ„des frende hyrs shewed to him the cyrcuite of y e place But he in contrary awaytynge hys praye whan he sawe the womaÌ„ farre from company forsed hyr in suche maner that contrary hyr wyll he coÌ„mysed wyth her auoutry At whose departyng she gaue vnto hym many rebukeful wordes sayenge playnlye that yf hyr husbaÌ„de euer retourned she wolde of that velany be reueÌ„ged Thys dede was kepte secrete tyll the retourne of hyr husbande At whose home commyng she wyth lameÌ„table countenaunce shewed tyll hyr husbande all the demeanure of the sayd Iaquet After whyche complaynte by hyr husbande well vnderstanden he yode streyght vnto the duke of Alenson requyryng hym to do correccion vpoÌ„ the auoutrer or els y t he myghte trye it with hym in y e felde by fortune of batayll whereof nother the duke wolde graunt but brought the quarell before the kyng By whose agrement and commaundemente a daye by the kynge was sette to fyghte at Parys whaÌ„ the daye of batayll was comen Carogon broughte hys wyfe vnto the place to iustyfye hyr former sayenge After affyrmacyon whereof eyther fyrste ranne at other wyth sharpe speres At whyche course Iaquet wounded hys enemie in the thyghe wyth hys spere But Carongon beynge wyth it nothynge dysmayed lyght from hys horse and bare hym so manfully that he ouercame hys aduersarye caused hym to confesse hys offence for the whych he was streyght drawen vnto the gybet of Parys and there haÌ„ged And to the sayd Carongon the kyng gaue in rewarde a thousande fraÌ„kes or a hundreth pouÌ„de sterlynge money ouer that he gaue vnto hym as an annuall fee or rent two huÌ„dreth frankes whyche is in value of .xx. pouÌ„de sterlynge money In these dayes as wytnesseth Gagwynus an anker berynge in hys hande a rede crosse a man to loke to of goostlye conuersacyon came vnto the FreÌ„che kynges court The which by the housholde seruauÌ„tes or famylyers of the court was loÌ„ge kept froÌ„ hys presence all be it that lastelye he was brought vnto hym To whome he shewed that he was deuynely monysshed that he shulde charge hym to absteyne from hys customable vse in leuyenge so often taskes subsydyes yt he dyd nat he shulde well vnderstande that the wrath of god was nere to hym to punysshe hym yf he refused hys commauÌ„dement The whyche message the kynge toke at small regarde But shortly after the quene was delyuered of a doughter that dyed soone after wherefore the kynge callynge to mynde the ankers wordes for fere of other punysshement refrayned a season frome leuyenge of trybutes and taskes But by the exortacion of hys two vnkylles he in shorte season after tourned to hys former custome Kynge Charles thus passynge hys tyme wyth greate murmure of hys commons rebellyon of the duke of Brytayn wyth many other aduersytyes whych were longe to wryte lastly in the .xiiii. yere of hys reygne or nere about he made warre vpon the people of west Fraunce called in late Cenomanni whan Charles was entred thys countrey whyche was in the domynyon of the duke of Brytayn y e duke sent vnto hym messengers sayenge to hym that he shulde nat nede to inuade hys couÌ„trey wyth so great streÌ„ghte for he and his shuld be hooly at hys commaundement But of thys message y e king toke no regard for as sayth myne auctour he was nat most wysest prynce but was ruled by hys housholde seruauntes and belyued euery lyght tale that was brought to hym and ouer that he was so lyberal that it was of wyse men accompted more prodygalyte than lyberalitye As Charles nat wythstandyng this message of y e duke helde on his iournay commynge nere vnto a woode he was sodeynly mette of a man lyke vnto a begger whyche sayde vnto hiÌ„ whither goest thou syr kyng beware thou go no farther for thou arte betrayed and into the handes of thyne enemyes thyne owne meyny shall delyuer the â–ª wyth thys monyssion of thys poore maÌ„ the kynge was astonyed stoode styl and begaÌ„ to muse In whyche study he so beyng one of hys folowers whyche after hym bare his spere sleped vpoÌ„ his horse backe in hys so slepyng let hys spere fall vpon the helmet of hys felowe â–ª wyth whych stroke the kyng was sodeynly fered thynkynge hys enemyes had commen vnwarely vpoÌ„ hym wherefore he in a gere drewe hys swerde layed about hym at the geynest and slewe .iiii. of his knyghtes or he were refrayned and toke therewyth suche an endelye fere that he fell therwyth dystraughte wherefore he was to a place there by broughte lay there in poynte of deth a longe season after in so moch that the fame ranne that he was ded But by prayers other greate dedes of charyte done for hym lastely he recouered and retourned vnto Parys And for he was nat yet retourned to hys perfyghte helthe his two vncles than beynge that one duke of Berry that other duke of Burgone toke vpon them by auctoryte of the estates of the lande to rule the realm for that season in whyche season diuers officers were altered chauÌ„ged The kyng thus contynuyng his lykenes many interludes and games were deuysed for the kynges recreacyon comforte And vppoÌ„ a season he beynge lodged in the quenes lodgynge in the subarbes of saynte Marcell dyuers noble men of the courte made a dysguysynge and apparayled theym in lynnen clothes glewed vnto theyr naked bodyes wyth pytche florisshed theym wyth dyuerse colours oyles so that they were couered all excepte the faces and thus apparayled with torche lyghte entred the Chaumbre where as the kyng was and there in goodly maner shewed theyr disport so that the kynge was therewith wel contented But were it of rechelesnesse or of some â—uyl disposed person fyre was put to the vestures of the disguysers the whyche anone was vppon suche a flame that no man there coulde quenche it wherfore the sayd disguysers beynge by reason of pytche and oyles greuously turmented ranne into pyttes and
of Orleyaunce assembled to hym a coÌ„pany of .vi. thousande knyghtes came agayne towarde Parys where as that tyme the duke of Burgoyne was And he herynge of y e dukes coÌ„myng made him stronge to receyue hym To whome the cytezens of Parys were fauourable aydynge for the euyll wyll that they before bare vnto the duke of Orleyaunce also for they hoped by hym to be defended from taskes and tallages Thus contynuynge the prouisyon vpon bothe partyes to mete shortely in playne batayle suche polytike meanes was fouÌ„de by a noble man called Mountague that a concorde and vnyte was for that tyme by hym sette atwene the sayd dukes And for that newe occasyon shulde nat by preseÌ„ce kyndle atwene them therfore y e duke of Orleyaunce with hys company was sent into Guyan to warre vpon the englysshemen that other vnto Calays to lay syege vnto that towne The which before had prepared a wonderfull engyne sette vpon whelys by the strength wherof he thoughte to wreke greate dysturbaunce vnto the sayd towne as sayth myne auctour Gagwyne was in great hoope to recouer it agayne to the subieccyon of the house of FrauÌ„ce But that hope was soone dyspayred for it was nat longe after or the sayd duke by the kynge was countermaunded and returned And the duke of Orleyaunce after he knewe that rescous were commyng froÌ„ Burdeaux he remoued his siege layde by hym to Burgus a towne of Guyan so returned into Fraunce to his coÌ„fusyon as after shall appere IN the .xxvii. yere of this Charles the former malyce and enuye contynuyng in the brestes of the sayd dukes of Orleyaunce and of Burgoyne as the sayd duke of Orleyaunce was goynge towarde hys lodgynge in the nyght of the .x. daye of Decembre fell vpon him certayne knyghtes of the whiche one named Rafe Auctouyle was leder slewe hym nere vnto a gate of the cytie of Parys named Barbet gate After whyche murder fynysshed y e sayde sir Rafe with hys adherentes fledde vnto the place of the erle of Artoys where the duke of Burgoyne vsed accustomably to resorte And y e dede corps was soone after by suche as came to y e exclamacyoÌ„ with also a seruauÌ„t of his with him slaine borne into y e next houses whan the rumour of this murder was blowen about y e cytie anone Lewys vncle vnto the kynge and than kynge of Scecyle the dukes of Berry and of Burbon with other drewe thyder and there with lamentacyon beholdynge the corps commaunded prouisyon to be made for the buryenge of it within the monastery of Celestynes where vpon the seconde day folowynge he was buryed wyth great pompe whome amoÌ„ge other lordes folowed to his buryenge the duke of Burgoyne nat without great suspicyon of the sayd murder And that enterrement with due obseruaunce fynysshed auctoryte was gyuen vnto .ii. knyghtes named Roberte Tuyller Peter Orpheuer to make enquery for the murder of this prince wherof the duke of Burgoyne beynge ascertayned voyded the cytie brake the brydge of saynte Maxence after hym that pursute after hym shulde nat be made and so hastely spedde hym that that nyght folowynge he came to Andwarpe whiche is vpon an C. myle from Parys whan Charles the kyng harde of the escape of y e sayd duke feryng leste he wolde accuse hym to be consentyng vnto that euyll dede sent vnto hym comfortable messages so that the sayde duke without warre restyd all that wynter sometyme in Arthoys and an other whyle in Flaunders at his pleasure In the whiche pastyme he sente into dyuers places of Fraunce sondry accusacyons of the duke before slayne that he enteÌ„ded to depose the kyng and to take vpon hym the rule gouernaunce of the realme and to haue poysoned the sayd kyng as by dyuers tokens by hym affermed for perfourmauÌ„ce of the same And also that the said duke of OrleyauÌ„ce was cause of fyrynge of y e disguysers garmentes before shewed to the ende to brynge the kyng in more daunger of syckenes or els to be consumed with the same fyre with sondry other distamacyons as leuyenge of taskes and imposicyons of the people to his singuler auauntage and hougely enrychynge wherby he myghte the soner attayn vnto his said purpose Thus contynuyng this great vnkyndenes atwene the duke of Burgoyne and the sonne and other of his blode of y e duke of Orleyaunce the said duke agayne the begynnynge of the yere herynge that the king and the quene were departed from Parys to Charters asseÌ„bled to hym a stroÌ„ge power of HolaÌ„ders other and came vnto Parys in which cytie he moch trusted to the ende to cause the kynge y e quene and the Doulphyn to whome he hadde maryed hys doughter for to retourne vnto Parys And to strengthe hys partye he broughte with hym wyllyam erle of Hanster which wyllyam was a man of great strengthe and allyaunce and hadde maryed hys syster vnto the duke of Burgoyne foresayde and hys doughter and heyre vnto one of kyng Charles sonnes and was gossyppe vnto the quene For whyche sayde consyderacyons the sayde erle entendynge the weale of that realme of Fraunce laboured suche wayes and meanes that by hym for that tyme a concorde and vnytie was dryuen and made atwene the two dukes of Orleyaunce and Burgoyne wyth assured othes and necessary actes to that concorde belongynge and the king with his retynewe was agayne retourned vnto Parys These dukes thus appeased and the duke of Burgoyne agayne restored to the gouernaunce of the realme assocyate vnto hym the kynge of Nauerne whyche varyed nat from his fathers vnstable condycyons so that by him newe occasyons of stryâ—e and varyaunce were moued atwene the sayde dukes and theyr allyes For fyrste they soughte occasyon agayne the forenamed Mountague a man of great wysedome and honoure in the kynges courte and especyall frende vnto the duke of Orleyaunce and by theyr malyce and vntrewe surmyses fynally putte to dethe And one named Peter Essayer or Sayer thaÌ„ prouoste of the cytie of Parys or gouernoure they admytted to the rule of the kynges treasoury and other dyuers offyces suche as were any thynge fauoured of the duke of OrleauÌ„ce they clerely dyscharged The whyche for theyr relefe and comfort resorted vnto the sayde duke shewynge to him all y e demeanure of their aduersaryes addynge thervnto y e all suche conuencyons concernynge the amyte atwene hym and the duke of Burgoyne before sworne enacted were clerely adnulled broken with these tydynges the duke beyng fyred with newe malyce accompanyed to hym the dukes of Berry of Burbon and of Alenson the erles of Rychemounte of Alyberte and of Armenake with other nobles nat a fewe by whose counsels he determyned to be auenged vpon the duke of Burgoyne other his fautours wherof the sayde duke beynge monisshed drewe him towarde Parys and strengthed the fortresses as he yode To thys duke of Burgoyne was brother the duke of Brabande named Anthony a man of great polycye and
swerde holdyng vp ryght the erle of NorthhumberlaÌ„de newely made constable stode vpoÌ„ the left haÌ„de wyth a sharpe swerd holdeÌ„ vp ryght And by eyther of those swerdes stode .ii. other lordes holding .ii. scepters And before y e kyng stode all the dynerwhyle the dukes of Amnarle of Surrey of Exceter wyth other .ii. lordes And y e erle of westmerlaÌ„de thaÌ„ newly made Marshal rode about the halle with many typped staues aboute hym to se the roume of y e halle kepte that offycers myghte wyth ease serue the tables Of the whych tables the chyefe vpoÌ„ the ryghte syde of the halle was begunne wyth the Barons of the fyue portes at the table nexte the cupborde vppoÌ„ the lefte hande sate the mayre and hys bretherne the aldemeÌ„ of LondoÌ„ whych mayre than beynge Drewe Barentyne goldsmyth for seruice there by hym that daye done as other mayres at euery kynges quenes coronacion vse for to do had there a staÌ„dyng cuppe of golde ThaÌ„ after the seconde course was serued syr Thomas Dymmoke knyght beynge armed at all peaces syttynge vpoÌ„ a good stede rode to the hygher parte of the halle there before the kynge caused an herowde to make proclamacyon that what maÌ„ wolde saye that kynge HeÌ„ry was nat ryght full enherytoure of the crowne of England ryghtfully crowned he was there redy to wage wyth hym batayl than or suche tyme as it shuld please the kynge to assygne whyche proclamacyon he caused to be made after in iii. sundry places of the halle in Englyshe in Frenche wyth many mo obseruaunces at hys solemnyte exercysed done whyche were longe to reherse Than thys feest wyth all honour ended vpon the morne beyng tuysday the parliameÌ„t was agayne begunne And vpon wednysdaye syr Iohanne Cheyny that before that tyme had occupyed as speker of that parlyameÌ„t by hys owne labour for cause of such infyrmytyes as he than hadde was dyscharged and a squyer named wyllyam Durwarde was electe to that roume for hym And thanne was the parlyament and the actes thereof laste called by kynge Rycharde adnulled and sette at noughte and the parlyamente holden in the .xi. yere of hys reygne holden for ferme and stable And the same daye Henry the kynges eldeste sonne was chosen admytted prynce of walys and duke of Cornewalle and erle of Chester and heyre apparaunte to the crowne Uppon the thursdaye folowynge was putte into the comon house a byll deuysed by syr IohnÌ„ Bagot than prysonere in the Towre whereof the effecte was that the said sir IohnÌ„ confessed that he harde kynge Rycharde saye dyuers tymes and at sondry parlyamentes in hys tyme holden that he wolde haue hys entente and pleasure concernynge hys owne maters what so euer betyde of the resydue And yf any withstode hys wyll or mynde he wolde by one meane or other brynge hym out of lyfe Also he shewed farther that king Rycharde shulde shewe and saye to hym at Lychefelde in the .xxi. yere of hys reygne that he desyred no lenger to lyue than to see hys lordes commons to haue hym in as great awe and drede as euer they had of any of hys progenytours so that it myghte be cronycled of hym y t none passed hym of honour and dygnite with condycyon that he were deposed and put from his sayde dygnytie the morowe after And yf euer it came so to that he shulde resygne hys kyngelye magestye he sayde his mynde was to resygne to the duke of Herforde as to hym that was moste ableste to occupye that honoure But one thynge he feared leste he wolde do tyrannye agayne the churche More ouer he shewed by y e said byll that as the sayde syr IohnÌ„ Bagot rode behynde the duke of Norfolke towarde westmynster the sayd duke layed to hys charge that he with other of y e kynges counsell had murdred y e duke of Glocetyr y â— which at y e tyme to the said duke he denyed sayd at y e day he was on lyue But within .iii. wekes after the sayde syr IohnÌ„ by y e kynges coÌ„maundemente was sent with other ê‘sones vnto Calays where for fere of his owne lyfe he sawe y e said murdre put in execucion And farthermore he shewed y t there was no man of honour at that dayes more in fauour with king Rycharde thaÌ„ was y e duke of Amnarle that by his couÌ„sell he toke y e lordes wrought many other thinges after y e said dukes aduyce Also he shewed y t he harde the kynge beynge than at Chyltrynlangley swere many great othes y t the duke of Herforde nowe kyng shulde neuer returne into Englande and rather than he shulde agayne enheryte hys fathers landes he wolde gyue them vnto the heyres of the duke of Glocetyr and of the erles of Arundell and of warwyke at the laste parliament adiuged And farther he shewed that of all these matters he sent the said duke knowlege into Fraunce by one named Roger Smerte admonastynge hym to prouyde by his wysedome to wythstande the kynges malyce whyche shewed hym to be hys mortall enemye And lastelye he shewed in the sayde byll that he harde the duke of Amnarle say vnto sir IohnÌ„ Busshey and to syr Henry Grene I had leuer than xâ— thousande pound that thys man were dede And whan they had axed of him whyche man he said the duke of Herforde nat for drede that I haue of hys persone but for sorowe and rumours that he is lykely to make within this realme whiche bylt was than borne vnto the kynges parlyamente chaumbre there â—adde After redynge whereof the sayd duke of Amnarle stode vp and sayd as touchynge suche artycles as in that byll were putte agayne hym they were false and vntrewe that he wolde proue vpon hys body or otherwyse as the kynge wolde commaunde hym Upon fryday the said syr IohnÌ„ Bagot was brought into the sayd parlyament Chambre and examyned vpon euery artycle of his byll all the whych he there affermed Than it was axed of hym what he coulde saye y e duke of Exceter where unto he answered and sayed that he coulde laye nothyng to hys charge But there is he sayd a yomaÌ„ in Newgate called Halle y t can say somwhat of you Than sayd the duke what so euer he or ye can or lyste to say of me thys is trouthe that I shall here expresse Trouth it is that the last tyme that the kyng was at woodstoke the duke of Northfolke ye haue hadde me to you into the chapel and closed the dore vpon vs. And there ye made me to swere vpoÌ„ the sacrament there present to kepe suche counsayll as there ye shuld than shewe vnto me where after ye shewed to me that ye coulde neuer brynge your purpose about whyle syr IohnÌ„ of Gaunt late duke of LaÌ„castre lyued wherfore ye were aduysed for to haue shortely after a couÌ„sayll at Lychefelde by the whyche ye coÌ„discended y t the sayd syr IohnÌ„ shuld be arested in
whyle a great multytude of horse men were layd vpon the grounde And after theyr shotte spent they layde aboute them with theyr glaynes and axes that by the greate grace of god and comfortable ayde of the kynge the vyctory fell that daye to the Englysshemen and with lytell losse of theyr cōpany For after the opynyon of sondry wryters were slayne y t daye of Englishemen the dukes of yorke and of Suffolke not ouer .xxvi. parsons moo But of Frenchmen were slayne that daye after Englysshe wryters ouer the nomber of .x. thousande Albeit y e French Gaguinus sayth that of the Englyshe hoste were slayne the duke of yorke and with hym .iiii. hundreth men and of the French hoste .iiii. M. men of name besyde other whiche he numbreth not Also he affermeth to be horsmen at that felde vppon the Frenche partye .x. thousande ouer and besyde the fotemen and that the Englyshemen were nombred at .xv. C. spere men xviii M. of yomen and archers At thys sayde batayle was taken prysoners the duke of Orleaūce the duke of Burbon̄ y e erle of Uēdosme of Ewe of Rychemount and Bursigaunt thanne marshall of Fraunce wyth many other knyghtes esquyres whych were tedyous to name to the nōber of .xxiiii. hūdreth aboue as wytnesseth the boke of mayres And in thys batayle were slayne of the nobles of Fraunce the dukes of Barre of Alanson and of Brabā viii erles and barons aboue .lxxx. wyth other gentylmen in cote armours to the nomber of .iii. thousāde and aboue By reason of whyche pyllage the Englysshemen were greatly auaunced For the Frenchmen were so assuryd of vyctory by reason of theyr great nōber that they brought the more plenty of rychesse wyth thē to the ende to bye prysoners eyther of other and also after the victory by them opteyned to shewe vnto Englysshemen theyr pryde pompous araye But god whyche knewe the presumpcion and pompe tourned all thynge contrary to theyr myndes ententes whan the kynge by grace and power of god more thā by force of man hadde thus gotten this tryumphaūt vyctorye and retourned hys people frome the chase of theyr enemyes tydynges were brought vnto hym that a newe hoste of Frēchmen were comynge towarde hym wherfore he anone commaunded his people to be enbatayled and that done made proclamacions thorough the hoste that euery man shulde slee hys prysoner By reason of whych proclamacyon the duke of Orleaunce and the other lordes of Fraunce were in such fere that they anone by lycence of y e kyng sent such worde vnto the sayd hoste that they wythdrewe them And the kynge wyth hys prysoners vpon the morow folowyng toke hys waye toward his towne of Caleys where he rested hī duryng this mayres tyme. Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.v  Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.vi  wyllyam Cambrydge  Nycholas wotton Draper  Anno .iii.  Aleyn Euerarde  THys yere and .xxix. daye of Nouember as the mayre rode towarde westmynster for to take hys charge a pursyuaūt of y e kynges came wyth letters vnto the mayre gyuyng to hym knowlege of the kynges good spede wherfore the byshop of wynchester than chaūceller of England hauynge lyke wyttynge came that daye to Poulys and there caused Te deum to be songē wyth great solempnyte And in lyke wyse was lyke obseruaunce done in y e parysshe chyrches and other relygyous houses thorough the cytye of London And at Poulys by the sayd chaūceller standyng vpon the steppes at the quyerdore were the sayd tydynges denounced vnto the people And vpon the morow folowynge y e sayd chaunceller wych other bysshoppes and tēporall lordes wyth a generall procession of the mayre and comynaltye of the cytye yode from Poulys to westmynster on fote and offered at saynt Edwardes shryne so retourned to theyr owne houses Thanne kyng Hēry wyth hys prysoners shypped at Calays and so landed at Douer And after he had ben at Caunterbury and there made hys offerynge vnto saynt Thomas he than spedde hym on hys iournay tyll he came vnto Eltham where he rested hym a season Upon the .xxiii. day of Nouembre he was met with the mayre hys bretherne vpō the Blak heth so conueyed wyth all honour thorugh the cytye vnto westmynster wherein dyuers places of the sayd cytye as the brydge crosse in chepe were ordeyned certayn pagentes to the kynges great comforte The maner wherof with all processyons and other seremonies I passe ouer for letthyng of the tyme. In thys yere also Sigismunde Emperour of Almayn came into England And in the moneth of May by the kynges cōmaundement .vii. daye of the sayd moneth the mayre and bretherne mette hym vpō Blakheth And at saynt Georges met hym the kyng and hys lordes in great nōbre and so conueyed hym vnto westmynster with great honour lodged hym in hys own palays And shortly after was the feast of saynte George holden at wyndesore whyche before was deferred for hys cōmyng In tyme of whyche solempnyte durynge y e dyuyne seruyce the kynge kepte the astate But in syttyng at the feest ▪ the Emperour kept y e astate The seruice sotyltees of whiche feeste with syttynge of y e lordes after theyr degrees I passe ouer And shortly after came the duke of Holande into this lande for certayne causes concernynge the Emperour whome the kynge honourably receyued and lodged hym in the bisshoppes palays of Ely in Holbourne And so the kynge entreated and chered these straungers that for the season that they taryed in Englande they laye here at the kynges coste and charge And y e emperoure and he were made knyghtes of the garter and also a greate duke of y e emperours named duke of Bryga And whan the emperour hadde taryed vpō .vii. wekes and odde dayes in Englande which after some wryters was to th entent to set an vnyte and reste bytwene the Frenche kynge and kynge Henry he after toke mynde to retourne into Almayne ▪ whom the kynge for hys comforte and nedes that he had to do at Caleys accompanyed hym thyder where eyther wyth gyftes thankes departed from other And the duke of Hollande went wyth the emperour into Hollande and other countrees whyle the kynge was thus at Calys to hym came thyder vnder saufe conduyt the duke of Burgoyne and hadde wyth the kynge dyuers communycacyons and after retourned to hys owne And soone after y e kyng retourned into Englande and came to westmynster vpon saynte Lukes euyn or the .xvii. daye of October Thys yere and season whyle the kynge was at Calayes y t is to mene vppon the daye of Assumpcyon of our blessed lady the duke of Bedforde accompanyed wyth the erle of Marche and other lordes hadde a greate conflycte and batayle wyth dyuers carikkes of Ieane and other shyppes where after longe and sore fyght y e honour fyll to hym and hys Englysshemen to the greate losse of the straungers bothe of theyr men and also of theyr shyppes
for the warre apparayled wherof London sente at theyr charge men Than vpon the .ix. daye of Iuyll the duke of Burgoyn with a great multytude of Burgonyons and Flemynges appered before Calays and there pyght his pauylyons and tentes so that euery towne of FlauÌ„dres had theyr tentes by themselfe At whiche season was Lyeutenaunt of Calays syr IohnÌ„ Ratclyf knyght of the castell was lieutenaunte the baron of Dudley And so that syege endured vpon .iii. wekes In whiche seson many knyghtly actes were done and exercysed vpon bothe partyes whiche for lengthynge of the tyme I passe Than vpon the seconde day of August the duke of Glouceter protectour of EnglaÌ„de with a company of .v. C. sayles as some writers haue landed at Calays and entended vpon the thyrde day folowynge to haue yssued out of the towne and to haue gyuen batayll to y e Flemynges But as testyfyeth all Englysshe wryters so soone as y e duke of Burgoyn was ware of the great power of the lorde protectour he toke with hym of his ordenauÌ„ce that he myght lyghtly cary and the other that were heuy and combrous he lefte behynde hym Amonge the whiche one was lefte before Guynes a great gunne of brasse named Dygon ouer dyuers serpentynes and other great gunnes And the Flemynges lefte behynde them a great quantyte of bere besyde wyne and floure and other vytayle But of this vyage wryteth otherwyse Gaguyne sayth that y e duke well and manfully as a valyaunte knyght iÌ„ his actes coÌ„tinued his syge before Calays ouer two monethes And there dyd many noble actes in assaylyng of his enemyes And after y e Flemynges by reason of theyr murmure and rebellion had refused hym and in maner lafte hym almost with out company yet not withstaÌ„dynge he dayly assayled his enemyes and after with suche small company as was laft hym whaÌ„ he sawe he myght not preuayle he returned into his couÌ„tre And so thus alway in all the sayd Gagwynus boke he wypeth from y e Englysshemen in all that he may the honoure and excuseth theyr enemyes to his power whan the duke with his host was thus fledde the lorde protectoure with his people folowed hym into the countre by the space of xi dayes In whiche season he brent but two townes whiche were named and yet be Poperynge and Bell and returned to Calays after into Englande And this yere was the castell or towne of Rokkesborouth in Scotlande besyeged of the kynge of Scottes But so soone as he had wyttyng that syr Rauffe Gray knyght was comynge with a competent nombre for to remoue that siege anone he departed leuynge some parte of his ordenaunce behynde hym to his great dyshonoure Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxvii  Thomas Morsted  IohnÌ„ Mychell  Anno .xv.  wyllyam Gregory  IN this .xv. yere thyrde daye of Ianuarii quene Katheryne mother vnto Henry the syxte wyfe of Henry the fyfte dyed at Barmundissey in southwarke after with due solempnyte brought thorughe the cytie and so conueyed to westmynster and there buryed in y e myddes of our lady chapel vnder a toÌ„be of marbell But whan our soueraygne lorde HeÌ„ry the .vii. than beynge kyng caused the chapell to be taken downe buylded a newe without the lyke ther vnto as now to men dothe appere than the corps of y e excellent prynces was taken vp and set by the tombe of her lorde and husbande durynge y e tyme of the buyldynge of the sayde newe chapell and after buryed by her sayd lorde within the sayde chapell And y e xiiii day of y e sayd moneth fyll downe sodeynly the furthest gate towarde Southwarke with y e towre therupon and .ii. of the furthest arches of y e sayd brydge but as god wold no creature was therwith perysshed that is to meane of humayne persones And the .xxi. day of this same moneth of Ianuarii the kyng beganne his parlyament at westmynster whiche before was purposed to haue benholden at Cambrydge To this parlyament came y e bysshop of Turuyn and the counsayle of the erle of Armynak wherof I fynde not y e cause expressed And after easter was a day of dyot holdeÌ„ bytwene Grauenynge and Calays for maters touchynge y e kynge and the duke of Burgoyne where for the kynge appered the cardynall of Englande y e duke of Norffolke and the erle of Stafforde with dyuers other And for the dukes partye appered there the duchesse his wyfe with dyuers other of the sayde dukes counsayle where by meanes of the sayde persones an abstynence of warre was taken for a certayne tyme in the duchesse name For the kynge wolde take none appoyntmeÌ„t with the duke for somoche as he had gone from his truthe allegeaunce that before tyme he had made with y e kynge And vpon the seconde daye of Iuly this yere dyed quene Iane the whiche somtyme had ben the wyfe of kynge Henry the .iiii and before that the wyfe of the duke of Brytayne was caryed from Barmundessey to Cauntorbury and there buryed by her husbaÌ„de Henry the .iiii. And this yere fell a chaunce that had not ben sene many yeres before For all â—yons dyed in the towre the whiche had coÌ„tynued there a longe season In this yere also y e kyng of Scottes was trayterously murthered by seruauntes of his owne Of the whiche traytours the capytayne of them was named Robert Grame y â— which after was with other of his company taken and put vnto moost paynfull dethe This sayd kynge of Scottes had â—en prysoner fyftene yeres in Englande Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxxvii  Anno. dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxxviii  wyllyam Chapman  wyllyam Estfelde Mercer  Anno .xvi.  wyllyam Halys  IN this .xvi. yere and moneth of Nouembre kynge Henry caused to be kepte a solempne obyt or terment within the churche of Paules for Sygysmonde the emperour and knyght of y e garter This was a man of merueylous great worthy fame as by the auctour of Cronica Cronicarum is expressed After whose dethe the gydynge of y e empyre fyll to Albert that had maryed the onely doughter of y e sayd Sygysmonde Anno. dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxxviii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxxix  Hugh Dyke  Stephen Browne Grocer  Anno .xvii.  Nycholas yoo  IN this yere vpon newe yeres daye in the after noone a stake of woode fyll downe sodaynly at Baynardes castell vpon Thamys syde and slewe .iii. men and hurte dyuers other And at Bedford this yere at the kepynge of a shyre day by the fallynge of a steyer were .xviii. murthered slayne besyde many other sore hurte and maymed And the last day of Apryll dyed in Roan syr Rycharde Beauchamp called of comon fame y e good erle of warwyke This was lyeutenaunt of y e kynge in Normandy and demened hym there full well and manfully whose body was after brought vnto warwyke there in a newe chapell buylded vpon
the southe syde of the quyer buryed full honorably This yere also was great derthe of corne in EnglaÌ„d also in FrauÌ„ce in somoche y t a busshell was solde at LoÌ„don for .iii. s. iii. s. iiii d. And in FrauÌ„ce iÌ„ Parys it was at lyke value And there also they dyed sore of the sekenesse of ipidimie For this scarcyte of whete in Englande in many places the people made them breed of fetches pesyn and benes And after some wryters for lacke of these foresayd graynes some poore people made them breed of Feâ—necotes But yet by the prouydence of Stephen Browne this yere Mayre many shippes were freyghte with rye out of Pruce and dyscharged at London that eased the people nere to the cytie greatly This of many wryters is named the seconde dere yere In this yere ended the counsayle or synode holdeÌ„ at Basyle begon as before is sayde in the .xi. yere of this kynge By auctoryte of whiche couÌ„sayle Eugeny the .iiii. was deposed Amedeus a duke and prynce of Sauoy was chosen for pope in the place of the forenamed Eugeny But yet he had suche ayde that he contynued in Rome as pope all his lyues tyme. And that other whiche was named of his ayders Felix the .v contynued his dygnyte in other places so that thaÌ„ arose a great scisme in y e churche whether of these .ii. was indubitat pope For some countrees vphelde y e one and some that other so that therwere alowed none of them both and that was called y e neutralytie This scysine contynued vpon .ix. yeres the terme whyle Eugeny lyued After whose dethe was chosen a cardynall named Thomas Sarazan and after was named Nycholas the .v. To whome the sayde Felix after that he was admitted for Peters successour of his owne good mynde renounced his dygnyte of papacy and submytted hym to the rule and obedyence of theÌ„ sayd .v. Nycholas thaÌ„ beynge indubitat pope And thus cessed y â— scysme in the churche whiche had contynued by the terme aboue specyfyed This Felix was a deuoute prynce sawe the sones of his sones and after lyued a deuoute and holi lyfe and lastly was chosen pope as before is shewed for the which he is of dyuers wryters accompted for happy But and he hadde not medled with the tytle of the churche and therwith blotted his olde age he had after the opynyon of other wryters be named or alowed moche more blessed happy And this yere in the moneth of August in LoÌ„don were two bawdes punysshed with werynge of ray hodes after .xl. dayes enprysonment they were banysshed the towne and dryuen out with most shame In this yere also the conduyte in Fletestrete was begonne by syr wyllyam Estfelde knyghte and late mayre and so fynysshed of his good disposicion without cost or charge to the cytie And he with syr Lewes and Iohan of Estsex were made knyghtes of the Bathe in the same yere And in this yere dyed Robert Chicheley grocer twyes mayre of London the whiche wylled in his testament that vpon his mynde daye a good and competent dyner shulde be ordeyned for .xxiiii. C. poore meÌ„ and that of houssholders of the cytye yf they myght be fouÌ„de And ouer that was xx.li destrybuted amoÌ„ge them whiche was to euery man two pens Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xl  Robert Marchall  Robert Large mercer  Anno .xviii.  Phylyp Malpas  THis .xviii. yere vpon the daye of saynt Botolph or .xvii. day of Iuny a preste after he was degrated of his prestly dygnyte named syr Rycharde was brent for heresye at y e towre hyll how wel in his latter day he toke great repentaunce and dyed goddes man and in the faythe of the churche This for wordes spoken by his lyfe that the posterne of y e towre shulde synke as after it dyd other fantastycall dedes or wordes he of many lewde folkes was accompted for an holy man wherfore after his dethe they came to his place of execucyon and there made theyr oblacyoÌ„s and prayers and arered a great hepe of stones and pyght there a crosse by nyght so that â—i this meanes a great dysclaunder ran vpon the churche specially vpon suche as had put hym to dethe But to cease that rumoure coÌ„mauÌ„dment was sent from y e kynge to punysshe all suche as thyder went on pylgrymage By vertue whereof y e mayre and shyreffes dyd suche dylygeÌ„ce that shortly after all y e sekyng and offeryng was fordone and layde aparte This yere also y e shyreffes of London fette out of saynt Martynes legraunt .v. persones beynge there in sayntwary and ladde theym to the countre in bred strete where they remayned certayne dayes But those daies expired they were by y e kynges Iustyces restored vnto sayntwary In this passetyme the warre atwene Englande FrauÌ„ce endurynge in a wynter season whan the grouÌ„de was couered with a myghty snowe and therewith all a great frost hadde hardened the pondes and dyches the EnglysshmeÌ„ whiche laye in a stroÌ„ge holde nyghe vnto a towne called Pountlarge arayed them in whyte clothes ouer theyr harneys and so in great nombre approched the dykes and passed vpon the yse to y e walles and them scaled and the watche of y e towne slepynge toke the towne and distressed therin myche people From the whiche daunger escaped ryghte hardly .ii. capytaynes of that towne named Iohan de Uyllers and NarabonÌ„ a knyghte Burgonyon The countre aboute Parys was also sorevexed with y e rauyne of wolues that proclamacyon was made that euery grene or newe flayn skynÌ„e of a wolfe that was brought vnto Parys y e prouost shulde gyue to the brynger .xx. shelynges or .xx. sous of that countre money whiche amouÌ„teth to .ii. s. vi d. sterlynge It was not longe after or Charles the Frenche kynge layde vnto y e foresayd towne a stroÌ„g siege But it by y e duke of yorke the lorde Talbot was well and knyghtly defended in somoche y e one tyme they put the Frenchemen to rebuke and were lykely to haue takeÌ„ theyr kyng â—e had be the soner rescous Lastly y e duke of yorke and the sayd lord Talbot for vrgent causes departed theÌ„s to Roan and betoke the towne to y e rule of syr Gerueys of CliftoÌ„ knyght and other hauynge with them to the nombre of a thousande sowdyours But the thyrde daye after the dukes departynge the Frenche kynge so fyersly assayled the towne that in the ende he wanne it by strengthe and slewe therin many an Englyssh maÌ„ toke many prysoners And soone after was the townes of Meleon of Corbeyll and of the Ebreouse loste from the Englysshmen For ye shall vnderstande that sondry and many tymes y e townes holdes in FrauÌ„ce were lost and efte wonne But euer y e more losse turned to the Englysshe partye tyll all Normandy were lost and all other landes of Fraunce appartynynge to the kynge of
prynce Humfrey duke of Glouceter Than of thys grudge ensued rebellyon of the coÌ„mons in so moche that they assembled theym in sondry places made of them selfe capytaynes and named them Blewe berde and other counter fayte names and so enteÌ„ded to haue gadered more company But anone as the kynges counsayll was thereof warnyd they were layde for and taken and putte to dethe Thanne the foresayde parlyamente was adiourned vnto Leyceter whether came the kynge and wyth hym the duke of Suffolke Than the commons of the common hous made requeste to the kyng that all suche persones as were consentynge and laboured for the gyuynge ouer the duchye of Angeou and erledome of MaynÌ„ myght be punisshed Of whiche offeÌ„ce to be gyltie they accused the foresayd duke of Suffolke the lorde Sey the bysshop of Salysbury and one Danyell a gentylman with Treuylyan other Than to appease the coÌ„mon hous the duke was exyled for .v. yeres and the lord Sey as tresorer of Englande and y e other were put a parte for a whyle were promysed to be sent vnto the kynges gayoll or warde Than the duke in obeynge y e sentence foresayde sped hym towarde y e sees syde in the moneth of Apryl and toke his shyppynge in Northfolke enteÌ„ding to haue sayled into FrauÌ„ce In kepyng of whiche course he was mette with a shyppe of warre named Nicholas of the Tower the whiche toke his shyp And whaÌ„ y e capytayne was ware of the duke anone he toke hym into his owne shyp and so kept his course towarde Douer And whaÌ„ he was comen vnto the rode anone he caused hym to be confessed of his owne chaplayne and that done shypmeÌ„ put hym in a shypbote and there vpon the syde of the bote one strake of his hed whiche hed with the body was soone after conueyed to the laÌ„de of Douer and there lefte vpon y e sandes and the sayd shypmen returned to the see agayne And thus one myschefe ensued vpon an other to the dystruccyon of the nobles of this laÌ„de And so vpon the fyrst daye of May was this deed corps fouÌ„de vpon Douer sandes and after conueyed to his restynge place to This yere also beynge the yere of our lordes in carnacyon .xiiii. C. and .l. was the Iubile or the plenary pardon at Rome whiche of Englysshmen is called the yere of grace And this yere a towne in NormaÌ„dy named Uernoyll was taken by y e treason of a Frenche baker the maner wherof were loÌ„ge to wryte But fynally it came to y e possession of Floquet before rehersed to the great dystruccyon of Englysshmen For now was y e trewes ended mortal warre was executed vpon both ê‘tyes the EnglysshmeÌ„ vnto y e FreÌ„che wrought moche myschyef dyuers wayes whiche were loÌ„ge to wryte But as to fore I haue shewed to you sondry tymes the most losse turned euer last warde vpon y e Englyssh ê‘tie For this seasoÌ„ also were y e townes of NogeÌ„t pouÌ„t Andenere wonne by the erle of saynt Paule other And in y e moneth of Iuny this yere y e coÌ„mons of Kent asseÌ„bled theÌ„ in great multitude chase to them a capitayee and named hym Mortymer and cosyn of the duke of york but of most he was named Iak Cade This kept y e people wonderously togyder made suche ordenauÌ„ces amonge theÌ„ y t he brought a great noÌ„bre of people of theÌ„ vnto y e Blak hethe where he deuysed a byll of peticioÌ„s to y e kyng y e couÌ„sayll shewed them what iniuryes oppressioÌ„s the poore coÌ„moÌ„s suffred by suche as were aboute y e kynge a fewe ê‘sones in noÌ„bre all vnder coloure to come to his aboue The kynges couÌ„sayll seynge this byll dysalowed it couÌ„sayled the kynge whiche by the .vii. day of Iuny had gathered to hiÌ„ a stroÌ„ge hoste of people to go agayne his rebelles to gyue vnto them batayll Than the kynge after the sayd rebelles had holdeÌ„ theyr felde vpon blak hethe .vii. dayes made towarde theÌ„ wherof heryng the capytayne drewe backe with his people to a vyllage called Seuenok there enbatayled â–ª theÌ„ ThaÌ„ it was agreed by y e kynges counsayll that syr Humfrey Stafforde knyght with wyllyam his brother and other certayne gentylmen shulde folowe the chase and the kyng with his lordes shuld retourne vnto Grenewyche wenynge to them that the rebelles were fledde gone But as before I have shewed whan syr Humfray with his coÌ„pany drewe nere vnto Seuenok he was wared of y e capytayne that there abode with his people And whan he had counsayledde with the other gentylmen lyke a manfull knyghte set vpon the rebelles and fought with them loÌ„ge But in the ende the capytayne slewe hym his brother with many other and caused the rest to gyue backe Al whiche season the kynges hoste laye styll vpon Blakhethe beyng amoÌ„ge them sondry opinions so that some and many fauoured the capytayne But fynally whan worde came of y e ouerthrowe of the Staffordes they sayd playnly and boldly that excepte the lorde Saye and other before rehersed were coÌ„mytted to warde they wolde take the capytaynes partye For the appeasynge of the whiche rumour the lorde Saye was put into y e tower but that other as thaÌ„ were not at hande Thanne the kynge hauynge knowlege of the scomfyture of his men and also of the rumour of his ostynge people remoued frome Grenewyche to London and there with his hoste rested hym a whyle And so soone as Iak Cade hadde thus ouercomen the Stafforde he anone apparayled hi with y e knyghtes apparayll and dyd on hym his bryganders set with gylte nayle and his salet and gylte spores And after he had refresshed his people he returned agayne to Blakhethe and there pyght agayne his feld as here tofore he had done and laye there from the nyne twenty daye of Iuny beynge saynte Peters daye tyll the fyrste day of Iuly In whiche season came vnto hym the archebysshop of Cantorbury and the duke of Bukkyngham with whome they had longe coÌ„munycacyon and fonde hym ryghte dyscrete in his answeres How be it they coude not cause hi to lay downe his people and to submyt hym vnto the kynges grace In this whyle the kynge and the quene herynge of the encreasynge of his rebelles and also the lordes ferynge theyr owne seruauÌ„tes lest they wolde take the capytaynes partie remoued frome London to Kyllyngworth leuynge y e cyte without ayde excepte onely the lorde Scales whiche was lefte to kepe the tower and with hym a manly warly man named Mathewe Fowth Than the capytayne of Kente thus houynge at Blakhethe to the ende to blynde the more the people and so brynge hym in fame that he kepte good iustyce be heded there a pety capytayne of his named Parys for so moch as he had offended agayne suche ordynauÌ„ce as he had stablysshed in his hoste herynge y t the kynge and all his lordes were thus departed drewe hym
retourne to thys Charlys lykely it is that he was nat y e naturall sonne of the forenamed Charlys for as moche as hys sayd father ordeyned and wylled the realme of FrauÌ„ce vnto Katheryne hys doughter and wyfe vnto kynge HeÌ„ry the .v and agreed wyth the consente of the more parte of y e lordes of hys realme bothe spyrituall temporall that duryng hys lyfe the sayd kynge Henry shuld be regeÌ„t of FrauÌ„ce after hys deth to be kyng of the sayd regâ—oÌ„ as more at lengthe before I haue shewed vnto you in the .vii. yere of the sayd Henry the .v. But whether he be hys legyttymat sonne or nat where uppoÌ„ I purpose no leÌ„ger to stande trouth it is that he was by his father admitted made dolphyne of Uyen by reason wherof he was in a greate auctoryte wan to hym fauoure of som lordes of FrauÌ„ce whych stroÌ„gly maynteyned hys partye durynge the lyfe of kyng HeÌ„ry the .v after all y t season whyle the duke of Bedforde occupyed there as regent of that regyoÌ„ was of some parties of FrauÌ„ce reputed for kyng Howe be it he was neuer crowned so loÌ„ge as the sayde duke of Bedforde lyued Neuerthelesse he by meane of polycy hys freÌ„des so defended hym selfe that lytle by the EnglyshemeÌ„ was wonne vpoÌ„ hym of suche laÌ„des as he fyrste was in possessyon of But polytykely he defended theym lytle and lytle so preuayled agayne them that in the ende he all onely wanne nat to hym the possessioÌ„ of that prouince y t which is named FrauÌ„ce but also he wanne to hym in the ende the kynge of Englandes olde enherytaunce that is Normandy wyth all domynyons to the same apperteynynge The maner of wynnynge of them I woll nat in thys story speke of for so moche as in the former yeres of kynge Henry the .vi. I haue there expressed the maner of somme parte therof But that I shall speke of theÌ„ shal be of thynges done betwene hym other prynces And for that I before in the .viii. yere of HeÌ„ry the vi promysed in the .vi. yere of thys Charles to shewe vnto you som what of the maydeÌ„ or pucel which y e FreÌ„ch men named la pucelle de dieu her for a messenger from god to be sente reputed I shall here folow y e saying of Gaguyne whyche sayeth as foloweth In the .vi. yere or there aboute to rekyn from the deth of thys Charles father a weÌ„che or mayden beyng bred in a strete or vyllage called in latyne Ualli color in thys tyme beynge sproÌ„ge to the age of .xx. yeres or there about hauing to father a poore man named Iakes Delarch and hyr mother Isabell she also berynge the name of Iane or Iohan required by dyuers sundry tymes an vncle of hyrs beyng prefecte of the foresayde vyllage that he wolde presente hyr vnto the FreÌ„che kynge for thynges coÌ„cernyng greatly the weale of hym of hys realme whyche sayd prefect after many delayes for so moche as in hyr wordes he had lytle truste yet at leÌ„gthe hyr sayd vncle beynge named Robert Baudryncourt sent hyr wyth a coÌ„uenyent company vnto the kyng wyth letters certyfyenge hym of all the maner of thys mayde wherof the sayd Charles beynge asserteyned thought he wold vse som meane to knowe the vertue of thys wenche And for he had perfyghte experyence that before tymes thys woman had neuer sene hys persone he thoughte he wolde chaunge hys rome and habyte to se whether she by hyr vertue coulde knowe hym frome other and that done he standynge amonge other of his familiers as one of them she was called into the chaumber demaunded yf euer before tyme she had sene the kynge And after she hadde answered nay she was byddeÌ„ to espye oute the kynge whych there stode amonge that companye The whyche anone wythout dyfficulte him fande and saluted as king And all be it that he refused hyr reuereÌ„ce sayd y t she erred in hyr choyse yet she parseuered kneling at his fete and sayde that by goddes purueyauÌ„ce she was taught that he was hyr very soueraygn prince none other wherfore the kynge all hys lordes had in hyr the more affyauÌ„ce that by hyr the laÌ„de shulde be releuyd whych at that daye was in passyng mysery Than after dyuers questyoÌ„s to hyr made what was the cause of hyr thyther commynge she answered sayd that she was sent frome god to stablisshe the kynge in hys realme and that by hyr she beynge leder capytayne of hys people by dyuine grace onely the kynge shulde shortely subdue hys enemyes By reasoÌ„ of which wordes the kyng wyth hys lordes were somedeale comforted Upon thys armour sword was sought for this maydeÌ„ the whych as sayeth my sayd auctour was fouÌ„den myraculously wherof the processe to me appereth so darke faÌ„tastycall y t therewith me list nat to blot my boke but suffre it to passe by Than thys weÌ„che being purueyed of all thinges necessary to the warre a company of knyghtes soudyours to hyr by the kynge was assygned And so she rydynge as a man in maÌ„nes habyte contynued by the space of .ii. yeres more and dyd many wonderful feates and gat from the Englysshemen many stroÌ„ge townes and holdes wherefore amonge Frenchemen she was wordshypped for an auÌ„gell or a messynger sent frome god to releue theyr great myserye And as affermeth the sayd auctour she by hyr prouydence caused the sayd Charles as kynge of Fraunce to be crowned at Raynes in the yere of oure lord M. foure hundreth and .xxix. All be it nouther the Frenche cronycle nor other whyche I haue sene testyfyeth that but affermyn that he was nat crowned duryng the lyfe of the duke of Bedforde But almyghty god whyche for a season suffereth suche sorcery and deuelyssh ways to prospere reygne to the correccyon of synners lastely to shewe hys power and that good men shuld nat fall into any erroure he sheweth the clerenesse of suche mystycall thynges and so he dyd in thys For lastely she by a knyghte Burgonyon was taken after sent to Roan and there breÌ„t for her demerytes as in the .viii yere of Henry the .vi. is more at leÌ„gth shewed ThaÌ„ the tyme forth passyng and coÌ„tynuall warre betwene Englande FrauÌ„ce contynuyng among many trybulacions by thys Charles susteyned one that was hys owne sonnÌ„ named Lewys comforted and assysted by the dukes of BurboÌ„ and AleÌ„son wyth other meÌ„ of name rebelled agayne hys father and warred vppon hym and by strengthe wan frome hym certeyne townes strong holdes For remedy whereof the sayde Charles made warre vppon the forenamed duke of Burbon and wasted wyth iron and fyre the countreyes of the sayde duke of Burbon By meane whereof after thys vnkyndely warre hadde duryd by the space of syxe monethes or more a peace and vnyte betwene the father sonne was treated by meanes of the erle of Ewe a coÌ„corde vnite betwene
them was fynally coÌ„cluded he y e sayd Lewys all suche as wyth hym were reteyned or allied were for thys offeÌ„ce by y e sayd Charles clerely pardoned one persone all only excepted named Iaket or Iakis by whose treason the castell of Maxente was loste and taken for whyche offence he was after drawen hanged also quartered ThaÌ„ in processe of tyme folowyng the flemynges of GauÌ„te rebelled agayne theyr duke or erle named Philyp The cause of whyche rebellyon was for that he areryd a greuouse taske vpoÌ„ salte put the people ther by to greuouse charge wherevppon dedely warre betwene the duke and hys subiectys arose to the dystruccioÌ„ of moche people vpoÌ„ bothe partyes wherof the cyrcumstauÌ„ce were loÌ„g to wryte Howe be it in the ende y e duke or erle by ayde of the FreÌ„che kynge was vyctour helde them of GauÌ„te so streyghte that they were compelled by force to bye theyr peace wyth great summes of money to theyr other many folde domages About the .xxxi. yere of thys sayde Charles came vnto hym from pope Nycholas the .v. of that name an ambassade for to requyre ayde agayne the Turkys for the defeÌ„ce of CoÌ„stantyne the noble whyche the Turkys purposed shortly after to assayle To whyche ambassade by the sayd Charlys it was answeryd that to hym it was right greuouse to here of the intollerable persecucyoÌ„ whych y e cristeÌ„ dayly susteyned of the Turkys But he was of y e Englysh nacyoÌ„ so vexed and warred that he myghte nat leue hys laÌ„de wythout an hedde to the coÌ„forte of other to lose hys owne But to the entent that he before tymes myght haue warred vppon the sayd Turkys he for that cause onely had offered vnto the kynge of Englande many reasonable offers And if of the Englysshe party any lyke offers myghte be to hym profered he wolde gladly theym accepte turne hys spere incoÌ„tyneÌ„tly agayn the fore named Turkes And ouer that he wolde for the furtherauÌ„ce of the matter sende wyth them vnto the kynge of EnglaÌ„de certayne ambassadours to se yf that as yet any reasonable peace myght be betwene them coÌ„cluded For accomplisshemeÌ„t wherof as testyfyeth myne auctour Gaguynus he sente the archebysshop of Raynes wyth other honorable persones The whych whan they to kyng Henry and hys counsayll hadde shewyd theyr legacyoÌ„ it was to them shortly answered that at suche season as the EnglysshemeÌ„ hadde wonne agayne so moche laÌ„de as the Frenchemen by cawtelys had woÌ„ne from theym thaÌ„ were it good tyme season to treate of accorde nat before By reason of whiche answere the popes ambassade retourned to Rome wythoute ayde or comforte And thus y e FreÌ„che wryters lay euer the charge froÌ„ theyr prynce put it vnto other But of thys ambassade or answere fynde I no memory of any Englysshe wryters Aboute the .xxxiiii. yere of y e reygn of thys Charlys Lewys hys sonne before named beynge a maÌ„ of greate lyberalitye and largesse thought his father departed nat wyth hym of his mouables possessyoÌ„s as he hadde cause to do For the whych by coÌ„fort of yoÌ„ge persones as he had aboute hym he rebelled thys seconde tyme agayne hys sayde father by reason of hys largesse lyberalyte drewe vnto hym moche waÌ„ton wylde people wyth theyr assystence warred vppoÌ„ hys fathers freÌ„des entendyd to depryue hys father of all gouernauÌ„ce of the realme wherof herynge hys father in all possyble haste gathered to hym greate strengthe and spedde hym towarde hys sayd sonnÌ„ But whaÌ„ Lewys was warned of the coÌ„myng of hys father wyth so great an hoste consydered hys quarell wekenesse he wyth a fewe persones fledde towarde Burgoyne whereof herynge the father sente in all â—haste people to kepe the passages and dyd that he myghte to haue stopped hym of hys waye But that prouysyon notwythstandynge the sayd Lewys escaped and came sauely vnto the presence of Phylyppe then duke of Burgoyne the whyche hym receyued wyth gladde chere and entreatyd hym accordyng to his estate and so kepte hym durynge his fathers lyfe Nowbeit he made for hym great sute and labour to wynne him to his fathers grace But all was in vayne For what by obstynacy of the same y t he wolde not submytte hym to his father and comme vnto hys presence when he was sente for for the great stomacke of the father that he wold not be condycyoned with of the son thys varyaunce contynued bytwene them as aboue is sayd y e terme of his fathers lyfe In the whyche passe tyme thys Charlys concluded a maryage bytwene hys doughter called Magdaleyne and Ladyslaus kyng of Beme Hungary and of Polayne But whyle the bryde wyth great apparayle and pompe was conueyed towarde her husbande to be maryed her sayde husbande was taken sodenly with sykenesse and dyed with in .xxiiii. houres after that he fyrste coÌ„playned hym whych was by force of poysone as most wryters agreen Of whych tydynges when Charlys was asserteyned he therwyth toke such a peÌ„syffenesse that he dyed shortely after whan he had ruled a parte and the hole realme to reken from y e deth of hys father .xxxvi. yeres How be it of Frenche wryters no certeyne terme of hys reygne to hym is assygned for so myche as kyng Henry the vi longe after the deth of hys father was alowyd in Parys and many other Cytyes of FrauÌ„ce for souerayne and kynge of that regyon Thys Charlys thus beynge dede lefte after hym two sonnes that is to saye Lewys that after hym was kynge and a yonger named Charlys wyth y e forenamed doughter named Magdaleyne or after some Margarete And after wyth greate pompe hys corps was conueyed vnto saynt Denys and there buryed Francia Lewys the .xi. LEwys the .xi. of y â— name after the accompte of thys boke and .x. after the Frenche accompte whereof y e cause is before shewed sonne to Charles last dede beganne his dominyon ouer the realme of Fraunce in the moneth of October in the yere of grace M.iiii hundreth and .lviii. and the .xxxvi. yere of Henry the .vi. than kynge of Englande This of Gaguinus is called the sturdy or fel Lewys The whiche at the tyme of his fathers deth beyng as aboue is sayd vnrecouÌ„syled in the prouynce of Burgoyne herynge of the deth of his father wyth ayde of the foresayd duke Phylyp shortly entred y e realm of Fraunce toke vpon hym y e rule in euery good cytie town as he passyd as kyng of y e same so y t many lordes hed offycers drewe vnto hym By meane wherof he was stronge put such vnto sylence as after y e wyll purpose of his father wolde haue preferred his yoÌ„ger son named Charlys Than this Lewys by strengthe of his frendes was shortely after at Raynes crowned kynge of Fraunce After whyche solempnyte fynysshed he repayred vnto Parys and there by consent of hys counceyll made a law y t no man of what degre
that he were shuld vse huÌ„tyng or hawkynge without special lyceÌ„ce specially for chasynge or huntyng of woluys nor to kepe wyth hym any houndes or other instrumeÌ„tes wherby the game myghte be destroyed And that done Phylyp foresayd duke of Burgoyne after counsayll to hym gyuen that he shulde forgette and forgyue all dyspleasurs to hym â—ofore done by any of hys lordes and them to honoure and cherysshe specyally his yonge brother Charlys to norysshe and to departe wyth hym louyngly of hys fathers possessions toke leue of hym and departed After whose deê‘ture he contrary the foresayde counsayll refused the company of hys lordes also theyr counsayll and drewe vnto hym as his chyefe counsaylours vylaynes and men of lowe byrth Of y t whyche the .iiii. pryncypall were named as foloweth IohnÌ„ de Lude IohnÌ„ Balna Olyuer Deuyll whoÌ„ for the odyousnesse of the name the kynge caused it to be chaunged and to be named DaÌ„man and the fourth was named Stephan and vssher of the kynges chaumber dore the whithe he promoted to greate honour dygnytees Amonge whome Balna beynge a preste was by hys meanes at length made a cardynall of Rome Thus he vsynge the counsayle of these persons murmur and grudge began to sprynge bytwene hym and hys lordes in so myche that fyrst the duke of Brytayne began to estrauÌ„ge hym from the kynge and refused to come vnto hys presence whaÌ„ he was sente for wherof herynge the erle of Ewe wyth other drewe them vnto y e duke To the whyche party soone after y e kynges brother Charlys with also the duke of Burbon whych had maried the kynges syster with many other noble men of the realme resortyd whan the kynge was ware that hys lordes conspyred agayne hym ferynge the rebellyon of hys comoÌ„s sent in spedy maner vnto Parys the forenamed IohnÌ„ Balna wyth other certeyne persons to kepe that cytye in due obeysauÌ„ce toward hym thynkynge that the other cytyes good townes of hys regyon wolde take ensample therof and demeane them as that cytye dyd After whose commynge the rulers of Parys by the amonystement of the sayd IohnÌ„ ordeyned good and sure watche and so by that meane kept the cytye in good order And in the meane season the kynge gathered to hym great foyson of knyghtes and soudyours that his hoste was nombred at .xxx. thousand men And in lyke wyse the other partye hadde assembled as many or mo And not wythstandyng the assyduat laboure and meanes made by y e duke of Burgoyne and Carlota wyfe to y e duke of Burbon syster to the kyng as is aboue sayde to make an vnyte and peace bytwene Lewys and hys lordes yet fynally the kynge they mette in playne batayll at a place called Chartres where bytwene theym was a longe and cruell batayll to y e losse of moche people on bothe partyes And all be it that the kynge in the begynnynge hadde the better of hys enemyes yet in the ende he was ouercomen his men chaced and he forced to flye to take for hys sauegarde a castell named Mountclere From the whyche he shortely departyd and yode to an other castell called Corboyll and from thens lastly vnto Parys where he entendyd to haue gathered newe people and to haue reuenged hym of hys enemyes But by the wyse and good exortacyoÌ„ of the bysshoppe of Parys the kyng chaunged hys purpose and all was set in a quyetnesse for that tyme. But how or in what maner or what the condycyons of y e accorde were myne authour dothe not expresse The whyche accorde thus concluded the kynge contynued hys olde maners and delyted hym more to companye with symple and inreuerent parsons to eate and drynke wyth them to the ende that he myghte talke of rybaudry and vayne and vycyous fables than to accompany him with his lordes where he myghte haue wonne hym myche honour Thys Lewys also was of so dyuers and wanton condycyon that he wolde go more lyker a yoman or a seruyng man than lyke a prynce The whyche was for no regardshyp nor sparyng of good for as before I haue shewed also after shall appere he was a prynce of moste lyberalyte and therwith an oppressour of hys subiectes LEwis thus passing his time was dryuen of necessyte for lacke of money to a preste of the cytesyns of Parys The whyche after many excusys by them layd to put it by and myghte not be alowed they lastly denayed the kynges pleasure where wythall he beynge greuously dyscontentyd remoued diuerse from theyr offyces and other whych were of the rychest and hed men of y e cyte he soughte agayne theym surmysed causes without prouys or iustyce put many of them to deth For these foresayde causes many other whyche tedyouse were to expresse the foresayd lordes agayne assembled theyr people enteÌ„dyng to subdue y e kynge and to set hys brother in hys place or to cause hym otherwyse to rule y e comon weale And to strength the barons party IohnÌ„ sonne vnto y e duke of Calabre approched to them wyth a good bande of men And to them came also the sonne of the duke of Burgoyne named Charlys All whiche barons of one assent mette at a towne called Stampys where they coÌ„tynued theyr couÌ„sayle by the space of .xv. dayes and after that couÌ„sayle fynysshed toke theyr iournaye towarde Parys In whych passe tyme a spye of the duke of Brytaynes called Peter Gerold was taken in Parys and drawen hanged and quartered and dyuers men and women y t were suspected to owe fauour vnto the lordes were sacked and caste in to the water of Seyn Then for to strength and guyde the cytye of Parys the kynge sent thyder the erle of Donoyse by whose prouysyon all warly ordenaunce for to defende theyr enemyes was there preparyd In the which tyme season y e lordes in .iii. partes enbatayled approched the cytye wherof y e fyrste hoste ladde Charlys brother vnto the kynge the seconde the duke of Brytayne the thyrd Charlys the sonne to the duke of Burgoyne Prouyded that Charlys fyrste named ladde the myddleward whaÌ„ the sayd erle of Donoyse hadde well consydered the strength of the lordes he sente vnto theym a messanger sayeng that in his mynde he maruayled to see so greate a multytude of people assembled agayne the cytye and comon weale of y e land consyderyng that he was sette there by the kynge as a medyatour and a meane rather to make peace than warre yf they were contentyd that by hym any medyacyon myghte be laboured and hadde But thys came to none effecte so that small assautes and skyrmysshes ensued to the lytell domage of bothe partes In whyche passe tyme the kynge sent by secrete meanes vnto the forenamed IohnÌ„ sonne vnto the duke of Calabre and hym by many meanes instaunted to leue the company of the lordes But all his offers auayled ryght nought Thenne the foresayde lordes thus lyenge before the cytye of Parys in the playne where standeth
of Brye the cytyes of Melde Monstruell and Meldune therof to be excepted And vnto Charlys sonne of the duke of Burgoyne he was contented to gyue so myche money as he hadde spent in that iournay But all was refused And fynally for obstynacy of bothe partyes the daye of expyracyon of the trewe approchyd wythout hope of accord coÌ„cludyng wherfore prouysyon for warre vpon bothe partyes was deuysed Than begaÌ„ grudge and murmure bytwen the cytesyns and the kynges sowdyours wherthorough many of the comons hertes turned to the lordes so that for fere the surer and stronger watches were kepte to the kynges great charge Shortely after tydynges were brought vnto the kynge y t the castell of Gysons was of the lordes vesyeged and that also the prefecte of the kynges paleys in Roan was taken of the cytesyns and holden in prysone And the daye folowynge came an other messengare shewynge vnto the kynge that the duke of Burbone was by the posterne receyued into the castell of Roan and was lykely to haue shortely the rule of the cytye whyche came to effecte in shorte whyle after whan the lordes hadde gotten the castell and cyty of Roan whyche is hed cytye of Normandy as Parys is hed of Fraunce than in maner of derysyon they sent vnto y e kynge sayenge that nother with Champayne nor with Bry hys brother Charlys wold be contented but scantely wyth the hole duchy of Normandy Than kynge Lewys coÌ„syderyng the great auauÌ„tage which y e lordes had of him both by strength and fauour of hys comons whyche dayly drewe vnto them by sondry coÌ„panyes in auoydyng of more daunger concludyd a peas For perfourmauÌ„ce wherof he grauÌ„ted vnto Charlys his brother y e hole duchy of Normandy takyng to hym in exchauÌ„ge the county of Berry And to Charlis sonne to the duke of Burgoyne PeronÌ„ Roya a cytye or towne called in latyne MondideriuÌ„ and therwith he ioyned Gwynary and y e erledome of Boloyne which lordshyps y e sayd kynge Lewys hadde before tymes bought of duke Phylyp his father To IohnÌ„ of Calabre he grauÌ„ted all such suÌ„mes of money as he demaundyd to wage with soudiours to ayde his father agayne Fardynande then kyng of Aragon And to IohnÌ„ duke of Burbon y t which as before is said had maryed his syster he grauÌ„ted all such dowar as to hym was ê“mysed at y e tyme of maryage all such pencyon as he was wont yerely to take of the graunte of Charlys last kyng within the realme of FrauÌ„ce To the duke of Brytayne was restoryd the erledome of MouÌ„tferard with great suÌ„mes of money which the kyng had receyued of the sayd county And to y e erle of Dampmartyne was restored all suche landes as before by acte of parlyameÌ„t were forfayted to y e kyng To the erle of saynt Poule was restored the offyce of the constablerye of FrauÌ„ce to other meÌ„ of name other notable thynges which I passe ouer All whyche grauntes fermely and fastely assuryd proclamacyons were made of thys pease thoroughe the realme of Fraunce And after thys pease was thus concluded the kyng and hys lordes mette To whome he shewed greate semblaunt of kyndnesse and specyally vnto hys brother wherin appered great dyssymulacyon as here after shall appere For thys Lewys was of suche condycion that what he myght not ouer come wyth strength he wold wynne wyth dyssymulacyon and trechety After whyche peace thus concluded and the lordes departed the kynge festyd the rulers and consuls of the cytye of Parys and gaue vnto them due thankes for the greate trouth fydelyte whyche they bare towarde hym duryng that troubelous season and graunted vnto them suche thynges as then they wolde aske for the weale of that cytye IT was not longe after that dyssymulacyon fell bytwene Charlys duke of Normandye and IohnÌ„ foresayde sonne vnto the duke of Calabre and the erle of Dampmartyne wherof a parte of the cause was that the sayde Charlys after theyr thynkyng hadde not so bounteously rewarded them as they had deserued Of whyche dyscorde kyng Lewys was fayne and in spedy maner rode vnto a towne called Argentyne and there wyth the sayd IohnÌ„ than beynge duke of Calabre by reason of hys fathers deth helde wyth hym longe and great counsayll to y e entent to dyspossesse hys brother of the duchy of Normandye By reason of whych dyscorde bytwene the sayd two dukes kynge Lewys as ayder of the duke of Calabre made warre in the partyes of Normandye and in processe wanne therin dyuers castels and other stronge holdes and compelled hys brother to holde the cytye of Roan for hys refuge where he so beynge the kyng wanne dayly vppon hym in so myche that dyuers townes and stronge holdes submytted them to his grace wherof hering the cytesyns of Roan made an ambassade vnto the kynge for purchace of grace for theyr duke and for them selfe The whych when the duke vnderstode ferynge leste his owne cytesyns wolde betraye hym fled thens and so yode to Humflewe and from thens to Cadomy In whyche passe tyme y e kynge was wyth due honour receyued into y e cytie of Roan where he remoued many from theyr offices and of his seruauntes or such as lyked hym put in theyr places moch of the ordynaunce and of abylymentes of warre belongynge to y e towne he sent vnto Parys and the prouost of Roan named Gauyne Manuell he put to deth after hys body was cast into the ryuer and his hed sette vppon a pole dyuers of the colege wyth the deane of y e same place were put vnto deth And all whych tyrannye by the kynge executyd and the towne put in suertye by strength of soudyours he after spedde hym vnto Orleaunce where as sayth myne authour he puruayed an honorable ambassade and sent it vnto Edward the .iiii. then kynge of Englande In the .ix. yere of y e reygne of thys Lewys was so greate a mortalyte of men in Fraunce that in Parys dyed that yere ouer .xl. M. people And in thys yere began a grudge to growe bytwene this Lewys and Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne But it was kept vnkyndely duryng y e lyfe of y e duke which dyed shortely after To whom succedyd Charlys his sonne before named which in processe of tyme maryed dame Margarete syster vnto kynge Edward y e .iiii. as after shal be shewyd It was not longe after that thys Lewys assembled a great hoste of people to make warre vpon Charlys duke of Burgoyne Of whyche people he had coÌ„mytted the rule and charge vnto IohnÌ„ Balna whych at that daye was preste and cardynall and he as a teÌ„porall capytayne toke of them the mustyrs other orders where at the teÌ„porall lordes dysdaynynge the erle of DaÌ„pmartyne sayd in the names of them vnto the kyng Moste redouted souerayne lorde it hath pleased your hyghnesse to commytte vnto a spyrytuall maÌ„ y e charge of your puyssaunt hoste he not ferynge god hath taken vpon hym the cure
thorugh the cytye of London that the kynge hadde pardoned the NorthyrnmeÌ„ of theyr ryot aswell for the deth of the lorde Ryuers as all dyspleasures by them before that tyme done And soone vppon thys a new styrryng begaÌ„ in LyncolnÌ„ shyre whereof the occasyoner was the lorde wellys as the fame than went For whome the kynge sent by fayre meanes promysyng hym to go safe and come safe as it was sayd But trouth it is after hys commyng to the kyng had he before suche promyse or nat he was shortly after beheded Than in February folowyng by medyacyon of lordes a treatye of vnytie and concorde was laboured betwene the kyng hys brother and the erle of warwyke For whyche cause the sayd erle came thanne vnto London And shortly after came the sayd duke as vpon shrouesonday folowyng And vpon the thuysday folowyng the kynge the sayde duke mettte at Baynardes castell where y e duchesse of yorke theyr mother than laye In the whyche passetyme y e erle of warwyke was retourned to warwyke and there gadered to him such streÌ„gth as he myght make as it was reported And in LyncolnÌ„shyre syr Robert wellys sonne vnto the lorde wellys before put to deth in thys whyle had also assembled a greate bend of men purposed to gyue the kyng a felde Of all whyche tydynges whaÌ„ne the kynge was assertayned he wyth his sayd brother the duke spedhim north warde and in that whyle sente to the sayd syr Robert wellys wyllyng him to sende home hys people come to hym and he shulde haue hys grace But that other answered that by like promysse hys father was dysceyued and that shulde be hys example But in conclusyon whan the kynge wyth hys power drewe nere vnto hiÌ„ he toke suche fere that he fledde and soone after was taken and with him syr Thomas Dymmok knyght and other the whyche were shortly after put to deth In thys season was the duke of Clarence departed frome the kynge and was gone vnto the erle of warwyke to take hys parte To whome the kynge in lykewyse sente y t they shuld come to hys presence wythout fere where vnto they made a fayned answere And than consyderynge theyr lacke of power agayne y e kyng departed and wente to the see syde so sayled into Fraunce and requyred the .xi. Lowys than kyng of that regyon that he wolde ayde and assyste them to restore kynge Henry to hys ryghtfull enherytaunce wherof the sayd Lowys beyng gladde grauÌ„ted vnto them theyr requeste helde theÌ„ there whyle they wyth the counsayll of quene Margarete prouyded for theyr retourne into Englande whan the sayde lordes were thus departed the lande the kyng coÌ„mauÌ„ded them to be proclaymed as rebelles and traytours thorugh oute hys realm And in the Easter weke folowynge syr Geffrey Gate one named ClaphaÌ„ whyche entended at South ampton to haue taken shyppynge to haue sayled to the sayde lordes were there taken by the lorde Hawarde and sente vnto warde whych sayde Clapham was beheded soone after and the sayde syr Geffrey Gate fande suche frendshyp that lastly he escaped or was delyuered so that he yode after to seynt wary Thanne was the lorde of saynte IohnÌ„s arrested But at instaunce of the archebysshop of Caunterbury he went a season at large vnder suerty and was fynally commytted to the towre In whych passetyme the erle of Oxenforde gat ouer vnto the foresayd lordes Thus enduryng thys trouble a stirrynge was made in the north partyes by the lord Fitz Hugh wherfore the kyng sped hym thyderwarde But so soone as the sayd lord knewe of the kynges coÌ„myng anone he lefte hys peple fledde into Scotlande And the kyng whych thaÌ„ was commyn to yorke rested hym a season there and there about In the moneth of Septembre .x yere of the kyng the forsayd duke of Clarence accoÌ„panyed wyth the erles of warwyke of Penbroke of Oxenforde other many gentylmen landed at Dartmouth in Deuynshyre there made theyr proclamacyons in the name of kyng Henry the .vi and so drewe ferther into the laÌ„de wherof herynge the commons of that couÌ„tre other drewe vnto theym by greate companyes Than the Kentyshemen beganne to were wylde assembled theym in great companyes and so came vnto the out partyes of the cytye of London Radâ—lyffe saynte Katherynes and other places robbed and spoyled the Flemynges and all the bere houses there as they came ThaÌ„ the foresayde lordes holding on theyr iournaye drewe towarde y e kynge beyng in the northe as aboue is sayde wherof he beyng warned and hauyng wyth hym as than but small strength wherof some to hym were nat very trusty he wyth a secret company toke the next waye toward the wash in Lyncolneshyre and there passed ouer wyth great daunger nat wythout losse of dyuers of hys company and so passed the couÌ„trees into Flaunders and stynted nat tyll he came to Charles hys brother thanne duke of Burgoyne wyth whome he rested a season whaÌ„ the quene which than was in the towre harde of the kynges auoydynge anone she departed frome thens and yode vnto westmynster and there regystred her selfe for a seyntwary woman and in lyke wyse dyd many of kynge Edwardes frendes And than about the begynnynge of Octobre syr Geffrey Gate that till that tyme had holden the sayde seyntwary and other wyth hym wente vnto the prysons aboute London all suche as they had fauoure vnto toke them out and sette them at lybertye And than shypmen other euyll dysposed persones as than drewe to the sayd Geffrey Gate robbed agayn the berehouses set some of them in fyre and after resorted vnto the gates of the cytye there wolde haue entred by force But the cytezeyns wythstode theym wyth suche force that they were compelled to departe thens Upon the .xii. day of October the towre was gyueÌ„ vp by appoyntmeÌ„t kyng Henry was takeÌ„ from the lodgyng where he before laye and was than lodged in the kynges lodgyng wythin the sayde towre In whyche passetyme the duke the forsayd lordes drewe nere vnto the cytye And vpon saterday than nexte folowyng the sayd duke accompanied wyth y e erles of warwyke of Shrowysbury and the lord Stanley rode vnto the towre and there wyth all honour and reuerence fet out kynge Henry conueyed hym to Poulys there lodged hym in the bysshoppes palays so was thaÌ„ admytted taken for kyng thorugh all the lande Readoptio Henrici .vi. HEnri y e .vi. of that name before by Edwarde y e .iiii. put down was agayne restored to the crowne of Englande the. daye of Octobre in the yere of grace M.iiii C.lxix and the .x. yere of Edwarde y e iiii the .xii. yere of the .xii. Lowys than kynge of Fraunce In whose begynnyng of readopcyon the erle of worceter whych for hys cruelnesse was called the bochier of England was taken and putte in streyght pryson And vppon the xv daye of October was the sayde
of hys brotherne to come to gyue attendauÌ„ce vppon hym wyth certayne comeners of the cytye where when they were comâ—â— the kynge caused the game to be brought before them so y t they sawe course after course and many a derâ— bothe rede falowe to be slayne before them And after that goodly dâ—spoâ—tâ— was passyd the kynge commaunded hys offycers to brynge the mayre and hys company vnto a pleasauÌ„t lodge made all of grene bowys and garnysshed wyth tables other thynges necessary where they were set at dyner and serued wyth many deynty dysshes and of dyuers wynes good pleynty as whyte rede and claret and caused them to be set to dyner or he were seruyd of hys owne ouer that caused the lorde chamberlayn wyth other lordes to hym assygned to chere the sayde mayre and his company sondry tymes whyle they were at dyner at theyr departynge gaue vnto them of venyson greate pleynty And in y e moneth of August folowynge the kynge of hys greate bounte sente vnto the mayresse and her systers aldermennes wyfes two hartes and .vi. buckes wyth a tonne of wyne to drynke wyth the sayd venyson The whyche venyson wyne was hadde vnto the drapers halle to whych place at a day assygned the mayre desyred the aldermeÌ„ and theyr wyfes wyth sondry comoners and there the venyson wyth many other good dyshes were eryn and the sayd wyne merely dronken The cause of whyche bounty thus shewed by the kynge was as moste men toke it for that that the mayre was a marchauÌ„t of wonderous auentures into many and sondry countrees By reason wherof the kynge had yerely of hym notable summes of money for hys customes besyde other pleasures y t he hadde shewed to the kynge before tymes Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxiii  wyllyam whyte  Edmonde Shaa Goldsmyth  Anno .xxii.  IohnÌ„ Mathewe  THis yere that is to meane of y e mayre and begynnynge of the xxiii yere of the kynge at westmynster vppon the .ix. daye of Apryll dyed the noble prynce Edwarde the iiii late kynge of Englande whose corps was after conueyed wyth due solemnyte vnto wyndsore and there honourably buryed when he hadde reygned to reken hys begynnynge out of the lande with all other tyme full .xxii. yeres and as moch as from the .iiii. daye of Marche vnto the .ix. daye of Apryll leuynge after hym .ii. sonnes that is to say prynce Edward hys eldest sonne and Rycharde duke of yorke and .iii. doughters as Elysabeth that after was quene Cecyle and Katheryne Edwarde the .v. EDward the .v. of that name sonnÌ„ vnto Edwarde y e iiii beganne hys reygne ouer the realm of EnglaÌ„d y e .xi. day of Apryl in the beginnyng of the yere of our lord god M.iiii C.lxxxiii and the .xxiiii. yere of the .xi. Lewys than kynge of Fraunce Anone as kynge Edward the .iiii. was dede grudge and vnkyndnesse beganne to take place bytwene the kynges and the quenes allye For y e lorde marquys of Dorset brother vnto the quene and other of hys affynytye hadde then the rule kepyng of thys yonge kynge whyche at the tyme of hys fathers deth was of the age of .xi. yere or there about and so beyng in hys guydyng in y e Marche of walys coÌ„ueyed hym toward London and there to make prouysyoÌ„ for hys coronacyon and for other necessary thynges for hys weale But the duke of Glouceter brother vnto Edward the .iiii. entendynge otherwyse as after shall appere wyth a competent noÌ„ber of gentylmeÌ„ of the North all clad in blacke met with y e kynge at Stonyngstratforde there after dyssymuled countenaunce made bytwene hym the forsayd Marquys dischargyd him of the rule of y e king and toke vpon hym the rule so froÌ„ thens beynge accompanyed with the duke of Buckyngham broughte the kynge with all honour toward LondoÌ„ wherof heryng quene Elysabeth moder vnto the kyng feryng the sequele of thys besynesse went or toke sentwary within westmynster wyth her yonger sonne Rycharde the duke of yorke And the kynge drawynge nere vnto the cytie vpon the .iiii. day of Maye was of the mayre and hys cytesyns mette at Harnesey parke y e mayre and hys bretherne beynge clothed in scarlet the cytesyns in vyolet to the noÌ„ber of .v. hondred horses and than from thens conueyed vnto the cytye the kynge beynge in blewe veluet and all hys lordes and seruauÌ„tes in blacke clothe and so after coÌ„ueyed vnto the byshoppes palays of London and there lodgyd And shortely after the sayd duke of Glouceter inueleged so the archbisshop of CauÌ„terbury named Bowchyer that he went wyth hym to the quene Elysabeth and there made suche assured promyse to the sayde quene that she vppon the sayd archbyshoppes promyse delyuered vnto them her yonger sonne duke of yorke And than the sayde duke caused the kynge to be remoued vnto the towre and hys brother with hym But the quene for all fayre promyses to her made kept her and her doughters wythin the foresayde seyntwary and the duke lodged hym selfe in Crosbyes place in Bysshoppesgate strete Than prouision was made for the kynges coronacyoÌ„ In whyche passe tyme the duke beynge admytted for lorde protectour caused syr Antony wydyuyle called lorde Scalys brother vnto y e quene a vertuous knight wyth the lorde Rycharde the quenes sonne syr Rycharde Hawte and syr Thomas UaghanÌ„ knyghtes to be beheded at Pountfreyt more of wyll than of iustyce Than the lorde Protectour in furtheryng of his purpose and cuyll entent sente for the more partie of the nobles of the laÌ„de and behaued hym so couertly in all hys matyers that fewe vnderstode hys wykked purpose And so dayely kepynge holdynge the lordes in counsayll and felynge theyr myndes sodaynly vppoÌ„ the .xiii. daye of Iuny beynge wythin the towre in the counsayll chambre wyth dyuerse lordes wyth hym as the duke of Bukkyngham the erle of Derby the lord Hastynges thaÌ„ lord ChaÌ„berlayne wyth dyuerse other an owte crye by hys assent of treason was made in the vtter chambre wherwyth the sayd lorde Protectour beyng warned roose vp and yode hym selfe to the chaumber dore and there receyued in such persones as he before had appoynted to execute hys malycious purpose The The whych incontynently set hande vpon the forenamed lord Chamberlayne and other In the whyche styrrynge the erle of Derby was hurt in the face and kept a whyle vnder the holde Than by coÌ„maundemente of the sayd lorde Protectour the sayde lord Chamberlayne in all haste was ladde in the court or playn where the chapell of the towre staÌ„deth there wythout iugemeÌ„t or loÌ„ge tyme of coÌ„fessyon or repentauÌ„ce vpoÌ„ an ende of a loÌ„ge great tymber logge whyche there laye wyth other for the repayrynge of the sayd towre caused hys hedde to be smyten of and all for he knewe well that he wolde nat assente vnto hys wycked entent whose body wyth the hed was after caryed vnto wyndesore
and there buryed by the tombe of kyng Edwarde After whyche cruelte thus done he shortely after set in sure kepynge suche persones as he suspected to be agayne hym wherof the bysshoppes of yorke of Ely were .ii. as it is said And the erle of Derby for fere of hys sonne the lord Strange lest he shuld haue arered Chesshyre Lancastershyre agayne hym was set at large Than began the loÌ„ge couert dyssymulacion whyche of the lord Protectour had ben so craftly shadowed to breke out at large in so moche that vppoÌ„ the sondaye folowyng at Poules crosse hym selfe wyth the duke of Bukkyngham other lordes beyng present by the mouth of doctor Rafe Shaa in the tyme of hys sermon was there shewed openly that y e chylderne of kynge Edward the .iiii. were nat legytymat nor ryghtfull enheritours of the crowne wyth many dyslaunderous wordes in preferryng of the tytle of the sayd lord Protectour and in dysanullynge of the other to the greate abucion of all the audieÌ„ce excepte suche as fauoured the mater whyche were fewe in noumbre yf the trouth or playnesse myghte haue ben shewed Of the whyche declaracyon as the fame wente after the sayde doctour Shaa toke suche repentaunce that he lyued in lyttell prosperytie after And the more he was wondered of that he wolde take vppon hym suche a besynesse consyderynge that he was so famous a man bothe of hys lernynge and also of naturall wytte Than vppon the tuysdaye folowynge an assemble of the coÌ„mons of the cytye was appoynted at the Guyldhalle where beynge present the duke of BuckynghaÌ„ wyth other lordes sente downe frome the sayde lorde protectour and there in the presence of the mayre and comynaltye rehersed the ryght and tytle that the lorde Protectour hadde to be preferred before hys of hys brother kynge Edwarde to the ryght of the crowne of Englande The whyche processe was in so eloquent wyse shewed and vttred wythout any impedyment of spyttynge or other countenaunce and that of a longe whyle wyth so great sugred wordes of exhortacyon and accordynge sentence that many a wyse man that day merueyled and commended hym for the good orderynge of hys wordes but not for the entent and purpose the whyche theruppon ensued Uppon the Thursdaye than next ensuynge beynge the .xx. daye of Iuny the sayde Protectoure takynge then vppon hym as kynge and gouernour of the realme went wyth great pompe vnto westmynster and there toke possessyon of the same where he beynge sette in the greate halle in the See royall wyth y e duke of Norffolke before called the lorde Hawarde vppon the ryght hande the duke of Suffolke vppon the left hande after the royall othe there taken called before hym the iudges of the lawe gyuynge vnto them a long exhortacyon and streyght coÌ„maundemeÌ„t for y e mynystryng of hys lawes and to execute iustyce and that with out delaye After whyche possessyon takynge and other ceremonies there done he was conueyed vnto the kynges palays wythin westmynster and there lodgyd In whyche passe tyme the prynce or of ryght kynge Edwarde the .v. wyth hys brother the duke of yorke were put vnder suer kepynge wythin the towre in suche wyse that they neuer came abrode after And thus ended the reygne of Edwarde the .v when he had borne the name of a kynge by the space of two monethes and .xi. dayes And vppon the Frydaye beynge the .xxii. daye of Iuny was the sayd lord Protectour proclaymed thorough the cyty kyng of England by the name of Rychard the thyrde Then soone after for fere of the quenes blode and other whyche he had in ielousy he sent for a strength of men out of the North. The which came shortely to London a lytell before hys coronacyon and mustred in the More feldes well vppon .iiii. M. men in theyr beste iackes and rusty salattes wyth a fewe in whyte harneys not burnysshed to the sale and shortely after hys coronacyon were countermaunded home wyth suffycyent rewardes for theyr trauayll In whyche foresayd passe tyme y e Marquys of Dorset brother vnto quene Elysabeth y t before was fled escaped many wonderfull daungers bothe about London Ely and other places wherof â–ª to wryte the maner cyrcumstaunce wolde aske a longe and great leysour Rycharde the thyrde RIcharde y e thyrde of that name son to Rycharde late duke of yorke yongeste brother vnto Edwarde y e iiii late kynge began his domynyoÌ„ ouer the realme of Englande the .xx. day of mydsomer moneth in the yere of our lorde god M. CCCC.lxxxiii the .xxv. yere of the .xi. Lewys than kynge of FrauÌ„ce Of whom tedyous it is to me to wryte the tragedyous hystory excepte that I remeÌ„ber that good it is to wryte and put in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce the punyshement of synners to the ende that other may exchew to fall in lyke daunger Than it foloweth anone as thys man had taken vpon hym he fyll in great hatred of the more party of the nobles of hys realm in so mych that suche as before loued and praysed hym and wolde haue ieoparted lyfe and good wyth hym yf he hadde remayned styll as ê“tectour now murmured and grudged agayne hym in suche wyse that fewe or none fauoured his partye except it were for drede or for the great gyftes that they receyued of hym By meane wherof he wanne dyuers to folow hys mynde the whiche after deceyued hym And after his coronacyon soleÌ„pnysed whyche was holden at westmynster the .vi. daye of Iuly where also y e same daye was crowned dame Anne hys wyfe he then in shorte processe folowynge rode Northward to pacyfye that countre and to redresse certayne ryottes there lately done In the passe tyme of which iournay he beynge at yorke created hys legyttymat sonne prynce of walys ouer that made hys bastarde sonne capytayne of Caleys whyche encreaced more grudge to hymwarde as after shall appere Anno. dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxiiii  Thomas Norland  Rober Byllysdon Haberdassher  Anno .ii.  wyllyam Martyn  IN this yere y e foresayd grudge encreasynge and the more for as myche as the comon fame wente that kynge Rycharde hadde within the towre put vnto secret deth y e two sonnes of hys brother Edwarde the iiii For the whych and other causes hadde within the breste of the duke of Buckyngham the sayde duke in secrete maner conspyred agayn hym and allyed hym with dyuers gentylmen to the ende to brynge hys purpose about But how it was his entente was espyed and shewed vnto the kynge and the kynge in all haste sent for to take hym he then beynge small accoÌ„panyed at hys manour of Brekenok in the Marche of walys wherof the sayd duke beynge ware in all hast he fled froÌ„ hys sayd manour of Brekenok vnto the house of a seruaunt of hys owne called Banaster and that in so secret maner that fewe or none of his housholde seruauntes knewe where he was become In the whyche passe tyme kynge Rycharde
rule therof This Crotild had before that day receyuyd the fayth of Cryste and so coÌ„tynuynge her relygyon was maryed to Clodoueus then a paynym and so endured a certayne of tyme. But yet she left not to enduce and tourne her lorde to the fayth in all that she myghte And after a certayn of tyme she was delyueryd of a sonne the whyche by meanes of the holy man Remigius byshop of Raynes and of the quene Crotyld was crystyned and named Clodomerus the whych dyed wyth in shorte processe after For y t happe the kyng sayd that his goddes were dyscontented wyth hym that he had suffred his chylde to be crystyned for wrathe therof had taken froÌ„ hym his chylde The quene takynge the kynges sayenge in pacyence conceyued the seconde sonne whyche also by the kynges agrement was also baptysed This also after a certayne of tyme was vexed wyth a greuous sekenes in suche wyse that yt was lykely to haue dyed wherfore the kynge was then more impacyent and blamed y e relygyon of his wyfe in moste impacyent maner The whych sayenges the quene toke pacyeÌ„tly and put all her confidence in god to whom both she and Remigeus prayed so effectuously that the chylde was restored vnto perfyte helth Thus Clodoueus perseuerynge in his erronyous lawe made warre vppon the Almaynes In whych warre beynge one daye occupyed in fyght agayne hys enymyes he wyth hys people was put to the werse wherof whan Clodoueê° was ware hauyng greate drede of hym selfe called to mynde the often exortacyon of hys wyfe and of the greate vertue of her goddes lawe and sodaynly lyfte his eyen towarde heuen and sayde god the whyche Clotylde my wyfe doth honoure now helpe me And yf this daye I may passe thys daunger and opteyne vyctory I shall euer after worshyp the wyth true fayth The whyche prayer skantly fynysshed the Frenchemen by dyuyne power were so vnyed and knyt togyther and so knyghtly wythstode theyr enemyes that in shorte whyle after they opteyned vyctory whyche vyctory had y e kynge with greate tryumphe retourned into Fraunce wherof whan Clotylde was warned she anone receyued hym wyth all ioye and gladnes thankynge her lord god of his great vyctory but more for that y e he had forsaken hys idolatrye and was becomen seruaunt of y e onely god fourmer of all the worlde THE XCVIII CHAPITER IT was not longe after y t blessyd Remigius was sent for The whyche enfourmed the kynge suffycyently in the fayth of Cryst vppon an Eester daye folowynge wyth great solempnyte baptysed the kynge In tyme of which solempnysacyon doynge the holy Crysine or oyle by neglygence of the mynysters or otherwyse lackynge a doue discendyng from heuen brought in her becke or byll a vyoll fylled wyth oyle of moste swetest sauour and delyuered it to saynt Remigius The which was construed to be done by vertue of y e holy ghost And wyth thys holy oyle whan the kyng was anoynted the surplusage therof was kept with moste reuerence I haue herde reported that this oyle is kept at the cytye of Reynes or at Parys and that yt neuer fayleth or wasteth and that al ryghtfull enherytours of y e crowne of Fraunce be therwyth at theyr coronacyoÌ„ anoynted But it happen any myghty maÌ„ to vsurpe y e crowne by myghte when the bysshoppe cometh for thys holy oyle he fyndeth y t vyoll or glasse drye and ellys not To thys reporte euery man maye gyue credence as hym lyketh for I fande not this wryten in the gospell nor yet in no boke of holy scrypture Then it foloweth after thys soleÌ„pnyte done the kynge hadde certeyne wordes to the people in exortynge them to leue theyr idolatrye and to byleue in Cryste and hys fayth by whose myghte and power onely he hadde venquysshed hys enemyes By the whyche exortacyoÌ„ and other meanes of the holy bysshop Remigius myche people were some after conuertyd and baptysed Then the kyng buylded certeyne newe monasteryes and dedycat the olde temples of idollys in honoure of Crystes sayntes Among y e which one was nere vnto the cytye of Parys in the honour of the apostles Peter and Paule It is wytnessed of mayster Robert Gagwyne that before these dayes all Frenche kynges vsed to bere in theyr armes .iii. todys But after thys Clodoueus had receyued Crystes relygyon .iii. floure de lyse were sente to hym by dyuyne power sette in a shylde of asure the whyche syns y e tyme hath ben borne of all Frenche kynges The sayd authour myndeth also that in a monastery of Fraunce called the monastery of saynte Bartylmewe was somtyme kepte a clothe of redde sylke whyche was named the aurysflambe and borne for a baner in the felde agayne the Barbaris or hethen people by vertue wherof the frenche prynces wan many vyctoryes But after whan thys precyous relyke or aurysflaÌ„be was borne agayne Crysten prynces the vertue therof seasyd and lastly was lost But yet the lyke therof is kepte at saynt Denys and had in greate reuerence of the bysshoppes and abbottes of the same place Then it foloweth in y e storye whan Clodoueus hadde set hys realme in due order Clotyld callyng to mynde the treason done to her fader and also the wrongfull wythholdynge of her ryghtfull enherytaunce by her vncle Cundebalde exorted her lorde Clodoueus to sende an embassade to requyre restytucyon of her sayde ryght y t whych was sone after done And whan the kynge had receyued an answere y t the sayd Cundebalde wolde not restore the sayd ryghte of hys wyfe he in all goodly wyse prepared an armye and made warre vppon the sayd Cundebalde And after greate waste and dystruccyon of the couÌ„tre Clodoueus fynally besegyd hym in a cytye after toke the sayd cytye by strength and the sayd Cundebalde wythin y e same as prysoner But by medyacyon of frendes and greate gyftes wyth also a yerely trybute to be payed to Clodoueus the sayd Cundebalde was releaced and sette at lybertye THE XCIX CHAPITER THis voyage thus spedde and orderyd the kynge lefte behynde hym an armye of .v. thousand knyghtes vnder the gydyng of GuÌ„defyll brother of the foresayd Cundebalde and after retourned into Fraunce But sone after the kynges departynge Cundebalde coÌ„trary to the promyse before made gaderyd a power of knyghtes made warre vppon hys sayde brother and lastly beseged hym in the cytye of Uienne where vppon eyther parte was by skyrmysshes assautes great people slayne All be yt in the ende Cundebalde wanne the cytye and hys brother therein beynge he afterwarde behedyd About thys tyme great discencyon grewe atwene Clodoueus and the kynge of Gothys called Alericus whyche varyauÌ„ce by agremeÌ„t of bothe partyes was put to the iugement of Theodorycus than kyng of Longobardes or of ItalyaÌ„s The whyche after the sayde causes were well and suffycyently argued and debatyd before hym and hys couÌ„sayle he fynally gaue sentence y t a knyght of Clodoueus shulde stande vppon an hylle holdynge a
spere vpryghte in hys hande and that the kynge of Gothys shuld throwe or lay so mych syluer as shulde in processe couer the poynt of the sayd spere whyche sentence as testyfyeth mayster Robert Gagwyne the Gothis despysed sayenge that they had not suffycyent syluer wythin theyr land to perfourme the sayd sentence And for despyte of the same certeyne Gothys espyenge a prynce of FrauÌ„ce named Paterne beynge assocyate wyth some dyuerse Frenshmen in a lofte or chamber the whyche Paterne had ben solycytour for the Frenshe kynge in y e foresayd mater the sayde Gothys by crafty and false meanes caused the floorth of the sayd chamber to falle by whyche meane the sayde Paterne was greuously hurte and many of the other in lykewise some slayne wherof whan Clodoueus had wrytynge he beynge therwyth greatly amoued and also bycause y e Gothys dysobeyde the foresayd awarde he gadered shortly after a greate hoste And after certeyne offerynges done to saynt Martyn wyth also passyng the ryuer of Uian by myracle and ledynge of an harte he lastly came to the syghte of hys enemyes Thenne Clodoueus lodged hys hoost nere vnto the monastery of saint Hillary where in the nyght before y e batayle he receyued tokens of vyctory the whyche I passe ouer And vppon the morne he set hys people in araye and made towarde hys enemyes and mette wyth them in a felde called NoglodienÌ„ nere vnto y e ryuer of Cleue or Clyue where after sore and longe fyght he slewe the abouesayde Alaricus kynge of Gothys as sayth myne authour wyth hys owne hande But here shulde seme some discorde of tyme wyth other wryters For Cronica cronicarum Iacobus Philippus and other testyfye that thys Alaricus was dede many yeres before For he shulde be kynge of Gothys by theyr sayenge in the tyme y t Honorius brother vnto Archadius was emperour whyche was aboute the yere of our lord .iiii. huÌ„dred .ix. that he began hys empyre wherfore mayster Robert Gagwyne meaneth some other kynge of Gothys than Alaricê° For the sayd authours also affyrmen that this Alaricus dyed of sodayne sykenesse at a cytye named Cesancia whaÌ„ he had reygned after moste wryters .vi. yere Then it foloweth in y e story whan Clodoueus had thus opteyned vyctory of the Gothys and set the countre of Guyan in order he sped hym agayne into Fraunce And when he was comen into the countre of TuronÌ„ he was encouÌ„tred wyth embassadours of themperours Anastasius and presented from the sayd emperour wyth gyftes greate pryce and honour and also admytted for a consull of Rome whyche at that dayes was a dygnyte of moste honour whyche done he remytted the sayd embassade wyth great gyftes This sayenge is affyrmed of the other wryters the whych shewe this honour to hym to be done for as mych as he had ouercomen the Gothys enemyes of Crystes fayth But they name not the kynges name that then reygned ouer the Gothys Thys besynesse ouerpassed Clodoueus contynued hys iourney tyll he came to the monastery or chyrche of faynt Martyn where wyth great deuocyon accordyng to hys former promysse he offered his stede that he occupyed that iourney agayne the Gothys And after for that he entended to occupye the sayd hors yf he hadde lyke nede he redemed hym wyth a competent summe of golde But yet the hors myghte not be remoued Then y e kyng added to an hundreth pecys of golde which at those dayes were named golden shyllynges and so receyued hys stede wherfore the kynge sayd after in game that saynt Martyn was a good helper at nede but he was costelewe Thus thys noble and fyrste crysten prynce coÌ„tynued hys lyfe in noble and marcyall dedys in augmentynge hys kyngdome by knyghtly batayles and other worldy prouysyons and lastly dyed of goddes visytacyoÌ„ with all stedfastnes of fayth whan he hadde reygned .xxx. yeres leuyng after hym .iiii. sonnes of Clotylde hys wyfe that is to saye Clodomyrus Chyldebertus Theodoricus and Clotharius or after some Latarius and was buryed in y e monastery that he before nere vnto Parys hadde buylded wyth suche epytaphy or superscripcyon vppon hys tumbe as after shal be shewed But or I procede to the declaryng of the foresayd epitaphy for so mych as I haue hard dyuers hold an opynyon that the fayth of Cryste was receyued in Fraunce or it were receyued in this lande of Brytayne therfore I shall note here the tyme that this Clodoueus fyrst toke baptyme whyche was as Ranulphe monke other testyfye in the .xv. yere of hys reygne or nere about whyche was y e yere of our lord .iiii. C.lxxx .xix. wherby yt apperyth consyderynge the tyme of Luciê° fyrst crysteÌ„ prynce that euer was of Brytayne as before is shewed that Cristes fayth was by a longe tyme honoured in Brytayn or it were honoured in Fraunce excepte that suche as holde the forsayd opynyoÌ„ accompte the fyrste comyng of Crystes fayth into Brytayne at y e fyrste conuersyon of the Saxons whenne yt was prechyd by the holy monke saynt Augustyne and hys felowes whych is not to the purpose Than to the foresayde epitaphy or superscrypcyon as foloweth Diues opum virtute potens clarusque triumpho Condidit haue sedem rex Clodoueus idem Patricius magno subsimis fulsit honore Pfemis amore dei contempsit credere nusso Lumina qui varijs horrent potenta figuris Mox pur gatus aquis Christi fonte renatus Fragrantem gessit infulso crisinate crinem ExempluÌ„'que dedit sequitur quod plurima turâ—a Gentisis populi spretoque errore suorum Doctorem cultura deum verumque parentem Hijs felix meritis superauit gesta priorum Semper concilio castris bellisque tremendus Hortatu dux ipse bonus ac pectore fortis CoÌ„structas acies formauit in a gmine primus The whyche verses maye be thus expouned in our moder tuÌ„ge as here after foloweth Riche of goodes stronge in vertue in triumphe re shynynge Kyng Clodoueus this temple buyste of stone Fader of comon profete clad with his honour excellynge Replenyshed with goddes loue despysed hys olde foon And hys pagaun lawe wyth the straunge fygurs echone Purgid with holy water by cristes font born new And holy crisine enointed floured with vertue dew Example gyuyng hym foloweth many a man Forsakyng theyr errour and theyr fals goddes all And by his techynge honour but one god than Thus by his merytes he excelled his parentall And thorough his couÌ„sayle made citye and castell thrall He was a noble duke therwith of grete might And in front of batayle was euer the fyrst knyght Anglia THE C. CHAPITER VTer the laste or yongest sonne of CoÌ„stantyne and brother of Aurelius was made kyng of Britayn in the yere of our lorde .v. huudred euen and the .xvi. yere of Clodoueus than kynge of Fraunce Thys as before ys touched was surnamed PendragoÌ„ The cause therof was as wytnessyth y e Englysshe cronycle for so mych as Merlyn lykened hym
so y t he withdrew hym froÌ„ the kynge and alyed hym wyth the byshop of Durham the erles of NorthuÌ„berland and Shrewesbury with other The whyche confederyd to gyder toke partye agayne the kynge and dyd thynges to his dyspleasure and hurte And amonges other damages by theym done Roger de Mount Gomoryk erle of Shrewesbury destroyed the countrey and endes of England vnto worceter town wyth ayde of the walshemen But in the ende thorough the prayer of the holy byshoppe wolstane the walshemen were so weked and febled that a few knyghtes scomfyted of them a great hoste when kyng wyllyam conceyued y e well nere all the Normans toke partye agayne hym he then forced of necessyte drewe to hym the Englyshemen And fauoured them by giftes easy lawes so that by theyr strength he lastely recouered the erle of Shrewesburye and chased some other of hys enymyes and shortely after occupyed the castell and strong holdes in Kent belongynge to byshop Odo hys forsayde vncle and in the ende coÌ„pelled hym to forswere England And y t done he besyeged y e citie of Rochester wherin the byshoppe of Durham the erle of Northumberland and other noble men were gadered and wan yt at length by appoyntement so that hys enymyes were vnto hym reconcyled In the thyrde yere of hys reygne dyed Lamfrank when he hadde ben archbyshop of Caunterburye .xviii. yeres By whose meanes the moÌ„kes of Englande were brought to the vse of theyr holy relygyon the whych before hys commynge lyued more lyke to seculer prestes theÌ„ religious men and exercysed them in huntynge and hawkynge for to auoyde idelnesse dysynge and cardynge in the wynter nyghtes that they myght be redy to kepe theyr howres and nyghtly seruyce And in theyr apparel they were lyke vnto consules and not vnto muÌ„kes wyth many other deformytyes The whych in y e begynnyng of Lamfrank he of policye suffered for a season lest he had brought all in his top atones and therby myght haue caused some scysme or varyauÌ„ce to haue rysen in the chyrche In auoydynge wherof wyth other inconuenyences he lytell and lytell refrayned them of theyr outrage and in ê“cesse of tyme caused and constrayned them to lyue after the constitucyons and rules of theyr relygyon Aboute thys tyme Robert Curthose duke of Normandy enteÌ„dynge to take hys vyage into the holy lande layde his dukedome to wedde to hys brother wyllyam for .x. thousande pounde For leuyenge wherof kynge wyllyam set a taske vpon his commons and subiectes and reysed a farre excidynge some vnder colour of the same so that byshoppes melted theyr vessell and lordes spoyled theyr tenauntes The kynge of Scottes also brake the peace before made with wyllyam Conquerour and wasted and toke prayes ut the countrey of Northumberlande Then the kynge prouyded a nauy and sayled thyther in the wynter tyme. But by y e tempest of the see halfe his nauy or a great parte of yt was drowned and many of his knyghtes were loste for colde and hunger But yet in the ende after dyuers conflyctes and bykerynges by mediacyon of frendes a peace and vnyte was concluded so that Malcolyn then kynge of Scottes shuld be obedyent to kynge wyllyam vnder the same othe that he was before tyme sworne vnto hys father and kynge willyam shuld yerely gyue vnto him in y e way of a fee .xii. markes of gold In the fourth yere of his reygne and the fyft daye of October passyng great tempest of wederyng fell in soudry places of Englande and specyally in y e towne of wynchecome For there by tempeste of thuÌ„der and lyghtenyng a parte of y e steple of the chyrch was throwen downe and the crycyfyx wyth the ymage of our lady also standynge vpon the roode lofte was in lykewyse ouerthrowen and broke and shatered And after folowed a contagye and a fowle stenche y e whych endured tyll the munkes had gone in processyon about the chyrch and all the houses adioynyng to that abbay and other places Also thys yere at LoÌ„don was great harme done by force of the wynde which blewe with such violence y t yt ouerturned or ryued as wytnessyth Polycronycon ouer the noÌ„ber of .vi. hundred houses And y e rofe of saynt Mary Bow in chepe was also ryued wherwith two men were slayne And also at Salesburye was hurte done wyth y e same wynde or y e lyke therof In the .v. yere of wyllyaÌ„s reygne he went into Northumberlande and repayred suche holdes and castelles as the Scottes by theyr warrys had blemyshed and apayred and caused a new castell to be made at Caercol y e cytye or towne whych the Danys of two hundred yeres passed hadde destroyed Then y e kyng returned vnto Gloucester where he was greuously veryd wyth sykenesse so that he wende he shulde haue dyed In tyme wherof he toke great repentaunce ê“mysed yf he myght escape he wold neuer sell mo benefices ouer that he wold ameÌ„de hys lyuyng become a new maÌ„ But after he was restored to helth that promyse was shortely forgoten And in that yere he gaue vnto Anselme the archbyshopryche of yorke But he myghte take of yt but as the kynges pleasure was tyll suche tyme as the kyng hadde taken his trybute therof And more ouer he auouched that the see of LyncolnÌ„ be longed to the see of yorke tyll the bisshoppe of Lyncolne had pleased him wyth a great summe of money as .v. thousande marke after the wrytyng of Ranulfe In the .vi. yere of hys reygne were excedynge floodes wherof the lyke in many yeres passed hadde not ben sene And after that ensued wonderfull frostâ— whych frose the great stremes in suche wyse y e horse and carte passed ouer y e gret ryuers And in the ende when the yse melted and brake the payse therof brake many a stronge brydge bothe of tymber and of stone THE CCXXIIII CHAPITER ABout thys tyme the welshemen with theyr kyng or duke named Rees brake out vppon the Englyshmen in the Bordour where standeth the castell of Brekenocke and there made masteryes for a while But in the ende his people were chaced and slayne and he wounded to deth so that he dyed the .iii. daye folowynge Thys Rees is accompted of wryters to be the laste kynge of walys For after thys daye they were so dauÌ„ted that kynges of Englande had them in suche rule that they were vnder more stedfaste obedyence than they were before tyme. How be it they rebellyd full often as after shall appere And the yere folowyng kyng wyllyam to haue y e countrey in the more quyet hewe downe mych of y e wood and buylded in sundry places strong castels and pyles by meane wherof more and more they were plucked to obedyeÌ„ce But not shortely after but specyally in the dayes of Edwarde y e fyrste and Edwarde the thyrde Malcolyn kyng of Scotland came vnto Glowcester to comon wyth the kynge of dyuers maters and to take a fynall agremeÌ„t But for kyng wyllyam wolde haue demyd
of our lord M.iiii C. .xxii and y e fyrst yere of Charles the .vii. or viii y e thaÌ„ne amonge the FrenchemeÌ„ was allowed for kyng and reygned yeres .xxxix. folio clxxix Henry of Derby wyth other landed at RaueÌ„spore as is shewed fo cli Henry the fyfte foresayd sayled into Fraunce loke in fo clxxii Henry Derby forenamed and of hys issue is shewed fo cxliiii Henry the .iiii. aforesayd maryed the duchesse of Brytayne fo clxvi Heresye of IohnÌ„ wyclyf apereth folio cxlvii Heretykes taken in saynt Gyles feld and after brent fo clxxi Homage done by lordes of Almayne to Rycharde erle of Cornewayll brother to kyng Henry the thyrde folio xxxviii Homage done by the kyng of Scottes to kyng E. the .iii. fo lxxxix Hughe holy bysshoppe of Lyncolne dyed fo xi IohnÌ„ brother to Rycharde the fyrste was ordeyned kynge of Englande in the moneth of Apryll yere of our lord M.C.xcix the .xx. yere of the second Phylyp than kyng of Fraunce and reygned yere .xvii. The interdiccion of thys lande begaÌ„ in the .vi. yere of thys kynge endured tyll the .xiii. yere Henry the sonne of Alwyn in the .x. yere of thys kynge was admytted for the fyrste mayre of LoÌ„doÌ„ And in the sayd .x. yere of king IohnÌ„ London brydge was begon to be made of stone fo x IohnÌ„ the fyrst in Fraunce of that name sonne of Phylyp de Ualoys began hys reygne ouer the lande of Fraunce in the moneth of August yere of our lord M.iii. C. .l and the xxxiiii yere of y e thyrd Edward kyng of England reygned yeres xiiii Thys kynge was taken prysoner of Edwarde the prynce of Englande at the batayll of Poytyers in FrauÌ„ce folio cxxiii Iaphet was gotten by kynge Rychard fo v Iakys de Artyuyle fauoured the Englysshe partye fo xciii Iacke Strawe wyll waw made an insurreccyon fo cxlii Iacke Sharpe was taken and putt to deth folio clxxxv Iacke Cade and hys felowes folio cxcvi Iacke Cade wroughte moche of hys wyll in London after robbed so slayne fo cxcvii Iewes were banysshed thys lande folio lx Iewes were spoyled slayne fo clv. IohnÌ„ brother of kyng Rychard was prowd fo iii IohnÌ„ reconcyled to hys brother apereth in fo viii IohnÌ„ duke of Lancaster dyed as is shewed fo c.l. IohnÌ„ duke of Bedforde dyed folio clxxxviii Inquysycyons were made vpon the rulers of London as is shewed in folio xxix Iordan of the I le of Gascoyne grewe out of kynde fo lxxxv Inglysshe lordes wanne fyrst vppon Frenchmen fo xcviii Inglysshe soudyours slayne vnder safe conduyt fo cxxii Itenerarii plees were holden in South werke fo xxxi Ile of Ely holdeth banysshed men folio xlii Ile of Rodes fyrst wonne fo lxxv Isabell late wyfe vnto kynge Rycharde was maryed to the eldest sonÌ„ of the duke of Orleaunce fo clx Issue dyssent of syr Roger Mortymer fo cxliiii Iustyces or iuges punysshed fo lx Iustes holden in Smythfelde folio cxliiii KInge IohnÌ„ and hys laÌ„de was enterdyted fo x Kynge IohnÌ„ was reconcyled to the churche fo xvi Kyng Henry the .iii. sayled into Normandy fo xxiiii Kynge Henry the .iii. in proper ê‘sone sat in iugement fo xxix Kynge IohnÌ„s fury serche in fo xiiii Kynge IohnÌ„ of Fraunce was taken prysoner folio ciii Kyng IohnÌ„ was delyuered fo cvii Kyng IohnÌ„ dyed in Englande folio cviii Kyng Rychard sought many prouysyons folio iiii Kynge Rycharde sayled into y e holy lande folio iiii Kynge Rychard was takeÌ„ prysoner folio vi Kyng Rychard was delyuered folio vii Hynge Rycharde sayled into Normandy folio ix Kynge Rycharde assayled the castell of Gysors folio x Kynge Rycharde was slayne fo x Kynge Henry the thyrd frayneth couÌ„sayll of the mayre folio xxxiiii Kynge Henry sayled into Fraunce to be presente at the Frenche kynges parlyament folio xxxv Kynge Henry was taken of hys barons folio xxxvii Kynge Henry layd hys syege to London as it is shewed folio xliii Kynge Henry chosed shyrefes folio xliii Kynge Lowys toke vppon hym the crosse folio xlviii Kynge Edwarde the fyrst buylde castelles in walys folio lviii Kynge Edwarde sayled into FrauÌ„ce folio lix Kynge Edwarde the .ii. was taken also resygned the crowne fo lxxxii Kynge Edward the .iii. came secretly to London folio xcvi Kynge Edwarde warred sharply in Fraunce folio xcvii Kynge Edwarde chased the Spanyardes from the see fo ci Kynge Edwarde yode into Scotlande fo cii Kynge of Scottes was delyuered folio ciiii Kynge Edward spedde hym toward Parys fo cv Kynge of Nauerne was sodaynly taken as it is shewed fo cxxiii Kynge of Nauerne was set at large folio cxxvii Kynge Edwarde warred newly in Fraunce fo cxxxv Kynge Iohan was receyued into Fraunce fo cxxxv Kynge of Nauerne became feodory vnto the French kynge fo cxxxvi Kynge of Ermonye asked ayde of kynge Rycharde the .ii. fo cxliii Kyng Rychard ayded the Ianuayes folio cxlv Kyng Rychard maryed the Frenche kynges doughter fo cxlvii Kyng Richard sayled into Irelande folio cli Kyng Richarde was myserably put to dethe fo clxv Kyng Henry the .iiii. maryed the duchesse of Brytayne fo clx Kyng Henry the .v. sayled into Normandy fo clxxiii Kynge Henry maryed the Frenche kynges doughter fo clxxv Kynge Henry was receyued into LoÌ„don fo clxxvi Kyng Henry and hys wyfe sat crowned in Parys fo clxxvii Kyng Henry the .vi. shewed hys vertue beholde fo clxxix Kyng Henry was dubbed knyghte folio clxxxii Kinge HeÌ„ry was crowned fo clxxxiii Kynge Henry was crowned at Parys fo clxxxv Kynge of Scottes was murdered folio cxc Kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. was taken fo ccv Kyng Edward the .iiii. was receyued into London fo ccvii Kynge Edwarde ayded the duke of Burgoyne fo ccxiii Kyng Edwarde spoused dame Elizabeth Graye fo ccxvi Kynge Edwarde fledde thys lande folio ccxviii Kynge Henry was taken oute of the towre fo ccxviii Kynge Edwarde was proclaymed vsurper fo ccxix Kynge Edwarde landed at Rauynspore fo ccxix Kynge Edwarde repossessed as apereth folio ccxx Kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. dyed in the towre of London fo ccxx Kyng Edwardes chyldren were takeÌ„ out of seyntwary fo ccxxiiii LAzars of Languedok were brent fo lxxxiiii Letter sente by the barons to kynge Henry fo xxxvii Lewelyn prynce of walys rebelled folio lvi Lewelyn was slayne as appereth folio lvii Letter takked vpoÌ„ the crosse in chepe folio lxxxi Lordes assemble at Arundell as apereth folio cxlix Lordes put to deth fo clxxii Lordes fledde from Lodlowe feelde folio cciii Lordes proclaymed traytours as is shewed folio cciiii Lordes came to London fo cciiii Lordes of Fraunce warre vpoÌ„ theyr kynge fo ccx Lordes contynue theyr malyce as is shewed fo ccxi Lordes dyscorde wythin them selfe folio ccxii Lorde Morley appeled the erle of Salysbury as it is shewed in folio clxv Lorde Straunge and syr Iohanne Trussell fyghte in the churche for cause
NoueÌ„ber they gaue vnto his grace iiii hundred marke and then were restoryd to theyr sayde lybertyes and the kynges vnder treasourer dischat â—yd the whych for y e tyme was made custos or keper of the cytye In the feast of saynte Scycyle or the .xxii. daye of nouember ensuynge were brought vnto westmynster .lxxx. and xxii Iewes from LyncolnÌ„ the which were also accusyd of the crucyfyenge of a chyld at Lyncolne in the despyte of Crystes relygyon whyche Iewes were after sent vnto y e towre of London Of the whyche in processe of tyme after xviii were conuycte and hangyd the tother remayned long after in pryson In the vygyll of saynt Andrew syr Edwarde the kynges sonne came to London from beyonde the see And the kyng of Scottys with the quene hys wyfe came in the somer season vnto the kynge to hys maner of woodstoke where he dysportyd hym a season and after returned into Scotlande leuynge his wyfe wyth her mother tyll she were lyghted of chylde And vppon y e day of the decollacyon of saynte IohnÌ„ the kynge the quene and the quene of Scottes came to London where they were honorably receyued and so conueyed vnto westmynster Anno domini M.CC.lv.  Anno domini M.CC.lvi  Mathew Bokerell  Rycharde Hardell  Anno .xl.  IohnÌ„ Mynoure  IN thys .xl. yere entryd y e land dyuers lordes of Almayne the whych in Crystmas weke vppon the day of y e Innocentes made homage vnto syr Rychard erle of Cornewayl brother to the kynge the whych as then stoode kyng of Almayne and of Romayns And the thursdaye nexte folowynge he departed from the kynges courte and spedde hym wyth his wyfe and syr Henry his sonne vnto the see syde and after toke shyppyng in Iarnesay the .xxvii. day of Apryll and landed at Dordreth in Holande the fyrste daye of Maye nexte ensuynge And vppon assencyon day after he was crowned kynge of Romayns in the citye of Aquisgranum Thys yere vppon the fyrste daye of Auguste the kynge toke hys iourney towarde walys for to subdue Lewelyn the sonne of Gryffyth the whyche wyth his welshemen rebellyd agayne the kynge for so mych as syr Edwarde hys son to whom he hadde lytle before geueÌ„ the erledome of Chester wolde haue chaunged some of theyr skyttyshe condycyons And for to bryng hys purpose the better aboute he sente for an armye of souldiours into Irlande and taryed for theyr commynge at hys castell of Genocke But the yere passed farre on or hys people were gatheryd so that by the aduyse of hys lordes he strengthyd there a certayne castellys and returned for that yere into Englande And aboute the feaste of the Natyuyte of our ladye a concorde and a peace was coÌ„cluded betwene y e Londyners the abbot of the holy crosse of waltham the whych hadde ben in suyte many yeres before for certayne dystresses takeÌ„ by the abbottis offycers of the LoÌ„doners when they came wyth theyr mercymonyes vnto the fayre of waltham where as now yt is agreed that all suche dystressys shulde be restoryd and yf any were peryshed or loste for longe kepynge that then the abbot to contente and pay to the partyes the value in money of suche distressys so peryshed or loste and that the cytesyns shulde enioy the lybertyes of that fayre euer after wythoute payenge of any tollage or toll Anno domini M.CC.lvi  Anno domini M.CC.lvii  Rycharde Ewell  Rycharde Hardell  Anno .xii.  wyllyam Ashewy  IN this .xli. yere begynnynge of the same was founden in the kynges warderobe at wyndesore a byll or rolle closyd in grene waxe and not knoweÌ„ from whens yt shuld come in the whyche rolle was coÌ„teyned dyuerse articles agayne y e mayre and rulers of the cytye of London and that by theym the comynaltye of the cytye was greuously tasked and wrongyd whyche byll was presentyd at length to the kynge wheruppon he anon sent IohnÌ„ Mancell one of his iustycys vnto London and there in the feaste of the conuersyon of saynt Paule by the kynges authoryte callyd at Paulys crosse a Folkmot beynge there presente syr Rycharde de Clare erle of Glouceter dyuerse other of the kynges counsayll where the sayde IohnÌ„ Mancell causyd the sayde rolle to be redde before the comynaltye of the cytye after shewyd to the people that y e kynges pleasure and mynde was that they shuld be rulyd with iustyce and that the lybertyes of the cytye shuld be maynteyned in euery poynte And yf the kynge myghte knowe those persones that so hadde wrongyd the cominaltye of the citye they shuld be greuously punyshed to the example of other And that done the sayde IohnÌ„ Mansell chargyd the mayre that euery Alderman in hys warde shulde vppon the morowe folowyng assemble hys wardemote that all those wardemotys shuld assemble in one place and chuse of theym selfe wythout any counsayll or aduyse of any of theyr aldermeÌ„ .xxxvi. persons and them to present before the lordes and hym at the same houre of y e next day in the byshoppes paleys at Paulys Then vppon the morow all thynge was done accordynge to hys commaundement And when y e sayd xxxvi persones were presentyd before the sayde IohnÌ„ Mansell Henry Baa iustycys other the sayd IohnÌ„ sayde vnto theym that they vppon theyr othe shuld certyfye all such persones as they knewe gylty in the artycles before vnto the comynaltye shewyd wherunto the sayde .xxxvi. cytesyns answeryd y t yt was contrary theyr lybertyes to be sworne so many for any mater of trespas betwene the kynge and any of hys cytezyns wherfore they requyred a sparynge wyth whych answere the sayd IohnÌ„ Mansell beynge dyscontentyd warnyd theym to appere before the kynges couÌ„sayll at y e Guyldehall vppon the morowe folowynge where they kepte theyr daye And thyther came the sayde iustycys IohnÌ„ Mansell Henry Baa syr Henry wengham chaunceller of Englande Phylyppe Louell vndertreasorer and dyuerse other of the kynges counsayll Then the sayde IohnÌ„ Mansell exortyd the sayde personys to be sworne by many meanys as he the other daye hadde done But all was in vayne for they excusyd theym alway that yt was contrary theyr othe and lybertye of theyr cytye wherfore the kynges counsayll departed from the hall in partye dyscontentyd shewyd vnto the kynge the demeanour of the sayde cytesyns Uppon the euen of y e Purificacyon of our lady y t mayre beyng warned y t the kyng shuld come to westmynster he wyth the more parte of the Aldermen rode vnto Knyghtbrydge and houyd there to salute the kynge and to knowe his forther pleasure But when the kynge came nere that place and harde of theyr beynge there he sent vnto them a squyre of houshold and chargyd theym that they shulde not presume to come in hys syght wyth whyche message they beynge greatly dyscoÌ„fortyd retourned home to the cytye Afterwarde in the Octauys of the puryfycacyon of our Ladye returned from the courte
and that he shuld agayn be restored vnto hys kyngdome whereunto yt was answered by the Englyssh ambassadours that theyr coÌ„myssyon stretched nat so farre nor that theyr prince had gyuen vnto theÌ„ any suche auctoryte wherefore all y e former comunycacyoÌ„ was reuoked adnulled they retourned into Englande wythoute any conclusyon takynge Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxv  walter Mordon  Reynolde at Cunduyte  Anno .x.  Rycharde Upton  IN thys .x. yere for so moche as no conclusyon of vnyte peas myght be had betwene the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce therfore warre was proclaymed vpon bothe partyes The whyche warre was greatly procured by the meane of syr Robert of Artoys as in the story of Phylyp de Ualoyes shal be after shewed Then eyther prynce sought y e wayes and meanes howe eyther of theym myghte discontent other in so moche that the Frenche kynge sente soone after into Scotlande a crewe of Frenchemen to ayde suche enemyes as kynge Edwarde there had By reason whereof the sayde Scottes made sharpe warre vppon the kynges seruauÌ„tes and frendes and putte the lande to greate vexacyon and trouble in so moche that y e kyng was forced to assemble hys power to spede hym agayne thyther Than about mydsomer the kynge entred Scotlande by the see warred vpoÌ„ the Scottes and FrenchemeÌ„ Of the whych no notary batayl is specified except in that iournay the kyng subdued hys enemyes toke there dyuerse prysoners Amonge the which one called erle of Morreta Frencheman was chyefe y â— after was with other in ê“cesse of tyme there deliuered in exchauÌ„ge for y e erle of Namur another freÌ„ch lord whych thaÌ„ was takeÌ„ by gyle of Scottê as he was comyng towarde saynte Iohfis towne for to ayde the partye of kynge Edwarde whaÌ„ kyng Edward had agayn pacifyed the Scottes and takeÌ„ homage of suche as before rebelled he than as testyfyeth the Frenche cronicle stablysshed y e fore named Edward Bayloll as kyng of Scottes commytted the rule of the lande vnto hym as he before tymes had done Than the Scottes for the greate kyndenesse whyche they had founde in the kyng in recoÌ„peÌ„semeÌ„t of the great charge whych he by sundrye tymes had had in the defendyng of theyr enemyes graunted bounde them vnto hym to hys heyres kynges of England that they shuld ayde assyste hym agayne all prynces And whan so euer he had warre or any kynge of EnglaÌ„de beynge ryghtfull enherytoure agayn any prynce other wythin hys lande or without y e Scottes at theyr propre costes expenses shuld fynde iii. C. horsemeÌ„ well armed and a M fotemen well suffycyently arrayed for the warre the whiche .xiii. C. men the Scottes shulde wage for an hole yere And yf the kynge of Englande ended nat hys warre within the yere than he to hyre and wage the sayde Scottes as he doth the other of hys souldyours After whyche grauntes made bondes for the suertie therof receyued by y e kynge as wytnesseth the Frenche cronycle the kynge leuynge at Edenborough a certayne of hys knyghtes to strength y t Scottes agaynste the FrenchemeÌ„ whych compassed all the wayes they myght to brynge Dauyd the sonne of Robert le Bruze in possessyon of that laÌ„de he shortlye after retourned into Englande Anno domini M.CCC.xxxv  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxvi  wyllyam Brykelsworthe  IohnÌ„ Pontnay  Anno .xi.  IohnÌ„ Northall  IN thys xiâ— yere y e kynge remeÌ„brynge the greate charge y t he had with the warre in ScotlaÌ„de and also for the charge y t he dayly had in Guyan more contynually shulde haue in defeÌ„dyng of y e freÌ„chmeÌ„ wynnyng of hys right he therfore gathered treasour vpoÌ„ euery syde by dyuerse sundry ways wherof y e maner is nat expressed But so great plente came to hys vse y t it was scaÌ„t thorow out y e realme By reason of whyche scarcytie vytayll moche other Mercimonies were exceding good chepe For at LoÌ„doÌ„ a quarter of whete was solde for .ii. s a fat oxe for .vi. s. viii. d a fat shepe for .vi. d. .viii. d. vi peioÌ„s for a peny a fatte goos for .ii. d a pygge for a peny so al other vytayl after y e rate This yere also vpoÌ„ holy Rode day or y e .xiiii. day of SepteÌ„bre dyed syr IohnÌ„ of ElthaÌ„ erle of Corne wayl brother vnto y e kyng without issu wherfore y e sayd erldoÌ„ fell into y e kynges haÌ„de This maÌ„ lyeth buryed at westmynster vpoÌ„ y e right haÌ„de of y e hygh aulter In this yere also apered Stella cometa in englysshe named y e blasyng starre in an huge stremyng maner wherof many dyuerse construccioÌ„s were had amoÌ„ge the comoÌ„ people whych I passe ouer Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxvii  walter Neale  Henry Darcy  Anno .xii.  Nycholas Crane  IN thys .xii. yere y e kynge helde hys parlyament at westmynster about the tyme of lent Durynge the whych he made of the erledâ—m of Cornewayle duchy gaue it with the erledam of Chestre vnto Edward hys sonne And at thys parlyamente were made .vi. erles that is to say of Derby of Northampton of Hâ—Ì„tyngdon of Salysbury of Glouceter of Suff â–ª as Henry of Lancastre was created erle of Derby or after somme wryters of Leyceter wyllyam de Bothum erle of NorthamptoÌ„ wyllyam de Clynton erle of HuÌ„tyngedon wyllyam de MouÌ„tague erle of Salysbury Hugh of Audeley erle of Glouceter Robert of Ufforde erle of Suffolke And in thys parlyamente was an acte enacted that no man shulde were no maner of sylk in gowne cote or doublet but yf he myghte spende of good rente an hundreth â—â— by yere whyche acte was nat longe holden In thys yere also the kynge amonge dyuerse pryuyleges grauÌ„ted vnto y e cytezeyns of London that the offycers of the mayres sheryfes shulde from that day forthwarde vse marys of syluer parcell gylte The kynge of Fraunce thys yere for so moche as he was credybly enfourmed that kyng Edwarde wolde entre the lande of FrauÌ„ce to make warre vpoÌ„ thesame he therfore made great purueyaunce to resyste hym For the coÌ„mon fame ranne thanne in FrauÌ„ce y t kyng Edward enteÌ„ded nat onely to clayme Gascoyne Guyan but also all Fraunce as hys propre rightfull enherytaunce in the ryghte of hys mother wherefore the French kynge assembled an huge hoste and commytted the rule of it vnto the kynge of Nauerne and to the erle of Alenson brother vnto the sayde Frenche kynge â–ª whyche sayde capytaynes wyth theyr people awayted dayly the kynge of Englandes commynge whyche theym for that yere dyspoynted But as testyfyeth the same Frenche cronycle kynge Edwarde in thys whyle sent into Flaunders a knyghte called syr Barnarde de Brette for to treate of an amyâ—e betwene hym and the Flemynges For this cause the erle of Flaunders whych was