whereof began the vsage custom y t the kings of England made their eldest sons dukes of Normandye Warre was renued betwene kynge Henry of England Lewes of France Anno. 18. Lewes inuaded Normandye wyth muche crueltie toke the Citie of Lingnes in Cause Wherfore kyng Henry assemblyng a strong armye met wyth Lewys in playne field and fought with hym a cruell and deadly battayle in the ende wherof Lewes was ouercome cōstrayned to flee the field Baldwyne erle of Flanders was there slayne and Henry recouered the town of Lingnes Anno. 20. Wylliam Duke of Normandie and Riicharde the sonnes of kyng Henry of Englande and Mary his doughter Richard earle of Chester with his wyfe the kynges nece and other to the number of .160 persons passyng from Normandie into Englande by ouersyght of the shyp maister were drowned sauing one butcher which escaped the danger Anno. 24. In this yeare the abbey of Readyng was begun to be buylded by kyng Henry the fyrst he also buylded Cisseter Wyndilsore and Woodstocke wyth the parke Anno. 27. The gray fryers came nowe fyrst into Englande and had theyr fyrst house at Canturbery as saythe Ro. Fabyan Maude the daughter of Kyng Henry after the deathe of her husbande the Emperour came into Englande to her father Anno. 28. The order of sainct Iohns Hospitalles Templars and other lyke beganne fyrste at thys tyme. Anno. 32. In this yere began Foūtains abbey Geffrey Plantagenet erle of Angew maried Maude y e empresse doughter of king Henry of which .ii. descēded Hēry secōd which reigned after Stephen About this time was builded y e priory of Nortō in the prouince of Chester by one Williā the son of Nichole Also the abbey of Cōbremore in y e same prouince was buylded about the same tyme. Robert Curthois dyed in prison and was buried at Glocester Anno. 33. Henry king of Englande because he hadde none issue mal◠ordeyned that hys doughter Maude whiche had bene Empresse shoulde succede hym in the kyngdome Anno. 36. Kyng Henry of Englande beyng in Normandy with a fall of his horse toke his deathe and was buried at Reading when he had reigned .35 yeres .iiii. monthes and one day King Stephen Anno regni 1. STephen Erle of Boloyne the son of the erle of Bloys and Adela Wylliam Conquerors doughter aud nephewe to kynge Henry the fyrst tooke on hym the gouernaunce of this realme of England the seconde day of December in the yeare of our lorde 1135. and left the same in the yeare of our lord .1154 the .xxv. daye of October so that he reigned xviii yeres .x. monthes and .xxiiii. days This was a noble man and hardy of passinge comely fauor and personage in all princely vertues he excelled as in martiall policie gentylnes and liberalitie towarde all men and in especially in the begynnynge For although he had continuall warre yet did he neuer burden his cōmons with exactiōs Only he semed in this blame worthy that contrary to his othe made to Maude the doughter of Henry he was thoughte vniustlye to take on hym the Croune For which cause he was vexed with warres all the tyme of his reigne At this tyme was great trouble and slaughter in Englande for so muche as diuers of the nobles mainteined Maude the empresse agaynst Stephen whiche was in possession of the croune Kyng Stephen made warres against Dauid of Scotlande because he refused to do him his homage for Northumberlande and Huntyngdon whiche he helde by hys wyfe In thys warre the Scottyshe hystorie sayth the Earle of Glouceter was takē But at the length Stephen made peace and agreed with Dauid kyng of Scottes and receiued of hym homage after that he had wonne from hym certaine townes and castels and gaue to Henry the sonne of Dauid the erledome of Huntyngdon Anno. 2. A vayne rumour was spread in Englande of the death of Kyng Stephen which was cause of muche trouble and busynes in the realm For diuers of the lordes got them to their holdes whiche after might scantly with great laboure be quieted and pacified After whiche tyme Stephen passed ouer into Normādye against Geffrey erle of Angew the husband of Maude the empresse which was right heyre to the crowne◠and whē he had quieted that Prouince he made Eustace his sonne Duke of Normandy and ioyned frendshyp and league wyth Lewes kyng of France Anno. 4. Dauid kyng of Scottes repentyng him of the former agremēt made with kyng Stephen and purposyng to recouer the crowne of Englande for Maude his nece cousyn and daughter of kynge Henry in moste cruelle wyse inuaded Northumberland where by meane of Thruston bishop of Yorke the Scottes had an ouerthrow and slayne in greate numbre and Dauid was constrayned to geue his sonne Henry in hostage for suretie of peace In the meane season kyng Stephen was occupied in ciuil warre agayn Robert erle of Gloucester others which fauoured the partes of Maude whome the kyng subdued part of them were forted to forsake the realme Anno. 6. Maude the empresse came into thys lande out of Normandie by ayde of Robert erle of Glocester and Ranulph of Chester made strong warre vpon king Stephen In the end whereof the kyngs partie had the worse and hymselfe takē prisoner and sent to Bristow there to be kept in sure hold But the Kentishe men and Londoners fauourynge the kyng warred vpon the rebelles and in opē field toke Roberte rle of Gloceter◠But shortly after bothe the kyng the duke were deliuered out of prison by exchange And Stephen without delay assemblyng a strong armie in suche wyse pursued his enmies y t hee forced Maude with other of her frendes to forsake the realme This warre continued a longe time to the great domage of the realm About this tyme was foūded the abbey of Stratford Langthorn within .4 myles of London by a knyght called sir William de mount Fichet Anno. 10. About this time the Iewes crucified a chylde vpon Easter day at Norwiche in derision of Christe and his religion Anno. 11. Geffrey Plantagenet the husbande of Maude the Empresse who had long continued the warres against king Stephen of Englande wan from hym the duchy of Normandie and streight thervpon dyed and his sonne Henry succeded in the dukedome Anno. 12. Stephen kynge of Englande after long warre and muche trouble was agayne crowned kynge at Lincolne but Robert earle of Glocester made newe warre vpon hym in whiche he hadde the vpper hand of the kyng at Wilton so that the kyng was like to haue fallen into Roberts danger and escaped with muche paine Anno. 15. Thys yeare the ryuer of Thamis was so stronglye frosen that horse and cart passed ouer vpon the yee Anno. 17. Henry duke of Normādy in the quarell of his mother Maude with a greate puisance arriued in England and at the fyrst wonne the
greuous ennemy and hard to be pleased Desyrous of warre abhorryng idlenes enclined somewhat to pryde lecherye and auarice but moste of all he was to be blamed because he semed vnnatural towardes his father as ye haue partly hearde of hym and his brethren what warres they raysed agaynst him In his time were many robbers and outlawes amongest y e whiche as Iohn Maiore in his fourth booke De gestis ScotorniuÌ„ writeth Robert Hoode and lyttell John renoumed theues continued in woddes despoylynge and robbyng the goods of the ryche They kylled none but suche as would inuade them or by resistence for their owne defence The sayde Robert intertayned an hundred tall men and good archers wyth suche spoyles and theftes as he gotte Upon whome foure hundred were they neuer so stronge durste not geue thonset The tales and gestes of this Robert be comonly knowen by songes and balades vsed within this realme he suffred no woman to be oppressed violated or otherwyse molested Poore mens goodes hee spared abundantely releuyng theym wyth that whiche by theft he gotte frome abbeys and the houses of riche â—arles Whome the sayd Maior blameth for his rapyne and thefte but of all theues hee affyrmeth him to be the prince and the most gentle thefe In the fyrste yeare of thys Kynges reign the citisens of London obteined two officers to guide theyr Citie which were called Bayliffes whose names shall folowe here vnder Anno regni â— Bayliffes Henry Cornhyll Rychard Reinery In this yeare the Iewes were very brag here in thys realme for that theyr number was so greate But the coÌ„mon people especially about London fell vpon them and despoyled them without pitie or mercye they so hated theym for theyr vsury and other euyll conditions The kyng though he were not lyttle dyspleased wyth these offenders yet coulde he doo no execution on them for the fact the numbre was so great wher by they all escaped without punishmeÌ„t Also thys yere the king set at liberty Elianor his mother whiche long before at the commandement of his father hiâ— husbande had ben kept close prisoner But after her enlargement the realme was muche gouerned by her As sayth Ranulph kynge Rycharde gaue ouer the Castels of Berwyke and Rokesburghe to the Scottyshe Kynge for the suÌ„me of .x. M. li. for the charges of his voyage He also sold to the bishop of DurhaÌ„ his own prouince for a great piece of money and created him erle of the same Wherfore the king said after in game I am a wondrous craftesman I haue made a new erle of an old bishop He gaue his brother Iohn many dignities as the prouinces of Notingham Deuonshyre and Cornewall and created hym Earle of Lancaster This yere the king was assoiled of y e offence that he had coÌ„mitted in rebellioÌ„ against his father in recompence wherof as sayth Guido he voluntarily toke vpon him and promised to warre vpon Christes enemies But other authours affirme that his father hadde so wylled hym in his lyfe whervpon preparation was made towarde the perfourmance of thys iourney Anno reg 2. Bayliffes Iohn Herlyon Roger Duke In this yeare kyng Richard betooke the guidyng of this land to the bishop of Ely then beyng Chancellor of EnglaÌ„d sayled into Normandie when he had appoynted good gouernoures ouer that countrey he went to mete the frenche Kyng Philyp the seconde and hauyng made sure league one with an other went eyther of them the sayd yeare onward of their iorney toward Ierusalem In this meane time the Iewes in diuers places of thys Realme as at Lincolne Stamforde and Lynne were robbed and spoyled And at York to the numbre of four hundred and more had their maister vaynes cut and so bled to deathe Anno Reg. 3. baylyffes William Hauershall Iohn Bukmotte Kyng Richard in his iourney towardes Ierusalem subdued the Erle of Cypres then ioynynge his puisance with the French Kynges in Asia conquered Acon where ther grew betwene king Richard and Philip the frenche Kyng a greuous displeasure For whiche cause Philip shortly departed thens And coÌ„myng into France inuaded the contrey of Normandy And Iohn the brother of kyng Rychard tooke on hym the kyngdome of Englande in his brothers absence Kyng Richarde of England restored to the Christians the citie of Ioppa and in many battels put the turke to great sorowe Anno Reg. 4. Bayliffes Nycolas Duke Peter Newlay William byshop of Elye to whome kyng Richard had coÌ„mitted the gouernance of England dyd many cruell deedes and oppressed the clergie and also the laitie He woulde commonly ryde with a thousand horses and greued abbeyes by meane of his guestes and his lodgyng with them Kyng Richard erchaunged Cypres wyth Guye of Lesyngham for the kingdom of Ierusalem Wherfore the king of Englande a long tyme after was called kyng of Ierusalem Anno Reg. 5. Bailiffes Roger Duke Richard Fitz Alyn Kyng Richarde hauynge knowledge that Phillyp of Fraunce inuaded Normandie and that Iohn his brother had made hymselfe King of England made peace wyth the Turkes for .iii. yeares and with a small company returnynge homewarde by Thrace was taken prisoner by the duke of Ostriches menne and brought to Henry the Emperour and there kept in strayte prison a yere and .v. monethes Where it is sayd that he slewe a Lyon and toke out his hart Anno Reg. 6. Bayliffes WilliaÌ„ Fitz Isabell WilliaÌ„ Fitz Arnolde William Longshampe bishop of Ely coÌ„tinuyng his crueltie in England was lastly by strength of the lordes banished the lande Then he came to the kynge beyng prisoner alledgyng for hym selfe the best that he could but when he saw he myght not begyle the kyng with his sugred wordes he returned into FraÌ„ce there to tary the kynges commyng This yere Iohn the kings brother by the settyng on of the Frence kyng wheÌ„ he herd of the imprisonment of his brother made great warr within the laÌ„d toke by strength the castels of Windsor of Notyngham and others And the Frenche kyng made stronge warre in Normandy Anno Reg. 7. Bailiffes Robert Beysani Ioke le Iosue Hubert bishop of Salisbury was by kyng Richard sent into EnglaÌ„d to haue the guidynge therof and also to treate with the lordes coÌ„mons for the kings deliuerance howe he myght be set at libertie The sayde Hubert was by the monkes of Christes church in Cantorbury chosen archebyshoppe of Cantorburye Anno Reg. 8. Bailyffes Gerrad de Anteloche Robert Durant This yere as sayth Fabyan kynge Richarde was deliuered oute of prison for the summe of one C.M. poundes of sterlyng money for payment of which ransom all the woll of white monkes chanons was sold and rings and crosses of prelates with vessels and chalices of all churches through the land and .xvii. shrines were scraped and spoyled of the golde and syluer c. Kyng Richard being thus deliuered shortly after landed at Sandwiche
brought to Westminster .102 Iewes Lyncoln which were accused of the crucifying of a chylde at Lyncoln they were sent to the tower of Londō of these .8 were hanged and the other remayned long in pryson Anno. 40. Rich. Hardel Draper M. Mat. Bokerell S. Iohn Mynour S. This yere a peace was made betwene the citizens of London and the abbot of Waltham who had bene long in controuersie for toll that he demaunded of the citizens that came to Walthā faire but at the last the citizens were set free and bonde to no toll Anno. 41. Rich. Hardel Draper M. Rich. Ewyll S. williā Ashwy S. Great variance was betwene y e kyng and the Londoners in so much that the Mayor and dyuers Aldermen sherifes were depriued of their offices and the gouernance of the citie cōmitted to certeyne persons of the kyngs appoynting all the controuersie and hādlyng of this matter is at large entreted of by Fabiā This yere the kyng for so much as he had oftentymes promysed the restitutiō of certaine ancient lawes but neuer performed the same the lordes murmuring against him to appeace their malyce he helde a parliament at Oxenford which was after called the madde parliament because manye thynges weare there enacted which proued after to the confusion of the Realme death of many noble mē In confirmatiō of these actes were chosen .xii. piers called douze piers which had authoritie to correct the brekers of their ordinaunces These piers altered and chaunged many thinges according to their owne pleasure greatly to the discontenting of thy kynges mynde and disquietinge of the whole Realme as in Fabian and other histories doth at large appeare Anno. 42. Rich. Hardel Draper M. Th. fitz Rich. S. Ro. Catheliō S. This yere Hughe Bygot Iustice and Roger Turkeley kept their courtes in the Guyldhall of London and punished the Bakers vpon the tombrell where in tymes passed they were punished on the pyllory and they did many other thinges against the lawes of the citye but the citie had so be punished of late y t they durst say nothing therto Richard the kynges brother retourned out of Almayne into Englande Anno. 43. Iohn Gisors Peperar M. Iohn Adriā S. Ro. Cornhil S. Kyng Henry fearing some rebellion of his nobles went into Fraunce and there concluded a peace on this condition that Normādy Angeow and Cenomanna shoulde euer after be in the possession of the Frenchemen and the kyng of Englande to haue Guien and that Lewis shoulde geue kyng Henry for his expēces in warr .150000 crowns for yerely tribute a .100000 crownes After whiche peare finished the kynge retourned into England A Iewe of Lewkesbury fell into a priuie upō the saturday and would not for reuerēce of his Saboth day be plucked out whereof the Earle of Glocester hearing that the Iewe did so great reuerence to his Saboth daye thought he would doe as muche to his holy daye whiche is sonday and so kept him there tyll monday at whiche season he was founde dead Anno. 44. Williā Fitz Richard M. Adā Brown S. Ri. Couētre S. In this yere the kyng commaunded a general assembly or meting at Paules crosse where the kyng in proper person commaunded the Mayre that the nexte daye after he should cause to bee sworne before his Aldermen euery stripplynge of .xii. yeres of age and vpwarde to be true vnto the king and his heyres kings of Englande and that the gates of the citie should be kept with harnissed mē Anno. 45. Wil. Fitz Richard M. Io. Northāton S. Rich. Pickard S. Kyng Hēry published at Paules crosse the byshops of Rome absolution for him and all his that were sworne to mainteyne the articles made in the parliament at Oxforde for whiche cause the barons of England begon to vtter their malice which they had long before conceived agaynst the kyng and caused an insurrection that continued thre yeres Richard earle of Glocester decased and Gilbart de Clare was earle after him Anno. 46. Th. Fitz Thomas M. Phi. Walbroke S. Richard Tailer S. This yere was so great a frost y e men rode on hors back ouer the thames The barons of Englād armed them against their kyng all this yere houered about London other places without any notabe act of rebellion saying y t they robbed spoyled aliens certeyn other persons whō they knew to be against their purpose specially they slewe y e Iewes in all places Anno. 47. Tho. Fitz Thomas M. Ro. Moūtpyler S. Osbern Buckessel S. 500. Iewes were slayne by the citizēs of Londō because one Iewe wold haue forsed a christian man to haue paid more then ii.d. for y e vsury of xx s for a weke Hugh le Spencer with the citizeus of London spoiled burnt the manours of Richard the kings brother which hither to had ben a great stay of the warre betwene the kyng and the nobles Nere to Lewys in Susser kyng Hēry and his barons fought a cruel battel in which the kyng hym self with Richarde his brother sir Ed. his son other noble men to the nūber of .25 were taken of the cōmōs wer slayn aboue .20000 Anno. 48. Tho. Fit Thomas M. Tho. Lamford S. Edward blune S. Debate variāce sel betwene Symon Moūtfort Erle of Lecester Gilbert de Clare Erle of Glocester chief capitains of y e barons which torned to their great euil For prince Ed. being now set at libertie allied him w t the erle of Glocester gathering to hī a great power warred so freshly vpon Symon of Leicester that at the ende he and Hughe spencer with many others of the nobles were slayn in the battayle at Euishā in Worcester shyre The same yere was holden a parliament at Wynchester where all the statutes made before at Oxforde were disanulled abrogate And all wrytinges made for the confirmation of the same cancelled and broken This yere the citie of London was in great daunger to haue bene destroied by the kyng for great ire and displeasure that he had conceiued against it because of the fornamed cōmocion of the which the citizens hauing perfit intelligence assembled them selues and tooke aduice diuers tymes what was best to be done At the last it was agreed wholy to submitte them selues bothe lyues goodes into the kynges bandes And for confirmation therof to make an instrument of their submission and to seale the same with the cōmon seale of the citie They agreed upon .viii. persones to carye the same and goyng to wyndsore where the king lay they met at Colbroke a knight called syr Roger Leyborn who turned them backe agayne and after they had discoursed the whole matter with hym he wylled them to delyuer to hym theyr submission vnder seale and he woulde moue the kyng in it whiche thyng they dyd And after syxe dayes thys knyght retourned to
proclamacion made that the shilling which of late was called down to .ix. d. shoulde be currant for .vi. d. the groat ii d. y e half grote .i. d. a peny a eb The .xi. daye of October beyng sunday the Lorde Marques Dorset was created Duke of Suffolke the lorde erle of Warwycke was created Duke of Northumberlande and the erle of Wilshere was created Marques of Wynchester and syr William Herbert the maister of the horse was created erle of Penbroke dyuers mē made knightes The .xvi. daye of October beyng fryday the duke of Somerset was brought agayne to the towre of London and in the next mornyng the duchesse his wife was brought thither also and there wēt also with the Duke the lorde Graye of Wylton syr Rafe Uane and syr Thomas Palmer and dyuers other gentlemen of his famyliers Anno. 5. Rychard Dobbes Skynner M. Iohn Lambert S Iohn Cowper S The .xxx. daye of October beyng frydaye was proclaymed a newe coyne of money both syluer golde soueraynes of syne golde at .xxx. s. Angels of fyne golde at .x. s. and dyuers other pieces of golde of lesser value a piece of syluer of v. s. and a piece of two s vi d. the sterlyng shylling .xii. d. sondry other smaller pieces of money The .vi. daye of Nouember beynge fryday the old Quene of Scottes roade through Londō Cheape with a great company of Englyshmen wayting on her after she had layne foure dayes in the byshops place beside Paules church The firste daye of December beynge tuesday the Duke of Somerset was arraygned at Westmynster haull was there acquited of treason but condemned of felony by vertue of an act of parliament made against conuenticles and vnlawfull assemblies The .vii. daye of December beynge monday was a generall muster of the horsemen whiche were in the wages of the nobles of the Realme and for the whiche the kynges maiestie allowed yerely for euery man .20 pound the which muster was made vpon the caussey ouer against the kynges palayce at saynt Iames. the number of horse was extemed to be a thousande The .xxii. daye of Ianuary beyng friday Edward Duke of Somerset kyng Edwards vncle before mencioned was beheaded at the towre hil the people beyng there to beholde the execution were sodenly in a great feare fewe or none knowing the cause but this I sawe the Duke beyng on the scaffolde by .viii. of the clock in the mornyng enclosed with the garde the warders of the towre and other the people of a certaine hamlet whiche were warned to be there by .vii. of the clock to geue their attendance on the Lieftenant nowe came through the posterne and perceiuing the prysoner to be alredy on the scaffolde the formoste began to runne with their bils on their shoulders cried to their felowes to folowe fast after which sodennes of these men so weaponed thus running caused the people being next which best sawe thē to thinke that some power had come to haue deliuered the Duke from execution which caused them to crye awaye awaye wherupon the people ran one end way not knowynge whether and they which tarried to know some cause of this hurly burly had thought some pardon had be brought some sayde it thundered some sayd the ground shoke but the occasion was as I haue sayde This syxt yere of Edwarde the syxt on the .xx. daye of February the marchauntes of the Stylyarde at London were put from theyr pryuyledge of occupiyng whiche they of long tyme before had vsed The .xxvi. daye of February beynge Fryday Syr Raufe a Uane and six Miles Partryge were hanged vpon the gallowes at towre hyll and syr Mychell Stanhope with syr Thomas Arrūdell were beheaded vpon the scaffold which foure wer condēned as accessary in that whiche the Duke was condemned for This yere the sea brake in at Sandwiche in so much that it dyd ouerflowe all the Marshes there aboute it ouerflowed the marshes besyde Wolwich beyonde saynt Katherynes The last day of April through negligence of the gonne pouder makers a certain house with thre last of pouder was blowen vp burnt the sayd gonpouder makers beyng .xv. in number were all slayne at the towre hyll a litle from the Minoris beside London on the back side of newe abbey The .iii. daye of August was borne a marueilous straūge monster at a place called Myddeltō .xi. myles frō Oxēford a womā broght forth a child which had ii perfect bodies frō y e nauell vpward were so ioyned together at the nauell that when they were layde in lengthe the one head and body was eastwarde and the other west the legges for bothe the bodies grew out at y e myddes where the bodies ioyned and had but one issue for the excremēt of both the bodies they lyued .xviii. dayes and when they were opened it appeared they were women children The .viii. daye of August there were taken about Nuynborough three great fyshes called Dolphins or by some called Kygges and the weke folowyng at Blackwall were syxe more taken and brought to London and there solde the least of thē was greater then any horse The same moneth the commons of the citie of London chose thre sherifes eyther after other and euery one of thē refused the office and fyned for it as it was thought twoo hundred pounde a piece and then the commons chose one Iohn Mainarde who toke it vpon him whiche about .ix. or .x. yeres before had geuen out wares and Iewelles as it was thought to y e sūme of .2000 marks to be payde hym when he were sherife of London The same moneth of August began the great prouision for the poore in London towardes the whyche euery man was contributorie and gaue certayne money in hande and promysed to geue a certain wekely The first house which was begon was at the Graye friers in Newgate market which went forward with all spede The .vii. daye of October were two great fyshes taken at Grauesend which were called whirlepooles they were afterwarde drawen vp aboue the bridge The .xiiii. day of October the bishop of Durhā called Cuthbert Tunstall was broughte before the Commissioners at the place of sir Arthur Darcy knight vpon tower hyll where he was depriued from his sayd byshoprike Anno. 6. George Barnes haberdasher M. will Garret S Io. Mainarde S This sir George Barnes gaue y e wind myll which standeth toward the east in Finsbery field to the company of the haberdashers of London to that entente that the profites risyng therof should be distributed to the poore almose people of the same companie And also he gaue to the parson and churche wardeyns of saint Bartholomew the little certayne tenements for the which they be bound to distribute to the poore people of the same paryshe .xviii. d. in breade euery sonday for euer The .xxi. day of Nouēber beyng mondaye the children were taken
this Maior was rowed thyther by water For the whiche the water men made of hym a songe begynnyng Row the boate Norman c. The fyre of enuye that a good space had couertely smouldered betwene the Duke of Yorke and the Duke of Somerset with other of the Quenes counsayle at thys tyme brake out in hot and fierce flames of warres In so muche that betwene the Kynge who defended these persones and the Duke of Yorke wyth hys alies at Sainct Albons a cruell battayle was foughte In the ende wherof the victory fell to the Duke of Yorke And on the kynges partye was slayne the Duke of Somerset the Erle of Northumberlande the Lorde Clyfforde wyth many other honorable men knyghtes and Squyers After whyche tyme the Duke wyth great reuerence broughte the Kynge frome Sainct Albons to London Where by a Parlyamente hee was made Protectour of the realme the Crie of Salisbury Chauncellour and the Erle of Warwyke captayne of Calice Anno. 33. Stephen Maf Foster Maf Iohn Field S. williā Tailor S. This yeare in London was a greate fray at saint Martyns le grand by sainctuary men who issued foorth and hurte diuers citisens but it was appeased by the Maior and other There was suche greuous complaints made therof to the Kyng by the deane of Sainct Martins that the liberties of the citie were in perill to be seysed Anno. 34. William M. Marrow M. Grocer M. Iohn Yong S. Tho. Dulgraue S. By meanes of the Quene and other lordes the duke of Yorke was discharged of his protectorshyp whyche thyng was cause of newe grudge and malice A great ryot committed in London agaynst the Lombardes and Italians because a mercers seruant was caste in pryson for strikyng an Italian Anno. 35. Thomas M. Caninges M. Grocer M. Iohn Steward S. Rafe Uerney S. At Erith within .xii. miles of London were taken .iiii. wonderful fishes wherof one was called Mors Marina the second a swoorde fyshe the other twoo were whales A fleete of Frenchemenne landed at Sandwych and spoyled the towne with great cruelty Anno. 36. Godfrey M. Boleyne M. Mercer M. Williā Edward S. Tho. Rayner S. A fained agremēt was made betwene the Kyng the Quene and the Duke of Yorke with his retinue for ioye wherof a generall procession was celebrated in sainct Paules at London At whyche solempne feast the King in habite royal and his diademe on hys heade kept hys state in procession before whome wente hand in hande the Duke of Somerset the Erle of Salisbury the Duke of Excester and the Erle of Warwike and so one of the one faction an other of the other sect And behynde the kynge the Duke of Yorke ledde the Quene with greate familiaritie to all mens syghtes But wo worth dissimulation for theyr bodies were ioyned by hande in hande whose heartes were farre in sunder as appered shortly after Anno. 37. Tho. Scot M Draper M Rafe Iosselyn S. Rich. Medthā S. The noble scyenco of printynge was founde in Germany at Magunce by one Iohn Cuthenbergus a knight he found moreouer the Inke by his deuyce that printers vsed .xvi. yeare after printyng was founde which was the yeare of our Lord .1458 one Conradus an Almayn brought it into Rome Nicolas Iohnson a frenche man dyd greatly polyshe garnishe it And now it is dispersed thorough the whole worlde as saythe Poliedore Virgile William Caxton mercer of London fyrst brought it into Englande aboute the yeare of our Lord .1471 and practised the same in the abbey of sainte Peter at Westmynster The Duke of Yorke the Erles of Salisburye and Warwicke with a greate hoste met the Kyng and other lordes of England vpon Bloreheath nere to Lōdon where because Andrew Trollop a captayn of Calice the nyght before the battaile should haue ben fledde with a companye of the beste souldiours to the Kynges parte The Duke of Yorke the Earles of Marche Salisbury and Warwyke mystrustyng them selues to bee to weake departed wyth a preuye companye and fledde The Duke into Irelande the .iii. Erles into Gernesey and after to Calais without any notable battayle This yeare deceased the famous citesen of London Symond Eyre Who as before is saide builded the Leaden hall in London and in the chapel of the sayd hall was written in Latine as foloweth in Englisshe The honourable and famous marchant Symond Eire founder of this worke once Maior of this Citie Citezen and draper of the same departed oute of this life the .xviii. daie of September the yeare of the Incarnation of Christe .1459 and the .38 yeare of the reigne of King Henry the .vi. Anno. 38. William M. Hulyn M. Fishmonger M. Io. Plūmar S. Io. Stocker S. The .iii. Erles cōming frō Calice with a pussaunt armie the .ix. daie of Iulie mette Kinge Henrie at Northampton and gaue hym strong battayle In the ende wherof the victorie fell to y e erles and the kynges host was dispersed chased and many slayne amonge whiche was the Duke of Buckingham the erle of Shrewesburie the lorde Egremount with other and the kyng taken in the fielde The Duke of Yorke retornyng into Englande made suche clayme to the crowne that by consent of a parliament he was proclaymed heyre apparaunte and all his progeny after hym Margarete the Quene in this meane tyme in all haste possible had gathered a company of Northern men and neare to a towne in the North called Wakefielde in a cruell fyght discomfited and slew the Duke of Yorke with his sonne the erle of Rutlande the erle of Salysbury was taken prysoner with dyuerse other noble men Anno. 39. Rich. Lee M. Grocer M. Rich. Flemyng S Iohn Lambard S The Quene with hir retyne we neare saynt Albons discomfited the earle of Warwick and the Duke of Norfolke delyuered kyng Henry hys husband Edward erle of March eldest sonne to the Duke of Yorke came vp to London with a myghty power of Marchmē accompanyed with the earle of Warwycke and by agreement of a councell was proclaymed kynge of Englande and called Edwarde the fourth shortly after he pursued kyng Henry towarde Yorke where he gaue a sore battayle to the kyng and his company This fyght was so cruell and fyers that in the field and chase were slayne .xxx. thousand of the commons besyds men of name of the whiche were the erles of Northumberlande and Westmerlande the lorde Clyfford Androwe Trollep and other to the number of eleuen And kynge Henry lost all and was fayne to flee the lande when he had reigned eight and thyrty yeres .vi. monethes and foure dayes And Quene Margaret with the yong prynce fled to her father the Duke of Angeowe King Edwarde the fourth Anno Regni .1 EDwarde the fourth began his dominion ouer this Realme of Englād the fourth daye of Marche in the yere of our lorde .1460 and lefte the same the .ix. daye of
into the Hospitall at the gray friers called Christes Hospitall to the number of fower hundred In the sommer past the other yeare king Edward wēt in progresse into the west countrey where he had so muche exercise of haukynge and huntynge as was thought by some at that tyme to be daungerous vnto his health Towarde wynter he returned to London from thense to Grenewitche where all the Christmas season was passed with muche pleasauntnes and myrthe vntill at lengthe in Ianuarie he felle sycke of a cough whyche ended in a consumption of the lyghtes The sunday before Candelmas which was the .xxix. daye of Ianuarie in the vii yere of Edward the .vi. came a commission to the Churche wardens of all paryshes in London that all their lynnen as albes chesebels and surplices whiche were not occupied reseruynge necessarie linnen for the churche should bee geuen vnto the Hospitall aboue named The .xx. day of May by the encouragemēt of one Sebastian Gabota .iii. great shyppes well furnished were set foorthe for the aduenture of the vnknowen voiage to Moscouia and other easte partes by the northe seas And about the same tyme .ii. other shyps were sent foorth to seke aduentures southwardes In May whiles kyng Edwarde laye daungerously sycke Lorde Gylford the duke of Northumberlandes fourth son maryed lady Iane the Duke of Suffolkes daughter whose mother being then aliue was doughter to Mary king Henries sister whiche fyrste was maried to the frenche kynge and after to Charles duke of Suffolke In this tyme many were punyshed in Englande for talkynge rasshely that the Kyng shoulde be deade and dyuers also for sayenge that he was poysoned for that rumour was spred throughoute the Realme The .22 day of Iune a great thunder began about a .xi. of the clock and dured almoste the space of two houres and about .xii. of the clocke was a wonderfull terrible clap at which clappe the lyttell doore of saint Denyse church in London was driuen open and the locke thereof with a great parte of the lynyng of the same doore was torne awaye Kyng Edward beyng about the age of .xvi. yeres as is sayd before was long sick of a consumption of the lightes and the .vi. day of Iuly ended his life he was in this hys youthe a prince of suche towardnes in vertue learnynge and all goodly gyftes as Europe seldom tymes or neuer hath sene the like and therfore no meruaile considering the state of the realme if all true englyshe hartes dye muche lament soo vntymely death in so tender youthe and so toward a prince The .x. daye of Iuly beyng monday the deathe of Kyng Edwarde was publyshed The same daye in the after noone aboute fower of the clocke the Lady Iane doughter of the lady Frances the Duchesse of Suffolke whyche Lady Iane was maryed vnto the Lord Gyiford Dudley the fourthe sonne vnto the Duke of Northumberland was conueyed by water to the tower of London and betwene .vii. and .viii. of the clocke in the euening proclamation was made throughout the citie whereby was declared by sondry circumstāces that king Edwarde beyng deceased by his wylle had assigned the sayde lady Iane to bee quene and therevppon so proclaymed Quene of England Thys matter was very greuouslye taken of the commom people and a greate numbre of gentilmen for the loue they bare to Lady Mary and the ryghte of her title At thys tyme the state of this realme might wel seme moste myserable wherin the nobilitie and counsell on the one parte and the gentlemen and commons of the other appered to be fully bent to mayntayne two contrary titles For when it was heard that the lady Mary was fled to Framingham castell in Suffolk the people of the countrey almoste wholly resorted vnto her and in Oxenforde syr Iohn Williams in Buckinghamshire syr Edmunde Peckham and in dyuers other places many men of worshyp offryng them selues as guides to the common people gathered greate powers and with all spede made towarde Suffolke where ladye Mary was In thys meane tyme the .xiii. day of Iuly by appointment of the counsell the Duke of Northumberland the Erle of Huntingdon the lorde Grey of Wilton and dyuers other with a great numbre of men of armes went to fetche her by force and was on their way as farre as Bury but not long after the counsell partly moued with the right of her cause partly consideryng that the moste of the realme was wholly bent on her syde changed theyr myndes and assembled them selues at Baynardes castell and there commoned with the erle of Pembroke and immediatly came into Cheapeside with the kyng of heraldes where they proclaimed the lady Mary doughter to kyng Henry the .viii. and quene Katherine quene of Englande France and Irelande defendor of the faithe c. the xix day of Iuly kepyng as prisoners in the tower lady Iane lately proclaimed and Lorde Gylford her husband When this was heard in the dukes campe many of his souldiours forsoke hym and be returnynge to Cambridge proclaimed the Ladye Marye Quene and on the twenty day at nyght beyng apprehended of the garde he with other was brought to the Tower of London the fyue and twentye daye of Iuly Thus was the matter ended wythout bloudshedde whyche menne seared woulde haue brought the deathe of many thousandes Queene Mary Anno Regni 1. MArye the eldest daughter of king Henry the .viii. began her reigne ouer thys realme of England the vi day of Iuly in the yeare of our Lord .1553 deceased in the yere of our Lorde .1558 the .17 day of Nouember so she reigned .v. yeares .v. moneths .xi. days she was proclaimed Quene at London the .xix. day of Iuly and the .xx. day at the castel of Framingham and afterwarde beynge accompanied with a goodly bande of noble men gentylmen and commoners gathered out of all partes of the realme came to London and entred the tower the .iii. day of August In her fathers tyme and brothers tyme dyuers noble men byshops and other were caste into the tower somme for treason layde to their charge as the Duke of Norffolke and the Lord Courtney sonne to the Marques of Excester some for mainteinyng the Popes supremacie as D. Lonstall byshop of Durham and other whiche continued there prisoners at the Quenes commyng to the tower to all these and many other she graunted pardon and restored them to theyr former dignities Lykewise dyd she vnto doctour Gardener bishop of Winchester whom she dyd not only sette at libertie but also made hym hygh chauncellour of Englande For the greate fauour that she shewed to the lord Courtney whom she made Erle of Deuonshyre many men were in opinion that she purposed to haue maryed hym but in the end it proued otherwyse As all sortes of men almoste dyd reioyce that Quene Mary had recouered the crowne so many notwithstandyng muche feared alteration of religion by her For manyfest signification therof was geuen
Robert Curthois duke of Normandy layd his dukedome to pawne to his brother Wyllyam of Englande for tenne thousand poundes This .vi. yeare as saith Guido Hugh Lupus Earle of Chester sente to Normandye for Anceime to buylde an abbey at Chester whyche he after buylded and then was made archebyshop of Canterburye and after was exiled by William Ruffus Anno. 7. Malcolyne kynge of Scottes for displeasure taken with the vnkyndnesse of William Ruffus inuaded the marches of Englande and in Northumberlande was slayne with his eldest soonne Edward by Robert Monbray which was erle of that prouince This yere was so great a pestilence that many men laye vnburied Anno. 8. Englande and Normandy were greued with exactions and murreyn of meÌ„ so sharply that tillage of the earth was layde asyde for .x. yeare wherby ensued great hunger and scarsitie the yeres folowyng And many strange vncouthe syghtes were sene as hostes of menne syghtynge in the skie fyery flames and suche other Anno. 10. The .x. yere was sene a blasyng sterre of great brightnes Anno. 11. About this tyme Wyllyam Ruffus buylded Westmynster Hall who mysliking the same for that it was to smal was determined to make a bygger and that it should serue for a chaumber Althogh WilliaÌ„ Ruffus builded Westminster Hall yet was it sens that tyme fynished or repaired by Richard the seconde who gaue the .iii. lyons with the flower de luce quarterly and the white hart for his cognisaÌ„ce he was the first that gaue the white hart Anno. 12. The .xii. yere the ryuer of Thames rose so hye that it drowned many townes in England In England at a towne called Fynchauster in Barkeshire a well cast out blood as before it had done water and after by the space of .xv. days great flames of fyre were sene in the element Anno. 13. Wylliam Ruffus being at his disport of huntynge by glaunsyng of an arrow that Walter Tyrell a frenche knyghte dyd shoote was wouÌ„ded to death in the newe forest in Hampshire on a Lammas day and buried at Wynchester Iohn Hardyng writeth that William Rufus to enlarge the same forest ouerturned .iiii. abbeyes .xvii. paryshe churches and all the towne to theÌ„ beloÌ„gyng King Henry the first called Beauclerke Anno Reg .1 HEnry the brother of Wylliam Ruffus and the first of that name for his lernyng called Beauclerk began hys dominion ouer this realme of England the fyrst day of August in the yeare of our Lord .1100 and reigned xxxv yeres .iiii. monethes and one day This Henry was a noble prince stronge aud myghty of body of hyghe stature blacke heared and had greate eyes a comely visage and a plesant and amiable countenance He greatly abhorred excesse of meates and drynkes In thre thynges he was excellent in witte eloquence and good fortune in battayle And for these there reigned in him thre notable vices couetousnes cruelty and lust of the body but yet he was not soo geuen to these vices but that he farre exceded in vertue At the beginnyng of his reigne hee restored the state of the clergie aswaged the greuous paymentes reduced agayn saint Edwardes lawes and amended them Anno. 2. Ranulphe byshop of Durham procured Robert Curthoise duke of Normandie which was now returned from Ierusalem to warre vppon his brother Henry for the crowne of England who assembled a strong armie and landed at Portismouth But by mediation peace was made on this condition that Henry should paye three thousande markes yerely to duke Robert Anno. 3. In this thirde yere of kynge Henry as sayth Fabian the churche and hospitall of saint Bartholomew in Smithfield was begun to be founded by a minstrell of the kynges named Rayer And after finished by good and wel disposed citisens of the citie of London and especially by Rychard Whittington Thys place of Smythfield was at that daye a laystowe of all ordure to fylthe and the place where felons and other transgressours of the kynges lawes were put to execution Anno. 4. Robert Duke of Normandye commynge into Englande by the entreatie of kynge Henry and his wyfe released to hym the tribute of three thousande markes Anno. 5. But it was not long ere that by meanes of yl reports great malice was kyndeled betwene the two brethren And shortly thervpon deadly warre sprang In the end wherof Robert was taken and kept in perpetual prison in Cardiff by his brother who immediatly seysed the duchye of Normandy and held it in hys possession Syr Robert le FitzhaÌ„ builded Teukesbury and there was buried Anno. 6. Robert Earle of Shrewsburye and Wyllyam of Cornewalle rebelled agaynst kyng Henry and were taken and condempned to perpetuall imprysonment Kyng Henry ordeined strayte lawes agaynst theues and other that vsed vnlaufull takyng of mens goodes in whiche was conteyned the losse of lyfe of eyes of stones and other membres of the parties transgressors accordyng as qualitie of the fact required Anno. 7. In England appered a blasing sterre betwene the south and the west and agaynst that in the east appered a greate beame as it were stretchyng towarde the sterre and shortly after were seene two moones the one in the Easte and thother in the weste Anno. 8. A certayne byshop of Fluentyne about this tyme taught that Antichriste was come beyng moued with the wonderfull straunge syghtes whiche were sene in those dayes Anno. 9. Henry the Emperor desyred to wife Maude the eldeste doughter of kyngâ— Henry of England beyng then but .v. yeares of age nor able to be maried Anno. 10. In the .10 yeare of his reygne the kyng maried Robert his bastard sonne to Mabel doughter and heire of Robert Fitzham and made hym the fyrst earle of Gloucester who after buylded the strong castell of Brystow And the priorie of saint Iames in the nor the syde of the same citie where his body was buryed And his sonne Erle William began the abbay of Euishame Debate fel betwene the kyng of Englande and Lewes of France for the castell of Gysours and homage whiche the sayd Lewes required to be done for the duchy of Normandie Anno. 13. At Shrewsbury in Englande was a greate earthe quake and the ryuer of Trent was so dryed that the space of one daye men went ouer dryâ—hoed And this yere the kyng buylded the abbay of Hyde without the walles of winchester that of olde tyme was wythin the walles A blasyng sterre appered sonne after and thervpon folowed a harde winter deathe of men scarsitie of victuals and morayne of beastes Anno. 15. Kyng Henry of Englande subdued the Welshmen whiche oftentymes rebelled and made them sweare to hym fealtie and allegeaunce and to delyuer pledges for the more certayn confirmation and suretie therof He also gaue hys doughter in mariage to the Emperour with great dower and made William his sonne Duke of Normandye