the Titles to them being Examined by the most knowing of the King's Council it was adjudged 3 Ibm. by the King and his Council he might Execute them by himself and sufficient Deputies 4 Ibm. and on the Thursday next before the Coronation which was also on a Thursday he sate de precepto Regis by the King 's Writ as Steward of England to hear the Claims of all that pretended to have Offices and perform Services on that day On the very day 5 Walsingh Hist f. 193. n. 40 50. of King Edward's Death yet before he was known to be dead there were sent some of the chief Citizens by the City of London to the Prince then at Kingston with his Mother who by John Philpot that was one of them acquainted him That his Father was undoubtedly dying and had the manifest Signs of Death upon him and beseeched his Favour to The Citizens of London desire the King's Protection and Protection of the Citizens and his City of London which was his Chamber it being unspeakably disturbed he was so far from it being ready not only to venture their Estates but also if needful to lay down their Lives for him with Request to him he would come and Reside there and further prayed him he would vouchsafe to put an end to all Discords and Differences between the Citizens and the Duke of Lancaster 6 Ib. f. 194. n. 10 20. which was performed next day by several Persons sent to London for that purpose Froysart 7 F. 196. a. col 2. says England was then to be Governed by the Duke of Lancaster by Accord of all the Land yet soon after the Coronation 8 Walsingh f. 198. n. 20 30. perceiving all things in the Kingdom were like to become new and his Care not to be valued amongst new Men and fearing if any thing should happen amiss to the King or Kingdom it might be imputed to him and that he should for the good he did receive small or no Thanks with the King 's The Duke of Lancaster with the King's Leave retired from Court Leave he retired from Court and went to his Castle of Kenelworth before his departure he promised the King if he should need his assistance to come to him with a greater appearance then any Lord in England or do any other thing that might tend to his Profit or Honour The French on the 21st of August 9 Ib. n. 40 50. The French land in the Isle of Wight landed in the Isle of Wight burnt and plundered some Towns and received a Composition of the Inhabitants to save the rest They then burnt 1 Ib. f. 199. n. 20 30. Hastings in Kent and indeavoured to burn Winchelsey but were repulsed as also at Southampton by Sir John de Arundel the Earl's Brother On the 4th of that month 2 Rot. Clause â— Ric. â—I M. 37. Dâ—rs A Parlement called Writs were issued for a Parlement to meet Fifteen days after Michaelmass The Cause of Summons was declared by the Arch-Bishop of 3 Rot. Parl. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Canterbury and rehearsed by Monsieur Richard Lescrop 4 Ib. n. 11. The Cause of of Summons which were That the Commons would advise the King how in the best manner his and the Kingdom 's Enemies might be resisted and how the Expences of such Resistance was to be born with the greatest Ease to the People and Profit and Honour to the Kingdom The Commons 5 Ib. n. 12. The Commons desire to have a Committee of Lords for their assistance pray the King That for the Arduity of their Charge that is the Declaration of Summons que pur l'arduite de lour charge and for the feebleness of their Powers and Senses la Feoblesce de lours poairs sens That it would please the King to grant them to have the Prelates and Lords under-written for their Ayd and Assistance to Commune or Treat especially with them in their Affairs for the more hasty and good Exploit of the Business wherewith they were charged 6 Ib. n. 13. that is the King of Castile and Leon Duke of Lancaster the Bishops of London Ely Rochester and Carlisle the Earls of March Arundel Warwick and Angos the Lord Nevill Monsieur Henry Lescrop Richard Lescrop and Richard de Stafford which was granted by the King in Parlement The Duke of Lancaster immediately 7 Ibm. The Duke of Lancaster makes his Excuse to the King for not being of that Committee His Relation how he had been accused of Treason and Excuse stood up and falling upon his Knees towards the King humbly prayed him to hear him a little in a weighty Cause that concerned himself and then said the Commons had chosen him for one of the Lords to Commune with them of the said Matters but desired the King would please to Excuse him for that the Commons had spoken Evilly of him and so ill that he had committed manifest Treason if their Report was true which God forbid being always careful not to do any such thing as the truth was notably known and said further None of his Ancestors of * Noâ—e Tâ—â—mas Eâ—rl of Lancaster and his Brother Henry Grandfather to his Wife Blanch in the time of Ed. II. one side or other was ever Traytor but good and Loyal and it was a marvellous thing he should stray out of the Line marveillous chose serroit sil vorroit forveier hors de lyne for that he had more to loose then any other in the Kingdom And more he said That if any Man of what Estate or Condition soever he was should be so hardy as to affirm Treason or other Disloyalty upon him or His general Challenge to defend himself by his Body other thing done by him prejudicial to the Kingdom he was ready to defend himself by his Body or otherwise by Award of the King and Lords as if he were the poorest Knight Bachelor of the Realm Whereupon 8 Ib n. 14. The Lords Excuse him the Prelates and all the Lords stood up and with one Voice Excused and prayed him to leave off such Words for they thought no Man living would say any such thing The Commons 9 Ibm. The Commons Excuse him also said it was apparent and notorious that they thought him free from all Blame and Defamation les Comunes avoient le dit Duc excusez de tout Blasme Diffame inasmuch as they had chosen him to be their principal Ayd Comforter and Counsellâ—r in this Parlement praying with one Voice to have them excused Then the Duke said the Words had been long thrown about the Kingdom falsely and he wondered how any Man could or would begin or continue such a thing for the Disgrace and Danger that might thence arise because the first Inventor of such Speeches by which Debate might be moved between the Lords He moves for a Law against the Inventors
and besieged the Castle and took it and within it William Lescrop Treasurer Sir John Bussy and Sir Henry Green all the King's Counsellors who the next day by the Clamor of the People had their Heads struck off The Duke of York the King's Uncle and Guardian of the Kingdom with several Bishops Noblemen and the King's Council consulted how they might oppose the Duke but could do nothing King Richard when he heard in Ireland of his Landing 9 Ibm. n. 40 50. The Nobility and People desert King Richard secured the Sons of the Duke of Lancaster and Glocester in Trim Castle and with the Dukes of Albemarle Excester and Surrey the Bishops of London Lincoln and Carlisle and many others Shipped themselves with all speed that they might raise such a Force as might hinder the Duke's Progress But when he landed understanding his own Condition That the People and greater part of the Lords had forsaken him and gone in to Duke Henry he laid by all thoughts of Fighting and likewise dismissed his Family giving them notice by his Steward Sir Thomas Percy That they might provide for and reserve themselves for better Times The King shifting up and down here and there for many days the Duke always following him with his Army at length fixed at Conway Castle and desired to have Discourse with the Arch-Bishop and Earl of Northumberland to whom he declared He would quit his Government if he might have his Life secured and an Honourable He offers to Quit his Government his Life and an Honourable Maintenance secured Which was Granted Provision made for himself and Eight Persons he should Name These things granted and confirmed he went to Flint Castle where after a short Discourse with the Duke of Lancaster they mounted their Horses and went to Chester Castle that night the Duke 's numerous Army following him At Chester 1 Clause 23 Ric. II. M. 3 Dors Writs for a Parlement in King Richard's Name He is secured in the Tower of London summons were issued in King Richard's Name for the meeting of a Parlement on the Morrow of St. Michael or 30th of September dated there on the 19th of August in the 23d of his Reign In the mean time the King was brought to and secured in the Tower of London until the Parlement should sit Holingshed tells us 2 Chronicle f. 501. a. col 2. The Duke's Obeysance to King Richard at their first meeting And Declaration of the Cause of his coming into England The Duke received at London with great Rejoycing â— The Instruments of the King's Resignation and Deposition contrived by his Order the Duke at the first meeting of King Richard which was at Conway Castle in Carnarvonshire as he came towards him made a Reverend Obeysance and going on did so a second and third time the King taking him by the Hand and bidding him Welcome whereupon humbly Thanking him said The Cause of his coming was to have Restitution of his Inheritance unto which the King readily assented and called for Wine and when they had drank mounting their Horses they rode to Flint and to Chester where they stayed two or three days and went from thence to Nantwich and so the common Rode to London where the Duke was received with all imaginable Expressions of Joy and the King sent to the Tower where we hear no more of him until Michaelmass-Day against which time the Instruments of his Cession Resignation and Deposition with the Articles against him were prepared which are here recited from the Parlement Roll exactly Translated The Roll of Parlement summoned and holden at Westminster in the Feast of St. Faith the Virgin or 6th of October in the Year of King Henry the Fourth after the Conquest the First Membrane xx The Record and Process of the Renunciation of King This Record is Printed in X. Authores Col. 2744. and in Pryn's Plea for the Lords p. 425. which I have compared with the Original Richard the Second after the Conquest and the Acceptation of the same Renunciation likewise with the Deposition of the same King Richard as it here follows BE it Remembred 1 1 Rot. Parl. 1 Hen. IV. N. 10. That on Monday in the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel in the Twenty third year of the Reign of King Richard the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and other Notable Persons That is to say The Lord Richard le Scrop Arch-Bishop of York John Bishop of Hereford Henry Earl of Northumberland and Ralph Earl of Westmerland the Lord Hugh Burnell Thomas Lord Berkley the Prior of Canterbury and Abbat of Westminster William Thyrninge Kt. and John Markham Justices Thomas Stow and John Burbache Doctors of Law Thomas de Erpingham and Thomas Gray Knights William de Feryby and Dionyse Lapham Publick Notaries being Deputed to that purpose came into the presence of King Richard within the Tower of London about Nine of the Clock when the Earl of Northumberland said before the King That at 2 2 Ib. n. 11. Conway in North-Wales and then at Liberty He promised to Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and himself That he would Quit the Crown of England and France and Renounce all Right to it and to Kingship for the Causes there by himself confessed of his Inability and Insufficiency and this he would do after the best Manner and Form he should be Advised by the Skilful in the Law The same King before the said Lords and others above-named kindly answered That he would with Effect perform what he had promised but first desired to have Conference with his Cousin Henry Duke of Lancaster and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury before he did it and desired a Copy of the Renunciation he was to make might be delivered to him to Deliberate upon which was done and the Lords departed 3 3 Ib. n. 12. On the same day after Dinner the King much desiring the coming of the Duke of Lancaster and long expecting him at length he and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with the Lords and Persons above-named came to his presence in the Tower the Lords Roos of Willoughby and Abergavenny and many others then being present And after he had Conference with the Duke of Lancaster and Arch-Bishop looking about him with a Chearful Countenance as it seemed to the People about him the King called them all to him and said publickly he was ready to make his Renunciation as he had said before and presently taking the Parchment Schedule of his Renunciation into his Hands tho it was told him to spare the Labour and Trouble of Reading it he might have it done by another he said he would read it himself which he did distinctly and absolved his Lieges Renounced Quitted and Sware Read and Said other Things and Subscribed his Name with his own Hand as 't is more fully contained in the Latin Record the Tenor of which follows The Resignation of Richard the Second IN 4 4 4 Ib. n. 13. Name
other Certainly I fear that the same will happen unto us which Aesop fableth to have been fallen unto the Frogs who being desirous to have a King a Beam was given unto them The first Fall whereof did put them in some fear but when they saw it lie still in the Stream they insulted thereon with great Contempt and desired a King of quicker Courage and then was sent unto them a Stork which stalking among them with stately Steps continually devoured them The Mildness of King Richard hath bred in us this Scorn interpreting it to be Cowardise and Dulness of Nature The Next Heir is likewise rejected I will not say that with greater Courage we shall find greater Cruelty But if either of these shall hereafter be able to set up their Side and bring the Matter to Trial by Arms I do assuredly say That which part soever shall carry the Fortune of the Field the People both ways must go to wreck And thus have I declared my Mind concerning this Question in more Words than your Wisdom yet fewer than the Weight of the Cause doth require And do boldly conclude That we have neither Power nor Policy either to Depose King Richard or to Elect Duke Henry in his Place That King Richard remaineth still our Soveraign Prince and therefore it is not lawful for us to give Judgment upon him That the Duke whom you call King hath more offended against the King and the Realm than the King hath done either against him or us for being Banished the Realm for Ten Years by the King and his Council amongst whom his Own Father was Chief and sworn not to return again without special Licence he hath not only violated his Oath but with impious Arms disturbed the Quiet of the Land and dispossessed the King from his Royal Estate and now demandeth Judgment against his Person without Offence proved or Defence heard If this Injury and this Perjury doth nothing move us yet let both our Private and Common Dangers somewhat withdraw us from these violent Proceedings After they had thus disposed of Richard II. and done for Henry what he could desire the Commons petitioned That all such as came into the Kingdom with him or came to him afterward and acted with him and against King Richard might not be impeached grieved or vexed but pardoned The King's Answer was 6 Roi. Parl. 1 H n. IV. n. 139. The Confederates and Followrs of Henry IV. pardoned le Roy voet fair pardon en maners come fust fait l'an primere le Roy Edward teirce The King willeth to give such a Pardon as was made or given in the first Year of Edward III. for which see Statutes at Large 1 Edw. III. Cap. 1. and 1 Hen. IV. Cap. 2. where are both Pardons in the same Words only what ought to be altered as to Names and Circumstances was altered The Deposed King after the Sentence of his remaining in secure and safe Custody was immediately sent to the Castle of 7 K. Richard sent to Leeds-Castle and from thence to Pontfract Leeds in Kent and from thence to Pontfract-Castle in York-shire The King of France whose Daughter he had Married prepared a great Fleet and raised an Army to invade England and destroy him and the Church of England also the People of the Kingdom by Sea and Land as 't is said by King Henry in his Writ 8 Append. n. 116. King of France prepares to relieve K. Richard to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to cause all the Ecclesiasticks of his Province to Arm and Array what Men they could to oppose him This Writ bears Date January 17. in the first of his Reign After this and before the 29th of the same Month the King of France had notice of King Richard's Death 9 Append. n. 117. His Death changes his Mind How K. Richard was Murthered not certain Upon which Day he confirmed the Truce he had made with him in the Year 1396. for 28 Years How this unfortunate Prince died was killed or murthered 't is uncertain Many say he had Meat set before him but not being suffered to eat he died of forced Famine Walsingham 1 Histor f. 363. n. 50. says he voluntarily starved himself and died on St. Valentin's Day or the 14th of February in Pontfract-Castle which agrees not with the Date of the King of France's Instrument as above unless it might be given out he was dead before he really was so Hollinshed 2 Chronic. f. 517. col 1. tell us That one Writer but names him not that pretends to know more of King Richard's Death than others reports That one Day King Henry sitting at Dinner fetched a great Sigh and spake these Words Have I no faithful Friend that will deliver me of him whose Life will be Destruction to me and Disturbance to the Kingdom Upon which Speech one Sir Pierce de Extone presently left the Court and went with Eight Men all Armed to Pontfract-Castle entred the Chamber where King Richard was Prisoner and beat out his Brains Mr. Camden in his Britania 3 F. 567. speaking of Pontfract-Castle says Hic Richardus Secundus Rex Angliae quem Henricus Regno spoliavit fame frigore in auditis tormentis scelerate sublatus est Here Richard II. from whom Henry IV. took or robbed him of the Kingdom with Hunger Cold and unheard-of Torments was wickedly killed Froysert who was then Writing his Chronicle 4 Vol. 2 c. 249. f. 319. f. col 1. says he could not tell by what means King Richard died The Parlement 5 N. 9. Roll in the first of Edward IV. speaks thus That Henry IV. taking upon him Vsurpously the Crown and Name of King of England and Lord of Ireland and not therewith Satisfied or Content but more grievous Things attempting Wickedly of Unnatural Unmanly and Cruel Tyranny the same King Richard Anointed Crowned and Consecrated and his Liege and most High Lord in the Earth against God's Law Man's Allegiance and Oath of Fidelity with uttmost Punition attormenting murdered and destroyed with most vile heinous and lamentable Death Church-Affairs AS in the last Reign so in this the Pope practised his Encroachments upon the Church and State In the First Parlement of this King the 1 Rot. Parl. 1 Ric. II. n. 77. Commons Petition That whereas in the Treaty between King Edward and the Pope he granted to abstain from all manner of Provisions by way of Reservation of Benefices especially of such Dignities as were Elective yet the Court of Rome had no regard to the King's Messengers sent thither about this matter and the Pope continued his Practice contrary to the Treaty Grant and Accord with King Edward to the great Prejudice of the King and his Subjects whereof they pray Remedy What Remedy they had I find not but next Year against certain Rebel 2 Ib. 2 Ric. II. n. 78. Cardinals there was an Act passed That Vrban was duly Chosen Pope and that
's Enemies 2 Ut supra n. 20. On the 28th of September the King issued his Proclamation against 5 Append. n. 68. A. D. 1329. 20 Ed. II. The King proclaims Mortimer Traytor c. Roger Mortimer giving notice That he and the other Traitors had entred his Kingdom by force and had brought with them Aliens and Strangers and taken upon them Royal Power over him and that therefore he was resolved to oppose them in Person to Arrest and destroy them and all their Company and Adherents as he ought and might except the Queen his Son and Earl of Kent who he would by all possible means to be as safe as before their landing and summoned all Persons that by their Ligeance were obliged to come with all their Force and Power in Defence of him themselves and the Kingdom and for the Ease of the People he promised to pay the Soldiers Wages and also promised to all Great Men his Charters of Pardon for Felony or Adherance to his Enemies as well in times past as at present and for Outlawry for what Cause soever except the Traytor Roger Mortimer and the great Managers of the People which came from beyond Sea with him and those that killed Sir Roger Boler and then promised 1000 l. Sterling and Pardon to any one should bring him the Body or Head of Roger Mortimer Given under his Great Seal at the Tower of London the 28th of September This Proclamation has not its desired Effect the People having The Proclamation without effect been so prepossessed with strange Notions and Jealousies concerning the King and both the Spencers and the strange things the Queen and Mortimer would do for Holy Church themselves and the Kingdom that in her March her Army daily increased and the King 's decreased She did no injury 6 Ibm. to the Bodies or Goods of any but her Enemies which she sought out and 7 Ib. n. 40. every where applied their Goods to her own use and destroyed their Farms The Queen's Army was much 8 De la Moor f. 598 n. 30 40. The Queen's Army much increased increased by some Bishops Letters wrote to their Fellow Bishops and other Friends that there were so many Dukes Earls and Barons with their Troops sent by the King of France to defend the Right of his Sister as all England could scarce feed them And also by another Lye spread all over the Kingdom That Her Cause carried on by Lyes the Pope had absolved all Englishmen from their Oath of Fealty sworn to the King and that he had thundered out the Sentence of Excommunication against all those that bare Arms against the Queen Praeterea profiluit 9 Ibm. Mendacium ab exercitu in omnes Regni partes divulgatum quod summus pontifex Romanus omnes Anglos absolvit a fidelitate jurata suo Regi c. For the Confirmation of which Lye it was pretended there were Two Cardinals with the Queen in the Army sent to her with these Favours from the Pope Ad hujus Mendacii confirmationem c. The Queen upon her Landing emitted a Proclamation 1 Walsingh f. 124. lin 1 c. That all should injoy Peace and Quiet except the Publick Enemies of the Kingdom the Two Despensers Father and Son and Robert The Queen's Proclamation Baldock the King's Chancellor and their Favourers who were the Cause of the present Disturbance of the Nation That no Goods should be taken from any without the Consent of the Punishments for Plunderers Owners if above the value of 3 d. then a days Wages for a Common Soldier his Finger was to be cut off nor 6 d. the Wages of an Hobelor under Pain of his Hand being cut off nec valorem Duodeci 〈…〉 Sterlingorum which I Translate 12 d. the daily Wages of a Man at Arms upon Pain of Death The King then at London requested Assistance of the 2 Ib. f. 123. n 40. The Londoners refuse to give the King Assistance Londoners who refused to aid him whereupon he 3 left the City and went Westward In the mean time the Londoners who were always in a fury when they had a liberty of being Insolent pretending Friendship to the Queen dum 3 Ib. f. 124. n. 10 20 haec aguntur Londinenses nenses quibus nunquam deest furia cum adest insolendi licentia gathering together the Rabble of all Artificers Congregatis de cunctis artificiis infirmis personis c. taking Arms and seize The Rabble seize their Major their Major threatning to kill him if he would not swear to Consent to their Orders which he did to save his Life Fecerunt 4 Ibm. They Consederate to kill the Queen's Enemies c. igitur Conjurationem c. And they made a Confederacy That the Queen's Enemies where-ever to be found of what State or Condition soever they were or such as should procure any Damage to the Liberties of the City should be put to Death Under pretence of this Oath 5 Ibm. They cut off John Marchal's Head Hugh Spenser's Servant they presently took John Marchal Servant to Hugh Spenser the Younger ejus caput immisericorditer amputarunt and unmercifully cut off his Head and plundered all his Goods and on the same day continuing their Madness 6 Ib. n. 30. They plunder the Bishop of Execser's House and cut off his Head eodem die continuantes suam Rabiem they ran to the Bishop of Excester's House setting fire to the Gates entring and not finding him they plundered his Jewels Plate and Houshold-stuff and coming out of the Fields on Horseback to the North Door of 6 St. Pauls the mad People took beat wounded and threw him off his Horse and dragged him into Cheapside where they proclaimed him a Publick Traytor and cut off his Head The Reason of their Fury against this Bishop 7 Ibm. n. 40 50. The Reason of their fury against this Bishop was That being Treasurer of the Kingdom he had persuaded the King's Council that the Itinerant Justices might sit in London 8 Ibm. who found the Citizens had offended in many things for which they lost their Liberties some were Fined and others had Corporal Punishment Next day they seised the 9 Ibm. They seise the Constable of the Tower Prisoners set free all England over Fugitives and Banished Persons return into England Constable of the Tower and took the Keys from him and set free all the Prisoners and so it was all over England and at the same time all Fugitives and Banished Persons returned We have a further Account of the Death of the Bishop of Excester and some of these things from 1 Hist sacra f. 366. Another Account of the Murther of the Bishop of Excester William de Dene a Publick Notary of the Church of Rochester living at the time The Arch-Bishop 15 days after Michaelmas intended to have held a Treaty with the Bishops
effect for the Faults found with it on the part of his Adversary pour defaute coupe trove de la part son Adversair That while his Ambassadors remained there the King of Navarre who about two Years before had Married 3 Mezeray f. 372. The King abused and cheated by the King of Navarre Jane the King of France's Daughter had complained often to the Duke of Lancaster of the 4 Rot. Parl. ut supra Wrongs and Hardships he had suffered from the King of France affirming upon his Oath he would willingly enter into an Alliance with the King against his Adversary with all his Power and pressed him so often that at last the Duke promised an Alliance if the King pleased That thereupon he engaged to make himself as strong as he could with Ships and Land Forces and come to the Isles Guernsey and Jersey to affirm and make good the Alliance pur affermer secure lalliance That for this cause upon the Duke's return into England the King informed of this Agreement caused to be got ready an Army and Fleet of great Ships with which he sailed out of the Thames towards the Isles and the Winds being contrary with much trouble got to Portsmouth and there staid so long as he received certain Intelligence the King of Navarre would not proceed in or had quitted the Alliance que le Roy de Navarre entre lesse la dite Alliance against his Promise and Oath and was become an Allie of his Adversary Whereupon the King returned with his Fleet and Forces nostre Seigneur se retourna ove sa Navie Gentz and seeing he could not have Peace and the Alliance failed and also that his Adversary made himself strong with Men at Arms and other Forces near Calais thinking to have a speedy Battel with him he resolved The King passeth to Calais with his Fleet and Army His Foreign Allies with his Fleet and Army to pass over to Calais That when he was landed by Advice of his Council he Mustered his own Forces and those of his Allies which he found there as those of Monsieur Henry de Flanders Monsieur Frank de Vanhale and other People of Almain in great number and marched out of Calais on the Feast of All-Souls or 2d of November toward the He could not provoke the King of France to Battel Places where by Spies or other means he could be informed his Adversary was that he might bring him to a Battel But to avoid that he fled Night and Day the King pursuing him wasting and burning the Country throughout degastant ardent bruillant le pays par tut until by Assent of his Council because his People were much wearied for want of Wine having drank His Men wearied for want of Wine only Water for near four Days per cause que les Gentz fuerent molt lassez pur defaute de Vin ne buerent que de eau bien per quatre jours he returned toward Calais where he designed to have fought his Enemy but he came not Then he paid off his Allies very He pays off his Allies and returns into England frankly they having been there a long time and returned into England to his Parlement After this Relation the 5 Ib. n. 10. Commons were told by Sir William Shareshull Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench They ought to have regard to the great Trouble the King had endured for the Defence and Safety of the Kingdom and of his Readiness to march into Scotland against his Enemies who had taken the Speedy Advice desired of the Parlement The King desires to finish the War with France Town of Berwick by Force And that to shorten the Time of Parlement and their stay in the Town they were to give speedy Advice what was best for the King to do to make an end of the War with France which he desired sovereignly or above all things might be done with dispatch quel il desire sovereignment que soit fait en hast and how he might be best aided to do it to the least Grievance of his People and most Profit to himself he gave them time to answer until Friday next following en sur ceo les dona jour de Respons de Vendredy preschien suant and in the mean time to prepare their Bills and Petitions and bring them into Parlement 6 Ibm. n. 11. A quen Vendredy vindrent les dites Comunes en la presence nostre dit Seigneur le Roy Prelatz Grantz assemblez en la Chambre blanche el eue illoques une brief parlance ove les dits Grantz Granterent uniement c. On which Friday the Commons came into the presence of the King Prelates and Great Men assembled in the White Chamber and having there a short Conference A Subsidy of 6 years granted to the King with the said Great Men Granted uniemen dune accort unanimously and of one accord to the King the Subsidy of Wooll Leather and Woolfel's for six years next coming So as during that time the King should not put any Impositions or other Charges upon the Commons and then they brought their Petitions before the King who answered them Avesbury in his 7 p. 126. a. b. c. 95. His Expedition into France Narrative of the King's Expedition into France tells us That after his return to Calais on Wednesday the Feast of St. Martin or 11th of November the Constable of France and others met the Duke of Lancaster the Earl of Northampton and Sir Walter Manny at the end of the Causway of Calais and by Letters of Credence from their King offered Battel to the King of England on Tuesday following The English Lords answered by the King's Command de Praecepto Regio That it was his Intention as much as he could to avoid the Effusion of Christian Blood and therefore desired to fight Body to Body with his Adversary so as the whole Right to the Crown of France might be decided by this Battel between them two And if this was refused That each of them should take to him his Eldest Son and if he admitted not that Then both to chuse Two Three or Four Knights the nearest to them in Blood to be joined to them and their Sons that so the Right to the Kingdom of France might be finally determined and that he who was Conquered should yield it to the Conqueror Which Offers the French refused standing to their Proposition of Fighting on Tuesday The English offered to Fight the next Day or Saturday The French persisted in their First Offer which the English accepted upon Condition That if they could not bring their King to Battel on that Day they should render themselves Prisoners to the King of England as in like manner they would render themselves Prisoners to the King of France if they brought not then their King to Battel The French refused this Offer and the English thought they trifled with King Edward
Treason and to be punished without Remission or Connivance And further That one King do not Receive the Enemies of the other but preserve their Honour Reciprocally And that King 1 Ibm. Edward on his Part deputed no body to Bruges at the time appointed to make the Exchange of the Treaty and Renunciations 2 Ib. f. 694. A. B. That instead of delivering the Fortresses and Garrisons he held in France at his own Charge as he was expresly bound by the Treaty he kept many in his own Name under pretence of Wages due to the Soldiers as then unpaid and seized upon others and continued the War in effect by those of his Party who changed their Names and called themselves Companions who would not yield the Places they held without an unreasonable Redemption or Payment for the quitting of them Further That he took no notice of the Difference between his Son-in-Law John Montfort and Charles Earl of Blois concerning the Dutchy of Bretagne as by the Treaty he was equally bound to do as the King of France was but suffered the War to continue there to weaken the Force of France and to prevent the Return of the Companions into England lest that might have been too great Charge and Trouble to him That he never kept his Faith with France Lastly That he had done Homage and sworn Fealty to the King of France as to his Superiour Lord for the Dutchy of Aquitan Earldom of Ponthieu c. Mezeray 3 Fol. 388. writes That King Edward thought himself absolute Soveraignt in Guyen by the Treaty of Bretigny but as on his side he had not Disbanded his Soldiers and moreover he had committed divers Hostilities the King of France pretended that Treaty was null and void and that therefore he remained still a Vassal to the Crown And that it was upon this foot that All the Lands the King of England held in France declared so feit and to be confiscated for Rebellion Contempt and Disobedience he sent to declare War against him And afterwards his Parlement being assembled on Ascension-Eve sitting in his Seat of Justice made a Decree by which for Rebellion Contempt and Disobedience they declared forfeit and confiscated all those Lands the King of England held in France But beyond this Pretence in the Declaration of the Confiscation of the Dukedom of Aquitan against King Edward and the Prince of Wales by Charles V. King of France Dated at Vincennes the 14th of May 1370. it is positively affirmed That the Superiority and Resort of the whole Dukedom of Aquitan and the other Lands delivered and assigned to the English by that Treaty were especially and expresly reserved to his Father himself and Successors See the Instrument it self in Codex Juris Gentium Diplomaticus Fol. 229. Paragraph 1. wherein they are said to have violated the Peace they solemnly Sware to maintain and for that their Rebellion there so called their Contempt and Vsurpation of the Superiority and Resort of the Dukedom of Aquitan and other Lands and many other Crimes there mentioned that Dukedom c. was decreed Confiscate and to be annexed to the Crown of France The War being open the King 1 Claus 43 Ed. III. M. 24. Dors A. D. 1369. Summoned a Parlement to meet on the Octaves of Holy Trinity or the next Sunday after that Feast being May 27. this Year 2 Rot. Parl. 43 Ed. III. n. 1. A Parlement called The cause of Summons The King Prelates Dukes Earls Barons Knights Citizens and Burgesses being in the Painted Chamber the Bishop of Winchester then Chancellor shewed the cause of Summons telling them That the King in all his great Business touching himself and the Kingdom had in all times done and wrought de tout temps ad fait overs c. by the Counsel and of the Great Men and Commons of the Realm who he found in all his Affairs Good and Loyal for which he thanked them and would not any thing should be unknown to them He further told them That with their Advice and An account of the Transactions between K. Edward and his Adversary of France Counsel he had made Peace with his Adversary of France upon certain Conditions That he should cause to be delivered unto him certain Lands and Countries beyond Sea and also pay him certain Sums of Money at certain times appointed in the Peace and that he should lay aside the Use of Resort in all the Lands and Countries of Gascon and all the Lands and Countries which the King held beyond Sea and that he was to part with the Name and Title of the King of France for the same time pur His unfaithful Dealing with K. Edw. mesme le temps That his Adversary had wholly failed to make Delivery of the Lands and Countries so Agreed to be Delivered by the Peace and of his Payment also That nevertheless he had received the Appeals of the Earl of Armynak the Lord de la Bret and others which were the King's Lieges in Gascon and by virtue of their Appeals had caused to be Summoned the Prince of Gascoigne to appear before him at Paris le Prince de Gascoigne dapparer devant luy a Paris c. the first Day of May last past to Answer their Appeals against the Form of the Peace 3 Ibm. n. 2. And further That he had sent a great Number of Men at Arms and others into the Countries of Gascoigne and there by force had taken Towns Castles Fortresses and other Places killed some of the King's Liege People taken others and imprisoned them in expectation of great Ransoms The like also he had done in Ponthieu And because of these things done in the Principality against the Form of the Peace 4 Ibm. n. 3. the Prince sent solemn Messengers to inform the King he had called to him the most Wise Men of the Principality and treated with and propounded to them whether by reason of these things he might not by Right and Reason retake upon him and use the Name of King of France who answered and affirmed the King might do it by Right and Good Faith de Droit bon Foi 5 Ibm. Upon which Point the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the other Prelates were charged by the King furent chargez par le Roy to treat and shew their Advice and Counsel lour Avys Conseil On Wednesday following the 6 Ibm. n. 8. King Edward by Advâ—câ— of Parlement retakes upon him the Title and Name of King of France Arch-Bishop and Prelates after mature Deliberation had upon the Charge with one accord answered and said respondrient desoient That the King for the Causes above-said might retake and use the Name of King of France by Right and good Conscience To which Agreed the Dukes Earls Barons and other Great Men and Commons in full Parlement a ce 7 Ibm. accorderent les Ducs Countes Barons autres Grants
Comunes en pleyn Parlement Which Name of King of France he did retake and had his Great Seal and other Seals altered and that Title 8 Ibm. engraved upon them On the same 9 Day and Thursday the Estate of the King 8 Ibm. 9 10. was laid before the Great Men and Commons feust monstre as Grants Comunes lestat le Roy and because the War was open par cause de la Guerre queste overte he should be at great Charges as well by Sea and Land which he could not maintain without their Aid he requested them they would treat and advise how he might be best assisted to his greatest Profit and the least Charge and Damage to the People The Prelates Dukes Earls and Barons by themselves and then the Commons of one accord Granted les Prelates Ducs Barons par eux puys les Comunes A Subsidy of Wooll c. granted to maintain the War dun acord Granteront c. to the King a Subsidy of Woolls of every Sack 43 s. 4 d. and of the Woollfels every Twelvescore as much and of every Last of Leather 4 l. which passed beyond Sea for three Years besides the ancient Custom to begin at Michaelmas next coming of Denizons Of Strangers for every Sack of Wooll 4 Marcs of every Twelvescore Woollfels 4 Marcs and of every Last of Leather 8 Marcs He not only provided for Money this Parlement but 1 Ib. n. 25. K. Edward's Offer To all Persons whatever that would maintain his Quarrel against France declared That for the Compensation of such Lords or others of whatsoever Estate Degree Condition or Nation they were who would maintain his Party and Quarrel against his Enemies of France should hold Heritably what they should Recover and Conquer be they Dutchies Earldoms Vicounties Cities Towns Castles Fortresses or Lordships situate in France by what Name or Title they were called of him as of the King of France by the Services and Dues accustomed except and reserved expresly to him and his Heirs all his Demeasn Royalties Services Homages Dues Resorts and Soveraignties belonging to the Crown of France except also Church-Lands and the Lands of all such as without Force or Difficulty would obey adhere to and stay in Obedience to him on their own Good-will and him Aid Counsel and Comfort in his Quarrel c. This Year 2 Wals f. 184. n. 20. The Death of the Queen The Offer as above no advantage to K. Edward 3 Froys C. 272. Du Ches f. 704. D. He sends his Letters of Indemnity and Pardon into Aquitan on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or 15th of August died Queen Philip Just and Sincere as the Historians say to the English Interest There is nothing extant which makes it appear that the Offer above-mentioned advanced King Edward's Cause and therefore next Year he sends his Letters of Indemnity and Pardon with great Promises of Reformation into Aquitan 3 That he being informed of certain Troubles Grievances and Molestations done or supposed to be done by his Dear Son the Prince of Wales in his Seigniory of Aquitan being obliged and desirous to remedy all things tending to evil Surmises Hatreds and Contentions between him and his Loyal Friends and Subjects did Announce and Pronounce Certifie and Ratifie of his meer Good-will and by great Deliberation of his Council to that purpose called and did Will and Command That the Prince of Wales should forbear and remit all manner of Actions done or to be done and restore to all such as had been grieved or molested by him or by any of his Officers and Subjects in Aquitan all their Costs Expences or Damages raised or to be raised in the Name of Aids or Chimney-Money And did further pardon all such as had revolted and forsaken his Homage and Fealty upon Condition that after the sight of these Letters within one Month they returned to their Obedience And if any Persons made any just Complaint against his Dear Son the Prince or any employed by him that in any thing they were grieved or oppressed or had been in times past he would cause them to have reasonable Amends for the maintaining of Peace Love Concord and Vnity between him and his People of the Dutchy And that all Men might be satisfied of the Truth of these Letters he willed they should have Copies of them and then declared he had Sworn to maintain and make them good by the Body of Jesus Christ in the Presence of his Dear Son John Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Salisbury Warwick Hereford and many other there named Dated at Westminster in the 44th Year of his Reign on the 5th of November in the Year of our Lord 1370. Mezeray 4 F. 389. The King of France joined Religion and Eloquence to his Arms And sent Preachers abroad to justifie his Cause taking notice of these Letters tells us That to the Force of Arms the King of France joined Religion and Eloquence which could do all things on the Hearts of the People He ordered Fasts and Processions to be made all over his Kingdom and sometimes went barefoot himself with the rest when at the same time the Preachers made out his Right and Title with the Justice of his Cause and the Injustice of the English Which had two Ends the one to bring back again those French Provinces which had been yielded by the Treaty of Bretigny the other to make those that were under him willing to suffer the Contributions and all other Inconveniencies of War The Arch-Bishop of Thoulouse alone by his Persuasions and Intrigues regained above Fifty Cities and Castles in Guien amongst others that of Cahors The King of England would have practised the same Methods on his part and sent an Amnesty or General Pardon to the Gascons with an Oath upon the Sacred Body of Jesus Christ to raise no more new Imposts but all this could not reclaim those Minds that had bent themselves another way King Edward 5 Ib. c. 249. 250. Forces sent into France to the Prince Some of the Companions joined with them sent Forces over to the Prince with Edmond Earl of Cambridge his own Son and the Earl of Pembroke his Son-in-Law who with a great number of Companions under the Command of Hugh Caverley an Experienced Officer which came from Aragon Rendezvoused at Angolesm and were put all under his Command by the Prince What things of Note they did I find not Before this time 6 Ib. c. 241 242. Henry the Bastard killed Peter King of Castile and fixed himself in the Throne Henry the Bastard had by the Assistance of Peter King of Aragon the King of France and the Power of Bertrand de Guesclin and his Companions seized the Kingdom of Castile and killed King Peter and fixed himself in that Throne The King of France wrote to Henry to 7 Ib. c 276. Bertrand de Guesclin and his Companions serve the K. of France against K. Edw.
not land Having kept the Sea about five weeks and the time limited for Relief or Surrender of the Town being past he returned to England in the beginning of October 2 Ib. c. 306. Poictou Xantogne and Rochelois lost This unhappy Voyage with the Disaster of the Earl of Pembroke lost all Poictou Xantogne and Rochelois On the very day 3 Pat. 46 Ed. III. Part. 2. M. 25. Richard Son to the Prince of Wales made Guardian and Lieutenant of England in his absence he put to Sea he made his Grandchild Richard Son to the Prince of Wales then scarce Seven years old Guardian and his Lieutenant of the Kingdom during his absence appointing him a Council fit for the Management of the Publick Affairs Two days after on the first of September 4 Clause 46 Ed. III. M. 11. Dors Summons of Parlement he issued Writs of Summons for a Parlement to meet 15 days after Michaelmass but before that time King Edward was come into England and by his 5 Ib. M. 10. Dors Which Prorogued by Writ Writs dated at Winchelsea on the 6th of October he prorogued this Parlement to the morrow of All-Souls or 3d of November Sir John Knivet 6 Rot. Parl. 46 Ed. III. 11. 1 2 3. Further Declaration of Summons declared in part the Causes of Summons the Parlement being adjourned until Friday after that Monsieur Hugh Bryan in the White Chamber acquainted 7 Ib. n. 7. The Revenues of Guien not sufficient to support the Government of it c. the Prelates Duke Earls Barons and Banerets les Prelates Dâ—â— Countes Barones and Banerets That the Prince who had the Principality of Guyen by the Grant of the King had often signified to him when there by Letters and Messengers That the Revenues and Profits arising from the Principality did not nor could suffice to maintain him and support the Government and Wars against their French Enemies and other necessary Charges without great assistance from the King and that the Prince having made these things appear to the King and Council when first he came into England had surrendred 8 Ib. n. 8. The Prince resigns it into the King's Hands into the King's Hands the Principality and all he could claim there by virtue of his Grant in the presence of the King's Council and some other Great Men. On the next day being 9 Ib. n. 9. Yet a further Declaration of Summons Saturday Sir Hugh Bryan before the Prince Prelates Dukes Earls Barons and Commons in the White Chamber more especially declared the Causes of Summons That the King by Advice of the Great Men des Grantz had ordered many Great Men plusours des Grantz with sufficient Power some into Gascoigne others to Calais to oppose the Malice of his Enemies and make War upon them by all the ways they could That afterwards for sudden News that came to the King he made ready with all his Power to put to Sea or go to Sea ove tout son poair daler sur la Meer against his Enemies to do what he could against them but by reason of the Wind being contrary and other Causes reasonable par contrariousete de vent autres causes reasonables he came back into England and caused to be summoned and prorogued this Parlement that the Great Men who were with him upon the Sea might be there that by the good Advice and Counsel of them and others and The French make themselves stronger by Sea and Land then ever they had done before also of the Commons anxi une la Coe he might do the best he could for the safety of the Nation and to resist and oppose the Malice of his Enemies who had made themselves much stronger by Land and Sea then ever they were before qui plus safforcent de guerer si bien par terre come par Meer que unques fesoient a devant And then 1 Ibm. beseecheth the Prelates Prince Dukes Earls Barons and Commons on behalf of the King supplia as ditz Prelates Prince Ducs Countes Barons as Coes de par le Roi that they would advise upon this Matter and give such Counsel donner tiel conseil and Ayd to the King as seemed to them best profitable for the Nation and to restrain the Malice of his Enemies Queux 2 Ib. n. 10. These Commons were the Knights of Shires Prelates Prince Ducs Counts Barons Coes eu sur les pointes de lour charge as dependantz dycelles plein deliberation c. which Prelates Prince Dukes Earls Barons and Commons having had full Deliberation upon the Points of their Charge and the Dependences thereon and also considering the great and outrageous Charges and Expence the King was to be at for the Defence of the Nation and Maintaining the War against his Enemies granted him the Subsidy of Wooll Leather and Wooll-fells A Subsidy upon Wooll c. for Two years to begin at Michaelmass last past of every Sack of Wooll which passed out of England 43 s. 4 d. of every Twelvescore Woollfells as much of every Last of Leather 4 l. of Denizens besides the old Custom and of Strangers or Forreigners four Marks of every Sack of Wooll as much of every Twelvescore Woollfells and Five Pounds six shillings eight pence of every Last of Leather And whereas 4 Ibm. A Fifteenth granted the Subsidy and Custom so granted could not be sufficient for the great Expence and Charge the King was to be at for the Causes abovesaid as it was openly shewed unto them the same Prelates Prince Dukes Earls Barons and Commons having regard thereto 5 Ib. n. 11. granted One Fifteenth for one year to be levied as the last was On the 23d of 6 Ib. n. 12. November the King Prelates Duke Earls Barons and Commons assembled in the White Chamber when the Chancellor declared to the King how kind the Lords and Commons had been to him in granting him the Subsidy and Fifteenth who much Thanked them for their great Ayd and and then the 7 Ib. n. 13. Petitions of the Commons were read and answered when the Knights of Shires had leave to depart 8 Ib. n. 14. and sue out Writs for their Wages or Expences pour lour depenses but the Citizens and Burgesses were commanded to stay 9 Ib. n. 15. The Grant of the Citizens and Burgesses who the same day assembled before the Prince Prelates and Great Men and for the safe coveying of their Ships and Goods granted 2 s. upon every Tun of Wine coming in or passing out of the Kingdom and 6 d. in the Pound of all Goods for a year The next Year the King 1 Rot. Fran. 47 Ed. III. M. 18. A. D. 1373. John Duke of Lancaster the King's Lieutenant in France and Aquitan made his Son John King of Castile and Leon and Duke of Lancaster his Lieutenant as well in the Kingdom of France as
any of his Justices and Officers whatsoever and Judge and Punish them for their Faults the Lords and Commons without the King's Consent or Pleasure impeach those Officers in Parlement for their Offences They unanimously answer They cannot and if any one acted to the contrary he was to be punished as a Traytor 8. Also it was demanded How he was to be punished who moved in Parlement that the Statute might be sent for by which Edward the Second the King 's Great Grandfather was adjudged in Parlement by the Inspection of which Statute the new Statute Ordinance and Commission were conceived in Parlement They answer unanimously That as well he who so moved as the other who by pretext of that Motion carried that Statute to the Parlement were deservedly to be punished as Criminals and Traytors 9. Also it was demanded Whether the Judgment given in the last Parlement at Westminster against the Earl of Suffolk was Erroneous and Revocable They answer unanimously That if it were now to be given the Justices and Serjeant aforesaid would not give it because it seemed to them it was Revocable as Erroneous in every part of it In Testimony of all which the Justices and Serjeant aforesaid Witnesses to the Opinions of the Justices put to their Seals these being Witnesses the Reverend Fathers Alexander Arch-Bishop of York Robert Arch-Bishop of Dublin John Bishop of Durham Thomas Bishop of Chichester John Bishop of Bangor Robert Duke of Ireland Michael Earl of Suffolk John Ryppon Clerc and John Blake Esq Dated in the Place Day Month and Year aforesaid XXVI These Five are Accused That they drew away the Heart and Good Will of the King from the said Lords and others which agreed to make the Commission and Ordinance in the last Parlement who accounted them his Enemies and Traytors and being sure the Justices favoured their Design contrived that those Lords and others should be Arrested Endicted and Attainted by false Enquests of Treason and put to Death and they and their Blood or Issue Disherited and these false Arrests Endictments and Attainders should be made in London or Middlesex and for that cause they made a False and Wicked Person one Thomas Husk Under-Sheriff of Middlesex who by their Assent Procurement and Command undertook the said false Endictments and Attainders should be made and accomplished Emprist que les ditz faux enditements atteinders serroient faitz accompliez And for the better accomplishment of their Treason the said Traytors caused the King to write Letters of Credence by one John Rypon false Clerc of their Covin to the Mayor of London to Arrest the Duke of Gloucester and others and by force of those Letters one John Blake carried to the Mayor a Bill of Information against them by which they were to be Indicted and Attainted The Effect of which Bill was That it seemed for the better that certain of the Lords Knights and Commons of the last Parlement which were notoriously impeachable les queux sount notoirement empeschable should be privately Endicted in London and Middlesex of Conspiracy and Confederacy for that they at a certain day there Falsely and Traiterously Conspired between themselves and Confederated themselves to make in the same Parlement a Statute and Commission against the Royalty of our Lord the King and in Derogation of his Crown and procured the same Statute there afterwards at a certain day to be made and also procured our Lord the King to assent against his Will to have it made and also constrained him to have it made against his Will and they Traiterously against their Ligeance hindered the King from using his Royalty to the great Disherison of him and Derogation to his Crown against their Ligeance swearing to maintain each other in this Matter And further the said Evil-Doers and Traytors Mesfesours Traytours set a Watch to give notice of the Duke of Lancaster's landing in England that he might be Arrested just upon his arrival XXVII Also these Five Evil Doers and Traytors after having informed the King so as he believed the Statute Ordinance and Commission were made in Derogation of his Royalty and Prerogative they strongly possessed him that all those who made or caused to be made the said Statute Ordinance and Commission had a purpose to Degrade and Depose him and that they would not give over that purpose until they had perfected it for which Cause the King held them as his Enemies and Traytors XXVIII Also after this False and Traiterous Information when the Five aforesaid had procured the King to hold the Loyal Lords as Enemies and Traytors the said Misdoers and Traytors advised him by every way possible as well by the Power of his own People as by the Power of his Enemies of France and others to destroy and put to Death the said Lords and all others who assented to the making of the said Statute Ordinance and Commission and that it might be done so privately as none might know it but such as did it XXIX Also to accomplish the High Treason aforesaid Alexander c. Robert de Vere c. and Michael c by their Advice caused the King to send his Letters of Credence to his Adversary the King of France some by one Nicholas Southwell Valet of his Chamber and others by other Persons of small Account well Strangers as English requesting and praying the King of France That he would with all his Power and Advice be Aiding and Strengthening him to Destroy and put to Death the Lords and other English which the King held to be his Enemies and Traytors as above to the great Trouble and Dissatisfaction of the whole Kingdom XXX Also the last named Three encroaching to themselves Royal Power caused the King to promise the King of France by his Letters and Messages That for the Ayd and Power he was to receive from him to accomplish this High Treason and Murder he would give and surrender and give unto him the Town and Castle of Calais and all other Castles and Fortresses in the Marches or Confines of Picardy and Artois the Castles and Towns of Cherburgh and Brest to the great Dishonour Trouble and Ruin of the King and Kingdom XXXI Also after the last named Three were sure of having Ayd and Assistance from the King of France by Excitation and Contrivance of the said Traytors a Conference was to have been in the Marches of Calais about a Truce for Five years between the Two Nations at which Conference both Kings were to be present and also the English Lords which the King then held to be his Traytors and there Thomas Duke of Glocester Constable of England Richard Earl of Arundell and Surry and Thomas Earl of Warwick and others were to be put to Death XXXII Also for performance of this High Treason the last named Three caused the King to send for Safe-conducts to the King of France some for himself some for the Duke of Ireland and some for John
them to the Parlement which was to begin on the Monday next after the Exaltation of Holy Cross or 14th of September which was that Year on the Friday so as the Parlement began the 17th of that Month. First the Bill 6 Ibm. The Effect of the Bill of Appeal and the Articles against them sets forth That the Duke of Glocester and Earl of Arundel designing to accroach and have the Government of his Royal Person and Kingdom his Liberties and all his Dignities as well within the Kingdom as without when the Parlement sate at Westminster in the 10th Year of his Reign sent a Peer of the Land to him who on their Behalf and by their Command told him That if he would not Consent to make to Them and Others they should Name such a Commission whereby they might have the Government as above he should be in Danger of his Life and the Lords and Commons of Parlement would depart without his Leave and then he should see in what a strait Condition he would be in So that by their Power and for Fear he granted such a Commission as they desired And then follows the Commission Dated at Westminster Nov. 19. in the 10 of his Reign by virtue whereof the Commissioners took the Government upon them Also 7 Ibm. the Duke and Earl of Arundel to accomplish their Traiterous Purpose and to have your Person ordered as they pleased and the Government of your whole State Laws Majesty and Dignity prevailed with Thomas Earl of Warwic and Thomas Mortimer to join with them in their Traiterous Design who by Agreement as Traitors to the King and Kingdom all met and assembled on the 13th of November in the 11th Year of your Reign at Haringay in Middlesex with a great Number of People Armed and Arrayed And made divers of your Liege People in several Parts of your Realm to rise and march with them against you contrary to their Legiance And would not come before your Presence until they were secured by your Oath they might come and return safely which notwithstanding they all came before you in your Palace at Westminster with great Force of Armed Men and traiterously Constrained you to take them into your safe Protection against your Will Also 8 Ibm. the Duke the Earls of Arundel and Warwic and Thomas Mortimer continuing their Traiterous Purpose by Force of People did take and imprison divers of your Liege People and amongst others Sir Simon Burley and brought him to your Parlement held on the morrow of the Purification in the 11th of your Reign and there suggested divers Points of Crime and Treason against him And the Advice of every Lord then present was asked concerning the Crimes of the said Simon and afterwards the Duke and Earls would know your Advice or Opinion voloint savoir vostre avys and you answered plainly He was not Guilty in any Point objected against him And after that the Duke and Earls caused you to come into a secret Place at Westminster and shew you the Points of the Crimes abovesaid To whom you then answered The said Simon was not any ways Guilty of any of those Points And there they took upon them traiterously to have you constrained to have consented to the Judgment they designed against him and you would not consent to any Judgment to be given against the said Simon Yet nevertheless â—â—e said Duke and Earls took upon them Royal Power in Prejudice of you and in Derogation of your Crown and without your Assent and contrary to your Will in your Absence and in the Absence of many other Peers of Parlement without their Assent and against their Wills awarded the said Simon should be Drawn Hanged and Decollated and thereupon they caused his Head to be struck off traiterously against your Peace Crown Majesty and Dignity Also 9 Ibm. the foresaid Duke Earls and Thomas Mortimer continuing their Malicious False and Traiterous Purpose and Force at Huntington on Thursday after the Feast of St. Nicholas or 6th of December in the said 11th Year Traiterously agreed and intended to have gone with their Force to any Place of the Kingdom where they might have found you to have surrendred to you their Homage Liege and to have Deposed you and this they would have done had they not been hindred by Henry de Lancaster Earl of Derby and Thomas Mowbray Earl of Nottingham And the Duke and Earls continuing their Traiterous Intention and Force by Agreement between them caused the Records in your Treasury of the Time of your Great Grandfather King Edward to be searched how he Demised himself of his Crown or Quitted his Crown and they shew to you in Writing the Causes of the Demise of his Crown in your Palace at Westminster in the time of Parlement in the 11th Year coment vostre dit besail soy demyst de sa Coroun monsterent en escript a vous tres redoute Sr. les causes del demys de sa Coroun deinz vostre Royal Palyes de Westminster a dit Parlement lan unzisme And they said falsly and traiterously That they had Cause sufficient to Depose you but for the Reverence they had for your most Noble Grandfather and most Noble Father And said also That in hopes of your better Government they would suffer you to continue in your Royal Estate and Regalty Which 1 Ibm. Treasons so imagined or contrived done and perpetrated by the foresaid Duke Earls and Thomas Mortimer against your Royal Person Estate Majesty and Dignity as is above declared We Appellants there named your Loyal Lieges have been and are ready to prove against the said Duke the Earls of Arundel and Warwic and Thomas Mortimer as you most Dread Lord and this High and Honourable Court your Parlement shall Order Thus far the Articles of the General Appeal against these Four Persons Which having been read 2 Ibm. the Appellants prayed the King the Appealed might be brought before him in Parlement to make their Answer And accordingly Ralph Lord Nevill Constable of the Tower there present had Order to bring before the Parlement Richard Earl of Arundel then his Prisoner and did so on the 21st of September On the fourth Day of the Parlement The Trial of the Earl of Arundel when by Command of the King and the Peers the Duke of Lancaster Steward of England told him That he was Appealed of divers High Treasons and the Appeal having been read to him his Answer That he had a General Pardon in the Parlement holden His Plea in the 11th of the King's Reign and a Charter of Pardon made to him within six Years and prayed the Allowance of them To whom it was said by the Duke of Lancaster by Command of Over-ruled the King and Advice of all the Peers of Parlement That the Pardon made in the 11th Year was made by constraint upon the King by the Duke Earls and others of their Party accroaching to themselves
was to be Prisoner in the Isle of Man On Wednesday the 4 Ibm. The Duke of Hereford accused the Duke of Norfolk by a Schedule in Writing 30th day of January in the Parlement as above Henry of Lancaster Duke of Hereford came before the King with a Schedule in his Hand and said to the King he came by his Command into his presence at Haywode where he told him he understood Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke had spoken many dishonest Words in slander of his Person and that they were spoken to him as he was informed Upon this the King charged him upon his Ligeance That he should truly repeat the Words as they were spoken The Duke of Hereford not thro' Malice or Enmity or other Cause but only to obey the King's Command as he was bound come il est tenuz wrote down the Words which the Duke of Norfolk spake to him as before he had conceived and born them in his Memory and were in the Schedule which he delivered to the King With Protestation to add or diminish at all times and when he pleased as it should be needful saving always the substance of the Libel Which was this Sir in the Month of The Tenor of the Schedule December in the Twenty one year of your Reign the Duke of Hereford Travelling between Bramford and London the Duke of Norfolk with a great Train met and Discoursed with him of divers Matters amongst which he told him they were in Point to be undone and the Duke of Hereford demanded why and he answered for the Fact at Radcot Bridge The Duke of Hereford said How can this be for he hath done us favour and declared us in Parlement to have been good and loyal towards him The Duke of Norfolk answered notwithstanding that it will be done by us as had been done by others before for he will vacate this Record The Duke of Hereford replied This would be a great Wonder since the King had said it before the People that he should afterwards make it be annulled And further the Duke of Norfolk said This was a Marvellous World and false for I know well saith he That if _____ Monsieur your Father and you had been taken or killed when you came to Windsor after the Parlement and that the Dukes of Albemarle and Excester the Earl of Worcester and he were agreed never to undo any Lord without just Cause and Reasonable and that the Malice of this Fact was in the Duke of Surrey the Earl of Wiltshire and Earl of Salisbury drawing to them the Earl of Gloucester who had Sworn to undo Six other Lords that is to say the Dukes of Lancaster Hereford Albemarle and Excester with the Marquess and himself And also he said they purposed to Reverse the Judgment of Earl Thomas of Lancaster and hereby we and many others should be Disherited The Duke of Hereford said God forbid for it would be a great wonder if the King should Assent to this for it seemed to him by his chearful Countenance and his promise of being a good Lord and also that he knew he had sworn by St. Edward to be a good Lord to him and all the others The Duke of Norfolk answered He had done the same to him many times and sworn by the Body of God and that for this he was never the better to be trusted And further said to the Duke of Hereford That the King was about to draw the Earl of March and others to the Agreement and Purpose of the said Four Lords to destroy the others aforesaid The Duke of Hereford replied If it be so we can never trust them The Duke of Norfolk said For certain not for although they cannot accomplish their Design at present yet they will be contriving ten Years from this time to destroy us in our Houses Hereupon Thursday the 31st of January and last Day of the Matters contained in the Schedule how to be determined Parlement it was Ordained by the King with the Assent of all the Estates in Parlement That the Matters comprised in this Schedule should be determined and ended by the Good Advice and Discretion of the King and certain Commissioners assigned by Authority of Parlement as it doth appear in the Roll of Parlement to wit the Duke of Lancaster the Duke of York the Dukes of Albemarle Surrey and Excester the Marquess of Dorset the Earls of March Sarum Northumberland and Glocester or Six of them the Earl of Worcester or the Earl of Wiltshire Procurators of the Clergy or one of them John Bussy Henry Grene John Russel Robert Teye Richard Chelmeswyk and John Golafree Knights of the Parlement Four or Three of them And afterward on the 19th Day of March next following The Dukes of Hereford and Norfolk appear before the K. at Oswaldstre Their Case to be tried by Chivalry or Duel after the Dukes of Hereford and Norfolk had been before the King at Oswaldstre it was agreed by the King and the Lords and Knights abovesaid That the Process in the Determination of these Matters should hold the course of the Law of Chivalry if sufficient Proofs could not be found until it should be determided between the Dukes by course of Law Wherefore 5 Ibm. 22 Ric. II. A. D. 1398. on the 16th Day of September in the 22d of the King's Reign at Coventry the Dukes of Hereford and Norfolk were told by the King's Command That on Wednesday next after the Quinden of St. Hillary or 27th of January in the Year of the King's Reign Twenty one in the Parlement at Shrewsbury The Duke of Hereford delivered the King a Bill the Tenour whereof follows and was the same Word for Word with the Schedule before translated from the French Record And then it follows That after this Parlement was ended the Dukes appeared at Oswaldstre the 23d of February when Day was assigned them to be at Windsor on Sunday the 28th of April where they both appeared and had the next Day assigned In the mean time the King and his Council held at Bristol perusing Battel ordered between the two Dukes The Battel joined between them the Act at Oswaldstre by Advice of Those that had the Authority of Parlement Ordained Battel between them if sufficient Proofs could not be found And on Monday the 29th of April they both appeared when the Battel was joined a quell Lundy fuist la Bataille joint by Advice of the Dukes Earls Barons Banerets and Chivalry of England there in great Number assembled for this cause as well as of those who had the Authority of Parlement and this because no sufficient Proofs could be found in the mean The Dukes ready to perform what was ordered them at Coventry time On the 16th of September the Dukes were ready at Coventry pour faire lour Devoir to perform what was ordered when the King of his Especial Grace took the Battel into his hand nostre Seigneur le Roy come
he was very Angry especially because they desired him to be under Good Government but by Divine Providence and the Resistance and Power of the said Lords the King could not bring his Design to effect Thirdly When the Lords 3 3 Ibm. n. 20. Temporal in Defence of themselves resisted his Malice and Craft the said King prefixed a Day for the Parlement to do them and others Justice who upon Faith and Confidence therein remained quietly in their own Houses the King privately with his Letters or Commission sent the Duke of Ireland into Cheshire to raise Arms against the said Lords Great Men and Officers of the Commonwealth Publickly exciting his Banners against the Peace he had Sworn to from whence Homicides Captivities Dissentions and other infinite Evils followed in the whole Kingdom for which cause he incurred Perjury Fourthly That although the said 4 4 Ibm. n. 21. King had Pardoned the Duke of Glocester the Earls of Arundel and Warwic and all their Assistants in full Parlement and for many Years had shewn chearful Signs of Peace and Love towards them yet the same King always bearing Gall in his Heart taking Opportunity caused to be seized the Duke of Glocester and the said Earls of Arundel and Warwic and sent the Duke to Calais to be imprisoned under the Keeping of the Earl of Nottingham one of his Appellants and without Answer or lawful Process caused him to be strangled and inhumanly and cruelly murdered The Earl of Arundel Pleading his Charter of Pardon and Demanding Justice in Parlement was encompassed with great Numbers of Armed Men and had his Head Damnably struck off and committed the Earl of Warwic and Lord Cobham to Perpetual Prison confiscating their Lands against Justice the Laws of the Land and his express Oath giving them to their Appellants Fifthly At the time 5 5 Ibm. n. 22. when in his Parlement he caused the Duke of Glocester and Earls of Arundel and Warwic to be adjudged that he might more freely exercise his Cruelty upon them and in others fulfil his injurious Will he drew to him a great multitude of Malefactors out of the County of Chester who marching up and down the Kingdom with the King as well within his own House as without cruelly killed his Lieges beat and wounded others plundering the Goods of the People refusing to pay for their Victuals violating and ravishing Men's Wives and other Women And although Complaints were made to the King of these Excesses yet he took no care to apply Remedy or do Justice in them but favoured those People in their Wickedness confiding in them and their Assistance against all others of his Kingdom wherefore his Good Subjects had great matter of Commotion and Indignation Sixthly Though the said 6 6 Ib. n. 23. King caused Proclamation to be made through the Kingdom That he caused his Unkle the Duke of Glocester and the Earls of Arundel and Warwic to be Arrested not for any Rebellious Congregations or marching with Horse within the Kingdom but for many Extorsions Oppressions and other things done against his Regality and Royal Majesty And that it was not his Intention that any of their Company at the time of the Congregation and Marchching with Horse aforesaid should for that Reason be Questioned or Disturbed Yet the same King afterwards in his Parlement Impeached the said Lords not for Extorsions Oppressions or other things aforesaid but for Rebellious Tumults and Congregations and Marching with Horse adjudged them to Death and caused many of their Company for fear of Death to make Fine and Ransom as Traitors to the great Destruction of many of his People and so he craftily deceitfully and maliciously Deceived the Lords their Followers and People of the Nation Seventhly After many of these 7 7 Ibm. n. 24. Persons who had paid their Fines and Ransoms and had obtained his Letters Patents of full Pardon yet they received no Benefit by them until they made new Fines for their Lives by which they were much impoverished And this was much in Derogation to the Name and State of a King Eightly In the last 8 8 Ibm. n. 25. Parlement holden at Shrewsbury the same King propounding to Oppress his People subtilly procured and caused to be granted That the Power of Parlement by Consent of all the States of the Kingdom should remain in some certain Persons who after the Parlement should be Dissolved might Answer the Petitions depending in Parlement then undetermined under pretence whereof they proceeded to other General Matters touching that Parlement ac-according to the King's Will in Derogation to the State of Parlement great Disadvantage to the Kingdom and a pernicious Example And that these Actions might seem to have some Colour and Authority the King caused the Rolls of Parlement to be changed and blotteed contrary to the Effect of the Grant aforesaid Ninthly Notwithstanding the said King at his 9 9 Ibm. n. 26. Coronation sware That he would do in all his Judgments equal and Right Justice and Discretion in Mercy and Truth according to his Power yet the said King without all Mercy rigorously amongst other things Ordained under great Punishments That no Man should intercede with him for any Favour toward Henry Duke of Lancaster then in Banishment in so doing he acted against the Bond of Charity and rashly violated his Oath Tenthly That though the 1 1 Ibm. n. 27. Crown of England the Rights of the Crown and Kingdom it self have been in all times so Free as the Pope or any other Foreign Power had nothing to do in them yet the said King for the confirming of his erroneous Statutes supplicated the Pope to confirm the Statutes made in his last Parlement whereupon he obtained his Apostolic Letters or Bull wherein were contained grievous Censures against all such as should presume to contravene them All which things are known to be against the Crown and Royal Dignity and against the Statutes and Liberty of the Kingdom Eleventhly Though Henry now Duke of Lancaster 2 2 Ibm. n. 28. by the King's Command exhibited his Bill or Accusation against the Duke of Norfolk concerning the State and Honour of the King and duly prosecuted it so as he was ready to make it good by Duel and the King had ordered it yet the same King put it by and without any lawful Cause Banished the His own Father John D. of Lancaster was the First Commissioner in this Judgment in Parlement See Pleas of the Crown 21 Ric. II. Duke of Lancaster for Ten Years against all Justice the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom and the Military Law Damnably incurring Perjury Twelfthly After the said King had graciously granted 3 3 Ibm. n. 29. to the now Duke of Lancaster by his Letters Patents That while he was in Banishment his Attorneys might sue for Livery of any Inheritance might fall to him for which Homage was due which should be respited for a
a Token of his Intention as was said before the Arch-Bishop taking King Henry by the Right Hand led him to the Royal Throne and when the same King had Kneeled and Prayed a while before it the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Arch-Bishop of York assisting him placed him therein the People for great Joy Shouting mightily When the Shouting was over 4 Ib. n 55. the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury made a short Preachment or Collation as 't is called upon the Roll his Text or Theme was Vir dominabitur Populo 1 Sam. c. 9. v. 17. The English Version of the whole Verse according to the Vulgar Edition runs thus And when Samuel saw Saul the Lord said unto him Behold the Man whom I spake to thee of this same shall Rule over my People Iste dominabitur Populo meo In this Collation he makes a Comparison between King Richard who he makes a Child and his whole Government a Childish Acting and King Henry a Perfect Wise Man In this Comparison he makes use of several Places of Scripture but how properly or how to the purpose belongs not to this Place to say At length he insinuates That by Childish Government the Nation had been in great Danger but now they were freed from it because a Man will Reign to wit he that says not as a Child but one of Perfect Reason I came not to do my own Will but the Will of him that sent me that is God And therefore we may not only say of this Man That he will think of things in Wisdom but also as a Man and not as a Child In sensu cogitabit circumspectionem Dei He will in earnest think of the Circumspection or Providence of God id est circumquaque diligenter aspiciet ut Dei voluntas non sua fiat that is he will look diligently every way about him that God's Will not his own may be done and so in the Place of a wanton Child a Man Rules over the People and such a Man that it may be said The King shall Reign and he shall be a Wise Man and do Judgment and Justice in the Land Which Collation ended 5 Ib. n. 56. King Henry to quiet the Minds of his Subjects said publickly these Words SIRES I Thank God and zowe Spirituel and Temporel and all the Astates of the Lond and do zowe to wyte it es noght my Will that no Man thynk that be waye of Conquest I wold Disherit any Man of his Heritage Franches or other Ryghts that hym aght to have no put hym out of that that he has and has had by the gude Lawes and Custumes of the Rewme except those Persons that has ben agan the gude Purpose and the comune Profyt of the Rewme And forthwith 6 Ib. n. 57. it being considered that the Throne being Vacant by the Cessation and Deposition of King Richard the Power of all the Justices Sheriffs and other Officers through the Kingdom ceased lest Justice might be delayed to the Grievance of the People he Named his Principal Officers and Justices who took the usual Oaths And forthwith Proclamation was made by the King's Command That on Monday next after the Feast of St. Michael a Parlement should be held in that Place and that on Monday next following on the Feast of St Edward the Coronation should be at Westminster and that who claimed any Service then might put in their Petitions before the Steward Constable and Marshall of England where they should receive full Justice And for the shortness of Time assigned for the Sitting of the Parlement the King made Protestation it was not his Intention it should be any Prejudice to the States of his Kingdom or that it should be made an Example for the future but that it was only for the Profit of the Kingdom and specially to spare the Labour and Expences of his Lieges and that the Grievances of the People might have speedy Remedy All which things being finished 7 Ibm. n. 58. the King rose from his Throne and beholding the People with a chearful Countenance departed and the same Day in the White Hall in Alba Aula he had a great Entertainment for the Noble and Gentlemen who were there in great Numbers These things were done on Tuesday the 30th of September And afterwards on the next day 8 Ibm. being Wednesday the Deputies or Proctors before mentioned went to Richard late King in the Tower as they had been enjoined William Thirnyng Justiciary for himself and Fellow-Proctors in the Name of all the States and People notified to Richard and fully declared the Admission of his Renunciation and the Manner Cause and Form of the Sentence of his Deposition and presently Resigned the Homage and Fealty that had been made to the late King Richard as follows The Words 9 9 Ibm. n. 59. which William Thirnyng spake to Monsieur Richard late King of England at the Tower of London in his Chamber there on * * Note this Wednesday was Octob. 1. Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel SIRE IT is wele known to zowe That ther was a Parlement somond of all the States of the Reaume for to be at Westmynstre and to begynne on the Teusday in the morrow of the Fest of Seint Michell the Archaungell that was zesterday by cause of the whiche Sommons all the States of this Lond were there gadyrd the whiche States hole made thes same Persones that ben comen here to zowe nowe her Procuratours and gafen hem full Auctorite and Power and charged hem for to say the Wordes that we sall say to zowe en her Name and on their Behalve that is to wytten The Bishop of St. Assa for Ersbisshoppes and Bisshoppes the Abbot of Glastenbury for Abbotes and Priours and all other Men of Holy Chirche Seculers and Rewelers the Erle of Gloucestre for Dukes and Erles the Lord of Berkeley for Barones and Banerettes Sire Thomas Irpyngham Chamberleyn for all the Bachilers and Commons of this Lond be South Sire Thomas Grey for all the Bachilers and Commons by North and my Felawe Johan Markham and me for to come with hem for all thes States And so Sire these Wordes and the doying that we sall say to zowe is not onlych our Wordes bot the Wordes and the Doyings of all the States of this Lond and our Charge and in her Name And he answered and said That he wyst wele that we wold not say but as we were charged Sire ze remembre zowe wele That on Monday on the Fest of St. Michell the Archaungell ryght here in this Chambre and in what Presence ze Renounsed and Cessed of the State of Kyng and Lordeship and of all the Dignite and Wyrshipp that longed therto and assoiled all zour Lieges of her Legiance and Obeysance that longed to zowe uppe the Forume that is contened in the same Renunciacion and Cession whiche ze redde zour self by zour Mouth and affermed it by zour Othe
and zour own Writing upon which ze made and ordeyned zour Procurators the Ersbysshopp of Zork and the Bysshopp of Hereford for to notifie and declare in zour Name thes Renunciacion and Cession at Westmynstre to all the Stotes and all the People that was ther gadyrd bycause of the Sommons forsayd the whiche was done zesterday by thes Lordes zour Procuratours and wele herde and understonden thes Renunciation and Cession were pleinelich and frelich accepted and fullich agreed by all the States and People forsayd And over this Sire at the instance of all thes States and People there were certain Articles of Defauts in zour Governance redde there and though we le herd and pleinelich understonden to all the States forsayd hem thoght hem so trewe and so notoric and knowen that by the Causes and by mo other os thej sayd and having consideration to zour owne Wordes in zour own Renunciacion and Cession that ze were not worthy no sufficient ne able for to Govern for zour owne Demerites os it is more pleinerlich contened therein hem thoght that wos reasonable und cause for to Depose zowe and her Commissaries that her made and ordeined os it is of Record ther declared and decreed and adjudged zowe for to be Deposed and Pryved and in dede Deposed zowe and Pryved zowe of the Astate of Kyng and of the Lordeship contened in the Renunciacion and Cession forsayd and of all the Dignity and Wyrsshipp and of all the Administration that longed therto And we Procuratours to all these States and People foresayd os we be charged by hem and by hir Auctorite gyffen us and in her Name zelde zowe uppe for all the States and People soresayd Homage Liege and Feaute and all Legeance and all other Bondes Charges and Services that longe therto And that non of all thes States and People fro this tyme forward ne bere zowe Feyth ne do zowe Obeysance os to thar Kyng And he answered and seyd That he loked not therafter but he seyd That after all this he hoped that is Cosyn wolde be good Lord to hym And further to compleat his Design on the 1 Rot. Claus 1 Hen. IV. part 1. M. 37. Dors Summons of Parlement 30th of September he by Information of the Arch-Bishop That by the Acceptation of the Renunciation of King Richard his Cession and Deposition this Parlement was determined issued in his own Name Writs to the Lords and for Elections of Members Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons to meet on Monday next following being the Day of St. Faith and all this to be done and Returns made in six Days time So as these were the same Members who had been Summoned by King Richard to meet on the morrow of St. Michael as appears beyond Contradiction from the Writs 2 Append. n. 114. for their Expences which were Dated on the 19th of November the last Day of the Parlement and they were allowed their Expences for Fifty one Days besides the time of coming to and returning from Parlement in which Fifty one Days was included the 30th of September and all the Days between that and St. Faith's Day the 6th of October to make up the Number In this Parlement 3 Rot. Parl. 1 Hen. 4 n. 1. Pronunciation du Parlement or Declaration of cause of Summons The Cause of Summons Summoned and Holden at Westminster by King Henry IV. on Monday the Day of St. Faith which was the 6th of October in the first Year of his Reign sitting on his Royal Seat in the Great Hall at Westminster in the Presence of him and all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons and many other Gentlemen and Commons in great Number Thomas de Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury declared the Cause of Summons and rehearsed how on Tuesday last past on the morrow of St. Michael King Richard II. after the Conquest summoned his Parlement to be then holden which Summons was of no force or effect by reason of the Acceptation of the Renunciation made by King Richard and the Deposing of him as without doubt he had informed King Henry before he issued his Writs for this Parlement And then proceeds That on the same Tuesday 4 Ibm. n. 2. in Presence of King Henry the Lords Spiritual Temporal and Commons he shewed that this Honourable Kingdom of England being the most abounding Angle with Riches had been a long time Governed by Children and the Counsels of young People so as the Kingdom was in point of Perdition and great Desolation and Mischief mightily to be lamented if it had not been that Almighty God of his Great Grace and Mercy had sent a Knowing and Discreet Man for the Government of the Nation who by the Aid of God will be Governed and Counselled by the Sages and Ancients of his Kingdom for the Aid and Comfort of himself and the whole People And said further That Men ought especially to consider how this Honourable Kingdom could so long continue under such mischievous Government Waste and Destruction which if it had been under Good and Just Government by Sage and Sufficient Counsel as it ought of Right it would have been in Riches Goods and other Advantages the most considerable of any Kingdom in the World 5 Ibm. n. 3. Et sur ceo mesme Lercevesque prist pur son Theame le Parole de Machabeorum primo in disent Incumbit nobis ordinare pro Regno And then the Arch-Bishop took for his Theme the Words in the first of Machabees saying Incumbit nobis ordinare pro Regno 1 Mac. Chap. 6. Vers 57. They are the last Words of a very long Verse and nothing to his Purpose nor what went before or what follows after The English Version is thus The Affairs of the Realm depend upon us But to go on with his Harangue Incumbit nobis ordinare pro Regno cest a dire c. That is to say It is the King's Will to be Counselled and Governed by the Honourable Sages and Discreet Persons of his Kingdom and by their Common Counsel and Assent do the best for the Government of himself and his Realm not desiring to be Governed by his own Will voluntary Purpose or singular Opinion but by Common Advice Counsel and Assent as abovesaid And the same Archbishop said further mesme Lercevesque dit outre There was not such a Kingdom in the World that could live without the Assistance of other Kingdoms so Honourably so Graciously and so Fully si honourablement ne graciousment ne plentiousment as might the Honourable Kingdom of England which God keep safe and maintain 6 Ib. n. 4. And upon this he alledged certain Authority saying Quod inter omnia regna hoc principatum tenet Of all Kingdoms this is the chief and shewed That to the Government of every Kingdom Three things especially were required that is to say Justice The Observation of the Laws And that every Person should rule
the Kings of Denmarke and Swevelande who are many times by the Nobility dejected either into Prison or into Exile Such likewise are the Dukes of Venice and of some other Free States in Italy and the chief Cause for which Lewes Earl of Flaunders was lately expelled from his Place was for drawing to himself Cognisance in Matters of Life and Death which high Power never pertained to his Dignity In these and such like Governments the Prince hath not Regal Rights but is himself subject to that Power which is greater then his whether it be in the Nobility or in the Common People but if the Soveraign Majesty be in the Prince as it was in the Three first Empires and in the Kingdoms of Judea and Isreal and is now in the Kingdoms of England France Spain Scotland Muscovia Turkey Tartaria Persia Aethiopia and almost all the Kingdoms of Asia and Africk altho for his Vices he be unprofitable to the Subjects yea hurtful yea intolerable yet can they Lawfully neither harm his Person nor hazard his Power whether by Judgment or else by Force for neither one nor all Magistrates have any Authority over the Prince from whom all Authority is derived and whose only Presence doth silence and suspend all inferiour Jurisdiction and Power And as for Force what Subject can attempt or assist or counsel or conceal Violence against his Prince and not incur the high and heinous Crime of Treason it is a common saying Thought is free free indeed from Punishment of Secular Laws except by Word or Deed it break forth into Action Yet the secret Thoughts against the Sacred Majesty of a Prince without attempt without endeavour have been adjudged worthy of Death and some who in Auricular Confession have discovered their Treacherous Devices against the Person of their Prince have afterwards been Executed for the same All Laws do exempt a Mad Man from Punishment because their Actions are not governed by their Will and Purpose and the Will of Man being set aside all his Doings are indifferent neither can the Body offend without a corrupt or erroneous Mind yet if a Mad Man draw his Sword upon his King it hath been adjudged to deserve Death And lest any Man should surmise that Princes for the Maintenance of their own Safety and Soveraignty are the only Authors of these Judgments let us a little consider the Patterns and Precepts of Holy Scripture Nebuchadnezzar King of Assyria wasted all Palestine with Fire and Sword oppugned Hierusalem a long time and at last expugned it slew the King burnt the Temple took away the Holy Vessels and Treasure the rest he permitted to the Cruelty and Spoil of his Unmerciful Soldiers who defiled all Places with Rape and Slaughter and ruinated to the Ground that flourishing City After all the glut of this Bloody Butchery the People which remained he led Captive to Chaldea and there erected his Golden Image and commanded That they which refused to Worship it should be cast into a Fiery Furnace What Cruelty what Injustice what Impiety is comparable to this And yet God calleth Nebuchadnezzar his Servant and promiseth him Hire and Wages for his Service And the Prophets Jeremiah and Baruch did write unto the Jews to pray Jerem 25. 9. Ezceh 29 18. Jerem. 29. 7. Baruch 1. 11. for the Life of him and of Baltazzar his Son that their days might be upon Earth as the days of Heaven And Ezechiel with bitter Terms abhorreth the Disloyalty of Zedechia because he revolted from Nebuchadnezzar whose Homager and Tributary he was What shall we say of Saul Did he not put all the Priests to Execution because one of them did Relieve Holy and Harmless David Did he not violently Persecute that his most Faithful Servant and Dutiful Son in Law During which Pursuit he fell twice into the Power of David who did not only spare but also Protect the King and reproved the Pretorian Soldiers for their Negligent Watch and was touched in the Heart for cutting away the lap of his Garment and afterwards caused the Messenger to be slain who upon Request and for Pitty had lent his Hand as he said to help So did Domitian put to death Epaphroditus Nero's Libertine because he helped Nero although in Love to kill himself So did Seâ—erus kill all the Killâ—rs of Pertinax his Predâ—â—â—ssâ—r and likewise Vitellius did put to Death all the Murderers of Galba Theophilus Emperor of Graecia caused all those to be sâ—ain who had made his Father Emperor by killing Leo Armenius And Alexander the Great put to cruel Execution those that had sâ—ain Darius his Mighty and Mortal Enemy forward the voluntary Death of that Sacred King As for the contrary Examples as that of Jehu who slew Jehoram and Ahazia Kings of Israel and Juda they were done by express Oracle and Revelation from God and are no more set down for our imitation then the Robbing of the Aegyptians or any other Particular and Priviledged Commandement but in the general Precept which all Men must ordinarily follow not only our Actions but our Speeches also and our very Thoughts are strictly charged with Duty and Obedience unto Princes whether they be Good or Evil The Law of God ordaineth Deut. 17. 12. Psal 105. Exod. 22. 28. Act. 23. 5. Roman 13. 1 13. Titus 3. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 17. 2 Tim. 2. 2. That he which doth Presumptuously against the Ruler of the People shall dye And the Prophet David forbiddeth to touch the Lords Anointed Thou shalt not saith the Lord rail upon the Judges neither speak Evil against the Ruler of the People And the Apostles do demand further That even our Thoughts and Souls be obedient to Higher Powers And lest any should imagine that they meant of good Princes only they speak generally of all and further to take away all doubt they make express mention of the Evil. For the Power Rom. 13. 2. John 19. 11. and Authority of Wicked Princes is the Ordinance of God and therefore Christ told Pilate That the Power which he had was given him from above and the Prophet Esay calleth Cyrus being a Prophane and Heathen Prince the Lord 's Anointed Esay 45. 1. For God stirreth up the Spirit even of Wicked Princes to do his Will and as Johosaphat said to his Rulers they execute 2 Chron. 36. 22. not the Judgment of Man but of the Lord in regard whereof David calleth them Gods because they have their Rule and Psal 28. Authority immediately from God which if they abuse they are not to be adjudged by their Subjects for no Power within their Dominion is superior to theirs but God reserveth them to the sorest Tryal Horribly and suddenly saith the Wiseman Sap. 6. shall the Lord appear unto them and a hard Judgment shall they have The Law of God commandeth That the Child should be put to Death for any contumely done unto the Parents But what if the Father be a Robber
this Truce and the King of France his Protestation against it and the Pope's pretended Power to make it Vniversiis 1 Proves des libertez de l'Eglisâ— Gallicane Printed 1651 chap. 7. n. 12. £ 96. praesentes literas inspecturis miseratione divina B. Albanensis S. Penestrimensis Episcopi salutem in Domino Notum facimus c. To all that shall see these present Letters B. by Divine Mercy Bishop of Albano and S. Bishop of do make it known c. Then giving a short Account of the Truce and that it was to have continued for Two years from the Feast of St. John Baptist last past They say That when they presented to the King of France the Popes Letters Patents containing the Truce to be read cumque dictas literas praesentaremus dicto Regi The King of Fâ—ance protests against the Pope's Power to make a Truce Franciae legendas c. He forthwith before they were read caused in his own and their presence these Protestations to be made That the Temporal Government of his Realm belonged to himself alone and no other That he would acknowledge no Superior in it nor subject himself any way to any Person living in things of his Temporal Government but would maintain his Fees Sed se intendere And denies his superiority in Temporals feoda sua Justiciare and Defend his Kingdom and the Rights of it in all things as God should enable him by the help of his Subjects Friends and Assistants Nor that he took himself or Kingdom to be affected by the Popes Declaration of the Truce in his Letters Patents directed to him nor the Sentence of Excommunication therein contained And further added That he would not recede in Word or Deed from these Protestations yet as to what concerned his Soul and Spiritual Government as his Predecessors had done before he was ready to obey the Precepts of the Holy See as much as he was bound and ought to do as a Devout Son of Holy Mother Church These things premised the Cardinals proceeded to the publication of the Truce and Sentence and caused the Pope's Letters to be read before the King Done at Creil in Beauvaisis on the 19th of April 25th of Ed. I. 1297. Datum Credulii Bellovacensis Diaecesis c. After this * Walsingh Hist Angl. f. 74. n. 30. on Innocent's Day or 28th of December and 26th of Edward I. there came to him then at Gaunt the Master of the Order of Preachers and the General of Friars Minors who had been with the King of France about the same Business and beseeched The Pope as a Mediator not as a Judge offers to make Peace on behalf of the Pope That they would send their Commissioners to Rome with full Power to Treat of Peace the Pope promising not as a Judge but Kind Mediator and in prejudice to neither to indeavour to settle Peace and Tranquillity in both Nations And published to that purpose a Two years Truce and restore the former Friendship between the Two Kings And because that could not be accomplished without a Truce therefore the Pope by these Messengers published again a Two years Truce as he had desired before by the Cardinals under pain of Excommunication and Interdict of both the Nations The King of England * Ib. n. 40. Both Kings submit all Differences to the Pope as a Private Person only considering it was dangerous staying in Flanders and that he had been imprudently brought thither by the Contrivance of the Earl that his own Kingdom was unsettled by Intestin Sedition and that he could have no Confidence in the King of the Romans the Pope not being his Friend consented to the Truce And both Kings sent their Commissioners to Rome and Compromitted and Referred all Differences whatever between them to Boniface VIII as Beneâ— Gaitan or a Private Person but not as Pope as will appear by his own Instrument of the Terms of Peace hereafter mentioned Mat. 2 Fol. 431. n. 10 20. Both Kings accept and agree to a Truce for two years Westminster says both Kings accepted and agreed to a Truce for Two years to begin at the Feast of Epiphany or beginning of Lent when the above-mentioned short Truce ended for themselves and Confederates and when King Edward came for England and landed at Sandwich on the 21st of March. And within few days after to make good the Promise he had made not long before his going into Flanders Instructions and Commissions were sent forth to 3 Append. n. 35. The King to make good his Promise sends out Commissions of Inquiry what Goods had been taken from his Subjects Two Knights one sent by the King and the other taken out of the Country one Clerk and one Religious Person to be assigned by the Bishop of the Diocese to inquire by the Oaths of Lawful Men of every County in what manner and how much Wooll Woollfells Leather Grain Beasts Flesh Fish or other Goods had been wrongfully and illegally taken from the Clergy and Laity for Victualling and setting forth his Fleet or for other Matters since the War between himself and the King of France Witness the King at Westminster the 4th of April in the A. D. 1298. 26th of his Reign After the Notable Protestation of the King of France against the Pope says Peter 4 Proves des Libertees ut supra f. 97. The Compromise made to Bennet Cajetan not Pope Boniface c. Pithou desiring to make Peace with the Emperor Elect and the King of England compromitted that whole Affair in the Person of Pope Boniface as a Private Person and Benedict Cajetan by his Family Name and not as Pope on purpose that he might not usurp upon the Authority of the Kings In this year and about this time Adolph the Emperor or as the old Historians call him King of Almain or of the Romans was deposed by the Electors and German Princes and as 5 Hist of France f. 327. A. D. 1297. Adolph the Emperor deposed The King of France his Money prevails with the German Princes Mezeray Stories was first detained in Germany by private Dissentions raised by the French or the Sums of Money King Philip gave him underhand so as he did not afford the Earl of Flanders that Relief he expected and at the same time debauched Albert Duke of Austria by the all powerful Influence of Money from the Party who brought over with him the Duke of Brabant the Earls of Luxemburgh Guelders and Beaumont The same Historian also gives this Account of his Deposition 6 Ibm. A. D. 1298. Adolph the Emperor deposed And how the Money that Adolph had received on both hands was the cause of his Ruin and on the contrary what Albertus had received for the same end served to raise his Fortune for this last having made use of some of it to corrupt the Princes of Germany who were displeased for that Adolphus had given him
Prey About this time the Duke of Lancaster desired to have the Money The Duke of Lancaster equips a great Fleet. granted the last Parlement upon promise to secure the Kingdom from Invasion of all Enemies for one Year and to do some other great Good to the Nation which at length he obtained and provided a great Fleet and also for his Assistance hired Nine Ships at Bayon which in coming hither encountred a Fleet of Spaniards and took Fourteen Ships laden with Wine and other Merchandise Henry the Bastard that called himself King of Spain hearing Henry the Bastard King of Spain prepares a great Fleet to opposehim what those of Bayon had done and that the Duke of Lancaster was putting to Sea with a great Fleet and Force fearing him by reason of his Title to his Kingdom prepared a great Navy to oppose him and if he could to take him Prisoner The Duke The Duke delayed his putting to Sea The English Fleet beatenâ— by the Spaniards delayed the time of his putting to Sea the Chief Officers of the Fleet were disturbed at it and sailed without him and having been some days at Sea met the Spanish Fleet by which they were beaten and Sir Hugh Courtney a Famous Soldier taken with many others This Misfortune says Walsingham was imputed to the Duke for that he made such long Delays but whether he was in Fault knew not And while he was thus Dilatory John Mercer a Scot with a Ships taken out of Scarburgh Haven by John Mercer a Scot. J. Philpot sets out Men of War at his own Charge Takes Mercer with all his own and 15 Spanish Ships that had joined him Was questioned for it but discharged small Force of French Scots and Spaniards took some Ships in Scarburgh Haven killing some of the Mariners and carried them with him to Sea John Philpot a rich Citizen of London considering the Negligence if not the Falsity of those who were to defend the Nation and provide against such Inconveniencies at his own Charge set out some Men of War which met with Mercer and 15 Spanish Ships that had joined him and behaving themselves bravely took him and all the Ships with him recovering the Ships that were taken at Scarburgh and taking great Riches in the Spanish and other Ships John Philpot was taxed by the Lords for presuming to set forth Men of War without Advice of the King's Council but he made such a Defence before the Earl of Stafford and others that called him to account as he was suffered to depart without further Trouble for that matter Still the Duke delayed his going to Sea it not being known for what Reason until the Spring and beginning of Summer were over but by his Persuasion the Earls of Salisbury and Arundel set sail and landed in Normandy who compounded with the King of Navarre then become Enemy to the King of France for the Town and Port of Cherburgh then very considerable in The King of Navarre sells Cherburgh in Normandy to the English The Duke of Lancaster puts to Sea Lands in Britany Returns ingloriously which was placed a Garrison of English and so the Earls returned At length the Duke of Lancaster went to Sea and with him the Earls of Buckingham Stafford Warwick and others of the English Nobility with a great Force they landed in Britany where Sir Robert Knolls burnt several Towns and lost many of his stoutest Men. The Duke besieged St. Malo but it was so well defended as he raised the Siege and returned home Walsingham says at first the Townsmen would have yielded so as the Town might have been preserved from being burnt and plundered The Duke would not accept it but upon Discretion and that he might do with it what he pleased In the mean time the French landed in Cornwal and burnt Fowey or Foy and The French land in Cornwal Burn Foy and other Towns A Truce between the English Scots who had burnt Roxburgh c. and several other Towns without Resistance The Scots taking the Advantage of the present time burnt Roxburgh and spoiled the Country thereabout whereupon a Truce was made between the English and them for some time On 8 Rot. Parl. 2 Ric. II. n. 1 2. Part 1. A Parlement at Glocester The Scots make Alliance with the French Thursday the 21st of October it having met the Day before the Parlement sate at Gloucester in the Great Hall of the Abby there The Bishop of St. Davids then Lord Chancellor declared the cause of Summons wherein he took notice of what had been done by the Scots at Roxburgh and that since 9 Ibm. n. 7. notwithstanding the Truce they had made Alliance with the French against England Next Day Monsieur Richard le Scrop Steward of the Houshold enlarged upon the Causes of Calling the Parlement and making excuse for his own Inability 1 Ibm. n. 15. Declaration of Summons told the Prelates Lords and Commons as the Chancellor had said before That the Nation was encompassed with Enemies who daily encreased That the Ports of Cherburgh and Brest which of a long time had not been in the hands of the English besides Calais Burdeaux and Bayon with the Countries about them were very chargeable to maintain Calais with its Marches or Limits about it stood the King in 24000 l. every Year and Brest 12000 Marcs and the other three Places according to the same Rate Afterwards 2 Ibm. n. 16 The Speaker's Request and Protestation in behalf of himself and Commons Sir James Pickering Speaker of the House of Commons with the Commons came before the King Prelates and Lords in Parlement puis le Comunes reviendrent devant le Roy les Prelates en Parlement illoeques Monsieur James de Pickering c. making Protestation as well for himself as for the whole Commons of England First for the Commons That if he should utter any thing to the Prejudice Damage Slander or Disgrace of the King or his Crown or in lessening the Honour or Estate of the Great Lords it might not be taken notice of by the King and that the Lords would hold it for nothing as if nothing had been said primerment pur la dite Comune que si per cas il y dist choses que purreit soner en Prejudice Damage Esclandre ou Villaine de nostre Seigneur le Roy ou de sa Corone ou en anientisement del Honour Estate des Grants Seigneurs du Roialm que ce ne feust acceptez par le Roy les Seigneurs eins teâ—â—â— pur nul come Riens nent este dit for that the Commons soveraignly desired soveraignment desirent to maintain the Honour and Estate of the King and the Rights of the Crown in all Points As also to preserve the Reverence due to the Lords in all Parts So much for the Commons For his own Person he made Protestation That if by Indiscretion he
that the Subsidy of Woolls Leather and Woollfells was to end at Michaelmas next coming and that from thence the King was not able to endure the great Charges he was to be at to maintain the War in the Marches of â—alais Brest Cherburgh in Gascoigny Ireland and the Marches of Scotland they grant him the same Subsidies from the time they were to end until Michaelmass next after praying the King there might not be a Parlement to charge the Poor Commons until a year after Michaelmas next coming The Scots toward the latter end of this 9 Walsingh f. 240. n. 30 40. A. D. 1380. The Barbarity of the Scots in Cumberland and Westmerland Summer invade Cumberland and Westmerland raging killing and burning every where and driving away as the Historian says it was reported 40000 of all sorts of Beasts and went to Penreth where was then a great Fair and Conflux of People they killed some carried away others Captive and with them all the Goods of the Town and Fair. The Earl of Northumberland was preparing to 1 Ibm. drive them out of the Country and Borders and force them to make Satisfaction Which was to be considered on the March-Day or do the same things in Scotland when he received a Prohibition from the King not to do any thing but to expect the March Day which was a day appointed for the English and Scots to meet every year and adjust things done by either Nation upon the Borders In the same year 2 Mezeray f 398. The Death of Charles King of France on the 16th of September died Charles the Fifth King of France called The Wise On his Death-Bed he left the Regency to his next Brother the Duke of Anjou directing him to make some Agreement with the Duke of Britan if possible His Eldest Son 3 Ibm. f. 400 401. His Son Charles succeeds him Charles succeeded him being then about Twelve years of Age and was Crowned at Rheims on the 4th of November At this time there were great 4 Ib. and f. 402 403. Great Tumults and Disorders in France Tumults and Disorders in France by reason the Duke of Anjou had not taken off the Imposts as his Brother had Commanded on his Death-Bed but settled new ones especially upon the City of Paris The like 5 Ibm. and Walsingh f. 241. n. 20 30. The same in Flanders Mutinies Confusions and Tumults were then in Flanders by the Seditious People against their Earl especially those of Ipre and Gaunt having received great Provocations from him as Walsingham relates it After the 6 Froysard c. 360. Disaster of the Fleet and Army under the Command of Sir John Arundel Sir Thomas Percy c. the Duke of Britan this Summer about Whitsuntide sent to the King for Assistance against the King of France Thomas of Woodstock Earl The Duke of Britan sends to the King for Assistance of Buckingham 7 Ibm. as General the Earl of Stafford and many Barons Knights and Esquires of great Note and Skill in Arms were appointed and retained for this Expedition and 8 Ibm. landed at Calais on the 19th of July 1380 and marched from thence into Britany thro' Champagne and other Countreys by small Marches without any considerable Disturbance 9 Ib. c 363 and 365. wasting the Countreys as they went staying 2 3 4 days or more at every place or good Town where they rested and took up their Quarters When they came near Britany the Englishmen wondered they 1 Ib. c. 368. The Duke's negligence heard not from the Duke the Earl sent to him Sir Thomas Percy and Sir Thomas Trivet who met him on the way going to the Earl When they came together at Rennes they resolved to besiege Nantes as the most obstinate and Rebellious 2 Ib. c. 369. The English besiege Nants Town in Britany the Duke to assist the Earl in this Siege with his whole Force The English remained 15 days at Rennes to make themselves ready and went before the Town They within the Town had notice of these things who sent to the Duke of The Duke 's further Negligence Anjou to send them some French Officers and Soldiers to join with them for the Maintenance of the Place and they had them The English lay before 3 Ib. c. 374. They raise the Siege Nantes Two months and four days and never heard of the Duke or his Men when on the day after New-years-day they raised the Siege and marched towards Vannes where the Duke was and there and several other Towns near upon the Coast of Britany the English were Quartered all Winter 4 Ibm. The Earl's intention was at the Spring to march into France and to that purpose sent into England for more Forces The King and his Council approved his Design and engaged to send another Army to land at Cherburgh in due time to join him All this while the Duke had 5 Ibm. The Duke of Britan makes his Peace privately with France had Commissioners at Paris privately making his Peace with the Duke of Anjou which was concluded upon these Articles First it was agreed That the Duke of Britan should provide Ships to carry back the English into their own Country Secondly That the Garrison of Cherburgh The Articles of that Peace which was with the Earl before Nantes should if they would return thither by Land and have Safe Conduct Thirdly That after the departure of the English the Duke to go into France and do his Homage and Fealty to the French King as his Natural Lord. 6 Ibm. Soon after this Agreement the Duke came to Vannes and privately acquainted the Earl with it excusing himself by the obstinacy of his People and that otherwise he must have lost his Country 7 Ibm. On the 11th of April the Earl with the English set Sail from Vannes and other small Ports near and came for England About Michaelmass 8 Holinshed f. 428. and Walsingh f. 244. n. 20 30. The Duke of Lancaster went with a great Force into the North parts And did nothing the Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Warwick and Stafford with other Lords and great Soldiers with a great Force went into the North Parts to Account with the Scots for their late Invasion and lay so long in Northumberland as they ruined the Country more then a Scottish Irruption would have done They made a Truce with the Scots for half a year and so returned bringing nothing from Scotland but some Horses which they divided amongst themselves On Monday next after the 9 Ro. Parl. 4 Ric. II. n. 1 2. A Parlement at Northampton Feast of all All-Saints there was a Parlement holden at Northampton which was adjourned until Thursday at which time the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury then Chancellor tho many Temporal Lords were absent in the Marches of Scotland with the Duke of Lancaster declared the Causes of their
The Bishop of Norwich his 2d Offer Accepted by the King and his Council and approved by the Commons having had time to consider of his first Profer makes a second To serve the King one Year with 2500 Men at Arms and 2500 Archers well Arrayed and Mounted for the whole Fifteenth granted by the Laity of which Number 1000 Men at Arms and 1000 Archers should be ready to pass the Sea for the Relief of Gaunt and the Country of Flanders within 20 Days after the first Payment and that he would take upon him to pay the Charge of Shipping and other Charges 5 Ibm. This Profer was accepted by the King and his Council and much approved of by the Commons This Bishop some time before had received 6 Wâ—â—s f. 291. n. 30 40. The Bishop of Norwich had Bullsfrom Pope Urban for a Croysado against the Anti-Pope Clement Bulls from Pope Vrban for a Croysado and to sign all with the Cross that would go with him into France for the Destruction of the Anti-Pope who called himself Clement and to Sanctifie the War against all his Adherents which were the 7 Knighton col 2671. n. 20 30 c. The Ladies give their Jewels Necklaces Rings c. toward this Croysado French Scots Flemings and many other Nations By virtue of these Bulls he collected a great Sum of Money besides Jewels Necklaces Rings Dishes Spoons and other Silver Implements especially of Ladies and other Women And many gave 8 Ibm. to be pardoned and absolved from their Sins beyond their Ability as it was believed to obtain the Benefit of Absolution and Pardon for their Sins For otherwise they were not absolved unless they contributed according to their Ability Many found Men at Arms others Archers and many went in their own Persons The Form of Absolution was this By Apostolic Authority to me committed 9 Append. â— 105. The Form of the Absolution I do Absolve thee A. B. from all thy Sins which thou dost with a contrite Heart confess or would confess if thou didst remember them and give thee a Full Remission of them the Retribution of the Just and do promise the Increase or Addition of eternal Salvation And I Grant to thee the same Privileges that are Granted to such as go to the Defence of the Holy Land and do impart to thee the Benefit of the Prayers and Suffrages of the Holy Catholic Church To publish this Croysado and to absolve according to this Form there were a sufficient number of Preachers sent beyond Sea and all England over besides all the Mendicant Friers to stir up the People to contribute with a Clerc to take the Names and receive Money of the Contributors not omitting Labourers Knighton Col. 2673. Toward the latter end of 1 Wals f. 298. n. 30 40. The Bishop passeth beyond Sea with his Army May the Bishop passed the Sea with his Army staid a few Days at Calais besieged Graveling and took it by Assault Dunkirk yielded without much trouble where some Flemings joining with the French and Britans to the number of 30000 came toward the Town 2 Ibm. f. 301. lin 11. Knight ut supra n. 50 60. His great Success He besieged Ypre against whom the Bishop tho' but with a small Number in respect of theirs marched out of Dunkirk and gave them Battel taking many and killing 3000 Walsingham says 12000. Afterwards he took in Cassal Dixmude Burburgh Fern Newport and Popering Then he besieged the 3 Knight ib. His Army left the Siege and revolted from him Town of Ypre a long time assaulted it often and was always repulsed and beaten off and at length without his Knowledge the Army left the Siege and Revolted from him The Battering Engines were all left behind with one great Gun called Canterbury-Gun 4 Ibm. col 2672. lin 3. cum una magna Gunna vocata Gunna Cantuariensis The Bishop followed his Army and went to Dunkirk with Sir Hugh Caverse and part of it and from thence to Gravelin Sir Thomas Trivet Sir William Elingham and others went to Burburgh with other part of the Army and fortified it 5 Ibm. n. 10 20 30. The King of France takes Burburgh The King of France comes suddenly upon them with a great Army besieged the Town assaults it and was beaten off with loss Yet within few Days they treated and yielded the Town to the King of France upon Condition to march away with Horse and Arms and all their Goods and so they did to Calais After 6 Wals f. 304. n. 50. f. 305. n. 10 20 30. and Gravelin Burburgh was taken the French Army marched before Graveling and summoned the Bishop to yield the Town The French offered him 15000 Marks to quit the Town with liberty to demolish it and to depart and go whither he would and all with him with all their Goods He desired Time to consider of the Terms and appointed a Day to give his Answer and in the meant time sent to England for Relief which not coming at or before that Day he accepted the Terms levelled the Town to the ground and came for England after Michaelmas And thus ended the Croysado or the Pontifical War Before the Return of the Bishop of Norwich Writs Dated the 20th of August had been 7 Claus 7 Ric. II. M. 37. Dors A. D. 1384. A Parlement called The Reasons of calling it given in the Writ of Summons sent forth for a Parlement to meet on Monday before All-Saints In which Writs notice was given That by Advice and Assent of the Council the Parlement was called for their Mediation and Assistance in a Treaty of Peace to be had then between the King his Kingdom Dominions and Subjects on the one part and Robert King of Scotland his Lands Dominions and Subjects on the other part and for other Difficult and Urgent Business which concerned him the State and Defence of the Kingdom and Church of England Sir Michael de laPole then Chancellor 8 Rot. Parl. 2 Ric. II n. 3. The same and other Causes of Summons declared by the Chancellor shewed the Causes of Parlement to be for that the Truce with the Scots was to end at Candlemas next and whereas the Duke of Lancaster had been sent to renew it he was returned and brought back That the Scots would send Commissioners to London to manage the Treaty about it Another Cause was 9 Ib. n. 4 5 to provide against Three Powerful Enemies Spain France and lately Flanders And here he offered several Reasons to prove it was better for us to begin and make War upon them than they upon us or suffer them to invade us Further shewing That these Wars were not to be imputed to the King seeing that with the Crown they descended to him And the last Cause was 1 Ib. n. 6. for the Maintenance of good Laws and Security of the Peace when he put them in mind of
I know and confessed to fore the same William all the Matters and Points I wrote that is wrot in this great Roll annexed to this Scedule the which Scedule and great Roll both Sealed under the Seal of the aforesaid William and all the Matters and Points I know that is declared and confessed by the foresaid Duke in the Castle of Caleys the foresaid Duke be his own Hand fully and plainly I wrot delivered it to the same William Rickhill in the presence of John Lancaster and John Lovetot and all that ever the foresaid William Rickhill dede touching this Matter it was I doe that is done in the presence of the foresaid John and John and in none other manner I Thomas of Woodstok 9 9 Ibm. the Zer of my Lord the King twenty one be the vertue of a Commission of my Lord the King the same Zer directed to William Rickhill Justice the which is comprehended more plainly in the foresaid Commission knowleche that I was one with sterynge of other Men to assent to the making of a Commission in the which Commission I among other restreyned my Lord of his freedome and took upon me among other Power real that is Royal truly not knowing â—e witting that time that I did against his Estate nor his Royalty as I did after and do now And forasmuch as I knew afterward that I had done wrong and take upon me more then me ought to do I submitted me to my Lord and cried him Mercy and Grace and yet do as truly and as meekly as any Man may and put me high and low in his Mercy and in his Grace as he hath always been full of Mercy and Grace to all other Also in that time that I came Armed into my Lord's presence and into his Palace howsoever that I did it for drede of my Life I knowlech for certain that I did Evil and against his Regalte and his Estate wherefore I submit me lowly and meekly to his Mercy and to his Grace Also in that I took my Lords * * At Râ—dâ—â—t Bridge Letters of his Messages and opened them against his leave I knowlech that I did Evil wherefore I put me lowly in his Grace Also in that that I sclaundred my Lord I knowlech that I did Evil and Wickedly in that that I spake to him in sclaunderous wise in audience of other folk bot by the way that my Soul shall too I meant none Evil therein nevertheless I wot and knowlech that I did evil and unkindly wherefore I submit me high and low in his Grace Also in that I among other communed and asked of certain Clerks whither that we might give up oure Homage for dread of our Lives or not and whither that we were assentid thereto for to do it trewly and be my troth Ine have now none full mind thereof that is he did not remember it but I trowe rather yee then nay wherefore I submit me high and low evermore in his Grace Also in that that I was in place there it was communed and spoken in manner of deposal of my Liege Lord trewly I knowlech well that we were assentid thereto for two days or three and then we for to have done our Homage and our Othes and put him as highly in his Estate as ever he was but for south that is sooth there I knowlech that I did untrewly and unkindly as to him that is my Liege Lord and hath been so good and kind Lord to me wherefore I beseeche to him notwithstanding myâ— unkindnesse I beseche him evermore of his Mercy and of his Grace as lowly as any Creature may beseche it unto his Liege Lord. And as of any new thing or Ordenance that ever I should have witting or known ordained or assentid privy or appert that should have been against my Lord's Estate or his Lust that is Will or any that longeth about him syth that day that I swore unto him at Langeley on God's Body trewly and by that Ooth that I there made I never knew of gathering against him ne none other that longeth unto him And as touching these Points that I have made Confession of to for William Rickhill Justice in the which I wot well that I have offended my Lord unkindly and untrewly as I have said before how that I have in all these Points offended him and done against him trewly and as I will answer before God it was my meaning and my weaning that is weening or thinking to do the best for his Persone and for his Estate Nevertheless I wot well and know well nowe that my Deeds and my Workings were against my intent bot by the way that my Soul shall to of these Points and of all other the which that I have done of negligence and of unkunning it was never myne intent ne my will ne my thought for to do thing that should have been distresse or harmeing against salvation that is safety of my Liege Lords Persone as I will answere before God at the Day of Judgment And therefore I beseech my Liege and Soveraign Lord the King that he will of his high Grace and Benignity accept me to his Mercy and his Grace as I that put my Life my Body and my Goods wholly at his Will as lowly as meekly as any Creature can do or may do to his Liege Lord beseeching to his high Lordship that he will for the Passion that God suffered for all Mankind and the Compassion that he had for his Mother on the Crosse and the Pitty that he had of Mary Magdalen that he will vouchsafe for to have Compassion and Pitty and to accept me to his Mercy and to his Grace as he that hath ever been full of Mercy and of Grace to all his Lieges and to all other that have nought been so nigh unto him as I have been though I been unworthy After this Return to the Commission had been read the Apellants prayed That William Rickhill approved for his Loyalty and William Rickhill declares in Parlement the manner of the Duke of Glocester's Confession Discretion might be commanded by the King upon his Ligeance to declare the truth touching this Confession who in the presence of the King the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parlement said and declared That about Eight of the Clock before Noon he came within the Castle of Caleys to the Duke of Glocester being then in good Memorie and out of Prison esteant alors en bone memorie hors de duresse de prison and shew him the Commission and the cause of his coming to him in the presence of John Lancaster and John Lovetoft and prayed him that what he had to say he would put down in Writing and then departed Then returning to him about Nine of the Clock afternoon the same day the Duke read in writing the said Confession with his own Mouth and gave the same to William Rickhill with his own Hand And further William Rickhill said to
Droiturel Naturel Soveraign Seigneur de sa Grace especial prist la Batail en sa mayn And it was said to the Duke of Hereford That the King by full Advice Authority The King by Advice of those who had the Authority of Parlement stayed the Battel And banish'd the Duke of Hereford for 10 years Note the Duke of Hereford's Father John Duke of Lancastir was chief in this Advice and Judgment 6 Ibm. The Duke of Norfolk banished by the same Advice and Authority and Assent of Parlement le Roy par plein Avys Auctorite Assent du Parlement Willed or Ordained and Adjudged for the Peace and Tranquillity of him his Kingdom and Subjects and to eschew Debates and Troubles especially between the Dukes their Friends and Well-willers That the Duke of Hereford should go out of the Kingdom for Ten Years and be gone within Eight Days after the Day of St. Edward the Confessor or 13th of October upon pain to incur Treason by Authority of Parlement Also it was Ordained by Authority and under the pain aforesaid That the Duke of Hereford should not come in the Company of Thomas Duke of Norfolk nor of Thomas Arundel nor send or cause to be sent or receive or cause to be received by Message or otherwise to or from either of them It was then also 6 said to the Duke of Norfolk That forasmuch as at Windsor the 29th of April in the 21st of the King he had confessed certain Points of the Appeal or Schedule abovesaid which he had denied at Oswaldstre on the 23d of February foregoing which were very likely to have bred great Trouble within the Kingdom The King desiring to punish as Rightful Lord all such as were the Authors of such Troubles and Debates and also willing to avoid the Occasions of them Adjudged and Ordained by the same Advice Authority and Assent of Parlement That Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk should void his Realm voidera son Roialme for term of Life and that he shall be out of the Kingdom by the 20th of October next coming and remain in Germany Bohemia and Hungary and in other Parts of Christendom upon pain to incur Treason by Authority aforesaid and that he should not come in the Company of the Duke of Hereford nor of Thomas Arundel nor send or receive c. as before in the Duke of Hereford's Case upon the same pain And it was Ordained by Authority of Parlement as above That if either of the Dukes or any other do procure any thing to be done against the least point in the Ordinance or what was done on the 16th of September shall incur the pain of Treason as if it had been done against any Ordinance of the Parlement begun at Westminster and adjourned to Shrewsbury or if they or any other for them shoulk seek for any manner of Pardon or Licence to return home they were to incur the same pain by the same Authority On Tuesday on the morrow of St. Edward the 14th of October next following the King with the 7 Stat. at Large 21 Ric. II. c. 16. These things though in the 22d year are entred on the Parlement Roll 21st as part of that Parlement Ordinances and Statutes made at Bristol Dukes of Lancaster York Albemarle Surrey and Excester the Marquess of Dorset the Earls of March Salisbury and Glocester John Bussy Henry Green and John Russel by Virtue and Authority to them committed in Parlement at Bristol made certain Ordinances and Statutes Five whereof are printed in the Statutes at Large Cap. 16 17 18 19 20. the last whereof relating only to our Purpose and varying in Print somewhat from the Roll I have added to it what was wanting Also the King on the same Tuesday on the morrow of St. Edward by the same Assent of the Lords and Knights of Counties so assigned by the said 8 Rot. Parl. 21 Ric. II. n. 85. so entred though it was in the 22 Ric. II Not to be repealed under pain of Treason Authority of Parlement doth Ordain That every Person that procureth or pursueth to Repeal or Reverse any of the said Statutes or Ordinances made by the King by the Assent of the said Lords and Knights assigned by Power and Authority of Parlement and that duly proved in Parlement shall be Adjudged and have Execution as a Traitor to the Kingdom in like manner as they which Pursue or Procure to be Repealed the Statutes and Ordinances made during the time of the said Parlement After this Provision made for the sure keeping of the Statutes The Oaths of the Bishops and Lords enlarged and Ordinances made by the King with the Assent of the Lords and Knights assigned by Power and Authority of the Parlement the Oath of the Bishops when they received their Temporalties of the Temporal Lords when they had Livery of their Lands and Tenements were enlarged with these Additions To the Bishops Oath was added 9 Ibm. n 86. The Additions to the Bishops Oath You shall Swear That well and truly vous jurez que Bien Loyalment Tendrez Sustendez Esterrez sanz fraud on mal Engyn ove touz les Estatutes Establishments Ordenances Jugements faits c. you will Hold Vphold and Stand with without Fraud or Deceit all the Statutes Establishments Ordinances or Judgments made and rendred in the Parlement summoned and begun at Westminster on the Monday next after the Exaltation of Holy Cross in the Year of the Reign of our Lord King Richard II. after the Conquest Twenty one and from thence adjourned to Shrewsbury to the Quinden or 15 Days after St. Hillary then next coming and there ended And also all the Statutes and Ordinances made after the said Parlement by the King and Lords and Knights of Shires coming for the Commons to that Parlement without going or doing to the contrary of any of them or the Dependants on or Parcel them nor that you will ever Repeal Revoke Cassate make Void Reverse or Adnull nor ever suffer them to be Repealed Revoked Cassated made Void Reversed or Adnulled so long as you live saving to the King his Regaly Liberty and Right of his Crown To the Oath of the 1 Ibm. Temporal Lords was this further Addition You shall Swear That you will never suffer in time to come any Man The Addition to the Oath of the Lords Temporal living to go or do anything to the contrary of any of the Statutes Establishments Ordinances and Judgments above-said nor any Dependants on or Parcell of them And if any one shall do so and be thereof duly Convict you shall use your utmost Power and Diligence without Fraud or Deceit to prosecute him before the King and his Heirs Kings of England and cause him to have Execution as an High Traitor to the King and Kingdom saving to the King is Regalie Liberty and Right of his Crown At Handenstank on the 26th of October this Year Commissioners A.