the stepdoughter of Herculeus Maximianê° and had by her syx sonnes So that this Heleyn was his secoÌ„de wyfe whyche was fayrest of all maydens and therewyth lerned and suffycyenly lettred She is also noted of many writers to be a captyue or a prysoner to the Romaynes Of this Constantius lytell memorye is lefte in the bretyshe or englishe cronycles excepte that he receyued of the foresayde Heleyn a sonne named Constantinus the whyche after for his knyghtly marcyall dedys was called Constantyne the great But for the noble dedys of so vyctoryous a duke shuld not be hydde as was this CoÌ„stantius therfore I shall now folowe the story of Rome whych sayth that for so myche as in the tyme of Dioclesianus and Maximianus beynge emperours many couÌ„tres rebellyd agayne the empyre therfore the sayde emperoures admyttyd this Constantius and one Galerius as cesars whych was a dignyte next of authoryte to the emperours And so y e empyre was at those dayes guyded by two emperours by two cesars This ConstaÌ„tius as wytnessyth Policronica made subiecte to the empyre the Almaynes slewe of theym in one daye .lx. thousande And after other many vyctoryous dedys when the sayde .ii. emperours had of theyr free wylles resygned and gyuen ouer all imperiall dygnyte thys sayde Constantius with his forenamed felowe Galeriê° were made emperours y t is to wytte Galerius was emperour of all Iliricum whyche now is named Grecia or Grece wyth all the eest laÌ„des and CoÌ„stantiê° hadde to hym all the west landes But he helde hym contente wyth Gallia or Fraunce Spayne with Britayn graunted Italia vnto Galerius afore sayd Then he subdued the countre of Spayne as before is touched in the storye of Coelus and a parte of Gallia and after soiourned and abode in this lande of Brytayne in guydynge rulynge the same wyth great sobernesse and ordeyned his sonne gotten vpon Helayne to rule Gallia and Spayne But for to make this story more apparant open to y e readers and also to y e herers it is here to be noted that Dioclesianus or Dioclesian beganne his empyre ouer the Romaynes after moste wryters in the yere of our lorde two hundred .lxxx. and .vii. and he was emperour .xx. yeres And this CoÌ„stantius was sent into Brytayne from the senate as before is sayde in the seconde yere of y e sayde Dioclesian or the yere of oure lorde two hundred .lxxx. and .ix. whyche Constancius after he had in due maner spedde the nedes of the empyre as in subduynge this land of Brytayne as before is sayde he retourned agayn to Rome where he was shortely after made cesar and so contynued his lyfe as before ys touchyd And in the tyme of his beyng thus cesar and ruleâ— of Brytayne vnder y e emperour the blessyd and holy prothomartyr of Brytayn saynt Alboon at Uerolan was martyred in the .x. persecucyon of the chyrche as wytnessyth Policronicon whyche persecucyon beganne as testyfye Eusebiê° and Beda the .xviii. yere of the forenamed emperours Dioclesian Maximyan and endured .x. yeres that is to say in y e eest vnder Dioclesian and in the weste vnder Maâ—â—â—yan The whyche was so sharpe and feruent that wythin y e space of one moneth in dyuers places of the worlde were .xvii. thousande holy men and women martyred for Crystes fayth And when the sayde emperours left or resygned theyr imperyall dygnytye and â—adde a pryuate lyfe this sayde Constancius wyth his felowe Galerius departyd the empyre betwene them as before is touched so that he reygned as ruler of Brytayn by the terme of .xvii. yeres and more or he were emperoure And after as emperour of the weste partye of the empyre â–ª and kynge of Brytayn .xii. yeres and more And so in all y e sayd CoÌ„stantius reygned ouer Brytayne xxx yeres And lastely dyed and was buryed at yorke leuyng after hym y e foresayd son called CoÌ„stantinê° without mo that any meÌ„cyon is made of THE LXVIII CHAPITER COnstantinus the sonne of CoÌ„stancius and of Heleyne doughter of kynge Coelus in the yere of our lord .iii. huÌ„dred .xix. was made kynge of Brytayne Antoninus archbyshop of Florence wryter of hystoryes sheweth in the fyrst chapiter of the .ix. tytle of his worke called Sâ—â— Antonini that this CoÌ„stantine was made emperour or beganne to rule the empyre in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon .iii. hundred and .ix. which sayeng also affermeth UynceÌ„t historyall and other authours wherof the cause is y t the sayde authours accoÌ„pt not the yeres of the reygne of Constancius but folow the accoÌ„pte of Galerius felowe of Constancius whych reygned as emperour but .iii. yeres After the which rule yt muste nedis folowe that this Constantyne began his empyre as the sayd Antoninus wytnessyth and folowynge y e other accompt yt shulde varye Then to pursue or contynue y e storye of this Constantyne yt foloweth y t at the tyme of the decease of Constancius his fader he was occupyed in warres in Gallia those ê‘ties After whose deth he by a certayn terme ruled Brytayne the other landes the whyche his fader before helde in due maner And all be yt y t at y e daye he was a mysereant pagan yet he vsed no tyrannyes nor compelled not the Brytons to refuse the lawe and to worshyppe idollys as other tyrauntes at those dayes vsed In this whyle that Constantyne ruled thus the weste parte of this empyre one Maxentius whych was the son of Herculeus Maximianê° somtyme felowe in the empyre with Dioclesian as before is shewed was of the knyghtes of the pretory declared emperour This Maxentius was there worste of all men And as testyfyeth Eusebius other he fyrst began mekely to wynne therby loue fauour But when he was stablysshed in authorite he exercysed all tyraÌ„ny pursued all crystyens wyth all kynde of torment Also he expulsed and putte out from Rome all honour hys fader Herculeê° Maximianê° y t enteÌ„dyd agayne to haue ben emperour Of y e tyranny of this MaxeÌ„tius when CoÌ„stantyne had wyttyng he assembled a great hoste of Brytons and Gallis for to oppresse the malyce of the sayde Maxentius And for to rule and guyde this laÌ„d of Brytane in his absence he deputed and ordeyned a maÌ„ of myght called Octauius the whych Polycronica nameth duke of Iewessis that after were named west Saxons And when the sayde Constantyne had all peparyd for his voyage he betoke the lande of Brytayne vnto the sayd Octauius and after spedde hym vppon his iourney And as he was towarde his sayde iourney he sawe in his slepe the sygne of the crosse shynynge in the fyrmament as yt hadde ben a brennyng lyght of fyre and an aungell standynge therby and sayenge Constantyne toicanata which is to meane Constantyne by this token thou shalte wynne vyctorye when he awoke he called this vysyon to mynde and tolde vnto his secretes by whose counsayll he commaunded the sygne of the crosse to
folowynge y e accompte shuld be in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred .lxxxii and in the seconde yere of Aurely then kynge of Brytayne This kyngdome or lordshippe had in the eestsyde Kent in the south the see and the yle of wyght in the west Hampsyre and in the northe Southrey and conteyned as wytnessyth Guydo Southampton Somersetshyre Deuenshyre and Cornewayl Of whyche sayde kyngdome Ethelbaldus or Ethelwaldê° was the .iiii. kynge and the fyrste crysten kynge Thys kyngdome endured shorteste season of all the other kyngdomes and passyd soonest into the other For yt endured not aboue an hundred and .xii. yeres vnder .v. or .vii. kynges at moste THE XCV CHAPITER THen to returne where we left Aurely whyche as before ye haue harde helde and occupyed the myddell parte of Brytayne wyth CaÌ„bria or walys dyd hys dylygence to repayre ruynous places as well temples as other and caused y e seruyce of god to be sayde and done whyche by meane of the Saxons was greatly decayde thorough all Brytayne And after this Aureliê° beseged y â— Saxons in y e hyll of Badon or Badowe where he slewe many of theym But dayly the Saxons encreasyd landed in myche Brytayn as after shall appere For shortely after a Saxon named Porth landed wyth his two soÌ„nes at an haueÌ„ in Southsex After whome as some authours meane y e haueÌ„ was after called Portismouth whyche kepeth the name at this day And in lykewyse they came to lande in dyuers places of Britayne so that Aurelius had wyth them many conflyctys and bataylles in the whych he spedde dyuersly for he was somtyme vyctour and some season ouer set It is wryteÌ„ of hym in y e englyshe cronicle and other that he by y e helpe of Merlyn shuld fetche the great stones now standynge vpon the playne of Salysburye and called the stone henge oute of Irlande and caused theym to be sette there as they nowe stande in remembraunce of the Brytons that there were slayne and buryed in the tyme of the communycacyon had with Hengiste and his Saxons as before in the storye of Uortiger is touchyd But Polycronica alledgyth y t honour vnto Uter Pendragon his brother In the tyme of this Aurelius as wytnessyth also y e sayde Policronica dyed Hengist in his bed when he had reygned ouer y e Kentysh Saxons .xxiiii. yeres After whose deth Octa or Osca his sonne ruled y e sayd kyngdome other .xxiiii. yeres All be yt that the brytyshe bokes and also the cronycles of Enlande sheweth that after that Aurelius had in batayll slayne Hengiste he toke vnto his grace Octa his son gaue vnto hym a dwellynge place in the countre of Galewey for hym his SaxoÌ„s then lefte on lyue which semeth not to be true for mater that shall after ensue and also for y â— that before is touchyd of the Pictes and Scottes in the tyme of the myserye of the Brytons Then yt foloweth this Octa nother augmented nor mynyshed his lordshyp but helde hym therwyth contented as his fader had to hym lefte yt Lastely in the ende of the reygne of Aurely Pascentius the yongest son of Uortiger whiche after y e deth of his fader was fledde into Irland for fere of Aurely purchasyd ayde of Guilamour kyng of IrlaÌ„de And wyth a great armye inuadyd thys lande of Brytayne by the countre of walys in takynge the cytye of Menenia and in wastynge the sayd couÌ„tre wyth iron and fyre In the which season and tyme Aureliê° laye syke in his cytye of Kaerguent or wynchester For whych cause he desyred hys brother Uter to gather an hoste of BritoÌ„s to appease y e malice of Pascencius his adhereÌ„tis The whych accordyngly preparyd his hoste at length ouercame the hoste of PasceÌ„cius and slewe hym and the forenamed Guillamour in the same fyght In this whyle and season that Uter was thus gone agayne Pascentius a Saxon or other strauÌ„ger feynynge hym a Bryton a connyng man in physyke by the intycemet of Pascencius came vnto Aurely where he lay syke by his subtyle false meanes purchasyd such fauour wyth those y t were nyghe vnto the prynce that he was put in truste to mynystre medycines vnto the kyng This is named of writers Coppa or of some Eoppa The whyche when he had espyed his tyme coÌ„uenyent to brynge about his false purpose he gaue to Aureliê° a pocyon enpoysoned by vyolence wherof he shortely after was dede when he hadde reygned after moste wryters vppon .xix. yeres The thyrde or fyfte THE XCVI CHAPITER IN the tyme of y e reygne of this Aurelius as wytnesseth the authour of Policronica other y e kyngdome of Eestanglis began vnder a Saxon named Uffa about the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred .lxxx. and xii and the .xi. yere of Aurelius The whych kyngdome conteyned Norlf and Suff. nowe called This hadde in this eest and north sydes the see in the northweste Cambryge shyre and in the weste saynte Edmundes dytche and Hertfordshyre and in the southe Essex This lordshyppe was called fyrste Uffynys lordshyp and the kynges therof were named Uffynys or after some authoures the people But fynally they were named eest Anglys The fyrst cristen kyng of this pryncypate was Redwaldus the thyrde kynge but he was not so stedfaste as belonged to his relygyon His sonne named Corpwaldus was more stedfaste whyche after was slayne of a mysbyleuynge man and for Crystes fayth as some wryte But Guydo sayth that Sebertus was fyrste cristen kynge of this lordshyppe that he made saynt Poulys chyrch of LoÌ„don This vnder .xii. kynges endured tyll the martyrdome of blessyd saynte Edmunde laste kynge therof the whych was martyred nere about the yere of our lord .viii. huÌ„dred and lxix By the whyche reason yt shuld folowe that this kyngdome shulde endure by the terme of .iii. C.lxxvii yeres And of this lordshyp at that dayes was Elman or Thetforde the chyfe towne But after Guydo this lordeshyppe shulde begynne the yere of Grace .v. hundred .lxx then shuld yt endure but .ii. hundred .iiii. score and .xix. yeres Francia THE XCVII CHAPITER CLodoueus the sonne of Childericus or Hildericus before named was after the deth of his fader ordeyned kynge of Fraunce in y e yere of oure lorde .iiii. hundred .lxxx. and .iiii and the thyrde yere of Aurelius then kyng of Brytayne This of some wryters is named Clodoueê° Lowys The whyche shortely after that he of this realme was authorysyd for kynge heryng reporte of the beaute and grete vertue of Clotildis neuewe to Cundebald kynge or ruler of Burgoyne sente vnto hym a knyght named Aurelius to treat a maryage betwene the kynge and Clotyld or Crotild The which Cundebald more for fere then for loue assentyd The cause wherof as myn authour sayth was for y t thys Crotyld was enherytour vnto the sayde lande of Burgoyne and that she be reason of y t maryage shuld recouer her ryghte and put hym from the
kynges subieccyon Henry archbyshoppe of Huntyngdon that wrote myche of the cronycles of Englande in prayse of thys noble woman Elfleda made dyuers dytyes of the whyche some ben expressyd as foloweth Cesers tryuÌ„phes were not so myche to prayse As was of Elfleda that sheldes so ofte dyd rayse Agayne her enymyes this noble ven queresse Uirago and made whose vertue can I not expresse WHen Edwarde hadde reconciled these foresayde townes he then buylded a new towne for agayn the olde towne of Nothyngham on the south syde of the ryuer of Trent and made a brydge ouer the sayd ryuer betwene the sayd .ii. twones And as wytnessyth Policronica the yere folowynge in the sayde towne or cytye of Notyngham two kinges that is to saye of Scotlande and walys yeldyd them vnto kynge Edwarde The cause why nor of warre betwene theym to be contynued is not of hym expressyd How be yt dyuers bokes of writers of cronycles of Englande as of Marianê° the Scot wyllam of Malmesbury Henry of Huntyngdon other yt is shewyd that this Edwarde subdued the kynges of Scotlande and of CuÌ„brys aboute the .ix. yere of hys reygne And of the sayde authours yt is also testifyed that about the .xx. yere of the reygne of the sayde Edwarde these sayde kynges of Scottes and Cumbrys shulde chose this kynge Edwarde for theyr chefe lord and patrone whyche shuld be about this season before expressyd Then this noble prynce Edwarde after these thynges set by hym in an order he in the northe ende of Mercia by the ryuer of Merce buylded a cytye or towne and named yt Thylwall and strengthyd yt wyth knyghtes And after repayred the cytye of Maynchester that sore was defaced with warre of y e Danys After which notable dedis by y e puyssaunt prynce fynyshed wyth the maryage of hys chylder and many other whyche I omytte and passe ouer for length of tyme fynally this noble man dyed when he hadde reygned wyth great trauayle by the terme of .xxiiii. yeres at Faryngdon and from thens conueyed to wynchester and there enteryd in the monastery of saynt Swythyne leuyng after hym dyuers sonnes as before is shewed of the which Ethelstane was eldest Francia THE CLXXXI CHAPITER CHarlys surnamed the symple sonne of Lewys the .iiii. or Ryen Fayzand began hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon as wytnessyth Iacobê° Philippus and other .ix. hundred .iiii and the thyrde yere of Edwarde the elder than kynge of Englande In tyme of whose reygne the Danys whyche contynuelly ouer the terme of .l. wynters that is to saye from y e x. yere of Charlys the Ballyd somtyme kynge of Fraunce vnto y e sayd dayes had wasted and spoyled the lande not wythstandyng y e agrementes made bytwene Charlys the emperour and them as before in y e story of the .iiii. Lewys is shewed yet they wyth greate hostes aryued in the couÌ„tre of Neustria or Normandy robbed and spoyled the countre before them and slewe the people thereof wythout pytye and from cytye to cytye kepte on theyr iourney tyll they came vnto the cytye of Roan wherof the bysshop beynge in greate drede of subuersyon of the cytye and destruccyon of the crysten people wyth in the same delyuered the cytye by appoyntment that he wyth y e people myghte departe thens wythout bodely harme whyche vnto the sayde Danys was a greate strength and hurte to the lande of Fraunce Of thys hoste of Danys was ruler and leder a myscreaunt named Rollo the whyche was a man of lowe byrthe but he was of greate strength The whyche whan he had a season rested hym and hys hoste refresshed them wythin the cytye of Roan he than set forth hys waye coÌ„mauÌ„dyng hys vawnewarde to kepe theyr iourney towarde Parys And for y e more spede to be made he shypped hys Danis ryght there and one parte he sent by the ryuer of Sean the seconde by the ryuer of Lyger or Leyr and the thyrde by the water Geronde Than the Danys that passyd by the ryuer of Leyr came at length to the cyte of Nauntes and wan that cytye by strength and slewe therin moche people And the byshop of the same named Guymerte beynge at masse they slewe at the aulter And whan they had spoyled that cytye the countre there about than yode they to the cytye of Angiers brent and robbyd it most cruelly And that done they yode vnto Towres and layde syege to that cytye The which by the presens of the holy body of saynt Martyne whych at that tyme was wythin y e cytye it was a whyle preserued But soone after the munkes feryng the sworde of the Danys fled the cytye secretly and toke the body wyth them And soone after the Danes had the towne at theyr wyll and brent the abbay before the town or staÌ„dynge without the towne and spoyled and robbed the cytye townes thorough the countre of Guyan whan the Danys had thus subdued the more parte of Neustria or Normandy They wyth theyr duke Rollo by y e ryuer of SeynÌ„ drewe towarde Parys And fyrst entred the landes of Burgoyne and Auerne in effecte to Senons wherof heryng the monkes of the monastery of Flory where the body of saynte Benet than rested they toke that holy treasoure and bare it vnto Orlyaunce layde it in the chyrche of saynt Anyan tyll the persecucyon were ouer passed Of thys monastery was at that dayes lyuynge a defensour by promyse before made whose name in latyne is called Sigillosus in FreÌ„ch Sigillophes an erle whych was taken for patrone of the same abbaye To whom in the nyght folowynge that the monkes were fled as before is sayd saynt Benet appered blamed hym y t he none other wyse had defended y e place of hys Sepulture wyth whych visyon the sayd erle beynge feryd gaderyd vnto hym vpon the daye folowyng such small power as he than myghte make set vpon the Danys and draue them backe slewe of them a great nomber And y e prayes that he there wan he offered to god and saynte Benet by whose prayers he knewe well that he opteyned that vyctory In tyme y t the Danys thus persecuted the countre of Fraunce and the kynge was not of power them to resyst for so mych as Charles knew well that the bysshop of Roan named Franke was in good fauour of Rollo he therfore sent hym in ambassade to the sayd Rollo to requyre a trewe or trewse for thre monethes the whych was grauÌ„ted The which trewse ended the sayd Rollo beseged the cytye of Chartrys Duryng whiche syege the duke of Burgoyne named Richarde wyth hys retynue assayled the Danys In tyme of which fyght Ebalde erle of Poytowe was present and draue backe y e Danys wherwyth the bysshop of the cytye beynge encoraged toke wyth hym y e smocke of our lady whyche at those dayes was kepte there wyth greate reuerence and wyth the cytesyns other issued out of
and fette there his aimes hys sayde wyfe then lyenge at the castell of warwyke not knowynge of any man what he was tyll lastely he was visited with so sore sykenes that he knew well that he shuld dye wherefore he sente hys weddynge rynge vnto hys wyfe requyrynge her in all haste to come and speke wyth hym whych she obeyed in humble wyse and sped her vnto the sayd Heremytage wyth all womanly dylygence and fande hym deed at her commynge whom she besprent with many a salt tere And as she was enfourmed of the messenger as he dyed she buryed hym ryghte there And more ouer as saith my sayd authour he monyshed her by the sayd messenger that she shulde prouyde for her selfe for she shuld also alter her mortall lyfe the .xv. day folowyng which also she obeyed and made suche prouisyon that she was in that place buryed by hym All whyche mater the sayde Dane Iohn̄ Lydgate affyrmeth that he toke out of the boke of Gerarde Cambres̄ whyche wrote mych of the dedes and storyes of the prynces of Englande as Policronica and other authour testyfyen and as the sayde Lydgate in the ende of his sayde treatyse wytnessyth as by the mater folowynge appereth For more authorite as of this mater This translacyon such as in sentēce Out of laten made by the cronycler Called of old Gerardus Cambrēce whyche wrote the dedes wyth great dylygence Of them that were in weste Saxon crowned kynges Greatly cōmendyd for theyr knyghtly excellence Guy of warwyke in hys famouse wrytynges AL whyche sayde treatyse is shewyd at length in meter of viii stauys after the maner of the precedentes by the dylygent labour of the sayde Dane Iohn̄ Lydgate The whyche I haue here sette in for so mych as yt concernyth mater that was done in the tyme of the reygne of thys Ethylstane The whyche after the accorde of moste wryters ▪ broughte thys lande agayne to one monarchye and reygned as kynge therof by the full terme of .xvi. yeres and was buryed at the monastery of Malmysbury leuynge after hym no chylde wherfore the rule of the land fyll vnto Edmunde his brother Francia THE CLXXXVI CHAPITER LEwys the sonne of Charlis y e symple beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchmen in y e yere of our lorde ix hundred and xxxiiii and the .ix yere of Ethelstane then kynge of Englande ye haue harde before in the ende of the storye of Charlys y e symple how Elgina the quene wyth Lewys her yonger sonne was fledde into England to her father Edward the elder wherfore y e lordes of Fraūce not knowynge where she with the Chylde was gone chose the forenamed Rauf for theyr kynge After whose deth the said lordes of Fraūce beynge ascertayned of the beynge of the sayd Lewys in England sent vnto hym the archbyshop of Senys Hughe surnamed le graunde desyrynge hym to restore into Fraunce and take therof possessyon Then Elgina herynge the message of the lordes and trustyng vnto thē by counsayll of her frendes made her redy wyth her son sayled shortly after into Fraunce where she was receyued wyth myche honour shortly after crowned her sonne Lewys kynge at the cytye of Laon̄ This Lewys is named y e .v. Lewys In the thyrde yere of whose reygne fyll a scarcytye of corne vytayll by reason wherof ensued a great famyn in so myche that people voyded the realme many dyed for defaut For as wytnesseth the frenche cronycle a quarter of whete was then worth .xx. poūde of y e money which is of value after sterlynge money .l. s. or there about This kyng beryng in mynd the murder and treason done agayn his father by Hebert as before in the storye of Charlis the symple is declared cast and ymagined in his mynde how he myght wythout shedynge of blood reuenge the deth of his fader and after many ymagynacyons and thought is reuolued in his mynde he lastely dyuysed a letter the whych he charged a seruaunt of his to brynge to hys presence when he was sette amonge his lordes in counsayll when kynge Lewys hadde compassed this in hys mynde he for nedes of hys realme called a great coūsayll of his barony at Laon̄ whyther amonges the other the sayde Heberte erle of Uermendoys was warned to come And when the kynge was ascertayned of theyr commynges he apoynted a secrete cōpanye in harnes to be in a secrete chamber nere vnto the place of the sayde counsayll and at conuenient tyme after yode vnto the same and all his lordes wyth hym And when he hadde a season commoned wyth hys lordes of suche maters as hym lyked sodeynly came one to hym and sayd that a man was cōmen wyth a letter dyrected to hys grace oute of Englande the whych he commaunded to be broughte vnto hys syghte when the kyng hadde vnfolde the letter and radde a parte therof he smyled whereof the lordes beynge ware purposed the kynge to haue receyued some iewyllys or ioyous nouellys oute of Englande whyle the kynge was aboute to delyuer this letter to his scribe or secretory one of hys lordes sayde vnto hym Syr we truste ye haue some iocande mery tydynges oute of Englāde that ye haue cause of smilyng I shall shewe the cause to you sayde the kyng There is dwellyngin England a kynnesman of myne named Harman the whych is a man of gret myghte and myne especyall frende He shewyth me by this letter that an husbandeman or a vyleyne badde or requyred hys lorde vnto his howse to dyner and vnder the coloure therof he slewe hys sayde lorde And for the sayde Harman thynketh the law of that lande to fauourable for such an haynous dede hetherfore writeth to me to haue myne aduyse in thys mater wherfore sens ye be all present I praye you shewe to me your opynyons in this mater whych with one voyce sayde y t the murderer was worthy to suffer the moste shamefull and cruell deth to be hanged and strangled in a rope But for y e kynge wolde be certaynely enfourmed of the consentes of theym all he began at the hygest and so pursued theym tyll he came to Hebert erle of Uermēdoys the whych alowed the sentēce as the other hadde done Then the kynge made a token to y e walshemen betwene hym them before appoynted so y e anon they were present sette sure hold vppon the sayde Hebert To whom the kynge sayd Hebert thou art the husbondman or vilayne y t I haue spoken of whych slew his lord vnder colour of byddynge or gestynge hym in hys house For traytoursly thou dydeste requyre my lorde and father vnder thyne house or castell of Peron̄ and there not remembrynge the kyndnes to the by hym before dayes shewyd nor thyne allegyauntes and trouthe that toward hym thou shuldest haue borne kept hym lyke a prysoner and lastely murderyd hym to the greate daunger agayne god to the world shame wherfore accordynge to thy desert and after thyne own sentence and iudgemēt take now
fermely bounde to kepe as well by hostages taken as other suertye the kynge retourned into England ioynyng this kyngedome to hys other So that here is rekened the ende of this kyngdome whyche shulde endure as before is shewyd in the C.ix. chapyter of thys worke by the terme of foure hundred .ix. yeres In the same yere that the kynge hadde thus subdued the danys a strong sykenesse toke hym wherfore he sent for holy byshoppe Dunstane to come vnto hym The whych Dunstane in goynge towarde the kynge harde a voyce saye vnto hym now restyth kynge Edredus in peace At tyme of whych voyce thus sayenge the horse of that holy byshop fyll to the grounde and dyed wythout hurtynge of hys mayster Then this holy man continued his iourney and fande the kynge dede at his commynge whome he buryed wyth great reuerence in the monastery or cathedrall chyrche of the cytye of wynchester in the .xxviii. yere of his age and the .x. yere of hys reygne as testyfyeth Guydo and other THE CXC CHAPITER LOtharius the eldest sonne of the v. Lewys began his reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lordes incarnacy on .ix. hundred lv and y e .viii. yere of Edredus then kynge of Englande Thys Lothayr by meanes of Thebaude or Theobalde erle of Chartres toke partye agayne Rycharde duke of Normandye And for to haue agayn hym som groūdely cause he sent vnto y e duke monyshynge hym to haue in mynde the fayth and allegyaunce that the dukes of Normandye ought to bere vnto the kynges of Fraūce And for maynteynynge of the same and for other maters that he hadde to speke wyth hym of he wylled hym to come to a place appoynted where all such maters myght haue farther expedicion All whyche commaundement or request was graunted of the duke when the kynge had receyued this answere from the duke wherof he demyd before the contrary he sent for Arnolde erle of Flaundres Godfrey erle of Angewe and Theobalde before named By whose counsaylles after many argumentes made the kynge agreed to call the duke vnto the ryuer of Isayr there to betraye hym At which daye place appoynted y e duke with a cōuenyent cōpany came vnto the sayd ryuersyde there abydyng the cōmyng of Lothayr vppon y e other syde whyche lastly came thyther wyth a great people wherof when the duke was ware he fered treason for the whyche cause he sent espyes to knowe of the kynges entent And they as wyse mē espyed all the purpose of the hoste and shortely retourned and shewed to the duke that he was in great daunger The whyche shortely after apperyd for the Frenchemen began to passe the ryuer in great nomber Then duke Rychard consyderyng that he was of so litell myght to with stande the great power of the Frēche hoste sente a parte of his men to defende the passage wyth the remenaunt retourned vnto the cytye of Roan̄ wherof the kynge beyng ware that the duke was hym escaped called agayne his people wyth great dyspleasure retourned vnto Laon. It was not longe after y t the kyng assembled a great hoste of Burgonyons and Frenchemen entred into Normandye and beseged the cytye of Bayon and lastly wanne it by the treason of one Gylberde a smyth belongynge vnto y e erle Theobald aboue named when the kynge hadde thus wōne y e citye of Bayon he betoke the kepynge therof vnto the sayde erle The whyche puttynge therin a strength of knyghtes yode vnto a castell called Harmauyle besegyd yt wyth a certayn of knyghtes In whyche season the kynge for nedes of his realme retourned into Fraunce when duke Rycharde was ware of the kynges departure he wyth hys people passed the water of Sayn̄ costed the countrey fyll sodaynely vppon erle Theobalde lyenge at the foresayd syege and slewe of his men vi hūdred .xl. persons and put the erle in such a fere that he scaped with great daunger and fledde with smal company tyll he came to his owne citye of Charters Then duke Rycharde consyderyng the great malice of his foon strēgth of them sent vnto the kynge of Denmarke then named Erarde requyryng him of ayde or helpe for to withstande the malyce of his enymyes The whych Erarde receyued gladly that message promysed to them all theyr request shortely after sent to the sayd duke a great army of Danys which sped thē by y e see tyll they came to to the place where the water of Sayn̄ falleth into the see wherof the duke beynge aduertysed in short space drew vnto them wyth his people and so with them entred the coūtrey of y e erle of Chartris in wastyng destroynge it wythout mercy and after entred the landes of Fraunce in pyllynge robbynge brennynge wastynge yt and slew y e people with out mercy and pytye For this mysery tyranny thus exercysed by the Danys y e kyng beyng therwyth confused sente for the bysshoppes of his land to haue theyr aduyce Amonges the which the bishop of Chartris beynge present was by the hole counsayll admitted to go to the duke and knowe the cause why that he beynge a crysten man made suche destruccyon of the crysten people and occupyed the land of crysten men with so manyfolde harmes and seathes and to conclude the trew or trewce for a certayne of tyme. The sayde byshoppe accomplyssynge the kynges pleasure was answered of the duke that this vexacyon that he put the lande of Fraunce to was for the iniurye y t the kyng hadde before tyme done vnto hym yet cōtynued the same in holdynge from hym hys cytye of Bayon the whych he hadde gyuen to his great enymy the erle of Chartris So that in conclusyon a restraynte of warre was graunted vppon condycyon that by a day assygned the kynge wold apoynte a day of communycacyon and in the meane tyme restore vnto hym hys cytye of Bayon when the kynge had receyued y e answere from the duke he made suche meanes that y e duke receyued his city of Bayon with all dyspeasure forgyuen agayn y e forenamed Theobald whych was done by medyacyon of a relygyous munke as affermeth the Frenche boke And after the daye of metynge was appoynted at a place called Gyndolfoss where the duke made ordynaūce for receyuynge of y e kyng and cōmaunded the paynyms and Danis to behaue them reuerently agayne the kynge and his people the whych was obeyed in all due maner And y e kyng there receyued with myche honour hadde vnto the duke many goodly wordes requyrynge hym to forget all his former vnkyndnesse trustynge to shewe vnto hym suche pleasures in tyme to come that shulde recompence all the former displeasures and vnkyndnes by him before commytted wyth whyche fayre speche the duke takynge yt wythout dyssymulacyon was well satysfyed and content so that after assuraunce of amytye and peace betwene theym stablysshed eyther gyuynge vnto other great and ryche gyftes they departed as frendes The whych
peas contynued durynge theyr lyues THE CXCI. CHAPITER LOthayre thus beyng in loue and amytye wyth the Normans caste in his mynde howe he myght wynne from his neuewe Otthon kynge of Germany y e prouynce of Austracy or Lorayn y t in tyme passed was belongynge to his progeny tours And this to brynge to effecte he gaderyd in right secret wyse a chosen host of Frenchemen with them passed the countrey in such wise that he was entred the cytye of Aquisgrani or any great fame or noyse were therof made wherwith Ottho beyng dysmade fledde for that season suffred the sayde Lothayr for that tyme to execute his pleasure so y t the sayd Lothayre spoyled the kynges paleys and other places to the great enrychinge of hym his hoste And when he hadde taryed there a certayne of tyme he retourned wythout batayll wyth great pompe into Fraunce It is shewyd before in the begynnyng of the story of Ethelstane kyng of England that Henry duke of Saxony the whyche is ment for Germany sent vnto the sayde Ethilstane to haue his suster Alunda to mary vnto his sonne Ottho or Otthon ye shall vnderstande this Henry is of some wryters admytted for emperour But his sonne Ottho forenamed was emperour in dede whose sonne this Ottho was abouenamed and called the seconde of that name and emperour after hys father and son of the forenamed Alunda suster to Ethilstane Then this second Ottho emperour kyng of Germany beyng thus as ye haue hard surprised of his neuew Lothayre kyng of west Fraunce gaderyd a stronge hoste and entred the realm of FrauÌ„ce And as wytnessyth Gerardus wryter of hystoryes destroyed the couÌ„trey of Soysons and lastly came vnto Paris and brent y e suburbes of that cytye and hadde a great parte of his wyll of the sayde Lothayre But the frenche cronycle varyeth from this saynge and sayth that Lothayr by the helpe of the duke of burgoyne and of Hugh Capet erle of Paris after y e sayd OtthoÌ„ had fyred the suburbes of the citye of Parys issued out of the towne faught wyth the emperoure and compelled him to gyue backe and fle whom the kynge pursued tyll he came to the ryuer of Isayr or Sue where eyther hoste encouÌ„tred wyth other faught cruelly But at length the emperour was forced to forsake y e feld mych of his people slayn and droned with in the said ryuer And so grete a nomber as affermeth the frenche storye that the course of the water was stopped and ouerflowed the feldes nere vnto the sayde ryuer But this victory not wythstaÌ„dyng as wytnessyth mayster Gagwyn the kynge coÌ„trary the mynde of the duke of Burgoyne and also of Hugh Capet releasyd vnto the emperour the tytle and ryghte of Lorayne The whyche was cause of couetynge of the realme by the sayde Hugh and vsurpynge of the same as affermeth the sayde authoure whyche agrement betwene the two princes stablisshed and ended eyther retourned into his own countrey After the which season no notable dede is put in memory of the sayde Lothayre so that he fynally sykened and dyed in the yere of our lorde .ix hundred .lxxx. vi when he had ruled his pryncypat vygurously by the full terme of .xxx. wynter and was buried in the mynster of saynte Remigius in the cytye of Raynes leuynge after hym a son named Lewys Anglia THE CXCII CHAPITER Edredus or Edwyne the eldeste son of Edmund brother of Ethil stane began his reygne ouer Englande in the yere of our lord .ix. hundred .lvi and the second yere of Lothayre then kynge of Fraunce This Edwyne was crowned kynge at Kyngistone or Kyngestowne besyde London of the archbyshoppe of Caunterbury The whych selfe daye of his ê“fessyon or coronacion broke sodeynly from his lordes entred a secrete chaÌ„ber there occupyed him selfe synfully wyth a nother mannes wyfe wherof saynt DuÌ„stane hauyng knowlege rebuked and blamed hym greuously caused the woman to be voyded from his bed and company whose husband as one authour testyfyeth he slew for to haue y e vnlawful vse of her beaute not coÌ„sideryng y e allyauÌ„ce of affynyte of kynred betwene them affermeth y e sayde authour Guydo writer of storyes sayth that Edwyn coÌ„trary y e lawes of y e chyrch held a woman as his coÌ„cubyne wherfore holy DuÌ„stane accused him vnto Oddo archbishop of CauÌ„terbury by whose power the kynge was causyd to refuse forsake the coÌ„pany of that woman For the which dede Edwyn bare great malice vnto the holy man Dunstane at length by his extorte power banyshed hym his lande and forced hym for a season to holde hym in Flaunders And for the malyce y e he bare towarde hym he dyd myche dyspleasure to all blacke munkes of Englande in so myche that at Malmysbury he put oute the moÌ„kes and set in seculer prestes in theyr stede It is rad of hym that he also toke from the chyrch what he myght and specyally from the blacke monkes In so myche that such precyouse iewellys as Ethylstane hadde before receyued from OthonÌ„ the emperour gyueÌ„ vnto wynchester and Malmysbury he toke theym thens and gaue theym vnto alyauntes and straungers And thus was not onely vnkynde to god but also he vsyd suche tyranny and other vnlefull meanes to hys subiectes that lastely they rebelled agayn hym and specyally the inhabytauÌ„tes of the countre of Mercia or myddell Englande and also of Northumbers and put hym clerely from all kyngely honour and dygnytye when he had reygned after most wryters the full terme of .iiii. yeres and was buryed after in y e cathedrall chyrche of wynchester leuynge none heyre of his body wherfore the rule of the lande fyll vnto Edgar his yonger brother Antoninus archebyshop of FloreÌ„ce in this worke often before mynded amonges many myracles and vertues actes which he in y e .vi. chapiter of y e .xvi. title of his boke called SmÌ„ Antonini reherseth of this holy man DunstanÌ„ sayth that when he had vnderstandynge of the deth of thys EdwynÌ„ by reuelacyon or otherwyse he made hys specyall prayer to god to know what state the soule of EdwynÌ„ was in To whome after thys prayer made apperyd to the sayde DuÌ„stane a great company of feÌ„des turmentynge the soule of the sayde Edwyn and ledynge yt vnto the places of peyne The whyche when this holy man hadde sene he fell to great wepynge and sorowe besechynge god with most deuocyon to haue pytye and compassyon of that soule And whyle he was occupied in his prayer the sayde coÌ„pany of fendes returned wyth yellynge and cryenge shewynge to hym that thorough hys prayer the angelles of god had byrafte from them the soule of Edwyn THE CXCIII CHAPITER EDgar the seconde sonne of Edmunde and brother of Edwyn laste kynge began hys reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .lx and the .v. yere of Lotharius then kynge of Fraunce The whyche of dyuers wryters is wytnessed to be
what maner of tytle or successyon In the .xxxii. yere of the kyng dyed Robert Curthose the kynges broder the whyche he hadde kept as prysoner in the castell of Cardyfe from the iiii yere of his reygn or there about whose corps as before is shewed was buryed at Glouceter before the hyghe alter And aboute this tyme was founded the pryorye of Norton in the prouynce of Chester by one wyllyam the sonne of Nychelle And the abbay of Combremer in the same prouynce was also founded aboute the same tyme. In the .xxxv. yere of kynge Henry was borne of Molde the empresse Henry shorte mantell or Henry the seconde The whyche as after shall be shewed was consentynge to the martyrdome of saynt Thomas of Caunterburye Kynge Henry beyng in Normandy after some writers fell from or wyth hys horse whereof he cought hys deth But Ranulphe sayth he toke a surfet by etynge of a lamprey ther of dyet when he hadde reygned full xxxv yeres and odde monethes Then y e kynges bowellys were drawen out of hys body and then salted wyth myche salte And for to auoyde the stenche whych hadde infected many men the body was lastely closed in a bulles skynne and yet yt was not all stynted He that clensed the hed dyed of the stenche of the brayn Then lastely the body was brought into England buryed in the abbay of Redynge that he had before founded Then y e fame of hym was blowen abrode as yt is blowen of other prynces and sayde y t he passed other men in .iii. thynges In wytte in eloquence and fortune of batayll And other sayde he was ouercomen wyth iii. vyces wyth couetyse wyth cruelty and wyth luste of lechery One other made these verys of hym as folowen Kynge Henry is dede bewte of the world for whom great dole Goddes now maken for theyr kynde brother For he is sole Mercurius in speche Marce in batayll harte stronge Appollo Iupiter in hest egall with Saturne and enymye to Cupido Kyng he was of right man of most myght and glorious in raynyng And when he left his crowne theÌ„ fell honour downe for mysse of suche a kynge Normandy than gan lowre for losse of theyr floure sange wel away Englande made mone Scotlande dyd grone for to se that daye Francia THE CCXXX CHAPITER LEwys the sonne of the fyrste Phylyp beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .vii. to reken his begynnynge from the deth of his father and the .vi. yere of the fyrste Henry then kyng of England This Lewys as before is touched was admytted to the rule of the land certayn yeres or hys father dyed and was surnamed Lewes the great for grossenesse of his body Anon as this Lewys had fynyshed the obsequy of the funerallys of hys father he wythoute taryenge called a counsayll of hys lordes spyrytuall and temporall at the cytye of Orleaunce where of the byshoppe of the same see wyth other adioynynge he was solemnly anoynted crowned But not wythout grudge of the archbyshoppe of Raynes for so mych as of custome the Frenche kynges vsed there to be crowned Soone after the coronacyon of Lewys Guy le Rous and Guy de Cressy his sonne whych before tyme hadde ben at debate and warre with Lewys and Lewys had from them taken y e castel of Gurnaye this Guy le Rous wyth hys sonne seynge they might not preuayle agayn the kyng awayted theyr tyme and season and espyed when Endo hys owne broder and erle of Corbueyll went forth on huntynge and toke hym as a prysoner kept hym in the castell of Bawdum whereof the cause was for so myche as the sayde Endo wolde not assyste nor ayde y e sayd Guyle Rous his brother agayne the kynge when thys was knowen anon the frendes and tenauntes of the sayde erle shewyd this mater vnto the kynge besechynge hym that he wolde ayde and assyste theym to recouer theyr naturall lorde wherunto the kynge granÌ„ted and forth wyth sent a knyght or captayn of his named Auncelyne accompanyed with .xl. horsmen before for so myche as yt was shewyd vnto the kyng y t such as had y e rule of the castell wolde receyue suche persones as were sent from hym and delyuer the castell wyth the prysoner vnto them Uppon whyche appoyntemeÌ„t thys Ancelyne as before is sayd was sent to entre this castell But all contrary to the former ê“mise made this Auncelyne was betrayed and taken and many of his men slayne hym selfe set in prison where the sayd erle of Corbuayll was wherof when the kynge was enfourmed he was passynge greuously dyscontent wherfore in all haste he sped him thyther compassed y e castell wyth a stronge syege and those that were wythin defended them manfully In the tyme of the whyche syege nother Guy the fader nor Guy hys sonne were with in the sayde castell of Baudum But Guy y e son as a lusty and iuperdous knyght put hym self in aduenture dyuers wayes and tymes to haue entred the sayde castell for comfort of his men but all was in vayn Fynally the kynge made so sore and cruell assautes that he wan the fyrst warde wyth great dyffycultye and after the hole and delyueryd the erle and Auncelyn his stewarde y e which were in great doute of theyr lyues And such as he toke prysoners of the soldyours some he put to deth and some he prisoned to theyr lyues ende to the terrour and fere of other In processe of tyme after at a place called the Roche of Guy whych one Guy of olde tyme had buylded dwel lyd at this daye one of that stocke named also Guy the whyche hadde to wyfe a fayre and good woman the doughter of one wyllyaÌ„ a Norman whyche wyllyam entendynge to dysheryte the sayde Guy and to be lord of that stronge place vppon a tyme when the sayde Guy was in y e chyrch or chapell to here his dyuyne seruyce entred the chyrche wyth a certayn of harnessed knightes vnder theyr man tellys and fell vppon hym and all to hewe hym wherof herynge the wyfe ranne as a madde woman and fell vppon her husbande to the enteÌ„t to saue hym from the strokes But the tyrauntes were so cruell y t they forbare nothynge of theyr cruel tye but wounded her wyth her husbande so that both were slayne and that done entred the castell and slew all suche as they found therin when this willyam fader to y e wife of Guy or broder to her as affermeth maister Robert Gagwyne was possessed of y e castell of Guyon he thought therby to rule all the countrey enuyron But the gentylles and commons he rynge of thys shamefull murder assembled theÌ„ to gither of one mynde whyle some of them yode to the kyng to enfurme hym of that cruell dede the other prepared abyllementes of warre and layde syege to the sayde castell The kynge Lewys herynge of this shamfull dede and the wynnynge of so stronge
that in y e sayd octaues shulde a parlyament be holdyn at westmynster At whyche daye the kyng wyth his lordes spyrytuall and temporall and commons of hys lande beganne his forsayde parlyament Durynge the whyche yt was there shewed the kynge beynge present that he nor syr Edward his son nor none of theym shulde after that daye greue or cause to be greuyd the erles of Leyceter and of Glouceter y e Barons Banerettes or knyghtes the citesyns of London and Barons of the .v. portes nor none other ê‘sons or persones of hyghe or low degree that was vpon the partye of the sayd erles for any mater of dyspleasure done agayne the kynge and the sayd syr Edwarde his sonne at any tyme before that day And that to vphold the kynge before hys lordes was sworne And after that was shewed and rad a charter of pardon concernynge the sayde cause and a confyrmacyon of the statutes of the foreste wyth many other actes and statutes before graunted of the kynge Then in the feaste of saynt Gregory folowynge or the .xii. daye of Marche syr Edwarde the kynges son y t beforne was also sworn to performe such promyses as the kyng had made before in the parliament was delyueryd at lyberte also syr Henry the kynges son of Almayne the whych had ben kept as pledge as ye before haue harde vppon the terme of .ix. monethes odde dayes vpon assurauÌ„ce made that y e sayd syr Edwarde shuld dwel and abyde in the kynges courte and not to departe from thens wythoute lycence of the kyng and of a certayne of the Barons After this many instrumentes bandes were made by the kynge and syr Edwarde his son for the performaunce of couenaunts paccyons made betwene the kynge and the Barons whyche shortly after came to small effecte In the season betwene Easter and Penthecoste for orderynge of the aforesaid statutes made at Oxenford fell deffencyon betwene the erles of Leyceter of Glouceter so that wordes of dyspleasure was vtteryd betweene them the kynge and they also beynge then at Glouceter Then the kynge and his Barons had laboure to set theym at vnyte and reste And vppon the see the Barons of the .v. portes robbed and spoyled all men that they myght take sparynge nother Englyshe marchauntes nor other Of whych prayes as y e coÌ„mon fame then went some of the Barons of the lande hadde good parte In the whytson weke folowynge y e kynge wyth the erle of Leyceter and syr Edwarde hys sonne wyth many other lordes beynge at Herforde in y e edge of walys the sayd syr Edward secretly and wythout lycence departed from the courte and yode vnto Chester where he accoÌ„panyed to him the erle of Glouceter and y e lordes of the Marches the erle of wareÌ„ne syr Roger Mortymer and other from thens went vnto Glouceter breking the brydges as he went to the entent that he were not folowed tyll he had assembled his power when knowlege of thys came vnto the erle of Leyceter he in al hast sent vnto syr SymoÌ„de his son y t he shuld gather his knyghtes vnto hym The which accordyng to y e coÌ„maundemeÌ„t assembled vnto hym myche people with them drew toward wynchester so that he came before the cytye vppon the euyn of the translacyon of saynte Swythyn or the .xiiii. daye of the moneth of Iulye where he was shyt out for so mych as the cytesyns knewe not whyther he came as the kynges frende or not And also lytell before they hadde receyued a letter from syr Edwarde wyllynge theym to holde theym out of the cytye For these causes the citesyns closed theyr gates agayn the sayd syr Symonde and hys companye But yt was not longe or the cytye was yelden Then they spoyled the town and slewe the more partye of the Iewes that dwellyd wythin the same And that done layd syege vnto the castell and assauted it But for tydynges were fayned of the coÌ„mynge of syr Edwarde with hys power they departyd shortely thens and so yode vnto Kenelworth Uppon the laste daye of Iuly syr Edwarde wyth hys hoste came vnto Kenelworth foresaid and fyll sodaynly vppon the hoste of the forenamed syr Symonde and wyth shedynge of lytell blood toke there prysoners the erle of Oxenforde wyllyam de mount Canyse Adam de Newmarket syr Balwyne wake and Hughe Neuyle wyth dyuers other and syr Symonde fledde into the castell and so escaped Then these forenamed prysoners were all sent vnto Glouceter and there putte in suer kepynge In this meane whyle syr Symonde erle of Leyceter toke leue of the kynge whyche then from Herforde passed the ryuer of Seuerne and so yode vnto worceter And y e erle with great payne passed the brydges before by syr Edwarde broken and passed the couÌ„treys in gaderynge of people as he went so y t in processe he had wyth hym stronge power wherof herynge syr Edwarde costed towarde hym and the .vi. daye of August met wyth hym at Euysham in worceter shyre where betwene theym was foughten a cruell fyght In y t whych at length was slayn the sayd syr Symonde and syr Henry his sonne and heyre syr Hughele Spenser syr Peter de Mountforde and many other noble men that helde vppon the Barons partye After whych scomfyture some malycyous dysposed persons in despyte of the erle cut of his hode his dimyssaryes and fastyned them vppon eyther syde of hys nose and after made a present therof vnto the wyfe of syr Roger Mortymer Hys fete also and his handes were cut from the body and sente to sondry places and the trunke of hys bodye buryed wythin the chyrch of Euysham Of this erle speketh Ranulphe muÌ„ke of Chester in his boke of Policronycon and calleth hym Symon the ryght wise sayynge that god wrought for hym myracles after his deth the whyche forfere of the kynge and syr Edwarde his sonne were kept close and secret so that no man durste speke of them Soone after this victory thus obteyned by syr Edward y e kyng he met by whose authorytyes all prysoners theÌ„ which were in hold in dyuers places by y â— coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of y e sayd syr Edward were set at lybertie many other dayly accused set in for them And about the natyuyte of our lady a parliameÌ„t was holdeÌ„ at winchester where by authoryte of y e same all statutes ordinauÌ„ces before made by y e Barons at Oxenforde in the .xli. yere of y e kyng were vtterly fordone set at nought and all bondes wrytynges made by the kyng or any other for the obseruynge of the same were cancellyd and broken Also at thys couÌ„sayll was ordeyned that all such as had fauoured the Barons were they in pryson or at large shulde be disherited And then y e kyng resumed into his hande all grauntes before made and gyuen to any person And for syr Symounde de Mountforde myght not agree wyth the kynge at the parlyament he was restored to the castel of Kenelworth as he
wyth many great enormyties And in that that ye thynke to haue the Flemynges in your ayde we thynke vs to be assured that the good townes and the commons wyll behaue theym in suche wyse agayne vs and agayne our cosyn the erle of Flaunders that they wyll saue theyr honoure and trouthe And in that that they haue mysse done tyll nowe hathe ben by euyll counsayl of suche people which regarde nat the common weale of the people but of theyr owne profyte onely Gyuen in the feelde of the pryory of saynt Andrew besyde Ayre vnder the seale of our secrete sygnet in absence of oure greate seale the thyrty day of the moneth of Iule It was nat longe after that the Frenche kynge hadde thus rescribed vnto kyng Edwarde but that a messynger came vnto hym frome Tourney for hasty rescouse for the towne was dayly and sharplye assauted of the Englysshe hoste wherefore in all haste he sente thyther the duke of Athenesse the vycounte of Thonart the vycount of Dannaye with dyuerse other to y e nouÌ„ber of .xv. men of name with great nouÌ„ber of peple The whych sped theÌ„ streyght vnto y e mount of Cassyle But or they came the sayd mount was gotten by y e Flemynges so that of theyr lodgynge they were dyspoynted By reason wherof they fered to set vpon the Englysshe hoste or yet to trauayll for y e remouyng of the sayd syege of Tourney but toke theyr counceyll swarâ—ed from Cassyle and entred y e lande of the erle of Barry and dyd moche harme therein And when they hadde there executed theyr pleasures they retourned vnto the Frenche kynge In thys meane whyle kyng Philip counsayled with hys lordes whether it were better for hym to drawe towarde Tourney to remoue y e siege or to go into Flaunders and to make warre vpon the townes that helde with kyng Edwarde By whych couÌ„sayll it was thought moste honorable that he shulde endeuer hym selfe to remoue y e sayd syege After whiche conclusioÌ„ so taken he with hys hoste drewe towarde Tourney and in the ende lodged hym and hys people at a place or towne called at that daye Bowyns within .iii. myles of Tourney in whose coÌ„pany was y e kynge of Nauerne the kynge of Bohemy or Beame the dukes of Normandy of Loreyne of Athenesse or AtheÌ„s the erles of Alensone of Flaunders and of Sauoy with other to the nouÌ„bre of .xiiii. erles besyde vycountes baronettes and knyghtes to a great noumbre And with kynge Edwarde were these lordes folowynge the erle of Herford the erles of NorthamptoÌ„ of Derbye of SouthaÌ„pton of Oxynforde of Henawd of Harflete and of rondell Also of straungers the duke of Geldre and of Sclauonye Brabant with many other vycountes banerettes and knyghtes whych I passe ouer And thus laye these two prynces with two great and myghty hostes within fyue myles withoute great batayll or fyghte a certayne of tyme. But euer in meane whyle the towne of Tourney was assayled of y e Englysshe men and Flemynges the whych defended them manfully and well In the whyche passe tyme the countesse of Henaude whyche was mother vnto the quene of EnglaÌ„de and as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle syster vnto the Frenche kynge a woman of passynge discrecyon and eloquency with y e ayde of other prynces as the kyng of Beame and other laboured suche a meane of treaty y t a daye of dyet was betwene the two kynges appoynted all be it that dyuerse of kyng Edwardes counsayll were sore agayne it and specyally Iakes de Artyuele Than for kyng Edwardes party was assygned the bysshoppe of Lyncolne syr Geffrey Scrope syr IohnÌ„ of Henaude brother to the erle syr wyllyaÌ„ Cheyny wyth other And for the FreÌ„che kyng was assygned the kynge of Beame the erles of Armenake of Sauoy syr Lewys de Sauoy and other And to the ende that thys appoyntement myght take the better effecte a daye of trewce was concluded tyll mydsomer folowynge But moste wryters testyfyen that kynge Edwarde lefte the syege before Tourney for defaut of money and neglygeÌ„ce of his slowe procuratours in EnglaÌ„de that sped nat hys nedes there as they shulde For that one cause and for that other the kynge with hys hoste departed thense vnto Gaunt and taryed there a certayne of tyme. In whych season the fore named lordes and knyghtes met at Tournay and there debated the maters of chalenge of kynge Edwarde and certayn artycles concernynge the countrey of Flaunders In whyche counsayll it was grauÌ„ted by the Frenche kynges partye that y e Frenche kynge shulde frely departe towarde the maryage of kynge Edwardes chyldren with the hole seygnoryes of Gascoyn and Guyan and the erledome of Poytyers in so fre maner that no offycer of the French kyng shuld medle or haue to do with in any parte of those lordshyppes And for FlauÌ„ders it was by the sayd lordes graunted that the commons of that couÌ„trey in all customes and lawes shuld be iuged ruled as they of olde tymes had vsed and also that all bondes and oblygacyons that in tymes passed the chyefe townes had made to the Frenche kynge for any cause shulde be cancelled and delyuered And of theyr erle they shulde be acquyted in lyke wyse for all offeÌ„ces done before that day Also all censuryes or curses y t they before were wrapped in shulde be clerelye adnulled reuoked with other coÌ„clusions and offers whych I passe ouer Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xl  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xli  Rycharde Berkynge  Iohan Oxynforde  Anno .xvi.  Iohan Rokyslee  IN thys .xvi. yere kynge Edwarde vpon saynt Andrewes euyn came to the towre of London and sent for suche lordes as before he hadde made hys procuratours to leuye hys money in hys absence and for theyr negligeÌ„ce mysdemeanure cast theÌ„ in prysoÌ„ But in this voyage that the kyng passed from that other syde of the see into England he had excedynge tempest of wether so that he passed with great fere and dauÌ„ger whych tempest after the opynyon of some wryters was rered by the negromauncers of the French kyng to the ende to haue peryshed the kyng or els to gyue hym the lesse courage to take the see agayne In thys yere also were sent from y e .xii. Benet thaÌ„ pope two cardynalles to treate of a peace betwene the kynges of Englande of Fraunce The whych concluded a peace betwene the sayd two kynges aswell for them as for other countreys whych to theÌ„ were allyed for the terme of .iii. yeres and more In whyche tyme it was agreed that bothe the sayd kynges by theyr proctours shulde publysshe declare before the pope theyr claymes and causes to the ende that by hym and his couÌ„sayl a fynall dyreccion coÌ„corde myght be set betwene theym whych agremente of the sayde cardynalles was thus concluded in the towne called Malestrete aboute the feaste of saynte Gregory in lente beynge there presente for the kynge of Englande the erles of
the southe syde of the quyer buryed full honorably This yere also was great derthe of corne in EnglaÌ„d also in FrauÌ„ce in somoche y t a busshell was solde at LoÌ„don for .iii. s. iii. s. iiii d. And in FrauÌ„ce iÌ„ Parys it was at lyke value And there also they dyed sore of the sekenesse of ipidimie For this scarcyte of whete in Englande in many places the people made them breed of fetches pesyn and benes And after some wryters for lacke of these foresayd graynes some poore people made them breed of Feâ—necotes But yet by the prouydence of Stephen Browne this yere Mayre many shippes were freyghte with rye out of Pruce and dyscharged at London that eased the people nere to the cytie greatly This of many wryters is named the seconde dere yere In this yere ended the counsayle or synode holdeÌ„ at Basyle begon as before is sayde in the .xi. yere of this kynge By auctoryte of whiche couÌ„sayle Eugeny the .iiii. was deposed Amedeus a duke and prynce of Sauoy was chosen for pope in the place of the forenamed Eugeny But yet he had suche ayde that he contynued in Rome as pope all his lyues tyme. And that other whiche was named of his ayders Felix the .v contynued his dygnyte in other places so that thaÌ„ arose a great scisme in y e churche whether of these .ii. was indubitat pope For some countrees vphelde y e one and some that other so that therwere alowed none of them both and that was called y e neutralytie This scysine contynued vpon .ix. yeres the terme whyle Eugeny lyued After whose dethe was chosen a cardynall named Thomas Sarazan and after was named Nycholas the .v. To whome the sayde Felix after that he was admitted for Peters successour of his owne good mynde renounced his dygnyte of papacy and submytted hym to the rule and obedyence of theÌ„ sayd .v. Nycholas thaÌ„ beynge indubitat pope And thus cessed y â— scysme in the churche whiche had contynued by the terme aboue specyfyed This Felix was a deuoute prynce sawe the sones of his sones and after lyued a deuoute and holi lyfe and lastly was chosen pope as before is shewed for the which he is of dyuers wryters accompted for happy But and he hadde not medled with the tytle of the churche and therwith blotted his olde age he had after the opynyon of other wryters be named or alowed moche more blessed happy And this yere in the moneth of August in LoÌ„don were two bawdes punysshed with werynge of ray hodes after .xl. dayes enprysonment they were banysshed the towne and dryuen out with most shame In this yere also the conduyte in Fletestrete was begonne by syr wyllyam Estfelde knyghte and late mayre and so fynysshed of his good disposicion without cost or charge to the cytie And he with syr Lewes and Iohan of Estsex were made knyghtes of the Bathe in the same yere And in this yere dyed Robert Chicheley grocer twyes mayre of London the whiche wylled in his testament that vpon his mynde daye a good and competent dyner shulde be ordeyned for .xxiiii. C. poore meÌ„ and that of houssholders of the cytye yf they myght be fouÌ„de And ouer that was xx.li destrybuted amoÌ„ge them whiche was to euery man two pens Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xl  Robert Marchall  Robert Large mercer  Anno .xviii.  Phylyp Malpas  THis .xviii. yere vpon the daye of saynt Botolph or .xvii. day of Iuny a preste after he was degrated of his prestly dygnyte named syr Rycharde was brent for heresye at y e towre hyll how wel in his latter day he toke great repentaunce and dyed goddes man and in the faythe of the churche This for wordes spoken by his lyfe that the posterne of y e towre shulde synke as after it dyd other fantastycall dedes or wordes he of many lewde folkes was accompted for an holy man wherfore after his dethe they came to his place of execucyon and there made theyr oblacyoÌ„s and prayers and arered a great hepe of stones and pyght there a crosse by nyght so that â—i this meanes a great dysclaunder ran vpon the churche specially vpon suche as had put hym to dethe But to cease that rumoure coÌ„mauÌ„dment was sent from y e kynge to punysshe all suche as thyder went on pylgrymage By vertue whereof y e mayre and shyreffes dyd suche dylygeÌ„ce that shortly after all y e sekyng and offeryng was fordone and layde aparte This yere also y e shyreffes of London fette out of saynt Martynes legraunt .v. persones beynge there in sayntwary and ladde theym to the countre in bred strete where they remayned certayne dayes But those daies expired they were by y e kynges Iustyces restored vnto sayntwary In this passetyme the warre atwene Englande FrauÌ„ce endurynge in a wynter season whan the grouÌ„de was couered with a myghty snowe and therewith all a great frost hadde hardened the pondes and dyches the EnglysshmeÌ„ whiche laye in a stroÌ„ge holde nyghe vnto a towne called Pountlarge arayed them in whyte clothes ouer theyr harneys and so in great nombre approched the dykes and passed vpon the yse to y e walles and them scaled and the watche of y e towne slepynge toke the towne and distressed therin myche people From the whiche daunger escaped ryghte hardly .ii. capytaynes of that towne named Iohan de Uyllers and NarabonÌ„ a knyghte Burgonyon The countre aboute Parys was also sorevexed with y e rauyne of wolues that proclamacyon was made that euery grene or newe flayn skynÌ„e of a wolfe that was brought vnto Parys y e prouost shulde gyue to the brynger .xx. shelynges or .xx. sous of that countre money whiche amouÌ„teth to .ii. s. vi d. sterlynge It was not longe after or Charles the Frenche kynge layde vnto y e foresayd towne a stroÌ„g siege But it by y e duke of yorke the lorde Talbot was well and knyghtly defended in somoche y e one tyme they put the Frenchemen to rebuke and were lykely to haue takeÌ„ theyr kyng â—e had be the soner rescous Lastly y e duke of yorke and the sayd lord Talbot for vrgent causes departed theÌ„s to Roan and betoke the towne to y e rule of syr Gerueys of CliftoÌ„ knyght and other hauynge with them to the nombre of a thousande sowdyours But the thyrde daye after the dukes departynge the Frenche kynge so fyersly assayled the towne that in the ende he wanne it by strengthe and slewe therin many an Englyssh maÌ„ toke many prysoners And soone after was the townes of Meleon of Corbeyll and of the Ebreouse loste from the Englysshmen For ye shall vnderstande that sondry and many tymes y e townes holdes in FrauÌ„ce were lost and efte wonne But euer y e more losse turned to the Englysshe partye tyll all Normandy were lost and all other landes of Fraunce appartynynge to the kynge of
greate daunger toke hys barge so in all haste rowed to London nat wythout great maymys hurtys receyued by many of hys seruauntes For thys the old raÌ„cour malyce whyche neuer was clerely cured anon begaÌ„ to breke oute in so moche that the quenes couÌ„sayll wolde haue had the sayd erle arested and committed vnto the towre wherfore he shortly after departed toward warwyke and by polycy purchased soone after a commyssioÌ„ of the kyng and so yode or sayled vnto Calays Thanne encreased thys olde malyce more more in so moche that where the quene and hyr couÌ„sayll sawe that they myght nat be auenged vppoÌ„ the erle that so vnto Calays was departed than they malygned agayne hys father the erle of Salysbury imagened how he myght be brought out of lyfe And in processe of tyme after as he was rydynge towarde Salysbury or after som from hys lodgyng towarde London the lorde Audeley wyth a stroÌ„g company was assygned to mete wyth hym as prysoner to bryng hym vnto LondoÌ„ whereof the sayde erle beynge warned gathered vnto hym the mo men kepyng hys iourney mette wyth the sayd lord Audeley at a place called Bloreheth where both companyes ran together had there a stroÌ„ge by keryng wherof in the ende the erle was vyctoure and slewe there the lorde Audeley many of hys retynew At thys skyrmys she were the .ii. sonnes of the sayd erle sore wouÌ„ded named sir Thomas and syr IohnÌ„ the whyche shortly after as they were goynge homeward were by some of the quenys party taken as prysoners sente vnto Chestry whan thys was knowen vnto y e duke of yorke and to the other lordes of hys party they knewe understode that yf they ê“uyded nat shortly for remedy for them selfe they shulde all be destroyed And for that they by one assent gathered to them a stroÌ„ge hoste of men as of Marche men and other in the moneth of Octobre y t was in the begynnyng of the .xxxviii yere of the reygne of kynge Henry the later ende of thys mayres yere they drewe them towarde the kynge to the entent to remoue froÌ„ hym such persones as they thought were enemyes vnto the commoÌ„ weale of Englande But the quene and hyr counsayll heryng of the entent strength of these lordes caused the kyng in all haste to sende forthe coÌ„myssyons to gather the people so that in shorte whyle the kyng was strongely accoÌ„panyed so spedde hym vppon hys iourney to warde the duke of yorke hys company wherof heryng y e sayd duke thaÌ„ beyng wyth hys peple nere vnto the towne of Ludlowe pyghte there a sure stroÌ„ge feelde that none of hys foes myght vppon any parte entre where he so lyeng came to him frome Calays the erle of warwyke wyth a stronge bande of meÌ„ amonge the whyche was Andrewe Trollop and many other of y e best souldiours of Calays The duke thus kepynge hys feelde vpon that one party and the kyng wyth hys people vpon that other vpon the nyght precedyng the daye that bothe hostes shulde haue met the forenamed Andrewe Trolloppe wyth all the chefe soudyours of Calays secretly departed frome y e dukes hoste and wente vnto the kynges where they were ioyously receyued whaÌ„ thys thynge to the duke and the other lordes was asserteyned they were therewhyth sore dysmayed and specyally for the sayd lordes had to the sayd Andrew shewed the hoole of theyr ententes whych thanne they knewe well shuld be clerelye dyscouered vnto theyr enemyes wherfore after couÌ„sayll for a remedye taken they concluded to flee to leue the feelde standyng as they had ben presente and styll abydyng And so incontynently the sayd duke wyth hys twoo sonnes a few other persones fledde towarde walys and from thens passed sauely into Irelande And the erles of Salysbury of Marche of warwyke and other wyth a secrete company also departed and toke the waye into Deuonshyre where a squyer named Iohan Dynham whyche after was a lorde and hyghe tresourer of Englande so lastlye in Henry the .vii. dayes and xvi yere of hys reygne dyed bought a shyp for a C. .x. markes or a leuen score nobles and in the same shyppe the sayd lordes went so sayled into Gerneley And whaÌ„ they had a seasoÌ„ there soiourned and refresshed them selfe they departed thens as in the begynnyng of the nexte mayres yere shal be clerely shewed Uppon the morowe whan all thys couyne was knowen to the kynge and the lordes vpon hys party there was sendynge and ruÌ„nynge wyth all spede towarde euery cooste to take these lordes but none myght be fouÌ„de And forthwith the kyng rode vnto Ludlowe dyspoyled the towne and castell sente the duchesse of yorke wyth hyr chyldren vnto the duchesse of BuckynghaÌ„ hyr syster where she rested loÌ„ge after Anno. dnÌ„i M. CCCC.lix  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.lx Fysshemonger HohnÌ„ Plummer  wyllyam Hulyn  Anno .xxxviii.  IohnÌ„ Stocker  THys yere that is to meane vppon the fryday next ensuyng Alhalowen day after the sayde erles of Salysbury of Marche of warwyke had as before is said refresshed them in the I le of Gernesey they vpoÌ„ the fryday foresayd laÌ„ded at Calays and there were at a posterne by theyr freÌ„des ioyously receyued ThaÌ„ anon vpon this these foresayd lordes were proclaymed rebellys traytours the yonge duke of Somerset was made capitayne of Calays wherfore in all haste he made purueyaunce saylyd thyther to take possessyon of y e town But he fayled of hys purpose for the foresayde erles there beynge kept so y e towne that there he myght haue no rule natwythstandyng that he shewed the kynges letter pateÌ„tys wyth many other strayght commauÌ„dementes of the kynge For whyche cause the sayd duke yode vnto Guynys and there helde hym for a seasoÌ„ And anone as the sayd duke was laÌ„ded some of the shypmen which had brought hym thyther for good wyll that they owed vnto the erle of warwyke coÌ„ueyed theyr shippes streyght into Calays hauen brought wyth them certayne persones named Genyn Fenbyll IohnÌ„ Felowe Kayles and Purser whyche were enemyes vnto the sayde erle of warwyke the whyche were presented vnto the lordes and soone after wythin the sayd towne of Calays they were beheded Thys rumoure thus contynuynge dayly came vnto these lordes greate socoure out of EnglaÌ„de And vppon that other partye the duke as before is sayd lyeng in the castel of Guynes gate vnto hym ayde and strengthe of souldyours made out and skyrmysshed wyth them of Calays many and sundry tymes In whych assautes many meÌ„ were slayen hurte vppon both partyes but moste wekyd the dukes partye For all be that the lordes lost many men yet they dayly came so thycke to them out of dyuers partyes of EnglaÌ„de that theyr losse was nat espyed so that they wantyd no meÌ„ but money to maynteynÌ„ theyr dayly charge with For remedy wher of they shyfted wyth the staple of
the monastery of saynt Antony Charlys brother to the kynge caused .iiii. letters to be deuysed wherof one he sent to the bysshoppes and spyrytuall men within the cytye the seconde to the consulles or hed men the thyrde to y e scolers of the vnyuersyte and y e .iiii. vnto the comynaltye Of whyche letters the entent ensueth that he nor none of hys company was comen thyder as an enemye to the cytye or to make warre agayne it or the comon weale of the land but for the encreace and augmentacyon therof to the vttermost of theyr powers After receyte of whyche letters and the mater in them conteyned well vnderstaÌ„den and debatyd certeyne oratours for the sayde .iiii. partyes were assygned as thre for the spyrytuall men thre for the consuls thre for the vnyuersyte thre for comynaltye whose names I ouer passe The whyche wyth the bysshop of Parys were sent vnto the barons after longe communycacyon wyth them hadde retourned to the cytie with such report as foloweth Fyrste the lordes wolde that the inhabytauntes of the cytye shulde coÌ„syder the condycyons of the kynge y t whyche yerely oppressyth his subiectes with taskes and other greuouse seruagys Secondaryly how he despyseth y e noble blode of hys realme and draweth to hym vylaynes and men of no reputacyon by whose couÌ„sayls onely all the comon weale of y e land is ruled and guyded Thyrdely how he ruleth hys subiectes by force and wyll wythout mynystracyon of iustyce and hym selfe in all couÌ„sayls and parlyaments is iudge in all causes and callyth hys selfe counsayls and parlyamentes more for hys synguler weale than for the comoÌ„ weale of his realme Fourthely how he enhaunsyth men of lowe byrthe vnto greate honours and causyth noble men to be obedyent vnto them entendynge to brynge the same ignoble men for to be egall wyth the prynces of the lande Fyftely how the lawes be delayed and bolstred by suche as stande in his fauour where thorugh as thys daye lawe is wyll and wyll is lawe and no man almoste in any suerty of lyfe or goodes in so moche that dayly many ben banysshed and put to deth for vnlefull causes and also to any noble man at this daye no power or rome of honour belongeth so that to wylde bestes in the forestes apperteyneth more lybertye and suertye than the more partye of the kynges subgettes Syxtly the greate taskes and summes of money whych dayly be leuyed of the comoÌ„s ben not spent in the kynges honourable nedes and for the comon weale of the realme but are spent nysely ryottously and brybed out of y e kynges cofers For whyche enormytees mysgouernauÌ„ce with many other the sayde lordes were thyder comen in defensyble araye for y e sauegarde of theyr owne persons as to the hed and pryncypall cytie of the realme for to haue ayde and counsayle to refourme the foresayd euyls not with standynge any harme vnto the kynges persone or yet to remoue hym from his regally or kyngly maieste but to enduce hym aduertyse hym to that that shuld be his honour and the weale of hys realme and to lyue in welthe and honour as hys noble ê“genitours haue lyued before hym For the whyche causes and consyderacyons wyth many other whych I passe ouer the sayde lordes as y e kynges trewe subeittes and frendes vnto the comon weale of the lande and of that cytye desyre to entre there to refresshe them and theyr people and to pay truely for all thynge that they shulde take wythout doyng harme or vyolence to any persone All whyche requestes and maters of the lordes shewed vnto the inhabytauntes of the cytye by fauour of some frendes that they there had it was with the more partye well acceptyd and thought conuenyent that they sayde nobles shuld be receyued into the cytye How be it that after longe debatynge of thys mater by meane of the forenamed erle of Donoyse a sparynge of thys receyte of the lordes shuld be tyll they had forther knowlege of the kynges pleasure whyche prouysyon the sayd erle fande for so mych as he was secretely warned of the kynges thyder comynge And vpon thys agremeÌ„t the cytye rested For suertye wherof suche as were within the cytye of the kynges seruauntes and frendes rode dayly nyghtly about y e cyty wyth a stronge company in harneys to se the people kepte in due order Than vppon the daye folowynge came vnto Parys a capytayne of y e kynges named MouÌ„talbone and wyth hym a good bend of men the whyche shewyd vnto the cytesyns that the kyng was comyng out of Normandye with a great host of The lordes beynge warned enbatayled them in the foresayde playne of saynte Antoyn to shewe the strength of theyr hoste vnto the cytye or suche as were therin as theyr enemyes where they so lyenge certayne knyghtes of the kynges party diuerse and sondry tymes brake out by sodeyne resys and skyrmysshed wyth the lordes people to the lytell hurte of bothe partyes In the whych passe tyme kynge Lewys comynge out of Normandye was receyued into the cytye where after hys comynge he put in execucyon .v. persons named IohnÌ„ worter Eustace and Arnolde worter IohnÌ„ Coart and Fraunceys Hasle The whyche persons were accusyd to hym to be chyefe occasyoners of the legacyon made vnto the lordes Of whyche sayde .v. persons thre as IohnÌ„ Coart Fraunceys Hasle Arnolde worter were messengers assygned in the sayde legacyon for the consuls of Parys and the forenamed Eustace worter was one of the thre assygned for the clergye The kynge thus beynge in possessyoÌ„ of the cytye many and dyuers assautes and skyrmysshes bytwene hys knyghtes and the lordes were made but no notary batayle for the kynge was ferre weker And ouer that in thys tyme season the sayde lordes gat vnto them sondry castels and stronge holdes Than at length meanes of a peace was offeryd by y e kynge For concludyng wherofê for the kynge was admytted the erle of Mans with certayne other persons And for the barons was assygned IohnÌ„ sonne vnto the duke of Calabre Lewys erle of saynt Poule and other the whyche assembled and coÌ„moued togyder by sondry tymes .ix. dayes In whyche season came vnto the kynge a newe strength of soudyours out of Normandye the whych the kyng appoynted to kepe the subarbes of saynt Marcell Thys treaty thus hangyng wythout conclusyoÌ„ or ende takynge vppon the .xiiii. day of October in the .vii. yere of y e reygn of thys Lewys was proclaymed thorough the cytye and also the hoste a day of lenger treuce so that thanne the lordes wythdrewe theym vnto theyr stronge holdes and castels holdynge wyth them many soudyours whyche fyll to robbynge and other vnlefull actes to the greate daunger and hurte of the lande And at suche seasons as the arbytrours met to fynysshe this great mater among other thynges offeryd by the kynge he graunted to gyue vnto hys brother Charlys for hys porcyon all Champayne wyth the lordshyppe
thorugh the cytye of London that the kynge hadde pardoned the NorthyrnmeÌ„ of theyr ryot aswell for the deth of the lorde Ryuers as all dyspleasures by them before that tyme done And soone vppon thys a new styrryng begaÌ„ in LyncolnÌ„ shyre whereof the occasyoner was the lorde wellys as the fame than went For whome the kynge sent by fayre meanes promysyng hym to go safe and come safe as it was sayd But trouth it is after hys commyng to the kyng had he before suche promyse or nat he was shortly after beheded Than in February folowyng by medyacyon of lordes a treatye of vnytie and concorde was laboured betwene the kyng hys brother and the erle of warwyke For whyche cause the sayd erle came thanne vnto London And shortly after came the sayd duke as vpon shrouesonday folowyng And vpon the thuysday folowyng the kynge the sayde duke mettte at Baynardes castell where y e duchesse of yorke theyr mother than laye In the whyche passetyme y e erle of warwyke was retourned to warwyke and there gadered to him such streÌ„gth as he myght make as it was reported And in LyncolnÌ„shyre syr Robert wellys sonne vnto the lorde wellys before put to deth in thys whyle had also assembled a greate bend of men purposed to gyue the kyng a felde Of all whyche tydynges whaÌ„ne the kynge was assertayned he wyth his sayd brother the duke spedhim north warde and in that whyle sente to the sayd syr Robert wellys wyllyng him to sende home hys people come to hym and he shulde haue hys grace But that other answered that by like promysse hys father was dysceyued and that shulde be hys example But in conclusyon whan the kynge wyth hys power drewe nere vnto hiÌ„ he toke suche fere that he fledde and soone after was taken and with him syr Thomas Dymmok knyght and other the whyche were shortly after put to deth In thys season was the duke of Clarence departed frome the kynge and was gone vnto the erle of warwyke to take hys parte To whome the kynge in lykewyse sente y t they shuld come to hys presence wythout fere where vnto they made a fayned answere And than consyderynge theyr lacke of power agayne y e kyng departed and wente to the see syde so sayled into Fraunce and requyred the .xi. Lowys than kyng of that regyon that he wolde ayde and assyste them to restore kynge Henry to hys ryghtfull enherytaunce wherof the sayd Lowys beyng gladde grauÌ„ted vnto them theyr requeste helde theÌ„ there whyle they wyth the counsayll of quene Margarete prouyded for theyr retourne into Englande whan the sayde lordes were thus departed the lande the kyng coÌ„mauÌ„ded them to be proclaymed as rebelles and traytours thorugh oute hys realm And in the Easter weke folowynge syr Geffrey Gate one named ClaphaÌ„ whyche entended at South ampton to haue taken shyppynge to haue sayled to the sayde lordes were there taken by the lorde Hawarde and sente vnto warde whych sayde Clapham was beheded soone after and the sayde syr Geffrey Gate fande suche frendshyp that lastly he escaped or was delyuered so that he yode after to seynt wary Thanne was the lorde of saynte IohnÌ„s arrested But at instaunce of the archebysshop of Caunterbury he went a season at large vnder suerty and was fynally commytted to the towre In whych passetyme the erle of Oxenforde gat ouer vnto the foresayd lordes Thus enduryng thys trouble a stirrynge was made in the north partyes by the lord Fitz Hugh wherfore the kyng sped hym thyderwarde But so soone as the sayd lord knewe of the kynges coÌ„myng anone he lefte hys peple fledde into Scotlande And the kyng whych thaÌ„ was commyn to yorke rested hym a season there and there about In the moneth of Septembre .x yere of the kyng the forsayd duke of Clarence accoÌ„panyed wyth the erles of warwyke of Penbroke of Oxenforde other many gentylmen landed at Dartmouth in Deuynshyre there made theyr proclamacyons in the name of kyng Henry the .vi and so drewe ferther into the laÌ„de wherof herynge the commons of that couÌ„tre other drewe vnto theym by greate companyes Than the Kentyshemen beganne to were wylde assembled theym in great companyes and so came vnto the out partyes of the cytye of London Radâ—lyffe saynte Katherynes and other places robbed and spoyled the Flemynges and all the bere houses there as they came ThaÌ„ the foresayde lordes holding on theyr iournaye drewe towarde y e kynge beyng in the northe as aboue is sayde wherof he beyng warned and hauyng wyth hym as than but small strength wherof some to hym were nat very trusty he wyth a secret company toke the next waye toward the wash in Lyncolneshyre and there passed ouer wyth great daunger nat wythout losse of dyuers of hys company and so passed the couÌ„trees into Flaunders and stynted nat tyll he came to Charles hys brother thanne duke of Burgoyne wyth whome he rested a season whaÌ„ the quene which than was in the towre harde of the kynges auoydynge anone she departed frome thens and yode vnto westmynster and there regystred her selfe for a seyntwary woman and in lyke wyse dyd many of kynge Edwardes frendes And than about the begynnynge of Octobre syr Geffrey Gate that till that tyme had holden the sayde seyntwary and other wyth hym wente vnto the prysons aboute London all suche as they had fauoure vnto toke them out and sette them at lybertye And than shypmen other euyll dysposed persones as than drewe to the sayd Geffrey Gate robbed agayn the berehouses set some of them in fyre and after resorted vnto the gates of the cytye there wolde haue entred by force But the cytezeyns wythstode theym wyth suche force that they were compelled to departe thens Upon the .xii. day of October the towre was gyueÌ„ vp by appoyntmeÌ„t kyng Henry was takeÌ„ from the lodgyng where he before laye and was than lodged in the kynges lodgyng wythin the sayde towre In whyche passetyme the duke the forsayd lordes drewe nere vnto the cytye And vpon saterday than nexte folowyng the sayd duke accompanied wyth y e erles of warwyke of Shrowysbury and the lord Stanley rode vnto the towre and there wyth all honour and reuerence fet out kynge Henry conueyed hym to Poulys there lodged hym in the bysshoppes palays so was thaÌ„ admytted taken for kyng thorugh all the lande Readoptio Henrici .vi. HEnri y e .vi. of that name before by Edwarde y e .iiii. put down was agayne restored to the crowne of Englande the. daye of Octobre in the yere of grace M.iiii C.lxix and the .x. yere of Edwarde y e iiii the .xii. yere of the .xii. Lowys than kynge of Fraunce In whose begynnyng of readopcyon the erle of worceter whych for hys cruelnesse was called the bochier of England was taken and putte in streyght pryson And vppon the xv daye of October was the sayde
ryght well the state whan thou by meanes whyche were inordynat Put vnto deth many an innocent man By cruell malyce and well remembred than That of lowe byrth Flaundres thy mother the fledde And taught the a crafte the here well to shaue Lutecia that cytye where thou thy lyfe ledde wytnesseth the a seruaunt therin thy lyuynge to craue And for thy dayes an honest lyfe to haue But whan thou were in Lowys court vp brouht Than had thou no mynde that thou were come of nought But lyke the helle hounde thou waxed full furyous Expressynge thy malyce whan thou to honour styed Thynkynge for so moche as that prynce bounteuous Hys hed and berde to the he nought denyed And wyth all worldly pleasure he also the allyed The before hys prynces makynge hys gouernour Thy selfe thou blyndest wyth wordly vayne honour whyche made the so proude thou sonne of harde Neron That none myght lyue that thou accused of cryme No man was cursed nor none had punyssyon That wolde thy hande wyth golde of gyftes lyme And who that nat hys gyfte offred in tyme Other deth or exyle to hym was soone applyed For as iuge and hangman thou all thynge excercysed Thou reygned longe ynough but now are sprongeÌ„ newe Sterrys to the worlde and fled is nowe clerely The scelerat flokke wherfore thou barbour yet rewe Thyne odyous actes whyche haue the sodaynly Cast downe from welth in snares vytterly For also Daniell thy moste odyous fere Dampneth the of cryme whyche wyth the dyeth here I knowe nat what of the the vpper bodyes aboue Haue defyned whether by sworde or by gybet Thou shuld ende the lyfe But one thynge I approue The sentence hooly of the people is sette That on a galowe thou shuld paye deth hys dette Inwardly therfore bewayll so thyne offence That by thys deth to god thon mayste make recompence THus execucyon of thys Damman hys felowe ended and fynysshed to the lytell compassion of the people wythin fewe dayes after another of the affeccionat seruauÌ„tes of kyng Lowys named IohnÌ„ Doyacon for trespasse and hatered by hys occasyon and deserte vnto the common people was wyth all shame brought vnto y e market place of Parys there beraft of bothe hys erys After whych vylony to hym done he was there ryght banysshed the court for euer And thus two of the moste special and derest beloued seruauntes and counsayllours of kyng Lowys were shortly after hys deth broughte vnto confusyon By reason wherof as affermeth myne auctoure Gaguyne arose a prouerbe among the Frenche men sayeng Principibus obsequi haereditariuÌ„ non esâ—e The whyche is to meane the seruyce of princes is nat hereditable Thys tyme thus passed wyth many other matyers whych I ouer passe the season approched that variaunce and â—nny began to moue amoÌ„g some nobles of the laÌ„de in so moche that y e duke of Orleaunce dysdayned that Anne syster to the kynge wyth suche as she wolde call to counsayll hadde all the rule about the kyng wherfore he entendyng to haue the sayde rule for so moche as he had maryed that other doughter of Lowys gadered vnto hym strength of knyghtes purposely to remoue from the kyng such as he lyked and to sette aboute hym suche persones as he thought conuenyente But how it was for lacke of wyse orderynge of hys people or other neglygence at a place called saint Albynys he was taken of hys aduersaryes so by the kyng commaunded to pryson to the castel of ByturiceÌ„ce where he remayned loÌ„ge tyme after It was nat longe after that Marymylyan the whych had maryed duke Charles doughter of Burgoyne gathered hys soudyours to haue releued the foresayd duke of Orleaunce out of pryson but he preuayled nat Durynge whyche warre Fraunceys duke of Brytayn dyed whose doughter named Anne enherytour of that duchye Maxymylyan hadde before trouth plyted for hys lawfull wyfe wherfore he herynge of the deth of y e sayd Fraunceys shortely entred the terrytory of Brytayne and seased it for hys But Charles with his FreÌ„chmen wythstode hym by suche force y t he was constrayned to axe helpe of our soueraygne lord kynge Henry y e vii The whyche in moste bounteous maner ayded assysted hym bothe wyth men and money to the kynges excedyng great charge and coste Howe be in the ende the French kyng had his entent than maryed y e said Anne duchesse of Brytayne and refused Margarete y e doughter of Maâ—imylyan whyche he before had maryed at Ambasy as before I haue shewed to you in the ende of the story of hys father Lowys After whych vyctory thus opteyned by thys Charles in Brytayn he made clayme and pretence vnto the lande of Scicilia or Scicilie And by the exortacion and styrryng of the pope AlexaÌ„der the .vi. he wyth a strong hoste entred y e same bothe by lande and by water To whome was a great ayde the duke of Mylayne by whose meanes he shortly wan a stroÌ„ge citie or towne named Campania and diuers other townes and in processe Naples the chyef citie that belonged vnto the kyng of Naples In so moche that he constrayned Alphounce that than was kynge of Naples and of Scicile to forsake that countre and so had the dominioÌ„ of the more parte of bothe the sayde countrees The whyche when he had set in suche order as he thoughte conuenyent he toke hys iournaye home warde into FrauÌ„ce thorough Italy In whyche passage thys Charlys was beset of the Uenecyans other Italyans the whyche entendyd to haue stoppyd hys waye and metyng wyth hym at a place called in latyne Fornouiences gaue vnto hym batayle wherof as sayth myne authour he wan the vyctory to hys greate honour consyderynge his fewe sowdyours agayne theyr multytude and strength But to thys sayenge repugne the Italyans dwellyng in London and say that yf the sayd Charlys had not spedde hym fastly into Fraunce he had not comen there that yere But how so it was he eetourned home in sauete And soone after pope AlexaÌ„der foresayd toke such dyspleasure agayne y e sayd Charlys that he styrred almost all crysten prynces of the worlde agayne hym he hadde such hatred to the great honoure of y e FreÌ„che kynge as sayth myne authour Gagwyne y t whyche in all hys werkes extolleth the dedes of Frenchemen forther thaÌ„ maye be veryfyed in moch of his wrytynge But what so he wryte of the pope it is to be demyd that he wolde not take so great partye agayne this Charlys and exite other prynces to do the same excepte it hadde ben for great and vrgeÌ„t causes and not for malyce as he affermeth onely And thus the sayde Gagwyne endeth the story of the sayd Charlys in the yere of our lorde god M.iiii C. xcv and the .xi. yere of the reygne of the same Charlys thanne presently reygnynge and guydyng the realme of Fraunce whyche was the .x. yere of our most redoutyd prynce kynge Henry the .vii. Henry the seuenth HEnry the
was named or nowe is named Soisons whaÌ„ thys Gilf was stablyssed in his authoryte the forenamed Guynemeus behauyd hym in suche wyse towarde thys Gylf that he had hym in specyall fauour aboue all the nobles of Fraunce and wolde execute no thynge of charge wythout hys and counsayll wherof the sayd Guynemeus beynge ware and remembrynge how he myght restore Chylderych to his former dygnyte aduysed the sayde Gill to sette more greuous taskys vpon the Frenschmen enfourmynge hym further that yf any grudged there at that he shuld punyshe some of the myghtyeste of them by reason wherof he shulde fere the other whyche thus done accordynge to the forsayde counsayll shortely after to brynge his purpose the better about the sayde Guynemeus accused certayne rulers of Fraunce suche as he well knewe were great enymyes vnto Chylderych the whych he caused to be taken and sent vnto Gill Gill vpon them dyd sharpe execucyon In the whyche he so perseuered that the Frenschmen for remedy complayned theym to Guynemeus To whom it was by hym answered that he greatly meruayled of theyr vnstastablenesse that they hadde chosen to them a kynge and now so sodaynly wolde haue hym deposed shewynge furthermore that other they must cal agayn Childerich that exercysyd his lyfe in voluptuousnesse of lyuynge or ellys they muste dwell vnder the kynge whyche is cruell and full of blood shedynge wyth dyuerse other exhortacyons coÌ„cernynge the agayn callynge of Childerych to his fourmer dygnyte whyche for length I omytte and passe ouer By meane of whyche exhortacyon Childerich was secretly sent for and receyued from his trustye frende the foresayde pece of golde and spedde hym hastely into Fraunce Agayne whom the foresayde Guynemeus in lykewyse sped hym so that they met at a castell in the countre of Champion where they wyth other to them allyed gaderyd a great hoste and made towarde the foresayde Gill or Gillion The whych hauynge knowlege of the sayde conspyracye ordeyned an armye of knyghtes and yode agayne his enymyes But he was ouerset and compelled for his sauegarde to fle into the countre of Soisons beforenamed where he after endyd his naturall lyfe Childerych was agayne restoryd made kynge Childerych then thus restoryd vnto his regally subdued soone after a Saxon prynce named Onager besegyd the cytye of Orleaunce and yt receyued vnto his subieccyon and after passyd the ryuer of Leyr subdued to his sygnory the countre of Angeo and Mayne when the fame of Childerich was brought vnto Basyna the wyfe of Besygne kyng of Turryngê she anon forsoke her owne lorde and sped her into Fraunce and so to the presence of Childerich whom he receyued wyth all gladnes And when he had of her frayned the cause of her commynge she answeryd for that that she knewe and vnderstode to be in hym more vertue and honour theÌ„ in any other maÌ„ at y e day lyuyng she was therefore comyn vnto hym to contynue the remanaunt of her lyfe in his coÌ„pany addyng also therunto that yf in any countre she knew his better she wolde then serche see and lande to haue hym to her lord or husbande But for she was assured that he had no pere she besought hym to accepte her in his company THE LXXXVII CHAPITER THen Childerych puttynge a parte and forgettynge kyndenesse to hym before shewyd by her housbande Besynge maryed the sayde Basina yet beynge a pagan And when the fyrste nyght was comen that they shulde go to bedde she exorted hym y t he shulde y t nyght absteyn froÌ„ all fleshly lykyng watche the gates of his paleys and to make reporte to her of suche vysyons as he sawe there y t nyght To the which he was agreable where he so standynge sawe fyrst a multitude of vnycornes lyons and lybardes passyng foreby the paleys gate And wythin a shorte space of tyme after he sawe a great company of berys wolues reÌ„nyng after the other And thyrdly lastly he sawe a multytude of dogges other small rauenous bestes the whyche in hys syghte fyll vppon the other .ii. companyes and vtterly deuoured them all when he hadde sene the fyne of his vision not a lytell astonyed he returned to hys wyfe shewynge to her what he hadde sene To whom she sayd syr of me ye shal receyue a son the whyche in all hys dedes shall be noble and honourable lyke to y e vnycornes and lyons shewyd to you in y e fyrst vysyon Of the whyche shall discende one other sonne the whyche shall be rauenous and shall set hys mynde all to pyllage rauyne lyke vnto the rauenous wolfe and here And after hym shall come a chylde or chyldern that shall be of suche insolency and wastynge that lyke as the rauenous hounde stroyeth and wastyth all that he maye tere wyth hys teeth so shall these persons wast and destroye by theyr folyes all that other noble men hath purchased to theyr handes And the multytude whyche that ye sawe of other small rauenous bestes betokeneth the comon people whyche in those dayes for lacke of a good and wyse prynce shall renne eyther vppon other and robbe and sâ—e eche other Of thys exposycyon the kyng was somdele troubled But yet he reioysed of the issue that shuld come of his body Then it foloweth whan thys Chylderych hadde ouercomen some baytayles in Almayne and them subdued to hys empyre he lastly dyed when he had reygned wyth the .viii. yeres allowed to hys reygne for the tyme that he was exyled and wyth the resydue that he reygned before after in all .xxiiii. yeres leuyng after hym a sonne begotten vpon the forenamed Basina called Clodio or after moste wryters Clodoueus Anglia THE LXXXVIII CHAPITER UOrtimerus the eldest sonne of Uortiger was by assent of the BrytoÌ„s made kyng of Brytayn in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred lxiiii and the .iiii. yere of Chyldericê° than kynge of Fraunce The whych in all hast pursued the Saxons and gaue vnto them a great batayle vppon the ryuer of Darwent where he hadde of them vyctory And secundaryly he faught wiâ—h them vppon the foord called Epiâ—â—ord or Agliffhorp In the whych fyght Catrignus the brother to Uortimer Horsus brother to Hengyst or Cosyn after long fyght attwene them .ii. eyther of theÌ„ slewe other in whyche fyght also the Brytons were vyctours The thyrd batayle he faught with them nere vnto the see syde where also the Brytons chasyd y e SaxoÌ„s and compelled them to take the yle of wyghte for theyr suertye This batayle as wytnesseth Alfredus was more wonne by vertue of the prayers of the holy byshop saynt Germayne than by myght of y e Brytons For when the holy man sawe y e Brytons gyue backe he helde hys handes towarde heuen and cryed thryse alleluya whyche is to our vnderstaÌ„dyng as mych to saye as saue vs good lorde Thorough whyche prayer the Britons by dyuyne helpe obteyned y e victory of theyr enimyes The fourth batayll was
rule therof This Crotild had before that day receyuyd the fayth of Cryste and so coÌ„tynuynge her relygyon was maryed to Clodoueus then a paynym and so endured a certayne of tyme. But yet she left not to enduce and tourne her lorde to the fayth in all that she myghte And after a certayn of tyme she was delyueryd of a sonne the whyche by meanes of the holy man Remigius byshop of Raynes and of the quene Crotyld was crystyned and named Clodomerus the whych dyed wyth in shorte processe after For y t happe the kyng sayd that his goddes were dyscontented wyth hym that he had suffred his chylde to be crystyned for wrathe therof had taken froÌ„ hym his chylde The quene takynge the kynges sayenge in pacyence conceyued the seconde sonne whyche also by the kynges agrement was also baptysed This also after a certayne of tyme was vexed wyth a greuous sekenes in suche wyse that yt was lykely to haue dyed wherfore the kynge was then more impacyent and blamed y e relygyon of his wyfe in moste impacyent maner The whych sayenges the quene toke pacyeÌ„tly and put all her confidence in god to whom both she and Remigeus prayed so effectuously that the chylde was restored vnto perfyte helth Thus Clodoueus perseuerynge in his erronyous lawe made warre vppon the Almaynes In whych warre beynge one daye occupyed in fyght agayne hys enymyes he wyth hys people was put to the werse wherof whan Clodoueê° was ware hauyng greate drede of hym selfe called to mynde the often exortacyon of hys wyfe and of the greate vertue of her goddes lawe and sodaynly lyfte his eyen towarde heuen and sayde god the whyche Clotylde my wyfe doth honoure now helpe me And yf this daye I may passe thys daunger and opteyne vyctory I shall euer after worshyp the wyth true fayth The whyche prayer skantly fynysshed the Frenchemen by dyuyne power were so vnyed and knyt togyther and so knyghtly wythstode theyr enemyes that in shorte whyle after they opteyned vyctory whyche vyctory had y e kynge with greate tryumphe retourned into Fraunce wherof whan Clotylde was warned she anone receyued hym wyth all ioye and gladnes thankynge her lord god of his great vyctory but more for that y e he had forsaken hys idolatrye and was becomen seruaunt of y e onely god fourmer of all the worlde THE XCVIII CHAPITER IT was not longe after y t blessyd Remigius was sent for The whyche enfourmed the kynge suffycyently in the fayth of Cryst vppon an Eester daye folowynge wyth great solempnyte baptysed the kynge In tyme of which solempnysacyon doynge the holy Crysine or oyle by neglygence of the mynysters or otherwyse lackynge a doue discendyng from heuen brought in her becke or byll a vyoll fylled wyth oyle of moste swetest sauour and delyuered it to saynt Remigius The which was construed to be done by vertue of y e holy ghost And wyth thys holy oyle whan the kyng was anoynted the surplusage therof was kept with moste reuerence I haue herde reported that this oyle is kept at the cytye of Reynes or at Parys and that yt neuer fayleth or wasteth and that al ryghtfull enherytours of y e crowne of Fraunce be therwyth at theyr coronacyoÌ„ anoynted But it happen any myghty maÌ„ to vsurpe y e crowne by myghte when the bysshoppe cometh for thys holy oyle he fyndeth y t vyoll or glasse drye and ellys not To thys reporte euery man maye gyue credence as hym lyketh for I fande not this wryten in the gospell nor yet in no boke of holy scrypture Then it foloweth after thys soleÌ„pnyte done the kynge hadde certeyne wordes to the people in exortynge them to leue theyr idolatrye and to byleue in Cryste and hys fayth by whose myghte and power onely he hadde venquysshed hys enemyes By the whyche exortacyoÌ„ and other meanes of the holy bysshop Remigius myche people were some after conuertyd and baptysed Then the kyng buylded certeyne newe monasteryes and dedycat the olde temples of idollys in honoure of Crystes sayntes Among y e which one was nere vnto the cytye of Parys in the honour of the apostles Peter and Paule It is wytnessed of mayster Robert Gagwyne that before these dayes all Frenche kynges vsed to bere in theyr armes .iii. todys But after thys Clodoueus had receyued Crystes relygyon .iii. floure de lyse were sente to hym by dyuyne power sette in a shylde of asure the whyche syns y e tyme hath ben borne of all Frenche kynges The sayd authour myndeth also that in a monastery of Fraunce called the monastery of saynte Bartylmewe was somtyme kepte a clothe of redde sylke whyche was named the aurysflambe and borne for a baner in the felde agayne the Barbaris or hethen people by vertue wherof the frenche prynces wan many vyctoryes But after whan thys precyous relyke or aurysflaÌ„be was borne agayne Crysten prynces the vertue therof seasyd and lastly was lost But yet the lyke therof is kepte at saynt Denys and had in greate reuerence of the bysshoppes and abbottes of the same place Then it foloweth in y e storye whan Clodoueus hadde set hys realme in due order Clotyld callyng to mynde the treason done to her fader and also the wrongfull wythholdynge of her ryghtfull enherytaunce by her vncle Cundebalde exorted her lorde Clodoueus to sende an embassade to requyre restytucyon of her sayde ryght y t whych was sone after done And whan the kynge had receyued an answere y t the sayd Cundebalde wolde not restore the sayd ryghte of hys wyfe he in all goodly wyse prepared an armye and made warre vppon the sayd Cundebalde And after greate waste and dystruccyon of the couÌ„tre Clodoueus fynally besegyd hym in a cytye after toke the sayd cytye by strength and the sayd Cundebalde wythin y e same as prysoner But by medyacyon of frendes and greate gyftes wyth also a yerely trybute to be payed to Clodoueus the sayd Cundebalde was releaced and sette at lybertye THE XCIX CHAPITER THis voyage thus spedde and orderyd the kynge lefte behynde hym an armye of .v. thousand knyghtes vnder the gydyng of GuÌ„defyll brother of the foresayd Cundebalde and after retourned into Fraunce But sone after the kynges departynge Cundebalde coÌ„trary to the promyse before made gaderyd a power of knyghtes made warre vppon hys sayde brother and lastly beseged hym in the cytye of Uienne where vppon eyther parte was by skyrmysshes assautes great people slayne All be yt in the ende Cundebalde wanne the cytye and hys brother therein beynge he afterwarde behedyd About thys tyme great discencyon grewe atwene Clodoueus and the kynge of Gothys called Alericus whyche varyauÌ„ce by agremeÌ„t of bothe partyes was put to the iugement of Theodorycus than kyng of Longobardes or of ItalyaÌ„s The whyche after the sayde causes were well and suffycyently argued and debatyd before hym and hys couÌ„sayle he fynally gaue sentence y t a knyght of Clodoueus shulde stande vppon an hylle holdynge a
spere vpryghte in hys hande and that the kynge of Gothys shuld throwe or lay so mych syluer as shulde in processe couer the poynt of the sayd spere whyche sentence as testyfyeth mayster Robert Gagwyne the Gothis despysed sayenge that they had not suffycyent syluer wythin theyr land to perfourme the sayd sentence And for despyte of the same certeyne Gothys espyenge a prynce of FrauÌ„ce named Paterne beynge assocyate wyth some dyuerse Frenshmen in a lofte or chamber the whyche Paterne had ben solycytour for the Frenshe kynge in y e foresayd mater the sayde Gothys by crafty and false meanes caused the floorth of the sayd chamber to falle by whyche meane the sayde Paterne was greuously hurte and many of the other in lykewise some slayne wherof whan Clodoueus had wrytynge he beynge therwyth greatly amoued and also bycause y e Gothys dysobeyde the foresayd awarde he gadered shortly after a greate hoste And after certeyne offerynges done to saynt Martyn wyth also passyng the ryuer of Uian by myracle and ledynge of an harte he lastly came to the syghte of hys enemyes Thenne Clodoueus lodged hys hoost nere vnto the monastery of saint Hillary where in the nyght before y e batayle he receyued tokens of vyctory the whyche I passe ouer And vppon the morne he set hys people in araye and made towarde hys enemyes and mette wyth them in a felde called NoglodienÌ„ nere vnto y e ryuer of Cleue or Clyue where after sore and longe fyght he slewe the abouesayde Alaricus kynge of Gothys as sayth myne authour wyth hys owne hande But here shulde seme some discorde of tyme wyth other wryters For Cronica cronicarum Iacobus Philippus and other testyfye that thys Alaricus was dede many yeres before For he shulde be kynge of Gothys by theyr sayenge in the tyme y t Honorius brother vnto Archadius was emperour whyche was aboute the yere of our lord .iiii. huÌ„dred .ix. that he began hys empyre wherfore mayster Robert Gagwyne meaneth some other kynge of Gothys than Alaricê° For the sayd authours also affyrmen that this Alaricus dyed of sodayne sykenesse at a cytye named Cesancia whaÌ„ he had reygned after moste wryters .vi. yere Then it foloweth in y e story whan Clodoueus had thus opteyned vyctory of the Gothys and set the countre of Guyan in order he sped hym agayne into Fraunce And when he was comen into the countre of TuronÌ„ he was encouÌ„tred wyth embassadours of themperours Anastasius and presented from the sayd emperour wyth gyftes greate pryce and honour and also admytted for a consull of Rome whyche at that dayes was a dygnyte of moste honour whyche done he remytted the sayd embassade wyth great gyftes This sayenge is affyrmed of the other wryters the whych shewe this honour to hym to be done for as mych as he had ouercomen the Gothys enemyes of Crystes fayth But they name not the kynges name that then reygned ouer the Gothys Thys besynesse ouerpassed Clodoueus contynued hys iourney tyll he came to the monastery or chyrche of faynt Martyn where wyth great deuocyon accordyng to hys former promysse he offered his stede that he occupyed that iourney agayne the Gothys And after for that he entended to occupye the sayd hors yf he hadde lyke nede he redemed hym wyth a competent summe of golde But yet the hors myghte not be remoued Then y e kyng added to an hundreth pecys of golde which at those dayes were named golden shyllynges and so receyued hys stede wherfore the kynge sayd after in game that saynt Martyn was a good helper at nede but he was costelewe Thus thys noble and fyrste crysten prynce coÌ„tynued hys lyfe in noble and marcyall dedys in augmentynge hys kyngdome by knyghtly batayles and other worldy prouysyons and lastly dyed of goddes visytacyoÌ„ with all stedfastnes of fayth whan he hadde reygned .xxx. yeres leuyng after hym .iiii. sonnes of Clotylde hys wyfe that is to saye Clodomyrus Chyldebertus Theodoricus and Clotharius or after some Latarius and was buryed in y e monastery that he before nere vnto Parys hadde buylded wyth suche epytaphy or superscripcyon vppon hys tumbe as after shal be shewed But or I procede to the declaryng of the foresayd epitaphy for so mych as I haue hard dyuers hold an opynyon that the fayth of Cryste was receyued in Fraunce or it were receyued in this lande of Brytayne therfore I shall note here the tyme that this Clodoueus fyrst toke baptyme whyche was as Ranulphe monke other testyfye in the .xv. yere of hys reygne or nere about whyche was y e yere of our lord .iiii. C.lxxx .xix. wherby yt apperyth consyderynge the tyme of Luciê° fyrst crysteÌ„ prynce that euer was of Brytayne as before is shewed that Cristes fayth was by a longe tyme honoured in Brytayn or it were honoured in Fraunce excepte that suche as holde the forsayd opynyoÌ„ accompte the fyrste comyng of Crystes fayth into Brytayne at y e fyrste conuersyon of the Saxons whenne yt was prechyd by the holy monke saynt Augustyne and hys felowes whych is not to the purpose Than to the foresayde epitaphy or superscrypcyon as foloweth Diues opum virtute potens clarusque triumpho Condidit haue sedem rex Clodoueus idem Patricius magno subsimis fulsit honore Pfemis amore dei contempsit credere nusso Lumina qui varijs horrent potenta figuris Mox pur gatus aquis Christi fonte renatus Fragrantem gessit infulso crisinate crinem ExempluÌ„'que dedit sequitur quod plurima turâ—a Gentisis populi spretoque errore suorum Doctorem cultura deum verumque parentem Hijs felix meritis superauit gesta priorum Semper concilio castris bellisque tremendus Hortatu dux ipse bonus ac pectore fortis CoÌ„structas acies formauit in a gmine primus The whyche verses maye be thus expouned in our moder tuÌ„ge as here after foloweth Riche of goodes stronge in vertue in triumphe re shynynge Kyng Clodoueus this temple buyste of stone Fader of comon profete clad with his honour excellynge Replenyshed with goddes loue despysed hys olde foon And hys pagaun lawe wyth the straunge fygurs echone Purgid with holy water by cristes font born new And holy crisine enointed floured with vertue dew Example gyuyng hym foloweth many a man Forsakyng theyr errour and theyr fals goddes all And by his techynge honour but one god than Thus by his merytes he excelled his parentall And thorough his couÌ„sayle made citye and castell thrall He was a noble duke therwith of grete might And in front of batayle was euer the fyrst knyght Anglia THE C. CHAPITER VTer the laste or yongest sonne of CoÌ„stantyne and brother of Aurelius was made kyng of Britayn in the yere of our lorde .v. huudred euen and the .xvi. yere of Clodoueus than kynge of Fraunce Thys as before ys touched was surnamed PendragoÌ„ The cause therof was as wytnessyth y e Englysshe cronycle for so mych as Merlyn lykened hym
then had possessyon of And as wytnessyth Gaufryde other he by hys manhode subdued y e iles of Iseland Orchades or Orkeys and Norway wyth other In the tyme of the reygne of thys Malgo reygned in the lordshyp or kyngdome of Kent Ethelbertus the whych as wytnessyth PolycronycoÌ„ assembled an hoste of hys knyghtes and gaue batayle vnto Ceawlmus sonne of Kenricus and then kyng of westsaxon the cause whereof ys not expressyd But thys batayle was y e fyrste batayle that was foughten by twene the Saxons after that they opteyned lande and dwellynge with in Brytayne whyche was foughten in a place called wylbaldowne And in the fyghte was slayne .ii. dukes of Ethelbertus and hym selfe with his people chasyd Also yt'ys wytnessyd of the sayde Polycronica that y e yere folowynge Cutwolfus the brother of Ceawimê° before named faughte strongely agayn the Brytons at Bedforde and berafte them .iiii. cytyes or townes named Liganbroght Egelsborgth Besyngton and Euysham Then to retorne agayn to Malgo kynge of the Brytons the authour of the Floure of historyes sayth that not wythstandynge the many vertues the whyche god had endowed hym wyth he lastely forgate god for sakynge all vertue and gaue hym to sondry vices and synnes wherof the odible synnes of Sodomy was one wherfore fell to hym great ê‘secucyoÌ„ of hys enemyes the Saxons as before soÌ„dele is shewyd more ensueth It was not longe after the forenamed batayle done at Bedforde but that the foresayd Cutwolfus dyed But yet hys sayd brother Ceawlmê° couetouse of worshyppe maynteyned hys warre agayne the Brytons so that after he made a newe voyage agayne them and made of them an other scomfyture toke from them y e famous cytyes of Bathe of Glouceter and wâ—rceter whyche shulde be by y e meanynge of Ranulfe about the yere of the reygne of thys Malgo .xxix. Of all thys spekyth nothynge the cronycle of England but he maketh hys processe of a kynge named Cortyf By the whyche as yt shulde seme by the rehersall folowynge that he makyth of Gurmunde that Careticus ruled the BrytoÌ„s nexte after the deth of thys Malgo as when the tyme cometh more playnly yt shall appere Then it foloweth aboute the .xxxiii. yere of thys Malgo Ceawlmus before named gadered hys Saxons and foughte wyth the Brytons at a place called Fechanlege where after longe fyght Ceawlmus chasyd the Brytons wan of them vyctory But hys brother called Cutha was slayne in y e fyght for whom he made greate sorowe Thus in his latter dayes Malgo beynge oppressyd pursued of hys enemyes lastly dyed when he hadde reygned after moste coÌ„corde of storyes .xxxv. yeres Francia THE CXII CHAPITER CHilpericê° the .iii. son of Lotharius or Clotharius before named begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer y e parte of FrauÌ„ce called Soysons in the yere of oure lorde god .v. hundred .lxiiii and the xiiii yere of Malgo then kynge of Brytayne Thys not beyng content wyth suche as hys fader had hym be set so soone as the obsequy and enterremeÌ„t of his fader was fynysshed he spedde hym vnto Parys and possessyd hym of hys faders treasoure wherof his .iii. bretherne beyng warned purchasyd to theÌ„ such freÌ„dshyp of the nobles of Fraunce that they vnwetynge theyr sayd broder hadde entre into Paris and lykely to haue takyn hym there in yf he had not the soner escaped For thys incoÌ„uenyence grete disceÌ„cyon was lykely to haue growen by twene these .iiii. bretherne hadde not ben the mediacyon of frendes vpon bothe partyes The whyche by good polityke wayes at length pacyfied all varyauÌ„ces amonge them concluded for a fynall pease y t eyther of the sayd bretherne shuld hold hym coÌ„tent with such porcyoÌ„ as was before assygned to theÌ„ by theyr fader That is to saye to the eldest brother named Aribertê° or after some wryters Cherebris shulde falle the countrey that is lyenge about Paris called mydle Fraunce to Guntranus shulde falle the prouynce of Orleaunce and to thys Chylpericus the prouynce of Soysons and to Sygebertus the yongest brother shulde belonge the countrey of Mees or of Austracy whych lordshyp begynneth at Champeyne as affyrmeth the Frenche cronicle and stretchyth to the lordshyp or prouynce of Lorayne vppon one parte to Almayne vppoÌ„ that other part After which coÌ„corde agremeÌ„t thus fynysshed eyther of y e sayd brethern depted vnto his ê“per lordshyp If I shulde here discribe the maners condycyons of these .iiii. prynces or to expresse y e vnlauful lechery of the eldest brother Aribertus in refusyng hys laufull wyfe Ingebryda or Ingeberta or of the rauyshement of wyues virgyns by hym done or yet the vnstablenesse of lyuyng that was also in y e seconde brother Guntranê° with vertues and vyces of the other I shuld therof make a longe worke wherfore to brynge this story to some coÌ„uenyeÌ„ce I thus begynne Trouth it is that thys Chilpericus or after some Hilpericus toke to wyfe the doughter of the kynge of Spayne called Athanahildê° whose name was Golsanda The whyche had to hyr handmayden a mayde called Fredegunda the whyche was of passyng beaute and shappe of body But to hyr was ioyned subtyll wyt and euyll condycyons contrary to hyr lady and maysters which was symple and of vertuous condycyoÌ„s To the yongest brother named Sigebert was coupled in mariage the syster of the sayde Golsanda named Brunechildis or after y e Frensh cronicle Brunecheuste a woman of peruers wycked coÌ„dicyoÌ„ as after shall appere Then it foloweth Chilperich within shorte tyme that he was thus maryed vnto Golsanda caste vnlaufull loue vnto hyr woman FredeguÌ„da By reason wherof fell suche vnkyndnesse bytwene them y e lastly she was fouÌ„den in her chamber dede and strangelyd wyth a corde whych was done by the hande of hyr housbande as testyfyeth y e frenche boke Then secondly he maryed a nother wyfe named Audouera a woman of great byrth how be it myne authour nor yet y e frenche cronycle declaryth not her progeny with y e which he coÌ„tynued kepte hyr after hyr honour But yet he withdrew not hys vnlaufull loue froÌ„ y e forenamed FredeguÌ„d In thys passetyme cause of warre was moued bytwene Sigebert the yonger brother and men of the countrey of Sweuy for the whyche the sayde Sigebert requyred ayde of hys brother Chilperich At whose request he in all haste assembled hys people and spedde hym towarde hys brother leuynge hys wyfe greate wyth chylde in the kepynge of the soresayde Fredegunde Of the whyche wyfe as testyfyeth the Frenche booke he hadde before receyued .iii. sonnes named Theodobertus Meronens and Clodoueus It was not longe after that Chilperiche as before is sayd in ayde of his brother was departed but that his wyfe was delyueryd of a doughter And when thys chylde shulde be confermed of the byshoppe this Fredegunde entendynge to make a deuorce betwene Chilperich his wife by her subtyle and false coniectoure counsayled the quene that she shulde for
hym and specyally besoughte hym to recoenyle her lorde husbande that she myght be restoryd to hys company But for Cadwan after many meanes and requestis myght not bryng that about he therfore tenderynge her necessyte kepte her in hys owne courte tyll she were lyghted The whyche at tyme brought fourth a man chylde whom she lette call Edwyn And soone after was the wyfe of Cadwan delyueryd of a sonne whom the father callyd Cadwalyn But the authour of the Floure of hystoryes sayth y t these two chyldern were long borne before this tyme. The whych shuld seme to be true for so myche as this Cadwalyn was of lawfull age to beweld his lande wheÌ„ his father dyed the which he coude not do yf he hadde nowe be borne But as affermeth Policronycon yt shulde seme lyke to a fable all the rehersayll that Gaufride maketh in the ende of hys boke as well for Cadwalyn and Edwyn as for the other cyrcuÌ„staunce of the mater there rehersyd whych varyeth from other wryters both for the tyme and also for the mater as somdeale is more in the hystorye hereof before made mencyon and also by the coÌ„tynuauÌ„ce of this storye For as Giraldus Cambrens and other seyen this Edwyn was the sonne of Elle or Ella kynge of Deyra the whyche was persecutyd of Ethelfridus before named theÌ„ kynge of both prouynces that is to meane Brennicia and Deyra so sore that he was compellyd to flee to Redwaldus then kynge of Gestanglys The whyche for mede or fere of the sayde Ethelfride was lastely consentynge to haue betrayed Edwyn of whyche daunger the sayde Edwyn was delyueryd by warnynge of a frende of hys After this escape as Edwyn satte vppon a time in a great study alone a straunger apperyd to hym sodeynly and sayde I know well the cause of thy thought and heuynes Therfore yf thyn enymyes were slayne thou restoryd vnto thy kyngdome sette the in better maner then any of thy forefathers woldyst thou not admytte such one for thy frende and assent and do by his rede and couÌ„sayll yes trewly sayd Edwyn and that I surely and fastely promise the. Then this man layd his hand vpon Edwynes hedde and sayde to hym Edwyn when this token is broughte to the then haue thou mynde of this tyme of trybulacyon and of this promyse thou haste made And anon as thys was spoken this man vanyshed out of his syght sodeynly In a conuenyent season after Edwyn assemblyd hys hoste and gaue batayll vnto Ethelfryde in the countrey of Mercia by eest the ryuer of Idle and slewe hym in that fyghte wyth a great noÌ„ber of his knyghtes and theÌ„ seasyd in his possessyon both the foresayde pryncypates and was kynge of Northumberlande by the terme of .xvii. yeres ye shall vnderstande that the forenamed Ethelfride hadde .iii. sonnes whyche are mynded besyde other The fyrste eldest was named Eaufricus the seconde Oswaldus and the thyrde Oswye The fyrst was of lawfull age so that he myght helpe and shyft for hym selfe But Oswald was but .xii. yeres of age and Oswy farre yonger wherfore theyr wardeyns immediatly after theyr faders deth sente theym into Armorica or lytell Brytayne there to be brought vppe or more veryly into Albania or Scotlande THE CXXIX CHAPITER ABoute this tyme and season as wytnessen Policronica Guydo and other began the kyngdome or lordshyp of Mercia vnder the stronge paynym and Saxon called Penda The whyche Mercia or Mercherike conteyned Huntyngdon shyre Hertfortshyre Gloucetershyre wyth dyuers other and was grettest and largeste of all the other was closyd in y e west syde wyth the ryuer of Dee stretchynge to Chestre Seuarne and so to Shrouesburye and Brystowe in the eest yt was closyd wyth the see Occean in the South with Thamys vnto London and in the north with y e ryuer of HoÌ„ber and had hys begynnynge vnder the fore named Penda as the accorde of dyuerse authours wytnessyth in the yere of oure lordes incarnacyon .vi. hundred .xxvi and after the fyrste commynge of Hengyste a hundred and lxxvi yeres All be yt that of the fyrste kyng dyuerse opynyons there ben wherof a cause maye be for so myche as this lordshyppe in the fyrst begynnyng was departyd in .iii that is to say y â— fyrst was called eest Mercia the .ii. was named myddell Mercia and the .iii. weste Mercia But after yt was brought to one pryncypate called Mercherike or of some wryter myddell Englande Of thys lordshyppe the fyrste crysten kynge was called wolpherus that was the sonne of the forenamed Penda But of all the kynges of thys kyngdome of Mercia whych were .xviii. in nomber as testyfyeth Policronica Offa was of moste myght and power as after shall more playnly appere This lordshippe endured to reken moste certaynly tyll the yere of oure lorde .viii. hundred and .lxxvi. In the whych yere Alurede or Alhered then kynge of westsaxons ioyned yt vnto his owne kyngdome whych by that accompte shulde be two hundred .l. yeres All be yt that some accompte the endurauÌ„ce therof to the last yere of Burdredus that was putte out by the Danes by whyche rekenynge yt shulde then endure .iiii. yeres lesse And some wryters accoÌ„pte the terme therof whyle the tyme of Edward called the elder whych after the deth of his fader Alured put out the Danes from the sayde lordshyppe and ioyned yt agayne to westsaxon and by that accompte yt shulde laste .ii. hundred .lxxx. yeres and odde ye shall also vnderstande that in this kyngdome reygned dyuerse holy kynges whyche nowe be alowed by the chyrche for sayntes as Offa Kenelphus Kenelmê° and other as hereafter somedeale shall appere I haue seen an old regyster within the chyrche of Poulys of London wherin ys conteyned many thynges concernynge the fyrst foundacyon of that chyrch wyth certayne olde cronycles of thys lande Amonge the whyche yt is there notyd that in the tyme and season when Cadwan was kynge or ruler of the Brytons that in the same moment and tyme reygned in dyuers partes of this lande these .vii. kynges vnder wryten As fyrste Sybertus that then was kynge of Eestsaxons no Essex Redwaldus was then kynge of Eestanglys now Norff. and Suff. Ethelbertus was then kyng of KeÌ„t Ethelwaldê° was kynge of Southsex Kyngylsus was kynge of westsaxons Penda was kynge of Mercheryke And Ethelfridus was then kynge of the North couÌ„tre or Northumb. All whyche regyster this worke accordyth with yf the storys of this Cadwan Careticus Cadwall be duely serchyd THE CXXX CHAPITER LEtte vs than retourne to the perfourmauÌ„ce of the story of Cadwan and of such dedes as were done in his dayes About the .xiiii. yere of his reygne Quincellinus y â— was brother vnto Kyngylsus and kynge with hym as before in the C. and .xxviii. chapyter is touchyd ruled y e westsaxoÌ„s sent vpon an Eester day a swerdman to sle Edwyn kyng of Northumberland This swerdeman came to a cytye besyde the water of Darwent in
Brytons or walshemen the towne of Chester that they hadde kepte possessyon of tyll that daye For the whych vyctoryes thus by hym obteyned he shortely after called a counsayll of his lordes at wynchester and there by theyr aduysys crowned him kyng and chese lorde of this lande that to fore thys daye is called Brytayne and sente then oute into all costes of thys lande his commaundementes and commyssyons chargyng straytly that from that day forthward the Saxons shulde be called Anglys the lande Anglia About the .xxiiii. yere of the reygne of Egbert whyche shulde be the yere of our lord as meaneth Policronica viii hundred and .xix. Kenelmus before mynded the son of Kenwolfus was admytted for kynge of Mercia beynge then a chyld of the age of .vii yeres The whyche by treason of his syster Ouendreda was slayne in a thycke wood by a tyraunt callid Hesbertus and hys bodye after founde by a pyller of the sonne beame or of lyght dyuyne that shone from his bodye towarde heuen It ys also redde of hym that a coluer bare a scrowle wryten in englyshe then vsed and lette yt fall from hyr vppon the aulter of saynte Peter in Rome wherof the wordes were these At clense in Cowbacch Kenelme Kenebern lyeth vnder Thorne hewyd beweuyd whyche is to meane in englyshe now vsyd at Clent in Cow vale vnder a thorne lyeth Kenelmus hedlesse slayne by fraude when this holy body was founde and was borne towarde the place of his sepulture his forenamed syster entendynge some derysyon or other vylanye to be done to the corps lenyd oute of a wyndowe where by the corps shulde passe And to bryng her malycyouse purpose aboute I note by what sorcery she ment there she redde the psalme of the Sauter begynnynge Deus laudem bacward But what so her entente was she there incontynently fell blynde and her eyen dystylled dropes of blood that fell vppon the Sauter boke The which in token of goddes wretche in that boke remayne at thys daye to be sene Of the holynes of thys martyr of his vertue y e legēde of sayntes reportyth the surplusage In the .xxix. yere of the reygne of Egbert or after the englyshe cronycle Edbryght the Danys wyth a great hoste enteryd the seconde tyme thys londe and spoyled the yle of Shepey in Kent or nere to kent wherof herynge the kynge Egbert assembled hys people and met wyth theym at a place callyd Carrum But he wanne of that fyghte lytell worshyppe for the Danys compellyd him and his knyghtes to forsake the felde And by presumpcyon of y e vyctorye they drewe westwarde and made a confederey wyth weste Brytons that liued in seruage By whose power they assayllyd Egbertus landes and dyd myche harme in many placys of hys domynyon and ellys where so that after thys daye they were contynuallye abydynge in one place of the realme of Englande or other tyll y e tyme of harde Kynytus laste kynge of the Danys blood so that many of theym were maryed to Englishe women and many that nowe ben or in tyme passed were called englyshe men are dyscendyd of theym And all be yt that they were many and sondry tymes dryuen out of that lande and chasyd frō one countrey to a nother as after ye shall here yet that not wythstādyng they euer gaderyd newe strengthes and power so that they abode styll wythin the lande Of the kynge of these Danys and of what people they be dyscended dyuerse opynyons of wryters there be whych now I passe ouer for so mych as I entende to shewe somewhat of theym in this worke folowynge Then it folowyth in the storye the tyme contynuyng of the persecucion of these foresayd Paganys and Danes Egbert or Edbryght dyed whē he hadde well and nobly ruled the westsaxons and other the more parte of Englande by the terme after most wryters of .xxxvii. yeres and was buryed at wynchester as sayth Guydo and lefte after hym a sonne named Athenulphus Francia THE CLIX. CHAPITER LOdouicus y e fyrst of that name and sonne of Charlis the great began hys reygne ouer y e realme of Fraūce also his empyre ouer the Romaynes in the yere of grace .viii. hūdred and .xv and the .xx. yere of Egbertus then kynge of westsaxons Thys for his mekenesse was callyd Lewys the mylde or meke In tyme of hys fathers decease he was occupyed in Guyan the whych he before tyme hadde the rule and domynyon of by commaundement of his father But when he was aduertised of his faders deth he anon sped hym toward Aquisgrani so y t y e .xxx. day after hys departyng out of Guyan he came vnto the foresayde cytye where he was mette wyth all the nobles and barons of Fraūce And fyrst or he medled or toke vpon hym any cure or charge of hys owne besynes he with most deuocyon causyd great obseruaunces and myche dyuyne seruyce to be done aboute the sepulture of his father whyche obseruaunce prayers fynyshed and endyd y e sayde Lewes commaundyd to come before hym dyuerse ambassadours that frō dyuerse prynces were sent vnto hys father Charlis and to theym gaue answers concernyng theyr legacyōs and messagis and then proceded vnto the nedes of his realm for y e weale therof and of his people wherein he beynge besyed worde was brought to hym of an ambassad royall y t was comen from Michael the emperour of Constantyne the noble Agayne the whyche he sent certayne of hys lordes to receyue them and so wyth all honour to bryng thē vnto hys presence Of whose commynge the entente was to presente hym wyth certayne ryche gyftes and to desyre hym of his amyte and frendshyppe Also soone after came vnto hym messengers from the Beneuētanys offerynge vnto his magnyfycence obligacyons and bondes to be his true lyeges and to paye to hym yerely in way of trybute .vi. thousande ducates of gold A ducate is of sondry valuys but the leste in value is .iii. s. iii d. ob and the beste .iiii. s. vii d. Then the Soysons or Saxons that were so dyuerse of condycyon beganne to murmoure and rebell agayne this Lowys wherfore or he wolde assemble any people agayne theym he sent thyder certayne persones to know y e cause of theyr rebellyon And when he was enfourmed that yt was for the takynge awaye from them of certayne lādes and possessyons by hys father he then restored agayne the sayde landes and so recouncylyd the countrey to his subieccyon For this dede some of his lordes grudged and sayde such myldenes was not to be vsyd to people of suche obstynacy and sternesse but to haue forcyd them by dynte of sworde to haue lyued in due obedyence In thys passetyme dyed pope Stephan the fourth of that name after whose deth was elected to that dygnyte the fyrste Pascall wythout cōsente or knowlege of this Lowys somdeale to the dyscontentynge of his mynde pleasure But in shorte tyme after he receyued such wordes and presentes
Policronycon The which I passe ouer for length of the mater THE CXCIII CHAPITER EDgar thus rulynge the lande after the deth of his fyrst wyfe Egelfleda worde was broughte to hym of y e beaute of Alfrida or Estrild doughter of Orgarus erle of Deuenshire wherfore he sent a knight of his court named Ethelwold to espy whether the mayde were of such beautye as she was reported of or not chargynge hym yf she were so beautyous that then he shulde aske her to wyfe for the kynge But this knyght hauyng syght of this mayden was so wounded wyth the darte of the blynde god Cupyde that he forgate his trouth and allegiaunce y t he shuld owe to his mayster and souerayne and retourned shewynge to the kynge that she was nothynge of the beaute that she was reported of but of meane fayrenesse as other women were wherfore he besought the kynge consyderyng she was her fathers heyre a good maryage that he wolde be so good lord to hym as to wryte vnto her fader y t he myght haue her to wyfe The why the grace he obteyned and at length was maryed vnto her In processe of tyme the fame of the beaute of thys woman sprange so wyde that lastly yt came to the erys of Edgar wherwyth the kynge in mynde beynge sore dyscontentyd wyth Ethilwolde whyche hym had dysceyued yet kepte good countenaunce and made semblaunte as though he hadde nothynge forced y t mater And vpon a tyme as yt were in game warned this Ethilwolde y t then was an erle by reason of hys wyfe or otherwyse that he wold lodge one nyght in his house appoynted the daye when yt shulde be wyth thys monyssyon the erle beynge nothynge contented ranne home nygh deed for fere and prayed his wyfe of helpe in that tyme of nede and y t she wold in all that she myght make her self as fowle and as vnsemely as she coude and shewed to her all the resydue of y e mater Then y e woman cast in her mynde the great dyspleasure y t might ensue toward her agayn god to make that fowle whych he hadde made goodly and fayre and also to her lorde and husbande agayne the kynge thynkyng that he shuld cause her thus to do to the ende to mocke and dysceyue hym wherfore in consyderacyon of the premysses she enourned her in moste costly and shewynge aparayll And ouer y t yf dame nature hadde had any thynge forgoten or mysprinted in her she left not that by womaÌ„s helpe might be amended or refourmed and at the kynges coÌ„mynge receyued hym wyth all ioy and gladnesse By whyche meanes this yonge amorous kyng was soon caught in the dyuylles snare so that he sette reason a parte and folowed his own sensualyte And for to bryng his purpose the better about he kept forth a countenaunce as he had ben well contentyd wyth all thynge and desyred the erle that he wolde wyth hym ryde on huntyng into the wood of welwerley that now is called hore wood where he awaytynge his season tyme strake the erle thorough the bodye wyth his shafte so that he dyed soon after And then he maryed this Elfryda or Estrylde shortely hadde by her Egelredus as before I haue shewyd For the whyche dede sayth Ranulf this Elfrida buylded an house of nunnes at warwell But other authours saye yt was for the slayeng of her stepson Edwarde Also the englyshe cronycle sheweth that this Ethilwolde was slayne by an other meane and not by the kyng About this tyme dyed Oddo archbyshoppe af Caunterbury that was of the nacyon of Danys Of hym is tolde a longe processe in the .x. chapyter of the .vi. boke of Polycronycon And after hym Bryglinus that then was byshoppe of wynchester was made hys successour But for he was not suffycyent for so great a charge he went agayne to wynchester And holy Dunstane byshop of London of worceter was sacryd archbysshoppe of Caunterbury and went to Rome and receyued the palle of pope IohnÌ„ the .xiii. of that name This Dunstane was fyrste abbot of Glastynbury and byshoppe of London worceter and lastely archbyshoppe of Caunterbury In his dayes the order of munkes was religyous and Full of vertues For it hadde relygyous rulers clere of scyence and of clergy so that then men were lad as mych wyth other dedes and good examples of vertuous lyuynge as by theyr famous vertuous prechyng Than Edgare as before ys sayde was crowned kynge at the cytye of Bathe of Dunstane archbysshop of Caunterbury and Oswolde archbysshop of yorke whan he hadde ruled thys lande .xii. yeres The cause why it was so longe or this Edgar were enoynted was as testyfyeth Guydo for hys vnlefull Lechery and specyally for the offence done wyth wylfryde For the whyche dede he was of Dunstane ioyned to .vii. yeres penaunce The whyche penaunce durynge he was kept from the sayd enoyntement as affermeth the sayde Guydo But for what cause so euer it was by agrement of dyuers wryters he was not crowned tyll he had reygned .xii. yeres It is also tolde of thys Edgare that he beynge vpon a season at the towne of Andâ—uyr he was enamoured vpon a noble mannes doughter whyche was of passynge beautye made suche meanes by force or other wyse that the parentes were agreed that the kynge shulde haue hys pleasure But the moder subtyll of wytte bethoughte her of a whyle and sent a seruaunt of hers whych was both comely and fayre to the kynges bed In the mornynge whan the daye began to waxe clere the woman began to styrre and wolde haue departed from the kynge But the kynge refrayned her and asked the cause of her so hasty departyng For I muste be at my worke wyth my felowes sayde the woman at myne houre to kepe my taske And whan the kynge had questyoned wyth her further he lerned that she was a bonde woman and asked of the kynge fredome for y â— nyghtis seruyce The kyng at this had good game and cherysshed that damosell so after that he made her lady of Lordes For these insolent wanton dedes it is sayde that by the counsayle of the holy Dunstane he buylded repayred so many abbeys and houses of relygyon as aboue is rehersed Thus thys noble Edgare passyng his tyme in vertue medled with vyce lastly had wyttynge of the rebellyon of y e Brytaynes or walshmen wherfore he assembled hys knyghtes and entred the lande and dyd them grete harme and waste And among other prayes spoyled the countre of GlamorganÌ„ and also toke or spoyled the countre of Ono and toke the bell of saynt Eltutus which serued for hys chyrche that was taken by vyolence wyth other stuffe hanged it about an horse necke In puttynge it to teÌ„porall seruyce to the dyspleasure of that saynte But for the vyolent takynge therof as Ranulf expresseth in an vndertyde whan kyng Edgar was layde to take hys reste the sayd Eltutus apered and smote the kyng
neuew vnto Edward the confessour as before is shewed beganne hys domynyon ouer thys realme of Englande the .xv. daye of October in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousand .lxvii and y e ix yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kyng of Fraunce and was crowned kynge of the same vppon Crystmas daye nexte folowynge of Aldredus archbyshoppe of yorke for so myche as at that tyme Stigandus archbysshoppe of Caunterbury was then absent or durste not come in the pÌ„sence of the kynge to whome he ought no great fauour as in the sequele shall appere when wyllyam had sette in quyet a great parte of thys lande he betoke the gydyng therof to his brother the byshop of Bayon and in lent folowynge sayled into Normandye and led wyth hym the chefe rulers of England for doute of sturryng in tyme of his absence Amonge the whyche the two erles Marcarê° and Edwyne rulers of Northumberlande Mercia were two wyth also Stigandus and Edgare Ethelynge To the why the Stigandus wyllyam shewed great reuerence and couÌ„tenaunce of fauoure But all proued to great dissymulacyon after as was shewed by the depryuynge of the sayd Stigandus and prysonment of hym in wynchester towne by a longe terme and season In the next wynter whan wyllyam had sped hys besynesse in Normandy he retourned into England wyth greate pompe and sette a greuous trybute vpon the Englyshmen By reason wherof some partyes of the lande rebelled agayne hym and specyally the cytye of Excetour the whyche defended hym for a certayne of tyme. But lastly by force he wanne the sayde cytye and punysshed the cytesyns greuously For thys and other sterne dedes of wyllyam Marcharus erle of Northumberlande wyth Edgare Athelynge and dyuers other as hys moder and two systers Margarete and Crystyan sayled into Scotlande But another cronycle telleth y t Edgare entendynge wyth Agatha hys moder and hys two systers to haue sayled into Almayne where he was borne was by tempest of the see dryuen into Scotlande where of Malcolyne than kynge of Scottes they were ioyously receyued And in processe of tyme the sayde Malcolyne caste suche loue vnto the sayd Margaret that he toke her to wyfe as before is touched in the fyrste chapyter of the story of Canutê° Of the which Margaret the sayde Malcolyne receyued .ii. doughters and .vi. sonnes wherof thre named Edgare AlexauÌ„der Dauyd were kynges of Scotlande nexte folowynge theyr fader And Molde one of y e foresayd doughters was after maryed vnto the fyrst Henry kynge of Englande And the other doughter Mary was maryed to Eustace erle of Bolongii Of Molde the fyrste doughter Henry receyued .ii. sonnes named wyllyam and Rychard the whych bothe dyed before theyr fader as after in y e story of the sayd Henry shall appere And he receyued also two doughters named Molde and Mary whych Molde or Mawde was maryed to y e fyfte Henry emperour of Almayne After whose deth she was agayne maryed to Godfrey of Geoffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Aungeowe Of whom descended Henry surnamed shorte mantell and kynge of Englande called Henry the seconde And the other doughter Mary was maryed vnto the erle of Blaynes of whoÌ„ descended Molde or Mawde that was wyfe vnto kynge Stephen Than it foloweth that thys wyllyam after thys foresayd trybute so leuyed of the Englysshemen and knowynge of the depertynge of the lordes foresayde kepte the other the streyter But it was not longe after that Marcharus was reconsyled to the kynges grace and fayled agayn as folowynge shall be shewed For thys and other causes whyche were tedyous to shewe wyllyam exalted the Normans and gaue vnto them the chyefe possessyons of the lande so that they dayly encreased in great honour and welth and the Englysh men as faste decayed Kynge wyllyaÌ„ also made .iiii. stronge castels where of two be sette at yorke the thyrde at Lyndetyngham or Notynghm and manned them wyth Normans and the .iiii. at Lyncolne About the thyrde yere of his reygne Harolde Canutus sonnes of Swanus kynge of Denmarke came on lande in the North of Humber wyth a stronge nauy and in all haste drew them towarde yorke Than the Normans whyche hadde the rule of the towne and castelles feryng that the Englysshemen wolde ayde the Danys and wyth the houses of the suburbes of the towne haue fylled the towne dyches sette the suburbes on fyre wherof y e flame was so bygge and wyth the wynde so stronge that it toke into the cytye brent a parte therof wyth the mynster of saynt Peter In tyme wherof the Danys by fauour of some of the citesyns entred the cytye and slewe more than thre thousande of the Normans But it was not longe or kynge wyllyam chased the Danys to theyr shyppes and toke so greate dyspleasure wyth the inhabytauntes of that prouynce that he destroyed the land lyenge bytwene yorke and Durham in suche wyse that .ix. yeres after or there about the lande laye vnlabored vntylled onely out taken saynt IohnÌ„s lande of Beuerley the which was for borne by reason of a wreche done by dyuyne power vpon one of kynge wyllyams knyghtes The whych as he was besyed in wastyng and spoylynge of the sayde countre fyll sodeynly wyth hys horse so that hys horse brake hys necke and the knyghtes face was turned to his backe And of the famyne that the people of that countre susteyned wonders are reported that they shuld eate all maner of vermyn as cattes rattes dogges other so harde they were kepte by the warre of the kyng And in that yere also Molde or Mawde the wyfe of kynge wyllyaÌ„ was crowned quene of England of Aldredus archebysshop of yorke In the .iiii. yere of the reygne of thys kynge the Scottes with Malcolyne theyr kynge entred Northumberlande and wasted and destroyed sore that countre and slewe there in myche people and many they toke prysoners helde theÌ„ as bonde men But in the .vi. yere of hys kyngdome wyllyam made such warre vppon the Scottes that he lastely forced the sayde Malcolyne to swere to hym bothe homage and feauty as it is wytnessed of wyllyam of Malmesbery and other wryters THE CCXX CHAPITER Kynge willyam by counsayle of the erle of Hortford and other caused the abbeyes of Englande to be serched And what money in them at that season was founde he caused it to be brought to hys treasour For the whyche dede after the exposycyoÌ„ of some authours the sayd erle was punysshed as after shall be shewed Soone vpon thys in the tyme by twene Easter and wytsontyde was holden a solempne counsayle at wynchester of the clergy of Englande At the whyche counsayle were presente two cardynalles sent from y e second Alexaunder than pope In thys couÌ„sayle Stygandus archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury was depryued from his dygnytye and that for thre skylles The fyrste was for that he had holden wrongfully that bysshopryche whyle Robert the archebysshop was lyuynge The seconde cause was for that he hadde receyued the Paule
hym in hys courte therfore Malcoline departed from the kynge in great dyspleasur For the whyche and other causes the warre bytwene England and Scotlande was reuyued so that vppon saynt Bricius daye folowyng Malcolyne wyth hys retynewe foughte wyth an erle named Robert and thā erle of Northumberlande and there was slayne wyth hys eldest sonne Edwarde For sorowe wherof Margaret quene of Scotlande and syster vnto Edgare Ethelynge as in the fyrste chapyter of the story of wyllyā Conqueroure is shewed dyed soone after Than the Scottes made Dunwalde brother of Malcolyne theyr kynge and put by hys sonnes But by the ayde of kynge wyllyam Edgare whyche of some wryters is named Dunkam was made kynge as eldest sonne of Malcolyne In the .vii. yere of the reygne of kynge wyllyam Auncelyne or Anselme that was archbyshop of yorke was remoued to Caunterbury as affermeth one cronycle But Polycronycon and Guydo sayen that Hugh erle of Chester beynge sycke and diseased in the .vi. yere of wyllyam Rufus sent into Normādy for Anselme than abbot of Barry for thre causes The fyrste to vysyte and se hym and to be reconcyled of hym as the man that he moste trusted The seconde cause was that he shuld releue some abbays of Englande that the kynge vexed wyth greuous trybutes And the thyrd cause was y t he shuld foūd an abbay at Chester whych place he after buylded made one Rycharde his chapleyne fyrst abbot of y e place and sone after he was made archbysshop of Caunterbury where by it appereth that the sayd see was voyde ouer the terme of thre yeres Thys sayd .vii. yere Englande Normandye were greued wyth trybute and moreyne of men so sharply that tyllynge of the erth was spared or putte of for that yere there after ensued great hūger Thys yere also y e Scottes slewe theyr kyng Edgar and restored agayn to the rule of the lande the forenamed Dunwalde And many grysly and vncouth syghtes were thys yere sene in England as hostes of men fightyng in y e skye and fyre lemys other And the holy bysshop wolstone of worceter dyed soone after of whom it is shewed y t he sondry tymes warned rebuked Englyshmen for theyr mysseliuyng and sayd for theyr offenses they were so punysshed of the Normans But the Englyshmen excused them selfe and sayde that the Normans were worse in lyuynge than they where vnto the byshop answered and sayd that god vsed the wyckednesse of thē in Englyshmen For by the wycked he punysshed y e wycked And so doth god suffer the deuyll to punysshe synners in hell he hym selfe is punysshed wyth them Of thys wolstone it is radde that kynge wyllyam wold haue put hym from hys see to the entente that he myghte put another into hys see wherof thys holy man beynge warned yode vnto the kynge and sayde to hym I am enfourmed that thou wylte take from me the whiche a better man thā thou arte gaue vnto me wherfore of whom that I receyued so noble a gyfte to hym wyll I gyue it agayn and than take it from hym yf thou may And whan he hadde so sayde to the kynge he yode to the sepulture of Edward the confessoure and after y t he had made his prayers there he pytched hys crosse in y e marble stone that laye vppon the graue But no man myghte plucke out the staffe tyll wolston came thyther hym selfe and pulled it out at the kynges cōmaundement wherfore the kynge seyng that maruayle suffred hym to enioye hys benefyce styll In the .x. yere of willyam Rufus stryfe and dyscencyon fell bytwene hym and Anselme bysshop of Caunterbury for Anselme myght nat call hys synodys nor correcte the byshoppes but as the kynge wolde The kynge also chalenged the inuestiture of bysshoppes and pylled the spyrytualtye and temporaltye with vnreasonable taskes trybutes the which he spent vpon the towre of London the makynge of westmynster hall And ouer that the kynges seruauntes greued and pylled englysshmen vnreasonably And to thys mysery was ioyned the vnsaceable couetous of Ranulphe that was somtyme chapelayne vnto wyllyam conquerour the whyche was at thys day the kynges procuratour and gadered hys taskes ouer all He was so couetous and so euyll dysposed that he wolde leuye .iii. taskys for two He pylled the ryche and bare downe the poore and caused many men to lose theyr landes for smal causes and therfore the kynge had hym in hys synguler fauoure And by hys meanes byshoprykes were boughte and solde as playnly as other marchaundyses For that tyme clerkes vsed busshed and brayded heddys longe tayled blasynge clothes shynynge golden gyrdels and rode wyth gylte spurres wyth vsynge of dyuers other enormytees All whyche vyces Anselme wolde haue corrected but he lacked assystence of hys bretherne y e bysshoppes For the whyche cause other he departed the londe wherewyth the kyng beynge mysse contented sente after hym suche persons as robbed and spoyled hym and entreted hym in most cruell maner For the whyche dede Raufe bysshoppe of Chychester blamed the kynge and also rebuked all such bysshoppes as had refused the partye of Anselme had fauoured the kynge in causes cōcernynge the foresayde varyaunce And forthermore he wythstode the kynge and hys offycers in takynge of fynes of prestes for cryme of fornicacyon For whyche causes the kyng wyth the sayd Raufe was sore amoued and dyscontented and opteyned such fauour that he suspēded many chyrches of hys dyoses But in the ende Raufe demeaned hym in suche wyse that he hadde hys owne wyll and his chyrches enlarged and freed that before were stopped wyth thornes And the kynge gaue vnto hym y e fynes of prestes within his dyosis and endued y e see of Chychester with many greate gyftes And vpon a tyme kynge wyllyam was rydynge towarde hys dysporte of huntynge and sodeynly a messenger came vnto hym and sayde that the cytye of Cenemonia in Normandye was beseyged wherfore he wythout longe taryenge or aduysement toke the streyght way to these syde and sent to hys lordes chargynge them to folow whan the sayd lordes came to hys presence they aduysed hym to tarye tyll his people were assembled But he wolde nothynge do after theyr counsayle but sayd such as hym loued he shortely wyste well wolde folowe hym and so yode to shyp settyng aparte all parels The mayster of the shyp was afrayde he sawe the weder so darke so clowdy and counceyled the kynge to tary tyll the wynde wolde blowe more fauorably But he commaunded hym to make all the spede that he cowde vpon hys lyfe sayenge that he neuer harde that euer any kyng was drowned And so he passed the see and landed in Normandy and gathered to hym there hys knyghtes whan the capytayne of the syege whose name was Helyas knewe of the kynges landyng he fered and anone began to breke the syege But by treason he was taken and brought to the kynges presence To whom the kynge shewed suche
an holde ferynge the rescue of Englishmen and Normans leste that castell by that meane myghte fall in theyr handes sent his commyssyon vnto the rulers of that countrey chargynge theym wyth all dylygence to assaute that place And yf they myght wynne yt to put the executours of that murder vnto moste shamefull deth whyche commaundement receyued from the kynge stronge assaute cruell was made manfully yt was defended But the losse ran to theym of the castell so that in processe of tyme when this willyam conceyued well that he myght not contynue the defence therof he began to treate agreed that yf he myghte haue free yssue for hym and hys assuraunce that he wyth his knyghtes myght go quyetly vnto a place that he wold chose he wold then delyuer the castell wyth all that was therin The whyche requeste of dyuerse of the hedde captaynes was graunted and sworne But so soone as the castell was delyuered and the Frenchemen entred the multytude not wythstandynge the former promyse and othe fell vppon the sayde wyllyam and his soudyours them put vnto deth by many cruell tormētes fynally caste all theyr careyns into the ryuer of Sayne vppon the brynke wherof the sayde roche and castell was standynge And shortely after this ensued the warre betwene this Lewys kynge Henry of Englande as yt is before shewyd in y e .x. yere of y e sayde Henry And after the warre ended betwene these two prynces Hugh Puyssake a man of great myght at those dayes in Fraunce rebelled agayne y e kyng and warred greuously vppon or agayn the countesse of Chartres and robbed and pylled the chyrches of y e countrey as well as other places so that the sayd coūtesse with her yonge sonne Thybaude were fayne to seke socoure of the kynge wherfore the kynge called a counsayll at hys citye of Meleyne where agayne the sayd Hugh many greuous complayntes were put But for so myche as y e sayd Hugh at that tyme was not present to make answere vnto such thynges as then was layde to his charge the kynge commaunded that the castell of Terry or of Thoree in all haste shulde be manned vytayled to the ende that by the comforte strength of that castell the kynge yf nede requyred myght lay syege to the castell of Puyssake for so mych as that one was nere adioynynge vnto y e other In whych passe tyme the sayd Hugh was somoned to appere before the kynge and his counsayll but he refused to appere when the kynge was enfourmed of the garnyshyng of y e castell of Thorre and of the disobedyence of Hugh he assembled a stronge hoste and cōpassed the castell of Puyssake with a syege and set Thybaude son of the countesse vppon that syde that stode towarde the prouynce of Chartres so that stronge assautes and cruell warre was made on euery parte what shulde I make longe processe to tell of the ferefull shot of the gonnys vppon bothe partyes or of the sharpe shot of Arowes the castynge of stonys or scalynge of the wallys or fyllynge of the dyches the fyryng of the gates or yet the mortall and cruell fyght on bothe partes nor of y e manyfold dede bodyes maymed by reason of y e sayd assautes or yet y e manasses or mockes or great bosus or crakes vsed of the souldyours durynge this syege But fynally after the kynge hadde lyen before the sayd castell a certayne of tyme he wanne yt by pure force and toke the sayde Hughe wyth hys accessaryes The whyche he commaunded to be kepte as prysoners in the castell of Thorre for a season Then the kynge caste downe the sayde castell of Puyssake to the grounde excepte a lytle towre made of tymber the whyche he reseruyd for a lodgynge And that done some of the forsayd prysoners he put to deth and some he dysherityd after the grefe of theyr offence And so this foresayd countesse of Charters with her sonne Thybaude was in quyete of theyr countrey and castell of Puyssake belongynge to the sayde erledome But howe yt was in processe of tyme folowynge thys Thybaude entended to haue reedyfyed there a newe castell wherby as the kinge was enformed he wold haue encroched thynges appertaynynge to the crowne of Fraunce wherfore the kynge wythstode yt For this a grudge fell betwene the kynge and erle Thybaude so that in processe dedely warre was made betwen thē The whyche contynued in such wise to theyr both damages that fynally the warre was agayne reuyued betwene kynge Lewys and kynge Henry as in the .xvii. yere of the reygne of the sayde Henry is declared by meane of thys warre betwene the kynge and this erle Thybaude wherof the cyrcumstaunce wold axe a longe leysure to reherse as yt is shewyd in the frenche storye But fynally this erle Thybaude loste none honour all be yt that the frenche cronycle wonderfully fauoreth y e party of the Frenche kynge that the reader maye well apperceyue Quis pin xit leonem THE CCXXXI CHAPITER THis Lewys also hadde great warre wyth Henry the fourth of that name emperour the whyche maryed Molde the doughter of Henry the fyrste kynge of England as before is shewed whefore the occasyon was as sayth the Frenche cronycle for so myche as the sayd Henry the emperour hadde before tyme ben accursed of Gelasius the seconde of that name then pope at Raynes a citye in Fraunce For the whych cause as there is surmytted the sayde emperoure assembled an huge hoste of Almaynes and Italyens and entred the lande of Fraunce and dyd therin myche harme But in the ende when he knew of the great prouisyon y e Lewis made to mete him of his great power he then as affermeth y e frēch cronycle wythdrewe hym and so auoyded the lande of Fraūce wythout stroke strykyng But of this speketh nothyng the authour that wrote the story of this Henry the emperour After this the erle of Flaundres named Charlys the systers sonne of kynge Lewys nexte duke after Baldewyn whych dyed as before is sayd in the thyrde chapyter of the story of kyng Henry of a woūde in his face this foresayd Charlys was sore hated of the prouoste of Brudgys The whyche to bryng his malyce to some effecte counsayled wyth hys adherentes how he myght slee the sayde Charlys By whose coūsayle a meane was founde to brynge the erle to Brudgys a towne of Flaundres for the we le of the sayde towne After whose commynge vppon a daye he beynge in a chyrche and herynge his dyuyne seruyce was slayne of y e sayd prouoste and his complycys wherof herynge kynge Lewys anon wyth a great army entred Flaundres and besyeged the town of Brudges and lastely toke the sayde prouoste The whyche fyrst was bounden to a post then his eyen wyth a reede stryken out of hys hed And then shot wyth arowes lastely set vppon a whele where he remayned tyl he dyed And a felowe of hys named Bartopus y e
solet The whythe versys to our vnderstandynge may thus as folowyth be englyshed and expowned The Rose of the worlde but not the clene floure Is here now grauen to whom bewtye was lent In thys graue full darke nowe ys her bowre That by her lyfe was swete and redolent But now y t she is frō this lyfeblente Though she were swete nowe fowly doth she stynke A myrrour good for all that on her thynke Longe tyme after the deth of the sayde Rosamounde in the sayde abbaye was shewed a cofer of the sayd wenches of the length of two fote in whych apperyd fyghtynge geaūtes stertlynge of bestes swymmynge of fyshes and flyenge of fowlys In the forsayde .xx. yere after the opynyon of Guydo the kynge had the seconde monicyon of mendynge of hys lyfe by an Iryshe man y t told vnto hym many secret tokens whyche the kynge supposyd no man had knowen but hym selfe But yet the kynge toke lytell hede therunto In the .xxii. yere of his reygne after the forsayde takynge of y e Scottyshe kynge and .ii. erlys the .xi. day before Septēber wyllyam kynge of Scottys by assent of the lordes spyrytuall and temporall dyd homage to kyng Henry at hys cytye of yorke where the sayde wyllyam graunted by hys letters patentys that he and his successours kynges of Scotland shuld make theyr homage and fydelyte vnto the kynges of Englande as often as they shal be necessaryly requyred And in sygne and token of that subieccyon the kyng of Scottes offered hys hatte his sadell vppon the aulter of saint Peter in y e chyrch of york whyche for a remembraunce of that dede the sayd hat sadell were there kepte many yeres after And ouer y t the lordes of Scotland swore that if theyr kynge at any tyme wold wythdrawe hym from allegeaunce they wold all aryse agayn hym and be to hym as enymyes tyll he were returned to his fayth kepyng of his promyse And for the more strēgth of the sayd cōposycyon the kynge of Scottis came after to y e kyng Henries parlyament holden at Northāpton and a nother season into Normandye Ranulfe munke of Chester sayth that Lewys the .viii. of that name kynge of Fraunce delyueryd vnto kynge Henry a doughter of hys to haue in guydynge and to haue ben maryed vnto Rycharde hys son the whyche after the deth of Rosamoūde he defloured of her vyrgynyte After whyche dede as affermyth the sayde authoure the kynge was in wyll to haue wedded that damoysell For expedicyon wherof he made great meanes ta Hugūcia a cardynall then beynge in his land that he wold make a dyuorce betwene hym and Elyanoure the quene And thys he dyd to the ende to haue the more fauoure of the Frenchemen that by theyr ayde he myghte the better dysheryte hys sonnes But he fayled of his purpose and also yt turned to hys owne harme For by this means he caused the sayde Rycharde hys sonne to shewe all hys demeanour vnto the Frenche kynge so that by hys informacyon vnkyndnesse kyndled betwene them two therof ensued mortall warre as sayth the englyshe cronycle and also Polycronycon But of thys warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle nor of none other durynge the lyfe of the sayd Lewys after this daye which dyed in the .xxiiii. yere of thys Henry But the warre that was betwen the two kynges of England and of Fraunce was betwene thys Henry and Phylyppe sonne of thys Lewys as after shal be shewed About the .xxiiii. yere of thys kyng as wytnessen dyuerse wryters fell wonderfull wederynge and tempest of thunder in myddewynter tyme in Hampshyre and other places by violence wherof a preste amonges other was slayn And in the somer folowynge about Mary Magdalene tyde fell hayle of suche bygnesse y t yt slew both men and bestes And about this tyme were the bonys of kynge Arture and his wyfe Gueynour founde in the vale of Aualon whose here of the hed of the sayde Gweynour was then hole and of freshe coloure but so soone as yt was touched yt fell in powder whyche bonys were translated and buryed wythin the chyrche of Glastenburye and were founden by a synger of gestis vnder an holow oke .xv. fote wythin the grounde whyche fyndynge and translatynge is an obiecte to y e fantastycall sayeng of the walshemen that afferme hys commynge agayne to reygne as he before dyd Then hadde kynge Henry the seconde monycyon by a knyghte called syr wyllyam Chesterby or Lyndesey the whyche warned hym specyally for the reformacyon of .vii. artycles The fyrste was that he shuld sette better dylygence to the defence of holy chyrche and maynteynynge of the same The seconde that he shulde se hys lawes executed wyth better iustice then at those days was vsed The thyrd was that he shuld surmyse no mater agayn ryche men and by that mean plucke from them theyr landes goodes The fourth that he shulde restore all suche landes and goodes gotten by suche vnlawfull meanes or by any other The fyfte that he shuld for no medetarye ryghtfull sentence but suffer the ryght to haue hys processe The vi that he shulde se to the payment of hys subiectes for suche stuffe as was dayly taken to his vse also to the payment of hys seruauntes and souldyours wages whych dayly fell to robbynge for defaute The .vii. and the laste was that he shulde in all haste voyde the Iewys of hys lande whyche dayly wrought great sorowe to his commons and to leue theym somwhat to spende in theyr iourney But as he toke the other monycyons so he toke thys and cōtynued hys lyfe as he before hadde done THE CCXXXIX CHAPITER IN the .xxviii. yere of his reygn after moste writers dyed Henry his eldeste sonne then lyuynge y e whych as before is sayde was crowned to the derogacyon of the martyr saynte Thomas And in thys yere whyche shulde be the .iiii. yere of Phylyppe the seconde or of Phylyppe surnamed Gyuen of god the warre beganne betwene kynge Henry and hym wherof was occasyon as testyfyeth the sayd Frenche cronycle the denyenge of the deferrynge of homage that shuld be done to the sayde Phylyppe of Rycharde then eldest sonne of kyng Henry for the lādes of Poytow An other cause also was that where certayne couenauntes were stablyshed and enrolled betwene kynge Henry and Lewys father of thys Phylyp at the maryage of Henry his sonne and Margarete syster of Phylyppe for certayne holdes and castellys wherof y e castell of Gysours was one whych were delyueryd in dower wyth the sayde Margarete vppon condycyon that yf the sayde Henry hadde yssue by y e sayde Margarete then the sayde castellys to remayne to the sayde heyres and yf the sayde yonge Henry dyed without yssue of y e sayde Margarete that then the sayde castellys and holdes to be reuerted vnto the crowne of Fraunce and for that kynge Henry denyed or deferred these two poyntes and wold not answere when he was called the Frenche kynge therfore entred the
of our lord M.iiii C. .xxii and y e fyrst yere of Charles the .vii. or viii y e thaÌ„ne amonge the FrenchemeÌ„ was allowed for kyng and reygned yeres .xxxix. folio clxxix Henry of Derby wyth other landed at RaueÌ„spore as is shewed fo cli Henry the fyfte foresayd sayled into Fraunce loke in fo clxxii Henry Derby forenamed and of hys issue is shewed fo cxliiii Henry the .iiii. aforesayd maryed the duchesse of Brytayne fo clxvi Heresye of IohnÌ„ wyclyf apereth folio cxlvii Heretykes taken in saynt Gyles feld and after brent fo clxxi Homage done by lordes of Almayne to Rycharde erle of Cornewayll brother to kyng Henry the thyrde folio xxxviii Homage done by the kyng of Scottes to kyng E. the .iii. fo lxxxix Hughe holy bysshoppe of Lyncolne dyed fo xi IohnÌ„ brother to Rycharde the fyrste was ordeyned kynge of Englande in the moneth of Apryll yere of our lord M.C.xcix the .xx. yere of the second Phylyp than kyng of Fraunce and reygned yere .xvii. The interdiccion of thys lande begaÌ„ in the .vi. yere of thys kynge endured tyll the .xiii. yere Henry the sonne of Alwyn in the .x. yere of thys kynge was admytted for the fyrste mayre of LoÌ„doÌ„ And in the sayd .x. yere of king IohnÌ„ London brydge was begon to be made of stone fo x IohnÌ„ the fyrst in Fraunce of that name sonne of Phylyp de Ualoys began hys reygne ouer the lande of Fraunce in the moneth of August yere of our lord M.iii. C. .l and the xxxiiii yere of y e thyrd Edward kyng of England reygned yeres xiiii Thys kynge was taken prysoner of Edwarde the prynce of Englande at the batayll of Poytyers in FrauÌ„ce folio cxxiii Iaphet was gotten by kynge Rychard fo v Iakys de Artyuyle fauoured the Englysshe partye fo xciii Iacke Strawe wyll waw made an insurreccyon fo cxlii Iacke Sharpe was taken and putt to deth folio clxxxv Iacke Cade and hys felowes folio cxcvi Iacke Cade wroughte moche of hys wyll in London after robbed so slayne fo cxcvii Iewes were banysshed thys lande folio lx Iewes were spoyled slayne fo clv. IohnÌ„ brother of kyng Rychard was prowd fo iii IohnÌ„ reconcyled to hys brother apereth in fo viii IohnÌ„ duke of Lancaster dyed as is shewed fo c.l. IohnÌ„ duke of Bedforde dyed folio clxxxviii Inquysycyons were made vpon the rulers of London as is shewed in folio xxix Iordan of the I le of Gascoyne grewe out of kynde fo lxxxv Inglysshe lordes wanne fyrst vppon Frenchmen fo xcviii Inglysshe soudyours slayne vnder safe conduyt fo cxxii Itenerarii plees were holden in South werke fo xxxi Ile of Ely holdeth banysshed men folio xlii Ile of Rodes fyrst wonne fo lxxv Isabell late wyfe vnto kynge Rycharde was maryed to the eldest sonÌ„ of the duke of Orleaunce fo clx Issue dyssent of syr Roger Mortymer fo cxliiii Iustyces or iuges punysshed fo lx Iustes holden in Smythfelde folio cxliiii KInge IohnÌ„ and hys laÌ„de was enterdyted fo x Kynge IohnÌ„ was reconcyled to the churche fo xvi Kyng Henry the .iii. sayled into Normandy fo xxiiii Kynge Henry the .iii. in proper ê‘sone sat in iugement fo xxix Kynge IohnÌ„s fury serche in fo xiiii Kynge IohnÌ„ of Fraunce was taken prysoner folio ciii Kyng IohnÌ„ was delyuered fo cvii Kyng IohnÌ„ dyed in Englande folio cviii Kyng Rychard sought many prouysyons folio iiii Kynge Rycharde sayled into y e holy lande folio iiii Kynge Rychard was takeÌ„ prysoner folio vi Kyng Rychard was delyuered folio vii Hynge Rycharde sayled into Normandy folio ix Kynge Rycharde assayled the castell of Gysors folio x Kynge Rycharde was slayne fo x Kynge Henry the thyrd frayneth couÌ„sayll of the mayre folio xxxiiii Kynge Henry sayled into Fraunce to be presente at the Frenche kynges parlyament folio xxxv Kynge Henry was taken of hys barons folio xxxvii Kynge Henry layd hys syege to London as it is shewed folio xliii Kynge Henry chosed shyrefes folio xliii Kynge Lowys toke vppon hym the crosse folio xlviii Kynge Edwarde the fyrst buylde castelles in walys folio lviii Kynge Edwarde sayled into FrauÌ„ce folio lix Kynge Edwarde the .ii. was taken also resygned the crowne fo lxxxii Kynge Edward the .iii. came secretly to London folio xcvi Kynge Edwarde warred sharply in Fraunce folio xcvii Kynge Edwarde chased the Spanyardes from the see fo ci Kynge Edwarde yode into Scotlande fo cii Kynge of Scottes was delyuered folio ciiii Kynge Edward spedde hym toward Parys fo cv Kynge of Nauerne was sodaynly taken as it is shewed fo cxxiii Kynge of Nauerne was set at large folio cxxvii Kynge Edwarde warred newly in Fraunce fo cxxxv Kynge Iohan was receyued into Fraunce fo cxxxv Kynge of Nauerne became feodory vnto the French kynge fo cxxxvi Kynge of Ermonye asked ayde of kynge Rycharde the .ii. fo cxliii Kyng Rychard ayded the Ianuayes folio cxlv Kyng Rychard maryed the Frenche kynges doughter fo cxlvii Kyng Richard sayled into Irelande folio cli Kyng Richarde was myserably put to dethe fo clxv Kyng Henry the .iiii. maryed the duchesse of Brytayne fo clx Kyng Henry the .v. sayled into Normandy fo clxxiii Kynge Henry maryed the Frenche kynges doughter fo clxxv Kynge Henry was receyued into LoÌ„don fo clxxvi Kyng Henry and hys wyfe sat crowned in Parys fo clxxvii Kyng Henry the .vi. shewed hys vertue beholde fo clxxix Kyng Henry was dubbed knyghte folio clxxxii Kinge HeÌ„ry was crowned fo clxxxiii Kynge Henry was crowned at Parys fo clxxxv Kynge of Scottes was murdered folio cxc Kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. was taken fo ccv Kyng Edward the .iiii. was receyued into London fo ccvii Kynge Edwarde ayded the duke of Burgoyne fo ccxiii Kyng Edwarde spoused dame Elizabeth Graye fo ccxvi Kynge Edwarde fledde thys lande folio ccxviii Kynge Henry was taken oute of the towre fo ccxviii Kynge Edwarde was proclaymed vsurper fo ccxix Kynge Edwarde landed at Rauynspore fo ccxix Kynge Edwarde repossessed as apereth folio ccxx Kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. dyed in the towre of London fo ccxx Kyng Edwardes chyldren were takeÌ„ out of seyntwary fo ccxxiiii LAzars of Languedok were brent fo lxxxiiii Letter sente by the barons to kynge Henry fo xxxvii Lewelyn prynce of walys rebelled folio lvi Lewelyn was slayne as appereth folio lvii Letter takked vpoÌ„ the crosse in chepe folio lxxxi Lordes assemble at Arundell as apereth folio cxlix Lordes put to deth fo clxxii Lordes fledde from Lodlowe feelde folio cciii Lordes proclaymed traytours as is shewed folio cciiii Lordes came to London fo cciiii Lordes of Fraunce warre vpoÌ„ theyr kynge fo ccx Lordes contynue theyr malyce as is shewed fo ccxi Lordes dyscorde wythin them selfe folio ccxii Lorde Morley appeled the erle of Salysbury as it is shewed in folio clxv Lorde Straunge and syr Iohanne Trussell fyghte in the churche for cause
shewed in folio clxxiiii Lorde Talbot was slayne as appereth fo cc Lorde Egremonde was commytted to Newgate as is shewed fo ccii Lorde wellys conspyred agayne the kynge folio ccxviii Lorde chamberlayne beheded as is shewed fo ccxx Losse of Normandy as is shewed folio cxcviii Lowys sonne vnto the French kyng warred in Englande fo xvii Lowys retourned into Fraunce as appereth fo xviii Lowys sayled into the holy lande folio xxv Lowys gaue sentence agayne the barons fo xxxvi Lowys the .ix. of that name and son̄ of Phylyp the seconde beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of oure lorde M.CC. and .xxiii and the .vi. yere of the thyrde kynge Henry than kyng of Englande and reygned yeres .iii. By thys kynge retourned the blode of Charles into y e possessyon of the crowne of Fraunce folio xlvi Lowys the .x. of that name a chylde of .xii. yeres and sonne of the abouenamed the .ix. Lowys whyche is named saynt Lowys began his reygne ouer Fraunce in the yere of our lord M.CC. and .xxvi and the .ix. yere of the iii. Henry than kinge of Englād and reygned yeres .xliii as appereth folio xlvii Lowys the .xi. by accompt and sonne of Phylyp the .iiii beganne to reygn ouer Fraunce in the yere of our lord M.CCC and .xv and the .viii. yere of the seconde Edwarde than kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .ii. folio lxxxiii Lowys the .xii. of y e name afte the accōpt of thys boke .x. after the frēche accōpt wherof y e cause is before shewed son̄ of the laste Charles begā to rule y e Frenchmē in y e yere of our lord M.iiii C. and .lviii .xxxvi. yere of Hēry the .vi. thā kyng of Englande reygned yeres .xxvi. fo ccix Lowys refused lordes company and counsayll fo ccix Lowys rescueth Parys fo ccx Losse of townes and castelles in Normandy folio cxxxvii MAruayles sene in the fyrmament folio xii Mayre of London presenment loke in folio xxvii Mayr and hys bretherne foūd gylty in hurtyng the cōmons fo xxix Mayre and cytezeyns agreed to the lordes fo xxxi Macys of syluer were fyrste graūted to offycers of London fo xci Men of Norwyche enraged fo xlv Manhode of Mathew de Roya foli liiii Marchaunte straungers encroched vpō the cytezyns of Lōdon and were punysshed fo lix Maddocke a walshman rebelled as it is shewed fo lxi Mariage of the .ii. Edward fo lxxiiii Malyce sprange amonge the lordes of Flaunders fo lxxxv marueylous heyle fylle fo lx Mychaell Tony mayre of London adiuged loke in fo lvi mortmayne was fyrst enacted fo lvi Mortymer was howgely auaunced folio lxxxvii Mortymer was put to deth as it is shewed fo lxxxviii money borowed of the cytye of London folio xcii Martyn Pysdo Parycyen was put to cruell deth fo cxxxv maner of cysme in the church of Rome loke in fo cxxxviii Maner of the metyng of the kynges of Englande of Fraunce fo cxlvii many knyghtes of the bathe made folio clxiii Maruayles of Thamys fo clxx masses ordeyned by kyng Henry the fyfte as it is shewed in folio clxxviii Maner of treaty betwene the landes of Englande and of Fraunce loke in folio clxxxviii maryage was dyspoynted fo cxcii Maryage concluded fo cxciii manhode of chalons fo cxcv Maximilian and the Frenche kynge dyscorden fo ccxxviii Margaret syster vnto Edwarde the iiii departed from London towarde the see fo ccxvii monycyon dyuyne was gyuen to the Frenche kynge fo clviii Mountague a noble man was slayn folio clx mummyng made for treason as is shewed fo clxv Murder was punysshed fo clxvii NOumbre of wardes in y e citye of London fo ii Names of twelfe perys of England folio xxx New tolle was brought vp fo xliiii Nycholas Brembre wyth other was put to deth fo cxliiii Nauye of Frenchemen dystressed as is shewed fo lv Newe coyne of syluer was stryken folio lvii New dyspleasure kynge Rycharde toke agayne y e cytye of London fo cl Newe coyne of golde smitten as appereth in fo clxx OCtoboon the popes legate was pursued of the clergy of Englande for causes shewed in fo xxii Occasyon of the fraye in Fletestrete folio cxlv Occasyon of dyspleasure betwene kynge Rycharde and the duke of Glouceter fo cxlix Of the chere and curious receyuyng of kyng Henry by the Frēnche kyng folio xxxii Offycers charged and dyscharged as it is shewed folio xxxiii Of kyng Iohn̄s pledges fo cviii Ordre of seruytoures in the tyme of quene Katherins coronaciō fo clxxvi Orleaunce that cytye was besyeged folio clxxxii Othes sworne by the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce for peace kefolio cvii Olyuer Dāman and Danyell sometyme chyef counsayllours of Lowys the Frenche kynge were hanged as appereth fo ccxxviii PReface of thys werke as apereth fo I Peace was taken betwene the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce folio xi Phylyp kynge of Fraunce warred vpon kyng Iohn̄ fo xi Phylyp brake the peace fo xii Pope Innocente sente vnto kynge Iohn̄ fo xiii Parlyamente holden at London folio xix Pyers of Pountfret for hys vertue put to deth fo xvii Parlyament holden at Mertone folio xxii Periurye was punysshed as appereth fo xxv Parlyament holden at Oxenforde as apereth fo xxx Parlyament holden at westmynster folio xxxi Parlyament holden at Oxenforde as is shewed fo xxxvi Parlyament holden at westmynster folio xxxviii Parlyament holden at westmynster folio xlv Peace was made betwene the kynge and Gylbert de Clare as is shewed folio xliii Punysshement of Londoners as is shewed fo xl Phylyp the thyrde of that name and sonne of saynte Lowys was made kynge of Fraunce in the yere of our lorde M.CC.lxx and the .liii. yere of the thyrde Henry than kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .xv. fo li Phylyp the .iiii. of that name and son̄ of the .iii. Phylyp la beawe or fayre began to reygne ouer Fraunce in y e yere of our lorde a M.CC.lxxxvi the .xiiii. yere of the fyrste Edwarde than kyng of England and reygned yeres .xxxix. fo lxviii Phylyp the .v. of that name and surnamed the longe sonne of the fourth Philyppe and brother to Lowys the xi by accompt begā hys reygne ouer Fraunce in the yere of grace a M.iii C. and .xvii the .x. yere of Edwarde the .ii. than kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .v. fo lxxxiii Phylyppe de Ualoys erle of Ualoys and the sonne of Charlys de Ualoys brother to the fourthe Philippe was nat wythoute some stryfe chosen and ordeyned for protectoure of the lande of Fraunce and after kyng of the same the .ii. daye of February in the yere of oure lorde M.iii. C. and .xxviii and the .ii. yere of Edwarde the .iii. than kyng of Englande and reygned in greate trouble yeres .xxii. fo cxvi Phylyppes actes in Italye as appereth folio liiii Parlyament holden at westmynster folio lvi Plees remoued from London as is shewed fo lvi
of .x. thousande pounde for the exployte of his voyage And farther more he sold to the olde byshoppe of Durham hys owne prouynce for a great summe of money and creatyd hym erle of the same wherfore the kynge sayde after in game I am a wonders crafty man for I haue made a new erle of an old byshop By suche meanes the kyng emptyed many byshoppes and ryche prestys bagges and fylled hys cofers And ouer that he graunted oute annuytyes and fees oute of the crowne as though he roughte nothynge of hys retournynge For this dede some of hys famylyers as they durste blamed hym But he sayde to thē y t in tyme of nede it was good polycy for a man to ayde hym wyth his owne And more ouer he ioyned ther to that yf London were hys at that tyme of nede he wolde sell yt yf he myght gete a conuenyent marchaūt that for yt were able to paye An other waye he hadde also to gather money for he hadde lycence of pope Innocent the thyrd of that name to dyspence wyth suche as hym lyked wythin his realme for takyng vppon theym the crosse Anno domini M.C.xci.  Anno domini M.C.xcii  Iohn̄ Herlyon  Balliui  Anno secundo  Roger duke  IN the seconde yere in the moneth of October kynge Rycharde betoke the guydynge of the lande vnto the byshoppe of Ely then chaunceller of Englande and sayled into Normandye where settynge the coūtrey vnder sadde guydyng shortly after mette with the Frenche kyng Phylyp the second the whych ioyntly yode to Turon and there ouer passyd the shortnesse of wynter In whyche passe tyme makynge eyther wyth other assuraunce for contynuaunce of so great a iourney at the sprynge of y e yere these two princes toke theyr voyage towarde the holy lande that is to meane kyng Rycharde by y e see and knnge Phylyppe by the lande and appoynted to mete agayn in the land of Scicilia or Scycyll In this meane tyme in England the Iewes in dyuers places of y e realme as Lyncolne Staunforde and Lynne were robbed and spoyled and at yorke to the nomber of foure hundred mo cutte theyr mayster veynes and bled to deth The two kynges accordynge to theyr appoyntemēt met in Scycyll where grudge beganne to kyndle betwene theym for correccyon of theyr souldyours Then the French kyng departyd agayne from kynge Rycharde the whyche there made certayne ordynaunces for warre as a towre or castell of tymber whyche he named Mategryffons and also prouyded for vytayll for both hostes In thys tyme also the kynge of Cyprys hadde taken two shyppes of kynge Rycharde and denyed the delyuery of theym wherfore the sayde Rycharde entryd the land of Cypris makynge therin sharpe warre chasyd so the kynge from cytye to cytye that lastely he yelded him vnto kyng Rycharde vppon condicyon that he shulde not be throwen in bondes of iron wherof kynge Rycharde in kepynge of hys promyse caste hym in bondes of syluer when kynge Rycharde hadde dwellyd there vppon two monethes and hadde taken his pleasure of that coūtrey and taken amendes at his own wyll for hys shyppes then he departed from the sayde yle of Cypris and sayled towarde Acon or Acris In whyche course so kepynge towarde Acris he encountred a great shyppe of the Soudans of Sury fraughte wyth great ryches and toke yt and so came at length to y e cytye of Acris where at that tyme lay before y e sayd towne the Frenche kynge wyth hys hoste and had lost a lytle before two thousande of hys men whyche were partyd from hys hoste to haue done an enterpryse vppon the Turkes but they were layde for dystressed Then as testyfyeth Peter Dysroy kynge Rycharde was ioyously receyued of the Frenche kynge After whose commynge yt was not longe that the sayd cytye was gyuen vp by appoyntement as foloweth and as affermeth the sayde Peter and also the cronycle of Fraunce Fyrste that the Sarasyns shulde departe out of the cytye leuynge behynde theym horse harneys vytayll and all other thynge belongynge to warre Also they shulde cause to be restoryd all such prysoners of crystē men as they had vnder theyr kepyng wyth other couenauntes whyche I passe ouer And thus was the cytye of Acris yelden into the crysten mennes handes in the moneth of Auguste the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .lxxx. and xii But when yt came to the partyng of the praye of the cytye there beganne malyce to kyndle hys bronde whych was not lyghtly after quenchyd Of thys varyance betwene these two kynges of England of Fraūce dyuers maners are shewyd For Polycronica sayth that yt beganne by reason that kynge Rycharde denyed vnto kynge Phylyp halfe hys wynnynges in Cypris accordyng to the couenauntis betwene theym assured at Turon But kyng Rychard sayd that the cōuencyon there made stretched no forther then to suche goodes as was wonne wythin the lymytes or boundes of the holy lande Another grudge was by reason that the French kyng ayded not y e erle of Champeyne beynge in dystresse of nede wherfore the sayde erle beynge discontent sayde to the Frēche kyng Syr hytherto I haue done accordynge to my dutye but hereafter I shall do as I am compellyd be nede For your grace hath hytherto cherysshed me but for myn but now I shal go to hym y t is more redy to gyue thē to take and so departed to kyng Rycharde of the whyche he had all hys pleasure The thyrde cause was as sayth Ranulph for as mych as kyng Rycharde at hys begynnyng in Scycyll maryed the syster of the kynge of Nauerne where before he hadde promysed to mary the syster of the sayde kynge Phylyppe But of these artycles speketh nothyng the french cronycle all be it he layeth greate defaute vnto kynge Rycharde sayeng in sedycyous and vyle wordys that kyng Rycharde falsly brake hys appoyntmentes and kepte no promesse that by hym was made Moreouer the sayd cronycle sayth that he solde the ile of Cyprys vnto the Templers for .xxx. thousande marke and after toke it agayne frō them by strength and delyuered it vnto Guy de Lesygnan that was the laste crystened kynge of Hierusalem And ouer this the sayde frenche cronycle sayth that he toke from a knyght of the duke of Ostrych the sayd dukes banner and in despyte of the sayde duke trade it vnderfote and dyd vnto it all the despyte he myghte And ouer all thys where as Conradus Markes of Tyre was traytorously slayn by two of his owne seruauntes that kyng Rycharde shulde laye the charge therof vnto the frenche kynge For these grudges and sykenesse wyth also fere of treason to be wrought bytwene Saladyne the Soudā and kynge Rycharde as affermeth or allegeth the foresayde authoure kynge Phylyppe wyth a small company of shyppes departed from Acō or Acris sayled to Puyll or Poyll and there restynge hym a season cōtynued hys iourney vnto Rome and so lastely into hys owne prouynce of Fraunce
many forfaytes escheatys For this gentylmen and men of honour malygned agayn hym But he had such coÌ„forte of the kynge that he kepte on his purpose Then the kynge beynge warned of the congregacyons that thys wyllyam made commauÌ„ded hym to cease of such doynges y t the people myght exercise theyr artes occupacyoÌ„s by reason wherof it was left for a while But it was not long or the people folowed hym as they before that tyme had done Then he made vnto them colacyons or exhortacyons and toke for hys anteteme Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibus saluatoris That is to mean ye shall drawe in ioye waters of the wellis of our sauyour And to this he added I am sayde he the sauyour of poore men ye be poore and haue assayed y e harde handes of riche men Now draw ye therfore holefull water of lore of my wellys that wyth ioy for the tyme of your vysytacyon is comen I shall sayde he departe waters from waters by waters I vnderstande the people Then shall I departe the people whychis good and meke from the people that ys wycked and prowde and I shall dysseuyr the good and the ylle as the lyght is departed from y e darkenes when thys came to the knowlege of the archebyshoppe of Caunterbury he by counsayll of the lordes of the spyrytualty sent vnto this wyllyam commaundynge hym to appere before the lordes of the kynges counsayll to answere vnto suche maters as there shulde be layde vnto hym At whyche daye thys wyllyam appered hauyng wyth hym a multytude of people in so myche that the lordes were of hym adrad For the whyche cause they remyttyd hym wyth plesaunt wordes for y e time commaundyd certayne persones in secrete maner to espye when he were voyde of hys company and then to take hym and to put hym in sure kepyng The whyche accordynge to the commaundement at tyme conuenyent as they thought sette vpon hym and to haue taken hym But he wyth an axe resysted theym and slewe one of theym and after fled to saynt Mary Bowe chyrche of Chepe and toke that for his sauegarde defendynge hym by strength and not by the suffrages of the chyrche for to hym drew shortley great multytude of people But in shorte processe by meane of the heddys and rulers of the cytye the people mynyshed so y t in shorte tyme he was lefte wyth few personys after by fyre coÌ„pellyd to forsake the chyrch and so was taken but not wythoute shedynge of blood After whyche takynge he was areygned before the iudges there wyth .ix. of his adhereÌ„tes caste and iudged to dye was hanged they wyth hym the day folowynge But yet the rumour seased not for y e coÌ„mon peple reysed a great cryme vpon the archbyshop of Caunterbury other and sayd y t by theyr meanes willyam whych was an innoceÌ„t of such crymes as were obiecte put agayne hym was a defendor of the poore people agayn extorcyoners wronge doers was by theym put wrongfully to deth approuyng him an holy maÌ„ martyr by this tale folowyng sayeng y t a man beyng syke of the feuers was cured by vertue of a cheyn whych this wyllyam was bounde wythin tyme of his dures of imprysonement which by a preste of the allye of the sayde wyllyam was openly declared preached wherby he brought the people in suche an errour that they gaue credence to hys wordes secretly in the nyght coÌ„ueyed away the iebet that he was haÌ„ged vppon scraped away y e blood that was shed of him when he was taken or ellys when he was hedded quarteryd so y t they made there an holow place by fetchyng away of that erth and sayde y t syke men women were cured of dyuerse sykenesse by vertue of that blood erth By these means and blowynge of fame y e place was the more vysyted by women vndyscrete ê‘sones of the whych some watched there the hole nyght in prayer so that the lenger thys coÌ„tynued the more dysclaunder was anotyd to the iustyces and to suche as put hym to deth Not wythstandyng in processe of tyme when hys actes were publysshed as the sleynge of a man wyth hys owne hande and vsynge of hys concubyne wythin saynte Mary chyrche in tyme of hys there beynge as he openly coÌ„fessed in the houre of hys dethe wyth other detestable crymes somwhat keled the great flame of the hasty pilgrymage But not clerely tyll the archebyshoppe of CauÌ„terbury accursed y e preste y t broughte vp the fyrste fable and also causyd that place to be watched that suche idolatry shuld there no more be used Anno domini M.C.xcviii  Anno domini M.C.xcix  Roger Blount  Balliui  Anno .ix.  Nycholas Duke  IN the moneth of Apryll and ix yere of kynge Rycharde when he had prouided to sende forth xx thousand pouÌ„de to the emperour for full payment of hys raunsome the pledges whyche had lyen for the same came sodeynly into England and shewed vnto the kyng that after his departynge the emperour sente them vnto the duke of Ostrych to remayne with him tyll the money were payde And forther there they shewed that the sayd duke was accursed of y e pope y t then was Innocent y e thyrde by reason of his wronge done to the kynge that his prouynce was greuyd wyth many myscheues And as the duke rode forth on a daye in hys disport beyng saynt Stephans day he hurte his fote in such wyse wyth a thorne or other venym whyche rancled grewe so sore y e lastly he shuld dye or cutte yt of But in hope of recouery he contynued tyll in the ende he was warned that he shulde dye Then he sent for his byshoppes and axyd to be assoyled of the sentence of the chyrche whyche he stode in The whyche was denyed hym excepte he wolde swere to stande and abyde the ordynauÌ„ce and dome of holy chyrch touchynge the wronge that he hadde done to kynge Rycharde The duke sware and was assoyled and shortly after the two byshoppes pledgys for y e money were delyuered at theyr lybertye Then kynge Rycharde callyng to mynde that the vttermost daye of the trewes takeÌ„ betwene hym and the Frenche kynge approched made hym redy and sayled into Normandye where before his commyng the Frenche kynge by occasyon of the Normannis as sayth the frenche boke was entred the couÌ„trey of Burgys towarde whom kyng Rycharde sped hym wyth all possyble spede so that both hostes laye partyd wyth a ryuer called Osson or Ossyne Then to folowe the sayenge of the frenche boke for so myche as the englyshe cronycle spekyth lytle or nothynge of thys acte lette wyse men that here thys cronycle constrew yt after theyr dyscrecyons For all be yt the Frencheman wrote yt to the honour of Frenchmen yet to other that shall rede or here yt because yt soundyth so nere vntrouth yt shal rather
maryed the doughter of Lewelyn prynce of walys as yt were for a fynall accorde betwene the sayde Lewelyne and Ranulphe euer after to be contynued Anno domini M.CC.xxiiii  Anno domini M.CC.xxv  wyllyam Ioynour  Rycharde Reynger  Anno .viii.  Thomas Lamberte  IN thys .viii. yere of kyng Henry a parlyament was holden at where among other thynges the lordes and baronye of the lande graunted vnto the kynge and to his heyres kynges the warde and mariage of theyr heyres which dede was after of lerned men called Initium malorū that is to meane the begynnynge of yllys or of harmes Anno domini M.CC.xxv  Anno domini M.CC.xxvi  Iohn̄ Trauers  Rycharde Renger  Anno .ix.  Andrew Bokerell  IN thys .ix. yere of kynge Henry Frederyke the seconde of that name emperour of Almayne for his contumacy agayn the chyrch of Rome was accursyd of the .ix. Gregory then pope wherfore soon after he toke two cardynallys and dyuers prelatys as they were goynge to a generall counsayle kepte by the sayd pope at a place callyd Spolete a cytye of Italye Anno domini M.CC.xxvi  Anno domini M.CC.xxvii  Roger Duke  Rycharde Renger  Anno .x.  Martyne fyz wyllyam  IN thys .x. yere of the reygne of kynge Henry the plees of the crowne were pletyd in the towre of London In this yere also as wytnessyth the Frenche cronycle dyuerse souldyours whyche as to thys daye kepte certayne castellys in the countye of Poytiers as the castell of Monstruell the castell of Nyort and the townes of Angely and of Rochel were by the Frenche kynge so assautyd that they were constrayned to gyue them ouer to the Frenche kyng then beyng Lewis the nynthe of that name or after some writers the .viii and sonne of Phylyppe the seconde Anno domini M.CC.xxvii  Anno domini M.CC.xxviii  Stephan Bokerell  Roger Duke  Anno .xi.  Henry Cobham  IN thys .xi. yere of thys kynge Henry the shyrywyke of London and of Mydd were lettyne to ferme for the summe of .iii. hundred poūde by yere to the shryues of London And the .xviii. daye of February the same yere was graunted by the kynge that all werys in Thamys shulde by plucked vppe and destroyed for euer And the .xvi. daye of Marche folowynge the kynge graūted by hys charter ensealyd that the cytyzens of London shulde passe toll free thorough all Englande And yf any cytezyns were cōstrayned in any cytye borough or towne in England to paye any toll y t then the shryues of London to attache any man commynge to London of the sayde cytye borough or towne where suche toll was payed and hym and hys goodys to wythholde and kepe tyll the cytesyners of London be restoryd of all suche money payed for the sayde tolle wyth all costes and damagys sustayned for the same And the xviii daye of Auguste folowynge the kyng graūted to y e sayd cytesyns of London wareyn that is to meane that the cytesyns haue free lybertye of huntynge certayne cyrcuyte aboute London And in thys yere the towne of Lymosyn wyth dyuers holdes in Pyerregot and Aluerne in the countye of Guyan were geuen vppe to the forenamed Lewys the Frenche kynge wherfore the kynge sente ouer hys brother Rycharde erle of Cornewayll shortely after whyche landed at Burdeaux wyth .iii. hundred saylles Anno domini M.CC.xxviii  Anno domini M.CC.xxix  Stephan Bokerell  Roger Duke  Anno .xii.  Henry Cobham  IN the begynnyge of thys .xii. yere of kynge Henry mayster Stephan Langton archbyshoppe of Caunterburye dyed and the great deane of Paulys mayster Rycharde wethyrshed was hys successour And in thys tyme the fraunchyse and lybertyes of the citye were by the kyng confyrmyd to eueryche of y e sheryues was graūted to haue .ii. clerkes .ii. officers wythout mo And to the citesyns of Lōdon was also graūted thys yere that they shuld haue vse a common seale And in this yere Rycharde erle of Cornewayll besyeged the town of saynt Machayre in Guyan And whan he hadde wonne yt by strength he then layed hys syege to y e town of Rochell tyll yt was restoryd by the marshall of Fraunce Anno domini M.CC.xxix  Anno domini M.CC.xxx  walter wynchester  Roger Duke  Anno .xiii.  Robert fyz Iohn̄  In this xiii yere of kynge Henry vppon Trynyte sondaye or after an other authour vpon whyt sondaye whyle the byshoppe of London was at the hygh masse in saynte Paulys chyrch of Lōdon fell sodeynly suche thyckenesse of darkenesse of cloudes and therwyth suche stenche and tempeste of thunder and lyghtenynge that the people there assemblyd voyded the chyrche and the vycaryes and chanons forsoke theyr deskys that the byshoppe remayned in great fere alone excepte a fewe of his menyall seruauntys and suche as attendyd vpon hym at the aulter Also in thys yere the fame of that blessyd woman Elyzabeth doughter of the kynge of Hungarye beganne to spredde The whyche before and after the deth of her husbande Langraue duke of Thorynge in Almayne shamyd not for Crystes sake to weshe the sorys and bylys of lazars and of other poore men besyde other manyfolde dedes of charyte By vertue of whyche blessyd and vertuouse lyfe she by her lyfe thoroughe the power of god shewed many and dyuerse myracles Among the whyche by her prayer .xvi. men were from deth to lyfe arreryd and a man borne blynde to syght restoryd wherfore by Gregorye the .ix. of that name and pope of Rome she was amonge the college of the blessed nomber of sayntes ascrybyd and alowed and commaunded her feast to be halowed the .xiii. kalendas of December Anno domini M.CC.xxx  Anno domini M.CC.xxxi  Rycharde fyz wyllyam  Roger Duke  Anno .xiiii.  Iohn̄ wodbourne  IN this .xiiii. yere of the kinge was ordeyned by the mayre and rulers of the cytye of London that no shryue of that cytye shulde cōtynew lenger in offyce then one yere wherof the cause was that dyuerse of theym by contynuaunce of theyr offyce dyd dyuerse extorcyons and toke brybys of vytellers wyth other defautys whyche were founde and prouyd preiudycyall hurtefull to the common weale of the sayde citye Anno domini M.CC.xxxi  Anno domini M.CC.xxxii  Mychaell of saynte Elene  Roger Duke  Anno .v.  walter Denfelde  IN this .xv. yere the kynge had graūted tyll hym a quindecim or fyftene of the temporaltye and a dyme and an halfe of the spyrytualty to recouer hys lādes loste in Normandy Guyan and Poyteau And in this yere Huberte of Burgth y t at this daye was chefe iustyce of Englande hadde greuyd or dyspleased the kynge in suche wyse that he was compellyd to fle the kynges syght But he was so strayghtly pursued y t he was taken in a chapell of Brentwood in Essex and so cast in
Guyldhall or other places symple and vndyscret persons shuld haue the voyce and the worshypfull meÌ„ lytell or nothyng regarded wherof ensuyd dayly myche vnhappynes and sorow as after shall appere The Barons then to obteyne the more fauour of y e cytye wyllyd them to shewe yf they hadde any of theyr libertyes wythdraweÌ„ that they myght agayne to theym be restored and also to dyuyse some new to theyr weale and profyte and they wolde laboure to the kynge that they myghte haue theym graunted For the whych comforte of the lordes the mayre called the commons to the Guyldhall and shewed to them the beneuoleÌ„ce of the sayd lordes willed them that euery ofâ—ycer for hys offyce to deuyse such thynges as myght be benefycyall for the cytye wheruppon they counsaylled to gyther and made a note in paper of dyuers statutes prouysyons and ordynaunces to be graunted whyche myght more properly be named abhomynacyons For they were deuysed to theyr synguler profyte to y e great hurt of all other marchauÌ„tes commynge to the citye and to all other fayres and markettes of Englande and also preiudycyall to the vnyuersall weale of the realme The whyche when they were ouersene by the heddes of the cytye yt was shewyd vnto the sayd coÌ„mons that theyr ordynaunces were not lefull nor charytable orderyd and therfore they knewe well they shulde not be admytted wyllyng theÌ„ to deuyse other But all was in vayne By meane wherof both those other that were ryght necessary for the coÌ„mon weale of the cytye were reiected put of Then y e Barons vpon the morowe folowynge saynt Iamys daye departed from London towarde wyndesore to se the gydynge of the castell where at theyr commynge they putte out the foresayde allyauntes before set in by syr Edward the kinges son the whyche assocyat wyth other yode vnto Fulham where the kynge then lay and shewyd to hym that the Barons had spoyled them of suche goodes as they hadde and that wythout cause But the kynge put them of for that season and warned them to sue to hym agayne about Mychelmasse when more of his couÌ„sayll was with hym then they shuld haue iustyce Uppon the second daye folowyng the feaste of saynte Mathew or the xxiii daye of september the kynge the quene with his sonnes and other nobles of thys land toke shyppyng and sayled into Fraunce to be present at the Frenche kynges parlyaament then holden at Bonony And the morow after the octabis of saynt Mychaell he landed agayne at Douer And the frydaye folowynge he came vnto London And vppon the tuesday folowyng passed a queste of .xii. knyghtes of Mydd sworne vpon a iury betwene the abbot of westmynster and the cytye for certayne pryuyleges that the cytesyns of London claymed wythin westmynster where by the sayde iurye it was founden before Gylbert of Prestone then chefe Baron of the kynges excheker that the sâ—ryues of London at those days myght lawfully enter into the town of westmynster and all other tenemeÌ„tes that the abbot then hadde wythin Myddelsex vnto the gate of the sayd abbay and there to make summons and dystrayne for lacke of apparaunce all and eueryche tenaunte of the sayde abbot About the quindena of saynt Mychaell the fourmer complaynt of the allyauntes and other whyche as aboue ye haue harde was shewed before the kyng and y e lordes in the parlyament holden at westmynster where lastely yt was sentencyd that the Barons shulde restore all suche goodes as they and theyr companye hadde taken from all suche persons before that daye as well to allyauntes as other both spyrytuall and temporall and also that suche menyall seruauntes as shulde be dayly in the kynges house and about his person shulde be suche as the kynge wolde chose and admyt hym selfe the whyche ii artycles the Barons vtterly denyed wherfore the olde rancoure toke place and dyssencyon kyndled his fyre of malyce agayn betwen the kynge and his lordes feruently Anno domini M.CC.lxii  Anno domini M.CC.lxiii  Robert Moumplere  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlvii.  Robert de Suff.  IN thys .xlvii. yere by procurement and styrynge of the Barons the commons of the cytye of London chase vnto theyr mayre for that yere Thomas fyz Thomas and wythout counsayll of the aldermen sware at Guyldehall vppon the day of Symon and Iude and made no presentement of hym vppon the morowe folowynge nother to the kyng nor yet to the Barons of the kynges excheker as they of ryght ought to haue done For the whych presumpcyon the kynge was greuously dyscontentyd agayne the cytye Soone after the kynge aduertysynge well y t the citye wolde take the Barons partye and causyd syr Edwarde his son to take the castell of wyndesore by a trayne wherof when he knewe that he was in possessyon the kynge erly in a mornynge a lytell to fore Crystemas departed from westmynster rode vnto the sayde castell whyther shortely after came also many of the lordes that were vppon the kynges partye And as faste the lordes and knyghtes whych helde wyth the erle of Leyceter drew them toward Lonlon so y t on eyther partye was mych people assembled In the whyche passe tyme some well dysposyd laboryd a concorde betwene the kynge hys lordes By whose meanes fynally yt was agreed by bothe partyes that all maters concernynge the fore sayde artycles of statutes and ordynauÌ„ces made at Oxenford and after by the .xii. Perys that the Frenche kynge shuld deme and iudge whych shulde be holden and whyche not And as he demyd both partyes promysed assuredly to abyde Upon whiche agrement copyes were made of the sayde statutes and wyth letters shewynge the effecte of the fourmer agrement sent vnto the sayde kynge of Fraunce then beynge saynt Lewys And in the Crystmas weke folowynge the kyng toke shyppynge with syr Edward his son and other of his counsayll and sayled into Fraunce for the foresayde cause And for the partye of the sayd Barons was sent ouer syr Peter de Mountforde and other Then before Lewys kynge of Fraunce those statutes were sore argued vppon both parties How be yt in the ende the Frenche kynge callynge before hym both parties vpon the day before y e conuersyon of saynt Paule or the .xxiiii. daye of Ianuary syttynge in iudgement gaue expresse sentence that all and eueryche of the sayde statutes and ordynaunces shulde be from y e daye foreward vtterly foredone and set at noughte and all suche bandes and promyses that the kyng or any other had made for the mayntenaunce of the same shulde be adnulled cancellyd and the kynge and all other for any mater concernynge those statutes set at lybertye After whyche sentence thus gyuen the kynge retourned into Englande so that he came to London the .xv. daye of Februarye But the Barons beynge sore amoued wyth this sentence notynge greate parcyaltye vnto the Frenche kynge departed from London westwarde so into the marchys of walys
where they drew to them great power and warred vppon the landes and castellys of syr Roger Mortymer threw some of them vnto the grounde and spoyled of hys what they myghte fynde and ouer that brent of hys manours and houses In whose ayde syr Edwarde the kynges sonne commynge hys people were dystressyd and he almoste taken For redresse of whyche maters a newe parlyameÌ„t was appoynted to be holdeÌ„ at Oxenforde in the quindena of Eester nexte folowynge whyche came neuer to effecte All be yt an other cronicle sayth that from this parlyament then holden at Oxenforde the kynge and his lordes parted all dyscorded Then the barons drewe towarde London the kynge remayned at woodstok And then newe assuraunce by wrytynge endentyd was made betwene the comynaltye of the cytye and the Barons wythoute consent of many of the rulers of the sayde cytye wherfore the commons as men enraged made of theym self two capytaynes whych they named constables of the cytye y t is to say Thomas de Pyweldon Stephan Bukerel At whose commaundement by tollynge of the great belle of Paules all the cytye shulde be redy shortely in harnes to gyue attendaunce vppon theyr sayd capytaynes About the begynnynge of lent the constable of the towre syr Hughe le Spenser came wyth a fayre company of men of armys before hym into the cytye and desyred assystence of the forenamed constables The whyche commaunded the sayd belle to be â—olled By meane wherof the people shyt theyr shoppes and came out in harneys in great multytude The whyche after proclamacyon made that they shulde â—olowe theyr capytaynes wythout knowlege what to do or whyther to go folowed theyr sayde capytaynes and so yode vnto Thystelworth vppon two myles beyonde westmynster there spoyled the manour of the kynge of Romaynes and sette yt after vppon a fyre And that done hys water mylles other commodities that he there had put theym to vtter ruyne And after wyth great noyse and crye returned vnto London This dede as sayth myne authour was cause of the mortall warre folowynge For where before tyme the sayde kynge of Romaynes hadde ben for allyaunce that was betwene hym and the erle of Glouceter a treatye of peace to be hadde betwene the kynge and his Barons after that dede done he was enymy vnto them to the vttermoste of his power The kynge herynge of thys ryâ—â—gaderyd vnto him great power And for he harde that syr Peter de MouÌ„t forde was at Northampton gatherynge of people to strength the Barons partye he spedde hym thyder and wanne the towne vppon hym by force and slewe many of hys men and fynally toke hym syr Symon the son of the erle of Leyceter wyth dyuers other on lyue the which with many burgeyses of that towne that hadde take theyr partyes the kynge sent vnto dyuers prysons and some he closyd wythin the castell of y e same towne In thys passe tyme on Palmesondaye weke all the Iewes in London were spoyled and robbed the nomber of .v. huÌ„dred of them were slayn and dyuers of theyr mansyons brent and destroyed and suche as of them were saued were conueyed for great mede vnto the towre and there kept from the fury of the commons wherof the occasyon was for so myche as a Iewe wolde haue forced a crysten man to haue gyueÌ„ to hym more then ii d. for the vsure of .xx. s. for a weke For ye shall vnderstand that at those dayes by lycence graunted vnto the Iewes of the kynge they myght take by vsury of euery man y t of theym wolde borowe money .ii. d. of a pouÌ„d for a weke lendyng and so of greter of smaller summes after that rate And soon after the Iewes were thus punyshed many houses of relygyon wythin y e citye and nere there about were serched for goodes of alliauÌ„tis and myche founde wherof a parte was brought vnto the lordis but the more parte was stolen and brybed In whyche season the kynge passed by diuers couÌ„treys and lastely came into Southsex with a strong power wherof herynge the lordes made preparacyon to go towardes hym In all whyche tyme the wardeyns of the v. portes kepte the see wyth shyppes that no straungers shulde entre the lande to ayde the kynge agayne the Barons Then in the ende of Apryll the Barons wyth a multytude of the cytye whyche they put in vawarde departed from London takyng theyr iourney towarde the kynge And when they were well onwarde vpon they re way worde was brought vnto them that the kynge wyth an huge power was at Lewys wherfore they by an hole assent dyuysed a letter and sent yt in y e name of all the Barons vnto the kynge whose names here vnder folowe but not all Syr Symonde de Mounforde erle of Leyceter and hyghe stewarde of Englande Syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter Syr Robert Ferres erle of Derby Syr Hugh le Spenser chefe iustice and syr Henry de Mountford son and heyre to the erle of Leyceter Syr Rycharde Gray Syr Henry Hastynges Syr IohnÌ„ fyz IohnÌ„ Syr Robert de Uenpount Syr IohnÌ„ Gyuyle Syr Robert Roos Syr wyllyam Marmyon Baldwyne wake Syr Gylbert Gyfforde Syr Nycholas de Megraue Syr Godfrey de Lucy Syr IohnÌ„ de Ueysy Syr wyllyam de Mounthdesey whyche letter sealed wyth the seales of the sayde erle of Leycester and of Glouceter conteyned as foloweth TO the most excellent lord the kynge Henry by the grace of god kynge of Englande lorde of Irlande and duke of Gwyan the Barons other faythfull your seruauntes theyr fydelyte and othe to god and to you coueytynge to kepe sendyng to you due salutyng with all reuerence and honour vnder due obeysaunce Lyketh yt youre hyghnes to vnderstaÌ„de that many beyng about you haue before tymes shewyd vnto your lordshyppe of vs many euyll vntrewe reportes and haue founde suggestyons not alonely of vs but also of your selfe to brynge this your realme vnto subuersyon Know your excellency that we entende nothyng but helth and suerty to your person to the vttermoste of our powers and not onely to our enmyes but also to yours and of all this youre realme we entende vtter greuaunce and correccyon Besechynge your grace her after to gyue vnto theym lytell credeÌ„ce for ye shall fynde vs your trew and faythfull subiectes to the vtter moste of our powers And we erle of Leyceter and erle of Glouceter at the request of other and for our selfe haue put to our seales the .x. day of the moneth of May. The answere vnto this foresayde letter HEnry by y e grace of god kyng of Englande lorde of Irland and duke of Guyan to Symonde de Mountforde Gylbert de Clare theyr coÌ„plyces where as by warre generall ê‘turbauÌ„ce in this our realme by you begon contynued wyth also brennynges and other hurtes and enormytyes that euydently apperyth that your fydelyte to vs due ye haue not kept nor y e suerty of our person ye haue
lytell regarded for so mych as our lordê other our trusty frendes whyche dayly byde wyth vs ye veryn and greue and theym pursue to the vttermost of your powers and yet dayly enteÌ„de as ye by the reporte of your letters haue vs ascertayned we the greue of them admyt take for our owne specyally when they for theyr fydelyte whyche they to vs dayly impende stande and abyde by vs to oppresse your ifidelyte and vntrouthe wherfore of your fauoure or assuraunce we sette lyttell store but you as our enymyes we vtterly defye wytnesse our selfe at our towne of Lewys the .xii. daye of this moneth of May. And ouer this the kyng of Romaynes syr Edwarde the kynges sonne and the other lordes beyng theÌ„ with the kynge sente vnto them a nother letter wherof the tenour ensuyth RIcharde by the grace of god kynge of Romaynes alwaye Augustus and Edwarde the noble fyrst begotten son of the kyng of England all other Barons fermely standynge and abydynge wyth our souerayne lorde the kynge to Symonde be MouÌ„tford Gylbert de Clare and all other theyr false felowes By the letters whych ye sent vnto the kynge our moste souerayne lorde we vnder stande that we are defyed of you Neuerthelesse this worde of dyffyaunce apperyd vnto vs suffycyently before by the depredacyon and brennyng of our manours and carienge away of our goodes wherfore we wyll that ye vnderstande that we defye you as our mortall publyke enmyes And when so euer we may come to reueÌ„gement of the iniuryes y t ye to vs haue done we shal acquit it to y e vttermost of our powers And where ye put vppon vs that nother trewe nor good counsayll to our souerayne lorde the kynge we gyue ye therin say falsely and vntrewly And yf y e saieng ye syr Symonde de Mountforde and syr Gylbert de Clare wyll iustifye in the courte of our souerayne lord we are redy to purchase to you suerty safe commynge that there we may proue our trew and faythfull innocencye your false and traytorouse lyenge wytnessyd wyth y e seales of Rychard kynge of Romaynes syr Edwarde forenamed Gyuen at Lewys the .xii. daye of May. WHen the Baronys had receyued these letters from the kyng and his lordes they perceyued well that there was none other mean but defeÌ„de theyr cause by dynt of sword wherfore they puttyng theyr trust in god spedde theym forth toward the kynge And vppon a wednysday beynge then the .xxiiii. daye of May erly in the mornynge both hostes met where after the LoÌ„doners had gyuen the fyrst assaute they were betyn backe so that they began to draw from the sharpe shot and strokes to the discomforte of the Barons hoste But y e Barons encoraged and comforted theyr men in suche wyse that not alonely the freshe and lusty knyghtes fought egerly but also suche as before were scomfyted recoueryd theyr vertue strength fought wythout fere in so myche that the kynges vaward lost theyr places Then was the felde coueryd wyth dede bodyes gaspynge gronyng was hard on euery syde For eyther was desyrous for to bryng the other out of life And the fader sparyd not the son nor the son y t fader AllyauÌ„ce at y e tyme was turned vnto dyffyaunce and crysten blood that daye was shad wythoute pytie Thus duryng the cruell fyght by the more parte of y e day lastely the victory fyll to the Barons so y t there was taken the kynge the kynge of Romayns syr Edwarde the kynges son wyth many other noble men to the nomber of .xxv. Barons and Banerettes people slayn a great multytude ouer .xx. thousande as sayth myne authours when the Barons had thus obteyned vyctorye prouysyon was made for y e saufe kepyng of the prysoners so that all were sent vnto dyuers castellys and prysons except the kyng his brother the kynge of Almayne syr Edwarde his son the whych the Barons helde wyth theym tyll they came to London Then a new graunte was made by the kynge that the foresayd statutes shuld stande in strength And yf any were thought vnreasonable they to be corrected and amendyd by foure noble men of the realme that is to meane .ii. of the spyrytualtye and .ii. of the temporaltye And yf those .iiii. myght not agree that then the erle of Angeou and duke of Burgoyn to be iudges of that mater And this to be fermely holden and obeyed by the kynge and hys brother the kynges graunted that theyr sonnes heyres shuld remayne wyth the Barons as prysoners tyll all thynge were fynysshed accordynge to the former agrement And vppon thys was a parlyament appoynted to be holden at London at Penthecoste folowynge but that came neuer to purpose TheÌ„ the tuesday before the Assencyon day peace was proclaimed in London betwene the kynge and hys Barons And vppon the daye folowynge the kynge the Barons came vnto London with the kynge of Romayns syr Edwarde the kynge sonne Then syr Edward as pledge for the kyng and syr Henry sonne vnto the kynge of Almayn were sent vnto the toure and there lodged and from theÌ„s vnto Douer castell And the kyng was lodged in the byshoppes palays by Paules and the kynge of Almayne with dyuers other within the towre Then yt was agreed by the kynge that for his more suertye and for the weale of the lande that the erle of Leyceter shuld be ressyauÌ„t in the kynges courte Uppon the whyche agrement other many of the prysoners were set at large In this passe tyme before the felde of Lewys y e quene the kyng of Romayns had sent ouer y e see for souldy ours to ayde the kynge agayne the Barons whych now were comen in great nomber vnto Douer there houed in y e see to haue laÌ„ded wherof herynge the Barons sent the kyng of Romayns to the castell of Berkham stede as prisoner tyll the sayde allyauntes were retourned and caused kynge Henry wyth a great power to ryde thyder and force the sayde hoste of straungers to retourne into theyr owne countreys And when the kynge had returned the sayde straungers he shortly after wyth agrement of the barons sayled ouer into Fraunce and retourned agayne wythin short terme Anno domini M.CC.lxiii  Anno domini M.CC.lxiiii  Osbert wynter  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlviii.  Phylyppe Taylour  IN this .xlviii. yere the lordes of the marches about the feast of Crystmasse assembled theym in those costes and dyd myche harme vppon the lordeshyppes and manours of the erlys of Leyceter and of Glouceter standynge in the marches of walys wherfore the kynge rode shortely after to Glouceter and called there a counsayl of his lordes By authoryte of whych counsayll yt was enacted that as many of y e sayd lordes as came not in by the octauis of saynte Hyllary nexte folowynge yelded them vnto the kynges grace shuld be exyled And by the sayd couÌ„sayll was also agreed
that done he caused to be caste vnto the erthe .iii. C. of y e fayrest houses of the cytye And after certayne suÌ„mes of money by hym receyued towarde hys charge he departed thens towarde Tholowse there by aduyce of hys barony for so moche as wynter was towarde he retourned into Fraunce so sped hym on hys iourney that vppoÌ„ the euyn of all Saintes he came to a place called MouÌ„te Pauncer in the prouynce of Aluerne where he was takeÌ„ with stronge sykenesse and dyed within .iiii. dayes after whose corps with grete honour was conueyed vnto saynt Denys there buryed by hys father when he had reygned .iii. yeres leuynge after hym a sonne the whych is nowe named saint Lowys and was than of y e age of .xii. yeres or nere thereaboute LOwys the .x. of that name surnamed saint Lowys and son of the .ix. Lowys laste kynge began hys reygne ouer the lande of FrauÌ„ce in the moneth of Nouember and yere of grace .xii. C. .xxvi. and y e .x. yere of Henry the .iii. then kynge of Englande The whyche for hys tendernesse of youthe was thought insufficyent to take so greate a charge and specyally of y e duke of Brytayne thaÌ„ named Peter Mancler the whyche encensed and styred many noble men agayne the sayde Lowys But at length by prouysyon of quene Blanche hys mother and other lordes he subdued hys enemyes at Raynes was crowned in the moneth of DeceÌ„ber folowyng of the bysshop of Soy sons for so moche as at that tyme y e see of Raynes was voyde The .iiii. yere of hys reygne and of hys age .xvii. he buylded the house of relygyon called Royan mount settherin monkes of Cysteauxe ordre whyte monkes and endewed theym with ryche possessyons It was nat longe after that great varyaunce fyll betwene the vnyuersytye or studientes of Parys and the cytezeyns of the same in suche wyse that the studyentes were in purpose to haue lafte y e cytye to haue kepte theyr study ellys where Of y e whych stryfe the frenche boke expresseth nat the cause but saythe that the kynge made good spede to agree theym for so moche as kyng HeÌ„ry of Englande had made laboure to the sayde studyentes to come into hys countre to enhabyte theym there with many great pryueleges But in coÌ„clusion y e frenche kynge so entreated theÌ„ that they agreed to reste there styll And that of a congrueÌ„ce for they myghte dwell in no lande where they shulde more surely be defended For y e kyng of Fraunce bereth the floure de Lyce for one of that causes that is to saye for to defende the clergy And the fayth of Chryste betokeneth the myddle leef And the thyrde betokeneth Chyualry So that by the chyualry the clergy is defended whych mayâ—teyne the faythe of the holy chyrche Aboute thys season kynge Lowys maryed to hys fere Margarete the doughter of the erle of Prouynce Soone after y e matrymony was solepnysed Frederyk the secoÌ„de before in y e story of HeÌ„ry the .iii. mynded Emperour of Almayne set vnto Lowis requyrynge hi y e he wolde mete hym at a place called Ualcolour to y e ende that he myght commoÌ„ with hym whyche request kynge Lowys accepted with a goodly company kepte there hys daye of metynge But whan the Emperour was ware that he was commen thyder wyth suche a company he fayned hym syke and broke hys appoyntement wherfore the frenshmen construyed that yf the kynge had comen thyder with a small or weke company he wolde haue conueyed hym into hyghe Almayn and there to haue kepte hym tyll he had of hym hys pleasure concernynge the warre betwene kynge Henry and hym or in other thynges But when kynge Lowys espyed the delucyon of the Emperour he then retourned into Fraunce It was nat longe after that y e kynge was enfourmed of the obstynacy of the Albygensis the whyche of longe tyme had beÌ„ effected with dyuers poyntes of herysy and many tymes recoÌ„cyled by the kynges of Fraunce and other yet fallen agayne to the sayde errour wherfore the kynge sent vnto syr Iohan Beawmount the whych ioyned vnto theym chargynge hym to enuade that countre and to waste and distroy it tyll he had forced theym to restore to the chyrch suche goodes as they before had taken frome it and ouer that to cause theym to make amendes to the good chrysten people whyche they had harmed by meanes of theyr rapynes and exorcyoÌ„s UpoÌ„ whyche commaundement thus froÌ„ y e kynge receyued the sayde Iohan with a competent nombre of knyghtes entred the sayd couÌ„tre and layde syege to a stroÌ„g castell named MouÌ„t Royall And after many forte assautes wanne the sayd castell manned it with Frenchemen And than yode to an other stronge holde than named Saygos and there lykewyse ordered the same And after wastyng the countre wanÌ„e from theym many townes holdes so that in the ende he forced the chyefrules of that prouynce to obey theym to all hys hestê and delyuered to hym suertyes or hostagys for the perfourmaunce of the same So y t he retourned into FraÌ„ce with greate pompe and honour and receyued of the kyng at hys home coÌ„mynge great thanke with many ryche gyftes Aboute the .xv. yere of kynge Lowys the warre was quyckened betwene thys Lowys HeÌ„ry the .iii. than kynge of Englande for causes before shewed in the .xxvi. yere of the sayde Henry And after that warre as there is shewed ended the kynge whyche was towarde the cytye of Lyon to haue vysyted the pope Innocent the .iiii. whyche thyder was fled for fere of Frederik the fore named Emperour was taken with a sykenesse named dyssenterya of the flux wherwith he was so greuously vexed that he laye longe at a towne called Poyntoyse and was in great ieopardy of lyfe where lastly after many pylgrymages for hym done with prayers and other obseruaunces longe to accompt lastly it came to hys mynde that yf it pleased god to restore hym to hys helth he wolde make a vyage into the holy lande there warre vpon Chrystes enemyes After whyche promyse solemply auowed he mended dayly and was sone after restored vnto hys helthe whan the kynge was recouered and retorned vnto Parys he called a couÌ„sayll of spyrytuall and temporall there shewed vnto theym of the promesse whyche he had made requyryng theÌ„ of theyr assystence and ayde wherin he fonde hys lordes were agreable And in the tyme and season y t prouysyon was made for that iourney the kynge wyth a goodly company rode vnto the abbey of Cluny to vysyte the foresayd pope and he taryed with hym .xv. dayes And after hys matter with hym sped wyth playne remyssyon to hym graunted and all other that kept with hym that vyage he retourned into Fraunce And vpoÌ„ wytsondaye folowynge he kepte a great courte of hys landes at MeleoÌ„ where in presence of them he called before hym Beatryce doughter vnto the erle of Prouince and syster to
of theyr pryncys y t is to mene the corps of Lewys and theyr naturall prynce Phylyppe hys son and of the obseruaunces done and great assembles of the lordes spirytuall and temporall to welcome theyr prynce and doynge of theyr duties euery man according to honour But after al these ceremonies in due order fynyshed prouysyon was made for the coronacyon of the kynge The whyche was crowned at the cytye of Raynes vppon the daye of the assumpcyon of our lady in the yere of grace .xii. hundred .lxxi. SHortely after that the solempnyte of this coronacyon was passed kynge Phylyppe for his recreacyon rode into the countrey of Uermendoyse where after he had derestyd hym a season Robert erle of Artoys requyred hym to vysyte hys countrey where he was receyuyd of the burgeysys of Artoys wyth great honour and gladnes and there was feastyd with all disport and gladnes by a certayne of tyme after The whiche expyryd he returned into FrauÌ„ce About the thryde yere of his reygne the erle of Foys contrary y e kynges pleasure toke partye agayn Getarde a knyght lorde of the castell of Casseboun or Tasseboun y e which before had slayn y e brother of the erle of Armenac specyall freÌ„d of the sayd erle of Foyz whyche sayde two erles to reuenge the deth of theyr sayd brother pursued the sayde Gerarde so narrowly that for his sauegarde he refused his owne castell and fled vnto a castell of the kynges and there helde hym wyth his wyfe chyldren and substauÌ„ce But when the two erles were ware therof they sped them thyder wyth theyr powers and layd syege to the castell and in the ende threwe it downe to the grounde and slewe all the souldyours that they there founde as well the kynges seruauntes as other hopynge to haue founde theyr enymye Gerarde the whyche was escapyd thens secretly when the rumour of this dede came vnto the kynge he dysdayned sore that dede and toke yt ryght grevously In so myche that he called hys lordes and by theyr counsayll assembled hys knyghtes and entred wyth force the prouince of the erle of Foyz The whyche herynge of the kynges great dyspleasure fortyfyed hys castell and there helde hym The which was so besette wyth rokkes of stone that the kynge myght not wynne to yt wyth ease wherfore the kynge coÌ„maunded the rokkes to be cutte with masons and other worke men made a solempne othe that he wold not depart thens or he hadde the erle and his castell at his pleasure when the erle hadde beholden the great power of his enymyes and the prouysyon of the kyng to wynne his castell wyth other ieopardyes he made meanes to the kynge for grace and fynally putte hym and his into his mercy Then the kynge commauÌ„ded hym to be bounde and so to be conueyed to the casrell of Beauquesu where he was imprysoned by an hole yere after And the kyngâ—â—eased all hys landes and set a certayne of hys knyghtes to kepe hys castell and caryed hys wyfe and chyldren wyth hym into Fraunce But after a yere runne the kynge was so laboured to by the frendes of the sayd erle that he was eularged from pryson and vppon suertye suffred to serue in the kynges courte where he bare hym so well y t fynally the kyng made hym knyght restored hym to all his laÌ„des But what fyll of y e erle of Armenac the story sheweth not Aboute the .vi. yere of his reygne kynge Phylyppe maryed Mary the doughter of the erle of Burbon or after some the doughter of Iohan the duke of Braban the whych he loued entyerly wherof Peter de Broshe then beynge lorde chamberlayne hauynge enuy and disdayn sought the wayes and meanes to mynyshe the great loue betwene her lord and her and fonde by his meane that a sonne of y e kynges named Lewys was prysoned the whyche dede he by subtyle secrete meanes as though yt had nothyng comen of hym layde yt to y e charge of the quene For this y e kyng made many maner of inquysycyons as well by sorcery as other But in al his workes he found his quene gyltlesse wherfore he sufferyd the mater to passe tyll he myght haue more assured profe in that mater Aboute thys season Ferdinandus kynge of Castyle that before tyme hadde maryed Blanche doughter of saynt Lewis dyed leuyng after hym two sonnes borne of y e sayd Blanch named Ferdinande and Alphons whych by couenaunt at the mariage made shulde be heyres vnto the kyngdome of Spayne and Castyle But the father of this Ferdinande so beynge dede contrary hys honour and promise wrote vnto the lordes of Castyle amonestynge theym that they shulde admytte for theyr kynge hys seconde son named SaÌ„xyon or Sanxio and swere to hym both feautye homage The whyche was all done accordyng to hys commaundement so that Blanche was dyspoynted of her dower and her chyldern of theyr ryght and enherytauÌ„ce For y e which kyng Phylyppe her brother was greuously dysconteÌ„tyd and for reforma cyon therof sente vnto the kynge of Spayn his chefe boteler wyth other desyryng hym to perfourme all such couenauÌ„tes as betwene hym and his fader were coÌ„cluded at the maryage of his syster Blanche or at the laste yf that he refusyd y t to do y t he wold sende hys sayde syster wyth her two chyldern sauely into Fraunce In coÌ„clusyon y e mother wyth her two chyldern were brought by the sayde boteler vnto the kynge wythoute other pleasure other in worde or in dede For the whyche he the yere folokyng gaderyd a stronge hoste and passed wyth theym by Poyteau and Gascoyne tyll he came vnto a towne ioynynge to the border of Spayne named Sainterre where the kyng met another party of his hoste There by counsayll of some of his lordes the kynge concluded to retourne into Fraunce for daunger of wynter that was coÌ„mynge and other hyd causes But the rumour in the hoste went y t some of the kynges counsayll hadde receyued rewardes of the kynge of Spayn By meane wherof the kyng loste that iourney and returned into Fraunce to his great dyshonour and damage In tyme of kynge Phylyppes returne into Fraunce tydynges were broughte to hym that Eustace de Beau Marche whom the kyng had appointed to haue the gydyng of the countrey or kyngdome of Nauarye was besyeged in the citye of Pampulyne wherfore y e kyng coÌ„maunded y e erle of Artoys to spede hym thyder to rescowe the sayde Eustace The whyche behauyd hym so manfully that he rescowed the sayde Eustace and chasyd Garsymerans chefe styrrer of that rebellion and brought the people of that countrey agayne to due subieccyon whyle the erle of Artoys was thus occcupyed in the sayd countrey messangers came to hym from the kynge of Spayne requyrynge hym sene that he was so nere that he was so nere y t he wold come disport him there for a season wher of y e erle of Artoys sent kyng Philip worde hauyng of hym
theyr weyghtes founde and proued false And ouer y t all suche wares as they shuld have weyed at the kynges beame they weyed moche therof in theyr sayd houses to the hynderaunce of y e kynges custome For whyche offeÌ„ces agayne theym proued to the nombre of .xx. of the sayd straungers were arrested and sent vnto the toure of LoÌ„don and theyr weyghtes brent consumed in westchepe of London the thursdaye before the feast of Symon and Iude. And fynally the sayd marchauntes were delyuered by fyne makynge to the kyng of a thousande .li when they had suffered by a season harde vyle prysonement Anno domini M.CC.lxxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.lxxxvii  Thomas Crosse.  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xv.  wyllyam Hawteyn  IN thys .xv. yere the Iewes of Englande were sessed at great summes of money whych they payd vnto the kyng But of one other auctour it is sayd that the commons of Englande graunted to the kyng the v. parte of theyr mouables for to haue the Iewes banysshe out the laÌ„de For whiche cause the sayd Iewes to put the commons from theyr purpose gaue of theyr free wylles great summes of money to y e kyng whych sayeng appereth to be trewe for the sayd Iewes were exyled within few yeres after Thys yere about the begynnynge of May the kynge sayled to Burdeux and frome thens he rode into Fraunce where as witnesseth y e freÌ„sh boke he was honourably receyued of Phylyp le Beau or Philyp the fayre than kynge of Fraunce and after receyued homage of the sayd Edward for the duchy of Guyan And when kynge Edwarde had taryed a season in Fraunce he retourned vnto Burdeux whyther came vnto hym a certayne ambassadours from the kyng of Spayne with the whych he helde longe dalyaunce wherfore of y e freÌ„sh kyng he was suspected that he shuld allye hym with the kyng of Spayne agayne the Frenche kynge And thys yere as testyfyeth Policronycon the somer was so excedyng vote that men dyed for hete And thys yere whete was so plentuous that it was solde at London for xl.vi a quarter Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxvii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxviii  wyllyam Herforde  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xvi.  Thomas Stanys  IN thys vvi yere of kynge Edwarde saynt Thomas of Herforde was translated And thys yere fyll dystauÌ„ce betwene syr Payne Tip toft wardeyn of certayn castels in walys a walsh knyght called syr Ries ap Mordek So y t sundry skyrmysshes were foughten betwene them many men slayne vpon bothe sydes to the great dystourbaunce of all y e countre Thys yere vpon saynt Margaretes euyn or the .xix. daye of Iulii fyll wonderfull great hayle that the lyke therof was nat of men than lyuynge seen And after that ensued coÌ„tynuell rayne whyche dysteÌ„peryd the grouÌ„d in such wyse that the yere folowyng whete was sold for .xviii. d. a busshel and thys yere for .xiiii. d. And so encreased yerely after duryng y e reygne of the kynge and after in hys soÌ„nes days tyll it was lastly solde for .xl. s. a quarter and aboue Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxviii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxix  wyllyam Betayn  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xvii.  IohnÌ„ of Caunterbury  IN thys .xvii. yere the warre before in the yere laste paste betwene syr Payn Typtoft syr Ryes contynuynge to the entente that the sayd Ryes myght reuenge hys cause agayne the sayd syr Payne he arrecyd a greate multytude of walshemeÌ„ and brent and wasted dyuers fownes in walys so that the kynge then beynge in Normandy sente 〈◊〉 the â—tle of Cornewayll then beynge the kynges lyeu tenaunte in Englande that he shuld sende thyder an army of knyghtes to withstande the malyce of the walshmen The whych preparyd shortly an army yode with them into the borders of Northewalys where he with hys coÌ„pany bare hym so knyghtly that in the ende the sayd Ryes was takeÌ„ brought vnto porke where he was after drawen hanged and quartered Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xc  Full 〈◊〉 saynt Edmunde  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xviii.  Salaman Langforde  IN thys .xviii. yere vppon once Lady cuyn Assumpcion kyng Edwarde was honorably receyued of the cytezeyns of London and so conueyed vnto westmynster where shortely after were broughte before hym many greuous complayntes of dyuers of hys iustyces as syr Thomas weylande Adam Stretton and other The whych the kynge caused streyghtly to be examyned and lastly were founde gylty of such trespasses and causes as they were accused of wherfore some of theym were outlawed and loste suche goodes as they hadde and the other punysshed by longe enprysonemente and lastely delyuered by payenge of greate fynes Anno domini M. CC.lxc  Anno domini M. CC.lxci  Thomas Romayn  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xix.  wyllyam de Lyre  IN thys .xix. yere the kynge ordeyned y t all woll whych shuld be sold vnto straungers shulde be brought vnto Sandewyche where the staple therof longe after was as it is now at y e towne of Caleys And thys yere were the Iewes banysshed the lande for the whych cause the coÌ„mons gaue vnto the kyng a quindecym or fyftene Thys yere also syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter maryed dame Iane doughter of kyng Edwarde Thys was called Iohanne of Acrys for she was born at Acrys wheÌ„ kyng Edwarde was there vpon hys great iourney And soone there after in the same yere the duke of Brabannys sonne wedded Margarete the syster of the sayd Iohanne Anno domini .xii. C. lxci  Anno domini M. CC.lxcii  Rauffe Blount  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xx.  Hamonde Boxe  IN thys .xx. yere begynnynge of the maryes yere and also of the kynges .xx. yere that is to meane vpon the euyn of saynt Andrewe or the .xxix. day of NoueÌ„bre dyed quene Elyanore the kynges wyfe and was buryed at westmynster in the chapel of saynt Edwarde at the fete of HeÌ„ry the thyrde where she hath .ii. were tapers brennyng vpon her tumbe both daye and nyght whyche so hath contynued syne the day of her buryenge to thys present daye Thys gentyll woman as before is towched in the xxxviii yere of kyng Henry the third was syster vnto the kyng of Spayn By whome kyng Edwarde had .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Iohn Henry Alphons and Edwarde whych Edwarde succeded his father by reason that the other .iii. died before theyr father Also he had by her .v. doughters The fyrste Elyanore was maryed vnto wyllyam erle of Barre the seconde Iohan of Acrys was maryed as before is sayde vnto the erle of Glouceter the thyrde Margarete was maryed to the dukes sonne of BrabaÌ„t the .iiii. Mary by name was made a menchon at Ambrysbury the .v. named Elyzabeth was maried vnto the erle of Holande and after hys deth she was maryed vnto Humfreye Boherum erle of Hereforde And
sore warreyd of the Frenche kynge in somoche that he hadde wonne the towne of Margquet and the countre theraboute And for to put the sayde Guy vnto the more trouble the sayd Frenche kynge caused Robert erle of Artoys to inuade the couÌ„tre of FlauÌ„dres toward Pycardy encountred with y e sayd Guy nere vnto a towne called Furnes wher atwene y e said .ii. erles was foughteÌ„ a sharpe bataâ—l so that many men were slayne vpon bothe partyes After whiche fyght the Erle of Flaunders spedde hym towarde Gaunt where as kynde Edwarde than soiourned the erle of Artoys drewe hym towarde y e FreÌ„che kynge the whiche shortly after was receyued into the towne of Bruges In whiche tyme and season whyle y e sayd .ii. kynges laye thus at eyther towne a meane of peas was there treated of so that fynally a peas was coÌ„cluded atwene the .ii. kynges and atwene the Frenche kynge and Guy erle of FlauÌ„ders vnto the feest of all sayntes than next ensuenge And froÌ„ that day vnto the feast of all sayntes thaÌ„ .ii. yeres folowyng After whiche peas so stablysshed kynge Edwarde departed from the towne of Gaunte yode to Burdeaux And y e Frenche kynge retourned into Fraunce And prysoners were delyuered on bothe partyes In this tyme and season whyle kynge Edwarde was thus occupyed in FlauÌ„ders the Scottes by the entysement of the Frenche kynge to the entent to cause kynge Edwarde to kepe his countre that he shulde nat ayde the erle of Flaunders beganne to make warre vpon the kynges soudyours whiche y e kynge had lafte there in dyuers holdes And also entred vpon y e borders of NorthuÌ„berlande made sharpe warre vpon the inhabytauntes of that countre And for that syr IohnÌ„ Bayloll theyr kynge after some wryters was at y â— tyme prysoner in the towre of London or els voyded the couÌ„tre for fere of the kynge of Englande therfore the sayde Scottes made them a capytayne the whiche was named wyllyam waleys a man of vnknowen or lowe byrth to whom they obeyed as vnto theyr kynge Anone as y e kynge herde of the rebellyon of the Scottes which to hym was no great wonder consyderynge theyr greate vnstedfastnesse he wrote his letters vnto syr HeÌ„ry Persy erle of NorthuÌ„berlande to syr wyllyam Latymer and to syr Hugh Cressyngham than tresourer of Englande and to other that they in all goodly haste shulde make prouysyon to withstande the Scottes The whiche persones after receyte of the kynges letters spedde them all in spedy maner so that they entred Scotlande shortly after and coÌ„pelled y e Scottes to returne backe vnto a towne named Streuelyn where iÌ„ a skyrmyssh foughteÌ„ atwene the Englysshe and the Scottes syr Hugh Cressyngham forenamed with dyuers Englysshemen was slayne But yet the Scottes were holden so strayte of the Englysshe hoost that after that skyrmysshe they wolde nat of a certayne tyme come in playne felde but kepte theym within theyr castelles and stroÌ„ge holdes And this yere atwene Easter and wytsontyde certayne ê‘sones of LondoÌ„ brake vp the tunne in the warde of Cornhyll and toke out certayne persones that thyder were commytted by syr IohnÌ„ Bryton then custos or gardeyn of the cytie for nyght walkynge For y â— whiche ryot the sayde persones that is to meane Thomas Romayne and viii other were afterwarde greuously punysshed as fyrst by prysonmeÌ„t and after by fynes And this yere the kynge in y e moneth of October came into EnglaÌ„de and so to wynchester where the cytezyns of London made suche laboure vnto his grace that shortly after they opteyned graunte of theyr lyberties and fraunchyses that had in some parte be kepte from them by y e terme of .xii. yeres more So that vpon the daye of the translacyon of saynt Edwarde kynge and confessour next folowyng they chase them a mayre of them selfe where by all the foresayd tyme theyr custos or gardeyn was appoynted by y e kyng or by suche as y e kyng wold assygne But ye shall vnderstande that this was not redemed without great summes of money For after some wryters the cytezyns payde for it to the kynge .iii M. marke Also this yere kyng Edwarde put out of his proteccyon certayne Alyauntes whiche were rychely benefyced in England The cause was for the sayd alyauntes wolde nat ayde y e kynge with theyr goodes as y e other of his lande dyd but purchased an inibicyon of pope Boniface the .viii that they and theyr goodes shulde be fre from all the kynges dymes or taskys Therfore y e kyng ceased theyr temporaltyes and suffered theÌ„ with theyr spyritualtes tyl they were agreed with the kynge Anno domini M.CC.xcviii  Anno domini M.CC.xcix  Richarde Reffham  Henry waleys  Anno .xxvii.  Thomas Sely.  IN this .xxvi. yere after Chrystmasse certayne persones made a dyggyng and a serche in y e churche of saynt Martynes le grauÌ„de in LoÌ„don for certayne tresoure that there shulde be hydde as it was reported of a gardiner But theyr labour was in vayne for nothynge was there founde For the whiche dede y e deane of Poules the seconde sonday of lent folowynge denounced all theÌ„ accursed that were at that dede doynge or consentynge to the same In this yere aboute y e begynnyng of Aprell the kynge rode towarde Scotlande and appoynted his lordes with theyr companyes to mete with hym at yorke where with hym met a great hoost y t whiche he ladde into Scotlande and brent and spoyled the countre as he went and taryed a season at Barwyke And from thens he spedde hym in wynnynge of the townes and castelles as he went tyll he came nere to a towne named Fawkyrk or Fankyrk where vpon y e day of mary Magdaleyne or y e .xxii. day of Iulii met with hym y e power of Scotlande and gaue vnto hym a sore fyght But in the ende the vyctory fyll vnto the EnglysshmeÌ„ so that of the Scottes were slayne in y e felde as affyrme dyuers wryters ouer the nombre of .xxxii. M. and of Englysshmen but barely .xxviii. persones After whiche scomfyture the Scottes yelded to the kynge the more partye of the stronge holdes castelles that they tofore had holden agayne hym and made vnto hym newe othe and promysse and yelded them selfe vnto his grace and mercy And whan he had set that countre in an ordre and rule he thaÌ„ retourned into EnglaÌ„de and so to LoÌ„don where by y e aduyce of some of his counsayll he sodeynly daÌ„pned certayn coynes of money called pollardes crocardes rosaries caused theÌ„ to be broughte to newe coynage to his great aduauÌ„tage ye haue before herde in that other yere how that a truce or a peas was stablysshed at wene the kynge and y e kynge of Fraunce for the space of .ii. yeres and more the whiche fynally was concluded this yere that kynge Edwarde for a peas to be had bytwene both regyons shulde take vnto wyfe Margarete the suster of Philip
aboute Lammesse sayled into Braban and there helde hys couÌ„sayl with hys frendes and by theyr aduyces made clayme to y e hole crowne of Fraunce as hys ryghtefull enherytaunce for more auctorytye of the same entermedeled the armes of England with y e armys of FrauÌ„ce as ye se them at this daye Then kynge Phylyp beyng of these thynges warned gathered an howge hoste came with them to a towne called Uermendoys And kyng Edwarde with hys people entred y e couÌ„trey called Theresse breÌ„t wasted y e couÌ„trey before hym ThaÌ„ kyng Philip drew toward the Englisshe hoste and came vnto a place or towne called in freÌ„ch BuyroÌ„ Fosse where he entended as sayth y â— frenche boke to haue set vpon y e Englysshemen But by counsayl of hys lordes for dyuerse causes he was let to hys dyspleasure For after y e daye he myght fynde no conuenyent tyme for to assayle hys enemyes so that in conclusyon eyther hoste departed froÌ„ other without batayll or fyght and kynge Edwarde toke hys wey towarde Gaunt kyng Phylip retourned into Fraunce Than kynge Edwarde by meanes of hys frende Iaques de Artyuele had all hys pleasure of the towne of Gaunt receyued of them othe and homage And after dyuerse conclusioÌ„s with them and other takeÌ„ he leuyng there the quene after the testymony of some wryters retourned agayne into EnlaÌ„de left with the quene which thaÌ„ was great with chylde y e erles of Salysbury of Oxynforde whyche in y e kynges absence ayded well y e Flemynges agayne the FreÌ„ch kyng dyd dyuerse marcyall actes whyche I here passe ouer But iÌ„ ê“ces y e erle of Salysbury was takeÌ„ prysoner diuers englyssh men slayne at y e assaut of a towne called y e I le in FlauÌ„ders or of flauÌ„ders Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xl  Adam Lucas  Andrewe Awbry  Anno .xv.  Bartholomewe Marres  IN thys .xv. yere whyle y e kyng was busyed in Englande to make prouysyoÌ„ for mete money to withstande the FreÌ„che kyng aswell for the warre that the sayde Frenche kyng made vpoÌ„ the Flemynges other beyng y e kynges frendes as for hys owne particuler causes y e quene as before is sayd beyng at the towne of Gaunt was deliuered of a sonne which after was named IohnÌ„ about Crystmas in the begynnynge of thys mayres yere ende of this .xiiii. yere This chyld whaÌ„ he came to mannes astate was surnamed IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t was fyrst erle of RychemouÌ„t after duke of LaÌ„caster also fast as kyng Edwarde ê“uyded for abylemeÌ„tes of warre in EnglaÌ„de so fast hasty prouysyoÌ„ made the FreÌ„ch kyng to withstande kyng Edward both by laÌ„de by water so y t he had a great stroÌ„ge nauy vpoÌ„ see Kyng Edward thaÌ„ in y e moneth of Iunii with .ii. C. sayles tooke shyppynge sayled towarde FlauÌ„ders vpoÌ„ the see met or came vnto hym syr Robert Morley with y e north nauye of EnglaÌ„de so y t he had in al aboue .iii. C. sayles And at myd somer vppon saynte IohnÌ„s euyn he fought with the freÌ„ch kynges nauy whyche lay in a wayte for hym nere to the towne called the Sluse Of thys nauy whyche were in noumber by the reporte of the freÌ„che boke vpoÌ„ iiii C. sayles wherof were chyefe admyralles syr Hugh Queret syr Nycholas Buchet one named Barbe Noyre or in Englysh Blacke berde the whych capytayns or admyralles anone as they espied y e englyssh flote they made towarde theÌ„ to begyn the fyght .iiii. galeys set vpoÌ„ a shyppe of auauÌ„tage which sayled before y e other named y e ryche Oliuer the which .iiii galeys the fore named Barbe Noyre had the cunduyt of assayled thys sayd shyppe on euery parte bet her with gunneshot her men with hayl shot excedyngely so that of the men within her were many slayn and mo wouÌ„ded lykely to haue ben shortly won ne had beÌ„ the rescous of her coÌ„pany thaÌ„ were the sayd foure galeys soone becleped with y e English nauy so cruelly assayled that they were borded or they myghte be rescowed Then approched the hole flote vpon bothe sydes with hydous ferefull dynne noyse of gunnes with terryble flamynge of wylde fyre other with thycke shot of quarelles arowes and crusshynge of shyppes y e hydous woÌ„derfull it was to beholde so that many a soule was there expelled from theyr bodies iÌ„ shorte whyle This mortall and cruell fyght coÌ„tynued as sayth the Frenche story by y e space of .viii. howres or more iÌ„ suche wyse y e harde it was to knowe whether parte had the better so many deed and wounded men were cast into the see that the water whiche was in cyrcuyte aboute them was coloured or dyed as reed But in y e ende by grace great maÌ„hode of y e kynge whiche there was sore wouÌ„ded And by his great conforte y e Frenchemen were chased and many of theyr shyppes bowged taken with many prysoners in them Amonge the whiche the forenamed admyralles or capytaynes syr Nycholas Buchet syr Hugh Queret were .ii the whiche in despyte of the Frenchemen were hanged vpon y e sayles of theyr shyppes which they were takeÌ„ in And amoÌ„ge the shyppes that were at this season taken were recouered the .ii. foresayd shyppes named the Edwarde and y e Crystofer the whiche before were taken by the Frenchemen as it before is shewed in y e .iii. yere of this kynge In this batayle also as is testyfyed of many and dyuerse wryters were slayne vpon the noumber of .xxx. M. Frenchemen al be it y e Frenche boke nameth so many to be slayne vpon bothe partyes excuse this mysfortune by the neglygence of syr Nycholas Buchet whiche kepte the FreÌ„che nauy so longe within the hauen that they were so closed in with the Englysh nauy y t a great nouÌ„bre of them myght neuer stryke stroke nor shote theyr ordenaunce but to the hurte of theyr owne company whaÌ„ kynge Edwarde had optayned this tryumphaunt vyctory of his enmyes he yelded great thaÌ„kes vnto god How be it he was fayne to tary a season with in his shyppe by reason of a wouÌ„de y e which he had receyued in his thyghe In whiche season y e quene his wyfe came to vysyte hym and retourned agayne vnto GauÌ„t And after a fewe dayes passed y e kynge departed from Swynne rode vnto our lady of Ardenbourghe sent his nauy in the nexte hauen to Brugys moche of his people vnto the towne of GauÌ„t And whaÌ„ he had accoÌ„plished his pylgrymage he rode vnto Brugys and from thense vnto GauÌ„t where of the dwellers he was ioyously receyued Than kynge Edwarde there called a great counsayle by the whiche it was determyned that he shulde prepare .ii. hostes wherof y t one shuld be of y e meÌ„ of GauÌ„t of y e townes there aboute of y e
Derbye and of Northampton wyth other and for the Frenche kynge the dukes of Burbon of Burgoyne with other for hys party But thys agremente stoode to lytle effecte For it nat wyth standynge the warre betwene these two kynges was contynued so that eyther fortyfyed theyr frendes and allyes And soone after happened that where Iohan duke of Brytayn dyed wythout issu variaunce fel betwene Charles de Bloys and IohnÌ„ erle of Mountforde for the tytle of that dukedome so that betwene theÌ„ mortall warre was exercysed as in the story of Phylyppe de Ualoyes shall after more playnly be declared whyche warre so contynuynge the kynge of EnglaÌ„de ayded y e party of the erle of Mountforde and the FreÌ„ch king ayded Charles de Bloys And ouer that duryng the terme of y e sayde treuce the French kyng made warre vpon the Gascoynes as after shall apere And in Scotlande some styrynge was made thys yere by excytynge of the Frenche kynge in so mych that the kynge was fayne to sende thyder a crewe of soudiours to strength suche holdes as he there helde And in thys yere was y e quene delyuered of a man chyld at y e towne of Langeley the whyche after was named Edmunde and surnamed Edmunde of Langley Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xli  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xlii  IohnÌ„ Luskyn  Symond Fraunces  Anno .xvii.  Rycharde Kyslyngbury  IN thys .xvii. yere kynge Edwarde at the request of dyuers of hys yonge lordes and knyghtes suffered to be exercysed certayn poyntes and feates of warre as iustys turnamentes and other whych were executyd at Dunstable where the kynge and the quene were present wyth the more partye of the lordes and ladyes of the lande Thys yere dyed the forenamed IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne by reason of whose deth the warre as in the precedynge yere is touchyd grewe bytwene the sayde Charlys de Bloyes and the erle of Mountforde Thys Charlys de Bloyes made his claym to that duchery by tytle of his wyfe that was doughter of Guy vycount of Lymogys and seconde brother of the foresayde IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne And IohnÌ„ erle of Mountfort claymed by the tytle that he was thyrde brother vnto the forenamed duke But of thys mater I entende to shewe more playnely and of the ende therof in the story of Phylyp de Ualoys as before I haue sayde and rather there than here bycause the fayte therof was not done in Englande but in Brytayne wherof the sayde Phylyppe pretendyd rule and chyefe sygnory Anno domini M.CCC.xlii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliii  IohnÌ„ Stewarde  IohnÌ„ Hamonde  Anno .xviii.  IohnÌ„ AyleshmÌ„  IN thys .xviii. yere the kynge shortely after Easter callyd a parlyament at westmynster In tyme wherof Edwarde hys eldeste sonne was creatyd prynce of walys And many ordynauÌ„ces for the weale of y e lande there were enactyd whych for length I passe ouer In thys yere also Clement the .vi. of y e name whyche newly was made pope toke vpon hym to gyue dyuers bysshopryches and benefyces which then fell voyde in Englande wherwyth the kynge was nothynge contented in so mych that he sent out coÌ„myssyons and strayte commaundementes that no man in tyme folowynge shulde present or inducte any suche persone or persones that so by the pope were promoted wythout y e agremente of the kynge as farre as towchyd hys prerogatyue The sayd pope Clement was fyrste archebysshoppe of Roan and munke of saynt Benettes order a Frencheman of byrth and before called Peter a man of excellent cunnyng but a waster of goddes patrymony promoted to y e dygnyte by instaunt laboure of the Frenche kyng which sent hys sonne IohnÌ„ duke of Normandy the duke of Burgoyn vnto the cytye of Auynyon or AuygnoÌ„ to procure and further the eleccyon By meane wherof he was there chosen pope aboute the vii day of May and tronysed in the sayd moneth of May in the begynnynge of the yere of grace after thaccompte of the chyrche of Englande M.CCC .xliii. By meanes and fauoure of whyche pope the Frenche kynges causes and maters betwene kynge Edwarde and hym were some deale promoted For as testyfieth the Frenche boke the French kyng thys yere put to deth one mayster HeÌ„ry de Malestrete a graduat man and brother vnto syr Godfrey de Malestrete knyght lately also put to deth by the sayde Frenche kynge for theyr fydelyte whyche they bare towarde kyng Edward as hys feodaryes wherof kynge Edwarde made hys coÌ„playnt vnto the pope of thys and other thynges to be done contrary the constytucyons of the former peace concluded by the two cardynalles and had therof no remedye In thys yere also kynge Edwarde made a coyne of fyne golde and named it the Floryne that is to say the peny of the value of syxe s. viii d. the halfe peny of the value of thre s. iiii d and the far thynge of the value of .xx. d. whyche coyne was ordeyned for hys warres in Fraunce for the golde therof was nat so fyne as was the noble whyche he before in hys fourthen yere of hys reygne had caused to be coyned Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliiii  Geffrey wychyngham  Iohan Hamonde  Anno .xix.  Thomas Legge  IN thys .xix. yere the kyng held a solempne feaste at hys castell of wyndsore where betwene Candel masse and lent were holden or executed many marcyall actes as iustes tournamentes with diuerse other at the whyche were present many strauÌ„gers of other landes And in y e ende therof he there deuysed the order of the garter and after stablisshed it as at thys daye it is contynued In this yere about midsomer kyng Edward wyth a stronge armye sayled vnto Sluse and so into lytle Brytayne But for he was dyspoynted of the ayde of the Flemynges by reason of the deth of hys trusty frende Iaques de Artyuele whyche than was slayn of the Flemynges of Gaunt by a coÌ„spyracy that they made agayne hym by suche as fauoured the partye of y e French kyng he tourned home into Englande agayne the same yere leuynge behynde hym the erle of Salysbury with a stronge company to ayde IohnÌ„ erle of MouÌ„tforde agayn syr Charles de Bloys The whyche IohnÌ„ by the ayde of the EnglysshmeÌ„ wan diuerse townes holdes in Brytayne vpoÌ„ the sayd syr Charles his FrenchmeÌ„ But in the ende of thys yere he was taken with such sykenes y t he dyed in a towne called Corentyne After whose deth the sayd Charles posseded the more parte of the duchye of Brytayne Thys yere the kyng sent y e erle of Derby with a stroÌ„g army into GuyaÌ„ for to ayde the erle of NorthaÌ„pton whome y e kynge before had left there at Burdeaux to streÌ„gth that couÌ„trey agayne the French men To whome after the dethe of the forenamed syr IohnÌ„ erle of Mountforde drewe many of the soudyours that were on his partye Anno domini M.CCC.xliiii Â
cytye And in the same moneth syr Godfrey de Harcourte whych as before is sayde alyed hym with kynge Edwarde and wolde nat apere after certayne sommons was now opeÌ„ly banysshed as traytour enemy to y e crowne of Fraunce And in the same moneth was syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tforte delyuered out of pryson vppon such condicions as before is rehersed in y e xiii yere of this kyng And soon after were put vnto deth at Parys syr Iohan de Malestreet syr Godfrey de Malestreet the father the sonne syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„talbone syr wyllyam de Bruys syr IohnÌ„ de Cablat syr IohnÌ„ de Plessys knyghtes esquyres IohnÌ„ de Malestrete neuew to y e forsayd knyghtê GuyllmÌ„ de Bruze Robert de Bruys IohnÌ„ de Senne and Dauy de Senne And shortely after at Parys were put in execucion thre Norman knyghtes for affynyte or fauour whych they had borne towarde syr Godfrey de Harecourt and theyr heddes sent vnto saynte Loup in Constantyne a cytye of NormaÌ„dy whych sayd knyghtes were called sir wyllyam Bacon syr Roulande de la Roche tessone and syr Rycharde de Percy IN the .xvii. yere of thys Philip one mayster Henry de Malestrete clerke deakeÌ„ brother to the aboue named syr Godfrey before put in execucion whych sayd mayster HeÌ„ry was mayster of the requestes with kyng Philip for so moch as he after y e deth of hys sayd brother yode vnto kyng Edward and couÌ„sayled hym agayne kyng Philip after by assygnemeÌ„t of kynge Edwarde was set in great auctorite wythin the towne of Uannys in Brytayne whych towne was after goten by the FrenchmeÌ„ he therin as one of the chefe capytaynes of the same taken was imprysoned within the castell of Parys Out of the whyche at thys season he was taken thens and set in a tumbrell thereunto fastened wyth chaynes of yren and so coÌ„ueyed bareheded with dynne and crye thorugh y e hygh stretes of Parys tyll he came vnto y e bysshoppes palays of Parys and there deliuered vnto the bisshop And soon after by vertue of a commissyoÌ„ purchased by kynge Philip of the pope to haue the sayd mayster Henry dysgraded he was depryued of all degrees and ordres of the churche and thaÌ„ deliuered vnto the execucioners The whyche by .iii. days coÌ„tynuall a certayn season of y e day set hym vpoÌ„ a ladder in y e syght of all people to y e enteÌ„t that euery man chyld might throwe at hym all fylth ordour of y e strete the whiche was done without all compassion and pyte in so cruell wyse that by the thyrd dayes ende he was dede and after buryed vnreuerently In the sayde .xvii. yere of kynge Philippe also as before is shewed in the .xix. yere of kynge Edwarde the thyrde Iaques de Artyuele whych was especiall promoter of the sayde kyng Edwardes causes came vnto y e towne of Gaunt and shewed vnto theym dyuers apoyntmentes to be holde betwene theym and other townes of FlauÌ„dres where vpon the .xv. day of Iuly by diuers coÌ„spiratours of the sayd towne of Gaunte he was pursued from one house to an other and lastly slayne murdred by them to the kynges of Englande great displeasure hurt wherefore the sayde kyng Edwarde was fayne to retourne into Englande wythoute spede of hys purpose lyke as before in y e sayd xix yere of his reygne is declared In thys yere also and the moneth of Decembre dyed syr IohnÌ„ erle of MouÌ„tfort which as before is sayd claymed the duchy of Brytayn and lefte after hym a sonne named also syr IohnÌ„ erle of MouÌ„tfort the whyche in lykewyse claymed the sayd duchy of Brytayn maynteyned the warre agayn syr Charles de Bloys as hys father before had done In the .xviii. yere of kyng Phylyp fyrste daye of Iuly at Parys was than putte to deth by cruel execucioÌ„ a cytezyn of CompeynÌ„ named Symonde Poylet a man of greate ryches The whych for he had sayd in open audience that the ryght of the crowne of Fraunce belonged more ryghtfully vnto kyng Edward than to kynge Philip he was fyrste hanged vpon a tree lyke as an oxe is haÌ„ged in the bochery there dismembred as fyrst the armys and after y e legges cut from hys body and lastly hys hede stryken of and the trunke of hys body hanged by chaynes vpoÌ„ the commoÌ„ gybet of Parys And vppon a saterdaye beynge the .xxvi. day of August in the foresayde .xviii. yere of kynge Philippe was foughten at Cressy the batayll before expressed in the .xxi. yere of kynge Edwarde the thyrd where the floure of the chyualry of FrauÌ„ce was slayne taken prysoners Than soone after kyng Philippe for the defence of the charge of hys warres asked a subsidie of the monkes of saynt Denys And amoÌ„g certayne iewelles of that place to be had he demauÌ„ded the greate crucyfyx of golde standynge ouer y e hyghe aulter of that monastery wherunto the monkes answered y t they mighte nat departe with that crucifyxe for Eugenius the thyrde of that name pope accursed al them that layd any hande vpon that crucifyxe to the entent to remoue it from that place as it appereth by wrytynge set vnder y e fote of the sayd crosse by whyche answere the kyng was pacifyed And in the moneth of DeceÌ„bre syr Godfrey de Harecourte wyth a towell double folden about hys necke came vnto y e presence of kyng Philip and yelded hym holy to hys mercy and grace the whyche graunted vnto hym hys pardon And in shorte whyle after all the Lumbardes vsurers wythin y e realm of Fraunce were taken and sente to dyuers prysons And all suche persones as stode bouÌ„den vnto them for any bargeyn or lone of money by way of vsury it was ordeyned that y e sayd persones beyng dettours to the sayd vsurers shulde paye the pryncypall dette vnto the kynge at theyr dayes of payment the resydue whyche remayneth to the vsurer for hys lucre of gayne for the lone of hys money shulde be pardoned to the dettour And after the sayd Lumbardes vsurers were delyuered from pryson by payenge of greate and greuous fynaunce In the .xix. yere of thys Philippe for so moche as wytnesseth the FreÌ„ch cronycle that y e Flemynges by great manacis and perforce had constrayned theyr erle to be assured by bonde of assuraunce vnto the doughter of kyng Edward contrary hys voluÌ„te and wyll the sayde erle nat wyllyng to accomplysshe that maryage in the Easter weke by a cautele deê‘ted out of FlauÌ„dres and came to y e Frenche kyng to Parys of whome he was honourably and ioyously receyued And in the same yere one named Gawyn de Belemount an aduocate of the spirituall lawe entendynge to betray y e cytye of LaonÌ„ acqueynted hym with a poore maÌ„ than dwellyng in that citie of Meaus named Colyn Tomelyn y e whych before tyme was fled the cytye of Laon was thaÌ„ for lacke of substauÌ„ce comyn to Meaus there mayntened
to the value of a M. marke sterlynge Upon a tuysdaye beyng the fyrste day of Iuly was foughten a batayll at Parys betwene two knyghtes wherof the appellaunte was named syr Foukes Dorciat and the defendauÌ„t syr Maugot Mawbert whych appellauÌ„t was sore vexed with a feuer quarteyne by reason wherof and of the great hete that y e day appered after longe fyght the sayd appellauÌ„t lyght from hys horse for hys refresshemeÌ„t wherfore hys frendes of hym were in great doute But his enemye was also so sore trauayled y t what for hete laboure he was also ouercome was lykely to haue fallen froÌ„ hys horse and or he myght be taken downe he swowned dyed whan syr Fowkes was ware of y e feblenesse of hys enemye anon as he might he dressed hym on fote toward hys aduersary fande hym starke dede whyche by lyceÌ„ce of the kynge was after had out of the feelde and secretlo buryed the sayde syr Fowkes for feblenesse was by hys freÌ„des ladde vnto hys lodgyng In the .xii. yere of kynge IohnÌ„ xxi day of Nouembre Phylyp duke of Burgoyn erle of Artoys of Aluerne and of Boloyngn a chylde of the age of .xiiii. yeres or lesse dyed at a town nere vnto Rome called GuyoÌ„ By reason of whose deth kyng IohnÌ„ as nexte heyre had after possession of al the sayd laÌ„des toke possioÌ„ therof shortly after In the .xiiii. yere of the reygne of kyng IohnÌ„ thyrd day of Ianuary he for specyall causes hym mouyng as for the enlargyng of his sonne the duke of Orleaunce other yet pledges for hys rauÌ„some toke shyppyng at Boloyne so sayled into EnglaÌ„d and arryued at Douer the .vi day of the sayde moneth and after yode to Eltham and from theÌ„s was coÌ„ueyed vnto LoÌ„don as before is shewed in the .xxxvii. yere of kyng Edward In tyme of whose there beyng syr BarthraÌ„ de Glaycon made warre vpoÌ„ the kynge of Nauerne wan from hym the towne of Maunt in Normandy And by the duke of NormaÌ„dy soone after was wonne from the sayd kyng the towne of MeÌ„leÌ„ce within y e which were taken dyuers Parysyens that shortly after for theyr infidelite were put in execucioÌ„ at Parys And thus the warre betwene the kynges of FrauÌ„ce Nauerne was newly begoÌ„ Than kynge IohnÌ„ beyng as before is sayde in Englande a greuous malady toke hym in the begynnynge of Marche of the whyche he dyed at London vpoÌ„ the .viii. daye of Apryll folowynge so wyth great honoure and solempnyte coÌ„ueyed to the sees syde and there shypped thaÌ„ in processe caryed into Fraunce where vpon the .vii. day of May and yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxiiii he was solempnely enterred in the monastery of saynt Denys whaÌ„ he had reygned .xiii. yeres .vii. monethes and odde dayes leuynge after hym thre sonnes that is to say Charles whych was kyng after hym Lewys and Phylyp CArolus or Charles y e .vi. of that name or .v. after som writers y e eldest sonne of kyng IohnÌ„ beganne hys reygne ouer the realme of FrauÌ„ce the .ix. day of Apryll in the begynnynge of the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxiiii and the .xxviii. yere of Edwarde the the .iii. than kynge of Englande and was crowned with dame Iane hys wyfe at Raynes the .xix. day of May folowynge In thys fyrste yere syr Barthran de Glaycon lyeutenaunt of the sayde Charles in NormaÌ„dy fought with a capytayne of the kynge of Nauerne named le Captall de Bueffe nere vnto a place called Cocherell nere vnto the crosse of saynte Lyeffroy in whiche fyght the sayd Captall was scomfited and great noumbre of his people taken and slayne hym selfe chased taken for whome the frenche kynge gaue after vnto the sayde syr BarthraÌ„ the Erledam of Longeuyle And whaÌ„ he had receyued him he sent him vnto a stroÌ„ge pryson called the Merchy in Meaux At Myghelmas folowynge the duke of Brytayne syr Charlys de Bloyes and syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort sonne and heyre to the fore named sir IohnÌ„ Mountforde before dede whiche by a longe season bothe father the sonne had holden warre with the sayd syr Charles met in playne batayle in y â— which as before is shewed in the .xxxviii. yere of king Edwarde the sayde syr Charles was slayne dyuers noble men of Fraunce with him In the moneth of Iuny and seconde yere of this Charlys an other accorde was yet concluded atwene this Charles and the kynge of Nauerne By reason of whiche accorde the Captall of Bueffe was clerely delyuered and Maunt and Menlene agayne also to the kynge restored And ouer that to the kynge of Nauerne was geuyn for a recompensement the Erledome of Longeuyle whiche as aboue is sayd the frenche kyng had gyuen vnto syr Barthran de Glaycon for to haue the Captall to his prisoner And also to the sayde kynge of Nauerne was gyuen the lordshyppe of Mountpyller And in the moneth of February began the warre in Spayne where prince Edwarde ayded Peter kyng of y e lande as before is shewed iÌ„ the .xl. and .xlii. yeres of kynge Edwarde In the .iiii. yere the peace atwene the kynges of Englande of FrauÌ„ce began to breke by meanes of the erle of Armenake other as in the .xlii. yere of kynge Edwarde is before shewed And in the moneth of Decembre and the sayd yere the quene was lyghted of a man Chylde in the Hostell of saynt Paule the whiche was after christened with excedynge solempnyte ouer other before passed in the churche of saint Paule in Parys the .vi. day of Decembre of the cardinal of Parys To whome were godfathers the erles of Mountmerency and of Dampmartyn godmother Iane quene of Euroux and bare the name of Charlys after the erle of Mountmerency In the .v. yere of this Charlys he called his counsell of parlyament at Parys Durynge the whiche the appellacyons of the erle of armenake and other purposed ageyne prynce Edwarde were publysshed and radde the answeres of the said prince vpon the sayd appellacyons made whiche I ouerpasse for length of the mater But the conclusyon was that the prince had broken the peas and couenauntes of the same as they there demyd wherfore all suche townes holdes as the frenche kyng had gotten he shulde them retayne make warre vpon the kynge of Englande for the recouery of the other where vpon kynge Charles in the moneth of Iuly folowyng rode vnto Roan and there rygged his nauye entendynge as sayth the frenche historye to haue made warre vpon EnglaÌ„d and to haue sent thyther his yongest brother Philippe than duke of Burgoyne with a stronge armye But whyle he was there besyed about his purpose the duke of Lancastre arryued with a strong power at Caleys and so passed to Tyrwyn so vnto Ayr. wherfore kynge Charlys then chaunged his purpose and sent his sayde brother into those ê‘ties Then by that season that y e sayd duke was prepared with hys people the englysshemen were
admytted it were nedefull vnto the realme in auoydyng of all suspeccyon and surmyses of ylle dysposed persones to haue in wrytynge and regestred the manyfolde crymes and â—efautes before done by the sayd Rycharde late kynge of Englande to the ende that they myghte fyrste be openly shewed vnto the people and after to remayne of recorde amonge the kynges recordes The whyche were drawen and compyled as before is sayde in .xxxviii. artycles and there shewed redy to be radde But for other causes than more nedefull to be preferred the redynge of the said artycles at that season were diffâ—ered and put of whyche artycles for that that they wolde aske longe tyme to wryte also wolde to some reders â—e but small pleasure to rede I haue therfore lefte theym out here of thys worke which at lengthe are sette ouâ— in the boke of the Mayres and yere of Drewe Barentyne than mayre of London Than for so moche as the lordes of the parlyament hadde well consydered this voluntary renouncement of kynge Rycharde and that it was behouefull necessary for the weale of the realme to procede vnto the sentence of his deposayll they there appoynted by auctorytie of the states of the sayde parlyament the bisshop of saynte Asse the abbotte of Glastenburye the erle of Gloucester the lorde of Barkeley wyllyam Thyrnynge iustyce Thomas Erpyngham and Thomas Graye knightes that they shulde gyue and â—ere open sentence to the kynges deposicyon whervpon the sayde commyssyoners leynge there their hedes together by good delyberacion good couÌ„sell and auysement and of one assent agreed amonge them that the bishop of saint Asse shulde publisshe the sentence for theym and in their names as foloweth In the name of god Amen we IohnÌ„ bysshope of saynt Asse or Assenence IohnÌ„ abbot of Glastynbury Rycharde the erle of Glocester Thomas lorde of Berkeley wyllyam Thyrnynge Iustyce Thomas Erpyngham and Thomas Graye knyghtes chosen and deputed specyall commyssaryes by the thre estates of thys present parlyament representynge the hole bodye of the realme for all suche maters by the sayd astates to vs committed we vnderstandynge and considerynge the manyfolde crymes hurtes and harmes done by Rycharde king of EnglaÌ„de and mysgouernaunce of the same by a longe tyme to the great decaye of the sayde lande and vtter ruyne of the same shortly to haue ben ne had the especiall grace of our lorde god therevnto put y e soner remedy also furthermore auertysinge y t the sayde kinge Rycharde knowyng his owne insufficiencie hath of his owne mere volunte and fre wyll renounced and gyuen vp the rule and gouernaunce of this lande with all ryghtes and honoures vnto y e same belongynge and vtterly for his merytes hath iuged hym selfe nat vnworthy to be deposed of all kyngely mageste astate royall we the premysses well consyderynge by good and dilygente delyberacyon by the power name and auctoryte to vs as aboue is sayd coÌ„mytted pronounce discerne and declare the same kynge Rycharde before thys to haue be to be vnprofytable vnable vnsufficyent and vnworthy to the rule and gouernauÌ„ce of the foresayde realmes and lordeshyppes all other thappurtenaunces to the same belongynge And for the same causes we pryue him of all kyngely dygnyte and worshyppe of any kynglye worshyppe in him lefte And we depose him by our sentence â—ifynityfe forbyddynge expressely to all archebysshoppes bysshoppes all other prelates dukes marqueses erles barons and knyghtes to all other men of the foresayd kyngdome and lordeshyppes or of other places belongynge to the same realmes and lordeshippes subiectes and lyeges what so euer they be y t none of them from this tyme forthwarde to the foresaid Rycharde as kynge lorde of y e foresayde realmes lordeshyppes be neyther obedyeÌ„te nor attendaunt After whiche sentence thus openlye declared the said astates admytted forthwith the same persones for theyr procuratours to resygne and yelde vp vnto kynge Rycharde all theyr homage fealtie whyche they had made oughte vnto hym before tymes and for to shewe vnto hym if nede were all thynges before done that concernyd his deposynge The whych resygnacyon at that tyme was spared and put in respite tyll the morowe nexte folowynge And anone as thys sentence was in thys wyse passyd and that by reason therof the realme stode voyde without hede or gouernoure for the tyme the said duke of Lancaster rysing froÌ„ y e place where he before sate standing where all myght beholde hym he mekely makynge the sygne of the crosse vppon his forhede and vpon hys breste after sylence by an officer was commaunded sayd vnto the people there beyng these wordes folowyng In the name of the father sonne and holy ghoste I Henry of Lancastre clayme the realme of Englande and the crowne with all the appurtenaunces as I that am dyscended by ryght lyne of the bloode commynge from that good lorde kynge Henry the thyrde through y e ryght that god of hys grace hath sente to me wyth helpe of my kynne of my frendes to recouer the same y t which was in point to be vndone for defaut of good gouernaunce due iustyce After whyche wordes thus by hym vttered he retourned set him down in the place where he before had sytten Than the lordes apperceyuynge and herynge thys clayme thus made by thys noble man eyther of theym frayned of other what he thoughte And after a dystaunce or pauâ—e of tyme the archebysshope of Cauntorbury hauyng notycyon of the lordes myndes stode vp asked of the commons yf they wolde assente to the lordes whych in theyr myndes thoughte the clayme by the duke made to he ryghtefull and necessary for the welthe of the realme of them all wherunto with one voyce they cried ye ye ye After whyche answere the sayde archebysshop goynge vnto the duke settynge hym vpon hys kne had vnto hym a fewe wordes The whyche ended he rose takynge the duke by the ryght hande â–ª ladde hym vnto the kynges sete wyth greate reuerence sette hym therein after a certayne knelynge and orison made by the sayde duke or he were therein sette And whan the kynge was thus set in hys trone to the greate reioysynge of the people the archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury beganne there an oracion or colacyon in maner as after foloweth Uâ—â— dominabitur in populo primo ReguÌ„ capitulo .ix. These ben the wordes of the hygh and mooste myghty kynge spekynge to Samuel hys prophete techyng hym how he shuld chose and ordeyne a gouernoure of hys people of Israel whan the sayde people asked of hym a kynge to rule theym And nat wythout cause maye these wordes be sayde here of oure lorde the kynge that is For yf they be inwardely conceyued they shall gyue to vs mater of consolacion and comforte whan it is sayde that a maÌ„ shall haue lordeshyp and rule of the people nat a chylde For god threteneth nat vs as he sometyme thret the people by I saye sayenge
his vnstedfastnesse vntroth by hym before vsed as in sundry places before in the storyes of kyng IohnÌ„ Charles hys sonnÌ„ are manyfestly shewed In thys yere also a batayll was done at Parys betwene .ii. knyghtes of the duke of Alenson whereof the cause ensuyeth Thys sayd duke had in hys court two knyghtes whereof that one was named IohnÌ„ CarengoÌ„ or Carongyon and that other Iaquet Gryâ—er whyche were bothe in good fauoure of theyr mayster Thys Carongon were it for delyte to se straunge countreys or cause of other auenture as pilgrymage or other departed out of FrauÌ„ce leuyng hys wyfe in a castel or fortresse of his owne whyche wyfe was goodly and fayer After whose departynge were it for beauty of the womaÌ„ or for euyll wyl that he bare towarde hys felow this Iaquet Gryse entryd the castel berynge hys wyfe on hande that he was comyn to se that house whyche shewed so fayre outwarde The woman castynge no parell acceptynge hym for her husbaÌ„des frende hyrs shewed to him the cyrcuite of y e place But he in contrary awaytynge hys praye whan he sawe the womaÌ„ farre from company forsed hyr in suche maner that contrary hyr wyll he coÌ„mysed wyth her auoutry At whose departyng she gaue vnto hym many rebukeful wordes sayenge playnlye that yf hyr husbaÌ„de euer retourned she wolde of that velany be reueÌ„ged Thys dede was kepte secrete tyll the retourne of hyr husbande At whose home commyng she wyth lameÌ„table countenaunce shewed tyll hyr husbande all the demeanure of the sayd Iaquet After whyche complaynte by hyr husbande well vnderstanden he yode streyght vnto the duke of Alenson requyryng hym to do correccion vpoÌ„ the auoutrer or els y t he myghte trye it with hym in y e felde by fortune of batayll whereof nother the duke wolde graunt but brought the quarell before the kyng By whose agrement and commaundemente a daye by the kynge was sette to fyghte at Parys whaÌ„ the daye of batayll was comen Carogon broughte hys wyfe vnto the place to iustyfye hyr former sayenge After affyrmacyon whereof eyther fyrste ranne at other wyth sharpe speres At whyche course Iaquet wounded hys enemie in the thyghe wyth hys spere But Carongon beynge wyth it nothynge dysmayed lyght from hys horse and bare hym so manfully that he ouercame hys aduersarye caused hym to confesse hys offence for the whych he was streyght drawen vnto the gybet of Parys and there haÌ„ged And to the sayd Carongon the kyng gaue in rewarde a thousande fraÌ„kes or a hundreth pouÌ„de sterlynge money ouer that he gaue vnto hym as an annuall fee or rent two huÌ„dreth frankes whyche is in value of .xx. pouÌ„de sterlynge money In these dayes as wytnesseth Gagwynus an anker berynge in hys hande a rede crosse a man to loke to of goostlye conuersacyon came vnto the FreÌ„che kynges court The which by the housholde seruauÌ„tes or famylyers of the court was loÌ„ge kept froÌ„ hys presence all be it that lastelye he was brought vnto hym To whome he shewed that he was deuynely monysshed that he shulde charge hym to absteyne from hys customable vse in leuyenge so often taskes subsydyes yt he dyd nat he shulde well vnderstande that the wrath of god was nere to hym to punysshe hym yf he refused hys commauÌ„dement The whyche message the kynge toke at small regarde But shortly after the quene was delyuered of a doughter that dyed soone after wherefore the kynge callynge to mynde the ankers wordes for fere of other punysshement refrayned a season frome leuyenge of trybutes and taskes But by the exortacion of hys two vnkylles he in shorte season after tourned to hys former custome Kynge Charles thus passynge hys tyme wyth greate murmure of hys commons rebellyon of the duke of Brytayn wyth many other aduersytyes whych were longe to wryte lastly in the .xiiii. yere of hys reygne or nere about he made warre vpon the people of west Fraunce called in late Cenomanni whan Charles was entred thys countrey whyche was in the domynyon of the duke of Brytayn y e duke sent vnto hym messengers sayenge to hym that he shulde nat nede to inuade hys couÌ„trey wyth so great streÌ„ghte for he and his shuld be hooly at hys commaundement But of thys message y e king toke no regard for as sayth myne auctour he was nat most wysest prynce but was ruled by hys housholde seruauntes and belyued euery lyght tale that was brought to hym and ouer that he was so lyberal that it was of wyse men accompted more prodygalyte than lyberalitye As Charles nat wythstandyng this message of y e duke helde on his iournay commynge nere vnto a woode he was sodeynly mette of a man lyke vnto a begger whyche sayde vnto hiÌ„ whither goest thou syr kyng beware thou go no farther for thou arte betrayed and into the handes of thyne enemyes thyne owne meyny shall delyuer the â–ª wyth thys monyssion of thys poore maÌ„ the kynge was astonyed stoode styl and begaÌ„ to muse In whyche study he so beyng one of hys folowers whyche after hym bare his spere sleped vpoÌ„ his horse backe in hys so slepyng let hys spere fall vpon the helmet of hys felowe â–ª wyth whych stroke the kyng was sodeynly fered thynkynge hys enemyes had commen vnwarely vpoÌ„ hym wherefore he in a gere drewe hys swerde layed about hym at the geynest and slewe .iiii. of his knyghtes or he were refrayned and toke therewyth suche an endelye fere that he fell therwyth dystraughte wherefore he was to a place there by broughte lay there in poynte of deth a longe season after in so moch that the fame ranne that he was ded But by prayers other greate dedes of charyte done for hym lastely he recouered and retourned vnto Parys And for he was nat yet retourned to hys perfyghte helthe his two vncles than beynge that one duke of Berry that other duke of Burgone toke vpon them by auctoryte of the estates of the lande to rule the realm for that season in whyche season diuers officers were altered chauÌ„ged The kyng thus contynuyng his lykenes many interludes and games were deuysed for the kynges recreacyon comforte And vppoÌ„ a season he beynge lodged in the quenes lodgynge in the subarbes of saynte Marcell dyuers noble men of the courte made a dysguysynge and apparayled theym in lynnen clothes glewed vnto theyr naked bodyes wyth pytche florisshed theym wyth dyuerse colours oyles so that they were couered all excepte the faces and thus apparayled with torche lyghte entred the Chaumbre where as the kyng was and there in goodly maner shewed theyr disport so that the kynge was therewith wel contented But were it of rechelesnesse or of some â—uyl disposed person fyre was put to the vestures of the disguysers the whyche anone was vppon suche a flame that no man there coulde quenche it wherfore the sayd disguysers beynge by reason of pytche and oyles greuously turmented ranne into pyttes and
waters whyche they myghte sonest attayne â—nto and so wyth greate dyffyculte saued theym selfe In meane tyme whereof the chauÌ„ber beynge wyth the same tyred grewe in so greate a flame that in shorte whyle the more parte of that lodgynge was consumed to y e great fere of y e kynge and other astates thaÌ„ there beynge presente and augmentynge agayne of his former sykenes so that certayne appoyntementes to be holdeÌ„ betwene hym and Rychard kynge of Englande were for that tyme put of IN the .xvi. yere of thys Charles the maryage of peace betwene bothe realmes was concluded and fynysshed at Calays as before I haue shewed to you in the .xix. yere of kyng Rycharde And that triumphe fynysshed Charles at the coÌ„templacyon and prayer of the kynge of Hungry sent vnto hym Phylyp erle of Arroys wyth dyuers other knyghtes in good noumber to ayde y e sayd kynge agayne the Turkys The whyche after that they hadde there a season warred the capytaynes the more party of the Frenchemen of the Turkys were dystressed slayne many taken prisoners to theyr great charge Thys Charles thus contynuyng hys lykenesse two freres of saynte Augustynes order beynge desyrous of money toke vppon theym to cure the kyng And after they had shauen hys hede and mynistred to hym medicyns the kynge dayly febled in suche wyse y t he was nye dede For whiche coÌ„syderacyon they examyned by phylosophers and doctours of physyke founden vncunnynge were degraded of theyr presthode after behedded To thys folye were these fretes broughte by the excytynge of the duke of Burgoyne as the common fame went In the .xix. yere of thys Charles the lande of Fraunce was greuously vexed wyth the plage of ipydymye of whyche sykenesse a greate multytude of people dyed And that yere was there also sene a blasynge starre of wonderfull bygnes wyth stremes apperynge to meÌ„nes syghte of moste feruent brennynge In thys yere also Charles herynge of y e subduyng of kynge Rycharde sente into Englande two of hys housholde knyghtes requyrynge kynge Henry the fourth than newelye made kynge to sende home hys doughter Isabell latelye maryed vnto kyng Rychard wyth suche do war as wyth hyr was promysed In doynge of whyche message kynge Henry toke such dyspleasure that as sayeth Gagwinus myne auctour he threwe the sayde twoo knightes in prysone where through one of theym named Blanchet dyed in Englande and that other called Henry after greate sykenesse retourned into Fraunce And shortely after kynge Henry sente the sayde dame Isabell vnto Calays where she was ioyously receyued of the Frenchemen and so conueyed vnto hyr sayde father whyche as yet was nat of hys sykenesse cured By reason whereof among the lordes of FrauÌ„ce eueryche of them coueytyng to haue rule great dyssencion malyce begaÌ„ to kendle and specyallye betwene the dukes of Orleaunce of Burgoyne and of Berry Than the duke of Orleaunce enteÌ„dyng to promote hys cause vnknowyng the other lordes allyed hym wyth y e duke of Geldre streÌ„ghthed hym wyth .v. C. men of hys so entred the feeldes of Parys And in lyke maner y e duke of Burgoyne wyth a stronge coÌ„pany kept an other cooste of y e countrey Natwythstandyng by meanes of other lordes these two dukes were kept a sunder at lenghte y t duke of Orleyaunce by the kynges comaundement that somewhat was than amended was ordayned regente of the realme The whiche anone as he was sette in auctoryte fell to all rauyne and oppressed the people with cotydyan taskes and tallages and y e spirituall men with dymes other exaccyons wherfore by reason of the studyentes of Parys he was at lengthe discharged of that dignyte and the duke of Burgoyne for hym put in auctoryte Than the duke of Orleyaunce beynge discontented yode vnto LuceÌ„bourgth a towne in highe Almayne sought agayne ayde of the duke of Geldre foresayd But by his frendes he was so aduertysed y t with his owne folkes he returned into Fraunce But yet the malyce and stryfe a twene hym and the duke of Burgoyne seased nat About this season or soone after dyed the duke of Brytayne And as affermeth the auctour afore named kyng Henry y e .iiii. maryed his wyfe wherof hering y e duke of Burgoyne with a company of .vi. M. knyghtes entred Brytayne there by strength toke from her her .iii. sonnes named IohnÌ„ Richard Arthure presented them vnto kynge Charles In y e xxii yere of this Charles was borne of Isabell hys wyfe a man chylde which also was named Charles the which after the deth of his father vnto y e great aduersyte of all the realme of FrauÌ„ce was king of that realme contrary the appointment taken a twene Henry the .v. after kynge of Englande and thys Charles the father nowe of Fraunce kynge as after shall more appere in the story of the sayde kynge Henry the fyfte In this yere also was dame Isabell somtyme wyfe of Rycharde latelye kynge of Englande maryed vnto Charles eldeste sonne of the duke of Orleyaunce And IohnÌ„ the eldyste of the .iii. forenamed sonnes of the duke of Brytayne lately dede toke to wyfe Margarete y e doughter of kynge Charles And Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne dyed soone after leauynge an heyre after hym named IohnÌ„ The whyche after he was gyrde with the swerde of the duchye of Burgoyne he anone by euyll entysynge and counsell areryd warre agayne the duke of Orleyaunce to the great dysturbaunce of all the realme For the sayde duke of Orleyaunce was a prynce of a wonderfull hyghe courage and desyrous of great honoure and after the sayenge of Gagwynus coueyted to be kynge of Fraunce The whyche went to Auyngnyon where as than sate the .xiii. Benet thaÌ„ pope duryng the scisme and admytted by some of the Cardynalles after the dethe of Clement y e .vi. To whiche Benet the said duke made great labour to depryue the Uniuersite of Parys from y e great auctoryte y t it at those dayes stode in whiche was of merueylous auctoryte than as sayeth the forenamed auctour In thys whyle thus endurynge the lande full of myseryes aduersites the quene which y t moche fauoured the dukes partie accompanyed with the sayd duke rode to take her dysporte of huntynge in to the countrey of Meldon To whiche place she sente letters vnto the Dolphyn by y e duke of Bauary her brother that he with hys wyfe whiche was doughter vnto the duke of Burgoyne shulde come for to dysporte theym whereof IohnÌ„ thanne duke of Burgoyne beynge warned suspected the quene that she wyth ayde of the duke wolde conueye the Dolphyn into Germanye and there to holde hym at theyr pleasures And to eâ—peche that purpose he iÌ„ all haâ—e sped him towarde y e Dolphyn and contrary the mynde of the duke of Bauarye whiche than was vpon his waye with the sayd Doulphyne towarde the quene retourned hym and lodged him in a stronge castell called Lupar whereof herynge the duke
whyle a great multytude of horse men were layd vpon the grounde And after theyr shotte spent they layde aboute them with theyr glaynes and axes that by the greate grace of god and comfortable ayde of the kynge the vyctory fell that daye to the Englysshemen and with lytell losse of theyr cōpany For after the opynyon of sondry wryters were slayne y t daye of Englishemen the dukes of yorke and of Suffolke not ouer .xxvi. parsons moo But of Frenchmen were slayne that daye after Englysshe wryters ouer the nomber of .x. thousande Albeit y e French Gaguinus sayth that of the Englyshe hoste were slayne the duke of yorke and with hym .iiii. hundreth men and of the French hoste .iiii. M. men of name besyde other whiche he numbreth not Also he affermeth to be horsmen at that felde vppon the Frenche partye .x. thousande ouer and besyde the fotemen and that the Englyshemen were nombred at .xv. C. spere men xviii M. of yomen and archers At thys sayde batayle was taken prysoners the duke of Orleaūce the duke of Burbon̄ y e erle of Uēdosme of Ewe of Rychemount and Bursigaunt thanne marshall of Fraunce wyth many other knyghtes esquyres whych were tedyous to name to the nōber of .xxiiii. hūdreth aboue as wytnesseth the boke of mayres And in thys batayle were slayne of the nobles of Fraunce the dukes of Barre of Alanson and of Brabā viii erles and barons aboue .lxxx. wyth other gentylmen in cote armours to the nomber of .iii. thousāde and aboue By reason of whyche pyllage the Englysshemen were greatly auaunced For the Frenchmen were so assuryd of vyctory by reason of theyr great nōber that they brought the more plenty of rychesse wyth thē to the ende to bye prysoners eyther of other and also after the victory by them opteyned to shewe vnto Englysshemen theyr pryde pompous araye But god whyche knewe the presumpcion and pompe tourned all thynge contrary to theyr myndes ententes whan the kynge by grace and power of god more thā by force of man hadde thus gotten this tryumphaūt vyctorye and retourned hys people frome the chase of theyr enemyes tydynges were brought vnto hym that a newe hoste of Frēchmen were comynge towarde hym wherfore he anone commaunded his people to be enbatayled and that done made proclamacions thorough the hoste that euery man shulde slee hys prysoner By reason of whych proclamacyon the duke of Orleaunce and the other lordes of Fraunce were in such fere that they anone by lycence of y e kyng sent such worde vnto the sayd hoste that they wythdrewe them And the kynge wyth hys prysoners vpon the morow folowyng toke hys waye toward his towne of Caleys where he rested hī duryng this mayres tyme. Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.v  Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.vi  wyllyam Cambrydge  Nycholas wotton Draper  Anno .iii.  Aleyn Euerarde  THys yere and .xxix. daye of Nouember as the mayre rode towarde westmynster for to take hys charge a pursyuaūt of y e kynges came wyth letters vnto the mayre gyuyng to hym knowlege of the kynges good spede wherfore the byshop of wynchester than chaūceller of England hauynge lyke wyttynge came that daye to Poulys and there caused Te deum to be songē wyth great solempnyte And in lyke wyse was lyke obseruaunce done in y e parysshe chyrches and other relygyous houses thorough the cytye of London And at Poulys by the sayd chaūceller standyng vpon the steppes at the quyerdore were the sayd tydynges denounced vnto the people And vpon the morow folowynge y e sayd chaunceller wych other bysshoppes and tēporall lordes wyth a generall procession of the mayre and comynaltye of the cytye yode from Poulys to westmynster on fote and offered at saynt Edwardes shryne so retourned to theyr owne houses Thanne kyng Hēry wyth hys prysoners shypped at Calays and so landed at Douer And after he had ben at Caunterbury and there made hys offerynge vnto saynt Thomas he than spedde hym on hys iournay tyll he came vnto Eltham where he rested hym a season Upon the .xxiii. day of Nouembre he was met with the mayre hys bretherne vpō the Blak heth so conueyed wyth all honour thorugh the cytye vnto westmynster wherein dyuers places of the sayd cytye as the brydge crosse in chepe were ordeyned certayn pagentes to the kynges great comforte The maner wherof with all processyons and other seremonies I passe ouer for letthyng of the tyme. In thys yere also Sigismunde Emperour of Almayn came into England And in the moneth of May by the kynges cōmaundement .vii. daye of the sayd moneth the mayre and bretherne mette hym vpō Blakheth And at saynt Georges met hym the kyng and hys lordes in great nōbre and so conueyed hym vnto westmynster with great honour lodged hym in hys own palays And shortly after was the feast of saynte George holden at wyndesore whyche before was deferred for hys cōmyng In tyme of whyche solempnyte durynge y e dyuyne seruyce the kynge kepte the astate But in syttyng at the feest ▪ the Emperour kept y e astate The seruice sotyltees of whiche feeste with syttynge of y e lordes after theyr degrees I passe ouer And shortly after came the duke of Holande into this lande for certayne causes concernynge the Emperour whome the kynge honourably receyued and lodged hym in the bisshoppes palays of Ely in Holbourne And so the kynge entreated and chered these straungers that for the season that they taryed in Englande they laye here at the kynges coste and charge And y e emperoure and he were made knyghtes of the garter and also a greate duke of y e emperours named duke of Bryga And whan the emperour hadde taryed vpō .vii. wekes and odde dayes in Englande which after some wryters was to th entent to set an vnyte and reste bytwene the Frenche kynge and kynge Henry he after toke mynde to retourne into Almayne ▪ whom the kynge for hys comforte and nedes that he had to do at Caleys accompanyed hym thyder where eyther wyth gyftes thankes departed from other And the duke of Hollande went wyth the emperour into Hollande and other countrees whyle the kynge was thus at Calys to hym came thyder vnder saufe conduyt the duke of Burgoyne and hadde wyth the kynge dyuers communycacyons and after retourned to hys owne And soone after y e kyng retourned into Englande and came to westmynster vpon saynte Lukes euyn or the .xvii. daye of October Thys yere and season whyle the kynge was at Calayes y t is to mene vppon the daye of Assumpcyon of our blessed lady the duke of Bedforde accompanyed wyth the erle of Marche and other lordes hadde a greate conflycte and batayle wyth dyuers carikkes of Ieane and other shyppes where after longe and sore fyght y e honour fyll to hym and hys Englysshemen to the greate losse of the straungers bothe of theyr men and also of theyr shyppes
of the cytye whyche wyth all dylygence resysted them and of theÌ„ toke dyuers that robbed and sent theym to Newgate And fynally not wyth out shedyng of blode and maymyng of dyuers cytesyns the rumour and people were appeasyd whan the yonge man begynner of all thys busynesse sawe this inconuenyence ensue of hys wantonesse were it by counsayll or otherwyse feryng the sequell of the mater yode streyght vnto westmynster and there taried as a sayntwary man tyll all the mater were endyd It was not longe after or the duke of Buckyngham with iustyces and other noble men was sent down from the kynge into the cytye charged the mayre by vertue of a commyssyoÌ„ y t an enquery shulde be made of this ryot And so by vertue of the sayde coÌ„myssyon called an Oyer determyner a day was kepte at Guyldhall vpon the day of the moneth of where the sayde daye sat for iudges y e mayre as the kynges lyeutenauÌ„t y e duke of Buckyngham vpoÌ„ his ryght hande y e chyefe iustyce vppon y e lefte hande wyth many other men of name whyche I passe ouer whyle the mayre and the sayd lordes were callyng of the panels of the enquestes at y e Guyldhall the other comoners of the cytie not beyng coÌ„tent with the order many of theÌ„ secretely armed them in theyr houses and enteÌ„ded as the comon fame after went to haue ruÌ„ge Bow bell so to haue reysed gathered y e comynalty of the cytye and by force to haue delyuered such persons as before for y e robbery were commytted to warde But thys mater was so discretely handeled by the couÌ„sayll and labour of some dyscrete comoners whyche appeased theyr neyghbours in such wyse that all this fyry haste was quenchyd came to none effecte sauyng y e word was brought vnto the duke of Buckyngham that the comynalty of the cytye were in harnysse yf he taryed longe there he with the other lordes shuld be in great ieopardy with whyche vntrew tidinges he beyng fered hastely toke leue of y e mayre so deê‘â—ted vnto hys lodgyng and so ceasyd y e enquery for y e day UpoÌ„ the morow for so much as y e mayre had vnderstaÌ„dynge of y e secrete murmur he commauÌ„ded the comoÌ„ counsayle with all wardeyns of felysshyppys to apere vpoÌ„ the morow at Guyldhall where by the recorder in the kinges name the mayers as hys lyeutenaunt was coÌ„mauÌ„ded to euerych wardeins that in that after none folowynge eyther of them shuld assemble hys hoole felisshyp at theyr propre hallys there to gyue euery cytezyn streyght commaundemente that euery man see entende to see the kynges peace with in the cytye And yf they fynde any person that maketh any reasonynge wherby they myght coÌ„ceyue or espye that he fauoured any gatherynge of companyes or the delyuerey of suche persones as were in warde that the sayd wardeyns shuld with fayre wordes exorte hym to the beste and with out sygne or token therof shewynge secretly co bryng the name or names of hym or them vnto the mayre By meane of whych polycy good order the cytesyns were brought in suche a quyetnes that after that day the foresayd enquery was duely pursued iii. persones for the sayde ryot put in execucyon and hanged at tybourne whereof .ii. after some wryters were seyntwarye men of saynt Martyns and the thyrd was a shypmaÌ„ or boteman The quene wyth certeyne lordes whyche fauoured her partye dysdayned sore the rule whyche the duke of yorke bare and other specyally for that that the sayde duke bare y e name of protectour whych argued that the kynge was insuffycyent to gouerne the realme whyche as she thoughte was a great dyshonour to the kynge and to all the realme wherefore she made suche meanes and wan by hyr polycy such frendshyp of diuerse of y e lordes bothe spyrytuall and temporall that she caused y e duke of yorke to be dyscharged of hys protectourshyp the erle of Salysbury of hys chauncellershyp which was cause of newe warre as after shall appere Anno. dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lvi.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lvii Grocer IohnÌ„ Stewarde  Thomas Canynges  Anno .xxxv.  Raufe Uerney  IN thys yere and begynnynge of the same the quene suspectynge the cytye of London demyd it to be more fauourable vnto y e duke of yorkes partye than hyrs caused y e kynge to remoue from LoÌ„don vnto Couentre and there helde hym a loÌ„g season In whyche tyme the duke of yorke was sent for thyther by pryuey seale with also the erle of Salesbury the erle of warwyke where by couyne of the quene they were all .iii. in great daunger Howe be it by monys shemeÌ„t of theyr frendes they escaped And soone after the sayd duke or erle went into the Northe and the erle of warwyke wyth a goodly companye sayled vnto Calays And shortly after were taken at Eryth wythin .xii. myles of London .iiii woÌ„derfull fysshys whereof one was called Mors Maryne the secoÌ„de a Sword fisshe the other .ii. were whalys whyche after some exposytours were pronostycacyons of warre trouble to ensue soon after In this yere also was a great fray in the Northe countrey betwene the lord EgremoÌ„de and the sonnes of the erle of Salysbury and diuers meÌ„ maymed slayen betwene them But in the ende the lord Egremonde was taken howe it was by the dome of the kynges counsayll or otherwyse the sayd lorde EgremoÌ„de was founden in suche defaute that fynally he was condempned in great summes of money to be payed vnto the sayd erle of Salysbury For lack of payment whereof or of puttynge suertye for the same the sayde lorde Egremonde was coÌ„mytted to Newgyte where after he had contynued a certayne of tyme he brake the prysone and escapyd with thre other prysoners to the greate charge of the sheryffes It was not longe after that dyscencyon vnkyndnesse fell bytwene the yonge duke of Somerset and syr IohnÌ„ Neuyll sonne vnto the erle of Salysbury beynge than bothe lodged wythin the cytye wherof the mayre beyng warned ordeyned such watches and prouysyoÌ„s that yf they had any thynge styrred he was able to haue subdued bothe partyes and to haue put theÌ„ in warde tyll he had knoweÌ„ the kynges farther pleasure wherof the frendes of bothe partyes beynge ware laboured such meanes that they agreed them for that tyme. In thys also as testyfye the Englyshe cronycle and also the French a nauye or flote of Frenchemen landyd at Sandwyche and spoyled and robbed the towne excercysed there greate crueltye Of whych flote was capytayne a Frenche knyght named after the French boke syr Guyllyain de Pomyers And thys yere after the opynyon of dyuers wryters began in a cytye of Almayne named Magounce the crafte of enprentynge of bokes whyche sen that tyme hath had wonderfull encreace as experyence at thys daye proueth In this yere also the prysoners of Newgate by neglygence of theyr kepers brake out
retourne to thys Charlys lykely it is that he was nat y e naturall sonne of the forenamed Charlys for as moche as hys sayd father ordeyned and wylled the realme of FrauÌ„ce vnto Katheryne hys doughter and wyfe vnto kynge HeÌ„ry the .v and agreed wyth the consente of the more parte of y e lordes of hys realme bothe spyrituall temporall that duryng hys lyfe the sayd kynge Henry shuld be regeÌ„t of FrauÌ„ce after hys deth to be kyng of the sayd regâ—oÌ„ as more at lengthe before I haue shewed vnto you in the .vii. yere of the sayd Henry the .v. But whether he be hys legyttymat sonne or nat where uppoÌ„ I purpose no leÌ„ger to stande trouth it is that he was by his father admitted made dolphyne of Uyen by reason wherof he was in a greate auctoryte wan to hym fauoure of som lordes of FrauÌ„ce whych stroÌ„gly maynteyned hys partye durynge the lyfe of kyng HeÌ„ry the .v after all y t season whyle the duke of Bedforde occupyed there as regent of that regyoÌ„ was of some parties of FrauÌ„ce reputed for kyng Howe be it he was neuer crowned so loÌ„ge as the sayde duke of Bedforde lyued Neuerthelesse he by meane of polycy hys freÌ„des so defended hym selfe that lytle by the EnglyshemeÌ„ was wonne vpoÌ„ hym of suche laÌ„des as he fyrste was in possessyon of But polytykely he defended theym lytle and lytle so preuayled agayne them that in the ende he all onely wanne nat to hym the possessioÌ„ of that prouince y t which is named FrauÌ„ce but also he wanne to hym in the ende the kynge of Englandes olde enherytaunce that is Normandy wyth all domynyons to the same apperteynynge The maner of wynnynge of them I woll nat in thys story speke of for so moche as in the former yeres of kynge Henry the .vi. I haue there expressed the maner of somme parte therof But that I shall speke of theÌ„ shal be of thynges done betwene hym other prynces And for that I before in the .viii. yere of HeÌ„ry the vi promysed in the .vi. yere of thys Charles to shewe vnto you som what of the maydeÌ„ or pucel which y e FreÌ„ch men named la pucelle de dieu her for a messenger from god to be sente reputed I shall here folow y e saying of Gaguyne whyche sayeth as foloweth In the .vi. yere or there aboute to rekyn from the deth of thys Charles father a weÌ„che or mayden beyng bred in a strete or vyllage called in latyne Ualli color in thys tyme beynge sproÌ„ge to the age of .xx. yeres or there about hauing to father a poore man named Iakes Delarch and hyr mother Isabell she also berynge the name of Iane or Iohan required by dyuers sundry tymes an vncle of hyrs beyng prefecte of the foresayde vyllage that he wolde presente hyr vnto the FreÌ„che kynge for thynges coÌ„cernyng greatly the weale of hym of hys realme whyche sayd prefect after many delayes for so moche as in hyr wordes he had lytle truste yet at leÌ„gthe hyr sayd vncle beynge named Robert Baudryncourt sent hyr wyth a coÌ„uenyent company vnto the kyng wyth letters certyfyenge hym of all the maner of thys mayde wherof the sayd Charles beynge asserteyned thought he wold vse som meane to knowe the vertue of thys wenche And for he had perfyghte experyence that before tymes thys woman had neuer sene hys persone he thoughte he wolde chaunge hys rome and habyte to se whether she by hyr vertue coulde knowe hym frome other and that done he standynge amonge other of his familiers as one of them she was called into the chaumber demaunded yf euer before tyme she had sene the kynge And after she hadde answered nay she was byddeÌ„ to espye oute the kynge whych there stode amonge that companye The whyche anone wythout dyfficulte him fande and saluted as king And all be it that he refused hyr reuereÌ„ce sayd y t she erred in hyr choyse yet she parseuered kneling at his fete and sayde that by goddes purueyauÌ„ce she was taught that he was hyr very soueraygn prince none other wherfore the kynge all hys lordes had in hyr the more affyauÌ„ce that by hyr the laÌ„de shulde be releuyd whych at that daye was in passyng mysery Than after dyuers questyoÌ„s to hyr made what was the cause of hyr thyther commynge she answered sayd that she was sent frome god to stablisshe the kynge in hys realme and that by hyr she beynge leder capytayne of hys people by dyuine grace onely the kynge shulde shortely subdue hys enemyes By reasoÌ„ of which wordes the kyng wyth hys lordes were somedeale comforted Upon thys armour sword was sought for this maydeÌ„ the whych as sayeth my sayd auctour was fouÌ„den myraculously wherof the processe to me appereth so darke faÌ„tastycall y t therewith me list nat to blot my boke but suffre it to passe by Than thys weÌ„che being purueyed of all thinges necessary to the warre a company of knyghtes soudyours to hyr by the kynge was assygned And so she rydynge as a man in maÌ„nes habyte contynued by the space of .ii. yeres more and dyd many wonderful feates and gat from the Englysshemen many stroÌ„ge townes and holdes wherefore amonge Frenchemen she was wordshypped for an auÌ„gell or a messynger sent frome god to releue theyr great myserye And as affermeth the sayd auctour she by hyr prouydence caused the sayd Charles as kynge of Fraunce to be crowned at Raynes in the yere of oure lord M. foure hundreth and .xxix. All be it nouther the Frenche cronycle nor other whyche I haue sene testyfyeth that but affermyn that he was nat crowned duryng the lyfe of the duke of Bedforde But almyghty god whyche for a season suffereth suche sorcery and deuelyssh ways to prospere reygne to the correccyon of synners lastely to shewe hys power and that good men shuld nat fall into any erroure he sheweth the clerenesse of suche mystycall thynges and so he dyd in thys For lastely she by a knyghte Burgonyon was taken after sent to Roan and there breÌ„t for her demerytes as in the .viii yere of Henry the .vi. is more at leÌ„gth shewed ThaÌ„ the tyme forth passyng and coÌ„tynuall warre betwene Englande FrauÌ„ce contynuyng among many trybulacions by thys Charles susteyned one that was hys owne sonnÌ„ named Lewys comforted and assysted by the dukes of BurboÌ„ and AleÌ„son wyth other meÌ„ of name rebelled agayne hys father and warred vppon hym and by strengthe wan frome hym certeyne townes strong holdes For remedy whereof the sayde Charles made warre vppon the forenamed duke of Burbon and wasted wyth iron and fyre the countreyes of the sayde duke of Burbon By meane whereof after thys vnkyndely warre hadde duryd by the space of syxe monethes or more a peace and vnyte betwene the father sonne was treated by meanes of the erle of Ewe a coÌ„corde vnite betwene
that he were shuld vse huÌ„tyng or hawkynge without special lyceÌ„ce specially for chasynge or huntyng of woluys nor to kepe wyth hym any houndes or other instrumeÌ„tes wherby the game myghte be destroyed And that done Phylyp foresayd duke of Burgoyne after counsayll to hym gyuen that he shulde forgette and forgyue all dyspleasurs to hym â—ofore done by any of hys lordes and them to honoure and cherysshe specyally his yonge brother Charlys to norysshe and to departe wyth hym louyngly of hys fathers possessions toke leue of hym and departed After whose deê‘ture he contrary the foresayde counsayll refused the company of hys lordes also theyr counsayll and drewe vnto hym as his chyefe counsaylours vylaynes and men of lowe byrth Of y t whyche the .iiii. pryncypall were named as foloweth IohnÌ„ de Lude IohnÌ„ Balna Olyuer Deuyll whoÌ„ for the odyousnesse of the name the kynge caused it to be chaunged and to be named DaÌ„man and the fourth was named Stephan and vssher of the kynges chaumber dore the whithe he promoted to greate honour dygnytees Amonge whome Balna beynge a preste was by hys meanes at length made a cardynall of Rome Thus he vsynge the counsayle of these persons murmur and grudge began to sprynge bytwene hym and hys lordes in so myche that fyrst the duke of Brytayne began to estrauÌ„ge hym from the kynge and refused to come vnto hys presence whaÌ„ he was sente for wherof herynge the erle of Ewe wyth other drewe them vnto y e duke To the whyche party soone after y e kynges brother Charlys with also the duke of Burbon whych had maried the kynges syster with many other noble men of the realme resortyd whan the kynge was ware that hys lordes conspyred agayne hym ferynge the rebellyon of hys comoÌ„s sent in spedy maner vnto Parys the forenamed IohnÌ„ Balna wyth other certeyne persons to kepe that cytye in due obeysauÌ„ce toward hym thynkynge that the other cytyes good townes of hys regyon wolde take ensample therof and demeane them as that cytye dyd After whose commynge the rulers of Parys by the amonystement of the sayd IohnÌ„ ordeyned good and sure watche and so by that meane kept the cytye in good order And in the meane season the kynge gathered to hym great foyson of knyghtes and soudyours that his hoste was nombred at .xxx. thousand men And in lyke wyse the other partye hadde assembled as many or mo And not wythstandyng the assyduat laboure and meanes made by y e duke of Burgoyne and Carlota wyfe to y e duke of Burbon syster to the kyng as is aboue sayde to make an vnyte and peace bytwene Lewys and hys lordes yet fynally the kynge they mette in playne batayll at a place called Chartres where bytwene theym was a longe and cruell batayll to y e losse of moche people on bothe partyes And all be it that the kynge in the begynnynge hadde the better of hys enemyes yet in the ende he was ouercomen his men chaced and he forced to flye to take for hys sauegarde a castell named Mountclere From the whyche he shortely departyd and yode to an other castell called Corboyll and from thens lastly vnto Parys where he entendyd to haue gathered newe people and to haue reuenged hym of hys enemyes But by the wyse and good exortacyoÌ„ of the bysshoppe of Parys the kyng chaunged hys purpose and all was set in a quyetnesse for that tyme. But how or in what maner or what the condycyons of y e accorde were myne authour dothe not expresse The whyche accorde thus concluded the kynge contynued hys olde maners and delyted hym more to companye with symple and inreuerent parsons to eate and drynke wyth them to the ende that he myghte talke of rybaudry and vayne and vycyous fables than to accompany him with his lordes where he myghte haue wonne hym myche honour Thys Lewys also was of so dyuers and wanton condycyon that he wolde go more lyker a yoman or a seruyng man than lyke a prynce The whyche was for no regardshyp nor sparyng of good for as before I haue shewed also after shall appere he was a prynce of moste lyberalyte and therwith an oppressour of hys subiectes LEwis thus passing his time was dryuen of necessyte for lacke of money to a preste of the cytesyns of Parys The whyche after many excusys by them layd to put it by and myghte not be alowed they lastly denayed the kynges pleasure where wythall he beynge greuously dyscontentyd remoued diuerse from theyr offyces and other whych were of the rychest and hed men of y e cyte he soughte agayne theym surmysed causes without prouys or iustyce put many of them to deth For these foresayde causes many other whyche tedyouse were to expresse the foresayd lordes agayne assembled theyr people enteÌ„dyng to subdue y e kynge and to set hys brother in hys place or to cause hym otherwyse to rule y e comon weale And to strength the barons party IohnÌ„ sonne vnto y e duke of Calabre approched to them wyth a good bande of men And to them came also the sonne of the duke of Burgoyne named Charlys All whiche barons of one assent mette at a towne called Stampys where they coÌ„tynued theyr couÌ„sayle by the space of .xv. dayes and after that couÌ„sayle fynysshed toke theyr iournaye towarde Parys In whych passe tyme a spye of the duke of Brytaynes called Peter Gerold was taken in Parys and drawen hanged and quartered and dyuers men and women y t were suspected to owe fauour vnto the lordes were sacked and caste in to the water of Seyn Then for to strength and guyde the cytye of Parys the kynge sent thyder the erle of Donoyse by whose prouysyon all warly ordenaunce for to defende theyr enemyes was there preparyd In the which tyme season y e lordes in .iii. partes enbatayled approched the cytye wherof y e fyrste hoste ladde Charlys brother vnto the kynge the seconde the duke of Brytayne the thyrd Charlys the sonne to the duke of Burgoyne Prouyded that Charlys fyrste named ladde the myddleward whaÌ„ the sayd erle of Donoyse hadde well consydered the strength of the lordes he sente vnto theym a messanger sayeng that in his mynde he maruayled to see so greate a multytude of people assembled agayne the cytye and comon weale of y e land consyderyng that he was sette there by the kynge as a medyatour and a meane rather to make peace than warre yf they were contentyd that by hym any medyacyon myghte be laboured and hadde But thys came to none effecte so that small assautes and skyrmysshes ensued to the lytell domage of bothe partes In whyche passe tyme the kynge sent by secrete meanes vnto the forenamed IohnÌ„ sonne vnto the duke of Calabre and hym by many meanes instaunted to leue the company of the lordes But all his offers auayled ryght nought Thenne the foresayde lordes thus lyenge before the cytye of Parys in the playne where standeth
and there buryed by the tombe of kyng Edwarde After whyche cruelte thus done he shortely after set in sure kepynge suche persones as he suspected to be agayne hym wherof the bysshoppes of yorke of Ely were .ii. as it is said And the erle of Derby for fere of hys sonne the lord Strange lest he shuld haue arered Chesshyre Lancastershyre agayne hym was set at large Than began the loÌ„ge couert dyssymulacion whyche of the lord Protectour had ben so craftly shadowed to breke out at large in so moche that vppoÌ„ the sondaye folowyng at Poules crosse hym selfe wyth the duke of Bukkyngham other lordes beyng present by the mouth of doctor Rafe Shaa in the tyme of hys sermon was there shewed openly that y e chylderne of kynge Edward the .iiii. were nat legytymat nor ryghtfull enheritours of the crowne wyth many dyslaunderous wordes in preferryng of the tytle of the sayd lord Protectour and in dysanullynge of the other to the greate abucion of all the audieÌ„ce excepte suche as fauoured the mater whyche were fewe in noumbre yf the trouth or playnesse myghte haue ben shewed Of the whyche declaracyon as the fame wente after the sayde doctour Shaa toke suche repentaunce that he lyued in lyttell prosperytie after And the more he was wondered of that he wolde take vppon hym suche a besynesse consyderynge that he was so famous a man bothe of hys lernynge and also of naturall wytte Than vppon the tuysdaye folowynge an assemble of the coÌ„mons of the cytye was appoynted at the Guyldhalle where beynge present the duke of BuckynghaÌ„ wyth other lordes sente downe frome the sayde lorde protectour and there in the presence of the mayre and comynaltye rehersed the ryght and tytle that the lorde Protectour hadde to be preferred before hys of hys brother kynge Edwarde to the ryght of the crowne of Englande The whyche processe was in so eloquent wyse shewed and vttred wythout any impedyment of spyttynge or other countenaunce and that of a longe whyle wyth so great sugred wordes of exhortacyon and accordynge sentence that many a wyse man that day merueyled and commended hym for the good orderynge of hys wordes but not for the entent and purpose the whyche theruppon ensued Uppon the Thursdaye than next ensuynge beynge the .xx. daye of Iuny the sayde Protectoure takynge then vppon hym as kynge and gouernour of the realme went wyth great pompe vnto westmynster and there toke possessyon of the same where he beynge sette in the greate halle in the See royall wyth y e duke of Norffolke before called the lorde Hawarde vppon the ryght hande the duke of Suffolke vppon the left hande after the royall othe there taken called before hym the iudges of the lawe gyuynge vnto them a long exhortacyon and streyght coÌ„maundemeÌ„t for y e mynystryng of hys lawes and to execute iustyce and that with out delaye After whyche possessyon takynge and other ceremonies there done he was conueyed vnto the kynges palays wythin westmynster and there lodgyd In whyche passe tyme the prynce or of ryght kynge Edwarde the .v. wyth hys brother the duke of yorke were put vnder suer kepynge wythin the towre in suche wyse that they neuer came abrode after And thus ended the reygne of Edwarde the .v when he had borne the name of a kynge by the space of two monethes and .xi. dayes And vppon the Frydaye beynge the .xxii. daye of Iuny was the sayd lord Protectour proclaymed thorough the cyty kyng of England by the name of Rychard the thyrde Then soone after for fere of the quenes blode and other whyche he had in ielousy he sent for a strength of men out of the North. The which came shortely to London a lytell before hys coronacyon and mustred in the More feldes well vppon .iiii. M. men in theyr beste iackes and rusty salattes wyth a fewe in whyte harneys not burnysshed to the sale and shortely after hys coronacyon were countermaunded home wyth suffycyent rewardes for theyr trauayll In whyche foresayd passe tyme y e Marquys of Dorset brother vnto quene Elysabeth y t before was fled escaped many wonderfull daungers bothe about London Ely and other places wherof â–ª to wryte the maner cyrcumstaunce wolde aske a longe and great leysour Rycharde the thyrde RIcharde y e thyrde of that name son to Rycharde late duke of yorke yongeste brother vnto Edwarde y e iiii late kynge began his domynyoÌ„ ouer the realme of Englande the .xx. day of mydsomer moneth in the yere of our lorde god M. CCCC.lxxxiii the .xxv. yere of the .xi. Lewys than kynge of FrauÌ„ce Of whom tedyous it is to me to wryte the tragedyous hystory excepte that I remeÌ„ber that good it is to wryte and put in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce the punyshement of synners to the ende that other may exchew to fall in lyke daunger Than it foloweth anone as thys man had taken vpon hym he fyll in great hatred of the more party of the nobles of hys realm in so mych that suche as before loued and praysed hym and wolde haue ieoparted lyfe and good wyth hym yf he hadde remayned styll as ê“tectour now murmured and grudged agayne hym in suche wyse that fewe or none fauoured his partye except it were for drede or for the great gyftes that they receyued of hym By meane wherof he wanne dyuers to folow hys mynde the whiche after deceyued hym And after his coronacyon soleÌ„pnysed whyche was holden at westmynster the .vi. daye of Iuly where also y e same daye was crowned dame Anne hys wyfe he then in shorte processe folowynge rode Northward to pacyfye that countre and to redresse certayne ryottes there lately done In the passe tyme of which iournay he beynge at yorke created hys legyttymat sonne prynce of walys ouer that made hys bastarde sonne capytayne of Caleys whyche encreaced more grudge to hymwarde as after shall appere Anno. dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxiiii  Thomas Norland  Rober Byllysdon Haberdassher  Anno .ii.  wyllyam Martyn  IN this yere y e foresayd grudge encreasynge and the more for as myche as the comon fame wente that kynge Rycharde hadde within the towre put vnto secret deth y e two sonnes of hys brother Edwarde the iiii For the whych and other causes hadde within the breste of the duke of Buckyngham the sayde duke in secrete maner conspyred agayn hym and allyed hym with dyuers gentylmen to the ende to brynge hys purpose about But how it was his entente was espyed and shewed vnto the kynge and the kynge in all haste sent for to take hym he then beynge small accoÌ„panyed at hys manour of Brekenok in the Marche of walys wherof the sayd duke beynge ware in all hast he fled froÌ„ hys sayd manour of Brekenok vnto the house of a seruaunt of hys owne called Banaster and that in so secret maner that fewe or none of his housholde seruauntes knewe where he was become In the whyche passe tyme kynge Rycharde
in hys .xx. yere reygned after .xv. yeres they haue accoūted the .xv. yere whyche he reygned as crysten kynge and haue lette passe the other .xx. yere And so is it to be thought that the forsayd auctour Peter pictauiens dyd whych reason beynge alowed the sayde table maye agre wyth the sayd Peter wythoute any greate dyfference whyche testyfyeth y e sayd Lucius to reygne .lxxvii yere as kynge After whose deth in so moche that he dyed wythout any lawfull heyre a great contēcion sprange amonge the Brytons that endured by .xv. yeres as shall apere by the sequel Trouth it is after all histories that Seuerus a Romayne succeded Lucius in Brytayne But because y e tyme is nat certaynly sette whan the sayd Seuerus subdued the Brytōs therfore it is to noted that whanne it was shewed to the Romaynes of the sedicion and discorde of the Brytōs of the sleyng of the Romayns than beyng in Brytayn the senate sentte thyder the forsayd Seuerus wyth .ii legions of men whych bare thē selfe so manfully that in shorte whyle he compelled the Brytons to obey to the senate whyche Policronicon affermeth to be about the yere of our lord C.xcv. In whyche yere as hath Iacobus Philippus the sayde Seuerus began to raygne ouer the Romayns But that dysagreeth from other Cronycles For Eutropius Matheolus the forsayde Iacobus Philippus sayth that whan the sayde Seuerus had subdued the Arabyes Parthys and Gallys after many battayls he came into Brytayn where he beynge troubled wyth dyuers chaunces at laste died in y e towne of yorke where by it is to be supposed that in y e ende of hys reygn he came hether about the .xii. yere of hys reygne ouer the Romayns which was the yere of our lorde .ii. C.vii. and that after he reygned ouer the Brytons .v. yere wherefore it euydētly apereth that the forsayd dyscord dured .xv. yeres whych tyme Brytayne was wythoute a kynge Thus endeth the thyrde parte which conteyneth CC.lvi yeres SEuerus emperour of Rome as before is shewed in the .xii. yere of hys empyre and yere of oure lord .ii. C. .vii beganne hys reygne ouer the Brytōs and yere of y e world and reygned as kynge yeres .v. The fyrst persecucyon of the chrysten men was vnder this Seuerus about the yere of our lord .ii. C.x ca. lxi fo xxii Bassianus the sonn̄ of Seuerus began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .ii. C.xii the yere of the worlde and reygned yeres .vi. ca. lxii folio xxii Carassius a yonge and lusty Brytayne of vnknowē blode by meanes as in hys story sheweth began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .ii. C. and .xviii. and yere of the worlde ruled yeres .viii. ca. lxiii fo xxiii Here agayn authours forget y e yeres of the kynges folowyng Of whyche I nat greatly maruyll For in thys tyme muche discencyon was among the Romayne prynces also amonge the Brytons cyuyll warre ceased nat For they were so styrred wyth dyscencyon and warre y t none coulde occupy the kyngedome any determynate tyme. For whyche cause and suche lyke authours coude nat assyne any certeyne tyme to the prynces as me semeth But that we maye come to some knowlege Policronicon sheweth that constantius y t was father to Constantine the great was sente by the senate into Brytayne about the yere of our lord .ii. C.lxxix and in the seconde yere of Probrus emperour that he shuld subdue to y e Romayns Coelus than there kyng From the whych tyme of the coming of the sayde Constantius vntyll the last yere of Bassianus accountynge bakwarde there passed .lxi. yeres In the tyme of whych yeres there reygned in thys Ilelande these .iiii. kynges that is to say Carassius Alectus Asclepiodotus and Coelus Allectus a duke or senatour of Rome began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde .ii. C.xxvi of the worlde reygned yeres .vi. ca. lxiiii fo xxiii Asclepeodotus or after the Englysshe boke Asclepades began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde god CC.xxxii And the yere of the worlde and reygned yeres .xxx. The syxt persecucyon of crysten men was about the yere of our lorde CC.xxxviii vnder Maximian The .vii. persecucyon was in y e yere of oure lorde CC.lv. vnder Decius In y e whych pope Fabyan was martyred The .viii. persecucion was in the yere of our lord CC.lx. vnder Ualeryan whych was the .xviii. yere of thys Asclepiodotus ca. lxv folio xxiiiii Coelus or Coyll erle of Colchester by exytyng of the Brytōs was made kyng of Brytayne in the yere of oure lord CC.lxii reygned yeres .xxvii. Thys kyng after most wryters made the towne of Colchester in Essex ca. lxvi fo xxiiii Constancius a senatoure of Rome by reason of maryage knyt wyth Eleyn doughter of Coelus beganne to reygne as kyng of Brytayne in y e yere of our lord CC.lxxxix and of y e worlde and reygned yeres xxx The .ix. persecucyon of the crystēmen was vnder Aurelianus Saint Albon prothomartyr in the tyme of thys Constancius as some haue in y e x. persecucyō whych was vnder Dioclesian and Maximian was martyred ca. lxvii fo xxiiii Constancius surnamed the great sonn̄ of Constancius and of the holy Heleyne began his reygne ouer Brytayne in the yere of oure lorde .iii. C.xix and of the worlde and reygned as kyng yeres .x. ca. lxviii folio xxv Octauius duke of Iesses or Iewesses and after named westsaxōs by extorte power began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde .iii. C. .xxix. and of the worlde and reygned yeres .liiii ca. lxxi fo xxvii Of thys kynge folowynge called Maximius or after some Maximianus wryters dyuersly speke so that some say he raygned few yeres But in the concordaunce of cronycles it playnly apereth that the sayd Maximis began to reygn ouer the Brytōs in the yere of our lord .iii. C.lxxxii that he was slayn of Theodosius the elder in the thyrd yere of his reygne whych began to reygne in the yere of our lord .iii. C.lxxxviii And so it appereth playnly that he reygned ix yeres Maximius or Maximianus the son̄ of Leonyne brother to Trahern̄ vncle to Helcyne began hys reygne ouer Brytayn in the yere of our lord iii. C.lxxxii and reygned yeres .ix ca. lxxii fo xxvii Saynt Ursula wyth her felowes in thys kynges tyme were martyred of Enanus and Melga Gracianus an offycer or feede knyght of Maximius began to oppresse the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .iii. C.xc and tyrannysed yeres iiii ca. lxxiiii fo xxviii The storyes agre that after that Gracian was slayne Brytayne was vexed a longe whyle wyth oftē dyscēsions cyuyll warre But how longe thys dyscord dyd last authours trete diuersly for some say it lasted .l. yere some .xl. some .xxx. Therfore to know y e certeynty it is requisite that we dylygently serche howe many yeres passed frō the
meruelouse strength in so mych that he had not his pere wythin his realm of any man of noble byrthe In his tyme came into Brytayne a prynce oute of a countre called Mauritania the whyche countre at those dayes is assygned by Strabo y e wryter â–ª to be betwene the kyngdomes of Hungary and of Beame the whych prynce wyth his cruell fyers people wasted the laÌ„d of Britayne with iron and fyre wythout pytye wherof Morindus beynge warned in all haste gaderyd his people and hym mette and faught in such wyse that he chasyd the sayde prynce agayne to the see and toke many of his sowdyours as prysoners the whyche in satysfyeng of his cruelnesse and tyranny he caused to be put to deth in his syght by dyuerse maners of tormentes as by heedynge fleynge brennynge and other cruell execucyons Lastely as testyfyeth Guydo de Columpna and other this Morindus walkynge or rydynge vppon the see stronde espyed a woÌ„derfull monstre the whych of his corage and knyght hod he thought to sle And by a maÌ„ly corage and force assayled this monstre or beste fyghtyng wyth yt a certayne of tyme. But in conclusyon he was deuoured and swalowyd of the sayd monstre after he had reygned after moste wryters by the terme of viii yeres leuynge after hym as wytnessyth Gaufryde fyue sonnes wherof the fyrste was named GorbomaÌ„nus the secunde Archygallo the thyrde Elidurus the fourth Uigenius or Nigenius and the fyfte or yongest Peredurus THE XXXVIII CHAPITER GOrbamaÌ„nus the fyrste sonne of Morindê° was made king of Brytayne in the yere of the world foure thousande .viii. hundred .lxxx. and .xviii. This in the englyshe cronycle ys named Granbodyan the whyche as testifyeth Gaufryde was a iuste and ryghtwyse man to y e goddes and to his people and yelded to eyther partye that was his that ys to say to his goddes he yelded due reuerence sacrifyce and to the people iustyce equyte And he renewed and repayred all olde temples thorough his realme and buylded some newe And in his tyme was more welth and plente in his realme mych more theÌ„ was in any of his predecessours dayes But fynally to y e great sorow of all his Brytons he was taken wyth sykenesse and dyed wythout issue of his body when he hadde reygned after moste wryters by the terme of .xi. yeres THE XXXIX CHAPITER ARchigallo the seconde sonne of Morindus and broder vnto GorbomaÌ„nus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of y e worlde foure thousande .ix. hundred and .x. This in the englyshe boke is named Artogayll the whyche folowed nothynge the workes of his brother but gaue hym selfe all to discencyon and stryfe and imagyned causes agayne his nobles to put them from theyr goodes and dygnytyes and in theyr places to sette and ordeyne vnnoble and of rude byrthe and maner and from the ryche by synystre and wrongfull meanes he plucked theyr ryches and goodes By whyche inordynate meanes he enryched hym self and impoueryshed his subiectes For whyche condycyons his lordes subiectes murmuryd agaynst hym and lastly of one assent toke him or more verely depryuyd hym of all honour and kyngly dygnyte when he hadde reygned after moste concordaunce of wryters fyue yeres THE XL. CHAPITER ELidâ—rus the thyrde sonne of Morindus and the brother of Archigallo was by one assent of the Brytons made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. M.ix hundred and .xv. This in y e englyshe cronycle is named Hisider or Esodyr The which became so myld and benygne to the Brytons that they gaue to hym a surname and called hym Elidure y e meke For he amoÌ„ge other dedys of mekenes as he was vpon a daye in his dysporte of huntynge in a wode nere vnto CaerbraÌ„k or yorke called Calater or after some wryters Caltras he fande his elder brother Archigallo late kynge maskelyng or wandrynge in the thykest of the woode whome louyngly and charytably he in secrete maner conueyed vnto his owne mancyoÌ„ into y e cytye then named Aldud or Acliut And as affermeth myn authour Gaufryde to th entent to brynge his brother to his former dygnytye as after foloweth the sayd Elidurus fayned hym selfe syke and in all haste sente his messagers aboute his realme to gather and assemble the Barons of his laÌ„de And when the daye of assemble was coÌ„myn and his lordes accordynge to his commaundement were present he called them one by one as they were of honour into his secrete cubycle or chamber there by his wyse dyscrete wordes as well in benygne and louynge maner as other wordes and countenaunce apperteynyng to his royall power and dygnyty he gat graunte of his sayd lordes that they shuld ayde streÌ„gth hym to theyr powers to brynge hys brother Archigallo to his former honour and regally After which grauÌ„t by the lordes made he assembled a counsayll of his Brytons at Caerbrank or yorke there caused suche meanes to be made to the coÌ„mons that in conclusion when the sayd Elidurus hadde ruled the lande .v. yeres as kynge he there resygned his crowne and all kyngly power vnto his sayde brother Archigallo THE XLI CHAPITER WHen Archigallo was thus restored to his kyngly dygnyte he remembred well the euyl lyfe that before tyme he had ladde and the punishement which he had suffred for y e same wherfore in eschewynge of lyke daunger He chaunged all hys olde condicyons and became a good and ryghtwyse man mynystryng to the people equyte and iustyce bare hym so nobly agayne his lordes and rulers vnder hym of his landes that he was belouyd dradde of all hys subiectes and so contynued duryng the terme of his naturall lyfe But fynally he payde the dette of nature when he hadde reygned nowe lastly after moste wryters .x. yeres was buryed as sayth the sayde olde cronycle at Caerbranke or yorke THE XLII CHAPITER ELidurus before named was agayne by one assent of y e Brytons made kynge in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .ix. hundred xxx But his two yonger bretherne Uigenius and Peredurus hauynge of hym indignacyon that he was for his vertue and good gouernauÌ„ce so well fauoured with the Brytons of malyce conspyryd agayne hym gatheryd an army of soudiours made a felde wyth hym And in the felde toke hym and commauÌ„ded hym vnto the towre of TroynouaÌ„t as sayth Gaufryde there as a prysoner to be sauely kepte After when he hadde reygned nowe laste by the space as wytnesseth the old cronycle .ii. yeres THE XLIII CHAPITER UIgenius and Peredurus y e yongest sonnes of Morindê° and bretherne of Elidurus before sayde were ioyntly made kynges of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde foure thousande .ix. hundred .xxxii. These two bretherne are named in y e engleshe cronycle Higanius and Petytur the whych as testyfyeth Gaufryde departed y e land betwene theÌ„ so y t all y e land from the water of HuÌ„ber westwarde fyll to Uigenius or Nigeniê° the other part of
of Romaynes as wytnessyth Policronica coÌ„queryd and wanne agayne the sayde trybute wythout great fyght And y t done he also subdued the yles of Orchades or Orkeys whych stande beyonde ScotlaÌ„d within the great Occean and after tourned agayne to Rome the .vi. moneth after that he came thens The cronycle of Englande and also Gaufryde saye that in the hoste of the Romaynes was a captayne named Hame or Hamo the whych entendynge hurte and destruccyon of y e Brytons chaunged his shelde or armure dyd vppon hym the armure of a Britayne And by that meane as a Briton mysclad he entred into the thyckest of the hoste and lastely vnto the place where as kynge Guyderius faught shortly after slewe the kynge But Aruiragus seynge this sodayne myschyefe to the ende y t the Brytons shulde not gyue backe he hastely causyd hym selfe to be armed wyth the cognysaunce of the kynge And so for kyng coÌ„tynued the fyght wyth such maÌ„hode that the Romaynes were put to flyght Thus by accorde of wryters Guyderius was slayne of the foresayde Hamo when he hadde reygned ouer the Brytons by the concordaunce of other hystoryes .xxviii. yeres leuyng after hym none heyre of his body to guyde the lande after his deth THE LV. CHAPITER ARuiragus the yongest sonne of Kymbelyne and brother to Guyderius before slayn was ordeyned kyng of Brytons in the yere of our lorde .xliiii. This in the englyshe boke is named Armager the whyche as there is shewed well and knyghtly maynteyned the warre agayne the Romayns and after slew the forenamed Hamo nere vnto an hauen or porte of the see And hym so slayne threwe gobet meale into the same see And for this skyll was this haueÌ„ longe tyme after called HamoÌ„s hauen whych at this daye is called Southampton Then yt foloweth in the .viii. chapyter of the .iiii. boke of Policronicon that Claudius after dyuers happes of batayll toke Aruiragê° to his grace brought his doughter Gennissa by name from Rome and maried her vnto Aruiragus And for he wolde make the place of y e maryage more solemne he therfore called the towne of mariage Claudiocestria after his name the whych before was called in bretyshe tunge Caerleon after Glouernia after a duke of Demecia that hyght Glorio but nowe this towne is named Glouceter All otherwyse telleth the englyshe cronycle sayth that Armager scomfyted Claudius and compelled hym to gyue his doughter GeÌ„nissa or GeÌ„nen to the sayde Armager to wyfe wyth condycyon that the Romayns shulde neuer after that daye clayme any trybute of Brytayne excepte alonely feawte whyche sayenge appereth doutefull for dyuers causes wherof one is that the sayde Armager shulde not constrayne Claudius to gyue his doughter to hym for so myche as the sayde Armager hadde neuer seen the sayde Gennen before tyme nor knewe not of her coÌ„uersacyon Then meruayle yt were that he shulde force her father to gyue hym a wyfe that he hadde cast no loue vnto before tyme. One other reason is that the sayde cronycle testyfyeth that after he hadde maryed the sayd Gennen he was at London crowned kynge of Englande For I wold thinke if he had ouercomeÌ„ Claudius as there is surmytted he wold fyrste haue crowned hym selfe kyng and then haue maried his doughter But by the same reason yt certifyeth more strenger the former sayenge of Policronica For by all lykelyhode Claudius wold not suffer hym to be crowned kyng tyll he hadde full perfourmed his promyse in maryage of his doughter And all be yt that myne authoure Gaufryde varyeth not myche from the englyshe cronicle I thynke in y e doynge he toke example of Homerê° that wrote the dedis and actes of the Grekes the whyche shewed and put in memory all the noble actes by theÌ„ done and specyally in the recuyll or boke made by hym of the syege of Troye But the other dedys concernynge theyr dyshonoure he hyd yt as mych as he myght And in lyke maner do many other writers which I passe ouer And so Gaufride for he was a Bryton he shewed the beste for Brytons Then yt foloweth after the solemnysacyon of this maryage whyche was with all honour finyshed Claudius sente certayne legyons of his knyghtes into Irlande to rule that countre and retourned hym selfe to Rome THE LVI CHAPITER IT was not longe after the departynge of Claudius but y t Aruiragus rode aboute his realme and wyth great dylygence repayred cytyes and townes before decayed broken wyth the strength of the Romaynes and entreated his subiectes wyth suche iustyce and good order that they loued and drad hym more then any of his progenitours This in tracte of tyme made hym welthy And by meane of this welthynes ensued pryde so y t hym thought great shame to be vnder the rule or guydynge of y e Romayns wherfore lastly he denyed the tribute before grauÌ„ted wherof when knowlege came vnto y e senate of Rome in all hast was sent a duke of Rome called Uespasyan wyth a certayne of legyons to subdue Aruiragus ye shall vnderstand that a legyon of knyghtes is .vi. thousande .vi. hundred .lxvi. when Uespasyan was landed in Brytayne as testyfyeth Polycronica he spedde hym so that in shorte whyle he subdued Aruiragus to the empyre and causyd hym to graunte payment of the foresayde trybute which was done as sayth Gaufride by entreatye of the quene Gennissa and of no constraynt nor coaccyon when Uespasyan hadde thus recoueryd the trybute he then also made subiecte to the empyre an I le in the see lyenge vpon the southsyde of Britayne now called the yle of weyght and after retourned to Rome when Aruiragus was thus secondely brought vnder the yocke of y e Romayns he became more mylde towarde them so that whyle he lyued after he payed hys trybute wyth lesse grudge and contynued hym in theyr fauours in suche wyse that he was of theym well beloued And so lastely dyed when he hadde ruled the BrytoÌ„s well and nobly by the terme of .xxx. yeres and was buryed at CaerglonÌ„ CaerleonÌ„ Claudiocestria or Glouceter leuynge after hym a sonne named Marius ⸫ THE LVII CHAPITER MArius the sonne of Aruiragê° was ordeyned kynge of Brytons in the yere of our lorde .lxxiiii. This in the cronycle of Englande is named westmer whych Marius as wytnessyth Gaufryde was an excellent wyse man and guyded his Brytons moste honourably and in grete prosperyte and welthe In the tyme of the reygne of this Mariê° a duke or kynge of a nacyon called Pyctes whych as wytnessyth Uirgilius are descendyd of a people called of olde tymes Scythis They also are named Gothis or Hunys This foresayde leder of Pictes is named of Gaufryde Londricus the which landed wyth a great nauy in the prouynce of Albania now called Scotlande and yt beganne to waste with iron and wyth fyre wherof wheÌ„ Marius was warned he in all haste assembled his knyghtes and made towarde his enymyes and gaue vnto them stronge batayll In the whych
and retourned vnto Rome where after he had a season restyd he was by the senate of Rome assygned for his sternesse vnto the rule of Brytayne wyth the ayde of .iii. legyoÌ„s of knyghtes And so beynge garnyshed wyth all abyly mentes of warre entred this yle of Brytayne and wyth great trauayle subdued them to the empyre and so contynued the lyues tyme of the emperour Bassianus But so sone as he was assertayned that y e emperour was slayne at Edessa as before in the story of Bassianê° is shewed thynkynge that amonge the Romaynes shuld growe stryfe dyssencyon for the electyon of a new emperour by reason of whych stryfe he myght the rather lyue so farre froÌ„ them wythout any correctyon confederyd wyth the Scottes and certayne other of the Britons and slew many of the Romaynes suche of theÌ„ as he thought wolde not consent to his treason and by that meane fynally was made kynge of Brytayne And so contynued as affermeth the sayde authour to accompte from his fyrst hauyng rule vnder the Romaynes vnto the tyme y t he was slayne of Alectus .viii. yeres not wythout exercysynge of his olde accustomed tyrannyes and other vnsyttynge condycyons THE LXIIII. CHAPITER ALectus a duke or consull of Rome sent as before is sayd from the senate begaÌ„ne to rule the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .ii. hundred .xxvi. This in the englysh cronycle is named Allec whych wheÌ„ he had restoryd the lande to the subieccyon of Rome he theÌ„ pursued certayne of the BrytoÌ„s that had fauoured Carassiê° agayne the Romayns And in that doynge vsed and exercysyd many tyrannyes and exaccyons by reason wherof he fyll in greate grudge of y e Brytons wherfore they entendynge to oppresse and subdue the power of the Romaynes purchasyd and excyted a noble man of y e Britons called Asclepiodotus and duke of Cornewayle The whyche gatheryd a great hoste of the Brytons and made warre vppon the Romaynes and chasyd them from couÌ„tre to couÌ„tre from towne to towne and lastly Alectus wyth his Romayns drew hym to London and there kept hym for his most suertye wherof beynge warned Asclepiodotus he with his Brytons came nere vnto the sayde cytye where by meanes of prouocacyon on eyther partye vsed lastely y e Romaynes issued oute of the cytye gaue batayll to the Brytons In the which fyght many fyll on eyther partye but y e more on the party of y e Romaynes amonge the whyche was also slayne Alectê° wherfore a captayn of the Romaynes called Liuius Gallus aduertysynge this myschyef the great dauÌ„ger that the Romayns were in drewe backe into the cytye with the Romaynes that were lefte on lyue and defendyd yt wyth theyr powers Thus then appereth that Alectus was slayne of the Brytons whyche was by most accorde of writers wheÌ„ he had ruled this lande vnder y e Romaynes by the terme of .vi. yere THE LXV CHAPITER ASclepiodotus duke of Cornewayle as sayth Gaufryde but after the sayeng of Eutropius and Beda he was presydente of the Pretory of Rome began his domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde two hundred and .xxxii. The whych as before is sayde wyth his Brytons gyrt the cytye of London wyth a stronge syege and kepte the forsayde Liuius Gallus and his Romayns in streyte holde finally as affermyth myne authour Gaufride with knyghtly force violeÌ„ce entred the sayde cytye and slewe y e forenamyd Liuius Gallus nere vnto a broke there at that daye rynnynge and hym threwe into the sayd broke By reason wherof long after yt was called Gallus or wallus broke And at this day y e strete where some tyme ranne the sayde broke is nowe called walbroke And after he hadde thus venquyshed the Romayns he helde this lande a certayn of tyme in peasyble wyse and ruled the BrytoÌ„s wyth good iustyce in rewardynge exaltynge the good men and punysshynge of the euyll In this whyle by styrynge of dysclaunderous dyuylyshe persons a grudge was arreryd attwene the kynge and a duke of his land called Coill or Coillus the whyche was duke or erle of Kaercolym or Colchester wherof the cause is not apparaunt But how it was great people were assembled on both parties and fynally mette in the feld where was faughteÌ„ a great and stronge batayll In the whyche Asclepiodotus was slayne when he had reygned to the concordaunce of other histories and after the affermaunce of the olde cronycle by the space of .xxx. yeres THE LXVI CHAPITER COelus erle of Colchester began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of the incarnacyon of Cryste .ii. houÌ„dred .lxii. This in the englyshe boke is called Coyll the whiche guyded the lande to the pleasure of the Brytons a certayne tyme. But as wytnesseth Gaufryde when the senate of Rome had vnder standynge of the deth of Asclepiodotus they were ioyous of the deth of hym for so myche as he hadde euer ben an enemye to y e empyre But for so mych as at that dayes was great dyssencyon amonge them selfe as wytnesseth y e cronycle of Rome they coude not conuenyently sende any armye of knyghtes for to warre vppon this Coelus wherfore he contynued y e longer in reste good peas After the cronycle regestred within the monastery of saynt Alboon the sayd holy martyr suffered his passyoÌ„ in the yere of our lorde .ii. houndred lxxx .vi whych shulde be the .xxiiii. yere of this present kynge But thys dyscordeth from suche wryters as affermen the holy man to be martyred in the .x. persecucyon vnder Dioclesian and Maximian emperours Neuerthelesse at length was sente from y e senate a noble wyse man called Constancius the whiche as affermeth the forenamed auctour had before tyme subdued to the empyre a great part of the couÌ„tre of Spayne But that sayenge dysagreeth to the wrytynge of Eutropius For the couÌ„tre of Spayne was not subdued by hym tyll after y t he was emperour Than it foloweth whan this Constancius was arryued in Brytayne with his army anone Coelus assembled his Brytons But for he dredyd the strength and fame of thys ConstaÌ„cius he sent to hym an enbassad affyrmynge vnto hym coÌ„dycyons of peace wyth graunte of paymentes of the trybute whych before was denyed or ellys as meaneth Polycroniâ—a wythin a moneth after the landynge of this Constancius Coelus was dede wherfore the Brytons to haue the more peace wyllyd this knyghte to take to wyfe Heleyn the doughter of Coelus wyth the possessyon of the lande of Britayne which by hym was graunted Then as before is sayde Coelus dyed when he had ruled the Brytons after most accorde of wryters .xxvii. yeres THE LXVII CHAPITER COnstancius a senatoure of Rome as sayth Policronica beganne to rule the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde two hundred .lxxx. and .ix. This as before is shewed maryed Heleyn the doughter of Coelus last kyng of Brytayne But ye shall vnderstande that this Constancius was fyrste maryed vnto Theodora
as witnesseth Gaufryde was a Pict that was myche loued and greatly fauouryd of Constantyne so that he myghte at all tymes come to the kynges presence The whyche beyng an erraunt traytoure and sechynge conuenyent tyme to execute his detestable treason by a secrete meane slewe the kynge in his chamber when he hadde ben kyng after moste wryters tenne yeres THE LXXXI CHAPITER COnstantius sonne of Constantyne by meane of Uortigernus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde foure hundred and .xliii. This as before is touched for so myche as his fader thought he was not very apt to take so great a charge as to gouerne the lande after hym became a relygious man in the monastery before named Or as some wryters meane the sayd Constante of pure deuocyon that he hadde to god and saynt Amphiabyl made hym selfe a monke vnwyttynge the kynge his fader and other his frendes But how or in what maner so euer he became a monke trouth it is that Uortigerus or Uortigernus after y e deth of Constantyne founde suche meanes that he was taken out of the abbey and crowned kynge of Brytayne By meane wherof the sayde Uortiger had all the rule of the land so that Constante hadde but onely the name This Uortyger then consyderynge the innocencye and myldenes of the kyng cast in his mynde how he myght be kynge hym selfe And amonge other meanes founde to haue aboute y e kynges persone an hundred Pictes or after some Scottes y e whych he ordeyned for a garde for the kynges persone which done he bare hym in such wyse agayne the Pictes by meanes of great gyftes otherwyse that they at length had Uortyger in such fauoure that they feryd not to saye openly that Uortyger was more worthy to be kyng theÌ„ Constant. In this whyle Uortyger gatte into his possessyon the kynges treasour and what was of hym coÌ„maunded was done though other therat murmured and grudge And euer in ryght and wronge he fauoured the foresayd Pictes or Scottes The whyche at length perceyuynge his corrupte mynde when they sawe that they had conuenyent tyme fyll vpon the kynge and hym slewe or murderyd After whych cruell dede by theym done they presentyd the hed of Constante vnto Uortiger then beyng at London wherof when he was ware to the ende that the Brytons shulde thynke that dede to be done agayne his mynde and wyll wepte made semblaunt of all sorowe and heuenes and causyd the sayde hundred knyghtes to be taken in all haste after and theym by dome and lawe of y e laÌ„d to be be heddyd by reason wherof he was taken not culpable or innocent of the kynges deth when the kynges deth was knowen to suche persones as hadde the kepyng of the two yonger bretherne Aurelius and Uter they in all haste for the more sauegarde of them fledde into lytell Brytayne there kept theym tyll yt pleasyd god ortherwyse to purueye for theym And thus as ye haue herd was kynge Constante slayne when he hadde reygned after moste wryters fyue yere THE LXXXII CHAPITER UOrtigernus duke of y e Iuesses or Uortigerê° erle of Iewesses after called westsaxons was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred and .xlviii. and the .xviii. yere of Clodio kyng of FrauÌ„ce whych after y e deth of Constant by strength and otherwise was made kynge and ruled the land not all wythout trouble For yt was not longe or the Pictes whych hauyng knowlege of the deth and iudgemeÌ„t of theyr knightes and kynsmen that they inuaded the north partes of the lande doynge therin great harme and domage And ouer that many dyuerse of the great of the Brytons perceyuyng that the kyng Constant was not murderyd all wythout consent of the sayde Uortyger rebelled agayne hym and dayly sent and say led ouer into lytell Brytayne to the ayde and assystence of the foresayde chyldern of Constant whyche putte the sayde Uortiger to great vnrestfulnesse and the more for that that he wyst not nor knewe not in whom he myght putte his truste and confydence in wyth these perturbauÌ„ces was medled plenty of corne frute y t the lyke therof had not ben sene many yeres passyd wherwyth was ioyned lechery pestylence with many other incoÌ„ueniences so y e vice was accoÌ„pted for small or none offence The which reygned not onely in the temporalty but also in the spiritualtie hedes of the same So y e euery maÌ„ turned the poynt of his spere agaynst the trewe innocent man the coÌ„mons gaue them all to dronkeÌ„nes and ydelnes where thorough ensued fyghtynge stryfe and mych enuy Of which foresayd myschyues ensued mych mortalyte and deth of men that the lyuyng scantly suffysed in some countres to bury the dede And ouer this y e kyng was so hard beset with y e forenamed enymyes that he was coÌ„strayned as affermyth Policronica to sende for paynems as the SaxoÌ„s to helpe to withstand his enemyes and defende his lande and also he dayly ferid the landyng of Aurely and Uther Uortyger thus beynge beset wyth many aduersytyes in vysytynge hys lande and then beynge for dyuerse causes hym mouyng at Dorobernia or Caunterbury tydynges came to hym of the arryuynge of thre longe shyppes full of armed men at the yle of Tenet wherof fyrst he made countenaunce as though he hadde ben in doute whether it had ben the two brethern of Constant or none But wheÌ„ the same was blowen aboute y t they were none enymyes anon he caused the leders of them to be brought vnto his presence freynynge of theym the cause of theyr landyng of theyr nacyon and countre The whych answered vnto the kynge and sayd they were of the couÌ„tre of Germany and put out of theyr countre by a maner sorte or lot at soÌ„dry tymes vsed with in the sayde lande the whyche was vsed for so myche as the people therin encreasyd so faste that wythoute such prouysyon had the couÌ„tre shuld not suffyce for the people the whych was suche as foloweth At sondry tymes when the sayd couÌ„tre was replenyshed of people the prynces and rulers therof wolde assemble at a certayne place and call before theym the lusty yonge folkes Of the whych they wold chose out a certayne nomber and appoynte to them certayne dukes or leders with all thyng necessary to the warre And them so garnyshed wold coÌ„maunde to serche theyr adueÌ„ture to wynne some lande by theyr knyghthode where they myght inhabyte theÌ„selfe By whych vse custome thus longe vsyd now was fallen to theyr lotte to do as theyr fore faders had done before theym wherfore syns fortune had brought them to this land they besought the kyng that he wold take them to his seruyce they wold be redy to fyght for y e defence of him and his countre And when the kyng hadde enquyred farther he fouÌ„de that they had two leders named Hengistê° and Horsus and they and theyr people were called Saxons The
is for folys to beleue Thys sorow and heuenesse of Chilpericus and Fredegunde hys wyfe was somdele aswaged by the byrthe of a son shortly after borne of y e sayd Fredegunde whych the kyng lette call Lotharius or Clotharius For ioye wherof the kyng lette open the prysones and suffred the prysoners to goo at theyr lyberte and specyally suche as concerned causes touchynge hym selfe for dette or otherwyse with other thynges coÌ„cernyng hys honoure But lyke as dame Fortune is accustomed to medle her ioyes of thys world wyth some bytternesse so dyd she now with Chilpericê° For where he was nowe in great tranquillyte and reste and thought to haue ladde the resydue of his lyfe in pleasure so deynly word was brought vnto hym that hys brother Gunthranus and hys neuewe Childebert was allyed and fermely accorded to make warre vppon hym for the whych they had assemblyd a great army wherfore he in all haste commaunded all his treasour and chyfe iewellys to be had to the cytye of Cambria where he wyth his wyfe and frendes entended to coÌ„tynue the resydue of his lyfe And y t done spedde hym thyder in all haste and fortyfyed the sayde cytye in such wyse that he feryd lytle or nothynge hys enymyes where he so kepte hym wythin the sayde cytye a certayne of tyme. And wheÌ„ he sawe nor hard not of the commynge of his sayd broder nor neuewe he then walkyd more at large and sportyd hym in haukynge and chase of the wylde bestes as wolues and other whych at those dayes was greatly vsyd of the kynges of Fraunce and yet is contynued Uppon a day as he was purposyd towarde this dysporte and all thyng redy preparyd for the same so that the quene thought veryly he had be gone oute of the paleys for what happe I can not tell the quene yode into her chaÌ„ber and there rested her vppon her bedde where she so lyeng the kynge passyd by wyth a lytle wande whych he bare in his hande in maner of game strake the quene with yt vppon the backe The quene supposynge the kynge had ben gone to the felde and not lokyng vp sayd Laundrye why dareste thou thus stryke me This Laundrye was a great man in the kynges courte and hadde ben peramoure to the quene longe tyme. But the kynge herynge these wordes made semblaunt as he hadde not herde them and so passyd on hys waye THE CXVII CHAPITER FRedegunda apperceyuynge after seynge yt was the kyng to whome she hadde thus sayde sore was abasshed and in great fere and agony And after she had by a longe season coniected in her mynde what remedy she myght fynde for this mishappe she lastely dyuely shely determyned to sle her sayd husbande and lorde And this to brynge about she sent in all haste for the sayde Laundrye and shewed to hym in order all the cyrcumstaunce of the foresayde mater wherafter he was strykeÌ„ with suche a fere that his wytte and counsayle faylyd hym to deuyse in such a case any remedy wherfore the quene as she that was fully determyned to execute her detestable cursyd purpose sayde to hym boldely LauÌ„dry thou seest well y t this case is brought to so strayte a poynt that other thou muste thynke to destroy my lord and husbande or ellys thou and I muste both be shamefully confounded Of whyche thou well knowest our owne is moste to be regarded therfore dyspose the to do after my counsayll Thou knowest well that the kynge is accustomed to come late from hys dysporte wherfore prouyde to the a certayne that thou well trustyst and in the euenynge when he retourneth aspye thy tyme and fall vppon hym sodeynly and so rydde hym And after make an out crye sende to serch about as thou woldest take the homicydes cause some of thyne own coÌ„panye to flee froÌ„ the as though thou shuldest theÌ„ pursue Laundry heryng this cursyd couÌ„sayll alowed it well therunto assentyd and incontynently went aboute the perfourmaunce of the same And when he hadde purueyde his accessaryes he towarde nyght assemblyd theÌ„ gyuynge to theÌ„ informacyon how they in y t mischyef shuld behaue them in that thyng takynge of them assuryd othes for kepyng of his couÌ„sayle The kyng not mysdemynge any thynge of thys conspyred treason toke his delectacyon and pleasoure in folowynge of hys game so that he loste myche of hys company and towarde nyght as he before tyme was accustomed wyth fewe accoÌ„panyed drewe homewarde wherof Laundry beyng warned met the kynge salutynge hym and sayng that he was comen wyth hys company to coÌ„dute hym home for so mych as he douted how he was garnyshed of his meyneyall seruauÌ„tes or other What shuld I lenger make delaye or farther reharsall in thys matyer or to tell the cyrcumstaunce of thys purposyd treason But fynally when the kynge was nere hys paleys or as reherseth the Frenche cronycle wythin the courte of hys paleys as he lyght from hys horse he was sodeynly wounded to the herte that he streyght fell to the erth dede After whyche murder thus commytted a greate crye was areryd the kynge ys slayne so y t thys Laundrye made in great haste to be called certeyne persons to attende vppon y e corps whyle he wyth other pursued suche as were dempte gylty of thys offence But lastly he retourned and sayd that thys dede was done by the knyghtes of Chyldebert the whych by the derkenes of the nyght were escapyd To shewe here the vayne and dissymuled sorowe y t Fredegund made for the kynge it were but lettyng of tyme. For euery wyse man knoweth well that all suche as ben of that disposycyon can fayne ryghte well in suche semblable casys But to my purpose when the kynge was thus slayne and at that tyme nother the quene nor yet Laundrye suspectyd prouysyon was made for enterryng of y e corps The whyche was shortly after shypped at the next ryuer and so conuayed vnto saynt Germayns de Pree before spoken of and there wyth greate soleÌ„pnyty buryed when he hadde regned as before is sayde xxiiii yeres leuynge after hym a son before mynded called Clotharius or Lotharius Thus as affermyth myn authour mayster Robert Gagwyne endyd Chylperych myserably his lyfe whiche in pryde and mysery before tyme it coÌ„tynued And where in his lyfe he cherysshed no frende at hys ende he fande few or no frendes Thys gaue the patrymony of y e chyrche to lewde symple clerkys and was an enmye to all holy relygyous places and fauored more suche as had lately bene conuerted to the fayth than he dyd them that had coÌ„tynued by holy lyfe a longe season therin gaue vnto such persons the rule of Crystes chyrche Amonge the whyche one there was of perfyght lyuyng and byshop of Parys that garnysshed hys toÌ„be with this cpytaphy as after in meter foloweth Ecclesiae specusum patriae vigor ara reorum Et pater medicus pastor amorque gregit Gernianus Virtuti fide corde ore
of hys moder Brunechyeldis for that he knewe in her so great vntrouthe subtylty and also of Gyllon the bysshoppe the whyche he also sayde he was not to be trusted when he had thus aduertysed hys neuewe they both retourned vnto the place of couÌ„sayll where by them and theyr counsayllys certayn thynges concernyng the comone wele were sette in an order And that done the sayde counsayll was fynyshed and purueyauÌ„ce for theyr dyner pronyded the prynces wyth theyr baronye went vnto dyner In the season of whych dyner the sayde Gunthranus sayde vnto y e great nomber of lordes beynge presente ye my lordes and nobles of Fraunce the whych to me haue euer more ben true and dere here is myn neuew the whyche as myne heyre I haue allowed and ordeynyd whome I praye you to honoure and wyth true fayth be vnto hym obedyent as to your kyng For of y e great worthynesse that of hym is to come I am in great hope whyche is allyed wyth myght and vertue And to the augmentacyon of these wordes shortely after restored to hym all such cytyes as Chilpericus by hys lyfe had with holden from hym And soone after eyther from other in moste humble louynge maner departyd Of thys peace betwene these two prynces thus stablysshyd the fame ranne wyde wherfore certayne lordes beyng vppon the partye of Gundoaldus refused hym and went vnto the party of Gunthranus Soone after wyth hys people GuÌ„doaldus resortyd vnto a cytye ouer the ryuer of Gerounde named Conuena where for the strength therof he thought to abyde hys fortune wherof when Gunthranus was warned he in goodly spede made thyder warde and layd hys people nere vnto the sayde cytye But when he had espyed the streÌ„gth therof and knew well yt was daungerous for to obteyn he theÌ„ vsyd gyle where streÌ„gth myghte not preuayle and deuysed or forged certayn letters in the name of Brunechyeldys wherin was fayned that the sayde Brunechyeldys shulde desyre Gundoaldus in all hasty wyse to resorte vnto the cytye of Burdeaux Of whyche fraude Gundoaldus no thynge suspectynge commaundyd hys treasoure wyth other hys stuffe vnder saufe gydynge thyderward to be conueyed wherof the knightes of Gunthranê° hauyng knowlege with a stronge coÌ„pany made ouer the fore sayd water of GerouÌ„de layde such watche for them that they encountred the sayde people that caryed the sayde treasure and stuffe and parforce toke it from the knyghtes of Gundoaldus and presentyd it vnto Gunthranus Lyke as before ye haue harde that certeyne lordes of the hoste of Gundoalde fled vnto the hoste of Gunthranus so in thys passe tyme .iiii. capytaynes or rulers of the hoste of Gunthranus fled vnto Gundoalde y t whych myne authour nameth Desiderius Mommolus Bladascus and Sagyttaryus whyche .iiii. after theyr comynge to Gundoalde stode in such fauour that he was by theyr counsayle myche what aduysed and gyded It was not longe after that y e knyghtes of Gunthranus had thus wonne y e foresayd treasoure stuffe that Gundoald was so sore pursued that he was fayne to close hym wyth in a stronge cytye the whyche Lendegylsus mayster of the hoste of GuÌ„thranus assayled by dyuerse feates of warre to wynne But whaÌ„ he saw hys labour lost than he cautelously fande y â— meane to speke secretly with one of the foresayde .iiii. capytaynes named Mommolus and wyth hym treatyd of the betrayenge of y e cytye The whyche after many and longe exhortacyons wyth the assurauÌ„ce of theyr lyues and other grauÌ„tyd vnto the sayd treason whereof the maner shulde be thus Thys sayd Mommolus wyth the forenamed Bladascus and other of that affynyte shulde set a fyre an olde temple wythin y t citye And when the people of y e citye were besyed to quenche the fyre the sayde Mommolus wyth hys adherentes to open the gates so to let in Lyndegylsus and hys knyghtes But yet thys treason set a parte MoÌ„molus goeth to GoÌ„doalde and sheweth to hym the greate daunger that he standeth in of his enemyes wherfore he counsayled hym that he wyth the other rulers about hym go vnto the tentys of Gunthranus and yelde them all vnto hys grace and mercy And also to the entent that he shuld there shewe and proue that he was the indubytate son of the fyrste Clothayre the whyche to the kynge and all his hoste was very doutfull and the more bycause he so fled from them whan Gundoaldus had at ley soure harde the counsayle of Mommole gyuynge to hym credence for so mych as by hys counsayle before tymes he had fortheryd hys causes and also by comfort that he reportyd to haue by meanes of Lyndegylsus before named he settyng a parte all fere wyth certayne nomber in peasyble wyse issued the cytye And whan he had a lyttell space gone ii erles of Gunthranus hoste named Bole and Boson receyued hym and delyuered hym to the power of Lyndegylsus and Mommole retourned wyth the other of his confederey vnto y e citye and closed faste the gates bytwene y e citye and the pauyllyons of GuÌ„thranus where was a lytell coppyd hyll to the heyght whereof whan Gundoalde was comen the sayd BosoÌ„ hym sodeynly threwe downe And as he was rollynge downe the hyll with a great stone he strake him on the hed by vyoleÌ„ce wherof he was forthwith slayne or dede And Mommole the whych as before is towched was re-entred the citye fyrste dyspoyled the goodes of the sayd Gundoalde and after fell vpon the citesyns and robbed and spoyled them in lyke maner not sparynge prestes nor other and after brente chyrches temples and houses without pytye whyche done he sped hym vnto the tentys of Lyndegylsus But he not beynge sure of the sauegarde of the sayde MoÌ„mole and hys coÌ„pany from the murmoure of hys knyghtes or more veryly for he wolde not be a knowen of the prouyded deth of theym commaunded the sayde MoÌ„mole wyth hys adherentes to tary without not to come in the prese of hys knyghtes tyll he had somedele pacyfyed them whiche was done but not all without strife for some there were that beganne to quarell wyth hym and hys But wheÌ„ Lyndegylse sawe that this MoÌ„mole and his company were somdele withdraweÌ„ froÌ„ his pauylyon he made a token to hys knyghtes whereby they knowyng his mynde fell vpon him slewe hym Sagyttarius one of the foresayde .iiii. of that company the whyche myne authour reporteth to be a byshoppe fledde to haue sauegarded hym self but in his flyght he was slayne And wheÌ„ these enymyes where thus brought out of lyfe Gunthranus commauÌ„ded the goodes of the sayde Mommole to be broughte vnto hys tresorye whyche were of great valure and after were egallye deuyded betwene hym and Childebert hys neuewe It was not longe after but certayne tokens fygures appered in the fyrmament the which by astronomers were iuged the fyne of some prynce whyche after a yere shewyd to be true For the sayd
strenght of theym in to Champayne and Cathaloyne where yt was shewed that Sigebert hadde gatheryd great strenghtys Then forsoke the party of Sigebert many nobles of Austracye amonge the whyche myne authoure nameth Rucco Sigoldus and Enulanus and yelded them to the mercy of Clothayre Then shortly after the hostes of Clothayre and Sygebert mette where Garnerye by tokens betwene hym and dyuerse of the captaynes of Sygebert before assygned y e sayd captaynes wyth theyr people wythdrewe them so that Sygebert wyth hys two bretherne Corbo and Meroneus gaue backe whyle they came to the ryuer of Sigoune where after lytle resystence the foresayde two bretherne were taken But the frenche cronicle sayth that all foure brethern were there taken All be yt mayster Gagwyn sayth that Sygeberte by the vertue of hys horse escapyd so that he was not after that daye seen And soone after thys victory Brunechyeldes which also of the frenche cronycle ys named Bruneheuste was broughte as prysoner vnto the presence of Lothayre wyth a suster of Theodoryche whych Garnery or Gerney hadde taken in the tentes of his enymyes Then Lotharius forthwyth commauÌ„ded Corbon to be behedded and preseruyd Meroneus for so mych as he was to hym godfather and euer after cheryshed hym as his kynnesman Lotharius thus hauyng y e victory of his enimyes made great ioy And after he hadde somedeale sette that countrey and other in quyete he then toke aduyse of hys lordes howe he shulde be demeaned wyth Brunechielde that hadde ben authoryce of so manyfolde mychyefes and crymynous dedê The whych of one coÌ„sent and mynde condescendyd agreed that she shuld be put to moste paynfull and vyle deth And fynally after fore betynges she was sette vppon a horse and so conueyed thorough the hoste that all men myghte beholde and se her and after brought agayn to y e kynges presence where then the kynge rehersed vnto her a longe processe of all her murdurs conspyracis and wycked dedes affermynge that she hadde ben the occasyon and cause of the deth of .x. prynces besyde other meane persones And wheÌ„ he hadde sayde hys pleasure he then commaunded her to be bounden to a wylde horse tayle by the here of her hedde and so to be drawen whyle she were dede And when this iudgement was executed she by the lycence of the kynge was buryed in an house of relygyon wythin the cytye of HosdonÌ„ or OsdonÌ„ that she before tyme hadde buyldyd in the honoure of saynte Martyne besyde other many that she in her lyfe buyldyd in dyuerse other places endowyng them wyth great and ryche possessyons THE CXXVII CHAPITER THus dame Fortune fauoured the partye of Lotharius that this kyngdome whyche hadde from the tyme of Clodoueus Lewes coÌ„tynued vnder .iiii. gouernours or rulers for the more partye nowe was fallen to hym so that he hadde all vnder obeysaunce and rule then anon thys Lotharius made Garnery prefecte and mayster of hys paleys and releasyd vnto the Longebardes or Lombardes a trybute of .xii. thousand pounde yerely payde to the kynges of Frannce the whych was fyrst sette vppon theym by Gunthranus hys vncle And in thys whyle to hys more encreace of wordely ioye he receyuyd of hys wyfe Bergeruda a sonne the whych he named Dagobertus The whyche when he came to couenable age he betoke to the lore of Arnolde then byshoppe of Meâ—s And when the fyrste wyfe of Lotharius was ded he maryed a seconde named Sichilde of whom he receyued a chyld and named yt Haybert when Dagobert the fyrste sonne was comen to a lawfull age after vsuell custome of all prynces of Fraunce he gaue hym myche to the chase of wylde bestys And as by chaunce one daye he folowed the chace of an hert and tryed yt so sore y t he broughte hym to a bay in a place that then was called the strete of Catulyen In the whyche strete was then an old lytle chapell to the whyche the forsayde herte entred and there helde hym all be yt that a great nomber of houndes folowed hym to y e chapell dore none of theym wold enter but there stode bayenge And when Dagobertus came after and behelde the maner of the houndes and dyd what he coude to cause them to entre the chapel and myghte not he thus departed wythout more doynge at that season not wythout great meruâ—â—â—lynge in hys mynde It was not longe after that Clothayr coÌ„syderynge the frowardnesse of growyng in his sonne Dagobert assygned to hym a tutour or lerner of worldely and knyghtely maners whose name was Sadragesyle And for his sonne shulde haue hym in the more awe and fere the kyng gaue vnto the sayde tutoure the dukedome of Guyan But so yt was one daye that for a cause thys Sadragesyle wold haue chastyzed this Dagobert wherof he beyng ware associated vnto hym certayne wanton persones and bete his mayster after in way of dyspyte caused the berd of hys tutour to be shauen of For the whyche dede Lothayre was agayne hym greuously dyspleasyd in greatire and haste sente for hys sonne Dagobert But he feryng punyshement wythdrewe hym and went vnto the forenamed chapell trustyng veryly that wheretofore a beste was shewid such comforte that he by holy prayers shulde there be comforted tyll suche tyme as he myghte atteyne vnto the grace of hys father ye shall vnderstande that before tyme after he hadde experyence of that wonder shewyd by the herte he lerned that the holy martyrs saynte Denys and hys two felowes Rusticus and Eleutherius shulde be buryed wythin the sayde chapell the whych were martyryd in the persecucyon of Domycyane the emperour aboute the yere of Crystes incarnacyon .lxxx. and .xvi. In the honoure of y e whych martyrs the foresayd poore chapell was arreryd as witnessyth the frenche cronycel by the meanes of a deuout french man whose name ys not expressyd Thus Dagobert in thys chapell abydynge in prayer in the fyrste nyght he beyng in slepe apperyd vnto hym .iii. olde faders sayenge vnto hym yonge man we be those martyrs whyche many yeres passyd were slayne for the fayth of Cryste and buryed in thys place by Catula that good woman whyche place is not duely nor suffyciently honoured nor yet the people of FrauÌ„ce hath not vs in due reuereÌ„ce and worshyppe And therfore when thou art of myghte and power then remembre vs and helpe thys place to be otherwyse buyldyd whych shall not be longe to And for thou shalte not take thys for a dreme or fantasye dygge hereafter thys grounde and thou shalte fynde oure thre bodyes hole and vncorrupt and vppon eueryche of vs our names with letters fresshely wryten And after thys they vanyshed awaye when Dagobert awoke he called well to mynde thys vysyon And promysed inwardely betwene god and hym that yf he were recouncylyd to hys father as to hym they hadde promysed he wolde fulfyll that they hadde desyryd After thys the father beynge warnyd that Dagobert was in thys chapell sent vnto
the place certayne of hys knyghtes to pull or take hym thens per force And when they came wythin a myle of y e sayde chapell they were so astonyed that they myghte not go one fote forwarde to do the beste they coude when they hadde long stryueÌ„ with oute preuaylynge they retournyd to the kynge and shewed to hym y e trouthe in all thynge as they had done The kynge beynge dyscontent wyth theyr reporte blamed theym and sayde that they feryd hys sonne for the whyche cause they hadde fayned that excuse And incontynently he sente forth an other company the which were delte wyth in lyke maner as y e other were Lothariê° somdele troubled wyth the reporte of his seruauntes consyderyd the chapell to be nere vnto Paris where he then lay coÌ„maundyd his horse to be brought for he wolde proue the mater hym selfe But lyke as his seruauntes were seruyd euen so became of hym so that he myghte go or ryde frowarde or sydewarde but towarde the chapell myght he in no wyse atteyne when this was knowen to y e kyng he coÌ„sydered well yt was the handy-worke of god wherfore by fayre and easy meanes he called home his son and recouncylyd hym and forgaue all trespace To this accordyth the legende of the lyfe of saynte Denys wyth more that shall after folowe in the storye of this Dagobert After thys reconcylyacyon Lotharius ordeyned vnder hym hys sonne Dagobert to be ruler of the sygnory of Austracye But whyther yt were by the elacyon of hys owne mynde or by badde counsayll he shortely after rebellyd agayne hys father and wolde haue reteyned that prouynce to his owne vse For thys were chosen .xii. noble men of FrauÌ„ce to arbytre and deme betwene the father and the son The whyche Lordes after they had longe debated this mater by fayre entreatyse contentyd so the father that he gaue vnto the sonne the sayde lordshyppe of Austracy Soone after thys accorde Clothayre made warre vppon the Gothis or Saxons and them at length subdued For yt is to be knoweÌ„ that lyke as the sayde Saxons inuadyd myche Brytayne or Englande in lykewyse warryd they in Fraunce and lastely subdued the prouynce of Neustria and named yt after theym Normandye as after in the storye of Charlis the symple shall more euydently appere Of thys vyctorye of Saxons ys made a longe rehersayll and howe lastly when Clothayre hadde slayne the kynge or ruler of theym named Berthrande he after yode into the countrey of Germanye and slewe man and chylde that passyd y e length of hys swerde Of this and other dedes by this Lothayre done I myght make a longe worke but I passe ouer Then yt foloweth when Lothayre hadde set his countrey in some reste he assembled hys lordes at a cytye or towne called Traacas or Trecas And after dyuers maters dyscussyd and endyd he axed of theym perfyte allegeaunce and fydelite to hym and hys heyres to be kepte The wyche by the sayde lordes fyrmely promysed and assuryd he commaundyd eueryche of theym to repayre to theyr owne countreys And soone after he made an assemble of hys byshoppes and spyrytuall men at the cytye or towne of Troys by whose counsayllys he orderyd thynges and maters concernynge the we le of the chyrche And shortly after he was vexyd with greuous sekenes wherof he fynally dyed when he hadde reygned after moste wryters .xliii. yeres leuynge for heyre the forenamed Dagobert the whyche enterryd hys fader wyth great poÌ„pe at the abbey of saynt Uincent wythoute the wallys of Paris the whiche abbey is at thys daye called saynte Germaynes The foresayde yeres accomptyd for the reygne of Lothayre be accomptyd from the fyrste daye that he was ordeyned kynge of Soysons vnto the daye of hys deth wherof he reygnyd after some wryters ouer a parte .xxvii. yeres ouerall FrauÌ„ce xvi yeres whyche make the full of xliii yeres Anglia THE CXXVIII CHAPITER CAdwanus or Cadwan the whyche of Guydo ys named duke of Uenedoyce or of Northwalys was by one assente of the BritoÌ„s lastly made theyr souerayne or gouernour in the yere of our lorde .vi. hundred and xiii and the .xxv. yere of the seconde Clothayre kynge of Fraunce and also the fyrst yere of Colwolphus then kynge of westsoxons accomptynge for the reygne of Ceawlmus kynge of the sayde westsaxons .xxxi. yeres And for Colricus nexte succedynge hym .v. yeres ye haue before hard what dyscorde and trouble was amonge the Brytons in the tyme of Careticus laste kynge longe after by reason wher of the SaxoÌ„s wanne the more land and as before is rehersyd in the C. and .xx. chapyter howe Ethelfryde kynge of Northumberlande ouer set the Brytons at the cytye of Chestre forcyd theÌ„ to take ouer Seuarne and so into walys where they then chase thys Eadwane to theyr duke and leder The whyche after he was putte in authoryte assembled hys Brytons and came agayne into Britayne and gaue batayll vnto the sayde Ethelfryde In the whych they spedde dyuersly so that some season the Saxons wanne and some while the Brytons But the Brytons held Chestre other good townes whych they hadde recoueryd sene theyr last commynge It shulde seme by the meanynge of Policronica that thys Cadwan or Cedwall shulde at length slee the sayde Ethelfryde and Osricus bothe kynges of Brennicia and Deyra But Guydo and also Gaufryde wytnessen that after thys Cadwan had the better of Ethelfryde by medyatours yt was agreed that Ethelfryd shulde enioye all the lande ouer and beyonde Humber vnto Scotlande and Cadwan shulde haue the lande from Humber towarde the sowthe To the whyche sayenge agreeth the englyshe cronycle affermynge also that he shulde be the sonne of Brucyuall kynge of Leyceter the whych of other wryters is not testyfyed It is also there shewed that after y e sayde accorde betwene Ethelfryde Cadwan confyrmed that they contynued durynge the lyfe of Cadwan as two especiall louers and frendes and durynge the reygne of this Cadwan the two sonnes of Colricê° Kyngilsus and Quichillynus after the deth of theyr fathers brother Colwolphus ruled ioyntly the pryncypate of westsaxons The whyche in theyr begynnynge faught agayn the Brytons at Ampton besyde Oxynford wanne of them the towne other holdes whyche the Brytons in y t couÌ„tre occupyed But by agrement of wryters this Cadwan was not at this coÌ„flycte nor yet medlyd hym so farre within y e land But as yt shuld seme by Guydo these Brytons shulde be some coÌ„pany that shulde lyue vnder trybute of the Saxons y e whych for the manhode y t they hard reported of Cadwan rebelled agayn y e Saxons Then it foloweth wheÌ„ this Cadwan had thus contynued his amite wyth Ethelfryde a chaunge fell that this Ethelfryde for hatered or otherwise put froÌ„ hym hys wyfe beynge great wyth chylde toke to hym an other wherfore thys woman beynge reedlesse callyng to mynde y e great loue that was betwene her husbande and Cadwan she went vnto
hoste and chasyd Kynwalcus out of his kyngdome kept hym thens .iii. yeres By whyche season was Anna kynge of Eestanglis there conuertyd to the feyth of Cryste cristyned of Felix aforenamed then byshoppe of DuÌ„wyke or Thetforde and after he recoueryd hys kyngdome by the ayde and assystence of the sayde Anna when Kenwalcus was restoryd to hys lande he made a byshoppes see at Kaerguent or wynchestre and ordeyned there a byshop named Agilbert a frenche man of byrthe but he was called out of IrlaÌ„d The which when he had sytten there a certayn of tyme he was put theÌ„s I ne wote for what cause and in his place was set an other named wyn Of this wyn as sayeth Policronicon the towne of wynchester toke y e name as he declaryth in y e .liii. chapyter of his fyrst boke as yt were wynnes cytye But he was also putthens and then was Leutherius byshop and after Leutherius succedyd Cedda And after Theodorus the archbyshop of Caunterbury ordeyned two byshoppes to that prouynce of westsaxoÌ„ That one at wynchester to that was subiecte two couÌ„treys Southrey and South hampshyre And that other see he ordeyned at Shyreborne to the which were subiecte .vi. couÌ„treys that is to saye Berkshyre wyltshyre Somersetshyre Dorsetshyre Deuenshyre Cornewayll But in wyllyam the coÌ„querours tyme y e see of Shyreborne was tourned to Salysbury with the see of RaÌ„mysburye It was not longe after that Kenwalcus was warreyd with the kyng of Brytons the whyche fought with hym at a place called wyght Gosneborough and were of him there ouercomyn Then Cadwall assembled a newe hoste of Brytons and mette wyth Kenwalcus at a place called the hyll of Pent where after longe fyghte the Brytons were putte to flyghte YE haue harde before how that blessyd man Oswall the son of Ethelfryde was ordeyned kynge of Northumberlande the whyche contynued hys lyfe in iustyce and vertue as kynge by the terme of .ix. yeres But Penda kynge of Mercia that to hym to all crysten men had great disdayne and enuye about the ix yere of Cadwall made warre vppon Oswald and slew hym in a feld callyd Meserfeld where after hys deth god shewed for hym many myracles But after one yere of his deth Oswy his yonger brother recoueryd the kyngdome and buryed his hed in the chyrcheyarde of Lyndesar for the bodye was conueyed by the Pagans and deuyded in sundry peces But yt is sayde that the hed is nowe at Durham betwene saynt Cutberttus armes And the other parte of y e bodye whyche was longe after founden was had to the abbay of Burdeaux by Ostrida doughter of Oswy quene of Mercia where strauÌ„gnesse was made by the ruler of that hous for the receyte of those relykes tyll a myracle or dyuyne token there was shewyd But after the sayde bodye bones were brought to Glowceter to an hous of chanoÌ„s and one of hys armes is at Peterboroughe hole of fleshe fell as some haue and tellen whan Oswy had a season rulyd hys kyngdome he fande vnlefull meanes to slee Oswyn that was kynge of Deyra This Oswyn was the son of Eaufrycus eldest brother of Oswalde whyche Oswyn was good of condycyon and there wyth both meke and mylde when thys Oswyn was slayn by the consent of his neuewe Oswy then Oswy toke to hym as felow of that kyngdome his broders sonne Odylwaldus the son of Oswalde Thys Oswalde gaue vnto Cedda byshoppe of whynchester before named a grouÌ„de in a place of the North couÌ„trey in the hygh hylles called Lastyngaye for to buylde vpon an abbay which he there buyldyd after there taught his brother Chymbyllus how he shuld rule that place PeÌ„da kynge of Mercia which forgate not the strengthynge and fauourynge that Anna kynge of Eestanglys had shewyd to Kenwalchus hys doughters husband and his enymye gaderyd a power of knyghtes and yode agayne the sayde Anna slewe hym in playne batayll And the same yere one Botulphus buyldyd an abbay besyde Lindecolne or Lincolne in a place that hyght I canno And as wytnessyth Beda in the .iiii. chapiter of his thyrd boke thys yere whych shuld be the .xxi. yere of y e reygne of Cadwall Penda that of thys former vyctory was supprysyd wyth great pryde came wyth hys hoste into the boundes of Northumland entendynge to slee Oswy as before he had slayne his brother Oswalde wherof wheÌ„ Oswy was ware he assemblyd hys knyghtes made towarde hym And for affynyte of maryage y e was betwene theyr chyldren as after shall be shewed and other causes Oswy offeryd to hym many great offers to the entente to haue had hym refused that batayll to haue hadde peace with hym when Oswy perceyued the obstynacye and pryde of PeÌ„da and saw that by no reasonable offers he myghte of hym wynne no peace he sayde sens thys paynym can not receyue our gyftes and proffers that we haue offeryd to hym we shall offer theÌ„ to hym that can receyue theym And anon he made hys auowe vnto god that yf he myght haue vyctory of his enymyes he shuld offer his doughter Elfleda to hym wyth suffycyent possessyons for to buylde .xii. abbayes and after ioyned in batayll with the sayde Penda in the couÌ„trey of Ledis not farre from yorke which was so sore foughten y t the lyke therof was not seen many yeres beforne But fynally Penda was slayne and xxx of his chefe captayns with hym and yet he had thryes the people that Oswy hadde And those that scaped the shot and the swerde were for the more partye drowned in the ryuer of wynwed whyche was nere vnto the place of that batayll And among the prysoners that were taken at this felde the wyfe of Penda was one and her sonnes vncle named Egfridus was an other Then Oswy yelded hys thankes to god and accordynge to hys former promyse he offryd hys doughter Elfleda or Enfleda of the age of .iii. yeres vnto god and toke her to the lore of Hylda abbesse of Hertsey or Hertis iland And after that the sayde Hylda remoued to the abbaye of Stremshalte in the vale of whitby .xxx. myle from yorke where she was after abbesse y e sayd Elfleda also And Oswy as he had promysed gaue landes and rentes to buyld .xii. abbeys wherof .vi. were in the prouynce of BreÌ„nicia and .vi. in the prouynce of Deyra This fornamed Penda hadde dyuerse sonnes by accorde of wryters that is to meane wolferê° weda and Egfridus besyde other not mynded To this seconde sonne weda Oswy had beforetyme maryed a doughter of his by coÌ„sent of Penda his fader The whyche weda by helpe of Oswy was made kynge of south Mercia the whyche lordshyp is seueryd from the northe Mercia by the ryuer of Trent and conteyned by recorde of holy Beda fyue thousande housholdes This weda also promysed when he maryed the sayd doughter of Oswy that he shulde become a crysten man the whyche he perfourmyd
say Mylburga Myldreda and Mylguida and a sonne of great holynesse named Meresyn But after some wryters all these forsayde chyldren shulde be the chyldren of wolpherus and not of Etheldrede And wolpherus also had .ii. holy susters named Kynedda and Kyneswyda bothe nonnes and buryed at Peterborough where saynte Ethelwolde buyldyd after an abbey of maydens ye haue harde before how wylfryd was put out of y e see of yorke wherefore he went to Rome and complayned hym to Agathon the pope and was well allowed in some thynges But the kynge and Theodorus had there such protectours and frendes that he retourned without spedynge of hys cause wherfore he retourned vnto the South Saxons and buylded an abbey in Silesey and preachyd to the south Saxons .xv. yeres and conuertyd myche people and shewed there a greate wonder For where by y e terme of .iii. yeres before hys commynge there fell no rayne vppon the grounde by hys prayer god sent to them rayne the grouÌ„de began to burgen and wax grene y t before was bareyn dryed for lacke of water He also taught to them the crafte of fysshynge Egfrydus kynge of Northumberlande claymed the lande that Etheldrede kynge of Mercia helde for the whyche dyuerse assembles of treaty bytwene them were had but all were dyssoluyd wythout agremeÌ„t wherefore eyther ê‘ty gathered hys streÌ„gth and met vppon a playne nere vnto y e ryuer of Trent where was foughteÌ„ bytwene them a longe and sharpe fyght In the whiche among a great nombre on bothe parties was slayn y e brother of Egfryde named Elswynus but Edfryde or Egfryde had the better Than after this batayle meanes of peace were agayn treatyd so y t fynally Edfryde had great summes of Money in recompencement of his Brothers deth so restyd the sayd .ii. kynges accorded In this batayll was takeÌ„ as prisoner a knyght of Egfryde the which after hys takynge was solde to one Fryson by the knyghtes of Ethelfryde This Fryson to th entent to haue his prysoner the shortelyer redemed kept hym in bandes of iron which prysoner had to his brother a preest a vertuous man that for the delyuere of his brother prayed dayly By meane of whose prayers as ofteÌ„ as y e sayd preste sang masse so often were the bandes of iron lousyd from the prysoner duryng the tyme of the masse The whyche so coÌ„tynued tyll he was clerely delyuered and hys raunson payde And in thys yere apperyd stella comata a blasynge sterre whyche betokeneth deth or mortalyte of y e people And in the yere folowynge dyed of y e Epedemye sykenesse the holy abbes of Ely saynt Etheldrede hyr suster Sexburga that somtyme hadde ben wyfe to Ercobert kyng of Kent was hyr successoure And thys yere also dyed Helda y e holy abbesse of whythy before spoken of whiche was neuew to Edwyne lately kynge of NorthuÌ„berlande In thys abbey were also bretherne vnder the rule of Hylda as at these dayes ben at SyoÌ„ vnder the abbesse there wherfore sondry of theÌ„ were made bisshoppes as Besa wylfryde and other Amonge these bretherne was one named Cedman a man of greate perfeccyon y e which by inspyracyon was taught to make dytyes and songes to moue men to deuocion wherin he passyd all other at those dayes Soone after thys tyme Theodorê° for dyuerse causes kepte a synode or counceyll of Bysshoppes and other men of the chyrche at Hatfelde By authoryte of whych counceyll he deuyded the prouynce of Mercia that Sexwolphus then ruled alone into v. bysshopryches that is one to Chestre the seconde to worcetyr y e thyrd to Lychefelde the fourth to Cedema in Lyndesey the .v. to Dorchester About the .xlvi. yere of the reygne of Cadwall Kenewynus kynge of westsaxons had occasyon of warre agayne y e Brytons so that they met nere vnto the west see where after a sharpe skyrmysshe y e BrytoÌ„s were chasyd And soone after Egfrydus kynge of Northumberlande made warre vpon the Pyctes or Scottes bycause they fauouryd greatly y e cest anglis agayne hym But lastly by colour or fleyng backe they brought Edfryde into a streyte amonge Hylles and mountaynes and slewe hym there with a grete part of his people And after his deth a bastard brother of hys named Alfridus Notus was kynge of Northumberlande reygned there .xviii. yeres as wytnessyth willyam wryter of storyes of kynges And shortly after dyed Cadwall or Cadwalyne kynge of BrytoÌ„s when he hadde reygned as testyfyeth Galfryde Guydo other .xlviii. yeres But nother Polycronyca nor none of the other authours of authoryte which Policronica allegyd shewyth any lyke actes of thys Cadwall as Galfryde doth nor yet that he shuld be buryed to the terrour and fere of the Saxons or an image of brasse set of hym vppon an horse ouer the west gate of LondoÌ„ called Ludgate or yet the chyrche of saynt Martyne there now stondynge shulde be buyldyd by the Brytons to the ende to pray for the sayd Cadwall and hys Frendes or y e Cadwaladrus whych of Beda is named Cedwalla shulde be hys sonne as of y e sayd Gaufryde is affermed Francia THE CXXXVI CHAPITER CLodoueus y e yonger sonne of Dagobert of Nautylda hys wyfe beganne hys reygne ouer the myddell parte of Fraunce and other partes therof in the yere of our lorde .vi. C.xlv and the .x. yere of Cadwall then kynge of Brytons And hys elder brother Sigebert was made kynge of Austracy or Lorayne accordynge to the wyll of Dagobert theyr fader Thys as before is sayd of some wryters is called Lowes the which was guyded by hys mother by the couÌ„seyle of Agaynus than mayster of hys Paleys to whom the fader had by hys lyfe commytted hym for he at thys daye was yonge of age and of dyscrecyon And shortly after he was made kynge all suche porcyon as belonged to the ryght of hys brother Sigebert which was the thyrd of hys faders treasour and iewelles was to hym delyuered whych dystrybucyon made he sped hym to Orleaunce and thyder called to hym the lordes of Burgoyne and receyued of them feauty and homage ordeyned there for hys leutenaunte or deputye a noble Burgonyon named FlantasÌ„ gaue to hym in mariage the neuew of hys mother Nautylda named Ranebert And after with a due charge to hym gyuen for guydyng of the sayd countrey sent hym and the other lordes into Burgoyn But wythin a season of tyme after wilibaldus a great man of birth and myght enuyed this FlantasÌ„ in suche wyse that he had hym in dysdaynynge and began to dystourbe the countrey the kynges peace wherof herynge Clodoueus in all hast commaunded the sayd wilibaldus to appere before hym But whyle wilibaldus sent an erle a bysshop to y e kynges courte to purchace hym frendys about the kynge he was in that whyle slayne by the gyle of hys enemy FlantasÌ„ About the .iiii. yere of the reygne of Clodoueus dyed his mother Nautylda a
Cedwalla was but one persone the whyche was laste kyng of Britons and of westsaxons Also for so mych as they ioyned next vnto Cambria or walys If I shuld here bryng in the cause of the auoydynge of thys lande by Cadwaladyr as is rehersyd by Gaufryde yt wolde aske a longe tracte of tyme and also to me yt apperyth the more doutefull that yt is not testyfyed of the authour of Policronycon consyderynge the great nomber of authours whyche he sought and allegyd for his authoryte as yt shewyth in the fyrste chapyter of his fyrst boke And specyally syns that holy Gyldas and Bede is amonge the sayde authours accomptyd y e whych dyd great dilygence in serchynge of the dedes and actes of the Brytons and of the aungellis monycyon that to hym was geuen with also the prophecye of Merlyn that the Brytons shulde not recouer this lande tyll the relykes of Cadwaladyr wyth other of holy saintes were brought hyther out of Rome I hold that for no part of my beleue though many welshemen yt do wherfore to folowe the moste authoryte as before is sayde when this Cadwaladyr had reygned thre yeres he went to Rome there lastely dyed and was buryed in the chyrche of saynt Peter with this epythaphye or superscrypcyon vppon his toumbe as foloweth in metyr Culmen opus sobolem pollencia regna triumphos Eximias proceros moenia castra lares Quaeque patrum virtus quae congesserat ipse Cadwald armipotens linquit amore dei The whyche versys may be englysshed in maner as foloweth worshypfull ryches kynred triumphes assuryd Plenteous welth wyth clothes rychly dyghte Houses castellys and townes stroÌ„gly muryd And other honours whyche by hys parentes myght And his ownes this marcyall vertuous knyghte Cadwalde the stronge descendyd of kynges bloode For Crystes loue renouncyd all hys good And thus here endeth the lyfe rule of the Brytons nowe called welshemen whych toke that name of theyr duke or leder as sayth Guydo called wallo or Guallo or ellys of a quene of walys named Galaes or walaes But how so y e name came first to theÌ„ onw are they called welshe meÌ„ y t somtyme were named Brytons or Brutons descendyd fyrste of Troyans and after of Brute lastely of DuÌ„wallo Moliuncius or Molmucius DuÌ„wallo All be yt they were gretly mynglyd or medelyd wyth other nacyoÌ„s as Romayns Pictes other as by the redyng of the premisses ye may wel perceyue know And now be they englyshe that in theyr begynnyng were named SaxoÌ„s or Anglis But yet for so myche as welchmeÌ„ extolle so hougely theyr blode allyauÌ„ce fetchyng yt froÌ„ Pryam but not from Eneas regarded so lytle the progeny or lynyall descent of y e SaxoÌ„s or Anglis therfore to y e enteÌ„t to kele somwhat theyr hygh corage or to oppÌ„sse in ê‘ty their brutyshe blastê I will bryng in here y e sayng of Guydo other y e auauÌ„ce the blode or dyssent of the SaxoÌ„s to be farre aboue the Britons as they y t ar descendyd of goddes men immortall where the Britons clayme the ofsprynge to come of men they were mortall not moste to be alowed in honour yf they thynke vppon Eneas vntrouth and treason Then to folowe the foresayde authour Guydo that sayth woden of whom the Saxons taken theyr orygynall was y e sonne of Frealoffe the sonne of Fredewolfe the sonne of Flyn the son of Flokwald the son of Geta that was the sonne of Minos that is nexte in honour to Pluto god of hell and chefe iudge of his infernall iurisdyccyon Therfore ye welshe men here after nurture lere And dyspyse not SaxoÌ„s that ben to god so nere Thus then apperyth by the conueyaunce of this worke y t the last or thyrd yere of Cadwaldyr was y e yere of grace .vi. hundred .lxxx. vi which maketh the yere of y e worlde .v. thousand .viii. huÌ„dred .lxxx. .v. By which reason yt apperyth that the Britons had the rule of this land for the more party to reken froÌ„ the fyrst coÌ„mynge of the duke or leader Brute by the space of a thousande .viii. hundred xxii yeres And thus here an ende of the fyfte parte of this worke for the consyderacyon before rehersyd that Briton kynges after this day reygned none in this realme and the Saxons or Anglis began fully to haue domynyon therof wherfore as before tyme I haue vsed and done in the other parties before specyfyed so now I here agayn salute and gyue thankes to that moste excelleÌ„t virgyn our lady saynt Mary with the .v. ioyes of the forenamed seuen ioyes begynnynge Gaude mater miserorum c. Thou mother to wretches and other disconsolate Hayll and be glad for god of worldes all To them that here in this presente state Done to the worshyppe he rewarde shall Wyth condygne meryte passynge all temporall In heuen to be stallyd wyth moste felicyte Euermore to reygne with thy sonne and thâ— This .v. parte to be accompted from the laste yere of the mysery of Brytons or the fyrste yere of Constantyne brother to kynge of Armorica vnto the thyrd or last yere of Cadwaladyr includyth of yeres CCliii Thus endyth the fyfte parte THE SEXTE PARTE After that Cadwaladyr was thus departyd y e londe as some authours meane this lande of Brytayne was in great dyscensyon by meane of the Brytons and Saxons by the terme of a .xi. yeres And ouer that the mortalyte before spoken of encreasyd so hugely and therewyth great hunger famyne ouer sprad the lande that by occasion of one and other the people of this realme was wonderfully mynyshed lassed so ferforthly that as wytnessyth Gaufryde also the englyshe cronycle the quycke bodyes suffysed not to bury y e ded But in so mych as of this spekyth not the muÌ„ke of Chester nor other authours as before is shewyd in the forsayde table the whych I remytte to the correccyon of such as be lerned and not onely to englyshe reders as there is fortherly declaryd I therfore as before is sayd folow the sayd Ranulph muÌ„ke of Chester where he sayth that Iewe or Iue was kynge of westsaxons next after y e forenamed Cadwaladyr The whych I shall fyrst shew the story of and so of the successours of hym in that kyngedome for that that they subdued lastly all the other kyngedomes and somdeale touche of the other kyngdomes or lordshyppes as tyme conuenyente shall requyre in expressynge of the storyes of the sayd westsaxon kynges tyll the lande be brought agayne to one monarchye And for the dyuysyon of the sayde kyngdomes stande somdeale farte asonder so that to the reders yt were somwhat paynfull to serche for eueryche of them I therfore haue sette them out in the compasse folowyng that yt maye appere to the reder the begynnynge of eueryche of theym and howe longe a season or tyme eyther of the sayde kyngdomes contynued or enduryd the names also of euery kyngdome and in what parte of
thys lande euery lordshyp was stablyshed for the tyme and sette THE CXLI CHAPITER IUe or Iewe discendyd of the blode of Saxons was ruler or kyng of westsaxons nexte after that y e forenamed Cadwaladyr had renounced the pompe of the worlde The whyche to folowe the opynyon of Policronicon began hys reygne the yere of grace .vi. hundred .lxxx. vii and the .xvi. yere of the seconde Theodoricus then kynge of Fraūce and ruled the westsaxons knyghtly and maynteyned such warre agayn the Kentyshe Saxons y t the men of Dorobernia or Caunterbury grauntyd vnto hym to haue peace And also for a recompensement of the deth of Mulkynge brother to Cadwaladyr before slayne as is shewed in the precedynge chapyter by the sayde Kentyshe Saxons they gaue vnto hym for the sayd consyderacyōs thre thousande pounde About y e yere of the reygne of Iue the holy man Cutlake about y e .xxiiii. yere of his age renouncyd the pōpe and pryde of this worlde and toke y e order of munkes in the abbay of Repyndon And the .iii. yere after he wēt to Crowlande and there lad for the whyle an holy Ankers lyfe and dyd there many myracles and there fynally was buryed In whyche yle and place of hys buryenge standeth nowe a fayre abbay the whyche for the greate resorte of gestes that thyther drawyth and for the good and frendely chere that gestes there receyue and take the sayd place hath purchasyd a surname and is named Crowlande the curteys the whyche is a place of good fame And there lyeth also the holy confessoure Neotus somtyme dyscyple of Erkenwalde byshoppe of London In the .xi. yere of the reygne of Iue befell the wounder and meruayle that ys tolde of Bryghtwaldus the whyche after he hadde ben a longe whyle ded was restoryd to lyfe agayne and tolde many thynges of great wonder to many men whereby he causyd great almys and many other dedes of charyte to be executyd And after the dysposycyon of hys owne goodes by the agremēt of his wyfe he went vnto y e abbay of Maylroos and there in great holynes contynued the resydue of his lyfe About the .xvi. yere of the reygne of Iue Etheldredus before mynded in the C. xxxv chapiter kyng of Mercia forsoke this wordly honour and became a munke at Bardeney when he hadde longe tyme rulyd the men of Mercia or myddell Anglys Hys brother Kenredus was kynge after hym the whych also after he had reygned fyue yeres lefte his kyngdome vnto Colredus the sonne of hys vncle and he wyth Offa the sonne of Iue now kynge of westsaxons and wyth Egwinus byshop of wykcies or of wyke whych see is now at worceter wyth thys forsayde companye this Kenredus yode vnto Rome in pilgrimage and there endyd his life And aboute the .xviii. yere of the reygne of Iue dyed the holy byshop Aldelme whyche fyrste was munke and abbot of Malmesbury and the laste byshoppe Of hym yt is writen that when he was styryd by his gostly enymy to the synne of the fleshe he to do the more torment to hym selfe and of hys body wolde holde within his bedde by hym a fayre mayden by so longe tyme as he myght say ouer the hole sauter all be yt that such holynesse is no artycle of saynt Benettis lore yor yet for dyuerse inconuenyence moste alowyd by holy doctours And amonge many of his vertuous holy dedys Ranulph mūke of Chester she with that for the same of hys holynes sprange wyde Sergius the fyrste of that name beynge pope sente for hym to Rome In whyche season of his there beynge the sayde Sergius was accusyd or defamed of the gettynge of a chylde the whyche the .ix. daye of the sayde chyldes age was brought to holy Aldelme to be crystyned By vertue of whose prayer the sayde chylde answered vnto certayn questyons and cleryd the pope of that cryme y t was before put vppon hym Nere about the .xxiii. yere of Iue Colredus then kynge of Mercia for cause of variaunce betwene him and Ine vnremembred of myn authour assembled hys knyghtes and began to warre vppon hym wherof y e other hauynge knowlege in lykewyse gatheryd his power and lastely met to both theyr harmes at a place called wodynsburgth where after longe fyght eyther of them sped so vnhappely that yt was not knowen whether hoste hadde moste domage And nere about y e .xxv. yere of Iue as wytnessyth holy Beda saynte Iohan of Beuerlay that then was bysshoppe of yorke dyed and was buryed in the porche of the mynster of Deyrwood or Beuerlay Thē Iewe or Iue callynge to mynde the counsayll of holy Aldelme y t beforetyme had coūsaylyd hym to buylde an abbay at Glastenbury began the sayd worke about the .xxxii. yere of his reygne and founded there an abbaye the whyche contynued prosperously tyll y e comynge of y e Danis by whose cruelty yt was then sore blemyshed But afterward by the helpe of saynt Dunstane in the tymes of Edmond and Edgare yt was agayne suffycyently repayred so cōtynued tyll the comyng of the Normās after which season yt was agayne besette wyth hard happes But now at this daye yt standeth a place of great welthe and honour Then yt folowyth when Iue had ruled the westsaxons nobly by the terme of .xxxvii. yeres by the assyduate labour of hys holy wyfe Ethelburga as she that longe had laboured hym to leue the world and coude not brynge about her purpose vpon a season when the kyng and she had restyd them in a fayre paleys rychely behanged and were vpon the morne thens departed she by her commaundement caused the sayd paleys to be replenysshyd wyth all kynd of fylth and dunge and hogges and vyle bestes there in to be layde as well in y e chambers as other houses of offyce And when she knewe that thys paleys was thus deformyd she besought the kynge to vysyte the sayde paleys And when she had broughte hym therunto she sayde to hym I praye you my lorde behold now this house where are now the ryche tappets and clothes of gold and of silke and other ryche apparell that we left here thys other daye And where be the delyces and plesaunt seruytours and costly dyshes that you and I lately were seruyd wyth Be not all these passyd and gone My lorde in lyke maner shall we passe and sodenly as ye se these worldely thynges ben passyd And oure bodyes whych now ben delycately kepyd shall fall and turne into fylth of y e erthe wherfore haue in mynde my wordes that before this tyme to you I haue often shewyd told and busy you to purchase that paleys y e euer shal endure in ioy wythout transmutacyon By meane of these wordes other the quene turnyd so y e kynges mynd that shortly after he resygned the gouernaunce of his kyngdome vnto Ethellardus his neuewe he for the loue of Cryste toke vpon hym the habyte of a poore man and settynge a parte
all pompe and pryde of thys worlde accompanyed hym in the felowshyp of poore men and yode vnto Rome in pylgrymage wyth great deuocyon when he hadde ben kynge of the westsaxons as before is sayde xxxvii yeres After whose departyng the foresayde Etheldreda hys wyfe went vnto barkynge .vii. mylys froÌ„ London where in the abbay before of Erkenwalde foundyd she contynued and ended an holy lyfe wheÌ„ she hadde ben abbesse of the same place a certayn of tyme. It is sayd testifyed of wyllyam wryter of kynges that this Iue was the fyrste kynge that grauntyd a peny of euery fyre house thorow this realm to be payed to the courte of Rome whych at this daye is called Rome stote or Peter pens and yet is payed in many places of Englande But why yt was graunted the cause is not here shewed how be it yt shall be shewyd after Francia THE CXLII CHAPITER CLodoueus y e thyrd of y e name son of the secoÌ„d Theodoricus beganne his domynyon ouer the realme of Fraunce in the yere of grace .vi. hondred .lxxx. and .x and the thyrd yere of Iue then kyng of westsaxons Of this Clodoueus is of wryters lefte no maner of memorye soundynge to good or euyll but Pepyn before named contynued as master of the paleys by all the tyme of the reygne of y e sayd Clodoueus The whych after that he hadde borne the name by the space of .iii. yeres he dyed wythoute yssue and was buryed by his father By reason of whose deth the sayde kyngedome fell by successyon vnto hys brother Childebert THE CXLIII CHAPITER CHildebertus the second sonne to Theodoryche and brother of Clodoueus foresayde began his domynyon ouer y e realme of FrauÌ„ce in the yere of grace .vi. hundred .lxxx. and .xiii and the .vi. yere of Iue then kynge of westsaxons In tyme of whose reygne also the foresayde Pepyn contynued as chefe ruler of the kynges house all be yt y e he for such other charge as he had of ouerseyng of the realme set in hys place a substâ—tute or depute as his sonne Grimonart and other Thys Pepyn contrary to the lawe of the chyrche helde besyde hys lawfull wyfe called Pleâ—trude a womaÌ„ named Alpayd For the whyche the holy bysshop of Treet named Lamberte blamynge and rebukynge the sayde Pepyn of the brother of the forenamed Alpayde whyche is called Dodon or Dodoin was slayne martyred in the yere of our lorde .vi. hundred .lxxx. and .xii as testyfyeth Antoninus in the .vi. chapyter of the â—iii tytle of the seconde parte of hys worke called summa Antonini And as affermeth the sayde Antoninus also the Frenche cronycle the sayde Pepyn receyued of the sayd Alpayde a sonne whom he named Charlys whyche Charlys was after surnamed Marcellus was ryghte profytable to the realme of Fraunce as after shall appere Of the foresayd kyng Chyldebert is nothynge lefte in wrytyng worthy memory excepte that he receyued of hys wyfe a sonne named Dagobert and kepte the name of a kynge by y e terme of .xvii. yeres as sayth the cronycle in French and than dyed and was buryed in the abbey of Caus in y e chyrch or chapell of saiÌ„t Stephan THE CXLIIII CHAPITER DAgobertê° the seconde of that name and sonne of Chyldebert before named began his reygne ouer the Frenchmen in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and .x the .xxiii. of Iue than kynge of westsaxons The whyche was vnder the rule of Plectrude the wyfe of Pepyn than dede and of Theodowald than mayster of the paleys Thys Plectrude as before is shewed was stepmother to Charlys sonne of Pepyn and of Alpayde wherfore she berynge malyce to the sayd Charlys caused hym to be holden as prysoner wythin Coleyne where he so as prysoner remaynynge the foresayd Theoldowalde exercysed suche tyrannys and putte vpon the people suche exaccyons y e dyscensyon grewe bytwene hym and the lordes of FrauÌ„ce so that dyuers coÌ„flyctes and skyrmysshes were had amonge the nobles of Fraunce for partyes were taken vpon eyther sydes whereby the kynges partye at length was wekyd And fynally the sayd Theoldowalde was depryued of hys rome and one Rangafredus was made mayster of y e paleys The whyche beynge Accompanyed with conuenyent strength toke with hym the kynge and coÌ„ueyed hym thorow the forest of CharboÌ„nur tyll he came vnto y e ryuer of Mense In y e which passetyme the forenamed Charlys beynge as aboue is sayde prysoner by fauoure of hys kepars or otherwyse brake pryson and escapyd And shortly after dyed the kynge whan he hadde reygned or borne the name of a kynge as other of hys progenytours hadde done by y e terme of .xi. yeres leuyng after hym nother chylde as than knowynge nor nere of a lye whyche was cause of mysorder of the tytle of Fraunce as afterwarde shall appere THE CXLV CHAPITER DAnyell that of y e Frenchmen was after named Chilperich was by assente of them made kynge in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and xxi and the .xxxiiii. yere of Iue than kynge of westsaxons Thus as testyfyeth mayster Robert Gagwyne and also the Frenche cronycle was a preste or clerke and for his wysedome was cherysshed before tyme in the kynges paleys in y e whyche tyme and season he sufferyd hys crowne to be ouer growen Or ellys after Antoninus this Danyell after y e deth of Dagobert for so mych as he lefte after hym none of y e royall blode the Frenchemen supposynge hym to be apte for y e rule of the lond for suche experyence as before tyme in hym had be proued kepte hym secrete a certeyne of tyme tyll his heyre was fully growen and than declared hym to be the brother of Dagobert and chaungyd hys name and called hym Chylperych so by one assente admytted hym for kynge of Fraunce Charles before spoken of sonne of Pepyn beynge escapyd the daunger of prysonement sought and compassyd by all maner of wayes how he myghte obteyne the rome that sometyme hys fader occupyed And thys to brynge to effecte he purchasyd to hym a yonglynge of fayre goodly maners stature named Clothayre and sayd that he was descendyd of y e royall blode of Fraunce by meane wherof in shorte tyme he gaderyd to hym greate strength wherof heryng Chylperych commaunded Rangafrede to assemble hys knyghtes to wythstoÌ„de the purpose of Charlys And soone after bothe hostes mette nere vnto the forenamed ryuer of Mense where was foughte a strong and cruell batayle of y e whych Rangafrede was vyctor and compellyd Charles to forsake the felde But he shortly afterward assemblyd and gaderyd agayne togyder all suche as before were dysperklyd and fought efte wyth the sayde Rangafrede at a Place called Ablane Of the whyche batayle wyth great dyffyculte Charlys was lastly wyctour and chasyd Rangafrede and hys hoste greatly demynysshed lassyd Than thyrdly these two hostes met in a felde called the wyne felde where also was present the sayd Danyell or Chilperych hauynge in
clergy wherfore the byshoppes for a redresse and remedy coÌ„playned them vnto kynge Pepyn Then Pepyn sent vnto hym monestynge hym in fayre and goodly maner that he shuld exchew and forbere such doyng And for the duke wolde not abstayne for the kynges coÌ„mauÌ„dement he in shorte whyle assembled hys army and entred the territory of Guyan in wastynge and spoylynge the countrey And in so shorte whyle after put the duke in suche fere that he was fayne to aplye hym to y e kynges mynde and pleasure and bound hym to restore to the clergy all that he had before taken by extort power But whan the sayde duke was assuryd of y e kinges retorne into FrauÌ„ce he gathered a strength of knyghtes and sent theym to the cytye of Chalours in Burgoyne and dyd that he cowde or myghte to the domage of that towne and countrey In whych season the kynge was at the towne or cytye called Dury whyther and to the whyche towne tydynges were brought to hym of the vntrew dealynge of thys foresayd duke where wyth he beynge sore dyscontent retournyd wyth his people into GuyaÌ„ and therein bete downe many strong holdys castlellys and toke or woÌ„ne at length burbon Cancaruyle and CleremouÌ„t and from thens wasting the couÌ„trey wyth iron and fyre yode tyll he came to Lymoges And for y e wynter came on hande the kyng for the ease and sauegard of his people strengthyd these foresayde cytyes townes and holdes that he before had wonne and than yode to a place called Cause or Caus there kepte hys crystmasse and ester And whan the new season was come not forgettynge hys former purpose reentryd the foresayd duchy of Guyan in wastynge the londe as he before hadde done and after toke by strength the cytyes of Burgies and Towrs In whyche season and tyme the duke wolde neuer apere in playne felde but kepte hym in strong holdes as one was wone he fled into another Thys warre thus contynuynge the countreye and people were sore empouerysshed wherfore they lastly consyderynge the obstynacy of theyr duke wyth also the greate daunger which they stode in murderyd theyr sayde duke and after yelded them the couÌ„trey to the kynges obeysauÌ„ce wyth all suche treasure and iewelles as to the sayd duke belonged where of Pepyn offerd a great parte of theÌ„ vnto saynte Denys Thys warre thus ended wyth many other notable workes whereof the rehersall in order wolde aske a longe tracte of tyme thys vyctoryous prynce Pepyn was vexed wyth greuous sykenesse wherfore in all haste he sped hym vnto saynt Martynes where he made certayne oblacyons and prayers and thens hys sykenesse encreasyng was conueyed vnto Parys where he shortly after dyed when he had reygned as kynge by the terme of .xviii. yeres leuynge after him .ii. sonnes that is for to say Charle mayne and Charlys THE CLIIII CHAPITER CArolomanus and Charlys sonnes of Pepyn begaÌ„ theyr reygne ioyntly ouer the Frenchmen in the yere of our lorde .vii. hundred lxviii and the .xx. yere of Kenulphe than kynge of westesaxons so that Charlemayne had to his parte myddell Fraunce and Charlys had Austracy wyth y e other deale of FrauÌ„ce Of y e elder brother Charlemayne lytell is lefte in memory for he dyed whan he had reygned lytell ouer .ii. yeres wherfore to Charlys fell the hole realme of Fraunce the whyche of all the nobles was ioyously admytted It was not longe after Hunyldys whom Pepyn by hys lyfe hadde ordeyned ruler of Guyan rebellyd agayne the kynge wherfore Charlys preparyd anone hys armye and sped hym thyder and in processe of tyme constrayned the sayd Hunyldê° to forsake the countrey and for hys tuycyon to flee vnto Lupus than duke of Gascoyne wherfore Charlys beynge aduertysed sent hys message to the sayd Lupus wyllynge commaundyng hym that he in spedy maner shulde sende to hym hys rebell Hunyldus or els he wolde with hys army inuade spoyle his people and couÌ„trey Uppon resceyt of which message Lupus by couÌ„ceyll condescendyd to the kynges pleasure so y t he causyd Hunyldus to submyt hym vnto the kynges grace and mercy wherewyth the kynge was so well contentyd that vppon assuraunce taken of the sayd Hunyldus y t there after he shulde be of good aberynge toward the kyng he clerely forgaue vnto hym all hys former offence And after he had set that countrey in a rule and order he retornyd into Fraunce where to hym soone after came an embassade from the fyrste Adryan than pope requyrynge hym of ayde agayne Desyderiê° thaÌ„ kyng of Longobardys the whyche than had taken from the chyrche of Rome many cytyes and other possessyons Than Charlys acceptyng the popes request or he began any warre agayne the sayde Desyderius sente vnto hym an embassade wyllynge and requyrynge hym in all honorable wyse to restore vnto the chyrche of Rome all suche possessyons as he from the same chyrche before tyme hadde taken and yet withhelde and also to refrayne hym from all suche warre as he dayly made vppon the londys of the sayd chyrche But for he sawe no frute ensue of y e message he made prouysyon for all thyng nedefull to such a iourney And shortly after passed the mountaynes not all wythout batayle and in processe coÌ„strayned Desyderiê° to take the cytye of Uercyle where after he hadde refresshed hys Italyans he gaue vnto the Frenchemen a sharpe and cruell batayle But in the ende Desyderius was compellyd to forsake the felde and fled after to the forenamed cytye of Papy where he kepte hym as after shall appere a longe whyle And for to shewe you somewhat of the foresayde batayle ye shall vnderstande that for the greate occysyoÌ„ of men y t there was slayne the place was called longe after Mortaria that is to meane in our vulgare or mother tonge the place of deth In this fyghte were slayne amonge other two knyghtes greately famyd Amys and Amylyon of whom some fables are reportyd bycause they were so lyke of semblaunt These two knyghtes as wytnessyth the Frenche story and also Antoninus were brought vppe in the court of the foresayde Charles and wyth hym well cherysshed and fynally here slayne and buryed after some wryters in the two chappellys whyche in the foresayde place were buylded to praye for the greate multytude of the soules of these knyghtes that there were slayne But who that is desyrous to knowe the hole lyfe of those two foresayd knyghtes let hym ouerse the thyrde chapyter of the .xiiii. tytle of Antoninus and he shall there fynde a compendyous and goodly story the whyche for length I ouerpasse and retorne my style agayne to Charlys The which whan he was ware that Desyderius had taken thys cytye of Papy and it greatly strengthyd both with men and vytell in such wyse that he well vnderstode y t it myghte not be shortly wonne he therfore layde about it a stronge syege wyth the ouersyght of sure and wyse capytayns and after yode to Rome to vysyte the holy
the sayde Danys they as tyrauntes and cruell enymyes to Crystes fayth hadde spoyled many chyrches and temples and a monasterye of saynt Peter in Corby and throwen yt downe to the ground After which vyle and cruell dede by theym done Lewys gaue vnto them batayll and slew of them great nomber and chased the remanaunt But after this vyctorye ensuyd a great wonder For when the crysten hadde as before is sayde chasyd the pagans or Danys they retourned as confusyd and dysparkled lyke as all the hoste of Danys hadde theym pursued so that well was hym that myghte ronne fastest and hyde hym selfe from the daunger of his enymy For yt was thought to them and apparent to theyr syght that theyr enymyes folowed at theyr backes wyth all kynde of wepyn and yet folowed thē no man The whych fere flyght of Frenche men as sayth myne authour was sent to theym by dyuyne purueaunce for so myche as they so often before tyme had won the pryce of theyr enymyes and had not therfore gyuen due thanke vnto god but referred yt to theyr owne strenghtes and vertue Then the Danys herynge of this dysparklyng of the crysten hoste reassembled theyr power and ppayred them to new fyght wherfore y e kyng called to gyther his knyghtes so as before is sayd dysparkled and mette wyth theym nere vnto the aboue named ryuer of Lyger But when both hostes were wythin a days iourney the kynge was aduysed by some of his coūsayll y t he shulde not as then fyght wyth thē For the whych cause he yode vnto Compeynge and there kept the feast of Crystemasse And whyle the kynge was lodged in Cōpeynge he delyueryd his hoste vnto a noble man of his land named Theodorych wyllynge hym to go agayne the Danys Of whose exployt or spede myne authoure maketh no mencyon but sayeth that soone after the foresayde feast the kynge spedde him to Turon̄ where he sent to rayse the Brytōs of lytell Britayn to with stande the foresayde enymyes In the whyche passetyme he was there taken wyth a maladye from thens in a lytter caryed vnto saynte Denis where he dyed was buried Or as sayth maister Gaguyn he dyed at Turon̄ and was after cōueyed vnto saynt Denys and there buried But for all wryters ioyne the reygn of these two bretherne in one therfore I wyll now shewe vnto you the fyne or conclusyon of the other brother called Charlys or Charlemayn the whyche all thys whyle mayntened the syege aboute Uyenne where his brother as before is touchyd left hym To whom the lordes of Fraūce sente in all haste gyuynge to hym knowlege of the deth of his brother and also of the great daunger that the land was in by reason of the Danys wherof when the sayd Charlys hadde thus wyttynge he lefte a parte of hys people at the sayde syege and wyth the other deale he sped hym towarde Champayne for so mych as he was enfourmed that the Danys were drawen towarde that coste And as he was in hys iourney worde was broughte vnto hym that Uyenne was delyueryd vnto suche persones as he hadde there left to maynteyne the syege And after thys came a nother messenger whyche shewyd to hym that the Danys hadde destroyed dyuers chyrches in Champayne and other places and howe the byshoppe of Meaws that agayne theym hadde ladde an host of people was of them slayne and hys people chasyd and ouer thys at the foresayde ryuer of Lyger an other hoste of Danis with theyr leder called Hastynges was assembled The whych in that partyes wasted the countrey as the other in other places dyd whyche somdeale apasled the herte of the kynge Charlys How beyt by the comforte that he hadde dayly receyued from the lordes of Fraunce he kepte on hys iourney and made towarde the next of his enymyes But when he drew nere vnto them were yt for his own cowardyse or of the counsayll of his lordes he fell to a communycacyon of peace And fynally concluded that Godfrey the prynce of Danys to cōfesse the fayth of Cryste and to be crystened shulde enioye the hole prouynce of Fryse And wyth in the same he wyth hys Danys to inhabyte theym The whyche condycyon of peace was the begynnynge of greate sorowe and losse vnto Fraunce as after shall appere For all be yt that the sayd Godfrey to deceyue the Frenchmen shewed outwarde countenaūce to be crysten man for a whyle he shortely after wyth an hoste of .xl. thousande Danys entred the land wastynge the countrey tyll he came to Parys and layde there hys syege about the same citye But by the arch byshoppe of Parys then named Iosselen̄ and the inhabytaunces of the same the cytye was manfully defended so that he with his Danys was fayne to breke hys syege and from thens yode to the cytye of Laon̄ and wan yt by strength and after yt spoyled and robbed and after brent And fro thens to Soysons in pyllynge and destroyeng the countrey as they went in so cruell wyse that the bysshoppes and prestys fled from theyr chyrches wyth relyques and anournamentes or ornamētes belongyng to the same as the bodyes of saynte Germanye saynte Remigius and dyuers other In y e tyme of this persecucyō lyke as the lande of Englande was in great daunger so also was the land of Fraunce by meane of these pagans or myscreauntes Danys The whyche resortyd from that one realme to that other and releued theym selfe in that one land whē they were chased oute of that other But one myshappe amonges other befell in Fraunce at these dayes For Charlys theyr kynge was taken from theym in suche wyse that no wryter leueth of hym any mencyon how he dyed nor when he dyed nor no mencyon is made in the frenche cronycle nor of myne auhoure howe longe whyle he and hys brother Lewys reygned All by Uyncent historyall and Antoninus whych groūded hym vppon the sayde Uyncent and Iacobus Philippus saye that these two foresayde bretherne regned togyder and alone by the terme of .v. yeres wythoute more And the frenche cronycle and also myne authour sayen that Lewys dyed wythoute heyre and that Charlys lefte after hym a sonne whyche was named Lewys and after for his symple dedes surnamed in laten Nihil faciens or in frēche Ryen fezant whyche is to meane in our speche nought doynge But who that lysteth wele to aduertyse remēber the order of thys cronycle he shall fynde in this latter sayenge some dyscorde For where yt is sayde that thys Charlis shulde leue a sonne after hym to my yt semeth that consyderynge hys youth he shulde not be of any lawfull age to gette a chylde For by all lyklyhode of conuenyence of the storye yf all be veryfyed as yt is before declared he coude not passe y e age of .viii. yeres at the moste wherfore yt muste folowe of a congruence that other they reygned lenger tyme or ellys thys chylde or heyre Lewys aboue named was the sonne of some other man
thy reward and guardon After whyche sentence thus gyuen by the kynge the sayde Hebert was by the executers ladde vnto an hylle wythout the citye of Laon̄ and there most shamefully hanged whych hyll for that cause was named Hebertes hyll longe tyme after About thys tyme the seconde duke of Normandy named wyllyam longa Spata y e son of Rollo or Robert fyrste duke of Normandy was slayne by treason of one Arnolde erle of Flaūdres for encheson that the sayd wyllyam ayded a noble man of Pycardy named Herloyn̄ agayne the sayde Arnolde This wyllyam left after hym a son named Richarde whych at the tyme of his fathers deth was not of suffycient age to rule so gret a dukedome wherfore Lewys kynge of Fraunce desyrous of that prouynce whyche of late dayes belonged to his antecessours and progenitours sought besyly the wayes and meanes to haue this chylde Rycharde vnder his tuycyon gydynge And this to brynge to effecte spedde hym vnto Roan̄ callynge there before hym the lordes and rulers of the countrey hauynge vnto them many plesaunt and fayre wordes in promysyng to them ayde and assystence to reuenge the deth of theyr lorde and duke and in the conclusyon desyred of them y t he myght haue the noryshynge and bryngyng vp of the chylde tyll he came to hys lawfull age whyche thynge thus by the kynge desyred the lordes anon coniectured in theyr myndes y t he desyred the kepyng of theyr yonge lord to y e ende y t he myghte y e more easely obteyne the possession of that dukedome For the whych the lordes and other of the cytye were in great rumour and grudge agayne the kynge wherof he beynge monyshed to appeace the multytude the kynge toke the chylde in his armes and so bare hym into the place of the assemble of the people there shewyd vnto theym wyth affyrmaunce of great othes that hys entent was onely for y e we le of the child and for defence of hys countrey and not to clayme any ryghte or tytle of the duchy excepte onely the homage therof whyche belongeth to hym by iuste tytle By meane of whyche fayre speche the kynge obteyned his purpose and caried the chyld with hym into Fraūce not forgetynge the vnkynde dealynge of the Normans when Arnolde erle of Flaūdres vnderstode that to the kynge of Fraūce the guydynge of y e yonge chyld was commytted ferynge y t he wyth power of the Normans wolde ronne vppon hym reuengynge of the chyldes fathers deth sent vnto the kyng x. pounde weyghte of golde wherof euery pounde cōteyneth .xii. ounces and euery oūce in value of fyne gold xl s so that after this rate his presente shulde be in value to y e summe of .ii. hundred .xl. pounde All be yt mayster Gagwyne sayth he sent vnto hym but .xl. marke besechyng him to be his good and gracyous lorde and not to gyue to hasty credence to hys accusours For he in suche wyse wolde declare hym selfe and delyuer vnto the kynge the murderers of duke wyllyam he meane wherof he shulde certaynly know that he was innocēte of the sayd dukes deth And ouer this he made a frende about the kynge whyche spake good wordes for hym put in the kynges mynde the great hurtes iniuryes that he and his progenytours hadde susteyned of the Danys or Normans By meane whereof this murdour was forgoten more and more the kyng malygned agayne the Normans and to the chylde he bare not so good mynde as some men thoughte that he wolde do Uppon a daye when the kyng was retourned from hys dysporte of huntynge a lyght cōplaynt was brouht to hym of the chylde Rycharde of an offence that he had commytted For the which he rebuked him otherwyse then was syttyng to his honour and called hym opprobryously and thretened hym greuously and after that caused hym to be kept more straytly then he before hadde vsed to be To this chylde Rycharde was assygned a mayster or teacher named Osmunde whyche Osmunde hadde a famylyer named Iuon̄ These two apperceyuynge the kynges indygnacyon that he bare towarde the chyld studyed for his enlargynge and lastly coūsaylyd hym that he shuld fayne hym self syke The whych was done in suche wyse that all suche as awayted vppon hym supposed hym to be very syke by reason wherof his kepers toke the lesse cure of hym wherof Osmunde beynge ware and also beynge sure of the kynge made a great trusse of herbes or grasse wherin he wrapped the chyld and so conueyed hym oute of the cytye of Laon̄ and there receyued hym an horse redy for the iourney so sped hym vnto Cosuy and delyueryd the chylde to the captayne of that town And from thēs he rode all nyght tyll he came vnto Senlys there shewed all hys doynge vnto y e erle of that coūtrey named Bernard which was nere kynnesman vnto y e yonge duke THE CLXXXVII CHAPITER BErnarde hauynge knowlege of the escape of his kynnesmā Rycharde sente in all haste vnto Hugh le graunde erle of Parys for to haue his ayde and assystence The whych without taryeng assēbled his knyghtes and conueyed the chylde from Cousy to Senlys or Saynlys to his neuewe Bernarde where he was receyued wyth mych ioye and honoure when Lewys was ascertayned of the scape of Rycharde and howe he was in the guydynge of Hughe the great or graunde anon he sent vnto hym gyuynge hym in commaundement that he shulde restore the chyld to hym The whyche excused hym and sayde that the chylde was in the kepynge of erle Bernarde and not in hys The kynge seynge how he was deluded sente for Arnolde or Arnulfe erle of Flaundres whyche at his cōmaundement counsayled the kynge to wynne Hugh le graūde with riche behestes or gyftes After whose counsayll worchynge kynge Lewys wylled the sayd Hugh to mete with hym at the crosse of Compeyn̄ where the sayd Hugh shortly after met with the kynge To whome the kynge promysed great parte of the duchy of Normandy wyth that that he wolde refuse the partye of the Normans and take his parte agayne them By meane of which promises this erle Hugh was ouercomē and agreed with the kynge to warre vppon one parte of the countrey whyle he warred vpon that other And forthwyth receyuyd an armye of the kynge and spedde hym to Bayon̄ made cruell warre vppon that countrey And kynge Lewys entryd vppon the prouynce of Caux and wasted and spoyled that Coste in all that he myghte whan Barnarde the Dane and also Barnarde erle of Senlys conceyued y e vntrouth of Hugh le graūt and also the greate hostes that they were beset wyth by theyr counsayles and other they sent vnto the kynge certayne messengers gyuynge them in commaundement to saye that in vayne the kynge hadde entred that countre with his armye for the citye of Roan and all the prouince was at hys commaundement Besechynge hym not to waste nor spoyle the coūtre but to ayde and helpe defende it agayne
theyr enemyes Of thys message the kynge was ryght fayne and forthwith sped him tyll he came to Roan wher he was accordynge to hys honour receyued For the whyche cause he sent in all hast vnto Arnulfe erle of FlauÌ„ders monassynge hym that he sease of his warres in Bayon tyll he receyued farther knowlege The kyng thus restyng in Roan deuysed hys maters at hys pleasure so that the Normayns obeyed them to all hys requestes And for y e good aberynge that Barnarde the Dane was of agayne the kynge he graunted to hym the gydynge of the yonge duke And whan he shulde departe he ordeyned as hys deputye one named Raoull or Rauf The whyche after the kynges departure behaued hym so cruelly to the Normans that they were very irke of hym And ouer thys the foresayd Barnard ferynge the kynges retorne and other more greuous punysshement than they before hadde susteyned sent his messengers vnto Grolle kynge of Denmarke than beynge at Chyerbourk wyllyng hym to assemble his people and to make of them two hostes wherof to sende y e one by lande and that other by water so to entre the couÌ„tre of Normandy in wastyng and spoylynge it by reason wherof he myghte brynge the kynge to some coÌ„munycacyon whych all was done as the sayd Barnarde had deuysed whan the kynge had wyttyng of the Danys that wyth so grete a multytude were entred the prouynce of Normandy he assembled hys hoste and sped hym thytherwarde and in processe of tyme came vnto the cytye of Roane where by hys counsayle it was condyscended that a metynge and frendly communycacyon shulde be had bytwene the kynge the sayd Grolle at a place called in Frenche Herlycum where at the day appoynted bothe prynces mette wyth bothe hostes standynge or hauynge a lytell dystauÌ„ce of And whyle the two prynces were there in communycacyon of the deth and murder of duke willmÌ„ a Dane markynge Herloyne For whose causes as before is shewed duke willmÌ„ was slayne with a spere wounded hym so greuously that he dyed forthwyth whych dede hys brother called Lambert wyth other of y e Frenchmen entendynge to reuenge wyth theyr wepons fylle vppon the Danys whyche them receyued with greate vyolence So that of that a fraye ensued a skyrmysshe and after the skyrmysshe a sore batayle For bothe hostes ioyned on bothe sydes and faught cruelly eyther with other a longe whyle But in the ende the Frenchmen had the worse and were compelled to flee And the kynge to saue hys lyfe fledde also whyche by reason of hys vntrusty horse was taken and kepte secrete a certayne of tyme by his taker But lastly he was discouered and brougth to the cytye of Roane as a prysoner The kynge thus beynge in holde vnder the kepynge of the Danys Engeberge hys wyfe makynge for hym grete dole and sorowe toke her iourney to the kynge of Germany whose doughter she was besechyng hym to prouyde for the delyuerye of her lorde and husbande But of hym had she no socour but rather dyscoÌ„fort shewyng to her that the trowble that her husbande susteyned he had well deserued for his vnstedfastnesse that he agayne wyllyam the duke Rycharde hys sonne had vsed wherfore the quene beynge thus answered of her father rode vnto Hugh le graunde besechyng hym of helpe in this greate nede The which at the request of the quene sent vnto Barnard erle of Senlys requiryng to moue some wayes to the Danys for the enlargynge of the kynge By whose labour and meanys lastely a counsayle was kepte at saynt Clere vpon the ryuer of Ept. where after many argumentes reasons made fynally it was agreed that the kyng shulde be enlarged tyll an other day of coÌ„munycacyon layenge for pledges hys sonne and heyre named Lothayr the bysshop of Senlys and y e bysshop of Beauuayze whyche done the kynge was set at large and forth wyth rode vnto the cytye of Laon. where he abode the other daye of coÌ„munycacyon whyche after was holden at y e foresayd ryuer of Ept. And concluded a peas whyche lasted but a shorte whyle after Thys peas thus confermed Grollo the kynge of Danys wyth greate gyftes was retorned from whens he was desyred And Richarde the yonge duke toke vpon hym the rule of hys owne Signory and grewe and encreased forthwardly wherof Hugh the graunde takyng hede and beholdynge hys wyse demeanure and conuersacyon made suche labour and meanes vnto Barnarde erle of Senlis y t he maried to him his doughter named Emmacet wherof beynge enfourmed the French kynge caste in hys mynde thys greate alyaunce bytwene the yonge duke and two grete perys of hys lande and thoughte y t these .iii. knâ—t in amyte and alyaunce shulde dysturbe hym whan them lyked wherof he called to hym Arnold erle of Flaunders by whose counsayle he sent the sayde Arnolde vnto Ottho kynge of Germany requyrynge hym of ayde to warre vpon y e Normayns and to breke thys affynyte of thys yonge duke of Hugh le graunde and of Barnarde erle of Senlys and for his labour he shuld haue to hym and to hys heyres the prouynce or lordshyp of Lorayne Ottho wyth thys couetous promesse deceyued asseÌ„bled his knyghtes and at the day and place appoynted met wyth the kynge and wyth theyr people sped them to Roan and layde siege vnto y e cytye And whyle the kynges were occupyed in wastynge and brennynge the vylages nere vnto the cytye to put the Normans in the more fere Ottho sent hys neuewe wyth a certayne of hys people in secrete wyse to the gates of the cytye But whan he was comen to the gate that opened towarde the ryuer of SaynÌ„ and thoughte there to wynne hys enterpryse y e cytesyns issued out vppon hym sodeynly and gaue to hym batayle and slewe hym and many of hys company and the remenaunt they chased froÌ„ the walles of the cytye whan Ottho had wyttyng of the ouerthrowe of hys men and deth of his neuew whom he entyrely loued he made inward heuynesse and caste in his minde how he myght reuenge the deth of hys neuewe But whan he approched the cytye and behelde the strength therof wyth also the fyersnesse of the NormaÌ„des he repented hym of enterprysyng of that iourney and torned all hys hatered vnto Arnolde erle of Flaunders by whose sterynge and counsayle that vyage was fyrste begon in so mych that he sought the meanes to brynge y e sayd Arnolde into the handes of the Normans wherof Arnolde beynge warned trussed his stuffe and harneys secretly and in the nyght stale away and so retorned into Flaunders with his retynew The whych thyng knowen to the two kynges in as secrete wise as they myghte departed also from y e siege But yet therof theyr enmyes beynge ware pursued them slewe many of theyr company And or the yere that thys was done in had roÌ„ne hys full compas Lewys the kynge dyed and was buryed in the temple of the holy bysshoppe saynte Remygius wythin the cytye of
were not of that blode as Eudo and Radulphus but admytted of the barony of Fraunce to rule the lande tyll two of that progeny that is to meane Charlys the symple and Lewys the .v were comen to theyr lawfull age So that from the fyrst yere of Pepyn whyche began his reygne in the yere of grace .vii. hundred .l. to the fyrst yere of Hugh Capet that began hys reygne in the yere of our lorde god .ix. hundred and lxxxix expyred or passed .ii. hundred .xxxix. yeres Pypyn the fader of Charlys the greate Charlys the great emperour Lowys the fyrste emperour The kynges of Germany Lothayre emperour and the sonne of Lewys the fyrst Lowys emperour the sonne of Lothayre Lothayre the seconde the son of Lothayre Charlys the .iii. and sonne of Lothayre Lewys kyng of Germany and broder vnto the sayd Lothayre Lewys the sonne of Lewys whyche was broder vnto Charlys grossu◠emperour Lewys the son of Lewys which of some ys compted emperour Arnusphus the sonne of Lewys emperour Lewys the sonne of Arnulph last emperour of Fraunce The kynges of Fraunce Charlys the ballyd the sonne of Lewys the fyrst of hys .ii. wyfe emperour Lewys Balbus the son of Charlys the Ballyd Lewys Charlys sonnes of Lewys Balbus Lewys the .iiii. and son of the foresayd Charlys Charlys the symple the sonne of Lewys the forth Lewys the .v. and the sonne of Charlys the symple Lothayre the sonne of the foresayde Lewys Lewys the sonne of Lothayr and the last kyng of that flock THE CCII. CHAPITER HUgh the sonne of Robert the tyraunt descended of Hugh legraunde beganne to take the rule or to vsurpe the crowne of Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .lxxxix and the .viii. yere of Egelredus than kynge of Englande Thys as wytnessyth the Frenche Cronycle was erle of Parys and marshall of Fraunce And as sayth Antoninus he maryed one of the doughters of Edwarde the elder Thys also was named Capet for so myche as in hys youth he vsed in game to laye asyde hys felowes hodes In whose begynnyng Charlys that was the brother to Lothayre and vncle vnto Lewys the .vi. laste kynge herynge of the deth of hys neuewe Lewys wythout issue as nexte heyre wyth ayde of some lordes of Fraunce and also of Loreyn the whyche than he was lorde of gadered an army and entred Fraunce and than came to the cytye of Laone wythin whyche cytye he wyth hys wyfe and people by the treason of the bysshoppe of the same cytye was taken and delyuered wyth hys wyfe and chylder into the handes of hys enemyes the whyche sent them to Orleaunce there sauely to be kept Than thys Hugh was crowned in the cytye of Rayns and welded the lande wyth more suerty How be it the erle of Flaunders named Arnulphus or Arnolde before spoken of wolde not be vnder hys obedyence wherfore thys Hugh assembled hys kynghtes and by hys strength toke from hym the coutre of Artoys wyth many stronge holdes and castels and lastly forced the sayd Arnolde to fle into Normandy to aske ayde of Richarde the fyrste of that name before spoken of in the story of the .vi. Lewys By whose meanes after some wryters wyllyam Longa Spata fader to y e sayd duke Richarde was slayne But that not wythstandynge by frendshyp of the sayde duke Richarde thys Arnolde was reconcyled vnto the kynge and contynued after as hys subiecte In the cytye of Rayns was arch bysshoppe at thys daye a noble prelate named Arnolde sonne of baste of Lothayre and neuewe to Charlys than prysoner as before is touched The whyche for malyce that the kynge bare vnto hym for cause of the forenamed Charlys called a counsayle of the clergy of hys lande and layde agayne hym suche obieccyons that he by theyr assent was putte from that benefyce and sente hym to Orlyaunce there also to be kepte in pryson And set in hys place one Gylberte or after the Frenche boke Gerbres a connynge man in phylosophy whiche had before tyme ben tutor or mayster to Robert sonne of the sayde Hugh But after .iii. yeres pope Iohn̄ the .xvi. of that name sent downe hys maundement vnto Guyan archebysshop of Sens chargynge hym that he sholde remoue y e sayde Gerbers and restore the sayde Arnolde to hys proper see whyche was done shortely after and y e sayde Gerbers was after this preferred by one of the Othons emperour vnto y e chyrche of Rauenne and contynued there tyll the deth of the .xvii. Iohn̄ After whose deth he was electe pope of Rome and was named the secōde Siluester lyued as pope .iiii. yeres Than it followeth in the story whan thys Hugh had reygned full viii yeares and more he dyed in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred .xciii. and was buryed at saynte Denys leuynge after hym a sonne named Robert THE CCIII CHAPITER RObert the sonne of Hugh Capet beganne his reygn in the yere of our lord .ix. hundred .xcviii and the .xvii. yere of Egelredus then kynge of Englande This was cōnynge in many scyences and a man of good maner vertue He made dyuers hymnes sequences respondes as O Iuda et Hierusulem O cōstantia martyrum As sit nobis scti spūs gratia or more cōgruely Sancti spiritus assit nobis gratia wyth dyuers other In y e beginnyng of his reygn while Bowcharde erle of Meleon̄ was at the kynges court Galtyer or walter a knyghte and seruaunt of the sayde Bowcharde to whom the sayd Bowcharde hadde delyuered his castell of Meleon̄ to kepe in his absence for great gyftes the sayde walter hadde delyuered the sayde castell unto Eudo erle of Carnotens wherfore the kyng at the request of the sayd Bowcharde sente streyghte commaundement vnto the sayd Eudo chargyng hym in all goodly wyse to restore the sayde castell vnto Bowcharde The whyche commaundement he vtterly refused to obey For y e whych ȳe kyng beyng so amoued sent for Rycharde the seconde of that name then .iiii. duke of Normandy and wyth theyr both armyes besyeged the castell vppon euery parte and at length wan yt and toke the sayd walter wythin the same whom the kinge for his vntrouthe commaunded soone after to be hanged vppon a gybet and the castell to be restored vnto y e forenamed Bowcharde and after returned euery man to his owne In the tyme of the reygne of thys Robert dyd Henry then duke of Burgoyne The whyche for lacke of yssue of his body bequethed his dukedome vnto kynge Robert But the Burgonyons wythstode that legacy and drewe to theym for an hed captayne Lawdry erle of Neuers and wyth hym helde by strength or for a strength the cytye of Anxerre wherof herynge kyng Robert sente for the foresayde duke of Normandye and so spedde theym towarde Burgoyne and besyeged the forsayd cytye But at length y e cytye was yolden and Lawdry put at the kynges grace And that done the kyng with his hoste besyeged a
orderyd in his lande deuyded his sayd lande in foure partes That is to meane the fyrst princypall which at those dayes was westsaxon he helde vnder hys owne gydyng Eestenglande whych coÌ„teyned Norff. Suff. he betoke to the rule of y e erle Turkyllê° a Dane of whome somwhat is in the .iii. chapyter of y e story of Egelredê° Mercia he betoke to the subtell erle Edricus And the .iiii. Northumberlande vnto a Dane named Hircius But lyke as the man of Inde at no tyme chauÌ„ged his colour so this Edricus chauÌ„ged neuer his fals maners But not wythstandynge the great benefytes that he dayly receyued of his prynces there as he to other hadde ben false and dysceyuable in dayes past euen so nowe he demeaned hym agayne Canutus wherfore he beynge accused proued wyth defaute was commauÌ„ded of the kyng to haue iudgement The whyche was done immediatly his hedde for dyuerse causes smyten of and yt wyth the bodye for spyte caste into a fowle and fylthy place But Ranulf sayth that he was slayne by the kynges agrement wythin his paleys at London and his body wyth the hed throwne after into the towne dyche Thus wyth shame he ended that in falshode dyssymulacyoÌ„ had contynued myche of his lyfe Aboute the .ix. yere of his reygne Canutê° called a parliament at Oxenford where amonges other thynges yt was enacted that Englyshmen Danys shuld holde the lawes of Edgar lately kynge In this pastyme dyed Swanus brother to Canutus kynge of Denmarke wythout issue wherfore that lande fyll to Canutus For the which cause he wyth a stronge army sayled thyther to take the possessyon and to set the countrey in an order or after some wryters to apeas wythstande the wandelys y t then had perced that lande and done therin myche harme where GoodwynÌ„ the erle whose doughter Edwarde the confessour after maryed wyth a certayne nomber of Englyshmen fyll vpon y e wandalys by nyght dystressed theym in suche wyse that Canutus had of them his pleasure For this dede the kyng had erle GoodwynÌ„ euer after in good fauoure and loued Englyshmen more specyally And when he was returned into Englande he shortely after or before maryed Emma the wyfe lately of Egelredus Of the whych he receyued in processe of tyme a son named hym Hardicunitus or after some Hardykynitus after the Englyshe boke Hardyknough And aboute this tyme fyll voyde y â— see of Lyndesser or Durham to the whyche by dyuyne inspyracyon and knowlege receyued by a voyce from the tumbe of saynt Cuthbert blessed EdmuÌ„de after thre yere of vacacyon was electe to that see But ye shal vnderstande that thys was not saynte Edmunde of Ponteney For he was archbyshoppe of Caunterbury in the dayes of Henry the thyrde THE CXCVI. CHAPITER CAnutus about the .vii. yere of his reygne by exhortacyon of Egelnothus then archbishop of CauÌ„terbury translated the body of saynt Elphegus late archbyshoppe of the sayd see martyred by the Danys as before is shewed in the seconde chapiter of the storye of Egelredus and shryued hym in hys owne chyrche of Caunterbury foresayde In the tyme also of thys Canutus aboute the .xvi. yere of hys reygne the Scottes rebelled agayne hym wherfore he with a great army entred Scotlande at length ouercame the kynge of that lande named then Malcolyne and brought them agayne to hys subieccyon as is recorded in the bokes of Marianus the Scot. By reason of whych vyctory Canutus was then kynge of .iiii. kyngdoms of England of ScotlaÌ„d of Denmarke and Norwaye Then as wytnessyth dyuerse authours after he had betaken this lande of Englande to the gydynge of Leofricus Egelnothus and other he then returned into Denmarke And from theÌ„s he yode to Rome in the .xv. yere of his reygn made there great offerynges to saynte Peter and Poule redemed the scole of Saxons fre of all former trybute graunted as before in the storyes of Iue and Offa and other kynges of Saxons is som deale more touched whyche redempcyon of tribute as sayth Guydo was called Rome Scot. But it shall seme in that sayenge some douteth for so myche as at thys daye in dyuers places of EnglaÌ„d as in Northamptonshyre and other the peter pens are yet gaderyd Canutus also after he had in Rome accomplyshed his purpose he in hys returne towarde Englande executed wonderfull dedes of almes in releuynge of the poore and other goftly workes payde great good for raunsom of crysten prysoners amonges other of his dedes It is wytnessyd that he shulde agree with the pope that was called Benet the .viii. of that name pay to hym certayne summes of money that his archbyshoppes after y t daye myghte haue the pall wythoute payenge of money therfore And wheÌ„ he was comen in the citye of Papia in Italy in hys way home warde he there brought the arme of saynte Augustyne the doctour for a hundred pounde of syluer and a talent of golde And here is to be noted that there be thre maners of taleÌ„tes The fyrst and grettest is of y â— weyght of .vi. score pounde weyghte the seconde of the weyght of .lxxii pounde and the thyrde and leest of .l. pounde weyght Then yf we reken this talent with the leest in a pouÌ„de of gold after troye weyght is .xii. vuces and in .l. pounde is .vi. huÌ„dred vnces and euery vnce of fyne golde is worth xl s. By whyche reason this talent shulde be in value to the summe of xii hundred pounde This precyous relyque y e kyng gaue vnto his trusty frende Leofricus y e whych he myche loued and trusted and remayned at Couentre many yeres after whyle Canutus was occupyed in thys iourney coÌ„playnt was brought vnto hym of some mysse demeanurs and rule that were occupyed and exercysed in his absence wythin this realme wherfore he wrote home letters to the lordes chargynge theym straytely that all such defautes were redressed agayne hys coÌ„myng home Thys kynge as wythnesseth Guydo was of great magnyfycence and vsed suche iustyce and temperaunce that in his dayes in the weste partes of the worlde was no prynce of renowne as was Canutus And ouer that he was gretly beloued dradde of hys subiectes In the tyme of this Canutus as tessyfyeth Guillelmus de pontificibus a munke of GlasteÌ„bury named Bryghtwolde whyche was after bysshop of wylton beynge in hys contemplacyon and prayer bethoughte hym on the lynage of Englyshe kynges And in that thought fyll into a slumber in whyche tyme of his slepe he sawe saynte Peter the apostle standynge by hym and holdynge in hys hande Edwarde the sonne of Egelredus which then was in Normandy the whyche to his thynkynge he saw saynte Peter saker y e sayde Edward as kynge of Englande And shewed to hym farther how holy this Edwarde shulde be in hys lyuynge and how he shuld reygne as kynge .xxiii. yeres Then thys monke frayned saynt Peter of the ofsprynge of thys Edwarde and who shulde be
dresse So in tyme passed was vsed great sadnesse In the chyrche But nowe men lyghte be wherfore the maners muste wyth men agree SO that by such light answere they planed or excused y e sharpenesse of theyr mysse lyuynge About this tyme whyche shuld by Ranulff be about the .xii. yeare of y e reygne of Edward Marianê° the Scot that before I haue often named that wrote myche of y e dedes of y e kynges of England at the age of .xxv. yeres forsoke the world went on pylgrymage was after shorne munke at Coleyne in Almayne in the abbay of Scottes whyche Marianus after some wryters was in great fauoure with Malcolyne kyng of Scottes In the .xiii. yere of kynge Edward the Scottes rebelled agayn y e kyng wherfore Sewarde erle of Northumberlande by the kynges commaundement gadered a great hoste and entred that lande and behaued hym so manfully that in processe he subdued the Scottes chased y e kynge out of his couÌ„trey so that after kyng Edwarde gaue that kyngedome vnto MalcolynÌ„ sonne of the kynge of Cumbrys to beholden of hym hys heyres kynges as chefe lordes of Scotlande Uppon Ester mondaye aboute the sayde yere GoodwynÌ„ syttynge at the kynges bourde wyth other lordes in y e castell of wyndsore yt happed one of the kynges cuppe berers to stumble and to recouer agayne so that he shedde none of the drynke wherat GoodwynÌ„ lough and sayde nowe that one brother hath susteyned that other wherby he ment that the one fote or legge hathe sustayned y e other from fallynge wyth whyche wordes the kyng marked him sayd Ryght so my brother Alfrede shuld haue holden me ne had Goodwyn ben The erle then conceyued that the kynge suspected hym of hys brothers deth and sayde vnto the kynge in defendynge hys vntrouth syr as I perceyue well it is told to the y t I shuld be y e cause of thy brothers deth So mought I sauely swalowe this mor fel of brede y t I here hold in my haÌ„de as I am giltlesse of the dede But as soone as he had receyued the brede forthwyth he was choked Then the kynge commauÌ„ded hym to be draweÌ„ from the table and so was conueyed to wynchester and there buryed Marianus sayth that as erle GoodwynÌ„ sat at the kynges table at wynchester he was sodaynly taken with a palsye or some other sykenes vpon the Ester mondaye and dyed y e thyrd day after And his lordshyppes were gyuen vnto Harold his eldest sonne then lyuynge Haroldes erledome was gyuen to Algarus the sonne of Leofricus whych was the erledome of Oxenford after some wryters It was not longe after y e kynge Edwarde sent vnto the .iiii. Henry than emperour of Almayne Aldredus bysshop of worceter wyth other noble men prayenge hym that he wolde sende vnto England hys cosyn Edwarde sonne of EdmuÌ„de Ironsyde for so myche as he entended to make hym hys heyre The whyche request was fulfylled so that he came into Englande soone after the whych as ye haue harde before was named Edwarde the outlawe But as witnessyth Guydo and other the yere after that he came into Englande he dyed at London and was buryed at westmynster Thys yere folowynge kynge Edwarde thorough yll counsayll exiled wythout gylte Algarus the sonne of Leofricus The whych assocyat hym wyth Gryffyne kynge or duke of walys and destroyed y e countre of Harforde dyd mych harme to y e towne and set the mynster on fyre and slew vii chanons therof Then the kyng sent Harolde agayn hym the whiche chased the walshmen into theyr own boundes and recoueryd the sayde towne by appoyntement holden by the sayde Algarus and amended all hurtes before done by the walshmeÌ„ and lastely recouncyled the sayde Algarus and his companye vnto the kynges grace THE CCXIII. CHAPITER ABoute the .xv. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed y e noble duke Sewarde ruler of Northumberland of the flux of whome Guydo reherseth dyuers notable actes whyche I passe ouer Of whom yt is radde that when he sawe well he shulde dye he caused hys armour to be put vppon hym and so armed and syttynge in a cheyre hauynge all the ryghtes of the chyrch sayde that so yt became a knyght and man of honour to dye not lyenge as an other mene man and so dyed was buryed at yorke And hys erledome was after gyuen to Tosty or Costy son of GoodwynÌ„ In the yere folowynge or .xvi. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed also y e good erle Leofricus erle of Mercia and of Chester and was buryed in the abbay of Couentre the whyche before he hadde buylded This man purchased many great pryuyleges for y e towne of Couentre and made it free of all maner of toll excepte onely of horse For the whyche to haue also free the comen fame telleth that after longe requeste made vnto hym by his wyfe named Godina he grauÌ„ted her to haue yt therof freed wyth that that she wolde ryde naked thorough the towne by meane wherof yt was freed Then Algarus hys son was erle after hym Harolde then the eldeste sonne of GoodwynÌ„ was in great authoryte ruled myche of the kynges armye The yere folowyng Algarus was accused by malyce exylded the land wherfore he fled agayne to Gryffyne duke of walis as he before had done of whom he was ioyously receyuyd and maynteyned The kynge therof beyng infourmed sent Harolde into walys to make warre vppon Gryffyne The whyche quytte hym in so knyghtely wyse that he chased the walshmen brent the sayde Gryffyns paleys at a place callyd RutlanÌ„ and his nauy and then returned into Englande about mydlent But aboute rogacyon dayes nexte folowyng the sayde Harolde with his brother Tosty was sente thyther agayne wyth a stronge army At whyche season they destroyed a great parte of walys in conclusion brought the walshmen vnto dew subieccyon and forced theÌ„ to gyue pledges for the contynuance of the same And that done pursued so sore vppon the sayde Gryffyne that in the ende his owne people for purchase of theyr owne lyues slewe the sayde Gryffyne and sent his hed vnto Harolde in the moneth of Auguste so that after the deth of thys Griffyne by the commaundement of the kynge the couÌ„trey of walys was commytted to the gydynge of the .ii. bretherne of Gryffyne the whyche had fauoured more the kynges party in tyme of the foresayd warre then theyr brother And this warre in walys thus brought to ende Harold by his polycy recouncyled agayne Algarus erle of Mercia to y e kyngê grace so that he contynued in hys fauoure durynge hys lyfe after About thys tyme a woman of Bakley in Barkshyre vsed yll craftes of sorcery The whyche as she was syttynge vpon a daye at a feste or great dyner a crowe that she had lykyngly fedde and brought vp kreked louder then he was accustomed to do â–ª when the woman harde that noyse her knyfe fyll out of her hande she waxed sodaynly pale And
with y t she beganne to syghe and sorow sayd alas this daye is my soule comen to the laste sorow And so after that she had spoken those wordes a messanger came to her and sayde that her son and all her mayny was dede sodaynly Then she was conueyed to her owne and was full syke wherfore in haste she sent for an other son of hers that was a monke a doughter y t was a nunne at whose coÌ„myng she sayd to them in thys wyse I am the woman that haue vsed yll crafte and enyll lyuynge and in vayne I hoped to haue ben saued by your bedes and prayers But now I praye you that ye woll releue my tourmentes and paynes for of my soule the iudgement is gyuen wherfore in case that ye maye kepe my body from tourment sewe it in an hartes skyn and laye it in a troughe of stone and hyll it wyth lede close and iuste and after do bynde it wyth barres of iron in moste strongest and sure wise and cause ye .xl. ê‘sons to synge psalmes by nyght and vppon the morne as many masses And yf I lye so stylle iii. nyghtes than burye my body on the .iiii. daye But all thys was for noughte For the fyrste nyght whyle the psalmes were in sayeng y e stroÌ„ge bandes were sodaynly to brokeÌ„ and one wyth a gresely loke was sene vppon an horse backe all blacke cast thys woman behynde hym so rode forth wyth so greate crye and noyse that it was harde as sayth Polycronycon .iiii. myles thens Thys wolde I not haue shewed but that I fynde it wryten and recorded of diuers authours Than to retourne to our fourmer story as wytnessyth myne authoure Ranulfe about y e .xx. yere of y e reygne of kynge Edwarde Harolde sayled towarde Normandye to vysyte hys brother wylnotus and Hacun hys neuewe the which as ye before haue harde were layde there for pledges for the peas to beholden vppon erle Goodwyns syde agayne the kynge But he in his course of saylyng was weder dryuen by tempeste into the countre or prouynce of Pontyfe or more verely into the puynce of PouÌ„tyth where he was taken as a prysoner and sent vnto duke wyllyam of Normandy The whyche forced hym to swere that he in tyme folowynge shulde marye hys doughter that after the deth of kynge Edward he shulde kepe the lande of England to hys behofe accordyng to the wyll and mynde of Edwarde after some wryters And after the opynyon of a nother cronycle wryten in latyn the sayd Harolde for to be in the more fauour of duke wyllyaÌ„ shewed to hym that kynge Edwarde in presence of hys barony had admytted the sayde wyllyam for his heyre and couenauÌ„ted wyth hym that yf he ouerlyued the kyng he wold in saue wyse kepe the lande to hys vse For the whyche tydynges promyse wyllyam grauÌ„ted to hym hys doughter to wyfe y t than was wythin lawfull yeres of maryage wyth greate dower And for to cause Harolde to be the more stabler in hys promyse kepynge he delyuered to hym Hacun hys neuew and sonne of hys brother Swanus whyche he myche desyred and kepte styll wylnotus the brother of y e sayd Harolde After whiche couenauntes suffycyentely stablysshed and enacted Harold departed from duke wyllyam wyth greate and ryche gyftes and in processe of tyme landed in Englande And at hys comynge to the kynges presence he shewed to hym all that he had done in the foresayde maters where wyth the kynge was well coÌ„tented as affermeth the sayd latyne cronycle THE CCXIIII CHAPITER IN the .xxii. yere of kynge Edwarde as testyfyeth Ranulfe Tostius the brother of Harolde was for cause not shewed disconted in the kynges courte and went vnto Harforde in the marche of walys where at that tyme the seruauntes of Harold by coÌ„mauÌ„dement of theyr mayster were besyed to make prouysyon for to receyue the kynge But whan thys Tostius was thyder comen he cruelly slewe the sayde seruauÌ„tes of hys brother hacked them in small pecys and caste them after in meresowce or salte And that done sent worde vnto the kynge y t yf he wolde come vnto hys feest he shulde lacke no powdered mete what so euer he hadde besyde Thys cruell dede sprange wyde so that for it he was hated of all meÌ„ in so mych that hys owne tenauntes the men of NorthuÌ„berland of which prouynce he than was lorde of arose agayne hym and toke froÌ„ hym that he hadde and lastely chaced hym into Flaunders wyth a fewe persons than a waytynge vppon hym But y e vertuouse kyng Edward not beyng contented wyth the comons doynge consyderynge it to be done wythout hys aduyce and coÌ„mauÌ„dement sent thyder Harolde to do correccyon vppon the heddes or capytayns of the Northumbers wherof they beynge acerteyned coÌ„tynued theyr strength and mette wyth Harolde hys people and sent hym to vnderstaÌ„de that they were frely borne and frely nourysshed that they myght nat suffer no cruelnesse of dukes Also they had lerned of theyr elders soueraynes to meyntayn fredom or to suffer deth and to lyue in quyetnesse vnder an easy duke whan Harolde had receyued thys message and aduertysed y e strength of the NorthuÌ„bers he perceyued well that wythout greate effusyon of blode he myghte not correcte the mysse doers wherfore it semed to hym better to fauour the couÌ„tree than to take hede of the synguler profyte of hys brother so that he retorned to the kynge wyth thys answere and purchased theyr pardon of hym and also procured so y e kyng y e he assygned to them an other duke or erle that was named Malcarus And Tostius hys brother wyth hys wyfe chyldern remayned in Flaunders durynge the kynges lyfe Kynge Edwarde in the .xxii. yere of hys reygne syttyng at mete vpon Eester day in his paleys of westmynster sodaynly lowghe whan other dyd talke and eate whan thys blessyd man had dyned and was entred into his chamber his famylyers asked of hym y e cause of hys lawghyng To whom he answered for y e same selfe tyme sayd he .vii. slepers that in the mount Seleon besydes Ephesym in Asya the lasse had slepte two hundred yeres or there about vpon the ryght syde the selfe same tyme they tourned them and shall slepe agayne vpon that other syde .lxxiiii. yeres Though thys be tolde of Ranulphe other syth in thys sayenge appereth some dyscordaunce wyth other wryters also wyth the former sayenge of the sayde Ranulphe in the .xxii. chapyter of hys .iiii. boke of PolycronycoÌ„ where he sayth that the sayd .vii. slepers were closed in y e caue the fyrst yere of Decius and so sleped contynuyngly to the laste tyme or yeres of Theodocius the youger than emperour by whyche reason they shulde slepe about y e season or space of .ii. hundred yere as aboue is sayd and than arose and shewed them to that sayd Theodocius emperour and many other dyed soone after as wytnessyth
of pope Benet the .v. of that name And the thyrde cause was for that he occupyed the sayd Paule wythout lycence lefull authoryte of y e courte of Rome Than Stigandê° proued that benyuolence of kynge wyllyam For where before he made to him louyng and frendly countenauÌ„ce dyd vnto hym greate reuerence than he chauÌ„ged all his myldenesse into sternesse and exceuted hym by y e popes authoryte so that in the ende Stigandus was depryued of hys dygnytye and kepte in wynchester as a prysoner y e terme of hys lyfe It is recorded of hym that he was so couetous and sparyng y t he wold take nothynge of hys owne vsed to swere by Alhalowes that he had not one peny But that othe was proued vntrewe after hys deth by a lytell keye that was founde fastened about hys necke For by that keye was founden greate treasour vnder the erth in mo places than one In thys counsayle also were put downe dyuers other bysshoppes abbotes and pryours by the meanes of kynge wyllyam and all to the entent that he myghte preferre Normans to the rule of the chyrch as he hadde preferred hys knyghtes to the rule of the teÌ„peraltye that he myght stande in the more suerty of the land In thys counsayle saynt wolstanÌ„ that than was bysshop of worceter axed besely of the kynge certayne possessyons fallen into hys handes by the deth of Aldredê° laste archbyshop of yorke that were wyth holden by y e sayd Aldredus But the kyng myght not here than of any suche maters for hurtyng of the lyberty of the chyrche of yorke Than vpon wytsonday after the kynge gaue the sayd archebysshopryche of yorke vnto Thomas a chanon of Bayon sent for Lamfrank an other Norman than abbot of Cadomonency and gaue vnto hym the archebysshopryche of Caunterbury Thys Lamfranke was an Italyan borne and was perfytely lerned in y e scyence of theologye or holy wrytte ryght apte in gouernynge of thynges bothe spyrytuall and temporall Upon our lady daye the AssumpcyoÌ„ the kynge made hym archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury Than Thomas that was chosen archebysshop of yorke came vnto Lamfranke for to be sacred as the vsage wolde Of whom Lamfranke axed an othe his professyon in wrytynge concernyng his obedyence Thomas answered and sayde that he wolde neuer do that but yf he myghte therof here suffycyent authoryte and skylfull reasons byndynge by the whyche it myght be knowen that he shulde so do with out any preiudyce of hys chyrche Than Lamfranke shewed and proued skylfully that hys askynge was reasonable and ryghtfull But yet Thomas wolde not assent but with sayde it and went for that tyme from Lamfrank vnsacred shewed vnto the kyng that Lamfranke entended to do wronge to hym and to his chyrche of yorke Than the kyng callyng Lamfrank before hym sayd than he trusted more in his cunnyng than he dyd in good fayth or reason But he answered so reasonably vnto y e kyng that in the ende Thomas by the coÌ„maundement of the kyng was fayne to come agayne to Lamfranke to be sacred and wrote hys professyoÌ„ with hys owne hande of hys obedyence and radde it in the whyche was conteyned that he shulde be obedyent in all that belongeth to the worshyp of god and all crysteÌ„ fayth â–ª which done he was sacred so deê‘ted And shortly after Lamfranke axed toke professyoÌ„ of all y e byshoppes of EnglaÌ„d THE CCXXI CHAPITER IN the .v. yere of wyllyam the conquerours reygne Edwyn and Marcharus erle of Mercia and of Northumberlande beynge in fere of daunger voyded y e kynges court secretly and were rebelles som what of tyme. But at length it turned to bothe theyr harmes For Edwyne was slayn as he went toward Scotlande and erle Marcharus wyth y e bysshop of Dorcham named Egelwynus toke the ile of Ely for theyr sauegarde But the kynge held them so shorte that in processe they were fayne to yelde them to the kynges grace and mercy Than he sent the bysshop to the abbey of Abyndon to be kept there as a prysoner where he was so dayntely fed that he dyed for hunger But some wryters testyfye that he was so hyghe herted that after he knewe he shuld remayne there as prysoner he wolde neuer ete mete after And erle Marcharus was had to the towre of London In the .vi. yere of hys reygne kyng wyllyam as before is touched went wyth a great army into Scotland and subdued Malcoâ—yne theyr kynge as before I haue shewed in the precedynge chapyter In the .vii. yere of kyng wyllyam Thomas archebysshop of yorke not beynge content to be vnder the rule and obedyence of Lamfranke appealed to the courte of Rome so that the sayde two archbysshoppes appered both in proper persone before the pope Alexaunder afore named In whose presence Lamfranke was so well fauoured that where Thomas aboue named and Remigius byshop of Dorchester were for skylfull causes depryued of theyr croyses and rynges he by hys fauour meanes restored them to theyr former dygnytees The cause of Thomas was for that he had holpen duke wyllyam to warde hys iourney into Englande For the whyche the sayd duke promysed hym a bysshopryche yf he opteyned vyctory And y e other was depriued for y t he was proued a prestes sonne Than Thomas moued the cause of the prymacy of Caunterbury of subieccyon that to hym shuld belonge and sayde that these two sees were farre asonder that is to meane Caunterbury and yorke and that nother of them by the constytucyons of Gregory shulde be subiecte vnto other but that the one is more worthy than the other for so myche as he is of elder tyme. To thys answered Lamfranke and sayd that y e constytucyons of Gregory made no mencyoÌ„ of CauÌ„terbury but of yorke London Than the pope remytted thys mater to be determyned before y e kyng the byshoppes of England and gaue y e palle vnto Lamfranke But for this terme or word palle is to many one vnknowen I shall therfore here shewe vnto you what thynge it is This palle is an indument y â— euery archbyshop must haue is not in full authoryte of an archbyshoppe tyll he haue receyued hys palle of the pope and is a thynge of white like to y e breded of a stole But it is of a nother fassyon For where y e stole is made in length and is worne about the prestes necke thys is ioyned togyder aboue so that it lyeth a parte therof vppon the shulders And that one ende hangeth streyght downe to the grounde before and that other behynde garnysshed in dyuers places therof wyth crosses And where the stole is worne nexte vnto the albe whan the preste is reuested to masse thys palle is worne vpon thys vestymente ouermoste of all whan an archebysshoppe syngeth hys masse whan Lamfranke had thus sped hys nedys at Rome he wyth y e other two bysshoppes retourned into Englande where thys mater hangyng in varyaunce bytwene
subtyle meanes to be agreable vnto theyr vntrouth whyche erle had to name walref But at length when thys erle walref hadde knowen the fyne of theyr entent he went vnto Lamfranke and shewed to hym the hole mater By whose counsayll he shortely after sayled vnto the kyng then beynge in Normandye and dysclosed the mater to hym and putte hym holy in hys grace and mercye when the kynge had harde of these tydynges he made good semblaunt vnto this erle walref and sped hym the faster into Englande But howe so yt was the forenamed two erles were warned of dysclosynge of this mater in such wyse y t they gaderyd to theym suche strength that y e kyng coude not haue them at his pleasure but as he was fayne by stronge haÌ„de to chase and outlawe theym And for he fayled of his purpose of them he emprysoned erle walref at wynchester and lastely caused hym to be hedded more of tyranny then of iustyce as affermeth myne authoure whose corps was buryed at the abbay of Crowlande In the .xi. yere was holden a great counsayll or synode of the clergye of the lande in saynt Paules chyrche of London where amoÌ„ges many thynges ordeyned for the rule of y e chyrch of England dyuers byshoppes sees were transported from one place to another as Selwey to Chychester KyrtonÌ„ to Exeter welles to Bathe Shyrbourne to Salysbury Dorchester to Lyncolne and the see of Lychefelde to Chester whyche thynges thus ordered wyth many other for the chyrche the sayde counsayll was dyssolued In the .xiii. yere of hys reygne after the deth of Herman byshoppe of Salysbury succeded OsmuÌ„de y e kynges chaunceller The whyche buylded there a new chyrch and brought thyther clerkes that were garnyshed wyth vertue and connynge And he hym self wrote bounde bokes that were occupyed in the dyuyne seruyce of the chyrche as the ordynall or consuetudynary the whyche at this daye is occupyed in the more partye of Englande wyth walys and Irlande and is nowe named Salysbury vse or the ordynary after Salysbury vse In the .xv. yere of his reygne Robert the eldest sonne of kynge wyllyam the whyche was surnamed Curthose or Shorthose and shorte bote also for he myght not haue the duchy of Normandy whych his father hadde somtyme assygned and gyuen vnto hym and after for hys wyldenesse hadde agayne resumed yt he wyth fauoure and ayde of y e French kynge Phylyppe and of Lewys hys sonne toke prays in that duchy and put hys father to myche trouble in so myche that at length the father the sonne met in playne felde with .ii. great hostes and eyther wyth other faught a cruell batayll It is radde that durynge thys batayll wyllyam was throweÌ„ from his horse and in great ieopardy of hys lyfe wherof hys sonne Robert beyng ware was so moued wyth pytye y t he rescowed his father and delyuered hym free from all daunger of his enymyes But howe so yt betyde of the kynge trouth yt is that many of his men were slayn his second son wyllyam the rede sore hurte so that in the ende kynge wylliam was fayn to refuse the felde and gatte at that tyme none aduauntage of his sayde sonne For the whiche dede and rebellyon thus made by the sonne y e fader accursed hym after the opynyon of some wryters whyle kyng wyllyam was thus occupyed in Normandy the Northumbers waxte sterne rebell and slewe in theyr rage walkerus the bishop of Durham but for what cause myne authour expressyth not Aboute thys tyme warynge erle of Shrewesbury made two abbayes in the worshyp of god and saynte Mylborgh wherof one was set in the suburbes of Shrewesbury and y e other at wenioke In the .xvii. yere of kyng wyllyam a cursed stryfe was arered betwene Thurstone abbot of Glastenbury a Norman and his munkes wherof a part of the cause was that the abbot despysed wold haue set a part such songe and offices as by pope Gregory and Augustyn his dyscyple of old tyme to them was assygned wolde haue compelled them to haue folowed the vse of one wyllyaÌ„ of FescampÌ„ And ouer that this Thurstone wasted and speÌ„ded the goodes of y e place inordynatly in lechery and by other insolent meanes and wythdrew froÌ„ the munkes theyr olde accustomed dyet For the whyche causes fyrst beganne great wordes wyth chydyng and after strokes and fyghtes so y t the abbot gat vnto hym armed men and fyll vppon hys munkes slewe two of them at y e hygh alter and wouÌ„ded of theym .xviii. And the munkes wyth fourmes and candelstyckes defended theym in suche wyse that they hurte many of the armed men Then the complaynte was brought before the kyng by whose iudgemeÌ„t Thurstone was agayne returned vnto Cadony froÌ„ wheÌ„s he was brought and the muÌ„kes were spredde abrode into dyuers houses thorough Englande But yt is sayde that in the tyme of wyllyaÌ„ the Rede this ThurstonÌ„ obteyned the rule of that abbay agayne for the pryce of .v. hundred pounde In the .xix. yere of his reygne kyng willyam then raysed a new maner of trybute For he caused to be gadered thorough England of euery hyde of lande .vi. sÌ„ An hyde of lande conteyneth .v. yerdes and euery yerde conteyneth foure acres And so an hyde of lande conteyneth .xx. acres an acre conteyneth .xl. perches in length and .iiii. in brede .iiii. acres make a yerde and .v. yerdes make an hyde and .viii. hydes make a knightes fee. By the whyche reason a knyghtes fee shuld welde a hundred .lx. acres and that is demed for a plough tyll a yere And not longe after he caused to be serchyd howe myche lande eche of hys barons helde how many knyghtes fees how many townes what nombre of men and of bestes were wyth in this lande wherof he commaunded a boke to be made whyche all was done For the whyche dede this lande was after greued wyth many sondry plages as after shall appere In the .xx. yere of the reygne of kynge wyllyam Canutus kynge of Denmarke wyth helpe of the Flemmynges to whome he was called wyth a great armye came towarde Englande But by the prouysyon of the kynge they were so fered that they were let of theyr iourney Then kyng wyllyam gaue vnto .iii. of his champyons .iii. byshopryches To Moryce he gaue London to willyam he gaue Thetforde and to Robert he gaue Chester whych Robert was after remoued to Couentre Of this Robert reporteth Ranulfe that he scraped froÌ„ one beme of his chirch in Couentre .v. huÌ„dred marke to fyll wyth y e hande of kyng wyllyam For erle Leofricus y t was duke of Mercia in the tyme of Edwarde the coÌ„fâ—ssour had adourned that chyrch with great ryches of golde syluer other precyous iewelles In thys yere Edgare Ethelynge whych was reconcyled vnto the kynges fauoure by lycence of the kynge sayled into Apulia Then beganne the forsayde plages to sprynge For greate morayne fell vppon the brute bestes and brennyng
feuours amonges the people and also great huÌ„ger and barreynes of y e erth Also in this yere great hurt was done in many places of y e lande by fyre and specyally in the cytye of London where vpon the .vii. day of the moneth of Iulii sodayne fyre began the whyche brent a great parte of the chyrche of saynte Paule wyth also a great parte of the cytye Then kynge wyllyam beynge in Normandye was syke and kept his â—hamber at RoanÌ„ a longe time wherfore Phylyppe the Frenche kynge in hys game sayde that wyllyam lay in chyldbeddeâ— and noryshed hys fatte wombe The whyche wordes when they were blowen to kynge wyllyaÌ„s crys he was greuously dyscontent and sayde when I am chyrched I shall offer to hym a thousande candellys lyghte wyth the whyche he shall holde hym smally contented The whyche promyse he after performed For in the moneth of Iuly wheÌ„ Corne fruyt and grapes were moste florishynge he entred Fraunce with a great army and sette on fyre many cytyes and townes in the west syde of Fraunce and lastely came to the cytye of Meaus and fyred yt brent a parte therof wyth the chyrch of our lady wherin he brent a womaÌ„ beyng closed in the walle of the sayd chyrch as a recluse But of this thynge speketh not the cronycle of Fraunce Nor yet for the more parte of any thynge that soundeth to theyr dyshonour done vnto theym by Englyshemen In this hete or as some wryters haue by y e lepyng of an horse kyng wyllyam toke such a dysease or sykenes that yt was the cause of hys deth And when he felt hym thus greued he called his sonnes before hym and exhorted theym in his beste maner that they shulde charytably loue and fauoure euery of them the other and holde to gyder as louyng bretherne after made his testameÌ„t and therin ordeyned wyllyam Ruffus or wyllyam the rede to be kynge of England And Normandye he beset vnto Rober Curthose And to Henry his yongest sonne he bequethed his treasour and mouable goodes And that done he enfourmed hys two eldest sonnes of the dysposycyon of both peoples and warned wyllyam to be louynge and lyberall to his subiectes and Robert to be sterne and sturdy vnto his Then he was moued with myldenes and delyueryd from prison hys own brother the byshop of Bayon Marcharus erle of NorthuÌ„berlande wylnotus the sonne of Harolde or after some the sonne of Goodwyne that was sent to wyllyaÌ„ by Edwarde the confessour to remayne for a pledge for his sayde fader Goodwyn And shortely after these thynges wyth other done he dyed in Normandye and was buryed in y e cytye of CaanÌ„ when he had reygned as kyng of Englande .xxi. yeres and vppon .x. monethes in the moneth of Iuly and the yere of hys duchery the .lii. when wyllyam was dede men spake of hym as they do of other prynces and sayd that he was wyse and gylefull ryche and couetous loued well to be magnifyed and praysed a fayre speker a greatr dyssymuler a man of skylfull stature but somdeale fatte in the bely sterne of face and stronge in armys and therwyth bolde and had therwyth great pleasure in huntyng and in makyng of great festes But he passed al other in leuyenge of taskes whyche condycyon hys subiectes construed .iii. maner of wayes and saydeyt was to the entente that he wolde excell all other in rychesse or ellys for to withstaÌ„de and defende his enymyes or ellys to staunche the appetyte of his couetyse mynde He buylded .ii. abbayes in Englande one at batayl in Sussex where he wanne the felde agayne Harolde and is at thys daye called the abbay of Batail y e other he sette besyde London vppon the south syde of Thamys and named yt Barmoundesay And in Normandye he buylded two also Thys man made the newe forest in the countrey of Southampton the whyche to brynge aboute he caste downe dyuers chyrches by the space of .xxx. myles and replenyshed yt wyth wylde bestes and made harde and sharpe lawes for the encreasyng of them as losyng of eyen and other And he helde Englyshemen so lowe that in hys dayes was almoste no Englyshe man that bare any offyce of honoure or rule But yet somedeale he fauoured the cytye of London and graunted to the cytezens the fyrste charter that euer they had the whych is wryten in Saxon tunge and sealed wyth grene waxe and expressed in .viii. or .ix. lynes THE CCXXIII. CHAPITER Wyllyam Rufus or wyllyam the erede the second sonne of wyllyam Conquerour beganne hys reygne ouer Englande in the moneth of Iulye and the yere of our lorde a thousande .lxxxix and the xxxi yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce Ranulfe monke of Chester sheweth in hys boke of Polycronycon y t Robert Curthose eldest sonne of wyllyam Conquerour was at the tyme of hys fathers deth absent The whyche heryng that his father hadde preferred hys yonger brother to y e kyngdome of Englande was therwyth greatly amoued in so myche that he layde his dukedome to pledge to his brother Henry and wyth that good gatheryd to him a stronge army and so landed at HamptonÌ„ wherof wyllyam hys brother beynge warned in all haste sent vnto hym messangers to whome he gaue coÌ„myssyon to say in maner as foloweth Thy brother wyllyam prayeth y t to take no grefe with y t he hath done for he clepeth hym selfe not kynge but as vnder kynge to reygne vnder the and by helpe of the that arte gretter then he better rather borne And yf thou consyder yt well he hath nothynge mysused hym agayn the. For he hath taken vppon hym for a tyme bycause of thyne absence But for he is nowe in authoryte by thy sufferaunce he prayeth y t he may vnder the so contyue payeng to the yerely .iii. thousande marke wyth coÌ„dycyon that who so ouer lyueth may enioye the kyngdome when Robert had harde that message to the ende he wagged hys hedde as he that conceyued some doublenesse in thys reporte But for he was lyberall and allowed more the honour then he dyd hys profyte as in other thynges folowyng of his dedes yt shall appere therfore he lyghtely assented to all that was desyred and returned shortly after into Normandye wyth pleasaunt wordes wythout profyte Thys wyllyam was crowned the xxvii daye of September vppon the daye of saynte Cosma and Damyan and was well ayded of LamfraÌ„k whyle he lyued He was dyuers unstable of maners so y t betwene hym his lordes was ofteÌ„ dyssencyoÌ„ In y e spryngyng of somer folowyng hys coronacyon Odo byshoppe of BayoÌ„ whych as before ye haue hard was delyuered out of pryson by wylliam CoÌ„querour came into EnglaÌ„d whom the kynge ioyously receyued and gaue vnto hym shortly after the erledome of Kent But he toke vppon hym in processe of tyme to rule in suche wyse as the kynge grudged wyth hys doynge And for thys the kynge and his sayde vncle fyll at vnkyndnesse
pytye that he suffered hym to be at hys lybertye whyche after the opynyon of wyllyam de regibus was done more of pryde than of compassyon THE CCXXV. CHAPITER IN the .xi. yere of the reygne of thys wyllyam the rede at a towne called Fynchanster in the couÌ„trey of Barke shyre a welle caste out blode as before it hadde done water And after by the space of .xv. dayes great flames of fyre were sene in the elemeÌ„t in sundry places and tymes Thys yere also y e two erles of Shrewesbury and of Chester eyther named Hugh by the kynges commauÌ„dement entred wyth theyr knyghtes the I le of Man or Anglesaye slewe therin many welshemen and gelded many moo Amonge the whyche a preste named Kynredus was draweÌ„ out of a chyrch and serued of y e same wyse and also cut hys tunge out of hys hed and put out hys one eye But this preste was of such vertue that by myracle he was restored to helthe within .iii. dayes ensuynge In the whyche season and tyme the kynge of Northganys or Norwaye wan the iles called than Orcades and now Orkeys after came wyth hys strength into the foresayd ile of Man where at the same season were the sayde two erles Than bytwene them was mortall fyght in y e whyche Hugh erle of Shrewesbury was stryken with an arowe in y e eye and dyed wythin .viii. dayes after But as sayth Guydo the Danys were chased and the Englysshemen hadde the vyctory Kyng wylliam was mych in Normandye for so myche as Robert his brother was all thys season in the holy land of whose actes shall some deale be towched in y e story of Henry the fyrste And wyllyam had myche payne to rule the Normans for they rebelled often agayne hym In the .xii. yere of hys reygne he came out of Normandye and when he saw the hall of westmynster y t he had caused to be buylded he was therwyth dyscontented that it was so lytell wherfore as it is rehersed of some wryters he entended yf he had lyued to haue made a larger and y t to haue serued for a chaumber Robert Losaunge that somtyme had ben abbot of Ramsey and than bysshop of Thetforde by gyfte of a thousand pounde to the kyng repented hym after and bewept that vnskylfull dede and toke hys waye to Rome and dyd for it hys enioyned penaunce and after retorned into Englande and turned hys see from Thetforde to Norwyche founded there a fayre monastery of hys owne goodes not of the patrymony of crystes chyrch But therin is a dowt to consyder For he was fyrste an abbot and after a bysshop About thys tyme by the meanes of one Stephen Hardynge a munke of Sherbourne an Englyshman of y e order of Sisteaux or whyte muÌ„kes had hys begynnynge in the wyldernesse of Cystery within the prouynce of Burgoyne as wytnesseth Ranulf munke of Chester But other wryters as Jacobus Phylyppus the authour of Cronica cronicaruÌ„ Matheolus wyth other sayen that this Stephen was the second abbot of y e place y t it was fyrste fouÌ„ded by the meanes of one Robert abbot of MolyneÌ„se in the yere of grace M.xcviii whyche to folow theyr sayeng shuld be in the .ix. yere of the reygne of this kyng This order was after brought into Englande by one called walter Espeke that fouÌ„ded the fyrste abbay of that relygyon at Ryuall about y e yere of grace .xi. C.xxxi The whyche shulde be about the .xxxi. yere of the fyrste Henry than kyng of England Somwhat of theyr relygyon is towched in the .x. chapyter of the .viii. boke of Polycronycon After that kynge wyllyam as before is sayde was retourned out of Normandy many wonderfull prodygyes and tokyns were shewed in England as the swellyng or rysyng of y e water of Thamys in suche wyse that it drowned dyuers townes and dyd mych harme by out passyng his boundys in dyuers places about LoÌ„don and ellys where Also the deuyll was sene walke in mannes lykenesse wyth dyuers other thynges whyche I ouerpasse The kyng was warned of this and tolde by his famylyers y t god was not coÌ„tent with his lyuing But he set all at nought and made of it a scoffe or a iape In the .xiii. yere of his reygne and begynnynge thereof as the thyrde daye of Auguste after the sayenge of Ranulfe thys kyng wyllyam beyng at hys dysporte of huntynge wythin the newe forest by glaunsynge of an arowe shot of a knyght named walter Tyrell was wounded to the deth in the .xliiii. yere of hys age After whyche dede the sayde walter escaped and saued hym self for few there were that hym pursued And so the kynge thus wounded was layde vppon an horse lytter and so conueyed to wynchester where shortly after he dyed and was buryed Of this man myghte be made a myche lenger story yf all hys dedes shulde be towched The whych toke vpon hym great thynges and mych gretter enteÌ„ded yf he myght haue lyued The daye before he was slayne one axed of hym where he wold kepe hys Crystmasse At Poytiers sayde the kynge for the erle entendeth to go towarde Hierusalem and I woll assaye to haue hys erledome in morgage for well I knowe he must cheuyche for money to perfourme that iourney The day that wyllyaÌ„ dyed he helde in his haÌ„des the .iii. bysshopryches of CauÌ„terbury of winchester and of Salysbury and dyuers abbayes of the whyche he let some to terme Also he refrayned y â— money y â— of olde tyme was payed to Rome called Rome scotte Of this wyllyaÌ„ reportyth Henry of HuÌ„tyngdoÌ„ sayth y t though this maÌ„ were lyght of som thynges yet he was stedfast stable of his promyse so y t what he ê“mysed good or euyll shuld be ê‘formed And though he were named couetous yet it shuld seme y t he was liberall as sheweth by this narracyoÌ„ folowyng Upon a season when the abbot of a place in Englande was dede two munkes of the same place the which before hadde gatheryd money made theyr frendes to kynge willyam and offered large offers eyther of them to be promoted to that dygnyte There was also a thyrde munke the which of mekenesse of humylyte folowed the other two to the entent that vppon hym that the kynge had admytted for abbot he wolde haue gyuen attendaunce and as his chapelayn to haue wyth hym returned The kynge called before hym the .ii. munkys seuerally and eyther out profered other And as he caste hys eye asyde he espyed the thyrd the whych he demed hadde comen also for the same cause Then the kynge called hym and asked yf he wold geue any more then his bretherne had offered to be abbot But he answered to the kynge and sayde that he wolde nother offer nor yet gyue for yt one peny nor wold haue so great a charge by any meane wrongefull when the kynge had well vnderstanden thys thyrde munkes answere he sayde that he was best worthy to be
sayde warre contynued by the terme of two yeres In the ende of whych two yeres wyllyam the eldest sonne of kynge Henry beynge a chyld and wythin age contented so well the mynde of Lewys that he refrayned of hys warre for that tyme. In the .xiii. yere at Shrewesburye was a great erth quake and at Nothyngham from the morne to the vndertyde The ryuer of Trent was so fordryed in the moneth of June as sayth Guydo that men wente ouer drye And the starre called stella cometa or the blasynge sterre aperyde soone after Theruppon folowed an harde wynter great deth of the people and scarcete of vitayll by the great moreyn of bestes In thys yere also the kynge founded the abbay of Hyde wythoute the wallys of wynchester that of olde tyme was wythin the wallys THE CCXXVIII CHAPITER IN the .xv. yere of hys reygne y e kynge enteÌ„dyd to haue â—moted Faricus abbot of Abyndon vnto the see of Caunterburye But by a counsayll kept at wyndesoure of bysshoppes y e kynges mynde was chauÌ„ged and to that see was then admytted Raufe that was byshoppe of Rochester And the same yere one Thurstone was chosen archebyshoppe of yorke the whyche wythsayde hys professyon of obedience that he shuld owe to the see of Caunterbury wherfore at lengthe he was depryuyd of hys dygnyte But after by laboure that he made to Pascall the pope before named the sayde pope wrote vnto the kynge that he shulde restore Thurstone agayne to the see of yorke By whyche meane he was agayne restoryd but yet he disdayned to do hys lawefull obedyence vnto Raufe archebyshope of Caunterbury Then the stryfe was renewed which Lamfranke before as ye haue harde in the thyrde chapyter of wyllyam Conquerour dyd appeace and was brought in argument before the pope The whyche at the kynges request promysed y t he wolde nothyng do nor ordeyne that shuld be derogacion to the archbyshop of Caunterbury or to the dygnyte of his chyrche But in coÌ„clusion the pope gaue such a defuse sentence in thys mater that he lefte the stryfe vndetermyned and vnassoyled And when y e kynges procuratours wyth also the archbyshop of Caunterbury were absent were yt for nede or for fauour the pope was so bowed that he forsoke y e olde rule vsed before hys days and sacred the sayde Thurstone and gaue vnto hym the pawle For this dede y e kyng was sore dyscontented wyth Thurstone and warned hym the entre of his lande wherfore the pope wrote after shortely to the kynge wyllyng hym to suffer Thurstone to occupye his see peaseably or he shulde be accused and suspended by the dygnyte of the offyce of Caunterbury and so Thurstone enioyed his see In the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .xviii. as sayth the frenche cronicle whyche was the .xvii. yere of thys kyng Henry the fyrst the warre was agayn quyckened betwen kyng Henry and Lewys kynge of Fraunce wherof was the occasyon as sayth the sayde frenche cronycle Thybaude erle of Chartres whych Thybaude was greuyd by the Frenche kynge and for necessyte requyred kynge Henry of ayde and helpe to whome the kynge as to hys kynnesman sent ayde and socoure And afterwarde the kynge sayled ouer with a stronge armye and sente a nobleman named Stephan into the lordshyppe of Brye to defendeyt agayn the Frenche kynge when Lewys vnsterstode that kynge Henry was landed in Normandye wyth so great power he in all haste assembled a stronge power and drewe hym towarde the kynge But there were so stronge holdes mannyd wyth Normans also such depe and great ryuers that the Frenche kynge myght not wynne vnto kynge Henry Then lastely by a feate of warre whyche were longe to reherse he wan a town named Lyngues in Cause in the whyche towne was a brydge to passe the ryuer of Thee and so into Normandye when a certayne of the knyghtes of Lewes had thus wonne the foresayd towne the sayd Lewes wyth his people spedde hym shortly after and rescued his foresayde knightes then spoyled and robbed the towne the whyche was ryche for so myche as yt hadde ben in quyet and rest many yeres before He also slewe and toke prysoners all y e Normans there dwellyng put in theyr stede FrenchmeÌ„ And that done he sped hym towarde kynge Henry the which was at a castell called Male assyse there made purueyaunce for the defence of the Frenchmen And when he hadde garnyshed yt to hys pleasure he departed thens But not longe after the Frenche kynge came thyther wyth his hole hoste of Frenchmen and after many sore cruell assautys wan the sayde castell and bette yt downe euen wyth the grounde After whych season as sayth the sayd cronicle fell to the Frenche kynge many and dyuerse mysfortunes For shortely after amonge other myssechaunces a noble captayn of hys named Angueran de Chanmount the whyche had done myche harme in Normandye to kynge Henry and wonne there some castelles and other stronge holdes dyed sodeynly And in shorte tyme after Baldewyne erle of FlauÌ„dres a man of great streÌ„gth and puyssaunce as he beseaged a castell was wounded in the face and dyed wyth in .vi. dayes after Then Fauques erle of Aungeos in whom also this Lewys affyed mych and trusted maryed his doughter vnto willyam the eldest sonne of kynge Henry and refused the kynge of Fraunce parte and ayded and assysted kynge Henry in all that he myght so that dayly the power of kyng Henry encreased and the Frenche kynges mynyshed Lastely these two prynces met wyth theyr both hostes in playne feld and foughte a dedely and cruell batayll where in the ende the Frenche kynge was ouercomen and loste myche of his people and was coÌ„pelled to flee vnto a place called Audely for his sauegarde But thys ouerthrowe of Frenchemen is excused in the moste fayrest maner so y t they excuse them selfe and saye that kynge Henry set vppon kynge Lewys when he was not ware but hys knyghtes all oute of aray order and also kyng Henry had farre excedynge nomber of men ouer that theyr kyng had with other wordes of boste of them selfe slaunder of Englyshemen the whyche as to me appereth is an augmentacyon of theyr owne shame But Ranulfe the munke sayth shortely that kyng Henry ouercame the Frenche kynge royally in batayll Then yt foloweth in y e story fynally these sayde prynces were agreed and wyllyam the sonne of kyng Henry dyd homage vnto y e French kyng for the landes of Normandye by the agrement of his fader For the kyng thought hym selfe to good to be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of y e Frenche kyng Then kynge Henry caused hys free men of Englande and of Normandy to do homage vnto his sonne wyllyam And soone after Fouques before named lefte hys erledome of Angeer or Angiers in guydyng of kynge Henry and yode hym selfe into the holy lande and wylled in his testament that yf he retourned not agayne that the sayde erledome shulde remayne vnto his sonne
in lawe wyllyam son of kynge Henry whyche hadde maryed hys doughter About the .xx. yere of the reygne of kyng Henry quene Molde or Mawde hys wyfe dyed in Normandy the whyche in her youthe was set by her father kyng of Scottes into a nunry and there ware vsed the vayle and habyte of a nunne For the whiche cause when kynge Henry was agreable to take her vnto wyfe thys mater fell in great despucyon Anselme then archebyshop of Caunterbury was sore agayne that maryage a season of tyme. But at length yt was suffycyeÌ„tly proued that she was there as a fygure a woman worynge that habyte wythoute professyon of order And this was thus ordered by her father to the ende to put by vnworthy wowers Thys of wryters was reputed for a blessyd and holy woman after the lyuynge of a worldly woman when kynge Henry had contynued in Normandy vppon the season and terme of .iii. yeres he toke shyppyng at Haterflete in Normandy and sayled happely into Englande the same day that is to meane y e .xxiiii. day of Nouember as sayth some wryters And shortly after willyaÌ„ duke of Normandy wyth Rycharde his brother Notha the countesse of Persye Rycharde erle of Chester with his wyfe the kynges nyce and the archdekyn of Herforde and other to the nomber of a hundred .lx. persones toke shyppynge at the sayde porte were all drowned a bocher onely excepte whyche mysfortune fell by the ouersyght of the maister and other which fell at a dyssencyon in the nyghte amonge them selfe by reason wherof they ranne vppon a rocke as shewed the foresayde bocher From this dauÌ„ger wyllyam duke of NormaÌ„dy was escaped and was in the shyppe bote nere vnto the lande But when he harde the lameÌ„table crye of the CouÌ„tesse Notha he commaunded the rowers to returne and saue the sayd Countesse whych done by what mysfortune I can not saye after she was receyued into the bote were it by tempeste or ouer chargynge of the bote or otherwise they were all swalowid of the see so that none of them was after fouÌ„de but ê‘te of theyr goodes Of this duke wyllyaÌ„ some desclaunderous wordes are lefte in memory both in the englyshe cronycle and also of other wryters the whyche I ouerpasse THE CCXXIX CHAPITER IN the .xxi. yere of hys reygne kynge Henry made y e parke of wodestoke be syde Oxenforde with other plesures to the same And Fouques erle of Angiers returned out of the holy land and maryed the syster of her that before he had maryed vnto wyllam duke of Normandye vnto the son of Robert Curthose and gaue wyth her the erledome of Conomanna And stryfe began to kyndell betwene kynge Henry the sayd Fouques for the wytholdyng of the dowre or ioynture of hys fyrste doughter maryed wnto wyllyam the kynges sonne In the .xxiii. yere of kynge Henry dyed Raufe archbyshoppe of Caunterbury and one named wyllyaÌ„ was set in y e see after hym And the kynge in thys yere beganne the foundacyon of y e abbay of Redyng And IohnÌ„ a cardynall of Rome was sente from Calyxte the seconde of that name theÌ„ beynge pope for certayne maters coÌ„cernynge the pope In the tyme of whyche hys so beynge here the cardynall made sharpe processe agayne prestes that norysshed Crysten moyles and rebuked them by open publyshement and otherwyse so that he wan hym here but small lytle fauoure But this dyssymuled doctour toke so great feruence in the correccyon of the iudgement of prestes of Englande that he forgate the lore and couÌ„sayll of his famous pope Caton whyche in the boke of his counsayll or of wysedome thus sayth Quae cuspare soses ea tu ne feceris ipse Turpe est doctori cum cuspa redarguit ipsum The whyche two verses maye be englyshed as foloweth Auyse y e well let reason be thy guyde when other folke thou arte aboute to blame That suche defaute in the be not espyed For yf there be then shalt thou haue the shame A mannes honoure suche thynges woll reclayme It ys full foule when that a man woll chese If that hys dede agayne hys wordes preche This couÌ„sayll was not remembred of the sayd Cardynall For in the euenynge after he had lewdely blowen his horne and sayde it was a detestable synne to aryse from the syde of a strumpet sacre the body of Cryste he was taken wyth a strumpet to his open shame and rebuke In the .xxv. yere of kynge Henry was called a counsayll at London where the spyrytualty condescended that the kynges offycers shulde punyshe prestes that cheryshed the foresayde mulys But the sayd offycers toke money and sufferyd the prestes to spurre theyr mulys at theyr pleasure whyche offyce at this daye is so clerely renouÌ„ced of al spyritual men y t neyther kyng nor bishop taketh for yt any synes nor yet correccyon necessarye to be done for the same In the .xxvii. yere of his reygne as reporteth an olde Cronycle the gray freres by procuryng of y e kyng came fyrste into Englande and had theyr fyrst house buylded at Caunterbury And aboute this tyme by moste accorde of writers dyed Henry the .iiii. emperour of that name whyche as before is touched maryed Molde the doughter of kyng Henry After whose deth the sayde empresse came vnto her father into Normandye when kyng Henry was ascertaynted of the deth of Henry the emperour for so myche as he hadde none heyre male he caused soone after the more party of hys lordes of England as well spirytuall as temporall to swere in his presence that they shuld kepe y e land of Englande to the vse of Mawde y e empresse yf he dyed wythoute yssue male and she then suruyued In the .xxviii. yere of kyng Henry Geffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Angeou maryed Molde the empresse Of the whyche two descended Henry the second that after Stephan was kyng of Englande In this yere also the kynge had dyuers monycyons and vysyons For amonge other ferefull dremys he saw a great company of clerkys with dyuerse wepons whyche manassed hym for dette that he shuld owe vnto them And when they were passed he thought y t he was manassed to deth of his own knyghtes And lastely apperyd to hym a great company of byshoppes whych thretened hym and wolde haue smytten hym wyth theyr crosses By this monicyon he toke remorce in his conscyence and dyd great dedes of charyte in Normandye where he hadde sene these visyons And after his coÌ„myng then into Englande in satysfaccyon of wronges done to the chyrche as affermeth Guydo he then founded the abbay of Redynge before spoken of And ouer that he releasyd vnto Englyshe men the Dane gelt that was by his father his brother renewed In the .xxx. yere of this kyng Henry dyed the erle of Flaundres and kynge Henry as sayth Ranulfe was by agrement of Lewys the Frenche kyng made erle as next heyr enherytour to the sayde erledome But it is not there expressed by
to the entent he myght fortyfye theym wyth his knyghtes to wythstande the empresse whose cūmynge he euer fered And y e yere folowynge he wāne wyth strength the castellys of Glowceter of Herford of webley of Brystowe of Dudley of Shrewesburye for the whyche cause Robert erle of Glouceter began to wythdrawe hys allegeaunce from kynge Stephan This Robert was the son of Henry the fyrst by reason of baste and for thys dyspleasure sent letters vnto Molde the empresse hys syster promysynge to her great ayde to wynne her ryght In the meane whyle that the empresse made prouysyon for her iourney kynge Stephan concluded a maryage betwene Eustace his sonne and Constaunce the kynges syster of Fraunce doughter of Lewys the great the whyche contynued the amyte betwene England and Fraūce Then in the moneth of Iuly and vi yere of Stephan Molde the empresse as testyfyeth Henry the chanon in hys .ix. boke entred this land by the porte of Portesmouthe and so kepte on her iourney tyll she came to Brystowe and dyd great harme by the meane of her passage through the countrey In whyche tyme of her sayde landynge kyng Stephan laye at the syege of walyngforde castell But as soone as he harde of the landynge of the empresse he anon sente oute commyssyons for more strength and so drewe towarde hys enymyes But in this tyme and season Robert erle of Glowceter and Ranulfe erle of Chester wente vnto the empresse wyth all the power that they might make The empresse herynge the great power commynge wyth the kynge drewe to the cytye of Nycoll now called Lyncolne and there helde her a longe season for all that the kyng myght do But lastely the empresse wyth her people escaped and the kynge was possessyd of the cytye and there bode tyll Candelmas After whyche season erle Robert and Ranulfe before named with a great power of walshmen y e power of the empresse came agayn the kynge where as when bothe hostes were nere ioynyng the erle Ranulfe of Chester spake to his knightes and sayd I requyre you that I that am cause of your parell may be the fyrst that shall entre into the parell Then answered erle Robert and sayd yt is not vnworthy to the y t axeste the fyrst stroke and dignyte of this fyght For to the yt is syttynge for noblesse of blood and vertue of strength in the whyche thou passest other men But the kinges false othe moueth men to warre and to fyght where we muste now wynne the mastry or be ouercomē And he y t hath none other socour is cōstrayned to defende hym by knyghtly and stronge dedes of armes of manhode And so shall we now agayne theym that by entryked wyth gyle wyckednesse as Robert erle of Mellent the erle also of Albemarll and Symon of Hampton the which is a man of great boste and of small myght Then kyng Stephan prepayred to set forwarde hys people and erle Baudewyne had wordes of comfort to the kynges peple sayde Men y t shall fyghte to theym is behouefull thre thynges The fyrst is ryght of y e cause leste men fal in parell of soule The second is quantyte of men of armys leste men be oppreste wyth excedynge nomber And the thyrde is the effecte corage of strēgth of knightes y t the quarel shuld not fayle for lacke of hardy and assured fyghtynge As touchynge whyche thre poyntes I truste we be well sped But ye take hede farthermore what enymyes we haue fyrste we haue agayne vs Robert erle of Glouceter whyche vseth great manasses and executeth lytle or small dedys In mouth he is a lyon but in harte he is a shepe He is pompous in speche and darke in vnderstandyng There is also Ranulfe erle of Chester a man wythout reason and full of folehardynesse redy and preste to all conspyracy and vnstedfastnesse of maner and dedes hasty and furyouse of hart and vnware of parellys He assayeth oft to acheue great dedes but he bryngeth none to effecte And what he fyrsly and fresshely begynneth he cowardely and fayntly forsaketh as vnhappy and vngracyous in all his dedys and is ouercomen in euery place For he holdeth wyth hym banyshed men scullers And the mo of them that be in a company the soner they be ouercomē and weke they be in fyghtyng for eyther of theym putteth truste in his felowe whyle hym selfe is ouerthrowen But or he myght haue finyshed his wordes to moste mennys audyence the crye of the enymyes wyth noyse of trumpettes and gruntyng of horsys approched and smote to gyther and forth go the arowes and gresely cruell fyghte was contynued vppon bothe sydes for the whyle y t yt enduryd where through the grene feld was turned into a perfyte redde so that many a pale wan vysage was there sene yeldynge the gooste wyth armys and legges disseueryd and departed A longe whyle thys fyghte stode in questyon whyther partye shulde obteyne vyctorye But in the ende kynge Stephans partye gaue backe and fledde and he full knyghtly abode on felde wyth a fewe of his knyghtes and was taken and so was brought vnto the empresse the whyche commaunded hym to be conueyed vnder sure kepyng vnto Brystowe where he was kepte as a prysoner from the sayde tyme of Candelmasse vnto holy Roode daye next ensuynge Aboute this tyme was founded the Abbay of Stratforth Langthorne wythin .iiii. myles of London by a knyght called syr wyllyam de Moūtfychet THE CCXXXIII CHAPITER WHen the empresse hadde wonne this vyctorye and had commytted the kyng to warde as before ye haue harde she was not therwith a lytle exalted but thoughte in her mynde that she was in a suerty of the possessyon of the hole realme But she was disceyued for Kent toke partye wyth kynge Stephan But yet after this victory thus obteyned the empresse came vnto wynchester and after to wyltone to Oxenforde to Redynge and to saynte Albonys into the whyche cytyes and townes she was receyued wyth all honoure And fynally she came to London for to entre the state of the lande At her whyche there beynge the quene made assyduat laboure for the delyuerye of the kynge her husbande promysynge that he shulde surrender the lande into her possessyon and he to be come a religyous man other ellys a pylgryme to hys lyues ende But all was in vayne for she myght purchace no grace as then vppon no maner of condycyons The cytezens of London also made great laboure that they myghte vse the lawys of Edwarde the confessoure as they were graunted by wyllyam Conqueroure and not the lawys of her father whyche were of more straytnesse wherof in no wyse they of her coūsayll myght haue any graunte For this the cytezens were dyscontentyd and knowynge that the countrey of Kent wolde strength theyr partye ordeyned to haue taken her But she beynge therof warned departed in haste and lefte behynde her hyr store of housholde and so fledde vnto Oxynforde where she
towne toke ê‘tye wyth the duke brake out vppon the nyght and fyred the town and brent a great parte therof In this while dyed and was drowned Eustace the sonne of kynge Stephan and was buried at Feuersham in Kent in the abbay that his father before had buylded Thybaude archbyshop of Caunterbury left not to labour conclude y e peace betwene y e kyng the duke endeuored hym selfe therin so dylygently wyth the assystence of other that in the yere folowynge the peace was coÌ„cluded vppon dyurese condycyons wherof one was that y e kyng shulde contynue as kynge durynge his lyfe and immedyatly after y e conclusion of this peace the sayd Henry shuld be proclaymed in all the chefe cytyes and townes of Englande for heyr apparant be kynge after the deth of the sayde Stephan and that the kynge shulde take hym for hys son of adopcyon and ryghtefull heyr vnto the crowne To the whyche couenauÌ„tes iustly to be holden y e kyng was fyrste sworne and after his lordes spyrytuall and temporall and so yode bothe to London where they were royally receyued And when y e kyng had fested the duke and gyuen to hym ryche gyftes he toke leue of the kynge and so returned into Normandye as affyrmeth the sayde authour the Floure of historyes Howe be yt the cronycle of England sayth that the accorde was made vpon dyuysyon of the lande betwene theym that is to meane that both shuld reygne to gyther and eyther of them to enioye halfe the lande But how that dyuysyon was made or whych parte of the lande eueryche of them shulde hold no meÌ„cion therof is made And the former accorde shuld be as abue is sayde concluded .viii. days folowynge the Epyphanye of our lorde in the towne of Oxenford And y e kyng dyed in the moneth of October folowyng when he had reygned .xviii. yeres full and odde monethes and was enterred in theforsayde abbay of Feuyrsham Of dyuers authours as Ranulfe and other yt is recorded that thys Stephan lyued in great vexacyon and trouble all the terme of hys reygne It is sayde also that thys Stephan maryed Molde or Mawde the doughter of Mary the whyche was the doughter of Henry the fyrst and countesse of Boloyne by whome he claymed the tytle to be crowned as by the yonger doughter of Henry the fyrst and Henry shorte mantell claymed by the elder But after most certenty of wryters this Stephan was sonne of Eustace erle of Boloyne and of Mary syster vnto Molde that was maryed vnto Henry the fyrste whych Molde and Mary were doughters of Margarete wife of Malcolyn kyng of Scottes whyche Margaret was syster to Edgare Ethelynge and doughter of Edwarde the outlawe that was the sonne of Edmunde Ironsyde Then the eldest syster Molde bare Molde the empresse by Henry the fyrste And Molde y e empresse doughter of Henry the fyrst hadde by her second husbande Geffrey Plantagenet Henry the seconde And so by Henry shorte mantell or Henry the seconde returneth the bloode of the Saxons to the crowne of Englande and so it dyd by Stephan but moste conuenyently by Henry the fyrst as by the dyssent of his mother By whych reason yt foloweth that the blood of willyam conquerour continued but .lxx. yeres yf it be accompted from y e fyrst yere of wyllyam Conquerour vnto the laste yere of Henry the fyrste Thys kynge Stephan at the request of Molde hys wyfe buylded in the yere of grace .xi. hundred .xl y e abbey of Coggeshale in Essex and set therin whyte muÌ„kes Also about the same tyme he founded the abbay of Feuersham in Kent where he nowe corporally resteth And the thyrde he founded in Furneys in Lancashyre and all he garnyshed wyth munkys of Cysteaux order dyed as before is sayde wythout yssue of his body Francia THE CCXXXIIII CHAPITER LEwys the .viii. of that name son of Lewys y e great began his reygn ouer the Frenche men in y e yere of our lord .xi. hundred .xxxvi y e fyrst yere of Stephan then kyng of Englande This also is called the yonger Lewys in whose begynnynge Iohannes de teÌ„poribus dyed Thys IohnÌ„ was somtyme a squyer in the house of Charlys the conquerour the whyche lyued ouer .iii. hundred yeres for whyche cause he was named IohnÌ„ of tyme as he y t myght remeÌ„ber thinges done of longe tyme passed This Lewys at y e tyme of his fathers deth was in the countrey of Guyan for to receyue the dower of his wyfe Elyanour as before in the storye and seconde chapyter of kyng Stephan is touched But when he harde of y e deth of his father he sped hym into FrauÌ„ce where after the necessaryes for the weale of his realme ordeyned he maryed his wyues syster named Alys vnto Arnolde erle of Uermendoze After whyche maryage solempnysed tydynges were broughte vnto hym that the crysten people beynge in the holy lande as warryours vppon the Turkes and Sarasyns were dystressed and ouerthrowen and dyuerse stronge holdes from them taken and wonne wherfore by the exhortacyon of that holy muÌ„ke Bernarde whych at this day is called saynt Bernard y e sayd Lewys wyth also Conradus the .iii. of that name then emperour of Almayne wyth Alphon then kynge of Spayne wyth dyuerse other nobles of Fraunce other prouynces toke vpon them the crosse and prouyded for the expedycyon of that iourney in the .iiii. yere of hys reygne after some wryters But of the takyng of hys iourney dyuers writers holde diuers oppinyons so that the doute resteth betwene the yere of our lord .xi. hundred .xl and the yere of .xi. hundred and .l. when all thynges were redy for that iourney the kynge the quene wyth the floure of the chyualry of FrauÌ„ce set forthwarde vppon that iourney and came in processe of tyme vnto Constantyn the noble where he met wyth Conradus the emperour and Alphons kynge of Spayne whom the prynce Emanuell then emperour of Constantyne the noble receyued ioyusly and made to theym by his outwarde contenaunce louynge and frendely chere and promised vnto theym ayde in that iourney bothe of vitayll and also for guydes for the nexte and surest waye But he contrary to his promyse dyd dysapoynte theym and nothynge ayded theym For he delyueryd vnto theym meale myngeled wyth lyme wherof grewe myche harme to the crysten hoste after And also he assygned vnto them suche guydes as brought them into places and couÌ„treys of sterylyte and other daunger so that hastely the Frenche kyng wyth great dyffyculte and losse of his men came vnto the citye of Danas and becleped yt with a stronge syege the whych he assauted and enpayred very sore and was lykely to haue wonne yt yf he had assauted y e place styll where he began But by counsayll of some false crysten men the whyche as wytnesseth Peter Dysroye and other had taken mede of the Turkes the kynge by theyr counsayll remoued the ordynaunce from the weker place vnto y
e stroÌ„ger where after dyuers assautes made the kyng conceyued well y t he was dysceyued A cause of this treason as sayth y e foresayde Peter was this The erle of FlauÌ„dres which by dyuerse experymeÌ„tes saw that the cytye was lyke to be goten made supplycacyon to the kynge and the lordes that he myghte haue the rule of the cytye at suche tyme as yt were wonne the which to hym was grauÌ„ted wherof beynge aduertysed dyuerse Suryons of y e couÌ„trey borne dysdayned that a straunger shuld be lorde of theyr enherytaunce and for that condesceÌ„ded and agreed to that treason by mean wherof the crysten prynces loste theyr trauell Then the crysten prynces seynge y t they were thus deluded toke theyr aduyce howe they myght contynewe theyr pylgrimage vnto the holy citye of Hierusalem But in this counsayl sourded and quykened so many opynyons that eche was contraryous vnto other By mean wherof the emperour was so dyscontented that he toke leue of the Frenche kynge and other and so returned into hys own countrey But the Frenche kynge taryed there in that costes a yere after and dyd there but lytle worthye any memory All be yt of this vyage the frenche boke maketh a great longe processe touchynge the wynnyng of the cytye of Anteoche wyth hys beynge and counsayllys kepynge wythin Hierusalem other thinges there rehersed But for I se the mater dysagreable to other wryters and also thynke that myche therof is fayned I therfore passe yt ouer howe be yt that to some persones suche fablys ben full pleasaunte to here wherfore all suche I remytte vnto the sayde french cronicle somwhat I shall folowe the authour Gyraldê° y t which wyth other testyfyen that Lewys in his returne towarde Fraunce waxed syke for y e long forberyng of his wife wherfore by thaduyce of phisycyons also of byshops he was couÌ„sayled to take a wenche because his wyfe was so farre from hym But y e kyng wythstode that counseyll and sayde that hym hadde bene leuer to be syke and dye of goddes hande then to lyue in spouse brekynge offende hys lawes And so the kyng put himselfe to the mercy of god and receyued helth shortly after Also it is told of hym that he vsed to faste euery frydaye brede and water and by his famylyers he was counsayled that he shulde leue that faste for wekynge of hym selfe fede a hundred of poore men euery frydaye the whyche vnto god shuld be myche more acceptable To this he answered and sayde we wold gladly fede so many poore men or mo but our fastynge woll we not breke For wythout the profyte that yt doth vnto the soule yt profyteth also right myche to the body For the purgacyon and reste of one daye helpeth myche to put of the superfluyte of the other and also yt maketh the sharper apetyte when Lewys was retourned into Fraunce for what happe yt is of the frenche cronycle made doutefull he was from Elyanour hys wyfe deuorced of the whych he hadde receyued before .ii. doughters as before is touched the whyche in processe of tyme folowynge was maried vnto Henry duke of Normandy whych maryage was a new occasyon of the warre betwene Englande and Fraunce For the landes of Poytowe wyth Gascoyne and Guyan Lewys claymed by his former possessyon Henry by reason of the maryag of y e sayd Elyanour as heyr to the sayde landes Of the whyche warre shal be shewed in the story of y e sayde Henry folowyng After whyche deuorce thus made kynge Lewys maryed the yongeste doughter of the kynge of Spayne that was named CuÌ„staunce and she dyed of her fyrst chylde Then for so myche as kynge Lewys hadde none heyr male by couÌ„sayll of his barony he maryed the thyrd wyfe the whych was the yongeste doughter of Thybaude erle of Bloys was named Alys This sayde erle dyed and left after hym .iiii. sonnes and .v. doughters The eldest sonne named Henry was erle of Troys the seconde named Thybaude was erle of Bloys the thyrd named Stephan was erle of Sancorum or Sauncorer and y e fourth named wyllyam was archbysshoppe of Raynes The eldeste of the doughters was duches of Burgoyne the seconde was countesse of Barre the thyrde was maryed fyrst to the duke of Puell and after to a knyght named syr william de Goer the fourth was countesse of Perche and the fyfte as before is sayd quene of FrauÌ„ce whych was a woman garnyshed wyth many vertues as the storye declareth THE CCXXXV CHAPITER IN processe of tyme after the solemnisacyon of this maryage complaynte was brought before the kynge of the erles of CleremouÌ„t and Puy or Puyll sonne of the duke before rehersyd and of the erle of Plomet that they shuld spoyle and wast the chyrches and landes to the sayde chyrches belongynge For the which dedys the kynge commaunded the sayd .iii. erlys to warde but not with out warre and shedynge of blood And after the subduynge of y e sayd thre erlys a knyght or great man of myght called wyllyam y e erle of Chalon wyth a company of tyrauntes assembled for to robbe and spoyle the chyrche of saynte Peter of Cluny in Burgoyne wherof herynge the prestes and mynysters of the chyrche to the entent to mytygate to appeace the cruelty of the sayde tyrauÌ„tes dyd vpon them the ornamentes of y e sayd chyrche and yode agayne them with processyon wyth a great companye them folowynge of the people of the towne and the countrey there about in peseable and charytable wyse But when the sayde tyrauntes approched vnto the sayde coÌ„pany with out compassyon and pyty as turkes ranne vppon crysten men or wyth lesse Pytye so ranne they vppon the prestes and other and spoyled them of all the sayde ornameÌ„tes and slew of that coÌ„pany to the nomber of .v. huÌ„dred or mo after spoyled the sayde chyrche of suche stuffe as was therin lefte It was not longe after or kynge Lewys had wyttynge of this cruell dede wherfore in auengynge the chyrche he gatheryd a conuenyent power and spedde hym thyther But the sayde wyllyam erle of Chalon herynge of the kynges coÌ„mynge fled y e couÌ„trey so y t the kyng myght haue no certayne knowlege where he became wherfore the kyng entred and seased his landes and gaue the moyty therof to y e duke of Burgoyn as chefe lorde of that soyle and that other halfe he gaue vnto the erle of Neuers to whose auncetry in tyme passed the sayd moyty apperteyned And that done he commaunded inquyry to be made of his accessaryes the prebensons or prebendars of the whyche he punyshed by dyuerse maner of tormentes and dethes to the great contentacyon of the countrey when the kynge hadde thus fynished this vyage and was returned into Fraunce soon after was knowlege brought vnto him that the Burgonyons men of the towne of Uerdeley rebelled agayne the hed chyrch or abbay of that towne and enteÌ„dyd to haue done some vylany to the
abbot and munkes of the same wherfore the kynge spedde hym thyther in all haste But for theyr sauergarde the munkes were compelled to fortyfye the chyrche and to defende them by force of armys so that betwene them and the Burgonions many an arbalaster and stone was shot cast And for the kynge myght not so hastly furnyshe hym of his soldyours he therfore sent vnto the erle of Neuers by whose meane as to the kyng was shewed this ryot began commaundynge hym that he shuld se this ryot appeased and that the chyrch of Uerdeley were restored of suche harmys as to theym was done by the inhabytauntes of the towne But of thys cōmaundement the erle set but lytle so that the burgeses perseuered in theyr erroure wherfore the abbot sente agayne to the kynge besechyng hym of his moste gracyouse ayde and socoure Then the kynge herynge of the erles dysobedyence was therwyth greatly dyspleasyd and suspected y e erle to be partye in the cause sped hym y e faster thetherwarde But when the erle was enfourmed of the kynges cōmynge he somdeale feryd and mette wyth the kynge at a place called Moret and there demeaned hym in suche wyse that the kyng forgaue his offense Then he promysed that the kynges pleasure shulde be fullfylled in all thynge as he hadde before cōmaunded wyth more as yt lyked hym to dyuyse Uppon whych promyse so made he commaunded that the Burgonyons shulde fyrste refrayne theym of that rebellyon agayn the chyrch and that they shuld newly be sworne to be obedient vnto the abbot and vnto hys successours as theyr p̄decessours had ben ouer that for the hurtes harmys y t they had done to the place at that season they shulde paye to the sayde abbot and couēt .lx. thousand sous A sous is in value after sterlyng money i. d. ob so that .lx. thousand sous amounteth in sterlyng money .iii. hundred lxxv pounde After whych ende thus made the kynge retourned into Fraunce It was not longe after that y e kyng receyued of quene Alys hys wyfe a sonne and named yt Phylyppe But for y e kyng Lewys had made many pylgrymages and vsed many ways of charyte in gyuynge of almes and otherwyse for to haue a sonne to be his heyre therfore he surnamed this chylde A dieu done a chyld gyuen of god Then thys Lewys for the intollerable dedes of the Iewes whiche in these dayes had great inhabytynge wyth in the lande of Fraūce vsed vsery sleynge of Crysten chyldren he ponyshed many by deth and many he banyshed his lande but yet many remayned Of this Lewys dedes is lytle more cronacled excepte when his son Philyppe was of the age of .xiii. yeres his fader caused hym to be crowned and resygned to hym all the rule of the lande and dyed the yere folowynge at Parys in the moneth of October in the yere of grace .xi. hūdred and .lxxix. By whyche reason he reygned to reken from his faders deth to his owne vppon .xliii. yeres and was rychely enterred by y e meane of his last wife at the monastery of Barbell the whyche he founded in hys yonge days After whose deth y e sayd quene Alys adorned his sepulture in the moste rychest maner wyth gold syluer and precyous gemmys vppon whose tombe was grauen these two versis folowyng as a counsayll left vnto his sonne Phylyppe 〈◊〉 superos tu qui super es successor honoris Degener es si degeneris a laude prioris whyche versys are to be vnderstanden as after foloweth Nowe take good hede thou that doest ouer lyue Hym that in honoure and vertue dyd excelle Se thou alter not nor thy selfe depryue But folowe hym which was of honoure the well For yf thou do not men shall of the tell Thou arte degenerate and growen out of kynde Thy progenytours laude hauynge nothynge in mynde Anglia THE CCXXXVI CHAPITER HEnry the second of that named sonne of Geffrey Plātagenet erle of Angeou and of Molde y e empresse doughter of Henry y e first began hys reygn ouer the realme of England in the moneth of October the yere of our lorde god .xi. hundred and .lv and. y e xix yere of Lewys the viii then kynge of Fraunce Thys Henry was somdeale redde of face brode of breste shorte of body therwyth fatte the whych to aswage he toke the lesse of metes and drynkes and exercysed myche huntynge He was resonable of speche and well lettered orped and also noble in knyghthode wyse in counsayll and dred to myche distenyes He was also free and lyberall to straūgers and harde and holdynge from hys famylyers seruauntes And whome he loued enterely or hated harde it was to turne hym to the contrary He was slowe of answere vnstedfaste of promyse gylefull of dede open spouse breker hamour of holy chyrch and alwayes vnkynde to god He also loued reste and peace to the ende he myghte the more folowe hys delectacyon pleasure wyth mo vyces rehersed by Gyralde the whyche for length I passe ouer This Henry yet as wytnessyth Ranulfe was not all bareyn of vertues For he was of so gret courageousnes that he wolde often say that all the world suffysyth not to a coragyous harte And he encreasyd hys herytage so myghtyly that he wanne Irlande by strength and toke wyllyam kynge of Scottes and ioyned that kyngdome to his owne From the suthe Occean to the north ylandes of Orkeys he closed all the landes as yt were vnder one pryncypate and spradde so largely hys empyre that men rede not of none of hys progenytours that hadde so many prouynces and countreys vnder theyr domynyon and rule For besyde the realme of Englande he hadde in hys rule Normandy Gascoyn and Guyan Angeou and Chynon And he made subiecte to hym Aluerne and other landes And by hys wyfe he obteyned as her ryghte the mountes and hyllys of Spayne called montes Pyrany Of the whyche wyfe Elynoure by name deuorced as before ys sayde from the viii Lewys kynge of Fraunce he receyued .vi. sonnes and thre doughters Of the sonnes fyue were named wyllyam Henry Rycharde Godfrey and Iohn̄ The eldeste of the maydens hight Molde or Maude and was maryed to the duke of Saxon the seconde Elyanoure to the kynge of Spayne and the thyrd named Iane to wyllyam kynge of Scycyle Thys Henry was prosperouse in hys begynnynge and vnfortunate in hys ende and specyally in the last fyue yeres of hys reygne For in the fyrst of those fyue yeres his strength beganne to mynyshe the seconde yere he loste a vyage in Irlande the thyrde he loste Aluerne agayne the kynge of Fraunce the fourth yere he loste Butyrycan and the fyfte yere he loste the cytye of Cenomenea and Turon wyth many holdes to theym belongynge Thys Henry the seconde ascertayned of the deth of Stephan spedde hym into Englande and was crowned the sondaye before Crystemasse daye of Theobalde archbyshoppe of Caunterbury in westmynster chyrch
The fyrste yere of hys reygne he subdued Irlande And soone after Thomas Beketh whyche after was byshoppe of Caunterbury was made chaunceller of Englonde This kynge caste downe dyuers castellys that before in tyme of kynge Stephan were buylded other for dyspleasure of the owners or ellys for the fere they shulde be strengthed agayne hym And also he banyshed many of the lordes and gentylmen that kynge Stephan hadde in hys fauoure Aboute the thyrde yere of hys reygne in the moneth of October were sene in the fyrmament two sunnys and in the mone was sene a redde crosse But of thys wonder sheweth the authoure of Cronica cronicaruÌ„ and sayth that aboute thys tyme in Italy in the moneth of Nouember appered thre sunnys by the space of thre owres in the weste and the yere folowynge appered thre monys whereof the myddle mone hadde a redde crosse ouerthwarte the face whyche there ys noted for a prodygy or a token of the scysme that after fell amonges the cardinallys for eleccyon of the pope AlexaÌ„der the thyrd whyche scysme by meane of the fyrste Frederyke then emperoure endured almoste .xx. yeres Also aboute this tyme Adryan the fourthe of that name was pope an Englysheman borne in the towne of saynte Albon of whome is more declared in the begynnynge of the .xxii. chapyter of the .vii. boke of Polycronycon Also in thys yere the kynge wente wyth a stronge armye into walys and after he hadde sette that countrey in an order and quyet he buyldyd a stronge castell at Rutlande and founded the abbaye of Basyngewerke In the .vi yere of hys reygne thys Henry maryed hys seconde son Henry vnto the kynges doughter of FrauÌ„ce that is to meane Lewys the viii whyche the sayde Lewys receyued of hys seconde wyfe named Constaunce the doughter of the kyng of Spayne as before ye haue harde in the seconde chapyter of y e story of the sayd Lewys This mayden was named Margaret By reason of whych maryage was appeased the warre that was begonne betwene Fraunce and Englande for the landes of Poyâ—owe and other the whyche kynge Henry helde by reason of hys wyfe In y e whych warre mych harme was done and more wolde haue ensued yf yt hadde not by thys meane haue ben agreed In the .vii. yere of his reygn Theobalde archbyshoppe of Caunterbury dyed and Thomas Beket chaunceller of Englande was archebysshoppe â–ª after hym of whome more shall folowe In the same yere kyng Henry with a stronge hoste yode to Scotlande and made so cruell warre vppon willyam kynge of that lande that lastely he was taken and dyd to the sayd Henry recompensacyon in yeldynge vnto hym the cytye of Carlell the castell of Bamburghe the newe castell vpon Tyne wyth dyuers other holdes and a great parte of Northumberlande the whyche he hadde wonne from the borderers And after fewtye and homage done by the sayde wyllyam vnto the kynge and a certayne summe of money by hym promysed wythin .ix. monethes folowynge the kynge suffred hym to go at large But an other authour sayth that the kynge of Scottys was not taken but strongely besyeged in a towne or castell so that fynally he was forced to agree to the foresayde couenauntes In the .viii. yere the cytye of CauÌ„terburye was fyred by neglygence a great part therof brente And in that season the archbyshoppe Thomas beganne to replye agayne y e kynges mynde for thynges that the kynge dyd exercyse agayn the liberties of the chyrche THE CCXXXVII CHAPITER IN the .ix. yere of hys reygne the kynge for dyuerse causes coÌ„cernyng y e nedes of his realme called a parliament at hys towne of Northampton Durynge whyche parlyament dyssencyon fell betwen the kynge and Thomas archbyshop of Caunterburye for dyuerse actes and ordinaunces that the kyng there procured to passe agayne the lybertyes of holy chyrch the whych Thomas gaynstode and denyed wherfore the kynge toke a great dyspleasure with Thomas in so myche that shortely after he was fayne to flee the lande and in processe of tyme spedde hym to Rome where he complayned hym to Alexaunder the .iii. of that name then pope and there contynued and in Fraunce and in other places in poore estate by terme of .vi. yeres and more when kynge Henry hadde certayne vnderstandynge that Thomas was thus departed out of hys lande he seased his maners and temporall landes into hys hande so that hys mouable goodes were spoyled and rauenyd amonge the kynges offycers In the .xiiii. yere of his reygne the kynge crowned Henry hys eldest sonne then lyuynge kynge of Englande at westmynster whyche was done to the derogacyon or harme of the archbyshoppe Thomas as yt is wytnessyd in hys legende and for that doynge Roger archbyshoppe of yorke whyche crowned hym was accursed But an other authour sayth that the kynge crowned Henry hys sonne to the ende he myght haue ful power and authoryte to rule thys lande and the people of the same whyle hys father was occupyed in Normandye and other countreys where hys landes laye In myche of thys season that thys blessyd man Thomas was thus banyshed the lande the kynge sente ouer byshoppes and proctours to complayne vppon hym to the pope for well nere all the bishoppes of Englande were agayne hym And yf any toke hys parte they durste not speke for the displeasure of theyr temporall lorde so that this blessed man defended the quarell of the chyrche alone In the .xvi. yere of y e reygne of kyng Henry Lewys the kynge of FrauÌ„ce agreed kynge Henry and the archbysshoppe the kynge then beynge in Normandye Uppon whyche agrement thys blessyd man came to hys owne chyrche of Caunterbury and there so restynge hym sente for such persones as had spoyled and taken perforce the goodes of the chyrche aduertysynge theym by fayre meanes to restore the sayde goodes and to be reconcyled to the chyrche as trewe crysten men shulde But when he sawe that he myght not reconcyle theym by fayre meanes he then vsed compulsaryes and denounced them accursed but if they restored the goodes of the chyrche by a certayne day wherewyth the partyes beynge agreued sayled ouer to the kynge into Normandye and shewyd vnto hym greuous complayntes and more greuouse then the cause or mater requyred For the whych the kynge which hadde not yet quenched the bronde of malyce in hys harte the whyche he bare agayne thys holy man gaue lyght credence vnto those complayntes and was sore ferueÌ„tly amoued agayne the holy man Thomas in so myche that vppon a daye herynge the complayntes of this blessyd mannes aduersaryes he sayd in oppeÌ„ audyence of hys knyghtes that yf he had any good knyghtes about hym he had ben adueÌ„ged of that traytour longe or that tyme. At the tyme of whyche wordes vtterynge was present syr wyllyam Bryton syr Hugh Moruyle syr wyllyam Tracy and syr Regnolde fytz Urle whych foure knyghtes thynkyng that they shuld to theyr mayster do a synguler pleasure yf they slewe thys blessyd man hastely takynge aduyse
eche of them of other of one wyll and mynde toke shyppyng and sayled to Douer and in all haste spedde theym vnto Caunterburye where the .v. daye of Cristmasse they executed theyr tyrannye and martyred that blessyd archebysshoppe at that aulter of sayne Benet wythin hys owne chyrche in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousande a hundred and .lxx as yt ys wytnessyd by these versys folowyng Anno milleno centeno septuageno Anglorum primas corruit ense Thomas The whych is to vnderstande in our vulgare as thus ¶ The yere to reken from Crystes incarnacyon A thousande an hundred and seuentye therunto The prymate of Englande wyth great abomynacyon was slayne wyth sworde Thomas that wolde not do The kynges hest whyche erred the ryghte fro Of the chyrche and lybertyes of the same wherby of honoure he wanne perpetuall fame After this cruell dede thus by the foure knyghtes done wherwyth the kynge after some wryters was not contented the kynges fortune beganne to decreace and fall so that he hadde after thys many aduersyteys where before he knewe not of lyke trouble In the .xvii. yere of his reygne the kynge made a iourney into Irland where wyth great trauayle he subdued the Iryshe And after wyth helpe of the prymate and byshoppe of Arnache he refourmed the maner of the dwellers and people of that countrey and that in thre thynges specyally Fyrste in rulynge and orderynge of the chyrche by the curates how they shuld order theyr dy uyne seruyce and mynyster the sacramente of matrymonye as yt was in Englande and other crysten regyons The seconde was how that the laye people shuld behaue theym to theyr curates and what wyse they shulde paye and offer to god theyr tythes The thyrde was for makyng of theyr testamentes Thys was ordeyned that euery man shulde make hys laste wyll in p̄sence of his neyghbours or at leste cause yt to be rede in theyr presence And fyrste he shuld reken what he ought and to sette so myche of hys goodes And yf he had a wyfe and chyldren then the resydue of hys goodes hys dettys beyng payde to be deuyded in thre partes one to the wyfe the seconde for the chyldren and the thyrde to be spente for the weale of the soule And yf he hadde no chyldren then the halfe to hys soule and that other halfe to his wyfe And yf he hadde no wyfe nor chyldren then to dyspose hys goodes at hys pleasure In the returne of the kynge oute of Irlande was a wonder thynge shewed vnto hym vppon whytesondaye whyche in the calender is called dominica in Albys whē the kyng shuld take his horse sodeynly appered vnto hym a man of pale wanne colour barefote and in a whyte kyrtell the whyche bodely spake vnto the kynge in the langage of duche and sayde syr kynge Criste greetyth the we le and hys mylde moder mary with also Iohn̄ Baptyst and Peter and commaunde the streyghtly that no Markettes nor seruyle workes be holden vppon the sondaye in the landes of thy lordeshyppe oute take that longeth to dressynge of mete And yf thou do after thys byddynge I assure the that all thynge that thou begynnest to good entent or of good purpose thou shalt bryng yt to good ende The kynge lyked nothynge thys speche and sayd to the knyghte that helde hys brydell Aske of thys chorle whether he haue dremed all thys that he telleth wherunto thys man answered whyther I haue mette thys tale in my dreme or not take thou hede well of my saynge For and thou do not as I haue aduertysed the amende thy lyfe thou shalte shortely here suche thynges that thou shalte be heuy fore to thy lyues ende The kyng toke all in game and the man vanyshed sodeynly that the kyng his knyghtes wonderyd of hys departynge wherof when the kynge was warned both of hys fyrste sodeynly apperynge and of hys departynge the kynge sette yt nere hys mynde and entendyd to do some thynges after that mannys counsayll But how yt was yt had no forwarde After that the blessed man Thomas was martyred the munkes by assent of the kynge chase Rycharde pryour of Douer the whyche was a man of euyll lyuynge and wasted the goodes of y e chyrch inordynatly THE CCXXXVIII CHAPITER ABoute the .xx. yere of the kynges reygne he purchased a dyspensacyon for the vyage that before he hadde solempnely auowed before .ii. cardynallys to go into the holy lande and to ieoperde hys proper persone agaynst Crystes enymyes The whyche dyspensacyon was grauntyd vppon one condycyon that he shulde buylde thre abbays in Englande In fulfyllynge wherof the kynge put oute of the howse of waltham seculer chanons and set there in theyr stede chanons reguler And for the seconde he auoyded the munkes oute of the house of Aumbrysbury and sette there menchons that he hadde brought from beyonde the see And for the thyrde he renewed coursely the charter house of wytham besyde Salysburye By whyche thre dedes he thought hym selfe excused of hys former promyse Then beganne his sonnes to make warre vppon hym the whyche were ayded by the Scottyshe kynge and the two erles of Chester and of Lyncolne The cause of whyche warre was after the declaracyon of some wryters for so myche as the kynge hadde emprysoned Elyanoure hys wyfe and kepte that wenche Rosamounde agayne all good order But other say yt was for certayne landes in Normandye whyche by ayde of the Frenche kynge Rycharde the .iii. sonne of byrthe and seconde then lyuynge wolde haue taken from hys father Of thys warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle Then as testyfyeth Ranulfe this innaturall warre endured by the terme of two yeres to the great dysturbaunce of the kynge and of hys realme tyll the kynge wyth great deuocyon vysyted the graue of the holy martyr saynte Thomas After whyche pylgrymage was by hym fynysshed in shorte processe after wyllyam kynge of Scottes and the two forenamed erlys of Chester and Lyncolne were taken at the castell of Anwyke But yet he lefte not the company of the forenamed Rosamunde to the whych wenche he hadde made an house of wonder workyng so that no creature man or woman myghte wynne to her but yf he were instructe by the kynge or suche as were ryght secrete with hym touchynge that mater Thys house after some wryters was named Labyrinthus or Dedalus worke or house whyche ys to meane after moste exposytours an howse wroughte lyke vnto a knot in a garden called a mase But the common fame telleth that lastely the quene wan to her by a clew of threde or sylke and delte wyth her in suche maner that she lyued not longe after Of the maner of her deth spekyth nothynge myne authoure but when she was dede she was buryed at the howse or monasterye of Goddestow besyde Oxenforde with these versys vppon her toumbe Hic iacet in tūba Rosa mūdi sed nō rosa mūda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere
enfourmed and also of the peace bytwene the erle of Thoners and the Frenche kynge he by meanes of one Roberte a legate of Rome sought meanes of treaty and of peace so that in processe by dylygence of the sayde Robert and other a peace was concluded for .v. yeres whyche peace concluded and assured eyther kynge returned into theyr owne prouynces wythin short whyle after y e Frenche kyng was returned into FrauÌ„ce he called to mynde the great vyctory had of the Almayns wyth also one other whych Lewys his son about y e same tyme had agayne or of kynge IohnÌ„ in the countre of Aungeou at the castell of Moyne or Mayne For the whyche .ii. vyctoryes the kynge edyfyed a monastery besyde the cyty of Sayntles in the honour of saynt Uyctor and endowed it wyth fayre and ryche possessyons and named it the abbey of saynt Uyctor In the .xxxvi. yere of the reygne of thys Phylyppe Lewys hys sonne by procurynge and sturrynge of the lordes of Englande sayled into the sayde prouynces as more playnely shall be shewed in the .xvi. yere of the reygne of kynge IohnÌ„ Many mo storyes actes myght I brynge in and set in thys story of thys kynge Phylyppe yf I shulde folowe the Frenche boke For he maketh there a rehersayll that conteyneth .xxxix. greate leuys of parchemyne Of the whyche I haue taken out suche as to me semeth moste conuenyent and haue ouer passed the other for lengthe of the tyme. Than it foloweth thys Phylyp after these dayes drewe hym to more quyet and reste so that after thys peace or trewce coÌ„cluded wyth kyng IohnÌ„ of Englande the authour speketh not or myndeth of any noble dede by hym done So that in the yere of our lorde .xii. hundred and .xxii whyche shulde be the yere of hys reygne .xliii the sayd authour begynneth and sayth that in that foresayd yere apered a greate eclypce of the son wherof the lyke hadde not ben seen in many yeres passed And in the yere folowynge dyed thys Phylyppe in the moneth of Iunii whan he hadde reygned vppon xliiii yeres Before whose deth apered a great comete or blasyng starre the whyche the Frenche men wyth also the foresayde eclypce they adiudged for pronostiquys and tokens of the kynges deth the whyche was buryed wyth excellent pompe in the monastery of saynt Denys in the yere of our lorde a thousand two hundred and .xxiii. and of hys age .lviii leuynge after hym the fore named Lewys whyche was enoynted kyng after hym Thys Phylyppe amonges other notable thynges ordeyned in hys testament be sette to the aydynge and wynnynge of the holy cytye of Hierusalem thre hundred thousande pownde of Parys money to the hospytall in Mount forte a hundred thousande pownde and to be dystrybuted amonges the poore comons of hys londe he gaue twenty thousande pownde But here is to be noted there is a great dyuersyte bytwene a pownd of Parys money and a pownde of sterlynge money For a pownde of Parys money is but two shyllynges and .vi. pence sterlynge or nere there about And so it foloweth that a thousande pownde of Parys is but a hundred fyue and twenty pownde sterlynge By whyche accompte it foloweth that thys kynge gaue to the ayde of the holy londe .xxxvii. thousande and fyue hundred pownde sterlynge to the hospytall xii thousande and fyue hundred pownde sterlynge and to the poore people two thousand fyue hundred pownde And thus here I make an ende of thys volume for cause and coÌ„syderacyon as after is shewed in the begynnynge of the nexte volume more manyfestely ¶ Lenuoye PRece forth rude volume and recoÌ„mende me To my derest frende experte in all scyence Praye hym at leysour the to ouerse And where in meter or prose he fyndeth offence Or congrewe englysshe or of perfyte sentence Humbly hym praye that he woll the correcte whyche in all hys faytes is so cyrcumspecte And shewe to hym forther hys meryt to encreace The seconde volume ys redy to hym dyght Praye hym he woll not therfore wyth the sursease Tyll that thy felow he haue by hys insyght And by hys scyence brought in so good plyght That to all readers it maye be delectable And to the herers frutefull and profytable And not to dysdayne my malapert rudenesse That to hys payne I shulde thus boldely sende Or hym to wyll to suche greate besynesse So rude a worke to correcte and amende But shew hym sothely that all that I entende Is for to enhaunce hys prayse and greaâ—e laude As he shall knowe I truste wythout frawde ¶ The seconde volume of Fabyans cronycle Conteynyng the cronycles of Englande and of Fraunce from the begynnyng of the reygne of king Rycharch the fyrste vntyll the begynnyng of the reyne of our moste redoubted souerayne lord kynge Henry the .viii. ⧠¶ Prentyd at London By wyllyam Rastell 1533 ⧠CVM PRIVILEGIO THE TABLE THere begynneth the table of the seconde volume whiche denounces and sheweth all the actes done in euery kynges dayes conteyned in the sayde volume and that euery acte folowes by letter and by the nouÌ„ber of y e lefe as in thys sayd table is expressed and begynneth at the wardes of London at kynge Rycharde the fyrste whose actes more at leÌ„gth in thys sayd volume shal be shewed wyth other kinges ensuyng by letter in this sayd table as fyrste A.B.C. and so forthe ACrys a stronge citye in the holy laÌ„d was wonne by the crysten as appereth fo iiii Actes of the great Cane of Tartaris folio xxiii Abbotte of waltham was accorded wyth the citesyns of LoÌ„don fo xxviii Accorde made betwene kyng Henry the .iii. and hys barons fo xxxviii Actes done in Hethenes by Lowys the Frenche kyng fo xlviii Acris or Acon abouenamed cytye woÌ„ne agayn by y â— Turkes fo lxix Accorde or agrement was made bytwene EnglaÌ„d ScotlaÌ„d fo xc Actes were made for weryng of sylk folio xci Actes in Fraunce done by the duke of Lancastre fo ciii Actes made by FreÌ„chmeÌ„ for the occupyeng of y e admissioÌ„ of y e enherytour of Fraunce folio cxxxvii Accorde made betwene the dukes of Orleaunce and of Burgoyne fo clx AccusacyoÌ„s by the duke of Burgoyn agayn the duke of Orleaunce fo clxi Accorde made betwene the sayde dukes folio clxi Acte made for gyuynge of lyuereys folio clxv Actes made agayn straungers se in folio clxxc Actes made for halowynge of the sondaye wythin the cytye of LondoÌ„ folio cxciâ—i Abbay of Bury was spoyled fo cxiii Adyme was graunted to kyng HeÌ„ry the fyft fo clxxvii A quyndecyme was grauÌ„ted to king Henry the .iii. fo xxi A letter deuysed by the baroÌ„s sente to kyng Henry the .iii. fo xxxvii A letter was sent by Rychard kynge of Romayns to the baroÌ„s fo xxxvii A quarter of where was solde for ii s. folio xc A fraye was made in Fletestrete vpoÌ„ a bakers seruaunt fo cxlv A fray made in Fletestrete by one Her bottell fo cxcii
dyspleased for that he myght gyue no bysshopryches withī the realme of Englande in the .xviii yere of kyng Edwarde the .iii. as apereth fo xcvi Cytezyns of London are tolle free folio xx Cytezyns of Londn were arrested folio xxx Clerkes of Orleaunces wythstande the kynge of Fraunces commaundement fo cxix Churche or monastery of westmynster was ended of buyldyng as apereth fo lviii Condycions made by the borough-maysters of the towne of Burgys agaynst theyr erle fo lxxxvi Constable of Fraunce was murdred by the aduyse of Charles kyng of Nauerne fo cxxii Constable of the towre of London was drowned whose name was called syr Thomas Ramston̄ as appereth folio clxviii Constantynoble was wonne by the Turkys as it is shewed in folio cxcix Colacyon made by the archebysshop of Caunterbury to the lordes for the deposycyon of kyng Rycharde the .ii. folio cliiii Conclusyon of maryage by kynge Henry the .vi. fo cxcii Condycyons of kynge Lowys as is shewed fo ccxxii Commynge of the emperoure into Fraunce and of hys honourable receyte folio cxxxvii Composycyon was made betwene kynge Henry the syxte and the duke of yorke as appereth folio ccv Copy of a letter sent from Edwarde the .iii. vnto the Frenche kynge and answere to the same made loke in folio xcv Copy of an instrument made for deposyng of kyng Rycharde as is shewed folio cliii Copye of a byll put into the parlyament house for the temporaltees as is shewed fo clxix Copy of a letter sent by the bysshope of wynchester vnto the duke of Bedforde folio clxxxi Copy of a pardon made by the kyng vnto the cytezyns of London as apereth fo xli Correccyon of aduoutry as is shewed folio lxxiii Coronacion of quene Katheryne as appereth fo clxxvi Courses of seruyce for the feest of the sayd coronacyon fo clxxvi Corps of kynge Henry the .v. was with great solempnite brought vnto the monastery of westminster as apereth fo clxxi Countesse of Henawde laboured to make a peace betwene kyng Edward the thyrd kynge Phylyp of Fraūce folio xcv Couenauntes betwene the regente the kynge of Nauerne are expressed and shewed folio cxxxi Couenauntes of maryage betwene kynge Henry the .v. and the Frenche kyng beholde in fo clxxv Crossed treers came fyrste into Englāde in the .iii. yere of kyng Edward the .ii. folio lxxv Crucyfix of golde belongyng to sait Denys church in Fraunce was axed by the kyng of the monkes for ayde folio cxx DAme Blaunche was ayded by Phylip the French kynge as appereth folio lii Dame Elynour Cobham was arrested of treason as it is shewed in folio cxci Dauyd brother of Lewyn prynce of walys wrought treason as it is shewed in fo lvii Dauyd aforesayd was taken folio lviii Daunsynge wonderfull beholde folio lix Derthe of corne folio lx Dede knyght apered to one mayster Morres in walys fo xiii Derknesse intollerable fylle in Paulys churche the bysshoppe beynge at masse folio xxi Deuorce betwene Charlys y e French kynge and Blaūche as it is shewed folio lxxxiiii Dede corpsys what noumbre in one yere were buryed in London fo c Depe a towne in Normandy was strongly assayled by the lord Talbot folio cxcii Denham esquyer toke the lorde Ryuers at Sand wyche folio cciiii Dyscencyon amonge the lordes of Englande fo xxxii Dyscencion fyll amōge the lordes in Normandy fo cxix Dyscencion grewe betwene y e Frēche kynge and the kynge of Nauerne folio cxxii Dyscencyon fylle amonge the Frēch men for cessynge of an ayde folio cxxiii Dyscencyon grewe amonge the thre astates of the realme of Fraunce folio cxxvi Dyuers inconuenyences fyll in Englande and in Fraunce as is shewed folio c Dyuerse vysyons and meruayles were sene in the ayer as it is shewed folio cviii Duke of Ostryche dyed and the hostages of kynge Rycharde were free delyuered folio ix Duke of Lancasters actes folio ciii Duke Iohn̄ of Lācastre made warre in Fraunce folio cxi Duke of Lancastre passed thorugh Fraunce wythoute fyghte folio cxiii Duke of Burgoyn complayneth vppon syr Iohn̄ Chalous knyghte folio cxviii Duke of Normandy maketh hys oracion to the cytesyns of Parys folio cxxviii Duke foresayde was proclaymed regente of Fraunce as it is shewed folio cxxx Duke of Lancastre reentred Fraūce folio cxxxvi Duke of Lācastre warred in Spayn̄ folio cxlv Duke of Glouceter spake sharpe wordes to kyng Rycharde the secōd folio cxlix Duke of Glouceter was arested and murdered folio cxlix Dukes of Herforde and of Northfolke fyll at dyscencyon for cause shewed folio cl Duke of Lancastre claymed the crowne folio cliii Duke of Orleaunce laboured agaīst the vnyuersyte of Parys folio clx Duke of Orleaunce was slayne folio clx Dukes of Orleaunce of Burgoyn maketh new warre fo clx Duke of Burgoyne was slayne folio clxiii Dukes and barons were put to deth for treason folio clxv Duke of Clarence was slayn folio clxxvii Duke of Glouceter was made protectour of Englande in the fyrste yere of the reygne of kynge Henry the syxte and the duke of Bedforde regente of Fraunce as it is shewed in fo c.lxxix Duke of Bedforde wynneth holdes in Fraunce se in fo clxxx Duchesse of Holād was taken prysoner loke in fo clxxxi Duke of Alenson was delyuered for hys raunsom fo clxxxii Duke of Northfolke was in greate ieopardy of drownyng fo clxxxiii Duke of Burgoyne turned from the Englysshe partye to y e French partye as is shewed in fo clxxxviii Duke of Burgoyn layde syege to Calays fo clxxxix Dukes erles were created as apereth in fo cxciii Duke of Suffolke was arrested folio cxcv Duke of Somerset was arrested as sheweth in fo c.xcviii Duke of yorke gathered people as apereth in fo cxcviii Duke of yorke dyscharge of hys protectourshyp fo cci Duke of yorke and othe were attaynted as apereth in fo cciiii Duke of Bukkyngham many other were slayne fo cciiii Duke of yorke taketh the kynges royall see fo ccv Duke of yorke with other was slayn folio ccv Duke of Burgoyne assisteth y e Frēch kynges sonne agaynst hys father as is shewed in fo ccix Duke of Brytayn other conspyred agayne theyr kyng fo ccix Duke of Somerset wyth other put to deth fo ccxv Duke of Clarence wyth other lāded at Dartmouh fo ccxviii Duke of Exceter was founde dede in the see folio ccxxi Duke Clarence was drowned in wyne fo ccxxii Duke of Glouceter was made protectour fo ccxxiiii Duke of Bukkyngham sheweth the tytle of kyng Rychard fo ccxxv Duke of Glouceter taketh possessyō at westmynster as appereth folio ccxxv Duke of Bukkyngham cōspyreth agaynst kyng Rychard was taken beheded at Salysbury fo ccxxv Duke of Orleaūce was taken in batayll as is shewed fo ccxxviii Duke of Brytayne dyed whereby great warre foloweth as it is shewed fo ccxxviii EDwarde the fyrste of that name sonne of Henry y e thyrde surnamed Edwarde Longe shanke began
Anno domini M.C.xcii  Anno domini M.C.xciii  wyllyam Hauershall  Balliui  Anno .iii.  IohnÌ„ Buknot  IN the thyrde yere and moneth of Nouember when the Frenche kynge was thus departed kyng Rychard with the duke of Burgoyn whom the French kynge hadde lefte behynde hym to haue the rule of the Frenche hoste lafte and remaynyng in Acre and the countre there about called before hym dyuers persons or pledges of Turkes for the perfourmaunce of certayne appoyntementes taken wyth them at y e wynnynge or gyuynge vp of the sayde cytye of Acris wherof one especiall couenauÌ„t was that by a certayne daye than expyred they shulde cause y e holy crosse to be restored vnto the crysten prynces The whyche for he saw well that they wolde not or myghte not perfourme he therfore put in execucyon of Turkes ouer the noumber of .v. thousande as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle But that agreed not all of the beste wyth the former sayeng coÌ„syderynge the cytye was delyuered by appoyntement there shulde not so many Turkes remayne there But Peter Dysroye sayth that for brekynge of thys appoyntement kynge Rycharde put to deth all suche Turkes as were than wythin the cytye of Acris whyche maye be ment by the hostages or pledges It was not longe after that tydynges were brought vnto kyng Rycharde that the cytye of Hierusalem was wythout any greate strength of Soldyours and that it myghte be wonne wyth easy labour wherfore kyng Rychard assembled the lordes to haue theyr couÌ„sayll where it was coÌ„cluded that euery capyteyne shuld prepare hym to go thyther Uppon whyche agrement the crysten hoste sped them in such wyse y t they were within .v. myles of y e sayd city of Hierusalem where they toke a new couÌ„sayll how they shuld order them and theyr people to lay theyr syege about the cytye In whyche couÌ„sayll it was concluded y t kynge Rycharde wyth hys Englyshe men shulde haue the vawewarde and the duke of Burgoyne the rere warde After whyche conclusyon taken the kynge spedde hym vppon his waye towarde the cytye But by what myshappe or mysfortune I can not saye so soone as the kynge was departed the duke called the lordes of Fraunce before hym and sayde yt is euydent vnto you that all be yt our hedde and souerayne lorde is absent the floure of the chyualry of FrauÌ„ce is present And yf any thyng be done to the honour of the Crysten and reproche of infydels yt is most lykely to be done by vs consyderyng y t insuffycyencye of Englyshemen and other yet neuerthelesse what someuer honoure grow by our dedis to y e cristen hoste yt shall be accompted vnto kyng Rycharde because of hys presence so y t we shall haue all the payne and trauayll and Englyshemen shall haue the honour wherfore if ye wyll do by my counsayll we wyll returne vnto Acrys and there tarye tyll we se farther Some agreed to this counsayll and the more in nomber the other spedde them in all haste after kynge Rycharde and shewed to hym of the dukes returne wherof he beynge so enfourmed returned also vnto Acris It was not longe after that the sayd duke was taken wyth greuous sykenesse and dyed And about that tyme also dyed Baldewyn archbysshoppe of Caunterburye whyche amonge other lordes of Englande accompanyed the kynge in that iourney Anno domini M.C.xciii  Anno domini M.C.xciiii  Nycholas Duke  Balliui  Anno quarto  Petyr Nowlay  ABout the season of Mychelmasse in y e .iiii. yere of the reygne of thys sayde Rycharde tydynges were brought to hym y t the town or castell of Iapheth was besyeged of SalaÌ„dyne and lykely to be soone wonne wythout the crysten were the sooner ayded wherfore kynge Rycharde whych Peter Dysroy calleth the good kynge Rycharde sped hym thyther with his army by water and sent a nother hoste of FreÌ„chemen and other by lande But so yt was or the cristen myght wynne thyther y â— sayd towne and castell were wonne and the prysoners therin taken were sent by water towarde such prysones as Salandyne hadde appoynted them vnto wyth the whyche of good fortune kynge Rycharde mette them rescowyd And that done wyth the Turkes whyche theym conueyed he put in sure holde and helde on hys iourney to Iapheth and there by strength rescuyd the towne castell ond restoryd the crysten to theyr former possessyon and left wyth theym more strength of knyghtes And for to be the more feryd of the myscreauÌ„tes kynge Rycharde caused hys prysoners to hym belongynge to be slayne where other solde theym to theyr great auauÌ„tage by mean wher of he was hadde in wonderfull fere of the Turkes Then kynge Rycharde after thys victory hadde at Iapheth wonne .ii. strong holdes callyd Daron and Gadres and strengthyd them wyth crysten knyghtes And wyth such goodes as he there waÌ„ne of the Turkes he repayred the castel of Ascalon and other that greatly was impayred by the warre of the Turkes In thys season and tyme y e kyng Rycharde was thus occupyed in the holy lande the byshoppe of Ely as before is sayde hauynge the rule of Englande dyd many cruell dedys and oppressyd the clergy and also the lay fee. He wolde coÌ„menly ryde with a thousande horse and greued abbeys by meane of hys gestys or lodgynge wyth theym Also he helde in hys handes the see of yorke for longe season And after y e deth of Balwyne dede as before is shewed in the holy land he also toke the see of Caunterbury vnder hys rule Then he pryued Geffrey that was chosen to the â—ee of yorke of hys mouables caste him as prisoner in y e towre of LoÌ„don And soon after called a counsayll at westmynster as the kynges procuratour and as legate of the pope then Innocent the .iii. At thys counsayll Hughe Nouaunt then byshoppe of Chester great famylyer of the sayd byshoppe of Ely putte forth a complaynt agayne y e munkes of Couentre that they hadde shed the sayde Hughys blood before the hygh aulter of theyr chyrche For whych cause the byshoppe of Ely demyd that the sayde munkys shulde be putte from theyr sayde abbey clerkes shuld be set there for theÌ„ so that by myght the munkes were put thens and dysperbled about in sondry placis and clerkes wyth prebendys set in theyr stallys For thys dede sayth Guydo and other that thys Hugh byshoppe of Chester hadde thus causyd the munkes of Couentre to lose theyr lande and house he toke therfore so great repentaunce that vppon hys deth bed he axed of god that for a due and conuenyent penaunce he myght redeme that offence by the lyeng in the fyre of purgatory from y e daye of his deth vnto the generall day of dome Also the forenamed byshoppe of Ely called in proper name wyllyam de longe shampe contynuynge hys tyrannyes pryuyd Hugh byshoppe of Durham of all maner worshippe and greued the byshoppe of wynchester and
redounde vnto theyr dyshonour For the Frenche cronicle sayth that these two hostes thus as aboue is sayde lyenge to gyther wythout skyrmshe or assaute kynge Rycharde contrary the opinyon and mynde of hys lordes wyth a few accompanyed and vnharnaysed shuld come to y e Frēche kynges tente and there in presence of hys lordes shulde do homage to the Frenche kynge for the duchye of Normandye and coūteys of Angeou and of Poytyers and there swore to the kynge to kepe peace duryng his lyfe and after .viii. dayes met agayn and fynyshed the sayde peace wyth assuryd othe vppon eyther partye and after departed as frendes eyther resortyng into theyr owne countrey But yt semed a feynte peace For within foure monethes or lesse folowynge kynge Rycharde wyth hys hoste entred the prouynce of Berry and layd syege to the castell of wyersoune and gate yt by strength and after yode to the castell of Noryncourte the whyche was delyueryd to hym by appoyntement when kyng Phylyppe harde of the wynnynge and ouerthrowe of the castell of wyersoun he in damagynge of kynge Rychard layde syege to the castell of Aubeuyle and yt assayled egerly Buy yt was so stronge and so well defendyd by the Normannys that the Frenche kynge was holden of when kynge Rycharde had garnyshed and fortifyed the castell of Noryncourte wyth all thynge necessarye to the warre he drewe hym towarde Aubeuyle to remoue kynge Phylyppe from that syege and fell vppon the Frenche men vnwarely But the Frenchemen quyt theym so knyghtly that they chased kyng Rycharde and hys people and toke a Norman knyghte named Guy de Thonars a man of great hardynes And then kynge Phylyppe returned to the castel and towne of Aubeuyle and assauted it more sharpely so that in the ende y e souldyours of the town yeldyd yt wyth the castell for a certayne summe of money And when he hadde possessyon of the towne he threw downe the castell playne wyth the ground and after strengthed the towne wyth Frenche men and then yode to the castell of Gysours and from thēs resorted to the forenamed castell of Noryncourte and assayled yt in so cruell maner that shortely he wanne yt and toke therin .xv. knyghtes and .xxiiii. yemen wyth plente of vytayll and armour In thys tyme and season kynge Richarde gadered newe strength and allyed hym wyth Baldwyn erle of Flaūdres and with Renolde erle of Dampmartyn and of Boleyne By whose meanes as wytnessyth the frenche boke kynge Rychard wasted sore the countrey of Fraunce and brent therin some townes and vyllages and toke therein many ryche prayes Anno domini M.C.xcix  Anno domini M.CC.  Constantyne fyz Arnolde  Balliui  Anno .x.  Robert le Beawe  ABout the begynnynge of the moneth of October and .x. yere of Rycharde the sayde Rycharde entryd the countrey of Unequecyne wyth a stronge hoste and made therin cruell warre in destroyenge of the countrey and assauted the castell of Gysours and threwe to grounde a stronge holde called Courcellys and brent there about many vyllages wherwyth kynge Phylyppe was so greuousely amouyd y t wyth a small noumber of knyghtes he percyd the hoste of Englyshemen and entryd the castell or towne of Gysours But of his men were taken a certayn nōber as Alayne de Russy Mathewe de Melly Guyllyam de Mello and many other wyth the whyche prysoners and many riche prayes kyng Richarde then departed leuynge the Frenche kynge wythin Gysours It was not longe after that kynge Rycharde was thus departed but that kyng Phylyp callyng to mynde the great losse and dishonour that he had receyued by that warre of kynge Rycharde assembled a great army and entred the duchy of Normandy and wasted the coūtrey from Nuesbourth to Beawmōt le Rogyer And that done he returned into Fraunce and lycēcyd hys knyghtes to go eche man into hys owne countrey when kynge Phylyppe hadde thus fynyshed hys warre in Normandye kynge Rycharde then wyth hys armye entred the forenamed countrey of Unequecyn and also Beawuoysyn and toke wythin theym as he before had done ryche many prayes and with theym departed whom the byshop of Beawuays beyng a good knyghte and hardy of his handes wyth a companye of knyghtes and other folowyd to haue rescowyd the prysoners that kynge Rycharde had taken But they were taken and a certayne of hys company slayne Then the erle of Flaundres by the ayde of the Englyshe men toke the towne of saynt Omer from y e Frēche men In this season Innocent the Pope before named sente a legate into Fraunce named Peter de Capys to refourme the warre betwene the two prynces The whyche at that tyme was in such dysioynte that he coulde not brynge yt to any frame and specyally as sayth the Frenche boke because kynge Richarde wolde not delyuer hostages gagys as y e Frēche kynge wolde Then kynge Rycharde after Cristmas besyeged a castel nere vnto Lymogys Thys castell in y e Frēche cronycle is called Chalons in the englyshe boke yt is named Gayllarde The cause of this syege as saith most wryters was for certayne ryche treasour founden wythin the lordshyppe or sygnyory of kynge Rycharde the whyche one wydomer vycounte of Lemonke hadde founden and wyth helde from kynge Rycharde and for hys sauegarde fledde vnto the forenamed castell and defendyd yt manfully from the fyrste weke of lent tyll the .vi. daye of Apryll Uppon the whyche daye kynge Rycharde walkynge vnwysely about the castell to espye the feblenes therof one named Betrāde Guedon markyd the kynge and wounded him in the hedde or after some writers in y e arme with a venemous quarell After which woūde receyued by the kynge he commaunded sharpe assaute to be made in the whyche assaute the castell was won Then he made enquery who yt was that so had wounded him the which was brought vnto the kynges presence and named hym self as aboue is sayde or after some writers Peter Basyle Then the kynge demaūded of him why he shuld so lye in a wayte to hurte hym rather then any of his felowys For thou slew my father my bretherne sayde he wherfore I entendyd to auenge theyr deth what someuer became of me Then y e kyng forgaue hym his offence and sufferyd him to go at lyberte And the other of y e soudyours taken in that castell the kynge commaunded to be hanged But Polycronycon sayth that after kynge Rycharde was dede the duke of Braban whych then was present causyd the sayde Bartrande to be taken and flayne quycke and after hanged Then kynge Rycharde dyed the .iii. daye after that is to say the ix daye of Apryll and was buryed at Fount Eborard at the fete of hys father Howe be yt some wryters say that his harte was buryed at Roan his body as before is sayde and hys bowellys at Carleyll in Englande when he hadde reygned .ix. yeres .ix. monethes and odde dayes leuynge after hym none yssue Of thys Rycharde a metrycyan made these
chase of them self a capitayn of low byrth called Dauid so wyth wyues and chyldren passed the next countreys wyth robbynge and spoylyng and grew shortly in great strength and after subdued the partes many other vycyne countreys and grewe lastely vnto great domynyon and lordshyppe in the eest partes of the worlde so that lately theyr prynce or souerayne ys called the great Cahan In this yere as wytnessyth Polycronycon the kynge of Scottys dyd homage to kynge IohnÌ„ at LyncolnÌ„ and sware vpon the crosse of Hubert archbishoppe of Caunterbury in the presence of a legate of Rome .xiii. byshoppes to be trew lyege man to hym and to hys heyres kynges And in this yere one Estate called abbot of Flay came into Englande and amonge other myracles by hym shewyd he blessed a well besyde the towne of wye in kent so y e men and women drynkyng of that water were curyd of dyuerse maladyes But lastly he dyspleasyd so the byshoppes of England y t he was glade to leue the lande after sayled into Normandy Anno domini M.CC.ii  Anno domini M.CC.iii  Arnolde  Balliui  Anno .iii.  Rycharde  About the moneth of December in y e thyrd yere of IohnÌ„s reygn in the prouynce of yorke were sene .v. moonys One in the Eest the seconde in the weste the thyrd in the North y e fourth in the South and the fyfte as it were set in the myddes of the other and yode .vi. tymes in compassynge the other as yt were by the space of an howre and vanyshed away soone after Thys yere in the moneth of February kynge Phylyp callyd a parliameÌ„t at Uerdon where yt was amonge other maters concluded that kynge IohnÌ„ as hys lyege man shulde appere at his parlyameÌ„t holdeÌ„ at Paris wythin .xv. dayes of Eester next folowynge But for so myche as kynge IohnÌ„ nor none for hym apperyd to shewe some lawfull impedymeÌ„t the Frenche kynge therfore entryd the duchy of Normandy and toke the castellys of Bounte of Gentelyne and Gurnay and seased into hys handes all suche landes as Hugh de Gurnay held gaue them vnto Arture foresayde duke of Brytayne And more ouer he gaue to the said Arture y e couÌ„tye of Angeou with two hundred prysoners and a certayne of money to defende the sayde countrey agayn kynge IohnÌ„ when kynge IohnÌ„ had vnderstandynge of all the cruell dealynge of kynge Phylyppe he callyd a counsayll and there asked ayde and was graunted a new ayde to wythstande the Frenche kynges malyce And about Lammasse after the kyng with a fayre coÌ„pany sayled into Normandye and so spedde hym into the countrey of Angeou for so myche as he was enfourmed that Arture hys neuew and duke of Brytayne warryd wythin the same and toke hym prysoner with certayne other knyghtes as syr Hugh le Bruns syr Godfrey de Losyngham wyth dyuerse other At whych tyme kynge Phylyppe lay at the syege of the castell of Arques and herynge of thys dyscomfyture brake vp hys syege to the entent to haue rescowyd the sayde duke But when he was warned that he shulde come to shorte he then chaunged his purpose and went vnto the cytye of Towrys and wanne yt by strength And after for that wynter drew nere he returned into Fraunce In which season also kynge IohnÌ„ retourned wyth his prysoners into Englande In this yere by counsayâ—l of the burgeysys of the cytye of London were chosen .xxxv. of the moste substancyall and wyseste myn whyche after some were called the counsayll of the cytye Of the whych yerely the bailyuys were chosen and after the mayre and shryues were taken of the same nomber Anno domini M.CC.iii  Anno domini M.CC.iiii Balliui Normand Blondell Anno .iiii.  IohnÌ„ of Ely  IN thys fourthe yere of kynge IohnÌ„ were sene many wonderfull tokens For ouer the wynter the whyche passyd in length and hardenesse many yeres before gone wonderfull wederynge as of excedynge lyghtenynges thunders and other stormes of wynde and rayne appetyd and therwyth hayle of the bygnesse of hennes egges the whyche perished frute and corne besydes other hurtes and harmes done vppon houses and yong catell goynge a brode Also spyrites were sene in the ayer in lykenesse of foulys berynge fyre in theyr bylles the whych sette on fyre dyuerse houses And soone there after dyed Hubert archbyshop of Caunterbury In whose place was chosen coÌ„trarye to the mynde of y e kynge by the more partye of the couent of CauÌ„terburye mayster Stephan Langton All be yt some there were that accordynge to the kynges pleasure named the byshoppe of Norwyche and some other For thys eleccyon the kynge was greuousely amouyd agayne the munkes and wolde in no wyse alowe or admyt theyr eleccyon wherfore they sent theyr eleccyon vnto pope Innocynt the thyrde y e whyche admytted the sayde mayster Stephan and refused the other and sacryd hym at Uyterb a citye of Italy and sent hym after with letters of comendacyon vnto kyng IohnÌ„ to take the possessyon and frutes of his benefyce Kynge IohnÌ„ wyth thys was sore amouyd in so myche y t he warned hym his lande and dyuers of the munkes of Caunterbury that fauored hys cause Aboute Ester kynge IohnÌ„ sayled into Normandye for the Frenche kynge had recommencyd his warre in the countye of Guyan and wanne therin dayly dyuerse stronge holdes and castellys and alleyd wyth hym the erle of Alenson and hadde great ayd of the Portuyns and Brytons And when he had brought that countrey vnder his subieccyon he then retourned by Normandye and wanne Conket the vale of Ruell and the yle of Audeley In this season the forenamed pope sente the abbot of Casmer into Fraunce to refourme these two prynces with whome was also accompanyed the abbot of Cressons the whyche endeuored theym so that they were nere agreed of a peace But for they wolde that the Frenche kynge shulde repayre and ameÌ„de suche houses of relygyon as he had hurte ouerthrowen in Guyan and other places belongynge to the crowne of Englande therfore he forsoke the peace not withstandyng that kynge IohnÌ„ in lyke wyse shuld haue repayred all lyke houses apperteynynge vnto y e crowne of Fraunce Then the Frenche kynge in the ende of Auguste layde syege to the castell of Raydepount assauted yt by the terme of .xv. dayes contynually But the soundyours wythin defendyd yt so manfully that they slewe many of theyr enymyes so y e kynge Phylyppe was fayne to gyue backe tyll he hadde deuysed newe engynes after the warre fassyon By reason wherof he lastely wanne the sayde castell and toke there .xx. knyghtes and an hundred and .vii. yomen and other and .xxi. arblasters And when he hadde fortefyed that castell wyth Frenche men he then yode to the castell of Gaylarde and layde hys ordynaunce to that as he hadde done to that other But he laye there a moneth or he myghte do to yt any hurte or harme In all whych season kyng IohnÌ„ warryd vppon
Henry the sonne of Alwyne was sworne charged as fyrst mayre of London and Peter duke wyth Thomas Neell sworn for shryues and the name of bayllyues was after this daye clerely auoyded wyth in the sayde cytye from that daye forewarde Also where before thys tyme the brydge ouer Thamys at LoÌ„don was made of tymber and was ruled guydyd or repayred by a fraternyte or college of prestes This yere by the great ayde of the cytesyns of London and other passyng that way the sayde brydge was begonne to be edyfyed of stone And in thys yere y e monastery of saynte Mary Ouereys in South warke was begonne of to be buylded And in thys yere the pope sente two legates or after some writers one legate named Pandulphus the whyche in the popys name had many sore wordes of monycyon of obedience to kynge IohnÌ„ and charged hym to suffre the archebyshoppe of Caunterburye wyth the pryour and munkes of the same to enioy theyr ryghtes and possessyons wythin Englande and taryed here a certayne of tyme to brynge hys purpose aboute But all was in vayne for he yode agayn to Rome wythout releasynge of the enterdytynge Of y e maner of this enterdyccyon of this lande haue I sene dyuerse opynyons As some there be y e saye that the lande was enterdyted thorouly and the chyrches and housys of relygyon closyd that no where was vsed masse nor dyuyne seruyce By which reason none of the .vii. sacrameÌ„tes in all this terme shulde be minystred or occupyed nor chylde crystenyd nor man confessyd nor maryed But yt was not so streyghte for there were dyuerse places in Englande whyche were occupyed wyth dyuyne seruyce all that season by lycence purchasyd then or before Also chyldren were crystyned thorough all the land and men houselyd and anelyd excepte suche persones as were excepted by name in the bull or knoweÌ„ for mayteyners of the kynges yll entent Anno domini M.CC.x.  Anno domini M.CC.xi  Peter yonge  Henry fyz Alwyn  Anno .xii.  wyllyam Elande  IN this yere whych was the .xi. yere of kynge IohnÌ„ after mydsomer or the terme of the trewce were fylly runne kynge Phylyppe wyth a stronge hoste entryd the countye of Guyan and made newe warre vpon the vycounte of Thonars and toke hys castell called Parteny wyth dyuerse other stronge holdes to y e sayd vycounte belongynge and mannyd theym wyth Frenche men and ordeyned one Guyllyam de Roches marshall of Fraunce chefe ruler of that countrey and after retourned into Fraunce But yt was not longe after the kynge was departed but that the sayd vycount of Thonars made sharpe warre vpon the Frenchemen with such power as he myght make and recoueryd a parte of hys lande But one daye when he hadde wonne a lytle holde and taken therin a certayne of prysoners in his retourne towarde hys holde where he lodged he was supprysed wyth the forenamed Guyllyam de Roches a great multytude of Frenchemen of y e whyche after longe fyght he was fynally taken wyth syr Hyugh Thonars hys brother syr Aymery de Lesyngnam sonne of the erle of Poytyers to the nomber of .l. persones of his coÌ„pany y e whyche were all as prysoners then sent vnto y e Frenche kyng Anno domini M.CC.xi  Anno domini M.CC.xii.  Adam whetley  Henry fyz Alwyne  Anno .xii.  Stephan le Graas  IN this .xii. yere of kyng IohnÌ„ the pope sente agayne Pandulphe his legate and monyshed the kynge in sharpe maner that he shuld receyue mayster Stephan Langton to hys benefyce of the see of Caunterbury and the pryour wyth hys munkes vnto theyr abbay Then y e kyng callynge to mynde the dauÌ„gers whiche he was wrappyd in both wythin hys owne realme and also in Normandy and the hurtes whyche dayly grew to hym by the same made a promyse by othe that he wold be obedyent vnto the courte of Rome and stande and obey all thynge that the same court woll adiudge hym Upon whyche promyse so made the legate sent knowlege vnto the pope had commaundement from hym that he shulde bynde the kynge to these artycles folowynge Fyrste that he shuld peasybly suffer y e forenamed mayster Stephan Langton to entre his land and to enioye the archebyshopryche of Caunterburye wyth all profytes and frutes belongynge to the same Secondaryly that he shulde in lyke maner and forme receyue the pryour of Caunterburye and hys munkys wyth all other before tyme exyled for the archbyshoppes cause and not at any tyme here after vex or punyshe any of the sayde persones spyrytuall or temporall for any of those causes Thyrdely that he shulde restore vnto the sayd archbyshop to all y e other all such goodes as were before tyme taken from any of them by hys offycers syn the tyme of thys varyance growynge And fourthly y â— he shulde yelde vp into the handes of the pope all his ryght and tytle that he hadde vnto the crowne of Englande wyth all reueneus honoures and profytes belongyng to the same as well temporall as spyrytuall and to hold yt euer after both he and hys heyres of the pope his successours as feodaryes of the pope And when these artycles were graunted and the lordes of the lande sworne to the mayntenaunce of the same the kynge knelyng vpon hys knees toke the crown from hys hedde and sayde these wordes folowynge to the legate delyuerynge hym the crowne Here I resygne vp the crowne of the realme of Englande and Irlande into the popes handes Innocent the thyrd and put me holy in hys mercy and ordynaunce After rehersall of which wordes Pamdulphe toke the crowne of the kynge and kepte the possessyon therof .v. dayes after in token of possessyon of the sayde realme of England And wheÌ„ y e sayd .v. days were expyred the kyng resumyd y e crowne of Pandulphe by vertue of a band or instrument made vnto the pope y e whyche at length is sette out in the cronycle of Englande and other places wherof the effecte is y t the sayde kynge IohnÌ„ his heyres shuld euer after be feodaryes vnto the forenamyd pope Innocent and to hys lawfull successours popys of Rome and to pay yerely to the chyrche of Rome a thousande marke of syluer that ys to saye for Englande .vii. hâ—ndred marke and for Irlande .iii. hundred marke And yf he or hys heyr fayled or brake that paymeÌ„t that then they shulde fayle of theyr ryghte of the crowne But Polycronycon sayth vii huÌ„dred marke for Englande and two hundred marke for Irlande For the whyche summes after the affyrmaunce of that authour Guydo the money called Peter pens are at thys daye gatheryd in sondry places of Englande Anno domini M.CC.xii.  Anno domini M.CC.xiii  Iosne fyz Pet.  Henry fyz Aleyn  Anno .xiii.  IohnÌ„ Garlonde  IN this .xiii. yere of kyng IhonÌ„ and moneth of February mayster Stephan Langton archebyshop of
Caunterbury wyth the other exylys landed in Englande and after in processe of tyme met wyth the kynge at wynchester where the kyng receyuyd hym with a ioyouse coūtenaūce and after there was assoyled of the sayde archebyshop But yet was not the interdiccyon of the land releasyd for so myche as the kyng at that day hadde not made restitucyon vnto the archbyshope and other accordynge to the thyrde artycle before rehersyd For the whych as testyfyeth the Englyshe boke he payed vnto the archbyshoppe thre thousande marke and to the other by partyculers .xv. thousande marke After whyche thynges performed and done the interdyccyon was adnullyd and fordone in the moneth of Iuly and yere of our lord xii hundred and .xii when yt had standen in force full .vi. yeres as mych as from the .xxvi. daye vnto the moneth of Iuly whyche is vppon .iii. monethes and odde dayes Anno domini M.CC.xiii  Anno domini M.CC.xiiii  Raufe Eylande  Henry fyz Alwyn  Anno .xiiii.  Constantyne le Iosne  IN thys .xiiii. yere of the kyng for that he wolde not holde the lawes of saynte Edwarde and also for displeasure that he bare to diuers of them for they wolde not fauoure hym agayne the pope and for other causes whyche here be not manyfestyd the kyng fell at dyssencyon with hys lordes in so mych that great people were reysyd on eyther partyes But for the kynges partye was the stronger the erle of Chester with the other lordes toke the cytye of London and helde them therin a certayn of tyme. The whych cronycle of Caxton wyth other sayen that a great parte of this varyaūce betwene kyng Iohn̄ and his barons was for because the kynge wolde wythout skylfull dome haue exyled the sayde erle of Chester whyche to hym hadde no cause but for so myche as before seasons he hadde often tymes aduysed the kynge to leue hys cruelnesse and his accustomed auowtry the whych he exercysyd wyth his brothers wyfe and other But by the meanes of the archebyshoppe of Caunterbury and other prelatys a peace was taken for a whyle In this yere vppon the daye of the translacyon of saynt Benet or y e .xi. day of Iuly a great parte of the Borough of Southwarke was brent And in the moneth of Auguste nexte folowynge was great and myche harme done in London by fyre Soone after to stablyshe the peace betwene the kynge and hys lordes an assemble was made on Berham downe where the kynge and the lordes mette wyth great strenght vpon eyther syde where a charter or wrytyng was dyuysed and made there sealyd by the kynge so that the baronye was wyth yt contentyd and departyd in peasyble wyse eueryche man into hys countrey Anno domini M.CC.xiiii  Anno domini M.CC.xv.  Martyne fyz Alys  Roger fyz Aleyn  Anno .xv.  Peter Batte  IN thys .xv. yere of the kynge the peace whych in the laste yere was betwene kyng Iohn̄ and his baronyes agreed was by the kynge vyolate and broken wherfore the lordes assembled to them great powers made sharpe cruell warre vppon the kynge in so myche that he was constrayned to sende into Normandye for ayde and socoure into other places Then shortely after came into Englande a Norman knyghte whyche brought wyth hym a companye of Normannes Flemmynges Pycardes This knyght or capitayn was named Foukes de Brent y e whiche wyth his company was so cruell that he destroyed as well relygyous houses as other and wrought mych harme to the lande and putte the lordes to the worse Then the kynge made Foukes and other of hys company wardeyns of castellys strūge holdes in Englād The lordes seyng the kynge perseuer in hys wronge and wolde in no wyse be enduced to holde his owne grauntes but to execute all thynge after pleasure and nothynge after lawe or iustyce cast in theyr myndes howe they myghte brynge the lande in a better rule or state and by one aduyse and consent wrote vnto Phylyp kyng of Fraūce that he wolde sende some noble man into Englande and they wolde rendre y e lande vnto hym In this whyle kyng Iohn̄ causid to be drawen and hangyd at London one Pyers of Pomfrette for the sayde Peter had monyshed dyuers mysse happes that shulde come to hym for his vycyous lyfe and also for he had often warned kynge Iohn̄ that he shuld reygn but .xiiii. yeres the whyche he ment wythout payenge of trybute For after he was become feodary to the pope he thought the pope reygned as pryncypall lorde of the land and not he For the whyche and for other malyce he putte that vertuous man to deth Of whom in y e .xxxiii. chapiter of the .vii. boke of Policronycon are many vertues shewed the which I ouer passe for lengthynge of the tyme. Anno domini M.CC.xv.  Anno domini M.CC.xvi.  Salomon Basynge  Roger fyz Aleyn  Anno .xvi.  Hugh Basynge  UPpon saynt Andrewes euen or the .xxix. daye of Nouember in the .xvi. yere of hys reygne kynge Iohn̄ after he had lyen a certayne of tyme wyth hys ordynaunce aboute the castell of Rouchester in Kent he wanne the sayde castell and toke therin certayne gentylmen that hadde conspyred agayne hym the whyche he sente to dyuers prysons And the barons helde theym to gyther at London abydynge the commynge of Lewys son to the Frenche kynge the whyche nere about ascencyon tyde landed in Englande wyth a stronge armye and so came to Rochester and layd syege to the castell and wāne yt wyth lytle payne for so mych as yt was greatly febled wyth the assaurys lately made by kynge Iohn̄ and syn that tyme not suffycyently repayred And when he had wonne the sayde castell he caused all the straungers therein taken to be hanged and after came to London where certayne allyaunces and couenauntes were stablished betwene the lordes hym and receyued of them homage as affermeth Policronicon And after theyr maters betwen them there fynyshed he with the lordes departed from London and gatte the castellys of Rygat of Gylforde and and of Frenham and from thens to wynchester where the cytye was yelden vnto them wyth all the holdes and castellys there about as wolnesey Odyham and Beawmere And about saynte Margaretes daye he wyth the lordes came agayne to London at whose commynge the towre of London was gyuen vp to theym by appoyntement And where Roger fyz Aleyn hadde tyll that tyme rulyd the cytye of London as mayre he for so myche as he was accusyd to the lordes to be fauorable to the kynges partye was then dyscarged of that offyce and one called Serle Mercer was chosen in hys place and so cōtynued tyll Mychelmas folowynge In thys passe tyme kynge Iohn̄ beynge thus ouer sette wyth hys lordes sent messengers to y e pope shewynge to hym the rebellyon of hys lordes and how they laboryd hys destruccyon wherfore the pope in all haste sent a legate
after smote hym wych hys crosse vpon the lefte syde Upon the morne after the pope was fouÌ„den dede and hys bedde all blody But of thys is nothynge in the cronycle or storye of Innocent After that sayenge of Polycronycon this byshoppe Grostehede shuld dye in the .xxxvii. yere of thys kynge Henry the whyche sayenge agreeth better with the storye except that the sayde pope lyued after the deth of the sayde byshoppe .vi. yere Anno domini M.CC.l.  Anno domini M.CC.li.  Humfrey Basse.  IohnÌ„ Norman  Anno .xxxiiii.  wyllyam fyz Rycharde  IN this .xxxiiii. yere was an excedynge wynde the whyche in sondry places of England dyd great harme whyche was in the begynnynge of this yere vppon the daye of Symon and Iude. About thys tyme in the duchy of Burgoyne as testyfyeth Fasciculus temporuÌ„ and other an hyll remouyd from hys proper place and glode by many a myle and lastely ioyned hym vnto other hyllys In the whyche glydynge or ronnynge the sayde hyll oppressyd or slewe v. thousande people And thys yere Symon fyz mary alderman of London for hys dysobedyence and euyll counsaill that he gaue vnto Margarete Uyell before in the xxxi yere of thys kynge touchyd wyth other secret labours and maters entendyd by hym to the hurte of the cytye was dyschargyd of hys aldermanshyppe and put oute of the counsayll of the cytye Anno domini M.CC.li.  Anno domini M.CC.lii  Laurence Frowyke  Adam Basynge  Anno .xxxv.  Nycholas Batte  IN thys .xxxv. yere of kynge Henry beganne the frere Augustynes to buylde or inhabyte them in walys in a place callyd woodhouse And in this yere maryed kyng Henry his doughter Mary or after some wryters Margarete vnto Alexander kynge of Scottys at the cytye of yorke and dyd receyue homage of the sayde Alexander for the kyngedome of Scottes or for the prouynce of Scotlande in lyke maner as many of his progenytours had done dyuerse and many tymes before as in this worke both before thys tyme and also after is shewyd Anno domini M.CC.li.  Anno domini M.CC.lii  wyllyam Durham  IohnÌ„ Toleson  Anno .xxxvi.  Thomas wymborne  IN thys .xxxvi. yere the kynge graunted vnto the shryues of London that they shulde yerely be alowyed of .vii. pounde for certayne pryuyleges or grounde belongynge to saynte Paules chyrche the whych at this daye is allowyd by the Barons of the kynges excheker to euerey shryue when they make theyr accompte in the offyce of the pype Also thys yere was grauÌ„ted by the kynge for the citesens more ease that where before tyme they vsyd yerely to present theyr mayre to y e kynges presence in any such place as he then were in Englande that nowe from thys tyme forthwarde they shulde for lacke of the kynges presence beynge at westmynster presente theyr mayre so chosen vnto the barons of hys Excheker and there to be sworne admyttyd as he before tymes was before the kynge Anno domini M.CC.lii  Anno domini M.CC.liii  IohnÌ„ Northampton  Nycholas Batte  Anno .xxxvii.  Rycharde Pycarde  IN thys .xxxvii. yere the water of the see aboute the daye of saynte Paulyn in the moneth of Ianuary rose of suche heyghte that yt drowned many vyllagys and housys nere vnto yt in dyuerse places of Englande And thys yere the kynge the quene and syr Edwarde his son wyth Bonyface archebyshoppe of Caunterburye and dyuerse other nobles of the realme sayled into Normandye and taryed at Burdeaux a certayne of tyme. But of theyr dedys or cause of theyr saylynge thyther is no mencyon made in the cronycle of England How be yt in the FreÌ„che boke yt is shewed y t the cause was to ioyne Edwarde the kynges sonne vnto the syster of y e kyng of Spayne by maryage This yere also the water of Thamys sprange so hygh that yt drowned many housys about the waters syde by meane wherof myche maâ—chaundyse was peryshed and loste And thys yere the cytezyns hadde graunted of the kynge that no cytesyns shulde paye scauage or tolle for any bestes by them brought as they before tymes hadde vsyd Anno domini M.CC.liii  Anno domini M.CC.liiii  Robert Belyngton  Rycharde Hardell  Anno .xxxviii.  Ranfe Aschewye  IN thys .xxxviii. yere by procurement of syr Rycharde erle of Cornewayll for dyspleasure whyche he bare towarde y e citye for exchauÌ„ge of certayne grounde to the same belongynge the kynge vnder coloure that the mayre hadde not done due execucyon vppon the bakers for lackynge of theyr syzys seased the lybertyes of the cytye That ys to be vnderstanden that where the mayre and comynaltye of the cytye hadde by the kynges graunte the cytye to ferme wyth dyuerse customys and offyces for astynted and ascertayned summe of money now the kyng sette in offycers at hys pleasure the whiche were accomptable vnto hym for all reuenues and profytes that grew wythin the sayde cytye But wythin foure dayes folowynge the feste of saynte Edmunde the byshop or by the .xix. daye of Nouember the cytesyns agreed wyth the sayde erle for .vi. hundred marke After whych agrement wyth hym concluded they soone after were restoryd vnto theyr lybertyes This yere syr Edward the kynges sonne and heyre was maryed vnto Eleanour y e kinges sister of Spayn And in the Cristmas weke the kyng landed at Douer and y e quene wyth hym wyth many other lordes when the kynge was comen to London he was lodgyd in the towre where he sent for to come vnto hym the mayre and the shryues wyth whom he resoued greuously for the escape of one callyd IohnÌ„ Gate This IohnÌ„ had murderyd a pryour allyed vnto the kynge The mayre layde the charge of this mater from hym vnto y e shryues for so myche as to theym belonged the kepynge of all prysons wyth in the cytye so that the mayre returnyd home and the shriues remayned there as prisoners by y e space of a moneth after or more And in theyr places and for theym were chosen Steuen Oystergate Henry walmoode But how the old shryues passyd out of the kynges daunger I fynde not Anno domini M.CC.liiii  Anno domini M.CC.lv.  Stephan Oystergate  Rycharde Hader  Anno .xxxix.  Henry walmoode  IN this .xxxix. yere in the feaste of saynte Etheldrede dame Eleanour wyfe vnto the kynges son syr Edwarde came vnto London where she was honorably receued of the cytesyns and the cytye rychely curteyned and garnyshed wyth dyuerse ryche clothes where the kynge was present at her commynge And she was honorably coÌ„ueyed through the cytye to saynte IohnÌ„s wythoute Smythfelde and there lodgyd for a whyle But after she was remouyd vnto Sauoy It was not longe after y t the kyng seasyd the lybertyes of the cytye for certayne money whyche y e quene claymed for her ryght of the cytesyns so that about saynte Martyns tyde in
Mychaell Tony and Adam Basynge the whyche before were sente by the mayre to such frendes as they had in the courte to knowe the cause of the kynges hyghe dyspleasure The whych brought worde that the kyng was well mynded vnto the citye but he was in full purpose to haue suche persones chastised that hadde oppressyd the comynaltye of the same Uppon the morow folowynge came vnto y e Guyldhall IohnÌ„ Mansell wyth other of the kynges counsayll the whych to the people there assembled shewyd many fayre plesaunt wordes Amonge the whych he declared that the kynges mynde wyll was to correcte all suche persones as had oppressyd the comynaltye of that his deryste belouyd cytye and asked of the commons whyther they wolde be agreable vnto the same The whych incontynently many suche as knewe litle what the mater ment cryed with out dyscrecyon ye ye ye nothynge regardynge the lybertye of the cytye And after y e grauÌ„t thus had of the coÌ„mons the sayde IohnÌ„ Mansell dyschargyd the mayre shryues chamberleyn of theyr offyces and delyueryd the custodye therof vnto the constable of the towre and putte in the rome of the shryues Mychaell Tony and IohnÌ„ Audryan And ouer that all rollys of tollys and tallages before made were delyueryd vnto the sayd IohnÌ„ MaÌ„sell the whych he there sealyd and redeliueryd them vnto the chamberleyne when the coÌ„mons hadde beholden all thys besynesse they retourned vnto theyr housys all confusyd This mater thus orderyd the sayd IohnÌ„ Mansell wyth dyuerse of the kynges counsayll kept theyr courtes dayly the sondayes excepte tyll the fyrste sondaye of lent the whych that yere was the .xxv. daye of February callyng before hym .xii. wardes of y e cytye Of the whyche .xii. wardes of eueryche of them was takeÌ„ thre men so â–ª that of those .xii. wardes .xxxvi. meÌ„ were impanellyd and sworne for to enquyre of the foresayd artycles and what personys of the cytye had offendyd in them This courte thus kept and holden at Guyldehall no man was callyd to answere nor no questyon put vnto any person by the sayd enquest or by any other Uppon the sayd sonday of lent the mayre aldermen and shryues wyth the sayd enqueste foure men of euery warde were chargyd to appere at westmynster before the kynge at whych apperaunce they were couÌ„termauÌ„dyd tyll vppon the nexte morowe At whyche season they commyng into the kynges exchekyr fonde syttyng there the erles of Glouceter and of warwyke IohnÌ„ Mansell Henry Baa iusticys the coÌ„stable of the towre the custos of the cytye and dyuers other of the kynges counsayll Then was callyd by name Rafe hardell that yere may â—e Nycholas Batte Nycholas fyz Iosne Mathew Bokerel IohnÌ„ Tolesham and IohnÌ„ le Mynoure aldermen Then sayde IohnÌ„ Mansell y t the kynge by his lawes and inquysycyon of the cytesyns of the cytye had founden theym culpable that they had wronged and hurte the comynaltye of hys cytye by dyuers meanes as by the sayde inquysycyons apperyd and forthwyth causyd yt to be redde before them And wheÌ„ the more parte therof was redde he sayd vnto theym thus may you se that the comynaltye of the sayde cytye hath ben by you greuously oppressyd and by your meanys and counsayll the common weale of the same dystroyed as by alterynge of the tollys and other good auncyent customys turnynge them to your synguler auauntage lucre All whyche maters the sayde Rafe and his company denyed and that the commons was not by any suche meanys by them nor none of them greuyd or hurte and that they offryd to be iustyfyed and iudged by the lawe and customys of the cytye Then Henry Baa iustyce askyd of them whyther they wolde byde the aduenture of the enquery that they hadde harde redde before or ellys stande vppon the sayeng of the other wardes that yet had not ben sworne but they kepte theym to theyr fyrste answere Then IohnÌ„ Mansell frayned of y e mayre what was theyr lawe and custome The mayre answered and sayde that for trespace of a cytesyn done agayne y e kynge he shulde defende hym by .xii. of the sayde cytesyns and for murder or sleynge of a man by .xxx. cytesyns for trespace agayn a straunger by the othe of .vi. and hym selfe Then after many reasons made by the sayde IohnÌ„ Mansell and also by the mayre and his aldermen daye was gyuen to them to appere vppon the morow before the kynge and his counsell Uppon the day folowynge y e kyng wyth many of his lordes syttynge in the sayde exchekyr the foresayde inquysycyon was redde And that done the mayre and aldermen were called in by name and two aldermen more whyche before were not callyd that is to saye Arnolde Thedmare Henry walmode when Rafe Hardell had harde the kynge speke in the mater he toke suche fere that he and Nycholas Batte wythout farther answere put them in the kynges grace sauyd to theym theyr lybertyes and fraunchyses of the cytye But the other .vi. besought the kyng of his ryght wysenes that they myghte then be demyd after the lawes and customys of the cytye Then was layde vnto theyr charge that ouer many wronges by theym done to the kynge and the comynaltye of the cytye they had alteryd y e kynges beame and orderyd it to the aduauntage of them selfe and other ryche men of the cytye wherun to the partyes answeryd and sayde that the alteracion of the beame was not done by them onely but by y e aduyce and consente of .v. hundred of the beste of the cytye For where before tyme the weyer vsyd the lene hys draught towarde the marchaundyse so that the byar hadde by that meane x. or xii pounde in a draught to hys aduauntage and the seller so myche dysauauntage nowe for indyfferencye and egalytye of both personys or marchauÌ„tys was ordeyned that the beame shulde stand vpryght y e cleâ—â—e therof enclynynge to neyther partie as yt doth in weyenge of golde and syluer and the byer to haue alowed of the seller for all thynges .iiii. pouÌ„de onely in euery draught After these reasons and other by theym made the kynge commaunded that vpon the mornynge folowynge a folkmoot shulde be callyd at Paulys crosse so that courte was dyssoluyd and the mayre the other returned to London Uppon the morowe the folkmoot beynge at Pawles crosse assemblyd these .vi. aldermen heryng the murmuracion of the common people and knowynge that the aldermen nor the worshypfull of the city shuld haue litle or no sayeng in thys mater ferynge theyr cause yode into a chanons house of Powlys where at that tyme the sayde Iohan Mansel and other sent from the kynge taryed the assemblynge of the people and shewyd vnto theym that they entedyd not any lenger to plede wyth the kynge but were contentyd to put them fully in the kynges grace and mercy sauyng alway to them and all other cytesyns theyr lybertye and fraunchyse of the cyte After whyche agrement the sayde
heyres kynges of Englande and that the gates of the cytye were kepte wyth armyd men as before by the kynge of Romaynes was dyuysyd This yere also at a fayre kept at Northampton varyaunce fell betwene the Lōdoners and men of the towne so that betwene the cytesyns and them contynued longe sute and plee for a mā of Northampton that then was slayne to the great vexacyon trouble of both partyes But in the ende the cytye had the better This yere also aboute Eester the Barons of the lande wyth the consente of the Perys dyschargyd syr Hugh le spencer and admyttyd for hym syr Phylyp Basset in his rome of chefe iustyce vnwittyng the kyng For whych cause and other grudge and dyspleasure beganne of newe to kyndle betwene the kynge and hys lordes whyche encreasyd more and more But by polycy of the kynge of Almayne and some prelatys of the land yt was set in quyet for a whyle hardely to the ende of that yere Anno domini M.CC.lx.  Anno domini M.CC.lxi  Iohn̄ Northampton  wyllyam fyz Rycharde  Anno .xlv.  Rycharde Pycarde  IN this .xlv. yere shortely after Alhalowyn daye the Barons admyttyd and made shryues of dyuerse shyres of Englande and dyschargyd suche as the kynge before had admyttyd and named them Gardayns and kepers of the countyes shyres And ouer that the Barons wolde not suffer the iustyce that the kynge hadde admyttyd to kepe the plees lawes callyd Itinerarii but suche as were of theyr admyssyon wherwith the kynge was greuously dyscontented in so mych y e after that season he laboured that he myght do dysanull the former ordynaunces statutes and to cause them to be broken in so myche that vppon the seconde sondaye of lent folowynge the kynge commaundyd to be redde at Paules crosse a bull of the graunte of pope Urban the .iiii. of that name as a confyrmacyō of an other bull before purchased of hys predecessoure Alexander the .iiii for to assoyle the kynge and all other that before had sworne to the mayntenaunce of the foresayde artycles made at Oxenforde and after causyd the sayde absolucyon to be shewyd thorough the realme of Englande walys and Irlande gyuynge streyghte charge to all his subiectys that none be so hardy to wythstāde nor dysobey the sayd absolucyon And yf any were foūden dysobedyent to his commaundemēt that he were streyght put in pryson and not to be raunsomyd nor delyueryd tyll y e kynges pleasure were forther knowen About the feast of saynt Albon in the moneth of Iuny the kynge of Almayne toke shyppyng and sayled into Almayne And the kynge at a folkmoot holden vppon the sonday after saynt Peters daye in y e moneth of Iuly hadde lycence to sayle into Fraunce And the morowe after he departyd from London towarde the sees syde wyth the quene and other lordes hys two sonnes syr Edward and syr Edmunde beynge at that season in Guyan when the kyng hadde ben a season in Fraunce he returnyd vnto Burdeaux where he fell syke by occasyon wherof he taryed in those partyes tyll saynte Nycholas tyde nexte folowynge And in thys yere dyed Rycharde Clare erle of Glowceter and syr Gylbert de Clare hys sonne was erle after hym To whom the father gaue great charge that he shulde vpholde the forenamed ordynaunces Anno domini M.CC.lxi  Anno domini M.CC.lxii  Phylyppe walbroke  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlvi.  Rycharde Tayloure  IN thys .xlvi. yere in the feaste of saynte Martyne or the .xi. day of Nouēber a Iew fell at varyaunce wyth a crysten man in Colchyrch in the warde of Chepe woūdyd the crysten man within the same chyrche wherfore the people of the citye in a fury pursued the sayd Iew to hys house and there slew hym after fell vpon the other Iewes and robbyd and slew many of them And the euen of saynte Thomas the apostle folowynge the kyng landed in Englande at Douer came to Lōdon the wednysdaye before .xii. day This yere y e froste began about saynt Nycholas daye and so contynued by y e space of a moneth more so feruently that Thamys was ouer froren that men passed ouer on horsbacke And in the same wynter y e kynges lytell halle at westmynster with other houses adioynyng to the same were peryshed wyth fyre by the neglygence of a seruaūt of the kynges In this yere also vnkyndnesse beganne to growe betwene the Londoners and the Constable of the towre for that he cōtrary the lybertye of the cytye toke certayne shyppes passyng by the towre wyth whete and other vytayll and toke yt into the sayde towre makynge the price at his pleasure wherfore great harme had ensued had not ben the polycy of wyse men whyche was shewyd vnto the kynges counsayll by whose dyreccy on the matter was cōmytyd vnto syr Phyllyppe Basset then chefe iustyce and other to set an order and rule betwene the sayde partyes Then before hym were brought all euydēces and pryuyleges for the aduauntage of both partyes where fynally after longe plee argument yt was fyrmely demyd and adiudgyd that yf the constable or any other offycer of the towre wold at any tyme take any whete or other vytayll to the vse of the kyng or of y e towre that he shuld come vnto the market holden wyth in the cytye and there to haue yt .ii. d in a quarter wythin y e mayres pryce and other vitayll after the same rate And if he or any of his offycers wold do contrarye to that ordynaūce that then the shryues shulde make report vnto the kynges counsayll and to wythstāde hym in all that he myght so that the kynges peace were kepte In this yere also many murmures and grudgis were tolde in many places of the land supposynge y e warre shulde in shorte processe haue ensued betwene the kyng and his lordes for the bull of dyspensacyon before in that other yere shewyd But by help and mediacyon of good wyse men these murmures grudges were so appeasyd that the kynge agreed agayn to the mayntenaūce of the sayd statutes sent hys wryttes wherin the sayde artycles were comprysed into all shyres of England gyuynge streyght commaūdement to all men to obserue and kepe the same and suche other as were to theym ioyned by the dyscrecyon of the erle marshall the erle of Leyceter syr Phylyp Basset syr Hugh Bygot and other the whyche shortely after was reuoked and denyed wheruppon the archbysshoppe of Caunterbury feryng that after myght ensue made hym an errande to Rome and so by lycence of the kyng and of the lordes departed the lande and so kepte hym out tyll the trouble was appeased and seased Then vppon mydlent sondaye the mayre and the commons beynge present at a folkemote holden at Paulys crosse before syr Philyppe Basset and other of the kynges counsayll the mayre was sworne to be trewe to the kynge and to his heyres kynges And
Bysshoppes for theyr dysobedyence shulde be corrected And for thys Octobon the foresayde legate thys yere at a counsayl holden by hym and the clergy of Englande at Paules chyrche in LondoÌ„ suspended the sayde Bysshoppes theym sente vnto Rome to be assoyled of the pope beynge at thys daye Clement the .iiii. Anno domini M.CC.lxv  Anno domini M.CC.lxvi  Edwarde Blont  Thomas fiz Thomas  Anno. .l.  Peter Aunger  IN thys .l. yere vppon the euyn of saynt Thomas the apostle before Crystmas was yelden by appoyntement the castel of Kenelworth At the whyche the kynge with hys power had lyen as before is sayd froÌ„ mydsomer tyll that day and thaÌ„ gyuen ouer by syr Henry Hastynges hys complyeys vppon condycyon y t he and all the other shulde haue lyfe and lym and horse harneys with all thynges within the castell to theÌ„ belongynge and a certayne tyme of leyser to cary a way the same And in thys yere in the tyme of Lent were y e wardeyns of the .v. portes recoÌ„cyled to y e kynge by fauour of syr Edward the kynges sonne And natwithstandynge the greate harmys they had done by rouyng vppon the see aswel to Englysshe marchauntes as to other they had to them confermed all theyr fourmer pryuyleges And ouer that to theym was grauÌ„ted y t yf any man Englysshe or other wolde sewe for restitucyon of good by theÌ„ before taken or for the deth of any of they re frendes before slayne that all suche complayntes shuld be sued shewed in theyr courtê there to haue theyr maters determyned nat ellys where But what the cause was of thys ende thus made atwene y e kyng theÌ„ it is nat shewed But y e coÌ„mon fame at y t day ran y t the sayd wardeins of y e v. portes had at thys day y e dominioÌ„ of the see wherfore y e kyng was fayn to folowe theyr pleasures About the feast of Philip Iacob y e kyng helde hys parlyameÌ„t at Nort haÌ„pton At y t whych were coÌ„fermed y e olde fraunchyses lybertyes by the kyngê progenytours before grauÌ„ted vnto the cytye of LoÌ„don with a new grauÌ„t for y e shyre of Middelsex And at thys parlyament were dysheryted many noble men of the lande y t before tyme had taken the barons partie For whyche cause they accompanied theym togyder robbed and reuyd in diuers coostes of the lande toke the towne of LyncolnÌ„ spoyled it after raunsomed many of the ryche burgeyses of the towne and toke the ile of Ely streÌ„gthed it in suche wyse that they helde it longe after Anno domini M.CC.lxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxvii  IohnÌ„ Adryan  willmÌ„ Fiz Rycharde  Anno .li  Luke Badecot  IN thys .li. yere at the chosyng of the mayre certayne contrauersies fyll attwene the rulers the commons of the cytye of London wherfore by aduice of the mayre and aldermen syr Roger Leydorne with other came vnto y e Guylhalle beyng harnesed vnder theyr gownes and vppon the fryday folowyng Alhalowyn called the commons to the eleccion of the new mayre where the best of the cytye gaue y e nominacyoÌ„ vnto Alei sowch diuerse of y e other cryed vpon Thomas fyz Thomas whych at that tyme was prysoner in wyndesore castell wherfore the sayd Roger with y e assystence of the mayre and other toke the sayde Rascal and euyll disposed persones and sent theÌ„ vnto dyuers prysons Thys yere also the gentylmen that helde the I le of Ely brake oute sondry tymes and dyd moche harme in Northfolke in Suffolke and Cambrydgeshyre and toke the cytie of Norwyche and after the spoylynge thereof caryed awaye with theym many of the cytezeyns beynge ryche and fynaunced theym at great summes of money lyued therein that I le lyke vnto out lawes By thys and other many hurtes in dyuers places of the laÌ„de was done by theuys and other yll dysposed people whereof the charge was euer layde vnto the fore name gentilmen TheÌ„ the legate laboured vnto the kynge that the sayde disheryted gentylmen myght purchase theyr laÌ„des of hym by fyne and raunsome By whose laboure the kynge lastly agreed that the sayd gentylmeÌ„ shuld haue theyr landes agayne by fynes of .v. yere value of theyr lande As he that myght dyspende .xx. li. by yere shulde paye an C. li. and so other after that rate except syr Robert ferers Erle of Derby syr IohnÌ„ de la warre and hym that strake of y e fyste of the kynges purseuauÌ„t And some other persones whyche were of small hauoure shulde be fyned by discrecyon of the kynges counsayll but this toke no conclusyon Anno domini M.CC.lxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxviii  Thomas Basynge  Aleyn South  Anno .lii.  Robert de Cornehylf  IN thys .lii. yere for what hap is nat expressed syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Gloceter refused y e king and in the marche of walys gadered vnto hiÌ„ a stronge power To whome also drewe syr IohnÌ„ Eyuile other of the company disherited And after the feest of Crystmasse with a greate hoost came nere vnto London that tyme the Popes legate Octobonus beynge lodged at the toure of LoÌ„doÌ„ whan the mayre and aldermen of the cytye were ware of the erles commynge with so stronge a power nat knowynge whether he were the kynges frende or nat shytte the gates agayne hys fore ryders And for the kynge nor none of hys couÌ„sayll was than nere vnto the cytye the mayre and aldermen went vnto the legate and requyred hys counsayl whether they shulde suffre the erle to entre iÌ„to the cytye or nat wherunto the legate answered that he thought nat the contrary for he knewe wele that he was the kynges trewe subyect freÌ„de It was nat loÌ„ge after that a messanger came from the erle vnto the mayre wyllynge to haue lycence to passe thorugh the cytye into Southwerke where he entendyd to lodge hym and hys people whyche was graunted and so the erle passed thorough the cytye and was lodged in South werke To whoÌ„ came shortly after by Southerey syde syr IohnÌ„ Eyuile with a greate company Than the mayre kepte the gate of y e brydge shyt and watched it dayly with a certayne of armyd men and euery nyght caused the draw brydge to be drawen the waters syde dayly and nyghtly to be watched with many armyd men In lytell processe of tyme after the legate and the erle agreed in suche wyse that the erle by hys aduyce was suffered with a certayne of hys people to be lodged within y e cytye By reason wherof he dayly drewe more more of hys people into the cytye so that fynally many thynges were ordered by hym many of the commons toke hys partye agayne the mayre and aldermen Then in the Easter weke he toke y e keyes of the brydge and of the gates from the offycers of the cytye and delyuered them to
grew to makynge of partyes so that wyth the goldsmythes toke partye the felyshyp or craft of wyth the tayllours helde y e craft of stayners By meane of thys myche people nyghtly gaderyd in the stretes in harneys And at length as yt were prouyded y e thyrd nyght of the sayde partyes met vpon the nomber of .v. huÌ„dred men on both sydes and ran to gyther wyth such violence y t some were slayn and many wouÌ„ded Then outcrie was made so y t the shy reffes with strength of other coÌ„mons came to the ryddynge of theym and of theym toke certayn persones and sent them vnto dyuers prysons and vppon the morowe suche serche was made that the moste of the chefe causers of that fray were taken and put in warde Then vppon the freday folowyng saynt Katheryns day sessyons were kepte at Newgate by the mayre and LaureÌ„ce de Broke iustyce and other where .xxx. of the sayd persones were arregned of felony and .xiii. of them caste and hanged And for one Godfrey de Beuerlay holpe to arme one of the sayd persons he was also caste amonge the other In lent folowyng the kynge beyng at westmynster commauÌ„ded the mayre of London to present vnto hym .vi. persones such as were able to be shyriffes Of the whyche .vi. so presented y e kyng chase .ii. for to be shyreffes that is to say wyllyam de Durham and walter Henry and then caused theym to be sworne that they shulde gader the profytes of the cytye and to gyue a trewe accompte before the Barons of the excheker And the morow after saynt Iamis daye or the .xxvi. daye of Iuly the kynge dyscharged syr Aleyn Souch mayre and made StephaÌ„ Edworth constable of the toure and custos of the cytye of London Of these rulers of the cytye after the yere that Thomas fyz Thomas was mayre are dyuers oppynyons For after some writers from that yere whyche as the xlviii yere of kynge Henry tyll the lviii yere of hys reygne in the whyche yere Iohan Adryan draper was mayre were all custodyes and gardeyns and no mayres and who to y e was then constable of the towre of LoÌ„don was also custos of the cytye About this tyme also by medyacy on and meanes of syr Edwarde all suche dysheryted persones as kepte the yle of Ely were reconcyled vnto the kynge and all fortresses and defences therin by theym made plucked away and destroyed And in thys moneth of Iuly Octobonus the legat after he had made many good rules in the chyrche not wythoute great charge of dymes leuyed of the same toke his leue of the kynge and rode towarde the see syde with great treasour and so returned in processe of tyme to Rome where after Innocent the fyft about the yere of our lorde .xii. hundred .lxxvi. he was chosen and created pope and then named Adryan y t .v. of y t name and dyed wythin .l. dayes of his eleâ—yon This yere also for so myche as many of the cytesyns of London for the great imposycyon charge that they were sette at towarde the fyne of .xx. thousande marke forenamed wyth other charges voyde the cytye wyth theyr housholdes and goodes enhabited them in dyues places of the lande thynkynge therby to be acquited of the sayd sessyng or charge the other of the cytye whych remayned made instant laboure to y e kyng and had yt graunted that all suche as for the sayde cause hadde voyded theyr goodes out of the cytye shulde be distrayned by the shyryff of y e shyre where they then dwelled and forcyd to paye all suche summes as they before were assessyd at And in the moneth of September the forenamed .v. cytesyns whych remayned prysoners in the towre of wyndefore that is to saye Thomas fyz Thomas Mychaell Tony Stephan Buckerell Thomas Pywelysdon and IohnÌ„ de la Flete as before in the ende of the .xlviii. yere is expressyd made at thys season theyr ende wyth syr Edwarde the kynges sonne for great summes of money were delyueryd Anno domini M.CC.lxix  Anno domini M.CC.lxx  wyllyam Haddystoke  Thomas fiz Thomas  Anno .liiii.  Anketyll de Aluerne  IN this .liiii. yere beganne an harde froste about the feaste of saynt Andrew and enduryd tyll yt was nere vnto Candelmasse The whych was so feruent that Thamys aboue the bridge betwene London westmynster was so harde frosyn y e men and bestes passed ouer on fote from Lambhyth to westmynste and so vpward in dyuers places to Kyngstone and marchaundyse was caryed from Sandwych other hauens of the see vnto London by lande for that shyppes at y e season myghte not entre into the ryuer of Thamys And about the feaste of saynte Uedast fyll suche plent of water y e Thamys flowed and rose so hyghe y â— the lyke therof was not sene by men then lyuynge wherof ensued mych harme about London for the selers by the water syde were all drowned and in theym great plente of marchaundyse peryshed and loste In this yere in the begynnynge of lent y e kynge gaue vnto syr Edward his son the rule of the cytye of London with all reuenues and profytes to yt belongynge After whyche gyft y e sayd syr Edwarde made syr Hugh the son of Othon coÌ„stable of y e towre and custos of the cytye And vppon the .ix. daye of Apryll ensuynge syr Edmunde the kynges other sonne surnamed Crouch bake maryed at westminster the doughter of the erle of Aumarle For solempnyte wherof the kynge kept there in y e great hall a great honorable feaste the sondaye folowynge And vppon the daye of saynte Erkenwalde or the laste daye of Apryll nexte ensuynge syr Edwarde y e kynges sonne commaunded the citesyns of London to presente vnto hym .vi. persones able to be shyreffes of London Of the whyche he admytted to that offyce wyllyam de Hadestoke Anketyll de Aluerne sware them to be accomptauntes as theyr predecessours were And the .vi. daye of May folowyng pÌ„sentyd at y e Guyld hall and there chargyd of new At these dayes a newe custome or toll was vsed to be payed by the cytysyns of London vnto the kynge whych toll syr Edwarde then hadde letten so ferme to a marchaunt strauÌ„ger for .xx. marke by yere wherfore the cytesysn not wyllynge to be vnder the rule of a strauÌ„ger made grete suyte vnto the sayde syr Edwarde and lastely agreed wyth hym to bye the sayde tolle free for the summe of two hundred marke And in the ende of this yere that is to meane the .xiii. daye of October the kynge lette translate wyth great solemnytye the holy body of saynte Edwarde kynge and confessour that before laye in the syde of the quere where the monkes nowe synge into the chapell at the backe of the hyghe aulter of westmynster abbay there layde yt in a ryche shryne And in this yere the kynge hadde graunted vnto hym towarde his vyage purposyd by hym
into the holy lande the xx peny of euery mannes substaunce mouable thorough out hys lande of the lay fee and of the spyrytualty by assent of y e .x. Gregorye then pope .iii. dysmes to be leuyed in thre yeres Anno domini M.CC.lxx  Anno domini M.CC.lxxi  walter Porter  IohnÌ„ Adryan Uyntyner  Anno .lv.  IohnÌ„ Taylour  IN thys .lv. yere the kynge of Romains coÌ„cludid a couenauÌ„t betwen y e kyng syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter for a vyage to be taken into the holy lande by the sayd erle for the kynge For the whych vyage the saide erle shuld haue toward his charge .viii thousand mark and at the takyng of his shyppyng other iiii thousande marke and to be redy by the fyrst daye of May next folowynge and yf the erle were not redy at the see syde at that day with his company to take his shyppynge he shuld then forfayte to y e kyng .ii. M. marke For suertie wherof y e sayde erle shuld delyuer into the kynges possessyon his castell of Henleger standynge vppon y e marche of walis But this cam after to no purpose wherfore y e cause is not shewyd But y e iourney was perfourmed by syr Edwarde the kynges sonne as after shall be to you declared In this passe tyme the cytesyns of London contentyd so well syr Edwardes mynde that he laboured so for them to the kynges grace that they had then theyr chartour so coÌ„fermyd that they shuld after theyr auncyent lybertyes chose of them self a mayre and two shryues and y e sayd shryues to haue the offyces therunto belongynge to ferme as they to fore hadde excepte that wheretofore they payde for the fee ferme .iii. hundred and l. punde nowe they shulde pay .iiii. hundred and .l. pouÌ„de After whyche confyrmacyon thus grauÌ„ted and passed by y e kynges brode seale the cytesyns vppon the .xiiii. daye of Iuly assembled at the Guyldhall chase for theyr mayre IohnÌ„ Adryan draper and for shyreffes walter Porter and IohnÌ„ Tayller And vppon y e xvi daye folowynge syr Edwarde beynge present presented them vnto y e king at westminster where they were admitted sworne And then was syr Hugh of Othon dyschargyd of that rule of the cytye Then the citesyns of theyr fre wyll gaue vnto the kynge an C. marke to syr Edwarde .v. huÌ„dred marke whyche gyft the kyng well accepted And soone after they receyued theyr chartour of confyrmacyon berynge date the .xxi. day of Iuly and yere of the kynges reygne .lv. And for the former conuencyon betwene the kyng and the erle of Glouceter was not holden syr Edwarde toke vppon hym the kynges crosse To whom the kynge gaue all suche money as was graunted of y e lay fee as before is shewyd then toke his leue of the kyng and after toke shyppynge at Douer the .xx. daye of August and so sayled to Burbeaux with his wyfe and other noble company And for that holy Lewys then kyng of Fraunce was gone he taryed at Burdeaux a certayne season and after sped hym with his forsayd company toward y e cytye of Thunys where y e Frenche kyng was But or he came thyder saynt Lewys was dede And y e peace coÌ„cluded betwene Phylyppe hys son and the kynge of Thunys wherfore syr Edwarde entendynge to greue goddes enmyes wyth some knygtes of Fraunce whych enteÌ„ded the same toke leue of the Frenche kynge and of syr Charlâ—s hys vncle then kynge of Scycyle sayled further into the holy lande and arryued at a porte of Acris or Acon For at y e daye in the holy lande was no mo cytyes in the possessyon of cristen men but that and the cytye of Tyre wyth certayne castellys wherunto the crysten fled often for socoure agayne the Sarazyns when syr Edwarde was comeÌ„ to y e cytye of Acon y e crysten knyghtes receyued hym with gret honour gladnesse and lodged hym in theyr beste maner where he taryed by the space of a yere after as aftermeth y e french cronycle For yt was not longe after his commynge thyder but that the Soudane of Sury the whych had wonne al the countreys there about came thyther wyth a great power of Sarazyns and assauted the towne vygurously But syr Edwarde with the ayde of crysten men bare hym so knyghtly that he defended the cytye and the castellys to the same belongynge terrytores of the same that the Soudane for all hys great multytude and power gate there lyteil honoure notwytstandynge that he hadde in hys hoste as affyrmeth the frenche cronycle ouer an hundred thousande Sarazyns And more affyrmeth the sayde cronycle that syr Edwarde in his polycyes and manfull actes so honorably behauyd him that he neuer dyd such acte in all his lyfe folowynge all be it that after he dyd many of grete honour But none that was lyke vnto the actes that he there accomplyshed and brought vnto ende By reason wherof his name amonge infidelys was had in memory many yeres after Of the honoure of thys marcyall knyght I haue shewed the lenger rehersall for so myche as I fynde yt testyfyed of the French men the which I knowe well by theyr other cronycles that they make of Englysh prynces must be of great authoryte or ellys by them yt shuld not so specyally haue ben noted And more ouer I am assured that yf a Frenche prynce had deseruyd suche a generall pryce yt shulde haue ben set out and artyculed euery acte thereof that yt shulde haue conteyned a large worke the specyaltyes therof declared to they re moste laude and honour Then thys noble prynce beynge thus in Acon and dayly puttynge the Suryens to shame and great damages they seynge they might not preuayle agayn hym by strength of vatayll cast how they myght destroy hym by treason and sente vnto hym a Sarazyne in name of a messanger the whyche in tellynge of hys fayned message wouÌ„ded hym wyth a knyfe enuenomyd of the whyche wounde he laye longe or he were therof cured But after confessyon made by the Sarazyn of all hys coÌ„passed treason he was put vnto cruell deth In thys yere also fyll downe the steple of saynt Mary Bow in Chepe of LoÌ„don slew women chyldren Anno domini M.CC.lxxi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxii  Gregory Rokkysle  IohnÌ„ Adryan wyntener  Anno .lvi.  Henry waleys  IN this .lvi. yere in the moneth of Nouember at the parliameÌ„t holden at westmynster the marchauÌ„tes of LoÌ„don and other places of Englande complayned them to y e kyng that the countesse of Flaundres had taken from them certayne gooddes amountynge to a great summe Uppon whych complaynt the kyng sent to her to make restytucyon But for noâ—e was had the kyng coÌ„maunded that all men born in y e partyes in Englande shulde be arrested and they theyr goodes to be vnder suer kepynge By the whych meane in conclusyon she sent ouer embassadours and besought the kyng that
Leycester whych after grewe to the great dysturbauÌ„ce of dyuers townes of Englande and specyally of the cytye of London as after some dele shall appere Anno domini M.CC.lxxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxxv  Stephen CornÌ„hyll  Gregory Rokesle  Anno .xiii.  Robert Rokesby  IN thys .xiii. yere vpon the day of the conuersioÌ„ of saynt Paule or y e .xxv. day of Ianuarii y e kynge ceased the fraunchese and lybertyes into hys handes and discharged the mayre of London thaÌ„ beyng Gregory Rokkisle admytted for custos or gardeyn of the cytye StephaÌ„ SaÌ„dewyche The whyche contynued in that offyce tyll the moÌ„day folowyng the puryfycacyon of our Lady At whyche season the sayd StephaÌ„ was dyscharged and syr IohnÌ„ BretonÌ„ knyght charged for the resydue of y e yere The cause of thys dyspleasure that the kyng had vnto the cytye is nat shewed of no certaynte But in an olde panflete it appereth that the sayd Gregory Rokkisley toke certayne brybes of the bakers and suffered them to sell brede lackynge .vi. vnces or .vii. oz in a peny lofe for y e whyche the kynge shuld be sore dyspleased But yet to me it semeth no conuenyent cause to sease the lybertyes of the cytie for the offence of one man wherfore it is to presuppose y t it was for a more greuous cause And in this yere was fully fynisshed and ended the new werke of y e chyrch of westmynster vnto the ende of the quere begonne as before is shewed in the thyrde yere of the .iii. HeÌ„ry By whyche reason it shuld apere y t thys chyrche shuld be in edyfyenge vpon lxvi yeres Of the fyrste fundacyon of thys chyrche are dyuers opinioÌ„s For as before is shewed in y e thyrde Chapytre of the story of Carce and v. parte of thys werke thys chyrche was fyrste founded by a cytezeyne of LondoÌ„ and after reedyfyed by saynt Edwarde and lastly by kynge HeÌ„ry the .iii. But in the same abbey of west mynster where of lykelyhode y e most certaynte is to be had it is regystred that thys sayd chyrche was a temple of the Brytons longe or they receyued the fayth of Chryste And in the tyme of theyr crysten kynge Lucius it was hallowed of Augustyne hys felowes And secundaryly it was reedyfyed by Sebertus than kynge of Estsaxons or Essex aboute the tyme whan Ethelbert kyng of Kent buylded saynt Paules chyrch of LondoÌ„ whyche was after the tyme that Lucyus receyued the fayth of Chryste vppon .iiii. C. yeres Than thyrdly it was buylded by saynt Edwarde the confessoure whiche reygned vpon CCCC and .xl. yeres after the sayde Sebertus And fourthly or lastly by the foresayd Henry y e thyrde whiche began his reygne after the dethe of saynt Edwarde C.l. yeres Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxv  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxvi  walter Blount  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xiiii.  Iohan wade  IN the .xiiii. yere of kynge Edwarde at a parliament holden at westmynster were made y t statutes called Additamenta Gloucestrie whiche is to meane addicioÌ„s of statutes made and put to suche as before tyme were made at y e parlyameÌ„t holdeÌ„ at Glouceter The which statutes were made to refourme suche ê‘sones as mysused the landes and tenementes commynge to them by reason of y e dower or landes of theyr wyues so that the the chyldren of the seconde husbande putt by y e ryghtfull enherytoures or suche as were nexte alyed vnto the fyrst donours By reason of whiche statutes and addicions now in this parliameÌ„t made suche mysorder was refourmed In this yere or nere there aboute in a towne of Almayne called Traiect many men and women as wytnesseth y e auctour of Cronica cronicarum were dauÌ„syng vpoÌ„ a brydge whiche lay ouer a ryuer called Moose In whiche tyme of theyr dysporte dauÌ„synge came by a preest berynge the sacrameÌ„t towarde a seke man wherof the sayd men and women beynge in reuell toke no regarde vnto the sacrament nor dyd to it any honour reuerence But were it by the wreche of god or otherwyse shortly after the preest was passed ouer the brydge brake by meanes wherof nere vnto the nombre of CC. persones were drowned And aboute this same season in the couÌ„tre called in Englysshe the Swetezers a woman was delyuered of a chylde that from y e nauyll vpwarde had .ii. complete bodyes as iiii armes and two hedes with two bodyes to the wast and downeward but .ii. legges the whiche with y e fore sayd armes be clypped eyther others body And an other woman bare a chylde or a monstre wherof the heed and the face was lyke vnto a man all the body lyke vnto a lyon with tayle and fete and all other fetures accordynge to the same In this yere also a cytezyn of London named Thomas Pywylesdon y t whiche in y e tyme of y e barons warre before in the story of kynge Henry shewed had ben a capytayne and a great styrrer of the commons of the sayd cytie for to maynteyne the barons partie agayne the kynge was newly accused that he with other of euyll dysposycyon shulde make conuentycles and assembles to the newe dystourbaunce of the cytie wherof reporte was made vnto the kynge the whiche remytted the enquery therof vnto syr Rauffe Sandewyche than custos or gardeyne of the cytie TheÌ„ the sayde Thomas with other was putte in sure kepynge tyll the mater were duly enquyred of After whiche inquysycyon made and founde reporte was made vnto the kynge Then the kyng sent downe a wrytte and commaunded it to be proclaymed shortly after within the boundes of the cytye wherof the effecte was thus that the sayde Thomas PywelysdoÌ„ wylyam de Heywoode Rycharde de Coundris Rycharde le Cofferre Robert de Derby Albyne de Darby wyllyam Mayo Mercer and Iuo Lyng Draper with diuers other to y e noÌ„bre of .l. persones shuld be banysshed out of y t cytye for euer And if any of the sayd .lviii. persones were at that tyme of the proclamacioÌ„ voyded y e cytye for fere or otherwyse that they shuld so remayne and nat to retourne vnto the cytie vpoÌ„ payne of lyfe losynge In thys yere also where as of olde tyme longe before thys season y e marchauntes strauÌ„gers commynge with theyr marchaundyse were lodged within cytezeyns of the cytye of London and solde all theyr marchaundyses by the procuryng of hys host for the whyche hys sayd hoost had a certayne of euery .li by meanes of the sayd marchauntes strauÌ„gers it was at thys daye brought to passe y t they myght hyre to theÌ„ houses for to dwel in and for stowage of theyr wares so that no cytezeyne shulde entermedle hym with the sayd strauÌ„gers nor yet theyr wares by meane whereof they vsed many disceytes bothe i vtterauÌ„ce of false wares and also by theyr weyghtes whyche they vsed in theyr owne houses to the great hurt of the hole realme of Englande wherfore sodaynly serche was made and
thys yere dyed also the olde quene Elyanore wyfe vnto HeÌ„ry the thyrde and mother to thys kyng Edwarde whose herte was buryed at the graye freres in London and her body at Ambrysbury in the house of Nunnes Anno domini M.CC.xcii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xciii  Henry Bale  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xxi.  Elys Russell  IN thys .xxi. yere the kyng helde hys great courte of parlyament at London to the whyche with dyuers lordes of that prouince came the kyng of Scottes And after he had contynued there a conuenyente season he was coÌ„ueyed with dyuers lordes ferre vpoÌ„ hys iourney towarde hys owne countre And in thys yere as one Rychard Bagle offycer of the sheryfes of London was ledynge a prysoner towarde the Gayole the whyche he before had arrested thre men rescowed the sayde prysoner and toke hym from the offycer The whych were pursued and taken and by iugemente and lawe than vsed broughte into westchepe and there had theyr ryghte handes smyten of by the wrestes Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xciii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xciiii  Robert Rokysley  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xxii.  Martyn Awbry  IN the .xxii. yere of kynge Edwarde vpon the daye of saynt Tyburce and Ualeryan or the .xiiii. daye of May fyll a woÌ„derfull snow and therwith and excedynge wynde By vyolence wherof greate harme was done in sundry places of Englande In remembraunce whereof a Metrycyan made these verses folowynge Crastino Tiburci sanctorum Valeriani Nix cadit immanis ventus vehemens boriasis Euulsit siluas vulsit quas reperit herbas â—des dampnose detexit impituose Quas clam prostrauit sic plurima daÌ„pna paraâ—it The whyche verses may thus be Englysshed as here after foloweth The morow folowynge Tiburce Valerian The blessed sayntes of snow fyll suche plentie That at that day was no lyuyng man That myght remembre of so great quantyte The Northyn wynde blewe wyth such fyerste That houses trees with herbys it ouer cast And many other harmes by sande eke by see Of that wynde came the whyse that it dyd laste IN thys yere also about y e ende of the moneth of Iulu dyed freer Pekham than archebysshop of Caunterbury In whose see was after stalled mayster Robert of wynchester And aboute the myddes of Septembre folowynge the erle of Barre a frenche man maryed Elyanore y e kynges doughter in y e towne of Brystowe And about the ende of thys yere dyed Alexandre kyng of Scottes where soone after ensuyd great warre and trouble for the enherytaunce of that lande as in some parte shall after appere And thys yere whete was solde at London for .ii. s. a busshell In this yere also as wytnesseth the Frenche cronycle Phylyp le Beawe thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce made warre in Gascoyne and Guyau for the cause as there is shewed sayeng that kyng Edwarde vnder coloure to haue made a vyage into the holy lande gathered a great army and sodeynly entred into Normandy bothe by lande and water dyd moche harme in spoylynge and takyng dyuers shyppes of Fraunce and brynnyng and spoylyng diuers townes of the same and after came vnto the towne of Rochell where to it the Englysshemen made dyuers assautes wherby the dwellers also the towne susteyned moche harme wherof the kynge of Fraunce beynge enfourmed sent vnto kyng Edward monisshing hym to come vnto hys parlyamente also to make satysfaccyon for suche harmys as hys people had done within hys domynyon of Fraunce and Normandy But for that kyng Edwarde refused that to do therfore y e sayd Phylyp le Beawe sent Rauffe de Neell thaÌ„ coÌ„stable of Fraunce into Gascoygne with a greate myghty power the whyche made sharpe warre vppon y e Gascoynes But the Gascoines with helpe of the Englysshemen defended theym in suche wyse that great hurt was done vpon bothe partyes ThaÌ„ fynally as testifyeth the sayd frenche cronycle to the entent that kyng Edwarde myghte make the better clayme to al the hole duchy of NormaÌ„dy he sent the Frenche kynge worde y t he wolde gyue ouer into hys handes the duchye of Guyan holde no lande of the kyng of Fraunce Anno domini M.CC.xciiii  Anno domini M.CC.xcv  Henry Boxe  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xxiii.  Richarde Glouceter  IN thys .xxiii. yere the walshemen by styrryng of one named Madok rebelled agayne the kynge wherfore he in all haste spedde hym vnto westchester and about the feast of saynte Nycholas wan frome the walshmen the ile called Anglesya or the I le of Manne and buylded newe the cytye castell of Beau Maryse and broughte the vnstedfast walshemen to newe reclayme then caused the woodes of y e countre to be hewyn downe wherein before tymes they vsed to hyde theym as a cony dothe in hys claper and repayred so the castelles and stronge holdes with buyldynge of some newe that he caused the walshmeÌ„ to thryue agayne theyr wylles For by the strengthe of those castelles they were kepte from theyr olde accustomed rauyns and stelynges and put so in execucyon by the rulers of the sayd castelles stronge holdes that they fyll vnto occupacyon and to byenge and sellyng and gathered treasoure and beganne to lyue after the maner of EnglisshemeÌ„ so that more and more that countre grewe to more restefulnesse and peace In thys yere also the frenchemen arryued at Douer wyth a certayne of shyppes beynge vnder the rule of syr Mathew de mounte morency and of syr Iohan Harcourte knyghtes and spoyled that towne and brent a parte of yt In whych skyrmysshe was slayne or martyred an holy man named saynte Thomas of Douer And in this yere as testifieth y e frenche cronicle Charles de Ualoys brother vnto kyng Phylyp of Fraunce was sent by hys sayd brother into Gascoygne with a greate hooste The whyche Charles layde hys syege vnto the castell of Ryon wherin at that tyme were syr Iohan Seyn IohnÌ„ IohnÌ„ de Brytayne the whych manfully vygorously defendyd the sayd castel agayne the Frenchmen all that yere and more as in the next yere shall appere Anno domini M.CC.xcv  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.xcvi  IohnÌ„ Dunstable  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xxiiii.  Adam Halyngbery  IN this .xxiiii. yere the kyng for the great warre y t he had wyth the Frenche kyng and els where coÌ„maunded a new subsidie to be leuied vpon all the sarplers of wolle goyng out of Englande with all fellys and hydes in lyke maner And ouer that all suche money as before was grauÌ„ted by the clergy of Englande towarde the defence of the holy lande the kyng then for reporte that he hadde from Rome of the popes maners thaÌ„ Bonyface the .viii coÌ„maunded it to be brought vnto hys tresoury And by a coÌ„uocacioÌ„ made of the sayd clergye he had graunted towarde hys nedes halfe of theyr spyrytuall temporall landes begynnyng at .xx. marke benifice so ascendyng vpward the whych was nat
payd in one yere but by deuided porcions in .iii. yeres ensuyng And of the lay fee or temporall men of EnglaÌ„de he had grauÌ„ted to hym the .x. peny of theyr mouables the which was payd in .ii. yeres next ensuyng And thys yere in y e moneth of Marche was drawen hanged at London for treason done in Fraunce a knyghte called syr Thomas Turbeuyle And aboute y e tyme of Easter whan Charlys de Ualoys as ye before in that other yere haue harde had lyen longe at the castell of Ryon myght nothyng wynne vpoÌ„ the Englyshmen but dayly loste of the best of hys knyghtes he sent for more ayde and socoure At whyche tyme came vnto hym syr Rauffe Nele constable of Fraunce with a fressh company and thaÌ„ assawted it of new But whan they had lyen there a season sawe they preuayled nothynge agayn theyr enemys they yode vnto an holde there by named Poudency and it assauted for so moche as the more nombre of the sowdyours there were Normans and after .viii. days by appoyntemente or otherwyse gat the sayd holde so that all the Englisshemen had theyr lybertye goodes and the Normans taken as prysoners the whyche they brought after vnto the castell of Ryon and there in syghte of the sowdyours hanged al or the more partye of the sayde Normans whan the Gascoynes beynge wythin the towne and castell of Ryons sawe then theyr cosyns and couÌ„trey men hanged before theyr eyen they caste in theyr myndes that yt was done by treason of the Englysshmen and that they wolde at length deale wyth them in lyke maner By reason wherof stryfe and varyauÌ„ce arose betwene the EnglysshemeÌ„ and the Gascoygnes so that eyther of theym feryd the treason of the other For the whyche cause syr Iohan Seyn Iohan syr IohnÌ„ de Britayn syr Robert Typtoft syr Rauffe TaÌ„ny syr Hugh Bardolfe syr Adam Cretynge with dyuers other fledde by see and in that maner saued them selfe and soone after the sayd towne and castell of Ryons was wonne by the Frenchemen and the inhabytauÌ„tes of the same sworne vnto the freÌ„ch kynge ye haue harde before in the .xxii. yere of thys kynge howe after the dethe of Alexander kyng of Scottes many questyons fyll amonge y â— sayd scottes who by ryght of enherytauÌ„ce shulde be kynge of that lande consyderynge that the sayde Alexander had lefte after hym thre doughters the whyche lyuyng theyr father were maryed The fyrste to syr Iohan Bayloll the seconde to Roberte le Bruze and the thyrde to one named Hastynges Many of the lordes of Scotlande wolde haue crowned syr Iohan Bayloll by reason that he maryed the eldest of the doughters But the frendes of Robert le Bruze withstode it with all theyr power And other there were that heâ—de with Hastynges so that after greate stryfe and longe varyaunce the matter was broughte before kynge Edwarde as chyef lord and soueraygne of that lande promysinge to hym to abyde all suche determynacyon and iugemente as he shulde sette therin Than kynge Edwarde to the ende that the scottes shulde knowe perfytely that the kyng of EnglaÌ„de ought of ryghte to be there chyefe hede and soueraygne shewed vnto theym suche olde wrytynges as he lyttell tofore had caused to be serched and founde in the whyche it was conteyned by the auctorytye of olde cronycles and wryters as Maryanus y e scotte wyllyam of Malmesbury Roger of Huntyngdon and other that in the yere of our lorde .ix. C.xx kynge Edwarde the elder made subget vnto hym the kynges of Cumbrys and scottes Also in the yere of grace .ix. C. and xxi the foresayd scottes Cumbrys chase the sayd Edwarde the elder to be theyr chyefe lord and patron And in y e yere of our lord .ix. C.xxvi Ethelstane than kynge of Englande subdued constantyne than kyng of scottes and after admytted the sayd Constantyne to reygne as kynge vnder him by othe of obeysauÌ„s with feaute and homage Also Edredus brother to the sayde Ethelstane subdued of newe the scottes with the Northumbrys and receyued of them agayne othe and homage And ouer that it is founde in the sayd cronycles that Edgar ouercame Alphunius the son of Kynadus kynge of Scottes and receyued of hym feawty homage and helde hym vnder hys obeysauÌ„ce as he had done hys father Kynadus before tyme. Moreouer it is there wytnessed that Canutus in the .xvi. yere of hys reygne subdued Malcolyne than kyng of scottes and receyued of hym feawty and homage Furthermore wyllyam Conquerour in the .vi. yere of his reygne subdued Malcolyne kyng of Scotlande the whyche before tymes had receyued the sayde kyngdome of the gyfte of Edwarde kynge and confessoure And wyllyam the rede dyd in lykewyse vnto the sayde Malcolyne and vnto hys two sonnes that reygned in Scotlande the one after the other Also Dauyd kynge of scottes dyd homage vnto Stephane than kyng of Englande And wyllyam kynge of scottes dyd homage vnto Henry the thyrde at the tyme of hys coronacyon and after came vnto hys father Henry the seconde whan the forenamed HeÌ„ry was deed in Normandy made hys homage to hym agayne Thys Henry that was sonne vnto Henry the seconde is of many wryters named Henry the thyrd for so moche as he was the .iii. kyng that was crowned of that name But for he dyed before hys father hys dedes ben lytell spoken of so that of some wryters he is nothyng mynded And it foloweth in the story howe that AlexaÌ„dre kyng of Scottes in y t .xxxv. yere of HeÌ„ry the thyrd or son of kyng IohnÌ„ maryed at yorke Margarete doughter of the sayd Henry and dyd vnto hym homage for the realme of Scotlande and bouÌ„de hym and hys heyres kynges of Scotlande by hys letters patentes to be trewe vnto the sayd HeÌ„ry vnto his heyres kynges of Englande lyke as before tyme wyllyam kyng of Scottes had oblyged hym vnto the seconde Henry as before in the .xxii. yere of hys reygne is more manyfestly shewed And more to them was shewed y â— popes bulles the whych were sent before tymes into Scotlande by auctoryte wherof the kynges of ScotlaÌ„de were accursed for they wolde nat be obedyent to theyr lordes kynges of Englande WHan all these presedentes were sene by y e Scottes a day was assygned of metyng at NorhmÌ„ in the marches betwene Englande and Scotlande whyther vnto the kyng came the chief rulers of the Scottes where they excused them to be bouÌ„de vnto the kyng for the obseruynge of the kynges ordenaunce for so moche as they lacked a kynge an hede by whome all suche ordenaunces shuld be maynteyned and holdeÌ„ But after by aduyce of bothe parties agremeÌ„t was made by the scottes that they shuld be bounde to obey the kynges iugement wheruppon bondes were made vpon bothe partyes that is to meane the kyng was bounde to theÌ„ in an hondreth thousande pounde y t within .ii. monethes after he had receyued the possessyon of the lande he shulde gyue it vnto
than they by the fyrst metyng had auaūced thē self And yfayde of Guy de Namour sone vnto the erle of Flaunders had nat the soner been comyn vnto them the sayde erle of Artoys had that day wonne the renowne of the felde Thā the sayd Guy with a fresshe compapany of Almaynes and other bolde sowdyours coragyously entred the felde and bete downe y e Frenchemen egerly Than was the medle newe begon in so feruent wyse that men horse fyll downe to the grounde wondersly thycke And euer the erle of Artoys where so euer he wente he slewe moche people before hym But the Flemynges kept them so hole togyder y t he myght neuer dysseuer them and slewe of the nobles of Fraunce great plentye whiche mortalite thus contynuynge y e stremes of blode ran wonders to beholde And alway the Frenche partye weked more more Lastly the erles of saynt Poule and of Boleyn with Robert the sonne of this erle of Cleremounte and other with the nombre of .ii. M. horsemen seynge the rage and woodnes of the Flemynges whiche so cruelly slewe and bet downe the Frenche men settynge a parte all honour and knyght hode shamefully fled out of the feld leuyng the erle of Artoys in y e myddel of his enemyes whiche lyke vnto the lyon rampaunte contynued in one sleynge kyllynge the Flemynges without mercy or pyte But the Flemynges lyke wood tygres were so enraged vpon the Frenchemen y e they wolde neuer leue them tyll they by pure force draue them into theyr tentes where they slewe of theym a a great multytude In this batayll were slayne the foresayd erle of Artoys Godfray de Braban nere kynnesman to the sayd erle lorde of wyrson Adam the erle of Dabenmale Iohn̄ the sonne of y e erle of Henaut Rauf de Neell cōstable of Fraunce Guy his brother marshal of the hoste Renolde de Try Esmer chamberlayne of Cancaruyle Iaques y e sonne of Godfrey de Braban Pyers Floot Iohan Bruillis maister of y e arbalasters knyghtes many mo mē of name to the nombre of CC. and aboue besyde esquyers and other men of lower degrees as yomen gromes pages to the nōbre of .xii. M. The whiche after this vyctorye the Flemynges dyspoyled and suffred the caryns of them to lye in y e felde that all wylde bestes fowles myght them perysshe and deuoure whan this yonge knyght syr Guy hadde thus opteyned vyctorye of the Frenchmen he reioyced not a lytle and soone therafter layde syege vnto the I le or a castell soo named and gat it also were it by trecheri or other wyse Then the townes of Iper of Gaunt of Douaye and diuers other of that countre obeyed to hym and cōdyscended and agreed to take partye eyther of them with other agayne the Frenche kynge Than kynge Phylyp herynge of the great dysconfyture of his men made countenaunce of mournynge and specyally for his true knyght the erle of Artoys Kynge Phylyp then after for to reuenge the foresayd dyspleasure to hym doone by y e Flemynges assembled by our lady day Assumpsion next ensuynge an excedynge nombre of men of armes entendynge to haue entred Flaundres vtterly to haue destroyed a great parte of that countre so drewe towarde his enemyes so that he pyght y e tētes of his vanward within .ii. myles of his enemyes and there lay to his excedynge charge cōsiderynge the great multytude of his hoost by all y e moneth of Septēbre Of y e nōbre of this hoost I haue doubte to wryte For mayster Gagwyn sayth y e nōbre was so great y t it may nat be byleued y t sheweth wel by y e expressemēt of y e nōbre made by y e Frenche cronycle For he saythe they were an hūdreth tyme an C.M .xl. tymes .xl. M. By whiche sayeng somdele appereth how y e Frenchmē cā make men soūge But how it was for all this great excedynge nōbre of Frēchmē y e Flemynges laye styll vnhurte or assawted And fynally vp on a great substancyall cause as ye after shal here this great hoste was dissolued or returned euery mā to his awne kynge Phylyp with smal honour into Fraūce wherof y e Frēchmē sayth y e occasion or cause was thus Kynge Edward of Englāde whiche vnto y e Flemynges bare great affeccion cōsideryng y e great daunger they were in and he at y e tyme myght nat thē ayde nor socour of a pollicy cast in his mynde with an heuy or mornynge coūtenaūce shewed vnto y e quene syster vnto kyng Phylyp y e he was very heuy sorowfull for his brother hers y e kyng of Fraūce wherof whē wherfore she had frayned the cause he answered sayde y t he had certayne knowlege y t at suche tyme as the Flemynges he shulde mete in batayle that his lordes cōpany shulde leaue hym amonge his enemyes for he was solde vnto them before hande wherof whan y e quene was thus ascertayned anone in all possible hast she sent letters messangers vnto the Frenche kynge counfaylynge hym to be well ware of that treason and daunger To the whiche he gyuynge credence shortely after sente frome hym the sayd great company of people and he with a certayne as aboue is sayd retourned īto Fraunce After whyche departynge the flemynges were so bolde y ◠forthe wyth they entred into Pycardy the countre of Artoys and spoyled brent dyuers townes of the same But in the yere folowyng as testyfyeth the sayd frēche cronicle y e Flemynges of Bruges were foughten with of Otthon than duke of Burgoyn to whome by reason of maryage the Frenche kyng had gyuen the erledome of Artoys he of them slewe with the ayde of the Frenchemen .xv. thousande In thys .xvii. yere about mydsosomer Phylyp an other sonne of the erle of Flaundres whyche had by a certayn terme passed ben in the court of Charles de Ualoys by hym put in truste to receyue certayne summes of money in Scicill to y e vse of pope Bonyface the .viii sodaynely departed and with a stronge company of Almaynes came into Flaundres to ayde assiste his brother whome the Flemynges or Brabanders receyued with great ioy by the comforte of hym inuaded the borders landes of the Frenche kyng boldly assautyd the castell of saynt Omers But for they there gat none aduauntage but loste many of theyr men they forsoke that yode vnto a towne belongyng to the Frēche kyng called Thorouan Moryne the whyche in processe they wanne and spoyled About thys tyme dyed Bonyface the .viii. of that name than pope a man of euyll name and fame the whyche by hys trechery caused hys predecessour Celestyne the .v. that was a good holy man to resygne and leue his papacie And by thys meane when thys sayd Celestyne had syttē in Peters chayre a short tyme this Bonyface espyeng hys innocency whyche was all sette to the seruice of
meÌ„ by goddes haÌ„de and punysshment so that what with warre of the Scottes and for hungre and deth by mortalite and syckenesse the people of y e lande was wonderslye wasted and perysshed But al those monycyons amended not the kynge of his inordynate lyuynge Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xviii  Iohan Pryoure  Iohan wentgraue  Anno .xi.  wyllyam Furneux  IN this .xi. yere y e kynge assembled a newe host and went into NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„de to resyste the malyce of the Scottes whiche dayly made assawtes vpon the bordours and entred ferre within the lande wherfore for great dystresse nede of fyghting men the kynge had moch people out of y e southe and east partyes of Englande Amonge the whiche contrary to theyr lybertye the cyte of London was constrayned to fynde at theyr costes and charge CC. men and so sent theym to yorke whan the kynge at yorke hadde receyued his people frome sundry countrees and good townes of Englande he with a conuenyent noumbre rode towarde Berwyke so sped his iournayes that at lengthe he came nere vnto Berwyke and layde his syege aboute y e fame But whyle the kynge was besyed in assawtynge of the towne the Scottes brake ouer the water of Swale in great noumbre leuynge the cooste where the kynges people laye in secrete wyse came downe into the marchis of yorke shyre and there slewe the people and robbed them in moost cruell wyse wherefore y e arche bisshop of yorke constrayned of pure necessyte to defende that countre gathered vnto hym an vnredy dispurueyed hoost for y e warre as pryours clerkes chanons and other spyrituel men of the churche wyth husbande men and other vnapte people and so with great nombre of men and fewe warly or discrete cheuetaynes yode agayne y e Scottes and them encouÌ„tred at a place called Mitton vppon Swale the .xii. day of the moneth of Octobre and gaue vnto theÌ„ batayle But for lacke of wyse and warely prouysyon the EnglysshemeÌ„ were beset of theyr enemyes vpon euery side so that of them was slayne a great multytude the remenaunt shamefullye put to flyghte by reason wherof the sayde archebisshop with the abbot of Selby and other were preseruyd And for so many spyrytuell meÌ„ were slayne in thys batayl therfore it was after named of many wrytters the whyte batayll whan the kynge was enfourmed of this ouerthrowe of the Northyrne men and for it drewe towarde wynter he therfore brake vp hys siege and retourued vnto yorke and soone after forther into EnglaÌ„d Than was nothyng done without y e aduyces and couÌ„ceylys of syr Hughe the speÌ„cers the father and the sonne By whose entysemeÌ„t many thynges were done in Englande to the great grudge as well of the noble men of the realme as of the commons of the same so y t they were had in as greate hatred and indygnacyon as before tymes was Pyers of Gaâ—eston And many euyll reportes and great extorcyoÌ„s were of theÌ„ reported as lightly men shall do that ben oute of the fauoure of the common people Anno domini M.CCC.xviii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xix  IohnÌ„ Pontenay  IohnÌ„ wengraue  Anno .xii.  IohnÌ„ Dallynge  IN this .xii. yere the kyng helde hys greate counceyll at yorke where coÌ„trary the mynde of y e lordes syr Hughe Spencer the sonne was made hyghe chaumberlayne of EnglaÌ„de By reason wherof he bare hym so hawtely and so prowde that no lorde of thys lande myght gaynsaye hym in any thynge that he thoughte good wherof grewe the occasyon of the barons warre as after foloweth In thys passetyme for asmoche as y e foresayd cardinalles might nothyng do concernyng the peace betwene Englande and Scotlande the kynge purchased a curse of the .xxii. Iohan then pope to accurse Robert le Bruze and all suche as wyth hym helde or maynteyned and it to stande so in strenght tyll the sayd Robert had recompensed kynge Edwarde for all suche harmys as hys lande had by hym receyued also tyl he had reedifyed the monasteryes and churches by hym and hys caste downe in Englande and restored to them suche spirytuell goodes as the Scottes had reued and taken from them But all thys auayled nothyng but putte the kyng and the realme to great coste charge so that y e comons were vexed and trowbled many maner of ways and theyr possessyons and moueable goodes taken from them vpon surmysed feyned causes so that many were vtterly vndoon and a fewe synguler mysguyded persones auauÌ„ced whan the more partye of the barones of Englande behelde this mysery of the people how they were punyshed by the hande of god and also by the ygnoraunce of the kynge they in secrete maner assembled them togyder at a towne called ShyrbornÌ„ in 〈◊〉 and there condisceÌ„ded for a reformacyon of this myschefe to remoue from the kynge the sayd SpeÌ„sers bothe the father and the sonne And this to brynge aboute syr Thomas erle of Lancastre syr Humfrey Bohum erle of Hereforde syr Iohan Moubray baroÌ„ syr Roger Clyfforde baroÌ„ syr Goselyn Danyell baroÌ„ syr Roger Toket Roger Benefeelde syr Roger Mortymer Syr whyllyaÌ„ SullaÌ„de syr wyllyam Elmynbrydge syr Iohan Gyfforde and syr Iohan Tyers barons and knyghtes with dyuers other sware eche of theÌ„ to staÌ„de by other tyll they had amended the state of the realme And soone after by theyr aduyce and agrement syr Iohan Moubraye syr Roger Clyfforde and syr Goselyn Danyel with a stronge company entred vpon the manours and castelles of the sayde Spensers standynge in the marche of wales and them spoyled and destroyed Of the whiche ryot the SpeÌ„sers complayned them to the kynge In punysshent wherof the kynge callynge to hym dyuerse of his couÌ„ceyll at wyndsore there determyned that the sayde syr Iohan Moubraye syr Roger Clyfforde syr Goselyn Danyell with other theyr assystentes shulde appere before the kynges counsayle shortly after and there to make answere vpon that ryot And yf they refused that to do that than they shulde auoyde the lande shortly after as banysshed men But no day of apparence by theym was kepte wherfore proclamacyons were made in dyuers placys of the realme and at London the .xvi. daye of Marche that the sayde syr Iohan Moubray syr Roger Clyfforde and other shuld auoyde the lande within .x. dayes folowynge vpon payne of dethe wherof herynge y e lordes and barones before named assembled theym a more strenger power and vpon that sent a messynger vnto y e kynge besechynge hym humbly to remoue frome his persone and couÌ„seyle the Spensers y e which dayly dyd vnto hym great dyshonour and to the comune weale of the realme great hynderauÌ„ce The kynge herynge this humble request nothynge with it beynge contente but ferynge greatly the destruccyon of his owne persone assembled his couÌ„feyle for reformacyon of this mater where it was concluded that the kynge shulde call a parlyamente at London there to be holden in the 〈◊〉 folowynge And
other and there was taken the erle of Lancastre syr Roger Clyfforde syr Iohan Moubraye syr Roger Tuckettes syr wyllyam Fyzwyllyam with dyuerse other ladde vnto porke And thys feelde was foughten as wytnesseth Polycronycon the .xv. daye of Marche in the ende of y t yere of oure lorde a thousande thre hundreth twenty It was nat longe after that syr Hugh Daniell and syr Barthew de Bladysmoore were taken And syr Thomas erle of Lancastre was brought agayn to his owne towne of Pountfret where he was broughte in iugement before syr Aymer de Ualaunce erle of Penbroke syr Iohan Brytayne erle of Rychemounde syr Edmunde of woodstoke erle of Kent syr Hughe Spenser the father â–ª and syr Roberte Malmestorp iustyce wyth other and before them fynally adiuged to haue hys hedde stryken of whereof execucyon was done the twelef daye of Aprell in the begynnyng of the yere of grace after the rekenynge of the chyrche of EnglaÌ„de M.CCC.xxi Of this erle Thomas are dyuerse opynyons For some wryters shew of hym to be a seynt But PolicronicoÌ„ in y e .xlii. chapytre of hys .vii. boke sheweth otherwyse But what so euer erthlye men in such thynges deme it is farre frome the secrete iugemente of god so that to hym and hys sentence such thynges are to be referred From thys tyme forthwarde by y e terme of .v. yeres ensuyng y t fortune of the Spensers hugely encreased And as faste the quenes dyscreased tyll she was releued by the kynge of of Fraunce than Charles the .v. of y e name and brother vnto hyr as after shal be shewed Than to retourne vnto oure former mater vpon the foresayde daye that erle Thomas was thus put in execucyon syr Roger Tutkettes syr wyllyam FizwyllyaÌ„ syr waren of Iselde or Isell syr Henry of Bradborne syr willyaÌ„ Cheyny Barones knyghtes were drawen hanged theyr hedes smytren of and sent vnto London whyche all were putte to deth at PouÌ„tfrete foresayd with an esquyre called Iohan Page And at yorke soone after was drawen heded syr Roger Clyfford syr IohnÌ„ Moubray syr Goselyne Danyell Barons And at Brystowe syr HeÌ„ry womyngton syr Henry Monforde Banerettes at Glowceter syr IohnÌ„ Giffard syr wyllyaÌ„ Elmyngbrydge knyghtes and at London syr IohnÌ„ Tiers or Tryers baron and at wynchelsâ—e syr Thomas Culpepyr knyght and at wyndesore syr Fraunceys walden ham baron and at Caunterbury syr Barthew de Bladismoore syr Bartholl de Asbornham baronys And at Cardeeffe in walys was putte to lyke execucyon syr wyllyaÌ„ Flemyng knyght vpon whose soules and all crysten Iesus haue mercy whan the kyng had thus subdued his barons he soone after aboute the feast of the assencyon of oure Lorde kepte hys parlyamente at yorke Durynge whyche parlyament syr Hugh Spenser the father was made erle of wynchester and syr Andrew of Harkeley erle of Carleyle or after some wryters Cardoyll and dysheryted all suche as before hadde holden wyth the erles of Lancastre and of Hereforde except syr Hugh Dandell and fewe other the whych syr Hugh was receyued to grace by reason that he had maryed a kynneswoman of the kynges There was also ordeyned or soone after that mayster Roberte Baldok a man of euyll fame shuld be chauÌ„celer of EnglaÌ„de Than forfaytes tynes were gathered into the kynges treasoury without sparyng of pryui leged places or other so that what myght be fouÌ„de all was seased for y e kyng By reason wherof moche treasoure was brought vnto the kynges coffers besyde great thynges y t were brybed and spoyled by the officers of dyuers shyres Anno domini M.CCC.xxi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxii  Rycharde Constantyne  Hamonde Chykwell  Anno .xv.  Rychard Hakeney  IN thys .xv. yere the kyng gadered the .vi. peny of temporall mennes goodes through Englande Irelande walys that to hym was graunted at the foresayd parlyameÌ„t for the defence of the Scottes which was payed wyth great murmoure grudge consyderyng the manyfolde myseryes that the common people at those dayes were wrapped in This yere also the sone appered to mannes syght as blode and so continued by the space of .vi. houres that is to meane in the moneth of Octobre and laste daye of the sayde moneth from vii of the clocke in the mornyng tyll one of the same day After some wryters about thys tyme y e Scottes entendyng to wynne an enterpryse in Irelande and for to wynne that contrey to theyr obeysaunce entered it with a stronge hoste vnder theyr capytayne Edwarde le Bruze brother to the Scottisshe kyng But howe it was by ayde of Englysshe men or of them selfe the Irysshe quyt them so well and bare theÌ„ so manfully that they vaynquysshed the Scottes and chased theÌ„ out of that countrey In y e whych chase fyght y t sayd Edward le Bruze many of the noble men of Scotlande were slayne Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxii.  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxiii  IohnÌ„ Grantham  Hamonde Chykwell  Anno .xvi.  Rycharde of Ely  IN this .xvi. yere y e kyng made greate prouysyon for to make a voyage into Scotland so y t about the begynnyng of August he entred that countrey But the Scottes consyderyng the great multytude of his hoste drewe them into the mountaynes other places where as the Englysshemen myght nat wynne to theÌ„ and all to the entent for to wery and tyre the kynges great hoste Than diâ—erse maladyes fell amonge the Englysshmen so that many of theÌ„ dyed and were loste in that iournay aswel for lacke of vytayl as by infyrmyte sykenesse so that the kyng for theyse causes other was constrayned to retourne into Englande about y e natyuyte of our Lady where of the scottes beynge enfourmed syr Iamys Dowglas with other capytayns of y e Scottes wyth a stronge hooste folowed or costed y e kyng in suche wyse that about the feest of saynte Luke they had almooste taken the kynge at dyner at an abbey called Bella Launde or Beyghlande Thant he kynge of pure constraynte defended hym and withstoode the Scottes as he myghte But after shorte and weke fyghte the kynge was compelled to flee by that meane to saue hym selfe In thys skyrmysshe was taken syr Iohan Brytayne erle of RychemoÌ„de and the kynges treasoure was there spoyled and borne away and the ordenaunce belongynge to the hoste great parte of it was by the Scottes conueyed into Scotlande Than the Scottes in theyr retournyng homewarde wan the castell of Norham robbed the towne of Northallerton and other Of thys losse and harmes way syr Andrewe of Harkeley put in wyte by mysledynge of the kynges hoste as in the nexte yere shal be shewed Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxiiii  Adam Salesbury  Symon Franceys  Anno .xvii.  IohnÌ„ of Oxynforde  IN thys .xvii. yere the kyng beynge enfourmed that he hys people were so put vnto dyshonoure as in the precedyng yere is touched
y e other syde laye in howge nombre for to defende the passage of the Frenchmen In whyche tyme season fell suche plenty of rayne that the ways waxed noyous foule in all that countrey By reason whereof vytayll whyche thā was as aboue is sayd scant was than more scars And ouer y e the feelde where the hoste laye was so wete myry that men and beastes were to greuously noyed wherefore in conclusyō y e kyng consyderyng those great hynderaunces harmes to hys lordes comōs that he myght in no maner wynne ouer to hys enemyes he retourned as other before times had done with lytell honour into Fraūce to y e great losse of y e kynges ordenaūce other stuffe that myght nat be caryed thēs by reason of depenes of the way For whych cause causes the kyng was so soore displeased y t he made then a great othe that yf he myght lyue tyll the yere folowyng y t he shuld be sette so the Flemynges y t they shuld nat escape hys daūger y t he shuld neuer take treatye nor ende with thē except they wolde fully holy put thē in his grace mercy But in the yere folowynge about y e feest of Pentecoste whē the sayd Lewys had scantly reygned ii yeres he dyed at Boys in Uyncent the .vi. daye of Iunii honorablye was buryed at saynt Denyse leuyng after hym none issue male wherfore hys brother Phylype succeded hym in the kyngdome Francia PHylyp the .v. of that name and brother of the forenamed Lewys whyche for his heygth was surnamed Phylyp the longe began hys reygne ouer y e Frēchmē in y e yere of our lorde M.CCC and .xvii and the .x. yere of Edwarde the seconde than kynge of Englande But fyrste he reygned but as regent of Fraūce for so moche as Clemence the wyfe of kynge Lewys was left of her sayd husbande with chylde The whiche in processe of tyme was delyuered of a man chylde named Iohan that dyed shortly after After whose dethe y e sayd Phylyp was forthwith proclaymed kynge of Fraunce and crowned at Parys aboute Chrystmas folowynge al be it y t the duke of Burgoyn with other for a whyle with sayd that coronacyon and wolde haue preferred the doughter of Lewys last deed But other of the lordes and nobles of Fraunce wolde not be agreable y t a woman shulde enheryte so great a kyngdome By meane wherof vnkyndnes kyndled atwene the kynge and the sayd duke But by wyse medyatoures they were after acorded in suche wyse that the sayd duke maryed the eldest doughter of y e kynge In this passe tyme suche meanes were made by the Flemynges that an vnyte and accorde was stablysshed atwene Fraunce and them for y e tyme that it helde whiche peace as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle was laboured and ended by a cardynall named Iosselyn sent frome y e .xxii. Iohan than pope so that by medyacyon of the sayd cardynall the erle of Flaūdres was receyued vnto y e kynges grace and at Parys dyd vnto y e Frenche kynge his homage sware vnto hym feawtye In the thyrde yere of the reygne of this Phylyp the prouost of Parys hauyng in his pryson a Pycarde a man of great rychesse whiche for felony or lyke cryme was iudged to be hanged The sayd prouoste for great benefyte to hym doone and payment of great summes by y e sayd Pycarde toke an other poore innocent man put hym to dethe in stede of the sayd Pycarde Of the whiche offence whā due profe of it was made before the kynges counceyll the sayd prouoste for the same dede was put vnto lyke iudgment In the fyfth yere of the sayd Phylyp all the lazaryes of the countrey of Langadocke were brente for so moche as they were accused of theyr owne confessyon proued that they had poysoned and entended to haue poysoned all the welles of that countrey And for many Iewes were vnto them consentynge therfore many of them suffered lyke iudgment In this yere also for somoche as in those dayes in dyuers places of Fraunce a fonde prophecy was broughte vp amōge the comune people that shepherdes and herdes shulde wynne the holy lande Than they assembled thē selfe in dyuers places and companyes and lastly came togyder at Parys where they were so many in nombre by reason of other of the comune people that fell vnto them that the Prouost of Parys was not of power to withstande thē so that they brake prysones and toke out suche persones as them pleased and from thens wente beggynge and robbynge tyll they came into Langedocke where they fel vpon the Iewes and robbed theym of all suche mouables as they myght fynde and slewe of theym also wherfore the other of the Iewes ferynge the sayd comunes gathered them with theyr wyues chyldren to the noūbre of .v. C. into a towre and thought to defende them theyr wyues and chyldren from the sayd herdes But anone as they hadde wyttynge therof they assawted the sayd towre so egerly that in the ende seynge they myght not escape for very despyte they threwe theyr chyldren downe at theyr hedes after slewe eyther other for they shulde not fall in the handes of theyr enemyes or elles to auoyde y e peynes of the fyre whiche the herdes hadde begunne to fasten vpon the sayd towre whā the sayd Herdes hadde thus robbed and slayne y e Iewes of Langdocke they departed thens and yode towarde a a countrey called Carcasson entendynge lyke robbery as they before had vsed wherof y e countrey beynge warned stopped kepte so the passages withstode them with suche power and strengthe that they dysseuered thē selfe by small companyes so that many of them were taken and hanged the other fled in saue gardynge them selfe and so this folysshe prophecy was ended with synne and shame Kynge Phylyppe by meane of yll coūseyle sette a great taske vpon his comunes that is to meane the fyfth parte of theyr mouable goodes For the whiche consyderynge he had no charg of warres ī no place they murmured grudged wonder sore But how it was or this taxe was leuyed he fell in a feuer quarteyne a great flyx whiche sekenesse fell vpon hym by prayer of the comunes after the Frenche boke for leuyenge of y e sayd greuous taxe Than for hym was made many solempne processyons other prayers How be it in lōge processe he dyed whan he had languysshedde from the begynnynge of August tyl the .viii. day of Ianuary Upon whiche day he dyed whan he had reygned .iiii. yeres .vii. monethes odde dayes leuynge after hym none heyre male wherfore the crowne dyscēded vnto his brother Charles erle of the Marches Francia ¶ Charles the fyfth CArolus the fyfth or Charles the yongest of the thre bretherne or sonnes of Philyppe le Bewe begāne his reygne ouer y e Frenchmē in y e moneth of Ianuary yere of our lorde M.CCC and .xxii and the .xv. yere of
y e secōde Edwarde yet kynge of Englande was crowned at Raynes the .xii. day of February nexte ensuynge After whiche solempnyte fynysshed ended he in short proces of tyme after sent vnto the .xxii. Iohan than pope assertayned hym of y e gossyprede y t was atwene hym and Blanche his wyfe wherof the examynacyon by y e sayd pope was commytted vnto the bisshoppes of Paris of Beauuais mayster Godfrey de Blessys prothonotayr of the countre of Rome The whiche after due and perfyte examinacyon in that mater made they founde that Mawde countesse of Artoys and mother to the fore named quene Blanche was godmother vnto kynge Charles her husbande Of the whiche whan they had made reporte vnto the pope he gaue sentēce that the sayd matrymony was not legyttymat and cōmaunded a deuorce and a separacyon to be made atwene those .ii. persones The whiche was shortly after executed In the seconde yere of this Charles dyed Robert erle of Flaūdres without yssue wherfore the sayd erledam fell into y e Frenche kynges handes so that of it he was in processe by thagrement of the lordes of the same put in peasyble possessyon all be it the erle of Neuers made therunto a pretēce tytle And in this yere kynge Charles about the feest of saynt Mathewe in Septēbre maryed his seconde wyfe named Mary the syster of the kynge of Bohemy or Beme and doughter of Henry erle of Lucenbourgh and late emperoure of Almayne named in the lyne of the emperours Henry the .viii or after some wryters y e .vii. Also in y ◠sayd yere one named Iourdan of the I le a Gascoyne borne a man of noble lynage but lowe vyle of condycyons to whom the foresaid pope Iohn̄ in maryage hadde gyuen hys nyese for reuerence of his byrth thys season by the meane of his vyle condycyons and suche dyshoneste cōpanye as he drewe vntyll hym he fell into many sclaūderous vyces so that lastly he was accused of rape murder and of felony Of the whych he was at length in .xviii. artycles by due profe made cōuycte by the lawe and iudged to be hanged But the kynge at the request of the pope and for the honoure of hys blode graunted to hym a charter and pardoned hym of all former transgressyons But that not wythstandynge he in processe of tyme fell or retourned vnto hys olde accustomyd condicyons And among other greate crymes by hym executed he slewe a sergeaunt of armys belongynge to the kynge that to hym was sent in message For whyche murder and other detestable dedys he was newely accused and vppon that somonyd to apere at Parys before the kynge and hys counsayle At whych day of apparence he came to the sayde cytye wyth a great companye and some noble men whiche were to hym nere of kynne and excused him to the vttermost of theyr powers But agayne hym and to accuse hym came many other lordes barons Of the whyche the marques of Ampton or Dampton wyth hys sonne were chyefe that put causes of complaynt agayne hym The which made suche prouys and declaracyōs agayne the sayde Iourdan that he was cōmytted vnto the chastelet of Parys there to remayne as a prysoner And in processe of tyme suche maters and trespaces were prouyd vpon hym that he by authoryte of a parlyament holden at Compeyng was lastly iudged to dye And soone after that is to meane the .vii. day of Maye he was drawyn to the gybbet of Parys and there hanged In the thyrde yere of his reygne thys Charlys gaue vnto the erle of Neuers y t before tyme hadde made clayme to the erledome of Flaunders y ◠sayde erledom the whyche of the Flemynges and inhabytauntes of that coūtrey was wel and ioyously receyued Than he in shorte whyle after gaue vnto the townes of Gaunt Brugys Ipre and other dyuers pryuyleges and grauntes to theyr great auauntage profyte But it was not longe after that he wanne of them as mych grudge and hatred as he to fore had loue good wyll And all for a taxe y t he set vpon the dwellers of Brugys and the coūtrey nere there vnto and specyally of them that dwelled in the countrey For they thought y t theyr charge exceded farre the charge of y e dwellers within the towne wherfore by secrete meanys they appoynted a daye of assemble amonge them selfe and sodeynly well armed entred the towne of Brugys and slewe therin dyuers of the erles seruauntes and some of the borough maysters of the sayde towne suche as they suspected to be of counseyle of the leuyenge of the sayd taske In the .iiii. yere of his reygne thys Charlys after the dethe of Mary hys seconde wyfe by dyspensacion of the pope the .xxii. Iohn̄ he maryed Iane his cosyn Germayn the doughter of Lewys erle of Euroux and vncle vnto thys kynge Charlys or brother to hys father Phylyppe le Beawe IN this abouesayd .iiii. yere the quene of Englande and syster vnto thys kyng Charlys of Fraūce to treate an vnite and peace bytwene hyr lorde and hyr brother for the warre made in Gascoyne as before is towched in the .xv. yere of Edward the seconde hyr lorde and husbande and there taryed and retourned as aboue in the sayde yere is expressed In thys yere also the erle of Flaūders fore named for suspeccyon that he hadde to Robert of Flaūders hys vncle leste he for hys synguler auaūtage wold supplant hym of that erle dome he made letters vnto the gouernours of the towne where y e sayd Robert was resyaunt and abydyng that they shulde put hym to dethe But by the warnyng of his olde and trusty frende the erlys chaūcellour he was warned and so auoyded that towne For thys greate malyce and rancoure arose bytwene this Robert and the erle whyche was not shortly pacyfyed But it was not longe after that a nother taske or imposycyon was leuyed of the townes of Gaunt Brugys Ipre and other townys of Flaunders The whyche taske was leuyed in recompensemēt of suche warres made vpon Flaunders by Phylyp le Beawe or more dyrectely for paymēt of twelue thousand pownde awardyd by Ioselyn the cardynall as before is shewed in the seconde yere of the .v. Phylyppe that the Flemynges shulde paye to the French kyng for byenge of theyr peace Of thys taske to be leuyers or gaderers was assygned the pryncypall men of the sayde townes y t whiche by theyr demeanure in the leuyenge therof demeaned them in suche wyse that they ranne in great hatred of the comon people In so myche that they accusyd theym and sayde that they hadde leuyed or gatheryd moche more than the sayde taske amounted wherfore they desyred of the erlys counsayle that the sayde persons myghte be called to accoūpt But thys requeste myght not be opteyned whyche caused the comons to runne in further grudge and murmure An other thynge also caused suspeccyon for the erlys counsayle and the sayde collectours hadde so
and that he shuld agayn be restored vnto hys kyngdome whereunto yt was answered by the Englyssh ambassadours that theyr coÌ„myssyon stretched nat so farre nor that theyr prince had gyuen vnto theÌ„ any suche auctoryte wherefore all y e former comunycacyoÌ„ was reuoked adnulled they retourned into Englande wythoute any conclusyon takynge Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxv  walter Mordon  Reynolde at Cunduyte  Anno .x.  Rycharde Upton  IN thys .x. yere for so moche as no conclusyon of vnyte peas myght be had betwene the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce therfore warre was proclaymed vpon bothe partyes The whyche warre was greatly procured by the meane of syr Robert of Artoys as in the story of Phylyp de Ualoyes shal be after shewed Then eyther prynce sought y e wayes and meanes howe eyther of theym myghte discontent other in so moche that the Frenche kynge sente soone after into Scotlande a crewe of Frenchemen to ayde suche enemyes as kynge Edwarde there had By reason whereof the sayde Scottes made sharpe warre vppon the kynges seruauÌ„tes and frendes and putte the lande to greate vexacyon and trouble in so moche that y e kyng was forced to assemble hys power to spede hym agayne thyther Than about mydsomer the kynge entred Scotlande by the see warred vpoÌ„ the Scottes and FrenchemeÌ„ Of the whych no notary batayl is specified except in that iournay the kyng subdued hys enemyes toke there dyuerse prysoners Amonge the which one called erle of Morreta Frencheman was chyefe y â— after was with other in ê“cesse of tyme there deliuered in exchauÌ„ge for y e erle of Namur another freÌ„ch lord whych thaÌ„ was takeÌ„ by gyle of Scottê as he was comyng towarde saynte Iohfis towne for to ayde the partye of kynge Edwarde whaÌ„ kyng Edward had agayn pacifyed the Scottes and takeÌ„ homage of suche as before rebelled he than as testyfyeth the Frenche cronicle stablysshed y e fore named Edward Bayloll as kyng of Scottes commytted the rule of the lande vnto hym as he before tymes had done Than the Scottes for the greate kyndenesse whyche they had founde in the kyng in recoÌ„peÌ„semeÌ„t of the great charge whych he by sundrye tymes had had in the defendyng of theyr enemyes graunted bounde them vnto hym to hys heyres kynges of England that they shuld ayde assyste hym agayne all prynces And whan so euer he had warre or any kynge of EnglaÌ„de beynge ryghtfull enherytoure agayn any prynce other wythin hys lande or without y e Scottes at theyr propre costes expenses shuld fynde iii. C. horsemeÌ„ well armed and a M fotemen well suffycyently arrayed for the warre the whiche .xiii. C. men the Scottes shulde wage for an hole yere And yf the kynge of Englande ended nat hys warre within the yere than he to hyre and wage the sayde Scottes as he doth the other of hys souldyours After whyche grauntes made bondes for the suertie therof receyued by y e kynge as wytnesseth the Frenche cronycle the kynge leuynge at Edenborough a certayne of hys knyghtes to strength y t Scottes agaynste the FrenchemeÌ„ whych compassed all the wayes they myght to brynge Dauyd the sonne of Robert le Bruze in possessyon of that laÌ„de he shortlye after retourned into Englande Anno domini M.CCC.xxxv  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxvi  wyllyam Brykelsworthe  IohnÌ„ Pontnay  Anno .xi.  IohnÌ„ Northall  IN thys xiâ— yere y e kynge remeÌ„brynge the greate charge y t he had with the warre in ScotlaÌ„de and also for the charge y t he dayly had in Guyan more contynually shulde haue in defeÌ„dyng of y e freÌ„chmeÌ„ wynnyng of hys right he therfore gathered treasour vpoÌ„ euery syde by dyuerse sundry ways wherof y e maner is nat expressed But so great plente came to hys vse y t it was scaÌ„t thorow out y e realme By reason of whyche scarcytie vytayll moche other Mercimonies were exceding good chepe For at LoÌ„doÌ„ a quarter of whete was solde for .ii. s a fat oxe for .vi. s. viii. d a fat shepe for .vi. d. .viii. d. vi peioÌ„s for a peny a fatte goos for .ii. d a pygge for a peny so al other vytayl after y e rate This yere also vpoÌ„ holy Rode day or y e .xiiii. day of SepteÌ„bre dyed syr IohnÌ„ of ElthaÌ„ erle of Corne wayl brother vnto y e kyng without issu wherfore y e sayd erldoÌ„ fell into y e kynges haÌ„de This maÌ„ lyeth buryed at westmynster vpoÌ„ y e right haÌ„de of y e hygh aulter In this yere also apered Stella cometa in englysshe named y e blasyng starre in an huge stremyng maner wherof many dyuerse construccioÌ„s were had amoÌ„ge the comoÌ„ people whych I passe ouer Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxvii  walter Neale  Henry Darcy  Anno .xii.  Nycholas Crane  IN thys .xii. yere y e kynge helde hys parlyament at westmynster about the tyme of lent Durynge the whych he made of the erledâ—m of Cornewayle duchy gaue it with the erledam of Chestre vnto Edward hys sonne And at thys parlyamente were made .vi. erles that is to say of Derby of Northampton of Hâ—Ì„tyngdon of Salysbury of Glouceter of Suff â–ª as Henry of Lancastre was created erle of Derby or after somme wryters of Leyceter wyllyam de Bothum erle of NorthamptoÌ„ wyllyam de Clynton erle of HuÌ„tyngedon wyllyam de MouÌ„tague erle of Salysbury Hugh of Audeley erle of Glouceter Robert of Ufforde erle of Suffolke And in thys parlyamente was an acte enacted that no man shulde were no maner of sylk in gowne cote or doublet but yf he myghte spende of good rente an hundreth â—â— by yere whyche acte was nat longe holden In thys yere also the kynge amonge dyuerse pryuyleges grauÌ„ted vnto y e cytezeyns of London that the offycers of the mayres sheryfes shulde from that day forthwarde vse marys of syluer parcell gylte The kynge of Fraunce thys yere for so moche as he was credybly enfourmed that kyng Edwarde wolde entre the lande of FrauÌ„ce to make warre vpoÌ„ thesame he therfore made great purueyaunce to resyste hym For the coÌ„mon fame ranne thanne in FrauÌ„ce y t kyng Edward enteÌ„ded nat onely to clayme Gascoyne Guyan but also all Fraunce as hys propre rightfull enherytaunce in the ryghte of hys mother wherefore the French kynge assembled an huge hoste and commytted the rule of it vnto the kynge of Nauerne and to the erle of Alenson brother vnto the sayde Frenche kynge â–ª whyche sayde capytaynes wyth theyr people awayted dayly the kynge of Englandes commynge whyche theym for that yere dyspoynted But as testyfyeth the same Frenche cronycle kynge Edwarde in thys whyle sent into Flaunders a knyghte called syr Barnarde de Brette for to treate of an amyâ—e betwene hym and the Flemynges For this cause the erle of Flaunders whych was
very fast with the Frēch kynge called hys counsayll to hym to haue theyr aduyce howe he myght beste ordre hym selfe and hys people In whych coūsayll were dyuers opynyons so that many thoughte it better for dyuerse consyderacyons whyche were longe to reherce that the erle shulde rather preferre the amyte of the kynge of Englande thā of the kynge of Fraunce Of whyche opynyon was a greate furtherer or promoter a knyghte of Flaunders called Countryssye ▪ wyth whome the erle beynge for that cause discontent sent hym to pryson And soone after at the request of the Frenche kynge whyche layed vnto hys charge that he hadde receyued greate summes of money of the kyng of Englande for to procure and styre the Flemynges agayne hym he was behedded for whyche dede the dwellers of Gaunte and of Bruges were so miscontente that they vtterly refused y e erle hys counsayll made theym stronge to withstande hys displeasure Than y e erle was constrayned to gather hys lordes knyghtes for the more part of y e cōmons were agayne hym And in short proces after met in playn batayll ī a place called Marchie where after lōge fyghte the erle his holte was put to flyghte forced for hys safegard to take a castel named Mal or Malet In which season kyng Edward beynge enfourmed of y e amytie y t the Flemynges bare towarde hym anon sent vnto them a knyght called syr Galtyer or walter de Magny with a goodly company of archers well apoynted the whyche arryued in an I le called than Cazāter whome the erle of Flaunders with a certayn of hys knyghtes encountred gaue vnto the Englysshemen batayl But in the ende the erle was shamefully chased and many of hys gentylmen slayne and takē as syr Iohn̄ Rodes syr wyllyā Gyll syr Nycholas Chaūcy with many other slayne And syr Guy bastarde brother vnto the erle with dyuerse other taken of y t which some were sent as prysoners into Englande whan the Frenche kyng had vnderstandynge of the deuysyon that was betwene the erle and hys subiectes how faythfull y e erle was vnto hym entendynge to wynne by fayre meanes the fauour of y e Flemynges whyche he knewe well he myght nat wynne by rygoure Than he sente vnto Gaūt the bysshop of saynt Denys with other whych made vnto y e rulers of y e towne of Bruges and other townes there assembled many fayre behestes promyses Amōge y e whych one was that the Frēch kyng wolde acquyte vnto them delyuer vnto theyr vse all suche lordshyppes seygnoryes as he than withheld of theyrs and hys progenytours before hym But all was in vayn For kyng Edward had so sped hys nedes with thē by the meanes of one named Iaques de artiuele a mā of Gaūt which was of great substaūce passyng other in boldenes capacyte of wytte discreciō y t the sayd towne of Gaūt with Bruges Ipre Courtryke or Courtrey Cassyle and other there about condyssended and promysed ioyntly and hooly to refuse y e Frēche kynge to take the kynge of Englandes partye and the rather for the warre whych before tyme Philip de Ualoyes made vpon them in the begynnyng of hys reygne as in y e fyrst yere of the story of the sayde Phylyp shall after appere Anno domini M.CCC.xxxvii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xxxviii  wyllam of Pountfreyt  Henry Darcy  Anno .xiii.  Hugo Marbre  IN thys .xiii. yere kynge Edwarde with quene Philip hys wyfe for more assured stablysshemēt of amyte to be had betwene hym and the Holanders Selāders Brabāders passed the see in the begynnyng of y e moneth of Iunii sayled wyth a goodly cōpany into the coūtrey of Brabāt the quene thā beynge great with chyld where of the erle of Brabāt he was Honorablie receyued In whyche season of hys there beynge kyng Edwarde gat vnto hym many frendes Amonge the whych Lewys of Bauyere whych than toke vpon hym as Emperour all be that before that tyme he was of the .xxii. Iohan than pope accursed was one Thys Lewys had such fauoure vnto kyng Edwarde that he assygned ▪ and ordeyned hym for Uycayr of y e empyre by reason of whyche offyce kyng Edwarde made oute hys commaundementes dyd many thynges to hys aduauntage and profyte In thys season quene Phylyppe lyenge at Andwarpe was delyuered of a man chylde that was named Lyonell And Phylyp de Ualoys hauynge knowelege of all thys demeanure of kynge Edwarde gathered vnto hym greate strenthe so that he had about hym innumerable people and taryed with them at Amyas and there about from y e ende of August tyll y e begynnyng of Octobre And whā he sawe that kyng Edwarde came nat he deuyded y e great hoste in retournyng many of theym into theyr owne countreys and the other he sente vnto stronge holdes castelles for to let y t passage of kynge Edwarde and hys hoste into the lāde of Fraunce And in thys passe tyme the Frenche kynge had sent dyuerse shyppes vnto the see wyth men of warre for to take englysshe marchaūtes other that came in theyr course And so befelle that they encountred with .ii. great shyppes of Englande called the Edward and the Cristofer the whiche as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle were freyght with greate rychesse and also well manned Anone as eyther was ware of other gonnes and shot of longe bowes arblasters were nat spared on nother syde so that betwene thē was a cruell fyghte but nat egall For of the Frenchemē were .xiii. sayles great and smal and of the Englysshe men but fyue that is to meane these two foresayd great shyppes two barkys and a caruyll the whyche thre small shyppes escaped by theyr deliuer saylynge the ii abode and fought beyonde .ix. houres in so moche that there was slayn vpon both partyes aboue .vi. C. men But in the ende the sayd .ii. shyppes were taken broughte into y e Frēch kynges stremes and many of the Englysshemen that were sore wounded were cast into the see In thys yere also the sayd Frenschemē of that Nauy landed at Southāpton sodeynly and spoyled the towne and brente a great parte therof And ouer this the Frenche kynge made warre in Gascoyn and wanne there dyuerse smal pyles and one strōge castell standing in the countrey of Gascoyne called Agenoys whych castell was named Pēne But all this season was kyng Edwarde in Almayne made allyaunce with dyuerse prynces of that coūtrey and other and toke assuraūces of them that they shulde ayde assyste hym to wynne hys ryght and tytle y ◠he had to y ◠crowne of Fraūce after returned into Flaūders wher he taryed all thys mayres yere Anno domini M.CCC.xxxviii  Anno domini M.CCC.xxxix  wyllyam Thorney  Andrew Awbry  Anno .xiiii.  Roger Forsham  IN thys .xiiii. yere kynge Edwarde spedyng hys busynesse in Almayn Flaūders as in y e precedynge
at his sendyng to come in all spedy wyse But so soone as the sayde syr Godfrey was nere vnto the towre a busshment of sawdyoures were sente out at a possterne the whiche closed hym and his Frenchemen vpon all sydes slewe of them many Amonge the whiche syr Henry de Boys knyght with syr Gautyer de Ualence and syr Robert of Beuuays knyghtes were slayne And the sayd syr Godfrey taken sore wounded and the lorde of Mountmorency escaped with great dauÌ„ger the whithe gaue warnynge vnto the other company and returned theym into Fraunce Than the sayd Godfrey de Charney was layde vpon aborde and so presented vnto kynge Edwarde the whiche had suche pyte of hym that he coÌ„maunded his owne surgyons to loke vnto hym and to cure hym in theyr best maner And whaÌ„ he was somdeale cured he was sente as a prysoner with other into Englande In this yere also the kynge caused to be coyned grotes halfe grotes the whiche lacked of the weyght of his former coyne .ii. s. vi d. in a li. Troy And aboute the ende of August sessed the mortalyte or dethe in London y e whiche was so vehemet and sharpe within y e sayd cytie that ouer the bodyes buried in churches and churcheyerdes monasteries and other accumed buryeng places was buryed that same yere in the charterhouse yerde of London .l. M. persones and aboue This yere also was y e yere of Iubile or clene remyssyon whiche is kept at Rome at euery .l. wynter ende lyke as the yere of Iubile or grace is contynued at Cauntorbury And thys yere by the laboure of two cardynalles sent from pope ClemeÌ„t the .vi was a peace coÌ„cluded bytwene the two kynges of Englande of FrauÌ„ce for a yere nere vnto the owne of Caleys wherefore the stablysshynge of the sayde peace for the sayde yere assembled the two sayde cardynalles And for the kynge of Englande the bysshoppe of Norwyche than treasourer and chyefe chanceller of the kynge with other vnto hym by the kynge assygned And for the Frenche kynge was there the bysshop of Laone and the abbot of saynt Denys wyth other And the .xxiii. daye of the moneth of Auguste In thys yere and yere of our lorde .xiii. hundreth and fyfthty dyed Phylyppe de Ualoyes kyng of Fraunce Anno domini M.CCC.xlix  Anno domini M.CCC.l.  IohnÌ„ Notte  Rycharde Kyllyngbury  Anno .xxv.  wyllyam worcestre  IN thys .xxv. yere about y e feast of the decollacyon of saynte IohnÌ„ Baptyste in the latter ende of August a noble man of Spayne called syr Charles to whome kynge Iohan of Fraunce had newely gyueÌ„ the erledome of Angolesme entendynge to wynne some honoure vpon the Englysshemen wyth a stronge nauy of Spaynardes entrede y e Englysshe stremys and dyd moche harme vnto kynge Edwardes frendes So that the kyng about the season abouesayde mette wyth the sayde nauy vpon the cooste of wynchelsee where betwene the kynge and them was a longe and mortall fyghte to y e greate losse of moche people vppon bothe partyes But in the ende god sente vnto the kyng vyctory so that he chased hys enemyes and wanne frome theym .xxii. of theyr shyppes after moost wryters wyth many prysoners And thys yere syr Thomas of Agorne whiche as in the .xxii. yere of thys kyngê reygne toke prysoner syr Charles de Bloys and other was slayne by chaunce medle of a knyght of Fraunce or Brytayne called syr Rauffe de Caours And thys yere were solempne messangers sente vnto Rome for to conclude and parfyte the peace betwene the two kynges of Englande and of Fraunce So that kynge Edward shulde resygne and gyue vp all hys tytle and clayme that he made vnto the crowne of Fraunce the French kynge shulde clerely gyue vnto hym all the duchye of Guyan wyth all suche landes as at any tyme before were taken by any of hys progenytoures from it And that kyng Edwarde and hys heyres kynges shuld freely holde and occupye the sayde duchye wythout doynge of homage to any Frenche kyng after that day But the conclusyon of thys matyer was so prolonged and deferred by y â— pope and such delayes as dayly ben vsed in the courte of Rome that the erle of Derby wyth other whyche were appoynted for the kynge of Englande retourned wythoute spede of theyr cause wherfore kynge Edwarde made new prouisyoÌ„s to warre vpon kyng IohnÌ„ of Fraunce Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.li  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lii  IohnÌ„ wrothe  Andrewe Awbry  Anno .xxvi.  GybbonÌ„ Stayndrope  IN thys .xxvi. yere the castel of Guynys was yolden vnto the Englysshmen dwellynge in Caleys whyche as testyfyeth the French cronicle was done by treason of a FreÌ„ch man named Guyllyam de BeaucoÌ„roy For the whyche treason the sayd Guyllyam was shortely after put in execucyon in the towne of Amyas And about the myddell of August vppon the euyn of our Lady assumpcyon syr Guy de Neale than marshall of Fraunce wyth a stronge coÌ„pany gaue bataylle vnto the Englysshemen than beynge in Brytayn in the whych the sayde syr Guy with the lord of Brykebet and the Chaste leyne of Beaunais with many other noble men were slayne many takeÌ„ prysoners Anno domini M.CCC.li  Anno domini M.CCC.lii  IohnÌ„ Peche  Adam Fraunceys  Anno .xxvii.  IohnÌ„ Stodeney  THe somer of thys .xxvii. yere was so dry that it was many yeres after called the drye somer For from the latter ende of Marche tyll the latter ende of Iuly fyll lytell rayne or none by reason wherof many inconuenyences ensued And one thynge whyche is specyally noted corne the yere folowynge was scante whereof the pryce thys yere began to enhaunce greatly and beuys and mottons were also dere for scantnesse of grasse and pasture and that aswell was expert in Fraunce as in the I le of EnglaÌ„de Anno domini M.CCC.lii  Anno domini M.CCC.liii  IohnÌ„ welde  Adam Fraunceys  Anno .xxviii.  IohnÌ„ Lytell  IN thys .xxviii. yere kynge Edwarde holdynge hys parlyament at westmynster amonge other thynges there enacted soone after Pentecoste created the erle of Derby duke of LaÌ„castre â—yr Rauffe Stafforde was created erle of Stafforde Than thys duke of Lancastre was sent agayne ouer the see wherein the ende of this yere as witnesseth IohnÌ„ Froysarde he was appealed of the duke of Bryswyke a duke of the couÌ„tre of Almayne of certayne wordes contrary hys honoure for the whych he waged batayll with the sayd duke in the court of the Frenche kyng Than thys Henry whych of some wryters is named Henry Bolyngbroke duke of Lancastre purchased hys sauffe conduyte of the Frenche kyng and kepte hys day appoynted for that bataylle in a felde called in Frenche La preauxclers where for them was ordeyned a place lyested and cloosed in goodly wyse kynge Iohan beynge presente wyth the more parte of hys nobles of FrauÌ„ce And there came in fyrst into that feld the
forenamed duke Appellaūte after thys noble duke of Lācastre to the great honour of all Englande And soone after dyuers obseruaūces accordyng to the law of armys done solempne othes taken eyther set in the rest to haue rōne the fyrst course But kynge Iohan of hys especyall grace ceased y e mater toke the quarell into hys handes so that eyther of theym departed the felde wythout any stroke strykynge and pacyfyed the appeale to the honoure of the duke of Lancastre as wytnesseth the Frenche boke nat wyth standynge he was the French kynges enemye And soone after the sayde duke of Lancastre wyth other nobles assygned to hym by the kyng of England wentte to Auynyon wyth the archebysshoppe of Roan than chaunceller of Fraunce and the duke of Burbō and other appoynted for the kynge of Fraunce to conclude efte a peace betwene theyr two prynces The whyche at the cytye beforesayd were harde at lengthe before the newe pope than named Innocente the .vi. whych also lyke to hys predecessour was a Frencheman and cardynall of Lymosyne in Normādy called by hys proper name Stephan Aubert In conclusyon after great argumēte made on eyther partye before the pope and hys counsayl fynally it was agreed that y e peace betwene the .ii. kynges shuld be kept holden inuiolate tyll mydsomer next folowynge Anno domini M.CCC.liii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.liiii  wyllyam Tontynghm̄  Thomas Legge  Anno .xxix.  Rycharde Smert  IN thys .xxix. yere kynge Edward by the aduyce of hys coūsayll for so moche as the townes of Flaunders brake theyr promyse before tyme made and helde nat the bādes of amyte by theym promysed by the lyfe of Iaques de Artyuele but fauoured the Frēche kynges partye therefore he with drewe from theym the markettes and staples of wolles that in sondry townes of Flaunders had than lately by the prouycyon of the foresayd Iaques to theyr greate aduauntage vsed to be kept and ordeyned than the sayde staples to be holden in sondry good townes of Englande as westmynster Chychester Lyncolne Brystowe and Caunterbury And shortely after Easter the Frenche kynge sent hys eldest sonne Charles dolphyne of Uyenne into Normandy for to take the rule of y e countre and specially for to sease certayne landes castelles whyche at y e daye belonged vnto the kyng of Nauerne whyche than was oute of the Frenche kynges fauour for the deth of syr Charles of Spayne constable lately of Fraūce y t he had by his meanes murdered in a towne called the Aygle in Normandy vpō .ii. yeres before passed And whyle y e sayd dolphyne was thus besyed in Normādy he made suche meanes to y e rulers therof that they graūted vnto hym ayde of .iii. M. mē for .iii. moneths at theyr proper costes and charges Of thys soone after sprange suche tydinges y t the kyng of Englād was enfourmed that the Frēch kyng had gyuen to hys sonne Charles y e duchy of Normandy with all Gascoygne Guyan and howe y e Normānes had graūted vnto y e sayd Charles .iii. M. mē for .iii. moneths to warre at theyr costes vpō y e Englyshmē whych as y e Frēch boke testifieth was graūted to hym onely to defēde y e kyng of Nauerne y t came to Cōstātyne shortly after for to repossesse all such lādes as the sayd dolphyn of hys had there seased for that wyth a bygge armye made warre vpon the sayd dolphyn But were it thus or otherwyse trouth it is as diuers wryters agreē in the moneth of October and ende of thys yere prynce Edwarde wyth a great hoste entred Gascoyne and passed by Tholouse and passed the ryuer of Gerounde or Geron̄ and so passed by Carcassyon and brent the bulwerkes of that cytye and from thens he rode to Nerbon̄ in pyllyng spoylynge the countre as he went And in the same yere kynge Edwarde wyth his power landed at his towne of Caleys where he rested hī by all y e tyme of this mayres yere And in this yere was the house of the freres Augustynes of Londō fynysshed whyche was reedyfyed by syr Humfrey Bohum erle of Hertforde and Essex whose body lyeth buryed in the quere of the sayde house or chyrche before the hygh aulter Anno domini M.CCC.liiii  Anno domini M.CCC.lv  Thomas Forster  Symon Franceys  Anno .xxx.  Thomas Brandon  IN this .xxx. yere the kynge as ye before haue herde beyng at Caleys shortly after the feast of Alhalloyne toke his iournay towarde the Frenche kynge and contynued his iournay tyll he came to a towne named Hesden and brake there the Frenche kynges parke toke suche pleasures as hym there lyked In whiche season of his there beynge tydynges were brought vnto hym y t y e Scottes had gotē y e towne of Berwyke and how they made dayly assautes to wynne the castell wherfore the kyng made the more hasty spede and returned to Caleys and so into Englande For whiche cause sayth y e Frenche cronycle y t kynge Edwarde fled from the Frenche kynge y t than with a strōge power came from Amy as vnto saynt Omers Than kynge Edwarde sped hym into Scotlande so y t in the moneth of Ianuary and begynnynge of the xxx yere of his reygne and .xxvii. day of the sayd moneth he layd his syege to y e towne of Berwyke had it yolden vnto hym in shorte processe of tyme after And that doone he entred ferther into the lande and subdued y e cheyf townes holdes as he went pursued the Scottysshe kynge so narowly that in the ende he was fayne to submytte hym to y e kynges grace as prysoner and resygned his power into the kynges hande And whan kynge Edwarde had set that coūtre in a rule he returned with the Scottysshe kyng agayne into Englande and called his courte of parlyament at westmynster In y e whiche amōge other thynges to the kynges auauntage was graunted to the mayntenaunce of his warres .l. s. of a sacke of woll for y e terme of .vi. yeres But it contynued lenger though the marchaūtes staplers therat grutched Than let vs now retourne vnto that noble prynce Edward the fyrst begotten sonne of the kynge whych by all thys tyme warred vppon the Frenchmen as in y e precedynge yere is touchyd So that lastly he retourned to Burdeaux wyth many ryche prysoners and pyllages to the great honoure of hym selfe and the greate auauncement of hys soudyours And all be it that in that countrees whyche he then passed were the erles of Armenake and of Foyze of Poytyers and of Cleremount wyth syr Iames de Burbon̄ and many other knyghtes the whyche hadde dowble the people as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle that the prynce had yet passed he from Tholous to Nerbon̄ fro Nerbon̄ to Burdeaux wythout batayle And after the prynce hadde there a whyle rested hym and hys people and sent dyuers of hys prysoners in to Englande he wyth hys hoste entred the
appeled the prynce of walys in the Frenche kynges courte that he hadde broken the peace and wronged theym contrary the peace stablysshed betwene Englande FrauÌ„ce requyred the FreÌ„ch kyng y t the sayd appeale myght haue due processe agayne the sayd prynce The whyche as sayth the French cronicle kynge Charles deferred for certayne causes there towched whyche were to longe to reherce Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxvii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxviii  Adam wymbynghmÌ„  Symon MordonÌ„  Anno .xlii.  Robert Gyrdeler  IN thys .xliii. yere or more certaynly in the ende of the precedynge yere one walter Bernes mercer was vpon the day of y e traÌ„slation of saynt Edwarde kyng and confessoure or the .xiii. daye of Octobre chosen by the mayre aldermen mayre of the cytye of London But howe it was for lacke of substaunce or by other impedymente which is nat noted the sayd walter vpon the daye of Symonde Iude folowynge whaÌ„ he shulde haue taken hys othe at Guylde halle apered nat wherfore in hys rome by eleccyon of the foresayde mayre and aldermen was admytted for that yere folowynge Symonde MordonÌ„ fysshmonger mayre of that cytye And in thys yere and moneth of Marche Peter kynge of Castyle whyche by the ayde of the Sarazyns dwellyng in the borders of Spayn hadde wonne and recouered somme parte of the lande of Castyle encountrede wyth hys bastarde brother Henry beforesayde and gaue vnto hym batayll nere to a towne called Sybylle where after longe fyght the sayde Peter was scomfyted and moche of hys people slayne and hym dryuen vnto a castell oute of the whyche he was shortly after by treason gotteÌ„ presented vnto hys brother forenamed by whose senteÌ„ce he was iÌ„medyatly byheded After whose deth the sayd Henry enioyed the hole lande of Castyle whych infortunytie myschauÌ„ce fylle to thys Peter after dyuers wryters for so moche as he cruelly slew hys owne wyfe y e doughter of the duke of BurbonÌ„ And in thys yere and moneth of Maye the kynge of Fraunce in hys hyghe court of parlyamente holdeÌ„ at Parys proceded in iugemente vpon the appellacyons before made by the erle of Armenak the lorde of Bret and erle of Perogort agayne prynce Edward as before is towched in the precedynge yere wherupon dyscorde and varyaunce began to take place betwene the .ii. kynges in so moche y t by meane of the sayd .iii. lordes natwythstandyng that they were before sworne to be to the kyng of EnglaÌ„de trewe lyege men dyuers townes of the countre of Poyteaw yelded them to the Frenche kynge as Albeuyle Rue the more partye of the sayde townes of the sayd countre wherupoÌ„ ambassades were sente vppon bothe partyes dyuers meanes of treaty were comoned whyche conteyneth a longe werke wyth resonynge made vpon the same But in conclusyoÌ„ all came to none effecte So that breche of the peace whych before betwene y e ii kynges was so substaÌ„cially concluded was brokeÌ„ eyther kyng for his partye made prouysioÌ„ for the warre In so moch y e kynge Charles spedde hym to Roan in Normandy there in y e moneth of Iuly rigged his nauy to set theym forewarde for to warre vpon Englande In whyche tyme season y e kyng Charles was thus occupyed in NormaÌ„dy the duke of LaÌ„castre laÌ„ded at Caleys with a stroÌ„ge company of archers other warryours froÌ„ thens passed to ThoroueÌ„ne so to Ayre in wastyng the countre with irne fyre as he went wherfore y e French kyng in defence of those partyes sente the duke of Burgoyne with a puyssaunt armye to withstaÌ„de the sayde duke of LaÌ„castre The whych duke of Burgoyne sped hym iÌ„ such wyse y t about y e .xxiiii. day of August he lodged hys hoste vpon the mouÌ„tayne of Turnehan nere vnto Arde. And the English hoste was lodged betwene Gygowne Arde so that y e frountes of both hostes were within a myle Betwene whome were dayly skyrmysshes and small bykerynges without any notarye batayll And whaÌ„ the sayd duke of BurgoynÌ„ had thus kept the sayde mount froÌ„ the .xxiiii. day of Auguste vnto the .xii. day of SepteÌ„bre he remoued hys hoste yode vnto HesdeÌ„ For the whych dede he was after blamed of kyng Charles hys brother After whych departure of the FreÌ„chemen the duke of Lancastre with hys hoste tooke y e waye towarde Caus or Caux passed the ryuer of SuÌ„me so rode toward Harflew entendynge as sayth the FreÌ„che boke to haue fyred the Frenche kynges nauy But at theyr coÌ„myng thyder y e towne was so stroÌ„gly maÌ„ned y t they dyd there lytell scathe wherfore the sayd duke departed shortly thens and spedde hym into the countrye of Poyteau and so came vnto the towne of Albeuyle where wythout the Frenchemen encountred hym and gaue vnto hym batayll In the whych was taken syr Hugh ChastelonÌ„ knyght with other knyghtes esquyres burgeyses of the towne and vpoÌ„ .xvi. score FreÌ„chmen slayne whyche sayde prysoners to the nombre of fyue fourty were sent vnto Caleys y e duke with hys company yode vnto Burdeaux in spoylyng of the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ as he went Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xlviii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lix  IohnÌ„ Pyell  IohnÌ„ Chychester  Anno .xliiii.  Hugh Holdyche  IN thys .xliiii. yere and moneth of Ianuary dyed the erle of warwyke at Caleys after he was retourned from the duke of Lancastre whyche was a man of great fame And in y e moneth of August dyed that noble woman quene Phylype wyfe vnto Edwarde the thyrde The whyche was a greate benefactoure vnto the chanoÌ„s of saynt Stephans chapell at westmynster And soon after dyed dame BlauÌ„ch somtyme the wyfe of Henry duke of Lancastre was buryed at Poules vpon the noâ—thsyde of the hyghe aulter by her husbande where she ordeyned for hym and her .iiii. chauÌ„tres for euer an annyuersarye yerely to be kept At the whych ouer great thynges be set vnto the deane chanons of the churche she ordeyned that the mayre beynge presente at the masse shuld offre .i. d. and take vp .xx. s the shyryffes eyther of them a peny and to receyue eyther of them a marke y e chaÌ„berlayn of the cytie .x. s the sword berer .vi. s. .viii. d and euery officer of the mayres there present .xxii. d and to euery offycer to the nombre of .viii eyther of theym .viii. d. admytted for the shyreffes The whyche obyte at thys daye is holden But by reason that the lande is decayed these forenamed summes ben greately mynysshed so that the mayre at thys daye hath but .vi. s. viii.d bothe the shyreffes syxe s. eyghte d and other after that rate In thys yere also the kynge helde hys parlyament at westmynster In the whych was graunted vnto hym iii. fyftenes to be payde in .iii. yeres folowynge And by a conuocacyon of the clergye was also grauted vnto hym .iii. dysmes to be payde in lyke maner And in thys yere
towarde the ryuer of Ancherre and so vnto Burdeaux In all whyche iourney they passed wythout fyghte or batayll natwithstādyng the great hurte domage they dyd vnto y e townes coūtres as they passed Excepte at a place or towne called Orchye a knyght of Fraūce called syr Iohn̄ de Uyenne encountred .l. speres and .xx. archers that were strayed from theyr hoste and set vppon theym and slew some parte of theym and toke the resydue of theym prysoners So that the Frenche boke sayth for so moche as for lacke of meate for theyr horses and other paynfull thynges that in that iourney to theym happened that though that iournay were vnto the Englysshemen honorable to ryde so ferre in the kynges lāde vnfoughten wyth yet it was to theym very paynfull cōsyderyng the manyfolde chaunces fallynge to theym as losse of horses and other thynges duryng that passage Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxiii  Iohn̄ Awbry  Adam of Bury  Anno .xlviii.  Iohn̄ Fysshyde  IN thys .xlviii. yere were sente fro the pope than beyng the .xi. Gregory the archebysshop of Rauenne and the bysshop of Carentras for to treate of the peace betwene the .ii. kynges of Englande and of Fraūce The whyche assembled them at Bruges in Flaundres whyther also for kynge Edwardes partye came the duke of Lancastre and the bysshope of Londō wyth other And for Charles the Frenche kynge appered there the duke of Burgoyne the bisshop of Amyens and other The whyche cōmyssioners after they had spente a greate parte of the lente in disputacions of thys matter the partyes for the Frenche kynge desyred a lycence of the legates that they myghte ryde vnto Parys and shewe vnto y e kyng the offycers of the englysshe partye and so to retourne with hys pleasur wherupon it was agreed that a certayne shulde ryde to shew vnto the Frenche kynge y t the Englysshemen abode styffely vpon the souerayntye that the kynge of Englande and hys heyres kynges shal enioy all the former landes comprysed in the peace made betwene hym and Iohn̄ than kyng of Fraūce as before is shewed in the .xxxiiii. yere of thys kyng wyth out homage or other duyte for them doynge For thys matter as sayth y e Frenche cronycle kyng Charlys assembled at Parys a great parte of y e nobles of hys realme wyth many other wyse mē doctours of dyuynite to haue that case suffyciently argued and debated In the whyche coūsayl it was plenerly determyned that the kyng myght nat gyue ouer the sayd souerayntye without great peryll of hys soule as there was shewed by diuers resons whan thys reporte was brought vnto Bruges y e sayd treaty was dissolued wythoute any conclusyon takynge excepte the peace was contynued tyll the feast of all sayntes next ensuynge Anno domini M.CCC.lxxiii  Anno domini M.CCC.lxxiiii  Rycharde Lyons  wyllyam walworth  Anno .xlix.  wyllyam wodhowce  IN thys yere that is to vnderstande in the begynnynge of thys mayres yere and ende of the xlviii yere of kyng Edwarde a new wyse cōplayned vpon to the kyng y t he was throwen into pryson where he lay many yeres after Than kyng Edwarde created Rychard sonn̄ of prynce Edward prynce of walys gaue vnto hym y e erledomes of Chester and Cornewayll And also for the kyng waxed feble sykely he than betoke the rule of the lande vnto syr Iohn̄ of Gaunt duke of Lancastre and ordeyned hym as gouernour of the lande whyche so contynued durynge hys fathers lyfe In thys yere also the tenaūtes or menyall seruaūtes of the erle of warwyk made a ryot vpon the monkes of Euyshm̄ and slewe hurte many of the abbottes tenauntes spoyled and brake hys closures and warynnes and sewed theyr pondes and waters and dyd vnto them many displesures to the vtter ruyne of that monastery ne had the kyng y ◠soner haue sente downe to the erle hys letters chargynge hym to sease withdraw hys men from that ryot whych afterwarde was pacified without any notary punysshement of suche persons as were begynners or executours of that ryot Anno domini M.CCC.xcvi  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xcvii  Androwe Pykman  Nycholas Bembre  Anno .lii.  Nycholas Twyforde  IN thys .lii. yere and .xii. daye of the moneth of Apryl syr Iohn̄ Mynster worth knyght for certayne tresons of the whych he was conuict before the mayre and other iustyces of the kyng in the Guyld halle was thys foresayd daye at tyborne put in execucion that is to meane hanged heded and quartered hys hed sette after vpō Lōdon brydge The cause of whose dethe was for so moche as he beynge put in trust by the kyng receyued greate summes of money to paye wyth the kynges sowdyours the whyche he kepte vnto hys owne vse and deceyued the kynge and hys sowdiours And whan therof he was to the kyng accused he feryng punysshement fledde into Fraunce there conspyred newly agayne his natural prynce so lastly was taken and receyued hys meryte In thys yere also began a wōderfull cysme in the churche of Rome For after the deth of the pope the .xi. Gregory was chosen .ii. popes wherof the fyrst was named the .vi. Urbā and that other the seuenth Clement the fyrste an Italy on borne and that other a Frencheman Of the whyche ensued suche dyscorde in eleccyon of the pope that by the terme of .xxxix. yeres after there was euer .ii. popes in suche auctorytye that harde and doughtefull it was to knowe whether was indubitat pope And vpon the .xxii. daye of the moneth of Iuny dyed at hys manour of Shene now called Rychmoūt kyng Edward y e thyrde of that name whā he had reygned .li. yeres and .v. monethes and odde dayes leuyng after hym .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Leonell duke of Clarence Iohn̄ of Gaūt duke of Lancastre Edmund of Lāgley duke of yorke and Thomas of woodstok erle of Cambrydge Of the whyche sonnes wyth other nobles of hys realme he was honourably cōueyed frō his sayd manour of Shene vnto the monastery of westmynster and there solempnely wythin the chapell of saynt Edwarde vppon the south syde of the shryne wyth thys Epytaphyor superscrypcion in a table hangyng vpon hys tombe ¶ Hic decus Anglorum flos regum preteritorū Forma futurorum rex clemens pax populorum Tercius Edwardus regni complens iubileum Inuictus pardus pollens bellis Machabeus The whych is thus to be vnderstāde in our mother tūge as folowynge Of Englyshe kynges here lieth the beauteuous floure Of all before passed myrrour to them shall sue A mercifull kynge of peace conseruatour The .iij. Edwarde The deth of whome maye 〈◊〉 All Englysshmē for he by knyghtehode due was lyberde inuict and by feate Marciall To worthy Machabe in vertu peregall PHylyp de Ualoys erle of Ualoys sonne of Charles de Ualoys brother vnto y e .iiii. Philip was admitted for
certayn laÌ„des within that duchy The whych variaunce to apese the kyng toke therein somme payne But no direccion he myght set therein so y t the sayd duke and syr IohnÌ„ departed with wordes of dyffiauÌ„ce And shortly after y e sayd syr IohnÌ„ accompanyed with dyuers noble meÌ„ of Almayne entred y e duchy of Burgoyne and therin dyd moche harme to the couÌ„tre and people and gat certayne castelles and theÌ„ fortyfyed with Almaynes ThaÌ„ y e duke hauyng in his ayde y e kyng of Nauerne the duke of NormaÌ„dy â–ª with y e erle of EscaÌ„ps and of FlauÌ„dres â–ª assâ—eged y e castel of Chausy at y e ende of .vi. wekes wan y e same and after yode vnto the cytye of Besenson layd siege to it also But whaÌ„ he had leyne there a loÌ„ge season he was fayne to coÌ„clude a trewes his host was in such 〈◊〉 of vytayll By reason of whych peas or trewes y e hostes were deseuered the ende of y e warre vnparfyted But in the ende folowynge by meane of y e FreÌ„ch kyng a dyreccioÌ„ was takeÌ„ betwene the sayd ê‘tyes And thys yere kyng Philip sent certayne messeÌ„gers vnto kyng Edward vpoÌ„ certayn demauÌ„des for y e castel of yauÌ„tes other for y e which coÌ„trauersie fyrst begaÌ„ to kyndle betwene the sayde .ii. prynces as in y e .x. yere of Edward is touched with the other yeres folowyng In the .ix. yere of this Philip apered a blasyng sterre After the whych ensued greate mortalytye within the realme of FrauÌ„ce aswel of men as of beestes And in this yere a nother maÌ„ of y e prouynce of LaÌ„gedok named Arnolde of NormaÌ„dy was heded hanged vpoÌ„ y e coÌ„mon gybet of Parys for asmoch as by hys meanes it was proued that the EnglyshmeÌ„ had wonne the castell of Paracoll And in the .x. yere of kynge Philip kyng Edward of EnglaÌ„d sent syr Barnard de Bret into FlauÌ„dres for causes touched shewed in the .xii. yere of the sayd Edward And in y e .xi yere of this Philip kyng Edward sayled into BrabaÌ„t alyed hym wyth Lowys y e Empour And whyle the Frenche kyng taryed with hys hoste at saint Quyntyne in Uermandoys kyng Edward entred into Fraunce and spoyled and brent a parte of Treresse nat without some note or 〈◊〉 of Cowardyse arrected to the FreÌ„ch kyng and hys hoste of hys owne subgectes And in the same yere began the towne of GauÌ„te to rebell wyth other townes of FlauÌ„dres by the mocion of Iaques de Artyuyle as in the .xiiii. yere is shewed of kyng Edward the thyrde In the twelf yere of thys Philip whych y e FreÌ„ch boke calleth the yere of confusyon kynge Edwarde beynge retourned into Englande the Frenche kynge assembled a myghty hoste to go agayne the Henauders Flemynges Brytons came with the sayde hoste vnto Arras and sent from thens a part of hys people with hys sonne IohnÌ„ than duke of Normandy into Henaude for to warre vppon the countrey there whyche went streyght vnto Cambraye after layd siege to that castel called Esthandune And wythin .xv. dayes folowynge the Frenche kynge hys father came vnto the sayd syege wyth innumerable people The whiche castell at th ende of a moneth after the kynges coÌ„mynge was gyueÌ„ vp by apoyntement And that done y e kynge remoued hys siege to a castell of the bysshoppe of Cambray named Thune standynge vpon the ryuer of Lescaut â–ª where the kynge laye longe tyme withoute harme doynge vnto y e sayde castell At lengthe the duke of Brabant with the erle of Gerle with a stronge hoste of dyuers nacyons came for to remoue that siege so that the Frenche hoste lay vpon that one syde of the ryuer the Brabanders vpoÌ„ that other But by meane of .iiii. brydges whych were made ouer that ryuer bothe hostes at sondry tymes mette faughte dyuers sharpe skyrmysshes to the losse of people vppon bothe partyes But in the ende the castell was so betyn wyth gonnes y t the capytayne therof put all hys mouables in a shyp and after wyth such sowdyours as were lefte entred the sayde shyp sette the castell vppon a lyght fyre wherof whan the Frenche kynge was ware in all haste he caused the walles to be scaled and so entred stanched the fyre And the same nyght the hoste of Brabanders departed also whan the kynge haâ— thus wonâ—â— thys castell he than sente the dukes of Normandy of Burgoyn vnto a towne named Quesnoy And whan y e sayd dukes had brent a parte of that towne other vyllages there about they retourned agayne vnto y e FreÌ„ch hoste And shortly after the kynge retourned into Fraunce there made prouycyon to sende forthe hys nauy to mete wyth kyng Edwarde whych were to the nombre of .iiii. huÌ„dreth or aboue the whyche as in the .xv. yere of Edwarde the thyrde is before shewed mette the Englysshe nauy and there at a place called y e SwynÌ„ were ouercommen AFter thys great victory thus opteyned by the kynge of Englande the Frenche kynge wyth a great hoste herynge comfortable tydynges of the discomfiture of syr Roberte de Artoys before the towne of saynte Omers as before in the .xv. yere of kyng Edward is also shewed sped hym tyt he came to the pryory of saynte Andrew where he taryenge wyth hys people certayne lettres were sent to hym by kynge Edwarde â–ª wherof the tenour with the answere of the same are set out in the forsayd xv yere with other maters apparteynynge to the actes of bothe prynces whan the peace was concluded betwene the sayde kynges as in y e sayd xv yere is declared y e kyng of FrauÌ„ce retourned to hys owne And in y e .xiii yere of hys reygne dyed IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne After whose deth Charles de Bloys IohnÌ„ de Mountfort claymed seuerally to be enherytours of that duchy whyche Charles was sonnÌ„ vnto the erle of Bloys neuew vnto the Frenche kynge by reason y â— Margareâ—â— hys syster was mother vnto the sayde Charles The whych Charles had maried the doughter of Guy de Brytayne vycount of Lymoges secoÌ„de brother of the forenamed IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne And y â— sayd IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tforte was the thyrde brother vnto the forsayd IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayn now dede So that thys questyon of thys clayme rested vpon thys poynt whether the doughter of the secoÌ„d brother shuld enheryte y e duchy or y e yonger brother consideryng y t IohnÌ„ the eldest brother dyed without heyre of hys body and Guy the seconde brother without heyre male wherfore the thyrde brother IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort claymed to be duke of Brytayne whiche case and question was brought before y e FreÌ„ch kynge hys lordes there debated argued by a longe season But in y e ende sentence passed agayn syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort Charles de Bloys was put in possession of y e duchy by kyng Philip to whome the sayd Charles dyd hys homage for the same
For thys sentence arose mortall warre betwene the sayde syr Charles syr IohnÌ„ In the whych the .ii. kynges of Englande FrauÌ„ce toke partye so that kyng Edwarde ayded syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort kynge Philip hys neuew syr Charles Thanne syr Iohanne de Mountforte before the sentence gyuen feryng the sequell of the same departed froÌ„ the court and gat hym into a stroÌ„ge towne of Brytayne there held hym wherof kyng Philip beynge aduertised sente syr IohnÌ„ his sonne duke of NormaÌ„dy hys brother syr Charles erle of Alenson for to warre vpon y e sayd syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tsort The which sped theym with a noÌ„bre of people into BrytaynÌ„ besieged a stroÌ„ge castell staÌ„dyng in an yle by y e ryuer of Loyer And after the wynning therof they yode vnto y e citie of NauÌ„tes the which y e cytezyns yelded vnto theÌ„ without stroke And soon after as testifieth y e FreÌ„ch story vpoÌ„ certayne coÌ„dicioÌ„s couenaÌ„tes y e sayd syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort yelded hiÌ„ vnto y e duke of NormaÌ„dy y e whyche seÌ„t hym vnto y e kyng his father to Parys where by the sayd kynge he was imprysoned in the castell of Louure But how it was by fauour or otherwyse â–ª he escaped prysoÌ„ after .ii. yeres prysonemeÌ„t Or after some wryters he was after .ii. yeres deliuered vpon certayn coÌ„dicions wherof one was y t he shulde nat come in Brytayne nor any thynge medle or haue to do in y e couÌ„tre But thys prysonemente of syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort nat withstaÌ„ding the warre was maynteyned in BrytaynÌ„ by y e freÌ„des of the sayd syr IohnÌ„ many townê castelles therof was holdeÌ„ to the vse of y e sayde syr IohnÌ„ wherof to shew vnto you y e circuÌ„stauÌ„ce proces it wolde aske a loÌ„ge tyme. But y e coÌ„clusion fyne of this warre shal be shewed in y e story of y e .vi. Charles sonnÌ„ of kyng IohnÌ„ In the .xv. yere of this Philip the erle of Salysbury accoÌ„panied with syr Roberte of Artoys other noble meÌ„ entred Brytayn ayded the freÌ„des of syr IohnÌ„ de mouÌ„tfort in doyng great domage to y e couÌ„tre breÌ„t moche of y e French kynges nauy In assaylyng wherof syr Robert of Artoys was wouÌ„ded in the thygh with a gunne whereupoÌ„ he laye syke vpoÌ„ y e ensued a flux so therof dyed after coÌ„ueyed into EnglaÌ„de there buryed And soon after kyng Edward entred FrauÌ„ce wyth a stroÌ„g army But a peas was at wene hym the FreÌ„che kyng condiscended for a certayne terme by laboure of .ii. cardinales as before in y e .xvi. yere of kyng Edward is declared and in this yere kynge Philip arered a taske of his people called a Gabell in FreÌ„che This was prouyded y t no subiect of y e kynges nor other within hys laÌ„de shuld bye any salt but of the kynge at hys pryce And ouer that he arered lowed the coynes moneys of hys lande to the greate auauÌ„tage of hym selfe and enpouerisshyng of his sayd subiectes by meane wherof he fyll in great hatered of hys people In the .xvi. yere of hys reygne a great dyscencion grewe amonge the nobles of NormaÌ„dy by reason of partyes takyng some wyth IohnÌ„ of Harecourt and other wyth syr Roberte Barthran than Marshal of FrauÌ„ce for couenauÌ„tes of maryge apoynted betwene y e sonne of the sayde syr Robert vpoÌ„ that one partye y e doughter of syr Roger BaconÌ„ whose wyfe or maydes mother was than maryed vnto syr Godfrey de Harecourt brother of that aboue sayd syr IohnÌ„ vppon the other partye For varyauÌ„ce wherof greate warre was lykely to haue ensued yf the kynge the sooner had nat sent strayt commauÌ„dement that eyther partye shulde kepe hys peace to apere before hym and hys lordes at Parys and there to haue theyr greuauÌ„ce by hym hys lordes determyned At whyche day of apperaunce the sayde syr Godfrey appered nat nor none for hym but coÌ„trary the kyngê commauÌ„dement assyeged syr wyllin Berthran bysshop of BaynÌ„ and brother to the foresayd syr Roberte than beyng in a castell And whan he sawe he myght nat preuayll agayne hym he than drewe vnto the EnglysshmeÌ„ and ayded them agaynst the Frenche kynge In thys yere also kynge Phylype entendynge to releue the duchye of Burgoyn wyth whete whyche there than was scaÌ„t ordeyned that certayn quarters of whete shulde be gadered in the countrees of Terroner of Orleaunce Gastenoys so sent into Burgoyn But y e studyauÌ„tes of Orleaunce with the burgeyses comons of the cytie toke therwith such grefe that of one mynde they wente downe vnto the ryuer of Loyer where at y e season certayne shippes laye freyght wyth vytayll to be had vnto the sayd countre there fet out the grayen spoyled it in suche wyse that moche therof came neuer to good And that done many of that company beynge nedy and poore yode vnto vyllages there by and robbed y e people dyde moche harme whaÌ„ the prouost or ruler of OrleauÌ„ce behelde thys rage ryot of the people and coÌ„sydered the multytude of theym he forbare for a tyme tyll they were somdele asswaged And than wyth suche company as he had of hys offycers and other he toke a certayne of theym and put theym in sondrye prysons tyll he knew farther of the kynges pleasur But it was nat longe after that the other of that affynyte herynge of the enprysonement of theyr felowes asseÌ„bled theym of newe and lyke woode men ranne vnto the prysons nat a lonely delyuered theyr felowes but also many other whych laye there for great causes crymes some suche as were coÌ„dempned to deth for theyr transgressyons whan noticioÌ„ of this great outrage and ryot came vnto y e kyng anone he sent thyder .ii. knyghtes of hys court with a puyssaunt army chargyng them to take all suche as were occasyoners and begynners of thys Riot and as many as were founde culpable to be put vnto deth The whych knyghtes accordyng to theyr commission wyth ayde of y e prouost of OrleauÌ„ce toke suche as were dempte gylte of thys cryme haÌ„ged them vpon the common gybet or galous of the cytye amonge the whych were dyuers clerkes and one a deaken within orders And in the same yere and moneth of Auguste a noble knyght of Brytayne called syr Olyuer de ClyconÌ„ for treason y t he hadde conspyred agayne kyng Philippe or for he had fauoured kyng Edwardê partye was taken by a trayne at a iustes or tournameÌ„te holden for y e same cause at Parys and shortly after iudged to deth as fyrst drawen through the cytye vnto the place of iugement theruppon a scaffold purposely ordeyned was byheded and after hys body with chaynes hanged vpon the gybet hys hed standyng there ouer vpoÌ„ a stake or after an other auctour had vnto y e cytye of Nauntes in Brytayne there pyght vpon a gate of y e
y e entent that he myght of authoryte shewe them vnto the comynaltye of the cytye desyred wrytyng The whyche the duke to appease the people though it were some deale cōtrary hys mynde and pleasure graūted vnto hys request For the whych graunt dyuers of the sayd offycers as the chaunceller or cardynall and other absentyd them selfe and came not in Parys by a tracte of tyme after The .xxx. daye of Ianuary ensuynge the duke at the requeste of the sayde prouost sent certeyne offycers vnto the house of syr Symonde de Bucy and of syr Nycholas Brake and of Enguerran of the Celer and of Iohn̄ Prylle whyche before wyth other were accusyd of mysgouernaunce of the realme whose houses were by the sayd offycers kepte and inuentuaryes made of suche goodes as than remayned wythin the sayde houses And that done the duke sent out commyssyons that the thre estates shulde reassemble at Parys the xv daye of February next folowyng whyche was obserued and kepte whan y e sayd .iii. estates were agayne assembled in the parliament chaumber at Parys in the presence of the duke and hys brethern wyth dyuers other nobles of Fraūce mayster Robert Coke bysshop of Laon by the cōmaundement of the sayd duke made a longe preposycyon of the mysguydynge of the kynge and the lande by the meane of yll offycers as well by chaungynge of the moneys as other many vnlefull excysys and taskys to the greate inpouerysshynge of the comynaltye of the reame greate dysclaunder to the kynge and to the synguler enrychynge and auauncement of the sayd offycers wherfore the .iii. estates prayen and specyally the poore comons that all such offycers may be remoued from theyr offyces and other that shall be thought more benefycyall for the kynge and hys realme to be admitted Of the which the cardynall was noted for pryncypall and other to y e noumbre of .xxi. wherof some were ryghte nere vnto the duke AFter whyche preposicyon or oracyō thus by the sayd bysshop ended syr Iohn̄ de Pygqueny in the name of the .iii. astates offered that the sayde .iii. astates shuld gyue vnto the kyng .xxx. M. mē for an hole yere wyth y ◠that all thynges myght after that daye be ordered as the bysshop had before deuysed All whyche artycles were vnto them by the duke graūted And inconueniētly all such offycers as they before had named were clerely auoyded and other such as by y e sayd .iii. astates were though moste necessary were put and chosen to theyr roumes excepte that some of the olde as maisters of thaccomptes and some of the presydentes maysters of the requestes were holden in for a tyme to practes shewe vnto y e new how they shuld ordre and guyde the sayd offyces And the .xxvi. daye of the moneth of Marche was a newe money proclaymed thorough Parys suche as the sayde .iii. astates had newly deuysed Upon the .vi. day of Apryll was proclaymed in Parys that y e people shulde nat paye suche subsydes as y e iii. astates had ordeyned for the wagynge of .xxx. M. men aforesayde or for the kynges fynaūce and also that the sayde .iii. astates after that daye shulde no more assemble for any causes or maters before touched tyll they had farther knowlege of y e kynges pleasure For the whych proclamacion the cytezyns of Parys were greuously amoued agayne the bysshop of Sēs the erle of Ewe cousyn Germayne to the kynge and agayn the erle Cācaruyle By whose meanes they sayde thys proclamacyon was purchasyd And treuth it is that the sayd archbysshop of Sens wyth the sayd .ii. erlys were sent from the kynge from Burdeaux yet there beynge to the entent that they shuld se the sayde proclamacyon put in vre But so soone as the sayd proclamacyon was made they herynge of the murmour of the people of the cytye sped them thens shortely after Then vpon this y e comons waxed so wyld that they lefte theyr occupacyons drewe them to cōuentyculys and cōpanyes and hadde many vnsyttyng wordes by the kynge and hys counsayle wherof in auoydynge of inconuenyency the duke commaunded a watche to be kepte wythin the cytye bothe by daye and by nyght and certayne gates of the cytye kept shytte and the remenaunt watchyd wyth men of armes Upon the eyght daye of Apryll then beynge Easter euyn a nother proclamacyon was made all contrary to that other by vertue wherof it was charged that the foresayde subsydie shulde be leuyed and that also the thre estates shulde reassemble at Parys the .xv. daye after Easter and there to procede vpon all such maters as before were by them begonne Upon the .vi. day of Apryll the Frenche kynge shypped at Burdeaux and so was conueyed into Englande lyke as before is shewed in y e xxxi yere of kynge Edwarde And aboute mydsomer folowyng y e duke of Lancaster whyche by a longe season had lyen before a towne in Brytayne named Rosne brake vp hys syege takyng of them of that towne for a fynaūce .lx. M. scutys of golde A scute is worth .xi. d. sterling About the feste of Mary Magdalene in the moneth of Iuly controuersy and varyaunce began to aryse amonge the parsōs assygned for the thre estates wherof the cause was for so mych as the sessyng which they had auewed sessed for the .xxx. M. men wolde nat extēde vnto the sūme by large great sūmes So y t the clergy answered y t they wolde paye no more than they were fyrst sessed vnto And in lyke maner answered such as were apoynted for the lordes for the good townes wherfore y e archebysshop of Raynes whych before was one of the chefe rulers of them refused theyr partye and drewe hym all to the duke By meanes of whyche controuersy many of theyr actes fayled suche as before were put out of theyr offyces were agayne restored About the myddel of August the duke sent for the prouost Charles Cusake wyth Iohn̄ de la I le the which bare y e pryncipal rule within the cytye and also were great sayers doers in the assembles of the iii. astates had takē vpon thē moch rule in y e busynes so that moche of y e busynes was ruled by them theyr meanes To whome the duke gaue strayght commaūdemente that they shuld cease of theyr auctorities nat to deale any more with the rule of the realme but onely to the good rule gouernaūce of the cytye of Parys And that done the duke rode aboute vnto dyuers good townes made request vnto them for ayde and also to haue the money to be curraūt amōg them whych as before is shewed the x. daye of Decembre was at Parys proclaymed But he sped lytle of hys purpose In thys meane whyle the cytezyns of Parys of one wyl mynde offered before saynt Remyge a taper of waxe of wonderfull lengthe and greatenesse the whyche they ordeyned to brenne day and nyght whyle it wold laste And shortely after they sent
vnto the duke so plesaunt message y t he retourned agayne vnto the cytye whome they receyued with all honor and reuerence And vpon the morow after hys retourne the prouost wyth certayne other of the cytye shewed vnto the duke that they wolde make a greate shyfte for hym towarde the mayntenaunce of hys warres And to brynge that mater to good conclusyon they besought hym y t he wolde assemble at Parys shortly a certayn persones of .xx. or .xxx. good townes there nexte adioynaunt The whych was vnto thē graunted so y t shortely after there assembled at Parys vpō lxx persones the whyche helde theyr counsayll to gyther by sundry days Howe be it in the ende they shewed vnto the duke that nothynge they myght brynge to effecte without assemble of the .iii. astates besoughte hym that they myght be efte reassembled trustyng that by theyr presence the dukes mynde shulde be contente and satysfyed Upon whyche requeste the duke sent hys cōmyssiōs chargyng y e sayd iii. astates to apere before hym at Parys the wednysday nexte folowynge y e day of al sayntes And full fayne he was to do all thyng that the citezyns of Parys hym requyred to do for as testyfyeth the Frenche Cronycle he was so bare of money that he hadde nat suffycyente to defende hys cotydyan charge IN the .viii. yere of kynge Iohn̄ and wednysday after Alhalowen day the .iii. astates reassembled at Parys and helde theyr counsayll within the blacke freers Durynge whych coūsayll the kyng of Nauern̄ that longe had ben holden in pryson wythin the castell of Alleux was deliuered by the meanes of syr Iohanne Pyquygny than gouernoure of the countrey of Arthoys and after conueyed by the sayd Iohn̄ vnto y e town of Amyas whan y e kyng of Nauerne was thus set at large anon his syster and other of hys frendes made meanes vnto the duke of Normandy for an vnyte a peace to be had betwene them and by them a meane was foūden that the kyng with such as were in hys company shulde come vnder saufe conduyt to Parys to common with the duke whā dyuers of the .iii. astates as such as were of Chāpeyn and Burgoyn knewe of the comyng of the kyng of Nauerne vnto Parys they without leue takyng departed And vpon the euyn of saynt Andrew the sayd kynge entred Parys wyth a greate companye of men of armes Amonge the wyche was the bysshop of Parys with many other of y e sayd cytye Upon the morowe folowynge the daye of saynt Andrew the kynge entēdynge to shewe hys mynde vnto the comynalte of the cytye caused an hyghe scaffolde to be made by y e wall of saynt Germayn where he was lodged where moche people beynge assembled he shewed vnto them a lōge processe of hys wrongefull enprysonemente and of the mysgydynge of the lande by meanes of ille offycers wyth many couerte wordes to y e dyshonoure of the Frenche kynge and iustyfycacion of hym selfe and excusynge of hys owne dedes and so retourned into hys lodgyng Uppon the thyrde daye of December the prouoste wyth other of the cytye yode vnto the duke and in the names of the good townes or commynaltyes of the same requyred of hym that he wolde do vnto the kynge of Nauerne reason and iustyce To whome it was answered by y e bysshop of Laon that the duke shuld nat allonly shewe vnto the kyng reason iustyce but he shuld also shewe vnto hym frendely brotherhode with all grace curtesy And all be it that at that season many of y e dukes coūsayll were present to whome the gyuyng of that answere had more cōueniently apperteyned thā to y e sayde bisshop yet they were at that tyme in suche fere that they durste nat moue any thynge that shuld soūde cōtrary the displeasure of the kynge of Nauerne or of the prouoste other Thā it was agreed that vpon y e saterdaye folowynge the kynge and the duke whyche as yet had nat spoken togyther shuld mete at the place of the syster of the sayd kyng where they met with vnfrendely coūtenaūce after they had communed there a lōge season departed with litle loue or charite And vpon the mūday folowyng were shewed vnto the duke hys coūsayle certayne requestes desyred by the kyng of Nauerne the whych the duke was forsed to graunt whereof the substaunce was that the kynge shuld haue agayn and enioye al such lādes castelles and townes with all mouables to them belōgynge as he was in possessyō of y e daye that kyng Iohn̄ was taken within the castel of Roan and ouer that he shuld be pardoned of all offences by hym done agayne the crowne of Fraunce before that daye and all other hys adherentes or suche as had taken hys partie before y t tyme. And soone vpon thys was ordeyned that the erle of Harcourt and other whyche kyng Iohn̄ had caused to be beheded and after to be hāged vppon the commō gybet of Roan shuld be delyuered vnto theyr frendes to be buryed at theyr pleasures After whych conclusions taken and assuraunces made as farre as the dukes auctoryte wolde extende vnto syr Almary knyghte Menlene knyghte wyth thre or foure men of honoure mo were sente into Normandye to repossesse the kyng of Nauerne in all such lādes castelles and townes as he before tyme was in possessiō of wyth all mouables vnto the sayd landes apperteynynge And than the sayde kynge and duke helde famylyer company and dyned and souped togyther often sythes at the manoir or lodgyng of quene Iohan syster vnto the sayd kynge and other places Also the sayde kynge delyuered out of prysone all prysoners as well spyrytuall as tēporall suche as were thought any thyng fauourable vnto hys cause Amonge the whyche some there were that for theyr demerites were adiuged to perpetuall prysone In thys tyme season tydynges sprange within the cytye of Parys that the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce were agreed and that kyng Iohan shulde shortely returne into Fraunce By reason of whyche tydynges the kyng of Nauerne made the more haste to dyspache hym oute of Parys so y t he with hys company departed from Parys the .xx. daye of Decēber rode toward the cytye of Maunte in Normādy Soone after the kyng was thus departed dyuers enemyes to the noumbre of .x. or .xii. C. came within .iiii. or .v. myles of Parys whyche were demyd to be of the company of syr Phylip brother vnto the kyng of Nauerne These robbed and pylled the countrey thereabout in so moch that the people of the coūtrey of Preaux and Trappes and other there aboute were constrayned with theyr mouables to flee vnto Parys wherfore the duke sente out hys letters and cōmyssyons for to assemble hys knyghtes to withstande the sayd enemyes But the sayde cytesyns of Parys caste an other way and thought it to be done to the greuaunce or correccion of them For dowte wherof the prouost with other that had y e gouernaunce of the
with a company of .viii. C. men in harnesse rode vnto the cytye of Meaux wherof y e mayre of that cytie they were ioyfully receyued contrary hys promesse before made vnto the regent where with assystence of the sayde mayer other of that cytye they entended to haue taken the wyfe of the sayd regent with other noble women thaÌ„ there soiournyng wyth hyr and so to haue conueyd them vnto Parys there to haue kepte them tyll the cytezyns myghte purchase the fauour grace of the regent But whaÌ„ the erle of Foyse whych thanne hadde the rule of the sayde gentylwomen knewe theyr entente anone he gathered vnto hym hys coÌ„pany and wyth assysteÌ„ce also of som of the sayd cytye he made vppon .vi. or .vii. C. men in harnesse and yssued boldly agayne the foresayde persons and skyrmysshed wyth theym In which skyrmysshe in the ende the meÌ„ of Parys were sconfited and chased the mayre of Meaus named IohnÌ„ Soulas taken with other which after for theyr rebellyoÌ„ were put in execucion And after thys victory thus opteyned in reueÌ„gemeÌ„t of the deth of a knyghte called syr Lewys de Chambly there slayn with other gentylmen for the vntrouth of y e cytie the foresayd erle set fyre vpon a syde of the cytye breÌ„t a great parte therof as well churches as other which fyre was scaÌ„tly stenched in .viii. days after In thys whyle the kynge of Nauerne herynge of the greate harme distruccioÌ„ that the company of Guyllyam Calley made of gentylmen in MouÌ„tmereÌ„cy other places lyke as before is shewed yode agayne hym nere vnto a place called CleremouÌ„t encountred hym and his people and gaue vnto theym batayll and slewe moch of his people and toke hym on lyue caused hys hede to be stryken of And soone after the cytezyns of Parys sente vnto hym requyrynge hym to drawe towarde theÌ„ At whose requeste he sped hym thytherwarde and entred the cytye vpoÌ„ the .xv. daye of Iuny and was coÌ„ueyed vnto sait Germayne in Pree there lodged And vpoÌ„ the morne he weÌ„te vnto the comon halle of the citie where the comoÌ„s beyng assembled he made vnto them a loÌ„ge plesaunt oracioÌ„ of the great kyndenesse that he had founde in many of y e good townes of FrauÌ„ce specially in the cytye of Parys For the whych they had bounde hym to take theyr partye agayne all other makyng none excepcyoÌ„ After which tale by hym ended Charles Cusake stode vp shewed vnto the people what ruynous poynt the laÌ„de stode in for lacke of a wyse hedde gouernoure wherfore he exhorted y e people to chose y e kyng for theyr gouernour whyche than was so done he there toke vpon hym the rule promysed with them to lyue and dye Upon the xxii day of the sayd moneth of Iuny y e kyng of Nauerne with a coÌ„pany of vi M. speres of the citye other departed from Parys and rode vnto a towne called Gonnesse where an other company of the cytye taryed for hym from thens rode towarde SeÌ„lys But whaÌ„ the gentylmen of hys hoste vnderstode that he had takeÌ„ vppon hym to be capytayne of the cominaltye where agayn the more partie of the nobles of Fraunce were of the contrary partye they left hym many of them specially suche as were of the duchye of Burgoyne and wyth congy of hym taken resorted into theyr couÌ„treys whaÌ„ the regent had vysyted dyuers countreys wonne vnto hym the beniuolence of y e same had also gathered vnto hym greate strength he spedde hym towarde Parys lodged hym in the ende of the moneth of Iuny in a place called in Frenche le Pount de Charenton fast by Boyes in Uyncent In whose coÌ„pany were noumbred vpon .xxx. M. horsemen so that the countre there about was pylled wasted with that hoste wherof herynge the kynge of Nauerne retourned backe agayne and came wyth hys hoste vnto saynt Denys wythin .ii. myles of Parys And the cytye of Parys was kepte daye nyght that no man myghte entre or go out wythout lyceÌ„ce of y e prouoste other rulers therof In this meane whyle that the sayde two prynces lay thus with theyr two hostes about the cytye quene Iohan syster vnto the kynge made an instauÌ„t labour vnto the regent for grace for the cytezyns By whose meanes a comucacioÌ„ was appoynted to be holdeÌ„ betwene the kynge the regente the eyght day of Iuly at a place called y e wynde mylle faste by the house of saynt Anthony At whyche metynge it was lastly accorded betwene y e sayd prynces that the kyng of Nauerne shulde do hys best to brynge the cytezyns of Parys vnto due obedyence And yf he sawe in theym suche obstynacy that they wolde nat do theyr dutye to gyue for theyr rebellyon suche summes of money as by hym the regent shuld be thought accordynge that than the kynge shuld vtterly refuse theyr partye and turne vnto the regeÌ„t with all hys power And ouer that the kyng for all demaundes that he coude aske of the regent for any cause ouer the agremeÌ„t betwene them laste made shuld haue iii. C.M. floryns of gold wherof an C.M. to be payed that daye .xii. monethes and yerely after .l. M. tyll the fulle were payed And farther it was accorded that the kynge after y t daye shulde take partye with the regente agayne all persones excepte onely y e kynge of Fraunce And to the ende y t thys accorde shulde be fermely holdeÌ„ vppon bothe sydes the bysshoppe of Lyseux there beynge presente wyth many other lordes saÌ„ge there masse within the tente where thys accorde was concluded and after agnus dei sware the two prynces vpon the sacrament that withoute collusyon or fraude they shulde obserue and kepe eueryche artycle of the sayde accord After whyche conclusyon thus takeÌ„ the regent repayred vnto hys hoste the kynge vnto saynt Denys Than vppon the morowe the kynge entred Parys and conueyed thyther wyth hym but a certayne so taryed there all that daye wythoute any reporte sendyâ—ge vnto the regent And the seconde daye for y e more streÌ„gthynge of the towne he sent for certayne Englysshe sowdyours as archers and other and sette them in the towne wagys nother sente nor retourned vnto the regente with any answere Than towarde the nyght how it was assaut was made by som of the regentes people vppoÌ„ a parte of the town so that dyuers men were slayne vpon bothe sydes but the mo vppon the partye of the cytye Than the kynge of Nauerne vpoÌ„ the morowe retourned vnto sait Denys leuynge within the cytye y e foresayde streÌ„gthe of Englyshmen wyth other whan the regente was ware of the kynges beynge at saynt Denys he sent vnto hym and hym requyred of perfourmauÌ„ce of suche accorde as lately betwene theym was condissended syns by hys meanes he myght nat enduce the cytezyns to due obedyence that he wolde accordynge to
hys promesse take partye with hym wherby they and other enemyes to y ◠comon welth myght be recoūceyled whereunto the kynge answered and sayd that the regēt had brokē y e sayd accorde For where he by hys dylygēce laboure had brought the cytezyns to a nere poynt of recōciliacyon submyssiō the regent by the meane of that assaute whyche he made vnto the towne caused the sayd cytezeyns to renoūce all theyr former graunt to bynde them vpō theyr former wyl fulnesse After whyche answere thus gyuen by the kyng the regēt caused his people to passe y e ryuer of Sayne by a brydge made of botes and so to brenne the towne of Uyttry diuers other townes robbed pylled the coūtrey there about Upō the .xiiii. day of Iuly dyuers of the towne of Parys issued oute of the towne with the ayde of the Englyshmen endeuoured them to haue socoured the sayde towne of Uyttry with also to haue destroyed y e brydg At whych iournay they bare them so well that with theyr shotte they woūded many of theyr enemies and toke prysoner the regentes marshall named syr Reynolde de Fountaynes with dyuers other after retourned vnto theyr cytye Upon the .xix. day of Iuly y e quene Iohn̄ syster vnto y e kyng of Nauern̄ with the archebysshop of Lyons the bysshop of Parys with certayne other temporall persones of the cytye yode vnto a place assygned withoute the towne where with them met the regent certayne of hys coūsayll at lengthe cōcluded an unyte and cōcorde betwene the sayd regent cytesyns without farther payne or exacciō to be put vnto them excepte that the sayd cytesyns shuld humbly submytte thē vnto the regent in aknowlegyng theyr offēce askyng of hym mercy grace for the same ouer y t to be ordered forther as the kynge of Nauerne the sayd quene Iohn̄ with the duke of Orleaūce the erle of El cāps wolde deme adiuge and that graunted the regēt to opyn all ways passages as well by lāde as by water that al marchaūtes may passe as they before tymes vsed in lykewise they of the cytye to opyn the gates of the towne and to receyue all straungers AFter whych agremente thus cōcluded agreed with all other before made betwene the kyng the regent to be maynteyned vpholden the regēt sent from hym moch of hys people appoynted the sayd bisshoppes the other for the towne to mete with hym y e .iiii. day folowynge at a place called Laiguy syr Marne where he wolde haue also the kynge of Nauerne the other to perfyghte and clerely fynysh the sayd agremēt vpō thys made proclamacions thorough the hoste that a good and perfyght peace was agreed wherefore many of the hoste for dyuers causes theym mouynge yode towarde the cytye trustyng there gladly louynglye to be receyued But vpōn y e morne whan they came vnto the gates they fande them watched with harnessed men whyche wolde none suffre to entre but suche as them lyked amōg the whyche one named Macequetta seruaunte of the regētes was mysse entreated And nat withstādyng that accorde yet the mouable goodes of suche as were with the regent had houses within the cytie where disperbled and stroyed Upon the .xxi. day of Iuly euyn of mary Magdaleyne a stryfe began to kyndell within the cytye so that y e cytesyns complayned them vpon the Englysshemen surmysynge agayne thē dyuers causes By meane wherof the comonte in a fury yode vnto the palaye of Necl where at y t tyme many of the capytaynes of the Englysshemen dyned wyth the kynge of Nauerne vpon whome they fell sodeynly and slewe of them vpō .xxiiii. after in diuers places of y e citie toke the other deale to the noūbre of .iiii. C. or thereupon and closed theym in dyuers prysons with whych doyng the kynge of Nauerne with also the prouoste and other the gouernoures of the cytye were right fore discontented wherfore vpō the day folowyng the kynge assembled the comynaltye at theyr comon halle entendynge by plesaūt wordes to haue caused them to haue ben repētaunt of the murder of the foresayd capytaynes also to haue gotten the remenaunte oute of pryson But the more the kynge spake for the Englysshemen the more woder were they dysposed agayne theym sayenge y t those whyche were within the cytye shulde nat alonely be putte to deth but also suche as were at sait Denys whyche there spoyled that towne countrey enuyron and had had suche wordes vnto the kynge y t in the ende he wyth the prouost the other gouernoures were fayne to graunte vnto them that they wolde go with theym for to helpe to dystres the sayde Englysshemen And so the same daye agayne nyght the comōs yssued by the gate of saynt Honoure the kynge of Nauerne with the prouost theyr company went out by y e wyndemylle so that in the sayd assēbles of the kynge the comons were noumbred vppon .xvi. C. speres and of foote men vpon .viii. M. whan the kynge with hys company was comē into the feelde where the sayd wyndemylle stādeth he houed there well vp on halfe an houre to se what y e other company wolde do The whych sent out .iii. speres to espye where the Englyshmen were and espyed of theym vpō .xl. or .l. that apered by a woddes syde nere vnto saynt Clow and wenynge that the sayde Englysshemen there had bē no mo retourned shewed what they had sene whereupon the sayde comons in all haste spedde theym thyther And whā they were within the daunger of theyr shotte y e Englysshmen issued oute of dyuerse parties of the wode and woūded and slewe many of them wherwith the other beynge fered fled incontinently whome the Englysshemen pursued so cruelly that they slewe of the fote men vpon .vi. C. in all whych season the kyng of Nauern̄ and also y e prouost with theyr peple stode styl neuer moued towarde thē for theyr defence or ayde After thys scomfyture thus susteyned by the Parysyens the kyng lefte the cytye and rode vnto saynt Denys and the prouoste wyth hys company returned vnto Parys where he was receyued wyth hydyous noyse and crye aswel of womē as mē for y t he so cowardly had suffered hys neyghbours to be woūded and slayne By reasō of this the murmure of the people encreased dayly more and more agayne the prouost so that in maner a party was taken betwene the prouoste and the other gouernours of the cytye and the comynaltye For the comons wolde haue put to deth many of the prysoners of the Englysshemen but y e prouost with hys affynyte let them and preserued them from theyr fury and malyce And vpon the .xxvii. daye of Iuly beynge frydaye the sayd prouost beyng encōpanyed wyth .viii. score or ii C. mē in harnesse yode vnto Louure and other prysons and toke out y e sayd Englysshemen
the sayde chappell and there cause theym solemply to be enterred Syxtly that all such goodes as the sayde persones so slayne hadde wythin the town or elles were spoyled by the sayde cytezeyns that it shulde be restored vnto the wyues or nexte kynnesfolkes of theym so dede whan the proclamacyon of this sentence was ended there was an exclamacyoÌ„ cryenge of mercy suche sorowe lameÌ„tyng made of y e peple that the noyse therof souÌ„ded to the heuens But to brynge thys tragedy to conclusyon fynally suche laboure was made vnto the duke aswell by exortacyoÌ„ of sermons other that al thynges were pardoned excepte the fouÌ„dacyon of the chapell execucyoÌ„ of certayne persones which were accused to be the occasyoners of thys myschiefe and also the costes of that iournay y e which were cessed at .xxiiii M. fraÌ„kys or .xxiiii. C. li. sterlynges After whych ende thus made the coÌ„sulatê of y e town were restored agayn to theyr habyte rule and to theym was admytted all former offices and rule of the towne except the offyce of bayly wyke In the moneth of Iuly began the inhabytauntes of GauÌ„t in FlauÌ„ders to rebell agayne theyr erle of newe y e cause wherof is nat shewed But they wyth ayde whych they had of Ipre Courtray and other townes made a great hoste yode streyghte vnto a towne in FlauÌ„ders called Dyxmew entendyng to haue takeÌ„ it But y e erle beyng warned therof wyth ayde of Bruges of FraÌ„k and other maÌ„ned out a company agayn the other and mette with them in playne felde and after a sharpe skyrmysshe put theym of GauÌ„t to flyght slewe of them dyuers toke of them certayne prysoners pursued them vnto the town of Ipre and layed syege to the same whan the heddes of the towne knew that the erle was there in propre parsone vnder a certayne apoyntement they opened the gates and receyued hym in But many of hys enemyes were fled vnto Courtray And whan the erle had rested hym in y â— towne .ii. dayes done there some execucyoÌ„ he departed theÌ„s and rode vnto Bruges and helde hym there In whyche season the other whych as aboue is sayd were fled vnto Courtray fell at varyaunce within theym selfe slewe theyr capytayne after fled y e towne shyfted euery man for hym selfe Than a knyght called syr Soyer of GauÌ„t came vnto the towne of Courtray and so exorted the rulers of the towne y t they promysed hym to take hys parte wherupon he gate a baner of the erles armes in hys hande and so rydynge aboute that towne cryed who that wolde take the erles party hys lette hym folowe that baner whome the people folowed in greate noumber And whaÌ„ y e erle was asserteyned of that dede howe the town of Courtray was tourned vnto hys party anone he assembled of other townes also of that and of Ipre so moche that hys hoste was estemed at lx M. meÌ„ wyth the whiche he spedde hym vnto Gaunte layed a stronge syege there about But by the deth of the French kyng whych dyed shortly after the erle was fayne to chaunge hys mynde to remoue hys syege or elles as some wryters reporte for strength of the sayde towne whyche myght nat lyghtly be gotteÌ„ for lacke of good vpon y e erles partye to maynteyne that syege ThaÌ„ in the moneth of Septembre and .xxvi. daye of the same kynge Charles dyed at his manoyr called playsance sur Marne was buryed by his wyfe in the monastery of saynt Denys whan he had reygned .xv. yeres and .vi. monethes wyth odde dayes leuynge after hym iii. sonnes Charles which was kyng after hym and Lewys that he hadde made erle of Ualoys and after duke of Angeowe and Phylyppe erle of Poytyers ¶ Anglia RIchard the second of that name and sonnÌ„ of prynce Edwarde eldest sonnÌ„ of Edwarde y e .iii a chyld of y e age of a .xi. yeres begaÌ„ne hys reygne ouer y e realme of England y e .xxii. day of Iuny in the yere of our lorde M.CCC.xxvii the .xiii. yere of the .vi. Charles than kyng of Fraunce This Rycharde was borne at Burdeaux of whose byrthe some wryters tell wonders the whyche I passe ouer And vpon the .xv. daye of Iuly in the yere abouesayd he was crowned at westmynster beyng the daye of the translacyon of saynt Swythyn In whyche tyme season stoode Mayre shryues of the cytye of LoÌ„don these persones folowynge Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxviii Grocer Andrewe Pykman  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. i.  Nycholas Twyfforde  THe whyche contynued so in theyr offyces that is to saye y e shryues tyll Myghelmas y e mayre tyl the feest of Symon and Iude. At whyche season were chosen admytted newe offycers Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxviii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxix Grocer IohnÌ„ Boseham  IohnÌ„ Phylpot  Anno. ii  Thomas Cornwaleys  IN the moneth of August begynnynge of the secoÌ„de yere of kyng Rychard for varyaunce which was betwene the lorde Latymer sir Rafe Ferrers vpoÌ„ that one partye syr Robert Hal Shakerley esquyer vpon that other partye for a prysoner taken beyoÌ„de the see in Spayne called the lorde of Dene whome the sayd esquyers helde in theyr possessioÌ„ contrary the wylles of the foresayde knyghtes for the sayde cause y e sayd knyghtes entred the churche of saint Petyr and there fyndyng y e sayd syr Robert knelynge at masse wythoute reuerence of the sacrament or place slewe hym in the churche at y e hyghe masse seasoÌ„ after that other named Shakerley was by theyr meanes arested and had to the towre of London where he was kepte as prysoner longe after Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxx Grocer IohnÌ„ Heylysdâ—ne  IohnÌ„ Hadley  Anno. iii.  wyllyam Baret  IN the moneth of May the later ende of the seconde yere of kynge Rycharde certayne Galeys and other shyppes sente by Charles the syxte than kynge of Fraunce of the whych was chefe patron or capytayne a knyghte named syr Olyuer de Clycon landed in dyuerse places of Englande and dyd moche harme lastly entred the ryuer of Thamis and so came to Grauysende where he spoyled the towne and brent a parte thereof and retourned into Fraunce with moche rychesse as affermeth the Frenche cronycle In this yere also was holden a parlyamente at westmynster in the which was graunted that all men women beynge of the age of .xiiii. yeres and aboue shulde paye vnto the kynge .iiii. d. By reason whereof great grudge and murmure grewe amonge the commons as after shall appere Than with y e money an armye was prepared and thereof was made chefe gouernoure syr Thomas of woodstoke erle of Cambrydge and vncle vnto y e kyng The whiche with a company of .vii. or .viii. M. as testifyeth the Frenche cronycle passed y e water of Summe in the begynnynge of Auguste and
syr Symonde Burley knyghte syr Iames Bernes and syr Robert Belknappe knyghtes and a sergeaunt of armes called IohnÌ„ Uske the whyche by auctoryte of the sayde parlyamente were conuycte of treason and for the same put to execucyon at Tybourne and at the Towre hyll And IohnÌ„ Holt IohnÌ„ Locton Richarde Gray willyam Burgth and Roberte Fulthorpe iustyce with the other foresayd lordes whiche as before is said voyded the lande were by auctoryte of the sayd court of parlyamente banysshed exyled the lande for euer Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxviii  Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxix Goldesmythe Thomas Austeyne  Syr Nycholas Twyfforde  Anno. xii  Adam Cathyll  IN the .xii. yere and moneth of Nouembre yet durynge the ê‘lyament was executed in Smythefylde of London a marcyall Iustes and tournement where as all suche persones as came in vpon y e kynges partye theyr armour and apparayle was garnysshed with whyte hertes crownes of golde about their neckes And of that shorte were .xxiiii. with .xxiiii. ladyes also apparayled as aboue is sayd ladde with .xxiiii. cheynes of golde the horses of them and so conueyed them thoroughe the cytie vnto Smythefelde frome the Towre of London where the king the quene and many other great estates beynge present after proclamacions by the herroddes made many goodly and marcyall actes of warre were there put in vre to the great recreacion and comforte of the kynge and quene and all other beholders of the same To this dysporte came many straungers Amonge the whiche the erle of saynt Poule the lorde Ostreuaunt sonne and heyre vnto y â— duke of HolaÌ„de and a yonger sonne of the erle of Ostryche were greatly commended And whan this Iustes had contynued by sondrye tymes by the space of .xxiiii. dayes to the great comforte and recreacyon of many yonge and lusty bachellers desyrous to wynne worshyppe and to the kinges great honoure that by all that season kepte open housholde for all honeste comers it was fynysshed the strauÌ„gers retourned to their couÌ„treys with many ryche gyftes Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxix  Anno domini M. CCC.lxxxx Grocer IohnÌ„ walcot  wyllyam Uenour  Anno. xiii  IohnÌ„ Loueneâ— Â IN thys .xiii. yere of kynge Rychard an esquier of y e prouince of Nauerne by Fraunce accused an Englysh esquyer called IohnÌ„ welshe of certayne poyntes of treason For the tryall wherof a day of fyght was betwene them taken to be foughten in the kynges palays at westmynster where eyther of theym kept hys daye fought there a stronge fyght But in the ende IohnÌ„ welshe was vyctoure and constrayned that other to yelde hym where after he was dyspoyled of hys armoure and drawen to tyburne and there haÌ„ged for hys vntrouthe Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xc  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xci  IohnÌ„ Fraunces  Adam Bamme  Anno. xiiii  Thomas vyuent  IN thys .xiiii. yere of kyng Rychard syr IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t duke of Lancastre wyth a goodly coÌ„pany of men of armes sayled into Spayn to clayme suche landes as he there shulde haue in the ryght of dame CoÌ„staunce hys wyfe whyche was the doughter of Peter ryghtfull kynge of Spayne as in the .xl. yere of kyng Edward the thyrde is more playnly declared whan the sayde duke was vpon that other syde of the see there came vnto hym the kynge of Portyngale wyth a stronge army and so entred the terrytory of Spayne But whether it were of the Englishe men longe or of the Portyngaleys moche harme was done to the Spanyardes in robbynge and pyllyng of the countrey whyche was cause of grudge betwene the kyng of Portyngale and the duke and caused many Spanyardes whyche oughte to theÌ„ good wyll to wythdrawe and depart from them In reformacyoÌ„ of which ille certayn persones aswel English as Portyngaleys that were founde gyltye of suche robbery were putte vnto deth by meane whereof the other fered so that where by that meane the kynge and the duke were before put to great afterdeale by reasoÌ„ of reformacyon of that ille they gat dayly vppon theyr enemyes so that in processe of tyme folowyng y e kyng of Spayne was dryuen of necessyte to treate wyth the duke of a peace concorde Of the whyche peace as wytnesseth Polycronycon in hys last boke and .vii. chapyter the condycioÌ„ was that fyrste for a fynall concorde the kynge of Spayne shuld marye y e duke eldest doughter name CoÌ„stauÌ„ce and that done he shulde gyue vnto y e duke in recoÌ„pensacyon of hys costes so many wedges of golde as shulde charge or lade .viii. charettes and ouer that yerely durynge the lyues of the sayde duke and hys wyfe he shuld at hys propre coste and charge delyuer to the dukes assygneys .x. M. marke of golde wythin y e towne of Bayon And after thys peace was stablysshed and suertyes taken for the perfourmaunce of the same the duke departed wyth the kynge of Portyngale To whome shortelye after he maryed hys second doughter named dame Anne In thys yere also for cruel warre whyche the Turkes made agayne the Ianueys or men of Ieane they requyred ayde of the kynges of Englande and Fraunce For whyche cause oute of Englande was sente a noble warryour called erle of Alby wyth two thousande of archers and out of Fraunce the duke of Burbon and the erle of Ewe wyth .xv. C. speres The whych kept theyr iournay tyll they came vnto a cytye in Barbary named Thunys somtyme belongynge to the sayde Ianuays where the sayd Englyshe Frenchemen bare them so manfully wyth the ayde of y e Ianuayes that in proces of tyme they wanne y e sayde cytye froÌ„ the Turkes and put y e Ianuayes agayne in possessyon therof toke of theym many prysoners the whyche were exchaunged for chrysten prysoners before taken and ouer that forsed the sayd Sarazyns to yelde vnto the Ianuayes .x. M. ducates of gold for confyrmacyon of a peace for a certayne tyme. But the French cronycle sayth that for so moche as the duke of Burbon hadde vnderstandynge y t the duke of Lancaster made warre vpon kyng IohnÌ„ of Spayn he therfore lefte thys iournay and ayded hiÌ„ agayne the sayde duke of Lancaster to hys lytle honour But howe so euer it was many of the EnglyshmeÌ„ were loste in those countreys by reason of the flyxe and other sykenesses Also Antoninus sayeth that the Sarazyns at thys iourney were nat dyspossessed of the cytye of Thunys but for a trewes to be hadde for two yeres they graunted vnto the chrysten men a certayne summe of money and restytucyon of many chrysten prysoners Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xci  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xcii  IohnÌ„ Chadworth  Draper   IohnÌ„ Heende  Anno. xv  Henry Uamere  IN thys .xv. yere of kynge Rycharde he kepynge hys Crystmas at hys manour of woodstocke the erle of Penbrooke beynge yonge of age was desirouse to lern to iuste and requyred a knyghte named syr IohnÌ„ saynte Iohan to renne wyth hym certayne courses At
bothe hoostes of bothe prynces or suche coÌ„panyes as before either of them was appointed to bryng Here if I shuld brynge in the dyuers metynges of y e sayd princes and the curyous seruices that eyther caused other to be fed serued within eyther of theyr tentes or of theyr dalyaunce or pastymes continuynge the season of their metynges and the dyuersyte of the manifolde spices and wynes whiche there was ministred at y e said season with all y e ryche apparell of the sayde pauilyons cupbordes garnysshed with plate rich iewels it wold aske a loÌ„ge tracte of tyme. But who y t is desirous to knowe or here of the cyrcumstauÌ„ce of all y e premysses let him rede y e worke of maister IohnÌ„ Froysarde made in Frenche and there he shall se euery thynge touched in an ordre And here I shall shortly touch the giftes y t were gyuen of eyther of y e princes of their lordes And fyrst king Rychard gaue vnto y e Frenche kynge an hanap or basyn of golde with an ewer to y e same ThaÌ„ againwarde y e FreÌ„che king gaue vnto him iii. staÌ„ding cuppes of golde with couers garnisshed with perle stone a shippe of golde set vpon a bere rychely garnysshed with perle stone Than at theyr seconde meting king Rycharde gaue vnto him an ouche set with so fyne stones y t it was valued at .v. C. marke sterlynge where agayne the Frenche king gaue vnto him .ii. flaggons of golde a tablet of golde and therein an ymage of saint Mychaell rychely garnisshed Also a tablet of gold with a crucifixe therin well and rychely dyght Also a tablet of golde with an ymage of the Trynite rychely set with perle and stone Also a tablet of gold with an ymage of saynt George in likewise set with perle and stone whiche all were valued at the summe of .xv. C. marke Than king Richarde seyng y e bouÌ„te of the Frenche kinge gaue to hym a bauderyke or coler of golde set with greate dyamantes rubyes and balessys beyng valued at .v. M. mark the whiche for the preciosyte thereof that it was of such an excellency and fynesse of stuffe the Frenche kynge therfore ware it aboute his necke as often as the king and he mette together Than the Frenche kyng gaue vnto hym an ouche a spyce plate of golde of great weyght and valued at .ii. M. marke Many were the ryche gyftes that were receyued of lordes and ladyes of bothe prynces Amonge the whiche specially are noted .iii. giftes whiche kyng Richarde gaue vnto the duke of OrleauÌ„ce for the which he receyued agayne of the duke trebyll the value For where his were valued at a M. marke the dukes were valued at thre thousaÌ„de marke Finally whan y e said princes hadde thus eyther solaced with other concluded all maters concernynge the abouesayde maryage the Frenche kyng delyuered vnto kyng Rycharde dame Isabell his doughter sayenge these wordes folowynge Ryght dere beloued sonne I delyuer here to you the creature y t I most loue iÌ„ this worlde next my wife my sonne besechynge y e father in heuen that it may be to his pleasure and of the weale of you and youre realme and that the amyte atwene the .ii. realmes in auoydyng of effusyon of chrysten mens blode maye be kepte inuyolet for the terme atwene vs coÌ„cluded whiche terme was .xxx. wynter as expresseth the Frenche Cronycle After whiche wordes with many thankes giuen vpon eyther parties preparacyon was made of deê‘tinge And after kynge Rycharde had conueyed the Frenche kynge towarde Arde he toke his leaue and returned vnto his wyfe The which was immediatlye with great honoure conueyed vnto Caleys and there after to the kyng spoused as before to you I haue shewed After the which solempnisacion with al honour ended the kynge with his yonge wyfe toke shyppyng and so within short whyle landed at Douer and from thens sped hym towarde London wherof the cytezens beynge warned made out certayne horsemen well appointed in one lyuetye of coloure with a conysaunce brodered vpon theyr sleues whereby euery felyshyppe was knowen from other The whyche with the Mayre and hys bretherne clothed in scarlet met the kynge and the quene vpon the Blacke hethe after due salutacyon and reuerente welcomes vnto theim made by the mouthe of the recorder the sayd cytezens conueyed the kynge vpon his wey tyll he came to Newyngton where the kynge commaunded the Mayre with his company to returne to the cytie for he with hys lordes ladyes was appointed that nyght to lye at Kenyngton It was nat longe after but that she was from Kenington brought with great pompe vnto the Towre of London At whyche season was so exceding prece at London brydge that by reason therof certayne persones were thruste to deth amonge the whyche the pryoure of Typtre a place iÌ„ Essex was one And vpon the morowe folowynge she was conueyed throughe y e cytie with all honoure that myghte be deuysed vnto westmynster there crowned quene vpon the sonday beynge than the .viii. day of Ianuary In the somer folowynge the kynge by sinistre counsell delyuered vp by a poyntement the towne of Breste in Brytayne to the duke whiche was occasyon of displeasure atwene the kyng and y e duke of Gloucestre hys vncle as in the yere folowyng shal be more clerely shewed Anno domini M. CCC.lxxxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCC.lxxxxvii Goldesmythe Thomas wylforde  Adam Bame  Anno. xx  wyllyam Parker  IN this .xx. yere of kynge Rycharde and moneth of February the kinge holdynge a sumptuous feest in westmynster halle many of the soudyours whiche were newely comen from the towne of Brest foresayd presed into the hall and kepte a rome together whiche companye whan the duke of Gloucestre hadde beholden and frayned and knowen what men they were and howe the sayde towne was gyuen vppe contrary his knowlege was therewith in his mynde sore discomforted In so moche that whan the kynge was entred hys chaumbre and fewe nere vnto hym he sayde vnto the kynge Syr haue ye nat sene the felawes y t satte in so great noumbre to daye in your halle at suche a table And the kynge answered yes and axed of the duke what coÌ„pany it was To whom the duke answered saide Sir these ben youre souldyours comen from Breste and as nowe haue nothynge to take to nor knowen at howe to shyfte for theyr lyuynge and the rather for that as I am enfourmed they haue benne before tyme euyll payed Than said y e king it is nat my will but y t they shulde be well payed And if any haue cause to coÌ„playne let them shewe it vnto our tresourer and they shal be resonably answered In resonynge of this mater farther the duke said vnto the kyng Syr ye ought to put your body to payne for to wynne a stroÌ„ge holde or towne by feate of warre or ye toke vpon you to sell or delyuer any towne
Huntyngedon the whiche than was created duke of Exeter Also of the erle of Somerset was made a marques of Dorset And for the erles fyrste the lorde of westmerlande named Dane Raâ—y Neuyll was made erle of westmerlande the lorde Tresorer syr wyllyaÌ„ Scrope was made eâ—le of wylshyre and syr IohnÌ„ de Mountague was made erle of Salesbury And whan this busines was fynisshed the parlyament was remoued vnto Shrewysbury vnto Hyllarye terme where it was fynysshed to many mennes dyspleasures dysherytynge of many trewe heyres Anno domini M. CCC.lxxxxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCC.lxxxxviii Mercer wyllyam Askeham  Rycharde whyttyngton  Anno. xxi  IohnÌ„ wodecoke  IN this .xxi. yere of kynge Rycharde the people of the lande murmured and grudged sore againe the kynge his counsell for so moche as the goodes belongynge vnto the crowne were disperblyd gyuen to vnworthy persones by occasyon whereof dyuers charges and exaccyons were put vpon the people Also for that the chefe rulers aboute the prynce were of lowe byrthe and of small reputacyon and the men of honoure were kepte out of fauoure Also for that the duke of Glouceter was secretely murdred without processe of the lawe and many thynges elles mysordered by the laste parlyament whereof the wyte and blame was layed vnto the kynge and other persones after named as well for wrongefull dysherytynge of sondrye persones at the sayde parlyamente suche as were menyall seruauntes of the foresayde duke of Gloceter and of the erles of Arundell and of warwyke contrarye hys owne proclamacyons made concernynge suche maters Also that where dyuers patentes grauntes passyd the kynges great seale as well for pardons and other great maters yet for the kynges singuler auauntage suche fewe persones as bare the rule about hym many of theym were called agayne Also where for sheryffes and other offycers of all shyres of Englande were wonte to be named .iiii. by discrete ê‘sones as iuges other of y e whiche the kyng shulde assygne two for the yere folowynge he of his owne wylle pleasure wolde refuse them chose suche .ii. as hym lyked the which he knewe well wolde lene more to his weale than to the coÌ„men weale of this lande or of his subiectes Also that where before tymes y e kynges of Englande vsed to sende out commyssyons vnto burgeses of cyties townes to chose of theyr fre lybertie suche knyghtes of the shyre as they thought mooste wealefull for the comen weale of the sayde shyre lande nowe kyng Rycharde wolde appoynte the persones and wylle them for to chose such as than he named wherby his singuler causes were preferred and the commen causes put by Also kinge Rycharde thoroughe euyll counsell commaunded by his letters vnto the sheryffes of all shyres fewe excepted that all persones of honoure within theyr countyes as well spirytuall as temporall shulde make certayne othes in generall wordes and ouer that to wryte and seale certayne bondes for perfourmaunce of the sayde othes and also for blanke chartour which many men of substaunce were constrayned to seale to theyr great charges The people contynually murmured and grudgyd for these iniuryes and many mo whyche at the tyme of his deposynge were artyculed agayne hym in .xxxviii. sondry artycles with also the rumoure that ranne vpon hym that he had letten to ferme the reueneus of y e crowne to Busshey Bogot and Grene whiche caused as well the noble men of the realme to grudge agayn hym as other of the comon people Thus coÌ„tynuynge this mysorder within the lande dyed syr IohnÌ„ of Gaunt duke of Lancaster at the bysshoppe of Elyes place in Holborne and from thens was caried vnto saint Pouls and there vppon the north syde of y e quyre honorably buryed At whose enterremente all the chefe lordes of Englande were present For whom after was fouÌ„dyd by dame BlauÌ„che hys wyfe an honorable anniuersary as before I haue shewed in y e .xliiii. yere of Edwarde the thyrde whiche of right ought to be set in this place This yere also aboute the feste of saynt Bartholomew fell discencyon discorde bytwene y e duke of Herforde the duke of Norfolke wherfore the duke of Herforde accused y e other that he hadde taken .iiii. thousande marke of the kynges of suche money as he shulde therwith haue waged certeyne sowdyours at Caleys whiche he lefte vndone toke the same money to hys owne vse But an other wryter sayth that as y e sayde two dukes rode vppon a tyme from the parlyament towarde theyr lodgynges y e duke of Norfolke sayd vnto that other Syr se you not how varyable the kyng is in his wordes and how shamefully he putteth his lordes and kynesfolkes to deth and other exileth and holdeth in pryson wherfore full necessary it is to take kepe and not for to truste myche in hys wordes For without dowte in tyme to come he wyll by suche lyke meanes brynge vs vnto lyke deth distruccyon Of whiche wordes the sayde duke of Herforde accused that other vnto the kynge wherfore eyther wagyd batayle with other before the kynge To whom daye of metynge was gyuen to eyther vpon the .xi. daye of September to fyghte within lystes at CoueÌ„tre where all thynge was ordeyned for At whiche place at y e day assygned thyder came the sayde two dukes and appered in the felde before the kynges presence redy to do theyr batayle But y e kyng anone forbad that fyght and forthwith exyled the duke of Herforde for x. yeres and the duke of Norfolk for euer whiche sentence was shortely after put in execucyon Thanne the duke of Herforde sayled into FrauÌ„ce and there taryed a season But for lacke of ayde and comforte he departed thens and came into Brytayne And the duke of Norfolke passed dyuers countreys and lastely came vnto the cytie of Uenyce and there endyd his lyfe And soone after thys was maister Roger walden a chapeleyne of the kynges made archebysshoppe of Caunterbury the whyche was a speciall louer vnto the citie of London and made great labour for them vnto the kynges grace y e greuously with them was of newe dyspleased for so moche as he was enfourmed of them y t they shulde counsell with other sheriffes to withstaÌ„de certayne actes made in the laste parlyament for y t which the comynaltie of the cytie was endyted with other sheryffes In redresse wherof by couÌ„sell of the sayd archebysshoppe of maister Robert Braybroke than bisshoppe of LoÌ„don the cytezens made a lamentable supplicacyon vnto the kinge whiche by ayde fauoure of the sayd two bysshoppes other louers of y e cytie y e kinges yre indignacyon by meane of that lowly supplicacyon was some parte appeased withdrawen But yet to contente a ê‘te of y e kinges mynde many blanke chartours were deuysed broughte into the cytie which many of y e most substancyall men of the same were fayne to seale to theyr payne and charge in conclusyon
of Orleyaunce assembled to hym a coÌ„pany of .vi. thousande knyghtes came agayne towarde Parys where as that tyme the duke of Burgoyne was And he herynge of y e dukes coÌ„myng made him stronge to receyue hym To whome the cytezens of Parys were fauourable aydynge for the euyll wyll that they before bare vnto the duke of Orleyaunce also for they hoped by hym to be defended from taskes and tallages Thus contynuynge the prouisyon vpon bothe partyes to mete shortely in playne batayle suche polytike meanes was fouÌ„de by a noble man called Mountague that a concorde and vnyte was for that tyme by hym sette atwene the sayd dukes And for that newe occasyon shulde nat by preseÌ„ce kyndle atwene them therfore y e duke of Orleyaunce with hys company was sent into Guyan to warre vpon the englysshemen that other vnto Calays to lay syege vnto that towne The which before had prepared a wonderfull engyne sette vpon whelys by the strength wherof he thoughte to wreke greate dysturbaunce vnto the sayd towne as sayth myne auctour Gagwyne was in great hoope to recouer it agayne to the subieccyon of the house of FrauÌ„ce But that hope was soone dyspayred for it was nat longe after or the sayd duke by the kynge was countermaunded and returned And the duke of Orleyaunce after he knewe that rescous were commyng froÌ„ Burdeaux he remoued his siege layde by hym to Burgus a towne of Guyan so returned into Fraunce to his coÌ„fusyon as after shall appere IN the .xxvii. yere of this Charles the former malyce and enuye contynuyng in the brestes of the sayd dukes of Orleyaunce and of Burgoyne as the sayd duke of Orleyaunce was goynge towarde hys lodgynge in the nyght of the .x. daye of Decembre fell vpon him certayne knyghtes of the whiche one named Rafe Auctouyle was leder slewe hym nere vnto a gate of the cytie of Parys named Barbet gate After whyche murder fynysshed y e sayde sir Rafe with hys adherentes fledde vnto the place of the erle of Artoys where the duke of Burgoyne vsed accustomably to resorte And y e dede corps was soone after by suche as came to y e exclamacyoÌ„ with also a seruauÌ„t of his with him slaine borne into y e next houses whan the rumour of this murder was blowen about y e cytie anone Lewys vncle vnto the kynge and than kynge of Scecyle the dukes of Berry and of Burbon with other drewe thyder and there with lamentacyon beholdynge the corps commaunded prouisyon to be made for the buryenge of it within the monastery of Celestynes where vpon the seconde day folowynge he was buryed wyth great pompe whome amoÌ„ge other lordes folowed to his buryenge the duke of Burgoyne nat without great suspicyon of the sayd murder And that enterrement with due obseruaunce fynysshed auctoryte was gyuen vnto .ii. knyghtes named Roberte Tuyller Peter Orpheuer to make enquery for the murder of this prince wherof the duke of Burgoyne beynge ascertayned voyded the cytie brake the brydge of saynte Maxence after hym that pursute after hym shulde nat be made and so hastely spedde hym that that nyght folowynge he came to Andwarpe whiche is vpon an C. myle from Parys whan Charles the kyng harde of the escape of y e sayd duke feryng leste he wolde accuse hym to be consentyng vnto that euyll dede sent vnto hym comfortable messages so that the sayde duke without warre restyd all that wynter sometyme in Arthoys and an other whyle in Flaunders at his pleasure In the whiche pastyme he sente into dyuers places of Fraunce sondry accusacyons of the duke before slayne that he enteÌ„ded to depose the kyng and to take vpon hym the rule gouernaunce of the realme and to haue poysoned the sayd kyng as by dyuers tokens by hym affermed for perfourmauÌ„ce of the same And also that the said duke of OrleyauÌ„ce was cause of fyrynge of y e disguysers garmentes before shewed to the ende to brynge the kyng in more daunger of syckenes or els to be consumed with the same fyre with sondry other distamacyons as leuyenge of taskes and imposicyons of the people to his singuler auauntage and hougely enrychynge wherby he myghte the soner attayn vnto his said purpose Thus contynuyng this great vnkyndenes atwene the duke of Burgoyne and the sonne and other of his blode of y e duke of Orleyaunce the said duke agayne the begynnynge of the yere herynge that the king and the quene were departed from Parys to Charters asseÌ„bled to hym a stroÌ„ge power of HolaÌ„ders other and came vnto Parys in which cytie he moch trusted to the ende to cause the kynge y e quene and the Doulphyn to whome he hadde maryed hys doughter for to retourne vnto Parys And to strengthe hys partye he broughte with hym wyllyam erle of Hanster which wyllyam was a man of great strengthe and allyaunce and hadde maryed hys syster vnto the duke of Burgoyne foresayde and hys doughter and heyre vnto one of kyng Charles sonnes and was gossyppe vnto the quene For whyche sayde consyderacyons the sayde erle entendynge the weale of that realme of Fraunce laboured suche wayes and meanes that by hym for that tyme a concorde and vnytie was dryuen and made atwene the two dukes of Orleyaunce and Burgoyne wyth assured othes and necessary actes to that concorde belongynge and the king with his retynewe was agayne retourned vnto Parys These dukes thus appeased and the duke of Burgoyne agayne restored to the gouernaunce of the realme assocyate vnto hym the kynge of Nauerne whyche varyed nat from his fathers vnstable condycyons so that by him newe occasyons of stryâ—e and varyaunce were moued atwene the sayde dukes and theyr allyes For fyrste they soughte occasyon agayne the forenamed Mountague a man of great wysedome and honoure in the kynges courte and especyall frende vnto the duke of Orleyaunce and by theyr malyce and vntrewe surmyses fynally putte to dethe And one named Peter Essayer or Sayer thaÌ„ prouoste of the cytie of Parys or gouernoure they admytted to the rule of the kynges treasoury and other dyuers offyces suche as were any thynge fauoured of the duke of OrleauÌ„ce they clerely dyscharged The whyche for theyr relefe and comfort resorted vnto the sayde duke shewynge to him all y e demeanure of their aduersaryes addynge thervnto y e all suche conuencyons concernynge the amyte atwene hym and the duke of Burgoyne before sworne enacted were clerely adnulled broken with these tydynges the duke beyng fyred with newe malyce accompanyed to hym the dukes of Berry of Burbon and of Alenson the erles of Rychemounte of Alyberte and of Armenake with other nobles nat a fewe by whose counsels he determyned to be auenged vpon the duke of Burgoyne other his fautours wherof the sayde duke beynge monisshed drewe him towarde Parys and strengthed the fortresses as he yode To thys duke of Burgoyne was brother the duke of Brabande named Anthony a man of great polycye and
The whiche he helde so streyght that lastly Gyrande the captayne therof agreed to delyuer it by a certayne day excepte he were rescowed After whiche appoyntment so taken the sayde Gyrande as wytnesseth Gaguinus sent worde to Charles the .viii. of y e name or y e .vii. after dyuers wryters which of his fautoures was than accōpted for kyng of Fraūce And he in all possyble hast sent thyder y e duke of Alanson y e erle of Turon̄ or of Douglas of Bowgham or Boucam of Daumayll y e vicoūt of Nerbon̄ with a strōg power of Armenakkes scottes Frēchemē y e which host or it myght approch to y e sayd towne to make rescouse y e day expired it vnto y e duke deliuered whā y e duke of Alāsō was asserteyned of y e deliuere of y e towne he toke his aduise of y e other capitaynes whether it was better to retourn consyderyng the towne was yolden or to gyue batayll vnto the Englishe men But fynally for no reproche shuld be to them arected as they had fled for fere they kept on theyr iournany pyght theyr felde in a playne nere vnto the sayd town of Uernoyl where they beynge strongely enbataylled vpon the .vii. day of the moneth of August the duke of Bedford wyth hys retynue gaue to thē sharpe and cruell batayll the whyche endured longe wythoute knowlege of vyctory But fynally by goddes ordenaūce and power the vyctyry fyl to the Englysshe partye to the greate losse of theyr enemyes For in the fyghte was slayne as testyfyeth the French Gaguyne the erles of Turon and Boucam of Daumayle wyth the Uycounte of Narbon̄ and dyuers other men of name And of the commons were slayne to the nombree of fyue thousande And there was taken the duke of Alanson the Marshall of Fraunce and other But y e englysshe wryters affermeth .x. M. to be slayne and mo Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.xxiiii  Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.xxv  Symonde Seman  Iohn̄ Mychell  Anno .ix.  Iohn̄ Bywater  THys yere after Easter y e kynge helde hys parlyamente at westmynster the whych began vpō the daye of Etkenwalde or the laste daye of Apryll And .ii. dayes before the kynge wyth the quene his moder came thorugh the cytye from wyndesore And whan he came at the west dore of Poulys the lorde protectour toke him out of the chare and so was ladde vpon hys fete betwene y e sayde lorde Protectour and the duke of Exceter vnto the steppes goyng into y e quyer Fro whēs he was borne vnto the hygh aulter and there kneled in a trauers purueyed for hym And whan he had be there he yode to the rode of y e north dore and there made hys offerynges And thenne was he borne into the churche yerde there set vpon a fayre courser and so conueyed thorugh chepe and the other stretes of the cytye vnto saynt Georges barre and so helde hys iournay to hys Manour of Kenyngton̄ And contynuyng the foresayd parlyamēt the kyng was sondry tymes cōueyed to westmynster and wythin the parlyament chāber kept there his royall astate By auctoryte whereof to hym was graunted a subsidye of .xii. d. in the .li. of all maner marchaundyse cōmyng in or passing out of this realm and .iii. s. of a tunne of wyne for y e terme of .iii. yeres to be holden And ferthermore it was enacted that all marchaunt straungers shuld be set to an Englysshe hoste wythin .xv. dayes of theyr commyng to theyr porte sale to make no sale of any marchaundyse or they were so lodged theym wythin .xl. dayes folowynge to make sale of all that they brought And yf any remayned vnsolde at the sayde xl dayes ende that than all such marchaundyse beyng than vnsolde to be forfayted vnto the kyng Also that all straungers that caryed any wolles out of thys lande shuld pay .xliii. s. iiii d. for a sakke custome where y e Englysshe marchaunte and denyzen payde but .v. nobles wyth many other condycyons and penaltyes as well for Englysh as the other marchauntes whyche wolde are longe leysour to shewe enacted and passed durynge thys sayde parlyamente And the seconde daye of the moneth of Auguste was yolden vnto the erle of Salysbury appoynted wyth other by the regent the cytie of Mans vnder appoyntemente comprysed in .ix. articles wherof one specyall was that yf any persones were founde wythin the cytye whyche had ben consentyng vnto the dukes deth Iohan late duke of Burgoyne that they shulde stande at the grace of the sayde regent Also thys yere the duke of Glouceter lord protectour whiche lately before hadde maryed the duchesse of Holande a woman a greate possesiō for cause of rule wherof to haue domynyō of the same he wyth the sayd duchesse sayled towarde that coūtre and thereof her subgectes was peasybly and wyth honour receyued But fynally he had suche chere y t he was gladde to retourne into Englande leuynge hys wyfe therein a towne of her owne named Mounse But after hys departynge the duke of Burgoyne so demeaned hym to the rulers of that towne were it by batayll or otherwyse that they deliuered her to the sayde duke and he forthwyth sente her vnto Gaunte there to be kepte as prysoner But by the Frenshyppe of one named syr Iaques de la Grayll a Burgonyon knyghte her owne polecy she escaped thens in a mannes clothynge and came to a towne in zelande named zyryxe and frome thens to an other towne in zelande called Ghwode or Ghow-Ghowde where she wythstode the dukes power Than the duke of Glouceter heryng of the escape of his wyfe and of the malyce of the duke foresayde in all haste prouyded a stronge company of soudyours and archers and cōmytted them vnto that rule of y e lord Fitzwater The whych in processe of tyme landed wyth them at a place in zelande called Brewers hauē where of theyr ēnemyes they were encountred and dryuē backe so retourned into Englande wythoute any greate fete doynge leuynge the duchesse behynde them for that season Thys yere about Myghelmasse y e prynce of Portyngale came into Englande was honourable receyued and fested of the kynges vncles and taryed here the tyme of thys mayres yere This yere also began a grudge to kyndle betwene the lorde protectour and hys halfe brother the bysshoppe of wynchester the whyche after grewe to a greate dystourbaunce of the cytie of London as in the next mayres yere shal be shewed And in the ende of thys yere were many honeste men of the cytye apeched of treason by a false and malycyous persone belongynge vnto the sayde bysshoppe and putte theym vnto greate vexacyon and trouble whych was done by the procurement of the sayde bysshoppe as the comon fame than wente And nat alonely men of the cytie were thus vexed but also other burgeyses of dyuers good townes as Leyceter Caūterbury Northampton and other Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.xxv  Anno dn̄i M.
saued And in the moneth of Iâ—ny folowynge the cardynall of wynchester with a warly company passed the see entendynge to haue made warre vpon the heretykes or lollers inhabyted in the countre of Prage But how it was for nede of men that the regeÌ„t hadde in FrauÌ„ce the cardynall chauÌ„ged his purpose and taryed there a season with the sayde regent After some wryters it was for to strengthe and replenysshe certayne holdes that weked by reason of a coÌ„flycte that the Englysshemen hadde with the Frenchemen At the whiche the lorde Talbot was taken prysoner and the lorde Scalys with many other to the nombre of .iii. M. Englysshe men were slayne and taken But after the opynyon of the FreÌ„che cronycle this vyctorye shulde be opteyned by Iane or Iohan called in Frenche la puzele de dieu in the .xi. yere of this kynge Of y e forsayd heretykes of Prage speketh somdeale the auctour of Cronica Cronicarum and sheweth that the chyef capytaynes of theym were named Procapius Saplicius and Lupus a preest with other bothe lerned and vnlerned And PolicronicoÌ„ sheweth in y e .xix. chapyter of his laste boke that in the twelfe yere of kynge Henry the foresayd thre capytaynes were slayne with one mayster Peter clerke beynge an Englyssheman taken on lyue with dyuers other and of y e sayd heretykes slayne at .ii. iournayes ouer two and twenty thousandes Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxx  wyllyam Ruffe  wyllyam Estfelde mercer  Anno .viii.  Raffe Holande  IN this eyght yere vpon y e day of saynt Leonarde the .vi. day of Nouembre kynge Henry beynge vpon the age of nyne yeres was solemply crowned iÌ„ saint Peters churche of westmynster At whose coronacyon were made syxe thyrty knyghtes of the bathe And after that solempnyzacyon in the sayde churche fynysshed an honorable feest in the great hal of westmynster was kepte where y e kynge syttyng in his astate was serued with .iii. courses as here vnder ensueth Frument wyth venyson Uyand royall planted losynges of golde Bore hedes in castelles of golde and enarmed Befe wyth motten boylyd Capon stewyd Sygnet rosted Heyron rosted Great pyke or luce A rede leche wyth lyons coruyn therein Custarde royall wyth a lyoparde of golde syttyng therin and holdyng a floure delyce Frytour of sunne facyon wyth a floure delyce therein A sotyltye of saynt Edwarde and saynt Louys armyd vppon eyther hys cote armoure holdyng betwene them a fygure lyke vnto kyng HeÌ„ry standynge also in hys cote armoure and a scrypture passyng from theym both sayeng beholde .ii. parfight kynges vnder one cote armour And vnder the fete of the sayde sayntes was wryten thys balade Holy sayntes Edwarde and saint Lowice Conserue this braunche borne of your blessed blode Lyue amonge cristen moste soueraygne of price Enheritour of the flouredelice so gode This sixt Henry to reygne and to be wyse God graunt he may to be your mode And that he may resemble your knightehude and vertue Pray ye hertely vnto our lord Jesu Uiand blank barred wyth golde Gely party wryten noted wyth Te deum laudamus Pygge endored Crane rosted Byttore Conyes Chekyns Partryche Pecok enhakyll Great Breme A whyte leche planted wyth a rede antelop wyth a crowne aboute hys necke wyth a chayne of golde Flampayne powdered wyth leopardes floure delyce of golde A frytoure garnysshed wyth a leopardes hede .ii. Estryth feders A sotyltie an emperour a kynge arayed in maÌ„telles of garters which fygured SigismuÌ„de y e emperour and HeÌ„ry the .v. And a fygure lyke vnto kyng HeÌ„ry y e .vi knelyng tofore them wyth this balade takkyd by hym Agayne miscreauÌ„tes the emperour SigismuÌ„de Hath shewed his myght which is imperiall And Henry the .v. a noble knyght was founde For Christes cause in actes marciall Cherysshed the churche to lossers gaue a fall Gyuyng example to kynges that succede And to theyr braunche here in especiall Whyle he doth reygne to loue god drede Quynces in compost BlauÌ„d sure powderyd wyth quarter foyles gylt Uenyson Egrettes Curlew Cok and partryche Plouer Quayles Snytes Great byrdes Larkys Carpe Crabbe Leche of .iii. colours A bake meate lyke shylde quartered red whyte set wyth losynges gylt floures of borage A frytour cryspyd A sotyltie of oure Lady syttynge wyth her chylde in her lappe and she holding a crowne in her haÌ„de Saint George saynt Denys knelynge on eyther syde pÌ„sented to her kyng Henryes fygure beryng in haÌ„de thys balade as foloweth O Blessed lady Christes mother dere And thou saynt George that called art her knight Holy saint Denys o marter moste entere The sixt Henry here present in your syght Shedeth of your grace on hym your heueÌ„ly lighte His tender youth with vertue doth auaunce Borne by discent by title of right Iustly to reygne in Englande in Fraunce THis soleÌ„pne coronacyon with all honour and ioye finysshed prouycyon was made for the kynges iournay into Fraunce In whyche passetyme that is to meane vpon y e xxiii daye of Ianuary an heretyke was brent in Smythfelde And vpon the morowe next folowynge was in that felde foughten a stronge fyght betwene IohnÌ„ UptonÌ„ Appellant IohnÌ„ Downe Defendant But for they quyt theym bothe so manfully the kynge at length relesed theyr quarell and pardoned theÌ„ of theyr trespas Than vppon saynt Georges day folowyng or the .xxiii. day of Apryll the kynge toke shyppynge at Douer and landed the same daye at Calays hauynge in hys company .ii. dukes of yorke and Northfolke thre bysshoppes of Bathe Ely and Rochester eyght erles that is to meane of Huntyngdon Stafforde warwyke Orenforde Deuynshyre Morteyne of Ewe and of Urmund and .xi. barons that is to saye lord Bowchier Beawmounde Typtost Fytzwater Roos Arundell Awdeley Fawcunbrydge Gray Codnoor the lorde Scroope and the lorde wellys In thys tyme and season that the kynge laye thus at Calays many skyrmysshes were foughten betwene the Englysshemen and the Frenchemen in dyuers partyes of Fraunce And greately the Frenchemen preuayled by y e helpe of a woman which they as before is touched named the Mayden of god So that lastly she wyth her company came to a towne called Compeyne to the entent to remoue the syege layde thereunto by y e duke of Burgoyne and other of the Englysshe capytaynes And theruppon the .xxiii. daye of May she gaue batayll vnto Englysshmen and Burgonyons and faughte wyth theym longe tyme. But in the ende by the manhode of a Burgonyon knyghte named syr IohnÌ„ Luxemburghe she was taken on lyue and her company dystressed and she caryed to the citie of Roan and there kept a season for so moch as she feyned her with child But whanne the contrary of it was knowen she was there foriuged and brente Of thys woman Gaguynus maketh a great processe of her parenty and of her fyrste takynge vppon her whereof a parte I entende to shewe after in the .vi. yere of Charles nexte folowynge kynge of
for the warre apparayled wherof London sente at theyr charge men Than vpon the .ix. daye of Iuyll the duke of Burgoyn with a great multytude of Burgonyons and Flemynges appered before Calays and there pyght his pauylyons and tentes so that euery towne of FlauÌ„dres had theyr tentes by themselfe At whiche season was Lyeutenaunt of Calays syr IohnÌ„ Ratclyf knyght of the castell was lieutenaunte the baron of Dudley And so that syege endured vpon .iii. wekes In whiche seson many knyghtly actes were done and exercysed vpon bothe partyes whiche for lengthynge of the tyme I passe Than vpon the seconde day of August the duke of Glouceter protectour of EnglaÌ„de with a company of .v. C. sayles as some writers haue landed at Calays and entended vpon the thyrde day folowynge to haue yssued out of the towne and to haue gyuen batayll to y e Flemynges But as testyfyeth all Englysshe wryters so soone as y e duke of Burgoyn was ware of the great power of the lorde protectour he toke with hym of his ordenauÌ„ce that he myght lyghtly cary and the other that were heuy and combrous he lefte behynde hym Amonge the whiche one was lefte before Guynes a great gunne of brasse named Dygon ouer dyuers serpentynes and other great gunnes And the Flemynges lefte behynde them a great quantyte of bere besyde wyne and floure and other vytayle But of this vyage wryteth otherwyse Gaguyne sayth that y e duke well and manfully as a valyaunte knyght iÌ„ his actes coÌ„tinued his syge before Calays ouer two monethes And there dyd many noble actes in assaylyng of his enemyes And after y e Flemynges by reason of theyr murmure and rebellion had refused hym and in maner lafte hym almost with out company yet not withstaÌ„dynge he dayly assayled his enemyes and after with suche small company as was laft hym whaÌ„ he sawe he myght not preuayle he returned into his couÌ„tre And so thus alway in all the sayd Gagwynus boke he wypeth from y e Englysshemen in all that he may the honoure and excuseth theyr enemyes to his power whan the duke with his host was thus fledde the lorde protectoure with his people folowed hym into the countre by the space of xi dayes In whiche season he brent but two townes whiche were named and yet be Poperynge and Bell and returned to Calays after into Englande And this yere was the castell or towne of Rokkesborouth in Scotlande besyeged of the kynge of Scottes But so soone as he had wyttyng that syr Rauffe Gray knyght was comynge with a competent nombre for to remoue that siege anone he departed leuynge some parte of his ordenaunce behynde hym to his great dyshonoure Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxvii  Thomas Morsted  IohnÌ„ Mychell  Anno .xv.  wyllyam Gregory  IN this .xv. yere thyrde daye of Ianuarii quene Katheryne mother vnto Henry the syxte wyfe of Henry the fyfte dyed at Barmundissey in southwarke after with due solempnyte brought thorughe the cytie and so conueyed to westmynster and there buryed in y e myddes of our lady chapel vnder a toÌ„be of marbell But whan our soueraygne lorde HeÌ„ry the .vii. than beynge kyng caused the chapell to be taken downe buylded a newe without the lyke ther vnto as now to men dothe appere than the corps of y e excellent prynces was taken vp and set by the tombe of her lorde and husbande durynge y e tyme of the buyldynge of the sayde newe chapell and after buryed by her sayd lorde within the sayde chapell And y e xiiii day of y e sayd moneth fyll downe sodeynly the furthest gate towarde Southwarke with y e towre therupon and .ii. of the furthest arches of y e sayd brydge but as god wold no creature was therwith perysshed that is to meane of humayne persones And the .xxi. day of this same moneth of Ianuarii the kyng beganne his parlyament at westmynster whiche before was purposed to haue benholden at Cambrydge To this parlyament came y e bysshop of Turuyn and the counsayle of the erle of Armynak wherof I fynde not y e cause expressed And after easter was a day of dyot holdeÌ„ bytwene Grauenynge and Calays for maters touchynge y e kynge and the duke of Burgoyne where for the kynge appered the cardynall of Englande y e duke of Norffolke and the erle of Stafforde with dyuers other And for the dukes partye appered there the duchesse his wyfe with dyuers other of the sayde dukes counsayle where by meanes of the sayde persones an abstynence of warre was taken for a certayne tyme in the duchesse name For the kynge wolde take none appoyntmeÌ„t with the duke for somoche as he had gone from his truthe allegeaunce that before tyme he had made with y e kynge And vpon the seconde daye of Iuly this yere dyed quene Iane the whiche somtyme had ben the wyfe of kynge Henry the .iiii and before that the wyfe of the duke of Brytayne was caryed from Barmundessey to Cauntorbury and there buryed by her husbaÌ„de Henry the .iiii. And this yere fell a chaunce that had not ben sene many yeres before For all â—yons dyed in the towre the whiche had coÌ„tynued there a longe season In this yere also y e kyng of Scottes was trayterously murthered by seruauntes of his owne Of the whiche traytours the capytayne of them was named Robert Grame y â— which after was with other of his company taken and put vnto moost paynfull dethe This sayd kynge of Scottes had â—en prysoner fyftene yeres in Englande Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxxvii  Anno. dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxxviii  wyllyam Chapman  wyllyam Estfelde Mercer  Anno .xvi.  wyllyam Halys  IN this .xvi. yere and moneth of Nouembre kynge Henry caused to be kepte a solempne obyt or terment within the churche of Paules for Sygysmonde the emperour and knyght of y e garter This was a man of merueylous great worthy fame as by the auctour of Cronica Cronicarum is expressed After whose dethe the gydynge of y e empyre fyll to Albert that had maryed the onely doughter of y e sayd Sygysmonde Anno. dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxxviii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xxxix  Hugh Dyke  Stephen Browne Grocer  Anno .xvii.  Nycholas yoo  IN this yere vpon newe yeres daye in the after noone a stake of woode fyll downe sodaynly at Baynardes castell vpon Thamys syde and slewe .iii. men and hurte dyuers other And at Bedford this yere at the kepynge of a shyre day by the fallynge of a steyer were .xviii. murthered slayne besyde many other sore hurte and maymed And the last day of Apryll dyed in Roan syr Rycharde Beauchamp called of comon fame y e good erle of warwyke This was lyeutenaunt of y e kynge in Normandy and demened hym there full well and manfully whose body was after brought vnto warwyke there in a newe chapell buylded vpon
.xxx. daye of the moneth of Maye that was the sondaye after Trynyte sondaye she was solemply crowned After whyche feeste iustes were there holden by thre dayes continual within the seyntwary before y e abbey Of thys maryage are of dyuers wryters lefte dyuers remembraunces sayenge that thys maryage was vnprofytable for the realme dyuerse wayes For fyrste was gyuen vp for her oute of the kynges possession the duchye of Angeou and the erledome of Mayne And for the costes of her conueynge into thys lande was axed in playne parlyamente a fyftene and an halfe by the marquys of Suffolke By reason whereof he grewe in such hatered of the people that fynally it coste hym hys lyfe And ouer that it appered that god was nat pleased wyth that mariage For after thys day the fortune of the worlde beganne to fal from y e kyng so that he loste hys frendes in Englande and hys reuenewes in Fraūce For shortly after all was ruled by the quene and her counsayl to the great dysprofyte of the kyng hys realme and to the greate maugre and obloquy of the quene The whych as syn that tyme hath ben well prouyd had many a wrong and false reporte made of her whych were to longe to reherse All whyche mysery fyll for brekynge of the promyse made by the kyng vnto the erle of Armenakkys doughter as before in the .xx. yere of the kyng is touched as agreeth moste wryters whyche mysery in thys story shall somdeale appere as fyrst by the losyng of Normandy the deuisiō of the lordes within thys realme the rebelliō of y e cominaltye agayne theyr prynce soueraygne fynally the kynge deposed and the quene wyth the prynce fayne to fle the lande loste the rule thereof for euer Anno. dn̄i M.iiii C.xlvi  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xlvii  Robert Horne  Iohn̄ Olney Mercer  Anno .xxv.  Godfrey Boloyne  THys .xxv. yere was a parlyament holdē at saynt Edmondes Bury in Suffolke To y e whiche towne all the cōmons of that coūtre were warned to come in theyr moste defēcyble aray to gyue attendaunce vpō the kyng And so soone as thys parlyamēt was begō and the lordes assembled syr Hūfrey duke of Glouceter and vncle vnto y e kyng shortly after was arrested by the vycounte Beawmōde thā hygh cōstable of Englande whome accompanied y e duke of Bukkynghm̄ other And after this arest was executed all his owne seruaūtes were put from him .xxxii of the pryncypall of theym were also put vnder arest sente vnto dyuers prysons whereof arose a great murmour amonge the people Than thus cōtynuyng thys parlyament wythin .vi. dayes after the duke was arrested he was founde dede in hys bedde beynge the .xxiiii. daye of February Of whose murdre dyuers reportes at made whyche I passe ouer Than hys corps was layd opyn y t all mē myght se hym but no wonde was founde on hym Of the honourable fame of thys man a longe style I myght make of y e good rule that he kepte thys lande in durynge the none age of the kynge and of hys honourable housholde libertye which passed all other before hys tyme and trewe of hys allegeaunce that no mā coude with ryght accuse hī but malycyous persones whych hys glorious honour fame lafte nat to maligne agayne hym tyll he were put frome all wordly rule and specyally for it was thought that durynge hys lyfe he wolde withstāde the delyuery of Angeou Mayne before promysed Thys for hys honourable and lyberall demeanure was surnamed the good duke of Glouceter Than after he had lyen opyn a season y t all men myghte be assured of hys dethe the corps was honourably prouided for and so cōueyed vnto saynt Albonys there buryed nere vnto the shryne of saynt Albone to whose soule god be mercyfull Amen And whan this noble prynce was thus enteryd fyue persones of hys housholde that is to saye syr Roger Chamberlayne knyght Myddelton Herbarde Arthur esquyers one Rycharde Nedā yeman were sente vnto Londō there arayned and iuged to be drawē hāged and quartered Of the whych sentēce drawynge hāgynge were put in execuciō But whā they were cut downe to be quartered y e Marquys of Suffolke there beyng presēt shewed y e kynges chartour for thē so were deliuered to the great reioysyng of y e multytude of y e people there beyng present But for thys the grudge murmour of y e people ceased nat agayne the Marquys of Suffolke for the deth of the good duke of Glouceter of whose murdre he was specyally suspected Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xlvii  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xlviii  Wyllyam Abraham  Iohn̄ Gedney Draper  Anno .xxvi.  Thomas Scot.  IN thys .xxvi. yere after concordaūce of moste wryters or nere there about y e .xxiii. scisme of y e church ceased that before had cōtynued betwene Eugeny the .iiii. Felix the .v. vpon .xvi. yeres Thys scisme as before is touched began by reason of the deposycyō of the sayde Eugeny at the coūsayll of Basile for that that he wolde nat obserue the decrees before made in the coūsayll of Cōstaūce other causes to hym layde But yet that deposyng natwythstandynge perforce he cōtynued pope by the terme of .xiiii. yeres after And the sayde Felix at the sayd coūsayll admitted in lyke maner cōtynued as pope by all that sayde season lyke as before to you I haue shewed in the .xvii. yere of thys kynge And as now by exortacyon of crysten prynces as the kynge of England whose messangers in y e behalfe were the bysshoppe of Norwyche and the lord of saint Iohn̄s other princes the sayd pope Felix to sette a perfyte vnyon in the churche in thys yere of hys owne volūte resigned hys auctorytie of papacy and submytted hym vnto the obediēce of Nicholas the .v. of that name nat wythstandynge that the sayde Felix was a man of great byrthe allied to the more partye of all crysten prynces And thys Nycholas a mā of lowe byrthe of vnknowē kynred wythin the cytie of Ieane Than was Felix made legate of Fraunce cardynal of Sauoye and lyued after a blessed holy lyfe so ended And as some wryters testifye god for hym hath shewed dyuers miracles syns he dyed And for thys scysme thus gracyously was ended a vercyfyer made thys verse folowynge ¶ Lux fussit mundo cessit Felix Nicholao The whych verse is thus to meane in Englyshe ¶ Lyght into the worlde now dothe sprynge and shyne ¶ For Felix vnto Nicholas all frely doth resyne Also as testifieth Gaguyne also some englyshe wryters y t trewys betwene Englād Fraūce cōtynuyng a knyght of y e Englysh partie named syr Fraūceys Arrogonoyse toke a town vpō the borders of Normādy belōgyng vnto y e duke of Brytayne For y t which he cōplayned hym vnto Charles the Frēch kyng he at the sayd dukes request sent
Calays for .xviii. M. li. whyche summes of money whan they had receyued y e sayd lordes of one assent made ouer y e forenamed mayster IohnÌ„ Dynham wyth a stronge company sent hym vnto Sandwyche to wynne y e kynges nauye than there lyenge and other thynges for theyr nedes necessary The whyche sped hym in suche wyse that he toke the lord Ryuers in hys bedde wanne the town toke the lord Scalys sonne vnto the sayd lord Riuers with other ryche prayes and after tooke of the kynges nauy what shyppes them lyked and after retourned vnto Calays nat without consent agremeÌ„t of many of y e mariners whych owyd theyr synguler fauours vnto the erle of warwyke In thys iourney was the sayde Iohan Dynham sore hurt that he was may med vpon the legge haltyd whyle he lyued after Than after this iourney thus acheuyd the sayd lordes by tayled and maÌ„ned the sayd shyppes sent wyth them as chefe capytayne the erle of warwyke into Irelande to speke wyth the duke of yorke and to haue hys counsayll for maters coÌ„cerning theyr charge as reentre into this lande and other where whaÌ„ he had happelye sped hys nedys he retourned towarde Calays bryngyng wyth hym hys mother the couÌ„tesse of Salysbury also kepte hys course tyll he came into the west couÌ„trey where at that tyme was the duke of Gretyr as admyrall of the see wyth a competeÌ„t nouÌ„ber of shyppes well maÌ„ned in so moche that the erle of warwyke prouyded to haue gyuen batayll vnto â—he sayd duke yf he hadde made any couÌ„tenaunce toward him But the duke harde suche murmure speche amoÌ„ge hys owne company whych fouÌ„ded vnto the erle of warwykes fauoure that he thoughte it was more vnto hys profyte to suffre hym to passe than to fight with him But were it for thys cause or for other which y e commoÌ„ fame ruÌ„neth vppoÌ„ which were loÌ„ge to wryte certayn trouth it is that the sayd erle passed wythout fyghte came in sauete to Calays In thys passe tyme a parliament or great couÌ„sayll was holdeÌ„ at Couentre By auctoryte whereof the duke of yorke and all the other foresayde lordes wyth many other were attaynted and theyr laÌ„des goodes seased to the kynges vse And for the more surer defeÌ„ce that they shuld nat efte lande in KeÌ„t prouisioÌ„ was made to defende the haueÌ„s portys vppon the sees syde And at Sandwyche was ordeyned a new streÌ„gthe wyth a capitayn named syr SymoÌ„de MouÌ„forde And ouer thys prouision was ordeyned that no marchauÌ„t passyng into the costys of FlauÌ„ders shulde passe or go by Calays for fere that any shuld come to y e ayde of the sayd lordes But thys prouysyon natwythstandyng comfort to them was sent dayly out of EnglaÌ„d Than these lordes herynge of all thys prouysyon made vppoÌ„ the sees syde to wythstaÌ„de theyr laÌ„dynge sent out an other company vnto SaÌ„dewyche the whych there skyrmysshed wyth the sayd syr SymoÌ„de Mountforde in the ende toke hym broughte hym vnto Ryse Banke there smote of hys hede The foresayd lordes than coÌ„syderynge the strengthe whych they had wyth them and manyfolde frendes hartys which they had in sundry places of EnglaÌ„d condysceÌ„ded for to sayle into Englande so to bryng about theyr enteÌ„t purpose whych was as the coÌ„mon fame went to put a parte frome the kynge all suche persones as were enemyes to the coÌ„mon weale of the laÌ„de And thys to bryng aboute after they had set the towne of Calays in an order sure kepyng they toke shyppynge so sayled into EnglaÌ„de landed at Douer and from theÌ„s helde on theyr iourney thorughe Kente so that they came to LondoÌ„ the .ii. daye of Iuly And after they had there refresshed theym and theyr people they departed thense sped theym towarde the kynge which at y e same tyme of theyr laÌ„dynge was at Couentry and there gathered his people so came vnto Northampton where he pyght hys felde wherof the sayd lordes beynge enfourmed sped them thytherward so that vpoÌ„ the .ix. day of Iuly bothe hostys there mette foughte there a cruell batayll But after long fyght the victory fell vnto the erle of Salysbury and the other lordes vpoÌ„ his partye the kynges hoste was sparcled chased many of hys noble men slayen AmoÌ„ge the whyche was the duke of Buckynghan the erle of Shrowsbury y e vycouÌ„t BeaumouÌ„d the lorde EgremoÌ„de wyth many other knyghtes and esquyers and the kyng taken in the felde After whych victory thus by these lordes opteyned they in goodly haste after retourned vnto LondoÌ„ and broughte wyth them the kynge kepyng hys estate lodged hym in the bysshop of LondoÌ„ palays And after spedye knowelege sent of all the premysses vnto y e duke of yorke yet beyng in IrelaÌ„de a parlyameÌ„t in the name of the kyng was than called holden at westmynster Durynge whych parlyament y e duke of yorke came vnto westmynster vpoÌ„ the frydaye before saynte Edwardes day or the .x. day of October and lodged hym in the kynges palays wherof anone arose a noyse thorugh the cytye that kynge Henry shuld be deposed the duke of yorke shulde be kynge UppoÌ„ thys this parlyamente thus contynuynge the duke came one daye into the parlyament chaumber there boldely beyng the lordes present sette hym downe in the kynges sete so there sittynge made a pretence and clayme vnto the crown affermyng it to be hys ryghtfull enherytauÌ„ce had there certayn bolde wordes in iustyfyenge of the same wherewyth all the lordes presente were greatly dysmayed For thys great many opynions were moued among the lordes Howe be it aswell dyuers of hys frendes as other were of the mynde that he shuld nat be admytted for kynge duryng the lyfe of kyng Henry For appeasynge wherof many great couÌ„sayles were kepte aswell at the blacke freres as at westmynster In all whych tyme and season the quene wyth suche lordes as were of hyr affynyte helde them in the north couÌ„trey assembled to theym greate strengthe in the kynges name to the ende to subdue as she sayde the kynges rebelles and enemyes Thus contynuynge thys vnkyndenesse betwene the kynge and the duke all be it that at that season bothe the kynge and he were bothe lodged within the palays of westmynster yet wolde he natte for prayer nor instaunce ones bysyte the kynge nor see hym tyll the counsayll were concluded vppon some fynall ende concernyug thys greate matter the whyche so continued the full terme of this mayres yere Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lx.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxi. Grocer Rycharde Flemynge  Rycharde Lee.  Anno .xxxix.  IohnÌ„ Lambarde  THys yere whyche was in the begynnynge of the xxxlx yere of kyng Henryes reygne that is to meane vpoÌ„ the euyn of all sayntes or the laste day of October it was condyscended by the lordes spyrytuall temporall by the hole auctoryte of the sayd parliament that
them was fynally coÌ„cluded he y e sayd Lewys all suche as wyth hym were reteyned or allied were for thys offeÌ„ce by y e sayd Charles clerely pardoned one persone all only excepted named Iaket or Iakis by whose treason the castell of Maxente was loste and taken for whyche offence he was after drawen hanged also quartered ThaÌ„ in processe of tyme folowyng the flemynges of GauÌ„te rebelled agayne theyr duke or erle named Philyp The cause of whyche rebellyon was for that he areryd a greuouse taske vpoÌ„ salte put the people ther by to greuouse charge wherevppon dedely warre betwene the duke and hys subiectys arose to the dystruccioÌ„ of moche people vpoÌ„ bothe partyes wherof the cyrcumstauÌ„ce were loÌ„g to wryte Howe be it in the ende y e duke or erle by ayde of the FreÌ„che kynge was vyctour helde them of GauÌ„te so streyghte that they were compelled by force to bye theyr peace wyth great summes of money to theyr other many folde domages About the .xxxi. yere of thys sayde Charles came vnto hym from pope Nycholas the .v. of that name an ambassade for to requyre ayde agayne the Turkys for the defeÌ„ce of CoÌ„stantyne the noble whyche the Turkys purposed shortly after to assayle To whyche ambassade by the sayd Charlys it was answeryd that to hym it was right greuouse to here of the intollerable persecucyoÌ„ whych y e cristeÌ„ dayly susteyned of the Turkys But he was of y e Englysh nacyoÌ„ so vexed and warred that he myghte nat leue hys laÌ„de wythout an hedde to the coÌ„forte of other to lose hys owne But to the entent that he before tymes myght haue warred vppon the sayd Turkys he for that cause onely had offered vnto the kynge of Englande many reasonable offers And if of the Englysshe party any lyke offers myghte be to hym profered he wolde gladly theym accepte turne hys spere incoÌ„tyneÌ„tly agayn the fore named Turkes And ouer that he wolde for the furtherauÌ„ce of the matter sende wyth them vnto the kynge of EnglaÌ„de certayne ambassadours to se yf that as yet any reasonable peace myght be betwene them coÌ„cluded For accomplisshemeÌ„t wherof as testyfyeth myne auctour Gaguynus he sente the archebysshop of Raynes wyth other honorable persones The whych whan they to kyng Henry and hys counsayll hadde shewyd theyr legacyoÌ„ it was to them shortly answered that at suche season as the EnglysshemeÌ„ hadde wonne agayne so moche laÌ„de as the Frenchemen by cawtelys had woÌ„ne from theym thaÌ„ were it good tyme season to treate of accorde nat before By reason of whiche answere the popes ambassade retourned to Rome wythoute ayde or comforte And thus y e FreÌ„che wryters lay euer the charge froÌ„ theyr prynce put it vnto other But of thys ambassade or answere fynde I no memory of any Englysshe wryters Aboute the .xxxiiii. yere of y e reygn of thys Charlys Lewys hys sonne before named beynge a maÌ„ of greate lyberalitye and largesse thought his father departed nat wyth hym of his mouables possessyoÌ„s as he hadde cause to do For the whych by coÌ„fort of yoÌ„ge persones as he had aboute hym he rebelled thys seconde tyme agayne hys sayde father by reason of hys largesse lyberalyte drewe vnto hym moche waÌ„ton wylde people wyth theyr assystence warred vppoÌ„ hys fathers freÌ„des entendyd to depryue hys father of all gouernauÌ„ce of the realme wherof herynge hys father in all possyble haste gathered to hym greate strengthe and spedde hym towarde hys sayd sonnÌ„ But whaÌ„ Lewys was warned of the coÌ„myng of hys father wyth so great an hoste consydered hys quarell wekenesse he wyth a fewe persones fledde towarde Burgoyne whereof herynge the father sente in all â—haste people to kepe the passages and dyd that he myghte to haue stopped hym of hys waye But that prouysyon notwythstandynge the sayd Lewys escaped and came sauely vnto the presence of Phylyppe then duke of Burgoyne the whyche hym receyued wyth gladde chere and entreatyd hym accordyng to his estate and so kepte hym durynge his fathers lyfe Nowbeit he made for hym great sute and labour to wynne him to his fathers grace But all was in vayne For what by obstynacy of the same y t he wolde not submytte hym to his father and comme vnto hys presence when he was sente for for the great stomacke of the father that he wold not be condycyoned with of the son thys varyaunce contynued bytwene them as aboue is sayd y e terme of his fathers lyfe In the whyche passe tyme thys Charlys concluded a maryage bytwene hys doughter called Magdaleyne and Ladyslaus kyng of Beme Hungary and of Polayne But whyle the bryde wyth great apparayle and pompe was conueyed towarde her husbande to be maryed her sayde husbande was taken sodenly with sykenesse and dyed with in .xxiiii. houres after that he fyrste coÌ„playned hym whych was by force of poysone as most wryters agreen Of whych tydynges when Charlys was asserteyned he therwyth toke such a peÌ„syffenesse that he dyed shortely after whan he had ruled a parte and the hole realme to reken from y e deth of hys father .xxxvi. yeres How be it of Frenche wryters no certeyne terme of hys reygne to hym is assygned for so myche as kyng Henry the vi longe after the deth of hys father was alowyd in Parys and many other Cytyes of FrauÌ„ce for souerayne and kynge of that regyon Thys Charlys thus beynge dede lefte after hym two sonnes that is to saye Lewys that after hym was kynge and a yonger named Charlys wyth y e forenamed doughter named Magdaleyne or after some Margarete And after wyth greate pompe hys corps was conueyed vnto saynt Denys and there buryed Francia Lewys the .xi. LEwys the .xi. of y â— name after the accompte of thys boke and .x. after the Frenche accompte whereof y e cause is before shewed sonne to Charles last dede beganne his dominyon ouer the realme of Fraunce in the moneth of October in the yere of grace M.iiii hundreth and .lviii. and the .xxxvi. yere of Henry the .vi. than kynge of Englande This of Gaguinus is called the sturdy or fel Lewys The whiche at the tyme of his fathers deth beyng as aboue is sayd vnrecouÌ„syled in the prouynce of Burgoyne herynge of the deth of his father wyth ayde of the foresayd duke Phylyp shortly entred y e realm of Fraunce toke vpon hym y e rule in euery good cytie town as he passyd as kyng of y e same so y t many lordes hed offycers drewe vnto hym By meane wherof he was stronge put such vnto sylence as after y e wyll purpose of his father wolde haue preferred his yoÌ„ger son named Charlys Than this Lewys by strengthe of his frendes was shortely after at Raynes crowned kynge of Fraunce After whyche solempnyte fynysshed he repayred vnto Parys and there by consent of hys counceyll made a law y t no man of what degre
of Brye the cytyes of Melde Monstruell and Meldune therof to be excepted And vnto Charlys sonne of the duke of Burgoyne he was contented to gyue so myche money as he hadde spent in that iournay But all was refused And fynally for obstynacy of bothe partyes the daye of expyracyon of the trewe approchyd wythout hope of accord coÌ„cludyng wherfore prouysyon for warre vpon bothe partyes was deuysed Than begaÌ„ grudge and murmure bytwen the cytesyns and the kynges sowdyours wherthorough many of the comons hertes turned to the lordes so that for fere the surer and stronger watches were kepte to the kynges great charge Shortely after tydynges were brought vnto the kynge y t the castell of Gysons was of the lordes vesyeged and that also the prefecte of the kynges paleys in Roan was taken of the cytesyns and holden in prysone And the daye folowynge came an other messengare shewynge vnto the kynge that the duke of Burbone was by the posterne receyued into the castell of Roan and was lykely to haue shortely the rule of the cytye whyche came to effecte in shorte whyle after whan the lordes hadde gotten the castell and cyty of Roan whyche is hed cytye of Normandy as Parys is hed of Fraunce than in maner of derysyon they sent vnto y e kynge sayenge that nother with Champayne nor with Bry hys brother Charlys wold be contented but scantely wyth the hole duchy of Normandy Than kynge Lewys coÌ„syderyng the great auauÌ„tage which y e lordes had of him both by strength and fauour of hys comons whyche dayly drewe vnto them by sondry coÌ„panyes in auoydyng of more daunger concludyd a peas For perfourmauÌ„ce wherof he grauÌ„ted vnto Charlys his brother y e hole duchy of Normandy takyng to hym in exchauÌ„ge the county of Berry And to Charlis sonne to the duke of Burgoyne PeronÌ„ Roya a cytye or towne called in latyne MondideriuÌ„ and therwith he ioyned Gwynary and y e erledome of Boloyne which lordshyps y e sayd kynge Lewys hadde before tymes bought of duke Phylyp his father To IohnÌ„ of Calabre he grauÌ„ted all such suÌ„mes of money as he demaundyd to wage with soudiours to ayde his father agayne Fardynande then kyng of Aragon And to IohnÌ„ duke of Burbon y t which as before is said had maryed his syster he grauÌ„ted all such dowar as to hym was ê“mysed at y e tyme of maryage all such pencyon as he was wont yerely to take of the graunte of Charlys last kyng within the realme of FrauÌ„ce To the duke of Brytayne was restoryd the erledome of MouÌ„tferard with great suÌ„mes of money which the kyng had receyued of the sayd county And to y e erle of Dampmartyne was restored all suche landes as before by acte of parlyameÌ„t were forfayted to y e kyng To the erle of saynt Poule was restored the offyce of the constablerye of FrauÌ„ce to other meÌ„ of name other notable thynges which I passe ouer All whyche grauntes fermely and fastely assuryd proclamacyons were made of thys pease thoroughe the realme of Fraunce And after thys pease was thus concluded the kyng and hys lordes mette To whome he shewed greate semblaunt of kyndnesse and specyally vnto hys brother wherin appered great dyssymulacyon as here after shall appere For thys Lewys was of suche condycion that what he myght not ouer come wyth strength he wold wynne wyth dyssymulacyon and trechety After whyche peace thus concluded and the lordes departed the kynge festyd the rulers and consuls of the cytye of Parys and gaue vnto them due thankes for the greate trouth fydelyte whyche they bare towarde hym duryng that troubelous season and graunted vnto them suche thynges as then they wolde aske for the weale of that cytye IT was not longe after that dyssymulacyon fell bytwene Charlys duke of Normandye and IohnÌ„ foresayde sonne vnto the duke of Calabre and the erle of Dampmartyne wherof a parte of the cause was that the sayde Charlys after theyr thynkyng hadde not so bounteously rewarded them as they had deserued Of whyche dyscorde kyng Lewys was fayne and in spedy maner rode vnto a towne called Argentyne and there wyth the sayd IohnÌ„ than beynge duke of Calabre by reason of hys fathers deth helde wyth hym longe and great counsayll to y e entent to dyspossesse hys brother of the duchy of Normandye By reason of whych dyscorde bytwene the sayd two dukes kynge Lewys as ayder of the duke of Calabre made warre in the partyes of Normandye and in processe wanne therin dyuers castels and other stronge holdes and compelled hys brother to holde the cytye of Roan for hys refuge where he so beynge the kyng wanne dayly vppon hym in so myche that dyuers townes and stronge holdes submytted them to his grace wherof hering the cytesyns of Roan made an ambassade vnto the kynge for purchace of grace for theyr duke and for them selfe The whych when the duke vnderstode ferynge leste his owne cytesyns wolde betraye hym fled thens and so yode to Humflewe and from thens to Cadomy In whyche passe tyme y e kynge was wyth due honour receyued into y e cytie of Roan where he remoued many from theyr offices and of his seruauntes or such as lyked hym put in theyr places moch of the ordynaunce and of abylymentes of warre belongynge to y e towne he sent vnto Parys and the prouost of Roan named Gauyne Manuell he put to deth after hys body was cast into the ryuer and his hed sette vppon a pole dyuers of the colege wyth the deane of y e same place were put vnto deth And all whych tyrannye by the kynge executyd and the towne put in suertye by strength of soudyours he after spedde hym vnto Orleaunce where as sayth myne authour he puruayed an honorable ambassade and sent it vnto Edward the .iiii. then kynge of Englande In the .ix. yere of y e reygne of thys Lewys was so greate a mortalyte of men in Fraunce that in Parys dyed that yere ouer .xl. M. people And in thys yere began a grudge to growe bytwene this Lewys and Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne But it was kept vnkyndely duryng y e lyfe of y e duke which dyed shortely after To whom succedyd Charlys his sonne before named which in processe of tyme maryed dame Margarete syster vnto kynge Edward y e .iiii. as after shal be shewyd It was not longe after that thys Lewys assembled a great hoste of people to make warre vpon Charlys duke of Burgoyne Of whyche people he had coÌ„mytted the rule and charge vnto IohnÌ„ Balna whych at that daye was preste and cardynall and he as a teÌ„porall capytayne toke of them the mustyrs other orders where at the teÌ„porall lordes dysdaynynge the erle of DaÌ„pmartyne sayd in the names of them vnto the kyng Moste redouted souerayne lorde it hath pleased your hyghnesse to commytte vnto a spyrytuall maÌ„ y e charge of your puyssaunt hoste he not ferynge god hath taken vpon hym the cure
and charge of them to the effusyon of crysteÌ„ meÌ„nes blode wherfore it may lyke your most noble grace to sende me a temporall man to vysyte his dyocese and to take the charge of his flocke whyche is as syttynge for me as that other dede is for him At this sayeng the kyng hadde good game but for all y t he dyd as to hym semyd best Of this warre bytwene y e kyng duke Charlys of Burgoyne I entende not to speke for the mater of it is somdeâ—e long and tedyous to wryte But in this whyle that Lewys was occupyed in thys warre y t Brytons with an excedynge power assayled y e partyes of Norue hauyng Charlis broder vnto Lewis to theyr leder whych to the duke of Brytayn was fled for ayde socoure wherof herynge kyng Lewys all such hoste of sowdyours as he hadde purposed other wayes he than ladde agayne hys brother In whych hoste as after myth myne authour were an C.M. men ouer such as had the guydyng of the ordenauÌ„ce whaÌ„ Charlys was aduertysed of the greate strength of hys brother by polytyke meanes he soughte for a peace And after many delatory communycacyoÌ„s and other delayous meanes wroughte vppon bothe partyes lastely the kynge sent vnto hys brother IohnÌ„ Balna cardynall wyth other to shewe vnto hym hys mynde and pleasure wherof whan Charlys was suffycyently instructed he gaue for an answere that yf a perfyghte concorde shulde be stablysshed bytwene hys brother and hym that it shuld be authorysed by the hole concent and counsayle of the barony of the realme with which answere the kyng beyng contentyd at Turon in the moneth of Apryll x. yere of hys reygne assembled a greate counsayle of hys lordes spyrytuall and temporall in the whyche y e demauÌ„dys of the sayde Charlys and offers of the kyng were shewed And after the sayd couÌ„sayle had at length reasoned the sayde demaundes and offers it was fynally determyned y t the duchy of Normandye was so approuyd vnto the kynge of Fraunce and to hys heyres kynges that in no wyse it myghte be dysseueryd from y e crowne But to the entent that a perfyght vnyte myghte be had bytwene the kynge and hys brother the kyng shall be instauÌ„ted to gyue yerely vnto hys sayd brother in recoÌ„pensemeÌ„t of y e sayd duchy .xii. thousand pouÌ„de of TuroÌ„ money wyth also a certeyn of lande to hym to be assygned wyth the name of a duke and ouer that y e kynge to be instanted to gyue vnto hym durynge hys naturall lyfe for suche porcyoÌ„ as he claymed to be his ryghte wythin the realme .xl. M. li. of annuell rente yerely to hym to be payed of the foresayd TuroÌ„ money To all whyche grauntes the kynge was agreed ouer that to pardon y e duke of Brytayne all offences nowe newly done agayne hys maieste and contrary the dukes faythe and allegaunce and all such lordshyppes as the kynge hadde wonne wythin Brytayne to restore vnto the duke hys assygnes All y e whych offers myght not satysfye the couÌ„sayle of the sayd Charlys but clerely was set aparte and refused AFter the foresayd offers were by Charles refused the kyng in spedy wyse vppon the refusayll sent a stronge hoste into Brytayne vnder the guydynge of a knyghte called Arnolde And in the meane season the kyng vysytyng the bordours of hys realme put in execucyon dyuerse parsones suche as were accused to offende agayne hym Passynge whych season were it for the greuys whyche the foresayd hoste wroughte wythin the couÌ„trey of Brytayne or for other skyll the foresayd Charlys the duke of Brytayne made newe meanes for a peace vnto the kynge offered to be contentyd wyth that they myght stande in hys fauoure grace wyth suche proffers as the couÌ„sayll of the realme was before tyme agreed and coÌ„dyssended vpon where unto a sophystycall answere was made by the kyng so that the sayd Charles at that tyme myghte nat be asserteyned of peace or of warre Howe be it in the yere folowyng by instauÌ„t labour of the fore named IohnÌ„ Balna cardynall the kynge agreed to gyue vnto hys brother Charlys the duchy of Guyan onely where wyth he helde hym coÌ„teÌ„ted so ceased of his warre in NormaÌ„dy It was nat loÌ„ge after that thys sayde IohnÌ„ Balna forgetynge y e manyfolde great benefytes shewed to hiÌ„ by the kynge coÌ„spyred agayne hym deuysed certayne letters the which he sent vnto Charlys duke of Burgoyne wherin was coÌ„teyned that he shulde beware and haue hym selfe in good gayte for the vnyte and peace whyche lately was stablysshed betwene the kynge Charlys hys brother was principally to dere warre vppon hym to brynge hym in subieccyon wherfore in auoydynge that dauÌ„ger he aduysed hym in all possyble haste to assemble hys knyghtys that he were nat takeÌ„ vnpurueyed The whyche letters were it by reasoÌ„ of the berer or otherwyse came to y e kynges presence After receyt of whyche letters knowlege of the coÌ„tent of them anone the kynge caused the sayde IohnÌ„ Balna to be taken to be caste in stronge prysone And that done he rode vnto Thuron whyther to hym came hys brother Charles and to hym dyd homage sware vnto him feauty for the duchy of Guyan And for to knytte the duke of Brytayne more fastly to hym he sente to hym a sceptre wyth a chayne of golde the whyche the duke refused to take wherewyth Lewys was greuously dyscoÌ„teÌ„ted The cause of whyche refusall was for the sayde duke of Brytayne had lately before that allyed hym wyth Charlys duke of Burgoyne had receyued hys lyuerey of golden flees And soone after whyche was the .xi. yere of thys Lewys Carlota hys wyfe was lyghted of a sonnÌ„ after named Charles by Charlys hys brother whych after hys father was kynge of FrauÌ„ce And shortly after by meanes of Charlys duke of Guyan of the duke of Burbon other the duke of Brytayn was recouÌ„cyled vnto the kyngê fauoure And in y e .xii. yere of y e reygn of thys Lewys dyed by force of veni the aboue named Charlys duke of Guyan But by whose meanes myne auctour myndeth nat Than coÌ„tynuynge the warre betwene thys Lewys thys duke of Burgoyne a marchaunt of Guyan named Itery which after the deth of the sayd duke of Guyan was fledde vnto the duke of Burgoyne wyth hym a seasoÌ„ remayned shewed vnto hym many tedyous talys of y e kyng wherfore the duke apperceyuynge y t he owed to the Frenche kynge no fauoure exorted hym to poyson y e sayd kynge And yf he myght brynge to effecte hys purpose he shuld therefore haue .l. M. florynes of golde A floryne is in value of sterlynge money .iii. s. After whyche promyse and assuraunce thus made by the duke thys Itery to brynge hys euyll purpose about made hys seruaunt named IohnÌ„ de Boldy of couÌ„sayll and promysed to hym greate thynges yf he wolde take vpon hym that acte And after graunt hadde of the
done wyth fyre in the paryshe of faynt Peters the pore And in the forenamed parlyameÌ„t was ordeyned a new coyne of syluer as grotes half grotes shyllynges with half faces And in the forsayde parlyameÌ„te was graunted to the kynge an ayde of xxxvi thousand .li. And a correccyon was dyuysed for clipped grotes Anno domini M.v. C.iiii.  Anno domini M.v. C.v. Grocer Roger Achylley  IohnÌ„ wyngar  Anno .xx.  wyllyam Browne  IN thys yere the cytezyns of LoÌ„don grauÌ„ted to the kyng .v. M marke for confermacioÌ„ of theyr lybertyes wherof a M. marke was payde in haÌ„de .iiii. M. mark in .iiii. yeres next ensuyng UpoÌ„ sat Georges day y e kyng went in procession in Poules church where was shewed a legge of saynt George closed in syluer whych was newly sent to the kyng And vppoÌ„ the .xxv. day of Apryll was a money maker one of the coyners of the towre draweÌ„ to tyborne there hanged And in y e later ende of thys yere came the thyrde cappe of mayntenaunce from the pope Anno domini M.v. C.v.  Anno domini M.v. C.vi Fysshemonger Rycharde Shore  Thomas Kneysworth  Anno .xxi.  Roger Groue  THys yere vppoÌ„ .xii. euyn the kinges chaÌ„ber at RychemouÌ„t was breÌ„t And vpoÌ„ the euyn of saynt Maury begaÌ„ an hidious wid which endured vppoÌ„ .xi. dayes folowynge more or lasse in coÌ„tynuall blowyng by meane whereof the wedercok of Poules was bloweÌ„ downe moche other harme done And by force of thys tempest the archeduke of Burgoyne was dryueÌ„ to laÌ„de in the west couÌ„tre And vpoÌ„ the second sonday of leÌ„t stood at Poules crosse the pryour of saynt Osyes .v. other heretykes And in y e ende of y e moneth of March syr EdmoÌ„d de la pool was conueyed through the citie vnto the towre and there left as prysoner And in Maye moneth was the lord of Burgeueny coÌ„mytteth to the towre for a certayn displeasure whych coÌ„cerned no treason Thys yere a new bylded galerey fyll in the nyght at RychemouÌ„t And thys yere in the ende of Iuly was a gracyous myracle shewed by oure Lady image of Barkyng by a mayden chylde that a carte laden wyth stone yode ouer Anno domini M.v. C.vi  Anno domini M.v. C.vii. mercer wyllyam Copynger  Syr Rychard Haddon Thomas IohnÌ„son Anno .xxii.  wyllyam Fytz wyllyam  IN thys yere about Crystmas was the bakers house in warwyke lane breÌ„t And thys yere was a wonderfull easy softe wynter with out stormys or frostes And this yere the kyng of hys goodnesse delyuered out of all prysons in LoÌ„doÌ„ as many prysoners as laye for .xl. s. vnder And this yere was Thomas Kneysworth late mayer hys .ii. shyreffes condeÌ„pned to the kyng in great sommes of money ouer paynfull prysonement by theym in the marshalsy susteyned Anno domini M.v. C.vii.  Anno domini M.v. C.viii. mercer wyllyam Butler  wyllyam Browne  Anno .xxiii.  IohnÌ„ Kyrkby  THys yere in the ende of April dyed the sayd wyllyam Browne and for hym was immedyatly chosen syr Laurence Aylemer for the resydue of that yere Anno supradicto  Anno supradicto Draper wyllyam Butler  Syr Laurence Aylemer  Anno predicto  IohnÌ„ Kyrkby  IN thys yere vpon the last daye of Iuny was an house in Southwarke nere vnto the brydge consumed wyth fyre And thys yere was syr wyllyam Capell agayne put in vexacyon by sute of the kynge for thynges done by hym in the tyme of hys mayralte Anno. dnÌ„i M.v. C.viii.  Anno dnÌ„i M.v. C.ix. Tayllour Thomas Exmew  Stephyn Ienyns  Anno .xxiiii.  Rychard Smyth  IN the begynnyng of the mayres tyme syr wyllyam Capell after his prysonement in the couÌ„tour shyreffes house was by the kynges counsayll commauÌ„ded to the towre where he remayned tyll the kynge dyed shortly after was delyuered wyth many other And in lykewyse was syr LaureÌ„ce Aylemer dalt with coÌ„mytted to the warde or house of Rychard Smyth shryfe there remayned as prisoner by y e space aboue sayd Thys yere vppoÌ„ the saterdaye next before saynt Georges day in the nyght whych saterdaye was the .xxi. daye of Apryll dyed the kynge oure soueraygne lorde at hys manour of Rychemount vpon whose soule and all chrysten Iesu haue mercy Amen And so thys foresayd noble prince reygned .xxiii. yeres and .vii. monethes and one daye therof lakkynge THys magnyfycent excellent prynce HeÌ„ry the .vii. thus payed to deth his dette of nature as before is sayd Of whome suffycient laude prayse can nat be put in wrytyng coÌ„syderyng y e coÌ„tynuall peace traÌ„quylete whyche he kept thys his lande comons in wyth also the subduynge of hys outwarde enymyes of the realmes of Fraunce Scotland by hys greate polycy wysedome more thaÌ„ by shedyng of cristeÌ„ bloode or cruell warre And euer ruled so myghtly hys subgectes mynystred to them suche iustyce y t nat allonely they loued and drad hym but all crysten prynces heryng of hys gloryous fame were desyrous to haue wyth hym amyte allyaunce And for that he in all teÌ„porall polycies prouisions exceded all prynces by hys tyme reygnynge dyuers popes as Alexander the syxte Pius the .iii Iulius the .ii. nowe beynge pope by theyr tymes eyther of theÌ„ sunderly wyth auctorytie coÌ„sent of theyr spyrytuall deuyne couÌ„sayll elected chase thys excellente prynce and admytted hym for chyefe defensour of Chrystes church before all other crysten prynces And for a confermacioÌ„ of the same sente vnto thys inuyncibyll prince by .iii. sundry famous ambassades thre swerdes with .iii. cappes of mayntenaunce what myght I wryte of the stedfaste contyneÌ„cy great iustyce mercyfull dealyng of thys prynce what myght I report of hys excelleÌ„te wysedome moste sugred eloquence or of hys inmouable pacience wonderfull dyscressyon Or what shuld I tell of his most beautyfull byldynges or excedyng charges of manifest reperacioÌ„s and ouer all thys of hys excedynge treasoure rychesse innumerabyll But as who wolde saye to consider in order all his notabyll actes which wolde aske a loÌ„ge tract of tyme with also the lyberall somptuous endowemeÌ„t of the monastery of westmynster other to wryte I myghte conclude y t hys actes passed all the noble actes of hys noble ê“genytours syne the conquest and may moste coÌ„gruly aboue all erthly prynces belykened vnto SalamoÌ„ kyng of y e Israelytes and be called the seconde Salomon for hys great sapience actes by him done hys lyuys tyme executed All whyche premysses tenderly considered euery naturall EnglysshmaÌ„ now lyuyng hath cause ought deuoutly to pray for the soule of this moste excellent prynce Henry the .vii that he maye atteyne that celestyall mansioÌ„ whych he and all trew crysten soules are enheritours vnto the which god hym graunt Amen And the rather because of the exelleÌ„t vertuous bryngyng and leuynge vnto vs by goddes ayde and prouysyon
of our moste gracyous and moste dâ—ad soueraygne lord Henry y e viii of that name as tyghtfull enherytour vnto the .ii. crownes of Englande and of Fraunce The whyche began hys moste gracyous reygne y e xxii day of Apryll in the yere of oure lord god M.v. C. and .ix. HEnry the .viii. of that name and second sonne of the forenamed excellente prynce Henry the seuith began his moste gracyous reygn ouer the realme of Englande the .xxii. daye of Apryll in the yere of our lord god M.v. C. and .ix. To whome by all honour reuereÌ„ce ioyfull contynauÌ„ce of prosperous reygn to the pleasure of god weale of thys hys realme Amen Thus endeth Fabyans cronycle Confederacy * Wycked punysshement Roma scotte * Iustyce and coÌ„tynence †Prestes wyues Thre thynges requysyte to fyght A kynges chasâ—yâ—e A pacyeÌ„t man OrnameÌ„tes of the chyrche folde Fyrst mayred â—â—yryffeâ— * Peter penâ— The grauÌ„t of warde maryage An erthquake Statute of Merton The 〈…〉 presence * Fyrst older men of London An appele from the pope * Scutage Singlaâ— profyte A â—eâ—ter sent by the 〈◊〉 to the kyng * Cruell and detestable Batayle Dâ—rf takyng ✚ Deâ—◠〈◊〉 of Rychard kynge of â—smayne A moÌ„ster The â—â—ome de Lyce To myche 〈◊〉 cause of repeÌ„tauÌ„ce Statute of Mâ—pâ—mayn Fâ—râ—â— coygnyng of half pens and farthynges Bew the beatiâ—â—emen wâ—re trapned from vanyn Crueltye 〈◊〉 Frenche 〈◊〉 * Inquiâ—â—cioÌ„ de Troylbasion Shamfull minder Victory agaynste the Scottes Byshoppes periured Aryght notable policy Boniface the viii pope The fyrste wynnyng of Rodyâ— Byrth of Edwarde the thyrde * Batayle of Estryuelyn Traiferous pâ—â—â—umâ—â—yd of a â—â—â—agn Berwyke loste Decasion â—â— morâ—aâ—◠〈◊〉 The parlyameÌ„t of Northamton * Byrth of Lyonell * The mansy coâ—rage of Edward the thyrde A letter sent by kyng Edward to the FreÌ„ch kyng Tincâ— Breche Clement the â—i pope kynge Edwardes Floryne ‡ Th order of the garter * Cane conquered AffeccyoÌ„ of Historiographers ‡ whaÌ„ Calys was goâ—â—e * A great 〈◊〉 in London Dethe of Pylyppe de Valoys ‡ Kynge Edwardes 〈◊〉 on the 〈◊〉 Delayes of the course of Rome Berwyke recouered The batayl of Poytiers Iustes holdeÌ„ in Smithfelde â—akyng of 〈◊〉 El moton of golde ‡ The forme of pâ—ace betwene Englande and Fraunce A peasyble kysse ‡ The secoÌ„d mortalyte ‡ The batayle of DaÌ„hey FouÌ„dacyoÌ„ of saynt Stephans chapell at Westmynster ‡ Byrth of 〈◊〉 the seconde Dethe of 〈◊〉 Phylyppe A taske â—eâ—ynge ‡ A mayres 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Aâ—hysme ‡ Dethe of kynge Edwarde the thyrde Phylyp de Valoys â—ioned kyng of Fraunce Discomfyte of the Flemyngeâ— Dâ—th of syr Robert of Artoys Iaques de Artyuese murdred At what age the heyre to the crown of FrauÌ„ce shuld be crowned â— A scysme â—â—gonne in the chyrche â—â— Rome ‡ A terryble my 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 execuâ—â—â—n Dethe of kyng Charles ‡ The 〈◊〉 of Couâ—tray Deth of Charles kynge of Nauerne CoronacioÌ„ of Henry y e fourth The batayle of Shrâ—wysbuâ—y ‡ A Byshop beheded A byll pâ—â— vppe in the parlyameÌ„t Dethe of kyng Henry the .iiii. A fraye on Eester day Syr IohnÌ„ Oldcastell lorde Cobham put to dethe Byrthe of 〈◊〉 the fyâ—te Sonday Monday Tuysday wednysdaye Thursdaye Frydaye Saterdaye Quotidie Kyng Henry the .vi. crowned Kyng Henry the .vi. crowned in Parys ‡ Countyse of Basyse â–ª Bugeny y e pope Calys besyeged kynge of Scottes murdred A derthe Pope Eugeny deposed Dyfâ—rrcyoÌ„ of wolf †〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 InsurreccioÌ„ in Kent †Th ende of Iacke Cade Byshop of Salysbury sâ—ayne Constanty noble conquered of Turkes A good 〈◊〉 ‡ The 〈…〉 ‡ The bataâ—ll of saâ—â—te Albons ‡ Coronacyon of Edwarde the fourth ‡ La â—ucesse de dieu Th ende lapucelle de dieu The wordes of king Lewys dyenge to his sonne Printed by w Rastell fynysshed the laste daye of December in the yere of our lorde M.v. C. and XXXiii CVM PRIVILEGIO
so y t he withdrew hym froÌ„ the kynge and alyed hym wyth the byshop of Durham the erles of NorthuÌ„berland and Shrewesbury with other The whyche confederyd to gyder toke partye agayne the kynge and dyd thynges to his dyspleasure and hurte And amonges other damages by theym done Roger de Mount Gomoryk erle of Shrewesbury destroyed the countrey and endes of England vnto worceter town wyth ayde of the walshemen But in the ende thorough the prayer of the holy byshoppe wolstane the walshemen were so weked and febled that a few knyghtes scomfyted of them a great hoste when kyng wyllyam conceyued y e well nere all the Normans toke partye agayne hym he then forced of necessyte drewe to hym the Englyshemen And fauoured them by giftes easy lawes so that by theyr strength he lastely recouered the erle of Shrewesburye and chased some other of hys enymyes and shortely after occupyed the castell and strong holdes in Kent belongynge to byshop Odo hys forsayde vncle and in the ende coÌ„pelled hym to forswere England And y t done he besyeged y e citie of Rochester wherin the byshoppe of Durham the erle of Northumberland and other noble men were gadered and wan yt at length by appoyntement so that hys enymyes were vnto hym reconcyled In the thyrde yere of hys reygne dyed Lamfrank when he hadde ben archbyshop of Caunterburye .xviii. yeres By whose meanes the moÌ„kes of Englande were brought to the vse of theyr holy relygyon the whych before hys commynge lyued more lyke to seculer prestes theÌ„ religious men and exercysed them in huntynge and hawkynge for to auoyde idelnesse dysynge and cardynge in the wynter nyghtes that they myght be redy to kepe theyr howres and nyghtly seruyce And in theyr apparel they were lyke vnto consules and not vnto muÌ„kes wyth many other deformytyes The whych in y e begynnyng of Lamfrank he of policye suffered for a season lest he had brought all in his top atones and therby myght haue caused some scysme or varyauÌ„ce to haue rysen in the chyrche In auoydynge wherof wyth other inconuenyences he lytell and lytell refrayned them of theyr outrage and in ê“cesse of tyme caused and constrayned them to lyue after the constitucyons and rules of theyr relygyon Aboute thys tyme Robert Curthose duke of Normandy enteÌ„dynge to take hys vyage into the holy lande layde his dukedome to wedde to hys brother wyllyam for .x. thousande pounde For leuyenge wherof kynge wyllyam set a taske vpon his commons and subiectes and reysed a farre excidynge some vnder colour of the same so that byshoppes melted theyr vessell and lordes spoyled theyr tenauntes The kynge of Scottes also brake the peace before made with wyllyam Conquerour and wasted and toke prayes ut the countrey of Northumberlande Then the kynge prouyded a nauy and sayled thyther in the wynter tyme. But by y e tempest of the see halfe his nauy or a great parte of yt was drowned and many of his knyghtes were loste for colde and hunger But yet in the ende after dyuers conflyctes and bykerynges by mediacyon of frendes a peace and vnyte was concluded so that Malcolyn then kynge of Scottes shuld be obedyent to kynge wyllyam vnder the same othe that he was before tyme sworne vnto hys father and kynge willyam shuld yerely gyue vnto him in y e way of a fee .xii. markes of gold In the fourth yere of his reygne and the fyft daye of October passyng great tempest of wederyng fell in soudry places of Englande and specyally in y e towne of wynchecome For there by tempeste of thuÌ„der and lyghtenyng a parte of y e steple of the chyrch was throwen downe and the crycyfyx wyth the ymage of our lady also standynge vpon the roode lofte was in lykewyse ouerthrowen and broke and shatered And after folowed a contagye and a fowle stenche y e whych endured tyll the munkes had gone in processyon about the chyrch and all the houses adioynyng to that abbay and other places Also thys yere at LoÌ„don was great harme done by force of the wynde which blewe with such violence y t yt ouerturned or ryued as wytnessyth Polycronycon ouer the noÌ„ber of .vi. hundred houses And y e rofe of saynt Mary Bow in chepe was also ryued wherwith two men were slayne And also at Salesburye was hurte done wyth y e same wynde or y e lyke therof In the .v. yere of wyllyaÌ„s reygne he went into Northumberlande and repayred suche holdes and castelles as the Scottes by theyr warrys had blemyshed and apayred and caused a new castell to be made at Caercol y e cytye or towne whych the Danys of two hundred yeres passed hadde destroyed Then y e kyng returned vnto Gloucester where he was greuously veryd wyth sykenesse so that he wende he shulde haue dyed In tyme wherof he toke great repentaunce ê“mysed yf he myght escape he wold neuer sell mo benefices ouer that he wold ameÌ„de hys lyuyng become a new maÌ„ But after he was restored to helth that promyse was shortely forgoten And in that yere he gaue vnto Anselme the archbyshopryche of yorke But he myghte take of yt but as the kynges pleasure was tyll suche tyme as the kyng hadde taken his trybute therof And more ouer he auouched that the see of LyncolnÌ„ be longed to the see of yorke tyll the bisshoppe of Lyncolne had pleased him wyth a great summe of money as .v. thousande marke after the wrytyng of Ranulfe In the .vi. yere of hys reygne were excedynge floodes wherof the lyke in many yeres passed hadde not ben sene And after that ensued wonderfull frostâ— whych frose the great stremes in suche wyse y e horse and carte passed ouer y e gret ryuers And in the ende when the yse melted and brake the payse therof brake many a stronge brydge bothe of tymber and of stone THE CCXXIIII CHAPITER ABout thys tyme the welshemen with theyr kyng or duke named Rees brake out vppon the Englyshmen in the Bordour where standeth the castell of Brekenocke and there made masteryes for a while But in the ende his people were chaced and slayne and he wounded to deth so that he dyed the .iii. daye folowynge Thys Rees is accompted of wryters to be the laste kynge of walys For after thys daye they were so dauÌ„ted that kynges of Englande had them in suche rule that they were vnder more stedfaste obedyence than they were before tyme. How be it they rebellyd full often as after shall appere And the yere folowyng kyng wyllyam to haue y e countrey in the more quyet hewe downe mych of y e wood and buylded in sundry places strong castels and pyles by meane wherof more and more they were plucked to obedyeÌ„ce But not shortely after but specyally in the dayes of Edwarde y e fyrste and Edwarde the thyrde Malcolyn kyng of Scotland came vnto Glowcester to comon wyth the kynge of dyuers maters and to take a fynall agremeÌ„t But for kyng wyllyam wolde haue demyd
see vnto the porte of Damas where vnder coloure of a fayned trewce they were taken and caste the moste parte of theym in pryson And when kynge Phylyppe hadde thus delyuered the patryarke he then gatheryd hys knyghtes and made an armye agayne Hugh duke of Burgoyne the whyche at that season and tyme hadde beclypped the castell of Uergye wyth a stronge syege and hadde promysed not to departe thens tyll such tyme as he had wonne that holde by appoytement or otherwyse And for the defence of rescouse that myghte be made for the same he hadde maÌ„ned foure castellys or towres there vnto adioynaunte wyth great strength of men of armys But after the kynge was thyder comen wyth hys hoste the sayde towrs were sone ouertourned and y e kynge wyth a certayne of hys people of Guy capytayne of the sayde castell of Uergy was ioyously into the same receyued and rendred to hym the castell and became hys lege man where wyth the sayde Hugh beynge â—ore amoued and dyscontented seynge there he was dyspoynted of his purpose departed thens wyth hys ordynaunce and people and robbed and spoyled the couÌ„tre there aboute sparynge nother chyrche nor howse of relygyoÌ„ in so cruell and greuous maner that the bysshoppes and abbottes of that partye of Burgoyne made pyteous request vnto the sayd Phylyp that he of his specyall grace wolde ayde and socoure them and theyr chyrches agayne the tyranny of the sayde duke Hugh The kynge beynge moued wyth thys pyteous requeste made sharpe warre vppon the sayde Hugh and at length wan from hym a stronge castell named Chastelone where wyth all the duke was put to suche a studyall and fere that he was forsed to seche meanes of treaty and of peace wherof the coÌ„clusyon was that he shulde paye vnto the chyrches before by hym hurted harmed .xxx. thousande pownd whyche conclusyon taken and surelye sette for the same the kynge retorned vnto Parys where the kyng so restynge hym a certeyne of tyme and hauynge experyence of the intollerable and foule stenches that dayly grewe by the fylthe of the erthe and myre in the stretes made prouysyon dylygently wyth ayde and helpe of the cytesens whyche as than hadde londe wythin the cytye that the stretes were shortely paued after And at thys tyme whanne the cytye was thus paued as affermen many authours the name of it was chaunged from Lutesse or Lewcesse vnto Parysse THE CCXLII. CHAPITER IN the .vii. yere of thys kynge Phylyp as sayth the FreÌ„che boke Margarete syster vnto thys Phylyp late wyfe vnto Henry late deceased and eldeste sonne of Henry the seconde kynge at this day of Englande was maryed vnto Belas kynge of Hungry In the .x. yere of thys kyng Phylyp the cytye of Hierusalem was taken of Saladyne prynce of Egypte and Guy de Lesyngnan laste crysten kynge of that cytye wyth the holy crosse was taken in the felde whych after that daye came neuer into crysten mennes possessyon Of thys sorowe heuynesse worde was broughte vnto kynge Phylyp wyth requeste of ayde to reskue certeyne cytyes as yet rested vnder the domynyon of the crysten as Tyre Tryple and Antioch wyth other small holdes For sauegarde wherof many nobles of Fraunce toke vpon them the crosse as the duke of Burgoyn the erle of Flaunders Theobalde erle of Bloyes the erle of Rochfoâ—d the erle of Champayne wyth many other noble knyghtes whyche for lengthe I passe ouer and also the reporte of theyr dedys for so myche as it coÌ„cernyth nothyng the mater that I haue promysed to speke of In this iourney also kynge Phylyppe enteÌ„ded to haue gone and for the same great taskes dymys were leuyed through oute his realme the whyche to this daye are called Saladynes dymes But the lette of this iourney as sayth the french cronycle was Rycharde duke of Guyan and after his father Henry the seconde that made warre vppon the Frenche kynge as before is touched in the storye of the sayd Henry Duryng whyche warre the sayde Henry dyed in the .xi yere of thys sayde Phylyppe About thys season and tyme the Iewes whych by meane of great gyftes had agayn purchased theyr dwellynge wythin the couÌ„trey of FrauÌ„ce wherof a wedowe was lady and mastresse called Branous in absence of the kynge toke a Crysten man surmysed agayne hym felonye and murder For the whyche by fauoure of the sayde lady the sayde Iewes set a crowne of thorne vppon the sayd crysten mannys hedde and after scourged hym and lastely in derysyon of Crystes relygyon and despyte of the same crucyfyed the same persone wherof when the kynge was enfourmed in all haste he sent into the sayd couÌ„trey or castell of Brayon and surprysed the sayde Iewys so sodaynly that none escaped and brent there of them to the nomber of .lxxx. for theyr malycyouse and abhomynable dede In the .xi yere of the reygne of thys Phylyppe dyed Isabell the quene of FrauÌ„ce his wyfe a womaÌ„ of good fame and of great vertue In the .xii. yere of his reygne as sayth the frenche boke thys Phylyp toke vppon hym the crosse hauynge promyse of kyng Rychard then newly crowned kyng of EnglaÌ„d to kepe company wyth hym in that iourney But he kept not promyse wherwith thys Phylyppe beynge dysconteÌ„ted sayled before and layde syege vnto the cytye of Acon or Acre From this sayenge varyeth Policronica and also Peter Desroy For Polycronycon sayth that after the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce hadde made suerty betwen them for performauÌ„ce of this iourney they both to gyther taryed at Turon in Fraunce for to abyde the somer tyde And at spryngynge of the yere they of one wyll purpose toke theyr vyage towarde the holy lande that ys to wytte that one by water and that other by land and mette agayne in Cecilia where the FreÌ„che kynge deê‘ted from hym and so sayled to the sayde cytye of Acone or Acre and layde hys syege there vnto In whych pastyme kyng Rycharde warred vppon the kynge of Sypres hym wyth his land subdued after came vnto AconÌ„ where the Frenche kyng had longe lyen at syege without gettynge of any great auauntage of his enymyes saynge vnto kynge Rycharde that he hadde spared the wynnynge of the towne tyll hys commynge to the ende that he at his commyng myght be parteyner as well of the honoure as of the wynnynge But how it was such vnkyndenesse fell betwene theym there after they hadde woonne the sayde towne as after in story of kynge Rycharde shal be shewed that this kyng Phylyppe retourned into Fraunce shortely after In the whych returne the sayde Phylyppe sykened and the duke of Burgoyne dyed And when kyng Phylyppe a season had soiourned in FrauÌ„ce he maryed Iugebert the doughter of the kynge of Denmarke The whyche maryage as sayth Ranulfe was desyred of the Frenche kynge to haue wyth her graunted the tytle whyche the Danes had vnto the crown of England wyth also .x. thousand markes of syluer for to wynne wyth y
e sayd ryght and tytle But yt was not longe or she were frō hym deuorced for cause of alyaūce of gossypred or otherwise Howe be yt in processe of tyme after the said Iugebert was to him agayn ioyned by the authoryte of Pope Innocent the thyrd of that name in the yere of grace .xii. hūdred and .ix. and yere of reygne of this Philyppe .xxx so that the sayde Iugebert was deuorced frome her lorde by the terme of .xvii. yeres or theruppon In whych tyme and season the sayd Phylyppe had maryed the doughter of Phylyppe duke of Sweuy that then was returned vnto her father THE CCXLIII CHAPITER Kynge Phylyp for dyspleasure whych he bare towarde kyng Rycharde made sharpe and cruell warre vpon the Normans and wan therein dyuerse holdes and townes and fynally layde syege vnto the cytye of Roan wherof herynge Iohn̄ erle of Huntyngeton or after some erle of Oxenforde brother to kynge Rycharde whome the Frenche boke nameth Iohn̄ withoute lande wyth the erle of Arundell and other noble men spedde hym into Normandye and so ayded the cytezens and the soldyours of Roan that as testyfyeth the frēche cronycle the French kyng was so moued wyth the warre and defence of the same towne that in a passynge fury consyderyng the wynter season drewe vppon and that he myght not carye awaye his gunnes and other great ordynaunces he set all vppon a fyre and so wyth great agony departed And within thre monethes after he layde syege vnto the castell of Uernyel where whē he had lyen .iii. wekes or more a messynger came vnto hym and sayde that the cytye Euroux was taken of the Normans and the people therof taken prysoners wherfore in all haste he departed and rescued the sayd cytye and prysoners and that done retourned to the foresayde syege and assyeged yt so strōgely that lastely he had yt delyueryd by appoyntement By thys season was kynge Rycharde delyueryd out of the handes of the duke of Ostryge And then beganne the warre to be more cruell whych here I passe ouer for so mych as I entende to shew the effecte therof in the storye of kynge Rycharde folowynge Aboute the .xviii. yere of the reygn of thys Phylyppe fell such plenty of water that the groūde was therwith so bucked and drowned that corne other frutes by reason therof greatly decayed and scanted in such wyse that whete was shortly after at .xx. s a quarter after sterlynge money In the .xx. yere of the reygn of this Phylyppe dyed Rycharde kynge of England to whom was heyre Iohn̄ before named his brother The whyche cōcluded a trewce wyth this Philyppe for certayne yeres as after in the storye of this Iohn̄ shall more clerely appere And soone there after meanes were made to kyng Phylyp that he shuld receyue agayne vnto his company Iugebert hys wyfe and to renounce Mary doughter of the duke of Sweuy or after some authours the doughter of the duke of Bohemy But the kynge wyth this mocyon was nothynge contentyd nor yet agreable to folow any such mocion or request wherfore the prelasy of the lande assemled theym in counsayll and by a full and hole authoryte seynge they myghte not induce the kynge to no conformyte or agrement to resume hys lawfull wyfe and to refuse that other they denounsed hym and hys realme accursed wherwith the kyng was so amoued and vexed that he depryued certayne bysshoppes from theyr sees and also toke in hys possessyon the spyrytuall goodes and prysoned many prestes and other relygyous men and ouer that closed the sayde Iugebert wythin the castell of Sampys and forthermore greued hys comons wyth greuous exaccyons and taxys Than wythin a shorte terme after Iohn̄ de saynte Poule cardynall and Athā or Othemon bysshoppe of Osty and legate of the pope of Rome wyth the archebysshoppe of Burdeaux and other by the commaundement of the pope than Innocent the thyrde kepte a greate counceyle in the cytye of Sorsore where the kynge was monysshed to apere for so mych as before he hadde graunted to be reconcyled vnto hys fyrste wyfe where thys mater hynge in argument before the spyrytuall iudges by y e space of .xv. dayes wythout sentence gyuynge wherfore the kynge beynge wyth the delayes dyscontented sodenly wyth hys wyfe departed wythout takynge of them any congye or leue sendynge them vnderstandyng that as yet he wolde be aduysed or he were dysseuered from hys wyfe wherof whan the sayd Iohn̄ cardynall and the other bysshoppes hadde wyttynge accomptynge theyr laboure loste they retourned shortely after vnto Rome and shewed vnto the pope all as they hadde done And soone there after kyng Iohn̄ was honorably receyued of thys kynge Phylyppe as in the story of the sayd Iohn̄ shall be more playnly shewed And in the yere folowynge which shulde be in the begynnynge of the xxiii yere of thys Phylyppe dyed Mary hys wyfe whyche he wrongfully had holden cōtrary to the law of the chyrche by the terme of tenne yeres or there vppon Of the whyche Mary he hadde receyued a man chylde and a doughter the whyche after were made legyttymate by Innocent the thyrde though some noble men of Fraunce there agayne grudged THE CCXLIIII CHAPITER IT was not longe after that y e kyng assembled greate people and entendyd to haue entred the landys of the erle Rossell o◠Roger de Rose of the whyche he hadde broughte before hym many greuous complayntes of greate extorcyons and exaccyōs that the sayd erle and Roger hadde executed and done vppon the chyrches nere to the valey of Soysons and wolde not refrayne for all the kynges cōmaundement wherfore he rygged hys armye and drewe towarde them But as soone as they were aduertysed of the kynges comynge anone they submytted them to the kynges grace oblygynge them selfe to make restytucyon accordynge to the kynges pleasure to all suche places and persons as they hadde offended And thys acte thus fynysshed kyng Phylyppe returned vnto a place bytwene Uerdon and the I le Audely in the whyche place the kynge hadde appoynted a great counsayle or parlyament where amonge other maters yt was concluded that Iohn̄ kynge of Englande shulde be somoned to appere as the Frenche kynges lyege man at the same parlyament to be holden at parys wythin xv dayes of Ester to answere suffycyently to the kyng vppon such questyons as there shulde be purposed vnto hym for the duchy of Normandye for the coūtrey of Aungeou and of Poytyers But for y t kynge John̄ came not at that day appoynted nor none for hym accordynge to the monyshement to hym gyuen therfore thys kynge Philypppe not withstandynge the amytye and trewce before confermed assembled hys hoste and entred the duchye of Normandye and made therin sharpe and cruell warre and wanne a castell therein named Bonte or Bowte and brused or crased the castellys of Gentylyne and Gurney and seased all y e landes whyche Hugh de Gurney helde and gyue theym vnto the duke of Brytayne And also he gaue vnto hym the
sayde erle of Northumberlande that he for insuffycyency whyche he knewe hymselfe to be of to occupye so greate a charge as to gouerne thys realme of Englande he wolde gladly leue of and renouÌ„ce the ryght and tytle aswell of that as of hys tytle to the crowne of FrauÌ„ce and hys mageste vnto Henry duke of Herforde and that to do in suche conuenyente wyse as by the lernyd men of hys lande it shulde moste suffyciently be by them deuysed and ordeyned To the whyche rehersall the kynge in our sayde presences answered benyngly and sayde that suche promyse he made and so to the same he was at that howre in full purpose to perfourme and fulfyll sauyng he desyred fyrst to haue personal speche wyth the sayde duke and wyth the archebysshoppe of Caunterbery hys cosyns And ferthermore he desyred to haue a byll drawen of the sayde resygnacyon that he myghte be perfyghte in the rehersall therof After whiche copy to hym by me the sayde erle delyuered we the sayde lordes and other departed And vppon the same after noone the kynge desyrynge moche the commynge of the duke of Lancaster at the laste the sayd duke wyth the archebysshoppe entred the foresayde chaumber bryngynge wyth theym the lorde Roos the lorde Burgeyny and the lorde wylloughby wyth dyuerse other where after due obeysaunce done by them vnto the kynge he famylyarly and wyth a gladde countenaunce to vs aperynge talked wyth the sayde archebysshop and duke a good season And that communycacyon fynyshed the kynge wyth a gladde countenaunce in presence of vs and the other aboue rehersed sayde openly that he was redy to renounce and resygne all his kyngelye mageste in maner and fourme as he before seasons had promised And all thoughe he had and myght sufficyently haue declared his renouncement by the redyng of an other meane persone yet he for the more suretie of the mater and for the sayd resygnacyon shulde haue hys full force and strengthe he therfore redde the scrowle of resignacyon him selfe in maner and fourme as foloweth In the name of god Amen I Rycharde by the grace of god kynge of Englande and of FrauÌ„ce and lorde of Irelande acquyte and assoyle all archebysshoppes bysshoppes and other prelates seculer or relygyous of what dygnite degre state or condicyon that they be of and also all dukes marques erles barons lordes and al myne other lyege men bothe spirituall and seculer of what maner name or degre they be frome theyr othe of feaute and homage all other dedes and priuileges made vnto me and from all maner baÌ„des of allegeaunce and regaly or lordeshyppe In the whiche they were or be bounden to me or in any otherwyse constrayned and theym theyr heyres and successours for euermore from the same bandes and othes I release deliuer acquite and let them for fre dyssolued and acquyte and to be harmelesse for so moche as longeth to my persone by any maner waye or tytle of ryght y t to me might folowe of the foresayd thynges or of any of them And also I resygne all my kyngely dygnyte mageste and crowne with all the lordeshyppes power priuyleges to the foresayd kyngely dygnite and crowne belongynge and all other lordeshyppes and possessyons to me in any maner of wyse pertaynynge what name condicyon they be of out take the landes and possessyons for me and myne obyte purchased and bought And I renounce all ryghte and coloure of ryght and all maner tytle of possessyon and lordeshyppe the whyche I euer hadde or haue or by any maner of meane myght haue in the same lordeshyppes and possessyons or any of them or to them with any maner ryghtes belongynge or appertayning vnto any parte of theÌ„ And also the rule and gouernauÌ„ce of the same kyngedome and lordeshyppes with all admynistracyons of the same and all thynges eueryche of theym that to the hole empyre and iurisdiccyon of the same belongeth of right or in any wyse may belonge And also I renounce the name worshyppe and regalye and kyngly hyghnesse clerely frely syngulerly and holly in the mooste best maner and fourme that I may and with dede and worde I leaue of and resygne them and go frome theym for euermore sauyng alwaye to my successours kynges of EnglaÌ„de all the ryghtes priuileges appurtenaunces to y e said kyngdome lordeships abouesaid belongynge appertayninge For well I wote knowlege deme my selfe to be and haue ben vnsufficient vnable and also vnprofytable and for myne open desertes nat vnworthy to be put downe And I swere vpon y e holy EuaÌ„gels here presently with my handes touched y t I shal neuer repugne to this resygnacyon dimyssyon or yeldyng vp nor neuer inpugne theym in any maner by worde or by dede by my selfe nor by none other Nor I shall nat suffre it to be impugned iÌ„ as moche as in me is preuely nor apperte But I shall haue holde kepe thys renousing dimyssyon leuynge vp for ferme and stable for euer more in all and in euery parte thereof so god me helpe and all sayntes and by this holy euangels by me bodely touched kyssed And for more recorde of the same here openly I subscrybe and sygne this present resygnacyon with myne owne hande And forthwith in our presences and other subscrybed the same and after delyuered it vnto the archebysshope of Canterbury sayâ—ng that if it were in his power or at his assignemeÌ„t he wold that the duke of Lancaster there present shulde be his successour â—ing after hym And in token thereof he toke a rynge of golde froÌ„ his fynger beynge his sygnet and put it vpon the sayd dukes fynger desyrynge requirynge y e archebysshop of yorke to shewe and make reporte vnto the lordes of the parlyament of hys voluntary resygnacyon And also of his entent and good mynde that he bare towarde his cosyn the duke of LaÌ„caster to haue him his successour and kyng after him And this done â–ª euery man toke their leaue and returned to theyr owne UPon the morowe folowynge beynge tuisday and the laste day of Septembre all the lordes spirytuall and temporall with also the commons of the sayde parlyamente assembled at westmynster where in in the presence of them the archebysshoppe of yorke accordinge vnto the kynges desyre shewed vnto them seryously the voluntary renounsynge of the kynge with also the fauoure the whiche he oughte vnto his cosyn y e duke of Lancaster for to haue hym hys successoure And ouer y e shewed vnto theym the cedule or byll of renouncemente sygned wyth kynge Rychardes hande After whyche thynges in ordre by him fynisshed the questyon was axed fyrste of the lordes yf they wolde admytte and alowe the sayde renouncement The whyche whan it was of the lordes graunted and confyrmed the lyke questyon was axed of the commons and of theym in lyke maner affyrmed After whiche admyssyon it was than declared that nat withstandynge the foresaid renounsynge so by the lordes and commons