1577. THE Firste volume of the Chronicles of England Scotlande and Irelande CONTEYNING The description and Chronicles of England from the first inhabiting vpon the conquest The description and Chronicles of Scotland from the first origiâ—… of 〈◊〉 〈…〉 tes 〈◊〉 till the yeare of our Lorde 1571. The descriptâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—nicles of Yrelande likewise from the firâ—◠〈…〉 of that Nation vntill the yeare 1547. Faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed AT LONDON Imprinted for Iohn Hunne God saue the Queene ⧠TO THE RIGHT Honorable and his singular good Lorde Sir VVilliam Cecill Baron of Burghleygh Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Lord high Treasourer of England Maister of the Courtes of Wardes and Lyueries and one of the Queenes Maiesties priuie Counsell COnsidering with my selfe right Honorable and my singular good Lorde how ready no doubt many wil be to accuse me of vayne presumptioÌ„ for enterprising to deale in this so weighty a worke and so farre aboue my reache to accomplish I haue thought good to aduertise your Honour by what occasion I was first induced to vndertake the same although the cause that moued mee thereto hath in parte ere this bene signified vnto your good Lordshippe Where as therfore that worthie Citizen Reginald VVolfe late Printer to the Queenes Maiestie a man well knowen and beholden to your Honour meant in his life time to publish an vniuersall Cosmographie of the whole worlde and therewith also certaine perticular Histories of euery knowen nation amongst other whome he purposed to vse for performance of his entent in that behalfe he procured me to take in hande the collection of those Histories and hauing proceeded so far in the same as little wanted to the accomplishment of that long promised worke it pleased God to call him to his mercie after .xxv. yeares trauell spent therein so that by his vntimely deceasse no hope remayned to see that performed whiche we had so long trauayled aboute those yet whome be left in trust to dispose his things after his departure hence wishing to the benefite of others that some fruite might follow of that whereabout he had imployed so long time willed me to continue mine endeuour for their furtherance in the same whiche although I was ready to do so farre as mine abilitie would reach and the rather to answere that trust which the deceassed reposed in me to see it brought to some perfection yet when the volume grewe so great as they that were to defray the charges for the Impression were not willing to go through with the whole they resolued first to publishe the Histories of Englande Scotlande and Irelande with their descriptions whiche descriptions bycause they were not in such readinesse as those of forreyn countreys William Harison and Richard Staâ—…yburst they were enforced to vse the helpe of other better able to do it than I. Moreouer the Chartes wherein Maister VVolfe spent a greate parte of his time were not founde so complete as wee wished and againe vnderstanding of the great charges and notable enterprice of that worthie Gentleman maister Thomas Sackeforde in procuring the Chartes of the seuerall prouinces of this Realme to be sette forth wee are in hope that in tyme he will deliniate this whole lande so perfectly as shal be comparable or beyonde any deliniation heretofore made of any other region and therefore leaue that to his well deserued prayse If any well willer will imitate him in so prayse worthie a worke for the two other regions we will be gladde to further his endeuour with all the helpes we may The Histories I haue gathered according to my skill and conferred the greatest parte with Maister VVolfe in his life time to his liking who procured me so many helpes to the furtherance thereof that I was lothe to omit any thing that might encreace the Readers knowledge whiche causeth the booke to grow so great But receyuing them by partes and at seuerall times as I might get them it may be that hauing had more regard to the mater than to the apt penning J haue not so orderly disposed them as otherwise I ought choosing rather to want order than to defraude the Reader of that whiche for his further vnderstanding might seeme to satisfie his expectation I therefore moste humbly beseeche your Honour to accept these Chronicles of Englande vnder your protection and according to your wisedome and accustomed benignitie to beare with my faultes the rather bicause you were euer so especiall good Lord to Maister VVolfe to whome I was singularly beholden and in whose name I humbly presente this rude worke vnto you beseeching God that as he hath made you an instrument to aduaunce his truth so it may please him to increace his good giftes in you to his glorie the furtheraunce of the Queenes Maiesties seruice and comforte of all hir faithfull and louing subiectes Your honours most humble to commaunde RAPHAEL HOLINSHED THE PREFACE to the Reader IT is dangerous geÌ„tle Reader to range in so large a fielde as I haue here vndertaken vvhile so many sundry men in diuers things may be able to controll mee and many excellent vvittes of our countrey as vvell or better occupied I hope are able herein to surpasse me but seing the beste able do seeme to neglect it let me though least able craue pardon to put theÌ„ in minde not to forget their natiue couÌ„treis praise vvhich is theyr dutie the encouragement of theyr vvorthie countrie men by elders aduauncements and the dauntyng of the vicious by foure penall examples to vvhiche ende I take Chronicles and Histories ought chiefly to be vvritten My labour may shevv mine vttermost good vvill of the more learned I require their further enlargement and of faultfinders dispensatioÌ„ till they be more fully enfourmed It is too commoÌ„ that the least able are readiest to finde fault in maters of least vveight and therfore I esteeme the lesse of their carping but humbly beseech the skilfull to supplie my vvant and to haue care of their dutie and eyther to amend that vvherin I haue fayled or be content vvith this mine endeuour For it may please them to consider that no one can be eye vvitnesse to all that is vvritten vvithin our time much lesse to those things vvhiche happened in former times and therefore must be content vvith reportes of others Therein I haue bene so careful that I haue spared no paynes or helpe of frendes to search out either vvritten or printed auncient Authours or to enquire of moderne eye vvitnesses for the true setting dovvne of that vvhiche I haue here deliuered but I finde such vvant in vvriters for the necessary knovvledge of things done in times past and lacke of meane to obtayne sufficient instructions by reporters of the time present and herevvith the vvorthie exploytes of our countrey men so many that it greeueth me I coulde not leaue the same to posteritie as I vvished to their vvel deserued praise But I haue here
imperted vvhat I could learne and craue that it may be takē in good part My speech is playne vvithout any Rethoricall shevve of Eloquence hauing rather a regarde to simple truth than to decking vvordes I vvishe I had bene furnished vvith so perfect instructions and so many good gifts that I might haue pleased all kindes of men but that same being so rare a thing in any one of the best I beseech thee gentle Reader not to looke for it in me the meanest But novv for thy further instruction to vnderstand the course of these my labors First cōcerning the Historie of Englād as I haue collected the same out of many and sundry Authours in vvhome vvhat contrarietie negligence and rashnesse somtime is founde in their reportes I leaue to the discretion of those that haue perused theyr vvorkes for my parte I haue in things doubtfull rather chosen to shevve the diuersitie of their vvritings than by ouer ruling them and vsing a peremptory censure to frame them to agree to my liking leauing it neuerthelesse to eche mans iudgement to controlle thē as he seeth cause If some vvhere I shevv my fancie vvhat I thinke and that the same dislyke them I craue pardon specially if by probable reasons or playner matter to be produced they can shevv mine errour vpō knovvledge vvherof I shal be ready to reforme it accordingly VVhere I do beginne the Historie from the first inhabitation of this Isle I looke not to content eche mans opinion concerning the originall of them that first peopled it and no maruell for in matters so vncertayne if I can not sufficiently content my selfe as in deede I cannot I knovve not hovv I should satisfie others That vvhiche seemeth to me most likely I haue noted beseeching the learned as I trust they vvill in such pointes of doubtfull antiquities to beare vvith my skill Sith for ought I knovv the matter is not yet decided among the learned but still they are in controuersie about it Et adhuc sub iudice lis est VVell hovv soeuer it came first to be inhabited likely it is that at the first the vvhole Isle vvas vnder one Prince and Gouernour though aftervvardes and long peraduenture before the Romaines set any foote vvithin it the Monarchie thereof vvas broken euen vvhen the multitude of the inhabitants grevv to bee great and ambition entred amongst them vvhich hath brought so many good policies and states to ruyne and decay The Romaines hauing ones got possession of the continent that faceth this Isle coulde not rest as it appeareth till they had brought the same also vnder theyr subiection and the sooner doubtlesse by reason of the factions amongst the Princes of the lande vvhiche the Romaynes through their accustomed skill coulde turne very vvell to their moste aduauntage They possessed it almoste fiue hundreth yeares and longer might haue done if eyther their insufferable tiranny had not taken avvay from them the loue of the people asvvell here as elsvvhere either that their ciuill discorde aboute the chopping and chaunging of their Emperours had not so vveakened the forces of their Empire that they vvere not able to defende the same against the impression of barbarous nations But as vvee may coniecture by that vvhiche is founde in Histories aboute that tyme in vvhiche the Romaine Empire beganne to decline this lande stoode in very vveake state being spoyled of the more parte of all hir able menne vvhiche vvere ledde avvay into forreine regions to supplie the Romayne armies and likevvise perhaps of all necessarie armour vveapon and treasure vvhiche being perceyued of the Saxons after they vvere receiued into the I le to ayde the Britons against the Scottes and Pictes then inuading the same ministred to them occasion to attempt the seconde conquest vvhiche at length they brought to passe to the ouerthrovv not onely of the Brittish dominion but also to the subuersion of the Christian religion here in this lande vvhiche chanced as appeareth by Gildas for the vvicked sinnes and vnthankefulnesse of the inhabitants tovvardes God the chiefe occasions and causes of the transmutations of kingdomes Nam propter peccata regna transmutantur à gente in gentem The Saxons obteyning possession of the lande gouerned the same being deuided into sundry kingdomes and hauing once subdued the Brytons or at the leastvvise remoued them out of the most parte of the Isle into odde corners and mountaynes fell at diuision among themselues and oftentimes vvith vvarre pursued eche other so as no perfect order of gouernement could be framed nor the Kings grovv to any great puissance eyther to moue vvarres abroade or sufficiently to defende themselues against forreyne forces at home as manifestly vvas perceyued vvhen the Danes and other the Northeasterne people being then of great puyssance by sea beganne miserably to afflict this lande at the first inuading as it vvere but onely the coastes and countreys lying neare to the sea but aftervvardes vvith mayne armies they entred into the middle partes of the lande and although the Englishe people at length came vnder one King and by that meanes vvere the better able to resist the enimies yet at length those Danes subdued the vvhole and had possessiō thereof for a time although not long but that the crovvne returned againe to those of the Saxon line till shortly after by the insolent dealings of the gouernours a deuision vvas made betvvixt the King and his people through iuste punishmente decreed by the prouidence of the Almightie determining for their sinnes and contempt of his lavves to deliuer them into the handes of a stranger and therevpon vvhen spite and enuie had brought the title in doubte to vvhom the right in succession apperteyned the Conquerour entred and they remayned a pray to him and his vvho plucked all the heades and chiefe in authoritie so clearely vp by the rootes as fevve or none of them in the ende vvas lefte to stande vp against him And herevvith altering the vvhole state hee planted lavves and ordinaunces as stoode moste for his auayle and suretie vvhich being after qualified vvith more milde and gentle lavves tooke suche effect that the state hath euer sithence continued vvhole and vnbroken by vvise and politike gouernement although disquieted sometime by ciuill dissention to the ruyne commonly of the firste mouers as by the sequele of the historie ye may see For the Historie of Scotlande I haue for the more parte follovved Hector Boete Iohannes Maior and Iouan Ferreri Piemontese so farre as they haue continued it interlaced sometimes vvith other Authours as Houeden Fourdon and such like although not often bicause I meante rather to deliuer vvhat I founde in their ovvne Histories extant than to correct them by others leauing that enterprice to their ovvne countrey men so that vvhat soeuer ye reade in the same consider that a Scottishman vvritte it and an English man hath but onely translated it into our language referring the Reader to the English Historie in all maters betvvixte vs and them
See more hereof in the booke of Actes and Monumentes set foorth by M. Foxe vol. 1. leafe .195 he sodenly fel down to the earth so that his seruants toke him vp bare him vnto the english schoole or hospitall where the thirde night after he died Pope Iohn the .x. sent vnto king Adelstane to know if he wold that his bodie should be layde in christian burial or not The king at the contemplation of Alfreds frends kinsfolks signified to the Pope that he was contented that his bodye shuld be enterred amongst other christians His lands being forfaited were giuen by y e king vnto God S. Peter The cause y t moued Alfred and other his coÌ„plices against the king was as some haue aledged his bastardie But whether that allegation wer true or but a slander this is certain that except that stain of his honor â–ª there was nothing in this Adelstan worthy of blame So that he darkned all the glorious fame of his predecessors both in vertuous conditions victorious triumphs Such difference is there to haue that in himselfe wherein to excell rather than to stande vpon the worthinesse of his auncesters sith that can not rightly be called his After that K. Adelstane was established in the estate he endeuored himself to answer the expectation of his people which hoped for great welth to ensue by his noble prudent gouernaÌ„ce Anno. 925. Si. Dunelm Polyd. Fyrst therfore meaning to prouide for the suretie of his countrey he coÌ„cluded a peace with Sithricus K. of the NorthuÌ„bers vnto whoÌ„ as ye haue hearde he gaue one of his sisters named Editha in mariage Sithrike liued not past one yere after he had so maried hir VV. Mal. And theÌ„ Adelstan brought the prouince of the NorthuÌ„bers vnto his subiection expelling one Aldulph out of the same y t rebelled against him Ther be y e write that Godfrey Aulafe the sonnes of Sithrike succeding their father in the gouernment of NorthuÌ„berland by practising to moue war against king Adelstane occasioned him to inuade their couÌ„trey and to chase them out of the same so that Aulaf fled into Irâ—…land Godfrey into ScotlaÌ„d but other write H. Hâ—…t y e Godfrey was the father of Reignold which was Yorke after that Sithrike had slaine his brother Nigellus as before is mencioned H. Boetiâ—… The 〈◊〉 vvriteâ—… 〈◊〉 from our English author Beatrice 〈…〉 The Scottish chronicles vary in report of these matters from y e english writers whose chronicles affirm y t in the life time of K. Edwarde his daughter Beatrice was giuen in mariage to Sithrike the gouernor of the Danes in Northumberland with condition that if any issue male were procreate of that mariage the same shuld inherite the dominions of K. Edward after his decease Kyng Edward had a brother as they say named Edwyn Edvvyn 〈◊〉 not brother of K. Edvv. but to him a ioyly Gentleman and of great estimation amongst the Englishmen He by Sithrikes procurement was sent into Flaunders in a ship that leaked so was drowned to the greate reioycing of all the Danes least if he had suruiued his brother hee woulde haue made some businesse for the crowne About the same time AdelstaÌ„ a base son of K. Edw. fled y e realme for doubt to be made away by some like trayterous practise of the Danes AthelstaÌ„ 〈◊〉 the realme Shortly after K. Edward vnderstanding y e Sithrik went about some mischef toward him persuaded his daughter to poyson hir husbande the sayd Sithrike Then Aulaffe or Aualassus and Godfrey the sonnes of Sithrike finding out by diligent examination y t Beatrice was of counsell in poysoning hir husband they caused hir to be apprehended â–ª and put to death on this wyse She was sette naked vpon a Smythes colde Anuylde or stythie Beatrice 〈◊〉 death by his stepsonnes and therewith harde rosted egges being taken foorth of the hot ymbers were putte vnder hir arme pittes and hir armes faste bounde to hir bodie with a corde and so in that state she remayned till hir life passed from hir K. Edward in reuenge of his daughters death moued war against the two brethren Aulaf and Godfrey in battail finally vaÌ„quished them but was slain in the same battail himself Thus haue the Scotish chronicles recorded of these matters as an induction to the warres which folowed betwixt the Scots and Danes as confederates against K. Adelstan but for the truth thereof we leaue to the readers own iudgement For in oure englishe writers we finde no suche matter but that a daughter of King Edward named Eadgitha or Editha after hir fathers deceasse was by hir brother King Athelstane about the firste yeare of his reigne giuen in mariage as before ye haue hearde vnto the foresayde Sithrike king of Northumberland that was descended of the Danishe bloud who for the loue of the young Ladie renounced his Heathenishe religion and became a christian but shortely after forsakyng bothe hys wyfe and the christian faythe hee set vppe againe the worshipping of Idols and within a while after as an Apostata miserably ended his life Wherevpon the yong Lady hir virginitie being preserued Editha a Virgin and hir body vndefyled as they write passed the residue of hir dayes at Pollesworth in Warwikeshire spendyng hir time as the same writers affirme in fasting watching praying and doing of almes deedes and so at length departed out of this world Thus our writers differ from the Scottish history both in name maner of end as concerning that daughter of K. Edwarde that was coupled in marriage with Sithrike But now to returne where we left After that Kyng Adelstane hadde subdued them of Northumberland hee was aduertised that not onely Constantine Kyng of Scottes but also Hudvale or Howell Kyng of Wales wente about a priuie conspiracy agaynst him VVil. Malm. Heerevppon with all conuenient speede assembling his power he wente against them and with like good fortune subdued them bothe and also Vimer or Wulferth K. of North wales so that they were constreyned to submit themselues vnto him who shortly after moued with pitie in considering their suddayne fall restored them all three to their former estates Mat. VVest 926 The noble saying of king Athelstane VV. Mal. but so as they should acknowledge themselues to gouerne vnder hym pronouncing with all this notable saying that more honorable it was to make a King than to be a King Ye must vnderstand that as it appeareth by the Scottish Chronicles the ScottishmeÌ„ in time of the warres that the Danes made to y e English nation gote a parte of Cumberland and other the North countreys into their possession and so by reason of their neere adioyning to the confines of the Englishe Kings there chaunced occasions of warre betwixte them as well in the days of Kyng Edward as of this Adelstane hys sonne although indeede the Danes held the more part of the North countreys till that
soeuer thing I haue in the worlde the same is ready to do you pleasure But coÌ„cerning the cause of your comming hither in shewing your courtesies therein you shall vnderstande that my parentes whom I truste to be in heauen and as Saintes enioy the fruytes of theyr vertuous trauayles here taken on earth did so instruct me from my tender youth that I should worship with all reuerence the most wise creatour prouident gouernour of all things and to thinke that nothing was done by him in vaine but that the same is prouided ordeyned to some good vse by his highe and insearchable counsell and therefore whylest day and nighte I haue and do reuolue and call to remembraunce the precepts and instructions of my parents His parentes godly instructions what so euer hath chaunced eyther touching aduersitie or prosperitie good happe or bad the same hath seemed to me at the firste receyuing all things with equall and thankefull minde and interpreting them to the beste farre more light than they commonly seeme to others and lesse they did disquiet me so as with vse I haue learned at length not onely paciently to beare all aduersities that may happen but also to receyue the same as things pleasant and euen to be desired And verily my happe hath bene 〈◊〉 â—…he greatly exercised in this behalfe Losse of friendes for I haue firste seene my father more deare do me thaÌ„ any earthly treasure His father and no lesse profitable than greatly desired of all the people and yet neyther the loue of the people nor of his kinsmenne and frendes might warrant him from this fatall necessitie of death His mother I haue knowen my mother right famous in the worlde for hyr singuler vertue to passe hence in like maner His brethren My bretherne that were so louing and againe so greatly beloued of me also my wife whom I esteemed more than all other creatures are they not gone the same way and compelled to beare deaths harde ordinaunce So verily standeth the case that no man might yet at any time auoyde the violence of his force when he commeth Death cannot be dispensed with for we all alike owe this life vnto him as a due debte that muste needes be payd But this is to be receyued with a thankfull minde in that the bountifull beneuolence of our God hath graunted that we shall be all immortall if we our selues through vice and as it were spotted with filthie diseases of the minde do not fall into the danger of eternall death Wherefore of right me thinke I haue cause to reioyce that God by his singular fauour hath graunted to me suche a sonne whiche in all mens iudgement was woorthie to be beloued whilest he was here amongst vs Why are ought to take the death of our children and friendes patiently and to be wished for now after he is departed from hence but ought we to take it heauily that he to whom he belonged and who had sent him vnto vs should call for him again and take him that was his owne For what iniurie is it if when I see occasion I shall aske that againe whiche you haue possessed through my benefite as lent to you for a time Neyther do I truste to want him long if God shal be so mercyfull vnto me as I wishe him to be for I hope shortly to be called hence by commaundement of that most high king and to be carried vp to rest among that felowshippe of heauenly spirites where I shall finde my father and mother my bretherne wife and sonne in far better estate than here I knew theÌ„ Therfore that I may repete it once again I reioyce I say to haue obtained in my son by y e grace of y e supernal God y t I am assured by faith he is already in y e place to the whiche all we do earnestly wishe that we may atteyne and do endeuour by all meanes that when the time coÌ„meth in whiche our soules are to be lâ—…wsed foorth of these frayle bodies of ours as out of prysons they may be found worthie of that companie in which our coÌ„fidence is that he now most blissefully is remayning Except any man may thinke that wee are so enuious that therefore we do lament bicause as yet we sticke fast ouerwhelmed drownes in suche fylthye myres and combered in suche thornye thickets and bushes oute of the whiche he beeing now deliuered of all cares hath escaped But let vs rather by followyng the foote steppes of him and other vertuous persons that are gone afore vs labour both day night that at length through heauenly fauour wee may come to the place where we do recken that by deuine power he is alreadie arriued After that the king had made an end of his Oration and thankes giuen to God for his bountifull munificence they rose from the table and departed to theyr lodgings they all greatly marueyling at the kings highe prudence and godly wisedome After this was Malcolme the eldest sonne of the before mencioned prince Henry Malcolme the sonne of Henry proclaimed prince of scotlande proclaymed in his place prince of Scotlande and conueyed through the moste partes of the realme by Duncane Earle of Fyfe and other of the nobles appointed to attende vpon and to receyue the othes of all the Barons for theyr allegiaunce in his name Erle of Northumberlande William the second sonne of prince Henry was conueyed into Northumberland by the foresayde nobles and there proclaimed and created Earle of that countrey Then went king Dauid himselfe vnto Carleile where he met with Henry the sonne of the Empresse who receyued the order of knighthood there at his hands This was a little before that the same Henry came to an agreemeÌ„t with king Stephen Henry the empresse hir son receyueth the order of knighthode whereby he was admitted to the possession of halfe the realme of Englande and promised by othe of assurance as the Scottish writers saye that he shoulde neuer be aboute to take the counties of Northumberland Cumberland and Huntingdon from the crowne of Scotland Shortly after was king Dauid taken with a sore disease and maladie which continued wyth him to the ende of his lyfe And so when hee perceyued himselfe to waxe faynte and feeble he required to be borne to the Churche where he receyued the sacrament of the Lordes bodie and bloud with most solemne reuerence and then beeing brought againe to hys chamber he called together his nobles and commending vnto theÌ„ his yong nephews the sonnes of his sonne the forenamed prince Henry he kissed eche one of them after an other most instantly desiring them in the honour of almighty God The exhortation of king Dauid to his nobles to seeke the preseruation of common quiet to the aduauncement of the publike weale This done he departed out of this life in the xxix King Dauid departeth out of this life yeare of his raigne
vnder your graces correction I may prayse the enimie I must iudge to be Robert Bruce king of Scotlande whome the Herald had no sooner named The Heralde is scorned but all those that were presente with skornefull laughter began to ieast at the Heraldes presumption for that he durst so malapertly in the kings presence honour the enimie with so high prayse At length at the Heraldes request the King commaunded them to be styll the Harold then began againe thus The Herauld◅ excuse I beseeke youre highnesse sayd he if I haue oughte offended to take my words in good part for I haue bene euer of this opinion that the trouth should in euery case bee vttered receiued and allowed in your graces presence namely where your highnesse commaundeth any man to declare the same The Heraulds opinion This one thing therefore I shall desyre you to consider that if a man must needes bee vanquished it is lesse dishonoure to bee vanquished of him that is knowne for a right valiant personage than of him that is but a coward Moreouer to shew playnly vnto your grace how much I esteeme the valiancie of king Robert whom I perceiue some here may not abide to haue numbred with the .ij. former most valiant capitains if the trouth mighte appeare I durst be bold to preferre him with good cause before them both for the valiaunt actes atchieued by Henry the Emperour may be ascribed rather to the wisedom of his counsellors than to hys own valiantnesse and prudencie The opinion of the herauld concerning K. Roberts valiancie but contraryly King Robert being confined out of his coūtrey and destitute of frendes and all conuenable ayde recouered the realme of Scotlande by his singular manhood out of the handes of your noble father and established it with suche tranquilitie that he appeared more terrible to his enimies of Englande than euer they hadde bin afore to hys subiects of Scotland These or the semblable wordes vttered by the Heraulde were well allowed of the kyng and stopped the mouthes of them that tooke the matter so straungely at the first But now to return to the purpose King Roberte a little before the tyme of his death called togither into the chamber where he lay the chiefest peeres of his realme and there in presence of them all committed vnto them the gouernment of his sonne Dauid a child as then not past seuen yeares of age He also aduised them of sundry things touching the rule of the Realme after his decease whiche he perceyued was at hand The aduice giuen by K. Robert vnto his nobles before his decease And first he counselled them that in no wyse they should at any tyme make an absolute lord ouer the Iles bycause the people of the same are of nature vnstedfast soone seduced broughte to moue rebellion againste the Kyng into the which beeing once fallen they are not easily reduced to their due obedience againe by reason theyr countreys are of suche strength that they can not be approched but by sea as enuironned with the same Secondarily hee aduised them neuer to appoynt any sette battayle with the Englishmen nor to ieoparde the realme vpon the chaunce of one fielde but rather to resist and keepe them off from endomaging their countrey by often skirmishing and cutting them off at straits and places of aduauntage to the intent that if Scottes be discomfited they maye yet haue some power reserued to make new resistance Thirdly he forbad them in any wise to make any long peace with Englande for naturally men ware dull and slouthfull by long reste and quietnesse so that after long peace through lack of vse and exercise of armes men are not able to sustaine any great paines or trauaile Moreouer he alledged how the Englishmen woulde continue in peace no longer than there wanted oportunitie and conuenient occasion for them to attempt the warres and therfore he iudged it best that the Scottes shoulde neuer conclude any perpetuall peace with them nor take any truce longer than for three or foure yeares at the moste He willed them farther to consider one thing that when there appeared least occasion of warres with England then they ought to be moste circumspecte in aduenture their enimies should come at vnwares and fynde them vnprouided for tymely resistance Herevnto hee desired them His desire to haue his hart◅ borne to the holy sepulchre that after his deceasse they woulde choose some one of the moste worthie captaines within the whole realme to beare his heart vnto Hierusalem and there to see it buried within the temple before the holy Sepulchre of our Lorde For if he had not bin for a long space hyndered by vrgent businesse of warres at home and lastly preuented by death he had vowed to haue passed with an army into the holy lande in defence of the christian faith againste the Turks and Sarasins Herevpon when he was dead the lordes by one assent appointed sir Iames Dowglas Sir Iames Douglas appointed to goe with K. Roberts heart to the sepulchre to take this enterprise in hande who willingly obeyed their order as he that had euer dutyng the lyfe of king Roberte serued moste faithfully the bodie wherin the same hart was inclosed And for this cause The cause why the Douglasses bear the bloudye heart the Douglasses beare the bloudy heart in their armes Syr Iames Douglas then chosen as moste worthy to passe with king Robertes heart vnto the holy lande chosed the same in a case of golde enbalmed with sweet spices and right precious oyntments And herewith hauing in his companie a number of nobles and gentlemen amongst whome sir William Synclare and sir Robert Logan were chiefe he passed foorth tyll he came to the Citie of Ierusalem where hee buried the hart aforesayd with al reuerence and solemnitie that he might d◅ise This done he resorted with such number as he had brought thither with him vnto such other Christian princes as at the same tyme were gathered with great puissance The valiancie of Iames Douglas shewed againste the Turkes from sundry partes of Christendome to warre against the Turkes and there in companye with them he did so noble seruice agaynst the common enimies of our religion that by his often victories he wan great honour to the Christian name At lengthe hauing accomplished his charge in those parties with no lesse fame and glorye than princely magnificence he toke the seas to haue returned home into Scotland Iames Douglas cōmeth a land in Spayn but by force of contrary wynds he was driuen on the coast of Spayne landyng there vppon the bordures of Granado where at the same tyme he found the king of Aragone readie to make warres against the Sarasins that inhabited in those parties The Douglas to make his manhod and prowes the more knowne in all partes where hee came offered the king of Aragone to serue vnder hym in those warres against the infidels and
y e leysure hath not serued vs to write out the copy again after we had first writtē it as first we found it briefly cōpiled by Campion who gathering forth brief notes hath handsomely ioyned them togither but omitted many things likewise for hast where otherwise that which he hath done in this behalf deserueth vndoubtedly singular cōmendation But now to the matter In this season diuers castels abbeys bridges were erected builded in Ireland For the English Welch nobilitie now setled there studied both to reduce y e people to ciuilitie likewise to beautify the cūtry w t buildings seruing both for defēce cōmoditie They arryued in Irelande aboute the latter ende of Aprill remayning there all the Sommer following diuerse Castelles were by them builded with the aduise of Hugh Lacie before he departed homewardes as at Fothred Oualan at Tresteldermot at Collacht and sundrye other Where as Meiller enioyed the Countrey of Kildare giuen to him by Earle Srangbow they remoued him from thence into the Countrey of Leys exchaunging with him in the Kings behalfe to haue the one for the other And this was done of purpose that he being a warrelyke personage shoulde possesse a Countrey wylde and full of enimies whereby to bring the rebels into some conformitie by force sith otherwise they were not to be tamed In the Winter following the Conestable of Chester and his associate returned into England and Hugh Lacie was againe appoynted Lorde Lieutenant of Irelande hauing one of the kings Chaplaynes ioyned with him named Robert de Shrewresburie to be as it were an assystaunt to him and a witnesse of all his dealings Who vpon his returne nowe into Irelande fell in hand to buylde more Castelles in places where he sawe it expedient so to restrayne the attemptes of vnruly persons and to defende others from susteyning iniurie This Hugh Lacie was a man right diligent in his businesse The descriptition of Hugh Lacie and carefull and as he was an expert warriour so yet was he not verie fortunate in iourneys nowe and then which he made vpon the enimyes He was of vysage browne blacke eyed and hollowe flat nosed with his cheeke on the right syde disfigured by reason hee had beene burnt by chaunce in his youth short necked his bodie hearie but strong sinewed And to conclude of stature small and of shape deformed After the deceasse of his wife he was noted to be verie dissolute of lyfe vsing the companie not of one but of manye Concubines couetous to heape vppe ryches and ambicious beyonde measure But nowe to the Hystorie In the yeare last past to witte 1182. or as others haue in the yeare .1180 dyed Laurence Archbishop of Dublyn after whō succeeded Iohn Cumyn an English man that was brought vp in the Abbey of Euesham founder of Saint Patrikes in Dublyn which before that time was a parish Church and by him conuerted into a Colledge with sufficient reuenues assigned for the maintenaunce of parsons vicars clearkes and choristers There hath risen great contention betwixt this and christs Church for antiquitie Contention betwixt Churches for preeminence of antiquitie wherin doubtlesse sayth our Author Saint Patrike ought to giue place They are in deed both written cathedrall Churches and both reputed the Bishops Chapiter in whose electiō they ought to come togither in the Church of the Trinitie commonly called Christs Church which in all recordes hath the preeminēce of place The party disturbing this order of election forfeyteth to the Archebishop of Dublyn .200 lb The foundation of S. Patrikes was greatly aduaunced by king Iohn In the yeare .1183 1183 The death of king Henrie the sonne died king Henrie the sonne reconciled to his father but preparing a new war agaynst his brother Richard Duke of Aquitaine And shortly after died another of king Henries sonnes named Geffrey Erle of Brytaine Ireland giuen to Iohn the sonne of king Henrie 1185 And so were left Richard and Iohn that was after Erle of Gloucester surnamed without land to whome the father conueyed all his interest and Lordeship of Irelande and sent him thither honourably accompanied being then but .xij. yeares olde with him in especial trust Geraldus Cambrensis a lerned man and a diligent searcher of antiquities About this yong gentleman were placed seruants Counsellers of three sundry sortes Counsellers about the lord Iohn the kings sonne fyrst Normās great quaffers slouthful persōs prowd gluttons trayned vp in extorcions briberie to whom he most leaned Secondly English men that went ouer with him bad ynough and vnskilfull Thirdly the Englishe men whiche hee founde in the land whom being best worthy and moste forwarde in all good seruice hee least regarded Hereof sprung factions and disdaine so that the knightes whiche were moste valiant and readiest to doe their duetyes were greatly discouraged and the enimies in hope highly recomforted Lacie came sundry tymes thither to further the worke full glad to see them fall in vre with any such exercise wherein might they once begin to haue a delight and tast the sweetenesse of a true mans life he thought it no small token of reformation for whiche cause hee visited them the oftner and merily would commaund his gentlemen to giue the labourers example to take theyr tooles in hande and to worke a season whyle the poore soules looking on might rest them But this pastime grewe to a tragicall end for on a time as each man was busily occupied some lading some heauing some plastring some grauing the generall also himselfe digging with a pickare a desperate villayne among them whose toole the noble man vsed espying both his hands occupyed and his body enclining downewards still as he stroke watched when hee so stouped 1186 Lacy is trayterously slayne and with an axe cleft his head in sunder little esteeming the torments that for this trayterous acte ensued This Lacie was reputed to be the conqueror of Meth for that hee was the firste that broughte it to any due order of obedience to the Englishe power His body the two Archbishops Iohn of Dublin and Mathew of Casseill buried in the Monasterie of Bectie and his head in Sainte Thomas Abbey at Dublin Translation of Prebendaries to Mōks This Curcy translated the Church and Prebendaries of the Trinitie in Doune to an Abbey of blacke Monkes brought thither from Chester caused the same to be consecrated vnto S. Patrick for which alteration taking the name from God to a creature he deemed himselfe worthily punished Not long after as say the Irish certain French knightes came to king Iohns court A chalenge for a combat◅ made by certayne French Knightes and one among them required the combate for triall of the right to the Duchie of Normandy It was not thought expedient to ieoperd the title vpō one mans lucke yet the chalenge they determined to answer Some friende put them in minde of the Erle imprisoned a warriour of notable courage and
setled in his life his heart shoulde be there entombed after his death Which was according to his will accomplished For his heart was conueyed to Irelande and lyeth engraued in the Chore of the Cathedrall Church in Kilkennie where his auncesters for the more part are buried Vpon which kinde legacie this Epitaph was deuised His Epitaph Cor patriae fixum viuens iam redditur illi Post mortem patriae quae peracerba venit Non sine corde valet mortalis viuere quisqÌ„ Vix tua gens vita permanet absque tua Quae licet iâ—…foelix extincto corde fruatur Attamen optato viuere corde nequit Ergo qurd haec faciat quem re non possit amorem Cordi vt tam charo reddere corde velit The effect of which Epitaph is thus Englished The liuing heart where lay engrauen the care of Countrey deere To Countrey lurelesse is restorde and lies engrauen heere None heartlesse liues his countrey then alas what ioy is left Whose hope whose hap whose hart he was till death his life bereft And though the soyle here shrowdes the heart which most it wisht tenioy Yet of the change from nobler seate the cause doth it annoy What honour then is due to him for him what worthie rite But that eche heart with heartiest loue his worthiest heart may quite This Earle was of so noble a disposition as he woulde sooner countenaunce and support his poore well willer in his aduersitie than hee woulde make or fawne vpon his welthie friend in prosperitie Hauing bid at London The kindnesse of Iames Earle of Ormonde to his friendes not long before his death the Ladie Gray Countesse of Kildare to dinner it happened that a souldiour surnamed Power who lately returned fresh from the Emperour his warres came to take his repast with the Earle before the messenger When the Erle and the Countesse were set this roysting rutteekin wholy then standing on the Soldado koigh placed himselfe right ouer agaynst the Countesse of Kildare hard at the Earle of Ormonde his elbow as though hee were bâ—…ile fellow well met The noble man appalled at the impudent saucinesse of the malapert souldiour who notwithstanding might be borne withal bycause an vnbidden guest knoweth not where to sit besought him courteously to giue place The Earle when the other rose taking vppon him the office of a Gentleman Vsher placed in Power his seate Edvvad Fitz Girald his cousin Edwarde Fitz Giralde now Lieutenant of hir Maiesties Pencioners who at that time being a yong stripling attended vpon his mother the Countesse and so in order he set euery Gentleman in his degree to the number of fifteene or sixteene and last of all the companie he licenced Power if he woulde to sit at the lower ende of the Table where hee had scantly elbow rowme The Countesse of Kildare perceyuing the noble man greatly to stomacke the Souldiour his presumptuous boldnesse nipt him at the elbow and whispering softly besought his Lordship not to take the matter so hote bycause the Gentleman she ment Power knewe that the house of Kildare was of late attainted and that hir children were not in this their calamitie in such wise to be regarded No Ladie quoth the Earle with a lowde voyce and the teares trilling downe his lecres say not so I trust to see the day when my yong cousin Edwarde and the remnant of your children as little reckning as hee maketh of them shall disdain the coÌ„panie of any such skip Iack. Which prophecie fill out as truly as he foretold it only sauing that it stoode with God his pleasure to call him to his mercie before he could see that day after which doubtlesse he longed and looked I meane the restitution of the house of Kildare After this noble Earle his vntimely decease Sir Anthonie Sentleger returneth Lorde Deputie sir Anthony Sentleger was returned into Irelande Lorde Deputie who was a wise and a wary Gentleman a valiant seruitour in warre and a good Iusticer in peace properly learned a good maker in the Englishe hauing grauitie so enterlaced with pleasantnesse as with an exceeding good grace he would attaine the one without pouting dumpishnesse and exercise the other without loathfull lightnesse Thâ—…râ—…fell in his time a fat benefice of which be as Lord deputie had the presentation When diuerse made suyte to him for the benefice and offred with dishonestie to buy that which with safetie of conscience he could not sell hee answered merily that he was resolued not to commit Simonie Sentleger his â—â—nie yet notwithstanding he had a nagge in his Stable that was worth fortie shillings and he that woulde giue him fortie poundes for the nagge shoulde bee prefereed to the benefice Which he rather of pleasure vttered than of any vnconscionable meaning purposed to haue done His gouernment had beene of the Countrey very well lyked were it not that in his time he began to assesse the Pale with certaine new impositions not so profitable as it was thought to the Gouernours as it was noysome to the subiectes The debating of which I purpose to referre to them who are discoursers of publique estates and the reformers of the coÌ„mon wealth praying to God that hee with his grace direct them so faythfully to accomplish the duties of good Magistrates that they gouerne that poore battred Island to hid diuine honour to hir maiesties contentation to the suppressing of Rebels to the vpholding of subiectes and rather to the publique weale of the whole countrey than to the priuate gaine of a few persons THus farre gentle reader as mine instructions directed me and my leysure serued mee haue I continued a parcell of the Irish historie and haue stretched it to the raigne of Edwarde the sixth Wherevpon I am forced to craue at thyne handes pardon and tollerance pardon for any errour I shal be found to haue committed which vpon friendly admonition I am ready to reforme tollerance for that part of the historie which is not continued till time I be so furnished and fraught with matter as that I may employ my trauaile to serue thy contentation And albeit I might with some enquirie iumble vp these latter yeares and so make the booke to beare a shewe of a complete Historie yet notwithstanding I am so precisely set vpon so tickle a taske and so fickle a grounde that rather concerneth the liuing than apperteyneth to the deade as I woulde be lothe to be taken in anye part thereof not onely to stumble but also once to trippe For as the Philosopher reproued the astronomer which was so busie in gazing on the skie as that he tumbled headlong in a pitte that was digged at his feete supposing that hee which was ignorant of so neare a marke was not like to prognosticate future euentes by Planets and Starres that were so farre distant of so if a Chronicler shoulde misreport exploytes that were enterprised but hesteâ—…n day the reader might probably surmise that hee which is
deuyse to the Kyng and where hee perceyued by hys cheere and countenaunce that hys heart was full of pensiue griefe carefull thought and heauynesse he comforted hym in the beste maner that hee myght and sayd to him Moste noble King there is no cause wherefore your grace shoulde be pensiue The Prince cheereth the French king though God this daye didde not consente to followe youre will For your noble prowes and dignitie royall wyth the supreme type of youre Kyngly Maiestye remayneth whole and inuiolate and whatsoeuer maye rightly bee called yours so that no violente force of time shall blotte out or diminishe the same Paulus Aâ—…milius the Almightie God hath determined that the chaunce of warre shall rest in his disposition and will as all other things Your elders haue atchieued bothe by lande and sea many noble enterprices The whole compasse of Europe al the East parts of the world all places and countreys bothe farre and neare are full of monumentes witnessing the noble victories attained by the Frenche people The cause of godlie liuing and religion the dignity and preheminence of Christianitie hathe bene defended and augmented by you againste the moste mightie and puissaunt capitaines of the infidels enemies to the said Christian religion All ages shall make mention of your worthie praises no nation there is but shall confesse it selfe bounden at one time or other for benefites receiued at your handes neyther is there any people but suche as hope to be hereafter bounden to you for reliefe and benefites to proceede from you in time to come one or twoo batails haplye haue chaunced amongest so many triumphs otherwise than you wold haue wished Chaunce woulde it shoulde be so whiche maye enfeeble and make weake the power of horses armor and weapon your inuincible courage and royall magnanimitie lyeth in your power to reteyne neyther shall this day take any thing from you or yours And this realme of Fraunce whiche hathe procreate and brought foorth norished so many of my noble progenitors shall perceyue my good meanyng towardes hir and not forgetfull of myne elders and towarde your maiestie if you will vouchsafe that I shoulde glorye of that name a most humble kinsman There are manye occasions of loue and freendshippe betwixte you and my father whiche I truste shall take place for I knowe all his thoughtes and inwarde meanings you shall agree and come to an attonement right easily togither and I pray God he neuer take me for his sonne except I haue you in the same degree of honour reuerence and faithfull loue whiche I owe towardes hym The king as reason wold acknowleged this to proceede of great curteste The Frenche King thanketh the Prince shewed towardes him in the prince and thanked him accordingly And the Prince performing in deede that whiche hee spake with worde ceased from further vsing of fire or other endomaging of the Frenche dominions taking his way through the countreys of Poictow and Xaintonge by easie iourneys The prince returneth to Berdeaux Froissart he and his people came to Blay and so passed ouer the water to Burdeaux in good safetie with all their riches and prisoners The Prince gaue to the lorde Iames Audeley who hadde receiued in the battaile many sore woundes v. C. The lord Audley revvarded markes of yearely reuenues assigned foorth of his landes in Englande the whiche gifte the knight graunted as freelye as he hadde receiued it vnto foure of his Esquiers whyche in the battaile hadde bene euer attendaunt aboute his person without whose ayde and valiant support he knewe well that he had bene slaine sundrie times in the same battaile by his enimies When the Prince hearde that he hadde so done hee marueiled what his meaning was therby and caused him to be brought beefore his presence and demaunded of hym wherefore he hadde so lightlie giuen away that rewarde whiche hee had bestowed vpon hym and whether hee thought that gifte to meane for him or not The Lorde Audeley so excused himselfe in extosting the good seruice done to him by his Esquiers throughe whome he hadde so many times escaped the daungers of deathe that the Prince did not onelie confirme the resignation of the fiue hundred marks giuen to the esquiers but also rewarded the lord Audley wyth vj. C. markes more of like yearely reuenues in maner and forme as her had receiued the other When the newes of this greate victorie came into Englande of the ouerthrowe of the Frenchemen and taking of the Frenche king yee may bee sure there was greate ioy shewed by outwarde tokens as bonfiers made Bonfiers feastes and banquets kept throughe the whole realme likewise the Gascoignes and englishemen beeing come to Burdeaux made greate reuell and pastime there spending freely that gold siluer which they had won in the battell of Poictiers and else where in that iourney This yeare in Aprill the Prince of Wales tooke shipping with his prisoners at Burdeaux and the fifthe of Maye arriued at Plimmouth 1357 An. reg 32. The foure and twentieth day of May bee was with greate honour ioyfully receiued of the citizens into the citie of London Ad. to Merimouth The prince bringeth the Frenche King ouer into Englande and so conueyed to the pallace of Westminster where the Kyng sitting in Westminster hall receyued the Frenche king and after conueyed hym to a lodging appointed for him where he laye a season but after hee was remoued to the Savoy whiche was at that time a goodly house apperteining to the Duke of Lancaster though afterwardes it was brent and destroyed by Wat Tyler and Iacke Strawe and theyr companie In this place the Frenche Kyng laye and kept house a long time after In the Winter followyng were royall Iustes holden in Smithfielde at the whiche were presente the Kings of England A Iustes holden Smithfielde Fraunce and Scotland with many greate estates of all their three kingdomes of the whiche the more parte of the straungers were as then prisoners It was reported that the French kyng could nor so dissemble nor cloke his inwarde thought but that there appeared some tokens of griefe in his countenaunce whilest hee behelde these warlike pastimes and when the king of Englande The Frenche King fâ—…vvfull and his sonne Prince Edwarde with comfortable wordes required hym after supper to put all pensiue cares out of his fantasie and to bee merrie and sing as other did he shoulde make this aunswere with a smyling countenaunce Quomodo cantabimus canticum in terra alienae Tho. VVals Frâ—…rt Aboute the same time there came ouer into Englande twoo Cardinalles the one called Talirande beyng bishoppe of Alba and commonly named the Cardinall of Pierregort Caâ—…a 〈◊〉 Englands and the other hight Nicholas intitled Cardinall of Saint Vitale or as Frossart hath of Dargell they were sente from Pope Innocent the sixte to entreate for a peace betwixte the Kinges of Englande and Fraunce but they coulde not
inteÌ„t of disobedience rebellion To the redressing of which it semed to my lord y e ChaÌ„cellor y t my said lord of Gloucest did not his indeuor nor diligence y t he might haue shewed for lack of which diligence they that were disposed to do disobeysance were encouraged and emboldned so that it was lyke that they shoulde haue made a gathering and that the King and his true subiects shoulde haue bin compelled to haue made a field to haue withstand them the which field making had bin aduenturing of this lande and in tokening that it was neuer my said Lorde Chancellors intente to gather no field but as truth most stirred hym against such as riotously woulde make such assemblie againste our soueraigne Lorde and the weale of this lande hee desired so hastely the coÌ„ming of my sayde L. of Bedford the whiche hee woulde in no wise haue so greately desired if hee woulde haue purposed him vnto anye vnlawfull making of a field for he wist well that my sayd Lord of Bedford would most sharply haue chastised and punished all those that so woulde anye riotous assemble make When this aunswere was made the Duke caused this writing following openly to be proclaymed BE it knowen to all folkes that it is the intent of my Lorde of Bedforde and all the Lordes spirituall and temporall assembled in this present Parliamente to acquite him them and to proceede truely iustly indifferently without any parcialitie in any maner of master or quarelâ—… moued or to be moued between my L. of Gloucester on that one partie and my Lord of Winchester Chancellor of Englande on that other partie And for sure keping of the kings peace it is acorded by my said L. of Bedford and by my sayd Lordes spirituall and temporall an othe to be made in forme as followeth that is to say The oth of the Lordes THat my sayd Lord of Bedford and my sayd Lords spiritual and temporal each of them shal as farre forth as their cunnyngs and discretions suffisen truely iustlys and indifferentely counsell and aduise the K. and also proceede and acquit themselues in all the sayd matters quarels without that they or any of them shall priuily and apertly make or shewe himselfe to bee partie or partiall therein not leauyng or eschuing so to doe for affection loue neede doubte or dreade of any person or persons And that they shall in all wise kepe secret al that shall be coÌ„moned by way of counsell in the matters and quarrels abouesayd in the sayd parliament without that they or any of them shall by worde writing of the king or in anie wise open or discouer it to anie of the saide parties or to any other person that is not of the saide counsaile But if he haue a speciall Comaundement or leaue therevnto of the K. or of my sayd lord of Bedf. And that eche of theÌ„ shall with all his might and power assiste by way of counsell or else shew it vnto the king my lord of Bedford to the rest of my said lordes to put the said parties to reason and not to suffer that any of the said parties by them or by their assistance proceede or attempt by waye of fight against the kings peace nor helpe assist or comfort any of them therto but lette them with al their might and power withstande them and assist vnto the king and my said Lorde of Bedforde in keeping of the Kinges peace and redressing all suche maner of proceedyng by waye of fight or force The Dukes THe Duke of Bedforde The Duke of Norffolke The duke of Excester Bishoppes The Archebishop of Canterbury The Bishop of Carlile The Bishoppe of Bathe The Bishoppe of Landaffe The Bishop of Rochester The Bishop of Chichester The Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Saint Dauids The Bishop of London The Bishop of Duresme Earles The Earle of Northumberlande The Earle of Stafforde The Earle of Oxforde Lordes The Lorde Hungerforde The Lorde Tiptoste The Lorde Poynings The Lorde Cromewell The Lorde Boroughe The Lorde Louell The Lorde Botreux The Lorde Clinton The Lorde Zouche The Lorde Audeley The Lorde Ferreis of Grouby The Lorde Talbot The Lorde Roos The Lorde Grey The Lord Grey of Ruthen The Lorde Fitz Waiter The Lorde Barkeley Abbotes The Abbot of Waltham The Abbot Glastinbury The Abbot of S. Augustines in Canterbury The Abbot of Westminster The Abbot of saint Maries in Yorke The Abbot of saint Albones not sworne bicause he was not present Whiche othe in manner and fourme aboue rehearsed as the lords aswell spirituall as temporall beeing in this Parliament at Leycester assembled the fourth day of Marche promised vpon their faith dutye and allegiaunce which they owe to the king their souerain Lord truly to obserue and kepe acording to the true meaning and purporte of the same The Arbitrement IN the name of God Amen we Henry Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas duke of Excester Iohn duke of Norffolke Tho. Bishop of Duresme Philip bishop of Worcester Iohn bishop of Bathe HuÌ„fry erle of Stafford Will. Alnwick keper of y e kings priuy seale Rafe L. Cromwell Arbitrators in al maner of causes matters quarrelles of heauinesses grenaÌ„ces with all incidents circuÌ„staÌ„ces dependeÌ„ts or coÌ„nexes being hanging betwene y e high worthy prince HuÌ„fry duke of Gloucester on the one party and the worshipfull father in god Henry bishop of Winchester chauÌ„celor of Englande on y e other party by either of theÌ„ for y e peasinâ—… of the saide quarrels debates taken choseÌ„ in maner fourme as it is contained more plainâ—…y in a compromise made thervpon of the whiche the tenor ensueth in this fourme MemoranduÌ„ y e .vij. day of Harth in y e fourth yere of our souerain L. the king Henry y e 〈◊〉 y e high and mighty prince HuÌ„frey duke of â—…cester at y e reuerence of god for the good at the king our soueraine lord in this land namely at y e reuerence especially at y e request 〈◊〉 of the mighty and high prince my lord of Bedford his brother agreed him to put putteth al maner matters and quarrells indeede with all their incideÌ„ts circuÌ„stauÌ„ces dependeÌ„ts coÌ„nâ—…res that touchen him his persoÌ„ that he hath in any wise do or feeleth himselfe greeued or heauy against my lord his vncle my Lord of Winchester Or else that my lord of Winchester findeth him greeued against him in as muche as they touche him or his person fro y e beginning of the worlde vnto this day In y e aduise ordinauÌ„ce arbitrement of y e worthy father in god Henry Archb. of Canterbury y e high and noble prince Thomas duke of Excester and Iohn Duke of Norffolke the worshipfull father in god Tho. bishop of Duresm Philip bishop of Worceter Iohn bishop of Bathe the noble lord Humfrey earle of Stafforde y e worshipfull persons master WylliaÌ„ Alnewicke keper of the kings priuy seale and Rafe lord
words tending to the rebuke of sinne and improuing of suche new opinions as then began to rise And to bring the people the more in beliefe with hir hypocriticall doings she was counselled to say in those hir traunses that she should neuer be perfectly whole till shee had visited an Image of our Lady at a place called Court at Streete within the parish of Aldington aforesaid Thither was she brought and by the meanes of the sayd Richard Master and Edward Bocking that was now made of counsel in the matter there assembled a two thousand persons at the day appointed of hir thither comming to see the miracle At which day shee being thither brought afore all that assemble and multitude of people she falsely feigned and shewed vnto the people in the Chappel of our Lady there at Court at Streete A forged miracle many alteracions of hir face and other outwarde sensible partes of hir body and in those traunces she vttered wonderous words as she was before subtilly and craftely induced and taughte by the said Edward Bocking and Richard Master And amongst other things she vttered that it was the pleasure of God that the sayde Bocking should be hir ghostly father and that she should be a religious woman And within a while after suche feigned and counterfeite traunses shee appeared to the people to be suddaynely relieued from hir sicknesse and afflictions by the intercession and meane of the Image of our Lady being in the same Chappel By reason of whiche hipocriticall dissimulation the said Elizabeth was broughte into a maruellous fame credite and good opinion of a greate multitude of the people of this Realme and to encrease the same Elizabeth Barron becommeth a Nunne by the counsell of the said Edward Bocking she became a Nunne in the priorie of S. Sepulchres at Canterbury to whome the said Edwarde Bocking had commonly hys resorte not withoute suspition of incontinencie pretending to be hir ghostly father by Gods appoyntment And by conspiracie betwene hir and him she still continued in practising hir dissimuled trannses alledging that in the same she had reuelations from almightie God his Saincts and amoÌ„gst other that which as before we haue mentioned touching the Kinges mariage as yee haue heard This mater proceeded so farre that ther was a booke writteÌ„ by hir complices and namely by Thomas Laurence register to the Archbyshop of Caunterbury of hir feigned and counterfaite miracles reuelations and hipocriticall holynesse All things were handled so craftely that not only the simple but also the wise and learned were deceiued by the same in so muche The Archbyshop of Canterbury and the Byshop â—… Rochester giue crediâ—… to hir hypocriticall praâ—…tises that William Warham the late Archbyshop of Caunterbury and Iohn Fisher Byshop of Rochester and dyuers other beeing enformed thereof gaue credite thereto All whiche matters and many other had bin traiterously practised and imagined amongst the parties many yeares chiefly to interrupt the diuorse and to destroy the King and to depriue him from the Crowne and dignitie royall of this Realme as in the acte of their atteinder made more at large it may appeare and likewise in y e Chronicles of maister Edward Hall Therefore to conclude with hir and hir adherents the one and twentith of Aprill nexte following shee with diuers of them before condemned was drawen to Tiborne Elizabeth Barton executed and there executed as iustly they had deserued At the very time of hir deathe shee confessed howe she had abused the world and so was not only the cause of hir own death but also of theirs that there suffred with hir and yet they could not as shee then alledged bee worthy of lesse blame than she considering that they being learned and wise enoughe myght easily haue perceyued that those things which she did were but fained Neuerthelesse bycause the same were profitable to them they therefore bare hir in hand that it was the holy Ghost that did them and not she so that puffed vp wyth their praises shee fell into a certayne pryde and foolishe fantasie supposing shee might faine what she would whiche thyng had brought hir to that ende for the whiche hir misdooings she cried God and the Kyng mercy and desired the people to praye for hir and all them that there suffred with hir In this Parliament also was made the acte of succession for the establishing of the Crowne The acte of the establishing of the Crowne to the whiche euery person beyng of lawfull age shoulde be sworne On Monday the three twentith of Marche in the Parliament time Ambassadors forth of Scotland were solemnely receyued into London Ambassadors from Iames the fifth King of Scottes the Byshop of Aberdine the Abbot of Kynlos and Adam Otterborne the Kings attourney with diuers Gentlemen on them attendaunte whiche were broughte to the Taylers Hall and there lodged And on the day of the Innunciation they were brought to the kings Palaâ—…ce at Westminster where they shewed their commission and message forthe which the king appoynted them dayes to counsayle During the Parliament time euery Sunday at Paules Crosse preached a Bishop declaring the Pope not to bee supreeme heade of the Church The .xxx. day of March was the Parliament proroged â—…e Lordes 〈◊〉 to the â—…ion and there euerie Lorde knight and burges and all other were sworne to the Acte of succession and subscribed the inhandes to a parcâ—…ment fired to the sâ—…e The Parliament was proroged till the thirde of Nouember next After this were Commissioners sent into all parts of the realme to take the othe of al men and women to the act of succession Doctor Iohn Fisher and sir Thomas Moore knight and doctor Nicholas Wilson Parson of Saint Thomas Apostles in London expressely denied at LaÌ„beth before the Archbishop of Canterb. to receyue that oth The two first stood in their opinion to the verie death as after ye shall heare but doctor Wilson was better aduised at length so dissembling the matter escaped out of further daunger The .ix. of Iuly was the Lord Dacres of the North arraigned at Westminster of high treason An. reg 26. where the Duke of Norffolke sat as Iudge and high steward of England The sayd Lorde Dacres being brought to the hares with the Axe of the Tower before him after his Inditement read so improued the same answering euery part and matter therein conteyned and so plainly and directly confuted his accusers whiche were there readie to aâ—…ouch their accusations that to theyr great shames and his high honor he was founde that day by his Peeres not guiltie whereof the Commons not a little reiâ—…sed as by their shawt and crie made at those wordes not guiltie they freely testified The 〈◊〉 of August were all the places of the obseruant Friers suppressed as Greenwich Stow. Canterburie Richmont Newarke and Newcastell and in their places were set August in Friers and the obseruant Friers were placed in
wan no smal commendasion for that his good happe in taking suche a prisoner whose name for his often approued prowes was so famous euen among the enimies Some haue written that hee was taken through default of those that were appoynted to follow him sithe he vndertooke to charge the enimie in hope that by them he shoulde haue beene assysted but surely those that hadde the charge of this conuey doubting by aduenturing too farre to put all in hazarde thought it wisedome rather to suffer the losse of one than to leoparde the whole not perteyning which way to remedie the matter at that present Then after y t the generall of Hadington was thus taken prisoner to the great griefe vndoubtedly not onely of all the garnison there but also of all such as tendered the aduauncement of the kings Maiesties seruice Sir Iames Crostes sir Iames Crostes was thought a man most meetest to supplie the place and therefore by the Lorde Protectour and other of the Counsayle was ordeyned Generall of that Towne of Hadington and the Garnison there in whiche rowmth hee bare himselfe so woorthilye as if I shoulde not bee suspected of flatterie for that hee lyueth yet and in suche credite as the worlde knoweth I myght moue my selfe matter to say rather muche than sufficiently ynough in his due and right deserued commendation The King by the aduice of his counsayle meaning to prosecute the warres in Scotlande wyth greate forces reteyned a newe power of Lansquenets and other straungers vnder the conduct of dyuerse and sundrie Captaynes but in the meane tyme the French King meaning to breake wyth the King of Englande thought to haue stolne the Fortresse of Bullenberg so that a chosen power of menne of warre to the number of seuen thousande vnder the conduction of Monsieur de Chatillon being sent downe about that exployte on May day at night came forward with theyr Ladders and all other furniture meete for the purpose approching about the houre of midnight neare to the Fort within the which were not at that tyme manye aboue three hundred and fiftie souldiers vnder the gouernement of Sir Nicholas Arnaulte Knight generall of that peece Sir Nicholas Arnault captaine of Ballenberg a Captayne of greate courage and no lesse diligence in hys charge And as it chaunced there were among the Frenchmen three or foure Englishe men which hauing matched themselues in mariage wyth women of that Countrey after the peace was concluded betwixt Fraunce and England were discharged out of the King of Englandes wages and remayning with their wines gote entertainement among the Frenchmen and were with Monsieure de Chatilloâ—… nowe comming towardes this enterprise wherevpon one of the same Englishemen named Carter 〈…〉 Englishmen serâ—â—g among 〈◊〉 FrenchmeÌ„ that had aforetime giuen intelligence to the sayde 〈◊〉 Nicholas of the Frenchmennes doings so farre as hee mighte learne and vnderstand the same woulde gladly also haue aduertised by â—â—â—fore hande of the Frenchmens purpose at this time but Monsieur de Charillon kepte the matter so secrete that Carter nor anye of the other Englishmen had knowledge thereof till they were now marching forwarde so that Carter coulde not get away from them till they were approched within lesse than a quarter of a myle of Busten Berge and then slipping asyde from among them came running so fast as hee mighte towardes the forte crying bowes bowes as lowde as his voyce would serue and so gaue the alarme to them within the fort One of the Souldiers called Morgayne Deaton that chaunced to be there at hande in skoute wyth three or foure other straight knew hym and broughte him to the drawe Bridge where Sir Nicholas Arnault caused him to bee drawen vppe betwixt two pikes vnto whome hee declared howe the Frenchmenne were at hande meaning to assaulte hys forte nowe vpon the suddaine in hope sorte surprise it Herewith it needed not to wil Sir Nicholas to bâ—…stâ—â—re him â—…o cause 〈◊〉 man to make readye 〈◊〉 place themselues 〈◊〉 was 〈…〉 moste appeâ—â—ente and vndoubtedlye â—â—eâ—â—able courage of that worthy Gentlemanne furthered muche to cause euerye Captayne and Souldioure vnder him to put away all feare and to haue a regarde to do his duety in receiuing of y e enemies warre seemed they were glitâ—â— of the occasion whereby they might shewe proofe of theyr accustomed manhoode against the enemie y t thus come to steale on theÌ„ without wanting in purpose to kill euerye manne that tell them theyr handes if theyr intention hadde taken place makyng nowe suche hast forewarde that before the Englishemenne coulde bâ—…e well readye wyth theyr armoure and weapons in theyr appointed places the Frenchmenne were gotte to the ditches and appointing a number of their beste souldiers The Frenchmen assaulte Pullogne berg the most part Gentlemen and double payes with targettes battayle axes and pistolles to haue the firste shale saluted them within vppon theyr very apprche with seauen hundred harqueâ—â—ze shot at the first voice The Englishmenne by order giuen by Sir Nicholas kept themselues close till the Frenchmen by their skaling ladders which they broughte with them and had quickly raysed against the walles beganne to mounte vppe and enter vpon them at which instant off went the Flankers Those of Sir Nicholas Arnaults Mounte discharged very wel at the first but at the second voice the morters burst Albeit there were two brasse peeces that were planted alofte on the same mount of the whyche the one discharged fiue and twentie shotte by the maister and the other seauen and twenty by his mate Sir Nicholas Arnault here beyng accompanyed with hys Captaines and Souldyers aboute hym stoode at defence so stoutely as was possible doing so valiantly that theyr fame deserueth to liue for euer There were burst vppon the faces of the enemies ouer and beside the shotte that was bestowed among them no smal store of Pikes and blacke â—â—lles The Frenchmen certainely flucke to it manfully and doing what laye in their vttermost power to enter the peece stil supplied the places of their dead meÌ„ wery with freshe succours Carter that came to bring word of their comming with a pike in his hande standing at the place of the Bulwarke where the assaulte was clâ—…efâ—…ne giuen fought manfully and was hurte both in the thigh and arme Sir Nicholas Arnault himself was also hurt with a pike in the nose and Captaine Waren standing by him receiued two shottes in his corselet hauing twoo or three linkes of his chaine striken into his necke Captain Broughton also shewed himself verie valiant hee hadde sixteene of his armed men there with him of whom there was not one that had not his corselet perced through The number of Englishmen slaine were reconed to bee about fiue and twentie and hurte eight and fiftie Of Frenchmen many were slaine beside those y t were hurte at length hauing contained the assault from midnight till some what after the break of day The Frenchmen repulsed
strength and health wherewith they liue and serue the King Is there any honest thyng more desired than libertie ye haue shamefully spoyled them therof Is there anye thing more dutifull than to serue their Lorde and maister But as that was deserued of the one parte so was it hindered and stopped on your part For neither can the King be serued nor families kepte nor the Common wealth looked vnto where freedome of libertie is stopped and diligence of seruice is hindered and the helpe of strength and health abated Mens bodies ought to be free from all mens bondage and crueltie and only in this realme be subiect in publike punishment to oure publike gouernour and neither be touched of headlesse Captains nor holden of brainlesse rebels For the gouernement of so precious a thing ought to belong vnto the most noble ruler and not iustly to be in euery mans power which is iustly euery liuing mans tresure For what goodes be so deare to euerye man as his owne bodye is whiche is the true vessell of the mynde to bee measurably kept of euery man for all exercises and seruices of the mynde If ye maye not of your own authoritie meddle with meÌ„s goods muche lesse you may of your owne authoritie take order with mens bodies For what be goodes in comparison of helth libertie strength whiche bee all settled and fastned in the body They that strike other doe greatly offend and be iustly punishable And shall they that cruelly and wrongfully tormente mennes bodyes with yrons and imprisonmentes be thoughte not of other but of them selues honeste and playne and true dealyng men What shall we say by them who in a priuate businesse wil let a man to goe hys iourney in the kings high way Doe they not thinke ye playne wrong Then in a common cause not onely to hynder them but also to deale cruelly with them and shutte them from doyng their seruice to the 〈…〉 〈…〉 things enterprise great matters and as though ye coulde not satisfye your selfe if yee shoulde leaue any mischiefe vndone haue sought bloud with crueltie haue slayn of y e kings true subiects in any thinkyng their murder to be your defence when as ye haue encreased the faulte of your vile Rebellion wyth the horroure of bloudshead and so haue burdened mischiefe wyth mischiefe whyle it come to an importable weight of myschiefe What coulde we doe more in the horriblest kynde of faultes to the greatest transgressours and offendoures of God and men than to looke straightly on them by death and so to ridde them out of the common wealth by seuere punishment whome ye thought vnworthie to liue among menne for their dooings And those who haue not offended the King but defended hys Realme and by obedience of seruice soughte to punishe the disobedient and for safegarde of euerie man putte them selues vnder duetie of Law those haue ye myserably and cruelly slayne and bathed you in theyr bloud whose dooynges ye shoulde haue followed and so haue appayâ—…ed the common welth both by destruction of good men and also by increase of rebels And howe can that common welth by any means endure â–ª wherin euery maÌ„ without authoritie may vnpunished slea whome he list and that in suche case as those who be slaine shewe themselues most noble of courage and most ready to serue the king and the common wealth and those as doe slea be most villanous traiterous eche lâ—…es that any common wealth did ouer susteyn for a Citie and a Prouince â—â— and the faire houses and the strong walles nor the defence of anye engin but the liuing bodies of men being able in number strength to mainteyn themselues by good order of iustice and to serue for all necessary behouable vses in the coÌ„mon wealth And when as mans bodie being a parte of the whole coÌ„mon welth is wrongfully touched any way specially by death then suffeyeth the coÌ„mon welth great iniurie and that alway so much the more how honester and nobler he is who is iniuriously murdered Howe was the Lord Sheffilde handled among you a noble gentleman and of good seruice both sit for couÌ„sel in peace for conduct in warre considering either the grauitie of his wisedome or the authoritie of his person or his seruice to the commonwelth or the hope that all men had in him or the need that England had of suche or amoÌ„g many notably good his singular excestencie or the fauour y t all men bare toward him being loued of euery man hated of no man Considered ye who should by duetie be the kings subiects either how ye shoulde not haue offended the king or after offence haue required the kings pardon or not to haue refused his goodnesse offred or at length to haue yelded to hys mercie or not to haue slain those who came for his seruice or to haue spared those who in daÌ„ger offred ransom But al these things forgotten by rage of rebellion bycause one madnesse cannot be without infinite vices ye flowe him cruellye who offered himselfe manfully nor woulde not spare for raunsome who was worthy for noblenesse to haue had honour he weddim bare whome ye could not hurt armed and by slauerie flewe nobilitie in deede miserably in fashioÌ„ cruelly in cause diuellishly Oh with what cruell spite was violently sundred so noble a body fro so godly a mind Whose death must rather be reuenged than lamented whose death was no lacke to himselfe but to his countrey whose death might euery way bin better borne than at a rebelles hande Violence is in all thinges hurtfull but in life horrible What shoulde I speak of others in the same case diuers and notable whose death for manhood and seruice can waÌ„t no worthy praise so long as these vgly stirrers of rebellion can be had in mynd God hath himself ioyned maÌ„s bodie and his soule togither not to be departed asunder afore he eyther disseuer them hymselfe excause them to be disseuered by his minister And shal rebels and heedlesses camps being armed against God and in fielde against theyr King thinke it no faulted shead bloud of true subiects hauing neither office of God nor appointment of ministers nor lust cause of rebellion He that steale the any part of 〈◊〉 substance is worthy to lose his life When shal we thinkeâ—… them wâ—…o spoyle men of their lyues for the mayntenaÌ„ce whereof not only substance and riches be soughte for but also all common welths be deuised Now then your own consciences should be made your iudges and none other set to giue sentence against yet seing ye haue bin suche bloud â—â—aders so he ynouâ—â— manquellers so horrible murderers could ye do any other than playnely confesse your soule wicked rebellion to be greuous against god traiterous to the king and hurtfull to the coÌ„mon wealth So many grieuous faults meetyng togither in one sinke might not onely haue discouraged but also driuen to desperation any other â—…ouest of indifferent
their Shipboales with many valiaunt Captaynes and souldiours recouered landing Conquest or Conquet takē and burnt and wythin short tyme became maisters of the sayde towne of Conquet which they put to the saccage with a great Abbay and many pretie Townes and Villages nea◅e there aboutes where our men found great store of pyllage and good booties But the Flemings beeing couetous of the spoyle passing further into the lande before they coulde recouer their Shippes againe A great slaughter of the Flemings were encountred by the power of the countrey by whom there were slaine of them to the number of foure or fiue hundred The Admyralles perceyuing the power of the Countrey greatly to encrease and hauing intelligence that the duke of Estampes the Frēch Kings Lieutenant in Brytayne was very neare comming on with a greate number of Horsemen and footemen esteemed to bee about twentie thousande as the Frenchmen themselues affyrme thought not best to attempt any assault agaynst the Towne of Brest or to make longer abode there But yet in hope to doe some further exployte elsewhere they laye there houering on the coast a while to vnderstande the demeanour of the Brytaynes but by this tyme there was such numbers of people raysed in all those parts for defence of the same coastes that the Admyralles afterwarde attempting in dyuerse places to lande theyr menne and fynding eche where more apparaunce of losse than of gayne returned home wythoute atchieuing any further enterprise In this meane time 1558 An reg 6. while King Philip and the French King with two moste puyssaunt armyes affronted eche other neare vnto the water of Some eyther of them being obstinately bent to driue the other out of the field for which cause they entrenched their campes During whiche tyme there was nothyng done betweene them woorthie memorie more than dayly skyrmishes of no great account Neuerthelesse the Countrey of Fraunce coulde not but susteyne extreeme damage in so long susteyning suche a mayne multitude specially of men of warre which those two mightie Kings hadde assembled And day by day came freshe companies to eyther partye so as it was thought a thyng impossible that suche two Princes beeing so neare coulde departe wythoute some cruell bloudye battayle to determine theyr quarelles But God in whose handes are the heartes Kings when least hope was conuerted theyr obstinate myndes from warre to peace whiche came chiefely to passe by the mediation of the Dutches of Lorraine who hadde beene a long and earnest trauayler to that ende and neuer ceassed vntill by his intercession both the sayde Kinges appoynted speciall Commissioners to treate vppon peace So that after diuerse conferences they at laste concluded vppon all controuersies excepte the matter of Calays whereof Queene Mary by hir Ambassadours requyred restitution But the Frenche partye woulde in no wise heare thereof By reason of whiche dyfficultye thys treatie coulde not come to anye good conclusion King Philippe thinking himselfe bounde in honour to stande in that case with the Queene hys wyfe who for hys sake had entred into a needlesse warre against Fraunce and thereby lost hir sayd towne with all the Countrey adioyning as you haue hearde before did therefore stay a long time before hee concluded peace wyth the French king Queene Marie seeing no likely hoode nor hauing any hope of the restitution of Calays and considering also that most of hir affayres had but hard successe conceyued an inwarde sorrow of mynde by reason whereof aboute September nexte shee fell sicke of a hote burning Feuer which sicknesse was common that yeare through all the Realme and consumed a marueylous number as well Noble men as Bishops Iudges Knightes Gentlemen and rich farmours but most of the Cleargie and other auncient and graue persons In which while the Queene lay languishing of a long sickenesse and so continued vntill the .xvij. of Nouember next betwene the houres of fiue or sixe in the morning and then ended hir life in thys worlde at hir house of Saint Iames besydes Westminster when she had raigned fiue yeares foure Monethes and eleuen dayes and in the .xliij. yeare of hir bodily age The same Euening or as some haue written the next day dyed Cardinall Poole Legate of the Bishop of Rome late afore made Archbishop of Canterburie at his house ouer against Westminster called Lambeth This Cardinall was discended of the house of Clarence that is to say The deser◅tion of Cardinall Poo◅ one of the yonger sonnes of Margaret Countesse of Salisburie daughter of george Duke of Clarence brother to king Edward the fourth The death of this sayde Queene made a marueylous alteration in thys Realme namely in the case of Religion which like as by the death of King Edwarde the sixte it suffered a chaunge from the establishment of his time so by the death of this Queene it returned into the former estate againe Of such learned men as had written and did liue in hir dayes there were many of whome no small number ended theyr lyues also duryng that shorte tyme of hir raigne some by fire and other in exile Iohn Rogers borne in Lancashire wrote dyuerse Treatises translated the Byble into Englishe with notes and published the same vnder the name of Thomas Mathew hee suffered in Smythfielde the fourth of Februarie in the yeare .1555 Nicholas Rydley Bishop first of Rochester and after of London suffred at Oxforde in the sayd yeare .1555 Hugh Latimer borne in Leycestershyre sometime Bishop of Worcester a notable Preacher and a most reuerende father suffred at the same place and in the same day and yeare wyth Byshoppe Rydley Iohn Hoper borne in Somersetshyre Bishop first of Gloucester and after of Worcester suffred at Gloucester Anno .1555 Iohn Bradforde borne in Manchester a notable Towne in Lancashire a sober mylde and discreete learned man suffred at London the fyrst of Iuly in the foresayde yeare .1555 Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester borne in the Towne of Saint Edmondes burie in Suffolke of King Henrie the eightes Counsaile and in King Edwardes dayes committed to warde within the Tower released by Queene Marie made Lorde Chauncellour and so dyed a stowte Champion in defence of the Popes doctrine and a great enimie to the professours of the Gospell Iohn Philpot borne in Hamshyre sonne to sir Peter Philpot Knight was Archedeacon of Wynchester ended his lyfe by fyre in the yeare aforesayde .1555 the .xviij. of December going then on the .xliiij. yeare of his age Thomas Craumer borne in Notinghāshire Archbishop of Canterburie a worthie Prelate in sundrie vertues right commendable suffred at Oxforde the xxj of Marche .1556 Richarde Morison knight borne in Oxfordshyre wrote dyuerse treatises and deceassed at Strausburge the .xvij. of March 1556. Iohn Poynet borne in Kent Bishoppe of Rochester first and after of Winchester deceassed likewise at Strausburgh about the tenth or eleuenth of August Anno .1556 Robert Recorde a Doctor of Phisick and an excellent Philosopher in Arithmetike Astrologie
towne 〈◊〉 Citie sendeth thee firme hope and earnest prayer 〈◊〉 all men hope in thee that all vertues shall raigne 〈◊〉 all men hope that thou none errour wilt support 〈◊〉 all men hope that thou wilt truth restore againe 〈◊〉 mend that is amisse to all good mennes comfort â–ª 〈◊〉 for this hope they pray thou mayght continue long 〈◊〉 Queene amongst vs here all vice for to supplant 〈◊〉 for this hope they pray that God may neede thee wrong 〈◊〉 by his grace puissant so in his truth â—â—â—all 〈◊〉 â—…arwell O worthis Queene and as our hope is sure â—…t into errours place thou wilt nowe truth restore 〈◊〉 trust we that thou wilt our soueraigne Queene endure 〈◊〉 louing Ladie stande from henceforth euenmore While these wordes were in saying and certaine wishes therin repeated for maintenance of truth and rooting out of errour she nowe and then helde vp hir handes to heauenwarde and willed the people to say Amen When the childe had ended she sayde deye well assured I will stande your good Queene At which saying hir grace departes forth throgh Temple Barre toward Westminster with no lesse shouting and crying of the people than shee entred the citie with a noyse of ordinance which the Towne shot off at hir graces entrance fyrst into Towre streete The childes saying was also in latin verses written in a Table whiche was hanged vppe there O regina potens quum prima vrbem ingredereris Dona tibi linguas fidaque corda dedit Discedenti etiam tibi nunc duo munera mittit Omnia plena spei votaque plena precum Quippe tuis spes est in te quod prouida virtus Rexerit errori nec locus vllus erit Quippe tuis spes est quod tu veruÌ„ omni reduces solatura bonas dum mala tollis opes Huc spel freti de dâ—â— lorâ—â—◠〈◊〉 reginae gubernes Et negue excindus 〈…〉 Hac spe freti orant diuina vt gratia fortem Et vero si â—…rite velit essâ—◠〈◊〉 Iam Regina vide er sicut 〈◊〉 spes 〈◊〉 veâ—… Quod vero inducto perâ—…itus 〈◊〉 erat Sic quoque speramus quod eris regina benigne Nobis perâ—…aegni tempora 〈…〉 Thus the Queenes highnesse passed thorow the Citie which without any foraigne person of it selfe beautified it selfe and receyues hir grace at all places as hath beene before mentioned with most tender obedience and loue due to so gracious a Queene and soueraigne Lady And hir grace likewise of his side in all hir graces passage shewed hirselfe generally an Image of a worthie Ladie and Gouernour but priuately these especiall poputes were noted in hir grace as signes of a most Princelyke courage whereby his louing Subiectes may grounde a sure hope for the rest of hir gracious doyngs hereafter Certaine notes of the Queenes maiesties great mercie clemencie and wisdom vsed in this passage About the nether ende of Cornehill towarde Cheape one of the knightes about hir grace had espyed on auncient Citizen which wept and turned his head backe and therewith sayde thys Gentleman yonder is an Aldeâ—â— an for so hee tearmed him which weepeth and turneth hys face backwarde Howe may it bee interpreted that he so doth for sorowe or for gladnesse The Queenes Maiestie heard him and sayd I warrant you it is for gladnesse A gracious interpretation of a noble courage which would turn the doubtfull to the best And yet it was well known that as hir grace did confirme the same the parties cheare was mooued for verie 〈◊〉 gladnesse for the sight of hir Maiesties person at the beholding wherof he tooke such comfort that with teares be expressed the same In Cheape side hir grace smyled and being thereof demaunded the cause answered for that she heard one say Remember olde king Henrie the eight A naturall childe which at the verie remembrance of hir fathers name tooke so great a ioy that all men may well thinke that as shee reioyced at his name whom this Realme doth holde of so worthie memorie so in hir doings she will resemble the same When the Cityes charge without partialitie and onely the Citie was mencioned vnto hir grace she sayd it shoulde not be forgotten Which saying might moue all naturall English men heartily to shew due obedience entiernesse to theyr so good a Queene which will in no poynt forget any parcell of duetie louingly shewed vnto hir The aunswere which hir grace made vnto master Recorder of LoÌ„don as the hearers know it to be true and with melting heartes hearde the same so may the reader thereof conceyue what kinde of stomacke and courage pronounced the same What more famous thing doe wee read in auncient histories of olde tyme than that mightie Princes haue gently receyued presents offered them by case and lâ—…we personages If that be to be wondered at as it is passingly let mee see any wryter that in any one Princes life is able to recount so many presidents of this vertue as hir grace shewed in that one passage through the Citie How many Nosegayes did hir grace receyue at poore womens handes how oftentymes stayed she hir Chariot when she sawe any simple body offer to speake to hir grace A braÌ„ch of Rosemary giuen to hir grace with a supplication by a poore woman about Fleetbridge was seene in hir chariot til hir grace came to Westm not without the maruellous wondring of such as knew the presenter and noted the Queenes most gracious receyuing and keeping the same What hope the poore and nedie may looke for at hir graces hand she as in all hir iourney continually so in hir harkening to the poore children of Christes Hospitall with eies cast vp into heauen did fully declare as that neyther the wealthier estate coulde stande without consideration had to the pouertie neyther the pouertie bee duely considered vnlesse they were remembred as commended to vs by Gods owne mouth As at hir first entrance she as it were declared hir selfe prepared to passe through a Citie that most entierly loued hir so she at hir last departing as it were bound hir selfe by promise to continue good Ladie and gouernour vnto that Citie whiche by outwarde declaration did open theyr loue to theyr so louing and noble Prince in such wise as shee hir selfe wondered thereat But bycause Princes be set in their sâ—…ate by Gods appoynting and therefore they most first and chiefly tender the glorie of him from whom their glorie issueth it is to be noted in hir grace that forsomuch as God hath so wonderfullye placed hir in the seate of gouernment ouer this Realme shee in all doings doth shewe hir selfe moste myndfull of his goodnesse and mercye shewed vnto hir and amongest all other two principall signes thereof were noted in this passage First in the Tower where hir Grace before she entred hir Chariot lyfted vp hir eyes to heauen and sayde O Lorde almightie and euerlasting God I giue thee most harty thaÌ„ks that thou hast bin so mercifull vnto me as
Queenes Maiesties Commissioners afore mentioned maye bee accompted one of the most necessarie expeditions and most beneficiall seruices that had beene made and put in practise in many yeares before For the Queenes Maiestie as some haue truely written had not onely hir chiefe desire Churchyard by remoouing the French hir daungerous neighbours that were about to nestle themselues so neare hir elbowe but also a perfite peace with the Scottes was thereby procured lyke to continue many yeares if the sayd Scottes shall not seeke theyr owne woe beeing full vnable to aduauntage themselues by warres agaynst vs as to the wyser and beste sorte of them I trust is not vnknowne But to leaue the further consideration of the benefite that may growe hereof to this Realme vnto theyr iudgements that haue ryper heades to vnderst and the same I will proceede herewyth make an ende of this matter concerning the siege of Lieth After that the Frenchmen were departed and the Fortes about Lieth and Dunbarre razed and demolished according to the couenants of peace the Queenes Maiestie called backe hir armie without reteyning any peece within Scotlande to hir owne vse In whiche honourable and vpright dealing she wanne more fame and estimation than if shee had seysed and kept in hir possession halfe the realme of Scotland The Queenes Maiestie by the aduice of hir most honourable Counsaile meaning to abolish all corrupt base and copper moneys then currant in this realme of Englande coyned in the tymes and reignes of King Henrie the eight and King Edwarde the sixt to the great hynderaunce and decay of the common wealth of this Realme and therewith to restore vnto all hir subiectes fine and pure Sterling moneys both of Golde and Siluer to the great honour and benefite of the whole Realme Stow. published a Proclamation on Michaelmasse Euen before Noone that the Teston coyned for twelue pens and in the reigne of King Edwarde embased by Proclamation to sixe pens shoulde nowe foorthwith that of the best sort marked wyth the Portculeis be currant for foure pens halfepenie the second marked with the Greyhound for two pens farthing the third and worst sort not marked as afore not to be currant at all nor receyued for any value The grote to be currant for two pens the former peece of two pens for a pennie c. It was not long after this An. reg 3. but that hir grace restoring to hir subiects fine sterling money called all the sayde base and corrupt coyne into hir Maiesties Mynt allowyng to them therfore after the rate before mentioned so much of the sayd fine moneys as they brought in of the sayde base moneys About the same tyme 1591 Additions to Lanquet hir grace also fynding this Realme greatlye vnfurnished of Armour Munitions and Powder for the defence thereof in tyme of necessitie did so largely and plentifully prepare and cause to bee brought into the same such sufficient furniture of armour and weapons as Englande hath iust cause to prayse and giue thankes to God and hir Maiestie for that it is certaine that the realme was neuer so amply stored nor prouided of all maner of kindes of conuenient armor and weapons as it is at this present The .xxj. of Marche a notable Grammer schoole was founded by the maister wardens The Merchan◅ Taylors f◅ee Schoole and assystents of the right worshipfull companie of the marchant Taylors of London in the Parish of S. Laurēce Pountney in the same citie the right worshipfull Emanuell Lucar Robert Rose William Merick Iohn Sparke and Robert Duckington then beeing maister and wardens of that companie 1461 William Gef◅y whipped The tenth of Aprill was one William Geffrey whipped from the Marshalfey in Southwarke to Bedlem without Bishops gate of London for that hee professed one Iohn Moore to be Christ our sauior on his heade was set a Paper wherein was written as foloweth William Geffrey a most blasphemous heretike denying Christ our sauiour in heauen The sayd Geffrey being stayed at Bedlem gate ◅ to Christ ◅pped Iohn Moore was brought forth before whom Williā Geffrey was whipped till he confessed Christ to be in heauen Then the sayde Iohn Moore being examined answering ouerthwartly was commaunded to put off his coate dudlet and shyrt which he seemed to do very willingly and after being tyed to the Cart was whipped an Arrowes shot from Bedlem where at the last he also cōfessed Christ to be in heauen and himselfe to be a sinfull man then was Iohn Moore sent again into Bedlem and William Geffrey to the Marshalsey where they had layne prisoners nigh a yeare and a halfe the one for professing himselfe to be Christ the other a disciple of the same Christ ◅les steeple ◅ fire On Wednesday the fourth of Iune betwene foure and fiue of the clocke in the after noone the steeple of Pauls in Lōdon being fiered by lightning brast forth as it seemed to the beholders two or three yardes beneath the foot of the crosse and from thence burnt downe the sphere to the none worke and belles so terribly that within the space of four houres the same steeple with the roofes of the Church so much as was tymber or otherwise combustible were consumed whiche was a lamentable sight and pitifull remembrance to the beholders therof After this mischaunce the Queenes Maiesty being much grieued for the losse of so beautifull a monument directed hir highnesse letters to the Maior of the Citie of London wylling him to assemble the Citizens to take some order for speciall ayd and help for the repayring again of the sayd monument and theof hir most gracious disposition to giue a comfort vnto other for the furtherance thereof did presently giue deliuer in golde one M. markes and a warrant for M. load of tymber to be taken out of hir maiesties woods or elswhere and the citizens of Lōdon granted one beneuolence and three fiftenes to be forthwith payed and the Clergie of Englande vnder the Prouince of Canterburie granted to giue the .xl. part of the value of their benefices beeing charged with first fruites and not beeing charged with firste fruites to paye the thirtith part And the Clergie of the diocesse of London graunted to giue the .xxx. part of their benefices being in first fruites and the .xx. part being out of first fruites And immediately by the commandement of the Queenes highnesse hir priuie counsaile tooke order that six Citizens of London and two of the Clergie of the church of Paules had charge and commaundement to ouersee and set forwarde this worke who made suche expedition that within one moneth next following the burning thereof the whole Church that is to say all the foure great rouses of the same were couered with bourdes and leade after the maner of a false roufe And the greatnesse of the worke dispatched in so short tyme coulde fearcely bee credited of any but of such as saw and knewe the same And the cause