schoolmaister for his yearelie wages six pounds thirtéene shillings foure pence and to euerie one of the said almes folke seuen pence a weeke and fiue pounds to be bestowed yearelie amongst them in coles And ordeined that the said almes priest should on sundaies and festiuall daies be helping and assistant to the vicar or curat line 40 there in celebration of diuine seruice on the wéeke daies fréelie to applie and teach yoong children of the said parish to the number of thirtie in a schoolehouse by him there builded for that purpose Moreouer hée gaue to the parish clearke there for the time being a yearlie stipend of twentie six shillings eight pence for euer and a chamber by the said almes house to the intent he should helpe the said schoolemaister to teach the said children And hath giuen faire lands and tenements in the citie of London for the perpetuall line 50 maintenance of the premisses to Gods glorie for euer He also for the great commoditie of trauellers on foot made a continuall causie of timber ouer the marshes from Walthamstow to Locke bridge towards London In the moneth of Maie the king and the new duke of Suffolke were defenders at the tilt against all commers The king was in a scopelarie mantle an hat of cloth of siluer and like a white hermit and the duke apparelled like a blacke hermit all of blacke line 60 veluet both their berds were of damaske siluer and when they had ridden about the tilt shewed themselues to the quéene then they threw off their apparell and sent it to the ladies for a larges Then was the king in blacke and the duke in white with blacke staues on the staues was written with white letters Who can hold that will away this posie was iudged to be made for the duke of Suffolke and the duchesse of Sauoie At these iustes were the duke of Longuile the lord Cleremont and there the king duke did so valiantlie that they obteined the prise At these iustes were broken an hundred and fourteene speares in a short space The king at this season sent againe into Flanders for the performance of the mariage of the yoong prince of Castile and the faire ladie Marie his sister and shewed how he had prepared all things necessarie and conuenient for such an high estate The councell of Flanders answered that they would not receiue hir that yeare with manie subtill arguments by reason wherof the perfect loue betwene England and the low countries was much slaked On the nineteenth daie of Maie was receiued into London a cap of maintenance a sword sent from pope Iulie with a great companie of nobles and gentlemen which was presented to the king on the sundaie then next insuing with great solemnitie in the cathedrall church of saint Paule Touching this pope saith Guicciardine disappointed of so manie hopes we may laie him in comparison with that which is written by the poets of Anteus that being tamed by the forces of Hercules as often as he was throwne to the ground so often did appeare in him a greater strength and courage such wéening had the pope amidst his aduersities for when he seemed most abased and oppressed it was then that he did most lift vp him selfe with a spirit more constant and resolute promising better of his fortune than euer After he had plaied all his troublesome pageants and had got by sundrie aspiring practises I wot not what péerelesse primasie he fell sicke And happilie he was then more full of high conceipts and trauelling thoughts than at anie time before for notwithstanding he had brought his fortune to be equall with his desires obteined the thing he aspired vnto yet his deuises and plots did nothing diminish but grew increasing by the same meane which should haue satisfied them He had determined in the beginning of the spring and first opening of the yeare to send to the enterprise of Ferrara which he so much desired and his opinion was that that state was able to make no resistance both for that it was naked of all succours and bicause the Spanish armie was to ioine with his companies he had secretlie bought of Cesar for the price of thirtie thousand duckets the citie of Sienna for the behoofe of the duke of Urbin to whome except Pesera he would neuer giue anie thing of the estate ecclesiastike to the end to reserue to himselfe the whole glorie to haue simplie and onelie studied for the exaltation of the church He agreed to lend to Cesar fortie thousand duckats receiuing Modona in gage He threatned them of Lucquoie who in the heat of the affaires of the duke of Ferrara were become lords of Garsagnana making instance that they would deliuer it to him He was out of conceit with the cardinall of Medicis for that he thought him to cleaue more to the king catholike than to him And bicause he knew he was not able to dispose of the citie of Florence as he thought he studied alredie new plots and new practises to alter that estate He was ill contented with the cardinall of Sion from whome he tooke the name of legat and inioined him to come to Rome for that in the duchie of Millan he had appropriat to himselfe a yearelie rent of more than thirtie thousand duckats of the estates and goods of diuerse persons The better to assure the duke of Urbin of Sienna by intelligences of his neighbours he had of new taken into his paie Charles Baillon to chase out of Perousa Iohn Paule who by affinitie was verie neere ioined to the sonnes of Pandolffe Petruccio successours to the greatnesse of their father He would of new create duke of Genes Octauian Fregosa deposing Ianus from that dignitie an action wherevnto did consent the others of the house of Fregosa bicause for the degrée that his ancestors held in that state it séemed best to apperteine vnto him He studied continuallie either how he might worke out of Italie the Spanish armie or cut it in péeces by the aid of the Swizzers whome aboue all others he exalted and imbraced In this deuise hée had this intention that the kingdome of Naples being occupied by him Italie should remaine frée from strangers a speach that often passed out of his mouth and to that end hée had hindered that the Swizzers did not confederate with the king catholike And yet as though it had beene in his power to line 10 batter all the world at one time he continued his accustomed rigour against the French king And notwithstanding he had hard a message from the queene yet he stirred vp to make warre the king of England to whome he had transferred by publke decree of the councell of Lateran the name of Christianissimo whereof there was alreadie a bull written and in it likewise was conteined the priuation of the dignitie name of the king of France giuing his kingdome to who could occupie it
Feuersham abbeie which she and hir husband had begonne from the verie foundation And bicause the moonkes line 20 of S. Augustine might not celebrate diuine seruice she called thither commonlie the moonks of Christes church to say seruice before hir Thus much for that purpose and now to other matters The lord Henrie Fitzempresse after all these businesses returned into England in the moneth of May with a great companie of men of warre both horssemen and footmen by reason whereof many reuolted from king Stephan to take part with him whereas before they sat still and would not attempt line 30 any exploit against him But now incouraged with the presence of the lord Henrie they declared themselues freends to him and enimies to the king Immediatlie after his arriuall he tooke with him the earles of Chester and Hereford Ranulfe and Roger and diuers other Noble men and knights of great fame beside those whom he had brought with him out of Normandie and went vnto Carleil where he found his coosin Dauid king of Scotland of whome he was most ioifullie receiued and vpon Whitsunday line 40 with great solemnitie being not past sixtéene yeares of age was by the same king made knight with diuerse other yoong gentlemen that were much about the same age ¶ Some write that the king of Scots receiued an oth of him before he gaue him the honor of knighthood that if he chanced to atteine vnto the possession of the realme of England he should restore to the Scots the towne of Newcastle with the countrie of Northumberland from the riuer of Twéed to the riuer line 50 of Tine But whether it were so or not I am not able to make warrantize Now king Stephan hearing that the king of Scots and his aduersarie the lord Henrie with the chéefest lords of the west parts of England lay thus in Carleil he raised an armie and came to the citie of Yorke where he remained for the most part of the moneth of August fearing least his enimies should attempt the winning of that citie But after the one part had remained a time in Carleil and the other in line 60 Yorke they departed from both those places without any further exploit for that season sauing that Eustachius king Stephans sonne hauing also latelie receiued the order of knighthood did much hurt in the countries which belonged to those Noble men that were with the lord Henrie The great raine that fell in the summer season this yeare did much hurt vnto corne standing on the ground so that a great dearth followed In the winter also after about the tenth day of December it began to fréese extreamelie and so continued till the nineteenth of Februarie wherby the riuer of Thames was so frosen that men might passe ouer it both on foot and horssebacke In the meane while Henrie Duke of Normandie after he had returned from the king of the Scots sailed backe into Normandie about the beginning of August leauing England full of all those calamities which ciuill warre is accustomed to bring with it as burning of houses killing robbing and spoiling of people so that the land was in danger of vtter destruction by reason of that pestilent discord This yeare the 23. of Februarie Galfridus Monumetensâ—s otherwise called Galfridus Arâ—hâ—rius who turned the British historie into Latine was consecrated bishop of S. Assaph by Theobald archbishop of Canturburie at Lambeth William bishop of Norwich and Walter bishop of Rochester assisting him Morouer this yeare as some writers haue recorded Geffrey earle of Aniou husband to the empresse Maud departed this life on the seuenth day of September leauing his sonne Henrie onelie heire and successor in the estates of the duchie of Normandie and countie of Aniou The bodie of the said earle was buried at Mans with a great funerall pompe his three sonnes Henrie Geffrey and William being present But king Stephan assaulting the faire citie of Worcester with a great power of men of warre tooke it and consumed it with fire but the castell he could not win This citie belonged to earle Waleran de Mellent at that season for king Stephan to his owne hinderance had giuen it vnto him Now after the men of warre had diuided the spoile amongst them they came backe and passing through the lands of their enimies got great booties which they also tooke away with them finding none to resist them in their iournie In the yeare following Theobald archbishop of Canturburie and legat to the sée apostolike held a generall synod or councell at London in the Lent season where king Stephan himselfe with his sonne Eustachius and other the péeres of the realme were present This councell was full of appeales contrarie to that had beene vsed in this land till the time that Henrie bishop of Winchester vnto his owne harme whilest he was likewise the popes legat had by vniust intrusion brought them in and now at this councell he was himselfe thrise appealed to the hearing of the popes owne consistorie After this king Stephan in the same yeare brake into the citie of Worcester and whereas he could not the last time win the castell he now endeuoured with all his force to take it But when those within made valiant resistance he raised two castels against it and leauing in the same certeine of his Nobles to continue the siege he himselfe returned home ¶ Thus as yee see the kings propertie was to attempt manie things valiantlie but he procéeded in them oftentimes verie slowlie howbeit now by the policie of the earle of Leicester those two castels which the king had raised to besiege the other castell were shortlie after destroied and so the besieged were deliuered from danger This earle of Leicester was brother to the earle of Mellent Thus the kings purposed intention and painefull trauell on that behalfe came to none effect In the meane while Henrie duke of Normandie maried Elianor duches of Guien or Aquitaine latelie diuorsed from the French king and so in right of hir he became duke of Aquitaine and earle of Poictou for she was the onelie daughter to William duke of Guien and earle of Poictou and by hir father created his sole and lawfull heire The French king was nothing pleased with this mariage in somuch that he made sore warre vpon duke Henrie ioining himselfe in league with king Stephan with his sonne Eustace and with the lord Geffrey brother to duke Henrie so that the said Henrie was constreined to defer his iournie into England and applie his power to deâ—end his countries and subiects on that side of the sea For whereas he was readie at the mouth of the riuer of Barbe to passe ouer into England not long after midsummer the French king with Eustace king Stephans sonne Robert earle of Perch Henrie erle of Champaigne and Geffrey brother to duke Henrie hauing assembled a mightie armie came and besieged the line 10
the same citie on horssebacke in a verie great number Then afterwards he sent earles and barons a great manie to the same end then his two vncles last of all went the king himselfe to meet him and saluting him called him by the name of The most worthie warrior of all christendome the inuincible woorthinesse of the king onelie excepted And the duke had seauentéene daies by couenant to compasse this treatie of peace at last he returned hauing attendant vpon him in his traine the bishop of Durham and the sonne of the duke of Yorke the earle of Rutland with a thousand horssemen set foorth in a woonderfull sumptuous sort with goodlie furniture ¶ Also conditionallie a whole tenth and a whole fiftéenth were granted to him if it chanced that he made anie iournie that yeare against the Scots ¶ In this yeare the duke of Gelderland sent to the king of England letters of commendation praise wherein also were prouocations and stirrings vp to warre and warlike actiuitie and to the exercise of kinglie noblenesse the tenor whereof followeth The tenor of the said dukes letter to king Richard MAgnifice princeps innata vobis probitas prudentum consilia vt opinamur simul agerent in officium quòd singula haereditaria iura quae ex natalitio vestram magnificant regiam maiestatem temporibus vestrae discretionis altissima prouidentia munirentur illaesa etsi quaeuis oppugnaret violentia clypeo militari studeat regalis industria fortiter defendere sua iura Et quòd vestram regiam personam coÌ„tingamus in affinitate ni vetet Deus ipse quin semper parati erimus vobis in vestris iuribus defendendis assistere cum duobus milibus lancearuÌ„ quando quotiens disponemini ad bellica conuolare Nec perire debeant iura propter verba aut prâ—missa quomodolibet ad hoc laborat versutia Gallicorum Sanè serenissime princeps in orbem volat fama nec ambigitur quòd propter lanam innumerabilia vestra singularia commoda sine quibus non viuit oriens neque auster regna singula in pecunijs vos salutant In comparatione igitur ad alios reges vobis confert Deus ipse diuitias centuplatas Probitas etiam militaris arcuum asperitas line 10 sine pari taliter huc vsque extulere gentem magnanimam occidentis quòd timor non paruus vestros inuadit aduersarios ad hunc diem impariter victoriosè dimicauit cum Gallicis Angliae gens austera In pusillanimitate igitur potenâ—issime princeps contra naturam non obdormiat cor leonis sed quales vobis contulit vires natura ipsas applicare dignemini actibus bellicosis in defensionem reipublicae iuris haereditarij sustentationem line 20 augmentúmque meriti incomparabiliter chronicabilem probitatem cordis magnanimi tanti regis The same letter in plaine phrase verbatim Englished by A. F. MOst mightie prince your roiall prowesse and the counsels of the line 30 sage should altogither as we thinke moue you in dutie by the most profound deepe foresight of your discretion in time to mainteine and defend all and singular your rights inheritance vnharmed which by birth doo magnifie and make great your roiall maiestie and if anie violence whatsoeuer gainstand assault the same your kinglie diligence should indeuor with the shield of a warrior valiantlie to defend your title line 40 and right And bicause we are neere you doo as it were touch your roiall person in aliance vnlesse God himselfe doo forbid and hinder vs we will alwaies be readie in all your rights to assist and aid you with two thousand pikes when and how often soeuer you shall be disposed to rush out to battell Your right ought not to be lost for words and promises howsoeuer the craftinesse of the French labor to this purpose line 50 Trulie most excellent prince your renowme doth flie into the world neither is it doubted but for your wooll sake and other your singular commodities being innumerable without the which the east and the south can not liue all realmes with their coines doo greet you In comparison therefore of other kings God himselfe hath bestowed vpon you riches a hundred fold Your warlike prowesse also the roughnesse line 60 of your bowes being peerelesse haue hitherto so extolled the couragious nation of the west that no small feare dooth inuade your aduersaries and to this day the sterne people of England haue none like them victoriouslie incountered with the French Therefore ô most puissant prince let not the hart of a lion sleepe in cowardlinesse against nature but what force and valiantnesse nature hath giuen you the same vouchsafe to put in practise with feats of armes in defense of your common wealth the maintenance of your right by inheritance the increase of your desert and the peerelesse prowesse of so great a kings couragious hart right worthie to be chronicled The price of corne that had continued at an high rate almost for the space of two yeares began to fall immediatlie after haruest was got in to the great reliefe of the poore which before through immoderate eating of nuts and apples fell into the disease called the flix whereof manie died and suerlie as was thought the death and dearth had beene greater if the commendable diligence of the lord maior of London had not béene in relieuing the commons by such prouision as he made for corne to be brought to London from the parties of beyond the seas where otherwise neither had the countrie béene able in anie thing to haue sufficed the citie nor the citie the countrie H. Knighton referreth this scarsitie to the yeare 1390 and maketh a large discourse both of the miseries which it brought with it as also of the cause whereby it was procured and of the notable meanes whereby the same in most places was remedied In this yeare saith he was a great dearth in all parts of England and this dearth or scarsitie of corne began vnder the sickle and lasted till the feast of saint Peter ad vincula to wit till the time of new corne This scarsitie did greatlie oppresse the people and chieflie the commoners of the poorer sort For a man might sée infants and children in stréets and houses through hunger howling crieng and crauing bread whose mothers had it not God wot to breake vnto them But yet there was such plentie and abundance of manie yeares before that it was thought and spoken of manie housekéepers and husbandmen that if the séed were not sowen in the ground which was hoordâ—d vp and stored in barnes lofts and garners there would be inough to find and susteine all the people by the space of fiue yeares following But the cause of this penurie was thought to be the want of monie in a great manie For monie in these daies was verie scant and the principall cause hereof was for that the wooll of the land lay a
and other necessarie prouisions The next daie the Englishmen boldlie assaulted the towne but the Frenchmen defended the walles so as no great feat worthie of memorie chanced that daie betwixt them though the Frenchmen were amazed at the valiant attempt of the Englishmen whervpon the bastard of Orleance gaue knowledge to the duke of Alanson in what danger the towne stood without his present helpe who comming within two leagues of the citie gaue line 10 knowledge to them within that they should be readie the next daie to receiue him This accordinglie was accomplished for the Englishmen willinglie suffered him and his armie also to enter supposing that it should be for their aduantage to haue so great a multitude to enter the citie whereby their vittels whereof they within had great scarsitie might the sooner be consumed On the next daie in the morning the Frenchmen altogither line 20 issued out of the towne woone by assault the bastile of saint Lou and set it on fire And after they likewise assaulted the tower at the bridge foot which was manfullie defended But the Frenchmen more in number at length tooke it yer the lord Talbot could come to the succours in the which William Gladesdale the capteine was slaine with the lord Moollins and lord Poinings also The Frenchmen puffed vp with this good lucke fetched a compasse about and in good order of battell line 30 marched toward the bastile which was in the kéeping of the lord Talbot the which vpon the enimies approch like a capteine without all feare or dread of that great multitude issued foorth against them and gaue them so sharpe an incounter that they not able to withstand his puissance fled like shéepe before the woolfe againe into the citie with great losse of men and small artillerie Of Englishmen were lost in the two bastiles to the number of six hundred persons or thereabout though the French writers multiplie this number of hundreds to thousands as their maner line 40 is The earle of Suffolke the lord Talbot the lord Scales and other capteins assembled togither in councell and after causes shewed to and fro it was amongst them determined to leaue their fortresses and bastiles and to assemble in the plaine field and there to abide all the daie to sée if the Frenchmen would issue foorth to fight with them This conclusion taken was accordinglie executed but when the Frenchmen durst not once come foorth to shew their line 50 heads the Englishmen set fire of their lodgings and departed in good order of battell from Orleance The next daie which was the eight daie of Maie the earle of Suffolke rode to Iargeaux with foure hundred Englishmen and the lord Talbot with an other companie returned to Mehun And after he had fortified that towne he went to the towne of Lauall woone it togither with the castell sore punishing the townsmen for their cankered obstinacie against them line 60 Thus when the Englishmen had seuered themselues into garrisons the duke of Alanson the bastard of Orleance Ione le Pusell the lord Gawcourt and diuerse other capteins of the Frenchmen came the twelfe daie of Iune before the towne of Iargeaux where the earle of Suffolke and his two brethren soiourned gaue to the towne so fierce an assault on thrée parts that Poiton de Sentrailes perceiuing an other part void of defendants scaled the wals on that side and without difficultie tooke the towne and slue sir Alexander Poole brother to the erle and manie other to the number of two hundred But the Frenchmen gained not much thereby for they lost thrée hundred good men and more Of the Englishmen fortie were taken with the earle and his other brother named Iohn The Frenchmen as they returned to Orleance fell at variance for their prisoners and slue them all sauing the earle and his brother Shortlie after the same French armie came to Mehun where they tooke the tower at the bridge foot and put therein a garrison From thence they remooued to Baugencie and constreined them that were within the towne to yéeld vpon condition they might depart with bag and baggage At the same place there came to the duke of Alanson the new constable Arthur of Britaine and with him the lord Dalbret and other Also after this the earle of Uandosme came to them so that by the dailie repaire of such as assembled togither to strengthen the French part they were in all to the number betweene twentie and thrée and twentie thousand men All which being once ioined in one armie shortlie after fought with the lord Talbot who had with him not past six thousand men neere vnto a village in Beausse called Pataie at which battell the charge was giuen by the French so vpon a sudden that the Englishmen had not leisure to put themselues in araie after they had put vp their stakes before their archers so that there was no remedie but to fight at aduenture This battell continued by the space of three long houres for the Englishmen though they were ouerpressed with multitude of their enimies yet they neuer fled backe one foot till their capteine the lord Talbot was sore wounded at the backe and so taken Then their hearts began to faint and they fled in which flight were slaine aboue twelue hundred and fortie taken of whome the lord Talbot the lord Scales the lord Hungerford sir Thomas Rampston were chéefe Diuerse archers after they had shot all their arrowes hauing onelie their swords defended themselues and with helpe of some of their horsmen came safe to Mehun This ouerthrow and speciallie the taking of the lord Talbot did not so much reioise the Frenchmen but it did as much abash the Englishmen so that immediatlie therevpon the townes of Ienuile Mehun Fort and diuerse other returned from the English part and became French From this battell departed without anie stroke striken sir Iohn Fastolfe the same yeare for his valiantnesse elected into the order of the garter But for doubt of misdealing at this brunt the duke of Bedford tooke from him the image of saint George and his garter though afterward by meanes of freends and apparant causes of good excuse the same were to him againe deliuered against the mind of the lord Talbot Charles the Dolphin that called himselfe French K. perceiuing fortune to smile thus vpon him assembled a great power and determined to conquer the citie of Reimes that he might be there sacred crowned and annointed according to the custome of his progenitours that all men might iudge that he was by all lawes and decrees a iust and lawfull king In his waie thitherwards he besieged the citie of Auxerre the citizens whereof compounded with him to yéeld if they were not rescued within certeine daies From thence he came before Trois and after twelue daies siege had that citie deliuered vnto him by composition that the capteine sir Philip Hall with his people and moueables might depart in
with all funerall solemnitie buried in the cathedrall church of our ladie in Rone on the north side of the high altar vnder a sumptuous and costlie monument Which toome when king Lewes the eleauenth by certeine vndiscreet persons was line 50 counselled to deface affirming that it was a great dishonour both to the king and to the realme to see the enimie of his father and theirs to haue so solemne and rich a memoriall he answered saieng What honour shall it be to vs or to you to breake this monument and to pull out of the ground the dead bones of him whome in his life neither my father nor your progenitours with all their power puissance and fréends were once able to make flée one foot backward but by his strength wit and policie kept them line 60 all out of the principall dominions of the realme of France and out of this noble and famous duchie of Normandie Wherefore I saie first God haue his soule and let his bodie now lie in rest which when he was aliue would haue disquieted the proudest of vs all And as for the toome I assure you it is not so decent nor conuenient as his honour and acts deserued although it were much richer and more beautifull The frost was so extreame this yeare beginning about the fiue and twentith daie of Nouember and continuing till the tenth of Februarie that the ships with merchandize arriuing at the Thames mouth could not come vp the riuer so their lading there faine to be discharged was brought to the citâ—e by land After the death of that noble prince the duke of Bedford the bright sunne in France toward Englishmen began to be cloudie and dailie to darken the Frenchmen began not onelie to withdrawe their obedience by oth to the king of England but also tooke sword in hand openlie rebelled Howbeit all these mishaps could not anie thing abash the valiant courages of the English people for they hauing no mistrust in God and good fortune set vp a new saile began the warre afresh and appointed for regent in France Richard duke of Yorke sonne to Richard earle of Cambridge Although the duke of Yorke was worthie both for birth and courage of this honor and preferment yet so disdeined of Edmund duke of Summerset being cousine to the king that by all means possible he sought his hinderance as one glad of his losse and sorie of his well dooing by reason whereof yer the duke of Yorke could get his dispatch Paris and diuerse other of the cheefest places in France were gotten by the French king The duke of Yorke perceiuing his euill will openlie dissembled that which he inwardlie minded either of them working things to the others displeasure till through malice diuision betwéene them at length by mortall warre they were both consumed with almost all their whole lines and ofspring The Normans of the countrie of Caux being heartened by the death of the duke of Bedford began a new rebellion slue diuerse Englishmen robbed manie townes that were vnder the English obeisance and tooke the towne of Harflue by assault and diuerse other townes But the lord regent being aduertised sent foorth the lord Scales sir Thomas Kiriell and the lord Hoo which so afflicted those rebels of Caux that they slue aboue fiue thousand persons and burnt all the townes and villages in the countrie not being walled so that in that part was neither habitation nor tillage for all the people fled into Britaine and all the beasts of the countrie were brought to Caudebecke where a good sheepe was sold for an English penie and a Cow for twelue pence Dailie was skirmishing and fighting in euerie part in so much that the lord Scales at the Rie beside Rone discomfited the Hire and fiftéene hundred valiant Frenchmen of the which aboue thrée hundred were taken prisoners beside the gaine of seauen faire coursers Amongst other of the prisoners were sir Richard Reginald de Fountaines sir Alain Gerond Alain Monsaie and Geffrie Grame capteine of the Scots But yet this victorie and others the like staied not the Frenchmen from working treason dailie insomuch that diuers townes turned to the part of K. Charles and some were taken by practise as Diepe Bois Uincennes and others ¶ So that here partlie was accomplished the prophesie of Henrie the fift giuen out in the ninth yeare of his reigne when he laie at siege before Meaux that Henrie of Windsore should loose all that Henrie of Monmouth had gotten for so they are named according to the place of their natiuitie and this prediction was complet and full by that time the yeares of his regiment were expired But heere is one cheefe point to be noted that either the disdeine amongest the cheefe péeres of the realme of England as yée haue heard or the negligence of the kings councell which did not foresée dangers to come was the losse of the whole dominion of France betwéene the riuers of Sone and Marne and in especiall of the noble citie of Paris For where before there were sent ouer thousands foâ— defense of the holds and fortresses now were sent hundreds yea and scores some rascals and some not able to draw a bowe or carrie a bill for the lord Willoughbie and the bishop of Terwine which had the gouernance of the great citie of Paris year 1436 had in their companie not two thousand Englishmen Which weakenesse king Charles well perceiued and therefore by authoritie appointed the constable Arthur of Britaine the earle of Dunois the lords de la Roch and Lisle Adam with other valiant capteins and men of warre as well Burgognions as French to go before Paris trusting by fauour of line 10 certeine citizens with whome he had intelligence shortlie to be lord of the citie without great losse or battell So these capteins came before the citie of Paris But perceiuing that all things succeeded not according to their expectation they returned to Mont Martyr and the next daie suddenlie set on the towne of saint Denis and constreined the Englishmen that kept it to flée into the abbeie and into the tower Uenin In this conflict two hundred Englishmen were slaine the residue vpon reasonable composition line 20 rendered vp the place and departed to Paris Thomas lord Beaumont who of late was come to Paris with eight hundred men issued foorth with six hundred souldiers intending to view the dooings and number of the French armie but suddenlie compassed about within a small space was discomfited and taken with him fourescore prisoners beside two hundred slaine in the field the remnant chased to the verie gates of the citie The Parisiens and especiallie line 30 the maister of the halles and some of the vniuersitie and Michaell Lallier and manie notable burgesses of the citie who euer with an English countenance couered a French hart perceiuing the weaknesse of the Englishmen and force of the French signified to the French capteins their toward minds
might make account of and further to haue the armor and weapons séene and viewed Nothing left he vndoone that tended to the foreséeing and preuenting of a mischiefe to insue line 10 which in a prince is counted a vertue because such prouidence and circumspection is reputed no lesse in a priuat ordinarie man as the poet Plautus saith Virtus est vbi occasio admonet dispicere Sir William Forman knight at that present maior of London was commanded to certifie the names of all the able men within the citie and liberties thereof betwéene the ages of thrée score and of sixtéene with the number of armors and weapons of all kinds of sorts Wherevpon the said maior and his brethren ech one in his ward by the oth of the line 20 common councell and constable tooke the number of men armor and weapons And after well considering of the matter by view of their bookes they thought it not expedient to admit the whole number certified for apt and able men and therefore assembling themselues againe they chose forth the most able persons and put by the residue speciallie such as had no armor nor for whom anie could be prouided But when they were crediblie aduertised by line 30 Thomas Cromwell lord priuie seale to whome the citie was greatlie beholden that the king himselfe would see the people of the citie muster in a conuenient number and not to set forth all their power but to leaue some at home to kéepe the citie then eftsoons euerie alderman repaired to his ward and there put aside all such as had iacks cotes of plate of maile and brigandines and appointed none but such as had white armor except such as should beare morish pikes which ware no armor but sculles and line 40 there was no stranger although he were a denisine permitted to be in this muster Euerie man being of anie abilitie prouided him selfe a cote of white silke and garnished their basenets with turues like caps of silke set with owches furnished with chaines of gold and feathers or caused their armor to be guilt and likewise their halberds and pollaxes Some and especiallie certeine goldsmiths had their whole armor of siluer bullion The lord maior the recorder the aldermen and euerie line 50 other officer beside were gorgeouslie trimmed as for their degrees was thought séemelie The maior had sixteene tall fellowes on foot attending on him with guilt halberds apparelled in white silke doublets and their hose and shooes were likewise white cut after the Almaine guise pounsed and pulled out with red sarsenet their ierkins were of white leather cut and chains about their necks with feathers and brooches in their caps The recorder and euerie alderman had about him foure halberders trimmed line 60 also in warlike sort The chamberleine of the citie the councellors aldermens deputies were appointed to be wiflers on horssebacke which aloft on their armor ware white damaske cotes mounted on good horsses well trapped with great chaines about their necks and proper iauelins or battell axes in their hands and caps of veluet richlie trimmed The wiflers on foot being in number foure hundred proper light persons were clad in white ierkins of leather cut with white hose and shooes euerie man with a iauelin or slaughsword in his hands to kéepe the people in arraie They had chaines about their necks and fethers in their caps The minstrels were in white with the armes of the citie and so was euerie other person at this muster without anie diuersitie the lord maior recorder and aldermen onelie excepted who had crosses of veluet or satin pirled with gold The standard bearers were the tallest men of euerie ward for whome were made thirtie new standards of the deuise of the citie beside baners Euerie alderman mustred his own ward in the fields to sée that euerie man were in furniture prouided as was requisite The eight of Maie being the daie appointed for to shew themselues before the king euerie alderman in order of battell with those of his ward came into the fields at Mile end and then all the gunners seuered themselues into one place the pikes into another and the archers into an other and likewise the bilmen and there cast themselues in rings and other formes of battell which was a beautifull sight to behold for all the fields from white Chapell to Mile end and from Bednall greene to Ratcliffe Stepnie were all couered with armour men and weapons and especiallie the battell of pikes séemed to be as it had béene a great forrest Then was euerie part diuided into thrée battels a for-ward a midle-ward and a rere-ward About seauen of the clocke marched forward the light péeces of ordinance with stone and powder After them followed the drums and fifes and immediatlie after them a guidon of the armes of the citie Then followed master Sadler capteine of the gunners on horssebacke armed and in a cote of veluet with a chaine of gold and foure halberders about him apparelled as before is recited Then followed the gunners foure in a ranke euerie one going fiue foot in sunder which shot altogither in diuerse places verie liuelie and in speciallie before the kings maiestie which at that time sat in his new gatehouse at his palace of Westminster where he viewed all the whole companie In like maner passed the other companies of all the three battels in good and séemelie order The foremost capteine at nine of the clocke in the morning by the little conduit came and entered into Paules churchyard and from thense directlie to Westminster and so through the sanctuarie and round about the parke of S. Iames and vp into the field comming home through Holborne and as the first capteine entered againe to the little conduit the last of the muster entered Paules churchyard which was then about foure of the clocke in the afternoone The number beside the wiflers and of other waiters was fiftéene thousand ¶ The eight of Iulie Griffith Clearke vicar of Wandsworth with his chapleine and his seruant frier Waire were all foure hanged and quartered at S. Thomas Waterings The tenth of Iulie sir Adrian Fortescue and Thomas Dingleie were beheaded The ninth of September the nunnerie of Clerkenwell and diuerse others were suppressed This yeare the sixtéenth of September came to London duke Frederike of Baniere the Palsgraue of the Rhine and the eightéenth of the same moneth came to London the marshall of Hans Frederike prince elector of Saxonie and the chancellor of William duke of Cleue Gulicke Gelderland and Berghen The Palsgraue was receiued and conducted to Windsore by the duke of Suffolke and the other were accompanied with other noble men and the thrée and twentith of the same moneth they all came to Windsore where eight daies togither they were continuallie feasted and had pastime shewed them in hunting and other pleasures so much as might be The Palsegraue shortlie after departed homewards
This yeare was Thomas Becket preferred to be the kings Chancellor The king holding his Christmas at Worcester in great royaltie year 1158 sat in the church at seruice with his line 40 crowne on his head as the kings vsed in those daies to doo on solemne feasts but as soone as masse was ended he tooke his crowne from his head and set it downe vpon the altar in signe of humblenes so that he neuer after passed for the wearing of a crowne The same yeare also the king altered his coine abrogating certeine peeces called basels In the moneth of August he went ouer into Normandie and came to an enteruiew with the French king neere to the riuer of Eata where they intreated line 50 of a league and of a marriage which was after agréed vpon betwixt Henrie the sonne of king Henrie and the ladie Margaret daughter to the French king at which time Thomas Becket then being the kings chancellor was sent to Paris in great araie to fetch hir who among other furnitures had nine long charrets as Matthew Paris writeth Now when this ladie was deliuered to Thomas Becket the lord chancellor and brought from Paris she was appointed from thencefoorth to remaine in the house line 60 of Robert de Newburge a Noble man of great honor vntill such time as the mariage should be solemnized After the two kings were departed in sunder K. Henrie prepared an armie against Conan duke of Britaine who had seized the citie of Naunts into his hands after the decease of Geffrey the kings brother who was earle of Naunts At length the same Conan perceiuing himselfe not able to resist the king of England vpon the daie of the feast of saint Michael the archangell came to king Henrie and surrendred the citie of Naunts into his hands with all the whole countrie therevnto belonging Soone after which resignation and vpon the 24. of August Geffrey the kings fourth sonne was borne of his wife queene Elianor In December following Theobald earle of Blois was accorded with king Henrie to deliuer to him two of his castels Likewise Petroke earle of Perch surrendred two castels vnto king Henrie which he had vsurped of the demeanes of Normandie in the daies of king Stephan one of which castels the king gaue him againe receiuing homage of him for the same Moreouer king Henrie and Raimond earle of Barzelone met togither at Blaime where they concluded a league by waie of allegiance so that Richard the sonne of king Henrie should take to wife the daughter of the said Raimond in time conuenient and that the king of England should giue vnto the said Richard the duchie of Aquitane the countie of Poictow This earle Raimond had married the daughter and heire of the king of Aragon In the meane time a secret grudge that had long depended betwéene king Henrie and king Lewes of France did still continue and though there was a friendship agreed betweene them as ye haue heard to haue extinguished the same yet was it but a fained friendship for vpon euerie new occasion they were readie to breake againe as it came to passe shortlie after William duke of Aquitane grandfather to queene Elianor married the daughter and heire of the earle of Tholouze and going vnto the warres of the holie land he engaged that earledome vnto Raimond the earle of saint Giles and died before he could returne His sonne William father to quéene Elianor suffered his earledome to remaine still vnredéemed either for want of sufficiencie or through negligence and carelesnesse so that the earle of saint Giles kéeping possession thereof vnto his dieng daie left it to his sonne Raimond who inioyed it likewise Now when king Lewes hauing married the foresaid Elianor demanded restitution as in the right of his wife earle Raimond flatlie at the first denied to restore it but after considering his lacke of power to resist the kings puissance he plied the K. with humble petitions and so preuailed by faire words that in the end king Lewes granted him his sister Constance in marriage which Constance as ye haue heard was married before vnto Eustace the sonne of king Stephan with hir granted him libertie to reteine the earldome of Tholouze as it were by waie of endowment whereto the other accorded Howbeit king Henrie hauing maried the foresaid quéene Elianor after the diuorse had betwixt hir and king Lewes made claime to the said countie of Tholouze in the right of his wife Herevpon earle Raimond trusting now to the aid of his brother in law king Lewes denied to restore it so that king Henrie determined to recouer it by force and entring by and by into Gascoine with an armie he drew towards the countrie of Tholouze began to inuade the same with great force and courage Diuers great lords of those parties ioyned with king Henrie in his war which he attempted against the earle of saint Giles as the earle of Barzelone and the lord William Trencheuile a man of great power in those quarters hauing vnder his rule manie cities castels and townes notwithstanding that he had of late lost many of them by violence of the foresaid earle of Tholouze but now by the aide of king Henrie he recouered them all Malcolme also king of Scotland came vnto king Henrie whilest he was foorth in this iournie to associate him in this businesse The earle hearing of king Henries comming with an armie was put in great feare and therevpon wrote letters to his brother in law king Lewes requiring him with all spéed possible to come vnto his aid King Lewes vpon receipt of the letters vnderstanding the present danger of the earle made such hast in continuing his iournie both daie and night that he came to Tholouze before king Henrie could arriue there Which when king Henrie vnderstood and perceiued how he was preuented he changed his purpose of besieging the citie and fell to spoiling of the countrie thereabouts at which time he line 10 recouered certaine places that latelâ—e before had reuolted from his gouernment amoâ—gst the rest the citie of Cahors which he furnished with men 〈◊〉 on and vittels appointing his chancellor Thomas Becket to the custodie and keeping thereof he forâ—â—fied other places also which he had gotten placing capteines and men of warre to looke vnto the defense of the same Whilest the king was thus abrode on his iournie in the parties of Aquitaine William earle of Bullongne and Mortaine the sonne of king line 20 Stephan and Hannon earle of Glocester departed this life which two earles went thither with him Finallie when he had set things at a staie in those parties he returned towards Normandie and comming to the citie of Toures he gaue the order of knighthood vnto Malcolme king of Scotland and so in the moneth of October he came backe into Normandie and there augmenting his armie with new supplies entred
Rouen in his place who would not take vpon him to doo anie thing touching the rule of the land without consent of his associats assigned to him and the barons of the eschecker The same day earle Iohn and the archbishop of Rouen and other of the kings iustices granted to the citizens of London the priuilege of their communaltie and the said earle and archbishop and in maner all the bishops erls and barons of the realme sware to mainteine the said priuilege firme and stable so long as should please their souereigne lord And the citizens of London sware to be true and to doo their faithfull seruice vnto king Richard and his heirs and if he chanced to die without issue then to receiue earle Iohn the brother of king Richard for their king and souereigne lord and therevpon sware fealtie to him against all men sauing that which they owed vnto his brother king Richard The chancellour perceiuing the multitude to be such which he had with him in the tower as the place was not able to hold them any long time after he had remained within it one night he came foorth vnto earle Iohn and to the other that were thus entred the citie and now readie to besiege him of whome he got licence for them that were inclosed within the tower to depart without damage and therewith deliuered vp the tower vnto the hands of the archbishop of Rouen with the castell of Windsor and certeine other castels which he held within the realme but not all notwithstanding he couenanted to make deliuerie of the residue which yet remained in the hands of them whome he had appointed to the kéeping of the same And for assurance of that couenant to be performed before he departed the realme he deliuered his brethren and one that was his chamberleine to remaine with the lords as hostages This doone he hasted to Canturburie where he promised to receiue the crosse of a pilgrime to go into the holie land and to render vp the crosse of his legatship which he had vsurped a yeare and a halfe after the death of pope Clement to the preiudice of the church of Rome and to the detriment and great hinderance of the English church For there was not any church within the realme which had not béene put to fine and ransome by that crosse nor any ecclesiasticall person went frée but the print of the crosse appeared in him and his purse From Canturburie he got him to Douer to his brother in law and finallie séeking means to passe ouer into France and doubting to be discouered he apparelled himselfe in womans raiment got a web of cloth on his arme as though he had beene some housewifelie woman of the countrie but by the vntowardlie folding and vncunning handling of his cloth or rather by a lewd fisherman that tooke him for an harlot he was suspected and searched so narrowlie that by his priuie members he was prooued to be a man and at line 10 length knowne attached and committed to prison after he had beene reprochfullie handled by them that found him and by the wiues of the towne in such vnséemelie apparell Earle Iohn would haue had him punished and put to some open reproofe for his passed tyrannicall dooings but the bishops and other of the barons for reuerence of his order procured his deliuerance with licence to passe ouer into Normandie where he was borne Thus was the bishop of Elie a man full line 20 of pride and couetousnesse ouerthrowne with shame and receiued for his hie climing a reprochfull downefall for none are more subiect to ruine and rebuke than such as be aloft and supereminent ouer others as the poet noteth well saieng Summa petit liuor perflant altissima venti Summa petunt dextra fulmina missa Iouis In time he was deposed from his office of being chancellour and not without warrant for in verie deed king Richard hauing receiued aduertisements line 30 from the lords and peeres of the realme of the chancellours presumptuous and hautie demeanour with wrongs offered to diuerse persons wrote to them againe as followeth A letter of king Richard directed to the States of the land for the deposing of the bishop of Elie from his office of lord chancellour line 40 RIchard king of England sendeth greeting to William Marshall to Gilbert Fitz Peter and Henrie Berdulfe and to William Brewer peeres If it so chance that our chancellour hath not faithfullie handled the affaires and businesse of our realme committed vnto him by the aduise and counsell of you and others to whom we haue also assigned the charge of gouernement of the same realme line 50 we command you that according to your disposition in all things to be doone concerning the gouernement thereof you order and dispose as well for eschetes as all other things c. By force of this commission the lords were the bolder to procéed against him as ye haue heard Now after his comming into the parties beyond the seas he ceassed not with letters and messengers to present his complaint to the pope of Rome and to line 60 king Richard of the iniuries receiued at the hands of earle Iohn and his complices Herevpon pope Celestine wrote in déed to all the archbishops and bishops that were within the realme of England in behalfe of the said bishop of Elie declaring that for so much as the king of England was gone into the holie land to warre against the enimies of our faith leauing his kingdome vnder the protection of the apostolike see he could not but haue speciall regard to see that the state rights and honour thereof were preserued from all danger of decaie Wherefore vnderstanding that there had beene certeine attempts made by Iohn erle of Mortaigne and others both against the king and the bishop of Elie that was not onelie legat of the apostolike sée but also gouernour of the land appointed by the king which attempt sounded greatlie to the reproch of the church of Rome and danger of damage to insue to king Richard if remedie were not the sooner found therefore he commanded them by the vertue of their obedience to excōmunicat the earle of Mortaigne or any other that was knowne to haue laid any violent hands vpon the said bishop of Elie or deteined him as captiue or inforced him to any oth or else had changed the state of rule in the kingdome of England to other forme than king Richard had ordeined at his setting forward towards the holie land and that not onelie all the councellours authors aiders and complices of those that had committed such outrage but also their lands should stand interdicted so that no diuine seruice should be vsed within the precinct of the same except penance and christning of infants This to remaine till the said bishop kingdome were restored into the former estate and that the parties excommunicated should present themselues with
K. Iohn being ioifull in that they had brought the matter so well about for his purpose caused the popes decree to be declared vnto the barons commanding them streitlie to obeie the same The barons taking the matter grieuouslie to be thus mocked with great indignation both blamed king Iohns vniust dealing and the popes wrongfull iudgement in that he had pronounced against them without hearing what they had of right to alledge for themselues Wherevpon out of hand notwithstanding the popes prohibition and prescript to the contrarie they determined to trie their cause by dint of sword and with all speed assembled their powers which for the greater part they had latelie dismissed and sent home They furnished the castell of Rochester with a strong garrison of men and placed therein as capteine one William Albeney a verie skilfull warriour King Iohn after he vnderstood that the barons contemning the popes decrée and inhibition were more offended and bent against him than before sent once againe to the pope to aduertise him of their disobedience and great contumacie shewed in refusing to stand to his prescript This doone he returned to the I le of Wight and sailed from thence to Douer where diuerse of those his commissaries which he had sent to hire soldiers in forren parts returned to him bringing with them out of diuerse countries such a multitude of souldiers and armed men that the onelie sight of them stroke the harts of all the beholders with great feare and terror For out of the parties of Poictou and Gascoine there came men of great nobilitie and right worthie warriours as Sauerie de Mauleon Geffrey and Oliuer de Buteuile two brethren hauing vnder them great numbers of good souldiers and tall men of warre Also out of Brabant there came Walter Buc Gerard de Sotignie and onâ— Godestall with thrée legions of armed men and crossebowes Likewise there came out of Flanders other capteins with diuerse bands of souldiers which Ferdinando earle of Flanders latelie returned out of the French captiuitie for old fréendships 〈◊〉 furnished and sent ouer to aid him against his 〈…〉 as he had 〈◊〉 King Iohn then hauing recouered strength 〈◊〉 him and being aduertised that William de 〈◊〉 was entred into the castell of Rochester with a great number of knights men of armes and other souldiers hasted thither with his whole arme and besieged them within inforcing himselfe by all waies possible to win the castell as well by battering the walles with engines as by giuing thereto manie assaults line 10 but the garison within consisting of nintie and foure knights beside demilances and other souldiers defended the place verie manfullie in hope of reseue from the barons which laie as then at London but they comming forward one daies iournie vnto Dartford when they heard that the king was comming forward in good araie of battell to meet them vpon consideration had of their owne forces for that they were not able to match him with footmen they returned barke againe to the citie breaking line 20 that assured promise which they had made and also confirmed by their solemne oths which was that if the castell should chance to be besieged they would not faile but raise the siege At length they within for want of vittels were constreined to yeeld it vp vnto the king after it had beene besieged the space of three score daies during which tiâ—e they had beaten backe their enimies at sundrie assaults with great slaughter and losse But the king hauing now got the possession of that hold line 30 vpon greefe conceiued for the losse of so manie men and also bicause he had line so long about it yet he could wâ—nne it to his inestimable costs and charges was determined to haue put them all to death that had kept it But Sauerie de Maâ—leon aduised him otherwise lest by such crueltie the barons in any like case should be occasioned to vse the same extremitie towards such of his people as by chance might fall into their hands Thus the king spaâ—ed the Nobles and gentlemen sending William de Albenie William line 40 de Lancaster William de Emeford Thomas de Muleton Osbert Giffâ—â—d Osâ—ert de Bobie Odinell de Albenie and diuerse other to the castell of Corfe there to be kept as prisoners But Robert Charme Richard Gifford and Thomas de Lincolne were sent to Notingham and so other were sent to other places As for all the demilances or yeomen if I shall so call them and the arcubalisters which had slaine manie of his men during the siege as Matthew Paris saith the king caused them to be hanged line 50 to put other in feare that should so obstinatlie resist him Neuerthelesse as the booke that belonged to Berneâ—ell abbie saith there was not any of them hanged sauing one arcubalister onelie whome the king had brought vp top a child But howsoeuer the king dealt with them after they were yéelded true it is as by the same booke it appeareth there had beene no siege in those daies more earnestlie inforced nor more obstinatlie defended for after that all the limmes of line 60 the castell had beene reuersed and throwne downe they kept the maister tower till halfe thereof was also ouerthrowne and after kept the other halfe till through famine they were constreined to yéeld hauing nothing but horsseflesh and water to susteine their liues withall Here is to be remembred that whilest the siege laie thus at Rochester Hugh de Boues a valiant knight but full of pride and arrogancie a Frenchman borne but banished out of his countrie came downe to Calice with an huge number of men of warre and souldiers to come to the aid of king Iohn But as he was vpon the sea with all his people meaning to land at Douer by a sudden tempest which roâ—e at that instant the said Hugh with all his companie was drowned by shâ—pwracke Soâ—e after the 〈◊〉 of the same Hugh with the carcases of other innumerable both of men women and children were found not farre from Yeuâ—ouâ—h and all along that coast There were of them in all fortie thousand as saith Matthew Paris for of all those which he brought with him there was as it is said not one man leâ—t aliue The king as the â—ame went but hâ—w 〈◊〉 I know not had giuen by charter vnto the 〈◊〉 Hugh de Boues the whole countrie of Northfolke so that he ment to haue expelled the old inhabitants and to haue peopled it with strangers But whether this was so or not sure it is that he was verie sorowfull for the losse of this 〈◊〉 and aid which thus perished in the seas though it happened verie well for his subiects of England that should haue béene fore oppressed by such multitude of strangers which for the most part must néeds haue liued vpon the countrie to the vtter vndooing of the inhabitants wheresoeuer they
great misliking that had beene afore time betwixt the king and the lords was now more vehementlie increased the duke of Ireland the earle of Suffolke the archbishop of Yorke the lord chiefe iustice Robert Trisilian and others still procuring stirring and confirming the kings heauie displeasure against the lords The duke of Glocester considering to what conclusion these things tended came secretlie to conference line 40 with the earles of Arundell Warwike and Derbie who were in like danger if they prouided not more spéedilie for their safetie wherevpon he discouered to them the perill wherein they all stood in common so that when they weied what was the most expedient meane to safe gard their liues they gathered their power togither determining to talke with the king with their armour vpon their backes for their more suertie as well concerning his pretense to bring them to their deaths as for the fauour line 50 which he bare to those whom they reputed to be traitors both to him and to the whole state of the realme whereby the same could not auoid spéedie ruine if remedie were not the sooner prouided The king on the other part tooke aduise how he might apprehend these lords whom he tooke to be plaine traitors ech one apart before they might gather their strengths about them and first he sent the earle of Northumberland and others vnto the castell of Reigate to take the earle of Arundell who laie there at that present But line 60 howsoeuer it fortuned the earle of Northumberland came backe and failed to accomplish that which he had in commandement After this a great number were sent by night to haue laid hands on him and to haue brought him to the kings presence or in case he resisted to haue slaine him if by any meanes they might but he being warned by a messenger that came to him from the duke of Glocester conueied himselfe awaie and with such bands as he had got togither rode all that night so that in the morning hauing passed thirtie miles not without great trauell and all speed possible he was in the morning aduanced to Haringie parke where he found the duke of Glocester and the earle of Warwike with a great power of men about them ¶ At the same time the king was about to set forward towards Canturburie there to performe some vow of pilgrimage which he had vndertaken to make vnto the shrine of Thomas Becket But a brute was raised and a slander belike contriued to bring him in further hatred of his subiects that he meant to steale ouer into France vnto the French king hauing promised to deliuer vp into his hands the towne of Calis with the castell of Guines and all the fortresses which his predecessors had possessed in those parties either by right from their ancestors or by warlike conquest Howbeit this his iournie to Canturburie was suddenlie staied vpon knowledge had of the gathering togither of the lords in Haringie parke wherewith the king being sore amazed called togither such as he trusted to vnderstand what their opinion was of the matter and vnderstanding that the purposed intention of the lords for which they were so assembled was to this end as they pretended to bring him vnto a better trade of life and more profitable order of gouernement he was streight striken with no small feare demanding of them their aduise what was best for him to doo in such troublesome state of things Some were of this mind that it should be best to séeke to appease the lords with faire promises assuring them that they should haue their desires Other thought it better to assemble the kings friends and ioining them with the Londoners to go foorth and trie the hazard of battell with the lords Among them that were of this mind the archbishop of Yorke was the chiefest But other that were thought to vnderstand more of the world than he did iudged it not wisedome so to doo considering that if the king lost the field then should great harme and dishonor follow and if the victorie fell to his side yet could he gaine naught but lose a great number of his subiects This was in Nouember at what time the king vpon his returning from Canturburie meant to haue holden a parlement but through those stirs neither his iournie to Canturburie nor the parlement went forward yet he caused order to be giuen that no citizen of London should fell to the duke of Glocester the earle of Arundell or any other of the lords any armour bowes arrowes or other munition or matter that might tend to the furniture of warre vpon a great paine But notwithstanding the lords went forward with their businesse and before they approched the citie of London they sent to the king the archbishop of Canturburie the lord Iohn Louell the lord Cobham and the lord Iohn Deuereux requiring to haue deliuered vnto them such as were about him that were traitors and seducers both of him and the realme that sought nothing else but to trouble both poore and rich and to sow discord and variance betwixt the king and his nobles And further they declared that their comming was for the honor and wealth both of the king and realme But the king being ruled altogither by the duke of Ireland the earle of Suffolke and two or three other was fullie persuaded that the lords intended to bring him vnder their gouernement and therfore he was counselled to make the French king his sure friend in all vrgent necessities And to be assured of him it was reported that those councellors aduised him to render vp into the French kings hands the towne of Calis and all that he had else in possession on the further side of the sea Howsoeuer this matter went truth it is that the king sent for the maior of London requiring to know of him how manie able men they thought the citie could make The maior answered that he thought verely the citizens might make in time of need fiftie thousand men within an houres respit Well said the king then I beseech you go and prooue what will be doone But when the maior began to attempt the matter he was answered generallie that they would neuer fight against the kings freends and defenders of the realme as indeed they tooke the lords to be but against the enimies of the king and realme they would alwaies be readie to fight and shew what resistance they were able This answer the maior reported to the king line 10 At the same time there was about the king the lord Rafe Basset who said thus to the king flatlie and plainelie Sir I haue béene and euer will be your true liege man and my bodie and goods shall euer be at your graces commandement in all iustice and trueth But neuerthelesse hereof I assure you that if my hap be to come into the field I will without faile alwaies follow the true part and it is not I that
part of a bridge from the enimies and kept watch and ward vpon and about the same The earle of Warwike had also taken a Uaumure from them of the market place built on the southside thereof able to receiue and lodge a good number of men which seruing to good purpose for the better brideling of them within he caused to be kept and thus were they within Meaux sore oppressed on euerie side Herevpon in Februarie the capteins doubting least the citie could not be defended long caused all the vittels and goods to be conueied into the market place and retired all the men of warre into the same leauing none in the other part of the citie but the commons and such as were not able to doo any auaileable seruice in the warre The king aduertised hereof commanded in all hast to assault the citie which was quicklie doone so that the citie by fine force was within thrée houres taken and spoiled and the same daie the market place besieged round about and a mill woone adioining vnto the same In Aprill the quéene passed ouer into France with a faire retinue of men vnder the conduct of the duke of Bedford the duke of Glocester remaining lord gouernour of the realme in his place At hir comming thither she was so welcommed and honorablie receiued first of hir husband and after of hir father and mother that she appeared to be no lesse loued of hir noble husband than of hir déere and naturall parents Whilest the siege still continued before Meaux Oliuer Mannie a valiant man of warre of the Dolphins part which before was capteine of Faleise and yéelding it sware neuer to beare armour against the king of England assembled a great number of men of warre as well Britaines as Frenchmen that is to saie the lord Montborchier the lord of Coinon the lord of Chatelgiron the lord Tintignace the lord de la Howssaie and diuerse other which entered into the countrie of Constantine in Normandie and robbed and killed the Englishmen where they might either espie or take them at their due aduantage But the earle of Suffolke kéeper of the marches hearing of their dooings sent for the lord Scales sir Iohn Aston bailiffe of Constantine sir William Hall sir Iohn Banaster and many other out of the garrisons within that territorie the which incountred with line 10 their enimies at a place called Le parke leuesque in English The bishops parke There was a sore fight and a long betwixt them but finallie the Frenchmen were put to flight so that in the conflict and chase were slaine the lord of Coinon the lord of Chatellgiron and thrée hundred other and there were taken prisoners the lord de la Howssaie and sir Oliuer Mannie with threescore others The king pardoned sir Oliuer Mannie his life though he ill deserued so great a benefit for that he line 20 had broken his oth and promise but he was sent into England there to learne to speake English and so being brought to London shortlie after died being as then a verie aged man was buried in the white friers ¶ But here note by the waie the roiall hart of this king who as he tempered all his actions with singular circumspection so with a pitifull mind he pondered the miserie of his enimies so that when he might Iure belli by the law of armes haue spoiled them of goods and life he diuerse times spared both line 30 with clemencie cōmonlie making conquest of them who séemed by open hostilitie scarse conquerable The king lieng still before the market place at Meaux in Brie as ye haue heard sore beat the wals with his ordinance and cast downe bulworkes and rampiers on euerie side the towne so that he had made an open breach for his people to enter Wherof the lord of Offemont being aduertised with a companie of chosen persons sent by the Dolphin assaied in the night season to enter the towne to the succours of them within But though diuerse of his people line 40 got ouer the walles by helpe of ladders which they had set vp yet such was his chance that as he passed a planke to haue come to the walles he fell into a déepe ditch and in the meane time the Englishmen perceiuing by the noise what the matter meant came running to the ditch tooke the lord of Offemont and slue diuerse of his companie that stood in defense The capteins within perceiuing in what case they stood by reason their succours were thus intercepted and doubting to be taken by assault for that they line 50 wanted munition and weapon began to treat with the king of England who appointed the earle of Warwike and the lord Hungerford to commune with them and in conclusion an accord was taken and so the towne and market place with all the goods were deliuered into the king of Englands hands the tenth daie of Maie in the yeare 1422. The appointment taken with them of this towne was this that they should yéeld themselues simplie vnto the kings pleasure their liues onlie saued and herevpon line 60 manie of them were sent ouer into England amongst whome was the bishop of that towne which shortlie after his arriuall here fell sicke and died There were also foure persons excepted against whome the king might by order of law and iustice procéed as he saw cause for their faults and trespasses committed As first the capteine of the towne named the bastard of Uauren the which had doone manie gréeuous oppressions to the people of the countrie thereabouts in spoiling them of their goods and ransoming them at his pleasure He had also put diuerse to death most cruellie when they were not able to paie such finance and ransomes as he demanded Wherevpon being now put to death himselfe his bodie was hanged vpon a trée that stood on an hill without the towne on the which he had caused both husbandmen and townesmen with other prisoners to be hanged before time His standard also which was woont to be borne before him in battell was set vp in the same trée The bailiffe also of the towne and two of the chéefest burgesses that had béene of counsell with him in his vnlawfull dooings were likewise executed Also beside these there were found in this towne diuerse that were accused to be guiltie of the duke of Burgognies death wherefore they were put to their triall in the parlement at Paris and some of them being found guiltie were executed When the deliuerie of the strong towne of Meaux was published thorough out the countrie all the townes and fortresses in the I le of France in Lannois in Brie in Champaigne yéelded themselues to the king of England which appointed in the same valiant capteins and hardie soldiers After that he had thus got possession of Meaux and the other fortresses he returned againe to Bois de Uincennes and being there receiued of the king and quéene of France and of the
remembred in how much she is now in the more beggerlie condition vnfréended and worne out of acquaintance after good substance after as great fauour with the prince after as great sute and seeking to with all those that those daies had businesse to speed as manie other men were in their times which be now famous onelie by the infamie of their ill déeds Hir dooings were not much lesse albeit they be much lesse remembred bicause they were not so euill For men vse if they haue an euill turne to write it in marble and who so dooth vs a good turne we line 50 write it in dust which is not worst prooued by hir for at this daie she beggeth of manie at this daie liuing that at this daie had begged if she had not béene Now was it so deuised by the protector and his councell that the selfe daie in which the lord chamberleine was beheaded in the Tower of London and about the selfe same houre was there not without his assent beheaded at Pomfret the foreremembred lords knights that were taken from the king at Northampton and Stonie Stratford Which line 60 thing was doone in the presence and by the order of sir Richard Ratcliffe knight whose seruice the protector speciallie vsed in that councell and in the execution of such lawlesse enterprises as a man that had béene long secret with him hauing experience of the world and a shrewd wit short rude in spéech rough and boisterous of behauiour bold in mischiefe as far from pitie as from all feare of God This knight bringing them out of the prison to the scaffold and shewing to the people about that they were traitors not suffering them to declare speake their innocencie least their words might haue inclined men to pitie them and to hate the protector and his part caused them hastilie without iudgement processe or maner of order to be beheaded and without other earthlie gilt but onelie that they were good men too true to the king and too nigh to the quéene Now when the lord chamberleine these other lords and knights were thus beheaded and rid out of the waie then thought the protector that when men mused what the matter meant while the lords of the realme were about him out of their owne strengths while no man wist what to thinke nor whom to trust yer euer they should haue space to dispute and digest the matter and make parties it were best hastilie to pursue his purpose and put himselfe in possession of the crowne yer men could haue time to deuise anie waie to resist But now was all the studie by what meanes this matter being of it selfe so heinous might be first broken to the people in such wise that it might be well taken To this councell they tooke diuerse such as they thought meetlie to be trusted likelie to be induced to that part and able to stand them in stâ—ed either by power or policie Among whome they made of councell Edmund Shaw knight then maior of London which vpon trust of his owne aduancement whereof he was of a proud heart highlie desirous should frame the citie to their appetite Of spirituall men they tooke such as had wit and were in authoritie among the people for opinion of their learning and had no scrupulous conscience Among these had they Iohn Shaw clearke brother to the maior and frier Penker prouinciall of the Augustine friers both doctors of diuinitie both great preachers both of more learning than vertue of more fame than learning For they were before greatlie estéemed among the people but after that neuer Of these two the one had a sermon in praise of the protector before the coronation the other after both so full of tedious flatterie that no mans eares could abide them Penker in his sermon so lost his voice that he was faine to leaue off and come downe in the midst Doctor Shaw by his sermon lost his honestie soone after his life for verie shame of the world into which he durst neuer after come abroad But the frier forced for no shame and so it harmed him the lesse Howbeit some doubt and manie thinke that Penker was not of counsell in the matter before the coronation but after the common maner fell to flatterie after namelie sith his sermon was not incontinentlie vpon it but at saint Marie hospitall at the Easter after But certeine it is that doctor Shaw was of counsell in the begining so farre foorth that they determined that he should first breake the matter in a sermon at Paules crosse in which he should by the authoritie of his preaching incline the people to the protectors ghostlie purpose But now was all the labor and studie in the deuise of some conuenient pretext for which the people should be content to depose the prince and accept the protector for king In which diuerse things they deuised But the chéefe thing the weightiest of all that inuention rested in this that they should alledge bastardie either in king Edward himselfe or in his children or both So that he should séeme disabled to inherit the crowne by the duke of Yorke and the prince by him To laie bastardie in king Edward sounded openlie to the rebuke of the protectors owne mother which was mother to them both for in that point could be no other color but to pretend that his owne mother was an adultresse which notwithstanding to further this purpose he letted not But neuerthelesse he would that point should be lesse and more fauourablie handled not euen fullie plaine and directlie but that the matter should be touched aslope craftilie as though men spared in that point to speake all the truth for feare of his displeasure But the other point concerning the bastardie that they deuised to surmize in king Edwards children that would he should be openlie declared and inforced to the vttermost The colour and pretext whereof cannot be well perceiued but if we first repeat you some things long before doone about king Edwards mariage After that king Edward the fourth had deposed king Henrie the sixt and was in peaceable possession of the realme determining himselfe to marie as it line 10 was meet both for him selfe the realme he sent ouer in ambassage the erle of Warwike with other noble men in his companie to Spaine to treat conclude a mariage betwéene K. Edward the kings daughter of Spaine In which thing the erle of Warwike found the parties so toward willing that he speedily according to his instructions without any difficultie brought the matter to very good coÌ„clusion Now hapned it that in the meane season there came to make a sute by petition to the king dame Elizabeth Greie line 20 which was after his quéene at that time a widow borne of noble bloud by hir mother duches of Bedford yeâ— she maried the lord Wooduile hir father Howbeit this dame Elizabeth hir selfe being in seruice
line 40 great wise man well perceiued when hee said Vae regno cuius rex puer est Wo is that realme that hath a child to their king Wherefore so much the more cause haue we to thanke God that this noble personage which is so rightlie intituled thervnto is of so sad age thereto so great wisedome ioined with so great experience which albeit hee will bee loth as I haue line 50 said to take it vpon him yet shall he to our petition in that behalfe more gratiouslie incline if ye the worshipfull citizens of this the cheefe citie of this realme ioine with vs the nobles in our said request Which for your owne weale we doubt not but ye will and nathelesse I heartilie pray you so to doo whereby you shall doo great profit to all this realme beside in choosing them line 60 so good a king and vnto your selues speciall commoditie to whom his maiestie shall euer after beare so much the more tender fauor in how much he shall perceiue you the more prone and beneuolentlie minded toward his election Wherin deere friends what mind you haue wee require you plainlie to shew vs. When the duke had said and looked that the people whome he hoped that the maior had framed before should after this proposition made haue cried King Richard king Richard all was husht and mute and not one word answered therevnto Wherewith the duke was maruellouslie abashed and taking the maior neerer to him with other that were about him priuie to that matter said vnto them softlie What meaneth this that the people be so still Sir quoth the maior percase they perceiue you not well That shall we mend quoth he if that will helpe And by by somewhat lowder he rehersed to them the same matter againe in other order and other words so well and ornatlie and nathelesse so euidentlie and plaine with voice gesture and countenance so comelie and so conuenient that euerie man much maruelled that heard him and thought that they neuer had in their liues heard so euill a tale so well told insomuch that he séemed as cunning an orator as he of whome the poet spake to his high praise cōmendation saieng Quaelibet eloquio causa fit apta suo But were it for woonder or feare or that each looked that other should speake first not one word was there answered of all the people that stood before but all was as still as the midnight not somuch as rowning amongest them by which they might seeme to commune what was best to do When the maior saw this he with other partners of that councell drew about the duke and said that the people had not béene accustomed there to be spoken vnto but by the recorder which is the mouth of the citie and happilie to him they will answer With that the recorder called Fitz William a sad man an honest which was so new come into that office that he neuer had spoken to the people before and loth was with that matter to begin notwithstanding thervnto commanded by the maior made rehearsall to the commons of that the duke had twise rehearsed to them himselfe But the recorder so tempered his tale that he shewed euerie thing as the dukes words and no part his owne But all this noting no change made in the people which alwaie after one stood as they had béene men amazed Wherevpon the duke rowned vnto the maior and said This is a maruellous obstinate silence and therewith he turned vnto the people againe with these words Déere friends we come to mooue you to that thing which peraduenture we not so greatlie néeded but that the lords of this realme and the commons of other parties might haue sufficed sauing that we such loue beare you and so much set by you that we would not gladlie doo without you that thing in which to be partners is your weale and honor which as it séemeth either you sée not or weie not Wherefore we require you giue vs answer one way or other whether you be minded as all the nobles of the realme be to haue this noble prince now protector to be your king or not At these words the people began to whisper among themselues secretly that the voice was neither lowd nor distinct but as it were the sound of a swarme of bées till at the last in the nether end of the hall an ambushment of the dukes seruants and Nashfields and other belonging to the protector with some prentisses and lads that thrust into the hall amongst the prease began suddenlie at mens backes to crie out as lowd as their throtes would giue King Richard king Richard and threw vp their caps in token of ioy And they that stood before cast backe their heads maruelling therof but nothing they said Now when the duke and the maior saw this maner they wiselie turned it to their purpose and said it was a goodlie crie a ioifull to heare euerie man with one voice no man saieng naie Wherefore friends quoth the duke sith we perceiue it is all your whole minds to haue this noble man for your king whereof we shall make his grace so effectuall report that we doubt not but it shall redound vnto your great weale and commoditie we require ye that ye to morrow go with vs and we with you vnto his noble grace to make our humble request vnto him in maner before remembred And therewith the lords came downe and the companie dissolued and departed the more part all sad some with glad semblance that were not verie metrie and some of those that came thither with the duke not able to dissemble their sorrow were faine at his backe to turne their face to the wall while the dolor of their hearts burst out of their eies line 10 Then on the morrow after the maior with all the aldermen and chiefe commoners of the citie in their best maner apparelled assembling themselues togither resorted vnto Bainards castell where the protector laie To which place repaired also according to their appointment the duke of Buckingham and diuerse noble men with him beside manie knights and other gentlemen And therevpon the duke sent word vnto the lord protector of the being there of a great and honourable companie to mooue a great line 20 matter vnto his grace Wherevpon the protector made difficultie to come out vnto them but if he first knew some part of their errand as though he doubted and partlie mistrusted the comming of such a number vnto him so suddenlie without anie warning or knowledge whether they came for good or harme Then the duke when he had shewed this to the maior and other that they might thereby sée how little the protector looked for this matter they sent vnto line 30 him by the messenger such louing message againe and therewith so humblie besought him to vouchsafe that they might resort to his presence to propose their intent of which they would
to him a pasport but also liberallie disbursed to him a great summe of monie for his conduct and expenses necessarie in his long iournie and passage But the earle trusting in the French kings humanitie aduentured to send his ships home into Britaine and to set forward himselfe by land on his iournie making no great hast till his messengers were returned Which being with that benefit so line 50 comforted and with hope of prosperous successe so incouraged marched towards Britaine with all diligence intending there to consult further with his louers fréends of his affaires and enterprises When he was returned againe into Britaine he was certified by credible information that the duke of Buckingham had lost his head and that the marquesse Dorset and a great number of noble men of England had a little before inquired and searched for him there and were now returned to Uannes line 60 When he had heard these newes thus reported he first sorowed and lamented his first attempt and setting forward of his fréends and in especiall of the nobilitie not to haue more fortunatelie succéeded Secondarilie he reioised on the other part that God had sent him so manie valiant and prudent capteins to be his companions in his martiall enterprises trusting suerlie and nothing doubting in his owne opinion but that all his businesse should be wiselie compassed and brought to a good conclusion Wherefore he determining with all diligence to set forward his new begun businesse departed to Rheims and sent certeine of his priuie seruitours to conduct and bring the marquesse and other noble men to his presence When they knew that he was safelie returned into Britaine Lord how they reioised for before that time they missed him and knew not in what part of the world to make inquirie or search for him For they doubted and no lesse feared least he had taken land in England fallen into the hands of king Richard in whose person they knew well was neither mercie nor compassion Wherefore in all spéedie maner they galoped toward him and him reuerentlie saluted Which meeting after great ioy and solace and no small thanks giuen and rendered on both parts they aduisedlie debated and communed of their great businesse and weightie enterprise In the which season the feast of the Natiuitie of our sauiour Christ happened on which daie all the English lords went with their solemnitie to the cheefe church of the citie and there ech gaue faith and promise to other The earle himselfe first tooke a corporall oth on his honor promising that incontinent after he shuld be possessed of the crowne and dignitie of the realme of England he would be conioined in matrimonie with the ladie Elizabeth daughter to king Edward the fourth Then all the companie sware to him fealtie and did to him homage as though he had béene that time the crowned king and annointed prince promising faithfullie and firmelie affirming that they would not onelie loose their worldlie substance but also be depriued of their liues and worldlie felicitie rather than to suffer king Richard that tyrant longer to rule and reigne ouer them Which solemne oths made and taken the earle of Richmond declared and communicated all these dooings to Francis duke of Britaine desiring most heartilie requiring him to aid him with a greater armie to conduct him into his countrie which so sore longed and looked for his returne and to the which he was by the more part of the nobilitie and communaltie called and desired Which with Gods aid and the dukes comfort he doubted not in short time to obteine requiring him further to prest to him a conuenient summe of monie affirming that all such summes of monie which he had receiued of his especiall fréends were spent and consumed in preparation of his last iourneie made toward England which summes of monie after his enterprise once atchiued he in the word of a prince faithfullie promised to repaie and restore againe The duke promised him aid and helpe Upon confidence whereof he rigged his ships and set foorth a nauie well decked with ordinance and warlikelie furnished with all things necessarie to the intent to saile forward shortlie and to loose no time In the meane season king Richard apprehended in diuerse parts of the realme certeine gentlemen of the earle of Richmonds faction confederation which either intended to saile into Britaine toward him or else at his landing to assist and aid him Amongst whome sir George Browne sir Roger Clifford and foure other were put to execution at London and sir Thomas Sentleger which had married the duchesse of Excester the kings owne sister and Thomas Rame and diuerse other were executed at Excester Beside these persons diuerse of his houshold seruants whome either he suspected or doubted were by great crueltie put to shamefull death By the obseruation of which mens names the place and the action here mentioned with the computation of time I find fit occasion to interlace a note newlie receiued from the hands of one that is able to saie much by record deliuering a summarie in more ample sort of their names whome king Richard did so tyrannicallie persecute and execute as followeth King Richard saith he came this yeare to the citie but in verie secret maner whome the maior his brethren in the best maner they could did receiue and then presented to him in a purse two hundred nobles which he thankefullie accepted And during his abode here he went about the citie viewed the seat of the same at length he came to the castell and when he vnderstood that it was called Rugemont suddenlie he fell into a dumpe and as one astonied said Well I sée my daies not long He spake this of a prophesie told him that when he came once to Richmond line 10 he should not long liue after which fell out in the end to be true not in respect of this castle but in respect of Henrie earle of Richmond who the next yeare following met him at Bosworth field where he was slaine But at his being here he did find the gentlemen of this countrie not to be best affected towards him and after his departure did also heare that the marquesse of Dorset the bishop of Excester and sundrie other gentlemen were in a confederacie against him for the assisting of the erle of Richmond line 20 Wherefore he sent downe Iohn lord Scroope with a commission to keepe a session who sat at Torington then there were indicted of high treason Thomas marquesse Dorset Peter bishop of Excester Thomas Sentleger and Thomas Fulford knights as principals and Robert Willoughbie and Thomas Arundell knights Iohn Arundell deane of Excester Dauid Hopton archdeacon of Excester Oliuer abbat of Buckland Bartholomew Sentleger William Chilson Thomas Gréenefield Richard line 30 Edgecombe Robert Burnbie Walter Courtneie Thomas Browne Edward Courtneie Hugh Lutterell Iohn Crocker Iohn Hallewell and fiue hundred others
they discerned seuerall mines wrought into manie parts of the towne and they found by lamentable experience that the lesse good they did the more painfullie they laboured for that their fortune had reduced them to these termes of extremitie that in abandoning one place to relieue another they put both in danger not hauing numbers sufficient to furnish the seruice and lesse expectation of rescue amid perils so raging and desperate so that what for that their necessities were greater than their hopes their defense lesse able by the continuall diminution of their numbers lastlie holding it no breach of honour to preserue by wisdome and composition that they could no longer defend by their valour and prowes they gaue place to their destinie and capitulated with the Turke as followeth That the great maister of their order should leaue the towne to him that as well he as all line 10 his knights should depart in safetie with libertie to earie with them as much of their goods as they could And for assurance of this capitulation the Turke should withdraw out of those seas his fléet or nauie and retire his armie by land fiue miles from Rhodes By vertue of which capitulation Rhodes remained to the Turkes and the christians passed into Sicilie and so into Italie kéeping their faith and profession vnuiolated They found in Sicilie an armie by sea compounded of a certeine number of vessels with line 20 great releafe of vittels and munitions and readie to hoise saile at the next wind to reuittle Rhodes The slownesse of this reseue was laid to the popes fault After they were departed Soliman for a more contempt of christian religion made his entrie into the citie vpon the daie of the birth of the sonne of God which daie being celebrated in the churches of christians with noise of musike holie inuocations he connected all the churches of Rhodes dedicated to the seruice of Iesus Christ into Mosqueis so they line 30 call their temples which after all the christian rites and ceremonies were abolished they made dedicatorie to Mahomet Good cause had the christians herevpon with heauie hearts to make their complaint to God by the president of the psalmist lamenting the libertie of the enimies exercising the vehemencie of his rage against Gods people full well with swolne eies testifieng the sorrow of their soules might sadlie sounding the dumps of their threnomina saie perde funditùs line 40 Hostes proteruos qui tuum sacrarium Manu nefanda polluunt Clangunt sonora buccina non quae tuas Laudes canat ludibrio Sed festa acerbo quae profanet in tuis Vexilla figunt turribus c. To vnderstand more of this historie touching the taking of Rhodes what mooued the Turke to couet the same his letter comminatorie to Philip de Uilliers who tooke part against him with other accidents line 50 and circumstances belonging to this martiall action read the report of Edward Hall which is verie copious and plentifull in this behalfe And now will we returne to our owne affaires here in England About this time the bishop of Durham departed this life the king gaue that bishoprike to the cardinall who resigned the bishoprike of Bath to doctor Iohn Clerke maister of the rolles and sir Henrie Marneie that was vicechamberleine was made lord priuie seale and shortlie after was created lord Marneie line 60 In the end of this yeare doctor Blith bishop of Chester was attached for treason but he acquited himselfe About this time the cardinall exercised his authoritie which he pretended by his power legantine verie largelie not onelie in proouing of testaments in his court calling the executors and administrators before him of what diocesse soeuer they were but also by prouisions he gaue all benefices belonging to spirituall persons and ran thereby within danger of the premuniâ—e as afterward was laid to his charge But after that he perceiued his owne follie and rash dooing herein contrarie to the lawes which would not permit that anie such things as were mooued within the prouince of Canturburie might bee concluded without the authoritie of the archbishop he sent them againe to Poules and sate himselfe at Westminster with his cleargie of the prouince of Yorke And euen as there was much adoo amongst them of the common house about their agréement to the subsidie so was there as hard hold for a while amongst them of the clergie in the conuocation house Namelie Richard bishop of Winchester Iohn bishop of Rochester held sore against it but most of all sir Rowland Philips vicar of Croidon and one of the canons of Poules béeing reputed a notable preacher in those daies spake most against that paiment But the cardinall taking him aside so handled the matter with him that he came no more into the house willinglie absenting himselfe to his great infamie and losse of that estimation which men had of his innocencie Thus the belwedder giuing ouer his hold the other yéelded and so was granted the halfe of all their spirituall reuenues for one yeare to bée paid in fiue yeres following that the burthen might the more easilie be borne The parlement being begun as ye haue heard the cardinall on the nine and twentith day of Aprill came into the common house and there shewing the great charges that the king necessarilie was at and dailie must be at in maintenance of his warres against the French and Scots demanded the summes of eight hundred thousand pounds to bée raised of the fift part of euerie mans goods and lands that is to wit foure shillings of euerie pound This demand was inforced on the morrow after by sir Thomas Moore then speaker of the parlement but he spake not so much in persuading the house to grant it but other spake as earnestlie against it so that the matter was argued to and fro and handled to the vttermost There were that proued how it was not possible to haue it leuied in monie for men of lands and great substance had not the fift part of the same in coine And sith the king by the loane had receiued two shillings of the pound which by this rate amounted to 400000 pounds and new to haue foure shillings of the pound it would amount in the whole vnto twelue hundred thousand pounds which is first and last six shillings of the pound being almost a third part of euerie mans goods which in coine might not be had within this realme For the proofe whereof was alleaged that if there were in England but twâ—ntie thousand parishes and euerie parish should giâ—â— an hundred markes that were but fiftéene hundrâ—â— thousand markes which is but an hundred thousand pounds and there be not verie manie parishes in England one with another able to spare an hundred markes out of cities and townes And where it is written that in England there be fortie thousand parish churches it was prooued that there
the said citie but the bailiffes reteining their old and ancient custome doo kéepe the like courts and in the like causes distinctlie from the maior by themselues at all time and times the mondaies and festiuall daies excepted as it shall please them to assigne and with their court is called by the name of the prouost court Thus the maior and bailiffes both iointlie and seuerallie line 10 haue iurisdiction to decerne and determine in ciuill matters But if the matters doo touch and concerne the prince the crowne the common peace anie criminall matter or the publike state of the citie and common-wealth of the same then the same are decided by the maior and iustices or by the maior and common councell or by the maior himselfe or by some other officer or officers according to the nature and qualitie of the cause and offense But bicause it requireth a large and speciall course to describe the line 20 gouernement of this citie and common-wealth of the same the charge of euerie officer the diuersitie of officers their seuerall iurisdictions and a number of other things incident vnto their charges there is a particular booke imprinted and at large the same is set out in such order as is requisite and apperteining to the gouernement whereby euerie man may know his office and charge and what to him dooth apperteine And let it suffice that partlie through good gouernement and partlie of a good inclination line 30 the people of this citie haue béene alwaies dutifull and obedient to the king and the lawes and haue in great awe and reuerence their gouernours and magistrats for the time being And this one thing is not so strange as worthie to be noted that euen from the beginning from time to time they haue béene carefull for their common-wealth and vigilant for the preseruation of the same And as in times of peace and quietnesse the same hath beene well gouerned so in times troublesome and vnquiet line 40 it hath béene most valiantlie defended against the inuasions and assaults of the enimies as by sundrie histories it may appeare whereof for example these few may serue line 1 First Aruiragus king of this land then named Britaine minding to staie the land in his ancient estate fréedome and libertie did withdraw and denie to paie vnto the Romans the tribute which they did require and demand wherefore Claudius the emperor sent Uespasian then duke of the Romane armie line 50 into this realme with a great hoast either to recouer the tribute or to subdue the land This Uespasian is he who in the foure and twentith yeare after this his iourneie did destroie Ierusalem Wherfore this duke landing in Torrebate then named Totonesium littus came to this citie laid siege vnto it and gaue continuall assaults therevnto for eight daies continuallie togither Aruiragus the king being then in the east parts of the land and hearing of this with a great armie and power marcheth towards this citie to remooue line 60 the siege and incountereth with the enimie The Romane after long fight and not able to preuaile is contented to come to parlée and in the end a composition was concluded as if dooth appeare and is set downe and written by sundrie historiographers The chronicle of the cathedrall church of the said citie hath these words Anno Domini 49 Vespassanus cum Romano exercitu ciuitatem nunc vocatam Exeter â—cto diebus obsedit sedminimè praeualuit Aruirago rege ciuibus auxilium praestante Geffreie of Monmouth hath these words Vespasianus à Claudio missus est vt Arâ—iragum vel pacificaret vel Romanae subiectioni restitueret Cùmigitur inportu in Rutâ—pi applicare voluisset Vespasianus obuâ—aâ—it ei Aruiragus atque prohibuit nâ— portum ingrederetur Retraxit itaque se Vespasianus à portu illo retortisque velis in littore Totonesio applicuit Nactus deinde tellurem Caier â—enhulgoite quae nunc Exonia vocà tur obsessurus eandem adiuit cùmque octo diebus eandem obsedisset superuenit Aruiragus cum exercitu suo praeliùmque commisit die illa valde laceratus fuit vtrorùmque exercitus sed neuter est victoria potitus mane autem facto mediante Geâ—aâ—issa regina concordes effecti sunt Matthew of Westminster writeth Aruiragus Britannorum rex in tantam proâ—apsus est superbiaÌ„ quòd Romanae potestatis noluit diutiùs subiectiom parere Vespasianus igitur à Claudio missus cùm in Rutupi portu applicare incepisset Aruiragus illi â—buius prohibuit ne ingrederetur At Vespasianus recortis velis in Totonesio littore applicuit ciuitatem quae Britannicè Caier Penhulgoite nunc autenâ— Exonia appellatur obsedit elapsis inde septem diebus Aruiragus superuenit praeliùmque commisit vtrorùmque exercitu valde lacerato mediante Genwissa Claudij filia duces amici facti sunt In the historie intituled Noua historia de gestis Anglorum a Britonibus vsque ad Henricum sextum is written the like in effect Vespasianus à Claudio missus est vt Aruiragum pacificaret vel Romanae ditioni restitueret cui obuians Aruiragus probibuit ne terram suam ingrederetur timens Vespasianus armatorum cohortem retraxit sese retortisque velis in Totonesio littore est appulsus atque vrbem Exoniae obsedit post septem dies superuenit Aruiragus praelium committitur laceratùrque vtrorùmque exercitus sed neuter potitur victoria demum mediante Genewissa regina reconciliati sunt It was also in manie troubles and great perplexities in the vncerteine and troublesome states of this realme when sometimes the Romans sometimes the Picts sometimes the Scots sometimes the Saxons and sometimes the Danes made their incursions and warres within this land by reason whereof the records and memorials in those daies for the most part were lost and consumed And yet Matthew of Westminster writeth that it was besieged by Penda king of Mertia in the yeare line 2 of our Lord 632 in the time of Cadwallin one of the last kings of the Britons The historie is this Edwin the Saxon king of the Northumbers â—auing wars against Cadwallin or Cadwallâ— did so preuaile and had such conquests ouer him that Cadwallo was driuen to forsake his realme of Waleâ— and to flie into Ireland where he being was 〈◊〉 carefull and pensifull how to recouer his countrie againe Wherefore he repareth his armie and gathereth a new force and gaue sundrie â—ttempts to atchiue to his purpose but all was in vaine 〈…〉 could neuer set foot on land in his countrie 〈◊〉 win was alwaies at hand and in a readinesse to 〈◊〉 and resist the same for this Edwin had about him in his seruice a man named Pellitus who was a magician and verie skilfull in necromancie and who by his art and science did foreshew and declare vnto Edwin what things were a dooing and attempted against him Cadwallo hauing continuallie euill successe was in vtter despaire and distrust to
attempted anie force or hostilitie against them But the Dane being gone and returned home and knowing nothing of this preparation one Hugh then earle of Deuon as princes lacke no fawners sent his letters into Denmarke to king Sweno certifieng him both of the state and wealth of this citie as also of the great preparation which had bene made to withstand him persuading him not to susteine such an iniurie And as coles will be soone kindled euen so the Dane vpon this aduertisement was in a great heat and foorthwith arreareth his armie and repareth all things in readinesse to crosse the seas anew to worke his will against this citie And accordinglie when time serued in the yeare following line 6 being the yeare of our Lord 1003 he tooke the seas and landed vpon the coasts of Deuon and Cornewall and marched foorthwith to this citie and laid his siege against the same in the beginning of the moneth of August and continued the same vntill the kalends of September during which time were sundrie sharpe fierce and cruell assaults giuen by the Dane and as valiantlie resisted by the citizens But in continuance of time when they saw themselues dailie more and more to be weakened vittels to saile the fire round about them their walles beaten downe themselues slaughtered and murthered and the enimie to increase and be strong and in all these distresses their king Eldred being fled into Normandie to haue no care of them nor to prepare anie rescue aid or helpe for them it was not to be maruelled if in so heauie a distresse they were amazed and astonished And yet considering with themselues that Sweno was a Dane a cruell enimie a line 10 bloudie murtherer an vsurping tyrant hauing no other title to the crowne of England but the sword did with one consent agrée and conclude neuer to yéeld nor giue ouer whilest anie were left liuing able to withstand the same wishing rather to die manfullie for their common wealth than to liue in reproch and infamie and by death to reape an immortall fame than by life to become ignominious infamous and in the end also to be the miserable slaues of a cruell and vsurping tyrant line 20 Whâ—n therefore after manie assaults all or the most part of the ablest men were spent and consumed and none or few left aliue to withstand so mightie and so manie enimies the Dane on the seuen and twentith daie of August with force entered the citie And after that he had serued and satisfied his bloudie appetits in deflowring the women murthering the children and making hauocke of all the people hée spoiled the citie burned the houses rased the walles bet downe the temples and left nothing to be doone line 30 which might by fire sword and spoiles be consumed and this is so witnessed by sundrie writers Reinulph of Chester writeth thus Daci cum suo rege Sweno Excestriam venerunt vrbem funditùs destruxerunt nullare incolumi relicta quae aut serro aut igni vastari poterat omnia spolia cineribus tantùm relictis secum deportauerunt Huntington hath these words Daci ir a exarserunt sicut ignis quem velit aliquis sanguine extinguere aduolantes igitur quasi multitudo locustarum quidam Excestriam venerunt vrbem funditùs destruxerunt omnia spolia cineribus tantùm line 40 relictis secum deportauerunt Houeden thus saith Rex Danorum Sweni periurium proditionem Normannici comitis quem Emma Domnaniae praefecerat ciuitatem Exon infregit spoliauit murum ab orientali vsque ad occidentalem portam destruxit cum ingenti line 7 praeda naues repetijt It was also besieged by William the Conquerour in the first yeare of his reigne Anno 1068. For when he first entered this land and by dint of sword sought the conquest thereof the citizens of this citie and the noble and gentlemen of line 50 all the countrie about entered into one common league conclusion and promise to ioine togither and to withstand the enimie to the vttermost And this confederacie being confirmed by a publike oth preparation on all parts was made accordinglie for the accomplishing of the same But the conquerour hauing preuailed and subdued in a maner the whole land was aduertised that this citie stood vpon their gard and would not yéeld nor submit themselues vnto him Wherevpon he sent his armie from London line 60 and besieged the same and perceiuing the siege to continue marched and came himselfe vnto the same but rather came no further than Salisburie In the meane time the citizens were aduertised how the whole realme had yeelded and seeing also how their confederats did dailie shrinke awaie from them and by that meanes they to grow weaker weaker and therefore the lesse able to withstand so great a force and to keepe out so puissant an armie as was round about them and considering also that small mercie or fauor should they find if the citie by force were taken did by way of intreatie offer submission and desire peace which in the end they obteined and so paâ—eng a grieuous fine they and the citie were restored But yet in token of his conquest the king altered and changed the gates of the castell and tooke an oth of all the citizens to be his liege and true subiects Houeden in his historie maketh mention that Githa king Harolds mother should be within this citie during the time that this siege and assault lasted and perceiuing the bent of the people to submit and yeeld themselues secretlie conueied hirselfe awaie For these be his words Hyeme minuente reâ— Wilhelmus de Normannia in Angliam redijt Anglis importabile tributum imposuit deinde in Dunmoniam hostiliter profectus est ad ciuitatem Excestriam quam ciues nonnulli Anglici ministri contra illum retinebant obsedit inâ—â—egit Githa verò comitissa mater scilicet Haroldi regis Anglorum soror Swani regis Danorum cum multis de ciuitate fugiens euasit Flandriam petijt ciues autem dextris acceptis regi se dederunt Also in the second yeare of king Stephan Anno 1137 the lords and péeres of the realme remembring the oth which they had before made to king Henrie the first to whom they sware line 8 to be true to Mawd the kings onelie daughter and heire and to hir heires and yet contrarie to the same had sworne themselues to king Stephan began to repent themselues consulted how to restore Mawd the empresse and to expell Stephan Wherefore they assembled themselues in armor diuided themselues into sundrie cities townes and castels Among whom one Baldwin Rideuers then erle of Deuon with force entered and tooke this citie But the king so sharpelie followed and pursued him that he draue him from hence into the I le of Wight which was then his lordship But the king when he had receiued the
and scope of libertie to talke and conferre with them euerie man at his pleasure there wanted no deuises vnder colour of freendlie conferences to deuise how to compasse their intents howbeit it pleased the eternall God so to carrie and rule the hearts of the magistrats that albeit being nuzled in the Romish religion they were affected therevnto yet they so much respected their dutie to their prince and the safetie to their common-wealth line 30 that they openlie professed they would neuer yéeld the citie so long as they liued and were able to kéepe and defend the same For the maior himselfe maister William Hurst maister Iohn Buller maister Iohn Britnall maister William Periam others of the ancientest of the citie were by sundrie means waies deuises and reasons persuaded to conioine themselues in this rebellion with the commoners They all with one mind and one voice gaue a flat answer that in the citie line 40 they had béene brought vp there they had gotten their liuings there they had sworne their fidelitie and allegiance to their king and prince there they had faithfullie hitherto serued him and there would so continue so long as they could to the vttermost of their powers all which their promises auowries the Lord be praised they performed But to the matter Sundrie other trecheries deuises were practised which particularlie to recite were verie tedious to no purpose The last but the line 50 most perillous practise was this When these male-contents saw themselues to be preuented in all their deuises which before they had but secretlie and priuatlie practised now they conioining themselues togither doo openlie shew and declare themselues being persuaded that bicause they were the greater number and that also the most part of the poore people were wearie and for want of vittels would not indure to be pinned in anie longer that therefore manie would ioine against a few and that the game line 60 would go on their side And so on a sundaie being but two dais before the deliuerie of the citie about eight of the clocke in the forenoone a companie of them in euerie quarter of the citie hauing their consorts in a readines to ioine serue with them if need so required get into the streets walking with their weapons and in their armour as to fight with their enimies and crie out Come out these heretikes and twopenie bookemen Where be they By Gods wounds bloud we will not be pinned in to serue their turne We will go out and haue in our neighbors they be honest good and godlie men Their pretense and meaning being then that if anie of the contrarie side had come out they would haue quarelled with them and haue taken occasion to set vpon him and so raise a new tumult But by the prouidence and goodnesse of God it so fell out that some being in their houses and some at their parish churches the maior and magistrates were first aduertised herof before the others heard anie thing of the matter and they according to their wisedoms pacified the matter and 〈◊〉 Iohn Uincent Iohn Sharke and others the belwedders of this flocke vnto their houses 〈◊〉 in the south gate stréet and at the south gate there was a little stur which being soone stopped there insued no hurt therof other than a broken pate or two for as it fell out the warders of that gate at that time were against them and of the greater companie These and manie other like practises were dailie and continuallie vsed on the one side which in the end came to no effect bicause the Lord kept the citie The others on the other side being altogither bent to honor God obeie the king and to serue in their commonwealth were fullie resolued to kéepe and defend the citie whose cause being iust and good was sufficient of it selfe to kéepe them in that mind and yet their courage was the more for that they saw the good bent of the maior and magistrates who howsoeuer they were affected otherwise in religion yet they were wholie bent and determined to kéepe and defend the citie and therefore they seeing the industrie carefulnesse seruice and painefulnesse of these men doo fauour incourage and countenance them and to saie the truth by the industrie and good seruice of them the citie was cheeflie kept and preserued For there was no seruice to be doone within nor exploit to be aduentured without vpon the enimie as manie times there were sallies giuen but these were the chiefest and commonlie the onelie dooers for which cause the contrarie side maruelouslie maligned at them and sought by all means how to impeach and indanger them Which thing being dailie perceiued more and more by sundrie arguments and as wise men séeking how to preuent the same did manie and sundrie times confer among themselues herein and in the end made a couenant and a faithfull promise among themselues being then about the number of one hundred persons that they would stand firmelie and faithfullie to the defense and kéeping of the citie to their vttermost powers And if it so fell out that the rebell and enimie should haue accesse and entrie into the citie that then they should all méet at the lord Russels now the earle of Bedfords house and there to issue out at the posterne of the garden and to giue the aduenture to passe and to escape awaie as also if they were resisted that then they to stand togither to their defense And for this purpose they had then named some one man to be their capteine for this enterprise And in the meane time to doo all things circumspectlie for the preseruation of the citie by a particular couenant among themselues did take order that during the whole beseeging of the citie and their aboad therein a certeine number by course and besides the ordinarie set watch should watch ward and walke about continuallie both by daie and night by which means no sleight nor treacherie could be practised but that they should haue an inkeling and vnderstanding thereof and which indéed stood and came to such effect that it was the chiefest if not the onelie cause of the preseruation of the citie for that time For there was no seruice no diligence no care nor anie thing wanting or left vndoone which by these men was not doone Howbeit the diuell the author of all diuision and strife who cannot abide anie vnitie concord and agréement in good causes did here also hurle in a bone among these men whereof had insued a great detriment to the common state and an ouerthrow to themselues had it not in due time beene preuented There were two gentlemen within this citie and both of this companie the one was borne of a honorable house and parentage named Iohn Courtneie a yoonger sonne to sir William Courtneie of Porederham knight and a man of verie good knowledge and experience in seruice The other also was
a man of verie good seruice practise and experience his line 10 name was Barnard Duffeld seruant to the lord Russell and kéeper of his house in Excester Both of these were verie forward and carefull in this present seruice against the rebels But there fell an emulation betwéene them which albeit it be verie commendable in good things he praise woorthie who can best excell therein yet when the same shall tend to a diuision of a publike state the dissolution of a commonwealth the breach of common societie or the maintenance of anie euill it is vtterlie to be shunned line 20 and lamented It happened vpon an occasion offered that certeine of this companie vpon a time issued out at the forsaid posterne and made a sallie vpon the enimies and had such good successe that some of them they slue some they tooke prisoners as also spoiled them of their goods and brought awaie with them some of their ordinance namelie basses and slings howbeit they all scaped not scotfrée for some of them were taken some also were hurt as namelie Iohn Drake line 30 who the yeare before was the receiuer of the citie was shot through the chéekes with an arrow which he brought into the citie with him and one Iohn Simons a cooke was so hurt that he died thereof But among them all one Iohn Goldsmith being of that companie and seruant to Richard Helierd of the same goldsmith and a Fleming borne had the best successe for in the same skirmish he was taken prisoner by one of the rebels who offered in taking of him with his bill to haue slaine him With that line 40 this Iohn Goldsmith fell downe yeelded himselfe hauing then in his hand his péece or handgun charged suddenlie the other not mistrusting nor marking the same he discharged into his verie bellie and so slue him tooke the spoile of him and brought the same into the citie with him This skirmish though it were not cléere gaines to this companie yet it so incouraged them that from time to time they consulted and in the end determined to make a fresh sallie and to giue a new aduenture wherevpon there fell and grew a disagréement line 50 betwéene the two foresaid Iohn Courtneie Barnard Duffeld the one affirming that the same was not to be permitted in anie fort or citie which stood vpon defense or gard without a verie speciall order of the generall or chéefe capteine or some vrgent necessitie especiallie in that present distresse and extremitie wherein the citie as then did stand But Barnard Duffeld being verie loth to loose anie part of his credit or to desist from that he with others line 60 had determined could by no meanes be persuaded to the contrarie but plainelie affirmeth that what he had determined should be performed Wherevpon the foresaid Iohn Courtneie resorteth to the maior aduertiseth vnto him the matter dealeth so fullie and with such persuasions with him that the maior assembleth his brethren and sendeth for the foresaid Duffeld who being come the matter was at full debated and discoursed and in the end concluded that it was verie hurtfull and dangerous to that present state that anie such issuing out should be granted or permitted and therefore praied the said Duffeld to staie his determination and to be contented But he being vnpatient thinking his credit to be stained if he should be debarred or denied to doo that which he had faithfullie promised did vtterlie refuse to yéeld to this the maiors request as also by continuing of talkes fell out in foule and disordered speaches Wherevpon to auoid a further inconuenience he was commanded to ward The daughter of this Duffeld whose name was Francis hearing that hir father was in ward and taking in greefe that so great an iniurie as she tearmed it should be doone to hir father came more hastilie than aduisedlie vnto the maior somewhat late in the euening required to haue hir father out of the ward Which thing being denied vnto hir shée waxed so warme that not onelie she vsed verie vnseemelie tearmes and speaches vnto the maior but also contrarie to the modestie and shamefastnes required in a woman speciallie yoong and vnmarried ran most violentlie vpon him and strake him in the face This was taken in so euill a part and fearing that it had beene a set match of some further inconueniences the common bell was foorthwith roong out and also a rumour spread that the maior was beaten or killed The whole commons immediatlie in great troops the most part in armor ran to the Guildhall where the maior was who though he was safe yet were they so gréeued with this iniurie that they would in all hast haue run to the lord Russels house where she was then gone and haue fetched hir out but the maior forecasting what inconueniences might insue and respecting the necessitie of the present state was not onlie contented patientlie to wrap vp these iniuries but also earnestlie requested the commoners to doo the like who being so pacified he went home and they conducted him into his owne doores The chanons of the cathedrall church which at that time were resident in their houses within the close there namelie archdeacon Pollard treasuror Southron chancellor Luson and master Holwell with others of the said church who ioined with the maior and citizens in this seruice for the safegard of the citie and did kéepe both watches and wards and their men readie at all times to serue in euerie alarum and skirmish they at the hearing of this disordered part were verie much greeued therewith and they likewise forthwith assembled all their men and being well armed and appointed they went to the maior who was then gone home to his house and then and there verie friendlie did comfort him and offred to stand by him and to assist him in all the best seruice they were able to doo for his defense and safetie of the citie The said archdeacon offered that in proper person he would herein stand in his behalfe against all persons whatsoeuer that would attempt or offer to doo him anie wrong And in the end after sundrie friendlie and good speaches they departed to their homes And the said archdeacon euerie daie after would either come or send to the maior This maior being a merchant and onelie exercised in that trade had small reach in matters of policie or martiall affaires he was maior of the citie thrée times and in euerie yeare there grew some troubles in the citie but he had such a speciall care regard to his charge and gouernment that he would neuer attempt nor doo anie thing therein but by the aduise and counsell of wise graue and expert men and God so blessed him that he prospered and had good successe in all his dooings Besides these and sundrie other former perils the which the citie manie and oftentimes stood in and by the goodnes and prouidence of God still
all vertues shall raine For all men hope that thou none error wilt support For all men hope that thou wilt truth restore againe line 10 And mend that is amisse to all good mens comfort And for this hope they praie thou maist continue long Our queene amongst vs here all vice for to supplant And for this hope they praie that God maie make thee strong As by his grace puissant So in his truth constant line 20 Farewell ô worthie queene and as our hope is sure That into errors place thou wilt now truth restore So trust we that thou wilt our souereigne queene endure And louing ladie stand from hensefoorth euermore While these words were in saieng and certeine wishes therein repeated for maintenance of truth line 30 and rooting out of errour she now and then held vp hir hands towards heauen and willed the people to saie Amen When the child had ended shee said Be ye well assured I shall stand your good quéene At which saieng hir grace departed foorth through Templebarre toward Westminster with no lesse showting and crieng of the people than she entered the citie with a noise of ordinance which the tower shot off at hir graces enterance first into Towerstréet The childs saieng was also in Latine verses written line 40 in a table verie faire which was hanged vp there O regina potens quum primam vrbem ingredereris Dona tibi linguas fidáque corda dedit Discedenti etiam tibi nunc duo munera mittit Omnia plena spei votáque plena precum Quippe tuis spes est in te quòd prouida virtuâ— Rexerit errore nec locus vllus erit Quippe tuis spes est quòd tu verum omni reduces Solatura bonas dum mala tollis opes Hac spe freti orant longum vt regina gubernes line 50 Et regni excindas crimina cuncta tui Hac spe freti orant diuina vt gratia fortem Et verae fidei te velit esse basin Iam regina vale sicut nos spes tenet vna Quòd vero inducto perditus error erit Sic quóque speramus quòd eris regina benigna Nobis per regni tempora long a tui Thus the queenes highnesse passed through the citie which without anie forreigne person of it selfe beautified it selfe and receiued hir grace at all places as hath beene before mentioned with most tender obedience line 60 and loue due to so gratious a queene and souereigne a ladie And hir grace likewise of hir side in all hir graces passage shewed hir selfe generallie an image of a worthie ladie and gouernour But priuatlie these especiall points were noted in hir grace as signes of a most princelike courage whereby hir louing subiects maie ground a sure hope for the rest of hir gratious dooings hereafter About the nether end of Cornehill toward Cheape one of the knights about hir grace had espied an ancient citizen which wept and turned his head backe and therewith said this gentleman Yonder is an alderman for so he tearmed him which wéepeth and turneth his face backeward how maie it be interpreted that he so dooth for sorrow or for gladnesse The quéens maiestie heard him and said I warrant you it is for gladnesse A gratious interpretation of a noble courage which would turne the doubtfull to the best And yet it was well knowne that as hir grace did confirme the same the parties cheare was mooued for verie pure gladnesse for the sight of hir maiesties person at the beholding whereof he tooke such comfort that with teares he expressed the same In Cheape side hir grace smiled and being thereof demanded the cause answered for that she heard one saie Remember old king Henrie the eight A naturall child which at the verie remembrance of hir fathers name tooke so great a ioy that all men maie well thinke that as she reioised at his name whome this realme dooth hold of so woorthie memorie so in hir dooings she will resemble the same When the cities charge without parcialitie and onelie the citie was mentioned vnto hir grace shée said it should not be forgotten Which saieng might mooue all naturall Englishmen hartilie to shew due obedience and intiernesse to their so good a queene which will in no point forget anie parcell of dutie louinglie shewed vnto hir The answer which hir grace made vnto maister recorder of London as the hearers know it to be true with melting hearts heard the same so maie the reader thereof conceiue what kind of stomach and courage pronounced the same What more famous thing doo we read in ancient histories of old time than that mightie princes haue gentlie receiued presents offered them by base and low personages If that be to be woondered at as it is passinglie let me sée anie writer that in anie princes life is able to recount so manie presidents of this vertue as hir grace shewed in that one passage thorough the citie How manie nosegaies did hir grace receiue at poore womens hands How oftentimes staid she hir chariot when she saw anie simple bodie offer to speake to hir grace A branch of rosemarie giuen hir grace with a supplication by a poore woman about Fleetbridge was séene in hir chariot till hir grace came to Westminster not without the maruellous woondering of such as knew the presenter and noted the quéens most gratious receiuing and keeping the same What hope the poore and néedie maie looke for at hir graces hand she as in all hir iournie continuallie so in hir hearkening to the poore children of Christs hospitall with eies cast vp into heauen did fullie declare as that neither the wealthier estate could stand without consideration had to the pouertie neither the pouertie be dulie considered vnlesse they were remembred as commended vnto 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 intierlie loued hir so she at hir last departing as it were bound hir selfe by promise to continue good ladie and gouernor vnto that citie which by outward declaration did open their loue vnto their so louing and noble prince in such wise as she hir selfe woondered thereat But because princes be set in their seat by Gods appointing and therefore they must first and chieflie tender the glorie of him from whom their glorie issueth it is to be noted in hir grace that for somuch as God hath so woonderfullie placed hir in the seat of gouernement ouer this realme she in all hir dooings doâ—th shew hir selfe most mindfull of his goodnesse mercie shewed vnto hir And among all other two principall signes thereof were noted in this passage First in the tower where hir grace before she entred hir chariot lifted vp hir eies to heauen and said as followeth The praier of queene Elisabeth as she went to hir coronation O Lord almightie and euerlasting God I giue thee most hartie thanks that thou hast beene