faire companie of Scotishmen and shortlie after his wife the quéene of Scots came thither also Moreouer king Henrie kept a roiall feast at Westminster where he made to the number of foure score knights amongst whome Iohn sonne to the earle of Britaine who had maried the ladie Beatrice one of the kings daughters was there made knight Shortlie after was sir Hugh Spenser made lord line 20 chéefe iustice After Christmasse the K. comming into the towre of London year 1261 fortified it greatlie caused the gates of the citie to be warded sending forth commandement to his lords that they should come to the towre there to hold a parlement but they denied flatlie so to doo sending him word that if it pleased him they would come to Westminster where vsuallie the parlement had béene kept and not to any other place whervpon there rose dissention betwixt him and the barons line 30 After the feast of the Purification at a folkemote holden at Paules crosse where the king was present in person with the king of Almaine the archbishop of Canturburie and diuerse other of the Nobles commandement was giuen to the maior that euerie stripling of the age of 12 yeares and aboue should before his alderman be sworne to be true to the king and his hetres kings of England and that the gates of the citie should be kept with armed men as before by the king of Romans was deuised line 40 About Easter the barons of the land with consent of the péeres discharged sir Hugh Spenser of his office of chéefe iustice and placed in his roome sir Philip Basset without the kings assent he being not made priuie therevnto Wherevpon a new occasion of displeasure was ministred to kindle debate betwixt the king and his lords but by the policie of the king of Almaine and some prelats the matter was quieted for a time till after at Hallowentide next insuing which was the 46 yeare of K. Henries reigne line 50 At that time the barons tooke vpon them to discharge such shiriffes as the king had elected named gardians of the countries and shires and in their places put other shiriffes and besides that would not suffer the iustice which the king had admitted to doo his office in keeping his circuit but appointed such to doo it as it pleased them to assigne wherwith the king was so much offended that he laboured by all means to him possible about the disanulling of the ordinances made at Oxford and vpon the second sundaie in line 60 Lent he caused to be read at Paules crosse a bull obteined of pope Urbane the fourth year 1262 as a confirmation of an other bull before purchased of his predecessour pope Alexander for the absoluing of the king and all other that were sworne to the maintenance of the articles agrees vpon at Oxford This absolution he caused to be shewed through the realmes of England Wales Ireland giuing streight charge that if any person were found that would disobeâ—â— this absolution the same should be committed to prison there to remaine till the kings pleasure were further knowne Suerlie the most part of those péeres which had the rule of the king and kingdome thus in their hand perceiuing the enormitie that dailie grew of so manifold heads and gouernours were minded of themselues to dissolue those prouisions and ordinances so made at Oxford in somuch that there were but fiue which stiffelie stood in defense of the same that is to saie the bishop of Worcester and the earles of Leicester and Glocester with Henrie Spenser and Peter de Montfort the which by no meanes could be brought to confesse that they might with a safe conscience go contrarie to those ordinances which they had confirmed with their solemne oth notwithstanding the popes dispensation whereas the same oth was rather a bond of iniquitie as saith Matth. Westminster deuised to conspire against Christ and his annointed that is to saie their naturall liege lord and lawfull king than any godlie oth aduisedlie taken or necessarie to be receiued of good meaning subiects yea and of such a friuolous oth it is said that In aqua scribitur in puluere exaratur In Iune the king of Almaine tooke shipping and sailed ouer into Dutchland and king Henrie at a folkemote holden at Paules crosse the sundaie after S. Peters day had licence to saile into France and the morrow after he departed from London towards the sea side with the quéene and other lords his two sonnes prince Edward and the earle of Lancaster being at that present in Guien When he had béene a season in France he went vnto Burdeaux and there fell sicke of a feuer quartane by occasion whereof he taried in those parties till S. Nicholas tide next following There were few that went ouer with him that escaped frée without the same disease so that in maner all his companie were taken and fore handled therewith Manie died thereof to the number of thréescore and amongst them as chéefe were these Baldwine de Lisle earle of Deuonshire Ingram de Percie and William de Beauchampe In this yeare died Richard the Clare earle of Glocester and his sonne sir Gilbert de Clare was earle after him vnto whome his father gaue great charge that he should mainteine the ordinances of Oxford In the 47 yeare of king Henries reigne by reason that a Iew had wounded a christian man at London within Colechurch in the ward of cheap not onelie the said Iew was slaine by other christians that followed him home to his house but also manie other Iewes were robbed and slaine in that furie and rage of the people The Welshmen with their prince Leolin made wars against the men and tenants of Roger de Mortimer and tooke two of his castels the one called Kenet and raced them both to the ground The said Roger being sore gréeued herwith got such assistance as he could of other lords there in the marches and watching the Welshmen at aduantage distressed diuerse companies of them sometime thrée hundred sometime foure hundred and other whiles fiue hundred But at one time he lost thrée hundred of this footmen that were entred the countrie and so inclosed that they could make no shift to escape Upon the euen of S. Thomas the apostle the king landed at Douer year 1263 and came to London the Wednesdaie before the twelfe day in Christmasse In this yeare the frost began about S. Nicholas daie and continued for the space of a moneth and more so extreamelie that the Thames was frosen so that men passed ouer on horssebacke ¶ The same winter the kings little hall at Westminster with manie other houses therevnto adioining was consumed with fire by negligence of one of the kings seruants Uariance rose betwixt the citizens of London and the constable of the towre for that contrarie to the liberties of the citie he tooke
this truce it seemeth that this was some second truce and not the first truce which included onelie the marches of Calis and those parts vp to the water of Some But howsoeuer it was the duke of Britaine being in a great forwardnesse to haue recouered his duchie out of the Frenchmens hands and to haue reduced his rebellious subiects vnder due obeisance againe was now by this truce concluded out of time greatlie disappointed and so brake vp his siege from before Campellie and sent home the English armie He went himselfe to Aulroie where his wife was and taking order for the fortifieng and keeping of those places which were in his possession he came backe againe into England and brought his wife with him A litle before the concluding of this truce the Englishmen and others within the fortresse of saint Sauiour le vicount in the I le or rather Close as they call it of Constantine which had beene long besieged made a composition that if they were not rescued by a certeine daie then should they yéeld vp the place to the Frenchmen Now bicause this truce line 10 was agréed before the daie appointed for the rescue of that place with condition that either part should inioy and hold that which at that present they had in possession during the terme of the truce the Englishmen thought that saint Sauiour le vicount should be saued by reason of that treatie but the Frenchmen to the contrarie auouched that the first couenant ought to passe the last ordinance So that when the daie approched the French king sent thither six thousand speares knights and esquiers beside other people line 20 and bicause none appeared to giue them battell they had the towne deliuered to them ¶ In this 49 yeare of K. Edwards reigne a great death chanced in this land and in diuerse other countries so that innumerable numbers of people died and perished of that contagious sickenesse Amongst other the lord Edward Spenser died the same yeare a man of great renowme and valiantnesse Also the earle of Penbroke hauing compounded for his ransome as he was vpon his returne from Spaine line 30 comming homewards through France he fell sicke and being brought in an horsselitter to Arras he died there on the 16 daie of Aprill leauing a sonne behind him not past two yeares of age begot of the countesse his wife called Anne daughter vnto the lord Walter de Mannie Polydor mistaking the matter saith that Marie the countesse of Penbroke who builded Penbroke hall in Cambridge was wife to this Iohn Hastings earle of Penbroke whereas in deed she was wife to his ancestor Aimer line 40 de Ualence earle of Penbroke as Iohn Stow in his summarie hath trulie noted She was daughter to Guy earle of saint Pole a worthie ladie and a vertuous tendering so much the wealthfull state of this land a great part wherof consisteth in the good bringing vp of youth and training them to the knowledge of learning that for maintenance of students she began the forsaid commendable foundation about the yeare of Christ 1343 vpon a plot of ground that was hir owne hauing purchased licence thereto of line 50 the king to whom she was of kin During that greeuous mortalitie and cruell pestilence before remembred the pope at the instant request of the English cardinals granted vnto all those that died in England being shriuen and repentant of their sinnes cleane remission of the same by two buls inclosed vnder lead The duke of Lancaster about the feast of All saints met with the French commissioners againe at Bruges There was with him the duke of Britaine the earle of Salisburie line 60 and the bishop of London For the French king there appeered the duke of Burgognie the earle of Salebruch and the bishop of Amiens And at saint Omers laie the duke of Aniou the archbishop of Rauenna and the bishop of Carpentras tooke great paine to go to and fro betwéene the parties but they were so far at ods in their demands and as it were of set purpose on the French behalfe that no good could be doone betwixt them The French king required to haue Calis raced and to haue againe fourtéene hundred thousand franks which were paid for the ransome of king Iohn The king of England demanded to haue all the lands restored to him in Gascoigne and Guien cléerelie exempt of all resorts So when nothing could be concluded touching a finall peace the truce was renewed to indure till the feast of S. Iohn Baptist next insuing which should be in the yeare 1376. In this fiftith yeare king Edward assembled his high court of parlement at Westminster in the which was demanded a subsidie of the commons for the defense of the kings dominions against his enimies Wherevnto answer was made by the common house that they might no longer beare such charges considering the manifold burthens by them susteined in time past And further they said it was well knowne the king was rich inough to withstand his enimies if his monie and treasure were well imploied but the land had béene of long time euill guided by euill officers so that the same could not be stored with chaffer merchandize or other riches The commons also declared whom they tooke and iudged to be chéefe causer of this disorder as the duke of Lancaster the L. Latimer lord chamberleine to the king also dame Alice Perers whom the king had long time kept to his concubine and also one named sir Richard Sturrie by whose sinister meanes and euill counsell the king was misled and the land euill gouerned Wherefore the commons by the mouth of their speaker sir Peers de la Mere required that those persons might be remooued from the king and other more discreet set in their roomes about his person and so put in authoritie that they might sée to his honour and weale of the realme more than the other had doone before them This request of the commons by support of the prince was allowed and granted so that the said persons and other of their affinitie were commanded to depart the court and other such as were thought méet by the prince and the sage péeres of the realme were placed in their stéeds ¶ Shortlie after the commons granted to the king his whole request so that he had of euerie person man and woman being aboue the age of fourtéene yeares foure pence poore people that liued of almesse onelie excepted ¶ Likewise the cleargie granted that of euerie beneficed man the king should haue twelue pence and of euerie priest not beneficed foure pence the foure orders of friers onelie excepted But yer this monie could be leuied the king was constreined to borrow certeine great summes in sundrie places and therefore he sent to the citie of London for foure thousand pounds And bicause Adam Staple the maior was not diligent in furthering that lone he was by the kings
saint Dominike and likewise he became a Carmelite and last of all he fell to and preached the gospell in haire and sackecloth till he vnderstood himselfe to be in the displeasure of Walden and other that could not awaie with such singularitie line 20 in him or other sounding as they tooke it to the danger of bringing the doctrine of the Romish church in misliking with the people for then he withdrew himselfe to his house againe and there remained twentie yeares leading an anchors life but yet after that time he came abroad and was aduanced to be a bishop in Ireland and went to the Roades in ambassage from whence being returned he went barefooted vp and downe in Norffolke teaching in townes and in the countrie abroad the ten commandements line 30 he liued till he came to be at the point of an hundred yeares old departed this life the fiftéenth day of Ianuarie in the yeare of our Lord 1491 and was buried at Lestolfe in Suffolke Iohn Tonneis a diuine and an Augustine frier in Norwich wrote certeine rules of grammar and other things printed by Richard Pinson Gefferie surnamed the Grammarian Iohn Alcocke bishop of Elie changed a nunrie at Cambridge into a college named Iesus college about the yeere of Christ 1496. line 40 The chiefe cause of suppressing the nunrie is noted to be for that the abbesse and other of the conuent liued dissolute liues Stephan Hawes a learned gentleman and of such reputation as he was admitted to be one of the priuie chamber to king Henrie the seuenth William Bintree so called of a towne in Norffolke where he was borne by profession a Carmelite frier in Burnham a great diuine William Gallion an Augustine frier in Lin and at length became prouinciall of his order Robert Fabian a citizen and merchant of London an historiographer he was in his time in good estimation for his wisedome and wealth in the citie so that he bare office and was shiriffe in the yeare 1493 William Celling borne beside Feuersham in Kent a monke of Canturburie Thomas Bourchier descended of the noble linage of the earles of Essex was first bishop of Elie and after remooued from thense to Canturburie succéeding Iohn Kemp in that archbishops see at length created by pope Paule the second a cardinall Philip Bromierd a Dominicke frier a diuine Iohn Miles a doctor of both the lawes ciuill and canon he studied in Oxenford in the college of Brasen nose newlie founded in the daies of this king Henrie the seuenth by William Smith bishop of Lincolne Richard Shirborne bishop of Chichester and imploied in ambassage to diuerse princes as a man most méet thereto for his singular knowledge in learning and eloquence Robert Uiduus vicar of Thakestéed in Essex and a prebendarie canon of Welles an excellent poet Peter Kenighall a Carmelit frier but borne of worshipfull linage in France hauing an Englishman to his father was student in Oxenford and became a notable preacher Iohn Morton first bishop of Elie and after archbishop of Canturburie the sixtie and fourth in number that ruled that sée he was aduanced to the dignitie of a cardinall and by king Henrie the seuenth made lord chancellor a worthie councellor and a modest he was borne of worshipfull parents in Cheshire departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 1500 Henrie Meowall chapleine to the said Morton Edmund Dudleie borne of noble parentage studied the lawes of this land and profited highlie in knowledge of the same he wrote a booke intituled Arbor rei publicae the tree of the common wealth of this man ye haue heard before in the life of this king and more God willing shall be said in the beginning of the next king as the occasion of the historie leadeth Iohn Bokingham an excellent schooleman William Blackeneie a Carmelit frier a doctor of diuinitie and a nekromancer Thus farre Henrie the seuenth sonne to Edmund earle of Richmond ⧠Henrie the eight sonne and successor to Henrie the seuenth AFter the death of the noble prince Henrie the seauenth his sonne Henrie the eight began his reigne the two and twentith daie of Aprill in the yeare of the world 5475 after line 10 the birth of our sauiour 1509 and in the eightéenth yeare of his age in the sixtéenth yeare of Maximilian then being emperour in the eleuenth yeare of Lewes the twelfe that then reigned in France and in the twentith yeare of king Iames the fourth as then ruling ouer the Scots Whose stile was proclamed by the sound of a trumpet in the citie of London the thrée and twentith daie of the said moneth with much gladnesse and reioising of the line 20 people And the same daie he departed from his manouâ— of Richmond to the Tower of London where he remained closelie and secret with his councell till the funerals of his father were finished Although this king now comming to the crowne was but yoong as before is said yet hauing béene in his first yeares trained vp in learning did for respect of his owne suertie and good gouernement of his people prudentlie by the aduise of his grandmoother the countesse of Richmond and Derbie elect choose line 30 foorth of the most wise and graue personages to be of his priuie councell namelie such as he knew to be of his fathers right déere and familiar fréends whose names were as followeth William Warham archbishop of Canturburie and chancellor of England Richard Fox bishop of Winchester Thomas Howard earle of Surrie and treasuror of England George Talbot earle of Shrewesburie and lord steward of the kings houshold Charles Summerset lord chamberleine sir Thomas Louell sir Henrie line 40 Wâ—at doctor Thomas Ruthall and sir Edward Poinings These graue and wise councellors fearing least such abundance of riches and welth as the king was now possessed of might mooue his yoong yeares vnto riotous forgetting of himselfe for vnto no king at anie time before was left greater or the like riches as well in readie coine as in iewels and other mooueables as was left to him by his father they therefore his said councellors trauelled in such prudent line 50 sort with him that they got him to be present with them when they sat in councell so to acquaint him with matters perteining to the politike gouernment of the realme that by little and little he might applie himselfe to take vpon him the rule and administration of publike affaires with the which at the first he could not well indure to be much troubled being rather inclined to follow such pleasant pastimes as his youthfull yoong yeares did more delite in and therefore could be verie well contented that other graue personages should take paines therein The same daie also that the king came to the Tower the lord Henrie Stafford brother to the duke of Buckingham was arrested and committed to the Tower and the same daie also doctor Ruthall was named bishop of Durham
he would not performe then the line 20 king not to aid him with anie succours That the duke of Guelders and the countie of Zulffe and the principall townes of those estates should promise with sufficient securitie to giue themselues to the emperour after his death That the king should giue no succour to the duke of Wittenberge nor likewise to Robert de la March That he should furnish and rigge for the emperour both when he should passe into Italie and two moneths after being so required twelue gallies foure ships foure gallions all line 30 well munitioned and appointed except men of war the said vesselles to be rendred three moneths after accompting from the daie of his imbarking that in place of the armie by land which the king offered for Italie he should paie him two hundred thousand crownes in monie the one halfe within sixtéene moneths and the other halfe within a yéere after Againe that at the time when the hostages should be deliuered he should be bound to giue bils of exchange for the paie of six thousand footmen for six moneths line 40 immediatlie after the emperours arriuall in Italie that he should also furnish for his seruice fiue hundred lances paied with a band of artillerie That he should saue harmelesse the emperour of his promise made to the king of England by pensions which the French king should paie to him the arerages whereof amounted to fiue hundred thousand crownes or else to deliuer so much in readie monie to the emperour That they should both ioine to beséech line 50 the pope to call a generall councell with all spéed to the end to consult vpon an vniuersall peace amongst christians to aduance an enterprise against the infidels and heretikes and to grant to all the croisade for thrée yeares That within six weeks the king should restore the duke of Burbon in most ample forme into all his estates goods moouable and vnmoouable and fruits and reuenues receiued nor to molest him for anie thing past nor constraine him to dwell or go to the realme of France That it should line 60 be lawfull to the said duke of Burbon to demand by the waie of law and iustice the earledome of Prouence That in like sort all those that had followed him should reenter in safetie into their goods and states and namelie the bishop of Autun and monsieur de saint Ualier Moreouer that the prisoners taken in the warre should be deliuered on both parts within fiftâ—ene daies That there should be restitution made to the ladie Margaret of Austrich of all that she possessed afore the warre That the prince of Orange should be set at libertie with restauration to the principalitie of Orange and all that he possessed by the death of his father which had 〈…〉 from him for following the faction of the emperour That the like should be doone to other barons That there should be made restitution to the marquesse of Saluâ—â—e of his estate That the king as soone as he arriued in the first towne of his realme should ratifie this capitulation and be bound to procure the Dolphin to ratifie it when he should come to the age of fouretéene yeares Manie were named by common consent and cheeflie the Switzers Onelie there was not one of the potentates of Italie except the pope whom they named as conseruator of the accord and that more for maner sake and ceremonie than in effect and true meaning Lastlie it was expressed in the said capitulation that in case the king for anie occasion would not accomplish these matters promised he should returne true prisoner This accord for the parts it conteined brought no small astonishment to all Christendome For when it was vnderstood that the first execution thereof consisted in the deliuerie of the king all mens opinions were that being in his libertie he would not deliuer vp Burgongnie as being a member of too great importance for the realme of France And except a few who had counselled the emperour to it all his court had the same iudgement and namelie the Chancellor who reprehended and detested the matter with so great vehemencie that notwithstanding he was commanded to signe the capitulation according to the office of chéefe chancellors yet he refused to doo it alledging that in such matters dangerous and hurtfull as that was he ought not to vse the authoritie that was giuen him neither could he be altered from this opinion notwithstanding the emperour was angrie with him who séeing him so resolute in his opinion signed it himselfe and within few daies after went to Madrill to confirme the aliance and make a foundation of amitie and good will with the king whom he interteined in familiar and priuat sort Great were the ceremonies and demonstrations of amitie betwéene them oftentimes they shewed themselues togither in places publike and as often did they passe in secret familiar discourses They went togither in one coch vnto a castell not halfe a daies iournie from thence where was quéene Eleanor whom the king married And yet in all these great signes of peace and amitie he was obserued with as carefull and streict gard as before without anie aduantage of libertie So that he was embraced as a brother and garded as a prisoner A matter which made manifest to the world that it was an accord full of discord an aliance without amitie and that vpon euerie occasion their ancient gelousies and passions would be stronger in them than the regard of that aliance made more by force than freendship Manie daies were spent in these offices and ceremonies of amitie when was brought from the ladie regent the ratification togither with the declaration that with the Dolphin of France they would rather giue in hostage the kings second son than the twelue barons Then the king departed from Madrill taking his waie to the frontier of his realme where was to be exchanged his person for his sonnes who bare verie small age There was sent to accompanie him the viceroy the worker and author of his deliuerie to whome the emperour had giuen the citie of Alâ— with other estates in Flanders and in the kingdome of Naâ—les The king of England hearing that the French king should now be deliuered sent to him a knight of his chamber called sir Thomas Châ—nie to signifie to him the great ioy and gladnesse which he conceiued for his restitution to libertie and the conclusion of the generall peace For which kindnesse courteous remembrance the French king thought himselfe much bound as he confesseth himselfe here after to the king of England thanked him greatlie hereafter After much a doo and manie remoouings the French king was come on the confines of Fontarabie a towne apperteining to the emperour standing vpon the Ocean sea and is a frontier betwéene Biskaie and the duchie of Guien And on the other side the ladie regent was ariued with the children of line 10 France at Baion
countries and so continued in all ancient times when the seuerall prouinces thereof as Flanders Holland and Zeland and other countries to them adioining were ruled and possessed by seuerall lords and not vnited togither as of late yeares they haue béene by intermarriages and at length by concurrences of manie and sundrie titles haue also béene reduced to be vnder the gouernement of their lords that succéeded to the dukedome of Burgundie whereby there hath béene in former ages manie speciall aliances and confederations not onelie betwixt the kings of England our progenitors and the lords of the said countries of Flanders Holland Zeland and their adherents but also betwixt the verie naturall subiects of both countries as the prelats noblemen citizens burgesses and other communalties of the great cities and port townes of either countrie reciprocallie by speciall obligations and stipulations vnder their seales interchangeablie for maintenance both of commerce and intercourse of merchants also of speciall mutuall amitie to be obserued betwixt the people and inhabitants of both parties as well ecclesiasticall as secular and verie expresse prouision in such treaties conteined for mutuall fauours affections and all other friendlie offices to be vsed and prosecuted by the people of the one nation towards the other By which mutuall bonds there hath continued perpetuall vnions of the peoples hearts togither and so by waie of continuall intercourses from age to age the same mutuall loue hath béene inuiolablie kept and exercised as it had beene by the worke of nature and neuer vtterlie dissolued nor yet for anie long time discontinued howsoeuer the kings and the lords of the countries sometimes though verie rarelie haue béene at difference by sinister meanes of some other princes their neighbours enuieng the felicitie of these two countries And for maintenance and testimonie of these naturall vnions of the peoples of these kingdoms and countries in perpetuall amitie there are extant sundrie authentike treaties and transactions for mutuall commerce intercourse and streict amitie of ancient times as for example some verie solemnelie accorded in the times of king Henrie the sixt our progenitor and Philip the second duke of Burgundie and inheritour to the countie of Flanders by the ladie Margaret his grandmoother which was aboue one hundred fortie yeares past the same also renewed by the noble duke Charles his son father to the king of Spaines grandmoother and husband to the ladie Margaret sister to our great grandfather king Edward the fourth and after that of new ofttimes renewed by our most noble sage grandfather king Henrie the seuenth and the archduke Philip grandfather to the king of Spaine now being and in latter times often renewed betwixt our father of noble memorie king Henrie the eight and Charles the fift emperor of Almaine father also to the present king of Spaine In all which treaties transactions and confederations of amitie and mutuall commerce it was also at all times speciallie and principallie conteined in expresse words by conuentions concords and conclusions that the naturall people and subiects of either side should shew mutuall fauours and duties one to the other and should safelie freelie and securelie commerce togither in euerie their countries and so hath the same mutuall and naturall concourse and commerce béene without interruption continued in manie ages farre aboue the like example of anie other countries in christendome to the honour and strength of the princes and to the singular great benefit and inriching of their people vntill of late line 10 yeares that the king of Spaine departing out of his low countries into Spaine hath beene as it is to be thought counselled by his councellors of Spaine to appoint Spaniards forrenners and strangers of strange bloud men more exercised in warres than in peaceable gouernement and some of them notablie delighted in bloud as hath appeared by their actions to be the chiefest gouernours of all his said low countries contrarie to the ancient lawes and customes thereof hauing great plentie of noble line 20 valiant and faithfull persons naturallie borne and such as the emperour Charles and the king himselfe had to their great honours vsed in their seruice able to haue béene imploied in the rule of those countries But these Spaniards being méere strangers hauing no naturall regard in their gouernement to the maintenance of those countries and people in their ancient and naturall maner of peaceable liuing as the most noble and wise emperor Charles line 30 yea and as his sonne king Philip himselfe had whilest he remained in those countries and vsed the counsels of the states and naturall of the countries not violating the ancient liberties of the countries but contrariwise these Spaniards being exalted to absolute gouernement by ambition and for priuat lucre haue violentlie broken the ancient lawes and liberties of all the countries and in a tyrannous sort haue banished killed and destroied without order of line 40 law within the space of few moneths manie of the most ancient and principall persons of the naturall nobilitie that were most worthie of gouernement And howsoeuer in the beginning of these cruell persecutions the pretense therof was for maintenance of the Romish religion yet they spared not to depriue verie manie catholikes and ecclesiasticall persons of their franchises and priuileges and of the chiefest that were executed of the nobilitie none was in the whole countrie more affected to that religion line 50 than was the noble and valiant countie of Egmond the verie glorie of that countrie who neither for his singular victories in the seruice of the king of Spaine can be forgotten in the true histories nor yet for the crueltie vsed for his destruction to be but for euer lamented in the harts of the naturall people of that countrie And furthermore to bring these whole countries in seruitude to Spaine these forren gouernours haue by long intestine warre with multitude of Spaniards and with some few Italians and Almains line 60 made the greater part of the said countries which with their riches by common estimation answered the emperour Charles equallie to his Indies in a maner desolat and haue also lamentablie destroied by sword famine and other cruell maners of death a great part of the naturall people now the rich townes and strong places being desolate of their naturall inhabitants are held and kept chieflie with force by the Spaniards All which pitifull miseries and horrible calamities of these most rich countries and people are of all their neighbours at this daie euen of such as in ancient time haue beene at frequent discord with them through naturall compassion verie greatlie pitied which appeared speciallie this present yeare when the French king pretended to haue receiued them to his protection had not as the states of the countrie their deputies were answered that certeine vntimelie and vnlooked for complots of the house of Guise stirred and maintained by monie out of Spaine disturbed the good and
Anselme to doubt of the archbishop of Yorke his meaning as after it appéered For being summoned to come and receiue his consecration at Canturburie as alreadie yee haue heard through counsell of the canons of Yorke he refused so to doo bicause they informed him that if he so did it should be greatlie preiudiciall to the liberties of that sée whose archbishop was of like authoritie in all things vnto the archbishop of Canturburie so that he was bound line 60 onelie to fetch his consecration and benediction at Canturburie but in no wise to acknowledge anie subiection vnto that sée ¶ For ye must vnderstand that there was great stomaching betwixt the clergie of the two prouinces Canturburie and Yorke about the metropolitane prerogatiue and euer as occasion serued and as they thought the fauor of the prince or oportunitie of time might aduance their quarels they of Yorke sticked not to vtter their gréefes in that as they tooke it some iniurie was offered them therein The archbishop of Yorke being thus instructed by the canons of his church year 1019 signified to archbishop Anselme the cause why he came not at his summons The copie of a parcell whereof is here exemplified Causam qua differtur sacratio mea quam nemo studiosius quà m ego vellet accellerare qui protulerunt non desistunt corroborare Quamobrem quà m periculosum quà m turpe sit contra consensum ecâ—lesiae cui praefici debeo regimen ipsius inuadere vestra discretio nouerit Sed quà m sormidabile quà m sit euitandum sub specie benedictionis maledictionem induere c that is The cause why my consecration is deferred which no man liuing would wish to be doone with more speed than I my selfe those that haue prolonged it ceasse not to confirme Wherefore how dangerous and how dishonest it should be for me to inuade the gouernment of that church which I ought to rule without coÌ„sent of the same your discretion rightwell vnderstandeth Yea and how dreadfull a thing it is and how much to be auoided to receiue a cursse vnder colour of a blessing c. Anselme hauing alreadie written twice vnto the said Thomas archbishop of Yorke about this matter and now receiuing this answer could not be quiet in mind and therevpon taking aduice with certeine bishops whom he called vnto him determined to send two bishops vnto the said Thomas of Yorke and so the bishop of London as deane to the archbishop of Canturburie the bishop of Rochester as his household chapleine were sent to commune with him who met them at his manour of Southwell where they declared to him the effect of their message but he deferred his answer till a messenger which he had sent to the king as then being in Normandie was returned and so without any full answer the bishops came backe againe Howbeit shortlie after there came to Canturburie a messenger on the behalfe of the archbishop of Yorke with letters inclosed vnder the kings seale by the tenour whereof the king commanded Anselme that the consecration of the archbishop of Yorke might staie till the feast of Easter and if he might returne into England by that daie he promised by the aduice had therein of the bishops and barons of his realme that he would set a direction betwixt them in all matters whereof anie controuersie had beene moued heretofore or if he could not returne so soone he would yet take such order that brotherlie loue concord might remaine betwixt them When he that brought these letters required an answer Anselme answered that he would signifie his mind to the king and not to his maister Immediatlie therefore was the deane of Chichester sent ouer from Anselme with a moonke of Bechâ—llouin to the king to informe him of all the matter and to beséech his maiestie by his authoritie to prouide that no discord should rise to the diuiding of the present state of the church of England Furthermore whereas he had commanded him to grant vnto Thomas the archbishop of Yorke a time of respit he should take for certeine answer that he would rather suffer himselfe to be cut in peeces than to grant so much as one hours space on the said Thomas of Yorke whome he knew alreadie to haue set himselfe vniustlie against the ancient constitutions of holie fathers and against the Lord himselfe The messengers declared these things to the king and brought word backe againe at their returne that the king had heard their message with fauourable mind and promised by the power of God to declare to the world that he coueted vnitie and not any diuision in the church of England All this while Anselme was deteined with long and gréeuous sicknesse and yet not forgetfull of the obstinate dealing of Thomas of Yorke he wrote letters vnto him by vertue whereof he suspended him from exercising all pastorall function till he had reformed his errour submitted himselfe to receiue his blessing and acknowledged his subiection to the church of Canturburie as his predecessours Thomas and Gerard had doone and before them other ancients as custome had prescribed Thus he charged him vpon paine of cursing except he would renounce his archbishops dignitie for in so dooing he did grant him licence to vse the office and ministerie of a préest which before time he had taken vpon him or else not line 10 In the same letters he prohibited all the bishops within the precinct of the I le of Britaine that in no wise they should consecrate him vpon paine of curssing and if he should chance to be consecrated by any stranger that in no wise they should vnder the like paine receiue him for archbishop or communicate with him in any condition Euerie bishop also within the whole I le of Britaine had a copie of these leters directed to him from Anselme vnder his seale line 20 commanding them to behaue themselues therein according to the contents and as they were bound by the subiection which they owght to the church of Canturburie The letters were dated alike in March Notwithstanding all this vpon the 21. of Aprill insuing Anselme ended his life in the sixtéenth yéere after his first preferment to that sée being thréescore and sixtéene yeeres of age He was an Italian borne in Piemont néere to the Alpes in a citie called Aosta he was brought vp by Lanfranke and before he was made archbishop was abbat of the monasterie line 30 of Bechellouin in Normandie About the same time was the bishops sée of Elie erected by the king who appointed one Haruie to be the first bishop there who before had béene bishop of Bangor Cambridgeshire was annexed to that see which bicause it had of former time belonged to the see of Lincolne the king gaue vnto the bishop of Lincolne as it were in recompense the towne of Spalding which was his owne The prior of Elie line 40 named Richard desirous
dealing was too manifest although indeed he abused his fathers patience for a while who was desirous of nothing more than to win his sonnes by some courteous meanes and therfore diuerse times offered to pardon all offenses committed by his enimies at the suit of his sonne the king who in déed offered himselfe now and then as an intreatour but that was onelie to win time that his brother with such Brabanders and other souldiers as he had with him in aid beside the forces of the barons of Guien might worke the more mischéefe against their father and their brother earle Richard in wasting and destroieng their countries that stood stedfast on their side In the meane time Richard the archbishop of Canturburie and diuerse other bishops and abbats both of England and Normandie assembled togither at Caen and in the abbeie church of S. Stephan pronounced the sentence of excommunication against all those that did hinder and impeach their purpose which was to haue peace and concord concluded betwixt the king and his sonnes the same sonnes onlie out of the said sentence excepted Diuerse shiftes were made by king Henrie the sonne and his brother earle Geffrey also to get monie for the paiment of their souldiers as spoiling of shrines and such like But at length when things framed not to their purpose and that the harme which they could doo against their father was much lesse than they wished if power had béene answerable to their wâ—â—es king Henrie the sonne through indignation and displeasure as some write fell into a gréeuous sicknesse in a village called Mertell noâ— farre from Limoges where his father laie at siege At the first he was taken with an extreame feuer and after followed a sore flixe Now perceiuing himselfe in danger of death and that the physicians had giuen him ouer he sent to his father better late than neuer confessing his trespasse committed against him and required of all fatherlie loueth 〈◊〉 sée him once before he died But for that the father thought not good to commit himselfe into the hands of such vngratious persons as were about his sonne he sent his ring vnto him in token of his blessing and as it were a pledge to signifie that he had forgiuen him his vnnaturall doings against him The son receiuing it with great humilitie kissed it and so ended his life in the presence of the archbishop of Burdeaux and others on the day of saint Barnabie the apostle He died as some write verie penitent and sorowfull And whereas in his life time he had vowed to make a iourneie into the holie land against Gods enimies and taken vpon him the crosse for that intent he deliuered it vnto his familiar freend William line 10 Marshall to go thither with it in his stead Moreouer when he perceiued present death at hand he first confessed his sinnes secretlie and after openly before sundrie bishops and men of religion and receiued absolution in most humble wise After this he caused his fine clothes to be taken from him and therewith a heare cloth to be put vpon him and after tieng a cord about his necke he said vnto the bishops and other that stood by him I deliuer my selfe an vnworthie and greeuous sinner vnto you the ministers of line 20 God by this cord beséeching our Lord Iesus Christ which pardoned the théefe confessing his faults on the crosse that through your praiers and for his great mercies sake it may please him to be mercifull vnto my soule wherevnto they all answered Amen Then he said vnto them Draw me out of this bed with this cord and laie me on that bed strawed with ashes which he had of purpose prepared and as he commanded so they did and they laid at his feet and at his head two great square stones Thus being prepared line 30 to die he willed his bodie after his deceasse to be conueied into Normandie and buried at Rouen And so after he had receiued the sacrament of the bodie and bloud of our Lord he departed this life as afore is said about the 28. yeare of his age His bodie after his death was conueied towards Rouen there to be buried accordinglie as he had willed but when those that had charge to conueie it thither were come vnto the citie of Mauns the bishop there and the cleargie would not suffer them to line 40 go any further with it but committed it to buriall in honourable wise within the church of saint Iulian. Whereof when the citizens of Rouen were aduertised they were sore offended with that dooing and streightwaies sent vnto them of Mauns requiring to haue the corps deliuered threatening otherwise with manie earnest oths to fetch it from them by force Wherefore king Henrie to set order in this matter commanded that the corps of his sonne the king should be deliuered vnto them of Rouen to be line 50 buried in their citie as he himselfe had willed before his death And so it was taken vp and conueied to Rouen where it was eftsoones buried in the church of our ladie ¶ Thus ended this yoong king in his floorishing youth to whome through his owne iust deserts long life was iustlie denied sith he delighted to begin his gouernement with vnlawfull attempts as an other Absolon against his owne naturall father seeking line 60 by wrongfull violence to pull the scepter out of his hand He is not put in the number of kings bicause he remained for the more part vnder the gouernance of his father so that he rather bare the name of king as appointed to reigne than that he may be said to haue reigned in deed So that héere by the waie a notable obseruation dooth occurre and offer it selfe to be noted of vs namelie that euen princes children though borne to great excellencie and in high degâ—eâ— of dignitie aâ—e to consider with themselues that notwithstanding their statelie titles of souereigntie they haue a dutie to discharge vnto their parents which if it be neglected and that in place thereof disobedience is substituted God himselfe when politike lawes prouide not to punish such offenses will take the cause in hand will powre vengeance vpon such vngratious children For he will be true of his word both in blessing and curssing in blessing the dutifull child with long life and happie daies and in curssing the obstinate and froward with short life and vnfortunate daies according to the tenure of his law If this man had liued in the old Romans time when aged persons were so reuerenced and honoured much more parents he had beene cut off in the prime of his disobedience and present death had beene inflicted vpon him as a due and deserued reward which Iuuenal noteth excellentlie well in these words Credebant hoc grande nefas morte piandum Si iuuenis vetulo non assurrexerat si Barbato cuicunque puer licèt ipse videret Plura domi farra maioris
some copies haue Neuille and manie other There was also sir Eustace Dambreticourt and of the companions sir Perducas Dalbreth who in the beginning of these warres being turned French was by the persuasion of sir Robert Knols procured to returne againe to the princes seruice before the siege of Durmelle The prince being thus accompanied with these line 40 worthie capteins and men of armes to the number of twelue hundred beside a thousand archers and other footmen indeuored by all waies he could deuise to indamage them within In the end he caused the walles to be vndermined and quite reuersed into the ditch then giuing assault entered by the breach and made an huge slaughter of them within in somuch that of men women and children for none were spared in respect of age or sex there were slaine and beheaded that daie aboue thrée thousand The bishop line 50 with certeine knights and capteins were taken and had their liues granted though the bishop was in great danger to haue lost his head bicause he was a cheefe dooer in yéelding the citie before vnto the Frenchmen Whilest the prince laie at siege before Limoges a litle before he wan it thither came to him his brethren the duke of Lancaster and the earle of Cambridge the lord Ros sir Michaell de la Pole sir Robert Rous sir Iohn Saintâ—o and sir William Beauchampe line 60 with a faire number of men of war spears and archers The prince then after he had woone Limoges and executed some crueltie there to the terrour of other his maladie which still continued vpon him rather increased than diminished so that he was aduised by physicians to returne into England in hope that change of aire should restore him to health For the which consideration and other causes of businesse which he had to doo with his father touching certeine weightie affaires he tooke the sea and came ouer into England leauing the gouernement of Aquitaine vnto his brother the duke of Lancaster as his lieutenant there he landed at Plimmouth in the beginning of Ianuarie Moreouer in this 44 yeare of king Edward the king of Nauarre came ouer into England and at Claringdon found the king and there talked with him of such matters as they had to conclude betwixt them two But for that the king of Nauarre could not assure the king of such couenants as should haue passed betwixt them two it was not thought meet by the kings councell to worke too far vpon his bare word that had before time shewed apparant proofes of his inconstant dealing And suerlie this doubt arose not without cause as his dooings shortlie after declared for although he séemed now at this present to be a verie enimie to the French king yet shortlie after he was reconciled to him againe and became his great freend for the time it lasted This yeare in the moneth of Februarie was a parlement called in the which there was demanded of the spiritualtie a subsidie of fiftie thousand pounds and as much of the laitie The temporall men soone agréed to that paiment but the cleargie excused themselues with faire words and shifting answers in somuch that the king tooke displesure with them and deposed certeine spirituall men from their offices of dignitie as the chancellor the priuie seale the treasuror and such others in whose roomes he placed temporall men The bishop of Winchester and the bishop of Beauuois being both cardinals were put in commission by pope Gregorie the eleuenth to treat betwixt the kings of England and France for a peace But albeit they did their indeuour therein and mooued both kings to the vttermost of their powers yet their motions tooke none effect and therefore was the warre pursued to the vttermost betwixt the parties namelie in Aquitaine where the fortresses were so intermedled one with an other some English and some French that one knew not how to beware of an other nor to auoid the danger so that the countrie of Poictou and other the marches thereabout were in great tribulation Sir Robert Knols sir Thomas Spenser sir Iohn Triuet and sir Hugh Hastings diuiding their powers insunder went to recouer townes some in one quarter and some in an other and certeine they assaied but preuailed not the inhabitants doubting to be punished for their vntruths made such stout resistance After this the duke of Lancaster appointed sir Robert Knols to repaire againe to Calis and by the waie if occasion serued to attempt the recouerie of Ponthieu Sir Robert taking his iournie through France by Paris came into the marches of Picardie and bicause in comparison to this man all the English capteins were litle feared of the Frenchmen sir Berthram de Cleaquin the constable of France leauing the fortresses in the marches of Aquitaine sufficientlie stuffed with men of warre and munition followed sir Robert Knols still readie to assaile the hindermost companies or else to set on the sides of his enimies So that there chanced manie skirmishes betwixt them manie men were slaine on both parts but at length when sir Robert Knols saw no likelihood to atchiue his purposed intent in recouerie of the townes of Ponthieu as Abuile and other he drew streight to Calis and the constable retired backe into France In this 46 yeare sir Robert Ashton was sent into Ireland as lord deputie there and in the same yeare the duke of Lancaster being as then a widower maried the ladie Constance eldest daughter to Peter king of Spaine which was slaine by his bastard brother Henrie as before ye haue heard ¶ Also the lord Emund earle of Cambridge maried the ladie Isabell sister to the same Constance ¶ Their other sister named Beatrice affianced to Don Ferdinando son to Peter king of Portingale was departed this life a little before this time at Baionne where they were all three left as hostages by their father when the prince went to bring him home into his countrie as before yée may read Froissard writeth that the duke married the ladie Constance in Gascoigne and that shortlie after he returned into England with his said wife and hir sister leauing the capitall de Bueffz and other lords of Gascoigne and Poictou in charge with the rule of those countries By reason of that marriage the duke of Lancaster as in right of his wife being the elder sister caused himselfe to line 10 be intituled king of Castile and his said wife quéene of the same realme The earle of Hereford being sent to the sea with certeine ships of warre was incountered by the Flemish fléet before an hauen in Britaine called the Baie where was fought a sore battell and long continued for the space of thrée houres howbeit finallie the victorie abode with the Englishmen notwithstanding that the Flemings were more in number line 20 and better prouided for the matter There were taken of them fiue and twentie ships with their
like had neuer béene séene nor heard of Some write that they of Calis standing in doubt of such purueiance great preparation deuised to annoie them procured a yoong man to kindle a fire whereby all that dreadfull prouision was consumed to ashes and so they within Calis deliuered of a great deale of care and feare which they had thereof ¶ But Tho. Walsingham maketh a full complet declaration both concerning the dukes deuise also of the Calesians deliuerance from the danger of the same which because it perfecteth the report of this present matter I haue thought good to set downe word for word as I find it in his Hypodigme About the ninth of Aprill saith he the towne of saint Audomare was burned with the abbeie wherein was hidden and laid vp the execrable prouision of the duke of Burgognie who had vowed either to destroie the towne of Calis or else to subdue it to the will and pleasure of the French There a great manie engines to this daie no where seene there an excéeding sort of vessels conteining poison in them were kept in store which he had aforehand prouided to cast out to the destruction of the said towne For he had gathered togither serpents scorpions todes and other kinds of venemous things which he had closed and shut vp in little barrels that when the flesh or substance of those noisome creatures was rotten and dissolued into filthie matter he might laie siege to Calis and cast the said barrels let out of engines into the towne which with the violence of the throw being dasht in péeces might choke them that were within poison the harnessed men touched therewith with their scattered venem infect all the stréets lanes passages of the towne In the meane time a certeine yoong man allured with couetousnesse of gold or lead with affection and loue towards the kings towne asked of the gouernours what reward he should deserue that would discharge and set frée the towne from so great a feare and would burne all the prouision which they suspected Herevpon they leuied a summe of that yellow metall namelie gold where with the yoongman contented went his waie and with fire readie made for the purpose did not onelie burne the said venemous matter and infected stuffe but also togither with the monasterie almost the whole towne Moreouer this yeare sir Robert Umfreuill viceadmerall of England annoied the countries on the sea coasts of Scotland for comming into the Forth with ten ships of warre and lieng there fourtéene daies togither he landed euerie daie on â—he oneside of the riuer or the other taking preles spoiles prisoners notwithstanding the duke of Albanie and the earle Dowglas were readie there with a great power to resist him he burnt the galliot of Scotland being a ship of great account with manie other vessels lieng the same time at the Blackenesh ouer against Lieth At his returne from thence he brought with him fourtéene good ships and manie other great prises of cloathes both woollen and linnen pitch tarre woad flower meale wheat and rie which being sold abroad the markets were well holpen thereby so that his surname of Robert Mendmarket séemed verie well to agrée with his qualities which name he got by this occasion About foure years before this he burnt the towne of Peples on the market daie causing his men to line 10 meat the cloathes which they got there with their bowes so to sell them awaie wherevpon the Scots named him Robert Mendmarket Shortlie after his returne from the sea now in this eleuenth yeare of king Henries reigne he made a road into Scotland by land hauing with him his nephue yoong Gilbert Umfreuill earle of Angus commonlie called earle of Kime being then but fourtéene yeares of age and this was the first time that the said earle spread his banner They burnt at that time Iedwoorth and the line 20 most part of Tiuidale This yeare there died of the bloudie flix in the citie of Burdeaux fourtéene thousand persons and so sore raged that disease in Gascoigne and Guien that there wanted people to dresse their vines and presse their grapes Iohn Prendergest knight William Long scowred the seas so as no pirat durst appeare but that merchants passengers might passe to fro in safetie But yet through disdaine of some that enuied line 30 their good successe the same Prendergest and Long were accused of robberies which they should practise in spoling such ships as they met with of diuerse things against the owners wils Prendergest was driuen to take sanctuarie at Westminster and could not be suffered to lodge in anie mans house for feare of the kings displeasure commanding that none should receiue him and so was constreined to set vp a tent within the porch of saint Peters church there and to haue his seruants to watch nightlie about line 40 him for doubt to be murthered of his aduersaries but his associat William Long laie still at the sea till the lord admerall hauing prepared certeine vessels went to the sea himselfe in person to fetch him but yet he could not catch him vntill he had promised him pardon and vndertaken vpon his fidelitie that he should haue no harme but notwithstanding all promises vpon his comming in he was shut vp fast in the Tower and so for a time remained in durance The archbishop of Canturburie minding in line 50 this season to visit the vniuersitie of Oxenford could not be suffered in consideration of pruileges which they pretended to haue The realme of France in this meane while was disquieted year 1412 with the two factions of Burgognie and Orleance in most miserable wise as in the French histories it maie further appeare Neither could the king being a lunatike person and féeble of braine take any full order for reforming of such mischéefs so that the whole state of the kingdome was maruellouslie line 60 brought in decaie neither tooke those troubles end by the death of the duke of Orleance murthered at length through the practise of the duke of Burgognie but rather more perilouslie increased For the yoong duke of Orleance Charles sonne to duke Lewes thus murthered alied himselfe with the dukes of Berrie and Burbon and with the earles of Alanson Arminacke whereby he was so stronglie banded against the duke of Burgognie whom he defied as his mortall fo and enimie that the duke of Burgognie fearing the sequele of the matter thought good because there was a motion of mariage betwixt the prince of Wales his daughter to require aid of king Henrie who foreséeing that this ciuill discord in France as it after hapned might turne his realme to honor and profit sent to the duke of Burgognie Thomas earle of Arundell Gilbert Umfreuill earle of Angus commonlie called the earle of Kime sir Robert Umfreuill vncle to the same Gilbert sir Iohn Didcastell lord Cobham
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
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
the countie of Kent began an insurrection in disobedience of the statute of labourers and were atteinted therfore of high treason and had iudgement line 40 to be drawne hanged and quartered He shewed where and when this chanced It was further determined by the said Fineux and all the iustices of the land that vpon the said commission of oier and terminer in London the iustices named in the said commission might not arreigne the offendors and proceed to the triall in one selfe daie no more than might the iustices of peace But iustices in oier might so doo aswell as the iustices of gaole deliuerie and as the sufficiencie of the iurors within the citie line 50 to passe betwixt the king and the said traitors the iustices determined that he that had lands and goods to the value of an hundred marks should be inabled to passe vpon the said indictments And this by the equitie of the statute of Anno vndecimo Henrici septimi the which will that no man be admitted to passe in anie inquest in London in a plée of lands or other action in which the damages shall passe the value of fourtie shillings except he be woorth in lands or goods the value of an hundred markes line 60 On saturdaie the second of Maie in this ninth yeare all the commissioners with the lord maior aldermen and iustices went to the Guildhall where manie of the offendors were indicted as well of the insurrection as of the robberies by them committed against the truces Herevpon they were arreigned pleading not guiltie had day giuen till monday next insuing On which daie being the fourth of Maie the lord maior the duke of Norffolke the earle of Surrie and others came to sit in the Guildhall to procéed in their oier and terminer as they were appointed When the lords were set the prisoners were brought through the stréets tied in ropes some men and some lads of thirtéene yéeres of age Among them were diuerse not of the citie some priests some husbandmen and labourers The whole number amounted vnto two hundred thrée score and eightéene persons This daie was Iohn Lincolne indicted as a principall procurer of this mischieuous insurrection and therevpon hée was arreigned and pleading not giltie had daie giuen ouer till wednesdaie or as Hall saith till thursday next insuing He was charged with such matter as before ye haue heard concerning his sute vnto doctor Standish and doctor Bele for the reading of this bill in their sermons and opening the matter as before ye haue heard all which matter with the circumstances he had confessed on sundaie the third of Maie vnto sir Richard Cholmleie sir Iohn Dansie sir Hugh Skeuington Diuers other were indicted this mondaie and so for that time the lords departed The next daie the duke came againe the erle of Surrie with 2000 armed men which kept the stréets When the maior the duke the earles of Shrewesburie and Surrie were set the prisoners were arreigned and thirtéene found guiltie and adiudged to be hanged drawne and quartered For execution whereof were set vp eleuen paire of gallowes in diuerse places where the offenses were doone as at Algate at Blanchappelton Gratious stréete Leaden hall and before euerie counter one also at Newgate at saint Martins at Aldersgate and at Bishopsgate Then were the prisoners that were iudged brought to those places of execution and executed in most rigorous maner in the presence of the lord Edmund Howard son to the duke of Norffolke knight marshall who shewed no mercie but extreme crueltie to the poore yoonglings in their execution and likewise the dukes seruants spake manie opprobrious words some bad hang some bad draw some bad set the citie on fire but all was suffered On thursdaie the seuenth of Maie was Lincolne Shirwin and two brethren called Bets and diuerse other adiudged to die Then Lincolne said My lords I meant well for if you knew the mischiefe that is insued in this realme by strangers you would remedie it manie times I haue complained and then I was called a busie fellow now our Lord haue mercie on me They were laid on hardels drawne to the standard in Cheape and first was Iohn Lincolne executed And as the other had the ropes about their neckes there came a commandement from the king to respit the execution Then the people cried God saue the king and so was the oier and terminer deferred till another daie and the prisoners sent againe to ward the armed men departed out of London and all things set in quiet On the eleuenth daie of Maie the king came to his manor of Gréenwich where the recorder of London and diuerse aldermen came to speake with his grace and all ware gownes of blacke colour And when they perceiued the king comming out of his priuie chamber into his chamber of presence they knéeled downe and the recorder said Our most naturall benigne and souereigne lord we know well that your grace is displeased with vs of your citie of London for the great riot late doone we ascerteine your grace that none of vs nor no honest person were condescending to that enormitie and yet wée our wiues and children euerie houre lament that your fauour should be taken from vs. And forsomuch as light and idle persons were the dooers of the same we most humblie beséech your grace to haue mercie of vs for our negligence and compassion of the offendors for their offense and trespasse Trulie said the king you haue highlie displeased and offended vs and you ought to waile and be sorie for the same And where as you saie that you the substantiall persons were not consenting to the same it appeareth to the contrarie For you neuer mooued to let them nor stirred once to fight with them which you say were so small a number of light persons Wherefore we must thinke and you can not denie that you did winke at the matter but at this time we will grant to you neither our fauour nor good will nor to the offendors mercie but resort to the cardinall our lord chancellour and he shall make you an answer and declare our pleasure And with this answer line 10 the Londoners departed and made relation to the maior On the eightéenth day of this moneth the quéene of Scots which had béene at the court and at Bainards castell a whole yeare at the kings charge and was richlie appointed of all things méet to hir estate both of iewels plate tapistrie arras coine horsses all other things of the kings gift liberalitie departed out of London toward Scotland with great riches albeit she came into England with great pouertie line 20 and she entered into Scotland the thirtéenth daie of Iune whome hir husband receiued at Berwike but the Englishmen smallie regarded him All hir charges within the realme comming to the court and returning were of the kings pursse On thursdaie the
of Maie and then taking leaue of the king and of his aunt the queene departed to Sandwich where he tooke his ships and sailed into Flanders The same daie the king made saile from the port of Douer and landed at Calis about eleuen of the clocke and with him the quéene and ladies manie nobles of the realme His grace was receiued into the checker and there rested The fourth of Iune the king and quéene with all their traine remooued from Calis to his princelie lodging newlie erected beside the towne of Guisnes the most noble roiall lodging that euer before was seene ¶ For it was a palace the which was quadrant and euerie quadrant of the same palace was thrée hundred and twentie eight foot long of assise which was in compasse thirtéene hundred and twelue foot about This palace was set on stages by great cunning sumptuous worke At the entering into the palace before the gate on the plaine gréene was builded a fountaine of unbowed worke gilt with fine gold and bice ingraâ—led with antike works the old god of wine called Bacchus birling the wine which by the conduits in the earth ran to all people plentiouslie with red white and claret wine ouer whose head was written in letters of Romane in gold Faicte bonne chere qui vouldra On the other hand or side of the gate was set a piller which was of ancient Romane worke borne with foure lions of gold the pillers wrapped in a wreath of gold curiouslie wrought and intrailed and on the summit of the said piller stood an image of the blind god Cupid with his bow and arrows of loue readie by his séeming to strike the yoong people to loue The foregate of the same palace or place with great and mightie masonrie by sight was arched with a tower on euerie side of the same port rered by great craft and imbattelled was the gate and tower and in the fenesters and windowes were images resembling men of warre readie to cast great stones Also the same gate or tower was set with compassed images of ancient princes as Hercules Alexander and other by intrailed worke richlie limmed with gold and albine colours and well and warilie was made ouer the gate loups and inforced with battelments and in the same gate a lodge for the porter which there appeared and other sumptuouslie apparelled like vnto kings officers By the same gate all people passed into a large court faire and beautifull for in this court appeared much of the outward beautie of this place for from the first water table to the raising or reisin péeces were baie windowes on euerie side mixed with cleare stories curiouslie glased the posts or moinels of euerie window was gilt Thus the outward part of the place lumined the eies of the beholders by reason of the sumptuous wâ—â—ke Also the tower of the gate as séemed was builded by great masonrie and by great engine of mans wit for the sundrie countenances of euerie image line 10 that there appeared some shooting some casting some readie to strike and firing of gunnes which shewed verie honorablie Also all the said quadrants baies and edifices were roiallie intrailed as â—aâ—re as vnto the same court apperteined And direct against the gate was deuised a halpas and at the entrie of the staire were images of sore and terrible countenances all armed in curious worke of argentine The baie of the same halpas pendant by craft of timber vnder it antike images of gold inâ—â—roned line 20 with verdor of olifs cast in compasse mounâ—â—ring their countenances toward the entring of the palace The staire of the said halpas was cast of passage by the wents of brode steps so that from the first foot or lowest step anie person might without paine go vnto the highest place of the same halpas On euerie hand was their chamber doores and enterings into the chambers of the same palace which were long and large and well proportioned to receiue light and aire at pleasure the roofes of them line 30 from place to place and chamber to chamber were sieled and couered with cloth of silke of the most faire and quicke inuention that before time was séene For the ground was white ingraild embowed and batoned with rich clothes of silkes knit and fret with cuts and braids and sundrie new casts that the same clothes of silke shewed like bullions of fine burned gold and the roses in losenges that in the same roofe were in kindlie course furnished so to line 40 mans sight that no liuing creature might but ioy in the beholding thereof For from the iaw péece of the said sieling which péece was gilt with fine gold were workes in pane paled all the walles to the crest incountering the cleare stories the same crest which was of large deepnesse the worke was antike knots with bosses cast and wrought with more cunning than I can write all which works and ouerages were gilt and to set it the more to the glorie the flourishing bise was comparable to the rich ammell Also at the foot of the same palace was another crest line 50 all of fine set gold whereon hanged rich maruelous clothes of arras wrought of gold and silke compassed of manie ancient stories with which clothes of arras euerie wall and chamber were hanged all the windowes so richlie couered that it passed all other sights before séene In euerie chamber and euerie place conuenient were clothes of estate great and large of cloth of gold of tissue and rich embroderie with chaires couered with like cloth with pommels line 60 of fine gold and great cushins of rich worke of the Turkie making nothing lacked of honourable furnishment Also to the same palace was reared a chappell with two closets the quire of the said chappell sieled with cloth of gold and thereon fret ingrailed bent clothes of silke all was then silke and gold The altars of this chappell were hanged with rich reâ—esture of cloth of gold and tissue embrodered with perles Ouer the hie altar was hanged a rich canopie of maruellous greatnesse the altar was apparelled with fiue paire of candlesticks of gold and on the altar an halpas and thereon stood a crucifix all of fine gold and on the same halpas stood twelue images of the bignes of foure yeares of age all gold All the copes and vestments were so rich as might be prepared or bought in the citie of Florens for they were all but of one péece so wouen for the purpose cloth of tissue and powdered with red roses purpled with fine gold The Orfris set with pearles and precious stones And all the walles and deskes of this chappell were hanged with right cloth of gold thrée rich great crosses were there readie to be borne at festiuall times and basens and censers gospellers paxes crewets holie water vessels and other ornaments all of gold Also in the first closet was a
gentlemen tooke the sea the next morning but bicause the tide was against them and on the other part the monsieur hauing a side wind with him was constreined to hast to the land By meanes whereof the prince being not able to come aboord to him with his ship was faine to turne saile backe againe to Flushing where the prince Dolphin had taken land alreadie sought euerie where for the prince his brother When they had imbraced and saluted one an other like brethren the prince of Orange perceiuing the monsieur to approch verie néere tooke the water againe But when he perceiued him to come downe into his bote to take land he turned backe againe and hied him so fast that he tooke land before him and there tarried his comming As soone as he was arriued while he was yet in his bote readie to come aland the prince receiued him with great reuerence and imbracing his highnesse knée because he saw the line 10 weather was cold said vnto him in few words that he was verie glad to sée that happie daie which had beene so long expected wherein he had the honor to behold his highnesse and to offer vnto him his most humble seruice with goods and life all that he had besides hoping that by meanes of his highnesse that countrie hauing indured so great aduersitie should now be fullie set at libertie Wherevnto the monsieur answered verie wiselie and brieflie And when he had imbraced him with such honor as was line 20 due in respect of his age and dooings he came aland and was brought by the prince to the palace of the citie howbeit not without great difficultie by reason of the great prease of men of war and other people pestering one an other the folke of that countrie thronging to sée his highnesse and the Englishmen which as then were come downe thither in great numbers preasing to know the prince of Orange In the meane while the trumpets and drums sounded with such noise that the aire rang of it and all the ordinance line 30 shot off as well of the quéenes ships as of the other ships wherof the number was great which laie then in the rode with so great roring and thundering that they conueied the newes of his highnesse happie arriuall in the low countrie to Calis and to other places of France They of Flushing shot two peales with so great noise by reason of the great number of the péeces that are in the towne that all the ground rang of it The monsieur found in that place all sorts of his officers for his houshold line 40 and his gard of Swisses and Frenchmen departing from Calis and Bullongne foure daies afore were come to Middleborough The magistrates of the citie waited for him at the gates of the citie who told him by the mouth of their recorder that they were verie glad of his comming and thought themselues happie to sée him in hope that by his guiding and gouernement they should sée their countrie restored to tranquillitie and set vp againe in hir former renowme The states of Brabant line 50 speaking by the mouth of monsieur van Stralen Amptman of Antwerpe after their welcomming of him declared with what mind the noble and good cities of Brabant had expected him beseeching him most humblie to honor the countrie of Brabant with his presence out of hand Next then the deputies of the citie of Bruxelles besides the declaration which they made of their owne good will and generallie of all the peoples of that countrie declared also particularlie with what great goodwill and affection line 60 his highnesse had beene waited for in that citie the cheefe seat of the lords of that countrie and that after so manie mischéefes which they had suffered for withstanding the tyrannie of the Spaniards next vnto God they had not anie hope but in the comming of his highnesse their prince and lord Afterward they of Antwerpe were heard who declared the affection of the people toward his highnesse their long longing for him and the great desire which they had to see their prince and souereigne The colonels and capteins of the towne spake afterward and declared vnto him how carefullie and diligentlie they had kept the citie in hope to put it shortlie into his hands and reioising likewise at his comming Unto all these orations his highnesse answered verie sagelie and brieflie as vnto all the residue to the well liking and contentment of all that stood by The prince of Orange tarried a while with the monsieur in the towne house of the citie and then taking his leaue went to visit the princes and lords of both the nations that came with him to sée how they fared and to take order that they should want nothing so far forth as the abilitie of the towne of Flushing which is none of the greatest could extend where such prouision was made that all were well lodged and serued notwithstanding that aboue fiue hundred men of the onelie English lords were come aland that daie All that after noone was spent in feasting in making of bonefires in fireworks in sounding of trumpets and in all maner of tokens of ioie which all men vttered vniuersallie for the comming of so great a prince Also the foure members of Flanders which came by the counsell of the prince of Orange waited to present themselues vnto him at Middleborough The prince of Orange perceuing that the monsieur was minded to go the next daie to Middleborough told him that there were thrée waies the one about the castell of Ramekins to enter in at the great chanell of Middleborough by the bout of the foreland an other by the little chanell through the countrie and that he had kept ships in a readinesse to go the outer waie and a great fort of botes to go the inner waie because his highnesse could not iorneie either by coch or on horssebacke by reason of the winter and there was but onelie one causeie whereby folke trauelled ordinarilie on foot The monsieur beholding the fitnesse of the time for indéed it was verie faire weather and vnderstanding that the waie was not past a good French league in length vndertooke to go it on foot and so did all the rest of the princes lords and gentlemen as well of the same countrie as of France and England A great sort of the monsieurs house which were lodged alredie at Middleborough came to méet him speciallie his gard of Frenchmen and Swissers A good waie out of the towne the magistrate of Middleborough came to meet him as it were about a third part of the waie and there making an oration to him told him of the great and long desire which all the people had of his comming and that the people of Middleborough for their owne part thought themselues greatlie honored in that he had vouchsafed to come to their citie offering all dutifulnesse vnto him His gard