aduentured lim and life line 10 against the enimies of the English commonwelth and therefore in respect of his excellent seruices deserued no lesse remembrance than is alreadie extant of him in print whereof this following is a parcell satrapas praeclarus fortis audax Elisabetha tui speciosi corporis acer Et fidus custos discrimen adire paratus Quodlibet inuicto Mauortis pectore campo Cui virtus persaepè herbam porrexit Hibernus Quem pugnis fulgâ—ns ornat victoria parta line 20 Sanguineis sed laus huic maxima iudicis aequi Edmund Grindall doctor of diuinitie archbishop of Canturburie deceassed at Croidon in Surrie on the sixt daie of Iulie was there buried This good man in his life time was so studious that his booke was his bride and his studie his bridechamber whervpon he spent both his eiesight his strength and his health and therefore might verie well not actiuelie but passiuelie be named as he was Grindall for he groond himselfe euen to his graue by mortification line 30 Of whome much might be spoken for others imitation siâ—h the vse of the historie is to instruct succéeding ages but this shall suffice that as his learning vertue were inseparable companions so the reward of both is the good name which he hath left behind him as a monument perpetuall bicause vertue was the founder of the same according to the true saieng of the late poet importing no lesse Virtutis merces eadem labor illa tropheum est Soláque dat nigrae vincere mortis iter line 40 Nam nisi virtutis quaeratur gloria factis Omnis in extremos est abitura rogos Barnard Randolfe esquier common sargeant to the citie of London deceassed on the seauenth of August This man in his life time somewhat before his death gaue and deliuered to the companie of the Fishmongers in London the summe of nine hundred pounds of good and lawfull monie of England to be imploied towards the conducting of Thames water cesterning the same in lead and castelling line 50 with stone in the parishes of saint Marie Magdalene and saint Nicholas cold abbeie néere vnto old Fishstréet seauen hundred pounds The other two hundred pounds to paie for euer yearelie the summe of ten pounds that is towards the maintenance of a poore scholar in the vniuersitie of Oxenford yearelie foure pounds Towards the mending of the high waies in the parish of Tisehurst in the countie of Sussex where the said Barnard was borne euerie yeare foure pounds And to the poore people of the line 60 parishes of saint Nicholas Oliue in Bredstréet and saint Marie Magdalene néere to old Fishstreet fortie shillings to wit twentie shillings to either parish for euer More he willed and bequeathed by his last will and testament to be bestowed in land or annuities to the reléefe of the poore inhabiting in the wards of Quéenehiue and castell Bainard in the citie of London and in the aforesaid parish of Tisehurst in the countie of Sussex the summe of one thousand pounds This yeare in the moneth of Iune were sent to the seas a ship called the barke Talbot and a small barke both manned with a hundred men vnder the charge of William Borough esquier clerke of hir maiesties nauie for the apprehending of certeine outragious searouers who for that they were manie in number and well appointed contemning the small strength that was set out against them so boldlie behaued themselues as that shortlie after it was confidentlie bruted that they had vanquished in fight the said ship and barke But within few daies after beyond all expectation they were by the said William Borough and his companie discomfited and taken to the number of ten saile whereof three were prises some of the chiefe pirats namelie Thomas Walton alià s Purser Clinton Atkinson William Ellis William Ualentine alià s Bagh Thomas Beuen and foure more on the thirtith of August were hanged at Wapping in the ooze besides London Walton as he went to the gallowes rent his venecian breeches of crimsin taffata and distributed the same péecemeale to such his old acquaintance as stood néere about him but Atkinson had before giuen his murrie veluet dublet with great gold buttons and the like coloured veluet venecians laid with great gold lace apparell too sumptuous for sea-rouers which he had worne at the seas wherein he was brought vp prisoner from Corse castell in the I le of Porbeke to London vnto such his fréends as pleased him before he went to Wapping ¶ This Clinton Atkinson a personable fellow tall of stature and well proportioned of acceptable behauiour when he kept shop for himselfe being a free man of London and like enough to doo well if he had taken good waies had his name of the late earle of Lincolne now deceassed who christened him being an infant by whose speciall meanes being growne a proper man he was not long before saued from the like death and yet thorough want of grace making relapse fell within danger of law He descended of honest parents his father speciallie being a man of verie honest name one that loued the truth for the testimonie wherof he forsooke his owne natiue countrie leading a hard life with his familie beyond the seas in queene Maries daies returning to England at the inthronization of our gratious queene Elisabeth in the seat roiall was made minister in which vocation he died in Gods fauour and the good opinion of his neighbors leuing behind him among other sonnes this his eldest sorted as you sée to the shame which malefactors of that qualitie and so conuinced can not auoid This auoweth he that knew the man as well as the right hand from the left Where to conclude we are to marke that it is not alwaies true that good parents haue good children for here is an example of degeneration procured not by euill education for this Clinton wanted no good bringing vp but by bad companie and libertie the verie spoile of many a one that otherwise might liue thriue Wherin by the way we are to woonder at the counsels of God who suffreth children so much to varie from their parents in qualitie as if they had not receiued their birthright but were bastards changlings but to end with the prophet Dauids saieng Intima consilij non penetranda Dei On the eighteenth daie of September Iohn Lewes who named himselfe Abdoit an obstinate heretike denieng the godhead of Christ and holding diuers other detestable heresies much like to his predecessor Matthew Hamont was burned at Norwich On the two and twentith of September Albertus de Lasco palatine of Siradia in Poland before spoken of now when he had well viewed the order of our English court and nobilitie with other places of this realme especiallie the vniuersitie of Oxenford c taking leaue of hir maiestie and of the nobilitie he departed towards Poland But before we make
coosens and againe bicause the king of France had no iust title or right to make claime to England Further there was as then a truce betwixt England line 30 and France and before that England could be subdued much giltlesse bloud should be spilt Also the christians in the holie land were sore oppressed and looked dailie for the arriuall of the king of France and therefore he would be loth to attempt any new enterprise to hinder his iornie thither But about the feast of the Epiphanie other news came out of Prouance that troubled the king of England worse than the other before as thus That the countesse Beatrice his wiues mother had deliuered vp the countie of Prouance into the French kings hands togither line 40 with sixtéene castels which in right of the queene ought to haue remained vnto the king of England For the safe keeping wherof to his vse the said countesse Beatrice had receiued yeerelie for the terme of fiue yeares last past the summe of foure thousand marks of the king of England and yet now in the deliuering of them with the residue of the countrie vnto the French king she neuer made any mention of his right line 50 Shortlie after also Charles the French kings brother maried the ladie Beatrice yoongest daughter of earle Raimond and had with hir the same countie of Prouance and so was intituled earle thereof as in the French historie appeareth Moreouer the archbishop of Canturburie procured a grant from the pope to recouer for one yeare the first fruits of all cures that chanced to be void within the citie diocesse and prouance of Canturburie by and during the tearme of seauen yeares then next following till the summe line 60 of ten thousand marks were leuied towards the discharge of the said archbishops debts The collection of the which ten thousand marks was assigned by the popes bulles vnto the bishop of Hereford who should also leauie two thousand marks of the reuenues belonging to the church of Canturburie to be conuerted to the same vse The king at the first was sore offended herewith but shortlie after he was pacified and so the archbishop had his will After this about the beginning of the next spring Dauid prince of Wales departed this life after great pensifenesse of mind for the destruction and miserie into the which his countrie had béene brought through the present warres with the Englishmen After his deceasse the Welshmen elected to succeed in his place the sonne of Griffin whom king Henrie had reteined in seruice and honourablie vsed euen of a child but now that he heard that the Welshmen had elected him to their prince he stale away and fled into Wales ¶ On the day of the purification of our ladie a robberie was committed vpon certeine Iewes at Oxenford for the which fact fiue and fortie of the offendors were put in prison but at the suit of Robert bishop of Lincolne they were deliuered by the kings commandement bicause no man impeached them of anie breach of peace or other crime The citizens of London also about the beginning of the spring were compelled to paie a talage wherewith they found themselues sore aggreeued About the middest of Lent there was a parlement holden at London wherein diuerse statutes and ordinances were deuised as penalties for those that offended in other mens parks and warrens but the chéefest occasion of assembling this parlement was to take aduise in matters touching the greefes wherewith the church of England séemed to be oppressed by the pope and the court of Rome The pope indeed to quiet the English ambassadors and to put the king and realme in some good hope of reléefe and deliuerance out of such oppressions as were opened vnto him in the face of the whole councell did not onelie promise largelie but also caused diuerse priuileges to be made and deliuered vnto the said ambassadors verie fauorablie in the behalfe of their request But yet the same notwithstanding sith the breaking vp of the said generall councell and return to the ambassadors manie things were doone to the increasing and continuation of the former greefes so that they stood in doubt of further oppressions to follow rather than in hope of the promised redresse Herevpon they concluded eftsoones to write vnto the pope and to the cardinals both in name of the king of the bishops and prelats of the earles barons and other estates of the temporaltie and of the abbats and priors In the meane time the pope for a while somewhat relented in the point of bestowing benefices here in England for when any of his freends or kinsmen was to be preferred to any benefies within this realme he would sue to the king for his grant and good will that such a one might be admitted and not seeme of himselfe to grant it without the kings consent The earle of Sauoy in the presence of the archbishop of Canturburie and the bishop of Hereford and others did homage to the king of England acknowledging to hold of him certeine fées as those of Suse Auislian S. Maurice de Chablais and the castell of Bard which he might well doo not preiudicing the right of the empire sith he held nothing of the same empire except Aigues and the passages This yeare the office of the earle Marshall was giuen to Roger Bigod earle of Northfolke in right of his wife the countesse that was eldest daughter vnto the great earle William Marshall ¶ Moreouer in this yeare the king holding his Easter at London honored Harold king of Man with the order of knighthood About the same time diuerse noble men of Wales submitted themselues and were receiued vnto the kings peace ¶ On saint Markes day was a great frost and snow which nipped the leaues of trees and hearbes in such extreame wise that for the more part they withered and faded awaie Furthermore bicause the pope vnderstood that diuerse rich beneficed men were of late dead in England intestate as Robert Hailes the archdeacon of Lincolne Almerike the archdeacon of Bedford and Iohn Hotospe archdeacon of Northhampton he ordeined a decrée that all such spirituall persons as died intestate their goods should remaine to the pope The execution of which decrée he commanded to the friers preachers and minors but the king would not suffer it to take place bicause he saw that it should redound to the preiudice of him and his kingdome Wherein the popes oppression and wrong offered to the dead by whose deceasse their suruiuing fréends should be benefited and his cruell couetousnes extending to the verie senseles corpse dooth manifestlie appeare so that it is verified of him by waie line 10 of comparison Carniuorax tumidis vt gaudet hyaena sepulchris Sic instat putidis ille cadaueribus Also where the pope required a talage of the clergie the king flatlie forbad it by his letters inhibitorie In this meane while William Powis
betwixt England and France was set at libertie paieng for his ransome the summe of one hundred thousand marks as Fourdon saith but whether he meaneth Scotish or sterling monie I cannot saie He also was bound by couenant now vpon his deliuerance to cause the castels in Nidesdale to be raised which were knowne to be euill neighbors to the English borderers as Dunfrise Dalswinton Morton Dunsdâ—re and nine other His wife quéene Ione made such earnest sute to hir brother king Edward for hir husbands deliuerance that king Edward was contented to release him vpon the paiment of so small a portion of monie and performance of the couenants for the raising of those castels although Froissard saith that he was couenanted to paie for his deliuerance within the tearme of ten yeares fiue hundred thousand nobles and for suertie of that paiment to send into England sufficient hostages as the earles of Dowglas Murrey Mar Sutherland and Fiffe the baron of Uescie and sir William Camoise Also he couenanted neuer to weare armour against king Edward within his realme of England nor to consent that his subiects should so doo and further should vpon his returne home doo the best he could to cause the Scots to agree that their countrie should hold of him in fée and that he and his successours kings of Scotland should doo homage to the king of England and his successors for the realme of Scotland In this two and thirtith yeare as witnesseth the French chronicles sir Robert Knolles Iames Pipe and one Thomlin Foulke with other capiteins and men of warre as souldiours to the king of Nauarre vpon the tenth day of March earlie in the morning scaled the walles of the citie of Auxerre and behaued them so manfullie that they were maisters of the towne before the sunne was vp They got exceeding much by the spoile of that citie and by ransoming the prisoners which they tooke there At length after they had remained eight daies in that citie and taken their pleasures of all things within it they wrought so with the citizens that to haue possession of their citie againe and to haue it saued from fire they agréed to giue to sir Robert Knolles and to his companie fiftie thousand motons of gold which amounted to the summe of twelue thousand and fiue hundred pounds sterling or there about and yet was it agreed that the Englishmen should burne the gates and throw downe the walles in diuers places In Aprill next insuing the towne of Daubignie sir le Metre was likewise woone by the Englishmen and the second daie of Maie Chastelon sir Loigne was taken by the said sir Robert Knolles and put to sacke as the other were From thence they went to Newcastell vpon Loire Thus did the Englishmen and other in title of the K. of Nauarre greatlie indamage the realme of France dailie winning townes and castels ransoming the people and wasting the countries in most miserable wise as in the historie of France you may read more at large In this meane while there was talke of peace betwixt the king of England and the king of France and articles thereof drawne in this forme that the whole countries of Gascoine Guien Poictou Touraine Xainctonge Piergourd Quercie Limosin Angolisinois Calis Guines Bullogne and Ponthieu should remaine to the king of England wholie without dooing homage or paieng anie reléefe for the same but on the other part he should renounce all his right which he might by anie manner of meane claime to the countries of Normandie Aniou or Maine And further that the French king should paie a certeine summe of monie for his ransome and deliuer sufficient pledges for the same and so depart into France These articles were sent ouer into France that the thrée states there might confirme them which they refused to doo Wherevpon when the truce ended the warres were againe reuiued ¶ The king held this yéere the feast of S. George at Windsor in more sumptuous manner than euer it had béene kept before In the same yeare also frier Iohn Lisle bishop of Elie being as he tooke it somewhat wronged by the ladie Blanch de Wake and other that were of hir counsell when the last yeare against the kings will vnto the popes court where exhibiting his complaint he caused the pope to excommunicate all his aduersaries sending to the bishop of Lincolne and other of the cleargie that if they knew any of them so excommunicated to be dead and buried they should draw them out of their graues which was doone And bicause some of those that were excommunicated line 10 were of the kings councell the king tooke such displeasure therewith that he gréeuouslie disquieted the prelats Wherevpon there were sent from the court of Rome on the behalfe of the bishop of Elie certeine persons which being armed met the bishop of Rochester lord treasuror deliuering to him letters from the pope the contents of the which were not knowen and foorthwith they shranke awaie but the kings seruants made such pursute after them that some of them they tooke and bringing them before the line 20 kings iustices vpon their arreignement they were condemned and suffered death on the gallowes Great discord rose also about this time or rather afore betwixt the cleargie and the foure orders of friers as in the booke of acts monuments set foorth by master Iohn Fox ye may read more at large In this yeare Iohn of Gant earle of Richmond sonne to the king the ninetéenth day of Maie married the ladie Blanch daughter to Henrie duke of Lancaster at Reading and bicause they were cousins within line 30 the degrées of consanguinitie forbidden by the church lawes to marrie a dispensation was procured of the pope to remoue that obstacle and let In this yeare the king set workemen in hand to take downe much old bildings belonging to the castell of Windsore and caused diuerse other faire and sumptuous works to be erected and set vp in and about the same castell so that almost all the masons and carpenters that were of any accompt within this land were sent for and imploied about the same works the ouerseer line 40 whereof was William Wickham the kings chaplâ—in by whose aduise the king tooke in hand to repare that place the rather in déed bicause he was borne there and therefore he tooke great pleasure to bestow cost in beautifieng it with such buildings as may appeare euen vnto this daie Moreouer this yeare in the Rogation wéeke was solemne iusts enterprised at London for the maior and his foure and twentie brethren as challengers did appoint to answer all commers in whose name and stéed the king with his line 50 foure sonnes Edward Lionell Iohn and Edmund and ninetéene other great lords in secret manner came and held the field with honor to the great pleasure of the citizens that beheld the same ¶ Ye
before the high altar two dukes betwéene two quéenes to wit the duke of Summerset the duke of Northumberland betweene quéene Anne and quéene Katharine all foure beheaded At the same time and place also was likewise beheaded sir Iohn Gates and sir Thomas Palmer which line 50 sir Iohn Gates in that place vsed few words but laid downe his head without anie kercher and had the same striken off at thrée blowes Sir Thomas Palmer as soone as he came to the scaffold tooke euerie man by the hand and desired them to praie for him then putting off his gowne he leaned vpon the â—ast raile and said these words in effect The effect of such words as sir Thomas Palmer vttered on the line 60 scaffold at his death MY maisters quoth he God saue you all It is not vnknowne vnto you wherefore I come hither which I haue worthilie well deserued at Gods hands for I know it to be his diuine ordinance by this meanes to call me to his mercie and to teach me to know my selfe what I am and wherevnto we are all subiect I thanke his mercifull goodnesse for hee hath caused me to learne more in one little darke corner in yonder tower than euer I learned by anie trauell in so manie places as I haue beene For there I saie I haue seene God what he is how vnsearchable his woonderous works are how infinit his mercies be I haue seene there my selfe throghlie and what I am nothing but a lumpe of sin earth dust and of all vilenesse most vilest I haue seene there and know what the world is how vaine deceitfull transitorie and short it is how wicked and lothsome the works thereof are in the sight of Gods maiestie how he neither regardeth the manaces of the proud men and mightie ones neither despiseth the humblenesse of the poore lowlie which are in the same world finallie I haue seene there what death is how nie hanging ouer all mens heds and yet how vncerteine the time and how vnknowne to all men and how little it is to be feared And should I feare death or be sad therefore Haue I not seene two die before mine eies Yea and within the hearing of mine eares No neither the sprinkling of the bloud nor the sheading thereof nor the bloudie ax it selfe shall make me afraid And now taking my leaue of the same I praie you all to praie for me Come on good fellow quoth he art thou he that must doo the deed I forgiue thee with all my hart then kneeling downe laieng his hed on the blocke he said I will see how meet the blocke is for my necke I praie thee strike not yet for I haue a few praiers to saie and that doone strike on Gods name good leaue thou His praiers ended and desiring ech man to praie for him he laid downe his head againe and so the executioner foorthwith tooke it from him at one stroke On the thrée and twentith of August the quéene deliuered the great seale to doctor Gardiner bishop of Winchester and made him lord chancellor The seauen and twentith of August the seruice began in Latine to be soong in Pauls church in London The six and twentith of August in the euening the notablest ship in England called the great Harrie was burnt at Woolwich by negligence of the mariners she was of burthen a thousand tuns The first of September the quéene demanded a prest of the citie of London of twentie thousand pounds to be repaied againe within fouretéene daies after Michael masse next folowing which sum was leuied of the aldermen and one hundred twentie commoners The fourth of September was proclamed certeine new coins of gold and siluer a souereigne of gold of thirtie shillings the halfe souereigne fiftéene shillings an angell at ten shillings the halfe angell fiue shillings Of siluer the grote halfe grote and pennie all base coines to be currant as before Also the same daie by proclamation was pardoned the subsidie of foure shillings the pound of lands and two shillings eight pence the pound of moouable goods granted in the last parlement of king Edward the sixt Soone after this Thomas Cranmer archbishop of Canturburie and late before of king Edwards priuie councell was committed to the tower of London being charged of treason not onelie for giuing aduise to the disheriting of quéene Marie but also for aiding the duke of Northumberland with certeine horsse and men against the queene in the quarrell of the ladie Iane of Suffolke wherein if he were culpable he lacked the prouidence and foresight of after-claps which doctor Parker in the insurrection Ket vsing saued both his life and estimation ¶ On the seuen and twentith of September quéene Marie came to the tower by water accompanied with the ladie Elizabeth hir sister and other ladies before whose arriuall there was shot a great peale of guns The last of September quéene Marie rode through the citie of London towards Westminster sitting in a chariot of cloth of tissue drawne with six line 10 horsses all trapped with the like cloth of tissue She sate in a gowne of purple veluet furred with powdered ermins hauing on hir head a kall of cloth of tinsell béeset with pearle and stone and aboue the same vpon hir head a round circlet of gold béeset so richlie with pretious stones that the value thereof was inestimable the same kall and circle being so massie and ponderous that she was faine to beare vp hir head with hir hand and the canopie was borne ouer hir chariot Before hir rode a number of gentlemen line 20 knights then iudges then doctors then bishops then lords then the councell after whome followed the knights of the Bath in their robes the bishop of Winchester lord chancellor and the marques of Winchester lord high treasuror next came the duke of Norffolke and after him the earle of Oxford who bare the sword before hir the maior of London in a gown of crimsin veluet bare the scepter of gold c. After the quéenes chariot sir Edward Hastings led hir horsse in his hand then came another chariot line 30 hauing a couering of cloth of siluer all white and six horsses trapped with the like therein sate the ladie Elizabeth and the ladie Anne of Cleue then ladies and gentlewomen riding on horsses trapped with red veluet and their gownes and kirtles likewise of red veluet after them folowed two other chariots couered with red sattin and the horsses betrapped with the same and certeine gentlewomen betwéene euerie of the said chariots riding in crimsin sattin their horsses betrapped with the same the number line 40 of the gentlewomen so riding were six and fortie besides them in the chariots At Fanchurch was a costlie pageant made by the Genowaies at Gracechurch corner there was an other pageant made by the Easterlings At the vpper end oâ— Gracesstréet there was
with the inhabitants of the countrie of Yorkeshire and Northumberland that he wasted all the land betwixt Yorke and Durham so that for the space of threescore miles there was left in maner no habitation for the people by reason whereof it laie wast and desert for the space of nine or ten yeares ¶ The goodlie cities with their towers and steeples set vpon a statelie height and reaching as it were into the aire the beautifull fields and pastures watered with the course of sweet and pleasant riuers if a stranger should then haue beheld and also knowne before they were thus defaced he would surelie haue lamented or if any old inhabitant had béene long absent newly returned thither had séene this pitifull face of the countrie he would not haue knowne it such destruction was made through out all those quarters whereof Yorke it selfe felt not the smallest portion The bishop of Durham Egelwinus with his cleargie fled into holie Iland with S. Cutberts bodie and other iewels of the church of Durham where they tarried three moneths and od daies before they returned to Durham againe The kings armie comming into the countrie that lieth betwixt the riuers Theise and Tine found nothing but void feelds and bare walles the people with their goods and cattell being fled and withdrawne into the woods and mountaines if any thing were forgotten behind these new gests were diligent inough to find it out In the beginning of the spring king William returned to London and now after all these troubles began to conceiue greater hatred against the Englishmen line 10 than euer before so as doubting that hee should neuer by gentlenesse win their good willes he now determined by a harder measure to meete with them insomuch that he banished a great number other some also not a few he spoiled of their goods those especiallie of whom he was in hope to gaine any great portion of substance Thus were the Englishmen generallie in danger to lose life lands and goods without knowledge or orderlie proceeding in iudgement so that no greater line 20 miserie in the earth could be imagined than that whereinto our nation was now fallen He tooke from the townes and cities from the bishops sées and abbeies all their ancient priuileges and freedoms to the end they should not onelie be cut short and made weaker but also that they for the obteinment of their quietnesse might redeeme the same of him for such summes of monie as pleased him to exact Among other things he ordeined that in time of warre they should aide him with armor horsse and line 30 monie according to that order which he should then prescribe all which he caused to be registred inrolled and laid vp in his treasurie But diuerse of the spirituall persons would not obey this ordinance whom he banished without remorse About this time the archbishop Stigand and Alexander bishop of Lincolne fled to Scotland where they kept themselues close for a season But the king still continued in his hard procéeding against the Englishmen insomuch that now protesting how he line 40 came to the gouernance of the realme only by plaine conquest he seized into his hands most part of euerie mans possessions causing them to redeeme the same at his hands againe and yet reteined a propertie in the most part of them so that those that should afterwards enioy them should acknowledge themselues to hold them of him in yéelding a yéerlie rent to him and his successors for euer with certeine other prouisions whereby in cases of forfeiture the same lands should returne to him and his said successors line 50 againe The like order he appointed to be vsed by other possessors of lands in letting them forth to their tenants He ordeined also that the Termes should be kept foure times in the yéere in such places as he should nominate and that the iudges shuld sit in their seuerall places to iudge and decide causes and matters in controuersie betwixt partie and partie in manner as is vsed vnto this day He decréed moreouer that there should be shiriffes in euerie shire and iustices of the peace to keepe the countries line 60 in quiet and to sée offendors punished Furthermore he instituted the court of the Excheker and the officers belonging to the same as the barons the clearks and such other and also the high court of Chancerie After he had in this sort ordeined his magistrates and ministers of the lawes he lastlie tooke order what ordinances he would haue obserued wherevpon abrogating in maner all the ancient lawes vsed in times past and instituted by the former kings for the good order and quietnes of the people he made new nothing so equall or easie to be kept which neuerthelesse those that came after not without their great harme were constreined to obserue as though it had béene an high offense against GOD to abolish those euill lawes which king William a prince nothing friendlie to the English nation had first ordeined and to bring in other more easie and tollerable ¶ Here by the waie I giue you to note a great absurditie namelie that those lawes which touched all and ought to be knowne of all were notwithstanding written in the Norman toong which the Englishmen vnderstood not so that euen at the beginning you should haue great numbers partlie by the iniquitie of the lawes and partlie by ignorance in misconstruing the same to be wrongfullie condemned some to death and some in the forfeitures of their goods others were so intangled in sutes and causes that by no means they knew how to get out but continuallie were tossed from post to piller in such wise that in their minds they curssed the time that euer these vnequall lawes were made The maner for the triall of causes in controuersie was deuised in such sort as is yet vsed Twelue ancient men but most commonlie vnlearned in the lawes being of the same countie where the sute laie were appointed by the iudges to go togither into some close chamber where they should be shut vp till vpon diligent examination of the matter they should â—grée vpon the condemnation or acquiting of the prisoner if it were in criminall causes or vpon deciding in whom the right remained if it were vpon triall of things in controuersie Now when they were all agréed they came in before the iudges declaring to what agréement they were growne which doone the iudges opened it to the offendors or sutors and withall gaue sentence as the qualitie of the case did inforce and require There may happilie be as Polydor Virgil saith that will mainteine this maner of procéeding in the administration of iustice by the voices of a iurie to haue béene in vse before the conquerors daies but they are not able to prooue it by any ancient records of writers as he thinketh albeit by some of our histories they should séeme to be first ordeined by Ethelred
moonke should dreame in his sléepe how he saw the king gnaw the image of Christ crucified with his teeth and that as he was about to bite awaie the legs of the same image Christ with his feet should spurne him downe to the ground insomuch that as he lay on the earth there came out of his mouth a flame of fire and such abundance of smoke that the aire was darkened therewith But the king made a iest of these and the like tales He is a right moonke saith he and to haue a péece of monie he dreameth such things giue him therefore an hundred shillings and bid him dreame of better fortune to our person Neuerthelesse the king was somewhat mooued herewith in the end and doubted whether he should go into the New forrest to hunt on Lammas day as he had purposed or no bicause his freends councelled him not to trie the truth of dreames to his owne losse and hinderance Wherevpon he forbare to go foorth before dinner but when he had dined and made himselfe merrie with receiuing more drinke than commonlie he vsed to doo abroad he got him into the forrest with a small traine amongst whom was one sir Walter Tirell a French knight whom he had reteined in seruice with a large stipend This sir Walter chanced to remaine with the king when all the rest of the companie was dispersed here and there as the maner in hunting is Now as the sunne began to draw lowe the king perceiuing an hart to come alongst by him shot at the same and with his arrow stroke him but not greatlie hurting him the beast ran awaie The king to marke which way the hart tooke and the maner of his hurt held vp his hand betweene the sunne and his eies who standing in that sort out came another hart at whom as sir Walter Tirell let driue an arrow the same by glansing stroke the king into the brest so that he neuer spake word but breaking off so much of the arrow as appeared out of his bodie he fell downe and giuing onelie one grone immediatlie died without more noise or moouing Sir Walter running to him and perceiuing no spéech nor sense to remaine in him straitwaies got to his horsse and riding awaie escaped and saued himselfe for few there were that pursued him euerie man being amazed at the chance some departing one waie and some another euerie one for his owne aduantage and commoditie as the time then serued The dead bodie of the king was straight conueied to Winchester and there buried the morrow after which was the second day of August the yere of our Lord 1100. To this end came king William after he had reigned almost 13. yeares and liued 43. and somewhat more This prince althoâ—gh euill reported of by writers for the couetous talking of his subiects and reteining of ecclesiasticall liuings in his hands yet was he endued with manie noble and princelie qualities He had good knowledge in feats of warre and could well awaie with bodilie labour In all his affaires he was circumspect of his promise trustie of his word stedfast and in his wars no lesse diligent than fortimate He gaue to the moonkes called Monachi de charitate in Southwarke the great new church of S. Sauiour of Bermondsay and also Bermonds eie it selfe He founded a goodlie hospitall in the citie of Yorke called S. Leonards for the sustentation line 10 and finding of the poore as well brethren as sisters Towards souldiers and men of warre he was verie liberall and to enrich them he passed not for taking from farmers and husbandmen what soeuer could be gotten He was indéed of a prodigall nature and therefore when in the begining of his reigne doubting some troubles he had assembled manie men of warre for his defense there was nothing that they could aske which he would denie them in somuch that his fathers treasures were soone consumed by line 20 reason whereof he was put to his shifts to prouide more For though substance wanted to shew his liberalitie yet there sailed not in him a mind still to be bountifull sith continuall vse of giuing rewards was in manner turned in him to a nature so that to furnish himselfe with monie and necessaries he was put to extremities vnbeséeming a king and to bestow his beneuolence vpon some he spared not to impouerish others For in such sort he was liberall that therewith he was prodigall and in such wise line 30 stout of courage as proud withall and in such maner seuere as he séemed cruell and inexorable But what meanes he vsed to make his best of benefices and spirituall liuings partlie appeereth before In déed such was his condition that who soeuer would giue might haue that oftentimes without respect whether their sute was reasonable and allowable or not in somuch that it is said of him that being in Roan on a time there came to him diuerse Iewes who inhabited that citie complaining to line 40 him that diuerse of their nation had renounced their Iewish religion and were become christians wherefore they besought him that for a certeine summe of monie which they offered to giue it might please him to constreine them to abiure christianitie and turne to the Iewish law againe He was contented to satisfie their desires and so receiuing the monie called them before him what with threats and putting them otherwise in feare he compelled diuerse of them to forsake Christ and returne to their line 50 old errors There was about the same time a yoong man a Iew who by a vision appearing vnto him as is said was conuerted to the christian faith and being baptised was named Stephan bicause S. Stephan was the man that had appeared to him in the vision as by the same he was informed The father of the yoong-man being sore troubled for that his sonne was become a christian and hearing what the king had doone in such like matters presented to him 60. line 60 marks of siluer conditionally that he should inforce his sonne to returne to his Iewish religion Herevpon was the yoong man brought before the king vnto whom he said Sirra thy father here complaineth that without his licence thou art become a christian if this be true I command thee to returne againe to the religion of thy nation without anie more adoo To whom the yoongman answered Your grace as I gesse dooth but iest Wherwith the king being mooued said What thou dunghill knaue shuld I iest with thée Get thee hence quicklie and fulfill my commandement or by S. Lukes face I shall cause thine eies to be plucked out of thine head The yoongman nothing abashed hereat with a constant voice answered Trulie I will not doo it but know for certeine that if you were a good christian you would neuer haue vttered anie such words for it is the part of a christian to reduce them againe to Christ which be departed from him not to
Feuersham abbeie which she and hir husband had begonne from the verie foundation And bicause the moonkes line 20 of S. Augustine might not celebrate diuine seruice she called thither commonlie the moonks of Christes church to say seruice before hir Thus much for that purpose and now to other matters The lord Henrie Fitzempresse after all these businesses returned into England in the moneth of May with a great companie of men of warre both horssemen and footmen by reason whereof many reuolted from king Stephan to take part with him whereas before they sat still and would not attempt line 30 any exploit against him But now incouraged with the presence of the lord Henrie they declared themselues freends to him and enimies to the king Immediatlie after his arriuall he tooke with him the earles of Chester and Hereford Ranulfe and Roger and diuers other Noble men and knights of great fame beside those whom he had brought with him out of Normandie and went vnto Carleil where he found his coosin Dauid king of Scotland of whome he was most ioifullie receiued and vpon Whitsunday line 40 with great solemnitie being not past sixtéene yeares of age was by the same king made knight with diuerse other yoong gentlemen that were much about the same age ¶ Some write that the king of Scots receiued an oth of him before he gaue him the honor of knighthood that if he chanced to atteine vnto the possession of the realme of England he should restore to the Scots the towne of Newcastle with the countrie of Northumberland from the riuer of Twéed to the riuer line 50 of Tine But whether it were so or not I am not able to make warrantize Now king Stephan hearing that the king of Scots and his aduersarie the lord Henrie with the chéefest lords of the west parts of England lay thus in Carleil he raised an armie and came to the citie of Yorke where he remained for the most part of the moneth of August fearing least his enimies should attempt the winning of that citie But after the one part had remained a time in Carleil and the other in line 60 Yorke they departed from both those places without any further exploit for that season sauing that Eustachius king Stephans sonne hauing also latelie receiued the order of knighthood did much hurt in the countries which belonged to those Noble men that were with the lord Henrie The great raine that fell in the summer season this yeare did much hurt vnto corne standing on the ground so that a great dearth followed In the winter also after about the tenth day of December it began to fréese extreamelie and so continued till the nineteenth of Februarie wherby the riuer of Thames was so frosen that men might passe ouer it both on foot and horssebacke In the meane while Henrie Duke of Normandie after he had returned from the king of the Scots sailed backe into Normandie about the beginning of August leauing England full of all those calamities which ciuill warre is accustomed to bring with it as burning of houses killing robbing and spoiling of people so that the land was in danger of vtter destruction by reason of that pestilent discord This yeare the 23. of Februarie Galfridus Monumetensâ—s otherwise called Galfridus Arâ—hâ—rius who turned the British historie into Latine was consecrated bishop of S. Assaph by Theobald archbishop of Canturburie at Lambeth William bishop of Norwich and Walter bishop of Rochester assisting him Morouer this yeare as some writers haue recorded Geffrey earle of Aniou husband to the empresse Maud departed this life on the seuenth day of September leauing his sonne Henrie onelie heire and successor in the estates of the duchie of Normandie and countie of Aniou The bodie of the said earle was buried at Mans with a great funerall pompe his three sonnes Henrie Geffrey and William being present But king Stephan assaulting the faire citie of Worcester with a great power of men of warre tooke it and consumed it with fire but the castell he could not win This citie belonged to earle Waleran de Mellent at that season for king Stephan to his owne hinderance had giuen it vnto him Now after the men of warre had diuided the spoile amongst them they came backe and passing through the lands of their enimies got great booties which they also tooke away with them finding none to resist them in their iournie In the yeare following Theobald archbishop of Canturburie and legat to the sée apostolike held a generall synod or councell at London in the Lent season where king Stephan himselfe with his sonne Eustachius and other the péeres of the realme were present This councell was full of appeales contrarie to that had beene vsed in this land till the time that Henrie bishop of Winchester vnto his owne harme whilest he was likewise the popes legat had by vniust intrusion brought them in and now at this councell he was himselfe thrise appealed to the hearing of the popes owne consistorie After this king Stephan in the same yeare brake into the citie of Worcester and whereas he could not the last time win the castell he now endeuoured with all his force to take it But when those within made valiant resistance he raised two castels against it and leauing in the same certeine of his Nobles to continue the siege he himselfe returned home ¶ Thus as yee see the kings propertie was to attempt manie things valiantlie but he procéeded in them oftentimes verie slowlie howbeit now by the policie of the earle of Leicester those two castels which the king had raised to besiege the other castell were shortlie after destroied and so the besieged were deliuered from danger This earle of Leicester was brother to the earle of Mellent Thus the kings purposed intention and painefull trauell on that behalfe came to none effect In the meane while Henrie duke of Normandie maried Elianor duches of Guien or Aquitaine latelie diuorsed from the French king and so in right of hir he became duke of Aquitaine and earle of Poictou for she was the onelie daughter to William duke of Guien and earle of Poictou and by hir father created his sole and lawfull heire The French king was nothing pleased with this mariage in somuch that he made sore warre vpon duke Henrie ioining himselfe in league with king Stephan with his sonne Eustace and with the lord Geffrey brother to duke Henrie so that the said Henrie was constreined to defer his iournie into England and applie his power to deâ—end his countries and subiects on that side of the sea For whereas he was readie at the mouth of the riuer of Barbe to passe ouer into England not long after midsummer the French king with Eustace king Stephans sonne Robert earle of Perch Henrie erle of Champaigne and Geffrey brother to duke Henrie hauing assembled a mightie armie came and besieged the line 10
to haue the gouernement fréelie in his owne hands that he might not be counted prince by permission Herevpon the youthfull courage of the yong king being tickled began to wax of a contrarie mind to his father who suspecting indéed that which chanced to wit least his sonnes yoong yeares not able yet to discerne line 60 good and wholesome counsell from euill might easilie be infected with some sinister practise thought it not good to suffer him to be long absent from him and therefore sent for him who taking leaue of his father in law king Lewes in courteous maner returned and came to his father king Henrie into Normandie who when the feast of Christmas drew néere repaired towards Aniou where in the towne of Chinon he solemnized that feast hauing left his sonne the yong king and his wife all that while in Normandie but sending for him after the feast was ended they went both into Auvergne where being at mount Ferrat Hubert earle of Morienne came vnto them bringing with him his eldest daughter Alice whom king Henrie the father bought of him for the summe of fiue thousand markes that he might bestow hir in mariage vpon his yongest sonne Iohn with the heritage of the countie of Morienne if hir father died without other issue or at the leastwise the said Hubert chanced to haue any sonne lawfullie begotten that then he should leaue vnto them and to their heires the countie of Russellon the countie of Belle as he then had and held the same Pierre castell with the appurtenances the vallie of Noualleise also Chambrie with the appurtenances Aiz Aspermont Rochet mont Magor and Chambres with Burg all which lieng on this side the mountaines with their appurtenances the said Hubert granted to them immediatlie for euer And beyond the mountaines he couenanted to giue vnto them Turine with the appurtenances the colledge of Gauoreth with the appurtenances and all the fées which the earles of Canaues held of him togither with the fealties and seruices And also the fées fealties and seruices which belonged to him in the countie of Amund and in the vallie called Uale Dosta and in like maner the towne of Castellone All the forenamed places the said earle gaue and granted to the said Iohn sonne to the king of England for euermore with his daughter so fréelie wholie and quietlie in men and cities castels fortresses or other places of defense in medowes leassewes milnes woods plaines waters vallies and mountaines in customes and all other things as euer he or his father had held or enioied the same And furthermore the said earle would that immediatlie when it pleased the king of England his people should doo homage and fealtie to the king of Englands sonne reseruing the fealtie due to him so long as he liued Moreouer the said earle Hubert granted to the said Iohn and his wife all the right that he had in the countie of Granople and whatsoeuer might be got and euicted in the same countie It was also couenanted if the elder daughter died that then the said Iohn should marrie the yoonger daughter and enioy all the like portions and parts of inheritance as he should haue enioied with the first Finallie that these couenants grants and agréements should be performed on the part and behalfe of the said earle Hubert both he the said earle and the erle of Geneua and in maner all the great lords and barons of those countries receiued an oth and vndertooke to come and offer themselues as hostages to remaine with the king of England in case the said earle Hubert failed in performance of any of the aforesaid articles till he framed himselfe to satisfie the kings pleasure in such behalfe Furthermore Peter the reuerend archbishop of Tarenfasia and Ardune the bishop of Geneua and also William the bishop of Morienne with the abbat of S. Michell promised vpon their oth to be readie at the appointment of the king of England to put vnder the censures of the church the said earle and his lands refusing to performe the foresaid couenants and so to kéepe him and the same lands bound till he had satisfied the king of England therein William earle of Mandeuill and William earle of Arundell sware on the part of king Henrie that he should performe the articles couenants and agréements on his part as first to make paiment immediatlie vnto the said Hubert of one thousand marks and assoone as he should receiue his daughter he should pay him an other thousand markes at the least and the residue then remaining of the said sum of fiue thousand markes should be paid when the mariage was consummate It was prouided also that the said earle Hubert might marrie his yoonger daughter where he would without any great diminishing of the earledome after the first marriage consummate with the lord Iohn the king of Englands sonne And that if either the said lord Iohn or his affianced wife chanced to die before the consummation of the marriage then should the monie which the earle had receiued be repaied to the king or bestowed as the king should appoint Shortlie after that the parties were agreed vpon the couenants afore cited the marques of Montferrat line 10 one Geffrey de Plozac with his sonne Miles and other Noble men came to the king as ambassadors from the earle of Morienne and receiued an oth that they should see and procure the said earle to performe the couenants and agreements concluded betwixt the king and him When these things were thus ordered as séemed good to both parties for the establishment of the foresaid marriage the king the father and the king the sonne remoued to Limoges whither the earle of S. Giles came and was there line 20 accorded with king Henrie and his sonne Richard duke of Guien concerning the controuersie that had béene moued for the countie of Tholouze dooing his homage as well vnto the father as to the sonne for the same countie and further couenanted to serue them with an hundred knights or men of armes as we may call them for the terme of fourtie daies at all times vpon lawfull summons And if the king or his sonne duke Richard would haue his seruice longer time after the fourtie daies were expired line 30 they should paie wages both to him and his men in reasonable maner Moreouer the said earle condescended agreed to giue yearelie for Tholouze an hundred marks or else 10. horsses with 10. marks a péece Now also whilest the king soiourned at Limoges the earle of Morienne came thither to him and required to vnderstand what parcels of land he would assigne vnto his sonne Iohn Wherevpon the king resolued to allot vnto him the chappell of Chinon Lodun and Mirabell whereby he offended his line 40 eldest sonne the yoong king as after may appeare who was glad to haue occasion whome the poets faine to be bald behind and hairie before as this
bishops sées are included Howbeit the truth is that the emperour neuer had possession of these countries cities and towns himselfe neither would line 40 the inhabitants receiue any person so by him appointed to their lord and gouernour wherefore the king made small account of that his so large grant But after he once vnderstood the certeintie of the summe that he should paie for his ransome which businesse he most attended he sent one with letters by and by and in great hast into England to his treasurers requiring them with all conuenient spéed to prouide monie and to send it to him by a day that he might be set at libertie with spéed line 50 These letters being come to the quéene mother and other that had charge in gouernance of the realme tooke order that all maner of persons as well spirituall as temporall should giue the fourth part of their whole reuenues to them for that yeare accrewing and as much more of their mooueable goods and that of euerie knights fée there should be leuied the sum of twentie shillings Also that the religious houses of the orders of the Cisteaux and Sempringham should line 60 giue all their wools for that yeare towards the kings ransome Now those that had commission to leuie this monie being poisoned with couetousnesse and incensed with a gréedie desire than the which as the poet saith nulla est hac maior Erinnys Hanc memorant Acheronte satam per tristia Ditis Regna truces agitare faces c. vsed much streightnesse in exacting it not onelie leuieng it to the vttermost value and extent of mens lands goods and possessions but after their owne willes and pleasures so that vnder colour of the kings commission and letters to them directed there séemed not a tribute or subsidie to be raised but by some publike proclamation all the goods and substance of the people to be appointed as a prey to the kings officers whereby it came to passe that not onelie priuate mens goods but also the chalices iewels and vessels belonging to the church were turned into monie and a farre greater summe made than was at the first commanded a great part of the ouerplus being conuerted to the vse of those through whose hands the receipt passed There was no priuilege nor freedome allowed to exempt any person or place for being contributorie towards the paiment of this monie The order of Cisteaux that were neuer charged with any paiment before were now assessed more déepelie than the rest The bishop of Norwich lamenting the iniurious dealings of the pettie officers and pittieng the people of the church collected halfe the value of all the chalices within his diocesse himselfe and to make vp the other halfe of the whole summe he spared not to giue a great portion of his owne treasure The abbat of S. Albons acquitted all those churches within the compasse of his iurisdiction by the gift of an hundred marks But the bishop of Chester had verie ill lucke with his collections for hauing gathered a great summe of monie to the kings vse he was spoiled thereof in one night as he lodged neere vnto Canturburie being vpon his iournie towards the king And bicause Matthew de Cléere that laie in the castell of Douer was knowne to aid those that robbed the said bishop the archbishop of Canturburie pronounced him accurssed About this time and on the morrow after the natiuitie of saint Iohn Baptist the bishop of Elie lord chancellour arriued in England not shewing himselfe in any statelie port for he tooke vpon him neither the dignitie of chancellour nor legat nor yet of iustice but onelie as a simple bishop and messenger sent from the king The quéene mother the archbishop of Rouen and such other as had gouernment of the land hearing of his comming met him at saint Albons where he shewed to them the emperours letters conteining the agreement made betwixt him and king Richard and withall appointed certeine lords barons to go with him at his returne backe to the king as Gilbert bishop of Rochester Sifrid bishop of Chichester Bennet abbat of Peterborow Richard earle of Clare Roger Bigot earle of Norfolke Geffrey de Saie and diuerse other It was also ordeined at this same time that the monie gathered towards the paiment of the kings ransome should remaine in custodie of Hubert bishop of Salisburie Richard bishop of London William earle of Arundell Hameline earle of Warren and of the Maior of London vnder the seales of the quéene mother and of the archbishop of Rouen ¶ But sée the hap of things whilest ech one was thus occupied about the aforesaid monie it chanced that king Richard was at the point to haue béene deliuered into the hands of his deadlie aduersarie the French king as hereafter you shall heare noting by the waie the dangerous estate of princes the manifold distresses whereinto by sinister fate as well as the inferior rascall rout of common drudges they be driuen For what greater calamitie what gréeuouser hartach what more miserable casualtie could haue happened vnto a bondman than to be deliuered to and fro from the hand of one enimie to another to be bought and sold for monie to stand to the courtesies of forren foes of a king to become a captiue whervnto the poet did right well allude when he said Saepius ventis agitatur ingens Pinus celsae grauiore casis Decidunt turres feriúntque summos Fulminae montes The emperour vpon displeasure conceiued against the bishop of Liege which latelie had atteined to that benefice contrarie to the emperours pleasure who wished the same rather to an other person hired certeine naughtie fellowes to go into France where the bishop remained for feare of the emperours malice and there to find meanes traitorouslie to slea him which they accordinglie did by reason whereof the duke of Louaigne that was brother to the bishop and other of his kinsmen vpon knowledge had line 10 thereof meant to haue made the emperour warre in reuenge of that murther insomuch that the emperour to haue the French kings aid against them was minded to haue deliuered K. Richard vnto him Howbeit after that the matter was taken vp and a concord made betwixt the emperour and his nobles he changed his purpose also touching the deliuering ouer of king Richard who perceiuing that till his ransome were paid which would amount to the summe of an hundred fiftie thousand marks he line 20 should not get libertie and putting great confidence in the dexteritie and diligence of Hubert bishop of Salisburie whome he sent as ye haue heard into England to deale for the leuieng of the same he thought good to aduance the same bishop to the metropolitane sée of Canturburie which had beene vacant euer sithence the decease of archbishop Baldwine that died as ye haue heard in the holie land Herevpon writing to the bishops of
ploughland three shillings In the Lent following year 1200 he went to Yorke in hope to haue met the king of Scots there but he came not and so king Iohn line 50 returned backe and sailed againe into Normandie bicause the variance still depended betweene him and the king of France Finallie vpon the Ascension day in this second yeare of his reigne they came eftsoones to a communication betwixt the townes of Uernon and Lisle Dandelie where finallie they concluded an agréement with a marriage to be had betwixt Lewes the sonne of king Philip and the ladie Blanch daughter to Alfonso king of Castile the 8 of that name néece to K. Iohn by his sister Elianor line 60 In consideration whereof king Iohn besides the summe of thirtie thousand markes in siluer as in respect of dowrie assigned to his said néece resigned his title to the citie of Eureux and also vnto all those townes which the French king had by warre taken from him the citie of Angiers onelie excepted which citie he receiued againe by couenants of the same agréement The French king restored also to king Iohn as Rafe Niger writeth the citie of Tours and all the castels and fortresses which he had taken within Touraine and moreouer receiued of king Iohn his homage for all the lands fees and tenements which at anie time his brother king Richard or his father king Henrie had holden of him the said king Lewes or any his predecessors the quit claims and marriages alwaies excepted The king of England likewise did homage vnto the French king for Britaine and againe as after you shall heare receiued homage for the same countrie and for the countie of Richmont of his nephue Arthur He also gaue the earledome of Glocester vnto the earle of Eureux as it were by way of exchange for that he resigned to the French king all right title claime that might be pretended to the countie of Eureux By this conclusion of marriage betwixt the said Lewes and Blanch the right of king Iohn went awaie which he lawfullie before pretended vnto the citie of Eureux and vnto those townes in the confines of Berrie Chateau Roux or Raoul Cressie and Isoldune and likewise vnto the countrie of Ueuxin or Ueulquessine which is a part of the territorie of Gisors the right of all which lands townes and countries was released to the king of France by K. Iohn who supposed that by his affinitie and resignation of his right to those places the peace now made would haue continued for euer And in consideration thereof he procured furthermore that the foresaid Blanch should be conueied into France to hir husband with all spéed That doone he returned into England ¶ Certes this peace was displeasant to manie but namelie to the earle of Flanders who herevpon making no accompt of king Iohns amitie concluded a peace with king Philip shortlie after and ment to make warre against the infidels in the east parts wherby we may see the discontented minds of men and of how differing humors they be so that nothing is harder than to satisfie manie with one thing be the same neuer so good ô caecis mortalia plena tenebris Pectora ô mentes caligine circumseptas But by the chronicles of Flanders it appeareth that the earle of Flanders concluded a peace with the French king in Februarie last past before that king Iohn and the French king fell to any composition But such was the malice of writers in times past which they bare towards king Iohn that whatsoeuer was doone in preiudice of him or his subiects it was still interpreted to chance through his default so as the blame still was imputed to him in so much that although manie things he did peraduenture in matters of gouernement for the which he might be hardlie excused yet to thinke that he deserued the tenth part of the blame wherewith writers charge him it might seeme a great lacke of aduised consideration in them that so should take it But now to procéed with our purpose King Iohn being now in rest from warres with forren enimies began to make warre with his subiects pursses at home emptieng them by taxes and tallages to fill his coffers which alienated the minds of a great number of them from his loue and obedience At length also when he had got togither a great masse of monie he went ouer againe into Normandie where by Helias archbishop of Burdeaux and the bishop of Poictiers and Scone he was diuorsed from his wife Isabell that was the daughter of Robert earle of Glocester bicause of the néerenesse of bloud as touching hir in the third degrée After that he married Isabell the daughter of Amerie earle of Angolesme by whome he had two sonnes Henrie and Richard and thrée daughters Isabell Elianor and Iane. Moreouer about this time Geffrey archbishop of Yorke was depriued of all his manours lands and possessions by the kings commandement directed to the shiriffe of Yorkeshire for diuerse causes for that he would not permit the same shiriffe to leuie the dutie called Charugage that was thrée shillings of euerie ploughland within his diocesse rated and appointed to be leuied to the kings vse throughout all parts of the realme Secondlie for that the same archbishop refused to go ouer with the king into Normandie to helpe to make the marriage betwixt the French kings sonne and his néece Thirdlie bicause he had excommunicated the same shiriffe and all the prouince of Yorke wherevpon the king tooke displeasure against him and not onelie spoiled him line 10 as I said of his goods but also banished him out of the court not suffering him to come in his presence for the space of twelue moneths after In this yeare also Hubert archbishop of Canturburie held a councell at Westminster against the prohibition of the lord chiefe iustice Geffrey Fitz Peter earle of Essex In the which councell or synod diuerse constitutions were made and ordeined for orders and customes to be vsed touching the seruice and administration of sacraments in the church and line 20 other articles concerning churchmen and ecclesiasticall matters About the same time king Iohn and Philip king of France met togither néere the towne of Uernon where Arthur duke of Britaine as vassall to his vncle king Iohn did his homage vnto him for the duchie of Britaine those other places which he held of him on this side and beyond the riuer of Loir and afterward still mistrusting his vncles curtesie he returned backe againe with the French king and would not commit himselfe to his said vncle line 30 who as he supposed did beare him little good will These things being thus performed king Iohn returned into England and there caused his new married wife Isabell to be crowned on the sundaie before the feast of S. Denise the eight of October At the same time he gaue commandement vnto Hugh Neuill
and that all vniust lawes and ordinances should be abrogated line 30 It was also commanded that no shiriffe nor forrester nor other minister of the kings should vpon paine of life and limme take violentlie anie thing of any man by waie of extortion nor presume to wrong anie man or to fine anie man as they had afore time béene accustomed to doo After this the king being come backe from his iournie which he purposed to haue made into Poictow assembled an armie and ment to haue gone line 40 against those lords which had refused to go with him but the archbishop of Canturburie comming to him at Northampton sought to appease his mood and to cause him to staie but yet in his furious rage he went forward till he came to Notingham and there with much adoo the archbishop following him with threatning to excommunicate all those that should aid him procured him to leaue off his enterprise Then the archbishop about the fiue and twentith day of August came to London there to take aduise line 50 for the reformation of things touching the good gouernement of the common-wealth But here whilest the archbishop with other péeres of the realme deuised orders verie necessarie as was thought for the state of the common-wealth the king doubting least the same should be a bridle for him to restreine his authoritie roiall from dooing things to his pleasure he began to find fault and séemed as though he had repented himselfe of his large promises made for his reconciliation but the archbishop of Canturburie line 60 so asswaged his mood and persuaded him by opening vnto him what danger would insue both to him and to his realme if he went from the agreement that he was glad to be quiet for feare of further trouble In this hurlie burlie also the lords and péeres of the realme by the setting on of the archbishop were earnestlie bent to haue the king to restore and confirme the grant which his grandfather king Henrie the first had by his charter granted and confirmed to his subiects which to doo king Iohn thought greatlie preiudiciall to his roiall estate and dignitie The earle of Tholouse hauing lost all his possessions the citie of Tholouse onelie excepted came ouer into England rendred the said citie into the hands of king Iohn and receiued at his departure the summe of ten thousand marks as was reported by the bountifull gift of king Iohn Upon the second of October Geffrey Fitz Peter earle of Essex and lord cheefe iustice of England departed this life a man of great power and autoritie in whose politike direction and gouernement the order of things perteining to the common-wealth chéefelie consisted He was of a noble mind expert in knowledge of the lawes of the land rich in possessions and ioined in blood or affinitie with the more part of all the Nobles of the realme so that his death was no small losse to the commonwelth for through him and the archbishop Hubert the king was oftentimes reuoked from such wilfull purposes as now and then he was determined to haue put in practise in so much that the king as was reported but how trulie I cannot tell séemed to reioise for his death bicause he might now worke his will without anie to controll him The same time to wit about the feast of saint Michaell came Nicholas the cardinall of Tusculane into England sent from the pope to take awaie the interdiction if the king would stand to that agreement which he had made and promised by his oth to performe King Iohn receiued this cardinall in most honorable wise and gladlie heard him in all things that he had to saie This legat at his comming to Westminster deposed the abbat of that place named William from his roome for that he was accused both of wasting the reuenues of the house and also of notable incontinencie Moreouer the burgesses of the towne of Oxford came vnto him to obteine absolution of their offense in that through their presumption the thrée schollers of whom ye haue heard before were hanged there to the great terror of all the residue To be short they were absolued and penance inioined them that they should strip them out of their apparell at euerie church in the towne and going barefooted with scourges in their hands they should require the benefit of absolution of euerie parish preest within their towne saieng the psalme of Miserere After this the said cardinall called a councell or conuocation of the cleargie to reforme such things touching the state of the church as should be thought requisite And though he handled not this matter with such fauour and vprightnesse as the bishops wished on their behalfes yet he caused king Iohn to restore the most part of all those goods that remained vnspent and also the value of halfe of those that were consumed and made awaie vnto those persons as well spirituall as temporall from whom they had béene taken in time of the discord betwixt him and the pope But before all things could be thus quieted and set in order betwixt the king and the bishops manie méetings were had as at London Reading Wallingford and in other places Now the archbishop and prelates for their parts thought this recompense to be but small in respect of the great losses and hinderances which they had susteined and to haue the whole restitution delaied they tooke it not well Howbeit the cardinall leaned so to the kings side hauing receiued of him to the popes vse the charter of subiection of the realmes of England and Ireland now bulled with gold where at the first it was deliuered to Pandulph sealed onelie with wax But their suit came to little effect and in the end it fell out in such wise that their complaint was lesse regarded Moreouer the rating of the value which the king should restore vnto the archbishop and the other bishops was by agréement of the king and them togither appointed vnto foure barons indifferentlie chosen betwixt them At length notwithstanding that deuise tooke no place for it was otherwise decréed by the pope that the king should restore to them the summe of fortie thousand marks of the which he had paid alreadie twelue thousand before the returne of the said archbishop and bishops into the realme and fifteene thousand more at the late meeting had betwixt them at Reading so that there remained onelie 13000 behind for not onelie the king but also the cardinall had sent to the pope requiring him to take direction in the matter and to aduertise him that there was a line 10 great fault in the archbishop and his fellowes In so much that Pandulph which was sent to him from the legat declared in fauour of the king that there was not a more humble and modest prince to be found than king Iohn and that the archbishop and his fellowes were too hard and shewed themselues too couetous in requiring the
as he passed he shewed great crueltie against his aduersaries besieging and taking their castels and strong houses of the which some he caused to be fortified with garrisons of souldiers to his owne vse and some he raced The like feats were wrought by the other armie in the parts about London for William earle of Salisburie and Foukes de Brent with the other capteins which the king had left behind him there perceiuing that the citie would not easilie be woone by anie siege first furnished the castell of Windsore Hertford and Barkhamsted with such strong garrisons of souldiers as might watch vpon occasion giuen to assaile those that should either go into the citie or come from thence they marched foorth with the residue of the armie and passing through the counties of Essex and Hertford Middlesex Cambridge Huntington they wasted the countries and made the townes become tributaries to them As for the houses manour places parkes and other possessions of the barons they wasted spoiled and destroied them running euen hard to the citie of London and setting fire in the suburbs In this meane time whilest the king went forwards on his iournie northwards vpon the 18 of December last past the castell of Hanslap was taken by Foukes de Brent which apperteined vnto William Manduit On the same day also was the castell of Tunbridge taken by the garrison of Rochester which castell of Tunbridge belonged to the earle of Clare Moreouer the foresaid Foukes de Brent comming vnto Bedford wan both the towne and castell for they that had the castell in kéeping after 7 daies respit which they obteined at the hands of the said Foukes when rescue came not from the lord William Beauchampe their maister they deliuered it vnto the said Foukes Unto whom K. Iohn gaue not onlie that castell but also committed to his kéeping the castels of Northampton Oxford and Cambridge The king had this Foukes in great estimation and amongst other waies to aduance him he gaue to him in marriage Margaret de Riuers a ladie of high nobilitie with all the lands and possessions that to hir belonged Moreouer to William earle of Albemarle the king deliuered the custodie of the castels of Rockingham Sawey and Biham To one Ranulfe Teutonicus the castell of Barkehamsted and to Walter Godreuill seruant to Foukes de Brent he betooke the kéeping of the castell of Hertford Thus what on the one part and what on the other the barons lost in maner all their possessions from the south sea vnto the borders of Scotland the king seizing the same into his hands and committing them to the kéeping of strangers and such other as he thought more trustie and conuenient All this while the barons laie at London banketting and making merrie without attempting anie exploit praise-worthie But yet when they heard by certeine aduertisement what hauocke and destruction was made of their houses possessions abroad they could not but lament their miseries and amongst other their complaints which they vttered one to another they sore blamed the pope as a cheefe cause of all these euils for that he mainteined and defended the king against them Indeed about the same time pope Innocent who before at the instant suit of king Iohn had excommunicated the barons in generall did now excommunicate them by name and in particular as these First all the citizens of London which were authors of the mischéefe that had happened by the rebellion of the said barons Also Robert Fitz Walter Saer de Quincie earle of Winchester R. his sonne G. de Mandeuille and W. his brother the earle of Clare line 10 and G. his sonne H. earle of Hereford R. de Percie G. de Uescie I. conestable of Chester W. de Mowbraie Will. de Albenie W. his sonne P. de Breuse R. de Cressey I. his sonne Ranulfe Fitz Robert R. earle Bigot H. his sonne Robert de Uere Foulke Fitz Warren W. Mallet W. de Mountacute W. Fitz Marshall W. de Beauchampe S. de Kime R. de Montbigons and Nicholas de Stuteuille with diuerse other line 20 The armie which king Iohn had left behind him in the south parts vnder the leading of the earle of Salisburie and other laie not idle but scowring the countries abroad as partlie yee haue heard came to S. Edmundsburie and hauing intelligence there that diuerse knights ladies and gentlewomen that were there before their comming had fled out of that towne and for their more safetie were withdrawne into the I le of Elie they followed them besieged the Ile and assailed it on ech side so that although line 30 they within had fortified the passages and appointed men of warre to remaine vpon the gard of the same in places where it was thought most néedfull yet at length they entred vpon them by force Walter Bucke with his Brabanders being the first that set foot within the I le towards Herbie For by reason the waters in the fenes and ditches were hard frosen so that men might passe by the same into the said Ile they found means to enter and spoiled it froÌ„ side to side togither with the cathedrall church line 40 carieng from thence at their departure a maruellous great prey of goods and cattell The barons of the realme being thus afflicted with so manie mischéefes all at one time as both by the sharpe and cruell warres which the king made against them on the one side and by the enmitie of the pope on the other side they knew not which way to turne them nor how to séeke for releefe For by the losse of their complices taken in the castell of Rochester they saw not how it should any thing auaile line 50 them to ioine in battell with the king Therefore considering that they were in such extremitie of despaire they resolued with themselues to seeke for aid at the enimies hands and therevpon Saer earle of Winchester and Robert Fitz Walter with letters vnder their seales were sent vnto Lewes the sonne of Philip the French king offering him the crowne of England and sufficient pledges for performance of the same and other couenants to be agréed betwixt them requiring him with all speed to come vnto their line 60 succour This Lewes had married as before is said Blanch daughter to Alfonse king of Casâ—ile néere to king Iohn by his sister Elianor Now king Philip the father of this Lewes being glad to haue such an occasion to inuade the relme of England which he neuer looued promised willinglie that his sonne should come vnto the aid of the said barons with all conuenient spéed but first he receiued foure and twentie hostages which he placed at Campaine for further assurance of the couenants accorded and herewith he prepared an armie and diuerse ships to transport his sonne and his armie ouer into England In the meane time and to put the barons in câ—mfort he sent ouer a certeine number of armed
and of dutie to the preiudice of the liberties of the church The Nobles also found themselues gréeued for the exactions which they saw at hand but finallie after manie things had beene debated touching these matters line 20 the parlement was adiourned till Michaelmas next and euerie man departed to his home with no great trust of the kings good will towards them nor anie hartie thanks receiued of him for their paines as may be thought by that which writers haue recorded Two Noble men to whom the custodie and guiding of the king and quéene of Scots was committed that is to say Robert de Ros and Iohn de Bailioll were accused for misusing themselues in the trust and charge which they had taken vpon them line 30 King Henrie was the same time at Notingham The information came foorth by a physician who was sent from the queene of England vnto hir daughter the quéene of Scots to be about hir for gard of hir health but bicause the same physician whose name was Reignold of Bath perceiued the quéene of Scots to be impaired in health through anguish of mind by reason of the misdemeanor of such as had the gouernement of hir and hir husband he sticked line 40 not to blame and reprooue them in their dooings for the which he was poisoned as some thinke for the truth was he shortlie after sickened and died signifieng vpon his death-bed vnto the quéene of England what he misliked and thought amisse in those that had the dooings about hir daughter and hir husband the Scotish king The moone suffered a maruellous eclipse on the night following the day of S. Margaret in Iulie It began afore midnight and continued foure houres The king in the behalfe of his daughter the queene line 50 of Scots raised a power and drew northwards sending before him the earle of Glocester and Iohn Mansell that was his chapleine and one of his councell These two so vsed the matter that they came to Edenburgh where the king and queene of Scots then laie in the castell into the which theâ— entred and altred the order of the houshold so as stood with the contentation of the king and queene which were in such wise vsed before that time that they were not line 60 suffered to lie togither nor scarse come to talke togither Robert de Ros was summoned to appeare before the king of England to answer to such things as might be laid to his charge At the first he withdrew himselfe but afterwards he came in and submitted himselfe to the kings pleasure Diuerse of the nobles of Scotland tooke it not well that the earle of Glocester and Iohn Mansell should thus come into the castell of Edenburgh and order things in the kings house in such sort at their pleasure wherevpon they assembled a power and besieged the castell but at length perceiuing their owne error they raised their siege and departed Iohn de Bailioll being accused of the like crime that was laid to the charge of his fellow Robert de Ros for a pâ—ece of monie bought his peace and was pardoned but the lands of Robert de Ros were seized into the kings hands Finallie the king and queene of England came to an enteruiew with the king of Scots and the quéene their daughter and setting all things with them in such order as was thought conuenient they returned towards the south parts In the meane season the bishop of Hereford deuised a shift to helpe the K. with monie towards the paiments of his debts by obteining certeine autentike seales of the prelats of this land wherewith he signed certeine instruments and writings wherein was expressed that he had receiued diuerse summes of monie for dispatch of businesse perteining to them and to their churches of this and that merchant of Florence or Siena whereby they stood bound for repaiment thereof by the same instruments and writings so made by him their agent in their names This shift was deuised by the said bishop of Hereford with licence obteined therevnto of the king and also of the pope vnto whome for the same intent the said bishop was sent with sir Robert Walerane knight The pope was the sooner persuaded to grant licence for the contriuing of such manner of shift bicause the monie should go to the discharging of the kings debts into the which he was run by bearing the charges of the warres against the king of Sicill About the feast of saint Edward the parlement began againe at London in which the states treated of a subsidie to be granted to the king but they could not conclude thereof neither would Richard earle of Cornewall disburse anie monie at that season to his brother the king bicause he allowed not the maner of laieng it out for the warres against Manfred being taken in hand without his consent The same years the king by the procurement of his brother Richard earle of Cornewall had seized the liberties of the citie of London into his owne hands vnder colour that the maior had not doone his dutie in the iust punishing of bakers for breaking of the assises of their bread Herevpon where the maior and communaltie of the citie had by the kings grant the citie to farme with diuerse customes and offices at a certeine rate and stinted summe of monie now the king set officers therein at his pleasure which were accomptable to him for all the reuenues and profits that grew within the citie But whereas the malice which the earle of Cornewall bare to the citie was for that they would not exchange with him câ—rteine grounds that belonged to their communaltie they were glad to agree with him and paie vnto him six hundred marks After which agréement concluded about the nintéenth daie of Nouember they were shortlie after restored to their liberties This chanced before the kings comming ouer who at his comming to London lodged in the tower and vpon new displeasure conceiued against the citie for the escape of a prisoner being a clearke conuict out of Newgate which had killed a prior that was of aliance to the king as cousine to the queene the king sent for the maior and the shirifs to come before him to answer the matter The maior laid the fault from him to the shiriffes for so much as to them belonged the kéeping of all the prisoners within the citie and so the maior returned home againe but the shiriffes remained there as prisoners by the space of a whole moneth or more and yet they excused themselues in that the fault cheefelie rested in the bishops officers for whereas the prisoner was vnder his custodie they at his request had granted him licence to imprison the offendor within their ward of Newgate but so as his officers were charged to see him safe kept The king notwithstanding demanded of the citie thrée thousand marks for a fine Moreouer whereas he stood in great néed of monie
they had not time to arme themselues and so were distressed and ouercome Yet the lord Iohn d'Euille brake out and incountring line 50 with sir Gilbert Hansard ouerthrew him and escaped out of danger Great slaughter was made on ech hand and in the meane while the Nobles and gentlemen sought to get out of perill by flight The earle of Darbie got into a church but he was descried by a woman and so was taken There were manie other also taken amongst them the lord Baldwine Wake and sir Iohn de la Haie with much paine escaped This battell was foughten about the midst of Maie or vpon Whitsun éeue as the Chronicle line 60 of Dunstable saith Those that escaped as the lord Iohn d'Euille and others gaue not ouer yet but assembling themselues togither in companies kéeping within woods and other desert places brake out oftentimes and did much mischéefe On the ninth of August they tooke the I le of Elie and so strengthned it that they held it a long time after spoiling and robbing the countries round about them as Norffolke Suffolke and Cambridgeshire The bishop of Elie had vndertaken to keepe the I le to the kings vse but being now dispossessed therof he got him awaie and fell to cursing them that were thus entred against his will but they séemed to passe litle vpon his thundering excommunications On the 16 of December they came to the citie of Norwich and spoiling it tooke manie of the wealthie citizens and ransomed them at great summes of monie The lord Henrie Hastings and Simon de Pateshull with diuerse others got them into the castell of Killingworth and dailie went foorth at their pleasures spoiling and wasting the townes about them or causing them to fine with them to be spared And this they forced not to doo although the lord Edmund the kings sonne laie in Warwike to cut them short of such their licentious doings The king therfore mening to haue the said castels of Killingworth by force began his siege about the same vpon the éeuen of S. Iohn Baptist. But the lord Henrie Hastings the capteine of that castell and other his complices defended it so stronglie that though the king inforced his power to the vttermost to win it of them yet could he not anie thing preuaile till at length vittels began to faile them within and then vpon the eeuen of saint Thomas the apostle before Christmasse the lord Henrie Hastings deliuered the said castell into the kings hands vpon condition that he and all other should haue life and limme horsse and armour with all things within the place to them belonging And thus this siege had continued from the 26 of Iune vnto the 20 day of December ¶ Here is to be remembred that at the beginning of the siege there were within the castell a thousand and seuen hundred armed men and eight score women beside lackies and coisterels Here is also to be remembred that whilest the siege laie before Killingworth by the aduise of the kings councell and of the legat Othobone there were twelue péeres appointed and chosen foorth which should deuise and make ordinances touching the state of the realme and the disherited persons who according to their commission ordeined certeine prouisions the which are conteined within the statute intituled Dictum de Killingworth The king after that the castell of Killingworth was deliuered to his hand left therein his sonne Edmund and went himselfe to Couentrie or as other haue to Oxford and there held his Christmasse year 1267 Shortlie after comming to Westminster he held a parlement there studieng to set a quietnesse in all matters and controuersies depending betwixt him and the barons In this parlement sentence was giuen against earle Ferrers for the forfeiture of his earledome then was Edmund the kings yoonger sonne put in possession both of the earledome of Darbie and Leicester On the sixt of Februarie being sundaie the king came to S. Edmundsburie and staieng there till the two and twentith of the same moneth set foreward that day towards Cambridge where he laie with his armie the better to bridle them that kept the I le of Elie against him He laie there all the Lent season And in the meane time the earle of Glocester taking great displeasure for that he might not haue his will as well for the banishing of strangers as for restitution to be made vnto the disherited men of their lands he began a new sturre and assembling a great power in the marshes of Wales came néere vnto London pretending at the first as though he had come to aid the king at length he got licence of the maior and citizens to passe through the citie into Southwarke where he lodged with his people and thither came to him shortlie sir Iohn d'Euille by Southerie side bringing with him a great companie The maior caused the bridge and water side to be kept and watched both day and night with armed men and euerie night was the drawbridge drawne vp but within a while the earle vsed the matter so that he was permitted to lodge within the citie with certeine of his men by reason whereof he drew more and more of his people into the citie so that in the end he was maister of the citie and in Easter wéeke tooke the keies of the bridge into his hands The legat comming foorth of the towre repaired to the church of S. Paule vnder a colour to preach the croisey but in the end of that his exhortation he turned his words to the earle of Glocester admonishing him to obeie the king as he was bound by his line 10 allegiance And further whereas the earle had giuen commandement that no victuals should be suffered to be brought into the tower where the popes legat was lodged he thought himselfe euill vsed in that behalfe sith he was a mediator for peace and no partaker But when the earle seemed to giue small regard to his words he got him secretlie againe into the tower with certeine noble men the kings freends meaning to defend it vnto the vttermost of their powers line 20 There entred also into the tower a great number of Iewes with their wiues and children vnto whome one ward of the tower was committed to defend which they did in that necessitie verie stoutlie Manie of the citizens fearing a new insurrection auoided out of the citie whose goods the earle seized into his owne vse or suffered his men to spoile the same at their pleasures The most part of all the commons of the citie tooke part wich the earle and in a tumult got them to the Guildhall and there chose for their line 30 maior or custos of the citie Richard de Colworth knight and for bailiffes Robert de Linton and Roger Marshall discharging the old maior and shiriffes of their roomes Diuerse aldermen were committed to prison and their goods sequestred and much part thereof
king and to persuade him the more easilie therevnto he promised him great aid but the king of England hauing prooued the said pope not the surest man in friendship towards him forbare to attempt anie forceable exploit against the French king trusting by some other meanes to recouer his right This yeere Humfrey Bohun earle of Hereford departed out of this life after whome succeeded his sonne Humfrey who afterwards maried the kings daughter Elizabeth countesse of Holland after that hir first husband was dead Tournies iustes barriers and other warlike exercises which yoong lords and gentlemen had appointed to exercise for their pastime in diuerse parts of the realme were forbidden by the kings proclamations sent downe to be published by the shirifs in euerie countie abroad in the realme the teste of the writ was from Westminster the sixteenth of Iulie ¶ The citizens of Burdeaux could not beare the yoke of the French bondage and therefore this yéere about Christmasse expelled them out of their citie ¶ Shortlie after the French king doubting least the king of England by the setting on of the pope should make warres against him for wrongfull deteining of Gascoine to purchase his fauor restored to him all that which he held in Gascoine and so then they of Burdeaux also submitted themselues to the king of England of their owne accord Now after that the truce with the Scots was expired which tooke end at the feast of All saints last past the king sent the lord Iohn Segraue a right valiant knight but not so circumspect in his gouernment as was necessarie with a great armie into Scotland to haue the rule of the land as lord warden of the same with him was ioined also Rafe Confreie treasurer of the armie These two capteins comming to the borders and hearing that the Scotishmen alreadie were in armes they entered into Scotland and in order of battell passed foorth to Edenburgh and hearing nothing of their enimies which kept them still in the mounteins they deuided their armie into three seuerall battels two of the which came behind the fore ward vnder the leading of the said Rafe Confreie the third that is to say the fore ward the lord Segraue led himselfe in such order that there was the distance of foure miles betwixt their lodgings This they did to be the more plentiouslie serued of vittels But the Scots vnderstanding this order of their enimies became the more hardie and therevpon hauing knowledge where the lord Segraue was lodged with his companie a good way off from the other two parts of the armie they hasted forwards in the night season and came néere vnto the place where the same lord Segraue was incamped a little before daie making themselues readie to assaile the Englishmen in their campe But the lord Segraue hauing knowlege of their comming though he was counselled by some of them that were about him either to withdraw vnto the other battels or else to send vnto them to come to his aid he would follow neither of both the waies but like a capteine more hardie than wise in this point disposed his companies which he had there in order to fight and incouraging them to plaie the men immediatlie vpon the rising of the sunne and that his enimies approched he caused the trumpets to sound to the battell and gaue therewith the ouset The fight was sore and doubtfull for a while till the Englishmen ouercome with the multitude of their enimies began to be slaine on ech side so that few escaped by flight To the number of twentie worthie knights were taken with their capteine the said lord Segraue being sore wounded but he was by chance rescued and deliuered out of the enimies hands by certeine horssemen which vnder the leading of the lord Robert Neuell a right valiant knight vpon hearing the noise of them that fled came on the spurs out of the next campe to the succour of their fellowes Rafe Confreie after this mishap as Polydor saith brought backe the residue of the armie into England not thinking it necessarie to attempt any further enterprise at that time against the enimies ouermatching him both in strength and number This incounter chanced on the first sundaie in Lent ¶ I remember the Scotish chronicles conteine much more line 10 of this enterprise greatlie to their glorie and more haplie than is true as by conferring the place where they intreat of it with this that I haue here exemplified out of our writers it may well appeare The earle Marshall hauing spent largelie whilest he stood in contention against the king who was now earnestlie called vpon to repaie such summes of monie as he had borowed of his brother Iohn Bigod who was verie rich by reason of such benefices and spirituall liuings as he had in his hands the earle bicause line 20 he had no children to whom he might leaue his lands meant to haue left them vnto his said brother but when he saw him so importunate in calling for the debts which he owght him he tooke such displeasure therewith that to obteine the kings fauour and to disappoint his brother of the inheritance he gaue vnto the king all his possessions vpon condition that the king adding thereto other lands in value woorth a thousand markes by yeare should restore them to him againe to inioy during his life the remainder line 30 after his deceasse to come vnto the king and further the king should paie and discharge him of all his debts King Edward being aduertised of the losse which his men had susteined in Scotland streightwaies called a parlement wherein by assent of the states a subsidie was granted towards the maintenance of his warres and then the same being leuied he assembled his people and shortlie after about Whitsuntide entred into Scotland to reuenge the death of his line 40 men The Scots hearing of the kings comming fled into the mounteins mosses and marish grounds not once shewing any countenance to fight any set battell with the English host so that the king in maner without resistance passed through the countrie euen vnto Cathnes which is the furthest part of all Scotland Manie of the Scots perceiuing their lacke of power to resist the English puissance came to king Edward and submitted themselues with condition that they should inioy their lands which he line 50 had giuen awaie to his lords they redéeming the same with conuenient fines which was granted But Will. Waleis with certeine other kéeping themselues in places where no armie could come to pursue them would neuer giue eare to any conditions of agreement so that neither with feare neither with offer of rewards could this Waleis be induced to follow or behold the English K. ruling the realme of Scotland King Edward returning backe came to the castell of Striueling which the Scotishmen line 60 held against him and besieged it The king himselfe
like a sharpe rasor 3 Thou hast loued vngratiousnesse more than goodnesse and to talke of lies more than righteousnesse 4 Thou hast loued to speake all words that may doo hurt ô thou false toong 5 Therefore shall God destroie thee for euer he shall take thee and plucke thee out of thy dwelling and roote thee out of the land of line 20 the liuing 6 The righteous also shall see this and feare and shall laugh him to scorne 7 Lo this is the man that tooke not God for his strength but trusted vnto the multitude of his riches strengthned himselfe in his wickednesse On the same daie was Simon de Reading drawne and hanged on the same gallowes but ten foot lower than the other This Reading being marshall of the line 30 kings house had vsed the queene very vncourteouslie giuing hir manie reprochfull words which now were remembred and therefore may serue for an example how dangerous a thing it is to speake euill of the higher powers The common fame went that after this Hugh Spenser the sonne was taken he would receiue no sustenance wherefore he was the sooner put to death or else had he beene conueied to London there to haue suffered Iohn earle of Arundell was line 40 taken on S. Hughs day in the parts about Shrewesburie and the same day seuennight before the execution of the earle of Glocester Hugh Spenser the yoonger as well the said earle who had béene euer a great freend to both the Spensers as also Iohn Daniell and Thomas de Milcheldeure were put to death at Hereford by procurement of the lord Mortimer of Wigmore that hated them extreamelie by reason whereof they were not like to spéed much better for what he willed the same was doone and without him line 50 the queene in all these matters did nothing The chancellour Robert de Baldocke being committed to the custodie of Adam de Torleton bishop of Hereford remained at Hereford in safe kéeping till Candlemasse next and then the bishop being at London appointed him to be brought vp where not without the bishops consent as was thought he was taken out of his house by violence and laid in Newgate where shortlie after through inward sorow and extreame gréefe of mind he ended his life Thus the line 60 quéene and hir companie hauing compassed their businesse in so happie maner as they could wish she with hir sonne and a great companie of lords and gentlemen repaired vnto Wallingford where they kept Christmasse togither with great ioy and triumph the king in the meane while remaining as ye haue heard at Killingworth in a kind of honorable estate although he was prisoner ¶ After Christmasse the quéene with hir son and such lords as were then with them year 1327 remooued to London where at their comming thither which was before the feast of the Epiphanie they were receiued with great ioy triumph and large gifts and so brought to Westminster where the morrow after the same feast the parlement which before hand had beene summoned began in which it was concluded and fullie agréed by all the states for none durst speake to the contrarie that for diuerse articles which were put vp against the king he was not worthie longer to reigne and therefore should be deposed and withall they willed to haue his sonne Edward duke of Aquitaine to reigne in his place This ordinance was openlie pronounced in the great hall at Westminster by one of the lords on the feast day of saint Hilarie being tuesdaie to the which all the people consented The archbishop of Canturburie taking his theame Vox populi vox Dei made a sermon exhorting the people to praie to God to bestow of his grace vpon the new king And so when the sermon was ended euerie man departed to his lodging But the duke of Aquitaine when he perceiued that his mother tooke the matter heauilie in appearance for that hir husband should be thus depriued of the crowne he protested that he would neuer take it on him without his fathers consent and so therevpon it was concluded that certeine solemne messengers should go to Killingworth to mooue the king to make resignation of his crowne and title of the kingdome vnto his sonne There were sent on this message as some write thrée or as other haue two bishops two earles two abbats two or as Tho. de la More and Walsingham haue foure barons and for euerie countie citie and burrough and likewise for the cinque ports certeine knights and burgesses The bishops that were sent were these as T. de la More noteth Iohn de Stratford bishop of Winchester Adam de Torleton bishop of Hereford and Henrie bishop of Lincolne The two earles as Southwell hath were Lancaster and Warwike the two barons Rose and Courtney beside these as he saith there were two abbats two priors two iustices two friers of the order of preachers two of the Carmelits two knights for the commons on the north side of Trent and two for the other on the south side of the same riuer two citizens for London two burgesses for the cinque ports so as in all there went of this message as Southwell saith thrée and twentie or rather foure and twentie persons of one degree and other None of the frier minors went bicause they would not be the bringers of so heauie tidings sith he had euer borne them great good will The bishops of Winchester and Lincolne went before and comming to Killingworth associated with them the earle of Leicester of some called the earle of Lancaster that had the king in kéeping And hauing secret conference with the king they sought to frame his mind so as he might be contented to resigne the crowne to his sonne bearing him in hand that if he refused so to doo the people in respect of the euill will which they had conceiued against him would not faile but procéed to the election of some other that should happilie not touch him in linage And sâ—th this was the onlie meane to bring the land in quiet they willed him to consider how much he was bound in conscience to take that waie that should be so beneficiall to the whole realme The king being sore troubled to heare such displeasant newes was brought into a maruelous agonie but in the end for the quiet of the realme and doubt of further danger to himselfe he determined to follow their aâ—uise and so when the other commissioners were come and that the bishop of Hereford had declared the cause where 〈…〉 were sent the king in presence of them all notwithstanding his outward countenance discouered how much it inwardlie grieued him yet after 〈◊〉 â—as come 〈◊〉 himselfe he answered that he 〈◊〉 that he was 〈◊〉 into this miserie through his owne offensed and therefore he was contented patientlie to suffer it but yet it could not he said but gréene him that he had in such wise runne
le Beau sister to Charles the fift king of France began his reigne as king of England his father yet liuing the 25 daie of Ianuarie after the creation 5293 in the yeare of our lord 1327 year 1327 after the account of them that line 10 begin the yeare at Christmasse 867 after the comming of the Saxons 260 after the conquest the 13 yeare of the reigne of Lewes the fourth then emperour the seuenth of Charles the fift king of France the second of Andronicus Iunior emperour of the east almost ended and about the end of the 22 of Robert le Bruce king of Scotland He was crowned at Westminster on the day of the Purification of our ladie next insuing by the hands of Walter the archbishop of Canturburie line 20 And bicause he was but fourteene yeares of age so that to gouerne of himselfe he was not sufficient it was decréed that twelue of the greatest lords within the realme should haue the rule and gouernment till he came to more perfect yeares The names of which lords were as followeth The archbishop of Canturburie the archbishop of Yorke the bishops of Winchester and of Hereford Henrie earle of Lancaster Thomas Brotherton earle marshall Edmund of Woodstoke earle of Kent Iohn earle of Warren the lord Thomas Wake the lord Henrie Percie the line 30 lord Oliuer de Ingham the lord Iohn Ros. These were sworne of the kings councell and charged with the gouernement as they would make answer But this ordinance continued not long for the quéene and the lord Roger Mortimer tooke the whole rule so into their hands that both the king and his said councellors were gouerned onelie by them in all matters both high and low Neuerthelesse although they had taken the regiment vpon them yet could they not foresee the tumults and vprores that presentlie vpon line 40 the yoong kings inthronizing did insue but needs it must come to passe that is left written where children weare the crowne beare the scepter in hand Vaepueri terrae saepissimè sunt ibi guerrae He confirmed the liberties and franchises of the citie of London and granted that the maior of the same citie for the time being might sit in all places of iudgement within the liberties thereof for cheefe iustice aboue all other the kings person onelie excepted and that euerie alderman that had béene maior line 50 should be iustice of peace through all the citie of London and countie of Middlesex and euerie alderman that had not béene maior should be iustice of peace within his owne ward He granted also to the citizens that they should not be constreined to go foorth of the citie to anie warres in defense of the land and that the franchises of the citie should not be seized from thenceforth into the kings hands for anie cause but onelie for treason and rebellion shewed by the whole citie Also Southwarke was appointed to be vnder the rule of the citie and the maior of London to be bailiffe of Southwarke and to ordeine such a substitute in the same borough as pleased him In the first yeare of this kings reigne we find in records belonging to the abbeie of S. Edmundsburie in Suffolke that the inhabitants of that towne raised a sore commotion against the abbat moonks of the same abbeie and that at seuerall times as first on the wednesdaie next after the feast of the conuersion of S. Paule in the said first yeare of this kings reigne one Robert Foxton Richard Draiton and a great number of other assembling themselues togither in warlike order and araie assaulted the said abbeie brake downe the gates windowes and doores entered the house by force and assailing certeine moonks and seruants that belonged to the abbat did beat wound and euill intreat them brake open a number of chests coffers and forssets tooke out chalices of gold and siluer books vestments and other ornaments of the church beside a great quantitie of rich plate and other furniture of household apparell armour and other things beside fiue hundred pounds in readie coine also three thousand florens of gold All these things they tooke and caried awaie togither with diuerse charters writings miniments as thrée charters of Knute sometime king of England foure charters of king Hardiknute one charter of king Edward the confessor two charters of king Henrie the first other two charters of king Henrie the third which charters concerned as well the foundation of the same abbeie as the grants and confirmations of the possessions and liberties belonging thereto Also they tooke awaie certeine writings obligatorie in the which diuerse persons were bound for the paiement of great summes of monie and deliuerie of certeine wines vnto the hands of the said abbat Moreouer they tooke awaie with them ten seuerall buls concerning certeine exemptions and immunities granted to the abbats and moonks of Burie by sundrie bishops of Rome Furthermore not herewith contented they tooke Peter Clopton prior of the said abbeie and other moonks foorth of the house and leading them vnto a place called the Leaden hall there imprisoned them till the thursdaie next before the feast of the Purification of our ladie and that daie bringing them backe againe into the chapter-house deteined them still as prisoners till they had sealed a writing conteining that the abbat and conuent were bound in ten thousand pounds to be paid to Oliuer Kempe and others by them named And further they were constreined to seale a letter of release for all actions quarels debts transgressions suits and demands which the abbat might in anie wise claime or prosecute against the said Oliuer Kempe and others in the same letters named For these wrongs and other as for that they would not permit the abbats bailiffes and officers to kéepe their ordinarie courts as they were accustomed to doo as well thrée daies in the wéeke for the market to wit mondaie wednesdaie and fridaie as the Portman mote euerie tuesdaie thrée wéeks line 10 and further prohibit them from gathering such tols customes and yearelie rents as were due to the abbat for certeine tenements in the towne which were let to farme the abbat brought his action against the said Foxton Draiton and others and hauing it tried by an inquest on the fridaie next after the feast of saint Lucie the virgine in a sessions holden at Burie by Iohn Stonore Walter Friskney Robert Maberthorpe Iohn Bousser by vertue of the kings writ of oier and determiner to them directed line 20 the offendors were condemned in 40000 pounds so that the said Richard Draiton and others there present in the court were committed to prison in custodie of the shiriffe Robert Walkefare who was commanded also to apprehend the other that were not yet arrested if within his bailiwike they might be found and to haue their bodies before the said iustices at Burie aforsaid on thursdaie in Whitsunwéeke next insuing Beside this there was an other
chancellor of Burgognie Iaques de Uienne and other lords of the countrie being sent from their duke to agrée with the king for the sparing of the lands and seigniories apperteining to the duchie of Burgognie The chancellor and the other Burgognian lords found the king so agréeable to their request that a composition was made betwixt him and the countrie of Burgognie so that he should make to them an line 50 assurance for him and all his people not to ouerrun or indamage that countrie during the space of thrée yeares and he to haue in readie monie the summe of two hundred thousand florens of gold which of sterling monie amounted to the summe of fiue and thirtie thousand pounds When this agreement was ingrossed vp in writing and sealed the king dislodged and all his host taking the right waie to Paris and passing the riuer of Yonne entered into Gastinois line 60 and at length by easie iournies vpon a tuesdaie being the last of March in the wéeke before Easter he came and lodged betwéene Mont le Herie and Chartres with his people in the countrie there abouts Here the duke of Normandie made meanes for a treatie of peace which was laboured by a frier called Simon de Langres prouinciall of the friers Iacobins and the popes legat he did so much that a treatie was appointed to be holden on good fridaie in the Malederie of Longegimew where appeared for the king of England the duke of Lancaster the erls of Warwike and Northampton with sir Iohn Chandois sir Walter de Mannie and sir William Cheinie knights and for the French king thither came the earle of Eu constable of France and the marshall Bouciquant with other but their treatie came to none effect wherfore the king vpon the tuesdaie in the Easter wéeke remooued neerer vnto Paris and vpon the fridaie following being the tenth of Aprill by procurement of the abbat of Clugnie newlie come from pope Innocent the sixt the foresaid commissioners eftsoones did meet to treat of an agréement but nothing they could conclude the parties in their offers and demands were so farre at ods Upon the sundaie next following a part of the kings hoste came before the citie of Paris and imbattelled themselues in a field fast by saint Marcilles abiding there frō morning till three of the clocke in the after noone to sée if the Frenchmen would come foorth to giue battell but the French would not taste of that vessell For the duke of Normandie well considering what losse had insued within few yeares past vnto the realme of France by giuing battell to the Englishmen and taught by late triall and féeling of smart to dread imminent danger for Vulneribus didicit miles habere metum would not suffer anie of his people to issue foorth of the gates but commanded them to be readie onelie to defend the walles and gates although he had a great power of men of warre within the citie beside the huge multitude of the inhabitants The Englishmen to prouoke their enimies the sooner to saile forth burnt diuerse parts of the suburbs and rode euen to the gates of the citie When they perceiued that the Frenchmen would not come foorth about three of the clocke in the afternoone they departed out of the field and withdrew to their campe and then the king and all the English host remooued towards Chartres and was lodged at a place called Dones Thither came to him the bishop of Beauuois then chancellor of Normandie with other and so handled the matter with him that a new daie of treatie was appointed to be holden at Bretignie which is little more than a mile distant from Chartres vpon the first day of Maie next insuing In which daie and place appointed the foresaid duke of Lancaster and the said earles and other commissioners met with the said bishop and other French lords and spirituall men to him associate on the behalfe of the duke of Normandie then regent of France to renew the former communication of peace in full hope to bring it to a good conclusion bicause king Edward began to frame his imagination more to accord with his aduersaries than he had doone of late chéefelie for that the duke of Lancaster with courteous words and sage persuasions aduised him not to forsake such reasonable conditions as the Frenchmen were contented now to agrée vnto sith that by making such manner of warre as he had attempted his souldiers onelie gained and he himselfe lost but time and consumed his treasure◠and further he might warre in this sort all the daies of his life before he could atteine to his intent and loose perhaps in one daie more than he had gained in twentie yeares Such words spoken for the wealth of the king and his subiects conuerted the kings mind to fansie peace namelie by the grace of the Holie-ghost chéefe worker in this case For it chanced on a daie as he was marching not farre from Chartres there came such a storme and tempest of thunder lightening haile and raine as the like had neuer béene séene by anie of the English people This storme fell so hideous in the kings host that it seemed the world should haue ended for such vnreasonable great stones of haile fell from the skie that men and horsses were slaine therewith so that the most hardie were abashed There perished thousands thereby as some haue written Then the king remembring what reasonable offers of agréement he had refused vpon remorse of conscience as by some writers should appeare asked forgiuenesse of the damage doone by sword and fire in those parts and fullie determined to grant vnto indifferent articles of peace for reléefe of the christian inhabitants of that land and so shortlie after by the good diligence of the commissioners on both line 10 parts an vnitie and finall peace was accorded the conditions whereof were comprised in fortie and one articles the chiefe whereof in effect were these 1 First that the king of England should haue and enioy ouer and beside that which he held alreadie in Gascoigne and Guien the castell citie and countie of Poictiers and all the lands and countrie of Poicton with the fée of Touars and the lands of Belleuille the citie and castell of Xainctes and all the lands and countrie of Xaonctonge on both sides the riuer of line 20 Charent with the towne and fortresse of Rochell with their appurtenances the citie and castell of Agent and the countrie of Agenois the citie and castell of Piergort and all the land and countrie of Perigueux the citie and castell of Limoges and all the lands and countrie of Limosin the citie and castell of Cahors and the lordship of Cahorsin the castell and countrie of Tarbe the lands countrie and countie of Bigorre the countie countrie and lands of Gaure the citie and castell of Angolesme and the countie line 30 land and countrie of Angolesmois the
citie towne and castell of Rodaix and all the countie and countrie of Rouergne and if there were in the duâ—â—ie of Guien any lords as the earles of Foiz Arminacke Lisle and Perigueux the vicounts of Carmain and Limoges or other holding any lands within the foresaid bounds it was accorded that they should doo homage and other customarie seruices due for the same vnto the king of England 2 It was also agreed that Calis and Guines with line 40 the appurtenances the lands of Montreuill on the sea with the countie of Ponthieu wholie and entirelie should remaine vnto the king of England All the which countries cities townes and castels with the other lands and seigniories the same king should haue and hold to him and his heires for euer euen as they were in demaine or fee immediatlie of God and frée without recognizing any maner souereingtie to any earthlie man In consideration whereof king Edward renounced all such claimes titles and interest line 50 as he pretended vnto any part of France other than such as were comprised within the charter of couenants of this peace first agréed vpon at Bretignie aforesaid and after confirmed at Calis as appeareth by the same charter dated there the foure twentith daie of October in the yeare of our Lord 1360. 3 It was also couenanted that the French king should paie vnto the king of England thirtie hundred thousanâ— crownes in name of his ransome for assurance of which paiment performance of all the line 60 couenants afore mentioned and other agreed vpon by this peace the dukes of Orleance Aniou Berrie and Burbon with diuerse other honorable personages as earles lords and burgesses of euerie good towne some were appointed to be sent ouer hither into England to remaine as hostages 4 It was further agréed that neither the French king nor his successors should aid the Scots against the king of England or his successors nor that king Edward nor his heirs kings of England should aid the Flemings against the crowne of France 5 And as for the title or right of the duchie of Britaine which was in question betweene the earles of Blois and Mountfort it was accorded that both kings being at Calis the parties should be called before them and if the two kings could not make them fréends then should they assigne certeine indifferent persons to agree them and they to haue halfe a yeeres respit to end the matter and if within that terme those that should be so appointed to agrée them could not take vp the matter betwixt the said earles then either of them might make the best purchase for himselfe that he could by helpe of freends or otherwise but alwaies prouided that neither of the kings nor their sonnes should so aid the said earles whereby the peace accorded betwixt England and France might by any meanes be broken or infringed Also to whether of the said earles the duchie of Britaine in the end chanced to fall by sentence of iudges or otherwise the homage should be doone for the same vnto the French king All these ordinances articles and agréements with manie mo which here would be too long to rehearse were accorded and ratified by the instruments and seales of the prince of Wales on the one part and of the duke of Normandie regent of France on the other part as by their letters patents then sealed further appeared bearing date the one at Loures in Normandie the sixteenth daie of Maie in the yeare of Grace 1360 and the other at Paris the tenth day of the same moneth and in the yeare aforesaid Ouer beside this both the said princes tooke on them a solemne oth to see all the same articles and couenants of agreement throughlie kept mainteined and performed This doone king Edward imbarked himselfe with his foure sonnes and the most part of his nobles at Hunfleu the twentith daie of Maie and so sailed into England leauing hehind him the earle of Warwike to haue the gouernement of all the men of warre which he left behind him either in Gaien or in any other place on that side the sea There died in this iournie diuerse noble men of this land as the earles of March and Oxford the lord Iohn Graie then steward of England and the lord Geffrie de Saie with diuerse other The eight of Iulie next insuing the French king hauing licence to depart landed at Calis and was lodged in the castell there abiding till the king of England came thither which was not till the ninth day of October next after On the foure and twentith daie of October both the kings being in two trauerses and one chappell at Calis a masse was said before them and when they should haue kissed the pax either of them in signe of greater fréendship kissed the other there they were solemnelie sworne to mainteine the articles of the same peace and for more assurance thereof manie lords of both parts were likewise sworne to mainteine the same articles to the vttermost of their powers Whilest these kings laie thus at Calis there was great banketting and chéere made betwixt them Also the duke of Normandie came from Bullongne to Calis to visit his father and to sée the king of England in which meane time two of king Edwards sonnes were at Bullongne Finallie when these two kings had finished all matters in so good order and forme that the same could not be amended nor corrected and that the French king had deliuered his hostages to the king of England that is to saie six dukes beside earles lords and other honorable personages in all to the number of eight and thirtie on the morrow after the taking of their oths that is to saie on the fiue and twentith daie of October being sundaie the French king was freelie deliuered and the same daie before noone he departed from Calis and rode to Bullongne The king of England brought him a mile foreward on his waie and then tooke leaue of him in most louing maner The prince attended him to Bullongne where both he and the duke of Normandie with other were eftsoons sworne to hold and mainteine the foresaid peace without all fraud or colourable deceit and this doone the prince returned to Calis Thus was the French king set at libertie after he had beene prisoner here in England the space of foure yeares and as much as from the nineteenth daie of September vnto the fiue and twentith of October When the king of England had finished his businesse at Calis according to his mind he returned into England and came to London line 10 the ninth daie of Nouember ¶ Thus haue yée hard the originall begining the processe and issue of sundrie conflicts and battels and speciallie of two one of Iohn the French king vnluckilie attempted against England the other of Dauid the Scotish king as vnfortunatlie ended For both kings were subdued in fight vanquished
was come into the field armed ioined themselues with him When therefore the bishop was come into the place where the commons were incamped he perceiued that they had fortified their campe verie stronglie with ditches and such other stuffe as they could make shift with as doores windowes boords tables and behind them were all their cariages placed so that it séemed they meant not to flie Herewith the bishop being chased with the presumptuous boldnesse of such a sort of disordered persons commanded his trumpets to sound to the battell and with his speare in the rest he charged them with such violence that he went ouer the ditch and laied so about him that through his manfull dooings all his companie found means to passe the ditch likewise and so therewith followed a verie sore and terrible sight both parts dooing their best to vanquish the other But finallie the commons were ouercome and driuen to seeke their safegard by flight which was sore hindered by their cariages that stood behind them ouer the which they were forced to clime and leape so well as they might Iohn Littester and other cheefe capteins were taken aliue The bishop therefore caused the said Littester to be arreigned of high treason and condemned and so he was drawne hanged and headed according to the iudgement The bishop heard his confession and by vertue of his office absolued him and to shew some parcell of sorrowing for the mans mischance he went with him to the galowes But it séemed that pitie wrought not with the bishop to quench the zeale of iustice for he caused not Littester onelie to be executed but sought for all other that were the chéefe dooers in that rebellion causing them to be put vnto death and so by that meanes quieted the countrie ¶ To recite what was doone in euerie part of the realme in time of those hellish troubles it is not possible but this is to be considered that the rage of the commons was vniuersallie such as it might séeme they had generallie conspired togither to doo what mischeefe they could deuise As among sundrie other what wickednesse was it to compell teachers of children in grammar schooles to sweare neuer to instruct any in their art Againe could they haue a more mischeefous meaning line 10 than to burne and destroie all old and ancient monuments and to murther and dispatch out of the waie all such as were able to commit to memorie either any new or old records For it was dangerous among them to be knowne for one that was lerned and more dangerous if any men were found with a penner and inkhorne at his side for such seldome or neuer escaped from them with life But to returne to saie somewhat more concerning line 20 the end of their rebellious enterprises you must vnderstand how after that Wat Tiler was slaine at London in the presence of the king as before ye haue heard the hope and confidence of the rebels greatlie decaied and yet neuerthelesse the king and his councell being not well assured granted to the commons as ye haue heard charters of manumission and infranchisement from all bondage and so sent them awaie home to their countries and foorthwith herevpon he assembled an armie of the Londoners line 30 and of all others in the countries abroad that bare him good will appointing none to come but such as were armed and had horsses for he would haue no footmen with him Thus it came to passe that within thrée daies he had about him fourtie thousand horssemen as was estéemed so that in England had not béene heard of the like armie assembled togither at one time And herewith was the king aduertised that the Kentishmen began eftsoones to stir wherewith the king and the whole armie were so grieuouslie line 40 offended that they meant streight to haue set vpon that countrie and to haue wholie destroied that rebellious generation But thorough intercession made by the lords and gentlemen of that countrie the king pacified his mood and so resolued to procéed against them by order of law and iustice causing iudges to sit and to make inquisition of the malefactors and especiallie of such as were authors of the mischéefes And about the same time did the maior of London line 50 sit in iudgement as well vpon the offendors that were citizens as of other that were of Kent Essex Southsex Norffolke Suffolke and other counties being found within the liberties of the citie and such as were found culpable he caused them to lose their heads as Iacke Straw Iohn Kirkbie Alane Tredera and Iohn Sterling that gloried of himselfe for that he was the man that had slaine the archbishop This fellow as it is written by some authors streight waies after he had doone that wicked deed fell out of line 60 his wits and comming home into Essex where he dwelt tied a naked sword about his necke that hoong downe before on his brest and likewise a dagger naked that hanged downe behind on his backe and so went vp and downe the lanes stréets about home crieng out and protesting that with those weapons he had dispatched the archbishop and after he had remained a while at home he came to London againe for that he shuld receiue as he said the reward there of the act which he had committed and so indéed when he came thither and boldlie confessed that he was the man that had beheaded the archbishop he lost his head in steed of a recompense and diuerse other both of Essex and Kent that had laid violent hands vpon the archbishop came to the like end at London where they did the deed being bewraied by their owne confessions Here is to be remembred that the king after the citie of London was deliuered from the danger of the rebels as before ye haue heard in respect of the great manhood and assured loialtie which had appeared in the maior and other of the aldermen for some part of recompense of their faithfull assistance in that dangerous season made the said maior William Walworth knight with fiue other aldermen his brethren to wit Nicholas Bramble Iohn Philpot Nicholas Twiford Robert Laundre and Robert Gaiton also Iohn Standish that as ye haue heard holpe to slaie Wat Tiler Moreouer the king granted that there should be a dagger added to the armes of the citie of London in the right quarter of the shield for an augmentation of the same armes and for a remembrance of this maior his valiant act as dooth appeare vnto this daie for till that time the citie bare onelie the crosse without the dagger Although the kings authoritie thus began to shew it selfe to the terror of rebels yet the commons of Essex eftsoones assembled themselues togither not far from Hatfield Peuerell and sent to the king to know of him if his pleasure was that they should inioy their promised liberties and further that they might be as frée as
their lords and not to come to any court except it were to the great léet twise in the yeare When the king heard such presumptuous requests he was in a great chafe dispatched the messengers awaie with a sore threatning answer saieng that bondmen they were and bondmen they should be and that in more vile manner than before to the terrible example of all other that should attempt any the like disorders and foorthwith the earle of Buckingham and the lord Thomas Percie brother to the earle of Northumberland were sent with an armie to represse those rebels whome they found fortified within woods hedges and ditches verie stronglie but with small adoo they were put to flight about fiue hundred of them slaine the residue saued themselues as well as they might by succour of the woods There were eight hundred horsses also taken which those rebels had there with them to draw and carrie their baggage Those of the rebels that escaped were not yet so tamed by that ouerthrow but that assembling themselues togither in a rowt they made towards Colchester and comming thither would haue persuaded the townesmen to haue ioined with them in a new rebellion But when they could not bring their purpose to passe they marched towards Sudburie The lord Fitz Walter and sir Iohn Harleston vnderstanding which waie they tooke followed them with a companie of armed men and suddenlie setting vpon them as they were making their proclamations slue of them so manie as it liked them and the other they saued and suffered to depart or else committed them to prison After this the king came to Hauering at the bowre and from thence to Chelmisford where he appointed sir Robert Trisilian to sit in iudgement of the offendors and rebels of that countrie wherevpon an inquest being chosen a great number were indited arreigned found giltie so that vpon some one gallowes there were nine or ten hanged togither In euerie countrie were like inquiries made and the chéefe offendors apprehended and put to death in euerie lordship through the realme where anie of them were detected by ten twelue twentie thirtie yea and in some places by fortie at once so that the whole number grew to fifteene hundred and aboue At the first when the kings iustices began to sit in Essex Kent and at London by reason of the multitude that were to be executed they onelie chopped off their heads but afterwards when that kind of death seemed too close and secret for so open offenses they proceeded according to the accustomed law of the realme by condemning them to be drawne and hanged and according thervnto they were executed In the meane time the king by the aduise of his councell directed his letters reuocatorie into euerie countie there to be proclamed in euerie citie borrow towne and place as well within the liberties as without by the which letters he reuoked made void line 10 and frustrate his former letters of infranchising the bondmen of his realme and commanded that such as had the same letters should without delaie bring them in and restore them to him and his councell to be cancelled as they would answer vpon their faith and allegiance which they owght to him and vpon paine of forfeiting all that they had The date of which letters reuocatorie was at Chelmesford the second daie of Iulie in the fift yeare of his reigne When the king had quieted the countie of Essex line 20 and punished such as were the chéefe sturrers of that wicked commotion in those parts he went to saint Albons to sée iustice doone vpon such as had demeaned themselues most presumptuouslie against the kings peace in that towne namelie against the abbat and his house who sought to defend themselues vnder a colour of fréendship that they trusted to find in some persons about the king But that trust deceiued them and procured the more displeasure against them for that they would not sue for fauour line 30 at the abbats hands in time by submitting themselues vnto his will and pleasure To be breefe the king came thither with a great number of armed men and archers and caused his iustice sir Robert Trisilian to sit in iudgement vpon the malefactors that were brought thither from Hertford gaile Thither was brought also to the king from Couentrie Iohn Ball preest whome the citizens of Couentrie had taken and now here at saint Albons they presented him to the kings presence wherevpon he line 40 was arreigned and condemned to be drawne hanged and headed for such notable treasons as he was there conuicted of He receiued iudgement vpon the saturdaie the first daie that the said sir Robert Trisilian sat in iudgement but he was not executed till the mondaie following This man had beene a preacher the space of twentie yeares and bicause his doctrine was not according to the religion then by the bishops mainteined he was first prohibited to preach in anie church or chappell and when he ceassed not for line 50 all that but set foorth his doctrine in the streets fields where he might haue audience at length he was committed to prison out of the which he prophesied that he should be deliuered with the force of twentie thousand men and euen so it came to passe in time of the rebellion of the commons When all the prisons were broken vp and the prisoners set at libertie he being therefore so deliuered followed them at Blackeheath when the greatest multitude was there got togither as some write line 60 he made a sermon taking his saieng or common prouerbe for his theame wherevpon to intreat When Adam delu'd and Eue span Who was then a gentleman and so continuing his sermon went about to prooue by the words of that prouerbe that from the beginning all men by nature were created alike and that bondage or seruitude came in by iniust oppression of naughtie men For if God would haue had anie bondmen from the beginning he would haue appointed who should be bond who free And therefore he exhorted them to consider that now the time was come appointed to them by God in which they might if they would cast off the yoke of bondage recouer libertie He counselled them therefore to remember themselues and to take good hearts vnto them that after the manner of a good husband that tilleth his ground and riddeth out thereof such euill wéeds as choke and destroie the good corne they might destroie first the great lords of the realme and after the iudges and lawiers questmoongers and all other whom they vndertooke to be against the commons for so might they procure peace and suertie to themselues in time to come if dispatching out of the waie the great men there should be an equalitie in libertie no difference in degrées of nobilitie but a like dignitie and equall authoritie in all things brought in among them When he had preached and set foorth such kind of
campe one of the greatest barons of all the companie named the lord Fitz Walter and afterwards within the towne of Uille Arpent there died as Froissard saith three great barons of England and men of great possessions sir Richard Burlie a knight of the garter who had béene as it were high marshall of the armie the lord Poinings and sir Henrie Percie cousine germane to the earle of Northumberland In the towne of Noic deceassed sir Mauburin de Liniers a Poictouin and in the towne of Ruelles died the lord Talbot and so here and there saith Froissard there died in all twelue great lords foure score knights two hundred esquiers and of the meaner sort of souldiers aboue fiue hundred After that the armie was broken vp the duke of Lancaster and the duchesse his wife went into Portingale and there remained a season and then taking the sea sailed to Baionne in the marshes of Gascoigne where he rested a long time after ¶ In this meane while there was communication and offers made for a marriage to be had betwixt the duke of Berrie vncle to the French king and the ladie Katharine daughter to the duke of Lancaster and of the duchesse his wife the ladie Constance When the king of Spaine vnderstood of that treatie he began to doubt least if that marriage tooke place it might turne to his disaduantage and therefore to be at quietnesse with the duke of Lancaster whose puissance he doubted and whose wisedome he perfectlie vnderstood by politike meanes and earnest sute at length concluded a peace with him on this wise That his eldest son Henrie should haue in mariage the ladie Katharine daughter to the duke of Lancaster begot on his wife the duchesse Constance and be intituled prince of Austurgus In consideration of which marriage to be had and all claimes to ceasse which the duke in right of his wife might chalenge or pretend it was agreed that the said duke should receiue yearelie the summe of ten thousand marks to be paid to him or to his assignes in the citie of Baionne in Gascoigne during the terme of the liues of the said duke and duchesse and further to haue in hand the summe of two hundreth thousand nobles ¶ Henrie Knighton in his relation of this composition betwéene these persons of great estate dooth say that it was told him by one of the good duke of Lancasters owne houshold and attendant vpon him in this voiage into Spaine that the Spanish king did send seuen and fourtie mules loden with coffers full of gold for the second paiment wherevpon they were agréed As touching the first paiment saith Knighton I asked no question of the partie So that besides the annuitie which mine author reporteth to be 16000 marks during the parties liues iointlie and 12000 marks if it fortuned that the dukes daughter should suruiue and outliue hir husband it should séeme there were other large allowances which if they were as it is likelie after this rate it was a right roiall munificence And to this report of Knighton dooth Ch. Okland make a kind of allusion who speking of the conditions of peace betweene the duke of Lancaster and the king of Spaine saith Causae diffidens extemplò Hispanus agebat De pace acceptis conditionibus offert Argenti ac auri plaustrorum protinùs octo Iustum onus argentÃque decem soluenda quotannis Millia nummorum c. The aforesaid agreement and marriage was not concluded till about the thirteenth yeare of king Richards reigne so that in the meane while manie incidents chanced in England and in other regions which in their time and places shall be touched as to purpose serueth And first it is not to be forgotten that the Frenchmen neuer shewed more vanitie than they did this yeare since the linage of the Capetes began first to rule in France All the ships that they could prouide line 10 from the confines of Spaine vnto the mouth of the Rhene all alongst the coast they assembled at Sluis and thereabouts and made so great preparation for the warre that the like had not béene heard of meaning as they boasted and made their vants to passe ouer into England and to deuoure the whole countrie in dooing sacrifice to the soules of their elders with the bloud of the English people Howbeit these words were wind to them accorded the prouerbe Parturiunt montes nascetur ridiculus mus line 20 There were numbred in the moneth of September about Sluis Dam and Blankberke 1287 ships besides those which were rigged in Britaine by the constable who had caused an inclosure of a field to be made of timber like railes or barriers that when they were landed in England they might therewith inclose their field and so lodge more at suertie and when they remooued it was so made with ioints that they might take it vp in péeces and easilie conueie it with them line 30 This inclosure or wall of wood was twentie foot in height and conteined in length or in compasse when it was set vp three thousand pases and at the end of euerie twelue pases stood a turret able to receiue ten men that was higher than the rest of the wall by ten foot at the least There were appointed to haue passed ouer in those ships twentie thousand men of armes twentie thousand crosbowes and twentie thousand other men of warre To haue séene the great apparell furniture and prouision the shipping line 40 trussing bearing and carrieng to and fro of things needfull for this iournie a man might haue meruelled for suerlie the like hath sildome beene remembred All that was doone there on that side the sea by the Frenchmen was notified into England so that the Frenchmen were not more occupied to prepare themselues to inuade England than the Englishmen were to make themselues readie to defend their countrie from all danger of enimies so that euerie hauen towne especiallie alongst the west south and line 50 eastcoasts were kept and warded with notable numbers of armed men and archers ¶ Notwithstanding the great confidence which the French king reposed in the fortification which he had imbarked thinking thereby to haue wrought great woonders to the discomfiture of the English yet contrarie to his expectation it so fortuned that about Michaelmas the lord William Beauchampe capteine of Calis tooke two ships whereof one was loden with a péece of the said inclosure or wall of line 60 wood and in the same ship was the maister carpenter of the inclosure being an Englishman borne but banished his countrie before that time for some offense He also tooke another ship wherein were engins guns gunpowder other instruments of war Not long after this two more ships were taken likewise whose burthen was parcels of the foresaid frame or inclosure so that three ships were met withall and seized vpon each of them loden with one kind of stuffe Whereof
his men without honour or spoile returned line 30 into France After this the admerall of Britaine highlie incouraged for that the last yeere he had taken certeine English ships laden with wines acompanied with the lord du Chastell a valiant baron of Britaine and twelue hundred men of armes sailed foorth with thirtie ships from S. Malos and came before the towne of Dartmouth and would haue landed but by the puissance of the townesmen and aid of the countrie they were repelled in the which conflict the lord du line 40 Chastell and two of his brethren with foure hundred other were slaine and aboue two hundred taken prisoners and put to their ransoms amongst whom the lord of Baqueuille the marshall of Britaine was one All this summer Owen Glendouer and his adherents robbed burned and destroied the countries adioining néere to the places where he hanted and one while by sleight guilefull policie an other while by open force he tooke and slue manie Englishmen line 50 brake downe certeine castels which he wan and some he fortified and kept for his owne defense Iohn Trenor bishop of Assaph considering with himselfe how things prospered vnder the hands of this Owen fled to him and tooke his part against the king About the same time the Britaines and the Flemings tooke certeine ships of ours laden with merchandize and slue all the marriners or else hanged them Also the old countesse of Oxford mother to Robert line 60 Ueere late duke of Ireland that died at Louaine caused certeine of hir seruants and other such as she durst trust to publish and brute abroad thorough all the parts of Essex that king Richard was aliue and that he would shortlie come to light and claime his former estate honor and dignitie She procured a great number of harts to be made of siluer and gold such as king Richard was woont to giue vnto his knights esquiers fréends to weare as cognizances to the end that in bestowing them in king Richards name she might the sooner allure men to further hir lewd practises and where the fame went abroad that king Richard was in Scotland with a great power of Frenchmen and Scots readie to come to recouer his realme manie gaue the more light credit vnto this brute thus set foorth by the said countesse The persuasions also of one Serlo that in times past was one of king Richards chamber greatlie increased this errour for the same Serlo hearing in France whither he was fled that his maister king Richard was in Scotland aliue conueied himselfe thither to vnderstand the truth of that matter and finding there one indéed that greatlie resembled him in all lineaments of bodie but yet was not the man himselfe as he well perceiued vpon malice that he bare to king Henrie aduertised by letters sent vnto diuerse of king Richards freends that he was aliue indéed and shortlie would come to shew himselfe openlie to the world when he had once made his waie readie to recouer his kingdome to the confusion of his enimies and comfort of his fréends These forged inuentions caused manie to beleeue the brute raised by the countesse of Oxford for the which they came in trouble were apprehended and committed to prison The countesse hir selfe was shut vp in close prison and all hir goods were confiscat and hir secretarie drawen and hanged that had spred abroad this fained report in going vp and downe the countrie blowing into mens eares that king Richard was aliue affirming that he had spoken with him in such a place and in such a place apparelled in this raiment and that raiment with such like circumstances About the feast of saint Iohn Baptist at the kings commandement the earle of Northumberland came to Pomfret and brought with him his nephues and his nephues sonnes whereby he cleared himselfe of a great deale of suspicion manie doubting before his comming that he had giuen euill counsell to the yoong men whereby to mooue them to rebellion and to withstand the king Sir William Clifford also came with the earle and brought the foresaid Serlo with him whom he had apprehended vpon his comming to him at Berwike in hope to haue found succour at his hands in consideration whereof the king pardoned the said sir William Clifford of his disobedience shewed in keeping the castell of Berwike against him in which dooing he had committed manifest treason This Serlo being knowen to be the man that had béene the chiefe murtherer of the duke of Glocester when he was made awaie at Calis was diligentlie examined who were helpers with him in the execution thereof and after what sort they made him awaie Serlo knowing there was no waie with him but death would not vtter any other but confessed for his owne part he was worthie for that wicked déed to die ten thousand deaths and shewed such outward appearance of repentance that manie sore lamented his case and promised to hire priests to sing masses as the maner was for his soule of their owne costs and charges He was condemned to die at Pomfret and was drawen from thence through euerie good towne through which those that had the conueiance of him passed with him till they came to London where he was executed confessing euerie thing to be true concerning his wicked pretense as before is recited and further that when he perceiued how their counterfeit practise would come to light and he openlie reuealed he meant to haue returned into France but wanting monie he thought to haue béene relieued with some portion at the hand of the said sir William Clifford and this caused him to come vnto Berwike to shew him his necessitie who to make his owne peace did apprehend him and present him to the king as before ye haue heard King Henrie wanting monie in the feast of saint Faith the virgine assembled at Couentrie his high court of parlement in the which the lord Stephan Scroope of Masham and the lord Henrie Fitz Hugh obteined first to haue places of barons Moreouer it is to be noted that this was called The laie mans parlement bicause the shiriffes were appointed to haue a speciall regard that none should be chosen knights for the counties nor burgesses for the cities and townes that had any skill in the lawes of the land This was doone and when they came togither to talke of the weightie affaires of the realme speciallie line 10 how the king might be relieued with monie to beare such charges as he was knowen to be at as well in defending the realme from the Scots and Welshmen at home as from the Britains Flemings and Frenchmen abroad it was thought most expedient that the spiritualtie should be depriued of their temporall possessions to the reliefe of the kings necessitie Herevpon rose great altercation betwixt the cleargie and the laitie the knights affirming that they had oftentimes serued the king not onelie
the common enimie abroad as by that which followeth you may plainelie perceiue For whilest the French thus triumphed in Normandie thrée cruell enimies among manie as by ciuill warre and sedition insuing appeared sore vrged the vtter ruine of this reame at home One was presumption in gouernance by some that were most vnméet to rule as the queene with hir priuie counsellors and minions then the deadlie malice and pride with insatiable couetise in the states both spirituall and temporall and lastlie the generall grudge of the people for the vniuersall smart that through misgouernment euerie where they suffered who thus forweried with the peise of burthens too heauie for them line 10 anie longer to beare Heerewith perceiuing how through want of prouident wisedome in the gouernour all things went to wracke as well within the realme as without they began to make exclamation against the duke of Suffolke charging him to be the onelie cause of the deliuerie of Aniou and Maine the chéefe procuror of the duke of Glocesters death the verie occasion of the losse of Normandie the swallower vp of the line 20 kings treasure the remoouer of good and vertuous councellours from about the prince and the aduancer of vicious persons and of such as by their dooings shewed themselues apparant aduersaries to the common-wealth The quéene hereat doubting not onelie the dukes destruction but also hir owne confusion caused the parlement before begun at the Blackfriers to be adiourned to Leicester thinking there by force and rigor of law to suppresse and subdue all the malice and line 30 euill will conceiued against the duke hir At which place few of the nobilitie would appeare wherefore it was againe adiourned to Westminster where was a full appearance In the which session the commons of the nether house put vp to the king and the lords manie articles of treason misprision and euill demeanor against the duke of Suffolke the effect whereof with his answers héere insueth Articles proponed by the commons line 40 against the duke of Suffolke line 1 FIrst they alleged that he had traitorouslie excited prouoked and counselled Iohn earle of Dunois bastard of Orleance Bertram lord Presignie William Cosinet enimies to the king and fréends and ambassadours to Charles calling himselfe French king to enter into this realme and to leauie warre line 50 against the king and his people to the intent to destroie the king and his freends and to make Iohn his sonne king of this realme marieng him to Margaret sole heire to Iohn duke of Summerset pretending and declaring hir to be next heire inheritable to the crowne for lacke of issue of the kings bodie lawfullie begotten 2 Item the said duke being of the kings priuie and néere councell allured by great rewards and line 60 faire promises made by the said earle of Dunois caused the king to deliuer and set at libertie Charles duke of Orleance enimie to the king and the kings noble father which deliuerance was prohibited by expresse words in the last will of the kings most victorious father 3 Item that before the departing of the said duke of Orleance the aforenamed duke of Suffolke traitorouslie fast cleauing to Charles called the French king counselled prouoked and intised the said duke of Orleance to mooue the same king to make warre against England both in France and Normandie According to which procurement counsell the said French king hath recouered the whole realme of France and all the duchie of Normandie and taken prisoners the earle of Shrewesburie the lord Fauconbridge and manie other valiant capteins ¶ These thrée articles aforenamed he denied either for fact or thought 4 Further it was alleged that he being ambassadour for the king of England to Charles calling himselfe the French king promised to Reiner king of Sicill and to Charles d'Angiers his brother enimies to the king the release of Aniou with the deliuerance of the countie of Maine and the citie of Maunt or Mans without the knowledge of the other ambassadours with him accompanied Which promise after his returne he caused to be performed to the kings disinheritance and losse irrecouerable and to the strength of his enimies and feeblishment of the duchie of Normandie ¶ To this article he answered that his commission was to conclude and doo all things according to his discretion for the obteining of a peace bicause without deliuerie of those countries he perceiued that the truce could not be obteined he agreed to the release and deliuerance of them 5 Also they had great cause to iudge by the sequele that the said duke being in France in the kings seruice and one of the priuiest of his councell there traitorouslie declared and opened to the capteins and conductors of warre apperteining to the kings enimies the kings counsell purueiance of his armies furniture of his townes all other ordinances whereby the kings enimies instructed aforehand by his traitorous information haue gotten townes and fortresses and the king by that meanes depriued of his inheritance 6 Item the said duke declared to the earle of Dunois to the lord Presignie and William Cosâ—net ambssadours for the French king lieng in London the priuities of the kings councell both for the prouision of further warre and also for the defense of the duchie of Normandie by the disclosing whereof the Frenchmen knowing the king secrets defeated the kings appointments and they obteined their purpose 7 Item that the said duke at such time as the king sent ambassadours to the French king for the intreating of peace traitorouslie before their comming to the French court certified king Charles of their commission authoritie and instructions by reason whereof neither peace nor amitie succéeded and the kings inheritance lost and by his enimies possessed 8 Item the same duke said openlie in the Star-chamber before the lords of the councell that he had as high a place in the councell-house of the French king as he had there and was as well trusted there as here and could remooue from the French king the priuiest man of his councell if he would 9 Item when armies haue béene prepared and souldiers readie waged to passe ouer the sea to deale with the kings enimies the said duke corrupted by rewards of the French king hath restreined staid the said armies to passe anie further 10 Item the said duke being ambassadour for the king comprised not in the league as the kings alies neither the king of Aragon neither the duke of Britaine but suffered them to be comprised on the contrarie part By reason whereof the old amitie of the K. of Aragon is estranged from this realme and the duke of Britaine became enimie to the same Giles his brother the kings sure freend cast in strong prison and there like to end his daies All these obiections he vtterlie denied or faintlie auoided but none fullie excused Diuerse other crimes were laid to his charge as inriching himselfe with the kings goods and
they came not in sight of the king but suffered him quietlie to passe either bicause they were persuaded that he ment as he in outward words pretended not to claime anie title to the crowne but onelie his right to the duchie of Yorke or else for that they doubted to set vpon him although his number were farre vnequall to theirs knowing line 20 that not onelie he himselfe but also his companie were minded to sell their liues dearlie before they would shrinke an inch from anie that was to incounter them It maie be that diuerse of the capteins also were corrupted and although outwardlie they shewed to be against him yet in heart they bare him right good will and in no wise minded to hinder him So forward he marched till he came to Yorke on a monday being the eightéenth day of March. Before he came to the citie by the space of thrée line 30 miles the recorder of Yorke whose name was Thomas Coniers one knowne in déed not to beare him anie faithfull good will came vnto him gaue him to vnderstand that it stood in no wise with his suertie to presume to approch the citie for either hée should be kept out by force or if he did enter he shuld be in danger to be cast away by his aduersaries that were within King Edward neuerthelesse sith he was come thus farre forward knew well inough there was no going backe for him but manfullie to line 40 procéed forward with his begun iournie and therefore kept on his way And shortlie after there came to him out of the citie Robert Clifford and Richard Burgh who assured him that in the quarell which he pretended to pursue to wit for the obteining of his right to the duchie of Yorke he should not faile but be receiued into the citie But immediatlie after came the said Coniers againe with the like tale and information as he had brought before And thus king Edward one while line 50 put in comfort and another while discouraged marched foorth till he came to the gates of the citie where his people staied whilest he and about sixtéene or seuentéene other such as he thought méetest went forth and entred the citie with the said Clifford Burgh And as some write there was a priest readie to saie masse in which masse time the king receiued the sacrament of the communion there solemnlie sware to kéepe and obserue two speciall articles although it was farre vnlike that he minded to obserue either line 60 of them the one was that he should vse the citizens after a gentle and courteous maner and the other that he should be faithfull and obedient vnto king Henries commandements For this wilfull periurie as hath béene thought the issue of this king suffered for the fathers offense the depriuation not onelie of lands and worldlie possessions but also of their naturall liues by their cruell vncle K. Richard the third And it may well be For it is not likelie that God in whose hands is the bestowing of all souereigntie will suffer such an indignitie to be doone to his sacred maiestie and will suffer the same to passe with impunitie And suerlie if an osh among priuate men is religiouslie to be kept sith in the same is an exact triall of faith and honestie doubtlesse of princes it is verie nicelie and preciselie to be obserued yea they should rather susteine a blemish and disgrace in their roialtie than presume to go against their oth and promise speciallie if the same stand vpon conditions of equitie otherwise they prooue themselues to be impugners of fidelitie which is a iewell surpassing gold in price and estimation as the poet prudentlie saith Charior est auro non simulata fides When king Edward had thus gotten into the citie of Yorke he made such meanes among the citizens that he got of them a certeine summe of monie and leauing a garison within the citie contrarie to his oth for feare least the citizens after his departure might happilie mooue some rebellion against him he set forward the next day toward Todcaster a towne ten miles from thence belonging to the earle of Northumberland The next day he tooke his waie toward Wakefield and Sendall a castell and lordship belonging to the inheritance of the dukes of Yorke leauing the castell of Pomfret vpon his left hand where the marques Montacute with his armie laie and did not once offer to stop him Whether the marques suffered him to passe by so with his good will or no diuerse haue diuerslie coniectured Some thinke that it lay not in the power of the marques greatlie to annoie him both for that the king was well beloued in those parties againe all the lords commons there for the most part were towards the earle of Northumberland and without him or his commandement they were not willing to stirre And therefore the earle in sitting still and not moouing to and fro was thought to doo king Edward as good seruice as if he had come to him and raised people to assist him for diuerse happilie that should haue come with him remembring displeasures past would not haue béene so faithfull as the earle himselfe if it had come to the iumpe of anie hazard of battell About Wakefield and the parts there adioining some companie of his freends came to him whereby his power was increased but nothing in such numbers as he looked for From Wakefield he crossed on the left hand so to come againe into the high waie and came to Doncaster and from thence vnto Notingham Here came to him sir William Parre and sir Iames Harrington with six hundred men well armed and appointed also there came to him sir Thomas Burgh sir Thomas Montgomerie with their aids which caused him at their first comming to make proclamation in his owne name to wit of K. Edward the fourth boldlie affirming to him that they would serue no man but a king Whilest he remained at Notingham and also before he came there he sent abroad diuerse of his auaunt courrers to discouer the countrie and to vnderstand if there were anie power gathered against him Some of them that were thus sent approached to Newarke and vnderstood that within the towne there the duke of Excester the earle of Oxenford the lord Bardolfe and other were lodged with a great power to the number of foure thousand men which they had assembled in Essex Norffolke Suffolke and in the shires of Cambridge Huntington and Lincolne The duke of Excester and the earle of Oxenford with other the chéefe capteins aduertised that king Edwards foreriders had béene afore the towne in the euening supposed verefie that he and his whole armie were comming towards them Héerevpon they not thinking it good to abide longer there determined with all spéed to dislodge and so about two of the clocke after midnight they departed from Newarke leauing some of their people behind which either
with sir Thomas Bullen and sir Richard Weston were appointed to go vnto Coniacke to see the Dolphin where they were honorablie receiued and brought vnto the presence of the Dolphin being a goodlie yoong child whome they kissed and imbraced in most louing wise The earle of Worcester and with him sir Nicholas Uaux sir Iohn Pechie sir Edward Belknap year 1520 and diuerse others at the same time tooke leaue of the French king and rode to Tornaie to sée the citie deliuered to the Frenchmen Wherevpon the eight of Februarie the lord Chatillon came thither with one and twentie hundred men and after some controuersie mooued about the deliuerie of his commission and sealing an indenture which the earle had there readie ingrossed conteining the articles of agreement in consideration whereof it was deliuered the capteine sir Richard Ierningham was discharged and the Frenchmen suffered to enter with drumslads and minstrelsie but not with standards nor banners which the Englishmen caused them to roll vp greatlie against their wils Before they came to the gates they sealed the indenture confessing how they receiued the citie as a gift and not as a right and deliuered their commission whereby they were authorised to receiue it which at the first they refused to doo affirming that it was sufficient for them to shew it Thus was Tornaie deliuered in this tenth yeare of the kings reigne on the eight daie of Februarie the Englishmen returned into England sore displeased in their minds For thereby manie a tall yeoman lacked liuing the which would not labour after their returne but fell to robbing pilfering shifting and other extraordinarie meanes of maintenance whereas before they were staied vpon a certeintie of hope so long as they had allowance by the king So that this resignation of Tornaie though it were answerable to the desire of the French king and commodious for his people yet that benefit of theirs bred to the English soldiors detriment and losse who wished in their harts to haue left their liues behind them in defense of possession rather than it should reuert into the hands of them by whome it was surrendred giuen vp to the English power whom bicause they were not able to incounter they let in at their gates by a voluntarie motion and common consent for their better safetie as a late writer witnesseth Angligenas passis intra sua moenia portis Sponte intromittens line 10 ¶ During this time remained in the French court diuerse yoong gentlemen of England and they with the French king rode dailie disguised through Paris throwing egges stones and other foolish trifles at the people which light demeanour of a king was much discommended and ieasted at And when these yoong gentlemen came againe into England they were all French in eating drinking and apparell yea and in French vices and brags so that all the estates of England were by them laughed at the line 20 ladies and gentlewomen were dispraised so that nothing by them was praised but if it were after the French turne which after turned them to displesure as you shall heare After the kings ambassadours were returned and Tornaie deliuered to the Frenchmen vpon the conditions aforesaid the hostages that were here left for the paiment of the great summes and performance of the conditions comprised in the league of the which one was that if the marriage tooke none effect then the citie of Tornaie should be redeliuered line 30 vpon repaiment of the same summes the said hostages knew not in what case they stood but when they knew it they were verie heauie and sorowfull howbeit they dissembled the matter in the best wise they could The king vsed familiarlie these foure hostages and on the seuenth daie of Maie prepared a disguising and caused his great chamber at Gréenwich to be staged and great lights to be set on pillors that were gilt with basons gilt and the roofe was couered line 40 with blue sattin set full of presses of fine gold and flowers and vnder was written Iammes the meaning whereof was that the slower of youth could not be oppressed Into this chamber came the king and the quéene with the hostages and there was a goodlie comedie of Plautus plaied and that doone there entered into the chamber eight ladies in blacke veluet bordered about with gold with hoopes from the wast downeward and sléeues rusted and plited at the elbow and line 50 plaine in the middest full of cuts plucked out at euerie cut with fine camerike tired like the Aegyptians verie richlie And when these ladies had passed about the place in came eight noble personages in long gownes of taffata set with flowers of gold bullion and vnder that apparell cotes of blacke veluet embrodered with gold all to cut and plucked out with cuts of white sarcenet and euerie man had buskins of blacke veluet full of agglets of gold Then the eight men dansed with the eight ladies line 60 all being visarded and suddenlie the men cast off their large gownes and then their vnder apparell was séene And when all was doone euerie lord and ladie put off their visards and then it was knowne that the king the duke of Suffolke and the French quéene were there which were present at the plaie time On the eight daie of March was a solemne iustes the king himselfe and eight yoong gentlemen based and barded in blacke veluet embrodered with gold against the duke of Suffolke and eight of his band all in white satten with drops of gold And that daie they all ran excéeding well which the strangers highlie commended About the end of March the king sent for all the yeomen of the gard that were come from Tornaie and after manie good words giuen to them he granted to euerie of them foure pence the daie without attendance except they were speciallie commanded ¶ And here it seemeth requisit to adde the report of a forreine chronicler touching the league of amitie and conditions of the same knit vp in breuitie and good tearmes as followeth Now saith he the differences betwéene the French and English were also reconciled And for the more stabilitie of which agreement it was confirmed with a contract of parentage and aliance wherein the king of England promised to giue his onelie daughter to whome hauing no sons there was hope of the descending succession of the kingdome to the Dolphin the eldest sonne of the crowne of France adding for a portion foure hundred thousand duckets Both the one and the other bore yet so tender age that infinit accidents might happen before perfection of yeeres would make them able to establish matrimonie There was made betwene them a league defensiue wherin were comprehended Cesar and the king of Spaine in case they would ratifie it in a certeine time The king of England bound himselfe to restore Tornaie receiuing presentlie for defraiments expended vpon that towne two hundred and threescore thousand duckets
towards his roiall person The king receiued their petitions line 60 which consisted in choise of councellors suppression of religious houses maintenance of the seruice of almightie God the statute of vses the release of the fifteenth and receiuing of the first fruits with such other matters as nothing apperteined to them wherevpon he made them answer in pithie sentence reprouing them of their presumptuous follie and rebellious attempt to meddle in anie such matters and weightie affaires the direction whereof onelie belonged to him and to such noble men and councellors as his pleasure should be to elect and choose to haue the ordering of the same Wherfore he aduised them to remember their rash and inconsiderate dooings and that now in anie wise they should resort home to their houses and no more to assemble contrarie to his lawes and their owne allegiances and also to cause the prouokers of this mischiefe to be deliuered to the hands of his lieutenant and further to submit themselues wholie to such punishment as he and his nobles should thinke them worthie to receiue for otherwise he would not suffer that iniurie at their hands to go vnreuenged After the Lincolnshire men had receiued the kings answer thus made to their petitions each mistrusting other who should be noted the greatest meddler suddenlie they began to shrinke and got them home to their houses without longer abode Herewith the duke of Suffolke the kings lieutenant was appointed to go with the armie to see the countrie set in quiet accompanied with the lord admerall sir Francis Brian and sir Iohn Russell that were ioined with him also in commission for the ordering of things there within the countie of Lincolne The duke entred into the citie of Lincolne the seuentéenth of October On the ninetéenth all the inhabitants of Louth according to order giuen by the duke came to Lincolne and there in the castell made their submission holding vp their hands and crieng for the kings mercie And herwith were chosen foorth Nicholas Melton capteine Cobler thirteene more which were commanded to ward and all the residue were new sworne to the king renouncing their former oth receiued in time of their rebellion and then departed home to their houses in the kings peace After this were proclamations made abrode in the countrie in euerie market towne by the heralds of armes Summerset and Winsore that the capteins and souldiers of the dukes armie should not take anie mans goods cattels or vittels except they paied or agréed with the owners of the same And further commandement was giuen that all inhabitants and dwellers within the townes and villages about should repaire to the citie of Lincolne with all maner of vittels as well for men as horsses where they should receiue paiment at reasonable prices for the same After this there was likewise proclamation made for the apprehending of all such lewd persons as had sowne anie false rumors abrode in the countrie the cheefe occasion of this rebellion bruting that the king pretended to haue the gold in the hands of his subiects brought into the tower to be touched and all their cattell vnmarked the chalices goods and ornaments of parish churches fines for christenings weddings and buriengs licences to eat white meat bread pig goose or capon with manie other slanderous false and detestable tales and lies forged of diuelish purpose to incourage the people to rebellion If therefore anie man could apprehend such as had béene the setters foorth and sowers of such seditious reports they that brought them in should be so rewarded as they should thinke their labour well bestowed Moreouer if there were anie assemblies made in anie part of the realme without the kings licence by anie vnrulie persons and would not depart to their houses vpon warning by his graces proclamations they should not looke for further mercie at the kings hand but to be prosecuted with fire and sword to the vttermost To conclude by the wise and sage direction taken in appeasing the countrie by that noble duke all things were quieted in those parties Diuerse of the principall offendors were sent vnto London He that tooke vpon him as cheefe capteine of the rout was the same that called himselfe capteine Cobler but he was indeed a moonke named doctor Makarell which afterwards with diuerse others was executed But now in the meane time whilest the duke was sent forwards into Lincolneshire within six daies after the king was trulie informed that there was a new stir begun in the north parts by the people there which had assembled themselues into an huge armie of warlike men well appointed both with capteins horsses armor and artillerie to the number of fortie thousand men which had incamped themselues in Yorkeshire These men declared by their proclamations solemnlie made that this their rising and commotion should extend no further but onelie to the maintenance and defense of the faith line 10 of Christ and deliuerance of holie church sore decaied and oppressed and also for the furtherance as well of priuate as publike matters in the realme touching the wealth o◠all the kings poore subiects They named this their seditious voiage an holie and blessed pilgrimage they had also certeine banners in the field in which was painted Christ hanging on the crosse on the one side and a chalice with a painted cake in it on the other side with diuers other banners of like hypocrisie and feigned holinesse The line 20 souldiers had also imbrodered on the sléeues of their cotes in stéed of a badge the similitude of the fiue wounds of our sauiour and in the middest thereof was written the name of our Lord. Thus had the rebels hast of sathan with false and counterfeit signes of holinesse set out themselues onelie to deceiue the simple people in that their wicked and rebellious enterprise against their liege lord and naturall prince whome by the law of nations and by Gods commandements they were bound in conscience to obeie line 30 and so farre to be from lifting vp the least finger of their hand as rather to put life and goods in hazard for his sake to testifie their allegiance The spéedie diligence and loiall dutie which was found at that present in the worthie councellour George earle of Shrewesburie is not to be forgotten who immediatlie after he vnderstood how the northerne men were thus vp in armes considering how much it imported to stop them of their passage before they should aduance too far forwards whereby line 40 they might both increase in power and put all other parts of the realme in hazard through feare or hope to incline to their wicked purposes he sent abroad with all spéed possible to raise such power of his seruants tenants and fréends as by anie means he might make and withall dispatched one of his seruants to the king both to aduertise him what he had doone and also to purchase his pardon for making
whose line 20 attempts when the lord Hunsdon lord warden of the east marches and gouernor of Berwike heard he prepared to go against him and hauing with him sir Iohn Forster lord warden of the middle marches they set forward towards the place where they thought they should find him They had with them 300 chosen soldiors of the garrison of Berwike and twelue hundred borderers and other of the garrisons there about the borders so that they were in all fiftéene hundred footmen and horssemen They marching line 30 therewith foorth approched néere to a towne and castell called Naworth which was in the kéeping of the said Leonard Dacres And vpon a moore through the middle whereof a litle riuer called Chelt hath his course the said Leonard Dacres the two and twentith of Februarie was readie with his power in order of battell ranged set in arraie after the forme of a triangle compassed and inuironed about with horssemen And now vpon the lord Hunsdons approch the said Dacres with great and stout courage line 40 gaue an hardie onset vpon the said lord Hunsdon and his companie neere vnto the foresaid riuer The fight was sharpe and cruell and the euent verie doubtfull for a while the rebels were so stiffelie bent to doo their vttermost indeuor in defense of their wicked quarrell There were amongst them manie desperat women that gaue the aduenture of their liues and fought right stoutlie Manie therfore were slaine on both sides to the number at the least of three hundred persons But such was the forward valiancie line 50 of the lord Hunsdon that his people incoraged by his example whome they might see so noblie acquit himselfe in aduenturing so farre as anie other of the whole troope behaued themselues in such manfull wise that the victorie in the end fell to him and his companie and the said Leonard Dacres was forced to flée from his séelie slaine and miserable people taking his waie into Scotland so fast as his horsse might beare him Capteine Reade and the other capteins and soldiors of Berwike bare themselues right valiantlie and shewed proofe of their skill and line 60 hardie manhood in this skirmish After the which these holds and castels were taken and deliuered vnto the said lord Hunsdon Naworth which was committed vnto the kéeping of maister Scroope Kestwood Greistocke and Rockleie which were deliuered to the kéeping of diuerse of the duke of Norffolks officers On good fridaie the seauen and twentith of March Simon Digbie of Askue Iohn Fulthorpe of Isilbecke in the countie of Yorke esquiers Robert Peneman of Stokesleie Thomas Bishop the yoonger of Poklinton in the same countie of Yorke gentlemen were drawne from the castell of Yorke to the place of execution called Knaues mire halfe a mile without the citie of Yorke and there hanged headed and quartered their foure heads were set on foure principall gates of the citie with foure of their quarters the other in diuerse places of the countrie Osclope Clesbe was with them drawne to the gallows and returned againe to the castell William earle of Penbroke baron of Cardiffe knight of the garter one of the priuie councell and lord steward of the quéenes maiesties houshold deceased the eightéenth of Aprill and was buried in saint Paules church at London ¶ This noble man liued in great credit and estimation with king Henrie the eight king Edward the sixt quéene Marie and quéene Elisabeth and was by euerie of the said princes imploied in matters of great importance and for his good and faithfull seruice greatlie honored as appéereth in an epitaph fixed vpon his toome in the cathedrall church of saint Paule in London which I thought good here to laie downe Perpetuae pietati sacrum GVlielmo Herberto Penbrochiae comiti equiti aurato praenobilis ordinis Anglici Hen. viij R. A cubiculis Edoard vi R. equitum magistro Walliae praesidi Tumultu occidentali cum Russello Grato baronibus paribus auspicijs summae rerum praeposito Mariae R. contra perduelles ac expeditione ad Augustam Veromanduorum bis totius exercitus duci bis summo in agro Caletum limitum praefecto Elisab R. officiorum seu Magno Regiae magistro Pariter Dominae Annae ex vetusta Parrorum gente oriunda Sorori Catharinae R. Henr. viij R. vi matrimonio coniunctae ac Marchionis Northamptonij Prudentiss foeminae pietatis religionis probitatis omnÃsque auitae virtutis retinentiss fidiss Comitis coniugi Henr. F. ac comes Pp. chariss sibi ac suis moerens P. Olijt aetatis Ann. 63. Secunda coniuge superstite Georgio Salopiae comite genita insigni praeter antiquum probitatis decus virtute foemina Olijt salutis Ann. 1569. Secunda coniuge superstite Georgio Salopiae comite genita insigni praeter antiquum probitatis decus virtute foemina Liberis relictis ex prima Henrico Pemb. Comite Secunda coniuge superstite Georgio Salopiae comite genita insigni praeter antiquum probitatis decus virtute foemina Edoardo equite Aurato Secunda coniuge superstite Georgio Salopiae comite genita insigni praeter antiquum probitatis decus virtute foemina Domina Anna Baroni Talbot nupta Secunda coniuge superstite Georgio Salopiae comite genita insigni praeter antiquum probitatis decus virtute foemina The earle of Sussex in reuenge of the euill demeanor of the Scots inhabiting néere to the English marches as well in receiuing and succouring diuerse of the English rebels as other naughtie practises assembled such forces as he thought expedient in the night that followed the seauen and twentith of Aprill and hauing with him the lord Hunnesdon gouernour of Berwike and lord warden of the east marches sir William Drurie marshall of the said armie and towne of Berwike came to Warke being twelue miles distant from the said towne of Berwike then the next daie being the eightéenth of the same moneth they entered into Tiuidall in Scotland where marching in warlike order they burned ouerthrew wasted and spoiled all the castels townes and villages as they passed till they came to a tower called the Mosse tower standing in a marish and belonging to the lard of Buclewgh which likewise was rased ouerthrowne and burned and so marching forward wasted the whole countrie before them vntill they came to a great towne called Crauling The same daie sir Iohn Forster warden of the middle marches with all the garrisons and forces of the same entered likewise into Tiuidall at Espesgate distant sixteene miles from Warke where in like order they burned and spoiled the countrie before them till they came to a castell in the possession of the lard of Ferniherst being parcell of hir sons lands which likewise was ouerthrowne rased and burned with all other castels piles townes and villages all alongst the said countrie till they came to Crauling ioining there with the lord lieutenants power This towne was likewise burned and spoiled Thus they passed
master Edward Hobbie master Francis Darcie master Michaell Stanhoope master William Knols master Francis Knolles master George Digbie master Thomas Uauasor master Anthonie Mildemaie master Henrie Nowell master Nicholas Gorges master Michaell Harecourt master Fulke Greuill so as the whole traine that attended vpon the said earle was to the number of an hundred gentlemen and more than three hundred seruingmen line 10 The lord of Hunsdon had of gentlemen and others togither to the number of a hundred and fiftie and the lord Howard had as manie besides manie more whereof diuerse were hir maiesties seruants The quéene determined to accompanie the monsieur to the sea side yet neuerthelesse commanded the said lords to kéepe their course and to attend vpon his highnesse to the said place with all maner of solemnities interteinments and feastings He on the other side desired and besought hir maiestie not to depart line 20 from London as well for that the iournie would be painefull vnto hir and for that he saw the weather faire and wind fauorable and therefore was loth to loose anie occasion of performing his voiage with all spéed But he could not preuaile Wherevpon hir maiestie tooke hir iournie with hir whole court the first daie of Februarie lodged that night at Rochester The next daie abiding still at Rochester hir maiestie shewed him all hir great ships which were in that place into most whereof his line 30 highnesse and the prince and lords of his traine entered not without great admiration of the French lords gentlemen who confessed that of good right the quéene of England was reported to be ladie of the seas Also he beheld how all those ships were readie furnished and well appointed And hir maiestie told him that all those vessels the furniture of them should doo him seruice when soeuer he would imploie them for the which he most humblie thanked hir maiestie and so after all the great ordinance had béene line 40 shot off they returned for that daie againe to Rochester The third day they went to Sittingborne where dining both togither the queene was serued after the English manner by the greatest ladies of hir court and the monsieur after the French manner by the gentlemen of his traine which ladies and gentlemen dined afterwards togither Then his highnesse besought hir maiestie againe to go no further declaring vnto hir that the faire weather passed awaie line 50 But notwithstanding his intreatance the quéene went on still to Canturburie At which place after one daies tarriance when she had openlie feasted all the French nobilitie either part tooke their leaue of other not without great griefe and shew of verie great amitie especiallie betwéene hir maiestie and the monsieur Which thing was perceiued also in the lords and gentlemen of both nations likewise in the ladies to all whome it was like griefe to depart after they had béene conuersant and had liued line 60 friendlie and brotherlie togither by the space of three moneths without anie change or alteration of good willes But the honor which inforced his highnesse asswaged his griefe and made him to proceed on his iournie with the said prince and lords of both nations The sixt daie of the same moneth whereas he was determined to haue taken ship he was counselled to lodge that night of Sandwich bicause the wind was somewhat changed Howbeit some of the English gentlemen namelie master Killegreie master Diar and diuerse others to eschew thronging at their imbarking went to Douer and there taking ship the same night laie a while at anchor and somwhat after midnight sailed awaie with certeine other vessels The seuenth daie in the morning about nine of the clocke his highnesse tooke the sea in three great ships of war In the greatest of them named the Discouerer sailed the monsieur himselfe with the erle of Leicester and the lord Howard the viceadmerall in the second called the Sentinell went the prince Dolphin and in the third was the countie of Louall and the lord of Hunsdon Now as his highnesse was yet at anchor there came a post from a lord of England who brought him word that the states of the low countries were reuolted and namelie the citie of Antwerpe and therefore he praied him not to depart vntill he had more certeine newes Notwithstanding this his highnesse determined to depart and so sailed awaie with fifteene ships and he had so faire weather which continued euen vntill after his eniering into Antwerpe and his feasting and solemne interteinement there that the heauen the winds the sea and the earth séemed all to fauour his voiage and to further the gladnesse which the people shewed in receiuing him with so great good will In the meane time the prince of Orange séeing the time fit departed from Middleborough where he had taried the monsieurs comming six weekes and more and came to Flushing to take order for all things that were requisit for the honorable and commodious interteinement of so great a prince At the which place vnderstanding by the letters of the said lords ambassadours and others that the monsieur was departed from London and come to Canturburie and therefore thinking it would not be long yer he arriued there he dispatched monsieur Treslon his viceadmerall of Zeland with a litle pinnesse called the Chase to go before to meet the monsieur commanding him that as soone as he had discouered his fléet he should giue him a watchword thereof by the shot of two cannons Monsieur Treslon hauing about noonetide discouered the ships that were parted from Douer and thinking that they had béene the great fléet gaue his watchword which was the cause that a certeine vessell went foorth to the sea to méet his highnesse but anon after perceiuing his errour he returned to Flushing where by and by the fléet of Douer arriued Then monsieur Treslon going foorth found the monsieur and the great fleet betwéene Newport and Dunkirke where after salutation giuen and taken on either side the monsieur standing vpon the hatches of his ship espied his owne secretarie named Nephue standing likewise vpon the hatches of the Chase to whome he sent his shipbote commanding him to come aboord to him which thing he did and there aduertised the monsieur that as concerning the reuolting of the states there was no such matter but that all things went verie well that his highnesse was waited for with great longing That daie by reason the wind was turned northeast they could go no further but were faine to cast anchor ouer against a place called Ostend where they passed that night waiting for the tide the next morning His ships were perceiued by them of Flushing where after midnight arriued the lord of S. Aldegond who assured the prince of Orange that the next morning the monsieur would arriue there with the tide Wherevpon the prince of Orange and the prince of Espinoie with a great number of
hath passed all the rest And trulie the citie had no more but six daies respit to prepare for it as I said before in somuch that they could not put to making anie worke of silke nor of gold and siluer beaten or wouen nor anie imbroderie no nor in so short time make anie meane apparell new nor anie rare costlinesse of imageries pillers triumphall arches or other pageants but were constreined to make a shift with such things as they had in a readinesse aforehand of their owne store In other interteinments there haue in deed beene séene great plentie of riches and roialties in attires of kings and quéenes princes and princesses lords and ladies citizens and their wiues but in this interteinment no such were séene howbeit there was not anie grosenesse nor ought that might not well beséeme the neatnesse and finenesse of that people although it came nothing neere the sumptuousnesse of other interteinements As touching triumphall arches chariots portraitures and such other shewes although there were manie wittie inuentions and agreeable to the time yet haue men séene of them in other places which might match these And as touching the number of their people although it was great yet it is well knowen that Paris excéedeth them in that behalfe But the onelie reason of this contentment commeth chéeflie of the great number of people in armour being not fewer than twentie thousand in so good and so faire armour and of their order and obedience and of the small noise which all that huge multitude made in somuch that if it had not béene for the thundering of the canons and the sounding of trumpets clarions halboies and other instruments there was no more noise than is among a councell of graue men That then was in mine opinion the onlie verie cause which was greatlie furthered by their beholding of the monsieur of Brabant who representing the statelinesse of old time was clothed in a large mantell with the bonnet of his dukedome vpon his head so that among that great number of people which were so well armed that thrée of the best cities in christendome could not shew so manie faire armors of their owne his highnesse resembled a pretious stone or iewell set in fine gold And bicause that they which were the beholders thereof for they could not be euerie where nor sée euerie thing will be verie glad to vnderstand of the things that so escaped them and delight their minds now with the remembrance of the things which they saw before as they delighted their eies and minds with the beholding of them that daie and strange nations to whom the fame of that so renowmed daies worke is come will take pleasure to vnderstand the same whereof they could not be beholders Therefore is this booke set foorth for the satisffing of all men and also to make it knowen to a line 10 number of men who partlie for enimitie partlie for enuie and partlie for other surmises and mistrusts will not beléeue it with what mind and affection the prince of Orange and the other lords and noblemen of Brabant the good cities and the small townes and namelie the most renowmed citie of Antwerp haue receiued their new prince and souereigne lord The ninetéenth daie of the foresaid moneth in the forenoone the monsieur the duke of Aniou departed from Lislo and sailed towards Antwerpe hauing line 20 in his companie but twentie ships for the rest had gotten to Antwerpe afore as well to put themselues in a readinesse as for other affaires And he came about eight of the clocke nigh to the new towne and passing along by the townes side left the foreland of Flanders on his right hand and the towne on his left and passed beyond all the towne and the place where the castell was By the waie he heard all the canons shot off from that part of the towne which faceth the riuer from a great number of ships which line 30 rode at anchor there and he saw all the wharfes furnished with men of warre of the citie well armed who welcommed him with their shot and were answered againe by the ships of warre that accompanied him conducted by monsieur de Treslon and the viceadmerals and diuerse capteins of Flushing And so the first foot that he did set on land in Brabant was at a village called Kiell which is at the canon wharfe at Antwerpe The states of Brabant the magistrates of the citie and diuers other states line 40 comming in like order on horssebacke to the same place with their trumpets sergeants and heralds apparelled in cotes of the armes of Lothier Brabant and Limborough alighted there and waited on foot at the wharfe to receiue his highnesse and to shew him the good will and affection of the states and people But the prease of people was so great which resorted thither to sée the prince whome they looked for to be their duke and againe there were so manie impediments in his landing that it was found better line 50 for them by the aduise of the prince of Orange to returne backe and to tarie for his highnesse vpon a theater which was prepared for him This theater was set vp towards a corner of the castell and opened towards the citie so as his highnesse being there might at one time view both the citie and the castell and behold the counterscarffes the déepe ditches full of faire water cléere to the verie bottome of the chanell inclosed on either side with hewne stone the great and faire buildings line 60 the goodlie walles beautifull to looke on and verie thicke and the broad rampires garnished with trees planted by hand that it resembled a little forest The monsieur was brought vp to this theater accompanied with the prince Dolphin the onelie sonne of the duke of Montpanuser the earle of Leceister and other English lords representing the quéene of England the princes of Orange and Espinoie the countié de Lauall the other English lords the countie de Chateauroux and a great sort of the barons lords and gentlemen besides the chiefe magistrats and maisters of the companies of the citie of Antwerpe The lords of the state of Brabant waiting vpon the theater came dutifullie downe to go and méet his highnesse which thing he perceiuing did stand still Then the prince of Orange stepped foorth to take his place among the states as one of the chiefe lords and barons of the duchie of Brabant As soone as they had saluted his highnesse and with great humblenesse kissed his hand they mounted vp the steps againe with him after whome followed the princes and lords of France and of England and when they were come vp aboue they ranged themselues on either side There was set for the monsieur a chaire couered with cloth of gold wherein he sat him downe And vpon the theater there was likewise a trauerse of cloth of gold and all the theater was
woorsteds commmonlie called Norwich woorsted was first practised and tooke their beginning which tempest beat the corne flat vnto the ground rent vp manie great trees and shiuered them in peeces or woond them like withies At Hening more than a mile from Worsted the west doore of the church weieng more than thrée hundred pound weight was lifted off the hookes and throwne ouer the font within one yard of the chancell doore the top of the church was riuen vp and the lead as it were blowen awaie fiue webs of lead were ruffled vp togither like as they had béene clouts of linnen cloth and blowen into the field without the churchyard Also at east Russen were manie barnes blowen downe and houses vncouered This yeare Michaelmasse terme was reiourned from the vtas thereof vntill the fourth returne of the same called Mense Michaelis and from the said returne vntill the returne commonlie called Crastino animarum next insuing then reiorned from Westminster to the castell of Hertford in Hertfordshire there to begin in the said Crastino animarum and to be continued till the end of the same terme which was doone accordinglie where was plentie of good viands to be had for monie but lodging hard and scant besides the long and plashie waie that manie had vnto their hosts and then peraduenture sléepe in the chimneie corner or vpon the hard boords with a pillow vnder their heads Was not this a good amends This yeare Peter Moris frée denison hauing made an engine for that purpose conueied Thames water in pipes of lead ouer the stéeple of saint Magnus church at the north end of London bridge and so into diuerse mens houses in Thames stréet new Fish stréet and Grasse street vp vnto the northwest corner of Leaden hall the highest ground of the citie of Londâ—n where the waste of the first maine pipe ran first this yeare one thousand fiue hundred eightie and two on Christmasse éeuen which maine pipe being since at the charges of the citie brought vp into a standard there made for that purpose and diuided into foure seuerall spouts ran foure waies plentifullie seruing to the vse of the inhabitants néere adioining that will fetch the same into their houses and also clensed the chanels of the stréets north towards Bishopsgate east towards Aldgate south towards the Bridge and west towards the Stocks market No doubt a great commoditie to that part of the citie and would be farre greater if the said water were mainteined to run continuallie or at the least at euerie tide some reasonable quantitie as at the first it did but since is much aslaked thorough whose default I know not sith the engine is sufficient to conueie water plentifullie which being well considered by Barnard Randolph esquier common sergeant of the citie of London he being aliue gaue and deliuered to the companie of the fishmongers in London a round sum to be imploied toward the conducting of Thames water for the good seruice of the commonwealth in conuenient order Other legacies verie liberallie and bountifullie he gaue by his testament to be laid out in works of charitie as I haue noted more at large hereafter in due line 10 place vpon occasion of recording the daie of his death The publication of whose acts as also of diuerse others if they may mooue the rich of this world to part with some small portion of their store to the like christian vses I shall be glad and thinke my paines worth the printing otherwise I saie with one that persuading this age to walke worthie of their calling and doubting his words should be but wind concluded with this interrogatiue distichon Sed quid verba miser non proficientia per do line 20 Quid iuuat in vacuos missa loquela notos This yeare 1582 was there instituted and first founded a publike lecture or lesson in surgerie to begin to be read in the college of physicians in London in Anno 1584 the sixt daie of Maie against that time new reedified in a part of the house that doctor Linacre gaue by testament to them by Iohn Lumleie lord Lumleie and Richard Caldwell doctor in physicke to the honour of God the common profit of hir maiesties subiects and good same with line 30 increase of estimation and credit of all the surgians of this realme The reader whereof to be a doctor of physicke and of good practise and knowledge and to haue an honest stipend no lesse than those of the vniuersities erected by king Henrie the eight namelie of law diuinitie and physicke and lands assured to the said college for the maintenance of the publike lesson wherevnto such statutes be annexed as be for the great commoditie of those which shall giue and incline themselues to be diligent hearers for the obteining line 40 of knowledge in surgerie as whether he be learned or vnlearned that shall become an auditor or hearer of the lecture he may find himselfe not to repent the time so imploied First twise a wéeke thorough out the yeare to wit on wednesdaies and fridaies at ten of the clocke till eleuen shall the reader read thrée quarters of an houre in Latine and the other quarter in English wherein that shall be plainlie declared for those that vnderstand not Latine what was said in Latine And the first yeare to read Horatius Morus tables an epitome or briefe handling line 50 of all the whole art of surgerie that is of swellings or apostems wounds vlcers bonesetting and healing of bones broken termed commonlie fractions and to read Oribasius of knots and Galen of bands such workes as haue beene long hid and are scarselie now a daies among the learned knowen and yet are as the anatomies to the first enterers in surgerie and nouices in physicke but amongst the ancient writers and Grecians well line 60 knowne At the end of the yeare in winter to disseâ—t openlie in the reading place all the bodie of man especiallie the inward parts for fiue daies togither as well before as after dinner if the bodies may so last without annoie The second yeare to read Tagaultius institutions of surgerie and onelie of swellings or apostems and in the winter to dissect the trunke onelie of the bodie namelie from the head to the lowest part where the members are and to handle the muscles especiallie The third yeare to read of wounds onelie of Tagaultius and in winter to make publike dissection of the head onelie The fourth yeare to read of vlcers onlie the same author and to anatomize or dissect a leg and an arme for the knowledge of muscles sinewes arteries veines gristles ligaments and tendons The fift yeare to read the sixt booke of Paulus Aegineta and in winter to make anatomie of a skeleton therwithall to shew declare the vse of certeine instruments as Scamnum Hippocratis and other instruments for setting in of bones The sixt yeare to read Holerius of the matter
my selfe to giue you cause to thinke your good will not ill bestowed and striue to make my selfe worthie for such subiects And now for your petition I shall praie you for this present to content your selues with an answer without answer Your iudgement I condemne not neither doo I mistake your reasons line 20 but praie you to accept my thankefulnesse excuse my doubtfulnesse and take in good part my answer answerlesse wherein I attribute not so much to mine owne iudgement but that I thinke manie particular persons maie go before me though by my degrée I go before them Therefore if I should saie I would not doo what you request it might peraduenture be more than I thought and to saie I would doo it might perhaps bréed perill of that you labour to preserue being more than in line 30 your owne wisedoms and discretions would séeme conuenient circumstances of place and time being dulie considered Thus far the procéeding against the Scotish quéene as the same is reported by R. C. Now followeth the publication of the same which was doone with great port and statelinesse For vpon tuesdaie being the sixt daie of December the lord maior of London assisted with diuers earls and barons line 40 the aldermen in their scarlet gownes the principall officers of the citie the greatest number of gentlemen of the best accompt in and about the citie with the number of fourescore of the most graue worshipfullest citizens in cotes of veluet and chaines of gold all on horsse backe in most solemne and statelie maner by the sound of foure trumpets about ten of the clocke in the forenone made open and publike proclamation and declaration of the sentence latelie giuen by the nobilitie against line 50 the quéene of Scots vnder the great seale of England bearing date at Richmont the fourth daie of December being openlie read by master Sebright towne-clerke of London with lowd voice solemnelie proclamed by the sargent at armes of the said citie in foure seuerall places to wit at the crosse in Cheape at the end of Chancerie lane in Fleetstreet ouer against the Temple at Leaden hall corner and at saint Magnus corner néere London bridge During which time the like solemne proclamations line 60 were made with great solemnities in the countie of Middlesex namelie in the palace at Westminster without Temple barre and in Holborne by the shiriffes of London and Midlesex assisted with sundrie noblemen gentlemen of good account and the iustices of peace of the said countie to the great and woonderfull reioising of the people of all sorts as manifestlie appeared by their eger running after the portlie traine their thronging to heare the same published their ringing of bels making of bonfires and singing of psalmes in euerie stréet and lane of the citie The said proclamation followeth A true copie of the proclamation latelie published by the queenes maiestie vnder the great seale of England for the declaring of the sentence latelie giuen against the queene of Scots in forme as followeth ELisabeth by the grace of God quéene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. Whereas we were giuen to vnderstand very crediblie though to our great greefe that diuerse things were and of late time had beene compassed imagined and resolutelie intended tending directlie to the hurt and destruction of our roiall person and to the subuersion of the state of our realme by forren inuasions and rebellions at home as well by the quéene of Scots remaining in our realme vnder our protection as by manie diuerse other wicked persons with hir priuitie who had fréelie confessed the same and had therevpon receiued open triall iudgement and execution according to the lawes for their deserts And though in verie truth we were greatlie and deeplie gréeued in our mind to thinke or imagine that anie such vnnaturall and monstrous acts should be either deuised or willinglie assented vnto against vs by hir being a princesse borne and of our sex and bloud and one also whose life honor we had manie times before saued and preserued yet were we so directlie drawne to thinke all the same to be true by the sight and vnderstanding of such proofes as were manifestlie produced afore vs vpon matters that had as well procéeded from hir selfe as from the conspirators themselues who voluntarilie fréelie without anie coercion had confessed their conspirations both iointlie with hir and directed by hir against our person and our realme and therefore also we saw great reason to thinke the same ouer dangerous to be suffered to passe onward to take their full effect Wherefore we were by sundrie lords of our nobilitie and others our louing subiects earnestlie mooued and counselled to take vndelaied order for the inquisition and examination of all these dangerous enterprises conspiracies by sundrie waies directlie auowed to be by the said quéen of Scots against vs and our realme certeinlie intended and also to vse all present meanes with expedition to withstand or rather to preuent the same And for that we were verie vnwilling to procéed against hir considering hir birth and estate by such vsuall sort as by the common lawes of the realme we might haue lawfullie doone which was by indictment and arreignment by ordinarie iuries therefore in respect both of our owne honor and of hir person we yéelded by good aduise giuen to vs to procéed in the most honorable sort that could be deuised within our realme to the examination hereof according to a late act of parlement made the thrée and twentith daie of Nouember in the seuen and twentith yeare of our reigne Wherevpon by our commission vnder our great seale of England bearing date at our castell of Windsore in our countie of Barkeshire the sixt daie of October now last past we did for that purpose according to that statute assigne name and appoint all the lords and others of our priuie councell and so manie other earls and barons lords of parlement of the greatest degrée and most ancient of the nobilitie of this our realme as with the same lords and others of our priuie councell made vp the number of fortie and two adding also thereto a further number according to the tenor of the foresaid act of parlement of certeine of the cheefest and other principall iudges of the courts of record at Westminster amounting in the whole to the number of fortie and seuen to examine all things compassed and imagined tending to the hurt of our roiall person as well by the said quéene of Scots by the name of Marie the daughter heire of Iames the fift late king of Scots commonlie called the quéene of Scots Dowager of France as by anie other by hir priuitie and all the circumstances thereof therevpon according to the tenor of the said act of parlement to giue sentence or iudgment as vpon good proofe the matter vnto them should appeare as line 10 by the same commission more fullie appeareth And where