same place Gentleman That hee and his complices did imagine the Kings death at his Coronation The combat was granted and in Smithfield the Duke of Yorke exercising the office of high Constable they fought in lists In the end the Kings name was vsed to part and forgiue them It is a vice to suspect too farre The Duke of Yorke a most subtle man seemes neuer in heart to haue beene a true subiect to King Henry yet no man saith hee was any author in this Henrie the common wealth hauing yeelded to liber all grants of money is now ready to enter Paris England remained vnder the gouernment of the Duke of Glocester 20 There is no doubt that the English there at their Kings presence set forth their greatnes to the full shew The yong King attended vpon with two English Cardinals Yorke and Winchester and great Princes of his blood Dukes Earles Barons Prelates and the flower of our nation with many aswel French and Burgonians as Normans and others excellentlie well appointed makes a triumphant entry into the head City of that most noble Monarchy There was no signe in the People but of ioy and welcome the showes were many and magnificent Vpon the seuenth day of December he was solemnely Crowned King of France by the Cardinall of Winchester his great vncle in the Chiefe Church of Paris called of our Lady The Duke of Bedford entertained the minds of the Assembly with a set speech wherein he declared King Henrie his Nephewes vndoubted title to that Crowne and commended the same to their fidelities adding ample promises of honour and emolument Such of the French Nobilitie as were present did their homage The people had good and gratious words giuen vnto them and certaine quantities of money Corne and wine in the nature of a donatiue liberally distributed among them Proclamations were made that all Frenchmen who came in by a day there named should be protected The Kings Patents and grants touching French matters passed vnder the seale and stile of Henry King of the Frenchmen and of England which Seale for variety we haue prefixed as we found it annexed * to a writing directed by the King to his Court of Requests in his Pallace at Paris but for English affaires he vsed another Seale being in euery point like vnto that of King Henry the fourth and as some thinke the very same stamp which therefore we haue here omitted as likewise some Charters of his there are whereunto he affixed the seale of his father Charles of France esteemed not himselfe the lesse a King for all this but pursues his affaire His people tooke the City of Chartres by a stratagem the Bishop whereof because a Burgundian they also put to the sword with others Neither were the English idle Iohn Duke of Norfolke Thomas Earle of Arundel Richard Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke the Earle of Suffolke and others made vp this losse with aduantage Their actions are placed by some as done before the Coronation which is likely The King hauing thus taken possession of France not long after tooke his farewell thereof His returne was by Roan and so ouer land to Callais from whence vpon the eleuenth day of February hee arriued safe at Douer His vncle the Duke of Glocester was able to giue an honest and good account of the Gouernment during the kings absence The suppressiō of an insurrection beginning at Abingdon in Oxfordshire was not the least seruice A weauer the Baliffe of the Towne was the vlcerous head to which that corruption gathered who had changed his own name and called himselfe Iacke Sharpe of Wigmores land in Wales The speciall colour of his attempt was to haue massacred Priests whose heads he said hee would make as cheape as Sheepes-heads that is two or three or ten for a penny But the mention of Wigmores lands the ancient inheritance of Mortimer then the possession of the fatall Duke of Yorke who afterward in the right of that name challenged the Crowne of England from King Henry insinuates somewhat further The varlet forfeited his head and foure quarters for his attempt It is to be wondred that the Councell of Estate vnder King Henry hearing that title so often glanced at prouided not better against the mischiefe But the eies and hearts of the wise are blinded when God hath a purpose to reserue a scourge or to hide the fire which shall afterward be vsed to consume a nation Vnquiet humors were aswell abroad as at home The souldiers of Callais discontented with their wages as to little began to be mutinously troublesome The Regent comes thither in person in Easter weeke where he exerciseth necessary discipline seuerely Foure the most faulty lost their heads one hundred and ten are cashered and banisht from the Towne as sixe score others had formerly beene Why dwell we vpon so petty accidents The losse of the Kingdome of France is imminent Let vs diligently note the degrees which God found out to depriue our Nation of that honor In this iourney of the Regent King Henries interest was not aduanced The Regent a widdower roade from thence to Turwin where without the Burgundians priuity he married the Lady Iaquet aged about seuenteene yeeres daughter to Peter of Lutzembourg Earle of S. Paul no friend to the Burgundian This was nothing prosperous to the English affaires For Anne the Regents former wife sister to the Duke of Burgundy being while shee liued a strong reason and assurance of amitie weakened the same by her death and this second marriage not pleasing the Burgundian did yet more diminish it These were but degrees In the meane space the accidents of warre between the English and French were manifold and perplext now wee now they leesing or gaining as opportunity serued which vncertainties brought forth their ordinary progenies fearefull outrages and s◅rcitie of all things needfull for the vse of man It would be wearisome and not much necessary to recount the particular lesser actions neitheir indeed is it easie for who can readily tell the sieges surprises skirmishes and the like being so confusedly set down by Authors wherein diuers of both Nations wanne to themselues much honour and serued the vses of those times and their owne The vttermost effect of those great labours was that the English Regency fell not forthwith into nothing Permanent leaders in those publike seruices were the Regent himselfe their maine Pillar and Chiefe life Thomas Earle of Arundel Richard Earle of Warwicke Henry his Sonne the Lord Willoughby the thrice noble Iohn Lord Talbot who was now at liberty the Lord Scales besides Knights Esquires and other valiant Captaines a multitude 21 The fortune of Renate Duke of Barre is not to be omitted for that afterward our King vnluckely married into his house He had to wife Isabell the daughter and heire of Charles Duke of Lorraine by whom he had issue two sonnes
Ensigne as that which here is called Tufa Iustus Lipsius in his Commentarie vpon that place in Vegetius lib. 3. cap. 5. where the seuerall Ensignes of the Romans are recited doth declare correcting that place of Vegetius where Rufa was set for Tufa by this place of Bede and in the same shewing that Tufa signified a Ball as the Ball by the example of Augustus was an Ensigne of Monarchie or absolute gouernment 9 But as the Sunne hath his rising his height and descent and euer is moouing in the circle of his celestiall orbe so man hath his birth time being and death and till then is neuer staied in one certaine point Kings therefore as they be Kings are the Suns of their owne world but as they are men goe to the shadow of death neither can the strength of their power wisdome or policie loue or applause stay the hand heere that holds the fatall knife for so in this King Edwin wee see raised aboue hope to attaine the Diademe and ruling in loue and liking of the people was notwithstanding cut off in the midst of his glorie and greatnesse of strength 10 For Penda the stout Mercian enuying his peace and Cadwallo the Britaine seeking to receiue his right ioined in friendship against this Monarch and met him as his enemies in the face of a Field The plaine was large and called Hethfeild where after a long and most bloudie fight king Edwin was slaine with prince Offryd his sonne his whole Host put to the sword or most shamefull flight which chanced the fourth of October the yeere of our Lord six hundred thirty three the sixth of his Christianitie the seuenth of his Monarchie the seuenteenth of his kingdome and the forty seuenth of his age His bodie was lastly buried in S. Peters Church at Streaâ—…shall after called Whitby His Wiues 11 Quenburg his first wife was the daughter as Beda reporteth of Ceorle but as all other Writers doe witnesse of Crida King of Mercia She was married vnto him in the beginning of his youth and when he was dispossessed of his inheritance by the Tyrant Etheifrid as we haue said with him shee liued a great part of his banishment and in the Court of Redwald King of the East-Angles deceased before her husband could recouer his Kingdome 12 Ethelburg surnamed Tate was the second wife of this King who was the daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent and of Queene Berta his first wife She was married vnto him in the yeere of grace six hundred twentie fiue being the second of his Monarchy and was his wife six yeeres but suruiuing him and desirous to liue a religious life shee returning into Kent withdrew her selfe to a place not far from the Sea side called Lymming wherein shee built a Monasterie of Nunnes and among them spent the rest of her life and therein died and was there buried His Issue 13 Offride the eldest sonne of King Edwine and Quenberg his first wife was borne in the time of his fathers exile among the East-Angles He was baptized in the faith of Christ by Paulinus the first Archbishop of Yorke and was slaine the same day and in the same battell that his father was He had a sonne named Iffy who was baptized also by Bishop Paulins and after the death of his father and grand-father for feare of King Oswald was conueied ouer the Seas into France to bee brought vp in the Court of King Dagobert where he died in his childhood and was there honourably interred 14 Edfrid the second sonne of King Edwine and Lady Quenberg his first wife was borne in the time of his fathers exile and baptized with his brother Offrid by Bishop Paulinus After his fathers death for feare of King Oswald hee fled to Penda King of Mercia who was his fathers enemie and his mothers kinsman by whom hee was most treacherously murthered He left behind him a son named Hererik who by his wife Bertswith had issue the vertuous learned lady Hilda Abbesse of Streansbalch Queen Hereswith her sister the wife of Ethelbere King of the East-Angles brother to King Anâ—…a by whom shee had issue Ald wolfe Elswold and Beorne all three succeeding Kings of the East-Angles 15 Ethelme the third sonne of King Edwine and the first of Queen Ethelburg his second wife was baptized by Paulinus Arch-bishop of Yorke not long after his father and halfe-brethren but in short space after his baptisme he departed out of this world euen in the time that he wore the white attire which in those daies was vsed to bee worne by such as were newly baptized for a certaine space His body was with all due funerall obsequies enterred within the new Church of S. Peter in the Citie of Yorke which his father had newly founded 16 Vskfrea the fourth sonne of King Edwine and the second of Queene Ethelburg his second wife and the last and youngest of them both bare the name of his fathers great grandfather He was baptized by the Arch-bishop Paulinus at one time with his brother Ethelme After the decease of his father his mother carried him with her out of Northumberland into Kent and from thence conueied him ouer into France with his Nephew Iffy the sonne of his halfe-brother Offrid where hee continued in the custodie of King Dagobert being his mothers cosen-german and there died and was honourably buried in a Church with his Nephew Iffy 17 Eanfled the elder daughter of King Edwine and Queene Ethelberg his second wife was borne the night following that her father was wounded and baptized hee being a Pagan Shee was afterwards married to Oswy the fourth King of Northumberland and tenth Monarch of the Englishmen as shall bee said 18 Etheldrid the younger daughter the fifth and last-borne child to King Edwine and of Queene Ethelburge was baptized at the same time with Ethelwe and Vskfrea her brethren She died an infant the white clothing not yet put off which in those daies was vsually worne at certaine set times after their baptisme and was with like funerall obsequies buried by her brother Ethelwe in the Church of S. Peters in Yorke which their father had founded OSVVALD KING OF NORTHVMBERLAND AND THE NINTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS RAIGNE WIFE AND ISSVE CHAPTER XXI OSwald the fifth King of Deira the ninth of Bernicia the third of Northumberland and the ninth Monarch of the Englishmen began his raigne the yeere of Christs incarnation six hundred thirty foure He with Eanfrith and his brethren the sonnes of wilde Ethelfrid and Osrik also the sonne of Alfrid King Edwins Vncle had been secured in Scotland all his raigne and among the Red-shanks liued as banished men where they learned the true religion of Christ and had receiued the Lauer of Baptisme But Edwines death wrought and divulged these Princes returne again to their Country and the Northumbrians Kingdome lately gouerned by one was now againe diuided into two seuerall parts as formerly it had been 2
kingdome is now brought to a setled estate and with such loue and liking of the English as that they will neuer admit any more a stranger to rule ouer them And as touching the contract with his yonger daughter hee well seeth that God hath taken away that occasion of alienating the Crowne and surely his Law hath likewise prouided remedy against such rash vâ—…ws whose precepts I mean to follow and therefore said he will your Duke to weigh my estate with his own both his and mine now in quiet sufficient for two and either of them employment enough for one mans Gouernment and therefore both of them too much to bee well gouerned by one seeing that God himselfe had set a sea betwixt them With these and the like speeches hee shifted off the Dukes Ambassadors without all princely entertainements or courteous regard 18 The messengers returned and Harolds answeres declared William lion-like enraged casteth his thoughts about plotting reuenge and making some oddes euen that might impeach his designes prepared all things for open warre Harold likewise not sleeping his businesse made ready his Fleete mustered his souldiers and planted his Garrisâ—…s along the Sea-coast But in these his proceeâ—…gs beholdâ—… great and fearefull Comete appeared seldom a figne to Princes of fortunate successe vpon the twenty fourth of Aprill and lasted onely seuen dayes which drew the minds of the English into great suspense now ready to enter into a double warre 19 For as 〈◊〉 the Norman for his part claymed England by gift so Harfager the Daâ—…e did by succession the rumors of both which greatly terrified the heartes of the inhabitants and yet behold a third terrour vnexpected contrary to nature and most mens opinions suddainely arose for Tosto the cruell Earle of Northumberland and brother to Harold expulsed by his people and proscribed by King Edward fled into France where by the instigations of William whose wiues sister hee had married both of them the daughters of Balwine Earle of Flanders he got for his reuenge a Fleet furnished with men at Armes and thus prepared his first fury was shewed in spoiling the I le of Wight then coasting the shore shrewdly endammaged Kent whence hoisâ—…ng saile fell foule vpon Lincolnshire where Morcar and Edwine Earles of Chester and Yorkeshire aided with the Kings Nauie droue him from thence though with some losse of their men 20 Tosto for more succour fled into Scotland where of King Malcolme he had but cold comfort himselfe being busied with ciuill broiles but howsoeuer his expectation there failed yet his purposes were continued with the assistance of Harold Harfager that is the Faire-lockes King of Denmarke who with three hundred shippes had entred the riuer Tyne for Englands inuasion after his conquest of the Iles of Orknes Tosto therefore ioining his Fleet to these Danes in warlike brauerie both of them enter the mouth of Humber and drawing vp the riuer Ouse at Richhall landed their men making spoile of the Country wheresoeuer they came To meet with these the foresaid Earles Edwin and Morcar in a tumultuous hast raised their powers but were so ouerlaid by the Norwegians that many were slaine and more drowned in passing ouer that riuer 21 The enemy grown proud by this late victory hasted towards Yorke the chiefe Citie of the North where planting his siege it was presently yeelded vp and hostages deliuered vpon both parts for the performance of couenants The Danes thus prospering had most strongly encamped themselues for backed they were with the German Ocean flanked on the left hand with the riuer Humber wherein also their Fleete rid at Anker and had on their right hand and afront the riuer Derwent so that it seemed impossible to raise this siege 22 But Harold thinking the coasts cleere from all danger the Equinoctiall at hand and Nauigation now past the victuals in his Fleet spent and notice from Earle Balwin of Flanders that Duke William meant not his voiage that yeere was about to disband his Army When this sudden newes from the North pierced his eare no need it was then to bid him make haste thither the case standing so neere him as it did Therefore recalling his Army posted to Yorke and from thence marched against the Norwegians who lay secured with such aduantage as wee haue said Notwithstanding Harold couragiously ordered his battell and assaied to passe the Bridge called Stamford built ouer Derwent which one onely Dane made good for a time against his whole host and with his Ax slew forty of his men till lastly this Dane was slaine with a dart 23 The Bridge gotten and the English reduced into their rankes Harold most boldly set vpon his enemies euen in their Campe where the battaile with equall valour and fortune was maintained a time till lastly the Norwegians disarraied and scattered were slaine outright and among them the two Chieftaines Harfager and Tosto with may others of worth and account lost their liues Olane the sonne of this Harfager and Paul Earle of Orkeney who kept their Fleet Seas whilest his Father and followers fought vpon land were brought to King Harold and to haue their liues spared abiured the Land and thenceforth to attempt no hostilitie against the English peace and with twenty small vessels to cary away their slaine and hurt were suffered to depart bringing heauy newes into Denmarke of the losse of their King and ouerthrow of his Army 24 By this victory thus happily obtained fell vnto Harold an exceeding rich booty both of gold and siluer besides the great Armado of Tosto and Harfager whereby his mind was soone set aloft and he began to grow both proud and odious vnto his Army the rather for that he diuided not the spoiles vnto them that had deserued it a wrong that the common Souldier doth continually murmure at and commonly endure 25 Now in this current of King Harolds fortunes William the Norman had the more leasure to strengthen his owne and often conferring with his Captaines about Englands inuasions found them euer resolute and cheerefull that way the difficultie onely rested how to prouide money enough the very sinewes whereby the vast body of an Army must be knit strengthned for a subsidy being propounded vnto the assembly of the Norman States it was answered that a former warre against the French had empouerished much of their wealth that if new wars were now raised therein their substance spent to gain other parts it would be thereby so wasted as that hardly it would be sufficient to defeÌ„d their own that they thought it more safety to hold what he had then on hazard of their own to inuade the territories of others that this war inteÌ„ded iust though it were yet seemed not necessary but exceeding daÌ„gerous besides said they the Normans were not by their allegiance bound to Military seruices in forrein parts therefore such paiments could not bee assessed vpon them
Barons and knights to the number of aboue fourescore and ten were taken prisoners by a man of small fortunes Andrew de Herckley Captaine of the City of Carleil and Sir Simon Ward Captaine of Yorke who with great forces out of those parts stopt their farther passage at Burrowbrigge as the Kings forces tooke all safegard from them behind 40 The third day after their apprehension the King in person being set in iudgement at Pontfract and with him Edmund Earle of Kent Aymerie Earle of Pemb◅ke Iohn de Warren Earle of Surrey and among others the Lord Hugh de Spenser the Father as also Hugh Spenser his sonne the Earle of Lancaster was brought before them and had sentence pronounced against him by the said Andrew de Herckley created afterward Earle of Carliel and the Kings Iusticiar the Lord Maplesthorpe as against an Arch-Traitour neuerthelesse for reuerence of his bloud being the Kings neere Kinsman drawing and hanging were remitted vnto him but his head was stricken off the same day without the Towne of Pontfract 41 Nor satisfied herewith the King gaue full way to reuenge putting to shamefull death by drawing hanging and as some write quartering in sundry places all the Barons the Lord Roger D'amarie onely excepted who died of his naturall death with sundry Baronets and Knights taken at Burroughbrig and elsewhere The Lord Badlesmere at whose house this tragicall fire beganne was executed at Canterburie And that so great and mighty a man as Thomas Earle of Lancaster should not seeme to die without a bloudie complement sutable to his condition there were hanged and quartered vpon the same day at Pontefract fiue or sixe Barons and the next day at Yorke were hanged in yron chaines the Lords Clifford Mowbray Dey-uill and others afterward in other places to the number in all though all of them not Barons of twenty and two the chiefest Captaines of the Realme suffered death for their disloyalties Threescore and twelue Knights more were dispersed into sundry prisons who saith De la Moore vpon fines paid had afterward their Liberties 42 As for the said Thomas Earle of Lancaster there are so many reasons why he cannot reasonably be iudged either a good subiect or a good man that we may worthily wonder why some at that time should repute him a Saint Certainely the wise and discreet old Writers are not so opinionated of him but note his priuate life for vicious himselfe to be nothing valorous and of the publike not well deseruing omitting his contumelious behauiours toward the King his Soueraign Lord in his discomforts which as Walsingham forgets not to relate so thinkes he that the like was worthily vsed toward that Earle himselfe who when hee was brought prisoner to Pontfract his owne Castle but then surrendred the whole multitude derided and called him in scorne King Arthur by which name hee was designed as some write in the Scottish Cypher intercepted prouing a conspiracy with Scots but the very shoppe where his and the other Barons original Treasons were forged was the Parliament house wherein from time to time they forced on the King presumptuous and treasonous Ordinations whereby the Peeres challenged not onely to reforme the Kings house and Councell and to place and displace all great Officers at their pleasure but euen a ioint interest in the Regiment of the Kingdome together with the King which William Inge a Iudge of the Common-Law with other like sticklers traiterously perswading them to be according to Law 43 Of his ill deseruings toward the common-Weale who for the good thereof could not disgest any indignity let this bee a kind of demonstration for when King Edward hauing by strait siege brought Berwicke neere to termes of yeelding chanced once to breake forth after his vaine manner into these words The Lord Hugh Spenser shall be captaine of the Castle when it is taken the Earle forthwith with others of his affection abandoned the seruice by reason of which departure it was thought that Berwicke was not as then obtained and that the enemy therby had great aduantage in all their attempts The names of such Barons besides Banerets and some few others of special note as perished by hatchet and halter for this businesse as out of so great variety of Writers wee could now gather them were At Pontfrait Thomas Earle of Lancaster The Lord Warren Lile The Lord William Tochet The Lord Thomas Mandute The Lord Henry de Bradburne The L. Williā Fitz-Williā the yonger The Lord William Cheyney At Yorke The Lord Roger Clifford son of that Robert Lord Clifford who was slaine by the Scots with Gilbert Earle of Gloster at the battell of Banocksbourne in the seruice of this King The Lord Iohn Mowbray The Lord Iosceline Deynuile At Gloster The Lord Iohn Gifford At London The Lord Henrie Teyes At Windsor The Lord Frances de Aldenham At Canterburie The L. Bartholmew de Badlesmere The L. Bartholmew de Ashburnham Neuer did English earth at one time drinke so much bloud of her Nobles in so vile manner shed as at this which whatsoeuer could bee pretended as doubtlesse their offence was capitall yet all was taken to be done as in the quarrell of the Spensers onely nor was it vnreuenged as will appeare in the mean space their enemies not contented with their bloud procured also the confiscation of their estates and inheritances 44 King Edward thinking that this exploit had made him terrible aswell to the Scots as it had done to the English marcheth with a mighty hoast into Scotland from whence not long after for want of victuals hee was compelled to returne without the honor of any atchieuement and being vpon his returne was sodainely by Scots assailed in the night very narrowly escaping in his owne person and with a few saued himself by flight leauing his treasure furniture for pillage and so came sorrowfull to Yorke Iohn de Britain Earle of Richmond was taken prisoner by the enemy and the rest of the Country defaced with destructions as farre as to the wals of that City 45 Thus passed this yeere to the English full of losse reproach and lamentation by reason of their intestine discord and the shambles of their Nobles to the King infamous and hatefull also for his vnfortunate iourney into the Northern parts c. But these bloudy and tempestuous winds blew some to profit for during the space of about fiue yeeres after the fortune of the Spencers hugely encreased and the Queenes decreased who for her relenting toward the Lords expressing some dislikes of these ranckly-growing weeds was grown to beare a share in the persecution And that these with such like violent men working vpon the Kings inclination were the onely Authors of that sharpe reuenge taken vpon the Lords for their particular and inglorious enrichment
Nations The City is driuen to some miserie through the beginning want of all things for the siege had now endured about 60. daies not without much bloudshed on both sides The Earle of Salisburie impatient of such delay purposeth to giue a generall assault The better to consider vpon the course hee stands to take view at a window barred with Iron which ouerlookt the City toward the East Behold how God began to vncutte the knot of those bands with which the English held France bound a bullet of a great piece which lay ready leueld at that window discharged by the Gunners sonne a lad stroke the grates whose splinters so wounded the Earle and one Sir Thomas Gargraue that they both dyed of the incurable hurts within few dayes Heare now the common iudgement of Writers concerning this Earles losse Presently after the death of this man the fortune of the war changed Now both mortall and immortall powers beganne to looke fauourably vpon the State of France This to the English was Initium malorum for after this mishappe they rather lost then wanne so that by little and little they lost all their possession in France and albeit that somwhat they got after yet for one that they wan they lost three So that Polydor not without cause after many other great praises doth elsewhere call him the man in whom the safety of the English state consisted The vertue therefore of a fortunate Generall is inestimable 14 Howbeit the siege did not determine with his life William Earle of Suffolke the Lord Talbot the rest maintained the same all the winter The wants of the Campe were relieued from Paris by a conuoy vnder the guard of Sir Iohn Fastolfe and fifteene hundred souldiers who arriued safe in despite of all the attempts to distresse thē which the French made The City would yeeld it selfe but not to the English The Duke of Burgundie they were content should haue the honour A subtle stratagem rather then an offer of yeelding for there was likelihoode in it to breake thereby the amity betweene the English and him The Regent and his Counsell being sent vnto thought it not reasonable Aemylius erroniously makes the late Earle of Salisbury the Author of that refusall neither indeed was it theirs hauing beene the cost and labour The Duke of Burgundy construed this repulse sowerly which marred his taste of the English friendshippe euer after yet the Regents answere was iust and honest That the warre was made in King Henries name and therefore Orleance ought to be King Henries Among these difficulties stood the French affaires Charles of France vnderstanding the miserable straites of his deare City ignorant how to remedy so neere a mischiefe there presented herselfe vnto him at Chinon a yong maid about eighteene yeeres old called Ioan of Loraine daughter to Iames of Arck dwelling in Domremy neere Va◅caleurs a Shepheardesse vnder her father whose flockes shee tended bids him not faint and constantly affirmes that God had sent her to deliuer the Realme of France from the English yoake and restore him to the fulnesse of his fortunes Shee was not forthwith credited but when the wise of both sorts aswell Clerkes as Souldiers had sifted her with manifold questions she continued in her first speech so stedfastly vttering nothing but that which was modest chast and holy that honour and faith was giuen vnto her sayings An old woman directed her Ioan armes her selfe like a man and requires to haue that sword which hung in S. Katherines church of Fierebois in Touraine This demaund encreased their admiration of her for such a sword was found among the old Donaries or Votiue tokens of that Church Thus warlikely arrayed she rides to Blois where forces and fresh victuals lay for the reliefe of Orleance Shee with the Admirall and Marshall of France enters safe This did greatly encourage the fainting French Ioan the maide of God so they called her though some haue written that it was a practise or imposture writes thus to de la Pole Earle of Suffolke who succeeded Salisbury in the maine charge of that siege 15 King of England do reason to the King of heauen for his bloud royall yeeld vp to the Virgine the keyes of all the good Cities which you haue forced She is come from heauen to reclaime the bloud royall and is ready to make a peace if you bee ready to doe reason yeeld therefore and pay what you haue taken King of England I am the chiefe of this war wheresoeuer I encounter your men in France I will chase them wil they or no. If they will obey I will take them to mercy The Virgine comes from heauen to driue you out of France If you will not obey shee will cause so great a stirre as the like hath not beene these thousand yeeres in France And beleeue certainly that the king of heauen will send to her and her good men of Arms more force then you can haue Goe in Gods name into your Country bee not obstinate for you shall not hold France of the King of Heauen the sonne of S. Marie but Charles shall enioy it the King and lawfull heire to whom God hath giuen it Hee shall enter Paris with a goodly traine you William de la Pole Earle of Suffolke Iohn Lord Talbot Thomas L. Scales Licutenants to the Duke of Bedford and you Duke of Bedford terming your selfe ◅egent of the Realme of France spare innocent bloud and leaue Orleance in liberty If you doe not reason to them whom you haue wronged the French will doe the goodliest exploit that euer was done in Christendome Vnderstand these newes of God and of the Virgine Yet Charles had at this time no whole Countries vnder his obedience but Languede◅ and Daulphin against which both the Sauoyard and Burgundian prepared but miscarried the Prince of Orenge the third confederate being discomfited 16 This letter was entertained by the English with laughter Ioan reputed no better then a Bedlam or Enchantresse Though to some it may seem more honourable to our Nation that they were not to bee expelled by a humane power but by a diuine extraordinarily reuealing it selfe Du Serres describes this Paragon in these words Shee had a modest countenance sweete ciuill and resolute her discourse was temperate reasonable and retired her actions cold shewing great chastity without vanity affectation babling or courtly lightnesse Let vs not dissemble what wee finde written By her encouragements and conduct the English had Orleance pluckt out of their hopes after they had suffered the Duke of Alanson to enter with new force and with much losse were driuen to raise the siege Ioan herselfe was wounded at one sallie in which shee led being shot through the arme with an arrow Iudge what she esteemed of that hurt when shee vsed these admirable and terrible words This is a fauour let
heauen to witnesse and record But of the thing it selfe that is to Crowne the Duke of Yorkey they make not the least mention what wanted in these men to the height and depth of humane malice They preuaile with the multitudes a shallow braind but a great and many headed beast The Lord Fawconbridge is sent to sound their affections and to draw the purulent matter to an head he finds great forwardnesse The Earles of March Warwicke and Salisburie aduertised of all things land in Kent But the people onely were not deluded for Thomas Bourchier Archbishoppe of Canterbury and other graue men beleeued they meant sooth which that they might the rather doe the Earle of Warwicke made open oath vpon the Crosse of Canterbury that they had euer borne true faith and alleagiance to King Henry A strange humor in the English that could neither brooke bad nor benigne Princes The King had before their comming quit the City of London as not greatly trusting the affections which the people thereof bare toward such as the Yorkish faction had made odious about him and appointed the Rendeuow of his forces at Northampton where he abode The enemy shewing friend aduanceth thither It is a shame to reade that some of the great Prelates would simply bee drawne to countenance such an enterprise but their intentions were different they hoped to reconcile enmities the Earles to make Yorke King Meanewhile their complices labour to take the Tower of London within which there were for King Henry these loyall Nobles The Lord Scales Hungerford Vescie Louel Delaware and Candal a Gascoigne with sundry others 78 At Northampton things were carried thus The King meaning there to abide his aduersaries when it was not thought meete to admit the Earle of Warwicke to his presence which thing was coulourably sued for to raise a ground of iustification for battell they prepare on both parts The Earles of March and VVarwicke with like or greater cunning then they had desired admission to the Kings speech let cry through the field that no man should lay hand vpon the King nor common people but vpon the Lords Knights and Esquiers 79 The hoasts ioy ne No stroke they gaue but seemes to wound vs also Let vs swiftly turne our eyes from so vnnaturall slaughters The L. Grey of Ruthen began the discomfiture of the Kings side for hee let the world iudge with what commendation hauing the point did quit his place and fled to the Earles The kings armie is defeated and vtterlie broken Many were slaine and drowned Polydor and Grafton say ten thousand The chiefe of the Nobles who there lost their liues were the Duke of Buckingham Iohn Earle of Shrewsburie a most hopefull young Gentleman and in all points like his heroicke Ancestors Iohn Vicount Beaumont Thomas Lord Egremond and among sundry other prime men Sir William Lucie who making hast to the fight was vpon his first approach chopt downe with an axe The Kings Ordinance could not play there fell so great a raine 80 This wofull battell was fought vpon the ninth of Iuly The King as a man borne to all calamities and miseries though he not therefore the lesse but the more happy through that excellent fortitude of mind with which hee inuincibly sustained them comes into his enemies hands but the Queene and the Prince and the remains of their scattered fortunes flie into the North there to re-enforce their powers and to subdue as shee caused them to be proclamed the Kings Rebels and enemies The Tower of London after this misfortune renders it selfe The Lord Scales is wickedly murthered vpon the Thames by Wherrimen belonging to the Earle of Warwicke as hee intended to passe to Sanctuary at Westminster The Earles when they were possessed of the King continued their admirable hypocrisies which God will terribly plague them for thereby to leade the people on and had to him these words 81 Most noble Prince displease you not though it hath pleased God of his grace to grant vs the victorie of our mortall enemies who by their venemous malice haue vntruly stirred and moued your Highnesse to exile vs out of the land and would haue put vs to finall â—…me and confusion wee come not to vnquiet or grieue your said Highnesse but to please your noble person desiring tenderly the high welfare and prosperity thereof and of all your Realme and to be your true Liegemen while our liues shall endure Our soules are amazed at these arts and men blush to publish to the world things so vnworthy 82 The Florentine Secretary was scarse borne at this time but the Diuell was as great a Master then as afterward The King and Earles in the meane time goe to London where a Parliament was summoned in his name to be holden in October following The Duke of Yorke aduertised of his victorie speedes from Dublin the chiefe City of Ireland to bee at that Parliament where wee shall at last see the true face of his purpose his owne selfe taking away the maske which hitherto concealed it 83 Scotland by reason of late affinity with the house of Beaufort whose chiefe and toppe was the Duke of Sommerset descended from Iohn Duke of Lancaster by the Lady Katherine was a speciall backe and Second to King Henry in all his tempestuous aduersities but now that refuge was also hazarded for King Iames the second partly in fauour of King Henry and partly as making vse of the troubles in England laieth siege to Rocksbrough Bellenden the Scot calleth the same Castle Marchmont being in the custody of King Henries enemies where while himselfe whose skill and delight in shooting of Ordinance was great comming down the trenches to see the Lion a new great piece which had lately beene cast in Flanders and the other Artillery discharged one of them brake and with a shiuer therof slew the king and dangerously wounded the Earle of Angus This vnhappy accident hapned vpon a Sunday the third day of August The Queen of Scotland neuerthelesse maintaineth the siege and aswell obtaines that place as the Castle of Warke both which shee in reuenge threw to the earth Iames the third a child of seuen yeers old succeeded to his father aswell to the cherishment of the distressed English as to the Crowne 84 The Parliament being begunne about the * eight of October at Westminster in King Henries name thither comes with flying speed Richard Duke of Yorke who brake open the Kings lodging Chamber and placed himselfe therein suffering the King to prouide elsewhere Then makes hee his claime to the Crown of England and publisheth it in open Parliament together with his pedigree The whole house such among them excepted as were priuie to the Dukes intention was greatly dismayed both for that hee did set himselfe in the Kings seate and for this his vnexpected challenge But the Duke though at first hee greatly meant to haue
forthwith conuaied him robed in a long blew veluet gown through London vnto the Bishops pallace where a pompous Court was kept vntill the thirteenth of the same moneth vpon which day hee went in procession crowned to the Cathedrall Church of S. Paul the Earle of Warwicke bearing his traine and the Earle of Oxford the sword the people on euery side crying God saue K. Henry 53 Thus farre proceeded and Henry reestablished a Parliament was begunne at Westminster the six twentieth of Nouember following wherin King Edward was declared a Traitor to his country an vsurper of the Crowne and all his goods confiscated the like iudgement passed against all his partakers wherein also it was enacted that all such persons as had taken Armes in his quarrell should bee seuerely punished among whom Iohn Typtoft Earle of Worcester and King Edwards Lieutenant in Ireland was attainted who being found hid in the toppe of a tree in the Forrest of Waybridge not farre from Huntington was brought to London and vpon Tower-hill beheaded Moreouer all Statutes made by King Edward were clearely reuoked abrogated and made frustrate the Crowns of England and France entayled to King Henry and the Heyres-male lawfully begot of his body and for the want of such heires vnto George Duke of Clarence and his heire males lawfully produced and the said Duke to be the next heire to his father Richard Duke of Yorke disabling his elder brother Edward by the vertue of his Atteindor and Iasper Earle of Pembroke Iohn Earle of Oxford with other attainted by the vsurper Edward to be restored in bloud dignities and ancient possessions and finally Earle Warwicke the good common-wealthes man made Gouernour of the Realme in these turbulent times vnto whom was associated George Duke of Clarence this great Earles sonne in Law and Warwickes brother Montacute vpon his submission obtained his pardon which was the easilier gotten for his seruice at Nottingham 54 Queene Margaret appointed to follow into England if fortune did fauour these great Lords successe now hearing of the faire Sun-shine wherein her husband King Henry was set amidst the stormie winter blasts which the season afforded with Prince Edward her sonne set saile from France towardes that wished and temperate climat where the spring of new Regality beganne to bud forth but was met with such tempests and storming seas as shee was forced to returne and deferre her iourney vntill another time to her great griefe and sore discontent In like perplexity was the Burgundian Duke who neither durst giue Edward his outward assistance the French and Warwicke being so mighty opposites nor leaue him in distresse lest the sparkes of discontent should flie from the eyes of his faire wife and therefore to know whether Vawelere the Gouernor of Calleis stood resolute for him according to Couenants he secretly sent Philip Comines the hony-mouth Historian to drop some of his sweet eloquence into his gold-thirsting eare 55 Comines comming to Calleis and obseruing the sequence for which he was sent saw euery man wear the Earle of Warwicks badge for no head could bee gallant that was not adorned with his ragged staffe nor no dore frequented that was not painted with his white Crosse. Insomuch that Vawelere himselfe had a Iewell in his hatte wherein was a white ragged staffe embrodered with gold and others his followers the like wrought in silke gold and siluer and to stampe the print deeper a liking report was brought to the towne that Warwicke had prepared foure thousand valiant men to warre vpon the frontiers of Burgundy But Comine in conference so wrought with the Councell and they againe with Earle Warwicke as he was contented to leaue off the enterprise Duke Charles promising to side with K. Henry 56 King Edward hearing what his brother of Burgundy had done and being dayly solicited from his friends in England thought it no policy long to delay lest Henry should take growth to a bigger steame and therefore repairing to his brother in the towne of Saint Paul required his aide as the onely man on whom hee relied aswell for the bond of alliance in the marriage of his sister as also in regard of the orders which they both ware the King that of his which was the golden Fleece and the Duke the Gartar and Robe of Saint George In the Court of Burgundy at that time lay Edmund Duke of Sommerset cosen-germane remoued vnto Duke Charles a great enemy against the house of Yorke and now set himselfe to thwart King Edwards suite alleadging that it was more honourable for the Duke of Burgundy to side with the Lancastrians from whom he was descended by his Grandmother the daughter of Iohn of Gaunt as also in the vprightnes of King Henries title held good in her brother and his Grandfather and in her Nephew his father without all exceptions 57 The Duke perplexed betweene these great supplicants did then as many doe now speake much and meane nothing lesse or else say little meane to doe much To Sommerset for Henry hee outwardly promised all helpe and assistance but neuer gaue the least and to Edward no comfortable words of supply and yet vnderhand he hired him shippes furnished him with munition and lent him fifty thousand Florences in money And now the season seruing for warre K. Edward with two thousand strong besides his Mariners made ouer for England attempting to take land in Norfolke but those coasts guarded hee waffed more Northward and entring Humber landed at Rauenspur in Yorkeshire when laying aside al claim to the Crown and pretending nothing but his Dutchy of York he shewed the rude multitude the letters and seale of the Earle of Northumberland which as he affirmed made them beleeue was sent for his safe conduct to enioy the same and in euery place where he came proclaimed King Henry himselfe wearing an Estrich feather which was Prince Edwards Liuery and passing to Yorke in no other shew then a Subiect his oath first taken to be true to King Henry entred the City which presently hee surprised and assumed to himselfe 58 Earle Warwicke now hearing that Edward was landed before he had marched very farre in the main sent strait charge to his brother the Marquesse Montacute then residing at Pomfret with a sufficient Army to secure those parts that hee should not suffer his accesse vnto Yorke lest he grew more potent then was to bee wished himselfe making ready with all possible speed to repaire into those parts but whether the Marquesse purposely winked or else and that rather would not see at all hee made no great hast to forelay his way to Yorke neither sought to empeach the passage when Edward from thence marched in a more hostile manner towards Nottingham taking his way not farre from Pomfret and as it were through the middest of his enemies which encouraged many to fauour his designes holding that Montacute
battell at S. Aâ—…bans where the Queene is victorious and recouers the King * Tirel saith Rob. Fab. The King and Queene returne into the North. Orig. 35. Hen. 6. Monarch 54 Edward IIII Edward Duke of Yorke and Rich. Earle of Warwick come vnto London The City of London doubtfâ—… vnto whether part to yeeld Priâ—… Edward 〈◊〉 his right to the Crowne King Henry depriued of his Crowne Edward Duke of Yorke proclaimed King of England March 3. * He was borne A D. 1â—…41 April 29. The feares of the Londoners Walker a Citizen beheaded for wordâ—… Dangerous to meddle with a Crowne Grost * 18000. pounds King Edwards beginnings somewhat disliked K. Edwards expedition into the North. The Lord Fitzâ—…er and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Earle Warwicks approach and speech to King Edward The L. Clifford sâ—…ine with an headlesse arrow A. D. 14â—… Difference of Authors hath here bred some confusion of yeeres * March 29. K. Edwards proclamation much forwarded his seruice The battell aâ—… Touton A politicke practise in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 K Henry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Queene Margaret passeth into France A. D. 1461. King Edward crowned King Henry and Prince Edward disherited by Parliament A. D. 1462. Queene Margaret returned into Scotland Bastard Ogle ouercommeth the French An. D. 1463. Queene Margaret entreth Northumberland in hostile manner King Edward commeth to Tâ—…rks The skirmish vpon â—…egely More The saying of Sir Ralph Percie at his death 〈◊〉 victory at 〈◊〉 May. 15. Lordâ—… 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 The disgrading of Sir Ralph 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King Henry 〈◊〉 to flight Rich. Grafton King Edwards care and prouisions King Henrie disguised commeth into England and is apprehended King Henry hardly vsed arrested and committed prisoner to the Tower King Edwards care of Iustice. The pride and abuse in shooâ—… Sheep transpore ted into Spâ—…e verie hurtfull vnto England King Edwards care for choice of his Queene His second proiect for a 〈◊〉 Rich. Grafton Cambden Rich. Grafton His third aâ—…y for a wife The allegations 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lady Bona fitte st Queene for Edward Neuil the great Earl of Warwick Rob. Fab. Warwicks wooing and entertainements in France K. Edwards last sodaine choise of his wife Ioh. Hardings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lady Elizabeth Gray a supplicator to king Edward The beauty and feature of the Lady Elizabeth Gray K. Edwards mother seeketh to 〈◊〉 his loue The counsell and conference of the old Dutchesse of Yorke with her 〈◊〉 K. Edward 〈◊〉 vnto 〈◊〉 it was exâ—… 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 to marry K. Edwards reason for his 〈◊〉 free choise His â—…thers deuise 〈◊〉 crâ—… his purâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lady 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of King Edward K. Edward married Lady Elizabeth Grey The descent and parentage of the Lady Elizabeth Grey Queene Elizabeth crowned The Queenes kindred highly preferred Earle Warwicke sore offended against K. Edward Temporizing betwixt the king and Earle of Warwicke Francis Goodwin Catal. of English Bishope Iohn Neuil created Marquesse Montacute Rich. Grafton A. D 1468. A marriage moued betwixt Earle Charles and Lady Margaret Philip. Com. l. 3. cap. 4. The mariage celebrated Earle Warwicke plotieth K. Edwards deposition Warwicke draweth Clarence into action against the King his brother Warwicke and Clarence make affinity A. D. 1469. The occasions found for a commotion Hulderne Captaine of the Commotion Two Captaines made by the rebels Sir Iohn Coniers chosen generall of the rebels The Lord Herbert Earle of Pembrooke made Lord generall Discontents betwixt Pembrooke and Warwicke The Lord Stafford repulsed K. Edward prepareth against the Earle of Warwicke Pembrooke and Stafford fall out for their Inne The valor of Pembrooke and of Sir Richard Herbert A. D. 〈◊〉 The Earle of 〈◊〉 with others beheaded Robert of Riddisdale captaine of the 〈◊〉 The Earle Riuers with his sonne Iohn surprised and beheaded Lord Stafford beheaded Io. Stâ—… Annal. King Edawrd taken at Wolney Is imprisoned in Middleham Castle King Edward escaped out of prison Warwicke sayings to make and vnmake kings Warres prepared vpon but 〈◊〉 partâ—… The miseries of ciuill warres The King and the Lords meet at London A. D. 1470 A commotion in Lincolnshire The Lord Wels and Sir Thomas Dimocke beheaded The battell at Stanford Sir Robert Wels taken Loscoat field Sir Robert Wels put to death Warwicke and Clarence flee into France Phil. Comines lib. 3. cap 4. The Dutches of Clarence deliuered of a son vpon shipboard The Duke of Burgundy bends himselfe against Earle Warwicke The double dealings of Vawcler Earle Warwicke saileth into Normandie King Lewis relieueth Warwicke Burgundy offended with Lewâ—… for relieuing his enemie Reiner of great stile and small power A marriage concluded betwixt Prince Edward and Anne daughter of Earle Warwicke King Edward driuen into his dumps Marques Montacute is taken into King Edwards fauor A maid Ambassador vnto the Duke of Clarence The conference of the damsell with the Duke of Clarence The Duke of Clarence inclineth to his brother Warwicke and Clarence returne into England Septemb. 13. A. reg 10. King Edwards security Earle Warwicke in the West proclaimeth king Henry K. Edwards opinion touching Warwickes approach Sunday after Michaelmas Stowel Annal. Doctor Godards sermon Marquesse Montacute reuolteth from K. Edward How vncertaine it is to stat on the 〈◊〉 K Edward is forced to flee England October 3. Edward in danger of taking on seas Queene Elizabeth tooke Sanctuarie in VVestminster Prince Edward boâ—…e in the Sanctuary The Kentish Commotioners doe much hurt about London Iohn Fortescue The States take K. Henry out of the Tower K. Henry againe restored goeth crowned to Pâ—… K. Edward debarred from gouernment by Parliament The Parliament Rowle Iohn Tiptoft Earle of Worcester beheaded The Crownes of England and France entailed to K. Henry George Duke of Clarence entailed to the Crowne Earles restored Earle Warwicke made gouernour of the Realme Queene Margaret hindred by tempest to come into England The Duke of Burgundy perplexed Phil. Com. lib. 3. Earl of Warwicks esteeme in Callis King Edward coueteth aide of his brother the Duke of Burgundy The Duke of Sommerset disswadeth Burgundy to aid K. Edward Burgundie temporizeth with his suites K. Edward passeth into England pretending no more then to be Duke of York A. D 1471. March 14. K. Edward straines his oath to winne the City of Yorke Earle Warwicke writes to his brother Marquesse to impeach King Edwards passage K Edwards Army encreased Iohn Stow. Warwicke taketh into the City Couentrie March 29. K. Edward challengeth Earle Warwick to fight K. Edward draweth towards London K Edward and his brother Clarence meet and are reconciled Clarence seeketh to draw Warwicke vnto K. Edward The words of Warwicke in answer to Clarence K. Edward marcheth forward London receiueth King Edward K. Henrie againe taken and sent to the Tower of London Ed. Hall Earle Warwicke commeth to S. Albans K. Edward carrieth K Henrie with him to battell Apr. 14. Barnet field fought vpon Easter day The orderings
most skilfull Musitian he was and in that Art sought to excell others and to equalize Apollo himselfe as also in his Chariot-riding to imitate the swiftnes of the Sunne So prodigall in apparell that he neuer wore one Garment twice so sumptuous in buildings as is vncredible He raigned thirteen yeares and eight daies and died the eight of Iune in the one and thirtieth of his age and after the birth of our Sauiour Christ the threescore and tenth as Eusebius doth account GALBA CHAPTER VIII WIth the death of this Tyrant ended the progeny of the Caesars and the Emperours succeeding were afterwards elected either for the opinion of their owne worths or els and that oftner by the faction and voice of the Souldiers whose violence the Senate euer feared to contradict and whose Colonies in euerie Prouince sought to raise their owne Generall to that high estate In which time of Combustion though little be recorded of the British affaires yet because the Monarchy of this Iland was then and long after inuested in the Imperiall dignitie we may not omit to speake somewhat of the ensuing Emperours as the chiefe Gouernours of this kingdome Vpon Neroes declining diuers there were as Vindex and Virginius Nymphidius and Sophonius set vp against him but Galba for his reputed integritie got the Garland from them all who little dreaming of the Imperiall Diademe fortune set it vpon his head before his hand had toucht the same for Vindex in Gallia hauing proclamed him Emperour and himselfe in Arragon not free from Neroes hatred hee sought rather to hazard his life with the Glorie of a Crowne then depend vpon his mercie who had sent secretly the sentence of his death And therefore mounting the Tribunall the more to impresse a fresh remembrance of former cruelties he placed before his throne the Images of certaine Nobles executed by Nero with some personages sent for out of exile whose presence might prouoke a deeper edge of hatred and his Army about him readie for mutation these or the like words he spake 2 My fellow Souldiers and friends wee at this time are assembled to bestow that vpon others which wee our selues haue smally enioied I meane libertie from bondage and freedome from feares of a Tyrant The life that I haue hitherto lead will sufficiently discharge me from any aspiring conceit and my owne Conscience doth witnesse that I speake not vpon malice or priuate respects It greeueth me to say but it bootes not to hide that which euerie man seeth Hath euer Bond-man vnder a cruell master passed a yeere of harder seruice then we haue done fourteene vnder Nero what kind of exaction hath he not proued to supply with extortion that which with shame hee hath spent what kinde of crueltie hath he not practised If we would conceale or seeke to suppresse it these dumb stones would declare them For behold he poisoned his Father and brother abused and slew his owne mother murdered his wife his Tutor and what els so euer valiant or vertuous in Senate in Citie in Prouince without any difference of Sexe or Age. I neede not to speake of the sorrowful sighes and bitter teares of so many yong gentlemen bereft of their fathers so many wiues robbed of their husbands so many great men depriued of their Country all which cry vengeance vpon such a Prince a Prince nay an Incendiarie a Singer a Fidler a Stage-plaier a Cart-driuer a Cryer no Prince nay no man that hath a man to his husband and a man to his wife but a monster of mankinde And in trueth a subiect vpon whom vice hath made her full experience and raised her triumphs from the base of Caesars throne Against whom what Vindex in France hath alreadie intended I am sure you doe know and I for my part am most sorrie to heare The whole course of my former life hath beene hitherto remoued from Ambition in Court or from aiming too high abroad and this little that remaines of my daies I could hartily wish were to be spent in more ease But sith I know not by what my misfortune some haue imposed vpon me a Part which I neuer meant to sustaine and least of all at this age I will not refuse if you will also approue it to sacrifice this old Carcase of mine for the wealth of my Country not as Emperour or Augustus which sacred names I adore afarre off not daring to approch them but as And no further heard was with great acclamations saluted Emperour 3 But such is the height of glory which is raised by the blasts of the multitude that it fals againe as the bubble burst in the swelling which leaues neither circle nor signe of his former pride And so is the state of Galba with one breath applauded and placed vpon the Imperiall Throne and that scarce cold ere they dislike of their owne hastie election for newes being brought that the State stood firme for Nero and for certaine that Vindex in his quarrell was slaine euen in his first enterprise of reuolt that Virginius was sided by his Germane Legions and his name inscribed in their banners that Nymphidius was the man whose deserts could not be sufficiently honoured with lesse recompence then the princely Diademe These distractions so much ouer-swaied his aged and passionate heart that he retired to Clunia in great deiection repenting himselfe of that which hee had done and wished againe his priuate estate 4 But the death of Nero commonly diuulged and Virginius his refusals of the Imperiall Title gaue strength and life to his former election now further ratified by the full resolutions of the Armie who the more to seeme both strong and valorous though indeed a weake sickly and silly old man Souldier-like in his coat of Armes shewed himselfe and in that array passed the vast mountains for Rome With whose entrance entred the dislike of his person as one vnfit to support the state of others that by age and imbeciliitie was not able to sustaine his owne to which were added the imperfections of his gouernment carried euery way farre vnder expectation And long hee sate not before hee saw his owne defects to redresse which hee elected Piso Licinianus Caesar ioining him in power with himselfe and declaring him his Successor in a short and blunt Oration in presence both of the Senate and Souldiers 5 Whereat howsoeuer others stood affected yet Martus Saluius Otho one who for commerce in leaudnes was very deare to Nero and whose hope depended vpon the common disturbance for that his excesse in riot had now brought him to the brinke of beggery much enuied therat the rather because himselfe had entertained a hope that Galba would haue adopted him and therefore as his concurrent set his own aspiring mind for the Crown And euen now this time best fitted his attempts as being the wane of Galbaes authority and before the full of Pisoes power
Iuory dressed with richest bedding and furniture of gold wherein was laid his image protraited to the life but yet in manner of a sicke man On the left side sate all the Senators and Princes in blacke mourning weeds on the right all the great Ladies cladde in white which then was the mourning colour of that Sexe The Physitians diligently comming to visit him and feeling his pulse as if he were aliue doe signifie that his disease did still increase vpon him This they all did seuen daies together at last as if then hee were dead all the prime of the Nobility carrie him in his Iuorie Bed to the * Forum where all the Patrician youth Noble Virgins incompassed him with most dolefull Hymnes and ruefull ditties Thence againe he was remoued to Mars his field where was erected a foure-square frame of Timber of a huge height and compasse the stories still mounting to the toppe with sundry ascents and richly beautified with strange varieties of gold and purple ornaments and images of great Art and price On the second of which ascents was placed the Emperours said Bed and Statue with infinite store of sweetest odours brought thither from all parts of the Citie which done the yong Nobles brauely mounted on Horsebacke rid round about in a kinde of dance or measure and another sort likewise who represented great Princes in their Coaches whereupon his successor in the Empire first setting fire to the frame forthwith all the people did the like on all sides and when the whole began to be on flame an Eagle secretly enclosed within was let fly out of the toppe which soaring a great height and out of sight the people followed it with shouts and praiers supposing that therewith the Emperours soule was carried vp to heauen And thus Seuerus which was before a man of Gods making was now become a God of mans making and the more to preserue the memory of his fathers glory Caracalla erected a magnificent Edifice which he instiled Seuerus his Porch wherein with most exquisite Art and admired workmanship were portraited all his Fathers warres and triumphs atchieued here in Britaine or elsewhere 3 But presently after these two vngodly sonnes of this new supposed God so much emulated each others glory that the deadly sparkes of enuy blowne a long time with the bellowes of their ambitious desires brake out into the flames of murther and blood being brethren by one Father but not by the same mother as it is said in this only like that they were both starke naught though both in contrarie kinds of Vices And albeit the Empresse Iulia had sought by all meanes to make peace betwixt them both formerly here in Britaine and now after their returne to Rome yet the desire of a sole Soueraignty had beene a long time so rooted in Bassianus his heart for which he had twice attempted his Fathers life and so much hasted his death that hee slew his Physitians because they had dispatched him no sooner could not indure an equall much lesse a confronter in authority and therefore in the Court and in the armes of the Empresse he slew her sonne Geta in a time least suspected when he had sate with him in state and disdaine the terme of one yeare and twenty two daies 4 And to cloake this fratricide with shew of constraint first to the Souldiers and then in the Senate he accuseth his Brother to haue sought his death and that in defence of his owne life he was forced to slay the other and flying to the Pretorian Cohorts for the safetie of his life as though further conspiracies had been intended against him in the City at his return commanded Papinianus the famous Ciuilian to excuse the murther in his Pleas at the Barre which when he refused hee caused him to bee slaine as also all those that had beene acquainted with Geta whereby so many of the Nobilitie perished that he was thereby accounted another Nero in Rome and by his fauorites the name of Geta was raced out of all monuments imperiall inscriptions as we haue seene some of thē defaced vpon some Altar stones found here in Brit. 5 Of nature he was subtile and could well dissemble with them whom hee feared and make shew of loue where hee deadly hated alwaies fitting himselfe to the humours of flatteries Among the Germans counterfetting their gate and garments In Greece be like Alexander bearing his necke somewhat awry In Troy would resemble Achilles alwaies so Camelion-like as the Romans his followers were therewith ashamed In a word Caracalla saith Dio neuer thought of doing good because as himselfe confessed he neuer knew any goodnes 6 And to fill vp the measure of all iniquitie as one regardlesse of humanity or shame he married Iulia his mother in law late wife to his owne Father a sinne saith S. Paul not to be named among the Gentiles and by Sext. Aur. Eutrop. and Spar. reported vpon this occasion It fortuned that Iulia in presence of Caracalla either by chance or of purpose rather let fall the vaile which she wore discouering thereby her naked breasts and beauty which was great whereat the Emperour casting his lasciuious eie and bewraying his affection presently said Were it not vnlawfull I should not be vnwilling to whom she replied without respect of modesty that all things were lawfull to him that made lawes for others but was subiect himselfe to none forgetting at once both the murther committed vpon Geta her sonne and the scandals that accompanied so foule a sinne the pleasure wherof they did not long enioy both their deaths by Gods vengeance soone after ensuing 7 For Caracalla remaining in Mesopotamia and carrying as it seemeth a guilty conscience and suspition of his life sent to Maternus whom hee had left Gouernour of Rome to assemble all the Astrologers Mathematicians vnto which learned imposters he alwaies gaue especiall credit and of them to enquire how long he should liue and by what death he should die Maternus hauing so done wrote for answere that Macrinus his Prefect of the Praetorium then with him in his expeditiōs went about to murther him Which is thought rather in enuy of Macrinus to haue beene fained then by any Astrologicall directions so giuen forth This letter and others comming to Caracalla his hand at such time as hee was busie about his disport he deliuered them to Macrinus to reade and giue him the report at his returne In perusall wherof finding himselfe to be accused of Treason and fearing lest by the sequell hee might bee brought into greater danger he incensed one Martial a Centurion whose brother the Emperour had lately slaine to murther him which was soone performed and occasion in the fields offred for Caracalla stepping aside from his traine to ease nature Martial as though he had beene called ran hastily in without hindrance or suspect and with his dagger stabbed him
foot of Maiestie no man attempting higher to mount The souldiors sent to the Senate to designe the man whom they best liked the Senate requested the souldiers to elect him whom they held worthiest in which respectiue complements and most kinde correspondencie of all parts eight moneths passed with a peaceable Interregnum as writers report 2 It seemeth the fresh sense and fearefull experiences of the former heady proceedings made men more wise then to seeke their owne deaths and especially the Generals to be better aduised then to runne desperately vpon their owne destructions A change vncredible that Thirtie ere whiles would needs be stiled Emperours among the tumultuous Souldiours though they were sure to buy the vse of that name with their dearest bloud and not one now in peace could bee found either hasty to seeke it or verie willing to accept it 3 At last both Senate and Souldiours hauing in their eye M. Claudius Tacitus a man very Noble and of Consular degree of great age singular learning long experience in Magistracie him by a ioint and conspiring suffrage they all elected to their Empire but he hauing before hand some inkling of this their purpose got him out of the way liuing very secretly two moneths at his Rurall Mannor flying saith Vopiscus that high dignity which he fore-saw would proue his ouerthrow And when they did by Embassages often sollicite him to accept of their Election sending him the Ensignes and Stile of Augustus hee againe returned them though with harty thanks yet absolute deniall alledging by reason of his age and infirmitie that hee was euery way vnable to discharge their so great expectations 4 But after much inter-course and many intreaties passed at length the necessitie of the State so requiring he accepted their offer though not with much contentment to himself who knew the waight of so great titles would proue heauy alwaies dangerous for him to beare but with vnspeakeable ioy was receiued by the whole State which promised all blessed hopes to the state vnder so worthy so wise so vertuous learned and so iust an Emperour 5 For as before his aduancement he was of Exemplary composednes and vertuous disposition so in this high Estate his life was temperate and without al pride so desirous to be a Preceder of moderation singularity vnto others as that he would not permit his Empresse to weare any Iewels of high price nor to vse other customable superfluitie or excesse in his owne house For learning and learned men whom he euer embraced in his priuate Estate he now by all meanes endeuored to honour and aduance and publikely professed that what Imperiall vertues hee had hee was to ascribe them to his study of good letters For which cause hee was wont to call Cornelius Tacitus that worthiest Historian of the Romans State his Father and commanded his workes to be carefully preserued in euery Library throughout the Empire and ten times euery yeare to be transcribed on publique cost All which notwithstanding many of that worthy Authours Bookes haue since miscaried 6 But his vertues were too great for the world long to enioy and sith his Raigne was but short it is bootelesse to lengthen it with long discourses For his Peace continued without any memory of Warres and his short time wherein hee did nothing without consent of the Senate was spent rather reforming other mens vices and abuses of the Lawes and State then in displaying his owne vertues which doubtlesse if their faire streame had not beene vntimely stopt would haue proued incomparable to any his fore-goers and vnmatchable by any his followers What death hee died is left vncertaine Eutropius thinketh him slaine by his rebellious souldiers in Asia vpon his voiage against the Persians but Victor reporteth that hee died a naturall death and that of a burning-feuer in the citie of Tharsus And Flauius Vopiscus who wrote his life â—…ith his death came vpon a surcharge of griefe by reason of factions whereby the infirmitie of his age thereto helping his vnderstanding was crazed and his heart broken whereof hee died when he had raigned six moneths and twenty daies the yeare of Christ Iesus one hundred seuentie six M. ANNIVS FLORIANVS CHAPTER XLI NO sooner was the death of Tacitus diuulged but his brother Florianus much vnlike him in that point tooke vpon him the Name and Authoritie Imperiall without expecting any election either of Senate or Souldiers and therfore not likely long to stand sure And although in all other princely parts hee was not much vnlike his brother yet hauing so great an Opposite as Probus was on whom the Easterne Armie had conferred the same Title the blossomes of his conceited hope withered euen in the budde and perished before they had any time of growth 2 For no sooner came to his eares the newes of Probus his election but he found that heady and precipitate attempts were pleasing in their Beginnings but full of difficulties in their Proceedings and most disastrous in their Successe and therefore despairing both of Men and Meanes to raise the Building whose foundation he had so hastily but too weakly laid he caused his owne veines to be cut as Quintilius before him in like case had done whereby he boldly bled to death after hee had enioyed a Titular Soueraigntie only eightie daies saith Eutropius but Vopiscus saith not altogether two moneths and thinkes him killed by the Souldiers in the Citie Tharsus likewise in the yeere of Christ two hundred seuenty and seuen M. AVREL. VALER PROBVS CHAPTER XLII THE Easterne Armie most potent and famous at the death of Tacitus from them was expected the new Emperours election which accordinglie they did but with much more wisedome and deliberate circumspection then the Souldiers of those times were accustomed to doe For euery Captaine of the Armie singled out his owne Companies and in seuerall Assemblies exhorted that all affections laid aside they would applie their mindes to thinke of the worthiest man on whom they might conferre their voices and fauours At which time the opinion of Probus his worth had so generally possessed the hearts of all men that the shout and crie of all was vniforme Let vs haue Probus for our Emperour This being signified to Rome the Senate with applause and thankes approoued and confirmed his Election with additions to his Title Augustus The Father of his Countrey and the highest Bishop For in those times euen amongst Heathens the sacred Title of a Bishop was accounted an additament of honour euen to an Emperour 2 He was borne in Hungarie in the Citie Sirmiâ—… of honourable Parentage especially by his mothers side His fathers name was Maximus a man famous in Militarie Seruice who died Tribune at the warres in Egypt and himselfe very young but very valorous by the Emperor Valerianus who so loued him for his vertues that he vsed to say of him
north from Sutton vpon the Riuer Lug. But afterwards vpon repentance Offa remoued it vnto Hereford ouer whom Milfrid an vnder King of the Mercians built a most faire Church in memoriall of him which yet beares his name and is the Cathedral of that See His Bride Lady Elfrid much lamenting his contriued murther withdrew her self to Crowland in the Fennes and there vowed chastitie all the daies of her life notwithstanding some affirme that shee was wife to King Kenwolfe the successor of her brother Egfrid This King raigned the space of forty fiue yeeres as is set in the Table of our English Writers and died the yeare of Christs incarnation seuen hundred ninety three the eighteenth day of May and his Kingdome intruded vpon by the Mercians hauing had neither wife nor children that Historians make mention of after whose death the Kingdom of the East-Angles was brought to decay both by the Mercians West-Saxons and them of Kent so that by means of their violence that Prouince was destitute of her owne Gouernours the space of seuenty seuen yeeres vntill lastly the assaults of the Danes a new-come Guest and most dangerous Enemie caused the other Kings to stand vpon their Guards and rather to defend what they already had gotten then to seeke inlargement to the hazard of all at which time it is said one Offa to whom the right of that Crowne belonged vpon a religious deuotion tooke his pilgrimage to the Sepulchre of Christ and visiting in his way a kinsman of his whose name was Alkmund at the Citie Norhenberge in Saxonie there made his will wherin hee adopted young Edmund his heire the son of Alkmond and accomplishing his voiage in his return died at the Port Saint George from whence hee sent young Edmund his Ring and therwith ordained him King of the East-Angles Alkmund a Prince of great power in those parts maintained his sons rightfull election and with a sufficient power sent him to claime the kingdome These landing in the East of England at a place called Maydenboure built a roiall Tower which hee named and to this day is called Hunstantone situated vpon the North-west point of Norfolke that beareth likewise his owne name EDmund thus arriued was as willingly receiued and by the East-Angles made their king in whose time Hungar and Hubba two Danish Captains with an innumerable multitude of Heathen Danes entred the Land at the mouth of Humber and from thence inuaded Nottingham Yorke and Northumberland where without respect of age or sex they laid all wast and left the Land whence they departed like to a desolate Wildernesse From thence they came with the like furie into Edmunds territories and sacked Thetford a frequent City in those daies but he not able to withstand their violence fled into his Castle at Framingham wherein hee was of them besieged and lastly taken saith Abba Floriacensâ—…s in a village then called Heglisdâ—…ne of a wood bearing the same name or rather yeelded himselfe to their torments to saue more Christian bloud for it is recorded that because of his most constant Faith and Profession those Pagans first beat him with bats then scourged him withwhips he still calling vpon the name of Iesus for rage whereof they bound him to a stake and with their arrowes shot him to death and cutting off his head contemptuously threw it into a bush after he had raigned ouer the East-Angles the space of sixteene yeeres hauing had neither wife nor issue that is read of His body and head after the Danes were departed were buried at the same roiall Towne as Abbo terms it where Sigebert the East-Anglean King and one of his predecessors at his establishing of Christianity built a Church and where afterwards in honour of him was built another most spatious and of a wonderfull frame of Timber and the name of the Towne vpon the occasion of his burial called vnto this day Saint Edmondsbury This Church and place Suenus the Pagan Danish King in impiety and fury burned to ashes But when his sonne Canute had made conquest of this Land and gotten possession of the English Crowne terrified and affrighted as saith the Legend with a vision of the seeming Saint Edmund in a religious deuotion to expiate his Fathers sacrilege built it anew most sumptuously enriched this place with Charters Gifts and offred his owne Crowne vpon the Martyrs Tombe After the death of this Edmund the East-Angles Country was possessed by the Danes so continued about some fifty yeers vntil that Edward surnamed the Elder expulsed these Danes and ioined that kingdome a Prouince to the West-Saxons after it had stood three hundred fifty three yeeres A CATALOGVE OF SVCH BRITISH PRINCES AS WITHSTOOD THE SAXONS IN THEIR CONQVESTS FROM VORTIGER'NE THEIR FIRST MAINTAINER VNTO CADWALLADER THEIR LAST RESISTER CHAPTER XII NOw as we haue spoken of euery seuerall Saxon King that attained vnto and held possession of any part in the East South of this Iland vntill such time as their Crownes were worne by their Conquerors and the seuenfold diuided Heptarchy vnited into an absolute Monarchy so by order of History it is required that their opposers the Britains so long as they kept their ground and stood in defence of their owne rightful inheritance should be shewed who with as great a disdaine and valorous resistance vnder-went the yoake of the Saxons subiections as their ancient Ancestors had endeauoured to cleere themselues from the chaines of the Romans captiuity And vntill God and destinie withdrâ—… from them the hand of defence they mated the Saxons in all their designes For albeit that the Romans had robbed the Land of her strength and the aspired Vortigern called in these Strangers for his defence yet their purposes being wisely perceiued the execution therof was as presently practised and as eagerly pursued whilest the pillars that supported the frame of their gouerment stood vpon their owne Bases But the ground-work failing and those props not many the waight of all fell vpon some few whose acts and manly resistance Christ assisting shall further bee related as time shall bring them to the yeeres of their aduentures and carry our History thorow the affaires of their times Meane while as we haue recorded the names of their Ancestors and worthy forerunners the resisters of the Romans so now if you please behold the Catalogue of their Kings from the foresaid Vortigern the first subdued by these Saxons vnto Cadwallader the last of those British Princes who left to them his Land and went himself to Rome whose times stories according to those Guids that lead vs wee wil declare referring the credit thereof to our British Historians against whom howsoeuer some exceptions are and may be iustly taken yet are they not altogether to be cast off in the affaires of these ensuing Princes especially Gyldas and Ninius who liued in and presently after the times of those
is by the same Writer reported to be his brother and the supposed sonne also of Vulfhere the King Their murthers as he saith was committed the ninth Calends of August which is with vs the foure and twenty of Iuly vpon which day there was yeerely celebrated a solemne memoriall of their martyrdomes in the same place where they both suffered and where their Monument was then remaining 9 Wereburg the daughter of King Vulfhere and Queene Ermenhild was in her childhood committed to the bringing vp of Queene Etheldrid her mothers Aunt in the Monastery of Ely by whose perswasion she professed virginity and returning to her Country in the raigne of King Ethelred her Vncle was by him made ouerseer of all the Monasteries within his dominions She deceased at Trickingham now called Trentham in Stafford-shire and was buried at Hanbery Her body was afterwards remooued to Westchester where Leafrik the Earle built in honour of her a goodly Church called S. Wereburgs which to this day is the Cathedrall Church of that Citie ETHELRED THE SEVENTH KING OF MERCIA AND TVVELFTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH HIS ACTS WIFE AND ISSVE CHAPTER XXIIII EThelred the third sonne of King Penda and brother to the last declared Vulfhere in the yeere of Christ Iesus six hundred seuenty fiue beganne his raigne in the kingdome of Mercia and at the same time in the Monarchy of the Englishmen being the seuenth King among them that ware their Diademe and the twelfth person that bare the Imperiall title of the whole his claime was not immediately nor next in succession young Kenred his Nephew standing betwixt him and the Crowne But himselfe a child in yeeres and in them also addicted vnto a priuate life he gaue his Vncle way to vndergo so publike a charge which without contradiction was likewise accepted of the subiects 2 His entrance was with warre against the Kentish Lothaire whose Country he destroied sparing neither Churches nor religious Abbeys the King not daring to appeare in field The Citie Rochester felt also his fury whose Citizens were ransacked their buildings ruinated and their Bishop Putta driuen to such distresse that he became a Teacher of good Arts and Musicke in Mercia to maintaine his aged yeeres from the necessity of perishing want These stirres saith Beda happened in the yeere of grace six hundred seuenty seuen and the next following so fearefull a Blazing starre as was wonderfull to behold first discouered in the moneth of August and for three moneths together continued rising in the morning and giuing forth a blazing pile very high and of a glittering flame 3 The remorse of conscience for the bloud he had spilt and the places of Oratories by him destroied besides his intrusions into another mans right strucke so deepe a wound into King Ethelreds breast that euer hee bethought him what recompence to make First therefore building a goodly Monastery at Bradney and that most fruitfully seated in the County of Lincolus thought that not sufficient to wash away the scarres of his foule offence but determined in himselfe to forsake the world for that was the terme attributed to the monasticall life wherein notwithstanding in lesse cares they liued and their persons more safe from all dangers attempted then when they publikely administred their lawes to their people the iust executions whereof many times breed the ouerthrow of their Princes and their Persons neuer secure amidst their owne gards 4 But such was the religion then taught and the godly zeale of the good Princes then raigning whose works haue manifested their vertues to posterities and faith in Christ the saluation of their soules in whose Paradise we leaue them and Ethelred to his deuout intent who to reconcile himselfe first vnto Kenred bequeathed the Crowne solely to him although he had a sonne capable thereof then putting on the habit of religion became himselfe a Monke in his owne Monastery of Bradney where he liued a regular life the terme of twelue yeeres and therein lastly died Abbat of the place when hee had raigned thirty yeeres the yeere of Christs natiuity seuen hundred sixteene His Wife 5 Offryd the wife of King Ethelred was the daughter of Oswy and of Lady Eanfled King and Queene of Northumberland She was married vnto him in the yeere of our Lord six hundred seuenty seuen being the third of his raigne and the twentieth of her age Shee was his wife twenty yeeres and passing thorow the North parts of Mercia she was set vpon and slaine by the people of that Country in reuenge of the death of Peada their King who had long before bin murthered by Alkefled his wife and her half sister as we haue said And thus strangely came shee to her vntimely end the yeer of our Lord six hundred ninety seuen the twenty three yeere of her husbands raigne and the fortieth of her owne age His Issue 6 Chelred the sonne of King Ethelred and of Queene Offryd his wife was the heire apparant of his fathers kingdome and of sufficient yeeres to haue succeeded him when he entred into religion but that it was his fathers will to make amends to his Nephew Kenred sonne to his elder brother King Vulfhere that now he might raigne before his sonne who should haue raigned before himselfe KENRED THE EIGHTH KING OF MERCIA AND THE THIRTEENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN CHAPTER XXV KEnred the sonne of Vulfhere because of his minoritie at his Fathers death was defeated of his dominions by his Vncle Ethelred and vntill it pleased him to resigne his Crown liued a priuate life whereunto by nature hee was most inclined But King Ethelred for the wrongs to him committed and to redeeme the time that in warre and wealth he had prodigally spent yeelded the Scepter vnto his hand and set his seeming ouer-heauy Crowne vpon his Nephew Kenreds head who began his raigne at one and the same time both ouer the Mercians and Monarchy of the Englishâ—… which was the yeere of Christs Incarnation seuen hundred and foure 2 He is in account the eighth King of that Prouince and the thirteenth Monarch since Hengist the Saxon. He raigned in peace the space of foure yeeres then weary of gouernment and desirous of contemplation after the example of his Vncle sought a more priuate and religious life and thereupon appointing Chelred his Cosen germane to rule in his place in the fifth yeere of his raigne abandoned his kingdome and Country and departed for Rome accompanied with Offa King of the East-Saxons and with Edwine Bishop of Worcester where both these Kings were made Monks in the time of Pope Constantine the first Iustinian the younger then wearing the Imperiall Crowne and in a Monastery at that citie both these penitent Conuerts in the Coules and Orders of Monks spent the rest of their liues and therein died and were enterred this Mercian King Kenred hauing had
whereupon the King designed young Edgar his sonne the heire apparent and gaue him the surname of Adeling a name of great honor appropriated to the Princes of the blood and men capable of the Crowne 11 Besides these former attempts certaine Danish Pirates entred the Port of Sandwich which with all the Sea-Coasts of Essex they spoiled and in Flaunders made Marchandize of their prey The Irish likewise with thirty sixe shippes entred Seuern and with the assistance of Griffith king of South-Wales burnt or flew all that they found against whom Alfred Bishop of Worcester went and fought but with such successe that many of his Souldiers were slaine and the rest put to flight which made the Welshmen far more bold and Rese the brother of Griffith make many incursions to fetch preyes out of England till at length he was slaine at Bulerden and his head presented to king Edward at Gloucester 12 His domesticall molestations were chieflie by Earle Goodwin and his sonnes and those first springing vpon this following occasion Eustace the elder Earle of Bulloigne who had married Gods sister by the fathers side to King Edward came into England to visite him then lying at Gloucester and returning homeward at Canterbury his Herbinger dealing roughlie with a Burgesse for lodgings caused his owne death which when his Lord heard of thirsting for reuenge he slew eighteene Citizens in the heat of his furie the Canterburians in as great a rage gotte them to armour and slew twenty of his retinew wounding many more and made the Earle to recoile whose greeuous complaint comming to the King he commanded Goodwin to see execution done vpon the offenders Earle Goodwin not hastie to follow his commission aduised the King to examine the cause before he massacred his true subiects at the instigation of Strangers whereat King Edward was highly offended and Goodwin thereby gained great loue of the Commons This occasioned Robert Gemeticensis a Norman first made Bishop of London and after Arch-bishop of Canterbury to spred the Curtaine of disfauour betwixt Goodwin and the King vrging his refusall as an Act of Contempt wherein more dangers might lie hid then were to be suffered whereupon Edward called an assembly of Estates appointing a day of meeting at Gloucester 13 The Commons whose common guise is deadly to hate all strangers though many times well deseruing now seeing Earle Goodwin in danger for their good were easily drawne to assist him and his cause and in warlike manner garded his person at Beuerstane not farre from the King The Estates assembled and Goodwin sent for he refused to come pretending seruice against the Welsh then ready to make inroades and that his presence was more needfull there then at Court albeit the Welsh-men cleared themselues by sending their Ambassadors vnto the King The suspitions increasing great preparation on both sides was made to assist the King came Leofricke the worthy Earle of Chester Siward the stoute Earle of Northumberland and Rodulfe Earle of Hereford his sister Godas sonne by her first husband Walter de Maigne 14 To Goodwin repaired his people of Southerie and Kent and to him were brought by Swaine his sonne the men of Oxford Sommerset Hereford Gloucester and Berk-shires vnto whom Harold his other sonne ioined those of Essex Norfolke Suffolke Cambridge and Huntingdon-shires so that his host was exceedingly great and his mind thereby so inflated that from Langton where hee lay hee sent a bold and Traiterous demand to the King to haue Earle Eustace of Bulloigne with all his French and Normans that kept then in the Castle of Douer to bee deliuered vnto him and his sonnes which beeing as good reason was refused the Battle was prepared and brought to the verie point of hazard and ruine of all For in that quarrell were assembled the greatest Peeres and Lords of the Land the Kings loue swaying very much with many but yet the hatred towards Strangers possessing the hearts of more The beginning thus doubtfull and the end like to prooue dangerous the matter both with great foresight and prouidence was referred vnto Parliament to bee holden at London with all conuenient hast whereunto pledges were both giuen and receiued on either parts 15 King Edward strongly guarded with an Army of the Mercians and Northumbrians entred London and Goodwin with his sonnes in warlike manner came into Southwarke to his owne house But his Army wauering and as bad causes consciences make men doe suspecting the worst by little and little shrunke away from him which knowne to the King he presently pronounced sentence of banishment vnto Goodwin and his fiue sonnes without further proceeding by way of Parliament as was determined Goodwin therefore with great riches and his three sonnes Swaine Tostie and Girth sailed into Flanders and Harold with his brother Leofwine from Bristow passed into Ireland who were no sooner gone but the King proclaimed them Out-lawes and gaue the Earldome of Harold vnto Algar the son of Leofrick Earle of Chester This Leofricke is he which at his Countesses request freed the Citie Couentrie of their importable tribute imposed as we haue elsewhere said 16 In the second yeere of Goodwins banishment both himselfe and those his sonnes with him hauing gotten ships conuenient for warre in manner of Pirats came vpon the coasts of Kent and Sussex doing much harme and returning with spoiles the like did Harold and Leofwin from Scotland vpon the westerne coasts of Sommerset and Deuonshires who thence coasting about the point of Cornwall ioined their Fleet with their Fathers in the I le of Wight 17 Against them King Edward prepared himselfe though aged with a Nauie of sixtie ships well furnished for warre meant to haue made an end of that businesse by the destruction of his aduersaries but the Nauies ready to ioine battell God tooke the cause into his owne hand and with a thicke fogge so ouer-spread the seas that one Fleet could not thereby see another in which Goodwin and his complices by contrary windes were driuen to the place from whence they came King Edward still in iealousie of Goodwins returne rigged forth forty tall ships to secure the seas which kept not so strong a watch but that Goodwin got by them solliciting the people of Kent Sussex and Surrey vnto his aid and entring Thamesis did the like vnto them in London who accepted of his arriuage though King Edward lay there so that without disturbance his Nauie fell vp with the tide through the south Arch of the Bridge a mighty army to his aid mustered vpō the same side of the riuer 18 The Nobilitie then seeing side against side and all of them meere English ready to hazard their bloud in the quarrels of strangers wrought so with Edward and Goodwin that they came vnto peace and pledges were againe deliuered for the performance whereof Wilmot the sonne of Earle Goodwin and Hacun the sonne of Swaine his eldest were sent
a sudden gale arose which blew all the sailes spred for that winde into one Port. And that was Harold sonne to Earle Goodwine a man duly prizing his many worthy parts not vnmeet for a kingdom who first succeeding his father in his Dukedome and next Edward his brother in Law in his Kingdom in patience clemency affability bare himselfe most approuedly towards the vertuous but with a Lions courage and fierce countenance chastised the disordered and indeede became another Maccabeus vnto the distressed Land Whose kingly state before wee touch it shall not bee amisse to lengthen his short raigne with his Acts and Life as hee was a Subiect both with and against his Lord and Predecessor 2 That hee tooke part with his Father against Eustace of Bulloigne and King Edwards hasty commission wee haue shewed himselfe then enioying the Earledom of Oxford and so affected by those of Essex Suffolke and Norfolke Cambridge Huntington-shires that they sided in his cause against the King But these designes failing as commonly it is seene all attempts of Subiects against their Soueraignes doe hee learned by banishment what was the losse of true honour and by forbearance of battle when halfe the Kingdome stood for him his dutie obliged vnto the Common-wealth And growne againe into fauour with the King carried himselfe answerably vnto both 3 Some iealousy conceiued Edward without any cause banished Algar the son of Leofrike Earle of Chester who with the helpe of the Irish and Welchmen vnder the conduct of Gruffith ap Llewelyn Prince of North-Wales who had married his daughter did much hurt to the English putting Rodulph Earle of Hereford to flight with the slaughter of fiue hundred men spoiled the City burnt the Minster and became Masters of mis-rule in those parts Against these was Harold sent and with such manhood pursued his flying enemies that passing through North-Wales vpon the Snow-downes he pitched his Field The Earle and Prince Gruffith not daring to abide his presence fled thence vnto South-Wales and again tooke into Hereford whereof Harold hauing intelligence hasted thitherward leauing sufficient in the Snow-downes to mate the Welsh and recouering the City with a deepe trench and high rampire fortified it about where for the sauing of more bloud and not vngratefull to Algar who without grudge had resigned to him his Earldome and whole Reuenewes at his returne from exile a peace was concluded and at Harolds request Earle Algar and Prince Gruffith were pardoned 4 But Algar being again accused again aided by his old associate Gruffith recouered his Earledome by force whereat King Edward was highly displeased but most against Gruffith who euer was ready to assist any against him whereupon Harold the second time appointed Generall with a great host entred North-Wales without sight of enemy where he only burnt downe the stately Palace of Prince Gruffith so returned to the King But long the Welsh were not quiet nor the Prince pleased of the harms to him done Wherefore making his forces verie strong he again molested the English 5 To restraine whom once more was Harold set foorth who with such terrour burst into Wales that Prince Gruffith in secret stole from his Campe leauing his Souldiers if they would to fight for themselues whereupon his whole army yeelded themselues to Harolds mercy and hauing Prince Gruffith in their hands cut off his head and sent it to Harold giuing him pledges for assurance of p◅ce and the paiment of the ancient tribute which for a time had beene reteined yet euer after hee carried so heauy a hand on the Welsh that as Iohn of Salisburie in his Policraticon writeth he ordained a law that what Welsh-man soeuer should with weapon passe ouer Offaes ditch should haue hi◅ right hand cutte off by the Kings officer 6 All now in quiet and Harold withdrawne to his Mannor of Boseham vpon the riuage of the sea in the confines of Sussex there for his recreation one day hee tooke into a Fishers boate with small attendants neither those very skilfull Mariners when no sooner were they lanched into the deepe but a contrary wind came about and droue the boat vpon the coast of Ponthieu in France where hee was taken by the Country people and presented to Guido their Earle who a while retained him his prisoner in hope of gaine by his ransom but Duke William requiring it he was conueied into Normandy where he cunningly perswaded the Duke that his secret comming out of England was purposely to enter a league of amity with him The Duke then hauing present wars with the Britaine 's in France tooke this his new friend and guest with him for his companion at Armes whose ready policies followed with forward practise wan him great estimation with the Duke whereupon betwixt them a couenant was made for the reseruation of the English Crowne to the Norman if it chanced King Edward to die without children and the same ratified by Harolds corporall oath with the affiancing of Lady Adeliza the Dukes fift daughter then a child and Harold a widower which afterwards fell to his owne destruction and the lands subuersion as shall bee said 7 His last imploiment by holy King Edward was against the tumultuous Northumbrians which had expulsed Tosto their Earle and Harolds owne brother where a peace was concluded without shedding blood but with condition that Tosto should lose his Earledom whereupō in great displeasure he with his wife children fled into Flanders and euer after hated the person and emulated the glory of Harold The originall of these two brethrens quarrels beganne at Windsor where in the presence of the King they fell from words vnto blowes and that in such manner as if rescue had not come Tosto had died for which disgrace hee secretly hied him into the Marches of Wales and neere the City Hereford at Portaflyth where Harold had a house then in preparing to entertaine the King he slew all his brothers seruants and them cutting peecemeale into gobbets salted some of their limmes and cast the rest into vessels of the meath and wines sending his brother word that hee had furnished him with poudred meats against the Kings comming thither which barbarous act caused deseruedly his name to be odious vnto his Northumbrians and was lastly repayed with his owne death 8 Now albeit some Heralds make Harold by birth but a Gentleman of one and the first descent which were it so should no whit blemish him who was more truely enobled with princely vertues yet therein also it may seeme hee is mis-esteemed seeing his Father was Goodwin a Duke by degree the son of Wolnoth and he the sonne of Egelmar who was the sonne of Egelricke surnamed Leofwine and brother of Edrick Duke of Mercia that married the daughter of King Ethelred of England of whom wee haue spoken The mother of Harold was Githa the daughter of Duke
signified to Rollo choosing out the tallest and goodliest persons of his company and such as were of greatest wisedom with them he very ioyfully meeteth the King is entertained presents him with great gifts but receiueth greater Then sitting downe to talke and commune 12 I am saith King Alstenus right gladde most worthy Duke Rollo to see you in this my Court. The renowne of your Nation hath beene related to mee a Martiall kind of Peopleyee are and infight vnconquerable And you your selfe also for your prowesse are not vnnoted among the rest of your famous Worthies your valiant exploits are well knowne vnto vs It is right pleasing vnto vs to enter with such men into amitie Behold our whole kingdome is before you choose out a seate for your selfe and your people wheresoeur you best like for wee will haue an euerlasting league between vs. 13 Rollo glad of so faire promises replied Most worthy and renowmed King I highly esteem of your bountifull and most liberall proffers God grant a happy successe of our affaires I doe thinke myselfe most bounden deuoted to your worthines and if destinie euer answer to our desires we will not be vnthankfull for this your so great benignity To seate ourselues in your kingdome though indeede we are very willing and your Royall proffers do much more incite vs yet Fate doth not permit it I haue determined and will certainly performe to goe into France For your gifts bestowed on me I esteeme them in the highest degree and right well content I am to haue a perpetuall League with you that the like Fortune may betide vs both the one to be a safeguard to the other This I both offer and accept of I his League God grant may to vs both proue happy and fortunate 14 With such like interchanges the time much spent and night drawing on they were brought to banquet And early the next morning comming forth of their lodgings most louingly embraced each other when each gaue receiued presents best suting with their estates and occasions Neither doth Krantzius stay his penne there but proceedeth to particular affaires betwixt these two Princes without the concurrence of any of our owne writers 15 As how the English rose in Armes against Alstenus their King taking oportunity of the time for that Rollo whom they knew to bee ioined in a most strait confederacy with their Soueraigne beeing then imployed in the warres of France could not come or send to his aide Alstenus therefore oppressed with a tumultuous kingdome remembred Rollo his faithful friend and sending Ambassadors declared vnto him what distresse he was in who not vnmindfull of the firme league betwixt them left his French wars and prepared for England with all his Forces where entring the Iland he easily quieted the tumultuous rebels ransacking their Cities curbing their wildenes and so reducing them at last to an orderly subiection For which his great loue care pains the King not vnthankful resolued to requite him with the halfe of his kingdom appointing the Cities and limiting the bounds which each of them should rule and gouerne as their owne possessions 16 Rollo in the meane time as carefull of the peaces continuance as regardlesse of so great remunerations taketh pledges of the Rebels for securing their loialtie to the King and peaceable bearing towards himselfe vpon accomplishment whereof repairing to Alstenus he thus bespake him 17 Seeing King Alstenus you haue so highly rewarded me both with princely entertainment and bountifull presents I can doe no lesse then willingly bestow vpon you these my paines for your safetie it iâ—… no more then your deserts doe challenge neither will I accept or seeme so vncourteous as to expect for my paines any part of your dominion Your selfe now may well gouerne it for France calles for my presence keepe therefore those your Pledges brought to you by your Subiects and there is no doubt but you shall hence-forward gouerne your Kingdome in a setled and contentfull quietnesse 18 The King could not containe those his eies which now beheld in a stranger so strange and vnexempled kindnes from resoluing into teares giuing him both hearty thanks and rich gifts seeing hee could not fasten on him any portion of his Kingdome of whom all that Rollo desired was this that he would giue licence to such voluntary Souldiers as would goe with him into France whereto Alsten ready in all things to gratifie his desire gladly condescended and furnished him with attendants 19 But leauing Krantius the Dane as likewise Gemeticensis the Norman to fauour their Country these their reports to the best liking of the iudicious most certaine it is that the French King Charles commonly called the Simple gaue the Duchie of Normandy with his daughter Gilla whose mother was Aeguina the daughter of Edward the Elder King of England vnto Rollo the Dane as is recorded in an old manuscript belonging to the Monastery of Angiers And when Rollo was baptized Charles receiuing him for his God-sonne at the Font he was there required to doe homage for his Dukedome receiued and inioined therein to kisse the Kings foot which hee did but with some disgrace to King Charles and bound it with an oath that hee did not receiue it vpon courtesie 20 This Rollo by his second wife Popee for Gilla died childlesse daughter to the Earle of Bessin and Baileulx had a sonne named William surnamed Longespee and a daughter called Girlâ—…ta who was afterwards married to the Duke of Guyan 21 William Long-espee so called of the Long Sword he vsually wore the second Danish Duke of Normandy took vnto wife Spâ—…rta the daughter of Hubert Earle of Seâ—…tlis by whom hee had onely Richard his sonne this William receiuing baptisme receiued therewith a new name and was thenceforth called Robert who hauing gouerned his Dukedome with great moderation the space of twenty yeeres was guilefully murthered by the working of Lewes King of France to the great griefe of his people who so far followed the reuenge that they intercepted Lewes in the Citie Rothâ—…mage and deteined him their prisoner till he agreed to these Articles That young Richard should succeed his slaine Father in the foresaid Dukedome and that thenceforth when the King Duke should conferre together the Duke should bee girt with his Sword and the King disabled either of Sword or knife to which Lewes yeelded vpon his corporall oth 22 Richard thus established gouerned his Dukedome the space of fifty two yeeres Hee was a man of an admirable fortitude and therefore was called Richard the Hardy His first wife was Agnes daughter to Hughle Grand Earle of Paris Lord Abbat of Germans and Father to Hugh Capet of France but she dying issuelesse he secondly married Gâ—…or a Gentlewoman of the Danish bloud whom he had kept his Concubine before by whom he had three sonnes and three daughters the first was Richard that succeeded in his dominions the second
was Robert Archbishop of Roan and the third was called Maliger his daughters were Hawisa the wife of Geffrey Earle of Britaine and mother to Alane and Guye his sonnes Mand espoused Euldes Earle of Chartiers and Blois and Emma called the Flower of Normandy was Queene of England both by the English King Ethelred and Canutus the Dane to both which shee was married 23 Richard the second surnamed the Good was the fourth Duke of Normandy and ruled the same for twenty foure yeeres In whose time the Normans began to be great and gracious in England the marriage of his Sister making their way his first wife was Iudith the Sister of Geffrey Earle of Britaigne by whom he had issue Richard the first Duke of Normandy and Robert the sixt William a Monke and Nicholas Abbot of S. Andrewes his daughters by her were Alice that died yong and another of the same name maried to Reinold Earle of Burgoine and Eleanor espoused to Baldwin the fourth Earle of Flanders who bare vnto him Baldwin the fifth father of Maud that was Queene of England and wife to the Conquerour 24 The second wife to Duke Richard the second was Estrike Sister to Canute King of England from whom he purchased a Diuorce without any issue begotten on her body and then taking for his thrid wife a faire Gentlewoman named Pauia had issue by her William Earle of Arques and Mauger Archbishop of Roane 25 Richard the third of that name and fifth Duke of Normandy in the second yeere of his Dukedome died an vntimely death not without suspition of Poyson ministred by Robert his younger brother who presently was inuested in the Dutchie for that he left no issue of his body to succeed 26 This Robert Duke Richards Brother was a man of a magnanimous spirit and of such bounteous liberality as is vncredible Hee comming to the City Phalesya in Normandy chanced to see a most goodly and beautifull damosell dancing among others of her familiar consorts her name was Arlet of meane parentage the daughter of a Skinner saith Higden whose pleasing feature and comely grace so pleased the Duke that taking her to his bed he begot on her William his onely sonne who proued the onely man of the Normans blood and after vpon a remorse of conscience vndertooke a pilgrimage vnto Ierusalem from whence hee neuer againe returned Arlet in Roberts life time was married to Herlaine a Norman Gentleman but of meane substance to whom â—…he bare Odo Bishop of Baion by his halfe-brother William created Earle of Kent and Robert created Earle of Mortaigne a man of a dull and grosse wit a daughter named Emma wife to Richard count of Auranches a Prouince in Normandy the mother of Hugh Lupus Earle Palatine of Chester And thus farre breâ—…ly I haue thought good to prosecute the Line of the Normans for the better illustration of our English Stories 27 Duke Robert intending his pious pilgrimage vnto the holy land assembled all his Nobility vnto the City Fiscan where he caused them to sweare fealty vnto 〈◊〉 sonne William being then but seuen yeares old committing him to the Gouernance of one Gilbert an Earle of much integrity and prudence and the defence of that Gouernment vnto Henry the French King and so in the eight yeare of his Dukedome set on his voyage for Ierusalem who entring Iurye and not able to trauaile was born in a litter vpon the Saracens shoulders and neere vnto the Citie meeting a returning Pilgrime desired him to report in his Country what he there saw which is said hee that I am carried to Heauen vpon the Diuels bâ—…cke but so farre was he borne that he neuer returned being preuented by death which the Norman Peeres hearing made vse thereof for their owne ambitious ends without any regard of young William their Pupill and Soueraigne and grown into factions greatly troubled the Peace of their Country wherein Earle Gâ—…bert the Protector was slaine by Randulphus the young Dukes Cosen-Germane 28 The beginner of these stirres was another of his kinsmen euen 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 the sonne of Duke Richards daughter brought vp with Willam in his youth and euer in his most especial esteeme who vpon a vaine hope to aspire to an Earldome got the aide of the Vicounts Nigell and Randulph but tooke such a fall before he could ascend the highest step that in losing his footing he lost therewith his head 29 Strife also arose betwixt yong William and his Vnckle William the base-borne Earle of Archis Whereupon King Henry of France who till then had held this Wolfe by the eare fearing some hazzard to himselfe if he should now let him go thought it best to aid the Earle in his cause and therefore sent him supplie vnder the leading of some men of note but William so begirt his Castle with strait siege that hee caused the Earle by famishment to yeeld vp his Fort and droue the French with disgrace out of the field where with such successe he still prospered that Henry now to secure his own Confines sent Odo his brother for Prefect into those Parts that lay betwixt the Riuers Reyn and the Seyn 30 William as watchfull as the French King was jealous sent against Odo Robert Count Aucensis Hugh Gornacensis Hugh Mountfort and William Crispine all of them stout Souldiers which so brauely bare themselues that Odo was the first man that made away and the restof the French saued themselues by flight 31 William that had sworne a league with King Henry and in his Minority had euer found him his gracious Guardian was loth to endanger the breach of his Oath or the duty that loue and deserts had obliged him vnto and therefore by this Stratagem hee sought to dislodge the French In the silence of Night when in the Kings Campe all were at rest he caused to be cried aloud the flight of Odo and his discomfiture with no lesse terrour then it was which rang so shrill in the eares of the French that Henry thought best to be gone leauing William the absolute Lord of Normandie 32 Which he valiantly defended and vprightly gouerned all the daies of King Henry whose death presently caused an alteration of State for he leauing Baldwine surnamed the Gentle and fifth Earle of Flaunders Tutor to his yong Sonne Philip the quarrell betwixt those two Princes had an end Baldwine on the one side so working his Pupill and on the other the Normane who was his sonne in law that a most firme League was ratified betwixt them and kept vnuiolated so long as William was a Duke where wee will leaue him in prosperitie and peace and proceed in our intendment as he did in his Conquest here in England VVILLIAM SVRNAMED THE CONQVEROVR THE THIRTIE NINTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN AND FIRST OF THE NORMANS HIS LIFE RAIGNE ACTS WIFE AND ISSVE CHAPTER II. BAttle Field wonne with the losse of little lesse then sixty eight
fauour according to the prophesie of King William his Father This battaile was fought and Normandy wonne vpon Saturday being the Vigill of S. Michael euen the same day forty yeares that William the Bastard set foot on Englands Shoare for his Conquest God so disposing saith Malmsbury that Normandy should be subiected to England that very day wherein England was subdued to Normandy 23 Robert Curtuoise that now vnfortunate Prince and William Mortaigne that valiant but head-strong Earle were forthwith sent into England and imprisoned the Earle in the Tower of London and the Duke in Cardiffe Castle in Wales after he had gouerned the Dutchy of Normandy nineteen yeeres and was for esteeme in Chiualrie accounted among the best Captains that the world then afforded had hee not beene as commonly martiall spirits vse to be too rash and vnstaied in his other enterprises which headinesse did now draw vpon him a penance of twenty sixe yeeres continuance in the afflicted state of a forlorne Captiue And Henry now no longer as a brother receiuing the keyes of Normandy as a Conquerour returned into England 24 But long it was not ere Duke Robert weary of this vnwonted duresse sought to escape and hauing liberty to walke in the Kings Meadowes Forrests and Parkes brake from his Keepers without any Assisters or meanes for security who being mist was presentlie pursued and taken in a quag-mire wherein his Horse lay fast whereupon the King hearing of this his attempt considering that woods were no walles to restraine the fierce Lyon and that to play with his claw was to endanger a state commanded him not onely a greater restraint and harder durance but also a thing vnfit for a brother to suffer but most vnworthy for Beauclearke to act both his eyes to bee put out causing his head to be held in a burning bason to auoid the deformity of breaking the eye-bais vntill the glassie tunicles had lost the office of retaining their light 25 Hauing thus quieted all forraine oppositions King Henry set his minde to preuent Domesticke and therfore about this time those Flemmings whose Lands the Seas had deuoured some few yeeres before and place was granted them in Cumberland first by King Rufus and afterwards by Henry were now by the King vpon better aduisement remoued into Wales both to disburden his Inland of such guests and that so they might bee a defence betwixt him and those euer-stirring people Which proiect nothing deceiued his expectation for by the testimony of Giraldus They were a Colony stout and strong and continually endured the warres of the Welsh a Nation most accustomed to seeke gaine by cloathing by triffique also and Marchandize by Sea and Land vndertaking any paines or perils whatsoeuer A people of very great power and as time and place requireth ready by turnes to take plough in hand and till the ground as ready also to goe into the field and fight it out and that I may adde thus much more saith hee a Nation most loially deuoted to the Kings of England and as faithfull to the Englishmen 26 By the which his policy he attained that which his brother Rufus could not who many a time had but small successe in those parts though otherwise euer sped most fortunatly in all his aduentures of warres But it is thought by some that as the Mountanous cragginesse of the Country and sharpnesse of the Aire encouraged them in their rebellion so the same impeached Rufus his successe But King Henrie saith Malmesburie who with many a warlike expedition went about to force the Welshmen euer stirring vnto Rebellion for to yeeld and to submit themselues in the end resolued vpon this whole some policie for to take down their pride he brought thither all the Flemmings that dwelt in England a great number of which Nation in those daies in regard of his mothers kindred by her Fathers side flocking hither were closely shrouded in England in so much as they for their multitude seemed burden some vnto the Realme Wherefore he sent them all together with their substance their Wines and Children vnto Rosse a Countrey in Wales as it were into a common auoidance thereby both to purge his own kingdome and also to quatle and represse the desperate boldnesse of his Enemies 27 And now being free from all feare of subuerters King Henry growing disdainefull saith Paris refused to fulfil what he had so oftē promised to his Nobles heaping threats vpon threats for God had bestowed on him three bounties wisdome victory and riches aboue any of his Predecessors but for all these hee shewed himselfe to God most vnthankeful And of his Clergy wee may say too regardlesse in suffering Anselm newly reconciled to lay heauy punishmēts vpon the married Priests putting many from their places because they denied to put away their Lawfull wiues whereof great contention followed and grieuous sinnes in short time committed both against God and Nature 28 Among these proceedings in England Philip King of France deceased and his sonne Lewis surnamed Crassus succeeded in his gouernement which how he stood affected to Henry was doubted and therefore to make sure worke the King sailed into Normandy furnishing his Townes Castles and Fortresses with all habiliments of warre with prouisions befitting such suspected times and so returning he found attending his comming the Ambassadors of Henrie the fourth Emperour as suters from their Master to obtaine Lady Maud the Kings daughter in Marriage then not past fiue yeeres of age which was willingly graunted and the espousals by way of Proxy solemnized with great feasts and magnificent triumphes 29 About which time the death of Archbishop Anselme happening gaue no small hope to the Clergy as themselues conceited againe to enioy the liberty of matrimoniall society wherein they were not a little deceiued for the King seemed willing that the Ecclesiasticall Ordinance before made should bee more neerely looked into whereupon men for feare and in the sight of men carried themselues accordingly but if in secret they did worse saith Eadmerus let the charge light on their own heads sith euery man shall beare his owne sinnes for I know saith hee that if Fornicators and Adulterers God will iudge the abusers of their owne Cosens I will not say their own Sisters and Daughters shal not surely escape his iudgement 30 The Kings peace which seemed to be secured by his new affinity with the Emperour and his glory raised to the high began now to bee enuied and his brother Duke Roberts extremities greatly to be pitied both by some English and also Normans For Foulke Earle of Aniou both threatned the reuenge and by corrupting the inhabitants wanne the City of Constance from his obeisance To stay whose irruptions King Henry passed into Normandy where hee vsed great extremity and put to death Helia Earle of Cenomania who held that
him a sonne whose name was Henry for ioy whereof King Henry assembled his Lords and againe made his said Daughter and the lawfull Heires of her body his Successors in his Dominions 54 And then preparing againe for his last and fatall passage into Normandy tooke shipping vpon the Nones of August the very day wherein he first receiued the Crowne when hapned so wonderfull an Eclipse of the Sunne that Malmsbury the reporter faith himselfe then saw the starres plainly in the Firmament about the Sunne and that two daies after so great and fearefull an Earthquake hapned that the house where in himselfe sate was lifted vp with a double remoue and others say that out of riffes in the earth burning flames arose that could not be quenched which diuers iudged to be fatall prodigies of the deathes of those Princes that soone after ensued 56 For Robert the Curtoise after twenty sixe yeers imprisonment and blindnesse through griefe conceiued at the putting on of a faire new roabe too little for the King and therefore in kindnesse sent to Duke Robert to weare grew weary of his life as disdaining to bee mocked with his brothers cast cloathes and cursing the time of his vnfortunate Natiuity resused thenceforth to take any sustenance and so pined himselfe to death His body was buried at Gloucester in the Church of Saint Peter and middle of the Quire where to this day remaineth his Tombe with a carued Image of his feature as the monument of a most vnfortunate man 57 And not long after K. Henry in Normandy comming scarse very well from Hunting in the Forrest of Lyons and Towne of Saint Denys made his repast of a dish of Lampreyes which meat hee too wel loued but could neuer well digest whereupon he fell more grieuously sicke and the same still increasing after seuen daies sicknesse vpon the first of December the sixty fiue of his age and yeare of Christ Iesus 1135. when hee had raigned King of England thirty fiue yeeres foure moneths lacking foure daies Duke of Normandy twenty nine yeers and foure monethes he died in the said towne of S. Denys and from thence was conueied to Roan where his Bowels Eyes and Braines were taken out and buried the body also sliced and powdred with much salt was wrapped in a Buls hide to auoide the stinch beeing so intollerable a point fitting for such great Princes to thinke on in their great glory and pleasures to remember their fraile and humane condition that the Physitian who tooke out his braines was poisoned therewith and presently died wherupon some obserued that other Kings killed men in their life but he also * after he was dead thence was his Corps carried into England and honourably buried vpon the day of Christs Natiuity at Reading in Barkeshire in the Abbey that himselfe had there founded and endowed with large possessions 58 After his death saith Huntington and Houeden men spake their mind as freely of him as of any other dead man some commending him for these three glorious felicities Wisedome Victory and Wealth others condemning him for three especiall vices Couetousnesse Cruelty and Lechery some instances of which wee haue touched in the relation of his life the first three in obtaining and keeping the Crowne the last in his most grieuous taxations cruell handling and imprisoning his Brother and his incontinency of life shall presently appeare by his many illegitimate issues the fruites of his wantonnes and witnesses of his shame in that Princes who are to punish such sinnes in others ought themselues especially to be free from them for though their liuing fortunes stoppe mens tongues from vpbraiding yet after their death the tongues of the vulgar and pennes of the learned will make the infamy of their vices to bee immortall 59 He was for personage of a reasonable stature broad breasted well iointed and full of flesh amiable of countenance sharpe and faire eyes blacke of haire and that somewhat carelesly hanging on his forehead his mind was enriched with many vertues a follower of Iustice a louer of Religion seuere against theeues and all effeminate nicities So that hee commanded mens long haire which against God and Natures law was matchable at that time with womens to be cut off temperate of diet and neuer drinking but for thirst valiant in battaile yet very circumspect seeking rather to win by wise care then by effusion of bloud and by the report of most Writers excelled all the Princes of the World in his time in Mercy Wealth and Bounty vnto Monasteries the land hee defended by Garrisons of Souldiers planted on the Confines of his neighbour Princes building many Forts Bulwarkes and Castles besides twenty fiue Townes and Cities whatsoeuer was wisely or vertuously performed in his Gouernement is chiefly ascribed to his yonger yeares institution in true Learning and Philosophy which was the great furnishment of him vnto the Science of Regality being often heard to say that hee esteemed an vnlearned King but a crowned Asse In which regard saith Rossus hee tooke chiefe pleasure to reside in his new Palace which himselfe built at Oxford both for the delight he had in learned men himselfe being very learned and for the vicinity of his new Parke at Woodstocke which he had fraught with all kind of strange beasts wherein he much delighted as Lyons Leopards Lynces Camells Porcupins and the like His delight also in works of deuotion shewes it selfe both in the erection and indowment of the Collegiate and Episcopall Sees of Carlile and Ely as also of the Abbayes of Hide Circester Reading and the Priorie of Dunstable His Wife Queene Maud founded the Priorie of Holy Trinity within Algate and the Hospital of Saint Giles in the Fields so that by himselfe his Queene and other deuoted persons twenty foure foundations to religious vses if not more were erected in the raigne of this King His Wiues 60 Maude the first Wife of King Henry was the daughter of Malcolme the third surnamed Canmoir King of Scotland her mother was S. Margaret daughter to Edward sonne of Edmund the Ironside King of England She was married vnto him at London in the first yeare of his raigne Anno 1100. by Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury hauing formerly vowed her selfe a Nunne which some swore she did not for loue of single life but to auoide some vnworthy matches which her Father would haue imposed on her Her Coronation was at Westminster by the same Anselme on Sunday the eleuenth of Nouember in the same yeare She was his wife seuenteene yeeres and more famous for her learning loue to learning charity to the poore and all vertuous dispositions and deceased at Westminster the first of May in the eighteenth yeere of his raign and yeere of our Saluation 1118. where shee was buried in S. Peters Church on
the right side of King Edward the Confessor 61 Ad◅licia or Alice the second wife of King Henry was the daughter of Godfrey the first Duke of Louaine by the daughter of the Emperour Henrie the fourth and sister to Duke Godfrey and Iocelin of Louain Shee was married vnto him the nine and twentieth of Ianuary in the twentie one of his raigne and yeere of Christ 1121. and was crowned the morrow after being Sunday Shee was his wife fifteene yeeres but euer childlesse and suruiuing him was remarried to William Daubeny Earle of Arundel and was mother of Earle William the second Rayner Godfrey and Ioan married to Iohn Earle of Augi c. His Issue 62 William the sonne of King Henry and Queen Maud his first wife was born the secōd of his Fathers Raigne and of Christ 1102. When he came to age of foureteene yeeres the Nobility of England did him homage and sware their fealties vnto him at Shrewsburie The third yeere after hee married the daughter of Foulk Earle of Aniou and the same yeere hee was made Duke of Normandy doing his homage for the same to Lewes the Grosse King of France and receiued the homage and oathes of the Nobility of that Country but in his returne for England hee was vnfortunately drowned neere vnto Barbfleet vpon the twenty sixt of Nouember the yeere of Grace 1120. and eighteenth of his owne age without any issue to the great griefe of his Father 63 Maud the daughter of King Henry and of Queene Maud his first wife was borne the fourth yeere of her Fathers raigne She was the second wife of the Emperour Henrie the fourth espoused at sixe yeeres of age and at eleuen with great solemnity was married and crowned his Empresse at Mentz in Germany 6. Ianuary Anno 1114. the ninth of her husbands and foureteenth of her Fathers Raignes Shee was his wife twelue yeeres and suruiued him without any issue of him comming into England a widdowe she had fealty sworne vnto her by the Nobility and was remaried to Geffrey Plantaginet Earle of Aniou sonne of Foulke King of Ierusalem vpon the third of Aprill and yeere of Grace 1127. by whom shee had issue Henry the Second King of England Geffery Earle of Nantes in Britanie and William who was called Earle of Poyto she was his wife twenty three yeeres and suruiuing him also continued a widdowe the last seuenteene yeeres of her life which she ended in the City of Roan the tenth of September 1167. the foureteenth of the raigne of King Henry her sonne and was buried in the Abbey of Bee in Normandy 64 Richard a second sonne to King Henry and Queene Maud by the testimony of Geruasius the Monke of Canterbury who maketh Maud their eldest Child William the second and lastly Richard and then saith he she left bearing but Malmsbury saith she had but two Children one of each sexe 65 Eufem also another daughter and fourth Child by Hector Boetius the Scottish Historian is said to be borne vnto the Beauclearke by Queene Maud the credite of the two last I leaue to the reporters who onely thus name them without any further relation His Naturall Issue 66 Robert the naturall sonne of King Henry was Earle of Gloucester and married Ma◅l daughter and heire of Robert Fitzhamon Lord of Glamorgan by whom hee had issue William Earle of Gloucester Richard Bishop of Bayon Roger Bishop of Worcester and Maud the wife of Randolph Gernon the mother of Hugh Keueliot Earle of Chester and Richard his brother Earle William married Auis daughter of Robert Bossu Earle of Leicester and had issue three daughters and heires of that Earledome which by Au◅s the second of them in the end descended to Clare Earle of Hertford This Earle Robert died the last of October in the twelfth yeare of King Stephen and was buried at Bristow in the Church of S. Iames which hee had founded and his body laide in the midst of the Quire vnto him William Malmsbury dedicated his Booke called Historia Nouella 67 Richard another naturall sonne of King Henry was as it seemeth by an ancient Register of the Monastery at Abington borne in the raigne of King William Rufus of the widow of Anskill a Nobleman of the Country adioining to the said Monastery and it seemeth hee is that Richard that was drowned in the Norman Seas neere Barbfleet among the rest of King Henries children 68 Raynold the naturall sonne of King Henry was borne of a daughter vnto Sir Robert Corbet Lord of Alcester in Warwickeshire by the gift of the King in fauour of her who was after married to Henry Fitz-herbert his Chamberlaine This Raynold was created Earle of Cornwall and Baron of Castle comb with consent of King Stephen and had issue foure Daughters of whom haue sprung many faire branches 69 Robert another of that name was borne of Edith the sister of Iue sonne and daughter of Forne the sonne of Sigewolfe both of them great Barons in the North which Edith afterwards King Henry gaue in marriage to Robert D◅lie Baron of Hook-Norton in Oxfordshire and with her gaue him the Mannor of Eleydon in the County of Buckingham by whom he had issue Henry Doylie Baron of Hook-Norton who oftentimes mentioneth this Robert in his Charters euer calling him Robert his brother the Kings sonne 70 Gilbert another naturall sonne of King Henry is named in the additions to the story of William Gemeticensis the Norman Monke in the Chronicle of that country written by Iohn Taylor being a Translator of that worke out of Latine into French and lastly in the Treaties betwixt England and France written in the French tongue by Iohn Tillet Secretarie to their late King Henry the second and yet in them not any other mention is made but only of his name 71 William also a narurall sonne of Henry the King had giuen vnto him the Towne of Tracie in Normandy of which hee tooke his surname and was called William of Tracie But whether he were the Progenitot of the Tracies sometime Barons in Deuonshire or of them that now be of the same surname or whether Sir William Tracie one of the foure Knights that slew Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury were any of his posterity is not certainely reported nor any thing else of him more then that hee died a little after his Father which was in the yeere of Christ 1135. 72 Henry another naturall sonne of King Henry was borne of the Lady Nesta daughter of Rees ap Tewdor Prince of South-Wales who was the Wife of Sir Gerald Windsor and of Stephen Constables of the Castles of Pembrooke and Abertinie in Wales and Progenitors of the Families of the Fitz-geralds and the Fitz-Stephens in Ireland he was borne and breed and liued and married in Wales hauing issue two sonnes namely Meiler and Robert of which Meiler the elder married the daughter of Hugh Lacie Lord of Methe in Ireland
the Castles of Waltham Farnham and Winchester with Munition and men meane while the Empresse came speedily to Gloucester to conferre with Milo her chiefest friend and presently againe returning to Oxford which she chose for her Court and chiefe place of abode was there maintained only at his charge not hauing one dayes diet or prouision of her owne to requite which fidelity and other noble seruices she there created him Earle of Hereford 35 Her forces recollected thither assembled she went forthwith to the City of Winchester accompanied with Dauid King of Scotland her vncle Earle Robert her brother and many other Nobles where sending for the Bishop being then in the City whose aid shee could hardly spare and therefore was desirous of his reconcilement though hee mistrusted some perill yet not daring to send a deniall returned the Messenger with this equiuocall answere that he would with all speed addresse himselfe as if hee had meant to follow them so forthwith issuing secretly out of the City did indeed addresse himselfe to worke her ruine for sending for Queene Maude her sonne Eustace the Londoners and William Ypres afterwards created Earle of Kent made strong his part himselfe and friends abiding in the City whiles the Empresse and her Nobles defensed themselues in the Castle not aduenturing to goe forth amongst so many their mortall enemies and soone after to worke his wrathfull will knowing the Citizens to bee more affected to the Empresse then to him commanded the said Citie to bee set on fire where in the Monastery of Nunnes aboue twentie Churches the Couent of S. Grimbald and the better part of the Citie were consumed to ashes 36 Seuen weekes thus spent in this counter-siege of the Citie and Castle the Bishoppe to deceiue the Empresse commanded peace to bee proclaimed and the Gates to bee set open towards euening The Empresse then who had indured such troubles and so long a restraint greatlie desired to change her lodging and to recreat her perplexed spirits in some other place so taking horse accompanied with her brother Reinold Earle of Cornewall her seruants and many others her friends besides Earle Robert who followed behind with a troupe of Nobles and Knights presentlie at the Bishoppes commandment shee was pursued by his Souldiers and many of her traine wounded and taken prisoners the Empresse by good prouidence escaped into the Castle of Lutegareshall and thence to the Castle Diuize where vnderstanding that shee was still in hazard to bee surprized shee was contented as what will not necessity endure a womans wit deuise to bee laide in a coffine bound fast with cords and so as if it had beene her Corse carried in a horse-litter to the Citie of Glocester in which bonds of her owne distresse shee had good occasion to remember the chaines of King Stephens captiuitie To such extremities were these two Princes at the selfe same time subiect that whiles they turmoiled for spacious Kingdomes brought themselues to the very extream wants of aire and of elbow-roome but with such dalliance doth Fortune wee see oftentimes follow her game that shee maketh euen Monarchs the Balls of her play and tosseth them lastly into the Hazard whence hardly they escape with safetie of life Yet this was not the worst for Earle Robert her brother whilest hee was busier in prouiding for her safetie then for his owne was taken by his pursuers at Stoubreg with others brought backe to Winchester and there presented by the Bishop vnto Queene Maud King Stephens wife who committed him to the custodie of William Ypres and he for more safety to Glocester but others taking sanctuarie in the Nuns Monastery of Warwell were burned together with the place Thus then the King on the one side and the Earle on the other were kept in safe custodie but the Queene labouring for the Kings release and the Countesse for the Earles many Articles were propounded and many messengers imploied at length this was thought fittest that Stephen should bee restored to his kingdome and Robert vnder him to haue the whole gouernment of the Land so that both of them should now iointly vphold that which they the two Ring-leaders by opposition had cast downe But Earle Robert as he was no whit deiected in mind with any frowne of Fortune whatsoeuer so reserued hee his fidelity to the Empresse vnstained and vnmoued either with feare or faire inticements still refusing to capitulate for his freedome but to his Sisters liking who likewise bare so braue a minde that were her state neuer so weake shee would not consent nor giue the least eare to any composition for the Crowne 37 Then was enmitie increased the Kingdome diuided and the peoples hatred kindled in mainetaining the factions all fore-running the ruine of the Land Forthese two Chieftaines wearied with irksomnes of irons and hard imprisonment made exchange the one for the other without any farther mention of peace and so studied not onely to renew their former designes but to encrease the lands miserie by more eagre warres Stephen in England wrought the people for him Robert taking pledges of the Nobles to attend and guard the Empresse at Oxford till his returne went into Normandie to solicite Geffrey her husband for her defence But the Earle hauing troubles with his owne Nobilitie and the Normans scarsly brought to any subiection thought it not conuenient by his owne absence for a state in hope to hazard that in hand and therefore sent with Robert some strength of Armes and with them his young sonne Prince Henrie into England 38 The Empresse in his absence had well fortified her selfe in Oxford whom Stephen vsing the benefit of Roberts absence followed with an eagre pursuite and wanne the Suburbs euen vnto the Citie gates then girt hee the Empresse with so straite a siege meaning neuer to giue ouer till hee had now made her sure in his possession that for two monethes whatsoeuer Strength or Stratageme could performe in assault or defense was there put in practize till at length great penurie enforced to thinke of a surrender but shee a woman whose sexe hath often deceiued wise men resolued once againe to ouer-reach her foe by wit whom shee could not by force whereto the time did fit her wishes for being a winter sharpe aboue measure the Riuer Thamisis that runnes by the Citie walls was then congealed with a strong crusted Ice and besides a great snow did then continue and had couered the ground Maud vpon these aduantages put in practize a most dangerous attempt for cloathing herselfe and some choice of her company in white linnen garments to deceiue the eies of the Sentinells issued secretlie by night out of a posterne-gate and passing the frozen Riuer ranne on foote through ice and snow ditches and vallies for fiue miles euen to Abingdon the falling snow
him for Normandy Aquitane Angiou Main and Tourain which partly were his patrimony and partly the inheritance of Elianor his wife 6 His domesticke enemies being subdued or appeased hee put his brother Geffrey by force to a pension the summe whereof if it be any thing to the purpose to know was 1000. l. English and 2000. l. Aniou by yeere wringing out of his possession all such territories as by their Fathers last Will and Testament were bequeathed to him in France But Geffrey did not long enioy the said annuity or his brothers friendship for in the third yeare death brought a discharge and Henry was disburdened of those paiments For his violence in taking away those lands King Henry might alledge he was eldest brother but that allegation might bee auoided with his owne consent which once hee gaue but the great Elixar called Reason of State though falsly so called vnlesse it bee seasoned with Iustice and Religion hath so transmutatiue a faculty as to make Copper seeme Gold right wrong and wrong right yea when all Pleas faile it will stand for good while there are forces to support it 7 This accord between the two brethren being thus howsoeuer established the King repaires into England and at Chester enters amity with Malcolme King of Scots on such termes as his Grandfather had done yet Saluis omnibus dignitatibus suis sauing to himselfe all his dignities and the said Malcolme restored to Henry the City of Karleol Newcastle vpon Tyne c. and Henry restored to him the Earledome of Huntington in England And so iustly dreadfull did the growing puissance of this young Monarch appeare to his greatest enemies that Hugh Bigod Earle of Norfolke who had potent means to doe mischiefe rendred his Castle to bee at his disposall 8 The Welsh notwithstanding forsooke not themselues but did some memorable matters vnder conduct of the valiant Prince Owen against the English in defence of North-Wales and their Countries liberty to the losse of the English and extreame danger of the Kings owne person whose Standard roiall was cowardly abandoned and the King reported to be slaine for which Henrie de Essex the Kings Standard-Bearer at that conflict was afterward accused by Robert de Montford his neere Kinsman and in single battaile within lists was vanquished at Reading where the said Henry de Essex was shorne a Monke and died Mathew Paris relates the whole voiage of King Henry summarily thus That Henry prepared a very great Army against the Welsh with full purpose to ouercom them both by land and sea that hee cut vp the woods and forrests and laid open a way that hee recouered the Castle of Ruthlan and other fortresses taken from his Ancestors that hee repaired the Castle of Basingwerke and that hauing brought the Welsh to his will hee returned with triumph into England 9 After this himselfe and his wife Queene Elienor beeing openly crowned vpon Christmas day some say Easter day at the Citie of Worcester they both at the Offertorie laid their Diademes vpon the high Altar vowing neuer to weare them after this beeing now the third time in which at three seuerall places Westminster Lincolne and Worcester he had beene crowned This deuout act of his did flow perhaps out of some such speculation as that of Canutus who thought none truly worthy the name of King but God alone or that vpon which Godfrey of Buillion refused to weare a crowne of gold in Hierusalem where our Lord and Sauiour had beene crowned with thornes For this King had at times the pangs and symptoms of mortification and piety and did heerein acknowledge the onely giuer and taker-away of kingdoms God-almighty putting himselfe and Realme vnder the protection of that Maiestie of whom hee held paramount and professing as it were that from thencefoorth hee would direct his actions to the glorie of his omnipotent Master which is indeede the only finall cause of all true monarchie 10 Not long after hauing established his affaires in England hee crost the Seas into Normandie where successiuely sundrie matters of importance fell out as the seisure of the City of Nants in Britaine after his brother Geffreis death his iourney to Paris beeing inuited thither by Lewis and his wife the Queene the vnprofitable siege of Tholouze laid by King Henrie where Malcolme King of Scots was in companie with him the vnripe marriage of his sonne Henrie to Margaret the French Kings daughter whom Thomas Becket then Lord Chancellor had formerlie conducted with verie great State from Paris by consent of parents for that purpose the offence taken at those spousals by Lewis for that the children were but infants and that himselfe was a looser thereby the warre heereupon attempted by Lewis fortifying Chaâ—…mount which the French hauing quit the Field by flight King Henrie recouered with aduantage the Armies of both these great Kings being afterward at point as it were to ioine dispersed vpon reconciliation of the two Kings by reason of a marriage concluded vpon betweene Richard King Henries second son and Alice the French Kings daughter All which and some other not drawing with them any extraordinarie sequell nor offording much matter for ciuill document must not preponderate the handling of things more rare and considerable 11 For after these accidents beganne the famous controuersies betweene the King and his Arch-bishop Becket a man of an inuincible stomack and resolution in his life and after death reputed by some for a great Saint or Martyr as is likewise noted of Henrie that he was the most politike martiall rich and honoured Prince of all his time This Prelate by birth a Londoner though his mother a Sarazen say some by profession a Ciuilian was by Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterburie both made his Arch-deacon and also placed about the person of Duke Henrie who beeing now King aduanced him in the verie first yeere of his raigne to bee Lord Chancellor of England in which high honor he carried himselfe like another King and afterward vpon the death of Theobald though the Monks obiected against Becket that neither a Courtier nor a Souldier as hee had beene both were fit to succeede in so high and sacred a function yet the King gaue him that Arch-bishopricke partly in reward and partly in further hope of his ready and faithfull seruice Which to be true a Legender of his Miracles can best relate Nonnullis tamen c. Many saith hee iudged his promotion not Canonicall because it was procured more by the importunity of the King then by the voices of Clergie or People and it was noted as presumption and indiscretion in him to take vpon him to guide the Sterne who was scarce fit to handle an Oare and that beeing skild onely in worldly affaires hee did not tremble to ascend vnto that sacred top of so great dignitie Whereto agreeth the reports of two
laid the ground seeing it is his holy will that thou at this time shouldst bee without a wife Know thou then that I haue that one daughter Eua the heire of my Crowne and comfort of my age let thine owne eye tell thee how faire and worthy this I dare auouch that thou wilt thinke far broader seas wel crost for view of so honest beauty she in the first blossome of her youth a vertuous virgine and by both Parents borne of Princes shall at thine arriual with this right hand bee made thine and with her after my death my whole realme and other my rights whatsoeuer which were they infinitely more despise not such loue nor thealliance of one distre◅ed but neuerthelesse a King I would repute them farre too little for such a sonne in law who though thy selfe as yet no King art come of Kings and it is my whole and last ambition that I may liue to make thee one The Earle accepted the conditions resolute to set vp Dermot againe and for that purpose bound himselfe by solemne contract to the full performance of his part within a certaine time 53 Dermot hauing thus negotiated his affaires and set it in so good forwardnes while his friends in England prepared themselues and their Forces lest hee should seeme to relie vpon forraine aides and so to diminish with them the reputation of his owne valour and alliances at home hee sailes backe into his Country carrying with him the promises of confederates and there both by his presence and perswasions did the best hee could to facilitate the entrance of the English whose honourable entertainements deuotions ciuility riches valours wisedome and victorious greatnesses he spared not to celebrate as instruments aduancing his own designes which raised no little expectation mixt with contrary affections of desire and feare 54 The next yeare when the season grew fit for an Army to take the field Robert Fitz-Stephen accompanied with Maurice Fitz-Gerald his halfe brother by the surer side a competent number of Souldiers reposing vnder God their chief hope in their swords and courages set saile for Ireland in the beginning of May came on shore at a place called by the Irish B◅nn by the English at this day commonly Bagg and Bunn which in our language signifies Sacred a word which so much as names may be presages of things did as it were hallow the attempt of the English with a lucky and gratious omination whereof the Inhabitants at this present retaine this rime At the head of Bagg and Bunn Ireland was lost and wun 55 The next day after Maurice de Prendergast also with other men of Armes and many Archers in two shippes arriued there being parcell of Fitz-Stephans Forces and Companions of his Fortunes who ioining themselues together immediatly marcht to the City of Weisford vnder their Banners and that in the greatest brauery they could the Knights and Men at Armes in their Coates of Arms Colours to draw thereby now at the first the greater reputation to themselues and with opinion so gotten to fill vp the smalnes of their numbere in which manner assailing the City the Irish therein rendred themselues and in reward of the seruice being also according to capitulation and encouragement of others who were to proceed in this warre Dermot to whose vse the English Generall had taken it bestowed the City it selfe and the Country about vpon Robert Fitz-Stephen at his pleasure to be disposed off and there the first Colony of our Nation was planted which hath euer since immoueably maintained their abode among innumerable changes in the world retaining at this day the ancient attire of the English and the language also it selfe though brackish with the mixture of vulgar Irish which therefore by a distinct name is called Weisford speech current onely in that City the County about 56 But Robert Fitz-Stephan thus aduanced for his more assurance beganne to raise a Town at Carricke making the place which nature had already fortified much more by Art defensible This entrie into Ireland being by him now made vnder the name of Henry King of England and the successe exceeding hope Richard Strong-bow receiuing aduertisement from Dermot and the new Lord of Weisford of all occurrences thought fitte first to dispatch some supplies to Fitz-Stephen which about the beginning of May vnder the conduct of Raimundle grosse a Gentleman of the Earles family were accordingly sent and after Raimund the Earle himselfe in the same yeere set forth His Forces were about two hundreth men of Armes and a thousand other Souldiers with whom he came safe to Anchor in the Bay of Waterford vpon the Vigil of Saint Bartholmew August 23. Ann. 1171. Earle Richard the Generall knowing that expedition did carry with it terrour and aduantage presently marcheth to Porthlarge the Irish name of Waterford and vpon the very next day tooke the City by force and sacrificed the armed Inhabitants to the reuenge of Dermot so the rather to make roome and security for themselues to the exceeding terrour and iust dismay of all about as they who found that howsoeuer the pretence was to resettle Dermot the purpose was to seat the English for euer 57 But Dermot Author of this calamity to his Nation resolute in his purpose in full complement of his Contract doth openly in solemne maner bestow his promised daughter Eua vpon the Conquerour in mariage with his owne right hand giuing her in the Church at which time the famous Strong-bow did not celebrate his particular Wedding-day but the indissoluble knot of the Irish allegiance to the English Soueraignetie with the same Ring which circuled his Wiues finger affiancing that Iland to this our Country 58 The Marriage performed it was far from the mind of the Earle to spend much time in reuels and feasts but consults with his men of warre what was next to bee done for the setling his Father in law King Dermot and for finishing the Conquest which was now so happily begunne in two seuerall parts of Ireland at once Leauing therfore a sufficient Garrison to make good the places already gaind to secure the lāding of fresh supplies he sets forward with his selected Companies to whose victorious weapons the whole Realme lay open so farre forth that Rotherick himself was very wel contented notwithstanding his lately vsurped swelling title of Monarch of Ireland to hold himselfe within the bogs and fastenesses of his peculiar Realme the wild and mountainous Connaught meane while Strongbow keepes on his way ouer the bosome of Ireland to the principall City therof Dublin taking in as he marcheth all the places about and securing himselfe by pledges of their loialty or otherwise as he saw most fitte In which iourney pleased with the delight and fertile situation of Kildare he resolued there to settle his abode and to erect a seate to his
posterity The conquest of Dublin being speedily and most happily atchieued not long after Dermot Mac Murgh Father in law to the Earle whom the Irish for his affection to the English call Dermot Ningall that is Dermot the Strangers friend breathed his last at Fernys dying plenus dierum 59 The fame of these successes wafting ouer the Irish seas and comming to the King made him resolue to passe in person thither that he might haue the honor of the Conquest and not approuing such forwardnes in the Earle who as some say went against his expresse commandement and indeed Giraldus who liued at that time cals his leaue no better then an Ironicall leaue and for that hee knew not to what insolency such faire fortune might in time allure as also for that they seemed to handle the Natiues too rigorously thereupon hee forbids by his Proclamations any vessell to carry any thing out of his Dominions into Ireland and commands all English to returne before Easter and leaue off their attempts or their estates in England should be seised for the King By which Edict these affaires were brought into fearefull extremity which was changed into better condition by the trauell of Herucius de Monte Marisco on the behalfe of the Earle and the aduenturers who finding the King in Glocestershire with an Army for Ireland appeased his displeasure vpon these termes That the King should haue the head City of the Kingdom Dublin with the adiacent Cantreds with all the Coast townes and Castles the rest to remaine to the Conquerours to hold of the King and of his Heires and so to bee vnder his protection as Subiects ought and as they were before which subiection it seemed to the King they ment to haue renounced 60 The Kings goodly Nauy lay in Milford hauen to which as hee iournied hee thundred against the Welsh Nobility comming to entertaine him for suffering Strongbow to depart At last being imbarkt he had a faire Gale which set him safe in Ireland with all his Forces at Waterford where first hee commits to prison Robert Fitz-Stephen whom the Citizens presented bound hauing held him in custody vnder color of doing good seruice because hee had entred Ireland without the Kings particular leaue yet soon after the King released him but depriued him of Weisford and the territories Then takes he the homages of such petty Kings and principall persons of the Irish as repaired dismissing them in honourable sort meaning to winne them by gentle and not exasperating courses and marching through Ossyrie to Dublin he takes ô Rotherick the King of Connaughts homage by Hugh Lacie and William Fitz-Aldelm last ly at Dublin he kept his Christmas in Royall state which to behold very many of the Irish Princes came thither 61 Mindfull now of his duty to God the Iland being calme and silent through the presence of such a mighty Monarch the most noble King of England and triumphator of Ireland as mine Author stileth him causeth a Synode to be holden at Cassils for reformation of the Irish Church where amongst sundry other constitutions to which the Irish Clergy did willingly submit it was decreed That all the Church-lands and their possessions should be altogether free from the exaction of secular men that from thenceforth all Diuine things should be handled in euery part of Ireland in such sort as the Church of England handleth them For saith the Constitution it is most iust and meete that as Ireland hath by Gods mercy obtained a Lord and King out of England so also that from thence they should receiue a better forme of life and maners then heretofore they vsed 62 The King continuing his politicke iealousies and thinking Strongbow to be as yet too great draws from his dependency Raimund Milo Cogan William Makarel and other of the best Captaines makes them his owne by bounty But before hee could fully establish that Kingdome the inseparable euil fate thereof which would neuer suffer it to enioy the blessed benefite of exact ciuility other affaires which he esteemed more necessary call him away and therefore hauing left Hugh Lacie at Dublin hee sets saile for England vpon Easter Monday and landed happily at Saint Dauids in Pembrookeshire from whence with all speed hee posteth into Normandie 63 In Normandy there attended for his arriuall two Cardinals sent as Legates at his owne request for taking his purgation concerning the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury whereof vpon oath that hee was no way consenting to that cruell and sacrilegious reuenge and declaring withall his infinite sorrow for hauing in his anger giuen occasion by rash words for others to doe that deede and giuing further oath to performe enioined penances he was by them absolued The condition of his absolutions were That hee should at his owne charge maintaine two hundreth Souldiers for an whole yeere for defence of the holy land That he should suffer Appeales to be made freely That hee should reuoke all customes introduced to the preiudice of the Churches liberty That he should restore and make vp the possessions of the Church of Canterbury That hee should freely receiue all such as were in banishment for Beckets cause c. Not long after Thomas was canonized by Pope Alexander and so not onely the victorie clearely giuen him against King Henry but a triumph also 64 Now beganne the wombe of rebellion and vnnaturall conspiracies to disclose the mischiefes which were ordained to exercise this right redoubted King and Warriour â—…hatched here at home by the malice some say of Eleanor his Queene at such time as hee was absent in Ireland so that as one writes God stirred vp the Kings owne bowells against himselfe Causes of this vnhappie dissention there were many First a Queene and Wife violentlie vindicatiue for wrong done vnto her Bed by the King who was immoderatlie addicted to varietie of loues then Ambition in an euill-naturd Child and lastlie pernicious Actors and instruments who for their owne ends nourished this cursed mischiefe so as if we should out of our stories recapitulate the seuerall occasions taken by the sonne against the father wee should rather shew you the colours then the causes For none of those causes which his Son pretended seemed great enough with men that feare God to beare out such continuall diuisions as followed 65 The head of this conspiracy was verie great and iustly verie terrible for on the side of King Henry the sonne there were the Kings of France and Scotland Richard and Geffrey two yonger sonnes of the King of England whom by their mothers perswasions they forsooke to follow the yongue King Dauid the Scotish Kings brother Philip Earle of Flanders a Peere of France and a potent Prince Matthew Earle of Boloigne Theobald Earle of Blois Hugh Earle of Chester Robert Earle of Leicester Hugh Bigot Earle of Norfolke Roger Mowbray and other great ones
in great numbers so as nothing seemed wanting but onely a good cause which such as it was Queene Elianor like an Alecto kept aliue so much as lay in her with perpetuall fomentations And indeed the scope of these confederats did require no lesse a combination it beeing to depose the Father whom it pleased them for countenance of their vngodly armes to repute no King because hee had crowned his sonne 66 Though nothing then could come more greeuous to the bleeding heart of a most louing father then such a warre yet not to bee vnprouided hee like a souldier prepares himselfe when faire meanes faild and found multitudes readie to liue and die with him the indignitie of the vnnaturall reuolt did so much inflame all honest courages which acknowledged him their Soueraigne 67 The particular accidents of the wars would fill a volume At one time Normandie Guien and Britane were inuaded by the confederats in France and at the same time Cumberland by the Scots But the King of England had friends in all those parts and himselfe hearing that Vernuil was besieged by the French King in person hee beganne at last to kindle hauing like a sleeping Lion sitten still all that while and for that the place had vpon parlea agreed to render if aid came not by a day hee arriued to their succour within the time sending King Lewis word that hee should gette him foorth of Normandie with speed or he would without faile come and see how hee did vpon that verie day Lewis meaning nothing lesse then to put his owne Crowne in danger while he sought one for his sonne in law and therefore in all the warre-time would neuer set vp his rest vpon a battell but willing otherwise to doe to King Henrie the father all the harme hee could by countenancing the faction and supporting the reuolted malecontents with his best meanes and knowing King Henry was a sower and terrible Prince when he came indeede to fight immediatelie raised his siege and with as much hast as hee might abandoned the place leauing his Camp tents and warlike prouisions behind and retired into France 68 And though King Henrie beginning now indeede to shake his dreadfull sword had many faire daies of his enemies mixt with some losses both of men and other strengths though not great nor many in regard of the ouerthrowes which on his behalfe were giuen For that in Britane his forces had in battell vanquished Hugh Earle of Chester Ralph de Foulgiers and slaine about one thousand and fiue hundred of their army in England Reignald Earle of Cornwall and Richard de Lucie had in bloudie battell ouerthrowne the insolent Earle of Leicester and entred the towne of Leicestâ—… by force and that he had the persons of the said Hugh Lupus Earle of Chester Ralph de Fulgiers and verie many other prisoners of especiall note and Nobility yet Lewis the French King moouing a parlea the father desirous to vse the good fortune of war to reclaime his rebells was so willing to make peace that hee might seeme to haue outgone expectation in the qualitie of his offers but through such wicked perswasions as were vsed preuailed not 69 A violent firebrand in this diuision was Robert Earle of Leicester beeing matched with a Ladie no lesse proud and stomachous then himselfe who at this meeting was not contented to haue affronted King Henrie the father on the behalfe of his yongue Lord and Master the sonne but after many words of reproach is said to haue laid his daring hand vpon his sword with purpose to haue strucken the King had he not been with-holden and where such spirits had to doe it is easie to gesse what kinds of counsell were like to be embraced and pursued hauing forsaken the father not for that the others cause was more honest but for that saith Thomas Walsingham the father King labouring to enlarge the regall power sought to set his foote vpon the neckes of the proud and haughtie 70 But God who ment to chastise the King and not to deliuer him vp into his enemies hands destroied those hopes that mooued the sonnes to their vnnaturall attempts for it was not long after when newes came into Normandy that his faithfull friends and seruants Richard de Lucie and Humphrey de Bohun high Constable of England together with the powers of Reignald Earle of Cornwall the Kings vncle Robert Earle of Glocester and William Earle of Arundell not farre from Burie couragiouslie encountred with the Earle of Leicester and his Flemings of whom aboue fiue thousand were slaine or taken and among the prisoners was the Earle himself and his Amazonian Countesse whose persons at his commandement were not long after brought ouer into Normandie 71 This great victorie and other good successe did so much aduantage the King that Lewis beginning to distrust the enterprize sought for sixe monethes truce for himselfe and had it granted but because there were yet in England two principall men the Earle of Norfolke and Roger Mowbray which held out hauing Leicester for their Randenou and seat of warre with no small numbers of partakers notwithstanding that Geffrey the Elect of Lincolne the Kings base sonne had taken two of Mowbraies Castles and done other good seruice for his Lord and Father the truce serued the enemie for no other purpose but to breath and to repaire himselfe 72 The father of whom Lewis said that hee seemed not to goe but to flie he went with such celerity from one place and Kingdome to another in the meane while recouers Xaincts from Richard his violent sonne weakning that partie by so much and would haue weakned it farre more but that aduertisments came post declaring such matter as made him speede into Normandie 73 Thither came vnto him out of England Richard the Elect of Winchester sent with all hast by the Kings Iustitiaries to lay open vnto him the dangerous estate wherin the Realme at that time stood For after that Philip Earle of Flanders had solemnelie sworne to inuade England in supportation of yongue Henries quarrell sundrie forces arriuing and ioining with Hugh Bigot Earle of Norfolke had taken and spoiled the Citie of Norwich and done otherwise much harme whereby the yongue King and his faction had taken great encouragement as if the die of warre were turned and aswell the yongue King as the Earle of Flanders were come with forces to the Coasts there to transport for England Moreouer Robert Earle Ferrers of Derby who was falne from the father had suddenly entred vpon Nottingham burnt the towne beaten out the Kings Garrison slaine the people and enricht with spoile retired to Leicester whether about the same time Anketill Malorie Constable thereof had also brought about two hundred prisoners taken at Northampton which he with slaughter of the like number of the Towns-men had also suddenly
surprised and taken so that the Realme stood doubtfull and in extreame perill to the encrease whereof William King of Scots being deepe in the confederacy inuaded England diuiding his Forces himselfe with part wasting Northumberland and Duncan a very cruell Captaine with the other destroying the westerne Borderers 74 The Father wonderfully stirred herewith leaues Normandy in as good assurance as the time would permit and sends before him to the Ships Eleanor his owne Queene and Queene Margaret his sonnes wife his sonne Iohn c. the Earle of Leicester and his Countesse with many other prisoners and a mighty Armie but the winde changing and hee compelled to stay in harbour at Barbefleet in Normandy where hee had taken shipping he is said God touching his heart to haue vttered these words with much remorse in the presence of al If my purpose in this voiage be for the peace of the Clergy and people and if the King of heauen shall vouchsafe to quiet and calme these troubles at my arriuall then for his mercies sake wee beseech him to send vs a prosperous winde But if he be against it and hath resolued to visit the Kingdome of England with the rod of his fury let him graunt mee neuer to touch the shore of that Country more His Praier thus vttred from the depth of soule was secunded with a fresh perie of wind whereupon setting saile hee arriued safe the same day with all his Nauie at the Port of Hampton in England 75 The next day he took his iourney towards Canterbury where as it appeareth the residue of his penance enioined him at his Absolution was to bee performed For besides the fore-mentioned conditions the Legates enioined him saith the Author of Beckets life some other thing secretly which came not to our knowledge yea the Legates themselues wrote in their owne letters that hee then promised to do voluntarily if yee list to beleeue it some things which was not fit for them to lay open in writing And well might they be ashamed thereof but if it were so vnfit to bee written how vnfit was it to be imposed on such a Soueraigne Prince what it was let Houeden report The King comming towards the Church where the late Archbishop was buried clad all in wollen went three miles barefooted insomuch that the very ground where hee went was bloody as was euidently seene much bloud running from his tender feet which were cut with the hard stones Neither yet was this the worst for afterall this He receiued Discipline at the hands of the Bishops of a great many Priests and of the Monks Geruasius names Abbots also wherby appears that euery seuerall sort were to haue a hand in that seruice Mathew Paris can tell you more plainly what that Discipling was viz. he receiued the Discipline of rods on his baâ—…esh receiuing of euery religious man a great multitude of them being there gathered 3. or 5. ierkes a peece whence we may easily belieue Baronius and his Author spake within compasse who acknowledge hee receiued 80. lashes To such height was the Papall tyranny and pride grown towards those of whom God had said expresly Touch not mine Annointed 76 Yet some Monkes of that age attribute the happy and great successe which ensued to the reconcilement which King Henry thus made with God for the bloud of Thomas because it pleased God to deliuer his enemy William King of Scots into the hands of his souldiers about that very time did also with stormes beat backe into France his disobedient sonne the young King being now vnder saile for England scattering the whole Fleet and almost sinking it with tempest 77 The Kings other actions till his next returne into Normandy which was not long after because Lewis King of France and his sonne in law the young King Henry the head to which all this putrified humour drew with the Earle of Flanders had laid a strong siege to the City of Roan Thomas Walsingham comprehends in these few wordes He tamed his Rebels put his enemies to flight seized on their fortresses And so hauing in a manner miraculously quieted the Realme hee takes with him the King of Scotland the Earles of Leicester and Chester with other his chiefe Prisoners whom hee afterwards first imprisoned at Caen in Normandy then at Faleis but leauing his seditious wife behind him vnder straight custody hee arriues with his puissance in Normandy which being vnderstoode in the Confederates Campe the same brake vp and first setting fire on all the engines of warre retreated into France in such sort that the English souldiers laid hold vpon much munition and warlike furniture Roger Houeden a very sure Author saith that the confederates had onely besieged Roan vpon one side and that Lewis hearing that the victorious King Henry was within Roan did first send away the weake and worst of his Armie and then deceiuing the English with a solemne promise of returning the next day to enter into a conference with the King about making a finall agreement did depart so that Houeden aggrauates the dishonour of the retreat with the note of faith-breach 78 Let the greatnesse and felicity of this King bee now but sleightly looked vpon and it will appeare that no Prince of those times was hitherto so much bound to God for manifold fauours as hee The King and power of France after so many attempts with the young King of England and all their forces flying at his presence without any stroke strucken the valiant king of Scotland prisoner and the chiefest of his Rebels vnder his foote England assured Scotland dismaied Ireland retained Wales ministring souldiers Normandy in possession and all the coasting Regions Britaine Angiou Poictou Main Tourain Limosin Gascoign Guien c. from thence as farre as the Mountaines which separate Spaine from France vnder his dominion and the blessing of Peace shortly after ensuing vpon such termes as himself could reasonably wish made him like another Salomon to bee sought vnto his Wisedome and Magnificence being in such high credite through the Christian World that the Kings of Castile and Nauarre chose him sole Arbiter in their debate which to both their contentment he most wisely determined and then at one time in his Palace at Westminster were seene together the Ambassadors of Manuel Emperour of Constantinople of Fredericke Emperour of Romans of William Archbishop of Triers in Germany a mighty Prince of the Duke of Saxonie and of Philip Earle of Flanders Moreouer he had the gouernment of France for a time the Kingdome of Ierusalem offered him but refused and two of his daughters married to the two Kings of Castile and Sicilie 79 There was first therefore a truce taken betwixt the three Kings Lewis and the two Henries wherein Richard who stood out was left to his Fathers prosecution who â—…ing himselfe thus destitute after many flashes â—…paration to resist and
Tikhill Marlborow and Ludgarfall with many other great Seigniories and aboue them all was also Lord of Ireland and at the last succeeded his brother Richard in all his-Dominions and was King of England 108 Maud the eldest daughter of King Henry and Queene Eleanor borne in the third yeere of her fathers raigne married to Henrie surnamed the Lion Duke of Saxonie Lothar that died yong Otho the fourth German Emperour and William borne at Winchester progenitor of the Dukes of Brunswicke who bare for their Armes the Coat of England with the two Lions as King Henrie his Grandfather bare before the match with Queene Eleanor and Maud married to Geffrey Earle of Perch Shee suruiued him and died in the first yeere of the raigne of her brother King Richard and was buried by her husband in the Church of S. Blase at Brunswicke 109 Eleanor the second daughter of King Henrie and Queene Eleanor was borne at Roan in Normandy in the eight yeere of her fathers raigne 1162. She was married to Alfâ—…se the ninth of that name surnamed the Good King of Castile in Spaine and had issue by him Saâ—…ches that died in his infancie Ferdinando that died in his youth Henry King of Castile after his Father Blaunch Queene of France wife to King Lewis the 8. and mother of Saint Lewis Berengar married to Alfonso king of Lion Vrraca Queene of Portugall and Eleanor wife of Iames king of Arragon 110 Ioane the third and yongest daughter of king Henry and Queene Eleanor his wife was born at the City of Angiers in France in the moneth of October the 13. yeare of her Fathers raigne which was the yeere of our Lord 1166. when shee was eleuen yeeres of age shee was with great honour conueied to the City of Palermo and there married to William the second of that name king of Sicil Duke of Apulia and Prince of Capua vpon Sunday the 13. day of Februarie 1177. and was crowned Queene the same day at the same place Shee had a sonne by him named Boamund whom his Father when hee was returned from his Christning created Duke of Apulia but the child died first and the Father after leauing no issue And she suruiuing married againe and was the third wife of Raimund the fourth of that name Earle of Tholouz by him shee had Issue Raimund the last Earle of that house Bertrand Lord of Branquell Montelore and Saluiac and a daughter married to Berald of Elbeine Prince of Orenge His Naturall Issue 111 William the Naturall sonne of king Henry born of Rosamund the daughter of Walter Lord Clifford which Lady for her incomparable beauty was reputed with allusion to her name Rosa-mundi the Rose of the world the deare affection the king bare her caused both burning iealousie in the Queene and fatall ruine to her selfe albeit the amorous king for her secresie and security but what walles will not a iealous eye pierce through had built for her a most artificiall Labyrinth at Woodstocke in Oxfordshire with such cunning windings and intricate passages as had not Fate and Heauens reuenge on Adultery shewed the way the enraged Queen had not so soone beene rid of her Riuall nor that wanton Dame of her life Shee was buried in the Nunnery of Godstow by Oxford with this Epitaph Hac iacet in Tumba Rosa 〈◊〉 non Rosa munda Non redolet sed olet quaredolere solet Rose This Tombe doth here enclose the Worlds most beâ—…teous Rose passing sweet ere while Now â—…ght but edour vile But Hugh called the Saint Bishop of Lincolne thought the Hearse of a Harlot no fit spectacle for a Quire of Virgins to contemplate therefore himselfe in person caused her bones to be cast foorth of the Church which yet those chast sisters afterward recollected and placed there againe with much honour â—…cting a goodly Crosse thus inscribed to the honour of her memory Qui meat hac oret Signumque salutis adoret Vtque tibi detur requies Rosamunda precetur All you which passe this way This Crosse adore and pray That Rosamunas Soule may True rest possesse for â—…ye The first Sonne which by her King Henry had was the said William surnamed in French Longespee in English Long-Sword He was Earle of Salisburie in right of Ela his Wife Daughter and hâ—…ire of William Earle of that County son of Earle Patrick by whom hee had Issue William Earle of Salisbury Stephen Earle of Vlster Ela Countesse of Warwicke Ida Lady Beucham of Bedford and Isabell Lady Vescie his sonne Earle William the second had Earle William the third Father of Margaret Wife of Henry Lacie Earle of Lincolne hee died in the Castle of old Salisbury and was buried in the Cathedrall Church of the New City in the ninth yeare of the raigne of king Henry the third 112 Geffrey an other Naturall sonne of king Henry was borne of the Lady Rosamund aforesaid This man in his tender youth was by his Fathers procurement made Archdeacon of Lincolne and after Bishop of that See which hee held aboue seauen yeeres without consecration and then resigning it in the yeare 1181. into the hands of Richard Archbishop of Canterbury and his Father hee was made Chancellour of England and afterward by his brother king Richard hee was aduanced to the Archbishopricke of Yorke being consecrated at Tours in France An. 1191. which See he gouerned with good approbation But in the time of his Brother King Iohn hee vnderwent many difficulties by opposing the Kings purposes who therefore made seisure of his whole state and An. 1207. he left the Land and after fiue yeeres banishment died viz. Ann. 1213. 113 Morgan an other Naturall sonne of King Henry is thought by some because so small mention is made of him to haue beene of no long life after his birth and to haue beene borne of some woman in Wales where this Christian name is most commonly vsed and whither this King vpon many occasions sometimes resorted But some others whose studious paines deserue much thankes of posteritie report that hee was gotten on the wife of one Rodulph Bloeth or Blewet a knight and liued both to bee Prouost of Beuerley and to be elected to the Bishopricke of Durham when comming to Rome for a dispensation because his Bastardie made him otherwise vncapable the Pope willed him to professe himselfe Blewets lawfull son and not the Kings Naturall promising to consecrate him on that condition but he vsing the aduise of one William Lane his Clerke told the Pope that for no worldly promotion he would renounce his father or deny himselfe to bee of roiall bloud so blind were some Prelats of those times who esteemed spirituall functions to be but worldly promotions RICHARD THE FIRST DVKE OF NORMANDY GVYEN AND AQVITAINE c. THE FORTIE FOVRTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER VI. RICHARD succeeding to his deceased Father Henrie brought forth that wonder which a Writer ofthat age
towards the Subiect obtained an oath of Fealty to himselfe in remainder in case his brother should die childlesse hauing now therefore the way to those his designs made smoother by the last Wil of King Richard and allegiance of his Nobles then attending for these courses may facilitate but not make a iust claime wee may not thinke that either hee was cold now for the accomplishment of that which so hotely hee had before pursued or so nice as to neglect a Kingdome vpon scrupulous points of Titles and Right Propinquity of Bloud pleaded for Iohn as Lineall descent for Arthur the Kings Brother being neerer then his Brothers sonne but Iohn who knew that the weaker vse to argue their Titles whiles the stronger hold the possession resolued to trie the strength of his claime by no other Law then of Armes and therefore being at time of King Richards death in those forraine parts hee makes it his first care to fasten to himselfe by present largesse and large promises of future fauours the vsuall Rhetoricke of Competitours all the Stipendiary Souldiers and other Seruitours of his deceased Brother To winne himselfe the like assurance of loue at home and to settle it it might be an vniuersall quiet he forthwith despeeded into England there to concurre with Queene Eleanor his experienced mother three of the choisest men of the State Hubert Lord Archbishop of Canterbury William Marshall a potent Peere and Geoffry Fitz-Peter the great Iusticiar by whose seuerall interests the three States of Clergy Chiualry and Commonalty might best bee eyther allured to him by fauours or awed by feare himselfe the whiles posting to Chinon where King Richards great Treasure was kept as knowing that hee should hardly get or keepe a Crowne by Forces or Friends if hee wanted Coine Crowns to winne and hold such needfull Ayders 3 The Treasurer though himselfe with his Store Castles and Fidelity thus assured to the Earle had yet a powerfull Nephew the Castellan of Angiers wholy deuoted to Duke Arthur to whose vse hee yeelded vp that City and Castle with whom also sided the Nobility of Aniou Maine and Turaine surrendring those large Territories as to their liege Lord iointly auowing it to be the Law and Custom of those Signiories that the heritage which was to accrew to the elder Brother if hee had suruiued should descend vnto his Sonne But Constance Arthurs mother no lesse desirous to be Regent to a King for her son was but twelue yeeres young then Queene Eleanor disdainefull to goe below a Dutchesse did not dare to build her high hopes on so low grounds for that such subordinate Princes as fauoured her cause might easily be corrupted by faire meanes or crushed by foule and therefore vpon newes of King Iohns successes in England for with general applause and homages hee was now proclaimed King distracted with violent and Woman-like Passions Ambition of her sonnes Right Rage for his Wrong Feare of his Safety and not the least Emulation that Queene Eleanor whose Prudence and Grace with the English had swayed exceedinglie should effect more in a wrong then her selfe in a iust cause shee flies to Turon to the French King Philip to seeke a Wolfe to whom shee might commit her Lambe to whose Protection shee wholy surrenders his Person his Cause his Countries Philip pretending as Princes vse atender care of his neighbour Princes state but meaning indeede out of so wished a prize to raise aduantage to his owne forthwith without regard of Truth or Truce sworne to King Richard reenforceth all Arthurs Cities and Castles with his French Garrisons some of which had scarse put their foot into Maunz but King Iohn was at their heeles to prouide them their last lodging sacking that Citie and demolishing it to the ground for a terror to all others which after fealty once sworne vnto him as they had done should dare to reuolt 4 Queene Eleanor who hauing setled England in Peace was now come ouer to forward her sonne in the Warres and was present at the surprising of Maunz is censured to haue too much sharpened his edge against her Nephew Arthur and his friends out of her implacable disdaine and Enuie towards Constance her Daughter in-Law and appears no lesse for the King passing thence into Aniou left there his Captaines and Forces with his mother who made Angiers participate the Fortunes of Maunz the City ruined the Citizens captiuated whiles himselfe comming to Roan was there by the hands of Walter the Archbishop in the Cathedrall Church with great pompe on Saint Marks Festiual girt with the Ducall Sword of Normandy and crowned with a Coronet of Golden Roses taking his Oath for faithfull administration in that Dukedome which was the pledge or earnest of his vnquestionable admittance to the English Diademe which euery day now expected him Neither yet may wee thinke albeit King Iohns mature experienced age his home-bred and well knowne education his reannexing of Irelands Kingdom to Englands made his person more gracious then Arthurs that yet his Agents all this while in England found no rubbs in their way before all the Earles Barons Burgesses Free-holders could bee induced to disclaime Arthurs apparant Right and to sweare fealty to King Iohn against al men liuing yea many of the English Peeres who through their last Kings absence and others conniuences had habituated in them a conceit of vncontrouled Greatnes which they miscalled Liberties and Rights vnder vayle whereof they after drew not onely vndue restraints vpon the Regaltie but also infinite calamities and massacres on the people whose good they pretended in the great Assembly at Northamton yeelded onely to sweare a Conditionall Fealty to keepe Faith and Peace to King Iohn if hee would restore to euery of them their Rights which was the first seed of disloyalties which after grew to so great a height Thus howsoeuer all domesticke difficulties ouerblowne and Queene Eleanor left in Aquitane to prouide against Forraigne King Iohn arriued at Shoreham and the next day comes to London preparing for his Coronation to bee at Westminster the morrow following being Assention day 5 Strange it was to consider if ought bee strange in State-plots how men otherwise very prudent transported once with Wordly and seemingpoliticke respects can so wilfullie cloud their Reason as to attempt those things which leaue both a present staine on their Soules and a lasting disreputation both of their Integrity and Wisedome wherein so much they glory For what else did Hubert Archbishoppe of Canterbury the man so famoused as the Pillar of the Common-wealthes stabilitie incomparable for deepe-reaching Wisedome when in that sacred and celebrious Assembly of all the States addressing for the roiall Inauguration hee added
Christs faith and therefore such should come to subdue them and take their possessions when he said a Stag which hee kild had neuer the lesse fatte though he neuer heard a Masse they charged him hee doubted of the Resurrection of the dead and in saying hee neuer sped well after his yeelding to the Pope that hee said hee was vnfortunate since hee was reconciled vnto God that when hee gaue leaue to a seruant of his owne to enter any religious Order he gaue him leaue to bee of what Religion and Faith hee list That moreouer hee offered his Kingdome to a Sarazen and would embrace the Turkish faith though this tale were told by one Robert of London a wicked Masse-Priest or rather a Monster hauing a face like a Iew with one arme long and another short his fingers deformedly growing together two and two with such senseles improbabilities as that hee found that Moorish King reading of Saint Paules Epistles and that hee refused the Kingdom of England being offered him with the like That lastly it was reuealed to a Monke King Iohn was in Hell though a Poet for so saying is by M. P. who ◅de no doubt of King Iohns saluation censured for a Reprobate These all are demonstrations of so incredible hatred as should rather alleuiate their Authors credite then the Kings whose Raigne had it not fallen in the time of so turbulent a Pope so ambitious Neighbour Princes so disloyall Subiects nor his Story into the handes of exasperated Writers hee had appeared a King of as great renowne as misfortunes His works of deuotion inferiour to none as his Foundations declare at Beauley Farrington Malmsbury and Dublin and that other for Nunnes at Godstow by Oxford for which some haue interpreted that Prophesie of Merlin as meant of him Sith Virgin giftes to Maids he gaue Mongstblessed Saints God will him saue His Acts and Orders for the Weale-publike were beyond most hee being eyther the first or the chiefest who appointed those noble Formes of Ciuill gouernment in London and most Cities and Incorporate Townes of England endowing them also with their greatest Franchises The first who caused Sterling money to bee h◅re coyned The first who ordayned the Honourable Ceremonies in Creation of Earles The first who setled the Rates and Measures for Wine Bread Cloth and such like Necessaries of Commerce The first who planted English Lawes and Officers in Ireland and both annexed that Kingdome and fastned Wales to the Crowne of England therby making amends for his losses in France Whose whole course of life and actions wee cannot shut vp with any truer E◅loge then that which an ancient Author hath conferred on him Princeps quidem Magnus erat sed minus foelix atque vt Marius vtramque fortunam expertus Doubtlesse he was a Prince more Great then happy and one who like Marius had tried both sides of Fortunes wheele His Wiues 64 Alice the first wife of King Iohn was the eldest of the two daughters and heires apparant at that time of Humbert the second Earle of Maurien now called Sauoy her Mother was Clemence daughter of Berthold the fourth Duke of Leringen who had been the diuorced wife of Henry the Lyon Duke of Saxonie This marriage was in their childhoode cōcluded by their Parents at Mountferrant in Auerne in February Anno 1173 he should haue had with her her Fathers Earledome but all altered by her vntimely death and after ensued the death of her Mother the new marriage of her Father and issue male of the same whereof the Dukes of Saxonie are descended 65 Isabel his second wife by some called Hawisia or Auis though the youngest of the three Sisters yet was in regard of this marriage the sole Heire of William Earle of Gloucester sonne of Earle Robert the Naturall sonne of King Henry the first her Mother was Hawis the daughter of Robert Bossu Earle of Leicester Shee was married vnto him when hee was Earle of Mortaine in the first yeere of his brother Richards raigne and after ten yeeres hauing no issue by him was the first yeere of his Raigne diuorced from him vnder pretence of Consanguinity and married to Geffrey Mandeuill Earle of Essex and lastly to Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent but died without any Issue by them 66 Isabel also his last wife was daughter and heire of Aymer Earle of Angolesme her Mother was Alice daughter of Peter Lord of Courteney fifth son of Lewis the Grosse King of France Shee was married vnto him in the first yeere of his Raigne crowned by Hubert Archbishoppe of Canterbury 8. Id. Octob. Anno 1200. and suruiuing him was married to Hugh Brun Earle of March and Lord of Lusignian and Valence in Poytou to whom first she should haue beene married but yet as seemeth continued her affection to him till now By him shee had diuers Children greatly aduanced by the King Henry 3. their halfe brother and as greatly maligned by his Subiects Hugh Earle of March and Angolesme Guy of Lusignian slain in the battell at Lewise William of Valence Earle of Pembroke Aymer of Valence Bishoppe of Winchester Geffrey of Lusignian L. of Hastings His Issue 67 Henry the eldest Sonne of King Iohn and Isabell his last wife was borne at Winchester 1. October 10. of his Fathers Raigne Anno 1208. K. Iohn dying at Newarke whither hee was broughtina Horselitter from Swynshead the Barons malice was ended their offence amended Lewis of France reiected and the yong Prince seated on his Fathers throne 68 Richard his second son by the same Queene was borne the next yeere after Henry by whom afterward hee was made Knight created Earle of Cornwall and appointed Earle of Poytou After the death of William Earle of Holland Emperour of the West hee was by the Electours chosen to succeed him in the Empire and crowned King of Romanes of Almayn at the City of Acon in Germany by Conrade Archbishoppe of Coleyne Maij 27. being the Ascention day Anno 1257. deceasing at the Castle of Berkhamsted April 20. Ann. 1271. the 13. yeere of his Empire his body was buried in his Monastery of Hayles in Gloucestershire but his Heart at Oxford in Reuly Abbey founded by him vnder a Pyramis of admirable worke Hee had three wiues the first was Isabel daughter of William Marshall Earle of Pembroke widdow of Gilbert Clare Earle of Gloucester by whom hee had issue Henry slaine at Viterbo in Italy and Iohn both dying without Issue His second wife was Senches daughter of Raimond Earle of Prouince sister to Queene Eleanor his brothers wife who was crowned with him at Acon and had issue by him Edmund Earle of Cornwall and others His last wife was Beatrice Niece to the Archbishoppe of Coleyne who seemeth to haue suruiued him and to haue no Issue by him 69 Ioane the
eldest Daughter and Child of K. Iohn and Queene Isabel his last wife was the first wife of Alexander the second King of Scots married vnto him in Yorke Iunij 25. Anno 1221. who returning into England to visite her Brother deceased at London and was buried in the Nunnery at Tarent in Dorsetshire 4. Martij in the 21. yeare of her Brother king Henries raigne in England and the 23. of king Alexander her husbands in Scotland Anno 1236. 70 Eleanor their second daughter was first married to William Marshall the yonger Earle of Pembroke and after his decease without issue and seuen yeeres Widow-hood remarried to Simon Montfort Earle of Leicester sonne of Simon Earle Montfort in France by Amice Daughter of Robert Blanchman Earle of Leicester who maintaining the Barons warres against King Henry her brother was slaine at the battaile of Euesham in the 19. yeere of her brothers raigne 1265 after whose death shee and ◅er Children were forced to forsake England she died in the Nunnery at Montarges in France Henry her eldest sonne was slaine with his father at Eueshan Simon the second was Earle of Bigorre and ancestor to a Family of Mountfords in those parts of France Almaricke her third sonne was first a Priest and Treasurer of the Cathedrall Church in Yorke and after a Knight and a valiant seruitour in sundrie warres beyond the Seas Guy the fourth Sonne was Earle of Angleria in Italy and Progenitour of the Mountfords in Tuscaine and of the Earles of Campo bachi in the Kingdome of Naples Richard the fift sonne remained priuily in England and changing his name from Mountford to Wellesborne was ancestor of the family of Wellesbornes in England She had also a daughter named Eleanor borne in England brought vp in France and married into Wales to Prince Lewellen ap Griffith 71 Isabel their yongest daughter was born An. 1214 when shee was 21. yeeres of age shee was married being the 6. and last wife to the Emperour Frederick the second at the City of Wormes in Germany 20. of Iuly 1235. Shee had issue by him Henry appointed to bee King of Sicily and Margaret wife of Albert Landgraue Thurin shee was Empresse 6. yeeres and died in Childbed Decemb. 1. of her husbands Empire 31. of her brothers raign 38. Anno 1241. 72 Iane or Ione the daughter naturall of King Iohn by Agatha Daughter of Robert Ferrers Earle of Darby marryed to Lewin Prince of Wales Anno 1204. her Father gaue with her the Castle Lordshippe of Elinsmore in the Marches of Southwales she like a most louing Child gaue her Father secret intelligence of the Treasons intended against him by the Welsh and English 73 Geoffrey Fitz-Roy a base son who transported some Souldiers into France when Archbishoppe Hubert forbad the King his father to goe thither 74 Richard who married the daughter heire of Fulbert de Douer who built Chilham Castle in Kent which Castle hee had with her and had Issue by her of which som families of good esteem are descended stant Lords at Newarke where the Generall assembly for that seruice was appointed The whole Army after the Musters rested there some dayes which they spent not in vanities but in deuotions receit of the Sacrament humbling themselues before the offended Maiestie of God and so all of them saith Paris being prepared resolue eyther to return victorious or to die in defence of their country their Soueraignes right and their owne Liberties and possessions all which seemed now to lie at stake To giue them the greater edge and spirite Wallo with great solemnity accurseth Lewis and his Coadiutors and thus the Army marcheth towards Lincolne and the Lewisians there in siege of the Castle the King himselfe being left with a strong guard at Stow about eight miles short of Lincolne accompanied with Wallo and others there without perill of his person to attend Gods pleasure in the euent of the enterprise Vpon their approch if the Counsell of some English Lords had beene followed the Lewisian Army had issued forth of the City giuen them battle in the opē field but the Earle of Perch the French Generall thinking the Kings party to bee greater then it was for that the Noblemen and Bannerets thereof had each of them two Ensignes the one born with themselues the other aduanced among the Carriages which doubled the shew of their numbers they did thereupon change that course closed the Gates of the City and plyed their endeauours against the Castle more fiercely then before The Earle of Pembroke therefore lets Falcasius slip in at the Castle-posterne with his Arbalasters whiles others breake vp the South-gate of the City at which the Kings Army most couragiously entring and they of the Castle sallying out in Flancke of the Enemy scattered and vtterly defeated the Lewisians The Earle of Perch their Generall being enuironed with the Royalists and willed to render himselfe sware that hee would neuer become Prisoner to any English vpon which refusall he was run through the sight of his helmet into the braines and so dyed without speaking any word In this conflict being on Saturday in Whitson-weeke the force of naturall propension was apparent for notwithstanding the fierie resolutions of the Kings People yet when they saw the faces of their kinsmen friends countrimen on the other side that fury relented so strōgly that the most part of the reuenge fell vpon the Horses and not vpon the Horsemen whom onelie they laboured to make their Captiues The whole riches of the Lewisian Campe of the City of Lincolne became the booty and spoile of the Kings Armie whereupon this discomfiture was called Lewis Fair Neither did the Clergy of the place escape for the Popes Legate had commaunded that they also should be rifled to a penny as persons excommunicated in partaking with Lewis The Chase was but coldly fainedly followed vpon the flying Barons otherwise not a man could haue escaped wherein yet the chiefest Barons were taken with about 400. Knights besides Esquiers and of other sorts without note or number though some say that this number of Knights were slaine matrons and women of the towne flying by boate which they had no skill to gouerne were drowned Such as escaped the fight were not therefore past the danger for the Country people fell vpon them as they fledde killing great numbers so that almost all the footmen tooke vp their last lodgings before they could reach to London where Lewis was The Marshal of France the Chastellan of Arras and about two hundreth Knights came safely thither but were not otherwise then sowerly welcome of the Prince who laid vpon their cowardise the losse of all the rest His feare of being taken Prisoner iustly encreasing hee fortifies London by the best meanes hee can and dispatcheth Posts into France for more reliefe This great victory was much the stranger if as some write the fame
went that onely three were slaine vpon both sides the Earle of Perch one of Du-Brents Knights and an obscure fellow belonging to some or other of the Barons 8 The Kings Gouernour after the victory rode presently with the gladsome tidings in the heighth of speed to the King and Legate who with teares of ioy gaue God thankes But the noble Earle not leauing his worke imperfect seekes to embarre Lewis from forraging about London Meane while by the diligence of Lady Blanch the wife of Lewis Eustace the ruffianly Apostata who of a Monke becomming a Demoniacke was now vpon the Sea with a fresh supply of men and munition bound for London But God was no better pleased with these then with the other scatterlings at Lincolne For the English Nauie hauing the wind of the French sunke diuers of their shippes by tilting at them with the yron Prowes or Beakes of their Gallies vsing also vnslaked lime in dust or powder which they threw into the faces of their enemies and blinded their sight so were the hopes of Lewis for any present succours absolutely frustrated Eustace himselfe found after long search and drawne out from the bottome of the Pumpe in a French shippe at Douer had his head cut off though some say hee was slaine by Richard a base-sonne of King Iohn The newes of which successe being brought to the King did not more reioice him then they wounded Lewis for the losse was not onely great in men but in all sorts of riches and prouisions To giue now no rest to Lewis his declining fortunes the Earle of Pembroke with a mighty Army besieged London and Lewis therein aswell by Water as by Land seeking to driue him by penurie to render the City It came to capitulation and in an Ilet in the Riuer of Thames not farre from Stanes the King Wallo the Legate and William Marshall the Kings Gouernour met with Lewis the Barons to finish the Peace for Lewis had promised to doe as Wallo and the Earle would deuise so that it might not tend to his dishonour or scandall Heades or Articles of the agreement which Lewis sware vpon the Gospell to performe were 1. That Lewis the Barons and other his partakers should stand to the iudgement of the Church whose censures they had now some yeeres contemned and from thenceforth bee and remaine true to the same 2. That he and his should forthwith depart the land neuer to return again with a purpose to doe harme 3 That he should doe his best to draw his Father to make restitution of all such things in France as belonged to the King of England and that Lewis when himselfe was King should quietly part with them 4. That Lewis should immediately render to King Henry all holdes and places taken in the warre On the other part the King the Legate and the Earle sware 1 That the King should restor to the Barons and others all their rights and inheritances with all the Liberties formerly demanded of his Father 2. That none of the Layty should suffer dammage or reproch for taking part on either side 3. That Prisoners should bee released c. Whereupon Lewis with his adherents was formally by Wallo absolued from the sentence of Excommunication and so they ranne on all sides into embracements and parted in the kisse of Peace The Welsh who had held with the Barons were left out of this Conclusion being thereby laid open to spoile Thus was Lewis driuen out of England whom the Earle of Pembroke brought to the Sea-side and the Realme was cleared 9 There are who write how that Lewis had a great summe of money paide him for restoring the Hostages but Mat. Paris whom some cite to that purpose affirms no such matter in any printed Copy Reason surelie is vtterly against it for when euen the life of Lewis was after a sort in King Henries hand with what sense can it stand that the King should set all the French free without ransom and yeâ—…â—…imselfe pay money for the Hostages which also were not his but the Hostages of his enemies the Barons so that if money were due it must haue come from them not from the King who both in honour and profite was rather obliged to the contrarie Writers of that very time doe in plain wordssay The Pouerty of Lewis was such that he was compelled to borrow fiue thousand pounds of the Londoners to set him out of England and therfore that other seemes nothing else but a vaine gloze to salue the honour of Lewis who was plainly driuen out of England after so high hopes with losse sorrow and eternall disgrace which the French are so sensible of that they scarse seeme to write of the whole action otherwise then laying the misfortune of Lewis vpon the Barons mutability 10 The Realme of England purged of those forraine dregges was not therfore presently freed from other manifold encombrances such as after so great a tossing of all lawes and things diuine and humane doe ordinarily flote vp and downe like the froth working of a troubled Sea For diuers men presuming vpon their former seruices to the State or thinking the old bad world would either continue still or soone returne if iustice grew confident against Trespassors or for what other corrupt motiues soeuer did dare intollerable things The principall Lords of this misrule were William Earle of Aumarl Falcasius de Brent with his Garrison Souldiers Robert de Veipont with others who hauing had the Castles and possessions of certaine Bishops and Great men either to keepe in trust or otherwise by iniquity of the times conuerted violentlie to their vses did still with-hold the same both against the minds of their lawfull owners and the Kings expresse Prohibition Among others Robert de Gaugi defended the Castle of Newarke being the Fee of the Bishoppe of Lincolne as was also the town it self against the Kings Armie conducted by the Great Marshall Earle of Pembroke for eight dayes and did not first yeeld the place before by mediation of friends the Bishoppe paid to Gaugi one hundreth pounds There was in that great Earle a perpetuall care to conclude things without bloud-shedde wherein shined his Christian piety and morall wisdome there being no other so safe way to settle disordered humors The greater was his losse both to the King and State by his death soone after ensuing whose monument yet remaining doth not so much eternize his memory as that well-deserued Epitaph the Epitome of his noble vertues Sum quem Saturnum sibi sensit Hybernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normannia Gallia Martem Irelands Saturn Englands Sunne am I The Mars of France and Normans Mercurie He left behind him fiue Sonnes all Earles of Pembroke successiuely and dying without issue his fiue Daughters aduanced by great marriages brought as great aduantage to their husbands issue by the inheritances of their issuelesse brethren
as were vacant alienating them from his estate that hee was onely to be called a King in name rather then for any riches which he had that his Ancestors magnificent Princes abounding in all sorts of worldly glorie and wealth heaped to themselues inestimable treasures out of no other meanes but the Rents and Profites of the Kingdom 31 The King stung with this iust reprehension beganne by their instructions to call the Sheriffes of Shires Baylifes and other his Officers to a strait account for all such receites as appertained to the Exchequor thrusting some out of their places and wringing out of all their full spunges store of coine till hee satisfied himselfe both for the arrerages and interest Out of Ralph Briton Treasurer of his Chamber hee screwzed a thousand pounds and also put him from his place into which by the Bishoppe of Winchesters suggestion who now predominated in Court hee substituted Peter de Oriuail a Poictouine the Bishoppes Nephew or Sonne if Paris say true and so saith hee the Kings coffers otherwise empty and leane were by these means stuffed againe though not to their full surfet For these were but preparatiues to a farther scrutinie and ransacke intended against the Earle of Kent whom vpon the Bishoppes suggestion the King remoued from the Proto-Iustitiarishippe or high office of his Chiefe Iustice and put in his place Sir Stephen Segraue a Knight onely in name Then is a strict and captious account demaunded of the Earle of Kent for all such things as he was in any sort chargeable with as 1. For such receipts or debts as were due to King Iohn or to this King Henry himselfe 2. For the meane profites of such lands as the King was seised of from the day of the death of the first great William Earle of Pembroke his Iustitiar and Marshall whither those lands were in England Wales Ireland or Poictou 3. For such Liberties or free Customes which the King had in Forrests Warrens Counties and else where and how they were kept or alienated 4. For such things as the King lost by Huberts negligence 5. For the wronges and dammages offered to the Romane and Italian Clerks and to the Popes Nuncios against the Kings will by authority of Hubert who would take no order to correct the misdoers as by vertue and nature of his place hee was obliged 6. For the many escuages comming by Carrucages gifts and presents or for the rents of Custodies belonging to the Crowne 32 To all which heades the Earle answered that hee had the Charter of the Kings Father by which hee was freed from giuing any account eyther for things passed or to come and that hee had giuen such proofe of his fidelity vnto King Iohn as he would not endure to heare him make an account Peter Bishoppe of Winchester replyed hereunto that such a Charter after the death of King Iohn had no force and therefore the Fathers Charter and graunt of Priuilege was no reason why he should not stand accountant to the Sonne This defence for money dangers in this sort trauersed or auoyded they labored to draw him in for his head by charging him with sundry Articles sounding treasonable as 1. That Hubert had disswaded the Duke of Austria from matching his Daughter with the King who sought it 2. that he had hindred the King from entring vpon forrain lands to him belonging whereby the King Peeres and People consumed their Treasures vainely 3. that hee had enticed the Daughter of the King of Scots whom King Iohn had entrusted to his custody meaning himselfe to marry her traiterously defiled the noble yong Lady whom he married in hope to bee King of Scotland in her right if shee suruiued her Brother 4. that hee had stolne out of his Iewel-house a precious stone of wonderfull value whose vertue was to make him who had it inuincible in Battle that he gaue that stone to Lewelin prince of Wales the Kings enemie 5. that he by his letters had caused Lewelin to hang William de Breuse 33 The Earle much preplexed with these accusations whither true or false could hardly obtaine a short respite to make his answere Thus that Hubert say the Monkes who for loue of the King and defence of the Kingdome had prouoked the hatred of all the great Lords now being forsaken of the King is left sole and solitarie without friends or comfort Onely Luke Archbishoppe of Dublin neuer fosooke him but with prayers and teares besought the King on his behalfe but could not bee heard against so great opposites on so great pretenses When the cry was thus vp and that the world saw it was no superficiall displeasure into which the Earle was faln with the mutable King there rise forth many accusations sauouring of much malignity round about vpon hope to oppresse bury Hubert vnder them for euer as 1. that he had poisoned the two noble Earles of Salisbury and Pembroke 2. that hee had also procured Falcasius de Brent and Richard Archbishop of Canterbury to be made away 3. that by Sorceries and Enchantments hee had drawne the King to fauour him aboue all other 4. that in the victory gotten against the French by Sea hee forceably tooke many Prisoners from the Kings Sailers and made his benefite of their ransoms contrary to right and that hee had spoiled and disinherited many 5. that hee had without triall vniustly put to death Constantine for which excesse the Citizens of London required iustice against the said Hubert The King hereupon makes Proclamation through the City that all such as could charge Hubert with any wrong should repaire to Court and there receiue immediate redresse This strange course of proceeding did so appale and terrifie the Earle that hee forthwith fled to the Priorie Church of Merton in Surrey where among the Chanons hee sheltered his head for a time 34 The King with his Prelates and Peeres meeting at Lambeth at the day appointed for Huberts answere hee being made to beleeue that the King would put him to a most soule death durst not appeare or peepe forth of his sacred refuge The Londoners were assembled in Armes by the Kinges commaund to the number of about twenty thousand vnder banners displayed to dragge the Earle out of Sanctuary but vpon the Earle of Chesters wiser Counsell the prey was taken out of the hands of a bloudy multitude who mortally hated him for Constantines death and they returned againe to their City The Archbishoppe of Dublin still performing the office of a true friend ouerslips not this occasion and by his importunity obtayned day for Hubert till about Twelfe-tide then next ensuing and the King for his assurance during the Interim giues him letters Patents Hubert thinking himselfe secure for the present is now vpon his way toward his wife at the Abbey of Saint Edmund in Suffolke but his enemies so preuailed by their suggestions
Priest if such an election might stand by law or lawfull fauour But the Pope who meant to make his aduantage hereof as well as the King exacted of him for confirmation of the same election fiue hundreth Markes of Church reuenewes to be passed ouer vnto the Earle of Burgundies sonne a childe which makes the Monke to breake forth into this bitter lamentation O Pope the Chiefe of Fathers why dost thou suffer thus the Christian world to be defiled worthily worthily therefore art thou driuen out of thy owne Citie and See and like a runnagate and another Cham art inforced to wander vp and downe ô God thou God of iust reuenge when wilt thou drawforth thy sword to imbrue it in the blood of such oppressors Though in these vniuersall abuses the Pope would neither redresse himselfe nor others yet God raised vp a stout and learned Prelate Robert Grostest Bishop of Lincolne who vndertooke to reforme the Monks and Friars but they who knew Râ—…e was from the beginning Asylum Latronum appealed to the Pope Whereupon the aged Bishop going to his holinesse tolde him that all offenders escaped by his opening his bosome to such as brought him bribes who snapping him vp with angrie Countenance and speech sent him home with reproach The Pope was at this time at Lyons where not long after the CouÌ„cel breaking vp Cardinal Huge made a Sermon of farewell to the Citizens wherein amongst other benefites which the Popes lying in their City had brought them he told them this was a Principall that whereas at their comming there were three or foure Whore-houses in the Lyons now at their departing they left but one but indeed that reached from the East-Gate of the City to the West Whereby wee see France had some part of the Popes Almes as well as England 77 The King now whollie intent vpon encrease of treasure neither gaue any rich presents according to the ancient Custome of England and also shortneth yet more the allowances of his Househould and entertainements without any regard to Maicstie or rumor And to spare his owne charge the rather he inuites himself sometime to this man and sometime to that but no where contenting himselfe with his diet hospitage vnlesse both he his Queene 〈◊〉 sonne Edward yea and chiefe fauourites in Court were presented with great and costly gifts which they tooke not as of Courtesie but as due This was the vnhonourable face of the Kings estate at that time But in the depth of his wants and rigour of his Parcimonie he could not shut vp himselfe against the suites and aduancement of his Poictouines and Prâ—…ncois so that it was become a common murmur in England Our inheritance is conuerted to aliens and our houses to strangers The matter seemed the more grieuous for that their pride and violence were intollerable About this time the clause Non obstante brought in first by the Pope was taken vp in England by the King in his grants and other writings as Non obstante priore mandato Non obstante antiqua libertate c. This our ancient Author cals an odious and detestable clause and Roger de Thurkeby Iustitiar fetching a deepe sigh at the sight thereof cried out both of the times and it saying it was a streame deriued from that sulphureous fountain of the Clergie 78 Another of the Kings Iusticiars and a learned Knight Sir Henry de Bath whose Lady because herselfe was well descended filled him with pride was so confidently greedy the better to satisfie her ambition that in one circuit hee appropriated to himselfe aboue two hundreth pound lands Corruption in Iustice which must needs be suspected to be there where excessiue wealth is gotten by the Officers of Iustice is but a sandie ground-worke of a vainely-hoped greatnesse and may well bee reputed in the number of crying sinnes and this moued a Knight Sir Philip de Arci to appeach him before the King both for vnfaithfulnesse in his office and treason against the King The King had no hold of himselfe after hee was once throughly kindled Bath knowes it and therefore writes to his wiues friends to come strong in his defence that the King should not dare to call him to his triall yet withall hee seekes all secret meanes how to appease the King who vnderstanding of this combination was the more enflamed The Earle of Cornwall his brother could not appease him no not though hee knit vp his intercessions with these minatorie words Wee must not forsake Gentlemen in their right nor in preseruing the peace of the tottering Kingdome In March there was holden a Parliament at London there the King caused Bath to bee sharpely prosecuted Thither Sir Henry Bath repairs strongly attended with Knights and Gentlemen of his owne friends and his wiues to daunt the edge of Iustice which he deseruedly feared The accusations were many for all meÌ„ were called to say what they could against him and among all these two most hainous that he troubled the whole Realme and stirred all the Barons thereof against the King so that a generall rebellion was to be feared which one of his fellow-Iusticiars did openly testifie that hee had for reward discharged a conuicted Malefactor out of prison without punishment in preiudice of the King and to the perill of his associate Iusticiars The King was so enraged herewith that seeing no other way to punish him being so strongly backed hee mounted into an higher place then before and cries out Whosoeuer kils Henrie de Bath shall be quit of his death and I here doe acquit him and presently departs Neuerthelesse although hee left behind him many men who would haue readily executed the Kings terrible doome yet by the wisdome of Sir Iohn Mansel one of the Kings priuate Councellors they were restrained His wordes are worthy to bee remembred Gentlemen anâ—… friends it is not necessary for vs to put that presently in execution which the King hath in his anger commanded It may bee when his wrath is ouerblowne hee will bee sorry hee said it Moreouer if any outrage be done to Bath loe here are his friends who will take all sorts of reuenge Sir Henry escaping thus from so present a danger found meanes vpon promise of money and great mediation of friends to obtain his peace safety for at thiâ—…me Iustice and all things grew saleable The North-East part of Wales was committed to Alan de Zouch who had it in Farme for eleuen hundreth Markes yeerely whereas Iohn de Gray whom he supplanted in the place paid but fiue hundreth so miserable Wales was let out to such as would giue most 79 Alexander the third succeeding his Father in the Kingdome of Scotland comming in Christmas to Yorke there espoused though very young the Lady Margaret daughter to King Henry There were present the two Kings in person with a most choice multitude of either Nation the
blush and tremble as often as they shall dare to insinâ—…ate any thing against Gods wisdome in the Fabrick of the world as if the Craggy and desert places thereof had no vse in nature when omitting all other reasons of their being the conseruation of kingdomes and nations was thus by them effected We had an Herward in the Conquerours time as well as the Scots had a Walleys in this and we might perhaps at this houre haue beene without French mixtures if God had prouided our Country of such Wastes and deserts as either they or the Welshmen did enioy who for manie hundreths of yeeres after the ruine in Saint Peters Church at Westminster the twentieth day of Nouember in the first year of his Fathers raign Ann. Dom. 1272. in the same place and vnder the same Tombe where his brother Iohn lies with his picture also in the Arch aboue it 60 Alphons the third sonne of Edward and Queene Elenor was borne at the Towne of Maine in Gascoigne as his father and mother were in their returne towards England from Ierusalem Nouember 23. in the second yeare of his fathers raigne 1273. hee deceased at Windsor August 4. in the twelfth yeere of his age 1285. and was buried at Westminster in Saint Peters Church by Saint Bennets Chappell where his body lieth vnder the Tombe of his Brothers Iohn and Henry his Image also there portraied with theirs 61 Edward the fourth sonne of King Edward and Queene Elenor was borne April 25. in the thirteenth yeere of his fathers raigne 1284. at Caernaruan in Northwales and after the death of Lewelin ap Griffith in regard of the place of his Natiuity was by his fathers Creation with the consent of the Welsh made Prince of Wales the first of the sonnes and heires apparant of the Kings of England that bare that Title which afterward became ordinary to most of the rest hee was also Earle of Ponthieu and Chester and being made Knight by his father at London on Whitsunday in the thirty fourth yeere of his Raigne 1306. succeeded him the same yeer in the Kingdome of VVales 62 Elenor the eldest daughter of King Edward and Queene Elenor was borne at Windsor in the fiftieth yeare of King Henry her Grandfather shee was married with all Ceremonies of Proxie to a Deputy for Alphons King of Arragon sonne of King Peter who deceased A. Do. 1292. before the solemnization of marriage leauing his Kingdom to his brother Iames and his new wife to another husband who was married at Bristow in the two and twentieth yeere of her fathers raigne 1293. to Henry the 3. Earle of Barrie whose Earledome lay in the East-borders of Champaigne in France Shee had Issue by him Edward Earle of Barrie from whom descended the Earles and Dukes of that Country whose inheritance by Heires generall deuolued to the Kings of Arragon and from them again to the Dukes of Aniou that were Kings of Sicill Henrie another sonne of hers was Bishoppe of Troys in Champagny Helen her Daughter was marrird to Henry Earle of Bloys and Ioan to Iohn Warren Earle of Surrey she was his wife fiue yeeres and deceased 27. of her fathers raigne A. D. 1298. 63 Ioan the second daughter of King Edward and Queene Eleanor was borne in the first yeere of her fathers raigne 1272. at a City in the holy land sometime named Ptolomais commonly called Acon and Aker where her mother remained during the warres that her father had with the Saracens Shee was at eighteene yeeres of age married to Gilbert Clare called the Red Earle of Glocester and Hereford by whom shee had issue Earle Gilbert slaine in Scotland without issue Eleanor married first to Hugh Spencer in her right Earle of Glocester and after to William Zouch of Ricards castle Margaret first maried to Peter Gaueston Earle of Cornwal after to Hugh Audeley Earle also of Glocester and Elizabeth Lady of Clare married first to Iohn son and heire to Richard Burgh Earle of Vlster in Ireland mother of William Burgh Earle of Vlster and Grandmother of Elizabeth Dutchesse of Clarence secondly to Theobald Lord Verdon and lastly to Sir Roger Damary This Ioan suruiued her husband and was remarried to Sir Ralph Monthermere a Baron father to Margaret the mother of Thomas Mountacute Earle of Salisbury of whom the now Vicount Mountacute is descended shee liued thirty eight yeeres and deceased in the first yeere of her brother King Edwards raigne and is buried at the Fryer Austines in Clare 64 Margaret the third daughter of King Edward and Queene Elenor was borne at the Castle of Windsor in the third yeare of her fathers raigne and of our Lord 1275. When shee was fifteene yeeres of age shee was married at Westminster Iuly 9. in the eighteenth yeere of herfathers raign A D. 1290. to Iohn the second Duke of Brabant by whom shee had issue Duke Iohn the third father of Margaret wife of Lewis of Mechlin Earle of Flanders and mother of the Lady Margaret the heire of Brabant and Flanders who was married to Philip Duke of Burgundie 65 Berenger the fourth Daughter of King Edward Queen Elenor was born the 4. of her fathers raigne An. 1276. as Iohn Eueresden the Monke of S. Edmundsburie in Suffolke hath recorded in his booke of English Annales but other mention there is none but onely from him whereby it is likely that shee did not liue to be married but that shee died in her childhood 66 Alice the fifth Daughter of king Edward and Queene Elenor is by Thomas Pickering of the Monastery of Whitby who wrote the large Genealogie of the Kings of England and their issue reported to haue deceased without Issue 67 Marie the sixt daughter of king Edward and Queene Elenor was borne at Windsor April 22. in the eight yeare of her fathers raigne 1279. and at ten yeeres of age A. D. 1289. September 8. shee was made a Nunne in the Monastery of Ambresberie in Wiltshire at the instance of Queen Elenor her Grandmother who at that time liued there in the habite of the same profession although her Parents were hardly enduced to yeeld their consents to that course 68 Elizabeth the seuenth Daughter of king Edward and Queene Elenor was borne at the Castle of Ruthland in Flintshire in the thirteenth yeere of her fathers raigne An. 1284. When she was foureteen yeeres of age shee was married at London to Iohn the first of that name Earle of Holland Zeland and Lord of Freezeland who died within two yeeres after without Issue and shee was remarried to Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex Lord of Breknoke and high Constable of England by whom shee had Issue Iohn and Humfrey both Earles successiuely after their Father Edward that died in Scotland without issue and William who being created Earle of Northampton while his Brothers liued after their deceases was also Earle of Hereford and Essex Lord of Breknok and high Constable of England and father of Earle Humfrey the tenth of
for what else can we call the same since that they betraide thereby their Soueraignes Crown and Life to speedie destruction let it by this in part appeare and moue the world the rather to pitty the seduced 46 Among them who were condemned for rising with the Earle of Lancaster there was one of a meane Familie for whose life neuerthelesse because hee had once serued in Court and was pleasing to some of the Grands or Potent fauourites therein many interceded and pressed the king so farre on his behalfe that he brake out into these most vehement words A plague vpon you for cursed whisperers malicious backe-biters wicked counsellors entreat you so for the life of a most notorious knaue who would not speake one word for the life of my neere Kinsman that most noble Knight Earle Thomas Had hee liued wee and our whole Realme should haue had speciall need and vse of him This fellow the longer hee liues the more villanies he wil commit as hauing already filled my Kingdome with his desperate outrages By the soule of God hee shall therefore die the death he hath deserued 47 By this then it is euident that these tragedies against the Lords were exploited by others in which it is plaine that this King otherwise so deuout to God so noble and so full of naturall good propensions was fatally ouer-wrought by wicked counsell though hee therein bee inexcusable for good nature as wee call it cannot satisfie for publike errours But the condemned man was forth with put to death accordingly the King being most highlie offended that none had entreated him on the Earles behalfe whom saith Walsingham he did in wardlie loue Neuerthelesse he had not long before created the elder Spenser Earle of Winchester and deckt the plume of his fortunes with a toppe-feather taken out of the said late Earle of Lancasters estate that is to say with the Castle and honour of Donington parcell of the Earledome of Lincolne Hauing thus farre shewed the originall of the mischiefe wee will hasten now to the last Act or Catastrophe of our Edwards tragedie onely wee will first remember some intercurring matters 48 You haue heard before how that the Cardinals sent from the Pope had in fauour of the English put Scotland vnder Interdict wherefore King Robert now at last dispatched the Bishop of Glascow and Thomas Randolfe Earle of Murrey to Rome for obtaining release and absolution but they returned without effecting it Whereupon King Robert moued to haue a truce for thirteene yeeres which King Edward accordingly granted and the Pope then absolued the Scots The matters of Scotland seemed thus to be sufficiently prouided for during that time and the rather for that somewhat before the motion for truce the King had caused the newly created Earle of Carlile Andrew de Herkley to be degraded hanged drawne and quartered for treason which hee was conuinced to haue entred into with the Scots vpon whom he had before done speciall seruices as hauing for that cause the Castle and Citie of Carleil committed to his gouernment The truce with Scotland being thus confirmed the King makes his progresse through the Counties of Yorke and Lancaster and the Marches of Wales from whence the late seditious had their nourishments taking wise carefull courses for ministration of Iustice there and preuention of like inconueniences by punishing their Authors seuerely And Iustices void of all corruption were appointed else-where 49 In the meane space the new King of France Charles the fifth a most earnest enemie to the English mens possessions there sought occasions of quarrell with King Edward who while hee consuled at home how to order that affaire the yong L. Roger Mortimer one whom the Diuell saith our Courtier reserued to kindle new dissention with and to stirre vp a most miserable ciuill warre hauing corrupted his Keepers or as some others write hauing potioned them with a sleepy drinke escaped out of the Tower of London getting ouer clearely without any empeachment into France 50 The Spensers both father and sonne the one thus created Earle of Winchester and the other Earle of Glocester aspiring to the fulnesse of command and desirous to leaue nothing in their eye which might stumble their sway with the King failed not to beget immortall enmities both against themselues and the King The Queene tooke their carriage so heinously because besides other things they had abridged her meanes of maintenance while themselues abounded in all riches and magnificence as shee complained That the daughter and sole heire of the king of France was married to a gripple miser and that being promised to be a Queene shee was become no better then a waiting woman liuing vpon a pension from the Spensers 51 Thus was the matter and as it were the Embrion of their common destruction laid and begun in the impotencie of a womans will to helpe out the which with shrewd drifts and directions they encrease her side with Adam Bishoppe of Hereford by stripping him out of all his Temporalties as a Traitour for that hee had supported the Mortimers in the Barons quarrell This Adam saith our Knight was a man of most subtle witte and in all worldly pollicies profound daring to doe great things and factious withall who for this cause conceiuing deepest hate and therefore easily growing deare to the Queene made a great secret party To which Henrie Burwash Bishoppe of Lincoln who for like causes had beene kept from his temporalties about two yeeres ioyned himselfe Neither would the Spensers auarice suffer them to weaken the multitudes of their enemies for they sold the Kings gracious fauour to such as had beene in the Barons quarrell at so great rates that they by granting away lands and Manours to the said Lords Spensers for their pardons c. verie many of the Nobles were empouerished To be short the royall power being in the hands of the Spensers and Roger Baldock Chancellour or of their Creatures and Fauourites this other faction had the generall discontentments of the Realme to worke vpon for their aduantage 52 The King thus guiding himselfe and hauing sent his Brother Edmund Earle of Kent vpon notice of the first troubles with Forces into Gascoigue who gaue some little stay for a time to the French proceedings till they might otherwise bee prouided for it came to this point at last that whereas the King had a purpose to haue gone in person into France the Spensers who were afraid to bee seuered from his person the onely reuerence whereof they knew to bee their safegard and yet not daring to attend him thither or stay behind perswaded the King contrary to the minds of all the rest that the Queene who sought it should goe and negociate her husbands affaire in France She did so and whereas before her departure things were in great extremity betweene the two Nations insomuch that all the French were banished out of
first thus ordered the Queen with her sonne and whole power pursues the King as it had beene agreede by the Councell of warre taking first her way to Oxford where the whole Vniuersity being called together in the presence of the Queene the Prince Roger Mortimer and the rest of that troope the Bishop of Hereford the Queenes bosome Counsellor preaching to them on this Text My head my head aketh deliuered to them the reasons of the Queens comming with her Army concluding more like a Butcher then a Diuine that an aking sick head of a kingdom was of necessity to be taken off and not to be tampered with by any other physicke 60 The Londoners in fauour of the Queene and hatred of the Spensers committed sundry outrages besides bloudy sacrilege in cutting off the Bishop of Excesters head and some others whom the King had made Guardian of London in their popular fury among the which one of them was a Citizen of their owne Iohn le Marchal who had beene of the yonger Spensers acquaintance The Tower of London they get into their possession placing and displacing the Garrison and Officers therein at their pleasure vnder the name of the Lord Iohn of Eltham the Kings second sonne whom they proclaimed Custos of the City and of the Land They also set at liberty all prisoners which by the popular Queenes commandement was done through the whole Realme and all banished men and fugitiues were reuoked who all flocking vnto London brought no small encrease to her forces 61 Whither in the meane space doth wofull Edward flie what force what course what way takes hee poore Prince O fearefull condition of so great a Monarches State when a Wife a Sonne a Kingdome are not trusted and those onely are trusted who had nothing strong but a will to liue and die with him The Queene passing from Oxford to Glocester onward to the siege of Bristow Castle grew all the while in her strengths like a rowled snow-ball or as a Riuer which spreades still broader from the fountaine to the Ocean vires acquirit eundo For thither repaired to her for the loue of the young Prince the Lord Percy the Lord Wake and others aswell out of the North as Marches of Wales But Edward hauing left the Earle of Winchester the elder Lord Spenser in the Castell of Bristol for the keeping thereof meditates flight with a few into the Isle of Lundie in Seuerne Sea or into Ireland while hee wandreth about not finding where to rest safe his roiall credite name and power like a Cliffe which falling from the toppe of some huge rocke breakes into the more pieces the farther it rolles are daylie more and more diminisht as they scatter till now at last they are come vnto a very nothing After a weeke therefore spent vpon the Sea Sir Thomas Blunt forsaking him and comming to the Queene he came on shore in Glamorganshire where with his few friends hee entrusted himselfe to God and the faith of the VVelsh who indeed still loued him lying hidden among them in the Abbey of Neath 62 Now had the Queene and her sonne for his name was abused to all sorts of turne-seruings taken the elder Lord Spenser at the Castell of Bristol who without any forme of triall was cruelly cut vp aliue and quartered saith de la Moore our Knight being first at the clamours of the people drawne and hanged in his proper Armories vpon the common Gallowes without the City but his grandchild Hugolin stood so valiantly in defence of himself within the Castell of Kerfilli that hee had his life and the liues of all his assistants saued 63 The King not appearing Proclamations were euery day made in the Queenes Armie declaring That it was the common consent of the realm that hee should returne and receiue the gouernement thereof so as he would conforme himselfe to his people This whether Stratagem or Truth not preuailing Henry Earle of Lancaster the late Earles Brother Sir William la Zouch and Rhese ap-Howell a Welshman who all of them had Lands in those parts where the King concealed himselfe were sent with coine and forces to discouer and take him The Queene and her people lay in the City of Hereford the Episcopall See of that great Arch-plotter of her courses Adam de Orlton where by aduise and consent of the Lords her sonne the Duke of Aquitaine was made High-Keeper of England and they as to the Custos of the same did sweare him fealty And here also the Bishoppe of Norwich was made Chancellor of the Realme and the Bishoppe of Winchester Treasurer 65 What will not money diligence and faire words doe with corrupt dispositions euen to euerting of all bands of either religious or ciuill duties By such meanes therefore the desolate sad and vnfortunate King came into his cosen of Lancasters hands and with him the yonger Lord Spenser Earle of Glocester Robert Baldock Lord Chancellour and Simon de Reding there being no regard had to the detention of any other The King was conueied by the Earle from the place of his surprise to Monmouth to Ledburie and so to the Castell of Kenelworth belonging to the Earle of Leicester who was appointed to attend him that is to keepe him safe The other three Spenser Baldock and Reeding were strongly guarded to Hereford there to bee disposed of at the pleasure of their most capitall enemies 66 Before whose comming to satisfie Roger Mortimer the Lord Edmund Earle of Arundel and two Gentlemen Daniel and Micheldene were beheaded at Hereford The Lord Mortimer was so high in the Queenes fauour that she could doe no lesse as weee may suppose then gratifie him with a few hated heades But Mortimer there will bee a time when the cry of this and other bloud sacrificed to thy priuate reuenge while thou abusest the publike trust will neuer giue ouer the pursuit till it hath deseruedly drawne thine in lieu thereof 67 The Lord Spenser and the rest on whom VVilliam Trussell the Iudge gaue sentence of death being now drawne to Hereford the said Lord being clad in his coat-armour was most despitefully dragged to the place of execution where being first hung vpon a gallowes fifty foot high hee was afterward headed and cut into quarters they who brought him to the Queene hauing the promised summe of two thousand pounds distributed among them for reward His head was set vp at London and his quarters in foure parts of the Kingdome Simon de Reding was hanged ten foot lower then hee in the same place 68 This Execution saith Walsingham was done vpon a Munday in reuenge of the death of Thomas Earle of Lancaster whose bloud was likewise shed vpon a Munday Robert Baldock late Lord Chancellor was committed to the keeping of the Bishop of Hereford who after a time caused him to bee brought vp to Hereford-house in London where the tumultuous people
The Sea-Force wherof spoyled the Coasts on both sides of the Forth or Scottish Sea and putting on land in Saint Colms they spoyled the Abbey which Sacrilege Hector notes was seuerely punished the whole Fleete being battered with tempest and some of the ships perishing At another time also the like sacrilege being perpetrated there hee saith that the shippe wherein the vnlawfull prize was sunke sodainely to the Sea-ground without any tempest The King himselfe comming to Perth to order the Scottish affaires whiles hee abode there the Earle of Murray one of the Gouernors was taken Prisoner who was after deliuered vpon Exchange for the Earle of Namur whō the Scots by like Art had taken or as Hector wil haue it for the Earle of Salisbury 35 By the mediation of the French the Scots had a short truce granted them But about the end of May the King sent his cosen the Lord Henry sonne to Henry Earle of Lancaster with a great Army to the aid and seruice of the Lord Edward Balliol King of Scotland which wasted all the Countries about Perth where while they lay the King with a very small Company came sodainely vnto them and from thence pierced farther one way then euer his Grandfather Edward had done suffering fire death the common furies of warre to worke vpon all that might suffer destruction to establish a Conquest Hee marcht vp as farre as Elgin and Buquhan and in his return to Marre burnt the Towne of Aberden in reuenge for Sir Thomas Rosselin a Knight whom the Townes-men thereof had slaine The Lord Robert Steward had great landes in those parts for Murrey and Buquhan were his which also the young Prince Edward many Earles and great Captaines with a gallant Company of men of war sailed to Antwerpe whom Lewis the Emperour met at the City of Colein where amity was confirmed and King Edward was constituted his Lieutenant with full authority to gouerne in his name on this side Colein By reason of which Vicegerencie King Edward made out his commandements and did many things to his aduantage and profit Howsoeuer it neither lasted long for Lewis within a while dishonourably reuoked it and did vndoubtedlie scarce quit the cost for the brauery of that meeting was so exceeding great as Edward easily wan the general opiniō of a very noble puissant king Polydor writes that Edward refused not the office yet would not exercise the same because he would not displease Pope Benedict whose enemy the Bauarian was 49 This Emperour whom belike the Pope hated for being as proud as himselfe tooke it ill as report went that the King of England humbled not himselfe at their meeting to the kisse of his foot But it was answered that the King of England was a King annointed and had life and member in his power and therefore ought not to submit himselfe so much as an other King that was not annointed After his returne to Antwerpe with his new power hee seriously prosecuted his affaire of confederation with the Lords and people of Dutchland among whom with great loue and fauour he and his royall family abode aboue an whole yeere The principall Nobles which entred into this league against the French were these The Archbishoppe of Colein Prince Elector The Duke of Brabant The Duke of Gelderland who had married the Lady Isabel King Edwards owne sister and about this season was of an Earle created a Duke The Marquesse of Gulick c. And finally the Hanse townes 50 The Flemings being the most necessary part of this association in regard of their neerenes to the French would not engage themselues in an offensiue warre against the Crowne of France vnlesse King Edward would first assume the Title and Armories of that Realme as the onely lawfull King therof This Proposition was throughly debated and the law of Armes allowing it hee with the common assent of the Flemings and others tooke the Stile and quartered the Flower de Lize with the Leopards or Lions of England as here we see annexed albeit wee see his former Seale also adorned with two Lize or Lillies whether in token of his mothers French descent or as a couert note of his own right to the Frenchcrown it is vncertaine 51 Polydor Virgil must haue a warie and fauourable Reader or hee will bee thought to bee of opinion that William the Conqueror bare his Leopards quartered then which nothing is more vntrue nor more vnlikely Others againe may suppose that we haue not here described them according to their right bearing as certainly according to their present bearing wee haue not but the truth is the golden Lillies of France which now are borne in triangle were in those dayes born and aduanced Semi 52 And whereas the Armories of France are placed here in the dexter and more honorable quarter yet there are probabilities that it was not so at this their first coniunction For in the* Seale of Queen Isabel this King Edwards mother the Armories of England as being the Armories of the husbands line and therefore to haue precedence were marshalled where now the Flower de Luces shine But whether to gratifie the French or because that was the more ancient and greater Monarchie they were in this Kings raigne disposed as here we see 53 When King Edward had thus assumed the Title and Armes of that Realme hee published the same vnder his seale setting the name of England first and sent his Letters Patents to the frontiers of the enemies Dominions fixing them vpon the dores of Churches aswell to declare the right and reason of his doings as to exempt such from the danger of the comming storme who vpon this notice would acknowledge him their Lord and rightfull Soueraigne These proclamations or admonishments thus diuulged he burnt and spoiled the North parts of France vp as farre as Turwin though the time of the yeere were very vnseasonable and contenting himselfe therewith for a beginning gaue place to the sharpenesse of Winter returning to the Queen his wife at Antwerpe where hee kept a roiall Christmas In which City this yeere was Lionel afterward Duke of Clarence borne 54 His affaires growing ripe in those parts he leaues his Queene and Children in Brabant as an assured pledge of his returne and about Candlemas shippes himselfe for England where in a Parliament at Westminster he obtained liberall aids for supportation of his intended Conquest In lieu of which louing assistances hee granted a generall large pardon both for trespasses and of all Aides for making his sonne Knight and for marriage of his daughter during all his time forgiuing also all arrerages of Farmers and Accountants till the tenth yeer of his Raigne and all old debts due to any of his Predecessors Finally hee confirmed that famous Magna Charta and of the Forest with some other 55 There was no talke now but of conquering France
Iohn Mensterworth the yong Lords Grandsonne and Fitzwalter and other vainelie scorning to be vnder Knols for that they held themselues his betters and thereupon diuiding themselues after they had done sundry exploits marching vp euen to Paris were beaten and foild by the French vnder Glequins conduct but Knols wintred safe in Britaine Mensterworth comes into England and knowing accusers haue the vantage complaines to King Edward of Knols but not altogether beleeued he ads treason to vntruth and turning French becomes a wicked enemy to his King and Countrey promising the French to procure the Castilian Nauie to inuade England for which being in the last yeere of King Edwards raigne taken hee by due course was condemned and cut in pieces dying the death he had deserued He was laid hould vpon in the City of Pampeline in Nauarre and from thence conueighed to London vpon whose bridge his wicked head stood Sentinell 141 Pope Vrban the fifth comming from Rome to Auinion with purpose to vnite these two mighty Kings their wils and mights against the common enemy of Christendome put off mortality at Marsils and so that holy intention ceased for the present but the same being continued by his next successor Gregory 11. yet tooke no effect no more then that which the Emperour to like cause would haue vndergone which the French impute to King Edward who confident by reason of his former atchieuements would trie it out by the sword Wherein he seemed to forget the mutable condition of warre the searnesse of his bodie and the greennesse of his Grand-Child yong Richard who was to succeed if the Prince of Wales died as shortly after he did Neither did God seeme to approue his opinion herein for that crosses came fast vpon him both at home and abroad There is no greater wisdome nor happinesse then to know when we are well and then to preserue without hazard or empairment that honour wealth or quiet which we already haue 142 Among the States and Townes assigned to the English by vertue of the treatie at Bretigny which had reuolted to the French was the Citie of Limoges in Limosin whither the Prince marcheth sits down with his armie before it Thither came vnto him out of England his brethren the D. of Lancaster the Earle of Cambridge with a fresh supplie of valiant Chiefs and Souldiers The City stood it out to the vttermost and was forceably entred where mercy had nothing to saue nor spare the sword and fire for terror to other killing and defacing in a manner all Hee who writes that the Prince flew vp neere to Paris and scarsely by reason of Glequins valour got backe to Burdeaux seemes to haue mistaken therein as in many other things concerning vs of great importance After this seruice the Prince health failing him more more leaues his Brethren in Aquitaine and sailes into England 143 The French in the meane time wonne towns and places in Aquitaine gathering new hopes after so long and perpetuall infelicities The losse of that expert Captaine Sir Iohn Chandoys vnfortunately slaine was a great aduantage to their desires whose whole care for warre rested vpon Glequin not long before aduanced for his military vertue from low estate to so great eminencie as to bee Constable of France the chiefest officer for warre which that Kingdome hath and he a man of much proofe in good and euill fortune so tempered his courage with discretion that he onely first bad his Country rise againe and endeauor in despite of euill fortune to reflourish 144 The Prince of Wales wanting health vpon comming to his fathers sight rendred vp the Dutchie of Aquitaine to bee disposed of as to his roiall pleasure seemed good While King Edward was at Clarendon there repaired to him the factious king of Nauarre whose errand was to make an ouerture of association against the French but as his offers were acceptable so his cautions not seeming sufficient hee returned after great entertainement without concluding 145 Iohn Duke of Lancaster and his brother the Earle of Cambridge doe now returne out of Aquitaine with the Ladies Constance and Isabel daughters of Don Pedro late King of Spaine whom they married The Duke thereupon instiling himselfe King and his wife Queene of Castile and Leon. Nor was the English name onely encreased in titularie honors for about this time the Flemings who had prouoked vs were vanquisht by the Earle of Hereford at sea in a sharpe fight about twentie and fiue of their shippes being taken and all the men slain The sweete of this victory was sowred not long after with a grieuous losse for the French hauing besieged the strong Citie of Rochel in Santoin with the aide by sea of Henry King of Castile to relieue the English Iohn Earle of Pembroke was sent with about forty shippes men victuals munition and mony to the value of twenty thousand marks forthe vses of the warre but being sodainely assailed with the Spanish Armado which consisted of many great shippes vnder the command of Ambrose Buccanigra and others the English after a long and cruell conflict were vtterly distressed the Earle taken prisoner and almost all the rest either taken or put to the sword Rochel held out notwithstanding to whose reliefe while King Edward himselfe in person with an extraordinary force set saile the wind alwayes till that time fauourable to his voyages for France came Easterly and draue him backe into England with great griefe and the waste they write of nine hundred thousand pounds sterling Neither did hee so giue ouer the care of that strong Peece which the English most manfully made good against the enemie 146 Rochel thus persisting in loyall resolution Iohn Duke of Britaine who had married the Lady Marie daughter of King Edward a Gentleman of much gratitude toward the English the authors of his fortunes resolues to aduenture his state in their quarrell ships away for England hath aide ministred vnto him hee returnes and warres with various euent But Iohn Duke of Lancaster with a very great Armie comes to Callis and from thence marcheth ouer the whole face of France and though with losse of many thousand horse in the desert countries of Aâ—…ergn throgh famin came safe but with an almost-hunger-starued Army to Burdeaux Not long after hee drew into the field and a day was appointed betweene him and the Duke of Anion the French Kings brother to haue tried the quarrell of their Nations by set battell before the City of Tholouz in Languedoc but by an vntimely a pernitious short truce to which K. Edward yeelded because his son the Prince lay dangerously sick the hoped victory not onlie slipt out of the English mens hands but almost all aduantage also of doing any thing else seasonably The French boasted themselues as of a Conquest who notwithstanding did helpe out their valiancy with policie
by the Duke of Bury one of the French Kings vncles to frustrate this enterprize he alleaged that the King of England had mustred ten thousand horsemen and one hundreth thousand Archers for his defence whereas the Admirall Iohn de Vienna affirmed that hauing seene the forces of the English they were but eight thousand horsemen and threescore thousand foot and he might well say hauing seene for though Aemylius bring him in speaking to the French King and vaunting that he had encountred them yet nothing is truer then that the English returned out of Scotland without the least offer of battell The Admirall was willing indeed to haue fought but when he saw our Armie from the hil-tops his furie gaue place to reason 50 While the Armie was vpon the way toward Scotland the Kings halfe-brother the Lord Iohn Holland wickedly slew the Lord Stafford sonne to the Earle of Stafford not farre from Yorke being vpon his iourney to the Queene whose fauoured Knight he was For which heinous homicide the King seised vpon his whole estate denying to his mothers most earnest praiers any pardon or grace for his brother Which was to her so greeuous that within fiue or sixe daies after shee gaue vp the Ghost at Wallingford The young Lord tooke Sanctuary at Beuerley and the King by his iustice herein wanne the hearts of the said Earle of Stafford the Earle of Warwick the Lord Basset and other great men of Staffords kindred and friends neither did this empeach at all the present voyage 51 The Scots and French in Scotland seeing themselues vnable to withstand such forces had so retired themselues and all their goods that when the English should come they as Walsingham pleasantly saith could see no quicke things left but onlie Owles That which was greene in the fields the horses deuoured or trampled down yet such harme as the materials of buildings were capable of was done Edenburgh also and the noble Abbey of Mailrosse were fired The Duke of Lancaster perswaded the King to march beyond the Frith or Scottish Sea as his great Ancestors had done to seeke out his enemies but he very suspicious that the Duke gaue him this counsell with a purpose to betray him to destruction by famine and want which he was there to looke for expressed much displeasure and returned The Dukes wordes notwithstanding and behauiour were tempered with much duty and modesty but that would not serue till the Lords peeced their affections together by intercession in the best manner the time would suffer But the English host was scarce returned and discharged when the Scots and French sodeinely powred themselues forth vpon our Countrey and did whatsoeuer hurt the shortnes of time in their incursion could permit 52 To resist and endammage the French there were appointed Admirals for the narrow Seas the Master of Saint Iohns and Sir Thomas Percie Knight the Earle of Northumberlands brother who did nothing worthy their fame or place Only the Townesmen of Portsmouth and Dart maund forth a few ships at their owne perill and charge wherewith entering the riuer of Sein vpon which the renowned Citties Roan and Paris are situated suncke some of their enemies ships tooke others and among them one of Sir Oliuer de Clisson's the goodliest that France had The successe answered their hopes and they were enriched with the spoiles of their aduersaries whom thus they compelled to beare the charge of their proper mischiefe 53 Meanewhile that the French lay at Sluse attending the approch of their kings vncle the Duke of Burie who fauoured not this enterprize of inuasion but sought aswell by delaies as by perswasion and authority to make it frustrate they of Gaâ—…t had gotten the Towne of Dam by the good liking of the Inhabitants to whom the French gouernment was odious For recouery whereof the French King drew his armie prepared against England to the siege of Dam which the same being first secretlie abandoned after a moneths siege and many repulses giuen to the French was by him recouered This and other things did so protract the great expedition intended that after wast of infinite treasure Charles returned home without hauing seene England which was by these meanes most graciouslie freed by God from so dangerous and greatly-feared an impression But that the English might the better endure the same Iohn King of Portugall hauing lately in a great and bloodie battell where some of the English deserued well of him ouerthrowne the Castilians and thereby setled his estate sent into England sixe Gallâ—…ys throughly well appointed for Sea-seruice though as God would there was no need of them 54 Of those French which after the Cloude of warre at Sluce was dispersed into ayte passed ouerland into their Countreys many were taken and slaine by the Gauntiners Their nauie was not lesse vnfortunate for at one time the English of Callis tooke of them eighteene and the rage of weather brake and sunke diuers so that this Brauado was not onely costly to the French by reason of the charges but hurtfull in the losse of time men shippes and hoped glorie Such are the euents of humane enterprises where God is not pleased to giue successe The English thus deliuered from feare make a road into France out of Callis and with a prey of foure thousand sheepe and three hundreth head of great cattell besides an hundreth good prisoners returned safe to their Garrison 55 The multitude of memorable things which present themselues to vs in the liues of our English Monarches is such that if wee did not vse choise and in their relation breuity wee should not relieue our Readers of that molestation with which the vaste volumes of former labours doe oppresse the memorie The Laitie at the Parliament now holden at London had yeelded to aide the King with a Fifteenth vpon condition that the Clergie should succour him with a Tenth and an halfe against which vniust proportion William de Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury most stifly opposed alleadging that the Church ought to bee free nor in any wise tâ—… bee taxed by the Laitie and that himselfe would rather die then endure that the Church of England the liberties whereof had by so many free Parliaments in all times and not onely in the raign of this King been confirmed should be made a bond-maide This answere so offended the Câ—…mons that the Knights of the Shires and some Peeres of the land with extreme fury besought That Temporalities might bee taken away from Ecclesiasticall persons saying that it was an Almesdeed and an Act of Charity so to doe thereby to humble them Neither did they doubt but that their petition which they had exhibited to the King would take effect Hereupon they designed among themselues out of which Abbey which should receiue such a certaine summe and out of which another I my selfe saith a Monke of Saint Albans heard one of those Knights confidently sweare that hee
both by Clergy and Laity Hereupon the Lord Henry Percy Hotspur who had redeemed himself was called from his charge at Callis and made Warden of the Marches against Scotland Thomas Moubray Earle of Nottingham succeeding in the Captaineship of Calys The Dukes chargefull emploiment in France bare no other flower then a yeeres short truce 89 The Kings wants still encreasing with his imploiments the Londoners carried away with euill counsell did a thing most vnworthy of their Citie and themselues and it might to them haue proued as hurtfull as it was vnworthy at such time as the King desired the loane but of one thousand pounds which was not onely churlishly denied but a certaine Lumbard honestly offering to lend the same was badly vsed beaten and almost slain Their liberties for that and other disorders are seised and their proper Magistracy dissolued Guardians being giuen them first Sir Edward Dallinging then Sir Baldwin Radington and their Maior and some chiefe Citizens layed in prisons farre off from London The punishment brought the fowlenesse of their errors to their sight but by the Duke of Glocesters intercessions who did not vnwillingly lay hold vpon such occasions of popularity the king and Queene are wonne to enter the City which gaue them triumphall entertainement The sea is not sodainely calmed after a tempest neither a Princes anger By degrees yet and not without deare repentance they were at last restored to their former condition in all points 90 The king declaring his purpose to crosse into Ireland had an aide of money conditionally granted foure yeeres truce by the trauaile of the two Dukes of Lancaster and Glocester being concluded in France This yeere was farther notable for many great Funerals Constance Dutchesse of Aquitaine and Lancaster a Lady of great Innocency and deuotion the Countesse of Derby her daughter in law Isabel the Dutchesse of Yorke and a Lady noted for too great a finenesse and delicacy yet at her death shewing much repentance and sorrow for her loue to those pestilent vanities left this present life But all the griefe for their deaths did in no sort equall that of the kings for the losse of his owne Queene Anne which about the same time hapned at Sheene in Surrey whom he loued euen to a kind of madnesse but Ladies onely died not for Sir Iohn Hawkwood whose cheualrie had made him renowned ouer the Christian world did in this yeere depart an aged man out of this world in Florence where his ashes remaine honoured at this present with a stately Tombe and the statue of a Man at Armes erected by the gratitude of that State and City which chiefly by his conduct courage and valour to this day admired amongst them was preserued The Italian Writers both Historians and Poets highlie celebrating his matchlesse prowesse enstyle him Anglorum decus decus addite genti Italicae Italico prasidiumque Solo. Englands prime honour Italies renowne Who vpheld all Italie from sinking down But the Duke of Lancaster hauing all things ready sets saile to Burdeaux there with the consent of the State to take possession of his lately granted Dutchie 91 The King doth the like for Ireland where that sort of the Irish which are called the wild had greatly inuested the English Pale and other good Subiects there to the great dammage of the Crown of England In the times of Edward the third Ireland yeelded to the kings coffers thirty thousand pounds yeerly but now things were so grown out of order that it cost the King thirty thousand Marks by yeere To reduce the rebellious himselfe conducts thither an Armie attended vpon by the Duke of Glocester the Earles of March Nottingham and Rutland all the Irish being commanded to auoid out of England The terror of the preparatiōs shining presence of a king which aboue al worldly things is pleasāt to the Irish had such effects that sundry great men were compelled to submit themselues To supply the Kings wants growne in the Irish expedition Edmund D. of Yorke the Kings vncle and Custos or Warden of England called a Parliament at London whither the Duke of Glocester repaired to declare the Kings wants and hath contributions granted Neuerthelesse so strong a party against the Clergy Fryarly abuses of those times discouered it selfe therein that the Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of London and others prest ouer Sea to the King at Dublin beseeching him to returne the sooner to represse the Lollards so called they the embracers of Wicliffes doctrine and their fauourers who sought not onely as they vntruly pretended to wring away all the possessions of the Church but that which was worse to abrogate and destroy al Ecclesiasticall constitutions whereas they aimed onely at the redresse of exorbitancy in the Papal Clergy The King hereupon returnes by whose arriuall and authority those consultations of the Laity were laid downe Sir Richard Storie a seruant of his had been forward against the Prelates of him therefore hee takes an oath vpon the holy Gospell that he should not hold such opinions any longer The Knight takes that oath and we saith the King doe sweare that if thou doest breake it thou shalt die a most shamefull death The rest hearing the Lion roare so terribly drew in their hornes and would be seen no more 92 The King caused the body of the late Duke of Ireland to bee brought into England His exceeding loue to him was such that he commanded the Cypresse chest wherein his body lay embalmed to bee opened that hee might see view handle and openly expresse his affection The dead remaines of that noble young Gentleman by his birthright Earle of Oxford and by race a Vere were buried at the Priorie of Coln in Essex there being present the King himselfe the Countesse Dowager of Oxford the Dukes mother the Archbishoppe of Canterburie with many Bishops Abbots and religious persons but few of the Lords for they had not as yet digested the hate they bare him 93 The Duke of Lancaster was this while in Aquitaine where he had sought to winne the people with incredible largesse to accept of his Soueraignty according to the tenor of King Richards grant Little did he then thinke that within lesse then sixescore and three yeeres after an Ambassador of King Henry the 8. should write thus of Burdeaux it selfe the Capitall City of Gascoign and Guien Anglorum nulla ferè vestigia remanent c. There are saith that learned Gentleman scarse any foot-prints of the Englishmen remaining In the Churches and other places newly refreshed and reedified such Armories of the English as stood were vtterly blotted and defaced yet in the Church of the Fryers Preachers the Armories of the Duke of Lancaster stand entire in a Glasse-window and in the oldest wall of the City those also of England though consumed in a manner with age The Lawes Statutes and Ordinations which were
Scotland why they should make that a quarrell which was a meere calumnie And to take away all pretence of feare from the Conspirators hee sends to the Earles of Northumberland and Worcester and to the hot Lord Percie a safe conduct vnder his roiall Seale by which he secures their accesse but vnbridled rashnesse saith Walsingham despising the roiall clemencie did put on the rigour of rebellion Meane while the King armes with all speed against the enemie the rather at the counsell of George Earle of Dunbar who like a valiant man at Armes and a wise friend aduised him so to doe before their aduersaries numbers were too mightily augmented The King with his sonne the young Prince of Wales and a very noble fellowship was now aduanced within sight of Shrewsbury as the gallant Percie stood ready to assault the Towne But so soone as the roiall Standard was discouered that enterprise was left off and he drew out his people being about fourteene thousand choice and hardie bodies of men to try the fortune of war against a well tride warrior 35 Peace notwithstanding by the exceeding tendernesse of the King had ensued but that the mischeeuous Earle of Worcester by misreporting and falsifying his Soueraignes words did precipitate his Nephew into sudden battell If there were any praise or good example to bee drawne out of so detested bloodshed as that of ciuill warre we would willingly describe vnto you the order and actions but we cannot too soone passe ouer such mournfull obiects which are rather to bee celebrated with teares then triumphes There is no doubt but Percie Dowglas and the rest fought terrible Why should we admire that in them So doe Lyons Tygers Beares and yet wee admire them not Where was dutie where conscience where the other respects of which onely we are called men Let none of vs honour or imitate them in whose eyes the price of English blood is so vile as that for priuate fansies they can bee content to confound all regards and make sport for common foes with mutuall massacres Therefore wee will content our selues with the knowledge of Gods part in this daies worke who gaue the garland to the King though the first arrowes flew from the Percies Archers 36 The Kings courage was not small in the fight as neither was the danger the yong Prince of Wales also being then first to enter himselfe into the schoole of blood and battell gaue no small hopes of that perfection which afterward shone in him being wounded with an arrow in the face The Lord Percy and Earle Dowglas then whom the wide world had not two brauer Champions in steed of spending themselues vpon the multitude set the point of their hopes vpon killing the King as in whose person they were sure ten thousand fell For this cause they most furiously rushed forward with speares and swords but the noble Earle of Dunbarre discouering their purpose drew the King from the place which he had chosen to make good and thereby in likelyhood for that present saued his life for the Standard royall was ouerthrowne and among other valiant men the Earle of Stafford Sir Walter Blunt the Kinges Knight and the Standard-bearer himselfe was slaine such was the fury of these sodaine thunderbolts That day the Dowglas slew with his owne hands three in the Kings Coat-armour perhaps some in Heralds Coats though Boetius yet saw a fourth Sure it is that manie of the subiects thought the King was slaine and not a few ranne out of the field Who notwithstanding like a valiant Prince did reenforce the fight performing maruels in armes with his owne hands The slaughter could not be small on both sides the Archers shooting so continually and the men of armes doing their vtmost for about the space of three whole houres 37 That which gaue an end to this wofull worke was the death of Hotspur who ryding in the head of the battell in defiance of danger and death was by an vnknowne hand suddenly killed with whose fall as if his whole army had had but one heart the courages of all others fell into feete which now altogether they trusted to But the King abhorring to make farther execution of the misguided multitude suffered them to shift for themselues The Earles of Worcester and Dowglas Sir Richard Vernon the Baron of Kindlaton and diuers others were taken Of the Kings side was slaine besides the Earle of Stafford ten new Knights whose names as dying in an honest cause deserue immortality and were Sir Hugh Shorly Sir Iohn Clifton Sir Iohn Cokain Sir Nicholas Gausel Sir Walter Blunt Sir Iohn Caluerly Sir Iohn Massie Sir Hugh Mortimer Sir Robert Gausell and Sir Thomas Wendesley who dyed of his hurts not long after as most of the other did about the Standard all which fighting for their spurs as being knighted but that morning bought them with the honourable losse of their whole bodies there were also slaine many Esquires Gentlemen and about one thousand and fiue hundreth common souldiers besides three thousand sorely wounded On the other part omitting that second Mars the Lord Percy who drew a ruine after him sutable to his Spirit and greatnesse there fell most of all the Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire to the number of two hundred and about fiue thousand common souldiers This battell was stricken neere to Shrewsbury vpon a Saturday the one and twentieth of Iuly and the Eue of Saint Marie Magdalen 38 The Earle of Worcester the seducer and destroier of his noble Nephew Hotspur and therefore if but for that very worthy to haue dyed Sir Richard Vernon Knight and the Baron of Kinderton had their heads cut off vpon the Monday following Hotspurres body had beene buried by permission but vpon other aduise the King caused it to be drawne out of the graue beheaded quartered and the parts sent into diuers Citties of the Kingdome The Earle of Northumberland pretending to come with forces to the Kings aide was empeached by the Earle of Westmorland and Robert Waterton who had raised a great host Northumberland taking neither of them for friend wheeles about and returnes to his Castle of Warkworth But what can be secure to a subiect against the victorious armie of a martiall King The Earle knew as much manifestly feeling the irrecouerable maimes of his house in the losse of his sonne and brother and therefore shaped his course accordingly The King therefore being altogether as prudent as fortunate hauing setled the state ofthings in the Marches about Shrewsbury sets forward to the City of Yorke from thence to take order for such perils as he foresaw might happen He setled himselfe the more seriouslie and entirelie to this needfull worke for that his Ambassadors had effected an abstinence from warre with France till the first of March which pausing space though it might seeme little was not a little welcome to the King the Realme of England being then
Isabell his mother the Prince of Orange likewise came thither vnto Henry but because he required an Oath of him as a subiect of France he went away displeased saying he was a free Prince and ought neither obedience to England nor France At which time the Parisians with more respect of their owne safety committed their City vnto K. Henries deuotion who deputed his brother Clarence though Count Saint Paul with his French displeased Gouernour thereof and put Garrisons into the Bastile of S. Anthonie the Lowre and the Hostill de Nesle During this siege mandatory letters were sent by King Charles into Picardy to put all places that held for him in those quarters into Henries possession and to take the Oath of their obedience vnto him as to the only heire Successor Regent and Gouernour of France the execution whereof was committed to the Count of Saint Paul the Bishops of Therouenne and Arras the Vidame of Amiens the Lord of Vendueill the Gouernour of Lisle Pierre Marigny Aduocate of the Parliament and George Ostend the Kings Secretary beginning thus Charles par le Grace de Dieu c. 60 The distresse of Melun was wonderfull great aswell vpon the seegers as defendants the one afflicted and their troupes sore weakened with mortality the other oppressed with famine and other defects incident to a long indured siege In this State eighteene weekes were spent and more had beene but that the English were supplied with souldiers out of Picardie whose colours displaied a farre off put the Towne in hope of reliefe as sent from the Daulphin but vpon their neerer approach Melun was rendred by these capitulations 1. That the Towne and Castle should be deliuered to the King 2. That aswell the men of warre as the Burgesses should submit themselues to King Henry to be dealt with as pleased the King 3. That all such as should be found guilty of the Duke of Burgundies murder should suffer death 4. That all the rest of the souldiers should be receiued to mercy but to be prisoners vntill they put in good caution for their true obedience in after times 5. That the Natiues of France should be sent home to their owne Countreys 6. That all the moueables and Armes in the Towne should bee carried into the Castle 7. That all the Prisoners they hadtaken either before or during the siege should be enlarged ransome-free and acquitted of their promises 8. That for the performance of these Articles 12. of the principall Captaines and 6. of the wealthiest Burgesses should deliuer themselues in hostage 9. That all the English and Scots should be deliuered to Henry and left at his disposition These things accorded an English Garrison was put into Melun commanded by Pierre Varrolt Pierre de Burbon Seigneur de Preaux and valiant Barbason with sixe hundred Prisoners of quality were sent with a strong guard vnto Paris The guilties of Burgundies murder were all of them put to death amongst whom were two Monkes and Bertrand de Chartmont a Gascoigne a man in great fauour with King Henry for that he at King Henries entry into Melun had conuaied thence one Amenion de Lau who was proued guilty of Burgundies death The Duke of Burgundy himselfe as also Clarence earnestly labored with King Henry for Bertrands pardon but the King though much grieued and protesting that he had rather haue lost 50000. Nobles yet was resolued he should die for example to all such as should dare to offend vpon presumption of their nearenes and grace with their Princes 61 Melun being rendred and these things thus disposed the two Kings with their Queenes most honorablie attended returned to Paris before whose entrance the Citizens and Students met them in most solemne manner hauing beautified the City with flagges streamers and rich hangings throughout the streetes where they should passe The two Kings rode together vnder a rich Canopie Henry vpon the left hand next vnto whom followed the Dukes of Clarence and Bedford and vpon their left hand the Duke of Burgundy clad all in blacke the Princes and Nobles of either Nation mingled together in their degrees the Clergy with processions and their venerable reiiques going before them to Nostre dame Church and the next day the two Queenes entred the City with as great a shew King Henries Pallace was prepared in the Loure which was most rich and magnificent and Charles his Court in the Hostel of Saint Paul being but homely and meane for saith Millet young Henry commanded all and his brethren exercised supreme authority whiles olde Charles stood as a Cypher and the French Nobilitie had nothing to doe 62 During the two Kings abode here a great Assembly was called as well of the Spiritualty as of the secular Nobilitie in whose presence in the great Hall of the Hostell a State for Iustice was prepared where the two Kings sitting as supreme Iudges vnder one Cloath of estate the Court was furnished with Princes and Officers in most solemne wise Before whom Nicolas Rollin aduocate from the Duke of Burgundy and the Dutchesse his mother craued audience and had it granted vnto an inuectiue and long Oration against Charles Visconte Narbone Tanneguy Barbason and others for the cruell murther of Iohn Duke of Burgundy and not only that the murtherers might be accordingly executed but withall that a Church might be founded and furnished with sacred Ornaments for twelue Channons sixe Chaplaines and sixe Clerkes to pray for his soule for euer euery Chanon to haue yeerely two hundred pound Paris money euery Chaplen one hundred and euery Clerke fifty to be leuied vpon the Lands of the Daulphin and his associates in the murder that the same foundation should be engrauen vpon the Porch thereof and the like inscription set vp publikely in the Cities of Paris Rouen Graunt Diion Saint Iames of Compostella and Ierusalem This motion was seconded by a Doctor of Diuinity appointed by the Rector of the Vniuersity who concluded with an humble request to the King and those Princes that iustice might be done Whereunto the Chancellor of France in the behalfe of King Charles promised that no endeuour on his part should bee lacking and thereupon caused his sonne to be solemnely called to the Marble-Table to answere his accusation by the name of Charles Duke of Touraine and Daulphin de Vienne which done three seuerall times and he not appearing by arrest of the same Court of Parliament he was banished the Realme and iudged vnworthy to succeed in any of the Seignories as well present as to come But the Daulphin appealed from this sentence to God and his sword and still was the same though his fortunes were changeable Mounsieur de Barbason was vehemently accused to haue his hand in the murder and therefore King Henrie accordingly gaue sentence on him to suffer to death but he in open Court defended himselfe not to
heire of Iohn Beaufort Duke of Sommerset was father by her vnto Henry the only heire of Lancaster afterwards King of England Iasper the second brother was created the same yeere Earle of Pembroke who required his brothers kindnes with continuall assistance against the house of 〈◊〉 and when that faction preuailed he was forced to flie into Flanders but it againe waning he was both restored and to his greater honour created Duke of Bedford dying without any issue legittimate This Queene either for deuotion or her owne safety tooke into the Monastery of Bermondsey in Southwarke where dying Ian. 2. A D. 1436. shee was buried in our Ladies Chappell within S. Peters Church at Westminster whose Corps taken vp in the raigne of King Henry the seuenth her Grand-child when he laid the foundation of that admirable structure and her Coffin placed by King Henry her husbands Tombe hath euer since so remained and neuer reburied where it standeth the Couer being loose to be seene and handled of any that will and that by her owne appointment saith Report which doth in this as in most things speake vntruth in regard of her disobedience to King Henry for being deliuered of her sonne at the place hee forbad His Sonne 87 Henry the only child of a roiall couple borne at Windsore and not nine months old at his fathers death succeeded in his dominions though not holding his Empire with the like glory Crowned he was with the Crownes of two Kingdomes but vnable by much to weild the scepter of one that of France was lost by the factions of his Nobles before it was well wonne and Englands Crowne twice pluckt from his head before his death Of whose aduentures and variable raigne the times when England lay goared in the blood of her ciuill warres we shall speake in the insuing relation of his innocent but vnfortunate life HENRIE THE SIXTH KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE LORD OF IRELAND THE THREE AND FIFTIETH MONARCH OF ENGLAND HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER XVI HAd God almighty the giuer and transferrer of Kingdomes thought good that the English should haue setled in the Continent of Europe and not haue beene shutte vp within their Ilands hee would not so soone haue depriued them of their late incomparable Captaine and Soueraigne Henry the fifth But it seemes that God hauing humbled the French Nation vnder Henries victorious hand ment now again to restore them to his wonted fauor by taking away their terrour triumpher substituting his son an Infant in his place Henrie of that name the 6. born at Windsor who was crowned about the eight month of his age The prety hands which could not feed himselfe were yet made capable to weeld a scepter and hee that was beholding to nurses for milke did neuerthelesse distribute the sustenance of law and iustice to so great and warlike Nations Counsell supplies the defect of age At his fathers death hee had vncles men of approued valour and discretion to whom the principall care of all publike affaires by the fathers last prouisions was committed Humfrey Duke of Glocester the yonger brother of two had the gouernement of England entrusted to his fidelity the regency of France was assigned for Prouince to Iohn Duke of Bedford the eldest liuing vncle of the King as to a Prince of much magnanimity prowesse and felicitie in conduct with whom was ioyned Philip Duke of Burgundie The guard and custody of the royall Infant was assigned to Thomas Duke of Excester the nurture and education to his mother the Queene Dowager vpon the two vncles as betweene the two Poles of the English Empire the whole globe of gouernment moued whatsoeuer is done by the kingly power is said to be done by the King We shall behold notwithstanding in the tragicall glasse of this Henries raigne how farre the imbecillity of the kingly person may affect the body politicke with good or euill If histories were ordayned to stirre affections not to teach and instruct neuer any Princes raigne since the Conquest did better deserue to bee described with a tragical style and words of horror sorrow although the beginning like the faire morning of a most tempestuous day promised nothing morethen a continuance of passed felicities 2 For the State of the English affaires was great and flourishing England without tumult the naturall fierce humors of her people consuming or exercising themselues in France and France her selfe for the nobler parts together with the grand City of Paris head of that Monarchie was at their deuotion There wanted nothing which might aduance the worke begunne Most noble and expert Leaders as those which had bin fashioned in the schoole of warre vnder the best martiall master of that age the late Henry arms full of veterant souldiers most of which were of skill sufficient to be commanders themselues their friends firme no defect nor breach by which dissipation might enter to the ouerthrow of the English greatnesse as yet disclosing themselues Wisdome pietie riches forwardnesse at home courage and like forwardnesse abroad It is a fruitfull speculation to consider how God carrieth his part in the workes of men alwaies iustly sometimes terribly but neuer otherwise then to bring all worldly greatnesse and glory into due contempt and loathing that the soule may bee erected to her Creator and aspire to a Crown celestiall The first disaduantage which hapned to the English cause after the late Kings decease was the death of Charles the French King who suruiued the other but fiftie and three dayes This wee may worthily call the first as it was a great aswell as the first disaduantage for the imbecilities of that Prince were a strēgth to the English On the other side God obseruing a talio and parilitie the infancy of young Henry was an aduantage to Charles the Daulphin of France now by them of his faction called King of France as the English vsed in derision to enstyle him King of Berrie because little else was left vnto him 3 In England whose condition the order of narure wils vs first to describe because there was the seat of counsell by which all the actions of the generall state were directed a Parliament was assembled to establish the Crowne vpon the Infant and to prouide for the publike vses and necessities of State Money alwayes one of them was liberally granted It was a strange sight and the first time that euer it was seene in England which in the next yeere hapned an infant sitting in the mothers lap before it could tell what English meant to exercise the place of Soueraigne direction in open Parliament Yet so it was for the Queene to illumine that publike conuention of States with her Infants presence remoued from Windsor to London through which Citie her selfe roially seated with her young sonne vpon her lappe passed in maiesticke manner to Westminster and there tooke seate among all his Lords whom by the
ordinary mouth of that high Court hee saluted and spake to them at large concerning the premises where as hee vttered the mind of his place by anothers tongue so hee elsewhere prosecuted all affaires by other mens hands and Organs 4 The Duke of Bedford as the nature of his place exacted to settle and preserue the State of France for his young Nephew the King together with Philip Duke of Burgoigne who as yet continued a stedfast friend to the English Soueraignety knowing the Daulphin busie to recouer France strengthned the confines of their gouernment with Garrisons assembled their powers and laboured to retaine the hearts of their owne party The Duke of Bedford Regent of France had words to them to this effect in open assemble That they should not violate their plighted and sworne alleagiance neither by themselues endeauour nor endure that by others their Soueraigne Lord young Henry should be defrauded of his inheritance or that the hatreds and enmities which now beganne to die betweene the French and English names should through the practises of most faithlesse men be renued and reinflamed That they would remember how by Gods speciall fauour and goodnesse the two Kingdoms of France and England were vnited vnder one most faire and goodly Monarchie in an eternall league and lately so established that no humane force could râ—…st That albeit they had sustained dammage by the warre yet the same would bee recouered with aduantage if they honored loued and obeyed their lawfull Soueraigne Lord King Henry and prosecuted his enemies with extremity according to bounden duty This Oration found plausible admission in shew Henry is proclaimed King of England and of France and such chiefes as were present did their homages taking oath to be true The like Obligation and Sacrament of alleagiance was put vpon all the French through the English Dominions in France 5 Charles who as sonne and heire to the late King entitled himselfe King of France by the name of Charles the seuenth being then about the seauen and twentieth yeere of his age full of courage and new hopes gathered what force he could his chiefe Leuies were made in Daulphynois and Italy from whence for money he drew sundry troupes But the best sinews of his Army moued in certain thousands of the Scotish Nation which serued vnder him The first steppe which the Charolines or forces of Charles made into hostile action was vnfortunate for comming to raise the siege which the English held about Crepan they were put to flight with the losse of about two thousand of their numbers This was noble in Charles and his Charolines that their minds sunke not at the horrour of such an euill Omen It was saith Aemylius of them resolued to encounter aduerse fortune with encrease of courage The Regent on the other side was vigilant vpon all occasions the power of his Regency extended it selfe without contradiction through Vimew Pontieu and Picardie from Paris to Reines Chalons and Troyes vp to the water of Loyr and the Sea A goodly scope of territory and absolutely the best of France That late losse foile of the Charolines was repaired shortly after by an ouerthrow in skirmish which they gaue to the English party from whom with the slaughter of about fifteene hundreth they recouered a great booty specially of Cattel which the English had gotten in the Countries of Nugion and Main but thus intercepted vpon their return into Normandy Charles which Paul Aemylius omitteth doubteth that successe for Meulan vpon Sein is by him taken where all the English are put to the sword but the possession was short and the reuenge speedy Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury a man saith Polydor more like the old Romans then people of that age so great was his vertue and cheualrie hauing with him Iohn of Luxemburg Generall of the Burgundian horsemen recouers the place killing all the French which were found therein 6 At the Citie of Amiens in Picardie the three great Dukes of Bedford Regent of France Burgoign and Britaine meet to consult of the whole course summe of affaires There they renued the League adding that each should be others friend and that all of them should defend King Henries right with their best forces For the better assurance of this profitable amity the Regent then a Bachelour tooke to wife the Lady Anne sister to Philip Duke of Burgundie while the Regent was absent from Paris vpon these iust occasions the Parisians who not long before had sent Ambassadors into England to acknowledge their obedience to King Henry practised with Charles to deliuer their City The Regent had notice of this dangerous treason and with his presence retained them in duety The chiefe Actors paied their liues for satisfaction of the trespasse In good time there arriued out of England ten thousand fresh Souldiers Ouer them hee ordeined Captaines the famous Earle of Salisbury William Pole Earle of Suffolke Robert Willoughby and others Himselfe lead about with him for the generall seruice eighteene hundred horsemen and eight thousand foote With these field-forces the maime of the English estate in France was held together though not without difficulty and diuers aduentures In them he tooke from Charles sundry strong Townes and Fortresses as Crotoy Baside Riol Rula Gyrond Basile Mermound Milham Femel Seintace and many other 7 The Regents chiefe designe was to draw Charles to fight hoping by his ouerthrow to conclude many daies workes in one For this cause he drew into Normandy Charles was then in Tourain where he mustereth his people The Regent prospers in the meane time and takes by siege a place of good importance presuming so to dare the French out to a Battell Iohn Duke of Alanson is sent with an Army and instructions to fight if occasion serued but Charles himselfe was not suffered to hazard his person Not farre from the Towne of Vernoil which the English had taken before the Duke of Alanson and his Charolines could succour it the two Armies embattelled themselues The fight began with shot which seeming not quicke enough to dispatch the work the battels came to hand-stroaks where for some houres there was maintained a constant and doubtfull battell with great furie on both sides The English enured to the French warres hauing borne the first heats of their enemies which are in that Nation most ragefull by perseuerance vtterly brake and put them to flight The Regent himselfe with a battle-axe fought most fiercely winning immortall honor in that bloody iourney There were slaine of the enemies side Iohn Earle of Boughwhan Constable of France Archenbald Dowglas Duke of Tourain and Lieutenant of France Archembald his sonne Earle of Wigton with many other of the Scots Of the French there were slaine the Earle of Vantadowr and sundry others In all there died vpon that side certaine thousands None writes of fewer then foure or fiue thousand nor
Chancellor as being a person very dangerous vnto both 10 The news of these home-contentions comming to the Duke of Bedford into France easily drew him home though the state of that Realme could not well want his presence For Iohn Duke of Britaine notwithstanding his late renouation of league with the Regent at Amiens iealous of the English greatnes turned sodeinely to Charles and with him Arthur Earle of Richmond his brother This puts fresh spirit into the drooping Prince Arthur is by Charles made Constable of his France in place of the Scottish Earle who was slaine at the bloody Battell of Vernoil The Duke of Britaine ouerliues this reuolt but a small time Arthur to declare his forwardnes on the behalfe of Charles assembleth about twenty thousand men and with them sodeinely besiegeth S. Iean a Towne of Normandy vpon the frontier of Britaine which Edmund Duke of Sommerset Gouernour of Normandy had lately fortified and stuft with souldiers The vnexpected arriuall of the French did greatly at the first perplex the English but vpon better aduise they valiantly sallied out vpon them both before and behind which stroke so great terrour into the enemy that with losse of their Artillery and many of their people they forsooke the siege To redeeme this dishonour he turnes his fury vpon the Countrey of Angioâ—… which in many parts he depopulates and spoiles The Regent being resolued to returne into England leaues behind him Beaâ—…champ Earle of Warwicke as lieutenant who was lately arriued in France hauing six thousand fresh Souldiers in his company 11 The presence of the Duke of Bedford Regent of France was to the State of England very necessary For the wisdome and authority of so great a Prince being eldest vncle to the King and one whom many great deedes made famous allaied the distemper which he found at his arriual It was a worke worthy of his labour and he also found it to be a worke indeed and not easily effectuable The differences were debated first at Saint Albans then at Northampton lastly in a Parliament at Leicester which continued there till toward the end of Iune The Duke of Bedford himselfe to auoid the note of partiality for that his brother of Glocester was a party did not intermeddle otherwise then as in Generall words to perswade amity but the whole cause was referred to arbitrators of greatest Nobility and prudence by whose endeuours all those differences and greeuances were equally thrust into one sacke to be sealed vp for euer by obliuion and without mention of amends on either side the Duke and Bishop the one hauing sworne by his Princehood the other by his Priesthood truly to obserue the award shooke hands and were fully for that time reconciled After which holy and necessary worke of priuate attonements ensued acts of festiuitie and honor For in the same Towne of Leicester the young King not then fiue yeeres of age was at the high feast of Pentecost dubbed Knight by the Regent of France Immediately whereupon the King honored Richard Earle of Cambridge who by the fatall errour of the Counsell was at this Parliament created Duke of Yorke the same who was father to Edward the fourth with the order of knighthood and about forty more with him This Richard Duke of Yorke was hee who brought vpon this Kingdome and nation most dolefull diuisions to the vtter extirpation of all the male lines of either house that is to say his owne and that of Lancaster whereof the young King was head From Leicester the King was conueighed to Killingworth and Thomas Duke of Excester dying Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke was constituted Guardian and Tutor to the King 12 The Regent hauing thus worthily prouided for the quiet estate of the King and Country returns to his charge in France There went ouer at the same time a choise and great number of fresh men vnder the conduct of that immortally renowmed the L. Talbot whose victories saith Polydor were so many that his name was not onely most dreadfull to the French but most famous through the world euen at this present That yee may know the man not to haue beene studious of fine Phrases vpon the one side of his sword-blade was engrauen Sum Talboti and vpon the other this boisterous blunt sentence Pro vincere inimicos meos The Duke of Alanzon taken at the Castell of Vernoil was set at liberty vpon payment of two hundreth thousand Scutes of gold At Mountarges about Orleance the English receiued an ouerthrow with the losse of about fifteene hundreth of their numbers and in Britaine the French sustained great dammages by a Captaine of the Duke of Sommersets These were petty matters They of Mantz in Maine had drawne in the French by night who massacred the English William Earle of Suffolke Captain of the place sends to Iohn Lord Talbot for succour It came and that so vnexpectedly that the French were alike distrest All but souldiers were spared and many also of them though thrust into prisons The Traitours which had caused so much mischiefe had their deserts by death From hence the Lord Talbot marched to other enterprises The quality of our taske cals vs to the maine 13 Thomas Lord Montacute Earle of Salisbury being with the Regent at Paris and considering what forces of men and all prouisions the English then enioied bethought himselfe of some action which might answere the greatnesse of his owne name and of the publike meanes The siege of Orleance is by him propounded to the Councell The credite of the Motioner was alone an argument of power to conuince the possibility His desires were therefore furnished with all competent prouisions They of Orleance hearing what a storme was comming for the name of this Earle was worthily terrible with great diligence ordaine for their defence The Suburbes answerable in bignesse to a good City they leuell with the earth that the enemie might not from thence annoy them Men victuals munition and constant intentions to fight for their liberty and safegard abounded The Earle of Sarisburie the Lord Talbot and a dreadfull puissance vnder most expert commanders present themselues before it Orleance was and is an Episcopall See a Parliament Towne and Vniuersity richly scituate vpon the riuer of Loir whose best glory it is being the chiefe City which that renowned streame watereth No enemies appearing abroad he approacheth close to the walles Assaults prouing vain he entrencheth about it and to secure his Campe casts vp ramparts and other works one of which by reason of the hugenesse thereof was called London by the name of the chiefe-City of England The Fort which stood at the Bridge foot beyond the Loyr hee seiseth vpon and closeth them vp on euery side Charles of France could minister no sufficient succor God when mans helpe failes interposeth his hand which as all of vs daily feele so is it most conspicuous in the deliuerance of
of London doe notwithstanding stand wholy for the beautifull Earle of March and stand the more confidentlie because they had sure intelligence that he had vanquished the Earle of Pembrooke in the Marches of Wales and that the Earle of Warwicke escaping from S. Albans had met with the Earle of March neere Costwold and that both with ioint forces were marching toward London These newes made the King and Queene retire into the North and leaue that Citie and the Southern Countreys to their Enemie till they might recouer a fairer opportunitie or more sufficiencies Edward vpon notice of the Kings departure entreth London and giues period to Henries reigne which is accounted to take end after he had successiuely ruled this Land the space of thirtie eight yeeres sixe moneths and foure daies His Wife 94 Margaret the wife of King Henrie was the daughter of Reyner King of Ierusalem Sicilie and Arragon Duke of Andegauia Lorraine Barre and Calabria Earle of Prouince Cenomania and Guize Shee by proxie was espoused vnto King Henrie at the Citie Towers in Touraine in the Church of Saint Martin William de-la-Poole being Procurator to the king in the presence of the French king and his Queen which king was vncle to the Brides Father and the Queene Aunt vnto her mother Shee with great pompe was conueyed to South-hampton and thence to the Abbey of Tichfield where the yeere of grace 1445. and twentie two of Aprill shee was solemnly married to king Henry and honorably attended by the greatest Estates of the Land was crowned at Westminster the thirtieth of May following Shee was exceedingly beautified in face and of goodly feature of a great wit and deepe pollicie but of stomacke farre aboue her sexe as in the managing of those trouble some times did too well appeare Shee was his wife twentie sixe yeeres and twentie nine daies and after her husbands depulsion from his regall throne her forces being vanquished at the battell of Tewksburie in a poore religious house whether shee had fled for the safetie of her life was taken prisoner and so carried Captiue to London where shee remained in durance till Duke Reiner her father did purchase her liberty with great summes of money vnto whom shee returned and lastly died in her natiue Countrie His Issue 95 Edward the only Child of king Henrie and Queene Margaret his wife was borne at Westminster the thirteenth day of October the yeere of Christ 1453. and the 31. of his fathers Raigne and the next yeere following vpon the fifteenth of March by authoritie of Parliament was created Prince of Wales Earle of Chester For the title of Duke of Cornwal as it is noted by warrant of record is reputed vnto the Kings eldest sonne the very day of his natiuitie and by vertue of a speciall Act is presumed and taken to be of full and perfect age so as he may â—…ue that day for his liuerie of the said Dukedome and ought by right to obtaine the same hauing his roialties in the Stannary wrackes at Sea Customes c the first Duke thereof was Edward commonlie called the Blacke Prince whome his Father King Edward the third created in great Estate Duke of Cornwall by a wreath on his head a ring on his finger and a siluer verge He proued a Prince of great hope and forwardnes being skilfull in martiall knowledge matters of gouernment and Lawes of the Realme At the age of seuenteene the better to bandie against his Fathers Competitor King Edward the Maul of the Lancastrians claime aâ—…ianced in France Anne the second daughter of Richard the Make-king Earle of Warwick whose other daughter was married to George Duke of Clarence This Prince when the day was lost at Tewkesburie sought to escape thence by flight but being taken was brought into the presence of king Edward whose resolute answeres enraged the Conqueror so much as he dashed him an vnprincely part on the mouth with his gauntlet and Richard the crooke backe ranne him into the heart with his dagger His Body was buried without all solemnity among the poore and meane persons slaine in the Monasticall Church of the blacke Friers in Tewkesburie Anno Domini 1471. EDVVARD THE FOVRTH FIRST KING OF THE HOVSE OF YORKE KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE LORD OF IRELAND THE FIFTIE FOVRTH MONARCH OF THIS LAND HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER XVII EDward borne at Roan in Normandy and bearing the title of March in England hauing â—…unne the battell at Mortimers Crosse though the Lords his Confederates had lost that of Saint Albans from Ludlow hasted towardes London on his way was seconded by Richard Neuill the stout Earle of Warwicke to the great encrease of his number and power which so terrified Queene Margaret now â—…dy to poâ—…se the South 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 husâ—… 〈◊〉 soâ—… iâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 vpon which 〈◊〉 now 〈◊〉 Yorke preâ—…ly pâ—…ed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…ry powerfull and the other in possâ—… consulted for their safest estate when on the suddaine Edward with VVarwicke entred their gates whose warlike visages so daunted the aduerse affected that they beganne with the 〈◊〉 to make him way to the throne the Noblemen likewise made him offers of their seruice to establiâ—… 〈◊〉 claime neither were the Clergy to learne the obseruance of time or to sway with the man vpon whom the world smiled All these seâ—…n Counsell to confer of the 〈◊〉 Duke Edward made knowne his title to the Crowne and iâ—… well sâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…red how the body of the whoâ—… Parâ—…ment formerly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…d Hâ—…ry â—…selfe subâ—…â—…ith hiâ—… 〈◊〉 hâ—…d whose 〈◊〉 though now 〈◊〉 through 〈◊〉 desâ—… yâ—… what right Lâ—…er had they all 〈◊〉 and how 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diâ—…our did wiâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…gh his neglect whoâ—… siâ—…ity euer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his priuate deuotions then the potent managing of a Soueraignes command 2 These things vrged and most of them true their voices went current that Edward was the vndoubted King whereunto the Londoners the sooner yeelded for that his dreaded Northerne Army was then encamped in Saint Iohns field neither was any reseruation made as before of Henries naturall life but hee is now absolutely neglected as vnworthy of his Crowne how acceptable soeuer he had raigned till then whose following miseries were not so much lamented as his constant patience was admired in vndergoing the same Edward thus mounted before his foot had well touched the first steppe was vpon Sunday the second of March among his Northerne Souldiers proclaimed King William L. Fan onbridge Earle of Kent declaring his claime and disabling K. Henry of stile or Gouernement whose weake head as hee alleadged had ouer long blemished the English Crowne 3 Vpon the next day with all pompe hee was conueied to Westminster and set vpon the Kings seat in the Hall where holding the scepter of Saint Edward in his hand the voice of the people was againe demanded and againe granted such was
and Sommerset and the Earle of Deuonshire with an hundred and forty moe were attainted also and disherited so fortune dallieth in setting the dice of her fauours or frownes 12 Queene Margaret stored with men but in want of money with her French powers made into Scotland whose comming was most welcome to the two Kings there and thence with great shew of enterprize hoised her sailes for England but hauing touched the â—…y of Tinmouth whether vpon better aduise or feared with their owne shadowes shee with her French put backe to the Sea where such a sore tempest tooke them as had not Queene Margaret in a small Caruell got vnto Barwicke shee had not liued to vexe the new King nor seene the vnfortunate losse of her husband her son and Realme nor the miserable calamities of her owne old age her French by Bastard Ogle were heaâ—…e into Holy Iland many slaine and foure hundred of them put to their ransomes 13 This â—…inting French enterprize though it dulled the edge of some spirits yet did it nothing daunt the courage of the Queene her better hopes being fixed vpon the Scots valour so leauing Prince Edward for safetie in Barwicks with her husband and Scots shee entred Northumberland tooke the Castle of Bamburgh and so passed forward vnto the Bishopricke their forces daily increasing through the confluence of such English 〈◊〉 fauoured King Henrie 14 King Edward hearing these stirres in the North made his preparation both by Sea and Land and with his brethren and Nobles came to Yâ—…rke from whence he sent Iohn Neuil Lord 〈◊〉 with a power of men as some what mistrusting the loialties of the Northumbrians who passing forward vpon Hâ—…gely-Moore was sodeinely encountred by the Lords Hungerfâ—…rd and Roâ—…s with whom was Sir Ralph Ferciâ—… a most valiant Knight but Montaâ—… accompanied with such as would neither looke backe nor stand gaâ—…ing on â—…hode the encounter and at the first push put back the two â—…ords and 〈◊〉 slew the said 〈◊〉 who no waieâ—… would depart out of the field but in dying said I have saued the 〈◊〉 in my â—…rest meaning this oath mâ—…e to King 〈◊〉 15 valiantly 〈◊〉 their Camp as after great slaghter saith Grafton hee fled into Scotland which is more likelie 16 Edward thus cleered of the Cloud threatning storme thought best ere others did light to prouide for himselfe and therefore he raised Bulwarks built new Fortresses in places of danger put forth his espials vpon the Marches of Scotland and commanded that none should keepe Henrie or Margaret in secret whose sight he feared would draw the affections of many which otherwise stood in case of obedience But ouer-borne Henrie whether past al feare or inforced by destinie in disguised apparell past into England where he was soone apprehended by one Caâ—…tlow but Stow saith by Thomas Talbot in Cletherwood besides Bungerley Hipping stones in Lancashire being betraied in Waddington Hall as he sate at dinner and thence brought to London with his legs bound to the stirrups arrested by Warwicke his guilt spurres taken off and committed Prisoner to the Tower of London 17 The Lyon thus pent his pawes cut or pared and Queene Margaret in France with her father Reiâ—…er King Edward now quiet set his minde vpon Gouernment for the good of his Realme In his Court of Kings Bench he vsed to sit in person certaine daies together to see how his lawes proceeded with Iustice ordained penall Statutes against excessiue pride in Apparell especialle against long picked shooes then vsually worne which grew to such an extreme that the pikes in the Toes were turned vpward and with siluer chaines or silke laces tied to the knee But among many good prouisions one proued very bad as the sequell shewes for concluding a league with King Henrie of Castile and Iohn King of Arragon he granted a licence to transport certaine numbers of Câ—…teswold Sheepe which are since growne to such an exceeding increase as the Clothes made of their woolles is a great hindrance to our Marchants which aduenture in the Leuant Seas 18 His next care was to finde a fit Queene both for the hope of issue to succeed and for alliance and power to assistâ—…ed were against Henries claime Fist therefore minding to send into Scotland to desire in marriage the Ladie Margaret sister to king Iames the third thereby to frustrate Hâ—…tes further hope was made to belieue that the said Ladie was by reason of sickenesse not capable of conception which altogether declined his affection from that way Next as some say a motion was made for Lady Elizabeth sister and heire apparant vnto Henrie king of Castile as a much most conuenient considering king Edward had thereunto a Claime whose great Grandmother was one of the heires of Castile being the daughter of Don Peter the king besides which high match and combination of Alliances â—…hope was conceiued that the Dutchies of Guien and Aquitaine might be recouered by the assistance of these Castilians without great charge or trauell to the English But the tender spring of the one and the lusty growth of the other would not be grafted into one stocke to 〈◊〉 fruitâ—… shee little aboue 〈◊〉 and he about twenty three 〈◊〉 unfit to â—…taine till shee could giue him content 19 A third Princesse 〈◊〉 against whom feared This match being most approued in counsell none was held more fit to solicite the businesse then Lord Richard Neuil the great Earle of Warwick a man esteemed for power a Demy-King and for magnificence and hospitality matchlesse in whose house at London as some haue verified sixe oxen were spent euery day and most Tauernes in the City full of his meat 20 Warwicke in great state arriued at Tours his message knowne was accordingly entertained in the French Court where he wrought the Queen her selfe to be the chiefest Agent who drew on her sister Bona with recommending the state and stile of a magnificent Queene a sound very tunable in a Ladies eare and her husband Lewis with assurance of a potent and wise Allie a pleasing theame to soft natured Princes as the French King was And indeed to all shee vndertooke all good contentments so as on that side all things were cleare and Warwicke dismissed with Courtly French complements the Earle Damp-martin was to passe into England for the finall confirmation 21 But whilest Warwicke had beene industriously wooing in France King Edwards affection in England was working another way for being on hunting in the Forrest of Wychwood beside Stony-Stratford hee there found other game that made game in his eye which was the Lady Elizabeth Gray attending the Dutchesse of Bedford her mother who then soiorned at his Mannour of Grafton whither hee repaired for his recreation She had beene attendant vpon Queene Margaret the wife of King Henry the sixt and had
was either a friend or afraide to deale against so powerfull an enemy 59 The White Rose thus bloomed and the red falling his leafe all tooke the time of this pleasant spring and flocked to Edward as to their April Sun who now more able and therefore more bold made forward towards Leicester where the Earles of Warwicke and Oxford with a great power were but because Clarence was absent they let Edward hold on without any encounter whose traine as hee passed was like to a riuer that in the running is euer encreased with new springs which Warwicke perceiuing thought it more then time to giue battell well knowing that his brothers forbearance had giuen him that head And to that end sent vnto Clarence then about London in leuying of men but hee somewhat too backeward and Warwicke too forward tooke into the City Couentry meaning from thence to set on the enemy But Edward whose star had now past the darke threatning cloud pitched his tents neere vnto that City in a plaine field and valiantly bad the Earle come to battell But he then mistrusting as in truth hee had cause that the boldnesse of Edward was backt by a Clarence kept close within the wals with a purpose to see how the world would goe 60 Edward loth to loose time about one Cities siege raised his Campe and hasted forward toward Warwicke vnto which Towne likewise his brother Clarence with foure thousand strong was on march these meeting vpon a plaine three miles from the Towne set their Battels in Aray as if they meant to haue fought but the King his brother Gloucester Lord Riuers Hastings and others without any gard made towards Clarence which when he beheld himselfe accompanied with some of estate encountred his brother with a louing countenance and friendly cheare so as no sparke of hatred was perceiued betwixt them but with all brotherly affections entred into amitie and peace which afterwards proued the confusion of the Duke Clarence thus got sought to draw Warwicke into the same traine to which end he sent certaine messengers vnto him first to excuse his owne fact as too vnnaturall for him to vnsheath his sword against his owne brother as also he sought to stay the effusion of English blood which in these quarrels lay ready to be shed His peace with Edward he promised to worke and that with such honour as Warwicke should know himselfe not only a father to Clarence but likewise vnto Edward great Englands King Vnto all which motion Warwicke gaue eare only with this replie Goe tell your Duke said he that I had rather bee an Earle and alwaies like my selfe then a false and periured Duke and that ere my oath shall bee falsified as his apparantly is I will lay downe my life at my enemies foote which I doubt not but shall bee bought very deere 61 This stout resolution made Edward more warie and therefore to obtaine London the only key that opened the dore to the Crowne he hasted thitherward whose Citizens hearing of the increase of his host and waying that Henrie was but a milke-sop to him thought it most safety to saile with the fairest winde and therefore set open their Gates and with publike applaud cried King Edward Which when the Duke of Sommerset with others left to attend the innocent King Henry heard they fled for their liues and left him in the Bishops Palace at London where his Competitor King Edward tooke him and sent him againe prisoner to the Tower With so many winds are the sailes of their ships filled which seeke the Port of their safety by the affections of the people for euen the same day had Henrie beene carried through the Citie as it were in triumph and had heard the shoutes of the Commons in euerie streete crying God saue King Henrie 62 But Earle Warwicke hearing how things went in London and now fully conceiuing that the hazard of Battell must determine either with or against him being come to Saint Albans fell into a deepe consideration what was to be done His assistants were Iohn Duke of Excester the Earles of Oxford and Sommerset and Marquesse Montacute his brother whom notwithstanding he did not greatlie trust being alwaies too fauourable to the contrarie faction These in Counsell held it best pollicie to follow the Enemie and before the bodie grew too great to lop off the branches least they should shaddow their Sun-shine too farre In which resolution they hasted forward and came vnto Barnet with a full purpose to recouer London but Edward well knowing the state of the City vnfurnished for siege and readie to take stampe of any impresse ment not to be pent within those weake wals and therefore taking with him vnfortunate Henry least any confederacy should be made in his absence he marched with all possible hast to encounter his opposites before they came too farre and vpon Gladmore neere vnto Barnet set downe his Tents close to the enemie the eue of Christs resurrection so careles is Mars of diuine celebrations that the holiest feast is prophaned when his sword is drawne 63 The next day being the Paschall whereon Christ rose from death which with due reuerence is celebrated in all the Christian world these English contenders for a terrestriall Crowne with Irefull hearts and hands as readie made ready to digge each others graues for at breake of day Warwicke began to Marshall his Army which he diuided into three battalions The right wing was led by the Marquesse his brother with the Earle of Oxford consisting chiefly of horsemen himselfe with the Duke of Excester led the left and the maine battell was commanded by Edward Earle of Sommerset which was supplied for the most part with Archers K. Edward likewise ordered his men The foreward was led by Richard Duke of Gloucester his brother a good souldier and sufficient for aduise the middle by himselfe and his brother Clarence hauing King Henry in their companie And the rereward was commanded by the Lord Hastings euer most firme for the house of Yorke reseruing a fresh supplie when occasion should serue 64 The Battels ioined were manfully maintained by the prowesse of Oxford vpon that part of the Kings against which he fought which with great violence he forced backe so that many of them fled to London bringing newes that with Warwicke went the day and surely in great forwardnes it was had not fortune thwarted it by an vnexpected chance for the day being foggy and ouercast with mists hindred their eies of any farre sight so as the starre embroidered vpon the Earle of Oxfords mens Coates were mistaken for the Sunne which King Edwards men wore in which errour Warwickes Battell let flâ—…e at their owne fellowes who were in great forwardnes to haue wonne the day and they not knowing the cause of the error cried treason treason we are all betraid Whereupon the Earle of
Oxford with eight hundred fled the field leauing the chance to be cast for the Crowne which when Warwicke perceiued with words like a souldier he incouraged his men and seeing the fresh supply of his enemie draw now vnto fight he furiouslie rushed into the midst of their Battell wherein he aduentured so farre as he could not be reseued but valiantly fighting was strucke downe and among them slaine hauing repaid his danger with many a wound The Marquesse Montacute made forward to second his brother who till then had beene the Mars and Make-King of England but was so ouerlaid by his Opposites that they sent his soule likewise from his bodie whereby was ended that bloody daies taske 65 In this Battell vpon King Edwards part died the Lord Cromwell the Lord Bourcher the Lord Barnes sonne and heire to the Lord Say and Sir Iohn Lisle Knight In the quarrell of Henrie died Richard Neuill Earle of Warwicke and Iohn Neuill Marquesse Montacute his brother and vpon both sides of common souldiers saith Hall ten thousand Stow saith foure thousand as Fabian farre lesse all which were buried vpon the same Plaine where afterwards a Chappell was built the Duke of Excester being left for dead in the field recouered and tooke Sanctuarie at Westminster Edmund Duke of Sommerset and Iohn Earle of Oxford escaped the field and fled into Wales where with Iasper Earle of Pembrooke they still plotted to set vp King Henry whom God and destinie would haue to be cast downe 66 The same King Edward vpon the same day as an absolute Conquerour lead the vnfortunate Henry his Captiue to London and entring the City in triumph wise offered his roiall Standerd in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul whither the slaine bodies of Warwicke and Montacute in two Coffins were brought and lay there bare faced and vnburied the space of three daies least a false Brute should be made that they were not dead After which they were conueied to Bilsam Abbey and interred in that Priorie among their Ancestors 67 Edwards affaires thus farre prospered at London the windes that had crossed Queene Margaret before came fauourably about to fill her Sailes for England indeed to accomplish the decree which heauen had appointed shee with her sonne Prince Edward and their French followers landed vpon Easter Eue at Weymouth and the Countesse of Warwicke at Portesmouth who hearing the sorrowfull newes of her husbands death tooke Sanctuary within the Abbey of Beaulieu And Queene Margaret vnderstanding of the losse of Barnet-field withdrew as◅de to the Abbey of Ceerne vnto whom presently resorted Edmund Duke of Sommerset with Lord Iohn his brother Iohn Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Iasper Earle of Pembrooke Iohn Lord Wenlock and Iohn Longstrother Prior of Saint Iohns 68 These with many words of hope comforted the sorrowfull Queene and proffered her their assistance to erect Prince Edward her sonne though it were done with the losse of their owne liues requiring her only to vndertake the authority of the war and themselues would vndergo the charge and burden thereof by whose valor and power they doubted not to daunt the pride of the vsurping Edward who now held himselfe sure and beganne to grow carelesse To these their resolutions the warlike Queene most gladly consented and gaue all encouragements vnto them shee could when falling in counsell how to proceed her care according to the naturall affection of a mother was most vpon the safety and life of her sonne and theresore aswel for their owne parts if fortune should faile in this their first attempt as for the feare which the Yorkist would possesse who whiles Prince Edward his corriuall hued could not account the Diadem his Bride shee thought it best to send him backe againe into France till God had set the Crowne where it should stand whence hee might supply them with new forces or at least wise ouer-awe Edward for tyrannizing too farre But the Lords contrariwise alleadged that Prince Edward being the morning Sunne of the Lancastrians hopes and the rayes very splendent to most English eyes was to be present in field himselfe whose sight would both heat the courage of his owne Souldiers and attract the glance of his aduersaries hearts either to fight faintly or else and that rather to come to his side Thus their counsel at that time preuailed and thus resolued euery man departed to make ready his power the Queene with her French repairing to Bath 69 But Edward in London had not sate two daies in rest before hee heard of Queene Margarets arriuage and the confluence of people out of Cornwall Deuonshire and of the Westerne parts which hourely flew to giue her assistance wherefore committing to the Tower King Henry and George Archbishoppe of Yorke with a selected company he marched to meet them intending to cut off many springs before they should ioyne to the body of a riuer whose streame without danger could not be passed therefore from Windsor Abington Chichester and Malmesbury hee proceeded seeking and vrging his enemies to battell but the Queene and her forces fearing to abide in Bath remoued to Bristow Berkeley and Glocester and lastly at Tewkesbury Duke Sommerset her Generall pitched down his Tents not staying the comming of the Earle of Pembroke his battell he marshalled into three fights whereof himselfe and his brother Iohn Lord Sommerset lead the foreward the middle Battalion was commanded by Edward the young Prince vnder the conduct of the Lords Saint Iohn and Wenlocke and the Rereward gouerned by Iohn Courtney Earle of Deuonshire a mortall enemy against the house of Yorke 70 King Edward who was come now within sight of his enemies diuided likewise his Army into 3. Battalions cōmitting the Foreward vnto the guidance of his brother Richard D. of Glocester a good Souldier and of a deepe reach and policy the Main hee vndertooke to gouerne himselfe and the Rereward was commanded by the Lord Hastings his Chamberlaine The field thus marshalled and the signe of battell being giuen a most bloudy fight beganne the King had planted his Ordinance at most aduantage which Glocester frankly bestowed among the Dukes men and they lodged betwixt ditches bushes and hedges with their showers of arrowes galled Glocesters followers so as by his command his battell gaue backe as though they would shrinke which Sommerset no sooner perceiued but that he came on and ouercome with courage came out of his strength when by a certaine passage before hand prouided he came vnto the place where King Edward was embattelled thinking verily that Wenlocke had followed at his backe who as it seemed meant nothing lesse 71 The aduantage espied Duke Richard made good his retreat and with fresh supplies of two hundred speares so charged Sommerset as his battell was disordered and put to fearefull flight himselfe recouering the Midle-ward found there the L. Wenlock idle whilest others were thus working
a Parliament begun at Westminster the fifteenth of Ianuary he was attainted of high treason but whether guiltie or guiltles to men saith Grafton that haue made large inquisition yea and of such as were of no small authority in those daies the certaintie thereof was hid and could not truly be disclosed but by coniectures which as often deceiue the imaginations of fantasticall folke as declare truth to them in their conclusions 105 I am not ignorant that some haue alleaged the cause of this Noble mans death to arise from a foolish prophecie whereof saith Comines the English-men are neuer vnfurnished this as the Cabâ—…sts who vsed to make an art of their letters gaue forth forsooth that a G. should raigne after an E. which must needes be George Duke of Clarence though Gloucester more craftie lay in winde for the game This indeed troubled the King not a little but the Queene and her blood much more and therefore of both King and Queene Duke George was mistrusted and greatly maligned in all that he did Who now a widower for Warwicks daughter was dead sent vnto his sister Margaret the Dutchesse of Burgundie to worke a marriage for him with her husbands daughter the Lady Marie Against which the Queene most earnestly interposed her selfe and sollicited the Ladie in the behalfe of Lord Anthonie Earle Riuers her brother whereby great discontent was ministred to the Duke and new iealousies daily bred in the Kings breast 106 Iohn Serres the French Historian interlacing the life of King Lewis with the Acts of K. Edward and his brethren saith confidently that the English King so much affected the league and alliance with France as that he caused his brother Clarence to be put in prison because he intended to haue past the Seas to succour the Dowager of Burgundie Ladie Margaret his sister vpon whose Territories King Lewis encroached after the death of Duke Charles her husband slaine at the battell of Manâ—…y 107 But howsoeuer Clarence had offended certaine it is that he was found guilty by the foresaid Parliament and the eleuenth of March following after he had offered his Masse-penny in the Tower of London was drowned in a But of Malmesey whose body was buried at Tewkesburie in Glocestershire by the bodie of his Dutchesse Ladie Isabell Countesse of Warwicke who being with Child died of poison a little before And although the King had consented to his death yet no sooner was it done but that he wished it againe vndone and was so greeued at the remembrance as when anie made suite for the life of a condemned he would openly say Oh â—…fortunate brother for whose life no 〈◊〉 would make â—…ite This good Duke for so was he called left issue behind him Edward Earle of Warwicke and Margaret afterwards Countesse of Salisbury both of them infants and followers of their fathers fortunes he a continuall Prisoner at foure and twentie yeeres of age vnder Henry the seauenth was beheaded vpon the Tower-hill and shee at sixtie two lost hers within the Tower and time of King Henrie the eight 108 But how dainty soeuer King Edward was of the breach of amitie betwixt him and the French King in regard whereof he suffered Mary the yong Dutchesse of Burgundy the daughter of his owne sisters husband to bee molested by 〈◊〉 of the French and all in fauour of the contract commenced betweene the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lady 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 daughter yet did 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ouâ—… 〈◊〉 For Ambassadors â—…ploied 〈◊〉 accomplishing â—…of they of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…he new were sent without 〈◊〉 while indeed Lewis 〈◊〉 working for his sonne another way First to match him with Mary Dutches of Burgundy but that refused with Margaret of Flaunders daughter to Duke Maximilian sonne to Fredericke the Emperor and to hold the world from suspition in the meane while Ladie Elizabeth the Infanta of England was in the French Court vsually called Madame the Daulphin and all things in France so soundly carried as Edward suspected no leake in the Caske for now growne fat and vnable for paines he both gloried in his nine famous victories at home atchieued and seemed sufficientlie satisfied that his yeerely tribute from France was so truly paied 109 At the same time Iames the third of that name King of Scotland sent his Ambassadors vnto Edward to obtaine the Lady Cicelie the Kings second daughter to be ioined in marriage with his sonne Iames the young Prince which was well listened vnto by Edward and his Counsell and least the motion should goe backe a great summe of money lent to the Scottish King with this condition that at a certain time appointed it should be at K. Edwards choise whether his daughter should match with that Prince or else to haue the said summe againe repaid Against which alliance and league as Lesly reporteth Lewis of France much repined and to annihilate the same sent Dr. Ireland a certaine knight and another religious man to moue King Iames to make warre against England 110 These no Peace-makers for Christ but firebrands of Belial blew the smothered sparkes of dissention into a flame of bloody warre which fell the more heauy vpon Scotland for that K. Iames much wedded vnto his owne will and altogether ruled by men of meane worth whom himselfe had aduanced from nothing had not only neglected by their instigations the loue of his Nobles but also banished the Realme of Scotland Alexander Duke of Albany his second brother and had caused the veines of Iohn Earle of Marre his other brother to be opened whereby he bled to death these and other discontents alienated his Subiects hearts from him which laid the land more open vnto the English Inuaders and yet to draw them more deadly against him relying vpon his ownevalor and the assistance of France he sent word vnto Edward that he should not aid his owne sister of Burgundy against K. Lewis being the Scots Allie as also with threats of warre commanded him to deliuer to his Ambassadors the Duke of Albanie then residing in the English Court and lastlie to make good and repay dammages done vpon the Scottish Borders 111 King Edward not a little inraged at these double dealings euen in the winter season mustered his men prepâ—…ed his artillery and rigged his ships that nothing should be vnready at the next Spring which no sooner was come but that he ordained for his Lieutenant his brother Richard Duke of Gloucester who with Henrie Earle of Northumberland Thomas Lord Stanley the Lord Louell Gâ—…stock and others the Duke of Albany marching vnto Gloucesters banner with twenty thousand strong repaired into the North and first â—…sieged the strong Towne Berwick then enâ—…ing the chiefe City Edenborough vrged K. Iames to performe his couenants concerning the marriage betwixt Prince Iames his sonne with Lady Cicely before agreed vpon
yeeres were yet added to her life but whether in conceit for sorrow or of poison I cannot say she died shortlie after and was solemnely buried in the Abbey of Westminster 43 The King thus deliuered from the bands of Matrimony and now a widower at liberty to choose where he would cast glances of loue towards the Lady Elizabeth his owne brothers daughter and began to court her for his second Queene but the thing was so offensiue to the law of nature and so directly against the Law of God as all men abhorred the motion and most of all the maiden her selfe which Richard perceiuing hee forbare ouer earnest pursuite to gaine his time and all fit occasions but most especially hauing no leasure to woo his subiects on al sides daily reuolting and his Nobles more and more had in suspect among whom one was Lord Thomas Stanley Earle of Darby who had married Lady Margaret Countesse of Richâ—…nd Earle Henries owne mother him therefore hee most mistrusted and before he would admit his departure from Court he commanded him to leaue his sonne and heire George Stanley the Lord Strange for his hostage which he did though it little auailed to binde Darbies affection vnto his side 44 In this while King Richard hearing that Oxford had escaped out of the Castle of Hammes and that he with the Captaine thereof Iames Blunt were fled into France and ioined with Richmund thought it high time to quench the sparkes in those parts before they should rise to a higher flame and therefore hee appointed which was presently accomplished the Garrison at Callis to strait the said Castle with a hard siege being well assured that many welwillers to the Earles proceedings lay there harboured who vpon the least aduantage would be ready to play But Henry not vnmindfull of his distressed friends nor Oxford forgetting his kinde Hostesse Captaine Blunts wife made vnto the Peece and on the sudden put Thomas Brandon with thirty approued Souldiers into the Castle who from the walles plaied vpon the beseigers whiles Oxford annoied them vpon their backes so that presently they offered and came to a composition which was that they within should safely depart but the Castle to remaine in Subiection to the King 45 Hammes thus restored in danger to be lost and nothing had thence besides a woman and a few suspected persons King Richard thought himselfe now sure of all and fearing no inuasion at home imagined that much harme could not bee done abroad for Henry in France as he thought found very few friends and was fully perswaded that the French Kings assistance stood more of words then in deedes And indeed some occasion of such suspition was ministred for King Charles but young and the Princes at variance Earle Henry was enforced to make suite vnto them man by man Besides Thomas Marquesse Dorset sent for by his mother the Queene suddenly in the night made an escape from Paris with purpose for England which stroke great feare among Earle Henries part chiefely for that all their Counsels were knowne vnto the Marquesse which if he should reueale their designes were made desperate To preuent which hee was posted after and brought backe againe though much against his will These things considered King Richard to lessen his great charges discharged his Nauy at seas commanding the Welsh to watch the shoare Beacons to be built and armour to bee ready at euery call then giuing his affections leaue to entertaine more security saw not the sword that hung ouer his head 46 But Earle Henrie deliuered from the feare of the Marquesse thought it not best to prolong time lest others vpon like purposes should bewray his intents and thereupon obtaining a small aide of the French with a certaine summe of money for which the Lord Marquesse whom he much mistrusted and Sir Iohn Bourchier were left in pledge hee set forward to Roâ—…n and prepared his shipping in the mouth of Seyn whither tidings was brought him of Queene Annes death that King Richard purposed to marry Lady Elizabeth a feare indeed farre exceeding the former shee being the Princesse by whom hee must claime whereupon much distemperature arose euery mans braine working vpon the newes But after much consultation it was held the best to make ouer into England to interpose the proceedings ere the match was fully made whereupon Earle Richmund with two thousand men onely and a small number of ships set sayle from Harflent the fifteenth of August and the seuenth day following arriued at Milford hauen in Wales where taking land hee came vnto Dale and thence the next day marched to Hereford west ten miles into the Maine from thence he marched to Cardigan where he had newes that the Countrey was forelaid against him but finding that vntrue he made still forward beating downe such Houlds as held against him then sending secretly to Lady Margaret his mother to the Lord Stanley Talbot and others signified vnto them he meant to passe Seuerne at Shrewesbury and thence to march directly towards London In his way to Shrewesbury there mette him Sir Rice ap Thomas a man of great command in Wales with a number of men to side in his quarrell which Henry afterwards requited in making this his first aider the Gouernour of Wales 47 The Earle more boldly from Shrewsburie held on his march to the Towne of Newport whither Sir Gilbert Talbot with two thousand strong from the young Earle of Shrewsbury gaue him his aide Then passed he forward to Stafford and had conference there with Sir William Stanley and proceeding forward was honourably receiued into the City Lichfield where Thomas Earle of Darby with fiue thousand armed men had beene some few daies before but hearing of Earle Henries approach remoued to Anderson to auoide suspition of the jealous King that kept his sonne Hostage for his further truth 48 King Richard at this time helde his Court at Notingham where being informed that Earle Henrie with a small company was landed in Wales made small account of what he could doe altogether relying vpon the Lord Walter Herbert and Sir Rice ap Thomas two principall men in whom hee conceiued no little trust yet lest this new risen spring might gather in more heads he sent to Iohn Duke of Norfolk Henry Earle of Northumberland and Thomas Earle of Surrey willing them with a selected power to represse the insolency of this head-strong Earle moreouer he sent for Sir Robert Brakenburie Lieutenant of the Tower Sir Thomas Bourchier and Sir Walter Hungerford Knights all of them in great iealousie and mistrust commanding them with their forces to come and attend vpon his person which accordingly they set forward to doe meane while sending his Spials to know the way Henrie went had intelligence that hee was past Shrewsbury without any impeachment whereat storming in choller and cursing their vntruthes whom hee had
driuen by tempest in the moneth of Ianuary into England as hee meant to haue passed through the sleeue or English Ocean into Spaine there to take possession of that Kingdome and other the appertinances 69 The chiefe Ship of the Nauie Roiall wherein the King was and two other all the rest being scattered by the fury of the weather into seueral places and other Ports of England thrust into ◅arbour at Falmouth Himselfe weary and sicke with the violent tossings of the Sea whereunto hee had neuer as it seemes beene vse◅ would needes come on shore and refresh his spirits though the principall men about him disswaded that course as foreseeing it would procure a longer stay then the nature of their occasions would perhaps well beare And so indeed it fel out for being now in another Princes though his friends dominions where he had no power ouer himself nor others the rumor of arriuall stirring the men in authority thereabout Sir Thomas Trenchard Knight with the suddē forces of the Coūtrey not knowing what the matter might bee came thither and vnderstanding the royall quality of the person inuited him with all humble humanity to his house and foorthwith dispatched postes to Court not long after Sir Iohn Car◅ Knight with a great troupe of armed men repaired also pursuing the like humble entreaties which the King fearing constraint because they were but subiects and durst not let him passe without their Lord and Masters leaue necessarilie yeelded vnto Vpon notice of this mightie Princes casuall arriual King Henry presently commanded the Earle of Arundel to entertaine him till himselfe could come who very magnificently did so with three hundred Horses by Torch-light and in the meane while King Henry himselfe prepares Philip perceiuing that whatsoeuer speed his affaires required yet now there was no remedy but to stay thought not good to expect his approach but to preuent it and came vpon the spurre to Windsore that he might be gone againe the sooner after whom Queene Ioan his wife came leasureably The rest of this entertainement because it hath matter of weight and is well set downe by Polidor Vergil it shall suffice vs to follow his footsteps At Windsore the two Kings after long and seuerall discourses beganne to conferre about renewing their league Henry required that Edmund Earle of Suffolke might be deliuered vp into his power which Philip denied to be a thing that he could doe as holding it most vnreasonable to be the author of his death whom he had taken into Protection but when at the last he found that no excuse nor reason could satisfie for that Henrie voluntarily offered to saue the Earles life he promised to doe therein what he desired and presently tooke order for his sending ouer According whereunto King Henry to draw out the time till he had the wished prey conueied King Philip to London to shew him the head City of his kingdome out of which after a little stay hee reconducted him The Earle in the meane time who conceiued horror at the first newes of King Philips landing in England as fatall to him and resolued that no hope was longer to be reposed in the faith of forraine Princes came ouer not vnwillingly presuming that after pardon of life hee might also in time regaine his liberty or if that hope failed yet should he at lestwise obtaine to die and bee buried in his Countrey But King Philip and his Queene hauing feasted with her sister the Princesse of Walles departed England The Earle was brought through Flanders to Calleis vpon the sixeteenth of March and landed at Douer vpon the foure and twentieth of the same conueighed thither by Sir Henrie Wiat and Sir Iohn Wiltshire with threescore men in armour of the Garrison of Calleis and at Douer Sir Iohn Louel and others receiuing him guarded him safe to the Tower of London King Philipp not long after his landing in Spaine deceased being not thirtie yeeres old That tempest which draue him into England was holden by the people as prodigious for it blew down the golden Eagle from the famous Spire of Pauls Steeple being of Copper richly ouerguilt of fourty pounds weight in length foure foote and in breadth three which also in the fall thereof brake and battered the signe of the Blacke Eagle in Pauls Church-yard in the place where now the Schoole-house stands This accident euen then made some coniecture that the Emperour Maximilian whose Imperiall Ensigne the Eagle is should suffer some losse accordingly saith Polydore as indeed he did by the death of King Philippe his sonne Which if any supersticiously delight in Calculations of that blind nature we may well parallell with that lightning which stroke the letter C. out of Caesar in the inscription of Caesar Augustus his statue wherupon it was gathered that Augustus should liue but one hundreth daies after and then bee called a God Aesar the remaining syllables so signifying in the old Hetruscan tongue which accordingly hapned 70 Thus was the Earle of Suffolke brought backe and the King anchored his quiet at the safe custody of his person within the Tower The other wordly point wherein he chiefely bestowed his ages care was to gather money though by courses seeming very grieuous and full of bitternesse the too griping greedinesse and too-profuse lauishnesse of money in Princes being both alike offensiue to a well setled estate Some excuse his doings herein amongst whom Polydor is chiefe as not proceeding from any deprauation or vncorrected affection of his nature but from an opinion and forecast of generall profite because a Princes humor of gathering tendeth though with distast of particular men to the good publike whereas his profusenes though with some particular mens profite endeth in the empouerishment of the whole And Henry himselfe protested saith Polydor hee did it not for loue of money but with a purpose to bridle the fierce minds of a nation bred vp among factions though they saith the same author who felt the smart and were wounded by his Instruments cried out they were not so much the darts of seuerity which did hit them as of anarice Yet Polydors Apologie may be current for it is not to bee doubted but that such vse the King might propound himselfe and yet withall we can hardly find any commendable root thereof the wayes being so importune and harsh by which hee raised money Let vs heare in this point the obseruatiue Knight Of nature saith hee Henry coueted to accumulate treasure which the people into whome there is infused for the preseruation of Monarchies a naturall desire to discharge their Princes though it bee with the vniust charge of their Counsellors and Ministers did impute vnto Cardinall Morton and Sir Rcinald Bray who as it afterward appeared as Counsellors of ancient authority with him did so sound his humor as neuerthelesse they tempered it Where it is truly said it afterward appeared for till
betweene the hammer and the anuile the Scots vpon the one side and these false English on the other all was lamentable and brought in a maner to nothing and this face of things continued there about foure yeeres 32 Neither did the King seeme to haue any will or power to relieue the common calamities but rather to conuert his whole both wits and forces vpon reuenges against the Lords who vnder pretence of their extorted prouisions manifestly withdrew their loues seruice and duties from him wherfore feeling himselfe thus weake and disfurnished he besought the spirituall assistance of Pope Iohn the two and twentieth who thereupon sent certaine Cardinals to set all things in quiet without bloudshed Betweene the King and Earle of Lancaster they established a peace who in a certaine plaine neere Leicester met embraced and kissed each other but when they could not worke the like with the Scots they put that Country vnder Interdict 33 For they as it is the manner of prosperity after the victory at Banocksbourne which clearely got them Scotland did beginne to bethinke themselues of gaining new Empire in Ireland Thither Edward Bruce Brother of King Robert had passed with an Army procuring himselfe to be crowned King thereof by fauour of some of the Irish Nobility whom neuerthelesse about three yeeres from his first entrance the English vnder the conduct of the Archbishoppe of Armagh and of Iohn Lord Brinningham Iusticiar of Ireland valiantly encountred where together with his late vsurped Kingdome hee lost his life There were slaine in that battell many honourable Scots besides the new King Edward and aboue fiue thousand others his head was cut off at Dundalke saith VValsingham but Hector Boetius writes that he was slaine in the battell it selfe Thus did God temper one with another and the iust reioycement which the Scots had conceiued of their so happie victory ouer the English at Banocksbourne was sowred with this losse 34 But King Robert as a most expert and vigilant Prince did not suffer this ioy to continue long to the English for by practise with one Peter Spalding to whom King Edward had entrusted the keeping of Berwicke hee recouered it from the English saith Harding By treatie with Peace Spalding and treason after it had remained twenty yeers in their possession which when King Edward thought to haue wonne againe the Scots diuerted him from the siege with incursions and slaughters of his people in other parts of England not failing much of surprising the Queene in a village not farre from Yorke where she soiourned during the siege at Berwicke the plot being laid and drawne between the Scots and some perfidious English whom King Robert had mouied for that purpose But Spalding after the treason done had the reward of a Traitour for King Robert put him to death 35 To giue some breathings after these so manifold troubles a truce was agreed vpon and confirmed betweene the two Kings of England and of Scotland for the space of two yeeres which brought forth confusion and not refreshment For thus it hapned The King vpon the commendation of the Lords themselues had made Hugh de Spenser Lord Chamberlaine who being at the least of equall insolence vices and ambition to Gaueston so wrought that hee succeeded in short time to all the graces of familiarity and power which euer Gaueston enioyed as in like sort to all his hatred and enuie Hugh his father an ancient Knight the better to strengthen his sonnes courses was likewise imploied and grew in speciall fauour with the King who afterward also created him Earle of Winchester but the father in manners vnlike to the sonne was ruined rather by a naturall tendernesse then any malicious will The sonne as hee was of shape most louely so the verie spirit it selfe of pride and rapine carried him to all sorts of intollerable behauiours and oppressions that Gaueston might with good reason seeme to be wished for againe Against these two who wholy swayed the vnfortunate King Thomas Earle of Lancaster and in a manner all the Barons of the Kingdome who meant the King should loue none but with their leaue did swell with such impatience that not contented with the wast of their lands they neuer rested till by the terror of ciuill Armes those two fauourites father and sonne were banished they thus reuenging vnder publike pretexts both publike iniuries and their owne 36 In all contentions which hapned betweene the King and his Lords Queene Isabel had euer hitherto beene a maker of Peace doing therein worthy offices but the euill starres of the Earles of Lancaster and Hereford would not suffer her to continue any longer so for the Queene being denied lodging one night at the Castle of Leedes in Kent which belonged to the Lord of Badlesmere one of the Earles faction she withdrew her good conceite and was an author to the King of presently reuenging that dishonour who vpon her complaint came in person with many thousand Souldiers before the Castle tooke the Captaine and put both him and all the men therein to shamefull death Moreouer longing to bee righted against the Lords for their late insolencies marched on to Circester taking many Castles and besieging others The Lords who little suspected any such sodaine assaults prouiding in the meane time for their defence 37 Thither repaired to him at his commandement Hugh Spenser the sonne who had houered vpon the Sea expecting from thence the successe of things vpon the land The Lords who had falne from their Soueraignes good conceit and wanting now their wonted Mediatriâ—… the Queene lay open to all the mischiefe which enemies could work them by the King who as taking his regall power and authority to be in danger resolued wisely and manfully to die in the quarrell or to bring the Lords to be at his commandement Meane time the iudgement giuen against the Spensers was reuersed as erroneous and their reuocation decreed at London by the Arch-bishoppe of Canterburie and his Suffragans 38 The Lords not all of a like temper began to misdoubt and many of them forsooke their Chiefe the Earle of Lancaster and rendred themselues to the King or were apprehended among which were the two Rogers Mortimers who were committed to the Tower of London and others to Wallingford Castle The faction weakened by this defection made head in the North vnder the Earle of Lancaster who now was to sight for his life Thither the King marcheth and with the onely shew of his Armie made the Earle to flie from Burton vpon Trent whose forces in their retreat or flight behaued themselues outragiously 39 But Gods heauie displeasure and the Arme of the Kings power left them not so for at Burrowbrigge Humfrey de Bohun was slaine by a Welshman who thrust him into the body with a Speare from vnder the Bridge and the Earle of Lancaster himselfe with other principall men