chapline Barnard of Newmerch Roger Lacie and Rafe Mortimer line 60 all Normans or Frenchmen who ioyning their powers togither inuaded the countrie and with fire and sword did much hurt where they came killing and taking a great number of people Afterwards comming to Worcester they assaulted the citie ouerran the suburbs set the same on fire But the citizens shutting fast the gates of their citie though with the sudden comming of the enimies they were somewhat afraid made valiant resistance and conueieng their goods their wiues and their children into the castell got them to the walles and places of defense to repell beat backe the enimies Among them in the towne was bishop Woolstan whom the citizens would haue compelled to go into the castell for his suâer safegard but he refused it At length it chanced that the enimies continuing the said siege bâgan to wax negligent and ranged abroad in the countrie little regarding watch and ward about their campe wherevpon the English within the citie tooke this oportunitie being mooued thereto with the comfortable exhortation of bishop Woolstan and sailing foorth of the towne did set on their enimies with great fiercenes whome they got at such aduantage that they slue and tooke that daie aboue fiue M. men as Henrie of Huntingdon recordeth For the English bearing a continuall malice in their hearts against the French and Normans did now their best to be fullie reuenged of them vpon so conuenient an occasion offered Those that escaped by flight hid themselues in the next townes making such shifts for their liues as the present necessitie could minister Whilest the realme was thus troubled on ech side archbishop Lanfranke sendeth writeth and admonisheth all the kings fréends to make themselues readie to defend their prince And after he vnderstood that they were assembled togither for that purpose he counselleth the king to march into the field with them spéedilie to represse his enimies The king following his counsell first appointed his nauie to scowre and keepe the seas and to withstand if it were possible the arriuall of his brother by faire words Also he reconcileth Roger de Mountgomerie earle of Shrewsburie vnto him and therewith maketh large promises to the English that he would out of hand giue and restore vnto them such fauourable lawes as they would wish or desire Moreouer he commanded all vniust imposts tolles and tallages to be laid downe and granted frée hunting in the woods chases and forrests All which grants and promises he kept not long though for the time he greatlie contented the people with such a shew of good meaning towards them This doone he goeth with a mightie armie into Kent where the sedition began and first comming to the castell of Tunbridge he compelled capteine Gilbert to yeeld vp the fortresse into his hands Then went he to Horne castell where he heard saie Odo was but the report was vntrue for he had betaken himselfe to the castell of Pemsey which when he had ouerthrowne he hasted foorth vnto Pemsey and besieged the castell there a long season which the bishop had stronglie fortified During this time and about the fiftieth daie after the beginning of the siege word was brought to the king that his brother duke Robert was landed at Southampton and minded with all possible spéed to come to the succour of the bishop and of other his fréends whom he and his power had not a little afflicted ¶ Here authors varie for some report that duke Robert came not ouer himselfe at the first at all but sent a part of his armie with a certeine number of ships which encountring with the kings fleet were discomfited Others write that duke Robert hearing of the losse of his men came after himselfe and landed with a mightie armie as before which is most likelie And certeinlie as Gemeticen affirmeth he might easilie as then haue recouered England from his brother if he had not lingred the time considering that Eustace earle of Bullongne Odo bishop of Baiâux and the earle of Mortaigne with other lords of Normandie that were passed to England had alreadie taken Rochester and diuers other castels in the prouince of Canturburie keeping the same a certeine time still looking that he should haue come ouer to their aid which he deferred to doo till they were constreined by siege and lacke of necessarie succor to returne into Normandie leauing those places which they had won vnto the king and that to their great dishonor But howsoeuer it was the king still continued the siege before Pemsey castell till Odo through want of victuals was glad to submit himselfe and promised to cause the castell of Rochester to be deliuered but at his comming thither they within the citie suffered him to enter and streightwaies laid him fast in prison Some iudge that it was doone vnder a colour by his owne consent There were in Rochester a sort of valiant gentlemen the flower in maner of all Normandie with line 10 Eustace earle of Bolongne and manie gentlemen of Flanders which were in mind to defend the place against the king who hearing what was doone came with his armie and besieged the citie of Rochester on ech side so sharpelie that they within were glad to deliuer it vp into his hands Thus lost bishop Odo all his liuings and dignities in England and so returned into Normandie year 1089 where vnder duke Robert he had the châefe gouernement of the countrie committed vnto him line 20 After this he ouercame diuers of his enimies some by faire and some by fowle meanes Notwithstanding this there yet remained the bishop of Durham one of the chéefe conspirators who withdrew himselfe into the citie of Durham there to lie in safetie till he saw how the world would go but being therein besieged by the king who came thither personallie he was at length forced to surrender the citie and yeeld himselfe wherevpon also he was exiled the land with diuerse of his complices But within line 30 two yeares after he was called home againe and restored to his church wherein he liued not long but died for sorrow bicause he could not cleere himselfe of offense in the said rebellion albeit that he laboured most earnestlie so to doo that he might thereby haue atteined to the kings fauor againe Whilest these things were thus in hand the archbishop Lanfranke falleth sicke and dieth in the 19. yeare after his first entring into the gouernment of the sea of Canturburie This Lanfranke as should line 40 seeme was a wise politike and learned prelate who whilest he liued mollified the furious and cruell nature of king William Rufus instructing him to forbeare such wild and outragious behauiours as his youthfulnesse was inclined vnto and moreouer persuaded the English to obey the same king as their loiall prince whereby they should occasion him to be their good lord and king not vsing them rigorouslie as his
Roderike king of Ulnestre being sore offended raised a mightie line 30 host and comming into the field fought with the lord cheefe iustice and in the end receiued tooke the ouerthrow at his hands although the lord cheefe iustice at that encounter lost no small number of his men Amongst prisoners that were taken the bishop of Dun was one whom yet the lord cheefe iustice released and set at libertie in respect of a request and suit made to him by a cardinall the popes legat that was there in Ireland at that time line 40 This cardinals name was Uiuiano intituled the cardinall of S. Stephan in Mount Celio he was sent from the pope the yeare before and comming into England though without licence was pardoned vpon knowledging his fault for his entring without the kings leaue first obteined and so permitted to go into Scotland whither as also into other the northwest regions he was sent as legat authorised from the pope Now when he had ended his businesse in Scotland he passed ouer into Man and there held line 50 his Christmasse with Euthred king of Man and after the feast of the Epiphanie sailed from thence into Ireland and chanced the same time that the Englishmen inuaded that countrie to be in the citie of Dun where he was receiued of the king bishops of that land with great reuerence The inuasion then of the Englishmen being signified to them of the countrie aforehand they asked counsell of the legat what he thought best to be doone in that matter who streightwaies told them that line 60 they ought to fight in defense of their countrie and at their setting forward he gaue them his benediction in waie of their good speed But they comming as ye haue heard to encounter with the Englishmen were put to flight and beaten backe into the citie which was herewith also woone by the Englishmen so that the Romane legat was glad to get him into the church for his more safegard and like a wise fellow had prouided afore hand for such haps if they chanced hauing there with him the king of Englands letters directed to the capteins in Ireland in the legats fauour so that by the assistance and authoritie of the same he went to Dublin and there in the name of the pope and the king of England held a councell But when he began to practise after the manner of legats in those daies somewhat largelie for his owne aduantage in the churches of that simple rude countrie the English capteins commanded him either to depart or else to go foorth to the wars with them whervpon he returned into Scotland hauing his bags well stuffed with Irish gold for the which it seemed he greatlie thirsted ¶ Where we haue to note the drift of the pope and all popelings to be far otherwise than they pretend For who vnlesse he will be wilfullie ignorant knoweth not that he and his neuer attempt any thing but the same beareth the hew and colour of holinesse and honestie Hereto tend the sendings out of his legats and cardinals to make pacifications to redresse disorders to appease tumults I wot not what infinit enormities for he must haue his ore in euerie mans bote his spoone in euerie mans dish and his fingers in euerie mans pursse but the end and scope of all his dooings consisteth in this namelie to set himselfe aboue all souereigntie to purchase and assure to himselfe an absolute and supereminent iurisdiction to rob christian kingdomes to impouerish churches chapels and religious places Our chronicles are full of these his pranks and here we haue one practised by a lim of his who as you sée verie impudentlie and licentiouslie preied vpon the church-goods and conuerted the same to his owne profit and commoditie which he had if not trembled yet blushed to doo considering that the goods of the church are the treasurie of Christ or at leastwise ought to be and that none ought to alienate or change the propertie of such goods as the canon law hath prouided Besides the wretch ought to haue remembred that which euen the verie pagans did not forget namelie Haud vllas portabis opes Acherontis ad vndâs Nudus ad infernas stulte vehere rates But now to the dooings of Iohn de Curcie and of those Englishmen that were with him who did not onelie defend such places as they had woone out of the Irishmens hands against those kings and their powers but also inlarged dailie more and more their frontiers and wan the towne of Armach wherein is the metropolitane see of all that land with the whole prouince thereto belonging About the same time came ambassadours vnto king Henrie from Alfonse king of Castile and Garsias king of Nauarre to aduertise him that in a controuersie risen betwiât the said two kings touching the possession of certeine grounds néere vnto the confines of their realms they had chosen him for iudge by compromise promising vpon their oths to stand vnto abide his order and decrée therein Therfore they required him to end the matter by his authoritie sith they had wholie put it to his iudgement Furthermore either king had sent a most able and valiant knight furnished with horsse and armour readie in their princes cause to fight the combat if king Henrie should happilie commit the triall of their quarrell vnto the iudgement of battell King Henrie gladlie accepted their request so that thervpon calling his councellors togither he consulted with them of the thing and hearing euerie mans opinion at length he gaue iudgement so with the one that the other was contented to be agreeable therevnto Within a while after Philip earle of Flanders came ouer into England to doo his deuotions at the toome of Thomas archbishop of Canturburie of whome the most part of men then had conceiued an opinion of such holinesse that they reputed him for a saint The king met him there and verie fréendlie enterteined him and bicause he was appointed shortlie after to go ouer into the holie land to war against Gods enimies the king gaue him fiue hundred marks in reward and licenced William Mandeuile earle of Essex to go in that iourneie with other lords knights and men of warre of sundrie nations that were of his dominions The king then returning vnto London tooke order for the establishing of things touching the suertie of the realme and his owne estate And first he appointed the custodie of such castels as were of most importance by their situation vnto the keeping of certeine worthie capteins To sir William de Stuteuille line 10 he assigned the custodie of Rockesburgh castell to sir Roger de Stuteuille the castell of Edenburgh to sir William Neuille the castell of Norham to sir Geffrie Neuille the castell of Berwike and to the archbishop of Yorke he deliuered the castell of Scarborough and sir Roger Coniers he made capteine of the tower of Durham which he
bonds line 30 and obligations laie by the which they had diuerse of the kings subiects bound vnto them in most vnconscionable sort and for such detestable vsurie as if the authors that write thereof were not of credit would hardlie be beleeued All which euidences or bonds they solemnelie burned in the middest of the church After which ech went his waie the souldiers to the king and the commons to their houses and so was the citie quieted This happened at Yorke on Palmesundaie eeue being the 17. of March and vpon line 40 the 15. of that moneth those that inhabited in the towne of S. Edmundsburie in Suffolke were set vpon and manie of them slaine The residue that escaped through the procurement of the abbat then named Samson were expelled so that they neuer had anie dwellings there since that time Thus were the Iewes vnmercifullie dealt with in all places in maner through this realme the first beginning whereof chanced at London as before ye haue heard and the next at Lin of which I thinke it line 50 good to note some part of the maner therof although breeflie and so to returne to my purpose The occasion therefore of the tumult at Lin chanced by this meanes it fortuned that one of the Iewes there was become a christian wherewith those of his nation were so mooued that they determined to kill him where soeuer they might find him And herevpon they set vpon him one daie as he came by through the stréets he to escape their hands fled to the next church but his countriemen were so desirous to execute line 60 their malicious purpose that they followed him still and inforced themselues to breake into the church vpon him Herewith the noise being raised by the christians that sought to saue the conuerted Iew a number of mariners being forreners that were arriued there with their vessels out of sundrie parts and diuerse also of the townesmen came to the rescue and setting vpon the Iewes caused them to flée into their houses The townesmen were not verie earnest in pursuing of them bicause of the kings proclamation and ordinance before time made in fauour of the Iewes but the mariners followed them to their houses ãâã diuerse of them robbed and sacked their goods and finallie set their dwellings on fire and so burnt them vp altogither These mariners being inriched with the spoile of the Iewes goods and fearing to be called to accompt for their vnlawfull act by the kings officers got them foorthwith to shipboord and hoising vp sailes departed with their ships to the sea and so escaped the danger of that which might haue béene otherwise laid to their charge The townesmen being called to an accompt excused themselues by the mariners burdening them with all the fault But although they of Lin were thus excused yet they of Yorke escaped not so easilie For the king being aduertised of such outrage doone contrarie to the order of his lawes and expresse commandement wrote ouer to the bishop of Elie his chancellour charging him to take cruell punishment of the offendors The bishop with an armie went to Yorke but the cheefe authors of the riot hearing of his comming fled into Scotland yet the bishop at his comming to the citie caused earnest inquirie to be made of the whole matter The citizens excused themselues offered to proue that they were not of counsel with them that had committed the riot neither had they aided nor comforted them therein in anie maner of wise And in déed the most part of them that were the offendors were of the countries and townes néere to the citie with such as were crossed into the holie land and now gone ouer to the king so that verie few or none of the substantiall men of the citie were found to haue ioined with them Howbeit this would not excuse the citizens but that they were put to their fine by the stout bishop euerie of them paieng his portion according to his power and abilitie in substance the common sort of the poore people being pardoned and not called into iudgement sith the ringleaders were fled and gone out of the waie and thus much by waie of digression touching the Iews Now to returne vnto the king who in this meane time was verie busie to prouide all things necessarie to set forward on his iournie his ships which laie in the mouth of the riuer of Saine being readie to put off he tooke order in manie points concerning the state of the common-wealth on that side and chéefelie he called to mind that it should be a thing necessarie for him to name who should succeed him in the kingdome of England if his chance should not be to returne againe from so long and dangerous a iournie He therefore named as some suppose his nephue Arthur the sonne of his brother Geffrey duke of Britaine to be his successour in the kingdome a yââng man of a likelie proofe and princelie towardneââe but not ordeined by God to succéed ouer this kingdome About the same time the bishop of Elie lord chancellour and cheefe iustice of England tooke vp to the kings vse of euerie citie in England two palfries and two sumpter horsses of euerie abbeie one palfrie and one sumpter horsse euerie manour within the realme âound also one palfrie and one sumpter horsse Moreouer the said bishop of Elie deliuered the gouernment of Yorkeshire to his brother Oâbert de Longchampe and âll those knights of the said shire the which would not come to make answer to the law vppon summons giuen them he commanded to be apprehended and by and by cast in prison Also when the bishop of Durham was returned from the king and coâe ouer intâ England to go vâto his charge at his meeting with the lord chancellour at Elie notwithstanding that he shewed him his letters patents of the grant made to him to be iustice from Trent northward the said lord châncellour taking his iournie to Southwell with him there deteined him as prisoner till he had made surrender to him of the castell of Windsor further had deliuered to him his sonnes Henrie de Putsey and Gilbert de la Ley as pledges that he should keepe the peace against the king and all his subiects vntill the said prince should returne from the holie land And so he was deliuered for that time though shortlie after and whilest he remained at Houeden there came to him Osbert de Longchampe the lord chancellors brother and William de Stuteuille the which caused the said bishop to find sufficient suertie that he should not thence depart without the kings licence or the line 10 lord chancellors so long as the king should be absent oâ Herevpon the bishop of Durham sent knowledge to the king how and in what sort he had béene handled by the chancellor In the meanetime the king was gone into Gascoigne where he besieged a castell that belonged to one William de Chisi
haue heard how the Frenchmen refused the peace which was accorded betwixt K. Edward their king as then prisoner here in England WherupoÌ K. Edward determined to make such warre against the realme of France that the Frenchmen with all their harts should be glad to condescend and agrée to reason and line 60 first he commanded all manner of Frenchmen other than such as were prisoners to auoid out of England He also appointed the French king to be remoued from the castell of Hertford where he then remained vnto the castell of Somerton in Lincolneshire vnder the gard and conduct of the lord William Deincourt being allowed fourtie shillings the day for the wages of two and twentie men at armes twentie archers two watchmen as thus for himselfe and sir Iohn Kirketon baronets either of them foure shillings the daie for thrée knights sir William Colleuill in place of the lord Robert Colleuill that could not trauell himselfe by reason of sicknesse sir Iohn Deincourt and sir Saer de Rochfort ech of them two shillings the daie seuentéene esquiers ech of them twelue pence the day eight archers on horsse backe euerie of them six pence the day and twelue archers on foot three pence and the two watchmen either of them six pence the day which amounteth in the whole vnto nine and thirtie shillings the day and the od twelue pence was allowed to the said lord Deincourt to make vp the summe of 40 shillings ¶ This haue I noted the rather to giue a light to the reader to consider how chargeable the reteining of men of war in these daies is in respect of the former times But now to our purpose The king meaning to passe ouer himselfe in person into France caused a mightie armie to be mustered and put in a readinesse and sent before him the duke of Lancaster ouer to Calis with foure hundred speares and two thousand archers where the said duke ioined with such strangers as were alreadie come to Calis in great numbers and togither with them entered into the French dominions and passing by saint Omers Bethune came to Mount saint Eloie a goodlie abbeie and a rich two leagues distant from Arras and there the host tarried foure daies and when they had robbed and wasted all the countrie thereabout they rode to Braie and there made a great assault at the which a baronet of England was slaine with diuerse other When the Englishmen saw they could win nothing there they departed and following the water of Some came to a towne called Chersie where they passed the riuer and there tarried Alhallowen daie the night following On the same daie the duke of Lancaster was aduertised that the king was arriued at Calis the seuentéenth daie of October commanding him by letters to draw towards him with all his companie The duke according to the kings commandement obeied and so returned toward Calis The king being there arriued with all his power tooke counsell which way he should take Some aduised him first to inuade Flanders and to reuenge the iniurious dealing of the earle and the Flemings but he would not agrée to that motion for he purposed fullie either by plaine force to make a conquest of France or else vtterlie to destroie and wast the countrie throughout with fier and sword Herevpon he set forwards the fourth of Nouember and passing through the countries of Arthois and Uermendois he came before the citie of Reimes There went ouer with him in this iournie with the duke of Lancaster his foure sonnes Edward prince of Wales Lionell earle of Ulster Iohn earle of Richmond and the lord Edmund his yoongest sonne Also there was Henrie the said duke of Lancaster with the earles of March Warwike Suffolke Hereford who also was earle of Northampton Salisburie Stafford and Oxford the bishops of Lincolne and Durham and the lords Percie Neuill Spenser Kirdiston Rosse Mannie Cobham Mowbray de la Ware Willoughbie Felton Basset Fitz Water Charleton Audelie Burwasch and others beside knights and esquiers as sir Iohn Chandois sir Stephan Goussanton sir Nowell Loring sir Hugh Hastings sir Iohn Lisle sir Richard Pembruge and others The siege was laid before Reimes about saint Andrewes tide and continued more than seuen weekes but the citie was so well defended by the bishop and the earle of Porcien and other capiteins within it that the Englishmen could not obteine their purpose and so at length when they could not haue forrage nor other necessarie things abroad in the countrie for to serue their turne the king raised his field and departed with his armie in good order of battell taking the way through Champaigne and so passed by Chaalons and after to Merie on the riuer of Seine From Merie he departed and came vnto Tonnere which towne about the beginning of the foure and thirtith yeare of his reigne was woone by assault but the castell could not be woone for there was within it the lord Fiennes constable of France and a great number of other good men of war which defended it valiantlie After the king had rested there fiue daies and that his men were well refreshed with the wines and other such things which they found in that towne line 10 in good plentie he remooued and drew towards Burgognie comming to a towne called Guillon or Aguillon where he lay from Ashwednesday vnto Midlent hauing good prouision of all maner of vittels by the means of an esquier of his called Iohn Alanson which had taken the towne of Flauignie not farre thence wherein was great store of bread and wine and other vittels and still the marshals rode foorth and oftentimes refreshed the host with new prouision The Englishmen had with them in their carriages line 20 tents pauillions milles ouens and forges also boates of leather cunninglie made and deuised able to receiue three men a péece and to passe them ouer waters and riuers They had at the least six thousand carts with them and for euerie cart foure horsses which they had out of England In this meane while the Frenchmen made certeine vessels foorth to the sea vnder the gouernance of the earle of S. Paule the which vpon the fiftéenth daie of March landed earlie in the morning at Winchelsie line 30 and before sunne rising entred the towne and finding the inhabitants vnprouided to make anie great resistance fell to and sacked the houses slue manie men women and also children and after set fier on the towne and vpon knowledge had that the people of the countrie next adioining were assembled and comming to the rescue he caused his men to draw to their ships and so they taking their pillage and spoile with them got them aboord not without some losse of their companie which were slaine in the line 40 towne by such as resisted their violence Whilest the king laie at Aguillon there came to him Anscaume de Salilans
vnderstand that after his comming to London hée rested there but one daie or two at the most taking his iournie foorthright into Kent with all his armie folowing the bastard and other his complices to suppresse them if they were in anie place assembled againe to resist him But after they were once dispersed they durst not shew themselues againe in armor those onlie excepted that were withdrawne vnto line 10 Sandwich with the bastard which for the more part were mariners about eight or nine hundred beside certeine other euill disposed persons that accompanied him as his souldiers and men of warre with whose assistance the bastard kept that towne by strength hauing in the hauen seuen and fortie ships great and small vnder his gouernance But vpon the kings approching néere vnto those parties they sent to him for pardon promising that vpon a reasonable appointment for the safegard of line 20 their liues and other indemnities to be had for their benefit they would become his faithfull subiects and deliuer into his hands all the ships Their offer the king vpon great considerations and by good deliberate aduise of counsell thought best to accept and therevpon being at that time in Canturburie hée granted to their petitions and sent immediatlie vnto Sandwich his brother Richard duke of Glocester to receiue them to mercie togither with all the ships which according to their promise they deliuered into line 30 his hands But notwithstanding that as some write the bastard Fauconbridge and other of his companie that were got to Sandwich had thus their pardons by composition at the kings hand we find neuerthelesse that the said bastard Fauconbridge being afterwards at sea a rouing belike as he had vsed before came at length into the open hauen at Southhampton and there taking land was apprehended and shortlie after beheaded This chanced as should appeare line 40 by Fabian about the latter end of October Moreouer Roger Uaughan that had béene sent by king Edward into Wales anon after Teukesburie field being a man of great power in that countrie to intrap and surprise by some secret sleight the earle of Penbroke the said earle being thereof aduertised tooke the same Roger and without delay stroke off his head After this was the earle besieged in the towne of Penbroke by Morgan Thomas but the siege was line 50 raised by Dauid Thomas brother to the said Morgan a faithfull friend to the earle and then the earle by his helpe was conueied to Tinbie where he got ships and with his nephue the lord Henrie earle of Richmond sailed into Britaine where of the duke they were courteouslie interteined with assurance made that no creature should doo them anie wrong or iniurie within his dominions King Edward visiting diuerse places in Kent sate in iudgement on such as had aided the bastard in the last commotion line 60 of whome diuerse were condemned and executed as Spising one of the capteins that assaulted Algate whose head was set vp ouer the same gate and so likewise was the head of one Quintine a butcher that was an other capteine amongest them and chiefe of those that assaulted Bishops gate as some write Moreouer at Canturburie the maior of that citie was executed and diuerse other at Rochester Maidston and Blackeheath for the lord marshall and other iudges being appointed to hold their oier and determiner in that countrie of Kent there were aboue an hundred indicted and condemned Diuerse also of Essex men that had béene partakers in this rebellion with the bastard holpe to set fire on Bishops gate and Algate were hanged betwixt Stratford and London Manie also of the wealthie commons in Kent were put to grieuous fines Now when the king had made an end of his businesse in that countrie he returned to London comming thither againe vpon Whitsun éeuen being the first of Iune And hauing thus within the space of eleuen wéekes recouered in maner the whole possession of his realme being relieued of the most part of all his doubtfull feare he ment to remooue all stops out of the waie Wherefore he sent the archbishop of Yorke brother to the earle of Warwike and to the marques Montacute ouer to Guisnes there to be kept in safe custodie within the castell where he continued a long season till at length be was by friendship deliuered and shortlie after through verie anguish of mind departed this life whome Laurence Bath and after him Thomas Rotheram in the sée of Yorke did ordinarilie succeed Beside this Iohn earle of Oxford which after Barnet field both manfullie and valiantlie kept saint Michaels mount in Cornewall either for lacke of aid or persuaded by his friends gaue vp the mount and yeelded himselfe to king Edward his life onelie saued which to him was granted But to be out of all doutfull imaginations king Edward also sent him ouer the sea to the castell of Hammes where year 1472 by the space of twelue yeeres hée was in strong prison shut vp and warilie looked to King Edward was not a litle disquieted in mind for that the earls of Penbroke Richmond were not onlie escaped out of the realme but also well receiued and no woorsse interteined of the duke of Britaine he sent therefore in secret wise graue close messengers to the said duke the which should not sticke to promise the duke great and rich rewards so that he would deliuer both the earles into their hands and possession The duke after he had heard them that were sent made this answer that he could not with his honor deliuer them to whome he had giuen his faith to sée them preserued from all iniurie but this he said he would doo for the king of England that they should be so looked vnto as he néeded not to doubt of any attempt to be made against him by them or by their meanes The king receiuing this answer wrote louinglie to the duke of Britaine that he would consider his fréendship with conuenient rewards if it should please him to be as good as his promise The duke perceiuing gaine comming by the abode of the two English earles in his countrie caused them to be separated in sunder and all their seruants being Englishmen to be sequestred from them and in their places appointed Britains to attend them In the thirtéenth yeere of his reigne king Edward called his high court of parlement at his palace of Westminster in the which all lawes and ordinances made by him before that daie were confirmed and those that king Henrie had abrogated after his readeption of the crowne were againe reuiued Also lawes were made for the confiscation of traitors goods and for the restoring of them that were for his sake fled the realme which of his aduersaries had béene atteinted of high treason and condemned to die Moreouer towards his charges of late susteined a competent summe of monie was demanded and fréelie
it selfe was founded builded by king Athelstane the sonne to king Edward the elder for so is it recorded in the historie of the same church the words whereof are these Athelstanus line 20 subingatis Cornugualensibus reuersus est ad ciuitatem quae antiquitùs Monketon vocabatur nunc autem Exeter acibi sedens anno Dom. 932 non tam lacerata eiusdem ciuitatis moenia reparabat quin mansum quoddam dedit ad fundandum monasterium promonachis Deo sancto Petro famulantibus This king besides his great charges and expenses in building of this church which at the first was but small and that part which is now called the Ladie chapell he placed therein moonkes of S. Benets order line 30 prouided liuelihoods for them and appointed a ruler or gouernour ouer them and who was called by the name of an abbat towards whose diet and liuelihood he gaue Morkeshull and Tresurors béere and which at these presents doo remaine to the said church and are annexed to the dignitie of the treasurorship of the same The church being thus begun kings princes noble men were from time to time gladlie and willinglie verie liberall contributors to the absoluing and finishing of the same For about foure line 40 score years after king Athelstane king Knoght who was also named Cahutus or Canutus at the earnest sute of one of his dukes named Atheldred did confirme and grant to Athelwood then abbat of the said church and to his successors manie and sundrie priuileges and liberties vnder his letters patents dated the second yeare of his reigne Anno Domini 1019. After him about thirtie yeares king Edward the confessor remooued the moonkes vnto Westminster line 50 and made this church a cathedrall church and remooued the bishops sée which was then at Crediton vnto this citie making Leofricus bishop therof and whom he and his wife quéene Edith did put in possession of the same as appeareth by his letters patents dated the eight yeare of his reigne Anno Dom. 1050 Howbeit the moonke of Burie Polydorus and others doo affirme and write that this should be doone about the twelfe yeare of William the conqueror for thus they doo write Habitum est Londini sub Lanfranco line 60 autistitum sacerdotum comitium in quo decretum est quòd aliquot sedes episcopales quae in oppidulis pagis anteà fuerant in vrbibus locis celeberrimis collocarentur vnde factum est vt Bathonia Lincolnia Sarisburia Exonia Cestria Cicestria vrbes huiusmodi nouis episcoporum domicilijs sunt nobilitatae But the reuerence of these writers reserued this cannot be true concerning this church bicause the words of the charter thereof doo witnesse the contrarie and declare expresselie how that king Edward and queene Edith his wife did put Leofricus the first bishop in possession the one by the one hand and the other by the other hand leading him betweene them vp to the high altar and there put his hands vpon the same And yet it may be true that at the foresaid councell this remoouing and placing of this bishop might be ratified and confirmed Likewise William the conqueror in the third yeare of his reigne 1069 did not onelie confirme the former charter but also at the instance and request of William Warewest then his chapleine but afterwards bishop of the same sée did giue vnto it the seigniories of Plimpton Brampton and S. Stephans in Excester which the said William Warewest being afterwards bishop did distribute giuing Plimpton to the religious canons whome he placed there Brampton was annexed to the deanerie but S. Stephans was reserued alwaies to the bishop and to his successors whereby they are barons and so lords in the parlement house It was also inlarged from time to time with great possessions reuenues buildings riches priuileges and sundrie other commodities by kings princes prelats bishops and sundrie others And this one thing is to be noted that albeit there were about foure hundred yeares distant from the first foundation and building thereof vnto the ending and finishing of the same yet it is so vniformelie and decentlie compact and builded in one mould as though it had beene doone at one instant The bishop is distinct from the chanons both in house and reuenue his liuelihoods being no part nor parcell of that which apperteineth to the deane and chapter It was sometimes of great reuenues and large possessions but the more part thereof hath béene consumed and exhausted by a wastfull bishop The bishop and chanons haue verie faire houses which are situated about the church cemiterie and are inclosed euerie night by shutting fast of certeine gates by which occasion it is called a close A claudendo and which gates are to be shut euerie night except at certeine times and to be opened euerie morning at certeine hours appointed as it appeareth by a composition made for the same betwéene the communaltie of Excester and the bishop and deane of the same In the middle of the cemiterie or churchyard is a verie faire founteine or conduit of water conueied by certeine pipes of lead from out of the same féelds as is the cities conduit And albeit the springs of both waters are in the same field and not farre distant yet this dooth excell the other Out of this well or founteine waters are conueied to sundrie of the chanons houses as also of late vnto the bishops house and yet it serueth besides the whole close and citie The citie it selfe is verie populous and was sometimes chéefelie inhabited with clothiers clothworkers of broad clothes seruing much for the Spanish and south countries and which in those daies were of such goodnesse substance that the names of them doo remaine in those countries but new it is chéeflie inhabited with merchants kersie-ââothiers and all sorts of artificers among whom the merchants are the chéefe welthiest The gouernement of this citie was sometimes by foure bailiffes which before the conquest were called portgreues that is the chéefest lords or rulers of the towne for porta is taken for a towne and greue in Saxonie is Dominus or maior but after the conquest they were after the French toong named Prouostres that is to saie Praefecti or rulers and now stewards Not long after the conquest there was ordered and constituted a senate of six and thirtie persons but of later yeares by king Henrie the seauenth of foure twentie persons out of which number yearelie there was and is chosen one to be the chéefest gouernour for the yeare following and is called by the name of a maior whome the Saxons called Meregreue that is Maior dominus or the cheefe ruler This maior associated with the foure prouosts or bailiffes hath the hearing decerning and determining in all ciuill causes betwéene partie and partie and for which they kéepe wéekelie vpon euerie mondaie a court in the Guildhall of
and apperteining to the treasuror of the cathedrall church After the time of king Athelstane the Danes with great hostilitie and crueltie hauing ouerrun this whole land they also came to this citie and in spoiling the same did also ransacke and spoile the said church whose continuall inuasions the moonks being not able to indure fled and forsooke their house and home and sought places of better safetie By which means this monasterie for sundrie yeares was left destitnted vntill the time of king Edgar who on a time made a progresse into these west parts to visit his father in law Odogarus then earle of Deuon and founder of the abbeie of Tauistoke whose daughter he had married And being come to this citie did here rest and staie himselfe where when he saw the distressed state of the said church pitieng the same caused search and inquirie to be made of the moonks which were scattered and yet left and when he had gotten them togither he restored them vnto their house and liuelihoods and appointed Sidemannus who was afterwards bishop of this diocesse to be abbat of the same And from thensfoorth they continued togither though sometimes in troubles vntill that king Swanus or Sweno the Dane with a mightie and a huge armie came to this citie besieged tooke spoiled and destroied it with sword and fier Howbeit not long after it was restored againe by king Cahutus or Canutus who being aduertised of the great cruelties which his father Sweno had doone to the said monasterie did at the request of Atheldredus one of his dukes make restitution vnto Athelwoldus then abbat of all their lands liuings and priuileges as dooth appeare by his charter dated in the yeare of our Lord 1019. After this about thirtie yeares king Edward the Confessor came to this citie and he by the aduise and at the motion of Leofricus bishop of Crediton and who sometimes was lord chancellor of England vnder the said king and one of his priuie councell partlie for the better safetie of the bishop and his successors who lieng and hauing their houses in the countrie were subiect to manie and sundrie perils and partlie to prouide a more conuenient place for the moonks did remooue the bishops sée from Crediton and remooued the moonks vnto Westminster and he the king in his owne person togither with quéene Edith his wife did install the said Leofricus in possession of this his new church and sée The bishop thus remooued from the old and placed in the new sée and church dooth endow the same with all those lands and liuelihoods which he had of the gift of the said king and which before did apperteine to his former church and to reduce and make his sanctuarie to his mind pulleth downe the two monasteries néere adioining the one being of moonks and the other of nuns and addeth and vniteth them vnto his owne church and hauing brought all things to effect according to his mind deuiseth and maketh lawes orders and ordinances for the good gouernment of his church and cleargie After the death of Leofricus all his successors for the most part procure the augmentation and increase of this their new erected see and church some in liuelihoods some in liberties and priuileges some in buildings and some in one thing and some in another William Warewest the third bishop of this church who had sometimes béene chapleine to the Conqueror and to his two sonnes William and Henrie was in such fauor and good liking with the Conqueror that at his request he gaue vnto him and to this his church Plimpton Brampton and S. Stephans in Excester which gift his said sonnes being kings of England did ratifie and confirme And then the said bishop hauing the ordering and distributing thereof giueth Plimpton to the regular moonkes there for whom he had founded and builded a monasterie and wherein he himselfe shortlie after leauing and yéelding vp his bishoprike became and was a moonke Brampton was reserued to the church and which afterwards was annexed to the deanerie And S. Stephans with the fee to the same apperteining he reserued to himselfe and to his successors whereby they are barons and lords of the parlement This bishop in the yeare of our Lord 1112 first began to inlarge his cathedrall and laid the foundation of that line 10 part which is now the chore or quier for before that time it was no bigger than that which since and now is called the ladie chapell After him William Brewer the bishop made and established in the yeare of our Lord 1235 a deane and a chapter of foure and twentie prebendaries and for the deane whome he appointed and whose name was Serlo and for his successors he gaue and impropriated Brampton and Coliton Rawleigh and for the prebendaries he purchased lands alloting and assigning line 20 to euerie of them Pro pane sale the like portion of foure pounds Peter Quiuell the bishop finding the chancell of his church to be fullie builded and ended beginneth to found and build the lower part or the bodie of his church in the yeare of our Lord 1284 from the chancell of his church vnto the west end of the said church This man first appointed a chanter and a subdeane to be in his church To the one of them he impropriated Paineton and Chudleie and to the other the personage line 30 of Eglosehaile in Cornewall After him Iohn Grandisson in the yeare of our Lord 1340 did increase the length of the bodie of the church from the funt westwards as also vaulted the roofe of the whole church and did fullie end and finish the same And albeit from the time of king Athelstane the first founder in the yeare of our Lord 932 vntill the daie of the death of this bishop Grandisson which was in the yeare 1369 there were about 437 yeares distant and in the meane time this church was continued line 40 in building by sundrie persons yet it is so decentlie and vniformelie compacted as though it had béene builded at one verie time and instant The successour of this Grandisson who was named Thomas Brentingham finished and ended the north tower of the church After this about the yeare of our Lord 1400 and in the time of bishop Stofford the cloister was added to the church and builded at the most part of the charges of the deane and chapiter line 50 And not long after Edmund Lacie bishop began to build the chapiter house which being not ended in his time his next successor George Neuill in the yeare of our Lord 1456 did fullie end and absolue the same and which is a verie faire beautifull and a sumptuous worke And thus much concerning the antiquitie foundation and building of this cathedrall church Thus far Iohn Hooker About the same time that this rebellion whereto all the foresaid discourse tendeth began in the west line
excuse of their pouertie he thus replied vnto them that forsomuch as they were so bare in their apparell and so sparing of their expenses it must néeds be that they saued their pursses and had monie and therefore they must néeds paie and so adiudged them to lend vnto the prince Now as he arose by learning so he was a great fauorer and furtherer of learning and for the good increase of the same he builded and founded Corpus Christi college in Oxenford In his latter daies he waxed and was blind and dieng in Winchester he was there buried in his owne church after that he had beene bishop of Excester six yéers he was remoued to Bath in the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred ninetie and two 38 Oliuer King immediatlie vpon the transferring of bishop Fox was consecrated bishop of this church in Februarie one thousand foure hundred ninetie and two Iohn Morton then archbishop of Canturburie This Oliuer was chapleine to king Henrie the seuenth and deane of Windesor and register of the order of the garter In his time were the rebellions of Ioseph the blacke smith in Cornewall and of Perken Warbecke This bishop after that he had occupied this sée about fiue yeares he died in the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred ninetie and seuen and as some suppose he was buried at Windesor 39 Richard Redman immediatlie vpon the death of bishop Oliuer King was translated from his bishoprike in Wales to this citie but after fiue yeares he was remooued vnto the bishoprike of Elie and installed there in September in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and one He was a gentleman borne and descended of a verie worshipfull house which ioined with his wisedome and learning did much increase his credit and good report line 10 40 Iohn Arundell next after the translation of bishop Redman was remooued from Couentrie and Lichfield vnto this citie and was installed the fifteenth of March one thousand fiue hundred and one Wherein he sought not the preferment for anie liuelihoods but rather desirous to be a dweller and resiant in his countrie where he was borne for he was descended of the Arundels of Lanherne in Cornewall a house of great antiquitie and worship line 20 He long inioied not his new bishoprike for after two yeares after his installing he had occasion to ride vnto London and there died and was buried in S. Clements church without Templebar in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and three 41 Hugh Oldham vpon the death of Arundell by the preferment of the countesse of Richmond and Derbie vnto whom he was chapleine was preferred vnto this bishoprike and installed in the same He was a man hauing more zeale than knowledge line 30 and more deuotion than learning somewhat rough in spéeches but friendlie in dooings He was carefull in the sauing and defending of his liberties for which continuall sutes was betwéene him and the abbat of Tauestoke he was liberall to the vicars chorall of his church and reduced them to the kéeping of commons and towards the maintenance thereof he gaue them certeine reuenues and impropriated vnto them the rectorie of Cornewood He albâit of himselfe he were not learned yet a great fauourer and a line 40 furtherer of learning and of learned men Notwithstanding he was sometime crossed in his honest attempt therein He first was minded to haue inlarged Excester college in Oxford as well in buildings as in fellowships but after being a requester to the fellowes for one Atkins to be a fellow in whose fauour he had written his letters and was denied he changed his mind and his good will was alienated About the same time doctor Smith bishop of Lincolne was building of the college named Brasen nose and was verie willing and desirous to ioine line 50 with him but being denied to haue the nomination of a founder his mind was changed Not long after being aduertised that bishop Fox of Winchester was minded to erect found a new college he ioined with him and contributed vnto him a great masse of monie and so a college was builded for scholars and great liuelihoods prouided for them then the house was named Corpus Christi college Whereof the one of them bare the name of a founder and line 60 the other of a benefactor Howbeit some diuersitie was betwéene these two bishops at the first to what vse this college should be imploied For the founder was of the mind that he would haue made it for a house of moonks but the benefactor was of the contrarie mind and would haue it for scholars alleging that moonks were but a sort of buzzing flies whose state could not long indure wheras scholars brought vp in learning would be profitable members to the commonwealth and good ornaments to the church of God and continue for euer The founder being a wise man and of a déepe iudgement when he had paused and considered hereof yeeldeth herevnto and so it was concluded betweene them to make and build a college for scholars And forthwith for the good direction guiding and gouernement of the said college and scholars such wise good politike statutes and ordinances were by good aduise and counsell deuised established and ordeined as whereby the said college hath beene and yet continueth one of the best nursseries for training and instructing of good scholars in learning within that vniuersitie This bishop and the abbat of Tauestoke did still contend and continue in law during their liues and during which sute this bishop died being excommunicated at Rome and who could not be suffered to be buried vntill an absolution from Rome was procured for him After that he had béene bishop about sixteene yeares he died the fiue and twentith of Iune one thousand fiue hundred and ninetéene and was buried in his owne church 42 Iohn Uoiseie otherwise Harman succéeded Oldham by the preferment of king Henrie the eight whose chapleine he then was and deane of his chapell as also of this church he was doctor of the lawes verie well learned and wise and in great fauour with the king who sent him sundrie times in ambassages to forreine princes he was lord president of Wales had the gouernement of the kings onlie daughter ladie Marie princesse of Wales Of all the bishops in the land he was accounted the court likest and the best courtier And although he were well reported for his learning yet better liked for his courtlike behauiour which in the end turned not so much to his credit as to the vtter ruine and spoile of the church for of two and twentie lordships and manors which his predecessors had and left vnto him of a goodlie yearelie reuenue he left but three them also leased out And where he found fouretéene houses well furnished he left onelie one house bare and without furniture and yet charged with sundrie fées and annuities and by these means
this bishoprike which sometimes was counted one of the best is now become in temporall lands one of the meanest and according to the foreprophesieng of bishop Grandesson a place scarse left for the bishop to laie and rest his head in and yet neuerthelesse he was a great fauourer of learned men and especiallie of diuines whome he preferred in his church aboue others He was verie bountions and liberall vnto all men but especiallie vnto courtiers vnto his owne kindred and countriemen Upon manie he bestowed much to the confusion of some of them and vpon the others he spent much by building of a towne called Sutton Colshull where he was borne which he procured to be incorporated and made a market towne and set vp therein making of kearsies but all which in the end came to small effect In his time after the death of king Henrie the eight there was an alteration of religion by king Edward the sixt wherof insued a rebellion commotion in this diocesse which in some part was imputed to this bishop bicause he laie farre from it and dwelled in his owne countrie Wherevpon he resigned the bishoprike into the kings hands after that he had beene bishop about thirtie yeares and liued by the rents of the temporaltie of the bishoprike which when he alienated and discontinued he did receiue vnto him for terme of his owne life 43 Miles Couerdale after the resignation of Uoiseie was by king Edward made bishop of this citie consecrated at Lambeth by Thomas Cranmer archbishop of Canturburie in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and fiftie He was borne in the north countrie and from his childhood giuen to learning wherein he profited verie much he was one of the first which professed the gospell in this land in the time of king Henrie the eight he translated the bible out of the Hebrue into English and wrote sundrie bookes vpon the scriptures Which doctrine being verie new and strange in those daies and he verie streightlie pursued by the bishops made his escape passed ouer into low Germanie where he printed the bibles of his translation and sent them ouer into England and therof made his gaine wherby he liued But the bishops namelie D. Stokesleie bishop of London when he heard hereof and minding to preuent that no such bibles should be dispersed line 10 within this realme made inquirie where they were to be sold and bought them all vp supposing that by this meanes no more bibles would be had but contrarie to his expectation it fell out otherwise For the same monie which the bishop gaue for these bookes was sent ouer by the merchant vnto this Couerdale and by that meanes he was of that wealth and abilitie that he imprinted as manie more and sent them ouer into England but he was then so narrowlie sought for that he was driuen to remooue line 20 himselfe out of Flanders into Germanie and dwelled vnder the Palsegraue of Rhene where he found much fauour First he taught yoong children and hauing learned the Dutch toong the prince Palatine gaue him a benefice named Burghsaber where he continued and liued verie well partlie by that benefice and partlie by the liberalitie of the lord Cromewell who was his good lord and reléeued him verie much At length when the religion was altered in England and the gospell had a frée passage he returned line 30 did verie much good in preaching of the same And when the commotion in Deuon was for religion he was appointed to attend the lord Russell when he came to suppresse the same and verie shortlie for his learning and godlie life was made bishop of this see who most worthilie did performe the office committed vnto him He preached continuallie vpon euerie holie daie and did read most commonlie twise in the wéeke in some one church or other within this citie He was after the rate of his liuings a great kéeper line 40 of hospitalitie verie sober in diet godlie in life friendlie to the godlie liberall to the poore and courteous to all men void of pride full of humilitie abhorring couetousnesse and an enimie to all wickednesse and wicked men whose companies he shunned and whom he would in no wise shrowd or haue in his house and companie His wife a most sober chast and godlie matrone his house and houshold another church in which was exercised all godlinesse and vertue No one person being in his house which line 50 did not from time to time giue an account of his faith and religion and also did liue accordinglie And as he had a care for the successe in religion so had he also for the direction of the gouernement in ecclesiasticall causes And bicause he was not skilfull therin neither would be hindered from his godlie studies and be incombered with such worldlie matters which neuertheles he would haue be doone in all vprightnesse iustice and equitie he sent to Oxford for a learned man to be his chancellor and by the ministerie line 60 of the writer hereof he procured and obteined one master Robert Weston doctor of the ciuill law afterwards lord chancellor of Ireland vnto whome he committed his consistorie and the whole charge of his ecclesiasticall iurisdiction allowing vnto him not onelie all the fées therevnto apperteining but also lodged and found him his wife familie horsse and man within his owne house and gaue him a yearelie pension of fortie pounds And surelie the bishop was no more godlie and carefull of his part concerning preaching but this man also was as diligent and seuere in dooing of his office without reproch of being affectionated or corrupted And notwithstanding this good man now a blamelesse bishop liued most godlie and vertuous yet the common people whose old bottels would receiue no new wine could not brooke nor digest him for no other cause but bicause he was a preacher of the gospell an enimie to papistrie a married man Manie deuises were attempted against him for his confusion sometimes by false suggestions sometimes by open railings and false libels sometimes by secret backbitings and in the end practised his death by impoisoning but by Gods prouidence the snares were broken and he deliuered After that he had béene bishop about thrée yeares king Edward died and then queene Marie hauing the crowne the religion was altered and he depriued And notwithstanding the malice of prelats and archpapists was most bitter against him and who had sworne his death yet by the goodnesse of God he was most miraculouslie preserued and deliuered from out of their hands at the sute and by the meanes of the king of Denmarke who so earnestlie sued so often wrote to the quéene for him that he was deliuered and sent vnto him with whome after that he had staied a while he went againe into Germanie to the Palsgraue who most louinglie receiued him placed him againe in his former benefice of Burghsaber where he continued vntill the death of quéene
with the inhabitants of the countrie of Yorkeshire and Northumberland that he wasted all the land betwixt Yorke and Durham so that for the space of threescore miles there was left in maner no habitation for the people by reason whereof it laie wast and desert for the space of nine or ten yeares ¶ The goodlie cities with their towers and steeples set vpon a statelie height and reaching as it were into the aire the beautifull fields and pastures watered with the course of sweet and pleasant riuers if a stranger should then haue beheld and also knowne before they were thus defaced he would surelie haue lamented or if any old inhabitant had béene long absent newly returned thither had séene this pitifull face of the countrie he would not haue knowne it such destruction was made through out all those quarters whereof Yorke it selfe felt not the smallest portion The bishop of Durham Egelwinus with his cleargie fled into holie Iland with S. Cutberts bodie and other iewels of the church of Durham where they tarried three moneths and od daies before they returned to Durham againe The kings armie comming into the countrie that lieth betwixt the riuers Theise and Tine found nothing but void feelds and bare walles the people with their goods and cattell being fled and withdrawne into the woods and mountaines if any thing were forgotten behind these new gests were diligent inough to find it out In the beginning of the spring king William returned to London and now after all these troubles began to conceiue greater hatred against the Englishmen line 10 than euer before so as doubting that hee should neuer by gentlenesse win their good willes he now determined by a harder measure to meete with them insomuch that he banished a great number other some also not a few he spoiled of their goods those especiallie of whom he was in hope to gaine any great portion of substance Thus were the Englishmen generallie in danger to lose life lands and goods without knowledge or orderlie proceeding in iudgement so that no greater line 20 miserie in the earth could be imagined than that whereinto our nation was now fallen He tooke from the townes and cities from the bishops sées and abbeies all their ancient priuileges and freedoms to the end they should not onelie be cut short and made weaker but also that they for the obteinment of their quietnesse might redeeme the same of him for such summes of monie as pleased him to exact Among other things he ordeined that in time of warre they should aide him with armor horsse and line 30 monie according to that order which he should then prescribe all which he caused to be registred inrolled and laid vp in his treasurie But diuerse of the spirituall persons would not obey this ordinance whom he banished without remorse About this time the archbishop Stigand and Alexander bishop of Lincolne fled to Scotland where they kept themselues close for a season But the king still continued in his hard procéeding against the Englishmen insomuch that now protesting how he line 40 came to the gouernance of the realme only by plaine conquest he seized into his hands most part of euerie mans possessions causing them to redeeme the same at his hands againe and yet reteined a propertie in the most part of them so that those that should afterwards enioy them should acknowledge themselues to hold them of him in yéelding a yéerlie rent to him and his successors for euer with certeine other prouisions whereby in cases of forfeiture the same lands should returne to him and his said successors line 50 againe The like order he appointed to be vsed by other possessors of lands in letting them forth to their tenants He ordeined also that the Termes should be kept foure times in the yéere in such places as he should nominate and that the iudges shuld sit in their seuerall places to iudge and decide causes and matters in controuersie betwixt partie and partie in manner as is vsed vnto this day He decréed moreouer that there should be shiriffes in euerie shire and iustices of the peace to keepe the countries line 60 in quiet and to sée offendors punished Furthermore he instituted the court of the Excheker and the officers belonging to the same as the barons the clearks and such other and also the high court of Chancerie After he had in this sort ordeined his magistrates and ministers of the lawes he lastlie tooke order what ordinances he would haue obserued wherevpon abrogating in maner all the ancient lawes vsed in times past and instituted by the former kings for the good order and quietnes of the people he made new nothing so equall or easie to be kept which neuerthelesse those that came after not without their great harme were constreined to obserue as though it had béene an high offense against GOD to abolish those euill lawes which king William a prince nothing friendlie to the English nation had first ordeined and to bring in other more easie and tollerable ¶ Here by the waie I giue you to note a great absurditie namelie that those lawes which touched all and ought to be knowne of all were notwithstanding written in the Norman toong which the Englishmen vnderstood not so that euen at the beginning you should haue great numbers partlie by the iniquitie of the lawes and partlie by ignorance in misconstruing the same to be wrongfullie condemned some to death and some in the forfeitures of their goods others were so intangled in sutes and causes that by no means they knew how to get out but continuallie were tossed from post to piller in such wise that in their minds they curssed the time that euer these vnequall lawes were made The maner for the triall of causes in controuersie was deuised in such sort as is yet vsed Twelue ancient men but most commonlie vnlearned in the lawes being of the same countie where the sute laie were appointed by the iudges to go togither into some close chamber where they should be shut vp till vpon diligent examination of the matter they should âgrée vpon the condemnation or acquiting of the prisoner if it were in criminall causes or vpon deciding in whom the right remained if it were vpon triall of things in controuersie Now when they were all agréed they came in before the iudges declaring to what agréement they were growne which doone the iudges opened it to the offendors or sutors and withall gaue sentence as the qualitie of the case did inforce and require There may happilie be as Polydor Virgil saith that will mainteine this maner of procéeding in the administration of iustice by the voices of a iurie to haue béene in vse before the conquerors daies but they are not able to prooue it by any ancient records of writers as he thinketh albeit by some of our histories they should séeme to be first ordeined by Ethelred
sonne all his former offenses and therevpon found him euer after more tracâable and obedient than before After this battell king William being thus accorded with his sonne returned with him into England and immediatlie sent him against Malcolme king of Scotland who hauing broken the truce in time of the trouble betwixt king William and his sonne had doone much hurt by forraies vpon the English borders wasting all Northumberland euen to the riuer of Tine Howbeit when he heard that Robert approched with his armie towards him he retired into Scotland Robert Curthuze then lodged with his armie vpon the banks of the riuer of Tine where he began the foundation of a castell whereof the towne of Newcastell did after take both beginning and name for before this season it was called Moncaster About the same time Odo the bishop of Bayeux was sent to Northumberland to reuenge the death of Walkher bishop of Durham whom not long before the people of Northumberland had slaine in a tumult The occasion of his death grew by the death of one Liulfus a noble man of those quarters and déerelie beloued of the people bicause he was descended of honorable parentage and had married the ladie Algitha daughter vnto earle Alered and sister to Alfleda the mother of earle Walteof This Liulfus a man of great possessions through England now that the Normans ruled in all places quietlie withdrew himselfe vnto Durham and grew into such familiaritie and credit with the bishop that touching the order of temporall matters he would doo nothing without his aduice Whereat Leofwin the bishops chapline conceiued such enuie for that he was not so often called to counsell as before that in the end he procured by his malicious meanes one Gilbert to whom the bishop had committed the rule of the earledome to murther the said Liulfus by night in his manor place not farre from Durham Whereof the bishop hauing vnderstanding and knowing that the matter would be gréeuouslie taken of the people sent out letters and messengers into the countrie offering to purge himselfe of the slaughter of this man according to the order of the canon lawes howbeit he did nothing lesse Among other things concerning his purgation he said that he had banished Gilbert and others who had committed the murther out of Northumberland Hervpon the malice of the people was kindled against him For when it was knowne that he had receiued the murtherers into his house and fauoured them as before they stomached the matter highlie insomuch that when by the trauell of those that went to and fro betwixt the bishop and the kinsfolks of Liulfus a daie was appointed on the which the bishop should come to farther communication with them at Gateshead he repaired thither according to his promise but refusing to talke with them abroad he kept himselfe still within the church and sent foorth such of his counsell as should commune with them But when the people that were there gathered in great numbers had signified in plaine words that he should either come foorth and shew himselfe amongst them or else that they should fire the place where he sat he caused Gilbert to go foorth vnto them first whom they slue and his partakers also that issued out of the church with him for his defense But when the peoples furie was not so quenched the bishop himselfe casting the skirts of his gowne ouer his face came likewise foorth and was immediatlie slaine of the people After this they set the church on fire bicause Leofwine the bishops chapline and others were yet within and refused to come foorth howbeit in the end being compelled by the rage of the fire to come out the said Leofwine was also slaine and hackt in péeces as he had well deserued being the ringleader of all the mischéefe ¶ Thus maie we sée what followed of the neglecting of iustice in the bishop for if he had either banished Gilbert and other his complices accordinglie as he pretended to doo or otherwise had séene due punishment executed against them the peoples rage had neuer proceeded so far as it did for they could not persuade themselues but that the bishop was guiltie line 10 and priuie to Liulfus death sith he had receiued the murtherers into his house the verie same night in which the fact was doone and kept them still about him which his bearing with them cost him his owne life But now to the historie When bishop Odo was come into those parties to reuenge the bishops death with an armie as we haue said he sore afflicted the countrie by spoiling it on euerie side with great crueltie Here king William line 20 placed and displaced diuerse rulers ouer the Northumbers for first he appointed one Copsi to haue the rule of that countrie in place of Marchar who before had held the same This Copsi expelled Osulfe the sonne of earle Edulfe brother to earle Aldred which Osulfe was substitute vnto the earles Edwine and Marchar who although he was driuen out of his gouernement by Copsi yet recouering his forces againe he slue the same Copsi as he entred into the church of Newburne But within a few line 30 moneths after the same Osulfe as he ran with his horsse against a theefe was thrust through the bodie with a speare which the theefe held in his hand and so died Then Gospatrike was assigned by king William to haue the gouernement there whose mother Aldgitha was daughter to Uthred sometime earle of Northumberland begotten vpon Elfgiua the daughter of king Egelred Some write that Gospatrike purchased the earledome of king William and so held it till the king line 40 tooke it from him againe and then gaue it vnto earle Walteof or Waldeue Next after him Walkher the foresaid bishop of Durham had the whole administration coÌmitted to him but after he was slaine as yée haue heard one Alberike ruled that countrie and lastlie Robert Mulbray a right noble personage for his wisedome and valiancie highlie renowmed with all men was created earle of Northumberland and gouerned the people of those parties in such politike and wise order that during his line 50 time it is hard to saie whether his quietnesse or the obedience of the people was greater In like manner after the foresaid Walkher one William was created bishop of Durham who was the originall founder of vniuersitie colledge in Oxford and by whose assistance the moonkes gaping both for riches ease and possessions found the means to displace the secular priests of the colledge of Durham that they might get into their roomes as they did indeed soone after to their great gaine and aduantage line 60 But to returne againe to the course of the historie Shortlie after the reuenge of the death of Walkher bishop of Durham the fornamed bishop Odo the kings brother was suspected of some vntruth and sinister dealing whervpon he was sent as a banished man into
better gouernement thereof ordeined vnder him foure barons namelie his cousine Nigell or Neal baron of Halton sir Piers Malbanke baron of Nauntwich sir Eustace baron of Mawpasse and sir Warren Uernon baron of Shipbrooke Nigell held his baronie of Halton by seruice to lead the Uauntgard of the earles armie when he should line 30 make any iournie into Wales so as he should be the foremost in marching into the enimies countrie and the last in comming backe he was also conestable and marshall of Chester From this Nigell or Neal the Lacies that were earles of Lincolne had their originall When earle Hugh had gouerned the earledome of Chester the terme of 40. yeares he departed this life in the yeare 1107. He had issue by his wife Armetrida Richard the second earle of Chester after the conquest Robert abbat of Saint line 40 Edmundsburie and Otnell tutor to the children of king Henrie the first Moreouer the said earle Hugh had a sister named Margaret that was maried to Iohn Bohun who had issue by hir Ranulfe Bohun otherwise called Meschines which Ranulfe by that meanes came to enioy the earledome of Chester in right of his mother after that earle Richard was drowned in the sea and not by exchange for the earledome of Carleil as by this which we haue alreadie recited may sufficientlie be prooued line 50 Now to returne where we left After that king William Rufus had giuen order for the building fortifieng and peopling of Carleil he returned southwards and came to Glocester where he fell into a greeuous and dangerous sicknesse so that he was in despaire and doubt of his life year 1093 wherefore he repented him of his former misdéeds and promised if he escaped that dangerous sicknesse to amend and become a new man But when he had his health that promise was quickelie broken for his dooings which line 60 were so bad and wicked before his sicknesse being compared with those which followed after his recouerie might haue béene reputed good and sufferable Moreouer whereas he reteined and kept in his hands the bishoprike of Canturburie the space of foure yeares he now bestowed it vpon Anselme who was before abbat of Bechellouin in Normandie and for certeine abbeis which he had held long time in his possession he ordeined abbats by meane wherof all men but especiallie the spiritualtie began to conceiue a verie good opinion of him The yere wherein Anselme was thus elected was from the birth of our Sauiour 1093. on the sixt of March being the first sundaie in Lent as Eadmerus recordeth Furthermore he gaue the see of Lincolne being void by the death of bishop Remigius to his councellour Robert Bluet but afterward repenting himselfe of such liberalitie in that he had not kept it longer in his hands towards the inriching of his coffers he deuised a shift how to wipe the bishops nose of some of his gold which he performed after this maner He caused the bishop to be sued quarelinglie charging him that he had wrongfullie vsurped certeine possessions togither with the citie of Lincolne which apperteined to the sée of Yorke Which although it was but a forged cauillation and a shamefull vntruth yet could not the bishop be deliuered out of that trouble till he had paid to the king fiue thousand pounds And as he dealt with the spiritualtie so he caused diuerse of the Nobilitie to be put to gréeuous fines for transgressing of his lawes though the fault were neuer so little He also caused the archbishop Anselme to paie him a great summe of monie vnder colour of a contribution which was due in Lanfrankes daies though it was certeinlie knowne that Lanfranke had paied it Thus grew king William from time to time more sharpe and rigorous to his subiects so that whosoeuer came within the danger of the laws was sure to be condemned and such as would plaie the promooters and giue informations against any man for transgressing the lawes were highlie rewarded In this sixt yeare there chanced such an excessiue raine and such high flouds the riuers ouerflowing the low grounds that lay néere vnto them as the like had not béene seene of many yeares before and afterwards insued a sudden frost whereby the great streames were congeled in such sort that at their dissoluing or thawing manie bridges both of wood and stone were borne downe and diuerse water-milles rent vp and caried awaie Furthermore king William perceiuing that by his cruell and couetous gouernment sundrie of his subiects did dailie steale out of the realme to liue in forreine countries he published a proclamation charging that no man should depart the realme without his licence and safe-conduct Hereof it is thought that the custome rose of forbidding passage out of the realme which oftentimes is vsed as a law when occasion serueth Soone after he went against the Welshmen whom he vanquished in battell néere to Brecknocke and slue Rees their king who had doone much hurt within the English borders when he was their incamped This Rise or Rées was the last king that reigned ouer the Welshmen as authors affirme for afterwards though they oftentimes rebelled yet the kings of England were reputed and taken as supreme gouernors of that part of the Iland Moreouer to haue the countrie the better in quiet he did cut downe their woods and builded manie castels and piles in places conuenient by meanes whereof they were somewhat tamed and trained in due time to obedience though not at the first nor in the daies of sundrie of his successors Hauing thus finished his iournie into Wales Malcolme king of Scotland came vnto Glocester to sée the king and to common with him of sundrie matters touching the peace betwixt both the realms as he returned homewards but bicause king William disdained to enterteine him in such pompous maner as he expected and made account of and forsomuch as he did not at the verie first admit him to his presence the said Malcolme returned into Scotland in great displeasure and immediatlie raising a power entred into England destroieng the country vnto Alnewike castell where he was so enuironed with an ambushment laid by Robert earle of Northumberland that he and his eldest sonne Edward were slaine At which mishap his whole host being vtterlie discomfited fled out of the field with the losse of manie whereof some were slaine and some taken by pursute Thus came king Malcolme to his end by the iust prouidence of God in that prouince which he had wasted and spoiled at fiue seuerall times as first in the daies of king Edward when earle Tostie was gone to Rome the second time in the daies of William Conquerour when he spoiled Cleueland thirdlie in the same Conquerours daies whilest bishop line 10 Walkher possessed the see of Durham at what time all the countrie was spoiled and forraied euen to the riuer of Tine fourthlie about the fourth
of Waterford as bishop This was dâone at Canturburie the 28. day of October Rafe bishop of Chichester and Gundulfe bishop of Rochester helping Anselme in the consecration as ministers vnto him in that behalfe The said Malchus was a monke and sometime vnder Walkhelme bishop of Winchester But to the purpose king William after his returne into England remembring what damage he had susteined two yéeres before at the hands of the Welshmen determined eftsoones to inuade their countrie and therefore doubling his power commeth into the marshes pitcheth his field and consulteth with his capteines what order he were best to vse in that his enterprise for the taming of his enimies line 10 The Welshmen hearing of the kings approch and that his armie was farre greater than the last which he brought into their countrie fell to their woonted policie and got them into the woods there to lie in wait trusting more to the aduantage of starting holes than to their owne force puissance When the king vnderstood their practise he set armed men in diuers places and builded towers and fortifications to defend him and his bicause he durst not assaie to enter into wild and wast grounds where line 20 he had béene hindred and damnified before that time hoping by this meanes in stopping vp the waies and passages of the countrie to bring the rebels to more subiection But when this policie was found by proofe to wearie the kings souldiors rather than to hurt the enimies which straieng vp and downe in the woods intrapped oftentimes the Normans and English in taking them at aduantage the king without bringing his purpose to any good effect departed home into England After this he sent Edgar Etheling line 30 with an armie into Scotland that he might place his coosine Edgar the sonne of king Malcolme in the gouernement of that kingdome and expell his vncle Duffnald who had vsurped the same King William being still inflamed with ire for that he could not haue his will determined with continuall warres to wearie the rebellious stomachs of the Welshmen and therefore was fixed first to set vpon them of Anglesey which being an I le enuironed with the sea was euer a refuge for them when line 40 they were sharpelie pursued This enterprise was chéeflie committed vnto Hugh earle of Shrewsburie and Arundell and to Hugh earle of Chester who at their first comming wan the I le and tempered the victorie with great crueltie and bloudshed putting out the eies of some cutting off the noses the armes or hands of others and some also they gelded Moreouer as authors write the said earle of Shrewesburie made a kenell of the church of Saint Fridancus laieng his hounds within it for the night line 50 time but in the morning he found them all raging wood How true so euer this report is I wote not but shortlie after they had executed in maner as before is said such strange kinds of crueltie in that I le it chanced that a nauie of rouers came thither from the Iles of Orkney whose chéefe admirall was named Magnus who incountring with the said earle of Shrewesburie shot him into the eie with an arrow which part of his body remained bare and vnarmed so that by by he fell downe dead out of his ship into line 60 the sea When Magnus beheld this he said scornefullie in the Danish toong Leit loupe that is Let him leape now the English neuerthelesse had the victorie at that time as some write and ouercame their enimies with great slaughter and bloudshed Not long after the earle of Chester going ouer to Wales with long and continuall warres tired and tamed the wild Welshmen who for a good while after durst not shew their faces The king being thus at quiet and without warre in all places began now to set his mind on building and first causes new walles âo be made about the tower of London and also laid the foundation of Westminster hall which though it be a verie large and roomthie place yet after it was finished at his returne out of Normandie he came to view it and held his court therein with great pompe and honor He repented that he had made it no larger saieng it was too little by the halfe and therefore determined to haue made a new and that this other should haue serued but for a dining chamber A diligent searcher saith Matthew Paris might yet find out the foundation of the hall which he had purposed to build stretching from the Thames side vnto the common street But though those his buildings were great ornaments to the realme yet bicause he tooke vp monie by extortion of his subiects towards the charges of the same he was euill spoken of the report being spred that he should take them in hand but onelie vnder a colour to spoile his subiects in gathering a far greater summe than the expenses of them did amount vnto About the same time that king William beganne these buildings he went ouer into Normandie to vnderstand in what state that countrie stood About the same time also or rather two yéere before to wit 1097. néere to Abington at a towne called Finchamsteed in Barkshire a well or fountaine flowed with bloud in maner as before it vsed to flow with water and this continued for the space of three daies or as William Malm. saith fifteene daies togither After the king had dispatched his businesse in Normandie was returned into England as he was making prouision to ride foorth on hunting a messenger came suddenlie vnto him bringing word that the citie of Mans was besieged and like to be surprised The king was then at dinner meaning first to make an end thereof and after to take aduice in that matter but being reprooued by the messenger for that to the great danger of his subiects which were besieged he passed not to make delaies rather than to go and succour them with all spéed he taketh the mans blunt spéech in so good part that he called straightwaie for masons to breake downe the wall to the end he might passe through the next way and not be driuen to step so farre out of his path as to go foorth by the doores and so without any long aduisement taken in the cause he rode straightwaie to the sea sending his lords a commandement to follow who when they came in his presence counselled him to staie till his people were assembled Howbeit he would not giue eare to their aduice in that point but said Such as loue me I know well will follow me and so went a shipboord setting apart all doubts of perils and yet was the weather verie darke rough and cloudie insomuch that the maister of the ship was afraid and willed him to tarrie till the wind did settle in some quiet quarter but hee commanded to hoise vp sailes and to make all spéed that could be for
subiection and obedience vnto Anselme without any condition intermitted or else that onelie which he did pretend by authoritie of the pope the bishops making answer diuerslie herevnto the king appointed those to sit downe by him as faithfull subiects who acknowledged that their renuntiation was absolutelie made without intermitting of any condition as for the other who protested that they renounced their subiection and obedience vnto him onelie in that which he presumed vpon in the behalfe of the pope he commanded them to go aside and to remaine in a corner of the house to heare the sentence of their condemnation pronounced Wherefore being put in a maruellous feare they withdrew themselues aside but yet straightwaies they deuised a shift wherewith they had beene well acquainted before as followeth They presented to the king a great masse of monie to appease his wrath and so thereby were restored to his fauour Anselme notwithstanding was obstinate in his opinion so that in the end the sentence touching this controuersie betwixt him and the king was respited till the octaues of Pentecost next insuing All this was notified well inough to the pope who vsed the matter with such moderation that by secret aduertisements giuen he tooke awaie from his brethren all rigorous waies of procéedings saieng Dum furor in cursu est currenti cede furori But yet the kings enmitie towards Anselme was openlie declared and that chéefelie for the deniall of the monie which he demanded but at length he got it though not with any frée hart or goodwill of the archbishop insomuch that the king reputed him giltie of treason Within a few daies after Walter bishop of Alba bringing to him his pall verie wiselie reconciled the pope and the king Notwithstanding all this Anselme could not purchase the kings goodwill to his contentment though he wiselie dissembled for the time so that when the bishop of Alba should returne to Rome he made sute for licence to go with him Neuerthelesse the king offered him that if he would desist from his purpose and sweare vpon the euangelists neither to go to Rome nor to appeale in any cause to the popes court he might and should liue in quietnesse frée from all danger but if he would not be so contented he might and should depart at his perill without hope to returne hither againe For surelie saith he if he go I will seize the archbishoprike into mine owne hands and receiue him no more for archbishop Anselme herewith departing from the court came to Canturburie declaring openlie what had bin said vnto him and immediatlie sought to flee out of the realme in the night prouiding for himselfe a shiâ at Douer But his purpose being reuealed to the king line 10 one William Warlewast the kings seruant was sent after him and finding him readie to depart tooke from him all that he had gaue him a free pasport out of the land Anselme repairing to Rome made vnto pope Urban a greeuous information against the king declaring into what miserable state he had brought the Realme and that for want of assistance in his suffragans it laie not in him to reforme the matter Indéed we find not that any of the bishops held line 20 with Anselme in the controuersie betwixt him and the king Ranulph bishop of Chichester excepted who both blamed the king and rebuked all such bishops as had refused to stand with Anselme and fauoured the king in cases concerning the foresaid variance Moreouer the same bishop of Chichester withstood the king and his officers in taking fines of préests for the crime of fornication by reason of which presumption the king became sore offended with him found meanes to suspend many churches of his diocesse line 30 Howbeit in the end the bishop demeaned himselfe in such wise that he had his owne will and his church doores were opened againe which had béene stopped vp before with thornes Besides this the king was contented that the said bishop should haue the fines of préests in crimes of fornication within his diocesse and enioy many other priuileges in right of his church But how beneficiall so euer he was vnto the see of Chichester true it is as Polydor writeth that he let out diuers abbeies and the bishoprike of Winchester line 40 and Salisburie with the archbishoprike of Canturburie vnto certeine persons that farmed the same at his hands for great summes of monie in so much that beside the said sees of Canturburie Winchester and Salisburie which at the time of his death he kept in his hands he also receiued the profits of eleuen abbeies which he had let out or otherwise turned to his most aduantage Robert Losaunge of some called Herbert that sometime had bin abbat of Ramsey and then bishop line 50 of Thetford by gift of a thousand pounds to the king as before ye haue heard repented him for that he was inuested by the king who after he had bewailed his offense went to Rome and did penance for the same in all points as the pope enioined him Which being doone he returned into England remoouing yer long his sée from Thetford to Norwich where he founded a faire monasterie of his owne charges and not of the churches goods as some say wherein is a doubt considering he was first an abbat and after line 60 a bishop About this time by the meanes of Stephan Harding a Monke of Shireborne an Englishman the order of Cisteaux or white moonkes had his beginning within the countrie of Burgongne as witnesneth Ranulph the moonke of Chester but other writers as Iacob Philippus say that this Stephan was the second abbat of that place and that it was founded by one Robert abbat of Molmense in the yeare of Grace 1098. This order was after brought into England by one called Walter Espeke who founded the first abbeie of that religion within this relme at Riuall about the yeare of Grace 1131. But to returne againe to the king who still continued in his wilfull couetousnesse pulling from the rich and welthie to waste and spend it out in all excesse vaine riot and gifts bestowed on such as had least deserued the same And yet he was warned by manie strange woonders as the common people did descant to refraine from these euill dooings for the Thames did rise with such high springs and tides that manie townes were drowned and much hurt doone in places about London and elsewhere Diuerse rare things happened also at the same time which I passe ouer But the king hearing hereof did nothing regard those which were so bold as to tell him that they were euident significations of some vengeance to follow therevpon The king also himselfe on a night as he slept dreamed thought that the veines of his armes were broken and that the bloud issued out in great abundance Likewise he was told by Robert Fitz Hammon that a
some way requite the venturous courage and hartie zeale of the gentleman who with the losse of his owne life preserued the king if not from death yet from some dangerous wound that might haue put him to extreame anguish and paine This may incite men to be mindfull of benefits receiued a vertue no lesse rare than the contrarie is common and as one saith inueniuntur Quidam sed rari acceptorum qui meritorum Assiduè memores c. But to conclude with this iourneie which king Henrie made at this time against the Welshmen although by reason of the cumbersome difficulties of the places he could not enter within the countrie so farre as he wished yet he so impounded and constreined them to kéepe within the woods and mountains that they durst not come abroad insomuch that at the length they were glad to sue for peace William king of Scots successor of Malcolme who departed this life in the yeare last past after he had receiued the crowne of Scotland came about this present time into England and finding king Henrie at London did his homage to him as his predecessour Malcolme had doone before He made suit also to haue Northumberland restored vnto him which the king of Englands mother the empresse had in times past giuen vnto king Dauid But king Henrie gaue diuerse reasons to excuse himselfe whie he might not deliuer that countrie to him at that present namelie without consent of a parlement where vpon king William perceiuing how the maâter went gaue ouer his suit for that present meaning line 10 when occasion serued to attempt the getting thereof by force sith that by praier and suit he sawe well inough he should not obteine it Moreouer the Scottish king being required by king Henrie to go ouer with him into Normandie granted so to doo insomuch that king Henrie hauing set all things in order within his realme of England in the Lent following passed ouer into Normandie But before he tooke his iourneie he set foorth a decree consisting of these points in effect as followeth line 20 1 That no man should bring any letters or commandement from pope Alexander or Thomas archbishop of Canturburie into England conteining an interdiction of the realme vpon perill to be apprehended and punished as a traitour to the king and an enimie to the realme 2 That no religious person or préest should be permitted to passe the seas or to come into the relme of England except he had letters of safe conduct line 30 from the iusticers for passage ouer and of the king for his returne from thence 3 That no man should appeale to the said pope or archbishop nor by their appointment hold any plée and if any person were found dooing the contrarie herevnto he should be taken and committed to prison 4 That if any maner of person either spirituall or temporall were obedient to the sentence of the interdiction the same person should be banished the line 40 realme without delaie and all his linage with him so as they should not conueie with them any of their goods the which togither with their possessions should be seized into the kings hands 5 That all spirituall persons which had any benefices within England should haue warning giuen to returne into England within foure moneths after the same summons pronounced and that if they failed hereof then should the king seize vpon their goods and possessions line 50 6 That the bishops of London and Norwich should be and by vertue hereof were summoned to appeare before the kings iusticers to make answer for that they had interdicted the lands of erle Hugh and excommunicated him 7 That the Peter pence should be gathered and kept In the octaues of Easter king Henrie came to an enterview with the French king at Gisors where they had conference togither of sundrie matters line 60 This yeare the quéene was deliuered of a sonne named Iohn who afterward was king of this realme Moreouer king Henrie calling a councell of his bishops and barons in Normandie caused and ordeined a collection by their aduise to be made through all his countries and dominions of two pence in the pound of euerie mans lands and goods iewels and apparell onelie excepted to be paid this yeare 1166. and for the space of foure yeares next ensuing one penie of euerie pound to be paid yearelie and those that were not worth twentie shillings in goods or lands being housholders notwithstanding or bare any office should paie a penie to this contribution which was onelie granted for the releefe of the christians in the east parts and those that warred against the miscreants there The paiment thereof was appointed to be made in the feast daie of saint Remigius or within fiftéene daies after It was also ordeined that all such as departed this life within the terme that this collection was in force their debts being paid should giue the tenth part of the residue of all their goods vnto this so necessarie a contribution King Henrie remaining now in Normandie and vnderstanding that diuerse lords and barons of Maine and the marshes of Britaine would not in his absence shew themselues obedient vnto his wife quéene Elianor but were about to practise a rebellion raised an armie and went against them easilie subduing them whom he found obstinate and besieging the castell of Foulgiers tooke and vtterlie destroied it Soone after the archbishop of Canturburie came from Pountney to Uizeley and there on Ascension daie when the church was most full of people got him into the pulpit and with booke bell and candell solemnelie accurssed all the obseruers defenders and mainteiners with the promoters of such customs as within the realme of England they terme the custome of their elders amongst others that were accursed was Richard de Lucie Richard the archdeacon of Poictiers Iocelin de Bailleuille Alane de Neuille and manie other But they being absent neither called nor conuinced as they alleged notwithstanding they were thus excommunicated sent their messengers vnto the archbishop and appealed from him and so feared not to enter into their churches He had before this also written certeine letters vnto his suffragans denouncing some of these and other persons by expresse name accursed not onelie for mainteining the matter against him touching the ancient custome of the realme but also for the schisme raised in Almaine by Reignald archbishop of Colein for the which he accursed one Iohn of Oxford Moreouer he accursed Ranulfe de Broc Hugh de S. Clete Thomas Fitz Bernard for violentlie seizing vpon and deteining the goods and possessions belonging to his archbishoprike without his consent or agréement therevnto The king on the other part banished out of England and all parts of his other dominions all those persons that were knowen to be of kin vnto the archbishop both yoong and old and furthermore sent aduertisement to the abbat of Pountney and to his moonks with
and comming to his father as an obedient sonne shewed himselfe readie to serue him at commandement with a glad and willing mind Soone after this and about the seauenth houre of the day the sunne suffered a generall eclipse so that no part of it appeared and therwith followed great thunder with lightning and sore tempest with the violence whereof both men and beasts were destroied and manie houses burned Shortlie after this the kings of England and France met and communed togither for the aiding of them in the holie land and they promised indéed to send thither both men and monie but the patriarch made small account thereof for he was much deceiued of that which he hoped to haue brought to passe which was either to haue got the king of England or one of his sonnes or some other man of great authoritie with him into the holie land but bicause that would not be he departed from the court verie sorrowfull and sore displeased so that it may be thought that then and not before his departure out of England he spake his mind so plainlie vnto the king as before yee haue heard Moreouer about this time king Henrie obteined of pope Urbane the third that he might crowne which of his sonnes it should please him king of Ireland in token of which grant and confirmation the said pope sent vnto him a crowne of peacocks feathers after a feat maner wouen in with gold This yeare the king held his Christmasse at Danfrount year 1186 and shortlie after came to a communication with the French king at the which he tooke a solemne oth that he would deliuer the ladie Alice the French kings sister whome he had as yet in his custodie vnto his sonne Richard erle of Poictou in mariage For the which mariage to be had and solemnized the French king granted to deliuer vnto the said Richard the towne of Gisors with all that which his father king Lewes promised vnto king Henrie the sonne latelie deceassed in marriage with quéene Margaret the wife of the same Henrie receiuing an oth thereto neuer to make anie claime or chalenge to the same towne and lands King Henrie after he had thus concluded and finished his affaires with the French king returned backe into England in Maie and then was Hugh prior of Witham instituted bishop of Lincolne after that the see there had béene void and without any lawfull gouernour almost the space of seauenteene yeares This Hugh was reputed a verie godlie and vertuous man Before him Walter Constance was nominated to that sée but bicause he was made archbishop of Rouen before he was inuested in the church of Lincolne he is not accounted in number of the bishops of Lincolne Moreouer king Henrie shortlie after his returne at this time into England assembled a great armie and went with the same to Caerleill in purpose to haue entred Galloway and there to haue chastised Rouland lord of that countrie who was sonne to Uthred the sonne of Fergus for the iniuries doone to his coosine germains namelie to Duncane sonne to Gilbert who was sonne to the same Fergus in spoiling him and the residue after the deceasse of the said Gilbert of their parts of inheritance vsurping the whole to himselfe But as the king was now readie to inuade his countrie Rouland came to him and vsed such meanes vnder pretense of satisfaction that he made his peace with the king who therevpon brought backe his armie and did no more at that time About the same time came newes to the king that Hugh Lacie was slaine in Ireland by an Irish gentleman that was his confederate or rather by a labourer as in the Irish historie you may read whereof the king was nothing sorie bicause the same Hugh was growne to so high degrée of puissance in that countrie that he refused to obeie the kings commandement when he sent for him ¶ It is to be noted that when king Henrie had conquered the most part of Ireland and set the countrie in some good order after his comming from thence such capteines as he left there behind him were not idle but still did what they could to inlarge the confines which were committed to their gouernance but amongst them all this Hugh Lacie was the chéefest in somuch that after the death of Richard earle of Striguile the king made him gouernour of the countrie in place of the said earle by reason whereof he so inlarged his possessions that within a while he became dreadfull not onelie to the enimies but also to his associats as to such English capteins as were abiding in Ireland vpon gard of the English line 10 frontiers For if any of them disobeied his commandement he would not sticke to chastise them at his pleasure so that by such meanes he seemed rather to conquer the countrie to his owne vse than to the kings Wherein he dealt not so directlie or discréetlie as he might for Homines volunt allici non impelli He had also ioined himselfe in mariage with a daughter of the king of Unlester not making king Henrie priuie to the same Wherevpon the king hauing sundrie informations presented to him of such line 20 his presumptuous demeanour commanded him by his letters to returne home and come before his presence which to doo as before I haue said he refused by reason whereof he confirmed the suspicion which was conceiued of him to rise vpon no vaine coniectures and therefore the euill that came to him was nothing lamented of king Henrie who with good cause was highlie offended towards him for the contempts and considerations aforesaid line 30 This yeare Geffrey the kings son who was earle of Britaine died at Paris and was buried in the same citie leauing behind him besides two daughters one onlie sonne as then in his mothers wombe of whom she was deliuered in the night of the feast of Easter next insuing hir husbands death he was named Arthur and succeeded his father in the earledome of Britaine His fathers death was occasioned as men iudge by a fall which he caught at a iournie for he was sore bruised therewith and neuer had his health but finallie fell into a flix and so died line 40 About this season pope Urbane wrote vnto Baldwin archbishop of Canturburie granting him licence to build a church at Alkinton in honour of S. Stephan and Thomas Becket now reputed a martyr and that the fourth part of the offerings which came to the box of Thomas the martyr should be assigned to the vse of the moonks an other fourth part to the buildings of that church and an other fourth part to be giuen to the poore and the other fourth part line 50 remaining he might reserue to himselfe to bestow at his pleasure But within a while after at the suit and supplication of the prior and couent of Canturburie who liked nothing of the former partition the pope sent letters of prohibition to the
the more assurance therof he renewed his fealtie in receiuing an oth vpon the holie euangelists Which doone king Henrie went into Britaine with an armie and woone the castell of Mountreleis by siege which one Henrie de Lions and one Guinemer his brother had gotten into their hands after the deceasse of Geffrey earle of Britaine line 50 This yeare the twentie of October the citie of Chichester was almost wholie consumed to ashes by mischance of fire The head church with the bishops palace and the houses of the canons were burnt euen downe to the ground After this king Henrie held his Christmasse at Caen from whence he went to Harfleet and there taking the sea passed ouer into England The French king hearing by and by of his departure assembled a great armie and threatned to destroie the countrie of Normandie and other line 60 lands on that side the sea except king Henrie would deliuer into his hands the towne of Gisors with the appurtenances or cause his sonne Richard earle of Poictou to take to wife his sister Alice according to his promise When king Henrie was aduertised hereof he turned with all speed into Normandie that he might prouide for timelie resistance if the French king came forward to inuade his dominions About the selfe same time came newes out of the holie land that Saladine after the winning of Ierusalem pursued his victorie with such successe that he had taken from the christians the more part of all other towns and strengths within the land These newes were nothing pleasant to the christian princes and namelie the two kings Henrie and Philip séemed sorowfull for the same and therefore came to an enterview togither on the 21. day of Ianuarie betwixt Trie and Gisors where the archbishop of Tire was present through whose earnest exhortation the two kings were made freends and the same day receiued the crosse at his hands in purpose to make a iourneie togither against those Saracens that had doone such iniuries to the christian name And for a difference that one nation might be knowne from an other the French king and his people tooke vpon them to weare read crosses the king of England and his subiects white crosses but the earle of Flanders and his men ware gréene Herewith they departed asunder each one repairing to their countries to prouide their armies and make them in a readinesse to set forward by a day towards this necessarie iournie King Henrie comming to Chinon by aduise of his councell ordeined that euerie one of his subiects should yeeld a tenth part of his reuenues and mooueable goods for that yeare towards the aid of them in the holie land corne of that yeares growth excepted and also all armour horsses bookes apparell ornaments of chappels and pretious stones which should not come in the rate of goods now taxed nor be charged with this paiment Moreouer those knights and men of warre that were appointed to go in this iourneie paied nothing but had that monie also towards their furniture which were gathered of their tenants and farmers howbeit burgesses and others that tooke vpon them the crosse without licence of their lords paied his tenth so that none of them went free There were also good orders deuised both for the aduancement of Gods glorie and the releefe of the common-wealth as that no man should sweare in any outragious maner that no man should plaie at cards dice or tables and that no maner of person after Easter should weare any costlie furs or cloth of scarlet nor that men should vse to haue their tables serued with more than two dishes of meat at one meale nor should haue their apparell cut iagged or laced and further that none of them should take any women foorth with them in this iourneie except such a landresse of whome there might not growe anie suspicion of wanton life It was also ordeined that the monie of such as died in this iournie should go towards the finding and maintenance of their seruants and of poore people and towards the aid of the christians in the holie land Moreouer the pope granted that all those that went foorth in this iournie repenting and confessing their sinnes should be absolued and pardoned of the same The king hauing thus taken order for his businesse in the parts on the further side the sea came now ouer into England againe landing at Winchelsey on a saturday the thirtith day of Ianuarie and calling a councell togither at Gaitington which is eight or nine miles from Northampton he there declared what orders he had taken for his iournie into the holie land Wherevpon the bishops of Norwich and Lincolne and a great number of other people tooke vpon them the crosse at the preaching of the archbishop of Canturburie and the bishop of Rochester This doone king Henrie tooke order also for the leuieng of the tenth as well here in England as he had doone in the parts subiect to him on the further side the sea He also sent Hugh bishop of Durham and other both spirituall and temporall persons vnto William king of Scots to gather the tenth likewise within his countrie but he met them betwixt Wârk and Brightham and would not suffer them to enter into Scotland but he offered to giue vnto the king of England in recompense of the tenths and for to haue againe his castels the summe of 5000. marks of siluer which could not be accepted The French king likewise gathered the tenths in his countrie towards this intended iournie But by the working of some wicked spirit as we may well thinke which enuied the aduancement of the christian common-wealth that good meaning of the two kings was broken and disappointed for the peace latelie concluded betwixt them continued not long vnuiolated line 10 The French writers impute the fault thereof vnto English men and the English writers laie it to French men The French writers say that earle Richard the son of king Henrie in breach of the league made warre vpon Reimond earle of Tholouze The English writers reproue the French king as a wicked man in that he should of purpose breake the peace and moue warre against king Henrie to withdraw him from going to make warre against the Saracens to the which enterprise he was wholie line 20 bent and inclined Such is the maner of manie writers who more affectionat to the loue of their countrie than to the truth doo not obserue the law of histories in their writings but rather inueie one against another in a bralling and reprouing maner ¶ Examples hereof are more than by any possibilitie may be remembred and namelie for breuitie sake George Bucchanan in the 8. booke of his Scotish historie verie reprochfullie speaketh of Richard Grafton a right reuerend man whiles he liued and line 30 of entier name also being dead charging him with ignorance and the report of a shamelesse lier
Whose case bicause it is not so conuenient to be handled in this place as els where we will remit to the reigne of Edward the third in whose time Iohn Balioll was king of Scots and cleere him as well as we can from a Scotish slander Another example also we haue and that most notorious of Gabriel Prateolus the Iesuit who hauing neuer beene in England nor yet vnderstanding the English toong blusheth line 40 not to say that the translation of the English bible hath in it a thousand faults O singular and insufferable impudencie when men passe not what they vomit and cast vp out of a full gorge surfetting with malice and rancour But what shall we say Omne superuacuum pleno de pectore manat Indeed as Roger Houeden and other doo witnes the foresaid earle Reimond and also Aimer earle of Angolesme Geffrey de Racon and Geffrey de Lusignan with the most part of all the Nobles of line 50 Poictou made warre against earle Richard and he held tacke against them all and in the end ouercame them Amongst other of earle Reimonds part whom he tooke was one Peter Seille by whose counsell earle Reimond had taken diuerse merchants of Poictou that were subiects to earle Richard doone manie other displeasures to him and to his countrie wherefore earle Richard kept this Peter in verie close prison and would not put him to his ransome in somuch that earle Reimond tooke two of the king line 60 of Englands knights sir Robert Poer and sir Richard Fraser as they were returning from Compostella where they had béene to visit the bodie of S. Iames but they were quicklie set at libertie by the French kings commandement for the reuerence of S. Iames whose pilgrims they were After this earle Richard entred with a great armie into the lands of earle Reimond wasted the same and tooke by siege a castell of his situate néere vnto Tholouze called Moisac whereof the French king hearing sent out of hand to the king of England requiring to know if the damages doone by his sonne earle Richard vnto him his people in Tholouze were doone by his commandement for the which he demanded restitution Herevnto the king of England answered that his sonne earle Richard did nothing in that behalfe either by his knowledge or commandement but that as he had signified to him by the archbishop of Dublin what soeuer he did therin was doone by the counsell of the French king himselfe Howsoeuer this matter went certeine it is that king Philip taking weapon in hand vpon a sudden entred into Berrie and tooke from king Henrie Chasteau Raoull Brezancois Argenton Mountrichard Mountresor Uandosine Leprose Blanc en Berrie Culan and Molignon Wherfore king Henrie who was at this time in England about to prepare an armie to go therewith into the holie land when he heard thereof with all spéed possible he sent Baldwin archbishop of Canturburie and Hugh bishop of Durham ouer into France to appease the French kings displeasure with courteous words and reasonable persuasions if it might be but when that could not be brought to passe he sailed ouer into Normandie himselfe with an armie of Englishmen and Welshmen landing with the same at Herflue the 10. daie of Iulie after he had beene sore tossed by a cruell tempest that rose as he was on the sea to the great danger of his person all that were with him Now after his comming to land he repaired vnto Alencon increasing his power by gathering vp souldiers and men of warre out of Normandie and other his countries on that side the sea In the meane time his sonne Richard earle of Poictou entred into Berrie with a mightie armie and the French king deliuering Chateau Raoull vnto the keeping of sir William de Berres returned into France so that earle Richard spoiled and wasted the lands of those earls and barons which tooke the French part exceedinglie The French king kept him as yet within France and durst not come foorth now after the arriuall of king Henrie but manie enterprises were atchiued by the capteines on both sides Philip bishop of Beauuois inuading the frontiers of Normandie burned Blangeuille belonging to the earle of Angi and the castell Albemarle that belonged to William de Mandeuille whereof he bare the title of earle and wasted the countrie round about The French king alse came to the towne of Trow and burned it and tooke 40. men of armes there but the castell he could not win On the other part Richard earle of Poictou tooke a strong place called Les Roches beyond Trow towards Uandosme with 25. men of armes and 60. yeomen About this time king Henrie sent ambassadours vnto the French king as Walter the archbishop of Rouen Iohn bishop of Eureux and William Marshall to require restitution for the damages doone to him and his people And furthermore that if the French king refused to make restitution then had they in commandement to declare defiance against him Wherevnto the French king answered that he would not giue ouer to make warre till he had Berrie and the countrie of Ueuxin or Ueulgesine wholie in his possession Wherefore king Henrie with a mightie armie on the tuesdaie after the feast of the decollation of S. Iohn entred into the realme of France and burned manie townes and villages approching the same day néere to the towne of Maunt where the French king was thought to be Now as it chanced William de Berres and Drogo de Merlo encountred with Richard earle of Poictou and William de Mandeuille earle of Albemarle so that William de Berres was taken by earle Richard but by negligence of them that should haue taken héed to him he escaped awaie vpon his pageâ horsse The morrow after also earle Richard departed from his father towards Berrie and vpon the thursdaie the Welshmen burned manie villages with the castell of Danuille that belonged to Simon Daneth and tooke manie rich preies and booties Also William Mandeuille earle of Albemarle burned a place called saint Clare that was belonging vnto the demaine of the French king But see when the English were fullie bent to prosecute the warres with all extremitie now in hand there came messengers vnto king Henrie from the line 10 French king requiring him that he would grant a peace to be had betwixt them with promise that if he would condescend therevnto that he should receiue by way of restitution all that the French king had now taken from him in Berrie Herevpon they came to a communication betwixt Trie Gisors and when they could not agrée the French king caused a great elme standing betwixt those two places to be cut downe at which the kings of England and France were accustomed to méet when they treated line 20 of matters in controuersie betwixt them swearing that from thencefoorth there should neuer be anie more méetings holden at that
naked hauing no time to put on their apparell his treasure horsse armour and standard were taken which standard king Richard straitwaies determined to send vnto saint Edmunds shrine and so did Hauing thus vanquished his aduersaries he came backe to Limezun and the third day after Guie king of Ierusalem and his brother Geffrey de Lucignan with the prince of Antioch Raimond and his sonne named also Raimond earle of Tripoli with other noble men arriued at Limezun aforesaid to visit king Richard and to offer him their seruices and so became his men in swearing fealtie to him against all other persons whatsoeuer The same day the king of Cypres perceiuing himselfe vnable to resist the great puissance of king Richards armie sent ambassadours and offered to king Richard the summe of twentie thousand marks of gold in recompense of the monie which his men that were drowned had about them and also to restore those to libertie which he had taken prisoners and to make deliuerie to their hands of all their goods Furthermore he offered to go with him into the holie land personallie and to serue him with an hundred knights 400 light horssemen and 500 well armed footmen also to deliuer to king Richard his daughter and heire in hostage and to acknowledge him his souereigne lord by swearing to him fealtie for his kingdome as for that which he should confesse to hold of him King Richard accepted these offers and so the king of Cypres came in and sware fealtie to king Richard in presence of the king of Ierusalem the prince of Antioch and other barons and promised line 10 vpon his oth then receiued not to depart till all things couenanted on his part were performed Then king Richard assigned tents for him and his to lodge in and appointed certeine knights and other men of warre to haue the custodie of him But the same day after dinner vpon repentance of that which he had doone he deceiued his keepers and sâale awaie sending knowledge backe to the king that he would not stand to the couenants which were concluded vpon betwixt them line 20 King Richard seemed to like the matter well inough and foorthwith deliuered a part of his armie vnto the king of Ierusalem and to the prince of Antioch appointing them to pursue the king of Cypres by land whilest he with one part of his gallies and Robert de Turneham with the other might search about the coast by sea to prohibit his passage by water In euerie place where they came such ships and gallies as they found they seized into their hands and no resistance was made against them by reason line 30 the people fled to the woods and mountains leauing the cities townes and castels void in all stéeds where the king or the said sir Robert de Turneham with their vessels began to appéere When they had taken their pleasure thus alongst the coasts they returned againe vnto Limezun The king of Ierusalem and the other that went foorth by land when they could not spéed of their purpose returned also in which meane time a great number of Cypriots came in and submitting themselues to king Richard were line 40 receiued as his subiects On the 12. daie of Maie the ladie Berengaria daughter to the king of Nauarre was maried according to a precontract vnto king Richard at Limezun aforesaid in the I le of Cypres one of the kings chaplins executing the order of the marriage The same daie also she was crowned by the bishop of Eureux the archbishops of Apamea and Aur with the bishop of Baion ministring vnto him After the solemnitie of this marriage and coronation ended line 50 king Richard seâ forward with his armie into the countrie of Cypres and first wan by surrender the citie of Nichosia and after the strong castell of Cherin within the which was the daughter of the king of Cypres which ladie humblie yeelded hir selfe vnto K. Richard who counting it reproch to be extreame with such as submit themselues and speciallie the female sex according to the old saieng Parcere subiectis nobilis sâit ira leonis had pitie of hir case and sent hir to his wife the new line 60 quéene willing that she might be honorablie vsed From thence passing forward these castels were deliuered into his hands Baffes and Buffenent Den Amur Candace and afterwards all the other castâls and cities townes and places of strength within that I le one after an other Finallie hearing that the king of Cypres was inclosed in an abbeie called Cap S. Andrew he marched thitherwards but when the king of Cypres heard of his approch he came foorth and submitted himselfe wholie into his hands The king first appointed him to the kéeping of his chamberlaine Rafe Fitz Geffrey and after sent him vnto the citie of Tripoli there to be kept in close prison Who when he heard he should be committed to close prison and remaine in fetters said that if he laie in irons he should shortlie end his life Wherevnto king Richard when he heard of it answered He saith well and therefore bicause he is a noble man and our mind is not to haue him dead but onelie to be kept safe from starting anie more awaie and dooing new hurt let him be chamed in giues and fetters made of siluer and so he was But to procéed After the king had set the countrie of Cypres in good staie he deliuered the keeping thereof vnto Richard de Camuille and Robert de Turneham This doone vpon the wednesdaie in the Whitsunwéeke he tooke the sea againe and passed ouer to the citie of Acres which as then was besieged by the christian armie as ye may read in the description of the holie land onelie giuing you to vnderstand that such was the valiancie of king Richard shewed in manfull constreining of the citie that his praise was greatlie bruted both amongst the christians and also the Saracens Howbeit the secret enimitie betwixt him and the French king estsoones reuiued by occasion of such discord as chanced betwixt Guido king of Ierusalem and Conrade the marques of Tire so that parties were taken and whereas both the Pisans and Geneuois did offer their seruice vnto king Richard yet bicause the Geneuois were confederat with the French king who tooke part with the marques he refused them and receiued the Pisans ioining himselfe with king Guido to support him against his enimies Here is to be remembred that before king Richard arriued at the siege he incountred on the sea a mightie great ship called a Drommond which one Saphaldine the brother of Saladine a prince of the Saracens had sent to refresh them with vittels This ship king Richard caused féercelie to be assailed with his gallies and at length bowged hir with all the vittels and prouision within the same as wild-fire barels of firie serpents armour and weapons of sundrie sorts besides all the mariners and men
vltra mare Richardum regem Angliae dominum de morte marchisi inculpent iuro per dominum qui regnat in line 60 aeternum per legem quam tenemus quòd in âius mortem nullam culpam habuit Est siquidem causa mortis ipsius marchisi talis Vnus ex fratribus nostris in vnam nauem de Satalei ad partes nostras veniebat tempestas illum fortè ad Tyrum appulit marchisus fecit illum capere occidere magnam pecuniam eius rapuit Nos verò marchiso nuncios nostros misimus mandantes vt pecuniam fratris nostrinobis redderet de morte fratris nostri nobiscum se concordaret noluit Nec non nuncios nostros spreuit mortem fratris nostri super Reginaldum dominum de Sidonis posuit nos tantùm fecimus per amicos nostros quod in veritate scimus quòd ille fecit illum occidere pecuniam rapere Et iterum alium nuncium nostrum nomine Edrisum misimus ad eum quem in mare mergere voluit sed amici nostri illum à Tyro festinanter fecerunt recedere qui ad nos peruenit ista nobis nunciauit Nos quoque ex illa hora marchisum desiderauimus occidere Túncque duos fratres misimus ad Tyrum qui eum apertè ferè coram omni populo Tyri occiderunt Haec ergò fuit causa mortis marchisi benè dicimus vobis in veritate quòd dominus Richardus rex Angliae in hac marchisi morte nullam culpam habuit Et qui propter hoc domino regi Angliae malum fecerunt iniustè fecerunt sine causa Sciatis pro certo quòd nullum hominem huius mundi pro mercede aliqua vel pecunia occidimus nisi priùs nobis malum fecerit Et sciatis quòd has liter as fecimus in domo nostra ad castellum nostrum Messiat in dimidio Septembri anno ab Alexandro 1505. The same in English VEtus de Monte to Lupold duke of Austrich sendeth greeting Where manie kings and princes beyond the seas blame Richard king of England of the marques his death I sweare by the lord that reigneth euerlastinglie and by the law which we hold that he was not in fault for his death For the verie cause of the marques his death was such as followeth One of our brethren in a ship of Satalie came towards our parties and chanced by tempest to be driuen vnto Tyre and the marques caused him to be taken and slaine and tooke a great portion of monie that he had in the ship with him Whervpon we sent our messengers to the marques commanding him to restore vnto vs the monie of our brother and to compound with vs for our said brothers death and he would not Moreouer he also contemned our messengers laid the fault of our brothers death vpon Reginald lord of Sidon and we did so much through our freends that we got full vnderstanding that the marques himselfe caused him to be slaine and tooke his monie And therefore we sent vnto him againe an other messenger named Edrisus whome he would haue drowned in the sea but our freends made such shift that they procured him to depart with speed from Tyre who returned to vs ãâã signified these things to vs for certeine And from that houre euer after we had a desire to slea the marques and so then we sent two of our brethren vnto Tyre who openlie in a manner in presence of all the people of Tyre slue him This therefore was the verie cause of the death of the marques we say to you in good sooth that the lord Richard king of England in this death of the marques was nothing culpable and they that haue doone anie displeasure vnto the king of England for this cause they haue doone it wrongfullie and without anie iust occasion Know ye for certeine that we doo not vse to kill anie man of this world for anie bribe or for monie except he haue doone to vs some harme afore time And know ye that we haue made these letters in our house at our castell of Messuat in the midst of September in the yeare from Alexander the great 1505. ¶ Thus we see how king Richard was cleared of that crime concerning the marques his death by the tenour of this letter And verelie it is most like that line 10 king Richard would haue béene loth to haue communicated his purpose vnto such a wicked kind of pagans as the Assassini were if he had pretended any such matter but rather would haue sought his reuenge by some other meanes Now therefore to our purpose The newes of the taking of king Richard was anon bruted and blowne ouer all Germanie wherevpon the emperour Henrie the sixt the sonne of Frederike the first year 1193 sent in all hast vnto the duke persuading line 20 him to deliuer the king into his hands being able to susteine and abide the malice of all them that would be offended with the taking and deteining of him prisoner as the pope and others The emperour well vnderstood the wealth and riches of England and therefore hoped to make some good purchase by ransoming the king if he might get him out of the dukes hands The duke perceiuing also the emperours meaning durst not well denie his request and therefore he deliuered the king vnto them that line 30 were sent from the emperour who couenanted to giue vnto the said duke the summe of 6000. pounds of Cullen weight for the hauing of the said king The emperour thus receiuing the king at the hands of the duke of Austrich commanded that he should be committed to close prison and would not doo so much as once speake with him This he did to cause the king vpon an indignation and wearinesse of that maner of life to make speed in offering some large masse of monie for his libertie deliuerance ¶ Thus line 40 we sée how couetousnesse infected the hearts of the mightie and what occasion the emperour and duke did take to inrich themselues by the meanes of the king whome they forced not to impouerish so their owne greedie worme were serued But this hath béene a disease not so generall as ancient according to his words that said Vix ego Saturno quenquam regnante videbam Cuius non animo dulcia lucra forent Here is to be remembred by the waie that about line 50 the same time or somewhat before in the yeare of our Lord 1192. the pope sent two legats namelie Octauian bishop of Hostia and Iordane de Fossa noua into Normandie to reconcile the bishop of Elie and the archbishop of Rouen but comming vnto Gisors they were staied from entring any further into the countrie wherevpon they did interdict the whole duchie of Normandie togither with William Fitz Radulfe lord steward of that countrie bicause he was the man that had so staied them
Immediatlie line 60 herevpon queene Elianor and the archbishop of Rouen sent vnto those legats Hugh bishop of Durham requiring them to release that sentence of interdiction so pronounced against the steward and countrie of Normandie in the kings absence but they would not except they might be receiued into Normandie howbeit the pope being sent vnto released it and caused the legats to release it also and yet they entred not into Normandie at all This yeare whilest the seneschall of Gascoigne laie sicke the earle of Pieregort and the vicount of March and almost all the lords and barons of Gascoigne began to waste and destroie the lands of king Richard And though the seneschall manie times by messengers required a peace or at the least some truce yet could he not haue any grant thereof wherfore vpon his recouerie of health he inuaded the lands of the said earle tooke the castels and fortresses and some of them he fortified and kept to the kings vse and some of them he raced downe to the ground He also inuaded the vicounts countrie and subdued it to the kings gouernement Shortlie after came the brother of the king of Nauarre with eight hundred knights or men of armes to the seneschals aid and so they two togither entring into the lands of the earle of Tholouse tooke diuerse castels and fortresses within the same of the which some they fortified and some they raced and rode euen to the gates of Tholouse and lodged in maner vnder the walles of the citie A little before Christmas also diuerse of those that had béene in the holie land with king Richard came home into England not knowing but that king Richard had beene at home before them and being asked where they thought he was become they could say no more but that they had seene the ship wherein he first went aboord arriuing at Brendize in Puglia At length when newes came that he was taken and staied as prisoner the archbishop of Rouen and other the rulers of the realme of England sent the abbat of Boxeley and the abbat of Roberts-bridge with all spéed into Almaine to speake with him and to vnderstand his state and what his pleasure was in all things Who comming to Germanie passed through the count â into Baierland where at a place called Oxefer they found the king as then on his iournie towards the emperour to whom as yée haue heard the duke of Austrich did send him The said abbats attended him to the emperours court and remained there with him till the emperour and he were accorded in manner as after shall be shewed and then after Easter they returned with the newes into England Upon report hereof order was taken for manie things but cheefelie for the state in which dealings forsomuch as those which had the rule of the land stood in great doubt of things for the inconstant nature of earle Iohn was of them much suspected first they caused a new oth of allegiance to be made to king Richard and receiued of the people They fortified also such townes and castels as were of importance both with repairing the walles and other defenses about the same and furnishing them with men munition and vittels Thus was the land brought into some order In the meane while the French king being aduertised that king Richard was deteined as prisoner reioised not a little thereat and with all speed by secret messages did send for his brother earle Iohn who was readie to come at his call And being come he exhorted him not to suffer so conuenient an occasion to passe but to take the gouernement of the realme of England now into his hands promising him all such aid as he could of him reasonablie require with other like talke still tending to the prouocation of the earle to forsake his allegiance vnto his brother And to say the truth earle Iohn was easilie persuaded so to doo and therefore vpon his immediat returne into England assembled an armie and with the same and such strangers as he brought with him began to prooue maisteries first winning the castels of Windsore Wallingford Notingham and diuerse other and fortifieng the same to his owne vse and defense The barons of the land iudging such vnlawfull doings not to be anie longer suffered first besieged the castell of Windsore and after preparing to leuie a greater force did put them within in such feare that they yéelded vp the same séeking to escape by flight some into one place and some into an other the which yet being apprehended were put to worthie execution But this was not doone without continuance of time without great trouble charges to the realme for whereas there was a practise betwixt the French king and earle Iohn that a great power of strangers namelie Flemings should haue come into the realme for whose transporting a great number of ships were brought togither at Witsand yet the high prouidence and goodnesse of God disappointed line 10 their purpose For their messengers being taken which were sent hither into England the treason was reuealed and by the queene mothers appointment who cheefelie then ruled the land a great companie of knights men of armes and commons of the countrie watched the sea coasts ouer against Flanders to keepe the enimies from landing They began thus to watch in the passion wéeke and so continued till a certeine time after Easter Howbeit earle Iohn came secréetlie ouer in hope to haue not line 20 onelie the assistance of the Welshmen and of manie other his freends in England but also of the Scots howbeit the king of Scots would not meddle He therefore with such Welshmen and other as he had brought ouer and such Englishmen as he could get to take his part began such attempts as before ye haue heard to the disquieting of the whole realme and great displeasure of the king Moreouer beside that power of the barons which laid siege to Windsor castell there were Noble men line 30 also in other parts of the realme that were readie to resist him And amongst other Geffrey the archbishop of Yorke with Hugh Bardolfe one of the kings iustices and William de Stuteuille assembled an armie and comming to Doncaster fortified the towne but when the archbishop would haue gone forward to besiege the castell of Tickhill which earle Iohn had in possession the other two his associats would not consent to go with him bicause they were seruants and reteined with earle Iohn Herewith line 40 the archbishop being sore offended departed from them calling them traitors to their king and enimies to the realme About the same time did the French king enter into Normandie with an armie comming to the towne of Gisors besieged it the which one Gilbert de Uascoll or Guascoill capteine thereof to his high reproch yéelded vp vnto him with an other castell also called Nefle which he had likewise in kéeping After this the
bishops sées are included Howbeit the truth is that the emperour neuer had possession of these countries cities and towns himselfe neither would line 40 the inhabitants receiue any person so by him appointed to their lord and gouernour wherefore the king made small account of that his so large grant But after he once vnderstood the certeintie of the summe that he should paie for his ransome which businesse he most attended he sent one with letters by and by and in great hast into England to his treasurers requiring them with all conuenient spéed to prouide monie and to send it to him by a day that he might be set at libertie with spéed line 50 These letters being come to the quéene mother and other that had charge in gouernance of the realme tooke order that all maner of persons as well spirituall as temporall should giue the fourth part of their whole reuenues to them for that yeare accrewing and as much more of their mooueable goods and that of euerie knights fée there should be leuied the sum of twentie shillings Also that the religious houses of the orders of the Cisteaux and Sempringham should line 60 giue all their wools for that yeare towards the kings ransome Now those that had commission to leuie this monie being poisoned with couetousnesse and incensed with a gréedie desire than the which as the poet saith nulla est hac maior Erinnys Hanc memorant Acheronte satam per tristia Ditis Regna truces agitare faces c. vsed much streightnesse in exacting it not onelie leuieng it to the vttermost value and extent of mens lands goods and possessions but after their owne willes and pleasures so that vnder colour of the kings commission and letters to them directed there séemed not a tribute or subsidie to be raised but by some publike proclamation all the goods and substance of the people to be appointed as a prey to the kings officers whereby it came to passe that not onelie priuate mens goods but also the chalices iewels and vessels belonging to the church were turned into monie and a farre greater summe made than was at the first commanded a great part of the ouerplus being conuerted to the vse of those through whose hands the receipt passed There was no priuilege nor freedome allowed to exempt any person or place for being contributorie towards the paiment of this monie The order of Cisteaux that were neuer charged with any paiment before were now assessed more déepelie than the rest The bishop of Norwich lamenting the iniurious dealings of the pettie officers and pittieng the people of the church collected halfe the value of all the chalices within his diocesse himselfe and to make vp the other halfe of the whole summe he spared not to giue a great portion of his owne treasure The abbat of S. Albons acquitted all those churches within the compasse of his iurisdiction by the gift of an hundred marks But the bishop of Chester had verie ill lucke with his collections for hauing gathered a great summe of monie to the kings vse he was spoiled thereof in one night as he lodged neere vnto Canturburie being vpon his iournie towards the king And bicause Matthew de Cléere that laie in the castell of Douer was knowne to aid those that robbed the said bishop the archbishop of Canturburie pronounced him accurssed About this time and on the morrow after the natiuitie of saint Iohn Baptist the bishop of Elie lord chancellour arriued in England not shewing himselfe in any statelie port for he tooke vpon him neither the dignitie of chancellour nor legat nor yet of iustice but onelie as a simple bishop and messenger sent from the king The quéene mother the archbishop of Rouen and such other as had gouernment of the land hearing of his comming met him at saint Albons where he shewed to them the emperours letters conteining the agreement made betwixt him and king Richard and withall appointed certeine lords barons to go with him at his returne backe to the king as Gilbert bishop of Rochester Sifrid bishop of Chichester Bennet abbat of Peterborow Richard earle of Clare Roger Bigot earle of Norfolke Geffrey de Saie and diuerse other It was also ordeined at this same time that the monie gathered towards the paiment of the kings ransome should remaine in custodie of Hubert bishop of Salisburie Richard bishop of London William earle of Arundell Hameline earle of Warren and of the Maior of London vnder the seales of the quéene mother and of the archbishop of Rouen ¶ But sée the hap of things whilest ech one was thus occupied about the aforesaid monie it chanced that king Richard was at the point to haue béene deliuered into the hands of his deadlie aduersarie the French king as hereafter you shall heare noting by the waie the dangerous estate of princes the manifold distresses whereinto by sinister fate as well as the inferior rascall rout of common drudges they be driuen For what greater calamitie what gréeuouser hartach what more miserable casualtie could haue happened vnto a bondman than to be deliuered to and fro from the hand of one enimie to another to be bought and sold for monie to stand to the courtesies of forren foes of a king to become a captiue whervnto the poet did right well allude when he said Saepius ventis agitatur ingens Pinus celsae grauiore casis Decidunt turres feriúntque summos Fulminae montes The emperour vpon displeasure conceiued against the bishop of Liege which latelie had atteined to that benefice contrarie to the emperours pleasure who wished the same rather to an other person hired certeine naughtie fellowes to go into France where the bishop remained for feare of the emperours malice and there to find meanes traitorouslie to slea him which they accordinglie did by reason whereof the duke of Louaigne that was brother to the bishop and other of his kinsmen vpon knowledge had line 10 thereof meant to haue made the emperour warre in reuenge of that murther insomuch that the emperour to haue the French kings aid against them was minded to haue deliuered K. Richard vnto him Howbeit after that the matter was taken vp and a concord made betwixt the emperour and his nobles he changed his purpose also touching the deliuering ouer of king Richard who perceiuing that till his ransome were paid which would amount to the summe of an hundred fiftie thousand marks he line 20 should not get libertie and putting great confidence in the dexteritie and diligence of Hubert bishop of Salisburie whome he sent as ye haue heard into England to deale for the leuieng of the same he thought good to aduance the same bishop to the metropolitane sée of Canturburie which had beene vacant euer sithence the decease of archbishop Baldwine that died as ye haue heard in the holie land Herevpon writing to the bishops of
to the like sight againe And now the same daie and selfe houre that the king arriued at Sandwich being the second houre of that daie whilest the sunne shone verie bright and cleare there appeared a most brightsome and vnaccustomed clearnesse not farre distant from the sunne as it were to the length and breadth of a mans personage hauing a red shining brightnesse line 30 withall like to the rainbow which strange sight when manie beheld there were that prognosticated the king alreadie to be arriued In this meane while the bishop of Durham with a great armie besieged the castell of Tickhill and earle Dauid brother to the king of Scots with Ranulfe earle of Chester and earle Ferrers besieged the castell of Notingham whilest at the same present the archbishop of Canturburie with a great power besieged Marleburgh castell the which within a few line 40 daies was rendred into his hands the liues and lims of them within saued Also the castell of Lancaster was deliuered to him the which the same archbishops brother had in kéeping vnder earle Iohn and likewise the abbeie of S. Michaels mount in Cornwall the which abbeie Henrie de la Pomerey chasing out the moonks had fortified against the king and hearing newes of the kings returne home died as it was thought for méere gréefe and feare These three places were surrendered to the archbishop before the line 50 kings returne but Tickhill Notingham held out King Richard being returned into England and vnderstanding both how the French king made warre against him in Normandie and that the state of England was not a little disquieted by the practise of his brother earle Iohn and his complices speciallie by reason that diuerse castels were defended by such as he had placed in them he thought good with all speed to cut off such occasions as might bréed a further mischéefe Wherevpon he first went to Notingham line 60 and within thrée daies after his comming thither which was on the daie of the Annunciation of our ladie he constreined them that kept the castell there in his brothers name to yeeld themselues simplie vnto his mercie after they had abidden diuerse assaults by the which euen the first daie the vtter gates were burnt and certeine defenses destroied which they had made before the same The cheefe of them that were within this castell to defend it were these William de Uendeuall conestable there Roger de Mountbegun Rafe Murdac Philip de Worceter and Ranulfe de Worceter brethren The morow after the surrender was made the king went to Clipstone and rode into the forrest of Shirewood where he had neuer béene before the view whereof pleased him greatlie The castell of Tickhill was likewise at the same time yéelded vnto the bishop of Durham who receiued it to the kings vse and them that kept it as prisoners without anie composition but standing simplie to the K. mercie For although those that had these castels in keeping were sufficientlie prouided of all necessarie things for defense yet the sudden comming of the king whom they thought verelie would neuer haue returned put them in such feare that they wist not what to make of the matter and so as men amazed they yéelded without anie further exception The bishop of Durham bringing those prisoners with him which had yéelded vp this castell of Tickhill came to the king the 27 daie of March the verie daie before that Notingham castell was giuen ouer Moreouer this is to be remembred that during the siege of Notingham contention arose betwixt the two archbishops of Canturburie and Yorke about the carriage of their crosses For Hubert archshop of Canturburie comming thither had his crosse borne before him the archbishop of Yorke hauing no crosse there at all was verie sore offended that anie other should go with crosse borne before him in his diocesse and therfore complained hereof to the king But the archbishop of Canturburie mainteined that he had not doone anie thing but that which was lawfull for him to doo and therevpon made his appeale to Rome that the pope might haue the hearing and iudging of that controuersie betwixt them In the meane time after the king had got the castels of Notingham and Tickhill into his hands as ye haue heard he called a parlement at Notingham where the quéene mother sat on the right hand of him and the archbishops of Canturburie Yorke on the left with other bishops earles and barons according to their places On the first daie of their session was Gerard de Camuille discharged of the office which he had borne of shiriffe of Lincolne and dispossessed both of the castell countie And so likewise was Hugh Bardolfe of the castell and countie of Yorke and of the castell of Scarbourgh and of the custodie and kéeping of the countrie of Westmerland the which offices being now in the kings hands he set them on sale to him that would giue most Hereof it came to passe that where the lord chancellour offered to giue fiftéene hundred markes before hand for the counties of Yorke Lincolne and Northampton and an hundred markes of increase of rent for euerie of the same counties Geffrey archbishop of Yorke offered to the king thrée thousand markes aforehand onelie for the countie of Yorke and an hundred markes yearelie of increase and so had the same committed to his regiment Moreouer in this parlement the king demanded iudgement against his brother Iohn and Hugh Nouant the bishop of Couentrie and Chester for such traitorous and most disloiall attempts as they had made against him and his countries and iudgement was giuen that both the said earle and bishop should haue summons giuen them peremptorilie to appeare and if within fortie daies after they came not to answer such plaints as might be laid against them then should earle Iohn forfeit all that he had within the realme and the bishop should stand to the iudgement of the bishops in that he was a bishop and to the temporall lords in that he had béene the kings shiriffe In this parlement also in the kalends of Aprill the king procured a subsidie to be granted to him to wit two shillings of euerie plough land through England which maner of subsidie by an old name is called Teemen toll or Theyme toll He also commanded that euerie man should make for him the third part of knights seruice accordinglie as euerie sée might beare to furnish him foorth into Normandie He demanded of the moonks Cisteaux all their woolles for the same yeare But bicause that seemed an ouer greeuous burthen vnto them they fined with him as after shall appeare The fourth day of this parlement by the kings permission manie greeuous complaints were exhibited against the archbishop of Yorke for extortion and other vniust vexations line 10 which he had practised but he passed so little thereof that he made no answer vnto their billes
ambitione remotos Inflatos verò ac ventosos deprimit idem Nec patitur secum puro consistere olympo Moreouer through the kings request pope Celestine this yeare made the archbishop of Canturburie legat of all England by his buls directed to him bearing date at his palace in Rome called Lateran the fifteenth kalends of Aprill in the fourth yeare of his papasie Furthermore the pope wrote to the English cleargie giuing them to vnderstand that he had created the said archbishop of Canturburie his legat commanding them so to accept him by vertue of which letters the archbishop Hubert being now both archbishop of Canturburie legat of the apostolike sée and lord chéefe iustice of England appointed to hold a councell at Yorke and therefore gaue knowledge by the abbat of Binham in Northfolke and one maister Geruise vnto the canons of Yorke and to the archbishops officials of his purposed intention The said canons and officials well considering of the popes letters which were deliuered vnto them by the messengers signified for answer that they would gladlie receiue him as legat of the apostolike sée but not as archbishop of Canturburie nor as their primat Herewith he came to Yorke vpon saint Barnabies daie being sundaie and was receiued with procession On the morrow after he held a court of plees of the crowne of assises and such other matters touching the king On the next day being Tuesday he entred into the monasterie of saint Maries in Yorke and deposed the abbat bicause of his infirmitie of bodie at the request of the moonks but the abbat appealed to the popes consistorie Then he assembled the cleargie in the church of Saint Peter in Yorke and there held a synod for reformation of things amisse in the church and amendment of manners line 10 in the cleargie so that diuerse decrées were made the which for bréefenesse we ãâã to speake of in particular This yeare also the said archbishop ãâ¦ã throughout the realme of England to receiue an oth of obseruing the kings ãâã and to sweare that they should not be robbers nor abbettors of roâbers nor in any wise consenting vnto them but should doo what in them might lie to ãâ¦ã offendors and to discouer them to the kings officers to be apprehended and to pursue line 20 them vpon hew and crie to the vttermost of their powers and those that withdrew themselues from such pursuit should be apprehended as partakers with the offendors About this time the emperour sent to king Richard requiring him in no wise to conclude any peace with the French king but rather to inuade his dominions promising to aid him all that he might But king Richard to vnderstand further of the emperours mind herein sent ouer his chancellour the line 30 bishop of Elie vnto him in ambassage In the meane time the warre was still continued betwixt him and the French by the which they were commonlie put to the worse and king Richard inuading their borders did much hurt in wasting the countries on each side The French king was at one time so narrowlie chased that as he would haue passed a bridge that laie ouer the water of Saine he was in danger of drowning by the fall of the same vnder him but yet at the length he escaped and got to the line 40 further side After this the two kings came to a communication togither in the which a motion was made that Lewes the French king his sonne and heire should haue the sister of Arthur duke of Britaine in marriage and that king Richard in consideration thereof should surrender vnto them and to their heires the townes of Gisors Bademont with the countrie of Ueulquessine or Ueuxine le Normant Uernon Iuerie and Pascie and further should giue vnto them line 50 twentie thousand marks of siluer On the other side it was mooued that the French king should resigne vnto king Richard all that he could demand in the countie of Engeulesme and should restore vnto him the counties of Albemarle and Augie with the castell of Arkes and all other castels which he had taken in Normandie or in any partie during these last warres But there was a respit taken for the full concluding and assuring of these conditions till the octaues of All saints that king Richard might vnderstand line 60 the emperours pleasure without whose consent he might not conclude any thing concerning that matter bicause he had sent such word vnto him by the lord chancellour who at this time was attendant in his court In the meane time the emperour being aduertised of the whole matter and of the articles afore mentioned gaue knowledge to king Richard by the bishop of Elie at his returning backe that this forme of peace nothing liked him but rather made directlie to his discontentment the which least he might séeme to saie without sufficient ground of reason he alledged that it should sound to king Richards dishonour if he surrendred and gaue vp anie thing that he had not in possession And to encourage him to recouer those things which had beene taken from him âhe emperour pardoned him of the seauentéene thousand marks of siluer which yet remained behind due to him for the kings ransome Howsoeuer the matter passed the two kings met not in the octaues of all saints according to the appointment although they were ãâã and approched verie néere to the plaâe where they should haue communed togither but through the dissimulation of the Frenchmen they departed without seeing one another and ãâ¦ã began the warre as fiercelie as at anie time before The French king tooke the towne of Diep which king Richard had latelie repared and burned it with the ships that harbored ãâã the hauen after this comming to Isoldun he wan the towne and besieged the castell But king Richard aduertised thereof came with quicke spéed making of thrée daies iournie but one and entred into the castell of Isoldun to defend the same against his aduersaries and foorthwith there resorted such numbers of men vnto him when they heard how he was besieged that the French king doubting how to retire from thence in safetie made suit first to haue licence to depart and after when that would not be granted he required at the leastwise to talke with the king of England about some agréement Wherevnto king Richard condescended and so comming togither they concluded vpon a truce to indure from that daie being saturdaie next after the feast of saint Nicholas vnto the feast of saint Hilarie next insuing and then to méet againe néere vnto Louiers with their councels that they might grow by some reasonable way vnto a finall peace and concord And according to this article year 1196 shortlie after the same feast of S. Hilarie they met at Louiers where finallie they were accorded to conclude a peace on these conditions that the French king should release to the king of England Isoldun with the countrie
hir husband meeting hir at Pountourson tooke hir as prisoner and shut hir vp within his castell at S. Iames de Beumeron and when hir sonne Arthur could not find means to deliuer hir out of captiuitie he ioined with the king of France and made great hauocke in the lands of his vncle king Richard wherevpon the king gathered a mightie armie and inuading Britaine with great force cruellie wasted and destroied the countrie Here is also to be noted that in this seuenth yeare of king Richard a great dearth chanced through this realme of England and in the coasts about the same Also about the same time died William earle of Salisburie the sonne of earle Patrike whose daughter and heire king Richard gaue in marriage togither with the earledome of Salisburie vnto his base brother surnamed Long Espée It chanced moreouer about the same time that earle Iohn the kings brother with certeine capiteins of such hired souldiors as some call Brabanceni others the Routs and the French histories name them Costereaux or Coâerels went abroad to atchiue some enterprise against the bishop of Beauâois and other Frenchmen which had doone much hurt to king Richards subiects in those parties The chéefe leaders of those Routs or Costereaux which went foorth with earle Iohn and serued vnder him at that time were two Prouancois Marchades Lupescaro These riding foorth into the countrie about Beauuois made hauocke in robbing and spoiling all afore them Anon as Philip the bishop of Beauuois a man more giuen to the campe than to the church had knowledge hereof thinking them to be a méet preie for him with sir William de Merlow and his sonne and a great number of other valâant men of warre came foorth into the fields and encountring with the enimies fought verie stoutlie But yet in the end the bishop the archdeacon and all the chéefe capteins were taken the residue slaine and chased After this earle Iohn and the foresaid capteins passed foorth and wan the towne of Millie and so returned Earle Iohn and Marchades presented the two prelats with great triumph vnto K. Richard earlie in the morning lieng yet in his bed as those that were knowne to be his great enimies saieng to him in French Rise Richard rise we haue gotten the great chantour of Beauuois and a good quieâ man as we take it to answer him in the same note and here we deliuer them vnto you to vse at your discretion The king séeing them smiled and was verie glad for the taking of this bishop for that he had euer found him his great aduersarie and therefore being thus taken fighting in the field with armour on his backe thought he might be bold in temporall wise to chastise him sith he not regarding his calling practised to moâesâ him wich temporall weapons wherevpon he committed him to close prison all armed as he was It chanced soone after that two of his chaplins came vnto the king to Rouen where this bishop was deteined beseeching the king of licence to attend vpon their maister now in captiuitie vnto whome as it is of some reported the king made this answer I am content to make you iudges in the cause betwixt me and your maister as for the euils which he hath either doone either else gone about to doo vnto line 10 me let the same be forgotten This is true that I being taken as I returned from my iournie made into the holie land and deliuered into the emperours hands was in respect of my kinglie state vsed according therevnto verie fréendlie and honourablie till your maister comming thither for what purpose he himselfe best knoweth had long conference with the emperour After which I for my part in the next morning tasted the fruit of their ouernights talke being then loden with as manie irons as a good asse line 20 might not verie easilie haue borne Iudge you therefore what maner of imprisonment your maister deserued at my hands that procured such ease for me at the emperours hands The two chaplins had their mouths stopped with these words thus by the king vttered and so departed their waies The bishop being still deteined in prison procured suit to be made to the pope for his deliuerance but the pope being truelie informed of the matter and wiselie considering that the king had line 30 not taken the bishop preaching but fighting and kept him prisoner rather as a rough enimie than as a peaceable prelat would not be earnest with the king for his deliuerance but rather reprooued the bishop in that he had preferred secular warfare before the spirituall and had taken vpon him the vse of a speare in stéed of a crosier an helmet in steed of a miter an herbergeon in stéed of a white rocket a target for a stoale and an iron sword in lieu of the spirituall sword and therefore he refused to vse any commandement line 40 to king Richard for the setting of him at libertie But yet he promised to doo what he could by waie of intreating that he might be released It is reported by some writers that the pope at first not vnderstanding the truth of the whole circumstance should send to king Richard commanding him by force of the canons of the church to deliuer his sons the bishop and archdeacon out of their captiuitie To whom the king sent their armour with this message written in Latine Vide an tunica filij tui line 50 sit an non that is See whether these are the garments of thy sonnes or not alluding to the saieng of those that caried Iosephs coate to Iacob Which when the pope saw he said Naie by S. Peter it is neither the apparell of my sonnes nor yet of my brethren but rather they are the vestures of the children of Mars and so he left them still to be ransomed at the kings pleasure The bishop thus séeing no hope to be deliuered without some agréement had betwixt the two kings became now through irkesomnesse of his line 60 bonds an earnest mediatour for peace whereas before he had beene an extreme stirrer vp of war Such a schoolemaister is imprisonment plucker downe of loftie courages But to proceed About the same time the archbishop of Rouen put all the countrie of Normandie vnder sentence of interdiction bicause king Richard had begun to fortifie a castell at Lisle Dandelie vpon a péece of ground which the archbishop claimed to apperteine vnto his sée The matter was brought before the pope who perceiuing the intent of king Richard was not otherwise grounded vpon any couetous purpose to defraud the church of hir right but onelie to build a fortresse in such place as was most expedient for defense of the countrie about to preserue it from inuasion of the enimies he counselled the archbishop not to stand against the king in it but to exchange with him for some other lands which was doone and the interdiction by the pope released The bishop
restitution that should be made to them for losses susteined in time of the interdiction Now the cause wherefore the legat and the king line 20 did send vnto the pope was this There was some grudge betwixt the legat and the archbishop for that where the pope had written to the legat how he should according to the order of the ancient canons of the church place in euerie bishops sée and abbeie that was void méet and able persons to rule and guide the same the legat presuming on that authoritie granted him by the pope without the aduise of the archbishop or other bishops tooke onelie with him certeine of the kings chapleins and comming with line 30 them to such churches as were vacant ordeined in them such persons as were nothing méet to take such charge vpon them and that according to the old abuse of England as Matthew Paris saith Wherevpon the archbishop of Canturburie repining at such dooings year 1214 sent to the legat as then being at Burton vpon Trent two of his chapleins from Dunstable where he and his suffragans held as then a synod after the feast of the Epiphanie commanding him by waie of appeale in no wise to meddle with instituting line 40 any gouernours to churches within the precinct of his iurisdiction where such institutions belonged onelie to him Herevpon therefore the legat dispatched Pandulph to Rome vnto the pope as is aforesaid and the king likewise sent ambassadors thither as the bishop of Norwich and the archdeacon of Northumberland with others the which in the end so behaued themselues in their suit that notwithstanding Simon Langton the archbishops brother earnestlie withstood line 50 them as proctor for the bishops yet at length the pope tooke order in the matter writing vnto his legat that he should sée the same fulfilled and then absolue the realme of the former interdiction In this meane time king Iohn made prouision to go ouer into France as after yee shall heare but at his going ouer he committed the whole ordering of this matter vnto the legat and to William Marshall the earle of Penbroke The legat therefore vpon the receipt of the popes bulles called a councell at London line 60 and there declaring what was conteined in the same he tooke hands for paiment of the residue of the fortie thousand marks which was behind being 13000 onelie as before I haue said About the same time also Walter Gray bishop of Worcester was remooued to the gouernement of the sée of Yorke which had béen vacant euer since the death of the archbishop Geffrey This Walter was the three thirtith archbishop that gouerned that sée But now to returne and speake of the kings affaires in the parts beyond the sea Ye shall vnderstand that hauing set his businesse in some good staie at home with the legat he applied his studie to the performance of his warâ abroad and therefore he first sent monie into Flanders to paie the souldiers wages which he had sent thither to aid the erle there against king Philip. Which earle came ouer this yeare into England and at Canturburie the king receiued him where he did homage to the king for the whole earledome of Flanders and on the other part the king as well to the said earle as to such lords and bishops which came ouer with him declared his roiall liberalitie by princelie gifts of gold siluer iewels and pâetious stones After his returne such capteins as remained in his countrie with their bands at the king of Englands paie made a iournie into France and wasted the lands that belonged to the earle of Guisnes wanne the castell of Bruncham and raced it taking within it diuerse men of armes and demilances They also wanne by siege the towne of Aire and burnt it The castell of Liens they tooke by assault and slue manie souldiers that defended it beside those which they tooke prisoners Moreouer they wasted and destroied the lands which Lewes the French kings sonne was possessed of in those parts In the meane time king Iohn hauing prepared a mightie nauie and a strong armie of valiant soldiers tooke sea at Portsmouth on Candlemas day with his wife his sonne Richard Elianor the sister of Arthur duke of Britaine He had not many of his earles or barons with him but a great number of knights and gentlemen with whome he landed at Rochell in safetie within a few daies after his setting foorth He tooke ouer with him inestimable treasure as it was reported in gold siluer and iewels Immediatlie vpon his arriuall at Rochell the barons of Poictow reuolted from the French king and comming in to king Iohn did homage vnto him as to their king and souereigne lord But howsoeuer it was after the truce began to expire which he had granted vnto the earls of Marsh and Augi on the friday before Whitsunday he came with his armie before the castell of Meireuent which belonged vnto Geffrey de Lucignam and on the day next insuing being Whitsun éeue he wanne the same On Whitsunday he laid siege vnto Nouant an other castell belonging to the same Geffrey who as then was lodged in the same and also two of his sonnes but within thrée daies after that the siege was laid the earle of Marsh came to king Iohn and did so much preuaile that through his means both Geffrey and his two sonnes were receiued to mercie and king Iohn put in possession of the castell After this bicause king Iohn was aduertised that Lewes the French kings sonne had now besieged Mountcounter a castell that was apperteining to the said Geffrey he hasted thitherwards and came to Parthenay whither came to him as well the foresaid earle of Marsh as also the earle of Augi and both they togither with the said Geffrey de Lucignam did homage to our king and so became his liege men The same time also the ladie Iane the kings daughter was affianced to the said earle of Marsh his sonne whereas the French king made means to haue hir married to his sonne but bicause king Iohn doubted least that suit was attempted but vnder some cloked pretense he would giue no eare thereto but rather made this match with the earle of Marsh in hope so to assure himselfe of the said earle that he might stand him in no small stéed to defend his cause against his aduersaries of France But now to the dooings in England ¶ Ye haue heard before how pope Innocent or râther Nocent who was the root of much mischiefe and trouble which qualities are nothing consonant to his name according to that king Iohn had required of him by solemne messengers directed his bulles vnto his legat Nicholas declaring vpon what conditions his pleasure was to haue the sentence of interdiction released Wherein first he commanded that the king should satisfie and pay so much monie vnto the archbishop of Canturburie and to the bishop of
alledged that he did not infringe any thing that he had then granted but such things as his gouernours had suffered to passe whilest he was vnder age and not ruler of himselfe he caused them therefore to redéeme manie of the same priuileges whereby he gained great finance for the setting to of his new seale as before yee haue heard declared Moreouer in this yeare there were sent certeine persons from pope Gregorie the ninth that succéeded Honorius into all the parts of Europe to mooue by preaching the christian people to make a iournie into the holie land against the Saracens Such a multitude by means hereof did assemble togither from all parts and that within a short time as the like had sildome times beene heard of It is said that amongst them there should be to the number of fortie thousand Englishmen of whome Peter bishop of Winchester and William bishop of Excester were the cheefe Capteins also of that great multitude of crossed souldiers that went foorth of sundrie countries were these Theobald earle of Champaigne and Philip de Albenie through whose negligence the sequels of this noble enterprise came but to small effect But to procéed About this time the king minding the benefit of the commonwealth caused the weights and measures generallie within the land to be reformed after one standard Furthermore he created Hubert de Burgh earle of Kent the which Hubert how much praise so euer he got at the beginning for his valiancie shewed in the defending of Douer castell and in vanquishing the French fléet that was comming to the succour of Lewes by battell on the sea it is certeine that now he purchased himselfe double as much hatred and euill will bicause that being of secret councell with the king and thereby after a sort sequestred from the lords he was knowne to dissuade the said prince from restoring of the ancient lawes and customes vnto the people which the barons oft required whereby it came to passe that the more he grew in fauour with the prince the further he came into the enuie of the Nobilitie and hatred of the people which is a common reward to such as in respect of their maister doo little regard the profit of others as the prouerbe saith Plus quis honoratur hostis tum multiplicatur Furthermore vpon the ninth of Iulie Stephan the archbishop of Canturburie died after he had gouerned that sée the terme of 21 yeares after whome succéeded Richard Wethersheid deane of Paules who was the thrée and fortith archbishop of that sée The moonks of Canturburie had first elected one of line 10 their owne conuent named Walter de Helmesham which election was made by the same moonks the third daie of August next insuing the death of their said archbishop Stephan but the king would not consent that he should haue the place for diuerse causes which he obiected as first for that he knew him to be such a man as should be vnprofitable both to him and to his kingdome Secondlie bicause his father was a theefe and thereof being conuict suffered death vpon the gallowes Thirdlie for that he line 20 himselfe had stood against king Iohn in time of the interdiction On the other side the bishops suffragans to the church of Canturburie obiected also against him that he had vsed the familiar companie of a nunne and begot of hir certeine children Moreouer they alledged that no election without their consent could be good nor ought to take place But the moonke making his appeale stood in it and taking with him certeine of his fellow moonks of Canturburie went line 30 to Rome and there made supplication to the pope that his election by his authoritie might be ratified and confirmed Whereof the king and the other bishops being aduertised did put their obiections in writing vnder their seales sent the same to Rome to be exhibited to the pope by the bishops of Westchester and Rochester and Iohn the archdeacon of Bedford who vsed such means that his election was iudged void then the said Richard Wethersheid was out of hand elected confirmed In that yeare line 40 also a grant was made to the citizens of London that they should haue and vse a common seale In this meane while Hugh the earle of March so laboured with the Normans and Poictouins in the behalfe of the king of England that they began to incline to his purpose wherevpon he sent his letters by secret meanes vnto king Henrie signifieng to him that if it would please him to come ouer with an armie to make warre against the French king they would be readie to turne vnto his side and line 50 receiue him as their souereigne King Henrie taking aduise what to answer and doo herein with his welbeloued councellour Hubert of Burgh thought it not good to attempt anie thing rashlie in this matter bicause the dealings of the Normans were neuer without some fraud but yet to satisfie the request of his fréends he promised to come ouer shortlie vnto them if in the meane time he might perceiue that they remained stedfast in their purpose giuing them furthermore manie great and hartie thanks for their line 60 good meaning and singular kindnesse towards him Now things beyond the sea standing in this order it happened in the moneth of August that the soldiers which laie in garrison within the castell of Mountgomerie tooke in hand to stocke vp a wood not farre from the said castell through which lay an highwaie where oftentimes manie fellonious robberies and murders were committed by the Welsh As the souldiers were busie at worke in stocking vp the wood there came vpon them an ambushment of Welshmen which not onlie draue them awaie from their worke but also tooke and slue diuerse of them constreining the residue to flée into the castell which immediatlie the Welshmen inuironed also about with a strong siege thinking to find the defendants vnprouided They within aduertised Hugh de Burgh the lord chéefe iustice to whome the castell belonged by the kings late gift of the exploit and enterprise attempted by their enimies with all possible hast wherevpon the king at request of the said Hubert leuied â power and came to raise the siege But the Welshmen hearing of the kings approch fled awaie like sheepe so that comming to the castell he found no resistance howbeit for so much as he saw the foresaid wood to be troublesome and an annoiance to the said castell he willed it to be destroied True it is that the same wood was verie thicke and rough and further it conteined also fiue leagues or fifteene miles in length yet by such diligence as was vsed the same was wasted stocked vp and quickelie rid out of the waie by fire and other means so that the countrie was made plaine a great waie about After this the king departed foorth into the Welsh confines and comming to an
worthilie the Frenchmen vsed the Englishmen nothing freendlie namelie the earle of Arras sticked not to speake manie reprochfull words against the said William de Longespée and his people whereat they could not but take great indignation Also the same season the earle of Leicester who had likewise receiued the crosse deferred his iournie for a time and sailing into Gascoigne mightilie there subdued the kings enimies as Gaston de Bierne also one Rusteine and William de Solares This yeare died Peter de Geneure a Prouancois borne whome the king had preferred in marriage vnto the ladie Maud daughter and heire of Walter Lacie a man of faire possessions in Ireland Of which marriage there came issue a sonne and a daughter Also about Whitsuntide died a noble baron of the north parts named the lord Roger Fitz Iohn whose sonne and heire being yoong was giuen in wardship to William de Ualence the kings halfe brother Also this yeare Hugh earle of March father to the same William de Ualence died in Cipres whilest the French armie wintered there as then going into the holie hand In the feast of All saints the archbishop Bonifacius was inthronized at Canturburie and kept a solemne feast at the which the king and queene with the line 10 more part of all the prelats of the land were present About this season was a great tornie and iusts holden at Brackley where the earle of Glocester contrarie to his accustomed maner fauoured the part of the strangers wherby they preuailed In somuch that William de Ualence handled one sir William de Odingesselles verie roughlie the same sir William being a right woorthie knight year 1250 About the same time the countesse of Cornewall at Berkehamstéed was deliuered of a sonne named Edmund This yeare line 20 about the beginning of the spring the kings brother the earle of Cornewall with other Noble men of the realme as the earle of Glocester Henrie Hastings baron Roger Thurkebie went ouer into France in princelie arraie and furniture to visit the pope who held his court still at the citie of Lions The bishop of Lincolne also and the bishop of Worcester went thither For what cause the other went it was not openlie knowne But the bishop of Lincolne went thither about such businesse as he had in hand against line 30 the Templers Hospitalers and such other which had appealed from him to the court of Rome where he could not bring his purpose to passe for his aduersaries with monie had purchased the iudges fauour And so the bishop returned hauing spent his trauell and monie in vaine On the 6 of March being sundaie the king tooke vpon him the crosse with his brother de Ualence and a great number of other Noble men and amongst other the abbat of Burie to the preiudice as was line 40 thought of his order Roger de Monthault a baron of great honour meaning verelie to go in that iournie to recouer monie towards his necessarie furniture set and sold the most part of his liuings His woods and possessions which he had about Couentrie he sold and let to fee farme vnto the couent there The like chieuance was made by sundrie noble men which prepared themselues to go in that iournie Upon the 27 day of Aprill those that had taken on them the crosse assembled at Bermondsey besides London to treat of their setting forward determining line 50 that the same should be at Midsummer next but by the popes letters which the king procured they were commanded to staie till the king himselfe went Thus their iournie for that time was disappointed There was of them and their retinues that meant thus to haue gone fiue hundreth knights besides yeomen or demilances and other common souldiers in great numbers Gaston de Bierne was so driuen to his shifts by the high prowesse of the earle line 60 of Leicester that in the end he was constreined to come ouer into England and submit himselfe to the king whom he found at Clarendon where he gat such mercie at the kings hands that he was pardoned and restored to his lands But the earle of Leicester put the king in possession of the castels of Fronsacke Egremount and others and banished Rustein and William de Solares with diuerse other stubborne and disloiall rebels depriuing them of their lands and inheritance in that countrie The bishop of Lincolne did excommunicat a préest within his diocesse that was accused of incontinencie And bicause the same preest continued fortie daies without séeking to be reconciled the bishop sent to the shiriffe of Rutland within whose bailiwike the same préest dwelled to apprehend him as a disobedient and rebellious person but the shiriffe winked at the matter and would not execute the bishops commandement wherevpon the bishop did also excommunicat the shiriffe whereof the king being informed tooke displeasure and sending to the pope procured an inhibition that no archbishop nor bishop should compell anie officer belonging to the king to follow anie suit afore them for those things that apperteined to the kings iurisdiction or give sentence against them for the same The mondaie before the Râgation wéeke Richard the kings brother earle of Cornewall returned from the court of Rome where he had beene about certeine businesse vnknowne to most men but whatsoeuer the same was the pope gaue him most courteous and honorable interteinement for his welcome and made him great cheare during his abode at Lions where the popes court as then laie ¶ About this season the K. to rid himselfe out of debt wherein he was indangered to certeine merchants lessened the charges of his houshold and kept but a meane port diminishing euen the accustomed almesse of the poore and also the great number of tapers and lights in his chappell so that he was noted with the blame of too much niggardlie sparing anâ pinching but in that he discharged his debt to the merchants he was thought to doo wiselie and charitablie for that he would not see them hindered to whom he was so indebted besides the opinion that he had concerning himselfe namelie that Profectum faciunt rarum quos debita stringunt About the same time also he caused the Iewes to giue vnto him a great portion of their goods so that they were greatlie impouerished There was one of them named Aaron borne in Yorke the which since the kings last returne out of Gascoigne had paied to the king the summe of thirtie thousand markes ouer and besides two hundred marks which he had giuen to the quéene as the same Aaron protested to Matthew Paris vpon his faith and truth which he bare to his law In the Whitsunwéeke was a generall chapter holden of the friers preachers at London in Holborne where out of sundrie parts of the world were assembled aboue foure hundred of them and they had meat and drinke found them of almesse
discharged by Iohn Mansell one of the kings iustices afore whom and other the kings councell the inquisition was taken and then was the custodie of the citie assigned vnto the constable of the tower and in place of the shiriffes were appointed Michaell Tonie and Iohn Audrian At length the maior shiriffes and Aldermen that were accused perceiuing the kings displeasure towards them submitted themselues wholie to his mercie sauing to them and to all other the citizens their liberties franchises and so in the excheker chamber at Westminster afore the king there sitting in iudgement vpon the matter they were condemned to paie their fines for their offenses committed and further euerie of them discharged of his ward and office Shortlie after was William Fitz Richard by the kings commandement made maior and Thomas Fitz Thomas and William Grapisgate shiriffes The archbishop of Yorke was accurssed by the popes commandement through all England with booke bell and candle that by such terror his constancie might he weakened But the archbishop saith Matthew Paris informed by the example of Thomas Becket and by the example and doctrine of saint Edmund sometime his instructor and also taught by the faithfulnesse of blessed Robert late bishop of Lincolne despaired not of comfort from heauen in bearing patientlie the popes tyrannie neither would he bestow the wealthie reuenues of his church vpon Italians being vnworthie persons and strangers neither would he obeie and incline to the popes will like a faint-harted person by leaning and setting apart the rigor of the law least therby he might séeme to result from his pastorlike office and animate the woolfe of Rome to breake into the shéepfold of the church whose purpose was to sucke the verie bloud quite and cleane out of euerie veine yea to bite out bowels and all Which qualitie to rest in him wofull experience hath taught and the testimonie of written verities hath shewed among which this one for the truth thereof is worthie to be reported euen to the praise of the deuiser for his prettie deuise therein comprised and here set downe as fit for the purpose Non pontifex sed potifex Non potifex sed panifex Non panifex sed carnifex Est papa pater pontifex About âhe beginning of the two and fortith yeare of king Henries reigne the lord Iames Audelie that had béene ouer with the king of Almaine and was latelie returned home in companie of the lord Henrie sonne to the said king who came backe from his father about the feast of saint Michaell last past vnderstanding how the Welshmen in his absence had burnt wasted and destroied his lands possessions and castels which belonged vnto him in the confines of Wales he meant to be reuenged of those iniuries and inuading them he slue a great number of them so reuenging the death of those his freends seruants and tenants whome they before had murthered The Welshmen were not so discouraged herewith but that they brake vpon him out of their starting-holes and places of refuge through the marishes and slaieng their enimies horsses put them backe to their power ceassed not to doo what mischeefe they could line 10 by spoiling killing and burning houses and castels where they might come vnto them and so the realme of England was dailie put to losses hinderances For out of Wales England was accustomed to be furnished with horsses cattell and other things to the great profit of both the countries About the same time there was an ambassage sent from the king of England to the French king by the bishop of Worcester the elect of Winchester the abbat of Westminster the earle of Leicester Hugh Bigod earle line 20 Marshall with Peter de Sauoy and Robert Walcron The effect of their message was to require restitution of those countries lands cities and townes which had bene euicted out of the hands of king Iohn and others apperteining by right of inheritance to the king of England These lords did their message but as was thought they had no towardlie answer but rather were put off with trifling words scornefull âawnts so that they returned shortlie againe all of them the abbat of Westminster onelie excepted line 30 who remained there behind for a fuller answer not ânelie to those requests exhibited on the part of the king of England but also on the behalfe of the king of Almaine The marshes towards Wales in this season were brought almost desert by reason of the continuall wars with the Welshmen for what with fire sword neither building nor liuing creature nor any other thing was spared that fire sword might bring to ruine line 40 In this yeare was an exceeding great dearth in so much that a quarter of wheat was sold at London for foure and twentie shillings whereas within two or thrée yeares before a quarter was sold at two shillings It had beene more déerer if great store had not come out of Almaine for in France and in Normandie it likewise failed year 1258 But there came fiftie great ships fraught with wheat and barlie with meale and bread out of Dutchland by the procurement of Richard king of Almaine which greatlie releeued the poore for proclamation was made and order line 50 taken by the king that none of the citizens of London should buy any of that graine to laie it vp in store whereby it might be sold at an higher price vnto the needie But though this prouision did much ease yet the want was great ouer all the realme For it was certeinelie affirmed that in three shires within the realme there was not found so much graine of that yeares growth as came ouer in those fiftie ships The proclamation was set foorth to restreine the Londoners from ingrossing vp that graine and not without cause for the wealthie citizens were euill spoken of in that season bicause in time of scarsitie they would either staie such ships as fraught with vittels were comming towards the citie and send them some other way foorth or else buy the whole that they might sell it by retaile at their plesure to the needie By means of this great dearth and scarsitie the common people were constreined to liue vpon hearbs roots and a great number of the poore people died through famine which is the most miserable calamitie that can betide mortall men and was well marked euen of the heathen but notablie by Ouid who making a description of famine setteth hir foorth in most ouglie and irkesome sort intending therby the dreadfulnes of that heauie plague saieng Quaesitámque famem lapidoso vidit in antro Vnguibus raris vellentem dentibus herbas Hirtus erat crinis caua lumina pallor in ore Labra incana situ scabrirubigine dentes Dura cutis per quam spectari viscera possent Ossa sub incuruis extabant arida lumbis Ventris erat pro ventre locus pendêre putares Pectus à spinae tantummodo
good will and common assent without all constraint we doo consent and grant vnto the noble prince the lord Edward by the grace of God king of England that he as superiour lord of Scotland may heare examine define and determine our claimes chalenges and petitions which we intend to shew and prooue for our right to be receiued before him as superiour lord of the land promising moreouer that we shall take his deed for firme and stable and that he shall inioy the kingdome of Scotland whose right shall by declaration best appeare before him Whereas then the said king of England cannot in this manner take knowledge nor fulfill our meanings without iudgement nor iudgement ought to be without execution nor execution may in due forme be doone without possession and seizine of the said land and castels of the same we will consent and grant that he as superiour lord to performe the premisses may haue the seizine of all the land and castels of the same till they that pretend title to the crowne be satisfied in their suit so that before he be put in possession and seizine he find sufficient suertie to vs that pretend title and to the wardens and to all the communaltie of the kingdome of Scotland that he shall restore the same kingdome with all the roialtie dignitie seigniorie liberties customes rights lawes vsages possessions and all and whatsoeuer the appurtenances in the same state wherein they were before the seizine to him deliuered vnto him to whome by right it is due according to the iudgement of his regalitie sauing to him the homage of that person that shall be king and this restitution to be made within two moneths after the daie in the which the right shall be discussed and established the issues of the same land in the meane time shall be receiued laid vp and put in safe keeping in the hands of the chamberlaine of Scotland which now is and of him whome the king of England shall to him assigne and this vnder their seales reseruing and allowing the reasonable charges for the sustentation of the land the castels and officers of the kingdome In witnesse of all the which premisses we haue vnto these letters set our seales Giuen at Norham the wednesday next after the feast of the Ascension of our Lord in the yeare of Grace 1291. These two letters the king of England sent vnder his priuie seale vnto diuerse monasteries within his realme in the 19 yéere of his reigne that in perpetuall memorie of the thing thus passed it might be registred in their chronicles Thus by the common assent of the chéefest of the lords in Scotland king Edward receiued the land into his custodie till by due and lawfull triall had it might appeere who was rightfull heire to the crowne there The homage or fealtie of the nobles of Scotland was expressed in words as followeth The forme and tenor of the homage doone by the Scots BIcause all we are come vnto the allegiance of the noble prince Edward king of England we promise for vs and our heires vpon all the danger that we may incurre that we shall be faithfull loiallie hold of him against all maner of mortall men and that line 10 we shall not vnderstand of any damage that may come to the king nor to his heires but we shall staie and impeach the same to our powers And to this we bind our selues our heires and are sworne vpon the euangelists to performe the same Besides this we haue doone fealtie vnto our souereigne lord the said king in these words ech one by himselfe I shall be true line 20 and faithfull and faith and loialtie I shall beare to the king of England Edward and his heires of life member and worldlie honour against all mortall creatures The king hauing receiued as well the possessions of the realme castels manours as other places belonging to the crowne of Scotland he committed the gouernement and custodie of the realme vnto the bishops of S. Andrews and Glasco to the lords Iohn line 30 Comin and Iames Steward who had put him in possession so that vnder him they held the same in maner as they had doone before But in diuerse castels he placed such capteines as he thought most meetest to keepe them to his vse till he had ended the controuersie placed him in the kingdome to whom of right it belonged He also willed the lords of Scotland to elect a sufficient personage to be chancellour of the realme which they did naming Alane bishop of Catnesse whom the king admitted ioining with him line 40 one of his chapleins named Walter Armundesham so that on the 12 of Iune vpon the greene ouer against the the castell of Norham neere to the riuer of Tweed in the parish of Upsetelington before Iohn Balioll Robert Bruce the bishops of S. Andrews and Glasco the lords Comin and Steward wardens of Scotland the bishop of Catnesse receiued his seale appointed him by the king of England as supreme lord of Scotland and there both the said bishop Walter Armundesham were sworne line 50 trulie to gouerne themselues in the office The morrow after were the wardens sworne and with them as associated Brian Fitz Alane and there all the earles and lords of Scotland that were present sware fealtie vnto king Edward as to their supreme souereigne lord and withall there was peace proclaimed and publike edicts set foorth in the name of the same king intituled supreme lord of the realme of Scotland The residue of the Scotish nobilitie earles barons knights and others with the bishops line 60 and abbats vpon his comming into Scotland sware fealtie either to himselfe in person or to such as he appointed his deputies to receiue the same in sundrie towns and places according to order giuen in that behalfe Such as refused to doo their fealties were attached by their bodies till they should doo their fealties as they were bound Those that came not but excused themselues vpon some reasonable cause were heard and had day giuen vntill the next parlement but such as neither came nor made any reasonable excuse were appointed to be distreined to come The bishop of S. Andrewes and Iohn lord Comin of Badenoth with Brian Fitz Alane were assigned to receiue such fealties at S. Iohns towne The bishop of Glasco Iames lord steward of Scotland and Nicholas Segraue were appointed to receiue them at Newcastell of Are. The earle of Southerland and the shiriffe of that countrie with his bailiffes and the chatellaine of Inuernesse were ordeined to receiue those fealties in that countie the chattelaine first to receiue it of the said earle and then he with his said associats to receiue the same of others The lord William de Saintclare and William de Bomille were appointed to receiue fealtie of the bishop of Whitterne and then the said bishop with them to receiue the fealties of all the inhabitants of Gallowaie
Spensers and to the earle of Arundell so that there was line 30 cause whie they bare euill will to the Henuiers which had aided as yee haue heard to bring the said earle and Spensers to their confusion In this meane time the Scots being entred into England had doone much hurt and were come as farre as Stanop parke in Wiredale and though they had sent their ambassadours to treat with the king and his councell for peace yet no conclusion followed of their talke At the same time bicause the English souldiours of this armie were cloathed all line 40 in cotes and hoods embrodered with floures and branches verie séemelie and vsed to nourish their beards the Scots in derision thereof made a rime which they fastened vpon the church doores of saint Peter toward Stangate conteining this that followeth Long beards hartlesse Painted hoods witlesse Gaie cotes gracelesse Make England thriftlesse The king when he saw it was but a vaine thing to staie anie longer in communication with the ambassadors line 50 about peace departed from Yorke with his puissant armie and getting knowledge how the Scots were closelie lodged in the woods of Stanop parke he came and stopped all the passages so it was thought that he should haue had them at his pleasure but through treason as was after reported of the lord Roger Mortimer after that the Scots had béene kept within their lodgings for the space of fiftéene daies till they were almost famished they did not onelie find a waie out but about two hundred of line 60 them vnder the leading of the lord William Douglas assailing that part of the English campe where the kings tent stood in the night season missed not much of either taking the king or sleieng him and hauing doone hurt inough otherwise as in the Scotish chronicle is also touched they followed their companie and with them returned into Scotland without impeachment It is said that Henrie earle of Lancaster and Iohn the lord Beaumont of Heinault would gladlie haue passed ouer the water of Wire to haue assalted the Scots but the earle of March through counsell of the lord Mortimer pretending to haue right to the leading of the fore ward and to the giuing of the first onset would not suffer them Howsoeuer it was the king missed his purpose and right pensiue therefore brake vp his field and returned vnto London ¶ Walter bishop of Canturburie departed this life in Nouember and then Simon Mepham was aduanced to the gouernement of that sée The lord Beaumont of Heinalt was honorablie rewarded for his paines and trauell and then licenced to returne into his countrie where he had not beene long but that through his means then as some write the marriage was concluded betweene king Edward and the ladie Philip daughter to William earle of Heinault and neece to the said lord Beaumont who had the charge to sée hir brought ouer thither into England about Christmasse where in the citie of Yorke vpon the eeuen of the Conuersion of saint Paule being sundaie year 1328 in the latter end of the first yeare of his reigne king Edward solemnlie maried hir In the second yeare of his reigne about the feast of Pentecost king Edward held a parlement at Northampton at the which parlement by euill and naughtie counsell whereof the lord Roger Mortimer and the queene mother bare the blame the king concluded with the Scotish king both an vnprofitable and a dishonorable peace For first he released to the Scots their fealtie and homage Also he deliuered vnto them certeine old ancient writings sealed with the seales of the king of Scots and of diuerse lords of the land both spirituall and temporall amongst the which was that indenture which they called Ragman with manie other charters and patents by the which the kings of Scotland were bound as feodaries vnto the crowne of England at which season also there were deliuered certeine iewels which before time had béene woone from the Scots by the kings of England and among other the blacke crosier or rood is speciallie named And not onelie the king by his sinister councell lost such right and title as he had to the realme of Scotland so farre as by the same councell might be deuised but also the lords and barons and other men of England that had anie lands or rents within Scotland lost their right in like manner except they would dwell vpon the same lands and become liege men to the king of Scotland Herevpon was there also a marriage concluded betwixt Dauid Bruce the sonne of Robert Bruce king of Scotland and the ladie Iane sister to king Edward which of diuerse writers is surnamed Ione of the tower and the Scots surnamed hir halfe in derision Ione Make-peace This marriage was solemnised at Berwike vpon the daie of Marie Magdalen The quéene with the bishops of Elie and Norwich the earle Warren the lord Mortimer and diuerse other barons of the land and a great multitude of other people were present at that marriage which was celebrate with all the honour that might be After the quindene of saint Michaell king Edward held a parlement at Salisburie in which the lord Roger Mortimer was created earle of March the lord Iohn of Eltham the kings brother was made earle of Cornwall and the lord Iames Butler of Ireland earle of Ormond who about the same time had married the earle of Herefords daughter But the earle of March tooke the most part of the rule of all things perteining either to the king or realme into his owne hands so that the whole gouernment rested in a manner betwixt the queene mother and him The other of the councell that were first appointed were in manner displaced for they bare no rule to speake of at all which caused no small grudge to arise against the quéene and the said earle of March who mainteined such ports and kept among them such retinue of seruants that their prouision was woonderfull which they caused to be taken vp namelie for the queene at the kings price to the sore oppression of the people which tooke it displesantlie inough There was like to haue growen great variance betwixt the queene and Henrie earle of Lancaster by reason that one sir Thomas Wither a knight perteining to the said earle of Lancaster had slaine Robert Holland who had betraied sometime Thomas earle of Lancaster and was after committed to prison line 10 by earle Henries means but the queene had caused him to be set at libertie and admitted him as one of hir councell The quéene would haue had sir Thomas Wither punished for the murther but earle Henrie caused him to be kept out of the waie so that for these causes and other Henrie the earle of Lancaster went about to make a rebellion and the quéene hauing knowledge thereof sought to apprehend him but by the mediation of the
Iaques van Arteueld that in the end Iohn archbishop of Canturburie Richard the bishop of Durham came into Flanders as ambassadors from king Edward and trauelled so earnestlie to draw the Flemings vnto an amitie with their master king Edward that finallie a league was concluded betwixt the countrie of Flanders and the said king at Gant in the presence of the earle of Gelderland as then being there The cheefe authors of this league were the said Iaques van Arteueld and a noble man of Flanders called Siger de Curtrey But this Siger being immediatlie after apprehended by the earle of Flanders was put to death Which act procured the earle so much hatred of the people that shortlie after comming to Bruges and attempting to force the towne to his will he was forced himselfe to flee from thence for otherwise he had béene either taken or slaine the commons of the towne namelie the fullers of whome he had slaine some there in the stréets rose so fast vpon him Herevpon fléeing home to his house he tooke his wife and a sonne which he had and fled with them into France so forsaking his countrie which was now gouerned by Iaques van Arteueld as though he had béene immediatlie lord thereof After this the earle returned home againe as it were with the French kings commission to persuade the Flemings to renounce the league concluded with the king of England but he could bring nothing to passe but was still in danger to haue beene arrested and staied of his owne subiects both at Gant and in other places but namelie at Dixmue where if he had not made the more hast awaie he had beene taken by them of Bruges Amongst other of his stuffe which he left behind him in that hastie departure his signet was forgotten and not missed till he came to saint Omers whither he fled for his safegard Thus ye may perceiue that Flanders rested wholie at king Edwards commandement who to establish amitie also with the duke of Brabant and other princes of the empire about the middest of Iulie sailed ouer vnto Antwerpe with his wife quéene Philip his sonne the prince of Wales and a great number of other of the péeres and barons of his realme where he was most ioifullie receiued of the duke of Brabant and other lords of the empire There was sent to the emperour to procure his fréendship from the king of England the marques of Gulike with certeine noble men of England and also certeine of the duke of Gelderland his councell the which marques was made at that time an earle the earle of Gelderland was made duke This duke of Gelderland named Reginald had married the ladie Isabell sister of king Edward and therefore in fauour of the king his brother in law trauelled most earnestlie to procure him all the freends within the empire that he could make The princes and lords then with whom king Edward was alied and confederated at that time I find to be these the dukes of Brabant and Gelderland the archbishop of Cullen the marquesse of Gulike sir Arnold de Baquehen and the lord of Ualkenburgh who all promised to defie the French king in the king of Englands quarrell and to serue him with notable numbers of men where and whensoeuer line 10 it should please him to appoint The aliance of the earle of Heinault first procured the king of England all these fréends vnto the which earle he had sent ouer the bishop of Lincolne and other in ambassage immediatlie after that he had resolued to make warres against France by the counsell and aduise of sir Robert Dartois as in the French historie more plainlie appeareth In this meane season was queene Philip brought to bed at Antwerpe of hir third sonne which was named Lionell ¶ The king of England earnestlie followed his businesse and had line 20 manie treaties with his fréends and confederats till at length he made sure to him the fréendship of all those townes countries which lie betwixt France and the riuer of Rhene onelie the cities of Tournie and Cambrie held of the French kings part though Cambrie belonged to the empire In this twelfth yeare of king Edwards reigne at a councell holden at Northampton by the duke of Cornewall lord warden of England in absence of line 30 the king his brother and by manie of the prelats and barons of the realme there was granted to the king a subsidie in wooll to the great burthen of the commons but for so much as the cleargie of the land was not present at that councell it was ordeined that they should be called and so they assembled in a conuocation at London the first day of October in which the cleargie granted to the king a tenth for the third yeare then to come ouer and besides the two tenths before granted and that the tenth of this present line 40 yeare should be paid in shorter time than it was appointed but they flatlie denied to grant their wools which neuerthelesse the laitie paid and that to their great hinderance for it rose double to a fiftéene From the beginning of October to the beginning of December this yeare fell such abundance of raine that it hindered greatlie the husbandmen in sowing of their winter corne and in the beginning of December came such a vehement frost continuing the space of twelue wéeks that it destroied vp all the séed line 50 almost that was sowne by reason whereof small store of winter corne came to proofe in the summer following but though there was no plentie yet all kinds of graine were sold at a reasonable price through want of monie The Frenchmen by sea sore troubled the sea coasts of this realme speciallie where the champion countries stretch towards the sea coasts At Hastings in the feast of Corpus Christi they burnt certeine fishermens houses and slue some of the inhabitants Also line 60 in the hauens about Deuonshire and Cornewall and towards Bristow they tooke and burnt certeine ships killing the mariners that came to their hands and in the Whitsun-wéeke they landed at Plimmouth and burnt the more part of the towne but Hugh Courtnie earle of Deuonshire a man almost fourescore yeares of age and other knights and men of the countrie came against these Frenchmen sleaing such as came into their hands to the number of fiue hundred as was estéemed and chased the residue ¶ The Scots also about the same time did much hurt and great mischéefe to the Englishmen both by sea and land In the beginning of Iulie the lord William Dowglas with a number of men of warre returned from France home into England and to him vpon his returne the castell of Cowper was deliuered with all the countrie thereabouts After this comming to the siege of S. Iohns towne which the gouernour the earle of Murrey the erle of March Patrike
men as could be well aboord in ninetéene gallies There were manie slaine on both parts in atchiuing this enterprise but more of the Frenchmen than of the Englishmen About the same time the quéene of England was deliuered of his fourth sonne in the towne of Gaunt the which line 60 was named Iohn first created earle of Richmond and after duke of Lancaster He was borne about Christmasse in the thirteenth yere of king Edwards reigne year 1340 When king Edward had finished his businesse with the Flemings at Gaunt he left his wife quéene Philip there still in that towne and returned himselfe vnto Antwerpe and shortlie after about the feast of Candlemasse tooke the sea and came backe into England to prouide for monie to mainteine his begun warres And herevpon about the time of Lent following he called his high court of parlement at Westminster in the which he asked of his commons towards his charges for the recouerie of his right in France the fift part of their mooueable goods the customes of wools for two yeares to be paid aforehand and the ninth sheafe of euerie mans corne At length it was agreed that the king should haue for euerie sacke of wooll fortie shillings for euerie three hundred wooll fels fortie shillings and for euerie last of leather fortie shillings and for other merchandize after the rate to begin at the feast of Easter in this fouretéenth yeare of the kings reigne and to indure till the feast of Pentecost then next following and from that feast till the feast of Pentecost then next insuing into one yeare for which the king granted that from the feast of Pentecost which was then to come into one yeare he nor his heires should not demand assesse nor take nor suffer to be assessed or taken more custome of a sacke of wooll of any Englishman but halfe a marke and vpon the wooll fels and leather the old former custome Beside this the citizens and burgesses of cities and good townes granted to giue the ninth part of all their goods and the forren merchants and other not liuing of gaine nor of bréeding cattell nor of shéepe should giue the fiftéenth part of all their goods lawfullie to the value for the which he granted that as well now in time of warre as of peace all merchants denizens and forreiners those excepted that were of the enimies countries might without let safelie come into the realme of England with their goods and merchandize and safelie tarie and likewise returne paieng the customs subsidies and profits resonable thereof due so alwaies that the franchises and frée customs granted by him or his predecessours reasonablie to the citie of London and other cities burroughes and townes might alwaies to them be saued Moreouer there was granted vnto him the ninth sheafe the ninth fléece and ninth lambe to be taken by two yeares next comming And for the leuieng thereof the lords of euerie shire through the land were appointed to answer him euerie one for the circuit within the which he dwelled And bicause the king must néeds occupie much monie yer the receit of this subsidie could come to his hands he borowed in the meane time manie notable summes of diuerse cities and particular persons of this land amongst the which he borrowed of the citie of London 20000 marks to be paied againe of the monie comming of the foresaid subsidie In the meane while now that king Edward was come backe into England the warres were hotlie pursued against his fréends that had their lands néere to the borders of France and namelie against sir Iohn de Heinault lord Beaumont for the French men burned all his lands of Chimaie except the fortresses and tooke from thence a great preie All the frontiers were full of men of warre lodged within townes in garrison as at Tournie Mortaigne S. Amond Dowaie Cambrie and in other smaller fortresses These men of warre late not idle but were dooing oftentimes in Flanders and sometime otherwhere neither was the countrie of Heinault spared though the earle as yee haue heard did not onelie refuse to serue the king of England against France but also when the same king entred France he resorted to the French king and serued him yet by the suggestion of the bishop of Cambrie who complained of the Hainniers for the damages which they had doone him the French garrisons of the frontiers thereabouts were commanded to make a road into that countrie which they did burning the towne of Asper and brought from thence a great bootie The earle of Heinault sore mooued therewith to haue his lands so spoiled and burnt defied the French king and ioining with his vncle the lord Beaumont entred with an armie into Thierasse tooke destroied Aubenton with Mawbert Fonteine Daubecuille and diuerse other In this meane time the French king procured the pope to pronounce his cursse against the Flemings for their rebellion and to suspend all diuine seruice that ought to be said in anie hallowed place so that there were no priests to be found that would take vpon them to saie any diuine seruice wherevpon the Flemings sent ouer into England certeine messengers to giue notice to king Edward how they were line 10 intreated but he sent them word that he would bring at his comming ouer vnto them priests that should saie masses and other seruice whether the pope would or not for he had priuilege so to doo ¶ In Aprill William Melton archbishop of Yorke departed this life after whome variance rose in the election of a new gouernour to that church so that two were elected William la Zouch and William Killesbie but at length William la Zouch tooke place being the 43 archbishop that had sit in that seat ¶ The earles of line 20 Salisburie and Suffolke which were left in Flanders by king Edward to helpe the Flemings shortlie after Ester or as other haue in the time of Lent were discomfited by the garrison of Lisle and taken prisoners as they would haue passed by that towne to haue ioined with Iaques Arteueld meaning to besiege Tournie but now by the taking of those two earles that enterprise was broken The duke of Normandie with a great armie entered into Heinault burning and wasting the countrie euen to the gates line 30 of Ualenciennes and Quesnoy And thus were they occupied in those parts whilest the king of England prepared himselfe with all diligence to returne into Flanders The French king being aduertised that the king of England meant shortlie to returne into Flanders with a great power in purpose to inuade the realme of France on that side assembled a nauie of foure hundred ships vnder the leading of three expert capteins of the warres by sea as sir Hugh Kiriell sir line 40 Peter Bahuchet and a Geneweis named Barbe Noir appointing them to the coasts of Flanders to defend the king of England from
scarselie beleeue them and therefore called the townesmen foorth and bad them sée if that there were all such writings as they thought stood with their aduantage to haue brought to light The townesmen feigned as though they had beene sorie to see such rule kept against the moonks where in déed they had set the commons in hand with all these things To conclude the commons tooke this order with the moonks that if the townesmen might not obteine their ancient liberties by the hauing of those writings they should declare what the same liberties were which they were woont to inioy and the abbat of Burie Edmund Brumfield being then in prison at Notingham whom they purposed to deliuer so that he should celebrat diuine seruice in his monasterie on Midsummer daie next within fourtie daies after his comming home should confirme with his seale such charter as was to be deuised and made concerning the same liberties of the said townesmen and the couent should likewise put there vnto their common seale Moreouer they constreined the moonks to deliuer vnto the townesmen a crosse and a chalice of fine gold and other iewels that belonged to the abbeie being in value aboue the worth of a thousand pounds in monie the which was to remaine in the hands of the townsmen vpon this condition that if Edmund Brumfield being deliuered out of prison inioied the dignitie of abbat there and with all put his seale togither with the couent seale within the time limited vnto a writing that should conteine the liberties of the towne that then the same crosse chalice and other line 10 iewels should be restored vnto the monasterie or else the same to remaine for euer to the townesmen as forfeited Such were the dooings of those rebels in and about the towne of Burie and the like disorders breach of peace followed by the commotions of the commons in Cambridgeshire and in the I le of Elie resembling the others in slaughters of men destroieng of houses and all other sorts of mischéefe In like maner in Norffolke there was assembled line 20 an huge number of those vnrulie countrie people which vnder the guiding of a dier of cloth commonlie called Iohn Littester that had dwelt in Norwich attempted and did all such vngratious feats as they had heard that other did in other parts of the realme yea and greater also putting foorth their hands vnto rapine and robberie And whereas they were wholie conspired togither and bent to commit all kind of mischéefe yet estéeming their owne authoritie to be small they purposed to haue brought William Ufford line 30 earle of Suffolke into their felowship that if afterwards they might happilie be impeached hereafter for such their naughtie and most wicked dooings they might haue had some shadow or colour as it were through him whie they had delt in such vnrulie sort But the earle aduertised of their intention suddenlie rose from supper and got him awaie by vnknowne waies still fleeing from the commons till at length he got to S. Albons and so from thence to the king line 40 The commons missing of their purpose for the hauing of him laid hold vpon all such knights and other gentlemen as came in their waie and were found at home in their houses compelling them to be sworne to them and to ride with them through the countrie as the lord Scales William lord Morlie sir Iohn Brewes sir Stephan Hales and sir Robert Salle which sir Robert continued not long aliue among them for he could not dissemble as the residue but began to reprooue openlie their naughtie dooings line 50 for the which he had his braines dasht out by a countrie clowne one that was his bondman and so he ended his life who if he might haue come to haue tried his manhood and strength with them in plaine battell had beene able to haue put a thousand of those villaines in feare his valiancie and prowesse was such The residue taught by his example that they must either dissemble or die for it were glad to currie fauour praising or dispraising all things as they saw the commons affected and so comming into credit line 60 with their chéefteine Iohn Littester that named himselfe king of the commons they were preferred to serue him at the table in taking the assaie of his meats and drinks and dooing other seruices with knéeling humblie before him as he sat at meat as sir Stephan Hales who was appointed his caruer and others had other offices assigned them At length when those commons began to war wearie of taking paines in euill dooings they tooke counsell togither and agreed to send two knights to wit the lord Morlie and sir Iohn Brewes and three of the commons in whom they put great confidence vnto the king to obteine their charter of manumission and infranchising and to haue the same charter more large than those that were granted to other countries They deliuered great summes of monie vnto those whome they sent to bestow the same for the obteining of pardon and such grants as they sued for which monie they had got by force of the citizens of Norwich to saue the citie from fire and sacking These knights as they were on their iournie at Ichingham not farre distant from Newmarket not looking for anie such thing met with sir Henrie Spenser bishop of Norwich a man more fit for the field than the church better skilled as may appéere in arms than in diuinitie This bishop had aduertisements at his manor of Burlie néere to Okam in the parties about Stamford of the sturre which the commons in Norffolke kept and there vpon resolued streightwaies to see what rule there was holden He had in his companie at that time not passing eight lances and a small number of archers The bishop méeting thus with the knights examined them streightwaies if there were anie of the traitours there with them The knights at the first were doubtfull to bewraie their associats but at last imboldened by the bishops words declared that two of the chéefe dooers in the rebellion were there present and the third was gone to prouide for their dinner The bishop streightwaies commanded those two to be made shorter by the head and the third he himselfe went to seeke as one of his shéepe that was lost not to bring him home to the fold but to the slaughter-house as he had well deserued in the bishops opinion sith he had so mischéefouslie gone astraie and alienated himselfe from his dutifull allegiance These persons being executed and their heads pight on the end of poles and so set vp at Newmarket the bishop with the knights tooke their waie with all spéed towards Northwalsham in Norffolke where the commons were purposed to staie for answer from the king and as he passed through the countrie his number increased for the knights and gentlemen of the countrie hearing how their bishop had taken his speare in hand and
was come into the field armed ioined themselues with him When therefore the bishop was come into the place where the commons were incamped he perceiued that they had fortified their campe verie stronglie with ditches and such other stuffe as they could make shift with as doores windowes boords tables and behind them were all their cariages placed so that it séemed they meant not to flie Herewith the bishop being chased with the presumptuous boldnesse of such a sort of disordered persons commanded his trumpets to sound to the battell and with his speare in the rest he charged them with such violence that he went ouer the ditch and laied so about him that through his manfull dooings all his companie found means to passe the ditch likewise and so therewith followed a verie sore and terrible sight both parts dooing their best to vanquish the other But finallie the commons were ouercome and driuen to seeke their safegard by flight which was sore hindered by their cariages that stood behind them ouer the which they were forced to clime and leape so well as they might Iohn Littester and other cheefe capteins were taken aliue The bishop therefore caused the said Littester to be arreigned of high treason and condemned and so he was drawne hanged and headed according to the iudgement The bishop heard his confession and by vertue of his office absolued him and to shew some parcell of sorrowing for the mans mischance he went with him to the galowes But it séemed that pitie wrought not with the bishop to quench the zeale of iustice for he caused not Littester onelie to be executed but sought for all other that were the chéefe dooers in that rebellion causing them to be put vnto death and so by that meanes quieted the countrie ¶ To recite what was doone in euerie part of the realme in time of those hellish troubles it is not possible but this is to be considered that the rage of the commons was vniuersallie such as it might séeme they had generallie conspired togither to doo what mischeefe they could deuise As among sundrie other what wickednesse was it to compell teachers of children in grammar schooles to sweare neuer to instruct any in their art Againe could they haue a more mischeefous meaning line 10 than to burne and destroie all old and ancient monuments and to murther and dispatch out of the waie all such as were able to commit to memorie either any new or old records For it was dangerous among them to be knowne for one that was lerned and more dangerous if any men were found with a penner and inkhorne at his side for such seldome or neuer escaped from them with life But to returne to saie somewhat more concerning line 20 the end of their rebellious enterprises you must vnderstand how after that Wat Tiler was slaine at London in the presence of the king as before ye haue heard the hope and confidence of the rebels greatlie decaied and yet neuerthelesse the king and his councell being not well assured granted to the commons as ye haue heard charters of manumission and infranchisement from all bondage and so sent them awaie home to their countries and foorthwith herevpon he assembled an armie of the Londoners line 30 and of all others in the countries abroad that bare him good will appointing none to come but such as were armed and had horsses for he would haue no footmen with him Thus it came to passe that within thrée daies he had about him fourtie thousand horssemen as was estéemed so that in England had not béene heard of the like armie assembled togither at one time And herewith was the king aduertised that the Kentishmen began eftsoones to stir wherewith the king and the whole armie were so grieuouslie line 40 offended that they meant streight to haue set vpon that countrie and to haue wholie destroied that rebellious generation But thorough intercession made by the lords and gentlemen of that countrie the king pacified his mood and so resolued to procéed against them by order of law and iustice causing iudges to sit and to make inquisition of the malefactors and especiallie of such as were authors of the mischéefes And about the same time did the maior of London line 50 sit in iudgement as well vpon the offendors that were citizens as of other that were of Kent Essex Southsex Norffolke Suffolke and other counties being found within the liberties of the citie and such as were found culpable he caused them to lose their heads as Iacke Straw Iohn Kirkbie Alane Tredera and Iohn Sterling that gloried of himselfe for that he was the man that had slaine the archbishop This fellow as it is written by some authors streight waies after he had doone that wicked deed fell out of line 60 his wits and comming home into Essex where he dwelt tied a naked sword about his necke that hoong downe before on his brest and likewise a dagger naked that hanged downe behind on his backe and so went vp and downe the lanes stréets about home crieng out and protesting that with those weapons he had dispatched the archbishop and after he had remained a while at home he came to London againe for that he shuld receiue as he said the reward there of the act which he had committed and so indéed when he came thither and boldlie confessed that he was the man that had beheaded the archbishop he lost his head in steed of a recompense and diuerse other both of Essex and Kent that had laid violent hands vpon the archbishop came to the like end at London where they did the deed being bewraied by their owne confessions Here is to be remembred that the king after the citie of London was deliuered from the danger of the rebels as before ye haue heard in respect of the great manhood and assured loialtie which had appeared in the maior and other of the aldermen for some part of recompense of their faithfull assistance in that dangerous season made the said maior William Walworth knight with fiue other aldermen his brethren to wit Nicholas Bramble Iohn Philpot Nicholas Twiford Robert Laundre and Robert Gaiton also Iohn Standish that as ye haue heard holpe to slaie Wat Tiler Moreouer the king granted that there should be a dagger added to the armes of the citie of London in the right quarter of the shield for an augmentation of the same armes and for a remembrance of this maior his valiant act as dooth appeare vnto this daie for till that time the citie bare onelie the crosse without the dagger Although the kings authoritie thus began to shew it selfe to the terror of rebels yet the commons of Essex eftsoones assembled themselues togither not far from Hatfield Peuerell and sent to the king to know of him if his pleasure was that they should inioy their promised liberties and further that they might be as frée as
the citie with two iorden pots about his necke and a whetstone in token that he had well deserued it for the notable lie which he had made About the same time certeine English ships of Rie and other places went to the sea and meeting pirats fought with them and ouercame them taking seuen ships with thrée hundred men in them One of those ships had béene taken from the Englishmen afore time and was called the falcon belonging to the lord William Latimer They were all richlie laden with wine wax and other good merchandize This yeare the maior of London Iohn de Northampton otherwise called Iohn de Comberton did punish such as were taken in adulterie verie extremelie for first he put them in the prison called the tunne that then stood in Cornehill and after caused the women to haue their haire cut as théeues in those daies were serued that were appeachers of others and so were they led about the stréets with trumpets pipes going before them Neither were the men spared more than the women being put to manie open shames and reproches But bicause the punishment of such offenses was thought rather to apperteine vnto the spirituall iurisdiction than to the temporall the bishop of London and other of the cleargie tooke it in verie euill part but the maior being a stout man would not forbeare but vsed his authoritie héerein to the vttermost About the same time also when the archbishop of Canturburie sate in iudgement vpon a processe that was framed against one Iohn Aston a maister of art that was an earnest follower of Wicliffes doctrine the Londoners brake open the doores where the archbishop with his diuines sate and caused them to giue ouer so that they durst procéed no further in that matter The same yéere were the fishmoongers of London sore disquieted by the foresaid maior who sought to infringe their liberties granting licence to forreners to come and sell all manner of fish as freelie and more fréelie than any of the companie of fishmoongers for they might not buie it at the forreners hands to sell it againe by any meanes and so that companie which before had beene accompted one of the chiefest in the citie was now so brought downe as it séemed to be one of the meanest being compelled to confesse that their occupation was no craft nor worthie so to be accompted amongst other the crafts of the citie In this yeare the one and twentith of Maie being wednesdaie a great earthquake chanced about one of the clocke in the after noone it was so vehement and namelie in Kent that the churches were shaken therewith in such wise that some of them were ouerthrowen to the ground On the saturdaie after being the foure and twentiâh day of Maie earelie in the morning chanced an other earthquake or as some write a watershake being of so vehement violent a motion that it made the ships in the hauens to beat one against the other by reason wherof they were sore brused by such knocking togither to the great woonder of the people who being amazed at such strange tokens stood a long time after in more awe of Gods wrath and displeasure than before for these so strange and dreadfull woonders thus shewed amongst them howbeit when these terrors were forgotten they followed their former dissolutenes from the which for a time they were withdrawne through feare of Gods heuie hand hanging ouer their heads but afterward like swine they wallowed afresh in their puddels of pollusions as dogs licked vp their filthie vomit of corruption and naughtinesse for Sordida natura semper sequitur sua iura About this season the lord Richard Scroope lord chancellor was deposed from that roome and the king receiuing the great seale at his hands kept it a certeine time and sealed therewith such grants and writings as it pleased him at length it was deliuered to Robert Braibrooke bishop of London who was made lord chancellor The cause why the lord Scroope was remooued from that dignitie was this When the king vpon certeine respects had granted certeine gentlemen the lands and possessions that belonged to the late earle of March and other that were deceassed which he during the time of their heires minorities ought to inioy by the lawes of the realme the said lord chancellor refused to seale such grants alledging that the king being greatlie in debt which he was to discharge stood in need of such profits himselfe and therefore as he said he tooke not them for faithfull seruants nor dutifull subiects to his grace that respecting their owne priuat commoditie more than his or the realmes did sue for such grants at his hands aduising them to hold themselues contented with such other things as it had pleased or might please the king to bestow vpon line 10 them for suerlie he would not consent that they should inioy such gifts as those were They that were thus reiected made their complaint in such sort to the king that he taking displeasure with the said lord Scroope deposed him from his office to the great offense both of the nobles and commons by whose consent he was preferred vnto that dignitie About Michaelmasse this yeare certeine naughtie disposed persons in Norffolke not warned by the successe of the late rebellion went about a new line 20 commotion intending to murther the bishop of Norwich and all the nobles and gentlemen of that countrie And to bring their wicked purpose the better to passe they determined to haue assembled togither at S. Faithes faire and to haue compelled all those that should haue béene present at the same faire to haue taken part with them or else to haue lost their liues and this being doone they would haue taken S. Benets abbeie at Holme which they would haue kept for a fortresse to haue withdrawne into vpon anie line 30 force that had beene against them But yer they could bring their purpose to passe one of the conspiracie bewraieng the matter they were taken lost their heads at Norwich for their malicious deuises About the same time a parlement was called to the which certeine commissioners from the countrie of Flanders came to treat of certeine agréements betwixt the king and realme and the states of their countrie but bicause those that came ouer at this time seemed not sufficient to conclude such treatie line 40 as then was in hand they were sent backe to fetch other more sufficient as from euerie towne in Flanders some such as might haue full authoritie to go through and confirme the agréements then in hand In this parlement the maior of London with a great part of the commoners of the citie vpon suggestion by them made against the fishmongers for vsing great deceit in vttering of their fishes obteined to haue it inacted that from thencefoorth none of that companie nor anie of the vinteners butchers line 50 grossers or other that sold anie
prouision of vittels should be admitted maior of the citie and so by this shift they sought to cut off all meanes from the fishmongers to recouer againe their old former degrée And bicause it was knowne well inough of what authoritie sir Iohn Philpot knight was within the citie and that he fauoured those whome the lord maior the said Iohn de Northampton fauoured not he was put off from the bench and might not sit with them that were of the secret councell in the cities affaires line 60 whereas neuerthelesse he had trauelled more for the preseruation of the cities liberties than all the residue Sir Henrie Spenser bishop of Norwich receiued buls a little before this present from pope Urbane to signe all such with the crosse that would take vpon them to go ouer the seas with him to warre against those that held with the antipape Clement that tooke himselfe for pope and to such as would receiue the crosse in that quarrell such like beneficiall pardons were granted by pope Urbane as were accustomablie granted vnto such as went to fight against the Infidels Turkes and Saracens to wit free remission of sinnes and manie other graces The bishop of Norwich that had the disposing of the benefits granted by those buls to all such as either would go themselues in person or else giue anie thing toward the furtherance of that voiage maintenance of them that went in the same shewed those buls in open parlement caused copies to be written forth sent into euerie quarter that his authoritie power legantine might be notified to all men for the better bringing to passe of that he had in charge And truelie it should appeare there wanted no diligence in the man to accomplish the popes purpose and on the other part yée must note that the priuileges which he had from the pope were passing large so that as the matter was handled there were diuerse lords knights esquires and other men of warre in good numbers that offered themselues to go in that voiage and to follow the standards of the church with the bishop and no small summes of monie were leuied and gathered amongst the people for the furnishing foorth of that armie as after yée shall heare In this meane time the earle of Cambridge returned home from Portingale whither as yee haue heard he was sent the last yeare and promise made that the duke of Lancaster should haue followed him but by reason of the late rebellion and also for other considerations as the warres in Flanders betwixt the erle and them of Gaunt it was not thought conuenient that anie men of warre should go foorth of the realme and so the king of Portingale not able of himselfe to go through with his enterprise against the king of Spaine after some small exploits atchiued by the Englishmen and other of the earle of Cambridge his companie as the winning of certeine fortresses belonging to the king of Castile and that the two kings had laine in field the one against the other by the space of fifteene daies without battell the matter was taken vp and a peace concluded betwixt them sore against the mind of the earle of Cambridge who did what in him laie to haue brought them to a set field but when there was no remedie he bare it so patientlie as he might and returned home with his people sore offended though he said little against the king of Portingale for that he dealt otherwise in this matter than was looked for He had affianced his sonne which he had by the daughter of Peter sometime king of Castile vnto the king of Portingales daughter now in the time of his being there but although he was earnestlie requested of the said king he would not leaue his sonne behind him but brought him backe with him againe into England togither with his mother doubting the slipperie faith of those people In the Lent season of this sixt yeare of king Richards reigne year 1383 an other parlement was called at London in the which there was hard hold about the buls sent to the bishop of Norwich from pope Urbane concerning his iournie that he should take in hand against the Clementines as we may call them for that they held with pope Clement whome the Urbanists that is such as held with pope Urbane tooke for schismatikes Diuerse there were that thought it not good that such summes of monie shuld be leuied of the kings subiects and the same togither with an armie of men to be committed vnto the guiding of a prelat vnskilfull in warlike affaires Other there were that would needs haue him to go that the enimies of the church as they tooke them might be subdued And although the more part of the lords of the vpper house and likewise the knights and burgesses of the lower house were earnestlie bent against this iournie yet at length those that were of the contrarie mind preuailed so it was decreed that it should forward and that the said bishop of Norwich should haue the fiftéenth granted to the king in the last parlement to paie the wages of such men of warre as should go ouer with him for soldiers without monie passed not much of pardons no not in those daies except at the verie point of death if they were not assured how to be answered of their wages or of some other consideration wherby they might gaine ¶ The tenth that was granted afore by the bishops at Oxford was now in this same parlement appointed to remaine to the king for the kéeping of the seas whilest the bishop should be foorth of the realme in following line 10 those wars These things being thus appointed the bishop sent foorth his letters firmed with his seale into euerie prouince and countrie of this land giuing to all parsons vicars and curats through this realme power and authoritie to heare the confessions of their parishioners and to grant vnto those that would bestow any parcell of their goods which God had lent them towards the aduancing of the iournie to be made by the crossed souldiers against pope Urbans enimies line 20 the absolution and remission of all their sinnes by the popes authoritie according to the forme of the bull before mentioned The people vnderstanding of so great and gratious a benefit as they tooke it thus offered to the English nation at home in their owne houses were desirous to be partakers thereof and those that were warlike men prepared themselues to go foorth in that iournie with all spéed possible The residue that were not fit to be warriors according to that they were exhorted by their confessors bestowed line 30 liberallie of their goods to the furtherance of those that went and so few there were within the whole kingdome but that either they went or gaue somewhat to the aduancing foorth of the bishop of Norwich his voiage This bishop chose diuerse to be associat with him as capteins that were expert
in warlike enterprises The first and principall was sir Hugh Caluerlie an old man of warre and one that in all places had borne himselfe both valiantlie and politikelie next line 40 vnto him was sir William Farington who stoutlie spake in the bishops cause when the matter came in question in the parlement house touching his going ouer with this croâsie Besides these there went diuerse noble men and knights of high renowme as the lord Henrie Beaumount sir William Elmham and sir Thomas Triuet sir Iohn Ferrers sir Hugh Spenser the bishops nephue by his brother sir Matthew Redman capteine of Berwike sir Nicholas Tarenson or Traicton sir William Farington and line 50 manie other of the English nation of Gascogne there went le sire de Chasteauneuf and his brother sir Iohn de Chasteauneuf Raimund de Marsen Guillonet de Paux Gariot Uighier Iohn de Cachitan and diuerse other Sir Iohn Beauchampe was appointed marshall of the field but bicause he was at that present in the marches of the realme towards Scotland he was not readie to passe ouer when the bishop did The duke of Lancaster liked not well of the bishops iournie for that he saw how his voiage line 60 that he meant to make into Spaine was hereby for the time disappointed and he could haue béene better contented as appeareth by writers to haue had the monie imploied vpon the warres against the king of Castile that was a Clementine than to haue it bestowed vpon this voiage which the bishop was to take in hand against the French king and other in these néerer parts Herevpon there were not manie of the nobilitie that offered to go with the bishop But to saie somewhat of other things that were concluded in this last parlement we find that the fishmongers which through meanes of the late lord maâor Iohn of Northampton and his complices were put from their ancient customes and liberties which they inioied aforetime within the citie were now restored to the same againe sauing that they might not kéepe courts among themselues as in times past they vsed but that after the maner of other crafts and companies all transgressions offenses and breaches of lawes and customes by them committed should be heard tried and reformed in the maiors court ¶ All this winter the matter touching the gathering of monie towards the croisie was earnestlie applied so that there was leuied what of the disme and by the deuotion of the people for obteining of the pardon so much as drew to the summe of fiue and twentie thousand franks When the bishop therefore had set things in good forwardnesse for his iournie he drew towards the sea side and was so desirous to passe ouer and to inuade his aduersaries that although the king sent to him an expresse commandement by letters to returne to the court that he might conferre with him before he tooke the seas yet excusing himselfe that the time would not then permit him to staie longer he passed ouer to Calis where he landed the 23 of Aprill in this sixt yeare of king Richards reigne The armie to attend him in this iournie rose to the number of two thousand horssemen and fifteene thousand footmen as some write though other speake of a far lesser number But it should seeme that they went not ouer all at one time but by parts as some before the bishop some with him and some after him Now when he and the capteins before named were come ouer to Calis they tooke counsell togither into what place they should make their first inuasion and bicause their commission was to make warre onelie against those that held with pope Clement the more part were of this mind that it should be most expedient for them to enter into France and to make warre against the Frenchmen whom all men knew to be chiefe mainteiners of the said Clement But the bishop of Norwich was of this opinion that they could not doo better than to inuade the countrie of Flanders bicause that a litle before earle Lewes hauing intelligence that king Richard had made a confederacie with them of Gaunt had on the other part expelled all Englishmen out of his dominions and countries so that the merchants which had their goods at Bruges and other places in Flanders susteined great losses Howbeit there were that replied against the bishops purpose herein as sir Hugh Caluerlie and others yet at length they yeelded thereto and so by his commandement they went streight to Grauelin the 21 day of Maie and immediatlie wan it by assault Whervpon Bruckburge was yeelded vnto them the liues and goods of them within saued Then went they to Dunkirke without any great resistance entred the towne and wan there excéeding much by the spoile for it was full of riches which the Englishmen pilfered at their pleasure The earle of Flanders lieng at Lisle was aduertised how the Englishmen were thus entered his countrie wherevpon he sent ambassadors vnto the English host to vnderstand why they made him warre that was a right Urbanist The bishop of Norwich for answer declared to them that were sent that he tooke the countrie to apperteine to the French king as he that had of late conquered it whom all the whole world knew to be a Clementine or at the least he was assured that the countrie thereabouts was of the inheritance of the ladie of Bar which likewise was a Clementine and therefore except the people of that countrie would come and ioine with him to go against such as were knowne to be enimies to pope Urbane he would suerlie séeke to destroie them And whereas the earls ambassadors required safe conduct to go into England by Calis to vnderstand the kings pleasure in this mater the bishop would grant them none at all wherefore they went backe againe to the earle their maister with that answer The Englishmen after the taking and spoiling of Dunkirke returned to Grauelin and Bruckburge which places they fortified and then leauing garrisons in them they went to Mardike and tooke it for it was not closed In the meane time the countriemen of west Flanders rose in armour and came line 10 to Dunkirke meaning to resist the Englishmen whereof when the bishop was certified with all spéed he marched thither and comming to the place where the Flemings to the number of more than twelue thousand were ranged without the towne he sent an herald vnto them to know the truth of whether pope they held but the rude people not vnderstanding what apperteined to the law of armes ran vpon the herald at his approching to them and slue him before he could begin to tell his tale The Englishmen herewith inflamed determined line 20 either to reuenge the death of their herald or to die for it and therewith ordered their battels readie to fight and being not aboue fiue thousand fighting men in all the bishop placed himselfe amongst
in praemissis faciendis assistentes sint consulentes auxiliantes line 40 prout decet In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium vice simo tertio die Maij anno regni nostri vndecimo A copie of the kings commission against the Lollards or Wickleuists and their followers Englished by A.F. RIchard by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland to his beloued maister Thomas Brightwell doctor in diuinitie deane of the college of the new worke of Leicester and to William Chesulden prebendarie of the prebend of the same college and to our beloued and trustie subiects Richard of Barow Chinall and Robert Langham greeting For so line 60 much as we are certeinelie informed by credible report that by the vnsound doctrine of maister Iohn Wickliffe whiles he liued of Nicholas Herford Iohn Liston and their followers many bookes libels scheduls pamphlets expresselie euidentlie and notoriouslie swarming with manifest heresies and errors to the hurt of the catholike faith the abolishment of sound doctrine are commonlie compiled published and written as well in English as in Latine and therevpon wicked opinions contrarie to sound doctrine doo spring grow and are mainteined and preached to the weakening of the right faith the ouerthrow of holie church and consequentlie which God forbid the misbeleefe of a great many the manifest danger of their soules We being moued with zeale to the catholike faith whereof we are and will be defenders in all things as we are bound vnwilling that such heresies or errors within the limits of our iurisdiction so far as we are able should grow or by any meanes spring vp doo assigne you iointlie and seuerallie all and singular the books libels scheduls pamphlets conteining such doctrine of the said Iohn Nicholas Iohn and their fellow-followers or any of their corrupt opinions wheresoeuer in whose hands possession or keeping soeuer they shal be found within the liberties or without them to search take arrest and cause to be brought before our councell with all possible speed that then and there we may take order for the same accordinglie as by the aduise of our foresaid councell we shall see requisite to be doone And also to proclaime and on our behalfe firmelie to forbid all and euerie one of whatsoeuer state degree or condition he be vnder paine of imprisonment and forfeitures which to vs he shall forfeit any of these wicked and lewd opinions to mainteine teach obstinatlie to defend priuilie or openlie or any of these bookes libels scheduls pamphlets to keepe write or cause to be written but all and euerie such booke and bookes libels scheduls and pamphlets with them had found at our commandement vnto you to deliuer or cause to be deliuered without delaie And all them whome after proclamation and inhibition you shall find dooing contrarie to the premisses and such lewd opinions mainteining to call foorth before you the said Thomas the deane William and them to examine when they shal be lawfullie conuinced therein to commit them to the next officers prisons there to be kept till they haue recanted their errors heresies and wicked opinions or till we for their deliuerance shall otherwise thinke order to be taken And therefore we command that you intend the said premisses with all diligence and effect and the same doo and execute in forme aforesaid We doo also giue in streict commandement and charge to all and euerie as well churchman churchmen as shiriffes maiors bailiffes officers and other our trustie subiects as well within the liberties as without by the tenor of these presents to assist counsell and helpe you and euerie of you in doing the premisses as it is conuenient In witnesse whereof we haue caused these our letters patents to be made Witnesse our selues at Westminster the twentie third day of Maie and the eleuenth yeare of our reigne ¶ About this time or as Henrie Knighton saith in the yeare 1392 maister William Courtenie archbishop of Canturburie brother to the earle of Denshire visited the diocesse of Lincolne and on the feast of saint Faith the virgine he visited maister Iohn Bokingham bishop of Lincolne in the cathedrall church of Lincolnâ with the chapter and an hundred of the canons and he came to Leicester abbeie in visitation the sundaie before the feast of All saints where he ãâã all the tuesdaie and on the eeue also of All saints being mondaie calling togither all the canons of the said monasterie with the chaplines of his owne chappell euerie of them hauing in their hands burning candels The same archbishop confirmed sentence of excommunication against the Lollards or Wickleuists with their fauourers which either now mainteined or caused to be mainteined or hereafter did mainteine or should mainteine the errours and opinions of master Iohn Wickliffe in the diocesse of Lincolne On the morrow next after All saints the same bishop flashed out his sentence of line 10 excommunication like lightning in open sight with a crosse set vpright with candels burning bright and with bels roong alowd and namelie against those of Leicester towne that had too too much defiled and infected the said towne and countrie The archbishop departing from thence went to saint Peters church to a certeine anchoresse named Matildis there kept as in a closet whom he reprouing about the foresaid errors and opinions of the Lollards and finding hir line 20 answers scarse aduisedlie made cited hir that she should appeare before him on the sundaie next insuing in saint Iames his abbeie at Northampton to answer vnto the foresaid erronious and prophane points Now she appeared at the day appointed and renouncing hir errours and hauing penance inioined hir she went awaie reformed But till the second day before the feast of saint Lucie she kept hir selfe out of hir closet and then entred into the same againe Other Lollards also were cited and appeared line 30 at Oxford and in other places as the archbishop had commanded them who renouncing their superstitious errours and for swearing their prophane opinions did open penance Also one William Smith was made to go about the market place at Leicester clothed in linnen or in a white sheet holding in his right arme the image of the Crucifix and in his left the image of saint Katharine bicause the said Smith had sometimes cut in peeces and burned an image of saint Katharine whereof he made a fire to line 40 boile him hearbes in his hunger In those daies there was a certeine matrone in London which had one onelie daughter whome manie daies she instructed and trained vp to celebrat the masse and she set vp an altar in hir priuie or secret chamber with all the ornaments therevnto belonging and so she made hir daughter manie daies to attire hir selfe like a priest and to come to the altar and after hir maner to celebrate the
and lord treasuror of England departed this life and by king Richard his appointment had the honor to haue his bodie interred at Westminster amongst the kings After line 40 this decease Roger Walden that before was secretarie to the king and treasuror of Calis was now made lord treasuror Yée haue heard that in the yeare 1392 Robert Uéer duke of Ireland departed this life in Louaine in Brabant King Richard therefore this yeare in Nouember caused his corps being imbalmed to be conueied into England and so to the priorie of Colnie in Essex appointing him to be laid in a coffine of cypresse and to be adorned with princelie garments line 50 hauing a chaine of gold about his necke and rich rings on his fingers And to shew what loue and affection he bare vnto him in his life time the king caused the coffine to be opened that he might behold his face bared and touch him with his hands he honored his funerall exequies with his presence accompanied with the countesse of Oxenford mother to the said duke the archbishop of Canturburie and manie other bishops abbats and priors but of noble line 60 men there were verie few for they had not yet digested the enuie and hatred which they had conceiued against him In this meane while the duke of Lancaster was in Gascoigne treating with the lords of the countrie and the inhabitants of the good townes which vtterlie refused to receiue him otherwise than as a lieutenant or substitute to the king of England and in the end addressed messengers into England to signifie to the king that they had beene accustomed to be gouerned by kings and meant not now to become subiects to anie other contrarie to all reason sith the king could not sauing his oth alien them from the crowne The duke of Lancaster vsed all waies he might deuise how to win their good wils and had sent also certeine of his trustie councellors ouer hither into England as sir William Perreer sir Peter Clifton and two clearkes learned in the lawe the one called maister Iohn Huech and the other maister Iohn Richards a canon of Leicester to plead and sollicit his cause But to be breefe such reasons were shewed and such matter vnfolded by the Gascoignes whie they ought not be separated from the crowne of England that finallie notwithstanding the duke of Glocester and certeine other were against them it was decréed that the countrie and duchie of Aquitaine should remaine still in demesne of the crowne of England least that by this transporting thereof it might fortune in time that the heritage thereof should fall into the hands of some stranger and enimie to the English nation so that then the homage and souereigntie might perhaps be lost for euer Indeed the duke of Glocester being a prince of an high mind loth to haue the duke of Lancaster at home being so highlie in the kings fauor could haue béene well pleased that he should haue enioied his gift for that he thought thereby to haue borne all the rule about the king for the duke of Yorke was a man rather coueting to liue in pleasure than to deale with much businesse and the weightie affaires of the realme About the same time or somewhat before the king sent an ambassage to the French king the archbishop of Dublin the earle of Rutland the earle Marshall the lord Beaumont the lord Spenser the lord Clifford named Lewes and twentie knights with fortie esquiers The cause of their going ouer was to intreat of a marriage to be had betwixt him and the ladie Isabell daughter to the French king she being as then not past eight yeares of age which before had beene promised vnto the duke of Britaines sonne but in consideration of the great benefit that was likelie to insue by this communication and aliance with England there was a meane found to vndoo that knot though not presentlie These English lords at their comming to Paris were ioifullie receiued and so courteouslie interteined banketted feasted and cherished and that in most honorable sort as nothing could be more all their charges and expenses were borne by the French king and when they should depart they receiued for answer of their message verie comfortable words and so with hope to haue their matter sped they returned But now when the duke of Lancaster had by laieng foorth an inestimable masse of treasure purchased in a manner the good wils of them of Aquitaine and compassed his whole desire he was suddenlie countermanded home by the king and so to satisfie the kings pleasure he returned into England and comming to the king at Langleie where he held his Christmasse was receiued with more honor than loue as was thought wherevpon he rode in all hast that might be to Lincolne where Katharine Swinford as then laie whom shortlie after the Epiphanie year 1396 he tooke to wife This woman was borne in Heinault daughter to a knight of that countrie called sir Paou de Ruet she was brought vp in hir youth in the duke of Lancasters house and attended on his first wife the duchesse Blanch of Lancaster and in the daies of his second wife the duchesse Constance he kept the foresaid Katharine as his concubine who afterwards was married to a knight of England named Swinford that was now deceassed Before she was married the duke had by hir three children two sonnes and a daughter one of the sons was named Thomas de Beaufort the other Henrie who was brought vp at Aken in Almaine prooued a good lawyer and was after bishop of Winchester For the loue that the duke had to these his children he married their mother the said Katharine Swinford being now a widow whereof men maruelled much considering hir meane estate was farre vnmeet to match with his highnesse and nothing comparable in honor to his other two former wiues And indeed the great ladies of England as the duches of Glocester the countesses of Derbie Arundell and others descended of the blood roiall greatlie disdeined line 10 that she should be matched with the duke of of Lancaster and by that means be accompted second person in the realme and preferred in roome before them and therefore they said that they would not come in anie place where she should be present for it should be a shame to them that a woman of so base birth and concubine to the duke in his other wiues daies should go and haue place before them The duke of Glocester also being a man of an high mind and stout stomach misliked his brothers line 20 matching so meanlie but the duke of Yorke bare it well inough and verelie the ladie hir selfe was a woman of such bringing vp and honorable demeanor that enuie could not in the end but giue place to well deseruing About this season the doctrine of of Iohn Wickliffe still mightilie spred abroad héere in England ¶ The schisme also still continued
was the last as saieth mine author which ware that deuise and shewed well thereby his constant hart toward his maister for the which it was thought he should haue lost his life but yet he was pardoned and at length reconciled to the dukes fauour after he was king But now to our purpose King Richard being thus come vnto the castell of Flint on the mondaie the eightéenth of August and the duke of Hereford being still aduertised from houre to houre by posts how the earle of Northumberland sped the morow following being tuesdaie and the ninetéenth of August he came thither mustered his armie before the kings presence which vndoubtedlie made a passing faire shew being verie well ordered by the lord Henrie Persie that was appointed generall or rather as we maie call him master of the campe vnder the duke of the whole armie There were come alreadie to the castell before the approching of the maine armie the archbishop of Canturburie the duke of Aumarle the earle of Worcester and diuerse other The line 10 archbishop entred first and then followed the other comming into the first ward The king that was walking aloft on the braies of the wals to behold the comming of the duke a farre off might sée that the archbishop and the other were come and as he tooke it to talke with him wherevpon he foorthwith came downe vnto them and beholding that they did their due reuerence to him on their knées he tooke them vp and drawing the archbishop aside from the residue talked with him a good line 20 while and as it was reported the archbishop willed him to be of good comfort for he should be assured not to haue anie hurt as touching his person but he prophesied not as a prelat but as a Pilat For was it no hurt thinke you to his person to be spoiled of his roialtie to be deposed from his crowne to be translated from principalitie to prison to fall from honor into horror All which befell him to his extreame hart greefe no doubt which to increase meanes alas line 30 there were manie but to diminish helps God wot but a few So that he might haue said with the forlorne man in the mercilesse seas of his miseries Vt fera nimboso tumüerunt aequora vento In medijs lacera naue relinquor aquis ¶ Some write as before in a marginall note I haue quoted that the archbishop of Canturburie went with the earle of Northumberland vnto Conwaie and there talked with him and further that euen then the king offered in consideration of his insufficiencie line 40 to gouerne freelie to resigne the crowne and his kinglie title to the same vnto the duke of Hereford But forsomuch as those that were continuallie attendant about the king during the whole time of his abode at Conwaie and till his comming to Flint doo plainelie affirme that the archbishop came not to him till this tuesdaie before his remoouing from Flint vnto Chester it maie be thought the circumstances well considered that he rather made that promise here at Flint than at Conwaie line 50 although by the tenour of an instrument conteining the declaration of the archbishop of Yorke and other commissioners sent from the estates assembled in the next parlement vnto the said king it is recorded to be at Conwaie as after ye maie read But there maie be some default in the copie as taking the one place for the other But wheresoeuer this offer was made after that the archbishop had now here at Flint communed with the king he departed and taking his horsse againe line 60 rode backe to meet the duke who began at that present to approch the castell and compassed it round about euen downe to the sea with his people ranged in good and séemelie order at the foot of the mounteins and then the earle of Northumberland passing foorth of the castell to the duke talked with him a while in sight of the king being againe got vp to the walles to take better view of the armie being now aduanced within two bowe shootes of the castell to the small reioising ye may be sure of the sorowfull king The earle of Northumberland returning to the castell appointed the king to be set to dinner for he was fasting till then and after he had dined the duke came downe to the castell himselfe and entred the same all armed his bassenet onelie excepted and being within the first gate he staied there till the king came foorth of the inner part of the castell vnto him The king accompanied with the bishop of Carleill the earle of Salisburie and sir Stephan Scroope knight who bare the sword before him and a few other came foorth into the vtter ward and sate downe in a place prepared for him Foorthwith as the duke got sight of the king he shewed a reuerend dutie as became him in bowing his knée and comming forward did so likewise the second and third time till the king tooke him by the hand and lift him vp saieng Déere cousine ye are welcome The duke humblie thanking him said My souereigne lord and king the cause of my comming at this present is your honor saued to haue againe restitution of my person my lands and heritage through your fauourable licence The king hervnto answered Déere cousine I am readie to accomplish your will so that ye may inioy all that is yours without exception Méeting thus togither they came foorth of the castell and the king there called for wine and after they had dronke they mounted on horssebacke and rode that night to Flint and the next daie vnto Chester the third vnto Nantwich the fourth to Newcastell Here with glad countenance the lord Thomas Beauchampe earle of Warwike met them that had beene confined into the I le of Man as before ye haue heard but now was reuoked home by the duke of Lancaster From Newcastell they rode to Stafford and the sixt daie vnto Lichfield and there rested sundaie all daie After this they rode foorth and lodged at these places insuing Couentrie Dantrée Northhampton Dunstable S. Albons so came to London neither was the king permitted all this while to change his apparell but rode still through all these townes simplie clothed in one sute of raiment and yet he was in his time excéeding sumptuous in apparell in so much as he had one cote which he caused to be made for him of gold and stone valued at 30000 marks so he was brought the next waie to Westminster As for the duke he was receiued with all the ioy and pompe that might be of the Londoners and was lodged in the bishops palace by Paules church It was a woonder to see what great concursse of people what number of horsses came to him on the waie as he thus passed the countries till his comming to London where vpon his approch to the citie the maior rode foorth to receiue him and a great number
this present parlement After the which words thus said as before is declared it was decréed also by the said lords arbitrators that the said lord of Winchester should haue these words that follow vnto my said lord of Glocester My lord of Glocester I haue conceiued to my great heauinesse that yée should haue receiued by diuerse reports that I should haue purposed and imagined against your person honor and estate in diuers maners for the which yée haue taken against me great displeasure Sir I take God to my witnesse that what reports so euer haue béene to you of me peraduenture of such as haue had no great affection to me God forgiue it them I neuer imagined ne purposed anie thing that might be hindering or preiudice to your person honor or estate and therefore I praie you that yee be vnto me good lord from this time foorth for by my will I gaue neuer other occasion nor purpose not to doo hereafter by the grace of God The which words so by him said it was decréed by the same arbitrators that my lord of Glocester should answer and saie Faire vncle sith yée declare you such a man as yée saie I am right glad that it is so and for such a man I take you And when this was doone it was decréed by the same arbitrators that euerie each of my lord of Glocester and Winchester should take either other by the hand in the presence of the king and all the parlement in signe and token of good loue accord the which was doone and the parlement adiorned till after Easter At this reconciliation such as loued peace reioised sith it is a fowle pernicious thing for priuat men much more for noblemen to be at variance sith vpon them depend manie in affections diuerse whereby factions might grow to the shedding of bloud though others to whom contention hartgrudge is delight wished to see the vttermost mischéefe that might therof insue which is the vtter ouerthrow and desolation of populous tribes euen as with a litle sparkle whole houses are manie times consumed to ashes as the old prouerbe saith and that verie ãâã and aptlie Sola scintilla perit haec domus aut ãâã illa But when the great fier of this ãâã betwéene these two noble personages was thus by the arbitrators to their knowledge and iudgement vtterlie quenched out and said vnder boord all other controuersies betwéene other lords taking part with the one partie or the other were appeased and brought to concord so that for ioy the king caused a solemne fest to be kept on Whitsundaie on which daie he created Richard Plantagenet sonne and heire to the erle of Cambridge whome his father at Southhampton had put to death as before yee haue heard duke of Yorke not foreséeing that this preferment should be his destruction nor that his séed should of his generation be the extreame end and finall conclusion He the same daie also promoted Iohn lord Mowbraie and earle marshall sonne and heire to Thomas duke of Norffolke by king Richard the second exiled this realme to the title name and stile of duke of Norffolke During this feast the duke of Bedford adorned the king with the high order of knighthood who on the same daie dubbed with the sword these knights whose names insue Richard duke of Yorke Iohn duke of Norffolke the earle of Westmerland Henrie lord Persie Iohn lord Butler sonne to the earle of Ormond the lord Rosse the lord Matrauers the lord Welles the lord Barkelie sir Iames Butler sir Henrie Greie of Tankaruile sir Iohn Talbot sir Rafe Greie of Warke sir Robert Uéere sir Richard Greie sir Edmund Hungerford sir Water Wingfield sir Iohn Butler sir Reginald Cobham sir Iohn Passheleu sir Thomas Tunstall sir Iohn Chedocke sir Rafe Langstre sir William Drurie sir William ap Thomas sir Richard Carnonell sir Richard Wooduile sir Iohn Shirdlow sir Nicholas Blunket sir William Cheinie iustice sir William Babington sir Rafe Butler sir Robert Beauchampe sir Edmund Trafford sir Iohn Iune cheefe baron and diuerse others After this solemne feast ended a great aid and subsidie was granted for the continuance of the conquest in France and so therevpon monie was gathered and men were prepared in euerie citie towne and countrie During which businesse Thomas duke of Excester great vncle to the king a right sage and discréet councellor departed out of this mortall life at his manor of Gréenewich and with all funerall pompe was conueied through London to Berrie and there buried ¶ In the same yeare also died the ladie Elizabeth halfe sister to the same duke and of the whole bloud with king Henrie the fourth maried first to the lord Iohn Holland duke of Excester and after to the lord Fanhope buried at the blacke friers of London Philip Morgan after the death of Iohn Fortham line 10 sometime treasuror of England year 1425 bishop of Elie and Durham both which bishopriks for anie thing that I can yet sée he inioied both at one time was made bishop of Elie in the yeare of our redemption 1425 in this sort Henrie the sixt and manie of the nobilitie had written to the conuent of the church of Elie to choose William Alnewicke doctor of both lawes confessor to the king and kéeper of the priuie seale to be their bishop Notwithstanding which they hauing more regard to their owne priuileges and benefit line 20 chose Peter the prior of Elie to succéed in the place of Iohn Fortham But none of both these inioied that roome for Martin bishop of Rome stepping into the matter to make the third part neither fauouring the kings motion nor approouing the monks election remooued this William Morgan from the see of Worcester vnto Elie sometime called Helix as I haue séene it set downe in Saxon characters in an ancient booke of the liues of saints written in the Saxon toong about the yeare of Christ 1010 before the time of Edward the confessor and much about the time of line 30 Albo Floriacensis This Morgan sat at Elie nine yeares twentie and six wéeks and foure daies departing this life in his manour of Hatfield in the yeare 1434 and was buried at the Charterhouse of London being the twentie and fourth bishop that was installed in that place While these things were thus a dooing in England year 1426 the earle of Warwike lieutenant for the regent in France entered into the countrie of Maine line 40 besieged the towne of Chateau de Loire the which shortlie to him was rendered whereof he made capteine Matthew Gough esquier After this he tooke by assault the castell of Maiet and gaue it for his valiantnesse to Iohn Winter esquier and after that he conquered the castell of Lude and made there capteine William Gladesdale gentleman Here he was informed that the Frenchmen were assembled in the countrie of Beausse wherevpon he hasted thitherwards to haue giuen them battell but they hauing line 50
least he should the more irritate and prouoke them by that displeasant sight he changed his purpose for doubt to wrap himselfe in more trouble than néeded While these things were adooing in England the king of Scots being aduertised of the whole matter and rebellion of the Cornishmen thought not to let passe that occasion and therefore he eftsoones inuaded the frontiers of England wasting the countrie burning townes and murthering the people spareing neither place nor person and while his light horsmen were riding to forraie and destroie the bishoprike of Durham and there burned all about he with an other part of his armie did besiege the castell of Norham The bishop of Durham Richard Fox being owner of that castell had well furnished it both with men and munitions aforehand doubting least that would follow which came now to passe The bishop after that the Scots made this inuasion aduertised the king as then being at London of all things that chanced in the North parts and sent in all post hast to the earle of Surrie to come to the rescue The âarle being then in Yorkeshire and hauing gathered an armie vpon knowledge giuen to him from the bishop with all diligence marched forward and after him followed other noble men out of all the quarters of the North euerie of them bringing as manie men as they could gather for defense of their countrie Amongst these the chéefe leaders were Rafe earle of Westmerland Thomas lord Dacres Rafe lord Neuill George lord Strange Richard lord Latimer George lord Lumleie Iohn lord Scroope Henrie lord Clifford George lord Ogle William lord Coniers Thomas lord Darcie Of knights Thomas baron of Hilton sir William Persie sir William Bulmer sir William Gascoigne sir Rafe Bigod sir Rafe Bowes sir Thomas a Parre sir Rafe Ellecker sir Iohn Constable sir Iohn Ratcliffe sir Iohn Sauill sir Thomas Strangweis and a great number of other knights and esquiers besides The whole armie was little lesse than twentie thousand men beside the nauie whereof the lord Brooke was admerall When the Scots had diuerse waies assaulted and beaten the castell of Norham but could make no batterie to enter the same they determined of their line 10 owne accord to raise the siege and returne and that so much the sooner in verie déed bicause they heard that the earle of Surrie was within two daies iournie of them with a great puissance Wherefore king Iames raised his siege and returned home into his owne realme When the earle knew of the kings returne he followed him with all hast possible trusting suerlie to ouertake him and to giue him battell When the earle was entred Scotland he ouerthrew and defaced the castell of Cawdestreimes the tower line 20 of Hetenhall the tower of Edington the tower of Fulden and he sent Norreie king at armes to the capteine of Haiton castell which was one of the strongest places betwixt Berwike and Edenburgh to deliuer him the castell Which he denied to doo affirming that he was sure of spéedie succours The earle héerevpon laid his ordinance to the castell and continuallie beat it from two of the clocke till fiue at night in such wise that they within rendered vp the place their liues onelie saued The earle line 30 caused his minors to rase ouerthrow the fortresse to the plaine ground The Scotish king was within a mile of the siege and both knew it and saw the smoke but would not set one foot forward to the rescue While the erle laie at Haiton the king of Scots sent to him Machemont and an other herald desiring him at his election either to fight with whole puissance against puissance or else they two to fight person to person requiring that if the victorie fell to the Scotish king that then the earle should deliuer line 40 for his ransome the towne of Berwike with the fishgarths of the same The earle made answer hereto that the towne of Berwike was the king his maisters and not his the which he neither ought nor would laie to pledge without the king of Englands assent but he would gage his bodie which was more pretious to him than all the townes of the world promising on his honour that if he tooke the king prisoner in that singular combat he would release to him all his part of line 50 the fine and ransome and if it chanced the king to vanquish him he would gladlie paie such ransome as was conuenient for the degree of an earle and thanked him greatlie for the offer for suerlie he thought himselfe much honored that so noble a prince would vouchsafe to admit so poore an earle to fight with him bodie to bodie When he had rewarded and dismissed the heralds he set his armie in a readinesse to abide the comming of the king of Scots and so stood all daie But king Iames not regarding his offers would line 60 neither performe the one nor the other fearing to cope with the English nation in anie condition and so therevpon fled in the night season with all his puissance When the earle knew that the king was reculed and had béene in Scotland six or seuen daies being dailie and nightlie vexed with continuall wind and raine vpon good and deliberate aduise returned backe to the towne of Berwike and there dissolued his armie tarieng there himselfe till he might vnderstand further of the kings pleasure In the meane time there came an ambassadour to the K. of Scots from the K. of Spaine one Peter Hialas a man of no lesse learning than wit policie to mooue intret a peace betweene the two kings of England Scotland that their people might fall to their necessarie trades of aduantage with quietnesse and friend with friend husband with wife father with children and maisters with seruants dwell and accompanie a dissolution and separation of whome one from another is procured by bloudie warre wherein as there is no pitie so is there is no pietie as one saith full trulie Nulla fides pietásque viris qui castra sequuntur Nulla salus bello This Spanish ambassadour so earnestlie trauelled in his message vnto the king of Scots that at length he found him comformable to his purpose and therefore wrote to the king of England that it would please him to send one of his nobilitie or councell to be associat with him in concluding of peace with the Scotish king The king of England was neuer dangerous to agree to anie reasonable peace so it might stand with his honour and therefore appointed the bishop of Durham doctor Fox to go into Scotland about that treatie which Peter Hialas had begun The bishop according to his commission went honorablie into Scotland where he and Peter Hialas at the towne of Iedworth after long arguing and debating of matters with the Scotish commissioners in stéed of peace concluded a truce for certeine yeares vpon condition that Iames king of Scots should conueie Perkin Warbecke
giuen and receiued diuerse Scots were wounded and some slaine and the residue ouermatched with multitude of the Englishmen fled as fast as their horsses could carie them The Scotish king hereof aduertised was highlie displeased and in all hast signified to king Henrie by his herald Marchemont in what sort his people to the breach of the truce were abused and handled King Henrie being not in will to breake with anie of his neighbours excused the matter affirming that he was not of knowledge to the misdemeanor of those that had the castell in kéeping requiring the king of Scots not to thinke the truce broken for anie thing doone without his consent promising in the word of a king to inquire of the truth and if the offense were found to be begun on the partie of the kéepers of the castell he assured him that they should for no meed nor fauour escape due correction and punishment This answer though it was more than reasonable could not pacifie the king of Scots till the bishop of Durham that was owner of the castell of Norham who sore lamented that by such as he appointed kéepers there the warre should be renewed with sundrie letters written to the Scotish king at length asswaged his displeasure so that the said king wrote courteouslie to the bishop againe signifieng that bicause he had manie secret things in his mind which he would communicate onelie with him touching this matter now in variance therefore he required him to take the paine to come into his countrie trusting that he should thinke his labor well bestowed The bishop was glad and sent word hereof to the king his master who willed him to accomplish the desire of the Scotish king which he tooke to bee reasonable At his comming into Scotland he was courteouslie receiued of the king himselfe at the abbeie of Melrosse And there after the king had for a countenance complained much of the vniust slaughter of his men late committed at Norham vpon the bishops gentle answers thervnto he forgaue the same and after began to talke secretlie without witnesses alone with the bishop And first he declared what iust causes mooued him in times past to séeke amitie with the king of England which now he desired much more to haue confirmed for further maintenance increase thereof Which he doubted not but should sort to a fortunate conclusion if the king of England would vouchsafe to giue to him in matrimonie his first begotten daughter the ladie Margaret vpon which point he purposed latelie to haue sent his ambassadors into England which thing he would the sooner doo if he knew the bishops mind therein to bée readie to further his sute The bishop answered but few words sauing that when he were returned to the king his maister he would doo the best in the matter that he could When the bishop was returned into England and come to the king he declared to him all the communication had betwéene king Iames and him from point to point in order The king liked well thereof as he to whom peace was euer a souereigne solace and comfort In this meane time Perkin Warbecke year 1499 disappointed of all hope to escape out of the Englishmens hands which was the onelie thing that he most desired found meanes yet at length to deceiue his kéepers took him to his héels But when he came to the sea coasts and could not passe he was in a maruellous perplexitie for euerie byway lane and corner was laid for him and such search made that being brought to his wits end and cut short of his pretensed iournie he came to the house of Bethlem called the priorie of Shéene beside Richmond in Southerie and betooke himselfe to the prior of that monasterie requiring him for the honour of God to beg his pardon of life of the kings maiestie line 10 The prior which for the opinion that men had conceiued of his vertue was had in great estimation pitieng the wretched state of that caitife came to the king and shewed him of this Perkin whose pardon he humblie craued and had it as fréelie granted Incontinentlie after was Perkin brought to the court againe at Westminster and was one day set fâttered in a paire of stocks before the doore of Westminster hall and there stood a whole day not without innumerable reproches mocks and scornings And the next daie he was caried through London and set vpon line 20 a like scaffold in Cheape by the standard with like ginnes and stocks as he occupied the daie before and there stood all daie and read openlie his owne confession written with his ownâ hand the verie copie whereof here insueth The confession of Perkin as it was written with his owne hand which he read openlie vpon a scaffold by the standard line 30 in Cheape IT is first to be knowne that I was borne in the towne of Turneie in Flanders and my fathers name is Iohn Osbecke which said Iohn Osbecke was controllor of the said towne of Turneie and my moothers name is Katharine de Faro And one of my grandsires vpon my fathers side was line 40 named Diricke Osbeck which died After whose death my grandmoother was married vnto Peter Flamin that was receiuer of the forenamed towne of Turneie deane of the botemen that row vpon the water or riuer called le Scheld And my grandsire vpon my moothers side was Peter de Faro which had in his keeping the keies of the gate of S. Iohns within the line 50 same towne of Turneie Also I had an vncle called maister Iohn Stalin dwelling in the parish of S. Pias within the same towne which had maried my fathers sister whose name was Ione or Iane with whome I dwelt a certeine season And after I was led by my moother to Antwerpe for to learne Flemish in a house of a cousine of mine an officer of the said towne called Iohn Stienbecke with line 60 whome I was the space of halfe a yeare And after that I returned againe to Turneie by reason of warres that were in Flanders And within a yeare following I was sent with a merchant of the said towne of Turneie named Berlo to the mart of Antwerpe where I fell sicke which sickenesse continued vpon me fiue moneths And the said Berlo set me to boord in a skinners house that dwelled beside the house of the English nation And by him I was from thense caried to Barow mart and I lodged at the signe of the old man where I abode for the space of two moneths After this the said Berlo set me with a merchant of Middle borow to seruice for to learne the language whose name was Iohn Strew with whome I dwelt from Christmasse to Easter and then I went into Portingall in companie of sir Edward Bramptons wife in a ship which was called the queens ship And when I was come thither then was I put in seruice to a knight that dwelled in Lushborne
saint Dominike and likewise he became a Carmelite and last of all he fell to and preached the gospell in haire and sackecloth till he vnderstood himselfe to be in the displeasure of Walden and other that could not awaie with such singularitie line 20 in him or other sounding as they tooke it to the danger of bringing the doctrine of the Romish church in misliking with the people for then he withdrew himselfe to his house againe and there remained twentie yeares leading an anchors life but yet after that time he came abroad and was aduanced to be a bishop in Ireland and went to the Roades in ambassage from whence being returned he went barefooted vp and downe in Norffolke teaching in townes and in the countrie abroad the ten commandements line 30 he liued till he came to be at the point of an hundred yeares old departed this life the fiftéenth day of Ianuarie in the yeare of our Lord 1491 and was buried at Lestolfe in Suffolke Iohn Tonneis a diuine and an Augustine frier in Norwich wrote certeine rules of grammar and other things printed by Richard Pinson Gefferie surnamed the Grammarian Iohn Alcocke bishop of Elie changed a nunrie at Cambridge into a college named Iesus college about the yeere of Christ 1496. line 40 The chiefe cause of suppressing the nunrie is noted to be for that the abbesse and other of the conuent liued dissolute liues Stephan Hawes a learned gentleman and of such reputation as he was admitted to be one of the priuie chamber to king Henrie the seuenth William Bintree so called of a towne in Norffolke where he was borne by profession a Carmelite frier in Burnham a great diuine William Gallion an Augustine frier in Lin and at length became prouinciall of his order Robert Fabian a citizen and merchant of London an historiographer he was in his time in good estimation for his wisedome and wealth in the citie so that he bare office and was shiriffe in the yeare 1493 William Celling borne beside Feuersham in Kent a monke of Canturburie Thomas Bourchier descended of the noble linage of the earles of Essex was first bishop of Elie and after remooued from thense to Canturburie succéeding Iohn Kemp in that archbishops see at length created by pope Paule the second a cardinall Philip Bromierd a Dominicke frier a diuine Iohn Miles a doctor of both the lawes ciuill and canon he studied in Oxenford in the college of Brasen nose newlie founded in the daies of this king Henrie the seuenth by William Smith bishop of Lincolne Richard Shirborne bishop of Chichester and imploied in ambassage to diuerse princes as a man most méet thereto for his singular knowledge in learning and eloquence Robert Uiduus vicar of Thakestéed in Essex and a prebendarie canon of Welles an excellent poet Peter Kenighall a Carmelit frier but borne of worshipfull linage in France hauing an Englishman to his father was student in Oxenford and became a notable preacher Iohn Morton first bishop of Elie and after archbishop of Canturburie the sixtie and fourth in number that ruled that sée he was aduanced to the dignitie of a cardinall and by king Henrie the seuenth made lord chancellor a worthie councellor and a modest he was borne of worshipfull parents in Cheshire departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 1500 Henrie Meowall chapleine to the said Morton Edmund Dudleie borne of noble parentage studied the lawes of this land and profited highlie in knowledge of the same he wrote a booke intituled Arbor rei publicae the tree of the common wealth of this man ye haue heard before in the life of this king and more God willing shall be said in the beginning of the next king as the occasion of the historie leadeth Iohn Bokingham an excellent schooleman William Blackeneie a Carmelit frier a doctor of diuinitie and a nekromancer Thus farre Henrie the seuenth sonne to Edmund earle of Richmond ⧠Henrie the eight sonne and successor to Henrie the seuenth AFter the death of the noble prince Henrie the seauenth his sonne Henrie the eight began his reigne the two and twentith daie of Aprill in the yeare of the world 5475 after line 10 the birth of our sauiour 1509 and in the eightéenth yeare of his age in the sixtéenth yeare of Maximilian then being emperour in the eleuenth yeare of Lewes the twelfe that then reigned in France and in the twentith yeare of king Iames the fourth as then ruling ouer the Scots Whose stile was proclamed by the sound of a trumpet in the citie of London the thrée and twentith daie of the said moneth with much gladnesse and reioising of the line 20 people And the same daie he departed from his manouâ of Richmond to the Tower of London where he remained closelie and secret with his councell till the funerals of his father were finished Although this king now comming to the crowne was but yoong as before is said yet hauing béene in his first yeares trained vp in learning did for respect of his owne suertie and good gouernement of his people prudentlie by the aduise of his grandmoother the countesse of Richmond and Derbie elect choose line 30 foorth of the most wise and graue personages to be of his priuie councell namelie such as he knew to be of his fathers right déere and familiar fréends whose names were as followeth William Warham archbishop of Canturburie and chancellor of England Richard Fox bishop of Winchester Thomas Howard earle of Surrie and treasuror of England George Talbot earle of Shrewesburie and lord steward of the kings houshold Charles Summerset lord chamberleine sir Thomas Louell sir Henrie line 40 Wâat doctor Thomas Ruthall and sir Edward Poinings These graue and wise councellors fearing least such abundance of riches and welth as the king was now possessed of might mooue his yoong yeares vnto riotous forgetting of himselfe for vnto no king at anie time before was left greater or the like riches as well in readie coine as in iewels and other mooueables as was left to him by his father they therefore his said councellors trauelled in such prudent line 50 sort with him that they got him to be present with them when they sat in councell so to acquaint him with matters perteining to the politike gouernment of the realme that by little and little he might applie himselfe to take vpon him the rule and administration of publike affaires with the which at the first he could not well indure to be much troubled being rather inclined to follow such pleasant pastimes as his youthfull yoong yeares did more delite in and therefore could be verie well contented that other graue personages should take paines therein The same daie also that the king came to the Tower the lord Henrie Stafford brother to the duke of Buckingham was arrested and committed to the Tower and the same daie also doctor Ruthall was named bishop of Durham
doone like a Scot. This quéene sometime was at the court and sometime at Bainards castell and so she continued in England all this yéere The king for the honour of his sister the ninetéenth and twentith daie of Maie prepared two solemne daies of iusts and the king himselfe and the duke of Suffolke the earle of Essex and Nicholas Carew esquier tooke on them to answer all commers The apparell of them and their horsses was blacke veluet couered all ouer with branches of honie-suckles of fine flat gold of damaske of loose worke euerie leafe of the branch moouing the embroderie was verie cunning and sumptuous On the king was attending in one sute on horssebacke the lord marquesse Dorset the earle of Surrie the lord Aburgauennie the lord Hastings sir Iohn Pechie the lord Ferrers sir William Fitz Williams and twelue other knights All these were in frockes of blew veluet garded with rich cloth of gold and their horsse trappers of blew veluet fringed with gold and on foot were fortie persons all in blew sattin garded with cloth of gold And so they entred the field with trumpets drumslades and other minstrelsie Then in came the counterpartie richlie apparelled to the number of twelue and on that daie euerie man did well but the king did best and so was adiudged and so at night they ceased and came to supper The king the next daie and his companie were apparelled horsse and all in purple veluet set full of leaues of cloth of gold ingrailed with fine flat gold of damaske embrodered like to rose leaues and euerie leafe fastned to other with points of damaske gold and on all their borders were letters of gold bullion And on the king waited fiue lords fourtéene knights in frockes of yellow veluet garded and bound with rich cloth of gold and thirtie gentlemen were in like apparell on foote and fortie officers in yellow sattin edged with cloth of gold Thus with great triumph they entred the field Then the counterpartie entred all clothed and barded in white sattin trauersed with cloth of gold richlie This daie was manie a great stripe giuen The king and sir William Kingston ranne togither which sir William Kingston was a strong and a tall knight yet the king by strength ouerthrew him to the ground And after that the king and his aids had performed their courses they ranne volant at all commers which was a pleasant sight to sée And when night approched they all disarmed them and went to the quéenes chamber where was a great banket for the welcome of the quéene of Scots In this moneth of Maie were sent out of England twelue hundred masons and carpenters and thrée hundred laborers to the citie of Tornaie for the king and his councell considered that the garrison that was kept there was chargeable and therefore it was determined that there should be builded a castell to chastise the citie if they rebelled and to minish the garrison And therefore these workemen were sent thither which this yéere began a strong castell and wrought still on it In this yéere by the cardinall were all men called to accompt that had âhe occupieng of the kings monie in the warres or elsewhere not to euerie mans contentation for some were found in arrerages and some saued themselues by policie and briberie and waxed rich and some innocents were punished And for a truth he so punished periurie with open punishment and open papers wearing that in his time it was lesse vsed He punished also lords knights and men of all sorts for riots bearing and mainteining in their countries that the poore men liued quietlie who perceiuing that he punished the rich complained without number and brought manie an honest man to trouble and vexation Now when the cardinall at the last perceiued their vntrue surmises and feined complaints for the most part he then waxed wearie of hearing their causes and ordeined by the kings commission diuerse vnder courts to beare complaints by bill of poore people The one was kept in the White hall the other before the kings almoner doctor Stokesleie a man that had more learning than discretion to be a iudge the third was kept in the lord treasurors chamber beside the starre chamber and the fourth at the rols at the after noone These courts were greatlie haunted for a time but at the last the people perceiued that much delaie was vsed in these courts and few matters ended and when they were ended they bound no man by the law then euerie man was werie of them and resorted to the common law It was strange to sée the cardinall a man not skilled in the laws fit in the seat of iudgement and pronounce the law being aided at the first by such as according line 10 to the ancient custome did sit as associats with him but he would not sticke to determine sundrie causes neither rightlie decided nor adiudged by order of law And againe such as were cleare cases he would sometime prohibit the same to passe call them into iudgement frame an order in controuersies and punish such as came with vntrue surmises afore the iudges sharpelie reprooue the negligence of the iudges themselues which had receiued such surmises line 20 and not well considered of the controuersies of the parties And such was the administration of the cardinall vnder a colour of iustice at the first but bicause the same seemed at length to be but a verie shadow or colour in déed it quicklie vanished awaie he taking vpon him the whole rule himselfe for that he saw the king made small account of anie other but onelie of him Whereby it came to passe that manie of the péeres and high estates of the realme withdrew them from line 30 the court as first the archbishop of Canturburie and the bishop of Winchester which got them home into their diocesses But yet before their departure as good fathers of their countrie they instantlie besought the king that he would not suffer anie seruant to exceed and passe his maister borrowing that sentence out of the gospell of saint Iohn where our Sauiour speaking to his disciples saith to them Uerelie verelie I say vnto you the seruant is not greater than his maister Herevnto the king knowing that line 40 they meant this by the cardinall made this answer That he would diligentlie sée that euerie seruant should obeie and not command But the cardinall notwithstanding during the time of his flattering felicitie held out thinking scorne to be countermanded behauing himselfe more like a prince than a prelat so blinded was he with vaineglorie and drunken with the transitorie delights of the world obstinate impediments and most horrible hinderances to the permanent ioies of heauen as the poet saith line 50 Delicias mundi fragiles qui mente sequetur Perdidit aeterni certissima gaudia coeli After this the duke of Norffolke departed home into his countrie and last of all the duke of
he might lawfullie demand anie summe by commission and that by the consent of the whole councell it was doone and tooke God to witnes that he neuer desired the hinderance of the commons but like a true councellor deuised how to inrich the king The king indéed was much offended that his commons were thus intreated thought it touched his honor that his councell should attempt such a doubtfull matter in his name and to be denied both of the spiritualtie and temporaltie Therefore be line 10 would no more of that trouble but caused letters to be sent into all shires that the matter should no further be talked of he pardoned all them that had denied the demand openlie or secretlie The cardinall to deliuer himselfe of the euill will of the commons purchased by procuring aduancing of this demand affirmed and caused it to be bruted abrode that through his intercession the king had pardoned and released all things Those that were in the Tower and Fleet for the line 20 rebellion in Suffolke and resisting the commissioners aswell there as in Huntington shire and Kent were brought before the lords in the Star chamber and there had their offenses opened and shewed to them and finallie the kings pardon declared and thereon they were deliuered ¶ In this season a great number of men of warre laie at Bullongne and in other places thereabout which diuerse times attempted to indamage the Englishmen and to spoile the English pale but they could neuer spoile the marishes line 30 where the greatest part of the cattell belonging to the inhabitants was kept Tindale men with aid of the Scots did much hurt in England by robberies which they exercised and therefore were sent thither sir Richard Bulmere and sir Christopher Dacres to restreine their dooings Diuerse came to them and submitted themselues but the greatest théeues kept them in the mounteins of Cheuiot and did much hurt yet at length they seuered and manie of them were taken The cardinall by his power legantine sent one of line 40 his chapleins called doctor Iohn Allen to visit the religious houses of this realme about this season which doctor practised amongst them greatlie to his profit but more to the slander both of himselfe and of his maister On the eightéenth daie of Iune at the manor place of Bridewell the kings sonne which he had begot of Elizabeth Blunt daughter to sir Iohn Blunt knight called Henrie Fitzroie was created first earle of Notingham and after on the selfe same daie he was created duke of Richmond and Summerset line 50 Also the same daie the lord Henrie Courtneie earle of Deuonshire and coosine germane to the king was created marquesse of Excester and the lord Henrie Brandon sonne to the duke of Suffolke and the French queene a child of two yeares old was created earle of Lincolne and sir Thomas Manners lord Roos was created earle of Rutland and sir Henrie Clifford earle of Cumberland and the lord Fitzwater sir Robert Ratcliffe was created vicount Fitzwater and sir Thomas Bullen treasuror line 60 of the kings houshold was created vicount Rochefort The French kings mother as then regent of France procured a safe conduct for an ambassador to be sent into England to treat of peace and therewith sent Iohn Iokin called monsieur de Uaux which as yée haue heard in the last yeare was kept secret in maister Larks house By his procurement a truce was granted to indure from the thirtéenth of Iulie for fortie daies betwéene England and France both by sea and land In the later end of Iulie came into England the chéefe president of Rone with sufficient authoritie to conclude anie agréement that should be granted At his sute the king was contented that a truce should be taken to endure from the foureteenth of August till the first of December This yeare the king sent doctor Henrie Standish bishop of saint Asse and sir Iohn Baker knight into Denmarke to intreat with the nobles of that countrie for the reduction of their king Christierne to his realme and former dignitie but the Danes hated him so much for his crueltie that they could not abide to heare of anie such matter and so these ambassadors returned without speeding of their purpose for the which they were sent But the French ambassadors did so much both by offers and intreaties that the king condescended to a peace which being concluded was proclamed in London with a trumpet the eight of September By the couenants of this peace the king of England should receiue at certeine daies twentie hundred thousand crownes which then amounted in sterling monie to the summe of foure hundred thousand pounds sterling of which one paiment of fiftie thousand pounds was paid in hand In October were sent into France sir William Fitzwilliam treasuror of the kings house and doctor Tailor as ambassadors from the king of England to the ladie regent whome they found at the citie of Lion where of hir they were honorablie receiued and in their presence the said ladie regent tooke a corporall oth in solemne wise and according to the custome in such cases vsed to performe all the articles and couenants passed and concluded in the league and treatie of peace by hir commissioners The emperour was nothing pleased in that the king of England had thus concluded peace with the Frenchmen and therefore the English merchants were not so courteouslie dealt with as they had béene afore time In this winter was great death in London so that the terme was adiourned and the king kept his Christmasse at Eltham with a small number and therefore it was called the still Christmasse ¶ In Ianuarie was a peace concluded betwixt the realmes of England and Scotland for thrée yeares and six moneths year 1526 The cardinall about this time comming to the court which then laie as before yée haue heard at Eltham tooke order for altering the state of the kings house Manie officers and other seruants were discharged and put to their pensions and annuities In which number were fourescore and foure yeomen of the gard which before hauing twelue pence the daie with checke were now allowed six pence the daie without checke and commanded to go home into their countries Diuers ordinances were made at that season by the cardinall touching the gouernance of the kings house more profitable than honorable as some said and were called long after The statutes of Eltham On Shrouetuesdaie there was a solemne iusts held at the manor of Gréenewich the king eleuen other on the one part and the marquesse of Excester with eleauen other on the contrarie part ¶ At those iusts by chance of shiuering of a speare sir Francis Brian lost one of his eies The eleuenth of Februarie being sundaie the cardinall with great pompe came to the cathedrall church of Paules where he sat in pontificalibus vnder his cloth of estate of rich cloth of gold
the Blacke friers church where a masse of the Holie-ghost was solemnelie soong by the kings chappell and after the masse the king with all the lords of parlement and commons which were summoned to appeare at that daie came into the parlement chamber where the king sate in his throne or seat roiall and sir Thomas Moore his chancellor standing on the right hand of the king behind the barre made an eloquent oration In this oration he declared that like as a good shéepheard which not alonelie keepeth and attendeth well his shéepe but also foreseeth and prouideth for all things which either may be hurtfull or noisome to his flocke or maie preserue and defend the same against all perils that may chance to come so the king which was the shéepheard ruler and gouernour of his realme vigilantlie foreséeing things to come considered how diuers laws before this time were made now by long continuance of time and mutation of things verie insufficient and vnperfect and also by the fraile condition of man diuerse new enormities were sproong amongest the people for the which no law was yet made to reforme the same Which was the verie cause whie at that time the king had summoned his high court of parlement And hée resembled the king to a shéepheard or heardman for this cause for if a prince be compared to his riches he is but a rich man if a prince be compared to his honour he is but an honourable man but compare him to the multitude of his people and the number of his flocke then he is a ruler a gouernor of might puissance so that his people maketh him a prince as of the multitude of shéepe commeth the name of a shéepheard And as you sée that amongst a great sort of shepe some be rotten faultie which the good shéepheard sendeth from the good sheepe so the great wedder which is of late fallen as you all know so craftilie so scabbedlie yea and so vntrulie iugled with the king that all men must néedes ghesse and thinke that he thought in himselfe that he had no wit to perceiue his craftie dooing or else that he presumed that the king would not sée nor know his fraudulent iugling and attempts But he was deceiued for his graces sight was so quicke and penetrable that hée saw him yea and saw through him both within and without so that all things to him was open and according to his desert he hath had a gentle correction Which small punishment the king will not to be an example to other offendors but clearelie declareth that whosoeuer hereafter shall make like attempt or commit like offense shall not escape with like punishment And bicause you of the common house be a grosse multitude and can not speake all at one time therefore the kings pleasure is that you shall resort to the nether house there amongst your selues according to the old and ancient custome to choose an able person to be your common mouth and speaker and after your election so made to aduertise his grace thereof which will declare to you his pleasure what day he will haue him present in this place After this doone the commons resorted to the nether house and they chose for their speaker Thomas Audleie esquier and attourneie of the duchie of Lancaster and the same daie was the parlement adiorned to Westminster On the sixt daie of the same moneth the king came to the parlement chamber and all the lords in their robes And there the commons of the nether house presented their speaker which there made an eloquent oration which consisted in two points The first point was that he much praised the king for his line 10 equitie and iustice mixed with mercie and pitie so that none offense was forgotten and left vnpunished nor in the punishment the extremitie nor the rigor of the law cruellie extended which should be a cause to bridle all men from doing like offenses also a comfort to offendors to confesse their crime and offense and an occasion of amendment and reconciliation The second point was that he disabled himselfe both for lacke of wit learning and discretion to so high an office beseeching the king to cause line 20 his commons to resort eftsoones to their common house and there to choose an other speaker for that parlement To this the king by the mouth of the lord chancellor answered that where he disabled himselfe in wit and learning his owne ornate oration there made testified the contrarie And as touching his discretion and other qualities the king himselfe had well knowne him and his doings since he was in his seruice to be both wise and discreet and so for an able line 30 man he accepted him and for the speaker he him admitted When the commons were assembled in the nether house they began to commune of their griefes wherewith the spiritualtie had before time greeuouslie oppressed them both contrarie to the law of the realme and contrarie to all right and in speciallie they were sore mooued with six great causes line 1 The first for the excessiue fines which the ordinaries tooke for probats of testaments insomuch that sir Henrie Guilford knight of the garter and controllor line 40 of the kings house declared in the open parlement on his fidelitie that he and others being executors to sir William Compton knight paied for the probat of his will to the cardinall and the archbishop of Canturburie a thousand markes sterling After this declaration were shewed so manie extortions doone by ordinaries for probats of willes that it were too much to rehearse The second was the great polling and extreame line 2 eraction which the spirituall men vsed in taking of line 50 corps presents or mortuaries For the children of the defunct should all die for hunger and go a begging rather than they would of charitie giue to them the séelie cow which the dead man owght if he had but onelie one such was the charitie then line 3 The third cause was that priests being surueiors stewards and officers to bishops abbats and other spirituall heads had and occupied farmes granges and grasing in euerie countrie so that the poore husbandmen could haue nothing but of them and line 60 yet for that they should paie déerlie line 4 The fourth cause was that abbats priors and spirituall men kept tan-houses and bought and sold wooll cloth and all maner of merchandize as other temporall merchants did line 5 The fift cause was bicause that spirituall persons promoted to great benefices and hauing their liuings of their flocke were lieng in the court in lords houses and tooke all of the parishioners and nothing spent on them at all so that for lacke of residence both the poore of the parish lacked refreshing and vniuersallie all the parishioners lacked preaching and true instruction of Gods word to the great perill of their soules The sixt cause was to sée one priest little learned line
out of the duchesse house and séeing no bodie stirring not assured though by the male suspecting that she was departed returned in and while he staied ransacking parcels left in the male the duchesse issued into the stréet and proceeded in hir iournie he knowing the place onelie by name where she should take hir boat but not the waie thither nor none with hir Likewise hir seruants hauing diuided themselues none but one knew the waie to the said keie So she apparelled like a meane merchants wife and the rest like meane seruants walking in the stréets vnknown she tooke the way that led to Finsburie field and the others walked the citie stréets as they laie open before them till by chance more than discretion they met all suddenlie together a little within Moore gate from whence they passed directlie to Lion keie and there tooke barge in a morning so mistie that the stearesman was loth to lanch out but that they vrged him So soone as the daie permitted the councell was informed of hir departure and some of them came foorthwith to hir house to inquire of the maner thereof and tooke an inuentarie line 10 of hir goods besides further order deuised for search and watch to apprehend and staie hir The same of hir departure reached to Leigh a towne at the lands end before hir approching thither By Leigh dwelt one Gosling a merchant of London an old acquaintance of Cranwels whither the said Cranwell brought the duchesse naming hir mistresse White the daughter of master Gosling for such a daughter he had which neuer was in that countrie There she reposed hir and made new garments for hir daughter line 20 hauing lost hir owne in the male at Barbican When the time came that she should take ship being constreined that night to lie at an inne in Leigh where she was againe almost bewraied yet notwithstanding by Gods good working she escaping that hazzard at length as the tide and wind did serue they went aboord and being carried twise into the seas almost into the coast of Zeland by contrarie wind were driuen to the place from whence they came And at the last recuile certeine persons came line 30 to the shore suspecting she was within that ship yet hauing examined one of hir companie that was one land for fresh Achates and finding by the simplicitie of his tale onelie the appearance of a meane merchants wife to be a shipboord he ceased anie further search To be short so soone as the duchesse had landed in Brabant she and hir women were apparelled like the women of Netherland with hukes and so she and hir husband tooke their iournie towards Cleueland and being arriued at a towne therin called Santon line 40 tooke a house there vntill they might further deuise of some sure place where to settle themselues About fiue miles from Santon is a frée towne cal-Wesell vnder the said duke of Cleues dominion and one of the Hauns townes priuileged with the companie of the Stilliard in London whither diuerse Wallons were fled for religion and had for their minister one Francis Perusell then called Francis de Riuers who had receiued some courtesie in England at the duchesse hands Master Bertie line 50 being yet at Santon practised with him to obteine a protection from the magistrats for his abode and his wiues at Wesell which was the sooner procured bicause the state of the duchesse was not discouered but onelie to the chéefe magistrate earnestlie bent to shew them pleasure whilest this protection was in séeking In the meane while at the towne of Santon was a muttering that the duchesse and hir husband were greater personages than they gaue themselues line 60 foorth and the magistrats not verie well inclined to religion the bishop of Arras also being deane of the great minster order was taken that the duches and hir husband should be examined of their condition and religion vpon the sudden Which practise discouered by a gentleman of that countrie to master Bertie he without delaie taking no more than the duches hir daughter and two other with them as though he meant no more but to take the aire about thrée of the clocke in the afternoone in Februarie on foot without hiering of horsse or wagon for feare of disclosing his purpose meant priuilie that night to get to Wesell leauing his other familie still at Santon After the duches and he were one English mile from the towne there fell a mightie raine of continuance whereby a long frost and I se before congealed was thawed which doubled more the wearinesse of those new lackies But being now on the waie and ouertaken with the night they sent their two seruants which onelie went with them to villages as they passed to hire some car for their case but none could be hired In the mene time master Bertie was forced to carrie the child and the duches his cloke and rapier At last betwixt six and seauen of the clocke in the darke night they came to Wesell and repairing to their innes for lodging and some repose after such a painfull iourneie found hard interteinment for going from inne to inne offering large monie for small lodging they were refused of all the inholders suspecting master Bertie to be a lanceknight and the duches to be his woman The child for cold and sustenance cried pittifullie the mother wept as fast and the heauens rained as fast as the clouds could powre Master Bertie destitute of all other succor of hospitalitie resolued to bring the duchesse to the porch of the great church in the towne and so to buie coles victuals and straw for their miserable repose there that night or at least till by Gods helpe he might prouide hir better lodging Master Bertie at that time vnderstood not much Dutch and by reason of euill weather and late season of the night he could not happen vpon anie that could speake English French Italian or Latine till at last going towards the church porch he heard two striplings talking Latine to whome he approched and offered them two stiuers to bring him to some Wallons house By these boies and Gods good conduct he chanced at the first vpon the house where master Perusell supped that night who had procured them the protection of the magistrats of that towne At the first knocke the goodman of the house himselfe came to the doore and opening it asked master Bertie what he was Master Bertie said an Englishman that sought for one master Perusels house The Wallon willed master Bertie to staie a while who went backe and told master Perusell that the same English gentleman of whome they had talked the same supper had sent by likelihood his seruant to speake with him Wherevpon master Perusell came to the doore and beholding master Bertie the duchesse their child their faces apparels and bodies so farre from their old forme deformed with durt
courteous kéepers God may make you one if not I trust he will giue me strength and patience to beare your hard dealing with me Saith Thomas Waie Doo you then mind to stand to your religion Yea saith doctor Sands by Gods grace Trulie saith the keeper I loue you the better I did but tempt you What fauor I can shew you you shall be sure of and I shall thinke my selfe happie if I may die at the stake with you The said kéeper shewed doctor Sands euer after all friendship he trusted him to go into the fields alone and there met with maister Bradford who then was remoued into the Bench and there found like fauor of his kéeper He laid him in the best chamber in the house he would not suffer the knight marshals men to laie fetters on him as others had And at his request he put maister Sands in to him to be his bedfellow and sundrie times suffered his wife who was maister Sands daughter of Essex a gentlewoman beautifull both in bodie soule to resort to him There was great resort vnto doctor Sands and maister Sanders they had much monie offered them but they would receiue none They had the communion there thrée or foure times and a great sort of communicants Doctor Sands gaue such exhortation to the people for at that time being yoong he was thought verie eloquent that he mooued manie tears and made the people abhorre the masse and defie all poperie When Wiat with his armie came into Southworke he sent two gentlemen into the Marshalsea to doctor Sands saieng that maister Wiat would be glad of his companie and aduise that the gates should be set open for all the prisoners He answered Tell maister Wiat if this his rising be of God it will take place if not it will fall For my part I was committed hither by order I will be discharged by like order or I will neuer depart hence So answered maister Sanders and the rest of the preachers being there prisoners After that doctor Sands had béene nine wéekes prisoner in the Marshalsea by the mediation of sir Thomas Holcroft then knight marshall he was set at libertie Sir Thomas sued earnestlie to the bishop of Winchester doctor Gardiner for his deliuerance after manie repulses except doctor Sands would be one of their sect and then he could want nothing He wroong out of him that if the queene could like of his deliuerance he would not be against it for that was sir Thomas his last request In the meane time he had procured two ladies of the priuie chamber to mooue the quéene in it who was contented if the bishop of Winchester could like of it The next time that the bishop went into the priuie chamber to speake with the quéene maister Holcroft followed and had his warrant for doctor Sands remission readie and praied the two ladies when as the bishop should take his leaue to put the quéene in mind of doctor Sands So they did And the queene said Winchester what thinke you by doctor Sands is he not sufficientlie punished As it please your maiestie saith Winchester That he spake remembring his former promise to maister Holcroft that he would not be against Sands if the quéene should like to discharge him Saith the quéene Then trulie we would that he were set at libertie Immediatlie maister Holcroft offered the quéene the warrant who subscribed the same and called Winchester to put to his hand and so he did The warrant was giuen to the knight marshall againe sir Thomas Holcroft As the bishop went foorth of the priuie chamber doore he called maister Holcroft to him commanding him not to set doctor Sands at libertie vntill he had taken suerties of two gentlemen of his countrie with him euerie one bound in fiue hundred pounds that doctor Sands should not depart out of the realme without licence Maister Holcroft immediatlie after met with two gentlemen of the north friends cousins to doctor Sands who offered to be bound in line 10 bodie goods and lands for him At after dinner the same daie maister Holcroft sent for doctor Sands to his lodging at Westminster requiring the keeper to accompanie with him He came accordinglie finding maister Holcroft alone walking in his garden maister Holcroft imparted his long sute with the whole procéeding and what effect it had taken to doctor Sands much reioising that it was his good hap to doo him good to procure his libertie and that nothing remained but line 20 that he would enter into bonds with his two suerties for not departing out of the realme Doctor Sands answered I giue God thanks who hath mooued your hart to mind me so well I thinke my selfe most bound vnto you God shall requite and I shall neuer be found vnthankfull But as you haue dealt friendlie with me I will also deale plainlie with you I came a frée man into prison I will not go foorth a bondman As I cannot benefit my friends so will I not hurt them and if I be set line 30 at libertie I will not tarie six daies in this realme if I may get out If therefore I may not go frée foorth send me to the Marshalsea againe and there you shall be sure of me This answer much misliked maister Holcroft who told doctor Sands that the time would not long continue a change would shortlie come the state was but a cloud and would soone shake awaie and that his cousine sir Edward Braie would gladlie receiue him and his wife into his house where he should neuer line 40 need to come at church and how the ladie Braie was a zealous gentlewoman who hated poperie adding that he would not so deale with him to loose all his labor When doctor Sands could not be remoued from his former saieng maister Holcroft said Seeing you can not be altered I will change my purpose and yéeld vnto you come of it what will I will set you at libertie and seeing you mind ouer sea get you gone so quicklie as you can One thing I require of you that while you are there you line 50 write nothing to come hither for so ye may vndoo me He freendlie kissed doctor Sands bad him farewell and commanded the kéeper to take no fées of him saieng Let me answer Winchester as I may Doctor Sands returned with the kéeper to the Marshalsea and taried all night There on the morrow gaue a dinner to all the prisoners bad his bedfellow and sworne stakefellow if it had so pleased God maister Saunders farewell with manie teares and kissings the one falling on the others necke and so line 60 departed clearelie deliuered without examination or bond From thence he went to the Bench and there talked with maister Bradford and maister Farrar bishop of S. Dauids then prisoners Then he comforted them they praised God for his happie deliuerance He went by Winchesters house and there tooke boate and came to
earlie on saturdaie morning to the intent they might quietlie come and be examined by me yet it was betwéene ten and eleuen of the clocke before they would come and no waie would they take but through Cheapside so that they were brought to my house with about a thousand persons Which thing I tooke verie strange line 40 and spake to sir Iohn Gresham then being with me to tell the maior and the shiriffes that this thing was not well suffered in the citie These naughtie heretikes all the waie they came through Cheapside both exhorted the people to their part and had much comfort A promisâua plebe and being entred into my house and talked withall they shewed themselues desperat and verie obstinat yet I vsed all the honest meanes I could both by my selfe and other to haue woone them causing diuerse learned men to talke line 50 with them and finding nothing in them but pride wilfulnesse I thought to haue had them all hither to Fulham and here to giue sentence against them Neuerthelesse perceiuing by my last dooing that your grace was offended I thought it my dutie before I anie thing further procéeded herein to aduertise first your grace hereof and know your good pleasure which I beséech your grace I may doo by this trustie bearer And thus most humblie I take my leaue of your good grace beseeching almightie God line 60 alwaies to preserue the same At Fulham Postridie Natiu 1556. Your graces most bounden bedesman and seruant Edmund Boner By this letter of bishop Boner to the cardinall saith maister Fox is to be vnderstood what goodwill was in this bishop to haue the bloud of these men and to haue past with sentence of condemnation against them had not the cardinall somewhat as it seemed haue staied his feruent headinesse Concerning the which cardinall although it can not bedenied by his acts and writings but that he was a professed enimie and no otherwise to be reputed but for a papist yet againe it is to be supposed that he was none of the bloudie and cruell sort of papists as may appeare not by staieng the rage of this bishop but also by his solicitous writing and long letters written to Cranmer also by the complaints of certeine papists accusing him to the pope to be a bearer with the heretikes and by the popes letters sent to him vpon the same calling him vp to Rome and setting frier Peto in his place had not queene Marie by speciall intreatie made kept him out of the popes danger All which letters I haue if néed be to shew besides also that it is thought of him that toward his latter end a little before his comming from Rome to England he began somewhat to sauour the doctrine of Luther and was no lesse suspected at Rome yea and furthermore did there at Rome conuert a certeine learned Spaniard from papisme to Luthers side notwithstanding the pompe and glorie of the world afterward caried him awaie to plaie the papist thus as he did ¶ And sith I haue waded thus far in portraieng the said cardinall I am willing to make you communicants of a report concerning him vttered by Cutbert Tunstall bishop of Duresine in a sermon which he made vpon Palmesundaie in the yeare of our Lord 1539 before king Henrie the eight treating vpon these words of saint Paule to the Philippians Cap. 2. Hoc sentite in vobis quod in Christâ Iesu c See the same mind be in you that was in Iesu Christ c. The ground of whose sermon standing vpon obedience and disobedience after he had discoursed at large thervpon he fell into these words in presence of the king the nobles and people And the bishop of Rome now of late to set foorth his pestilent malice the more hath allured to his purpose a subiect of this realme Reginald Poole come of a noble bloud and thereby the more arrant traitor to go about from prince to prince and from countrie to countrie to stur them to warre against this realme and to destroie the same being his natiue countrie Whose pestilent purpose albeit the princes that he breaketh it vnto haue in much abhomination both for that the bishop of Rome who being a bishop should procure peace is a sturrer of warre and because this most arrant and vnkind traitor is his minister to so diuelish a purpose to destroie the countrie that he was borne in which anie heathen man would abhorre to doo But for all that without shame he still goeth on exhorting therevnto all princes that will heare him who doo abhorre to sée such vnnaturalnesse in anie man as he shamelesse dooth set forwardâ whose pernicious treasons late secretlie wrought against this realme haue béene by the worke of almightie God so maruellouslie detected and by his owne brother without looking therefore so disclosed and condigne punishment insued that hereafter God willing they shall not take anie more such root to the noisance of this realme And where all nations of gentiles by reason law of nature preferre their countrie before their parents so that for their countrie they will die against their parents being traitors this pestilent man worse than a pagan is not ashamed to destroie if he could his natiue countrie And whereas Curtius a heathen man was content for sauing of the citie of Rome where he was borne to leape into a gaping of the earth which by the illusions of the diuell it was answered should not be shut but that it must first haue one this pernicious man is content to run headlong into hell so that he maie destroie thereby his natiue countrie of England being in that behalfe incomparablie worse than anie pagan And besides his pestilent treason his vnkindnesse against the kings maiestie who brought him vp of a child and promoted both him and restored his bloud being attainted to be of the péeres of this realme and gaue him monie yéerelie out of his coffers to find him honorablie at studie maketh his treason much more detestable to all the world and him to be reputed more wild and cruell than anie tiger Thus much out of Cutbert Tunstals sermon printed Cum priuilegio aed imprimendum solum by Thomas line 10 Berthelet the yeare aboue named Now it resteth to conclude this discourse concerning cardinall Poole with a briefe epitome of his last will and testament which he made not long before he let his life wherein he professeth him selfe resolute to die in the same faith and obedience of the Romish church wherein he liued willing ordeining his bodie to be buried in his cathedrall church of Canturburie as he termeth it in the same chappell where the head of the most blessed martyr Thomas Becket whilome archbishop of the said church was kept with masses line 20 dirges c to be said for his soule the soules of his parents and of all the faithfull departed out of this
of my selfe Which Onuphrius maketh this Adam to be bishop line 10 of London and to die in Rome the third calends of Maie in the yéere of our sauior 1397 being the one and twentith of Richard the second vnder Boniface the ninth pope of that name and was buried in the place whereof he was intituled to the honor of a cardinall Philip de Repindone bishop of Lincolne and doctor of diuinitie was by pope Gregorie the twelfe then bishop of Rome in the yeare of Christ 1408 being the tenth yeare of king Henrie the fourth line 20 created cardinall of the title of saint Nereus and Achilleus Thomas bishop of Durham was made as saith Onuphrius in the yeare of our redemption 1411 by Iohn the two and twentith commonlie called Iohn the thrée and twentith priest cardinall Touching which matter there is no mention made in the life of Thomas Langleie bishop of Durham and liuing at this time that this Langleie was a cardinall for this Thomas Langleie was made bishop of Durham line 30 in the yeare of our Lord 1406 and continued in that see one and thirtie yeares departing the world 1437 and so the creation of this Thomas bishop of Durham mentioned by Onuphrius and Matthew Parker bishop of Canturburie in the yeare of Christ 1411 must néedes fall in the life of this Thomas Langleie bishop of Durham Robert bishop of Salisburie priest cardinall although it be not shewed of what title was preferred to that place by pope Iohn the thrée and twentith in line 40 the yeare of our redemption 1411 being about the twelfe yere of the reigne of king Henrie the fourth of whom Onuphrius writeth in this sort Roberti episcopi Sarisburiensis presbyteri cardinalis Egidij de campis presbyteri cardinalis gesta exitus quòd nunquam Romanam curiam adierint incerti obscuri omninò sunt Satis tamen constat eos ante papae Martini electionem mortuos fuisse Henrie Beaufort sonne vnto Iohn of Gant and Katharine Swineford being bishop of Winchester and chancellor of England tooke the state of a cardinall line 50 of the title of saint Eusebius at Calis being absent as hath Matthew Parker in the yeare of our redemption 1426 in the fift yeare of king Henrie the sixt He was called the rich cardinall of Winchester being aduanced to that honor by Martine the third commonlie called Martine the fift then pope of Rome This Henrie died vnder pope Nicholas the fift in the yeare of Christ 1447 being about the six twentith yeare of the miserable reigne of king Henrie the sixt line 60 Iohn Stafford bishop of Bash and Welles chancellor of England after bishop of Canturburie was created priest cardinall by Eugenius then bishop of Rome in the yeare that the word became flesh 1434 being the twelfe yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt Iohn Kempe bishop of London twise lord chancellour of England bishop of Yorke and after that archbishop of Canturburie was by Eugenius the fourth then archbishop of Rome made cardinall of the title of saint Sabina as saith Holinshed otherwise by Onuphrius called Balbina contrarie to Polydor who in his thrée and twentith booke of the historie of England affirmeth him to be cardinalited by pope Nicholas the fift He died as saith Onuphrius in the yeare that the godhead was vnited to the manhood to wit one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and foure vnder pope Nicholas the first which yeare of our Lord met with the fiue and thirtith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt Thomas Bourcher borne of the noble house of the earles of Essex being chancellor of England bishop of Worcester from thence remooued to Elie from that I le aduanced to the metropolitan sée of Canturburie and priest cardinall of the title of saint Siriacus in Thermis or the Baths was honored with the scarlet hat and siluer pillers by pope Paule the second of that name in the yeare that the second person in trinitie tooke vpon him the forme of a seruant one thousand foure hundred sixtie fiue being the fift yeare of the reigne of the noble prince king Edward the fourth Iohn Morton bishop of Elie chancellor of England archbishop of Canturburie being priest cardinall of the title of saint Anastasius was honored with a scarlet hat by Alexander the sixt of that name then gouernour of the seat of Peter at Rome in the yeare from the birth of Christ 1493 being the ninth yeare of the Salomon of England king Henrie the seauenth He died as saith Onuphrius in the yeare of our Lord one thousand and fiue hundred being about the eight yeare of Alexander the sixt still pope of Rome and the sixteenth yeare of the said Henrie the seauenth then king of England Christopher Bembridge a gentleman borne was archbishop of Yorke priest cardinall of the title of S. Praxidis was aduanced to that scarlet dignitie by pope Iulius the second in the yere that the virgin was deliuered of our sauiour one thousand fiue hundred eleuen being the third yeare of the triumphant reigne of king Henrie the eight He died at Rome as saith Onuphrius by poison in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred and thirtéene yeares being the eleuenth yeare when Leo the tenth did hold the sterne of the Romane bishoprike the fift yeare when the said Henrie the eight did rule the scepter of England and was buried at Rome in the church of the holie trinitie of the English nation Thomas Wolseie the kings almoner deane of Yorke abbat of saint Albons and of saint Austins bishop of Lincolne Winchester and Yorke chancellour of England all which or all saue two he held at one time in his owne hands was made priest cardinall of the title of saint Cicilie wherevnto he was promoted by pope Leo the tenth in the yeare of our redemption one thousand fiue hundred and fifteene being the seauenth yéere of the reigne of the famous king Henrie the eight of whome Onuphrius somewhat mistaking the pronuntiation of his name thus writeth Thomas Wlcer ex oppido Sufforth diocessis Norducensis c wherein like a stranger to our countrimen he mistaketh both name towne place and the prouince of Suffolke for the towne of Ipswich For this cardinall Wolseie being descended of meane parentage was borne in the towne of Gipswich now called Ipswich in the prouince or countrie of Suffolke in the diocesse of the bishoprike of Norwich Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester priest cardinall of the title of saint Uitalis was although he neuer came at Rome nor for anie thing that I can learne was euer out of England created cardinall at Rome by Paule the third of that name then wearing the triple crowned miter and being bishop of Rome But this Fisher neuer ware his scarlet hat for after this high dignitie and before he might couer his priestlie crowne with the same he lost his
of Spaine and France was now renewed againe and the deputies were appointed to meet at Chasteau Cambresi a six leagues distant from Cambraie For the king of Spaine the duke of Alua the prince of Orange the bishop of Arras Rigomes de Silua earle of Mellito monsieur Uiglius Zwichem knight and president of the priuie councell in the low countries who neuerthelesse came not bicause he was letted by sicknesse For the French king there came the cardinall of Loraine the conestable the marshall of saint Andrew the bishop of Orleans and Claude de Aubespine the said kings secretarie For the queene of England the bishop of Elie the lord William Howard baron of Effingham lord chamberleine to the said quéene doctor Nicholas Wootton deane of Canturburie and Yorke For the duke of Sauoie there were the earle of Stropiana the president of Asti. And as a meane or mediatrix betwéene the parties there was Christierna dutchesse of Loraine with hir sonne the yong duke which dutchesse as well here as before at Cercampe trauelled most earnestlie to doo good betwixt the parties and to bring them to a finall accord whose endeuor therein was to the great good liking contentation of all the said parties After that this treatie had continued a long time and now restâd nothing to staie them froÌ concluding a generall peace but onelie the article touching Calis at length that matter was also accorded by a speciall treatie betwixt the quéenes maiestie of England the French king Guido Caualcanti a gentleman of Florence line 10 being the meane to bring the same to effect The substance of which articles was that Calis shuld rest in the Frenchmens hands for the terme of eight yéeres and at the end of that terme they couenanted to render the same or else for default to forfeit vnto the quéenes highnesse the summe of fiue hundred thousand crownes and for suertie hereof to deliuer foure hostages such as hir maiestie should thinke sufficient And in case the towne were not deliuered at the end of the said eight yéeres though the monie were line 20 paid according to the couenants yet notwithstanding the right and title to the said towne and countrie adioining should alwaies remaine and be reserued vnto the crowne and realme of England It was further concluded also that a peace should be firmed and had betwixt the realmes of England and Scotland such fortresses to be rased as had been built and made by the Scots and French on the borders towards England as Haimouth and others Sir Iohn Mason knight secretarie for the French line 30 toong was sent ouer in post with instructions vnto the English commissioners after whose comming within two or thrée daies a generall peace was concluded betwixt all the parties the articles whereof not touching England we haue of purpose omitted But now after the conclusion of this peace the said sir Iohn Mason returned in post with the same and so therevpon the seuenth of Aprill the said peace was proclamed to wit betwixt the quéenes maiestie on the one part and the French king on the other line 40 their realmes dominions and subiects and likewise betwixt hir said maiestie and the king Dolphin and quéene of Scots his wife their realmes dominions and subiects This proclamation was made by Garter Norreie king at armes accompanied with thrée other heralds fiue trumpettors the lord maior of London the aldermen in their scarlet gowns being also present riding in companie of the said heralds The same time also was another proclamation made vnder the quéenes hand in writing inhibiting line 50 thât from thensefoorth no plaies nor interludes should be exercised till Alhallowes tide next insuing Upon saturdaie the two and twentith of Aprill the lord Wentworth late deputie of Calis was areigned at Westminster vpon an indictment of treason found against him in the late queene Maries daies for the losse of Calis but he was acquited by his péeres the lord marquesse of Northampton sitting that daie as cheefe steward of England vnder the cloth of estate The eight of Maie the parlement line 60 brake vp in which parlement beside other things before recited concluded and passed in the same a subsidie was granted to the quéenes highnesse of two shillings eight pence the pound of mooueable goods and foure shillings of lands to be paid at two seuerall paiments of euerie person spirituall and temporall towards the better furnishing of hir maiestie with monie for the necessarie charges which she was presentlie occasioned to susteine finding the treasure of the realme greatlie consumed and the reuenues of the crowne sore diminished and the same crowne much indebted by taking vp of notable summes of monie by waie of loane vpon interest as well in the daies of hir brother K. Edward as hir sister quéene Marie The foureteenth of Maie being Whitsundaie the seruice in churches began according to the booke of coÌmon praier set foorth and established in this last parlement correspondent to that which was vsed in the daies of hir brother king Edward Upon sundaie the second of Iulie the citizens of London set foorth a muster before the quéenes maiestie at Greenwich in the parke there of the number of 1400 men whereof 800 were pikes armed in fine corselets foure hundred shot in shirts of male with morâans two hundred halbarders armed in Almaine riuets these were furnished foorth by the crafts and companies of the citie To euerie hundred two wifflers were assigned richlie appointed and apparelled for the purpose There were also twelue wardens of the best companies mounted on horssebacke in coats of blacke veluet to conduct them with drums and fiffes and six ensignes all in ierkins of white sattin of Bridges cut and lined with blacke sarsenet and caps hosen and scarfs according The sergeant Maiors capteine Constable and capteine Sanders brought them in order before the queenes presence placing them in battell arraie euen as they should haue fought so as the shew was verie faire the emperours and the French kings ambassadors being present In this moneth also the archbishop of Yorke the bishops of Elie London and others to the number of thirtéene or fouretéene being called before the quéenes councell and refusing to receiue the oth touching hir maiesties supremasie and other articles were depriued from their bishopricks in whose roomes and places first for cardinall Poole succéeded doctor Matthew Parker archbishop of Canturburie In the place of Heth succeeded doctor Yoong In steed of Boner Edmund Grindall was bishop of London For Hopton Thurlbie Tunstall Pates Christoferson Peto Coats Morgan Feasie White Oglethorpe c were placed doctor Iohn Parkhurst in Norwich D. Cox in Elie Iewell in Salisburie Pilkenton in Duresme doctor Sands in Worcester master Downam in Westchester Bentam in Couentrie and Lichfield Dauid in S. Dauies Allie in Excester Horne in Winchester Scorie in Hereford Best in Carleill Bullingham in Lincolne Scamler in
about ten yeares died and was buried in his owne church 6 Alfwoldus as Matthew Westminster writeth was next bishop after Algarus and consecrated by the aduise of Dunstane in the yeare 952. In this time Odogarus earle of Deuon and father in law to king Edgar builded the abbeie of Tauestoke and king Edgar called home all the monkes of saint Peters which were dispersed and without anie abbat and made Sidemannus abbat who was afterwards bishop This Alfwoldus after sixtéene yeares that he was consecraâeâ died and was buried in his owne church 7 Alfwolfus as Dicetus affirmeth was consecrated bishop in the yeare of our Lord 969 and after nine yeares died and was buried in his owne church 8 Sidemannus of an abbat was made a bishop in the yeare 978. In this mans time the Danes ouerran and spoiled the whole countries of Deuon and Cornewall burned the towne of Bodmen and the cathedrall church of saint Petrokes with the bishops house Wherevpon the bishops sée was remoued from thense to saint Germans where the same continued vntill the remouing and vniting thereof vnto Crediton Sidemannus in the twelfe yeare after his consecration died and was buried at Crediton in his owne church 990. 9 Alphredus whome Dicetus calleth Alfricus abbat of Malmesburie was consecrated bishop and installed at Crediton he was taken for a learned man because he wrote two bookes the one intituled Derebus coenobij sui and the other De rerum naturis In this bishops time king Ethelred endowed the bishoprike of saint Germans with lands liberties and priuileges The Danes made a fresh inuasion in and vpon all Deuon and Cornewall burned and spoiled the abbie of Ordolphus at Tauestoke they besieged Excester and being remoued from thense were fought withall at Pinneho about thrée miles from the citie and ouerthrowne Alphredus after he had béene bishop about nine yeares died in the yeare 999 and was buried in his owne church 10 Alwolfus as Dicetus writeth was the next bishop In his time Sweno king of Denmarke by intisement of one Hugh then earle of Deuon came with a great host and besieged the citie of Excester tooke it and burned it and with great crueltie vsed the people vntill in the end Almarus then earle of Deuon and the gentlemen did yéeld and submit themselues and so obteined peace This Alwolfus about the fiftéenth yeare of his bishoprike in the yeare 1014 died and was buried in his owne church 11 Arnoldus by the report of the archdeacon of London succéeded Alwolfus and was installed at Crediton In this mans time king Canutus gaue to Athelwold abbat of S. Peters of this citie great gifts and sundrie priuileges in recompense of his fathers great iniuries Arnoldus in the fiftéenth yeare of his bishoprike 1030 died and was buried in his owne church 12 Leuigus or Leuingus abbat of Tauestoke and nephue to Brithwaldus bishop of Cornewall was chosen the next bishop and according to the orders then vsed consecrated and installed He was in great fauour and credit with king Canutus vppon whome he attended in pilgrimage to Rome and after his vncle the bishop of saint Germans being dead obteined of the king that the bishops sée was remoued from saint Germans vnto Crediton and both were thereby reduced and vnited into one bishoprike and so hath euer since continued Hée was after the death of Brithegus bishop of Worcester remoued to that church and there died and was buried as some suppose but some affirme that in the time of Hardicanutus the king at the accusation of Alfredus then archbishop of Yorke for that he should be consenting to the death of Alfredus the sonne of Etheldred that he should be deposed of his bishoprike there and so did returne vnto Tauestoke where he died But Dicetus affirmeth that he purged himselfe of this crime and by that meanes was restored both to the fauour of the king and to his bishoprike againe and died bishop of Worcester It is recorded that he was bishop of Crediton fiftéene yeares 13 Leofricus a man descended of the bloud and line of Brutus but brought vp in the land of Lothoringia or Loreine was so well commended for his nobilitie wisedome and learning that king Edward the Confessor had him in great fauour and made him first one of his priuie councell then lord chancellor of all England and lastlie the bishoprike line 10 of this prouince being void he was made consecrated and installed bishop of the same By him and by his meanes the bishops sée was remoued from Crediton vnto this citie of Excester for at his request king Edward togither with quéene Edith his wife came to Excester remouing the monkes from hense to Westminster did also remoue the bishops sée from Crediton vnto his citie and did put the bishop in possession For he conducting the bishop on the right hand and the quéene on the line 20 left hand brought him to the high altar of his new church and there placed him in a seat appointed for him He suppressed sundrie houses or cels of religion within his sanctuarie and appropriated and vnited them to his owne church as also by the good liberalitie of the king obteined great reuenues possessions priuileges and liberties to be giuen vnto the church In this mans time William duke of Normandie made a conquest of this whole realme as also in the yeare 1068 besieged this line 30 citie of Excester which after by composition he restored to his former estate againe Also in his time Richard de Brion a noble man of Normandie the sonne of Baldwin of Brion of Albred the néece to the Conqueror was made baron of Okehampton warden of the castell of Excester and vicount of Deuon This Leofricus after that he had well and worthilie ruled his church and diocesse by the space of three and twentie yeares he ended his daies in peace and died in the yeare 1073 and was buried line 40 in the cemiterie or churchyard of his owne church vnder a simple and a broken marble stone which place by the since inlarging of his church is now within the tower of the same where of late in the yeare 1568 a new monument was erected in the memorie of so good woorthie and noble a personage by the industrie of the writer hereof but at the charges of the deane and chapter 14 Osbertus or Osbernus a Norman borne and brother to an earle named William was preferred to this bishoprike and in the yeare 1074 was line 50 consecrated and installed to the same Polydorus writeth that one Galfrid who ioined with Odo earle of Kent and bishop of Baion against William Rufus should be bishop of Exon but it was not nor could not so be In this mans time William the Conqueror and William Rufus his sonne died This Osbertus or Osbernus after he had béene bishop thirtie yeares was blind and died and lieth buried in his owne church
marshall of England was consecrated bishop by Hubert archbishop of Canturburie in the yeare one thousand one hundred ninetie and one he finished the building of his church according to the plot and foundation which his predecessors had laid and that doone he purchased the patronage and lordship of Woodburie of one Albemarlie which he gaue and impropriated vnto the vicars chorall of his church In this mans time in the yeare of our Lord one thousand two hundred and one one line 60 Simon Thurnaius a Cornish man borne brought vp in learning did by diligence and studie so prosper therein that he became excellent in all the liberall sciences and in his daies none thought to be like him He left Oxenford where he had béene a student and went to Paris and there became a priest and studied diuinitie and therein became so excellent and of so deepe a iudgement that he was made chéefe of the Sorbonists at length he became so proud of his learning and did glorie so much therein that he would be singular thought himselfe to be another Aristotle and so much he was therein blinded and waxed so farre in loue with Aristotle that he preferred him before Moses and Christ. But behold Gods iust iudgement For suddenlie his memorie failed him and he waxed so forgetfull that he could neither call to remembrance anie thing that he had doone neither could he discerne read or know a letter of the booke This Henrie after that he had spent and liued twelue yeares in his bishoprike he died and lieth buried in the north side of the chancell of his church in a verie faire toome of marble in the yeare one thousand two hundred and six 21 Simon de Apulia in the yeare one thousand two hundred and six was installed bishop of this sée of him there remaineth no memoriall at all In his time were famous Ioseph Iscanius and Alexander Neckam the one was verie well learned in the Latine and Gréeke toong and in the liberall sciences the other was prior of saint Nicholas and was an vniuersall man being a profound philosopher an eloquent orator a pleasant poet and a déepe diuine In this bishops time the doctrine of eleuation adoration reseruation and praieng for the dead being established by pope Honorius the third the parish churches within this citie were limited in the yeare of our Lord one thousand two hundred twentie two In this mans time in the yeare one thousand two hundred and twelue one Iohannes Deuonius so surnamed because he was borne in Deuon being well bent to good studies was much commended for his learning and modestie He was familiar and of great acquaintance with Baldwin archbishop of Canturburie and being made abbat of Ford was in such fauor with king Iohn that he chose him to be his confessor and chapleine he was a writer and compiled diuerse bookes which were then accounted of Being dead he was buried in his abbeie the people much lamenting the want of so good a man This bishop hauing spent eightéene yeares died in the yeare of our Lord one thousand two hundred twentie and foure was buried in his owne church 22 William Brewer verie shortlie after the death of the foresaid Simon was elected bishop and consecrated by Stephan Langton archbishop of Canturburie in the yeare of our Lord one thousand two hundred twentie and foure He was borne and descended of a noble house and parentage being brother to sir William Brewer knight the husband of the eldest daughter one of the heirs to William de Uerona erle of Deuon and who also was founder of the abbeies of Tor of Hartland and other monasteries This bishop so wiselie and discréetlie behaued himselfe that he was had in great reputation among all men and in speciall fauour with the king For king Henrie hauing giuen his sister ladie Isabell to wife vnto Frederike the emperor did commend and betake hir to this bishop to be conueied and conducted to the emperor And such was the fame and good report spred of him that as he passed through the countries they were from place to place receiued with great honor and being come to the citie of Coleine the archbishop there did not onelie verie honorablie receiue them but also accompanied them vnto the citie of Wormes where the mariage was solemnized When this bishop had séene the marriage and all things performed he tooke his leaue and was dismissed with great presents and honorablie accompanied homewards by the archbishop and others At his returne he was ioifullie receiued of all the noble men about the king and most thankfullie by the king himselfe and whome the king vsed as his speciall and most trustie councellor in all his weightie causes This bishop being come home to his owne house andminding as his predecessors had doone to leaue some good memoriall behind him he made a deane and constituted twentie foure prebendaries within his church To the one he impropriated Brampton and Coliton Rawleie for the others he purchased so much land as out whereof he assigned to euerie prebendarie foure pounds by the yeare and of these he ordeined his chapter Also in this mans time in the yeare one thousand two hundred and fortie Gilbert Long and Robert his brother citizens of this citie builded and founded the hospitall of saint Iohns within the east gate of this citie for the sustenance of certeine poore folks called afterwards the poore children of saint Iohns gaue all their lands and tenements to the same which was line 10 sufficient The yeare following the cell of Alexius was remooued and adioined to saint Iohns and then the founders being dead the charge and gouernement of that house was by those founders commended to the maior of this citie they thenseforth were founders and patrons thereof In the yeare of our Lord one thousand two hundred fortie and foure there grew a contention concerning the poore lazer sicke people of the Magdalen without the south gate of this citie whose maner and vsage was then with line 20 a clapdish vpon euerie market daie to resort and come to the markets and there to beg euerie mans deuotion but by reason of their sicknesse which was lothsome and abhorred the peoples deuotion waxed short and scant against them as also euerie man murmured against their going begging at large Where vpon the matter being brought into question betwéene the bishop and this citie it was concluded that a perimutation should be made and that therefore the bishops should be patrones and haue the line 30 gouernement of saint Iohns and the maior and his successors to be gardians and founders of the hospitall of the Magdalen with a prouiso that the proctor of the hospitall of the Magdalen should on one daie in euerie moneth come with his box to saint Peters church at the time of seruice and there receiue and gather the deuotion of the canons which is vsed at these presents This poore house remaineth
writing praieng for reformation Which his spéeches were so effectuallie vttered and his articles so pithilie penned that both the king and the clergie did not onelie with great liking and allowance praise and commend the same but also tooke order that there should be a prouinciall councell called out of hand for a reformation Which was then promised but not performed by reason of the kings death which not long after followed But yet in the waie of good spéed it was then concluded and agréed that euerie third benefice being of the gift of anie of the prelats or of anie monasterie should from thenseforth for seauen yeares be giuen to some scholar of Oxford or Cambridge This bishop after he had liued fiue and thirtie yeares in this bishoprike died and was buried in the north wall of the queere in his owne church After whose death manie miracles were said and deuised to be doone at his toome wherevpon great pilgrimages were made by the common people to the same 34 George Neuill succéeded Edmund Lacie and was consecrated in the feast of saint Katharine in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred fiftie line 10 and fiue he was of a noble parentage being the second son at Richard Neuill earle of Sarisburie he finished and ended the chapter house which his predecessor had begun And after that he had beene bishop about ten yeares he was remooued to Yorke and made archbishop there in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred thrée score and fiue 35 Iohn Booth after the translation of George Neuill to Yorke was consecrated bishop vnder Thomas Burscher archbishop of Canturburie vpon line 20 the two and twentith daie of Februarie in the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred three score and six He was by profession a ciuillian and a batchelor of the same he gouerned his church verie well and builded as some suppose the bishops sée in the queere But being werie of the great troubles which were in this countrie betwéene king Edward the fourth and the earle of Warwike he remooued from hense to his house of Horsleigh in Hamshire where in the twelfe yere of his bishoprike he died vpon the line 30 fift of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred seuentie and eight and lieth buried at saint Clements in London 36 Peter Courtneie immediatlie after the death of Iohn Booth was presented to this bishoprike and consecrated by Thomas archbishop of Canturburie in Nouember in the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred seuentie and seuen at saint Stephans in Westminster he was the son of sir Philip Courtnie of Powderham his mother was named Elisabeth line 40 daughter to Walter lord Hungerford He for his wisedome and good behauiour was in great fauor credit with king Henrie the seauenth by whose means he was translated from this church to Winchester in the ninth yeare of his being bishop here and in the fift yeare of his being there he died vpon the twentith daie of December in the yere one thousand foure hundred ninetie and one and lieth buried in his owne church He finished the north tower of saint Peters and gaue the clocke bell which is in the line 50 same and which beareth the name Peter 37 Richard Fox vpon the remoouing of Peter Courtneie was consecrated bishop of this church vnder Thomas archbishop of Canturburie in the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred thrée score and six He was a verie wise man and in great credit and estimation with king Henrie the seuenth vnto whome he was a faithfull councellor and of his councell with whom he acquainted himselfe at Paris when he was there a student For king Henrie line 60 then erle of Richmond being at Uenice and aduertised how the nobilitie of England was bent to haue him for their king came from thense to Paris and sought vnto Charles then king of France for aid and helpe in which the earle his sutes this Fox was a speciall traueller and councellor and in the end God giuing the succes the erle obteined the crowne and hauing had due triall of the fidelitie wisedome trust of this bishop he made him lord priuie seale and kept and vsed him his aduise in all his weightie matters as well at home as abrode He being ambassador sundrie times to the kings of France and Scotland and of a verie hartie good will and loue the king made him godfather to his second son king Henrie the eight There was a kind of emulation betwéene this bishop and the earle of Surreie both of them being verie wise and of great seruice to the king and commonwealth howbeit in some diuersitie of respects the one hauing no issue to care for did deale without anie priuat affection or singular gaine and the other hauing issue was desirous to aduance his house and honor These affections did bréed some dislike betwéene them two yet the king finding a faith vnto himselfe and a commoditie to the commonwealth misliked it not if the same excéeded his measure and they more warme than commendable for their callings and estates The king then or the councell would deale betwene them for the appeasing and pacifieng of them and to them he was both friendlie louing and liberall The one he deliuered out of the tower pardoned him of his offenses restored him to his lands receiued him into speciall fauor made him of his priuie councell as also lord treasuror of England and his generall into Scotland augmented his liuelihoods The other he first made bishop to this church then remooued him to Bath and from thense vnto Durham and lastlie vnto Winchester Erasmus in his booke intituled The preacher or Ecclesiastes declareth how that the king vpon a time wanting some péece of monie was to borow the same of the commons and of the clergie And for the dealings with the clergie the matter was by commission committed to this bishop Who when they came before him vsed all the excuses that they could to shift themselues from lending of anie monie Some came verie séemelie and well apparelled and awaited vpon by their men according to their liuelihoods and these alledged that they were greatlie charged in hospitalitie and house kéeping with other charges incident to the same so that they had no monie therefore could paie none Some came poorelie and barelie apparelled and they alledged that their liuelihoods were but small and yet their charges were great and by that meanes the world was so hard with them that they had it not to spare This bishop hauing heard all these excuses vsed this dilemme To the richer sort he said Forsomuch as you are so well and séemelie apparelled and doo kéepe so great houses and haue all things necessarie about you it is a manifest argument that you haue some store about you or else you would not doo as ye doo and therefore yee must néeds lend To the other who pretended
Marie And then the preaching of the gospell being againe receiued hauing a free passage he returned into England but would neuer returne to his bishoprike notwithstanding it was reserued for him sundrie times offered him but liued a priuat life continuing in London preaching teaching the gospell so long as the strength of his bodie would permit and at length being verie old and striken in yeares he died and was honorablie buried at saint Magnus church in London 44 Iohn Uoiseie after the depriuation of Miles Couerdale was restored to this church and for the better setling of the Romish religion did here state for a while but his mind was addicted to his owne countrie that he returned thither and made his onlie abode there practising there what he could to haue the making of kersies to come to some effect but the same being more chargeable than profitable came to small proofe This man being verie old died in his owne house with a pang and was buried in his parish church there in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and fiue 45 Iames Troblefield succéeded bishop Uoiseie and was consecrated in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred fiftie six he was a gentleman borne and of a good house verie gentle and courteous he professed diuinitie but most zelous in the Romish religion yet nothing cruell nor bloudie And yet that he might not séeme to doo nothing he was contented to prosecute and condemne a giltlesse poore séelie woman named Agnes Pirest for religion and heresie who was burned in Southingham for the same It was laied to hir charge as dooth appeare by an indictment taken at Lanceston Dit lunae in quarta septimana quadragesimae anno Philippi Mariae secundo tertio before William Stanford then iustice of the assise that she should denie the reall presence in the sacrament of the altar and that the same was but a signe and a figure of Christs bodie and that none dooth eat reallie the bodie of Christ but spirituallie He was verie carefull to recouer some part of the lands of his bishoprike which his predecessor wasted and did obteine of quéene Marie to him and to his successors the fee farme of the manor of Credition After that he had béene bishop about two yeares quéene Marie died and he was depriued and liued after a priuat life 46 William Alleie in the second yeare of quéene Elisabeth was chosen bishop and installed the sixt of August in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred sixtie and one In all quéene Maries time which were called the Marian daies he trauelled from place to place in the north countrie where he was not knowne and sometimes by practising of physike and sometimes by teaching of scholars he picked out a poore liuing for himselfe and his wife and so continued being not knowne to haue béene a priest during all quéene Maries time after whose death he went to London and there did read diuinitie lecture in Paules verie learnedlie and to his line 10 great commendation and from whense he was taken and made bishop of this citie He was verie well learned vniuersallie but his chiefe studie and profession was in diuinitie and in the toongs And being bishop he debated no part of his former trauels but spent his time verie godlie and vertuouslie Upon euerie holie daie for the most part he preached and vpon the weeke daies he would and did read a lecture of diuinitie the residue of his time and free from his necessarie businesse he spent in his line 20 priuat studies and wrote sundrie books whereof his prelections or lectures which he did read in Paules and his poore mans librarie he caused to be imprinted the like he would haue doone with his Hebrue grammar and other his works if he had liued He was well stored and his librarie well replenished with all the best sort of writers which most gladlie he would impart and make open to euerie good scholar and student whose companie and conference he did most desire imbrace He séemed at the first appéerance line 30 to be a rough and an austere man but in verie truth a verie courteous gentle and an affable man at his table full of honest speeches ioined with learning and pleasantnesse according to the time place and companie All his exercises which for the most part was at bowles verie merrie and plesant void of all sadnesse which might abate the benefit of recreation loth to offend readie to forgiue void of malice full of loue bountifull in hospitalitie liberall to the poore and a succourer of the néedie faithfull to line 40 his friend and courteous to all men a hater of couetousnesse and an enimie to all euill and wicked men and liued an honest a godlie and vertuous life Finallie he was indued with manie notable good gifts and vertues onelie he was somewhat credulous of a hastie beléefe and light of credit which he did oftentimes mislike blame in himselfe In his latter time he waxed somewhat grosse and his bodie full of humors which did abate much of his line 50 woonted exercises and hauing béene bishop about eight yeares he died the first of Aprill one thousand fiue hundred and seauentie and was buried in his owne church 47 William Bradbridge deane of Sarisburie was the next bishop and consecrated at Lambeth by Matthew Parker archbishop of Canturburie the eightéenth of March one thousand fiue hundred and seauentie he was a professor of diuinitie but not taken to be so well grounded as he persuaded line 60 himselfe he was zelous in religion but not so forwards as he was wished to be In his latter daies he delighted to dwell in the countrie which was not so much to his liking as troublesome to his clergie to such as had anie sutes vnto him It was thought he died verie rich but after his death it proued otherwise he died suddenlie no bodie being about him at Newton Ferris the ninth yeare of his bishoprike vpon the nine and twentith of Iulie in the yeare of our Lord 1578 and was buried in his owne church Thus farre the collection of Iohn Hooker agréeing with the records The seuentéenth daie of Iulie the quéenes maiestie being on the riuer of Thames about nine of the clocke at night betwixt hir highnesse manour of Gréenewich Dartford in hir priuie barge accompanied with the French ambassador the earle of Lincolne and maister vicechamberlaine it chanced that one Thomas Appletrée a yoong man and seruant to maister Henrie Carie with two or thrée others being in a bote on the Thames rowing vp and downe betwixt the places aforenamed the foresaid Thomas had a caliuer or harquebus charged with bullet and shooting at randon by misfortune shot one of the watermen being the second man next vnto the bales of the said barge which sat within six foot of hir highnesse cleane
nothing can be cruell and yet vpon whom nothing hath béene doone but gentle and mercifull The execution of iustice in England for maintenance of publike and christian peace against certeine stirrers of sedition and adherents to the traitors and enimies of the realme without anie persecution of them for questions of religion as is falslie reported and published by the fautors and fosterers of their treasons IT hath béene in all ages and in all countries a common vsage of all offendors for the most part both great and small to make defense of their lewd and vnlawfull facts by vntruths and by colouring and couering their déeds were they neuer so vile with pretenses of some other causes of contrarie operations or effects to the intent not onelie to auoid punishment or shame but to continue vphold and prosecute their wicked attempts to the full satisfaction of their disordered and malicious appetites And though such hath beene the vse of all offendors yet of none with more danger than of rebels and traitors to their lawfull princes kings and countries Of which sort of late yeares are speciallie to be noted certeine persons naturallie borne subiects in the realme of England and Ireland who hauing for some good time professed outwardlie their obedience to their souereigne ladie quéene Elisabeth haue neuerthelesse afterward beene stirred vp and seduced by wicked spirite first in England sundrie yeares past and secondlie and of later time in Ireland to enter into open rebellion taking armes and comming into the field against hir maiestie and hir lieutenants with their forces vnder banners displaied inducing by notable vntruths manie simple people to follow and assist them in their traitorous actions And though it is verie well knowen that both line 10 their intentions and manifest actions were bent to haue deposed the quéenes maiestie from hir crowne and to haue traitorouslie set in hir place some other whome they liked whereby if they had not béene spéedilie resisted they would haue committed great bloudsheds and slaughters of hir maiesties faithfull subiects and ruined their natiue countrie yet by Gods power giuen vnto hir maiestie they were so spéedilie vanquished as some few of them suffered by order of law according to their deserts line 20 manie the greatest part vpon confession of their faults were pardoned the rest but they not manie of the principall escaped into forren countries there bicause in none or few places rebels and traitors to their naturall princes and countries dare for their treasons chalenge at their first muster open comfort or succour these notable traitors and rebels haue falselie informed manie kings princes and states and speciallie the bishop of Rome commonlie called the pope from whom they all had secretlie their first line 30 comfort to rebell that the cause of their flieng from their countries was for the religion of Rome and for maintenance of the said popes authoritie whereas diuerse of them before their rebellion liued so notoriouslie the most part of their liues out of all good rule either for honest maners or for anie sense in religion as they might haue béene rather familiar with Catiline or fauourers to Sardanapalus than accounted good subiects vnder anie christian princes As for some examples of the heads of line 40 these rebellions out of England fled Charles Neuill earle of Westmerland a person vtterlie wasted by loosenesse of life and by Gods punishment euen in the time of his rebellion bereaued of his children that should haue succéeded him in the earledome and his bodie now eaten with vlcers of lewd causes as his companions doo saie that no enimie he hath can wish him a viler punishment a pitifull losse to the realme of so noble a house neuer before in anie age atteinted for disloialtie And out of Ireland ran line 50 awaie one Thomas Stukeleie a defamed person almost thorough all christendome and a faithlesse beast rather than a man fléeing first out of England for notable pirasies and out of Ireland for trecheries not pardonable which two were the first ringleaders of the rest of the rebels the one for England the other for Ireland But notwithstanding the notorious euill and wicked liues of these others their confederats void of line 60 all christian religion it liked the bishop of Rome as in fauour of their treasons not to colour their offenses as themselues openlie pretend to doo for auoiding of common shame of the world but flatlie to animate them to continue their former wicked purposes that is to take armes against their lawfull quéene to inuade hir realme with forren forces to pursue all hir good subiects their natiue countries with fire and sword for maintenance whereof there had some yeares before at sundrie times procéeded in a thundering sort buls excommunications and other publike writings denouncing hir maiestie being the lawfull quéene and Gods annointed seruant not to be the queene of the realme charging and vpon paines of excommunication commâââing all hir subiects to depart from their naturall allegiances whereto by birth and by oth they were bound prouoking also and authorising all persons of all degrees within both the realmes to rebell And vpon this antichristian warrant being contrarie to all the lawes of God and man nothing agréeable to a pastorall officer not onelie all the rable of the foresaid traitors that were before fled but also all other persons that had forsaken their natiue countries being of diuerse conditions and qualities some not able to liue at home but in beggerie some discontented for lacke of preferments which they gaped for vnworthilie in vniuersities and other places some bankerupt merchants some in a sort learned to contentions being not contented to learne to obeie the laws of the land haue manie yeares running vp and downe from countrie to countrie practised some in one corner some in an other some with séeking to gather forces and monie for forces some with instigation of princes by vntruths to make warre vpon their naturall countrie some with inward practises to murther the greatest some with seditious writings and verie manie of late with publike infamous libels full of despitefull vile termes and poisoned lies altogither to vphold the foresaid antichristian and tyrannous warrant of the popes bull And yet also by some other meanes to further these inuentions bicause they could not readilie preuaile by waie of force finding forren princes of better consideration not readilie inclined to their wicked purposes it was deuised to erect by certeine schooles which they called seminaries to nourish and bring vp persons disposed naturallie to sedition to continue their race trade and to become seedmen in their tillage of sedition and them to send secretlie into these the quéenes maiesties realmes of England Ireland vnder secret maskes some of priesthood some of other inferiour orders with titles of seminaries for some of the meaner sort and of Iesuits for the stagers and ranker sort
and such like but yet so warilie they crept into the land as none brought the markes of their priesthood with them But in diuers corners of hir maiesties dominions these seminaries or séedmen and Iesuits bringing with them certeine Romish trash as of their hallowed war their Agnus Dei their graines and manie kind of beads and such like haue as tillagemen laboured secretlie to persuade the people to allow of the popes foresaid buls and warrants of his absolute authoritie ouer all princes and countries and striking manie with pricks of conscience to obeie the same whereby in processe of small time if this wicked and dangerous traitorous craftie course had not béene by Gods goodnesse espied and stated there had followed imminent danger of horrible vprores in the realmes and a manifest bloudie destruction of great multitudes of christians For it can not be denied but that so manie as should haue béene induced thoroughlie persuaded to haue obeied that wicked warrant of the popes and the contents thereof should haue béene forthwith in their harts and consciences secret traitors and for to be in déed errant and open traitors there should haue wanted nothing but opportunitie to féele their strength to assemble themselues in such numbers with armour and weapons as they might haue presumed to haue beene the greater part and so by open ciuill warre to haue come to their wicked purposes But Gods goodnesse by whome kings doo rule and by whose blast traitors are commonlie wasted and confounded hath otherwise giuen to hir maiestie as to his handmaid and deare seruant ruling vnder him the spirit of wisedome and power whereby she hath caused some of these seditious séedmen and sowers of rebellion to be discouered for all their secret lurkings and to be taken and charged with these former points of high treason not being dealt withall vpon questions of religion but iustlie by order of lawes openlie condemned as traitors At which times notwithstanding all maner gentle waies of persuasions vsed to mooue them to desist from such manifest traitorous courses and opinions with offer of mercie yet was the canker of their rebellious humors so déepelie entered and grauen into line 10 the harts of manie of them as they would not be remooued from their traitorous determinations And therefore as manifest traitors in mainteining and adhering to the capitall enimie of hir maiestie hir crowne who hath not onelie béene the cause of two rebellions alreadie passed in England and Ireland but in that of Ireland did manifestlie wage and mainteine his owne people capteins and souldiers vnder the banner of Rome against hir maiestie line 20 so as no enimie could doo more these I saie haue iustlie suffered death not by force or forme of anie new lawes established either for religion or against the popes supremasie as the slanderous libellers would haue it séeme to be but by the ancient temporall lawes of the realme and namelie by the laws of parlement made in king Edward the third his time about the yeare of our Lord 1330 which is aboue two hundred yeares and more past when the bishops of Rome and popes were suffered to haue line 30 their authoritie ecclesiasticall in this realme as they had in manie other countries But yet of this kind of offendors as manie of them as after their condemnations were contented to renounce their former traitorous assertions so manie were spared from execution doo liue still at this daie such was the vnwillingnes in hir maiestie to haue anie bloud spilt without this verie vrgent iust and necessarie cause procéeding from themselues And yet neuerthelesse such of the rest of the traitors as remaine in forren parts continuing still line 40 their rebellious minds and craftilie kéeping themselues aloofe off from dangers ceasse not to prouoke sundrie other inferiour seditious persons newlie to steale secretlie into the realme to reuiue the former seditious practises to the execution of the popes foresaid bull against hir maiestie and the realme pretending when they are apprehended that they came onelie into the realme by the commandement of their superiors the heads of the Iesuits to whome they are bound as they saie by oth against either king line 50 or countrie and here to informe or reforme mens consciences from errors in some points of religion as they thinke meet But yet in verie truth the whole scope of their secret labours is manifestlie prooued to be secretlie to win all people with whom they dare deale so to allow of the popes said buls and of his authoritie without exception as in obeieng thereof they take themselues fullie discharged of their allegiance and obedience to their lawfull prince and countrie yea and to be well warranted line 60 to take armes to rebell against hir maiestie when they shall be therevnto called and to be readie secretlie to ioine with any forren force that can be procured to inuade the realme whereof also they haue a long time giuen and yet doo for their aduantage no small comfort of successe And so consequentlie the effect of their labours is to bring the realme not onelie into a dangerous warre against the forces of strangers from which it hath béene frée aboue three and twentie or foure and twentie yeares a case verie memorable and hard to be matched with an example of the like but into a warre domesticall and ciuill wherein no bloud is vsuallie spared nor mercie yéelded and wherein neither the vanquishor nor the vanquished can haue iust cause of triumph And forsomuch as these are the most euident perils that necessarilie should follow if these kind of vermine were suffered to créepe by stealth into the realme and to spred their poison within the same howsoeuer when they are taken like hypocrits they colour and counterfeit the same with profession of deuotion in religion it is of all persons to be yéelded in reason that hir maiestie and all hir gouernours and magistrats of iustice hauing care to mainteine the peace of the realme which God hath giuen in hir time to continue longer than euer in anie time of hir progenitors ought of dutie to almightie God the author of peace and according to the naturall loue and charge due to their countrie and for auoiding of the flouds of bloud which in ciuill warres are séene to run and flow by all lawfull meanes possible as well by the sword as by law in their seuerall seasons to impeach and repell these so manifest and dangerous colourable practises and works of sedition and rebellion And though there are manie subiects knowne in the realme that differ in some opinions of religion from the church of England and that doo also not forbeare to professe the same yet in that they doo also professe loialtie and obedience to hir maiestie and offer readilie to hir maiesties defense to impugne resist anie forreine force though it should come or be procured from the pope himselfe none of
1185 a 60 b 10 Ambassador ligier of Spaine ¶ Sée Mendoza Ambassage disdainefull 545 a 10. Roiall into France 477 a 60 Amberuilliers castell taken 589 a 60 Amphibalus bodie found and buried at saint Albons 101 b 30 Amphibologie of this woord daughter 156 b 10 Ambition was Anselme loth to be suspected of 28 a 10. Of earle Robert of Northumberland 22 b 10. Of earle Iohn 132 b 40. In the French and Spanish kings aspiring to the empire 851 a 40 c. Of archbishop Thurstane notable 38 b 10. Of bishop Longchampe 129 a 10. Of an old aged bishop of Durham note 119 b 40 50 60. Of earles suing to be kings 1 a 30. Of two archbishops 39 b 60. Of bishops 38 b 20. Contentious 121 a 30. Of two moonks labouring for an abbasie 18 b 60. Of mans nature 76 a 40 714 a 30. The working thereof 739 b 60. And fruits thereof noted in Robert 12 a 30. It will haue a fall note 734 b 60. Note the whole storie from page 1083 a 60 b 10 c. 1084 b 10 c. ¶ Sée Selim and Turke Amsterdam a towne of great concourse and commerce inexpugnable 1430 b 30 50 Anabaptists doo penance and are burned 946 a 40 50. Their heresies recantation and penance at Pauls crosse 1260 b 10 20 30 c. Banished 1261 b 20. Burned in Smithfield 1261 b 40. Manie in Amsterdam 1430 b 40 Anger and what the heat thereof driueth a man vnto note 211 b 10. ¶ Sée Enuie Angiers citie taken 158 b 30. Woone of king Iohn by assault 170 a 30. And by him repared 170 b 30 Angleseie inuironed with the sea 23 a 40 Angolesme recouered by the Frenchmen 369 a 30 Aniou a rode made thereunto by the duke of Clarence 579 b 60 Anne Askew and others arreigned and acquited 968 b 10 c. Anne Bullen created marchionesse of Penbroke 928 b 30. ¶ Sée Quéene Anne of Cléeue a marriage betwéene hir and king Henrie the eight concluded 947 b 60. She is receiued at Calis landeth in Kent the order of hir receiuing on Black heath 948 a 40 b 30 The méeting of hir and the king hir chariot wherein she rode all hir iournie hir welcome to Gréenewich 949 a 50 b 20 60. She is married to king Henrie the eight 950 a 10 c. At quéene Maries coronation 1091 a 30. Deceaseth 1133 b 60 Annates forbidden to be paid to the pope 928 a 40 Annuities ¶ Sée Patents Anselme archbishop of Canturburie elected 20 a 60. At strife with William Rufus and whie 24 a 10. His shift for his paiment to William Rufus and his honest satisfaction 22 b 10. ¶ Sée Archbishop Prepareth to auoid the realme by ship and complaineth to the pope of William Rufus 26 a 10. His admonition from Rome to William Rufus returneth into England 27 b 60. At the instance of Hugh earle of Chester commeth ouer into England 28 a 10. Restored home 28 b 20. Goeth to Rome 31 b 20. Denieth to doo homage to Henrie the first note 29 a 50. Holdeth a councell at Westminster note and what was there decréed 30 a 60. Refuseth to consecrat the bishops inuested by the king 31 a 60. Banished and his sée seized vpon into the kings hands 32 a 10. Receiued into Henrie the firsts fauour and returneth home 33 b 20 30. Held a synod and what was there decréed 34 b 10. Writeth to pope Paschall that he would not send archbishop Thomas of Yorke his pall 35 a 20. His cursse feared of king Henrie the first and his bishops 36 b 30. He falleth sicke 35 b 60. His death and what countrie man he was 36 a 30 Antedating of the kings seale tresonable and so executed 953 a 20 Anticipation ¶ Sée Subsidie Antipape 421 a 50 b 50 475. a 10 535 a 10 24 b 20. ¶ Seé Fitzleo Pope and Schisme Antiquitie reuerenced note the meaning of the proclamation 1321 b 30. Presented vnto quéene Elisabeth at Norwich 1293 b 30 1294 a 60 b 10 Antwerpe entred into by the Spaniards who plaied the cruell tyrants 1263 a 10 Interteineth the duke of Alanson right roiallie note 1332 1333 c to 1344 a 10. Reioiseth at the duke of Alansons comming 1331 a 60 ¶ Sée Duke of Alanson Apparell of king Henrie the eight at his coronation 801 a 40. Running at the ring 805 b 60. Of him and his nobles going to méet Maximilian 820 a 10 20. After the taking of Tornaie 822 b 60. Sumptuous at quéene Annes coronation 931 a 10 c. b 60. Of the duke of Alanson whereat the French woondered 1337 a 10. Of William Rufus counted gorgious then but now verie simple 27 b 40. Of Edward the second gorgious and triumphant 322 a 20. Sumptuous of Richard the second 501 b 40. Of sir Iohn Arundell verie sumptuous 423 b 50. Strange of prince Henrie sonne to Henrie the fourth 539 a 30. Gorgious of Richard the seconds court note at the verie end of his storie 544. Of Edward the fourth at an interview with the French king 699 a 60 b 10 c. Sumptuous of the earle of Northumberland 791 a 60. Sumptuous of the duke of Buckingham 801 a 10. Of great estates 825 a 20. Statelie in France at a tilt 834 a 30. Of the earle of Surie receiuing the French kings ambassadors 148 a 40. Statelie of the duchie of Brabant 1336 a 20. Of the monsieur of Brabant 1333 b 60. Of the king of England and France at an interuiew 851 a 50 b 60 859 a 60 860 a 20 30 40. Right gorgious in a shew 807 b 40. Faire sutes giuen by king Iohn and the archbishop of Canturburie to their seruants note 163 a 60. Disguised souldiers in womens apparell note 1188 b 40. Of women wherein a bishop disguiseth himselfe 132 a 10. Costlie forbidden 111 b 40. An act for it 353 a 40 396 b 40. Of a knight all not worth foure shillings 1099 b 20. Changed from robes to rags note 460 b 30. ¶ Sée Maske Apparition ¶ Sée Uision Appeales to Rome 213 a 40 133 a 60 98 a 50 210 a 30. Forbidden c 74 a 30. Of the prince of Wales before the French king 401 a 20 Appletrée ¶ Sée Gun Apprentises at what time admitted to fellowships of companies 120 a 20 Aques besieged by earle Richard Henrie the seconds sonne 99 b 40 Aquitane full of warre â03 a 50. The grant thereof to the duke of Lancaster reuoked 485 b 10. Recouereâ by the French the dignitie ând state of that dukedome 641 a 40 50 Arbitrement of certeine graue persons in the strife betwéene William Rufus and his brother Robert reiected and whie 21 a 60 Archbishop Aldred submitteth himselfe to duke William 1 a 50. ¶ Sée Aldred Anselme ¶ Sée Anselme Arundell of Canturburie his answer for the clergie he chafeth the kings answer to him 526 a 20 40 60. Baldwine of Canturburie deceaseth 130 b 50. Exhorted men to go to warre against the Saracens
death bed 708 b 30 50 c. Deceaseth his issue male and female 710 a 20 c. Edward the fift his comming to London 716 b 50. He and his brother murthered in the Towre note 734 b 20 c 735 all Edward the sixt borne 944 a 10 Proclamed king of England rideth through London to Westminster crowned 979 a 10 b 10 30. His letter to the citizens of London 1059 a 10. He rideth through London 1060 b 40. His princelie spéech to doctor Ridleie after his sermon made of mercie charitie 1081 b 60. His message to the rebels of Cornewall and Deuonshire 1003 b 60 1004 a 10. Founder of the hospitals in London 1082 b 30. His victories against the Scots 1161 b 10. His feare and mistrust of thrée mariages which fell out to be true he falieth sicke dieth 1083 b 20 30 60. His praiseworthie qualities and death reuealed 1084 a 30 c b 10. His buriall 1089 a 50. Counterfeited and the partie executed 1127 a 40 c b 10 Edward created prince 365 a 40. Made knight 660 b 60. Setteth forward into the holie land 274 b 60. Traitorouslie wounded 275 a 20 Getteth diuerse castels 266 a 60. Escapeth a danger 269 b 50. He and the earle of Glocester not suffred to come within the citie of London 262 b Euill intreated in manie places 262 b 60. Goeth against the Welshmen 264 a 10. Receiueth the crosse 274 a 40. Taketh monie out of the treasurie of the temple 264 a 60. Arriueth at Acres in danger to be slaine by treason 275 a 20. Hath the rule of London he appointeth the maior shiriffes 274 b 20. Sent to the king of Castile 249 b 50. He marrieth the ladie Elenor daughter to king Aâfonse b 60. Created prince of Wales 250 a 10. His wife commeth to London 252 a 50. Pursueth the Londoners 268 a 10. Imprisoned for riot 313 b 30. Made knight and sent into Scotland 314 a 30. Goeth ouer into Gascoigne 382 b 50. His procéedings in Aquitane 383 b 20 c. Two bishops sent vnto him from the pope 383 b 50 c 384 a 10 c. His first sonne borne 397 a 60. And duke of Aquitaine 332 a 40. Sent into France 336 a 60. Inuadeth the French dominions 387 a 10 His order where he came his feats of armes the passages stopped against him he returneth lodgeth in the towne of Remorentius he is followed by the French king 387 all Contenied to come to a parlée his offer his exhortation to his soldiors when he saw he must néeds fight 388 a 60 b 10 60. Noblemen that were with him the number of his armie both powers ioine issue 389. He obteineth the victorie his méeke oration to the French king his prisoner he returneth to Burdeaux bringeth the French king ouer into England 390 a 10 b 20 60. Made lord warden of the realme 339 b 20. Setteth forward into Spaine 398 a 20. He passeth into Guien 395 b 60. Put to his shifts for default of monie he returneth into Gascoigne constreined to burden his subiects with a sore subsidie 400 a 10 30 b 30. Appealed to appéere before the French king 401 a 10. His answer a letter published by him to appease the Gescoignes b 40. Diseased with sicknesse 402 b 20. Deceaseth buried at Canturburie his death grieuouslie taken 410 b 50 60. Returneth out of France into England 406 a 60. Married to the erle of Warwikes daughter 674 b 60. Taken in flight he is murthered 688 a 60 b 20 Edward called the Blacke prince borne 348 b 20 Edward the third son of Henrie the seuenth christened 788 a 10 Edwin earle of Northumberland withdraweth from the battell against duke William 1 a 30. His lands giuen to Alane earle of Britaine 7. Reconciled to king William 9 b 40. He and Edgar Etheling resist duke William and his Normans 6 a 10. He Marchar submit themselues to duke William 1 a 50. Slaine of his owne soldiors 10 a 50. ¶ Sée Marchar Egelsin abbat ¶ Sée Stigand Egelsin abbat of S. Augustine his martiall mind vnpatient of forced seruitude 1 b 50 2 a 10 Egelwine abbat of Euesham â warrior 11 a 50 Egelwinus bishop of Durham flieth from Durham note 7 b 60. In armes against duke William taken prisoner and famished to death 10 a 40 50 Egmond countie lieutenant generall for king Philip in the low countries his valiant onset vpon the French 1150 a 60 b 20 Egremond knight a capteine rebell 769 b 50. Flieth into Flanders 770 a 10 Egremond lord Persie 647 b 30 committed to Newgate his escape 645 b 60 Election choise of thrée things 284 b 60 Elenor countesse of Britaine deceaseth 228 b 60 Elenor prince Edwards wife commeth to London 252 a 60 Elenor K. Henrie the seconds daughter married to the king of Castile 98 b 30 Elenor Cobham accused of treson note 622 b 60 623. a 10. ¶ Sée Marriage and Quéene Elephant sent to Henrie the third from the French king 252. a 30. Two presented to the pope note 837 b 10 Elie held against Henrie the third 273 a 50. Spoiled the church note 190 a 40 Elisabeth second daughter to king Henrie the eight prisoner in the Towre she hath heauie enimies of the clergie 1101 b 10 c 1102 a 10 20 c. Hir bloud thirsted after by Gardiner hir life preserued by master Briges lieutenant of the Towre 1130 b 20 30. The whole storie of hir troubles in the daies of quéene Marie and how she was preserued notable to read 1151 b 50 60 1152 1153 1154 1155. Deliuered out of the Towre hir words to Beningfield knight hir kéeper in the time of durance 1117 b 40. Proclamed quéene the same daie that Marie died 1160 a 40. And the ladie Anne of Cléeue ride togither in a rich chariot 1091 a 30. ¶ Sée Quéene Elisabeth wife to Henrie the seuenth hir birth 668 b 50 Elisabeth Barton hir practises discouered with hir adherents she is attainted becommeth a nun 936 a 20 b 10 60. Bishops giue credit to hir hipocriticall dooings she is executed hir confession at hir death 937 a 10 20 30 Emmanuell college at Cambridge founded 1396 a 10 c. Emperor Adulfe breaketh promise with the king of England and the earle of Flanders 304 b 60 Emperor of Constantinople commeth into England 239 b 60 519 a 20 Emperor Ferdinand deceaseth foretelleth the vttermost daie of his death his goodlie issue male and female 1208 a 10 20 30 Emperor Charles preparation for receiuing of him into England 853 a 50. Landeth in England méeteth with Henrie the eight at Douer laboureth to hinder the purposed interuiew betwéene Henrie the eight and the French K saileth into Flanders 856 a 40 b 60 a 20. Commeth to Calis to K Henrie the eight 861 b 20. His interteimnent note b 30 c. And the French king at wars 781 a 10 Landeth at Douer he and Henrie the eight sweare each to other
Some condemned and yet spared from execution and whie 30. The mischiefe springing from the same 1054 b 30. Punished by imprisonment and confiscation 446 a 50. Sowen by a seditious préest and by a counterfet earle of Warwike 765 a 20 c. How gréeuous vnto a commonwealth discoursed by sir Iohn Chéeke knight 1042 1043 vnto 1055 note it well it is woorth the reading ¶ Sée Bookes Counsell and Letters Segraue lord in armes against the Scots taken wounded and rescued 311 b 30 c. Sele common granted vnto the Londoners 208 a 10. Roiall old made void and a new confirmed 208 b 60. Newlie made 277 a 20. And the old with all things sealed therewith annulled 145 b 50 Selun prince of Turkes his ambition and tyrannie against his father and affines he ouerthroweth the Sophie of Persia 846 a 10 20 30. Deceaseth and Soliman dooth succéed 847 b 20. ¶ Sée Saracens Selling and buieng of men like oxen and kiâe 31 a 10 Semor knight sent vnto the Tower atteinted and beheaded 996 a 60 Sempringham William deceaseth 113 b 20 Senena ¶ Sée Guenhera Sens besieged and taken 576 a 50 Sentlow knight sent vnto the Tower 1152 b 60 Sequestration of benefices note a shift to get moneie 193 a 20 Serle maior of London in a riot not estéemed or regarded 204 a 40 Serle one of king Richard the second his chamber noiseth abrode that king Richard is aliue he is apprehended examined for the duke of Glocesters death drawne through euerie good towne executed at London 525 Sermon of George Cloââe at Paules crosse offensiue for the which he was inioined submission note 1558 b 10. Of Stephan Gardiner note 1126 a 60 Of frier Pateshull 455 a 60 b 10. Of Bali a seditious préest vnto certeine rebels 437 a 60 Of the bishop of Rochester at king Richard the second his coronation 417 b 40. Full of slander against king Edward the fourth note 727 b 10 c. That turned the preacher to shame and losse of life note 728 a 30 40. Undiscréet and seditious 841 a 10 20. Inuectiue against bishop Gardiner and the preacher asketh forgiuenesse 950 b 10 20. In Paules church for victorie against the Turkes 1226 b 40. The assemblie thereat b 50. Made by Iohn Knewstubs at Utricht in the low countries in a statelie assemblie 1433 b 60. Of doctor Ridleie before king Edward the sixt what effects it wrought touching charitie c note 1081 a 20 c. That procured rigorous handling to the preacher note 1089 a 40. At Paules crosse wherein the people were persuaded vnto the title of quéene Iane 1087 a 40. At the Spittle without Bishopsgate and the house of the maior and aldermen by whome built 702 b 50. Full of papisticall adulation made at pope Gregorie the thirtéenth his buriall 1397 b 40 c. 1398 c. to 1400. ¶ Sée Oration Preacher Shaw Submiââion Sermons perpetuallie founded at Norwich 1261 a 60. At Paules crosse none for the space of a quarter of a yeare note 1182 a 10 20. Made to and for the mariage of king Henrie the eight with quéene Katharine 928 a 20. That brought the preacher vnto losse of credit honestie and life note 725 b 30 40 Seruant constant and trustie note 500 b 60. Trustie and loiall vnto the ladie Elisabeth 1159 b 40. Murthering his maister is hanged 1213 a 10. Accuseth his maister and commeth vnto an ill end himselfe note 626 b 20. Betraieth his maister for reward note 743 b 50 60 60.744 b 60 ¶ See Banister Seruants wages rated by statute note 380 b 30 c. Seruice ãâã remembred 203 a 40. Good in war vnrewarded bréedeth conspiracie note â1 b 30 Seruingman reprooued and reformed note 1315 a 20 Seruitude none in England before duke Williams comming in 1 b 50. Spurned at verie sore 1 b 50 2 a 10 forsaking of natiue countrie preferred before it 6 a 20. Under the Normans signified vnto the world by outward testimonie 5 b 10 Sessions ¶ Sée Sicknesse Sessment refused to be paid as it was leuied and how punished 968 a 40. ¶ Sée Subsidie Sforce duke of Millan by vsurpation 761 a 60 Shandois lord his false report in the Starchamber against ladie Elisabeth 1102 a 20. Deceaseth 1258 a 20 Shane Oneale of Ireland discomfited by the English power 1209 b 30. Mangled and hackt in péeces 1210 a 30 50 Shaw maior of London a proud man and a fauourer of king Richard the third 725 b 40 Shaw doctor his sermon that lost him his honestie and his life note 725 b 40. Commended by the duke of Buckkingham 729 b 40. He was taught his lesson yer he came into the pulpit 727 b 10 c. 40 Shéene the kings manour burnt 788 a 10 Shéepe ¶ Sée Coteshold Shepherd called the holie shepherd 606 b 40 Shefféeld lord is lamentablie slaine in the Norfolke rebellion 1034 b 30. Laid to the rebels charge 1046 b 60 1047 a 10 Shellie how he was affectioned to Throckmortons treasons 1372 b 20. An actor in the conspiracie of the earle of Northumberland 1407 b 10 Shews of disport with Robin Hood c before king Henrie the eight 836 b 40 c 837 a 10. Of estate on the Twelfe night 837 b 60. At iusts at Gréenewich 815 a 10. Of delight wherein great personages were actors 805 a 10 c. 806 a 10 c. Triumphant of proper deuise at the receiuing of the earle of Leicester into the low countries note well 1424 b 10 c. to 1430. ¶ Sée Pagents and Sights Shift ¶ Sée Policie Ship roiall called Henrie grace de Dieu 815 b 40 The Marie rose drowned through negligence note 969 a 30. The barke Agar recouered from the French 972 a 60. The Regent burnt 815 b 10 The Greihound cast awaie 1202 b 10. The great Harrie burnt 1090 b 50 Ship séene in the aire 249 a 60 Ships English spoiled by the French 1195 a 60. Of quéene Elisabeth sent foorth into the narrow seas 1211 a 10. Scowre the narrow seas 1257 b 50 60. Their seruice in Ireland 1314 b 50. Thrée of name woone from the Scots 989 b 60 Set on fire by the English 995 b 30. Two of the French kings taken with a prise in them 453 b 50.524 a 50. Of Rie win a good prise 440 a 60. Of a strange mold and forme driuen on the coasts of England 250 a 10 Ships and castels séene in the aire 1313 a 60 b 10 ¶ Sée French and Flemish Thames Shipwracke 562 b 10. 365 a 30. Wherein two hundred persons were drowned 1202 b 10.423 a 60 b 10. Lamentable 41 b 10. ¶ Sée Noblemen Shiriffes of shires when instituted 8 a 60. Of all shires sent for to the court 457 b 40. Orders deuised for their appearance and bringing of accounts 254 a 60 Of London put awaie their officers 961 b 10. ¶ Sée London Shirewood forrest ¶ Sée Forrest Shooes long piked forbidden 668 b 30 Shoomaker called the cocke of
coââprophet serued aright Ships of Rie win a good price Iohn de Northaâââââ maioâ oâ Lââdon ãâã punisâââ ãâã âdulterie ãâã ââme The Londoners ãâã of Wicliffes doctrine The fishmoongers sore trââbled by the maior A great earthquake Churches ouerthrowne by the earthquake A waâerquake Anno Reg. 6. The bishop of LondoÌ made lord chancâllor in the lord Scroope his roome A new rebellion intended in Norffolke is bâwraied by one of the cânspiracie before The coÌmissioners of Flanders reiected for want of sufficient authoritie An act against the fishmongers within the citie of London Remission of sins granted to as manie as would fight against Clement the antipape The earle of Cambridge returneth out of Portingale The earle of Cambridge his son affianced to the king of Portingals daughter Clementines Urbanists The crossed souldiers The capteins that weÌt with the bishop of Norwich against the antipape Froissard The statute against fishmongers repealed they are restored to their liberâies The bishop ãâã Norwich setteth forward with his armie Polydor. Froissard 500 speares â 115 other The bishop ãâã Norwich inuadeth Flanders Ia. Meir Dunkirke woon sackââ by the Englishmen The earle of FlaÌders sendeth to the bish of Norwich to know the cause of his inuasion of Flanderâ The herald of armes sent to the Flemings by the bishop of Norwich is slaine Thom. Wals. The order of the bishop of Norwich his battell against the Flemings The Flemings discomfited by the Englishmen Iac. Meir Froissard Tho. Walsi Préests and religious men hardy soldiers Iacob Meir The EnglishmeÌ subdue diuerse towns in Flanders and spoile the countrie The towne of Ypres besiged The maner of fortifieng townes in old time Hope of gaine incourageth the soldier Ia. Meir Anno Reg. 7. The siege at Ypres broken vp Newport sacked and burnt by the Englishmen and Gauntiners Thom. Wals. A couragious warlike bishop The French king with his huge armie driueth the Englishmen out of Flanders Bruckburge yeélded to the French The duke of Britaine a fâiend to the Englishmen Grauelin fortified by the Frenchmen for a countergarison to Calis Thom. Wals. The king quéene in progresse A great heaâ soone cooled The bishop of Norwich returned into England ãâã of Flanders Warke castell burnt by the Scots Diuerse French ships taken by the Englishmen A parlement at London The temporalties of the bishoprâke of Norwich seized into the kings hands for the bishops disobedience A treatie of peace betwéen England and France A truce taken betwéene England and France Tho. Walsin Great contention about the election of the maior of London Sir Robert Knolles The duke of Lancaster inuadeth Scotland with an armie Edenburgh left desolate Great death of horsses and men in the English host by reason of extreme cold A parlement at Salisburie An Irish frier appeacheth the duke of LaÌcaster of treason A miserable cruell torture A rode into Scotland One mischief asketh another Anno Reg. 8. The duke of LaÌcaster sent into France to treat of a peace Iohn de Northampton late maior of London coÌdemned to perpetuall prison and all his goods confiscated A combat The appellant being vanquished is adiudged to be hanged Abraham Fleming out of Henrie Knighton canon of Leicester abbeie Berwike castell woone by the Scots Berwike castell recouered by the earle of Northumberland The duke of Lancaster getteth him to his castell of Pomfret and fortifieth it The princesse of Wales maketh an attonement betwéene the king and the duke at Lancaster The ships of Portâmouth Dartmouth ãâã better seruice than the kings great name ãâã Meir Froissard The French king aideth Scots against Englishmen The Scots inuade the frontiers of England Anno Reg. 9. The K. goeth with an armie against the Scots Uariance betwéene sir Iohn Hollands seruaÌts and the lord Richard Stafford The lord Richard Stafford slaine by sir Iohn Holland Hect. Boetius Edenburgh burnt by king Richard The French admerall persuadeth the Scots to fight with the English host Cumberland sore spoiled by the Scots Carleill assalted by the Scots Good counsell neglected Polydor. A noble reuenge There were 600 Englishmâ who with their bowes did great seruice as by one author it appeareth The king of Portingale sendeth six gallies to K. Richards aid A good victorie of them of Calis against the French fléet Abr. Fl. out of Henrie Knighton canon of Leicester abbeie The Calisians others make a rode into France win great booties Fabian Creation of dukes and earles at the parlement Henrie of Bollingbrooke earle of Derbie afterwards king The lord Mortimer erle of March proclââed heire apparant to the crowne The earle of March ãâã by the wild Irish. The issue of the foresaid earle of March. Froissard The king of Armeniâ coÌmeth into England ãâã aid against the Turks Thom. Wals. Thom. ãâã Froissard Ia. Meir The duke ãâã Lancaster goeth into Spaine ãâã an armie In Angl. praelij Abr. Fl. out of Henrie Knighton canon of Leicester abbeie Thom. Wals. The duke of Lancaster landeth at Brest and winneth two bastidâs from the Frenchmen Anno Reg. 10. The duke of Lancaster landeth at ãâ¦ã Le Groigne Corone Abr. Fl. out of Henrie Knighton canon of Leicester abbeie Philip the dude of Lancasters daughter married to the king of Portingale The king of Portingale the duke of Lancaster ioining their armies togither inuade Castile Uariance amongst writers Great death in the English host in Spaine by reason of the great heat of that countrie Froissard The lord Fitz Walter I thinke that none of these three were barons but onlie the lord Poinings The duke of Lancaster returneth out of Portingale into Gascoigne A marriage concluded betweéne the prince of Spaine and the duke of Lancasters daughter Fabian Ab. Fl. out of Henrie Knighton canon of Leicester abbeie In Angl. ãâã sub Rich. 2. Iacob Meir Froissard A mightie great nauie of French ships at Sluis purposing to inuade EnglaÌd The description of the inclosure Thom. Wals. Tho. Walsi The prouision of the Englishmen to resist the great power of Frenchmen Abr. Fl. out of Henrie Knighton canon of Leicester abbeie The Londoners speciallie afraid of the FreÌch forces Dissention among the noblemen Froissard Tho. Walsin A parlement at London Robert Uéer marquessâ of Dubline created duke of Ireland Richard Exton iustlie coÌmended A subsidie granted and appointed to be spânt according to the discretion of the nobilitie Dissention betweenâ ãâã king anâ ãâã parlement house The duke of Glocester and the bishop of Elie sent to yâ K. at Eltham froÌ the whole bodie of the parlement Their requests to the king And oftenâr ãâã néed require The causes conditions of a parlement Absence of the king from the parlement ãâã the space of â daies The kings answer Wealth of the people is the glorie of the prince and suertie of his reigne Change of officers by the parlement The earle of Suffolke gréeuouslie charged by the parlement house for sundrie offenses Thirtéene lords appointed by parlement
persuade his capteins that the earle of Richmond is no warrior Frenchmen â Britans great ãâã small ãâã â Richards ãâã confidence and but âesse courage The person of the earle of Richmond described The earles cause iust and right therefore likelie of good successe A great motiue to the nobles gentles assisting the earle K. Richards offenses and ill qualities summarilie touched by the earle K. Richard a notorious tyrant Incouragements to his armie to plaie the men in a iust cause Uictorie consisteth not in multitude but in manlinesse The battell betweene king Richard and king Henrie the ãâã called Belworth ãâã The policie of the earle The eaâle of Oxfords ãâã to his âând of men The earle of Oxfords valiantnesse The earle of Richmond proââereth to incounter K. Richard bodie to bodie Sir William Brandon slaine The kings ââmie flieth Duke of Norffolke slaine in the field * Richard Ouid. What persons of name were slaine on king Richards side Erle of Surreie coÌmitted to the Toweâ notwithstanding his submission How king Richard might haue escaped The deuout behauiour of the earle of Richmond after the victorie The lord Stanleie setteth yâ crowne on king Henries head The lord Stanlies bold answer to K. Richards purseuant Proclamaââââ made to ãâã in the lord Strange The shamefull cariage oâ K. Richards bodie to Leicester K. Richards badge and cognisance euerie when defaced The description of king Richard Sée pag. 690 â91 Sée pag. 659. Sée pag. 703. Abr. Flem. ex Guiâ pag. 49. Lodowike Sforce duke â Millan by vsurpation Sée page 627. Guic. pag. 12. T. Wat in Am. Quer. 7. Fr. Thin The death of of William Dudleie bishop of Durham descended of the honorable house of the Dudleies Anno Reg. 1. Edward Plantagenet earle of Warewike sonne and heire to George duke of Clarence committed to the Tower King Henrie commeth to London Henrie the sââuenth crowned king A parlement at Westminster with an atteindor and a pardon gânerall The king adâânceth his fâeends The king redâmeth his âostages Abr. Flem. ex subsequentib See the historie of EnglaÌd pag. 124. See also D. Powels historie of Wales pag. 2 and 376 377 c. Sée before in Edward the fourth pag. 678. Gu. Ha. in psal 103. King Henrie the seuenth taketh to wife Elizabeth eldest daughter of Edward the fourth In Hen. 7. Yeomen of the gard first brought in The sweating sickenesse A remedie for the sweating sickenesse The king requested a prest of six thousand markes A parlement summoned new lawes for the commonwealth enacted The king goeth into the North. A rebellion made by the âârd Louell and others Humfrie Stafford Thomas Stafford The duke ãâã Bedford against the lord Louell in armes The lord Louell escaped Sir ãâã Stafford âaken out of Colnham sanctuarie and executââ Anno Reg. â Abr. Fl. ex epitome Rich. Graftoâ One of the maiors officers chosen shiriffe of LoÌdon and lord maior Sir Richard Simond a fraudulent preest Lambert Simenell the counterfeit earle of Warwâke Thomas Gerardine chancellor of Ireland interteineth the counterfeit earle ãâã honorablââ Margaret duchesse of Burgognie sister to king Edward the fourth hir malicious mind to Lancaster house A generall pardon excepting no offeÌse Order taken that the yoong earle of Warwike should be shewed abroad Ladie Elizabeth late wife to king Edward the fourth adiudged to forfeit all hir lands for promise-breaking Quéenes colledge in Cambridge founded by the ladie Elizabeth king Edward the fourth his wife Edward the right earle of Warwike shewed openlie in procession An ill matter followed to the proofe The earle of Lincolnes flight into Flanders doubted of king Henrie The marques Dorset committed to the Tower Martin Sward a valiant capteine of the Almains assistant to the earle of Lincolne The counterfeit earle of Warwike with all his adherents landeth in England K. Henries power soone increased The earle of Lincolne entreth Yorkeshire The battell of Stoke The armies ioine Martine Sward a péerelesse warrior The kings power ouercommeth All the capteinâ of the aduerse part against the king slaine The number of the slaine that were against the king Lambert and his maister Simond takeÌ Morton bishop of Elie made archbishop of Canturburie and chancellor of England Abr. Fl. ex Gâic pag 4 5. Creation of pope Alexander the sixt Otherwise called Roderike Borgia borne at Uenice Corruption of Cardinals in the election of the pope Pope Alexander the sixt corrupted with manie vices Thanks giuen to God after victorie Execution vpon the offendors Gu. Ha. in eccle cap. 10. Anno. Reg. 3. Fox bishop of Excester sent ambassador into Scotland A truce with Scotland for seuen yeares King Henrie returneth out of the north countrie The French kings request for aid against FraÌcis duke of Britaine King Henries offâr to make an attonement betwixt the French king and the duke Christopher Urswike The marques Dorset deliuered out of the Tower The kings loue to his wife quéene Elizabeth The duke ãâã Orleance pââtaker with the duke of Britaine Edward lord Wooduile aâdeth the duke of Britaine without the kings coÌsent Lord Wooduile gathereâ a power in the I le of Wighâ The leagâe renewed betwéene England and France The king callâth a parlement A peremptoâââ ambassage ãâã of England into France The battell of saint Aulbin in Britaine betweene the duke of Britaine and the French king Lord Wooduâle slaine King Henrie sendeth foorth his armie against the French When the French be iâuincible Francis duke ãâã Britaine âeth The duchie of Britaine incorporated to the realme of France Iohn Stow. The birth of prince Arthur Anno Reg. 4. The collectors of the subsidie complaine to the earle of Northumberland that they cannot get in the tax monie The earle of Northumberland murthered by the northerne rebels at the instigation and setting on of Iohn a Chamber A rebellion in the north for a tax granted by parlement Sir Iohn Egremond capteine rebell Thomas erle of Surrie sent with a power against the north rebels Iohn a ChaÌber hanged like an archtraitor Sir Iohn Egremond fiâeth into Flanders The king boroweth a gret summe of monie of the chaÌber of LondoÌ Gââ Ha. in Eccle cap. 8. A rebellion in Flanders Maximilian king of Romans imprisoned at Bruges by the townesmen The lord Cordes maketh aduantage of occasion King ãâã sendeth the lord Dâuâeneâe and the lord Mârlâa against the French Sir Humfrâââ Talbot with his six score archers The good seruice of a wretch that should haue béene hanged A policie The lord Morlie slaine The number of the slaine ãâã both parts The Engââââ souldiers inriched Newport beââged by the Frenchmen English archers The malicious and foolish words of the lord Cordes Iames king of Scots slaine by his âwne subiects Adrian an Italian made bishop of Hereford and after of Bath and Welles 1490 Anno Reg. 6. Ambassadors from the FreÌch king to the king of England â Henrie is ãâã that the French king should marrie the duchesse of Britaine Lionell bishop of
into our language referring the reader to the English historie in all matters betwixt vs and them to be confronted therewith as he seeth cause For the continuation thereof I vsed the like order in such copies and notes as Maister Wolfe in his life time procured me sauing that in these last yeares I haue inserted some such notes as concerned matters of warre betwixt vs and the Scots bicause I got them not till that part of the English historie was past the presse For Ireland I haue shewed in mine epistle dedicatorie in what sort and by what helps I haue proceeded therein onelie this I forgot to signifie that I had not Giraldus Cambrensis and Flatsburie vntill that part of the booke was vnder the presse and so being constreined to make post hast I could not exemplifie what I would out of them all neither yet dispose it so orderlie as had beene conuenient nor pen it with so apt words as might satisfie either my selfe or those to whose view it is now like to come And by reason of the like haste made in the impression where I was determined to haue transposed the most part of that which in the English historie I had noted concerning the conquest of Ireland by Hen. the second out of Houeden others I had not time thereto and so haue left it there remaining where I first noted it before I determined to make any particular collection of the Irish histories bicause the same commeth there well inough in place as to those that shall vouchsafe to turne the booke it may appeare For the computation of the yeares of the world I had by Maister Wolfes aduise followed Functius but after his deceasse M. W. H. made me partaker of a Chronologie which he had gathered and compiled with most exquisit diligence following Gerardus Mercator and other late Chronologers and his owne obseruations according to the which I haue reformed the same As for the yeares of our Lord and the kings I haue set them downe according to such authors as seeme to be of best credit in that behalfe as I doubt not but to the learned and skilfull in histories it shall appeare Moreouer this the reader hath to consider that I doo begin the yeare at the natiuitie of our Lord which is the surest order in my fansie that can be followed For the names of persons townes and places as I haue beene diligent to reforme the errours of other which are to be ascribed more to the vnperfect copies than to the authors so may it be that I haue some-where committed the like faults either by negligence or want of skill to restore them to their full integritie as I wished But what I haue performed aswell in that behalfe as others the skilfull reader shall easily perceiue and withall consider I trust what trauell I haue bestowed to his behoofe in this huge volume crauing onelie that in recompense thereof he will iudge the best and to make a freendlie construction of my meaning where ought may seeme to haue escaped my pen or the printers presse otherwise than we could haue wished for his better satisfaction Manie things being taken out as they lie in authors may be thought to giue offense in time present which referred to the time past when the author writ are not onelie tollerable but also allowable Therefore good reader I beseech thee to weigh the causes and circumstances of such faults and imperfections and consider that the like may creepe into a far lesse volume than this and shew me so much fauour as hath beene shewed to others in like causes And sithens I haue doone my good will accept the same as I with a free and thankefull mind doo offer it thee so shall I thinke my labour well bestowed For the other histories which are alreadie collected if it please God to giue abilitie shall in time come to light with some such breefe descriptions of the forren regions whereof they treat as may the better suffice to the readers contentation and vnderstanding of the matters conteined in the same histories reduced into abridgements out of their great volumes And thus I ceasse further to trouble thy patience wishing to thee gentle reader so much profit as by reading may be had and as great comfort as Gods holie spirit may endue thee with FINIS The politike Conquest of William the first THis William Duke of Normandie base son of Robert the sixt Duke of Normandie and nephew vnto Edward King of England surnamed the Confessor hauing vanquished line 10 the English power and slaine Harold in the field as you may read at large towards the end of the historie of England began his reigne ouer England the xv daie of October being sundaie in the yeare after the creation of the world 5033. as W. Harison gathereth and after the birth of our Sauiour 1066. which was in the tenth yeare of the emperour line 20 Henrie the fourth year 1066 in the sixt of pope Alexander the second in the sixt of Philip king of France and about the tenth of Malcolme the third surnamed Camoir king of Scotland Immediatlie after he had thus got the victorie in a pight field as before ye haue heard he first returned to Hastings and after set forward towards London wasted the countries of Sussex Kent Hamshire Southerie Middlesex and Herefordshire burning the townes and sleaing the people till he came line 30 to Beorcham In the meane time immediatlie after the discomfiture in Sussex the two earles of Northumberland and Mercia Edwin and Marchar who had withdrawne themselues from the battell togither with their people came to London and with all speed sent their sister quéene Aldgitha vnto the citie of Chester and herewith sought to persuade the Londoners to aduance one of them to the kingdome as Wil. Mal. writeth But Simon of Durham saith that Aldred archbishop of Yorke and the said earles with line 40 others would haue made Edgar Etheling king Howbeit whilest manie of the Nobilitie and others prepared to make themselues redie to giue a new battell to the Normans how or whatsoeuer was the cause the said earles drew homewards with their powers to the great discomfort of their freends Wil. Malm. séemeth to put blame in the bishops for that the lords went not forward with their purpose in aduancing Edgar Etheling to the crowne For the bishops saith he refused to ioine with the lords in that line 50 behalfe and so through enuie and spite which one part bare to another when they could not agrée vpon an Englishman they receiued a stranger insomuch that vpon king William his comming vnto Beorcham Aldred archbishop of Yorke Wolstane bishop of Worcester and Walter bishop of Hereford Edgar Etheling and the foresaid earles Edwin and Marchar came and submitted themselues vnto him whom he gentlie receiued and incontinentlie made an agréement with them taking their oth and hostages as some write and yet neuerthelesse he permitted
his people to spoile and burne the countrie But now when the feast of Christs natiuitie commonlie called Christmas was at hand he approched to the citie of London and comming thither caused his vauntgard first to enter into the stréets where finding some resistance he easilie subdued the citizens that thus tooke vpon them to withstand him though not without some bloudshed as Gemeticen writeth but as by others it should appéere he was receiued into the citie without anie resistance at all and so being in possession thereof he spake manie fréendlie words to the citizens and promised that he would vse them in most liberall courteous maner Not long after when things were brought in order as was thought requisite he was crowned king vpon Christmas daie following by Aldred archbishop of Yorke For he would not receiue the crowne at the hands of Stigand archbishop of Canturburie bicause he was hated and furthermore iudged to be a verie lewd person and a naughtie liuer At his coronation he caused the bishops and barons of the realme to take their oth that they should be his true and loiall subiects according to the maner in that case accustomed And being required thereto by the archbishop of Yorke he tooke his personall oth before the altar of S. Peter at Westmister to defend the holie church and rulers of the same to gouerne the people in iustice as became a king to doo to ordeine righteous lawes kéepe the same so that all maner of bribing rapine and wrongfull iudgements should for euer after be abolished After this he tooke order how to keepe the realme in good and quiet gouernment fortifieng the necessarie places and furnishing them with garisons year 1067 He also appointed officers and councellers such as he thought to be wise and discréet men and appointed ships to be in the hauens by the coast for the defense of the land as he thought most expedient After his coronation or rather before as by some authours it should seeme euen presentlie vpon obteining of the citie of London he tooke his iourney towards the castell of Douer to subdue that and the rest of Kent also which when the archbishop Stigand and Egelsin the abbat of S. Augustines being as it were the chiefest lords and gouernours of all Kent did perceiue and considered that the whole realme was in an euill state that whereas in this realme of England before the comming in of the forsaid duke William there were no bondmen now all as well the Nobilitie as the Commonaltie were without respect made subiect to the intollerable bondage of the Normans taking an occasion by the perill and danger that their neighbours were in to prouide for the safegard of themselues and their countrie They caused all the people of the countie of Kent to assemble at Canturburie and declared to them the perils and dangers imminent the miserie that their neighbours were come into the pride and insolencie of the Normans and the hardnesse and griefe of bondage and seruâle estate Whereupon all the people rather choosing to end their vnfortunate life than to submit themselues to an vnaccustomed yoke of seruitude and bondage with a common consent determined to meet duke William line 10 and to fight with him âor the lawes of their countâie Also the foresaid Stigand the archbishop and the âbbat Egelsin choosing rather to die in baâtell than to see their nation in so euill an estate being encouraged by the examples of the holie Machabees became capteins of the armie And at a daie appointed all the people met at Swanescombe and being hidden in the woods laie priuilie in wait for the comming of the foresaid duke William Now bicause it cannot hurt to take great héed line 20 and to be verie warie in such cases they agréed before hand that when the duke was come and the passages on euerie side stopped to the end he should no waie be able to escape euerie one of them as well horssemen as footmen should beare boughes in their hands The next daie after when the duke was come into the fields and territories néere vnto Swanescombe and saw all the countrie set and placed about him as it had beene a stirring and moouing wood and that with a meane pace they approched and drew neare vnto line 30 him with great discomfort of mind he woondered at that sight And assoone as the capteins of the Kentishmen sawe that duke William was inclosed in the middest of their armie they caused their trumpets to be sounded their banners to be displaied and threw downe their boughes with their bowes bent their swords drawne and their speares and other kind of weapons stretched foorth they shewed themselues readie to fight Duke William and they that were with him stood as no maruell it was sore astonied and amazed line 40 so that he which thought he had alreadie all England fast in his fist did now despaire of his owne life Therefore on the behalfe of the Kentishmen were sent vnto duke William the archbishop Stigand and Egelsin abbat of S. Augustines who told him their message in this sort My lord duke behold the people of Kent come forth to méet you and to receiue you as their liege lord requiring at your hands the things which perteine to peace and that vnder this condition that all the people of Kent enioy for euer their ancient liberties and may for euermore vse the lawes and customes of the countrie otheâwise they are readie presentlie to bid battell to you and them that be with you and are minded rather to die here altogither than to depart from âhe lawâs and customes of their countrie and to submit themselââs to bondage âhereof as yet they neuer had experieâce The duke séâing himselfe to be driuen to such an exigent âaârow pinch consulted a while with them that came with him prudentlie considering that if he should take anie repulse or displeasure at the hands of this people whiâh âe ãâã âey of England all that he had done before ãâ¦ã disanulled and made of none effect and all his hope and safetie should stand in danger and ieopardie not so willinglie as wiselie he granted the people of Kent their request Now when the couenant was established and pledges giuen on both sides the Kentishmen being ioyfull conducted the Normans who also were glad vnto Rochester and yéelded vp to the duke the earledome of Kent and the noble castell of Douer Thus the ancient liberties of England and the lawes and customes of the countrie which before the comming of duke William out of Normandie were equallie kept throughout all England doo through this industrie and earnest trauell of the archbishop Stigand and Egelsin abbat of S. Augustines remaine inuiolablie obserued vntill this daie within that countie of Kent ¶ Thus far Thomas Spot and after him William Thorne writeth the same Of the which the former that is Spot liued in the daies of king
England with no lesse spéed than was possible and following the counsell of Lanfranke archbishop of Canturburie in whome he reposed all his trust he sought to win the fauour of the Péers and Nobilitie of the realme by great and liberall gifts For although there were but few of the homeborne States that bare rule in the land at this season yet those that remained line 20 and whome his father in extreme sort had wronged he verie gentlie enterteined promising them not onlie to continue their good lord and souereigne but also to make more fauourable ordinances than his father had left behind him and furthermore to restore the former lawes and liberties of the realme which his said father had abolished Thus by faire words and policie he obtained his purpose Howbeit soone after he forgat himselfe and imprisoned Marchar and Wilnot whom he had brought ouer line 30 with him from Normandie being set at libertie by his father The Nobles at the first wished rather to haue had the elder brother duke Robert to haue gouerned them howbeit by the aide onelie of the said Lanfranke whose authoritie was of no small force amongst all the lords of the land this William according to his fathers assignation was proclaimed and crowned at Westminster on the 26. of September being sundaie the 6. kalends of October line 40 and the 11. indiction as the best writers doo report After his coronation to gratifie the people he went to Winchester where he found great treasure which his father had laid vp there for his owne vse this he freelie spent in large gifts and all kind of princelie largesse He set verie manie prisoners at libertie did many other things to benefit the people wherein the diligence and good aduice of Lanfranke did not a little preuaile For he perceiued that there was in the king a variable mind an vnstable nature and a disposition to lightnesse and follie Wherefore hée tooke oftentimes the more paines in persuading him not onelie to liberalitie which is none of the least vertues in a prince but also to vse a discreet and orderlie behauiour in all his dooings Moreouer he sticked not to put him in feare of an euill end and troublesome regiment likelie to insue if he did giue himselfe to vice and wilfulnesse neglect the charge thus by the prouidence of GOD committed to his hands After this maner did the said prelat trauell with the king whom we will leaue at this time as it were hearkening to his admonitions and set foorth by the waie what his brother Robert did whilest William Rufus his brother was occupied in such wise as you haue heard It happened that this Robert was abroad in Germanie when king William his father died whither he went to raise a power to the intent he might therby obteine the possession of Normandie which he trusted to enioy in his fathers life time where hearing newes of his death he hasted straightwaies into Normandie and there being ioyfullie receiued was peacâablie proclaimed duke of that countrie with great gladnesse and shouting of the people After this considering with himselfe how dishonorable a thing it was for him year 1088 that his yoonger brother should possesse the crowne of England which of right as he said belonged vnto him by reason of his age he determined with all expedition to passe the seas with an armie and recouer that into his hands which his father had giuen from him partlie as it is thought for his wilfulnesse and disobedience towards him and partly also bicause he doubted that if he should leaue it vnto him he would through his too much gentlenesse and facilitie giue occasion to the English to resume strength and therby to reuolt Wherefore he iudged his yoonger brother the saied William a man of a rougher nature the mââter of the twaine for the gouernement As duke Robert was thus mooued by his owne desire to bereue his brother of the dominion of England so he was not a little incensed therânto by such of the English Nobilitie and Normans as came dailie ouer vnto him out of the realme complaining of the present state of the world as those that misliked of the whole maner of regiment vsed in the beginning of the reigne of his brother William His vncle Odo also then bishop of Baieux furthered the matter all that he might This Odo was at first in great estimation with his brother the Conqueror and bare great rule vnder him till at length for enuie line 10 that the archbishop Lanfranke was preferred before him he conspired against him who vnderstanding thereof committed him foorthwith to prison where he remained till the said prince then lieng on his death-bed released and restored him to his former libertie When the king was dead William Rufus tooke him backe into England supposing no lesse but to haue had a speciall fréend and a trustie counceller of him in all his affaires But yer long after his comming thither he fell againe into the line 20 same offense of ingratitude wherof he became culpable in the Conquerors daies for perceiuing that Lanfranke was so highlie esteemed with the king that he could beare no rule and partlie suspecting that Lanfranke had beene cheefe causer ofhis former imprisonment he conspired with the rest against his nephue and therevpon wrote sundrie letters ouer vnto duke Robert counselling him to come ouer with an armie in all hast to take the rule vpon him which by his practise should easilie be compassed Duke Robert being thus animated on all sides line 30 and yet wanting sufficient monie to the furniture of this iournie engaged a portion of his duchie of Normandie as the countie of Constantine to his yoongest brother Henrie for a great sum of gold and therwith returned answer to the foresaid bishop that he should prouide and looke for him vpon the south coast of England at a certeine time appointed Herevpon Odo fortified the castell of Rochester began to make sore wars against the kings friends in Kent line 40 he procured others of the complices also to do the like in other parts of the realme and first on the west part of England where Geffrey bishop of Constans wiâh his nephue Robert de Mowbray earle of Northumberland setting foorth from Bristow came toward Bath which towne they tooke and sacked and likewise Berkley with a great part of Wiltshire and brought the spoile and booties backe to Bristow where they had a castell stronglie fortified for their more safetie In like maner Roger de Bygâd departing line 50 from Norwich with great forraies ouerrode and robbed all the countries about and conueied such riches as he had gotten into the said citie In like sort did Hugh de Grandmesnill at Leiceister spoiling and wasting all the countries about him The earle of Shrewsburie called Roger de Mountgomerie with a power of Welshmen set foorth from Shrewsburie and with him were William bishop of Durham the kings houshold