beganne to disturbe his new gouernment was his owne yonger brother Toustayne who in the time of the late King Edward hauing the Gouernment The Kings brother Toustayne banished of Northumberland was for his pride and immanities shewed in those parts banished the Kingdome and now by reason of his former conceiued hatred against his brother easily set on by the Duke of Normandy and Baldouin Earle of Flanders whose two daughters the Duke and he had married assailes first the Isle of Wight and after sets vpon the coast of Kent whence he was chased by the power of Harald and forced to withdraw into the North parts and there seeking to land was likewise repulsed by the Earles Morchar and Edwyn Then craues he aide of the Scots and after of Harald surnamed Harfager King of Norwey being then taking in the Orchades and exercising piracy in those parts whom he induced with all his forces to inuade England And landing at Tinmouth discomfeiting their first incounters they marched into the heart His death with the King of Norwey of the Kingdome without resistance Neere Stamford King Harald of England met them with a puissant Army and after long and eager fight ended the day with victory and the death of his brother Toustayne and the King of Norwey But from hence was he called with his wearied and broken forces to a more fatall businesse in the South For now William Duke of Normandy pretending a right to the Crowne of England by the testament of the late King Edward his Kinsman vpon the This Battell was fought in Sussex 7 miles from Hastings vpon Saterday the 14 of October 1066. aduantage of a busie time and the disfurnishment of those parts lauded at Pemsey not farre from Hastings in Sussex neere to which place was tried by the great Assize of Gods iudgement in battell the right of power betweene the English and Norman Nation A battell the most memorable of all other and how socuer miserably lost yet most nobly fought on the part of England and the many wounds of Harald there slaine with 60 thousand 9 hundred 74 of the English shew how much was wrought The King valor and death to haue saued their Countrey from the calamity of forraine seruitude And yet how so great a Kingdome as England then was could with one blow be subdued by so small a Prouince as Normandy in such sort as it could neuer after come to make any generall head against the Conquerour might seeme strange did not the circumstances fore-noted and other concurrent causes hereafter to be declared giue vs faire and probable reasons thereof Besides the indisposition of a diseased Williā Malmsbury time as it is described by such as liued neerest it may giue vs great euidence in this examination For they say the people of this Kingdome were by their being secure from their former enemie the Dane and their long peace which had held in a manner from the death of King Edmond Ironside almost fifty yeares growne neglectine of Armes and generally debaushed with luxurie and idlenesse the Cleargie licentious William Malmsburie and onely content with a tumultuarie learning The Nobility giuen to Gluttonie Venety and Oppression The common sort to Drunkennesse and all disorder And they say that in the last action of Harald at Stamford the brauest men perished and himselfe growing insolent vpon the victory retaining the spoyles without distribution to his souldiers not inured to be commanded by Martiall discipline made them discontent and vnruly and comming to this battell with many mercinary men and a discontented Army gaue great occasion to the lamentable losse thereof Besides the Normans had a peculiar fight with long bowes wherewith the English then altogether vnacquainted were especially ouerthrowne And yet their owne Writers report how the maine Battallion of the English consisting of Bils their chiefe and antient weapon held in a body so close lockt together as no force could dissolue them till the Normans faining to flye drew them to a disordered a route And so they excuse the fortune of the day The body of King Harald which at the sute of his mother who sent two Monkes of the Abbey of Waltham to intreate the same of the Conqueror was after much King Harold buried at Waltham search amongst the heapes of the dead found and interred in the same Abbey which himselfe had founded He was a King who shewes vs nothing but misery raigned least and lost most of any other He left foure sonnes Godwin Edmond Magnus and His Issue Wolfe the two eldest fled after this battell into Ireland and from thence made some attempts vpon the Westerne coasts of England but to little effect And here ended the line of the Saxon Kings about fiue hundreth yeares after the first comming in of Hingist and their plantation in this Kingdome And thus haue I in the streightest coutse wherein that vneuen Compasse of Antiquity could direct me got ouer the wide and intricat epassage of those times that lay beyond the worke I purpose more particularly to deliuer And now The Life and Raigne of William I. I Come to write of a time wherein the State of England receiued an alteration An. 1066. of Lawes Customes Fashion manner of lining Language-Writing with new formes of Fights Fortifications Buildings and generally an innouation in most things but Religion So that from this mutation which was the greatest it euer had we are to begin with a new accompt of an England more in dominion abroad more in State and ability at home and of more honour and name in the world then heretofore which by being thus vndone was made as if it were in the fate thereof to get more by loosing then otherwise For as first the Conquest of the Danes brought it to the intyrest Gouernment it euer possest at home and made it most redoubted of all the Kingdomes of the North so did this of the Norman by comming in vpon it make a way to let out Englands territories ouershootes the Ocean and stretch the mighty armes thereof ouer the Seas into the goodly Prouinces of the South For before these times the English Nation from their first establishment in this Land about the space of 500. yeares neuer made any sally out of the Isle vpon any other part of the world but busied at home in a deuided State held a broken Gouernment with the Danes and of no great regard it seemes with other Nations till Knute lead them forth into the Kingdome of Norwey where they first shewed effects of their valour and what they would be were they imployed But the Normans hauing more of the Sunne and ciuility by their commixtion with the English begat smoother fashions with quicker motions in them then before And being a Nation free from that dull disease of drinke wherewith their former Conquerours were naturally infected induced a more comely temperance with a neerer regard of reputation and honour For
where as before the English liued loose in little homely cottages where they spent all their reucnewes in good fare caring for little other gaiety at all Now after the Norman manner they build them goodly Churches Malmsbury Maurici is Bishop of London An. Dom. 1087. new built the Church of S. Paule in London of stone brought out of Normandy and stately houses of stone prouide better furnishments erect Castles and Towers in other sort then before They inclose Parkes for their priuate pleasure being debard the generall liberty of hunting which heretofore they inioyed whereupon all the termes of building hunting tooles of workemen names of most handy-crafts apperteining to the defences and adornements of life came all to be in French And withall the Norman habits and fashion of liuing became generally assumed both in regard of nouelty and to take away the note of difference which could not be well lookt on in this change The Charter of William 1. graÌ„ted to this Church see the Appendix Before this time the Chur ches were most of Timber And though the body of our language remained in the Saxon yet it came so altered in the habit of the French tongue as now we hardly know it in the auntient forme it had and not so much as the Character wherein it was written but was altred to that of the Roman and French now vsed But to the end we may the better know the man and the nation that thus subdude vs we must take our course vp to the head of their originals The Normans we find to haue issued out of Norway and Denmarke and were of like maners as the rest of those Northerne countries which by reason of the apt mixture William 1. built the white Tower afterwards walled incastelled underneath by William 2. and Henry 1. of their Phlegmatique and Sanguine complexions with their promiscuous ingendring without any tye of marriage yeelded that continuall surchargement of people as they were forced to vnburthen themselues on other Countries wheresoeuer their violence could make them roome And out of this redundancy Roul or Rou a great Commander amongst them furnished a robustious power in the time of King Alfrid and first landed in England that euer lay in the Roade to all these inuadors where finding no roome empty nor any imployment was content vpon some reliefe receiued The Saxon habit and Characters first altered to vse his forces otherwhere which he did against Rambalt Duke of Frize and Reâ—gnier Duke of Chaumont and Hennalt with whom he had many violent incounters and committed great spoiles in their Countries Which done he passed along the coast The Originall of the Normans Roul or Rou the first Norman that landed in EnglaÌ„d of Fraunce entred the mouth of Seine and sackt all the Countrey vp to Roan where the people hauing beene lately before miserably afflicted by Hasting another inuador of the same Nation were so terrified by the approach of these new forces that the Archbishop of Roan by the consent of the people offered him the obedience of that Citty and the Countrey about on condition he would defend them and minister Iustice The History of Normand Roul the first Conqueror of Normandy froÌ„ the French calling it Norman according to the Lawes of CHRIST and the Customes of the Countrey For Charles the Simple then King of Fraunce yeelding no present succour being otherwise imbroiled about the right of his Crowne gaue him the opportunity to plant in that place and to grow so powerfull as shortly after he attempted the Conquest of Paris and gaue many notable defeits to the French Leaders So that in the end Charles was faine to buye his peace with the price of an alliance and the whole Countrey of Nuestria or Westrich which of the Normans was after called Normandy And thereupon Roul became a Christian and baptized had the name of Robert giuen by Robert brother to Eudes late King of Fraunce who then stood in competition for that Crowne with Charles the Simple and is sayd to haue vnder-aided Roul secretly of purpose to make him friend his deseignes though after he vrged it in an article against Charles the giuing away his Countrey and the sauouring of strangers And thus came Roul to establish a State to his posterity ordering the same with that iudgement and equity as he left his name in a perpetuall reuerence and his successors a firme foundation to plant vpon From him in a direct line descended sixe Dukes of Normandy in the space of 120. yeares William 1. Richard 1. Richard 2. who had two sonnes Richard and Robert that successiuely inherited the Dukedome Robert after he had gouerned eight yeares either meerely for deuotion which charitie ought rather deeme or expiation for some secret guilt wherewith his conscience might stand charged about his brothers death which because it was vntimely might be thought vnnaturall resolues to visite the Holy Sepulchre And acquainting his Nobility therewithall was by them much diswaded in regard he had no issue and for that already they sayd Alain Earle of Britaine and the Earle of Burgogne were in contestation who should succeed him in the Dutchie so that vpon his death and their strife the Country was like to become a prey to the souldier from which in conscience he was bound by his best meanes to secure it The Duke willed them to bee content I haue said he a little Bastard of whose worthinesse I haue great hope and I doubt not but he is of my begetting him will I inuest in the Dutchie as mine heire And from hence forth I pray you take him for your Lord. The Earle of Brittaine notwithstanding his competition to shew the affiance I haue in him I will constitute his gouernour and Seneschall of Normandie the King of France shal be his Guardian and so I will leaue him to God and your loyalties Shortly after the Bishops and Barons did their homage to this base sonne named William who was the sixt Duke of Normandie after Roule begotten on Arlette a meane woman of Falaise And Duke Robert taking his intended iourney deliuers the Child with his owne hand to Henrie the first King of France whom before hee had mainely aided in preseruing his Crowne left him by his father King Roberts Testament against his elder brother and his mother Constance which with a great side of Nobility stood for the right of Primogeniture according to the custome of France And therefore might the more presume if good turnes done to Princes could weigh so much as their selfe-respects would not turne the skale to haue had a faire discharge of his trust and him for a Protector whose power was best able to bee so And causing the Childe to doe homage for his Duchie of Normandie commits him to his Royall faith departs his Court and shortly after his life in Asia Whereupon his successor but nine yeares of age became obnoxious to all the miseries thar afflict Princes
did the Dutchie of Normandie and doe him homage for the same which would adde a great glory to that Crowne Then was hee before hand with Pope Alexander to make religion giue reputation and auowment to his pretended right promising likewise to hold it of the Apostolique Sea if hee preuailed in his enterprize Whereupon the Pope sent him a Banner of the Church with an Agnus of Gold and one of the haires of Saint Peter The Emperour Henry 4. sent him a Prince of Almaine with forces but of what name or his number is not remembred so that wee see it was not Normandie alone that subdued England but a collected power out of all France and Flanders with the aydes of other Princes And by these meanes made hee good his vndertaking and within eight monethes was readie furnished with a powerfull Army at Saint Valerie in Normandie whence he transported the same into England in 896 shippes as some write And this was the man and thus made to subdue England And now hauing gotten the great and difficult battaile before remembred at 1066. Anno. Reg. 1. Hastings the foureteenth of October 1066. bee marched without any opposition to London where Edwin and Morchar Earles of Northumberland and Mercland brothers of eminent dignitie and respect in the Kingdome had laboured with all their power to stirre the hearts of the people for the conseruation of the State and establishing Edgar Atheling the next of the Royall issue in his right of the Crowne whereunto other of the Nobilitie had likewise consented had they not seene the Bishops auerse or wauering For as then to the Clergie any King so a Christian was all one they had their Prouince a part deuided from secular domination and of a Prince though a stranger who had taken vp so much of the world before hand vpon credite and fame Reason for the yeelding of the Clergie of his piety and bountie they could not but presume well for their estate and so were content to giue way to the present Fortune The Nobility considering they were so borne and must haue a King not to take him that was of power to make himselfe would shew more of passion then prouidence to be now behind hand to receiue him with more then submission was as if to withstand What moued the Nobles to yeeld which with the distrust of each others faith made them striue run headlong who should be first to pre-occupate the grace of seruitude and intrude them into forvaine subiection The Commons like a strong vessell that might haue beene for good vse was hereby left without a sterne and could not moue but irregularly So that all estates in generall either corrupted with new hopes or transported with feare forsooke themselues and their distressed Countrey Vpon his approach to London the Gates were all set open the Arch-bishop of Canterbury Stigand with other Bishops the Nobility Magistrates and People rendting themselues in all obedience vnto him and he returning plausible protestations of his future Gouernment was on Christmas day then next following Crowned King of England at Westminster by Aldred Arch-bishop of Yorke for that Stigand was not held Canonically inuested in his Sea and yet thought to haue beene a forward mouer of this alteration Heere according to the accustomed forme at his Coronation the Bishops and Barons The Coronation and oath of William 1. of the Realme tooke their oaths to be his true and loyall subiects and he reciprocally being required thereunto by the Arch-bishop of Yorke made his personall oath before the Altar of Saint Peter To defend the Holy Churches of God and the Rectors of the same To gouerne the Vniuersall people subiect vnto him iustly To establish equall Lawes and to see them duely executed Nor did he euer claime any power King Williams submission to the orders of the Kingdome of England by Conquest but as a regular Prince submitted himselfe to the orders of the Kingdome desirous rather to haue his Testamentary title howsoeuer weake to make good his successiou rather then his sword And though the Stile of Conqueror by the flattery of the time was after giuen him he shewed by all the course of his Gouernement he assumed it not introducing none of all those alterations which followed by violence but a milde gathering vpon the disposition of the State and the occasions offered and that by way of reformation And now taking Hostages for his more security and order for the defence and Gouernment of his Kingdome at the opening of the spring next he returnes into Normandy so to settle his affaires there as they might not distract him from his businesse in England that required his whole powers And to leaue here all sure behind him he commits the rule of the Kingdome to his brother the Bishop of Bayeux and to his Cosin Fitz * Or Osborne Auber whom he had made Earle of Hereford taking with him all the chiefe men of England who were likest to be heads King William returnes into Normandy with the chiefe Nobility of England to a reuolt As Edger Atheling the Arch-bishop Stigand lately discontented Edwin and Morchar with many other Bishops and Noble men Besides to vnburthen his charge and dis-impester his Court he tooke backe with him all the French aduenturers and such as were vnnecessary men rewarding them as farre as his treasure would extend and the rest he made vp in faire promises In his absence which was all that whole sommer nothing was here attempted against him but onely that Edric surnamed the Forrester in the County of Hereford called in the Kings of the Welsh to his aide and forraged onely the remote borders of that Country The rest of the Kingdome stood quiet expecting what would become of that new world wherein as yet they found no great alteration their lawes and liberties remaining the same they were before and might hope by this accession of a new Prouince the state of England would be but inlarged in dominion abroad and not impaired in profit at home by reason the Nation was but small and of a plentifull and not ouer-peopled Countrey likely to impester them Hauing disposed his affaires of Normandy he returnes towards winter into King William returnes into England England where he was to satisfie three sorts of men First such Aduenturers with whom hee had not yet cleered Secondly those of his owne people whose merites or neerenesse looked for recompence whereof the number beeing so great many must haue their expectations fed if not satisfied Thirdly the people of this Kingdome by whom he must row subsist For beeing not able with his owne Nation so to impeople the same as to hold and defend it if he should proceed to an extirpation of the naturall inhabitants he was likewise to giue them satisfaction Wherein he had more to do then in his battell at Hastings seeing all remunerations with supplies of money must be raised out of the stocke
of a thousand saile and was aided with sixe hundreth more by Robert le Frison Earle of Flanders whose daughter he had married But the winds held so contrary for two yeares together as vtterly quasht that enterprize and freed the King and his successors for euer after from future molestation that way But this businesse put the State to an infinit charge the King entertayning all that time besides his Normans Hugh brother to the King of France with many companies 1078. Anno. Reg. 12. of French Finding the English in respect of many great families allied to the Danes to incline rather to that Nation then the Norman and had experience of the great and neere intelligence continually passing betweene them And these were all the warres he had within the Kingdome sauing in An. Regni 13. he subdued Wales and brought the kings there to doe him homage His warres abroad 1079. Anno. Reg. 13 were all about his Dominions in France first raised by his owne sonne Robert left Lieuftenant gouernor of the Dutchie of Normandy and the Countie of Mayne who in his fathers absence tasting the glorie of commaund grew to assume the absolute The Kings of wales doe homage to King william rule of the Prouince causing the Barons there to do him homage as Duke not as Lieutenant leagues him with the King of France who working vpon the easinesse of his youth and ambition was glad to apprehend that occasion to disioynt his estate who was growen too great for him And the profusse largesse and disorderlie expence whereto Robert was addicted is nourished by all waies possible as the meanes to imbrake him in those difficulties of still getting mony that could not but needs yeeld continuall occasion to intertain both his own discontent theirs from whom his supplies must be raised And though thereby he purchased him the title of Courtois yet he lost the Robert of Normandy titled Courtois opinion of good gouernment and constrayned the estates of Normandie to complaine to his father of the great concussion and violent exactions he vsed amongst them The King vnderstanding the fire thus kindled in his owne house that had set others all in combustion hasts with forces into Normandie to haue surprized his sonne who aduertised of his comming furnisht with two thousand men at Armes by the King of France lay in ambush where he should passe sets vpon him defeited most of his people and in the pursuite happened to incounter with himselfe whom hee vnhorsed and wounded in the arme with his Launce but perceiuing by his voice it was his father he hasted to remounte him humbly crauing pardon for his offence which the father seeing in what case he was granted howsoeuer he gaue and vpon his submission tooke him with him to Rouen whence after cured of his hurt hee returned with his sonne William likewise wounded in the fight into England Long was it not ere he was againe inform'd of his sonnes remutyning and how hee exacted vpon the Normans vsurpt the intire gouernment and vrged his fathers promise 1080. Anno. Reg. 14. thereof made him before the King of France vpon his Conquest of England which caused his litle stay heere but to make preparations for his returne into those parts whether in passing he was driuen on the Coast of Spaine but at length ariuing at Burdeaux with his great preparations his sonne Robert came in and submitted himselfe Robert rebels against his father the second time whom he now tooke with him into England to frame him to a better obedience imploying him in the hard and necessitous warres of Scotland the late peace being betweene the two Kings againe broken and after sent him backe 1081. Anno. Reg. 15. and his young sonne Henry with the association of charge and like power but of more trust to the gouernment of Normandie After the two Princes had beene there a while they went to visite the King of France at Constance where feasting certaine dayes vpon an after dinner Henry wanne 1082. Anno. Reg. 16. so much at chesse of Louis the Kings eldest sonne as hee growing into choller called him the sonne of a Bastard and threw the Chesse in his face Henry takes vp the Chesse-bord and strake Louis with that force as drew bloud and had killed him had not his brother Robert come in the meane time and interposed himselfe Whereupon Louis and Henry sonnes of the Kings of France and England they suddenly tooke horse and with much adoe they recouered Pontoise from the Kings people that pursued them This quarrell arising vpon the in-ter-meeting of these Princes a thing that seldome breeds good bloud amongst them re-enkindled a heate of more rancor in the fathers and beganne the first warre betweene the English and French For presently the King of France complots againe with Robert impatient of a partner cnters Normandie and takes the Citie of Vernon The King of England inuades France subdues the Country of Zaintonge and Poictou and returnes to 1026. Anno. Reg. 20 Rouen where the third time his sonne Robert is reconciled vnto him which much disappoints and vexes the King of France who thereupon summons the King of England to doe him homage for the Kingdome of England which he refused to doe saying Hce held it of none but God and his sword For the Dutchie of Normandie hee offers him homage but that would not satisfie the King of France whom nothing would but what King William denies to do homage for England to the King of France he could not haue the Maistery and seekes to make any occasion the motiue of his quarrell and againe inuades his territories but with more losse then profit In the end they conclude a certaine crazie peace which held no longer then King William had recouered a sicknesse whereinto through his late trauaile age and corpulencie he was falne at which time the King of France then yong and lustie ieasting at his great belly wherof he said he lay in at Rouen so irritated him as being recouered he gathers al 1087. Anno. Reg. 21. his best forces enters France in the chiefest timeof their fruits making spoile of all in his way till hee came euen before Paris where the King of France then was to whom he sends to shew him of his vp-sitting and from thence marched to the Citie of Mants which he vtterly sackt and in the distruction thereof gate his owne by the straine of his horse among the breaches and was thence conueyed sicke to Ronen and so ended all his warres Now for his gouernment in peace and the course hee held in establishing the His gouernment in peace Kingdome thus gotten first after he had represt the conspiracies in the North and well quieted all other parts of the State which now being absolutely his hee would haue to bee ruled by his owne Law hee beganne to gouerne all by the Customes of Normandie Whereupon the agreeued Lords and
one Noble man executed in all the time of this Kings Raigne had twice falsified his faith before And those he held prisoners in Normandy as the Earles Morchar and Siward with Wolfnoth the brother of Harald and others vpon compassion of their indurance he released a little before his death Besides he was as farre from suspition as cowardize and of that confidence an especiall note of his magnanimity as he gaue Edgar his competitor in the Crowne the liberty of his Court And vpon his suite sent him well furnisht to the holy warre where he nobly behaued himselfe and attained to great estimation with the Empetours of Greece and Almaine which might haue beene held dangerous in respect of his alliances that way being graund-child to the Emperour Henry the third But these may be as well vertues of the Time as of Men and so the age must haue part of this commendation He was a benefactor to Nine Abbeys of Monkes and one of Nunnes founded by his Predicessors in Normandy and during his owne time were founded in the same Prouince seuen Abbeys of Monkes and sixe of Nunnes with which fortresses as he His workes of piety sayd he furnisht Normandy to the end men might therein fight against the flesh and the Diuell In England he founded a goodly Abbey where he fought his first Battell whereof it had the Denomination and two Nunneries one at Hinching-Brooke in Huntingdon shire and the other at Armthewt in Cumberland besides his other publique workes Magnificent he was in his Festiuals which with great solemnity and ceremony the formall entertainers of reuerence and respect he duly obserued Keeping his Christmas at Glocester his Easter at Winchester and Penticost at Westminster whither he summoned his whole Nobility that Embassadors and Strangers might see his State and largenesse Nor euer was he more milde and in dulgent then at such times And these Ceremonies his first Successor obserued but the second omitted The end of the Life and Raigne of William the first The Life and Raigne of William the second WILLIAM second sonne to William the first not attending his Fathers funerall hasts into England to recouer the Crowne where by the especiall 1087. Anno. Reg. 1. mediation of the Arch-bishop Lanfranc his owne large bounty and wide promises he obtained it according to his Fathers will to whom by his obsequiousnesse he had much indeered himselfe especially after the abdication of his elder brother Robert He was a Prince more gallant then good and hauing beene bred with the sword alwayes in action and on the better side of fortune was of a nature rough and haughty whereunto his youth and Soueraignty added a greater widenesse Comming to succeed in a Gouernment fore-ruled by mature and graue Counsell he was so ouer-whelmed with his Fathers worth and greatnesse as made him appeare of a lesser Orbe then otherwise he would haue done And then the shortnesse of his Raigne being but of thirteene yeares allowed him not time to recouer that opinion which the errors of his first Gouernment had lost or his necessities caused him to commit For the succession in right of Primogeniture being none of his and the elder brother liuing howsoeuer his fathers will was he must now be put and hâ—â—â— in possession of the Crowne of England by the Will of the Kingdome which to purchace must be by large conditions of relieuements in generall and profuse guifts in particular Wherein he had the more to do being to deale with a State consisting of a two fold body and different temperaments where any inflammation of discontent was the more apt to take hauing a head where-to it might readily gather Which made that vnlesse he would lay more to their hopes then another he could not hope to haue them firmely his And therefore seeing the best way to winne the Normans was by money and the English with liberties he spared not at first to bestow on the one and to promise the other more then befitted his estate and dignity which when afterward failing both in supplies for great giuers must alwayes giue and also in performances got him farre more hatred then otherwise he could euet William the second resumes his owne Graunts haue had being forced to all the dishonorable shifts for raising moneys that could be deuised and euen to resume his owne former graunts And to begin at first to take the course to be euer needy presently after his Coronation he goes to Winchester where his Fathers Treasure laye and empties out all that which with great prouidence was there amassed whereby though he wonne the loue of many he lost more being not able to content all And now although his brother Robert had not this great Engine mony he had to giue hopes and there were here of the Normans as Odon his Vnkle Roger de Mongomery Earle of Shrewesbury with others who were mainly for him and worke he doth all hee can to batter his brothers fortunes vpon their first foundation And for this purpose borowes great summes of Robert of Normandy borrowes summes of his brother Henry to purchase the kingdome of England his younger brother Henry to whom the father and mother had left much Treasure and for the same ingages the Country of Constantine and leauies an Army for England But William newly inuested in the Crowne though well prepared for all assaults had rather purchase a present peace by mediation of the Nobles on both sides till time had better setled him in his gouernment then to raise spirits that could not easily bee allayed And an agreement betweene them is wrought that William should hold the Crowne of England during his life paying to Robert three thousand Markes Per annum Robert hauing closed this businesse resumes by force the Country of Constantin out of his brother Henries hands without discharge of those summes for which hee had ingaged it Whereupon King William obrayds Henry with the great gaine hee had made by his vsurie in lending money to depriue him of his Crowne And so Henry got the hatred of both his brothers and hauing no place safe from their danger where to liue surprized the Castle of Mount Saint Michel fortifies him therein gets ayde of Hugh Earle of Brittaine and for his money was serued with Brittains who committed great spoyles in the Countries of Constantin and Bessin Odon Bishop of Bayeux returning into England after his imprisonment in Normandie Odon for malice to Lanfranc seekes to distract the Kings forces and restored to his Earledome of Kent finding himselfe fo farre vnder what he had beene and Lanfranc his concurrent now the onely man in councell with the King complots with as many Norman Lords as hee found or made to affect change and a new maister and sets them on worke in diuers parts of the Realme to distract the Kings forces as first Geoffery Bishop of Constans with his nephew Robert de Mowbray Earle of Northumberland fortifie themselues in Bristow
and take in all the Country about Roger de Bigod made himselfe strong in Northfolke Hugh de Grandemenill about Leicester Roger de Mongomerie Earle of Shrewsbury with a power of Welshmen and other there about sets out accom panied with William Bishop of Durham Bernard de Newmarch Roger Lacie and Raulfe Mortimer all Normans and assaile the Citie of Worcester making themselues strong in those parts Odon himselfe fortifies the Castle of Rochester makes good all the coast of Kent sollicites Robert to vse what speed he could to come with all his power out of Normandie which had hee done in time and not giuen his brother so large oportunitie of preuention he had carried the Kingdome but his delay yeelds the King time to confirme his friends vnder-worke his enemies and The King vnderworkes his enemies by rereleeuing the doleances and granting former freedoms to the English make himselfe strong with the English which he did by granting relaxation of tribute with other relieuements of their doleances and restoring them to their former freedom of hunting in all his woods and forests a thing they much esteemed whereby hee made them so strongly his as hee soone brake the necke of all the Norman conspiracies they being egar to reuenge them of that Nation and here they learned first to beate their Conquerors hauing the faire aduantage of this action which cut the throates of many of them Mongomerie being wonne fromhis complices and the seuerall conspirators in other 1088. Anno. Reg. 2. parts represt the King comes with an Army into Kent where the head of the faction say and first wonne the Castle of Tunbridge and that of Pemsey which Odon was forced to yeeld and promise to cause those which defended that of Rochester which were Eustace Earle of Bologne and the Earle of Mortaigne to render likewise the same But being brought thither to effect the businesse they within receiuing him detayned him as hee pretended prisoner and held out stoutly against the King vpon a false intelligence giuen of the ariuall of Duke Rohert at Southampton but in the end they were forced to quit the place and retire into France and Odon to abiure England And to keepe off the like danger from hence he transports his forces into Normandie there to waste and weaken his brother at home So as might hold him from any future attempts abroad for euer after Where first he obtaines Saint Valery and after Albemarle with the whole Countrey of Eu Fescampe the Abathie of mount Saint Michel Cherburge and other places Robert seekes ayde of Philip King of France who who comes downe with an Army into Normandy but ouercome with the power of money wherewith King William assayled him did him little good and so retired Whereupon Duke Robert in the end was driuen to a dishonorable peace concluded Duke Robert driuen to peace at Caen with these Articles First that King William should hold the County of Eu Fescampe and all other places which he had bought and were deliuered vnto him by William 1089. Anno. Reg. 3. Earle of Eu and Stephen Earle of Aumal sisters sonne to William the first Secondly He should aide the Duke to recouer all other peeces which belonged to his Father and were vsurped from the Duchy Thirdly that such Normans as had lost their estates in England by taking part with the Duke should be restored thereunto Fourthly that the suruiuer of either of them should succeed in the Dominions both of England and Normandy After this peace made by the mediation of the King of France whilst William had a strong Army in the field 1091. Anno. Reg. 4. Duke Robert requested his aide against their brother Henry who still kept him in the fort of mount Michel vpon his guard holding it best for his safety For beeing a Prince that could not subsist of himselfe as an earthen vessell set amongst iron pots he was euery way in danger to be crusht and seeing he had lost both his brothers by doing the one a kindnesse if he should haue tooke to either their turne being serued his owne might be in hazard and so betooke him to this defence Forty dayes the two Princes layde siege to this Castle And one day as the King was alone on the shore there fallies out of the Fort a Company of horse whereof three ranne at him so violently and all strooke his horse together with their Launces as they brake pectorall girses and all that the horse slips away and leaues the King and the saddle on the ground the King takes vp the saddle with both hands and therewith defends himselfe The Kings vndaunted valor till rescue came and being blamed by some of his people for putting himselfe thus in perill of his life to saue his saddle answered It would haue angred him the Bretons The King and his two brethren agreed should haue bragged they had wonne the saddle from vnder him and how great an indignity it was for a King to suffer inferiours to force any thing from him In the end Henry grew to extreame want of drinke and water although he had all 1092. Anno. Reg. 5. other prouision sufficient within his Fort and sends to Duke Robert that he might haue his necessity supplied The Duke sends him a Tunue of Wine and graunts him truce for a day to furnish him with water Wherewith William being displeased Duke Robert told him It was hard to deny a brother meate and drinke which craued it and that if he perisht they had not a brother Wherewith William likewise relenting they sent for Henry and an agreement is made That he should hold in morgage the Countrey of Constantine till the money was paide and a day appointed to receiue it at Rouen Which accord King William the rather wrought to draw as much from Robert as he might whom by this voyage he not onely had wasted but possest himselfe of a safe and continuall landing place with a part of his Duchy and caused him to put from him and banish out of Normandy Edgar Etheling whom Robert held his Pensioner and as a stone in his hand vpon all occasions to threaten William with anothers right if his owne preuailed not And besides he wrought so as either through promise of mony or some farther ratification to be made here he brought his brother Robert with him ouer into England and tooke him along in an expedition against Malcolm who had incroched vpon his Territories during his absence Which businesse being determined without battell Robert soone after returnes much discontented into Normandy and as it seemes without money to satisfie his brother Henry Who repairing to Rouan Duke Robert commits his brother Henry to prison at his day appointed in stead of receiuing it was committed to prison and before he could be released forced to renounce the Countrey of Constantine and sweare neuer to claime any thing in Normandy Henry complaines of this grosse iniustice to Philip
King of France who gaue him a faire entertainement in his Court Where he remained not long but that a Knight of 1093. Anno. Reg. 6. Normandy named Hachard vndertaking to put him into a Fort maugre his brother Robert within the Duchy conueyed him disguised out of the Court and wrought so as the Castle of Dampfront was deliuered vnto him whereby shortly after he got all the Countrey of Passays about it and a good part of Constantine by the secret aide of King William Richard de Riuteres and Roger de Manneuile Duke Robert leuies forces and eagerly wrought to recouer Dampfront but finding how Henry was vnderset inueighes against the perfidie of his brother of England in so much as the flame of rankor burst out againe more then euer And ouer passes King William with a great Army but rather to terrifie then do any great matter as a Prince that did more contend then warre and would be great with the sword yet seldome desired to vse it if he could get to his ends by any other meanes seeking rather to buy his peace then winne it Many skirmishes interpassed with surprisements of Castles but in the end a treaty of peace was propounded wherein to make his conditions what he would King William seemes hard to be wrought and makes the more shew of force sending ouer into England for an Army of thirty thousand men which being brought to the shore ready to be shipped an offer was made to be proclaimed by his Lieftenant that giuing ten shillings a man whosoeuer would might depart home to his dwelling Whereby was raised so much as discharged his expence and serued to see the King of France vnder-hand for his forbearing aide to Duke Robert who seeing himselfe left by the French must needes make his peace as the other would haue it Now for his affaires at home the vncertaine warres with Wales and Scotland gaue him more businesse then honour Being driuen in the one to incounter with mountaines in stead of men to the great losse and disaduantage of his people and in the other with as many necessities Wales he sought to subdue Scotland so to restraine as it might not hurt him For the last after much broyle both Kings seeming more willing to haue peace then to seeke it are brought to an enteruiew Malcolin vpon publicke faith and safe-conduit came to Glocester where vpon the haughtinesse of King William looking to be satisfied in all his demaunds and the vnyeeldingnesse of King Malcolin standing vpon his regality within his owne though content to be ordered for the confines according to the iudgement of the Primate of both Kingdomes nothing 1084. Anno. Reg. 7. was effected but a greater disdaine and rankor in Malcolin seeing himselfe dispised and scarce looked on by the King of England So that vpon his returne armed with rage he raises an Army enters Northumberland which foure times before he had depopulated and now the fifth seeking vtterly to destroy it and to haue gone farther The King of Scots his son Edward slaine causes Queene Margaret to dy with griefe Roger Houeden was with his eldest sonne Edward slaine rather by the fraude then power of Robert Mowbray Earle of that County The griefe of whose deaths gaue Margaret that blessed Queene hers After whom the State elected Dufnald brother to Malcolin and chased out all the English which attended the Queene and were harbored or preferred by Malcolin King William to set the line right and to haue a King there which should be beholding to his power aides Edgar the second sonne to Malcolin who had serued him in his wars to obtaine the Crowne due vnto him in right of succession by whose meanes Dufnald was expeld and the State receiued Edgar but killed all the aide he brought with him out of England and capitulated that he should neuer more entertaine English or Norman in his seruice This businesse setled Wales strugling for liberty and reuenge gaue new occasion of 1085. Anno. Reg. 8. worke whither he went in person with purpose to depopulate the Countrey but they retiring into the Mountaines and the Isle of Anglesey auoided the present furie But afterward Hugh Earle of Shrewsbury and Hugh Earle of Chester surprising the Isle their chiefest retreit committed there barbarous examples of cruelty by exoecations and miserable dismembring the people which immanity was there suddenly auenged on the Earle of Shrewsbury with a double death first shot into the eye and then tumbling ouer-boord into the sea to the sport and scorne of his enemy the King of Norway who either by chance or of purpose comming vpon that coast from taking in the Orchades encountred with him and that force he had at sea These were the remote businesses when a conspiracy brake out within the body of the Kingdome complotted by Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland William d'Ou and many others who are sayd to haue sought the destruction of the King and the aduancement of Stephen Earle of Albemare his Aunts sonne to the Crowne which gaue the King more trouble then danger for by the speedy and maine prosecution of the businesse wherein hee vsed the best strength of England it was soone ended with the confusion of the vndertakers But it wrought an ill effect in his nature by hardening the same to an extreme rigor for after the feare was past his wrath and cruelty were not but which is hideous in a Prince they grew to bee numbred amongst incurable diseases The Earle was committed to the Castle of Windsor William d' Ou at a Councell at Salisbury being ouercome in Duell the course of triall had his eyes put out and his priuie members cut off William de Alueric his Sewer a man of goodly personage and allyed vnto him was condemned to be hanged though both in his confession to Osmond the Bishop there and to all the people as hee passed to his execution hee left a cleere opinion of his innocency and the wrong hee had by the King But now whilst these fractures heere at home the vnrepairable breaches abroad were such as could giue the King no longer assurednesse of quiet then the attempters would and that all the Christian world was out either at discord amongst themselues or in faction by the schisme of the Church Pope Viban assembling a generall Councell at Cleirmont in Auergne to compose the affaires of Christendome exhorted all the Princes thereof to ioyne themselues in action for the recouery of the Holy Land out of the hands of infidels Which motion by the zealous negotiation of Peter the Hermit of Amiens tooke so generally meeting with the disposition of an actiue and religious world as turn'd all that flame which had else consumed each other at home vpon vnknowne Nations that vndid them abroad Such and so great grew the heate of this action made by the perswasion of the Iustice thereof with the state and glory it would bring on earth and the assurednesse of heauen
I of granting And sure the King had great reason to suspect his adhering to Maude whose part he beganne to fauour onely out of the hatred he bare to Winchester who yet was content to forsake his owne brother in regard by his ingagement he was preferred to the Crowne rather then to loose his good will and the rest of the Clergie But yet this breaking of the King into the Church which had made him vtterly dissolued him For presently hereupon all his power fell asunder the Empresse found now away open to let her in and the Earle of Glocester presuming of a sure side Maude the Empresse conducted into England conducted her into England onely with 150 men puts her into the Castle of Arundell and himselfe attended but with twelue horse passed away cleere through all the Country to Bristow and from thence to Glocester where he had leisure without opposition to raise all the Country to take part with the Empresse who from Arundell Castle was afterward by the Legate himselfe and the Kings permission conueyed to Bristow receiued with all obedience grew daily in strength as she went and came at length to her brother who had taken in Hereford made himselfe strong with the Welsh and setled those parts to gather vp more of the Kingdome by shewing herselfe and her power in diuers places Stephen hauing no part cleere by reason the Castles vpon which he spent both his time and meanes lay so thicke blockes in his way as he could not make that speed to stop this streame as otherwise he would holding it not safe to goe forward and leaue dangers behinde that might ouer-take him And first hee layes siege to the Castle of Wallingford which Brian sonne to the Earle of Glocester held against him then to the Castle of Bristow and other places working much but effecting little which seeing to get time and stagger the swift proceeding of this new receiued Princesse he causes a treatie of peace to be propounded at Bathe where the Legat who likewise earnestly solicited the same with the Arch-bishop of Canterbury were appointed Commissioners for the King and the Earle of Glocester for the Empresse but nothing was effected both returne to make good their sides The Empresse seekes to recouer more the King what he had lost And least the North parts might fall from him and the King of Scots come on hee repaires thitherward and finding the Castle of Lincolne possest by Ralph Earle of Chester who had married a daughter of the Earle of Glocester and holding it not safe to bee in the hands of such a maister in such a time seekes to take it in by force The Earle of Chester who held Newtall attempting nothing against the King tooke it ill and stood vpon his defence but being ouer-layd by power conueyes himselfe out of the Castle leaues his brother and wife within to defend it and procures ayde of his father in law the Earle of Glocester to succour him The Earle takes in hand this businesse sets out of Glocester with an Army of Welshmen and others attended with Hugh Bigod and Robert de Morley ioynes with the Earle of Chester marches to Lincolne where in the battaile King Stephen was taken carried prisoner to Glocester presented to the Empresse and by her sent to bee kept in the Castle of Bristow but in all honourable fashion till his attempts to escape layd fetters on him Hereupon the Empresse as at the top of her fortune labours the Legat to hee admitted She labours the Legat for the Crowne of England to the Kingdome as the daugher of the late King to whom the Realme had taken an oath to accept for soueraigne in the succession and wrought so as a Parle was appointed for this purpose on the Plaine neere to Winchester where in a blustring sad day like the fate of the businesse they met and the Empresse swore and made affidation to the Legat That all the great businesses and especially the donation of Bishoprickes and Abbeys should bee at his disposing if he with the Church would receiue her as Queene of England and hold perpetuall fidelitie vnto her The same oath and affidation tooke likewise her brother Robert Earle of Glocester Brian his sonne Marquisse of Wallingford Miles of Glocester after Earle of Hereford with many others for her Nor did the Bishop sticke to accept her as Queene though she neuer came to bee so and with some few other make likewise affidation for his part that so long as shee infringed not her couenant hee would also hold his fidelity to her The next day shee was receiued with solemne procession into the Bishops Church at Winchester the Bishop leading her on the right hand and Bernard Bishop of Saint Dauids on the left There were present many other Bishops as Alexander Bishop of Lincolne and Nigel Bishop of Ely the Nephewes of Roger lately imprisoned Robert Bishop of Bathe and Robert Bishop of Worcester with many Abbots Within a few dayes after came Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury to the Empresse inuited by the Legat but deferred to doe fealty vnto her as holding it vnworthy his person and place without hauing conferd first with the King And therefore hee with many Prelats and some of the Layety by permission obtained went to the King to Bristow The Councell brake vp the Empresse keepes her Easter at Oxford being her owne towne Shortly vpon Easter a Councell of the Clergie is againe called to Winchester where the first day the Legat had secret conference with euery Bishop apart and then with euery Abbot and other which were called to the Councell The next day hee makes a publicke speech Shewing how the cause of their Assembly was to consult The Legats speech to the Clergie to Crowne the Empresse for the peace of their country in great daunger of vtter ruine Repeates the flourishing raigne of his Vncle the peace wealth and honour of the Kingdome in his time and how that renowned King many yeares before his death had receiued an oath both of England and Normandy for the succession of his daughter Maude and her Issue But said he after his decease his daughter being then in Normandy making delay to come into England where for that it seemed long to expect order was to bee taken for the peace of the Countrey and my brother was permitted to raigne And although I interposed my selfe a surety betweene God and him that hee should honour and exalt the holy Church keepe and ordaine good Lawes Yet how hee hath behaued himselfe in the Kingdome it grieues mee to remember and I am ashamed to repeate And then recounts he all the Kings courses with the Bishops and all his other misgouernments And then said hee euerie man knowes I ought to loue my mortall brother but much more the cause of my immortall Father and therefore seeing God hath shewed his iudgement on my brother and suffered him without my knowledge to fall into the hand
notwithstanding himselfe graunted the same in his agreement with Stephen alledging They were of the Demaynes of the Crowne and could not be alieâ—ed Onely he suffered him to inioy such lands as his father King Stephen held in England in the time of Henry the first Then goes he Northward and recouers the Citty of Carlile seizes all Cumberland into his hands and after takes the Towne of New-castle with the Castle of Bamberge and so resumed all Northumberland which his Mother the Empresse had before granted to Dauid King of Scets her Vnkle Grand-father to Malcolin who now reigned as being not in his Mothers power nor his to giue away any part of the Kingdome Notwithstanding he was content Malcolin should inioy the Earledome of Huntingdon which King Stephen had giuen to Henry Prince of Scotland father to Malcolin as being a peece in the heart of England whereof he could make no vse but at the Kings pleasure and besides was a meanes to hold him his Homager and to performe those seruices belonging to that Earledome And the same course tooke he with the Alienations and vsurpations formerly made of the Demaines of the Duchy of Normandy and forced Theobald Earle of Blois to resigne into his hands two Castles and Petroch Earle of Perch other two These reuocations whereby so many were indamaged in their estates and Grants both of his Predecessors and his owne vtterly nullified might seeme to be an act of great iniustice and in a new Gouernment of little safety But in regard the Common-wealth had thereby a benefit and but few though great interessed it passed as a worke vniuersally necessary seeing his Maintenance otherwise must be made vp out of publicke taxations which would turne to a generall grieuance But the resuming of the Earledome of Aniou The King resumes the Earledome of Aniou out of his brother Geffryes hands contrary to his Oath cannot but be held a strayne beyond conscience and good nature For his father Geffrey Plantagenet desirous to leaue some estate to his second sonne Geffrey ordained by his Testament That when Henry had recouered the Kingdome of England the other should haue the County of Aniou and in the meane time put Geffrey in possession of the Castles and Townes of Chinon Lodun and Mirabel whereby he might both haue maintenance for his estate and a readier meanes to come to the rest when occasion serued And least his sonne Henry should not performe this Will he got certaine Bishops and other Nobles to sweare that they would not suffer his body to be interred till Henry who was then absent had sworne to fulfill his Testament Henry rather then to suffer his Fathers body to lye vnburied With great vnwillingnesse takes this oath But afterward being inuested in the Crowne of England and Geffrey seazing vpon the Earledome of Aniou he passes ouer into France and not onely takes from him the Earledome but also those three Townes he had in possession alledging It was no reason a forced Oath vpon such an occasion should bind him to forgoe the inheritance of his Birth-right being all the Patrimony that was to discend vnto him from his Father and though he had recouered the Kingdome of England that was not his Fathers worke but by an other right And although he held his brother deere vnto him yet hauing Children of his owne he was to prouide that what was his should discend to them But yet was content to allowe his brother an honorable pension of a thousand pounds English and two thousand pounds of Aniouin money yearely for the maintenance of his estate and obtained of Pope Adrian the seuenth an English man borne a dispensation for his Oath made in this case 1156. Anno. Reg. 2. And now the first occasion that put him here into action of warre was the rebellion of the Welsh who according to their vsuall manner euer attempted some thing in the beginning of the Raigne of new Princes as if to try their spirits and their owne fortunes Against whom hee goes so prepared as if hee ment to goe through with his worke Wherein at first he had much to doe passing a streight among the Mountaines His first expedition into Wales where he lost with many of his men Eustace Fitz Iohn and Robert Curcy eminent persons and himselfe noysed to be slaine so much discouraged that part of the Army which had not passed the Streights as Henry an Earle of Essex threw downe the Kings Standard which he bare by inheritance and fled but soone the King made it knowne hee was aliue discomfited his enemies and brought them to seeke their peace with submission The Earle of Essex was after accused by Robert de Monfort The punishment of Corwardize for this misdeed had the Combat was ouercome pardoned yet of life but condemned to be shorne a Monke put into the Abbay of Reading and had his Lands seised into the Kings hands It was now the fourth yeare of the raigne of this King when all his affaires were in 1158. Anno. Reg. 4. prosperous course his State increasing his Queene fruitefull and had borne him three sonnes in England Henry Richard and Geffrey his eldst sonne William to whom hee had caused the Kingdom to take an Oath of fealty died shortly after his comming to the Crowne so that now the same Oath is tendred to Henry and all is secure and well on this side The King of France who would gladly haue impeached the mighty current of this Kings fortune was held in and fettered with his owne necessities his iourney to the Holy Land had all exhausted his Treasure and since his comming home the Pope had exacted great summes of him for dispensing with his second marriage which was with Constantia daughter to Alphonso King of Galicia a feeble alliance and farre off so that all concurred to increase the greatnesse of this King of England who The resignation of Nants to the King of England hauing now almost surrounded France by possessing first all Normandie with a great footing in Brittaine by the resignation of Nants with the Country there about which Conan the Duke was forced lately to make vnto him then the Earledome of Maine Poictou Touraine Aniou with the Dutchy of Guien he also laies claime to the rich Earledome of Tholouse vpon this Title William Duke of Aquitaine granfather to Queene Elioner married the daughter and King Henries claime to the Earldome of Tholouse heire of the Earle of Tholouse and going to the holy warres ingaged that Earldome to Raymond Earle of Saint Gayles and neuer returned to redeeme it William his sonne father to Queene Elionor either through want of meanes or neglect delayed likewise the redemption thereof so that the Earle of Saint Gyles continuning in possession whilst hee liued left it to his sonne Raymond of whom King Louys of France hauing married Elionor the daughter and heire of the last William demanded the restitution with tender of the summe for which
it was ingaged Raymond refuses it and stands to his possession as of a thing absolutely sold or forfeited but being too weake to contend with a King of France fell to an accord and married his sister Constans widdow of Eustace sonne to King Stephen and so continues the possession Now King Henry hauing married this Elionor and with her was to haue all the Rights shee had tenders likewise as the King of France had done in the same case the summe formerly disbursed vpon the morgage of that Earledome And with all makes ready his sword to recouer it and first combines in league and amity with such whose Territories bordred vpon it as with Raymond Earle of Barcelona who had married the daughter and heire of the King of Arragon a man of great Estate in those parts intertayning him with conference of a match betweene his second sonne Richard and his daughter with couenant that Richard should haue the inheritance of the Dutchy of Aquitaine and the Earledome of Poictou Besides hee takes into his protection William Lord of Trancheuille possessing likewise many great Signories in the Countrey and one who held himselfe much wronged in his Estate by the Earle of Tholouse These ay des prepared he leauies an Army and goes in person to besiege the Citie of Tholouse and takes along with him Malcolin King of Scots who comming to his 1159. Anno. Reg. 5. Court to doe him homage for the Earledome of Huntingdon and to make claime for those other peeces taken from his Crowne was entertayned with so many faire words and promises of King Henry as drew him along to this warre The Earle of Tholouse vnderstanding the intentions of the King of England craues ayde of his brother in Law the King of France who likewise with a strong Army comes downe in person to succour Tholouse and was there before the King of England could arriue with his forces whereupon seeing himselfe preuented and in disaduantage King Henry fell to spoyling the Countrey and takes in Cahors in Quercy where he places a strong Garrison to bridle the Tholousains and so returnes into Normandy gaue the order of Knight hood to King Malcolin at Tours augments his forces and enters the Countrey of Beauuoisin where he destroyes many Castles and commits great spoyles And to adde more anoyance to the King of France he obtained of the Earle de Auranches the two strong Castles Rochfort and Monfort which furnished with Garrisons impeached the passage twixt Orleance and Paris in so much as the warre and weather grew hote betwixt these two great Princes and much effusion of bloud was like to follow but that a mediation of peace was made and in the end concluded With a match betweene the young Prince Henry not seuen yeares of age and the 1160. Anno. Reg. 6. Lady Margaret eldest daughter to the King of France scarce three weake linkes to hold in so mighty Princes The yong Lady was deliuered rather as an Ostage then a Bride to Robert de Newburge to be kept till her yeares would permit her to liue with her Husband In the meane time notwithstanding many ruptures hapned betweene the Parents The first whereof Prince Henry contracted to Margaret daughter to the King of France grew vpon the King of Englands getting into his owne hand the Castle of Gisors with two other Castles vpon the Riuer Eata in the confines of Normandy deliuered vp before the due time By three Knights Templars to whom they were committed in trust till the marriage were consummated And this cost some bloud the Knights Templars are persecuted by the King of France and the King of England receiues them But now the aduantage of power lying all on this side and the King seeing himselfe at large and how much he was abroad beganne to be more at home and to The King seekes to abate the power of the Clergy the cause therof looke to the Prerogatiues of his Crowne which as he was informed grew much infringed by the Clergy which since the time of Henry the first Were thought to haue inlarged their iurisdiction beyond their vocation and himselfe had found their power in the election of King Stephen with whom they made their owne conditions with all aduantages for themselues whereby they depriued his Mother and her issue of their succession to the Crowne And though afterwards by their mediation the peace twixt him and Stephen was concluded and his succession ratified yet for that might he thanke his Sword the Iustice of his cause and strong party in the Kingdome What they did therein shewed him rather their power then their affection and rather put him in mind of what they had done against him at first then layed any obligation on him for what they did afterward And his owne example seeing them apt to surprise all aduantages for their owne aduancement made him doubt how they might deale with his Posterity if they found occasion and therefore is he easily drawne to abate their power in what he could To this motion of the Kings dislike the Lay Nobility emulous of the others authority layed more waights alledging how the immunities of the Clergie tooke vp so much Complaints against the Clergie from the Royalty as his execution of Iustice could haue no generall passage in the Kingdome the Church held their Dominion apart and free from any other authority then their owne and being exempt from Secular punishments many enormious acts were committed by Clergie-men without any redresse to be had and it was notified to the King that since the beginning of his Raigne There had beene aboue a hundreth Man-slaughters committed within the Realme of England by Priests and men within Orders Now had the King a little before vpon the death of Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury 1161. Anno. Reg. 7. preferred Thomas Becket a creature and seruant of his owne to that Sea A man whom first from being Arch-deacon of Canterbury he made his Chancelor and finding him Diligent Trusty and Wise imployes him in all his greatest businesses of the State by which tryall of his seruice and sidelity he might expect to haue him euer the Thomas Becket preferred to the Sea of Canterbury readier to aduance his affaires vpon all occasions And besides to shew how much he respected his worth and integrity he commits vnto him the education of the Prince a charge of the greatest consequence in a Kingdome which shall be euer sure to find their Kings as they are bred At the beginning of this mans promotion this reformation of Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction is set vpon a worke in regard of that time of deuotion of great difficultie the Bishops hauing from the beginning of Christianitie first vnder the Saxon Kings principally swaded the State and though at the entrance of the Norman they were much abriged of their former liberties they held themselues if not content yet quiet For albeit they had not that power in temporall businesses as
committing rapin and sacrelidge to supply their necessities feed their followers And in the end the young King hauing much strugled in vaine through griefe and vexation of spirit which caused the distemprature of body fell into a burning His death feuer with a fluxe whereof within few dayes he died A Prince of excellent parts who was first cast away by his Fathers indulgence and after by his rigor not suffering him to be what himselfe had made him neither got he so much by his Coronation as to haue a name in the Catalogue of the Kings of England The sorrow of the Father although it be sayd to be great hindred not his reuenge vpon the Barons of Aquitaine whom he now most eagerly persecuted seazed on their Castles and rased to the ground that of Limoges Geffrey vpon his submission is receiued into grace and the yeare after died at Paris Earle Geffreys submission and death hauing in a conflict bene troden vnder horses feete and miserably crushed so that halfe the male issue wherein this King was vnfortunate he saw extinct before him and that by deaths as violent as were their disposition The other two who suruiued him were no lesse miserable in their ends Now the young King of France Phillip the second in whose fate it was to do more then euer his father could effect vpon the death of Henry the sonne requires the deliuery of the Countrey of Vexin which was giuen in dowre with his Sister Margaret but the King of England not apt to let go any thing of what he had in possession was 1184. Anno. Reg. 30. content to pay yearely to the Queene dowager 17050. pounds Aniouin And the more to hold faire with this young King whose spirit he saw grew great and actiue and with whom he was like to haue much to do did homage vnto him for all he held in Fraunce which he neuer did to the Father being the first discent of Maiestie he euer Henry the second doth homage to Phillip King of France made to any secular power And beside tooke his part against Phillip Earle of Flanders who opposed against him and was in those dayes a Prince of mighty power and had euer stood fast vnto King Lewes the father But now Phillip the sonne otherwise led or affectioned quarrels with him and demaunds the Countrey of Vermendois as appertaining to the Crowne of Fraunce and withall vpon allegation of consanguinity repudiates his wife Neece to this Earle of Flanders giuen vnto him by his Fathers choyce a little before his death The Earle followed by Odo Earle of Borgogne the Earles of Champague Hainalt Namur Saint Pol and others warres vpon the King of The Earle of Flanders compels the King of France to compound France and commits great spoyles within his territories so that hee was faine in the end to compound with him to his disaduantage After this the Kings of England and France meete betweene Gisors and Tri where the King of England sweares to deliuer Alise vnto Richard his sonne And the King of France her brother graunts her in dower the Countrey of Velxin which Margueret his other Sister had before But these tyes held them not long together for the yong King of France so wrought with Richard as hee drew him from his Fathers obedience and they liued together in 1185. Anno. Reg. 31. that amitie as on bed and boord is sayd to haue serued them both which so iniealosed the olde King as he called home his sonne and before his Bishops and Nobility caused him to sweare vpon the Euangelists to obserue fealty vnto him against all persons whatsoeuer which hauing done and ready to passe ouer into England hee is informed of the great preparation made by the King of France who gaue out that hee would spoyle and ransacke both Normandie and the rest of the Kings of Englands territories in France vnlesse he would presently deliuer vp his Sister Alice vnto Richard or render Gisors and the Countrey of Velxin into his hands Whereupon the King returnes backe and comes againe to a parle betweene Gisors and Try Where the Archbishop of Tyre sent from the East to call vp ayde for the Holy warre did with that powre of perswation so vrge his message as it let out all the humour of priuate rancor and contention The Kings of England and France accorded and prepare for the holy war betweene these two great Kings altred their whole Councells their pretentions their designes turned them wholly to vndertake in person this laborious action and resolue to leaue their Kingdomes their pleasures and all the things of glorie they had at home to prosecute the same through all the distempratures of climes and difficulties of passages whereunto that voyage was obnoxious so that now no other thing was thought or talked on but onely preparations and furnishments for this businesse And to distinguish their people and followers who all stroue which should bee most forward it was ordred that they who followed the King of England should weare a white Crosse France a red and Flaunders a greene And for a further ingagement in the businesse the King of England writes to the Patriarch of Antioch a most comfortable and pious letter in the end whereof he hath these words Amongst other Princes I and my Sonne reiecting the glory of this world and dispising all the pleasures thereof in proper person with all our strength will God willing visit you shortly Then to rayse money to defray this great enterprise it was ordained by the two Kings their Archbishops Bishops Earles and others in France that all whosoeuer as well Clerke as Lay sauing such as went the voyage should pay the tenth of all their reuenues of that yeare and the tenth of all their Moueables and Chattles as well in gold as filuer And many excellent orders were made for restraynt of licentiousnesse both in apparell and manners as was fitting for the vndertakers of so ciuile and deuout an action The King of England hauing layde this imposition vpon all his Dominions in France comes ouer calls a Councell of his Bishops Abbors Earles Barons both 1186. Anno. Reg. 33. of the Clergie and Layty at Gayntington and by their consents imposes the same taxation vpon his Subiects of England Sub Eleemosinae titulo vitium rapacitatis includens sayth Walsingham and presently sends foorth his Officers into euery Shire to collect the same according as it was done in France But of euery Citie in England he caused a choice to be made of the richest men as in London of two hundred in Yorke a hundred and so according to the proportion of the rest and caused all these at a certaine time and place to appeare before him of whom he tooke the tenth of all their Moueables by the estimation of credible men which knew their Estates such as refused hee imprisoned till they had payde it of which example and exaction we must
an euent For hauing taken vp by the way three Gallies to conduct him to Ragusa for three hundred Markes of Siluer disguised vnder the names of Pilgtimes hee was by his lauish expences discouered to bee the His discouery King of England which note once taken it was impossible for him to lay anie couering thereon that could euer hide him more though vpon warning thereof he presently left all his company and with one man onely takes horse and through all the daungers of a wilde desart and rocky Country trauayling day and night passes into Austrich where Fame that was a speedier post then himselfe was before him And comming to a Village nere to Viena and reposing himselfe in a poore hosterie was taken a sleepe by meanes of his companion going forth to prouide necessaries for him King Richard taken prisoner who as hee was changing money was knowne taken and brought before the Duke of Austrich and vpon examination confessed where his maister was of which prise the Duke was most ioyfull in respect of his reuenge for the disgrace hee did him at the entring of Acon and presently sends him to the Emperour Henry the sixt whom likewise he had offended for ayding Tancredi the base sonne of Roger in the vsurpation of the Crowne of Sicilia against Constantia the lawfull daughter of the same Roger whom this Emperour had married Newes hereof is presently sent by the Emperour to the King of France that he might likewise reioyce at this fortune and hee tells him That now the Enemy of his Empire and the disturber of the Kingdome of France was fast in holde and all the manner how The State of England is likewise soone certified of this heauie disaster and great meanes is made to redeeme their King out of captiuitie who is sayd to haue borne his fortune with that magnanimitie and so cleered himselfe of the scandalls layd on him for the death of Conrade the Emperours kinsman other his actions in the East in such sort as he won the affection of the Emperor so that he professed a great desire to restore him and reconcile him to the King of France But yet wee finde That King Richard deposed King Richard deposed himselfe of the kingdome of England himselfe of the Kingdome of England and deliuered the same to the Emperour as his supreame Lord and inuested him therein by the deliuering vp his hat whch the Emperour returned vnto him in the presence of the Nobility of Germany and England to hold this Kingdom from him for 50 thousand pounds sterling to be payed as an annuall tribute And yet notwithstanding all this the King of France combining with the Earle Iohn preuailed so much with the Emperour as hee held him his prisoner a whole yeare and sixe weekes through their offer of mighty summes they made vnto him For he and the Earle Iohn fully accounted that he should haue beene held a perpetuall prisoner and vpon that reckning the Earle Iohn did his homage to the King of France for the Dutchy Earle Iohn doth homage to the King of France for Normandy of Normandy and all the rest of those transmarine territories and for England as it is sayd and besides resignes vnto him Gisors with the Country of Vexin sweares to marry his sister Alice and to bee diuorsed from his other Wise the Daughter of the Earle of Glocester The King of France couenants to giue him with his sister that part of Flanders which hee had taken from that Eareldome and sweares to ayde him in the attayning both of England and whatsoeuer else the Lands of his brother Then goes the Earle Iohn ouer into England carrying many strangers with him and presently the Castles of Wallingford and Windsor are rendred vnto him then comes hee to London and requires of the Archbishop of Rouen and other the Commissioners the Kingdome of England and that fealty bee made vnto him affirming his brother was dead but they not giuing credit vnto him and denying his desire with rage and strong hand hee fortifies his Castles and in hostile manner inuades the Lands of his brother finding many partakers to ioyne with him The Queene mother the Iustices of England and all the faithfull seruants of the King guard and defend the ports against the inuasion of the French and Flemings who in great numbers seeke to ayde the Earle Iohn and also they labour the redemption of the King whose ransome the Emperour rates at 100 thousand Marks with the finding of fiftie Gallies ready furnished and two hundred souldiers to attend his seruice in the holy warres for one yeare In Normandie the Officers and Seruants of the King of England defend with no lesse faith and courage the right of their Maister against the King of France who withall his powre labours to subdue them and by his large offers to the Emperour prolongs his redemption and inhaunces his ransome This toyle and charge is the world put into through the misfortune and weakenesse of their hardy King who onely in respect of his valour being otherwise not worth so much and the Holy worke hee vndertooke whereby hee obliged the Clergie which then managed all got the opinion and loue of his subiects in such sort as they straine euen beyond their ability to recouer and preserue him and so wrought in the end that the Emperour compounds with King Richard in this manner that hee should send his Commissioners to London and receaue an hundred thousand Markes of pure siluer of Cologne The Emperors composition with King Richard waight to be sealed vp and safely conducted to the bounds of the Empire at the perile of the King of England and other fifty thousand Markes of siluer whereof twenty thousand for the Duke of Austrich and thirty thousand for the Emperour to be payd at seauen monethes after and pledges to be giuen three score to the Emperor and seauen to the Duke Besides the King of England sweares to send his Neece the sister of Arthur Earle of Brittaine to be married to the Duke of Austrich c. And the Emperour granted to the King of England by his Charter the Soueraignty of the Prouince Vienne and Viennoys Merseilles Narbona Arls Lyons and whatsoeuer hee had in Burgogne with the Homages of the King of Arragon the Earles of Dijon and Saint Giles In which countries were fiue Archbishop-ricks thirty three Bishopricks but the Emperour could neuer haue domination ouer them nor they receaue any Lord that hee presented them So that this great gift consisted but in title which yet pleased King Richard that hee might not seeme to part with all his substance for nothing And the same wind he sends to Hubert the new Archbishop of Canterbury lately made his Vicegerent in England to be blowne ouet all the Kingdome by a letter he wrote vnto him wherein he hath these words For that sure I am you much desire our deliuerance and greatly reioyce therein we will that you be
though with much valour leauing behinde him but the fame of a Rebell after hee had serued the English about six yeares King Edward shortly after these supplyes sent into Brittaine goes himselfe in person with more and lying before Vannes lately recouered by the French Iohn Duke of Normandy eldest sonne to the French King sent to ayde Charles de Bloys with an Army of forty thousand came to giue him battaile and being vpon the point of incounter a mediation of truce is made by two Cardinalls sent from Pope Clement the fixt and concluded for three yeares vpon many conditions with a reference to the Pope and the Court of Rome to heare and examine the differences betwixt the two kingdoms but not to determine them without the consent of both Kings This pause againe giues them more time to worke for greater woundes and nothing is left vnpractised that might aduance the same And though the people now seemed to put off their Armour they left not off armes but had diuerse bickrings both in Brittaine and Gascony for which either side accused other King Edward returning makes an expeditiō into Scotland against K. Dauid whom he chased into the Ilands And here the Isle of Man is conquered by William Montacut Earle of Salisbury whom king Edward caused to be stiled King thereof and returning backe solemne Turneaments are held at Dunstable where hee is attended with 230. Knights For now all the pastime and exercise in England were Iustes and Turneaments held in Smithfield Winsor and other places A society of Knights of the Round table in imitation of King Arthur is designed a magnificent Chamber of 200. foot round erected for the same at Winsor and to this society many strangers of other Coūtries are allured The French K. also practises the like martial association in France Reg. 17 An. 1343. And about this time began the order of the Garter instituted at Winsor vpon a solemne feast there celebrated which held for many dayes and serued that time as an The institutio of the Order of the Garter Embleme of a tye and combinement in honour of such as were admitted thereunto which was the end of the constitution thereof Howsoeuer the Garter of the Countesse of Salisbury taken vp by the King in dancing with her was saide to haue beene the occasion But it were some derogation to that noble institution to impute the originall thereof to an act of Leuitie seeing with what a graue and religious ceremony it is performed Although we see oftentimes accidents of little consequence giue beginnings to things of great estimation which time makes venerable But besides these exercises of Armes this great and prouident King during this truce takes especiall care for the Gouernment of the Kingdome and reformation of the abuses thereof which daily grow as diseases in full bodies and must of necessity haue sometimes their cure otherwise there will be no health in a State A Parliament is called at Westminster wherein vpon the grieuons complaint exhibited by the Earles The Nobility write to the Pope concerning his collation of Benifices in England Barons Knights and Burgesses against the collation of Benifices on strangers a letter was sent to Pope Clement 6. in humble manner beseeching him to consider how inconuenient and derogatory it was to the state of the Kingdome of England that such reseruations prouisions and collations of Benifices as had beene formerly vsed should in such sort be continued For that the Churches of England had in times past bene indowed by noble and worthy persons to the end the people might be instructed by such as were of their owne language and how by the vsurpation of some of his Predicessors strangers and sometimes enemies to the Realme were preferred to many of them whereby the money and profits were transported the Cures vnfurnished almes and Hospitality vnused the edifices ruinated the charity and deuotion of the people deminished and many other grieuous inormities contrary to the will of the Founders occasioned which they could not suffer any longer and therefore besought his Holinesse wholly to reuoke such reseruations prouisions and collations that meete and natiue persons might exercise those Cures and without delay to signifie his intention therein otherwise they meant to imploy their dilligence that remedy and redresse might be had according to reason The date of these Letters was in full Parliament at Westminister the 28. of May 1343 with which were like wise sent the Kings letters to the same effect by Sir Iohn Shordich a graue person and of great vnderstanding in the Law whose message made Sir Iohn Shordich sent with these Letters him so vnwelcome to that Court as hee departed without leaue or answer which though the Pope afterward sent yet the King proceeded to the prohibition of all such prouisions collations within his Realme on paine of imprisonment or death to whom soeuer should in time to come present or admit any such person or persons who by the Pope were so preferred to the preiudice of the Kings royall prerogatiue And to this effect were Writs directed to all Arch-bishops Bishops others to whom it appertained inhibiting them in no wise to attempt any thing preiudial to this ordinance Here is the Arch-bishop Stratford with much adoe vpon his submission reconciled The Arch-bishop of Canterbury reconciled to the Kings fauour And much debating there is in this Parliament concerning Wools and the asseasement of certaine prices vpon the same more or lesse according to the seuerall parts of the Realme and concerning customes to be imposed on them as at three Markes and a halfe vpon the transportation of euery sacke but it seemes nothing was done in this businesse Ptince Edward about the age of 13 is created Prince of Wales and Commissioners Prince Edward created Prince of Wales are appointed to be sent to the Pope to treate of Peace betweene the two Kings according to the Articles concluded in the truce which were Iohn Bishop of Excester Henry de Lancaster Earle of Derby Hughle Dispensier Lord of Glamorgan Cousins to the King Rauph Lord Stafford with others The next yeare after another Parliament or the same proroged is held at London Reg. 18. An. 1344. wherin after much altercation a tenth was granted by the Clergie and a fifteenth by the Laytie for one yeate and a certaine Coyne of gold called the Floren of base alloy which had beene for the warres in Fraunce is decryed and Nobles of finer coyned to A Parliament the great liking of the subiects And for their better commodity the exchange of moneys at London Canterbury and Yorke is ordained Shortly after generall Musters are taken throughout the Kingdom and Certificate made of all sufficient and able Bowmen Generall musters and appointing of Armor and of all others fit to beare Armes Besides a Commission is sent into euery countrey to inquire of mens abilities and all of fiue pounds to teu
for the reformation of the State Besides they compose a Councell of themselues whereof the Bishop of Laon the Primier President the Prouost with some of the Vniuersity were chiefe assuming a Soueraigne power to order all affaires of the State as a Common-wealth So that wee see in what a miserable confusion that kingdome stood being without a head and how apt it was then to shake off all authority and dissolue the gouernement into parts shewing vs that it was no new proiect amongst them to Cantonize as the great Townes and the Princes of late practised to doe in their leagues during their ciuile combustions The Dauphin thus disgraced with much a doe gets out of this tumultious City and retyres into Champagne and at Vertus assembles the States of the Countrie whom hee found loyall and ready to yeeld him all succour The rest of the great Townes refusing with much disdaine to ioyne with the City of Paris offer him likewise their ayde So that hee was put into some heart and likly to effect his desires in short time had not the King of Nauarre who sought his destruction still raysed new broyles in the State and taken Armes against him Now besides these confusions greater mischiefes arose in that miserable kingdome the poore Paysants that had beene eaten out by the Souldiers and troden vnder foote by their Lords colleague and arme themselues in the Country of Beauuoysis France spoyled by the souldiers and others on all sides and turne head vpon the Gentry and such as had done them wrong spoyling sacking burning their houses killing their wiues and children in most outragious manner This was not all troupes of souldiers which had no work or meanes to liue ioyne together in mighty Companies ouer-runne and rauage other parts of the kingdome The forces in Brittaine vnder the conduct of Sir Robert Knoles breake out vpon the confining Countries and returne loaden with inestimable booties of wealth All which miserable calamities enough to haue vtterly dissolued a State prolong the imprisonment of their King in England so that nothing could bee effected for his ransome which King Edward thinkes long till he haue in his Treasury and vrges likewise for his part very hard conditions requiring say they besides infinite summes that King Iohn should doe homage and holde the kingdome of France of the Crowne of England which hee with great disdayne refuses as being not in his power to alien what was vnalienable vowing that no misery of his should constrayne him to doe any thing preiudiciall to his successors to whom hee would leaue the State as hee receiued it But yet at length offers other and more large conditions then the French were willing to yeeld vnto which being long in debating and nothing concluded after foure yeares expectation King Edward in great displeasure resolues to make an end of this worke with the sword and to take possession King Edward goes to take possession of the kingdome of France of the kingdome of France And ouer hee passes to Calais with a Fleete of eleuen hundred Sayle His Army hee diuides into three battailes one hee commits to the Prince of Wales another to the Duke of Lancaster and the third hee leades himselfe And first hee marches to the City of Aras which hee takes within three dayes Thence into Champagne where the Cities of Sens and Neuers are rendered Anno Reg. 34. vnto him The Duchy of Burgogne terrified with these examples redeemes it selfe from spoyle vpon paying two hundred thousand Florins of gold Furnished with which treasure and booties by the way vp King Edward marches to Paris where the Dauphin who had now the title of Regent hauing lately ouercome the faction and executed the principall of the Mutiners was with great forces which in the common danger flocked together to defend their Countrie and would not by the example of his father and Grand-father be drawne out to hazard vpon any attempt but stood onely vpon his defences which the King of England seeing after many prouocations raysed his siege and returnes into Brittaine to refresh his Army In the meane time the Regent layes in mighty store of victualls prouides that the Souldiers should haue enough without pressing the inhabitants and with extreame dilligence so fortifies the City as King Edward returning with all his refreshed power was vtterly disappoynted of his hopes to doe any good there Thus that great Citty which was like to haue endangered the whole kingdome of France was the onely meanes to preserue it From hence King Edward takes his way towards Chartres with purpose to besiege that City but being by an horrible tempest of haile thunder and lightning that fell vpon his Army so terrified as hee vowed to make peace with the French King vpon any reasonable conditions as he shortly after did at the treaty of Britigny The Treatie of Accord concluded at Britigny neere Chartres vpon these Articles That the country of Poicton the Fiefs of Thouars and Belleuille the Countrie of Gascoigne Agenois Perigort Limosin Cahors Torbe Bigorre Rouergne Angoulmois in soueraigntie with the Homages of the Lords within those Territories Monstruel on the Sea Ponthieu Calais Guines La Merk Sangote Boulogne Hames Vales and Onis should bee to the King of England who besides was to haue three Millions of Scutes of gold whereof sixe hundred thousand presently in hand foure hundred thousand the yeere following and the Surplus in two yeeres after insuing vpon reasonable payment And for this the King of England and his Sonne the Prince of Wales as well for them as their Successors for euer should renounce all their right pretended to the Vid. Append. Crowne of France the Duchy of Normandie the Countryes of Touraine Aniou Maine the Soueraigntie and Homage of the Dutchy of Britagne and the Earldome of Flanders and within three weekes King Iohn to bee rendred at Callais at the charge of the King of England except the expences of his House For assurance of which Accord should be giuen into his hand Hostages Louys Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry King Iohns sonnes Phillip Duke of Orleance his brother Iohn Duke of Burgogne the Conts of Bloys Alenson Saint Pol Harcourt Poncian Valentinois Grand Pre de Brenne des Forrests the Lords Vaudemont Couscy Piennez de Saint Venant de Preaux de Momerancy de Garanciecis La Roche guion Estou-teuille Le Dauphind ' Auergne d' Andrigil de Craon sufficient cautions for the sayd Summes and conditions The Scots not to be ayded by the French King nor the Flemmings by the English Charles King of Nauarre and his brother Phillip are comprehended likewise in these Articles c. This Treatie of good accord and finall Peace signified by both Kings was ratified King Iohn deliuered by their two eldest Sonnes Edward and Charles and sworne vnto by the Nobilitie of both Kingdomes The Hostages are deliuered vnto King Edward who departing from Honfleur brought them into England leauing the
it halfe Denmarke and liue Knute BVT by this meanes Knute attained the absolute dominion of the whole An. 1018. Kingdome which hee gouerned with better Iustice then he got it conforming Knute the first Daâ—ique King his natiue roughnesse to a more ciuill and regular fashion of life And to haue England see that now he was hers he sends away his Nauie and stipendary souldiers home to their countries and puts himselfe wholy vpon this people taking the way of mildnesse a better meanes for his establishment then force but the Land paid for the remuneration of 83000. pounds paide to King Knute fot euacuation of Strangers his people this euacuation of Strangers 83000 pounds of sisuer which it rather consented to doe at once then to haue them a daily burthen to pester the State for euer At his first comming to the Crowne he sought to rid himselfe as well of his friends as of those might prooue his enemies Edric who came first to salute him sole King of England as if to tell that he made him so hee caused his head to be set on the highest part of the Towre of London therein performing his promise of aduancing him aboue any Lord of the Land and thereby discharged himselfe of such a debt which though he should haue paide would neuer yet bee held fully cleered giuing a generall satisfaction therby to the people that reioyced to see Treason so iustly rewarded Like compensation had shortly after the Earles Turkil Erick who being banished the Land were executed vpon their arriuall in Denmarke But the loue and high opinion of Iustice he got in these were lost againe in those actions wherein he tooke counsell onely of his feares for the extirpation of all those of the Royall bloud of England As of Edwin and Edward the sonnes of the late King Edmond to whom appertained the moietie of the Kingdome by contract and of Edwin his brother which three he sent to be murthered abroad to beguile the rumor at home But which is strange those times though rough affoorded not yet an instrument for the execution of his desire and all these Princes were preserued and conueyed out of danger by those who should haue made them away The two last were bred by Salomon King of Hungarie where Edward suruiuing his brother married Agatha sister to that Queene and daughter Edward married to Agatha the Queene of Hungaries sister to the Emperour Henry the second by whom hee had two sonnes Emond and Edgar daughters Margaret and Christina Aelfred and Edward sonnes of King Ethelred by Emme were preserued by Richard Duke of Normandie their Vnkle and so lay out of his way This priuate iniustice which often may be more in compassion then hurt to the State hee sought to recompence with all publique satisfactions repairing the naufrage of the common-wealth made by the rage of warre both in ornament and order erecting Churches and Monasteries with large patents of prouisions both for the expiation of his immanities fore-committed and to memorize the places of his victories with his thankefulnesse to God The Constitutions Ecclesiasticall and Ciuile diuulged in the language of that time testifie his tender piety and care of Iustice and are so full of religious admonitions His erection of Churches and of Church gouernment as it seemes he held the best meanes to haue lawes obserued was by hauing them first enacted in the consciences of men Amongst others hee inflicted exact punishment on all intempetances of his people and offences committed against publique manners Seuere he was but not cruell few of his lawes sanguinarie as being not the custome of the time which though rough yet found meanes to maintaine publique order without that luctuall remedie of bloud No punishments capitall vnlesse conspiracies the rest were all pecuniarie mulcts banishments bondage or imprisonment To shew his clemeucy this amongst many is one example there was a law that Whosoeuer had committed theft and the goods found in his house all his family were made bond euen to the child in the cradle This he abrogates as most vniust and ordaines That onely the malefactor and such as should aide him should endure the punishment and that the wife vnlesse the things stolne were found vnder her locke should not be guilty ef her husbands offence Thus was hee to his people with whom hee is sayd to haue so well cleered himselfe howsoeuer he did with God that he became King of their affections as well as of their Countrie And to maintaine this opinion hee did many popular acts as first all Rites of Honor and reuerence to the memorie of the late King Edmond his confederate besides the executing all such as could bee found to haue had any hand in that murther Then married he here at home Emme late wife to King Ethelred though it were more for his honour then hers to accept his bed that had beene the persecutor of her husband and children whereby hee held the Duke of Normandie from attempting any thing for his Nephewes in regard his sister might haue other by him Hauing thus established this mightie Kingdome occasion prepares him another The people of Norway contemning the debilitie of their King and conspiring to depose him grew into faction whereupon hee fastens and with the great forces hee brought out of England the might of money and high estimation of his worthinesse so preuailed as hee soone obteyned that Kingdome and was now the most renowned and potent Prince in all these parts of the world intitled King of England Denmarke Knute King of England Denmarke and Norway and Norway Herewithall grew his magnificence as wide as his power and was especially extended to the Church which hee laboured most to gratifie either for the conscience of his deedes or that his people generally addicted to deuotion might be made the more his And holding it not enough to powre out his immense bounty heere within the land seekes to make Rome also feele the fulnesse thereof whither he went in person and performed many workes of charitie and honour both there and in all his voyage Hee freed the Saxon schoole his predecessors of England had founded from all imposition as he did likewise all Streights and passages where trauailers were with rigor constrained to pay toll Of his entertainment at Rome with the Pope Conrade the Emperour and diuerse other Princes of the Christian world himselfe writes to the Bishops and Nobility of England and withall exhorts them very powerfully To haue an especiall regard to the due administration of Iustice to all his subiects alike without doing the least wrong for The effect of King Kautes Letter his gaine hauing no neede as hee sayd to aduance his reuenue by sinne And also charges them to see all Church-scot Rome-scot fully cleered before his returne The actiue vertue of this Prince being the mightiest and most absolute Monarch that euer yet appeared in this Kingdome the author
alteration though in the best kinde with this change of State And to giue entertainment to deuotion hee did all he could to furnish his Church with the most exquisite ornaments might be procured added a more State and conueniencie to the structure of religious houses and beganne the founding of Hospitals Hauing long struggled with indefatigable labour to hold things in an euen course during the whole raigne of this busie new state-building King and after his death seeing his successor in the Crowne established especially by his meanes to faile his expectation out of the experience of worldly causes deuining of future mischiefes by present courses grew much to lament with his friends the teadiousnesse of life which shortly after hee mildly left which such a sicknesse as neither hindred his speech nor memory a thing he would often desire of God William Fiz Auber as is deliuered was a principall councellor and instument in this action for England wherein hee furnished forty ships at his owne charge A man of great meanes yet of a heart greater and a hand larger then any meanes would well suffice His profuse liberalities to men of armes gaue often sharpe offence to the King who could not indure any such improuident expences Amongst the Lawes hee William Fitz Auber Earle of Hereford made Lawes in his Prouince made which shewes the power these Earles then had in their Prouinces he ordained That in the Countie of Hereford no man of or souldiour should bee fined for anie offence whatsoeuer aboue seuen shillings when in other Countries vpon the least occasion of disobeying their Lords will they were forced to pay 20. or 25. shil But his estate seeming to beare no proportion with his minde enough it was not to be an eminent Earle an especiall Councellor in all the affaires of England and Normandie a chiefe fauorite to so great a Monarch but that larger hopes drew him away designing to marrie Richeld Countesse dowager of Flanders and to haue the gouernment of that Countrie during the non-age of Arnulph her sonne of whom with the King of France he had the tutelarie charge committed by Baldouin the sixth Father to Arnulph whose estate Robert Le Frison his Vncle called by the people to the gouernment vpon the exactions inflicted on them by Richeld had vsurped And against him Fitz Auber opposing was with Arnulph surprized and slaine And this was in the fate of the Conqueror to see most of all these great men who had beene the especiall actors in all his fortunes spent and extinct before him As Beaumont Monfort Harcourte Hugh de Gourney Vicount Neele Hugh de Mortimer Conte de Vannes c. And now himselfe after his being brought sicke to Rouan and there disposing The death of William the first his estate ended also his act in the 74 yeare of his age and the one and twenty of his raigne Three dayes the Corpes of this great Monarch is sayd to haue layne neglected while his seruants attended to imbessill his moueables in the end his yongest sonne Henry had it conueyed to the Abbey of Cane where first at the entry into the Towne they His Corps lay vnburied 3. dayes who carried the Corpes left it alone and ran all to quench a house on fire Afterward brought to be intombed a Gentleman stands sorth and in sterne manner forbids the interment in that place claiming the ground to be his inheritance descended from his His interment hindered Ancestors and taken from him at the building of that Abbey appealing to Row their first founder for Iustice whereupon they were faine to compounded with him for an Annuall rent Such adoe had the body of him after death who had made so much in his life to be brought to the earth and of all he attained had not now a roome to containe him without being purchased at the hand of another men esteeming a liuing Dogge more then a dead Lyon He had a faire issue by Maude his wife foure sonnes and sixe daughters To Robert His issue his eldest he left the Duchy of Normandy to William the third sonne the Kingdome of England to Henry the yongest his treasure with an annuall pension to be payd him by his brothers Richard who was his second sonne and his darling a Prince of great hope was slaine by a Stagge hunting in the new Forrest and began the fatalnesse that followed in that place by the death of William the second there slaine with an arrow and of Richard the sonne of Robert Duke of Normandy who brake his necke His eldest daughter Cicilie became a Nunne Constance married to the Earle of Brittaine Adula to Stephen Earle of Biois who likewise rendred her selfe a Nunne in her age such was then their deuotion and so much were these solitary retires affected by the greatest Ladies of those times Gundred married to William de Warrein the first Earle of Surrey the other two Ela or Adeliza and Margaret died before marriage Now what he was in the circle of himselfe in his owne continent we find him of The description of William the first an euen stature comely personage of good presence riding sitting or standing till his corpulency increasing with age made him somewhat vnwildy of so strong a constitution as he was neuer sickly till a few moneths before his death His strength such as few men could draw his Bow and being about 50. of his age when he subdued this Kingdome it seemes by his continuall actions he felt not the weight of yeares vpon him till his last yeare What was the composition of his mind we see it the fairest drawne in his actions and how his abilities of Nature were answerable to his vndertakings of Fortune as pre-ordained for the great worke he effected And though he might haue some aduantage of the time wherein we often see men preuaile more by the imbecility of others then their owne worth yet let the season of that world be well examined and a iust measure taken of his actiue vertues they will appeare of an exceeding proportion Nor wanted he those incounters and concurrencies of sufficient â—â—â—le Princes to put him to the triall thereof Hauing on one side the French to grapple withall on the other the Dane farre mightier in people and shipping then himselfe strongly sided in this Kingdome as eager to recouer their former footing here as euer and as well or better prepared His deuotion and mercy For his deuotion and mercy the brightest starres in the Spheare of Maiesty they appeare aboue all his other vertues and the due obseruation of the first the Clergie that loued him not confesse the other was seene in the often pardoning and receiuing into grace those who rebelled against him as if he held submission satisfactory for the greatest offence and sought not to defeit men but their enterprises For we find but one Noble man executed in all his Raigne and that was the Earle Waltheof who But
intelligence with the Archbishop of Collen As Iohn of Oxford Richard Iuechester Richard de Lucie Iosslin Balliol Alan de Neuile and with these all such as had entred vpon the goods of the Church of Canterbury which hee called the patrimony of the Crusifex and the foode of the poore and these were Ralph de Brocke Hugh Saint Clare and Thomas Fitz Barnard Thus are both sides busied in this drie warre wherein though there were no sword yet it gaue vexation ynough And yet this was not all the worke that tooke vp the Kings time for during this dissention the Welsh againe reuolt and to supresse them he spent much labour with The King represses the Welch the losse of many great men and was himselfe in that daunger as had not Hubert Saint Clere receiued a wounde for him by an Arrow aymed directly at his person hee had there finished his part In this expedition hee is sayd to haue vsed extreame crueltie After this hee passes into Normandie to bee neere his businesse which now lay all on that side And first to entertaine the opinion of Pictie though hee were falne out with the Pope hee obtaines at an Assembly of his Bishops and Barons of Normandie 1166. Anno. Reg. 13. two pence in the pound of euery mans Lands and goods to beepayde that yeare 1166. and a penny of euery pound to be payde for foure yeares following which was leuied for the reliefe of the Christians in the Holy warre and sent vnto them Then hee raises forces and takes in certaine Castles in the Countrey of Maine and Marches of Brittaine from diuers Lords and Barons that had disobayed him And whilst he was busie abroade Mathew sonne to the Earle of Flanders who had married the Lady Marie Abbesse of Ramsey daughter to King Stephen had by her the Country of Bologne attempted something on the Coast of England either to try the affections of the people or to make spoyle and booty but without any effect at all the King being to mighty for any such weake vndertaker And to distend his powre yet wider falls out this occasion Conan Earle of Britaine dies and leaues one onely daughter which hee had by his wife Constance daughter to the King of Scots to succeed him in his State The King of England being then in armes vpon the Marches of Brittaine deales with the Guardians of the young Ladie to match her to his third sonne Geffry The nobility of that Country being then of a rough and haughty disposition giuen to fewds and perpetuall quarrelling one with another were wrought vpon and a side is wonne of such as could doe most in this businesse which is effected to the great contentation of the King of England This fell out to be in the 13 yeare of his raigne wherein as some write died his Mother Maud the Empresse a Lady of an high and actiue Spirit illustrious by her birth but more by her first match and most by her sonne whom she liued to see established in all these mighty States in the glory of Greatnesse Peace Fertile in issue hauing now The death of Maude the Empresse had 4 sonnes and 3 daughters linkes of loue and strength oftentimes in priuate families though seldome in Princes and shee left him in the best time of his daies before any great tempest ouertooke him Three yeares after this hee imployes most in France about the ordering and cleering the bounds of his Dominions from vsurpation or incrochments of neighbour Lords whom his greatnesse held all in awe and they must haue no more then hee would especially hee settles and reformes the State of Brittaine which was much out of order and in muteny about the late Match which being appeased hee keepes a solemne Christmas at Nants and Royally feasts the Nobilitie of the Countrey 1169. Anno. Reg. 16. Then returnes he into England where least Peace by reason of his long and often absence might afflict and corrupt his subiects he lookes to that Diuine and Almighty worke of Kings the administration of Iustice appoynting certaine commissioners as Syndicqs to examine the abuses and excesses committed by his Officers and grieuously Extortion and Bribety punished punishes the Shriefes of the Land for extortion and bribery His Easter he keepes at Windsor whither repaires vnto him William King of Scots who lately succeeded Malcom his brother and brings with him his younger brother Dauid both to congratulate the King of Englands returne and also continue his claime to those peeces in the North which hee pretended to bee vniustly detained from that Crowne The King entertaines him as hee had done his brother with faire words and tells him How it was not in his powre to doe any thing therein without the consent of the State in Parliament which if hee would attend there should bee that course taken as hee hoped might giue him satisfaction In expectation whereof this King came often into England and once attended the King in an expedition into France as his Predecesor had done But now all this while the wrath of the Church continues and the clowde hangs still ouer him dayly threatning the great thunder-bolt Although it seemes the Pope of himselfe was not verie forward to proceede to that extremity but would gladly haue quieted the Archbishoppe otherwise Who hee sayd had taken an ill time for this businesse the King being mighty and the Church in trouble and therefore writes The Pope writes to the Bishops of England he his letters to the Bishop of London and Hereford willing them to deale effectually with the King and to admonish him to desist from intruding vpon the liberties of the Church and to restore the Archbishop to his Sea and Dignity The Bishops wisely answere the Popes Letter in substance thus Wee haue sayd they done your Holinesse message and as much as was decent for the Maiestie The Bishops answere to the Popes Letter if a King instantly vrged him to satisfie your desire made by vs and if hee had erred from the way of truth and Iustice that hee would not delay to returne thereunto that hee would not inhibit such as were desirous to visit the Church of Rome hinder Appeales oppresso Churches and Churchmen or suffer others so to doe that hee would call home our Father the Archbishoppe c. and persist in the workes of Pietie that hee by whom Kings raigne might preserue vnto him his temporall Kingdome and giue him an eternall in Heauen and that vnlesse hee would yeelde to your Holy admonitions you who had hitherto indured could in patience forbeare no longer Besides we added this of our selues how it was to bee feared if hee amended not his errours his Kingdome would not long stand nor his prosper The King receiued your admonitions with manie thankes much Temperance and Modestie and answeres to euerie point First hee protested that in no sort hee auerted his minde from your Holinesse nor euer purposed so to
then giues him powre to inuade the same and to execute whatsoeuer should bee to the Honour of God and good of the Countrey with reseruation of Church-rights and Peeter-pence a penny of euery house yearely which hee had promised by his Ambassadors and so concluds with an exhortation to plant men of good and examplar life in the Clergie c. But the King at that time hauing other occasions left off the purpose of this which comes now of late to bee againe imbraced by this meanes Dermot Mac Marrgh one Dermot complains against O Conor to King Henry of the fiue Kings which then ruled that Island comes vnto him into Aquitaine to craue his ayde against Rodorick the Great called O Conor Dun King of Connaught who contending for the Soueraigntie of the whole had chaced him out of his Dominion of Lemster The King of England glad to finde a doore thus opened to his intention that might yeeld passage of it selfe without being broken vp intertaines this eiected King with promises of ayde and though hee could not as then furnish him being ingaged in other great affaires he yet permits such of his subiects as would to aduenture their fortunes with him But the occasion of the dissention betweene these two Irish Kings was indeed fowle on the part of Dermot who had corrupted and stolne away the wife of Rodoricke and for that odious iniury with his iniustice to his people the common causes Dermots offences of ruininge and transferring Kingdomes hee was by strong hand chaced out of his Dominion of Lemster and thereupon makes out for forraine aide And hauing thus delt with the King of England he betakes him into Wales where first he wrought one Robert Fits Stephen a man of a desperate fortune yet able to draw many voluntaries to contract with him and afterward Richard of the house of Clare surnamed Strong-bow Earle of Pembrooke commonly called of his chiefe seate in Monmoth-shire Earle of Chepstow or Strigil a Lord of high courage and worthinesse which made him well followed and of great possessions both in England and Normandy which gaue him meanes for his entertainements Fits Stephen was perswaded by promise of rich rewards The Earle of marriage with Eua the daughter of Dermot the succession of the Kingdome of Lemster Fits Stephen with Maurice Fits Gerard his halfe brother by the mother passed ouer The conqnest of Ireland first with a small company and landed at the place called by the Irish Bagg-bun which in English signifies Holy and therefore interpreted as presaging good successe whereof this time retaines yet the memory At the head of Bagge and Bun Ireland was Triginta Mili tibus lost and wonne And the next day after arriued at the same place Maurice de Prendergast with other men at armes and many Archers in two ships parcell of Fits Stephens forces which from thence marched to the Citty of Weishford with Banners displayed The beginning of May. in so strange a forme and order though their number were not foure hundreth as the Irish vnacquainted with so vnusuall a face of warre were ouercome with 1170. Anno. Reg. 16. feare and rendred vp themselues to their mercy with their Citty of Wcishford which with the Countrey about was giuen by Dermot to Robert Fits Stephen for an encouragement to him and hope to others And there was planted the first Colonie of the English which euer since hath continued retaining still in a sort our antient attire and much of our language proper onely to that Citty and Countrey about and called by a distinct name Weisford speech The next yeare are new supplies sent out of Wales and after vpon intelligence of 1171. Anno. Reg. 17. good successe the Earle of Pembrok ariues in the Bay of Waterford with two hundred men at armes and a thousand other souldiours takes the towne which was then called Porthlarge puts the inhabitants to the sword to giue terror to others and make roome for his owne people and there Dermot giues him his daughter in marriage with the dowry of his Country which after his wickednesse had vndone hee liued not to see more yeares hauing had to many by this and dies miserably leauing the Stile of Ningal which signifies the strangers friend added to his name in memory of his vnnaturall forsaking his owne Nation Strongbow after hauing secured the places gotten marches with those small forces he had ouer the Island without resistance Rodoricke the Great shewing himselfe but a little Prince kept in the Wildes and fastnesses of Connaught and neuer came to appeare before the enemy who passing through the Country at his pleasure takes what pledges he would of the inhabitants to secure their obedience and with as little labour possest himselfe of the Citie of Dublin the head of the Island Thus Wales got vs first the Realme of Ireland and which is most strange without stroke of battaile a thing scarce credible that a Country so populous a Nation of that disposition should not lift vp a hand to defend it selfe hauing it seemes either neglected the vse of Armes or else neuer beene acquainted with them other then in a naked manner of domesticke fight one with another whereby the terror of strange and neuer before seene forces in order of warre layd them prostrate to the mercy of the Ouer-runner But the King of England aduertised of the prosperous successe of these Aduenturers and the Estate of the Country grew in iealousie of them thinking they presumed farther then their subiection would allow and would make themselues that which they must bee made by him and take away the glory of the worke that should bee onely his causes proclamation to be made That no vessell should carry any thing out of his Dominions into Ireland and that all his subiects should returne from thence and leaue off their attempts otherwise to forfeit their Estates at home And withall sends ouer William Fitz. 1172. Anno. Reg. 18. Adelm and Robert Fitz Bernard with some forces to prepare the way for him who followed shortly after and lands eight miles from Waterford the Eue of Saint Luke Anno 1172. being the third yeare after the first Inuasion made by Fitz Stephen At his first landing a white Hare starting out of a bush was taken and presented to him interpreted as a presage of a white victory The next day hee marches to Waterford where he staied fifteene dayes and thither came to him of their owne accord the Kings of Corke Limricke Oxerie Meth and all of any powre in Ireland except Rodoricke King of Connaught who still kept himselfe in the fastnesse of his Countrey and submitted themselues withall the Clergie taking their Oath of Fealty to him and the young King The Irish kings submission and their Successors for euer so these deuided Princes holding no common Councell for the publique safty rather then to ioyne those hands that had so often scratched each other
fell all from themselues and with the same emulation they had in libertie stroue for their seruitude who should be first to receiue a forraine maister From Waterford the King goes to Dublin where hee holds an Assembly of all these subiect Kings with the Lords Spirituall and Temporall of Ireland for the further ratification of their allegiance and the ordering and reformation of the State Which done hee causes the Bishops with the Clergie there to assemble at Cassell and appoints an especiall Chaplaine of his owne with the Archdeacon of Landaff to bee assistants and aduisors vnto them for reformation of Church-businesses which seemes to haue beene Henries reformation of Ireland as disordred as the people for though the Irish had beene long before Christians it was after a wilde and mixt fashion and therefore according to his promise made to the late Pope and to doe a worke pleasing to the present it was decreed That all Church-lands should be free from the exaction of secular men and that from thence foorth all Diuine things should bee ordered and vsed in euerie part of Ireland according to the manner of the Church of England being fit as saith the Cannon that as Ireland hath by Gods mercy obtained a Lord and King out of England so from thence they should receiue a better forme of life and manners then heretofore they vsed His Christmasse he keepes at Dublin where he royally feasts all his Kings great men of the Countrey the rest of his being there he imployes in fortifying and planting Garnisons where most need required he makes Hugh Lacy Iustice of all Ireland giues him the keeping of Dublin and besides confirmed vnto him and his heires by his Charter the Countrey of Meth to hold the same in Fee for the seruice of a hundreth Knights he bestowes on Robert Fits Bernard the keeping of the Townes of Waterford and Weisford which he tooke from Fits Stephen the first inuador with charge to build Castles in them and to humble the Earle Strongbow and leuell him with the rest of his subiects he takes from him all his dependants and makes them his So was it but his winters worke to get a Kingdome which though thus easily won it proued more difficult and costly in the keeping by reason the prosequution of a full establishment thereof was neither by him or his successors hauing other diuertments euer throughly accomplished On Easter monday he sets out for England where he makes no stay but takes the young King along in his company and passes ouer into Normandy to meete other two Legates Theodinus and Albertus who were sent from Pope Alexander but in milder fashion then the last to examine the murther of the late Arch-bishop Becket Foure moneths were spent in debating the matter and in the end the King by his Oath taken vpon the Reliques of Saints and the holy Euangelists before the two Legates in the presence of King Henry the sonne the Arch-bishop of Rouen and all the Bishops and Abbots of Normandy in the Citty of Auranches purged himselfe of either commanding or consenting to the murther Yet for that he doubted least they who committed His purgation for Beckets murther the same might be moued thereunto by seeing him disturbed and in passion he tooke the same Oath that in satisfaction thereof he would faithfully performe these Articles following First neuer to forsake Pope Alexander nor his Catholicke Successors so long as they vsed him as a Catholicke King Secondly That Appeales should freely be made to the Pope in causes Ecclesiasticall Prouided that if any were suspected to worke euill to him or his Kingdome they should then put in security before they departed Thirdly That he would from Christmas next for three yeares to come vndertake the Crosse and the sommer fol lowing in person go to Ierusalem vnlesse he were stayed by the Pope or his Successors or imploied against the Sarasins in Spaine Fourthly That in the meane time he should deliuer so much money into the Templars hands as by their opinion would entertaine two hundreth souldiers in the Holy warre for one yeare Fiftly call home all such as had endured banishment for the Arch-bishop Sixtly Restore his possessions Seuenthly and lastly abolish all such customes as in his time had beene introduced to the preiudice of the Church After himselfe had sworne he caused Both Kings sweare to these Articles King Henry his sonne to sweare to all these Articles except such as concerned his owne person And for a more Memory in the Roman Church he caused his Seale to be set vnto them with that of the two Cardinals So ended this tedious businesse that made more noyse in the world then any he had and bowed him more beeing his ill fortune to grapple with a man of that free resolution as made his sufferings his glory had his ambition beyond this world set vp his rest not to yeeld to a King was onely ingaged to his cause had opinion and beliefe to take his part Which so much preuailed as the King seeking to maister him aduanced him and now is he faine to kneele and pray to his Shrine whom he had disgraced in his person and hauing had him aboue his will whilest he liued hath him now ouer his Faith being dead And yet 48. yeares after this saith the French History it was disputed among the Doctors of Paris whether he were damned or saued And one Roger a Norman maintained he had iustly deserued death for rebelling against his Soueraigne the Minister of God To make the better way to the ending of this businesse and content the King of Henry the sonne is again crowned with Margaret his wife Fraunce Henry the sonne is againe Crowned and with him Margaret his wife with permission shortly after to goe visite Paris where this young King apt inough though not to know himselfe yet to know his State receiued those instructions as made his ambition quite turne off his obedience and conceiue How to be a King was to be a power aboue and vndeuideable And to further the birth of this apprehension fell out this occasion The Father euer awake to aduance his greatnesse takes a iourney in person into Auergnia and so to Monferrato and there purchases a match for the price of fiue thousand Markes for his yongest sonne Iohn with Alice the eldest daughter of Hubert Earle of Mauriena then as it seemes Lord of Piemont and Sauoy with condition to haue with her the inheritance of all those Countreys containing many great Signories Citties and Castles specified in Roger Houeden with all the circumstances and couenants very remarkeable Vide Append. of the contract So vnto greatnesse that easier increases then begins is added more meanes and euery way opens to this actiue and powrefull King aduantages of State 1173. Anno. Reg. 19. in so much as the King of France was euen surrownded with the powre dependances of this mightie King of Eng. whose fortunes most
and by the vniuersall Councell of the Kingdome graunted his daughter to the King of Sicile to whom shee was shortly after sent and there honourably indowed with many Cities and Castles as may appeare by the Charter of that King But the great Match that was prouided for Earle Iohn became frustrate by the Vide Append. death of Alice daughter to the Earle of Mauriana and hee is married to the daughter of William Earle of Glocester by whom hee was to haue that Earldome This William was sonne to Robert brother to Maude the Empresse The same yeare also hee marries Elionor another of his daughters to Alphonso King of Castile and takes vp the controuersie betweene him and his Vncle Sanctio King of Nauarre about the detention of certaine bordering peeces of each others Kingdome both the Kings hauing referred the businesse to his arbitration Likewise the marriage which should haue beene betweene his sonne Richard 1178. Anno. Reg. 24. and Alice daughter to the French King committed heretofore to his custodie was againe treated on and vrged hard by the Popes Legat to bee consummated vpon paine of interdiction But yet it was put off for that time and both Kings notwithstanding concluded a perpetuall League and amitie to ayde each other against all men and to bee Enemies to each others Enemies Besides they both vowed an expedition to the Holy Land in person which they liued not to performe The King of France vpon a daungerous sicknesse of his sonne Philip vowes a visitation of the Sepulcher of Thomas the Martire of Canterbury and vpon licence and safe conduct of the King of England performes the same with great deuotion and Rich presents First offering vpon his Tombe a massie Cup of Gold and after gaue and confirmed by his Charter twenty eight Tunne and a halfe of wine for the Monkes annually to bee receiued at Possi at the charge of the King of France and beside freed them from all Tolle and Custome for whatsoeuer they should buy in his Kingdome After hauing stayed there three dayes hee returnes towardes France conducted 1179. Anno. Reg. 25. by the King of England to Douer The Sonne recouers health but the Father lost his in this iourney for comming to Saint Denise hee was taken with a Palsie and liued not long after The weaknesse of his Age and disease mooued him presently to haue his sonne Philippe beeing but fifteene yeares of Age to bee 1180. Anno. Reg. 26. Crowned King in his life time which was done at Reines Anno 1179. Henry Duke of Saxonie who had married Maude daughter to King Henry was expelled his Dutchie and banished by the Emperour Frederic the third for seuen yeares for detayning the reuenues which the Archbishop of Cologne had out of Saxonie and refusing to come vnto tryall at the Imperiall Chamber according to his faith and promise made to the Emperour so that hee was driuen to come for succour with his Wife and Children to his Father in Law into England where hee remained three yeares and vpon the comming of the Archbishoppe of Cologne to visit the Sepulcher of Thomas of Canterburie meanes was wrought to restore him to his Dutchie and a motion is made of marriage for Richard the Kings sonne with the daughter of the Emperour Frederic notwithstanding the contract made with Alice daughter to the King of France long before but this last intention was made frustrate by the death of the Emperours daughter King Henry sends his sonne Iohn to reside in Ireland to the end that the Maiestie of a Court and the number of attendants which the same would draw thither might both a we and ciuilise that Countrey but hee being accompaned with many gallants young as himselfe who scorning and deriding the Irish in regard of their rude habits and fashions wrought an ill effect For it turned out three of their greatest Kings Limmeric Conact and Corke into open act of rebellion Gens enim haec sicut natio quauis barbara quanquam honorem nesciant honorari tamen supra modum affectant saith Giraldus Cambrensis Now this faire time of peace which King Henry enioyed gaue him leasure to seeke out all meanes to supply his coffers wherein hee was very vigilant and hearing of the great summes which Roger Archbishoppe of Yorke had giuen by his Testament to godly vses sends Commissioners to finde out and to seize the same to his owne vses Alledging that the Archbishop had giuen Iudgement in his life time that it was against Law any Ecclesiasticall person should dispose any thing by will vnlesse before hee The King sends after monies giuen to pious vses by Testators of the Clergie were sicke and that himselfe had done contrary to his owne Decree The Commissioners hauing found out that Hugh Bishop of Durham had receiued of the Archbishop three hundred Markes of siluer to bee bestowed in those vses demaund the same for the King The Bishop replies that hauing receiued it from the hands of the Archbishoppe hee had according to his will distributed the same amongst the Leprous Blinde and Lame in repayring Churches Bridges and Hospitalls so that who would haue it must gather it vp againe of them Which answere so displeased the King as besides the seizing vpon the Castle of Dures'm hee wrought this Bishop much vexation His meanes certaine besides the reuenue of his Demesne and the benefit of the Forests were not then great in England which caused him oftentimes in The Vacancie of Lincoln held 18 yeares to the Kings vse his necessities to bee bould with the Church and to hold their benifices vacant as hee did the Bishopricke of Lincolne eighteene yeares Hee made a new Coyne in England which was round decryed the Olde and put all the Coyners to great ransome for corrupting the olde money And besides to saue his purse in regard the continuall charge of Horse and Armour was heauie vnto him hee caused euerie mans Lands and substance to bee rated for the furnishing thereof And first beganne the same in his Dominions beyond the Seas ordayning That whosoeuer had a hundredpounds Aniouin money in goods and chattles should finde a Horse and all Militarie furniture thereunto and whosoeuer had in chattle fortie thirtie or twentie pounds Aniouin money should finde a Corslet Head-peece Launce and Sword or Bow and Arrowes with a strict prohibitition that no man should sell or pawne this Armour but bee bound to Vide Append. leaue it when hee died to his next heire And this Order afterward hee established in England 1181. Anno. Reg. 17. by consent of the State The King of France and the Earle of Flaunders by his example did the like in their Countreys Great and manifold were the expences of this mightie King in respect of his entertainments pensions and rewards hauing so wide an Estate and so many euer in his worke both of his owne and others who must alwaies be seed And besides oftentimes hee is faine to
onely hold Pietie guilty otherwise those times had not yeelded it The King sends likewise Hugh Bishop of Duresme with other Commissioners to William King of Scots to collect the tenthes in his Countrey which he would not permit Prouision by king Henry in England but offered to giue the King of England fiue thousand Markes of siluer for those tenthes and the Castle which he claimed but the King of England refused the same Whilst these preparations were in hand and the mony collecting a quarrell arises betweene Richard Earle of Poictou and Raymond Earle of Tholouse vpon this occasion 1187. Anno. Reg. 33. The Earle of Tholouse by the perswasion of one Peter Suillar had taken certaine Merchants of Aquitaine and vsed them hardly The Earle of Poictou surprises this Peter imprisons him and would not suffer the Earle of Tholouse to redeeme him vpon any condition Whereupon the Earle imprisons two Gentlemen seruants of the King of Englands Robert and Raph Poer trauelling through his Countrey as Pilgrimes from S. Iames de Compostella which Earle Richard tooke so ill as he enters into the Earles countrey with an Army prepared for a better act wastes it with fire and sword besieges A meane quarell dashes and diuerts the great preparation for the holy warre and layes it vpon the selfe kingdomes and takes his Castles about Tholouse The King of France vpon the lamentable complaint of the Tholousians sends to the King of England to vnderstand whether his son Richard did these things by his will and Councell The King of England answers That he neither willed nor counselled him thereunto and that his sonne sent him word by the Archbishop of Dublin that he did nothing but by the consent of the King of France Who not satisfied with this answer enters presently into Bery with his Army seases vpon the Countrey takes in diuers Castles of the King of Englands who makes himselfe ready to recouer the same And thus that great intended enterprise vndertaken with such feruor became dasht and ouerthrowne at the very time they appointed to haue set forward All the meanes the Pope could vse by his Legates nor all the perswasions of other Princes might preuaile to reconsile these two inraged Kings though diuerse enteruiewes 1188. Anno. Reg. 34. were procured diuerse ouertures propounded yet none tooke effect they euer depart more incensed then they met in so much as at length the King of France in a rage cut downe the great Elme betweene Gisors and Try vnder which the Kings of France and Dukes of Normandy were euer vsed to parle and swore There should be The King of France cuts downe the most eminent Elme of Princely parley no more meetings in that place But yet after this they were brought to another parle elsewhere and therein the Popes Legate threatned to interdict the King of France vnlesse he made peace with the King of England The King of France told him that he feared not his sentence being grounded vpon no equity and that it appertained not to the Church of Rome by sentence or otherwise to chastice the Kingdome or King of France vndertaking to reuenge the demerits of the rebellious that dishonored his Crowne and flatly told the Cardinall That he smelled of the Sterlings of England This enteruiew wrought a worse effect then all the rest for here the King of England absolutely refuses to render Alice to his sonne Richard but offered to the King Earle Richard with the King of France com bine against his father king Henry 2. of France to giue her to his sonne Iohn with larger conditions then should be granted with the other which so much alienated the heart of his sonne Richard as he becomes wholly Liegeman to the King of France did homage vnto him for Aquitaine and they both ioyne their forces against the father And here now comes this mighty King of England the greatest of all the Christian world in his time or that the Kingdome euer saw to fall quite asunder forsaken both of his subiects and himselfe letting downe his heart to yeeld to any conditions whatsoeuer he who neuer saw feare but in the backe of his enemies leaues now the defence of Mans and flies away with seuen hundreth men hauing promised the Citty neuer to giue it ouer in regard his Father was there buried and himselfe borne and afterward comes to his last parle with the King of France betweene Turwin and Arras where at their first meeting no man suspecting the wrath a thunder-bolt with so terrible a cracke lighted iust betweene them as it parted their conference in a confused manner for that time Within a while after they came together againe when suddenly began as fearefull 1189. Anno. Reg. 35. a thunder as the former which so amased the King of England as he had falne off from his horse had he not beene supported by those about him And in this sort beganne the Proem of that Treaty wherein the King of England yeelds to all whatsoeuer conditions the King of France required did him homage againe for all his dominions on that side both kings hauing at the beginning of this warre renounced their mutuall obligation in that kind renders vp Alice for whom he had beene so much loden with scandall and turmoyle vpon condition she should be giuen in marriage to his sonne Richard at his returne from the holy warre and in the meane time to remaine in the custody of any one of fiue whom Richard would nominate grants that fealty be giuen vnto him of all his Dominions and pardons all his partakers Besides couenants to pay the King of France 20000 Markes of siluer for dammage done during these last warres And that if he should not performe these Articles his Barons should sweare to renounce him and betake them to the part of the King of France and Earle Richard And for more caution hee yeeldes to deliuer vp the Cities of Mans and Tureyn with diuerse Castles into their Hands c. And here was an end of this businesse and within three daies after of this kings life whose heart not made of that temper to bow burst with the weight of a declining fortune Some few howers before he died he saw a list of their names who conspired with the King of France and Earle Richard against him and finding therein his sonne Iohn His death to be the first fals into a grieuous passion both cursing his sonnes and the day wherein himselfe was borne and in that distemprature departs this world which so often himselfe had distempered hauing reigned 39. yeares 7. moneths and 5. dayes His sonne Richard approching the Corps as it was carrying to be interred adorned according to the manner of Kings with all royall ornaments open faced the bloud 1189. Anno. Reg. 35. gushed out of the nostrils of the dead a signe vsually noted of guiltinesse as if Nature yet after death retained some intelligence in the veines to giue
married the Lady Berenguela and caused her to bee Crowned Queene These mischiefes suffred these two famous Isles of Christendome in the passage of these mighty Princes against Pagans who peraduenture would haue as well vsed them for their goods and treasure as these did but Armies and powre know no inferior friends it was their Fate so to lie in the way of great attempters who though in the cause of Piety would not sticke to doe any iniustice From hence passes this famous king to the Holy Land with the spoyles and treasure of three noble rich Islands England Sicile and Cyprus besides what Normandy and Guien could furnish him with all and there consumes that huge collected masse euen as violently as it was gotten though to the exceeding great renowne of him the nation Heere for the better vnderstanding this businesse it is not amisse to deliuer in what sort stood the Estate of those affaires in Asia which so much troubled these mighty Princes and drew them from the vtmost bounds of Europe thus to aduenture themselues and consume their Estates It was now foure score and eight yeares since Godsrey of Bologne Prince of Lorraine with his company recouered the Citie of Ierusalem with the Countrey of Palestina and a great part of Siria out of the hands of the Sarazins obtayned the Kingdome thereof and was Crowned with a Crowne of Thornes in example of our Sauiour raigned The State of Palestina one yeare died and left to succeed him his brother Baldwin who gouerned eighteene yeares and left the Crowne to another of that name Balwin de Burgo who raigned thirteene yeares and left a daughter and his Kingdome in dissention Fulke Earle of Aniou marries this daughter and enioyes the Kingdome eleuen yeares and left two young sonnes Baldwin and Almerique Balwin raignes foure and twenty yeares and after him his brother Almerique twelue and leaues Baldwin his sonne to succeed him who being sickly and dispayring of yssue made Baldwin his Nephew sonne to the Marquesse of Monferrato and Sibilla his Sister his successor and commits the charge of him with the administration of the Kingdome to Raymond Earle of Tripoly whom Guy de Lusignan who had married Sibilla the Widdow of Monferrato put from that charge and vsurped the Gouerment and at length the Kingdome not without suspition of poysoning the young King Raymond making warre vpon him Lusignan drawes in Sultan Saladin of Egipt to his ayde who glad of that occasion to augment his owne State destroyed them both with their Kingdome and wonne the Citie of Ptolomeide Asoto Berytho Ascalon and after one months siege the Citie of Ierusalem foure score and eight yeares after it had beene conquered by Godfrey Now to recouer this confounded State come these two Great Kings from a farre and a different clyme with an Army composed of seuerall Nations and seuerall humours English French Italians and Germaines against a mightie Prince of an vnited powre within his owne ayre neera at home bred and made by the sword inured to victories acquainted with the fights and forces of the Christians and possessed almost of all the best peeces of that Countrey And heere they sit downe before the City of Acon defended by the powre of Saladin The Kings of England and France besiege Acon which had beene before besieged by the Christians the space of three yeares and had cost the liues of many worthy Princes and great personages whose names are deliuered by our Writers amongst whom I will remember these few of especiall note Conradus Duke of Suenia sonne of Frederic the Emperour which Frederic was also drowned comming thither with the Earles of Perch Puntif and olde Theobald Earle of Bloys that famous Stickler betweene the Kings of England and France Stephen Earle of Sancerre the Earle of Vandosme Bertoldus a Duke of Germany Reoger and Ioselin Earles of Apulia c. And lastly Phillip Earle of Flaunders and of our Nation Baldwin Archbishoppe of Canterbury Robert Earle of Leicester Ralph de Glanuile Chiefe Iustice of England Richard de Clare Walter de Kime c. And notwithstanding all the forces of these two kings they held out foure monthes after and then rendred themselues vpon composition At their entring into the Citie the Ensignes of Leopold Duke of Austrich beeing planted on the walles were with great scorne taken downe by the commandement of King Richard and those of the two Kings erected which bred great rancour and was afterward the occasion of much mischiefe to the king of England Besides during this siege diuers stings were ministred or taken of displeasure and malice betweene the two kings apt to bee set on fire by the least touches of conceipt The king of France full of disdaine for the reiection of his Sister and the marriage of the king of England with Berenguela besides competition of honour which their equality was subiect vnto made any iot of the least disproportion thereof a wounde without cure And daylie occasions in so great hearts fell out to worke the same The Article of equall deuiding their gaines in this voyage concluded between them is questioned The king of France claimes halfe the Isle of Cyprus the king of England halfe the Treasure and goods of the Earle of Flaunders whereon the King of France had seised and therein neither is satisfied Then are there two pretenders to the Crowne of Ierusalem Guy of Lusignan and Conrade Marquis of Monferrato Guy pleads the possession thereof which he had by his wife Sibilla the King of England takes part with Guy the King of France with Conrade And with these differences are they kept in imbroylements and continually distempered in so much as by their owne heats and the contagion The Kings of England and France dangerously sicke of the Country they fell into a most daungerous sicknesse that cost them both their haire being more then they got by the voyage But being recouered the King of France had no longer will to stay there where hee saw no more likelihood of honour or profit and at home hee knew was better good to be done with lesse danger and the rather by the death of the Earle of Flaunders whose state lay so neere as it tooke vp part of his whereof he had a purpose to abridge his successor and therefore craues leaue of the King of England for without leaue of each other it was couenanted neither of them should depart to returne home which King Richard was hardly wonne to grant in respect he knew the daunger it might worke him in his absence to let such an offended Lyon loose But in the end through the earnest sollicitation of the King of France and his assurance The King of France departs from the Holy warre confirmed by Oath not to doe anything offensiue to his Dominions in France during his absence he yeelds thereunto And so departs this great Prince leauing the Earle of Borgogne Lieutenant of his forces And King Richard betakes him
to the siege of Ascalon writes inuectiue letters against the King of France for leauing him who likewise defames King Richard amongst his neighbours at home And it may be doubted whether the periurie of these two Kings did not adde more to their sinne then the action they vndertooke for the remission thereof could take away for that a good worke impiously managed meretts no more then an ill Ten moneths the King of England stayes behind in these parts consuming both his men and treasure without any great successe though with much noble valor and exceeding courage finding euer great peruersuesse in the Earle of Borgogne who according to his maisters instructions shewed no great desire to aduance the action where another must carry the honour but willing alwaies to returne home pretending his want drew backe when any businesse of importance was to bee done and at length falls sicke and dies at Acon Conrade who was so much fauoured by the King of France in his title for that Kingdome Conrade murthered was murthered by two Assassini whereof the King of England was but very wrongfullie taxed and the Earle of Champagne martying his Widdow Sister to Queene Sibilla was by King Richard preferred to the Crowne of Ierusalem and Guy of Lusignan the other pretender made King of Ciprus and so both contented During this businesse abroade in the East the state of England suffred much at home vnder the gouernment of Lonshamp who vsurping the whole authority to himselfe without communicating Longshamps traine and pompe any thing either with the Nobility or the rest of the Commissioners ioyned with him did what hee listed and with that insolencie carried himselfe as hee incurred the hatred of the whole Kingdome both Clergie and Lay. His traine was said to be so great and the pompe of attendants such as where hee lay in any religious house but one night 3 yeares reuenues would scarce suffice to recouer the charge Besides being a stranger himselfe and vsing only French men about him made his courses the more intollerable to the English in so much as at length the whole Clergie and Nobility oppose against his proceedings and the Earle Iohn taking aduantage vpon these discontentments to make himselfe more popular and prepare the way to his intended vsurpation ioynes with the state against this B. being the man that had euer crossed his courses hauing an especially eye vnto him as the most dangerous person of the Kingdome both in respect of the kings charge and his owne saftie And now there fell out a fit occasion to ruine the Chancellor by this meanes Geffrey 1191. Anno. Reg. 3. the Elect Archbishop of Yorke base sonne to Henry the 2. to whose preferment in Eng. King Richard was auerse therfore had confin'd him within Normandy during his absence had by great labour to Pope Celestine obtained a powre to bee inuested in that Sea whose comming into England being aduertised to the Chancellor Long shamp Geffrey the Elect of Yorke taken and imprisoned by the Chancelor he was at his landing at Doner apprehended and drawne by force out of the Church which hee had recouered and from the Altar in his Pontificall habit trailed into the Castle in most vile manner Of which violence the Earle Iohn and the Bishop taking notice they command the Chancellor not only to release him but also to answere the matter before the assembly of the Bishops and Nobilite at Pauls where they Article and vrge against him many hainous actions committed contrarie to the Comission giuen him and the Weale of the King and Kingdome The Archbishop of Roan and William Marshall Earle of Striguile shewed openly the Kings Letters pattents dated at Messena in Sicile whereby they were made Commissioners with him in the gouernment of the Kingdome which notwithstanding hee would neuer suffer them to deale in any businesse of the same but by his owne violent Longshamp the Chancellor deposed from his office and headlong will doe all himselfe wherefore in the end hee was by the Assembly deposed from his Office and the Archbishop of Rouen who would doe nothing without the Councell of the State instituted therein The Towre of London and the Castle of Windsor are taken from him and deliuered to the Archbishop And so this great Officer presuming to much in his place hauing enuie so neere him and a maister so sarre off was throwne downe from his State faine to resigne his Legantine Crosse at Canterbury and to take vp that for the Holy warre and priuily seekeing to escape ouer Sea was in the habit of a woman with a webbe of Linnin cloth vnder his arme taken vpon the shore at Douer and most opprobriouslie made a spectacle to the people and conducted with all derision to the Castle whence after He flies and is taken eight daies hee was by the Earle Iohn released and suffered to goe on his iourney wherein being the messenger of his owne misusage he had the aduantage of his aduersaries and preuailed against them with the Pope who tooke very tenderly the powre Legantine should be so vilified The Earle Iohn the Archbishop of Rouen and the other Iustices of the King grant vnto the Citie of London their Common or liberties and the Citizens Swore fealtie to King Richard and his haire and that if he died without issue they would receiue the Earle Iohn for their Lord and King and likewise swore fealty vnto him against all men reseruing their faith to King Richard In this forwardnesse was the Earle Iohn for his brothers Crowne whilst hee is beleagaring Ascalon and grapling with Saladin Sultan in the East But hauing notice of this proceeding in England and how the King of France had taken in Gisors and King Richards departure from Palestina the Country of Vexin contrarie to his Oath hee takes the oportunity of an offer made by Saladin of a truce for three yeares vpon condition that hee should restore Ascalon to the same State wherein hee found it before the siege which hee did by the Councell of the Templars and the whole Armie And presently leauing Wife Sister and people to come after him as they could prouide takes a shippe with some few followers and returnes from this action with as great precipitation as hee vndertooke it hauing consumed therein all that mightie Treasure left him by his father and all that otherwise hee could teare from his subiects and others by violent extortion or cunning practises Pardon vs Antiquitie if we miscensure your actions which are euer as those of men according to the vogue and sway of times and haue onely their vpholding by the opinion of the present wee deale with you but as posteritie will with vs which euer thinkes it selfe the wiser that will iudge likewise of our errors according to the cast of their imaginations But for a King of England to returne in this fashion cannot bee but a note of much inconsideration and had as pittifull
themselues pleased And now the King of France dayly getting vpon them hauing wonne Lisle Doway Courtray Bruges and Dam and the Emperour Adolph fayling of his ayde and personall assistance as vn-interessed confederates often doe especially hauing receiued their gage before hand as had this Emperour to the summe of 100 thousand Markes draue the King of England into great perplexitie and held him with long delayes to his extreame trauaile and expences which forced him to send ouer for more supply of Treasure and giue order for a Parliament to be held at Yorke by the Prince and such as had the manage of the State in his absence Wherein for that he would not bee disapointed he condiscends to all such Articles as were demaunded concerning the great Charter promising from thenceforth neuer to charge his subiects otherwise then by their consents in Parliament and to pardon such as had denied to attend him in this iourney For which the A Parliament held at Yorke in the absence of the King Commons of the Realme granted him the ninth penny of their goods the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Clergie of his Prouince the Tenth penny Yorke and his Prouince the Fifth so the Kings instant wants are relieued and the Kingdome satisfied for a present shift But it is not well with a State where the Prince and people seeke but to obtaine their seuerall ends and worke vpon the aduantages of each others necessities for as it is vn-sincere so it is often vn-successull and the good so done hurts more then it pleasures The King thus supplied staies all this Winter in Gaunt where his people committing The Gantois take armes against the English many outrages so exasperats the Gantois as they tooke armes made head against them slue many and put the Kings person in great daunger so that doe what the Earle Guy and himselfe could to appease them in satisfying such as had receiued wrong and giuing the rest faire words he hardly could escape safe out of the Country King Edward in danger which rather desired to haue the English commodities then their companies This was the successe of his iourney into Flanders which he leaues at the Spring of the yeare hauing concluded a truce with the King of France for two yeares And Hee returnes into England the poore Earle Gay left to himselfe is shortly after made the prey of his enemy and his Prisoner in Paris where he his daughter both died of griefe And Flanders is reduced to a possession though not to the subiection of the King of France For after they had receiued him for their Lord his exactions oppressions vpon them contrary to their ancient Liberties so armed the whole people being rich and mighty as they gaue France the greatest wound that euer before it receiued at one blow which was at the famous battell of Courtray wherein the Earle of Artoise Generall of the Army Arnold de Neel Constable of France and all the Leaders with Twelue thousand Gentlemen were slaine And to show what this King of France got by seeking to attaine The History of France this Soueraigntie of Flanders as well as we shall heare of the King of Englands getting vpon Scotland for the same title It is recorded in their Histories that in the space of Eleuen yeares this quarell cost the liues of 100 Thousand French men Besides it draue the King likewise to consume the substances of his people as wel as their blood and to loade them with new impositions as that of Malletoste and the Tenth Denier vpon the liure of all Merchandises which in the Collection bred great outcries and dangerous seditions among his Subiects And these were the fruits of these great attempters Now for King Edward of England he presently after his returne falles a new vpon Reg. 27. Anno. 1300. Scotland which in his absence had beaten his officers and people almost out of the Countrie slaine Sir Hugh Cressingham with 6000 English recouered many Castles and regaind the Towne of Berwick And all by the annimation and conduct of William Wallice a poore priuate Gentleman though nobly discended who seeing his K. Ed. prosecutes his Scottish businesse Will. Wallice animates the Scots against the subiection of England Countrie without a Head and thereby without a Heart all the great men either in Captiuity or subiection assembles certaine of as poore and desperate estate as himselfe and leades them to attempt vpon whatsoeuer aduantages they could discouer to annoy the English And hauing therein good successe it so increased both his Courage and Company as hee afterwards comes to be the generall Gardian of the whole Kingdome leads their Armies effects those great Defeits vpon the Enemy and was in possibility to haue absolutely redeemed his Countrie from the subiection of England had not some priuate Emulation amongst themselues the speedy cōming of King Edward with all his power preuented him So much could the spirit of one braue man worke to sett vp a whole Nation vpon their feet that lay vtterly cast downe And as well might hee at that time haue gotten the Dominion for himselfe as the place he had but that he held it more glory to preserue his Countrie than to get a Crowne For which he hath his immortall honour and whatsoeuer praise can bee giuen to meere Vertue must be euer due vnto him And now King Edward to bring his worke neere together remoues his Eschequer K. Ed. remoues his Escheker and Courts of Iustice to York and Courts of Iustice to Yorke where the continued aboue Six yeares And thither calles hee a Parliament requiring all his Subiects that held of him by Knights setuice to be ready at Roxborough by a peremptorie day where are assembled Three thousand men at Armes on barded Horses and Foure thousand other aimed men on Horse without bards with an Army on foot answerable consisting most of Welsh and Irish besides Fiue hundred men at armes out of Gasconie and with this power makes he his second expedition into Scotland The Earles of Hereford and Norfolke notwithstanding their former contempts attend him And although he were thus guirt with all this strength and in the midst of his mightinesse they vrge the ratifications of the Two Charters and their Pardons which they held not sufficient to secure them in regarde the King was out of the Realme at the late granting thereof The Bishop of Duresme the Earles of Surrey The famouse Battell of Fonkirk Warwicke and Glocester vndertooke for the King that after hee had subdued his Enemies and was returned hee should satisfie them therein And so these two Earles with the Earle of Lincolne Led his Vauntguard at the famous Battell of Foukirke The Scots ouerthrowne which the King of England gat wherein are reported to be slaine 200 Knights and Forty thousand foot of the Scots But William Wallice with some few escaped to make more worke And here againe that
Magnificense From thence he comes to London and renders solemne thanks to God and Saint Edward for victory Which to make it seeme the more intire shortly after William Wallice that renowned Guardian of Scotland betrayed by his Companion is sent vp prisoner to London adiudged according to the Lawes of England to be drawne hangd and quarterd for his treasons committed against the King whom at his Araignement hee would not yet acknowledge to bee his King protesting neuer to haue sworne Fealty vnto him Thus suffered that worthy man for the defence of his owne in a strange Countrie and remains amongst the best examples of Fortitude Pietie in that kinde And now King Edward being as hee supposed at an end of all his businesse an vniuersall Lord at home strong in Alliance and Peace abroad beginnes to looke more seuerely to the gouernement of this Kingdome and to draw profit out of those disorders which the Licence of Warre and Trouble had bred therein And first amongst The case of Sir Nicholas Segraue other examples of his power which it seemes hee would haue equall to his will is the case of Sir Nicholas Segraue one of the greatest Knights then of the Kingdome who being accused of treason by Sir Iohn Crombwell offers to iustifie himselfe by Duell which the King refuses to grant in regard of the present Warre then in hand Whereupon Segraue without licence and contrary to the Kings prohibition leaues the Kings Campe and goes ouer Sea to fight with his enemy for which the King as against one that had not only contemned him but as much as in him lay exposed him to death and left him to his enemies would haue Iustice to proceed against him Three daies the Iudges consulted of the matter and in the end adiudged Segraue guilty of death and all his moueables and immouables forfeited to the King Notwithstanding in regard of the greatnesse of his blood they added Hee went not out of England in contempt of the King but only to bee reuenged of his accuser and therefore it was in the Kings power to shew mercy vnto him in this case The King hereto in great wrath replyed haue you been all this while consulting for this I know it is in my power to conferre grace and on whom I will to haue mercy but not the more for your sakes then for a dogge Who hath euer submitted himselfe to my grace and had repulse but let this your iudgement bee recorded and for euer held as a Law And so the Knight for example and terrour to others was committed to prison though Mat. West shortly after by the labour of many Noble men of the Kingdome Thirty of his Peers guirt with their swords standing out to be bound body for body and goods for goods to bring him forth whensoeuer hee should be called the King restored him to his estate Shortly after the King likewise sends out a new writ of inquisition called Trailbaston For Intruders on other mens lands who to oppresse the right owner would The inquisiti on of Trailbaston make ouer their lands to great men For Batterers hired to beate men For Breakers of the Peace For Rauishers Incendiaries Murthercrs Fighters False Assisors and other such Malefactors Which Inquisition was so strictly executed and such Fynes taken as it brought in exceeding much treasure to the King So did likewise another Commission the same time sent forth to examine the behauiour of Officers and Ministers of Iustice wherein many were found Delinquents and paide dearely for it Informers here as fruitfull agents for the Fiske and neuer more imployed then in shifting times were in great request Besides these meanes for treasnre aboue ground this King made some profit of certaine Siluer mynes in Deuonshire as is to be seene in Hollingshead but it seemes the charge amounting to more then the benifit they afterwards came discontinued The King likewise now beginnes to shew his resentiment of the stubborne behauiour of his Nobles towards him in times past and so terrefies Roger Bigod Earle-Marshall Reg. 33. An. 1306. as to recouer his fauour the E. made him the heire of his lands though hee had a brother liuing reseruing to himselfe a Thousand pounds pension per annum during his life Of others likewise hee got great summes for the same offence The Earle of Hereford escapes by death But the Archbishop of Canterbury whom hee accused to haue disturbed his Peace in his absence he sends ouer to Pope Clement the Fift who succeded Boniface that he might be crusht with a double power This Pope was Natiue of Burdeaux and so the more regardefull of the Kings desire and the King more confident of his fauour which to intertaine and encrease hee sends him a whole Furnish of all Vessels for his Chamber of cleane golde which great gift so wrought with the Pope as hee let loose this Lion vntied the King from the couenants made with his Subiects concerning their Charters confirmed vnto them by his three last Acts of Parlement and absolued him from his oath an Act of little Pietie in the Pope and of as little conscience in the King who as if hee should now haue no more need of his Subiects discouered with what sincerity hee granted what hee did But sodainely hereupon there fell out an occasion that brought him backe to his right Orbe againe made him see his error reforme it finding the loue of his people lawfully ordered to be that which gaue him al his power meanes he had to know how their subsistances were intermutuall The newes of a new King made crowned in Scotland was that which wrought the effect hereof Robert Bruce Earle of Carrick sonne to that Robert who was Competitor with Baliol escaping out of England becomes head to the confused body of that people which hauing beene so long without any to guide them any intire Councell scattered in power disunited in minde neuer at one together were cast into that miserable estate as they were For had they had a King as well as their enemies to haue led them held them together managed their affaires accordingly that which they did in this distraction shewes how much more they would haue done otherwise And therefore no sooner did Bruce appeare in his designe but he effected it had the Crowne and hands ready to help him at an instant and that before Rumour could get out to report any thing of it Although Iohn Comyn his Cosen german being a Titeler himselfe a man of great loue Alliance in Scotland wrote to haue bewrayed Brucos intention to the King of England in whose Court they both had liued and were his Pensioners But Bruce as great vndertakers are euer a wake and ready at all houres preuents him by speede Bruce murthers Iohn Cumyn in the Church and either to be auenged on him for his falshood or rid of him as a Competitor finding him at Dunfraies sets vpon and
part Shortly after a Parlement is called at London wherein the King complaines of the great contempt was had of him by the Barons their rising in Armes their taking and murthering A Parlement Pierce Gaueston c. Whereunto with one accord they answer how they had not offended therein but rather mereted his lous and fauour hauing taken armes not for any contempt of his Royall person but to destroy the publique enemy of the Kingdome banished before by the consent of two Kings a man by whom his fame and honour was most highly disparaged his substance and that of the Kingdome wasted and a most dangerous dissention betweene him and his subiects raised Whereof otherwise with all their labour and trauaile they conld neuer haue had an end Besides they tell him plainely they would now no longer attend vaine promises nor be deluded with delaies as they had hitherto been concerning their required Articles Which stout resolution of theirs the Queene with the Prelates and the Earle of Glocester seeing they seeke by all perswasions to quallifie their heate and at length so farre preuailed with them as to appease the Kings wrath they brought them and their confederates in open Parlement to humble themselues to the King and to craue pardon for what they had done which they obtained and the King receiues The Lords are pardoned A Fifteenth granted them into grace as his loyall subiects grants them their Articles and particular pardons by his Charter for their indemnity concerning the death of Gaueston And for this the State vpon his great wants granted him a Fifteenth Guy de Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke is here appointed to bee one of the Kings Councell who Reg. 6. Anno. 1314. beeing a man much enuied by such as possest the King shortly after dies not without suspition of poyson Whilst the State of England stood thus diseased at home through the infirmity of a weake Head that of Scotland grew strong by the prouidence of a vigilant King who had not only ouercome the Scottish faction and recouered the most of his owne K. Bruce grows strong in Scotland Countrey but also made spoiles on this wasting all Northumberland in such sort as King Edward wakened with the out-cries of his people and the great dishonor of the K. Ed. goes with a mighty Army into Scotland kingdome is drawne to take armes for redresse thereof and enters Scotland with the greatest Armie that euer yet went thither consisting as the Scottish writers report of 100 Thousand men whereof were great numbers of Flemings Gascoines Welsh and Irish who in imagination had deuoured the Countrey before they came thither and thought not of Battailes but of deuiding the prey Besides the King had with him most of the Nobility and especiall men of England except Thomas Earle of Lancaster the Earles of Warwicke Warrein and Arundell who refused to goe for that the King protracted the execution of the foresaid Articles The Castle of Sterling is the peece that is to bee relieued which chiefly now held out defended by Philip Moubray a valiant Knight who seeing the daily successe of Bruce had manned and victualed the same for many moneths Neare to this place vpon the Riuer Bannocke is incountred this great Armie of England by Bruce with 30 Thousand Scots a small number say their writers in respect of their enemies but as men hardened with daily vse of warre and domesticall euills fierce and resolute carrying all their hopes in their hands of life estate and whatsoeuer was deare vnto them The aduantage of the ground was theirs hauing behinde vnaccessable Rocks to defend them before a Moorish vncertaine ground wherein they digged trenches The battail of Bannocks borough which they pitched full of sharpe stakes and couered them ouer with hurdles so that tht footmen might passe ouer safely without impediment but it so confounded the Horse as it gaue the Scots the day and the greatest ouerthrow to England that euer it receiued There perished in this Battaile called of Bannocks Bourough Gilbert The defeit of the English the last Clare Earle of Glocester a maine Arch of the State of England and Robert Lord Clifford the Noblest of our Barons with the Lord Tiptoft the Lord Mareschall the Lord Giles de Argenton the Lord Edmond de Maule 700 Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of sort of common souldiers theirs say Fifty thousand ours Ten taken prisoners Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford Ralph de Morthelmere who married Ioan de Acres Countesse dowager of Glocester with many others the King and those who were preserued escaped by flight This defeit put Scotland both into Armes and Wealth so that they held their owne the better for a long time after and discouraged so much this kingdome for many yeares as it wrought not though it often attempted any great reuenge King Eddward vpon his comming backe to Yorke shewed a great desire to repaire this dishonour but nothing was done his people grew colde home they returne and sitte downe by their losse The poore Borderers haue the worst of it and become so deiected as 100 of them would flie from three Scots saith Walsingham To such a sodain faintnesse are the inferiours brought when the nobler parts of a State which should giue them spirit are ill affected This disaster as mischiefe neuer comes alone was attended with inundations which brought forth Dearth Dearth Famine Famine Pestilence all which exceeded any that euer before had been knowne A Parlement is called at London vpon A Parlement at London the beginning of this Dearth to abate the prices of victualls which sodainely grewto be excessiue And therefore it was ordained that an Oxe fatted with grasse Reg. 8. An. 1315. should be sould for sixteene shillngs fatted with corne for twentie shillings the best Cow for twelue shillings a fat Hogge of two yeares old three shillings foure pence a fatte Sheepe shorne fourteene pence with the fleece twenty pence a fatte Goose for two pence halfe penny a fatte Capon two pence a fat Hen a penny foure Pigeons Rates for victualls a penny whosoeuer sould aboue should forfeit their ware to the King Heere seemes then to haue been no Calues Lambes Goslings Chickins young Pigges to be sould those dainties were not yet in vse After these rates imposed all kinde of victualls grew more scarce then before and such a Murrein followed of all kinde of Cattell with a generall failing of all fruits of A Dearth which lasted 3. yeares the earth by the excessiue raines and vnseasonable weather as prouision could not be had for the Kings house nor meanes for other great men to maintaine their Tables such a iust punishment had Excesse and Ryot inflicted thereon in those daies in so Reg. 10. An. 1317. much as men put away their seruants in great numbers who hauing beene daintily bred and now not able to worke scorning to begge fell to Robberie and spoyle which addes more miserie
hands together betweene the hands of the King of France pronounced the words of the Homage which were these You become Liegeman to the King my maister here present as Duke The forme of the Homage of Guyene and Peere of France and you promise to beare saith and loyalty vnto him Say yea and King Edward said yea and kisses the King of France as the Lord of the Fee in the mouth the like Homage hee then did for the Earle do me of Ponthieu This act of submission performed in the person of a King young actiue hauty and powerfull who held himselfe wronged in doing it to whom hee did bred that rancour in his heart as it had beene better for all Christendome that Ceremony had beene spared at this time and not so punctually beene exacted by King Phillip whom their owne Historians blame for standing so much vpon his Regality with one as mighty as himselfe and more able and likely to shake his new gotten Throne then any other whatsoeuer to whose passion considering the fiery heat of his youth hee should rather haue ministered Oyle then Vinegar and more hospitably intertertained him in his Court comming with that State and Magnificence as hee did attended with the best of all the kingdome of England to shew what he was and to beget a respect of his high estate But these are the errours of improuident Princes who carried with the sway of their owne will imbroyle themselues and their subiects that euer suffer the worst and are sure to pay dearely for others faults And now thus wounded in reputation with a minde swolne for reuenge the King K. Ed. returns out of France intertaines the Scottish businesse of England returnes to settle his affaires at home where Scottish businesses fall out to intertaine him The late peace concluded with them is held so dishonourable as it must not holde and to breake the same followed an occasion begunne vppon their owne quarells The tender age of their King the affliction of kingdomes with the emulation and factions in great men put Edward Balliol sonne to Iohn Balliol sometime King of Scotland thirtie two yeares after his fathers deposition to attempt Ed. Balliol comes out of France defeited his opposers is crowned King of Scotland the recouery of that Crowne and out of France where hee had all that while remained hee comes by the solicitation of his friends into England where hee was permitted vnderhand to get ayde and had all such Scots and English who were of the faction against Bruce to take his part and with them hee sodainely assailes those who had the gouernment of that kingdome during the nonage of the young King Dauid beeing at that time with the King of France and ouercame them in a battayle with the slaughter of many Noble men and Thousands of the common people and thereuppon was immediately crowned King of Scotland at Scone But his party being not so potent as they could maintaine and defend his quarrell against all those which opposed it hee was forced notwithstanding this great defeit to retire him into England to get more ayde of King Edward who now shewes himselfe in the action Berwick recouered ioynes with Baliol against his brother in law king Dauid goes in person with a strong Army to recouer Berwicke which after three moneths siege being valiantly defended The bataile of Halidown hil by the Lord Seton was againe taken in and the Army of the Scots which came to the rescue thereof at Halidowne hill vtterly defeited where were slaine seuen Earles 900 Knights and Baronets foure hundred Esquires and about two and thirty thousand common souldiers as our writers report theirs fourteene thousand And with this effusion of blood is Baliol returned to his miserable kingdome In this oppugnation of Berwicke though my haste bee great I must not so much A memorable act in the oppugnation of Berwicke trespasse vertue as to ouerpasse one memorable perticular recorded by the Scottish writers which is how the Lord Seton seeing all reliefe failing and the assaults so violent as hee could not long holde out conditions with king Edward if rescue came not at such a day to render him vp the towne and for assurance deliuers him two of his sonnes Shortly after king Edward hauing notice of the Scottish Army approaching with greater power and speed then hee expected and likely to bee there before the day sommons the Lord Seton to render the towne presently otherwise he should see his two sonnes executed before his face and withall a Gallowes is made ready within sight of the towne the young Gentlemen brought forth and vnder the hand of the Executioner wherewith the distressed Lord rent betweene those powerfull passions of Nature and Honour standing doubtfull what to doe his wife the mother of those sonnes a Lady more then a woman comes vnto him exhorts him to remember his Fealty sworne to the King his Charity to his Countrie the dignity of his noble Familie that they had other children left though these were destroyed and besides themselues were not so olde but that they might haue more How those if they should bee preserued from death at this time might otherwise shortly perish by some worse occasion And what a staine he should lay on the name of Seton and their posteritie for ever by a base act of yeelding and betraying the place committed vnto him whereby also hee was not certaine whether he should preserue his children or no for how could hee hope that this King who had violated his first promise with him would performe the last And therefore besought him that hee would not prefer an vncertaine and momentany benefite before a certaine and perpetuall ignominy And so recovering her Lords resolution for holding out withdrew him from the walles into some other parts aside that he might not be Spectator of the execution of his innocent children The next yeare after this defeit at Hallidown Hill Edward Baliol King of Seots at 1333. An. Reg. 7. Newcastle doth Homage to the King of England as his superiour Lord and takes his oath of Fealty Binding himselfe and his heires to hold that Kingdome of him and his successors for ever with the inheritance of fiue Countries next adioyning to the Borders So large a part yeelds hee to forgoe rather then to be in danger to loose the whole which Edward Baliol doth Homage for the Kingdome of Scotl. yet could not secure his estate but rather imbroyled it the more by reason of the discontent which most part of the Nobles of Scotland conceived vpon this act of Alienation and subiection of their Country Insomuch as it gaue both Kings continuall occasion of trouble for a long time after with the expence of infinite treasure A Parlement holden at London There was granted to the King of England for these warres a Fifteenth of the Temporalty a Twelfe of Cities and Boroughes and a Tenth of the Clergie in
suncke all their Ships King Edward vanquishes the French Kings great Navie slew 30 thousand men and landed with as great glory as such a victorie the greatest that ever before was gotten by the English at Sea could yeeld Most of the French rather then to endure the Arrowes and sharpe swords of the English or be taken desperately leape into the Sea Whereupon the French Kings Iester set on to giue him notice of this overthrow which being so ill newes none else willingly would impart on the suddaine said and oftentimes re-iterated the same Cowardly Englishmen Iean Tillet Dasterdly Englishmen Faint-hearted Englishmen The King at length asked him Why For that said he They durst not leap out of their ships into the Sea as our braue French-men did By which speech the King apprehended a notion of this overthrow which the French attribute to Nicholas Buchet one of their chiefe Commanders who had armed his Ships with men of base condition content with small pay and refused Gentlemen and sufficient Souldeirs in regard they required greater wages and it osten happens that the Auarice of Commanders haue beene the occasion of great defeits But this losse much abated the power of the French King who notwithstanding in these Martiall times was soone supplyed both out of his owne Dominions and those of his Confederates and makes a mighty head against this victorious powerfull and freshly furnished King of England who suddainely sets downe before Tourney with King Edward and sends hic Challenge to the French King all his owne and his adherents forces And from Chyn a place neere-by where hee lodged sends his Cartell the 17 of Iuly to Phillip de Valois lodging at S. Andrew les Aire with his puissant army Declaring how he with the power of his owne Kingdome and aide of the Flemmings was come to recever his right in the Kingdome of France uniustly detained from him contrary to the Lawes of God and Man and that seeing no other meanes would serue hee was forced in this manner to haue recourse to his sword Notwithstanding seeing the businesse was between them two hee offers for the avoiding of Christian bloud à nd devastation of the Country to try the same by combat in close Campe body to body or each of them accompaned with 100 choyce persons which if the said Phillip refused then to strike battell within ten daies after before the Cittie of Tourney Phillip de Valois returnes answer the last of Iuly in this manner Phillip by the grace of God King of France to Edward King of England Wee haue perused your letters sent to the The French Kings answer to the Challenge Court of Phillip de Valois containing certaine requests to the said Phillip and for that it appeareth hose letters and requests were not written or made vnto vs wee will in no sort answer you But seeing by those letters and otherwise wee understand how you led by Wilfulnesse without all reason haue entred our Kingdome of France with armed power and committed no small dammage in the same and on our people contrary to the duety of a Liegeman having lalely sworne homage vnto us acknowledging us as by right King of France and haue promised that obedience which is due from the Vassall to his Liege-Lord as is manifest by your letters Patents under your great Seale which we haue with us and you likewise ought to haue the same with you And therefore our intention is as becomes our Honour to chace you out of our Kingdome as we firmely hope in Christ from whom we haue our power to do For that by this your warre most wickedly begunne our Iourney undertaken for the East is hindred no small number of Christians there murthered the holy service neglected and the Church dishonoured And whereas you alledge you possesse the aide of the Flemmings wee are assuredly perswaded that they with the Communalty of their Countrie will so beare themselues towardes our Cosen their Earie and vs their superiour Lords as they will not omit to obserue their honour and fidelity whatsoeuer hath beene by some through ill counsell perpetrated for their owne priuate contrary to the common good The French write how King Phillip with this Letter sent worde to King Edward how by his Cartell hee aduentured nothing of his owne but onely exposed the dominion of another which was without all reason If hee would hazard the kingdome of England though it were lesse against the kingdome of France the said King Phillip would enter combate in close campe with him on condition the Victor should enioy both kingdomes But that they say King Edward would not doe Three moneths the siege of Turney had continued and nothing effected but the waste of the Countrie about all the eyes of Christendome bent vpon this action both kingdomes deeply ingaged expecting with anxiety the doubtfull euent thereof when Iane de Valois sister to Phillip widdow of William late Duke of Haynault and mother A mediation for peace to Phillippa wife to King Edward a Princesse of excellent vertue came from Fountenelles where shee had rendered herselfe a Nun vowed to God to mediate a peace betweene these two intaged Kings her brother and her sonne in lawe and labours to stay the sword of destruction lift vp for blood trualying from one to the other stubbornly bent to their intentions and neuer left them though often denyed till shee had with great patience and wise counsell quallified their boyling passions in such sort as she obtained day and place for both Kings to parle together A memorable worke to bee effected by a woman especially in such an age of Iron as that was This parle brought forth a truce for one yeare and both these great Armies A Truce concluded are dissolued The French King returnes home and so doth the King of England with his Queene who had remained in those parts three yeares and had there Anno Reg. 15. brought forth two sonnes Lionell afterwards Duke of Clarence and Iohn borne at Gant who first was Earle of Richmond and after Duke of Lancaster But King Edwards condiscending to this sudden truce had indeed no other motiue thē the want of his supplies of treasure which came short to his expectation notwithstanding those mighty impositions which were laid on his subiects And whereas hee had vpon his last returne into England in great displeasure remoued his Chancellor and imprisoned his Treasorer with other Officers most of them Cleargy-men and still held them in durance Iohn Stratford Archbishoppe of Canterbury on Iohn Strarford Archbishop of Canterbury his Letters to King Edward whom the King laid the blame of his wants writes him a most bolde and peremptory Letter to this effect first shewing him how it was for the safety of kings and their Kingdomes to vse graue and wise Counsailors alledging many examples out of holy Writ of the flourishing happinesse of such as tooke that course and their infelicity who followed the
of lay Fee were appointed to finde an Archer on horse-backe of 25 pounds a Demilance and so ratably aboue The King himselfe goes in person to confirme and make the Flemings fast vnto him and at Sluce Iaques van Arteuile with other Commissioners from their chiefe Townes repaire vnto him where a motion is made that either Louys their Earle should do homage to the King of England or else be disinherited and Edward Prince of Wales receiued for their Lord for which King Edward promises to erect their County to a Dukedome Arteuile was forward to entertaine this motion but the rest of the Commissioners require leaue to acquaint therewith the Townes that sent them which though they were all desirous to haue the Protection of the King of England yet disliked the disinheriting of their naturall Lord. Arteuile notwithstanding vndertakes to induce them vnto it and returnes to Gant garded with fiue hundreth Welsh which he desired to haue for that one Gerrard Denyse Prouost of the Weauers opposed him and sought his distruction The people whom he had so often led to muteny against others now vpon his returne rose against himselfe and a Cobler with an Axe strake out his braines And so King Edward lost his great Agent which much displeased him and disappointed his businesse in those parts Yet the Townes sent to excuse themselues of this accident laying the fault on the turbulent Gantoys and in all things vowing their faithfull seruice vnto him onely to the disinheriting of their Earle they could not consent But they hoped to perswade him to become his homager and to procure a match betweene the sonne of their Earle and his daughter And thus pacifying his present displeasure the league is renued betwixt them and King Edward returnes to prosecute his other designes But now the warres in Guien grew hot the Earle of Darby Generall of the Army assaults and takes in Ville-Franche Agenois Angolesme Rions Saint Basile with many other Cities and Castles The French King sends his eldest sonne Iohn Duke of Normandie to incounter him who recouers the Cities of Angolesme and Ville-Franche thus is the sword out before the Truce is expired the breach wherof the French King layes on the King of England and hee the same on him for entertayning King Dauid and setting the Scots vpon attempts of inuasion of his Realme So that it seemes both were prepared to breake not able to holde their hands any longer from the fatall worke of destruction It was now the twentith yeare of this mighty and actiue Kings raigne wherein Reg. 20. Anno. 1346. hee had prepared the greatest Fleet that euer yet crossed the Seas for France and ouer hee passes into Normandy in Iuly leauing for Wardens of England in his absence the Lords Percy and Neuile taking the young Prince with him about the age of fifteene yeares to learne him the way of men and what trauell greatnesse was borne The king goes with a mighty Army into Normandy to indure to attaine glory in this world His Army consisted of foure thousand men at Armes and ten thousand Archers besides Welch Irish which followed on foot hee had of Earles Hereford Northampton Arundell Huntingdon Warwicke Suffolke and Oxford of Barones Mortimer who was after Earle of Marche Iohn Louys and Roger Beauchamp Cobham Lucy Basset Barkeley and Willoughbie with diuerse other both Knights and gallant Captaines Hee had of late entertayned Godfrey de Harcourt who had beene as a minion to the French King and became another Robert de Artois vpon some discontent or doubt of some discoueries of fauouring the English party in Brittaine for which cause the French King had a little before executed Oliuer de Clisson Bacon Percy Geffrey de Malestroit men of especiall marke whom hee had there imployed And now insteed of this Harecourt had wonne from King Edward the Lord Iohn de Beaumont who had long serued him was his wiues Vncle and acquainted Iohn de Beaumont when King Edward had made him Earle of Cambridge takes the French Kings part with all his courses Such is the trust of mercinaries who sell their faith for better entertainement Neither did this Harecourt long hold out but changed colours and made his peace with the French King his naturall Lord but in the meane time did him and his countrie much mischiefe For vpon King Edwards landing with his mighty Army in the Isle of Costantine in Normandy by his conduction hee made him one of his Marshals and the Earle of Warwicke the other The Earle of Arundell is appointed Constable He diuides his people into three battailes one to march on his left hand along the Sea coast the other on the right conducted by the two Marshals and himselfe in the midst with his mayne Army The Earle of Huntingdon imployed for Admirall of his Fleete was to take all the shippes hee found on the Sea The manner of King Ed. proceeding with his Army coast The three Armies by land lodged euery night in one field And first he sackes the City of Caranton slew all hee found armed or disarmed therein burnes razes desolates the Citie saying hee sacrificed those oblations to Bacon Percy and others whose heads hee found set vpon the principall gate vniustly massacred by Phillip Thence hee marches forward and tooke Saint Lo a rich Towne of marchandise and pillaged the same Then after some bickring became Maister of Caen and put all that countrey into so great terror as Falaise Lyseaux Honfleur strong walled townes rendered themselues vnto him This done hee spread his power in the Isle of France to draw out Phillip to the combate giuing out that hee would wrastle with him in the eye of all France on the great Theater before his capitall Citie of Paris Phillip this while held not his armes in his bosome but had ramassed one of the The French K. prepares to oppose K. Ed. fairest Armies saith the French History that euer was seene in France composed of French Lorraynes Alemaines Genouoys which hee led towardes Meulan where King Edward was said to haue made a stand and attended him but vpon report of his comming on retyres it was supposed hee fled for feare but the euent shewed that the great God of Armies had destined his victory for another place King Phillip followes and ouertakes him at a Village called Arenes a name remarkeable signifying the Sand to show on what vnstable earth all the trust of humaine forces and the designes of the great are founded This mighty Army of King Phillip hauing the aduantage to be at home where all was theirs made him account the victory certaine King Edward retires to gaine the Riuer of Some at Blanquetaque but the passage was to be disputed by the sword For Phillip had before sent thither Gundemar de Fay with a thousand horse and fixe thousand foot King Edward notwithstanding resolues to K. Ed. goes ouer the riuer of Some defeites the Fren. passe
of Guien who being no sooner remoued from thence but Henry of Lancaster Earle of Derby became master of the field hauing an Army consisting of twelue hundred men at armes two thousand Archers and three thousand other foot English and Gascoines takes in most of the Townes of Yaintonge and Poictou in the end besieged and sacked Poytiers and so returnes to Burdeaux with more pillage then his people could well beare Thus the French suffer euery where Their King not being able to approach to grapple with the king of England sends to solicite him to appoint some place of battaile and hee would incounter him King Edward returnes answere If hee would make his owne way to come thither vnto him there hee should finde him for from thence hee would not part hauing there layne so long to his great labour and charge and being now so neere the point of gaining the place The two Cardinals sent from the Pope labour to mediate a peace and Commissioners on either side meete to treate but nothing could bee effected So that the French King was forced to breake vp his Armie and retire to Paris leauing Callais and the defendants vnrelieued to the mercy of the Besieger which when they vnderstood they sent to desire Parle had it granted and therein receiued this finall sentence that sixe of the chiefe Burgesses should be sent to the King bare-headed bare-footed in their shirts with halters about their necks the keyes of the Towne and Castle in their hands and submit themselues to the Kings will for the residue hee was content to take to mercy This sentence intimated to the miserable townsmen Conditions for the rendering of Callis they all in lamentable manner looking each on other who should bee chosen for this sacrifice one amongst the rest stands vp and boldly spake to this effect Fellow citizens for mine owne part I that haue so often exposed my life in this long fiege for my Countrie and haue beene euery day to die am now most willing to sacrifice the same for my last oblation thereunto and will cherefully carry my head to the victory of the King of England not desiring to suruiue the perdition of my miserable Countrie Which free and resolute speech so wrought with this amazed people as now they striue who should bee one of the six and cryed Let vs goe let vs goe vnto death it is the last daty wee ought to render to our natiue soyle Six are presently chosen and sent according to the sentence presenting themselues on their knees to the King and beseeching him to shew mercy vnto them The King commands them instantly to be carryed to their execution and would not although great supplication was made for them by his Counsel be diuerted in regard as he said of his oath till the Queene great with Childe fell The Queene obtaines pardon for the Burgesses of Calais on her knees before him and with teares obtained their pardon and had them giuen vnto her which done she caused them to be clothed gaue them their dinner and sixe nobles a man appointing them to be safely conuayed out of the Armie and set at libertie An Act worthy of so great a Queene and the greater by this her deed of mercie The King though in this he were sterne yet was he more sparing of blood than his Grand-father Edward 1. and had more of Compassion as shewed an Act in this Seige When victuals within the Towne began to faile and all vnusefull persons as King Edwards Clemencie olde men women and children put out of the gates hee forced them not backe againe which hee might haue done the sonner to consume their store but suffered them to passe thorow his Armie gaue them to eate and two pence a peece to euery one And thus was that strong Towne of Callais the thirde of August 1347. gotten The Conquest of the Towne of Calais after almost an yeeres siege with infinite cost and labour all the inhabitants are turned out and sent away to seeke newe dwellings a Colonie of the English planted therein and so it remained in the possession of the Crowne of England 210. yeeres after And now this tryumphant King hauing made truce for some few moneths and taken order for the safe-keeping of his hard gotten prize returnes with his Queene the Prince and his people into England to make Holy-day and inioy the benefite King Edward returnes into England of their booties brought home out of France which are said to be so great as euery house had some part and the wiues of England now flourish with the stuffe and ornaments of those of France who in the meane time lament their losses and heere is nothing but Feasts and Tryumphes throughout the Kingdome And to adde to this glorie the Princes Electors send to signifie that they had chosen King Edward King Edward refuseth the Election of King of the Romans King of the Romans which great dignitie notwithstanding he refused being it seemed out of his way or cumbersome to deale withall But before that yeare ended this great iollitie heere in England turned to the saddest mourning that could be possible The invisible Sword of Heauen makes such a The first great Pestilence rauage vpon Mankinde as had not been knowne before A contagious Pestilence ariseth in the East and South parts of the Worlde that dispreads it selfe ouer all Christendom And in England they write that it tooke away more then the halfe of men as if the Diuine prouidence seeing them thus violently bent to destroy and massacre one another would lessen their numbers for their fieldes and take to it selfe the vengeance of blood-shed in his terrible maner Churchyards could not heere suffice to burie the dead new grounds are purchased for that purpose It is noted there dyed in London betweene the first of Ianuary and the first of Iuly 57374. persons Other Cities and Townes suffered the like according to their portions All which calamitie notwithstanding could not deterre those egar Princes frō prosecuting their quarel nor yet so vnfurnish their fieldes but that they found still fresh hands for blood-shed as shewed their many conflicts shortly after But yet it gaue some pawse till the feruour of the contagion asswaged which was also attended with a miserable famine murraine of Cattle and sterrilitie of the earth caused through the indisposition of the Heauens and want of culture The first Action after this was the Kings going ouer to Caluis vpon an information Anno Reg. 23. of a practise to surprise the Towne contriued by the French which was thus Monsieur de Charmy Gouernour of Saint Omers had dealt with Americo de Pauia whom King Edward had left Captaine of the Castle of Callais offring him 20. thousand King Edward goes ouer to Calais Crownes to be receiued into the Castle Americo accepts the offer and appoints a night for the businesse In which night by aduertisement from Americo King
Normans dealt the like with the Province of Nuestria in France who also after they had the dominion what the victorie would yeeld them in England were content to suffer the people here to haue their being intermatched with them and so grew in short space into their body But this was an absolute subversion and concurred with the vniversall mutation The absolute subversion of Brittaine concurred with the generall mutation of other States of the world which about that time happened in all these parts of the world whereof there was no one Countrey or Province but changed bounds inhabitants customes language and in a manner all their names For vpon the breaking vp of the Roman Empire first devided into two and then by faction disioynted in each part imploying the forces of many strange Nations to fortifie their sides were made so wide ruptures in the North and North-east bounds of that Empire as there burst out infinite streames of strange people that over-ranne and laid open the world againe to liberty other formes and limits of State wherevpon followed all these transmigrations and shiftings of people from one Country to another The French and Burgognons dispossest the Gaules and gaue the name of France and Burgogne to their Province The Gaules transplanted themselues on some coasts of Spaine where they could finde or make their habitation and of them had Gallicia and Portugall their name The Hunnes and Auari subdued Pannonia and thereto gaue the name of Hungarie The Longbeards a people of Germany bordering vpon Lumbardie so called of the Longberds the Saxons entred Italy got the greatest part thereof and left there their name to a principall Prouince remayning to this daie The Gothes and Vandales miserably afflicted the rest sackt Rome and after subdued peopled and possest Spaine So that it was not in the fate of Brittaine alone to bee vndone but to perish almost with the generall dissolution of other States which happened about the same age Wherefore we are now here to beginne with a new Bodie of people with a new State and gouernment of this Land which retained nothing of the former nor held other memory but that of the dissolution thereof where scarce a Citie Dwelling Riuer Hill or Mountaine but changed names Brittaine it selfe was now no more Brittaine but New Saxonie and shortly after either of the Angles the greatest people of the inuadors or of Hengist called Engist-Land or England The distance made by the rage of warre lay so wide betweene the conquering and conquered people that nothing either of Lawes Rites and Customes came to passe ouer vnto vs from the Brittaines nor had our Ancestors any thing from them but their Country which they first diuided into eight kingdomes all which continued to the last extermination of the Brittaines vnder Caretius their King with whom they were driuen ouer Seuerne 136. yeares after the first entertainment of Hengist And soone after the Saxons encroching vpon each others parts or States which neuer held certaine bounds and the stronger vsurping vpon their weaker neighbours reduced them to seauen kingdomes that of the Northanimbrains being made one of two and then to sixe the West Saxons taking in the kingdome of Sussex to their dominion And so it continued about 250 yeares At the first by the space of 150 yeares they were meerely gouerned by their owne Lawes without mixture of any other But after Augustine the Monke sent with fortie others by Pope Gregorie had conuerted AEthelbert King of Kent and some other they all shortly after receiued the Christian faith and had their Lawes and Rites ordered according to Ecclesiasticall constitutions Many of their Kings when their sterne asperitie grew molified by humility of the Religion beganne to raise presently so many and great monuments of their piety in all parts of the Land as if they striued who should exceed therein and had no other glorie Diuers of them renounced their temporall dignities for Spirituall solitude and became Monkes as Aetheldred and Kinred Kings of Merena-Land Offa King of the East Saxons Kadwalla and Ina Kings of the West Saxons Eadberte King of Northumbrians c. At length the kingdomes of Merc-naland and West Sax so farre ouer-grew the others in power as betweene them two it lay who should haue all For Ina a martiall wise and religious Prince gouerning the West Saxons first aduanced that Kingdome to a preheminencie and did much to haue subdued Merc-naland but yet Offa afterwards King thereof was in faire possibility to haue swallowed vp both the West Saxons all the rest of the Kingdoms For whilst he liued which was in the time of Carolus Magnus which whom he held league amity he was esteemed as the especiall King of the Land But the many wrongs he did and the murther committed in his house vpon Aethelbert K. of the East Angles comming to him vnder publique faith and a suitor to his daughter were iustly reuenged vpon his posteritie which after him declining in the end lost al. For Egbert discended from Inegild the brother of Ina attayning the kingdome of the West Saxons beganne the way to bring all the rest into subiection And being a Prince who from a priuate fortune wherein he liued below with and not aboue other men had learned sufferance and moderation and by the Estate of an exile experience grew to haue great aduantages ouer the time and others borne-fortunes and rose by these meanes Ina his great Vncle renouncing the world with his kingdome and dying without issue left the succssion imbroiled and out of the direct royall lyne as hee found it So that those foure Kings of the West Saxons who seuerally succeeded him Ethelard Sigibert Kinulph and Britric were rather Kings by election and their owne power then by right of discent And Britric knowing the weakenesse of his title and the much promising forwardnesse of Egbert with his propinquitie in bloud to the former Kings practized to haue him made away which hee perceiuing fled first to Offa King of Mercna-land where finding little security in regard Britric had to strength himselfe married the daughter of the King hee escaped into France and there remayned till the death of Britric and then returning obtaines that kingdome of the Westsaxons subdues Cornewall inhabited by the Brittaines and after sets vpon Bernulph newly inuested in the Kingdome of Mercna-land a State by the rupture of the Royall line likewise growne tottering For Egferth the sonne of Offa enioyed but foure monethes the inheritance of his fathers immanitie whereby that Kingdome discended collaterally to Kennulph who left it to Kenelme a childe after murthered by his sister Quinred Ceolulph brother to Kennulph succeeding after his first yeares raigne was expeld by Bernulph and Bernulph by Egbert who made that Kingdome tributarie Egbert obteyned the kingdome which by him was named England to the West Saxons as he did after that of the South and East Saxons with the Kingdome of Northumberland And by
Supplications nor any band of aliance were auaileable to saue them from slaughter Wherein to incense the more their king Gunild his sister a woman of masculine courage who had a little before receiued Christendome a mediator and pledge of the peace hauing first her husband and sonne slaine in her sight rather Cunild slaine with a threatning then appaled countenance met her death making imprecation for reuenge and foretelling her bloud would as it did cost England deere Soone was the notice of this enormious act giuen to Swaine and as soone armed with rage and power re-entred hee the kingdome hauing now a fayrer shew to doe fowly then euer wrong had made him a right who had none before and the people of the Land not so forward to maintayne their act as to commit it rather were content to giue him the possession of their country then that hee should win it the greatest Swain wins England part of the Kingdome submitting themselues vnto him onely the Citie of London which Ethelred held fortified made Noble resistance till hee left them and conueyed himselfe first into the Isle of Wight and after into Normandie whither he had sent Emma Etheldred flies into Normandie his Queene with their two sonnes Aelfrid and Edward before from the rage of this tempest But within two moneths he was recalled home by the people of England vpon the death of Swaine who at the point to haue beene crowned King and had generally Swaines death taken ostages and oathes of fealty died suddenly leauing his sonne Knute to succeed his fortunes and accomplish what he intended Ethelred returning was soone furnisht with an Army sets vpon Knute in Lindsey Etheldred returnes where he lay with his fathers shipping and Hostages and draue him to take the seas where with inraged making about to Sandwich hee miserably mangled and dismembred those hostages and so sent them home himselfe with the spoiles his father and he had gotten returned to his Country to make greater preparations for the prosecution of his purpose Ethelred in the meane time to increase the summe of reuengement with more wrath at a generall assembly at Oxford caused many of the Danique Nobility to be murthered Among which were Sigifrith and Morchar Earles of Northumberland whom the false Edric who had a hand on each side for mischiefe inuiting to his lodging vnder pretence of feasting barbarously caused to be slaine their followers after they had so long as they could desperately defended themselues and their maisters fled into a Church where they were with the same burnt Knute armed with Knute returnes the greatest of his owne and neighbours powers made his confederates landed againe within the yeare at Sandwich and without resistance had all the West parts rendred vnto him with pledges for their obedience and furnishment with horse and armor Here the false Edric leaues his Liege-lord and yeelds vp forty ships and his periur'd faith to Knute Ethelred languishing in minde and body Edmond his sonne surnamed Ironside Etheldreds death to oppose youth to youth was imployed against this rabious inuador A Prince worthy of a better time and had he found faith had made it so and deliuered his Country at that turne from the worst of miseries the conquest by strangers Knute Edmond Ironside BVT now vpon the death of Ethelred whose 37 yeares raigne shewes that infelicity shall haue time too much and happinesse too little Knute was by most of the Clergie and Nobility chosen king onely the Citie of London with some of the Nobility there about made election of Edmond Edmond Ironside sonne to Ethelred by his first wife Ethelgina and furnished him with that power as thereby with the couragious ardour of his youth which commonly is most in the first attempts hee had the better in three imminent battels within three moneths and had likewise obtained the fourth at Essendon likely to haue beene the last with the An. 1016. Danes but that the disloyall Edric late renouncing his new Lord seeing Edmonds part in possibilitie to preuaile againe betraied his trust and withdrew himselfe and the charge he had to the enemy This satal battell lost England here perished the best flower of honour it then had Here amongst the rest was slaine Vlkill an Earle of Essex of euer memorable worth who had long stood vp for the Kingdome and in the time of Swaine was the first that shewed there was hope and possibility to quaile the enemy had there beene an vnion in loyaltie From this bloudy worke Edmond escapes to Glocester to recollect new sorces nor was hee so forsaken with this fortune but that hee soone recouered another armie to re-assaile the enemie that might be idle vpon this victorie But Knute as prouident Edmonds single combate with Knute in the prosecution of his businesse as fortunate therein makes after Here when both Armies were at the point to incounter a motion of peace was propounded Some say the two Kings by single combat consented to decide their fortunes and the ouer-commer to take all and that in an Isle of the riuer Seuern their Armies on either shore spectators of the act they tried the maistery for the prize of a Kingdome Peace concluded After long and equall fight finding each others worth they cast away their weapons imbraced and concluded the peace But howsoeuer it seemes both sides tyred with the miserie of a consuming warre neuer like to be ended but by the vtter extirpation of the one and considering the danger of either and incertaintie of the future were easily perswaded to imbrace a present agreement which was made by parting England England deuided between them betwixt them two and confirm'd by Oath and Sacrament putting on each others Apparell and Armes as a ceremonie to expresse the attonement of their mindes as if they made transaction of their persons each to other Knute became Edmond and Edmond Knute A fatall exchange for so free and magnanimous a Prince as Edmond who indeed was now no more himselfe and being but halfe a King was in so few dayes after none as makes this peace shew fouler then warre for that armed him for life this exposed him naked to death which was shortly after treacherously giuen him The death of King Edmond Ironside at Oxford at Oxford some say by the sonne of Edric as if to shew he would bee the heire of his father also in Treason whereby both the hope and the other halfe of England were vtterly lost as determinable with his raigne which with all we haue else of his magnanimous actions tooke vp scarce the circuit of one whole yeare And yet had that been space enough for glorie whose measure is to be taken rather by the profundity then the length which seldome holds long and euen could he haue had that cleere And better for his renowne to haue died at the battaile of Essendon with England then discended to haue made
of this Kingdome which could not but be likesome to the State in generall and all preferments and dignities conser'd on his to be either by vacancies or displacing others which must needs breed very feeling grieuances in particular And yet wee finde no great men thrust out of their roomes but such as put themselues out by reuolting after his establishment and their fealtie giuen as appeares by the controuersie betweene Warren the Norman and Sherburn of Sherburn Castle in Norfolke which castle though the King had giuen to Warren yet when Sherburn alledged How hee neuer bare Armes against him Cambden Nors that hee was his subiect as well as the other and held his Lands by that Law which he had established amongst all his subiects the King gaue iudgement against Warren and commanded that Sherburn should hold his Land in peace So that it seemes hee contented himselfe and his for the time onely with what he found here ready and with filling vp their places who were slaine in the battell or fled as many were with the sonnes of Harald out of the Kingdome Such Gentlemen as he could not presently preferre M. S. and had a purpose to aduance hee dispersed abroad into Abbeys there to liue till places fell out for them and 24 he sent to the Abby of Eley whereby he not onely lessened the multitude of attendants and suitors at Court eased that eye-sore of strangers but also had them a watch ouer the Clergie who then were of great and eminent power in the Kingdome and might preuaile with the people But the English Nobility incompatible of these new concurrents found notwithstanding 1067. Anno. Reg. 2. such a disproportion of grace and darkning of their dignities by the interposition of so many as must needs lessen their splendour that many of the chiefest doubting to be more impayred in honour and estate conspired together and fled some into Scotland and some into Denmarke to trie if by ayde from abroad they might The English Nobility forsake the kingdome recouer themselues and their lost fortunes againe at home Amongst which the chiefe was Edgar Atheling termed Englands Dearling which shewed the peoples zeale to his bloud who with his mother Agatha and his two sisters Magaret and Christin intending to retire into Hungarie their natiue Country were driuen by tempest on the coast of Scotland where they were in all Hospitable manner entertained by Malcolin the third whose former suffrings in his exile had taught him to compassionate others like distresses and whom it concerned now to looke to his owne his neighbours house being thus on fire and to foster a pattie against so daungerous an in-commer that was like to thrust them all out of doore Which induced him not onely to entertaine this Prince dispossest of his right but to enter league with him for the publique safetie And to inchaine it the stronger hee takes to wife Margaret the The King of Scots enters league with the English Nobility and marries Edgars sister sister of Edgar a Ladie indued withall blessed vertues by whom the bloud of our auncient Kings was preserued and conioyned with the Norman in Henry the second and so became English againe Vnto Edgar in Scotland repaired the Earles Edwin and Morchar Hereward Gospatric Siward with others and shortly after Stigand and Aldred Arch-bishops with diuers of the Clergie who in the third yeare of this Kings raigne raised very great commotions in the North beyond Humber and wrought most egarly 1068. Anno. Reg. 3. to recouer their lost Country but being now to late and the occasion not taken before the settling of the gouernment whilst it was new and branling they preuailed nothing but gaue aduantage to the Conquerour to make himselfe more then hee was For all conspiracies of subiects if they succeed not aduance the soueraigntie and nothing gaue roote to the Norman planting here more then the petty reuolts made by discattred troupes in seuerall parts begunne without order and followed without resolution whereas nothing could be done for a generall recouery but by a generall sulleuation of the people for which all wary preuention was vsed and they had waites enough laide on to hold them downe And though these Lords imbroiled themselues and held him doing in the North yet hee hauing all the South parts setled vnder his domination with well practized and prepared forces there could bee little hope of good whilst all their great estates furnisht the Normans both in state and meanes to ruine them The Earledome and all the Lands which Edwin held in See the Charter in the Appendix Yorkeshire were giuen to Alain Earle of Brittaine kinsman to the Conqueror The Arch-bishopricke of Canterburie confer'd on Lanfranc Abbot of Caen. That of Yorke on Thomas his Chaplaine and all the rest both of the Clergie and others which were out had their places within supplied by Normans And after King William had appeased a Commotion in the West which the sonnes of Harald with forces out of Ireland had raised also repressed the rebellions of Excester and Oxford he takes his iourney in person Northward with all expedition least the enemy there should grow to high in heart and opinion vpon the great slaughter of his people made at Yorke and the defeiture of his Brother and Leiuetenant Robert Earle of Mortaigne slaine with seuen hundreth Normans at Durham where at his first comming he so wrought that he either discomfeited or corrupted the Generals of the Danicque forces newly arriued to ayde the Lords sent by Swaine King of Denmarke vnder the conduct of his two sonnes Harald and Knute with a Nauie of three hundreth saile and after sets vpon the Army of the Lords weakened both in strength and hope by this departure of their Confederates and puts them to flight Which done he vtterly wasted and laide desolate all that goodly Countrey betweene Yorke and Durham the space of 60. miles as it might be no more a succour to the enemy And the like course he used on all the Coasts where any aptlandings lay for inuasions and so returnes to London Most of the Lords after this defeit came in vpon publique faith giuen them and were conducted to Barkehamsted by the Abbot Fredricke where vpon their submission and Oath of Allegeance re-taken they had their pardon and restitution of grace graunted by the King who it seemes was so willing to acquiet them that againe he takes his personall Oath before the Arch-bishop Lanfrancke and the Lords To obserue See the Appendix the Auntient Lawes of the Realme established by his Noble Predecessors the Kings of England and especially those of Edward the Confessor Whereupon these stormy dispositions held calme a while But long it was not ere many of these Lords whether vpon intelligence of new 1074. Anno. Reg. 8. hopes from Prince Edgar who was still in Scotland or growne desperate with new displeasures at home finding small performance of promises made rupture
of Oath and all other respects brake out againe The Earle Edwyn making towards Scotland was murthered by his owne people The Lords Morchar and Hereward betooke them to the Isle of Eley meaning to make good that place for that Winter whether also repaired the Earle Syward and the Bishop of Durham out of Scotland But the King who was no time-giuer vnto growing dangers besets all the Isle with flat boates on the East and made a bridge of two miles long on the West and safely brought in his people vpon the enemy who seeing themselues surprized yeelded all to the Kings mercy except Hereward who desperatly marched with his people through the Fennes and recouered Scotland The rest were sent to diuerse Prisons where they died or remained during the Kings life Those Lords who persisted loyall vpon this last submission were all imployed and well graced with the King as Edric the Forrester and first that rebelled in his Raigne was held in cleere trust and neere about him Gospatrice he made Earle of Northumberland and sent him against Malcolin who in this time subdues the Countries of Tisdall Cleueland and Comberland Waltheof sonne to the Earle Syward he held so worthy to be made his as he married him to his Neece Iudith though he had beene a principall actor in the Northerne commotion and in defending the Citty of Yorke against him is sayd to haue striken off the heads of diuerse Normans one by one as they entered a breach to the admiration of all about him shewing therein that true touch of the noblest nature to loue vertue euen in his enemies And now seeing Scotland to be the especiall retraite for all conspirators and discontented in his Kingdome yeelding them continuall succour and assistance and where his compecitor Edgar liued to be get and nurse perpetuall matter for their hopes and at hand for all aduantages he enters that Kingdome with a puissant Army which incountring with more necessities then forces soone grew tired and both Kings considering of what difficulties the victory would consist were willing to take the safest way to there ends and vpon faire ouertures to conclude a peace Articling for the bounds of each Kingdome with the same title of Dominion as in former tunes All delinquents and their partakers generally pardoned Heere with the vniuersoll turne of alteration thus wrought in England Scotland being Scotlād before this time gene rally spake a kind of Irish. a part of the body of this Isle is noted to haue likewise had a share and as in the Court of England the French tongue became generally spoken so in that of Scotland did the English by reason of the multitude of this Nation attending both the Qacene and her brother Edgar and daily repairing thither for their safety and combination against the common enemy of whom diuerse abandoning their natiue distressed Countrey were by the bounty of that King preferred and there planted spread their off-spring into many noble families remaining to this day The titles for distinguishing Titles of honor in Scotland degrees of honour as of Duke Earle Baron Rider or Knight were then as is thought first introduced and the nobler sort began to be called by the title of their Signories according to the French manner which before bate the name of their Father with the addition of Mac after the fashion of Ireland Other innouations no doubt entred there likewise at the opening of this wide mutation of ours fashion and imitation like weedes easily growing in euery soyle Shortly after this late made peace Prince Edgar voluntarily came in and submitted Edgar Atheling submitted him selfe to King William himselfe to the King being then in Normandy and was restored to grace and a faire maintenance which held him euer after quiet And it made well at that time for the fortune of the King howsoeuer for his owne being thought to haue ill-timed his affaires either through want of seasonable intelligence or dispaire of successe in making 1075. Anno. Reg. 9. too soone that submission which was latter or neuer to be done For in this absence of the King Roger Fits Auber the young Earle of Hereford contrary to his expresse commandement gaue his sister in marriage to Raph Waher Earle of Northfolke and Suffolke and at the great Solemnization thereof the two Earles conspired with Eustace Earle of Boloigne who secretly came ouer to this festiuall and with the Earle Waltheof and other English Lords to call in the Danes and by maine power to keepe out and dispossesse the King Who hauing thus passed ouer so many gulfes of forraine 1076. Anno. Reg. 10. dangers might little imagine of any wracke so neere home and that those whom he had most aduanced should haue the especiall hand in his destruction But no rewards are benefits that are not held so nor can euer cleere the accounts with them that ouer-value their merits And had not this conspiracy bene opportunely discouered which some say was by the Earle Waltheof moued with the vglinesse of so soule an ingratitude they had put him againe to the winning of England But now the fire bewrayed before it flamed was soone quenched by the diligence of Odon the Kings Vice-gerent the Bishop of Worcester and others who kept the Conspirators from ioyning their forces So that they neuer came to make head but were either surprized or forced to flye The Earle Roger Fitz Auber was taken and some say executed and so was shortly after the Earle Waltheof whose dissent from the act could not get him pardon for his former consent though much compassion in respect of his great worthinesse But the 1077. Anno. Reg. 11. wide distent of these tumors fed from many secret vaines seemed to be of that danger as required this extremity of cure especially in a part so apt for infection vpon any the like humours For this Conspiracy seemes to take motion from a generall league of all the neighbour Princes here about as may well be gathered by their seuerall actions First in the King of Fraunce by defending Dole in Brittaigne a Castle of Raph de Waher against the King of England and in likelihood imploying the Earle of Boloigne to wards the Conspirators In Swayne King of Denmarke by sending a Nauy of two hundreth saile vnder the conduct of his sonne Knute and others In Drone King of Ireland by furnishing the sonnes of Harald with 65. ships In Malcoline and the Kings of Wales by their readinesse to assist But the Danes being on the coast and hearing how their confederates had sped with the great preparations the King had made after some pillage taken vpon the coast of England and Flanders returned home and neuer after arriued to disturbe this land Though in Anno Reg. 19. Knute then King of Denmarke after the death of Swaine intending to repaire the dishonour of his two last aduentures past and to put for the Crowne of England his predecessors had holden prepared a Nauie
was for especiall persons and such whose liuings were of a rate allowable thereunto the vsuall opinion perswading them that men of ability held a more regard of honesty With these they had the triall of Campefight or single combat which likewise the Lumbards originally of the same German Nation brought into Italy permitted by the Law in cases either of safetie and fame or of possessions All which trials shew them to be ignorant in any other forme of Law or to neglect it Nor would they bee induced to forgoe these Customes and determine their affaires by Imperiall or Pontificiall Constitutions no more then would the Lumbards forsake their duellary Lawes in Italy which their Princes against some of their wils were constrained to ratifie as Luytprandus their King thus ingeniously confesses Wee are vncertaine of the iudgement of God and wee haue heard many by fight to haue lost their cause without iust cause yet in respect of the custome of our Nation we cannot auoide an impious Law But all these formes of iudgements and trials had their seasons Those of Fire and Water in short time after the Conquest grew disused and in the end vtterly obrogated by the Pope as deriued The English trials from Paganisme That of combat continues longer-liued but of no ordinarie vse And all actions now both criminall and reall beganne to be wholly adiudged by the verdict of twelue men according to the custome of Normandy where the like forme is vsed and called by the name of Enquest with the same cautions for the Iurors as it is here continued to this day Although some hold opinion that this forme of triall was of vse in this Kingdome from all antiquitie and alledge an Ordinance of King Ethelred father to the Confessor willing in their Gemote or conuentions monethly held in euery Hundred twelue graue men of free condition should with the Greue the chiefe Officer amongst them sweare vpon the Euangelists to iudge euery mans cause aright But here wee see twelue men were to be assessors with the Greue to iudge and no Iurors according to this manner of triall now vsed Besides had there beene any such forme we should aswell haue heard thereof in their Lawes and practise as of those other kinds of Ordeal onely and vsually mentioned But whatsoeuer innouations were in all other things the gouernment for the peace The continuation of the Law for the peace and securitie of the Kingdome which most imported the King to looke vnto seemes to be contrnued as before and for that businesse he found here better Lawes established by the wary care of our former Kings then any hee could bring Amongst which especially was the Borough Law wherby euery free man of the Commons stood as surety for each The Borough Law of the Saxons others behauiour in this sort The kingdome was deuided into Shieres or Shares euery Shiere consisting of so many Hundreds and euery Hundred of a number of Boroughs Villages or Tythings contayning ten housholders whereof If any one should commit an vnlawfullact the other nine were to attach and bring him to reason If hee fled 31 dayes were enioysed him to appeare If in the meane time apprehended hee was made to restore the damage done otherwise the Free-boroughead to say the Tythingman was to take with him two of the same Village and out of three other Villages next ad oyning as many that is the Tythingman and two other of the principall Saxon Lawes men aud before the officers of that Hundred purge himselfe and the Village of the fact restoring Lambert the damage done with the goods of the malefactor which if they suffized not to satisfie the Free-borough or Tything must make vp the rest and besides take an oath to bee no way accessarie to the fact and to produce the Offendor if by any meanes they could recouer him or know where hee were Besides euery Lord and Maister stood Borough for all his familie whereof if any seruant were called in question the Maister was to see him answere it in the Hundred where hee was accused If he fled the Maister was to yeeld such goods as hee had to the King If himselfe were accused to bee aiding or priuie to his seruants slight hee was to cleere himselfe by fiue men otherwise to forfeit all his goods to the King and his man to bee outlawed These lincks thus intermutually fastened made so strong a chaine to hold the whole frame of the State together in peace and order as all the most pollitique regiments vpon earth all the interleagued societies of men cannot shew vs a streighter forme of combination This might make the Conqueror comming vpon a people thus Law-bound hand and foote to establish him so soone and easily as he did This Borough-law being as a Cittadell built to guard the Common-wealth comming to bee possest by a Conquering Maister was made to turne all this ordinance vpon the State and batter her selfe with her owne weapon and this Law may No popular insurrection before the Conquest be some cause we finde no popular insurrection before the Conquest For had not this people beene borne with these fetters and an idie peace but had liued loose and in action it is like they would haue done as noblie and giuen as many and as deepe wounds ere they lost their Country as euer the Brittaines did either against the Romans or the Saxons their predecessors or themselues had done against the Danes a people far more powerfull and numerous then these The Conqueror without this had not made it the worke of one day nor had Normandie euer beene able to haue yeelded those multitudes for supplies that many battailes must haue had But now First the strict executing this Law Secondly dis-wcop'ning the Commons Thirdly The meanes vsed by the Norman to establish his Conquest preuenting their night-meetings with a heauie penalty that euery man at the day closing should couer his fire and depart to his rest Fourthly erecting diuers Fortresses in sit parts of the Kingdome Fifthly collating all offices both of commaund and iudicature on those who were his made his domination such as he would haue it And where before the Bishop and the Alderman were the absolute Iudges to determine Alteration of the Gouernment all businesse in euery Shiere and the Bishop in many cases shared in the benifit of the Mulcts with the King now he confin'd the Clergie within the Prouince of their owne Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction to deale onely in businesse concerning rule of soules according to the Cannons and Lawes Episcopall And whereas the causes of the Kingdome were before determined in euery Shiere The order of deciding contrauerfies in the Saxons time and by a Law of King Edward Senior all matters in question should vpon especiall penaltie without further deferment bee finally decided in their Gemote or conuentions held monthly in euery hundred now he ordained That foure times in the yeare for
them doubtfull what to resolue vpon in regard of the tender youth of Henry and their Oath made to Louys But such was the insolence of the French making spoyle and prey of whatsoeuer they could fasten on and now inuested by Louys contrarie to his Oath in all those places of importance they had recouered as made many of the English to relinquish The confession of the Viscont Melun at his death their sworne fidelitie and forsake his part Which more of them would haue done but for the shame of inconstancie and the daunger of their pledges remayning in France which were great tyes vpon them Besides the popular bruit generally divulged concerning the confession of the Viscont Melun a Frenchman who lying at the point of death toucht with compunction is said to reueale the intention vow of Louys which was vtterly to extinguish the English nation whom he held vile neuer to be trusted hauing forsaken their own Soueraign Lord wrought a great auersion in the hearts of the English which whither it were indeed vttered or giuen out of purpose it was so to be expected according to the precedents of all in-brought farreiners vpon the deuisions of a distracted people And first William Earle of Salisbury mooued in bloud to succour his Nephew tooke Diuers Lords reuolt from Louys away a maine peece from the side of Louys and with him the Earles of Arundle Warren William sonne and heire to the great Marshall returne to the fidelity of Henry after 6 months they had reuolted to the seruice of Louys which now may be thought was don but to temporise and try the hazard of a doubtfull game otherwise a brother would not haue forsaken a brother nor so Noble a father and sonne haue deuided their starres Notwithstanding Louys found hands enow to hold London withall the Countries about it a whole yeare after so that the young King was constrained to remaine about Glocester Worcester and Bristow where his wakefull Ministers faile not to imploy all means to gather vpon whatsoeuer aduantages could be espied at length so wrought as they draw the enemy from the head of the kingdome downe into the body first into Leceister-shire to releeue the Castle of Montsorell a peece apertayning to Saer de Quincy Earle of Winchester a great partisan of Louys and after by degrees to Lincoln where a Noble Lady called Phillippa but of what famely time hath iniuriously bereft vs the knowledge had more then with feminine courage defended the Castle the space of a whole yere against Gilbert de Gant the French forces which were possest of the town The Earle Marshall Protector of the King and kingdom with his sonne William the Bishops of Winchester Salisbury and Chester the Earles of Salisbury Ferrers and Albemarle William de Albinet Iohn Marshall William de Cantelupe Falcasius Thomas Basset Robert Veypont Brent de Lisle Geffrey Lucy Philip de Albinet and many other Barons and marshall men being with all the powre of the young king whose forces as he marched grew dayly greater come to a place called Stow within 8 miles of Lincoln the Legat Guallo to adde courage resolution to the army caused vpon confession of their sinnes the Eucharist to be ministred and giues them a plenary absolution solemnly The forces of Louys ouerthrowne accursing Louys with all his adherents as seperated from the vnity of the Church which done they set forth and with such violence assaile the City on all sides as the defendants after the Earle of Perch valiantly fighting was slaine were soone defeited and all the principall men taken prisoners whereof these are nominated Saer Earle of Winchester Henry de Bohun Earle of Hereford Gilbert de Gant lately made Earle of Lincoln by Louys Robert Fitz Walter Richard Monfichet William Moubray William Beauchamp william Maudit Oliuer Harcort Roger de Cressy William de Coleuile William de Ros Robert de Ropsley Ralph Chandnit Barons besides foure hundred Knights or men at Armes with their seruants horse and foot The number and quality of the persons taken shew the importance of the place and the greatnesse of the victorie which gaue Louys his maine blow and was the last of his battailes in England The spoyles were very great being of a City at that time rich in Marchandize The spoyle of Lincolne whereupon the winners in derision tearmed it Louys his Faire Many of those who escaped and fled from this ouerthrow were slaine by the Country people in their disorderly passing towards London vnto Louys who vpon notice of this great defeat sends presently ouer for succours into France and drawes all the powre he had in England to the Citie of London whether the Earle Marshall with the young King bend their course with purpose either to assaile Louys vpon this fresh dismay of his losse and the distraction of his partakers or induce him by agreement to relinquish the Kingdome The first being found difficult the last is propounded whereunto Louys would not The Peace was concluded the 11 of Sep. be brought to yeeld vntill hearing how his succors comming out of France were by Phillip de Albenie and Hubert de Burgh with the forces of the Cinke-ports all vanquished at sea he then hoplesse of any longer subsisting with safty condiscendes to an accord takes fifteene thousand markes for his voyage abiures his claime to the Kingdome promises by Oath to worke his father as farre as in him lay for the restitution 1218. Anno. Reg. 3. of such Prouinces in France as appertayned to this Crowne and that when himselfe should be King to resigne them in peaceable manner On the other part King Henry takes his Oath and for him the Legat and the Protector to restore vnto the Barons of this Realme and other his Subiects all their rights and heritages with those liberties for which the discorde beganne betweene the late King and his people Generall pardon is granted and all prisoners freed on both fides Louys is honorably attended to Douer and departs out of England about Michelmas aboue two yeares after his first atiuall hauing beene here in the greatest part a receiued King and was more likely to haue established himselfe and made a Conquest of this Kingdome being thus pulled in by others armes then the Norman that made way with his owne had not the All-disposer otherwise diuerted it Such effects wrought the violence of an vnruly King and the desperation of an oppressed people which now notwithstanding the fathers iniquitie most willingly imbrace the sonne as naturally inclyned to loue and obey their Princes And in this recouery the industrie of Guallo the Legate wrought much though what he did therein was for his owne ends the pretended interest of the Pope whose ambition 1219. Anno. Reg. 4. had beene first an especiall cause of this great combustion in the Kingdom but as they who worke the greatest mischiefes are oftentimes the men that can best repaire them
both In the Fift a Twentieth of their goods His many supplies means for Money towards the Welsh Warres In the seauenth the Old Money was called in and New coyned in regard it had beene much defaced by the Iewes for which 297. were at one time executed at London and this brought him in a great benefit In Anno Reg. 8. seeking to examine Mens Titles to their Lands by a Writt of Quo Warranto which opposed by the Earle Warreine who drew out his Sword vpon the Writt saying How by the same hee held his Land and thereby would make good his Tenure the King desists obtaines a Fifteenth of the Clergie In the Eleauenth he had a Thirtieth of the Temporaltie a Twentieth of the Clergie for the Welsh Warres In the Thirteenth Escuage forty shillings for euery Knights fee for the same purpose In the Fourteenth he had a Thousand Marks of certaine Marchants fined for false Weights In the Seauenteenth those fines fore-declared of the Iudges In the Eighteenth this Confiscation of Iewes a Fifteenth of the English After this Anno Reg Nineteenth pretending a Voyage to the Holy-Land the Clergie grants him an Eleauenth part of all their Moueables and shortly after the Pope procures him a Tenth for Six yeeres to bee collected in England Scotland and Ireland and laid vp in Monasteries vntill hee were entred into Mare Maggior But hee made the Collectors pay him the money gathered for Three yeeres without going so farre hauing occasion to vse it at home about the purchase of a new Kingdome For the crowne of Scotland vpon the death of King Alexander of the Daughter of Reg. 17. Anno. 1290. his daughter Margaret who was to inherit was now in controuersie Six Competitors pretend title thereunto all discending from Dauid earle of Huntingdon younger brother to William King of Scots and great Vncle to this late King Alexander This title King Edward takes vpon him to decide pretending a right of Superioritie from his Ancestors The occasion of his Warres with Scotland ouer that Kingdome The Scotts which swayed the Interregnum are constrayned for auoyding further inconueniences to make him Arbiter thereof and the Six Competitors bound to stand to his Award Two are especially found betweene whome the Right lay Iohn Baliol Lord of Galloway and Robert Bruce the one descending King Edward chosen by the Scots to arbitrate the right of the pretenders to that Crowne from an elder Daughter the other from a Sonne of a younger Daughter of Alan who had Married the Eldest Daughter of this Dauid Brother to King William The Controuersie held long Twelue of eyther Kingdome learned in the Laws are elected to debate the same at Berwick All the best Ciuilians in the Vniuersities of France are sollicited to giue their oppinions the differences and perplexednes whereof made the decission more difficult According to the Nature of Littigation that euer begetts rather Doubts then Resolutions and neuer knows well how to make Reg. 18. Anno 1291. an End King Edward the better to sway this businesse by his presence takes his Iourney Northward and whilst hee sought to compasse greater felicitie hee lost the better part of what hee had in this world his deere consort Elionor who had euer attended Queene Elionor dies Her Prayse him in all his Fortunes the Paragon of Queenes and the honor of Woman-hood who is said to haue sucked the Poyson out of the Wound giuen him by the Assasin in the East when no other meanes could preserue his Life dies by the way in Lincolnshire With whose Corps in extreame griefe hee returnes back to Westminster causing at all especiall places where it rested by the Way goodly engrauen Crosses with her Statue to bee erected As at Stamford Waltham West-Cheape Charing and others Gratefull Monuments of his Affection and her renowned Faithfulnes Her Funeralls performed back hee returnes to his Scottish businesse And now Six yeeres it was since the Death of King Alexander and much time hauing beene Scottish Hist. spent and nothing concluded in this controuersie King Edward that would be sure whosoeuer preuailed to haue the hand that should make him deales priuately with Bruce who had the weaker Title but the more friends and promises him if he would yeeld Fealtie and Homage to the Crowne of England he would inuest him in that of Scotland Bruce answeres Hee was not so desirous of Rule as thereby to infringe the Liberties of his Countrie Then with the like offer hee sets vpon Baliol who hauing better right but lesse loue of the people and more greedy of a Kingdome then honour Bal ol made King of Scotland yeelds thereunto is Crowned King at Scone hath Fealty done him of all the chiefe Nobility except Bruce comes to New-castle vpon Tyne where King Edward then lay and there with many of his Nobles sweares Fealtie and did Homage vnto him as his Soueraigne Lord. Which Act as hee thought done to secure him ouer-threw Reg. 21. Anno. 1294. him For being little beloued before hereby hee became lesse such as stood for Bruce and others of the Nobility more tender of the preseruation of their Countries libertie grew into Stomack against him as hauing not onely discontented them in this Act but shortly after in his Iustice in the case of the Earle of Fife one of the sixe Gouernours in the time of the Anarchie who had beene slaine by the Famelie of Aberneth And the brother of this Earle now prosecuted in Law before King Balioll in his high Court of Parliament where hauing no right done him King Baliol giuing Iudgement on the side of the Aberneths the wronged Gentleman appeales to the Court of the King of England King Baliol is thither summoned appeares sits with King Edward in his Parliament till his cause was to be tried and then is hee cited by an Officer to arise and stand at the place appointed for pleading He craues to answere by a Procurator it is denied then himselfe arises and discends to the ordinary place and defends his cause With which Indignity as hee tooke it hee returnes home with a brest full Baliol discontented returnes into Scotland charged with indignation Meditates reuenge renewes the ancient League with France Confirmes it with the marriage of his sonne Edward with a daughter of Charles brother to King Philip glad in regard of late offences taken against the Reg. 23. An. 1296. King of England to imbrace the same Which done Baliol defies King Edward renounces his Allegiance as vnlawfully done being not in his powre without the consent of the State to doe any such act Hereupon brake out that mortall dissention betweene the two Nations which during the raigne of the three last Scottish Kings had held faire correspōdence together that consumed more Christian bloud wrought more spoyle and distruction and continued longer then euer quarrell wee read of did betweene any two people of the World For hee
haue no conference with the King but in open Parlement which at that time said the King was not for especiall reasons conuenient to be called Then aggrauates hee the vndutifull contempt of the Archbishop and his hypocriticall dealing with him avowing that although by hereditary right and the diuine grace hee was aduanced to that sublimitie of regall power hee held it alwaies to haue beene a detestable thing to abuse the greatnesse thereof and how he affected nothing more in the world then to gouerne his subiects with mildnesse clemency and moderation of Iustice that hee might with peace enioy their loue And how notwithstanding the Archbishoppe had most iniuriously by his Letters published in diuerse parts torne his innocency and slandered the faithfull seruice of his Counsailors and Officers who executed his regall Iustice exclayming how the people were opprest the Cleargy confounded the kingdome agrieued with taxations and all kinde of exactions Which the King argues was to no other end but to raise sedition amongst his people and to withdrawe their loue and obedience from him Lastly to giue notice of the Archbishoppes corruption he declares how himselfe beeing vnder age had through his counsell made so many prodigall donations prohibited alienations and excessiue gifts as thereby hâ—s treasurie was vtterly exhausted and his reuenewes diminished and how the Archbishop corrupted with bribes remitted without reasonable cause great summes which were due vnto him applying to his proper vse or to persons ill-deseruing many commodities and reuenewes which should haue beene preserued for his necessary prouisions And therefore concluded vnlesse hee desisted from this his rebellious obstinacie hee intended in due time and place more openly to proceede against him inioying them to publish all and singular these his malignities and to cause others to doe the like for the manifestation of his owne pious and Princely intention in relieuing his owne and his subiects wrongs This Letter was sayd to haue been penned by Adam Bishoppe of Winchester and bare date the 12. of February An. Reg. 15. Thus the King and his Officers whose proceedings must not receiue a check are cleared and the imputation rests vpon the Archbishop who is charged with great accouÌ„ts pressed by such as lent the King mony to render the same But shortly after the King found much to doe in the Parlement held at London being earnestly petitioned by the whole Assembly of the three Estates that the great Charter of Liberties and the Charter of Forrests might be duly obserued and that whosoeuer of the Kings Officers infringed the same should lose their place that the high Officers of the kingdome should as in former times be elected by Parlement The King stood stiffe vpon his owne election and prerogatiue but yet yeelded in regard to haue his present Vid. Stat. 15. Edward 3. turne serued as himselfe after confessed these Officers should receiue an oath in Parlement to doe iustice vnto all men in their offices and thereupon a Statute was made confirmed with the Kings Seale both for that and many other grants of his to the subiects which notwithstaÌ„ding were for the most part presently after reuoked The truce agreed on before Turney for one yeare was by the Commissioners of both The Articles Vid. Appen Kings and two Cardinalls from the Pope concluded at Arras which yeelded some cessation of Armes but not of plotting more mischiefe Louys of Bauier intituled Emperour is wonne to the party of the French King becomes his sworne confederate The Emperor reuokes the Vicariate the reason why Vid. Append. and reuokes the Vicarshippe of the Empire formerly confirmed on the K. of England pretending the cause to be for concluding the late truce without him as appeares by his Letters to King Edward which are againe by him fully and discreetly answered But in steed of this remote and vnconstant confederate whose power lay without the limits of France Fortune brought in another more neere and of readier The controuersie for the Duchy of Brittaine meanes to offend within the bodie of that kingdome The inheritance of the Duchy of Brittaine is in controuersie betweene Charles de Blois Nephew to King Phillip and Iohn de Monfort vpon this title Arthur Duke of Brittaine had by Beatrix his first wife two sonnes Iohn and Guy by Yoland Countesse of Monfort his second wife Iohn de Monfort Iohn the eldest sonne of Arthur hauing no issue ordayned Iane his Neece daughter to his brother Guy who died before him to succeed him in the Duchy This Iane Charles de Blois marries on condition his issue by her should inherite the same wherein after consummation of the Marriage hee is inuested and had homage done vnto him during the life of Iohn their Vncle. But after his death Iohn de Monfort doth homage for the Duke of Brittaine to King Edward Monfort claymes the Duchy comes to Paris to do homage for the same to the French King Charles de Blois in the right of his wife opposes him the controuersie is referred to the Parlement Sentence passes on the side of Charles Monfort inraged repaires to the King of England doth his homage vnto him for the Duchy is receiued with great applause and his title howsoeuer held bad at home is heere made to bee good Returning back into Brittaine both with comfort meanes after some encouÌ„ters Monfort taken prisoner His wife prosecutes her husbands quarrell with his enemie hee is taken and committed prisoner to the Louure in Paris His wife the Countesse of Monfort sister to Louys Earle of Flanders a Lady who seemed to haue more of the man then her brother prosecutes her husbands quarrell puts on Armour leads and incourages her people surprises and defends many strong peeces of Brittaine but in the end like to be ouerlaide by the power of Charles de Blois she craues ayde of the King of England and hath it sent vnder the conduct of the Lord Walter de Manny which relieued her for the present but the future required more whereof King Edward was not sparing in regard of his owne designes for aydes are seldome sent to forrainers but for the Senders benefit The Lady her selfe comes ouer into England to treate both for supplyes and alliance tendring a match betweene her sonne and a daughter of King Edward The Earles Salisbury Pembrooke and Suffolke Forces sent ouer into Brittaine the Lords Stafford Spencer and Bourchier with Robert de Artois Earle of Richmond are sent with great forces backe with the Lady Many were the incounters surprises and recouerings of Fortes betweene the English and the French and in this action The death of Robert de Artois Robert de Artois receiued his last wound at the siege of Vannes but yet was brought to die in England it being not in his Fate that his countrie which by his meanes had suffered so much affliction should haue his bones though it had his blood which he lost with little honour
sides to treate and conclude a Peace The chiefe Article in deliberation was That the King of England should enioy all the Lands of his Duchy of Aquitaine without holding the same by resort or Treatie of Peace homage of the Crowne of France and in consideration thereof should resigne all his Clayme and Title to that Kingdom And this was in a manner then fully agreed on yet in the end broken off by the French Alledging they could not alienate any thing from the Bodie of that Crowne to their farther confusion and mischiefe hauing beene better to haue spared a formall Ceremonie appertaining to a part then to haue had the whole so miserably rent and torne in pieces as it was And yet in the end were they faine to make their agreement vpon the same very Article at the Treatie of Britigny But now the Commissioners returning without effecting any thing the King of Anno Reg. 27. England grew so displeased as hee would not hearken to any further prorogation of Truce though it were instantly vrg'd by two Cardinals sent from Auignion by Pope Clement the 6. who being a French-man borne laboured much for the peace of his Countrey and preparation is made for fresh wars The Prince of Wales now grown a man is appointed by Parliament to goe into Gascoigne with 1000. men at Armes 2000. Archers and a great number of Welshmen and in Iune following sets foorth with 300. Sayle attended with the Earles of Warwick Suffolk Salisburie and Oxford the Lord Chandos the Lord Iames Audley Sir Robert Knoles Sir Franke de Hall with many others About Michelmas following the King himselfe passes ouer to Calais with another King Edward passes with an Armie into France Armie taking with him two of his Sonnes Lionel of Antwarpe now Earle of Vlster by the right of his wife Elizabeth Daughter and Heire to William Brugh And Iohn of Gant and Earle of Richmont There met him at Calais of Mercinaries out of Germanie Flanders and Brabant a thousand men at Armes So that his Armie consisted of three thousand men of Armes and two thousand Archers on horse-backe besides Archers on foot The Citie of London sent 300. men at Armes and 500. Archers all in one Liuerie at their owne charge But all this great Powre effected nothing at that Returnes with out doing any thing time the French king would not be drawne to any incounter both in regard of the potency of his enemy and some turbulencies happening amongst his owne people but he so disfurnishes the countrie where the English were to passe of all prouisios to sustaine them as the King of England was forced to returne The distemperatures of France that this time diseased it grew from the violent humors of Charles King of Nauarre who had married Iane the French kings daughter a Prince of a stirring spirit subtile haughty and presuming vpon his great Estate and high blood being the sonne of Louys Conte d' Eureux and Iane daughter to king Louys Huttin which Iane was put by the inheritance of the Crowne of France by Phillip le Long her Vncle in regarde of their Salicque Law and by him preferred to be Queene of Nauarre in whose right this Charles her sonne bare both the title and state of that kingdome with many other great inheritances all which The King of Nauarre disturbes the French King could not yet content him but holding himselfe wronged that hee had not also the Counties of Champagne and Bry which appertained to his mother by the same right as did the kingdome of Nauarre enters into violent courses And daring not to complaine directly of the King hee falles vpon the Constable of France as chiefe of his Councell and one of whom hee was iealous in regarde of the Kings perticular fauour vnto him and in the end caused him to be murdered in his bed at L' Aigle in Normandy rushing himselfe vp into his Chamber accompanied with his brother Phillip of Nauarre two of the Harecourts and diuerse other of his owne retinue After the deed done hee retyres to his owne Citie of Eureux and iustifies the act to be lawfull The French King though extreamely stung herewith yet was faine to temporise and promises the king of Nauarre if hee would come and craue pardon he should haue it Whereupom hee appeares at Paris before the Councell to render reason for his act is condemned as guilty of treason notwithstanding the Kings promise committed prisoner Three Queenes are earnest sutors for him his mother the old Queene of Nauarre his sister the widdow of the late King Phillip de Valois and his owne wife daughter to the French King His release is obtayned and away hee goes with the rancour of this wound which had beene better not giuen vnlesse it had beene home offers his seruice to the King of England who knew well how to make vse of such a powerfull member and withall surprises certaine peeces in Normandy practising all hee could to withdraw the peoples affections and aydes from their King when hee had most need of them These insolencies notwithstanding the French king is faine to endure and dissemble vntill hee might againe take him vpon some aduantage to vse force hee saw was dangerous both in regarde of his party and the time An occasion at length fell out whereon he seazes Charles his eldest sonne being lately inuested in the Duchy of Normandy is visited by all the great men in the Countrey amongst whom as chiefe comes the King of Nauarre and The French King commits the King of Nauarre prisoner is royally feasted at Roan Whereof the French king hauing notice sets out of Paris sodenly takes him at dinner with his sonne and without farther processe causes foure of the principall which massacred the Constable to bee presently executed of which two were the Harecourts brethren and withall sends away Nauarre vnder sure guard to Arras and his chiefest seruants to diuerse prisons The Duke of Lancaster sent into Normandy to ayde the King of Nauarres brother and others This sudden execution though it gaue a present amazement yet it wakened the partisans of Nauarre and especially Phillip his brother who with Geoffrey Harecourt Vncle to the two brethren post ouer into England exclayming against this violent murther inuoking King Edward in a case of so notorious iniustice to ayde them offering their harts their goods their townes and hauens to let him into Normandy The occasion is intertayned the Duke of Lancaster is sent ouer with Anno D. 1335. Reg. 29. foure thousand men at Armes and by the assistance of this great party winnes many strong Townes King Edward to be furnished for so great actions hath by Parliament granted vnto him fifty shillings vpon euery sacke of wooll for sixe yeares next ensuing by Fifty shillings granted by Parliament of euery sacke of wooll for sixe yeares which imposition it was thought say our Histories the King might dispend a thousand
this meanes in a manner attained to a soueraignty of the whole country But the Danes imbroiling his peace in the end of his raigne held him backe from enioying such a fulnesse of power as that wee may account him the absolute Monarch of the Kingdome nor yet any of his successors so long as the Danes Anno 802. continued vnsubiected For they hauing first made irruptions into the State in the raigne of the late King Britric his predecessor euer after held a part therof and afflicted the whole till they had attained the absolute soueraigntie to themselues The Danes were a people of Germanie next neighbours to the Saxons and of language and manners little different Possessing besides Cimbrica Chersonesus now called Denmarke The discription of the Danes all the Isles adiacent in the Baltique Sea and sometimes the kingdome of Norway A mightie rough and martiall Nation strong in shipping through their exercise of piracie and numerous in people for all suppliments Who perceiuing here the happie successe and plantation of the Saxons were drawne with desire and emulation likewise to put in for a part the coast lying open to inuasion and the many diuisions of the Land with the discord of Princes making them an easie way thereunto So that in a manner as soone as the Saxons had ended their trauailes with the Brittaines and drew to settling of a Monarchie the Danes as if ordained to reuenge their slanghters beganne to assault them with the like afflictions The long the many and horrible encounters betweene these two fierce Nations with the bloudshed and infinit spoiles committed in euery part of the Land are of so disordred and troublous memory that what with their asperous names together with the confusion of place times and persons intricately deliuered is yet a warre to the reader to ouer-looke them And therefore to fauour mine owne paines and his who shall get little profit thereby I passe them ouer After the death of Egbert Aethelwolph his sonne succeeded in the State with the title of King of the West Saxons onely and was a Prince more addicted to deuotion then action as may be seene by his donation of the tenth part of his Kingdome with exemption of all regall seruice for the seruice of God besides an annuitie of three hundred markes to be bestowed in pious vses at Rome whither he went twice in person whiâ—h his yongest sonne Alfred whom he especiall loued and whom Pope Leo the fourth annointed a King at eleuen yeares of age as if deuining of his future fortune Vpon his last iourney and whole yeares stay at Rome Aethelbald his eldest sonne combin'd with the Nobility of the West Saxons to keepe him out and depriue him vtterlie of his gouernment and wrought so as notwithstanding the great loue his people bare him he was brought to yeeld vp the Kingdome of the West Saxons to Aethelbald and retaine onely the Kingdome of the East Angles a State of farre lesse dignitie to himselfe After which raigning but two yeares Aethelbald succeeded in the whole and with great infamy marrying his fathers widow Iudith daughter to Charles le Chauue King of France enioyed it but two yeares and a halfe when Aethelred the second sonne of Aethelulph entred to the gouernment which hee held fiue yeares in continuall conflict with the Daues After whom ALFRED the mirrour of Princes made a King before he had a kingdom at An. 872. two and twenty years of his age in a yeare wherein eight seuerall battailes Alfred had been giuen to the Danes by the Saxons began his troublous raigne wherein he was perpetually in warre either against his enemies or else against vices First after a great danger to lose all he was forced to yeeld vp a part of the kingdome which was that of the East angles and Northumberland to Guthrum leader of the Danes whom vpon his baptization he made his confederate and owner of that by right which before he vsurped by violence And notwithstanding all the continuall and intricate toyle hee indured amidst the clattering and horror of armes he performed all noble actions of peace collecting first K. Alfred first made collection of the Saxon Lawes the Lawes of his predecessors and other the Kings of the Saxons as those of Offa King of Mercna-land and Aethelbert the first Christian English King of which by the graue aduise and consent of his States assembled hee makes choice of the fittest abrogates those of no vse and addes other according to the necessity of the time And for that the wildenesse of warre by the reason of these perpetuall conflicts with strangers had so let out the people of the Land to vnlawfull riots and rapine that no man could trauaile without conuoy he ordained the diuision of shires Hundreds The first deuision of the Land into Shires Hundreds and Tithings and Tithings that euery Englishman now the generall name for all the Saxons liuing legally might be of a certaine Hundred or Tithing out of which hee was not to remooue without security and out of which if hee were accused of any crime hee was likewise to produce sureties for his behauiour which if hee could not finde hee was to endure the punishment of the Law If any malefactor before or after hee had put in suerties escaped all the Tithing or Hundred were fined to the King by which meanes he secured trauailers and the peace of his Country The opinion he had of learning made him often complaine the want thereof imputing it amongst his greatest infortunes to haue been bred without it and to haue his kingdome so vtterly destitute of learned men as it was through the long continuance of this barbarous warre which made him send out for such as were any way famous for letters and hauing gotten them hee both highly preferred them and also as they doe who knowe not to much themselues held them in great veneration Rarenesse then setting a higher price on meaner parts then after Plenty did on more Publique Schooles first erected perfections Grimbald and Scotus hee drew out of France Asser who wrote his life out of Wales other from other parts hee was the first lettered Prince we had in England by whose meanes and incouragement publique Schooles had here either their reuiuing or beginning Those wants of his owne made him take a greater care for the education of his sonnes with whom were bred vnder most diligent masters almost all the children of the Nobility within his kingdome All his owne time he could cleare from other businesse he bestowed in study and did himselfe and caused others to translate many things in the vulgar tongue which he laboured it seemes much to adorne and especially affected the Saxon meeters Mat. Westm. whereby to glorifie that of a King he attained the title of Poet. The naturall day consisting of 24 houres hee cast into three parts whereof eight he spent in prayer study and writing eight in the