and learned discretion to have the said William excused for the causes which follow First may it please you to remember how that the said William was lately warned by a Spie that a very great power of Enemies came against him for to besiege the said Castle and to batter the same with great Ordinance whereupon the said William forthwith by his Attourney and by his Letters requested the Councell that they would please to foâ—tifie the said Castle with more Gentlemen fâ—r the defence and safeguard theâ—of having regard that the garrison of the said Câ—stle was not sufficient for halfe the multitude of so great force to make resistance in so large a place but in the end for that hee could have no succour of the said Councell and likewise the said William being not in default was left without sufficient souldiers of a long time whereby to keepe and defend the said Castle whereof hee beseecheth you that you will take just and benigne consideration Likewise may it please you to take notice by the privy Scout of Warre that there came the Enemies power of Armes and seven hundred fighting men with 6000. of the common souldiers of the Land having nine great Cannons a great Engine and a Trebutchet big above measure which they carried in their marches that thereby presently a great part of their Gentlemen of Armes souldiers aforesaid came before the Gates of the said Castle to assault it and there was a Knight of theirs killed which was cozen to the Lord of Chiffin insomuch that officers and many others also were there slaine and in a short time after they beganne to plant their Cannons and Engines and so continuing from day to day their assault that is to say Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday and the walls then of the houses and of the said Castle were broken and divided in many places and they had by force filled the ditches of the said Castle in three places if possible to make way for them to issue and there came upon the said workes a a great part of them and they by force had broake and spoyled many of our bars and the morrow after which was Friday they came at the break of day with all their strong men to assaile the said Castle but by the help of God they were not yet Conquerours by force of their Assault And of our side and of their side there appeared great death and losses and the same day the Marshall of Burgoyny treated with the said William and others to render the said Castle Wherefore and in consideration that the said Castle could not hold out for the smallnesse of the number of Gentlemen there and for that the walls in many places were beaten down by their marvelous Ordnance there was a Treatie with the Lords to the end that the said William with his companions might know what to doe the next morning whether to stay or depart from thence Likewise the same night the Enemies had brought all their Ordinance their Engines Trebutchet and Cannons upon carriages drawne by Horses to the foot of the ditch of the said Castle and the next morning which was Saturday they put themselves all in Order to assault the place and then first of all they sent a Herald to the said VVilliam to know if the same Castle should bee rendered or not whereupon the said William by advice of the graver sort of his companions having consideration how the said place was destroyed by their Ordinances and also that there were few Gentlemen left for the defence and that twelve of their companions were at that time dead and that many being wounded and sick he could not renew the Gentlemen of the Garrison and that for safety to defend themselves there being only but thirty eight and by common assent the said Castle which hee could hold out no longer was by force rendered for safety of the lives of the men That all these things aforesaid are true the said William putteth himselfe upon Tryall according to your discreet Ordinances Item it is to be remembred that when the said Castle was rendered as aforesaid certaine Gentlemen of France did bargaine with the said William for his victualls and bought the same togâ—ther with certaine persons which the said William held within the said Castle in Prison for which things hee received of them 1000. and 500. Franks whereof hee paid to his companions for part of their wages which then was behind three quarters of a yeare 678. Franks Item hee payed at Callis for victualls of the said Castle before that time due 1442. Franks Item for the passage of the said William and for his expences being at Callis 135. Franks And therefore the said William beseecheth that you have regard to Iustice and bounty how that he by envious suggestion hath beene against all reason accused thereof concerning his estate and name for which offence hee hath seised and stayed some of the Cattells of his Adversaries and that you have consideration how that hee hath payd his companions out of his proper goods for their wages and that you will be pleased for Gods sake and piety also to ordaine for him that by your discreet noblenesse hee may recover his Estate and goods Item the said William Weston sheweth how the first day when the Enemies came before Ardee he fled thence to the Army at Callis to the Captaine there to pray of him more succour and ayde of men to guard the Castle of Barwick and to defend if the Enemies had assaulted and the Captaine answered him briefly that he would not deliver nor lend succour nor aide at that time for that he doubted himselfe the Enemies would come before the Towne of Callis And the Lord Steward came and read the said schedule in Parliament Iohn Lord of Gomeniz you have undertaken to the thrice powerfull Prince whom God preserve Lord Edward late King of England Vnckle of our Lord the King that now is safely to keep to him and his heires Kings of England the Towne and Castle of Ardee without surrendring the same to any but to the said King and his Heires or by the Commandement of him and his Heires Have you Lord of Gomeniz in time of our Lord the King surrendred the same without his commandement to the detriment of him and â—is Crowne and of the Estate of his Realme of England agaiâ—st your undertaking aforesaiâ— what say you to it whereupon the said Iohn answerâ—th that the said Towne and Câ—stle of Ardee was so feeble that hee could not well keepe it against so great power of the Enemies which were readie to assaile the said Towne and Castle and therefore he went forth to intreat with the Eâ—â—mies that he might save the liege men of our Lord the King being within that Towne and Castle of Ardee without that that he at any time tooke any thing for the surrender of the said Towne and Castle of Ardee Whereupon one Geffery of Argentine Knight said in
full Parliament to the said Iohn that he the said Geffery was at that time in the said Town and Company with the said Iohn and that the Town and Castle of Ardee were not at any time delivered by his assent but that he was ready to stay come upon the safe guard thereof and this the said Geffery affirmed And moreover it was demanded of the said Iohn if hee had any other thing to say and hee answered no whereupon the Constable was charged with the safe keeping of the said Iohn and William untill the morning of the next day and then to bring them againe safely before the said Lords in the said Parliameâ—t at the place and day afoâ—esaid At which day that is to say the eight and twentieth day of November in the yeare aforesaid wâ—re the said Iohn and William brought againe in full Parliament and there it was shewed severally by the sâ—id Steward at the same day by Commandement of the Lords aforesaid how upon the Answers which the said Iohn and William have given in the said Parliament as before mentioned to the Lords of the said Parliament viz. the King of Castile and of Leon and the Duke of Lancaster Edmond Earle of March Richard Earle of Arundell Thomas Earle of Warwick Hugh Earle of Stafford William Earle of Suffolke William Earle of Salislbury Henry Earle of Northumberland Iohn Lord Nevill Roger Lord Clifford and many other Lords Barons and Baronets being assembled in the said Parliament to advise at the time when the said Answers were given in Parliament the Friday Even at the howeâ— of three a clock of the matters touching the answers aforesaid and viewing and examining diligently the said Answers and other Articles concerning that businesse And upon good and mature deliberation and Information given of the most valiant and discreet Knights and òthers being in the said Parliament it was said in manner as followeth to the said William by the Steward reciting the things aforesaid touching the said William It seemed to the Lords aforesaid that you William without â—uresse or default of victualls have wickedly delivered and surrendered to the Enemies of our Lord the King for your owne lucre contrary to all plea of right or reason and against your liegeance and undertaking according to an Information in such case which meâ—tioneth whereas the late Baron of Graystock who was a Lord and one of the Peeres of the Realme had taken upon him safely to keepe to the aforesaid King the Towne of Barwick presently after the said King prepared himselfe to travell to the Kingdome of Francè the said Baron without the Kings Commandement left the said Towne of Barwick and a valiant Esquire Robert Ogle as Lievtenant of the said Baron who safely should keepe the said Town of Barwicke to the King And the said Baron went aâ— a horseman to the parts of France to the said King and there stayed in his company surmizing that an assault of warre was made at the said Towne of Barwick by the Scots And the said Robert as Lievtenant of the said Baron defended forcibly there and at last by their assaults the said Towne was taken and the sâ—id Robert and two of the sonnes of the said Robert were slaine he being in the company of the King in the parts of France And it was said that it was adjudged by the advise of the said King in the parts of France the said Dukes Nobles and Earles tâ—gâ—ther with Henry Duke of Lancaster the Earles of Northumberland and Stafford and Sir VValter Maney that the sâ—id Towne was lost in default of the said Baron And for that cause hee had Iudgement of life and member and that he ought to forfeit all that hee had and Iudgement was rendered in these words by the commandement of the King which things also considered for that you William have surrendered the Castle of Barwick to the Enemies of our Lord the King aforesaid without duresse or default of victuall against your alleageance and undertaking aforesaid the Lords aforenamed sitting in full Parliament adjudge you to death and that you be drawne and hanged but for that that our Lord the King is not yet informed of the manner of this Iudgement the execution thereof shall be put in writing untill the King bee informed wherefore it is commanded to the said Constable safely to keepe the said William untill he hath other commandement from our Lord the King And as touching the said Iohn Lord of Gomeniz touching the Answers aforesaid It was shewed there by the said Steward how the said Lords were assembled and advised of the said Answers as before said Moreover it was shewed how that at the time that Sir Ralph Ferrars Knight had the keeping of the Towne and Castle of Ardee the said Towne was not so strong by the one halfe as it was at the time when the said Iohn surrendered the same and the said Ralph did put himselfe in perill for the safeguard thereof and forthwith the said Ralph did hold and forcibly defend the same against a very great and forcible assault and other evidences concerning the said Iohn in this behalfe were delivered as followeth to the said John being in Parliament by the said Steward reciting all the matters aforesaid touching the forementioned Iudgement of the said Baron and the cause thereof in manner as before it seemeth to the Lords before named sitting in full Parliament considering your answers in this behalfe and your examinations and Informations therein that lately amongst the number of Gentlemen by whom you have strongly undertaken safely to keepe the said Towne and Castle with twentiâ— men of Armes and twenty Archers you were sent to the said Towne and Castle of Ardee in the Afforcement thereof according to your requâ—st thereof made to certain Lords being sent in message to Callis under our late King Edward and at such time also as you were advised by the King of Castile that if you could not welâ— keepe it you ought in no sort to take upon you to keepe the same and there were that would have undertaken the safe keeping thereof to the said King Edward and his heires and you have undertaken safely to guard the same with no surrender to any but in manner as aforesaid and now have you Iohn without duresse or default of victualls or of Artillery or of other things necessary for the defence of the said Townes and Castles of Ardee without Commandement of our Lord the King wickedly delivered and surrendered it to the Enemies of our Lord the King by your owne default against all plea of right or reason and against your undertaking aforesaid The Lords aforesaid in full Parliament adjudge you to death and for that you were a Gentlemen Banneret and have served the late King Edward in his warres and have not proved a leige man to our Lord the King you shall be beheaded without having other iustice And for that also our Lord the King is not yet
losse without necessary cause and also of Patentâ— made in destruction of the Staple of Callis and alsâ— of divers Impositions put upon woolls against the Statute of Parliament in that behalfe lately made he is awarded by the Prelates and Lords in full Parliament to prison to be kept in Ward of the Maâ—shall and to make raâ—som at the Kings will whereupon the said Commons beseech the King for that he is found in such defaults by his singular Counsels he being in all Offices of the King and especially one of the Kings Privy Counsell throughout all that time it was requested that the King would bee pleased to grant that the said Lord might go under baile whereupon the King willed and granted that the said Lord Latimer should find in Parliament certain Prelates Lords and others during the Parliament to have his body before the King and the Lords to answer further to the Articles wherof he was â—o arrested under a certain paine and forme comprised in a Schedule annexed And under such surety the Marshall of England let him go at liberty Ibidem N. 31. ITem Willâ—am Ellis of great Jermouth is impeached and accused in this present Parliament in divers manners first viz. by the surmise of the Commons made to him that the said William whilest he was Farmer to our Lord the King of his pety Customes in the Port of great Jermouth and Deputy of Richard Lions Farmour of the Subsidies of 6 d. the pound granted by our Lord the King of all Marchandizes passing out of the Kingdome and entring in the same for the safeguard of the Sea and of the Marchants passing by Sea and of their Marchandize he did take by him and his servants as well English as of Strangers in the said Ports and members thereof by way of extortion by colour of his said Offices many great summes of money and otherwise that he ought not to have done in great prejudice slaunder of the King and dammage of the said Realme and to the oppression and wrong of the Marchants aforesaid And the said William Ellis present in Parliament saith that true it is that he is one of the Farmours of the said pety Customes of the Marchants passing and comming saving the purport of the Commissions thereof made without that that he tooke the same or caused any thing to be taken by extortion more than was clearely due to the King and that hee was ready to prove to the King by whatsoever way way hee ought to do and the Commons replying said that the said William confessed to them in the Common assembly in the Chapter house within the Abbey of Westminster the day before that he had received the said 33 l. prayed that against his owne ackowledgement so openly and before so many persons he might not at other times be received to say the contrary And therupon the said Commons brought in Parliament John Botild Willi Cooper of Leiwstoft and two others that affirmed they had payed to the said William Ellis by the said Marchanâ— of Scotland the said 3â— l. for full Informâ—tioâ— of the matter aforesaid which John and William Cooper being thereof examined in Paâ—liament acknowledged that tâ—ey were obliged to our Lord the King and to the said William Ellis by their obligations or letters obligatory in the said 33 pounds together with the said Scot which was their hoast and payed at a certaine day for the said Subsidy of 6 d. the pound due of all the marchandizes in the said ship and the truth was that the said Scot discharged nothing of all the matters aforesaid at the day of payment but that they payed to the said William Ellis the 33 l. and therupon the said Commons prayed Iudgment upon the same said William Ellis who said that although that he had received the said 33 pounds of John Botild and of the other aforesaid be received it not but as supposing the same a gift and that without câ—ndition and that as often as concerning the â—ame hee should have a Writ or other Commandement of our Lord the King he would make deliverance thereof which otherwise he would not do voluntarily Item afterwards the said John Botild and William Cooper did put in the Bils in form which followeth To our Thrice doughty Lord the King and to his Sage Councell Sheweth John Botild of Lewistoft that the munday next after the Ascension of our Lord in the yeare of the raigne of our Lord the King that now is the nine and fortieth that there was chased by tempest in Kirke la Rode one Cockboat of Gotham in Pruse whereof the Masters name was Henry Luce charged with divers Marchandizes of the Marchants of Pruse that is â—o say Freeze and other marchandizes And the same day William Savage Clerke and servant to Wil. Ellis by commandement of the said William Ellis tooke of the said Cockboat for the marchandizes neither discharged the same from paying custome then 17 nobles and a last of leather the price of the last 10 pounds 16 s. at Lewistoft before the boat went out of Kirke la Rode to the great danger of the said Marchants And because that the said William Ellis knew that Wil. Cooper would come to this Parliament and shew this grievance others in aid of the Marchants and also set forth how the great Charter Huc Ang. might be amended in aid of the whole Realm the said Wil. by his false suggestion caused the said Wil. Cooper to be arrested and cast in prison for the space of 3 weeks May it please our thrice doubty L. the King his sage Councell to make remedy thereof in worke of charity Which Billes passed in absence of the said Wil. Ellis he saith that as to the said 17 nobles and skins called leather he could not sweare for him nor for any of the said Marchants of Pruse nor other whatsoever and the said John Botild and Wil. Cooper affirming the contrary at last it was said by the Lords in Parliament that those Billes touching the entry of the leather were now in the Kings Bench for Triall And as to the said Imprisonment the said William Ellis saith for that he was warned in coÌ„ming to London by many sufficient persons that the said John Wil. Cooper with 36 other persons of Lewist did lie in wait for the person of the said Wil. Ellis at Wickham market in Suffolke and going there in the high way of Gerneith from London at such time as the said W. was going towards London carrying with him a great summ of the K. money of the Customes Subsidies aforesaid and for that the said W. Ellis is awarded to prison to make fine ransom to our said L. the K. it is awarded to either of the said Iohn and William Cooper twentie pounds for their dammages and dispences during their said Imprisonment had and suffered Also it is awarded that the said Commissions be made to sufficient Gentlemen to enquire
of William Ellis and of all others Deputies of the said Richard Lyons throughout the Realme Parl. Anno 1. R. 2. n. 32. 33. ITem William Fitz-Hugh Goldsmith of London preferred his bill in Parliament in form as followeth To our thrice excellent thrice noble Lord the K. and to his thrice Honourable and thrice sage Councell shewen the poore Commons of the mysterie and company of Goldsmiths in the City of London that Iohn Chichester Iohn Botesham and many other Gentlemen and ricâ— goldsmiths of that mystery in the same City by their compassing and subtill devising deceitfully have caused many of the said company to enseale severally divers obligations and those who refused so to doe were taken and imprisoned and in danger of death by many grievous threatnings of the said goldsmiths who had sealed severally divers obligations as their poore companions had done before to cause that the said poore Goldsmiths should not buy nor sell to any Merchant Cutteller Ieweller Vphoulster nor to any other forraigner nor Denizen any goods of their working except they sold the same at a treble value and that none of them should carry gilt nor any other thing of gold or silver to any Ladie or other person to make profit thereof and if they did that the paine comprised in the said Obligations should incurre upon them as before the major Sheriffe and Aldermen of the sâ—id Citie as by the confessions of the said rich Goldsmiths it was proved wherupon it was unreasonably debated so that it was put by good mediation and advice to the said Maior and many of the Aldermen of the City the said rich and poore Goldsmiths put themselves in Arbitrement of three good men for a finall accord of all the debates and quarrells betweene themselves which Arbitrators assented upon certaine points rehearsed to the parties aforesaid and ordained the same points to be affirmed and inrolled in the Parliament for ever and thereupon the said parties were released But notwithstanding this Agreement the said rich Goldsmiths would not assent nor suffer that the sâ—id points bee inrolled and holden as the said Arbitrators adjudged And furthermore by their procurement many mischiefs doe from day to day arise to the wrong of the said poore Commoners so farre as they are like to be undone which God defend and have purchased likewise a new Charter against the said agreement to the great decay and hurt of the said poore Commons may it please you thrice gracious Lords to ordaine and command that the said Accord bâ—e affirmed and holden finally for good and that the said Charter and other things tending to the prejudice and losse of the said poore Goldsmiths bee made voide for Gods sake and in the worke of Charity And thereupon the said Iohn Chichester and Iohn Botesham and many other Goldsmiâ—hs of London came iâ— Parliament and haviâ—g heard the said Bill it was forthwith demanded of the said William Fitz-Hugh if hee would maintaine the said Bill and finde pledge to doe and answer that which the Law demandeth who said that he would doe so but afâ—erwards he could not bring in his surety nor pleadge to answer the said Bill so was the said William Fitz Hugh commanded to the Tower by the award of the Lords in Parliament Ibidem Anno 41. ITem the said 24. day of Decemb during yet this present Parliament Alice â—ierce was caused to come in the same Parliament before the Prelates and Lords for to answer certaine matters which by Letters should bee surmised against her in the Kings name and thereupon by commandement of the Prelates and Lords of the said Parliament Master Richard Scroope Treasurer Steward of the house of our Lord the King rehearsed in Parliament in the presence of the said Alice an Ordinance made in Parliament holden at Westminster the monday next after the feast of Saint George the yeare of the reigne of the King Vnckle of our Lord the King that now is the 50. in these words For that complaint is made to the King that many women have persued in the Courts of the King divers businesses and quarrells by way of maintenance and to have a share which thing displeaseth the King to defend and that hâ—nceforth no woman shall doe so and more especially Alice Pierce upon paine of whatsoever the said Alice may forfeit and to be banished out of the Realme and after this rehearsall made the said Steward surmised to the said Alice that it seemed to the Lords of Parliament that she had incurred the paine comprised in the said Ordinance and had forfeited against the said Ordinances in certaine points and more especially in two viz. that she stayed Master Nicholas Dagworth Chancellour when he was ordayned by the Councell of the late King to goe into Ireland for certaine urgent businesses which should have beene profitable to our late King and his Realme the said Alice after the said Ordinance made as aforesaid perswaded the said King in his Court at Havering that at her singular persuit and procurement the said Nicholas was countermanded and his voyage stayed from all that Island to the great dammage of our said late King and his Realme Item That whereas Richard Lions for misprisions wâ—ereof he was convicted at the said Parliament holden the said 50. yeare of our late King Edward submitted himselfe in the Parliament into the favour of the said King that is to say his Body all his Lands and Tenements and he gave some of them to the Earle of Cambridge and some of them to Master Thomas Woodstock now Earle of Buckingham for terme of their lives the which our late K. after having pitie of the said Richard was willing by the assent of his Councell to shew him favour and to pardon him the Imprisonment of his body and to restore him to certaine of his Lands goods and chattells aforesaid which pardon seemed to our late King and his Councell tâ— be a grace sufficient notwithstanding the said Alice so perswaded the said late King in his Court at Sheene that by the singular persuit and procurement of the said Alice our late King Edward granted to the said Richard all his Lands goods Tenements and chattels aforesaid together with the said Tenements which hee had given to the said Earles for terme of their lives as before said amongst the same pardoned the said Richard 300. l. of certaine Arrerages due by the said Richard in the Exchequer and also granted him a thousand marks of his Treasure to bee â—eceived of the said Ladie which persuit and procurement are contrary to the Ordinance aforesaid And the said Steward demanded of the said Alice how she would excuse her selfe of those Articles which Alice did answer and say that she was not guilty of those Articles and that she is ready to shew and prove by the Testimony of the said Master Iohn Iprâ— then Steward of the said King Edward William Street then controller of his house Allen Buxall
Knight and Nicholas Carrein Keeper of the privie Seale of the said King and others that did then belong to the said King and afterwards from him to the time supposed that she committed forfeiture and that they can discover the truth And thereupon day is given unto the said Alice untill Wednesday next by the Prâ—lates and Lords of the Parliament and it was ordained and assented that those Articles shall be tried by witnesses and by enquest of those that were of the houshold of the late King Edward whereby the truth may better be knowne and thereupon were certaine persons examined before the Earle of March the Earle of Arundell the Duke of Lancaster the Earle of Cambridge and the Earle of Warwick that is to say first Master Roger Beauchampe late Chamberlaine of the said King Edward sworne upon the holy Evangelists and diligently examined touching the Countermand of Master Nicholas Dagworth and upon the other Article concerning the said Kings pardon and favour to Richard Lions saith upon his Oath that in presence of the Ladie Alice Pierce a Bill was delivered to him which Bill he tooke and after hee had understood that the same contained the calling back of Master Nicholas Dagworth from Ireland for that he was an enâ—my to Master William Winsor to that which the Bill supposed he answered that hee durst not preferr it to the King for that the Counsell had ordained the contrary and the said Alice requested him and said that he might safely deliver it to the King and presently the King demanded of what matter they discoursed and the said Master Roger answered of a Bill that doth containe such businesse forthwith when the King had understood the Bill hee answered that the Petition was reasonable and when Master Roger replyed the Councell had ordained to the contrary the King answered that he himselfe was agreeing and that yet it seemed the Bill was reasonable and commanded him that the said Master Nicholas be caused â—o be called back which was likewise done but what day or moneth it was he remembreth not and as to the matter of Richard Lions the said Mr. Roger saith that he was Chamberlaine but an houre and so knoweth nothing more then he hath said Item Master Lanc. diligently examined before the Committees saith that he came one day to Havering and found the Ladie Alice Pierce there and forthwith Master Roger Beauchampe shewed him Billa and after the King understood the matter hee said thus that it seemed not reason that one enâ—mie should bee judge of another and the said Duke answered that hee was come betweene them but it was so that the said Maâ—ter Nicholas was sent for the profit of the Land and of all the Realme and therefore it was ordained before the King that the said Master Nicholas and Master William doe come before the Councell and if the said Master William could prove any cause for the Enmity betweene them that then the said Master Nicholas shall not goe if he well can prove such enmity otherwise the Ordinance of the Councell made in that behalf shall stand in force to which thing the King did well assent for that time but forthwith the King was assailed in his chamber by the said Ladie Alice and there came in the said Duke and prayed the King that he would not suffer in any sort that the said Mr. Nicholas bee called back who answered that it should bee no otherwise then it was afore ordained before the King and when hee came in that behalfe to crave a testimoniall favour hee could not obtaine it and the next morning when the said Duke did his obeysance to the King in his bed The King himselfe commanded upon his blessing that he suffer not in any manner that the said Master Nicholas goe into Ireland The Ordinance thereof made the day before to the contrary notwithstanding and likewise the said Master Nicholas was countermanded and as to the Article of Richard Lions hee saith in his conscience that the said Alice was principall promotrix of the said businesse but he was not present when it was done Item Master Philip de Bath sworne and diligently examined saith as to the Article of Master Nicholas Dagworth that he heard not the said Dame Alice speak to the King of the same matter but hee heard in the Kings house the said Ladie Alice make a great murmur and say that it was no reason nor Law that the said Master Nicholas who was an enemie to the aforesaid Master William should goe into Ireland to enquire and doe Iustice against him and more hee knowâ—s not how to say in this matter But as to the Article of the said Richard hee saith that he was one day at Sheene when the said Richard was brought before the King and that he was called into the Kings chamber to heare those things that were to be done and when he understood a little of the matter he would not stay in the chamber and further he saith that there were then in the Kings Chamber the said Lady Alice Nicholas Currein Master Allen Buxall Walter Walsham and many others saith that she was in the Court and that the said Lady Alice was an aider and friend in the businesse Item Nicholas Currein sworn as aforesaid and diligently examined saith that he was commanded by the King to come to Sheer there he found Rich Lions which Richard and Nicholas were commanded to come before the King to his bed and there they fouâ—d the Lady Alice Pierce sitting at the side of the bed and there it was shewen that the King would pardon the said 300. l. to which he was yet bound to the King as of the arrerages of his accompt in the Exchequer and also the King would give to the said Richard 1000. markes of his Treasure and further would make full restitution of the Tenements which had bin given to his sons of Cambridge and Woodstock as before said And thereupon the King commanded the said Nicholas to say from him his pleasure to his said sâ—nnes but he saith that hee remembreth not iâ— that matter were showne at that time before tâ—e King by relation of any other person or by the Bill of the said Richard there read or otherwise by the said Richard himselfe the said Nicholas remembers himselfe very well that he requested to come before the King who caused to come from behind â—hâ— curtaines Master Allen Buxall and others Knights and Bishops which then were there to testifie that which the King had said to the said Nicholas in the said commandements and so it was done and all the commandements of the King were râ—hearsed in presence of all those men And as to the matter of Master Nicholas Dagworth he saith that he knowes nothing but that Master Roger Beauchampe sent him to countermand the said Master Nicholas Item Master Allen Buxall sworne in like manner and diligently examined saith that one day at Sheen after the last Parliament
or inheritance and in capitall offences so Arbitrary that the forme of the death inflicted sometimes varied from the ordinary course used in the common Law for such offences Under the first Head these cases of 1. Iohn Matravers 2. Borges of Bayons 3. Iohn Deverill 4. Thomas Gourney 5. William of Ocle 6. Iohn of Gomeniz and 7. William of Weston All condemned to death for Treason and all to bee drawne and hanged saving Gomeniz who was judged to bee beheaded because he was a Banneret and had served the King in his Warres Under the second Head are these cases of 1. Iohn at Lee Steward of the houshold 2. Richard Lions 3. William Lord Latimer 4. William Ellis 5. Chichester and Botesham 6. Alice Pierce 7. Cavendish against Sir Mich. de la Poole Chancellour of England 8. The Earle of Northumberland For Writs of error their power and course in them may bee seene some speciall examples which are expressed whereunto is added that of Thorpe being Speaker of the Lower House under Henry the sixt which specially shewes the power of Iudicature in the Lords although otherwise it tast too much of what is wholy against the priviledges of every member of the Parliament at this day Ex rot Parliamenti 4. E. 3. mem. 3. num 3. WItnesse the Peeres Earles and Barons assembled in this Parliament at Westminster that it is openly assented and agreed that Iohn Matravers is guilty of the death of Edmund Earle of Kent the Vnckle of our Lord the King that now is as he that principally traiterously and falsely compassed the death of the said Earle so that the said Iohn did know of the death of King Edward our Father when the said Iohn by haynous manner and by his false and wicked deeds conspiring with the sonne of the said Earle against the life of the King which hee did actually commit for which the said Peeres of the Land and Iudges of the Parliament adjudge and award that the said Iohn bee drawne hanged and quartered as a Traitor in what part of the Kingdome soever he be found and the said Peeres doe pray our Lord the King that hee will command that a writ be made to make search and enquiry throughout the Realme and that he that can take the said Iohn alive and bring him to the King shall have a hundred markes and if in case he cannot be taken alive he that brings his head shall have fiftie pounds of the Kings guift Moreover to have such judgement it is agreed that it be put in execution of Boges de Boyons and John Deverell for the cause afore-mentioned and that hee that can take the said Boges alive and bring him to the King shall have a hundred pounds and he which brings the head of the said Iohn shall have forty pounds of the Kings guift Item it is assented and agreed that Thomas Gourney and William of Ocle shall have such judgement for the death of King Edward Father of our Lord the King that now is who falsely and traiterously murdered him and who can apprehend the said Thomas and take him alive shall have a hundred pound and he that can bring the head of him a hundred markes likewise he that can take the said William alive shall have a hundred markes and hee that brings the head of him if in case hee cannot be taken alive shall have forty pound of the Kings guift Rot. Parliamen 4. R. 2. M. 5. in Schedula annexa THis Schedule the Commons made and caused to be brought in Parliament praying the Lords to ratefie the same and to put in execution in that schedule amongst divers others this Article occurres Item that all those which have lost or rendred when necessity required not Castle Towne or Fortresse to the dishonour of our Lord the King the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament being every of them attainted of such fault shall be punished according to their desert without partiality for to avoyde the evill example which they have given to all others Then afterwards followes an Accusation and a Iudgement upon an offence of that nature ITEM where the Supplication is by the Commons that all those which have rendred and lost Castle or Townes lost by the very default of Captaines may be put to their answer at this Parliament and according to their desert throughly punished by the award of the Lords and Baronage avoyding the evill example which they have given to others and that Allen Buxall Constable of the Tower of London shall cause to come before the Lords of Parliament at Westminster on friday the 27. day of November in the yeare afore mentioned Iohn Lord of Gomeniz and William of Weston imprisoned and detain'd in the said Tower at the commandement of our Lord the King because they have rendered and lost faithfull Castles and Townes of our Lord the King for to answer upon the Articles which there shall be preferred for the said cause on the behalfe of our Lord the King At which day being friday the said John and William were brought by the said Constable of the Tower before the Lords aforesaid sitting in full Parliament in the great chamber They were severally put to answer at the commandement of the said Lords by sir Richard Scroope Knight Steward of the Houshold of our Lord the King in manner as followeth William of Weston you have taken upon you to the thrice powerfull Prince whom God have in his keeping Lord Edward late King of England Vnckle of our Lord the King that now is surely to keepe to him and his Heires Kings of England the Castle of Barwick without surrendring the same to any but him or his said Heirs have you William who were a leige man of our Lord the King that now is true Heire of the late King Edward delivered and surrendered the said Castle to the Enemies of our Lord the King without his Commandement in dishonour of him and his Crowne and of the Estate of his Realme of England against your leigeance and undertakings whereupon hee put his answer in writing having a Schedule contayning the Tenor of many things and came and read the said Schedule in full Parliament upon which the Law was demanded by the said Steward if the said Schedule should bee taken for his finall answer in that behalfe or not And thereupon the said William prayeth that the said Schedule may be redelivered to him and there hee putteth in his finall answer and after the said William put in to the said Schedule an Addition in full Parliament for finall in that behalfe The Tenor of which Schedule is such as followeth To the most sage Councell of our Lord the King and to the other Nobles and Commons of Parliament WIlliam of Weston beseecheth and shewes that he is accused maliciously to have rendered the Castle of Barwick which he had in keeping upon the Trust and assignement of our Lord the King may it please your just