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
little fire to raise it otherwhere casts an especiall eye on this Prouince to make it the pompous matter of his triumph And to prepare the way without aduenture of himselfe foresends Publius Ostorius Scapula a great warrier Pro-praetor into Brittaine where he met with many turbulencies and a people hardly to be driuen howsoeuer they might be led yet as one who well knew his mestier and how the first euents are those which incusse a dauntingnesse or daring imployed all means to make his expeditions sodaine and his executions cruell Notwithstanding did Carodocus one of the British Kings hold these great Romanes worke for nine yeares together and could not bee surprized till betrayed by his owne Nation he was deliuered into their hands and brought to Rome captiue with his wife and children to be the subiect of their triumph whereof notwithstanding the glory was his But Claudius had the honour of taking in the whole Isle of Brittaine to the Romane Empire which though thus wonne was not till a long time after ouercome For now the Brittaines vnderstanding the misery of their dissociation how their submission brought but the more oppression colleague themselues against the Romanes taking their occasion vpon the outrages committed on the person and State of Queene Voadicia widow of Prasutagus King of the Iceni a great and rich Prince who at his death had left Nero his heire and two daughters hoping theeeby to free his house from iniury but it fell out contrary for no sooner was he dead but his kingdome was spoyled by the Ceuturions his house ransac'kt by slaues his wife beateÌ„ his daughters rauished Besides the chiefe men of the Iceni as if all the Region had beene giuen in prey were reft of their goods and the Kings kinsmen esteemed as captiues with which contumely and feare of greater mischiefe they conspire with the Trinobantes and others not yet inured to seruitude to resume their liberty And first set vpon the Garrisons of the Veteran souldiers whom they most hated defeited the ninth legion whereof they slew all the foote forced Cerialis the Legat and leader to flight and put to the sword seuenty thousand Romans and associats inhabiting their municipall Townes London Virolame Camolodunum now Maldon Camolodunum before Suetonius Gouernour of the Prouince could assemble the rest of the dispersed forces to make head against their Armie consisting of 12000 Brittaines conducted by Voadieia who with her two daughters brought into the field to mooue compassion and reuenge incites them to that noble and manly work of liberty which to recouer she protests to hold her selfe there but as one of the vulgar without weighing her great honour and birâ—h resolued either to winoe or dye Many of their wiues were likewise there to be spectators and incouragers of their husbands valout but in the end Suetouius got the victorie with the slaughter of foure score thousand Brittans whereupon Voadicia poysons herselfe and the miserable Country with their heauie losse had also more weights layd vpon their seruitude And yet after this made they many other defections and brauely struggled with the Romans vpon all aduantages they could apprehend but the continuall supplies euer ready from all parts of that mightie Empire were such as the Brittans hauing no meanes but their owne swords in an vncomposed State layde all open to inuasion spent their bloud in vaine And in the end growing base with their fortune as loosing their vertue with their libertie became vtterly quailed and miserably held downe to subiection by the powrefull hand of foureteene Garisons disposed in seuerall limits of the Land with their companies consisting of sundry strange nations computated in all to be 52. De Notitia vtr Imper. Pancioroul thousand foote and 300. horse besides 37. companies contayning 23. thousand foote and 1300 horse which continually guarded the North parts where that which is now Scotland and obeyed not the Roman Empire was excluded from the rest with a wall or trench first raysed by Agricola after reedified by Adrian Seuerus and others And in this sort continued the state of Brittaine whilst the Romans held it induring all the calamities that a deiected nation could doe vnder the domination of strangers proud greedy and cruell Who not onely content by all tyrannicall meanes to extort their substance but also constraine their bodies to serue vnder their ensignes The misery of the Brittaines vnder the Romans when or wheresoever their quarrellous ambition would expose them And besides they being at the will of their rulers in their obedience they were forced to follow them also in their rebellions For after the election of the Emperours grew to bee commonly made by the Armies many possessing those mighty Roman force here were proclaimed Caesars and put for the whole Empire As first Carausius and after him Alectus whom Constantius the associate of Maximianus in the Empire at his first comming into Brittaine by Asclepiodorus the Praetorian Praefect vanquished with all such as tooke part with him After that the Caledonians and Picts from the North parts made irruptions into the State and much afflicted the Britaines whom to represse Constantius then sole Emperour of the West came the second time into this Land and in an expedition made against them died at Yorke whither his sonne Constantine a little before his death repaired out of Illiria escaping a traine laid for him by Galerius Emperour of the East with whom he was in the warres against the Sarmatians when his father came first into Brittain against Alectus And here was hee now first saluted Emperour for which it seemes he much esteemed the Country as that which gaue birth to his dignity And re-ordring the government thereof for a future security devides it into fiue Provinces to be ruled by one Vice-gerent fiue Rectors two Consulars and De Notitia vtrinsque Imper. three Presidents After whose time we haue no certaine nor apparant marke to direct vs which way the State went till the raigne of Valentinian the elder who sends Theodosius the father of him who was after Emperour of that name into Brittaine against the irruption of the Picts Attacotti Scoti Saxones Franci which of all sides invaded and spoiled the Country and after Theodosius had by the forces of the Battaui and Heruli cleered it Ciuilis was sent to governe the Province and Duleitius the Army men of faire names for good offices In these warres with Theodosius was one Maximus a man borne in Spaine but of Roman education who after in the time of the yonger Valentinian having the charge of the Army was here proclaimed Caesar and to subvert the present Emperour transports The people of Brittaine consumed in the factions of the Emperours the whole power of Brittaine and first in his way subdues Gaule and there furnishes every place of defence with Brittish shouldiers and they say peopled the whole Countrey of Armorica now called Brittaine in France with the same nation
which yet retaines their language in some kinde to this day And having spred one Arme to Spaine the other to Germany imbraced so great a part of the Empire as he draue Valentinian to seeke ayde of Theodosius Emperour of the East after the vanquishment and death of his brother Gratianus at Lyons And by this immoderate vent both of the Garrisons and the ablest people of the Land hee dis-furnisht and left it in that impotencie as it never recovered like power againe All those great forces hee tooke with him either were left in Gaule or perished with him at Aquileia where he was ouerthrowne by Valentinian And yet againe in the time of Honorius the Emperour the Colony of the Veteran souldiers fearing the invasion of the Vandales made another defection and cumultuarilie proclaimed Emperour one Marcus whom shortly after they slue then Gratianus who likewise within foure monthes being murthered they gaue the title to one Constantine not so much for his merite as the omination of his name This Constantine taking the same course that Maximus did whatsoever strength was left or lately in any sort recovered he emptyed it wholy and made himselfe of that power as he subdued many of the Westerne Provinces gaue his sonne Constans a Monke the title of Augustus and after many fortunes and incounters with the forces of Honorius became vanquished and executed at Arles Where also perished the whole power hee brought out of Brittain And so the State having all the best strength exhausted and none or small supplies from the Romans lay open to the rapine and spoyle of their Northerne enemies who taking the advantage of this dis-furnishment never left till they had reduced them to extreme miseries which forced them to implore the aide of Aetius Praefect of Gaule vnder Valentinian 3. and that in so lamentable manner their Embassadors in torne garments with sand on their heads to stirre compassion as Aetius was moved to send forces to succour them and caused a wall to be raised vpon the trench formerly made by Adrian from Sea to Sea of eight foote thicke and twelue high inter-set with Bulwarkes which the Roman souldiers and an infinite number of Brittains fitter for that worke then warre with great labour effected And so Aetius left them againe once more freed and defended from their enemies advising them from thence forth to invre and employ their own forces without any more expectation of succour from the Romans who overwrought with other businesse could not attend affaires that lay so farre off No sooner had the enemy intelligence of the departure of these succours but on they came not with standing this fortification battered down the wall overthrew the defenders and harrowed the Country worse then before Wherevpon againe this miserable people send to Aetius vsing these words To Aetius thrice Consull the sighes of the Brittains and after thus complaine The barbarous enemy beates vs to the Sea the Sea beates vs backe to the enemy beiweexe these two kinds of deaths we are either murdered or drowned But their implorations prevailed not for Aetius at that time had enough to do to keep his own head and Valentinian the Empire which now indured the last convulsions of a dying State having all the parts and Provinces thereof miserably rent and torne with the violences of strange nations So that this was also in the fate of Brittaine to be first made known to perish by and with the Roman State Which never suffering the people of this Land to haue any vse or knowledge of Armes within their own Countrey left them vpon their owne dissolution naked and exposed to all that would assaile them The end of the Romans government in Brittaine And so ended the Roman Government in Brittaine which from their first invasion by Iulius Caesar to this Valentinianus the third had continued the space of fiue hundred yeares In all which time we finde but these seven Brittish Kings nominated to haue raigned Theomantius Cunobelinus Guiderius Aruiragus Marius Choelus lastly Lucius who is crowned with immortall honour for planting Christian Religion within this Anno 443. Land All other from Lucius to Vortigern who succeeds this relinquishment were Roman governours This is briefly so much of especiall note as I can collect out of the Roman historie concerning the State and government of Brittain finding else-where little certaintie and from hence forth during their short possession of this Land farre lesse Whereof Gildas the Brittain complaines laying the cause on the barbarism of their enemies who Gildas de excidio Britaniae had destroyed all their monuments and memorials of times past And though himselfe wrote about forty yeares after the invasion of the Saxons and was next these times we come now to remember yet hath hee left in his enigmaticall passions so small light thereof as we discerne very little thereby Nor hath the Brittaines any honour by that antiquity of his which over-blacks them with such vgly desormities as we can see no part cleere accusing them to be neither strong in peace nor faithfull in war and vniversally casts those aspersions on their manners as if he laboured to inveigh not to informe And though no doubt there was as ever is in these periods of States a concurrencie of disorder and a generall loosenesse of disposition that met with the fulnesse of time yet were there no doubt some mixtures of worth and other notions of that age wherewith after-times would haue beene much pleased to haue had acquaintance But it seemes his zeale and passion in that respect wider then his charity tooke vp the whole roome of his vnderstanding to whom the reverence of antiquity and his title of Sapiens doth now giue Sanctuary and we must not presume to touch him Such was the State of Brittain left without Armes or order when Vortigern either Anno 450. by vsurpation or faction became King and is said to be the author of the first calling in or imploying being in the Saxons to make good his owne establishment and the Vortigern cals in the Saxons safty of his Kingdom against the Picts and Scots The Saxons at this time possest the third part of Germany holding all the Countrey betweene the Rivers Rhene and Elue bounded on the North by the Ballique Sea and the Ocean On the South by Silua Hircinia and deuided by the riuer Visargis into Ostphalia and Westphalia gouerned by an Optimacie of twelue Princes with an election A description of the State of the Saxons of a Soueraigne leader for the businesse of warre This beeing so spacious populous and neere a Country well furnisht with shipping which the Brittaines had not yeelded euer plentifull meanes to supply the vndertakers of this action which were first two brothers Hengist and Horsa withall necessarie prouisions vpon euery fit occasion After they had been here a while as stipendaries and finding the debility of Prince people their number soone increased And first
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
of Power that the Kingdome may not miscarie for want of a Ruler I haue called you all hither by the power of my Legation Yesterday the cause was mooued in secret to the greatest part of the Clergie to whom the right appertaines to elect and ordaine a Prince And therefore after hauing inuoked as it is meete the Diuine aide Wee elect for Queene of England the daughter of the peacefull glorious rich good and in our time the incomparable King and to her wee promise our faith and allegiance When all who were present either modestly gaue their voyce or by their silence contradicted it the Legat addes The Londoners who are in respect of the greatnesse of their City as among the optimacie of England we haue by our messengers summoned and I trust they will not stay beyond this day tomorrow we will expect them The Londoners came were brought into the Councell shewed How they were sent from the Communaltie of London not to bring contention but prayer that the King their Lord might be freed from captiuitie and the same did all the Barons receiued within their Liberties earnestly beseech of my Lord Legate and all the Clergie there present The Legat answeres them at large and loftily according to his speech the day before and added That the Londoners who were held in that degree in England ought not to take their parts who had forsaken their Lord in the warre by whose Councell the Church had beene dishonoured and who fauoured the Londoners but for their owne gaine Then stands there vp a Chaplaine to Queene Maude wife to Stephen and deliuers a letter to the Legat which he silently read and then said allowd that it was not lawfull in the assembly of so many reuerend and religious persons the same should be publikely read containing matter retrehensible The Chapline not to faile in his message boldly reades the Letter himselfe which was to this effect That the Queene earnestly intreates all the Clergie there assembled and namely the Bishop of Winchester the brother of her Lord to restore him vnto the Kingdome whom wicked men which were also his subiects held prisoner To this the Legat answeres as to the Londoners and shortly after the Councel brake vp wherein many of the Kings part were excommunicated namely William Martell an especiall man about the King who had much displeased the Legat. Hereupon a great part of England willingly accepted of Maude in whose businesses her brother Robert imployes all his diligence and best care reforming Iustice restoring the Lawes of England promising releeuements and whatsoeuer might be to winne the people the Legat seconding all his courses But now shee being at the point of obtayning the whole Kingdome all came sodainly dasht by her ouer-hautie and proud carriage and by the practise of the Londoners who adhering to the other side began openly to inueigh against her who had displeased them and they had plotted to surprize her in their Citie whereof she hauing notice secretly withdrawes herselfe accompained with her Vncle Dauid King of Scots who was come to visit her and her brother Robert vnto Oxford a place of more The Legat leaues the Empresse securitie The Leagat himselfe takes or makes an occasion to bee slacke in her cause vpon her denying him a sute for his Nephew Eustaee the sonne of Stephen about the inheritance of his Earledome of Mortaine in Normandie Besides the Queene regnant watchfull ouer all oportunities found meanes to parle with the Legar Sets vpon him with her teares intreatie promises and assurance for the Kings reformation in so much as shee Is intreated with teares by the Queene regnant recalled him to the affections of Nature brought him about againe to absolue such of the Kings part as he had lately excommunicated The Earle of Glocester seeing this sodaine and strange relaps of their affaires striues by all meanes to hold vp Opinion and re-quicken the Legats dispofition which to keepe sound was all He brings the Empresse to Winchester setles her and her guard in the Castle where she desires to speake with the Legat who first delayes then denies The Empresse besieged at Oxford the Earle of Glocester taken prisoner to come Whereupon they call their best friends about them Queene Maude and the Lords incompasse the Towne and cut off all victuall from the Empresse so that in the end the Earle of Glocester wrought meanes to haue her conueyd from thence to the Vies but himselfe was taken and in him most of her This sets the sides both euen againe into the Lists of ther triall the two prisoners are to redeeme each other The disproportion of the quality betweene them shewed yet there was an euennesse of power and the Earle would not consent to the Kings deliuery who onely in that was to haue the precedence but vpon most secure cautions The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Legate vndertooke to yeeld themselues prisoners for him if the King released him not according to his promise But that would not serue the turne till they both had written their Briefes to the Pope to intimate the course that was taken herein and deliuered the same vnto him vnder their hands and seales So that if the King should as he might not care to hold the Bishops in prison yet the Pope if hard measure were offred might releeue them Which shewes the aduantage of credit in the businesse lay on this side and the King was to haue his fetters though at liberty The Queene and Eustace her sonne the Prince vpon the inlargement of Stephen 1142. Anno. Reg. 7. remaine pledges in the Castle of Bristow till the Earle were released which was done vpon the Kings comming to Winchester Where the Earle in familiar conference was by all art possible solicited to forsake the partie of Maude with promise of all preferments of honour and estate but nothing could mooue him being fixt to his courses and rather would hee haue beene content to remaine a perpetuall prisoner then that Stephen should haue beene released had not his sister wrought him to this conclusion The Legat after this calls a Councell at London where the Popes letters written vnto him are openly read which argue him but mildly of some neglect of his brothers Vide Append. releasing and exhort him to vse all meanes Ecclesiasticall and Secular to set him at libertie The King himselfe came into the councell complaines How his subiects to whom King Stephens complaint hee had neuer denied Iustice had taken him and reproachfully afflicted him euen to death The Legate with great eloquence labours to excuse his owne courses alledging How hee receiued not the Empresse by his will but necessitie that presently vpon the Kings ouerthrow whilest the Lords were either fled or stood in suspence attending the euent shee and her people came thundring to the walles of Winchester and that what pact soeuer hee had made with her for the right of the Church shee
the cause of Thomas of Canterbury against the Tyrant of England King Henry sends likewise with all speed Roger Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of Winchester London Chichester and Excester Guido Rufus Richard Iuechester and Iohn of Oxford Clerkes William Earle of Arundell Hugh de Gundeuile Bernard de Saint Walleric and Henry Fitz Gerrard to informe the Pope of the whole cause and preuent the Archbishoppes complaint The multitude and greatnesse of the Commissioners shewed the importance of the Ambassage and the Kings earnest desire to haue his cause preuaile They finde the Pope at the Citie of Sens to whom they shewed how peruers and disobedient the Archbishoppe had behaued himselfe to his Soueraigne Lord the King of England how hee alone refused to obay his Lawes and Customes which hee had sworne to doe and that by his peeuish waywardnesse the Church and Kingdome were like to bee disturbed which otherwise would agree in the reformation thereof as was fit and necessary and therefore they besought him as hee tendred the peace of the Church of England and the loue of the King their Soueraigne not to giue credit or grace to a man of so turbulent and dangerous a spirit This Information notwithstanding earnestly vrged they found mooued not any disposition in the Pope to fauour the Kings cause so that in the end They besought him to send two Legats ouer into England to examine the particulars of this businesse and how it had beene carried and in the meane time to admit no other information of the cause but referre it to their relation The Pope refuses to send any Legat the commissioners depart without any satisfaction And with in foure dayes after comes the Archbishop and prostrates himselfe at the Popes seete deliuers him a coppie of those Lawes which the King called his Grandfathers Lawes which being openly read in the presence of all the Cardinals Clergie and many other people the Pope condemned them for euer and accursed those who obeyed or any way fauoured them Those Lawes among the Statutes of Clarendon which the Archbishop so much oppugned and most offended the Clergie were as by his owne letter to the Bishop of London appeares these especially That there should bee no appeale to the Apostolike Sea without the Kings leaue That no Archbishoppe or Bishoppe should goe out of the Realme but by the Kings permission That no Bishoppe excommunicate any who held of the King in Capite or interdict any officiall of his without the Kings leaue c. That Clergie men should bee drawne to secular iudgements That Lay men as the King and other should handle causes of the Church Tythes and such like And these were daungerous incrochments vpon their liberties But now the King seeing his Ambassage to take no effect and withall in a manner 1166. Anno. Reg. 12. contemned presently makes his heauie displeasure and the scorne hee tooke knowe by his seuere Edicts both against the Pope and the Archbishoppe that they might see what edge his secular powre had in this case ordayning That if anie were found carrying Letter or Mandat from the Pope or Archbishoppe contayning any The Kings Edicts against the Pope and his agents interdiction of Christianity in England should bee taken and without delay executed as a Traytor both to the King and Kingdome That whatsoeuer Bishop Priest Monke or Conuerser in anie Order Clerke or Layman should haue and retaine any such letters should forfeit all their possessions goods and chattells to the King and bee presently banished the Realme with their kinne That no Clergie men Monke or other should bee permitted to passe ouer Sea or returne out of Normandie into England without letters from the Iustices here or from the King being there vpon paine to bee taken as a Malefactor and put in hold That none should appeale to the Pope That all Clerkes which had any reuenue in England should returne into the Realme within three monethes vpon paine of forfeiting their estates to the King That Peter Pence should bee collected and sequestred till the Kings pleasure were farther knowne Besides this hee banishes all that were found to bee any way of kinne to the Archbishop without exception of condition sex or yeres And withall takes occasion vpon the Scisme which was then in the Church to renounce Pope Alexander and incline to the Emperors faction which stood thus After the death of Adrian the fourth Rouland a Geneuese and a great enemy of the The Election of two Popes Empire is by two and twenty Cardinalls elected Pope by the name of Alexander the third to which election foure Cardinals opposed and made choyce of Octauian a Citizen of Rome that would be called Victor the first The Emperor Frederic Barbarossa summons these two Popes to a Concel at Pauia to vnderstand determin their right Alexander makes the old answere that the Pope could not be iudged by any man liuing refuses to appeare before the Emperour and withdrawes into Anagnia Victor consents to appeare there or wheresoeuer the Emperour would appoint so that he was the man for that side But all the other Princes of Christendom except those of the Emperours faction acknowledge Alexander for Pope as elected by most voyces And especially by the King of France who called him thither and at Cocy vpon Loyr he and the King of England receiued him with all honour and reuerence in so much as they are sayd to haue attended vpon his Stirrop the one on the right hand the other on the left after this he calls a Councell at Tours whether the Kings of England Spaine and Hungarie send their Ambassadors and there are the constitutions of the Councell of Pauia and the Emperours confirmation of Victor nullified so that Alexander hauing his party dayly increasing in Italy was shortly after receiued into Rome Notwithstanding all this the King of England finding him so auers in this businesse Falls off from him renounces his Authority turnes to the Emperours faction seekes to strength himselfe with the Princes of Germanie consents to match his daughter Maude to the Duke of Saxony at the motion of Reginald Archbishop of Collen sent ouer by the Emperour for that purpose and intertaines a motion for another daughter to bee matched with the Emperours sonne But now by reason this contrary faction to Pope Alexander grew to bee but feeble all this working did the King no good but exasperates the Pope and sets him on the more to support the cause of the Archbishop who sollicites the Clergie of Pope Alexanders letter to the Clergie of England England threatnes intreats adiures them not to forsake their hold nor giue way to the inuador of their liberties which sought to confound the Priesthood and the Kingdome and if they opposed not mainely at the first but suffered the least breach to bee made vpon them they were vndone Then excommunicates hee all the especiall Ministers of the King that adhered to the Teutonicque faction or held
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
take it his passionate committing the cause of the Church with his soule to God and his Saints the place the time the manner and all aggrauates the hatred of the deed and makes compassion and opinion to be on his side The vnfortunate Gentlemen hauing effected this great seruice rifled the Arch-bishops house and after waighing the foulenesse of what they had committed and doubtfull whether the King though they had done him a great pleasure would seeme so to acknowledge it withdrew themselues into the North parts and from thence pursued The Murtherers miserable ende fled into seuerall Countreys where they all within foure yeares after as is reported died miserable Fugitiues Soone ranne the rumor of this deed with full mouth ouer all the Christian world euery pen that had passion was presently set on worke The King of France himselfe The King of Fraunce informes the Pope of Beckets murther informes the Pope of the whole manner with aggrauation of the souienesse thereof and incites him to vse the most exquesit punishment he could To vnsheath Peters sword to reuenge the death of the Martyr of Canterbury whose bloud cries out for all the Church and whose diuine glory was already reuealed in miracles Theobald Earle of Bloys a great and graue Prince elder brother to King Stephen The Earle of Bloys informes likewise sends likewise his information to the Pope and shewes him how he was at the peace-making betweene the King of England and this blessed Martyr and with what a cheerefull countenance with what willingnesse the King confirmed the agreement granting him power to vse his authority as it should please the Pope and him against those Bishops which had contrary to the right and dignity of the Church of Canterbury presumed to intrude the new King into the Royallthrone And this he would iustifie by his Oath or howsoeuer and in this peace saith he the man of God doubting nothing puts his necke vnder the sword this innocent lambe the morrow vpon Saint Innocents day suffered Martyrdome the iust bloud was shed where the shot of our saluation the bloud of Christ is offered And then how Court dogges the Kings familiars and domesticks were his ministers to execute this horrible act concluding with an exhortation likewise of reuenge But William Arch-bishop of Sens comes with a more maine outcry as if he would wake the Pope were he neuer so dead asleepe and tels him how he was appointed ouer The Arch-bishop of Sens writes to the Pope Nations and Kingdomes to bind their Kings in fetters and their Nobles with manacles of iron that all power both in Heauen and Earth was giuen to his Apostleship bids him looke how the Bore of the wood had rooted vp the Vineyard of the Lord of Saboath c. and all in that most powerfull phrase of holy writ And after hauing bitterly inueyed against the King vses these words It imports you O most milde keeper of the walles of Ierusalem to reuenge that which is past and prouide for the future What place shall be safe if the rage of tyranny shall imbrew the Sancta Sanctorum with bloud and teare in peeces the Vice-gerents of Christ the foster children of the Church without punishment Arme therefore all the Ecclesiasticall power you may c. Such and so great was the vprore of the Church raised vpon these motiues as notwithstanding The King declares his innocency by Embassage to the Pope the King of England then the greatest Prince of all the Christian world imployed the most especiall men could be chosen in all his Dominions for reputation learning and iudgement to declare his innocencie to the Pope to vowe and protest that he was so farre from willing such a deed to be done as he was from doing it himselfe and how grieuously hee Pope Cardinals denied audience refused conference tooke the matter when he heard thereof yet so deepe was the impression setled before hand and his name made so odious at Rome as not onely the Pope denied Audience to his Ambassadors but euery Cardinall and all other his Ministers refused to haue any conference with them Which with the hard passage they had in going thither by the many dangers and restraints they indured and now the contempt they found there did as they signified to the King much discourage them Yet for all this were there those braue Spirits among them as great Princes haue alwaies great Ministers that neuer gaue ouer working to cleere their maisters honour by Apologies remonstrances and all whatsoeuer wit could deuise and delt so as they kept off the great confounding blow of the highest Censure though it were euery day threatned and expected And hauing by grauely vrging the mischiefes might follow in the Church if a King of so great a State and stomacke should bee driuen to take desperate courses giuen some pawse and allay to the first heare they timed it out all that Spring and a great part of the next Sommer when although they could giue the King no great security yet they aduertise him of hope But the sending of two Cardinals a Latere Gratianus and Viuianus downe into Normandie did exceedingly vexe him For they were rough against him and would haue interdicted him and his Dominions but being forewarned of their comming and intention hee appeales to the presence of the Pope and so put off that trouble Returning out of Normandie into England hee giues strict commandement That no briefe carrier of what condition or order soeuer without giuing good security for his behauieur to the King and Kingdome bee suffred to passe the Seas Notwithstanding all the vexation the Church put this King into hee left nothing The Conquest of Ireland vndone that concerned the aduancement of his affaires but as if now the rather to shew his powre and greatnesse takes this time for an expedition into Ireland hauing commanded a Nauie of foure hundred shippes to bee ready at Milford-Hauen for the transportation of Men Victuals and Armour and sets soorth in the beginning of Nouember an vnseasonable time both for those Seas and the inuasion of a Countrey not well knowne But the businesse it seemes was well prepared for him hauing had an intention thereof euer since the second yeare of his raigne in which hee sent a solemne Ambassage to Pope Adrian the fourth to craue leaue for the subdument of that Countrey vnder pretence of reducing those rude people from their vicious fashions to the fayth and way of truth Which the Pope willingly graunted and returnes the Ambassadours with an autenticall concession thereof in writing to this effect First shewing how laudable a thing it was and how fitting the magnificence of so mighty a King to propagate his glorious name on Earth and heape vp reward of eternall felicity in Heauen by extending the bounds of the Church reducing rude and vnlettered people from their vicious manners to the veritte of the Christian faith and ciuilitie And
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
blessed Martyre and glorious Bishoppe Thomas lately shedde his bloud especially since your father and brother of cleere memory late Kings of England haue in the hands of the Legats of the Apostolique Sea abiureá that impious Custome Wee if you acquite your selfe will sufficiently take care for you and yours that no preiudice shall arise vnto you hereby Dated at Lateran the 10 yeare of our Pontificat Thus we see how these two mighty powers striue to make good each other prerogatiue and defend their interests with words But when the Pope vnderstood how the King of England had proceeded against the Church of Canterbury hee sends presently his Mandate to the Bishop of London Ely and Worcester to deale with the The Popes Mandat to the B B. King by way of exhortation to reforme himselfe and if they found him still contumacious they should interdict the whole Kingdome of England If that would not correct him then himselfe would lay a seuerer hand vpon him and withall charged the Bishops suffragans of the Church of Canterbury by vertue of their obedience to receiue for father the Archbishop Stephan and to obay him withall respect The Bishops as they were inioyned repaire to the King Shew the Popes Mandat and with teares besought him as hee had God before his eyes to call home the Archbishop and the Monkes of Canterbury to their Church and voutsafe to vse them with Honour and Charity thereby to auoyde the scandall of interdiction c. The King interrupting the Bishops speech breakes out into violent rage against the Pope and the Cardinall swearing by the teeth of God That if they or any other King Iohns answere to the B B. should dare to put his Kingdome vnder interdiction he would presently send all the Clergie of England to the Pope and confiscat their goods Besides if any of Rome were found within any part of his Land he would cause their eyes to bee put out their noses cut and so sent home that by these markes they might be knowne of other Nations Charging moreouer the Bishop plresently to auoyde his presence as they would auoyde their owne daunger Of this their ill satisfaction the Bishop certifies the Pope and shortly after the 1208. Anno. Reg. 11. whole Kingdome of England is interdicted all Ecclesiasticall Sacraments cease except Confession Extreame Vnction and Baptisme of Children the dead are carried out and put into the earth without Priest or prayer The Bishops of London Ely Worcester Bathe and Hereford secretly get out of the Kingdome To answere this violence with the like the King sends presently his Shriefes and other his ministers to command all Prelates and their seruants forth-with to depart out of the Kingdome deputes the Bishopricks Abbayes and Priories into the hands of Lay men confiscating all theis reuenues but the Prelates themselues get into Monasteties and would not out except expelled by force which the officers would not doe hauing no Commission for the same but they seize on all their goods to the Kings vse Here the Monasticall Writers of that time of whom onely we haue notice of these proceedings aggrauate the rigorous course taken in this businesse telling vs that religious men of what Order soeuer found trauayling were pulled from their horses robb'd and vily treated by the Kings seruants and none to doe them Iustice. And how the seruants of a Shriefe bringing bound vnto the King a theese who had robbed and killed a Priest to know what should be done with him the King said loose him and let him goe he hath killed our enemy But howsoeuer this were there were Excesses to many committed in a time so vntied as this was The King to preuent the defection of his subiects which hee dayly doubted would The King takes pledges of his Nobles for their fidelitie follow vpon this his breach with the Church sends with a militarie powre to all the Potent men of the Kingdome to require pledges for the assurance of their fidelitie wherein many of them satisfied the Kings will sending some their sonnes some their Nephewes other the nearest of their kinne William de Brause a Noble man beeing required to deliuer his pledge his wife preuenting her husbands answere tells the Commissioners that the King should haue none of her sonnes to keepe that was so ill a keeper of his owne brothers sonne Arthur For which sodaine and intemperat speech the Baron sharply reprehending his wife before the Kings seruants told them he was ready if he had offended to satisfie the King without any pledge according to the iudgement of his Court or that of his Peeres at any time or place wheresoeuer Vpon the report of this answere the King sends downe priuely to apprehend the His crueltie she wed to the wife and children of W. Brause Baron but he hauing notice or doubting what would follow fled with his Wife and Children into Ireland where afterward this afflicted Lady to recouer mercy of the King is said to haue sent Queene Isabel foure hundred kine and a Bull which yet could not mediate her pardon or pacifie his wrath But in the end she was there taken with her 2 sons the husband escaping into France and sent prisoner to the Castle of Windsor where she with her innocent children were famished to death so deerely payed she for the offence of her rash tongue The King displeased with the Londoners remoued his Eschequer to Northampton and The Eschequer remooued to Northampton with a great army marches towards Scotland to make warre vpon that King for receiuing his enemies and ayding them against him But by mediation an accord is made in this sort that the King of Scots should pay eleuen thousand markes of siluer and deliuer vp his two daughters pledges for securing the peace Returning backe hee caused all inclosures within his forests to be layde open a worke of great griefe to his subiects whom though in nothing hee sought to satisfie yet seeks he what he may to fasten them in their obedience whereof loue and not rigour is the surest bond and takes homage of all free Tenants yea euen of Children of twelue yeares of age throughout the Kingdome Two yeares to the great distraction of the State the interdiction held when the King Iohn excommunicated Pope seeing no yeelding in the King proceeds to the excommunication of his person that extreame course of abscicion which his Predicessor Alexander better aduised forbare to take vpon suggestion of a more hainous act committed by Henry the second vpon the person of Thomas Becket and by this violence thinking to quaile the heart of a most vnmaisterable King put him into more desperate rage with the Clergie who notwithstanding the Popes mandate durst not execute the same for many dayes after And first one Geffery Archdeacon of Norwich seruing in the Kings Exchequer conferring with the rest of his assistants about this Sentence affirmed it was not safe for men beneficed to
instantly out of his presence and court Yet afterward to vnderstand some more particulars of the madnes of this King of England he called for Robert the Clearke and had priuat conference with him apart about many particulars which hee himselfe reuealed to many in the hearing of Mathew the monke of Saint Albons who wrot and declared these things discribing the person of this Robert to be of a low stature blacke one arme shorter then another two fingers vnnaturally growing together of visage like a Iew c. which relation we are not vtterly to contemne proceeding from an Author of that grauity and credit and liuing so neere those times though to vs that are so farre off both in fashion and faith it may seeme improbable in some part yet if we consider whereto the desperat violence of this King who had made vtter wracke of conscience and all humane respect might carry him seeing himselfe in that Estate he was we may not thinke it voyd of likelihood to haue had this dealing with an heathen king who in that time was formidable to all Christendome and had on foot the mightiest army that euer the Moores had in Spaine which might either be to hold amity with him or intertayne him otherwise for his owne ends Though for the point of offring to forgoe the Christian fayth we may in charity forbeare to make it a part of ours Although this relator giues vs a note amongst other which hee supprest that poynted at the irreligion of this King who at the opening of a fat Stag iestingly said see how prosperously this beast hath liued and yet neuer heard Masse Which skoff in regard of the zeale then professed sauored of an impiety vnsitting the mouth of a religious A note of the Kings irreligion King and gaue scandall to the hearers who tooke it according to their apprehension apt to censure whatsocuer comes from the mouth of Princes which may warne them to be wary what they vtter in publique But this Embassage either neglected by Miramumalim or disappointed by the ouer throw of his great army with the death of his Sonne which shortly after followed King Iohn sets vpon another course assayles Pope Innocentius prone to be wrought by guifts to doe any thing with great summes of money and a reassurance of his tributary subiection which shortly after he confirmes by a new oath and a new Charter before the Popes Legat the Bishop of Tusculum sent ouer for the same purpose and King Iohn bribes the Pope and renewes his oath with full autority to compose the dissentions betweene the Kingdome and Priesthood Which at many Assemblies in diuers places was after debated and in the end order was taken for a plenary satisfaction to be made for the damages done to the Church For which the King vpon account already had payd twenty seauen thousand Markes and thirteene thousand more were vndertaken by Suerties to be answered by a certaine daie And herevpon is the interdiction released hauing continued sixe yeares three moneths and fourteene dayes to the inestimable losse of the Church and Churchmen The interdiction released whereof an innumerable multitude of all orders now repayre to the Legat for satisfaction of damages receiued by the Kings ministers during this interdiction To whom 1214. Anno. Reg. 16. the Legat answeres that it was not in his commission to deale for restititution to be made vnto them all but aduises them to complaine to the Pope and craue of him plenary iustice Wherevpon they depart much discontented holding the Legats proceeding for that he pleased not them inclining onely to please the King Who now is recommended to Rome for a most tractable obedient and indulgent Sonne of the Church and the Clergy heares of blame for their obstinacy vsed towards him The King hauing referred the ending of all this controuersie to the Legat and some other of his owne ministers being assured of the Popes fauour was now gone into Poictou to assayle according to his former designe the King of France on that side whilest his forces with those of the Emperour Otho by the way of Flanders inuaded him on the other And being with his Queene landed at Rochel many principall Barons of Poictou apter to promise then performe their faith came and swore fealty vnto him With whom he marches forward into the Country recouers many Castles and peeces of importance Whereof particularly by his owne letters from Parthenai he certifies his Iustices of the Eschecquer And withall shewes them how hee had Vide Append. graunted to the Sonne of the Earle of March his daughter Ioan in mariage though said he the King of France desired her for his Sonne but fraudulently c. After this he goes into Brittaine takes in the city of Nantes prepares to incounter with Louys the French Kings Sonne who was come downe with a mighty army to oppose his proceeding But the Poictouins distrusting his power or he them hauing discouered the forces of the Enemy refused to fight Wherevpon the King of England to his extreame griefe forsooke the field and made a dishonorable truce with the King The famous battaile of Bouines of France and this was the last of his transmarine attempts His forces in Flanders had far worse successe for the King of France with all the power he could possibly make incounters them at the bridge of Bouines and ouerthrew the Emperour Otho and the whole army of the confederates wherein are reported to haue beene an hundred and fifty thousand foote besides horse and in the battaile slaine a thousand fiue hundred Knights and taken prisoners Ferrand the Earle of Flaunders the Earles of Salisbury and Bologne And as report the Annales of Flanders the Earle of Sauoy the Dukes of Brabant and Lamburg and the Earle of Luxemburg the Emperour Otho 4. hardly escaped The death of the Emp. Otho and liued not long after Vpon these misfortunes and fearing the outrage of a necessitous and distempred King the Barons of England assemble themselues at S. Edmondsbury where they confer of the late produced Charter of Henry the first and swore vpon the high Altar that if King Iohn refused to confirme and restore vnto them those liberties the rights of the Kingdome they would make war vpon him vntill he had satisfied them therein and further agreed that after Christmas next they would petition him for the same and in the meane time prouide themselues of horse and furniture to be ready if the King should start from his Oath made at Winchester at the time of his absolution for the confirmation of these liberties and compell him to satisfie their demand After Christmas K. Iohn takes vpon him the crosse to secure himselfe from the Barons they repaire in a military manner to the King lying in the new Temple vrging their desire with great vehemency the king seeing their resolution and inclination to war made answere that for the matter they required hee would
appertayning thereunto The King of France answeres that the Kingdome of England neuer was nor is or euer shal be the patrimonie of Saint Peter and that King Iohn was neuer lawfull King thereof and if hee were he had forfeited the same by the murther of Arthur forwhich he was condemned in his Court neither could he giue away the Kingdome without the consent of the Barons who are bound to defend the same And if the Pope would maintaine this error it would bee a pernicious example to all Kingdomes Herewith the Popes Agent departs vnsatisfied Louys hauing first dispatched Commission Quater Vigint Coggis to Rome to declare his right iustifie his vndertaking sets forth from Calice with 600 ships and 80 other vessell and Lands with his Army at Sandwich King Iohn attends him at Douer with purpose to incounter him at his landing but vpon notice Louys lands in Kent 21 of May. of his great powre and distrusting the faith of his mercinaries hauing committed the keeping of the Castle of Douer to Hubert de Burg forsakes the field and with it himselfe retyres first to Winchester after to Glocester and leaues all to the will of his enemy Louys who after he had obtayned the submission of all Kent except the Castle of Douer which he neuer could get he comes to London where he is ioyfully receiued of the Barons and vpon his Oath taken to restore their Lawes and recouer their rights hath homage and fealty done him as their Soueraigne Lord thither came likewise the Earles Warrein Arundle Salisbury William Mareschall the yonger with many other forsaking King Iohn and rendred themselues vnto him Guallo the Popes Agent notwithstanding the sword was out in all the way of his passage got to Glocester shewes King Iohn the Popes care of him and in solemne manner The little effect the Popes Exmunication wrought pronounces the sentence of Excommunication against Louys and all that tooke part with him which though it brought him some comfort for the time yet it tooke little or nothing from the enemy neither could it so confirme his mercinaries but that most of them left him and either returned home into their Countries with such spoyles as they had or betooke themselues to this new commer King Iohn was not yet so forsaken but that he had powre enough remayning to infest though not incounter his enemies and faith he found abroad amongst many of his Ministers that well defended their charge Douer Castle with a small company holds out against all the force that Louys could bring against it Windsor Castle garded but with 60 men could not be won with all the powre of the Barons some other peeces as Nottingham and Lincoln Castles made very resolute resistance But nothing is effected saue the ruine of the Country The most-yeelding and fertill parts of the Kingdome as about Glocester the marches of Wales Lincolnshire Cambridgshire Norfolke Suffolke Essex Kent and all about London are the Stages of this warre and here they act their mischiefes which continued all that Sommer And about the later end of October a burning feuer makes an end of this fiery King which tooke him vpon an extreme griefe conceiued for the losse of his carriages sunke in the Sands passing the Washes betweene Lin and Boston and was augmented by a surfeit of Peaches new Ale taken at the Abbay of Swineshead from whence in The death of King Iohn great weakenesse he is conuayed to Newarke where after he had receiued the Eucharist and taken order for the succession of his sonne Henry hee departs this life hauing raigned 18 yeares fiue monthes and foure daies The Abbot of Crockeston a man skilfull in physique and at that time the Kings Physition disbowelled his body who no doubt would haue giuen notice to the world had his Maister as it was in after ages vainely bruted beene poysoned by a Monke of Mat. Par. Swinshead Abbay but the Writers of those times report no such matter Howsoeuer his death takes not away the reproch of his life nor the infamy that followes him whereunto ill Princes are as subiect as their euill Subiects and cannot escape the brute ofa clamarous Pen. witnesse this Disticque Anglia sicut adhuc sordet foetore Iohannis Sordida foedatur foedante Iohanne Gehenna He had issue by his wife Isabel daughter to Aymer Earle of Angolesme two sonnes Henry and Richard also three daughters Ioane Eleanor and Isabel. Henry succeeded him in the Kingdome Richard was Earle of Cornewall and Crowned His issue King of the Romans and had issue Henry and Iohn that died without issue also Edmond Iohn speed Earle of Cornewall and others Ioane the eldest daughter married to Alexander the second King of Scots died without issue Elianor the second daughter married to Simon Earle of Leicester had issue Henry Symon Almaricke Guy Richard and Elianor Henry slaine without issue Simon Earle of Bigorre and Ancestor to a Famely of the Mountfords in France Almarick first a Priest after a Knight Guy Earle of Angleria in Italy and Progenitor of the Mountfords in Tuscaine and of the Earles of the Campo Bacchi in the Kingdome of Naples Richard remayning priuily in England and changing his name from Mountford to Wellesborne was Ancester of the Wellesbornes in England Elianor borne in England brought vp in France married into Wales to Prince Lewin ap Griffith Isabel their youngest daughter married to the Emperour Frederic the 2 had issue Henry appointed to be King of Sicile and Margaret wife of Albert Landgraue Thurine She died in child-bed after she had beene Empresse sixe yeares He had also two naturall sonnes Geffrey Fitz Roy that transported souldiers into France when Hubert forbad his father to goe thither Richard that married the daughter and Heire of Fulbert de Douer who built Childham Castle had issue by her of which some famelies of good esteeme are descended Likewise one naturall Daughter Ioane married to Lewin Prince of Wales The end of the Life and Raigne of King Iohn The Life and Raigne of Henry the third THE death of King Iohn though it much altered yet it ended not the miserable businesses of the Kingdome for Louys notwithstanding held 1216. Anno. Reg. 1. his hopes and his party though much shaken by the sodaine Coronation of Henry eldest sonne to King Iohn solemnized in a great Assemblie of State at Glocester the 28 of October and committed to the tutelage of the great Marshall William Earle of Pembrooke the maine Pillar of the father and now the preseruer of the Crowne to his sonne a man eminent both in courage Henry the 3 Crowned at Glocester and Councell who with Guallo the Popes Legat the Bishops of Winchester Bathe and Worcester worke all meanes to draw the Barons and as many of powre as they could to their new and naturall King from this excommunicate stranger and his adherents And bred great fluctuation in the mindes of most of
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
so was it in this and therefore the lesse worthy of thankes The Legat was well payed for his paynes and notwithstanding the great distresse of the Kingdome carries away twelue thousand Markes with him to Rome But thus the long afflicted state began to haue some peace and yet with many distemp ratures at the first ere those virulent humors which the warre had bred were otherwise diuerted For many of the Nobles who had taken part with the King either vnsatisfied in their expectations or knowing not how to maintaine themselues and theirs but by rapine fall to mutinie surprizing of Castles and making spoyles in the Country as the Earle of Albemarle Robert de Veypont Foulke de Brent Brian de Liste Hugh de Bailioll with many other but at length they are likewise appeased And seeing the warre must nurse whom it had bred an Action is vndertaken for the Holy Land whither Ralph Earle of Chester Saer de Quincy Earle of Winchester William de Albeny Earle of Arundle Robert Fitz Walter William de Harcort with many other are sent with great forces Besides to vnburthen the Kingdome all strangers vnlesse such as came with Merchandize are commanded to auoyde the Land and all meanes vsed for the regayning the ability it had lost And no sooner had this prouident Protector the Earle of Pembrooke setled the The death of the Protector Earle Marshall Kings affaires but he dies to the great regrate of the Kingdome leauing behinde him a most Noble memorie of his actiue worth and is to bee numbred amongst the examples of the best of men to shew how much the Wisdome and Valour of a potent Subiect may steed a distracted State in times of danger The Bishop of Winchester imparting the charge with many other great Councellors is made Protector of the young King who in An. Reg. 4. is againe Crowned and the next yeare after hath by Parliament graunted for Elcuage two Markes of Siluer of euery Knights fee for the affaires of the Kingdome and recouery of his transmarine The King againe crowned 1. Parliament Dominions which now is designed and Malleon de Sauerie the Poictouine with William Long sword Earle of Salsburie sent ouer into Guien to try the affections of that people whom they finde for the most part inclinable to the obedience of this Crowne The King of France is required to make restitution of what hee had vsurped but returnes answere that what hee had gotten both by forfeiture and Law of Armes hee would holde To retayne amitie with Scotland and peace at home Ioan the Kings Sister is giuen 1220. Anno. Reg. 5. in marriage to Alexander King of Scots and Margueret sister to the same King to Hubert de Burgh now made Iusticiar of England and the especiall man who guided the greatest affaires of the Kingdome Wales reuolting vnder their Prince Lewelin gaue occasion of great charge and trouble to this State in the beginning of this Kings raigne and long after till it was wholy subdued And a commotion in Ireland made by Hugh Lacy is appeased by William Earle of Pembrooke sonne to the late great Marshall 1221. Anno. Reg. 6. and some few yeares after hath the Kingdome a kinde of quietnesse sauing that Falcasius or Foulke de Brent with certaine Chatelaynes the dregs of war fortifying the Castle of Belford with some other peeces of strength and committing many outrages gaue occasion of businesse till they were gotten by hard assault But now the King being come to some yeares of vnderstanding was in a Parliament holden at London put in minde by the Archbishop of Canterbury in behalfe of the State of his Oath made and taken by others for him vpon the peace with Louys for confirmation of the liberties of the Kingdome for which the warre began with his father and being the mainebase wheron his owne good and that of his people must subsist without which the whole State would againe fall a sunder they would haue him to know it betime to auoyde those miserable inconueniences which the disvnion of 1222. Anno. Reg. 7. Rule and Obedience might bring vpon them all which though it were impiously there oppugned as Princes shall euer finde mouthes to expresse their pleasures in what course soeuer they take by some ministers of his amongst whom one William Brewer a Councellor is named who vrged it to haue beene an act of constraint and therefore 2. Parliament not to be performed was notwithstanding promised at that time by the King to bee ratifyed and twelue knights or other Legall men of euery shire by writs charged to examen what were the Lawes and Liberties which the Kingdome enioyed vnder his Grandfather and returne the same by a certaine day and so by that vsuall shift of Prolongation the businesse was put off for that time to the greater vexation of that following For during all his raigne of sixe and fifty yeares the Longest of any King of England this put him to the greatest imbroylement made him ill beloued of his paople euer crost in his intendements and farre a lesse King onely by striuing to be more then he was the iust reward of violations And euen this first pause vpon the lawfull requisition thereof turnd the bloud shew'd how sensible the state was in the least stoppage of that tender vaine For presently the Earles of Chester Albimarle with many other great men assemble at Lecester with intent to remoue from the K. Hugh de Burgh chiefe Iusticiar and other officers supposed to hinder this motion But the Archbishop of Canterbury by his spirituall power and the rest of the nobility more carefull to preserue the peace of the Kingdome stood to the King and would not suffer any proceeding in this kind so as the Lords effected nothing at that time but were constrained to come in and submit Resumptions themselues And here the king by parliament resumes such alienations as had bin made by his Ancesters of what had apertayned to the Crowne whereby he might haue the 1223. Anno. Reg. 8. more meanes of his owne without pressing his subiect but this serued not his turne The next yeare after another Parliament is held at Westminster wherein is required the fiftieth part of all moueables both of the Clergy and Layetie for the recouery of those parts in France withheld from this crowne by Louys now King contrary to his 3 Parliament oath and promise made here in England at his departure Which motion though it concerned the honour and dignity of this Kingdome being the inheritance of the King and the Estates of most of the Nobility and other the subiects who had lands and possessions in those parts which no doubt they desired to recouer with their vtmost means yet would they not yeeld to the graunt of this subsidy but vpon confirmation of their liberties which in the end they obtayned in the same words and forme as King Iohn had graunted them in the
Oath without leaue of his father they plainely Cron. Lichfield Henry eldest sonne to the King of Romans refuseth to take his Oath told him that if his father would not consent with the Baronage in this case hee should not bold a Furrow of Land in England In the end the Kings brethren and their followers are dispoyled of all their fortunes and exiled by proscription vnder the Kings owne hand directed to the Earles of Hereford and Surrey with charge not to passe either their Money Armes or Ornaments but in such sort as the Lords appointed and after their departure Claus 49. hee enioyneth the Citie of Bristow and other ports not to permit any strangers or Hen. 3. kinsmen of his to ariue vnlesse they did so behaue themselues as both hee and the Lords should like The Poictouines retyring to Bolongne in France send to King Louys to craue safe passage Mat. Par. through his Countrie into Poictou which in regard the Queene of France had been informed how they had defamed her Sister of England was by her meanes denyed at that time and Henry sonne to the Earle of Leicester whose estimation was great in France followes them with all eagernesse thither to incense the French against them And as they whom Enuie tumbles downe from high places shall be sure euer to haue all the thrusts possible to set them headlong into disgrace with the world so now the death and sicknesse of diuerse great men and others happening in England soone after this fatall Parlement is imputed to poysons supposed to haue been prepared by those Gentlemen The Earle of Glocester in a sicknesse sodainely lost his haire his teeth his nailes And his brother hardly escaped death which made many to suspect their nearest seruants and their Cookes Walter Scotny the Earles Steward being one is strictly examined committed to prison and after without confession executed vpon presumptions at Winchester Elias a conuerted Iew is said to haue confessed that in his house the poyson was confected but it was when he was a Diuell not a Christian Any thing in the prosecution of malice serues the turne Euery man that had receiued any wrong by those great men now put vp their complaints and are heard to the agrauation of their insolence and iniustice Guido de Rochfort a Poictouin to whom the King had giuen the Castle of Rochester is banished and all his goods confiscat William Bussey Steward to William de Valence is committed to the Towre of London most reprochfully vsed as an especiall minister of his Maisters insolencies Richard Gray whom the Lords had made Captain of the Castle of Douer is set to intercept whatsoeuer the Poictouines conuayed that way out of England and much treasure of theirs and the elect of Winchester is by him there taken besides great sums committed to the new Temple are found out and seised into the kings hands And as vsually in such heates much wrong is committed in these prosecutions of wrongs But now as an amuzatory to make the ill gouerned people thinke they are not forgotten the new chiefe Iusticiar Hugh Bigod brother to the Earle Mareschall chosen this last Parlement by publique voyce procures that foure Knights in euery shire should enquire of the oppressions of the poore done by great men vnder their hands and seales certifie the same by a certaine day to the Baronage that redresse might be made Moreouer order was taken that from thence forth no man should giue any thing besides prouisions for iustice or to hinder the same and both the corrupter and corrupted to bee grieuously punished Notwithstanding this pretended care of the publike it is noted by the writers and records of that time how the Lords inforced the seruices of the Kings tenants which dwelt neare them and were totidem tyranni how they furnished the especiall fortresses of the kingdom with Regist. in Scace William Rishangar Guardians of their owne sworne to the Common state and tooke the like assurance of all Shirifs Baylifes Coroners other publike ministers searching the behauiour of many by strict commission vpon oath And to make their cause the more popular it was rumored that the Kings necessitie must be repayred out of the Estates of his people and how he must not want whilst they had it whereupon the King sends forth proclamation How certain malicious persons had falsly and seditionsly reported that he ment vnlawfully to charge his Subiects and subuert the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdom and by these subtile suggestions altogether false auerted the hearts of his people from him and therefore desires them not to giue credit to such perturbers for that hee was ready to defend all Rights an Customes due vnto them and that they might rest of this secured he caused of his freewill his letters to be made Patents But now Monfort Glocester and Spencer who had by the late institution of the 24 Conservators drawne the intire managing of the Kingdome into their hands inforce 1258. Anno. Reg. 42. the King to call the Parliament at London where the Authority of the 24 is delivered vnto themselues and order taken that three at the least should attend in the Court to dispose of the custodie of Castles and other businesses of the Kingdome of the 18. Parlement at London Ordinat inter Record Civil Lond. Chancellor Chiefe Iusticiar and Treasorer and of all Officers great and small And heere they binde the King to loose to them their Legall obedience whensoever he infringed his Charter In this State stood the Kingdome when intelligence was given to the Lords that Liceat omnibus de Regno nostro contra nos insurgere ad gravamen nostrum open operam dare ac si nobis in nullo tenerentur Chart. Orig. sub Sigillo Richard King of Romans had a purpose to come ouer into England which made them greatly to suspect being ignorant of the occasion least he were sent for by the King to come with power to subvert them by the example of King Iohn Whereupon they send to know the cause of his comming and to require of him an Oath before hee should land not to preiudice the now established orders of the Kingdome which he sternely refuses to do saying Hee had no Peere in England being the sonne and brother of a King and was aboue their power and if they would haue reformed the Kingdom they ought first to haue sent for him and not so presumptuously attempted a businesse of so high a Nature The Lords vpon returne of this answere sends presently to guard the Ports and come strongly to the Coast prepared to incounter him if occasion were offered But finding The Lords require an oath of him his traine small accompanyed onely with his Queene two German Earles and eight Knights they vpon his promise to take their propounded oath receiue him to land but would neither permit the King who came thither likewise to meete him nor
North Clifford Percy Scottish Lords come to aide the King of England Basset c. From Oxford withall his forces he marches to Northampton where he took prisoners Simon Monfort the younger with 14. other principall men thence to Nottingham making spoyle of such possessions as appertained to the Barons in those parts The Earle of Leicester in the meane time drawes towards London to recouer and make good that part as of chiefest importance and seekes to secure Kent with the Ports Which hastes the King to stop his proceeding succour the Castle of Rochester besieged Successe and authority now growes strong on this side in so much as the Earles of Leicester and Glocester in behalfe of themselues and their party write to the King humbly protesting their loyalty and how they opposed onely against such as were enemies to him and the Kingdome and had belyed them The King returnes answere how themselues were the perturbers of him and his siate enemies to his person and sought his and the Kingdomes destruction and therefore defies them The Prince and the Earle of Cornewall send like wise The Barons mediate a peace their letters of defiance vnto them The Barons notwithstanding doubtfull of their strength or vnwilling to put it to the hazard of a Battaile mediate a peace send the Bishops of London and Worcester with an offer of 30 thousand Markes to the King for damages done in these warres So that the statutes of Oxford might bee obserued which yeeldingnes the other side supposing to argue their debility made them the more neglectiue and securer of their power which commonly brings the weaker side more watchfull of aduantages to haue the better The Earle seeing no other meanes but to put it to a day being a man skilfull in his worke takes his time to be earlier ready then was expected and supplies his want of hands with his wit placing on the side of a hill nere Lewys where this battaile was The battaile of Lewys fought certaine ensignes without men in such sort as they might seeme a farre of to be squadrons of succors to second those he brought to the incounter whom he caused all to weare white-crosses both for their owne notice and the signification of his cause which he would haue to be for Iustice. Here the fortune of the day was his the King the Prince the Earle of Cornewall and his sonne Henry the Earles of Arundell Hereford and all the Scottish Lords are his prisoners The Earle Warrein William de Valence Guy The K. Prince and others taken prisoners de Lusignian the Kings brethren with Hugh Bigod Earle Mareschall saue themselues by flight Fiue thousand are slaine in this defeit which yet was not all the blood and destruction this businesse cost All this yeare and halfe of the other is Simon Monfort in possession of his prisoners the King he carries about with him to countenance his actions till he had gotten in all 1265. An. Reg. 46. the strongest Castles of the Kingdome And now as it vsually falls out in considerations where all must be pleased or else the knot will dissolue debate arises betweene the Earles of Leicester Glocester about their diuidend according to their agreement Leicester as fortune makes men to forget themselues is taxed to doe more for his owne particular then the common good to take to himselfe the benifit and disposition of the Kings Monsort taxed of wrong Castles to vsurpe the redemption of prisoners at his pleasure to prolong the businesse and not to vse the meanes of a parlement to end it His Sonnes also presuming vpon his greatnesse The Earle of Glocester leaues him grow insolent which made Glocester to forsake that side betake him to the Prince who lately escaping out of the Castle of Hereford had gotten a power about him of such as attended the opportunity of a turning fortune and to reuenge the dishonour of one Battaile by another The reuolt of this Earle brought many hands to the Prince whereby many peeces of strength are regained both in England and Wales The Earle of Leicester to stop the proceeding of this mighty growing Prince being now with his Army about Worcester imbattailes in a plaine neere Euesham to encounter him and noting the manner of the approch of his Army said to those about him these men come brauely on they learnt it not of themselues but of me And seeing himselfe likely to be beset and ouer-laid with numbers aduised his friends Hugh Spencer Ralph Basser and others to shift for themselues which when he saw they refused to doe then said he let vs commit our soules to God for our bodies The Earle Monsort slaine are theirs and so vndertaking the mayne waight of the Battaile perished vnder it And with him are slaine his Sonne Henry eleuen other Barons with many thousands of common souldiers At the instant of his death there hapned so terrible a thunder lightning and darknesse as it gaue them as much horror as their hideous work And so ends Monfort this great Earle of Leicester too great for a subiect which had hee not beene he might haue beene numbred amongst the worthiest of his time Howsoeuer the people which honored and followed him in his life would vpon the fame of his miracles haue worshipped him for a Saint after his death but it would not be permitted by Kings And here this Battaile deliuers the Captiue King but yet with the losse of some of his owne as well as his subiects bloud by a wound casually receiued therein and rid him of his Iaylor Monfort whom he hated had long feared more then any man liuing as himselfe confessed vpon this accident passing one day shortly after the Parliament at Oxford vpon Thames there hapned a sodaine clap of thunder wherewith the King was much affrighted and willed presently to be set on shore at the next landing 1266. Anno. Reg. 50. which was at Duresme house where Monfort then lay who seeing the King ariuing hastes downe to meete him and perceiuing him to be troubled at the storme said that hee needed not now to feare the daunger was past No Monfort said the King I feare thee more then I doe all the Thunder and tempest of the World And now the King with the victorious Prince the redeemer of him and the Kingdome repaires to Winchester 18 Parliament held at Winchester where a Parliament is conuoked and all who adhered to Simon Monfort are disinherited and their estates conferred on others at the Kings pleasure The Londoners haue their liberties taken from them Simon and Guy de Monfort Sonnes of the Earle of Leicester with the disinherited Barons and others who escaped the Battaile of Euesham All who tooke part with Monfort disinherited take and defend the Isle of Ely The Castle of Killing worth defended by the seruants of the late Earle although it were in the heart of the Kingdome endured the Seige of
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
murthers him in the Church Which Foundation laid on blood the Place the Person and the manner making it more odious much stained his beginning and effected not that security for which he did it but raised a mighty partie in Scotland against him King Edward though so late acquainted herewith as hee could not bee before hand with him yet would hee not bee long behind to ouertake him sends Amyer de Valence Earle of Pembrooke the Lords Clifford and Percy with a strong power to releeue his Wardens of King Ed. sends and prepates for Scotland Scotland who vpon this Revolt were all retyred to Berwicke whilst himselfe prepares an Army to follow Wherein to be the more free and Nobly attended Proclamation is made that whosoever ought by their paternall succession or otherwise had meanes of their owne for service should repaire to Westminster at the Feast of Penticost to receiue the order of Knighthood and a Military ornament out of the Kings Wardrobe Three hundred yong Gentlemen all the sonnes of Earles Barons and Knights assemble at the appointed day receiue Purples Silks Sindons Scarffs wrought with gold or Silver according to every mans estate For which traine the Kings house being too little by reason a great part thereof was burnt vpon his comming out of Flanders roome is made and the Apple Trees cut downe at the New Temple for their Tents where they attire themselues and keep their Vigil The Prince whom the King then likewise Knighted and guirt with a Militarie Belt as an ornament of that honour and withall gaue him the Duchy of Acquitaine kept his Vigile with his traine at Westminster and the next day guirds these Three Hundred Knights with the Militarie The Prince giues the honor of Knighthood to 300 Gentlemen Belt in that manner as himselfe received it At which ceremonie the presse was so great as the Prince was faine to stand vpon the high Altar a place for a more divine honour to performe this Which being solemnized with all the State and Magnificence could be devised the King before them all makes his vow that aliue or dead he would revenge the death of Iohn Cumyn vpon Bruce and the periured Scots Adiuring his sonne and all the Nobles about him vpon their Fealty that if he dyed in this Iourney they should carry his corps with them about Scotland and not suffer it to be interred till they had vanquished the Vsurper and absolutely subdued the Country A desire more Martiall then Christian shewing a minde so bent to the world as he would not make an end when he had done with it but designes his travaile beyond his life The Prince and all his Nobles promise vpon their faith to imploy their vtmost Reg. 34. An. 1307. power to performe his Vow and so vpon grant of the Thirtieth peny of the Clergie and the Laity and the Twentieth of all Marchants hee sets forth with a potent Army presently vpon Whitsontide and makes his last expedition into Scotland Anno Reg. 34. The Earle of Pembrooke with that power sent before and the aide of the Scottish partie which was now greater by the partakers of the Family of Cumyn being many mighty egar to revenge his death had before the King arrived in Scotland defeited in a battell neere S. Iohns towne the whole Army of the new King and narrowly missed the taking of his person Who escaping in disguise recovered an obscure shelter and was reserved for more and greater battailes His brother Nigell Bruce and shortly after Thomas and Alexander a Priest were taken and executed after the manner of Traytors at Berwicke so that K. Edward at his comming had not so much to do as he expected But yet he passed ouer the Country to shew them his power and to terrifie his enemies causing strict in quisition to be made for all who had been aiding to the murther of Cumyn and the advancement of Bruce Many and great Personages are A great execution made of the Scots found out being impossible amongst a broken people for any to remaine vndiscovered and were all executed in cruell manner to the terrour of the rest The Age of the King of England his Cholar Wrath desire of revenge made him now inexorable to spare none of what degree soever they were The Earle of Athol though of the Royall bloud and allyed vnto him was sent to London and preferd to a higher Gallowes then any of the rest The wife of Robert Bruce taken by the Lord Rosse is sent prisoner to London and his daughter to a Monastery in Lindsey The Countesse of Boughan that was aiding at the Coronation of Bruce is put into a woodden Cage and hung out vpon the walles of Berwicke for people to gaze on c. Which rigorous proceeding rather exasperates the Enemy and addes to the party of Bruce then any way quailed it desperation beeing of a sharper edge then hope And though Bruce now appeared not but shifted priuily from place to place in a distressed manner attended onely with two noble Gentlemen who neuer forsooke him in his fortunes the Earle of Lenox and Gilbert Hay yet still expectation loue and the well-wishing of his friends went with him and so long as hee was aliue they held him not lost this affliction did but harden him for future labours which his enemies who now neglected to looke after him as either holding him dead or so downe as neuer to rise againe found afterwards to their cost For this man from being thus laide on the ground within few yeares after gets vp to giue the greatest ouerthrowe to the greatest Armie that euer the English brought into the Field and to repay the measure of blood in as full manner as it was giuen All this Sommer the King spends in Scotland and winters in Carleil to bee ready A Parlement at Carliel the next Spring if any fire should breake out to quench it For resolued hee is not to depart till hee had set such an end to this worke as it should need no more And here hee holdes his last Parlement wherein the State mindefull of the Popes late action gott many Ordinances to passe for reformation of the abuses of his Ministers and his owne former exactions who being but poore sought to get where it was to bee had Wringing from the elect Archbishop of Yorke in one yeare Nine thousand fiue hundred Marks and besides Anthony Bishop of Duresme to be made Patriark of Ierasalem gaue him and his Cardinals mighty summes This Bishop Anthony is said to haue had in purchases and inheritances 5000 Marks per annum besides what belonged to his Myter which shewed the Pope the riches of this Kingdome The King and Pope deuide the benefite of the Cleargie and moued him to require the fruits of one yeares reuenue of euery Benefice that should fall voide in England Scotland Wales and Ireland and the like of Abbayes Priories and Monasteries which though
who assembling together at the instant when he was to be Crowned with his Queen at Westminster Anno Reg. 2. require him that Gaueston might bee remoued from The Lords displeased with Gauest. out the Court and Kingdome otherwise they purposed to hinder his Coronation at that time Whereupon the King to auoide so great a disgrace promises on his faith to yeeld to what they desired in the next Parlement and so the Solemnitie with much festination and little reuerence is performed Wherein Gaueston for carrying Saint Edwards Crowne before the King aggrauates the hatred of the Cleargie and Nobility against him Shortly after his Coronation all the Knights Templats throughout England are at once arrested and committed to prison They were an order of Knights iustituted by Balduin the Fourth King of Ierusalem about 200 yearts past first appointed for The Knights Templers arrested committed to prison the defence of that Citie and the safe conuaying of all such as trauailed thither afterwards they were dispersed through all the Kingdoms of Christendom by the pious bounty of Princes others inriched with infinite possessions which made them to degenerate frō their first institution become execrably vitious So that all the Kings Their dissolution of Christendom at one instant combining together caused them to be apprehended within their Dominions and put out of their order and estates The King of France began hauing a purpose to make one of his Sonns King of Ierusalem possesse him of their reuenues Their accusation followes their apprehension and condemned they are rather by fame then proofe in the generall Councell at Vienna as apeares by the condemnatory Bull of Pope Clement the Third Wherein he hath this clause Quanquam de iure non possumus tamen ad plenitudinem potestatis dictum ordinem reprobamus Their estates are after giuen to the Hospitaliers These businesses passed ouer the Lords prosecute their purpose against Gaueston The Lords prosecure Gaueston whose insolencie and presumption vpon the Kings fauour made him so farre to forget himselfe as hee scorned the best of them all as much as they hated him Tearming Thomas Earle of Lancaster the Stage player Aymer de Valence Earle of Pembrooke Ioseph the Iew and Guy Earle of Warwicke the blacke dogge of Ardern Which scoffes leauing behinde them the sting of reuenge especially where they touche drew such a partie vpon him as in the next Parlement the whole Assemblie humbly besought the Reg. 3. Anno. 1310. King to aduise and treat with his Nobles concerning the State of the Kingdome for the auoiding of eminent mischiefe likely to insue through neglect of the Gouernment and so farre vrges the matter as the King consents thereunto and not onely grants them libertie to draw into Articles what was requisite for the Kingdome but takes his oath to ratisie A Parlement The king takeshis oath to rate fie whatsoeuer Articles the Lords would conclude in Parlement whatsoeuer they should conclude Whereupon they elect certaine choyce men both of the Cleargie Nobility and Commons to compose those Articles Which done the Archbishop of Canterbury lately recalled from exile with the rest of his Suffragans solemnly pronounce the sentence of excommunication against al such who should contradict those Articles which are there publiquely read before the Barons and Commons of the Realme in the presence of the King Amongst which the obseruation and execution of Magna Charta is required with all other ordinances necessary for the Church and Kingdome And that as the late King had done all Strangers should bee banished the Court and Kingdome all ill Councellors remoued That the businesse of the State should be treated on by the Councell of the Cleargie and the Nobles That the King should not begin any war or goe any where out of the Kingdom without the common Councell of the same Which Articles though they seemed harsh to the King yet to auoide further trouble Gaueston banished into Ireland hee yeelds vnto them but especially to the banishment of his Minion as if that would excuse him for all the rest and away is hee sent into Ireland where hee liued a while not as a man exiled but as the Lieutenant of the Countrie The King not enduring to be without his company neuer ceased working till hee had recalled him backe againe which within a few moneths after hee did And to make him as hee thought to stand the faster on his feete hee marries him to his Neece the Daughter of Ioan de Acres Sister to Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester a man beloued and highly esteemed of all the Nobility for whose sake hee hoped Gaueston should finde the Gaueston recalled more fauour amongst them but all this could not shelter him Either his behauiour or their malice was such as they could not endure to haue him about the King who by making him so great lessened him and the more hee was enriched the worse was his estate The Subiects spectators of their Kings immoderate gifts held it to bee taken out of the bowels of the Common-wealth as it were of their substance that was so wasted For it is reported the King gaue him the Iewels of the Crowne which hee sould to Marchant strangers and conuayed much treasure out of the Kingdome whereby the King sustained great wants and the Queene is abridged of her allowance whereof she complaines to the King of France her Father These stingues put the Barons on to send plaine word to the King that vnlesse hee The Lords threaten the King put from him Pierce Gaueston and obserue the late Articles they would all with one consent rise in armes against him as a periured Prince The King whom they found was apt to be terrified yeelds againe vpon this message to the banishment of his Minion whose fortune beeing to haue a weake maister was driuen to these sodaine extreamities Gaueston again banished mities and disgracefull expulsions at their will who were his enuiers and who now obtaine this Clause that if hereafter hee were found againe within the Kingdome he should be condemned to death as an enemy of the State Ireland was now no more to protect him France most vnsafe for him wait being their laid to apprehend him in Flanders he luiks a while but in great danger and finding no where any securitie back againe hee aduentures vpon England and into the Kings bosome the sanctuary he thought would Gaueston returnes not be violated hee puts himselfe and there is hee receiued with as great ioy as euer man could bee And to be as farre out of the way and eye of enuy as might be the King carries him into the North parts where notwithstanding the Lords shortly after found him out For no sooner had they heard of his returne and receiuing into grace but they presently combine and take armes electing Thomas Earle of Lancaster The Lords take armes for their Leader
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
The Lords oppose the Spencers suffering nothing to be obtained but by their meanes Which the State accounted a mischiefe most intollerable and grievous vnto them seeing all graces and dispatches were to passe out but at one dore whereby the Kings benignity and power is diminished the Kingdome dishonoured all corruptions introduced to the overthrow of Iustice and good order And vnder this pretence they take Armes wherein themselues proceed not in that And take Armes even way of right as they made shew but follow the fury of their wils being once out and astray they seize vpon and make spoile of the lands and goods of those persons they prosecuted and all such as had friendship and affinity with them killing their servants and disposing their Castles at their pleasure And comming armed thus to S. Albons they send to the King residing then at London the Bishops of London Salisbury Hereford and Chichester who were there assembled to consult for peace requiring him as he tendred the quiet of the Realme to rid his Court of those Traitors the Spencers condemned in many Articles of high Treason by the Communalty of the Land and withall to grant his Letters Patents of Pardon and Indemnity both to them and all such as took part with them and that for no offences past or present they should hereafter be punished The King returnes answer That Hugh Spencer the father was beyond the Seas imployed in his businesse The King excuses the Spencers and the sonne was guarding the Cinque-Portes according to his office and that it was against Law and Custome they should bee banished without being heard Moreover that Denies the Lords their demands their request was voide of Iustice and Reason for that the said Spencers were ever ready to answer to all complaints made against them according to the forme of Law and if the LL. could proue they had offended the Statutes of the Realme they were willing to submit themselues to the triall thereof And besides swore he would never violate the oath made at his Coronation by granting letters of Pardon to such notorious offenders who contemned his person disturbed the Kingdom and violated the Royall Maiestie Which answer so exasperated the Lords as presently they approach to London and lodged in the Suburbes till they obtained The Lords come armed to London leaue of the King to enter into the Citie Where they peremptorily vrge their demands which at length by mediation of the Queene and the chiefe Prelates the King The King yeelds unto them The Earle of Hereford publishes the Kings Edict in Westminister Hall is wrought to condiscend vnto and by his Edict published in Westminster Hall by the Earle of Hereford are the Spencers banished the Kingdom Hugh the father keeps beyond the Seas but the sonne secretly hides himselfe in England expecting the turne of a better season The Lords having thus obtained their desire with the Kings Letters of impunity depart home but yet not with such security as they gaue over the provision for their own defence Shortly after there fell out an vnexpected accident that suddainely wrought their confusion The Queene who had ever beene the nurse of peace and laboured to accord The occasion of the Queens displeasure with the Lords the King and his Barons making her progresse towards Canterbury was disposed to lodge in the Castle of Leeds appertaining to the Lord Badlesmere who had beene long the Kings Steward but lately tooke part with the Barons and sending her Mareschall to make ready for her and her traine they who kept the Castle told him plainely that neither the Queene or any else should enter there without letters from their Lord. The Queen her selfe goes to the Castle and receiues the like answer whereupon Shee is denied lodging in the Castle of Leeds she is driven to take such lodging other where as could be provided Of which indignity she complaines to the King who tooke it so to heart as presently with a power of armed men out of London he layes siege to the Castle takes it hangs the The King takes the Castle of Leeds Growes strong keeper Thomas Culpeper sends the wife and children of the Lord Badlesmere to the Tower and seises vpon all his goods and treasure And having this power about him and warmed with successe and the instigation of the Queene sodainely directs his course to Cicister where he kept his Christmas and there provides for an army against the Barons whereof many seeing the Kings power increasing left their associates and yeeld themselues to his mercy amongst whom were the two Rogers Mortimers men of great might and meanes the Lord Hugh Audeley the Lord Maurice Barkley and others who notwithstanding contrary to their expectation were sent to divers prisons The Earles of Laucaster and Hereford seeing this sodaine change withdrew themselues and their companies from about Glocester towards the North-parts The Lords withdraw into the North parts and are ouerthrowne The King followes them with his Army wherein were the Earles of Aihol and Angus and at Burton vpon Trent where they had made head discomfited their forces and put them all to flight Whereupon seeking to escape they retire further North and at Burrough Briggs are encountred by Sir Simon Ward Shriefe of Yorke and Sir Andrew Harckley Constable of Carleil who after the Earle of Hereford was slaine in striuing to passe the Bridge tooke the Earle of Lancaster with diuerse other Lords and brought them to Pomfret where the third day after the King sitting himselfe in iudgement with Edmond Earle of Kent his brother the Earle of Pembrooke the Earle Warren Hugh Spencer lately created Earle of Winchester and others Sentence of death is giuen against Thomas Earle of Lancaster by drawing hanging and beheading as a traytour The two first punishments are pardoned in regard he was of the The executiō of the E. of Lancaster with diuers other Losds in diuerse places royall blood and only beheaded hee was the same day without the towne of Pomfret before his owne Castle And by the like iudgement were condemned the Lord Roger Clifford the Lord Warrein Lisle the Lord William Tuchet Thomas Maudit Henry Bradburne William Fiztwilliams William Lord Cheyny Thomas Lord Mowbray Ioseline Lord Danyll all which were executed at Yorke Shortly after the Lord Henry Teyes is taken drawne hangd and quartered at London the Lord Aldenham at Windsor the Lords Badlesmere and Ashbiunham at Canterbury the Lord Gifford at Glocester principall men in principall places to spread the more terrour ouer the kingdome All their estates and inheritances are confiscated and many new men aduanced by the same And this is the first blood of Nobility that euer was shed in this manner in England since William the first which beeing such and so much as The first of any Earle or Baron of England that euer was executed upon Scaffold or otherwise since the time of William the first
contrary Then wills him to remember how his father led by euill counsell vexed the kingdome putting to death contrary to the lawe of the Land diuerse of the Nobility and wished him to consider what happened thereby vnto him Also to call to minde how himselfe at first through euill counsell about him had almost lost the hearts of his people But afterwards by the great circumspection and care of his Prelates and Nobles his affaires were reduced into so good order as hee recouered them and now possessed them in such sort as they all both Cleargy and Lay haue yeelded their helping hands more to him then to any of his Progenitors whereby hee had gloriously triumphed ouer his enemies the French and Scots and is reputed the noblest Prince of Christendome But now at this present through the wicked counsell of such as affect their owne profit more then his honour or the welfare of his people hee had caused Cleargie men and others to bee arrested and held in prison by undue proceeding contrary to the lawes of England which hee was bound by his oath at his Coronation to obserue and against Magna Charta which whosoeuer shall presume to infringe are to bee by the Prelates according to the Bull of Pope Innocent the fourth Excommunicate So that hereby hee incurred no small danger to his soule and detriment to his State and honour Then hee telleth him how hee doubted that if the King proceeded in this manner he should lose both the hearts of his people and their helpe in such sort as hee should not be able to prosecute his warre in hand and thereby giue his enemies heart and occasion to rise against him to the hazard of his honour and the kingdome And therefore aduises him to assemble the Nobles and prudent men of the Land and to consult with them without whose ayde and counsell hee could not gouerne his kingdome or performe his enterprises concerning what was a misse And whereas said hee certaine neere about you by their adulation and soothing falsly betray and deceiue you wee here denounce them Excommunicate and beseech you as your spirituall Father that you holde them so Besides hee vrges him that whereas through the negligence of some Ministers of his the Citie of Turney was not gotten the matter might bee examined in Parlement and inquiry made to whose hands from the beginning of the warre the Wooles and Monies were committed to bee bestowed and by whose default the Citie of Turney was not subdued but left in such manner as it was and that as an equall and wise Lord hee would chastise such as were culpable and not condemne or misdeeme his subiects without sufficient tryall c. This Letter bare date the 1. of Ianuary Then writes hee also to Robert Bouser Chancelor of England shewing him what contributions the Cleargie had yeelded to the King by their free consents that none other were to be exacted of them Requiring him to doe nothing preiudiciall to the Law of Magna Charta and that if any Writ Commission or Precept had gone out of the Chancerie contrary thereunto or the priuiledges and liberties of the Church or Kingdome hee should within ten dayes after the receipt of these his Letters as hee said the Chancelor was bound to doe reuoke and anull the same This bare date the 28. of Ianuary Another Letter hee likewise sends to the King and his whole Councell declaring that whereas contrarie to the priuiledges and liberties of the Church and Kingdome contained in Magna Chatta Iohn de Saint Paul Michael de Wath Robert Chickwill Iohn Thorpe and Henry Stratford were arrested committed to prison and there detayned without being indited or conuicted of any notorious crime and that whosoeuer were ayding or councelling to this proseeding had incurred the sentence of the Canon which he had caused to be published both in his owne Dioces and in all other of his suffragans And therefore besought the King and his whole Councell without delay to deliuer the saide prisoners otherwise hee Quatenus de iure poterunt excusari plainely writes that according to his Pastrall charge hee must proceed to the execution of the sentence Concluding how notwithstanding it was not his intention to include therin the King Queene or their children so farre as they might by law be excused To this purpose hee likewise sends to the Bishop of London and other his Suffragan Bishops whom after hauing complained of the great exactions and wrongs done to the Church by lay men hee charged him not onely to denounce and publish in their Church but fixe vp in all eminent places the sentence of Excommunication against all offenders in those articles of Magna Charta which are at large added to his Vid. Append. Letter to the end as he sayd that euery man might know the danger and none pretend to be ignorant thereof The King wakened with this clamour of the Archbishop is faine to apologize for himselfe by his Letters written to the Bishop of London wherein after hauing declared King Edward accuses the Archbishop of false dealing how much hee had euer honoured and trusted the Archbishop he accuses him of manifest wrong for that relying vpon his counsayle he was put at first vpon this action against the French King and by him assured hee should not want treasure and meanes for the performance thereof and that hee needed not to care but onely to prouide men to execute the worke And how notwithstanding through the negligence or malice of the saide Archbishop and his Officialls those prouisions granted him by his subiects in Parlement were in so slender proportion leuied and with such delayes sent ouer as hee was prest of necessity to his great griefe and shame to condiscend to the late Truce and through extreame wants charged with mighty debts forced to throwe himselfe into the gulph of the usurers in such sort as hauing iust cause hee began to lookeinto the dealings of his Officers some of whom upon apparant notice of their ill administration of Iustice their corruptions and oppression of his subiects he remoued from their places and some of inferiour degree culpable of the same offences hee committed to prison and there detained them to the ende hee might finde out by their examinations the truth of their proceedings whereof none could so well informe him as the Archbishop to whom of long time hee had committed the whole administration of the kingdome And therefore desirous to conferre with him at London hee had of late sent an especiall messenger his trusty seruant Nicholas de Cantelupe that hee should repaire thither which the Archbishop refuse to doe alledging how hee stood in feare of some about the King and therefore would not endanger himselfe nor depart from his Church Then the King sent Ralph Scafford the Steward of his house with safe conduct vnder his great Seale for the Archbishops security Notwithstanding he refused to come returning worde how hee would
or perish and plunges formost into the Riuer crying out They who loue mee will follow mee At which voyce all thrust in without dispute striuing who should be formost and lo presently the shoare gained by the English Gondomar astonished with this vnexpected and bolde aduenture astonishes his people by his fearefull countenance So that the English incountring the French all in disorder fell vpon them and put them to flight But the retraite was neere to Abbe-ville and Saint Requier The losse was not so great as the shame but serued as a presage for a greater mischiefe to France These disrouted men all affrighted flocke into Abbe-ville Where King Phillip The French K. resolues to incounter K. Ed. inraged with this dishonour resolues to reuenge it and presently to prouoke King Edward to the combate The aduise of his Councell was otherwise to suffer his troupes to repose some few dayes recouer their spirits King Edward to coole and spend his in the meane while But hardly had this King the patience to stay in Abbe-ville one day whiles the bridge to passe ouer his Army was repayring And His impatiēce and his hopes with this precipitation and fury into the field hee marches cleuated with an assured hope of a triumphant victory King Edward better tempered manages his worke with admirable discretion and vigilancy and had now in camped in a Village called Crecy and there entrenched and fortified himselfe not onley with the trees of the Forrest about it but with deepe rampiers and other defences besides causing also a Parke to bee paled vnder the woode side behinde his hoste wherein were placed all the Carts and Carriages His Army consisted of thirty thousand men but in order and courage double the number The vauntgard hee gaue to the Prince for guides the Earle of Warwicke The ordering of K. Ed. Army Godfray de Harecourt the Lords Stafford De la ware Bourcheir Clifford Cobham Holland Sir Iohn Chandos Sir Bartholomew Burwash Sir Robert Neuile with eight hundred men at Armes and two thousand Archers besides a thousand other most of them Welch men The second battaile was committed to the Earles Arundell and Northampton the Lords Rosse Willoughby Basset Saint Albin Multon and others wherein were eight hundred men at Armes and twelue hundred Archers The third battayle the King led himselfe hauing seuen hundred men at Armes and two thousand Archers These Battayles thus ordered mounted on a white Hobby hee rode from ranke to ranke to view them the one Marshall on his right hand the other on his left incouraging euery man that day to haue regarde to his right honour The French Kings Army was greater both in lustre and aduantage composed of aboue sixty thousand combatants well armed whereof the chiefe were Charles Earle of Alanson the Kings brother Iohn de Luxembourg King of Bohemia Charles de Bloys the Kings Nephew Ralph Duke of Lorrayne the Earle of Flanders Neuers Sancerre the Dolphin de Viennois of Barons Knights and Gentlemen aboue three thousand and on the Eue of the battayle Amè Earle of Sauoy arriued with a thousand men at armes more which made the French king swell with assurance of the maisterie so that hee longed to be at the incounter The Vauntgard hee commits to his brother The ordering of the French Kings Army at the battaile of Cressy Conte d' Alanson the Reere to the Earle of Sauoy the mayne battaile he leads himselfe his heate would scarce permit time for a little counsell what was fit to be done The olde King of Bohemia aduised that the Army should first take some repast and that the Infanterie consisting of Genouese which were about fifteene thousand crosse-bowes and sure men should make the first front and the Cauallarie to follow which was agreed on After their repast the Vauntgard set on the Conte d' Alanson contrarie to this order tooke it ill that the Genouese were in the first ranke in fury caused them to change place which changed the Seat of the Armie and wrought that discontent as it irritated them more against the leader then the enemy besides there fell at the instant a piercing shower of raine which dissolued their strings made their bowes vnusesull and at the breaking vp of the shower the Sunne shone full in the face of the French dazling their sight and on the backes of the English as if all made for them King Edward who had gotten to a winde-mill hill beholding as from a Sentinell with a setled spirit the countenance of the enemy and discouering both this accident King Edward discouers the disorders of the Frdnch. and the hurlement made by the change of place slacks not to take aduantage thereof and instantly sends to charge that part without giuing them time to reaccommodate themselues insomuch as the discouraged Genouese recoyle which the Conte d' Alanson perceiuing and comming on with the horse in great rage cries out On on let vs make way vpon the bellies of these Geuouese who doe but hinder vs and instantly prickes on with a full carrier through the midst of them attended with the Earles of Lorrayne Sauoy and the Dolphin de Viennois and neuer takes breath till he came vp to the English battayle where the Prince was which they found better setled their horses flanked with troupes of Archers whose strings hauing not felt the raine rained such a shower of steele vpon them as cooled their heate and all disordered them The French king seeing his brother thus indangered makes vp to disingage him whereupon the fight grew hot and doubtfull insomuch as the Commanders about the Prince send to King Edward to come vp with his power to ayd them the King demands the messenger whether his sonne were slaine or hurt the messenger answered no but hee was like to bee ouer layd Well then saide the King returne and tell them who sent you that so long as my sonne is aliue they send no more to me what euer happen for I will that the honour of this day be his And so being left to try for themselues they wrought it out with the sword and recouered the aduantage by reason the French king hauing his horse slaine vnder him and in danger to be troden to death had hee not beene recouered by the Lord Iohn Beaumont his new Pensioner was to the great discouragement of his people withdrawn out of the field Whereof notice being once taken by the English the day was soone after theirs and King Edward obtaines the victory in this great battaile of Cressy the greatest victory they euer had yet against the French and so bloody as there is not mention made of one prisoner taken in the battaile for they being once put to rout were all whom the sword could ouertake slaughtered out right Some few troupes that held together saued themselues by retyring to places neer adioyning The French king himselfe with a small company got to Bray in
compell them to deliuer Sir Peter de la Mare vniustly detained in Prison The Priest replyed That Sir Peter was a Traitour to the King and worthy to be hanged At which words they all cryed out This is Percie this is the Traytour of England his speach bewrayes him though his Apparell be disguised and presently they ran vpon him and wounded him to death The Bishop of London hearing of this Out-rage leaues his dinner hastes to the The Bishop of London appeases the tumult Sauoy admonishes them to be mindefull of the Holy time being Lent and for the loue of Christ to desist from such seditious acts assuring them all thing should be fairely ended for the good of the Citie Whereupon they were something pacified and forbare to assault the Dukes house whose person if they could haue found they had no doubt made an end of him and the Lord Marshall in this their surie at that time but missing him they yet hung vp his Armes reuersed in signe of Treason in all the principall streetes of the Citie The Princesse from Kenington sent Albert de Vere Louys Clifford and Simon Burleygh to the Citizens perswading them to make their peace with the Duke They returned this answere That for her Honour they would doe whatsoeuer shee commanded but yet inioyned the Kinghts to will the Duke to permit the Bishop of Winchester and Peter de la Mare to come to their Answere according to the custome of the Lawes of England The Citizens send to the King They sent likewise of the chiefe Citiznes to the sicke King to excuse them of this Tumult protesting themselues not to be priuy thereunto but sought all meanes to suppresse the same which they could not doe the whole Communaltie being in Commotion vpon an Information that their Liberties should be taken away from them by Parliament The King tolde them It neuer was in his thought to infringe their Liberties but he rather desired to enlarge them And therefore willed them not to feare but returne to appease the Citizens and keepe them in peace and order which they did and were well pleased with this answere But yet they could not stop the passage of Rimes and Libels those secret stings that wound vnseene but that they were dayly spread in the Citie to the defamation of the Duke and to make his name odious to the people For which he procured the Bishops to excommunicate the Authors of all such Rimes and Libels Notwithstanding this harsh proceeding of the Duke with the State and in a time so vnseasonable both for his owne Ends and the Publique businesse he vndertooke The Commons in Parliament desirous to ayd their King granted a Subsidie on this condition that being leauied it should be committed to certaine Earles and A Subsidie granted in this Parliament Barons to see it yssued according to the occasions of the Kingdom But this Subsidie was of a new nature neither in any of those kindes propounded Euery person man woman within the Kingdome aboue the Age of 14. yeeres were to pay 4. pence those who liued by Almes onely excepted The Clergie likewise grants 12. pence of euery Parson Beneficed and of all other Religious persons 4. pence of the head A mighty and vnknown Ayd such as neuer was granted to any King of England before and became a Precedent for the next Reigne wherein it caused the first and grearest popular Insurrection that euer was seene in this Kingdom So tender a thing is it to taxe the people by the Poule And now here-upon the Parliament ended but not the Dukes displeasure against the Citie The Maior and Aldermen are brought before the King to Shene and aduised to submit themselues to the Duke and craue pardon for their grieuous offences They protest as before they could not stay the rage of the multitude who committed those insolencies beseeching the King not to punish such as were innocent and ignorant of the fact promising the Duke they would indeauour by all meanes to bring in the malefactors and compell them to make satisfaction to the honor of the Duke and more sayde they wee cannot doe Whereupon they were dismissed the Court and shortly after from their places by the power of the Duke of Lancaster Sir Nicholas Brember was elected Mayor in steed of Adam Staple and other Aldermen appointed in their places who were put out The King was desirous to haue reconciled them to his Sonne but sicknesse hauing now vanquished him hee is forced to giue ouer the world as the same did him before his breath left him And first his Concubine packing away what shee could snatch euen to the rings of his fingers left him then his other attendants by her example seasing on what they could fasten shift away and all his Councellors and others forsooke him in his last agony when most hee needed them leauing his Chamber quite empty which a poore Priest in the house seeing by chance as he passed approaches to the Kings beds side and finding him yet breathing cals The death of King Edward and the maner thereof vpon him to remember his Sauiour and to aske mercy for his offences which none before about him would doe but euery one putting him still in hope of life though they knew death was vpon him a misery fatall to Princes and great persons whom flattery will neuer suffer to know themselues nor their owne state either in health or sicknesse made him neglectiue of those spirituall cogitations fit for a dying Christian But now stirred vp by the voyce of this Priest hee shewes all signes of contrition and his last breath expresses the name of Iesu. Thus dyed this mighty and victorious King at his Mannor of Sheene now Richmond the 21. day of Iune Anno Dom. 1377. in the 64. yeare of his Age hauing raigned fifty yeares foure moneths and odde dayes His Character wee finde best exprest in his actions yet thus briefly Hee was a Prince the soonest a man and the longest that held so of any wee reade He was of His Character Personage comely of an euen stature gracefull respectiuely affable and well expressing himselfe A Prince who loued 1. Iustice 2. Order 3. and his People the Supreme vertues of a Soueraigne 1. His loue of Iustice was seene by the many Statutes he made His Iustice. for the due Execution thereof the most Straight-binding Oath he ordayned to be ministred vnto his Iudges Iusticiars the punishment inflicted on them for corruption in their Offices causing some to be thrust out and others grieuously fined as Sir Henry Greene and Sir William Skipwith Anno Reg. 39. He bettered also that forme of publique Iustice which his Grand-father first began and which remaines to this day making also excellent lawes for the same 2. His regard to the obseruation of Order amongst his people witnesse so many Lawes as were made to restrayne them from His loue to his people Excesses in all kindes
ill and threatnes King Henry the Father with warre if it were not presently done which causes him to make more haste backe againe into Normandy leauing the young King in England to satisfie or preuent this quarreling Prince And whilst he remained there meanes was made that the Archbishop of Canterbury who had beene now sixe yeares in exile was brought to haue conference with the King by the mediation of the King of France Theobald Earle of Bloys and diuers great Bishops which the King of England was the more willing to accept in regard hee saw this breach with the Church might much preiudice his temporall businesses whensoeuer they should breake out and how the Archbishop continually was working the Pope and all the great Prelates of the Christian world against him which How much such a party as swayed the Empire of Soules might doe in a time of zeale against a ruler of bodies was to bee considered And therefore discends he from the higth of his will to his necessity and they meete at Montmiriall before the King of France where the Archbishop kneeling at the feete of his Soueraigne Lord the King of England sayd Beckets submission to the King Hee would commit the whole cause in controuersie to his Royall Order Gods honour onely reserued The King who had beene often vsed to that reseruation grew into some choller and sayd to the King of France and the rest What soeuer displeaseth this man hee would haue to be against Gods honour and so by that shift will challeng to himselfe all that belongs to mee But because you shall not thinke mee to goe about to resist Gods honour and him in what shall bee The Kings offer to Becket fit looke what the greatest and most Holy of all his Predecessors haue done to the meanest of mine let him doe the same to mee and it shall suffice Which answere being beyond expectation so reasonable turn'd the opinion of all the company to the Kings cause in so much as the King of France sayd to the Archbishop Will you bee greater then Saints better than Saint Peter what can you stand vpon I see it is your fault if your peace bee not made The Archbishop replied to this effect That as the authority of Kings had their beginning by Beckets reply Degrees so had that of the Church which being now by the prouidence of God come to that Estate it was they were not to follow the example of any that had beene faint or yeelding in their places The Church had risen and increased out of many violent oppressions and they were now to hold what it had gotten Our Fathers sayd hee suffred all manner of afflictions because they would not forsake the name of Christ and shall I to be reconciled to any mans fauour liuing derogate any thing from his honour This hauty reply of a subiect to so yeelding an offer of his Soueraigne so much distasted the hearers as they held the maintenance of his cause rather to proceed from obstinacy then zeale and with that impression the conference for that time brake vp But after this were many other meetings and much debate about the businesse And the King of France at whose charge lay the Archbishop all this while came to another conference with them vpon the Confines of Normandie Where the King of England tooke the Archbishop apart and had long speech with him twice they alighted from their horses twice remounted and twice the King held the Archbishops bridell and so againe they part prepared for an attonement but not concluding any In the end by mediation The King and Becket accorded of the Archbishop of Rouen the matter is quietly ended before the Earle of Bloys at Amboys And thereupon Henry the father writes to Henry the sonne being then in England in this wise Know yee that Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury hath made peace with me to my will and therefore I charge you that hee and all his haue peace and that you cause to bee restored vnto him and to all such as for him went out of England all their substances in as full and honourable manner as they held it three monethes before their going c. And thus by this letter we see in which King the command lay Becket returnes into England The Archbishop returning into England not as one who had sought his peace but inforced it with larger power to his resolution then before Suspends by the Popes Bull the Archbishop of Yorke from all Episcopall Office for Crowning the young King within the Prouince of Canterbury without his leaue and against the Popes commandement and without taking according to the custome the Cautionary Oath for conseruation of the liberties of the Church Hee brought also other letters to suspend in like manner The Bishops of London Salisbury Oxford Chester Rochister Saint Asaph and Landaff for doing seruice at the Coronation and vphoulding the Kings cause against him And by these Letters were they all to remaine suspended till they had satisfied the Archbishop in so much as he thought fit Thus to returne home shewed that hee had the better of the time and came all vntied which so terrified the Bishops that presently hauing no other refuge they repaire to the King in Normandie and shew him this violent proceeding of the Archbishop How since his returne hee was growne so imperious as there was no liuing vnder him Wherewith the King was so much mooued as hee is sayd in extreame passion to haue vttered these words In what a miserable State am I that cannot bee quiet in mine owne Kingdome for one onely Priest is there no man will ridde mee of this trouble Whereupon they report foure Knights Sir Hugh Moruille Sir William Tracy Sir Richard Brittaine and Sir Raynold Fitz Vrs then attending vpon the King and gessing his desire by his words depart presently into England to bee the vnfortunate executioners of the same but by some it seemes rather these foure gentlemen were sent with Commission from the King to deale with the Archbishop in another manner And first to wish him to take his Oath of Fealty to the young King then to restore these Bishops to the execution of their function and thirdly to beare himselfe with more moderation in his place whereby the Church might haue comfort vpon his returne and the Kingdome quietnesse But they finding the Arch-bishop not answering their humor but peremtory vntractable without regarding their Masters message grew into rage first from threatning The murthering of Becket force fell to commit it and that in an execrable manner putting on their armor to make the matter more hideous they entred into the Church whither the Arch-bishop was with-drawn the Monks at Diuine Seruice and there calling him Traytor and furiously reuiling him gaue him many wounds and at length strake out his braines that with his bloud besprinkled the Altar His behauiour in this act of death his courage to