manie a plage which otherwise might haue béene aucided All which battels togither with those that were tried betweene Edward the fourth after his inthronization and Henrie the sixt after his extermination as at Exham Doncaster and Teukesburie are remembred by Anglorum praelia in good order of pithie poetrie as followeth Nobilitata inter plures haec sunt loca caede Albani fanum Blorum borealis Ampton Banbrecum campis Barnettum collibus haerens Experrectorum pagus fanúmque seâ—undò Albani propior Scoticis confinibus Exam Contiguóque istis habitantes rure coloni Moerentes hodie quoties proscindit arator Arua propinqua locis dentale reuellere terra Semisepulta virûm sulcis Cerealibus ossa Moesta execrantur planctu ciuile duellum Quo periere â—ominum plus centum millia caesa Nobile Todcastrum clades accepta coegit Millibus enectis ter denis nomen habere Vltima postremae locus est Teuxburia pugnae Oppidulis his accedens certissima testis Bello intestino sluuios fluxisse cruoris But now before we procéed anie further sith the reigne of king Henrie maie séeme here to take end we will specifie some such learned men as liued in his time Iohn Leland surnamed the elder in respect of the other Iohn Leland that painefull antiquarie of our time wrote diuerse treatises for the instruction of grammarians Iohn Hainton a line 10 Carmelit or white frier as they called them of Lincolne Robert Colman a Franciscane frier of Norwich and chancellor of the vniuersitie of Oxenford William White a priest of Kent professing the doctrine of Wickliffe and forsaking the order of the Romane church married a wife but continued his office of preaching till at length in the yeare 1428 he was apprehended and by William bishop of Norwich and the doctors of the friers mendicants charged with thirtie articles which he mainteined contrarie line 20 to the doctrine of the Romane church and in September the same yeare suffered death by fire Alexander Carpentar a learned man set foorth a booke called Destructorium vitiorum wherein he inueieth against the prelats of the church of that time for their crueltie vsed in persecuting the poore and godlie christians Richard Kendall an excellent grammarian Iohn Bate warden of the white friers in Yorke but borne in the borders of Wales an excellent philosopher and a diuine he was also séene in the line 30 Gréeke toong a thing rare in those daies Peter Basset esquier of the priuie chamber to king Henrie the fift whose life he wrote Iohn Pole a priest that wrote the life of saint Walburgh daughter to one Richard a noble man of this realme of England which Walburgh as he affirmeth builded our ladie church in Antwerpe Thomas Ismaelit a monke of Sion Walter Hilton a Chartreaux monke also of Shiene either of those wrote certeine treatises full of superstition as Iohn Bale noteth line 40 Thomas Walden so called of the towne where he was borne but his fathers surname was Netter a white frier of London and the thrée and twentith prouinciall gouernour of his order a man vndoubtedlie learned and thoroughlie furnished with cunning of the schooles but a sore enimie to them that professed the doctrine of Wickliffe writing sundrie great volumes and treatises against them he died at Rone in Normandie the second of Nouember in line 50 the yeare one thousand foure hundred and thirtie Richard Ullerston borne in Lancashire wrote diuerse treatises of diuinitie Peter Clearke a student in Oxenford and a defendor of Wickliffes doctrine wherevpon when he feared persecution here in England he fled into Boheme but yet at length he was apprehended by the imperialists and died for it as some write but in what order is not expressed Robert Hounslow a religious man of an house in Hounslow beside London whereof he tooke his line 60 surname Thomas Walsingham borne in Norffolke in a towne there of the same name but professed a monke in the abbeie of saint Albons a diligent historiographer Iohn Tilneie a white frier of Yermouth but a student in Cambridge and prooued an excellent diuine Richard Fleming a doctor of diuinitie in Oxenford of whome more at large before pag. 604. Iohn Low borne in Worcestershire an Augustine frier a doctor of diuinitie and prouinciall in England of his order and by king Henrie the sixt made first bishop of saint Asaph and after remooued from thense to Rochester Thomas Ringsted the yoonger not the same that was bishop but a doctor of the law and vicar of Mildenhall in Suffolke a notable preacher and wrote diuerse treatises Iohn Felton a doctor of diuinitie of Madgdalen college in Oxenford Nicholas Botlesham a Carmelit frier borne in Cambridgeshire and student first in the vniuersitie of Cambridge and after in Paris where he proceeded doctor of diuinitie Thomas Rudburne a monke of Winchester and an historiographer Iohn Holbrooke borne in Surrie a great philosopher and well séene in the mathematiks Peter Paine an earnest professor of Wickliffes doctrine and fearing persecution here in England fled into Boheme where he remained in great estimation for his great learning no lesse wisedome Nicholas Upton a ciuilian wrote of heraldrie of colours in armorie and of the dutie of chiualrie William Beckeleie a Carmelit frier of Sandwich warden of the house there a diuine and professed degree of schoole in Cambridge Iohn Torpe a Carmelit frier of Norwich Iohn Capgraue borne in Kent and Augustine frier procéeded doctor of diuinitie in Oxenford was admitted prouinciall of his order and prooued without controuersie the best learned of anie of that order of friers here in England as Iohn Bale affirmeth he wrote manie notable volumes and finallie departed this life at Lin in Norffolke the twelfth of August in the yere 1464 which was in the fourth yeare of king Edward the fourth Humâ—rie duke of Glocester earle of Penbroke and lord chamberlaine of England also protector of the realme during the minoritie of his nephue king Henrie the sixt was both a great fauourer of learned men and also verie well learned himselfe namelie in astrologie whereof beside other things he wrote a speciall treatise intituled Tabula directionum Iohn Whethamsted otherwise called Frumentarius was abbat of saint Albons and highlie in fauor with the good duke of Glocester last remembred he wrote diuerse treatises and among others a booke as it were of the records of things chancing whilest he was abbat which booke I haue séene and partlie in some parcell of this kings time haue also followed Roger Onleie borne in the west countrie as Bale thinketh was accused of treason for practising with the ladie Eleanor Cobham by sorcerie to make the king awaie and was thereof condemned and died for it though he were innocent thereof as some haue thought he wrote a treatise intituled Contra vulgi superstitiones also another De sua innocentia Nicholas Cantlow a Welshman borne descended of an ancient familie in Southwales as by
with sir Thomas Bullen and sir Richard Weston were appointed to go vnto Coniacke to see the Dolphin where they were honorablie receiued and brought vnto the presence of the Dolphin being a goodlie yoong child whome they kissed and imbraced in most louing wise The earle of Worcester and with him sir Nicholas Uaux sir Iohn Pechie sir Edward Belknap year 1520 and diuerse others at the same time tooke leaue of the French king and rode to Tornaie to sée the citie deliuered to the Frenchmen Wherevpon the eight of Februarie the lord Chatillon came thither with one and twentie hundred men and after some controuersie mooued about the deliuerie of his commission and sealing an indenture which the earle had there readie ingrossed conteining the articles of agreement in consideration whereof it was deliuered the capteine sir Richard Ierningham was discharged and the Frenchmen suffered to enter with drumslads and minstrelsie but not with standards nor banners which the Englishmen caused them to roll vp greatlie against their wils Before they came to the gates they sealed the indenture confessing how they receiued the citie as a gift and not as a right and deliuered their commission whereby they were authorised to receiue it which at the first they refused to doo affirming that it was sufficient for them to shew it Thus was Tornaie deliuered in this tenth yeare of the kings reigne on the eight daie of Februarie the Englishmen returned into England sore displeased in their minds For thereby manie a tall yeoman lacked liuing the which would not labour after their returne but fell to robbing pilfering shifting and other extraordinarie meanes of maintenance whereas before they were staied vpon a certeintie of hope so long as they had allowance by the king So that this resignation of Tornaie though it were answerable to the desire of the French king and commodious for his people yet that benefit of theirs bred to the English soldiors detriment and losse who wished in their harts to haue left their liues behind them in defense of possession rather than it should reuert into the hands of them by whome it was surrendred giuen vp to the English power whom bicause they were not able to incounter they let in at their gates by a voluntarie motion and common consent for their better safetie as a late writer witnesseth Angligenas passis intra sua moenia portis Sponte intromittens line 10 ¶ During this time remained in the French court diuerse yoong gentlemen of England and they with the French king rode dailie disguised through Paris throwing egges stones and other foolish trifles at the people which light demeanour of a king was much discommended and ieasted at And when these yoong gentlemen came againe into England they were all French in eating drinking and apparell yea and in French vices and brags so that all the estates of England were by them laughed at the line 20 ladies and gentlewomen were dispraised so that nothing by them was praised but if it were after the French turne which after turned them to displesure as you shall heare After the kings ambassadours were returned and Tornaie deliuered to the Frenchmen vpon the conditions aforesaid the hostages that were here left for the paiment of the great summes and performance of the conditions comprised in the league of the which one was that if the marriage tooke none effect then the citie of Tornaie should be redeliuered line 30 vpon repaiment of the same summes the said hostages knew not in what case they stood but when they knew it they were verie heauie and sorowfull howbeit they dissembled the matter in the best wise they could The king vsed familiarlie these foure hostages and on the seuenth daie of Maie prepared a disguising and caused his great chamber at Gréenwich to be staged and great lights to be set on pillors that were gilt with basons gilt and the roofe was couered line 40 with blue sattin set full of presses of fine gold and flowers and vnder was written Iammes the meaning whereof was that the slower of youth could not be oppressed Into this chamber came the king and the quéene with the hostages and there was a goodlie comedie of Plautus plaied and that doone there entered into the chamber eight ladies in blacke veluet bordered about with gold with hoopes from the wast downeward and sléeues rusted and plited at the elbow and line 50 plaine in the middest full of cuts plucked out at euerie cut with fine camerike tired like the Aegyptians verie richlie And when these ladies had passed about the place in came eight noble personages in long gownes of taffata set with flowers of gold bullion and vnder that apparell cotes of blacke veluet embrodered with gold all to cut and plucked out with cuts of white sarcenet and euerie man had buskins of blacke veluet full of agglets of gold Then the eight men dansed with the eight ladies line 60 all being visarded and suddenlie the men cast off their large gownes and then their vnder apparell was séene And when all was doone euerie lord and ladie put off their visards and then it was knowne that the king the duke of Suffolke and the French quéene were there which were present at the plaie time On the eight daie of March was a solemne iustes the king himselfe and eight yoong gentlemen based and barded in blacke veluet embrodered with gold against the duke of Suffolke and eight of his band all in white satten with drops of gold And that daie they all ran excéeding well which the strangers highlie commended About the end of March the king sent for all the yeomen of the gard that were come from Tornaie and after manie good words giuen to them he granted to euerie of them foure pence the daie without attendance except they were speciallie commanded ¶ And here it seemeth requisit to adde the report of a forreine chronicler touching the league of amitie and conditions of the same knit vp in breuitie and good tearmes as followeth Now saith he the differences betwéene the French and English were also reconciled And for the more stabilitie of which agreement it was confirmed with a contract of parentage and aliance wherein the king of England promised to giue his onelie daughter to whome hauing no sons there was hope of the descending succession of the kingdome to the Dolphin the eldest sonne of the crowne of France adding for a portion foure hundred thousand duckets Both the one and the other bore yet so tender age that infinit accidents might happen before perfection of yeeres would make them able to establish matrimonie There was made betwene them a league defensiue wherin were comprehended Cesar and the king of Spaine in case they would ratifie it in a certeine time The king of England bound himselfe to restore Tornaie receiuing presentlie for defraiments expended vpon that towne two hundred and threescore thousand duckets
sée which line 20 was brought to passe according to the kings desire at Westminster Afterward he was ordeined at Canturburie on saturdaie in Whitsunwéeke by Henrie bishop of Winchester although there be that write how Walter bishop of Rochester did consecrate him which consecration was in the 44. yeare of his age year 1162 and in the fift yere after his first aduancement to the office of Lord chancellor so that he was the eight and thirtith archbishop which gouerned in that see line 30 Toward the end of the same yeare Henrie the kings sonne receiued homage of the barons first in Normandie and after in England In the yeare ensuing the king his father committed him to archbishop Becket that he might sée him brought vp and trained in maners and courtlie behauiour as apperteined to his estate wherevpon the archbishop in iest called him his sonne This yeare Quéene Elianor was brought to bed at Rohan of a daughter named Elianor In like maner the kings of England and France line 40 receiued pope Alexander the third at Cocie vpon Loire with all honor and reuerence insomuch that they attended vpon his stirrup on foot like pages or lackies the one vpon his right side and the other on his left ¶ Note here the intollerable pride of this antichristian pope in assuming and the basemindednesse of these two kings in ascribing vnto that man of sinne such dignitie as is vtterlie vnfit for his indignitie line 50 But what will this monster of men this Stupor mundi this Diaboli primogenitus haeres not arrogate for his owne aduancement like yuie climing aloft choking the trée by whose helpe it créepeth vp from the root to the top But the end of this seauen horned beast so extolling and lifting it selfe vp to heauen is Erebo miserè claudetur in imo Atque illic miris cruciatibus afficietur In Ianuarie ensuing the king returned into England and the same yeare the king of Scots did line 60 homage vnto Henrie the yonger and deliuered his yonger brother Dauid to the king his father with diuerse other the sonnes of his lords and barons in pledge for assurance of a perpetuall peace to be kept betweene them with some such castels as he required In the meane time archbishop Thomas went to the councell holden by pope Alexander at Tours in the Octaues of Pentecost where he resigned his bishoprike into the popes hands as the â—ame went being troubled in conscience for that he had receiued it by the kings preferment The pope allowing his purpose committed the same pastorlike dignitie to him againe by his ecclesiasticall power whereby the archbishop was eased verie well of his greefe and shortlie after his returne from his councell seemed desirous to reduce cause to be restored such rights as he pretended to belong vnto the church of Canturburie whereby he ran into the displeasure of manie and namelie of the mightiest Moreouer he required of the king the kéeping of Rochester castell the custodie of the tower of London He alledged also that Saltwood Hith belonged peculiarlie to the seigniorie of his see He called Roger earle of Clare vnto Westminster to doo his homage vnto him for the castell of Tunbridge but the earle denied it through the setting on of the king alledging all the fee thereof to apperteine rather to the king than to the archbishop Thus was the archbishop troubled and he grew dailie more and more out of the kings fauour For yee must vnderstand that this was not the first nor the second but the eight time that the king had shewed tokens of his displeasure against him After this vpon the first day of Iulie Rice prince of Southwales with diuerse other lords and nobles of Wales did homage both to the king and to his sonne Henrie at Woodstocke Hamline the kings bastard brother married the countesse of Warren the widow of William earle of Mortaigne bastard sonne to king Stephan This countesse was the sole daughter and heire of William the third earle of Warren year 1164 which went with Lewes king of France into the holie land and there died Soone after the Welshmen rebelling with their prince Rice and his vncle Owen did many mischéefes on the marshes and by the death of Walter Gifford earle of Buckingham who deceased this yeare without heire that earledome came to the kings hands On the 20. daie of September were three circles seene to compasse the sun and so continued the space of thrée houres togither which when they vanished awaie two sunnes appeared and sprang foorth after a maruellous maner Which strange sight the common people imagined to be a signe or token of the controuersie then kindling betwixt the king and the archbishop About this time the king called a parlement at Westminster to treat of matters concerning the commonwealth wherein great discord arose betwixt the king archbishop Becket about certeine points touching the liberties of the church For the king hauing an earnest zeale vnto iustice and commanding the iudges to punish offenders without respect vnderstood by their information that manie things by them of the spiritualtie against whome their authoritie might not be extended were committed contrarie to common order as theft rapine murther and manslaughter in so much that in his presence it was made notorious that sith the beginning of his reigne aboue an hundred manslaughters had béene committed within his realme of England by préests and men of religious orders Herevpon being mooued in mind he set forth lawes against the spiritualtie wherein he shewed his zeale of iustice For as the cause procéeded from the bishops of that age so did the fault also sith contrarie to their owne canons they permitted préests to liue ouer licentiouslie without due correction studieng onelie to mainteine the liberties and immunities of the church and not to reforme the irregularitie of the regulars Of this crew was one Philip de Broc a canon of Bedford who being arreigned before the kings iusticer for a murther vttered disdainefull words against the same iâ—sticer which when he could not denie before the archbishop he was depriued of his prebend and banished the land for two yeares space These things troubled the king who therefore hauing alreadie set downâ— such 〈◊〉 as should bridle the spiritualtie from their wicked dooings thought that if he might get them confirmed in parlement by consent of the bishops and clergie 〈◊〉 the same should take place and be receiued for 〈◊〉 Wherefore he earnestlie required at this parlement â—haâ— it might be enacted against all such of the spiritâ—altie as should be taken and conuicted for 〈…〉 offense they should loose â—he priuiledge of the church and be deliuered vnto the ciuill magistrate 〈◊〉 line 10 should see them â—uffer execution for tâ—eir 〈◊〉 in like maner as he might any of the kings 〈◊〉 being laie men For otherwise the
great feare sithens he was afraid of euerie bush least men should haue risen vpon him and murthered him Wherevpon when he came to the pope he made a greeuous complaint both against the king and others The church of saint Peter at Westminster was line 40 inlarged and newlie repared by the king speciallie all the east part of it the old wals being pulled down and builded vp in more comelie forme ¶ The generall councell according to the summons giuen was holden this yeare at Lions where it began about midsummer in which the English ambassadors being arriued presented to the pope their leters directed from the whole bodie of the realme of England requiring a redresse in such things wherewith as by the same letters it appeared the realme found it selfe sore annoied line 50 The pope promised to take aduise therein but sith the matter was weightie it required respit Finallie when they were earnest in requiring a determinate answer it was giuen them to vnderstand that they should not obteine their desires wherevpon in great displeasure they came awaie threatening and binding their words with oths that from thencefoorth they would neuer paie nor suffer to be paid anie tribute to the court of Rome nor permit the reuenues of those churches whereof they were patrones line 60 to be pulled awaie by any prouision of the same court The pope hearing of these things passed them ouer patientlie but he procured the English bishops to set their seales vnto that charter which king Iohn had made concerning the tribute against the mind of the archbishop of Canturburie Stephan Langton who at that time when king Iohn should seale it spake sore against it When king Henrie was informed hereof he was gréeuouslie offended and sware in a great chafe that although the bishops had doone otherwise than they ought yet would he stand in defense of the liberties of his realme and would not so long as he had a day to liue paie any dutie to the court of Rome vnder the name of a tribute In this meane while the king with a puissant armie inuaded the Welsh rebels to reduce them to some quiet whereas with their continuall incursions and other exploits they had sore harried vexed and wasted the lands of the kings subiects Herevpon the king being entred the countrie inuaded the same vnto the confines of Snowdon and there he began to build a strong castell at a place called Gannoke remaining there about the space often wéeks during the which the armie suffered great miserie through want of vittels and other prouisions namelie apparell and other helps to defend themselues from cold which sore afflicted the souldiers and men of warre bicause they laie in the field and winter as then began to approch Moreouer they were driuen to kéepe watch and ward verie stronglie for doubt to be surprised by sudden assaults of the enimies the which watched vpon occasion euer to doo some mischéefe The morrow after the Purification of our ladie Isabell de Boulbec countesse of Oxenford departed this life and likewise the morrow after saint Ualentines day died Baldwine de Riuers earle of Deuonshire and of the Wight Moreouer Geffrey de March a man sometime of great honour and possessions in Ireland after he had remained long in exile and suffered great miserie ended the same by naturall death Also Raimond earle of Prouance father to the quéenes of England and France deceassed this yeare for whome was kept in England a most solemne obsequie Also in the wéeke after Palme-sundaie died a right noble baron and warden of the north parts of England the lord Gilbert Humfreuile leauing behind him a yoong sonne the custodie of whome the king forthwith committed to the earle of Leicester not without the indignation of the earle of Cornewall who desired the same Finallie after that the king had lien at Gannoke about the fortifieng of the castell there the space of ten wéekes and saw the worke now fullie finished he appointed foorth such as should lie there in garison and therewith on the morrow after the feast of Simon and Iude he raised his field and returned towards England leauing the Welshmen in great miserie and like to starue for want of necessarie food For the I le of Anglesey which is as a nursse to the Welshmen those Irishmen that came to the kings aid had vtterlie wasted and destroied Againe the king of purpose had consumed all the prouision of corne and vittels which remained in the marshes so that in Cheshire and other the parts adioining there was such dearth that the people scarse could get sufficient vittels to susteine themselues withall The king also gaue foorth commandement that no prouision of corne or vittels should be conueied vnto the Welshmen out of any parts either of England or Ireland on paine of forfeiting life lands goods Moreouer he caused the brine pits in Wales to be stopped vp and destroied The king hauing thus ordered his businesse returned into England and shortlie after taking displeasure with the lord Maurice chéefe iustice of Ireland bicause he had not made such speed as had béene conuenient in bringing the Irishmen to his aid he discharged him of the office of chéefe iustice and placed in his roome Iohn Fitz Geffrey In this thirtith yeare of king Henries reigne Walter earle Marshall and of Penbroke departed this life and shortlie after to wit three daies before Christmasse his brother Anselme that succeeded him in the inheritance deceassed also without issue and so all the fine sonnes of the great earle William Marshall being departed this world without heires of their bodies begotten the whole heritage descended to the sisters and so was diuided amongst them as coparteners The king this yeare held his Christmas at London year 1246 and had there with him a great number of the nobilitie of his realme which had béene with him in Wales that they might be partakers of pastime mirth and pleasure as they had béene participants with him in suffering the diseases of heat cold and other paines abroad in the fields and high mounteines line 10 of Wales considering with himselfe as the truth is that vita est quà m proxiâ—â— letho Quà m meritò spernenda animâ—â— si nulla voluptâ—s Mulceat atque leuent solatia nulla laborem But that no plesure shuld passe without some staine of greese there was a rumor spred abroad that the pope conceiued fresh rankor in his stomach against the king and realme of England for the complaints which had béene exhibited in the councell at Lion by line 20 the English orator for the oppression doone to the church of England that therevpon minding now to be reuenged as was said he earnestlie mooued the French king to make warre against the Englishmen and to subdue them vnder his dominion which enterprise the French king vtterlie refused both for that he and the king of England were
the zeale which he had to make an accord betwixt him and his aduersarie Philip de Ualois that named himselfe French king he could not but much commend him and for his part he had euer wished that some reasonable agreement might be had betwixt them but sith his right to the realme of France was cléere and manifest inough he purposed not to commit it by writing vnto the doubtfull iudgement or arbitrement of anie And as concerning the agréement which the emperour had made with the French king bicause as he alledged it was lawfull for him so to doo sith without the emperors knowledge he had taken truce with the same French king he said if the circumstances were well considered that matter could not minister any cause line 10 to mooue him to such agreement for if the emperour remembred he had giuen to him libertie at all times to treat of peace without making the emperour priuie thereto so that without his assent he concluded not vpon any finall peace which he protested that he neuer meant to doo till he might haue his prouident aduise counsell and assent therevnto And as concerning the reuoking of the vicarship of the empire from him he tooke it doone out of time for it was promised line 20 that no such reuocation should be made till he had obteined the whole realme of France or at the least the more part thereof ¶ These in effect were the points of the kings letters of answer vnto the emperour Dated at London the thirtenth of Iulie in the second yeare of his reigne ouer France and fiftéenth ouer England This yeare about Midsummer or somwhat before at Gant in Flanders died the lord Geffrey Scrope the kings iustice and Henrie bishop of Lincolne line 30 two cheefe councellors to the king The quéene after hir returne into England was this yeare brought to bed in the tower of London of a daughter named Blanch that died yoong and was buried at Westminster ¶ In this meane while during the warres betwixt France and England the French king in fauour of Dauid king of Scotland had sent men of warre into Scotland vnder the conduct of sir Arnold Dandreghen who was after one of the marshals of France and the lord of Garrentiers with other line 40 by whose comfort and helpe the Scots that tooke part with king Dauid did indeuor themselues to recouer out of the Englishmens hands such castels and fortresses as they held within Scotland as in the Scotish historie ye shall find mentioned and how about this time their king the foresaid Dauid returned foorth of France into Scotland by the French kings helpe who hauing long before concluded a league with him thought by his friendship to trouble the king of England so at home that he should not be at great leisure to inuade him in France line 50 But now to tell you what chanced of the méeting appointed at Arras For the cōmissioners that shuld there treat of the peace when the day assigned of their meeting was come there arriued for the king of England the bishop of Lincolne the bishop of Duresme the earle of Warwike the erle of Richmond sir Robert Dartois sir Iohn of Heinault otherwise called lord Beaumont and sir Henrie of Flanders For the French king there came the earle of Alanson the duke of Burbon the earle of Flanders the line 60 earle of Blois the archbishop of Sens the bishop of Beauuois and the bishop of Aurerre The pope sent thither two cardinals Naples and Cleremont these commissioners were in treatie fiftéene daies during the which manie matters were put forth and argued but none concluded for the Englishmen demanded largelie and the Frenchmen would depart with nothing sauing with the countie of Pontieu the which was giuen with quéene Isabell in marriage to the king of England So the treatie brake the commissioners departed and nothing doone but onelie that the truce was prolonged for two yeares further Thus were the wars partlie appeased in some part of France but yet was the truce but slenderlie kept in other parts by reason of the duke of Britaine For whereas contention arose betwixt one Charles de Blois and Iohn earle of Mountfort about the right to the duchie of Britaine as in the historie of France maie more plainelie appeare the earle of Mountfort thinking that he had wrong offered him at the French kings hands who fauoured his aduersarie Charles de Blois alied himselfe with the king of England And as some write after he had woone diuerse cities and townes within Britaine he came ouer into England and by doing homage to king Edward acknowledged to hold it of him as of the souereigne lord thereof so that he would promise to defend him and that duchie against his aduersaries which the king promised him to doo After this the French king made such warres against this earle of Mountfort that he was at length taken prisoner in the towne of Naunts and committed to safe kéeping within the castell of Loure at Paris But his wife being a stout woman and of a manlie courage stood vp in the quarrell of hir husband and presented a yoong sonne which she had by him vnto such capteins and men of warre as serued hir husband requiring them not to be dismaid with the infortunate chance of hir husbands taking but rather like men of good stomachs to stand in defense of his right sith whatsoeuer happened to him the same remained in that yoong gentleman his sonne meaning that although the enimies should deale tyrannicallie with him without regard of his noblenesse practise his ouerthrow yet there was hope in hir son as increase of yeares should minister strength and courage both to be reuenged on his fathers enimies and to ad an inlargement of glorie and renowne to his present honor by practises of his prowesse which to be singular the séemelie symmetrie or goodlie proportion of his person and his iolie countenance séemed to testifie for Fortes creantur fortibus bonis Est in iuuencis est in equis patrum Virtus nec imbellem feroces Progenerant aquilae columbam This countesse of Mountfort was sister vnto Lewes earle of Flanders and named Margaret and not Claudia as some write She was verie diligent in hir businesse and spared no trauell to aduance hir cause so that she wan not onelie the harts of the men of warre but also of the people of Britaine the which fauoured hir husband and lamented the mishap of his taking She first furnished such cities townes castels and fortresses as hir husband had in possession with men munition and vittels as Renes Dinaunt Guerand Hanibout and others This doone she sent ouer into England sir Emerie de Clisson a noble man of Britaine to require the king of England of succors with condition that if it pleased him hir sonne Iohn should marrie one of his daughters ¶ The king of England glad to haue such an entrie
persons meaning to reuolt to the Dolphins side aduertised him by letters of their whole minds which letters were conueied vnto him by certeine friers The Dolphin glad of those newes appointed the lords de la Breth and Faiet marshals of France line 40 accompanied with the lords of Mount Iehan of Buâ—ll Doruall Torsie Beaumanor the Hire and his brother Guilliam with fiue hundred other valiant capteins and souldiers to the accomplishing of this enterprise who comming thither at the daie assigned in the night season approched towards the walles making a little fire on an hill in sight of the towne to signifie their comming which perceiued by the citizens that néere to the great church were watching for the same a burning cresset was shewed line 50 out of the steeple which suddenlie was put out and quenched What néedeth manie words The capteins on horssebacke came to the gate the traitors within slue the porters and watchmen and let in their fréends whereby the footmen entered first and the men of armes waited at the barriers to the intent that if néed required they might fight it out in open field Hereby manie Englishmen were slaine a great crie and garboile raised through the towne as in such surprises is woont The cause of this line 60 mischéefe was not knowen to any but onelie to the conspirators for the remnant of the citizens being no partakers imagined that the Englishmen had made hauocke in the towne and put all to the sword The Englishmen on the other side iudged that the citizens had begun some new rebellion against them or else had striuen amongst themselues The earle of Suffolke which was gouernour of the towne hauing perfect knowledge by such as scaped from the wals how the matter went withdrew without any tarriance into the castell which standeth at the gate of saint Uincent whereof was constable Thomas Gower esquier whither also fled manie Englishmen so as for vrging of the enimie prease of the number and lacke of vittels they could not haue indured long wherfore they priuilie sent a messenger to the lord Talbot which then laie at Alanson certifieng him in how hard a case they were The lord Talbot hearing these newes like a carefull capteine in all hast assembled togither about seuen hundred men in the euening departed from Alanson so as in the morning he came to a castell called Guierch two miles from Mans and there staied a while till he had sent out Matthew Gough as an espiall to vnderstand how the Frenchmen demeaned themselues Matthew Gough so well sped his businesse that priuilie in the night he came into the castell where he learned that the Frenchmen verie negligentlie vsed themselues without taking heed to their watch as though they had béene out of all danger which well vnderstood he returned againe and within a mile of the citie met the lord Talbot and the lord Scales and opened vnto them all things according to his credence The lords then to make hast in the matter bicause the daie approched with all spéed possible came to the posterne gate and alighting from their horsses about six of the clocke in the morning they issued out of the castell crieng saint George Talbot The Frenchmen being thus suddenlie taken were sore amazed in so much that some of them being not out of their beds got vp in their shirts and lept ouer the walles Other ran naked out of the gates to saue their liues leauing all their apparell horsses armour and riches behind them none was hurt but such as resisted ¶ Hard shift was made on all hands for safetie of life happie was he that could find a place of refuge where to lurke vnspide and vnhurt of the enimie who in the execution of their vengeance were so peremptorie that it was a matter of great difficultie or rather impossibilitie to escape their force To be short there were slaine and taken to the number of foure hundred gentlemen the priuat souldiers were frankelie let go After this inquisition was made of the authors of the treason and there were found condemned thirtie citizens twentie priests and fifteene friers who according to their demerits were all hanged The citie of Mans being thus recouered the lord Talbot returned to Alanson and shortlie after the earle of Warwike departed into England to be gouernour of the yoong king in steed of Thomas duke of Excester latelie departed to God and then was the lord Thomas Montacute earle of Salisburie sent into France year 1428 to supplie the roome of the said earle of Warwike who landed at Calis with fiue thousand men and so came to the duke of Bedford as then lieng in Paris where they fell in councell togither concerning the affaires of France and namelie the earle of Salisburie began maruellouslie to phantasie the gaining of the citie countrie of Orleance This earle was the man at that time by whose wit strength and policie the English name was much fearefull and terrible to the French nation which of himselfe might both appoint command and doo all things in manner at his pleasure in whose power as it appeared after his death a great part of the conquest consisted for suerlie he was a man both painefull diligent and readie to withstand all dangerous chances that were at hand prompt in counsell and of courage inuincible so that in no one man men put more trust nor any singular person wan the harts so much of all men Herevpon after this great enterprise had long béene debated in the priuie councell the earle of Salisburies deuise therein was of them all granted and allowed so that he being replenished with good hope of victorie and furnished with artillerie munition apperteining to so great an enterprise accompanied with the earle of Suffolke and the lord Talbot and with a valiant armie to the number of ten thousand men departed from Paris and passed through the countrie of Beausse There he tooke by assault the towne of Genuille and within fiue daies after had the castell deliuered vnto him by them that were fled into it for their safegard 〈◊〉 also tooke the towne of Baugencie suffering 〈◊〉 man which would become subiect to the king of England to inioie their line 10 lands and goods The townes of Meun vpon Loire and Iargeaulx hearing of these dooings presented to them the keies of their townes vpon like agréement About Maie in this 1428 the towne of Naunts and territories there with a fearefull earthquake were shaken houses castels and strong buildings in such terrour as it was thought the end of the world had béene come After this in the moneth of September the earle came before the citie of Orleance and planted his line 20 siege on the one side of the riuer of Loire but before his comming the bastard of Orleance the bishop of the citie and a great number of Scots hearing of the earles intent made diuerse fortifications
line 20 In these conceptions no lesse strange for their varietie than great for the importance they drew and perhaps in other thoughts more secret and singular for in a mind so fierce and terrible all sorts of imaginations how great and vaine so euer they be are not incredible after the continuation of his sicknesse for manie daies he declined towards death and féeling the end of his mortalitie to hasten on and the same to preuent the execution of his high thoughts he caused to call togither the consistorie line 30 which albeit he could not assist in person by reason of his disease yet by the authoritie of it he caused to be confirmed the bull which he had published before against such as by simonie would clime vp vnto the popedome He declared that the election of his successor apperteined to the college of cardinals and not to the councell and that the cardinals schismatikes could haue no presence or communitie there to whom he protested there to pardon the iniuries they had doone him and praied to God to forgiue them the line 40 wrongs they had doone to his church After this he besought the college of cardinals that in his fauor and for his sake they would grant to the duke of Urbin his nephew the citie of Pesera in patronage or vicarage alledging the consideration that by meane of the duke it had béene recouered to the church after the death of Iohn Sforce In no other matter he expressed anie priuate or particular affection Insomuch as Madame Felice his daughter ioining line 50 with hir the petitions of manie others beseeching him with great importunitie to create cardinall Guido de Montfalcon being hir brother by the mothers side he answered roundlie that he was not worthie of that degree He made not his affections conformable to their desires In that last action of life he shewed no parcialitie in worldlie causes his present debilitie could diminish nothing of his ancient resolution but expressed in all things the same constancie and seueritie togither with that iudgement and force of mind which he had before his sicknesse line 60 in which firme estate and disposition of spirit he receiued deuoutlie the offices of the church and the one and twentith daie of Februarie he ended his course of these mortall and present paines He was a prince of incredible constancie and courage but so full of furie vnrulie conceptions that the reuerence that was borne to the church the discord of princes the conditions of times did more to staie him from his ruine than either his moderation or his discretion worthie no doubt of great glorie if either he had béene a prince secular or if that care and intention which he had to raise the church into temporall greatnesse by the meane of warre had béene imploied to exalt it by the meane of peace in matters spirituall Neuerthelesse he was lamented aboue all his predecessors no lesse estéemed of those who hauing either lost the true consideration of things or at least ignorant how to distinguish and peise them rightlie iudged it an office more duelie apperteining to popes to increase the iurisdiction of the sée apostolike by armes and blood of christians than by good example of holie life and due curing and correction of corrupt maners to trauell for the sauing of those soules for whom they glorie so much that Iesus Christ hath named them his vicars in earth and therefore it is a good consequent that he is a branch or rather a brand of the diuell as one concludeth against him saieng Impius est igitur natus cacodaemone papa Turpibus genijs est homicida satus About the same time the warres yet continuing betwéene England France Prior Iehan of whom ye haue heard before in the fourth yéere of this kings reigne great capteine of the French nauie with his gallies and foists charged with great basilisks and other artillerie came on the borders of Sussex in the night season at a poore village there called Brighthelmston burnt it taking such goods as he found But when the people began to gather by firing the becons Prior Iehan sounded his trumpet to call his men aboord and by that time it was daie Then certeine archers that kept the watch folowed Prior Iehan to the sea and shot so fast that they beat the gallie men from the shore and wounded manie in the foist to the which Prior Iehan was constreined to wade and was shot in the face with an arrow so that he lost one of his eies and was like to haue died of the hurt and therefore he offered his image of wax before our ladie at Bullongne with the English arrow in the face for a miracle The lord admerall offended with this proud part of the Frenchmen in making such attempt on the English coasts sent sir Iohn Wallop to the sea with diuers ships which sailing to the coasts of Normandie landed there and burnt one and twentie villages and townes with diuerse ships in the hauen of Treaport Staples and other where Men maruelled greatlie at the manfull dooings of sir Iohn Wallop considering he had not past an eight hundred men and tooke land there so often In Iune sir Thomas Louell was sent ouer to Calis with six hundred men to strengthen that towne and other the fortresses within the English pale for doubt of anie sudden attempt to be made by the Frenchmen bicause monsieur de Pontremie with a mightie armie and great ordinance was come downe néere to Ard howbeit be taried not long but raised his campe within a while after his comming thither and returned without anie more dooing The French king perceiuing what losses he had susteined by the warres against England and doubting least one euill lucke should still follow in the necke of an other determined to make sute for peace and first agrâ—eing with pope Leo desired him to be a meane also for the procuring of some agréement betwixt him and the king of England ¶ This pope Leo of that name the tenth before his election cardinall of Medicis bare but seauen and thirtie yeeres of age which albeit was so much the more maruellous and wonderfull by how much the election was contrarie to custome yet the yong cardinals were the principall causers of it by their industrie hauing long time afore secretlie agréed amongst themselues to create the first pope of their number The most parts and nations of christendome reioised much at this election euerie one interteining an assured expectation of his vertues as well by the present and gréene memorie of the valor of his late father as for an vniuersall reputation that went of his owne inclinations and liberalities To this estimation was ioined a generall opinion of his continencie and life not atteinted togither with a gladsome hope that by the example of his father he would be a furtherer of learning and beare fauor to wits disposed
duke of Suffolke and the lord Marques Dorset that daie began the field and tooke the barriers with speares in his hand abiding all commers The Dolphin brought a man secretlie which in all the court of France was the tallest the strongest man and he was an Alman and put him in the place of an other person to haue had the duke of Suffolke rebuked The same great Alman came to the bars fiercelie with face hid bicause he would not be knowne and bare his speare to the duke of Suffolke with all his strength and the duke him receiued and for all his strength put him by strong strokes from the barriers and with the but end of the speare strake the Alman that he staggered but for all that the Alman strake stronglie and hardlie at the duke and the iudges suffered manie more strokes to be foughten than were appointed but when they saw the Alman reele and stagger then they let fall the raile betwéene them The lord marquesse Dorset at the same time euen at the same barre fought with a gentleman of France that he lost his speare and in maner withdrew When the raile was let fall these two noble men put vp their visers and tooke aire and with swords the points and edges abated they came to the barriers The Alman fought sore with the duke which imagined that he was a person set on for the nonce but the duke by pure strength tooke him about the necke and pomeled him so about the head that the bloud issued out of his nose and then they were parted and the Alman was conueied by the Dolphin least he should be knowne These two noblemen of line 10 England that daie fought valiantlie diuerse feats and the Frenchmen likewise noblie them defended But it happened the lord Marquesse on a time to put for his aid his yoongest brother called the lord Edward Greie of the age of nintéene yeare and to him was put a gentleman of France of great stature and strength to the intent to plucke him ouer the barres but yet the yoong lord was of such strength power policie that he so stroke his aduersarie that he disarmd him all the face bare Thus were these enterprises line 20 finished to the land of all parties the Englishmen receiued much honor and no spot of rebuke yet they were priuilie set at in manie ieopardies For the declaration of this triumph he that saw it can tell how goodlie the coursers trotted bounded and quicklie turned how valiantlie the men of armes behaued themselues and how the duke of Burbons band was apparrelled and bassed in tawnie veluet and cloth of siluer cloudie the band of the earle of saint Paule apparrelled and barded in purple line 30 veluet all to cut on purple sattin the infant of Arragon sonne to Frederike last king of Naples and his band all in cloth of gold and siluer paled This lord was but yoong but yet verie toward The duke of Uandosme and his band in cloth of gold and plunket veluet The Dolphin and his aids were euerie daie new apparrelled at his cost one daie in siluer and gold another in crimsin veluet and yellow veluet and another daie in white veluet and greene some daie mixed with sattin some daie embrodered some line 40 daie pounced with gold and so euerie daie in change as the woorkers fantasie could deuise but the Englishmen had euer on their apparrell red crosses to be knowne for loue of their countrie At this triumph the countie Galeas came into the place on a genet trapped in blew satten and he himselfe likewise apparrelled and ran a course with a speare which was at the head fiue inches on euerie side square that is twentie inches about and at the butt nine inches square that is six and thirtie inches line 50 this speare was massie timber and yet for all that he ran cleane with it a long course and slightlie auoided it to his great honour Also there was another gentleman called Anthonie Bounarme which came into the field all armed and on his bodie brought in sight ten speares that is to wit three speares set in euerie stirrop forward and vnder euerie thigh two speares vpward and vnder his left arme was one speare backward and the tenth in his hand and when he came before the quéene he let his horsse run and line 60 neuer stopped till he had taken euerie speare after oother and broken it on the ground and he neuer stopped his horsse till all were broken This gentleman was highlie praised and so he was worthie When all this great triumph was doone the lords of England tooke their leaue and were highlie thanked of the king queene Dolphin and all the lords and so departed and came into England before Christmas ¶ In Nouember the quéene was deliuered of a prince which liued not long after Touching the accord of peace betwéene England and France you shall heare the report of Guicciardine which to this place maketh passage to knowledge as oile giueth maintenance of light to the lampe At the first opening of this practise for peace there fell out manie difficulties for that the king of England demanded Bullongne in Picardie with a great summe of monie but at last all the differences fell vpon the towne of Tornaie the king of England striuing to reteine it and the French obiecting some difficultie in so much as the king of England dispatched in post to the French king the bishop of Tricaro whome he charged without imparting in what nature of particularitie consisted the difficultie to declare to the king from him that in regard of so great a benefit he should not stand vpon so manie subtile difficulties but to consider that in a prince reason shuld beare more imperie than passion The French king bicause he would neither doo wrong to his crowne nor ill content his people the towne of Tornaie being verie noble and loiall to the crowne of France caused the matter to be debated in full councell wherein was an assistance of the principals of his court who aduised him with one voice to imbrace peace yea vnder the condition offered And yet in that time the king catholike did what he could to breake it offering the king manie plots and deuises but speciallie to minister to him all his means and fauours to conquer the duchie of Millan But the answer being returned into England that the French king stood content with the resolution of Tornaie the peace succéeded was concluded in the beginning of August betwéene the two kings during their liues a yeare after their death In the capitulation it was expressed that Tornaie should remaine to the king of England to whom the French king should paie six hundred thousand crownes and that in such sort of distribution that the French king should make paiment of an hundred thousand franks euerie yeare vntill the full paiment was satisfied that they should be
were persuaded than vanquished taught than ouerthrowne quietlie pacified than rigorouslie persecuted Ye require to haue the statute of six articles reuiued And know you what ye require Or know ye what ease ye haue with the losse of them They were lawes made but quicklie repented too bloudie they were to be borne of our people yet at the first in deed made of some necessitie Oh subiects how are ye trapped by euill persons We of pitie bicause they were bloudie tooke them awaie and you now of ignorance will aske them againe You know full well that they helped vs to extend rigour and gaue vs cause to draw our sword verie often And since our mercie mooued vs to write our lawes with milke and equitie how are ye blinded to aske them in bloud But leauing this maner of reasoning and resorting to the truth of our authoritie we let you wit the same hath béene adnulled by parlement with great reioise of our subiects and not now to be called in question And dareth anie of you with the name of a subiect stand against an act of parlement a law of the realme What is our power if lawes should be thus neglected Or what is your suertie if lawes be not kept Assure you most suerlie that we of no earthlie thing vnder the heauen make such reputation as we doo of this one to haue our lawes obeied this cause of God to be throughlie mainteined from the which we will neuer remoue a heares bredth nor giue place to anie creature liuing but therein will spend our whole roiall person our crowne treasure realme and all our state whereof we assure you of our high honor For herein resteth our honor herein doo all kings knowledge vs a king And shall anie one of you dare breath or thinke against our kingdome and crowne In the end of this your request as we be giuen to vnderstand ye would haue them stand in force till our full age To this we thinke that if ye knew what ye spake ye would not haue vttred the motion nor neuer giuen breath to such a thought For what thinke you of our kingdome Be we of lesse authoritie for our age Be we not your king now as we shall be Shall ye be subiects hereafter and now are ye not Haue we not the right we shall haue If ye would suspend and hang our dooings in doubt vntill our full age ye must first know as a king we haue no difference of yeares but as a naturall man and creature of God we haue youth and by his sufferance shall haue age We are your rightfull king your liege lord the souereigne prince of England not by our age but by Gods ordinance not onelie when we shall be one and twentie yeares of age but when we were of ten yéers We possesse our crowne not by yeares but by the bloud and descent from our father king Henrie the eight If it be considered they which mooue this matter if they durst vtter themselues would denie our kingdome But our good subiects know their prince and will increase not diminish his honor inlarge his power not abate it knowledge his kingdome not deferre it to certeine yeares All is one to speake against our crowne and to denie our kingdome as to require that our lawes maie be broken vnto one and twentie yeares Be we not your crowned annointed and established king Wherein be we of lesse maiestie of lesse authoritie or lesse state than our progenitors kings of this realme except your vnkindnes your vnnaturalnesse will diminish our estimation We haue hitherto since the death of our father by the good aduise and counsell of our deare and intirelie beloued vncle the duke of Summerset and gouernor and protector kept our estate mainteined our realme preserued our honour defended our people from all enimies We haue hitherto béene feared and dread of our enimies yea of princes kings and nations Yea herein we be nothing inferiour to anie our progenitors which grace we acknowledge to be giuen vs from God and how else but by good obedience line 10 good counsell of our magistrates and by the authoritie of our kingdome England hitherto hath gained honour during our reigne it hath woone of the enimie and not lost It hath béene maruelled that wée of so yoong yeares haue reigned so noblie so roiallie so quietlie And how chanceth that you our louing subiects of that our countrie of Cornewall and Deuonshire will giue occasion to slander this our realme of England to giue courage to the enimie to note our realme of line 20 the euill of rebellion to make it a preie to our old enimies to diminish our honour which God hath giuen our father left our good vncle and councell preserued vnto vs What greater euill could ye commit than euen now when our forren enimie in Scotland and vpon the sea seeketh to inuade vs to doo our realme dishonour than to arise in this maner against our law to prouoke our wrath to aske our vengeance and to giue vs an occasion to spend that force vâ—on you which we meant to bestow vpon our enimies to line 30 begin to slaie you with that sword that we drew forth against Scots and other enimies to make a conquest of our owne people which otherwise should haue beene of the whole realme of Scotland Thus farre we haue descended from our high maiestie for loue to consider you in your simple ignorance and haue béene content to send you an instruction like a father who of iustice might haue sent you your destructions like a king to rebels And now we let you know that as you sée our mercie abundantlie line 40 so if ye prouoke vs further we sweare to you by the liuing God ye shall féele the power of the same God in our sword which how mightie it is no subiect knoweth how puissant it is no priuat man can iudge how mortall no Englishman dare thinke But suerlie suerlie as your lord and prince your onlie king and maister we saie to you repent your selues and take our mercie without delaie or else we will foorthwith extend our princelie power and execute our sharpe sword against you as against infidels line 50 and Turks and rather aduenture our owne roiall person state and power than the same should not be executed And if you will proue the example of our mercie learne of certeine which latlie did arise as they perceiuing pretended some griefes and yet acknowledging their offenses haue not onelie most humblie their pardon but féele also by our order to whome onelie all publike order apperteineth present redresse of their griefes In the end we admonish you of line 60 your duties to God whome ye shall answere in the daie of the Lord of your duties toward vs whom ye shall answere by our order and take our mercie whilest God so inclineth vs least when ye shall be constreined to aske we shall be two much hardened in heart to grant it
end of the collegiat chapell to the making whereof he defaced as it is said without licence a peece of the line 10 kings lodging on the east end of the chapell The deane hath a faire lodging of timber within the castell and to it is ioined a place for the ministers of the chapell Thus much Leland for Wallingford thus much I for Edmund earle of Cornewall and lord of Wallingford Edward of Carnaruan prince of Wales sonne to Edward the first was in the yeare of our redemption 1295 being the fiue and twentith yeare of Edward the first protector of England in the absence of his father in Flanders who because he was line 20 of tender yeares had as tutors and gouernours appointed vnto him Richard bishop of Durham Eulogium hath the bishop of London William Montacute with diuerse other knights as Reignold Greie Iohn Giffard Alane Plunket being wise discreet and expert soldiers Piers or Peter de Gauestone a Gascoine borne whome king Edward the second so tenderlie loued as that he preferred him before all men was appointed gardian of the realme in the first yeare of the line 30 said king Edward the second being the yeare of our redemption 1308 when the king went into France and there aboad to marrie Isabell daughter to Philip king of France before that the said Edward was crowned king of England as hath Radulphus Higden Of this Piers I will here saie litle bicause I haue spoken more largelie of him in my pantographie of England Iohn de Drokensford bishop of Bath and Wels was in the yeare of our redemption 1313 being the line 40 sixt yeare of king Edward the second made protector of the realme in the absence of the said king Edward the second and his wife quéene Isabell who went into France to solemnize the coronation of Philip sonne to Philip king of France who was at that instant created king of Nauarre This Drokensford was the fourtéenth bishop of Bath Wels. Great contention was there betwéene him and the deane and priests of that church He succéeded in the bishoprike Walter Houelshaw This Drokensford line 50 held the bishoprike about ninetéene yeares he beautified the same with manie goodlie buildings procured manie priuileges vnto it and greatlie exalted his kindred He was buried at Welles before the high altar of saint Iohn Baptist. Henrie Lascie or Lacie earle of Lincolne and of Salisburie baron of Halton and of Pontfrait corruptlie called Pomefret and constable of Chester was made protector of the realme in the fift yeare of Edward the second being the yeare of our redemption line 60 1310 whilest the king remained in the warres of Scotland Which Henrie died shortlie after in the same yeare and was buried in the new worke of Paules who carried for his armes the purple lion cōtrarie to the cote his ancestors had borne before This man had doone great seruice in the warres in the time of Edward the first he married Margaret the daughter and heire of William Longespée earle of Salisburie and had by hir a daughter named Alice married to Thomas Plantagenet earle of Lancaster Leicester and Darbie This Henrie as I haue learned of other and read in Leland had issue a bastard sonne and hauing amongst manie other lordships the manour of Grantcester besides Cambridge he gaue the same with other lands vnto that bastard and commanded that the same Lacie so set vp in Grantcester should for himselfe and his successors euer name their sonnes and heires by the names of Henrie which hitherto hath béene religiouslie obserued amongst them And this was the originall of the houses of the Lacies in Grantcester as Leland learned of him which was then heire of those lands Gilbert de Clare the third earle of Glocester of that name after the death of Henrie Lacie was chosen gouernour of the realme the king being still in Scotland during the time that the king shuld make his abode in that countrie Of this man see before in the discourse of his father Gilbert the second earle of Glocester and Hertford and protector of the realme Edward prince of Wales and duke of Aquitane comming out of France with Isabell in the second yeare of Edward the second his father was after his landing in England and the taking of his father made gardian of England vnder his father which office he did not long continue for deposing his father from the kingdome in the yeare of Christ 1326 he assumed the crowne himselfe in his fathers life Walter Reinolds archbishop of Canturburie was with others appointed gardian of England on this sort Edward the third as before atteining to the crowne in the yeare of our redemption 1327 or as some others more trulie saie 1326 being fourteene years of age did then begin his reigne But bicause he was so yoong not being of power or policie to weld so great a charge it was decréed in this first yeare of his reigne that twelue gouernors of the greatest lords within the realme should possesse the gouernement vntill he came to riper yeares whose names were as insueth Walter archbishop of Canturburie the archbishop of Yorke the bishop of Winchester the bishop of Hereford Henrie earle of Lancaster Thomas Brotherton earle marshall Edmund of Woodstocke earle of Kent Iohn earle of Warren the lord Thomas Wake the lord Henrie Persie the lord Oliuer de Ingham and the lord Iohn Rosse who were sworne of the kings councell and charged with the gouernement of the kingdome as they would answere for the same But this ordinance continued not long for in the second yeare of this king Isabell the kings mother and the lord Roger Mortimer tooke the whole rule into their hands in such sort that the king and his councellors were in all affaires of state and otherwise onelie gouerned by their direction Of this Walter Reinolds the archbishop bicause he was sometime chancellor and sometime treasuror is more mention made in the large volume of the liues of the chancellors Iohn of Eltham earle of Cornewall sonne to Edward the second had in the fourth yeare of king Edward the third being the yeare of our redemption 1330 the gouernement of the realme committed vnto him whilest king Edward the third had passed the seas onelie fiftéene horsses in his companie apparelled in clokes like vnto merchants which office the said Iohn of Eltham executed vntill the returne of the said king and before that also when the said Edward the third in the second yeare of his reigne did before this time go into France to doo his homage He was made earle of Cornewall in the second yeare of king Edward the third being the yeare of Christ 1328 and died at Barwike others saie at S. Iohns towne in Scotland in the moneth of October 1336 being the tenth yeare of Edward the third and was honorablie buried at Westminster for the solemnization of whose buriall the king came out of Scotland
of honor as age hath consumed with the persons which inioied such prehemences in England I will from the first creation of anie duke since the conquest recite the creation descent and succession of all the dukes of England shewing first the time of the creation of such dukes secondlie the descent of all such dukes as are lineallie issued out of that creation which follow as they came in one line Edward the eldest sonne of king Edward the third being surnamed the blacke prince was made duke of Cornewall the eleauenth of Edward the third in the yeare of our redemption 1337 when he was yet but yoong This yoong prince was the first duke in England since the conquest and Cornewall was by that creation the first place that was erected to a dukedome Which duke being the flower of chiualrie in his time died about the fiftith yéere of king line 10 Edward the third in the yeare of Christ 1376 and was buried at Canturburie Henrie Plantagenet alià s Tort Colle bicause his head leaned somewhat to one shoulder like the great Macedone king Alexander whose valure in feats of armes this Henrie did also imitate being sonne to Henrie of Monmouth earle of Lancaster was in like sort earle of Lancaster by descent After which he was created earle of Darbie as some saie in the eleauenth yeare of Edward the third being line 20 the yeare of our Lord 1337 other saie in the fouretéenth yeare of Edward the third in the yeare of our saluation 1340. He was created duke of Lancaster as some haue in the six twentith yeare of Edward the third as other haue the seauen twentith and as the third sort haue the eight twentith yeare of Edward the third He was lord steward of England lieutenant of Guines This man was wise glorious in fortune and full of honor in feates of armes whilest he was yoong he died the fiue and thirtith yeare line 30 of Edward the third in the yeare of Christ 1361 being one of the first knights which were made at the first institution of the honorable order of the garter and the second duke that was made in England He had issue two daughters heires Mawd maried to William duke of Bauare earle of Henalt Zeland Holand which after became mad Blanch maried to Iohn of Gant fourth sonne to Edward the third Iohn Plantagenet surnamed of Gant in Flanders where he was borne the fourth sonne to king line 40 Edward the third was first by his father in the fiue and thirtith yeare of Edward the third in the yeare of Christ 1361 made duke of Lancaster so that he was duke of Lancaster earle of Lincolne Salisburie Darbie and Leicester king of Castile Lirne and steward of England He married thrée wiues the first was Blanch the daughter and heire of Henrie duke of Lancaster earle of Leicester Lincolne Sarisburie Darbie in whose right he obteined all those titles of honor whome he maried in the thirtith line 50 thrée yeare of Edward the third in the yeare of our Lord 1359 and by hir had issue Henrie Plantagenet duke of Hereford Philip married in the tenth yeare of Richard the second in the yeare of Christ 1386 as some saie or rather 1385 as others haue to the king of Portingale and Elisabeth married to Iohn Holland erle of Huntington His second wife was Constance eldest daughter to Peter king of Castile whom he maried in the six fortith yeare of Edward the third being in the yeare of Christ 1372 line 60 by whome he had issue Margaret maried to the king of Castile which Constance died in the yere of Christ 1394 as saith Ypodigma His third wife was Katharine the widow of Otho Swinford and daughter to sir Paien Ruet alià s Guien king at armes whom he maried in the nintéenth yeare of king Richard the second being the yere of Christ 1395 or as some saie 1396 by this woman he had before mariage Thomas Beaufort Iohn Beaufort Henrie Beaufort cardinall of Winchester Iane maried to Rafe Neuill earle of Westmerland all which children were in the twentith of Richard the second being in the yeare 1396 legitimated by parlement at which time the said Iohn of Gant gaue them the surname of Beaufort This Iohn of Gant was also earle of Richmond and constable of France in the time of Richard the second who made him also duke of Aquitaine in the fourtéenth yeare of his reigne being the yeare 1390 This Iohn of Gant died in the two twentith yeare of Richard the second in the yeare 1398 or as saith Ypodigma 1399 was buried in the quâ—ere of saint Paules church of London on the north side Henrie Plantagenet alià s Henrie of Bollinbroke so surnamed of the place of his birth the eldest son of the said Iohn was by inheritance duke of Lancaster earle of Leicester Salisburie Darbie and Lincolne he was created duke of Hereford by Richard the second who made him earle of Darbie in the ninth yeare of his reigne in the yeare of Christ 1386 and after made him duke of Hereford in the 21 yeare of his reigne being the yeare of Christ 1397. Which Henrie of Bollinbroke maried in the 9 yéere of the reigne of Richard the second in the yeare of Christ 1386 Marie the second daughter one of the heires of Humphrie Bohune earle of Hereford Essex and conestable of England which woman died in the yéere of Christ 1394 about the eighteenth yéere of Richard the second This Henrie was after king of England by the name of Henrie the fourth Lionell Plantagenet surnamed Lionell of Antwerpe in Brabant because he was there borne being the third son of king Edward the third was erle of Ulster in Ireland by his wife and created duke of Clarence in the 36 yéere of Edward the third in the yéere of Christ 1462 but other saie he was made duke in the 33 yeer of Edward the third He had two wiues the first Elisabeth some saie Eleanor but rightlie as I doo suppose the daughter of William Burgh earle of Ulster by whom he had issue Philip maried to Edmund earle of March the second wife was Ielant or Uielant daughter to Galeas duke of Millane to whom he was maried as saith the English chronicle in the two and fortith yéere of Edward the third in the yéere of Christ 1368 which yéere the Italians count 1367 by whom he had no issue This Lionell was somtime regent of France died 1368. Edmund of Langleie fift son to Edward the third made earle of Cambridge about the six and thirtith yéere of Edward the third being the yeere of Christ 1361 was made duke of Yorke in the eight or as some haue the ninth yéere of the said king Richard the second He in the six and fortith yéere of king Edward the third in the yéere that the word became flesh 1372 married Isabell one of the daughters of
Winchester in the yéere one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and fiue being the ninth yeere of king Edward the third in which seat he sate twelue yeares The death of which Adam who gaue Henningfield parsonage to the church of Hereford sir Thomas de la More doth most plentifullie set foorth Henrie Burwash bishop of Lincolne was lord treasuror in Easter terme in the first yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third being the yeare of our redemption one thousand three hundred twentie and seauen in which office he continued vntill the second yeere of Edward the third and was afterward remooued Thomas bishop of Hereford inioied the honorable place of the lord treasuror in the third yeare of king Edward the third being the yeere of our redemption one thousand three hundred twentie and nine but in the yéere following another came in place Robert Woodhouse possessed the roome of the high tresuror of England in the fourth yéere of the reigne of the said yoong king Edward the third being the yeere that the word became flesh one thousand thrée hundred and thirtie and was also treasuror some part of Michaelmasse terme in the fift yéere of king Eward the third who in the yéere following did giue place vnto another William archbishop of Yorke was againe treasuror of England in the fift yeere of the reigne of king Edward the third being the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and one and inioied that place some part of Michaelmasse terme in the said yeere after whome came the bishop of Norwich W. bishop of Norwich was made treasuror in Michaelmas terme in the said fift yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third in which terme there had béene thrée lord treasurors successiuelie a thing seldome or neuer heard nor I thinke likelie againe euer to be which office this bishop kept all Michaelmasse terme in the sixt yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third being the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and two and somewhat more in the end yet yéelding that honor to another Robert le Ailestone being lord treasuror in the seuenth yéere of the reigne of Edward the third being the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and thrée continued in the same office vntill the tenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third being the yeare of our saluation one thousand thrée hundred thirtie six which was about thrée yeares the same being a longer time than anie other had possessed that place since the beginning of the reigne of the said king Edward the third Henrie Burwash bishop of Lincolne was againe treasuror the tenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third being in the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and six in which yéere as hath Scala chronicorum the king holding his parlement at London was aduised by his councell to prosecute his title to the crowne of France Wherevpon king Edward sent ambassadors to the duke of Bauiere emperor which had married the other sister to the earle of Henalt as king Edward the third had maried one for suertie of aliance and to reteine noble men about him with no small charge which ambassadors were Henrie Burgwash bishop of Lincolne and the earles William Montacute of Sarum and William Clinton of Huntington who returned to the parlement at London with their answer well liked Of this man see more in the chancellors being yet after his ambassage treasuror in some part of the eleuenth yéere of Edward the third Richard de Burie bishop of Durham did inioie the honor of lord treasuror in the eleuenth yeere of the reigne of king Edward the third he was a man of great grauitie and much estéemed of the nobilitie and gentlemen of the north Of this man is more spoken in the chancellors of England William de la Zouch borne of the noble house of the lord Zouch was treasuror of England in the twelfe yéere of king Edward the third in the yéere of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and eight he being bishop of Yorke was vicegerent to the king in the north parts in the twentith yéere of line 10 the reigne of the said Edward the third and in the yéere of our redemption one thousand three hundred fortie and six at what time he tooke Dauid Bruce king of Scots This man went to Rome and after a long contention betwéene him and William Kelsleie Kilsbie or Kelseie for all these different names are found in authors touching the archbishoprike of Yorke he was after two yeares thus spent consecrated bishop of Yorke by pope Clement the sixt After which this William in the eleuenth yeare of his bishoprike line 20 being long troubled with a greeuous disease began the worke of a chappell on the south side adioining to the church of saint Peters in Yorke where he purposed to be buried but died before it was finished and lieth interred in the said church before the altar of saint Edward the confessor Sir Richard Sadington knight was treasuror in the foureteenth yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third being the yéere of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred fortie There was one line 30 Robert Sadington liuing about this time of whom is more mention in the chancellors of England but as yet I well know not whether they were both one man or no sith authors maie misplace Robert for Richard as they haue often doone Robert Northborow being at that time as I iudge bishop of Couentrie was treasuror of England in the fouretéenth yéere of the reigne of Edward the third being the yeere of our Lord one thousand three hundred and fortie in which yeere he was line 40 remooued whom with the chancellor the king meant afterward as after shall appeare to haue sent into Flanders as pledges for monie that the king owght there After whom I suppose that Sadington came in place although I haue a little misplaced him at this time following the fansies of other men more than mine owne A bishop of Chester was lord treasuror of England in the fiftéenth yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third being about the yéere that the word line 50 became flesh one thousand thrée hundred fortie and one in which office he did not long continue Robert Perning or Pernicke was lord treasuror in the Easter terme in the yéere of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred fortie and one being the fiftéenth yéere of king Edward the third in which yéere also he was made chancellor and so continued both offices a while vntill in the sixtéenth yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third as I gather by all circumstances of times records and histories line 60 who in the seuentéenth yeere of the reigne of the said king Edward the third being the yéere of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred fortie and thrée
king Henrie the fourth He being kéeper of the priuie seale was made bishop of Excester the twentith of Iune in the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred ninetie fiue being the daie before king Richard the second began the one and twentith yeare of his reigne He was consecrated at Lambeth and kept the see of Excester three and twentie yeares He increased two fellowships in Stapletons inne in Oxford reformed the statutes of the house and called it Excester college he died the fourth of September in the seuenth yeare of king Henrie the fift being the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and ninetéene About the making of this Stafford chancellor as farre as my memorie serueth Ypodigma is much deceiued if I haue not for want of the booke mistaken his iudgement line 10 Henrie Beauford the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt by Katharine Swineford made bishop of Lincolne in the yeare of our Lord one thousand three hundred ninetie and eight as hath Ypodigma was aduanced to the dignitie of chancellor in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred thrée being the fourth yeare of king Henrie the fourth his elder brother by the daughter of the earle of Hereford in which office he was in the fift yeare of king Henrie the fourth line 20 and sixt of the same king as our chronicles doo remember He was made bishop of Winchester in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and foure being the fift yeare of Henrie the fourth Thomas Langleie priest and bishop of Durham was at Westminster made chancellor in the yeare of our saluation one thousand foure hundred and fiue being the sixt yeare of the reigne of the said king Henrie the fourth in which office he continued as farre as I know vntill he was made bishop line 30 of Durham which was on the seuenth of Maie being the seuenth yeare of the reigne of king Henrie last before named being the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and six He was bishop one and thirtie yeares and died in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred thirtie and seuen being the sixtéenth yeare of king Henrie the sixt Sée more following Thomas Fitzalen brother to Richard earle of Arundell being returned out of exile with Henrie line 40 of Bollingbroke duke of Hereford and Lancaster and after king of England by the name of Henrie the fourth was the third time being bishop of Canturburie made lord chancellor of England the ninth yeare of the said king Henrie the fourth and continued therein about two years being remooued from that place about September in the eleuenth yeare of the reigne of the said king being the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred and ten line 50 Thomas Beauford knight the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt son to king Edward the third brother to king Henrie the fourth was made lord chancellor in the eleuenth yere of the said king Henrie the fourth being the yeare that the sonne of God tooke on him the forme of a seruant one thousand foure hundred and ten in which office he remained not full thrée yeares but left the same office togither with his life as I suppose in the thirtéenth yeare of the same king being the yeare of our redemption one thousand line 60 foure hundred and twelue Iohn Wakering clearke maister of the rolles was made kéeper of the great seale when Thomas Beauford left the office of chancellor which seale hée kept about the space of a moneth For in Ianuarie after that he receiued the seale there was a chancellor created Thomas Fitzalen or Arundell archbishop of Canturburie was the fourth time inuested with the chancellorship in the yeare of our saluation one thousand foure hundred and twelue being the thirtéenth yeare of king Henrie the fourth in which office hée continued during the life of the said king Henrie the fourth who died in the fourtéenth yeare of his kingdome and in the yere of our Lord one thousand foure hundred and thirtéene Henrie Beauford bishop of Winchester and after cardinall in the time of Henrie the sixt being vncle to king Henrie the fift then reigning was the second time made chancellor in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and thirteene being the first yeare of the fift king Henrie in which place he remained vntill the fift yeare of the said king Henrie being the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred and seuentéene Thomas Langleie bishop of Durham was the second time made lord chancellor of England in the said yere of our redemption one thousand foure hundred and seuentéene being the fift yeare of that woorthie conqueror king Henrie the fift which office he receiued at Southwicke and continued in that honour as farre as I can learne by the space of six yeares or more whereof fiue yeares were fullie ended in the life and death of the said Henrie the fift and the sixt yeare ended in the last of the first or beginning of the second yeare of king Henrie the sixt Henrie Beauford bishop of Winchester before named was the third time made lord chancellor of England in the second yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt being about the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred twentie and thrée or one thousand foure hundred twentie and foure For the second yeare of that king fell part in the one and part in the other of the said yeares of our Lord in which office he continued about foure yeares vntill he was made cardinall in the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred twentie and six Iohn Kempe bishop of London was made lord chancellor of England in the fourth yere of that king Henrie who in his yoongest yeares was crowned first king of England and then king of France in Paris in which office he remained as I suppose about six yeares Iohn Stafford deane of S. Martine of Welles prebend of Milton in Lincolne church bishop of Bath and Welles lord chancellor and treasuror of England and bishop of Canturburie was made lord chancellor of England in the moneth of Februarie in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred thirtie one falling in the tenth yeare of king Henrie the sixt he remained in that office vntill Iohn Kempe was againe made lord chancellor which was about the eight and twentith yeare of king Henrie the sixt And here I think it not vnméet to remember that some haue noted William Wanfleet that was bishop of Winchester and chancellor of Oxford to be chancellor of England when he built Magdalen college in Oxford in the fiue and twentith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt which possiblie can not be sith this Iohn Stafford held that office from the tenth of Henrie the sixt vntill the eight twentith of the same king which was eightéene yeares during which time they place this Wanfléet to bee chancellor of
Rotheram because of the towne of Rotheram in Yorkeshire where he was borne and bred vp was bishop of Rochester and then of Linclolne where he sat nine yeares and after that was bishop of Yorke whereinto he installed first at Yorke and then at Ripon being prouost of Beuerleie he was made chancellor of England in the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred seuentie and foure being the fourtéenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the fourth This bishop in the fifteenth yeare of the said king went ouer the sea as I haue séene noted with the said Edward the fourth when he went to haue an interuiew with the French king of which meeting monsieur de Argentine by name Philip Comineus besides our English chronicles dooth make mention as a person that bare a part in that pageant Iohn Alcot bishop of Rochester was made chancellor during the absence of king Edward as I haue found recorded Thomas Rotheram being before lord keeper of the priuie seale was after his returne out of France the second time made lord chancellor about the time in which the said king had gotten Berwike from the Scots being about the twentith yeare of the said Edward the fourth For the frée gaining of the towne was not much before his death in which office this Rotheram continued all the life of king Edward the fourth in the time of the little or no reigne at all of the guiltlesse murthered yoong prince king Edward the fift vntill it was ascribed to him for ouermuch lightnesse that he had deliuered in the beginning of the rebellious gouernement line 10 of the protectorship of the bloudie and vnnaturall Richard duke of Glocester the seale to the quéene to whome it did not apperteine and from whome he receiued it not He founded a college at Rotheram dedicated it to the name of Iesus indowed it with great possessions ornaments and annexed therto the churches of Langthton and Almanburie Iohn Russell bishop of Lincolne a graue and learned man had the seale deliuered to him by the said protector of England during the time of the line 20 short reigne of the yoong king Edward when the same seale was taken from Rotheram and so this Russell was made chancellor in the moneth of Iune in the yeare of our saluation one thousand foure hundred foure score and thrée being the first yeare of the vsurped gouernement of the bloudie tyrant the mishapen king Richard the third This Russell is buried in the church of Lincolne in a chappell cast out of the vpper wall of the south part of the church Thomas Barow maister of the rolles was made line 30 keeper of the great seale as I haue seene recorded which I suppose was in the third and last yeare of the said king Richard the third for in that yeare he was maister of the rolles Thomas Rotheram made againe lord chancellor in the first entrance of king Henrie the seuenth into the gouernement but verie shortlie after he was displaced and the bishop of Worcester placed in that roome he was archbishop of Yorke nintéene yeares ten moneths he was verie beneficiall to all his line 40 kinred and aduanced some with mariages some with possessions and some with spirituall liuings He died the nine and twentith daie of December in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred being the sixtéenth yeare of king Henrie the eight at Cawood in Yorkeshire the morrow after the Ascension being of the age of three score and sixtéene yeares or more he was buried in Yorke minster on the north-side in our ladie chappell in a toome of marble which he caused to be made whilest he was liuing line 50 Iohn Alcot bishop of Worcester made in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and sixteene was lord chancellor of England in the first yeare of the said K. Henrie the seuenth the Salomon of England being the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred foure score fiue shortlie after the entrance of the said Henrie into the gouernement of England For though Rotheram were chancellor when he got the victorie for that he had béene so before for that the king was neither prouided nor minded suddenlie to haue a man not line 60 méete for that place to execute the same yet this Rotheram kept not that roome manie moneths but that Alcot came in place because the king found Alcot a méeter person to execute the same office answerable to the disposition of the kings humor All which notwithstanding whether for malice of others or for his owne deserts or both or for more especiall trust that king Henrie put in Moorton bishop of Elie who had beene the meanes to bring him to the crowne this Alcot fell shortlie in the kings disgrace was displaced of his office and Moorton came in his roome So that in this first yeare of the said king Henrie the seuenth there seemed to be thrée chancellors in succession one after another if I haue not misconceiued the matter all which before Moorton in this first yeare of king Henrie the seuenth may perhaps more properlie be termed kéepers of the great seale than chancellors Iohn Moorton doctor of the ciuill law an aduocat in the ciuill of the councell to Henrie the sixt and to Edward the fourth to whome also he was maister of the rolles was made bishop of Elie in the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred thrée score and eightéene and lord chancellor of England vpon his returne from beyond the seas in the first yeare of the woorthie prince K. Henrie the seuenth being the yeare that the word became flesh one thousand foure hundred foure score and fiue after which he was aduanced to the bishoprike of Canturburie he died in the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred foure score and nintéene in the fifteenth yere of the reigne of king Henrie the seuenth as hath Matthew Parker William Warham aduocat in the arches maister of the rolles bishop of London and then bishop of Canturburie was before his aduancement to the see of Canturburie made chancellor of England in the time of Henrie the seuenth in which office he continued vntill about the latter end of the seuenth yeare of king Henrie the eight At what time surrendring the seale by reason of his age and weakenesse the same great seale was deliuered to Thomas Woolseie Thomas Woolseie somtime chapleine to Henrie Deane archbishop of Canturburie after the kings almoner and abbat of saint Austins who possessing manie other abbeies and bishopriks as in other places shall more largelie appeare was aduanced to the gouernment of the great seale about the beginning of the eight yeare of the triumphant reigne of king Henrie the eight being the yeare of our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ one thousand fiue hundred sixtéene to hold the same during his life as I gather in which office yet he continued
not aboue thirtéene yeares vntill the one and twentith of the said king Henrie the eight being the yeare of our redemption one thousand fiue hundred twentie and nine During which time of his chancellorship in the ninetéenth yere of king Henrie the eight being the yere of Christ one thousand fiue hundred twentie and seauen he went into France representing the king of Englands person to set order for the deliuerie of pope Clement the seuenth and Francis the French king at what time he carried the great seale ouer the seas to Calis which seale he left with doctor Tailor maister of the rolles to kéepe the same at Calis vntill the cardinals returne out of the French dominions He died in Leicester abbeie not without suspicion of poison as was thought which he had prepared for himselfe and giuen to his apothecarie to deliuer when he called for it the two and twentith of king Henrie the eight in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred and thirtie Thomas Moore knight sometime vndershiriffe of London and chancellor of the dutchie of Lancaster was aduanced to the honor of chancellorship of England in the yere that the word became flesh one thousand fiue hundred twentie and nine being the one and twentith yéere of that king Henrie which expelled pope Clement the seauenth his authoritie out of his dominions in which office this rare witted knight to vse Erasmus his epitheton and learned chancellor continued not full thrée yeares but in the foure and twentith yeare of the reigne of the said king Henrie the eight with much labor and earnest sute he left his office Touching which it shall not gréeue me to set downe the words of Matthew Parker of the liues of the bishops of Canturburie in the life of Thomas Cranmer writing after this maner Intereà rex dum papae meditabatur excidium singulorum de papali auctoritate sensus iudicijs haud obscuris collegit Inter quos Thomas Morus quia regis conatus pontificijs valdè suspectus fuit cancellarij munere venia regis aegrè impetrata sese abdicauit Thomas Audleie attornie of the dutchie of Lancaster sergeant at the law as most affirme and speaker of the parlement was made knight and lord kéeper line 10 of the great seale the fourth of Iune in the foure and twentith yere of the reigne of the famous prince king Henrie the eight being the yeare of our Lord God one thousand fiue hundred thirtie and two not long after which he was indued with the title and honor of lord chancellor of England This man in the tenth yere of his chancellorship being the yere of our redemption one thousand fiue hundred fortie and two and the fiue and thirtith yeare of king Henrie the eight changing the name of Buckingham college line 20 in Cambridge did name it the college of saint Marie Magdalen and indued it with some possessions He died on Maie éeuen in the yeare of our saluation one thousand fiue hundred fortie and foure being the fiue and thirtith yeare of Henrie the eight Thomas Wriotheslie knight of the garter being created baron at Hampton court on the first of Ianuarie in the fiue and thirtith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the eight in the yere of Christ one thousand fiue hundred fortie and three was after aduanced line 30 to the honor of the great seale and chancellorship of England about the beginning of Maie in the six and thirtith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the eight being the yere of grace one thousand fiue hundred fortie and foure in which office he continued vntill the death of the said king Henrie the eight and in the beginning of the reigne of king Edward the sixt vntill for his obstinacie in the Romane religion he was the sixt of March remooued and the seale was deliuered to William Paulet lord Sent-Iohn of line 40 Basing This Wriotheslie being created earle of Southampton by king Edward the sixt died at his house of Lincolne place in Holborne the 30 of Iulie in the fourth yeare of the said king Edward in the yéere 1550 was buried at saint Andrews in Oldborne commonlie called Holborne William Paulet knight being first steward of the lands of the bishoprike of Winchester then treasuror of the houshold lord Sent-Iohn of Basing lord great maister of the kings house afterwards earle line 50 of Wiltshire marquesse of Winchester and treasuror of England being of the priuie councell to king Henrie the eight king Edward the sixt queene Marie and queene Elisabeth had the kéeping of the great seale committed vnto him the seuenth daie of March in the yeare that the second person in trinitie descended from the bosome of the father into the wombe of the mother one thousand fiue hundred fortie and seuen being the first yere of the reigne of the yoong king Edward the sixt which seale he had in custodie line 60 about seuen moneths vntill the thrée and twentith or foure and twentith of October following at what time sir Richard Rich was made lord chancellor Sir Richard Rich knight lord Rich was aduanced to the dignitie of lord chancellor of England about the 23 of October in the yere of our saluation one thousand fiue hundred fortie and seuen being the first yeare of the reigne of the noble king Edward the siâ—t in which place he remained about fiue yeers Thomas Goderich or Goderike being bishop of Elie had the great seale deliuered to him and was made lord chancellor of England the twentith of December as Iohn Stow hath noted in his chronicle in the yeare of our redemption one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and one being the fift yeare of the reigne of king Edward the sixt in whiâ—h office he continued all the life of the said king Edward which died in Iulie one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and thrée being the seuenth yeare of his reigne and about one moneth after vntill the thirtéenth or fouretéenth daie of August in which quéene Marie made Stephan Gardener hir chancellor Sir Nicholas Hare maister of the rolles had at the comming of quéene Marie to the crowne the keeping of the great seale after the death of king Edward as lord kéeper by the space of one fortnight and shortlie after was Stephan Gardener made chancellor Stephan Gardener bishop of Winchester was in August in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and thrée being the first yeare of the reigne of the vnfortunat quéene Marie made chancellor of England This man going in ambassage vnto Calis left the great seale in the custodie of William Paulet marquesse of Winchester which bishop after his returne into England continued in that office all the time of his life which he ended the 19 of Nouember in the yeare that the word became flesh one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and fiue being the third yeere of quéene Marie After which the great seale lieng in the custodie of
the prince she on the new yeares daie following made a new chancellor Nicholas Heath bishop of Rochester almoner to the king ambassador into Germanie bishop of Worcester president of Wales and archbishop of Yorke was vpon new yeares daie in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and fiue being the third yeare of the reigne of quéene Marie aduanced to the honorable dignitie of the chancellorship But quéene Marie deceasing the seauentéenth daie of Nouember in the yeare of grace one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and eight and the sixt yere of hir gouernement this Heath vpon the placing of the worthie quéene Elisabeth vpon the throne of the English gouernment was remooued from his office and maister Bacon aduanced Sir Nicholas Bacon esquier attourneie of the court of wards was made knight and lord kéeper of the great seale the two and twentith of December in the yeare of our redemption 1558 being the first yeare of the now reigning Elisabeth the Saba of England Which name of lord kéeper he still kept during his life and the time of his office In whose time there was an act of parlement established to make the power of the keeper of the great seale equall with the authoritie of the chancellor This man continued in this office and woorthilie executed the same being a man of rare wit and déepe experience during the time of his life which continued vntill the twentith of Februarie in the yeare of our saluation 1578 after the account of England being the one and twentith yeare of the rare and singular gouernement of the worlds woonder the famous quéene Elisabeth which place this man kept eightéene yéeres being as I suppose double as long time as anie other chancellor or kéeper of the great seale possessed that place except Rafe Neuill bishop of Chichester and Iohn Stafford bishop of Bath and Wels both which held it equallie eighteene yeares with him a strange thing that in the course of almost 600 yeares no such officer might possesse that place by twentie years togither Thomas Bromleie the generall solicitor of quéene Elisabeth a councellor of the law and one of the inner temple was aduanced to the dignitie of lord chancellor on the fiue and twentith day of Aprill in the yeare of our redemption 1579 being in the one twentith yeare of the reigne of the said quéene Elisabeth which office at this daie he beareth Thus although I maie be a little wetshod in passing ouer the deepe sea of this difficultie of the chancellors in which I am sure I am not ouer head and eares I haue at length brought my chancellors to end a worke of some labour and difficultie of some search and charge which I haue doone onelie of my selfe without the furtherance or help of some others who more inconsideratlie than trulie doo disorderlie report that I haue atteined vnto this in obteining line 10 those names by some sinister means from the priuat bookes of them who haue trauelled in the same matter In which as I said in the begining so I saie againe if anie imperfection for hast by reason of the printers spéedie calling on me haue now fallen out of my pen it shall hereafter God willing be corrected in the large volume of their liues Wherefore as I neither estéeme nor feare the secret reports of some others so for their countries good it shall be well that they would deliuer something to the world line 20 to bring truth to perfection if other men haue vnwillinglie set downe error and not as they doo for a litle commoditie gaine to themselues neither benefit their countrie nor speake well of such as would and doo helpe posteritie Thus this much by Francis Thin touching the chancellors of England ¶ Here though somewhat out of place for it should haue béene entered in 1578 it were better to record the receiuing of the quéenes maiestie into Suffolke line 30 Norffolke than making no commemoration therof at all to let it perish in thréehalfepenie pamphlets and so die in obliuion It maie also serue for a rest of recreation after so long an introduction of serious matters as also and that most woorthilie maie remaine in record to signifie what well affected subiects the quéens maiestie hath within hir dominions to whome goods lands friends kindred or life none of these seuerallie nor all iointlie are so pretious and deere but for hir sake they can find in their hearts to line 40 esteeme them as doong And now to the matter The truth is saith one that wrote the whole interteinment that albeit they had but small warning certeinlie to build vpon of the comming of the queenes maiestie into both those shires the gentlemen had made such readie prouision that all the veluets and silks were taken vp that might be laid hand on and bought for anie monie and soone conuerted to such garments and sutes of robes that the shew thereof might haue beautified the greatest triumph that was line 50 in England these manie yeares For as it was said there were two hundred yoong gentlemen clad all in white veluet and three hundred of the grauer sort apparelled in blacke veluet cotes and faire chaines all readie at one instant and place with fiftéene hundred seruing men more on horssebacke well and brauelie mounted in good order readie to receiue the quéenes highnesse into Suffolke which surelie was a comelie troope and a noble sight to behold and all these waited on the shiriffe sir William Spring during line 60 the quéenes maiesties abode in those parties and to the verie confines of Suffolke But before hir highnesse passed to Norffolke there was in Suffolke such sumptuous feasting and bankets as seldome in anie part of the world haue béene seene before The maister of the rolles sir William Cordall was one of the first that began this great feasting and did light such a candle to the rest of the shire that manie were glad bountifullie and frankelie to follow the same example with such charges and costs as the whole traine were in some sort pleased therewith And neere Burie sir William Drurie for his part at his house made the quéenes highnesse a costlie and delicat dinner and sir Robert Germine of Roeshbrooke feasted the French ambassadors two seuerall times with which charges and courtesie they stood maruellouslie contented The shiriffe sir William Spring sir Thomas Kidson sir Arthur Higham and diuerse others of worship kept great houses and sundrie either at the quéenes comming or returne solemnelie feasted hir highnesse yea and defraied the whole charges for a daie or twaine presented gifts made such triumphs and deuises as indéed was most noble to behold and verie thankfullie accepted The Norffolke gentlemen hearing how dutifullie their neighbors had receiued the prince prepared in like sort to shew themselues dutifull and so in most gallant maner they assembled and set forward with fiue and twentie hundred horssemen
Nic. Triuet The duke of Britaine departed this life The lord Beaumont of Heinault forsaketh the K. of England his seruice The king goeth ouer into Flanders Ia. Mair Froissard A councell â—elden in the king of Englands ship Ia. Meir Welshmen appointed to Iaques Arteueld for a gard against Gerard Denise Iacob Arteuelds house beset Froissard Ia. Meir Iacob van Arteueld slaine M. Pal. in scor Ambassadors from the good townes in Flanders vnto king Edward Froissard Auberoch besieged The Frenâ—â— armie distreâ—sed and the earle of Liâ—â—e taken Towns 〈◊〉 by the earle oâ— Derbie Angolesme Blaues Froissard saith they were an hundred thousand Gio. Villani writeth that they were a six thousand horsmen and fiftie thousand footemen of Frenchmen Gascoignes Lombardes Annales de Burgoigne 1346 Anno Reg. 20. Angolisme recouered by the Frenchmen Damassen Thonins Aiguillon besieged Gio. Villani The archdecon of Unfort Frenchmen discomfited Additions to Adam Merimuth Purueiers punished Iustices A parlement Cardinals Froissard The king paseth ouer into Normandie Iohn Villani saith there were 2500 horsemen and 30000 footmen and archers that passed ouer with the K. but when he commeth to speake of thâ— battell he séemeth to increase the number The ordering of the kings armie Harflew Chierburge Mountburge Carentine Saint Lo. There were slaine in all without and within the towne 5000 men as Gio. Villani writeth Peter Legh Caen taken 40000 clotâ—â—s as Gio. 〈◊〉 writeth 〈◊〉 got by the Englishmen in one place and other 〈◊〉 this iournâ—â— Louiers Gisors Uernon Gio. Villani S. Germans in Laie S. Clowd Beauuois Burners executed Piquency The Frenâ—â— kings armâ—â— Sir Godmare du Foy. Gobin Agace The English men wan the passage ouer the water of Some Caxton The number slaine Fâ—oâ—sard Crotay burnt Mar. Pal. in sag. GiouoÌ„ Villani saith that when they should ioine in battell the Englishmen were 30000. archers English Welsh beside other footmen with axes iauelins and not fullie 4000 horssemen Froissard The kings dâ—meanor before the battell The disorder among the Frenchmen Charles Grimaldâ— Anthonie or Othone Doris were captâ—ins of these Genowaâ—es which were not past six thousand as Gio. Villani saith Polydor. Froissard The earle of Ilanson Raine and thunder with an eclipse Tâ—e Genowaâ—â—s The battell is begun The king of Boheme The earle 〈◊〉 Alanson The princâ—â— battell pâ—â—sed The earle of Northampâ—â—â— sendeth to the king The kingâ— answer The Freâ—â—â— king departeth out of the field Great slaugâ—ter of Frenchâ—men Caxton Iac. Meir Polydor. Froissard Noble men slaine The king of England coâ—â—meth 〈◊〉 from the 〈◊〉 Georg. Buch. paraph in psal Frenchmen slaine the day after the batâ—â—ll The archb of Rouen and the lord grand prior of France slaine Calis besieged In the Acts and monuments Iac. Meâ—â— Terrouâ—n Terrouan woon by 〈◊〉 Froissard Sir Iohn de Uienne capteine of Calis The king of Englands pitie towards the poore The duke of Normandie sent for The earle of Derbie assembleth an armie Towns won by the earle of Derbie The citie of Poictiers woon by force Saint Iohn Dangelie The king of Scots inuadeth England Polydor. The English lords assemble a power to fight with the Scots Froissard Tho. Wals. Froissard The quéenes diligence The Scots fight with â—xes The English men obteine the victorie The king of Scots taken Hect. Boetius Ri. Southwell Fabian Froissard Neuils crosse In Angl. praelijs sub Edwardâ— 3. Sée in Scotland Hector Boet. Countries of ScotlaÌ„d subdued by the Englishmen Froissard Iohn Copland refuseth to deliuer the K. of Scots Iohn Copland rewâ—â—ded Ia. Meir The Flemings Froissard 1347 Anno Reâ— â—â— The earle of Flanders 〈◊〉 streined to promise mariage to the king of Englands daughâ—ter The lord Charles de Blois takâ— prisoner Sir Thomaâ— Dagworth Froissard Sir 〈◊〉 Hartilie 〈◊〉 English knight wâ—s also there with him Fabian The French king assembleth an armie Froissard The Flemings besiege Aire Ia. Meir The French K. coÌ„meth towards Calis The earle of Derbie The request of the French lords to the king of England His answer Cardinals seÌ„t to intreat of peace They depart The French K. returneth into France The conditions of the surrender of Calis Six burgesses of Calis presented to the king The queene obteined their pardon Calis yéelded to the king of England Calis made a colonie of Englishmen The quéene brought to bed in the castell of Calis Polydor. Caxton Ia. Meir A truce Women hard to agrée Sir Amerie de Pauie 134â— Thom. 〈◊〉 Anno Reg â— Great 〈◊〉 1349 Anno Reg. 13. A great mortalitie Dearth A practise 〈◊〉 betraie 〈◊〉 Diuersitted writers Fabian Froissard The king â—â—cretlie paâ—â—â—ouer to 〈◊〉 The lord Geffrie de Charnie Sir Edward de Rentie The king crieth Mannie to the rescue The earles of Stafford and Suffolke the lords Montacute Berkley and la Ware The Frenchmen alight on foot Sir Eustace de RibaumoÌ„t a right valiâ—nt knight He is taken prisoner by the king of England The lord Geffrie de Charnie is taken Sir Eustace de Ribaumont Anno Reg. 24. The death ceasseth Auesdurie Commissioners méet to talke of peace Men borne with â—ewer téeth than in times past Caxton Tho. Walsin Polychron A combat Auesburie Thom. Wals. A Spanish fléet Spaniards vanquisht by the K. of England by sea Thom. Wals. Auesburie Froissard Sir Thomas Dagworth slaine Ambassadors sent to the pope Anno Reg 25. 1351 Froissard The castell of Guines woone Polydor. Grotes 〈◊〉 halâ—e 〈◊〉 fiâ—st 〈◊〉 1â—5â— Anno. Reg Mouron 135â— Anno. Reg. â—â— Tho. Walsi In the priâ—ted books of statutes 〈◊〉 shoâ—ld appeare that this parlement was rather hâ—lden in the â—â— yeare of the kings reigâ—â— Statutes 〈◊〉 making of clothes Weares and milles Creations 〈◊〉 noble men The lord Charles 〈◊〉 Blois Debate betwixt the dukes of Brunswike Lancaster Auesburie Tho. Walsi affirmeth that this remoouing of the staple of wols was the 28 yeare of K. Edwards reigne Fabian Sir Walter Bentlâ—e committed to the tower A great drought A dearth Caxton Corn brought out of Zeland 1354 Anno Reg. 28. Thom. Wals. Auesburie A truce betwixt England and France Ambassadoâ—â— to the pope 1355 Anno Reg. 29. Debate betwixt the scholers townesmen of Oxenford Thom. Wals. Auesburie The quarrell appeased betwixt the scholers and townesme noâ— Oxenford Auesburie A nauie prepared The duke of Lancaster Record Tur. The end and award made of the quarrell betwixt the Uniuersitie and townesmen of Oxford Tho. Walsâ— The prince 〈◊〉 Wales goeth ouer into Gascoâ—gne The citie of London The king inâ—aâ—eth FraÌ„ce The lord Bousicant Froissard The king for want of vittels returneth Auesburie The constable of France demandeth battell The answer made to him Berwike taken by Scots A parlement The procéedings of the prince of Wales in Aquitaine Carcasson Narbonne Two bishops sent from the pope to the prince of Wales He 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 sea Buscicauâ—â—â— The capitall de Beuf Hector Boeâ— Anno Reg. 30. The resignation of the realme of Scotland made by the Balioll. K. Edward sore afflicted
chapline Barnard of Newmerch Roger Lacie and Rafe Mortimer line 60 all Normans or Frenchmen who ioyning their powers togither inuaded the countrie and with fire and sword did much hurt where they came killing and taking a great number of people Afterwards comming to Worcester they assaulted the citie ouerran the suburbs set the same on fire But the citizens shutting fast the gates of their citie though with the sudden comming of the enimies they were somewhat afraid made valiant resistance and conueieng their goods their wiues and their children into the castell got them to the walles and places of defense to repell beat backe the enimies Among them in the towne was bishop Woolstan whom the citizens would haue compelled to go into the castell for his suâ—er safegard but he refused it At length it chanced that the enimies continuing the said siege bâ—gan to wax negligent and ranged abroad in the countrie little regarding watch and ward about their campe wherevpon the English within the citie tooke this oportunitie being mooued thereto with the comfortable exhortation of bishop Woolstan and sailing foorth of the towne did set on their enimies with great fiercenes whome they got at such aduantage that they slue and tooke that daie aboue fiue M. men as Henrie of Huntingdon recordeth For the English bearing a continuall malice in their hearts against the French and Normans did now their best to be fullie reuenged of them vpon so conuenient an occasion offered Those that escaped by flight hid themselues in the next townes making such shifts for their liues as the present necessitie could minister Whilest the realme was thus troubled on ech side archbishop Lanfranke sendeth writeth and admonisheth all the kings fréends to make themselues readie to defend their prince And after he vnderstood that they were assembled togither for that purpose he counselleth the king to march into the field with them spéedilie to represse his enimies The king following his counsell first appointed his nauie to scowre and keepe the seas and to withstand if it were possible the arriuall of his brother by faire words Also he reconcileth Roger de Mountgomerie earle of Shrewsburie vnto him and therewith maketh large promises to the English that he would out of hand giue and restore vnto them such fauourable lawes as they would wish or desire Moreouer he commanded all vniust imposts tolles and tallages to be laid downe and granted frée hunting in the woods chases and forrests All which grants and promises he kept not long though for the time he greatlie contented the people with such a shew of good meaning towards them This doone he goeth with a mightie armie into Kent where the sedition began and first comming to the castell of Tunbridge he compelled capteine Gilbert to yeeld vp the fortresse into his hands Then went he to Horne castell where he heard saie Odo was but the report was vntrue for he had betaken himselfe to the castell of Pemsey which when he had ouerthrowne he hasted foorth vnto Pemsey and besieged the castell there a long season which the bishop had stronglie fortified During this time and about the fiftieth daie after the beginning of the siege word was brought to the king that his brother duke Robert was landed at Southampton and minded with all possible spéed to come to the succour of the bishop and of other his fréends whom he and his power had not a little afflicted ¶ Here authors varie for some report that duke Robert came not ouer himselfe at the first at all but sent a part of his armie with a certeine number of ships which encountring with the kings fleet were discomfited Others write that duke Robert hearing of the losse of his men came after himselfe and landed with a mightie armie as before which is most likelie And certeinlie as Gemeticen affirmeth he might easilie as then haue recouered England from his brother if he had not lingred the time considering that Eustace earle of Bullongne Odo bishop of Baiâ—ux and the earle of Mortaigne with other lords of Normandie that were passed to England had alreadie taken Rochester and diuers other castels in the prouince of Canturburie keeping the same a certeine time still looking that he should haue come ouer to their aid which he deferred to doo till they were constreined by siege and lacke of necessarie succor to returne into Normandie leauing those places which they had won vnto the king and that to their great dishonor But howsoeuer it was the king still continued the siege before Pemsey castell till Odo through want of victuals was glad to submit himselfe and promised to cause the castell of Rochester to be deliuered but at his comming thither they within the citie suffered him to enter and streightwaies laid him fast in prison Some iudge that it was doone vnder a colour by his owne consent There were in Rochester a sort of valiant gentlemen the flower in maner of all Normandie with line 10 Eustace earle of Bolongne and manie gentlemen of Flanders which were in mind to defend the place against the king who hearing what was doone came with his armie and besieged the citie of Rochester on ech side so sharpelie that they within were glad to deliuer it vp into his hands Thus lost bishop Odo all his liuings and dignities in England and so returned into Normandie year 1089 where vnder duke Robert he had the châ—efe gouernement of the countrie committed vnto him line 20 After this he ouercame diuers of his enimies some by faire and some by fowle meanes Notwithstanding this there yet remained the bishop of Durham one of the chéefe conspirators who withdrew himselfe into the citie of Durham there to lie in safetie till he saw how the world would go but being therein besieged by the king who came thither personallie he was at length forced to surrender the citie and yeeld himselfe wherevpon also he was exiled the land with diuerse of his complices But within line 30 two yeares after he was called home againe and restored to his church wherein he liued not long but died for sorrow bicause he could not cleere himselfe of offense in the said rebellion albeit that he laboured most earnestlie so to doo that he might thereby haue atteined to the kings fauor againe Whilest these things were thus in hand the archbishop Lanfranke falleth sicke and dieth in the 19. yeare after his first entring into the gouernment of the sea of Canturburie This Lanfranke as should line 40 seeme was a wise politike and learned prelate who whilest he liued mollified the furious and cruell nature of king William Rufus instructing him to forbeare such wild and outragious behauiours as his youthfulnesse was inclined vnto and moreouer persuaded the English to obey the same king as their loiall prince whereby they should occasion him to be their good lord and king not vsing them rigorouslie as his
better gouernement thereof ordeined vnder him foure barons namelie his cousine Nigell or Neal baron of Halton sir Piers Malbanke baron of Nauntwich sir Eustace baron of Mawpasse and sir Warren Uernon baron of Shipbrooke Nigell held his baronie of Halton by seruice to lead the Uauntgard of the earles armie when he should line 30 make any iournie into Wales so as he should be the foremost in marching into the enimies countrie and the last in comming backe he was also conestable and marshall of Chester From this Nigell or Neal the Lacies that were earles of Lincolne had their originall When earle Hugh had gouerned the earledome of Chester the terme of 40. yeares he departed this life in the yeare 1107. He had issue by his wife Armetrida Richard the second earle of Chester after the conquest Robert abbat of Saint line 40 Edmundsburie and Otnell tutor to the children of king Henrie the first Moreouer the said earle Hugh had a sister named Margaret that was maried to Iohn Bohun who had issue by hir Ranulfe Bohun otherwise called Meschines which Ranulfe by that meanes came to enioy the earledome of Chester in right of his mother after that earle Richard was drowned in the sea and not by exchange for the earledome of Carleil as by this which we haue alreadie recited may sufficientlie be prooued line 50 Now to returne where we left After that king William Rufus had giuen order for the building fortifieng and peopling of Carleil he returned southwards and came to Glocester where he fell into a greeuous and dangerous sicknesse so that he was in despaire and doubt of his life year 1093 wherefore he repented him of his former misdéeds and promised if he escaped that dangerous sicknesse to amend and become a new man But when he had his health that promise was quickelie broken for his dooings which line 60 were so bad and wicked before his sicknesse being compared with those which followed after his recouerie might haue béene reputed good and sufferable Moreouer whereas he reteined and kept in his hands the bishoprike of Canturburie the space of foure yeares he now bestowed it vpon Anselme who was before abbat of Bechellouin in Normandie and for certeine abbeis which he had held long time in his possession he ordeined abbats by meane wherof all men but especiallie the spiritualtie began to conceiue a verie good opinion of him The yere wherein Anselme was thus elected was from the birth of our Sauiour 1093. on the sixt of March being the first sundaie in Lent as Eadmerus recordeth Furthermore he gaue the see of Lincolne being void by the death of bishop Remigius to his councellour Robert Bluet but afterward repenting himselfe of such liberalitie in that he had not kept it longer in his hands towards the inriching of his coffers he deuised a shift how to wipe the bishops nose of some of his gold which he performed after this maner He caused the bishop to be sued quarelinglie charging him that he had wrongfullie vsurped certeine possessions togither with the citie of Lincolne which apperteined to the sée of Yorke Which although it was but a forged cauillation and a shamefull vntruth yet could not the bishop be deliuered out of that trouble till he had paid to the king fiue thousand pounds And as he dealt with the spiritualtie so he caused diuerse of the Nobilitie to be put to gréeuous fines for transgressing of his lawes though the fault were neuer so little He also caused the archbishop Anselme to paie him a great summe of monie vnder colour of a contribution which was due in Lanfrankes daies though it was certeinlie knowne that Lanfranke had paied it Thus grew king William from time to time more sharpe and rigorous to his subiects so that whosoeuer came within the danger of the laws was sure to be condemned and such as would plaie the promooters and giue informations against any man for transgressing the lawes were highlie rewarded In this sixt yeare there chanced such an excessiue raine and such high flouds the riuers ouerflowing the low grounds that lay néere vnto them as the like had not béene seene of many yeares before and afterwards insued a sudden frost whereby the great streames were congeled in such sort that at their dissoluing or thawing manie bridges both of wood and stone were borne downe and diuerse water-milles rent vp and caried awaie Furthermore king William perceiuing that by his cruell and couetous gouernment sundrie of his subiects did dailie steale out of the realme to liue in forreine countries he published a proclamation charging that no man should depart the realme without his licence and safe-conduct Hereof it is thought that the custome rose of forbidding passage out of the realme which oftentimes is vsed as a law when occasion serueth Soone after he went against the Welshmen whom he vanquished in battell néere to Brecknocke and slue Rees their king who had doone much hurt within the English borders when he was their incamped This Rise or Rées was the last king that reigned ouer the Welshmen as authors affirme for afterwards though they oftentimes rebelled yet the kings of England were reputed and taken as supreme gouernors of that part of the Iland Moreouer to haue the countrie the better in quiet he did cut downe their woods and builded manie castels and piles in places conuenient by meanes whereof they were somewhat tamed and trained in due time to obedience though not at the first nor in the daies of sundrie of his successors Hauing thus finished his iournie into Wales Malcolme king of Scotland came vnto Glocester to sée the king and to common with him of sundrie matters touching the peace betwixt both the realms as he returned homewards but bicause king William disdained to enterteine him in such pompous maner as he expected and made account of and forsomuch as he did not at the verie first admit him to his presence the said Malcolme returned into Scotland in great displeasure and immediatlie raising a power entred into England destroieng the country vnto Alnewike castell where he was so enuironed with an ambushment laid by Robert earle of Northumberland that he and his eldest sonne Edward were slaine At which mishap his whole host being vtterlie discomfited fled out of the field with the losse of manie whereof some were slaine and some taken by pursute Thus came king Malcolme to his end by the iust prouidence of God in that prouince which he had wasted and spoiled at fiue seuerall times as first in the daies of king Edward when earle Tostie was gone to Rome the second time in the daies of William Conquerour when he spoiled Cleueland thirdlie in the same Conquerours daies whilest bishop line 10 Walkher possessed the see of Durham at what time all the countrie was spoiled and forraied euen to the riuer of Tine fourthlie about the fourth
brought before king Henrie as prisoners ¶ Thus did almightie God grant vnto the king a notable victorie without bloodshed for he lost not a man as for his aduersaries there died in the field not past three score persons This séemeth also to agrée with that which Wil. Malmesburie writeth for he saith that king Henrie with small adoo brought into his hands duke Robert who with a great troope of men came against him then lodging néere the said castell of Tenerchbray The earle of Mortaigne was also taken but the erle of Shrewsburie escaped by flight notwithstanding he was apprehended as he went about to practise some priuie conspiracie against the king ¶ This battell was fought as the same Wil. Malme affirmeth vpon a saturdaie being the daie of S. Michaell In gloria and as may be thought by the prouident iudgment of God to the end that Normandie should be subdued vnto England on that daie in the which 40. yeares passed king William the Conquerour first set foot on land at Hastings when he came out of Normandie to subdue England Neither dooth Simon Dunelmensis varie in any thing from Gemeticensis touching the conclusion of this businesse and the taking of duke Robert These wars being thus finished and the countrie set in quiet which through the méere folie of duke Robert was woonderfullie impouerished the king receiued the keies of all the townes and castels that belonged either to the duke or the earle of Mortaigne and furnished the same with garisons to be kept for his behoofe Hauing thus pacified the countrie of Normandie he came to Bec or Bechellouâ—n where archbishop Anselme then remained year 1107 whome by mediation of freends he receiued to fauour againe and sending him ouer into England immediatlie after followed himselfe Duke Robert being also spoiled of his dominions lands and liberties was shortlie committed to prison within the castell of Cardiff in Wales where he remained about the space of 26. yeares and then died He gouerned the duchie of Normandie 19. yeares he was a perfect and expert warrior comparable with the best capiteines that then liued had he béene somwhat more warie and circumspect in his affaires and therewithall constant in his opinion His woorthie acts valiantlie and fortunatlie atchiued against the infidels are notified to the world by manie and sundrie writers to his high commendation and long lasting praise It is said also that he was after his taking once set at libertie by king Henrie and bound to forsweare the realme of England and Normandie being appointed to auoid within the space of 40. daies and twelue houres But bicause he was perceiued to practise somewhat against the king he was eftsoones taken againe and hauing his eies put out committed to prison where finallie worne through age and gréefe of mind he ended his miserable life ¶ The forme of banishing men out of the realme was ordeined by Edward the Confessor and remained as a law in vse till these our daies for the benefit of them which fled to any church or other priuiledged place thereby to escape the punishment of death due for their offenses By a latter custome it was also deuised that they should beare a crosse in their hand as a signe that they were pardoned of life for the holie place sake where they sought for succour But duke Robert as it should appeere by that which others write found no such fauour saue onlie libertie to walke abroad in the kings forrests parks and chases néere the place where he was appointed to remaine so that vpon a daie as he was walking abroad he got a horsse and with all post hast rode his waiâ— in hope to haue escaped howbeit his kéepers being aduised thereof followed him with hue and crie and at length ouertooke him in a medow where he had laid his horsse vp to the bellie in a quauemire Then being brought backe his kéepers kept him in close prison aduertising the king of his demeanour wherevpon he commanded that the sight of his eies should be put out but so as the balles of them should remaine vnbroken for the auoiding of a noisome deformitie that otherwise would ensue if the glassie tunicles should take hurt In his returne out of the holie land he maried one Sibell the earle of Conuersans sister in Puglia hir father hight Roger or Geffrey as some bookes haue and was nephue to Robert Guyshard duke of Puglia and by hir had issue one sonne named William afterward earle of Flanders whereof God willing line 10 more shall be said hereafter Here must I leaue duke Robert and speake somwhat of Anselme the archbishop who shortlie after his returne into England receiued letters from pope Paschall wherein Anselme was authorised to dispose and order things as should séeme to him most expedient Now whereas the greater and better part of the English clergie consisted of préests sonnes he committed to his discretion the order to dispense line 20 with them namelie that such as were of commendable life and sufficient learning might be admitted to the ministerie as the necessitie of time and state of the church should require The pope also by the same letters gaue Anselme authoritie to absolue Richard the prior of Elie vpon his satisfaction pretermitted and to restore him to the gouernement of the priorie of Elie if the king thought it conuenient About the calends of August in this yeare 1107. the king held a councell of bishops year 1107 abbats and other line 30 lords of his realme in his pallace at London where in the absence of Anselme the matter touching the inuestitures of churches was argued vpon for the space of thrée daies togither and in the end bicause the pope had granted the homages of bishops and other prelats to the king which his predecessor Urban had forbidden togither with the inuestitures the king was contented to consent to the popes will in forbearing the same So that when Anselme was come the king in presence of him and a line 40 great multitude of his people granted and ordeined that from thenceforth no bishop nor abbat should be inuested within the realme of England by the hand either of the king or any laie man on the other side it was granted againe by Anselme that no person elected into the prelacie should be depriued of his consecration for dooing his homage to the king These things thus ordred the churches which through England had bin long vacant were prouided of gouernors which were placed without any inuestiture line 50 of staffe or ring About this time Anselme consecrated fiue bishops at Canturburie in one day archbishop William to the sée of Winchester Roger that was the kings chancellor to Salisburie William Warlewast to Excester Remaline the quéenes chancâ—llor to Hereford and one Urban to Glamorgan in Wales About this season a great part of Flanders being drowned by an exundation or breaking in of the sea
some way requite the venturous courage and hartie zeale of the gentleman who with the losse of his owne life preserued the king if not from death yet from some dangerous wound that might haue put him to extreame anguish and paine This may incite men to be mindfull of benefits receiued a vertue no lesse rare than the contrarie is common and as one saith inueniuntur Quidam sed rari acceptorum qui meritorum Assiduè memores c. But to conclude with this iourneie which king Henrie made at this time against the Welshmen although by reason of the cumbersome difficulties of the places he could not enter within the countrie so farre as he wished yet he so impounded and constreined them to kéepe within the woods and mountains that they durst not come abroad insomuch that at the length they were glad to sue for peace William king of Scots successor of Malcolme who departed this life in the yeare last past after he had receiued the crowne of Scotland came about this present time into England and finding king Henrie at London did his homage to him as his predecessour Malcolme had doone before He made suit also to haue Northumberland restored vnto him which the king of Englands mother the empresse had in times past giuen vnto king Dauid But king Henrie gaue diuerse reasons to excuse himselfe whie he might not deliuer that countrie to him at that present namelie without consent of a parlement where vpon king William perceiuing how the maâ—ter went gaue ouer his suit for that present meaning line 10 when occasion serued to attempt the getting thereof by force sith that by praier and suit he sawe well inough he should not obteine it Moreouer the Scottish king being required by king Henrie to go ouer with him into Normandie granted so to doo insomuch that king Henrie hauing set all things in order within his realme of England in the Lent following passed ouer into Normandie But before he tooke his iourneie he set foorth a decree consisting of these points in effect as followeth line 20 1 That no man should bring any letters or commandement from pope Alexander or Thomas archbishop of Canturburie into England conteining an interdiction of the realme vpon perill to be apprehended and punished as a traitour to the king and an enimie to the realme 2 That no religious person or préest should be permitted to passe the seas or to come into the relme of England except he had letters of safe conduct line 30 from the iusticers for passage ouer and of the king for his returne from thence 3 That no man should appeale to the said pope or archbishop nor by their appointment hold any plée and if any person were found dooing the contrarie herevnto he should be taken and committed to prison 4 That if any maner of person either spirituall or temporall were obedient to the sentence of the interdiction the same person should be banished the line 40 realme without delaie and all his linage with him so as they should not conueie with them any of their goods the which togither with their possessions should be seized into the kings hands 5 That all spirituall persons which had any benefices within England should haue warning giuen to returne into England within foure moneths after the same summons pronounced and that if they failed hereof then should the king seize vpon their goods and possessions line 50 6 That the bishops of London and Norwich should be and by vertue hereof were summoned to appeare before the kings iusticers to make answer for that they had interdicted the lands of erle Hugh and excommunicated him 7 That the Peter pence should be gathered and kept In the octaues of Easter king Henrie came to an enterview with the French king at Gisors where they had conference togither of sundrie matters line 60 This yeare the quéene was deliuered of a sonne named Iohn who afterward was king of this realme Moreouer king Henrie calling a councell of his bishops and barons in Normandie caused and ordeined a collection by their aduise to be made through all his countries and dominions of two pence in the pound of euerie mans lands and goods iewels and apparell onelie excepted to be paid this yeare 1166. and for the space of foure yeares next ensuing one penie of euerie pound to be paid yearelie and those that were not worth twentie shillings in goods or lands being housholders notwithstanding or bare any office should paie a penie to this contribution which was onelie granted for the releefe of the christians in the east parts and those that warred against the miscreants there The paiment thereof was appointed to be made in the feast daie of saint Remigius or within fiftéene daies after It was also ordeined that all such as departed this life within the terme that this collection was in force their debts being paid should giue the tenth part of the residue of all their goods vnto this so necessarie a contribution King Henrie remaining now in Normandie and vnderstanding that diuerse lords and barons of Maine and the marshes of Britaine would not in his absence shew themselues obedient vnto his wife quéene Elianor but were about to practise a rebellion raised an armie and went against them easilie subduing them whom he found obstinate and besieging the castell of Foulgiers tooke and vtterlie destroied it Soone after the archbishop of Canturburie came from Pountney to Uizeley and there on Ascension daie when the church was most full of people got him into the pulpit and with booke bell and candell solemnelie accurssed all the obseruers defenders and mainteiners with the promoters of such customs as within the realme of England they terme the custome of their elders amongst others that were accursed was Richard de Lucie Richard the archdeacon of Poictiers Iocelin de Bailleuille Alane de Neuille and manie other But they being absent neither called nor conuinced as they alleged notwithstanding they were thus excommunicated sent their messengers vnto the archbishop and appealed from him and so feared not to enter into their churches He had before this also written certeine letters vnto his suffragans denouncing some of these and other persons by expresse name accursed not onelie for mainteining the matter against him touching the ancient custome of the realme but also for the schisme raised in Almaine by Reignald archbishop of Colein for the which he accursed one Iohn of Oxford Moreouer he accursed Ranulfe de Broc Hugh de S. Clete Thomas Fitz Bernard for violentlie seizing vpon and deteining the goods and possessions belonging to his archbishoprike without his consent or agréement therevnto The king on the other part banished out of England and all parts of his other dominions all those persons that were knowen to be of kin vnto the archbishop both yoong and old and furthermore sent aduertisement to the abbat of Pountney and to his moonks with
did happen in England whilest the king was thus occupied in Ireland and within the compasse of that yeare and first of all in the night before Christmas day last passed there chanced such a tempest of lightning and thunder that the like had not bin heard of which tempest was not onelie generallie throughout all England but also in other forreine parts néere adioining namelie in Ireland where it continued all that night and Christmas daie following year 1172 to so great terror of the people that they looked for present death The same night at Andeuer in Hamshire a préest being in his praiers before the altar was striken with the tempest so that he died yeâ— it was nine of the clocke in the morning Also a temporall man that was there the same time was burned with the lightning and whereas his brother being present ran to him to haue succoured him he likewise was caught with the fire and in like maner consumed In Ireland also euill diet in eating of fresh flesh and drinking of water contrarie to the custome of the Englishmen brought the flix and other diseases in the kings armie so that manie died thereof for Graâ—issimum est imperium consuetudinis Wherfore about the beginning of Lent the king remoued from Dublin went vnto the citie of Werford where he remained till toward Easter and then prepared to returne into England but before he tooke the sea he gaue and by his charter confirmed to Hugh Lacie all the lands of Meeth with the appurtenances to hold of him his heires in fee by knights seruice as to find him an hundred knights or men of armes as we may terme them for euermore He gaue also vnto the same Hugh the kéeping of the citie of Dublin and made him chéefe iusticer of Ireland Unto Robert Fitz Bernard he committed the cities of Waterford and Wesseford that he should kéepe the same to his vse and build in them castels for a more sure defense against the enimies Thus when the king had planted garisons of souldiers in those other places also where was thought néedfull and further had giuen order for the politike gouernement of the whole countrie so far as he had conquered he first sent ouer his houshold seruants which tooke the water on Easter daie and landed at Milleford but he himselfe and other of the Nobles staid there all that daie by reason of the high solemnitie of that feast howbeit the daie next after they tooke the sea togither and landed néere to S. Dauids in south Wales from whence without delaie he hasted foorth to Douer and hauing his sonne the yoong king with him he sailed ouer into Normandie in the crosse weeke to meet the popes legats whom he vnderstood to be alreadie come thither At his méeting with them there he gaue them verie good countenance and right honorable enterteinment omitting nothing that might doo them pleasure Here when the matter came to be discussed touching the death of archbishop Thomas bicause it could not be certeinelie tried out in whom the fault rested much reasoning to and fro passed about obiections and excuses laid as in doubtfull cases it often happeneth so that welneere the space of foure moneths was spent in debating of that matter In which meane time the king to auoid all contention and strife betwixt him and king Lewes sent his son Henrie togither with his wife ouer into England there eftsoones to receiue the crowne and with them came Rotrod the archbishop of Rouen Giles bishop of Eureux Roger bishop of Worcester and diuerse others Herevpon the yoong king being arriued in England called an assemblieof the lords spirituall and temporall at Winchester where both he and his said wife Margaret daughter to the French king was crowned with all solemnitie by the hands of the said Rotrod archbishop of Rouen vpon the twentie one of August In the meane time saith one writer his father king Henrie might haue foreséene and found means to haue auoided the discord which euen now began to spring vp betwixt him and his children causing a sore and ciuill warre if he had not beene a man that vtterlie did detest all superstitious admonitions For being told I wot not by whome that if he did not repent and take more regard to minister iustice which is a vertue that conteineth in it selfe all other vertues it would come to passe that within short time he should fall into great and manifold calamities line 10 In his returne also out of Ireland saith an other vpon the sundaie next after the feast of Easter commonlie called Lowsundaie as he should take his horsse at Cardiffe in Wales there appeared vnto him a man of pale and wanne colour barefooted and in a white kirtell who boldlie in the Dutch language spake vnto him and admonished him of amendment of life and to haue regard that the sabboth daie commonlie called the sundaie might be more duelie kept and obserued so that no markets line 20 nor bodilie workes be holden vsed or doone vpon that day within the bounds of his dominions except that which apperteineth to dressing of meats And if thou doo saith he after this commandement I assure thée that all things which thou dooest enterprise of good intent and purpose shall sort to good effect and verie luckie end But the king was not greatlie pleased with these words and in French said to the knight that held his bridle Aske of this churle whether he hath dreamed all line 30 this that he telleth or not When the knight had expounded it in English the man answered Whether I haue dreamed it in my sleepe or not take thou héed to my words marke what day this is for if thou amend not thy life and doo as I haue aduertised thée before a twelue moneth come to an end thou shalt heare such tidings as will make thee sorowfull all the daies of thy life after The man hauing thus spoken vanished awaie suddenlie and the king tooke his words but in sport howbeit he woondered that he line 40 was so suddenlie gone as he did likewise at his sudden appearing Manie other warnings the king had saith mine author but he set little thereby The second warning he receiued of an Irishman that told him of tokens verie priuie The third time a knight of Lindsey called Philip de Chesterby passing the sea came to the king into Normandie and there declared vnto him seauen articles which he should amend which if he did then he should reigne seauen yeares in great honor and subdue Gods enimies line 50 If he did not amend and redresse those points then should he come to death with dishonour in the fourth yeare 1 The first article or point was that he should séeke to mainteine holie church 2 The second that he should cause rightfull lawes to be executed 3 The third that he should condemne no man without lawfull processe 4 The fourth that he
should restore the lands line 60 goods and heritages to those rightfull owners from whome he had taken them by any wrong or vnlawfull meanes 5 The fift that he should cause euerie man to haue right without bribing and giuing of méed 6 The sixt that he should paie his debts as well due to any of his subiects for any stuffe taken vp of them to his vse as to his seruants and souldiers who bicause they could not haue their wages truelie paid them fell to robbing and spoiling of true labouring men 7 The seauenth and last article was that he should cause the Iewes to be auoided out of the land by whom the people were sore impouerished with such vnmercifull vsurie as they exercised The king notwithstanding these and other like warnings tooke no regard to the amendment of his sinfull life wherevpon as is thought the troubles which ensued did light vpon him by Gods iust appointment ¶ Howsoeuer this may séeme a fable but no written veritie therefore esteemed as the chaffe of summer flowers yet as in the tales of Aâ—sop many good morals are comprised so the scope whereto this apparition tendeth being necessarie maketh the argument it selfe of the more authoritie The end therefore being as you sée to reuoke the king from woorse to better from the swines-stie of vice to the statelie throne of vertue from the kennell of sinne to the riuers of sanctitie prooueth that euen verie fictions of poets though of light credit haue their drift manie times to honest purpose and therefore bring with them a competent weight of profit to the readers So the scope of this tale being the same that Dauid pointeth at in the second psalme when he saith At vos in populos quibus est permissa potefias Et ius ab alta sede plebi dicitis Errorum tenebras depellite discite verum c. maketh the narration it selfe though otherwise séeming méere fabulous to be somewhat authenticall But to returne to the course of our storie and now to saie somewhat of this Henrie the seconds sonne the yoong king by whom the troubles were moued note you this that after he had receiued the crowne togither with his said wife they both passed the seas incontinentlie backe againe into Normandie where on the seauen and twentith of September at a generall assemblie holden within the city of Auranches in the church of the apostle S. Andrew king Henrie the father before the cardinals the popes legats and a great number of bishops and other people made his purgation in receiuing an oth vpon the holie relikes of the saints and vpon the sacred euangelists that he neither willed nor commanded the archbishop Thomas to be murthered and that when he heard of it he was sorie for it But bicause he could not apprehend them that slue the archbishop and for that he feared in his conscience least they had executed that vnlawfull act vpon a presumptuous boldnesse bicause they had perceiued him to be offended with the archbishop he sware to make satisfaction for giuing such occasion in this maner 1 In primis that he would not depart from pope Alexander nor from his catholike successours so long as they should repute him for a catholike king 2 Item that he would neither impeach appeales nor suffer them to be impeached but that they might freelie be made within the realme vnto the pope in causes ecclesiasticall yet so that if the king haue the parties suspected they shall find him suerties that they shall not procure harme or hinderance whatsoeuer to him or to his realme 3 Item that within thrée yeares after the natiuitie of our lord next ensuing he should take vpon him the crosse and personallie passe to the holie land except pope Alexander or his successours tooke other order with him 4 Prouided that if vpon any vrgent necessitie he chanced to go into Spaine to warre against the Saracens there then so long space of time as he spent in that iournie he might deferre his going into the east parts 5 Item he bound himselfe in the meane time by his oth to emploie so much monie as the templers should thinke sufficient for the finding of two hundred knights or men of armes for one yeares terme in the defense of the holie land 6 Item he remitted his wrath conceiued against those which were in exile for the archbishop Thomas his cause so that they might returne againe into the realme 7 Item to restore all the lands and possessions which had béene taken awaie from the sée of Canturburie as they were belonging thereto in the yere before the departure of the archbishop Thomas out of England 8 Item he sware to take awaie and abolish all those customes which in his time had béene brought line 10 in against the church as preiudiciall thereto All these articles faithfullie and without maleingene to performe and fulfill in euerie degrée he receiued a solemne oth and caused his sonne the yoong king being there present to receiue the same for performance of all those articles such as touched his owne person onelie excepted And to the intent the same should remaine in the popes consistorie as matter of record he put his seale vnto the writing wherein the same articles were ingrossed togither line 20 with the seales of the aboue mentioned cardinals Shortlie after king Henrie the father suffered the yoong king his son to go in t France togither with his wife to visit his father king Lewes according as their deputies required which iournie verelie bred the cause of the dissention that followed betwixt him and his father King Lewes most louinglie receiued them as reason was and caused diuers kinds of triumphant plaies and pastimes to be shewed for the honour and delectation of his sonne in law and line 30 daughter Neuerthelesse whilest this yoong prince soiourned in France king Lewes not hartilie fauouring the king of England and therewithall perceiuing the rash and headstrong disposition of the yong king did first of all inuegle him to consider of his estate and to remember that he was now a king equall vnto his father and therefore aduised him so shortlie as he could to get the entire gouernment out of his fathers hands wherevnto he furthermore promised line 40 all the aid that laie in him to performe The yong king being readie inough not onelie to worke vnquietnesse but also to follow his father in lawes counsell as he that was apt of nature to aspire to the sole gouernement and loth to haue any partener in authoritie according to that of the tragedie-writer Nec regna socium ferre nec tedae sciunt and namelie such one as might controll him was the more encouraged thereto by a number of prodigall line 50 currie fauours who by flatterie set him aloft declaring vnto him that he was borne to rule and not to obeie and therefore it became not his highnesse to reigne by the appointment of an other but rather
fortified at Xanctes and in the same forts and church which was also fortified against him 60. knights or men of armes and 400. archbalisters that is the best of them that bare crossebowes Philip earle of Flanders in the presence of the French king and other the peeres of France laieng his hand vpon the holie relikes sware that within 15. daies next insuing the feast of S. Iohn then instant to enter England with an armie and to doo his best to subdue the same to king Henrie the son Upon trust whereof the yoong king the more presuming came downe to Whitsand the 14. daie of Iulie that he might from thence send ouer into England line 10 Rafe de la Haie with certeine bands of souldiers Before this the earle of Flanders had sent ouer 318. knights or men of armes as we may call them But after their arriuall at Orwell which chanced the 14. of Iune by reason that their associats were dispersed and for the more part subdued they tooke with them earle Hugh Bigot and marching to Norwich assaulted the citie and wan it gaining there great riches and speciallie in readie monie and led awaie a great sort of prisoners whome they line 20 ransomed at their pleasure This chanced the 18. of Iune ¶ I remember that William Paruus writeth that the citie of Norwich was taken by the Flemings that came ouer with the earle of Leicester in the yeare last past by the conduct of the said earle before he was taken and that after he had taken that citie being accompanied with earle Bigot he led those Flemings also vnto Dunwich purposing to win and sacke that towne also but the inhabitants being line 30 better prouided against the comming of their enimies than they of Norwich were shewed such countenance of defense that they preserued their towne from that danger so that the two earles with Flemings were constreined to depart without atchiuing their purpose But whether that this attempt against Dunwich was made by the earle of Leicester before his taking in companie of earle Bigot I haue not to auouch But verelie for the winning of Norwich I suppose that William Paruus mistaketh line 40 the time except we shall saie that it was twise taken as first by the earle of Leicester in the yeare 1173. For it is certeine by consent of most writers and especiallie those that haue recorded particularlie the incidents that chanced here in this land during these troubles betwixt the king and his sons that it was taken now this yeare 1174. by earle Bigot as before we haue shewed But now to procéed The lords that had the rule of the land for king Henrie the father perceiuing line 50 earle Bigots procéedings sent knowledge thereof with all expedition to the king as yet remaining in the parties beyond the seas Whilest these things were a dooing although the minds of manie of the conspirators against king Henrie the father were inclined to peace yet Roger Mowbray and Hugh Bigot by reason of this new supplie of men got out of Flanders ceassed not to attempt fresh exploits and chéeflie they solicited the matter in such wise with William king of Scotland that whilest they in line 60 other quarters of the realme plaied their parts he entred into the confines of Cumberland and first besieged the citie of Carleil but perceiuing he could not win it in any short time he left one part of his armie to keepe siege before it and with the residue marched into the countrie alongst by the riuer of Eden taking by force the castels of Bourgh and Applebie with diuerse other This doone he passed ouer the riuer and came through Northumberland wasting the countrie as he went vnto Alnewike which place he attempted to win though his labour therein proued but in vaine This enterprise which he made into Northumberland he tooke in hand chéefelie at the suit and request of Roger Mowbray from whome Geffrey who after was bishop of Lincolne K. Henries eldest base son had taken two of his castels so that he kept the third with much adoo He had giuen his eldest sonne in hostage vnto the said king of Scots for assurance of such couenants to be kept on his behalfe as were passed betwixt them In the meane time one Duncane or Rothland with an other part of the Scotish armie entered into Kendall and wasted that countrie in most cruell wise neither sparing age nor sex insomuch that he brake into the churches slue those that were fled into the same for safegard of their liues as well preests as other The English power of horssemen which passed not the number of 400. was assembled at Newcastell vnder the leading of Robert de Stouteuille Raâ—e Glanuille William Ursie Bernard Balliolle and Odonet de Umfreiuille These capteines hauing knowledge that Duncane was in one side of the countrie and king William in another determined to issue foorth and trie the chance of warre which is doubtfull and vncerteine according to the old saieng Fortuna belli semper ancipiti in loco est against the enimies sith it should be a great rebuke to them to suffer the countrie to be wasted after that sort without reuengement Herevpon riding foorth one morning there arose such a thicke fog and mist that they could not discerne any waie about them so that doubting to fall within the laps of their enimies at vnwares they staied a while to take aduise what should be best for them to doo Now when they were almost fullie resolued to haue turned backe againe by the comfortable words and bold exhortation of Bernard Balliolle they changed their purpose and rode forward till at length the northerne wind began to waken and droue awaie the mist so that the countrie was discouered vnto them and perceiuing where Alnewike stood not knowing as yet whether the Scots had woone it or not they staied their pace and riding softlie at length learning by the inhabitants of the countrie that the Scotish king despairing to win Alnewike had raised his siege from thence the same day they turned streight thither and lodging there all night in the morning got to their horsses verie earelie riding foorth towards the enimies that were spred abroad in the countrie to forrey the same They had anon espied where the king was and incontinentlie compassed him about on euerie side who perceiuing the English horssemen readie thus to assaile him with all diligence called backe his men from the spoile but the more part of them being straied far off through the swéetnes they found in getting of preies could not heare the sound of the trumpets yet notwithstanding with those his horssemen which he could get togither he encountred the English men which came vpon him verie hastilie The battell was begun verie fiercelie at the first and well fought for a time but the Scotish horssemen being toiled before in forreieng the countrie could not long continue against the
demanded also to haue the castell of Lincolne deliuered into his hands which Gerard refused to deliuer and perceiuing that the chancellor would practise to haue it by force he fled vnto earle Iohn requiring him of competent aid and succour The chancellor on the other part perceiuing what hatred diuerse of the Nobles bare him thought good to prouide for his owne suertie the best that he could and therefore sent for a power of men from beyond the sea but bicause he thought it too long to staie till they arriued he came to Lincolne with such power as he could make and besieged the castell Erle Iohn the kings brother aduertised hereof raised such numbers of men as he might make of his freends seruants and tenants and with small a doo wan the castels of Notingham and Tickhill within two daies space This doone he sent to the lord chancellour commanding him either to breake vp his siege or else to prepare for battell The chancellour considering with himselfe that there was small trust to be put in diuerse of those lords that were with him bearing good will to earle Iohn and but hollow harts towards him raised his siege and departed with dishonour Not long after one of his hornes was broken off by the death of pope Clement whereby his power legantine ceased wherewith being somewhat abashed he came to a communication with earle Iohn and vpon certeine conditions made peace with him Shortlie after the souldiers which he had sent for arriued in England and then he began to go from the agréement made with earle Iohn affirming that he would either driue the same earle out of England or else should earle Iohn doo the like to him for it was not of sufficient largenesse to hold them both Howbeit shortlie after a peace was eftsoones concluded betwixt them with condition that if it chanced king Richard to depart this life before his returne into England not leauing any issue of his bodie begotten that then the chancellour renouncing the ordinance made by king Richard who had instituted his nephue Arthur duke of Britaine to be his heire and successour should consent to admit earle Iohn for king of England contrarie to the said ordinance But in the meane time it was agréed that earle Iohn should deliuer vp the castels of Notingham and Tickhill Notingham to the hands of William Marshall and Tickhill to the hands of William Wendenall they to kéepe the fame vnto the vse and behoofe of king Richard that vpon his returne he might doâ— with them as should please him prouided that if it so chanced that he should die before he â—oâ—ld returne from his voiage or that the chancellour went from the agréement now taken then immediatlie should the foresaâ—d castels of Notingham and line 10 Tickhill be restored vnto earle Iohn Moreouer â—he other castels of such honours as were assigned to each Iohn by the king his brother were committed vnto the custodie of certeine persons of great trust and loialtie as the castell of Wallingford to the archbishop of Rouen the castell of Bristow to the bishop of Lincâ—lne the castell of the Peake to the bishop of Couentrie the castell of Bolesofres vnto Richard de Peake or if he refused then should the bishop of Couentrie haue it in keeping line 20 the castell of Eie was committed to Walter Fitz Robert the castell of Herford to Roger Bigot and to Richard Reuell the castell of Excester and Launston These persons to whom these castels were thus committed to be kept receiued also an oth that they should faithfullie kéepe them to the kings behoofe and if he chanced to die before he should returne then the same should be deliuered vnto earle Iohns hands Also there were three castels that perteined to the crowne deliuered likewise in trust as line 30 the castell of Windsor vnto the earle of Arundell the castell of Winchester vnto Gilbert de Lacie and the castell of Northampton vnto Simon de Pateshull It was also agréed that bishops abbats earles and barons valuasors and freeholders should not be disseized of their lands goods or cattels otherwise than by order of the iustices or officers of the king so that they should be iudged in the kings courts according to the lawfull customes and ordinances of the line 40 realme and likewise that earle Iohn should cause the same orders to be obserued through all his lands Prouided that if any man attempted to doo otherwise vpon support or maintenance of earle Iohn he should stand to be reformed by the archbishop of Rouen if he chanced then to be in England and by the kings iustices and by those that had sworne to obserue this peace and also earle Iohn himselfe at their request should see such reformation to be had Moreouer it was agréed that all those castels that line 50 had bin built or begun to be builded since the kings passage ouer towards his iournie should be razed and no new made or fortified till his returne except in manours perteining to the kings demaine if need required or by his speciall commandement either by letters or sufficient messengerrs That the shiriffewike of Lincolne which the lord chancellour had assigned vnto William de Stuteuille should be restored to Gerard de Camuille who had a daie appointed him to appéere in the kings court to heare line 60 what might be laid against him and if such matter could be prooued for the which he ought to loose the said shiriffewike and the castell of Lincolne then he should depart from them by the iudgement of the court or else not Neither should earle Iohn mainteine him against the iudgement of that court nor should receiue any outlawes or such as were notoriouslie knowen for enimies to the king and so named nor should suffer them to be receiued within the precinct of his liberties To hold mainteine and obserue this peace the said earle and chancellour sware in the hand of the archbishop of Rouen with seuen barons on either part On the part of earle Iohn these were the 〈…〉 Notingham and Tickhill be restored vnto earle Iohn notwithstanding what soeuer the king should command touching the same Thus was the peace concluded eftsoones betwixt earle Iohn and the chancellour In this meane while Geâ—â—rey the elect archbishop of Yorke after long suit and manie delaies contriued speciallie by the chancellour obteined his pall being consecrated by the archbishop of Towrs by vertue of his buls obteined from pope Celestine The chancellour aduertised herof and vnderstanding that he meant to come shortlie into England to be installed was in a great chafe bicause that during the time of the vacation he had vsed the reuenues of that see at his pleasure and therefore now to forgo them he was nothing contented Herevpon he wrote his letters vnto Matthew de Clere shiriffe of Kent in this forme The lord chancellours letters to the shiriffe of Kent PRaecipimus tibi quòd si Ebâ—racen electus
French king entring into the countrie line 50 of Ueurine or Ueulquessine wan diuers towns and fortresses in the same and passing forward tooke Ual de Rueil and Neusburge and finallie comming before the citie of Rouen he laid siege thereto but the earle of Leicester being gotten into the citie before the French kings comming thither so incouraged the citizens that they stoutlie standing to their defense caused the French king to his great dishonour to raise his field hauing lost there more than he wan Yet to saue other townes and castels from taking line 60 and the countrie from destruction the rulers of the same procured a truce for a great summe of monie which they couenanted to giue deliuering vp foure notable castels by waie of engagement till the summe agreed vpon should be to him contented and dulie paid In the meane time earle Iohn as head of all the conspiratours perceiuing himselfe not able to atchiue his purpose as then nor to resist the lords and barons of the realme being vp in armour against him and now growen to greater stomach bicause they vnderstood by the bishop of Salisburie latelie arriued of the kings welfare and hope of deliuerance and furthermore considering that he was disappointed both of Scots and Flemings as he had well hoped should haue come to his aid he tooke a truce with the lords of the kings side by the earnest trauell of the bishop of Salisburie till the feast of All saincts so as the castels of Windsore Wallingford and the Peake should remaine in the hands of his mother queene Elianor but the castels of Notingham and Tickhill remained still in his owne possession the which with such other castels as he held within the land he furnished with garrisons of his owne men and freends and then went againe ouer into France to the French king to purchase some new aid at his hands according to his promise Here will we leaue earle Iohn conferring with the French king and returne to the king of England Upon Palmesundaie after that he was deliuered or rather betraied into the emperours hands he was brought before the princes and lords of the empire in whose presence the emperour charged him with diuerse vnlawfull dooings and namelie picked a quarell at him for the wrongs and hurts doone to the Sicilians in time of his soiourning in their Ile as he went towards the holie land For albeit the said emperour had nothing as then to doo in the countrie yet for somuch as he had latelie recouered the I le of Sicile out of king Tancreds hands and was now intituled king thereof by the pope in right of his wife Constance the daughter of Roger king of Sicile and so by reason therof seemed to be gréeuouslie offended with him for his dooings about the recouering of the monie from Tancred which neuerthelesse was iustlie due vnto his sister for hir dowrie as in the processe afore I haue alreadie declared King Richard notwithstanding these vaine and other friuolous obiections laid to his charge made his answears alwaies so pithilie and directlie to all that could be laid against him and excused himselfe in euerie point so throughlie that the emperour much maruelled at his high wisedome and prudence and not onelie greatlie commended him for the fame but from thencefoorth vsed him more courteouslie and suffered that his fréends might haue accesse to him more fréelie than before they could be permitted The Pope also being aduertised of the taking of king Richard was much offended that anie christian prince hauing taken vpon him the defense of the christian faith against the infidels should be so vsed in his returne from so godlie an enterprise and therefore sent both to the duke of Austrich and to the emperour requiring them to set him at libertie But the emperour declared plainlie that he would be answered for such summes of monie as king Richard had taken out of Sicile before he would release him or set him at libertie When king Richard perceiued that no excuses would serue though neuer so iust but that he must néeds paie to his couetous host some great summe of monie for his hard interteinment he sent the bishop of Salisburie into England to take order with the barons of the realme to prouide for the paiment of his ransome which bishop as yée haue heard after the peace concluded with Saladine went vnto Ierusalem to visit the holie sepulchre and now comming into Sicile as he returned homewards had knowledge there how king Richard was taken prisoner in Austrich and remained in the emperours hands wherevpon he turned that waie foorth and comming to him was now sent into England with commission as I haue said to leauie monie for the kings ransome He landed bere the twentith day of Aprill by whose comming the land was the sooner brought in quiet for the agréement which earle Iohn tooke as before yée haue heard was cheefelie procured by his meanes For till his comming the castell of Windsore was not woone the siege being but slackelie followed by the archbishop of Rouen who had diuerse of his fréends within it and therefore was not verie earnest against them When the bishop of Salisburie was departed towards England the bishop of Elie came to the king and trauelled so earnestlie betwixt the emperour and him that finallie the emperour partlie through his suit partlie for that he had beene verie much called vpon by the pope and other for his deliuerie tooke order with him for the redéeming of his libertie and appointed line 10 what summe he should pay for his ransome which as some write was two hundred thousand markes other saie that it was but 140 thousand marks of the poise of Cullen weight But William Paruus who liued in those daies affirmeth it was one hundred thousand pounds and Roger Houeden saith an hundred thousand marks of Cullen poise to be paid presentlie at the kings first comming into England and fiftie thousand marks afterwards that is to say thirtie thousand to the emperour and twentie line 20 thousand to the duke of Austrich as it were in recompense of the iniurie done to him in the holie land where king Richard ouerthrew his ensignes and for the same to deliuer sufficient suerties Moreouer we find in Roger Houeden that the emperour amongst other the articles of this agréement thus concluded betwixt him and king Richard gaue and granted and by his letters patents confirmed vnto him these lands hereafter mentioned that is to saie Prouance with the citie of Uienne and Uiennois line 30 the citie of Marseils Narbon Arles and Lion vpon the Rhone with the countrie vp to the Alps and all those possessions which belonged to the empire in Burgoine with the homages of the king of Aragon and of the earle of S. Giles wherein is to be noted that with the precinct of the premisses thus granted to king Richard fiue archbishops sées and thirtie three
to diuerse yoong line 10 préests and scholers as some write in somuch that the legat afterwards comming to Oxford year 1238 and lodging in the abbie of Osnie it chanced as certeine scholers pressed to the gates thinking to come in and doo their dutie as they tooke the matter vnto the legat the porter kept them backe and gaue them ouerthwart words wherevpon they rushed in vpon him so began a fraie betwixt them and the legats men who would haue beaten them backe It fortuned in this hurlie burlie that a poore Irish line 20 scholer being got in néere to the kitchin dresser besought the cooke for Gods sake to giue him some reliefe but the cooke as manie of that calling are cholerike fellowes in a great furie tooke vp a ladle full of hot broath out of a kettell wherein flesh had béene sodden and threw it right vpon the Irishmans face which thing when another Welsh scholer that stood by beheld he cried out What meane we to suffer this villanie and therewithall tooke an arrow and set it in his bow which he had caught vp in his hand at the line 30 beginning of the fraie and drawing it vp to the head let flie at the cooke and so slue him there outright Herevpon againe noise and tumult rose round about the house the legat for feare got him into the belfraie of the abbeie where he kept himselfe close till the darke of the night had staied the vprore and then stale foorth and taking his horsse escaped as secretlie as he could ouer the Thames and rode with all spéed to the court which laie not far off at Abington and there made his complaint to the king in such line 40 lamentable wise that he foorthwith sent the earle Waren with a power of armed men to fetch awaie the residue of the legats seruants which remained behind in the abbeie and to apprehend the chiefe offendors The earle comming thither tooke thirtie scholers with one master Odo a lawier and brought them to Wallingford castell and there committed them to prison The legat also in reuenge of the iniurie in this wise to him doone pronounced the cursse against line 50 the misdooers and handled the matter in such wise that the regents and masters of the Uniuersitie were at length constreined to come vnto London there to go bare-footed through Cheapeside vnto the church of S. Paule in such wise to aske him forgiuenesse and so with much adoo they obteined absolution This legat among other things demanded soone after the tenth part of all spirituall mens yearelie reuenues towards the maintenance of the wars against the Saracens in Asia line 60 Moreouer the emperour of Constantinople namelie Baldwine sonne to Peter earle of Ausserre being expelled out of his empire came this yeare into England to sue for aid but at his first arriuall at Douer he was told that he had not doone well to come so presumptuouslie into the land of another prince without his safe conduct But when the said emperour séemed to be sorie for his offense and to excuse his innocencie and sincere meaning the king was pacified willed him to come to London where at his comming thither being the 22 daie of Aprill he was honorablie receiued and at his departure with rich gifts highlie honored so that he had awaie with him to the value of about seuen hundred marks as was reported About this time also Elianor the kings sister that was sometime wife vnto William Marshall earle of Penbroke was now by the kings meanes married the second time to Simon Montford a man of high parentage and noble prowesse This Simon was indowed with such vertue good counsell courteous discretion and other amiable qualities that he was highlie fauoured as was supposed both of God and man in somuch that he might right well as for birth so also for education and good demeanour be counted as he deserued a notable Noble man for he was so qualified as standeth with the nature of true nobilitie according to that of the poet non census nec clarum nomen auorum Sed probitas magnos ingeniùmque facit Notwithstanding all which noble indowments concurring in him he was banished out of France vpon displeasure which Blanch the quéene mother conceiued against him But now comming into England he was ioifullie receiued of king Henrie who not onelie gaue vnto him as aboue is mentioned his sister in mariage with the earledome of Leicester in name of a dowrie but also aduanced him vnto offices of greatest honour within the realme of England Howbeit this marriage was verie displeasant vnto Edmund the archbishop of Canturburie bicause that the foresaid Elianor after the death of hir first husband had vowed perpetuall chastitie and betaken hir as was said to the mantell and the ring As the prelat was not pleased with this match so the king was as highlie offended with the archbishop for not fauouring the cause in somuch that the archbishop went soone after to Rome where he not onelie complained of certeine iniuries receiued latelie at the kings hands but also signified the estate of this marriage to procure a diuorce In like manner Richard the kings brother found great fault with the king for the same matter but chieflie for that he stroke it vp without making him and other of the Nobles of councell therein To be short it was not long yer this grudge grew so far that ciuill war was verie likelie to haue followed therevpon But when the king saw that all the lords leaned to his brother he sought to pacifie the matter by courteous means and so by mediation of the legat the king and his brother were reconciled to the great griefe of the lords which had brought the matter now to that point that the king could not haue so resisted their force but that they were in good hope to haue deliuered the realme out of bondage from all manner of strangers as well of those Romans that were beneficed men as of anie other Simon the earle of Leicester also perceiuing how the matter went made shift another waie to get all the monie he could in prest or otherwise in somuch that he had of one burges of Leicester named Simon Curleuath fiue hundred markes and leauing his wife in the castell of Kelingworth he secretlie departed out of the realme and got him to Rome to purchase a confirmation of his marriage which he easilie obteined notwithstanding the archbishop of Canturburies former and verie vehement information against him and so hauing brought his purpose about in the latter end of this yéere he returned into England and was ioifullie receiued first of the king and after of his wife whome he found at Kelingworth néere to the time of hir trauell and shortlie after deliuered of a yoong sonne whom they called Simon after the name of his father At the same time Frederike the emperour
coosens and againe bicause the king of France had no iust title or right to make claime to England Further there was as then a truce betwixt England line 30 and France and before that England could be subdued much giltlesse bloud should be spilt Also the christians in the holie land were sore oppressed and looked dailie for the arriuall of the king of France and therefore he would be loth to attempt any new enterprise to hinder his iornie thither But about the feast of the Epiphanie other news came out of Prouance that troubled the king of England worse than the other before as thus That the countesse Beatrice his wiues mother had deliuered vp the countie of Prouance into the French kings hands togither line 40 with sixtéene castels which in right of the queene ought to haue remained vnto the king of England For the safe keeping wherof to his vse the said countesse Beatrice had receiued yeerelie for the terme of fiue yeares last past the summe of foure thousand marks of the king of England and yet now in the deliuering of them with the residue of the countrie vnto the French king she neuer made any mention of his right line 50 Shortlie after also Charles the French kings brother maried the ladie Beatrice yoongest daughter of earle Raimond and had with hir the same countie of Prouance and so was intituled earle thereof as in the French historie appeareth Moreouer the archbishop of Canturburie procured a grant from the pope to recouer for one yeare the first fruits of all cures that chanced to be void within the citie diocesse and prouance of Canturburie by and during the tearme of seauen yeares then next following till the summe line 60 of ten thousand marks were leuied towards the discharge of the said archbishops debts The collection of the which ten thousand marks was assigned by the popes bulles vnto the bishop of Hereford who should also leauie two thousand marks of the reuenues belonging to the church of Canturburie to be conuerted to the same vse The king at the first was sore offended herewith but shortlie after he was pacified and so the archbishop had his will After this about the beginning of the next spring Dauid prince of Wales departed this life after great pensifenesse of mind for the destruction and miserie into the which his countrie had béene brought through the present warres with the Englishmen After his deceasse the Welshmen elected to succeed in his place the sonne of Griffin whom king Henrie had reteined in seruice and honourablie vsed euen of a child but now that he heard that the Welshmen had elected him to their prince he stale away and fled into Wales ¶ On the day of the purification of our ladie a robberie was committed vpon certeine Iewes at Oxenford for the which fact fiue and fortie of the offendors were put in prison but at the suit of Robert bishop of Lincolne they were deliuered by the kings commandement bicause no man impeached them of anie breach of peace or other crime The citizens of London also about the beginning of the spring were compelled to paie a talage wherewith they found themselues sore aggreeued About the middest of Lent there was a parlement holden at London wherein diuerse statutes and ordinances were deuised as penalties for those that offended in other mens parks and warrens but the chéefest occasion of assembling this parlement was to take aduise in matters touching the greefes wherewith the church of England séemed to be oppressed by the pope and the court of Rome The pope indeed to quiet the English ambassadors and to put the king and realme in some good hope of reléefe and deliuerance out of such oppressions as were opened vnto him in the face of the whole councell did not onelie promise largelie but also caused diuerse priuileges to be made and deliuered vnto the said ambassadors verie fauorablie in the behalfe of their request But yet the same notwithstanding sith the breaking vp of the said generall councell and return to the ambassadors manie things were doone to the increasing and continuation of the former greefes so that they stood in doubt of further oppressions to follow rather than in hope of the promised redresse Herevpon they concluded eftsoones to write vnto the pope and to the cardinals both in name of the king of the bishops and prelats of the earles barons and other estates of the temporaltie and of the abbats and priors In the meane time the pope for a while somewhat relented in the point of bestowing benefices here in England for when any of his freends or kinsmen was to be preferred to any benefies within this realme he would sue to the king for his grant and good will that such a one might be admitted and not seeme of himselfe to grant it without the kings consent The earle of Sauoy in the presence of the archbishop of Canturburie and the bishop of Hereford and others did homage to the king of England acknowledging to hold of him certeine fées as those of Suse Auislian S. Maurice de Chablais and the castell of Bard which he might well doo not preiudicing the right of the empire sith he held nothing of the same empire except Aigues and the passages This yeare the office of the earle Marshall was giuen to Roger Bigod earle of Northfolke in right of his wife the countesse that was eldest daughter vnto the great earle William Marshall ¶ Moreouer in this yeare the king holding his Easter at London honored Harold king of Man with the order of knighthood About the same time diuerse noble men of Wales submitted themselues and were receiued vnto the kings peace ¶ On saint Markes day was a great frost and snow which nipped the leaues of trees and hearbes in such extreame wise that for the more part they withered and faded awaie Furthermore bicause the pope vnderstood that diuerse rich beneficed men were of late dead in England intestate as Robert Hailes the archdeacon of Lincolne Almerike the archdeacon of Bedford and Iohn Hotospe archdeacon of Northhampton he ordeined a decrée that all such spirituall persons as died intestate their goods should remaine to the pope The execution of which decrée he commanded to the friers preachers and minors but the king would not suffer it to take place bicause he saw that it should redound to the preiudice of him and his kingdome Wherein the popes oppression and wrong offered to the dead by whose deceasse their suruiuing fréends should be benefited and his cruell couetousnes extending to the verie senseles corpse dooth manifestlie appeare so that it is verified of him by waie line 10 of comparison Carniuorax tumidis vt gaudet hyaena sepulchris Sic instat putidis ille cadaueribus Also where the pope required a talage of the clergie the king flatlie forbad it by his letters inhibitorie In this meane while William Powis
to furnish him withall howbeit prince Edward borrowed of his vncle erle Richard foure thousand marks towards the maintenance of that war The rebellion of the Welshmen speciallie rose by the hard dealing of sir Geffrey de Langlie knight the kings collector amongst them who handled them so streightlie that in defense of their countrie lawes and liberties as they pretended they put on armour They tooke and destroied the lands and possessions which were great and large of Griffin Brunet being fled for safegard of his life vnto the king of England There were of those Welsh rebels at the point of twentie thousand men and of them ten thousand were horssemen the which perceiuing the season to make for their purpose defended themselues so manfullie that they droue backe prince Edward and his armie so continuing the wars did much 〈◊〉 to the English marishes Their power so increased that at length they diuided the same in two equall parts the better to recouer vittels and in eiâ—her armie there were estéemed thirtie thousand armed men after the maner of their countrie of the which there were fiue hundred men of armes in either host with barded horsses all couered in it on Thus being of such puissance they did much mischéefe to the Englishmen that inhabited on the marshes neither were the lords marchers able to resist them alâ—â—â—ugh the earle of Glocester aided the same lords 〈◊〉 that he might King Henrie being hereof â—â—uertised 〈…〉 all spéed Stephan Bauzan of man skilfull in 〈…〉 warie wiâ—â— a great number of soldiers into Walâ—â— against the rebels who comming into that countrie and entring into the lands of a Welsh 〈…〉 Rise Uaughan was intrapt by such ambushments as his enimies laid for him and thereby was slaine with the more part of his armie This ouerthrowe chanced by the treason of Griffin de Brunet who at that present reuolting from the English side to his countrimen instructed them in all things how they might vanquish their enimies At that time Northwales and Southwales ioined in league and fréendlie amitie togither which commonlie was not séene in those daies they being for the more part at variance line 10 the one rather séeking still how to indamage the other but now in defense of their liberties as they pretended they agreed in one The king sore mooued herewith determined to go himselfe into Wales that he might take worthie punishment of those his aduersaries that could neuer be sufficientlie chastised Wherevpon raising a great power he hasted foorth and comming into Wales put the rebels in such feare that they withdrew to their accustomed places of refuge I meane line 20 the woods and mareshes The king would faine haue had them foorth that he might haue punished them according to their deserts and therefore to bring his purpose the better to passe he sent for an armie of soldiers into Ireland and tarried for their comming at the castell of Brecknoke but the yeare was farre spent yer his people could be gathered so that by the aduise of his lords he strengthened certeine castels and so returned for that yeare into England leauing the lord Roger Mortimer his lieutenant in Wales line 30 to resist the rebels But now let vs speake of other dooings which chanced in the meane while that the warres thus continued and lasted betwixt England and Wales Yée shall vnderstand that in the Lent season the archbishop of Messina came as legat from the pope hither into England with letters of procuration to demand and receiue and also with power to punish such as should denie and séeme to resist and so being here arriued with a great traine of seruants and horses line 40 he sent foorth his commandements in writing to euerie prelat to prouide him monie by way of proxie so that of the house of S. Albons and of the celles that belonged therevnto he had one and twentie marks and when the moonks of S. Albons came to visit him in his house they could not be permitted to depart but were kept as prisoners till they had satisfied his couetous demand for whereas they alledged that they had not brought any monie with them he asked them whie they were such beggers and further line 50 said Send yée then to some merchant that will lend you monie and so it was doone for otherwise they might not haue libertie to depart This archbishop was of the order of the Friers preachers in whome saith Matthew Paris we had hoped to haue found more abundant humilitie About the same time there appeared at London a new order of Friers not knowen till those daies hauing yet the popes autentike bulles which they openlie shewed so that there séemed a confusion of manie orders as line 60 the same Matthew Paris recordeth and bicause they were apparelled in sackecloth they were called sacked Friers About the middest of Lent there was a great parlement holden to the which the maisters of the Uniuersitie of Oxford were summoned that peace might be concluded betwixt them and the bishop of Lincolne which had them in suit about their liberties There came to the same parlement the earle of Glocester and sir Iohn Mansell latelie returned out of Almaine where they had béene on ambassage from Richard the elect king of Almaine Thither came also the same elect king of Almaine and almost all the Nobilitie of the realme so that scarse might the citie of London receiue the number that repaired to that parlement The king of Almaine meant to take his leaue at that time of the lords and péeres of the realme purposing shortlie after to take his iournie towards Almaine and to ordeine the bishop of London gouernor of all his lands and possessions within England In this parlement the lord Edmund the kings yoonger sonne was shewed as king of Naples and Sicill for the obteining of the possession of which dominions and kingdoms his father king Henrie demanded no small subsidie and aid of monie both of the temporaltie and also of the spiritualtie but namlie he required to haue the tenths of spirituall mens liuings for the terme of fiue yeares according to the new taxations without any deductions to be allowed except necessarie expenses also the fruits for one yeare of benefices that chanced to fall void within the said terme of fiue yeare Moreouer sundrie other duties he required to haâ—e of the â—pirituall men sore to their gréeuance and speciallie bicause they knew that such tyrannie first tooke beginning from the pope In the end though leâ—h they were to consent yet conditionallie that the king would confirme the liberties conteiâ—ed in the great charter and obserue the same throughlie now after it had béene so manie times brought out and redéemed they offered to giue him towards his instant necessitie two and fiftie thousand marks 〈…〉 recouerable danger of impouerishing the church And yet as it is said the king refused the
certeine ships passing by the towre with wheat and other vittels into the towre making the price thereof himselfe The matter was had before sir Philip Basset lord cheefe iustice and others who vpon the sight and hearing of all such euidences and priuiledges as could be brought foorth for the aduantage of both the parties tooke order that the constable should when he lacked prouision of graine or vittels come into the market holden within the citie and there to haue wheat two pence in a quarter within the maiors price and other vittels after the same rate Prince Edward the kings sonne returning from line 10 the parts beyond the sea went with a great power as well of Englishmen as strangers against the Welshmen towards Snowdon hils but the enimies withdrawing themselues to their strengths within the woods and mounteines he could not much indamage them wherevpon after he had fortified certeine castels in those parts with men numition and vittels he returned being sent for backe of his father The archbishop of Canturburie foreseeing the trouble that was like to insue betwixt the king and his line 20 barons got licence of the king to go vnto Rome about such businesse as he fained to haue to doo with the pope and so departed the land and kept him awaie till the trouble was appeased Upon Midlent sundaie at a folkemote holden at Paules crosse before sir Philip Basset and other of the kings councell the maior of London was sworne to be true to the king and to his heires kings of England and vpon the morrow at the Guildhall euerie alderman in presence of the maior tooke the same oth And vpon line 30 the sundaie following euerie inhabitant within the citie of the age of 12 yeares and aboue before his alderman in his ward was newlie charged with the like oth Then began the displeasure betwéene the king and his barons to appeare which had béene long kept secret diuers of whom assembling togither in the marches of Wales gathered vnto them a power of men and sent a letter vnto the king vnder the seale of sir Roger Clifford beséeching him to haue in remembrance line 40 his oth and manifold promises made for the obseruing of the statutes ordeined at Oxford But although this letter was indited and written verie effectuallie yet receiued they no answer from the king who minded in no wise to obserue the same statutes as by euident takens it was most apparant Wherevpon they determined to attempt by force to bring their purpose to passe The king and the quéene for their more safegard got them into the towre of London and prince Edward laie at Clerkenwell line 50 but in such necessitie and discredit for monie that neither had they any store to furnish their wants neither was there any man that would trust them with a groat Prince Edward not able to abide such dishonor in the feast of the apostle Peter and Paule taking with him Robert Waleran and certeine others went to the new temple and there easling for the kéeper of the treasure-house as if he meant to see his mothers iewels that were laid vp there to be safelie line 60 kept he entred into the house and breaking the coffers of certeine persons that had likewise brought their monie thither to haue it in more safetie he tooke away from thence the value of 1000 pounds ô quantum cogit egestas Magnum pauperies opprobrium iubet Quiduis facere pati Virtutisque viam deserit arduae The citizens of London were so offended herewith that they rose in armour against him and other of the kings councell in somuch that they assailed the lodging of the lord Iohn Gray without Ludgate and tooke out of his stables 32 horsses and such other things as they might laie hold vpon kéeping such stur that the lord Gray himselfe was forced to flie beyond Fleetbridge The like rule they kept at the house of Iohn de Passelew Iohn Mansell departing foorth of the towre to the Thames with the countesse de Lisle and other ladies that were strangers borne sailed into France and landed at Whitsand where the said Mansell hearing that the lord Henrie sonne to the king of Almaine that then held with the barons was in those parts he caused the lord Ingram de Fines to staie him as prisoner and so he remained till king Henrie vpon the agreement betwixt him and the barons found meanes to get him released and so then he returned into England But now touching the barons they procéeded in their businesse which they had in hand with all earnest diligence of whome these were the chéefe that vndertooke this matter yoong Humfrie de Boun the lord Henrie son to the king of Almaine Henrie Montford Hugh Spenser Baldwin Wake Gilbert Gifford Richard Gray Iohn Ros William Marmion Henrie Hastings Haimon le Strange Iohn Fitz Iohn Godfrey Lucie Nicholas Segraue Roger de Leiborne Iohn Uesie Roger de Clifford Iohn de Uaus Gilbert de Clare Gilbert de Lacie and Robert Uepont the which with one generall consent elected for their chéefe capteins and generall gouernours Simon de Mountfort earle of Leicester Gilbert of Clare earle of Glocester and Robert Ferreis earle of Darbie and Iohn earle of Warren On the kings part these persons are named to stand with him against the other First Roger Bigod erle of Norffolke and Suffolke Humfrie de Boun earle of Hereford Hugh Bigod lord cheefe iustice Philip Basset William de Ualence Geffrey de Lucignan Peter de Sauoy Robert Walrand Iohn Mansell Geffrey Langley Iohn Gray William Latimer Henrie Percie and manie other The barons notwithstanding hauing assembled their powers resolued to go through with their purpose The first enterprise they made was at Hereford where they tooke the bishop of that sée named Iohn Breton and as manie of his canons as were strangers borne After this they tooke sir Matthew de Bezilles shiriffe of Glocester a stranger borne and kéeping on their waie towards London with baners displaied so manie as came within their reach whom they knew to be against the maintenance of the statutes of Oxford they spoiled them of their houses robbed them of their goods and imprisoned their bodies hauing no regard whether they were spirituall men or temporall In diuerse of the kings castels they placed such capteins and soldiers as they thought conuenient 〈◊〉 placed others whom they either knew or suspected to be aduersaries to their purpose About Midsummer when they drew néere to London they sent a letter to the maior and aldermen vnder the seale of the earle of Leicester willing to vnderstand whether they woulâ—â—bserue the acts and statâ—tes establishâ—d at Oxford or else aid and assist such persons as meant the breath of the same And herewith they sent vnto them â— copie of those articles with a prouiso that if any of them were preiudiciall or in any wife
laie at Dunfersing the most part of the winter and whilest he laie there the queene which had lien a long time at Tinmouth came to him and when the winter was once past the king himselfe came to the siege and caused certeine engins of wood to be raised vp against the castell which shot off stones of two or thrée hundred weight but yet would not they within once talke of any surrender And where the Englishmen filled the ditches with wood and boughs of trées they set the same on fire and burnt them to ashes at length the ditches were filled with stones and earth so that then the Scots within perceiuing themselues in euident perill to loose the castell on saint Margarets daie they yéelded themselues simplie into the kings hands as the English writers affirme though the Scotish writers record the contrarie Finallie when the king had ordered all his businesse in Scotland at his pleasure he returned into England leauing in Scotland for warden the lord Iohn Segraue or as other writers haue sir Aimer de Ualence earle of Penbroke At his comming to Yorke he caused the iustices of his bench and the barons of the excheker to remoue with their courts and all their clearks and officers togither with the lord chancellor and his court to London that the termes might be kept there as in times past they had béene whereas now the same had remained at Yorke aboue the space of six yeares vpon this consideration that the king and his councell might be néere vnto Scotland to prouide for the defense thereof as occasion from time to time should require From Yorke he came to Lincolne and there remained all the winter holding a councell in the which he eftsoones confirmed the articles of Magna charta touching the liberties priuileges and immunities of his subiects the which to declare their thankfull minds towards him for the same granted to him for the space of one yéere the fifteenth part of all their reuenues Others write that the king had in this yeare of citizens and of the burgesses of good townes the sixt penie according to the valued rate of their goods About the same time Thomas Colebrugh or Corbridge archbishop of Yorke departed this life and one William Greenefield doctour of both the lawes succéeded him ¶ There died about the same time that valiant knight the lord W. Latimer ¶ Also Iohn Warren earle of Surrey and Sussex died this yéere was buried at Lewes His nephue by his son named also Iohn succéeded him obteining to wife the kings néece by his daughter Elianor that was married to the earle of Bar as before ye haue heard Likewise Robert Bruce earle of Carrike the fift of that name died this yeare who was father to that Robert Bruce that was after K. of Scots ¶ Moreouer about this season the king ordeined certeine commissioners of iusticiaries to make inquisitions through the realme by the verdict of substantiall iuries vpon all officers as maiors shiriffes bailiffes exchetors and other that had misused themselues in their offices either by extortion briberie or otherwise to the gréeuance of the people contrarie to that they rightlie might doo and iustifie by vertue of their offices by means of which inquisitions manie were accused and found culpable and therevpon put to gréeuous fines Also the iustices which were assigned to take these inquisitions extended the same according to their commission against such as had made intrusions into other mens lands and for doubt to be impleaded for the same had made alienations ouer into the hands of great men also against such barretors as vsed to take monie to beat any man and againe would not sticke to take monie of him whom they had so beaten to beat him that first hired them to beat the other The malice of such maner people was now restreined by force of these inquisitions for such as were found culpable were worthilie punished some by death and some by ransoms diuerse also for feare to come to their answers fled the realme also forfeits against the crowne were streightlie looked vnto found out and leuied by reason whereof great summes of monie came to the kings coffers which holpe well towards the maintenance and charges of his warres This kind of inquisition was named commonlie Traile baston which signifieth Traile or draw the staffe And forsomuch as the proceeding in this wise against such misdemenors as then were vsed brought so great a benefit to the realme in restreining such malefactors which greatlie as should séeme disquieted the state of the commonwealth I haue thought good to set downe the substance of the same as followeth An extract of the foresaid writ as it is registred in the booke that belonged to the abbeie of Abington line 10 REx dilectis fidelibus suis Radulfo filio Wilhelmi Iohanni de Barton de Riton salutem Quia quà m plures malefactores pacis nostrae perturbatores homicidia depraedationes incendia alia damna quà m plurima nocte diéque perpetrantes vagantur in boscis parcis alijs locis diuersis tam infra libertates quà m extra in comitatu Eboracensi line 20 ibidem receptantur in maximum periculum tam hominum per partes illas transeuntium quà m ibidem commorantium in nostri contemptum ac pacis nostrae laesionem manifestam vt accepimus per quorum incursum poterunt peiora peioribus de facili euenire nisi remedium super hoc citiùs apponatur nos eorum malitiae in hac parte obuiare huiusmodidamnis periculis praecauere volentes assignamus vos ad inquirendum per sacramentum tam militum quà m aliorum proborum legalium line 30 hominum de contemptu praedicto tam infra libertates quà m extra per quos ipsa veritas meliùs sciri poterit qui sint illi malefactores pacis nostrae perturbatores eos conduxerunt conducunt ad verberandum vulnerandum malè tractandū interficiendum plures de regno nostro in ferijs mercarijs alijs locis in dicto comitatu pro inimicitia inuidia aut malitia Et etiam pro eo quòd in assisis iuratis recognitionibus inquisitionibus line 40 factis de felonijs positifuerant veritatem dixerunt vnde per conditionem huiusmodi malefactorum iuratores assisarum iurationum recognitionum inquisitionum illarum pro timore dictorum malefactorum eorum minarum saepiùs veritatem dicere seu dictos malefactores indictare minimè ausifuerunt sunt Et ad inquirendum de illis qui huiusmodi munera dederunt dant quantum quibus qui huiusmodi munera receperunt à quibus qualiter quo modo line 50 qui huiusmodi malefactores fouent nutriunt manutenent in comitatu praedicto ad ipsos malefactores tamper vos quà m per vicecomitem nostrum comitatus praedicti arrestandos
whereby any hurt might insue either to the king or to the realme ¶ Thus haue we thought good to shew the cause of this earles death as by some writers it hath béene registred although there be that write that the ouerthrow at Beighland chanced through his fault by misleading a great part of the kings host and that therefore the king being offended with him caused him to be put to death albeit as I thinke no such matter was alleged against him at the time of his arreignement About this season was the foundation begun of S. Michaels colledge in Cambridge by one sir Henrie Stanton knight chancellour of the excheker About the feast of the Ascension there came as commissioners from the king of England vnto Newcastell Aimerie earle of Penbroke and the lord chamberlaine Hugh Spenser the yoonger and other foure personages of good accompt And from the king of Scots there came the bishop of saint Andrews Thomas Randulfe earle of Murrey and other foure of good credit to treat of peace or at the leastwise of some long truce and through the good will and pleasure of God the author of all peace and quietnesse they concluded vpon a truce to indure for thirteene yeares and so about the feast of saint Barnabe the apostle it was proclaimed in both realmes but yet so that they might not traffike togither bicause of the excommunication wherewith the Scots were as yet intangled although as some write about the same time the interdict wherein the realme of Scotland stood bound was by pope Iohn released The French K. being latelie come to the crowne sent certeine ambassadors vnto king Edward to wit the lord Beouille and one Andreas de Florentia a notarie to giue summons vnto him from the French king to come and doo homage for the lands which he held in France as for the duchie of Aquitaine and the countie of Pontieu And though the lord chamberleine Hugh Spenser the sonne and the lord chancellour Robert Baldocke did what they could to procure these ambassadors not to declare the cause of their comming to the king yet when they should depart they admonished the king to come and doo his homage vnto the French king and vpon this admonition the said Andreas framed a publike instrument by vertue whereof the French king made processe against the king of England and â—eized into his hands diuerse townes and castels in Aquitaine alledging that he did it for the contumacie shewed by the king of England in refusing to come to doo his homage being lawfullie summoned although the king was throughlie informed that the summons was neither lawfull nor touched him anie thing at all About the same time the lord Roger Mortimer of Wigmor giuing his kéepers a drinke that brought them into a sound and heauie sléepe escaped out of the tower of London where he was prisoner This escape of the lord Mortimer greatlie troubled the king so that immediatlie vpon the first news he wrote to all the shiriffes of the realme that if he chanced to come within their roomes they should cause hue and crie to be raised so as he might be staied and arrested but he made such shift that he got ouer into France where he was receiued by a lord of Picardie named monsier Iohn de Fieules who had faire lands in England and therefore the king wrote to him reprouing him of vnthankfulnesse considering he had beene euer readie to pleasure him and to aduance his profits and commodities and yet notwithstanding he did succour the said lord Mortimer and other rebels that were fled out of his realme In Lent this yeare a parlement was holden at London in the which diuerse things were intreated amongst other the cheefest was to determine for the sending of some honorable ambassage to the French king to excuse the king for not comming to him to doo his homage according to the pretended summons line 10 ¶ In the same parlement Adam bishop of Hereford was arrested and examined vpon points of treason for aiding succouring and mainteining the Mortimers and other of the rebels This bishop was reckoned to be wise subtill and learned but otherwise wilfull presumptuous and giuen to mainteine factions At the first he disdeined to make anie answer at all and finallie when he was in manner forced thereto he flatlie told the king that he might not make any answere to such matters as he was charged with except by the licence and consent of his line 20 metropolitane the archbishop of Canturburie and other his péeres Héerevpon the said archbishop and other bishops made such sute that he was committed to the kéeping of the said archbishop with him to remaine till the king had taken order for his further answer Within few daies after when the king called him againe before his presence to make answere to the matters laid against him the archbishops of Canturburie line 30 Yorke Dublin and ten other bishops came with their crosses afore them and vnder a colour of the priuilege and liberties of the church tooke him awaie before he had made anie answere forbidding all men on paine of excommunication to laie anie hands vpon him The king greatlie offended with this bold procéeding of the prelats caused yet an inquest to be impauelled to inquire of the bishop of Herefords treasons and vpon the finding of him giltie he seized into his hands all the temporalties line 40 that belonged to his bishoprike and spoiled his manours and houses most violentlie in reuenge of his disloiall dealings Moreouer in this parlement the lands and possessions that belonged sometime to the Templers and had beene deliuered vnto the knights Hospitalers otherwise called knights of the Rodes by the king in the seauenth yeare of his reigne according to the decrée of the councell of Uienna were by authoritie of this parlement assured vnto the said knights to enioy line 50 to them and their successors for euer Also it was concluded that the earle of Kent and the archbishop of Dubline should go ouer as ambassadours into France to excuse the king for his not comming in person to the French king to doo his homage for the lands he held in France Moreouer in the same parlement the king granted that all the dead bodies of his enimies and rebels that had suffered and hanged still on the gallowes should be taken downe and buried in the churchyards next to the places where line 60 the same bodies were hanging and not elsewhere by such as would take paine to burie them as by his writs directed vnto the shiriffes of London and of the counties of Middlesex Kent Glocester Yorke and Buckingham it appeared And not onelie this libertie was granted at that time for the taking down of those bodies but as some write it was decréed by authoritie in the same parlement that the bodies of all those that from thenceforth should be hanged
sonne the lord chamberleine that neither durst go ouer themselues with the king nor abide at home in his absence gaue contrarie counsell and at length preuailed so that it was fullie determined that the kings eldest line 60 sonne Edward should go ouer which turned to their destruction as it appeared afterward Herevpon the king made a charter of grant vnto his sonne of the duchie of Guien and countie of Pontieu to haue and hold to him his heires kings of England with condition that if he chanced to depart this life whilest his father liued those lands should returne to his father againe so as the French king might not marrie the kings sonne at his pleasure nor appoint vnto him any gardians or gouernours This ordinance was made at Douer by the kings charter with consent of the prelats and other noble men of the realme there present the morrow after the Natiuitie of our ladie and on the thursdaie following the kings sonne tooke the sea and with him Walter bishop of Excester and others in competent number and about the feast of saint Matthew the apostle he did homage to his vncle the French king at Bois de Vincennes vnder certeine protestations made as well on the one part as the other The summer this yeare prooued excéeding hot and drie so that springs and riuers failed to yéeld their accustomed course of waters by reason wherof great numbers of cattell and beasts both wild and tame died through lacke of conuenient liquor to asswage their vehement thirst In the beginning of the next spring king Edward sent into France vnto his wife and sonne commanding them now that they had made an end of their businesse to returne home with all conuenient speed The queene receiuing the message from hir husband whether it was so that she was staied by hir brother vnto whome belike she had complained after what manner she was vsed at hir husbands hands being had in no regard with him or for that she had no mind to returne home bicause she was loth to see all things ordered out of frame by the counsell of the Spensers whereof to heare she was wearie or whether as the manner of women is she was long about to prepare hir selfe forward she slacked all the summer and sent letters euer to excuse hir tarriance But yet bicause she would not run in any suspicion with hir husband she sent diuerse of hir folkes before hir into England by soft iournies A lamentable case that such diuision should be betwéene a king and his quéene being lawfullie married and hauing issue of their bodies which ought to haue made that their copulation more comfortable but alas what will not a woman be drawne and allured vnto if by euill counsell she be once assaulted And what will she leaue vndoone though neuer so inconuenient to those that should be most déere vnto hir so hir owne fansie and will be satisfied And how hardlie is the reuoked from procéeding in an euill action if she haue once taken a taste of the same As verie truly is reported by the comedie-writer saieng Malè quod mulier incoepit nisi efficere id perpetrat Id illi morbo id illi senio est ea illi miserae miseria est Si bene facere incoepit eius eam cito odium percipit Nimisque paucae sunt defessae male quae facere occoeperint Nimisque paucae efficiunt si quid occoeperint benefacere Mulieri nimiò malefacere melius est onus quà m benè But to the purpose King Edward not a little offended with king Charles by whole meanes he knew that the woman thus lingered abroad he procured pope Iohn to write his letters vnto the French king admonishing him to send home his sister and hir sonne vnto hir husband But when this nothing auailed a proclamation was made in the moneth of December the nineteenth yeare of this kings reigne that if the quéene and hir sonne entred not the land by the octaues of the Epiphanie next insuing in peaceable wise they should be taken for enimies to the realme and crowne of England ¶ Here authors varie for some write that vpon knowledge had of this proclamation the queene determined to returne into England foorthwith that she might be reconciled to hir husband Others write and that more truelie how she being highlie displeased both with the Spensers and the king hir husband that suffered himselfe to be misled by their counsels did appoint indéed to returne into England not to be reconciled but to stir the people to some rebellion wherby she might reuenge hir manifold iniuries Which as the proofe of the thing shewed séemeth to be most true for she being a wise woman considering that sith the Spensers had excluded put out and remooued all good men from and besides the kings councell and placed in their roomes such of their clients seruants and freends as pleased them she might well thinke that there was small hope to be had in hir husband who heard no man but the said Spensers which she knew hated hir deadlie Wherevpon year 1326 after that the tearme prefixed in the proclamation was expired the king caused to be seized into his hands all such lands as belonged either to his sonne or to his wife About the same time one sir Robert Walkfare knight a right hardie man of his hands but craftie and subtill who being taken in the warres which the line 10 lords raised against the king had beene committed to prison in the castell of Corfe found means now to kill the constable of that castell most cruellie and escaping awaie got ouer to the quéene into France and so the number of them that ran out of the realme vnto hir dailie increased This sir Robert Walkfare was a great procurer of the discord betwixt the king and the lords and a chéefe leader or rather seducer of that noble man Humfrie de Bohune earle of Hereford and whilest other gaue themselues to line 20 seeke a reformation in the decaied state of the commonwealth he set his mind vpon murders and robberies Diuerse other about the same time fled out of the realme vnto the queene and vnto hir sonne the earle of Chester But in the meane time Walter Stapleton bishop of Excester which hitherto had remained with the queene in France stale now from hir and got ouer into England opening to the king all the counsell and whole mind of the queene which thing turned first of all vnto his owne destruction line 30 as shall after appeare About the same time one sir Oliuer de Ingham a yoong lustie and valiant knight was by the kings sonne the duke of Aquitaine not without his fathers consent established lord warden of the marches of Guien the which sir Oliuer gathering an armie of hired soldiers Spaniards Aragons and Gascoins inuaded the countrie of Agenois which the French king held yet in his hands contrarie to
that this marriage was celebrated on the fiftéenth daie of Iune in the yeare 1367 which being true the same chanced in the 41 yeare of this kings reigne and not in this 42 yeare though other authors agree that it was in the yeare 1368. But to returne to other dooings where we left Ye haue heard how the prince of Wales could get no monie of the king of Spaine for the wages of his men of warre which he had reteined to serue him in the reducing of the said king home into his countrie wherfore the prince hauing béene at great charges in that iournie was neither able to satisfie them nor mainteine his owne estate without some great aid of his subiects and therefore he was counselled to raise a subsidie called a fuage through all the countrie of Aquitaine to run onelie for the space of fiue yeares To this paiment euerie chimnie or fire must haue beene contributorie paieng yearely one franke the rich to haue borne out the poore And to haue this paiment granted all the states of the countrie were called togither at Niort The Poictouins and they of Xainctonge Limosin Rouergne and of Rochell agréed to the princes request with condition that he should kéepe the course of his coine stable for the terme of seuen yeares But diuerse of the other parts of Guien refused that ordinance as the earles of Arminake and Gominges the vicount of Carmaigne the lords Dalbret de la Barde Cande Pincornet and diuerse other great barons but yet to depart quietlie from the assemblie they required a time to take better aduise and so they repairing into their countries determined neither to returne againe according to their promises nor to suffer any fuage to run amongest them at all and were so much offended with the motion that they sought occasion forthwith to reuolt from the English obeisance and submission knowing that Pastores tondere boni haud deglubere cultris Villosum assuescunt pecus And therefore diuerse lords of them went to the French king and there exhibited into the chamber of the péeres of France their complaints of the grieuous impositions wrongs which the prince went about to laie vpon them affirming that their resort ought of speciall duty to be to the crowne of France and to the king there as to their lord Peramount The French king who would not seeme to breake the peace betwéene him and the king of England dissembled the matter and told them that he would peruse the tenor of the charters and letters of the peace and so far foorth as he might by permission of the same he would be glad to doo them good The earles of Arminake Perigourd Gominges and the lord Dalbret with other that were come thither about this matter were contented with this answer and so staied in France till they might vnderstand further both of the French kings mind and of the princes dooings ¶ This yeere in October was Simon Langham archbishop of Canturburie elected to the dignitie of a cardinall and then William Witleslie bishop of Worcester was remooued vnto the sée of Canturburie About the same time the earle of saint Paule one of the hostages in England stale from hence without taking any leaue or saieng farewell At his comming into France he greatlie furthered the sute of line 10 the lords of Gascoigne finallie so much was doone on their behalfe that the French king was contented that the prince of Wales should be appealed year 1369 and summoned to appeare before the French king as iudge in that point for reformation of the wrongs which he offered to them that had made their resort vnto him as reason was they should This appeale was written and dulie examined The tenor of the said prince of Wales his appeale or summons of appearance before the French king c. CHarles by the grace of God king of France to our nephue the prince of Wales and Aquitaine send greeting So it is that diuerse prelats barons knights vniuersities communalties and colledges of the line 30 marches and limits of the countrie of Gascoigne and the dwellers and inhabitants in the bounds of our realme besides diuerse other of the duchie of Aquitaine are resorted and come to our court to haue right of certeine greefes and vnlawfull troubles which you by vnaduised counsell and simple information haue purposed to doo vnto them whereof we greatlie maruell line 40 Therfore to withstand and to redresse such things we are so conioined to them that we haue thought good by our roiall power to command you to repaire to our citie of Paris in proper person and there to shew and present your selfe before vs in the chamber of our peeres that you may be constreined to doo right to your people concerning the greefes which they alledge line 50 that you are about to oppresse them with who claime to haue their resort into our court and that you faile not thus to doo in as speedie manner as yee can immediatlie vpon the sight and hearing of these present letters In witnesse whereof we haue to the same set our seale Yeuen at Paris the fiue and twentith day of Ianuarie These letters were giuen to a knight and a clerke line 60 to beare and present to the prince which according to that they had in charge went to Burdeaux and there getting licence to come before his presence they read the letters wherewith he was not a little chafed and openlie told them for a plaine answer that he meant to accomplish the French kings request for his comming to Paris but that should be with his helmet on his head and thréescore thousand armed men to beare witnesse of his appearance The messengers perceiuing the prince to be sore offended with their message got them awaie without taking their leaue but before they were passed the limits of the English dominion they were staied by commandement of the prince and committed to prison within the citie of Agen. About the same time the duke of Berrie returned into France hauing licence of king Edward for an whole yeare but he bare himselfe so wiselie that he returned not againe at all for he excused himselfe till time that the warre was open In like manner the more part of all the other hostages by one meane or other were returned into France and some indéed were deliuered vpon their ransomes or other considerations so that the French king being deliuered of that obstacle was the more readie to breake with the king of England and therefore vpon knowledge had of the princes answer to those that he sent with the appeale by such of the messengers seruants as were returned and declared how their maisters were delt with he couertlie prepared for the warre The lord Iohn Chandois and other of the princes councell foresaw what would insue of leauieng the â—uage and therefore counselled the prince not to procéed any further in it But he
hauing onlie regard to the releefe of his souldiers and men of warre would néeds go forward with it ¶ Indéed if he might haue brought it to passe as it was denied that euerie housholder should haue paid a franke for chimniage the summe would haue growne to twelue hundred thousand frankes by the yeare which had beene a great releefe and that made him the more earnest bicause he might haue beene able so to haue paid his debts Now when it was perceiued certeinlie that open rebellion would therof insue and that king Edward was certified of the whole state of the matter and how diuerse of the lords of Aquitaine were withdrawne vnto the court of France in manner as before yée haue heard he deuised a letter which he caused to be published through all the parts of Aquitaine the effect whereof was this That where the people of that countrie found themselues greeued for such exactions as were demanded of them he meant therefore vpon examination of their iust complaints to see their wrongs redressed And further he was contented to pardon all such as were withdrawne to the French king so that within a moneths space they would returne home requiring them that in no wise they should stirre anie seditious tumult but to remember their oths of allegiance and to continue in the same according to their bounden duties and as for him he would be readie to sée them eased that would shew by plaine proofe how they had beene otherwise gréeued than reason might beare This was his meaning and this was the aduise of all his councellours But this courteous letter little auailed for dailie the Gascoignes reuolted from the prince and turned to the French part Moreouer another occasion of grudge chanced to renew the malice betwixt the K. of England and the French king For whereas yée haue heard that the earle of Flanders had affianced his daughter and heire to the lord Edmund of Langlie earle of Cambridge a shift was made namelie by the earles mother the countesse of Arthois who was all French that notwithstanding the same affiance she was married to Philip duke of Burgognie who was surnamed the Hardie by this occasion as I. Meir saith It chanced that whilest he was prisoner in England with his father he was vpon a time appointed to wait at the table where his father and the king of England sat togither at meat And bicause a noble man of England that was appointed likewise to attend at the same table serued first the king of England before the king of France this Philip vp with his fist and tooke the English lord a blow on the eare saieng Wilt thou serue the king of England first where the French king sitteth at the same table The Englishman out with his dagger would haue striken the said Philip but the king of England streictlie charged him to the contrarie and praising the déed of the yoong stripling said vnto him Vous estes Philip le hardie Thou art said he the hardie Philip. And so from that daie he bare that name euer after There be other that saie how he tooke that surname bicause in the batell of Poictiers he abode still with his father till the end of the battell without line 10 shewing any token of feare or faintnes of courage The earles of Arminacke and Perigord with the other lords of Gascoigne that had made their appeale as ye haue heard to the chamber of the peeres of France when they vnderstood that the prince had imprisoned the messengers that brought to him the French kings letters began to make warre on the princes lands The first enterprise they made was the discomfiting of the lord Thomas Wake sâ—neshall of Rouergne as he was riding from Agen vnto line 20 the citie of Rodais with threescore spears and two hundred archers in his companie Also the French king being now prouided for the war and vnderstanding the minds of the people within certeine towns vnder the dominion of the Englishmen in his high court of parlement holden at Paris procéeded in iudgement vpon the appellation before made by the earles of Arminacke Perigord and others against prince Edward And moreouer he sent ouer into England the earle of Salisbruch and a knight called sir William Dorman to signifie to the king of England line 30 how he thought himselfe not honorablie vsed that the king of England did but slenderlie kéepe the couenants of the peace considering that he did not find meanes to reforme such of his subiects Englishmen and Gascoignes as dailie robbed and wasted the countries lands belonging to the crowne of France These ambassadors were staied for the space of two moneths still they complained of the wrongs line 40 that the Englishmen had doone contrarie to the couenants of the peace but the king made small account thereof bicause he perceiued it was a forged matter that they alledged and so in the end sent them awaie At Douer being vpon their returne there met them a Britaine that was comming with letters of defiance to the king of England from the French king and as he had in commandement he declared to them the effect of his message whervpon with all spéed they passed ouer to Bullongne and line 50 were glad they had so escaped The Britaine came to the court and deliuered the defiance to the king according to the instructions which he had receiued When the king had heard the letters read and perceiued by good view taken of the seale and signet that the same were of authoritie he licenced the messenger to depart and fell in councell with the peeres of his realme what he should doo in so weigthie a matter Wherevpon it was thought necessarie by them that he should assemble his court of parlement and line 60 so he did In the which vpon declaration made how iniuriouslie the French king after manie wrongfull dealings had now broken the peace and sent his defiance vnto the king in so despitefull wise as might be there was granted towards the maintenance of the warre thus begun thrée fifteens of the temporaltie and thrée dismes of the spiritualtie to be paied in thrée yeares At the selfe same time that the defiance was made to the king here in England the earle of S. Paule and Guie de Chatillon master of the crosbowes in France entered into the countie of Ponthieu tooke Abuile and an English knight called sir Nicholas Louaigne seneshall of that countrie vnder the king of England as then being within it They tooke also saint Ualerie Crotoie Rue Pont saint Renie and to be short reduced the whole countrie of Ponthieu vnder the French obeisance which had remained in possession of the Englishmen for the space of a hundred and twelue yeares euer since Edward the first had the same assigned to him in name of a dowrie with his wife queene Elianor sister to Alfonse K. of
daie and keeping on their waie they came by saint Riquier and line 60 at the planches vnder Abuile passed the riuer of Some and then entred into the countrie of Uimew in purpose to go vnto Harflew and there to burne the French kings nauie Thus passing forward thorough Uimew and the countie of Ewe they entered into the archbishoprike of Roan and marching foorth by Déepe came vnto Harflew but the earle of saint Poule and the lord of Fiennes constable of France which had coasted the English armie in all this iournie with a great power of men was gotten before them and entred into this towne so that they knew how they should but lose their paine if they did assaile it and so therefore after they had lien before it thrée daies on the fourth day they dislodged went backe againe towards Calis returning through the countrie of Ponthieu and before Abuile chanced to incounter a number of Frenchmen which gaue to the duke battell In the which was taken sir Hugh de Chatellon master of the crosbowes of France with other knights esquiers and burgesses of that towne and about sixtéene score of the French part slaine There be that write otherwise herof shewing how the said sir Hugh Chatellon was taken by an ambush laid by sir Nicholas Louaine as the same sir Hugh was come foorth of the towne with not past ten or twelue with him to see how the passage of Rowraie was kept by them that had charge thereof How soeuer it came to passe taken he was brought to the duke of Lancaster that reioised greatlie of that good hap and so marching forward he passed the riuer at Blanchetaque and drew towards the towne of Rew on the sea side and so to Montreuill and finallie to Calis Then were the strangers licenced to depart and bicause it was far in the winter as about saint Martines tide the duke and the most part of his armie returned into England In this yeare chanced the third mortalitie which was excéeding great both of men and beasts that the like had not béene heard of And amongst other people that perished of that pestilentiall sickenesse that worthie knight and noble capteine the earle of Warwike died at Calis in the moneth of Ianuarie after his returne from Hartlew year 1370 ¶ The countrie of Aquitaine was full of trouble in this meane time either part séeking to grieue other to the vttermost of their powers ¶ Iohn Hastings earle of Penbroke hauing with him certeine bands of men of warre recouered diuerse towns and castels in those parts but when he perceiued how the enimies that were not far from the place where he was lodged shewed manifest tokens of feare in marching one while vncerteinelie forward and an other while fetching great compasses about he somewhat vnwarilie setting vpon them in their campe was discomfited and put to flight so that getting him into a place of the Templers that was closed about with a wall he remained there in great danger to be taken prisoner of his enimies that assailed him if the lord Iohn Chandois seneschall of Poictou had not come to the rescue and pledged him foorth But shortlie after the said lord Chandois was slaine by the enimies whom first he had ouercome whilest without good aduise he put off his helmet and so receiuing a stroke with a glaiue that entered into his head betwixt his nose and his forhead he neuer after spake word not liuing past a day and a night after he was hurt The death of this right famous wise and valiant knight was bewailed as well of the Frenchmen as Englishmen The French king himselfe when he heard that he was slaine greatlie lamented the mishap affirming that now he being dead there was not any leâ—t aliue able to agree the kings and realmes of England and France so much was he feared esteemed and beloued of all men But alas what auailed all their mourning and lamenting against the necessitie of death sith we know that Est commune mori mors nulli parcit honori After he was thus slaine sir Thomas Percie was made seneschall of Poictou By reason of the great wet and raine that fell this yeare in more abundance than had béene accustomed much corne was lost so that the price thereof was sore inhanced in so much that wheat was sold at thrée shillings foure pence the bushell But as concerning the death the west parts of the realme was sorest afflicted with this mortalitie and namelie at Oxford there died a great number of scholers Somewhat before this time the ladie Blanch daughter to Henrie duke of Lancaster departed this life and was buried on the north side of the high altar in the cathedrall church of saint Paule within the citie of London where hir husband Iohn of Gant was after also interred She ordeined for hir husband and for hir selfe a solemne obit to be kept yearelie in that church where the maior being present with the shiriffes chamberlaine and sword-bearer should offer each of them a pennie and the maior to take vp a pound the shiriffes either of them a marke the line 10 chamberleine ten shillings and the sword-bearer six shillings eight pence and euerie other of the maiors officers two and twentie pence and the number of eight officers belonging vnto the shiriffes and by them to be appointed eight pence a péece ¶ This yeare was granted to the king in parlement assembled at Westminster of the spirituall mens liuings a tenth for the space of thrée yeares and a fiftéenth of the temporaltie during the same tearme This yeare after that the king had gotten togither line 20 a great summe of monie as well by borowing of the clergie as of the laitie he leuied an armie sent the same ouer to Calis about Midsummer vnder the gouernance of that worthie chéefteine sir Robert Knolles accompanied with the L. Fitz Walter the lord Granson sir Alaine Buxhull sir Iohn Bourchier sir William Meuille sir Geffrey Wourseley and diuerse other noblemen knights and worthie capteins About the same time the king of England concluded an abstinence of warre with the Scots for line 30 the tearme of nine yeares yet so that the Scots might arme themselues and at their pleasure serue and take wages either of the English or French by reason whereof sir Robert Knolles had in his companie an hundred speares of the realme of Scotland When this armie had lien and rested in Calis about the space of seauen daies sir Robert Knolles caused euerie man to depart the towne and to take the fields marching the first daie néere to the castell line 40 of Fiennes and there lodged for that night The whole number of this armie was not aboue twelue thousand men Froissard saith they were but fiftéene hundred speares foure thousand archers Within the castell of Fiennes was the constable of France that was lord thereof with such a
vnburnt The Englishmen Gauntiners that were withdrawne into Berge got togither all the waggons in the countrie about placing the same vpon the diches and rampiers to fortifie the same against their enimies line 20 Some write that after the breaking of the siege at Ypres the bishop of Norwich would gladlie haue persuaded the lords and knights that were there with him to haue entred into Picardie and there to haue offered the French king battell before his whole puissance had beene assembled but sir Thomas Triuet and sir William Elmham with other would in no wise consent therevnto so that the bishop taking with him sir Hugh Caluerlie that did neuer forsake him bad the other farewell and first making a road line 30 into Picardie he after withdrew into Grauelin whiles the other went to Bruckburge But by Froissard and other writers it appeareth that sir Hugh was certeinlie at Berge with other that were retired thither in purpose to defend it against the French king who still followed them and recouered diuerse places out of their hands by force as Mont Cassell the castell of Crincham and other Also at his comming to Berghen the said sir Hugh Caluerlie and other that were within it perceiuing that they were line 40 not able to defend it against such a puissance as the French king had there with him being greater than euer sir Hugh Caluerlie that ancient capteine wold haue thought that France had béene able to haue set foorth departed and left the towne to be spoiled of the Britons and other French souldiers which executed there all kinds of crueltie The more part of the Englishmen went to Bruckburge but sir Hugh Caluerlie went to Grauelin and so to Calis as one sore displeased in his mind for that his counsell could not line 50 be regarded in all this voiage which if it had béene followed would haue brought it to a better issue than now it was as was supposed The French king following the tract of good fortune that guided his sterne marched foorth to Bruckburge so that the vaward of his armie came before that towne on Holie rood daie in September vnder the leading of the earle of Flanders the duke of Britaine the lord Oliuer de Clisson high constable of France and the lord Ualeran earle of S. Paule line 60 the which demeaned themselues in such sort that although the Englishmen within valiantlie defended the Frenchmens assault yet the third daie after the Frenchmens comming thither the Englishmen by composition that they might depart with bag and bagage yeelded vp the towne which on the ninetenth of September being saturdaie as that yeare came about was abandoned to the French souldiers to rifle and spoile at their pleasure in the which feat the Britons bare the bell awaie dooing more mischeefe vnto the poore inhabitants than with toong can be recited The duke of Britaine holpe greatlie to make the composition that the Englishmen might depart in safetie for the which dooing he was in great hatred and obloquie of the souldiers who affirmed that he was not onelie a friend to the Englishmen but an enimie to his countrie and a traitour to the common-wealth The Englishmen comming to Grauelin set it on fire and departed streight to Calis leauing the countrie of Flanders to the Frenchmen and so returned into England where they were not greatlie commended for their seruice but were put so farre in blame that sir Thomas Triuet sir William Elmham were committed to prison within the tower of London as men suspected of euill dealing in the deliuerie of Bruckburge and Grauelin to the Frenchmens hands for immediatlie after that they had left Grauelin the Frenchmen came thither and fortified it for a countergarison to Calis ¶ There be that write how the French king offered to giue the bishop of Norwich fiftéene thousand marks to race the towne of Grauelin and so to leaue it vnto him the bishop hauing libertie with all his people and goods to depart in safetie The bishop required to haue libertie for certeine daies to make herevnto a full and deliberate answer which was granted and in the meane time he sent into England to aduertise the king in what state he stood and how the French king laie before him with a mightie armie and therefore if he meant euer to trie battell with the Frenchmen now was the time In the same summer the king with the queene went abroad in progresse visiting in their waie the rich abbeis of the realme as Burie Thetford Norwich other going about a great part of the realme And when these newes came to him from the bishop of Norwich he was at Dauentrie in Northamptonshire and being the same time at supper he put the table from him and rising with all hast got him to horsbacke and rode in post that night changing horsse diuerse times with such spéed that he came to S. Albons about midnight and making no staie there longer than he had borowed the abbats gelding hasted foorth till he came to Westminster so that it appeared he would neuer haue rested till he had passed the sea and giuen battell to the Frenchmen But after his comming to Westminster wearied with that hastie iournie he got him to bed and liked so well of ease that he thought good to send a lieutenant in his stead to passe the seas to deliuer the bishop from danger of his enimies Herevpon was the duke of Lancaster sent for that he might with such power as was readie to passe the seas go ouer with the same and giue battell to the French king but he protracted time till the respit granted to the bishop to make answer was expired and so the bishop when he saw no succour come foorth of England raced the towne as the couenant was but monie he would not or did not receiue bicause he thought in so dooing he should offend the councell At his comming backe into England he found the duke of Lancaster at the sea side with a great power of men readie to haue come ouer although some thought that he deferred time of purpose for that he misliked of the bishops whole enterprise and now bicause it had thus quailed he blamed the bishop for his euill gouernement therein but sir Hugh Caluerlie he reteined with him a time dooing him all honour by reason of the old approoued valiancie that had béene euer found in him And this was the end of the bishop of Norwich his iournie The Scots in the meane while sate not still but made roades into England tooke and burnt the castell of Warke Moreouer whilest the siege laie before Ypres the Frenchmen armed certeine vessels and sent them to the sea namelie fiue balengers as well to intercept such as should passe betwéene England and Flanders as also to stop such as were appointed to go ouer into Gascoine that were soldiers also of the croisie appointed thither vnder the leading
appeare But now to returne to the armies where we left them After the duke was fled and Thomas Molineux slaine as before ye haue heard the armie of the lords set vpon the people that were come with the duke of Ireland as hath béene said foorth of Chesshire Lancashire and Wales and taking them as enimies spoiled them of their horsse armor bowes and arrowes The knights and esquiers had their armor and horsses againe to them restored and were reteined with the lords to serue them but the commons without either armor or weapon were sent home and had no other harme done vnto them The duke of Irelands cariage being taken letters were found in his trunkes or males which the king had written to him exhorting him with all spéed to repaire vnto London with what power he might make and there he should find him readie to liue and die with him Such was the conclusion of this battell which happened néere vnto Burford fast by Bablake to the great reioising of manie through the realme for that the enimies thereof as they tooke the matter were thus ouerthrowne But yet the escaping awaie of the duke of Ireland did somewhat mitigate their ioy for what was become of him it was vncerteine After this the duke of Glocester and the other lords went to Oxford being sorie that their fortune was not to haue taken the duke of Ireland line 10 At the same time or rather before the archbishop of Yorke and the lord chiefe iustice sir Robert Trisilian fearing the indignation of the lords withdrew out of the waie and durst not be séene But now the lords who after the iournie at Radcote bridge were come as ye haue heard to Oxford we find that the same time a brute was raised whether of truth or not we haue neither to affirme nor denie how there was a messenger taken being sent from the French line 20 king with letters in which was conteined a licence of safe conduct for the king of England the duke of Ireland and others to come to Bullongue with a certeine number limited where they should find the French king come downe thither readie to receiue them to the end that for a certeine summe of monie which the French king should giue to the king of England the towne of Calis and all the fortresses in those parts which were in the Englishmens hands should be deliuered to the Frenchmen and further line 30 that the king of England should doo his homage to the French king for the lands which he held in Gascoigne and so to haue acknowledged himselfe his liege man The lords as was reported hauing got these letters and taken counsell togither how to procéed in their businesse to bring the same to good end remoued from Oxford and on Christmas euen they came to S. Albons and there staied that daie and the next On saint Stephans daie they tooke their waie to line 40 London with an armie of fortie thousand men as some write comming into the fields besides Clerkenwell mustered their men being diuided in thrée seuerall battels verie well appointed with armor and weapon that it was a beautifull sight to behold them The king kept his Christmas not at Westminster but in the Tower not douting but there to be defended what chance soeuer should happen The lords mistrusting the Londoners lodged them with their people in the suburbs They sent yet two knights and line 50 two esquiers vnto the Maior and Aldermen of the citie to vnderstand whether they were minded to take part with them or with the duke of Ireland and his adherents traitors as they tearmed them both to the king and the realme The Londoners were now in no small feare and perplexitie not knowing well what waie was best for them to take weieng diuers perils as first the kings displeasure if they opened their gates vnto the lords and if they shut them foorth they feared the indignation and wrath of the line 60 commons that were come thither with the lords and were readie to breake downe their wals and gates if they were neuer so little prouoked Besides this they stoode most in doubt least if the wealthiest citizens should not giue their consent to receiue the lords into the citie the meaner sort and such as wished rather to sée some hurlie burlie than to continue in peace would séeke by force to set open the gates and make waie for the lords and their people to enter that they might make hauocke and spoile whatsoeuer might be found of value in the rich mens houses These doubts with all the circumstances being well weied and considered the Maior Nicholas Exton and certeine of the chiefe men in the citie went foorth to the lords and offered them to lodge in the citie at their pleasure with all things necessarie as they should deuise The Maiâ—â— caused also wine ale bread and chéese to be distributed among the armie so as ech one had part which courtesie turned greatlie afterwards to the commoditie of the citie The lords vpon search made perceiuing that there was no guile meant by laieng of men in ambushes within the citie to intrappe them or otherwise but that all was sure inough and cleare without anie such euill meâ—ning they entred the citie and there abode quietlie Then went the archbishop of Canturburie and others betwixt the king and the lords to make peace betwixt them But the king at the first séemed little to estéeme the matter saieng to the archbishop Well let them lie here with their great multitude of people hardlie till they haue spent all they haue and then I trust they will returne poore inough and néedie and then I doubt not but I shall talke with them and vse the matter so as iustice maie require The lords being informed hereof were maruelouslie mooued and sware that they would not depart till they had spoken with him face to face and foorthwith they sent part of their companies to watch the Thames for feare the king should scape their hands and then laugh them to scorne When the king then perceiued himselfe to be inclosed on ech side he talked eftsoones with the archbishop and his associats that were messengers betwixt him and the lords willing them to declare to the lords that he would be contented to treat with them in reasonable order wherevpon they required that he should on the morow next insuing come vnto Westminster where he should vnderstand their demands When the king heard that he refused to come vnto Westminster but willed that they should come to him there in the Tower The lords sent him word againe that the Tower was a place to be suspected for that they might there be surprised by some guilefull practise deuised to intrap them The king herevnto made answer that they might send some two hundred men or so manie as they should thinke good to make a through search whether they néeded to
an act prouided against those that committed any wilfull murder that none should presume to sue for their pardon A duke or an archbishop that so sued should forfeit to the king an hundred pounds Likewise an earle or a bishop an hundred marks c. Moreouer in this parlement it was granted that the king should haue of euerie sacke of wooll fortie shillings of the which ten shillings should be applied presentlie to the kings vses and thirtie shillings residue of the fourtie shillings should remaine in the hands of the treasurors towards the bearing forth of the charges of wars when any chanced ¶ Also there line 10 was a subsidie granted of six pence in the pound foure pence to the vse last mentioned and two pence to be imploied at the kings pleasure In the same parlement Iohn duke of Lancaster was created duke of Aquitaine receiuing at the kings hand the rod and cap as inuestures of that dignitie Also the duke of Yorke his sonne and heire was created earle of Rutland In the fift of March a sore and terrible wind rose with the violence whereof much hurt was doone houses ouerthrowne cattell destroied and trees line 20 ouerturned After this insued great mortalitie by pestilence so that much youth died euerie where in cities and townes in passing great numbers Herewith followed a great dearth of corne so that a bushell of wheat in some places was sold at thirtéene pence which was thought to be at a great price ¶ About the feast of S. Peter ad Vincula Iohn duke of Lancaster caused a great méeting of the nobles and péeres of the realme to hunt at Leicester in the forrest and all the parkes there to him apperteining On line 30 the saturdaie the king and quéene were present the archbishop of Yorke the duke of Yorke Thomas Woodstoke duke of Glocester the earle of Arundell Iohn of Holland the earle of Huntington with other bishops lords and ladies a great manie and on thursdaie next following the king departing from thence towards Notingham soiourned with the lord of Beaumont besides Loughborrow In this thirtéenth yeare of king Richards reigne the christians tooke in hand a iournie against the Saracens line 40 of Barbarie through sute of the Genowais so that there went a great number of lords knights and gentlemen of France and England the duke of Burbon being their generall Out of England there went one Iohn de Beaufort bastard son to the duke of Lancaster as Froissard hath noted also sir Iohn Russell sir Iohn Butler and others They set forward in the latter end of this thirtéenth yeare and came to Genoa where they remained not long but that the gallies and other vessels of the Genowais were readie line 50 to passe them ouer into Barbarie And so about Midsummer in the beginning of the fourteenth yeare of this kings reigne the whole armie being imbarked sailed foorth to the coasts of Barbarie where neare to the citie of Affrike they landed at which instant the English archers as some write stood all the companie in good stead with their long bowes beating backe the enimies from the shore which came downe to resist their landing After they had got to land they inuironed the citie line 60 of Affrike called by the moores Mahemedia with a strong siege but at length constrained with the intemperancie of the scalding aire in that hot countrie bréeding in the armie sundrie diseases they fell to a composition vpon certeine articles to be performed in the behalfe of the Saracens and so 61 daies after their first arriuall there they tooke the seas againe returned home as in the histories of France and Italie is likewise expressed Where by Polydor Virgil it may séeme that the lord Henrie of Lancaster earle of Derbie should be capteine of the English men that as before ye haue heard went into Barbarie with the Frenchmen and Genowais It should otherwise appeare by other writers who affirme that the said earle made a iournie in deed the same time against the miscreants not into Barbarie but into Prutzenland where he shewed good proofe of his noble and valiant courage for ioining with the masters and knights of the Dutch order there the armie of the Lithuanians that came against the said order was vanquished and foure chiefe leaders of the Lithuanians were taken prisoners thrée other being slaine with thrée hundred of their chiefest and best approoued soldiers Through the policie also and worthie manhood of the earle of Derbie there was a certeine citie taken where the said earle and his men first entring vpon the walles did set vp his banner other being slouthfull or at the least vnskilfull how to deale in such exploits There were taken and slaine foure thousand of the common people and amongst them that were found dead the king of Polognies brother was one The castell of the same citie was besieged fiue weekes space but by reason of sickenesse and such infirmities as chanced in the armie the masters of Prutzen and Lifeland would not tarie any longer but brake vp their siege and returned The master of Lifeland led with him into his countrie thrée thousand prisoners In the meane time whilest the christians were thus occupied as well against the infidels in Barbarie as in the east parts towards Littawe a roiall iusts and martiall turnament was proclaimed to be holden within Smithfield in London to begin on sundaie next after the feast of saint Michaell And bicause this triumphant pastime was published not onelie in England but also in Scotland in Almaine in Flanders in Brabant in Heinault in France manie strangers came hither foorth of diuerse countries namelie Ualeran erle of saint Paule that had married king Richards sister the ladie Mauld de Courtnie and William the yoong erle of Osteruant sonne to Albert de Bauiere earle of Holland and Heinault At the daie appointed when all things were prepared there issued foorth of the tower about thrée of the clocke in the after noone sixtie coursers apparelled for the iustes and vpon euerie one an esquier of honor riding a soft pace Then came foorth foure and twentie ladies of honour three score saith Froissard mounted on palfries riding on the one side richlie apparelled and euerie ladie led a knight with a chaine of gold Those knights being on the kings part had their armor and apparell garnished with white hearts and crownes of gold about their necks and so they came riding through the stréets of London vnto Smithfield with a great number of trumpets and other instruments before them The king and the queene with manie other great states were readie placed in chambers richlie adorned to see the iusts and when the ladies that led the knights were come to the place they were taken downe from their palfries and went vp into chambers readie prepared for them Then alighted the esquires of honor from their coursers the knights in good
maior and the shiriffes and sent them home to their houses setting ouer them notwithstanding a new kéeper or gouernour of the citie and reseruing in his hand all the priuileges of the citie In the meane time on the sundaie next after the feast of the Assumption of the blessed virgin Marie all the wealthiest and worthiest commoners of the citie came to the king and submitted themselues and all their goods to his grace and then did he first receiue and take them into his fauour On the wednesdaie insuing the kiâ—g was purposed to come into London and the citizens in multitudes innumerable met him on horssebacke they â—hat had no horsses went out on foot to welcome him thither women also and infants shewed themselues vnto him likewise the bishop of London with all the clergie no order degree condition estate or sex of ecclesiasticall dignitie being excused went out in procession to meet the king and the quéene with great reioising It was reported how in that procession there were aboue fiue hundred boies in surplisses Moreouer the citizens of London trimmed the outsides of their houses and chambers in euerie stréet through which the king and the queene were to passe from S. Georges to Westminster As for the houses of the welthier sort they were brauelie garnished with â—loth of gold siluer tissue veluet other sumptuous stuffe whatsoeuer by any possible means could be gotten In Cheapside there was a conduit out of the which two spouts ran with read wine white and vpon the conduit stood a little boie apparelled in white like an angell hauing a golden cup in his hand who presented wine to the king and queene to drinke as they passed by In the meane time they offered to the king a golden crowne of great value and another golden crowne to the quéene and a while after passing forwards they presented to the king a golden tablet of the Trinitie to the value of eight hundred pounds and to the queene another golden tablet of S. Anne whome she had in speciall deuotion and reuerence bicause hir owne name was Anne Such and so great and so wonderfull honors did they to the king as the like in former times was neuer doone to anie king of this realme and so going forward they brought the king and the quéene to Westminster hall The king sitting in his seat roiall all the people standing before him one in the kings behalfe as his speaker gaue the people thanks for the great honour and princelie presents which they had bestowed vpon the king and being bidden to fall euerie man to his businesse and affaires it was told them that in the next parlement they should haue their finall answer At the same time the duke of Glocester hauing receiued monie to leauie an armie which he should haue conueied ouer into Ireland of which countrie a good while before that present the king had made him duke was now readie to set forward when suddenlie through the malice of some priuie detractours about the king he was contermanded and so his iournie was staied to the great hinderance and preiudice of both the countries of England and Ireland for euen vpon the fame that was bruted of his comming into Ireland in manner all the Irish lords determined to submit themselues vnto him so greatlie was his name boâ—h loued reuerenced and feared euen among those wild and sauage people This yeare Robert Uéere late earle of Oxenford and duke of Ireland departed this life at Louaine in Brabant in great anguish of mind miserable necessitie which yoong gentleman doubtlesse was apt to all commendable exercises and parts fit for a noble man if in his youth he had béene well trained and brought vp in necessarie discipline year 1393 This yeare after Christmasse a parlement was called at Winchester in which onelie a grant was made by the cleargie of halfe a tenth for the expenses of the duke of Lancaster Glocester that were appointed to go ouer into France to treat of peace betwixt the two kingdomes The courts of the kings bench and chancerie which had béene remooued from Westminster to Yorke either in disfauour onelie of the Londoners or in fauour of the citizens of Yorke for that the archbishop of that citie being lord chancellor line 10 wished to aduance so farre as in him laie the commoditie and wealth thereof were neuerthelesse about this season brought backe againe to Westminster after they had remained a small time at Yorke to the displeasure of manie ¶ This yeare the lord Auberie de Ueere vncle to the late duke of Ireland was made earle of Oxenford ¶ The two and twentish of Februarie Iohn Eures constable of Douer castell lord steward of the kings house departed this life in whose roome the lord Thomas line 20 Persie that before was vicechamberlaine was created lord steward and the lord Thomas Beaumont was made constable of Douer and lord warden of the cinque ports and the lord William Scroope was made vicechamberlaine who about the same time bought of the lord William Montacute the Ile of Man with the regalitie therof for it is a kingdome as Thomas Walsingham affirmeth The dukes of Lancaster and Glocester went ouer vnto Calis and downe to Bullongne came the line 30 dukes of Berrie and Burgognie These noblemen were sufficientlie furnished with authoritie to conclude a perfect peace both by sea and land betweene the two realmes of France and England and all their alies The place appointed for them to treat in was at Balingham where tents and pauilions were pight vp for the ease of both parties They met there twise or thrise a wéeke in a faire tent prepared for the purpose about nine of the clocke in the forenoone This was about the beginning of Maie When they line 40 entered first into communication and had séene each others authoritie one of the first demands that the Frenchmen made was to haue Calis raced in such wise as there should neuer be anie habitation there after that time The dukes of Lancaster and Glocester answered herevnto how they had no authoritie to conclude so farre but that England should hold Calis still as in demesne and true inheritance and therefore if they purposed to enter any further in the treatie of peace they should ceasse from that demand and speake no more thereof When the dukes of Berrie line 50 and Burgognie heard their two cousins of England answer so roundlie they spake no more of that matter Then the dukes of Lancaster and Glocester demanded to haue restitution of all such lands as had béene deliuered either to king Richard or to king Edward the third or to anie their deputies or commissioners and also to haue fullie paid the summe of florens that was left vnpaid at the time when the line 60 warre reuiued betwixt England and France and this the English lawiers prooued to stand with equitie and reason But
in the church betwixt the two factions of cardinals French and Romane for one of their popes could no sooner be dead but that they ordeined an other in his line 30 place In this eighteenth yeare also was a woonderfull tempest of wind in the months of Iulie and August and also most speciallie in September by violence whereof in sundrie places of this realme great and woonderfull hurt was doone both in churches and houses ¶ The ambassadors that had béene latelie in France about the treatie of the marriage as before yée haue heard went thither againe and so after that the two kings by sending to and fro were growne line 40 to certeine points and couenants of agreement the earle marshall by letters of procuration married the ladie Isabell in name of king Richard so that from thencefoorth she was called quéene of England Amongst other couenants and articles of this marriage there was a truce accorded to indure betwixt the two realms of England and France for tearme of thirtie yeares The pope wrote to king Richard beseeching him to assist the prelats against the Lollards as they tearmed them whom he pronounced to line 50 be traitors both to the church and kingdome and therefore he besought him to take order for the punishment of them whom the prelats should denounce to be heretikes At the same time he sent a bull reuocatorie concerning religious men that had either at his hands or at the hands of his legats or nuncios purchased to be his chapleins and accompting themselues thereby exempt from their order so that now they were by this reuocatorie bull appointed to returne to their line 60 order and to obserue all rules thereto belonging This liked the friers well namelie the minors that sought by all means they might deuise how to bring their brethren home againe which by such exemptions in being the popes chapleins were segregated diuided from the residue of their fraternitie or brotherhood The king in this twentith yeare of his reigne went ouer to Calis with his vncles the dukes of Yorke and Glocester and a great manie of other lords and ladies of honour and thither came to him the duke of Burgognie and so they communed of â—he peace There was no enimie to the conclusion thereof but the duke of Glocester who shewed well by his words that he wished rather war than peace in somuch as the king stood in doubt of him least he would procure some rebellion against him by his subiects whome he knew not to fauour greatlie this new aliance with France The king after the duke of Burgognie had talked with him throughlie of all things and was departed from him returned into England leauing the ladies still at Calis to open the couenants of the marriage and peace vnto his subiects and after he had finished with that businesse and vnderstood their minds he went againe to Calis and with him his two vncles of Lancaster and Glocester and diuerse prelats and lords of the realme and shortlie after came the French king to the bastide of Arde accompanied with the dukes of Burgâ—gnie Berrie Britaine and Burbon There was set vp for the king of England a right faire and rich pauilion a little beyond Guisnes within the English pale and another the like pauilion was pight vp also for the French king on this side Arde within the French dominion so that betwéene the said pauilions was the distance of thréescore ten pases and in the midwaie betwixt them both was ordeined the third pauilion at the which both kings comming from either of their tents sundrie times should méet and haue communication togither The distance betwixt the two tents was beset on either side in time of the interview with knights armed with their swords in their hands that is to say on the one side stood foure hundred French knights in armor with swords in their hands and on the other side foure hundred English knights armed with swords in their hands making as it were a lane betwixt them through the which the two kings came and met with such noble men as were appointed to attend them And a certeine distance from the two first pauilions were appointed to stand such companies of men as either of them by appointment had couenanted to bring with them The two kings before their méeting receiued a solemne oth for assurance of their faithfull and true meaning to obserue the sacred lawes of amitie one toward an other in that their interview so as no damage violence molestation arrest disturbance or other inconuenience should be practised by them or their friends and subiects and that if anie disorder rose through anie mishappe arrogancie or strife mooued by anie person the same should be reformed promising in the words of princes to assist one an other in suppressing the malice of such as should presume to doo or attempt anie thing that might sound to the breach of friendlie amitie during the time of that assemblie eight daies before and seuen daies after On the six and twentith of October the king of England remooued from Calis toward the castell of Guisnes and wiâ—h him the duke of Berrie who was sent to take his oth The morow after being the euen of Simon and Iude the kings met and the lords of France to wit the duke of Berrie Burgogne Orleans and Burbon the earle of Sauoie the vicount of Meaux and others conueied the king of England and from him were sent to conduct the French king diuerse of the English lords as the two dukes of Lancaster and Glocester foure earles to wit of Derbie Rutland Notingham and Northumberland After the two kings were come togither into the tent for that purpose prepared it was first accorded betwixt them that in the same place where they thus met should be builded of both their costs a chapell for a perpetuall memorie which should be called The chapell of our ladie of peace On saturdaie being the feast daie of the apostles Simon and Iude the kings talked togither of certeine articles touching the treatie of peace and hauing concluded vpon the same they receiued either of them an oth vpon the holie Euangelists to obserue and kéepe all the couenants accorded vpon On the mondaie the French king came to the king of England his pauillion and the same time was brought thither the yoong quéene Isabell daughter to the French king who there deliuered hir vnto king Richard who taking hir by the hand kissed hir gaue to hir father great thanks for that so honorable line 10 and gratious a gift openlie protesting that vpon the conditions concluded betwixt them he did receiue hir that by such affinitie both the realmes might continue in quietnesse and come to a good end and perfect conclusion of a perpetuall peace The quéene was committed to the duchesses of Lancaster Glocester to the countesses of Huntington and Stafford to the marchâ—onesse of
reasonable fine whereby it was euident that the king meant his vtter vndooing This hard dealing was much misliked of all the nobilitie line 40 and cried out against of the meaner sort but namelie the duke of Yorke was therewith sore mooued who before this time had borne things with so patient a mind as he could though the same touched him verie néere as the death of his brother the duke of Glocester the banishment of his nephue the said duke of Hereford and other mo iniuries in great number which for the slipperie youth of the king he passed ouer for the time and did forget aswell as he might But now perceiuing that neither law iustice line 50 nor equitie could take place where the kings wilfull will was bent vpon any wrongfull purpose he considered that the glorie of the publike wealth of his countrie must néeds decaie by reason of the king his lacke of wit and want of such as would without flatterie admonish him of his dutie and therefore he thought it the part of a wise man to get him in time to a resting place and to leaue the following of such an vnaduised capteine as with a leden sword would cut his owne throat Herevpon he with the duke of Aumarle his sonne line 60 went to his house at Langlie reioising that nothing had mishappened in the common-wealth through his deuise or consent The common brute ran that the king had set to farme the realme of England vnto sir William Scroope earle of Wiltshire and then treasuror of England to sir Iohn Bushie sir Iohn Bagot and sir Henrie Gréene knights ¶ About the same time the earle of Arundels sonne named Thomas which was kept in the duke of Exeters house escaped out of the realme by meanes of one William Scot mercer and went to his vncle Thomas Arundell late archbishop of Canturburie as then soiourning at Cullen King Richard being destitâ—â—e 〈…〉 〈…〉 when they rose in armor against him The nobles gentlemen and commons of those shires were inforced also to receiue a new oth to assure the king of their fidelitie in time to come and withall certeine prelats and other honorable personagâ—s were sent into the same shires to persuade men to this painâ—ent and to sée things ordered at the pleasure of the prince and suerlie the fines which the nobles and other the meaner estates of those shires were constreined to paie were not small but excéeding great to the offense of manie Moreouer the kings letters patents were sent into euerie shire within this land by vertue whereof an oth was demanded of all the kings liege people for a further assurance of their due obedience and they were constreined to ratifie the same in writing vnder their hands and seales Moreouer they were compelled to put their hands and seales to certeine blankes wherof ye haue heard before in the which when it pleased him he might write what he thought good There was also a new oth deuised for the shiriffes of euerie countie through the realme to receiue finallie manie of the kings liege people were through spite enuie and malice accused apprehended put in prison and after brought before the constable and marshall of England in the court of chiualrie and might not otherwise be deliuered except they could iustifie themselues by combat and fighting in lists against their accusers hand to hand although the accusers for the most part were lustie yoong and valiant where the parties accused were perchance old impotent maimed and sicklie Wherevpon not onelie the great destruction of the realme in generall but also of euerie singular person in particular was to be feared and looked for ¶ About this time the bishop of Calcedon came into England with letters apostolicall of admonition that the faithfull and loiall of the land should of their goods disbursse somewhat to the emperour of Constantinople who was extremelie vexed and troubled by the Tartars and their capteine called Morect And to the intent that the peeres of the land might be made the more willing and toward to bestow their contribution in this behalfe the pope granted vnto all benefactors trulie contrite and confessed full remission and wrapped in his bitter censures all such as hindered those that were willing to bestow their beneuolence in this case considering that although the emperour was a schismatike yet was he a christian and if by the infidels he should be oppressed all christendome was in danger of ruine hauing in his mind that saieng of the poet full fit for his purpose Tunc tuares agitur paries cùm proximus ardet ¶ In this yeare in a manner throughout all the realme of England old baie trées withered and afterwards contrarie to all mens thinking grew greene againe a strange sight and supposed to import some vnknowne euent ¶ In this meane time the king being aduertised that the wild Irish dailie wasted and destroied the townes and villages within the English pale and had slaine manie of the souldiers which laie there in garison for defense of that countrie determined to make eftsoones a voiage thither prepared all things necessarie for his passage now against the spring A little before his setting foorth he caused a iusts to be holden at Windesor of fourtie knights and fourtie esquiers against all commers they to be apparelled in gréene with a white falcon and the queene to be there well accompanied with ladies and damsels When these iusts were finished the king departed toward Bristow from thence to passe into Ireland leauing the queene with line 10 hir traine still at Windesor he appointed for his lieutenant generall in his absence his vncle the duke of Yorke and so in the moneth of Aprill as diuerse authors write he set forward from Windesor and finallie tooke shipping at Milford and from thence with two hundred ships and a puissant power of men of armes and archers he sailed into Ireland The fridaie next after his arriuall there were slaine two hundred Irishmen at Fourd in Kenlis within the countie of Kildare by that valiant gentleman line 20 Ienico Dartois and such Englishmen as he had there with him and on the morrow next insuing the citizens of Dublin inuaded the countrie of Obrin and slue thirtie and thrée Irishmen The king also after he had remained about seuen daies at Waterford marched from thence towards Kilkennie and comming thither staied thereabout fourteene daies looking for the duke of Aumarle that was appointed to haue met him but he failed and came not wherevpon the king on Midsummer euen line 30 set forward againe marching streight towards the countrie of Macmur the principall rebell in that season within Ireland who kéeping himselfe among woods with three thousand right hardie men seémed to passe little for any power that might be brought against him Yet the king approching to the skirts of the woods commanded his soldiers to fier the houses and villages
disobeieng the arrest he should be dispatched out of life And in this maner ye imagined his death To the which I answered that it were conuenient the king should send for his councell and if they agréed herevnto I would not be against it and so I departed To this Bagot made no answer line 50 After this the king commanded that the lords Berkleie and Louell and sir knights of the lower house should go after dinner to examine the said Hall This was on a thursdaie being the fiftéenth of October On the saturdaie next insuing sir William Bagot and the said Iohn Hall were brought both to the barre and Bagot was examined of certeine points and sent againe to prison The lord Fitzwater herewith rose vp and said to the king that where the duke of Aumarle excuseth himselfe of the duke line 60 of Glocesters death I say quoth he that he was the verie cause of his death and so he appealed him of treason offering by throwing downe his hood as a gage to proue it with his bodie There were twentie other lords also that threw downe their hoods as pledges to proue the like matter against the duke of Aumarle The duke of Aumarle threw downe his hood to trie it against the lord Fitzwater as against him that lied falselie in that he had charged him with by that his appeale These gages were deliuered to the constable and marshall of England and the parties put vnder arrest The duke of Surrie stood vp also against the lord Fitzwater auouching that where he had said that the appellants were causers of the duke of Glocesters death it was false for they were constrained to sue the same appeale in like manner as the said lord Fitzwater was compelled to giue iudgement against the duke of Glocester and the earle of Arundell so that the suing of the appeale was doone by constraint and if he said contrarie he lied and therewith he threw downe his hood The lord Fitzwater answered herevnto that he was not present in the parlement house when iudgement was giuen against them and all the lords bare witnesse thereof Moreouer where it was alledged that the duke of Aumarle should send two of his seruants to Calis to murther the duke of Glocester the said duke of Aumarle said that if the duke of Norfolke affirme it he lied falselie and that he would proue with his bodie throwing downe an other hood which he had borowed The same was likewise deliuered to the constable and marshall of England and the king licenced the duke of Norfolke to returne that he might arraigne his appeale After this was Iohn Hall condemned of treason by authoritie of the parlement for that he had confessed himselfe to be one of them that put the duke of Glocester to death at Calis and so on the mondaie following he was drawne from the Tower to Tiburne and there hanged bowelled headed and quartered his head being sent to Calis there to be set vp where the duke was murthered On wednesdaie following request was made by the commons that sith king Richard had resigned and was lawfullie deposed from his roiall dignitie he might haue iudgement decréed against him so as the realme were not troubled by him and that the causes of his deposing might be published through the realme for satisfieng of the people which demand was granted Wherevpon the bishop of Carleill a man both learned wise and stout of stomach boldlie shewed foorth his opinion concerning that demand affirming that there was none amongst them woorthie or meet to giue iudgement vpon so noble a prince as king Richard was whom they had taken for their souereigne and liege lord by the space of two twentie yeares and more And I assure you said he there is not so ranke a traitor nor so errant a théef nor yet so cruell a murtherer apprehended or deteined in prison for his offense but he shall be brought before the iustice to heare his iudgement and will ye procéed to the iudgement of an anointed king hearing neither his answer nor excuse I say that the duke of Lancaster whom ye call king hath more trespassed to K. Richard his realme than king Richard hath doone either to him or vs for it is manifest well knowne that the duke was banished the realme by K. Richard and his councell and by the iudgement of his owne father for the space of ten yeares for what cause ye know and yet without licence of king Richard he is returned againe into the realine and that is woorse hath taken vpon him the name title preheminence of king And therfore I say that you haue doone manifest wrong to procéed in anie thing against king Richard without calling him openlie to his answer and defense ¶ As soone as the bishop had ended this tale he was attached by the earle marshall and committed to ward in the abbeie of faint Albons Moreouer where the king had granted to the earle of Westmerland the countie of Richmond the duke of Britaine pretending a right thereto by an old title had sent his letters ouer vnto the estates assembled in this parlement offering to abide such order as the law would appoint in the like case to anie of the kings subiects Wherevpon the commons for the more suertie of the intercourse of merchants besought the king that the matter might be committed to the ordering of the councell of either of the parties and of his counsell so as an end might be had therein which request was likewise granted After this the records of the last parlement were shewed with the appeales the commission made to twelue persons to determine things that were motioned in the same last parlement Héerevpon the commons praied that they might haue iustice Markham and maister Gascoigne a sergeant at the law ioined with them for counsell touching the perusing of the records which was granted them and day giuen ouer line 10 till the next morrow in the White-hall where they sat about these matters thrée daies togither On the morrow following being the éeuen of Simon and Iude the apostles the commons required to heare the iudgement of king Richard Wherevpon the archbishop of Canturburie appointed to speake declared how that the king that now is had granted king Richard his life but in such wise as he should remaine in perpetuall prison so safelie kept that neither the king nor realme should be troubled with line 20 him It was also concluded that if anie man went about to deliuer him that then he should be the first that should die for it After this the commons praied that the lords and other that were of king Richards counsell might be put to their answers for their sundrie misdemeanors which was granted On Wednesday following being the morrow after the feast of Simon and Iude all the processe of the parlement holden the 21 yéere of king Richards reigne was read openlie in which
gladlie heare and either determined them himselfe or else for end committed them to others He slept verie little but that verie soundlie in so much that when his soldiers soong at nights or minstrels plaied he then slept fastest of courage inuincible of purpose vnmutable so wise-hardie alwaies as feare was banisht from him at euerie alarum he first in armor and formost in ordering In time of warre such was his prouidence bountie and hap as he had true intelligence not onelie what his enimies did but what they said and intended of his deuises and purposes few before the thing was at the point to be done should be made priuie He had such knowledge in ordering and guiding an armie with such a gift to incourage his people that the Frenchmen had constant opinion he could neuer be vanquished in battell Such wit such prudence and such policie withall that he neuer enterprised any thing before he had fullie debated and forecast all the maine chances that might happen which doone with all diligence and courage he set his purpose forward What policie he had in finding present remedies for sudden mischeeues and what engines in sauing himselfe and his people in sharpe distresses were it not that by his acts they did plainlie appeare hard were it by words to make them credible Wantonnesse of life and thirst in auarice had he quite quenched in him vertues in deed in such an estate of souereigntie youth and power as verie rare so right commendable in the highest degrée So staied of mind and countenance beside that neuer iolie or triumphant for victorie nor sad or damped for losse or misfortune For bountifulnesse and liberalitie no man more frée gentle and franke in bestowing rewards to all persons according to their deserts for his saieng was that he neuer desired monie to kéepe but to giue and spend Although that storie properlie serues not for theme of praise or dispraise yet what in breuitie may well be remembred in truth would not be forgotten by sloth were it but onlie to remaine as a spectacle for magnanimitie to haue alwaies in eie and for incouragement to nobles in honourable enterprises Knowen be it therefore of person and forme was this prince rightlie representing his heroicall affects of stature and proportion tall and manlie rather leane than grose somewhat long necked and blacke haired of countenance amiable eloquent and graue was his spéech and of great grace and power to persuade for conclusion a maiestie was he that both liued died a paterne in princehood a lode-starre in honour and mirrour of magnificence the more highlie exalted in his life the more déepelie lamented at his death and famous to the world alwaie Peter Basset a chéefe man in his chamber affirmed that he deceassed of a pleurisie though the Scots and French set it downe to be of saint Feacres disease that they saie was a palsie with a crampe which Enguerant reports to be saint Anthonies fire but neither of them trulie ¶ Anglorum praelia saith that it was a sharpe feuer which happening vnto him wearied with the broiles of warre in a verie vnseasonable time of the yeare namelie the dog daies tormented him the sorer and grew to be not onelie dangerous but also desperat for it left him not till life was extinguished the poets report is as followeth Interea fractúmque aestu nimióque labore Corripit Henricum languentem febris acuta Coeli intemperies sextili Sirius ardens Virus pestiferi fecit ingrandescere morbi His bodie imbalmed and closed in lead was laid in a chariot roiall richlie apparelled with cloth of gold Upon his coffin was laid a representation of his person adorned with robes diadem scepter ball line 10 like a king the which chariot six horsses drew richlie trapped with seuerall appointments the first with the armes of S. George the second with the armes of Normandie the third of king Arthur the fourth of saint Edward the fift of France and the sixt with the armes of England and France On this same chariot gaue attendance Iames K. of Scots the principall mourner king Henries vncle Thomas duke of Excester Richard earle of Warwike the earle of March Edmund the earle of Stafford line 20 Humfrie the earle of Mortaigne Edmund Beaufort the lord Fitz Hugh Henrie the lord Hungerford Walter sir Robert Robsert lord Bourchier sir Iohn Cornwall lord Fanhope and the lord Crumwell were the other mourners The lord Louell the lord Audeleie the lord Morleie the lord Sowch bare the baners of saints and auoouries as then they were called the baron of Dudleie bare the standard and the earle of Longuile the baner The hachments were caried onelie by capteins to the number of line 30 twelue and round about the chariot rode fiue hundred men of armes all in blacke armour their horsses barbed blacke and they with the but ends of theâ—â— speares vpwards The conduct of this dolorous funerall was committed to sir William Philip treasuror of the kings houshold and to sir William Porter his cheefe caruer and others Beside this on euerie side of the chariot went thrée hundred persons holding long torches lords bearing baners baâ—erâ—ls and penons line 40 With this funerall appointment was he conueâ—ed from Bois de Uincennes to Paris and so to Rone to Abuile to Calis to Douer from thence thorough London to Westminster where he was interted with such solemne ceremonies mourning of lords praier of priests and such lamenting of commons as neuer before then the like was seâ—ne â—n England Shortlie after this solemne buriall his sorowfull quéene returned into England and kept hir estate line 50 with the yoong king hir sonne Thus ended this puissant prince his most noble and fortunate reigne whose life saith Hall though cruell Atropos abbreuiated yet neither fiâ—e malice nor â—retting time shall appall his honour or blot out the glorie of him that in so small time had doone so manie and roiall acts In this yeare the one and twentith of October deceassed the gentle and welbeloued Charles French king the sixt of 〈◊〉 name who was buried at S. Denis ¶ So that betwéene the death line 60 of these two kings namelie the one of England the other of France there was no great space of time sith Charles departed in October and Henrie in August by the priuation of whose liues which of the two realmes susteined the greater losse it is a question not to be discussed Certeine it is that they were both souereigns tenderlie loued of their subiects as they were princes greatlie fauouring their people Finallie in memorie of this Henrie the fift a king of a roiall hart and euerie waie indued with imperiall vertues I find so fit a report coâ—spiring in truth with his properties and disposition that I thinke it verie conuenient here to be inserted in place of an epitaph Henrici illustris properans mors occupat artus Ille suae patriae decus immortale per aeuum
knowledge of his approch durst not abide to trie the matter with him by a pight field but fled before he came néere them The earle in his returne wan the castell of Montdublean by surrender where he left the valiant lord Willoughbie and then returned to Paris During which season he was ordeined by the thrée estates of the realme of England to be gouernour of the yoong king in the place of the duke of Excester deceassed howbeit he did not as yet returne into England line 60 but remained in France for a season and atchieued manie worthie enterprises Whilest the lord regent of France was thus in England meanes was made by the duke of Burgognie for the deliuerie of the duke of Alanson taken at the battell of Uernoile and now for the summe of two hundred thousand crownes he was set at libertie but he would not by anie meanes acknowlege the king of England to be his liege and souereigne lord After that the duke of Bedford had set all things in good order in England year 1427 he tooke leaue of the king and togither with his wife returned into France first landing at Calis where the bishop of Winchester that also passed the seas with him râ—ceiued the habit hat and dignitie of a cardinall with all ceremonies to it apperteining which promotion the late K. right déeplie persing into the vnrestrainable ambitious mind of the man that euen from his youth was euer to checke at the highest and also right well ascerteined with what intollerable pride his head should soone be swollen vnder such a hat did therefore all his life long kéepe this prelat backe from that presumptuous estate But now the king being yoong and the regent his fréend he obteined his purpose to his great profit and the impouerishing of the spiritualtie of this realme For by a bull legantine which he purchased from Rome he gathered so much treasure that no man in maner had monie but he so that he was called the rich cardinall of Winchester After that the lord regent was arriued in France the lord of Rustinian marshall of Britaine assembled a great companie of the British nation which fortified and repared the towne of Pontorson and after the said marshall with a thousand men entered into the countrie of Constantine and comming before the towne of Auranches was incountered by the Englishmen of that garrison after long fight his people were put to the worse chased and discomfited and he himselfe taken prisoner in the field The duke of Bedford hearing that the towne of Pontorson situate within two leagues of Mont Saint Michaell was newlie fortified and stronglie defended sent thither the earle of Warwike accompanied with the lord Scales and other valiant capteins and souldiers to the number of seauen thousand men to besiege the towne who so inuironed it on euerie side that no man could steale neither in nor out The siege thus long continuing vittels began to wax scant in the English armie wherefore the lord Scales hauing in his companie sir Iohn Harpeleie bailiffe of Constantine sir William Brearton bailiffe of Caen sir Rafe Tesson sir Iohn Carbonell and three thousand good men of warre departed from the siege to get vittels powder and other things necessarie for their purpose And as they were returning with their cariages by the sea coast néere to Saint Michaels Mount they suddenlie were incountered by their enimies whereof were chéefe the baron of Coloses the lord Dausebost capteine of the said Mount the lord Mountabon the lord Montburchier the lord of Chateaugiron the lord of Tintignat the lord of Chateaubrian with six thousand men of warre The lord Scales and his companie perceiuing themselues beset on the one side with the sea on the other with their enimies alighted from their horsses and like couragious persons there in an vnspeakeable furie set on their enimies The fight was fierce cruell The Englishmen kept themselues close togither so that their enimies could get no aduantage of them At the last the lord Scales cried S. George they flée Wherevpon the Englishmen tooke such courage and the Frenchmen that fought before were so dismaied that they began to flee in deed The Englishmen leaped on horsse-backe and followed them so that they slue and tooke aboue eleuen hundred persons among the which were taken the baron of Coloses the vicount of Rone and others The lord of Chateaugiron with a Scotish capteine diuerse other men of name were slaine After this victorie the lord Scales with his vittels prouision and prisoners returned to the siege where he was of the earle and other noble men ioiouslie receiued Whilest the siege continued thus before Pontorson Christopher Hanson and other souldiers of the garrison of Saint Susan made a rode into the countrie of Aniou and came to a castell called Ramfort which castell was so priuilie scaled that the capteine within and his companie were taken or slaine before they knew of their enimies approching When knowledge hereof was giuen vnto the Frenchmen which were assembled to the number of twentie thousand to raise the siege that laie before Pontorson they left that enterprise and went to recouer the said castell of Ramfort and so comming before it planted their siege so on ech side of it that at length by composition the Englishmen within doubting to be taken by force rendered vp the castell hauing libertie to depart line 10 with bag and baggage Shortlie after the lord of Raix calling himselfe lieutenant generall for the Dolphin entred into Maine with an armie of three thousand men and by force tooke the castell of Malicorne wherof was capteine an Englishman one Oliuer Osbatersbie In like maner they tooke the little castell of Lude and therein William Blackborne lieutenant for William Glasdale esquier After this the Frenchmen returned backe to the Dolphin and kept not on their line 20 iourneie to Pontorson for that they vnderstood by espials that the earle of Warwike and the Englishmen there determined to giue them battell if they once attempted to raise the siege They within the towne being streictlie besieged perceiuing no likelihood of succours and seeing the English armie dailie increase fell to treatie for doubt to be taken by force and so rendered the towne vpon condition that they might depart with horsse and harnesse onelie Which being granted to them the erle like a valiant line 30 capteine entered into the towne and there appointed for gouernors the lord Ros and the lord Talbot and leauing there a conuenient garrison returned to the lord regent After the taking of this towne of Pontorson there was a league and treatie concluded betwéene the regent and the duke of Britaine by the articles of which agréement the townes of Pontorson and saint Iames de Beuuron were beaten downe to the ground and raced When the lord of Raix was line 40 departed out of Maine as ye haue heard Christopher Hanson Philip
capteine thereof sir Rafe Greie defended it so manfullie for the space of twentie daies that king Iames being then aduertised that the earle of Northumberland was comming to fight with him fled with no lesse losse than dishonor and inough of both line 20 Shortlie after that the duke of Burgognie had béene before Calis at the desire of princes a truce for a time was moued to be had betwéene the king of England the said duke For which cause were sent to Grauelin for the king of England Henrie Beauford cardinall of Winchester Iohn lord Mowbraie duke of Northfolke Humfrie earle of Stafford and diuerse other well learned honorable personages And for the duke of Burgognie there appeared the duchesse his wife the bishop of Arras the lord of line 30 Croie and diuerse other At this treatie a truce was taken for a small time and for a lesse obserued which was concluded betweene the king of England and the duchesse of Burgognie interlacing the duke and his name Some thinke that the king of England would neuer enter in league with him bicause he had broken his promise oth and writing sealed to him and to his father Other imagined this to be doone of a cautell to cast a mist before the French kings eies to the line 40 intent he should beléeue that this feat was wrought by the duchesse without assent or knowledge of the duke or his councell and so he was not bound to accomplish anie act or thing doone in his wiues treatie Thus may you sée that princes sometime with such vaine glosses and scornefull expositions will hide their dooings and cloke their purposes to the intent they would not either be espied or else that they may plucke their heads out of the collar at their pleasure But as the common opinion goeth he which is line 50 a promise-breaker escapeth not alwaies with impunitie For it is well seene by dailie and vsuall euents both in princes and priuat persons that for violating their faith and breaking of promise manie discommodities arise and inconueniences not a few doo follow To the due keeping whereof the heathen bare such a religious conscience that a prophane man in respect of others preferreth it before sacrifice the sentence is of great excellencie out of a pagans mouth Non boue mactato coelestia numina gaudent line 60 Sed quae praestanda est sine teste fide About this season queene Katharine mother to the king of England departed out of this life and was buried by hir husband in the abbeie of Westminster This woman after the death of king Henrie the fift hir husband being yoong and lustie following more hir owne wanton appetite than fréendlie counsell and regarding more priuate affection than prince-like honour tooke to husband priuilie a galant gentleman and a right beautifull person indued with manie goodlie gifts both of bodie mind called Owen Teuther a man descended of the noble linage and ancient line of Cadwallader last king of the Britains By this Owen she brought foorth thrée goodlie sonnes Edmund Iasper and another that was a monke in Westminster and liued a small time also a daughter which in hir youth departed out of this transitorie life King Henrie after the death of his mother bicause they were his brethren of one wombe created Edmund earle of Richmund and Iasper earle of Penbroke which Edmund of Margaret daughter and sole heire to Iohn duke of Summerset begat Henrie who after was king of this realme called Henrie the seuenth of whome ye shall heare more in place conuenient This Owen after the death of the quéene his wife was apprehended and committed toward bicause that contrarie to the statute made in the sixt yeare of this king he presumptuouslie had maried the quéene without the kings especiall assent out of which prison he escaped and let out other with him but was againe apprehended and after escaped againe ¶ Polychronicon saith that he was a squier of low birth and like degrée the same author also reporteth that he was commanded to Newgate by the duke of Glocester then lord protector of the realme out of which prison he brake by the helpe of a preest that was his chapline Neuerthelesse he was apprehended afterwards by the lord Beaumont brought againe to Newgate whence when he had remained there a while he was deliuered and set at libertie The duchesse of Bedford also sister to Lewes erle of S. Paule more for affection than increase of honour without counsell of hir freends maried a lustie yoong knight called sir Richard Wooduile to the great displeasure of hir vncle the bishop of Terwine and the earle hir brother This sir Richard was made baron of Riuers and after earle and had by this ladie manie noble sonnes and faire daughters of the which one was the ladie Elizabeth after queene of England by reason she was married vnto Edward the fourth ¶ Whilest this marriage was a celebrating Iane late quéene of England and before duchesse of Britaine daughter to the king of Nauarre and wife to king Henrie the fourth died at the manor of Hauering and was buried by hir husband at Canturburie ¶ About the same time deceassed also the countesse of Warwike and Henrie archbishop of Yorke In this yeare also the duke of Summerset accompanied with the lords of Fauconbridge Talbot sir Francis Surien the Arrogonnois Matthew Gough Thomas Paulet Thomas Harington Walter Limbrike Iohn Gedding William Watton esquiers and Thomas Hilton bailiffe of Rone with a great companie of the English partie besieged the towne of Harflue latelie before gotten by the Frenchmen both by water and land the capteine within the towne was one sir Iohn d'Estouteuille hauing his brother Robert with him and a six hundred good fighting men The assailants cast trenches and so fortified themselues in their campe and lodgings that when the earles of Ew and Dunois the valiant bastard of Bourbon the lord Gawcourt and other famous capteins with a foure thousand men sent to the rescue of them within came bâ—fore the towne they could not succour their fréends nor annoie their enimies by anie meanes they could deuise so for feare to lose honour they returned backe againe with much trauell and little profit The capteins within the towne perceiuing they could not be aided did shortlie after render the towne to the duke of Summerset who after committed it to the kéeping of Thomas Paulet William Limbrike Christopher Barber and George saint George which manie yeares till the diuision began in England manfullie and valiantlie defended both the towne and the hauen But afterward when this duke of Summerset was regent and gouernour of Normandie he not onlie lost this towne of Harflue but also the citie of Rone and the whole duchie of Normandie whereas now being but a deputie he got it to his high praise and glorie In this yeare was Iames king of Scots murthered
assembled the Frenchmen demanded amends with no small recompense The Englishmen answered that without offense nothing by iustice ought to be satisfied affirming the dooing of sir Francis Sureinnes to be onelie his act without consent either of the king of England or of the duke of Summerset his lieutenant line 20 and regent But whiles with long delaie they talked of this matter at Louuiers certeine Frenchmen by aduertisement of a wagoner of Louuiers vnderstanding that the towne of Pont de Larch was but slenderlie manned the wagoner laded his wagon and passed forward hauing in his companie two strong varlets clad like carpentars with great axes on their shoulders And hereto le seigneur de Bresse with a chosen companie of men of armes lodged himselfe in ambushment line 30 neere to the gate of S. Andrew and capteine Floquet accompanied with sir Iames de Cleremont and another great companie priuilie lurked vnder a wood toward Louuiers When all things were appointed for the purpose earlie in a morning about the beginning of October the wagoner came to the gate and called the porter by name praeing him to open the gate that he might passe to Rone and returne againe the same night The porter which well knew the voice of his customer line 40 tooke little heed to the other two companions and so opened the one gate and sent another fellow of his to open the formost gate When the chariot was on the draw-bridge betweene both the gates the chariot-maister gaue the porter monie and for the nonce let one peece fall on the ground and while the porter stooped to take it vp the wagoner with his dagger stroke him in at his throat so that he cried for no helpe and the two great lubbers slue the other porters and with their axes cut the axeltrée of the wagon so that the draw-bridge could not be shortlie line 50 drawen vp This doone they made a signe to capteine Floquet which with all spéed entered the towne slue and tooke all the Englishmen and amongst other the lord Fauconbridge capteine of the said towne was taken prisoner The losse of this place was of no small importance being the verie keie and passage ouer the riuer of Seine from France into Normandie being distant from Rone onelie foure leagues line 60 When request was made to haue it restored againe to the Englishmen answer was made that if they restord to the duke of Britaine the towne of Fougieres with condigne amends for the damages doone there the towne of Pont Larch should then be againe deliuered or else not And shortlie after in hope of like successe the French king assembled an armie and diuiding the same in three parts got by surrender after sundrie assaults and losse of diuerse of his men the townes of Louuiers Gerborie whereof William Harper was capteine Also the towne castell and great tower of Uerneueill in Perch were rendered into the French kings hands after twentie daies of respit granted to sée if rescues would haue come The French writers affirme the towne to be taken by assault Thus was the warre renewed before the terme of truce fullie expired the English capteins brought to their wits end what with appeasing dailie rumors within the townes and what with studie how to recouer castels lost and taken for while they studied how to kéepe and defend one place foure or fiue other turned to the French part The chiefe cause of which reuolting was for that it was blowen abroad thorough France how the realme of England after the death of the duke of Glocester by the seuerall factions of princes was diuided in two parts and that William de la Poole latelie created duke of Suffolke and diuerse other which were the occasion of the said duke of Glocesters death vexed and oppressed the poore people so that mens minds were not intentiue to outward affaires but all their studie giuen to keepe off wrongs offered at home The king little regarding the matter the queene led by euill counsell rather furthered such mischiefes as dailie began to grow by ciuill discord than sought to reforme them so that the Normans and Gascoignes vnderstanding in what state things stood here turned to the French part as hereafter it may appeare About the same time also began a new rebellion in Ireland but Richard duke of Yorke being sent thither to appease the same so asswaged the furie of the wild and sauage people there that he wan him such fauour amongst them as could neuer be separated from him and his linage which in the sequele of this historie may more plainelie appeare The Frenchmen hauing perfect vnderstanding of the vnreadinesse of the realme of England displaied their banners and set foorth their armies and in short space got by yeelding Constance Gisors castell Galliard Ponteau de Mere saint Lo Festampe Newcastell Tonque Mauleon Argenton Lisieux and diuerse other townes and places within the countrie of Normandie Likewise in Guien was the towne of Maulisson rendered to the earle of Fois These townes were not yeelded voluntarilie by the English souldiers but they were compelled thereto by the inhabitants of the townes which hauing intelligence of the féeble estate of the realme of England rose against the capteins opened the gates to the enimies or constreined them to render vpon composition By which inforcement was the rich citie of Rone deliuered for suerlie the duke of Summerset and the earle of Shrewesburie had well kept that citie if they had béene no more vexed with the citizens than they were with their enimies For after that the French king had giuen summons to the citie the inhabitants streightwaies did not onelie deuise which waie they might betraie the citie but also put on armor and rebelled openlie against their capteins who perceiuing the vntruth of them and their owne danger retired into the castell or palace where for a certeine space with arrowes handguns they sore molested the vntrue citizens But at length vnderstanding the great puissance of the French king at hand and despairing of all aid and succour they yeelded vpon condition that with all their goods and armour they should safelie depart to Caen and that certeine townes should be deliuered by a day And till the same townes were rendred the earle of Shrewsburie and the lord Butler sonne to the earle of Ormond were left behind as pledges which were sent to the castell of Eureux bicause they sore feared the malice of the citizens of Rone The Frenchmen following the successe in hand came to Harflue and fiercelie assaulted the walles but by the high prowesse and vndanted valiancie of the capteine sir Thomas Curson they were to their great losse manfullie by him repelled and beaten The Frenchmen learning wit by this great perill left their scaling and deuised dailie how to batter the walles make the breaches reasonable for them to enter This siege long continued to the great losse of both parties
Yorke tenderlie desiring the wealth rest and prosperitie of this land and to set apart all that might be trouble to the same line 20 and considering the possession of the said king Henrie the sixt and that he hath for his time béene named taken and reputed for king of England and of France and lord of Ireland is contented agréed and consenteth that he be had reputed and taken for king of England and France with the roiall estate dignitie and preheminence belonging therevnto and lord of Ireland during his naturall life And for that time the said duke without hurt or preiudice of his said right and title shall take worship line 30 and honour him for his souereigne lord Item the said Richard duke of Yorke shall promit and bind him by his solemne oth in maner and forme as followeth In the name of God Amen I Richard duke of Yorke promise and sweare by the faith and truth that I owe to almightie God that I shall neuer consent procure or stirre directlie or indirectlie in priuie or apert neither as much as in me is shall suffer to be line 40 doone consented procured or stirred anie thing that may sound to the abridgement of the naturall life of king Henrie the sixt or to the hurt or diminishing of his reigne or dignitie roiall by violence or anie other waie against his freedome or libertie but if any person or persons would doo or presume anie thing to the contrarie I shall with all my might and power withstand it and make it to be withstood as far as my power will stretch therevnto so helpe me God and his holie euangelists line 50 Item Edward earle of March and Edmund earle of Rutland sonnes of the said duke of Yorke shall make like oth Item it is accorded appointed and agréed that the said Richard duke of Yorke shall be called and reputed from hencefoorth verie and rightfull heire to the crownes roiall estate dignitie and lordship aboue said and after the deceasse of the said king Henrie or when he will laie from him the said crownes estate dignitie and lordship the said duke and his heires line 60 shall immediatlie succéed to the said crownes roiall estate dignitie and lordship Item the said Richard duke of Yorke shall haue by authoritie of this present parlement castels manors lands and tenements with the wards marriages reliefes seruices fines amercements offices aduousons fées and other appurtenances to them belonging what soeuer they be to the yearelie value of ten thousand marks ouer all charges and reprises whereof fiue thousand marks shall be to his owne state three thousand fiue hundred marks to Edward his first begotten sonne earle of March for his estate and one thousand pounds to Edmund earle of Rutland his second sonne for his yearelie sustentation in such consideration and such intent as shall be declared by the lords of the kings councell Item if anie person or persons imagine or compasse the death of the said duke and thereof probablie be attainted of open déed doone by folkes of other condition that it be déemed adiudged high treason Item for the more establishing of the said accord it is appointed and consented that the lords spirituall and temporall being in this present parlement shall make oths to accept take worship and repute the said Richard duke of Yorke and his heires as aboue is rehearsed and kéepe obserue and strengthen in as much as apperteineth vnto them all the things abouesaid and resist to their power all them that would presume the contrarie according to their estates and degrées Item the said Richard duke of Yorke earles of March and Rutland shall permit and make other to helpe aid and defend the said lords and euerie of them against all those that will quarell or anie thing attempt against the said lords or anie of them by occasion of agréement or consenting to the said accord or assistance giuing to the duke and earles or anie of them Item it is agréed and appointed that this accord and euerie article thereof be opened and notified by the kings letters patents or otherwise at such times and places and in maner as it shall be thought expedient to the said Richard duke of Yorke with the aduise of the lords of the kings councell The king vnderstandeth certeinelie the said title of the said Richard duke of Yorke iust lawfull and sufficient by the aduise and assent of the lords spirituall and temporall and the commons in this parlement assembled and by authoritie of the same parlement declareth approoueth ratifieth confirmeth and accepteth the said title iust good lawfull and true and therevnto giueth his assent and agréement of his frée will and libertie And ouer that by the said aduise and authoritie declareth intituleth calleth establisheth affirmeth reputeth the said Richard duke of Yorke verie true and rightfull heire to the crownes roiall estate and dignitie of the realmes of England and of France and of the lordship of Ireland aforesaid and that according to the worship and reuerence that thereto belongeth he be taken accepted and reputed in worship reuerence by all the states of the said realme of England and of all his subiects thereof sauing and ordeining by the same authoritie the king to haue the said crownes realme roiall estate dignitie and preheminence of the same and the said lordship of Ireland during his life naturall And furthermore by the same aduise and authoritie willeth consenteth and agréeth that after his deceasse or when it shall please his hignesse to laie from him the said crownes estate dignitie and lordship the said Richard duke of Yorke and his heires shall immediatlie succéed him in the said crownes roiall estate dignitie and worship and them then haue and inioie anie act of parlement statute or ordinance or other thing to the contrarie made or interruption or discontinuance of possession notwithstanding And moreouer by the said aduise and authoritie establisheth granteth confirmeth approueth ratifieth and accepteth the said accord and all things therein conteined and therevnto fréelie and absolutelie assenteth agreeth and by the same aduise and authoritie ordeineth and establisheth that if anie person or persons imagine or compasse the death of the said duke probablie be attainted of open déed doone by folks of that condition that it be déemed and adiudged high treason And furthermore ordeineth and establisheth by the said aduise and authoritie that all statutes ordinances and acts of parlement made in the time of the said king Henrie the fourth by the which he and the heires of his bodie comming of Henrie late king of England the fift the sonne and heire of the said king Henrie the fourth and the heires of king Henrie the fift were or be inheritable to the said crownes and realmes or to the heritage of the same be annulled repealed damned cancelled void and of none effect line 10 And ouer this the king by the said aduise assent and authoritie ordeineth and establisheth that all other
sides but in the end king Edward so couragiouslie comforted his men that the other part was discomfited and ouercome who like men amazed fled toward Tadcaster bridge to saue themselues where in the mid waie is a little brooke called line 10 Cocke not verie broad but of a great déepenesse in which what for hast to escape and what for feare of their followers a great number was drowned there It was reported that men aliue passed the riuer vpon dead carcasses and that the great riuer of Wharfe whereinto that brooke dooth run and of all the water comming from Towton was coloured with bloud The chase continued all night and the most part of the next daie and euer the northerne men as they line 20 saw anie aduantage returned againe and fought with their enimies to the great losse of both parts For in these two daies were slaine as they that knew it wrote on both parts six and thirtie thousand seuen hundred thréescore sixteene persons all Englishmen and of one nation whereof the chiefe were the earles of Northumberland and Westmerland the lord Dacres and the lord Welles sir Iohn Neuill Andrew Trollop Robert Horne and manie other knights and esquiers and the earle of Deuonshire line 30 was taken prisoner but the dukes of Summerset and Excester fled from the field and saued themselues After this great victorie king Edward rode to Yorke where he was with all solemnitie receiued and first he caused the heads of his father the earle of Salisburie and other his freends to be taken from the gates and to be buried with their bodies and there he caused the earle of Deuonshire and thrée other to be beheaded and set their heads in the same line 40 place King Henrie after he heard of the irrecouerable losse of his armie departed incontinentlie with his wife and sonne to the towne of Berwike and leauing the duke of Summerset there went into Scotland and comming to the king of Scots required of him and his councell aid and comfort The yoong king of Scots lamenting the miserable state of king Henrie comforted him with faire words and friendlie promises and assigned to him a competent pension to liue on during his abode in line 50 Scotland King Henrie in recompense of this courtesie and friendship deliuered to the king of Scots the towne of Berwike whereof he had got possession He faithfullie supported the part of king Henrie and concluded a mariage betwixt his sister and the yoong prince of Wales but the same was neuer consummate as after ye shall heare When king Henrie was somwhat setled in the relme of Scotland he sent his wife and his sonne into France to king Reiner hir father trusting by his aid and succour to assemble line 60 an armie and once againe to recouer his right and dignitie but he in the meane time made his aboad in Scotland to see what waie his friends in England would studie for his restitution The quéene being in France did obteine of the yoong French king then Lewes the eleuenth that all hir husbands friends and those of the Lancastriall band might safelie and suerlie haue resort into anie part of the realme of France prohibiting all other of the contrarie faction anie accesse or repaire into that countrie ¶ Thus ye haue heard how king Henrie the sixt after he had reigned eight and thirtie yeares od moneths was driuen out of this realme But now leauing him with the princes of his part consulting togither in Scotland and queene Margaret his wife gathering of men in France I will returne where I left to proceed with the dooings of king Edward This yoong prince hauing with prosperous successe obteined so glorious a victorie in the mortall battell at Towton and chased all his aduersaries out of the realme or at the least waies put them to silence returned after the maner and fashion of a triumphant conquerour with great pompe vnto London where according to the old custome of the realme he called a great assemblie of persons of all degrees and the nine twentith daie of Iune was at Westminster with solemnitie crowned and annointed king ¶ In which yeare this king Edward called his high court of parlement at Westminster in the which the state of the realme was greatlie reformed and all the statutes made in Henrie the sixt his time which touched either his title or profit were reuoked In the same parlement the earle of Oxford far striken in age and his sonne and heire the lord Awbreie Uéer either through malice of their enimies or for that they had offended the king were both with diuerse of their councellors attainted and put to execution which caused Iohn earle of Oxford euer after to rebell There were also beheaded the same time sir Thomas Tudenham knight William Tirell and Iohn Montgomerie esquiers and after them diuerse others Also after this he created his two yoonger brethren dukes that is to saie lord George duke of Clarence lord Richard duke of Glocester and the lord Iohn Neuill brother to Richard earle of Warwike he first made lord Montacute and afterwards created him marques Montacute Beside this Henrie Bourchier brother to Thomas archbishop of Canturburie was created earle of Essex and William lord Fauconbridge was made earle of Kent To this Henrie lord Bourchier a man highlie renowned in martiall feats Richard duke of Yorke long before this time had giuen his sister Elizabeth in mariage of whome he begat foure sonnes William Thomas Iohn and Henrie the which William being a man of great industrie wit and prouidence in graue and weightie matters maried the ladie Anne Wooduile descended of high parentage whose mother Iaquet was daughter to Peter of Lutzenburgh earle of saint Paule by the which Anne he had lord Henrie earle of Essex one daughter named Cicile maried to Water lord Ferrers of Chartleie and an other called Isabell which died vnmaried The earle of Kent was appointed about this time to kéepe the seas year 1462 being accompanied with the lord Audeleie the lord Clinton sir Iohn Howard sir Richard Walgraue and others to the number of ten thousand who landing in Britaine wan the towne of Conquet and the Isle of Reth and after returned When all things were brought in order and framed as king Edward in maner could wish Henrie duke of Summerset sir Rafe Persie and diuerse other being in despaire of all good chance to happen vnto king Henrie came humblie submitted themselues vnto king Edward whome he gentlie receiued Which clemencie notwithstanding both the one and the other when time serued reuolted from king Edward and betooke themselues to take part with Henrie vnto whom they had béene adherents before bicause they grew in hope that in the end the confederats to whom they so closelie did cleaue both in affection and seriousnesse of labour though they pretended a temporall renunciation of all dutie and seruice for their securitie sake should haue the honor
they said afterward that that prophesie lost not his effect when after king Edward Glocester vsurped his kingdome Other alledged that the cause of his death was for that the duke being destitute of a wife by the meanes of his sister the ladie Margaret duchesse of Burgognie procured to haue the ladie Marie daughter and heire to hir husband duke Charles line 60 Which marriage king Edward enuieng the prosperitie of his brother both gaine said and disturbed and thereby old malice reuiued betwixt them which the quéene and hir bloud euer mistrusting and priuilie barking at the kings Image ceassed not to increase But sure it is that although king Edward were consenting to his death yet he much did both lament his infortunate chance repent his sudden execution insomuch that when anie person sued to him for the pardon of malefactors condemned to death he would accustomablie saie openlie speake Oh infortunate brother for whose life not one would make sute Openlie and apparantlie meaning by such words that by the meanes of some of the nobilitie he was deceiued and brought to confusion This duke left behind him two yoong infants begot of the bodie of his wife the daughter of Richard late earle of Warwike which children by destinie as it were or by their owne merits following the steps of their ancestors succéeded them in like misfortune and semblable euill chance For Edward his heire whom king Edward had created earle of Warwike was thrée and twentie yeares after in the time of Henrie the seauenth atteinted of treason and on the Tower hill lost his head Margaret his sole daughter maried to sir Richard Pole knight and by Henrie the eight restored to the name title possessions of the earledome of Salisburie was at length for treason committed against the said Henrie the eight atteinted in open parlement and sixtie two yeares after hir father had suffered death in the Tower she on the greene within the same place was beheaded In whose person died the verie surname of Plantagenet which from Geffrie Plantagenet so long in the bloud roiall of this realme had florished and continued After the death of this duke by reason of great heat and distemperance of aire happened so fierce quicke a pestilence that fiftéene yeares warre past consumed not the third part of the people that onelie foure moneths miserablie and pitifullie dispatched brought to their graues So that if the number had béene kept by multiplieng of vnities out of them to haue raised a complet number it would haue mooued matter of verie great admiration But it should séeme that they were infinit if consideration be had of the comparison inferred for the more effectuall setting foorth of that cruell and ceaselesse contagion And suerlie it soundeth to reason that the pestilence should fetchawaie so manie thousands as in iudgement by proportion of fiftéene yeares warre one maie gather and manie more too For euerie man knoweth that in warres time place persons and meanes are limited time of warre begun and ended place circumscribed persons imbattelled and weapons also whereby the fight is tried so that all these haue their limitations beyond which they haue no extent But the pestilence being a generall infection of the aire an element ordeined to mainteine life though it haue a limitation in respect of the totall compasse of the world yet whole climats maie be poisoned and it were not absurd to saie that all and euerie part of the aire maie be pestilentlie corrupted and so consequentlie not limited wherefore full well it maie be said of the pestilence procuring so great a depopulation as one saith of surfetting Ense cadunt multi perimit sed crapula plures The councellors of the yoong duchesse of Burgoggnie sent to K. Edward for aid against the French king About the same time had the queene of England sent to the ladie Margaret duchesse of Burgognie for the preferrement of hir brother Anthonie erle Riuers to the yoong damsell But the councell of Flanders considering that he was but an earle of meane estate and she the greatest inheritrice of all christendome at that time gaue but deafe eare to so vnméet a request To which desire if the Flemings had but giuen a liking eare by outward semblance and with gentle words delaied the sute she had beene both succoured and defended Whether king Edward was not contented with this refusall or that he was loth to breake with the French king he would in no wise consent to send an armie into Flanders against the French king but yet he sent ambassadours to him with louing and gentle letters requiring him to grow to some reasonable order agréement with the yoong duchesse of Burgognie or at the least to take a truce with hir at his request The ambassadours of England were highlie receiued bountifullie feasted and liberallie rewarded but answer to their desire had they none sauing that shortlie after the French king would send ambassadours hostages and pledges to the king of England their maister for the perfecting and concluding of all things depending betweene them two so that their souereigne lord they should haue cause to be contented and pleased These faire words were onelie delaies to driue time vntill he might haue space line 10 to spoile the yoong damsell of hir townes and countries And beside this to staie king Edward from taking part with hir he wrote to him that if he would ioine with him in aid he should haue and inioie to him and his heires the whole countie countrie of Flanders discharged of homage superioritie and resort to be claimed by the French king or his successors He also wrote that he should haue the whole duchie of Brabant whereof the French king offered at his line 20 owne cost and charge to conquer foure of the chiefest and strongest townes within the said duchie them in quiet possession to deliuer to the king of England granting further to paie him ten thousand angels toward his charges with munitions of warre and artillerie which he promised to lend him with men and carriage for the conueiance of the same The king of England refused to make anie warres against those countries that were thus offered to him but if the French king would make him partner line 30 of his conquests in Picardie rendering to him part of the townes alreadie gotten as Bologne Monsterell and Abuile then he would suerlie take his part and aid him with men at his owne costs and charges Thus passed faire words and golden promises betwéene these two princes and in the meane time the yoong duchesse of Burgognie was spoiled of hir townes castels territories till at length for maintenance she condescended to marrie with Maximilian line 40 sonne to the emperour Frederike that he might kéepe the woolfe from the fold King Edward in the ninetéenth yeare of his reigne began more than he was before accustomed to serch the forfeiture of penall
lawes and statutes as well of the chéefe of his nobilitie as of other gentlemen being proprietaries of great possessions or abundantlie furnished with goods likewise of merchants and other inferior persons By reason whereof it was of all men iudged that he would proue he reafter a sore and a rigorous line 50 prince among his subiects But this his new inuented practise and couetous meaning by reason of forreine affaires and abridgement of his daies in this transitorie life which were within two yeares after consumed tooke some but not great effect ¶ In this yeare was great mortalitie and death by the pestilence not onelie in London but in diuerse parts of the realme which began in the latter end of September in the yeare last before passed and continued all this yeare till the beginning of Nouember line 60 which was about fourtéene moneths in the which space died innumerable of people in the said citie else-where ¶ This yeare also the maior of London being in Paules knéeling in his deuotions at saint Erkenwalds shrine Robert Bifield one of the shiriffes vnaduisedlie kneeled downe nigh vnto the maior whereof afterward the maior charged him to haue doone more than becomed him But the shiriffe answering rudelie and stubbornlie would not acknowledge to haue committed anie offense for the which he was afterward by a court of aldermen fined at fiftie pounds to be paid toward the reparations of the conduits in London which was trulie paid ¶ This yeere Thomas Ilam one of the shirifs of London newlie builded the great conduit in Cheape of his owne charges ¶ This yeare also king Edward began his Christmasse at Waking and at fiue daies end remooued to Greenewich where he kept out the other part of his Christmasse with great roialtie Ambassadours were sent to and fro betwixt the king of England and France and still the French king fed the king of England with faire words putting him in hope to match his sonne and heire the Dolphin with the ladie Elizabeth daughter to the king of England according to the conclusions of agréement had and made at Picquenie betwixt them although in verie déed he meant nothing lesse His ambassadours euer made excuses if anie thing were amisse and he vsed to send change of ambassadours so that if those which had béene here before and were returned had said or promised anie thing though they were authorised so to doo which might turne to their masters hinderance the other that came after might excuse themselues by ignorance of that matter affirming that they wanted commission once to talke or meddle with that matter or if he perceiued that anie thing was like to be concluded contrarie to his mind for a shift he would call his ambassadours home in great hast and after send an other with new instructions nothing depending on the old Thus the French king vsed to dallie with king Edward in the case of this mariage onelie to kéepe him still in amitie And certeinelie the king of England being a man of no suspicious nature thought sooner that the sunne should haue fallen from his circle than that the French king would haue dissembled or broken promise with him But there is none so soone beguiled as he that least mistrusteth nor anie so able to deceiue as he to whome most credence is giuen But as in mistrusting nothing is great lightnesse so in too much trusting is too much follie which well appeared in this matter For the French king by cloking his inward determinate purpose with great dissimulation and large promises kept him still in fréendship with the king of England till he had wrought a great part of his will against the yoong duchesse of Burgognie Which king Edward would not haue suffered if he had put anie great doubt in the French kings faire promises considering that the crowne of France was in this meane time so much increased in dominions to the great re-enforcement of that realme ¶ On the two and twentith of Februarie were fiue notable théeues put to death for robbing the church called saint Martins le grand in London and other places thrée of them were drawne to the Tower hill hanged burnt the other two were pressed to death A sore and seuere kind of execution no doubt but yet thought by iustice meritorious in the malefactors for their offenses of sacrilege Heinous enough had it beene to spoile a priuat man of his goods and by law of nations punishable with death but much more horrible that prophane persons with polluted hands should priuilie or openlie so touch holie consecrated things as to take them out of a sacred place whereto for holy vses they were dedicated applie them to the satisfieng of the corrupt concupiscences of their owne hearts the bottomlesse gulfe whereof bicause no booties nor spoiles could satisfie it stood with the high praise of iustice that they and their ceaselesse desires were seuered by deserued death wherefore it is wiselie said by the comicall poet of such gréedie guts Quam quis auidus poscit escam auariter Decipitur in transenna perÃtque auaritia In this yeare king Edward required great sums of monie to be lent him The citizens of London granted him fiue thousand marks which were seized of the fiue and twentie wards which fiue thousand marks was trulie repaid againe in the next yeare following ¶ Also this yeare on Whitsundaie K. Edward the fourth created the lord Berkleie vicount Berkeleie at Gréenewich ¶ In this yeare also an house on London bridge called the common siege or priuie fell downe into the Thames where thorough it fiue persons were drowned ¶ This yeare the king with his quéene kept a roiall Christmas at Windsor Also this yéere was one Richard Chawrie maior of London whome king Edward so greatlie line 10 fauoured that he tooke him with certeine of his brethren the aldermen commons of the citie of London into the forrest of Waltham where was ordeined for them a pleasant lodge of gréene boughs in which lodge they dined with great chéere the king would not go to dinner vntill he saw them serued Moreouer he caused the lord chamberlaine with other lords to cheere the said maior and his companie sundrie times whilest they were at dinner After dinner they went a hunting with the king and slue manie line 20 deare as well red as fallow whereof the king gaue vnto the maior and his companie good plentie and sent vnto the ladie mairesse and hir sisters the aldermens wiues two harts sir bucks and a tun of wine to make them merrie with which was eaten in the drapers hall The cause of which bountie thus shewed by the king was as most men did take for that the maior was a merchant of woonderous aduentures into manie and sundrie countries By reason whereof the king had yearelie of him notable line 30 summes of monie for his customes beside other pleasures that
and so deadlie fought as was in that kings daies that dead is God forgiue it his soule In whose time and by whose occasion what about the getting of the garland keeping it leesing and winning againe it line 20 hath cost more English bloud than hath twise the winning of France In which inward war among our selues hath beene so great effusion of the ancient noble bloud of this realme that scarselie the halfe remaineth to the great infeebling of this noble land beside manie a good towne ransacked and spoiled by them that haue beene going to the field or comming from thence line 30 And peace long after not much surer than war So that no time was therein which rich men for their monie and great men for their lands or some other for some feare or some displeasure were not out of perill For whom trusted he that mistrusted his owne brother Whome spared he that killed his owne brother Or who could perfectlie loue him if his owne brother could not line 40 What maner of folke he most fauoured we shall for his honour spare to speake of Howbeit this wote you well all that who so was best bare alwaie least rule more sute was in his daies to Shores wife a vile and an abhominable strumpet than to all the lords in England except vnto those that made hir their proctor Which simple woman was well named honest line 50 till the king for his wanton lust and sinfull affection bereft hir from hir husband a right honest substantiall yoong man among you And in that point which in good faith I am sorie to speake of sauing that it is in vaine to keepe in counsell that thing that all men know the kings greedie appetite was insatiable and euerie where ouer all the realme intollerable line 60 For no woman was there anie where yoong or old rich or poore whome he set his eie vpon in whome he anie thing liked either person or fauour speech pase or countenance but without anie feare of God or respect of his honour murmur or grudge of the world he would importunelie pursue his appetite and haue hir to the great destruction of manie a good woman and great dolor to their husbands and their other freends which being honest people of them selues so much regard the cleannesse of their house the chastitie of their wiues and their children that them were leauer to leese all that they had beside than to haue such a villanie doone them And all were it that with this and other importable dealing the realme was in euerie part annoied yet speciallie yee heere the citizens of this noble citie as well for that amongest you is most plentie of all such things as minister matter to such iniuries as for that you were neerest at hand sith that neere heere abouts was commonlie his most abiding And yet be yee the people whome he had as singular cause well and kindlie to intreat as anie part of his realme not onelie for that the prince by this noble citie as his speciall chamber the speciall well renowmed citie of this realme much honourable fame receiueth among all other nations but also for that yee not without your great cost sundrie perils ieopardies in all his warres bare euen your speciall fauor to his part Which your kind minds borne to the house of Yorke sith he hath nothing worthilie acquited there is of that house that now by Gods grace better shall which thing to shew you is the whole summe and effect of this our present errand It shall not I wot well need that I rehearse you againe that yee haue alreadie heard of him that can better tell it and of whome I am sure yee will better beleeue it And reason is that it so be I am not so proud to looke therefore that yee should reckon my words of as great authoritie as the preachers of the word of God namlie a man so cunning and so wise that no man better woteth what he should saie and thereto so good and vertuous that he would not saie the thing which he wist he should not saie in the pulpit namelie into the which no honest man commeth to lie Which honorable preacher yee well remember substantiallie declared vnto you at Paules crosse on sundaie last passed the right title that the most excellent prince Richard duke of Glocester now protector of this realme hath vnto the crowne and kingdome of the same For as the worshipfull man groundlie made open vnto you the children of king Edward the fourth were neuer lawfullie begotten forsomuch as the king leauing his verie wife dame Elizabeth Lucie was neuer lawfullie maried vnto the queene their mother whose bloud sauing that he set his voluptuous pleasure before his honor was full vnmeetlie to be matched with his and the mingling of whose blouds togither hath beene the effusion of a great part of the noble bloud of this realme Wherby it may well seeme the mariage not well made of which there is so much mischeefe growne For lacke of which lawfull coupling also of other things which the said worshipfull doctor rather signified than fullie explaned which things shall not be spoken for me as the thing wherein euerie man forbereth to say that he knoweth in auoiding displeasure of my noble lord protector bearing as nature requireth a filiall reuerence to the duchesse his mother For these causes I say before remembred that is to wit for lacke of other issue lawfullie of the late noble prince Richard duke of Yorke to whose roiall bloud the crowne of England and of France is by the high authoritie of parlement intailed the right and title of the same is by the iust course of line 10 inheritance according to the cōmon lawes of the land deuolued commen vnto the most excellent prince the lord protector as to the verie lawfullie begotten sonne of the foreremembred noble duke of Yorke Which thing well considered and the great knightlie prowesse pondered with manifold vertues which in his noble person singularlie abound the nobles and line 20 commons also of this realme and speciallie of the north part not willing anie bastard bloud to haue the rule of the land nor the abusions before in the same vsed anie longer to continue haue condescended and fullie determined to make humble petition to the most puissant prince the lord protector that it maie like his grace at our humble request to take vpon him the guiding and line 30 gouernance of this realme to the wealth and increase of the same according to his verie right and iust title Which thing I wote it well he will be loth to take vpon him as he whose wisdome well perceiueth the labor and studie both of mind and bodie that come therewith to whomsoeuer so will occupie the roome as I dare say hee will if he take it Which roome I warne you well is no childs office And that the
to him a pasport but also liberallie disbursed to him a great summe of monie for his conduct and expenses necessarie in his long iournie and passage But the earle trusting in the French kings humanitie aduentured to send his ships home into Britaine and to set forward himselfe by land on his iournie making no great hast till his messengers were returned Which being with that benefit so line 50 comforted and with hope of prosperous successe so incouraged marched towards Britaine with all diligence intending there to consult further with his louers fréends of his affaires and enterprises When he was returned againe into Britaine he was certified by credible information that the duke of Buckingham had lost his head and that the marquesse Dorset and a great number of noble men of England had a little before inquired and searched for him there and were now returned to Uannes line 60 When he had heard these newes thus reported he first sorowed and lamented his first attempt and setting forward of his fréends and in especiall of the nobilitie not to haue more fortunatelie succéeded Secondarilie he reioised on the other part that God had sent him so manie valiant and prudent capteins to be his companions in his martiall enterprises trusting suerlie and nothing doubting in his owne opinion but that all his businesse should be wiselie compassed and brought to a good conclusion Wherefore he determining with all diligence to set forward his new begun businesse departed to Rheims and sent certeine of his priuie seruitours to conduct and bring the marquesse and other noble men to his presence When they knew that he was safelie returned into Britaine Lord how they reioised for before that time they missed him and knew not in what part of the world to make inquirie or search for him For they doubted and no lesse feared least he had taken land in England fallen into the hands of king Richard in whose person they knew well was neither mercie nor compassion Wherefore in all spéedie maner they galoped toward him and him reuerentlie saluted Which meeting after great ioy and solace and no small thanks giuen and rendered on both parts they aduisedlie debated and communed of their great businesse and weightie enterprise In the which season the feast of the Natiuitie of our sauiour Christ happened on which daie all the English lords went with their solemnitie to the cheefe church of the citie and there ech gaue faith and promise to other The earle himselfe first tooke a corporall oth on his honor promising that incontinent after he shuld be possessed of the crowne and dignitie of the realme of England he would be conioined in matrimonie with the ladie Elizabeth daughter to king Edward the fourth Then all the companie sware to him fealtie and did to him homage as though he had béene that time the crowned king and annointed prince promising faithfullie and firmelie affirming that they would not onelie loose their worldlie substance but also be depriued of their liues and worldlie felicitie rather than to suffer king Richard that tyrant longer to rule and reigne ouer them Which solemne oths made and taken the earle of Richmond declared and communicated all these dooings to Francis duke of Britaine desiring most heartilie requiring him to aid him with a greater armie to conduct him into his countrie which so sore longed and looked for his returne and to the which he was by the more part of the nobilitie and communaltie called and desired Which with Gods aid and the dukes comfort he doubted not in short time to obteine requiring him further to prest to him a conuenient summe of monie affirming that all such summes of monie which he had receiued of his especiall fréends were spent and consumed in preparation of his last iourneie made toward England which summes of monie after his enterprise once atchiued he in the word of a prince faithfullie promised to repaie and restore againe The duke promised him aid and helpe Upon confidence whereof he rigged his ships and set foorth a nauie well decked with ordinance and warlikelie furnished with all things necessarie to the intent to saile forward shortlie and to loose no time In the meane season king Richard apprehended in diuerse parts of the realme certeine gentlemen of the earle of Richmonds faction confederation which either intended to saile into Britaine toward him or else at his landing to assist and aid him Amongst whome sir George Browne sir Roger Clifford and foure other were put to execution at London and sir Thomas Sentleger which had married the duchesse of Excester the kings owne sister and Thomas Rame and diuerse other were executed at Excester Beside these persons diuerse of his houshold seruants whome either he suspected or doubted were by great crueltie put to shamefull death By the obseruation of which mens names the place and the action here mentioned with the computation of time I find fit occasion to interlace a note newlie receiued from the hands of one that is able to saie much by record deliuering a summarie in more ample sort of their names whome king Richard did so tyrannicallie persecute and execute as followeth King Richard saith he came this yeare to the citie but in verie secret maner whome the maior his brethren in the best maner they could did receiue and then presented to him in a purse two hundred nobles which he thankefullie accepted And during his abode here he went about the citie viewed the seat of the same at length he came to the castell and when he vnderstood that it was called Rugemont suddenlie he fell into a dumpe and as one astonied said Well I sée my daies not long He spake this of a prophesie told him that when he came once to Richmond line 10 he should not long liue after which fell out in the end to be true not in respect of this castle but in respect of Henrie earle of Richmond who the next yeare following met him at Bosworth field where he was slaine But at his being here he did find the gentlemen of this countrie not to be best affected towards him and after his departure did also heare that the marquesse of Dorset the bishop of Excester and sundrie other gentlemen were in a confederacie against him for the assisting of the erle of Richmond line 20 Wherefore he sent downe Iohn lord Scroope with a commission to keepe a session who sat at Torington then there were indicted of high treason Thomas marquesse Dorset Peter bishop of Excester Thomas Sentleger and Thomas Fulford knights as principals and Robert Willoughbie and Thomas Arundell knights Iohn Arundell deane of Excester Dauid Hopton archdeacon of Excester Oliuer abbat of Buckland Bartholomew Sentleger William Chilson Thomas Gréenefield Richard line 30 Edgecombe Robert Burnbie Walter Courtneie Thomas Browne Edward Courtneie Hugh Lutterell Iohn Crocker Iohn Hallewell and fiue hundred others
sent from the lord of Rauenstein They laid siege on the north side of the towne in a marish ground then being drie and so déepelie ditched and rampired their campe about on which rampire they laid their ordinance that it was in maner impossible to enter their campe or doo them anie displeasure or damage The K. of England was dailie aduertised of these dooings which nothing lesse desired than to haue the English pale inuironed with French fortresses Wherefore to preuent that mischiefe in time with all expedition he sent ouer to the lord Daubeneie then his deputie of Calis the lord Morleie with a crue of valiant archers souldiers to the number of a thousand men with priuie instructions what they should doo At their comming ouer it was bruted abroad that they were sent onelie to defend the English pale against all attempts that might vpon the sudden in anie wise be made by the Frenchmen or Flemings but their enterprise was all otherwise For on a tuesdaie at the shutting of the gates at night the lord Daubneie chiefeteine of the armie the lord Morleie sir Iames Tirrell capteine of Guisnes sir Henrie Willoughbie sir Gilbert Talbot and sir Humfreie Talbot marshall of Calis with diuerse other knights and esquiers and other of the garisons of Hammes Guisnes and Calis to the number of two thousand men or thereabouts issued priuilie out of Calis passed the water of Graueling in the morning betimes and left there for a stale and to kéepe the passage sir Humfreie Talbot with six score archers and came to Newport where they found the souereigne of Flanders with six hundred Almaines and there they staied that night On the next daie they went toward Dixmew and by the guiding of a prisoner that should haue beene hanged on the next morning they issued out of the south gate of the towne of Dixmew and were conueied by their said guide by an high banke set with willowes so that the Gantois could not well espie them and so secretlie gat to the end of their enimies campe and there paused The lord Daubeneie commanded all men to send their horsses and wagons backe but the lord Morleie said he would ride till he came to hand strokes Thus they marched foorth till they came to a low banke and no déepe ditch where the ordinance laie and there the archers shot altogither euerie man an arrow and so fell prostrate to the ground The enimies herewith discharged their ordinance and ouershot them The Almains lept ouer the ditch with their morice pikes The Englishmen in the fore-front waded the ditch and were holpen vp by the Almains and set on their enimies and tooke manie prisoners The other Englishmen hasted by the causie to enter in at the north gate of the campe where the lord Morleie being on horssebacke in a rich coate was slaine with a gun When his death was knowen euerie man killed his prisoner and slue all such as did withstand them to the number of eight thousand men in so much that of two thousand that came out of Bruges as the Flemish chronicle reporteth there came not home one hundred On the English part was slaine the lord Morleie and not an hundred more The Englishmen tooke their ordinance and sent it to Newport with all the spoile and great horsses And by the waie hearing certeine Frenchmen to be at Ostend they made thitherward but the Frenchmen fled and so they burned part of the towne and came againe to Newport where the lord Daubeneie left all the Englishmen that were hurt and returned to Calis where he buried the bodie of the lord Morleie The Englishmen got great riches at this field for they that went foorth in cloth came home in silke and those that went out on foot came home on great horsses The lord Cordes being at Ipre with twentie thousand men was sore displeased with this ouerthrow therefore thinking to be reuenged besieged the towne of Newport right stronglie and shot dailie at the wals breaking them in manie places But the Englishmen that were hurt at Dixmew field before and might either stand or draw bowe neuer came from the wals On a daie the Frenchmen gaue a great assault to a tower and perforce entered it and set vp the banner of the lord Cordes But sée the chance During the time of the assault there arriued a barke with foure score fresh English archers which came streight to the tower and did so much that line 10 what with the helpe of such as before were wounded and hurtmen and of the couragious harts of the new come archers incouraged greatlie by the women of the towne crieng Shoot Englishmen shoot the tower was regained out of the Frenchmens hands and the banner of the lord Cordes rent in péeces and in place thereof the penon of saint George set vp Then the Frenchmen supposing a great aid of Englishmen to haue béene come to the towne by sea left the assault And the night following the enuious lord Cordes line 20 which so sore longed for Calis that he would commonlie saie that he could be content to lie seuen yeares in hell so that Calis were in possession of the Frenchmen brake vp his siege and returned to Helding with shame And the Englishmen glad of this victorie returned to Calis This yeare Iames the third of that name king of Scots was slaine by his owne subiects after they had vanquished him in a pighâ— field About the same time one Adrian an Italian line 30 was sent in ambassage from pope Innocent the eight into Scotland to haue taken vp the variance betwixt the king there and his people But being arriued here in England he was informed that king Iames was slaine and therfore taried here certeine moneths And for that he was a man of excellent learning vertue and humanitie the archbishop of Canturburie Iohn Morton so commended him to the king that he made him first bishop of Hereford and line 40 shortlie after that resigned and giuen ouer he promoted him to the bishoprike of Bath and Welles And after that with these honors he was returned to Rome he was aduanced by all the degrées of spirituall dignities into the college of the cardinals And worâ—hie sure he was of great preferment for by his meanes learned men were mooued to séeke out the vse of eloquent writing and speaking in the Latine toong he being the first in the time of our fathers that taught the trade to choose and vse apt words and fit termes line 50 In the sixt yeare of king Henries reigne there came ambassadors to him from the French king the lord Francis of Lutzenburgh Charles Marignane and Robert Gaguine minister of the Bonnehommes of the trinitie The effect of their comming was to haue concluded a peace with king Henrie and that with good will the French king might dispose of the mariage of the yoong
English campe thorough a false report contriued by some malicious person which was that the capteins should be allowed eight pense for euerie common souldier where the truth was that they had allowed to them but onelie six pense The lord generall aduertised that the souldiers began to gather in companies found meanes to apprehend the cheefe beginner and deliuered him vnto William Kingston esquier then prouost marshall and so was he put to death to the terrour of all other Whilest the Englishmen laie thus in campe on the borders of Biskaie towards Guien the archers went oftentimes a forraging into the French confines almost to Baion and burnt manie pretie villages The king of Spaine raised an armie and sent foorth the same vnder the leading of the duke of Alua which came forward as though he meant to haue come to the Englishmen who being aduertised of his approch were maruellouslie glad thereof in hope that then they should be imploied about the enterprise for the which they were come But the duke intending an other thing when he was aduanced foorth within a daies iournie of them suddenlie remooued his armie toward the realme of Nauarre and entering the same chased out of his realme the king of that land and conquered the same to the king of Spains vse as in the historie of Spaine more plainelie it dooth appeare After that the king of Spaine was thus possessed of the kingdome of Nauarre he sent vnto the lord marquesse promising to ioine with him shortlie and so to inuade the borders of France but he came not Wherefore the Englishmen thought themselues not well vsed for it gréeued them much that they should lie so longidle sith there was so great hope conceiued at their setting foorth that there should be some great exploit atchiued by them thorough the aid that was promised by the king of Spaine Thus whilest the armie lingered without remoouing there chanced an affraie to rise betwixt the Englishmen and the townes-men of Sancta Maria a village so called wherevnto such Englishmen as fell sicke had their resort and therevpon the alarms brought into the campe the Englishmen and Almans ran in great furie to the succour of their fellowes and notwithstanding all that the capteins could doo to staie them they slue and robbed the people without mercie The Biskaines that could get awaie fled ouer that water into Guien The capteins yet so ordered the matter that all the pillage was restored and one and twentie souldiers were condemned which were apprehended as they were fléeing awaie with a bootie of ten thousand duckats into Gascoigne seauen of them were executed and the residue pardoned of life at the sute of certeine lords of Spaine which were as then present The Frenchmen hearing of this riot came foorth of Baion to see and vnderstand the maner thereof but perceiuing that the Englishmen had descried them suddenlie they returned The Englishmen followed comming to the towne of S. Iehan de Lucie they burnt and robbed it slue the inhabitants Diuerse other villages they spoiled on the borders of Guien but bicause they wanted both horsses of seruice and horsses to draw foorth their ordinance they could not doo anie such damage as they might and would haue doone if they had béene furnished according line 10 to their desires in that point Thus continued the English armie in such wearisome sort till the moneth of October and then fell the lord marquesse sicke and the lord Howard had the chéefe gouernance of the armie Then were sent from the king of Spaine diuerse lords of his priuie councell vnto the said lord Howard to excuse the matter for that he came not according to his promise requiring them that sith the time of the yeare to make warre was past it might line 20 please them to breake vp their campe and to diuide themselues abroad into the townes and villages of his realme till the spring time of the yeare that they might then go forward with their first pretended enterprise The lord Howard shewed well in words that the Englishmen could not thinke well of the king of Spaines fained excuses and vnprofitable deâ—aies to his small honor their great hinderance losse hauing spent the king their maister so much treasure and doone so little hurt to his aduersaries line 30 The Spaniards gaue faire words and so in courteous maner departed Then about the end of October it was agréed amongest all the lords of the English hoast that they should breake vp their campe and so they did The lord marquesse and his people went to saint Sebastian the lord Howard and his retinue to Rendre the lord Willoughbie to Garschang and sir William Sands with manie other capteins repaired to Foâ—terabie and so euerie capteine with his 〈◊〉 was placed in one towne or other The king of England line 40 aduertised of the king of Spaine his meaning sent an herald called Windsor with letters vnto his armie willing his men there to tarie promising to send ouer to them right shortlie a new supplie vnder the guiding of the lord Herbert his chamberleine When this letter was read and the contents thereof notified the souldiers began to be so highlie displeased and spake such outragious words as it was maruell to heare not contented with words they were bent to haue doone outragious déeds insomuch line 50 that in their furie they had slaine the lord Howard and diuerse others if they had not followed their intents and herevpon they were glad to hire ships and so imbarked themselues in the moneth of Nouember When the lord marquesse was brought aboord he was so weake and féeble of remembrance thorough sickenesse that he asked where he was In the beginning of December they landed here in England and were glad to be at home and got out of such a countrie where they had little health lesse line 60 pleasure and much losse of time The king of Spaine séemed to be sore discontented with their departure openlie affirming that if they had taried vntill the next spring he would in their companie haue inuaded France About the same time that the marquesse went into Spaine that is to wit about the middest of Maie sir Edward Howard lord admerall of England being on the sea afore Portesmouth made foorth againe to the sea and directing his course towards Britaine on Trinitie sundaie arriued at Berthram baie with twentie great ships and suddenlie set his men on land and there wan a bulworke which the Britains kept and defended a while but being ouercome fled out of their hold left it to the Englishmen Then the lord admerall passed seauen miles into the countrie burning and wasting townes and villages and in returning skirmished with diuerse men of ames and slue some of them and notwithstanding that the Britains â—ought valiantlie in defense of their countrie yet they were put to the worsse and so the lord admerall returned to his ships
to studie and knowledge So that vnto these hopes was much helping the manner of the election being made in his person sincerelie and line 10 without simonie or suspicion of other corruption The first act of this new pope was his coronation which was represented according to the vsage of his predecessors in the church of saint Iohn de Lateran The pompe was so great both of his familie and his court and also of the prelates and multitudes that were there togither with the popular and vniuersall assemblies of people that by the opinion and iudgement of men the pride and maiestie of that action did farre surpasse all the celebrations doone in Rome line 20 since the tyrannies of the Goths and sauage nations In this same solemnitie the Gonfalon of the church was caried by Alfonso de Este who hauing obteined a suspension of his censures paines was come to Rome with great hope that by the clemencie and facilitie of the pope he should be able to compound for his affaires The Gonfalon of the religion of Rhodes was borne by Iulio de Medicis mounted vpon a statelie courser armed at all points by his nature he bare an inclination to the profession of line 30 armes but by destinie he was drawen to the life ecclesiastike in which estate he maie serue as a wonderfull example of the variation of fortune One matter that made the memorie of that daie wonderfull was this consideration that the person who then in so high rare pompe was honored with the most supreme and souereigne dignitie of the world was the yéere before and on the verie same daie miserablie made prisoner The great magnificence that appéered vpon his person and his expenses confirmed in the generalitie and multitude of men line 40 the expectation that was had of him euerie one promising that Rome should be happie vnder a pope so plentifullie indued with the vertue of liberalitie whereof that daie he had giuen an honorable experience his expenses being aboue an hundred thousand duckats But wise men desired in him a greater grauitie and moderation they iudged that neither such a maiestie of pompe was conuenient for popes neither did the condition of the present time require line 50 that he should so vnprofitablie disperse the treasures that had beene gathered by his predecessour to other vses The vessell of amitie betwéene the king of Enggland the French being first broched by this popes letters the French king by an herald at armes sent to the king of England requiring of him a safe conduct for his ambassadors which should come to intreat for a peace and attonement to be concluded betwixt them and their realmes Upon grant obteined thereof the French king sent a commission with the line 60 president of Rome and others to intreat of peace and aliance betwixt both the princes And moreouer bicause they vnderstood that the mariage was broken betwéene the prince of Castile and the ladie Marie they desired that the said ladie might be ioined in mariage with the French king offering a great dowrie and suerties for the same So much was offered that the king mooued by his councell and namelie by Woolsie the bishop of Lincolne consented vpon condition that if the French king died then â—he should if it stood with hir pleasure returne into England againe with all hir dowrie and riches After that they were accorded vpon a full peace and that the French king should marrie this yoong ladie the indentures were drawen ingrossed sealed and peace therevpon proclamed the seuenth daie of August the king in presence of the French ambassadors was sworne to kéepe the same and likewise there was an ambassage sent out of England to see the French king sweare the same The dowrie that was assigned vnto the bride to be receiued after hir husbands deceasse if she suruiued him was named to be 32000 crownes of yearelie reuenues to be receiued out of certeine lands assigned foorth therefore during all hir naturall life And moreouer it was further agreed couenanted that the French king should content and paie yearelie vnto king Henrie during the space of fiue yeares the summe of one hundred thousand crownes By conclusion of this peace was the duke of Longuile with the other prisoners deliuered paieng their ransoms and the said duke affied the ladie Marie in the name of his maister king Lewes In September following the said ladie was conueied to Douer by the king hir brother the queene and on the second daie of October she was shipped and such as were appointed to giue their attendance on hir as the duke of Norffolke the marquesse Dorset the bishop of Durham the earle of Surreie the lord de la Ware the lord Berners the lord Monteagle the foure brethren of the said marques sir Maurice Berklie sir Iohn Pechie sir William Sands sir Thomas Bulleine sir Iohn Car and manie other knights esquiers gentlemen and ladies They had not sailed past a quarter of the sea but that the wind arose and seuered the ships driuing some of them to Calis some into Flanders and hir ship with great difficultie was brought to Bullen not without great ieopardie at the entering of the hauen for the maister ran the ship hard on shore But the boats were readie and receiued the ladie out of the ship and sir Christopher Garnish stood in the water and tooke hir in his armes and so caried hir to land where the duke of Uandosme and a cardinall with manie other great estates receiued hir with great honor From Bullen with easie iournies she was conueied vnto Abuile there entered the eighth of October where she was receiued by the Dolphin with great honour she was apparelled in cloth of siluer hir horsse was trapped in goldsmiths worke verie richlie After hir followed 36 ladies all their palfries trapped with crimsin veluet embrodered After them followed one chariot of cloth of tissue the second cloth of gold the third crimsin veluet embrodered with the kings armes hirs full of roses After them followed a great number of archers and then wagons laden with their stuffe Great was the riches in plate iewels monie apparell and hangings that this ladie brought into France On the morrow following being mondaie and S. Denise day the mariage was solemnized betwixt the French king and the said ladie with all honour ioy roialtie both apparelled in goldsmiths worke Then a great banket and sumptuous feast was made where the English ladies were honorablie interteined according to the dignitie of the persons and to the contentment of them that had no dregs of malice or misliking settled in their harts For vnpossible it is that in a great multitude meeting togither though all about one matter be it of pleasure and delight there should not be one of a repugnant disposition and though not apparantlie perceiued trauelling with grudge malignant mind as we sée some apples
well of the earledome as otherwise whereby he was in time following also constable of England and as it is most probable restored to that office by Henrie the second for that he was a great enimie to king Stephan He went amongest others with Henrie Fitz Empresse to Dauid king of Scots who knighted the said Henrie in the fouretéenth yeare of king Stephan he married Cicilie the daughter of Iohn Fitz Paine and died without issue Walter second sonne to Milo after the death of his brother Roger was earle of Hereford constable of England and lord ouer Gwenthie or Wenthie he builded in the time of Henrie the first the castels of Glocester Bristow and Rochester with the Tower of London he held the land of Wenthie by long time who hauing no heire of his bodie gaue the same land to Henrie of Hereford and for saking the world tooke monasticall habit on him at Lanthonie where he was buried dieng without issue Henrie of Hereford the sonne of Milo after the enterance of Walter his brother into religion was earle of Hereford constable of England and lord of Breckenocke and Deane who was in Wenthie at a conflict slaine by his owne men and buried at Lanthonie with Walter the constable after whose death Henrie the second deputed Iago ap Seisell to the custodie of the land of Wenthie William the sonne of Milo and brother to Henrie of Hereford was constable of England after the death of his brother and died without issue Mahaell the yoongest sonne of Milo after the death of William was constable of England who died without issue whome I feare not to place as constable since all histories agrée that all the sons of Milo did successiuelie inioie that office after whome the inheritance comming to their sister whereof the eldest called Margaret or Margerie was married to Humfrie Bohuno which line of the Bohunes became afterwards constables of England by inheritance Humfrie de Bohune steward to Henrie the first the sonne of Humfrie de Bohune steward in house to William Rufus sonne to Humfrie de Bohune that came in with the Conquerour was in the right of his wife Margerie one of the daughters and heire of the foresaid Milo constable of England he had issue Humfrie de Bohune Humfrie de Bohune constable of England married Margaret sister to William king of Scots and daughter to the earle of Huntington moother to line 10 Conon earle of Britaine he had issue Henrie This Margaret died the third of king Iohn being the yeare of Christ 1201. And this Humfrie also died in the time of king Iohn as some haue or rather as others haue in the time of king Richard the first Henrie de Bohune the sonne of the said Humfrie and Margaret was the first earle of Hereford of that name of the Bohunes contrarie to that receiued error which hitherto hath made the other Bohunes earle of Hereford and contrarie to the printed pedegrée of the deceassed father of the earle of line 20 Essex now liuing For this man being the first erle of the Bohunes was made earle of Hereford in the first yeare of king Iohn as the charter dooth witnesse He was also constable of England and married Mawd the daughter and heire of Geffrie lord Ludgarsall sometime earle of Essex in whose right hir husband was intituled to that honor of the earledome of Essex by whome he had issue Humfrie his heire He died about the fourth yeare of Henrie the line 30 third being the yeare of our redemption 1220 in his iournie as he went to Ierusalem with other noblemen Humfrie de Bohune sonne of Henrie being the second of that name that was erle of Hereford was also earle of Essex and constable of England being by all men termed La bone counte de Hereford He married Mawd the daughter of the earle of Oxie in Normandie he had issue Humfrie de Bohune that was taken in the yeare of Christ 1265 being the fortie line 40 ninth of king Henrie the third at the battell of Euesham and died in the life of his father leauing behind him a sonne called Humfrie heire to him and to his father which Humfrie the father died in the yeare of our redemption 1275 being the third yeare of king Edward the first Humfrie de Bohune the third earle of Hereford of that name the sonne of Humfrie Bohune slaine at the battell of Euesham was after the death of his grandfather erle of Hereford and Essex and constable of England he married Mawd de Ferens or line 50 Frenis and had issue Humfrie this earle died in the yeare of our redemption 1298 being the twentie sixt of Edward the first was buried at Walden with his wife Mawd. Humfrie de Bohune the fourth erle of Hereford of that name was earle of Hereford Essex and constable of England he married Elizabeth the daughter to king Edward the first and widow to Iohn earle of Holland he had issue Iohn erle of Hereford Humfrie earle of Hereford and William earle of line 60 Northhampton This Humfrie taking part with Thomas earle of Lancaster was slaine at Borrobridge by a Welshman standing vnder a bridge that thrust him thorough with a speare in the fouretéenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the second being the yeare of our redemption 1321. Iohn de Bohune the eldest sonne of this Humfrie being the fiâ—t earle of Hereford was after the death of his father earle of Hereford Essex and constable of England he married the daughter of Edmund Fitz Alen earle of Arundell and died without issue in the yeare of Christ 1335 being the ninth yeare of king Edward the third He was buried in the abbeie of Stratford besides London Humfrie de Bohune sixt earle of Hereford being brother to Iohn de Bohune whome he succeeded was after the death of his brother earle of Hereford and Essex and constable of England he died without issue in the yeare of our Lord 1361 being the thirtie fift of king Edward the third and was buried at the Augustine friers in London William de Bohune seuenth erle of Hereford of that surname being the sonne of the other Humfrie and brother to the last Humfrie was at a parlement holden in the tenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third being in the yeare of our Lord 1336 created earle of Northhampton and after the death of his brother Humfrie he was earle of Hereford and Essex and constable of England He was in the eighteenth yeare of Edward the third being the yere of Christ 1344 sent into Britaine as generall ouer the English armie to restore Iohn de Montford to the dukedome of Britaine which he did putting Charles de Blois to flight He married Elizabeth some saie Eleanor one of the daughters and heires of Bartholomew Bladesmere baron of Bedes in Kent by whome he had issue Humfrie Humfrie de Bohune the eight last
wherevnto the said Luther answered verie sharpelie nothing sparing line 40 his authoritie nor maiestie ¶ Of which booke published by the king I will not for reuerence of his roiallic though I durst report what I haue read bicause we are to iudge honourablie of our rulers and to speake nothing but good of the princes of the people Onelie this bréefe clause or fragment I will adde least I might seeme to tell a tale of the man in the moone that king Henrie in his said booke is reported to rage against the diuell and antichrist line 50 to cast out his some against Luther to rase out the name of the pope and yet to allow his law c. I suppresse the rest for shame and returne to our historie In this meane time grudges and displeasures still grew and increased betwixt the king of England and the French king so that their gréefs rankled dailie more and more till at length the duke of Albanie returned into Scotland contrarie to that which was couenanted by the league The French king in déed alleaged that he was not priuie to his line 60 going thither and wrote to the king that the said duke was entered Scotland without his assent but it was otherwise iudged knowne that he had commission of the French king to go thither Herevpon the king was sore offended and prepared for wars Musters were made of able men and a note taken of what substance men were The king also sent six ships to the sea well trimmed manned and vittelled The admerall was one Christopher Coo an expert sea man His commission was to safe gard the merchants and other the kings subiects that were greeuouslie spoiled and robbed on the sea by Frenchmen Scots and other rouers The eight of Februarie the lord Dacres warden of the marches fore aneinst Scotland entered into Scotland with fiue hundred men by the kings commandement there proclamed that the Scots should come in to the kings peace by the first of March following or else to stand at their perils the duke of Albanie being then within fiue miles with a mightie power of Scots The eleuenth of Februarie the lord of Aburgauennie was brought from the Tower to Westminster and there in the kings bench confessed his indictment of misprisâ—on The lord Montacute was about the same time restored vnto the kings fauour ¶ On the second of March certeine noble men of the empire arriued in England to passe into Spaine who were honourablie receiued and in honour of them great iusts and triumphs were made which being finished and doone they tooke their leaue and departed on their iournie Duncan Campbell a Scotish rouer after long fight was taken on the sea by Iohn Arundell an esquier of Cornewall who presented him to the king He was committed to the Tower there remained prisoner a long season All the kings ships were put in a readinesse so that by the beginning of Aprill they were rigged and trimmed readie to make saile ¶ This yeare died the lord Brooke sir Edward Poinings knight of the garter sir Iohn Pechie and sir Edward Belknap valiant capteins which were suspected to be poisoned at a banket made at Ard when the two kings met last Wheat was sold this yeare in the citie of London for twentie shillings a quarter in other places for twentie six shillings eight pence In this yeare Gawan Dowglas bishop of Dunkell fled out of Scotland into England bicause the duke of Albanie being come thither had taken vpon him the whole gouernement of the king and realme there the sequele of whose dooings the bishop sore mistrusted The king assigned vnto this bishop an honest pension to liue on And shortlie after was Clarenceaux the herald sent into Scotland vnto the duke of Albanie to command him to auoid that realme for diuerse considerations if he would not then to defie him sith contrarie to the articles of the league concluded betwixt France England he was entered Scotland without his licence The duke refused to accomplish the kings commandement and was therefore defied by the said Clarenceaux The sixt of March the French king commanded all Englishmens goods being in Burdeaux to be attached and put vnder arrest and reteined not onelie the monie due to be paid for the restitution of Tornaie but also withheld the French quéenes dower The cardinall vnderstanding that he was euill spoken of for vsing his power legantine to such aduantage as he did in selling graces dispensations he thought to bestow some part therof amongst the people fréelie without taking anie thing for the same Wherevpon when Lent drew neere he appointed the preachers at Paules crosse to declare that it should be lawfull to all persons for that Lent to eat milke butter chéese egs And to the end that none should haue anie scrupulousnesse of conscience in so dooing he by his authoritie granted remission of sins to all those that did â—at white meats knowing as it were afore hand that the people giuen to the obseruance of their religious fast would not easilie be brought to breake the same contrarie to the ancient custome vsed in their countrie Neither was he deceiued therein for so farre were the people from receiuing or accounting this as a benefit that they tooke it rather for a wicked cursed déed in those that receiued it few or almost none could he induce to breake their old order and scrupulous trade in that behalfe The king vnderstanding how his subiects were handled at Burdeaux by the French kings commandement in breach of the league the French ambassadour was called before the councell and the cardinall laid sore to his charge that contrarie to his promise at all times on the French king his maisters behalfe affirming that he ment nothing but peace and amitie to be obserued in all points with the king of England yet now the English merchants had not onelie their goods staied at Burdeaux but also they and their factors were laid in prison in full breach of all peace and amitie afore time concluded line 10 The ambassadour in woords so well as hée could excused his maister but in the end hée was commanded to keepe his house and the French hostages that were appointed héere to remaine for the monie to be paid for the deliuerie of Tornaie were committed vnto the safe kéeping of the lord of Saint Iohns sir Thomas Louell sir Andrew Windsor and sir Thomas Neuill euerie of them to haue one Herewith also all the Frenchmen in London were arrested committed to prison and put to their line 20 fines but they were more courteouslie vsed than the Englishmen were in France For after they had béene in durance ten daies they were set at libertie vpon finding suerties to appeare before the maior or else before the councell at a certeine daie and to paie the fine vpon them assessed which fine the king pardoned to diuerse
lord Maxwell or rather of Oliuer Sincler as the Scots affirme boasting to tarrie as long in England as the duke of Norffolke had tarried in Scotland And so on fridaie being saint Katharins euen they passed ouer the water of Eske and burnt certeine houses of the Greues on the verie border Thomas bastard Dacres with Iacke of Musgraue sent word to sir Thomas Wharton lord line 60 Warden for the king vpon the west marches to come forward to succour them But in the meane while the Scots entring verie fierclie the aforesaid two valiant capteins bastard Dacres and Musgraue manfullie set vpon the Scots with one hundred light horsses and left a stale on the side of a hill wherewith the Scots were woonderfullie dismaied thinking that either the duke of Norffolke with his whole armie had béene come to those west marches or that some other great power had beene comming against them when they saw onelie sir Thomas Wharton with three hundred men marching forward toward them But so it fortuned at that time vndoubtedlie as God would haue it that the Scots fled at the first brunâ— whome the Englishmen followed and tooke prisoners at their pleasure for there was small resistance or none at all shewed by the Scots Amongst others that were taken we find these men of name the earle of Castill and Glencarne the lord Maxwell admerall of Scotland and warden of the west marches the lord Flenung the lord Sumerwell the lord Oliphant the lord Greie sir Oliuer Sincler the kings minson Iohn Roâ—â—o lord of Gragie Robert Erskin son to the lord Erskin Carre lard of Bredon the lord Maxwelles two brethren Iohn Leslâ—ie bastard son to the earle of Rothus George Hume lard of Hâ—mitton Iohn Maieland lard of Wike castell Iames Pringell Iames Sincler brother to Oliuer Sincler Iohn Carmell capteine of Craiforth Patrike Hebborne esquire Iohn Seton esquire son in law to the lord Erskin William Seton esquire Iohn Steward cousin to the king Iohn Morrowe esquire Henrie Droumont esquire Iames Mitton esquire Iohn Cormurth esquire capteine of Gainsforth Iames Mitton esquire and other esquiers and gentlemen beside the earles and lords before mentioned to the number of two hundred and aboue and more than eight hundred other persons of meaner calling so that some one Englishman yea some women had thrée or foure prisoners They tooke also foure and twentie peeces of ordinance foure carts laden with speares and ten pauilions with other things of price so that this might well be said to be the handie worke of God and the verse of the psalme verified Contemplans dixi Haec est mutatio dextrae Numinis excelsi mortalia cuncta gubernans The king of Scots tooke such griefe and inward thought for his ouerthrow and also for the murther of an English herald that was slaine at Dunbar by one Léech an Englishman the which for the rebellion in Lincolnshire was fled into Scotland that he fell into a hot ague and thereof died although manie reported that he was at the bickering and receiued there his deaths wound and fled there with into Scotland But of his death and of the birth of his daughter ye may see more in the historie of Scotland Of these prisoners before named one and twentie of them were brought to London and on the ninetéenth of December entred into the citie by Bishops gate and so were conueied to the tower where they remained for the space of two daies and vpon saint Thomas daie the apostle being the one and twentith of December they were conueied to Westminster sir Iohn Gage constable of the tower riding before them and the lieutenant of the same tower riding behind them They rode two and two togither and eight of them being earls and lords had new gowns of blacke damaske furred with blacke conie cotes of blacke veluet and doublets of sattin with shirts and other apparell bought new for them at the kings charges Thus being solemnelie conueied through the stréets of London vnto Westminster they came before the councell sitting in the Starchamber and there the lord chancellor declared to them their vntruth vnkindnesse and false dissimulation declaring further how the king had cause of war against them both for denieng of their homages and also for their traitorous inuasions made into his realme without defiance and for keeping his subiects prisoners without redemption contrarie to the ancient laws of the marches for which dooings God as they might perceiue had scourged them Howbeit the K. more regarding his honor than his princelie power was content to shew them kindnesse for vnkindnesse and right for wrong And although he might kéepe them in streict prison by iust law of armes yet he was content that they should haue libertie to be with the nobles of his realme in their houses and so according to their estates they were appointed to dukes earles bishops knights and gentlemen which so interteined them that they confessed themselues neuer to be better vsed nor to haue had greater cheere in all their life times line 10 The earle of Cassils was appointed to be with the archbishop of Canturburie the earle of Glencarne with the duke of Norffolke the lord Fleming with the lord priuie seale the lord Maxwell with sir Anthonie Browne the lord Sumerwell with the lord chancellor the lord Oliphant with sir Thomas Lée Oliuer Sincler with the duke of Suffolke Robert Erskin with the bishop of Westminster the lord Montâ—th with sir Antonie Wingfield the lord Montâ—th with sir Rafe Sadler George Hume with the line 20 earle of Hertford the lord of Gragie with sir Thomas Cheincie the lard of Gredon with maister Gosâ—wike Henrie Maxwell with sir Richard Long Thomas Craâ—ford with sir Arthur Darcie Patrike Hebborne with sir Thomas Wriothesleie Iames Pringell with sir Richard Rich Iohn Matland with sir Edward North the lord Greie Iames Sincler and Iohn Lisleie were appointed to men of such credit as were thought méet to answer for their safe keeping The two and twentith of December tidings line 30 came of the king of Scots death and vpon S. Iohns daie in Christmas weeke the foresaid lords of Scotland were brought to the court which was then at Greenwich where they had great cheare and went before the king to the chappell and were lodged within the court Herevpon ye must consider that whereas the king of Scots had left no issue behind him in life but onelie one daughter the king and his councell perceiuing a meane now offered whereby without line 40 warre the two realmes might be vnited these Scotish lords hauing first made the motion themselues for a mariage to be had betwixt prince Edward and their yoong queene the king required their helpe vnto the furtherance of that matter which might be a great benefit to themselues their countrie This they promised faithfullie to doo and aswell by themselues as by their friends to bring the same so effect so much as the
king could require Wherevpon the king was not onelie contented to release them home but also highlie rewarded them with rich line 50 and costlie gifts of sundrie sorts in most bountifull wise as Anglorum praelia noteth verie well saieng Praeterea ex auro captucos corquibus ornat Et sumptum vestes argentum donat aurum The thirtith of December they departed from the court and the morrow after eight of them dined with sir Iohn Cotes then lord maior of London and the rest with the shiriffes and had verie great â—heare On Newyeares daie they departed from line 60 London homewards towards Scotland year 1543 and rode to Enfield to sée the prince and there dined that day greatlie reioising as by their words and countenance it séemed to behold so proper and towardlie an impe From thence they kept on their iournie till they came to the north parts where they found the duke of Suffolke the kings lieutenant there and with him remained till such pledges were come forth of Scotland as it was couenanted they should leaue behind them The duke then after he had receiued the hostages permitted them to depart and so they returned into Scotland where they were gladlie welcomed by their kinsmen and friends With them went also the earle of Angus who had béene banished Scotland and hauing remained here in England a long time receiued of the kings fée a thousand marks by yeare and likewise his brother sir George Dowglas who had fiue hundred markes yearelie likewise of the kings gift They were now both restored home into their countrie and that as was said by the kings last will The said earle of Angus and diuerse of the lords that had beene prisoners here in England were made of the priuie councell of the realme by the earle of Arraine that was chosen gouernour to the yoong quéene and of the realme as next heire apparent notwithstanding that the archbishop of saint Andrews and cardinall of the sée of Rome enimie mortall vnto the king of England for the popes cause and partlie set on by the French king had forged a will expressing how the king had made him gouernour associat with two earles of his affinitie as well of the queene as realme contrarie to the lawes of Scotland Wherevpon the said earle of Arraine according to his right as he pretended with the helpe of his friends tooke vpon him the authoritie of gouernor and put the said cardinall in prison and deliuered sir Robert Bowes and the other English prisoners by their bonds according to the custome of the marches All this yeare was neither perfect peace nor open warre betwixt England and France but the merchants ships were taken and robbed on both parts and at length merchants goods were seized and the ambassadors of both realms staied Howbeit shortlie after the ambassadors were deliuered but the merchants still were robbed and no warre proclamed In the end of this yeare came from the gouernor of Scotland as ambassadors sir William Hamilton and Iames Leirmouth the secretarie of Scotland whose message was so meanlie liked that they were faine to send an herald into Scotland for other ambassadors and so came hither the earle of Glencarne and sir George Dowglas but whatsoeuer their answer was sir George returned in post and within twentie daies came backe againe with an answer that was well liked of But shortlie after they brake promise and went from that which they had couenanted greatlie to their reproch Wood was sold verie deare in the winter season of this yeare and likewise vittels both flesh and fish grew to an high price towards the spring by reason as was thought of the vntemperate wet summer last past causing great death among cattell A quarter of mutton was sold for two shillings or seuen grotes a lambe at thrée shillings or thrée and foure pence which afore that time was esteemed scarse woorth sixteene pence Against Easter at a court of aldermen kept in the Guildhall the twentith of March 1542 it was enacted by the lord maior and his brethren that the maior and shiriffs should be serued at their tables but with one course at dinner and supper in their houses the maior to haue but seuen dishes at the most at one messe for his owne table and the shiriffs and euerie other alderman but six dishes vpon paine to forfeit for euerie dish fortie shillings at euerie time when they offended in this ordinance Also that the sargeants and yeomen of their houses should haue but thrée dishes at dinner or supper the swordbearers messe onlie excepted which should be allowed to haue one dish more It was also enacted that from the feast of Easter then next insuing neither the maior nor his brethren should buie anie crane swan or bustard vpon paine to forfeit for euerie foule by them so bought twentie shillings the offense to be tried by oth if it should be presented In the beginning of this yeare on Trinitie sundaie was a new league sworne betwéene the king and the emperour at Hampton court either of them to be friends to the others friends and enimies to the others enimies ¶ In this yeare also a proclamation was made whereby the people were licenced to eate whit meats in Lent but streictlie forbidden the eating of flesh Wherevpon shortlie after the earle of Surrie with diuerse lords knights and gentlemen were imprisoned for eating of flesh in the same Lent contrarie to the said proclamation The eight of Maie one Léech sometimes bailie of Louth who had killed Summerset one of our heralds line 10 of armes at Dunbar in Scotland was drawne to Tiburne and there hanged and quartered And the twelfe of Iune Edward Leech his brother and with him a priest for the same fact were likewise executed at Tiburne This yeare the first cast péeces of iron that euer were made in England were made at Buckesteed in Sussex by Rafe Hoge and Peter Bawd The third of Iune came to the court from the realme of Ireland thrée Irish lords Obrin Macke William a line 20 Burgh and Macke Gilpatrike In Iulie the said Obrin was created earle of Townon Macke William a Burgh earle of Claurickford and sir Dunon Obrin was made baron of Ebrankie and so with rewards they tooke leaue and returned The same moneth also the Scotish ambassadors returned with great rewards The twelfe of Iulie at Hampton court the king maried the ladie Katharine Par widow late wife vnto the lord Latimer deceased and then she was nominated quéene and so proclamed line 30 In the parlement holden this yeare at Westminster a subsidie was granted to the king to be paied in thrée yeares Euerie Englishman being woorth in goods twentie shillings vpward to fiue pounds paied foure pence of euerie pound From fiue pounds to ten pounds eight pence From ten pounds to twentie pounds sixtéene pence From twentie pounds and vpward of euerie pound two
resist such a puissant force as the French king had there with him would not yet hearken vnto anie talke nor suffer the herald to come néere for that he line 40 should not perceiue the weakenesse of the péece and so he was commanded to get him thence with spéed or else they would cause him to be packing smallie to his ease The French king sore offended herewith that his herald was so vncourteouslie vsed caused the batterie to be reinforced with great diligence which dismounting their ordinance within and beating downe their rampiers made such breaches that my lord Iohn and the capteins within perceiued they were not able by anie meanes to defend the line 50 place anie longer Herevpon they offered to render the fort to the king vpon composition which in the end fell out to be thus that the souldiers should depart with their liues saued and that their generall for honor sake should haue one horsse to ride on in his corslet without sword or dagger and likewise two other capteins with him but as for the other souldiers with the women and chidren should depart on foot in their shirts leauing all their goods and substance behind them After it was agreed that the fort should be thus surrendered there entered line 60 monsieur de Chatillon that was after admerall of France and monsieur de Desse latelie returned out of Scotland The French souldiers entring by stealth into the fort by the breaches committed foule disorders not onelie in ransacking the houses but also in spoiling the souldiers by force intreating them in most rigorous maner The French writers confesse that it was pitie to sée the poore men and women so miserablie handled and abused as they were by the outragious soldiors that thus entred the fort and sacked all that they could laie hands vpon Monsieur de Desse saued a great number of women and yoong maidens from the cruell hands of their aduersaries causing them to passe foorth by the breach and presented them to the king who appointed that they should be conueied in safetie with all that they had about them till they had gotten out of danger Monsieur de Chatillon by the kings commandement caused all the rest within the fort to come forth who passing thrée and thrée in a range came before the king who stood there to behold them with the whole armie placed so in order on either side the waie as they should come that they might passe betwixt their ranks as it were through a lane They that came foorth in this sort might be as the French writers record about seuen or eight hundred in all of men and women wherof there were manie hurt and maimed some with halfe a shirt on to couer them and diuerse starke naked The lord Iohn Greie being mounted on a curtaile passing by the French king and saluting him was courteouslie of him embraced The morrow after was the fort of Blacknesse or Blaconnesse rendered to the French king with like conditions as they of Hambleteuue had rendered theirs This was on the tuesdaie the seuen and twentith of August The nine and twentith of August sir Nicholas Arnault conueieng all the artillerie munition vittels and goods out of Bullongne berg caused fire to be set on that fort and retired with all his soldiors and other people vnto Bullongne Whervpon shortlie after the Frenchmen seized vpon the said place of Bullongne berg kept it The French king leauing monsieur de Chatillon within Hambleteuue with the old bands of the French footmen returned towards Bullongne approching within a mile and a halfe of the Old man meant to build there a fort on the sea side but what through such sharpe skirmishes as the Englishmen continuallie were redie to make with his men and what through the abundance of raine which fell in that season he was constreined to breake vp his campe and leauing strong garrisons both of horssemen and footmen in all those places which he had in that season woone out of the Englishmens hands he returned himselfe with the princes of his bloud into France In this meane time whilest the French king was thus occupied to vse the oportunitie of time in recouering of those fortresses in Bullongnois out of the Englishmens hands the kings maiestie and his councell were busie still in quieting his rebellious subiects here in England and finallie for meane of a full pacification and to set all things in good frame and quiet rest the king published his graces most generall and frée pardon to all rebelles so that they would foorthwith vpon publication of the same pardon returne euerie man to his house and countrie which they gladlie did and so these seditious and most dangerous troubles were brought to end and pacified ¶ Also in this busie time Marie Steward queene of Scots was conueied by sea out of Scotland into France and there on the ninetéenth daie of Aprill 1549 was married in our ladie church in Paris with great triumph and solemnitie to Francis the Dolphin eldest sonne vnto king Henrie the second of that name French king This conueieng of the yoong quéene is reported by one to haue béene priuilie wrought at such time as the councell of England were in some expectation and hope to obteine hir Neuerthelesse the subtill aduise of the French and the trecherous forwardnesse of the Scots vtterlie disappointed the honest and honorable purpose of the English Now when the yoong quéene and hir traine with the gard of hir person be they whome you will were vnder saile the English nauie was abroade and lieng in wait to haue intercepted hir course meant not onlie to skirmiâ—h but also to recouer the yong queene from the French in spite of their hearts had not the king of England and the most of his councell flatlie forbidden them to attempt anie warlike incounter for certeine iust and weightie causes to them knowne But the Scots smarted for this their vaine lightnesse as in former times for like practices of their vile lewdnesse as C.O. saith Sic leuiora leui pluma promissa Scotorum Infamem reddunt gentem dant sanguine pâ—nas line 10 Perfidiae quandóque suae velut antè dederunt In this troublesome yéere also Edmund Bonner bishop of London preached a sermon at Paules crosse for the which he was accusâ—â— vnto the councell by William Latimer parson of saint Laurence Pountneie and Iohn Hooper sometime a white moonke and so conuented before the archbishop of Canturburie and other commissioners at Lambeth on the twentith daie of that same moneth and sent to the Marshalsea On the first of October he was line 20 depriued of his bishoprike for disobeieng the kings order in religion Now after that these hurlie burlies were throughlie quieted manie of the lords of the realme as well councellors as other misliking the gouernment of the protector began to withdraw themselues from the court and resorting to London
of England This Geffreie Fitzpeter died in the yeare of our redemption 1212 being about the fourtéenth yeare of the reigne of the said miserablie afflicted king Iohn who died in the yeare of Christ 1216 whose death I haue beene the willinger here to mention because I would set downe his epitaph not else before set downe in our English line 60 chronicles as I find the same of ancient report Hoc in sarcophago sepelitur regis imago Qui moriens multum sedauit in orbe tumultum Et cui connexa dum vixit probra manebant Hunc mala post mortem timor est nefata sequantur Qui legis haec metuens dum cernis te moriturum Discito quid rerum pariat tibi meta dierum This Geffreie Fitzpeter maried Beatrice daughter and heire of William lord Saie by whom he had issue Geffreie Mandeuile earle of Essex Mawd maried to Humfreie de Bohuns by whome the Bohunes became earles of Essex William Marshall surnamed the great being erle of Penbroke was made protector of the realme person of the king after that the king being nine yeares of age was crowned in the yeare of our Lord 1216. Which office this William being also marshall of England vsed so honorablie that he recouered a great part of the nobilitie which tooke part with Lewes son of the French king against king Iohn father to this Henrie to assist the yoong king Henrie against the said Lewes who in the time of the said Iohn had obteined a great part of the kingdome of England By which meanes the said Lewes was expelled and the kingdome wholie recouered to the vse of the said yoong king Henrie the third This William Marshall maried Isabell daughter and heire to Richard Strangbow earle of Penbroke who made him a happie father in the multitude of his children For by hir he had fiue sonnes all which were in succession marshals of England and earles of Penbroke and fiue daughters The sonnes were William Richard Gilbert Walter and Anselme who all dieng without issue the inheritance was deuolued to the fiue sisters which were Mawd the eldest maried to Hugh Bigod in hir right earle marshall Ione the second maried to Waraine Monthensie in hir right also earle of Penbroke as hath Nicholas Triuet Isabell the third maried to Gilbert de Clare earle of Glocester Sibill the fourth maried to William Ferrers erle of Darbie Eue the fift daughter maried to William de Berehuse or de Brause This William the great died in the yeare of our redemption 1219 being the third as hath Nicholas Triuet or the fourth as hath Matthew Westminster yeare of the reigne of the said king Henrie the third and was buried at the new temple on Ascension daie being the seuenteenth calends of Aprill of whome was made this epitaph by Geruasius Melckeleie taking vpon him the person of the earle marshall Sum quem Saturnum sibi sentit Hibernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normannia Gallia Martem Which signifieth that he was a sharpe corrector and ruler of the Irish an honor glorie to the English a councellor and dispatcher of the affaires of Normandie a warlike knight and inuincible capteine against the Frenchmen Petrus de rupibus or Peter of the Roch being bishop of Winchester was after the death of William Marshall earle of Penbroke aduanced to the protectorship of the king because that the yoong king was almost destitute of anie of his owne kindred that might woorthilie haue the rule of his person For his mother quéene Isabell was newlie maried to Hugh Brune earle of March in France This bishop of Winchester who was both a wise and a stout prelat being now in possession of the king and mistrusting that he had entred into a more weightie office than he might well discharge if all things were not doone according to the fansie of the nobilitie procured diuerse graue and honorable men to be preferred to the kings councell and to be associats to him in the administration of the weale publike and so entred into the administration of his new atchiued honor Which yet he did not long inioie But as the bishop was at the first carefull to plant such of the nobilitie about the king for the support of the realme so yet himselfe being a Gascoine did after in the riper yeares of the king prefer to offices about the king such Gascoins as both were of his owne bloud and kindred and by their extraordinarie dealing procured the nobilitie with an hard and vndutifull course to oppose themselues against the king This Peter was aduanced to the seat of Winchester in the yeare of our redemption 1204 being about the sixt yeare of king Iohn After which he went to Rome and being a prelat more fit to fight than to preach for Mars than for the muses did returne from Rome in the yeare of Christ 1205 being about the seuenth yeare of king Iohn He remained bishop about two and thirtie yeares and died at his manour house of Fernham on the fift ides of Iune in the yeare of our Lord as haue Matthew Paris and Matthew Westminster 1238 being the two twentith yeare of Henrie the third Who somewhat before his death about the one and line 10 thirtith yeare of his bishoprike went into the holie land with the bishop of Excester He builded and indued with possessions manie religious houses amongst which he founded Tichfield in Hampshire of which Peter de la Roches or of the rocks Matthew Paris maketh a more large discourse Hubert de Burow conestable of Douer castle earle of Kent and chiefe iustice of England being of great account in the realme for his probitie and goodnesse was made protector of the king and kingdome line 20 in the yeare of our redemption 1221 being the fift yeare of king Henrie the third This man in the yeare of Christ 1221 being the same yeare in the which he was made protector maried at Yorke Margaret sister to Alexander king of Scots And here I thinke it not amisse to saie somewhat touching the issue of this Hubert of Burow who in a certeine namelesse booke caried about in the hands of all men treating of the nobilitie created since the inuasion of William Conqueror is said to die without issue which cannot possiblie be so if that be line 30 true which I haue séene which I am led by manie reasons to beléeue to be most true For I haue read of two children which this Hubert had whereof the one being a sonne was called Richard de Burow who was knighted by Henrie the third as it séemeth to me after the death of his father if this Richard be not the same Iohn of whome Matthew Paris writeth that in the yeare of Christ 1229 Rex Anglorum Henricus in die Pentecostes Iohannem filium Huberti Angliae iusticiarij cingulo militari line 40 donauit tertio nonas Iunij The other child was a daughter called Margaret maried to Richard heire to the
subscription vnder the picture of hir husband Francone or Francis was in this sort FRanciscus Dei gratia comes de Osteruant erfginocht in comitatibus Hollandiae Hannoniae Zelandiae Friselandiae dominus de Boursalia de Viorne Zuylen Hochstraten Kortkene de la Veer Flishing Zandenburge terrae Brilensis Sentmartinsdike quo loco fundauit coenobium canonicorum c regi Edwardo quarto fideliter assistebat necnon equestris ordinis diui Antonij Beside which also was this written in the Dutch toong Here vranck van Boselen graue van Osteruant starfe Anno Domini 1470. Thomas Beaufort duke of Excester appointed to that office by Henrie the fift on his death-bed was with Henrie Beaufort bishop of Winchester great vncle to king Henrie the sixt in the yéere of our redemption 1422 being the first yeere of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt then but nine months old made protector and gardian of the person of the yoong king to see him tenderlie and carefullie brought vp and instructed in all such parts as were to be required in the person of a monarch Which office he left about the fourth yeere of king Henrie the sixt and died on Newyéeres daie at his manor of Gréenwich in the said fift yéere of Henrie the sixt being the yeere of our redemption 1446 he married Margaret the daughter of Thomas Neuill of Hornesbie Richard Beauchampe earle of Warwike son of the former Thomas Beauchampe being beyond the seas and there deputie for Iohn duke of Bedford being regent of France did whilest the said regent was come ouer into England obteine manie castels in his deputieship who being thus imploied in the forren warres was in his absence out of his countrie for his singular wisdome and valor ordeined by the thrée estates of the realme of England in open parlement to be gouernor of the person of the yoong king Henrie the sixt in the place of Thomas Beaufort duke of Excester latelie deceased which Richard did not yet foorthwith hasten his returne into England but remained in France for a season inlarging the fame of his martiall exploits This his election to the protectorship of the kings person was in the fift yéere of Henrie the sixt being the yéere of our redemption 1426. He died in the yeere of our Lord 1439 being the seuentéenth yéere of the deposed king Henrie the sixt at Rone in Normandie the last daie of Maie as hath Iohn Stow and the fourth of October next following his corps was honorablie conueied as well by land as by water from Rone to Warwike and there honorablie buried in line 10 the college of our ladie church founded by his noble ancestors He maried two wiues the first Elisabeth daughter and heire of Thomas lord Barkleie by whome he had thrée daughters Margaret maried to Iohn lord Talbot earle of Shrewesburie Eleanor maried to Thomas lord Rosse and Elisabeth married to Gorge Neuill lord Latimer His second wife was Isabell the daughter and heire of Richard lord Spenser by whome he had issue Henrie duke of Warwike and Anne married to Richard Neuill line 20 earle of Salisburie Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke sonne to Richard earle of Cambrige and father to Edward the fourth king of England notwithstanding that he made challenge to the crowne against Henrie the sixt then in possession thereof as heire to the house of Yorke and was to be preferred before the house of Lancaster and notwithstanding that he was by parlement appointed to weare the crowne after the death of Henrie the sixt yet after all this in the thrée line 30 and thirtith yeere of the same king being the yéere of our redemption 1455 such was the imperfection of the king to gouerne he was appointed protector of the realme ruling the same at his owne disposition Which office he did not long inioie and that most worthilie for the next yéere after being the foure and thirtith of king Henrie the sixt and the yeere of our redemption 1456 he was depriued from the same and queene Margaret wife to Henrie the sixt tooke againe the absolute regiment into hir line 40 hands which duke after in the nine and thirtith of king Henrie the sixt being the yéere of our redemption 1460 the thirtith daie of December being lord of Wakefield was there with his sonne the earle of Rutland slaine at the battell commonlie called the battell of Wakefield of which I haue read these verses in Whethamsted once abbat of saint Albons Anno milleno centum quater quoque seno Terdenóque die duodeno mense Decembre Infra Eboracensem nixta Wakefield comitatum line 50 Dux dominus villae fertur pugnans habuisse Conflictum grandem contra gentem borealem Ac proceres plures praeerant quae gentibus ipsis Quod docuit quia sors quod res fortuna secundas Vitat habere moras cecidit dux natus eius Ac comes insignis sors belli sors fuit ipsis Obuia sÃcque fatis regni fuerat breuis haeres Omen idlaetum tulerat mutamine meestum Deslendum multis ius regni ius fuit eius He maried Cicilie daughter to Rafe Neuill first line 60 earle of Westmerland by whome he had issue Edward duke of Yorke earle of March and after king of England by the name of Edward the fourth George Plantagenet duke of Clarence Richard Plantagenet duke of Glocester after king of England by the name of Richard the third thrée daughters Anne maried to Henrie Holland duke of Excester Elisabeth married to Iohn de la Poole duke of Suffolke and Margaret maried to Charles duke of Burgognie George Plantagenet duke of Clarence and conestable of England sonne of the foresaid duke of Yorke and brother to king Edward the fourth with Richard Neuill earle of Warwike who set vp and pulled downe kings at his pleasure were after the flight of Edward the fourth out of England into Burgognie to his brother in law in the tenth yeare of the reigne of the said king Edward being the yeare of our redemption 1470 when Henrie the sixt had by their means readepted the kingdome made gouernors of the land which office they inioied not long For the said Edward the fourth returning into England in the eleuenth yeare of his reigne being the yeare of our redemption 1471 reconciled to him the duke of Clarence did againe put downe king Henrie the sixt and slue the said earle of Warwike flieng awaie at Barnet field on Easter day by one of the men of his campe After this on the fiftéenth daie of Ianuarie began a parlement in the eightéenth yere of the reigne of king Edward the fourth being the yeare of our redemption 1478 where this duke of Clarence was atteinted of treason and the eleuenth of March following he ended his life in a but of malmeseie and was buried at Teukesburie beside his wife who being with child died by poison a little before him Of this man sée more in my discourse of
50 brought to London the least of them was more than anie horsse Much about this season there were thrée notable ships set foorth and furnished for the great aduenture of the vnknowne voiage into the east by the north seas The great dooer and incourager of which voiage was Sebastian Gabato an Englishman borne at Bristow but was the sonne of a Genowaie These ships at the last arriued in the countrie of Moscouia not without great losse and danger line 60 and namelie of their capteine who was a woorthie and aduenturous gentleman called sir Hugh Willoughbie knight who being tossed and driuen by tempest was at the last found in his ship frozen to death and all his people But now the said voiage and trade is greatlie aduanced and the merchants aduenturing that waie are newlie by act of parlement incorporated and indued with sundrie priuileges and liberties About the beginning of the moneth of Maie next following there were thrée notable mariages concluded shortlie after solemnized at Durham place The first was betwéene the lord Gilford Dudleie the fourth sonne of the duke of Northumberland and the ladie Iane eldest daughter to Henrie duke of Suffolke the ladie Francis his wife was the daughter of Marie second sister to king Henrie the eight first maried to Lewes the French king and after to Charles Brandon duke of Suffolke The second mariage was betwéene the lord Herbert son and heire to William earle of Penbroke and the ladie Katharine second daughter of the said ladie Francis by the said Henrie duke of Suffolke And the third was betwéene Henrie lord Hastings sonne and heire to Francis earle of Huntington and ladie Katharine yoongest daughter to the forenamed duke of Northumberland These mariages were compassed concluded chieflie vpon purpose to change alter the order of succession to the crowne made in the time of king Henrie the eight from the said kings daughters Marie and Elizabeth and to conueie the same immediatlie after the death of king Edward to the house of Suffolke in the right of the said ladie Francis wherein the said yoong king was an earnest traueller in the time of his sickenesse all for feare that if his sister Marie being next heire to the crowne should succéed that she would subuert all his lawes and statutes made concerning religion whereof he was most carefull for the continuance whereof he sought to establish a meet order of succession by the aliance of great houses by waie of marriage which neuerthelesse were of no force to serue his purpose For tending to the disheriting of the rightfull heirs they proued nothing prosperous to the parties for two of them were soone after made frustrate the one by death the other by diuorse In the meane while the king became euerie daie more sicke than other of a consumption in his lungs so as there was no hope of his recouerie Wherevpon those that then bare chiefe authoritie in councell with other prelats and nobles of the realme called to them diuerse notable persons learned as well in diuinitie as in the lawes of the land namelie bishops iudges other who fell to consultation vpon this so weightie cause and lastly concluded vpon the deuise of king Edwards will to declare the said ladie Iane eldest néece to king Henrie the eight and wife to the said lord Gilford to be rightfull heire in succession to the crowne of England without respect had to the statute made in the fiue and thirtith yeare of king Henrie the eight the true meaning of which statute they did impugne and ouerthrow by diuerse subtill sinister constructions of the same to disherit the said kings daughters to whome the succession of the crowne of England of right apperteined as well by the common lawes of this realme as also by the said statute made in the said fiue and thirtith yeare of king Henrie as aforesaid To which new order of succession all the said kings councell with manie bishops lords doctors and iudges of the realme subscribed their names without refusall of anie except sir Iames Hales knight one of the iustices of the common plées who being called to this councell would in no wise giue his assent either by word or writing as ye shall heare more in the historie of quéene Marie Now when these matters were thus concluded and after confirmed by a number of hands as aforesaid then the noble prince king Edward the sixt by long lingering sickenesse and consumption of his lungs aforesaid approched to his death and departed out of this life the sixt daie of Iulie in the seuenth yeare of his reigne and seuentéenth of his age after he had reigned and noblie gouerned this realme six yeares fiue moneths and eight daies And a little before his departing lifting vp his eies to God hee praied as followeth The praier of king Edward the sixt at his death LOrd God deliuer me out of this miserable and wretched life take me among thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be doone Lord I commit my spirit to thee oh Lord thou knowest how happie it were for mee to be with thee yet for thy chosens sake if line 10 it be thy will send me life and helth that I maie trulie serue thee Oh my Lord blesse thy people and saue thine inheritance Oh Lord God saue thy chosen people of England Oh my Lord God defend this realme from papistrie and mainteine thy true religion that I and my people maie praise thy holie name And therewithall he said I am faint Lord haue mercie vpon me and take my spirit line 20 Thus did this good yoong king yéeld vp to God his ghost the sixt daie of Iulie as before is mentioned whome if it had pleased God to haue spared with longer life not vnlike it was but he should haue so gouerned this English common-wealth that he might haue béene comparable with any of his noble progenitors so that the losse of so towardlie a yoong king greatlie discomforted the whole English nation that looked for such a reformation in the state of line 30 the common-wealth at his hands as was to be wished for of all good subiects which bred such a liking in them toward him that euen among verie traitorous rebels his name yet was had in reuerence although otherwise they neuer so much forgat their dutie both towards him and other appointed to gouerne vnder him through a malicious and most wilfull error as if his tender yeares had not sufficientlie warranted his roiall authoritie but that the same had béene vsurped by others against his will and pleasure line 40 And as he was intierlie beloued of his subiects so with the like affection of kindnes he loued them againe of nature and disposition méeke much inclined to clemencie euer hauing a regard to the sparing of life There wanted in him no promptnes of wit grauitie of sentence ripenesse of iudgement as his age might
libertie out of danger to peace and quietnesse from dread to dignitie from miserie to maiestie from mourning to ruling brieflie of a prisonner made a princesse and placed in hir throne roiall proclamed now quéene with as manie glad hearts line 50 of hir subiects as euer was anie king or queene in this realme before hir or euer shall be I dare saie hereafter Touching whose florishing state hir princelie reigne and peaceable gouernement with other things diuerse and sundrie incident to the same and especiallie touching the great stirres and alterations which haue happened in other forren nations and also partlie among our selues here at home forsomuch as the tractation hereof requireth an huge volume by it selfe I shall therefore deferre the reader to the line 60 next booke or section insuing wherein if the Lord so please to susteine me with leaue and life I maie haue to discourse of all and singular such matters doone and atchiued in these our latter daies and memorie more at large Now then after these so great afflictions falling vpon this realme from the first beginning of quéene Maries reigne wherein so manie men women and children were burned manie imprisoned and in prisons starued diuerse exiled some spoiled of goods and possessions a great number driuen from house to home so manie wéeping eies so manie sobbing harts so manie children made fatherlesse so manie fathers bereft of their wiues and children so manie vexed in conscience and diuerse against conscience constrained to recant and in conclusion neuer a good man almost in all the realme but suffered something during all the time of this bloudie persecution after all this I saie now we are come at length the Lord be praised to the seuentéenth of Nouember which daie as it brought to the persecuted members of Christ rest from their carefull mourning so it easeth me somewhat likewise of my laborious writing by the death I meane of quéene Marie who being long sicke before vpon the said seuentéenth daie of Nouember in the yeare aboue said about thrée or foure of the clocke in the morning yéelded hir life to nature and hir kingdome to quéene Elisabeth hir sister As touching the maner of whose death some saie that she died of a timpanie some by hir much sighing before hir death supposed she died of thought and sorrow Wherevpon hir councell seeing hir sighing and desirous to know the cause to the end they might minister the more readie consolation vnto hir feared as they said that she tooke some thought for the kings maiestie hir husband which was gone from hir To whome she answering againe In deed said she that may be one cause but that is not the greatest wound that pearseth mine oppressed mind but what that was she would not expresse to them Albeit afterward she opened the matter more plainlie to mistresse Rise and mistresse Clarentius if it be true that they told me which heard it of mistresse Rise himselfe who then being most familiar with hir and most bold about hir told hir that they feared she tooke thought for king Philips departing from hir Not that onelie said she but when I am dead and opened you shall find Calis lieng in my hart c. Which one supposing to be true hath left this report Hispani oppidulo amisso contabuit vxor Quam cruciatu aegro confecerat anxia cura And here an end of quéene Marie and of hir persecution during the time of hir misgouernment Of which quéene this trulie may be affirmed and left in storie for a perpetuall memoriall or epitaph for all kings and quéenes that shall succéed hir to be noted that before hir neuer was read in storie of anie king or quéene of England since the time of king Lucius vnder whom in time of peace by hanging heading burning and prisoning so much christian bloud so manie Englishmens liues were spilled within this realme as vnder the said quéene Marie for the space of foure yeares was to be séene and I beseech the Lord neuer may be séene hereafter Now for so much as quéene Marie during all the time of hir reigne was such a vehement aduersarie and persecutor against the sincere professors of Christ Iesus and his gospell for the which there be manie which doo highlie magnifie and approue hir dooings therein reputing hir religion to be sound and catholike and hir procéedings to be most acceptable and blessed of almightie God to the intent therfore that all men may vnderstand how the blessing of the Lord God did not onelie not procéed with hir proceedings but contrarie rather how his manifest displeasure euer wrought against hir in plaging both hir and hir realme and in subuerting all hir counsels and attempts what soeuer she tooke in hand we will bestow a litle time therein to perpend and surueie the whole course of hir dooings and cheuances and consider what successe she had in the same Which being well considered we shall find neuer no reigne of anie prince in this land or anie other which had euer to shew in it for the proportion of time so manie arguments of Gods great wrath and displeasure as was to be séene in the reigne of this queene Marie whether we behold the shortnesse of hir time or the vnfortunate euent of all hir purposes Who séemed neuer to purpose anie thing that came luckilie to passe neither did anie thing frame to hir purpose what soeuer she tooke in hand touching hir owne priuat affaires Of good kings we read in the scripture in shewing moreie and pitie in seeking Gods will in his word and subuerting the monuments of idolatrie how God blessed their waies increased their honors and mightilie prospered all their procéedings as we line 10 sée in king Dauid Salomon Iosias Iosaphat Ezechias with such others Manasses made the stréets of Hierusalem to swim with the bloud of his subiects but what came of it the text dooth testifie Of quéene Elisabeth which now reigneth among vs this we must néeds saie which we sée that she in sparing the bloud not onelie of Gods seruants but also of Gods enimies hath doubled now the reigne of quéene Marie hir sister with such aboundance of line 20 peace and prosperitie that it is hard to saie whether the realme of England felt more of Gods wrath in queene Maries time or of Gods fauour and mercie in these so blessed and peaceable daies of queene Elisabeth Gamaliell speaking his mind in the councell of the Phariseis concerning Christes religion gaue this reason that if it were of God it should continue who soeuer said naie if it were not it could not stand So may it be said of quéene Marie and hir Romish line 30 religion that if it were so perfect and catholike as they pretend and the contrarie faith of the gospellers were so detestable and hereticall as they make it how commeth it then that this so catholike a quéene such a necessarie piller
Peterburie Bartlet in Bath Gest in Rochester Barlow in Chichester c. In like maner were diuerse deans archdeacons parsons vicars remooued from their benefices and some of them committed to prison in the Tower Fléet Marshalsea and Kings bench Moreouer about the same time were commissio-appointed to visit in euerie diocesse within the relme for the establishment of religion according to the order appointed by act and statute passed and confirmed in the last parlement For London were appointed sir Richard Sackuill knight Robert Horne doctor of diuinitie doctor Huic a ciuilian and maister Sauage who calling before them diuerse persons of euerie parish sware them to inquire and make presentment accordinglie vpon certeine iniunctions drawne and deuised for the better accomplishment and execution of that which they had in charge Furthermore about the same time by vertue of an act established in parlement all such religious houses as were againe erected and set vp were now suppressed as the abbeies of Westminster the houses of the nuns and brethren of the Sion and Shéene the blacke friers of Gréenwich c. And on the twelfe of August being saturdaie the high altar in Paules church with the rood the images of Marie and Iohn standing in the rood loft were taken downe the prebendaries and petie canons commanded to weare no more their graie amises but to vse onelie a surplice in seruice time This was doone by commandement of doctor Grindall newlie elect bishop of London doctor Maie then also newlie elected deane of Paules and other the commissioners then appointed Also on the euen of saint Bartholomew the day and morrow after were burned in Paules churchyard Cheapeside and diuerse other places of the citie of London all the roods and other images of churches and in some places the coapes vestments and altar clothes bookes banners sepulchers and rood lofts were likewise committed to the fier and so line 10 consumed to ashes ¶ The fift of September about midnight fell a great tempest at London in the end wherof a great lightning with a terrible clap of thunder strake the spire being stone of the stéeple of Alhallowes church in Bredstréet about a ten foot beneath the top out of the which fell a stone that slue a dog and ouerthrew a man plaieng with the same dog and the spire of the stéeple was so perished that not long after the same was taken downe with lesse charges to the parish line 20 than the reparing would haue cost And at the same instant by the same tempest one of the southdores of S. Dionise church in Fenchurchstréet with the dore of the reuestrie of the same church were both striken through and broken Upon Fridaie the eight of September was kept in Paules church of London a solemne obsequie for Henrie the second of that name king of France who departed this life about the tenth of Iulie last past of a wound receiued the 29 of Iune in running line 30 at tilt in a solemne iusts holden at Paris in honor of the marriage celebrated betwixt his sister the ladie Margaret of France and Philibert duke of Sauoie He was striken on the viser with a lance as he ran against the counte de Montgomerie the spilts entring by the sight of his headpéece persing through his eie into his head so perished his braine that there was no meane to saue his life The obsequie for him was kept in verie solemne wise with a rich hearse made like an imperiall line 40 crowne susteined with great pillers and couered with blacke veluet with a valence stringed with gold and richlie hanged with scutchions pennons and banners of the French kings armes without anie lights And on the beere was laid a rich pall of cloth of gold with a coat armor of the armes of France and a crest with an imperiall crowne standing vpon the béere doctor Parker archbishop of Canturburie elect doctor Barlow bishop of Chichester elect and doctor Scorie bishop of Hereford elect executing at line 50 the dirge of this euening song in English they sitting in the bishop of Londons seat in the vpper quéere in surplices with doctors hoods about their shoulders The chéefe mourner was the marquesse of Winchester lord treasuror assisted with ten other lords mourners with all the heralds in blacke and their coat armours vppermost On the morrow being saturdaie ninth of September a sermon was preached by doctor Scorie in place of doctor Grindall bishop of London who being line 60 appointed to preach that sermon was letted by sicknesse After the sermon six of the lords mourners receiued the communion with the bishops which bishops were in copes and surplices onelie at the ministration of the said communion Which being finished there was a great dinner kept in the bishop of Londons palace by Paules where the mourners apparelled them and so ended the solemnitie of the said exequies The bishops had blacke gownes giuen them and eight blacke coats a peece for their seruants at the quéenes charges ¶ About the last of September Iohn duke of Finland second sonne to Gustabus king of Swethen was sent by his father to treat a marriage for his eldest brother Ericus with the quéenes maiestie of England he arriued at Harwich in Essex and was there honorablie receiued and interteined by the erle of Oxford which said earle and the lord Robert Dudleie with a goodlie band of gentlemen and yeomen conueied him to London where he was receiued of diueâ—se knights and gentlemen of the court on the fift of October and was with his traine of about the number of fiftie persons well horssed conueied to the bishop of Winchesters place in Southworke where he was lodged during his abode here and remoued from thence two daies before Easter homewards and sped on his message as may appeare by that which followeth taken out of Iohannes Lewenclaij comment de bellis Moscorum Ericus king of Swethen sonne of Gustabus late king of the said kingdome hauing committed to prison his brother Iohn duke of Finland whom a little before he had imploied into England on an ambassage to the quéenes maiestie whom he sued to for mariage and had his sute reiected againe the second time solicited hir maiestie in the same sute notwithstanding to his great dishonor and as it fell out his iust disgrace He attempted the same matter with the yoongest daughter of Philip Lantgraue Uanhessen at whose hand hauing the second time beene reiected of hir maiestie héere the matter being knowne there he also not onelie receiued a deniall but the ladie was by hir father bestowed vpon Adolfe duke Uan Holst vncle of Frederike king of Denmarke then enimie of the said Ericus Thus farre Iohannes Lewenclaij ¶ Cuthbert Tunstall was translated from London to Durham after the death of cardinall Wolseie of whome besides that which Holinshed in this booke reporteth I will saie a little he being so
where the king with his two brethren the admerall the most part of the nobles of France met them a line 20 distance from the place brought them to the house where they dined and abode till sundaie following from whence the king and his nobles with the nobles of England came to Paris The king his two brethren our ambassador riding in one coch togither and the nobles of England and France being so placed also in coches came to the said castell of Louure and there dined After dinner the king our ambassador with the nobilitie of both realmes went to a church named saint Germane where the French line 30 king his brethren and nobilitie heard euensong The noblemen of England withdrawing them into a chappell till euensong was doone were then fetched thense by the nobles of France to the king and his brethren that awaited their comming where was confirmed the league which had béene concluded at Blois the ninteenth of Aprill deputies being there for the French partie Francis Montmorencie Reinold Birago Sebastian de Laubespine and Paule de Foix and for the queene of England sir Thomas line 40 Smith and maister Walsingham ambassadors This being doone they departed without the wals of Paris to a garden of pleasure where they supped After supper the king departed to his place of Madrill and the nobles of England vnto the castell of Louure On mondaie the admerall feasted the nobles of England vpon tuesdaie the duke of Aniou the kings brother and on wednesdaie the duke of Alanson line 50 his yoonger brother and so passed in feasting and banketting with rich gifts on both parts On fridaie the nobles of England tooke leaue of the king and on sundaie came to saint Denis and after to Bullongne where they tooke ship and returned into England the fourth of Iulie The second of Iune in the morning betwéene the houres of seuen and eight Thomas Howard duke of Norffolke was beheaded on a scaffold newlie set vp on tower hill ¶ This execution in a short time was spred abroad line 60 for fame which as the poet saith in few words volat leuibus sublata per aethera pennis had sounded the same farre and néere insomuch that in tract of time as men had leasure to laie their collections togither among other things this is recorded euen of strangers For the execution of an honorable personage must néeds be so much the more notorious as his misdéed is dishonorable Touching the duke therefore this I find in Schardius howsoeuer he came to the knowledge thereof a moderne historien and doctor of the lawes in Basill The duke of Norffolke who as we haue said was condemned for treason the sixteenth daie of Ianuarie was brought out of the tower of London to a plaine hard by which they call the hill in the middest whereof a scaffold had béene builded manie yeares ago seruing for execution which being old was both rotten and ruinous For queene Elisabeth hauing with mercie gouerned hir commonwealth there was no punishment inflicted there vpon anie for the space of fourtéene yeares Wherefore a new scaffold must needs be made Which when the duke at seuen of the clocke in the morning had mounted hauing on a silken doublet a long gowne of like fine stuffe all blacke earnestlie he beheld the people round about with his cap on his head Now when he had stood still a prettie while and cast his eies vpon the scaffold he asked whereabouts he might best stand to speake vnto the people For the scaffold was foure square and the people came flocking from all places Now when he was directed to the east side thereof and the people had muttered and whispered diuerslie among themselues master Alexander Nowell deane of Paules besought them that were present to be silent and still Then began the duke to speake to the people as followeth The duke of Norffolkes vvords vttered on the scaffold at tower hill when he should be executed IT is no rare thing good people to sée a man come hither to die albeit since this quéens most blessed reigne I be the first I praie God I be the last The people said Amen It is a hard matter for a man of my calling to vse long spéech in such an audience either for that audacitie serues me not or for that comming to such an end as I doo the feare of death troubleth me and therfore I beseech you all heartilie to beare with me I will not be long I will make a short spéech and diuide my talke into three parts And first concerning my offense towards my prince wherein some thing I haue to confesse against my selfe and in some thing to cléere my selfe I come not to complaine against my peeres I doo acquit them I haue deserued to die it is not vnknowne I haue dealt with the quéene of Scots in verie great and high matters without making my prince priuie therevnto otherwise than I ought to haue doone There is one thing which greatlie grudgeth my conscience that is when I was first deliuered out of this place I made a submission promised the Q. neuer to deale further in that matter and yet contrarie to my promise I meant did otherwise I am sorie for it It was reported I made a vow and tooke a solemne oth and receiued the communion vpon it that is not true the other was too much It was reported also I went about to destroie the citie of London I take God to my witnesse I neuer meant to hurt this citie I haue dealt with suspected persons and such as haue shewed themselues enimies to the state especiallie one I will name to wit one Radulpho whome I neuer talked withall but once and then I liked not his dealing he shewed me two letters which he said came from the pope Then said one of the shiriffes of London Good my lord be short he said I will be short I haue not much to saie good gentlemen beare witnesse I come not to cléere my selfe I saw two letters the one inciphered and the other disciphered I was charged to confeder with the rebels I take God to witnesse I did neuer The secondarie interrupted him and said I praie you my lord go not about to cléere your selfe you haue béene tried as honourablie as anie noble man hath euer béene in this land I praie you make short for the houre is past it is vpon the perill of their liues meaning the shiriffes they can not suffer you Oh I praie you giue me leaue a little I doo confesse my fault This is my confession I doo confesse it notwithstanding my religion It hath been reported I haue béene a papist a confederer with papists a friend to them and a mainteiner of them and of their religion I take God to witnesse I am none nor euer was a papist since I knew what religion ment I haue had friends yea familiar friends yea
peraduenture seruants that haue béene papists with whom I haue borne but I take God to witnesse I am line 10 none I vtterlie defie the pope and his religion and I hope to be saued onlie by my faith in Iesus Christ and I vtterlie abhorre all mans traditions And if at anie time I did giue countenance to anie papist whereby anie goodman or the church was offended I aske them mercie there is no man that alloweth better of this religion than I doo Then he was desired againe to be short Now touching the goodnesse of the queenes maiestie I am much bound to hir grace I doo thanke hir humblie for that she hath line 20 forgiuen all my offenses and hath prolonged my life so long You sée how good she hath béen to me I haue béene looked for here long before this time God send hir long ouer you to reigne she hath promised me to be gratious to my poore orphan children God grant my death maie end all troubles And if anie of you haue anie one faction or two or thrée or mo let him giue ouer forsake it Manie wish and desire diuerse things but they know not what they wish They seeke their owne destruction If euerie man should line 30 haue his wish God knoweth how manie would repent whatsoeuer they are The quéene hath promised in my death to forgiue all and I praie God that she maie liue manie yeeres I remember well the words of that good father and holie martyr Latimer He told the people that for their wickednesse God would take awaie his blessing from them I praie God the contrarie that your good life maie be such that God maie turne awaie those plagues that he hath thretned He spake it in an line 40 honorable place in the pulpit before king Edward yet let not this place discredit my words I praie God preserue the quéens maiestie and that she maie liue and reigne ouer you manie yeares euen to the worlds end which I beléeue that some one aliue shall sée Then he knéeled downe and praied and master Nowell knéeled downe by him and wept with manie others His praier was vnto God for the continuance of the truth of his gospell he praied also instantlie for the quéenes most prosperous reigne and line 50 knéeling vpon his knees he said two psalms to wit Miserere and Domine ne in furore and in the first psalme he praied to build the wals of Ierusalem according to the psalme Master Nowell said That is meant of Christs church I know that well said he I meane not the church of Rome I abhorre it but the church of England and of all the world wheresoeuer it be I haue forgotten one thing I thanke thée God that hast put me in mind of it I forgiue all the world and I aske all the world forgiuenesse and I protest line 60 before God if I knew anie particular man I had offended I would namelie aske him forgiuenesse Then he read the other psalme wherein adulterie is mentioned and when he came to that point he said I would I were as cleare in euerie thing as in that sauing for thought and that is as euill Then he said a collect and in the end he said In manus tuas Domine c in Latine and English And then he desired the people to praie for him while he liued for quoth he I looke not to haue anie excuse after my death Then he imbrased sir Henrie Leie and after a few secret words betweene them Master Nowell stood vp and said to the people He dooth desire you all with one voice to saie Lord haue mercie vpon him and after to saie no more words nor to make anie shout or shritching for troubling of him in his last visitation Then the duke knéeled downe and master Nowell bowed himselfe towards him with manie imbrasings and tooke there leaue each of other Then the executioner desired him knéeling to forgiue him and he tooke him by the hand and forgaue him and then requested sight of the axe Master Nowell said The sight will trouble you He answered No let me see it but he shewed it not then he laied his necke vpon the blocke Then the executioner said My lord your head lieth not well I will make it lie well saith he therewith lifting vp his bodie he laid his necke euen vpon the blocke which doone it was cut cleane off at one stroke This was the end of the duke of Northfolke a man whose life God had limited as also the estate wherein he sometimes flourished both which as all things else in a short time vanished Let all degrées therefore learne both by precept and example to know God principallie secondlie their souereigne Gods annointed and finallie themselues to be subiects forgetting their owne honour which puffeth men vp manie times with the wind of vainglorie euen to their owne ouerthrow whilest they become insolent and dreame that the transitorie aduancements of this world will make them princes princes péeres naie O monstrous madnesse gods whereas all things are mutable and momentanie and the higher that a man dooth clime the greater is his fall as verie aptlie saith the poet in these words Hoc fragili varijs voluuntur casibus orbe Omnia celsa ruit turris grauiore ruina The discourse and catalog of all the dukes of England by creation or descent since the time of the conquest TWo sentences the one an Italian prouerbe the other an old English byword haue mooued me to make this collection at the request of an other of all the dukes of England First the Italian said that France cannot abide anie treasurors England anie dukes nor Scotland anie kings the truth wherof need no confirming examples to be set downe sith as saith the philosopher things subiect to the sense néed no further proofe Secondlie the English saieng hath been that a Nag of fiue shillings shall beare all the dukes of England Scotland being spoken in no sense of disgrace to that honorable title but onelie to shew that the time should come wherein there should be no dukes in England or Scotland How true the same is in England and likelie againe to be in Scotland being once before verified in that realme for about fiue years past there was no duke there also when the duke of Lineux was banished euerie man dooth well perceiue For the death of this Thomas duke of Northfolke being the last of that honour hath iustified the same in England And the turmoils in Scotland may perhaps shortlie verifie the same in that countrie in which there were neuer so few dukes as that they cannot make the first and smallest number for being but one in that countrie and he verie yoong which is the duke of Lineux if he should miscarie the same would againe also be as true there as it is now héere For which cause to perpetuat the memories of such antiquities and titles
Henrie the eight Anne married to sir Edmund Gorge knight Isabell married to sir Roger Mortimer of Essex Iane married to sir Iohn Timperleie and Margaret married to sir Iohn Windham his second wife was Margaret the daughter of sir Iohn Chedworth knight by whome he had Katharine married to sir Iohn Bourchier lord Barns Thomas Howard earle of Surreie sonne of the said Iohn was created duke of Norffolke in the fift yeare of king Henrie the eight being about the yéere of Christ 1514. Of him is more mention in my discourse of the lord treasurors of England Thomas Howard created earle of Surreie in the fift yeare of king Henrie the eight being high admerall and lord treasuror of England was duke of Norffolke after the death of his father which fell in the sixtéenth yeare of king Henrie the eight being the yeare of our redemption 1524. Of this man is also more intreated in my discourse of the lord treasurors Thomas Howard the third duke of the name of Thomas and the fourth of the name of Howard was son to Henrie Howard earle of Surreie sonne to the last before recited Thomas Howard duke of Norffolke This man being the last duke that liued in England occasioned me to make this discourse of the dukes was beheaded on tower hill the seauentéenth of September in the thirteenth yeere of the now reigning prince Elisabeth being the yeare of Christ 1571 and buried in the chappell of the tower He maried thrée wiues his first wife was Marie one of the daughters and heires of Henrie Fitzallen earle of Arundell by whom he had issue Philip earle of Arundell his second wife was Margaret daughter onlie heire to Thomas Audleie knight chancellor of England and lord Audleie of saffron Walden the widow of the lord Henrie Dudleie yoongest son to Iohn Sutton of Dudlie duke of Northumberland by which second wife this duke had issue Thomas William Elisabeth Margaret his third wife was Elisabeth the daughter of sir Iames Leiborne knight and widow of the lord Dacres of Gisâ—eland by whome he had no issue Henrie the second son of king Henrie the seuenth was by his father created duke of Yorke at Westminster in the eleuenth yéere of his reigne being the yeere of our redemption 1495 or therabouts This man was after king of England by the name of king Henrie the eight Iasper of Hatfield the sonne of Owen Teuther esquier by Katharine daughter to the French king and widow to king Henrie the fift was by king Henrie the sixt his brother on the mothers side created earle of Penbroke in the yeare of Christ 1452 after which in the fiue and thirtith yeere of the said king he was made earle of Cambridge and lastlie in the first yeere of the reigne of king Henrie the seauenth he was created duke of Bedford on Simon and Iudes 〈◊〉 in the yeare of our redemption 1485 but died without issue the eighteenth daie of December in the twelfe yéere of the reigne of king Henrie the seauenth in the yéere of Christ 1496 and was buried at Kensham Charles Brandon the son of sir William Brandon knight slaine on the part of king Henrie the seuenth at Bosworth field was created vicount Lisle and after on Candlemasse daie in the yéere of Christ 1413 being the fift yeare of king Henrie the eight he was created duke of Suffolke He married thrée wiues the first was Anne daughter of sir Anthonie Browne knight the second Marie second daughter of king Henrie the seauenth widow to the king of France by whom he had issue Henrie earle of Lincolne and Francis married to Henrie Greie duke of Suffolke his third wife was Katharine the daughter onlie heire of William lord Willoughbie of Ersleie by whome he had issue Henrie and Charles both dukes of Suffolke one after another who both died within one houre of the sweat at Cambridge This Charles the father died in the yéere of Christ 1545 and was buried at Windsore line 10 of the two dukes the sons thus writeth Iohn Parkhurst sometime placed in the bishops see of Norwich Fratres Amyclaei Pollux cum Castore Potuere sic cum morte depaciscier Vt cùm alter illorum esset mortuus tamén Alter superesset reuersus sortibus Vicissim vtérque vtriúsque morte viueret Cur Parca nunc crudelior est quà m olim fuit Fratres duos nuper ea quales hactenus Nec vidit vnquam nec videbit Anglia line 20 Lumina duo duóque propugnacula Fortissima virtutis reÃque publicae Crudelis ab vno perêmit funere Virtus nequaquam illam nec egregia indoles Mouit nec Edwardi regis nec optimae Matris neque totius gemitus Britanniae O dura dura mors ô saeua numina Henrie Fitz Roie the base son to king Henrie the eight begotten vpon Elisabeth Blunt the ladie Talboise was by his father first created earle of Summerset and Northampton and after duke of line 30 Richmont This duke was verie forward in the knowledge of toongs and also in knightlie actiuitie as may appéere by due consideration of the historie in place where he is mentioned He loued Iohn Leland the reuerend antiquarie who presented vnto the said duke a booke of copies whereby he might learne to write Romane letters great small as appéereth by this hexastichon which I find among the said Iohn Lelands written epigrams in this maner set downe Quo Romana modo maiuscula littera pingi line 40 Pingi quo possit littera parua modo Hic liber ecce tibi signis monstrabit apertis Princeps Aonij spes alumne gregis Qui tibi si placeat quod certè spero futurum Maxima pro paruo munere dona dabis He died without issue the two and twentith of Iulie in the eight and twentith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the eight in the yeere of our redemption 1536 and was buried at Thetford in Norffolke hauing maried Marie the daughter of Thomas Howard line 50 duke of Norffolke Edward Seimor knight the son of sir Iohn Seimor knight was created vicount Beauchampe in Maie the eight and twentith yéere of king Henrie the eight being the yéere of our redemption 1536 was after in the nine twentith yeare of the same king on the eightéenth daie of October in the yéere of Christ 1537 created earle of Hertford Then king Henrie being dead he in the first yeare of king Edward line 60 the sixt which was the yéere of our redemption 1546 was made protector of England and immediatlie therevpon created duke of Summerset being vncle by the mothers side vnto the said king Edward the sixt This man had manie honors and offices as maie appéere by his stile which he prefixed before a missiue persuasorie sent to the Scots for the marriage of their yoong quéene Marie to our yoong king Edward the sixt in this sort Edward by the grace of God
this bishoprike which sometimes was counted one of the best is now become in temporall lands one of the meanest and according to the foreprophesieng of bishop Grandesson a place scarse left for the bishop to laie and rest his head in and yet neuerthelesse he was a great fauourer of learned men and especiallie of diuines whome he preferred in his church aboue others He was verie bountions and liberall vnto all men but especiallie vnto courtiers vnto his owne kindred and countriemen Upon manie he bestowed much to the confusion of some of them and vpon the others he spent much by building of a towne called Sutton Colshull where he was borne which he procured to be incorporated and made a market towne and set vp therein making of kearsies but all which in the end came to small effect In his time after the death of king Henrie the eight there was an alteration of religion by king Edward the sixt wherof insued a rebellion commotion in this diocesse which in some part was imputed to this bishop bicause he laie farre from it and dwelled in his owne countrie Wherevpon he resigned the bishoprike into the kings hands after that he had beene bishop about thirtie yeares and liued by the rents of the temporaltie of the bishoprike which when he alienated and discontinued he did receiue vnto him for terme of his owne life 43 Miles Couerdale after the resignation of Uoiseie was by king Edward made bishop of this citie consecrated at Lambeth by Thomas Cranmer archbishop of Canturburie in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and fiftie He was borne in the north countrie and from his childhood giuen to learning wherein he profited verie much he was one of the first which professed the gospell in this land in the time of king Henrie the eight he translated the bible out of the Hebrue into English and wrote sundrie bookes vpon the scriptures Which doctrine being verie new and strange in those daies and he verie streightlie pursued by the bishops made his escape passed ouer into low Germanie where he printed the bibles of his translation and sent them ouer into England and therof made his gaine wherby he liued But the bishops namelie D. Stokesleie bishop of London when he heard hereof and minding to preuent that no such bibles should be dispersed line 10 within this realme made inquirie where they were to be sold and bought them all vp supposing that by this meanes no more bibles would be had but contrarie to his expectation it fell out otherwise For the same monie which the bishop gaue for these bookes was sent ouer by the merchant vnto this Couerdale and by that meanes he was of that wealth and abilitie that he imprinted as manie more and sent them ouer into England but he was then so narrowlie sought for that he was driuen to remooue line 20 himselfe out of Flanders into Germanie and dwelled vnder the Palsegraue of Rhene where he found much fauour First he taught yoong children and hauing learned the Dutch toong the prince Palatine gaue him a benefice named Burghsaber where he continued and liued verie well partlie by that benefice and partlie by the liberalitie of the lord Cromewell who was his good lord and reléeued him verie much At length when the religion was altered in England and the gospell had a frée passage he returned line 30 did verie much good in preaching of the same And when the commotion in Deuon was for religion he was appointed to attend the lord Russell when he came to suppresse the same and verie shortlie for his learning and godlie life was made bishop of this see who most worthilie did performe the office committed vnto him He preached continuallie vpon euerie holie daie and did read most commonlie twise in the wéeke in some one church or other within this citie He was after the rate of his liuings a great kéeper line 40 of hospitalitie verie sober in diet godlie in life friendlie to the godlie liberall to the poore and courteous to all men void of pride full of humilitie abhorring couetousnesse and an enimie to all wickednesse and wicked men whose companies he shunned and whom he would in no wise shrowd or haue in his house and companie His wife a most sober chast and godlie matrone his house and houshold another church in which was exercised all godlinesse and vertue No one person being in his house which line 50 did not from time to time giue an account of his faith and religion and also did liue accordinglie And as he had a care for the successe in religion so had he also for the direction of the gouernement in ecclesiasticall causes And bicause he was not skilfull therin neither would be hindered from his godlie studies and be incombered with such worldlie matters which neuertheles he would haue be doone in all vprightnesse iustice and equitie he sent to Oxford for a learned man to be his chancellor and by the ministerie line 60 of the writer hereof he procured and obteined one master Robert Weston doctor of the ciuill law afterwards lord chancellor of Ireland vnto whome he committed his consistorie and the whole charge of his ecclesiasticall iurisdiction allowing vnto him not onelie all the fées therevnto apperteining but also lodged and found him his wife familie horsse and man within his owne house and gaue him a yearelie pension of fortie pounds And surelie the bishop was no more godlie and carefull of his part concerning preaching but this man also was as diligent and seuere in dooing of his office without reproch of being affectionated or corrupted And notwithstanding this good man now a blamelesse bishop liued most godlie and vertuous yet the common people whose old bottels would receiue no new wine could not brooke nor digest him for no other cause but bicause he was a preacher of the gospell an enimie to papistrie a married man Manie deuises were attempted against him for his confusion sometimes by false suggestions sometimes by open railings and false libels sometimes by secret backbitings and in the end practised his death by impoisoning but by Gods prouidence the snares were broken and he deliuered After that he had béene bishop about thrée yeares king Edward died and then queene Marie hauing the crowne the religion was altered and he depriued And notwithstanding the malice of prelats and archpapists was most bitter against him and who had sworne his death yet by the goodnesse of God he was most miraculouslie preserued and deliuered from out of their hands at the sute and by the meanes of the king of Denmarke who so earnestlie sued so often wrote to the quéene for him that he was deliuered and sent vnto him with whome after that he had staied a while he went againe into Germanie to the Palsgraue who most louinglie receiued him placed him againe in his former benefice of Burghsaber where he continued vntill the death of quéene
victa iacent The one and twentith of Iune in the night the lowest images which were of Christs resurrection of the virgin Marie and of kings and bishops of this realme about the crosse in Cheape being six square on all the sides were broken and defaced where vpon two daies after proclamation was made thorough out the citie that who so would bewraie the dooers thereof should haue fortie crownes for their labour but nothing came to light The seauen and twentith of Iune Thomas Butcher brewer was conuicted in the Guildhall of London for that he as principall and others as accessaries to the number of a thousand persons on the fiue and twentith of Iune last past about ten of the clocke in the night with force of armes in west Smithfield of London other stréets of the citie congregated themselues and with diuerse exclamations prouoked the people in maner of a rebellion contrarie to the peace statutes of the realme On the eight and twentith of Iune the same Thomas Butcher being areigned at the Iustice hall in the old Bailie was found giltie and had iudgement to be whipped on the next market daie from Newgate thorough Smithfield Long lane Aldersgate street saint Martins le grand so thorough the citie to the bars without Aldgate then to be committed to Newgate On the 30 of Iune the same T. Butcher being deliuered vnto Iames Mase and other beadles to haue receiued execution as is aforesaid he being whipped from Newgate into west Smithfield was there rescued taken from the beadles and sent to shift for himselfe abrode for the which fact the one twentith of Iulie William Downe I. Hand T. Harres and T. Appowell thrée shoomakers and a brewer were whipped from Newgate to the middest of Smithfield and there set on the pillorie whereon they stood from ten of the clocke till twelue and from thense againe committed to prison The thirtéenth of Iulie Richard Cox doctor of diuinitie sometime schoolemaister to king Edward the sixt deane of Westminster and of Christs college in Oxenford and of late bishop of Elie deceassed and was buried at Elie whose epitaph alluding to his name and the execution of his charge wherein he was iust hereafter followeth Vita caduca vale salueto vita perennis Corpus terra tegit spiritus alta tenet In terra Christi gallus Christum resonabam Da Christe in coelis te sine fine sonem This yeare were to be séene in London two Dutchmen of strange statures the one in height seauen foot seauen inches in bredth betwixt the shoulders thrée quarters of a yard and an inch the compasse of his brest one yard an halfe and two inches about the wast one yard quarter and one inch the length of his arme to the hand a full yard a comelie man of person but lame of his legs for he had broken them with lifting of a barrell of béere The other was in height but thrée foot had neuer a good foot nor anie knée at all and yet could he danse a galliard line 10 he had no arme but a stumpe to the elbow or little more on the right side on the which singing he would danse a cup and after tosse it about thrée or foure times and euerie time receiue the same on the said stumpe he would shoot an arrow néere to the marke flourish with a rapier throw a bowle beat with an hammar hew with an ax sound a trumpet and drinke enerie daie ten quartes of the best béere if he could get it About the seauenteenth of Iulie I saw these men in the parish of saint Peter vpon line 20 Cornehill the taller sitting on a bench bareheaded the lesser stood on the same bench and hauing on his head a hat with a feather was yet the lower Also the taller man standing on his féet the lesser with his hat feather on his head went vpright betwéene his legs and touched him not The eightéenth of Iulie Euerard Hance alià s Ducket a seminarie priest was in the sessions hall in the old Bailie of London arreigned where he before the quéenes iustices affirmed that himselfe line 30 being now in England was subiect to the pope in ecclesiasticall causes and that the pope hath now the same authoritie here in England that he had an hundred yeares past and which he hath now at Rome with other traitorous spéeches for the which he was condemned to be drawne hanged and quartered and was executed accordinglie on the last of Iulie At the same sessions were brought from the Fléet the Gatehouse Newgate and the Counters sundrie prisoners indicted for refusing to come to church line 40 all which being conuicted by their owne confession had iudgement according to the statute to paie twentie pounds for euery moneth of such wilfull absence from the church The first of Nouember monsieur Francis duke of Aniou the Frencâ— kings brother and other nobles of France hauing latelie arriued in Kent came to London and were honourablie receiued and reteined at the court with banketting and diuerse pleasant shewes and pastimes of whome more hereafter in place conuenient line 50 On mondaie being the twentith of Nouember Edmund Campion Rafe Sherwin Lucas Kerbie Edward Rishton Thomas Cotcham Henrie Orton Robert Iohnson Iames Bosgraue All these before named persons were brought vnto the high barre at Westminster where they were seuerallie and altogither indicted vpon high treason the sum whereof followeth in briefe as thus That these persons contrarie both to loue and dutie for sooke their natiue countrie to liue beyond the seas vnder the line 60 popes obedience as at Rome Rheimes and diuerse other places where the pope hauing with other princes practised the death and depriuation of our most gratious princesse and vtter subuersion of hir seat kingdome to aduance his most abhominable religion these men hauing vowed their allegiance to the pope to obeie him in all causes whatsoeuer being there gaue their consent yea vttermost furtherance they might to aid him in this most traitorous determination And for this intent and purpose they were sent ouer to seduce the hearts of hir maiesties louing subiects and to conspire and practise hir graces death as much as in them laie against a great daie set and appointed when the generall hauocke should be made those onelie reserued that ioined with them This laied to their charge they boldlie and impudentlie denied Wherevpon a iurie was impanelled their owne confessions their owne writings and credible witnesses Vina voce produced to their faces approouing them giltie of the former allegations as hereafter followeth After the indictment was read vnto them and their answer that it was beyond their power to prooue them faultie in such matters so stiffâ—lie they stood in their apparant impudencie first was mooued to them sundrie treasons past attempted against hir maiestie by those of their sect and disposition yet notwithstanding the vttermost of
the lawfull quéene of England the first and highest point of treason and that all hir subiects are discharged of their oths and obedience a second high point of treason and all warranted to disobeie hir and hir lawes a third and a verie large point of treason And thereto is to be added a fourth point most manifest in that they would not disallow the popes hostile procéedings in open warres against hir maiestie in hir realme of Ireland where one of their companie doctor Sanders a lewd scholer and subiect of England a fugitiue and a principall companion and conspirator with the traitors and rebels at Rome was by the popes speciall coÌ„mission a commander as in forme of a legat and sometime a bursor or paiemaster for those wars Which doctor Sanders in his booke of his church monarchie did afore his passing into Ireland openlie by writing gloriouslie auow the foresaid bull of Pius Quintus against hir maiestie to be lawfull and affirmeth that by vertue thereof one doctor Morton an old English fugitiue and conspirator was sent from Rome into the north parts of England which was true to stirre vp the first rebellion there whereof Charles Neuill the late earle of Westmerland was a head capteine And thereby it may manifestlie appéere to all men how this bull was the ground of the rebellions both in England and Ireland and how for maintenance thereof and for sowing of sedition by warrant and allowance of the same these persons were iustlie condemned of treason and lawfullie executed by the ancient lawes temporall of the realme without charging them for anie other matter than for their practises and conspiracies both abroad and at home against the queene and the realme and for the mainteining of the popes foresaid authoritie and bull published to depriue hir maiestie of hir crowne and for withdrawing and reconciling of hir subiects from their naturall allegiance due to hir maiestie and to their countrie and for moouing them to sedition and for no other causes or questions of religion were these persons condemned although true it is that when they were charged conuinced of these points of conspiracies and treasons they would still in their answers colourablie pretend their actions to haue beene for religion but in deed and truth they were manifested to be for the procurement and maintenance of the rebellions and wars against hir maiestie and hir realme And herein is now the manifest diuersitie to be séene and well considered betwixt the truth of hir maiesties actions the falshood of the blasphemous aduersaries that where the factious partie of the pope the principall author of the inuasions of hir maiesties dominions doo falselie allege that a number of persons whom they terme as martyrs haue died for defense of the catholike religion the same in verie truth may manifestlie appeere to haue died if they so will haue it as martyrs for the pope but yet as traitors against their souereigne and quéene in adhering to him being the notable and onelie open hostile enimie in all actions of warre against hir maiestie hir kingdomes and people and that this is the meaning of all these that haue so obstinatlie mainteined the authoritie and contents of this bull the verie words of the bull doo declare in this sort as doctor Sanders reporteth them PIus Quintus pontifex maximus de apostolicae potestais plenitudine declarauit Elisabetham praetenso regni iure line 10 necnon omne quocunque dominio dignitate priuilegióque priuatam itémque proceres subditos populos dicti regni ac catero omnes qui illi quomodocunque iurauerunt à iuramento huiusmodi ac omni fidelitatis debito perpetuò absolutos That is to saie Pius Quintus the greatest bishop of the fulnesse of the apostolike power declared Elisabeth to be bereaued or depriued of hir pretended right of hir kingdome and also of all and whatsoeuer dominion dignitie and priuilege and also the nobles subiects and people of the said kingdome and line 20 all others which had sworne to hir anie maner of wais to be absolued for euer from such oth and from all debt or dutie of fealtie c with manie threatning cursings to all that durst obeie hir or hir laws As for execution hereof to prooue that the effect of the popes bull and message was a flat rebellion it is not amisse to heare what the same doctor Sanders the popes fire brand in Ireland also writeth in his visible church monarchie which is thus Pius Quintus ponâ—ifex maximus Anno Domini 1569 reuerendum presbyterum Nicolaum Mortanum Anglum iâ— Angliam misit vt certis illustribus viris authoritate apostolica denuntiaret Elisabetham quae tunc rerum potiebatur haereticam esse obeâ—mque causam omni dominio potestate excidisse impunéque ab illis velut ethnicam haleri posse nec 〈◊〉 lâ—gibus aut mandatis deinceps obedire cogi That is to saie Pius Quintus the greatest bishop in the yeare of our Lord 1569 sent the reuerend priest Nicholas Morton an Englishman into England line 40 that he should denounce or declare by the apostolike authoritie to certeine noblemâ—n Elisabeth who then was in possession to be an heretike for that cause to haue fallen from all dominion and power and that she may be had or reputed of them as an ethnike and that they are not to be compelled to obeie hir lawes or commandements c. Thus you sée an ambassage of rebellion from the popes holinesse the ambassador an old doting English priest a fugitiue and conspirator sent as he saith to some noble line 50 men and these were the two earles of Northumberland and Westmerland heads of the rebellion And after this he followeth to declare the successe therof which I dare saie he was sorie it was so euill with these words Qui dementiatione milti nobiles viri adducti sunt vt de 〈◊〉 liberandis cogitare auderent ac sperabant illi quidem 〈◊〉 â—â—nes summis viribus affuâ—urâ—s esse verum etsi 〈…〉 expectâ—bant res euenit quia catholici omnes nandum probè cognouerant Elisabetham haereticam esse declarâ—â—â—m line 60 tamen laudanda illorum nobilium consilia erant That is By which denuntiation manie noblemen were induced or led that they were boldened to thinke of the fréeing of their brethren and they hoped certeinlie that all the catholikes would haue assisâ—â—d them with all their strength but although the matter happened otherwise than they hoped for bicause all the catholikes knew not that Elisabeth was declared to be an heretike yet the counsels and intents of those noblemen were to be praised A rebellion and a vanquishing of rebels verie smoothlie described This noble fact here mentioned was the rebellion in the north the noblemen were the earles of Northumberland and Westmerland the lacke of the euent or successe was that the traitors were vanquished and the queenes maiestie and hir subiects had by Gods
indeuour by proffering of sundrie skirmishes to inforced him to retire to his ship but he nothing appalled with their brags kept his ground Twelue daies after his arriuall there after Thomas Candish arriued at the same place where sir Richard Gréenfield was ensconsing of himselfe to the great reioising both of themselues their companies The Spaniards finding it too hard for them notwithstanding their multitudes to remooue these few resolute Englishmen by violence came to a parlée and in the same concluded an amitie that the one nation might in safetie traffike with the other Now line 10 when sir Richard Gréenefield had taried in that Iland almost a moneth and had built his bote reuittelled himselfe and laden his ships with horsses mares kine sheep swine c to transport with him to Uirginia bicause these sorts of cattell heretofore were not to be found in that countrie he departed thense and in his waie he made discouerie of manie Ilands and hauens vpon the continent adioining and arriued safelie in the new discouered countrie where he met with the rest of his fléet that attended line 20 his comming thither about the middest of Iulie next insuing not without great danger of shipwracke For at the verie entrance into the harborough his ship strake on the ground and did beat so manie strokes vpon the sands that if God had not miraculouslie deliuered him there had beene no waie to auoid present death In this danger his ship was so brused that the saltwater came so aboundantlie into hir that the most part of his corne salt meale rice bisket other prouisions that he should line 30 haue left with them that remained behind him in the countrie was spoiled After he had remained there certeine daies according to his commission from sir Walter Raleigh he began to establish a colonie appointing maister Rafe Lane a gentleman of good account generall of those English which were to remaine there being in all to the number of an hundred and seauen persons amongst whom diuerse gentlemen remained line 40 namelie Philip Amadis Edward Stafford Meruin Kendall Prideaux Acton Heriot and others When he had taken sufficient order for the establishing of master Lane and his companie aforesaid leauing with them as much of all prouisions as his plentie would giue him leaue he weighed anchor for England But in his returne not hauing sailed manie leagues from the coast of Uirginia he descried a tall ship of foure hundred tuns or thereabouts making the same course that he did vnto whom he gaue line 50 chase and in few houres by goodnesse of saile ouertooke and by violence wan richlie laden with sugar hides spices and some quantitie of gold siluer and pearle she was the viceadmerall of the fleet of Sancto Domingo that yere for Spaine After this good fortune hauing a merie gale not manie daies after he arriued at Plimmouth in October next insuing where sir Walter Raleigh méeting with him did presentlie resolue vpon another voiage to supplie Rafe Lane and his companie that were left with line 60 him in Uirginia the next spring following which accordinglie was performed with all expedition In Aprill about the fourtéenth daie by commandement of hir maiesties most honorable priuie councell the citizens of London appointed out of the companies of the same citie to the number of foure thousand men with armour ensignes drums fifes and other furniture for the warres the greater part whereof or almost all of them were shot the other were pikes and halberds in faire corslets all those to be trained vp vnder expert capteins with sergeants of the bands wiflers and other necessarie officers mustered and skirmished dailie at the Miles end and in saint Georges field and on the eightéenth daie of Maie hauing ouernight set forward out of saint Georges field mustered in the parke at Gréenwich and skirmished before the quéenes maiestie who gaue to them great thankes for their actiuenesse and paines sith hir maiestie might perceiue the appliablenesse of those hir people euen in pastime not void of perill to delight hir eies and reioise hir hart estéeming nothing too déere to part withall so it might anie waies concerne dutie to hir highnesse In discharge whereof as she hath no forwarder subiects in hir land so to discouer inquire and persecute the disloiall none readier euen to the hazzard of their liues for the safetie of hir life which is the life of the whole land and the prop of true religion in respect whereof we saie and praie with the well wishing subiect that vpon seeing hearing of hir highnesse fell into such an admiration of hir excellencie that he left these verses among manie after his godlie death Inclyte da longum dici Deus Elisabetha Est Elisabetha tua Est relligióque tua Est Da Deus haud vnquam dici Fuit Elisabetha Elisabetha Fuit relligióque Fuit ¶ On the ninetéenth of Maie being Ascension eeue Edward Wootton esquier descended of a woorthie parentage was ambassador into Scotland to establish a league of amitie betwéene the two nations of England and Scotland whome I will now leaue in that countrie executing his commission and turne my pen to some persons of that surname who for their singularitie of wit lerning for their honour and gouernement in and of the realme about the prince and elsewhere at home and abroad deserue such commendations that they merit Niueo signari lapillo In treating of whome I will neither make mention of the antiquitie of that worshipfull familie from the first originall nor yet treat of Richard Wootton liuing in the time of Edward the first the father of Iohn Wootton coroner of Dunstable an officer of great account in those daies and father to an other Iohn Wootton c nor of Richard Wootton or Woocton an officer of the excheker in the time of Edward the second nor of sir Nicholas Wootton knight liuing about the daies of Richard the second nor of anie other Woottons wherof this Edward Wootton is descended but onelie of such Woottons his ancestors who of late time liued within the compasse of my memorie and were the sonnes of sir Robert Wootton of Bocton Malherbe in Kent knight deseruing not to be forgotten in that he was father to two such worthie sonnes as I doo not remember that euer England nourished at one time for like honour disposition of mind fauour and seruice to their countrie The sonnes of this sir Robert Wootton whereof we intend to intreat were sir Edward Wootton knight the eldest and Nicholas Wootton doctor of both lawes the yoonger sonne Whereof the first being a man of great estimation in the countrie for his orderlie and wise managing of the priuat affaires of his countrie of Kent was for his fidelitie and good carriage in small things made lord and ruler of great things For king Henrie the eight vnderstanding the grauitie of the man his
plot was laid for the enterprise of the duke of Guise and that he was willed to conferre with Throckemorton in the matter who therevpon acquainted the said ambassador with the plot of the hauens and with the noble men and gentlemen that he had set downe as fit to be dealt withall in that cause Throckemorton said that the bottome of this enterprise which was not to be knowne to manie was that if a toleration of religion might not be obteined without alteration of the gouernement that then the gouernment should be altered the quéene remoued That the Scotish quéene was made acquainted from the duke of Guise with the intention to relieue hir by these forces It was in debate betweene Throckemorton and the Spanish ambassador how the Scotish quéene might be deliuered as by an enterprise to be made with a certeine number of horsses and it was told Francis Throckemorton by his brother Thomas Throckemorton that it was a principall matter in debate beyond the seas how she might be deliuered with safetie the lacke of resolution wherin was the principall staie of the execution of the attempt of inuasion Mendoza told Francis Throckemorton about Bartholomewtide 1583 that one Mope was come into England to sound the earle of Northumberland and other principall men in Sussex and about the end of September following the same Mendoza told him that Mope was Charles Paget and that he came not onelie to sound the men but to view the places the hauens the prouisions and meanes and néerenesse and commoditie of mens abidings that should ioine with the forren forces It was deuised that such noble men and others as would be contented to assist the forren forces being iustices of peace of credit in their countries might by colour of their authoritie leuie men as for hir maiesties defense and yet emploie them to assist the forren forces The lord Paget was made acquainted with this deuise and answered that it was a good course and that he had thought vpon it before Mendoza told Throckemorton that Charles Paget had béene in Sussex and had spoken with those that were there and that he came to moue the earle of Northumberland and others The night before Throckemorton was apprehended he came to the lord Paget and desired him that he would not acquaint the earle of Northumberland and certeine others whome he named with such matters as had passed betwéene them two touching the practise of this inuasion and the lord Paget willed him to deale as wiselie for his part as he would doo for himselfe and all should be well but quoth the lord Paget the earle of Northumberland knoweth you well enough It was once agreed among the confederats that the duke of Guise should land in Sussex being ouer against Déepe and Normandie which after was misliked because those parts laie too néere to hir maiesties greatest force and store and that the people thereabout for the most part were protestants Maister attourneie shewed further that in summer last there was taken vpon the seas sailing towards Scotland a Scotish Iesuit about whome line 10 there was found a discourse written in Italian of a like enterprise to be attempted against England which should haue beene executed in September or October then last past wherein assurance is made that the earles of Northumberland and Westmerland Dacres that is dead whom they termed lord Dacres and of all the catholike lords and gentlemen in the north parts where the inuasion should haue béene attempted setting it downe that it is not said by coniecture that these men are assured line 20 but that it is certeinlie knowne that they will ioine with the forren forces In the said discourse it is also affirmed that the priests dispersed in the realme can dispose of the other catholikes of the realme as they shall be ordered and that the popes excommunication should be renewed and pronounced against hir maiestie and all those that shall take hir part and that all such should be holden traitors that did not ioine with that armie by a daie When maister attourneie had thus prooued the line 30 purpose of inuasion he procéeded to the proofe of Charles Pagets comming ouer about the practise and prosecution of that enterprise And first that Paget came to Petworth in September 1583 was secretlie receiued and brought in the night laâ—e to the earle of Northumberland into his gallerie at Petworth by one of the earles seruants where the earle and he had secret conference together by the space of a large houre from thense Paget was likewise conueied backe into the towne by the same line 40 seruant and there lodged all that night and the next night following was conueied secretlie to a 〈…〉 And for better proofe thereof it was alleaged by master attorneie that Charles Paget returning from Petworth to the house of one William Dauies néere to the place where Paget had landed in Sussex and tooke shipping againe at his departure beyond the seas sent to William Shelleie esquire residing then at his house at Michelgroue distant about a mile from the house of William Dauies to come vnto him who within few daies before had béene at the lodge at Petworth with the said Paget and now at their méeting in a coppice néere to Dauies house Paget entred into speech and discourse with him of diuers matters and at the last among other things he began to be inquisitiue of the strength and fortification of Portesmouth and what forces and strength hir maiestie had in the other parts westward Paget brake out and declared vnto him that forraine princes would séeke reuenge against hir maiestie of the wrongs by hir doone vnto them would take such time and opportunitie as might best serue them for that purpose and said that those princes disdeined to see the Scotish queene so kept vsed here as she was and would vse all their forces for hir deliuerie that the duke of Guise would be a dealer therin and that the earle of Northumberland would be an assistant vnto them willing Shelleie whatsoeuer should happen to follow the earle of Northumberland affirming that there was not a noble man in England of conduct and gouernment like to the said earle saieng further that the earle of Northumberland was affected to the Scotish quéene would do what he could for hir aduancement that the duke of Guise had forces in a readinesse to be emploied for the altering of the state of religion here in England and to set the forenamed Scotish queene at libertie 〈…〉 awaie the lord Paget grew vpon the apprehension of Throckmorton who being committed to the Tower and charged with high matters was in case to be delt withall by waie of extremitie to be made to confesse the treasons charged vpon him in reuealing whereof Charles Pagets comming to Petworth and the cause of his repaire thither could not be conceled No man at this time within the realme could accuse the
driuen to depart thense vnto the Camber at Rie which then was a notable good rode though now vtterlie decaied or into the Isle of Wight For in a sudden flaw or storme of wind at southeast there haue beene seuen or eight ships broken all to péeces in one daie vpon the said cliffes To reléeue and amend the same harborough and somewhat to mitigat the foresaid inconuenience line 10 there was a round tower builded by one Iohn Clarke préest maister of the maison de Dieu about the yeare one thousand fiue hundred at the southwest part of the said baie which serued somewhat to defend the ships from the rage of the southwest wind but especiallie to moore the ships which were tied therevnto For manie great ringles were fastened to the same tower for that purpose as it maie yet be séene sith it standeth there at this houre And hereby that part of the baie was made so pleasant as euer after line 20 that corner hath béene named and is at this daie called Little paradise Neuerthelesse this was thought verie insufficient in respect of the place for the safegard of such a multitude of ships as vsuallie laie for harbour in that rode For besides all strange botes which commonlie repaired thither it appeareth in the booke of Doomesdaie that Douer armed yearelie at his proper charges twentie vessels to the sea by the space of fiftéene daies with one and twentie able men in ech ship line 30 Now about the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and two one sir Iohn Thomson clarke parson of the parish of saint Iames in Douer being a man ingenious and séeing the conueniencie and possibilitie of a good hauen to be made in that place consulted with the cheefe and best mariners of the towne Among whome it was agréed that humble sute should be made to the kings maiestie by the state of the towne for his gratious fauour and aid toward the making of a good hauen there And it was also line 40 by them all thought meet that the said sir Iohn Thomson should exhibit their petition to his highnesse whervnto he agréed and drew a plot and prepared a supplication in the name and behalfe of the towne conteining the necessarie causes and reasons deuises and instructions for the erection and building thereof But he told them he was poore and therefore vnable of his owne proper charges to follow the sute In which respect they collected among themselues and deliuered vnto him foure pounds ten shillings which line 50 he accepted and foorthwith repaired to the court where he so demeaned himselfe as he had present accesse to the king who heard his sute with great fauor and debated with him about the contents of his plot and liked so well of his informations that he willed him to repaire home and without delaie to returne to his presence accompanied with some of the best mariners or seamen of the towne and so with commendations dismissed him for that time When the maisters of the towne vnderstood his graces pleasure they immediatlie assembled themselues line 60 and made choise of Edward Maie Robert Iustice Richard Cowchie and Iohn Steward as the fittest and skilfullest persons to vse conference and to be imploied in that cause being all mariners of good experience These foure and the said sir Iohn Thomson without further staie resorted to the court with whom when the king had communed he conceiued of the necessitie of a hauen to be there had and of the probabilitie and likelihood of good successe in the enterprise to be performed according to their suggestion And because his maiestie vnderstood the poore estate of the towne he granted his gratious aid for the supplie of their want of monie deliuering at that time out of his owne cofers vnto them the summe of fiue hundred pounds wherewith he willed them to make a beginning of the worke At which time he bestowed on the said sir Iohn Thomson the maistership of the maison de Dieu of Douer which was a hospitall valued at one hundred and twentie pounds by the yeare the custome and dutie of the which house was as the ancient townesmen informe me to interteine and reléeue souldiors and others which came from beyond the seas hurt or distressed who were allowed some reléefe there by the space of certeine daies gratis which though I find not directlie set downe in record yet doo I know assuredlie the same to haue beene put in execution wherewith the verie name of the house is agréeable and as it were a credible witnesse The king at that time also appointed the said sir Iohn to be principall surueior of the works and vnder him the other foure to be ouerseers of the same Now am I to giue you to vnderstand that the drift and deuise of the said sir Iohn Thomson was to erect a huge wall which he termed by the name of a pierre from Arcliffe chapell being the southwest part of the baie directlie towards the east into the maine sea about 131 rods in length so as by that meanes the harborough was to be garded from the rage of all weather comming from the north northeast northwest and southwest and so the entrance onelie at east southeast whereinto when the ships were once brought they might there lie safe in all weather at the one side or the other But the pierre was not finished by 350 foot so far as the foundation thereof which he called the Molehead was laid which foundation consisted of great rocks brought from a place néere hand called Hakcliffe or the castell Raie and Folkestone This pierre was begun on S. Annes daie 1533 and it was compiled of two rowes of maine posts great piles of fiue or six twentie foot long set at each side close togither which were let downe and put in certeine holes hewed in the great rocks laid for that purpose but some of those piles were shod with iron and driuen into the maine rocke of chalke with a great engine called a ram These posts and piles were combined and held togither with iron bolts and were filled with mightie stones of chalks as also with beach and other earth but the bottome consisted altogither of great rocks of stone which if they had not béene brought thither by a speciall deuise must néeds haue béene extreame chargeable for manie of them were of twentie tun a péece and few vnder The practise of this charge is now common but it was before that time rare vnknowne in England and inuented there by a poore simple man named Iohn Yoong who first with a nutshell after with an egshell lastlie with a small vessell made proofe what weight those things could raise beare in the water and hauing by that experiment made triall or at least a probable coniecture that stones of great weight might be raised and carried in the water by greater vessels he
force The lord Euers brought a power of horssemen from the borders Knights created at Lith by the earle of Hertford Lith burnt The lord Seaton Haddington burnt Dunbar burnt The end of the voiage Townes burnt in the same voiage Sée more heereof in Scotland Abr. Fl. ex I. Stow. 1029. Base monie coined Irish in warlike manner passe through the citie Procession in English An armie leuied to inuade France Thrée battels apointed with their seuerall lieutenants The duke of Norffolke the lord priuie seale The countie de Buren Monsieur de Biez The duke of Suffolke Bullongne besieged The king passeth the seas to Bullongne Bullongne assaulted Bullongne deliuered The number of them that went fort◠〈◊〉 Bullongne The king 〈◊〉 into Bulâ—ongne The king retâ—rneth into England The emperor câ—ncludeth a peace with the french king The number of the men of war in Muttrell A mount raised Sir Francis Brian Tiberio that alter serued the king of England Negligence of Englishmen for not putting their valiant dooings in writing A stratagem of the lord Mountioie A politike feat atchiued by the lord Mountioie The lord Mountioie a noble yoong gentleman The English archers gall the French horssemen Saint Requiers burnt by the Englishmen Rieu sacked The siege 〈◊〉 Muttrell broken vp The Dolphin commeth before Bullongne with his great power A camisado 〈◊〉 to base Bullongne â—n euerthrow giuen to the French 〈…〉 Bullongne Monsieur de Biez coÌ„meth before Bullongne with an armie The Frenchmen dislodge out of their 〈◊〉 The comfortable words of the English capteins The English horssemen charge the French battels The valiant order of monsieur de Biez The lord admerall his redie coÌ„ceiuing the meaning of the enimies Hardilo sands Artillerie gained Iohn Stow. Great priâ—es of French goods taken by the Westerne ships Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 1030. Sir William Roch sent to the Fléet Execution for false accusation The discomfiture gotten by the Scots at Halidon rig The valiant sir Rafe Euers slaine Read alderman of London prisoner Anno Reg. 〈◊〉 Rich. 〈◊〉 Anne Askeâ— and others arreigned and acquited Thomas Daie pewterer Martin de Bellaie The new fort before Bullogne I. S. pag. 1031. Hailestones figured like mens heads The English fléet commeth before Newhauen The French 〈◊〉 landeth in the I le of Wight The Frenchmen land in Sussex The Marie Rose drowned by negligence Frenchmen distressed in the I le of Wight The number 〈◊〉 the French 〈◊〉 The earle of Hertford foâ—raâ—â—th the middle marches of Scotland The Londoners set foorth a power into France The death of the valiant lord Poinings The death of the duke of Suffolke His iust commendation Monsieur de Lorges sent into Scotland with certeine French bands The earle of Hertford inuadeth Scotland Ouerthrowes on both sides betwixt the English and Scots Tâ—eporte oppidum Galliae maritimum à Iohanne Dudleio praefecto regiae clasâ—is diripitur flammis absumitur Martin de Bellaie seigneur Langeie in his memoâ—res Monsieur de Biez forraâ—eth the English pale about Calis Martin de Bellaie â— parlement â— sâ—bsidie 〈◊〉 The kings thanks to his commons The kings promises for the well disposing of chantries and colleges Charitie and concord in common-wealths be things most necessarie but in matters of religion charitie and concord is not enough without veritie and true worship of God The Reingraue The English men put to flight The barke Ager an English ship recouered The Stues suppressed Ab. Fl. ex I.S. William Foxleie slept more than fouretéene daies and as manie nights without waking Anno Reg. 38. Hamble Thew 〈◊〉 by the Englishmen â— French 〈◊〉 taken â— mutinie in 〈◊〉 English 〈◊〉 A great skirmish A peace concluded and proclamed I. Stow pag. 1033. Iohn Fox in Acts Monuments D. Crome râ—â—canteth at Paules crosse Abr. Fle. 〈◊〉 manuscripâ—oaâ— Henr. Tenant tradito line 60 Henrie Tenant A combat betwéene Iulian Romerou and Morow The death of sir Henrie Kneuet The lord 〈…〉 went into France to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 kings 〈◊〉 An ambassage 〈◊〉 of France The kings â—â—ips that laie the riuer betwixt Graâ—â—send Detâ—â—â—d shot off â—â—stilie likewise the French gallâ—â—s â—alsed them againe The French admerall receiued by 〈◊〉 Edward The admerall of France receiueth an oth His gifts that he had of the king others The lord Greie of Wilton Sir Thomas Palmer King Henries message to the lord Greie by sir Thomas Palmer Chattilons garden ouerthrowen and rased downe The lord Greies seruice verie honorablie accepted of the king The duke of Norffolke coÌ„â—mitted to the tower 154â— The earle of Surrie beheaded I. S. pag. 1034 king Henrie his gift to the citie of London The duke atteinted The king maâ—keth his testament His executâ—â—â— The decease of King Henrie the eight Henricus octaâ—â— post 38. 〈…〉 The description of King Henrie the eight Ad Henricum octaâ—um regem Angliae maxiâ—â—â— studiosorum â—â—â—torem Comparatio in gloriam Henricâ— octaui regis poâ—entissimi â— Edward proclamed The earle of Hertford choâ—â—â— protector Lord protecâ—â—â— made duke 〈◊〉 Summerset The king râ—deth through London to Westminster Abr. Fl. ex I.S. pag. 1036. Pauls stéeple laie at anchor K. Edward crowned The lord chancellor discharged of his roome Hâ—milies The communion in both kinds I. S pag. 1036. D. Smith recanted Rich. Crafton Chiefteines in the armie The chieâ—teins that commanded in the nauie by sea were these The lord protector causeth Aimouth riuer to be sounded Sir Rafe Sadler treasuror of the English armie A proclamation The order of the armie in marching forward The Peaths â—n English herald sent from the lord protector to sâ—mmon a castell The castell of Dunglas ouerthrowne Thornton Anderwike Thom Trotter The lord of Hambleton The pile of Anderwike woone Sir Miles Partrige Thornton yéelded The piles of Thornton and others defaced Tantallon Linton bridge Hailes castell A subtile practise of the Scots The manlie courage of the earle of Warwike Dandie Car. Henrie Uane Barteuill hurt Richard Maxwell taken Lang Nuddreie Order taken for the placing of the ships The Scotish prickers shew themselues Salt Preston The Scots â—â—ssemen discomfited and put to flight Scots slaine Prisoners taken Englishmen 〈◊〉 The lord Hume hurt with a fall in the chase A Scotish herald deliuereth a message to the duke of Summerset The lord protectors answer The earle of Warwikes request and message to the earle of Huntleie The order of war touching heralds violated The vaine doubt of the Scots Ordinance plaÌ„ted against the enimie Saturday the tenth of September the daie of the battell The Englishmen Scots march the one armie toward the other The gallie The Irish archers Consultation of the English lords on horssebacke The deuise of the lords vpon their consultation The lord Greies request to the lord protector The Scots at a staie vpoÌ„ the sudden The order of the Scots in warres both touching their furniture and disposition The incounter is verie hot betwéene both sides The face of the field at the
and also diuerse other good and wholesome ordinances concerning the state of the common-wealth were established and enacted ¶ In the moneth of Aprill there chanced great thunder tempestuous raine and flouds occasioned by the same verie sore horrible continuing for the space of fifteene daies togither line 30 The legat Othobone year 1268 after he had in the synods holden at Northampton and London deuised and made manie orders and rules for churchmen and leuied amongst them great summes of monie finallie in the moneth of Iulie he tooke leaue of the king and returned to Rome where after the deceasse of Innocent the fift about the yeare of our Lord 1276 he was chosen pope and named Adrian the fift liuing not past 50 daies after He went so néere hand to search out things at his going awaie that he had inrolled line 40 the true value of all the churches and benefices in England and tooke the note with him to Rome Prince Edward the kings sonne and diuerse other great lords of England before this legats departure out of the realme receiued the crosse at his hands in Northampton on Midsummer day meaning shortlie after according to promise there made to go into the holie land to warre against Gods enimies In this yeare fell great variance betwéene line 50 the corporations or fellowships of the goldsmiths and tailors within the citie of London wherevnto euill words flowing from the toong gaue originall for Pondus valde graue verbosum vas sine claue so that one euening there were assembled to the number of fiue hundred in the stréets in armour and running togither made a fowle fraie so that manie were wounded and some slaine But the shiriffes hearing thereof came parted them with assistance of other trades and sent diuerse of them being taken vnto prison of the which there were arreigned to the line 60 number of thirtie and thirtéene of them condemned and hanged In the fiftie third yeare of king Henries reigne there was such an excéeding great frost beginning at saint Andrewes tide and continuing till it was néere candlemasse that the Thames from the bridge vpwards was so hard frosen year 1269 that men and beasts passed ouer on féet from Lambeth to Westminster and so westward in diuerse places vp to Kingston Also merchandize was brought from Sandwich and other places vnto London by land For the ships by reason of the yce could not enter the Thames ¶ And about the feast of S. Uedast which falleth on the 6 of Februarie fell so great abundance of raine that the Thames rose so high as it had not doone at any time before to remembrance of men then liuing so that the cellars and vaults in London by the water side were drowned and much merchandize marred lost About S. Georges day there was a parlement holden at London for the appeasing of a controuersie depending betwixt prince Edward the kings son and the earle of Glocester at the which parlement were present almost all the prelats and péeres of the realme At length they put the matter in compromise into the hands of the king of Almaine vndertaking to be ordred by him high and low touching all controuersies and likewise for the iournie to be made into the holie land but the king of Almaine did little in the matter to any great effect ¶ In the beginning of Lent the king gaue to his sonne prince Edward the rule of the citie of London with all the reuenues and profits thereto belonging After which gift the said prince made sir Hugh Fitz Othon constable of the towre and custos of the citie of London ¶ Upon the ninth day of Aprill Edmund the kings sonne surnamed Crouchbacke married at Westminster Auelina the daughter of the earle of Aumarle Prince Edward commanded the citizens of London to present vnto him six citizens of the which number he might nominate two shiriffes and so appointed William de Hadstocke and Anketill de Alberne which were sworne to be accomptants as their predecessours had beene In those daies a new custome or toll was vsed to be paid which prince Edward let to farme vnto certeine strangers for the summe of twentie marks by yeare Wherefore the citizens being gréeued therewith bought it of him for two hundred marks Also this yeare there was granted to the king towards his iournie by him purposed into the holie land the twentith penie of euerie mans mooueable goods thoroughout the realme of the laie fee and of the spiritualtie was granted by the assent of pope Gregorie the tenth thrée dismes to be gathered within the terme of thrée yeares This yeare the kings sonne the lord Edward obteined a confirmation for the citie of London of the charter of the ancient liberties so that the citizens did then choose vnto them a maior and two shiriffes which shiriffes by vertue of the same charter had their office to farme in maner as before time was accustomed sauing that where they paid afore but thrée hundred and fiftie pounds they paid now foure hundred and fiftie pounds After which confirmation granted and passed vnder the kings broad seale they chose for their maior Iohn Adrian and for shiriffes Walter Potter and Iohn Tailor the which were presented the 16 day of Iulie vnto the king at Westminster by his sonne prince Edward and there admitted and sworne Then was sir Hugh Fitz Othon discharged of the rule of the citie The citizens of their owne fréewill gaue vnto the king an hundred marks and to his sonne prince Edward fiue hundred markes There was no great disorder attempted this yeare to the disquieting of the realme sauing that certeine of the disherited gentlemen that belonged to the earle of Darbie withdrew vnto the forrest of the Peake in Darbishire and there making their abode spoiled and wasted the countries next adioining In the moneth of Maie prince Edward the kings sonne set forward on his iournie towards the holie land and taking the sea at Douer passed ouer into France and came to Burdeaux where he staied a while and after went to Agues Mortes and there tooke shipping first sailing as some write vnto Thunis where the christian armie which Lewes the French king as then deceassed had brought thither was readie to depart and so prince Edward with the new French king Lewes and other princes passed ouer into Sicill where he soiourned for the winter time In this yeare the king was vexed with a greeuous sicknesse and the Irishmen in rebellion slue a â—reat sort of Englishmen as well magistrats as others in that countrie When the spring of the yeare began to approach prince Edward eftsoones tooke the sea and finallie arriued at Acres with a thousand chosen men of warre line 10 though there be writers that affirme how there arriued with him of sundrie countries fiue thousand horsmen and double the same number of footmen But amongst those that went out
of England with him these we find as principall Iohn de Britaine Iohn de Uescie Otâ—s de Grantson and Robert de Bruse besides other Of his noble chiualrie there atchiued yée shall find a bréefe note in the description of the holie land and therefore here we omit the same Howbeit this is to be remembred that whilest the lord Edward line 20 soiorned there in the citie of Acres he was in great danger to haue béene slaine by treason for a traitorous Saracen of that generation which are called Arsacidae and latelie reteined by the same lord Edward and become verie familiar with him found means one day as he sat in his chamber to giue him three wounds which suerlie had cost him his life but that one of the princes chamberleins staied the traitors hand and somewhat brake the strokes till other seruants came to the rescue and slue him there in the line 30 place ¶ There be that write how prince Edward himselfe perceiuing the traitor to strike at his bellie warded the blowe with his arme and as the Saracen offered to haue striken againe he thrust him backe to the ground with his foot and catching him by the hand wrested the knife from him and thrusting him into the bellie so killed him though in strugling with him he was hurt againe a little in the forhead and his seruants withall comming to helpe him one line 40 of them that was his musician got vp a trestill and stroke out the braines of the traitor as he laie dead on the ground and was blamed of his maister for striking him after he saw him once dead before his face as he might perceiue him to be Some write that this traitor was sent from the great admerall of Iapha on message to the prince Edward and had béene with him diuerse times before now making countenance to take forth letters got foorth his knife and attempted so to haue wrought his feat Whatsoeuer line 50 the man was the prince was in great danger by reason of the enuenimed knife wherewith he was wounded so that it was long yer he could be perfectlie whole These Saracens called Arsacidae are a wicked generation of men infected with such a superstitious opinion that they beléeue heauenlie blisse is purchased of them if they can by anie means slea one of the enimies of their religion suffer themselues for that fact the most cruell death that may be deuised ¶ Prince Edward after he was whole and recouered line 60 of his wounds perceiuing that no such aid came into those parts out of christendome as was looked for tooke a truce with the enimies of our faith and returned towards England as hereafter shall be shewed year 1272 On the fourth nones of Aprill as some saie or in the moneth of Februarie as other write in the six and fiftith yeare of K. Henries reigne at Berkhamstéed died Richard king of Almaine and earle of Cornewall and was buried in the abbeie of Hailes which he himselfe had founded he was a worthie prince and stood his brother king Henrie in great stead in handling matters both in peace and warre He left behind him issue begotten of his wife Sanctla two sonnes Edmund and Henrie This Edmund was he that brought the blood of Hails out of Germanie for as he was there vpon a time with his father it chanced that as he was beholding the relikes and other pretious monuments of the ancient emperors he espied a box of gold by the inscription whereof he perceiued as the opinion of men then gaue that therein was conteined a portion of the bloud of our sauiour He therefore being desirous to haue some part thereof so intreated him that had the kéeping of it that he obteined his desire and brought it ouer with him into England bestowing a third part thereof after his fathers deceasse in the abbeie of Hailes as it were to adorne and inrich the same bicause that therein both his father and mother were buried and the other two parts he did reserue in his owne custodie till at length mooued vpon such deuotion as was then vsed he founded an abbeie a little from his manour of Berkhamsteed which abbeie was named Ashrug in the which he placed moonks of the order of Bonhommes being the first that euer had beene seene of that order here in England And herewith he also assigned the two other parts of that bloud to the same abbeie Wherevpon followed great resort of people to those two places induced therevnto by a certeine blind deuotion Henrie the brother of this Edmund and sonne to the foresaid king of Almaine as he returned from Affrike where he had beene with prince Edward was slaine at Uiterbo in Italie whither he was come about businesse which he had to doo with the pope by the hand of Guie de Montfort the sonne of Simon de Montfort earle of Leicester in reuenge of the same Simons death This murther was committed afore the high altar as the same Henrie kneeled there to heare diuine seruice The foresaid Guie vpon that murther committed fled vnto his father in law the earle of Anguilare then gouernour of Tuskain There was at Uiterbo the same time Philip king of France returning homewards from the iournie which his father made into Affrike where he died Also Charles king of Sicill was there present whome the said Guie then serued Both those kings were put in much blame for that the murther and wilfull escape was doone and suffred in their presence and no pursuit made after the murtherer Boniface the archbishop of Canturburie when he had ruled the sea seauen and thirtie yeares departed this life and after his deceasse about two yeares or more was one Robert Kilwarbie appointed in his place by pope Gregorie which Robert was the six and fortith archbishop that had gouerned the sée of Canturburie About the moneth of Iune there fell great debate and discord betwixt the moonks of Norwich and the citizens there which increased so farre that at length the citizens with great violence assaulted the monasterie fired the gates and forced the fire so with reed and drie wood that the church with the bookes and all other ornaments of the same and all houses of office belonging to that abbeie were cleane burned wasted and destroied so that nothing was preserued except one little chapell The king hearing of this riot rode to Norwich and causing inquirie to be made thereof thirtie yoong men of the citie were condemned hanged and burnt to the great greefe of the other citizens for they thought that the priour of the place was the occasion of all that mischéefe who had got togither armed men and tooke vpon him to kéepe the belfraie and church by force of armes but the prior was well inough borne out and defended by the bishop of Norwich named Roger who as it is likelie was the maister