vol. 1. f. 18. The Queen at Hereford a Month. Vigil of Simon and Jude or the 27th of October Then the Queen went into the Marches of Wales and staid at * Ib. f. 600. The Queen goes with her Army into the Marches of Wales to find out the King and takes him with H. Despenser the Younger and others Hereford a Month from whence she sent Henry Earl of Lancaster and Rhese ap Howel a Clerc and Welsh-man who knew those Parts well with part of her Army to find out the King and by Money corrupted the Welsh-men so as they discovered him to be in the Abby aforesaid where he was taken with Hugh Despenser the Younger Robert Baldock and Simon de Reding 2 Ibm. who were committed to the Custody of the Earl by the Advice of the Bishop of Hereford Before it was known where the King was it was supposed he had left 3 Append n. 70. It was supposed the King was out of England England and 4 quitted the Government whereupon on the 26th Day of October at Bristol the Arch-Bishop of Dublin the Bishops of Winchester Ely Lincoln Hereford Norwich and other Prelates and Thomas Earl of Norfolk Edmund Earl of Kent the King's Brothers Henry Earl of Lancaster and Leicester Thomas Wake Henry de Bello Monte or Beaumont William la Zouche de Ashby Robert de Monte alto or Montalt Robert de Morle Robert de Wattevile and other Barons and Knights in the Presence of the Queen and the Duke of Aquitan her Son by the Consent of the whole Community of England being then present unanimously chose the same Duke to be Guardian of the Kingdom so as the The Prince or Duke of â— Aquitan made Guardian of the Kingdom said Duke and Guardian should Govern the Kingdom in the Name and Right of the King his Father in his absence And he took the Government of the Kingdom upon him accordingly and passed all Matters under his Privy Seal not having any other Afterwards on the 20th of November when the Queen 's and Duke's Enemies were taken and the King was returned into his Kingdom the Queen Duke Prelates and Noblemen aforesaid with the Assent of the Community aforesaid then being at Hereford by reason that the Power of the Guardian ceased by the King 's coming into his Kingdom sent the Bishop of Hereford to The Great Seal sent to the Queen and her Son the King then at Monmouth to beseech him to Command That all things that might tend to the Peace of the Kingdom might be Sealed with the Great Seal then with him This was done in the presence of the Earl of Lancaster c. and the King was prevailed on to send the Seal to his Wife and Son to 5 Ibm. 6 Wals f. 125. n 30 40. The King carried to Kenelworth-Castle The Earl of Arundel and 2. others Heads struck off at Hereford Seal what they would with it Whilst the Earl of Lancaster was carrying the King through Wales 6 by Monmouth Lidbury and other Places to his Castle of Kenelworth in Warwickshire they sent Hugh Spenser the Son Robert Baldock and Simon Reding to the Queen at Hereford Before their coming the Earl of Arundel John Daniel and Thomas Micheldene had their Heads struck off by the Procurement and Hatred of Roger Mortimer who 7 Ibm. n 40 50. Mortimer the Queen 's most familiar Counsellor was at this time the Queen's most familiar Counsellor Consiliarius Reginae familiarissimus without whom the Queen did nothing 8 Ibm. n. 40 50. Those that brought Hugh Spenser for their Reward had Two thousand Pounds as she had promised And 9 Ibm. H. Despenser the Son drawn hanged and quartered soon after he was adjudged to Death without being put to answer sine Responsione and was Drawn and Hanged upon a Gallows 50 Foot high and then Quartered and his Head fixed upon London-Bridge 1 Ib f. 126. lin 3. Simon Reding drawn and hanged On the same Day Simon Reding was Drawn and Hanged for speaking hard things of the Queen Yet Knighton 2 Col. 2547. n. 10 20 c. Knighton's Relation of the Judgment of H. Despenser the Son reports Hugh Spenser the Younger was Arraigned before Sir William Trussel a Justiciary in the Form there mentioned which was by way of a Speech made against him as 't is here contracted Hugh le Despenser 3 Ibm. Sir W. Trussell's Speech against H. Despenser the Son in the Parlement at Westminster in the 15th of the King your Father and you Hugh were awarded Traytors and Enemies of the Realm and Banished as such never to return without the Assent of the King in full Parliament duely summoned Contrary to which Award your Father and you Hugh were found in the Court without Warrant And you Hugh as you returned into the Kingdom feloniously spoiled and robbed Two Domands Merchant-Ships so called of Goods to the Value of Forty thousand Pounds Hugh after this Felony you came to the King and caused him to go with Force against the Peers of the Realm and other his Liege People to destroy and disherit them contrary to the Great Charter And also taking upon you Royal Power you Hugh and your Assistants with Force and Arms robbed feloniously the good People of the Realm and by Andrew Harleye and other Traitors your Adherents Murdered the good Earl of Hereford Monsieur William Sullee and Monsieur Roger de Berfelde at Borough-Bridge and caused to be taken my most Honourable Lord Thomas the Good Earl of Lancaster and caused him to be Judged by a false Record against Law Reason and the Great Charter and also to be Murdered Martyred and put to a cruel Death Also in the same March in the French Journey to Borough-Bridge you caused many of my Lords the Earl of Lancaster Barons and Knights to be Drawn and Hanged by false Record against Law and Reason 4 Col. 2548. n. 10 20 30. and caused other Great Men to be put in Prison and Murdered to get their Estates as Roger Mortimer the Nephew and Vnkle Hugh Audeley Father and Son and the Earl of Hereford Hugh after this Destruction of the Nobility you Hugh your Father and Robert Baldock usurping Royal Power over the King led him and his People into Scotland against his Enemies where you Hugh by your Traiterous Conduct caused him to lose 20000 of his People to his great Dishonour and Damage of the Realm and to return without doing any thing Hugh 5 Ibm. n. 40 50 60. this Treason nor this Tyranny would satisfie you until by Royal Power gained over the King you destroyed the Franchises of Holy Church and the Prelates as the Bishops of Hereford Lincoln and Norwich taking their Goods out of their Churches And whereas you knew God had done great Things by my Lord the Earl of Lancaster you caused to be murdered you placed armed Guards and shut the Church-Doors that none should
superioritat c. ut supra The same Roll. A. D. 1293. 21 Ed. I. Anno a Nativitate Domini 1293 incipiente Die Festi Stephani protomartyris Anno Regni Regis Angliae vicesimo primo ipso apud Novum Castrum super Tinam Existente c. He did Homage to him at Newcastle in this Form in French 5 Ibm. The Form of John Baliol's Homage My Lord Edward King of England Superior Lord of the Kingdom of Scotland I John King of Scotland become your Liege-man or Vassal for the whole Kingdom of Scotland with its Pertinencies and all what belongs to it which Kingdom I claim and hold and ought of right to hold for me and my Heirs Kings of Scotland Hereditarily of you and your Heirs Kings of England and shall bear Faith to you and your Heirs Kings of England of Life and Limb and Tenent Honor against all Men that may live and die And of this Homage he made his Letters Patents of the same Date Witnessed by Sixteen Bishops Judges and the greatest Men of England and Twenty of the same Quality of Scotland who at his Request put to their Seals Within four 6 Ibm. days after Homage done in this manner to King Edward on the last of December upon a Complaint made to him by Roger Bartholomew Burgess of Berwick against some of his Auditors or Judges by him deputed in Scotland He presently appointed his Justices there present Auditors of the Complaint Justiciarios ibidem praesentes hujusmodi Querelae constituit Auditores whereof Roger Brabazon Chief Justice of the King's-Bench was one strictly commanding them they should do quick Justice according to the Laws and Customs of his Kingdom before whom and others of the King's Council there was a Petition Exhibited A Petition exhibited that King Edw. would observe his Promises on behalf of the King of Scotland and by his Advice and Direction by William Bishop of St. Andrews John Earl of Boghan Patrick de Graham Thomas Randolph and other Great Men of Scotland That whereas the King of England and Superior Lord of Scotland had lately * In the 18th of his Reign in the Treaty of Marriage between his Son Edward and the Maid of Norwey Queen of Scotland promised to the Noblemen and Prelates of that Kingdom That he would observe the Laws and Customs thereof and that Pleas of things done there might not be drawn out of it They beseeched the King of England and his Council there present in the Name of the King of Scotland That he would please to observe his Promise and Command his Officers firmly to do the same Roger Brabazon 7 Ibm. The Petition answered answered this Petition Quod dicta petitio videbatur frustratoria c. That it seemed idle and not to the purpose for that it was manifest and ought to be so to all the Noblemen and Prelates of the Kingdom That the King had performed all his Promises and not acted contrary to any of them and as to the Complaints concerning his Judges and Officers lately deputed by him as Superior and Direct Lord of that Kingdom who then did Represent his Person the Cognisance of Complaints concerning them belonged only to him and no other and he had especially reserved it to himself and also that because in Judgments of the very Superior Lord or of those that Represented his Person no Subjects could pretend to it and further said That if the King of England had made any Temporary Promises when there was no King in Scotland he had performed them and that by such Promises he would not now be restrained or bound And the King of England made Protestation 8 Ibm. The King's Protestation concerning the Petition and his Promises before all the Noblemen and Prelates of both Kingdoms then present That notwithstanding his Temporary Promises and Concessions he did not take himself to be bound his Protestations otherwise publickly made remaining in force and that he intended and would admit and hear all Complainants whatsoever and all other Business touching the Kingdom of Scotland and its Inhabitants by reason of his Superiority and Direct Dominion which he had and of right ought to have in that Kingdom as his Progenitors in their times had if they Lawfully and for Just Causes came before him and upon those Complaints every where and at all times if he pleased to do them Justice and to Vse and Exercise his Superiority and Direct Dominion and to call the King of Scotland himself if it were necessary and the Quality of the Cause required it to appear before him in his Kingdom of England Upon this 9 Ibm. John King of Scotland c. acquaints K. Edward of all his Promises c. Resolution of King Edward and the Answer of the Justices to the Petition John King of Scotland acquitted him of all Promises Bargains Agreements and Obligations he had made to the Guardians and others of the Kingdom Custodibus Probis hominibus Regni while by reason of the Superiority of his Dominion he held the Kingdom of Scotland in his hands until he had done Justice to such as Demanded the Kingdom and especially the Grant and Instrument made at Northampton the 28th Day of August And Confesseth they had been performed in the 18th Year of his Reign in which the Promises and Grants set forth in the Petition were contained With Confession that they had been all performed when he had adjudged and fully Delivered the Kingdom to him 1 Ibm. which Release or Acquittance was Scaled with his own Seal and confirmed with the Seals of the Bishops Earls Barons and other Noblemen of his Kingdom and Dated the Second of January 1293. in the Twenty First year of King Edward's Reign and the First of King John of Scotland Within a short time after this Protestation and Release there happened a great Case in Scotland which was brought by way of Appeal unto King Edward by 2 Ibm. The E. of Fife Appeals the K. of Scotland before the K. of England Magdulph Earl of Fife against John King of Scotland To whom he Directed his Writ to appear 3 Ryley Placita Parl. f. 154. 155. He appears not and a Second Writ is directed to him before him on the Morrow of Holy Trinity where-ever he should be in England to answer what Magdulph had to say against him But then not appearing the King directed another Writ to Summon him to appear before him Fifteen Days after Michaelmas to answer as before 4 Ibm. f. 157. The E. of Fife's Complaint The Earl of Fife's Complaint was That when King Edward was last at Berwick he commanded William Bishop of St. Andrews and his Fellow Guardians of the Kingdom of Scotland That they should do Right to Magdulph concerning his Lands and Tenements of Rerys and Crey of which he had been Disseised by the said Bishop as Guardian of Fife Tunc Custodem Comitatus de Fife Of which according
Carlisle 15 days after Midsummer and to make the Expedition more great and glorious he Knighted 1 Ibm. And Knighted 300 Sons of Noblemen c. with his Son on Whitsunday at Westminster Three hundred young Gentlemen the Sons of Earls Barons and Knights that had wherewithall to maintain their Honour and gave them their Military Garments out of his own Wardrobe 2 Ibm. The Scots Routed and put to Flight Many of the Scots Tried for Perjury and Rebellion and Hanged These with the Prince were to march with him into Scotland against his Enemies They set forward on the morrow of Holy Trinity but before they came there the Earl of Pembroke had fought with and routed the Scots and put their King to flight at Metfen near St. John's Town or Perth 2 or 3 days after Midsummer In this Battel many were killed and many of Note taken 3 Ib. f. 455. n. 40 50. and f. 456. n. 10 20 30. The two Bishops and Abbat the Contrivers of the Rebellion taken most of which were Tryed and Hanged for Perjury and Rebellion Afterwards the King Prince and many Great Men went into Scotland when some received them Honourably others left their Habitations and fled The Army roving up and down after the Fight pursued the Fugitives some they killed others they took alive amongst whom were the Two 4 Ib. f. 455. n. 30. The Bishop of St. Andrews sent Prisoner to Winchester Castle Bishops and the Abbat armed under their Surcoates These were sent into England and imprisoned The Bishop of St. Andrews was sent to the Sheriff of Hampshire to be kept in Winchester Castle as the King's Enemy Rebel and Traytor and by the 5 Append. n. 38. The Sheriff of Hampshire charged with him Mittimus or Warrant he was to be kept in the strongest Tower of the Castle and safely and securely put in Iron Fetters under Penalty of the Sheriffs forfeiting all his Goods Lands and Tenements if he made his Escape By the Warrant no Man was to see or speak with him but such as the Sheriff should appoint to attend him And for further Security the Sheriff was to take as many Landed Men of the Vicinage as he thought fit to assist him and the Custos or Warden of the Castle as his Guard under the same Penalty with the Sheriff if he Escaped The Bishop of Glasco was sent to the Castle of Porcester in the same County by a Mittimus or 6 Claus 34 Ed. I. M. 6 intus The Bishop of Glasco sent to Parchester Castle Warrant in the same Form and Words as also was the Abbat of Schone sent to the 7 Ibm. Castle of Mere in Wiltshire by the like Mittimus directed to the Sheriff of that County The Pope being informed of the Murder of John Comyn by his 8 In Turri Lord. 34 Ed. I. and Pryns Ed. I. f. 1122. The Pope Excommunicates the Murderers of John Comyn Bull directed to the Arch-Bishop of York and Bishop of Carlisle ordered them to Excommunicate Robert Brus and all his Complices until they made Satisfaction and deserved Absolution And the King made Inquisition 9 Mat. West â— 456. n. 10. in Scotland by Men of Credit per fide dignos homines who and what Persons committed the Murder and were present at the Coronation of Robert Brus and took them almost all and put them to death And for the greater * Claus 34 Ed. I. M. 3. Dors in French and Rilâ—y's Appen f. 510. Ordinances made by King and Council for the security of the Peace of Scotland Security of the Peace of Scotland it was agreed by the King and his Council That the Guardian of Scotland should cause to be proclaimed in all Cities Burghs and Mercate Towns and in other Places where he thought fit That all such who were against the King in the last War and were not come to his Peace and others who committed Felonies and other Crimes for which they ought to lose Life or Member and were not taken should be apprehended by any Persons where ever they came and to that purpose to Levy Hue and Cry with Horn and Mouth and pursue them with force from Town to Town Country to Country County to County until they rendred themselves or were taken dead or alive and that those who neglected to do this should lose all their Goods and be imprisoned during the King's Pleasure The Guardian was likewise to inquire after the Receivers of such Persons that they might have such Justice as they deserved It was then also Accorded That all those who were Guilty and Abettors of the Death of John Comyn should be Drawn and Hang'd and those that advised and assented to it and those who after the Fact knowingly and willingly or freely received them should have the same Judgment And those that were guilty of his Death that were or should be taken by force in this War against the King should be Hanged or have their Heads cut off and their Receivers to have the same Judgment And all that were against the King in the War at any time as well before as in and after the Battel of Metfen those who were the most notorious and dangerous of them should be put in Prison where the King should appoint and not to be released but by his Order And those who willingly were of the Party of Robert Brus or were aiding advising procuring or persuading the People to Rise contrary to Law and were thereof Convicted whether Clerks or others were to be imprisoned during the King's Pleasure And it was Agreed That the People of Scotland who were forced to rise against the King in this War should be Fined as the Guardian should see cause and according to their Offence and for the greater Authority and Execution of this Agreement the King caused it to pass under his Seal of Scotland In the same Roll and Membrane there is the Acknowledgment The Senesch or Steward of Scotland his acknowledgment of his Crimes against King Edward made by himself of the Heinous Crimes and Offences of James the Steward of Scotland against his Liege Lord King Edward against the Homage and Fealty he did and sware to him and against his Ligeance whereupon he rendred and submitted high and low and in all things his Body Lands and Tenements and all he had or might have to his Will who of his special Grace Restored to him all he held in Scotland for which being free delivered out of Prison and in his own full Power he again did Homage and and made Oath of Fealty as he had done in the 24th of his He renews his Homage and Fealty Reign and for the sure keeping and performing his Homage and Oath in all Points he bound his Body his Heirs Lands Tenements all he had or could have high and low and in all things to the Will of the King and his Heirs And Willed and Granted for him and his Heirs
the King and his Kingdom After this 5 Ibm. col 2705. n. 10 20 30. Many sent to Prison Others removed from Court the King commanded many there named to be sent to the Castles of Nottingham Dover Bristol Rochester Glocester c. to be kept until next Parlement to answer their Demerits There were also then Removed from the Court John de Fordham Bishop of Durham the Lords Beaumont Zouch Burnel and Lovell Sir Thomas Camoys the Son of the Lord Clifford Sir Baldwin Bereford the Bishop of Chichester the King's Confessor the Lady Mohun the Lady Poynings and the Lady Molineux 6 Ibm. col 2706. n. 10. The Judges taken off the Benches and sent to the Tower And on the first Day of the Parlement Sir Roger Fulthrop Sir Robert Belknap Sir John Cary Sir John Holt Sir William Burgh all Judges and John Loketon Serjeant at Law were taken off the Benches doing their Offices and sent to the Tower On the 17th of 7 Claus 11 Ric. II. M. 24. Dors A Parlement called The Cause of Summons Decemb. Writs were issued for a Parlement to meet on the 3d of February or on the morrow of the Purification of the Virgin Mary next coming On that Day Thomas Fitz-Alan Bishop of Ely and Chancellor of England Brother to the Earl of Arundel from whence his Name of de Arundel from that Title declared the cause of Summons to be 8 Rot. Parl. 11 Ric. II. n. 1. part 1. To consider by what means the Troubles in the Kingdom for want of good Government might be ended the King better Advised the Realm better Governed Misdemeanours more severely punished and good Men better encouraged how the Kingdom best defended the Sea best kept the Marches of Scotland best guarded Guyen preserved and how the Charges of these things was most easily to be born And then gave notice That who would complain in that Parlement of such things as could not well be redressed by the Common Law might carry their Petitions to the Clercs in Chancery there named appointed to receive them Thomas Duke of Glocester 9 Ibm. n. 6. The Duke of Glocester's suspicion of himself The King declares him not guilty kneeled before the King and said he understood the King had been informed that he was about to depose him and make himself King and profered to stand to the Award of his Peers in Parlement The King declared openly That he did not think him Guilty and had him fully excused The Lords Spiritual and Temporal then present * Ibm. n. 7. claimed as their Liberty and Franchise That all great Matters moved in that Parlement and to be moved in other Parlements in time to come touching Peers of the Land should be discussed and judged by the course of Parlement and not by the Law Civil or the Common Law of the Land used in lower Courts of the Kingdom Which Claim Liberty and Franchise the King benignement kindly allowed and granted in full Parlement The Five 1 Ibm. n. 8. The Protestation of the 5 Lords Appellants Lords Appellants Thomas Duke of Glocester Henry Earl of Derby Richard Earl of Arundel Thomas Earl of Warwic and Thomas Earl of Nottingham and Earl-Marshal made open Protestation in full Parlement That what they did touching their Appeal and Suit in that Parlement and had done before and all the Men and People being in their Company or of their Retinue or Assembly and with them in all that Affair was done principally to the Honour of God and in Aid and Safety of the King and all his Kingdom and the Safety of their Lives The Lords and Commons 2 Ibm. n. 11. Half a 10th and half a 15th granted granted half a Tenth and half a Fifteenth before the Parlement ended with Protestation That it was done of Necessity and that it might be no Prejudice to the Lords and Commons in time to come because it was granted And further they pray the King That notwithstanding the Grant so made the Parlement might hold on its course and be Adjourned if need were and that all things touching the said Parlement might be done and executed as if the Grant had not been made until the end of the Parlement in manner accustomed And the King granted their Request as a thing he ought to do of Reason Friday the 21st of March which was the 46th Day of Parlement 3 Ibm. n. 12. in fine The Prelates Lords and Commons swear the Prelates Lords and Commons made the Oath following upon the Cross of Canterbury in full Parlement Tou shall 4 Append. n. 106. Their Oath Swear That you will keep and cause to be kept the good Peace Quiet and Tranquillity of the Kingdom And if any will do to the contrary thereof you shall oppose and disturb him to the utmost of your Power And if any People will do any thing against the Bodies of the Persons of the Five Lords that is to say Thomas Duke of Glocester Henry Earl of Derby Richard Earl of Arundel and Surrey Thomas Earl of Warwic and Thomas Earl-Marshal or any of them you shall stand with them to the end of this present Parlement and maintain and support them with all your Power to live and die with them against all Men no Person or any other thing excepted saving always your Legiance to the King and the Prerogative of his Crown the Laws and good Customs of the Kingdom The Lords and Commons grant to the King in Defence of the The Subsidy of Leather Wooll c. Realm a Subsidy upon Leather Wooll and Woollfells 5 Rot. Parl. 117 Ric. II. n. 16. granted upon condition upon Condition the Five Lords Appellants should have out of it 20000 l. by Assent and Grant of the King for their Costs and Labour and Expences before that time for the Honour Profit and Safety of the King and whole Kingdom The Commons 6 Ib. n. 23. The Commons Request to the King pray That no Person of what Estate soever do intermeddle with the Business of the Kingdom nor the Council of the King but those assigned in his Parlement unless it be by Order of the Continual Council And prayed also That they might have Power to remove all Persons from the King which they thought fit to remove and put others in their Places As to the first Point of this Article 7 Ibm. Ro. His Answer le Roy le voet the King granteth it As to the second if any Lord of the Council or other Lord of the Kingdom will inform the King that he had about him any Person not Sufficient or Honest he willeth That if it be proved he shall be put away and removed and another Sufficient by Advice of himself put in his Place In this 8 Ib. part 2. Alexander A Bp. of York the Duke of Ireland and Earl of Suffolk accused Parlement Thomas Duke of Glocester Constable of England Henry Earl of Derby
Pleasure being absent and not called to answer without any reasonable Cause confiscating all his Goods against the Laws of the Land and all Justice by which he incurred Perjury Further the King intending to palliate his inconstancy by flattering Words endeavoured to cast the Injury done him upon others Whence the Arch-Bishop having Discourse with the King the Duke of Norfolk other Lords and Great Men lamenting said He was not the first had been Banished nor should be the last for that he thought within a short time the Duke of Norfolk and other Lords would follow him and constantly told the King That the Consequences of the Premisses would fall upon his own Head at last To which the King as if he had been astonished presently answered he thought it might so happen he might be expelled his Kingdom by his Subjects and further said if it should be so he would go to the Place where he was and that the Arch-Bishop might believe him he shewed him a great Jewel of Gold which he would send to him as a Token that he would not defer his coming to the Place where he was And that the same Arch-Bishop might have greater Confidence in him he sent to him advising him That he should privately send all the Jewels belonging to his Chapel to be safely kept lest under the colour of the Judgment of Banishment they might be seised it being so done the King caused the Goods to be put in Coffers which he caused to be Locked and Sealed by one of the Arch-Bishops Clerks by whom he sent the Keys to him and afterwards caused the Coffers to be broken taking the Goods and disposing of them as he pleased The same King also faithfully promised the Arch-Bishop That if he would go to the Port of Hampton in order to go out of the Kingdom that by the Queen's intercession he should be recalled And if it should so happen as he should go out of the Kingdom yet after Easter next coming without fail he should return into England nor should he any way loose his Arch-Bishoprick This he faithfully Promised Swearing to it touching the Cross of Thomas the Martyr Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Which Promises notwithstanding the King caused the Arch-Bishop to go out of the Kingdom and wrote to the Pope for his Translation and thus and otherwise by the Frauds and Cheats of the King was the Arch-Bishop a Man of good Faith craftily Circumvented These were the Thirty three Articles read in the Parlement against King Richard And because it seemed 7 Ib. n. 51. to all the States of the Kingdom it being singly and in common propounded to and asked of them That these Causes of Crimes and Defects were sufficient and notorious to Depose the same King his Confession also and other things considered contained in his Renunciation and Cession all the States aforesaid unanimously consented to proceed to the Deposition of him for the greater Security and Tranquility of the People and Profit of the Kingdom and accordingly appointed certain Commissioners the Bishop of Asaph the Abbat of Glastonbury the Earl of Glocester the Lord Berkeley Thomas Erpyngham and Thomas Grey Knights and William Thirnyng Justice to pronounce Sentence of Deposition against King Richard from all Royal Dignity Majesty and Honour in the Name and by Authority of all the States as in like Cases according to the ancient Custom of the Kingdom had been observed The Commissioners take upon them their Charge and the Commission being drawn up in Writing the Bishop of Asaph read it in these Words In the Name of God Amen 8 Ib. n. 52. We John Bishop of Asaph John Abbat of Glastonbury Thomas Earl of Glocester Thomas Lord Berkeley Thomas de Erpyngham and Thomas Gray Knights and William Thirning Justiciary by the Spiritual and Temporal Peers and Great Men of the Kingdom of England and by the Communities of the same representing all States thereof being specially deputed Commissioners for the things underwritten duely considering the many Perjuries Cruelty and many other Crimes committed by King Richard in the time of his Government and publickly Exhibited and Recited before the States which were so publick notorious manifest and famous as they could no way be denied and also his Confession acknowledging and truely of his own certain knowledge judging himself to have been altogether insufficient for the Government of the Kingdoms and Lordship aforesaid and that for his notorious Demerits he was worthy to be Deposed which things by his own Will and Command were published before the States Having had diligent Deliberation upon these things for the greater Caution to the Government of the Kingdoms and Dominion aforesaid the Rights and Appertinences of the same in the Name and Authority to us committed do Pronounce Decree and Declare that very Richard to be Deposed deservedly from all Royal Dignity and Honour and for the like Caution we Depose him by our Definitive Sentence in this Writing expressly inhibiting all and singular Arch-Bishops Bishops and Prelates Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons Knights Vassals and Valvassors and all other Men and Subjects of the said Kingdoms and Dominion or Places belonging to them for the future to obey the said Richard as King Furthermore the said States 9 Ib. n. 53. desiring there might be nothing wanting which was or might be required in this Matter being severally asked agreed to certain Persons to be their Proctors or Agents named by the Commissioners to go to King Richard to resign their Homage and Fealty had been made to him and give him notice what had been concerning his Deposition and Renunciation And presently it appeared from the 1 Ibm. Premisses and the Occasion thereof That the Kingdom of England was vacant when Henry Duke of Lancaster rising from his Seat and standing so right up as he might sufficiently be seen of the People humbly crossing himself in his Forehead and Breast first calling upon the Name of Christ challenged the Kingdom of England being void with the Crown and all its Members and Appertinences in his Mother Tongue lingua materna in this Form of Words In the Name of Fader 2 Ibm. Son and Holy Ghost I Henry of Lancaster chalenge this Rewme of England and the Croune with all the Membres and the Appurtenances al 's I am descendit by ryght lyne of the Blode coming fro the Gude Lord King Henry therde and throghe that ryght that God of his grace hath sent me with helpe of my Kyn and my Frendes to recover it The which Rewme was in poynt to be ondone for default of Governance and undoying of the gude Lawes After this Claim 3 Ibm. n. 54. as well the Lords Spiritual as Temporal and all States there present were asked one by one what they thought of it who without any difficulty or delay unanimously consented the Duke should Reign over them and immediately so soon as he shew the States of the Kingdom King Richard's Signet which he gave him as
Prisoner Candlemass this year Aelionara Daughter to Simon Montfort who had been Contracted to Lewellin Prince of Wales in her Father's Life-time was sent from France to be Married unto him and taken in the Severn not far from Bristol and imprisoned Nothing of Moment to be found from this time until after Michaelmas following when there was a Parlement 4 Totel's Mag. Charta Printed 1576. p. 39. B. A. D. 1276. The Statute of Bigamy holden in which the Constitutions called the Statute of Bigamie that had been recited in the presence of certain Bishops of England and other of the King's Council at which time all the King's Council as well Justices as others did agree they should be put in Writing and published for perpetual Memory and that they should be firmly observed 5 Ib. in fine Status were confirmed or as 't is said in the Close of this Statute were made The Fifth Constitution or Chapter of this Statute from whence it hath its Name was an Interpretation of the Sixteenth Canon of the Second Council of Lyons holden on the First of May 1274 and the Second of this King under Pope Gregory X. in these Words 6 Labbe Tom. 11. Part. 1. Alteroationis antiquae Dubium presentis Dubitationis Oraculo Decidentes Bigamos omni privilegio Clericali Declaramus nudatos coereitioni fori saecularis addictos consuetudine contraria non obstante Ipsis quoque sub anathemate prohibemus Deferre Tonsuram vel habitum Clericalem That is in determining the old wrangling Question we declare that such as have been twice Married are deprived of all the Privileges of Clercs and left to Secular Jurisdiction or Coertion any Custom to the contrary notwithstanding and we forbid them under a Curse either to be Shaven or wear a Clerc's Habit. Certain Prelates or Ordinaries did take the meaning of this Canon to extend only to such as were Bigami or had been twice Married after the making of it and they claimed such as had been twice Married before that time when they were Arraigned for Felony and required to have them delivered to them as such as ought to have the Benefit of Clergy This Challenge produced the following Interpretation of the Canon concerning 7 Totel's Mag. Charta ut supra p. 40. a. b. The Reason of the Statute Bigamists whom the Pope in his Council of Lyons deprived of all Privilege of Clercs by a Canon therein made seeing certain Prelates demanded such as had been so before that Constitution and were accused of Felony to be delivered unto them as Clercs It is Agreed and Declared before the King and his Council that the Constitution be so understood That those who were Bigamists as well before as after the making of it for the time coming should not be delivered to the Prelates but should have Justice done them as Laymen In this Parlement the Clergy and Laity Granted to the King a Fifteenth of all their Goods but seeing 8 The. Wike's Chron. f. 103. the Pope had ordained in the Council of Lyons That the Tenth of all Ecclesiastic Revenues should be paid to the support of the Holy Land and that the Clergy had courteously given him and his Brother Two years Tenths since his Father's Death he urged them not to pay this Fifteenth but Treated with the Bishops and greatest of them for a Voluntary Contribution as they should think fit What this Contribution or Aid was 't is not said but it was not to be drawn into Example or Custom as appears by the King's Protestation in his Letters Rex omnibus c. salutem 9 Pat. 4. Ed. I. M. 6. A. D. 1276. Licet Comites Barones ac alii Magnates Communitas regni nostri Quintam-decimam Omnium Bonorum suorum etiam Venerabilis pater R. Cantnar Archiepiscopus sui Suffraganei propter urgentia negotia nostra subsidium de Bonis suis nobis spontè gratiose concesserunt c. That is the King to all c. Greeting Whereas the Earls Barons other great Men and the Community of our Kingdom Granted us a Fifteenth of all their Goods and the Venerable Father the Archbishop of Canterbury and his Suffragans for our urgent Occasions on their own free Will and Courtesie granted us an Aid of their Goods We by these our Letters do Protest That this Gift proceeded only from their free Good Will and not in the Name of a Fifteenth and that it shall not be urged as an Example or as a Due or Drawn into Custom by us or our Heirs Witness the King at Westminster the First of November Leolin Prince of Wales was 1 Mat. West f. 408. n. 10. Leolin Prince of Wales refuseth to come to the Parlement at Westminster called to this Parlement as he had been to others but would not appear yet sent Meslengers that he might have Peace and for the Daughter of the Earl of Leicester whom he intended to Marry and to obtain this offered a great Sum of Money Which the King Refused neither would he Consent to the Matrimony unless he would Restore the Lands which he had seised and invaded in the Marches to the just Proprietors and Repair the Castles in England which he had destroyed But the Prince not Complying with these Terms he sent Forces to secure the Marches and English Borders from the Irruptions Rapin and Devastations of the Welsh which proved not sufficient to restrain them they still continuing their Invasions and Depredations upon the English And therefore the King in the Fifth year of his Reign issued out his Writs to all the Noblemen and others that held of him by Military Service dated at 2 Ro◠Scut◠Ed. I. M. 8. A. D. 1277. Windsor December the 12th for the Summoning his Army to meet at Worcester 8 days after St. John Baptist next coming which were to this Effect Whereas 3 Ibm. The King summons his Army against him Lewelin the Son of Griffin Prince of Wales and his Complices our Rebels have invaded our Lands and the Lands of our Subjects in the Marches and do daily invade them and commit Murders and other Wickednesses and the same Lewelin refuseth to obey us as he ought to the great Prejudice and Contempt of us and to the manifest Disinheritance and great Damage of you the Person to whom the Writ was directed and other of our Subjects for which we have now cansed our Army Exercitum Nostrum to be summoned A. D. 1278. that it be at Worcester Eight days after St. John Baptist to Repress the Rebellion of the said Lewelin and his Assistants We Command you to be ready with your Horses and Arms and with your Service due to us to go with us from thence against the foresaid Lewelin c. With this Army the King marched from 4 The. Wikes Chron. f 105. Flint and Rethelan Castles built Chester towards Wales in his way there was a great Wood and so thick as
in been the time of his Progenitors And also That Alexander his Son upon the Marriage of Henry the Third's Daughter did his Homage to him as his Liege-Lord for the Lands he held of him in England but being demanded to do the like for the Kingdom of Scotland and acknowledge his Superiority according to the Practice of his Predecessors Modestly 8 Mat. Paris f. 829. N. 50. refused it and was not earnestly urged to do it lest it might disturb the Jollity of the Marriage Entertainment After the King's Title to the Dominion of Scotland had been Declared and Published on the 9 â—ot de Superioritate Regis Angliae c. Second of June the Bishops and other Ecclesiastick Prelates together with the Earls Barons and other Nobles of the Community of the said Kingdom of Scotland met right against Norham Castle where King Edward then was in a Green Plain on the other side of the River Tweed as also the Noble Men that claimed the Kingdom 1 The Scots Nobility meet about King Edward's Title Congregatis Ex opposito castri de Norham ex alia parte fluminis de Tweda in quadam area viridi Episcopis Prelatisque aliis Ecclesiasticis Regni Scotiae unà cum Comitibus Baronibus aliisque Nobilibus de Communicate dicti Regni Necnon Nobilibus Uiris Jus ad dictum Regnum vendicantibus c. The Bishop of Bath and Wells was sent to Demand in the King's Name What they had done since the last Meeting 2 Ibm. and whether they would Say Exhibit Propound or shew any thing that could or ought to exclude the King of England from the Right and Exercise of the Superiority and direct Dominion of the Kingdom of Scotland and They do