hee was at the conflict in the I le of Anglesey betweene Magnus the sonne of Harold Harfager King of Norway and Hugh of Mountgomery Earle of Arundell and Shrewsbury wherein hee was slain as some say with the said Earle Anno 1197. 73 Maude the Naturall daughter of King Henry was Countesse of Perche and the first wife of Earle Rotroke the first of that name sonne of Arnolfe de Hesding the first Earle of that County Shee had issue by him one onely daughter named Magdalen wife to Garcy the fourth King of Nauarre mother of King Sanches surnamed the wise from whom all the Kings of Nauarre are descended Shee died vpon Friday the twenty sixth of Nouember in the twentith of her Fathers raign and yeere of Grace 1120. being drowned in the Sea with her brother Duke William 74 Maude another of that name and naturall daughter of King Henrie was married to Conan the first of that name surnamed the Grosse Earle of little Britaine in France sonne of Earle Alan by Ermengard his second wife by Alan shee had issue Howell pronounced illegitimate and disherited by his supposed father Constance that died without issue and Bertha the wife of Eudes Earle of Pâ—…rohet mother of Earle Conan the yonger who by Margaret sister of William King of Scots had issue Constance maried to Geffrey sonne of King Henry the second 75 Iulian likewise an other naturall daughter of King Henry was married to Eustace the illegitimate sonne of William Lord of Breteâ—…il in Normandy who was the sonne and heire of William Fitz-Osborne and elder brother of Roger both Earles of Hereford in England and this Eustace had hee beene lawfully borne in wedlocke had been heire to the Earledomes of Hereford and Iuerie notwithstanding he had as small a part in that inheritance of the Town of Pacie from which he tooke his surname being commonly called Eustace of Pacy and had issue by this Iulian his wife William and Roger of Pacy his sonnes 76 A naturall daughter of King Henry recounted by the continuer of the History of William Gemeticensis and by Iohn Tillet his follower is reported by them to haue beene married to one William Goet a Norman but in neither of these writers is any mention made of her name or of his estate issue or other relation 77 Another naturall daughter of King Henrie is without name recited by the said Authors and by them reported to be married to the Vicount of Beaumont which is a Towne within the County of Maygne Shee had issue by him as Roger of Houeden writeth Richard Vicount Beaumont Father of Queen Ermengard the wife of King William of Scotland and Robert the Abbot of Mount-Saint Michael mentioneth another of her sonnes named Ralphe who as he saith was Bishop of Angiers 78 Another naturall daughter also of King Henry is recited by the Normane and French writers before auouched and reported by them to be married to Mathew of Mountmorancy the sonne of Bouchard of Mountmarancy from whom perhaps descended the House of Mountmorancy who after came to be Earles and Dukes being growne to be one of the greatest houses in France next to the Princes of the bloud for possessions alliances and honour 79 Elizabeth the last naturall daughter of King Henry recounted by the former Authors was vnmarried in the time of the one and her husband vnknowne to the other but both of them agree that she was borne of Elizabeth the sister of Walleran Earle of Meulan who was sister also of Robert Bossue Earle of Leicester wife of Gilbert Earle of Pembrooke and mother of Earle Richard Strangbow the Conquerour of Ireland STEPHEN THE TVVO AND FORTIETH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER V. THough the Empresse Maud had fealty sworne vnto her in the life time of her Father and againe both her selfe and issue ordained to be his successors in Englands Throne as hath beene said yet so powerfull is Ambition where the obiect is a Diademe and so weake are all assurances which are built on the wauering Multitude that King Henries prouidence was soon defeated and with his death al fealties reuersed and that by him onely who had * contended to bee the formost of the Laitie in taking that oath euen Stephen Earle of Mortaine and Bolloine a man whose descent was very Noble being the third sonne of Stephen Earle of Bloys and Champaigne who was the sonne of Earle Eudes and he of Earle Theobald the sonne of Gerlon the Dane the companion of Rollo Duke of Normandy his mother was Adelicia the third daughter of William the Conqueror by Queen Maude his wife And himselfe was aduanced to bee Earle of Mortaigne by King Henry his vncle whose Crown he now endeauoured to vsurpe being otherwise for his many princely parts worthy to weild a Scepter if his claime thereto had beene iust and warrantable 2 For as soone as Natures course had brought King Henry where Princes and poorest Subiects are all equall forthwith hee was working to dispossesse his Issue which onely now rested in Maud and her Children in which attempt it hapned fortunately for him if any thing may bee counted fortunate which is ioined with impietie that his yonger Brother Henry was then Bishop of Winchester a very potent man in the State who had industriously stirred himselfe in making way to his entrance and vpon assurance of all liberties to the Church and Common-wealth had drawne on also William Archbishop of Canterbury the very first man that had sworne vnto Maude the Empresse by whose example many others were winded into the like periurie * traiterously auowing that it was basenesse for so many and so great Pâ—…eers to be subiect vnto a Woman And to helpe forward those audacious beginnings Roger Bishoppe of Salisbury the late Kings Treasurer protested Malmsburie who reports it himselfe heard it from him that they were free from the oath made to the Empresse for that without con sent of the Barons she had married out of the Realm but that which wrought most was the testimony of Hugh Bigot Senescall vnto King Henry departed who comming ouer with Stephen tooke his corporall oath that the King on his death-bed vpon some offence taken against his daughter Maude disinherited her and appointed this Stephen his nephew to be his successour These colourable instigations so moued the too credulous Archbishop and the Peeres that they all swore fealty vnto him and became his Leigemen 3 His first landing in England being at Whitsand-bay by a tempest of thunder so wonderfull terrible that the people thought verily the ende of all was at hand did prognosticke the storms of troubles which his periurie brought with him for euen then both Douer Canterbury fortified themselues against him though London gaue better leaue to his entrance whose Person and presence drew euer the affections of the beholder being in all
against the other whereof must needs follow an vnnaturall warre betwixt them of dangerous consequence euen to him that conquested With these and the like allegations at last Stephen beganne to bend and a parley fâ—… peace was signified vnto the Duke Henry already warme for the battaile and his thoughts fixed on nothing lesse then peace could hardly moderate his youthfull affections yet at his friends importunity hee yeelded to conferre with King Stephen 45 The place for conference was so appointed that the riuer Thamesis parted the presence of these two Princes so that from either banke they saluted each others and after a long conference agreeing on a truce and vpon faire tearmes of amity departed commaunding all weapons and attempts of warre to be laid aside 46 But Eustace who hitherro had attended Fortune for the Crowne and now hopelesse to haue as his Fathers Successor was greatly displeased with this new moulded friendship and in a fury departed the field purposing to raise himselfe by his owne meanes and comming to Bury vrged the Monks of Saint Edmunds for money to set forward his heady designes But the wiser amongst them vnwilling to bee wagers of new warres which though ill for all sorts yet proued euer worst to the Clergie mens possessions denied his request wherewith enraged hee commanded his men to carry their corne and other prouision into his owne Castle situated hard by But being set at dinner wee reade of him saith mine Author that euen the verie first bit that hee put in his mouth draue him into a frensie whereof shortly after hee died whose body was interred at Feuersham in Kent 47 The death of Prince Eustace so much aduantaged Duke Henry that thereupon the truce in likelihood expiring many fell off vnto him and many Castles were deliuered as Bertwell Reading Warwicke Stamford and others whereat Stephen was not a little displeased and thinking to entrappe the yong venturous Duke with a strong Army followed him vnto Wallingford But God himselfe looking down from heauen saith Mathew of S. Albans made there an end of those long calamities by stirring the minds of chiefe men in the land to labour for peace such was Theobald Archbishoppe of Canterbury and Henrie Bishop of Winchester who hauing troubled the realm with fire and sword moued now to repentance wrought so effectually with his brother that hee enclined vnto a wished peace contented to adopt the Duke for his Son and Successor and so comming both together to Oxford a blessed sight to so distressed and distracted a Kingdome there did all the Nobles do fealty to him as to the vndoubted Heire of the land and the Duke to acknowledge this as a fauour yeelded him the honour of a Father and the roialtie of all Kingly power during his life 48 Notwithstanding the cleere Sunneshine of these faire daies was somewhat darkened with a cloud of treacherie and lewd attempts of the Flemings who enuying Englands peace vpon Barham Downes intended to surprise Prince Henry in his returne from Douer and presence of King Stephen In this conspiracie was William the Kings son though but yong who himselfe meaning to haue one cast at the Crowne instantly before it should haue been effected was through the wantonnes of his horse cast to the ground and with the fall brake his legge to whose assistance whiles euery one gathered and lamented Henry vpon secret notice of the treason hasted vnto Canterbury and thence to London and soone after ouer the seas into Normandy 49 And Stephen now after he had raigned eighteene yeeres ten moneths and odde daies departed this life at Douer in the Monastery of the Monkes of an Iliacke passion mixed with his olde disease the Emrods the twenty fiue of October and yeere of Christs Natiuity 1154. A most worthy Souldier saith Paris and in a word one who wanted nothing but a iust title to haue made him an excellent King in his ordinary deportment very deuout the fruites wherof weâ—… shewed in erecting with sufficient endowments â—…he Abbeyes of Cogshall in Essex of Furnesse in Lancashire the houses of Nunnes at Carew and Higham an Hospitall at Yorke and the Monastery of Feuersham in Kent where his Queene his sonne and lastly himselfe were enterred but since his body for the gaine of the lead wherein it was coffined was cast into the riuer So vncertaine is man yea greatest Princes of any rest in this world euen after buriall and restlesse may their bodies be also who for filthy lucre thus enuie to the dead the quiet of their graues His Wife 50 Maud the Wife of King Stephen was the daughter of Eustace Earle of Bulloigne the brother of Godfrey and Baldwin Kings of Ierusalem her Mother was Mary sister to Maud Queene of England wife of King Henrie her husbands Predecessor Shee was crowned at Westminster vpon Sunday being Easter-day and the two and twenty of March in the first yeare of her husbands raigne and of Grace 1136. and being Queene fifteene yeeres she died at Heningham Castle in Essex the third of May and yeere of Christ 1151. and was buried in his Monastery at Feuersham in Kent His Issue 51 Baldwin the eldest sonne of King Stephen and Queene Maud bearing the name of King Baldwin his vncle was born in the time of the raign of K. Henry his fathers vncle and died in his infancy during the raign of the same King He was buried at London in the Church of the Priorie of the Trinity within Algate which was a house of blacke Canons of the Augustinian order founded by Q. Maud the first wife of the foresaid King Henry the first 52 Eustace the second sonne of King Stephen of Queene Maud his wife being the heire apparant to them both when his Father was King was created Earle of Bolloigne which dignity was the inheritance of his mother Hee married Constance sister of Lewis the seuenth King of France daughter of King Lewis the Grosse who afterward was remarried to Raimond the third Earle of Tholouze for Eustace died before her without Issue by her the tenth day of August in the eighteenth yeere of his Fathers raigne and of Grace 1152. Hee was buried by his mother in his Fathers Monastery at Feuersham in Kent 53 William the third and yongest sonne of King Stephen and Queene Maud maried Isabell daughter and heire of William Warren the third Earle of Surrey with whom hee had that Earledome hee was in his Fathers life time Earle of Surrey Lord of Norwich and Peuensey in England Earle of Mortayne and Lord Eagle of Normandy After his fathers death King Henry the second made him Knight resumed those things that hee held of the Crowne restored him to all that his Father held before hee was King And so he was Earle of Bolloigne Surrey and Mortaine and being with him in his iourney to Tholouze died without issue in his returne home-Ward
also more strengthned with a new knot of Association wherein sundry great Lords of either side were by indentment of Writing made suerties to the counter-part with condition that whither of the two Kings did first violate the Couenants all his cautionary Lords should bee released of their alleagiance to him and become Leegemen and Assistants to the Prince offended And that the world might take more notice of their combined loues they both agreede to contribute to the Holy-Warres which now beganne to bee on foot the fortieth part of the whole Reuenewes of their Crownes sending their letters abroad into their Dominions to encourage all their Nobles people by their examples to doe the like With which intercourses other cōplements three daies being spent betwixt them King Philip the deeper to serue himselfe into King Iohns good opinion the surest way to ouerreach another in any commerce by intreaty obtained his company first to S. Denises Pallace where hee entred with a pompous Procession of the Clergy and lodged with royall entertainment by the King and the next day to Paris where hee was receiued with very rich Presents of the City and great applause of all sorts to see so noble arguments of affection betwixt two so great princes lately so mortall enemies where the French King betaking himselfe to a more priuate mansion left his owne pallace to accommodate and honor Englands King After some dayes there bestowed in princely delights and entertainements King Iohn conducted forth of the City by King Philip and parting with mutuall attestations of loue neuer to bee parted tooke his iourney towards Normandy in ful hope to enioy thence forward the contentment of quiet to himselfe and peace to his Dominions but those windy hopes soone changed with his change of the aire 15 For whiles at Chinon hee was roially entertaining Queene Berengaria his sister whom hee there also bounteously satisfied in performing the Ioynture promised her by King Richard giuing her thecCity and Signiory of Baion two Castles and their Demaines in Aniou with a thousand Markes yeerelie for tearme of life and at Argenton in Normandy where hee kept his Christmas was solacing himselfe with his faire Queen Isabel the Earle of March Hugh surnamed Le-Brun a Peere of great power and alliance to whom Isabel was first promised though for her vnripe yeares he neuer bedded her enflamed with loue of her who was now thought worthy to bee a Queene drew on other Poictouine Nobles to thinke that hee was vnworthy to bee a King who wrongfully had taken her from him and would if not preuented do the like in time with them So once againe young Arthur whose former hopes were all cold is re-kindled by these fire-brands and set vp by their malice to supplant his vncle but by Heauens Decree to ouerthrow himselfe howsoeuer the Britaines then fascinated with his ominous Name dreamed that the ancient Great Arthur was risen againe in him and that the Translation of the English Kingdom was now by him to be effected Neither was the French King for all his late painted pretensions of loue deafe to their suggestions who laboured to incense his hatred against Iohn whereto hee had these further inducements that King Iohn might quicklie waxe too potent a Neighbour in that Continent if his quiet and power were not timely rebated that now the meanes to worke it were more then before the English Peeres being alienated in affection from him for denying their claimed Liberties but chiefly that the profite such base ends can some propose of so Noble a Band which hee hoped for by his amity being the enioying of those Signiories in the Continent if hee died sans Issue was now in a manner cut off Queene Isabel beginning to giue apparant hopes of some faire fruite from so faire a stemme Thus whiles Earle Hugh out of his loue Duke Arthur out of Ambition King Philip out of Auarice ah that the noblest person should haue the basest end but all out of Hatred were contriuing King Iohns ruine hee was farthest from suspition when neerest his danger and yet they who thus were forwardest to vndermine his Greatnes were themselues formost to bee crusht with the weight thereof 16 But these slie Serpents shrowded in secret their enuenomed heades till the warmth of the Spring a time suiting for martiall mischiefes called them forth when King Philip hauing newly cast his skinne and as most able so was most willing to break the way desired another enteruiew with King Iohn who comming thither the place was twixt Vernon and Lisle Dandale vvith expectation of some fruits of those louely courtesies which their last meeting seemed to haue engrafted he there found that this last winter had nipt all those faire blossomes For Philip forgetfull of all former Compacts and pretending some imaginary wrongs in outragious manner required him without delay to redeliuer into Arthurs hands all his Transmarine dominions Normandy Turayne Aniou Poictou or otherwise as Lord Paramount of those Countries which Iohn held by Homage he peremptorily cited him personally to appeare in Easter Terme at Paris there to answere what should bee laide to his charge and to abide the Arrest of his Court of Iustice. The colour on which hee thus did cite him was say some King Iohns sharpe repressing of some rebellious attempts of Hugh le brun the former yeer whereof the Earle complained to King Philip as to the chiefe Lord. King Iohn much amased to see not onely hony so soone distempered into gall but the French King also turned into an Apparatour disdained both his Citation and Commaunds as very vnnoble for Englands King to accept or the French to offer neither indeed did Philip thus put the matter to daying as intending any such legitimate proceeding but onely to make his aduersary secure of any other assaults then by Petty-foggers For whether it be true or no that King Iohn for his non-appearance was by sentence of the French Peeres adiudged to loose all his Territories in the Continent certaine it is that no sooner was the Conference with indignation broken off but Philip hee had before prepared to effect what hee had proiected with power and fury assailes Butauant Castle whose Turrets high-reared by King Richard hee leuelled with the Foundations and thence sodainely like a flash of lightning beganne to inuolue the neighbouring partes with ransakings and ruines till giuing an assault which had held him eight dayes to the Castle of Radepont King Iohn comming to the rescue forced him with shame to speed away To repaire which dishonour and to empaire the English forces by distraction of imploiments returning to Paris hee there appoints for Arthur to whom hee had now affianced his yonger daughter both certaine selected Nobles to bee protectors to
blush and tremble as often as they shall dare to insinâ—…ate any thing against Gods wisdome in the Fabrick of the world as if the Craggy and desert places thereof had no vse in nature when omitting all other reasons of their being the conseruation of kingdomes and nations was thus by them effected We had an Herward in the Conquerours time as well as the Scots had a Walleys in this and we might perhaps at this houre haue beene without French mixtures if God had prouided our Country of such Wastes and deserts as either they or the Welshmen did enioy who for manie hundreths of yeeres after the ruine in Saint Peters Church at Westminster the twentieth day of Nouember in the first year of his Fathers raign Ann. Dom. 1272. in the same place and vnder the same Tombe where his brother Iohn lies with his picture also in the Arch aboue it 60 Alphons the third sonne of Edward and Queene Elenor was borne at the Towne of Maine in Gascoigne as his father and mother were in their returne towards England from Ierusalem Nouember 23. in the second yeare of his fathers raigne 1273. hee deceased at Windsor August 4. in the twelfth yeere of his age 1285. and was buried at Westminster in Saint Peters Church by Saint Bennets Chappell where his body lieth vnder the Tombe of his Brothers Iohn and Henry his Image also there portraied with theirs 61 Edward the fourth sonne of King Edward and Queene Elenor was borne April 25. in the thirteenth yeere of his fathers raigne 1284. at Caernaruan in Northwales and after the death of Lewelin ap Griffith in regard of the place of his Natiuity was by his fathers Creation with the consent of the Welsh made Prince of Wales the first of the sonnes and heires apparant of the Kings of England that bare that Title which afterward became ordinary to most of the rest hee was also Earle of Ponthieu and Chester and being made Knight by his father at London on Whitsunday in the thirty fourth yeere of his Raigne 1306. succeeded him the same yeer in the Kingdome of VVales 62 Elenor the eldest daughter of King Edward and Queene Elenor was borne at Windsor in the fiftieth yeare of King Henry her Grandfather shee was married with all Ceremonies of Proxie to a Deputy for Alphons King of Arragon sonne of King Peter who deceased A. Do. 1292. before the solemnization of marriage leauing his Kingdom to his brother Iames and his new wife to another husband who was married at Bristow in the two and twentieth yeere of her fathers raigne 1293. to Henry the 3. Earle of Barrie whose Earledome lay in the East-borders of Champaigne in France Shee had Issue by him Edward Earle of Barrie from whom descended the Earles and Dukes of that Country whose inheritance by Heires generall deuolued to the Kings of Arragon and from them again to the Dukes of Aniou that were Kings of Sicill Henrie another sonne of hers was Bishoppe of Troys in Champagny Helen her Daughter was marrird to Henry Earle of Bloys and Ioan to Iohn Warren Earle of Surrey she was his wife fiue yeeres and deceased 27. of her fathers raigne A. D. 1298. 63 Ioan the second daughter of King Edward and Queene Eleanor was borne in the first yeere of her fathers raigne 1272. at a City in the holy land sometime named Ptolomais commonly called Acon and Aker where her mother remained during the warres that her father had with the Saracens Shee was at eighteene yeeres of age married to Gilbert Clare called the Red Earle of Glocester and Hereford by whom shee had issue Earle Gilbert slaine in Scotland without issue Eleanor married first to Hugh Spencer in her right Earle of Glocester and after to William Zouch of Ricards castle Margaret first maried to Peter Gaueston Earle of Cornwal after to Hugh Audeley Earle also of Glocester and Elizabeth Lady of Clare married first to Iohn son and heire to Richard Burgh Earle of Vlster in Ireland mother of William Burgh Earle of Vlster and Grandmother of Elizabeth Dutchesse of Clarence secondly to Theobald Lord Verdon and lastly to Sir Roger Damary This Ioan suruiued her husband and was remarried to Sir Ralph Monthermere a Baron father to Margaret the mother of Thomas Mountacute Earle of Salisbury of whom the now Vicount Mountacute is descended shee liued thirty eight yeeres and deceased in the first yeere of her brother King Edwards raigne and is buried at the Fryer Austines in Clare 64 Margaret the third daughter of King Edward and Queene Elenor was borne at the Castle of Windsor in the third yeare of her fathers raigne and of our Lord 1275. When shee was fifteene yeeres of age shee was married at Westminster Iuly 9. in the eighteenth yeere of herfathers raign A D. 1290. to Iohn the second Duke of Brabant by whom shee had issue Duke Iohn the third father of Margaret wife of Lewis of Mechlin Earle of Flanders and mother of the Lady Margaret the heire of Brabant and Flanders who was married to Philip Duke of Burgundie 65 Berenger the fourth Daughter of King Edward Queen Elenor was born the 4. of her fathers raigne An. 1276. as Iohn Eueresden the Monke of S. Edmundsburie in Suffolke hath recorded in his booke of English Annales but other mention there is none but onely from him whereby it is likely that shee did not liue to be married but that shee died in her childhood 66 Alice the fifth Daughter of king Edward and Queene Elenor is by Thomas Pickering of the Monastery of Whitby who wrote the large Genealogie of the Kings of England and their issue reported to haue deceased without Issue 67 Marie the sixt daughter of king Edward and Queene Elenor was borne at Windsor April 22. in the eight yeare of her fathers raigne 1279. and at ten yeeres of age A. D. 1289. September 8. shee was made a Nunne in the Monastery of Ambresberie in Wiltshire at the instance of Queen Elenor her Grandmother who at that time liued there in the habite of the same profession although her Parents were hardly enduced to yeeld their consents to that course 68 Elizabeth the seuenth Daughter of king Edward and Queene Elenor was borne at the Castle of Ruthland in Flintshire in the thirteenth yeere of her fathers raigne An. 1284. When she was foureteen yeeres of age shee was married at London to Iohn the first of that name Earle of Holland Zeland and Lord of Freezeland who died within two yeeres after without Issue and shee was remarried to Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex Lord of Breknoke and high Constable of England by whom shee had Issue Iohn and Humfrey both Earles successiuely after their Father Edward that died in Scotland without issue and William who being created Earle of Northampton while his Brothers liued after their deceases was also Earle of Hereford and Essex Lord of Breknok and high Constable of England and father of Earle Humfrey the tenth of
Lewis the French Kings sonne would haue had the Infant at his Baptisme named Lewis but the English Lords would not permit who therfore was after his Fathers and Grandfathers name called Edward This was hee who afterward raysed the honour of English Cheualrie to so high a point by his famous victories in France and elsewhere 17 The euill will which the King bare in his mind against the Barons for their ouer-ruling his affections and the death of Gaueston by sundry bad offices and sycophancies of the French at Windsor was rubd so hard vpon that it grew raw againe before it was halfe healed Therefore in a Parliament at London the king sharpely charged those presumptuous Lords with their contempt against him in the spoiles they had committed at Newcastle and which most afflicted his languishing spirit in taking and wickedly killing Peirs Gaueston To all which they stoutely answered that they had not offended in any point but deserued his roiall fauour for that they had not gathered force against him but against the publike enemie of the Realme c. How beit to preuent the feared mischiefe of ciuill Armes by the working of the young Queene of the Prelates and Earle of Glocester the Lords in open Court at Westminster humbled themselues to the King praying grace and the King granted to such of them as would desire the same his gracious pardon The whole house of Parliament seeing the kings wants of their own accord granted a Fifteenth al parts hereupon returned with ioy and peace but not long after the Lord Guy de Beauchampe Earle of Warwicke who in this Parliament was appointed to be of Priuie Councell with the King deceased being as by the Barons wel-willers it was said impoisoned by such of the Kings secret friends as did maligne him 18 The mischieuous effects of the Kings former misgouernment beganne now most perillouslie to discouer themselues For the Scots his neighbours who could not bee ignorant of all such griefes and maladies as festred in the heart and entrals of England had long since made their timely vse thereof adhering so to the vndaunted Bruce that by degrees hee had gotten a great strength and was againe publikely receiued and obeied for King of Scotland from most places whereof hee draue the English and in contempt of Edward committed great spoile by slaughter of People burning of Townes in Northumberland and other Acts of hostility The principall charge of Scotland for King Edward had beene entrusted to the Lord Iohn Cumin a Scot Earle of Bucquhan whom King Robert had vanquished in battell and was now while Edward sate bewitched with most vnworthy languishments grown potent sending his Brother Edward Bruce to besiege the Castle of Striuelin which was in the hands of the English 19 The King of England awakened out of his slumbers with these Alarums marched thereupon with a very great Armie toward the said Castle It pleaseth Hector Boetius putting off as it were the Historian to report maruellous thinges of the numbers of Souldiers which came with King Edward in this iourney for if he say true there were not fewer then one hundreth and fifty thousand horsemen and as many thousand footmen and that we may not suspect the multitude to bee far greater then either the cause required or the realm of England could well afford hee informeth vs that besides the English there were in his aid at this time Hollanders Zelanders Brabanders Flemings Picards Boloners Gascoignes Normans with much people of many other Regions and that besides these three hundreth thousand men of warre there were infinite families with their women children seruants and houshold-stuffe but because other Writers doe ingenuously grant and containe probable matter enough for the honour of the Scottish Nation in this iourney wee will as neare as wee can being things to vs neither vp nor downe in regard of the long time since these hostilities hapned truely and freely though briefly informe our selues hereof 20 The Earles of Lancaster Warren Warwicke and Arundel the greatest Peeres of the land refused to attend their King in this seruice for that hee had delaied to ratifie the points of their desired liberties and prouisions for the pretended better gouernment of England by himselfe so often consented vnto In which as their loyall affection cannot bee much admired so it is certaine that King Edward hereby vndertooke that voyage with farre the lesse force eyther of men or counsell Neuerthelesse his hoast was great enough if numbers did sway in such affaires more then religion discipline and valour to haue effected more then it selfe did suffer But King Edward and his people rather seemed to goe toward a Wedding or a Triumph then to a battell adorning themselues with all sorts of riches gold siluer and the like toies in a kind of wanton manner correspondent to the humour of the Prince whom they followed 21 In this iourney it was made manifest what true and sober valiancie could effect against light brauery and insolency King Robert lodged with his forces being inferiour in numbers to the English not farre off where was nothing but a religious deuout and modest care quickned after manifold calamities with a most noble desire to recouer the libertie of their Country and to settle the same into the hope whereof they were the rather erected by a fresh victorie which they had obtained that day vpon certaine of the English horsemen King Edward on the contrary part nothing esteeming so sleight a presage resolued vpon the very next being Midsommer or Saint Iohn Baptists day to take a terrible reuenge vpon the Scots but how to effect the same the care was not excessiue for in his Campe Wassaile and Drinkehaile were thundered extraordinarily as accounting themselues sure of the victory which kind of impiousselfe-trust if God Almighty did not sometime scourge with iust and terrible confusions what outrages would not bee executed 22 Farre otherwise the Bruces Army which by his commandement spent the euening in making humble confession of their sinnes that they might saith our Author bee ready on the morrow to receiue the blessed Sacrament as accordingly they did Moreouer to leaue nothing vndone which might aduance their cause the Scots had digged before their Battalions certaine trenches or dikes three foot deepe and three foot broad which hauing fixed sharpe stakes in them with their points vpward they couered so with hurdles that footemen treading warily might passe but not troupes of horse Next to Gods anger against the English whom courtly Pride and Sloth had now effeminated this stratageme was the cause of their ruine for whereas they reposed much vpon their Cauallerie in these Pit-falles the fury of their charge was intercepted and broken the riders being miserablie slaine by the Scots whom King Robert marching formost on foot had presented most couragiously to the enemy 23 The King of England not altogether
owners of such bodies as were beaten to the Earth vpon the first day these are worthily reckoned chiefe The King of Bohemia the King of Maiorca Charles Earle of Alanson brother-German to King Philip the Duke of Loraine the Duke of Burbon the Earle of Flanders the Earle of Sauoy both great Princes the Dolphin of Vi◅nois sonne to Himbert the Earle of S◅erre and Hareconrt whose brother Godfrey in pitty of his house his two Nephewes being slaine with their father forsooke the King of England after this battell and returned into Grace with the French the Earles of Aumarl Neuers c. sixe Earles of Almaine beside others of great account of all sorts Vpon the second day the Grand Prior of France who with his Archbishoppe of Roan had on the behalfe of their Prince and Country put on Arms. Of the Commons in both of these blacke dayes there fell about thirty thousand and some say foure times more in this last then in the other 101 We finde not one man of honour or note slaine vpon the English side so that this victorie may safely bee accounted among the wonderfull The spoiles of the Enemies bodies and carriages King Edward gaue wholy to his well deseruing souldiers The rule of their safety they being in a most populous enemy Countrie would not permit them to vse much curtesie to others as that which might haue proued cruelty to themselues but vpon the second day they tooke many prisoners though none of great name for they were spent in the day before It pleased the conquerour to proclaime a truce now for three dayes in the Country about that the people might come in to burie their dead but the bodies of the most noble hee himselfe caused to be conueied to Monstreal and there in his March towards Calais enterred 102 Thus by Gods fauour and the vnresistable force of the English Archers who in a manner did onely fight was King Edward put into a full and peaceable possession of a perfect victory which after hee had one night onely enioyed in the Forrest of Crescie hee dislodged with his conquering hoast marched straight toward Calais which hee presently inuested hauing decreed neuer to rise with his Armie from before it till without assault hee had carried the same For which cause he entrenched and fortified his Camp on all sides built vp Sheds couered with Reed and broome and other places and offices as to dwell in and stopping all reliefe by Sea whereof hee was Master with his Nauie There commanded in Calais for the French Sir Iohn de Vienne Marshall of France and the Lord Dandreghan with a very strong Garrison who concluded like good men of war to trie all extremities rather then to surrender the Piece which was so strong that to assault the same otherwise then with famine had beene friuolous These great Captaines seeing King Edwards resolution thrust forth of the Towne for sparing of food their poorer people aboue fifteene hundreth whom hee like a true Christian Prince turned not backe vpon the Towne but releeued for Gods cause with fresh victuals and two pence sterling each permitting them freely and securely to passe through his Camp to his great glory and vndoubtedly profite also hauing their hearty prayers for his happy successe and God for pay-master and rewarder of such his Beneficence 103 Many wayes were thought vpon by king Philip to raise this obstinate siege two principall an Army of French to fight with King Edward and a diuersion by inuasion wherein the Scots their perpetuall allies were forward Both in their seuerall times were put into execution That of the Scotish inuasion was first but with such successe as well declared it was Gods will all people hauing their encreasings zeniths and declinations that the English name should now be brought to the verticall point thereof without any thing being able to resist it 104 For Dauid the second King of Scots to grasand old Crownes The Pope sending a Messenger from Auignion with an ouerture to intercede for a peace had answere that the message must bee sent to the King his father for he co◅ not meddle without commandement from him Mean while hee disposed of things without impeachment and returnes laden with honor and spoiles to Burdeaux where the winter being spent he sets forth to new aduentures Hee had in his Armie about eight thousand braue expert and well disciplined Souldiers and with them aduanceth through Perigort Limosin into the bosome of France vp to the verie gates of Burgesse in Berie the terror of his name flying before to his great aduantage Thus satisfied for the present hee wheeles about with purpose to returne by Remorantine in Blasois which hee tooke and so through the Country of Iurain Poictou and Saintoin to his chiefe City Burdeaux But Iohn King of France hasting to goe beyond his father in misfortune hauing assembled a compleat hoast followed about the City of Poictiers ouer-tooke the inuincible Prince 115 When the Armies with the ods of six to one against the English were embattelled two Cardinals sent from Pope Clement laboured as they had done before to take vp the quarrell without stroke whereunto the Prince was with reason yeelding enough but King Iohn fatally presuming on his aduantage propounded such conditions as if in a manner the Prince of Wales had already beene at his commaund which with iust indignation were reiected It came hereupon to a most bloudy triall where if euer the Prince and English gaue full experiment of their valour for after long conflict and absolute discomfiture of al the 3. French battels the least of which exceeded al the Princes nūbers the King himselfe valiantly fighting and Philip his yongest sonne who with such boldnesse and zeale defended his distressed father as it purchased vnto him the Honourable surname of Hardie were taken prisoners 116 The English whose valiancy was most conspicuous were the Earles of Warwicke Suffolke Salisburie Oxford and Stafford the Lords Cobham Spenser Audley Berkley Basset c. of Gascoigne subiects to the Crowne of England the Capitall de Beuf the Lord Pumier Chaumont with others of lower title but not of vnequall valour Iames Lord Audley wanne immortall renowne at this bloudy battell where hee receiued many wounds and shared the Princes gift of 500. Markes land in Fee simple to his foure Esquiers who had continued with him in all the brunt and fury of danger It is the misfortune or glory of the French Nobles that in all great battels the losse fals heauily vpon them In this most disasterous ouerthrow there fell fifty and two Lords about seuenteene hundreth Knights Esquiers and Gentlemen bearing coates of Armes The chiefe Lords were Peter of Bourbon Duke of Athens high Constable of France Iohn Clermont Marshall George of Charney Lord great Chamberlaine c. and as many other
King is a Parallel There are named to haue been present at this wofull-ioyfull Act Arundel Archbishoppe of Canterburie Richard Scrope Archbishoppe of Yorke Iohn Bishoppe of Hereford Henry Duke of Lancaster who in this serious play must seeme as if hee were but a looker on the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland the Lords Burnell Barckley Ros Willoughby and Abergeuenie the Abbot of Westminster c. 112 In their presence Richard as yet a King and in his Tower of London but not otherwise then as a prisoner reades the Instrument of his surrender with a seeming chearefull countenance as if he were glad the hower was come in which hee might taste what it was to be a priuate man and hauing otherwise first done and said what then he could to put all right out of himselfe subscribes it with his hand but prayes that his Cosen the Duke of Lancaster might succeed him in the regall gouernement and in token that it was his desire for he must seeme to desire what hee could not hinder hee plucked off his Signetring and put it vpon the Dukes finger Then did he constitute the Archbishoppe of Yorke and Bishop of Hereford his Procurators to declare to the whole Body of Parliament what he had done how willingly where euery one except the loyal magnanimous Bishop of Carleol being particularly asked did particularly accept of the resignation Neuerthelesse it was not thought inough to haue his Crowne vnlesse they also published his shame Thirty and two Articles are therefore openly but in his absence read of all which it was said for then men might say what they listed that he had confessed himselfe guilty In the front was placed his abuse of the publike treasure and vnworthy waste of the Crown-land whereby he grew intollerably grieuous to the Subiects The particular causes of the Dukes of Glocester and Lancaster the Archbishop of Canterburie and Earle of Arundel filled sundry Articles They charged him in the rest with dissimulation falshood losse of honour abroad in the world extortions rapine deniall of Iustice rasures and embezelling of Records dishonourable shifts wicked Axiomes of state cruelty couetousnesse subordinations lasciuiousnesse treason to the rights of the Crown periuries and briefly with all sorts of vnkingly vices and with absolute tyranny 113 We may be assured that nothing could then be obiected so vntrue or incredible but would haue gone for current and vndenyable with affections so throughly prepared Hereupon it was concluded that in all those thirty and two Articles hee had broken the Oath of Empire taken at the Coronation al the States of the Kingdom strange that so many should so concurre in disloyalty vnder pretence of equity being asked what they thought did hold that those causes seemed notorious and sufficient to depose King Richard Commissioners were therefore nominated by consent of the whole house to pronounce the sentence of Deposition which were the Bishop of Asaph the Abbot of Glassenbury the Earle of Glocester the Lord Barkly William Thyrning Chiefe Iustice of the common Pleas and some others The forme of pronuntiation was IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN We Iohn Bishop of Saint Asaph Iohn Abbat c. Commissioners specially chosen by the Lords spirituall and temporall of the Realme of England and Commons of the said Realme representing all the States of the said Realme sitting in place of iudgement c. 114 The definitiue sentence of Deposition giuen thus in open Parliament there were further named certaine persons amongst whom William Thirning Chiefe Iustice of the Cōmon Pleas was thoght the fittest man by whose lawlesse mouth that vniust doome should be deliuered to the King and who on the behalfe of the Realme should renounce to the said Richard the fealties and homages heretofore made vnto him and to make relation of the whole manner and causes of their proceedings The Regall seate was now reputed void whereupon Duke Henrie riseth from his place and stands vpright that hee might be seene of the people then signing himselfe with the signe of the Crosse vpon the forehead and breast and inuocating the name of Christ he challenged the Crown and Realm of England with all the members and appurtenances His words are said to be these In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claime the Realme of England and the Crowne with all the appurtenances as comming by the blood royall from King Henry and by that iustice which God of his grace hath sent to me by the helpe of my kinfolke and friends for recouery of the said Realme which was in point of perdition through default of Gouernment and breach of lawes 115 Which challenge and claime being thus made all the States of the Kingdome doe with one consent grant that the said Lord Duke should reigne ouer them The Archbishop of Canterbury brother to the late Earle of Arundel takes him then by the right hand and the Archbishop of Yorke the late Earle of Wiltshires kinseman being his assistant placeth him in the royall throne with the generall acclamation and applauses of the people Lastly in full complement of the present solemnity the Archbishoppe of Canterburie that we may see how the Diuinity as well as the Law of those times were degenerated into temporizing Policie made a Sermon vpon these words in Samuel A Man shall raigne ouer the People By occasion whereof hee describeth out of the holy Scriptures the happinesse of that Kingdom which is gouerned by a man and the infelicity of those Realmes where a Child whether in age or discretion weeldes the Scepter The euill whereof as they had dangerously felt vnder the late King so they hoped abundantly to enioy the other in King Henry To all which the whole Auditorie ioyously answered Amen Then rose the affable new Monarch among a few other words hee gaue the world to vnderstand that none should thinke hee would as by way of Conquest disinherite any man certaine bad members onelie excepted 116 From henceforth hee was taken for King and all Writs issued and went forth in his name which disorderly matters being orderly related to the deposed Prince in the Tower by Thirning the Chiefe Iustice hee onely vsed these words That hee looked not after such things but quoth he my hope is that after all this my cosen will bee my good Lord and friend The Archbishop otherwise inexcusable in those proceedings yet in his said Sermon seemeth grauely and truly to haue described the cause of this effect for quoth hee the child or insipient which are with him aequiparable drinketh the sweet and delicious words vnaduisedly and perceiueth not intoxication which they beene mingled with till hee bee enuironed and wrapped in all dauger as lately the experience thereof hath beene apparant to all our sights and knowledges and not without the great danger of all this Realme Being thus brought downe to the show and littlenesse of a priuate man wee leaue
swallowing about fiue hundreth in his vnknowne depthes as they who fled from the battell sought to passe This victory hapned vpon Holyrood in haruest The troubles which afterward hapned did not onely hinder the Lord Percie from farther prosecution of such a victorie but eclypsed the honour hee had gotten now and gaue his dayes a bloudy foule Catastrophe 29 The Lord Edmund Mortimer Earle of March next generall heire in bloud to the Crowne of England after the death of Richard the second hauing through feare of Owen whose prisoner hee was or hope of recouering his right or for reuenge because the King did not ransom him married Owens daughter by which hee must necessarily declare himselfe an enemie to King Henrie entertained intelligence with his neere kinsmen the Percies and sundry other his friends in Cheshire and elsewhere to what purpose will shortly appeare The night in which this Lord Mortimer though some referre it to Owens birth was born all the horses in his fathers stable are said to haue bin found standing Belly-deep in bloud A fearefull prodigie as euen then it seemed but verified afterward in the farre more fearefull euents when vpon the quarrell of Mortimers title by which the house of Yorke claimed the horses of warre did not onely stand belly-deepe in bloud but also swam therein The mischiefe was already begun for Henry Earle of Northumberland when now his owne and his houses strengths were mightily encreased by this late victory against the Scots which he vnder-hand seemes to haue conuerted to his secret priuate ends closely animated his brother the Earle of Worcester and his fiery spirited son against the King to both their confusions 30 The King tooke to wife the Lady Iane of Nauarre widdow of Iohn de Montfort Duke of Britaine named the Conquerour who died the yeere before by whom she had issue both sons and daughters but by the King none He met and married her at Winchester and crowned her Queene at Westminster The King was not trusted with the custody of any her three sonnes Iohn Richard Arthur who remained in France 31 Euents are the best interpreters of prophesies and prodigies Strange was that which Walsingham hath written of a fatall Spectrum or Apparitions in the summer time betweene Bedford and Bickleswade where sundry monsters of diuers colours in the shapes of armed men were often seene to issue out of the woods at morning and at noone which to such as stood farre off seemed to encounter one the other in most terrible manner but when they drew neer nothing was to be found Of another nature were the fiery attempts of the Percies The first of them who discouered in armes his mortall hatred was the noble Hotspur who vnder colour of the Scottish warre made head about Chester and the marches of Wales To him by the priuitie of Hotspurs father repaires the naughtie old man the Earle of Worcester leauing the young Prince of Wales and the Princes houshold ouer both which for their better Gouernment the King had placed him Now was the torch of warre lighted vp and began to blaze for though the chiefe plot-master the Earle of Northumberland was not ioined to them as hee did intend yet were their numbers growne mightily with which they meant to enter the Towne of Shrewsbury to make thereof a Seat of warre 32 Colourable causes of their armes were the ordinarie paintings of the like attempts Care of common-wealths reformation and their owne safeties for hauing first protested their intentions not to be the breach of loyaltie they pretend and by letters sent about doe signifie 1. That the publike monie was not employed vpon the pretended defence of the kingdome but vnduly wasted 2. That by reason of bad tongues about the King they durst not approach him to declare their innocency vnlesse the Prelates and Peeres of the Realme did first intercede for them 3. That they tooke armes onely to guard their owne heads and to see the Kingdome better gouerned These Articles had the place of the Huske but the kernell of the enterprize had principallie these 1. To thrust King Henry out of his seat and consequently to depriue him of life 2. To aduance the title of the Lord Mortimer Earle of Mâ—…ch their neerest Allie for the Earle of Northumberland had married Elizabeth the daughter of the Lord Edmund Mortimer the elder Earle of March by Philip daughter to Lionel Duke of Clarence 3. To take reuenge of King Henry for seeking to drawe the chiefe benefit to himselfe of the victory at Halidowâ—… hill whose principall prisoners he required and for such other priuate grudges 4. To share the Kingdome betweene Mortimer Percy and Owen Glendower Concerning which partition it is in some found written that Indentures tripartite were sealed showing that South-England should remaine to Mortimer North-England to Percy and Wales beyond Seuern to Glendower But Archembald Earle of Dowglas who did his Countrey good seruice by making one in our Combustions by common consent was allowed for his share to be free from ransome and to haue Berwicke 33 This in our English Adages is called to reckon without our host or to count our chickens before they are hatched But though at this time God would haue it so yet who doth not easily see what a wild horse a kingdome so gotten is and how hard to sit and not to manage onlie Yet it seemeth that if Mortimer hauing so iust a title to the Crowne had openlie professed the cause of his attempt against King Henry it might iustlie haue beene exempted from all staine of disabilitie But this partition is said to haue beene wisely built vpon a sound Welsh prophesie of Merlins as if King Henry were the Mowldwarp cursed of Gods owne mouth and Mortimer Percy and Glendower the Dragon Lyon and Wolfe which should diuide this Realme betweene them Surely the Welsh hauing any hand in such a partition it is not likelie they could thinke it had the right feete if it stood not vpon the supposed Merlins his ridiculous cosenages and riddles The English not to be behind in leasings doe in the meanetime euery where spread that Richard was safe aliue and in the Castle of Chester Who can wonder that this name should be so gratious as if alone it were enough to haue shaken Henry out of his State when Nero himselfe had so many fauorites that twenty yeeres after his death an obscure fellow faining himselfe Nero was so backt and countenanced by the Parthians and others that not without much difficulty the Romans could get him into their hands 34 On the other side King Henry assailed with so vnexpected ieopardies defends his cause by letters and strongly puts the blame vpon the accusers saying That he maruelled exceedingly seeing the Earle of Northumberland and Henry his Sonne had the greatest part of the publike moneys deliuered to them for defence of the borders against
August His fame grew principally by martiall deedes in the great warres of France vnder Edward the third but spred and setled it selfe by good workes among which the goodly stone-bridge at Rochester in Kent was one 46 In the meane space the wars of Wales were managed by Prince Henry who tooke the Castle of Aberistwith but Owen Glendowr soone after got it againe by faire fraud and thrust into it a Garrison of his owne Thus Owen prospered for a time but the Earle of Northumberland and Lord Bardolf forsaking Wales and seeking to raise a force in the North were encountred by the Sherife of Yorkeshire who after a sharpe conflict slew the Earle in the field and so wounded the Lord Bardolf that hee died thereof The Earles head was cut off which being first ignominiously carryed through London was fixed vpon the Bridge The King hauing thus vanquished his chiefe enemies went to Yorke where inquiries were made for the Earles adherents of which he condemned ransomed and emprisoned many The Abbot of Hales because hee was taken fighting on the Earles behalfe had sentence to die which was executed vpon him by hanging In fortaine and transmarine parts the Kings affaires had mixt successe for Edmund Earle of Kent at the siege of Briant in Britaine was strucken with a quarrell into the head whereof hee died but yet after he had first taken the said Castell and leueld it with the earth 47 The peace of Christendome hauing beene long tempestuously troubled by a Schisme raised by ambition of opposite Popes wherof the one was chosen at Rome the other at Auinion by contrarie factions of the Cardinals A generall Councel was summoned to bee held at Pisa in Italie whither the King of England sent his Ambassadors and the Clergy elected Robert Alum Chancellour of Oxford Bishoppe of Sarum to signifie that vnlesse both the Popes would giue ouer their Papacie neither of them should thenceforward be acknowledged for Pope The King in his letter then sent to Pope Gregory chargeth him as Platina likewise doth with Pertury and that this Papall emulation had beene the cause of the murther of more then two hundreth and thirty thousand Christians slaine in warres There assembled a great number of Cardinals Archbishops Bishops and mitred Prelates who elected a new Pope Alexander 5. a man trained vp at Oxford where hee tooke degree in Theologie reiecting the two others who long and bitterly had contended for the place The King also cals his Parliament to find out meanes for more money to the custody and charge whereof hee ordained Sir Henry Scrope creating him Treasurer as Thomas Beaufourt the Kings halfe brother Lord Chancellour In which Parliament was reuiued the sacrilegious Petition of spoiling the Church of England of her goodly patrimonies which the pietie and wisdome of so many former ages had congested But the King who was bound by oath and reason to preserue the flourishing estate of the Church detested their wicked proposition and for that cause denied all other their requests The Duke of Burgundies prouisions which he had made to reduce Caleys to the French dominions stored at Saint Omars were consumed with casuall fire to ashes 48 About these times the great and bloudy factions betweene the Dukes of Burgundy and Orleance brake forth The cause was for a murther committed vpon Lewis brother to the French king and father of the said Duke of Orleance as he came late one night from the Queenes lodging who at that time lay in of a child The murtherers to preuent pursuit strewed galthrops behind them The Duke of Burgundie iustified the fact for that Lewis had as hee said laboured with the Pope to put the King from his seat vpon pretence that hee was as vnfit to gouerne as euer Childericke was whom Pope Zacharie pronounced against This prepared the way for that scourge wherwith God meant to chastice the pride and sinnes of France Each partie sought to fortifie it selfe with friends aswel at home as abroad The Duke of Burgundie had the King and the Dolphin on his side the other had the Kings of Nauar and Arragon the Dukes of Berrie and Britaine with many of the mightiest Earles and Lords The Duke of Burgundie who together with the King and the face of gouernment kept in Paris perceiuing his aduersaries strengthes to bee more then his owne offers to the King of England a daughter of France in marriage with the Prince and many great promises so as hee would ioyne in defence of the King send ouer competent forces whereunto hee is said to haue answered Our aduise is that you should not in this case aduenture battell with your enemie who seems to prosecute a tust reuenge for the death of his Father but labour to asswage the displeasure and anger of the exasperated yong man by all the good meanes which are possible If that cannot bee then stand vpon your guard and draw into place of most safety with such force of men as may best serue for your defence After all this if hee will not bee appeased you may with the better conscience encounter him and in such case wee will not faile more fully to assist according as you request For the present he sent ouer the Earls of Arundel and Kyme and many men of Armes with plenty of English Bow-men who came safe to Paris where they in nothing diminished the ancient glory of their nation but behaued themselues valiantly 49 The Duke of Orleance and the Peeres of his faction seeing their successe consult how to draw the King of England from their enemie and thereupon send ouer one Falconet and others with solemne letters of credence whom they made their irreuocable Procurators to entreat agree and conclude on their behalfes with the most excellent Prince Henry by the grace of God King of England and his most noble sonnes c. for the restitution and reall redeliuerie of the Dutchie of Aquitain with all the rights and appurtenances which as is affirmed are the inheritance of the said most excellent Lord the King of England by them to bee made and done c. The Ambassadors hauing shewed forth this Proxie exhibited the points of their negotiation in these Articles by which wee may see how farre the desire of reuenge will transport great minds 1 They offer their bodies to be imployed against all men for the seruice of the King of England sauing their faith to their owne Soueraigne as knowing the King of England would not otherwise desire them 2 Their sonnes daughters nephewes Neeces and all their Cosens to bestow in marriage at the King of Englands pleasure 3. Their Castles Townes treasure and all their goods to be at the seruice of the sayd King 4. Their friends the Gentlemen of France the Clergy and wealthy Burgers who are all of their side as by proofe they said shall well appeare 5. They finally
of England whose glorious life and acts next insue 56 Thomas Duke of Clarence President of the Councell to King Henry the first his brother and Steward of England He was slaine at Beaufort in Anion without any issue He married Margaret daughter to Thomas Holland Earle of Kent the widow of Iohn Beauford Earle of Somerset 57 Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France in the time of King Henry the sixt Duke also of Anion and Alanson Earle of Cenomannia Harecourt of Kendall and Dreux Viscount Beaumont He married first with Anne daughter to Iohn Duke of Burgundy Secondly with Iacoba daughter to Peter de Luxemburgh Earle of Saint Paul And died without any issue 58 Humfrey was by his brother King Henry the fifth created Duke of Glocester was Protectour of the Kingdome of England for 25. yeeres in the time of King Henry the sixt in whose first yeere hee styled himselfe in his Charters thus Humfrey by the grace of God sonne brother and vncle to Kings Duke of Glocester Earle of 〈◊〉 Holland Zeland and Pembroke Lord of Friestand Great Chamberlaine of the Kingdome of England Protector and Defendor of the same Kingdome and Church of England Hee was a man who nobly deserued of the common wealth and of learning as being himselfe very learned and a magnificent Patron and benefactor of the Vniuersity of Oxford where hee had beene educated and was generally called the Good Duke Hee married first Iacoba heire to William Duke of Bauaria Earle of Holland who as after was knowne had first beene lawfully troth-plighted to Iohn Duke of Brabant and therefore was afterward diuorced from the said Humfrey His second wife was Elianor daughter to Reginald Baron Cobham de Scarborough Queene Margaret wife to King Henry the sixt repining at his great power in swaying the King state socretly wrought his ruine hee being murthered in his bed at Burie dying without any issue 1446. His body was buried at Saint Albans yet the vulgar error is that he lyes buried in Saint Pauls 59 Blaunch married to William Duke of Bauaria and Emperour 60 Philip married to Iohn King of Denmarke and Norway HENRIE THE FIFTH KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE LORD OF IRELAND THE TWO AND FIFTIETH MONARCH OF ENGLAND HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER XV. AMongst the many Monarchs of this most famous Empire none is found more complete with all heroicall vertues then is this King of whose life by order and successe of story wee are now to write which is Henry of that name the fifth the renowne of England and glory of Wales Of whom what was spoken of Titus in the flourishing times of the Romans may for the time of his raigne be truly verified in him both of them being the-louely darlings and delightfull ioy of Mankind But as Titus is taxed by his story-Writers in youth to haue been riotous profuse wastfull and wanton for which as he saith with the dislikes of men he stept into the throne so if wee will beleeue what others haue writ Henry was wilde whiles hee was a Prince whose youthfull prankes as they passed with his yeers let vs haue leaue here to rehearse and leaue them motiues to our owne vse as hee made them for his 2 His birth was at Monmouth in the Marches of Wales the yeer of Christs assuming our flesh 1388 and the eleuenth of King Richards raigne his father then a Subiect and Earle of Derbie Leicester Lincolne afterwards created Duke of Hereford in riâ—…ht of his wife then of Lancaster by the death of his father and lastly by election made the Soueraigne of England that vnfortunate Richard being deposed the Crowne His mother was Mary second daughter and coheire of Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford and Northampton high Constable of England as we haue said 3 His young yeeres were spent in literature in the Academie of Oxford where in Queenes Colledge he was a Student vnder the tuition of his vncle Henry Beauford Chancellour of that Vniuersity afterwards Bishoppe of Lincolne and Winchester and lastly made Cardinall by the title of Eusebius But his Father obtayning the Crowne and himselfe come to the age of twelue yeeres had the succession thereof entailed on him by Parliament and accordingly was created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester and presently had the Title of the Dukedome of Aquitaine conferred vpon him the better to effect the thing then intended which was to haue obtained in marriage young Queene Isabel late wife to the murthered King Richard daughter of Charles the sixt King of France 4 From Oxford Prince Henry was called to Court and the Lord Thomas Perey then Earle of Worcester made his Gouernour but being himselfe false to the Father could giue no good example vnto the sonne whose hostile attempts in the field of Shrewsburie cost that disloyall Earle his head and almost had done Prince Henry his life who in battell against him was wounded in the face with an arrow This marke of his manhood with the ouerthrow of Hotspur in that bloody conflict were hopefull signes of his following successe which presently were seconded with as fortunate proceedings against Owen Glendowr that scourge of his Country and Arch-rebell vnto Englands peace whom this Prince so pursued through the vast mountaines of Wales that from the Dennes of those deserts hee durst not shew his face but therein perished by famine natures other wants though the Prince had then scarcely attained vnto sixeteene 5 But growne from his tutors command or controll and come to the yeers for dispose of himselfe as his youth stood affected so were his consorts and those many times whose conditions were none of the best whether led by an inclination of youth which commonly lets the raine loose vnto Will or to know that by proofe which other Princes doe by report I will not determine yet vnto the latter doe I rather incline knowing that Salomon the wisest of Kings did so himselfe and rather by Rosse I am lead who writeth that Prince Henry in Oxford had in great veneration such as excelled in vertue or learning and among many two hee nameth Thomas Rodban of Merton Colledge a great Astronomer by him preferred to the Bishopricke of S. Dauids in Wales and Iohn Carpenter of Oriel Colledge a learned Doctor of Theologie whom hee aduanced to the See of Worcester But let vs heare how his wilde oates were spent and with what increase the haruest was got The translater of Liuie who wrote the storie of this worthy Prince and dedicated his paines to King Henry his sonne affirmeth for truth that many actions he did farre vnfitting his greatnesse of birth and among other doth taxe him with no better then theft who in the raigne of his Father accompanied with such as spent their wits vpon other mens spoiles laide waite in the way for his Rents receiuers and robd them of that which
any of aboue fifteene The great number of the slaine is not the measure of a victory but the vse and effects which it drawes The Duke of Alanson himselfe was taken prisoner with about two hundred others of speciall worth The English paid for this noble victory the bodies of about two thousand of their souldiers which lost life there for it was fought vpon faire termes in the open fields and carried by meere manhood That which followeth till the siege of Orleance Paul Aemylius comprehendeth in some few lines The fierce Conquerour besiegeth Mants in Main and with Ordinance beates downe part of the wals It yeelds heereupon The English Garrison left therein after the taking not being sufficient to containe the Towne in due subiection is compelled to flie to a Tower for their safetie the enemies which were admitted into it by the Burgers enioying the rest The Lord Talbot the most noble Captaine of the English presently arriues to the rescue and puts the malefactors to death The English Empire extends it selfe to the Riuer of Loyr Charles they call in scorne the King of Berry Thus roundly he In nine Articles and capitulations drawne and concluded at the yeelding of Mâ—…nts this was one as perhaps it was in euery like occasion That if any persons were found within the City which had beene consenting to the murther of Iohn Duke of Burgoin father to Philip Duke of Burgoin in full reuenge whereof he had hither to adhered to the English that they should simply bee at the Regents mercy 8 The chiefe things which passed in England during these happy proceedings in France were briefly these Iames Steward the young King of Scots hauing beene casually taken vpon the Sea in the reigne of King Henry the fourth and after his fathers death not sufficiently tendered nor respected by the Scots remained still a Prisoner The rather therefore to hinder the Scots that was the hope from aiding the French it was now thought fit by the Councell of England to enlarge him Which was accordingly done vpon pledges Not long after the which he married the Ladie Iane daughter to Iohn Earle of Sommerset neere cosen to King Henry Principall setters forward of this marriage as by likelihood of his liberty also to honour their family with a Kingly alliance were the Earle of Sommerset and the Bishop of Winchester both of them Beauforts who together with sundry other of the English Nobility conducted the new married Couple to the Scottish Borders Much of his ransome was abated and his new kinsemen bestowed vpon him store of plate gold and siluer among other gorgeous Ornaments suit of hangings in which the labors of Hercules were most curiously wrought But this wise King hauing had the benefit of excellent and Princely education in England did not suffer any obligations contracted in the time of his durance to preponderate with him the Generall state of Scotland whose freedome did much depend vpon the fortune of France whereby the maine drift of his enlargers was not much aduanced The reason notwithstanding which lead this action was probable and so much the more commendable for that it was tempered with humanity The forreine mischiefe thus howsoeuer intended hereby to be auoided or qualified Sir Iohn Mortimer a dangerous firebrand at home being Prisoner in the Tower was arraigned for many treasonable speeches vsed to a yeoman seruant to Sir Robert Scot keeper of the Tower of London to draw the said yeoman to let him escape promising him great matters The points of his speeches were as that fellow charged vpon him in open Parliament 1. That the said Mortimer meant to flie into Wales to the Earle of March and with an armie of forty thousand men to enter England and strike off the Protectors head and the Bishop of Winchesters 2. That the Earle of March ought by right to bee King of England and if the Earle would not that then hee himselfe was next heire 3. That if he could not safely reach to the Marches he would saile to the Daulphin of France and there serue with honor which he was assured of For these ouertures of escape and conspiracie the Knight was drawne hanged and headed Of whose death no small slander arose Perhaps he that writes so doth meane that the whole was but a stratageme to rid him out of the way Edmund Lord Mortimer Earle of March the party whom the said knight mentioned was sent not long after with many other Lords and competent numbers of men into Ireland where he deceased without issue whose great patrimony descended to Richard Plantagenet Earle of Cambridge the fatall disturber of the Realme of England vpon the pretence of Mortimers title to the Crowne 9 The amity with the Duke of Burgoin which the English had hitherto found so auailable toward their Conquests hauing otherwise receiued some few slight flawes was now in danger of vtter breaking vpon this occasion Humfrey Duke of Gloucester Protector of the Realme following councell vnworthy of his person and place contracted himselfe with the Lady Iaqueline of Baâ—…aria Inheretrix of Holland Zeland Henaâ—…lt and many other faire dominions in the Netherlands notwithstanding that Iohn Duke of Brabant her former husband was then liuing and that the suit of diuorce commenced by Iaqueline depended still betweene them The Duke of Burgoin held with Brabâ—…t This bred bitter humor in the Duke of Glocester who being not vsed to meet with any rubs or confrontments and now when in person he came with an armie to take seison of Henault in right of his supposed wife finding himselfe hard set vnto by the aids which Burgoin ministred to the Duke of Brabant he challengeth Combat of the Duke of Burgundy calling him traitour It was accepted and the lie strongly thrust vpon Gloucester who leauing the light Lady at her Towne of Monts in Henault returned into England doing nothing of that for which at that time he came Mediation tooke vp the quarrell afterward betweene the Duke of Burgundy and him Not long after the returne of the Duke of Gloucester into England the first marriage which had beene made and consummated betweene the Duke of Brabant and the said Lady Iaqueline was pronounced lawfull by Pope Martin the fifth Hereupon the Duke of Glocester hauing susteined many losses aswell of friends as treasure in punishment of that great sinne in taking anothers wife forthwith marries Eleanour daughter to Reignald Lord Cobham of Sterborough whereby he made her amends for that vnlawfull familiarity which had formerly passed betweene them Meanewhile the Court of England doth well shew that the King was an infant for it was full of dangerous emulations and sidings the Duke of Gloucester whose high office it was to tender the welfare of the King and State laying sundry grieuous accusations against the Cardinall Beaufort sonne of Iohn Duke of Lancaster Bishop of Winchester and Lord
their entrie was barred runne furiously to armes Cade endeauors to open his way by force but in despight of all his power the Citizens made good defended London-bridge against him though with the losse of many valiant and honest men for the conflict endured all night till nine in the morning Among such as were slaine on the Kings side were Iohn Sutton Alderman Mathew Gowgh himselfe and Robert Heysand Citizen This Gowgh an Esquire of Wales was a man of excellent vertue manhood and zeale to his Country and of great renown in the warre of France where he had serued with speciall commendations faithfully for the space of aboue twenty yeeres His deserts at this time deserued a Statue in the City for whose safety hee spent his last bloud To giue a quicke end to these miseries impunity is proclaimed for all offenders and sent to them in the Kings name by the Archbishoppe of Canterbury Lord Chancellour vnder the great Seale of England the rebels are scattred with this assurance of their safeties and euery man retires in peace from following so pestilent an Impostor A thousand Markes when Cade afterward attempted new troubles are promised to him who kils or takes this counterfeit Mortimer Alexander Eden a Gentleman of Kent had the happinesse to discouer and kill him at Hothfield in that County his wretched carkase was brought to London where his false head was set sentinell vpon London-bridge and his quarters were aduanced for terrour in seuerall parts of Kent There died also by the stroke of iustice twenty and sixe more whereof eight were executed at Canterbury and the rest elsewhere in Kent and Sussex The multitude it selfe came naked in their shirts to the King on Blacke-heath humbly praying mercy which they obtained 54 The Kentish rebellion thus pacified farre greater and farre more dangerous troubles ensued as it fareth in humane bodies which relapsing into sickenesses are shaken so much the more terribly These troubles had their fountaine and mediate Originall from Richard Duke of Yorke no degenerous sonne of that Richard whom King Henry the fifth had created Earle of Cambridge and enriched with much wealth honoring him aboue others in regard of his blood and parentage but no bountie nor benefits could change a treacherous disposition for as you haue heard before he conspired to murther his benefactor King Henry the fifth as the Duke of Yorke his true progenie labored to depose this King Henrie his aduancer The humors of the popular body were in the last commotion not obscurely discouered The Common weale had perhaps some few enormities through the abuse of Magistrates and men in place but yet such as the maladie was infinitely lesse pernicious then the remedy Vpon this intelligence the Duke comes sodeinely out of Ireland and to begin his vsurped censureship and dictature apprehends Iohn Sutton Lord Dudley Reignald Abbot of Saint Peters at Glastenbury and another whom he imprisoneth within his Castle of Ludlow Intollerable beginnings of more intollerable sequele Edmund Duke of Sommerset was the man who after Suffolks death most supported the Kings side by his vigilancie caresdangers and good Counsels endeuouring by all meanes to cleare the Realme from factions and to preserue the King and state in quiet 55 Yorke seeing this doth find that Suffolke perished in vaine if Sommerset held like grace against whose person he had a particular pretence of quarrell for that the City of Caen in Normandy which was the Duke of Yorkes charge was rendred vp to the French by him when the English affaires grew desperate in those parts Sir Dauid Hall Knight being at that time Captaine there for his Lord and Master the Duke of Yorke and not allowing it although the renowned Talbot himselfe was present at the render and became an hostage for performance of the Capitulations Yorke hereupon consults with his speciall friends Richard Earle of Salisbury and Richard his son who was afterward that most seditious great fighting Earle of Warwicke Thomas Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Edmund Brooke Lord Cobham and others how Yorke might get the Crowne of England and for that cause how to ruine or fret out the Duke of Sommerset who standing they were to looke for strong opposition In the end they conclude to take armes but yet to smother the mention of the Duke of Yorkes title giuing out to the world for the reason of their doings that they meant all honour and obedience to King Henry and only to remoue certaine bad men from about his person who afflicted the people and made a pray of the Common-wealth which to gaine the more credit and to blind the good King the subtile Duke declares by Proclamation wherein thus speaketh that Ambitious Hypocrite God knoweth from whom no thing is hid I am haue beene and euer will be his true liege man c. And to the very proofe it is so I offer my selfe to sweare that on the blessed Sacrament and receiue it the which I hope shall be my saluation at the day of doome c. In that it was the euill hap of the Duke of Sommerset that Normandy was lost during his Regencie his enemies had the more commoditie to incommodate him with the people who forbare not at his returne to offer to him sundry dishonours and iniuries till vpon paine of death they were restrained for breach of which Proclamation one had his head cut off in West Cheap London 56 The King notwithstanding all his Cosens arts and dissimulations seeing the hooke through the baite and the snake through the grasse by the aduise of his trusty friends chiefly of Edmund Duke of Sommerset thinkes not fit to relie vpon his enemies good nature but hauing a strong power and store of honorable men to conduct them he marcheth toward Wales against the Duke The King did herein wisely but not so much as the cause required Yorke hauing notice of the Kings approach turnes aside and with all speed marcheth toward London That City the vaine hope of all Rebellions would not harken Thereupon he slides with his people into Kent the nest of his hopes and at Brent-heath neere Dertford a towne about twelue miles from London encampeth meaning to fight The King is not slow but leauing his march toward Wales pitcheth vp his roiall pauilion vpon Black-Heath with a purpose to teach his cosen of Yorke more duty Behold the fortune of England God puts an excellent opportunity into the Kings hands of tearing vp the danger of his house by the rootes for the Duke was farre inferiour in numbers Such therefore as secretly fauoured him fearing his ouerthrow were willing to aduise a reconcilement Messengers goe betweene the hosts The Duke in his wonted manner pretends loialtie and particular iniuries as that the Kings seruants Sir Iohn I albot at Holt Castell Sir Thomas Stanley in Cheshire and others in other places were set to harken vpon him That by two
meant nothing vnto him but good faith vpon the morrow ride to London where in Iuly immediately following a Parliament is holden in King Henries name The fore-runner whereof was a Comet or blazing starre which appeared in the moneth of Iune the beams whereof extended themselues into the south The first popular act of this assembly was to restore the memory of Humfrey Duke of Glocester to honour declaring him to haue beene a true subiect to the King and Realme 65 The next prouisions which the Yorkists made were for themselues and their owne security willing and commanding that the Duke of Yorke his partakers should incur no blame by reason of the iourney at Saint Albans the whole fault whereof was laid vpon the dead Duke of Sommerset the Lord Chiefe Baron and one William Ioseph Esquier who say they kept from the King a pacificatory letter which the Duke of Yorke had sent It is a wonder and a shame to reade how officiously these violent Lords meaning nothing lesse behaued themselues to the King of whose maiesty they will needs seeme to be the onely Champions and conseruators The Duke of Yorke in the same Parliament creates himselfe Protector of England the Earle of Salisbury is made Lord Chancellour and the Earle of Warwicke his sonne Captaine of Caleis they spared as yet to touch King Henries life because the people did wonderfully honour esteeme and reuerence him for his singular holinesse and for that he had great friends left aliue and a sonne In the meane space that they might without trouble and at their pleasure vncrowne or kill him they by little and little displaced the ancient Counsellors and substituted their ass◅ed fauourites Another Act of that absolute force and fraud which they exercised in this dreadfull perturbation of all things was the drawing of Ionn Holland Duke of Excester out of Sanctuarie at Westminster conuaying him to Pomfret Castle in the North. 66 Henry Beauford Duke of Sommerset sonne of the former the Duke of Buckingham whose sonne and heire the Earle of Stafford was slaine at S. Albans and other the Kings friends perceiuing whereunto this faire shew tended consult with the Queene at Greenewich concerning her husbands danger and how to preuent it Hereupon the Duke of Yorke is displaced from the Protectorship a ridiculous title to be assumed where the king was aged about fiue and thirtie and had no other fault or vnfitnes but that he was too good to liue among them The Earle of Salisbury was also depriued of his Lord Chancellorship 67 The King hauing thus recouered his dignity and authoritie but not sufficient meanes to suppresse his dangers the French take courage at our intestine diuisions and landing at Sandwich with fifteene thousand men part of their forces they kill the Maior Bailifs and other Officers of that Towne with sundrie Gentlemen of the Countrey spoile all they could lay hand vpon and among all they rob two great vessels laden with merchandise which lay there bound for London and departed Another part of them burnes Foway and certaine other townes in Deuonshire On the other side the Scots hostillie entred into Northumberland but vpon notice that the Duke of Yorke approached with a power they returned hauing not as yet done any great harme 68 These indignities and losses might haue vnited the disioined affections of true English hearts which was greatly desired by such as loued their Countrey For which purpose the King Queene and their chiefe friends being at Couentrie the Duke of Yorke the Earles of Salisbury and Warwicke are sent for by the Kings letters vnder his priuie Seale to giue their attendance whither they come but they either warned of some plot contriued against them or fearing it or faining to feare sodeinely leaue the Court without leaue the Duke departing to Wigmore in the Welsh marches the Earle of Salisburie to his Castell of Midleham in the North-Countrey and the Earle of Warwicke to Calleis whose bodies though thus diuided their mindes continued most firmely factionated But the King a patterne of Christian goodnes being tender ouer the generall estate of his Countrey and wonderfully desirous to reconcile differences among his subiects that they might the better withstand their imminent forrein enemies returnes to London there to consult how to effect his holy wishes The great Lords are perswaded to meere there which they did but yet not without store of followers for the Duke brought with him foure hundred men the Earle of Salisburie fiue hundreth the Earle of Warwicke sixe hundreth The Dukes of Excester and Sommerset eight hundreth the Earle of Northumberland the Lords Egremond and Clifford fifteene hundreth This was the fashion of that swording age 69 In March the king and Queene with a very roiall company alight at Westminster to accomplish if it were possible this charitable and necessary worke of attonement and reconciliation Godfrey Bolein was at that time Lord Maior of London being the ancestor of two renowned and vertuous Queenes of England Anne second wife to King Henry the eight and Elizabeth their daughter through whose great vigilancie and prouidence the City stood so well guarded that the Kings peace was dutifullie kept notwithstanding the great Lords of both the factions Yorkists and Lancastrians were with so great troupes of followers lodged within and about the same for during the whole time of their abode he had fiue thousand Citizens in Harnesse himselfe riding daily about the City and suburbs to see the publike quiet preserued and for the night watch there were assigned to three Aldermen two thousand corslet-men 69 During this watch a great Councell was holden by the King and Lords where at length by the diligent trauaile good exhortation and prudent aduise of the Archbishoppe of Canterbury and of other learned and godly Prelates the parties offended were induced to a communication and afterward to a finall accord the points whereof considering they held so short a while for as one saith truly the dissimuled loue day hung but by a small threed it were friuolous to dwell in their rehearsall The King himselfe a singular testimonie of the opinion which all parties had of his integritie was whole arbitrator of their differences Certaine satisfactions were awarded to be made by the Duke of Yorke with the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury for the death of Edmund Duke of Sommerset and others slaine at S. Albans And the same Duke of Sommerset the Earle of Northumberland and Lord Clifford slaine in that battell by the Yorkists are declared for true liegemen to the King at the day of their deathes aswell as the Duke of Yorke the Earles of Warwicke and Salisburie So both parts stand iustifide and recti in curia Many other articles and awards were made to solder and glue together their alienated harts and affections The reioicement caused by this seeming peace which on the behalf of the kings persō was
beene married vnto Iohn Gray Esquier knighted and slaine at the battell of S. Albans vpon King Henries part who now was a suiter vnto the King for something taken away in the extremity of that time to bee restored towards the maintenance of her 〈◊〉 But howsoeuer her suit pierced his eare her sweetly composed feature strangely affected his heart more formall shee was and louely in countenance then either tall or exceedingly faire yet both sufficient to meete in one person of an excellent witte a sober demeanour a modest looke a 〈◊〉 smile and her speech vttered in such a â—…turall eloquence as her answeres euer set on edge King Edwards desires which howsoeuer diâ—…full to the appetite of his wanton bed affâ—…ming with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ee accounted herselfe most vnworthy of the name of his Queene so shee held her selfe of mort worth her chast honour dearer then to bee his Câ—…bine yet held they him in chase till shee had 〈◊〉 â—…im in the snares of her loue 22 Their many meetings and 〈◊〉 complements made the old Dutchesse of Yorke the Kings mother much to suspect it would bee a match to hinder which with a parâ—… authority shee entred discourse alleadging it honourable 〈◊〉 and of much profite to linke with some great Princesse in â—…raine 〈◊〉 both for the 〈◊〉 of poâ—…ions abroad and as the â—…se stood to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at home that 〈◊〉 had gone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suite in Frâ—… as if in himselfe nâ—…w 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their displâ—…res would 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To marry his Subiect 〈◊〉 held 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…cially one without 〈◊〉 alliance or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other thing mouing but a wanton doâ—…ge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and although that in Lady 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 yet was there nothing so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incorpâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moâ—… 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 tought of a 〈◊〉 A 〈◊〉 quoth she is most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 side whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 23 owne desires and knew himselfe to bee out of his mothers rule partly in earnest and partly in pleasance made her this reply That marriage being a spirituall type ought rather to be conioyned where God had framed the parties to consent as this of his was then in regard of any temporall respect whatsoeuer That his choice was pleasing to himselfe and would be to his subiects he certainly knew whose amity before all other Nations hee most preferred and desired neither could he giue them better occasion of loue then in this that being their Soueraigne hee disdained not to marry into their Tribes and so likewise for his Issue there could not any Prince be better beloued then he that was their naturall Prince so borne of both parents That if forraine alliances were so needfull hee had many of his kin to contract them and that with content of all parties but for himselfe to marry for possessions or to please others with displeasing his own affections hee saw it no wisdome hauing already sufficient of the one and the other offended euen sweet pleasure would seeme sowre pils especially the choice that is made by another mans eye That there are many comparable to her said hee I make no question and am the more glad let them haue them that like them I will not repine neither I hope will any abridge mee of that which I allow vnto others the Prouerbe is Mother that marriage goes by Destiny but to be wiued against a mans own liking is an earthly Purgatâ—…ry And therefore my Cosen Warwicke I am sure neither loueth me so little to grudge at that I loue nor is so vnreasonable to looke that I should in choise of a wife rather be ruled by his eye then by mine owne as though I were a Wâ—…rd that were bound to marry by the appointment of a Gardian I would not bee a King with that condition to forbeare mine owne libertie in choise of mine owne marriage As for poâ—…ty of more inheritance by new affinity in 〈◊〉 land it proues oftner the occasion of more trouble then profite and wee haue already title by that meanes to so much as sufficeth to get and keep well in one mans dayes That she is a widdow and hath already children by Gods blessed Lady I am a Bachelour yet haue some too and so each of vs hath a proofe that neither of vs is like to bee barren And therefore Madam I pray you bee content I trust in God shee shall bring a young Prince that shall play on your lappe to your â—…eat pleasure and your selfe shall blesse the wombe that bare such a â—…be and as for your obiection of 〈◊〉 let the Bishop hardly lay it in my way when I come to take Orders for I vnderstand it is forbidden a Priâ—… but I neuer wist that it was forbidden a Prince 24 The Dutchesse seeing the King so set on his owne choice that she could not pull hiâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such 〈◊〉 that vnder 〈◊〉 oâ—… her for which act vnder 〈◊〉 of a contract with 〈◊〉 owne coâ—…ce which was the 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stacle as either the Bishops 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the 〈◊〉 proceed to the solemnizâ—… of this wedding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were clearely purged 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King tooke to wife this later beloued Lady Elizabeth Grey who had beene formerly married vnto his enemy and many times prayed full heartily for his losse in which God loued her better then to grant her her boone reseruing greater honour for her selfe and her posterity 25 She was honourably descended especially by the surer side whose mother was Iaquellin daughter to Peter of Lucemburg Earle of S. Paul and Dutchesse to Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France after whose death shee married Sir Richard Wooduile knight and among others bare vnto him this Elizabeth Englands faire Queene who being priuately married at the Manour of Grafton was afterwardes crowned Queen at Westminster with all due celebrations vpon the sixe and twentieth of May Anno 1465. Her father then by this new made sonne in law and Soueraigne Lord was created Lord Riuers and made high Constable of England her brother Lord Anthony married to the sole heire of the Lord Scales and her sonne Thomas Grey borne to her first husband was created Marquesse Dorset and married to the heire of the Lord Bonuile 26 But when Warwicke had knowledge the wanton King had got a new wife and his courting of Lady Bona to bee but a ball to make Edwards play hee stormed not a little whose credite hee tooke to be crackt in the French Court and himselfe rather thought to haue dallyed in this motion then to deale by commission from his King for which cause hee conceiued so inward an indignation that his affection was withdrawne from King Edward and thenceforth ranne vpon Henrie retained in prison to which end he temporized with the present king applauded the Queene and bare countenance in Court with no
forthwith conuaied him robed in a long blew veluet gown through London vnto the Bishops pallace where a pompous Court was kept vntill the thirteenth of the same moneth vpon which day hee went in procession crowned to the Cathedrall Church of S. Paul the Earle of Warwicke bearing his traine and the Earle of Oxford the sword the people on euery side crying God saue K. Henry 53 Thus farre proceeded and Henry reestablished a Parliament was begunne at Westminster the six twentieth of Nouember following wherin King Edward was declared a Traitor to his country an vsurper of the Crowne and all his goods confiscated the like iudgement passed against all his partakers wherein also it was enacted that all such persons as had taken Armes in his quarrell should bee seuerely punished among whom Iohn Typtoft Earle of Worcester and King Edwards Lieutenant in Ireland was attainted who being found hid in the toppe of a tree in the Forrest of Waybridge not farre from Huntington was brought to London and vpon Tower-hill beheaded Moreouer all Statutes made by King Edward were clearely reuoked abrogated and made frustrate the Crowns of England and France entayled to King Henry and the Heyres-male lawfully begot of his body and for the want of such heires vnto George Duke of Clarence and his heire males lawfully produced and the said Duke to be the next heire to his father Richard Duke of Yorke disabling his elder brother Edward by the vertue of his Atteindor and Iasper Earle of Pembroke Iohn Earle of Oxford with other attainted by the vsurper Edward to be restored in bloud dignities and ancient possessions and finally Earle Warwicke the good common-wealthes man made Gouernour of the Realme in these turbulent times vnto whom was associated George Duke of Clarence this great Earles sonne in Law and Warwickes brother Montacute vpon his submission obtained his pardon which was the easilier gotten for his seruice at Nottingham 54 Queene Margaret appointed to follow into England if fortune did fauour these great Lords successe now hearing of the faire Sun-shine wherein her husband King Henry was set amidst the stormie winter blasts which the season afforded with Prince Edward her sonne set saile from France towardes that wished and temperate climat where the spring of new Regality beganne to bud forth but was met with such tempests and storming seas as shee was forced to returne and deferre her iourney vntill another time to her great griefe and sore discontent In like perplexity was the Burgundian Duke who neither durst giue Edward his outward assistance the French and Warwicke being so mighty opposites nor leaue him in distresse lest the sparkes of discontent should flie from the eyes of his faire wife and therefore to know whether Vawelere the Gouernor of Calleis stood resolute for him according to Couenants he secretly sent Philip Comines the hony-mouth Historian to drop some of his sweet eloquence into his gold-thirsting eare 55 Comines comming to Calleis and obseruing the sequence for which he was sent saw euery man wear the Earle of Warwicks badge for no head could bee gallant that was not adorned with his ragged staffe nor no dore frequented that was not painted with his white Crosse. Insomuch that Vawelere himselfe had a Iewell in his hatte wherein was a white ragged staffe embrodered with gold and others his followers the like wrought in silke gold and siluer and to stampe the print deeper a liking report was brought to the towne that Warwicke had prepared foure thousand valiant men to warre vpon the frontiers of Burgundy But Comine in conference so wrought with the Councell and they againe with Earle Warwicke as he was contented to leaue off the enterprise Duke Charles promising to side with K. Henry 56 King Edward hearing what his brother of Burgundy had done and being dayly solicited from his friends in England thought it no policy long to delay lest Henry should take growth to a bigger steame and therefore repairing to his brother in the towne of Saint Paul required his aide as the onely man on whom hee relied aswell for the bond of alliance in the marriage of his sister as also in regard of the orders which they both ware the King that of his which was the golden Fleece and the Duke the Gartar and Robe of Saint George In the Court of Burgundy at that time lay Edmund Duke of Sommerset cosen-germane remoued vnto Duke Charles a great enemy against the house of Yorke and now set himselfe to thwart King Edwards suite alleadging that it was more honourable for the Duke of Burgundy to side with the Lancastrians from whom he was descended by his Grandmother the daughter of Iohn of Gaunt as also in the vprightnes of King Henries title held good in her brother and his Grandfather and in her Nephew his father without all exceptions 57 The Duke perplexed betweene these great supplicants did then as many doe now speake much and meane nothing lesse or else say little meane to doe much To Sommerset for Henry hee outwardly promised all helpe and assistance but neuer gaue the least and to Edward no comfortable words of supply and yet vnderhand he hired him shippes furnished him with munition and lent him fifty thousand Florences in money And now the season seruing for warre K. Edward with two thousand strong besides his Mariners made ouer for England attempting to take land in Norfolke but those coasts guarded hee waffed more Northward and entring Humber landed at Rauenspur in Yorkeshire when laying aside al claim to the Crown and pretending nothing but his Dutchy of York he shewed the rude multitude the letters and seale of the Earle of Northumberland which as he affirmed made them beleeue was sent for his safe conduct to enioy the same and in euery place where he came proclaimed King Henry himselfe wearing an Estrich feather which was Prince Edwards Liuery and passing to Yorke in no other shew then a Subiect his oath first taken to be true to King Henry entred the City which presently hee surprised and assumed to himselfe 58 Earle Warwicke now hearing that Edward was landed before he had marched very farre in the main sent strait charge to his brother the Marquesse Montacute then residing at Pomfret with a sufficient Army to secure those parts that hee should not suffer his accesse vnto Yorke lest he grew more potent then was to bee wished himselfe making ready with all possible speed to repaire into those parts but whether the Marquesse purposely winked or else and that rather would not see at all hee made no great hast to forelay his way to Yorke neither sought to empeach the passage when Edward from thence marched in a more hostile manner towards Nottingham taking his way not farre from Pomfret and as it were through the middest of his enemies which encouraged many to fauour his designes holding that Montacute
for the loue that our Lord beareth to vs all from this time forward all griefes forgotten each of you loue others which I verily trust you will if you any thing regard either God or your King affinitie or kindred this Realme your owne countrey or your owne surety 115 And therewithall the King no longer induring to sit vp layd him downe on his right side his face towards them who with weeping eyes words as fitted the time recomfited the sicke dying King ioyning their hands and outwardly forgiuing that which inwardly they meant not to forget The King ouer-ioyed to see their willing reconcilements spake not many wordes after but commending his soule vnto God in their presence departed this life at his Pallace of Westminster vpō the 9. day of April and yeere of Christs appearance 1483. at the age of forty one when he had worne the royal Diademe two and twenty yeeres one moneth and fiue dayes and was buried at Windsor in the newe Chappell whose foundation himselfe had layd 116 Of personage hee was the goodliest Gentleman saith Commines that euer ◅ine eyes beheld faire of complexion and of most princely presence couragious of heart pol◅ke in counsell in aduersitie nothing abashed in prosperitie rather ioyous then proud in peace iust and mercifull in warre sharpe and fierce and in field bold and venturous yet no further then wisedome would and is no lesse commended where he auoided then is his manhood when he vanquished eight or nine battels he won wherein to his greater renowne he fought on foote and was euer victor ouer his enemies much giuen hee was to the lusts of youth and in his latter time growne somewhat corpulent which rather adorned his grauer yeeres then any waies disliked the eies of his beholders His Wife 117 Elizabeth the daughter of Richard Wooduill Earle Riuers by his wife ◅aquelana Dutchesse of Bedford who was the daughter of Peter Earle of S. Paul and he the sonne of Peter de Luxembourg was first married vnto Sir Iohn Grey slaine at S. Albans where he was knighted the day before his death by King Henry the sixt vnto whom shee bare two sonnes and a daughter after whose death shee was priuately remarried vnto K. Edward the fourth the first day of May at his mannor of Grafton in Northamptonshire Anno 1464. and in the next yeere following vpon the sixe and twentith of May was crowned Queen at Westminster with al due solemnities Shee was his wife eighteene yeeres eleuen moneths and nine daies no more fortunate in attaining to the height of all worldly dignity then vnfortunate in the murther of her sonnes and losse of her owne liberty For in the beginning of K. Edwards raigne shee was forced to take Sanctuary at Westminster wherein her first sonne Prince Edward was borne and at his death did the like in feare of the Protector and lastly hauing all her lands and possessions seized vpon by K. Henrie the seauenth liued in meane estate in the Monastery of Bermondsey in Southwarke where not long after shee left the troubles of her life and inioied a quiet portion or burying place by her last husband King Edward at Windsore 118 Elianor Butler as we find it recorded vpon the Parliament Role was contracted vnto King Edward but how true considering the occasion and time of the Act we leaue for others to iudge onely this is most certaine that this Lady Elianor was the daughter of Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury and the wife of Sir Thomas Butler Knight sonne and heire to Ralph Butler Baron of Sudley which Elianor died the thirtieth of Iune the yeere of Christ Iesus 1466. and the eight of King Edward the fourth his raigne His Issue 119 Edward the eldest sonne of K. Edward the fourth by Queene Elizabeth his wife was borne in the Sanctuary at Westminster the fourth of Nouember and yeere of grace 1471. being the tenth of his fathers raigne at that time expulsed the Realme by the powerfull Earle Warwicke but fortune changed and the father restored the sonne the first of Iuly and yeere of Christ was ◅eated Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester and had not the ambitious hand of his vncle beene defiled in his innocent blood he might haue worne the Diademe manie yeeres whereas he bare the Title of King not many daies 120 Richard the second sonne of K. Edward the fourth by Elizabeth his Queen was borne at Shrewsbury and in his infancy was created Duke of Yorke he was affianced vnto Anne daughter and heire to Iohn Mowbray Duke of Norfolke by which he was intituled Duke of Norfolke Earle-Marshall Warren and Nottingham but inioying neither Title wife or his owne life long was with his brother murthered in the Tower of London and in the prison of that Tower which vpon that most sinfull deed is euer since called the bloody Tower their bodies as yet vnknowne where to haue buriall 121 George the third sonne of K. Edward the fourth by Queene Elizabeth his wife was also borne in Shrewsburie and being a yong Child was created Duke of Bedford but liued not long after and lieth buried at Windsore 122 Elizabeth the first daughter of K. Edward the fourth by Elizabeth his Queene was borne at Westminster the eleuenth of Februarie and fifth of her fathers raigne being the yere of Saluation 14◅6 Shee was promised in marriage to Charles Daulphin of France woed and Courted by her vncle Crouchbacke when he had murdered her brothers and vsurped the Crowne but better destiny attending her shee was reserued to ioine the vnion and marriage with the onely heire of Lancaster which was Henrie of Richmond afterward King of England from whom is branched the roiall stemme that spreadeth his beauty in this North-West world euen Iames our dread Soueraigne and great Brittaines Monarch 123 Cicely the second daughter of K. Edward the fourth by Queene Elizabeth his wife was sought vnto by Iames the third of that name to be ioined in marriage with Iames his sonne Prince of Scotland and Duke of Rothsay which match was promised vpon conditions and choise of K. Edward who lastly brake off from further proceeding and the Lady married vnto Iohn Vicount Wels whom shee out-liued and was againe remarried but by neither husband had any issue and therefore lesse noted her body lieth buried at Quarrena in the Isle of Wight 124 Anne the third daughter of K. Edward the fourth by Queene Elizabeth his wife was married vnto Lord Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke Earle Marshall and high Treasurer of England vnto whom shee bare two sonnes both dying without issue and her selfe without more fruit of wombe left her life and lieth buried at Fra◅ingham in Norfolke 125 Bridget the fourth daughter of K. Edward the fourth by his wife Queene Elizabeth was borne at Eltham in Kent the tenth of Nouember and yeere of Grace 1480. being the twentieth of her fathers Raigne Shee tooke the habite of Religion and became a
or proceeding was no lesse strange for by what law or triall was shee condemned in a Praemunire Shee neuerthelesse is put out of all and confined to the Monastery of Bermondsey in Southwarke where finally she ended her dayes borne to bee an example of both fortunes hauing from a forlorne widdowes estate beene raised to the bed of a Bachelour Monarcke and in his life time beene reduced to the seeming of a priuate fortune when her Lord was driuen to flie the land and afterward saw those turnes and varieties as few Queenes euer felt or saw so many or more contrarie whether we regard the heighth of worldly felicity when shee did behold her sonne a King or the depth of misery when the Tyrant inuaded his Crowne and life or now her daughter being Queene and her selfe a miserable prisoner The conâ—…ideration whereof as it may worthily mortifie ambitious affections so the strangenesse of the sentence verifies that collection among others which that learned Gentleman makes of this Kings raigne in these words Hee had saith hee a very strange kind of interchanging very large and vnexpected pardons with seuere executions Neuerthelesse his wisdome considered it could not be imputed to any inequality but to a discretion or at least to a principle that hee had apprehended that it was not good obstinately to pursue one course but to trie both wayes Howsoeuer that was certainely shee being so iust an obiect of his commiseration who had married that daughter by which hee enioyed a Kingdome and gotten that verie power wherewith he ruined her it cannot bee reasonably thought but that there were other most important motiues perswading such a sharpe course or otherwise that it must bee reckoned among the chiefe of his errors But as in the times of her flourishing estate she founded and endowed a faire Colledge for Students in Cambridge which of her is called the Queens so we will leaue to those her Beneficiaries the farther search of this Argument and deploration of her fortune which seemes such to vs as if King Henry affected to leaue somewhat in this example wherewith to oppose amase the world Vnlesse perhaps it were that hauing proclaimed a generall pardon for all offences without exception to such as in future should remaine Ioyall and foreseeing that some who might be willing to lay hold of that benefite might also bee cunningly practised with to fall away vpon distrust of his word when once hee had serued his present vses hee therefore meant by so cleare a demonstration as the vtter vndoing and perpetuall emprisonment of his wiues owne mother to giue them assurance that hee who vpon her person had beene so seuere a punisher of faith-breach would neuer violate it in his own and thereby secure them in that point and secure himselfe of them 17 Yet neither could this deuise take so good effect but that Iohn Earle of Lincolne sonne of Iohn de la Pole Duke of Suffolke and Elizabeth King Edward the fourths sister secretly fled into Flanders to the Dutchesse of Burgundy whither Francis Lord Louell was likewise not long before escaped Sir Thomas Broughton another principal Confederate temporized in England there to remaine a stay to the businesse aswell for mutuall intelligence as receit of an Army when it should arriue This Earle of Lincolne besides that he could not with any patience behold a Lancastrian weilding the English Scepter was also of a sharpe wit and high reach and therefore not without an ambitious sensibility that in countenancing King Henry hee wronged that expectancie and relation to the Crowne which hee had in right of his mother sister to King Edward the fourth and to King Richard the third who had designed him for heire apparant contracted his sister the Lady Anne de la Pole to Iames Prince of Scotland was also the rather animated by letters receiued from his aunt the Dutchesse of Burgundy earnestly calling vpon him for his presence This Dutchesse was the second wife of Charles Duke of Burgundie slaine by the Switz at the battell of Nanâ—…è by whom thogh he had no issue yet by reason of her great dower wise behauiour among the Dutch shee was strong in money and friends all which shee was willing to conuert to the vtter subuersion howsoeuer of the Lancastrian line Though therefore shee well knew that this Lambert was but an Idoll hammered out of the hote braine of that Boâ—…tefew Richard Simon yet she embraceth the occasion countenanceth the Imposture and leaues nothing vnsaid or vndone which might giue life and successe to the enterprise The Earle the L. Louell and others shee furnished abundantly and ioyneth vnto them a renowmed Coronell Martin Swart a Gentleman of honorable birth exemplary valour and singular experience and certain selected companies to the number of about two thousand Almaines which soone after arriue at Dublin Lambert who before was but proclaimed is now in Christs Church there solemnly by them crowned King of England * feasting and triumphing rearing mighty showtes and cries carrying him thence to the kings Castell vpon tall mens shoulders that he might be seene and noted as hee was surely saith Stow an honourable boy to look vpon though nothing lesse was meant then that hee should enioy that honour if they preuailed as meaning then to erect Edward Earle of Warwicke Posterity might worthily doubt of the truth of these so desperate impudencies and ridiculous Pageants practised in the highest affaires of mankind but that the thing is so vniuersally testified and also that the highest affairs of the world when once they are passed are little better then such like Pageants 18 K. Henry on the other side though he had by most diligent espials endeuoured to know the truth of Lamberts quality to diuert the streame of affections which he saw inclined that way for that the practise was carried with such wonderfull art as that very many otherwise discreet and sober men were induced to beleeue that hee was indeed King Edwards sonne and although the generall pardon proclaimed by King Henry did vndoubtedly stay very many from open reuolt but much more the carefull watch which was kept at the Ports to hinder the escape of Malecontents or factious Fugitiues yet he manifestly saw that it wold in the end come to a field for which cause he takes order for the leuie of an Armie resoluing to giue his enemies battell with the first opportunity it being the ancient and manfull fashion of the English who are naturally most impatient of lingring mischiefes to put their publike quarrels to the trial of the sword Lambert attended with Iohn Earle of Lincolne Francis Lord Vicount Louell Thomas Fitz-Gerald or rather Maurice Fitz-Thomas belike his sonne and Coronel Swart with an Army of desperate and pickt souldiers aswell English Dutch as Irish all fired with infinite hopes and promises to bee enioyed vpon the ouerthrow of King Henry
Cobham c. But it is needlesse to weary our selues with long relations of a short voyage for King Henry before hee set forth out of England was secretly dealt with by the Lord Cordes Gouernour of Henault according to instructions on the French Kings behalfe to accept of conditions which till Boloigne was besieged as now by him it was was not knowne The ignorance of this mystery made many forward Gentlemen to morgage their lands and runne into much debt for their fuller and brauer furniture in hope to get great matters in this warre whereof to their griefe they found themselues deceiued In the mean time the L. Cordes hauing met at Caleis with Richard Fox Lord Bishoppe of Excester and Giles Lord Dawbeney the Kings Commissioners after iust and long debatement concluded vpon Articles of peace betweene the two Kings 31 Boloigne was brought to some distresse when by interuention of this agreement it remained safe and quiet King Charles was chiefly moued to buy his peace at a deare rate both for that the state of Britaine was as yet vnsetled and for that hee meant forth with to march into Italy for the conquest of the Kingdome of Naples and K. Henry on the other side was not vnwilling because Maximilian had failed and Britaine seemed clearely past possibility of euiction To which may be added a naturall noble and religious inclination in King Henry to liue in amity with his neighbours the inckling of new dangers then in brewing against him by the turbulent and vnappeaseable Dutchesse of Burgundy and cherished by King Charles and lastly the enrichment of himselfe by reembursing the charges both of this and the British warre out of the French elsewhere whereby he should farre the better bee able to withstand all forrain practises or domesticke outrages As for the preseruing of himselfe and his honour with his Subiects hee wanted not both true and honourable glosses Such as were the care to auoid vnnecessary effusion of Christian bloud the vses of his presence at home besides many other but his wisdome in the carriage of this right weighty action was chiefly eminent in this That hee would not enter into Treaty till he was in the field and that with such a puissance as was likely enough to force his owne conditions nor suffer the least signe of his secret willingnesse to peace or inward doubt of troubles at home to creepe out at any crany or chinke of his discourse or carriage whereby he as farre outwent the French fairely as they formerly seemed to haue ouerwrought him subtlely Had they truly beene informed in those points it is probable they might haue gone a cheaper way to work for besides what other Articles soeuer it was concluded That Henry should not quit his claime to France but that for a Peace which by the contract was only to continue during the two Kings liues Charles of France should pay in present to Henry for his charges in that warre seuen hundred forty and fiue thousand Duckets and twenty fiue thousand Crownes yeerely toward the expenses which hee had heretofore been at in aiding the Britons Which by the English called Tribute was duly paid during all this Kings raigne and also to Henry his son till the whole debt was run out thereby to preserue amity with England There were moreouer by Henries consent who was thus content to gratifie his Peeres at anothers cost not onely present rewards but also certaine annuall pensions allotted to the chiefe Lords of his priuie Councell A course of bounty which might otherwise haue proued preiudicious to the seruice of the King of England by engaging his Counsellors affections to the French The siege of Boleine lasted till the eighth day of Nouember Henry whom his Queens most tender frequent and louing lines did the rather inuite to speediest returne hauing setled all his transmarine affaires arriued at Douer from whence hee iournied to Westminster there to celebrate the Feast of Christmas This voyage into France affording no greater exploites then wee haue heard was celebrated by blind Bernard with hyperbolicall and well-borne verses not ordinary in which directing his speech in honour of Henry to the Howres he concludes Effugite igniuomos celeres coniungere Solis Quadrupedes Horae protinus ecce parant Non opus est vobis quia si priuatus Apollo Pauerit Admeti rursus ipse boues Principis hic nostri vultus Iouialis abundè Lumina crede mihi Phoebe recede dabit 32 The famous counterfeisance of Perkin Warbecke with which the braine of the Lady Margaret Dutchesse Dowager of Burgundie had long trauelled doth now beginne to disclose it selfe and make new businesses for King Henry The inglorious glorie of the first inuention in his raigne of this kind of vexation Lambert Simnels person had giuen to his Master the wily Simon so that our Dutchesse was but an imitatrix and yet perhaps shee gaue not place in any point to the first example or Archtype neuerthelesse the fortune of the first deuise being no more successefull then it was might reasonably haue deterred her from the edition of a second but whether it were an immortall enuie toward the Lancastrian race or a burning zeale of aduancing one that might at leastwise beare the name of a Plantagenet though by any sinister practises as if it had beene lawfull to attaine her ends admit them iust by any iniurious courses shee resolues to erect another Idoll as perceiuing by the first how notable an engine imposture was to trouble Henry being well assured that England was ful of corrupt humors and ill-affections to worke vpon not so much through the desert of her present King as for that the dregges which naturally reside in the bottom of mens hearts where most bloudy and barbarous factions haue for a long time weltered and wurried one the other with various euent were not clensed and auoided The Diuell therefore ready to furnish all attempts which may raise troubâ—… and mischiefe easily fitted her There was come therfore to her hands a youth adorned with such a shape as might easily perswade the beholders was worthy of a noble fortune he had thereunto a naturall fine wit and by reason of his abode in England in K. Edwards dayes could speake our language as also some other which hee had by a kind of wandring trauell obtained This youth was borne they say in the City of Torney and called Peter Warbecke the son of a conuerted Iew whose Godfather at Baptisme King Edward himselfe was The English in contempt and for a note perhaps of his forraine birth did afterward call him by a diminutiue of his name Peterkin or Perkin Him the Dutchesse as a fitte peece of timber out of which to carue a new Idoll moulds by degrees makes him take shape according to that Idaa which shee had prefigured in her working imagination before
attached the Court and publike prison for crimes of highest nature being then within the cincture of one and the same wall Sir Robert Clifford at his comming into the Kings presence though hee was secretly before assured of his life most humbly praying and obtaining pardon appeached among many others Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlaine The King would not at first giue credite or at leastwise pretended not to giue credite to the accusation of a Peere so great and so neere vnto him but vpon farther search finding the same confirmed with circumstances and particularly for that he said to Clifford Hee would neuer beare Armes against the young man if he knew him for certaine to be the sonne of King Edward hee resolueth to vse seuerity against the delinquent 38 But Bernard Andreas directly saith That besides bare words and purposes Sir William had supported Perkins cause with treasure wherein hee is recorded so to haue abounded as that in his Castle of Holt he had in coine and plate to the value of forty thousand Markes besides lands of inheritance in sundry places about to the yeerely value of three thousand pounds a prety stocke in treasure at those times to vphold the first brunt of a warre and a large extent of land to furnish the wing of a powerfull battell with able souldiers out of Tenancies with all which the same Author in plaine wordes saith That hee promised to defend the said Pretender and bring him into the Kingdome And if we haue any insight into King Henries disposition it seemes to vs that before he entred into the Tower he not only knew the Lord Chamberlaine vnsound but also that for his quiet apprehension hee chiefly repaired thither Stanley being hereupon attached and referred to farther examination is said To haue denied nothing of all that wherewith hee was charged which he perhaps the more confidently did in hope that king Henry would pardon him in respect of passed seruices they in their effects considered being the greatest whereof mortality is capable preseruation of life and gaining of a Kingdome But the poore gentleman found himselfe farre deceiued in his politicke Lord and Master who to teach mankind thereby how dangerous it is to make a King was not vnwiling to cut him off as perswading himselfe that those seruices proceeded of ambition not of affection or if of affection the cause now ceasing the contrary effects might proue as pernicious as the other had been aduantageous and auaileable The King was vnwilling to displease his Father in Law Thomas Earle of Derby brother german to Sir William Stanley and did therefore for a while suspend his iudgement but rigour finally preuailed and hee was at Westminster openly arraigned conuicted and afterward at the block on Tower-hil beheaded In whose office Giles Lord Dawbeney a most faithfull and moderate man succeeded This sharpe iustice exercised vpon so eminent a person was of great vse in the stay of peoples minds through the Realme of England But in Ireland they were not so setled or reduced but that for the better and fuller purging thereof Henry Deney a Monke of Langton Abbey was sent Lord Chancellour thither with orders and directions and Sir Edward Poinings Knight with souldiers whose greatest diligence and cares were not wanting to punish such as heretofore had aided Perkin or might hereafter The Earle of Kildare Lord Deputy falling into suspition with Poynings was by him apprehended and sent prisoner into England where the King did not onely graciously heare and admit his defences but also returned him with honour and continuation of authority In the meanetime the errour or weaknesse of the Burgundian Dutchesse and her Perkin suffering their enemy in this sort to puruey for his own security and their depulsion hee yet for farther assurance of himselfe makes a progresse into Lancashire there to recreate with his Father in law the Earle and the Countesse his mother where among all other his secret purposes he throughly satisfied the Earle both for the iustice and necessity of Sir William Stanleyes death 39 These certainely were perillous times to liue in and vndoubtedly full of infinite iealousies and hypocrisies nor vnlike to those lately passed wherein there was nothing so plaine and openly proued but that yet for the common custome of close and couert dealing men had it euer inwardly suspect as many well-counterfeited iewels make the true suspected these generall distrusts being among the strange gradations by which the incomprehensible prouidence doth vse to chastise insolent Nations and to make regular Princes meer and absolute But the Dutchesse and her Perkin knowing al things as they passed in England resolue notwithstanding to proceede and therefore taking aduantage of the Kings absence in the North he with a force of broken and discontented persons sets saile for England and approcheth the coasts of Kent about Sandwich and Deale there to beginne his enterprize for obtaining the Crowne of England vnder the borrowed name and title of Richard Duke of Yorke if he found the Commons forward But they though doubtfull at first what to doe yet at the last considering that his Souldiers were for the most part of desperate fortunes and felonious qualitie though hardy otherwise and approoued men of warre remembring withall the mischiefes of part-takings would not adhere but training them within danger vpon promise of succour assaile and driue them to their shippes take fiue of the Captaines Mountford Corbet Whitebolt Quintin and Genin and one hundreth sixty and foure others which were all of them afterward executed Perkin himselfe who would not trust his person on shore being worthily troubled at the inauspicious fortune of his followers presently hoised sailes and returned to his Lady Patronesse and Creatrix into Flanders 40 These newes being brought to the King where he was then in the North he is said to haue giuen God thanks and declared his ioy in these words I am not ignorant most mercifull Iesu how great victories thou hast giuen mee vpon the Saturday at the praiers of thy most gracious Mother all which I ascribe not to my deserts but to the bounty of thy celestiall grace Thou seest ô most benigne Iesu how many snares how many deceits how many weapons that terrible Iuno hath prepared notwithstanding that after my marriage shee faining herselfe ioyfull hath faithfully promised to beare toward vs all fauour and good will but shee more changeable then the winde peruerting all things aswell diuine as humane feares not God but in her fury seekes the vtter ruine of her owne blood Thou ô God who knowest all deliuer vs also if we seeme worthy from these euils but if our sinnes haue deserued to suffer doe thou ô Lord thy good pleasure Neuerthelesse wee owe to thy Grace immortal thanks which though with our tongue we cannot vtter worthily enough yet must they bee rendred We are alwaies of good courage and so minded for certain that
intended to lay the foundation of his Empire to vsurpe all Italy besought him for the pitty of our Sauiour and by the vertue of his famous ancestors for I vse the words of the Popes briefe that neuer forsooke the Church of God in distresse and by the filiall obedience the strongest bond to enter into the holy league they hauing elected him against Lewis Caput faederis Italici 6 And indeed to speake as it was Lewis much emulated King Henries greatnesse fearing that fortune would giue him occasions to make his claime by sword vnto the Kingdome of France which the sooner hee did by this holy fathers instigations and by his Herauld Clarentius roughly demanded the Dutchies of Normandy Guyen Anion and Maine and with them also the Crowne that king Lewis ware The Scotish king likewise in case of Andrew Barton slaine in his Piracies as the English alleadged by the Admirall of England accounted the truce broken and sought the reuenge vpon the Borders adioining Against these two nations yong Henry at once prepared and happily obtained faire victories against both but the successe of the one though not following precisely the time we meane to relate before wee enter discourse of the other 7 The enterprise great which K. Henry meant to vndergoe hee thought it good wisdome to ioyne amity with Maximilian the Emperour Fardinando King of Spaine and many other Princes holding also correspondency with Pope Iulius the second that busie Pontificall Prelate of Rome then propounding his purposes in Parliament sent ouer certaine Nobles before him into France and afterward followed them himselfe pitching downe his Tents before the Towne of Terwin where he raised his royall Standard of the Red-dragon and begirt the Citie with a strait siege 8 To this place Maximilian the Emperour repaired and to the great honour of Henry entred into his pay wearing the Crosse of Saint George with a rose the Kings badge as his faithfull Souldier and receiued wages by day for euery of his according to their degree The French seeing the Towne in distresse sought the reliefe with victuals and men but were so encountred by the king and his company as that many of their chiefest Captaines were taken and sixe of their Standards wonne the rest for safeguard of life so posted away that this conflict was called the battell of Spurres 9 Then was the battery broght so neer their wals that many breaches were therein made and the Towne by composition yeelded vnto the King whereupon the Earle of Shrewsbury was sent to see all things safe who stucke vpon the highest Turret the Banner of Saint George and tooke the oath of alleagiance of all the French Citizens to acknowledge King Henry their supreme Lord This done the King as a Conquerour entreth Terwine sent thence their Ordinance dismounted the Turrets cast downe the walles filled vp the ditches and fired the Towne excepting onely the Cathedrall Church and Bishops Pallace 10 Then was the siege remoued vnto Turnay about which City King Henry commanded diuers Trenches to bee cast and placed his Ordinance to such aduantage that none might enter in or come out of the same Into this Towne a great number of the French from the Countries adioining had lately fled relying much vpon the strength and safety of the place which indeed had euer beene accounted so inuincible that this sentence was engraued ouer one of the gates Iannes ton me a perden ton pucellage thou hast neuer lost thy maiden-head Notwithstanding it was yeelded vp vnto Henry with ten thousand pounds sterling for the Citizens redemption who to the number of fourescore thousand then tooke their oathes to become his true Subiects and foure of their principall bare vp the Canopie vnder which the King in triumph-wise entred hauing born before him his sword axe speare and other abiliments of warre euery Citizen holding a staffe-Torch for his light The safe keeping of this City the King committed to Sir Edward Poinings Knight of the Order of the Garter whom hee there made his Lieutenant and ordained Thomas Wolsey his Almoner the Bishoppe of Turnay The yeere now spent and season vnfit for the fielde a surcease from warre was determined vntill the next spring whereupon all were shipped for England with full payment and praise but Terwin and Turnay stucke heauily vpon the French mens hearts 11 King Lewis thus endammaged in his owne Dominions thought it best policy to pay like for like to which end at the first attempts against Terwine hee solicited Iames the fourth of that name King of Scotland though brother by marriage vnto King Henry of England to disturbe the peace of his Subiects that so hee might bee drawne out of France which Iames for his part put presently in practise for writing his letters to Henry in the French Kings behalfe charged him with breach of Truce both in the case of his Scots slaine at the sea as also against his Confederates the Duke of Gelder and King of France against which last he desired him to desist otherwise hee should bee forced to reuenge the Frenches wrongs vpon his English and to giue letters of Mart to recouer the losses of his Subiectes 12 King Henry a Prince of a Maiesticall spirite most highly offended at these his brothers requests and threates was so farre ouergone with fury and rage that Lions King at Armes the bringer was thereby somewhat daunted at his present answere which he desired might be sent in writing refusing to carry in words his reply to his Soueraigne This Heralds wise and weighty request was forthwith granted and letters framed to King Iames demands answering those imputations with rough and round words which notwithstanding hee neuer read or saw being slaine in the battell of Flodden before that Lions could come to deliuer the same 13 For Iames King of Scots preparing for war had in the meane while entred the borders and with his Ordinance battered and wonne the Castell of Norham making still forward vpon the English Against whom Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey made the Kings Lieutenant of the North at his going into France assembled an Army of twenty sixe thousand strong vnto whom came his sonne the Lord Admirall of England with a great supply of good souldiers well appointed for warre The Earle from Newcastell came vnto the water of Till and pitched his battell besides a little Towne called Brankeston vnder Flodden hill a mountaine lying in the North of Northumberland betwixt the riuers of Till and Tweed where vpon a rising banke the Scottish hoast had taken the aduantage of the ground vnto King Iames Thomas Earle of Surrey sent Rouge Crosse a Purseuant at Armes with proffer of battell to bee done vpon Friday the ninth of September if so it pleased his Highnesse who withall carryed this message from the L. Admirall that he was come in person to iustifie
of Nouember at a place beyond Carliel called Solem-mosse where were taken Prisoners the Earles of Cassils and Glencarne the Lords Maxwell Flemming Summerwell Oliphant and Grey Sir Oliuer Sinclere and others to the number of one and twenty men of account who were conueighed to London and committed to the Tower For griefe of which losse and suspition of his Nobility King Iames fell into a melancholy Passion which the birth of his new borne Princesse rather increased then gaue him any coÌ„fort so as hee deceased the foureteenth day of December following foreshewing saith Leslie great troubles to follow in Scotland 119 Newes brought neere at one instant of the death of King Iames birth of the Princesse his daughter King Henry intended to doe that by the match of a marriage which long had beene assayed by the sword of Mars all things so consorting as it did he hauing one onely sonne then aboue fiue yeres of age and Scotland no heire beside this new borne daughter their yeeres suiting a consent for marriage the whole Iland offering both the ioynter and dowry and that which most moued their chiefe Nobility in his owne hands to be moulded for this designe as if heauen it selfe had bid the banes 120 Those Prisoners therefore which had remained in the Tower only two daies vpon the twenty one of December he sent for to Westminster the Earles and Lords all suited in Gownes of blacke damaske furred with Cunny whereafter some words of friendly reproofe they were bestowed among the English Nobility who vsed them according to their estates and the third day in Christmas were inuited to the Court at Greenewich where they went before the King to 〈◊〉 Chappell were royally feasted and the motion then made for the establishing of peace by the Coniunction of the two Princes whereunto the Scotish were as willing as the English proffered all forward assistance to haue it accomplished So that these Nobles were deliuered without other ransome and richly rewarded at their departure from Court 121 These returned into Scotland declared what they had done and so effectually followed the busines that in a Parliament assembled of the three Estates the marriage was confirmed and a peace proclaimed to continue betwixt the two Realmes the space of tenne yeeres which agreements were sent into England by honourable Ambassadors and there interchangeably sealed betwixt these Potent Estates But Cardinall Betâ—… Archbishop of Saint Andrewes fearing least Scotland would change the Church Orders 〈◊〉 England had done the Bible already read in their owne language and the Popes vsurped power called in Question as then it began to be by the feruent preaching of Friet Guiliam to the great liking of most of the Lord made some exceptions against the Earle Arraine the new chosen Gouernour and second person in the Land being neerest in blood to the young Queene And the French King not liking this vnion with England sought by all meanes to 〈◊〉 the same match to effect which he sent the Eaâ—…le of Lennox to perswade with the Gouernour with great proffers and promises of assistance but finding him faithfull vnto King Henry presently made faction for the French wherein hee drew the Queene mother the Earles Huntly Argile Mâ—…trosse Menteith and many more Peeres the Cardinall amongst them euer the chiefe 122 Earle Lennox thus growne into credite with the Queene mother 〈◊〉 made strong by her adherents that fauoured the French presently claimed to be Gouernour of Scotland being the second person of degree in the Realme and withall to haue the custody of the young Queene who with heâ—… mother were forth with taken from 〈◊〉 vnder the charge of the Gouernour Arraiâ—…e and brought vnto Striueling strongly guarded with the continuall presence of the Lords 〈◊〉 Erskâ—… Fleâ—…ing and Ruthwen least Queene Mary should be conueyed into England vnto King Henry These violent courses caused great Emulations among the Scotish Nobility each of them siding as their affections were setled but lastly agree to set the Crowne on their young Queenes head prepared for the solemnity whereunto all the Lords came excepting those that stood for England and from them the Gouernour with much adoe was drawne to be present at the Coronation but that accomplished and the state affaires consulted vpon it was agreed that the French Kings suite should be fauoured and that the Earle Arran should be Gouernour still whereat Earle Lennox conceiued such displeasure as he became wholy for King Henrie ioined himselfe with the Earles of Augus Gleâ—…carne and Cassils the Lords Maxwel Summeruell Gray and others that stood with the English for the match with Prince Edward 123 King Henry then hearing what was done and intended sent presently into Scotland to demand the Custody of the young Queene and that certaine Scotish Noblemen might be appointed to guarde her in England vntill shee came to yeeres of consent according to Couenants formerly concluded which no waies would be granted and thereupon he prepared an Army thetherward vnder the Conduct of Lord Edward Seiâ—…er Earle of Hertford Lieutenant Generall by Land accompanied with the Earle of 〈◊〉 and a Fleete of two hundred saile by Sea whereof Sir Iohn Dudley Vicount Lisle was Admirall 124 To the aide of the Scots the Peopes holinesse was very forward who sent them the Patriarch of Venice as his Legate Orator to perswade their Resolutions with whom the French King sent Monfieur la Broche and Monfieur Menager to lead them to fight and fifty thousand Crownes of the Sun to suâ—…taine the Charge with munition worth ten thousand Crownes more It seemeth by Lesly that part of this siluer fell into the Earle Lennâ—… his hand and that therewith he made head against the Gouernor but not able to match him sent vnto King Henry for aide with proffer of his seruice against the French side which so well was accepted of Henry as he made him his Nephew by giuing the Lady Margaret his sisters daughter to be his wife 125 Thâ—… English thus seconded with this vnlooked for Allyance Cardinall Beton thought good to binde all to the Gouernour who with the Authority of the Queene Dowager proclaimed Lennox an Enemy to the State But in the meane while the Admirall of England was entred the Frith and at new Hauen landed his men where ioining his to the land Seruice they altogether marched thence towards Lâ—…th himselfe leading the Vaward Shrewsbury the Rereward and the Lord Lieutenant the maine Battell These comming to Lieth spoiled the Town and thence to Edenbrough burnt the City and wasted the Country for seauen miles about this done they set fire vpon Haddington and 〈◊〉 and then the whole Army returned vnto Barwicke 126 Whilst things thus passed in Scotland and the maine purpose resting in suspence King Henry well knew where the greatest rub did lie in his way which was the French
1540. shee was his wife sixe moneths after which time certaine Lords of the vpper House of Parliament came into the nether and alleaged cause for which that marriage was vnlawfull whereunpon shee was diuorced and by Statute enacted that shee should no more be taken for Queene but should be called the Lady Anne of Cleâ—…e See remained in England long after the Kings death though small mention is made of her by any of our Writers only we finde that she accompanied the Lady Elizabeth through London at the solemnizing of Queene Maries Coronation 140 Katherine the fifth wife of King Henry the eight was the daughter of 〈◊〉 and Neece vnto Thomas Howard his brother Duke of Norfolke Shee was married vnto him the eight of August and yeere of â—…race 1540. being the thirtie two of his Raigne at Hampton Court and continued his Queene the space of one yeere sixe moneths and foure daies and for her vnchaste life was attainted by Parliament and for the same beheaded within the Tower of London the twelfth of February and her body buried in the Chauncell of the Chappell by Queene Anne Bullen 141 Katherine the sixth and last wife of King Henry was the daughter of Sir Thomas Parre of Kendall and sister to Lord William Parre Marquesse of Northampton shee was first married to Iohn Neuill Lord Latimer and after his decease vpon the twelfth of Iuly maried vnto the King at Hampton Court the yeere of Saluation 1543. and thirtie fiue of his Raigne Shee was his wife three yeeres sixe months and fiue daies and suruiuing him was againe married vnto Thomas Seimer Lord Admirall of England vnto whom she bare a daughter but died in the same Child-bed the yeere of Grace 1548. His Issue 142 Henrie the first sonne of King Henry by Queene Katherine his first wife was borne at Richâ—…d in Surrey vpon the first of Ianuary and the first of his fathers Raigne whose Godfathers at Font were the Lord Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie and the Earle of Surrey his Godmother Lady Katherine Countesse of Deuonshire daughter to King Edward the fourth This Prince liued not fully two months but died in the same place wherein he was borne vpon the two and twentieth of February and his body with all due obsequies buried in Westminster 143 A sonne not named was borne vnto King Henrie by Lady Katherine his first Queene in the month of Nouember and the sixth yeere of his Raigne who liued not long and therefore no further mention of him can bee made the deathes of these Princes King Henrie tooke as a punishment from God for so he alleaged it in the publike Court held in Blacke-friers London they being begot on his owne brothers wife 144 Marie the third childe and first daughter of King Henrie by Queene Katherine his first wife was born at Greenewich in Kent the eighteenth of Februarâ—… in the yeere of Christs humanity 1518 and the eighth of his Raigne Shee was by the direction of her mother brought vp in her Childe-hood by the Countesse of Salisbury her neere kinswoman for that as some thought the Queene wished a marriage betwixt some of her sons and the Princesse to strengthen her Title by that Aliance into Yorke if the King should die without issue Male. In her yong yeeres shee was sued to be married with the Emperour the King of Scots and the Duke of Orleance in France but all these failing and shee succeeding her brother K Edward in the Crowne at the age of thirtie sixe yeeres matched with Phillip King of Spaine to the great dislike of many and small content to her selfe hee being imploied for the most part beyond the Seas for griefe whereof and the losse of Calice shee lastly fell into a burning feauer that cost her her life 145 Elizabeth the second daughter of King Henrie and first childe by Queene Anne his second wife was borne at Greenwich vpon Sunday the seuenth of September the yeere of Christ Iesus 1534 and twenty fiue of her Fathers Raigne who with due solemnities was baptized the Wednesday following Archbishop Cranmer the old Dutches of Norfolke and the old Marchionesse of Dorset being the witnesses at the Font and the Marchionesse of Excester at the confirmation Shee succeeded her sister Queene Marie in the Monarchy of England and was for wisdome vertue piety and Iustice not onelie the Mirrour of her Sexe but a patterne for Gouernment to al the princes in Christendome whose name I may not mention without al dutiful remembrance and whose memory vnto me is most deare amongst the many thousands that receiued extraordinary fauours at her gracious and most liberall hand 146 Another man childe Queene Anne bare vnto King Henry though without life vpon the nine and twentieth of Ianuary and twenty seuen of his Raigne to the no little griefe of the mother some dislike of the King as the sequel of her accusation and death did shortly confirme 147 Edward the last childe of King Henry and first of Queene Iane his third wife was borne at Hampton Court the twelfth of October the yeere of Grace 1537. and twenty nine of the Kings Raigne being cut out of his mothers wombe as is constantly affirmed like as Iulius Caesar is said to haue been his Godfathers at the Font was Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duke of Norfolk his sister Lady Mary being Godmother saith Grafton Sixe daies after his birth he was created Prince of Wales and at the death of his Father succeeded him in all his Dominions of whom more followeth heereafter His Naturall Issue 148 Henrie Fitz-Râ—…ie the naturall sonne of King Henrie the eight was begotten of the Lady 〈◊〉 called Elizabeth Blunt and borne in the Mannor of Blackâ—…moore in Essex about the tenth yeere of his Raigne at the age of sixe yeeres he was created Earle of Nottingham and in the fiue and twentieth of his Fathers Raigne vpon the eighteenth of Iune in the Kings Pallace of Bridewell was made Duke of Richmond and Sommerset Lord Warden of the East West and Middle-Marches against Scotland and Lieutenant Generall of all the parts of England Northward he was a Prince very forward in Marshal Actiuities of Good literature and knowledge in the tongues vnto whom the learned Antiquary Leland dedicated a Booke He married Marie daughter of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke Earle Marshall and Lord high Treasurer of England with whom he liued not long but died at Saint Iames by Westminster the two and twentieth of Iuly in the yeere of Christ Iesus 1536. and was buried at Framingham in Suffolke THe tempestuous 〈◊〉 in the Raigne of this King Henrie the eight and the violent deluge raised against the Church-state of his times bare downe so many religious strong foundations and were the destruction of so many beautifull Monasteries as the onely relation of their numbers and names would haue much interrupted the narration of his history Wherfore to reteinâ—… their memorials though their walles are laid
the crowne As bad his claim as his per on deformed but both made good by flatterers in Parliament Great pitie that so faire stemmes should being forth so bad a branch All promises were not kept as afterward it proued The Lord our God is a consuming fire Deut. 4. 24. A charitable minde in shew but in truth a crafty intent The effect of our English Parliaments The Crowne entailed to king Richard and his heires Prince Edward made heire apparant by Parliament What cannot the Parliament effect where all giue way to the sway of time Eccles. 9. 4. King Richard like vnto Galba a had Subiect but a good Prince King Richard accepteth the Crowne and beginneth his raigne with great applause The new Kings clemency and affability K. Richards dealings double construed The Northerne sent for to the Kings Coronation Iohn Harding Contâ—…er A. D. 1485. States 〈◊〉 by K Richard At Beere or Berry Ex Regist. Oxon. MS. A letter written for the Vniuersity oâ—… O â—…ra in the behalfe of D. Morton * Virgil. Paâ—…e Subiectâ—… c. Salust Dat. Oxâ—…ij in Eccles. S. Mariae Viâ—…g 4. Sexâ—… Bishop Morton committed to the custody of the Duke of Buckinghom The great estate of King Richards coronation Buckingham most richly attired at the kings coronation The order of the Kings proceedings to be crowned Rich. Groston The order of the Queenes proceedings to receiue the crown The King and Queene solemnly annointed and crowned Sir Thâ—… Mooe The time of King Richards raigne full of calamities 〈◊〉 made of the two Princes deathes King Richards progresse towards Glocester Remora a little fish iâ—… reported to haue such strength as it will stay the course of any ship vnder saile The feares of K. Richard King Richard complotteth the death of his Nephewes King Richard his letter to Sir Robert Brakenbury Sir Robert Brakenburies answere vnto Iohn Greene King Richards complaint of Ingratitude Iames Tirrell made the Instrument of murther The parts of Sir Iames Tirrel King Richard consuâ—…red vpon his Nephewes murders sitting on a homely seate Sir Iames ready to fulfil the kings mind in the murther of the Princes The words of Prince Edward when he heard that his â—…ncle should be King The faithfull seruants of the Prince remoued from him Sir Th. Moore Prince Edward and his brother murthered in a featherbed Their bodies were buried vnder a paire of staires The body of the two Princes remoued and buried no man knowes where Hardings continuer The murtherers confesse the deed and maner of their â—…th The report of Sir Tho. Moore The vnconstant state ofmans life Gods iustice and reuenge vpon the murtherers Io. Harding Ruenge of murder repaid The guilty conscience of King Richard Outward enemies arise against King Richard The forward affection of the Duke of Bckingham towards the Duke of Glocester The Duke of Buckingham fals in dislike of king Richard The occasions of the Kings and Dukes falling asunder Buckingham fained himselfe sick not to attend K. Henry The feares of the Duke of Buckingham No such suspition betwixt the King and the Duke as was said to be Sir Thomas Mores opinion of Buckingham The diuers opinions of the King and Dukes falling out The story of Bishop Morton Morton wâ—…d vnto King Edwards side The vnion of Lancaster and Yorke first set 〈◊〉 by Bishop Morton Morton made Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Chancellor and Cardinall His wisedome and experience The deepe polllicy of B. Morton The communication of the Duke and D. Morton Buckingham exciteth the Bishop to reueale his deepest secret It is dangerous to deale in Princes affaires A pretry tale pâ—…hily applied The desire of the Duke to know his meaning Edward â—…ll The Dukes protestation of secrecy The Bishop dealeth plainly with the Duke The dutie of all men towards their natiue countreys The change of state vnder the tyranny of the vsurper Blood cryeth for bloody vengeance The Bishop perswadeth the Duke to take the Crowne vnto himselfe The next dayes conference The Duke discloseth himselfe vnto the Bishop The Protector desired the crowne till the Prince came to the age of 24. yeeres The Protectors words to the Councell Change of State change of manners Why Buckingham fell from the Vsurper Margaret Countesse of Richmund The doubts of the Duke of Buckingham The great and waighty charge of a King Buckinghams resolution concerning the Crown The communication of the Countesse of Richmond with the Duke of Buckingham Henry Earle of Richmond and Ladie Elizabeth must make the vnion With whom and how to begin the intended desigues Reinold Bray the Instrument Bishop Morton escapeth from Brecknocke disguised Lewis a Phiâ—…tian another Instrument Lewis breaketh the intent vnto Queene Elizabeth The meanes to raise the Queens daughter to her right Queene Elizabeth readily receiueth the motion The Queene sendeth to the Countesse The two mothers agreede Vpon the vnion Many drawne into faction against K. Richard Vrswicke sent into Britaine Hugh Conway sent into Britaine Earle Richmund breaketh with the Duke of Dâ—…ine The Duke of Buckingham it sent for by the King The Duke of Buckingham refuseth to come to the Court. Commotions begun King Richards expedition towards 〈◊〉 The Duke prepareth against the King Great matters leâ—…ed that the complices could not 〈◊〉 The Duke of Buckingham â—…peth in sâ—…cres The 〈◊〉 dispersed Many fled into Brâ—…taine to Earle Henry A proclamation for the apprehension of the Duke of Buâ—…kingham Banister betraied his Lord the Duke of Buckingham Buckingham beheaded Banister looseth his reward but findeth punishments A Commotion in Kent King Richard sendeth to the Duke of Britain The Kings brother in law beheaded Earle Henry shipped for England A subtle traine laid for the Earl Earle Henry returneth into Britaine The Lords meet in Britaine The Lords svvear fealty vnto Henry Henry others attainted by Parliament William Collingborne executed for the time K Richard maketh peace with Scotland Iob de la Pole Earle of Lincolne proclaimed heire apparant Offers made to the Duke of Britaine Peter Landose Landose promised to deliuer the Earle Bishop Morton giueth Henry notice of his danger King Charles granteth his safe conduct to Henrie Earle Henry hardly escaped The Duke of Bri taine displeased at Landose The honorable dealings of the Duke of Britaine Iohn Earle of Oxford commeth to Earle Henry Iohn Earle of Oxford in great fauour with Henrie Bishop Fox in great fauor with King Henry The preferments of Bishop Fox Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford founded by Bishop Fox King Richard intendeth to match with his Neece A subtill deuice Many faire promises intending foule ende Queene Elizabeth brought into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King Edwards fiue daughters deliuered to the Tyrant their vncle Queene Elizabeth sendeth for the Marquesse her sonne Queene Anne hindreth the purpose of the King King Richards fained sorrow * Of Canterbury King Richard refraineth his Queenes bed A report giuen foorth that Queene Anne was dead Queene Anne feareth her owne death Her death and buriall place
King Richard courteth Lady Elizabeth Leuit. 18. 14. Thomas Earle of Darby much suspected of the King George Lord Strange deliuered in pledge to King 〈◊〉 Haâ—…es beâ—…ged by the Garrison of Callis The Earle of Oxford freeth his old friends from Haâ—…es King Richards conceit Henry soliciâ—…h the French man by man Marquesse Dorset seeketh to escape froÌ„ Henry King Richard dischargeth his Nauie Earle Henry setteth forward his iourney A sudden feare Henry of Richmund ariueth at Milford hauen Henry sent word of ariuage to his Mother and others Sir Rice ap Thomas ioineth with Henry Sir Gilbert Talbot ioineth with Earle Henry Henry commeth to Lichfield King Richard at Notingham Iohn Duke of Norfolke Henry Earle of Northumberland Thâ—… Earle of Surrey sent for to the King Brakenbury 〈◊〉 Hungerford King Richard put incholler King Richard sets forward to meet his enemy King Richard coÌ„meth to Leicester Sir Thomas and Sir Walter Hungerford turne to Earle Henry Henry Earle of Richmund loseth his way Henries excuse King Richard ter rified with dreadfull dreames Richard set down his battel vpon 〈◊〉 Lord Stanleis answere vnto the Kings message The Lord Strâ—… commanded to be beheaded The order of R. Richards battell King Richardâ—… Oration vnto his Souldiers King Richard confefleth his fault The diuers opinious of King Richards host Lord Stanley sent for to Earle Henrie The Earle marshaleth his batâ—…alions The Earle of Oxford Captaine of the Archers Henry Earle of Richmonds oration The readiâ—… of Earle Henries souldiers The purpose of Earle Henry The fight begun The strength courage of King Richard The two Chieftaines cope together Sir William Stanley commeth in with new supplies The Kings side giue ouer fight The valiant courage of King Richard King Richard slaine Men slaine in the battell Câ—…tesby hâ—…headed The number slain at 〈◊〉 field Harding saith 〈◊〉 Henry proclamed king in the â—…eld Dead Richards body starke naked was trussed vp to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King Richard laid naked to be seene of all His badge defaced and torne downe K Richards monument K. Richards coâ—…â—…n ade a drinking trough A flying prophecy of King Richard With Richards death dieth the quarrell of Yorke and Lancaster Phil. Câ—… l. 1. 6. 7. The description of K. Richard Ioh. Hardings 〈◊〉 Iohn Stow. Iohn Rows Iob. Ross. Warwic Camb. Brit. Monarch 57 Henry VII A. D. 1485. 22. August The date of his raigâ—… commencement Gâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Prâ—… whole 〈◊〉 Conâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 K. Hâ—… 〈◊〉 * Fabian saith Richard fearing little prouided â—…ttle defence Plâ—… Iâ—… The description of K. Henries minde and qualities * Sir Fr. Bacon fâ—…g MS. * Ioh. Da of Hert. MS. * Act. and 〈◊〉 p. 909. * Io. Stow. iâ—… Hen. 7. * Ber. Andr. MS. Fabian Polyd. Verg. c. * Moâ—… at â—…st * Bernard 〈◊〉 Henries first actions after his victorie * Bern. Andr. * Fabian * Bern. Andr. MS. and vpon the 28. of Aug. saith Fabian * Fab. * Stow. His entrance into London * Latenter * See Camb. Mills c. * 30. October Mr. Stow. His Coronation His Marriage with the Lady Elizabeth debated * Holinsh. Edward Earle of Warwicke imprisoned * Bern. Andr. MS. Lady Elizabeth described * Bern. Andr. MS. * Sir Tho. Moore * Bern. Andr. MS. Het Christian Sâ—… chaste meditation about marriage * How then did Andreas know iâ—… either hee doth poetize heere or else had it from her after-relatiâ—… * Iohn Dâ—… of Hereford MS. Holinshed * P. Nouemb. * Hollinsh * The Kings Guard first instituted King Richard and others â—…ed * Holinshed The Crowne entailed vpon King Henry and his heires * 18. Ianuary 1486. The King marieth the Lady Elizabeth * Bern. Andr. MS. Prince Arthur borne * Ber. Andr. M. S. The attempts of the Kings malignats The Lord Louell and the Staffords rebell Hardings continuer saith they had taken Glocester Polyd. Verg. in Henry 7. Holinsh. * Polyd. Verg. Yeere-booke of Henry 7. Anno 2. Traitors taken from Sanctuary and punished He is called Lord Stafford by Hardings contiâ—…er Corn. Tacit. Histor. Suet. in Ner. cap. 57. Counter feit Princes erected to defeate the true * Act 5. Mantell executed in Queene Elizabeths daies for assuming the person of King Edward 6. * Io. Dâ—… M. 〈◊〉 * Polyd. Verg. iâ—… Henry 7. * Io. Dâ—… M. S. The first Idole erected against King Henry * Polyd. Verg. iâ—… Henry 7. A false Edward in the forge * Polyd. Verg. l. 26. Bern. Andr. M. S. Polyd. Verg. H. 7. * Polyd. Ver. ibid. Holinsh. Iohn Stow. Lambert Simâ—…ls Historie rectified and vindicated Bern. Andr. MS. * Iob. Stow was often heard to maintaine this opinion in seeming earnest * Ber. Andr. M. S. Lambert conuaied into Ireland and receiued * Polyd. Verg. Stow cals him Earle of Kildare and Lord Deputy of Ireland Lambert proclamed King of England Conclusions in the Councell of England vpon the fame of this conspiracy Queene Elizabeth depriued of her estate and condemned to a Monastery * Sir Fr. Bacon frog MS. A probable cause why King Henry dealt so rigorously with his â—…ther in law Iohn de la Pole Earle of Lincolne and others flie to the Dutchesse of Burgundy * Polyd. Verg. * Cambd. in Notting * 〈◊〉 Losâ—…e * Ber. Andr. * Phil. de Com. * Iohn Da. MS. * Polyd. Vergil saith he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lambert crowned King of England 〈◊〉 Dublin 〈◊〉 Stow. Bern. Andr. King Henry prouides for battell * Camb. in Oxf. Lambert lands in Lancashire Nottingham the Rendeuow of K. Henries arâ—…y * Hist. Ang. l. 26. Great repaire of the noble and people to his 〈◊〉 Polyd. Uerg. * Polydor eals him Regulus mâ—…ning a Baron 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polydor erroneously Cals him * These three seeme Barons as them whom he meanes by principes viri * Bern. Andr. King Henries Oration before the battell at Stoke Bernard Andr. The battell of Stoke or Stoke field * Polyd. Verg. l. 26. Bern. Andr. * Io. Strâ—… The King prâ—…â—… * Polyd. Vâ—… * Bern. Andr. The Earle of Lincolne and all the chiefe leaders of that side slaine in the field * Polyd. Verg. * Edâ—… Compian Hist. of Ireland * Cr. Salust is 〈◊〉 Catil * Polyd. Verg. But Bernard Andr. saith that very feâ—… were flaine * Frâ—… MS. * Vapulâ—… Bern. Andr. MS. * Io. Da. MS. * Thomas 〈◊〉 in H. 4 〈◊〉 * Polyd. Verg. 〈◊〉 who also followes Polydor. * Polyd. Verg. Io. Da. of Her MS. * Polyd. Verg. Lamberts fortunes * Io. Da. MS. * 16. 〈◊〉 A. D. 1487. A. Reg. 〈◊〉 * Bern. And. Ms. * Polyd. Verg. * A. Reg. 〈◊〉 Ambassadors into Scatland * Lâ—…st 〈◊〉 Iocob 3. Bishop Fâ—…xe first a great furtherer and now a chiefe preseruer of King Henries Regality * Bern. Andr. MS. The Dulchesse of Burgundies immortall malice * Polydor. Uirg * Bern. Andr. * 3. â—…mber Anno D. 1â—…87 * Add. to Fab. Elizabeth Crowned Queene of England A difficult case whether King Henry
thâ—… Tragicall effects * Polyd. Verg. A counterfeit Earle of Warwick executed * Addit to Fab. * Holinshed The true Earle of Warwicke designed to die * Stowes Annal. Perkin condemned executed A. D. 1499. An. Reg. 15. The Earle of Warwicks ruined by Perkins conspiracie Io. Sotw Annal. The Earle confesseth the enditement * Sir F. B. MS. Edward Earle of Warwicke last Male Plausageâ—… beheaded * Ioh. Stow. Annal. * Sir Fr. B. MS. * Polyd. Verg. A. D. 1501. An. Reg. 17. The Lady Katherine of Spaine landed in England Polyd. Verg. in Henirc 7. * Add. to Feb. * Res edmirabiles opera 〈◊〉 * Franc. Tarapha de Reg. Hisp. The briefe of 〈◊〉 and â—…bellas greatest actions * Luc. Marin Sic. Lib. 10. Isabella Queene of Spaine descended from our Edward the 3. King of England * Auton Hebriâ—… Decad I. lib. 1. * Polyd. Verg. 〈◊〉 Hen. 7. * Luc. Marin Sic. Prince Arthur married * Addit to Fab. saith on a Sunday the feast of S. Erkenwald * 10. Stows Annal. Prince Arthur dieth * Bern. Andr. MS. Prince Arthurs bookes and learning A. D. 1501. An. Reg. 17. * The coÌ„tract betweene Iames King of Scots and Lady Margaret published * Ioh. Stow Annal. in Iac. 4. * Polyd. virg Episc. Ross. Bishop Fox his presence desired by the Scotish King * Episc. Ross. ex Polyd. verg King Henries answere to an obiection against the match with Scotland A. D. 1502 An. Reg. 18. King Henry a Widdower and Henry his sonne created Prince of Wales * See in the life of Henry the 8 * 〈◊〉 Stow Ananl K. Henry brings his daughteâ—… the Lady Margares on the way to Scotland * Epis. Ross. The Earle of Northumberlâ—… deliuers her to King Iames within Scotland * Iâ—… Iac. 4. The immediate happy effect of this marriage * A. D. 1506 A. R. 21. * Addit to Fab. cals him Duke A Prince of the bloud roiall arraigned for murther of a priuate person The Earle of Suffolke causeth troubles Polyd. Verg. Edw. Hal. Hollinsh * Io. Stow. Annal. * Polyd. Verg. Apprehensions of persons for the Earle of Suffolkes cause * Polyd. Verg. The misery of great subiect and a lesson for theÌ„ Executions for the Earle of Suffolkes cause * Stowes Annal. * Add. to Fab. * Addit to Fab. The Earle or Duke of Suffolke and Sir Robert Curson others accursed Antiquit. Britan. in Mortons life names Innocentius and not Alexander * Polyd. Uerg. Antiquis Brit. in vita Morton Antiquit. Britan. Ibidem Philip the first King of Spaine and his Queene driuen by tempests into England A. D. 1506. An. Reg. 21. * Ioh. Stow. Annal. Polydor saith Wayâ—…outh * Io. Sotw Annal. The Kings of England and Spaine at Windsore Polyd. Verg. The Earle of Suffolke deliuered vp and sent to the Tower The ominous fall of the weather cocke of Pauls * Suet. in Ang. cap. 97. King Henries gathering of treasure * Nâ—…n tam seueritatis quam anaritia tela esse clamabant * Sir F. B. MS King Henry giues way to the needlesse molestation of his people * Sir Fr. B. MS Addit to Hard. The foule practises vsed to empouerish the subiect * Cor. Tacit. * Polyd. Verg. * 10. Stow Annals A. D. 1508. A. R. 23. The King falleth sicke Pol. Verg. King Henry seeks to assure his daughter Mary to Charles King of Castile The French King sends for aduise to the King of Scots * Epis. Ross. * Polyd. Verg. The Lade Mary promised to King Charles A. D. 1508. A. Reg. 24. K. Henry the 7. dies * Iohn Stowe Generall pardons granted by the King * Sir Fr. B. MS. Io. Stow. Annal. The yeere of his age and raigne A Saint lost for want of pay * Cambden in Surrey See more Supra in Edward 4. §. 79. 80. * Addit to Fab. King Henry saluted Defensor of Christs Church by three Popes Monarch 58 Henry VIII A. D. 1509. King Henry his birth place Polydor. The most learned King of Christendomâ—… King Henry and Queene Katheâ—… crowned Edw. Hall King Henry vsed to sit often in Councell him selfe in person Dudley Empson Ioh. Stow. Hollinsh pag. 791. Edw. Hall In Yocester Northamptonshire Edmund Dudley condemned Io. Sotw Annal. K. Heâ—…ies iustice and charity commended Holinsh. Henry a goodly man of shape and stature K. Henries great strength The Popes letters vnto King Henry K. Henry demanded France Iohn Lesly Bishop of Rosse A. D. 1510. K. Henry maketh league with many Princes Guiccardin King Henry entreth France An. Reg. 1. Edw. Hal. Sleidans Com. The Emperour serueth K. Henry Anglorum praelia Paulus Iouius Battell of Spurs A. D. 1513 August 24 Terwin wonne and the Citâ—…zens sworne vnto Henry Edw. Hall Turnay befieged by K. Henry The strength of Turnay A. D. 1513. Octob. 2. King Henry in triumph entred Turnay Ioh. Lesly K. Iames of Scotland incited by the French King Edw. Hal. Holinsh. See the contents of this letter in Ioh. Leslie Bishop of Rosse dated at Edenbrough the twenty sixt of Iuly in A. D. 1513. Lions terrified at K. Henries answeres See the contents of this letter in Holinshed dated from the Campe at the fiege of Terwin the 12. of August A. D. 1513. Iames King of Scotland enters England Thomas Earle of Surrey King Henries Lieutenant maketh towards the Scots Lord Howard profereth battel vnto K. Iames. King Iames accepteth of battel Iohn Lesly The fight begun Paulin 〈◊〉 The Scots at the first encounter be at the English backe The battels ioin The Scots put to flight The valiant courage of K. Iames. 〈◊〉 king of Scots slaine with 12. Earles and 17. Lords The Honourable receiuing of Cardinall Campiut Matth. 21 9. The Cardinals rich treasures shewed in Cheap side Charles the Emperour cometh into England Iohn Stow. Rich. Turpin King Henrie goeth into France Rich. Grafton Edw. Hall A. D. 1521. An. Reg. 13. Variance betwixt England and France Iohn Stow. R. Grafton Taken out of the Cardinals owne letters dated Ianuary 16. Anno. 1524. Duke Burbon made King Henries Captaine General Instructions of King Henry dated in Anno 1524. Rich. Pace Secretarie The English Embassages into forraine States The wrongs done by the French vnto the English Iohn Lest. The Queenes Dowry vapaid A. D. 1522. A generall muster Io. Stow. Charles the Emperour commeth againe into England Holinsh. in Anno 18. Henrie 8. The Emperour affianceth Lady Mary Iohn Sleidan Com. K. Henry wrote against Martin Luther The Popes Oration at the deliuery of K. Henries booke Ex Original Troubles in Ireland Holinsh pag. 84. Discention betwixt the Lord Deputies of Ireland Kildare accused to the Cardinall The Cardinals speech at the Counsell Table against Kildare Kildare interrupteth the Cardinals tale The Lords tender Kildare He answereth the Cardinals obiection In what ease stand the Noblemen of Ireland with Rebels Kildare committed to prison Kildare accused for suborning of Traitors Kildar committed to the Tower Kildares noble
the first and second Kings of the West-Saxons and the third and fourth Monarchs of the Englishmen She was the second Kings wife that was debarred of the title and place of Queene Shee deceased three years before the King her husband in the nineteenth yeare of his raigne being the yeare of Christs Natiuity eight hundred fifty fiue 10 Iudith his second wife was the daughter of Charles the Emperour and King of Fraâ—…e as wee haue said her Mother was Queene 〈◊〉 the daughter of Vodon Earle of Orlâ—…ance She was a Lady of passing beauty and marryed to this King in France and when she came into England was receiued with the title and place of a Queene in abolishment of the peruerse law of the VVest-Saxons made against the Kings VViues as before was touched She was his wife three yeares and suruiued him without any issue His Issue 11 Ethelbald the eldest sonne of King Ethelwolfe and of Lady Osburg his first wife was brought vp in his youth in the exercise of warre and serued vnder his Father in the great victory obtained against the Danes at Ocley in Surrey in the yeare eight hundred fifty one afterwards hee turned his force against his Father and at his returne from Rome practised to defeat him of his Kingdome and was ready to haue giuen him battaile had not his Father parted with him his Dominion 12 Ethelbert the second son of King Ethelwolfe and Lady Osburg his first wife was in the life time of his Father after the decease of his vncle Ethelstan appointed and placed his Successor in his Kingdome ouer the South-Saxons the Kentish and the East-Saxons without any mention or meaning as it seemeth that hee should intermeddle further with any other part of England Notwithstanding after the death of his brother Ethelbald it was generally holden of all men for law equity and reason that he should succeed him in the Monarchy and so he did with the consent of his Brethren and without resistance or contradiction of any other 13 Ethelred the third sonne of King Ethelwolfe and Lady Osburg his first wife had by the disposition of his Father in his last will the one halfe of his Fathers proper inheritance which was all such land as King Egbert his Grandfather had before hee was King and was no part of the Demaines of the Kingdome and this was diuided betwixt him and his brother Elfred as the kingdome was betweene their elder Brethren Ethelbald and Ethelbert with an intent that this Ethelred should succeed his brother Ethelbald in the kingdome of the West-Saxons notwithstanding his brother Ethelbert after the decease of King Ethelbald entred into the other part adioining it to his former kingdome and was king of the whole and after left it entire to this Ethelred who succeeded him in the Monarchy 14 Elfred the fourth sonne of King Ethelwolfe and of Lady Osburg his first wife was borne at Wantage in Barkeshire in the yeare of our Lord God eight hundred forty nine and the thirteenth of his fathers raign Being a child of fiue yeeres old he was sent very honourably attended to the City of Rome where Leo the fourth then Bishoppe confirmed him was his Godfather at the confirmation and annointed him to the expectation of a kingdome growne in yeares hee grew so in discretion magnanimity and fauour of all men that in the successiue raignes of his three elder Brethren he ruled as a Vice-roy or secondary king vnder euery of them and after them at the last succeeded in the English Monarchy 15 Ethelfwith the daughter of King Ethelwolfe and Lady Osburg was maried to Burthred the twentieth King of Mercia which mariage was solemnized at the towne of Chippinham in Wiltshire in the moneth of Aprill and yeare of Christs Natiuity eight hundred thirty fiue and the fifteenth of her fathers raigne but within twenty two years after they were both forced by the Danes to abandon their kingdom and departed into Italy where the King died the same yeare in the English Colledge at Rome shee liued after him fifteene yeares in the habite of a Nâ—…ne at the City of Padâ—…a and there died and was honourably buried in the yeare of our Lord God eight hundred eighty nine which was the eighteenth yeare of her brother King Elfreds raigne 16 Neâ—…te supposed by Iohn Capgraâ—…e the Legend writer to be the sonne of King Ethelwolfe was in his youth brought vp at Glastenbery vnder Dunstan who was afterward Arthbishop of Caâ—…terbury He proued a man of great learning and was one of the first Readers of Diuinity in the Vniuersity of Oxford at the foundation or as some will haue it the restauration thereof by King Elfred hee planted a Monastery in Cornwall whereunto hee vsed for deuotion and studious meditations often to withdraw himselfe which of his abode there was afterward called Neotestoke and when he was dead his body was with great honour enterred in the County of Huntingdon at a place then called Anulfesbery and afterward in regard of his enterment Saint Neotes and now Saint Needes ETHELBALD THE TVVENTIETH KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS AND THE TWENTIE ONE MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS ACTS AND RAIGNE CHAPTER XXXIII EThelbald the eldest sonne of king Ethelwolfe hauing had part of the kingdome in the life time of his Father after his death entred vpon the whole and was the twentieth King of the West Saxons and the twenty one Monarch of the Englishmen beginning his raigne in the yeere of Christs incarnation eight hundred fiftie seuen 2 His youth he had spent in the exercise of war hauing made proofe of valour in his seruice against the Danes in many battels and likewise attempted though not in so good a cause to haue fought against his owne father Which his assaies as they seemed violent and vnnaturall yet being in the quarrell of the West-Saxons law enacted in preiudice of their Queenes he was both sided and approued as hath been said 3 But howsoeuer vnwilling he was this faire Queene should sit in state by his fathers side yet contrary to all lawes either of God or man hee laid her by his owne and by nuptiall rites brought her to his sinfull and incestuous bed Which act though foule enough some haue made worse in reporting his Wife to be his owne Mother whom King Ethelwolfe kept for his Concubine And surely this his sin was not long vnpunished by the shortnesse of his raigne and life leauing no other memory of his acts besides this foule blot to his faire name 4 His raigne was onely two yeeres and an halfe and death chanced vpon the twentieth day of December the yeere of Christs assuming our flesh eight hundred sixtie His body was first buried at Shâ—…rburne in the County of Dorset where at that time was the Cathedrall Church and Episcopall See but afterwards was remoued and enterred at Salesbury in the County of Wiltshire His Wife 5 Iudith the
Wife of King Ethelbald was the widow of his owne Father a most vnlawfull matrimonie contracted against all law of God or of nature which being both dissolued and punished by the hastie death of the King and she returning towards her father and Country in Flanders was rauished by Baldwin the Forester of Arden in France and by him forcibly kept vntill shee consented to become his wife who in regard of that marriage when he was reconciled to the Emperor Charles her Father was by him created the first Earle of Flanders by whom she had issue Baldwin the second who espoused Lady Elfrid the youngest daughter of Elfred King of England from whom through fiue descents lineally Maâ—…d Queene of England Wife to William the Conquerour descended and from her all our Norman English Kings vnto this day ETHELBERT THE TVVENTIETH ONE KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS AND THE TWO AND TWENTIETH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS RAIGNE AND ISSVES CHAPTER XXXIIII EThelbert the second sonne of King Ethelwolfe who had succeeded his Vnckle Ethelstan in the kingdome of the South-Saxons Kentish and East-Saxons and for fiue yeeres continuance ruled those Countries with great equity and valour after the decease of his brother Ethelbald succeeded him also both in the West-Saxons kingdome and the whole Lands Monarchie whereof he was the one and twentieth King and the two and twentieth Monarch 2 His raigne began in the yeere after Christs natiuity eight hundred and sixtie and was disquieted from first to last by the inuasions of the bloudy Danes For presently after his coronation these common enemies entred the Land ruinating all before them vnto the Citie Winchester which they sacked and left it troden vnder their destroying feete euen to the ground But in their returne were encountred by the Barkshire-men vnder the leading of Osrick Earle of Hampton by whom they were vanquished the prey recouered and a great number of those Infidels slaine 3 In his first yeere also a nauie of Danes and Normans entred into the Iland Tanet and began their wonted spoiles among those people whereupon the Kentish compounded their peace for a great sum of money giuen Notwithstanding these miscreants which knew not God gaue little regard to their promised couenants and before the daies of truce were expired like a sudden floud ouer-bare all before them These their irruptions to withstand the Kentish then prepared rather aduenturing themselues vpon the chance of battell then to rest vpon a seeming truce wherein their destruction was too apparant and forthwith assembling all the powers together set vpon those truce-breakers and with much slaughter forced them at length out of their Country 4 But the date of King Ethelberts life being expired hee yeelded his body to the course of nature and his Kingdomes to his next Brother after he had raigned ouer the Kentish South and East-Saxons the terme of ten yeeres and had sate Monarch of the whole onely fiue He died the yeere of grace eight hundred sixty six and was honourably buried in the Cathedrall Church of Shirburne in Dorset-shire by his brother King Ethelbald Hiâ—… supposed Issue 5 Athelm the brothers sonne of King Elfred mentioned in the last will and testament of the same King seemeth by all likelihood to be the eldest son of this King Ethelbert elder brother to the same King Elfred although hee succeeded not his father in his Kingdome For in those daies if the Kings sonne were vnder age the succession went to the next brother and if that brother left his sonne at full age then it went vnto him otherwise it reuerted to the elder brothers sonne 6 Ethelwald surnamed Clitâ—… which is a word of addition giuen to all the Saxon Kings sonnes of England is mentioned in King Elfreds wil to be his brothers sonne and is most likely to be the sonne of this King Ethelbert he prooued a most deadly enemy to his cosen King Edward the sonne of King Elfrid his Vncle destroying his townes in Dorset-shire and being driuen out of England ioined himselfe with the Danes who made him their King in Northumberland and vnder his leading greeuously assailed the Countries of the East-Saxons East-Angles and Mercians wherein hee was lastly slaine the yeere of our Lord nine hundred and fiue being the fourth of King Edward his cosen-germanes raigne ETHELRED THE TVVO AND TVVENTIETH KING OF THE WEST-SAXONS AND THE TWENTY THIRD MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN HIS ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER XXXV EThelred the third sonne of King Ethelwolfe after the decease of his Brother succeeded him in his Dominions and was in number the two and twentieth King of the West-Saxons and the twenty third Monarch of the Englishmen he beganne his raigne in the yeare of our saluation eight hundred sixty and six and for the time that hee was King raigned in continuall warres against the Pagan Danes whose numbers now were greater and footing surer in this land then formerly had beene 2 In the first yeare of his raigne there arriued vpon the English coasts a huge Army of these Danes whereof Hungar and Hubba men of incredible strength and cruelty were the Captaines These wintred in East Anglia made truce with the inhabitants vpon certaine conditions and forbare a time from their wonted rauening 3 But in the next yeare the King being busied to put backe a fresh inrode of Danes in the South and West of the Iland then entred these deuourers tooke aduantage vpon the ciuil broiles commenced among the Northumbrians who in these turmoiled times sought to withdraw their subiections from the West Saxons and to set vp Kings againe of their owne The foresaid Captaines Hungar and Hubba hauing in time of their truce strengthned themselues with new supplies of aid marched further into the North where finding the people vnprouided of strength and the two Kings Osbright and Ella of reconciled enemies to be made no sure friends they harried the Country before them and entring Yorke slew the two Kings with infinit number of the English which City they consumed with fire and burnt therein all those that had fled thither for succour 4 The State thus standing and their forces encreasing euery day brought new feares vpon the inhabitants when euery late victory with increase of Captiues and rich spoiles ministred occasion meanes of some other conquest to follow which these Pagans so pursued till lastly they set a substitute King to raigne vnder them ouer all the North Borders beyond the riuer Tyne and so retiring themselues out of Northumberland into Mercia came to Nottingham which City they wanne and therein wintred the third of King Ethelreds raigne who with the aid of Burthred the Mercian King constrained the Danes to sue for peace and a safe departure yeelding the City and againe retyring themselues ouer Tyne remained in Yorke all the next winter 5 The Summers opportunity approching their wonted desire for spoile was with it encreased and
retained life And the King of Norway sent him a goodly shippe with a guilt sterne purple sailes and the decke garnished all with gold 13 Of these accounted holy reliques King Ethelstan gaue part vnto the Abbey of S. Swithen in Winchester and the rest to the Monastery of Malmesbury whereof Adelme was the founder and his Tutelar Saint in honour of whom he bestowed great immunities vpon the towne and large endowments vpon the Abbey hee new built the monasteries of Wilton Michelnesse and Midleton founded Saint Germans in Cornwal Saint Petrocus at Bodman the Priory of Pilton new walled and beutified the City of Exceter and enriched euery famous Abbey in the land either with new buildings Iewels Books or Reuenewes 14 As also hee did certaine Cities with the Mintage of his money whereof in London were eight houses at Winchester sixe at Lewis two at Hastings two in Hampton two in Warham two in Chichester one in Rochester three two for the King and one for the Bishop at Canterbury seuen foure for himselfe two for the Archbishop and one for the Abbat although it appeareth the Archbishop had his before the raigne of this King For among these ancient Saxon-Coines we find one of Ceolnothus who sate there Archbishop in the yeare 831. which both for the antiquity authority of truth wee haue here inserted 15 This Prince King Ethelstan was of an indifferent stature not much exceeding the common sort of men chearefull in countenance his haire verie yellow and somewhat stooped forward as he went for valour inuincible in resolution constant and for his curtesie beloued of all he raigned in great honour the space of fifteene yeares and odde monethes and deceased in the City of Gloucester vpon wednesday the seuenteenth of October and was buried at Malmesbury the yeere of Christs Natiuity 940. hauing neuer had wife mentioned in our histories His supposed Issue 16 Leoneat the supposed daughter of King Ethelstan is reported by Iohn Rouse and Papulwick writers of the mistrusted story of Guy of Warwicke to bee married vnto Reynburn Earle of Warwicke and sonne to the same Guy whose remembrance and reputation is preserued kept with no lesse renowne among the common people for the liberty of England saued by his victory in single combate against Colbrand the Dane then was Horatius the Romane for the preseruatio of Rome whose historie I wil leaue for others to enlarge that haue more leasure bettet inuention EDMVND THE TVVENTIE SIXTH KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS AND TWENTIE SEVENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS RAIGNE ACTS DEATH WIFE AND ISSVE CHAPTER XXXIX EDmund the fifth sonne of King Edward borne vnto him by Queene Edgiua his third and last wife at the age of nineteen yeeres succeeded his brother King Ethelstan in his kingdome and Monarchy hee began his raigne the yeare of the worlds saluation 940. and with great solemnity was crowned at Kingston vpon Thamesis in the fifth yeare of Otho the first Emperour of that name and his brother in law his valour had often beene tried in the warres of King Ethelstan against those stout and sturdy enemies the Danes Scotish Irish and Welshmen that often had assaied to disturbe his peace 2 Athelstan deceased and the crowne scarse set vpon King Edmunds head but that the Danes in Northumberland disliking subiection called again Anlafe out of Ireland to be their King who now in the infancy of Edmunds estate with great power of men purposed to subdue all before him but Edmund as forward with full resolution ment to keepe what was got and so gathering his power proceeded towards the North and at Leicester encountred with the Danes howbeit through the interceding of the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke Odo and Wolston the matter was mitigated before it came to the vttermost 3 The next yeare of his raigne the said Anlafe whom some hold to haue beeene the King of Norway being dead an other Anlafe sonne to King Sithrick of whom we haue spoken intruded vpon the Kingdom of Northumberland These heads as Hidras springing vp each after others drew King Edmund againe into the North who raging like a prouoked Lion subdued as he went those townes where the Danes kept and got from them Lincolne Leicester Darbie Stafford and Nottingham compelling them to receiue Baptisme and to become his Subiectes so that the Country was wholy his vnto Humber These his proceedings caused Anlafe and Reinold the sonnes of the Danish Gurmo subduers of Yorke to yeeld themselues wholy to his deuotion offering him subiection and withall to receiue the Christian faith for performance wherof they likewise receiued Baptisme vnto whom King Edmund was Godfather to Reinold at his Confirmation and to Anlafe at the Font but how soone they fell from both the sequell shewed for casting off the faith and fealty thus promised they stirred the Northumbrians to another rebellion yet with no better successe then desert for they were forced into a perpetuall exile and King Edmund adioined that Country to his owne gouernment without the admittance of any Secondary or Vice-roy to rule there vnder him 4 Cumberland also which seldome was quiet hauing beene a Kingdome entire of it selfe and now aided by Leolin King of Southwales he vtterly wasted and apprehending the two sonnes of Dunmaile King of that Prouince commanded the eyes of those ouer-bold Princes to be puld out and gaue their inheritance to Malcolme King of Scots to hold the same by fealty from him Thus by power and policie clearing those coasts whence the sharpest stormes had continually blowne hee returned into the South and there set himselfe to ordaine lawes for the good of his people the which left time the consumer of al things might chance to obliterate were by the labours of the learned Lambert translated into Latine and imprinted in the yeare 1568. next to shew his loue to God and bounty to his Church he gaue the towne of Saint Edmondsbury with the liberties thereof wholy to that Martyr and to the Monks that liued in seruing at his Altars 5 But as each thing hath his spring growth decay so all men their dates howsoeuer eminent in degree the shank of their Compas so set in a center that the Circle of their lines are oftentime abrupt before it be drawn to the full round for so with others we may see in this Monarch who being safely returned from many great dangers of war at peace in his Pallace came to a lamentable vnexpected end for at his Manor of Pucle-kerkes in the County of Gloucester whiles hee interposed himselfe betweene his Sewer and one Leoue to part a fray was with a thrust through the body wounded to death the twenty sixt of May in the yeare of our saluation 946. when hee had prosperously raigned the space of fiue yeares and seuen moneths and his body with no lesse sorrow
durst not attempt any thing against her Shee in silence kept her selfe quiet looking for the issue of his designes But Harold malitiously purposing tooke counsell how hee might traine into his Haye the sonnes of Queene Emma that so all occasion of dangers against him might at once for all bee cut off many proiects propounded this lastly tooke effect that a letter should be counterfeited in Queen Emma's name vnto her sonnes Edward and Alfred to instigate them to attempt the crowne vsurped by Harold against their right the tenure whereof we haue thought good here to insert 5 Emma Queene onely in name to Edward and Alfred her sonnes sendeth motherly greetings Whilest seuerally wee bewaile the death of our Soueraigne my Lord and your Father and your selues deare sonnes still more and more dispossessed from the Kingdome your lawfull inheritance I greatly maruaile what you determine to doe sith you know that the delay of attempts giues the vsurper more leasure to lay his foundation and more safely to set thereon his intended buildings for incessantly hee posteth from towne to towne and from City to City to make the Lords and Rulers thereof his either by threates prayers or present rewards But this in priuate they signifie that they had rather one of you their Natiues should raigne ouer them then this vsurper Danish stranger Wherfore my desire is that either of you secretly and with all speed come vnto mee whereby wee may aduise together what is to be done in this so great an enterprise then whose good successe I desire nothing more Faile not therefore to send word by this my messenger how you meane to proceed and so fare yee well my deerest bowels very inwards of my heart 6 These letters thus carried and cunningly deliuered were digested as sauouring of no falshood and by the bringers others returned that Alfred should come shortly ouer to attend his mothers designes these brought vnto Harold the coastes were fore-laid and longing expectation attended the prey Alfred as forward to set on his voyage made Baldwin Earle of Flanders his and some few Bullogners increasing his Fleet hee tooke the seas for England where comming to shore Earle Goodwin met him and binding his assurance with his corporall oath became his liege-man and guide to Queene Emma but being wrought firme for Harold trecherously led these strangers a contrary way and at Guilford lodged them in seuerall companies making knowne to the King what he had done who forthwith apprehended them euen in their beds and in the morning as chained prisoners committing them to slaughter contrary to the wonted manner of military decimation did spare and exempt onely euery teath man for seruice or sale Prince Alfred himselfe was sent prisoner to the Isle of Ely where hauing his eyes inhumanely put out liued not long after in torment and griefe 7 Some adde vnto the former an other much more horrible kind of cruelty as that his belly was opened and one end of his bowels drawn out and fastned to a stake his body pricked with sharpe needles or poinards was forced about till all his entrails were extracted in which most sauage torture hee ended his innocent life 8 Harold thus freed from one the other hee thought would no further attempt and therefore the more boldly set himselfe against their mother Queene Emma whose goods he confiscated and banished her out of the Realme who thus distressed was honourably receiued and for three yeeres space maintained by Baldwin Earle of Flanders 9 The Dane then seeing his hazards thus preuented sought so to secure himselfe and with sixeteene shippes of the Danish Fleete kept the seas which continued euer in a readinesse and waffed from Port to Port to the maintenance whereof he charged the English with great paimēts to their no little grudge repining wherby he lost the loue of his subiects before it had well taken root in their hearts 10 Neither yet held hee on long in these disroiall courses for that his speedy death did cut off the infamy of a longer life and is said to haue died at Oxford in the moneth of Aprill the yeer of Christ Iesus 1040 after hee had raigned foure yeeres some moneths whose body was at first interred at Westminster hauing beene neither in warres so hardy nor in gouernment so prosperous as his Father Canut before him had beene not left behind him eyther wife or children to suruiue his person or reuiue his name HARDICANVTE THE THIRD DANISH KING THAT RAIGNED IN ENGLAND AND THE THIRTIE SIXT MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN HIS RAIGNE AND DEATH CHAPTER V. THe States of the land aswell English as Danes that had stood for Harold both in obtaining and keeping the Crowne now seeing him fallen thought it best to make way for their peace before Hardicanut by his sword should purchase their subiection therefore with all hast they sent into Denmarke with proffers of the scepter and their forward allegiance only vnto him Those parts beyond seas were not then so subiectiue as to build his hopes there vpon any sure ground for the Norwegians had thrust out his halfe-brother Sweyne and had elected Magnus the son of Olaffe for their King so that small assurance could he perceiue of any quiet common-weale among them and therefore fore-slowing not the offer immediately imbarked his men of warre and with so fauourable a wind tooke seas that he arriued vpon the coast of Kent the sixt day after hee had set saile out of Denmarke and with great pompe conueied to London was there proclaimed Englands King 2 Hee beganne his Raigne in the yeere of Grace one thousand and forty and was crowned in London by Elnothus Arch-bishoppe of Canterbury beeing the thirty sixt Monarch of the English-men his raigne was spent in doing nothing vnlesse you will say in doing euill hee did something 3 For no sooner had he a power to command but he forthwith commanded the body of his halfe-brother the deceased King to bee digged vp and with spitefull disgrace to bee throwne into Thamisis where it remained vntill a Fisherman found it and buried it in the Church-yard of S. Clement without Temple-Barre commonly called Saint Clement-Danes for that saith Stow it was the burying place of the Danes this crueltie shewed was pretended for the hard vsage of Queene Emma his mother though partly spiced with reuenge for his vsurpation of the Crowne against him 4 Yet is worthily to bee commended for the reuerent regard hee bare to his Mother and louing affection to his Brother for no sooner was hee risen out of the throne of his Coronation but that hee sent honorable Embassage vnto Earle Baldwine with many thankes to him for her princely vsage and for her to returne into England to her former estate and place of Queene His brother Prince Edward comming ouer to visite them both was most honourably receiued retained and dismissed and these are the vertues regardable in
whereupon the King designed young Edgar his sonne the heire apparent and gaue him the surname of Adeling a name of great honor appropriated to the Princes of the blood and men capable of the Crowne 11 Besides these former attempts certaine Danish Pirates entred the Port of Sandwich which with all the Sea-Coasts of Essex they spoiled and in Flaunders made Marchandize of their prey The Irish likewise with thirty sixe shippes entred Seuern and with the assistance of Griffith king of South-Wales burnt or flew all that they found against whom Alfred Bishop of Worcester went and fought but with such successe that many of his Souldiers were slaine and the rest put to flight which made the Welshmen far more bold and Rese the brother of Griffith make many incursions to fetch preyes out of England till at length he was slaine at Bulerden and his head presented to king Edward at Gloucester 12 His domesticall molestations were chieflie by Earle Goodwin and his sonnes and those first springing vpon this following occasion Eustace the elder Earle of Bulloigne who had married Gods sister by the fathers side to King Edward came into England to visite him then lying at Gloucester and returning homeward at Canterbury his Herbinger dealing roughlie with a Burgesse for lodgings caused his owne death which when his Lord heard of thirsting for reuenge he slew eighteene Citizens in the heat of his furie the Canterburians in as great a rage gotte them to armour and slew twenty of his retinew wounding many more and made the Earle to recoile whose greeuous complaint comming to the King he commanded Goodwin to see execution done vpon the offenders Earle Goodwin not hastie to follow his commission aduised the King to examine the cause before he massacred his true subiects at the instigation of Strangers whereat King Edward was highly offended and Goodwin thereby gained great loue of the Commons This occasioned Robert Gemeticensis a Norman first made Bishop of London and after Arch-bishop of Canterbury to spred the Curtaine of disfauour betwixt Goodwin and the King vrging his refusall as an Act of Contempt wherein more dangers might lie hid then were to be suffered whereupon Edward called an assembly of Estates appointing a day of meeting at Gloucester 13 The Commons whose common guise is deadly to hate all strangers though many times well deseruing now seeing Earle Goodwin in danger for their good were easily drawne to assist him and his cause and in warlike manner garded his person at Beuerstane not farre from the King The Estates assembled and Goodwin sent for he refused to come pretending seruice against the Welsh then ready to make inroades and that his presence was more needfull there then at Court albeit the Welsh-men cleared themselues by sending their Ambassadors vnto the King The suspitions increasing great preparation on both sides was made to assist the King came Leofricke the worthy Earle of Chester Siward the stoute Earle of Northumberland and Rodulfe Earle of Hereford his sister Godas sonne by her first husband Walter de Maigne 14 To Goodwin repaired his people of Southerie and Kent and to him were brought by Swaine his sonne the men of Oxford Sommerset Hereford Gloucester and Berk-shires vnto whom Harold his other sonne ioined those of Essex Norfolke Suffolke Cambridge and Huntingdon-shires so that his host was exceedingly great and his mind thereby so inflated that from Langton where hee lay hee sent a bold and Traiterous demand to the King to haue Earle Eustace of Bulloigne with all his French and Normans that kept then in the Castle of Douer to bee deliuered vnto him and his sonnes which beeing as good reason was refused the Battle was prepared and brought to the verie point of hazard and ruine of all For in that quarrell were assembled the greatest Peeres and Lords of the Land the Kings loue swaying very much with many but yet the hatred towards Strangers possessing the hearts of more The beginning thus doubtfull and the end like to prooue dangerous the matter both with great foresight and prouidence was referred vnto Parliament to bee holden at London with all conuenient hast whereunto pledges were both giuen and receiued on either parts 15 King Edward strongly guarded with an Army of the Mercians and Northumbrians entred London and Goodwin with his sonnes in warlike manner came into Southwarke to his owne house But his Army wauering and as bad causes consciences make men doe suspecting the worst by little and little shrunke away from him which knowne to the King he presently pronounced sentence of banishment vnto Goodwin and his fiue sonnes without further proceeding by way of Parliament as was determined Goodwin therefore with great riches and his three sonnes Swaine Tostie and Girth sailed into Flanders and Harold with his brother Leofwine from Bristow passed into Ireland who were no sooner gone but the King proclaimed them Out-lawes and gaue the Earldome of Harold vnto Algar the son of Leofrick Earle of Chester This Leofricke is he which at his Countesses request freed the Citie Couentrie of their importable tribute imposed as we haue elsewhere said 16 In the second yeere of Goodwins banishment both himselfe and those his sonnes with him hauing gotten ships conuenient for warre in manner of Pirats came vpon the coasts of Kent and Sussex doing much harme and returning with spoiles the like did Harold and Leofwin from Scotland vpon the westerne coasts of Sommerset and Deuonshires who thence coasting about the point of Cornwall ioined their Fleet with their Fathers in the I le of Wight 17 Against them King Edward prepared himselfe though aged with a Nauie of sixtie ships well furnished for warre meant to haue made an end of that businesse by the destruction of his aduersaries but the Nauies ready to ioine battell God tooke the cause into his owne hand and with a thicke fogge so ouer-spread the seas that one Fleet could not thereby see another in which Goodwin and his complices by contrary windes were driuen to the place from whence they came King Edward still in iealousie of Goodwins returne rigged forth forty tall ships to secure the seas which kept not so strong a watch but that Goodwin got by them solliciting the people of Kent Sussex and Surrey vnto his aid and entring Thamesis did the like vnto them in London who accepted of his arriuage though King Edward lay there so that without disturbance his Nauie fell vp with the tide through the south Arch of the Bridge a mighty army to his aid mustered vpō the same side of the riuer 18 The Nobilitie then seeing side against side and all of them meere English ready to hazard their bloud in the quarrels of strangers wrought so with Edward and Goodwin that they came vnto peace and pledges were againe deliuered for the performance whereof Wilmot the sonne of Earle Goodwin and Hacun the sonne of Swaine his eldest were sent
to Duke William of Normandy so great a trust he euer reposed in strangers This Swaine vpon a remorse of conscience for the bloud he had spilt and especially for the slaughter of Beorne his cosen intercessor who sued to the King for his peace vndertooke a pilgrimage to Ierusalem and in his returne died in Licia whether through an extremity of cold or by the hands of Saracens that spoiled all they met it is vncertaine 19 Goodwin now restored and in great credit with the King cast the eye of disdaine vpon the Arch-Bishop Robert as commonly fauorits emulate each others and himselfe being a man eloquent and politicke so possessed the King both against him and his Normans that he requited his owne banishment with al theirs out of England some few excepted that were fauoured by the English and now promising himselfe much honour and authority was suddainly cut off by the stroake of death surprizing him as hee sate at Table with the King vpon Monday in the Easter weeke but died not till the Thursday following which happened at Winchester where hee was buried 20 Besides these former forraine and ciuil molestations other calamities happened to the land for in the yeare of Grace 1047. and moneth of Ianuary there fell so great a Snow which couered the ground vnto the middle of March that Cattle Fowles perished abundantly and on the first day of that Month the yere following a strange and terrible Earth-quake happened which seemed to rent the ground asunder and withall such Lightnings as burnt vp the Corne growing in the fields wherby an excessiue Dearth followed so that his raigne was neither so peaceable nor prosperous as Brightwold the Monke dreamed it should be But as all these were scourges sent from God vpon the Land for sin so both Prince Pastors and people had all seuerally their part thereof as being iointly the causers of the same 21 For the King in case of these Strangers put the Land more then once in danger to bee lost and himselfe refraining the bed of his vertuous wife committed thereby the offence forbidden by the Apostle and caused her his Queene either to commit or be accused to haue committed adultery The Clergie likewise altogether vnlearned wanton and vicious for the Prelats neglecting the offices of Episcopall function which was to tender the affaires of the Church and to feede the flocke of Christ liued themselues idle and couetous addicted wholly to the pomp of the world and voluptuous life little caring for the Churches soules committed to their charge and if any told them saith Higden that their liues ought to be holy their conuersation without Couetousnes according to the sacred prescript and vertuous examples of their Elders they would scoffingly put them off with Nunc aliud tempus alii pro tempore mores Times haue mutations So must mens fashions and thus saith he they plained the roughnes of their doings with smoothnes of their answers Briefly the whole people were so loose and riotous that as Geruasius Dorobornensis recordeth they fell so fast to commit wickednes as to bee ignorant of sinfull crimes was then held to be a great crime it selfe And by the testimony of Malmesbury the sinnes of those times euidently foreshewed a generall destruction for the Englishmen saith hee transformed themselues into the strange manners of the French and that not onely in speech and behauiour but in their deeds and Charters their vse was then to goe fantastically appointed their garments reaching but to the mid knee their heads shorne and their beards shauen all but the vpper lippe which grew with long mustaches continually wearing massie bracelets of gold about their armes carrying markes vpon their skinne pounced in of sundry Colours and the Clergiâ—… contenting themselues with triuiall literature could scarcely hacke and hew out the words of the Sacrament These then were Englands dolorous times both of blindnesse lewdriesse drawing downe Gods wrath for their destruction 22 But howsoeuer this King is reported to bee louing and facile towards strangers which in it selfe is a princely vertue if it be opportunely and warily vsed yet to his owne Mother and Wife vnnaturally ouer rigorous imprisoning and bereauing them both of all Prince-like honor Against Queene Emma his Mother were instigators Robert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Earle Goodwin of Kent the two greatest fauorites of the King The causes obiected were her marriage with Canut the Capitall enemy of England her regardlesnesse of succouring himself and his brother in their exiles whom as was alleaged shee contriued to haue made away and that vnder colour of priuate deuotions she had vsed the company of Alwine Bishop of Winchester ouer familiarly to her great dishonour and the Kings disgrace for these and the like hee tooke away all her Iewels and other substance and committed her to safe custody in the Abbey of Werwell 23 Indeed Malmsbury doth tax her to haue been insatiably couetous and that shee was more tenderly affectionate to her Danish then English children whereby her loue was measured to their fathers But for the imputation of her incontinencie she washed it off with as sharpe a triall as any that is recorded for truth by vndergoing that ouer-hard law Ordalium when in presence of the King her Son many of his Peeres she passed ouer betweene nine plough-shares glowing red hot bare-footed blind-folded without any hurt vsing this speech to her leaders as not knowing shee was past all danger O Lord when shall I come to the place of my purgation but hauing her eyes vncouered and seeing her selfe cleerely escaped fell vpon her knees and with teares gaue thanks to her Deliuerer whereby she recouered both the loue and her former estate of the King with the good esteeme and applause of the people in memory whereof shee gaue nine Mannors according to the number of plough-shares to the Minster of Winchester wherin she had that triall and adorned the same with many rich ornaments as likewise the King repenting the wrong he did her bestowed on the same place the Iland so then it was called Portland in Dorsetshire being about seuen miles in compasse for so the chance in those daies was set that whosoeuer lost the monks did winne 24 Neither were this Kings proceedings better with his owne Wife howsoeuer some haue cloaked that Fraud so the Apostle tearmes it vnder the faire robe of Chastity For hee marrying Editha a Lady incomparable both for beauty and vertue in whose brest saith Malmesburie there was a Schoole of all Liber all Sciences refused her Bed but whether it were for his debility or hatred to Goodwin her father or loue of Virginity I determine not but am fully perswaded that the accusation of Adultery wherewith Robert the Arch-bishop did charge her was more vpon enuy to her father then truth of so foule a fact in her whose vertues were so many and so memorable
a sudden gale arose which blew all the sailes spred for that winde into one Port. And that was Harold sonne to Earle Goodwine a man duly prizing his many worthy parts not vnmeet for a kingdom who first succeeding his father in his Dukedome and next Edward his brother in Law in his Kingdom in patience clemency affability bare himselfe most approuedly towards the vertuous but with a Lions courage and fierce countenance chastised the disordered and indeede became another Maccabeus vnto the distressed Land Whose kingly state before wee touch it shall not bee amisse to lengthen his short raigne with his Acts and Life as hee was a Subiect both with and against his Lord and Predecessor 2 That hee tooke part with his Father against Eustace of Bulloigne and King Edwards hasty commission wee haue shewed himselfe then enioying the Earledom of Oxford and so affected by those of Essex Suffolke and Norfolke Cambridge Huntington-shires that they sided in his cause against the King But these designes failing as commonly it is seene all attempts of Subiects against their Soueraignes doe hee learned by banishment what was the losse of true honour and by forbearance of battle when halfe the Kingdome stood for him his dutie obliged vnto the Common-wealth And growne againe into fauour with the King carried himselfe answerably vnto both 3 Some iealousy conceiued Edward without any cause banished Algar the son of Leofrike Earle of Chester who with the helpe of the Irish and Welchmen vnder the conduct of Gruffith ap Llewelyn Prince of North-Wales who had married his daughter did much hurt to the English putting Rodulph Earle of Hereford to flight with the slaughter of fiue hundred men spoiled the City burnt the Minster and became Masters of mis-rule in those parts Against these was Harold sent and with such manhood pursued his flying enemies that passing through North-Wales vpon the Snow-downes he pitched his Field The Earle and Prince Gruffith not daring to abide his presence fled thence vnto South-Wales and again tooke into Hereford whereof Harold hauing intelligence hasted thitherward leauing sufficient in the Snow-downes to mate the Welsh and recouering the City with a deepe trench and high rampire fortified it about where for the sauing of more bloud and not vngratefull to Algar who without grudge had resigned to him his Earldome and whole Reuenewes at his returne from exile a peace was concluded and at Harolds request Earle Algar and Prince Gruffith were pardoned 4 But Algar being again accused again aided by his old associate Gruffith recouered his Earledome by force whereat King Edward was highly displeased but most against Gruffith who euer was ready to assist any against him whereupon Harold the second time appointed Generall with a great host entred North-Wales without sight of enemy where he only burnt downe the stately Palace of Prince Gruffith so returned to the King But long the Welsh were not quiet nor the Prince pleased of the harms to him done Wherefore making his forces verie strong he again molested the English 5 To restraine whom once more was Harold set foorth who with such terrour burst into Wales that Prince Gruffith in secret stole from his Campe leauing his Souldiers if they would to fight for themselues whereupon his whole army yeelded themselues to Harolds mercy and hauing Prince Gruffith in their hands cut off his head and sent it to Harold giuing him pledges for assurance of p◅ce and the paiment of the ancient tribute which for a time had beene reteined yet euer after hee carried so heauy a hand on the Welsh that as Iohn of Salisburie in his Policraticon writeth he ordained a law that what Welsh-man soeuer should with weapon passe ouer Offaes ditch should haue hi◅ right hand cutte off by the Kings officer 6 All now in quiet and Harold withdrawne to his Mannor of Boseham vpon the riuage of the sea in the confines of Sussex there for his recreation one day hee tooke into a Fishers boate with small attendants neither those very skilfull Mariners when no sooner were they lanched into the deepe but a contrary wind came about and droue the boat vpon the coast of Ponthieu in France where hee was taken by the Country people and presented to Guido their Earle who a while retained him his prisoner in hope of gaine by his ransom but Duke William requiring it he was conueied into Normandy where he cunningly perswaded the Duke that his secret comming out of England was purposely to enter a league of amity with him The Duke then hauing present wars with the Britaine 's in France tooke this his new friend and guest with him for his companion at Armes whose ready policies followed with forward practise wan him great estimation with the Duke whereupon betwixt them a couenant was made for the reseruation of the English Crowne to the Norman if it chanced King Edward to die without children and the same ratified by Harolds corporall oath with the affiancing of Lady Adeliza the Dukes fift daughter then a child and Harold a widower which afterwards fell to his owne destruction and the lands subuersion as shall bee said 7 His last imploiment by holy King Edward was against the tumultuous Northumbrians which had expulsed Tosto their Earle and Harolds owne brother where a peace was concluded without shedding blood but with condition that Tosto should lose his Earledom whereupō in great displeasure he with his wife children fled into Flanders and euer after hated the person and emulated the glory of Harold The originall of these two brethrens quarrels beganne at Windsor where in the presence of the King they fell from words vnto blowes and that in such manner as if rescue had not come Tosto had died for which disgrace hee secretly hied him into the Marches of Wales and neere the City Hereford at Portaflyth where Harold had a house then in preparing to entertaine the King he slew all his brothers seruants and them cutting peecemeale into gobbets salted some of their limmes and cast the rest into vessels of the meath and wines sending his brother word that hee had furnished him with poudred meats against the Kings comming thither which barbarous act caused deseruedly his name to be odious vnto his Northumbrians and was lastly repayed with his owne death 8 Now albeit some Heralds make Harold by birth but a Gentleman of one and the first descent which were it so should no whit blemish him who was more truely enobled with princely vertues yet therein also it may seeme hee is mis-esteemed seeing his Father was Goodwin a Duke by degree the son of Wolnoth and he the sonne of Egelmar who was the sonne of Egelricke surnamed Leofwine and brother of Edrick Duke of Mercia that married the daughter of King Ethelred of England of whom wee haue spoken The mother of Harold was Githa the daughter of Duke
Wolfe and sister to Sweyne the yonger King of Denmarke by Estrich his wife who was sister to Canute the great King of England and himselfe the second sonne of her borne whose elder brother was Sweyne that died on pilgrimage in his returne from Ierusalem and his yonger were Tosto Wilnod Grith and Leofrick 9 A former wife Earle Goodwin had whose name was Thira the sister of Canute a woman sold vnto wickednesse for making marchandize of Englands beauteous virgins into Denmarke shee solde them there at deare rates to satisfie her owne vnsatiate auarice and the lusts of the lasciuious Danes till a iust reward of Gods wrath fell on her by a thunderbolt falling from heauen wherewith shee was slaine to the great terrour of the beholders One sonne by her Earle Goodwin had who when hee was past childs age riding vpon a horse the gift of his Grandfather the King proudly giuing him the reine and spurre was violently borne into the riuer Thamesis and so sodainely drowned Thus much being premised of Harold before hee was King his raigne life and death wee will now addresse to declare 10 Edwards life ended and nothing determined touching his successor Harold the second day after being the day of his buriall made himselfe King none of the Nobility disliking what hee had done for courteous hee was of specch and behauiour and in martiall prowesse the onely man as Wales well witnessed more then once friended by affinity with many of the Nobles and by his new marriage with Edgitha the daughter of Algar sister of the Earles Morcâ—…r and Edwin and late wife to Gruffith ap Lhewelyn Prince of Wales hee expected to bee both sided and assisted if his cause came either to triall or voice 11 And the time hee well saw fitted his entrance for Sweyne King of Denmarke most dread by the English was entangled with the Sweden wars and William the Norman that made claime from King Edward at variance with Philip the French King the friends of Edgar in Hungarie and himselfe a stranger ouer young for rule all which concurrents made Harold without deliberation or order from the State to set the Crowne on his owne head regardlesse of all ceremony and solemne celebration for which his act as a violator of holy rites hee too too much offended the Clergy 12 The day of his Coronation was vpon Friday the fifth of Ianuary being the feast of the Epiphany and yeere of Saluation 1066 none either greatly applauding or disapprouing his presumption except onely for the omission of manner and forme to redeeme which and to re-gaine the good will of all no sooner attained hee the seate roiall but he remitted or diminished the grieuous customes and tributes which his predecessors had raised a course euer powerfull to winne the hearts of the Commons to Church-men hee was verie munificent and carefull of their aduancements and to grow more deepely into their venerable esteeme hee repaired their Monasteries but most especially that at Waltham in Essex which hee most sumptuously new built and richly endowed giuing it the name of Holy Crosse vpon occasion that such a Crosse found farre westward was brought thither by miracle vt tradunt and therefore hee chose out this place to powre forth his supplications before hee marched to meete Duke William in the field Moreouer to satisfie such Nobles as affected young Edgars iuster title he created him Earle of Oxford and held him in speciall fauour in briefe vnto the poore his hand was euer open vnto the oppressed he ministred iustice and vnto all men was affable and meeke and all to hold that vpright which on his head he had set with an vn-euen hand and depriued him of vnto whom hee was Protector 13 Three seuerall reports are affirmed of Edwards dispose of the Crowne the first was to the Norman Duke who made that the anker-hold of his claime the second was to young Edgar vnto whom hee was great vncle and the last vnto this Harold himselfe for so saith Edmerus and also Marianus who liued at the very same time and writeth that Harold thereupon was sacred and crowned by Aldredus Archbishop of Yorke so that hereby hee is freed by some from the imputation of intrusion and wrong 14 His State thus standing and his subiects contentment dayâ—…y increasing presently it was somwhat perplexed by an Ambassage sent from the Norman putting him in mind of his couenant and oath aswell for the custody of the Crowne to his behoofe as for the solemnazion of the mariage contracted betwixt his daughter and him 15 Harold who thought himselfe now surely seated in the hearts of his Subiects and therefore also sure in his Kingdome answered the Ambassadors That he held their Masters demaund vniust for that an oath extorted in time of extremity cannot bind the maker in conscience to performe it for that were to ioyne one sinne with another and that this oath was taken for feare of death or imprisonment the Duke himselfe well knew but admit it was voluntarily and without feare could I said he then a subiect without the allowance of the King and the whole State giue away the Crownes succession to the preiudice of both surely a Kingdome is of a better account then to bee so determined in priuate onely betwixt two With which kind of answeres he sent the messengers away 16 The Norman who till then thought England sure to be his and had deuoted his hopes from a Duke to a King stormed to see himselfe thus frustrated on the sudden and in stead of a Crown to haue scornes heaped on his head therefore nothing contented with this sleight answere returned his Ambassadors againe vnto Harold by whom hee laid his claime more at large as that King Edward in the Court of France had faithfully promised the succession vnto him and againe afterwards ratified the same to him at his being in England and that not done without consent of the State but confirmed by Stigandus Archbishoppe of Canterbury the Earles Goodwin and Syward yea and by Harold himselfe and so firmely assured that his Brother and Nephew were deliuered for pledges and to that end sent vnto him into Normandy that hee had no way beene constrained hee appealed to Harolds owne conscience who besides his voluntary offer to sweare contracted himselfe to Adeliza his daughter then but young and now departed life vpon which foundation the oath was willingly taken 17 But Harold who thought his owne head as fit for a crowne as any others meant nothing lesse then to lay it downe vpon parley and therefore told them flatly that howsoeuer Edward and he had tampered for the Kingdome yet Edward himselfe comming in by election and not by any title of inheritance his promise was of no validity for how could hee giue that whereof he was not interessed nor in the Danes time was euer like to be And tell your Duke said he that our
And although William Fitz-Osberne a man in high fauour with the Duke and as gratious among the people endeauoured by all meanes to effect it yea and to draw on others by his example proffered to set out forty tall Ships vpon his owne Charges towards this warre yet would it not bee Therefore Duke William bethought him on another way 26 The wealthiest men among all his People he sent for and seuerally one by one conferred with shewing them his right and hopes of England wherin preferment lay euē to the meanest amongst them only money was the want which they might spare neither should that be giuen nor lent without a plentiful increase with such fair words he drew them so on that they stroue who should giue most and by this policy hee gathered such a masse of money as was sufficient to defray the warre Then went hee to his neighbour Princes namely to the Earles of Anion Poictou Mayne and Bulloigne promising them faire possessions in England yea and vnto Philip the French King in case he would aide him hee voluntarily offered to become his vassall and Leige-man and to hold England by oath and fealty vnder him But it beeing thought nothing good for the State of France that the Duke of Normandy who already was not so pliable to the French King as was wished should bee bettered in his estate by the addition of so mighty a Kingdome the power of Neighbour Potentates being euer suspected of Princes so farre was the King from yeelding any helpe that he secretly maligned openly disswaded this his attempt of inuading England This French iealousy the Norman soone perceiued which made him to cast about yet another way 27 For making his claime knowne vnto Alexander the second then Pope of Rome with the wrongs done vnto Robert Arch-bishop of Canterbury by Harold and his Father a text that might not bee read without a glosse he was so fauoured of his Holinesse whose See was euer glad to interest it self in disposing of Crowns that he both allowed well of his enterprize and sent him a consecrated Banner Saint Peter himselfe had none such in his Boate to bee borne in the Ship wherein himselfe in that expedition should take saile for England and accursed al them that shold oppose themselues against him for euen then the Popes had began to vsurpe authority ouer Princes with their leaden blades to hacke into the iron swords of Emperours 28 Thus furnished on all sides he assembled his forces and with a mighty Nauy came to the Towne of Saint Valeries which standeth vpon the mouth of the Riuer Some where a long time he lay wind bound to his great discontentment and with many vowes importunating the fauour of that locall Saint heaped daily a number of gifts and oblations vpon his Altar till lastly his desire was obtayned and then with three hundred Ships fraught full of his Normans Flemings Frenchmen Britaignes waighed Anchor and with a gentle gale of wind arriued at Peuensey in Sussex vpon the twenty eight day of September where Landing his men to cut off all occasion or hope of returne he fired his owne fleete and vpon the Shoare erected a Fortresse to bee if neede were 〈◊〉 retiring place for his Souldiers 29 At his arriuage from Sea 〈◊〉 our Historians report his foot chaunced to slippe so that not able to recouer himselfe he fell into the mud and all to bemired his hands which accident was presently construed for a lucky presage for now said a Captaine O Duke thou hast taken possession and holdest that land in thy hand whereof shortly thou shalt become King As Caesar is said to haue done when hee entred into Africa who from ship-board at his landing fell into the sands and merily said I doe now take possession of thee O Africa 30 From Peuensey Duke William departed towards Hasting where raising another fortification diuulged to all the causes of his comming as pretending to reuenge both the death of his Normans slain by the treachery of Goodwin Harold and the wrongs and banishment of Robert Gemeticus Archbishop of Canterbury pretenses very slender and enforced out of season but surely had not a third sate neerer his heart the two former would haue passed without the spleene of reuenge namely the donation of King Edward deceased whereon he built his claime to the English Crowne And there also by his Edict he straitely charged his souldiers not in hostile manner to wrong any of their persons who shortly were to become his Subiects 31 Harold in the North hearing of these news hasted with his Armie whose Armour yet reaked with the bloud of the Norwegians towards the south and with such power as possible hee could make entreth London where immediately a messenger frō Duke William was presented vnto him demaunding no lesse then the Kingdome and Harolds vassalage vrging the same with such instant boldnesse that Harolds furious indignation could hardly forbeare against the law of Armes to lay violent hands vpon the Ambassador so great a pride and confident hope had entred the heart of this late Victor to shew both with very great boldnesse he dispatcheth his Ambassadors to William and by way of irefull checkes menaceth him vnlesse forthwith hee departed backe into Normandy when presently mustering his men at London hee found them much lessened by his battaile against the Norwegians notwithstanding many Nobles Gentlemen and others whom the loue of their natiue Country inflamed did ingage themselues for the field against his common and dangerous enemy He therfore with an vndaunted courage led forth his Armie into Sussex against the importunate suite of his mother who sought by all meanes to stay him where on a large and faire plaine scarse seuen miles from the enemy he pitched downe his battailes and sent forth his Espials to descry his power 32 These comming into danger were caught by the Normans and presented to their Duke who commanded them forth with to bee led from Tent to Tent to be feasted and dismissed without any harme or dishonour done These returning to Harold told what they had seene commending the Duke in his Martiall Prouisions and his clemency to them-ward only said they his Souldiers seem to be Priests for their faces were all shauen whereas the vse of the English was then to reserue onely the vpper lippe vncut retaining or renewing the old manner of the ancient Britaines so described by Caesar but King Harold who had bin in that country wel knowing their errour replied that they were men of great valour stout Souldiers in fight Vpon which speech Girth his younger brother a man much renowned for martiall exploits tooke occasion to aduise the King from being present at the danger of the Field for said he it stands not with the rule of policy to hazard all in the triall of one battell nor to depend vpon the euent of war which euer is doubtful victory being
offered them plenty to supply whatsoeuer should be needfull for the pompe of his funerall as also for their costs in trauell to and fro giuing strait commandement that none of his Souldiers should presume to molest them in this their businesse or in their returne Then went they in haste to the quarry of the dead but by no meanes could finde the body of the King for that the countenances of all men greatly alter by death but being maimed and imbrued with bloud they are not knowne to be the men they were As for his other regall Ornaments which might haue shewed him for their King his dead corps was despoiled of them either through the greedy desire of prey as the manner of the Field is or to be the first bringer of such happy newes in hope of a Princely reward vpon which purpose many times the body is both mangled and dismembred and so was this King after his death by a base Souldire gasht and hackt into the legge whom Duke William rewarded for so vnsouldier like a deed casshiering him for euer out of his wages and wars So that Harold lying stript wounded bemangled and goared in his bloud could not be found or known till they sent for a woman named Editha for her passing beauty surnamed Swan-shals that is Swans-necke whom he entertained in secret loue before he was King who by some secret marks of his body to her well knowne found him out and then put into a coffine was by diuers of the Norman Nobility honourably brought vnto the place afterward called Battle-bridge where it was met by the Nobles of England and so conueied to Waltham was there solemnly and with great lamentation of his mother roially interred with this rude Epitaph well beseeming the time though not the person Heu cadis hoste fero Rex à Duce Rege futuro Par paris in gladio milite valido Firmini iusti lux est tibi lucc Calixti Pronior hinc super as hâ—…c superatus eras Ergo tibi requiem deposcat vtrumque perennem Sicque precetur eum quod colit omne Deum A fierce foe thee slew thou'a King he King in view Both peeres both peerelesse both feard and both fearles That sad day was mixt by Firmin and Calixt Th' one help thee to vanquish t'other made thee laÌ„guish Both now for thee pray and thy Requiem say So let good men all to God for thee call 51 This Kings raigne was not so ful of dayes as of great troubles being but the space of nine months and nine dayes in whom was completed the Period of the Saxons Empire in Britaine after they had continued from their first erected kingdome by Hengist in Kent the space of sixe hundred and tenne yeeres without any reuersement or interruption sauing the small Inter-Raignes of these three Danish Kings of whom we haue spoken And although Aimund of Breme in the fauour of his Danes sharply taxeth this Harold as being an impious man and for that by vsurpation he aspired to the Crowne yet doth Ealred the Abbot of Riuanxe the Legender of S. Edwards life much commend him for his courteous affability gentle deportment and Iustice and for his warlike prowesse none matchable vnto him and was reputed saith hee verily a man passing well furnished with all vertues befitting a Soueraigne commander and borne euen to repaire the decaied state of England had he not in the haughtinesse and opinion of his own valour and prudence so much addicted himselfe to his owne resolutions and too much neglected the wise deliberations of his best friends and counsellers His Wiues 52 The first wife of Harold whom he had maried and buried before he was King I find not named by any of our writers but that he had such a one appeareth where it is recorded that hee was a Widower what time he contracted the Conquerors daughter and that also he had children of such age that they made warres against King William in the second of his Raigne which it is probable he had not by Editha his Swannes neck but were legitimat and by this lawfull though namelesse Mother 53 Algith the second wife to King Harold was the widow of Gruffith ap Lhewelyn King of North-Wales the sister of Edwine and Morcar Earles of Yorkeshire and Chester and daughter of Algar sonne of Leofrick son of Leofwine all Earles of Chester Leicester and Lincolne She was married vnto him beeing then but Duke in the last yeare of Edward Confessors raigne and of Grace 1065. neither did shee long enioy him or her Queenly title after his aspiring to the Crowne for being resident in London when hee was slaine from thence shee was conueyed by her brethren to Westchester where she remained in meane estate and in good quiet which vsually most attends the meanest without any princely shew or name during the rest of her life which lasted a great part of the Conquerors raigne His Issue 54 Goodwine the eldest sonne of King Harold being growne to some ripenesse of yeares in the life of his Father after his death and ouerthrow by the Conquerour tooke his brother with him and fled ouer into Ireland from whence he returned and landed in Sommersetshire slew Ednoth a Baron sometime of his Fathers that encountred him and taking great preyes in Deuon-shire and Cornewall departed till the next yeare When comming againe hee fought with Beorn an Earle of Cornwall and after retired into Ireland and thence went into Denmarke to King Swayn his Cosen-German where he spent the rest of his life 55 Edmund the second sonne to King Harold went with his Brother into Ireland returned with him into England and was at the slaughter and ouerthrow of Ednoth and his power in Sommersetshire at the spoiles committed in Cornwall and Deuonshire at the conflict with the Cornish Earle Beorn passed and repassed with him in all his voiages inuasions and warres by sea and by land in England and Ireland and at the last departed with him from Ireland to Denmarke tooke part with him of all pleasure and calamity whatsoeuer and attending and depending wholly vpon him liued and died with him in that Country 56 Magnus the third son of King Harold went with his brothers into Ireland and returned with them the first time into England and is neuer after that mentioned amongst them nor elsewhere vnlesse as some doe coniecture he be that Magnus who seeing the mutability of humane affairs became an Anchoret whose Epitaph pointing to his Danish originall the learned Clarenciaux discouered in a little desolate Church at Lewes in Sussex where in the gaping chinks of an Arch in the wall in a rude and ouerworne Character certaine old imperfect verses were found which hee supposeth should bee thus read Clauditur hic Miles Danorum regia proles Magnus nomen ei magnae nota Progenici Deponens Magnum prudentior induit agnum Prâ—…pete prâ—…vita fit paruulus Anachorita Hâ—…re lies a Knight of Danish regalâ—… He
was Robert Archbishop of Roan and the third was called Maliger his daughters were Hawisa the wife of Geffrey Earle of Britaine and mother to Alane and Guye his sonnes Mand espoused Euldes Earle of Chartiers and Blois and Emma called the Flower of Normandy was Queene of England both by the English King Ethelred and Canutus the Dane to both which shee was married 23 Richard the second surnamed the Good was the fourth Duke of Normandy and ruled the same for twenty foure yeeres In whose time the Normans began to be great and gracious in England the marriage of his Sister making their way his first wife was Iudith the Sister of Geffrey Earle of Britaigne by whom he had issue Richard the first Duke of Normandy and Robert the sixt William a Monke and Nicholas Abbot of S. Andrewes his daughters by her were Alice that died yong and another of the same name maried to Reinold Earle of Burgoine and Eleanor espoused to Baldwin the fourth Earle of Flanders who bare vnto him Baldwin the fifth father of Maud that was Queene of England and wife to the Conquerour 24 The second wife to Duke Richard the second was Estrike Sister to Canute King of England from whom he purchased a Diuorce without any issue begotten on her body and then taking for his thrid wife a faire Gentlewoman named Pauia had issue by her William Earle of Arques and Mauger Archbishop of Roane 25 Richard the third of that name and fifth Duke of Normandy in the second yeere of his Dukedome died an vntimely death not without suspition of Poyson ministred by Robert his younger brother who presently was inuested in the Dutchie for that he left no issue of his body to succeed 26 This Robert Duke Richards Brother was a man of a magnanimous spirit and of such bounteous liberality as is vncredible Hee comming to the City Phalesya in Normandy chanced to see a most goodly and beautifull damosell dancing among others of her familiar consorts her name was Arlet of meane parentage the daughter of a Skinner saith Higden whose pleasing feature and comely grace so pleased the Duke that taking her to his bed he begot on her William his onely sonne who proued the onely man of the Normans blood and after vpon a remorse of conscience vndertooke a pilgrimage vnto Ierusalem from whence hee neuer againe returned Arlet in Roberts life time was married to Herlaine a Norman Gentleman but of meane substance to whom â—…he bare Odo Bishop of Baion by his halfe-brother William created Earle of Kent and Robert created Earle of Mortaigne a man of a dull and grosse wit a daughter named Emma wife to Richard count of Auranches a Prouince in Normandy the mother of Hugh Lupus Earle Palatine of Chester And thus farre breâ—…ly I haue thought good to prosecute the Line of the Normans for the better illustration of our English Stories 27 Duke Robert intending his pious pilgrimage vnto the holy land assembled all his Nobility vnto the City Fiscan where he caused them to sweare fealty vnto 〈◊〉 sonne William being then but seuen yeares old committing him to the Gouernance of one Gilbert an Earle of much integrity and prudence and the defence of that Gouernment vnto Henry the French King and so in the eight yeare of his Dukedome set on his voyage for Ierusalem who entring Iurye and not able to trauaile was born in a litter vpon the Saracens shoulders and neere vnto the Citie meeting a returning Pilgrime desired him to report in his Country what he there saw which is said hee that I am carried to Heauen vpon the Diuels bâ—…cke but so farre was he borne that he neuer returned being preuented by death which the Norman Peeres hearing made vse thereof for their owne ambitious ends without any regard of young William their Pupill and Soueraigne and grown into factions greatly troubled the Peace of their Country wherein Earle Gâ—…bert the Protector was slaine by Randulphus the young Dukes Cosen-Germane 28 The beginner of these stirres was another of his kinsmen euen 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 the sonne of Duke Richards daughter brought vp with Willam in his youth and euer in his most especial esteeme who vpon a vaine hope to aspire to an Earldome got the aide of the Vicounts Nigell and Randulph but tooke such a fall before he could ascend the highest step that in losing his footing he lost therewith his head 29 Strife also arose betwixt yong William and his Vnckle William the base-borne Earle of Archis Whereupon King Henry of France who till then had held this Wolfe by the eare fearing some hazzard to himselfe if he should now let him go thought it best to aid the Earle in his cause and therefore sent him supplie vnder the leading of some men of note but William so begirt his Castle with strait siege that hee caused the Earle by famishment to yeeld vp his Fort and droue the French with disgrace out of the field where with such successe he still prospered that Henry now to secure his own Confines sent Odo his brother for Prefect into those Parts that lay betwixt the Riuers Reyn and the Seyn 30 William as watchfull as the French King was jealous sent against Odo Robert Count Aucensis Hugh Gornacensis Hugh Mountfort and William Crispine all of them stout Souldiers which so brauely bare themselues that Odo was the first man that made away and the restof the French saued themselues by flight 31 William that had sworne a league with King Henry and in his Minority had euer found him his gracious Guardian was loth to endanger the breach of his Oath or the duty that loue and deserts had obliged him vnto and therefore by this Stratagem hee sought to dislodge the French In the silence of Night when in the Kings Campe all were at rest he caused to be cried aloud the flight of Odo and his discomfiture with no lesse terrour then it was which rang so shrill in the eares of the French that Henry thought best to be gone leauing William the absolute Lord of Normandie 32 Which he valiantly defended and vprightly gouerned all the daies of King Henry whose death presently caused an alteration of State for he leauing Baldwine surnamed the Gentle and fifth Earle of Flaunders Tutor to his yong Sonne Philip the quarrell betwixt those two Princes had an end Baldwine on the one side so working his Pupill and on the other the Normane who was his sonne in law that a most firme League was ratified betwixt them and kept vnuiolated so long as William was a Duke where wee will leaue him in prosperitie and peace and proceed in our intendment as he did in his Conquest here in England VVILLIAM SVRNAMED THE CONQVEROVR THE THIRTIE NINTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN AND FIRST OF THE NORMANS HIS LIFE RAIGNE ACTS WIFE AND ISSVE CHAPTER II. BAttle Field wonne with the losse of little lesse then sixty eight
Edwin and Morcar Edgar surnamed Etheling Fretherik Abbot of S. Albans Agelnothus Abbot of Glastenbury Walteof the sonne of the warlike Siward Earle of Northumberland Roger Earle of Hertford Rainulph Earle of Cambridge and Gospatricke Earle of Cumberland were the men of greatest note yet was hee no sooner gone but that Edrick surnamed Syluaticus sonne to Alfrick the brother of Edrick Streona the treacherous Earle of Mercia a man of great spirit and of no little power aided by the Welshmen tooke vp armes and denied subiection to the Normans so that by either partie as in ciuill discords it euer falleth out great spoiles were made in many places but most of all in Herefordshire where Robert Fitz-Scroope left to man the Castle did much hurt vpon the Tenants of Edricke and he to requite him with the like calling to his aide Blethyn and Rywalhon Kings of Wales wasted all to the mouth of Wye 10 These stirres in England called William out of Normandy and were so distastful to his great but ill digesting stomacke that hee began to hold the reine straiter and harder to curbe the head-strong English giuing the possessions of their Nobles vnto his Normans and laying vnwonted taxes heauie subsidies vpon the Commons then which nothing bred him more hatred in so much that many of them to enioy a barren liberty forsooke their fruitfull inheritance and with their Wiues Children as outlawes liued in the Woods preferring that naked name of freedome before a sufficient maintenance possest vnder the thraldome tyranny of their Conquerors but in short time to sustaine their wants easily conceiued but hardly indured they so fell to spoyle and robbe that the high waies lay vntrod from towne to towne yea and priuate houses euery where so guarded with bowes billes polaxes swords and clubs as if they had been not harbours of peace but fortresses of warre when praies were made at the shutting in and opening of their dores as in times of open hostilitie On the other side such as preferred vassalage with some hope of tollerable yea or vntollerable vsage they to curry fauour with the Normans seeming to forget who they were became as strangers themselues and did shaue their beards round their haire and in arment behauiour and diet a ltogether vnfashioned themselues to imitate them it being a shame in those daies euen amongst Englishmen to bee an Englishman 11 Vnto these Malecontents and voluntarie Out-lawes ioined Morcar and Edwine the stout Earles of Chester and Yorkeshire setting vp again for their Captaine Edgar Etheling which if in due time at first they had done might haue proued successefull who with their complices right valiantly for a time resisted the Normans and in their proceedings put many of them to the sword King William as carefull and sedulous to preuent further mischiefe collecting his forces and not without danger of his life dissolued their power so that euery man sought how to saue himselfe by escape among whom Edwin and Morcar Welthersus and Merther with some of the Bishops and Clergie went into Scotland Marleswin and Gospatrick Noble-men of Northumberland went into Denmarke Edgar Atheling with his mother Agatha and his sisters Christian and Margaret tooke the seas for Hungarie but by contrary winds were driuen into Scotland where they were most courteously entertained by Malcolme surnamed Cammor King of that Country who so affected the person and qualities of Lady Margaret that hee entred with her a Nuptiall contract and the rather in respect of her possibility and neerenesse to the English crowne whose marriage was solemnized about the feast of Easter in the second of King Williams raigne whereby Scotland became a sanctuary to the English which daily fledde thither from the pressures of the Normans 12 The Conquerour now perceiuing the occasion of new stirres sent vnto King Malcolme for the deliuerie of Edgar his enemie which if he refused hee threatened to denounce open warre against Scotland But Malcolme minding more his owne honour then King VVilliams threats returned this answere That he held it an vniust thing yea and in a Prince a wicked part to betray him to his enemy that came vnto his Court for protection as Prince Edgar was forced for feare of his life whose innocency and demeanour toward William his greatest aduersarie could not touch with the least suspect alleadging further besides the respect of ordinary humanity in this case euer religiously to be obserued the straight bands of their neere alliance which required him to tender the afflicted estate of his most louing wiues most loued brother comming vnder his Canopie as it were for defence 13 William thus frustrate of all hope from king Malcolme and daily perplexed at the flight of the English vnto his kingdome feared a reuolt dangerous rebellion to preuent which hee caused foure strong castles to bee built one at Hasting another at Lincolne the third at Nottingham the fourth at Yorke wherein he bestowed strong Garisons and disarming the English of armour commaunded euery house-holder to put out both fire and candle at eight of the clocke at night at which houre in euery City Towne and Village he caused a bell to be rung of the French then called Couerfew that is Couer-fire partly yet in practise and in name verie neer commonly called Curfue to preuent nightly tumults that might happily be done 14 All this his circumspection notwithstanding could not preuent the troubles that presently arose for Goodwin and Edmund the sonnes of the late King Harold comming with some forces out of Ireland and landing in Sommersetshire fought with Adnothus sometime master of their fathers horse but now a Normanist whom they slew with many others and taking great booties both in Cornwall and Deuonshire departed againe for Ireland Excester likewise seeking to shake off the fetters of the Normans bondage as also Northumberland to recouer their former liberties tooke Armes against whom King William in all hast possible sent Robert Cumin and went himselfe strongly prepared against Excester which he most straitly beleaguered at which time the Citizens thought it not enough to shutte their gates against him but contemptuously taunted and flouted him vntill a great peece of the wall falling downe by the especiall hand of God as the Historians of that age report they immediately set open their gates and submitted themselues to his mercy The chiefe instigator to their disloialty was Githa the mother of King Harold and sister to Swain King of Denmarke with others siding against the Normans who now seeing the yeelding vp of that Citie shifted themselues out of danger and got ouer vnto Flanders 15 But fortune to Cumin was not so fauourable in the North nor himselfe so circumspect as vaâ—…iant for lying securely as hee thought in the City Durham hee was on the sodaine surprised in the night by Edgar Atheling and his
a strong Armie as purposing a finall end of those Domesticall warres hauing so replenished England with his Normans that hee now promised himselfe security and happinesse of State To him therefore the Princes of Walles vnable to resist performed their Homages at Saint Dauids and with their Hostages he returned as a victorious Conquerour But the Seas of these troubles now growne quiet and calme and he at some leasure to thinke on future successe all on the sudden a cloud arose in the North which hastily came on and threatned a storme 38 For Swaine King of Denmarke whose title to his seeming stood firme for the Crowne manned forth two hundred tall Ships whereof his sonne Canute and Earle Hacon were Generals for his brother Osborne he had banished Denmarke that basely tooke money to depart England some few yeeres before notwithstanding his claime he made still though for money still stopped by his Danes For so saith their owne writer Adam Bremensis that continuall contention was betwixt Swaine and the bastard although saith hâ—… our Bishops by bribes would haue perswaded peace betwixt the two Kings Yea and Malmesbury our writer affirmeth that William gaue bribes to Earle Hacon to begone though Paris and Polydor report that when these Danes heard that their fauourites heere were vanquished they turned their Sailes for Flanders and durst not fight with King William 39 But now a lesse suspected but much more vnnaturall warre arose for Robert his eldest sonne set on by Philip King of France who did greatly dread this so hastie grouth of the Conquerour claimed Normandy by gift of his father promised to him immediatly after his Conquest of England a Noble Gentleman surely but of an ambitious and hasty nature prodigally spending and maintaining his followers aboue the compasse of his priuate estate him Philip his own ill-nurtured Ambition thrust forward Q. Maud his mother supplied vnder haÌ„d out of her own Coffers and King Williams Reuennewes so that with banners displaied hee entred Normandy in hostile maner and there by force seised vpon diuers places to his owne vse and so without respect of dutifull patience gained by force the free-gift of his father 40 King William hearing of his sonne Roberts proceedings was not as great cause there was a little offended thereat and with a powerfull Army hasted to Normandy where neere vnto the Castle of Gerbory at a place called Archenbraye he ioined battle with his sonne where the fight was sore and dangerous on both sides the Generals being such men as they were but in the heat of the foot battels that fought it out resolutely Robert commanded a power of horse to breake in vpon the Rereward of his enemies and himselfe valiantly following chanced to light against his owne Father and with his lance thrust him through the Arme bearing him off his horse to the ground King William thus wounded falne called for helpe to be remounted storming to see his bloud spilt in his owne land and against his owne sonne which neuer had beene in battailes of other countries nor drawne by the weapons of forraine enemies and in great rage threatned the reuenge Robert that knew his Father by his voice hastily alighted and in his Armes tooke him from the earth humbly desiring his pardon for this vnknown fact and forgiuenes of his ouer-hastie attempt then mounting him vpon his owne horse brought him in safetie out of the presse who hauing escaped so great a danger and seeing himselfe for the present too weake to withstand the enemie left the honour of the field vnto Robert with the losse of many his souldiers slaine there both in the battaile and chase besides a great number that were hurt wounded among whom William Rufus his second sonne was one a man of a better temper and more filiall regard to his parents and therefore more deseruedly and tenderly beloued then Robert for which dishonour now done to his Father and disloialty for his vnnaturall armes hee bitterly cursed him and execrated the time wherein he begate him how beit others doe write that for his most vndaunted courage at that time issuing and ending in such dutiful and tender care of his fathers safety hee presently forgaue his former offences and euer after had him in better respect 41 These stirres thus qualified and King William returned he went forward with his former determination for setling a further assurance to himselfe and successors of the English crowne to which end first on the east side of London the mother City of the land he laid the foundation of a stately strongly fenced Castle or Magazine of warlike munitions intrenched with a large and deepe ditch now called the Tower of London the surueyor of which worke was Gundulphus Bishop of Rochester about the twelfth yeare of the Conquerours raigne so much is lessened the antiquity of that Citadell credite of such as would haue it founded by Iulius Caesar vnlesse perhaps we would thinke that King William did onely adde some new fort to the former being built saith Fitz-Stephen with morter tempered with the bloud of beasts 42 Then to enrich his owne coffers for hee is taxed by Malmesbury to be exceeding couetous he laid great subsidies vpon the land and that the same might amount to his great benefite though with the greatest grieuance of the people hee caused an exact suruey to be taken of the whole kingdome yea and of euery particular part and commodity therof so that there was not an hide of land lake water or wast but he knew the valuation the owners and possessors together with the rents and profits thereof as also of all Cities Townes Villages Hamlets Monasteries and Religious houses causing also all the people 〈◊〉 England to bee numbred their names to bee taken with notice what euery one might dispend by yeere their substance money bondmen recorded how many yokes of oxen and plough-lands were in the Realme and what seruices they owed who held of him in Fee all which was certified vpon the oathes of Commissioners This done he exacted sixe shillings to be paid him for euery hide of land which amounted to an huge masse of money The Booke thus made of euerie seuerall suruey was commonly called the rowle of Winchester as being there at first kept but for the generality and ineuitable censure thereof is by Authors named Liber Iudiciarius by the English Domesday booke kept to this day in the Kings Exchequer at Westminster of which collection Robert a Poet at Gloucester in ancient time and ryme wrote thus The King William vor to wite the worth of his lond Let enqueri stretlich thoru all Engelond How moni Plou-lond and hou moni Hiden also Were in euerich sire and wat hij were wurth yereto And the rents of each toun and of the waters echone The wurth and of woods eke that there ne
he imprisoned and many of the English depriued as we haue heard 63 Besides his many other stately buildings both for fortification and deuotion three Abbies of chiefe note he is said to haue raised and endowed with large priuiledges and rich possessions The first was at Battle in Sussex where hee wonne the Diadem of England in the valley of Sangue-lac so called in French for the streames of bloud therein spilt but William of Newberie deceiued in the soile it selfe which after raine sheweth to bee red affirmeth that after any small showre of raine the earth sweateth forth very fresh bloud as by the euident sight thereof saith hee doth as yet plainly declare that the voice of so much Christian bloud there shed doth still crie from the earth to the Lord. 64 But most certaine it is that in the very same place where King Harolds Standard was pitched vnder which himselfe was slaine there William the Conquerour laid that Foundation dedicating it to the Holy Trinity and to Saint Martine that there the Monks might pray for the soules of Harold and the rest that were slaine in that place whose Priuiledges were so large that they and others of the like condition were afterwards dissolued by Act of Parliament when it was found by experience that the feare of punishment being once taken away desperate boldnes and a daring will to commit wickednesse grew still to a greater head for it was enfranchised with many freedomes and among others to vse the words of the Charter were these If any Thiefe Murtherer or Felon for feare of death flie and come to this Church let him haue no harme but let him be dismissed and sent away free from all punishment Be it lawfull also for the Abbot of the same Church to deliuer from the Gallowes any thiefe or robber wheresoeuer if he chance to come by where any such execution is in hand The Standard it selfe curiously wrought all of gold and pretious stones made in forme like an armed man Duke William presently vpon his victory with great complements of curtesie sent to Pope Alexander the second as good reason it was the Popes transcendent pleasure and power being the strongest part of the Dukes title to the Crowne and his cursing thunderbolts the best weapons whereby he attained to weare it 65 At Selby also in Yorkeshire where his yongest sonne Henry was borne he founded the Abbey of Saint Germans at Excester the Priorie of Saint Nicholas and to the Church and Colledge of Saint Martins le grand in London hee gaue both large priuiledges and much land extending from the corner of the City wall by Saint Giles Church without Criplegate vnto the common Sewer receiuing the waters running then from the More and now More-fields 66 At Cane in Normandie lie founded the Monastery of Sant Stephen the first Christian Martyr adorning it with most sumptuous buildings and endowing it with rich reuenewes where his Queene Maud had erected a Nunnerie for the societie of vailed Virgines vnto the honour of the blessed virgine Mary Thus much of his Acts and now of his marriage and issue His Wife 67 Maud the wife of King William was the daughter of Baldwine the fifth surnamed the Gentle Earle of Flaunders her mother was Alice daughter of Robert King of France the sonne of Hugh Capet Shee was married vnto him when hee was a Duke at the Castle of Angi in Normandy and in the second yeare of his raigne ouer England she was crowned Queene vpon Whit-sunday the yeere of Grace 1068. And although she maintained Robert in his quarrell for Normandy and out of her owne coffers paid the charges of warre against his Father and her owne Husband yet because it did proceed but from a motherly indulgence for aduancing her sonne it was taken as a cause rather of displeasure then of hatred by King William as himselfe would often auouch holding it an insufficient cause to diminish the loue that was linked with the sacred band of a matrimoniall knot Shee departed this life the second day of Nouember the sixteenth yeere of his raigne and of Christs humanity 1083. for whom he often lamented with teares and most honourably enterred her at Cane in Normandy in the Church of S. Maries within the Monasterie of Nuns which she had there founded His Issue 68 Robert the eldest sonne of King William and of Queene Maude his wife was surnamed Curtuoise signifying in the old Norman-French Short-Bootes he succeeded his father onely in the Duchie of Normandy and that also he lost afterwards to his brother Henry King of England at the battell of Ednarchbray in that Dukedome the yeere of our Lord 1106. where he was taken prisoner and hauing his eies put out an vnbrotherly punishment was committed to the Castle of Cardiffe in South-Wales and after twenty eight yeeres imprisonment there deceased the yeere before the death of his said brother Anno 1134 and was buried at Glocester in the midst of the Quier of Saint Peters Church where remaineth a Tombe with his Carued Image at this day Hee had two wiues the first Margaret daughter of Herbert Earle of Maygne both married in their Child-hood and shee died before they came to yeeres of consent The other was Sibyll daughter of Geffrey and sister to William Earles of Conuersana in Italy and Neece of Robert Guiscard Duke of Apulia By her he had two sonnes William and Heny this Henry was he that was slaine by mischance as he was hunting in the New-Forest in Hampshire William the Elder surnamed in Latine Miser was Earle of Flanders in right of Queene Maude his Grand-mother succeeding Charles of Denmarke in that Earledome he also had two wiues the first Sibyll whose Mother called also Sibyll was the daughter of Fowlke Earle of Anion after diuorced from him and remarried to Terry of Alsac his Successour the second was Ioan the daughter of Humbert Earle of Morien now called Sauoy sister of Queene Alice of France wife of King Lewis the Grosse hee died sixe yeeres before his father of a wound receiued at the Siege of the Castle of Angi in Normandy the 27. of Iuly in the 28. yeere of the Raigne of King Henrie his vncle and of our Lord 1128. hee was buried at Saint Omers in the Monastery of Saint Bertin and left no issue behinde him 69 Richard the second sonne of King William and Queene Maude was born in Normandy and after his Father had attained the Crowne came into England where being then verie yong as hee was hunting in the New-Forest of Hampshire he came to a violent sudden death by the goring of a Stagge others say by a pestilentayre and is noted to bee the first man that died in that place the iustice of God punishing on him his Fathers dispeopling of that Countrey his body was thence conueied to Winchester and there buried on the Southside of the Quire
of the Cathedrall Church where there remaineth a monument of him with an inscription entitling him a Duke and some suppose of Bologne 70 William the third Son of King William and Queene Maud was borne in Normandy in the 21. yere of his Fathers Dukedom ten yeeres before he was King 1159. hee was surnamed of the Red colour of his haire in French Rows in Latine Rufus he was brought vp vnder Lanefranke the learned Lumbard who was Archbishoppe of Canterbury of whom he receiued both instructions of knowledge and the order of Knighthood he serued vnder his Father at the battaile of Gerbereth in Normandy 1079 wherein hee was wounded and hee alwaies framed his actions so pleasing to his Fathers humor as that hee thought him much worthier then his elder brother to succeed in his Kingdome 71 Henry the fourth and yongest sonne of King William and Queene Maud his wife was borne in England at Selby in Yorkeshire the third yeere of his Fathers raigne and of our Lord God 1070 his childhood was trained vp in learning at Cambridge saith Caius but the ancient Annales of Saint Austins in Canterbury say he was Philosophiâ peregrè informatus instructed beyond Sea in Philosophy where for his notable knowledge in the Liberall Sciences he was surnamed by the French Beauclerk that is the fine Scholler Vpon his return he was made Knight being 16. yeers old by his Father at Westminster in Whitsontide the nineteenth yeer of his Raign Anno 1086. and thogh at his Fathers death he had nothing bequeathed him but Treasure yet afterward he succeeded his Brothers both in the Kingdome of England and Dutchie of Normandy 72 Cecilie the Eldest daughter of King William and Queene Maude his wife was borne in Normandy brought vp in England and carried againe into Normandy where in the ninth yeere of the Kings Raigne and the yeere of our Lord 1075. shee was by her Father on Ester day with great Solemnity offered vp in the Church of Feschampe vailed to be a Nunne in the Monastery there but was afterward elected by the Nunnes of our Lady at Cane to be Abbesse of their Monasterie founded by her Mother which she gouerned and where she died and was enterred 73 Constance the second daughter of King William and Queene Maud was the first wife of Allayne Earle of little Britaigne surnamed in the British Fergent in English Red. In regard of which marriage and his seruice done at the conquest of England his Father in law gaue him all the lands of Earle Edwine whereon he built the Castle and wherof he made the Earledome of Richmond which long after belonged to the Earles and Dukes of Britaigne his Successors although he had his children by an other wife for she died very yong and without issue and was buried in the Abbey of Saint Edmundsbury in Suffolke 74 Alice the third daughter of King William Queen Maud was married to Stephen Earle of Bloys in France and had issue by him William an Innocent Thibaud surnamed the Great Earle of Blois and Champain Stephen Earle of Mortain and Boleine who was King of England Henry a Monke of Cluny after Abbot of Glastenbury and Bishop of Winchester Mary married to Richard Earle of Chester and Emme wife of one Harbert an Earle of France and mother of Saint William Archbishop of Yorke Shee suruiued Earle Stephen her husband and in her widowhood tooke vpon her the profession of Religion in the Priorie of Nunnes at Marciguy in France where she ended her life 75 Gundred the fourth daughter of King William and of Queene Maud was married to William of Warrein a Nobleman of Normandy who was the first Earle of Surrey in England by whom shee had issue William the second Earle Progenitors of the Earles that followed and Rainold of Warren her second sonne who had also Issue Shee died in Child-bed three yeeres before her husband at Castleaker in Norfolke the 27. of May in the 20. yere of her fathers raigne being the yeere of our Lord 1085. and is buried in the Chapter-house of Saint Pancrase Church within the Priory at the town of Lews in the County of Sussex 76 Ela the fifth daughter of King William and his Queen Maud in her Child-hood was contracted in marriage to Duke Harald when he was in Normandy being then a yong Widower Notwithstanding hee refusing her tooke an other wife and vsurped the Kingdom of England after the death of King Edward whereby hee occasioned his owne ruine and Conquest of his Country which afterward ensued when her Father sought reuenge so much as some write to the discontentment of this Lady that for griefe of these mischances shee euer after refused marriage and led a single and solitarie life though others vpon better warrant collect that shee died yong and before William her Father set forth for England Harald himselfe pleading that hee was free from all couenants and promises to Duke William by reason of the death of this his daughter 77 Margaret the sixth and yongest daughter of King William and Queene Maud was in her childhood giuen in marriage to Alphonso King of Gallicia in Spaine that afterward was so renowned for the Conquest of the City Lysbon for his victories against the Mores and for the slaughter of their fiue Kings and was the founder of the Kingdome of Portugall the first King thereof and the first bearer of the fiue Shields of the said fiue Kinges which are to this day the Armes of the same But this Lady being thus contracted deceased before those things hapned and before shee came to yeeres of lawfull consent to the marriage VVILLIAM THE SECOND SVRNAMED R VFVS THE FORTIETH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH HIS ACTS RAIGNE AND VNTIMELY DEATH CHAPTER III. WIlliam posting for England Archbishop Lanfrank his earnest soliciter by liberall gifts giuen and promises made to abrogate the ouer hard lawes of his Father had the readier passage into the opinions of them that could doe most and the more to notifie his intended mild gouernment with other his noble inclinations to princely vertues as eye-witnesses of his fauours towards the English hee brought with him from Normandy Morcar the stout Earle of Chester and Wilnoth the sonne of King Harold both of them released out of prison and then held in especiall fauour with him But most of the States standing for Robert Curtoise his elder Brother a man deemed of a more liberall disposition and better temperature towards the Subiects their titles had beene tried by swords had not Lanfrank and Wulstan both wise reuerend Prelates by their Counsels and Mediations staied their hands 2 Consent thus gotten and all voices giuen for William he was crowned their King at Westminster vpon Sunday the twenty sixt day of September and yeere of Saluation 1087. by the hands of Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterbury vnder whom he had beene educated
euen from his Child-hood and by him made fit both for Warre and Gouernment had not the variable inclination of his owne mind carried his actions past the limits of any staied compasse 3 Robert vpon discontents that Normandy was still detained before his Fathers sicknesse was gone into Germany to solicite their assistance for his right to that Duchie but hearing of his death hasteth into the Prouince and was there peaceably receiued and made their Duke which title notwithstanding seemed to him dishonourable his yonger brother being inuested to a Kingdome and himselfe disinherited no other cause mouing but his ouer-much gentlenes being by nature composed nothing so rough as was Rufus 4 The like emulation incited Odo Bishoppe of Baieux his vncle against Lanfranck the Archbishop who now ruled all and had worn him out of fauour with the Conquerour his halfe brother whom hee taught the distinction of imprisoning Odo as an Earle not as a Bishop now therefore seemed the time most fitting for a iust reuenge albeit that Rufus brought him from Normandy where he had beene captiuated and restored him his honours dignities in England yet hee vngratefull man enuying that Lanfranck should goe before him complotted the downefal aswell of the one as of the other And drawing into this conspiracy Robert Earle of Mortaigne and Hereford his brother with many other of the English Nobility wrote his letters into Normandy vnto his Nephew hastning him to repaire into England and recouer his right which by his meanes hee promised should soone bee effected 5 The busines thus wrought to Duke Roberts hand and the English resorting daily into Normandy assured his hopes of a happy successe onely the hinderance was want of money and that very much as the world then went with him hauing euer borne himselfe no lesse then his birth nor euer had made his bagges his summum bonum In these extremes he well saw the lesse was to bee followed and to set a Dukedom at stake to cast at a Kingdome he thought it ods sufficient though the chance were doubtfull Therfore to his younger brother Henry who had store of gold and wanted land hee morgaged the Countie of Constantine a Prouince in Normandy then sent to Odo that he should expect his landing on the West-coast of England by a day prefixed 6 The Bishop now growne bold vpon Duke Roberts great power shewed himselfe the first in the Action and fortifying Rochester beganne to molest the peace of Kent sending to his complices abroad to doe the like which was not long in performing for in the West Robert de Mowbrey Earle of Northumberland assisted by Geffrey Bishoppe of Constance sacked Bath and Berkley with a great part of Wilt-shire and strongly fortified the Castle of Bristow against King William In Norfolke Roger Bygod in Leicestershire Hugh Grentemeisnil did shrewdly wast those Countries Roger Mountgomery Earle of Shrewsburie with his Welshmen assisted by William Bishop of Durham the Kings domesticall Chaplain Barnard of Newmerch Roger Lacie and Ralph Mortimer all of them Normans or French-men with fire and sword past through the Country of Worcester and surely the stirres were so great and Duke Robert so fauoured that by the iudgement of Gemiticensis had he hasted his arriuage or followed the occasion the Crowne of England had easily been set vpon his head 7 All in an vprore and Rufus thus turmoiled he appointed his Nauie to scowre the seas and to impeach his brothers arriuage then gathering his forces and knowing well how to please the vulgar promiseth againe to abolish their ouer-hard lawes presently to put down all vniust Imposts and Taxations whereby the People were soone drawne to stand in his defence and among them Roger Mountgomery was reconciled to the King Thus now growne strong his enemies decreased he led his Armie into Kent where the sedition first beganne the Castles of Tunbridge and Horne he recouered as likewise Pemsey wherein his vncle Odo had strongly immured himselfe whose lacke of victuall by King Williams strait siege allaied the pride of that great-hearted man so that hee not onely surrendred the same but promised the deliuerie of Rochester also strongly manned with Eustace Earle of Boloigne and a sort of other gallant Gentlemen euen the flower of Normandy and Flanders 8 Odo comming to Rochester for the deliuerie of the Castle according to his promise was by them surprised and laid in strait prison whether in displeasure or vnder colour and with consent of Odo I will not say but certaine it is that the King tooke the matter so to heart that he sent forth his Proclamation through England commaunding that euery man should repaire to that siege whosoeuer would not be reputed a Niding a word of such disgrace and so distastiue vnto the English that multitudes seemed rather to flie then runne to that seruice whereupon the Castle was surrendred and Odo banished into Normandy lost all his liuings and honours in England 9 Whilest these things were in acting betwixt King William and his Barons Duke Robert with his Normans was landed at Southampton hauing passed some conflict with the Kings ships at the sea whom Rufus so feared if mine Author say true that he sent Messengers vnto him in most submissiue maner protesting that hee tooke not the crowne as his own by any right but rather to supply the time in his absence neither did hee account himselfe King but as his substitute to hold the crown vnder him yet seeing the matter had beene so farre passed and the Emperiall Crowne set on his head hee most humbly desired that it might so rest proffering to pay him three thousand Markes by yeere and to resigne it to him at his death whereat Duke Robert shaking his head belike he saw no other remedy easily consented and returned forth with into Normandy 10 And if we compare this with the Monke of Saint Albans report wee may well beleeue that William was forward enough in his offers though euer as vnready in performance for the Barons then being vp and he not able to allay them did that by his word which he could not by his sword protesting to them that he was willing to resigne the Kingdom and would be content either with Money or Possessions if those that were his Fathers Ouer-seers should thinke it meete and for any Ordinances touching the affaires of the Common weale he would referre it wholly to themselues prouided alwaies his owne honour should not thereby be impeached But when the Cloudes of these feares were altogether ouer-blowne no budde once appeared from these faire planted grafts 11 For Lanfrank deceased and both King depriued of a politike director and Common-welth of a principall Statist he presently shewed the bent of his inclination lauishly giuing where no deserts had engaged and exacting extreame tributes when
no Necessity required alwaies couetous yet neuer thrifty and still gathering yet neuer enriching his Coffers All Ecclesiasticall promotions then vacant he assumed into his owne hands and kept the See of Canterbury without an Archbishop aboue foure yeeres setting to sale the free-rights of the Church and he that would giue most came soonest to preferment wherby both the Lands and good esteeme of the Clergy was daily diminished These greeuances were complained of vnto Pope Vrban but he ouer busied to forward an expedition of Christian Princes for the winning of Ierusalem had no leasure seriously to thinke vpon their estates or else lesse minde to diuert Kings out of their owne byas whose persōs he meant to reserue for his own gain 12 The Storme thus clecred without any thunder King Rufus set the eye of desire vpon Duke Roberts dominions who lately had done the like with his and suddenly burst into Normandy as Scipio did into Africke pretending reuenge of injuries done to his Kingdome first therefore surprizing the Castles of Saint Valery and Albemarle hee stored them with his owne Souldiers then piercing forward did great spoile in the Countrie Robert destitute of meanes and knowing his Normans euer vnfaithfull sent to Philip the French King desiring his assistance against this Brother-Enemy who preparing towards Normandy was stopped with such golden showres from King William that he could not passe so that Duke Robert was constrained to make a peace with his brother though for himselfe a very sorry one as saith Gemeticensis which as Paris reporteth was effected by twelue Princes vpon either part and the conditions as followeth that King William should retaine and enioy the County of Ewe with Fescampe the Abbacie of Mount Saint-Michael and all the Castles he had gotten in Normandy for the Duke it was agreed that his brother King William should aide and assist him to recouer thoselands territories beyond the seas which had beene belonging to their Father That all such Normans as had lost their liuings in England in taking part with Duke Robert should be restored and lastly whether of them should die first the suruiuer should be his heire 13 Peace thus established and both their powers vnited they bent altogether against Henry their yongest brother who fearing after-claps had strongly fortified the Castle of Mount Saint-Michael situated vpon the confines of Normandie and Britaine him whom they ought to haue prouided for saith Gemeticensis they went about to expell and all the Lent long laid siege aginst him It chanced one day as his men sallied out made a brauado in the face of their beleaguers King William alone more bold then wise rode against them thinking none so hardy as to encounter him single but presently a Knight slew his horse vnder him his foot entangled in the stirrupe hee was ouer-throwne his enemy therefore with drawn sword was ready to haue slaine him had hee not reuealed himselfe by his voice the armed men with great reuerence then tooke him vp and brought him another horse when the King not staying for the stirrup sprang into the saddle and with an angry countenance demanded who it was that ouerthrew him the Knight as boldly answered and shewed himselfe who he was by Lukes face quoth William for that was his oath thou shalt bee my Knight and be enrolled in my Checke with a Fee answerable to thy worth 14 During this seige Prince Henry being sore distressed for water and knowing Duke Robert to be of the milder temperature sent him word of his want desiring to haue that permitted which God had made common and giuen euen to brute beasts aswell as to men Duke Robert therefore commanded him to be supplied whereat William was wroth telling his Brother he wanted discretion policy in warre which allowed all aduantages to surprise the Enemy And dost thou said Robert esteeme more of water which is euery where to be got then of a Brother hauing no more but him and me In which dissension Earle Henry got thence and by policy tooke a very strong towne called Danford where presently was a reconciliation made amongst these three brethren who thereupon forthwith tooke the Seas together for England 15 About this time in the yeere of Grace 1091 and fourth of King Rufus his raigne one Eneon the sonne of Cadinor Lord of Dyuet mouing rebellion against Rees ap Tewdor Prince of Southwales drew to his side Iestyn Lord of Glamorgan vpon promise to become his sonne in law by the marriage of his daughter Iestyn notwithstanding iudging their faction too weake sent Eneon into England where hee was well acquainted to procure aide against Rees who entring conference of his businesse with Robert Fitz-hamon a worthy Knight of the Kings Priuie-Chamber wrought so far with him being a man easily drawne to the exercise of warre that for a Salarie hee vndertooke the seruice and with twelue Knights and a competent number of Souldiers went into Wales where ioining with Iestin in battle slew Prince Rees ap Tewdor with Conan his sonne Robert Fitzhamon now minding to return demanded his pay according to couenants which Iestine in some part denied alledging that Eneon had gone beyond his commission whereupon such discord arose that these friends fell out and Eneon thus touched in his reputation sided with the English against his owne Country-men whereupon a battaile was fought and Iustin with most of his Welsh slaine so that Robert with his followers obtained a fruitfull possession in those parts which by their posterties are enioied euen to this day whose names as they are found written in a British record were as followeth NAMES POSSESSION 1 William de Londres Ogmor 2 Richard de Grana Villa Neth 3 Pagan de Turberuile Coity 4 Robert de S. Quintin Lhan Blethyan 5 Richard de Syward Talauan 6 Gilbert de Humfreuile Penmarke 7 Roger de Beckrolles East Orchard 8 Raynald de Sully Sully 9 Peter de Score Peterton 10 Iohn Le Fleming Saint George 11 Oliuer de Saint Iohn Fonmon 12 William de Estirling Saint Donats 16 As these things were commenced betwixt England Normandy and Walles Malcolme King of Scotland entred into the English Marches as farre as to Chester in the Streete doing much harme whose farther outrage to preuent William incontinently hasted sending by sea a great Nauie of Shippes and by land his brother Robert though with much losse of either for his Fleet was torne by tempest and his horsemen through hunger cold perished in those barren parts at length the Kings come to an Interuiew where by the meanes of Edgar Atheling a peace was concluded to both their contents for William restored vnto Malcolme twelue Villages which he had held in England vnder his Father and gaue him yeerly twelue Markes in gold And King Malcolme for his part promised to keepe true peace with him as hee
disunion gaue his Brother all occasions of enmity who was ready enough of himselfe to make the least very great For besides this present displeasure conceiued against Duke Robert he added others and this especially that he had wilfully wasted the Inheritance which his father had left him to wit the Dukedom of Normandy hauing nothing now almost in that Dominion besides the City of Roane which he would haue parted with also had not the Cittizens thereto denied their consents 16 Neither was it the least motiue to King Henries displeasure that his traiterous subiects were so willingly receiued by his brother for besides Robert Beliasme and others William Earle of Mortaigne in Normandy and of Cornwall in England the sonne of Robert halfe brother to the Conquerour because the Earledome of Kent which he made claime vnto as heire to his vnkle Odo was denied him in a discontent got him into Normandy where besides his valiant assaults of the Kings Castles and Souldiers hee much endangered the possessions of Richard Earl of Chester then a child and the Kings Warde so that the flames of warre raised by these seditions seemed to be blown from England vnto the parts beyond the Seas and to fire the territories of the English there neither is it easie to declare saith Houeden what misery the meane while by exactions the land felt here at home 17 For the King incited into Normandy vpon these occasions by large distributions of money carried out of England wonne the Normane Nobility to reuolt from their Lord and tooke the Towne and Castle of Cane by composition and burnt Bayon with the beautifull Church of Saint Maries whereupon the Priories of Normandy yeelded themselues vnto his Protection by whose example the Britaines and those of Aniou did the like so that their Castles and forts were filled with the Garrisons of King Henry Duke Robert in no wise able to resist which done Henry with triumph returned into England 18 The Curtuoise by his Normans thus vncourteously dealt with saw it was bootelesse against so great a streame to striue and therefore thought best to lay away weapons and to become himselfe a Mediatour for Peace With which resolution taking the seas hee followed his brother vnto Northampton where humbling himselfe in a more deiectiue manner then either his birth or owne nature could well brooke desired the Kings peace both in respect of their brotherly vnion and the regard of his owne accustomed clemency willing him to consider that warre was not only vnnaturall betwixt brethren but that a reproch euer followes the chariot of the Victor desiring him not to triūmph in his ouerthrow who was now ready to render all that he had into his hands but King Henry muttering to himselfe turned away from his brother without any answere 19 For God saith Paris not pleased to giue the effect though the Beau-clearke felt a remorse in conscience for vsurping his Kingdome being indeed very learned and well vnderstanding the duties both of equity and law and thereupon beganne both to feare some violent insurrection of the subiects and also the reuenging wrath of God vpon him for his trecherous and vniust dealings towards his elder brother to whom vndoubtedly the Kingdome by all right did appertaine yet stood hee rather in feare of men then God whose fauours he cunningly laboured to keepe whom he meant to please another time by building of an Abbey for his satisfaction Duke Robert then seeing and detesting the Kings swolne pride posted backe vnto Normandy to gather his powers Henry also held it good policy not to giue passage vnto Roberts wrath knowing him a Souldier and well waying his desperate estate and therefore calling his Lords vnto London in an assembly tickled their eares with these delectable and smooth words 20 My friends and faithful Counsellors and natiue Countrimen you know by true report how my Brother Robert was elected and by God himselfe called to be the fortunate King of Ierusalem and how vnfortunately or rather insolently he refused that sacred estate whereby hee is now most iustly reprobated of God you also know by many other experiments his pride and arrogancy for being a man of a warring humor hee is not onely impatient of any peace but also wilfully desireth to trample vpon you as men of abiect and contemptible disposition vpbraiding you for idle droanes for belly-gods and what not But I your King naturally inclined to bee both humble and peaceable take delight in nothing more then to do you good to maintaine your tranquillity and ancient liberties as I haue often sworn vnto you and meekely and willingly to yeeld my selfe to your aduises whereby I may circumspectly gouerne you as a clement Prince and to that end euen now will I confirme if your wisedomes so thinke fit your ouer-worne and vndermined Charters and will roborate them most firmely with a new oath and ratification Meane while all the lawes which the holy King Edward by Gods inspiring did establish I doe here commaund to bee inuiolably obserued hereby to moue you to adhere stedfastly vnto mee in repulsing cheerefully willingly and powerfully the wrongs offered me by my brother shal I say nay by my most deadly enemy yours and of the whole English Nation For if I bee guarded with the valours and affections of Englishmen I shall scorne the threates of him and his Normans as forcelesse and no whit to bee feared And with these faire promises which yet afterwards hee vtterly neglected hee so wonne the hearts of them all that they would die with him or for him against any hostility whatsoeuer 21 Duke Robert gone and preparing for warre Henry thus setled in his peoples affection followed him with all expedition hauing in his company the choice Nobility of England Normandy Gaunt and Britaine so that hee was exceedingly strong With Robert for men of chiefe account were Robert Beliasme Earle of Shrewsburie and William Earle of Mortaigne in like displeasure with the King and therefore armed with the like desperate boldnes 22 Henry with his Army had pierced into Normandy euen as farre as Tenerthebray a Castle of the Earle of Mortaigne vsing all meanes possible to surprise the same for whose rescue the Duke with these his Consorts made all diligence to dissolue the siege and after some few skirmishes ioined a bloody battaile brauely fought on each part where at the first onset the Kings power though much greater in number went down but by their multitude and manhood especially through the * Kings example and encouragement they soone preuailed where Duke Robert with Earle William and sundry others of good note manfully fighting in the very presse of their enemies were taken prisoners but * Robert Beliasme escaped by flight And thus as Mathew Paris obserued Gods Iustice Mercy tooke effect his Iustice vpon Robert for his refusall of Ierusalems title and vnto Henry his
fauour according to the prophesie of King William his Father This battaile was fought and Normandy wonne vpon Saturday being the Vigill of S. Michael euen the same day forty yeares that William the Bastard set foot on Englands Shoare for his Conquest God so disposing saith Malmsbury that Normandy should be subiected to England that very day wherein England was subdued to Normandy 23 Robert Curtuoise that now vnfortunate Prince and William Mortaigne that valiant but head-strong Earle were forthwith sent into England and imprisoned the Earle in the Tower of London and the Duke in Cardiffe Castle in Wales after he had gouerned the Dutchy of Normandy nineteen yeeres and was for esteeme in Chiualrie accounted among the best Captains that the world then afforded had hee not beene as commonly martiall spirits vse to be too rash and vnstaied in his other enterprises which headinesse did now draw vpon him a penance of twenty sixe yeeres continuance in the afflicted state of a forlorne Captiue And Henry now no longer as a brother receiuing the keyes of Normandy as a Conquerour returned into England 24 But long it was not ere Duke Robert weary of this vnwonted duresse sought to escape and hauing liberty to walke in the Kings Meadowes Forrests and Parkes brake from his Keepers without any Assisters or meanes for security who being mist was presentlie pursued and taken in a quag-mire wherein his Horse lay fast whereupon the King hearing of this his attempt considering that woods were no walles to restraine the fierce Lyon and that to play with his claw was to endanger a state commanded him not onely a greater restraint and harder durance but also a thing vnfit for a brother to suffer but most vnworthy for Beauclearke to act both his eyes to bee put out causing his head to be held in a burning bason to auoid the deformity of breaking the eye-bais vntill the glassie tunicles had lost the office of retaining their light 25 Hauing thus quieted all forraine oppositions King Henry set his minde to preuent Domesticke and therfore about this time those Flemmings whose Lands the Seas had deuoured some few yeeres before and place was granted them in Cumberland first by King Rufus and afterwards by Henry were now by the King vpon better aduisement remoued into Wales both to disburden his Inland of such guests and that so they might bee a defence betwixt him and those euer-stirring people Which proiect nothing deceiued his expectation for by the testimony of Giraldus They were a Colony stout and strong and continually endured the warres of the Welsh a Nation most accustomed to seeke gaine by cloathing by triffique also and Marchandize by Sea and Land vndertaking any paines or perils whatsoeuer A people of very great power and as time and place requireth ready by turnes to take plough in hand and till the ground as ready also to goe into the field and fight it out and that I may adde thus much more saith hee a Nation most loially deuoted to the Kings of England and as faithfull to the Englishmen 26 By the which his policy he attained that which his brother Rufus could not who many a time had but small successe in those parts though otherwise euer sped most fortunatly in all his aduentures of warres But it is thought by some that as the Mountanous cragginesse of the Country and sharpnesse of the Aire encouraged them in their rebellion so the same impeached Rufus his successe But King Henrie saith Malmesburie who with many a warlike expedition went about to force the Welshmen euer stirring vnto Rebellion for to yeeld and to submit themselues in the end resolued vpon this whole some policie for to take down their pride he brought thither all the Flemmings that dwelt in England a great number of which Nation in those daies in regard of his mothers kindred by her Fathers side flocking hither were closely shrouded in England in so much as they for their multitude seemed burden some vnto the Realme Wherefore he sent them all together with their substance their Wines and Children vnto Rosse a Countrey in Wales as it were into a common auoidance thereby both to purge his own kingdome and also to quatle and represse the desperate boldnesse of his Enemies 27 And now being free from all feare of subuerters King Henry growing disdainefull saith Paris refused to fulfil what he had so oftē promised to his Nobles heaping threats vpon threats for God had bestowed on him three bounties wisdome victory and riches aboue any of his Predecessors but for all these hee shewed himselfe to God most vnthankeful And of his Clergy wee may say too regardlesse in suffering Anselm newly reconciled to lay heauy punishmēts vpon the married Priests putting many from their places because they denied to put away their Lawfull wiues whereof great contention followed and grieuous sinnes in short time committed both against God and Nature 28 Among these proceedings in England Philip King of France deceased and his sonne Lewis surnamed Crassus succeeded in his gouernement which how he stood affected to Henry was doubted and therefore to make sure worke the King sailed into Normandy furnishing his Townes Castles and Fortresses with all habiliments of warre with prouisions befitting such suspected times and so returning he found attending his comming the Ambassadors of Henrie the fourth Emperour as suters from their Master to obtaine Lady Maud the Kings daughter in Marriage then not past fiue yeeres of age which was willingly graunted and the espousals by way of Proxy solemnized with great feasts and magnificent triumphes 29 About which time the death of Archbishop Anselme happening gaue no small hope to the Clergy as themselues conceited againe to enioy the liberty of matrimoniall society wherein they were not a little deceiued for the King seemed willing that the Ecclesiasticall Ordinance before made should bee more neerely looked into whereupon men for feare and in the sight of men carried themselues accordingly but if in secret they did worse saith Eadmerus let the charge light on their own heads sith euery man shall beare his owne sinnes for I know saith hee that if Fornicators and Adulterers God will iudge the abusers of their owne Cosens I will not say their own Sisters and Daughters shal not surely escape his iudgement 30 The Kings peace which seemed to be secured by his new affinity with the Emperour and his glory raised to the high began now to bee enuied and his brother Duke Roberts extremities greatly to be pitied both by some English and also Normans For Foulke Earle of Aniou both threatned the reuenge and by corrupting the inhabitants wanne the City of Constance from his obeisance To stay whose irruptions King Henry passed into Normandy where hee vsed great extremity and put to death Helia Earle of Cenomania who held that
County against him for which cause Godfrey Earle of Gaunt tooke such displeasure that hee entred into that Earledome and marrying the said Helia his daughter kept the County perforce against King Henries great power But Robert de Beliasme that had escaped at Duke Roberts ouerthrow was then taken and committed prisoner to Warham Castle too gentle a punishment for so blood-thirstie a man whose nature was such that he delighted himselfe onely in cruelty an example whereof hee shewed vpon his owne sonne who being but a childe and playing withhim the father for a pastime put his thumbes in the boies eyes and thrust out the balles thereof 31 These warres somewhat asswaged King Henry returned into England where the people conceiued much grudge at his importable taxes and the Clergy no lesse at his reseruation of Church liuings in their vacancies vnder pretence of keeping them for the worthiest but how vnworthily he oftentimes bestowed thē may be gathered by that prety reproof of Guymundus his Chaplain who grieuing to see vnworthymen for the most part aduanced to Bishoprickes and other dignities when on the Rogation day he celebrated diuine seruice in the Kings Chappel being to read that lesson out of Saint Iames it rained not on the earth III. yeares and VI. moneths hee purposely read it it rained not one one one yeares and fiue one monethes All men either laughing or wondring at his reading the King checkt him for it and askt him the reason marry quoth he I see you bestow your preferments onely on such as can read so which secret touch the King well weighing did both presently preferre him to the gouernment of Saint Frideswides in the Vniuersity of Oxford and afterward was more carefull in all other his choices 32 The King had not beene long in England after his returne from Normandy before the Welshmen then a restlesse people were in Armes against such English as had set footing in that Country which were Gilbert Strangbowe Earle of Strygil and others whose lands in the south part Owen ap Cadogan sore molested and spoiled the like did Gruffith ap Conan Prince of North-Wales vpon Hugh Earle of Chesters County and both of them denied King Henry either seruice or tribute These Earles so incensed the King touching these and other outrages of the Welshmen that in a rage he vowed not to leaue one aliue in al North Wales nor in Powys-land and straight repairing thitherward diuided his Armie into 3. parts The first was led by Earle Gilbert against South-wales the second band by Alexander King of Scotland and Hugh Earle of Chester against North-Wales and the King himselfe lead the third vnder whose Standard was the chiefe strength of middle England But the Welsh seeing themselues far vnable to withstand this present preparation tooke into the Mountaines and Woods their surest holds where being followed with great difficulty many of them were slaine and the rest yeelded to King Henry who now as a Conquerour in triumph returned to London 33 Whither immediately resorted vnto him the Ambassadour of his sonne in law the Emperour to haue his wife Lady Maud now marriage-able to be sent vnto him to which request the King most willingly condescended and to furnish her forth accordingly laid a taxe vpon his Subiects taking three shillings for euery Hide of land wherupon shee was presently conducted by his greatest Peares into Germany and at Mentz married to the Emperour Henry the fourth being there consecrated and crowned his Empresse 34 Shortly after King Henry tooke the Seas for Normandy and there created his sonne William about the age of twelue yeeres Houeden saith but eight Duke of that Country causing the people to sweare him fealty whereof grew a custome that thenceforth the Kings of England made euermore their eldest sonnes Dukes of Normandy which done he returned and nothing recorded of his next yeres aduentures but onely that the Sea gaue place to the Sands and by low Ebbes restored some part of her treasures that long had laien hid and buried in her depth the riuers likewise forgat their wonted swiftnes and as it were seemed vnwilling to pay their ancient tribute into that deiected Element and among them Thamesis not the least whose waters so failed for two daies that betwixt London Bridge and the Tower she became passable and scarse two foot deepe 35 King Henry free now from all forraine domesticall trouble onely Gruffith ap Rees somewhat vnquiet in Wales gaue his thoughts to assure the Crowne into his line and to ordaine lawes for the well gouerning of his people for calling an assembly at Salisbury caused the Estates both Spirituall and Temporall to sweare fealty to himselfe and to his sonne Willam the Hope of succession then reforming many abuses and ending certaine contentions both of his Nobles and Prelates laid here the first foundation of our High Court of Parliament for the English Kings in elder times ordered the affaires of the Common-wealth by their Edicts by their officers and by the Gouernours of euerie Country and seldome had the ioint aduice of their people sauing onely at beginning of their gouernment and in time of warre whereas now the Subiect best vnderstanding his owne grieuances hath both liberty in choice of their Knights and Burgesses as also free voice to complaine thereof in that honourable assembly 36 At this time Theobald Earle of Blessis Nephew vnto King Henry vpon occasion of displeasure rose vp in Armes against the French King to whose aid King Henry sent whereat Lewes found himselfe sore agrieued and drew to his side Baldwine Earle of Flanders and Foulke Earle of Aniou who together tooke oath to dispossesse Henry of Normandy and to make William the sonne of the Curtoise Duke thereof to whom it belonged by right and descent to which also many of the Nobles of Normandy consented pittying the wrong of the noble spirited Child and the wretched captiuity of the blind and ouer-borne Father 37 Henry as wisely wrought against their designes and leauying a great taxe vpon his Subiects passeth therewith into Normandy where vniting the aides of the foresaid Theobald as also of the Earle of Britaine with his English hee made a great shew in the field at which time King Lewes with the Earles of Flanders and Aniou being entred Normandy and hearing of King Henries approch and power staid scarsly one night but as mē without hart or courage returned and left the Country for him so that all things seemed well quieted for a yeare or two nothing disturbing King Henries peace excepting only the expectance of the Popes Legate whom hee prohibited to enter England and the death of his Queene Maud the very mirrour of piety humility and princely bounty 38 But coales of displeasure kindled betwixt King Henry and Lewes of France were not quite extinct though they
to the Kings commaund and his owne Oath hauing receiued consecration and thereupon forbidden by the King to put foot againe within his Dominions his holines commanded his New-Creature should be installed against all right and custom without professing any subiection to the See of Canterbury and threatned with his curse to interdite both Prouinces till that was performed The cause of the Popes indignation against Ralph is supposed to bee for that hee had receiued his Inuestiture of the King who contrary to the Canons of the late Romane Synode did still challenge and practise that * Regall prerogatiue 43 Whether it were about this contention of Inuesting or about a Fryer of the Holy Sepulchre whom as Malmsb. saith the King had imprisoned or about Thurstans hard vsage certaine it is that the Pope much desiring to haue priuate talke with the King came to him into Normandy and so at Gisors conferred saith Paris the Great King and the high Priest but notwithstanding the Popes threates or intreates Thurstan was kept in banishment full fiue yeares and then for the Popes pleasure was restored But at this meeting the King was so liberall of rich gifts to the Pope and his Cardinals that therfore the Pope saith a Monke held him a most wise and eloquent perswader and his actions very iustifiable But it seemeth the Cardinals were neither so eloquent nor learned as they should be for that saith hee two youthes in the Kings Company sonnes of the Earle of Mellent learned both and therefore fitte to be with that learned King reasoning of some points with them and disputing Scholler-like with Logicall Syllogismes the Gâ—…d Rabbies vsed to other exercises at Rome then studying were quite grauelled and had nought to say but that more learning was in these Westerne parts then they had thought But as these Church-stirres did not a little disquiet the King so also did new Welsh tumults raised by Meredith ap Blethyn who with the three sonnes of Cadogin Encon Madoc and Morgan sore troubled the Kings people and peace by breaking into the Marches and especially into Cheshire where they burned two Castles The King therefore making towards them had sent his maine Armie to conduct the Carriages whilst himselfe with a small Company tooke a neerer way through the Mountaines and Straites which being forelaid by the Enemy was with great courage set vpon and through the aduantage of the Place many of his men slaine and more hurt by the Welsh Archers whose showers of Arrowes rained thicke vpon them from the higher ground amongst which one was so leuelled at the King that it strucke him on the breast yet being surely armed did him no hurt but hee therewith all wonderfully dismaied and by likelihoode fearing some treason amongst his owne for then hee swore by our Lords death his vsuall oath that no Welsh-man shotte that Arrow but one of his owne Prouincials and considering that by these his ouer-rash proceedings his glory purchased in more famous parts might againe bee lost in this wild and rude Country came to a Parley Peace receiuing of the King a thousand head of Cattle and leauing Kord Fitzwarren Lieutenant of the Marches returned to England where hee held three Parliaments in the same yeare one at Norwich another at Northampton and the third at London 44 The Normans still repining at the Captiuity of Robert their late Duke and standing well affected vnto his Sonne thought now the time fitting Prince William being dead to raise the other William his Cosen Germane into his place who as the Monke of Chester affirmeth married Sybil the other daughter of Foulke Earle of Aniou with whom hee receiued the Earledome of Cenomannia vpon displeasure that King Henry withheld the formers dowry in England The chiefe in this action was Robert Earle of Mellent who was lately fallen off from the King Henry therefore hasting into Normandy besieged his Castle Pont-Audomar and tooke it and at that time built a large and high wall with many Bulwarkes about the Tower of Roan repaired the Castles of Caen Arches Gisors Faleise Argenton Damfort Vernon Ambres and sundry others 45 In the meane time Earle Mellent desirous to bee reuenged vpon the King associated Hugh Earle of Montfort and others vnto his aide who entring Normandy with fire and sword did much harme as they went thinking to bring all to their obeisance against whose outrages William Tankeruile the Kings Chamberlaine and Lieutenant in those parts addressed himselfe and training them into danger of an Ambush laid for that purpose after long fight tooke them both prisoners and presented them to his Master whereby the warres ceased for a time in those parts 46 In this the Kings absence but yet with his licence Iohannes Cremensis the Popes holy Cardinal came into England sent by Honorius the Second there to redresse the still continued sinne-seeming abuse of the Clergy in retaining and vsing according to Gods owne Ordinance the Society of their wiues This Pontificall Prelate was entertained by all the Bishops and Abbots with great and costly Presents and afterward being solemnely set in a Councell at London vpon the birth-day of the Blessed Virgine made a soleme Oration in praise of Virginitie and Chastity with a terrible inuectiue against the maried Priests and to amplifie their sinnes the more hee shewed what extreme impiety it was to rise from the bed of vnlawfull lust for so was their chaste Marriage termed and with polluted hands to touch the Sacrament of the body of Christ but the same night following he * hauing that very day consecrated that holy Sacrament was himself taken with a Whore the matter being so apparant that it could not bee hid neither ought it to be silenced saith Huntingdon to the great reproach of those most vnchaste boasters of Chastitie as both Paris and Higden themselues doe confesse and so hee returned to Rome with shame enough but with little successe in that intended businesse till some few yeers after King Henrie seeming very desirous to settle his pretensed continency in the Clergy in a Councel held at London obtained through simplicity of the Archbishop of Canterbury saith Paris that himselfe shold haue the execution of iustice and punishments of the Priests that offended either in keeping of their wiues or vsing of Concubines for likely those that liked not the one loued the other as well as Cremensis but euen then also the Kings end being onely to get in summes of money which hee had still occasions to vse euery man redeemed his liberty by his purse and matters rather proued worse then any whit reformed 47 Whilest King Henry about his said affaires lay in Normandy newes was brought him that Henry the Emperour his sonne in law was dead whereupon hee presently sent for his Daughter the Empresse and with her he returned into England
the right side of King Edward the Confessor 61 Ad◅licia or Alice the second wife of King Henry was the daughter of Godfrey the first Duke of Louaine by the daughter of the Emperour Henrie the fourth and sister to Duke Godfrey and Iocelin of Louain Shee was married vnto him the nine and twentieth of Ianuary in the twentie one of his raigne and yeere of Christ 1121. and was crowned the morrow after being Sunday Shee was his wife fifteene yeeres but euer childlesse and suruiuing him was remarried to William Daubeny Earle of Arundel and was mother of Earle William the second Rayner Godfrey and Ioan married to Iohn Earle of Augi c. His Issue 62 William the sonne of King Henry and Queen Maud his first wife was born the secōd of his Fathers Raigne and of Christ 1102. When he came to age of foureteene yeeres the Nobility of England did him homage and sware their fealties vnto him at Shrewsburie The third yeere after hee married the daughter of Foulk Earle of Aniou and the same yeere hee was made Duke of Normandy doing his homage for the same to Lewes the Grosse King of France and receiued the homage and oathes of the Nobility of that Country but in his returne for England hee was vnfortunately drowned neere vnto Barbfleet vpon the twenty sixt of Nouember the yeere of Grace 1120. and eighteenth of his owne age without any issue to the great griefe of his Father 63 Maud the daughter of King Henry and of Queene Maud his first wife was borne the fourth yeere of her Fathers raigne She was the second wife of the Emperour Henrie the fourth espoused at sixe yeeres of age and at eleuen with great solemnity was married and crowned his Empresse at Mentz in Germany 6. Ianuary Anno 1114. the ninth of her husbands and foureteenth of her Fathers Raignes Shee was his wife twelue yeeres and suruiued him without any issue of him comming into England a widdowe she had fealty sworne vnto her by the Nobility and was remaried to Geffrey Plantaginet Earle of Aniou sonne of Foulke King of Ierusalem vpon the third of Aprill and yeere of Grace 1127. by whom shee had issue Henry the Second King of England Geffery Earle of Nantes in Britanie and William who was called Earle of Poyto she was his wife twenty three yeeres and suruiuing him also continued a widdowe the last seuenteene yeeres of her life which she ended in the City of Roan the tenth of September 1167. the foureteenth of the raigne of King Henry her sonne and was buried in the Abbey of Bee in Normandy 64 Richard a second sonne to King Henry and Queene Maud by the testimony of Geruasius the Monke of Canterbury who maketh Maud their eldest Child William the second and lastly Richard and then saith he she left bearing but Malmsbury saith she had but two Children one of each sexe 65 Eufem also another daughter and fourth Child by Hector Boetius the Scottish Historian is said to be borne vnto the Beauclearke by Queene Maud the credite of the two last I leaue to the reporters who onely thus name them without any further relation His Naturall Issue 66 Robert the naturall sonne of King Henry was Earle of Gloucester and married Ma◅l daughter and heire of Robert Fitzhamon Lord of Glamorgan by whom hee had issue William Earle of Gloucester Richard Bishop of Bayon Roger Bishop of Worcester and Maud the wife of Randolph Gernon the mother of Hugh Keueliot Earle of Chester and Richard his brother Earle William married Auis daughter of Robert Bossu Earle of Leicester and had issue three daughters and heires of that Earledome which by Au◅s the second of them in the end descended to Clare Earle of Hertford This Earle Robert died the last of October in the twelfth yeare of King Stephen and was buried at Bristow in the Church of S. Iames which hee had founded and his body laide in the midst of the Quire vnto him William Malmsbury dedicated his Booke called Historia Nouella 67 Richard another naturall sonne of King Henry was as it seemeth by an ancient Register of the Monastery at Abington borne in the raigne of King William Rufus of the widow of Anskill a Nobleman of the Country adioining to the said Monastery and it seemeth hee is that Richard that was drowned in the Norman Seas neere Barbfleet among the rest of King Henries children 68 Raynold the naturall sonne of King Henry was borne of a daughter vnto Sir Robert Corbet Lord of Alcester in Warwickeshire by the gift of the King in fauour of her who was after married to Henry Fitz-herbert his Chamberlaine This Raynold was created Earle of Cornwall and Baron of Castle comb with consent of King Stephen and had issue foure Daughters of whom haue sprung many faire branches 69 Robert another of that name was borne of Edith the sister of Iue sonne and daughter of Forne the sonne of Sigewolfe both of them great Barons in the North which Edith afterwards King Henry gaue in marriage to Robert D◅lie Baron of Hook-Norton in Oxfordshire and with her gaue him the Mannor of Eleydon in the County of Buckingham by whom he had issue Henry Doylie Baron of Hook-Norton who oftentimes mentioneth this Robert in his Charters euer calling him Robert his brother the Kings sonne 70 Gilbert another naturall sonne of King Henry is named in the additions to the story of William Gemeticensis the Norman Monke in the Chronicle of that country written by Iohn Taylor being a Translator of that worke out of Latine into French and lastly in the Treaties betwixt England and France written in the French tongue by Iohn Tillet Secretarie to their late King Henry the second and yet in them not any other mention is made but only of his name 71 William also a narurall sonne of Henry the King had giuen vnto him the Towne of Tracie in Normandy of which hee tooke his surname and was called William of Tracie But whether he were the Progenitot of the Tracies sometime Barons in Deuonshire or of them that now be of the same surname or whether Sir William Tracie one of the foure Knights that slew Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury were any of his posterity is not certainely reported nor any thing else of him more then that hee died a little after his Father which was in the yeere of Christ 1135. 72 Henry another naturall sonne of King Henry was borne of the Lady Nesta daughter of Rees ap Tewdor Prince of South-Wales who was the Wife of Sir Gerald Windsor and of Stephen Constables of the Castles of Pembrooke and Abertinie in Wales and Progenitors of the Families of the Fitz-geralds and the Fitz-Stephens in Ireland he was borne and breed and liued and married in Wales hauing issue two sonnes namely Meiler and Robert of which Meiler the elder married the daughter of Hugh Lacie Lord of Methe in Ireland
Normans disliking that and some other his doings sent for Theobald Earle of Bloys Stephens elder Brother offering him both their Dukedome and their swords and liues to defend him in it who comming to Luxonia Robert Earle of Gloucester not vnwilling any way to weaken King Stephen deliuered vnto him vpon composition the County of Falesia himselfe carrying no small summe of money thence out of King Henries Treasurie and very throughly though secretly watching all opportunities to aduance the title and designes of the Empresse 9 Stephen recouered and hearing these stirres prepared himselfe first into Normandy at whose approach after some small attempts the people distracted betwixt feare and sense of their ducty yeelded themselues vnto his power surrendring their fenced Cities and other strong holds This good successe thus fortunately begunne hee hoped further to prosecute by meanes of a league which hee lately had made with Lewis the seuenth King of France and heereupon created Eustace his eldest son liuing Duke of Normandie commanding him to do his homage for the same to Lewis 10 Earle Theobald seeing himselfe thus defeated of his hopes and purposes stormed at the wrongs done by King Stephen for hee his elder by birth and Bloyses Earledomes lawfull heire laide his title both for Normandie and England also now vsurped by Stephen his yonger notwithstanding rage nought auailing without power hee came to a composition and remitted his Claime for two thousand markes annually to be paid Geffrey of Aniou likewise whose title by his Wife was better then them both not able at the preset being so far ouer-matched by the Kings power wealth confederats to do what he would yeelded to necessity and for fiue thousand markes yeerely to be paid suffered Stephen quietly to enioy the Crowne 11 Hauing thus at once swept the two greatest rubbes out of his fortunes way hee well hoped that all cloudes of displeasure and opposition were now ouer-blowne when vnexpectedly newes came that England was intumults the sparkes of conspiracie kindled secretlie before in the hearts of factious Peers now openly breaking foorth vpon aduantage of his absence in Normandie therefore hauing not altogether cōposed his busines in those parts he took ship for England in the depth of the winter and euen in the Vigill of Christs Natiuitie besieged and after tooke the Castle of Bedford that was manned against him in the behalfe of the Scots about which time Dauid their King hauing entred Northumberland in the quarrell of Queene Maude the ruder sort of his Armie as commonly the best gouerned is not emptie of such reuenged too tragically the wrongs of the Empresse in ripping vp the wombes of women with child and tossing their infants vpon the points of their speares slaying the Priests at the Altar and dismembring the slaine bodies in most vnhumane maner 12 Against these King Stephen made hastilie forward affirming it no policie to giue one houres rest vnto the Enemie and threatning more then hee accomplished entred Scotland whence after some small reuenge wrought hee was hastily recalled so many of his Nobles in England now in Armes against him that hee was in a sort besette on euerie side And what other could bee a Vsurper expect from them but Treason whom himselfe had formerly taught to be Traitors to their rightfull Soueraigne But yet as no Rebellion was euer without pretence of Reason and Iustice they alledged that hee had violated his Oath touching their Forrests and other Immunities of Church and Common-wealth but Church and Common-wealth were but publike colours for priuate grudges as Malmesburie who then liued well vnfouldeth which the Great-Ones concerued against their King because he would not grant them such Castles Commands and Lordships as themselues liked and expected of him whom they thought to be so obliged vnto them that he ought denie them nothing The endlesse and shamelesse importunities of these men sometimes hee put off alleadging thereby the impaire of his Crownes reucnewes sometimes hee was faine to satisfie distrusting their fal◅ing from him whose loialtie notwithstanding beeing built on so vn-noble grounds was but coloured and therefore could not long bee permanent Neither was it For Robert of Glocester the Empresses halfe-brother and now her chiefe Counsellor and Captaine finding those particular dislikes apt to be wrought on and made seruiceable for a common behoofe whetted on with the touch of conscience and counsells of religious learned men who vrged him with the hazard both of his credit and soule for neglect of his first and only-lawfull Oath to the Empresse sent threatning messages vnto King Stephen charging him with his Oath of Allegiance vnto Lady Maud his Soueraigne against whom hee h◅ shewed himselfe a most perfidious man and had impiouslie drawne him with others to doe the like and so denouncing Stephen an open Enemie to the State and himselfe vnto Stephen made strong his faction with the assistance of many Nobles among whom Milo a chiefe man of warre and High Constable to King Stephen reuolted from him and became a great help to their proceedings 13 Earle Robert whom estsoones the enraged King discharged of his honours and possessions in England tooke into the Castle of Bristow and made good also his Castle of Slede his complices likewise did the like in other places for William Talbot manned the Castle of Hereford William Louell the Castle of Carie Paganell the Castle of Ludlow William de Mount the Castle of Dunestor Robert de Nichol the Castle of Warram Eustace Fitz-Iohn the Castle of Meltune William Fitz-Alain the Castle of Shrewsburie and Walkelinus the Castle of Doure And thus those forts which were erected to defend the Crowne first offended the King some few whereof as he recouered he flatted to the ground and wished the other no higher walls still swearing by Gods Birth his vsuall Oath hee would not so slightlie bee vnseated of his Crowne and wondring what should mooue them who had so readilie aduanced him so speedily to vnstate him One fresh motiue to these Noble-mens discontents was the Kings * seizing on some great men and their lands on bare suspition of their loialtie and on the other side the extraordinarie fauour which Stephen shewed to William de Ypre and his Flemings which they interpreted as a contempt of themselues and their Nation whose counsells he generally followed and chieflie relied vpon In disdaine whereof they sent word to the Empresse that within fiue Monethes shee should haue the Realme at command according to their Oaths made to her Father 14 These turmoiles thus working in the bowels of the Kingdome Dauid King of Scotland had better opportunitie to assaile the sides and skirts thereof and following what hee had begunne with a very great Armie entring Northumberland made great slaughter of the English and destruction of their Countrey
Against whom the Northren Lords prepared at 〈◊〉 command of Thurstan Arch-bishop of Yorke 〈◊〉 King Stephen Lieutenant in those parts who beeing by sickenes kept from the Field appointed Ralph Bishop of Durham his General whose Inuectiue Oration before their ioyning of battaile occasioned vpon the foresaid misdeameanors of some vndisciplined Scotish is at large set down by Houedon Huntingdon Wendouer and others in the close whereof he absolueth from punishment of sin all such of his side as should die in this battaile which made the English more desperate in fight who so sorely pressed vpon their enemies that they forsooke their King he notwithstanding valiantly persisting til his dearest friends ernestly vrged him to auoid But his son Henry esteeming more of glory theÌ„ life rushed in amongst his retiring souldiers and with vndaunted courage perswading them to regard themselus and his presence with threat of shamefull deaths to all such as fled he held them in for a time till at length ouer-laid with the maine-battaile of the English the magnanimous Prince Henry likewise quitted the field bitterly cursing the frowardnesse of Fortune and the mischance that hapned that day 15 With like fortunate successe proceeded Stephen against his disobedient Barons and wanne from them the Castles of Hereford Gloucester Webley Bristow Dudley and Shrewsbury whereby hee weakned Earle Robert so much that he was constrained to flie into France and there instigated his sister the Empresse to come into England 16 These domesticke opposites thus remoued out of his way King Stephen re-addressed himselfe for the North to prosecute that which Thurstan had begunne first therfore winning the Castle of Leids he went into Scotland where by the persuasion prowesse of Mars and Vulcan saith Paris a Peace was concluded betwixt the two Kings and Stephen thence returning brought Prince Henry whom he created Earle of Huntingdon with him into England and at the siege of Ludlow Castle the aduenturous Prince was almost surprised where the besieged with an Iron Grapple pluckt him from his horse and so had taken him but that King Stephen himselfe with great valour and honour recouered him who hauing wonne the Castle went presently to Oxford whither newes was brought him that the Empresse was preparing for England 17 To make all sure as he went Stephen thought it good to demolish and race those Castles lately built hauing had experience to what troubles they had brought him and to preuent the building of new and namely that of the Diuise now as hee surmised in fortifying against him hee therefore sent for Roger Bishop of Salisbury the Founder both of that Castle as also those other of Sherborn Malmsbury a man who in a bad cause had stood King Stephen in good stead howsoeuer some enuying his greatnes had incensed the King against him and other Prelates as if they were fallen from his side The Bishop standing peremptorily on his innocencie yet mistrusting the euent craued the company of Alexander Bishop of Lincolne and of Nigell Bishop of Ely so with a great and well appointed traine repaired to Oxford vnto the Court where Stephen had summoned a Grand-Councell of the States 18 The King who expected of Church-men humility seeing them now armed as men for the field commanded his attendants to take armour likewise and so entring communication of diuers matters with his Peeres and Prelates their Souldiers casually meeting fell at variance where the Bishops friends had the worse so that many of them were wounded and the rest forsaking their masters ranne away This great assembly thus disturbed the King required the Bishops to satisfie his Court for these outrages of their seruants which satisfaction should be to deliuer the keyes of all their Castles to the King as pledges of their fidelity which they refusing the Bishops of Salisbury and Lincolne were laid hold of but Ely escaped to the Castle of Diuise Alexander was imprisoned till hee had yâ—…ded him his Castles of New-werke and Slaford Roger the Castles of Sherborne and the Deuises accounted then one of the goodliest Castles of Europe besides forty thousand Markes in siluer which losses the Bishop did not long suruiue The King imployed the money to purchase Lady Constance sister to Lewis King of France to be wife vnto his sonne Eustace all which was to strengthen himselfe against the Empresse Maud whose comming he continually feared now before his expectation she was landed in England at a fitte time for her designes when all the great Prelates who formerly were his chiefest friends were highly incensed against the King for such oppression of their Brethren 19 The place of her arriuage was at the port of Arundell into which Castle shee was ioyfully receiued by William de Albeny who had married Queen Adeliza the late wife to King Henry whose Dowrie it was from hence Earle Robert diuerting his course onely with tenne horse-men and as many Archers for in all hee brought ouer but one hundred and forty with him for so great an exploit passed throgh the Land vnto Wallingford and Gloucester soliciting his Complices for the aid of his sister the Empresse A man who then liued holds him in this bold attempt with so small forces no way inferiour to Iulius Caesar whom Liuie reports to haue begun his ciuill war and to haue set himselfe against the whole world onelie with fiue Cohorts of Souldiers 20 King Stephen as then lay in siege of Marleburgh Castle but hauing intelligence of this more dangerous an enemy dislodged thence and with all expedition made towards Arundell whereat the Empresse wanting her Counsellor was wonderfully perplext yet wanted not a womans wit to helpe at need insomuch that by the report of Geruasius lest her dignity and right might any way be endammaged shee tooke an oath that none of these the Kings enemies by her aduice or consent had entred the land but with condition to carry themselues orderly without impeachment of the honour and allegiance due to the King by which policy to giue it no worse name she so satisfied King Stephen whom al do censure for too much credulity and facility towards his foes that hee caused her to bee conuaied honourably vnto Bristow where she remained the space of two monethes and then got thence vnto Wallingford 21 Earle Robert in the meane while dispersed the newes of the Empresses approch vnto whose aid so many gathered that the same Monke reporteth no man was able to set downe their multitudes in context of historie much lesse by way of Computation then beganne saith he both labour and dolour which brought the whole Realme to a most grieuous diuision and in a maner to an vtter ruine for those that fauoured the King what euill soeuer could be wrought or imagined they did against them that tooke part with the Empresse and contrariwise Earle
the Castles of Waltham Farnham and Winchester with Munition and men meane while the Empresse came speedily to Gloucester to conferre with Milo her chiefest friend and presently againe returning to Oxford which she chose for her Court and chiefe place of abode was there maintained only at his charge not hauing one dayes diet or prouision of her owne to requite which fidelity and other noble seruices she there created him Earle of Hereford 35 Her forces recollected thither assembled she went forthwith to the City of Winchester accompanied with Dauid King of Scotland her vncle Earle Robert her brother and many other Nobles where sending for the Bishop being then in the City whose aid shee could hardly spare and therefore was desirous of his reconcilement though hee mistrusted some perill yet not daring to send a deniall returned the Messenger with this equiuocall answere that he would with all speed addresse himselfe as if hee had meant to follow them so forthwith issuing secretly out of the City did indeed addresse himselfe to worke her ruine for sending for Queene Maude her sonne Eustace the Londoners and William Ypres afterwards created Earle of Kent made strong his part himselfe and friends abiding in the City whiles the Empresse and her Nobles defensed themselues in the Castle not aduenturing to goe forth amongst so many their mortall enemies and soone after to worke his wrathfull will knowing the Citizens to bee more affected to the Empresse then to him commanded the said Citie to bee set on fire where in the Monastery of Nunnes aboue twentie Churches the Couent of S. Grimbald and the better part of the Citie were consumed to ashes 36 Seuen weekes thus spent in this counter-siege of the Citie and Castle the Bishoppe to deceiue the Empresse commanded peace to bee proclaimed and the Gates to bee set open towards euening The Empresse then who had indured such troubles and so long a restraint greatlie desired to change her lodging and to recreat her perplexed spirits in some other place so taking horse accompanied with her brother Reinold Earle of Cornewall her seruants and many others her friends besides Earle Robert who followed behind with a troupe of Nobles and Knights presentlie at the Bishoppes commandment shee was pursued by his Souldiers and many of her traine wounded and taken prisoners the Empresse by good prouidence escaped into the Castle of Lutegareshall and thence to the Castle Diuize where vnderstanding that shee was still in hazard to bee surprized shee was contented as what will not necessity endure a womans wit deuise to bee laide in a coffine bound fast with cords and so as if it had beene her Corse carried in a horse-litter to the Citie of Glocester in which bonds of her owne distresse shee had good occasion to remember the chaines of King Stephens captiuitie To such extremities were these two Princes at the selfe same time subiect that whiles they turmoiled for spacious Kingdomes brought themselues to the very extream wants of aire and of elbow-roome but with such dalliance doth Fortune wee see oftentimes follow her game that shee maketh euen Monarchs the Balls of her play and tosseth them lastly into the Hazard whence hardly they escape with safetie of life Yet this was not the worst for Earle Robert her brother whilest hee was busier in prouiding for her safetie then for his owne was taken by his pursuers at Stoubreg with others brought backe to Winchester and there presented by the Bishop vnto Queene Maud King Stephens wife who committed him to the custodie of William Ypres and he for more safety to Glocester but others taking sanctuarie in the Nuns Monastery of Warwell were burned together with the place Thus then the King on the one side and the Earle on the other were kept in safe custodie but the Queene labouring for the Kings release and the Countesse for the Earles many Articles were propounded and many messengers imploied at length this was thought fittest that Stephen should bee restored to his kingdome and Robert vnder him to haue the whole gouernment of the Land so that both of them should now iointly vphold that which they the two Ring-leaders by opposition had cast downe But Earle Robert as he was no whit deiected in mind with any frowne of Fortune whatsoeuer so reserued hee his fidelity to the Empresse vnstained and vnmoued either with feare or faire inticements still refusing to capitulate for his freedome but to his Sisters liking who likewise bare so braue a minde that were her state neuer so weake shee would not consent nor giue the least eare to any composition for the Crowne 37 Then was enmitie increased the Kingdome diuided and the peoples hatred kindled in mainetaining the factions all fore-running the ruine of the Land Forthese two Chieftaines wearied with irksomnes of irons and hard imprisonment made exchange the one for the other without any farther mention of peace and so studied not onely to renew their former designes but to encrease the lands miserie by more eagre warres Stephen in England wrought the people for him Robert taking pledges of the Nobles to attend and guard the Empresse at Oxford till his returne went into Normandie to solicite Geffrey her husband for her defence But the Earle hauing troubles with his owne Nobilitie and the Normans scarsly brought to any subiection thought it not conuenient by his owne absence for a state in hope to hazard that in hand and therefore sent with Robert some strength of Armes and with them his young sonne Prince Henrie into England 38 The Empresse in his absence had well fortified her selfe in Oxford whom Stephen vsing the benefit of Roberts absence followed with an eagre pursuite and wanne the Suburbs euen vnto the Citie gates then girt hee the Empresse with so straite a siege meaning neuer to giue ouer till hee had now made her sure in his possession that for two monethes whatsoeuer Strength or Stratageme could performe in assault or defense was there put in practize till at length great penurie enforced to thinke of a surrender but shee a woman whose sexe hath often deceiued wise men resolued once againe to ouer-reach her foe by wit whom shee could not by force whereto the time did fit her wishes for being a winter sharpe aboue measure the Riuer Thamisis that runnes by the Citie walls was then congealed with a strong crusted Ice and besides a great snow did then continue and had couered the ground Maud vpon these aduantages put in practize a most dangerous attempt for cloathing herselfe and some choice of her company in white linnen garments to deceiue the eies of the Sentinells issued secretlie by night out of a posterne-gate and passing the frozen Riuer ranne on foote through ice and snow ditches and vallies for fiue miles euen to Abingdon the falling snow
still beating in their faces and there taking horse the same night got to the Castle of Wallingford to the great ioy and also admiration of all that were therein 39 In the meane while Earle Robert with Prince Henrie were arriued in England at Warrhame hauen and presentlie besieged the Castle there so to withdraw the King from siege of his sister but hearing of the happie escape of the Empresse came with young Henry vnto his mother whose sight made her forget the griefe and sorrowes that she had long indured Then was Oxford vpon conditions yeelded to the King and Wilton fired by the bastard Earle Robert The Towre of London with the Castles of Walden Pleises and Lincolne yeelded to Stephen the Castles of Warham and Portland yeelded to Robert The Earles of Chester and Essex surprized by the King William Martell the great fauourite taken and imprisoned by the Earle Thus sundrie yeeres passing with variable successes to and fro and euery yeere heaping on each side fresh calamities to the great ruine of the whole land the Empresse euen wearied with those warres and vncertaineties of successe went into Normandie chusing rather to be vnder the protection of her husband in peace then to raigne in England perplexed with troubles and to the same end she had not long before sent her young sonne Henrie to his father who desired to haue him rather heire of a Dukedome with safetie then of a Crowne with daylie hazard 40 Stephen that by a fresh surprizall of Randall Earle of Chester had got Lincolne and entring thereinto which no King before him durst doe for that certaine wizards had prophesied euilluck vnto such at christmas did there weare the Regall Crowne on his head and after the Empresses departure caused the Barons of England to sweare allegiance vnto Prince Eustace his sonne by which two complements hee supposed all had beene sure on his side and the rather for that the most faithfull puissant and euer-renowned Earles Robert of Glocester and Milo of Hereford the two great and glorious pillars which had by many Conquests supported their Anioueians cause were now conquered by death and the rest of the Nobles applying themselues to the Times kept themselues quiet in the absence of these Competitors all which gaue no little assurance vnto Stephens estate 41 But Henry Fitz-Empresse grown now from a Child thought it best a while to leaue Mercury for it is said hee was Bookish and to follow Mars so knowing his presence would preferre much his purposes for men would bee loth to hazard all for one who himselfe would neglect all hasted againe into England with an Armie of valiant and choice Souldiers to whom ioined the discontented Earle of Chester Roger the sonne of Miles deceased with many more Knights and Gallants of the English hee therefore tooke into the North and met with Dauid his cosen King of Scotland of whom hee was most honourably receiued and solemnely sacred with the Military honour of Knighthood and thence forward sought all occasions to prouoke both King Stephen and his sonne Eustace against him and hauing setled some courses with certain Peeres for the pursuit of his designes in England hee returned into Normandy to compose set forward some other businesses which might be auaileable for these his ends 42 Where long he staied not but that Geffrey his Father departed this life and left him his Heire both of Aniou and Normandy and the yeere following he matched in marriage with Eleanor Dutches of Guien and Aquitane lately diuorced from Lodowicke King of France for consanguinity and adultery saith Paris after shee had borne him two daughters Lodowicke fearing issue-male by this marriage to the disheriting of his said daughters greatly impugned Duke Henry and Stephen suspecting his greatnes now being Duke of Normandy Aniou Aquitane and Guien both of them sought each way to impeach his peace Lodowicke with Prince Eustace in the parts beyond seas and Stephen in England to make sure his succession sought to inuest the said Prince Eustace with the English Diademe both to preuent and vtterly depriue Henry Fitz-Empresse for euer for calling a Counsell at London King Stephen commaunded Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury to consecrate Prince Eustace for their King which hee refused to doe and that by commandement from the Pope whose holy See can deale on both sides as makes most for their aduantage alledging now that his Father was an vsurper and periured Intruder whereupon the honest Archbishop fled into Normandy and the King seized vpon al his possessions It may seeme that one cause of the Popes inclining to yong Henries title was to strēgthen him against his enemy King Lewis of France who had highly offended his Holines for casting the Popes Bulles whereby hee required the fruits of Vacancies of all Cathedrall Churches in France into the fire saying hee had rather the Popes Bulles should rest in the fire then his owne soule should frse in hell 43 King Stephen thus defeated of his purpose and seeing his Title questioned by the Church who had before approued it resolued to make it good by the sword for winning the Castle of Muby fortified Malmesbury and laid a strait siege vnto Wallingford against which hee erected the Castle Cranmerse to stoppe the passages of their reliefe or comming forth But Henry after hee had calmed the boisterous stormes of warre in the parts beyond the seas came ouer into England well appointed vnto whom also resorted many of the Nobility who yeelded vp themselues and aboue thirty strong Castles to the young Duke now well furnished hasted to raise the siege of Wallingford and there vndertooke a great enterprice for hee incircled the Bestegers with a great and deepe Trench whereby hee kept them from reliefe as they did keepe the Besieged 44 Stephen following hastily to succour his men though with the lesse edge for that hee neuer sped well in any assault of that Castle pitched downe his Tents euen neere his enemy and ready on both sides to giue battaile the Winter stormes were suddenly so troublesome that nothing could bee done but those somewhat ouerblowne and the Armies scarse three furlongs asunder as King Stephen was busied in disposing of his hoast and giuing direction for order of the battaile his horse vnder him rising with his fore-feet fell flat vpon the earth not without danger to his Rider and thus did he thrice ere he left which thing his Nobles secretly muttering interpreted for an vnlucky presage when William Earle of Arundell a bold and eloquent man went to him and aduised him to a peace affirming the title of Duke Henry to be iust that the Nobility on both parts there present were neerely linked in Alliances Bloud and how these stood affected was very doubtfull yea that Brethren were there assembled the one
in the Moneth of October the seuenth of King Henries raigne and of Christ Iesus 1160. 54 Maud the eldest daughter of King Stephen and Queene Maud was borne before her father was King in the raign of King Henrie the first her vncle in whose time also she deceased beeing but yongue though some report shee was wife to the Earle of Millen and was enterred at London with her brother Baldwin in the Priorie of the Trinity aforesaid then commonly called Christs-Church and now latelie named the Dukes Place within Algate 55 Marie the yonger daughter of King Stephen and Queene Maude was a Nun and Abbesse of the Nunnerie at Rumsey in Hampshire notwithstanding when her brother William Earle of Bolloigne was deceased without issue shee was secretly taken from thence and married to Matthew the yonger sonne of Terry of Alsat and brother of Philip Earle of Flanders who in her right was Earle of Bolloigne Shee was his wife ten yeeres and was then diuorced from him by the sentence of the Pope and enforced to returne to her Monastery hauing had issue by him two daughters which were Ide and Maude allowed by the censure of the Church to be legitimate Lady Ide the elder was maried to Raymond of Damp-Martine in her right Earle of Bolloigne and Maude the yonger to Henrie Duke of Lorraine His Naturall Issue 56 William the Naturall sonne of King Stephen is mistaken of some to bee the same William that was Earle of Bolloigne Others who know that William Earle of Bolloigne was lawfully borne do thinke that his father had no other son named William but him wherein let William Earle of Bolloigne the lawfull son of King Stephen be himselfe a lawfull witnesse of the truth who hauing best cause to know it doth best prooue it and in an ancient Charter of his beeing written in those daies and extant in these doth name him for a witnesse and calleth him his Brother 57 Geruais another Naturall sonne of King Stephen begotten on a gentle-woman named Dameta and borne in Normandy was brought into England by his father the fifth yeere of his Raigne Anno Dom. 1140. Hee was the same yeere by his fathers meanes made Abbat of Westminster and so continued for the space of twenty yeeres hee deceased there the twentie sixt of August in the sixt yeere of the raigne of King Henrie the second the yeere of Grace 1160. and lieth buried in the South part of the cloister within the said Monasterie vnder a flat stone of black marble which is remaining there vntil this day HENRIE THE SECOND DVKE OF NORMANDY GVYEN AND AQVITAINE THE FORTIE THIRD MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER VI. HEnry of that name the second by the double interest of descent and adoption as you haue heard succeeded in the Kingdome of England whose Pedegree which Mathew Paris extendeth by the mothers side in a right line vp to Noah and former fortunes hauing already been touched his counsels acts and other affaires of greatest importance after the death of King Stephen come now to be handled 2 Hee came not to the Crown vnexpected nor vndesired for the opinion of the man and hope conceiued of his future gouernement had the force to hold England in good obedience without the presence of a King about sixe weekes whose entrance like that of the Soule into the Body did quicken and enspirite the Realme as then in the person of England this clozing verse or Epiphoneme spake Spirituses caro sum te nunc intrante reuixi Thou Soule I Body am by thee to life I came Neither did his presence diminish the expectations raised but was saluted King with generall acclamations and with no lesse ioy at Westminster by Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury annointed and crowned the summe of whose first courses for setling his State was this 3 Sundry Castles nests of Rebels hee flatteth to the earth some others hee fortifies or resumes at his pleasure chiefly such estates as had beene alienated from the Crowne as the hire and vniust reward of those who withstood his claime Others write that hee promiscuously tooke all such lands into his owne possession as were by Iurors found vpon oath to haue belonged at any time vnto the Crowne Some Earles vnduly created he reduceth to priuate condition and purgeth the Realme from sorrine Souldiers chiefly from the Flemings whose mercenary swarmes most pestred the same and had most insested him And because Gouernment is the Soule of State and Wisedome the Soule of Gouernment he chooseth to himselfe a Body of Counsell out of the most eminent persons of both sorts such was Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury and for that selfe consideration he laid the Chancellorship of England vpon Thomas Becket and held in speciall fauour Iohn of Oxenford with sundry other Prelates of chiefest note of the Laity he had Robert Earle of Leicester chiefe Iusticiar of England Richard de Luci Iocelin de Bailull Alan de Neuile and others but for a Cabanet-Counsellour at all times he had his owne mother Matildis the Empresse one of the most sage and experienced Ladies of the World Thus then furnished and assembling a Counsell at Wallingford hee aswell for his owne securing as for the assurance of his Children sweares the Realme to the succession of his sonnes William and Henry the one being in remainder to the other 4 But quiet consultation did not take vp the most of his time euen in the daies of these Sun-shining beginnings for the raign of Stephen a most gentle Prince who thought out of the necessity of his owne estate that it was not safe for him to bee seuere hauing giuen way for many of the mighty to maintaine sundrie insolencies these now feeling a restraint beganne not a little to repine but Hugh de Mortimer wanton with greatnes and the most arrogant man aliue stuft his Castles of Glocester Wigmore and Bridgenorth with rebellious Garrisons which Henry notwithstanding reduced to subiection though in the siege of the last-named not without imminent perill of his person had not Hubert de S. Clare cast himselfe betweene death and the King taking the arrow into his owne bosome to preserue his Soueraignes life It bound Tiberius to Seianus most of all when a part of the banqueting Caue in which they were suddenly falling Seianus was found to haue borne the ruine from the Emperour with the perill of his life but Seianus suruiued that aduenture which our Senclere did not saue onely in the better renowne thereof which deserues to bee immortall being an Act of piety worthy of a Statue with Codrus Curtius Manlius or whosoeuer else haue willingly sacrificed themselues for their Country or for the Father of their Country the King 5 Henrie thus hauing in some sort setled England hasteth into France to King Lewis in the first yeere of his raigne and there did homage vnto
to doe and accordingly the Prelates themselues by ioint consent adiudged him of Periury and by the mouth of the Bishop of Chichester disclaimed thence forward all obedience vnto him as their Archbishop The next day whiles the Bishops and Peeres were consulting of some further course with him Becket not as yet daunted caused to be sung before him at the Altar The Princes sit and speake against me and the vngodly persecute me c. And forthwith taking his siluer Crosier in his owne hands a thing strange and vnheard of before enters armed therewith into the Kings presence though earnestly disswaded by all that wished him well wherewith the King enraged commanded his Peeres to sit in iudgement on him as on a Traitor and Periured person and accordingly they adiudged him to be apprehended and cast into prison The Earles of Cornewall and Leicester who sate as Iudges citing him forthwith to heare his sentence pronounced hee immediately appealed to the See of Rome as holding them no Iudges competent wherupon all reuiling him with the name of Traitor and the like he replying That were it not for his function he would enter the Duell or Combate with them in the field to acquit himselfe both of Treason and Periury sped from the Court and from thence without delay into Flaunders disguising himselfe vnder the name of Dereman 24 The King on the other side to leaue nothing vndone whereby to atchieue his desire forthwith dispatched away Gilbert Bishop of London William Earle of Arundel to the French King that hee would not harbour nor cherish one that was fled as a Traitor but preuailed not for hee vpon the contrary dealt with the Pope That as he loued the Roman Church and the aid of France so he would support the cause of Thomas against the King which whether hee did it out of Faction rather then Deuotion let others iudge for as wee may easily thinke that the French would gladly incommodate the king of England so this is not to bee denied that Lewis was often afterward a Mediatour for peace and vndoubtedly held the man himselfe in great estimation both aliue and dead 25 The Archbishoppe growing thus in fauour with the Pope King Henry sends an Ambassage vnto him of many great Personages as Roger Archbishop of Yorke the BB. of London Winchester Chichester Iohn of Oxenford William Earle of Arundell c. whose whole emploiment being prece vel pretio by requests and gratifications to procure disgrace vnto Becket their finall suit was That the Pope would send two Cardinals into England fully to end the matter but the Pope denied it as holding it derogatory to his owne absolutenes saying like Gods Vice-gerent at least That is my owne glorie which I will not giue to any other but when he is to bee iudged I will iudge him my selfe For he knew the King of England was mighty both in speech and meanes and that Legates might easily be corrupted as being men more thirsty after gold and siluer then after iustice and equity and the Pope and Cardinals wisely resolued saith the Monke of Canterbury that as if this Archbishop were now vpheld in his cause it would be a patterne for others in like case to resist Kings so if he should sinke no Bishoppes euer after would darc oppose themselues to their Soueraignes pleasure and so the State of the Catholike Church would be shaken and the Popes authority be crushed 26 The King hauing receiued this foile and impatient of repulse where his owne subiect was a party thought the indignity offered by the Pope vnsufferable and to let him vnderstand how hee tooke it directs his Writs vnto the Sheriffes in England commanding them to attach such as did appeale to the Roman Court the fathers mothers brothers sisters nephewes and neices of all such of the Clergy as were with the Archbishop and to put them vnder sureties as also to seise the reuenewes goods and chattels of the said Clergie-men Again by other his letters to Gilbert Bishop of London he sequestred the profits and liuings which within his Diocesse did belong to any of the Clergie who were fled to Thomas that without the Kings leaue they might haue no part thereof Lastly to his Iustices he signified that they should safe-keepe whosoeuer did bring any interdict into England till the Kings pleasure were further knowne hee also caused the Church of Canterbury and all the Archbishops goods to bee confiscated grounding himselfe as may probably bee supposed vpon the iudgement giuen against Becket at North-hampton notwithstanding that the saide sentence was expresly nullified by the Popes Bul and not onely by word of mouth as * Mathew Paris seemes to mistake it Neither was this all for hee banished out of the Realme all the kindred of the Archbishop man woman child and sucking babes and for bad that hee should be any longer publikely mentioned and praied for in the Church as Arch-bishop of Canterbury 27 The Archbishop on the contrary part the contention being now wither the power Ecclesiasticall or Secular should worke most did solemnly in France where he abode excommunicate all such as obeyed defended or had occasioned the saide lawes and Auitall Customes and some of the parties by name as Richard de Luci Richard of Poictou Iocelin de Bailull Alan de Neâ—…ile and other who presently appealed but the King hauing further notice that Becket after his publike sermon on a great Festiuall day had solemnly threatned the like thunderclap against his Roiall Person either to terrifie his aduersaries or to reuenge himselfe if any such sentence should bee against him gathered a mighty Army vnder pretence of subduing Wales where yet hee did little The meane while Iohn of Oxenford who not onely followed the Kings cause stoutly but also writ a learned Booke in iustifying of it against Becket preuailed so farre at Rome that two Legates à latere should bee sent into England to reconcile the King and Thomas but when they were gone the Pope hearing that they were resolued vtterly to confound the Arcâ—…shop sent letters after them to rebate their absolute power they being men saith Geruasius who too much thirsted after gold and glory 28 When these two Cardinals came to Thomas he refused to put his cause to them vnlesse there were first a plenary restitution made to him and his of all that had beene taken away but being then counselled by them to submit himselfe to the king his answere was he would sauing Gods honour and the Churches liberty sauing his own honour and his Churches possessions and sauing his owne and his friends right being further demanded whither to resettle peace in Gods Church which hee seemed onely to desire he would renounce his Bishop-ricke if the king would renounce his customes he answered The proportion was not alike for that with
the honour of his Church and his Person he could not renounce his Bishopricke whereas on the other side the King was bound aswell for his Soules health as for his honour to renounce those ordinances will you know the reason because the Pope and hee had condemned them And so that designe for peace was frustrate 29 The King of England tempestuously storming at these affronts and daily encrease of new salues wherewith like a guilefull Chirurgion he still made the wound more to fester menaced the Monkes which in their Abbey at Pontenei had now for two whole yeeres entertained him to thrust all of their order out of England if they durst releeue his enemy any longer Whereupon they dismissing him Lewis the French King tooke him to Sens with himselfe where for foure yeeres hee remained and was if wee may credite King Henry a great instigator of the French King and also of the Earle of Flaunders against the King of England as was also by diuers Euidences most certaine if the two said Cardinals told not a lie to the Pope But that the Peace was broken and warres renued betwixt the the two Kings chiefly for Thomas his sake Geruase the Monke himselfe doth record it as most credible 30 Howbeit by mediation at length the two Kings were againe reconciled and at their friendly enteruiew Beckets wel-willers aduised him to submit himselfe in the presence of both kings without any more reseruations which he seeming to yeeld to presented himselfe verie humbly and referred the cause to the king not now Saluo ordine suo but yet on a new point Saluo honore Dei wherewith the king exasperated told the French king such was the humor of the man that whatsoeuer disliked him he would say it was against Gods honor and so would bee neuer the neerer to conformity with which and other speeches King Lewis offended with Becket asked him whether hee thought to bee greater or holier then Saint Peter and the Peeres of both Nations accused him of much arrogancy as being himselfe the wilfull hinderer of his own and the Churches tranquility 31 Notwithstanding the Pope forgot not his faithfull Thomas and therefore after hee had graced him with a confirmation of all the Priuiledges and powers which any of his Predecessors in that See did enioy to the daring and defiance as it were of the kings vtmost indignation the king sent a letter into Germany declaring that hee would forsake Pope Alexander and ioine with the Emperour and Antipape Whereupon when the Bishop of Rome had commanded Gilbert Bishop of London to admonish the king to giue ouer his courses and customes preiudicious to the Church the said Bishop obeyed and in his answere sought to perswade the Pope to a conniuencie and forgets not to iustifie his Soueraigne as That the King was ready to obey the sacred hests of the Church sauing to himselfe his own his Kingdomes dignity That as for Appeales he claimed that honour by the ancient institution of his Kingdome that is to say That no Clerke should for a ciuill action depart the same vntill right could not be had in his Courts at home and then he would hinder noâ—…an That hee did not banish the Arch-bishop of Canterbury who might returne at his pleasure so as he would obserue all those his Grandfathers customes which once hee had giuen his faith to doe That the King thinks himselfe greatly iustified in that hee is willing to stand to the iudgement of the whole Church of his owne Kingdome c. 32 But when mediations letters messages or other waies would not preuaile the Pope admonisheth the King that he meant no longer to restrain the Archbishop from reuenging his owne and his Churches iniuries with the sword of censure and thereupon for a beginning the Archbishop excommunicates Gilbert Bishop of London and proceeded so farre with others that there was scarce found in the Kings owne Chappell and presence such as might performe the wonted ceremonies 33 The King both touched with his owne wrongs and tender of their case who for his sake vnderwent that seuerity animates Bishoppe Gilbert with most louing offers to beare the charges of prosecuting his appeale against Becket and desires the Pope to send him Legates which might absolue his excommunicated Subiects and settle a peace or else he should bee compelled to prouide otherwise for his own security and honour 34 Two Cardinals therefore Gratian and Viuianus comming into France to end the contention returne notwithstanding without possibility of doing good for that Becket would not yeeld in any point to those Customes at which he had once excepted but with his ordinary limitations At last yet by the popes mediation the two kings of England and of France met at Paris whether the Arch-bishop repaired and yet no peace ensued for that the king refused the kisse of peace with him and Becket would either haue a sound and full peace or none at all where though the king of England refused to satisfie any thing vnder the name of restitution as being against his honour because all restitution implied a wrong yet in the other maine matter of his Auitall Customes offering to stand to the iudgement not of his owne onely but euen of the Parisian Diuines and Church of France hee came off from that conference with some aduantage fauour in the opinion of the hearers 35 King Henry for all this seeing no issue of his long disquietnes and vnregall vsages vnderstanding also that the Archbishop of Seins in person had solicited the Pope to put the Kingdome of England vnder Interaict which is the prohibiting of the publike vse of Christs Religion Christian Burial throughout the whole land hee beeing then in Normandy sends forth his Edict That if any man bring from the Pope or Becket any letters of Interdict he should prèsently suffer as a Traitour to the King and the State That no Clerke whatsoeuer goe forth of the land without a Passe from his Iusticiaries and none returne againe without letters of licence from the King himselfe That none receiue any message from the Pope or Becket nor make any appeale vnto them nor hold any Plea by their mandates That if any Prelate or Clerke or Lay-man shall obey any sentence of Interdict he and all his Kindred shall be forthwith expulsed the land and all his goods escheated to the Crowne That all Clerkes who haue rents in England returne home within three Moneths or else all their rents to fall to the King That certaine Prelates specified bee cited to answere in the Kings Courts for interdicting Earle Hughes lands That Peter-pence be not paid to Rome but reserued Thus as Geruase the Monke lamentably complaineth all from the eldest to the yongest throughout England were made to abiure obedience to Pope Alexander
to such an enterprise which thus tooke beginning 50 Dermot Mac Murgh beeing in possession of his fatall Helen the adulterous wife of Rothericke was pursued so eagrely with the reuenging sword of his enemie who howsoeuer wounded in heart with the abuse of his Bed reioiced in the colour and occasion ministred therby for him to seise vpon the flourishing Prouinces of Leinster as hee was driuen to flie from place to place and at the length to quitte his kingdome also the subiects whereof his tyrannie and vices had vnsetled in their affections toward him Thus desperate of help at home his last deliberations were to draw in forreine aides the necessity of his case requiring it and for that purpose finally resolues to repaire to the court of the wise and potent Henrie King of England beeing then in Aquitain neither could Dermot but knowe that it had heeretofore beene in Henries designes at such time as hee ment to subdue it for William of Angion his yongest brother and also because his present Dominions did halfe as it were enuiron it In which hopes he was not deceiued for Henrie listened therunto verie willinglie as to a thing which hee had indeede some yeeres before proiected 51 King Dermot therefore was heard in his suite But because the thing as at that time neither seemed great enough for such a Prince as Henrie to vndertake directly nor as yet was held sufficiently discouered to his hand that therefore the Ice might be broken by inferiour meanes and aswell the conueniences as inconueniences sounded to the depth without engaging the roiall person name or power it was by the Kings letters permitted to Dermot the exiled Prince to draw what aduenturers or voluntaries either the commiseration of his estate or other respects of pietie profit or delight in armes could allure to the action Now whether it were for that he whose Countreis lay toward the coasts of Wales and within ken vpon a cleere day by commodity thereof might entertaine intelligence aswell as trafficke with the inhabitants of those parts or for that the fame of their Cheualrie did inuite or for that his acquaintance at his arriuall grew there first or for that these and many other circumstances mette in this accident sure it is that Dermot raised his first and principall succours from among the English Colonies there 52 The Welsh had then in their hands a valiant Gentleman of Norman race one Robert Fitz-Stephen who by Gilbert de Clare was entrusted with the defence of the towne of Cardigan but through treachery the Towne being surprised Robert was also deliuered vp to Rhese ap Gruffin Prince of South Wales who would hearken to no other endentments of his liberty but onely that he should for euer abandon his possessions in Wales Whereupon the oportunity of Dermots quarrel giuing hopes of new fortunes immediately hee entred into contract with the Irish king promising by a certaine day to come to his succour with as many Voluntaries as his remaining fortunes or the hope of the voiage could stirre which he did accordingly performe leauing it very disputable whether with more successe or courage But Dermot well knowing that the fortunes of this Gentlemā to whose valor nothing see med impossible were vnable to vndergo the whole weight of the vnknowne worke had formerly dealt with that renowmed Lord Richard of the house of Clare Earle of Pembrooke surnamed Strong-bow the man whom the Fate of Ireland did expect 53 Dermotes perswasions to the Earle were of this kind That the enterprise besides the facultie thereof was full of pietie honour Iustice and commoditie That it appeared so to King Henry himselfe by whose leaue hee was free to gather what forces he could That hee was driuen out by the cruell ambition of Neighbours treacherie of wicked Subiects That Leinster was a Kingdome and though but a part yet cleerely the best and richest part of Ireland That multitudes offered themselues to his aid but his cares were not onely for a Generall to lead them but for one to whom hee might leaue his kingdome also That the Earle was he as the onely man in whose person all the respects of birth honour bounty valour youth and fortunes did happily meete That the Earle in his conceit did dwell but narrowly considering what hee was worthie of pent-vp in the straights of an Earledomes title for whom a great Kingdome was not great That they who would not allow Leinster for a kingdome did forget that England once was broken into lesser states and if Dermot were not a King neither then were Ella Cissa Vffa Sigbert Crida and the rest in the Saxon seuen-headed gouernment that the quantity of Dominion made more or lesse strong but not more or lesse a King That he was rightfull King of Leinster as Sonne and Heire to Murgh King of Leinster that if hee must forgoe his inheritance it should be to such as had done him no wrong and were worthy of it to Richard Strong-bow and his followers and not to Rothericke and Rebels That hee was not vnking'd though vnkingdom'd that Eua his daughter Eua the pearle and starre of Ireland should indeed be Eua to his enemies to bring vpon them death and iust confusion that yet in defeating the Tyrant Rotherick of his hopes by plā ting Earle Richard and his Forces hee should prouide for his Country not destroy it That if it did fall out otherwise yet his disloiall people had their iust deserts who obiecting vices to their Soueraigne did themselues commit vile treasons Indeed quoth he I was neuer such a King as that I was not also a Man But for those matters betweene God and me here is now no place to account for though his iustice hath found me out yet his mercy hath left me more friends at home then the number measure of my sinnes deserue My quarrell is most iust as against most wicked rebels and vsurpers Restore me then my Lord by your puissance to my natiue soile and my lawfull rights therein restore with me Religion and Discipline to the ancient splendor thereof which was not greater in any Realme about vs then in Ireland reduce the stray enlighten our ignorance polish our rudenesse and let not such abundant matter of merite and immortall glory escape you God himselfe will prosper the enterprise holy Church hath long since approued it and vpon such Authors what can miscarry And though in thy noble and Christian courage nothing can weigh so much and these I see work mightily yet to satisfie all respects Thou shalt haue far larger territories then here Thou canst possesse and goodly lands to distribute for reward among thy friends and followers My last offers now shall not shew a more desire to vse thy forces then a loue to thy person vertues They are not trifles I propose but that of which God himselfe doth seeme to me to haue
laid the ground seeing it is his holy will that thou at this time shouldst bee without a wife Know thou then that I haue that one daughter Eua the heire of my Crowne and comfort of my age let thine owne eye tell thee how faire and worthy this I dare auouch that thou wilt thinke far broader seas wel crost for view of so honest beauty she in the first blossome of her youth a vertuous virgine and by both Parents borne of Princes shall at thine arriual with this right hand bee made thine and with her after my death my whole realme and other my rights whatsoeuer which were they infinitely more despise not such loue nor thealliance of one distre◅ed but neuerthelesse a King I would repute them farre too little for such a sonne in law who though thy selfe as yet no King art come of Kings and it is my whole and last ambition that I may liue to make thee one The Earle accepted the conditions resolute to set vp Dermot againe and for that purpose bound himselfe by solemne contract to the full performance of his part within a certaine time 53 Dermot hauing thus negotiated his affaires and set it in so good forwardnes while his friends in England prepared themselues and their Forces lest hee should seeme to relie vpon forraine aides and so to diminish with them the reputation of his owne valour and alliances at home hee sailes backe into his Country carrying with him the promises of confederates and there both by his presence and perswasions did the best hee could to facilitate the entrance of the English whose honourable entertainements deuotions ciuility riches valours wisedome and victorious greatnesses he spared not to celebrate as instruments aduancing his own designes which raised no little expectation mixt with contrary affections of desire and feare 54 The next yeare when the season grew fit for an Army to take the field Robert Fitz-Stephen accompanied with Maurice Fitz-Gerald his halfe brother by the surer side a competent number of Souldiers reposing vnder God their chief hope in their swords and courages set saile for Ireland in the beginning of May came on shore at a place called by the Irish B◅nn by the English at this day commonly Bagg and Bunn which in our language signifies Sacred a word which so much as names may be presages of things did as it were hallow the attempt of the English with a lucky and gratious omination whereof the Inhabitants at this present retaine this rime At the head of Bagg and Bunn Ireland was lost and wun 55 The next day after Maurice de Prendergast also with other men of Armes and many Archers in two shippes arriued there being parcell of Fitz-Stephans Forces and Companions of his Fortunes who ioining themselues together immediatly marcht to the City of Weisford vnder their Banners and that in the greatest brauery they could the Knights and Men at Armes in their Coates of Arms Colours to draw thereby now at the first the greater reputation to themselues and with opinion so gotten to fill vp the smalnes of their numbere in which manner assailing the City the Irish therein rendred themselues and in reward of the seruice being also according to capitulation and encouragement of others who were to proceed in this warre Dermot to whose vse the English Generall had taken it bestowed the City it selfe and the Country about vpon Robert Fitz-Stephen at his pleasure to be disposed off and there the first Colony of our Nation was planted which hath euer since immoueably maintained their abode among innumerable changes in the world retaining at this day the ancient attire of the English and the language also it selfe though brackish with the mixture of vulgar Irish which therefore by a distinct name is called Weisford speech current onely in that City the County about 56 But Robert Fitz-Stephan thus aduanced for his more assurance beganne to raise a Town at Carricke making the place which nature had already fortified much more by Art defensible This entrie into Ireland being by him now made vnder the name of Henry King of England and the successe exceeding hope Richard Strong-bow receiuing aduertisement from Dermot and the new Lord of Weisford of all occurrences thought fitte first to dispatch some supplies to Fitz-Stephen which about the beginning of May vnder the conduct of Raimundle grosse a Gentleman of the Earles family were accordingly sent and after Raimund the Earle himselfe in the same yeere set forth His Forces were about two hundreth men of Armes and a thousand other Souldiers with whom he came safe to Anchor in the Bay of Waterford vpon the Vigil of Saint Bartholmew August 23. Ann. 1171. Earle Richard the Generall knowing that expedition did carry with it terrour and aduantage presently marcheth to Porthlarge the Irish name of Waterford and vpon the very next day tooke the City by force and sacrificed the armed Inhabitants to the reuenge of Dermot so the rather to make roome and security for themselues to the exceeding terrour and iust dismay of all about as they who found that howsoeuer the pretence was to resettle Dermot the purpose was to seat the English for euer 57 But Dermot Author of this calamity to his Nation resolute in his purpose in full complement of his Contract doth openly in solemne maner bestow his promised daughter Eua vpon the Conquerour in mariage with his owne right hand giuing her in the Church at which time the famous Strong-bow did not celebrate his particular Wedding-day but the indissoluble knot of the Irish allegiance to the English Soueraignetie with the same Ring which circuled his Wiues finger affiancing that Iland to this our Country 58 The Marriage performed it was far from the mind of the Earle to spend much time in reuels and feasts but consults with his men of warre what was next to bee done for the setling his Father in law King Dermot and for finishing the Conquest which was now so happily begunne in two seuerall parts of Ireland at once Leauing therfore a sufficient Garrison to make good the places already gaind to secure the lāding of fresh supplies he sets forward with his selected Companies to whose victorious weapons the whole Realme lay open so farre forth that Rotherick himself was very wel contented notwithstanding his lately vsurped swelling title of Monarch of Ireland to hold himselfe within the bogs and fastenesses of his peculiar Realme the wild and mountainous Connaught meane while Strongbow keepes on his way ouer the bosome of Ireland to the principall City therof Dublin taking in as he marcheth all the places about and securing himselfe by pledges of their loialty or otherwise as he saw most fitte In which iourney pleased with the delight and fertile situation of Kildare he resolued there to settle his abode and to erect a seate to his
in great numbers so as nothing seemed wanting but onely a good cause which such as it was Queene Elianor like an Alecto kept aliue so much as lay in her with perpetuall fomentations And indeed the scope of these confederats did require no lesse a combination it beeing to depose the Father whom it pleased them for countenance of their vngodly armes to repute no King because hee had crowned his sonne 66 Though nothing then could come more greeuous to the bleeding heart of a most louing father then such a warre yet not to bee vnprouided hee like a souldier prepares himselfe when faire meanes faild and found multitudes readie to liue and die with him the indignitie of the vnnaturall reuolt did so much inflame all honest courages which acknowledged him their Soueraigne 67 The particular accidents of the wars would fill a volume At one time Normandie Guien and Britane were inuaded by the confederats in France and at the same time Cumberland by the Scots But the King of England had friends in all those parts and himselfe hearing that Vernuil was besieged by the French King in person hee beganne at last to kindle hauing like a sleeping Lion sitten still all that while and for that the place had vpon parlea agreed to render if aid came not by a day hee arriued to their succour within the time sending King Lewis word that hee should gette him foorth of Normandie with speed or he would without faile come and see how hee did vpon that verie day Lewis meaning nothing lesse then to put his owne Crowne in danger while he sought one for his sonne in law and therefore in all the warre-time would neuer set vp his rest vpon a battell but willing otherwise to doe to King Henrie the father all the harme hee could by countenancing the faction and supporting the reuolted malecontents with his best meanes and knowing King Henry was a sower and terrible Prince when he came indeede to fight immediatelie raised his siege and with as much hast as hee might abandoned the place leauing his Camp tents and warlike prouisions behind and retired into France 68 And though King Henrie beginning now indeede to shake his dreadfull sword had many faire daies of his enemies mixt with some losses both of men and other strengths though not great nor many in regard of the ouerthrowes which on his behalfe were giuen For that in Britane his forces had in battell vanquished Hugh Earle of Chester Ralph de Foulgiers and slaine about one thousand and fiue hundred of their army in England Reignald Earle of Cornwall and Richard de Lucie had in bloudie battell ouerthrowne the insolent Earle of Leicester and entred the towne of Leicestâ—… by force and that he had the persons of the said Hugh Lupus Earle of Chester Ralph de Fulgiers and verie many other prisoners of especiall note and Nobility yet Lewis the French King moouing a parlea the father desirous to vse the good fortune of war to reclaime his rebells was so willing to make peace that hee might seeme to haue outgone expectation in the qualitie of his offers but through such wicked perswasions as were vsed preuailed not 69 A violent firebrand in this diuision was Robert Earle of Leicester beeing matched with a Ladie no lesse proud and stomachous then himselfe who at this meeting was not contented to haue affronted King Henrie the father on the behalfe of his yongue Lord and Master the sonne but after many words of reproach is said to haue laid his daring hand vpon his sword with purpose to haue strucken the King had he not been with-holden and where such spirits had to doe it is easie to gesse what kinds of counsell were like to be embraced and pursued hauing forsaken the father not for that the others cause was more honest but for that saith Thomas Walsingham the father King labouring to enlarge the regall power sought to set his foote vpon the neckes of the proud and haughtie 70 But God who ment to chastise the King and not to deliuer him vp into his enemies hands destroied those hopes that mooued the sonnes to their vnnaturall attempts for it was not long after when newes came into Normandy that his faithfull friends and seruants Richard de Lucie and Humphrey de Bohun high Constable of England together with the powers of Reignald Earle of Cornwall the Kings vncle Robert Earle of Glocester and William Earle of Arundell not farre from Burie couragiouslie encountred with the Earle of Leicester and his Flemings of whom aboue fiue thousand were slaine or taken and among the prisoners was the Earle himself and his Amazonian Countesse whose persons at his commandement were not long after brought ouer into Normandie 71 This great victorie and other good successe did so much aduantage the King that Lewis beginning to distrust the enterprize sought for sixe monethes truce for himselfe and had it granted but because there were yet in England two principall men the Earle of Norfolke and Roger Mowbray which held out hauing Leicester for their Randenou and seat of warre with no small numbers of partakers notwithstanding that Geffrey the Elect of Lincolne the Kings base sonne had taken two of Mowbraies Castles and done other good seruice for his Lord and Father the truce serued the enemie for no other purpose but to breath and to repaire himselfe 72 The father of whom Lewis said that hee seemed not to goe but to flie he went with such celerity from one place and Kingdome to another in the meane while recouers Xaincts from Richard his violent sonne weakning that partie by so much and would haue weakned it farre more but that aduertisments came post declaring such matter as made him speede into Normandie 73 Thither came vnto him out of England Richard the Elect of Winchester sent with all hast by the Kings Iustitiaries to lay open vnto him the dangerous estate wherin the Realme at that time stood For after that Philip Earle of Flanders had solemnelie sworne to inuade England in supportation of yongue Henries quarrell sundrie forces arriuing and ioining with Hugh Bigot Earle of Norfolke had taken and spoiled the Citie of Norwich and done otherwise much harme whereby the yongue King and his faction had taken great encouragement as if the die of warre were turned and aswell the yongue King as the Earle of Flanders were come with forces to the Coasts there to transport for England Moreouer Robert Earle Ferrers of Derby who was falne from the father had suddenly entred vpon Nottingham burnt the towne beaten out the Kings Garrison slaine the people and enricht with spoile retired to Leicester whether about the same time Anketill Malorie Constable thereof had also brought about two hundred prisoners taken at Northampton which he with slaughter of the like number of the Towns-men had also suddenly
rights whereupon the King gaue the same to his sonne Iohn whose Coronation stung with the like before his father onely did delay at such time as two Cardinales offered to celebrate that solemnitie 92 At Windsor therefore his father giuing him the Order of knight-hood at which time hee was about twelue yeeres old sent him foorth with into Ireland where the Arch-bishop of Dublin and the State entertained him but by reason of such parsimonie toward his souldiers as was vsed hee returned the same yeere without doing much but not without hauing wasted the most part of his Armie in skirmishes with the Irish. His Stile in his seale of Ireland though Houeden saith his father made him Regem aâ—…king was onely Sigillum Iohannis filij regis Angliae Domini Hiberniae Lord of Ireland 93 King Henrie hearing now that his martiall sonne Earle Richard had fortified in Poictou against him and vanquished Geffrey Earle of Britane prepares a puissant armie vpon terror whereof Richard came in rendring vp Poictou to his mother Elienor whose inheritance it was at his fathers commandement The same yeere wherein the West was thus defiled with vnnaturall diuisions the East was likewise polluted with the cursed Apostasie of one Richard de S. Albane whom wee shame to thinke was English who renouncing the Christian beleefe vpon the Patriarcks discomfortable returne became a principall Commander vnder the Sultan of Babilon Saladine whom the Christians draue with losse and slaughter of his armie from Hierusalem But on the other side reuenge of disobedience still pursued Gef frey sonne of King Henrie who was in a Torneament at Paris troden to death vnder the horse feete A miserable end and a fearefull 94 About which times betweene the French and English all things stoode vnsure now warre then peace and warre againe by reason that Philip who had been crowned King some yeeres before during the life of Lewis challenging the custodie of Arthur the Posthumus sonne and heire of Geffrey Earle of Britane and sometimes one thing and sometime another could not haue his will Whiles Earle Richard turning to Philip against his Father but obtaining a truce for two yeeres such amity if there be any amity among mighty Princes grew between king Philip and Earle Richard Heire apparant of England and Normandy c. that one bed and boord serued both The Father perplexed cals his sonne home who pretending many griefes as the detention of Alice his Spouse the doubt of disinherison and other things stood out againe and againe after a while submits to his Father Then bursts forth Philip into Armes and things so standing the heauy newes of Ierusalem lost flew into Christendom When this City was formerly recouered by Godfrey of Bolein an Vrban was Pope a Fredericke was Emperour an Heraclius Patriarch so now when it was lost an Vrban was Pope a Fredericke was Emperor and an Heraclius Patriarch 95 Vpon these news Henry and Philip meet and for the honour of God laying downe displeasure in presence of William Archbishop of Tyre at which time some say a Crosse appeared in the aire take vpon them as Souldiers of Christ the badge of the Crosse and there the better to distinguish themselues it was agreed that the French should weare read Crosses the English White and the Flemish Greene. And this determination was seconded with warlike preparations leuies of money and institution of martiall Discipline all which notwithstanding nothing went forward 96 At Richard began the breach of this honourable confederation who taking reuenge vpon certaine Rebels of his in Poictou who brooked not his hard hand one mischiefe drew another and at the last both the Kings of England and France became parties to the quarrell greatly against the minde of K. Henry whose heart was firmely 〈◊〉 as it seems to reuenge the cause of Christ vpon Sultan Saladine for that in his answere to the Patriarch of Antioch imploring aide he concludes That among other Princes himselfe and sonne reiecting this worlds glory and despising all pleasures whatsoeuer and setting behind all things which were of this World would in their owne person with their whole Forces by the fauour of the Lord speedily visite him And sure the state of those parts required it Saladine hauing slaine many of the Knights Templars and Nobles and aboue thirty thousand footmen with innumerable other in Cities and Townes by him subdued Among all which grieuous accidents we cannot to season sower therby with sweet omit one noble protestation made by the chiefe crossed Lords Philip Earle of Flanders the Earle of Bloys and other who being required to take parts made answere That they would not contrary to their promise to God put armour on against any Christian till they had done their deuoire against Saladine 97 In the treaties therefore between Henry and Philip the demaunds of Philip on the behalfe of Richard were such and so vnsafe for the King as that all his subiects should sweare fealty to Richard during the Fathers life but yet reseruing their allegiance to the Father that Richard apparantly fell off and became Liegeman for Normandy c. to Philip King of France and at a new Treaty by mediation of a Cardinall Legate the demaunds of Philip being more hard then before as that King Henry should not onely settle the Kingdome vpon Richard but take Iohn also with him into Palestine or that otherwise Richard would not goe being iealous of his brothers grace with his Father Henrie would consent to none of those insolent propositions but disdaining to seeme to be enforced they betooke them selues on all sides to their swords 98 The effect whereof was that former good fortunes forsaking King Henry hee sustained many losses by the Armies of King Philip and Richard was driuen out of Mentz in Main the city where he was born which he loued aboue all other places by firing of the Suburbes before the enemy came being casually consumed hee was glad to yeeld to such conditions as it pleased Philip to prescribe It is written that at the meeting of these two Kings the skie being cleare a thunderbolt stroke betweene them and after a little pause comming together againe it thundered more terribly so that Henry had falne off his horse but that his people sustained him whereupon hee came presently to an end though it were to his vnspeakable griefe his Kingly heart being vsed to giue and not to take conditions 99 Fearefull was the speech which King Henrie when hee abandoned Mentz by reason of the fire vttered against Richard which was That sith he had taken from him that day the thing that hee most loued in this world he would requite him for after that day hee would depriue him of that thing which in him should best please a Child to wit his Heart But after the peace concluded vpon mediation between the sides another thing strucke neerer for finding the name of his
sonne Iohn first in the Catalogue of the Conspirators against him in that action hee bitterly cursed the howre of his birth laying Gods curse and his vpon his sonnes which hee would neuer recall for any perswasion of the Bishoppes and others but comming to Chinon fell there grieuously sicke and feeling death approch hee caused himselfe to be borne into the Church before the Altar where after humble confession and sorrow for his sinnes hee departed this life 100 It shal not in contempt of humane glory be forgotten that this puissant Monarch being dead his people presently left him and fell to spoile all he had leauing him naked of whom one saith trulie and grauely Verè melmuscae c. Surely these flies sought honey these wolues a Carcase these Ants grain for they did not follow the Man but the spoile and bootie Neither must it be vnremembred that the fierce and violent Richard now heire of all comming to meete his Fathers body roially adorned for the buriall according to the Maiestie of his estate the very Corse as it were abhorring and accusing him for his vnnaturall behauiours gushed forth bloud whereat Richard pierced with remorse melted into flouds of teares in most humble and repentant maner attending vpon the remaines of his vnfortunate Father to the Graue His Wife 101 Eleanor the Wife of King Henry was the eldest of the two Daughters and the sole Heire of William Duke of Aquitaine the fift of that name the ninth in succession sonne of Duke William the fourth her Mother was Daughter to Raimund Earle of Tholoâ—…se and her great Dowrie was motiue first to King Lewis who had two daughters by her Mary and Alice and after to King Henry to marry her There are of the French Historians who report that king Henry had a former wife and that shee bare vnto him Prince Henry but Writers of our owne affaires and some also of the French acknowledge but onely Eleanor for his Wife Certain it is that king Henries times were much famoused by two Women of much differing qualities the one was his renowmed Mother Matildis whose Epitaph thus comprised part of her glory Ortu magna viro maior sed maxima prole Hic iâ—…cet Henrici Filiâ—… Sponsa Parens Here Henries Mother Daughter Wife dothrest By Birth much more by Spouse by Child most blest The other was this Eleanor his Wife the first cause of these bloudie Warres which long after continued as hereditary betwixt England and France yea and the bellows of that vnnaturall discord betwixt her husband and his sonnes Shee much out-liued her husband as a bad thing stickes longest beeing so happie as to see three of her sonnes aduanced to the Crowne and so vnhappie as to see two of them in their graues for she liued till King Iohns time His Issue 102 William the eldest sonne and first child of King Henry and Queene Eleanor his wife was borne before his father was King and while hee was but Duke of Normandy in the eighteenth yeere of the raigne of King Stephen 1152. and the fourth yeere after his father beeing then King and in the second yeere of his raigne the Nobilitie of England sware vnto him their fealtie as to the heire apparant of the Kingdome at the Castle of Wallingford in Barkeshire but he deceased the yeere following being the third of his fathers raigne and the fift of his owne age 1156. He was buried in the Monastery of Reading at the feete of his great Grandfather King Henrie the first 103 Henrie the second sonne of King Henry and Queene Eleanor beeing borne the last of Februarie 1156. was their heire apparant after the death of his brother William was Duke of Normandie Earle of Aniou and Maigne and was crowned King of England at Westminster by Roger Arch-bishop of Yorke the fifteenth of Iulie 1170. His wife was Margaret daughter of Lewis the Yonger King of France married to him at Nuburgh in Normandy the second of Nouember 1160. crowned Quene at Winchester by Rotrocke of Warwicke Arch-bishop of Roan the 21. of Nouember 1163. and suruiuing him was remarried to Bela King of Hungarie He died without issue before his father at Marcell in Tourâ—…ine the eleuenth of Iulie the twentie sixe yeere of his fathers raigne 1182. and was buried in the Church of our Lady at Roan 104 Richard the third sonne of King Henrie and Queen Eleanor was born at Oxford in the Kings Pallace there called Beau-Mount in September the fourth yeere of his fathers raigne 1157. He proued a Prince of great valor and was therefore surnamed in French Cuer-de-Lion in English Lions-Heart hee was created Earle of Poyton and had the whole Dutchie of Aquitaine for which he did his homage to King Lewis the Yonger of France in the eighteenth yeere of his fathers raigne 1170. yet afterward he conceiued some discontentment against his father and maintained warres vpon him but was reconciled againe into his loue and succeeded him in his Kingdome 105 Geffrey the fourth sonne of King Henrie and of Queene Eleanor was borne the twentie third of September in the fifth yeere of his fathers raigne 1159. Hee married Constance daughter and heire of Conan Duke of Britane and in her right was Duke of Britane and did his homage to his brother Henry for the same Dutchie and receiued the homages of the Barrons of the same hee died at Paris in the thirtie two yeere of his fathers raigne 1186. the nineteenth of August and is buried in the quire of our Ladies Church there hee had issue Arthur Duke of Britane borne after his fathers decease the heire apparant of King Richard and by some supposed to bee made away by King Iohn and also Eleanor called the Daâ—…sell of Britane who died in prison in the raigne of King Henrie the third 106 Philip the fifth sonne of King Henrie and Queene Eleanor may bee mistrusted to be mistaken by Antiquaries of our time as misunder-standing the ancient writers who mentioning the birth of Philip the Kings sonne might by good likelihood be thought to meane Philip sonne of Lewâ—… the Yonger King of France who was borne about this time and was after King of the same Countrey But Mr Thoâ—…as Talbot an exact trauailer in genealogies hath not onely set him downe in this place amongst the children of this King but also warranteth the same to bee done with good authoritie howsoeuer it is apparant his life was verie short 107 Iohn the sixth and yongest sonne of King Henrie and Queene Eleanor was borne in the thirteenth yeere of his fathers raigne in Anno 1166. hee was iestinglie surnamed by his father Sans-terre in English without Land because hee was borne last as if there had beene nothing left for him Notwithstanding soone after hee was created Earle of Mortaigne and had more-ouer by degrees the Earledomes of Cornwall and Glocester the Counties of Derby and Lancaster the Honors of Wallinford and Nottingham the Castles of
it seemed endure the splendor of his companions glory The chiefe commanders of his Army hearing this shewing themselues true French-men and sensible of their obligation to God and honour with many teares besought him not to forsake that holy affaire ita impudenter so shamelesly In what Prince would not this haue kindled a desire of a better resolution But impotent passions carrying him and miscarrying him he persisted to get leaue of Richard who but two dayes before would haue had him sweare to a stay of three yeeres longer in that seruice but hee who had other cogitations farre more vnworthy of a King would needes depart giuing his oath vpon the holy Gospels without which oath King Richard would not grant his good will That he would well and faithfully keepe the lands and subiects of the King of England and neither doe dammage nor grieuance to them by himself nor suffer it to be done by others * till his returne 34 The King of France thus leauing Accon in the Castle whereof King Richard his Queene and Sister were lodged and the Duke of Burgunaie remaining behind with the French hoast to whome King Philip not without sundry secret instructions had with it committed a great part of his treasure king Richard in the same day set forward vpon a new enterprize but it is true which one writes * that by reason of the dissention betweene the Kings which of them should seeme the greater little or nothing prospered iust cause had King Richard to complaine in his letters that Philip to the eternall reproch of himselfe and Kingdome had fouly forsaken his purpose and vow vnto God 35 But when the Saladine could not by any means obtaine a longer day for performance of the said Articles of composition hee cut off the heads of all his Christian Captiues in reuenge whereof King Richard brought out his Turkish Captiues being about two thousand and fiue hundreth and in the sight of the Saladines hoast caused their heads to be chopt off the Duke of Burgundie doing the same to the like number neere vnto the walles of Acon seuen onelie being kept aliue by the Christian Generals whereof Karakeys Salaadines * foster Father was chiefe But Richard proceeding in his vndertaken action and in his march to Ioppa being set vpon by Sultan Salaadine who had put the Duke of Burgundie to flight and slaine the valiant Iaques de Auennis who onely with a few in the Reregard made resistance so couragiously encountred him that the Salaadine with the losse of three thousand his choisest Souldiers was glad to turn his back and flie whiles therefore this Champion is thus imploied in the Holy-land let vs looke backe a litle how the affaires of his Kingdome are managed at home 36 Iohn the Kings brother making vse in England of such discontentments as the incredible insolencies and intollerable tyrannies of the Chancellour who carried himselfe both like a Pope and a King had bred among the Nobility and people to aduance thereby his owne designes stirred against him though strengthning himselfe like a Generall in the field so powerfull opposition that in the end vpon warrant of a new Commission sent from the King his Brother hee with the rest of the Peeres suddenlie thrust him out of all commaund and shortly after most reprochfully as it happened for he fled and was taken in a Curtesans attire il beseeming a Popes Legate out of the Kingdome also vpon occasion as of other foule demetites so particularly of a sacrilegious and barbarous outrage committed by the Chancellours commaund vpon the person of Geffrey Elect Archbishop of Yorke naturall brother to King Richard and the Earle on pretence that he entred England contrarie to his oath giuen to his brother King Richard where as he then came to take possession of his See to which hee was aduanced by the Kings owne procurement and by Queene Eleanors owne trauaile to Rome in his behalfe And albeit this punishment shame deseruedly followed the Chancellors pride and oppression yet in one maine point of opposing the Earles Ambition who sought to assure to himselfe the remainder of the Crowne which in right of bloud belonged to his Nephew Arthur his seruice to the State had beene very commendable if it had proceeded from loialty of affection and not from a swelling desire of greatnesse which he hoped still to enioy if Arthur a child should succeed in the kingdome wheras he knew Earle Iohns aduancement could not be without his apparant ruine 37 But Philip King of France in all places labouring by wrongfull and vnprincely aspersions to deface the renowne of King Richard though finding small credite to his words because the man had done nothing himselfe deuised after his return how to trouble and endammage his friends dominions and had effected it if the Lordes of France whom he sollicited to that wicked worke vpon pretence of the composition made with King Richard at Messana had not to their immortal glory refused to assist him therein till Richards returne aswel in regard of their owne oathes as because the sentence of excommunication was denounced against all such as did attempt to endammage him in his absence 38 King Richard notwithstanding that the relation of these things greatly troubled him gaue not ouer as yet but after sundry other matters of importance performed did march vp within the sight of Ierusalem where he skirmished with the enemie ouerthrew the Conuoy or Carauan of the Salaadine which came laden from Babylon guarded with ten thousand men whom King Richard valiantlie encountring with fiue thousand selected souldiers put most of them to the sword and took three thousand Camels and four thousand Horses and Mules besides those that were slaine and so gained the rich spoile of all the Carriages 39 After this and many other worthy thinges done as the rescue of Ioppa and repulse of Saladine from thence c. the King indefatigable in his braue attempts desirous to regaine Ierusalem and the City Baruck was abandoned in that enterprise by the Duke of Burgundie who is * said to haue beene apparently corrupted with gifts from Saladine and the regiments of French vnder his conduct wherupon he was the rather perswaded by the Knights Templars and chiefes of the Christian hoast not to refuse Saladines offers for a surceasance from hostility considering that hee had a purpose to returne with re-enforced numbers and meanes that his present powers by diuisions by sicknesse by battales were wasted and that the dangerous estate of his owne Dominions did require his presence the greatest motiue for he had supplies of money for his Souldiers wages from Pope Celestine by reason of some vndue practises at home and the rancour of King Philip his vnreconcilable aduersary abroad Wherupō a truce was taken for three yeers and Saladine repaid such charges as Richard had been at in fortifying Askalon which was brought to
ioine in an inuasion with him the French and Flemings assuring them that his Brother King Richard would neuer be set at liberty but William King of Scots would neither giue assent nor countenance to such vndutiful practises or rather madnesses 45 In this most perilous time the valour and loyalty of the City of Roan the choisest of Normandy did most clearely shew themselues to the euerlasting commendation thereof for Philip comming before it with a puissant Army solicited thē to reuolt promising mountaines In stead of answere they set open the gates telling him that hee might enter if he would for no man hindred him but the vaine-glorious King being better aduised for the inhabitants yea the damsels of the City whose heads were polde like as mens powred molten pitch and such like matter vpon the besiegers retreated from the walles and marcht away confounded and being certainely aduertized that the Emperour and King Richard were agreed hee sends ouer to Earle Iohn bidding him looke to himselfe for the Diuell was now let loose Hee thereuppon crost ouer the seas to Philip who * excited him to vsurpe the Kingdome of England 46 Neuerthelesse by Queene Elianors negotiation who in person trauelled to the Emperour the King her sonne was come to be assured of his liberty vpon these conditions 1. That hee should pay to the Emperour one hundreth thousand Markes sterling 2. That he should pay fifty thousand Markes of like money to the Emperour and Duke 3. That he should marry his Neece sister to Arthur Duke of Britaine to Duke Leopolds sonne 4. That the Emperour should secure him till he were vnder saile with a fore-wind 5. That hee should set the Cypriots person at liberty and deliuer his daughter to the Duke of Austria who was her vncle and should deliuer 67. hostages for assurance of all 47 But to colour this vnreasonable and vnprincelie extortion the Emperour by his Imperiall Charter giues vnto King Richard Prouince and sundry other ample territories containing 5. Archbishoprickes and thirty three Bishoprickes sometime parcell of the Empire but both then and a long time before out of possession therof crowns him King writing magnificent letters into England with such like offices 48 Now when King Richard who had wonne to himselfe wonderfull honour and respect euen of the couetous Emperour by the proofe of his innocency and by his most noble and constant carriage did expect his liberty at an assembly or diet where the greatest Princes and States of the Empire were in person to wit The three Archbishops of Mentz Colon and Saltzburg The three Bishops of Wormes Spire and Leiges The three Dukes of Swaue the Emperours brother Austrich and Luuain The Count Palatine of Rhene c. which had vndertaken for the Emperour whose officers had already receiued the greater part of the ransome behold euē then the Emperour shewes a willingnesse to breake off producing the letters of Philip King of France and of Iohn Earle of Morton in which they offer an huge summe c. too impious and diuelish to speak of but the Princes who had vndertaken to King Richard for good dealing went to the Emperour reprouing him for his auarice who would so dishonourably trauerse and start backe from the agreement vpon the fourth of Februarie therefore being Friday the Archbishoppes of Mentz and Coleine restore him after fifteene moneths imprisonment to Queene Alienor his mother free from the Emperour all that were present weeping thereat for ioy 49 This Archbishop of Coleine was hee who entertaining the King in the Dominions of his Archbishopricke with great ioy for his deliuerance did celebrate diuine seruice in this manner Now know I truely that the Lord hath sent his Angell and taken me out of the hand of Herode and the expectation of the common people of the Iewes c. 50 And indeed it was Gods Angell did it for after all this whiles the King staied for a wind and other preparations at the Sea-shore the Emperour repenting him of his release sent speedy guarders to apprehend him againe vowing hee should neuer bee freede from bonds whiles he liued but some secrete message as Princes Courts neuer want Spials speedily premonished him and so by a verie little time he preuented his surprisers landing happily at Sandwich in April the Sunday after Saint Georges day where in stead of all other triumphes or particulars of ioy for his returne wee will content our selues with onely one as signe of the rest When the King drew neere to Rochester the venerable new Archbishop of Canterbury Hubert who had beene with him at Accon in the Holy-land went ioyously foorth to meet him whom when the King saw he dismounted from his horse and hauing bowed his knee fell vpon the earth in like sort the Archbishoppe lay right against him at the last both of them rising from the ground they ranne into each others arms comforting themselues with mutuall embraces weeping with ioy 51 The iustice of a true history will not suffer vs here to forget in what sort the iniustice of this vnnoble captiuation of Richard King of England was punished by God and on Gods behalfe The Duke of Austrias Country and people being visited with these fiue plagues Fire Water Barrennes Worms Pestilence the Fire casually burning his Towns the Riuer of Danubius drowning ten thousand of his Subiects in an ouerflow the earth waxing drie and sear the Wormes destroying such fruit and graine as grew and the stroke of Pestilence killing the principall Nobles and Gentlemen of his Dominions The Duke for all this continued obstinate like another Pharao swearing to cut off the heads of K. Richards Hostages vnlesse all Couenants though extorted by cruell Duresse were exactly and speedily performed Baldwin de Betun one of the Hostages is sent to the King with this bloodie message but before his return vpon S. Stephens day in Christmas the Duke spurring his horse in sport vpon a Castle of snow among youthes which were counterfeiting a siege and an assault with the slip of his horse brake his foot in such sort as it came to be* cut off and within a while feeling himselfe perishing vpward so that his death was certaine could not bee absolued of his Bishops from the sentence of Excommunication which had by the Pope bin denounced till hee and his Lords had sworne to release all the said matters betweene the King of England and him but his sonne after his death refusing the performance his Fathers body lay stinking aboue ground eight daies for that no clergy man durst burie it being but conditionally absolued till the son did yeeld to the performance yet if* some may be credited vpon his bare word the sonne did voluntarily condiscend and not vpon this compulsion 53 But albeit the Emperour to declare himselfe wounded with some remorse for his vngodlie
violence or to engage others in the impietie gaue three thousand Markes of King Richards ransome to make siluer Censers through all the Cistercian order who generally refused the gift as parcell of an accursed spoile for as for those* seuenty thousand marks which hee forgaue to King Richard with as bad a purpose being to hinder peace betweene him and the French as he had taken the other vniustly they are not to be accounted as restitution but as the wages of sinne reuenge forsooke him not being pursued by his owne wife the Heire of the Crowne of Sicilia in reuenge of some cruelties done to her Countrimen and after reconcisement with her falling dangerously sicke he died at Messana excommunicated for King Richards cause And albeit hee had in his life time sent his Chancellour out of Burgundie of purpose to offer King Richard recompence for the iniuries he had sustained and although Constantia the Empresse had sent the Archbishoppe of Messana while the Emperours body lay aboue ground without buriall to Pope Celestine in humble manner praying Christian buriall yet vnlesse the mony which hee had extorted from the King of England were restored hee could by no entreaties obtaine it which accordingly was promised 54 Neither were the King of Englands afflictions vnprofitable vnto him for they gaue him occasion to reforme his life taking home to him his Queene Berengaria whose society for a long time he had neglected though she were a roiall eloquent beauteous Lady and for his loue had ventured with him through the world 55 King Richard after his ioyous returne into England hauing at the Abbey of Saint Edmunds in performance of his vow as may seeme offered vp the rich Imperiall Standard of Cursac Emperour of Cyprus which hee tooke among the spoiles of the Griffons Campe thence he marched and tooke in by surrender such Castles as the seruants of his brother Iohn beleeuing that the King was not returned held against him but Henry de Pumeray who had fortified Saint Michaels Mount in Cornwall hearing for certaine that King Richard was come died for very feare And now forty daies of summons being exspired which were allowed to Earle Iohn Hugh Bishop of Couentry for making their appearance to answere to such heinous matter as was prepared and they not appearing Iohn was adiudged by the Peeres and States of England to haue forfeited all that hee might forfeit in the Realme and the Bishop to be punishable by the Ecclesiasticall censures as hee was a Bishop and likewise as an Officer of the King by the Laitie Richard afterwarde bestirres himselfe to draw in money more greedilie then did become so great a Maiesty wherein yet saith * one he was rather to be pardoned then accused for that hee was presently to lead a mightie Armie against the French 56 But first of all to wipe away both the sadnes and contumelie of his late restraint for a better fortunes beginning he caused himselfe to be crowned againe at the City of Winchester which celebritie was honoured with the presence of William king of Scotland who bare a sword before King Richard betweene which two Princes there* followed great amity and tendernesse of loue then beeing granted to him and his successors Kings of Scotland a certaine pension with sundry other allowances and princelie attendances from the first day of their friendlie entrances at any time into England til their returne 57 The King likewise caused a new broad Seale to bee made requiring that all Charters granted vnder his former should be confirmed vnder this whereby he drew a great masse of money to his Treasurie subscribing such renued Charters thus This was the tenor of our Charter vnder our first Seale which because it was lost and in the time of our beeing captine in Almaine was in the power of another wee caused to bee changed c. Some haue obserued that as this Richard was the first of the English Kinges who bare Armes on his Seales as appeareth by the former so was hee the first who carried in his shield three Lions passant borne euer after for the Regal Arms of England And whereas we see heere the Moone in her full which in the other was but a Crescent which is the Turkish Ensigne it may seeme to be done Emblematically in that sence as wee read of another Prince who going against the Turkes gaue a Crescent with this word Plenior redibo I will returne more full The true draught of this second Seale we haue here annexed 58 A good Author reports that after this the King being at dinner at Westminster and receiuing aduertisement of the siege laid to Vernoil by his restlesse enemie Philip of France sware that hee would neuer turne his face till hee had gotten thither with his Armie to fight with the French whereupon hee caused the wall to be cut through the signe of which breach appeared aboue two hundred yeares after neuer resting till with an hundred great Shippes hee had crost the seas from Portsmouth into Normandy where the onely rumor of his approch made the French King raise his siege and without stroke or sight of his magnanimous Enemie but not without losse and shame to quite the field 59 Neither was his clemency lesse then his courage whereof needs no greater testimony then when vpon Earle Iohns dutifull submission his mothers intercession he so freely forgaue him as that he calmely said Would that thy fault may so be forgotten of me as that thy selfe maiest keepe in memorie what thou hast done and afterward restored his possessions vnto him the Earle from that time forward becōming his true Knight doing him very noble seruices especially against the French who had seduced him as a louing brother faithfull Leege-man whereby he made amends for his former excesses and fully recouered the hearty affection of his Lord and brother 60 There were after this sundry skirmishes takings of Prisoners and Townes and conferences betweene the French and English moued belike by such as religiously tendered the effusion of Christian bloud so as no great matter was yet effected that which was being rather by Stratagems and starts then by battle but within * thirty seuen daies after the French mens flight from Vernuil King Richard in reuenge of that desolation which the French King had brought vpon the City of Eureux where he neither spared age sexe nor Church comming to Vendome with purpose to surprise the King of France had the spoile of the French Campe their King a thing almost incredible now the second time flying without battle Many of the French were slaine and taken together with much treasure the Chappell roiall the Indentures of such as had left Richard to serue King Philip and all the * tents carriages and other furnitures for warre and from hence marching in Poictou and Engolisme hee had such successes
common preseruation yet knowing the Pope had need of his friendship about setling the Empire he ment so long to side with the Popes authority as the Pope would stand with his commodity repining to haue so faire a prey taken out of his talents made boldâ—… to despise both the commands and the curses yet this hee did in smoother fashion then hee had done once before when he rigodrously punished all the Bishops and Prelates whom for consenting to such a Papall censure hee turned out of their Sees and dignities for now he appealed from the sentence for a fashions sake but yet violently proceeded with his warres and did swimme with the full current of his victories The waues whereofso fast surrounded King 〈◊〉 that fearing also further treason of his owne men hee thought good till some better daies would shine vpon him especially winter season enforcing surceasse of warres to abandon the place of his iniurious foes to expostulate in England with his perfidious friends 25 For that was the first worke hee did alter his arriuall which was at Portsmouth on Saint Nicholas day in December when laying to the charge of his Earles and Barons that in his warres they suffered him to be destitute of requisite aides and had left him in the middest of his enemies by which their defaults hee was thus despoiled of his Castles and Countries thereuppon by aduise of Hubert Lord Archbishoppe and Lord Fitz-Peter Chief Iustitiar who knew these were no forged cauillations he put them and other delinquents to their Fines for his Warres made him desire their mony more then their liues wherein these two great Counsellors were ouerseers for the receits the one for the Clergy the other for the Laity of both whom they receiued no lesse summes of curses then of Coine The like repining among the people who iudge of the goodnesse of a King only by sparing their purses ensued on the grant of a large Subsidie two Marks and halfe of euerie Knights Fee in a Parliament presently after held at Oxford where the King Peeres conuening about redresse of those remediles mischiefs the issue as seemeth was that Ambassages should bee addressed into France two Prelates Canterbury and Norwich with two Earles Marshall and Leicester to treat from the Body of the Kingdome touching those Prouinces which being incorporated with Englands Soueraignety could not without apparant iniustice bee abstracted from a Nations common interest vpon coloured pretences against any particular Philip hauing vpon King Iohns departure thence vsed his whole Forces and wittes to weary or to winne diuers other Cities Forts which had till then stood faithfull for which purpose hee also imployed sundry instruments themselues first corrupted that they might corrupt others to defection with great rewards and greater promises hee meant not now to re-commence Questions of Right hauing already neere decided that point by the point of his sword yet because hee was to deale with a mighty Nation hee would not abruptly refuse to capitulate and yet againe by proposall of conditions exceeding either Reason of Possibility hee dammed vp all passages to peaceable agreement his demaunds were to haue either Arthur whom hee knew to bee dead redeliuered into his hands aliue or else his Sister Eleanor in marriage with all those Countries in that Continent but those Statesmen easily perceiued that Philips heart aimed farther then his tongue and that with Eleanor hee hoped to purchase a higher dowry euen the English Diadem whose claim glided down from her brother to her which perchance was the secret ground of his Oth that he would neuer linne to pursue that quarrell till hee had depriued King Iohn of his Kingdome 26 This Ambassage was not onely thus issuelesse but produced also effects tending to further irritation for this seemeth to bee the time when Philip sent a brauing Champion to iustifie by Duel before the States here in England what his Master had done in France against their King in open warre and though it was not deemed expedient to ieopard a Title of such weight on the Armes and Fortune of one man yet it was resolued the Challenger should not passe vnanswered whereto none was held fitter then Iohn Curcy Earle of Vlster for rebellion and denying his homage to the King condemned to perpetuall imprisonment in the Towre a man of Giantlike limme and strength and of some dispositions not despicable if they had not beene sauaged with a too carelesse rudenesse which appeared not onely in his wild speeches touching the Kings misusage of his Nephew Arthur which some by errour alledge as cause of his indurant durance but euen now when the king demanding him whether hee would combate in his quarrell No quoth he not in thy quarrell nor for thy sake but for the Kingdomes right I will fight to the death Against which day whiles hee repaired with large diet his impayred limmes and sinewes the Frenchman hearing of his excessiue feeding and strength answerable thereto thereby fearing he had been some Monster of Nature rather then a man hee secretly sneaked away into Spaine ashamed to shew his face in France againe Curcy finding the King gracious was hereupon released and is said if this bee not to digresse to haue crossed the seas for Ireland fifteen times and euermore beaten backe to the shore acknowledged himselfe herein iustly punished of God neuer againe to see his owne seat for displacing God out of his when he conuerted the Church of Prebendaries in Doan consecrated to the blessed Trinity into an Abbey of Monkes to the honour name of Saint Patrick whose Image was erected in a stately seat wherein before the Trinitie was deportracted which was thence reiected into a priuate Chappell The Irish relate that the two Kinges being afterward together belike when they made the next truce in Erance King Philip hearing Curcy to bee in the English Campe intreated to see some experience of his so much feared and reported strength where a Helmet of excellent proofe full farced with Mayle being set vpon a great wooden blocke the Earle lifting his trusty Skeyne first louring round about him with a dreadfull aspect cleft so deepe quite through the steely resistance into the knotty wood that none there could draw it out but himselfe who did it with ease and being asked by the Kings why hee frowned so irefully before the stroke hee told them that hee then intended if hee had failed of his blow to haue killed them all both Kings and others the lookers on 27 But what Philip could not in England by one Champion he accomplished in Normandy by many where hauing a mighty power attending him froÌ„ City to City yet hee thought faire wordes would bee for himselfe both cheaper and safer and with the Prouincials more forceable then force
Christs faith and therefore such should come to subdue them and take their possessions when he said a Stag which hee kild had neuer the lesse fatte though he neuer heard a Masse they charged him hee doubted of the Resurrection of the dead and in saying hee neuer sped well after his yeelding to the Pope that hee said hee was vnfortunate since hee was reconciled vnto God that when hee gaue leaue to a seruant of his owne to enter any religious Order he gaue him leaue to bee of what Religion and Faith hee list That moreouer hee offered his Kingdome to a Sarazen and would embrace the Turkish faith though this tale were told by one Robert of London a wicked Masse-Priest or rather a Monster hauing a face like a Iew with one arme long and another short his fingers deformedly growing together two and two with such senseles improbabilities as that hee found that Moorish King reading of Saint Paules Epistles and that hee refused the Kingdom of England being offered him with the like That lastly it was reuealed to a Monke King Iohn was in Hell though a Poet for so saying is by M. P. who ◅de no doubt of King Iohns saluation censured for a Reprobate These all are demonstrations of so incredible hatred as should rather alleuiate their Authors credite then the Kings whose Raigne had it not fallen in the time of so turbulent a Pope so ambitious Neighbour Princes so disloyall Subiects nor his Story into the handes of exasperated Writers hee had appeared a King of as great renowne as misfortunes His works of deuotion inferiour to none as his Foundations declare at Beauley Farrington Malmsbury and Dublin and that other for Nunnes at Godstow by Oxford for which some haue interpreted that Prophesie of Merlin as meant of him Sith Virgin giftes to Maids he gaue Mongstblessed Saints God will him saue His Acts and Orders for the Weale-publike were beyond most hee being eyther the first or the chiefest who appointed those noble Formes of Ciuill gouernment in London and most Cities and Incorporate Townes of England endowing them also with their greatest Franchises The first who caused Sterling money to bee h◅re coyned The first who ordayned the Honourable Ceremonies in Creation of Earles The first who setled the Rates and Measures for Wine Bread Cloth and such like Necessaries of Commerce The first who planted English Lawes and Officers in Ireland and both annexed that Kingdome and fastned Wales to the Crowne of England therby making amends for his losses in France Whose whole course of life and actions wee cannot shut vp with any truer E◅loge then that which an ancient Author hath conferred on him Princeps quidem Magnus erat sed minus foelix atque vt Marius vtramque fortunam expertus Doubtlesse he was a Prince more Great then happy and one who like Marius had tried both sides of Fortunes wheele His Wiues 64 Alice the first wife of King Iohn was the eldest of the two daughters and heires apparant at that time of Humbert the second Earle of Maurien now called Sauoy her Mother was Clemence daughter of Berthold the fourth Duke of Leringen who had been the diuorced wife of Henry the Lyon Duke of Saxonie This marriage was in their childhoode cōcluded by their Parents at Mountferrant in Auerne in February Anno 1173 he should haue had with her her Fathers Earledome but all altered by her vntimely death and after ensued the death of her Mother the new marriage of her Father and issue male of the same whereof the Dukes of Saxonie are descended 65 Isabel his second wife by some called Hawisia or Auis though the youngest of the three Sisters yet was in regard of this marriage the sole Heire of William Earle of Gloucester sonne of Earle Robert the Naturall sonne of King Henry the first her Mother was Hawis the daughter of Robert Bossu Earle of Leicester Shee was married vnto him when hee was Earle of Mortaine in the first yeere of his brother Richards raigne and after ten yeeres hauing no issue by him was the first yeere of his Raigne diuorced from him vnder pretence of Consanguinity and married to Geffrey Mandeuill Earle of Essex and lastly to Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent but died without any Issue by them 66 Isabel also his last wife was daughter and heire of Aymer Earle of Angolesme her Mother was Alice daughter of Peter Lord of Courteney fifth son of Lewis the Grosse King of France Shee was married vnto him in the first yeere of his Raigne crowned by Hubert Archbishoppe of Canterbury 8. Id. Octob. Anno 1200. and suruiuing him was married to Hugh Brun Earle of March and Lord of Lusignian and Valence in Poytou to whom first she should haue beene married but yet as seemeth continued her affection to him till now By him shee had diuers Children greatly aduanced by the King Henry 3. their halfe brother and as greatly maligned by his Subiects Hugh Earle of March and Angolesme Guy of Lusignian slain in the battell at Lewise William of Valence Earle of Pembroke Aymer of Valence Bishoppe of Winchester Geffrey of Lusignian L. of Hastings His Issue 67 Henry the eldest Sonne of King Iohn and Isabell his last wife was borne at Winchester 1. October 10. of his Fathers Raigne Anno 1208. K. Iohn dying at Newarke whither hee was broughtina Horselitter from Swynshead the Barons malice was ended their offence amended Lewis of France reiected and the yong Prince seated on his Fathers throne 68 Richard his second son by the same Queene was borne the next yeere after Henry by whom afterward hee was made Knight created Earle of Cornwall and appointed Earle of Poytou After the death of William Earle of Holland Emperour of the West hee was by the Electours chosen to succeed him in the Empire and crowned King of Romanes of Almayn at the City of Acon in Germany by Conrade Archbishoppe of Coleyne Maij 27. being the Ascention day Anno 1257. deceasing at the Castle of Berkhamsted April 20. Ann. 1271. the 13. yeere of his Empire his body was buried in his Monastery of Hayles in Gloucestershire but his Heart at Oxford in Reuly Abbey founded by him vnder a Pyramis of admirable worke Hee had three wiues the first was Isabel daughter of William Marshall Earle of Pembroke widdow of Gilbert Clare Earle of Gloucester by whom hee had issue Henry slaine at Viterbo in Italy and Iohn both dying without Issue His second wife was Senches daughter of Raimond Earle of Prouince sister to Queene Eleanor his brothers wife who was crowned with him at Acon and had issue by him Edmund Earle of Cornwall and others His last wife was Beatrice Niece to the Archbishoppe of Coleyne who seemeth to haue suruiued him and to haue no Issue by him 69 Ioane the
eldest Daughter and Child of K. Iohn and Queene Isabel his last wife was the first wife of Alexander the second King of Scots married vnto him in Yorke Iunij 25. Anno 1221. who returning into England to visite her Brother deceased at London and was buried in the Nunnery at Tarent in Dorsetshire 4. Martij in the 21. yeare of her Brother king Henries raigne in England and the 23. of king Alexander her husbands in Scotland Anno 1236. 70 Eleanor their second daughter was first married to William Marshall the yonger Earle of Pembroke and after his decease without issue and seuen yeeres Widow-hood remarried to Simon Montfort Earle of Leicester sonne of Simon Earle Montfort in France by Amice Daughter of Robert Blanchman Earle of Leicester who maintaining the Barons warres against King Henry her brother was slaine at the battaile of Euesham in the 19. yeere of her brothers raigne 1265 after whose death shee and ◅er Children were forced to forsake England she died in the Nunnery at Montarges in France Henry her eldest sonne was slaine with his father at Eueshan Simon the second was Earle of Bigorre and ancestor to a Family of Mountfords in those parts of France Almaricke her third sonne was first a Priest and Treasurer of the Cathedrall Church in Yorke and after a Knight and a valiant seruitour in sundrie warres beyond the Seas Guy the fourth Sonne was Earle of Angleria in Italy and Progenitour of the Mountfords in Tuscaine and of the Earles of Campo bachi in the Kingdome of Naples Richard the fift sonne remained priuily in England and changing his name from Mountford to Wellesborne was ancestor of the family of Wellesbornes in England She had also a daughter named Eleanor borne in England brought vp in France and married into Wales to Prince Lewellen ap Griffith 71 Isabel their yongest daughter was born An. 1214 when shee was 21. yeeres of age shee was married being the 6. and last wife to the Emperour Frederick the second at the City of Wormes in Germany 20. of Iuly 1235. Shee had issue by him Henry appointed to bee King of Sicily and Margaret wife of Albert Landgraue Thurin shee was Empresse 6. yeeres and died in Childbed Decemb. 1. of her husbands Empire 31. of her brothers raign 38. Anno 1241. 72 Iane or Ione the daughter naturall of King Iohn by Agatha Daughter of Robert Ferrers Earle of Darby marryed to Lewin Prince of Wales Anno 1204. her Father gaue with her the Castle Lordshippe of Elinsmore in the Marches of Southwales she like a most louing Child gaue her Father secret intelligence of the Treasons intended against him by the Welsh and English 73 Geoffrey Fitz-Roy a base son who transported some Souldiers into France when Archbishoppe Hubert forbad the King his father to goe thither 74 Richard who married the daughter heire of Fulbert de Douer who built Chilham Castle in Kent which Castle hee had with her and had Issue by her of which som families of good esteem are descended stant Lords at Newarke where the Generall assembly for that seruice was appointed The whole Army after the Musters rested there some dayes which they spent not in vanities but in deuotions receit of the Sacrament humbling themselues before the offended Maiestie of God and so all of them saith Paris being prepared resolue eyther to return victorious or to die in defence of their country their Soueraignes right and their owne Liberties and possessions all which seemed now to lie at stake To giue them the greater edge and spirite Wallo with great solemnity accurseth Lewis and his Coadiutors and thus the Army marcheth towards Lincolne and the Lewisians there in siege of the Castle the King himselfe being left with a strong guard at Stow about eight miles short of Lincolne accompanied with Wallo and others there without perill of his person to attend Gods pleasure in the euent of the enterprise Vpon their approch if the Counsell of some English Lords had beene followed the Lewisian Army had issued forth of the City giuen them battle in the opē field but the Earle of Perch the French Generall thinking the Kings party to bee greater then it was for that the Noblemen and Bannerets thereof had each of them two Ensignes the one born with themselues the other aduanced among the Carriages which doubled the shew of their numbers they did thereupon change that course closed the Gates of the City and plyed their endeauours against the Castle more fiercely then before The Earle of Pembroke therefore lets Falcasius slip in at the Castle-posterne with his Arbalasters whiles others breake vp the South-gate of the City at which the Kings Army most couragiously entring and they of the Castle sallying out in Flancke of the Enemy scattered and vtterly defeated the Lewisians The Earle of Perch their Generall being enuironed with the Royalists and willed to render himselfe sware that hee would neuer become Prisoner to any English vpon which refusall he was run through the sight of his helmet into the braines and so dyed without speaking any word In this conflict being on Saturday in Whitson-weeke the force of naturall propension was apparent for notwithstanding the fierie resolutions of the Kings People yet when they saw the faces of their kinsmen friends countrimen on the other side that fury relented so strōgly that the most part of the reuenge fell vpon the Horses and not vpon the Horsemen whom onelie they laboured to make their Captiues The whole riches of the Lewisian Campe of the City of Lincolne became the booty and spoile of the Kings Armie whereupon this discomfiture was called Lewis Fair Neither did the Clergy of the place escape for the Popes Legate had commaunded that they also should be rifled to a penny as persons excommunicated in partaking with Lewis The Chase was but coldly fainedly followed vpon the flying Barons otherwise not a man could haue escaped wherein yet the chiefest Barons were taken with about 400. Knights besides Esquiers and of other sorts without note or number though some say that this number of Knights were slaine matrons and women of the towne flying by boate which they had no skill to gouerne were drowned Such as escaped the fight were not therefore past the danger for the Country people fell vpon them as they fledde killing great numbers so that almost all the footmen tooke vp their last lodgings before they could reach to London where Lewis was The Marshal of France the Chastellan of Arras and about two hundreth Knights came safely thither but were not otherwise then sowerly welcome of the Prince who laid vpon their cowardise the losse of all the rest His feare of being taken Prisoner iustly encreasing hee fortifies London by the best meanes hee can and dispatcheth Posts into France for more reliefe This great victory was much the stranger if as some write the fame
11 The King gouerned after Marshals death by Peter Bishoppe of Winchester and such other whom the Bishoppe had procured to ioyne in administration of publik affairs seeming now to haue a setled and calme estate resolues for good hopes sake to bee crowned againe which was performed by Stephen Archbishoppe of Canterbury at Westminster with the attendance and confluence of all the Prelates Peeres and People Vpon the* Saturday before his Coronation the new worke of the Abbey Church at Westminster Paris calles it the Chappell of our Lady was begunne whereof the King himselfe in person laid the first stone as if hee ment the world should know his intention was to consecrate his future actions to raise the glory of God This calme but new beginning was almost as speedily distempered and disturbed by sodaine stormes by reason that while the King kept his Christmas with great royalty at Oxford in the company of the Prelates and Peeres of England William de Fortibus Earle of Aumarl incited by Falcasius de Brent and the like riotous Gentlemen sodainely departed frō the Court without leaue whither it were vpon discontentment because the King had against the Earles will the last yeere taken some Castles into his hands or out of an euill ignorance how to liue in quiet he mannes the Castle of Biham victuals it with the Corne of the Chanons of Bridlington spoiles the Towne of Deeping and vnder shew of repayring to the Parliament seiseth on the Castle of Fotheringhay committing many other furious riots in contempt of the King and breach of his peace many others in other places following his lewd example Yet at length the Earle comming in vnder the conduct of Walter Archbishop of Yorke was at the suite of Pandulph who succeeded Wallo in the place of Legate pardoned and the like hurtfull clemency was extended toward his Complices and Retinue whom the King in regard belike of some former better deserts set free without punishment or ransome And to preuent any further disturbances of that nature Hubert de Burgh Earle of Kent for his rare integrity and fidelity approued in all King Iohns troubles was also made gouernour of the Kings Person and Chiefe Iustitiar of England with the generall allowance of all the States What need the land then had of a seuere proceeding wee may iudge by this that Foulk de Brent held the Earledomes of Northampton Oxford Bedford and Buckingham with the Castles and Holds Philip de Marc the Castles of Peke and Nottingham Nottinghamshire and Darbishire and others detained other portions without any other right then that which the iniquity of the late tumults gaue 12 It was no small addition to the troublesomnesse of this time that certaine Lords of Wales and as some say Prince Lewelin himselfe desirous to ridde their Marches of the English rose in Armes laide siege to the Castle of Buelt which inuited king Henry to draw thither with an Armie but the worke was made easie by the voluntary departure of the Welsh vpon the fame of the Kings approch which appearances of some ensuing stirres moued the king to thinke of strengthning himselfe with faithfull alliances and not long after Alexander King of Scots came to Yorke who in the yeere before had met King Henry at the same place and there tooke to wife the Lady Ioan King Henries sister and Hubert de Burgh in presence of both the Kings married the Lady Margaret sister to Alexander Boetius saith that two great Lords of England married two sisters of King Alexander at that place About which time Isabel Queen Dowager of Englād without the leaue of her sonne the King or of his Councell crost the seas and tooke to husband the Earle of March in France The young King supposing his estate at home now somewhat setled and his eyes beginning to grow cleare-sighted by the benefite of experience forgets not to looke about his affaires abroad and first sends Sauarie de Malleon to bee his Lieutenant in Aquitaine where yet the English held the greater part and dispatcheth Ambassadors to Philip King of France for restitution according to the Articles with Lewis whereunto answere was made that nothing ought to bee restored which by right of warre had beene atchieued but as it seemes there was a Truce for fowre yeeres agreed vpon betweene the two Monarches concerning the County of Poictou 13 The State both of Church and Common-wealth in those troubled daies seeme to haue much resemblance euery man daring to attempt in either what his own audaciousnes would suggest or others conniuency permit But Stephen Archbishop of Canterbury who himselfe was lately the ring-leader of disorders both in State and Church is now beecome very diligent in his Prouinciall Synode at Ox to in rage of this vnexpected reuocation like a braue Romane threw the Popes letters into the fire yet durst not disobey the Contents And whereas the message it selfe had beene scanned and sifted to the very branne both here and in France and iudged to sauour of so vniuersall an oppression as might cause a generall discession from the Church of Rome the King in presence of his Prelates and Peeres turned off the Popes couetous demaund with this thrifty answere The things which the Pope would perswade vs vnto doe stretch themselues as farre as the Christian world is wide and because England is but an Out-Angle thereof therefore when we see other Kingdomes giue vs an example hee shall then finde vs the more forward to obey 21 That difficultie so auoided the King was earnestly bent to make a voyage in person to the aide of his brother Earle Richard who pursued the affaires of Gascoigne which though by the late Earle of Sarisburies death it receiued some maime yet by the fortitude and counsell of other noble persons it did still prosper This intention and desire was staide by the receit of letters out of France which declared the Earle his brothers health and the good successe of affaires The King some say among his Counsellors of State had one William de Perepound a great Astrologer who fortold that Lewis King of France should not preuaile and this affirmation did the rather withhold him at that present There is who writes that King Henry vpon the Popes letters forbare to attempt any thing in France at that time lest he should hinder Lewis who was then vpon an enterprise against the remaines of the Albigenses in Languedoc Prouince and the parts about These men were traduced for Heretikes and so condemned by the See of Rome but what their Heresie was a * Fryer who writes against them reports saying they were of all other the most pernicious Sect for antiquity some holding they were from the Apostles time for generality there scarse being any Nation where they are not and lastly for shew of piety in that they liue iustly before men and
him in great fury with his drawne sword but Ranulph Earle of Chester and others stept betweene and saued the King from so foule a blemish who soone after receiued him into grace againe But that assembly was dispersed by the arriuall of a great man out of Britaine a principal confederate with the English against Lewis who shewed the vnseasonable time of the yeare and other reasons and the enterprize thereupon adiourned to the Spring So after Easter hee transports from Portsmouth with a full Armie into Britaine The same day in which hee set saile from England himselfe did in person visite the poore and feeble and dealt large Almes not refusing to kisse the sicke and leprous The successe of this voyage is so diuersly reported that without preiudice to an obseruant Reader it might be all left out Much certainely was not done The King of Englands purpose was to haue marched through Britaine where many receiued him into Poictou and as some write hee did so and tooke homagein Gascoigne To empeach this passage the King of France lay with a great Armie at Angiers and the King of England at Nants in Britaine expecting the repaire of more force Fulk Paganel a noble Norman with about sixty valiant Knights perswaded the King of England it was easie for him to reduce Normandie to his obedience but Hubert de Burgh diuerted the King from acceptance of that enterprize The Normans therefore made an ill iourney and an vnlucky for they preuailed not with King Henry and for their conspiracy were disseised at home by King Lewis But whether it were by losse in battle wherin if any battle were at all some say the French had the better taking about foure thousand of the English or otherwise this is agreede on that after the wast of infinite Treasures and the great diminution of his numbers the King of England returned without accomplishment of his purpose leauing for the defence of Britaine the three great Earles of Chester Pembroke and Aumarl with forces answerable 28 It is not vnlikely that the dangerous rebellion of the Irish hastned his returne for the King of Connaught and his Irish seeing the King and the Earle of Pembroke who as Heire to the great Strangbaw had goodly possessions in those parts wholie embusied in the enterprise of Britaine had inuaded the Kings people with a purpose and hope vtterlie to expell and amoue our Nation from among them but their deuises proued mischieuous to themselues that rebellious King himselfe being taken Prisoner not without the losse of many thousands of the Irish The Welsh also soone after brake out againe whose Prince Lewelin in reuenge of those Welshmens heads which Hubert de Burgh had cruelly caused to bee strucken off in cold bloud and presented to the King had burnt certaine Churches and Gentlewomen in them for which at Oxford in the presence of the King all the Nobility and Clergy hee was solemnly excommunicated and the King there gathering a great Army in person went to represse the Welsh though not without losse 29 Another Garboyle thereafter no lesse disturbed the whole land the Insolency of the Romans who were charged to haue wrought innumerable confusions and infinite grieuances to the King his Kingdome Peeres and People stirring vp multitudes through the Land by a common consent to seeke by force to shake off the importable yoke of their oppressions It was alleadged by these reformers that they had vnder hand the Kings Letters Patents the Lord Chiefe Iustices assent the Bishop of Londons countenance and the Shiriffes aide in sundry Shires wherby the armed troupes took heart euery where violently to seize on the Romanes Corne and their other wealth which booties they imployed to good purposes and for reliefe of the poore the Romans the while hiding their heades for feare of loosing them And though the King on the Popes complaint thereof seemed to mislike the outrage yet had the King himselfe no lesse cause to bee moued with the insolency of the Pope then were his subiects of those Popelings For that very time the See of Canterbury being void Ralph Neuill Bishop of Norwich was elected by the Monkes and gladly approued by the King whose most faithfull Chancelour hee was an vnshaken pillar of truth doing right to all without delayes especially to the poore without declining to the right hand or the left But the Pope being told he was a Royalist and one that would ioine with the King and whole Kingdome who now all strugled to shake off the Popes seruitude and would to the death sticke to that law and those Appeales which Stephen Langton solemnly before the Altar in Saint Paules Church vrged against King Iohns submission to the See of Rome his Election as being a person very dangerous was presently pronounced void Whereupon the Monkes choose a second and him the Pope misliked for beeing too old and soft spirited then a third was elected a man of eminent learning a Student in the Vniuersity of Oxford and him also the Pope reiected neuer resting till they had chosen Edmund of Abington a man more pleasing to the Romane palate But the King seeing the Great Emperour Fredericke euen this very time whiles hee was winning the Kingdom of Ierusalem from Infidels so Turkishly in his absence deposed from his owne Empire by the Pope vpon a priuate spleene no maruaile if in this his vnripe age and distracted gouernment hee feared to draw on himselfe by any opposition so mercilesse an enemy So that for the time these indignities were winked at in these parts in France also by the wisedome of Queen Blanch and mediation of the Archbishoppe of Reims and Philip Earle of Bollein of one part and the Earles of Britaine and Chester on the other a three yeeres cessation from mutuall hostilities was ratified by oath betweene the French and English 30 Hubert de Burgh Earle of Kent Chiefe Iusticiar of England hauing with few rubbes hitherto enioyed the most inward loue and fauour aswell of this King as of King Iohn seemes now to haue run the Stage of his best fortunes For the King vpon occasion of such inrodes and spoiles as the Prince Lewelin continually made in the Marches of Wales being aduertised by Peter Bishoppe of Winchester and certaine other of the Councell once for all to giue an end to those braues and insolencies of the Welsh complained that hee was not able in regard of his wants saying that his Treasurers told him all the rents of his Exchequor would doe no more then scarce maintaine apparrell houshold and ordinary Almes-deedes This was not vnknowne to the Bishop and the rest of that faction who watched this opportunity of purpose to lift the Earle of Kent out of fauour wherefore they boldly answered the King that if he were poore hee might thanke himselfe who gaue away to others such Honours Custodies and Dignities
as were vacant alienating them from his estate that hee was onely to be called a King in name rather then for any riches which he had that his Ancestors magnificent Princes abounding in all sorts of worldly glorie and wealth heaped to themselues inestimable treasures out of no other meanes but the Rents and Profites of the Kingdom 31 The King stung with this iust reprehension beganne by their instructions to call the Sheriffes of Shires Baylifes and other his Officers to a strait account for all such receites as appertained to the Exchequor thrusting some out of their places and wringing out of all their full spunges store of coine till hee satisfied himselfe both for the arrerages and interest Out of Ralph Briton Treasurer of his Chamber hee screwzed a thousand pounds and also put him from his place into which by the Bishoppe of Winchesters suggestion who now predominated in Court hee substituted Peter de Oriuail a Poictouine the Bishoppes Nephew or Sonne if Paris say true and so saith hee the Kings coffers otherwise empty and leane were by these means stuffed againe though not to their full surfet For these were but preparatiues to a farther scrutinie and ransacke intended against the Earle of Kent whom vpon the Bishoppes suggestion the King remoued from the Proto-Iustitiarishippe or high office of his Chiefe Iustice and put in his place Sir Stephen Segraue a Knight onely in name Then is a strict and captious account demaunded of the Earle of Kent for all such things as he was in any sort chargeable with as 1. For such receipts or debts as were due to King Iohn or to this King Henry himselfe 2. For the meane profites of such lands as the King was seised of from the day of the death of the first great William Earle of Pembroke his Iustitiar and Marshall whither those lands were in England Wales Ireland or Poictou 3. For such Liberties or free Customes which the King had in Forrests Warrens Counties and else where and how they were kept or alienated 4. For such things as the King lost by Huberts negligence 5. For the wronges and dammages offered to the Romane and Italian Clerks and to the Popes Nuncios against the Kings will by authority of Hubert who would take no order to correct the misdoers as by vertue and nature of his place hee was obliged 6. For the many escuages comming by Carrucages gifts and presents or for the rents of Custodies belonging to the Crowne 32 To all which heades the Earle answered that hee had the Charter of the Kings Father by which hee was freed from giuing any account eyther for things passed or to come and that hee had giuen such proofe of his fidelity vnto King Iohn as he would not endure to heare him make an account Peter Bishoppe of Winchester replyed hereunto that such a Charter after the death of King Iohn had no force and therefore the Fathers Charter and graunt of Priuilege was no reason why he should not stand accountant to the Sonne This defence for money dangers in this sort trauersed or auoyded they labored to draw him in for his head by charging him with sundry Articles sounding treasonable as 1. That Hubert had disswaded the Duke of Austria from matching his Daughter with the King who sought it 2. that he had hindred the King from entring vpon forrain lands to him belonging whereby the King Peeres and People consumed their Treasures vainely 3. that hee had enticed the Daughter of the King of Scots whom King Iohn had entrusted to his custody meaning himselfe to marry her traiterously defiled the noble yong Lady whom he married in hope to bee King of Scotland in her right if shee suruiued her Brother 4. that hee had stolne out of his Iewel-house a precious stone of wonderfull value whose vertue was to make him who had it inuincible in Battle that he gaue that stone to Lewelin prince of Wales the Kings enemie 5. that he by his letters had caused Lewelin to hang William de Breuse 33 The Earle much preplexed with these accusations whither true or false could hardly obtaine a short respite to make his answere Thus that Hubert say the Monkes who for loue of the King and defence of the Kingdome had prouoked the hatred of all the great Lords now being forsaken of the King is left sole and solitarie without friends or comfort Onely Luke Archbishoppe of Dublin neuer fosooke him but with prayers and teares besought the King on his behalfe but could not bee heard against so great opposites on so great pretenses When the cry was thus vp and that the world saw it was no superficiall displeasure into which the Earle was faln with the mutable King there rise forth many accusations sauouring of much malignity round about vpon hope to oppresse bury Hubert vnder them for euer as 1. that he had poisoned the two noble Earles of Salisbury and Pembroke 2. that hee had also procured Falcasius de Brent and Richard Archbishop of Canterbury to be made away 3. that by Sorceries and Enchantments hee had drawne the King to fauour him aboue all other 4. that in the victory gotten against the French by Sea hee forceably tooke many Prisoners from the Kings Sailers and made his benefite of their ransoms contrary to right and that hee had spoiled and disinherited many 5. that hee had without triall vniustly put to death Constantine for which excesse the Citizens of London required iustice against the said Hubert The King hereupon makes Proclamation through the City that all such as could charge Hubert with any wrong should repaire to Court and there receiue immediate redresse This strange course of proceeding did so appale and terrifie the Earle that hee forthwith fled to the Priorie Church of Merton in Surrey where among the Chanons hee sheltered his head for a time 34 The King with his Prelates and Peeres meeting at Lambeth at the day appointed for Huberts answere hee being made to beleeue that the King would put him to a most soule death durst not appeare or peepe forth of his sacred refuge The Londoners were assembled in Armes by the Kinges commaund to the number of about twenty thousand vnder banners displayed to dragge the Earle out of Sanctuary but vpon the Earle of Chesters wiser Counsell the prey was taken out of the hands of a bloudy multitude who mortally hated him for Constantines death and they returned againe to their City The Archbishoppe of Dublin still performing the office of a true friend ouerslips not this occasion and by his importunity obtayned day for Hubert till about Twelfe-tide then next ensuing and the King for his assurance during the Interim giues him letters Patents Hubert thinking himselfe secure for the present is now vpon his way toward his wife at the Abbey of Saint Edmund in Suffolke but his enemies so preuailed by their suggestions
strike aside to Grosmont Castle where the Earle with his Confederats and the power of Wales so awaited their time that assailing the Kings Campe vnawares there were taken about fiue hundreth horse with the Sumpters riches and carriages of the Armie vpon which losse his men also greatly scattered the King leauing two noble Gentlemen with the Poictouins to make good the Marches against the Welsh returned more empty and inglorious then before The Earle found them worke whom the King had left behind and as hee was a man of no lesse courage then deepe witte whereas Baldwin de Gisnes the valiant Flemish knight with a thousand Horsemen thought to haue surprized him who hauing but a tenth part of that number came to view the Castle of Monmouth the Earle alone defended himselfe against twelue of his enemies and when his horse was cowardly slaine by them he pitcht one of them by the legge out of the Saddle and leapt into it himselfe neuer giuing ground till his Arruie came to the rescue and obtained a faire victorie with the slaughter and captiuation of many Poictouines and others His other exploits in and about Wales were not few nor vnfortunate if it were not onely in this as what indeed could be more grieuous or vnglorious to a noble mind for that his Soueraigne was vpon the contrary side 42 The King about this time to strengthen his life and State with the prayers of Beneficiaries and other deuoted affections founded the house of Conuerts where such as forsooke the Iudaicall Superstitions had prouisions for maintenance vnder a sober rule and ruler he also erected and endowed a famous Hospitall at Oxfâ—…rd both for the entertainement of Forrainers and Pilgrimes who thither much frequented and for reliefe also of such as were diseased So that Leoline Prince of Wales the Earles chiefe Confederate when hee was threatned sore if hee would not liue in quiet did not speake more magnificently of charity then honourably of the King I more feare quoth hee the Almesdeedes which the King dooth then all the men of warre which hee hath and the whole Clergy put together 43 The Earle Marshall encreasing in strength and hatred against such as were the Kings reputed Seducers makes spoile and booty on their possessions and ioyning with the power of Leoline puts all to fire and sword as farre as Shrewsburie part whereof they burnt to Ashes and sackt the residue The King then at Gloster for want of sufficient Forces departed thence greatly grieued to Winchester abandoning those other parts as it were to wast and ruine It therefore seemes that he was not growne stronger or richer by the displacing of Hubert Earle of Kent and the rest and by taking new into their roomes who commonly bite and sucke hard till they haue glutted themselues if at leastwise there be any satietie in auarice whereas the old officers hauing prouided in a sort for the maine chance haue the lesse reason to be grieuous 44 Therefore the Lions skin not being large enough for the Bishoppe of Winchester and his factious purposes they piece them out with the Foxes case an ineuitable stratageme is deuised The Earle Marshall had in Ireland all the ample Patrimonies of his Grandfather the famous Strangbow To make that member of his strengthes improfitable if not also pernicious they deuise certain letters directed to Maurice Fitz-Gerald Deputie Iustice of Ireland and other principall men who held of the Earle In them they signifie that Richard once Marshall to the King of England was for manifest treason by the iudgement of the Kings Court banished the Realme his Lands townes and Tenements consumed with fire other his Hereditaments destroyed and himselfe for euer disinherited that if vpon his comming thither they did take him either aliue or dead the King did giue them all the Earles lands there which now were forfeited by vertue of his Attainture and for assurance that the said gift should continue firme and good they by whose aduise the King and Kingdome were gouerned faithfully vndertooke To these letters which the Monkes call bloudy they caused the King to set his Seale as they themselues also being eleuen did theirs vpon receite of which lines the parties signifie backe vnder the seale of secresie that if the Contents of those letters were confirmed by the Kings Letters Patents they would performe that which was desired The Letters patents bee made accordingly and hauing fraudulently gotten the Great Seale from Hugh Bishoppe of Chichester Lord Chancellour who knew not thereof they make them authentike with the impression 45 The Kings mind therefore being still exulcerated towards the Earle Marshall hee grieuously charged Alexander Bishoppe of Chester that he had too much familiarity with the Earle affirming that they sought to thrust him from his throne the Bishop to cleare himselfe from so hainous a scandall puts on his Episcopall habite and solemnly pronounceth all those accurst who did but imagine a wickednesse of so foule a nature against the Maiesty or person of the King and thereupon by the intercession of other Prelates hee was receiued into grace The King was then at Westminster where Edmund the Archbishop of Canterbury elect with other his Suffragan Bishops bewailing the estate of the kingdome present themselues before him telling him as his loyal Liegemen that the Counsell of Peter Bishop of Winchester and his Complices which now he had and vsed was not found nor safe but cruell and perillous to himselfe and his Realme First for that they hated and despised the English calling them Traitours turning the Kinges heart from the loue of his people and the hearts of the people from him as in the Earle Marshall whom being one of the worthiest men of the land by sowing false tales they draue into discontentment 2. that by the Counsell of the same Peter his Father King Iohn first lost the hearts of his people then Normandie then other lands and finally wasted all his treasure and almost England it selfe and neuer after had quiet 3. that if the Subiects had now beene handled according to Iustice and law and not by their vngodly counsels those present troubles had not hapned but the Kinges lands had remained vndestroyed his treasures vnexhausted 4. that the Kings Councell is not the Councell of Peace but of perturbation because they who cannot rise by Peace will raise themselues by the trouble and disinherison of others 5. that they had the treasure Castles Wardships and strengthes of the Kingdome in their hands which they insolently abused to the great hazard of the whole estate for that they made no conscience of an Oth Law Iustice or the Churches censures Therefore we ô King said they speake these things faithfully vnto you and in the presence both of God and man doe counsell beseech and admonish you to remoue such a Councell from about you and as it is the vsage in other Realmes gouerne
yours by the faithfull and sworne Children thereof The King in briefe answered hereunto that hee could not sodainely put off his Councell and therefore prayed a short respite till their accounts were audited Meanwhile the behauiours of the Marshalline faction hauing this backing at Court grew more and more intolerable for while the King was at Huntingdon the Lord Gilbert Basset and others set fire vpon Alekmundbury a Towne belonging to Stephen de Segraue the flames whereof were seene of the owner being then with the King at Huntingdon They also tooke prisoners vpon the Welsh Marches and according to the Law of VVarre which saith one is lawlesse did put them to their ransomes 46 Nothing had hitherto preserued the King more then that hee could without great griefe forgoe any fauourites if hee were neerely pressed the contrary quality whereof hath beene the cause of finall desolation to so many Princes For albeit the choice of Counsellors ought to bee free yet by common intendment they should bee good or howsoeuer they are or are not it is madnesse to hazard a Crowne or leese the loue of an whole Nation rather then to relinquish or diminish a particular dependant The rights of amity ought neuerthelesse to remaine inuiolable but in such distance that the publike be not peruerted nor interuerted for a priuate The King therefore in this point not vnfortunate commaunded Bishop Peter to betake himselfe to his residence at VVinton without once medling in affaires of State but against Peter Riuallis his Treasurer hee was so vehement that he sware hee would plucke out his eyes were it not for reuerence of holy Orders commaunding also their Poictouines to depart the Realme neuer to see his face more 47 Then are the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Bishops of Chester and Rochester sent into Wales to pacifie things there But the inuincible Earle Marshall had now crost the Seas into Ireland to take reuenge for the spoiles and disseisures which his hired enemies had made in his lands there by whose plots according to that secret agreement hee was finally taken and died of a wound giuen him in the backe as hee with admirable manhood defended himselfe His Body was buried in Kilkennie which pleasantly-situated Towne our Soueraigne King Iames erected into a City where himselfe in his life had appointed in the Oratorie of the Minorites in which Town as yet some small tokens of this great name are remaining for in the East window of the Abbey-Church of S. Iohn Baptist and in the Abbey of S. Dominicke the ancient Armories of Marshal Lord of Kilkenny are yet extant The Patrimony of this Earle was shared by the Contractors according to the purport of the Letters patents but when the King heard of his death hee to the wonder of all that were by brake forth into teares bewailing the losse of so braue a Knight affirming that he had left no Peere behind him in the Kingdome A blessed King saith Paris to loue euen those who had offended him 48 The Archbishoppe of Canterbury with the other Bishoppes repaired to the King at Glocester vpon their returne from Leoline Prince of Wales who pretended hee could not conclude till the King had receiued into grace such of the banished Nobility with whom himselfe had beene confederated during the late displeasures The King hereupon moued with Pittie sends forth his Proclamations that all such as were outlawed or proscribed should bee at Gloucester vpon a certaine day there to be receiued into the Kings fauour againe and to haue restitution of their inheritances but lest they might suspect any euill measure it was ordered that they should bee in the Churches protection and come vnder the safe-conduct of the Archbishoppe and the other Prelates Thither at the time and place limited doth Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent and lately chiefe Iusticiar of England repaire vpon whom by mediation of the Bishops the compassionate King looks gratiously receiuing him in his Armes with the kisse of peace in like sort was the Lord Gilbert Basset and all others of that fellowshippe receiued into fauour their seuerall liuings and rights fully restored and both Hubert and Basset admitted to bee of his Councell And that nothing might bee wanting to make the ioy vniuersall Gilbert Brother to the late Earle Marshall had the whole Earldome conferred vpon him with all the lands and rights thereof wheresoeuer notwithstanding the foresaid treacherous conueyance whom also the King made Knight at VVorcester and deliuered into his hands the Rod of the Marshalship according to the custom Howbeit in all these points the King may seeme but to haue temporized as thereto driuen by ouer-bearing inducements or else greatly afterward to haue changed his iudgement because hee openly at one time called the said Richard a bloudy Traitour and caused this Gilbert to bee forcibly kept out of the Court vpon a Christmas day 49 Vpon this reconcilement the practise by which the late great Marshall was destroyed and his possessions dismembred came to light the copy of the letters which had beene sent into Ireland being by commandement of the Archbishoppe of Canterbury openly read in the presence of the King the Prelates Earles and Barons It moued teares in all of them the King with an Oath affirming that hee knew not the contents of the said letters though by the vrging of the Bishoppe of Winchester Riuallis Segraue Passeleu with other of his Councell hee had caused his Seale to bee put vnto them At the sound of Summons to make their seuerall appearances the Malefactors take Sanctuary the Bishop and Peter de Riuallis in Winchester Church Segraue in Leicester Abbey Passeleu in the new Temple and others otherwhere In the end vpon the intercession of Edmund Archbishop of Canterburie who piously endeauoured to extinguish all occasions of further dissention in the Kingdome and vndertooke they should haue a lawfull triall the delinquents appeared at Westminster before the King who sate in person with his Iusticiars vpon the Bench. Peter de Riuallis was first called for the Bishop came not whom the King shot through with an angrie eye saying O thou Traitour by thy wicked aduise I was drawne to set my Seale to these treacherous letters for the destruction of the Earle Marshall the Contents whereof were to mee vnknowne and by thine and such like counsell I banished my naturall Subiects and turned their minds and hearts from me By thy bad counsel thy Complices I was moued to make warre vpon them to my irreparable losse and the dishonour of my Realme in which enterprize I wasted my treasure and lost many worthie persons together with much of my royall respect Therefore I exact of thee an account aswell of my treasure as of the custodies of Wardes together with many other profites and escheates belonging to my Crowne Peter denying none of the accusations but falling to the ground thus
killing the King About the time of the Kings danger at Woodstocke the Legate was in very little better case at Oxford where being at first honourably by the Vniuersity entertained in Ousney Abbey the pride of his Romans there proued so intollerable that a troupe of the yonger Students prouoked therewith to arme themselues not onely slew the Legates owne brother but would haue done the like with the Legate himselfe whom they termed an Vsurer Symonist Rentraker Money-thirster peruerter of the King subuerter of the Kingdome enriching strangers with spoiles of the English but hee lurking in the Belfrey at midnight escaped ouer the riuer not without danger of drowning and fled to the King for his protection For which outrage the King sending the Earle of Warren with an armed band imprisoned about 30. of the offenders and the Legate interdicted the Vniuersity till all the Bishops of England purposely meeting in a Synode pleaded for the Vniuersity as being the second of Christendome to whose importunity the proud Legate would not condiscend vnlesse all the Bishops would yeeld to goe on foot with the Students from Paules Church to the Legates house which was about a mile who there vngowned and vnshod should humbly craue absolution which accordingly they performed 60 The Legate was not long after called home by the Pope vpon notice of the scandall daylie giuen in England by the vnsatiable auarice of the Romanes but by the earnest workings of the King who feared lest his great ones would rise against him hee was detained as a necessary euill to establish the good of Peace For it was in a manner taken vp for a fashion among the Lords to glorifie themselues with the senselesse multitude by seditiously disparaging and taxing the Kings discretion and gouernment being farre too gentle and amiable for spirites so peruerse and insolent which might well force his louing nature to seeke kindnesse and aduise among strangers seeing he could not haue it for any his deserts among the home-borne A great reason why perhaps he did some few things rashly and passionately enough it being a thing forceable to distemper a very wise man to haue so many imperious censors to obserue his actions and few to humble their abilities to obsequious seruices all bearing themselues rather like Tutors or Controllers then like Subiects or Counsellors About which time one William an ordinary Calumniator and accuser of great men to the King was for that impious practise condemned to die though hee sought to peece out his dayes by the helpe of new appeachments and false criminations but that being discouered he was hanged vpon a Gibbet in London Now also the King beganne to smell out the vndirect and false dealing of his beloued Legate whose familiar friend Peter Saracen being taken Captiue by the Emperour and to pay 10000 l. Sterling for his ransome the shamelesse Legate counselled the king to bind himselfe and his Crown for that payment Wherby the King perceiuing what toiles were laid to entrap him the Romanes not caring what losse happened to the Kingdome so they might be gainers wore in great rage that it repented him he had euer admitted the Legate into the land to dissipate the wealth thereof But the Bishoppes of the land meeting in Councell at London to redresse the oppressions of the English Church tolde the Legate flatly that the Romanes importunity had so long exhausted their Church-goods that they would no longer endure it These English repentances seeme somewhat too late but that prouidence which the King of Scotland soone after vsed was as more tempestiue so more commendable when meeting the same Legate for now into Scotland he is going to gather coine he denied him entrance into his Kingdome telling him he was the first Legate which euer entred that Kingdome yet by intreatie to saue the Legates credite hee was permitted first making a declaration that his entrance should neuer goe for a President of any after whereto the Legate should put his Seale at his departure but hauing gotten what hee came for he sodainly stole away without leaue of the King and carried his writing with him By all which vile and indigne vsages a man might thinke the Church of Rome did purposely striue to draw the hatred of all nations against her especially sith as we shewed the Greekes were fallen from the Romane vnion so now the Church of Antioch had both excommunicated the Pope the Church and Court of Rome and challenged the Primacie aboue the Pope and the Romane Church as being an ancienter See wherin S. Peter first sate Bishoppe for seuen yeeres and more excellent and deare sith there Peter liued with loue and reuerence whereas both he and Saint Paul were continually persecuted in Rome which Church was now also defiled with Simonie Vsurie Auarice and other hainous offences 61 But doubtlesse it was worthy of reproofe in the King that after so manifold trials of faith and constancy in Hubert Earle of Kent hee should now againe afflict his honourable old-age with reuiuall of accusations when hee rather ought to haue tendred him as a Father Among other the Articles engines of vexation which the King bent against him these were 3. new ones by which any reasonable man may take a scantling of the rest 1 That Hubert had taken the money out of the barrels which were sent for the reliefe of Rochel and Poictou and stuffed them with sand 2. That to dissuade a great Lady from marriage with the King he had said the King was a squint-eyd foole a lewd man and a kind of leper deceitful periured more faint-hearted then a woman only terrible to his owne friends and vtterly vnfit for any faire or noble Ladies company 3. That at Wodstocke when the King was alone he rusht in with a naked knife to murder him Which and many other accusations the Earle did modestly and cleerely refute But with the last being most wicked of all he was so greeued that making low obeisance to the King he could not forbeare to say that hee was neuer traitor to his father nor to him which by Gods grace did wel appeare in the King as if he should haue said quoth Paris That if the Earle would haue beene a Traitor the King had neuer obtained the Crowne This seemes to haue beene a publike triall vpon a Suit or Action of trespasse brought against the Earle by the King in the Kings Bench at which triall the King himselfe was also present But howsoeuer the Earle answered hee was condemned to giue to the King foure his dearest Castles Blanch Castle Grosmount in Wales Skenefrith and Hafeld and then also as it seemes hee was depriued of his Title of Earle 62 After so many mischiefes patiently brooked at last the King vpon receipt of letters from the Emperour whom as his brother in law hee was loth to offend commanded Otho the Popes Legate
in regard of the great enmities betweene the Pope and Emperour to depart out of England There was also strait commandement giuen to the Italian Vsurers to leaue the most pure earth of his Realme meaning that his owne people was most innocent and free from such a sinne but saith one who durst write any thing hee thought by giuing the King money which is too much vsed to iustifie the wicked they for a great part remained still as loth to forsake such fat pastures And the Legat himselfe also staied so long till the Pope by wily inducements and forged calumniations had drawne the King both to relinquish the Emperour his brother in law and to suffer the Papall Excommunication to passe here against him and money also to be gathered to his impeachment A briefe taste of all the Popes proceedings against this glorious Emperour we may take from the Nobilitie of France who when the Pope offered the Empire vnto Robert the French Kings brother in their grand Councell refused to accept it charging the Pope with the Spirit of audacious rashnesse for deposing the Emperour not conuicted of any fault and whom a Generall Councell onely ought to censure not the Pope to whom no credit ought to be giuen being his Capital Enemie For that themselues knew he was a vertuous and victorious Emperor and one who had in him more religion then the Pope had Our Legat Ottho who now at length is gone was no sooner departed but Peter of Sauoy the Queens Vncle arriued to whō the King gaue the Earldome of Richmōd and entertained otherwise most magnificently This and the like largesse to strangers drew on the King much euill will who also in fauour of his Queene procured her Vncle Bonifacius to be chosen Archbishop of Canterbury in place of Edmunde who weary of his life in England by reason that he could not redresse the Popes detestable exactions and oppressions made choise of a voluntarie Exile at Pountney in France where he died with the honour and opinion of a Saint 63 The Kings imploiments hitherto haue almost wholly been taken vp either in the impatiencie of ciuill disturbations or in the too-patient sufferance of some forraine greeuances nourished within his Kingdome which gaue him perhaps little leasure minde or meanes to pursue any transmarine designe But now better prouided with money then with men and yet not sufficiently with money he takes shippe immediatly after Easter towards Poictou where the Earle of March now husband to Queene Isabell his mother expected his arriuall Hee committed the Gouernment of the Realme in his absence to the Archbishoppe of Yorke Thirtie Hogsheads or Barrels fraught with sterling money were shipt for that seruice There also went with him Richard Earle of Cornwall who was returned with much honour out of the Holy-land not long before and seauen other Earles with about three hundreth Knights besides other souldiers To resist the English the King of France who had giuen Poictou to his brother Alfonse assembled an Armie royall of foure thousand men of Armes excellently wel appointed and about twenty thousand choise Souldiers with a thousand Carts to carrie their other necessaries King Henrie vnderstanding that the King of France lay before Frontenay a Castle belonging to the Earle of March seeking to force it by assaults sent a messenger of defiance to him as a breaker of Truce Lewis a most iust and valiant P◅ince denied that euer hee brake the truce but that the King of England by ma◅ntenance of his Rebe◅s did rather seeme to i◅ringe the Peace Neuerthelesse hee offered so as the English would not protect his enemies the Earle of March and others to giue him Poictou and a great part of Normandy in satisfaction of his Fathers Oath and moreouer to enlarge the last truce with a longer terme of yeeres These so honourable safe and profitable conditions by the practise of the Poictouines who feared the French Kings indignation would proue too heauie for them to beare if the English abandoned their cause were vnfortunately refused 64 When the French King heard hereof it repented him that he had humbled himselfe so farre telling his Lords that he neither feared his Cosen of England nor all his forces but onely that Oath for restoring of the lands in France which his father made when hee was in England This scruple did so trouble the Kings mind on the behalfe of his dead Father that hee would admit no comfort till one of his Lords told him that the King of England by putting Constantine Fitz-Arnold to death for hauing spoken some words in honour of King Lewis his Father had first broken the truce This satisfied the French That whole businesse is thus concluded by Tilius Hugh Earle of March ouercome with the pride and perswasions of his wife ◅sabel would not doe homage to Alfonse the French Kings brother for shee was a cause to draw the English thither where things thriuing on his part but meanely Hugh is constrained in the end to doe both homage and fealty vnto Alfonse This onely must be added that he did vnfaithfully prouide for his priuate safety without the knowledge of the King of England at such time as he pretended otherwise 65 This treacherie lost the King all Poictou for whereas he principally tooke care for money presuming vpon the Earle for men when it came to the point the Earle was not onely not prouided but sware by the throat of God he neuer promised any such matter and denied he had set his Seale to any writing concerning such promises and that if any such sealed writing were as the King and his brother the Earle of Cornwall affirmed their mother his wife had forged it They were now in sight of the French Host before Tailbourg in Xainctoing when this improuident expostulation was made The King of England manifestly seeing his perill and hauing by his brother Earle Richards mediation whom many of the French did greatly honour because he had by composition been a meane at his arriuall to free them from the Saracens in the holy-land raised his camp by night and retreated with much more hast then good speed Not long after this the faire Citie of Xainctes in Xainctoing vpon displeasure conceiued by the Cittizens against the King because he had giuen the same to the Lord Hugh his halfe-brother sonne to the Earle of March first contriued a perfidious reuolt so closelie that if first the said Lord Hugh and then Guy de Lusinian his elder brother had not in good time signified the danger the King and all the English had been surprized by the French There was none among all the mutable Poictouins found respectiue of honor and loyaltie but onely one called Hertold Captaine of the famous Castle of Mirabell who in great sorrow repaired to the King of England praying counsell and assistance where the King with a downecast looke gaue
him this answere Thou dost see ô Hertold that my forces are scarce sufficient to defend my selfe Our Lord and Sauiour was betraied by his Disciple Iudas and therefore who shall be safe Behold the Earle of March whom I tooke and reuerenced as my Father hath giuen a pernicious president I haue trusted in a staffe of reed and the splinters thereof haue wounded my hand Thou art the only man who hast behaued thy selfe honestly whatsoeuer therefore thou doest tossesse of mine by any iust title take it to thee as thine owne I giue it thee Prouide other want could make him forget his magnificence and bountie hee caused the East-part of the great Church at Westminster to bee taken downe and by aduise of expert Workmen newly to bee builded and ioyned to the West The effect of the Kings expedition into Wales was that after he had fortified the Castle of Gannocke in North-Wales vpon the passage into Anglesey and by the Irishmen wasted that fertile Iland hee was himselfe enforced by sharpenesse of the weather and for want of victuals to returne about the end of October hauing taken all courses hee could to sterue the Welsh forbidding the Irish vpon pain of death to bring any reliefe into Wales and left that they of Cheshire or the neighbour parts should giue them any succour hee so spoiled them of all their prouisions that they were scarse able to feed themselues and if the Welsh compelled by famine ventred out of their strengthes or fastnesses in or about Snowdon the Garrison Souldiers of Gannocke were ready to intercept and kill them and on the other side the Lords of Brumfield and Powys though Welshmen held with the King so that they were miserably straitned The King pawnd his Iewels to his brother Richard at this iourney for 3000. Markes which holpe to piece out the charge thereof Paris hath a long list of great names which dying about this time left neither name nor issue to preserue the memory of their Greatnes but none so strange as of the Marshals fiue brethren of them successiuely Earles of Pembroke and all dying issulesse which he attributeth to the iudgement of God for the iniquity of their Father and of themselues who would neuer restore certaine Manours which their Father in warre-time had taken in Ireland from the Bishoppe of Ferus an holy Irish man who often required restitution and for want thereof did put them vnder Gods curse and his One doth indeed obserue that the Irish Saints are vindicatiue but certainely the examples of punishments for Sacrilege and violent extortions are terrible in holy Scripture and most fearefull was the sentence it selfe which Gods Prophet pronounced against Ahab for Naboths vineyard agreeing with the very plague which this yeare fell vpon the house of Marshall 72 The Popes furie was now so much inflamed against King Henry and the English for so disgracing him publikely in the Generall Councell that hee vsed lofry threats if once the Emperour were quelled to tame England also and whetted on the French King to enter on the land promising him all the helpes of the Church and Papall power But the iust King not only refused so vniust an offer as hauing no title to England themselues also knit by kindred and by truce their Queenes being sisters the attempt bloody for Christians c. but further ratified the former truce and enlarged it with the addition of more yeers because King Lewis was prepared to make warre against the Infidels which voyage King Henrie would not hinder but aduance And that nothing might disturbe the peacefull life with which the King of England was most delighted Dauid Prince of Wales departed out of the vale of the dying as Paris elegantly saith into the vale of the dead The King seeing all things quiet and safe about him doth now conuert his whole cares to the reformation of the inward maladies of his dominions calling the estates of the land together for that purpose To whom he there deliuered in writing sundrie Articles of the greeuances and oppressions of his Kingdome and the Church 1. that the Pope extorts great Contributions of the Clergy without the Kings assent against â—…he rightes and liberties of the Kingdome 2. that Patrons cannot bestow Church liuings on fit men but the Pope giues them to his Romans who can speake no English â—…r celebrate diuine seruice nor preath nor keepe hospitalitie nor câ—…e for soules c. but only begger the Land with carrying away the Coine 3. that the Popes Prouisions and Pensions are vnsufferable 4. that Englishmen are dâ—…awne forth of the Land to end their causes 5. that the Pope by his non obstante ouerthrowes Oathes Customs Charters Graunts Statutes Priuiledges Rights c. whereupon the King Bishops Nobles Abbots and Priors did all write their seuerall complaints to the Pope requiring speedie redresse of those infinite wrongs to the King the Kingdome the Clergie the Nobles and the People who would rather die then thus daily endure those oppressions Notwithstanding sundry Prelates either out of ambition or feare vnderhand furthered the Popes desires when secretly he craued an annuall tallage of the Clergie for maintenance of his Souldiers and that the State should take no notice thereof the Pope caused his Agents to make them swear not to reueale this their Contribution to any man liuing for the space of halfe a yeere Yet the King came to the knowledge thereof and sent forth his writs forbidding vnder great penaltie that the money should be carried forth of the Land This the Kings displeasure was much augmented vpon the returne of his messengers from the Councell of Lyons who related how proudlie the Pope reiected the iust complaints of the State saying the King himselfe did Frederize and holding his People as Schismaticks Which incensed the King to publish his Proclamation in Euery Citie and Towne that none of his subiects should dare to contribute any money to the Pope but it came to no effect for that some Popizing Bishops and ambitious Clerks of his Councell fearing the Papall threats where no cause of feare was drew him to leaue his purpose womanly which he manfully vndertooke 73 The Bishop of Worcester a principall worker herein was said to haue had authoritie from the Pope to interdict the land which perhaps was it which the King so greatly feared and which the Monke said was not worth the fearing The Earle of Cornwall also with others who fauoured not the Emperour Fredericks cause laboured to change the Kings minde so that the wonted extortions were as current as euer insomuch that a Cardinall truely told the Pope that England was to the Pope as Balaams Asse which being so often wronged spurgalled and cudgeld it was no maruaile if at length shee opened her mouth to complaine and for themselues and their Romane Court they were like Ismael euerie mans hand against
them and theirs against euery man But if we should so often insist on the relation of this Kingdomes distresses as the popes endlesse Corrasions from yere to yeere and the States remedilesse complaints giue vs occasion wee should but cloy the Reader with rufull matter which Monks themselues haue mournefully and copiously endited vnto vs and set forth the too seruile affections of our owne Ancestors who still entred new consultations about the disease but neuer brought the medicine vnto a perfect receipt For vpon fresh angariations from Rome the King againe assembles his State to thinke of redresse the common-wealth as well of Laity as Clergie being brought to the point of vtter desolation as the like was neuer heard in any age whereof they againe made their lamentable complaint to the King whose duety it was to protect the land from such wrongs and dangers Their only remedy was againe to write letters to the Pope which slender meanes he could as slightly put off and though to stop the clamour for the present he promised neuer to send any Legats into England but on entreaty of the State yet daily did he send his raking Clerks with the power though not the Title and Ensignes of Legates both into England and Ireland so to delude the King and still purloine his Subiects 74 The State of the Kingdome still requiring reformation there assembled againe at London certaine Prelats Earles and others at the Kings commandement where after so much purloyning by others now the Kings owne errand and affaires was to get money for himselfe But they who gaue such way to the Popes collections were now all close-handed and open mouthed for besides their vndutifull vpbrayding the King with some ouer-sights they vntruly and seditiously charged him to haue done contrarie to the example of his magnificent Predecessors in that his chiefe Iustice Chancellour and Treasurer were of his owne choosing and not by the Common Councell of the Realme as they ought The King inwardly touched herewith yet seeing no other helpe promiseth redresse and change for the better Whereunto they answered that they would expect a while with patience and as the King shall carrie himselfe toward them so will they performe their ◅beysance to him So the meeting was adiourned from that Candlemas till Midsommer at which time also there was nothing done but all parts rose discontēted The cause of that discōtentment was for that the King instead of satisfying their audacious demands answered them That they sought to bridle him at their surlie pleasures proudlie forbidding that in him which was lawfull for themselues For that euerie priuate man may vse what and whose Counsell he list euerie master of a familie preferre or remoue what officers in his house he list which yet they sancily denied vnto him their Lord and Soueraigne as if Seruants and Vassals were to rule their Lords whereas indeed he is no King but a seruant who must bow at others becke That therefore he would neither place nor displace either Chancellour Iusticiar or Treasurer as they thought good Neuerthelesse hee required money at their hands to recouer such forreine lands as concerned aswell them as him to see it done Hereupon the Parliament brake vp and the King was left to furnish himselfe otherwise so well as hee could euen by sale of his Iewels Plate and other precious stuffe after a dishonourable manner 75 The affaires of Gascoign which one Guasto de Biard had greatly troubled by the manhood and wit of Simon Earle of Leicester were now brought into better quiet which made his presence being returned as it seemeth for more supplies which went againe with him very acceptable in the Court of England The King intending to furnish that enterprise afresh against the comming spring time left no meanes vnthought of which either by Art or strong entreatie he could vse to replenish his exhausted Coffers In which he embased too much the Royall name and dignity telling some and perhaps truely whose bountie he craued that it was more almes to ayde him with money then one that went begging from dore to dore Meanewhile the king neglects not his administration of Iustice for whereas the whole Countie of Hampshire swarmed with felons and murtherous robbers himselfe so ordered the matter sitting in person in Winchester Castle that the infamie and danger of those places were cleared by hanging the Offendors many of which were very wealthie and some the kings owne seruants Walter de Clifford also a Baron of the Marches of Wales for enforcing an officer whom he had otherwise handled badly to eat the kings writ waxe and all ran so farre into the kings displeasure thereby that while he liued he was made the lesse able to feed himselfe paying to the king a very great sum of money and hardlie escaping without confiscation of his whole patrimonie The king desirous to be friends with the Citizens of London to whom of late he had beene ouer-hard publikely reconciled himselfe vnto them whom for that cause he had commanded to appeare at Westminster and there immediatly receiued the badge of the Crosse at the hand of Boniface Archbishop of Canterburie but whatsoeuer his intention was it neuer came into action on his part In the meane time contrarie to his Fore-fathers example he so much abridged the expences of his house and his Almes that he vnderwent some dishonourable imputation Neuerthelesse he wisely wound himselfe out of many a Merchāts debt whereto he wrung great helps from the Iewes as the ordinary Clippers and defacers of his Coyne and the forgers of seales and Charters from one of whom hee had at times drawne thirtie thousand markes Sterling besides two hundreth markes in gold 76 It seemeth an inseparable qualitie in his nature to bee extreamly violent in doing whatsoeuer hee had a mind to doe and that sometime without the due respect to secular Maiestie as in the Course hee tooke for aduancing his halfe-brother Aethelmare to the Bishoprick of Winchester For not contenting himselfe to haue sent his messengers to the Couent by them to worke the election hee came thither in person where the Chapter being set in the Cathedrall Church hee entred and placing himselfe in the Presidents seat makes to them a speech in the nature of a Sermon taking for his Theme those words of Dauid Iustice and Peace kisse each other Whereon hee shewed them That whereas Iustice belonged to him and to such as had the rule of Nations and to the Clergy calmnesse and Peace both these should that day kisse together if they elected his brother for their Bishop For which he gaue them many reasons but concluded if they did otherwise they should feele his Princely displeasure When therefore they published to the King their Choise they did it with this reseruation because Aethelmare was to remaine vnder the title of the Elect of Winchester for that he was not a
money vpon promise that the Liberties therein contained should be faithfully obserued you haue not kept but without regard to honour or conscience broken Therefore are you found to be a manifest violator of your faith and oath For where are the Liberties of England so often fairely engrost in writing so often granted so often bought I therfore though a woman and all the naturall loyall people of the Land appeale against you to the Tribunal of the fearefull Iudge and Heauen and Earth shall beare vs witnesse that wee are vsed vniustly and God the Lord of reuenges right vs. The King abashed at these words asked her if shee did not looke to obtaine her suite vpon fauour in regard shee was his Kinswoman whereunto shee answered That seeing hee had deniâ—…d that which the Law gaue how could shee hope to obtain her suit by fauour Therefore said shee I doe appeale to the presence of Christ against also those your Councellors who bewitch and dull your iudgement and draw you out of the path of truth gaping onely after their own commodity But the King saith Paris remained incorrigible and the Lady lost both her charges hopes and trauell 82 Thus harsh were the former yeeres to the King and Kingdome let vs see what more gentle or rougher accidents rise vnto vs in the next But it then the first little better appeares for the King hauing bought out the time which Simon de Montfort had in the gouernment of Gascoigne which now he giues to Prince Edward was truely aduertised that Guasto de Biard was turned Spanish and labored by all the meanes hee could to plucke that part from the English obedience Alfonse K. of Spaine claimed the same by vertue of a Charter made therof by Henry the second confirmed by Richard and Iohn Kings of England Simon Earle of Leicester thus displaced to let the world see that hee would not for any preferment incurre the suspition of disloialty refused most honorable offers which after the death of Lady Blanch Queene Dowager and Rectrix of France the French Nobility made him if he would with his counsell and Force helpe to sustaine that Monarchie while Lewis their king was absent In the meane time the king of England all old matters being buried in obliuion vpon hope of future amendment for aduancement of his martiall Pilgrimage had large aides granted him in Parliament but vpon condition that hee should now at last once for all submit himselfe to gouerne by a Law not at his pleasure confirming the Charters of Liberties against the breakers whereof a most solemne curse was pronounced by the kings assent The Archbishoppe Bishoppe and the rest of the Prelates pontifically apparelled pronounced that curse with Tapers burning which when they had throwne away vpon the pauement where they lay extinguished and smoking the King hauing laid his hand on his breast all the while sware to keepe all Liberties vpon pain of that execratory sentence as he was a Man a Christian a Knight and a King annointed and crowned The businesses of Gascoigne soone after called him to a neerer warre whether vpon his promise made to the Gascoigns he set saile leauing his sonne Prince Edward and his kingdome to the gouernment of his Brother the Earle of Cornwall and the Queene his wife his arriuall there giuing a light and stay to all the affaires therof Such Holds as held against him hee reduced to obedience but with too faulty a Clemency sparing most open Traitors whereas if an Englishman had offended he was sure to smart for it and that rather more then lesse 83 His feare now was lest the Gascoigns should draw in the Spaniards and relinquish his Soueraignty To preuent this hee verie prudently and seasonably sent Ambassadors to Alfonse King of Spain and Castile to desire that the Lady Elianor his sister might be giuen in marriage to Prince Edward The motion was well approued and besides that they brought Letters Patents from the King of Spaine in which among all other Clauses it was conteined that the King of Spaine did quit his claime and whole right which by vertue of any Grants from Henry Richard and Iohn Kings of England he had or ought to haue Hereupon hee sends both for his Sonne whom the king of Spaine desired might be conuaied to him onely with a noble intent to see and doe him honour and for his wife the Queene Among other Acts of sincerity and loue Alfonso sent to the King of England good aduise that after the example of good Kings and Princes he should be a Lambe toward his Subiects and Seruitourâ—… 〈◊〉 Lion to Aliens and Rebels Simon Earle of Leicester with a gallant Troupe of Souldiers offered his seruice to the King who admiring the Earles charity receiued him with all ioy possible at which reconcisiation to a better estate and to gouerne them who haue willinglie elected me for their Lord in modest iust and honourable maner These words exhaled ioyfull teares from off many of the hearers and the Ambassadors returned to deliuer the newes of this acceptance who from thenceforth was King of Romans that is Emperour elect which title is vsed till they receiue the Crowne imperiall though to all other purposes he is Emperour so that King of Romans seemes to answere to the Title of Caesar which vnder the ancient Roman Emperours was giuen to the heire apparent of the Empire or Coadiutors After the German Ambassadors were gone the King permitteth his brother to send some ouer to sound the truth of the Electors and Peoples affections which in regard the English were originally Germans and by late affinitie incorporated and for that English saith Paris was in a sort agreeable to the Almain tongue they found entire and with that certitude returne The King of England hereby seemed to haue his designes for recouery of Normandy greatlie strengthned the Almaines and French hardlie brooking one the other but howsoeuer sure it is that his brother the new King had occasion to spend the golden Oyle which was so long in gathering to maintain the light of this Imperiall lampe and without question hee might bee liberall for he was reputed to possesse so much ready coine as would euery day for tenne yeeres afforde him an hundreth marks vpon the maine stocke without reckoning his rents reuenues in Germany and the English dominions The Earl was soon after crowned King of the Romans at Aquisgraue by Conrade Archbishop of Colein with great pompe soleÌ„nity 90 In the meane time while his brothers royall preparations were in hand the King being for a weekes space at the Abbey of S. Albans certaine masters of Oxford brought a great complaint against the Bishop of Lincoln for some encroachments vpon the ancient liberties of that Vniuersitie to whom the King was gratious and assigned a day Matthew Paris whom the King in honor of his learned paines admitted euery
odious Hugh Bigod brother to the Earle Marshall was made chiefe Iustitiar The people seemed wholy theirs which made the Barons so rough and peremptory in all their conferences that when the Lord Henrie sonne to the King of Almain refused to combine or take their oath without his Fathers consent they roundly bad him know That if his father himselfe would not hold with the Baronage of England he should not haue a furrowre of earth among them And least anie thing which might tend to their securitie should seeme to be omitted they vsing the Kings name commanded London to stand vpon her guard by keeping their Cities gates carefully shut by maintaining strong watches night by night vpon pretence of danger to the Realme through the practises of strangers and after they dispatched thither certaine fit Agents who in the Guilde-hall made known their commission which was directly to vnderstand whether they would iâ—…utably adhere to the Barons and obey their constitutions by manfully aiding and effectually supplying them in the common cause Whereunto the Citizens condescended binding themselues thereunto vnder the publike seale of London 94 The Barons did as yet forbeare to declare what those reformatorie Prouisions should be because the Earle of Gloucester a principall man among them was in danger of death whose sicknesse did perplex suspend their proceedings the maner of his maladie did put them in doubt of their owne safeties making them grow in distrust of their Cooks their butlers and sewers for the Earle his body breaking out into pustules and his haire nailes teeth and skinne it selfe falling away was as many others of which some died thought to be poisoned But whither they were or no the Poictouines and strangers had the blame laid vpon them to make them the more odious to the Commons But the Earle partly recouered his health in time by the benefit of medicines and diligent attendance The poisons were said to haue beene tempered in the house of Elias a Iew afterward baptized The King himselfe perhaps would not haue beene sorry if that he Simon Earle of Leicester and some few others of the Barons had beene with God for howsoeuer his body was among them yet his heart was not at quiet which in this wise well appeared For being in the moneth of Iune vpon the riuer of Thames in his barge the aier sodeinly grew darke and there ensued a terrible shower with thunder and lightning of which the king impatient commands himselfe to be set on land at the next place which was Durham house whereas then the Earle of Leicester lay The Earle being thereof certified came out to entertaine him saying Sir why are you afraid the tempest is now past whereunto he answered with a seuere looke I feare thunder and lightning aboue measure but by the head of God I doe more feare thee then all the thunder and lightning of the world Whereunto the Earle replied My liege it is iniurious and incredible that you should stand in feare of me who haue alwaies beene loyall both to you and your Realme whereas you ought to feare your enemies such as destroy the Realme and abuse you with bad Counsels The Barons therefore remaining firme in their first purpose send messengers abroad to will all such as had beene wronged by the Kings halfe-brothers and other Poictouines and strangers to present their greeuances to the Barons and to prosecute them Moreouer because sundry other petty-tyrants of the English nation encouraged by their example had exceeded their limits in oppressing their inferiours they procured the King to appoint foure Knights Commissioners in euerie shire to enquire of all such iniuries and certifie the same vnder their seales within a certaine time limitted 95 The Barons in the meane time neglect not their enterprize at whose instance principally of Hugh Bigod the new chiefe Iustitiar Philip Louel the Kings Treasurer for abuses committed in the Kings Forrests and game about Stony-Stratford and many Officers of the Exchecquer were likewise remoued to giue roome to such as the Barons better liked The Sherifs likewise of Shires their practises and extortions were diligentlie seene into and it was ordeined that as well the giuers as takers of bribes should be seuerely punisht The welsh seeing these â—…und proceedings in England the peace reflorishment whereof they feared labored for reconciliation but could not then obteine it 96 Richard King of Romans hauing a desire to see the King his brother and his lands in England not without a purpose to bring an Armie or such a number of men as might greatly strengthen the King against the Barons as they suspected was aduertised that they prouided for his resistance aswell by land as sea This made him his wife and sonne to lay aside that purpose and to arriue in a priuate maner at Douer with a small traine in which there were onely two Earles and about nine Knights The king met him with great congratulation at the Sea side but nor King nor hee could bee suffered to enter into Douer Castle because forsooth it was the principall Key of England for the safegard whereof they openly exacted an Oath of him at Canterburie in this manner The holy Gospels being laide vpon the Pulpet in the Chapter-house of Canterbury the Barons reuerently brought in thither the Kings of England and of Almaine then Richard Earle of Glocester for Simon Earle of Leicester was gone with others into France to deale with the King and States thereof about a perpetuall league standing in the midst openly and in humble sort cals Richard King of Romans vnto him by the name onely of Richard Earle of Cornwall who obeyed accordingly to whom hee distinctly ministred the Oath following Heare all men that I Richard Earle of Cornwall sweare vpon the holy Gospels to bee faithfull and forward to reforme with you the Kingdome of England hitherto by the counsell of wicked men too much deformed And I will be an effectuall Coadiutor to expell the Rebels and troubles of the Realme from out the same This oath will I obserue vpon paine to forfeit all the lands I haue in England On the other side had the King known how to vse it there fell out such dissention between the Earles of Gloucester and Leicester that Leicester departed from England discontented saying he tooke no ioy to liue among men so mutable and deceitfull Neuerthelesse such meanes were vsed that these two chiefe Captaines of the Barons brake not forth into any farther diuision Thus whiles the Barons vsing the Kings name disposed of all things and Simon de Montfort Earle of Leicester was gone with others to transact with the French about an indissoluble league the King himselfe through desire not to be interrupted with forraine matters if warre should rise at home or through want of money or better aduise was induced if not betrayed to an act of little honour though it carried with it the
Berwicke hauing with him the said twenty foure Assessors as it were a iury of either nation and with the good will and assent of the Scottish Lords gaue solemne iudgement with Baliol as being descended of the eldest daughter of Dauid Earle of Huntington a yonger sonne of Scotland whose issue the line of the elder brother being extinct was to inherite without question But the strife being betweene the descendents of the said Dauid of which the Lord Robert Bruce was also a principall reasons of importance were produced which drew many mens iudgements to incline to him as hauing a neerer interest to that Crowne But according to the sentence Baliol was solemnly crowned King of Scotland vpon S. Andrews day and in Christmas following repaired to King Edward at Newcastle vpon Tyne and there against the minds of many Scots did homage vnto him for the whole Kingdome of Scotland 24 Meanetime the French King pursued the reuenge of the Normans demanding restitution and citing King Edward iudicially to appeare to answere such wrongs as were done in Aquitaine who desirous to settle his owne affaires at home or as some write eager vpon a match for himselfe in France while he discouered either his vnwillingnes to appeare in that kind or to warre suffered himselfe by a French deuise to be meerely deceiued and put out of his possession of Gascoigne to the great mischeife and disaduantage of the English whereupon K. Edward highly incensed called a Parliament at London where Iohn king of Scotland was present and had the full consent of the whole Realme to regaine that honestlie by the sword which was craftilie gotten away by a cunning trick renouncing to the French his homage for Aquitain Wales also was at the same time full of troubles but the fires of rebellion there rashly kindled were not long after quencht with the blood of the Actors and thousands of their Complices 25 Baliol hauing thus obtained the Crowne of Scotland and finding his party by the homage which he had made to King Edward much empaired among the Scots who greatly repined thereat for regaining their loues attempted a secret combination with the French against the English which Edward ignorant of and requiring him by vertue of his homage to aid him with all his powers against the King of France discouered by Baliols delaies and trauerses the said conspiracie Whereupon he aduanced forward against the Scots with a puissant armie to Newcastle vpon Tyne The first blood which was drawne was of the English of whom the Scots slew almost one thousand in a village vnder the leading of one Robert de Ros who had fled from King Edward The City of Carlile likewise was assaulted and the County of Cumberland spoiled by seuen Earles of Scotland and their companies which to Edward was not greatly displeasing as was said for that the first hostile acts were done by them whom he had a full purpose to subdue that at last he might bee sole in Albion which had not God reserued for other times we might wonder he effected not 26 King Edward therefore presented himselfe before the strong Towne of Berwick with a mighty host there to auspicate his entrance to a conquest of Scotland and after summons sent to the Towne abode one whole day without offer of violence The Townesmen refusing to render had a victory of the English Marriners who rashly entring with twentie and foure Ships into the harbour were repelled with the losse of foure of their vessels which was soone reuenged by the forceuble taking of Berwick where Hector Boetius saith there was exercised great cruelty by the English In the Towne the Flemish Merchants who were smothered by the English with fire had a very strong house in the maner of a Tower from whence they leueld at the entring of the English with darts and iauelins one of which casually slew Richard of Cornewal a gallant Gentleman brother to the Earle of Cornwal which in an army heated with former contumelies for the Scots vpon the slaughter and repulse which they had made of the English marriners published certaine rimes in derision as VVhat wenys King Edward with his Longshancks To haue wonne Berwicke all our vnthancks c. together with the remembrance of many fresh shrewd turnes might stirre vp bloody effects After the Towne was thus taken the Castle after stood not long out but rendred it selfe Sir William Dowglas captaine therof was detained prisoner and as some write Sir Robert Bruce others were suffered to depart vpon oath to beare no armes from thenceforth against the King of England The losse of this important Towne and Castle was very great for it was the key and common Bulwarke of Scotland 27 While the English at this place were busie to cast a very deepe ditch to hinder the sodeine inroades of their enemies Iohn King of Scotland sent two religious men to the King of England with letters in which alledging that he was by Oath bound to defend his owne kingdome and people he renounced his homage and fealtie as extorted by violence and void in it selfe being made without assent of the three estates of his Realme The resignation was admitted King Edward commanding his Chancellor to record the same for perpetuall memorie as a iustification of his proceedings 28 The Scots hereupon vnder the conduct of the Earles of Bucquhan Menteth Strathern Ros Athol Marr and other of their nobility made an incursion into England whence with the spoiles of two religious houses and other booties they returned But Patrick Earle of Dunbarre came to King Edwara submitting himselfe and the Castle of Dunbarre by this submission being vnder King Edwards protection was regained by Scots For recouerie or surregaining whereof the King sent Iohn Earle of Surrey and Sussex and William Earle of Warwick who were entertained with battel by the Scottish nation of whom the English after cruell fight obtained a victory of great importance the chase holding about eight miles in which the slaughter was not small The siege of Dunbarre being reinforced King Edward had it yeelded vnto him at his comming wherein were taken three Earles sixe or seuen Barons besides many knights and Esquires which were all sent prisoners to diuerse Castles of England and if some say true not put to the sword as Hector transported perhaps with hatred to Edward writes contrary to his word and faith giuen 29 King Edward knowing as well how to vse a victorie as to get it hauing a present spirit vpon all aduantages and turnes of fortune takes the Castle of Rocksbrough and for a finall end to this affaire marcheth to Edenburgh it selfe the chiefe Towne of Scotland which was shortly rendred Then tooke they Striueling also and draue Baliol to the Castle of Forfar where Iohn Comin Lord of Strabogie submitted himselfe to King Edward About this time there came
to the English campe great numbers of Welsh souldiers with whom he releeued many of the English footemen tyred with seruice sending them backe into England Thither also came the Earles of Vlster with bands of Irish. 30 The King of England prospering thus passeth with his army ouer the Scottish Sea where while he kept the feast of Saint Iohn Baptist at Perth or Saint Iohns Towne there came messengers from Baliol and the Lords his factors to sue for mercy which was granted vpon condition that they should render themselues to him as his subiects Hector Boetius saith that after this agreement wherein Anthonie Bishop of Durham was vsed Iohn Comin brought Baliol void of all kingly habiliments with a white rod in his hand to the English campe at Montros where he resigned his whole right that he either had or might haue to the Crowne of Scotland into king Edwards hands and made thereof a formall Charter in French and at the same time also for feare of life gaue his sonne Edward for hostage and assurance of his fealtie by which final disclaime the Lord Bruces right might seeme now vnquestionable But this resignation being thus made king Edward returnes to Berwick where all the Nobles of Scotland at a Parliament there holden were sworne to be loyall and true subiects to king Edward for euer after and hereof a solemne instrument was sealed by the said Lords of whom Iohn Comin of Badenaw was first bearing date at Berwick in the twentie fifth yeere of the reigne of their Souereigne Lord King Edward 31 Iohn the late King was sent to the Tower of London and there was honourably attended hauing liberty for twenty miles about The Scottish Lords were confined within Trent ouer which Riuer they might not passe toward Scotland vpon paine of life The custody of Scotland was committed to Iohn de Warrenn Earle of Surrey and Sussex and the Treasurershippe thereof to Hugh de Cressingham but William de Ormesby was ordained Iusticiar with this particular commandement that hee should take the homages and fealties of all such as held lands of the King And the more to shew his purpose vtterly to dissolue the distinct Regality of Scotland and to vnite it to the English Monarchie as hee had done Wales hee tooke out of Edinbrough the Crowne Scepter and Cloath of Estate offering them vp at Saint Edwards shrine in Westminster if the Author mistake not for at Saint Thomas at Canterbury hee offered vp Baliols Crowne saith another and besides many other Acts tending to the abolishment of the Scottish Name which Hector relates as the burning their Records abrogating their lawes altering their forms of diuine seruice and transplanting all their learnedst men thence vnto his Vniuersity of Oxford hee tooke out of the Abbey of Scene the Marble Chaire in which the Kings of Scotland were wont to bee crowned and sent the same to Westminster for Priests to sit therein at Celebration This Chaire is the same vpon which was engrauen the famous Propheticall Distichon Ni falat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Inuenient lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem If Fates goe right where ere this stone is pight The Regall race of Scots shall rule that place Which by whomsoeuer it was written we who now liue finde it happily accomplished But these great Acts of this yeere brought to the Commons of England small commodity vpon whom the charge of the warres lay heauily and it is not often found that the people gaine much by their Princes Conquests 32 The force of Scotland with a greater force being thus for the present broken who would suppose that it could once again haue lifted vp the head and that chiefly by the particular vertue of a priuate man as it after hapned which hee had the more oportunity to doe for that the King of England was diuersly diuerted by occasion of warres in Gascoigne for recouery of his owne and for aid of his friends in Flanders whom the French did afflict in hostile manner The Captaine of the reuolted troupes in Scotland was one William Wallace the sonne of Sir Andrew Wallace of Cragie Knight though some vpon hearesay write contemptibly of his course of life as of a publike robber who by the assistance of such as were outlawed for refusing to doe their homage to King Edward draue William de Ormesby the Kings Iusticiar out of Scotland Which King Edward hearing discharged Iohn Comin of Badenaw and the Earle of Bucquhan from their confinement to the entent that hee might by their endeuours the sooner settle matters but withall hee gaue Iohn de Warren Earle of Surrey commission to leuie an Army and the king loath to bee hindred from his other destinations easily yeelded to such requests as were propounded on the Scots behalfe for that time The voyage which hee had then in hand was to transport from Winchelsea an Armie to assist the Earle of Flanders his confederate 33 England at this time was not without great discontentments which Humphrey de Bohun Earle o◅ Hereford and Essex Constable of England and Roger Bigot Earle of Norfolke Marshall of England did countenance for present satisfaction whereof the King yeelded among other things to confirme Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta and that there should no Subsidie nor taxation bee leuied vpon the people without the consent of the Prelates Peeres and people But before this time and while the King was absent out of the land the Scots vnder the leading of VVilliam VVallas put to flight the Earle VVarren and all the English Forces which were with him taking them at aduantage as they were passing ouer a narrow Bridge neare vnto the Castle of Striuelin the slaughter of the English was not smal There Hugh de Cressinghām Treasurer of Scotland for King Edward feel in battell whose dead body for speciall hatred borne vnto him the Scots did flea diuiding his skinne among them The King hearing of this ouerthrow commands the Lordes of England by his letters to bee ready to assist the said Earle VVarren his Custos or Guardian of Scotland with their Forces in the Octaues of S. Hilary at Yorke and also to proclaime such of the Scottish Lords as came not thither enemies of the State but they kept themselues within Scotland and came not Whereupon the English Captains marched to the rescue of the Castle of Rocksbrough whence VVilliam VVallace fled vpon notice of their approach to raise his siege But King Edward aduertised of these accidents hauing taken a truce for two yeeres with the King of France by mediation of Bonifacius the Pope who interposed himselfe non tanquam Iudex sed amicabilis Compositor saith VValsingham not as a Iudge but as a friendly Composer made hast into England where his presence was extremely wanting but in his way home at a Towne called Ardeburg all the Scots almost which hee had brought with
can be terrified with swelling lies as if like one that had no power to compell I would let the right which I haue ouer you to slip out of my hands Let me heare no more of this for if I do I swear by the Lord I will consume all Scotland from sea to sea On the other side the Scots did boldly enough replie That in this cause they would shed their bloud for defence of iustice and their Countries liberty 40 About this time the King made his sonne Edward who was borne at Caernaruon Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester which so greatly contented the Welsh because in regard of his birth place they held him as one of theirs that when all friends did afterward forsake him as the following raigne will shew they alwayes stucke most loyally vnto him expressing wonderfull loue and affection and bewayling his heauy fortunes in wofull songs which neither the dread of his enemies nor length of time could euer make them to forget 41 But in the matter of Scotland the King not to seeme altogether to neglect the Court of Rome addressed thither the Earle of Lincolne and the Lord Hugh de Spenser with manifold complaints against the Scots and iustification of his owne proceedings how beit at the Popes request he granted them truce from Hallowmas to Whitsontide This very yeere Cassan King of Tartars gloriously slew one hundreth thousand Turkes in a battell vpon the plaine of Damascus and was baptized therupon as acknowledging the victory to come from the sonne of God the ioy wherof filled England as other the partes of Christendome 42 The iustice of the English Armes against the Scots being now againe directly impugned by the Papall letters comprehending sundry arguments on the behalfe of that Nation King Edward in a Parliament at Lincolne published their contents and by consent of the whole representatiue body of the Realme returned a copious defence of his whole proceedings with protestation first that hee did not exhibite any thing as informe of iudgement or triall of his cause but for satisfaction of his holy Fatherhoods conscience and not otherwise But whereas the Pope had required the King to stand to his decision for matter of claime hee writes that thereunto hee would make no answere as hauing left that point to the Earles and Peeres of his land who with one mind directly signifie that their King was not to answere in iudgement for any rights of the Crown of England before any Tribunall vnder Heauen and that by sending Deputies or Atturneyes to such an end hee should not make the said truth doubtfull because it manifestly tended to the disinherison of the said Crown which with the helpe of God they would resolutely and with al their force maintaine against all men So ceased that Action and the sooner also for that Bonifacius had much to doe at home by reason of some great controuersies between the French and him Meane time Sir Iohn Segraue Lord Segraue a renowned Souldier was sent Gouernour or Custos into Scotland with an Army after the Truce expired which at the French Kings instance King Edward had yeelded vnto for a time Iohn Cumin who had also beene a Competitor for the Crown was chosen by the Scots for their Gouernour 43 We may not here ouerpasse a victory at Rosselin which the Writers of that nation celebrate wherin the English were by them ouercome howbeit there is in our Writers much variety in that relation It is the saying of Hector Boetius that the English were about three for one our ancient and later authors say that the Scots had farre the more people he affirmes that it was in the plaine field ours that it was an Ambush he that the Scots did put to flight and tooke the spoiles of three whole battels in either of which were 10000. English ours that the Scots by reason of their multitudes did onely ouerbeare the Vauntgard from which the nearest of the other battels was foure miles off All agree in this that the Lord Iohn Segraue Ralfe Confrey saith Hector who had the point or voward of the English whose Generall he also was by diuiding his army into three parts for their better reliefe weakned so his whole force that thereby and his vnaduised forwardnes impatient to stay for his other powers he gaue occasion to the Scots of such a victory They had also taken the person of the said Lord Generall but Sir Robert de Neuilc who with others was at diuine seruice hearing therof came with his troups of horse rescued Segraue slew many put many to flight and brought away backe the rest of the prisoners without the losse of any one man of his owne The said Scottish Chronicle makes no mention of William Walleys at this discomfiture of the English but giues the whole glory thereof to Cumyn and to Simon Fraser whereas we attribute all to Walleys and make no mention of the other with farre lesse wrong to the immortall deserts of Walleys for he vndoubtedly was the only man who kept vp Scotland till neere the time of deliuerance 44 The Scottish Nation as Hector reports had for their warrant in conscience and iustification of resistance the Popes iudgement who vpon ripe deliberation in their matter decreed saith he that the Scots had iust action of battell in defence of their liberties against King Edward who not much esteeming the doome of that Oracle vpon the other side was perswaded hee might proceed to subdue them wholy to his dominion and therefore vpon report that the Scots were not only vp in Armes but encouraged to greater attempts by this late successe came in person with a dreadfull host piercing therewith through all Scotland from one end thereof to the other from Rocksbrough to Catnes which is the farthest point in the length of that Land being about three hundreth miles whither he marched by small iourneys not an enemie appearing with power to empeach him For they vnable to make head being so continually wasted did either for their safetie betake themselues to the woods and Mountaines with their Walleys or wholly submitted themselues swearing to be true to king Edward there being in al Scotland but one Castle the Castle of Striueling which stood out and that also vpon King Edwards returne from Catnes was absolutely surrendred to him and therefore no great cause why Hector should call King Edward false Tyrant for committing the Captaine and Garrison of that Castle to sundry Prisons So that had not God in his eternall prouidence fauouring the liberty of that people ordeined some inaccessible places and naturall strengths where no Armie could march nor be maintained the Scots had in all liklihood perpetually vndergone the same fortune which we the English were brought into for want of the like by William the first and his Normans 45 Therefore let prophane discourses with their Father Epicurus and Lucretius
that name and last of that house who died without Issue male she had also by him two daughters Elenor married to Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and Margaret to Hugh Courtney the first Earle of Deuonshire Shee was this Earles wife foureteene yeers liued thirty three deceased in the ninth yeere of the raigne of king Edward her brother A. D. 1316. and was buried in the Church of S. Iames at the Abbey of Saffron VValden in Essex 69 Beatrice the eight daughter of King Edward and Queene Elenor bare the name of Beatrice Dutchesse of Britannie her fathers sister she is by some Genealogists mentioned to haue liued till she was marriageable but yet no mention being made of her match it seemeth she died vnmarried 70 Blanch the ninth daughter of king Edward and the last of Queene Elenor is so mentioned by Thomas Pickering and some others but not at all by Thomas Ebraham a Monke who made a Pedegree of the Kings of England but shee is by the rest reported to haue died in her childhood 71 Thomas the fifth sonne of king Edward and the first of Queene Margaret his second wife was borne at a little village in Yorkshire called Brotherton Iune 1. in the nine and twenteth yeere of his fathers raigne Ann. 1300. hee was created Earle of Norfolke and Earle Marshal of England which Earledomes the last Earle Roger Bigod leauing no Issue left to the disposition of the King his father He had two wiues of which the first was Alice the daughter of Sir Roger Hayles of Harwich in Suffolk by whom hee had issue Edward who married Beatrice the daughter of Roger Mortimer the first Earle of March but hee died before his father without Issue and two daughters Margaret twice married first to Iohn Lord Segraue by whom shee had Elizabeth Dutchesse of Norfolke wife of Iohn Lord Mowbray from whom the Mowbrayes Howards Dukes of Norffolke and Earles Marshall descended secondly to Sir VValter Manny a Knight of Cambray and by him had Anne wife of Iohn Hastings the elder Earle of Pembroke and mother of Earle Iohn the yonger that died without Issue his yongest daughter Alice was married to Sir Edward Montacute and had by him three daughters Elizabeth and Ioan married to VValter and VVilliam two of the Vffords and Maud that died vnmarried The second wife of this Earle Thomas was Mary the daughter of VVilliam Lord Ros and widow of Sir Ralph Cobham who suruiuing him without Issue by him shee was married the third time to VVilliam Lord Brerose of Brember 72 Edmund his sixt sonne by Queene Margaret was borne at Woodstocke in Oxfordshire August 5 in the thirtieth yeare of the raigne of his Father A. 1301. Hee was created Earle of Kent and married Margaret daughter of Iohn and sister and sole heire of Thomas Lord VVakes of Lydel in the County of Northampton by her he had Issue two sonnes and one daughter Edmund his eldest sonne was Earle of Kent after his father and died vnder age without wife or issue Iohn the yonger was Earle also after his brother he maried Elizabeth the daughter of the Duke of Gulike and died like vise without Issue His daughter was Ioan for her beauty called the faire Maid of Kent first maried to William Mountacute Earle of Salisbury and from him diuorced and remarried to Sir Thomas Holland in her right Earle of Kent and by her father of Thomas and Iohn Holland Duke of Surrey and Earle of Huntington and lastly shee was the wife of Edward of Woodstocke the Blacke Prince of Wales and by him mother of King Richard the second This Earle Edmund was beheaded at Winchester the 1â—… of March in the fourth yeere of King Edward his Nephew 73 Eleanor the tenth daughter fifteenth child of King Edward and the last child of Queene Margaret his second wife was borne at Winchester the sixt day of May in the fiue and thirtieth and last yeere of her fathers Raign being the yeere of our Lord 1306. shee deceased in her Child-hood and was buried in S. Peters Church at Westminster by her brother Iohn Henry and Alfons vnder the monument before named with her picture ouer it EDVVARD THE SECOND LORD OF IRELAND AND DVKE OF AQVITAINE c. THE FORTIE-EIGHTH MONARCH OF ENGLAND HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER XI THat the Mind is not deriued from Parents certainely the second Edward called of Caeernaruon might if nothing else abundantlie shew being of a most valiant wise and fortunate father an vnlike sonne yet not to beginne our description of his courses with preiudice of his person we will so temper our stile that by his owne actions sincerely related rather then by any verball censures the man may bee iudged This cannot be denied that whereas from the Conquest till his time England though it endured by Gods iust iudgements many bitter sad and heauy stormes through some headinesse ambition or other sicknesses of mind in the Princes thereof yet had she Men to sway and gouerne her and those distempers were as the perturbations incident to vigorous dispositions whereas vnder this Edward who could neither get nor keepe it seemed to endure the leuities of a Child though his yeeres being about twenty and three might haue exempted him from so great infancie of iudgement as his raigne discouered 2 Neuer came Prince to the crowne with more generall applause then he so great hopes of doing well his Victorious father Edward of VVinchester had left vpon him besides the right of succession whose last warning and terrible adiurations you haue heard with the vtter contempt and breach whereof to the destruction of himselfe and his friends hee in a manner auspicated his gouernement 3 After that Edward had in his best maner prouided for the affaires of Scotland where at Domfrees many of the Scottish Lords did their homage to him as they had to his Father the first taske which hee gaue of his future behauiours at home was a rigorous reuenge taken by him vpon Walter de Langton Bishoppe of Chester Treasurer of England and principall Executor of the last Will of the deceased King whose body was not as yet interred but by the care of the Executors conueied with funerall pompe to VValtham and after sixteen weekes to VVestminster where vnder a plaine monument the same at this present rests The Bishoppes crime was a kind of good freedome which hee vsed in the late Kings daies in grauely reprouing the Prince for his misdemeanors and shortning his waste of coine by a frugall moderation and particularly for that he had complained of Peirs Gaueston wherupon ensued Prince Edwards imprisonment and the others banishment and therefore comming now to the Crowne hee arrested the Bishoppe by Sir Iohn Felton Constable of the Tower and imprisoned him in VVallingford Castle seising vpon all his temporall goods and credites there being not a man in the Realme who durst speake a word on his behalfe so
sent her complaints to the king of France her father which concerned iniuries in the highest kind as in her bed the King being drawne by Gaueston to adultery and in her honour and maintenance Whereupon the Peeres of the land animated by the King of France so confidently dealt with Edward that his Earle now the third time did abiure the Realme but the King of France and his enemies making forraine parts vnsure for him to abide in he returned in Christmas to the generall perturbation of the Kingdome and to his owne certaine ruine for that the Barons his aduersaries had gotten him banished with this Prouiso that if at any time afterward hee were taken in England hee should be forthwith apprehended and suffer death But an Angell from heauen could not seeme more welcome then this most faithful friend as that Courtier cals him was vnto King Edward who forthwith aduanced him to be his principall Secretary 11 Vpon report of Gauestons returne the chiefe Lords aswell Ecclesiasticall as temporall Walter Bishoppe of Couentree excepted who allowed the Kings affections towards Gaueston and procured him to breake the former agreements which were made and sworne in the Parliament at London consulted vpon a desperat course of reformation in this point and made choise of Thomas Earle of Lancaster to be their leader This Thomas was sonne of Edmund Earle of Lancaster Leicester and Ferrers second sonne of Henry the third King of England and in right of his wife after her fathers decease which hapned about this time Earle of Lincolne Salisburie and besides many other great Lands in Yorkeshire Cumberland and Wales hee had the Earledom of Artoys in Picardy so that without comparison hee was the greatest subiect of the Kingdome 12 The Issue of which combination before we pursue wee may not here in our way ouerslippe a strange alteration both here in England and in all Christendome by the vniuersall extinguishment of the Order of the Templars wrought about this time by the procurement of the French King who being so gracious with Pope Clement that formerly hee sent Ambassadors to craue of his holinesse with great importunity that the bones of his Predecessor Pope Boniface might bee burnt as being an Heretike so now also he so farre preuailed with him that in the Councel at Vienna this so highly esteemed Order was vpon clear proofe of their generall odious sinnes and scarse credible impieties vtterly abolished through Christendome The French King caused 54. of that Order together with their Great Maister to bee burnt at Paris and though that King hoped to conuert all the Lands of that Societie to his sonnes vse whom hee intended to make King of Ierusalem yet the Pope and Councell annexed their possessions to the Order of the Knights Hospitalers called commonly Knights of the Rhodes Notwithstanding in England where such Papall commands went not alwayes for lawes the heires of the Donours and such as had endowed the Templars here with landes entred vpon those parts of their ancient Patrimonies after the dissolution of the Order and saith our Courtier detained them vntill not long after they were by Parliament wholly transferred vnto the Knights of the Rhodes or of S. Iohn of Ierusalem 13 King Edward was now at Yorke and Earle Thomas according to that which had beene concluded among the combined Lords who resolued to trie all extremities rather then any longer to endure Peirs Gaâ—…eston as being perswaded while that King-bane breathed peace could neither be maintained in the Realme nor the King abound in treasure nor the Queene enioy his loue sent humble petitions by honourable messengers to their Soueraigne requesting him to deliuer the man into their hands or to driue him from his company out of England But the selfe-wild King preferring the dearenesse of one stranger before the loue of the whole Realme would not condiscend 14 Afterward Peirs whom the Earles pursued with an Armie being entrusted for his safeguard to Aimerie de Valence Earle of Pembrok was left by him but one night at a Village or Manour called Dathington betweene Oxford and Warwicke being a place neither farre enough off nor strong enough pretending to haue conuaied him on the next day to the Castle of Wallingford the said Aimerie in the meane space departing to lodge with his Countesse who lay hard by but the said Aimerie conniuing thereat as our Courtier chargeth him who also writes that hee tooke a solemne oath before the king to doe his best to safe-conduct Gaueston the king purposing in the meane time to labour his peace with the Lords vpon any conditions Guy Earle of Warwicke with his people surprised him the same night and took him to his Castle of Warwicke where in a place called Blacklow afterward Gaueshead his head was stricken off at the commandement and in the presence of the Earles of Lancaster Warwicke and Hereford as of one that had beene a subuerter of the lawes and an open Traitour to the Kingdom In which bold attempt themselues who yet pretended so much standing for the liberties of the land did most vnaduisedly infringe a Capitall branch of the same Franchises in putting to death an Earle and so deare a friend of the Kings without any iudiciall proceeding by triall of his Peeres which caused a lasting hatred betwixt the King and his Nobles 15 There wanted nothing now to King Edward but present meanes to reuenge the bloud of his friend or rather of his halfe-selfe the lacke wherof did encrease the sorrow he tooke for his death which being well knowne to the Lords they resolued not to lay downe Armes till they had prouided for their security and the performance of all such points as concerned the temperament of the Regall power that vnder colour thereof the Nobles themselues might finger some part of the Soueraigne gouernment The King was then at London and the Lords at Dunstaple but by the continuall interdealings of the Prelates and of Gilbert Earle of Glocester who stood neutrall the kindling displeasures were for the present allaied vpon condition that the Lords should restore to the King all such things once belonging to Peirs Gaueston as they had taken at Newcastle which they accordingly did 16 King Edward neuerthelesse as if his soule were ouercast with some blacke cloud continued mourning till it pleased God to enlighten the world with the birth of a young Prince whose noble Acts did afterward redeeme all the blemishes wherewith his Fathers infelicities had darkned the brightnesse of the English name and at this present cleared the mind of the sorrowfull King his father for vpon Saint Brices day Isabel his Queene brought forth her first sonne at Windsor which caused great reioycing through the Kingdome Her French kindred and friends which were there in good numbers of either sexe among them as chiefe the Queens owne brother
carelesse neither yet by his care able to doe much as one whom God was not well pleased with had ordered his battels with some aduise but vpon the dismall and vnexpected discomfiture of his horse in those mischieuous holes or ditches was enforced after some troubled resistance to leaue to the Scots the greatest victory that euer they had before or after Hardly could K. Edward bee drawne to flie the courage which it became such a Monarch to haue then first disclosing it selfe till by his friends hee was enforced to seeke his preseruation by that more necessary then noble meanes and with him besides others the Lord Hugh Spencer whom our Courtier cals a ◅aint hearted Kite betooke himselfe to like remedie 24 All things proued vnfortunate to the English in this iorney for when they perceiued their Cauallerie thus miserably ouerthrowne in the ditches they shot their arrowes compasse with purpose to kill or gall such Scots as came to the execution but did them little or no harme as they who were armed in the fore-parts and in stead of that slew their friends whose backes being toward them were vnarmed 25 The losse fell much vpon the Noblest for there were slaine in this Battell Gilbert Earle of Glocester a man of singular valour and wisdom the Lord Robert de Clifford and besides other Lords about seuen hundreth Knights Esquiers and men of Armories Of the rest the slaughter could not bee but great though much the lesse in regard the Scots fought on foot Hector saith that there were not slaine fewer then fifty thousand English no Writer else that hitherto wee can meet with exceedes the fifth part of that number the riches gotten by spoiles and ransomes of the English were doubtlesse very great Among the number of prisoners the principall was H◅y de Bohun Earle of Hereford but recouered af◅rd by exchange for King Roberts wife who all this while was detained in England This battell was fought at Banocksbourne neere Striuelin in Scotland 26 From this ouerthrow King Edward escaping to Berwicke King Robert who to his great glory as hauing himselfe beene trained vp among the English vsed such as were taken prisoners with singular humanity sent thither to him the bodies of the Earle of Gloster Lord Clifford that they might receiue honourable interrement among their owne friends But Edward vnder whose vnfortunate leading the English name sustained so great dishonour and dammage withdrew to Yorke resoluing therein onely Princelike to assemble new force and either to bee reuenged or to die But all enterprises and attempts of that nature miscarried for aboue twelue yeeres after insomuch that great feare raigned among the Northern̄e English who lay open to the first brunts and violences of the Scots ouer whom many faire dayes shone And to augment the calamities of the North many of the disloiall English conspired with the enemie and iointly spoyled the west parts of Northumberland nothing being secure but that which wals defended 27 God to humble the English who through long prosperities had forgotten both themselues him drew not backe his heauy hand so for seldom hath so terrible a famine beene heard of here as succeeded to this ouerthrow so that for moderation of prices a Parliament was assembled at London but saith Walsingham as if God had beene displeased at the said rates which not long after were repealed things grew scarser day by day and the dearth was generally such that vpon Saint Laurences Eue there was scarsely bread to be gotten for sustentation of the Kings owne family This famine which lasted about two yeeres was accompanied with much mortality of people 28 But neither the dishonours taken in Scotland nor innumerable afflictions and discontentments at home made Edward suspend the celebration of his Gauestons funerals whose Body with great pompe hee caused to bee transferred from the place of his former buriall which was among the Friers Preachers at Oxford to Kings-Langley in Hertfordshire where hee in person with the Archbishoppe of Canterbury foure Bishoppes many Abbots and principall Churchmen did honour the exequies but few were present of the Nobility whose great stomackes would not giue them leaue to attend Somewhat also to sweeten these generall acerbities Lewelin Bren and his two sonnes were brought vp prisoners to London hauing burnt many towns vpon the Marches and committed some murthers with their Welsh adherents 29 Meane-while the state of the Kingdome was miserable there being no loue betwixt the King and the Peeres nor any great care in him or them of the common affaires neuerthelesse they assembled at a Parliament in London where no great matter was concluded for the famine and pestilence encreased The famine was growne so terrible that horse dogs yea men and children were stolne for food and which is horrible to thinke the theeues newly brought into the Gaoles were torne in peeces and eaten presently halfe aliue by such as had been longer there In London it was proclaimed that no corne should be conuerted to Brewers vses which Act the King moued with compassion toward his Nation imitating caused to bee executed through all the Kingdome otherwise saith Walsingham the greater part of the people had died with penury of bread The bloudie flux or dissenterie caused through raw and corrupt humors engendred by euil meat and diet raged euery where and together with other maladies brought such multitudes of the poorer sort to their end that the liuing could scarse suffice to bury the dead 30 The King was now in so great dislike and distrust with the Lords and Barons that they would not appeare at Clarendon where hee held a great Councell To augment this fatall auersion a certaine Knight belonging to Iohn Earle Warren stole away from Caneford in Dorsetshire the wife of Thomas Earle of Lancaster chiefe of the Lords faction not without the Kings consent as it was said and brought her to the said Earle Warrens Castle at Rigate with great pompe and in despight of the Earle whom one Richard de Saint Maurice a wretched lame and bunchbackt Dwarfe challenged for wife pretending that he was formerly contracted and had lien with her which she the greatest and noblest Inheretrix of her time did openly confesse to her immortall infamie incurring alas saith Walsingham the publike note of a most filthie strump◅t This deformed Elfe hauing mighty seconds durst hereupon claime the Earledomes of Lincolne and Salisburie as in her right and in the meane time the name and honor of Thomas the great Earle was baffold as it were by a light and wicked woman 31 The parts of England beyond Humber were now more and more afflicted for such as till then had opposed themselues against the Scots in defence of the Country perceiuing all things left at large in stead of Protectors became Tyrants saith our Author of defenders destroyers and of valiant Champions treacherous Chapmen so that as
England not they who were attendant on the Queen her selfe in neerest place being spared all matters by her negotiation and suite were quieted vpon condition that King Edward should giue to his sonne Edward of Windsor afterward King the Dutchy of Aquitaine and Earledome of Pontine for which the king of France was pleased to accept his said young Nephewes homage 53 This was done and the Prince sent ouer for that purpose to his mother to the vtter vndoing of the King his Father and of all his fauourites For the heire of England being in forraine parts among the contrary faction all the consultation was vnder colour of ruining the Spensers to accomplish farther matters The Prince hauing at Boys de Vincens done his homage for that Dutchie and County to his vncle Charles de Valois King of France was as also the Queene his mother sent for backe by the King about Michaelmas but the Queenes conspiracie being not yet ripe shee deferred to obay detaining her sonne still 54 There went ouer with the young Prince among many others Walter Stapleton Bishoppe of Excester who perceiuing into what familiarity the Lord Roger Mortimer was growne with the Queene which seemed greater then either stood with her honour or dutie and seeing both him and other of the Kings enemies and fugitiues enioy that priuacie in counsell which was assigned to himselfe who was now as being none of theirs excluded returned secretly though vnsent for into England faithfully as it became a good man declaring his knowledge 55 The King now clearely beholding his errour in his dangers solicited the King of France to send home his wife and sonne but that not succeeding he caused them openly in London to be proclaimed enemies of the Kingdome banishing them with all their adherents out of the same For his more assurance also hee caused the Ports to bee most narrowly watcht Finally to draw all his dangers to a short dispatch there was as was supposed a plot laid for making away the Queene and Prince but Gods will was to frustrate it 56 The Queen on the other side fearing that the Spensers gold had laid traines to blow her whole proceedings vp in France kept herselfe out of the way till with the Prince the Lord Roger Mortimer and other their adherents they were safely gotten into Henault There might bee some other reason also and necessary to moue Queene Isabel to depart out of France beside the doubt of that kind of corruption in the Peeres thereof as to turne off a warre from thence being her natiue Country which for her cause was afflicted in the Sea-strengthes therof for Sir Iohn Oturwin Sir Nicholas Kiried and Sir Iohn de Felton with the Nauie of the Ports and of other places had by commission from the King so scowred the narrow Scas that they within a short time brought into England as lawfull prize an hundreth and twenty Norman shippes or vessels Moreouer whereas those two Bishoppes which the Pope had sent were returned sorrowfull out of England not onely without doing any good on her behalfe but also without hope of doing any shee might easily be perswaded that the sword must doe it or nothing 57 But in Henault shee found most honourable and louing welcome of the Earle where therefore without the consent or aduise of the Peeres of England shee ensured saith our Author that delight and terrour of the whole world her sonne being then about foureteene yeeres old to Philippa the said Earles daughter and with the money of her portion waged souldiers out of Henault and Germany to transport into England There her friends expected her arriuall dayly of which the Bishoppes of Hereford and Lincolne were not meanest Her men and Nauie being now readie shee with her sonne the Prince the Lord Edmund Earle of Kent his vncle Aimerie de Valence Earle of Pembroke the Lord Iohn of Henault the Earle of Henaults brother a valiant Gentleman the Lord Roger Mortimer and many other English-men of name and note with aboue two thousand and seuen hundred Henowayes and Germans vnder the leading of the said Lord Iohn arriued at Orwell in Suffolke vpon the Friday before Saint Michaels day 58 Her arriuall being reported to the King who was poore Prince not onely destitute of friends and meanes but as it seemes of courage and counsell also it did not at first seeme credible The truth appearing he demaunded assistance of the City of London whose answere was That they would honour with all dutie the King the Queene and Prince but would shut their gates against forreiners and traitors to the Realme and with all their powers withstand them In this answere the King and his few friends reposing no assurance he committed an errour worse then that former of sending his sonne out of England by retiring himselfe into the West with his inseparable fauourites the Spensers Baldocke and others there to raise a force against the Queene but before hee went hee left his other sonne the Lord Iohn called of Eltham in the Tower of London with the Coūtesse of Glocester the Kings Neece wife to the yonger Spenser Earle of Glocester committing the Tower it selfe to Sir Iohn de Weston who was well prouided of men and victuals Hee commanded all men also to destroy and kill the Queenes partakers none excepted but her selfe her sonne and Edmund Earle of Kent the Kings brother by the Father and that none vpon paine of death and losse of all that they might leese should aid or assist them and that hee should haue a thousand pound who did bring the Lord Mortimers head Thus tooke hee his last leaue of London and in a maner also of his Rule or Domination 59 On the contrary part there repaired to the Queene the Earle Marshall and Henry Earle of Leicester the Bishops of Lincolne Hereford Ely and of Barons Knights and armed Souldiers no small multitude whom aswell to retain as to draw more letters and rumors flew about declaring though falsly that the King of France had in the aide of his sister sent so many Dukes Earles and others that England could scarse suffice to feed them This for such whom the opinion of warlike strength would winne but those whom shew of Religion might moue it was as cunningly and as falsly spread that the Pope had excommunicated all such as did take armes against the Queene and the more to countenance the fiction that two Cardinals imployed about the Premisses were seen in the Queens Campe. Then was it proclaimed that the causes of her comming were to deliuer the Realme from the misleaders of the King which were named to be the Spensers Roger Baldock Bishoppe of Norwich Lord Chancellor and their Fautors all others to be safe and that nothing should bee taken from any other subiect without true payment but finally that he who broght the yonger Spensers head should haue two thousand pounds These things
receiuing the Order of Knighthood by the hands of the Earle of Lancaster and vpon the same day the Crowne of England at Westminster Walter Archbishoppe of Canterburie performing the offices accustomed therein iudged nothing to bee sooner thought vpon then to recouer the honour of his Nation vpon the Northerne enemies whom his vnexperienced youth and their former happinesse had emboldened in which preparation while hee was busied the Queene his mother and her Mortimer forgat not other things tending to their owne benefite and assurance 4 First therefore there was procured for the Queene mother so great a Dowry that the young King had scarce a third part of the Kingdome left for his maintenance which excessiue estate in title the Queenes in the vse was Mortimars and from this treasonable defalcation and weakening of the roiall meanes hee sinewed his owne deuises with authoritity and riches so that his hatred against Spenser was not on behalfe of the Common-weale but for that any one should abuse it for his priuate but himselfe Lastly when they had certaine intelligence that sundry great persons and others as the whole order of Friers-preachers tooke pitty of the late Kings captiuity and seemed to consult for his deliueranco they knowing that by recouery of his former estate their iust confusion must follow they resolued to strengthâ—…n as men supposed their other impieties with murther 5 For albeit the Queene in her outward gestures pretended nothing but sorrow for her Lord husbands distresse yet in stead of bringing to him her person which the deposed Prince did wonderfullie loue shee onely sent vnto him fine apparrell kind letters but contrary to the lawes of God and man withdrew her selfe from nuptiall dueties bestowing them as the fame went which will blab of Princes as freely as of meaner Dames vpon the bloudy Adulterer Mortimar fathering her absence vpon the State which she fained would not suffer her to come vnto him The desolate Prince was hereupon taken from Kenelworth Castle by expresse order from the young King at their procurement for that the Earle of Lancaster Lord of that peece was suspected to pitty too much his calamitie Hee was deliuered by Indenture to Sir Thomas de Gournay the elder and Sir Iohn Mattrauers two mercilesse and most vnworthy Knights 6 These two Instruments of the Diuell hauing conducted him first to the Castle of Corf then to Bristol and lastly in great secresie and with more villanous despite then it became either Knights or the lewdest varlets in the world as out of Sir Thomas de la Moore you may reade at large in the collections of Iohn Stow to the Castle of Barkley where after many vile deuises executed vpon him in vaine they more then barbarously murthered him 7 Neuer was the fallacie of pointings or ambiguitie of Phrase more mischieuously vsed to the destruction of a King or defence of the Contriuers then in this hainous Parricide for it is said that a bloody Sophisme conceiued in these words was sent Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est To shed King Edwards bloud Refuse to feare I count it good Where the Comma or pause being put after Nolite bid them not to make him away but after timere insinuates a plaine encouragement to the fact 8 The Sphynx who is said to be the Author of this ambiguous Riddle sent by the Lord Mortimar was Adam de Torleton who vtterly denied any such intention when the Murtherers for their owne iustification produced the writing it selfe vnder Queene Isabels Seale and the seales of the other Conspirators and therefore the said Bishoppe Adam was the cause why Gorney and Mattrauers were with terrible menaces shaken vp pursued and outlawed who more pursued with the memory and conscience of so hainous a Tragedie fled out of England Gorney after three yeeres banishment being discouered at Massels in France and apprehended was conuaied backe but had his head taken off at Sea in his passage lest he should reueale too much at his arriuall but Mattrauers lay hidden in Germanie a long time doing pennance 9 This Parricide was committed about S. Mathews day and that you may note what confidence they had in their Art of secret murther as also an ordinary mockage of the people in like cases the noble body was laide forth and many Abbots Priors Knights and Burgesses of Bristol and Glocester were sent for to see the same vpon which although there appeared no manifest outward sign of violent death but the skinne all ouer whole and vnbroken yet the cry of murther could not so bee smothered but the meanes and manner came to light This happinesse certainely the poore Prince had that after his emprisonment hee reformed his life in so pious Christian sort that it gaue occasion when hee was dead of disputation whether hee were not to bee reputed a Saint euen as say our Authors there was the like Question concerning Thomas Earle of Lancaster though beheaded for apparant Treasons His body without any funerall pompe was buried among the Benedictins in their Abbey at Glocester and so saith our passionate author the stately height of the Angels Kingdome receiued this Scholler and Disciple of Christ thus rest and spoiled of his English Kingdome 10 The yong King was now vpon the borders of Scotland with a puissant Armie where also the Queene mother and Mortimar with many other Nobles were present and hauing enuironed the Scots who had pierced into England with inuasiue armes in the woods of VViridale and Stanhope Parke made sure account of a certaine victorie but by the treason of the said Lord Mortimer as afterward was laid to his charge they were suffered to escape out of that mischiefe and the young King with griefe returned inglorious after an huge waste of treasure and peril of his owne person 11 For while the English hoast thus held the Scots as it were besieged Sir Iames Dowglasse in the dead of night with about two hundreth swift horse assailed the Kings owne Pauilion and missed so little of killing him that a Priest his Chaplaine a stout and loyall man was slaine in his defence and Sir Iames escaped backe without hurt but not without honor for his bold attempt In the Scots Campe one noteth that the English found fiue hundreth great Oxen and Kine ready killed a thousand spits full of flesh ready to be roasted fiue hundred Cawdrons made of beasts skins full of flesh ouer the fire seething and about ten thousand paire of raw-leather shooes the haire still vpon them In King Edwards Armie were as some write thirty thousand Archers and fiue hundreth good men of Arms which perhaps is one of the greatest hoasts that you shall lightly reade to haue been of our Nation and the reason was for that the world conceiued such hope of the young
King that many more went voluntary then constrained All which puissance was notwithstanding thus eluded 12 About this time died strucken with leprie Robert Bruce King and recouerer of Scotland and the most approued Warriour of the world in that age by whose losse it was soone found how much the vertue and fortune of one man are worth in any Nation But before hee died that peace was made with the Scots by the meanes of the Queene and the Lord Mortimer which is so much dispraised by our Writers and in the end proued capitall to the principall Actor Mortimer 13 For at this treaty it was that the King then in his Minority sealed Charters to the Scots at Northampton whose contents were contriued by the Queene the said Lord Mortimer and Sir Iames Dowglasse without the priuity of the English There was also deliuered to them that famous Euidence called the Ragman Roll and the King acquited them of all claime and pretence of right to the Superiority of Scotland rendring backe sundrie Iewels taken by the English from the Scots among the which was one speciall called the Blacke Crosse of Scotland There was it also granted that all Englishmen should leese their lands in Scotland vnlesse they would inhabite vpon them and becom Liege-men to the King therof besides many other things to the high discontentation as was the humor of those times of the English Subiects Moreouer vnder the specious colour of restitution of dammages King Robert was to pay to King Edward thirty thousand Marks sterling with which as the meed of treason the Lord Mortimer was afterward publikely charged and for the same and other his crimes was executed as a Traitour Finally vpon the seuenth of Iuly Dauid Bruce Prince of Scotland a child of seuen or eight yeeres old and sonne and heire to King Robert married Ioan sister to K. Edward at Berwicke by which peace the English were made-obnoxious to some reproaches the Scottish Nation in scorne calling the said Lady Iane Make-Peace 14 And therefore saith one of this part of King Edwards raigne that drawne aside with euill aduise by reason of his age hee committed many foule errors in State at the beginning of his Gouernment which is also the generall opinion of all our Writers whereunto this verse is by some applied Vae pueri terrae saepissimè sunt ibi guerra Where Children Rulers are There oft is woe and war 15 There died likewise about this time Charles the Faire King of France to whom King Edward had not long before done homage for his Dutchie of Gascoigne the third and last sonne of Philip the Faire King of France by whose decease the Crown of that noble Kingdome deuolued to this our Edward King of England in right of his mother Queene Isabel And because vpon this Title king Edward did afterward claime the said Crowne wee will here once for all instruct you in the iustice thereof 16 Three sonnes there were of King Philip the Faire to wit Lewis Hutin Philip le long and Charles the Faire who all successiuely raigned in France one after the other and none of them leauing any Issue at such time as king Edward made his claime the whole right seemed to be in Isabel the onely Child of the said Philip which had any issue for an other sister which shee had died an Infant 17 The case thus seeming plaine was not for such accepted by the French who receiued to the Crowne Philip of Valoys whose father Charles of Valois was yonger Brother to Philip the Faire aduancing the Brothers sonne before the daughters son not following the propinquity or descent of blood but the meliority of sexe vpon which ground they had also freshly put by Ioan daughter of Lewis Hutin preferring Philip le long her vncle The French in barre to her interest pretended a fundamentall law or entaile by which no woman was inheritable to the Crown of France and in defence of that opinion withstood King Edward afterward with so much losse and calamity though that very law made Edwards title the stronger as himselfe truely pleaded hee being the Male albeit his right descended by the Female 18 This Title to so glorious a Monarchy though it accrewed to the English by this match with Queen Isabel yet doth Walsingham freely pronounce That neither that affinity nor any other contracts with the French was euer auaileable or brought any benefite to England which opinion as it may seeme strange so will it answere a wise Readers paine in the fruit to obserue through the course of our stories whether the said graue Writer had iust occasion so to speake or no. Another conceit there was of this Edwards marriage with Philippa the Earle of Henaults daughter which about this time was consūmated though Philip de Valoys king of France by intrusion as our Annales repute him was her vncle her mother being his owne sister 19 There stood now at home against the stream of the Queene and her Lord Mortimers absolute sway some great personages who did not wholy allow their doings among which was the Kings vncle Edmund Earle of Kent whose death they shortly procured Meane-while the more to despite and dare their ouerlookers Roger Mortimer was created Earle of the Marches of Wales at a Parliament holden at Salisburie at which time also Iohn of Eltham the Kings Brother was made Earle of Cornwall and the Lord Butler of Ireland Earle of Ormond From whence the Lord Henry Earle of Lancaster and sundry other of the Peeres seeing the King troden as it seemed to them vnder foot did absent themselues meditating ciuill armes for redresse who notwithstanding by the labour of Simon de Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury was reconciled This Archbishoppe very worthily also excommunicated all such as had any hand in the sacrilegious parricide of that noble and loiall Prelate Walter Bishoppe of Excester or any waies violated him their aiders complices or abettors whosoeuer But after the Coronation of Philip the yong Queene in another Parliament at Winchester the said Earle Edmund was condemned for conspiring to deliuer his brother late King of England whom likely inough by Mortimers practise he was drawne into an absurd beliefe to bee still aliue Thus for deuising to set a dead man at liberty this noble Earle Edmund the kings half vncle had his head strucken off though from Noone till fiue at night hee stood at the place of death without the Castle-gates none being found to behead him till a base wretch of the Marshal-sea was sent and did it so little conscience did the malice and ambition of his potent aduersaries make of shedding the Roiall bloud which by Gods iuster iudgement was not long vnreuenged 20 To supply which losse to the regal stemme with a very large amends the young Queene Philip at Woodstocke in Oxfordshire vpon 15. Iune being Friday brought forth her first begotten
dammages for a prime man among them the Lord William Dowglasse was taken prisoner by the English not without losse of many his men Before which time by no honourable meanes the new King of Scotland was driuen to seeke his safety by flight into England 27 King Edward considering those foiles which his father had endured and the oportunity of the time neither holding himselfe lyable in honour to that contract made on his behalfe by the predominant sway of his mother and her Paramour Mortimer as wherein hee tooke both himselfe and the rights of his Crowne to haue beene wronged in his minority which in point of gouernement hee was more bound to respect then his Sisters estate and for that hee was informed that the Towne and Castle of Berwicke belonged to the Crowne of his Realme hee raised his power and hauing with him Edward the new-crowned of Scotland hee laid siege to that Towne and Castel in May. But before hee did this there is who writes that he summoned his brother in law King Dauid to doe homage and fealty vnto him which when Dauid would not yeeld to doe nor confesse hee ought no more then his father King Robert hee made that a ground for the iustice of his warre as reputing the Acts and releases at Northampton void 28 To the rescues of Berwicke Archimbald Dowglas Earle of Angus Gouernour of Scotland for King Dauid came with a puissant Army and gaue King Edward battell at Halydon-hill where with a lamentable slaughter of his people he was vanquished and slaine This battell deuoured in a manner all the remainders of the Scottish Nobles which preserued it selfe at Dupline by retrait or by absence from that field There perished besides Archimbald the Earles of Ros Sutherland and Carricke three sonnes of the Lord Walter Steward whose issue afterward raigned in Scotland when warre and death had made way to that line by extirpation of the Male-Competitors in the races of Bruce and Baliol and at least foureteene thousand others with the losse say some of one Knight and ten other Englishmen Our Writers affirm that the Scots were at this battell threescore thousand strong and that there were slaine eight Earles 1500. horsemen and of the common Souldiers fiue and thirty thousand which is not improbable for so much as Hector confesseth they were stopped in their flight and put to the sword vpon all sides without mercy 29 Hereupon Berwicke was rendred which the King of England detained as a supposed parcell of his Patrimony and dismissed the Baliol to the gouernment of the Scottish Kingdome with sundrie Lords and others of the English And now the bloudie tallies and cruell scores seemed euen betweene the two puissant though then vnkind neighbour-Nations and Edward throughly redeeemed the dishonour sustained at Banocksbourn by his late father deliuering his younger yeeres from that contempt in which his enemies might otherwise haue holden him as they had done at the entrance of his raign playing vpon the English with Truffes and Rounds of which this one is euery where noted Long beards heartlesse Painted hoods witlesse Gay coates gracelesse make England thriftlesse 30 As for the subornation of poisoning Earle Thomas Randal and the hanging of Sir Alexander Setons two sonnes contrarie to faith and law of Arms at Berwicke with the like staines which one would faine leaue vpon this victorious Prince wee haue found no colour of warrant but his owne liberty of auouching which therfore our freedome of not beleeuing him shall as easily take away and cancell Neither would wee so farre haue touched this iarring string of discord betweene these two Nations but that each out of their owne harms of old may haue the more true sense of their felicity by their new harmonicall concordance 31 After that the Nobles of Scotland had vnanimously confirmed Baliol in the kingdome thereof and sworne vnto him faith and allegiance at Perth hee repaired to the King of England at Newcastle vpon Tine where hee submitted to Edward King of England as his Father had done to Edward the first and with the like successe for by occasion of such his submission our Writers say the Scots as before they had done fell off againe Which auersion or defection was augmented vpon priuate quarrels and titles of inheritance to lands of great value betweene powerfull Competitors and by other particular reuenges to which a people so continually exercised in fight and battels were not slowlie prone 32 Notwithstanding all which the Balliols party hauing once had all the Holds of Scotland at their commandement fiue onely excepted Dumbritaine Loughâ—…ijm Kildrummie Vrwhart and the pile of Lowdon Edward king of England hauing with him the Balliol and a sufficient Army preuailed so much that there was no appearance of rebellion whereupon hee tooke backe with him the Lord Edward Balliol late crowned king of Scotland of whose sted fastnes hee was saith Hector alwaies iealous returned leauing Dauid Cuâ—…in Earle of Athol gouernour for the parts beyond the Scottish sea with sufficient force and authority as was iudged to take in such strengthes as yet stood out but needed not his royall power or presence for their expugnation 33 The King of England hoping now that all was well there had newes brought vnto him not long after at the Parliament at London that the Scots were out in Armes againe whereupon hee obtaines aid of money from his Subiects for repressing their attempts promising to goe against them in person The Lord Robert Stewart sonne of the Lady Mariorie Bruce daughter of King Robert vpon whose line the remainder of the Crown of Scotland had beene estated was the man that first lifted vp the head of his Country in this dangerous sad and desolate condition though put into action vpon a priuate iniurie done vnto him by the Earle of Athol to whom diuers did adhere though the quarrel seemed properly to be the said L. Roberts for that if the Bruces were cut off his hopes perished in them The Earle of Murray and he were then chosen gouernours for King Dauids party but by reason of the diligence and power of Dauid Earle of Athol they were not able as yet to conuene or effect any thing against the English neuerthelesse it was not long before they slew the said Earle Dauid At this Parliament the King of England purposed to goe vpon his owne charge into the Holy-Land and to send the Archbishoppe of Canterbury to deale with Philip de Valois King of France for appointing a certaine time wherein they two with their vnited forces might take their voyage thither from which the desire of obtaining the Crowne of France vpon the fore-mentioned title did quickly diuert him 34 Mean-while in accomplishment of the Parliaments expectation King Edward after Michaelmas marched againe into Scotland with an Armie and sent his Nauie to the Forth
there and other impediments whatsoeuer hauing commanded all men to put from them their horses which were left among the carriages Thus all waies of safety by flight being preuented the necessity did vndoubtedly double their courages Thus placed to the best aduantage King Edward visiteth the ranckes in person riding vpon a pleasant Hobby hauing onely a white rod in his hand as if hee would chastise fortune betweene the two marshals of his field whose very presence with a few seasonable and vnenforced words on behalfe of God and his right in steed of long Orations did inspire the faintest hearts among them with freshest vigour and alacritie 89 Our writers describe not vnto vs the quality or face of the gound of Crescy where this battel was determined though verie much doth depend vpon choise of place neither the exact figures or seuerall numbers of euery seuerall battel their distances wings or other warlike formes nor finally what Pallisado trench or other deuise was in this or that quarter vsed to keepe-off and breake the furious charge of men of Armes before they came at the Archers principall workemen at this bloody iourney But thus lamely are things commended to Posterity where the Actors themselues take no care to see the particulars orderly and according to the truth delineated but either are vnlearned or giue themselues to the bodily fruition of their passed trauels rather then to exercise their minds in profiting themselues and others by such relations as are made with life and art This we find that the place of the Englishmens battels was the Towne of Crescie and Forest and therefore apt with small labour to be made inaccessible or at leastwise difficult for horse to enter vpon that also the English battels were marshalled to the most aduantage for giuing succour one vnto the other and that there were Shields or Pauises to shelter our Archers from the Genowaies shot 90 By this time King Philip whose countenance is said to haue changed thereat was in sight of the English Hee had with him the two Kings of Boheme and Maiorea and almost innumerable other great Princes Dukes Earles Barons and Gentlemen of inferior marke bearing armes nor those onlie French but very many of them Almains and Dutch lest you should suppose he had drawne away Lewis the Emperour from the friendship of K. Edward to little purpose The night before the battell there alighted in the French hoast with intention to lop off one branch of Laurell from the tree of victorie though it fell out to be Cypresse and Taxus Amie Earle of Sauoy with a thousand men of Arms so that all things seemed to concurre to nourish fury for a sodaine ruine Wee need not describe the order of the French where disorder was a principall Actor The King of Bohem and Charles Earle of Alenzon King Philips brother German had charge of the point or vantgard King Philip himselfe was in the maine battell and the Earle of Sauoy had chiefe command in the Rere 92 That is almost ridiculous which one writes of the etymologie of the Oiliflame as he cals it aduanced at this battell as a signe of taking none to mercie no more as he saith then Oile doth vse to extinguish fire when indeed it was an hallowed Banner of red silke whereof the French had a wonderfull high conceit as of that which was sent from heauen and called Oreflame or Auriflames King Edward on the contrary side is reported for signe of like rigour to haue erected there his vnconquered Standard of the Dragon-Gules Lewis of Luxemburg the most valiant old King of Bohemia being either blind or verie badly sighted hearing in what goodly order the English like sober Spartan souldiers attēded the charge said plainelie contrary to their ouer-weening iudgements who had giuen out of their flight Here will the English end their daies or conquer And euen as the first wounds were ready in a manner to bee giuen and taken behold God to let them know he was awake and that there was one aboue to whom so many thousands should within a few minutes appeare to giue an account of their whole liues till that present hee caused the blacke cloudes to poure down vpon them store of funerall teares enarching the ayre with a spatious Raine-bow and discharging sundry tire and peales of thunder the Sunne also at the same time drawing neere to set would gladly haue hid his face by thrusting it vnder a partill Eclypse but God who meant good to the English would not suffer him to withdraw his more necessary office so that freed from that temporary shadow he shone directly into the Frenchmans eyes At the same time also sholes and cloudes of balefull Rauens and other birdes of prey and rauin as foreshewing the haruest of carcases at hand came flying ouer the French hoast 93 The signe of battell being giuen by King Philip and entertained with shoutes and clamors all things shewing the horror of war Drums Trumpets sounding to a charge Banners flying in the winde and euery where shining weapons menacing braue extremitie reason herselfe acknowledged it onely safe to leaue them to their brute faculties passion and furie and the euent itselfe to God The French calamities began at their Genowayes who vnder Carolo Grimaldi and Antonio Dorta their Coronels being all of them Crosse-bowmen were to open a way for the French horse with their shot This was the successe of their seruice Their Crosse-bow strings wet with the late raine their bodies wearie with a long march their rankes after the English had intercepted vpon targets their first volue filled with innumerable gappes occasioned by the fall of their fellowes slaine or ouerthrowne with home-drawne arrowes were lastly most outragiously scattered by Charles Earle of Alanson at whose commandement deriued from K. Philip himselfe his horse gaue in among thē to driue them by plaine murther from the honour ofhauing the point vpon onely pretence that they hindered their race This hote young Count contrary to good discipline had also otherwise vniustly discontented and disgraced them euen when they were ready to ioin in battell whose bodies being as most write about twelue thousand by bearing the first brunt might haue beene of great vse if in nothing else but in seruing as buttes and quiuers to take into them the chiefe first stormes of the English arrowes Whereas now they themselues were not onely thus most miserably troden vnder foot and put to the sword but many of the French Gallants by that occasion mingled among them were ouerthrowne by the English arrowes who equally pursued the destruction both of French and Genowayes shooting thickest where the tumult and confusion were greatest Some rascals also following the English Armie as they saw opportunity stept in among them and holpe to cut throates sparing neither Lord nor lozell 94 The French men of Armes
Glequin makes his vse of all occasions and workes much harme to the English party in Guien and Britaine But in Britaine Sir Robert Knols did so nobly acquit him selfe on the behalfe of his Souereignes sonne in law the Duke that he only seemed a fit parallel to Glequin like as hee stopt the current of his fortune was borne at Gaunt the chiefe Towne of Flaunders Anno 1340. and 14. of his fathers raigne In his Childhood he was created Earle of Richmond which title was afterward recalled in and bestowed vpon Iohn Duke of Britanny who married his sister to whose Dutchy it had formerly belonged Hee had three wiues the first Blanch daughter and Coheire and in the end the sole heire of Henry Duke of Lancaster sonne of Edmund surnamed Crooch-back in whose right he was at the first Earle and after Duke of the same and with that Dutchy also Earle of Leicester Derby and Lincolne and high Steward of England He had issue by her Henry of Bullingbrooke Earle of Derbie after Duke of Hereford and lastly King of England named Henry the fourth who first placed the Crowne in the house of Lancaster Philip wife of Iohn the first King of Portugall and Elizabeth married first to Iohn Holland Earle of Huntingdon brother of Thomas Duke of Surrey and after him to Sir Iohn Cornwall Baron of Fanhope His second wife was Consiance the eldest daughter of Peter King of Castile and Leon in whose right for the time he entituled himself King of both these realmes by her he had issue one onely daughter named Katherine married to Henry the third sonne of King Iohn in possession before and in her right after King of both the said realmes His third wife was Katherine the widow of Sir Hugh Swinford a Knight of Lincolnshire eldest daughter and Coheire of Payn Roet a Gascoigne called Guien King of Armes for that Countrey his yonger daughter being married to Sir Geoffrey Chaâ—…cer our Laureat Poet. By her hee had issue borne before matrimony and made legitimate afterward by Parliament holden in the twentieth yeere of King Richard the second Iohn Earle of Sommerset Thomas Duke of Excester Henry Bishop of Winchester and Cardinall and Ioane who was first married to Robert Ferrers Baron of Wemme and Ouesley in the Counties of Salop and VVarwicke and secondly to Raph Neuil the first Earle of Westmerland Shee and all her brethren were surnamed Beaufort of a Castle which the Duke had in France where they were all borne in regard thereof bearing the Porculleys of a Castle for the cognizance of their family This Duke in the thirteenth yeere of his Nephew King Richard at a parliament holden at London was created Duke of Aquitaine but in the sixt yeere after hee was called home and this Title recalled in and in the third yeere after the sixtieth of his age Anno 1399. he dyed at Ely house in Holborne and lyeth honourably entombed in the Quire of Saint Paul Edmond their 5. sonne surnamed of Langley was created Earle of Cambridge Anno 1362. in the same Parliament wherein Lionel was created Duke of Clarence Hee was afterward made Duke of Yorke Anno 1386. and married Isabel daughter and Coheire to Peter King of Castile and Leon. His sonne Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke took to wife Anne Mortiâ—…er heire of the foresaid Lionel elder brother to Edmund Langley William another of their sonnes surnamed of Wynsore where he was borne dyed yong and is buried at Westminster Thomas the youngest sonne of King Edward and Queene Philip surnamed of Woodstocke where hee was borne was first Earle of Buckingham created by his Nephew King Richard the second on his Coronation day An. 1377. by whom after also he was made Duke of Glocester 1385. The Earledomes also of Essex and Northampton and the Constableshippe of England fell to him by right of his wife Eleanor the only daughter and heire of Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex Hee was a man of valour wisdome and vigilancy for the behoofe of the King his Nephew and the State but those noble vertues distempered with too much wilfulnesse froward obstinacy bred him first Enuy and afterruine For the King surmising him to bee a too seuere obseruer of his doings consulted with Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke how to make him away whom Mowbray vnawares surprizing conuaied secretly to Callis where he was strangled 1397. 20. of his Nephewes raigne Himselfe in his life had prouided a goodlie tombe at Playsie in Essex his owne Towne and the vsuall seat of the great Constables of England where hee founded a Colledge whither his body was brought and laid with all funerall pompe but afterward it was translated to Westminster where also lyeth Eleanor his wife who dyed 1399. Their issue was Humfrey Earle of Buckingham who dyed at Chester of the pestilence An. 1400. Anne married first to Edmund Earle of Stafford by whom shee had Humfrey Duke of Buckingham secondly to William Bourchier Earle of Eue by whom she had Henry Earle of Essex Philippa Ioane Isabell who died all issulesse Isabel the eldest daughter and second childe of K. Edward and Queene Philip was married at Windsore with great pompe to Ingelram of Guisnes Lord of Coucy Earle of Sâ—…ysons and after Arch-Duke of Austria whom K. Edward his father in law created also Earle of Bedford 1365. by whom shee was mother of two daughters Mary married to Henry of Barre to whom shee bare Robert de Barre and Ioane the wife of Lewis of Luxemburg Earle of S. Paul and Philip the wife of Robert de Veere Earle of Oxford Duke of Ireland and Marquesse of Dublyn this Robert in the heigth of his fortunes forsooke his noble Ladie and married one Lancerona a Ioyners daughter by report which came with King Richard the seconds wife out of Boheme and being for his pride and abusing the Kings eare to the hurt of the State driuen out of the land by the nobles hee dyed at Louain in great vexation of mind and extreme penury An. 1392. Isabel his wiues mother was buried in the Church of Fryars Minorites neer Algate in London Ioane their second daughter and third child was borne 9. of her fathers raigne An. 1335. Bâ—…ng 14. yeres of age shee was desired in marriage by solemne Embassage from Alphons the eleuenth King of Castile and Leon sonne of King Ferdinando the 4 was espoused by Proxie intituled Queene of Spaine and conueyed into that Countrey where shee presentlie deceased of a great plague that then raigned so as the King comming to meete her to solemnize the espousals with great griefe accompanyed her to Church only at her funerall 22. of her fathers raigne An. 1348. Blanch the 3. daughter died yong and lieth buried at Westminster Mary their 4. daughter was married to Iohn Montford Duke of Britaine Margaret their youngest daughter was the first wife of Iohn de Hastings Earle of Pembroke but shee dyed without
issue RICHARD THE SECOND KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE LORD OF IRELAND THE FIFTIETH MONARCH OF ENGLAND HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND TROVBLES CHAPTER XIII RIchard of Burdeaux sonne to that Great Star of English Cheualrie Edward by-named the Blacke Prince and grand-child to the most renowned Edward the third both of them lately deceased was crowned in the eleuenth yeare of his age and vpon the sixteenth day of Iuly Seldome hath been seen so magnificent a Coronation as that of this young King but the thing which gaue a better lustre of hope at his beginning then the shine and maiesty of that publike Act was the wise course which in this his childhood was taken to wit the reconciliation of the Lord Iohn Duke of Lancaster and the Citizens of London with the restitution of Sir Peter de la Mare Knight Speaker in the late Parliament whom King Edward had committed to prison at the instigation of Dame Alice Peeres now banisht and confiscated not onely to former liberty but likewise to fauour and honor extraordinary 2 At this Coronation which as matters not vnworthie to bee kept aliue wee following the immethodicall order of the Record haue here for perpetuall memory thought good to abridge out of authentike Monuments Iohn the Kings eldest vncle vnder the stile of Iohn King of Castile and Leâ—… and Duke of Lancaster by humble petition to the King claimed to bee now Steward of England in right of his Earledome of Leicester and as he was Duke of Lancaster to beare the Kings chiefe sword called Curtana and as Earle of Lincolne to cutte and carue at the royall Table before the King His petitions being found iust were confirmed to him and to his Assignes the two Earles of Derby and Stafford the first to beare the Sword while the Duke should be busied about other offices as Steward and the other to cut and carue The Duke then in great estate held this the Kings high Court of Stewardship in the VVhite-hall of the Kings Pallace at Westminster Knight the Constable thereof which yet the Earle of Northumberland vpon the ninth day after recouered by force putting those who had surprized it to the sword 9 Neither was the spirit of the English after it began to requicken idle elsewhere for as Sir Robert Rous had diuers wayes vexed the French and taken Olâ—…uer the brother of that renowned Bertrand de Glequin prisoner so Sir Iohn de Harleston Captaine of Cherbrough after him slew and took diuers French in a skirmish These the few foregoing drops of greater approaching showers For Sir Hugh Caluerlee and Sir Thomas Percy made admirals of the narrow Seas tooke many rich prizes and exploited sundry other things very praise worthily bringing home the acceptable newes of the dislike which the Britons had conceiued against the French Kings Gouernment for he commanded them to render vp to him all their strengths Castles and walled Townes and many of them who refused to obey hee put to death 10 These emploiments and fresh designes for other like found need of pecuniary supplies whereupon in a Parliament holden at London it was agreed that for supply of the Kings wants the Commons should be spared and the burthen be wholie vndergone by the able The rates then of that taxe were these Dukes Archbishops Earles and Bishops at ten marks each mitred Abbots at as much besides fortie pence for euery Monke vnder their subiection Briefly saith Thomas Walsingham there was no religious person man or woman Iustitiar Sheriffe Knight Esquire Parson Vicar or Chauntry Priest free from this taxâ—… rated according to the value of their yeerely receiptâ—… 11 We formerlie mentioned how Iohn Shakell the other companion of Robert Haulee so execrablie murdered in Gods-house was taken He now vpon condition that the King besides 500. markes in money should giue him lands to the yeerely value of one hundreth markes and should also found and sufficiently endow at the Kings costs a Chantrie with fiue Priests for their soules whom the kings Officers had wickedly murthered he rendred vp his Hostage the eldest but naturall sonne of the said Earle of Dean At the discouery and bringing-forth of whom all men were stroken with wonderfull loue and admiration for the yong Gentleman hauing giuen his faith not to disclose himselfe appeared in the shape of a base groome in which vnknowne to all the world but his Master hee had of his owne accord lurked An example of such a point of perfect honestie as cannot be forgotten without iniurie 12 The same yeere the Lord Iohn Mountford whom the French had driuen out being inuited home by his Barons returned into his Dutchy of Britaine accompanied with the valiant Knights Caluerley and Percy aforesaid where he his friends and followers were receiued with singular honor Soone after Sir Iohn of Arundell brother to the Earle of Arundell being sent into Britaine to aid the Duke was with many other valiant Knights and Esquires drowned It is imputed by our Author to a iust effect of Gods anger against the said Sir Iohn and his houshold for their manifold vices and outrages practised by him and them before they set out from England for which they had the bitter curses of the people and the Angell of destruction to execute those imprecations vpon the delinquents 13 But the action of â—…iding did more deepely import then that it should bee abandoned for the losse of that vnfortunate fellowship and the exceeding riches which were with them therefore the Lord Thomas of Woodstock Earle of Buckingham with Caluerlee Percy Knols Windleshores or Windsor verie valiant knights other competent forces was sent to assist the Duke of Britaine But because the French Galleys houered vpon the narrow Seas they landed at Calleys and from thence march through France spoiling Countries burning townes the French not daring to empeach them and killing people till they and their whole equipage came safe into Britaine 14 There were about these times ciuill diuisions in France for the Duke of Burgundie younger brother of King Charles lately dead being made Guardian of the person and dominions of his Nephew Charles then in minority had the Duke of Aniou being an elder brother to the Duke of Burgundie a mortall enemie Their bloudy quarrels fell out luckily for the English aides in the Dutchie of Britaine out of which as Duke Iohn had beene driuen for adhering to his father in law the late king Edward so the English did their best to vphold him in it as there was cause 15 The French in these extremes are releeued by their ancient diuersion for the Scots entring about that time with fire and sword into Cumberland and Westmerland and the forrest of Inglewood draue away much Cattle slew the Inhabitants rifled the booths and houses of Perith in the Faire time killing and taking many and driuing away the rest The Earle of Northumberland preparing a bloudy
reuenge was not without wonder prohibited so to doe by letters from the King that is from such as were about the King 16 But how coldly soeuer the publike affaires were followed the want of money for supplies was still pretended And therefore in a Parliament holden at Northampton was granted to the King a generall supplie of money the pretended occasion of monstrous mischiefe which followed by reason of a clause in that grant of Subsidie that euery one of ech sexe being aboue a certain age should pay by the head or per Pol as they call it twelue pence 17 The English Cheualry began now againe to display it selfe farre off to gratifie the priuate ends of Iohn Duke of Lancaster who claimed the Crown of Castile and Leon in right of Constance his wife For Iohn King of Portugal had a defensiue warre against Iohn then King of Castile who challenged the Crowne of Portugall in right of Beatrix his wife by whom hee had no issue the onely daughter of Ferdinand king of Portugall which this other Iohn a bastard sonne of Ferdinands had by faction vsurped There were sent to his aide the Lord Edmund de Langley Earle of Cambridge the Kings vncle and sundry Knights and others of good experience with an Armie These arriuing in Portugall valiantly defended the same for about two yeeres and were the chiefe cause of giuing the Spaniards an ouerthrow in battell where they lost ten thousand men At last the two Kings agreeing together bare the charges of conueighing home the English in common that their Countries might bee freed from them being both alike iealous of their puissance In this time Edward sonne to the Earle of Cambridge vncle to Richard king of England married the daughter of the king of Portugall but afterward neither would the Earle leaue his sonne behind as suspecting the Portugeses faith nor the other entrust his daughter to the Earle so as they remained disioined in body howsoeuer vnited by Ceremonie 18 Not long after the time of that Earles imployment into Spaine there fell out accidents which doe plainely conuince their error to bee great who thinke that any madnesse is like that of an armed vngouerned multitude whereof these times by a kind of Fate proper to childrens raigne gaue a most dangerous document The extreme hatred borne by the people to Iohn Duke of Lancaster calling himselfe king of Castile and Leon and the discontentment taken at an extraordinary taxe leuied per Pol vpon all sorts of people who were aboue sixteene yeers of age which as all other the euils of the time they imputed to the Duke the maner being to count them the authors of euils who are supposed to haue the greatest power of doing them moued the enraged multitudes vpon slight and small beginnings to runne together in so fearefull a Torrent that it seemed the King and kingdome were sodainely falne vnder their most wicked fury There were in this most rebellious insurrection the Commons and Bondmen who aspiring by force to a free manumission principally those of Kent and Essex whose example was followed in the Neighbour Shires of Surrey Suffolke Norfolke Cambridge and other places by incredible heards and droues of like qualified people who specially in Norfolke forced sundry principall Gentlemen to attend them in their madding 19 They of Kent embattelled themselues vnder two Banners of Saint George and about threescore and tenne Penons vpon Blacke-heath by Greenewich and from thence came to London where the generality of people inclining to them they are masters The Priory of S. Iohns without Smithfield they kept burning for about seuen dayes and the goodlie Palace of the Sauoy belonging to the Duke with all the riches therein they consumed by fire in a kind of holy outrage for they threw one of their fellowes into the flame who had thrust a peece of stolne plate into his bosome The Rebels of Essex came to Lambeth burnt all the Archbishops goods and defaced all the Writings Rowls Records and Monuments of the Chancerie as hauing a speciall hatred to the Lawyers little to their disgrace for that they shared herein with good men also whom they hated But their desperate wickednesse extended it selfe beyond the spoile of houses and substance laying bloudy hands vpon the most eminent and worthy men in the kingdome for that they had disswaded the King to put himselfe into their hands at Greenwich where hee talked with them out of his Barge and thereby had their maine designe disappointed Simon Tibald Archbishoppe of Canterburie and Chancellour of England a right worthy Prelate and Sir Robert Hales a Knight of high courage Lord Prior of Saint Iohns and Treasurer of England with others they without respect to the Maiestie of the King or priuiledge of their most honourable dignities most barbarously murthered by beheading them vpon Tower-Hill among infernall showtes diuelish yels For the Tower it selfe from whence they had haled them the young King being there in person was open to their execrable insolencies Neither doth the authority of Polyd. Vergil affirming that they were not haled forth but onely stayed by the Rebels to whom hee saith they were sent induce vs rather to credite him then Authors liuing about those very times There was no little store of other innocent bloud shed by them in these tumults Nor was the Kings own person without manifest perill against whose life they had damnably conspired It were long to reckon vppe the kinds of such villanies as they wrought but endlesse to recount the particulars The common Annals set forth this whole Tragicall businesse very diligently 20 They had many Captaines of mischiefe but two principall Wat Tyler of Maidstone in Kent whom Walsingham pretily cals the Idoll of Clownes and Iacke Straw who together had followers to the number as they were estimated of about one hundreth thousand and at one Sermon made to them by Iohn Ball Walsingham saith there were about twise as many Their Petitions were full of pride and malice but easily granted by the King the necessity of the times extorting them They had a Chaplaine as gracelesse as themselues one Iohn Ball an excommunicated Priest who with his wicked doctrine nourished in them their seditious furies to his own iust destructiō in the end but when a great multitude accepting the Kings mercy were gone Wat Tyler and his Campe departed not but vpon pretence of disliking the Articles of peace sought to winne time till he might put into full execution his incredible Treasons which as Iacke ◅traw at the time of his execution confessed were vpon that very night of the day wherein Wat Tyler was slain to murder the King and chiefe men and to erect petty Tyrannies to themselues in euery shire and already one Iohn Littistar a Dyer in Norwi◅h had taken vpon him at Northwalsham in Norfolke the name of the King of the Commons and Robert Westbroome in Suffolke to whom Iohn
would haue a yeerely pension of a thousand Marks out of the Temporalities belonging to that Abbey But the King hauing heard both parts commanded the Petitioners to silence and the Petition to bee razed out saying He would maintain the English Church in the quality of the same state or better in which himselfe had knowne it to bee when hee came to the Crowne The Archbishop hereupon hauing consulted with the Clergy came to the King and declared that hee and the Clergy had with one consent willingly prouided to supplie his Maiesties occasions with a Tenth This grant the King tooke so contentedly as he openly affirmed hee was better pleased with this free contribution of one Tenth for the present then if hee had gotten foure by compulsion 56 Robert de Vere Earle of Oxford a young Gentleman in speciall grace with the King was at this Parliament created Marquesse of Dublin in Ireland which moued great despight against him those rough times being impatient to beare the vnequall aduancement of fauourites Neuerthelesse though the gentle King was thought herein to please his owne fansie rather then to reward merite yet did hee so sweetly temper it as there was no iustice nor reason to enuie to him that solace which hee tooke in his friends encreased honour for at the same time hee aduanced two of his vncles Thomas of Woodstocke Earle of Buckingham to the title of Duke of Glocester and Edmund of Langley Earle of Cambridge he created Duke of Yorke allotting seuerall proportions of pension to be paide out of his Exchequer In Vere there was ancient Nobilitie to iustifie his new degree the better but in making the Lord Chancellor Michael de la Poole Earle of Suffolke with the yeerelie pension of 1000 Markes was matter of more enuie because he was not descended of such honourable Parents a defect if it bee a defect which none more willingly vpbraid to men of worth then who themselues are not alwayes the most worthy The first raiser of this familie of De la Pole was Edward the third who made William de la Pole of a braue Merchant a Knight Baneret and gaue him great possessions in requitall of an extraordinary and voluntary loane of treasure aduanced by him to supply the King in a time of speciall necessity when money could stand him in more steed then a thousand men of Armes no little merite in a subiect nor a slender reward of a most munificent Prince 57 Henry Spenser the martiall Bishop of Norwich found grace with the King at this Parliament to bee restored to his temporalities at the speciall suite of Thomas Arundell Bishoppe of Ely whiles the Bishoppe of Ely thus besought his Maiesty of Grace the said Michael de la Poole Lord Chancellor and Earle of Suffolke stood by and brake out with much offence into these words What is that my Lord which you aske of the King Seemes it to you a small matter for him to part with that Bishops temporalities when they yeeld to his Coffers aboue one thousand pounds by yeere Little neede hath the King of such Counsellors or of such friends as aduise him to acts so greatly to his hinderance Whereunto the Bishop of Ely not lesse truly then freelie replide What saith your Lordship my Lord Michael Know that I require not of the king that which is hiâ—… but that which hee drawne thereunto either by you or by the Counsell of such as you are withholds from other men vpon none of the iustest titles and which as I thinke will â—…euer doe him any good as for you if the Kings hinderance bee the thing you weigh why did you so greedily accept of a thousand markes by yeere at such time as he created you Earle of Suffolke The Chancellour was hit so home with this round retort that hee neuer offered any further to crosse the restitution of the Bishops temporalties 58 After this the King being with his Queen at their manour of Eltham in Kent there came thither Leo King of Armenia a Christian Prince whom the Tartars had expelled out of his Kingdome The pretence of his negotiation was to accord the realms of England and France that the Princes thereof might with ioint forces remoue the common enemy from Christendome Therein hee could effect nothing but his iourney was not otherwise vnfruitful to himselfe for King Richard a Prince to speake truly full of honour and bountie gaue him besides a thousand pounds in a ship of gold letters Pattents also for a thousand pounds yeerely pension during life 59 The time now was come wherein K. Richard should see himselfe deliuered of all that feare and iealousie which the greatnesse of his vncle the Duke of Lancaster stirred in him His Forces were now ready and his Nauie encreased with seuen Gallies and eighteene shippes sent out of Portugall attended at Bristoll to transport him toward Spaine for Castile is high Spaine the crowne whereof hee claimed in right of Constance his second wife daughter of Dom Peter the cruell Before hee set forth the newes came that such English as were already in Portugall with their friendes had ouerthrowne the Spaniards French and Britons at a battell in Spaine This was a spurre to quicken the Dukes enterprise which Pope Vrban the sixth by granting plenarie remission of sinnes to all such as gaue the Duke aid did specially fauour as against them who did partake with his enemy the Antipape but the frequent grant of such pardon and releasement was now growne so vile and contemptible amongst the people that few were found open handed towards this Cruceato Admiral of this Fleete was Sir Thomas Percie Sir Iohn Holland who had married one of the Dukes daughters afterward created Earle of Huntington was Constable of the host and Sir Iohn Mereaux who had to wife one of the Dukes illegitimate children was one of his Marshals There were in this noble and excellently-well appointed Army the Lords Talbot Basset Willâ—…ghby Fitz-walter Poinings Bradston Fitzwarren Beaumont Beauchampe the Lord Pomiers a Gascoin c. with very many worthy knights valiant Esquiers and a choise number of men of Arms Archers and other Souldiers to the number of twenty thousand The Duke tooke also with him his wife the Lady Constance and two daughters which hee had by her as * one relateth 60 It was now the moneth of May when the great Duke of Lancaster comming to take leaue had of the kings gift a Diademe of gold and his Dutchesse of the Queene another he also commanded the English to call and hold his vncle for a King and to doe him answerable honour But after all this hee lay for a wind so long till his whole prouisions were almost spent at length yet hee set forward The first land they touched was neere to Brest in Britaine where Sir Iohn Roch the Gouernour against the French complained of two Forts built about him to empeach his quiet
for a fee-farme whereof himselfe receiued threescore and ten and some such other To pacifie these great Lords the Lord Chancellour is disgraced and the seale taken from him against the Kings will and giuen to Thomas Arundell Bishop of Elye and then the houses of Parliament yeelded to giue halfe a Tenth and halfe a Fifteenth but vpon condition that it should be disposed of as the Lords thought fit for defence of the Realme The money was thereupon deliuered to the Earle of Arundell to furnish himselfe for that purpose to the Sea But to rid the Duke of Ireland out of the realme the Lords were willing he should haue those thirtie thousand markes for which the heires of Charles of Bloiâ—… who heretofore challenged Britaine were transacted to the French vpon condition that the sayd Duke should passe into Ireland before the next Easter 67 The Parliament was no sooner dissolued but the King recals the Earle of Suffolk to the Court keeps both him the Duke of Ireland and Alexander Neâ—…ile Archbishop of Yorke about his person in greater fauour then before Insomuch that at Christmas he made De-la-Pole to sit at his owne Table not in the vsuall garment of a Peere but Princely robed Surely therein not well for some of those great Lords though not by so sweet meanes as were fit did desire to waken him out of Courtly drowsinesse and as men that knew not what peace meant to put him into actions worthy of his name and greatnes These other persons were not so friended or qualified that they could support a King against an vniuersal mislike But the King vpon a stomacke doth it so that saith Walsingham here first grew the Kings hatred against the Peeres that from thence forth he neuer as it is said regarded them but fainedly So much more dangerous sometime is the remedy then a very greeuous maladie 68 King Richard whose age and place stood in need of wiser instructions not thus contented to haue whetted the displeasures of the greater Peeres as if he had said to himselfe Rumpatur quisquis rumpitur inuidiâ is further drawne as was said to plot the death of his vncle Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Gloster and other enemies of De-la-pole who together being inuited to a feast by the bloody deuise of Sir Nicholas Brambre late Lord Maior of London should together haue perished But the present Lord Maior Nicholas Exton whom the conspirators would haue had their Partaker if it may be beleeued honestly refused to assent The Lords hereupon hauing admonition refrained to come 69 The persons which were in the publike enuie for their ouer-swaying grace with the King were as you haue heard Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland Michael de la Pole Earle of Suffolke the said Archbishop Sir Simon Burley Knight and Sir Richard Stury These men hearing that Richard Earle of Arundel and Thomas Earle of Nottingham Marshall of England had encountred with a great Fleete of Frenchmen Flemmings Normans and Spaniards and taken aboue one hundreth saile of ships and in them nineteene thousand tunnes oâ—…â—…ine depraued the victorie saying that the vanquished were but Merchants whose loues had beene more profitable to our Countrey then so to stirre them to inexorable hatred But these saith one who thus iudged were rather the Knights of Venus then Bellona fitter for a Canapie then a Campe for language then a lance as they who were awake to discourse of martiall actions but drowâ—…e when they should come to doe them Such therefore câ—…ersing with the King not * without suspition of fowle familiaritie neuer tooke care to put into his mind any matter which beseemed so potent a Prince wee say not quoth our Authour as concerning the vse of Armes but not euen concerning those very recreations which most of all become great spirits as hunting hawking and the like But the Earles did more then meddle with Merchants who yet were able to make dangerous resistances for they landed at Brest in Britaine and with great difficulty deliuered it againe from so bad neighbours as the two woodden Forts neerely built where the other had stood one of which they fired and the other they mand with the English Garrison of Brest Then stuffing it with all sorts of prouisions for a yeere and furnishing the wants of the Souldiers with all necessaries they returned hauing worthily wonne the loue and praises of the people Which as they were also due to them from the king yet comming to his presence they by these mens euill offices had so cold entertainement as they eftsoones withdrew themselues from Court to liue quietly vpon their owne at home After them the braue young Henry Hotspur Lord Percy was sent ill prouided to the Sea neuerthelesse he ventred and returned when his commission was expired with honour 70 One thing done by the Duke of Ireland was surelie full of wickednesse and indignitie For he hauing to wife a young faire and noble Ladie and the Kings neere kineswoman for shee was Grandchild to king Edward by his daughter Isabel did put her away and took one of Queene Annes women a Bâ—…hemian of base birrh called in her mother tongue Lancecrone This intollerable villanie offered to the blood royall King Richard did not encounter neither had the power some say who deemed that by witchcrafts and sorceries practised vpon him by one of the Dukes followers his iudgement was so seduced and captiuated that he could not see what was honest or fit to doe But where Princes are wilfull or slouthfull and their fauorites flatterers or time-seruers there needs no other enchantments to infatuate yea and ruinate the greatest Monarch 71 The Duke of Glocester tooke the matter more to heart resoluing to be reuenged for the infamy and confusion which was brought thereby vpon his noble kinsewoman Meanewhile the king as if he meant to conduct his deare friend the Duke toward Ireland went with him into Wales There the King deuiseth with him the Earle of Suffolke Sir Robert Tresilian and others who were equally affrayd of the Lords how to destroy the Duke of Glocester the Earles of Arundel Warwicke Derby Nottingham and such others as from whom they thought fitte to bee cleare Much time being trifled thus away in Wales they come together as if the Dukes appointed voyage or rather banishment into Ireland were quite forgotten to the Castle of Nottingham there more freely to deliberate A fearefull estate of a Monarchie Hee among a few generally ill beloued and ill aduised and ill prouided for their whole strength was the king and these emulations made that force feeble both to him and them the Lords potent martiall rich and popular he at Notingham they not neere him but abroad farre-off the Duke of Lancaster with the flower of the English forces and mighty neighbours watching for the ruine of all The course agreed vpon by the King and that ill-chosen Senate was first to haue the
both by Clergy and Laity Hereupon the Lord Henry Percy Hotspur who had redeemed himself was called from his charge at Callis and made Warden of the Marches against Scotland Thomas Moubray Earle of Nottingham succeeding in the Captaineship of Calys The Dukes chargefull emploiment in France bare no other flower then a yeeres short truce 89 The Kings wants still encreasing with his imploiments the Londoners carried away with euill counsell did a thing most vnworthy of their Citie and themselues and it might to them haue proued as hurtfull as it was vnworthy at such time as the King desired the loane but of one thousand pounds which was not onely churlishly denied but a certaine Lumbard honestly offering to lend the same was badly vsed beaten and almost slain Their liberties for that and other disorders are seised and their proper Magistracy dissolued Guardians being giuen them first Sir Edward Dallinging then Sir Baldwin Radington and their Maior and some chiefe Citizens layed in prisons farre off from London The punishment brought the fowlenesse of their errors to their sight but by the Duke of Glocesters intercessions who did not vnwillingly lay hold vpon such occasions of popularity the king and Queene are wonne to enter the City which gaue them triumphall entertainement The sea is not sodainely calmed after a tempest neither a Princes anger By degrees yet and not without deare repentance they were at last restored to their former condition in all points 90 The king declaring his purpose to crosse into Ireland had an aide of money conditionally granted foure yeeres truce by the trauaile of the two Dukes of Lancaster and Glocester being concluded in France This yeere was farther notable for many great Funerals Constance Dutchesse of Aquitaine and Lancaster a Lady of great Innocency and deuotion the Countesse of Derby her daughter in law Isabel the Dutchesse of Yorke and a Lady noted for too great a finenesse and delicacy yet at her death shewing much repentance and sorrow for her loue to those pestilent vanities left this present life But all the griefe for their deaths did in no sort equall that of the kings for the losse of his owne Queene Anne which about the same time hapned at Sheene in Surrey whom he loued euen to a kind of madnesse but Ladies onely died not for Sir Iohn Hawkwood whose cheualrie had made him renowned ouer the Christian world did in this yeere depart an aged man out of this world in Florence where his ashes remaine honoured at this present with a stately Tombe and the statue of a Man at Armes erected by the gratitude of that State and City which chiefly by his conduct courage and valour to this day admired amongst them was preserued The Italian Writers both Historians and Poets highlie celebrating his matchlesse prowesse enstyle him Anglorum decus decus addite genti Italicae Italico prasidiumque Solo. Englands prime honour Italies renowne Who vpheld all Italie from sinking down But the Duke of Lancaster hauing all things ready sets saile to Burdeaux there with the consent of the State to take possession of his lately granted Dutchie 91 The King doth the like for Ireland where that sort of the Irish which are called the wild had greatly inuested the English Pale and other good Subiects there to the great dammage of the Crown of England In the times of Edward the third Ireland yeelded to the kings coffers thirty thousand pounds yeerly but now things were so grown out of order that it cost the King thirty thousand Marks by yeere To reduce the rebellious himselfe conducts thither an Armie attended vpon by the Duke of Glocester the Earles of March Nottingham and Rutland all the Irish being commanded to auoid out of England The terror of the preparatiōs shining presence of a king which aboue al worldly things is pleasāt to the Irish had such effects that sundry great men were compelled to submit themselues To supply the Kings wants growne in the Irish expedition Edmund D. of Yorke the Kings vncle and Custos or Warden of England called a Parliament at London whither the Duke of Glocester repaired to declare the Kings wants and hath contributions granted Neuerthelesse so strong a party against the Clergy Fryarly abuses of those times discouered it selfe therein that the Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of London and others prest ouer Sea to the King at Dublin beseeching him to returne the sooner to represse the Lollards so called they the embracers of Wicliffes doctrine and their fauourers who sought not onely as they vntruly pretended to wring away all the possessions of the Church but that which was worse to abrogate and destroy al Ecclesiasticall constitutions whereas they aimed onely at the redresse of exorbitancy in the Papal Clergy The King hereupon returnes by whose arriuall and authority those consultations of the Laity were laid downe Sir Richard Storie a seruant of his had been forward against the Prelates of him therefore hee takes an oath vpon the holy Gospell that he should not hold such opinions any longer The Knight takes that oath and we saith the King doe sweare that if thou doest breake it thou shalt die a most shamefull death The rest hearing the Lion roare so terribly drew in their hornes and would be seen no more 92 The King caused the body of the late Duke of Ireland to bee brought into England His exceeding loue to him was such that he commanded the Cypresse chest wherein his body lay embalmed to bee opened that hee might see view handle and openly expresse his affection The dead remaines of that noble young Gentleman by his birthright Earle of Oxford and by race a Vere were buried at the Priorie of Coln in Essex there being present the King himselfe the Countesse Dowager of Oxford the Dukes mother the Archbishoppe of Canterburie with many Bishops Abbots and religious persons but few of the Lords for they had not as yet digested the hate they bare him 93 The Duke of Lancaster was this while in Aquitaine where he had sought to winne the people with incredible largesse to accept of his Soueraignty according to the tenor of King Richards grant Little did he then thinke that within lesse then sixescore and three yeeres after an Ambassador of King Henry the 8. should write thus of Burdeaux it selfe the Capitall City of Gascoign and Guien Anglorum nulla ferè vestigia remanent c. There are saith that learned Gentleman scarse any foot-prints of the Englishmen remaining In the Churches and other places newly refreshed and reedified such Armories of the English as stood were vtterly blotted and defaced yet in the Church of the Fryers Preachers the Armories of the Duke of Lancaster stand entire in a Glasse-window and in the oldest wall of the City those also of England though consumed in a manner with age The Lawes Statutes and Ordinations which were
made by the English are notwithstanding obserued at this day But the Dukes eye could not looke so farre into the times to come Neuerthelesse wee that see these things must confesse that the best kingdome vnder heauen is not so worth the getting as that with the wilfull contempt of God and conscience any man should seeke to purchase it 94 But while the Duke was thus busied in Courting the Gascoignes good will who had sent into England to shew causes why they should not atturne to the Duke and yet were wrought at last to the point of yeelding he receiues a commandement from King Richard to returne that he might goe with him into France which he obayed The King keeping his at Langley in Hartfordshire the Duke was there entertained with more honour as it was thought then loue Being licenced to depart for a time he repaired to Lincolne where he a widdower married his old loue the Lady Katherine Swinford now a widdow Men did wonder at it but hee therein obeyed the remorse of a Christian conscience without respect to his owne vnequall greatnes for hauing had sundry Children by her in his former wiues time he made her and them now the only sufficient amends which the law of God or man enioineth And further in a Parliament held the yeere following the Duke procured an Act to passe by which such children as he formerly had by his new Dutchesse were legitimated and surnamed them Beufot being foure of them Iohn Thomas Henrie Ioane the second of which was by the Kings bounty created Earle of Sommerset 95 The King being specially accompanied with those his vncles of Lancaster and Glocester at a most sumptuous and chargefull enteruiew between him and Charles King of France in the parts of Calis and Gynes espoused the Lady Isabell daughter of the said Charles At the deliuery of her King Richard in the presence of all the greatest Princes Peeres and Ladies of either nation gaue the King his father in law great thanks for a gift so noble and acceptable adding he tooke her vpon the conditions made betweene the two nations to the intent that liuing in peace and rest they might attaine to the establishment of a perpetuall amitie for auoyding the effusion of Christian blood which would in likelyhood haue followed had not at that time affinitie beene contracted betweene them The young Lady was not aboue seuen or eight yeeres old but the truce was taken for thirty yeeres Her person therefore was committed to the Dutchesses of Lancaster and Glocester and other great Ladies who conducted her to Callis From whence after a short stay the King his young Queene with whom he had great riches and all the glorious companie came ouer into England Their persons arriued safe but the Kings gorgeous Pauilions and a great part of his stuffe was cast away by tempest in the transportation This iourney besides his losses at Sea cost the King aboue forty thousand markes 96 The outward felicitie of England seemed at this time verie great and the rather seemed so because it was likelie to continue In the Duke of Glocesters persō that bright prosperity was first ouershadowed He Vir ferocissimus pracipitis ingenij as Polydor censures him a most fierce man and of an headlong wit thinking those times wherein he had mastred the King were nothing changed though the King was aboue thirty yeres old forbare not roughly not so much to admonish as to checke and schoole his Souereigne The peace with France displeased him that therefore he calumniates The King had restored Brest in Britaine to the Duke vpon reembursements of the money lent he tels the King that hee should first conquer a Towne before he parted with any yet the King answeres that he could not in conscience detaine the same now that the Duke had repaid his loane There were other things which could not so well be answered For a vaine rumor that he should be chosen Emperour put him belike into such a vaine of spending as carried a proportion with that maiesty his coffers in a short time sounding like empty Caske there was no great monied man in whose debt he was not nor any in a manner so meane to whome hee was not burthenous 97 The King had heretofore complained of this vncle to the Earle of Saint Paul a French-man then in England whose iudgement was that such insolency was to be reuenged but complaining to his other vncles of Lancaster and Yorke they wisely aduised the King not to regard his words but his heart which he and they knew sincere vnto him Neuerthelesse partly to weaken the intollerable humor of their brother who like a constant Admirer of his owne waies thought nothing well done but what himselfe either did or directed and partlie to auoid the scandall of the Kings bad courses they withdraw their presences from the Court The King notwithstanding is the same man still as the Duke of Glocester thinks wherefore he breakes his minde to such as he durst trust Arundell in Sussex is appointed the Consultation-place where he the Archbishop of Canterbury the Earles of Arundell Warwicke Marshall and others take an Oath of Secrecy and conclude to raise a power to remoue the Dukes of Lancaster and Yorke and such other as they thought best from about the King so to enact a reformation 98 They are charged by some to haue plotted the imprisonment of the King and Dukes and the death of all other Councellours which howsoeuer it was perhaps no part of their intention might yet haue beene a necessarie consequent The blustring Duke had breathed out dangerous words as that he would put the King of whose courage he spake contemptiblie into some prison there to spend his daies in ease and peace as himselfe thought best His brethren hearing hereof brotherlie admonish him to beware but as it seemes they found him deafe on that side This though some of the late Authors write yet there are both old and new who mention no such matter but the contrary not obscurely teaching vs that the Dukes ruine was but an effect of old malignities 99 Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham and Marshall a party in the reported plot though sonne in law to the Earle of Arundel reueileth the same to the King * The Duke of Glocester is hereuppon surprized by Mowbray lying in wait in the woods where hee was to passe sent to Callis where Nottingham was Captaine and there imprisoned the Earles of Arundel and Warwicke the Lord Iohn Cobham and Sir Iohn Cheiney are arrested Proclamation is then made that they were not committed for anie old matters but for hainous things newly contriued as in the next Parliament should be made manifest though the euent as Walfingham truly saith declared the contrarie But the Duke of Glocester and the two said Earles are endited at Nottingham The King to maintaine the accusation of treason obiected
bed there lay hidden a Galtrop or Engine with three small yron pikes long slender and passing sharpe all of them with their points set vpward but God so disposing it the King before hee laid himselfe downe perceiued them and thereby auoided that hidden mischiefe but who was actor therein it doth not appeare 25 This appeares that the splendors of his new regality had drawne vp many thicke and poisonous cloudes of enuie and practise to darken if it were possible the farther brightnesse thereof Neither was it long before it grew to some extremity For Owen Glendowr vpon the causes beforesaid wasting the Lord Reynald Grayes lands was encountred by him as presuming that Owen and his friendes might easily be ouercome but the contrary hapned for there in fight hee lost very many of his companie and was himselfe taken Prisoner This fortune made the swelling mind of Owen ouerflow in vaine hopes who compelling the said Lord to marry his daughter yet obtained hee not his liberty the sooner but died say some in the power of Owen if perhaps our Author mistake not the Lord Gray for Edmund Lord Mortimer Earle of March who indeed did marrie so after hee was also ouerthrowne by the said Owen with the slaughter of aboue a thousand principall persons of Herefordshire assembled vnder his conduct to resist the Welsh inuasions and there also himselfe was by trecherie taken prisoner 26 Walsingham doth write that about this time sundrie conspiracies were discouered in the yolke as it were or embrion the whole hopes whereof rested vpon calumniations and forgery for by the first they traduced in libels Henries actions so to make him hatefull and by the second they diuulged that Richard was still aliue thereby to raise an head of separation Henry thus galled in his honour and endangered in the main resolued to spare none vpon whom the crime or concealement was found The first of them that fell vnder his iustice was a Priest of Ware with whom was taken a list or roll of names which hee had gathered supposing them such as in regard of benefites receiued would liue and die for King Richard which vanitie of his created trouble to many till it appeared that he had therein wronged them as persons who were vtterlie ignorant both of the man and matter Whereupon hee was drawne and hanged The like fate had Walter Baldocke Prior of Lawnd who confest that he had concealed others counsels against the King though himselfe had acted nothing A Frier Minor also being taken with some other of his Order for like intendments was asked What hee would doe if King Richard were aliue and present hee confidently answered that hee would fight for him till death against any whosoeuer which cost him his life being drawn and hanged in his Fryars weeds Neither did this hard fortune fall onely vpon the Clergy for Sir Roger Claringdon Knight reputed the base sonne of Edward late Prince of Wales together with an Esquier and seruant of his finished the affection which they bare to the deceased Richard by hanging Not long after eight Franciscan Fryars or Minorites were taken conuicted hanged and headed for the like causes which made the King an heauy Lord to that whole Order It is said that somewhat before this knot was discouered the diuell appeared in the habit of a Minorite at Danbury Church in Essex to the incredible astonishment of the parishioners for at the same time there was such a Tempest thunder with great fire-bals of lightning that the vault of the church brake and halfe the Chancell was carried away 27 But howsoeuer these out-branches were pared away the rootes of all the practise lay deeper out of sight for the Percies Henry Earle of Northumberland Thomas Earle of Worcester and Henrie Hotspur Lord Percy because perhaps they thought they had done wickedly in helping to set vp Henry beganne to imagine that bloudy mischiefe which afterward was prosecuted This malice the late successe of Owen Glendowr against the Lord Mortimer Earle of March taken prisoner as is said with no little slaughter of his Herefordshire men did perhaps nourish for that hee saw an enemie appeare who was not vnlikely to proue an able member of a greater rebellion Certainely the King hauing in September led an Armie into Wales to take reuenge vpon his Rebels was in great danger to haue perished with sodaine stormes and raines the like whereof none of his people had euer felt or seene so that after he had done some wasts vpon the Country hee returned The common fame went that Owen was a Coniurer and had raised those hideous tempests by hellish arts they seemed so excessiue which whether true or false did yet impart no little strength to the Welsh faction 28 The Kings fortune was happier in the North where his Lieutenants had two faire victories the one at Nisbet and the other at Halidowne-hill neere to a village called Woller And although the first was not a small one yet the other deserued the name of a iust battell and garland To the Scots hauing with aboue ten thousand men vnder conduct of Archibald Earle of Dowglas whom the Scots nick-named Tyne-man because he neuer wanne field though no sort of true manhood was wanting in his person made great spoiles in England as farre as to Newcastle and were now vpon returne Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland the noble Henry Hotspur Lord Percie his sonne and George Earle of Dunbar who fled as you haue heard out of Scotland with the forces of the Countries there about not meaning to let them to passe in so slight a sort opposed themselues The chiefe feare was wrought by the English Archers who first with their stiffe close and cruell stormes of arrowes made their enemies footmen breake and when the noble Dowglasse descended to the charge with his choisest bands himselfe being in a most rich and excellently tempered armour and the rest singularly well appointed the Lord Percies Archers making a retreat did withall deliuer their deadly arrowes tam viuidè tam animosè tam grauitèr saith our Monke so liuely so couragiously so grieuously that they ranne through the men of Armes bored the helmets pierced their very swords beate their lances to the earth and easily shot those who were more slightly armed through and through There were taken prisoners the Earle of Dowglas himselfe who notwithstanding his armour of the best proofe had fiue wounds and lost an eye Murdake Stewart Earle of Fife eldest sonne to Robert Duke of Albanie George Earle of Angus the Earles of Murrey and Orkney the Lords Montgomerie Erskin and Grane with about fourscore Knights besides Esquiers and Gentlemen There were slaine the Lords Gourdon and Swyntonn Belindens Boetius cals them Knights with sundrie other men of honour and marke beside store of common souldiers The riuer Tweed to shew it selfe meere English did likewise fight for them by
offer to him the Dutchy of Aquitaine entire and in as full a manner as euer his Predecessors enioyned the same without excepting any thing so as they themselues will hold and acknowledge to hold their lands in those parts directly of the said King and deliuer as much of them as they can into his possession and will doe their vtmost to conquer the rest for him Vpon condition on the other side 1. That the King of England and his Successors should assist the said Lords against the Duke of Burgundy for the murther committed vpon the person of the late Duke of Orleance 2. That he should assist against the said Duke of Burgundy and his fauourers till they had repaired all the losses which they their friends and tenants had susteined through that â—…ccasion 3. That he should help to settle the quiet of the realme c. 50 These Offers being put into the balance with the Articles vpon which the Duke of Burgundy had obteined succours ouerweighed them so farre that about the midst of August before all those which had beene sent with the Earle of Arundel to the contrarie part were returned into England aydes were decreed to the Duke of Orleance to the wonder of all men who vnderstood not the secret so that Thomas Duke of Clarence Edward Duke of Yorke the Earle of Dorcet and very many other principall men with a competent puissance were sent ouer to ayde the Duke of Orleance the Earle of Angolesme remaining hostage in England for the sure payment of one hundred and nine thousand Crownes for performance of the other Articles They came on shore in Normandy but whither the confederates moued with the perill into which their Country Nation should by these meanes be precipitated or for some other causes though none indeed so iust as the sorrow and shame for their so disloyall a combination with the Capitall enemies of France the Duke of Orleance contrary to agreement came not at the appointed time and place whereupon the English burnt spoiled and tooke much riches in the Castles Countrey and good Townes therewith to satisfie themselues till the Duke of Orleance should see them payd At last yet the Dukes of Clarence and Orleance came to a treaty after which the English campe rose peaceably and marcht into Aquitaine there to winter it selfe the Duke of Orleance returning to his owne While these matters were in hand the Lord of Heyle Marshall of France with many other Lords and about foure thousand men of armes layd siege to a certaine strong place in Gascoigne which Sir Iohn Blunt Knight with three hundred souldiers not onely defended but draue them also from the siege taking prisoners twelue of the principall and about sixe score other Gentlemen * The King liued not to see the carriage and fortune of these warres for falling sicke at Eltham in the Christmas time at which our ancient authors begin to draw the circles of their yeeres but recouering himselfe a little he repaired to London about Candlemas there to hold a Parliament the end whereof he liued not to see but vpon the twentieth day of March finished his short but politicke and victorious reigne in peace and honour had not the iniustice of his first entrance left a dishonorable stayne vpon his worthiest actions 51 The vulgar Chronicles tell vs a strange Story the truth whereof must rest vpon the reporters The King say they lying dangerously sicke caused his Crowne to bee set on a Pillow at his beds head when suddainely the pangs of his Apoplexie seizing on him so vehemently that all supposed him dead the Prince comming in took away the Crown which his father reuiuing soone missed and calling for his sonne demanded what the meant to bereaue him of that whereto hee had yet no right The Prince boldlie replied Long may you liue Soueraigne Father to weare it your selfe but all men deeming you were departed to inherite another Crowne this being my right I tooke as mine owne but now doe acknowledge for none of mine and thereupon he set the Crowne againe where he found it Oh sonne quoth hee with what right I got it God onely knoweth who forgiue me the sinne howsoeuer it was got sayd the Prince I meane to keepe and defend it when it shall bee myne with my sword as you by sword haue obtained it Which the King hearing hee entered discourse of aduise shewing him that hee feared some discord would arise betwixt him and his brother Thomas Duke of Clarence who with better respect had borne forth his youth then Prince Henry had done and whose distemper was like to breed great troubles if it were not in time stayed If my brethren quoth Henry will be true subiects I will honour them as my brethren but if otherwise I shall assoone execute iustice vpon them as on the meanest of birth in my Kingdome The King reioycing at this vnexpected answere both prudently and Christianly charged him before God to minister the law indifferently to ease the oppressed to beware of flatterers not to deferre iustice nor yet to be sparing of mercy Punish quoth hee the oppressors of thy people so shalt thou obtaine fauour of God and loue and feare of thy Subiects who whiles they haue wealth so long shalt thou haue their obedience but made poore by oppressions will be ready to make insurrections Reioyce not so much in the glory of thy Crowne as meditate on the burthenous care which accompanieth it mingle loue with feare so thou as the heart shalt be defended in the midst of the body but know that neither the heart without the members nor a King without his Subiects helpe is of any force Lastly my sonne loue and feare God ascribe all thy victories strength friends obedience riches honour and all vnto him and with the Psalmist say with all thankes Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but to thy holy name be giuen the laud and praise 52 Vpon what soile these most Christian true and excellent Councels fell the following life will shew being nothing else but a full representation in act of such things as are here in precept only shewing to the world how diuine a beautie Christian goodnes hath His Wiues 53 The first wife of King Henry the fourth was Mary one of the daughters and heires of Humfrey de Bohum Earle of Hereford Essex and Northampton Constable of England c. Shee dyed An. D. 1394. before he came to the Crowne 54 His second wife was Ioane Queene daughter to Charles the first King of Nauarre shee being the widow of Iohn de Montford Sirnamed Streani Duke of Britaine and died without any Children by King Henry at Hauering in the Bower in the County of Essex 1437. the tenth day of Iulie in the fifteenth yeere of Henry the sixt and was buried by her husband at Canterbury His Children 55 Henry the Prince of Wales Duke of Cornewall Earle of Chester and afterward King
13. of Richard 2. which disabled the Alien Religious to enioy any Benefices within England and now fearing to nourish a snake in his bosome King Henry forbad the French from all preferments Ecclesiasticall and those Priors Aliens conuentual who had institution and induction to put in security not to disclose or cause to be disclosed the counsell nor secrets of the Realme and that the French might hold his dealings honourable and open hee sent Antilop his purseuant at Armes vnto King Charles with letters of defiances next making Queene Ioan his mother in Law the Regent of the land he drew his forces vnto Southampton commaunding his followers there to attend him in readinesse by the feast of Saint Iohn Baptist ensuing 30 Charles the French King expecting present inuasion sent his Ambassadors vnto Iohn the sixt Duke of Britain who had married his daughter with an hundred thousand Crowns to leuie forces for his aide and a Iewell worth fiue thousand Crownes more to himselfe which the Duke promised to come in person to performe And as it is reported King Charles sent to Scrope Grey and Cambridge all three in especiall fauour with the King a million of gold to betray Henry into his hands or to murther him before hee should arriue in Normandy These to make their faction stronger though Scroope was Lord Treasurer Grey a Priuie Councellour Cambridge the sonne of Edmund Duke of Yorke meant to draw in Edmund Earle of March the sonne of Roger Mortimer and lineally the heire vnto Lionell Duke of Clarence the next in succession for the house of Yorke and reuealing their intended purpose forced him to sweare to their secresie which if hee refused they threatned his death whereupon he required but an howres respite which hardly granted he went to the King and reuealed the conspiracie euen the night before the day that hee meant to put to sea 31 The parties apprehended and brought before him in presence of many nobles King Henry thus spake With what horrour O Lord may anie true English heart consider that you for pleasing of a forreine enemy should imbrue your hands in our blood as also in the blood of our brethren to the ruine of your owne natiue soile reuenge herein touching my person though I seeke not yet for the safegard of you my deare friends and for due preseruation of the Realme I am by place and office to minister remedy against these Offenders Get you hence therefore you miserable wretches to receiue the iust reward of your deserts wherein God giue you repentance for your so foule sinnes 32 Notwithstanding this their offence their inditement as it standeth in the Record includes matter of other quality that Richard Earle of Cambridge of Conesburgh in the County of Yorke and Thomas Grey of Heton in the Countie of Northumberland Knight for that they in the twentieth of Iuly and third of King Henry the fifts raigne at Southampton had conspired together with a power of men to haue lead away the Lord Edmund Earle of March into Wales and to haue procured him to take the Gouernment of the Realme in case that King Richard the second were dead with a purpose to haue put forth a Proclamation in the name of the said Earle as heire to the Crowne against King Henry by the name of Lancaster vsurper and further to haue conuayed a Banner of the Armes of England and a certaine Crowne of Spaine set vpon a Pallet layd in gage to the sayd Earle of Cambridge into Wales As also that the said conspirators had appointed certaine into Scotland to bring thence one Trumpington and another resembling in shape fauour and countenance King Richard And Henrie Scroope of Masham in the Countie of Yorke was likewise indited as consenting to the Premisses Thus well appeared their purpose though Richard Earle of Cambridge considering the possibility of his owne issue had secretly carried that businesse whose sorrowfull letter of his owne hand writing as it came to ours we thinke not amisse here to insert Most dreadfull and Soueraigne Liege Lord I Richard Yorke your humble subiect and very Leigeman beseech you of grace of all manner of offences which I haue 〈◊〉 or assented vnto in any kind by stirring of other folke egging me vnto wherein I wot well I haue highly offended to your Highnesse beseeching you at the reuerence of God that you like to take mee into the hands of your mercifull and piteous grace thinking yee will of your 〈◊〉 goodnes my Leige Lord my full trust is that you will hauâ—… consideration though that my person be of none valew your high goodnesse where God hath set you in sâ—… high estate to euery Leigeman that you longeth plent 〈◊〉 to â—…ue that you like to accept this my simple request for the loue of our Lady and the blessed holy Ghost to whom I pray that they moue your heart euer to all pittie and grace for their high goodnes Notwithstanding this his humble petition vpon the sixt of August following hee with Scroope and Grey were beheaded and his body with head enterred in the Chappell of Gods-house in South-hampton whose apprehensions arraignements and deaths were so followed each after others as the French knew not but that the treason had successe and their returned Ambassadours told it for certaine that King Henry had either dismissed his Army or which was thought more true himselfe was slaine by the Conspirators so easie an entrance hath babling report into the wide eares of credulous desire 33 But King Henrie now ready to embarke his men vpon Wednesday the seauenth of August with fifteene hundred Saile tooke to Seas attended with sixe thousand speares and twenty foure thousand footmen besides Gunners Enginers Artificers and Labourers a great number and the fifteenth of the same month cast Anchor in the mouth of Seyne at a place called Kideaux about three miles from Harflew where he landed his men and falling deuoutly vpon his knees desired Gods assistance to recouer his right making Proclamation vpon paine of death that Churches should be spared from all violence of spoile that Churchmen women and Children should not be hurt abused or wronged then giuing the order of Knighthood to many of his followers hee assigned his Standards to men of most strength and courage which done he tooke the hill neere adioyning and thence sent his spiall to the Towne of Harflew making that the first assay of his fortunes in France But before we enter any further discourse in the affaires of that Kingdome it shall not be amisse to speake of things commenced in England before that King Henry tooke to the Seas 34 The Churches throughout Christendome hauing beene disquieted the space of twentie nine yeers and now growne intollerable through the schismaticall ambitions maintained by three Papall Monarchs mounted into Saint Peters seate each of them grasping the Chaire with so fast a fist that the ioints thereof
blood and euening approaching neere the set of the Sunne the field cleared and no enemy seene the retreate was sounded and all were assembled to giue thankes vnto God which done while his souldiers pillaged the dead King Henry sent for Montioy herault at armes in France and for other heraulds both English and French vnto whom he said we haue not of our selues made this great slaughter which the sword in our weake hands hath laid at our feete but the Arme of God for the offences no doubt of the French hath doneit whose blood let now rest vpon their owne heads and wee guiltlesse in following our right and then demanding the name of the place was answered it was Azincourt then said he to all posterities following this Battell shall be called the Battell of Azincourt Thus dismissing the heraulds he returned to Maisconcelles where he lodged the night before The spoile was great and the pray rich in armours iewels and apparell for which by the Countrey Peasants many left as dead were stripped starke naked who afterward crept from the place but most of them mortallie wounded without reliefe lay in great dolor and died in the ditches so certaine is the calamity of warre and vncertaine the sword till it bee quietlie sheathed 61 King Henry lost his cosen Edward Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Suffolke that day besides some others the Frēch writers say three or foure hundred yet Caxton will haue them but twenty and sixe and Paulus Aemilius addeth to the two slaine Lords two Knights and only ten priuate souldiers without anie more vnto whom an ancient manuscript addeth Dauid Gam an Esquire and twenty eight priuate souldiers affirming confidently that no more of the English died that day 62 A farre larger role is writ of the French slaine at this Battell yet diuers and different among their owne Authors the true Catalogue as wee cannot certainely set downe yet as wee haue many Collections we will deliuer the same in part and referre the rest to be seene vpon the record Only naming the Officers and Leaders in the same field either slaine or taken Prisoners by this famous King Henry in this his triumphant and fortunate day Charles D'Albert high Constable of France Geoffrey Bouciqualt Marshall of France Iaques Chastillon Admirall Guiscard Daulphin of Arragon great Master of the Kings Horse Edward Duke of Barre Anthoine D. of Brabant Duke Alencon Count Neuers Count de Marle Count de Vaudemont Count de Blaumont Count de Grandpre Count de Roussie Count de Farquembourg Lewis de Bourbon Sig. de Preaux Robert de Barre Iehan de Barre Great Lords Sig. de Croy. Sig. de Helly Sig. de Auxi Sig. de Brime◅ Sig. de Poix Sig. de Louroy Sig. de Raineualt Sig. de Longue◅all Sig. de I◅che Sig. de Neuf◅ille Sig. de Dampierre Sig. de More◅ill Vidame de Amiens Mes. Alain Mes. de Saueses Mes. de Mocont Mes. de Poix Mes. de Bethune To bee short Iehan Tillet saith that there were ten thousand slaine and almost as many more taken and most of their owne writers account the successe of this Battell to be with the slaughter of foure thousand Princes Nobles Knights and Esquires but the history of Normandy accounted eight thousand to be slaine of that ranke whereof an hundred and twenty bare Banners among whom died foure Dukes nine Earles one Archbishop and ten thousand common souldiers as the Heraulds relation in that behalfe hath reported 27 Prisoners of account taken in this field were Charles the Duke of Orleance and Iohn Duke of Bourbon Arthur Earle of Richmond extremely wounded and left for dead as he lay gasping among the slaine was by the English recouered and reteined their Prisoner Louis de Bourbon Cont de Vendosme was there taken Captiue was Charles Earle of Eu being carried into England where hee remained prisoner twenty three yeres Others of great account were likewise taken and put to ransome as Edward de Rouen Oliuer de la Feild and Iehan Giffart with these and many more the next day King Henry marched to Callais leauing the French to search for their wounded that in ditches and bushes had made their heauy beds In commiseration whereof the Counte Charrolois extre me pensiue for the losse of his vncles and other his friends in charity came to the field and caused the dead to be buried the charge whereof he committed to the Abbot of Roussiannille and the Bailiffe of Ayre who inclosed a peece of ground with a deep ditch of two hundred and fifty yards square fensing it with an hedge of thornes against the rauenings of dogs and wolues Wherein were interred fiue hundred and eight thousand Christian carcases in regard whereof it was sanctified by the Bishop of Esguines and made a Churchyard 28 The Duke of Britaine with his forces was come to Amiens within two daies march of Azincourt to ayde King Charles but the French vpon a conceiued assurance of victory would not stay his comming who now hearing of the glorious day obtained by the English dismissed his troupes and retired to his owne Countrey not meaning any more to intermeddle in the warre betweene England and France Now King Henry vpon Saturday the 26. of October being the next day after Battell tooke his march towards Callis but in passing the field wherein they had fought he caused search for all the English which he caused to be enterred according to their estates But the Bodies of his slaine cosen the Duke of Yorke and of Michael de la Poole Earle of Suffolke hee tooke away thence carrying them both into England and so passing to Guisnes with his Prisoners hee entred Callis whither those left at Harflew resorted to pay their ransomes to them assigned 29 His host now refreshed and courage augmented it was disputable in Counsell whether the King should returne againe into France to pursue his enterprize already begun or else to imbark for England But the time of yeere spent the winter wet and the field Camps very much subiect to fluxes wherewith many of his souldiers were as yet infected and more vnhealed of their wounds it was thought fittest to make for England and the sooner for that victuals became somewhat scarce in Callis These things premised King Henry vpon the sixteenth day of Nouember spread sayles for England and in the passage was met with such stormes that his French Prisoners were in as great feare as they had beene in danger at the Battell of Azincourt but arriued at Douer and all dangers past vpon the three and twenty of Nouember in triumph wise hee made his entrance into London foure hundred Citizens riding before him in red and white hoodes the gates and streetes weere garnished with Pageants and the Conduits plenteously powring forth sweet wines The religious men met him with procession and
Chancellor as being a person very dangerous vnto both 10 The news of these home-contentions comming to the Duke of Bedford into France easily drew him home though the state of that Realme could not well want his presence For Iohn Duke of Britaine notwithstanding his late renouation of league with the Regent at Amiens iealous of the English greatnes turned sodeinely to Charles and with him Arthur Earle of Richmond his brother This puts fresh spirit into the drooping Prince Arthur is by Charles made Constable of his France in place of the Scottish Earle who was slaine at the bloody Battell of Vernoil The Duke of Britaine ouerliues this reuolt but a small time Arthur to declare his forwardnes on the behalfe of Charles assembleth about twenty thousand men and with them sodeinely besiegeth S. Iean a Towne of Normandy vpon the frontier of Britaine which Edmund Duke of Sommerset Gouernour of Normandy had lately fortified and stuft with souldiers The vnexpected arriuall of the French did greatly at the first perplex the English but vpon better aduise they valiantly sallied out vpon them both before and behind which stroke so great terrour into the enemy that with losse of their Artillery and many of their people they forsooke the siege To redeeme this dishonour he turnes his fury vpon the Countrey of Angioâ—… which in many parts he depopulates and spoiles The Regent being resolued to returne into England leaues behind him Beaâ—…champ Earle of Warwicke as lieutenant who was lately arriued in France hauing six thousand fresh Souldiers in his company 11 The presence of the Duke of Bedford Regent of France was to the State of England very necessary For the wisdome and authority of so great a Prince being eldest vncle to the King and one whom many great deedes made famous allaied the distemper which he found at his arriual It was a worke worthy of his labour and he also found it to be a worke indeed and not easily effectuable The differences were debated first at Saint Albans then at Northampton lastly in a Parliament at Leicester which continued there till toward the end of Iune The Duke of Bedford himselfe to auoid the note of partiality for that his brother of Glocester was a party did not intermeddle otherwise then as in Generall words to perswade amity but the whole cause was referred to arbitrators of greatest Nobility and prudence by whose endeuours all those differences and greeuances were equally thrust into one sacke to be sealed vp for euer by obliuion and without mention of amends on either side the Duke and Bishop the one hauing sworne by his Princehood the other by his Priesthood truly to obserue the award shooke hands and were fully for that time reconciled After which holy and necessary worke of priuate attonements ensued acts of festiuitie and honor For in the same Towne of Leicester the young King not then fiue yeeres of age was at the high feast of Pentecost dubbed Knight by the Regent of France Immediately whereupon the King honored Richard Earle of Cambridge who by the fatall errour of the Counsell was at this Parliament created Duke of Yorke the same who was father to Edward the fourth with the order of knighthood and about forty more with him This Richard Duke of Yorke was hee who brought vpon this Kingdome and nation most dolefull diuisions to the vtter extirpation of all the male lines of either house that is to say his owne and that of Lancaster whereof the young King was head From Leicester the King was conueighed to Killingworth and Thomas Duke of Excester dying Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke was constituted Guardian and Tutor to the King 12 The Regent hauing thus worthily prouided for the quiet estate of the King and Country returns to his charge in France There went ouer at the same time a choise and great number of fresh men vnder the conduct of that immortally renowmed the L. Talbot whose victories saith Polydor were so many that his name was not onely most dreadfull to the French but most famous through the world euen at this present That yee may know the man not to haue beene studious of fine Phrases vpon the one side of his sword-blade was engrauen Sum Talboti and vpon the other this boisterous blunt sentence Pro vincere inimicos meos The Duke of Alanzon taken at the Castell of Vernoil was set at liberty vpon payment of two hundreth thousand Scutes of gold At Mountarges about Orleance the English receiued an ouerthrow with the losse of about fifteene hundreth of their numbers and in Britaine the French sustained great dammages by a Captaine of the Duke of Sommersets These were petty matters They of Mantz in Maine had drawne in the French by night who massacred the English William Earle of Suffolke Captain of the place sends to Iohn Lord Talbot for succour It came and that so vnexpectedly that the French were alike distrest All but souldiers were spared and many also of them though thrust into prisons The Traitours which had caused so much mischiefe had their deserts by death From hence the Lord Talbot marched to other enterprises The quality of our taske cals vs to the maine 13 Thomas Lord Montacute Earle of Salisbury being with the Regent at Paris and considering what forces of men and all prouisions the English then enioied bethought himselfe of some action which might answere the greatnesse of his owne name and of the publike meanes The siege of Orleance is by him propounded to the Councell The credite of the Motioner was alone an argument of power to conuince the possibility His desires were therefore furnished with all competent prouisions They of Orleance hearing what a storme was comming for the name of this Earle was worthily terrible with great diligence ordaine for their defence The Suburbes answerable in bignesse to a good City they leuell with the earth that the enemie might not from thence annoy them Men victuals munition and constant intentions to fight for their liberty and safegard abounded The Earle of Sarisburie the Lord Talbot and a dreadfull puissance vnder most expert commanders present themselues before it Orleance was and is an Episcopall See a Parliament Towne and Vniuersity richly scituate vpon the riuer of Loir whose best glory it is being the chiefe City which that renowned streame watereth No enemies appearing abroad he approacheth close to the walles Assaults prouing vain he entrencheth about it and to secure his Campe casts vp ramparts and other works one of which by reason of the hugenesse thereof was called London by the name of the chiefe-City of England The Fort which stood at the Bridge foot beyond the Loyr hee seiseth vpon and closeth them vp on euery side Charles of France could minister no sufficient succor God when mans helpe failes interposeth his hand which as all of vs daily feele so is it most conspicuous in the deliuerance of
Nations The City is driuen to some miserie through the beginning want of all things for the siege had now endured about 60. daies not without much bloudshed on both sides The Earle of Salisburie impatient of such delay purposeth to giue a generall assault The better to consider vpon the course hee stands to take view at a window barred with Iron which ouerlookt the City toward the East Behold how God began to vncutte the knot of those bands with which the English held France bound a bullet of a great piece which lay ready leueld at that window discharged by the Gunners sonne a lad stroke the grates whose splinters so wounded the Earle and one Sir Thomas Gargraue that they both dyed of the incurable hurts within few dayes Heare now the common iudgement of Writers concerning this Earles losse Presently after the death of this man the fortune of the war changed Now both mortall and immortall powers beganne to looke fauourably vpon the State of France This to the English was Initium malorum for after this mishappe they rather lost then wanne so that by little and little they lost all their possession in France and albeit that somwhat they got after yet for one that they wan they lost three So that Polydor not without cause after many other great praises doth elsewhere call him the man in whom the safety of the English state consisted The vertue therefore of a fortunate Generall is inestimable 14 Howbeit the siege did not determine with his life William Earle of Suffolke the Lord Talbot the rest maintained the same all the winter The wants of the Campe were relieued from Paris by a conuoy vnder the guard of Sir Iohn Fastolfe and fifteene hundred souldiers who arriued safe in despite of all the attempts to distresse thē which the French made The City would yeeld it selfe but not to the English The Duke of Burgundie they were content should haue the honour A subtle stratagem rather then an offer of yeelding for there was likelihoode in it to breake thereby the amity betweene the English and him The Regent and his Counsell being sent vnto thought it not reasonable Aemylius erroniously makes the late Earle of Salisbury the Author of that refusall neither indeed was it theirs hauing beene the cost and labour The Duke of Burgundy construed this repulse sowerly which marred his taste of the English friendshippe euer after yet the Regents answere was iust and honest That the warre was made in King Henries name and therefore Orleance ought to be King Henries Among these difficulties stood the French affaires Charles of France vnderstanding the miserable straites of his deare City ignorant how to remedy so neere a mischiefe there presented herselfe vnto him at Chinon a yong maid about eighteene yeeres old called Ioan of Loraine daughter to Iames of Arck dwelling in Domremy neere Va◅caleurs a Shepheardesse vnder her father whose flockes shee tended bids him not faint and constantly affirmes that God had sent her to deliuer the Realme of France from the English yoake and restore him to the fulnesse of his fortunes Shee was not forthwith credited but when the wise of both sorts aswell Clerkes as Souldiers had sifted her with manifold questions she continued in her first speech so stedfastly vttering nothing but that which was modest chast and holy that honour and faith was giuen vnto her sayings An old woman directed her Ioan armes her selfe like a man and requires to haue that sword which hung in S. Katherines church of Fierebois in Touraine This demaund encreased their admiration of her for such a sword was found among the old Donaries or Votiue tokens of that Church Thus warlikely arrayed she rides to Blois where forces and fresh victuals lay for the reliefe of Orleance Shee with the Admirall and Marshall of France enters safe This did greatly encourage the fainting French Ioan the maide of God so they called her though some haue written that it was a practise or imposture writes thus to de la Pole Earle of Suffolke who succeeded Salisbury in the maine charge of that siege 15 King of England do reason to the King of heauen for his bloud royall yeeld vp to the Virgine the keyes of all the good Cities which you haue forced She is come from heauen to reclaime the bloud royall and is ready to make a peace if you bee ready to doe reason yeeld therefore and pay what you haue taken King of England I am the chiefe of this war wheresoeuer I encounter your men in France I will chase them wil they or no. If they will obey I will take them to mercy The Virgine comes from heauen to driue you out of France If you will not obey shee will cause so great a stirre as the like hath not beene these thousand yeeres in France And beleeue certainly that the king of heauen will send to her and her good men of Arms more force then you can haue Goe in Gods name into your Country bee not obstinate for you shall not hold France of the King of Heauen the sonne of S. Marie but Charles shall enioy it the King and lawfull heire to whom God hath giuen it Hee shall enter Paris with a goodly traine you William de la Pole Earle of Suffolke Iohn Lord Talbot Thomas L. Scales Licutenants to the Duke of Bedford and you Duke of Bedford terming your selfe ◅egent of the Realme of France spare innocent bloud and leaue Orleance in liberty If you doe not reason to them whom you haue wronged the French will doe the goodliest exploit that euer was done in Christendome Vnderstand these newes of God and of the Virgine Yet Charles had at this time no whole Countries vnder his obedience but Languede◅ and Daulphin against which both the Sauoyard and Burgundian prepared but miscarried the Prince of Orenge the third confederate being discomfited 16 This letter was entertained by the English with laughter Ioan reputed no better then a Bedlam or Enchantresse Though to some it may seem more honourable to our Nation that they were not to bee expelled by a humane power but by a diuine extraordinarily reuealing it selfe Du Serres describes this Paragon in these words Shee had a modest countenance sweete ciuill and resolute her discourse was temperate reasonable and retired her actions cold shewing great chastity without vanity affectation babling or courtly lightnesse Let vs not dissemble what wee finde written By her encouragements and conduct the English had Orleance pluckt out of their hopes after they had suffered the Duke of Alanson to enter with new force and with much losse were driuen to raise the siege Ioan herselfe was wounded at one sallie in which shee led being shot through the arme with an arrow Iudge what she esteemed of that hurt when shee vsed these admirable and terrible words This is a fauour let
and two daughters the youngest of which was Lady Margaret whom King Henry afterward tooke to wife Charles Duke of Lorraine dying Renate thinkes to succeed in that estate Antony Earle of Vallemont brother to Charles presumes he hath a neerer right The matter comes to be determined by blowes Charles King of France was a stedfast supporter of Renates claime in lieu of like offices performed by Renate to him in the times of most difficulty The Regent and Philip Duke of Burgundy stood for the Earle Their aides preuailed so much that Renates forces were beaten with losse of about three thousand from the siege of Vallemont and himselfe with not fewer then two hundred others remained prisoner to the Duke of Burgundy one of whose subiects commanded in chiefe at that enterprise This Renate was afterward entituled to the Crowne of Naples and Sicilia by the testament of Ioane Queene of them The King of France might seeme to haue susteined a grieuous losse by the enthralment of this Duke but the English gained nothing thereby for his perswasions and priuate offices on the behalfe of King Charles did not a little prepare the Burgundians heart which now was knit to the English but with feeble Arteries to accept in time the holy impression of reconcilement The French who liued vnder the Regency or in danger of the English made choise of the Burgundian to protect them which could not be embarred to them for that he was as yet King Henries pretended friend Indeed this Scene and vnstable state of affaires was full of horrour which Polydâ—…re Vergill describeth well enough While the English and French quoth he contend for Dominion Soueraignty and life it selfe mens goods in France were violently taken by the licence of warre Churches spoiled men euery where murthered or wounded other put to death or tortured Matrons rauished Maids forcibly drawne from out their parents armes to be deflowred Townes daily taken daily spoiled daily defaced the riches of the Inhabitants carried whither the Conquerors thinke good hâ—…sen and villages round about set on fire no kind of cruelty is left vnpractised vpon the miserable French omitting many hundreth kinds of other calamities which all at once oppressed them Adde hereunto that the Commonwealth being destitute of the helpe of lawes which for the most part are mute in times of warre and mutiâ—…ie floateth vp and downe without any anchorage at right or iustice Neither was England herselfe voide of these mischiefes who euery day heard the newes of her valiant childrens funerals slaine in perpetuall skirmishes and bickerings her generall wealth continually â—…d and wained so that the euils seemed almost equall and the whole Westerne world ecchoed the groanes and sighes of either Nations quarrels being the common argument of speech and compassion throughout Christendome 22 The course certainly which the English held did only faintly keepe aliue the Generall State of the Regency without giuing period to the warre either by finishing the Conquest or setling that which was conquered Some would haue had large supplies of men and treasure leuied that King Charles might no where haue any rest Of this opinion were Bedford himselfe the Dukes of Yorke and Sommerset This Counsell was not followed but another in shew more frugall which fed the euils but redressed none Present sparings doe oftentimes draw after them infinite wasts and no husbandrie proues so ill as vnseasonable Parsimony In the mean time the Earle of Arundel and the Lord Talbot carry about victorious Armes and terrifie Angiou Main and other places with their successes In Normandie neuerthelesse the common people drew together in huge multitudes There were threescore thousand of them rebelliously knotted together in Vexin Norman and twenty thousand in Câ—…ux Their purpose was through dislike of the English Gouernment or practise of the French to haue reacht one hand to King Charles and to haue thrust King Henries officers out What is a multitude without aduise To stoppe their insolency and course which they held toward Caen the Earle of Arundel and Robert Lord Willoughby with about thirteen hundred light horse and sixe thousand Archers march against them by direction of the Dukes of Yorke and ommerset who had the chiefe Leiutenancies in Normandy They diuide their forces to vse them with the more aduantage The Earle stayes in Ambush with two parts the Lord Willoughby drawes them into it with the third A thousand of the Rebels were cut down before the souldiers hands could be stayed to spare the rest who basely as it became them threw away their weapons and fell to the earth crying mercy The multitudes were suffered to returne their ringleaders lost their liues All that the world could collect by this popular insurrection was that the Normans would be gladly rid of the English Nothing else was done This Earle of Arundell hauing done sundry noble deeds during the wars in France receiued his deathes wound shortly after in a skirmish at Gerberoy in Beauuoâ—…sine where La Hire a famous Captaine among the enemies had the day 23 The Regency yet held and the miseries of France being burnt vp by the fiery reflections of two Counter-Sunnes were nothing diminished Who should giue to them a Period while the Duke of Burgundy continued English it could not be To prepare therefore a separation betweene them such of the Nobility as went ouer to the Burgundian Duke told him That King Charles vpon all occasions when speech was ministred spake of him honourably and inwardly wished him well and that he neuer heard any mention of the murther committed vpon the Duke his father cause of the sonnes hatred to France but he heartily sighed protesting hee was neither party nor priuy thereunto These and the like mollifying salues applyed to the tumors of his reuengefull affections did worke strongly the rather for that his minde heretofore possessed with the English amity was now vacant in that part the same by the means of sundry iealousies and auersions lying open to contrary impressions There wanted but an outward honourable meanes to fashion him entirely to the French partie Let vs heare Serves in this point The Deputies of the Generall Councell presse both French English and Burgundians to end all quarrels by some good composition The City of Arras is allowed of them all to treat in From the Pope and Councell of Pisa there came the Cardinals of S. Crosse and Cypres with twelue Bishoppes For the King of France there was the Duke of Bourbon the Earle of Richmond Constable of France the Archbishoppe of Reims Chancellour of France and many others great noble wise and learned men For the King of England the two Cardinals of Yorke and Winchester the Earles of Suffolke * Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington the Bishoppe of Saint Dauids Iohn Ratcliffe Keeper of the great Seale the Lord Hungerford Ralfe the wise Officiall of Canterbury and some Doctors of Diuinity For
Philip Duke of burgundy the Duke of Guelders the Earle of Nassau the Bishoppe of Cambray Count Vernambâ—…urg the Bishoppe of Leige fiue other great Earles besides the Deputies of many his best Townes sufficient to shew that though hee was in title but a Duke yet that his greatnesse was equall to a King When it came to communication the English being also in possession vrged farther for themselues the right of descent and the act of Charles the sixth father to this Charles by which act the Crowne of France was setled vpon Henry the fifth and the issue of the Lady Katherine his wife and therefore they propounded no other condition of peace but that Henry their King might haue all and Charles to hold of him The French offered Normandie and Guien There ended the hope of agreement betweene them for neither party would accept King Charles therefore resoluing to maime the English faction vpon any termes how base soeuer sends Duke Philip a blanke bids him therin to prescribe his owne conditions and demands he did so and his Conditions were so vnreasonable and so many euen a great volume full saith a French man as it is strange so great a Monarch should stoope so much to his subiect and vâ—…ssall but that necessity hath no law They ioine hereupon most firmely and the Duke a man wholy transported by profite declares himselfe a publike enemie to all the enemies of King Charles and friend to all his friends This was the first parting stroke which seuered the French Dominions from the English Soueraignty the euent declared that the English had done more wisely if they had accepted Normandy and Guyen but as the case stood then they could not in honour doe it and Councels are not to bee measured by euents for so the most foolish may sometimes passe for prudent King Henry not onely lost now hereby a most needfull friend but was compelled to relie vpon his single strengthes aswell against King Charles his naturall enemie as against the Duke of Burgundie who plainely seemed to haue betrayed the cause To set a glosse vpon this fact the Duke dispatcheth Ambassadors into England to King Henry who as Aemylius erroneously saith was present at this treaty of Arras to make known the reasons of his peace with King Charles and to perswade the King to entertaine the same This Ambassage was so odious to the English that they forbare not to call the Duke a deceitfull man a turn-seruer a periured person and a Traitor 24 The popular hatred also was such against the Dukes Subiects resiant in London that they were beaten and slaine many of them before the furie thereof could be stayed by Proclamation The Ambassadors returne with honest admonitions to their Master against which his eares and senses were strongly mured for King Charles had set about them as it were a Barricado of royalties priuiledges honours money Cities Townes and whole Prouinces which he confirmed to the Duke onely to withdraw him from vs. The whole Counties of Aâ—… Erre Ponthieu Bolein Artois the towne of Abbâ—…lle and other lands the Cities and Townes in Picardy vpon the water of Soâ—…e Amiens Corbie Perâ—…n S. Quintin but these last as it were in gage till foure hundreth thousand Crownes were satisfied Briefly what not the Charity of King Charles was so feruent to make the Duke of Burgundy a true Frenchman once againe hee paide so deare for it that wee may thinke him worthy to obtaine his desire yet was it worth his cost for Aemylius saith most truly that the ceasing of that indignation did redeeme the French from a forraine gouernment as the first assuming thereof had made the English Lords ouer France But howsoeuer the high and iust displeasure which this Prince tooke for the wicked murther of his father aboundantly satisfied-for by this treatie moued him first to embrace the English amity hee afterward most subtilely conuerted the reuenge by way of taking amends to the enlargement of his proper riches power and amplitude After his Ambassadors returned hee sends backe all contracts to the Duke of Bedford at Paris and renounceth the alliance of England with a watch-word that euery one should looke to himselfe 25 Each man hereupon saith Serres sharpens his sword and scoures his Armes to recouer that by force which they could not obtaine by reason Serres might better haue said reasoning All things certainly fauoured the French designes for this was the generall estate of the English affaires King Henry scarce out of his Child-hood and when he came to mans age not Man enough to manage so turbulent occurrents the Princes of the blood weakely vnited in loue for the common good the Protector vigilant ouer England the Regent carefull for France but both priuately enuied Richard Duke of Yorke whose strenghts daily increased which in time he meant nothing lesse then to vse for the benefit of King Henry ambitiously reseruing himselfe for a deare day most of the great warriours slaine and in briefe a great inability for want of a Soule willing and fit to looke so sterne and dismall aduentures in the face through the whole body of the English forces which though otherwise they might haue lingred out the warre and kept their footing yet the death of the great Duke of Bedford Regent of France doubled the difficulty or rather the impossibility In taking this triumphant Peere away God made it manifest that he held the English vnworthy and vnfit to continue their Empire among the French any longer This Prince not long after this reuolt of Duke Philip died at Paris vncertaine to some whether through griefe of the euils he foresaw or other malady But the Analogy and colour of his whole former life doth contradict their conceit who think that such a grief should determine his daies because it could not but proceed from a kind of feare and despaire an humor absolutely opposite to Magnanimitie wherein hee abounded How mighty a Prince he was this his style sheweth Regent of France Duke of Bedford Alanson and Aniou Earle of Maine Richmond and Kendale and Constable of England But which excelleth his greatnes he was one of the best Patriots and Generals that euer blossomed out of the roiall Rosiar of England His valour was not more terrible to the enemy then his memory honorable For doubtfull whether with more glorie to him then to the speaker Lewis the eleuenth being afterwards counselled by certaine enuious persons to demolish and deface his stately Tombe wherein with him * saith one was buried all the Englishmens good fortune in France which was erected ouer his body in the Northside of the high Altar in our Ladies Church at Roan vsed these indeed most Princely words 26 What honor shall it be to vs or you to breake this Monument and to pull out of the ground the bones of him dead whom in his life-time neither my father
though the rather stirred therunto by the desire of priuate reuenge The English vpon his forsaking their alliance had attempted to kindle the Gauntois and other of the Flemish townes Subiects to the Duke to rise in rebellion but the opinion that K. Henries fortunes in France were desperately stooping made their wils too dank to take fire The notice notwithstanding of this attempt came to the Duke which sharpened him to reuenge whereof as the former passages abundantly declare hee was not ordinarily thirsty He brings his Armie before Calais Chiefe commanders there for King Henry were the L. Dudley who had charge of the Castell and Sir Iohn Ratcliffe of the Towne The Dukes purpose was to haue cloyed the harbour by sinking shippes laden with stones and such like choaking materials but vpon the â—…bbe-water the Calisians deliuered the hauen from that perill The King of England aduertised that his precious Fort and Towne of Calais were thus emperilled Humfrey Duke of Glocester the Protector comes in person with a very great Fleete some write fiue hundreth saile to the rescue and in it a great puissance with full purpose to giue battell glad perhaps that hee might now reuenge old grudges It is able to moue choler to consider how Writers torture vs with the diuersities of reports but the generall agreement is that the Duke of Burgundy did raise his siege before he was fought with Some say the very rumor of the Protectors approch draue him away and that the Protector came the next day after the Burgundians flight Others excuse him probably enough in saying that the Flemings grew vnweildie to his commandements and would needes home 31 The Protector was master of the Dukes Camp and spent eleuen dayes in his Dominions burning Poppering and Bell and greatly damnified him about â—…Grauelin and Bolognois then setleth hee the state of Calis and returnes with great honour to his charge into England But the English were thought to haue created store of worke for this busie Duke at home where many great tumults rose in one of which his owne person was endangered at Bruges Lisle-Adam the Captaine of his guard being there presently slaine Hence it came perhaps that a meane was found by contracts made with Isabel the Dutchesse his third wife a most witty woman a Portugesse to hold a league with England and yet no breach with France 32 These haue hith erto beene the actions of Men let vs not neglect two great Ladies because much concerning our historie depend on their courses Queene Katherine the widdow of King Henrie the fifth and mother by him of this sixth Henrie about this time departed out of the world This most noble Lady when her husband the King was dead being not of iudgement by reason of her tender yeeres to vnderstand what became her greatnes or hauing found perhaps that greatnes was no part of happinesse secretly marrieth one Owen ap Theodore or Teder the most noble and most goodlie gentleman of all the Welsh nation and endued with admirable vertues who drew his descent from holie Cadwallader last King of the Britaines This husband had by her sundry children two of which Edmund and Gasper doe beare a part in the royall history and King Henry the sixth their halfe brother created the first of them Earle of Richmond the other of Pembroke This Edmund is he who by Margaret the daughter of Iohn Duke of Somerset grandechilde to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster had Henry the 7. the most famous and prudent King of England 33 In that yeare in which this excellent Queen died the young Dutchesse Dowager of Bedford widdow to the late Regent of France married also below her degree a vigorous English Knight one Sir Richard Wooduile of which match yet Serres needed not to haue spoken so contemptibly calling him an English aduenturer of small account shee thereby saith he giuing cause to laugh at her which censure tasteth perhaps of the French leuen and preiudice because the Lady was sister to the Earle of S. Paul who would not make one in the peace of Arras but held with the English 34 But let vs see the sequell Out of this Matrimony also sprung Queenes for her husband afterward made Earle of Riuers had sundry children by her whereof Elizabeth being one had the honour to marry Edward the fourth King of England and hereby was both herselfe a Queene and a Progenitresse of those glorious Kinges and Queenes which followed for from her and this match sprang another Elizabeth the renowned wife of King Henry the seauenth as King Henry himselfe did of the former both those marriages proued most fortunate to England but another marriage which then threatned present danger to King Henry was that which Iames the first King of Scots made with France who gaue his daughter the Lady Margaret to Lewis the Daulphin for wife and sent new supplies of men against the English hee meant also to haue attempted some personall hostility but that hee was most wickedly murthered by certaine bloudy Traitors in Perth suborned thereunto by Walter Earle of Athol his owne neere kinsman in hope to attaine the Crowne crowned indeed he was but not as his Withces Sorcerers had ambiguously insinuated with the Crowne of that Realm but with a Crown of red-hote yron which was clapt vpon his head being one of the tortures wherewith he ended at once his wicked dayes and desires 35 Let vs now cast our eye to the doings of our new Regent the Duke of Yorke that we may be witnesses how farre by his endeauors the affaires of King Henry were aduanced in France The silence at this time is euery where very great yet had he opportunitie to haue atchieued somwhat Two thousand French horsemen were mutined and roued vp and downe in great disorder Paris was fearefully punished with famine and the attendants of famine pestilentiall maladies The Countries about lay open the Courtiers were discontented and diuided Nothing is yet done by our Regent which some impute to Edmund Duke of Somersets opposition who out of enuy and disdaine hindred his dispatch Wee must in the meane time find out them that did somewhat The Duke of Sommerset himselfe accompanied with the Lords Talbot and Fanconbridge with other Gallants and a competent force of the English besiege Harflew which the Normans in the late rebellion tooke from them and still maintained against them vnder French Captaines King Charles sends some of his principall Commanders with foure thousand men to rescue the Towne who did their best but not able to effect any thing Harflew was rendred to the Duke 36 In Nouember Richard Earle of Warwicke came as Regent into France being surrogated in that office to the Duke of Yorke who returned into England Hee carried with him a thousand fresh Souldiers and arriued at Harflew from whence he repaired to Roan the chiefe
so sharpe teeth nor so full engorgement as before Townes and people are taken on both sides The Countie of Amiens was spoiled by the English Lords Willoughby and Talbot The Regent and the Duke of Sommerset march into Angiou where they charged their carriages with much spoile and returned Then the Duke of Sommerset seuers himselfe and doth sundry exploits in and about Britaine Diep in Normandy being besieged was rescued by the Dolphin of France to our losse The contemplation of these mutuall violences touched all Christendome for the Turke common enemie thereof encreased Ambassadors are sent from all parts to determine these bloody differences William de la Pole Earle of Suffolke was chiefe for the English A truce was hereupon taken for eighteene months between King Henry and King Charles and an hope of perpetuall amity weakely grounded vpon a match which the Earle of Suffolke contracted for King Henry with Margaret the daughter of Renate titulary King of Sicile Naples and Ierusalem Duke of Angiou and Lorrain Prince of the blood To effect this the Earle couenanted that the English should abandon the possession of Angiou and Main to her father A strange purchase of a wife who though shee brought youth beauty and hope of a perpetuall peace with France the more profitable opportunity whereof the English had more brauely then happily neglected yet was shee otherwise without portion The Earle notwithstanding whose drift herein could not be without manifest ambition to make himselfe one of the greatest of England by this gratification of the French with his Masters charge and dishonour is not abashed to expect publike thanks for this high seruice and an whole fifteene for the charge of her transportation Sundry Lords of Councell and the King himselfe thought him worthy and according to his deuise and ouerture the whole affaire was carried Suffolke made Marquesse is sent ouer with many honorable persons both men and women to conduct the faire and goodly but most vnfortunate and fatall Bride into England Polydore giues vs no vnfitting Character of this Lady Shee was prouident enough very desirous of glory abounding in discourse counsell gracious behauiour and manly courage but not free from womens humour which saith he is vsually vehement and apt to change In England ye may easily suppose that shee was most roially entertained Humfrey Duke of Gloucester among others meeting her with a traine of fiue hundred horsemen in a liuery that worthy Poet Iohn Lydgate Monke of Burie deuising the speeches for such gratulatory triumphs as were made at her entrance into London The King being married lawfully enioyes her embracements from which he was often afterward violently separated by the miseries of a most crueil warre wherein shee had her piteous portion Suffolke in the meane time hauing the most assured fauour of the Queen pursues his ambitious purposes Shee in the meane time was solemnly Crowned Queene of England at Westminster vpon the thirtieth of May. 39 Would to God it stood now with the quality of this argument to turne our eies from the view of those actions which ensued for here the mournefull tragedies of our poore Countrey began But we cannot but open those olde and most execrable sores that in their example all true English blood may the rather be tender ouer their bowels beholding such effects as the diuell and all the furies of hell were by Gods seuere permission Actors in Fabian giues vs the causes and contents of those effects in these graue and few words 40 It appeareth that God was not pleased with that marriage For after this day the fortune of the world began to fall from the King so that he lost his friends in England and his reuenues in France For shortly after all was ruled by the Queene and her Counsell to the great disprofit of the King and his Realme and to the great mauger it is Fabians word and obloquie of the Queene who as since hath beene well proued had many a wrong and false report made of her All which miserie fell for BREAKING OF THE PROMISE made by the King vnto the Earle of Armenacks* daughter as most writers agree Which misery in this Story shall some-deale appear by the loosing of Normandy as all things else except Callais which the English held in France the diuision of the Lords within this Realme the rebellion of the comminalty against their Prince and Soueraigne and finally the King deposed and the Queene with the Prince faine to flee the land and lost the rule thereof for euer Thus he but all this farre short of the euils that were the brood and ofspring of the following times The Parliament in the meane time grants aides of money that vpon expiration of the truce there might bee present abilities to maintaine warre The Duke of Yorke is reuoked and the Duke of Sommerset in an euill houre is sent in his place with such prouisions as were reputed competent 41 Humfrey the renowned Duke of Gloucester Lord Protector felt the first stroke of the euill Angell which was sent to punish England and to roote out her Nobles This Duke was much hated of the Queene and her faction as the onely man who by his prudence as also by the honor and authoritie of his birth and place seemed to empeach that soueraigne command which they pretended to settle in the Kings owne person but meant indeed as the manner is vnder soft Princes to reigne themselus in anothers name Many great Lords were drawne on at the time of a Parliament then holden at Saint Edmunds Bury to concurre for his ruine not perceiuing that thereby they pluckt vp the floodgate at which the Duke of Yorke entered ouerwhelming all of them in a deluge of blood Whether they had any true or iust feare of Gloucester himselfe least perhaps he should take reuenge vpon some particular persons among them is doubtfull though it be probable enough that they had Heare some things that forewent this Parliament About fiue or sixe yeers before the Dutchesse of Gloucester Eleanor was conuented for witchcraft and sorcerie and afterward endited of treason in the Guild-Hall in London before the Earles of Huntington Stafford Suffolke and Northumberland and certaine Lords as Faâ—…hope and Hungerford with others and Iudges of both benches of which crimes shee was appealed by one Bâ—…lingbrook an Astronomer and Thomas Southwell a Chanon which Southwell was charged to haue said Masses ouer certaine instruments by which the Astronomer should practise Necromancy against the life of the King These being taken accused her as accessarie shee hauing desired the helpe of their Art to know what would befall her Some part hereof shee confessed for which shee was put to publike and solemne penance in London vpon three seueral daies with wonderfull shame to her person and after shee was committed to perpetuall prison vnder the ward of Sir Thomas Stanley in the Castle of Chester but from thence remoued
vndoubtedly sincere and true was wonderfully great among all good Englishmen who flocked to the publike celebration thereof For vpon our Ladies day in Lent a solemne procession was made within the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London where the King adorned with Crowne and robes of maiestie went in person before whom went hand in hand the Duke of Sommerset and the Earle of Salisburie the Duke of Excester and the Earle of Warwicke and so of either faction one and one and behind the King himselfe came the Queene and Duke of Yorke with great familiarity in all mens sights O religion ô honour ô sinceritie that your diuine vertue should not haue contained these spirits in the harmonie of sweet obedience but if you could not what alas should England must be more seuerely scourged then that so goodly a blessing of publike reconciliation should continue whereby the proud tops of her nation offensiue to God and men being taken off the way might be opened to other names or races which as yet were nothing thought on 70 There is no reason to doubt but that the Duke of Yorke a man of deepe retirement in himselfe secretly continued his purpose for the Crowne notwithstanding all these his vernished pretences and did only therfore not as then put for it because he presumed the time was incommodious Againe the Queene true head and life of the contrary part aswell in regard of her selfe her husband and young sonne may in likelihood be thought to haue laid downe any thing rather then the wakefulnesse and iealousie which former perils and the enemies present strength might worthily keepe aliue in her The thinne ashes therefore which couered these glowing coles were thus againe first vnraked and set to blaze 71 The King and manie of the Lords still being at Westminster there hapned or perhaps was plotted a fray betweene one of the Kings seruants and a follower of the Earle of Warwicke who hurt the Kings seruant Hereupon his fellowes of all sorts as Cookes with their spits c in great disorder assaile the Earle himselfe as he was comming from the Councell and had there slaine him but that the euill fate of England and his owne reserued him to doe and suffer greater mischiefes The Earle hardly gets to his Barge and reputing all things vnsure about the King gets ouer to his place at Calleis The Yorkists directly charge the Queene with this as with a plot drawne for the Earles destruction Not long after this the young Duke of Sommerset is sent Captaine to Calleis Warwicke will resigne no roome notwithstanding the Kings command alleaging he was made by Parliament Sommerset is reiected with danger to his person Warwicke partly maintains himselfe and such as stucke to him in that charge with spoiles which he got at Sea How lawfullie it appeares not though Warwicke is said to haue been Admirall by Patent though now reuoked The Ordinarie bookes haue that he with foureteene faile of men of warre set vpon three Caricks of Gene or Genoa and two of Spaine greater then the Caricks three of which Merchant-fleete which how they should be lawfull prize we see not he vanquished after two daies fight with the losse of about an hundreth men of his owne and a thousand of theirs The bootie was worth at meane rates ten thousand pounds such also as followed the Duke of Sommerset comming into his hands he beheaded at Calleis These were strange darings in the Earle of Warwicke whom yet the vnskilfull and drunken multitude so highly praise but what are these in regard of them which will presentlie follow 72 The Duke of Yorke in the meane time and Warwicke with his father the Earle of Salisbury the Triumuirs of England consult of their affaires Salisburie is resolued with sword in hand to expostulate the danger and iniury offered to his sonne at Westminster The Queene a Lady of incomparable magnanimity and foresight confident in this that now King Henry or the Duke of Yorke must perish and that one Kingdome was not wide enough for both their Families bestirres her selfe to maintaine the possession of a Crowne and to aduance to the same her owne flesh and bloud Prince Edward by ruining his house whose whole building consisted of Lancastrian beneficence She consults she sends she speakes she giues and strengthneth her selfe with friends on all sides chiefly in Cheshire causing her sonne to distribute siluer swannes his badge or deuise to all the Gentlemen of that County and to many other through England Salisbury sets forward from his Castell at Middleham with foure or fiue thousand men Iames Touchet Lord Audeley encounters him vnaduisedly vpon Blore-heath neere Muckelstone The fight was long and bloudy but in the end K. Henries euill fortune gaue the better of the day to the Earle of Salisbury where besides the valiant Lord Audeley himselfe were slaine not fewer then two thousand and foure hundreth but the chiefe losse fel vpon the Cheshire men who ware the Princes Liuerie 73 The Earle of Salisbury in this sort opened to himselfe a way to Ludlow where the head of their combination Richard Duke of Yorke busied himself to gather forces being met they conclude that seeing the matter was now become deadly they would deale in cloudes no longer but fight it out to the extremity Men are drawne out of all parts with large hopes promises of sharing in their fortunes and the Earle of Warwicke bringing with him from Caleis which he left with his friends that valiant Captaine Andrew Trolop and a band of stout and choise Souldiers comes to the generall Rendeuoâ—… of the Yorkists the Castell of Ludlow The King in the meane space and not before it was need and time hath assembled a great puissance of faithfull Subiects and being attended with the Dukes of Sommerset and Excester and other of his chiefe friends marcheth against his enemies His first worke was to offer them generall pardon It is refused and called by them a staffe of reede or glasse Buckler The sword must decide the quarrels wherupon the king commands his Standards to aduance while he was in his March a letter fraught with the wonted hypocrisies is deliuered to the King There are in it among many other insinuations these also Most Christian King right high and Mighty Prince and our most dread Soueraigne Lord c. Wee sent vnto your good grace by the Prior of the Cathedral Church of Worcester and diuers other Doctors and among other by M. William Linwood doctor of Diuinity which ministred vnto vs seuerally the blessed Sacrament of the body of Iesus whereupon wee and euery of vs deposed of our said truth and duty 74 Thus these prophane and ambitious men play with God who in the end will seuerely bee auenged on them for their impietie but the letter made no ouerture of any course vpon which they would yeeld to lay downe Armes alleadging they wold but make
heauen to witnesse and record But of the thing it selfe that is to Crowne the Duke of Yorkey they make not the least mention what wanted in these men to the height and depth of humane malice They preuaile with the multitudes a shallow braind but a great and many headed beast The Lord Fawconbridge is sent to sound their affections and to draw the purulent matter to an head he finds great forwardnesse The Earles of March Warwicke and Salisburie aduertised of all things land in Kent But the people onely were not deluded for Thomas Bourchier Archbishoppe of Canterbury and other graue men beleeued they meant sooth which that they might the rather doe the Earle of Warwicke made open oath vpon the Crosse of Canterbury that they had euer borne true faith and alleagiance to King Henry A strange humor in the English that could neither brooke bad nor benigne Princes The King had before their comming quit the City of London as not greatly trusting the affections which the people thereof bare toward such as the Yorkish faction had made odious about him and appointed the Rendeuow of his forces at Northampton where he abode The enemy shewing friend aduanceth thither It is a shame to reade that some of the great Prelates would simply bee drawne to countenance such an enterprise but their intentions were different they hoped to reconcile enmities the Earles to make Yorke King Meanewhile their complices labour to take the Tower of London within which there were for King Henry these loyall Nobles The Lord Scales Hungerford Vescie Louel Delaware and Candal a Gascoigne with sundry others 78 At Northampton things were carried thus The King meaning there to abide his aduersaries when it was not thought meete to admit the Earle of Warwicke to his presence which thing was coulourably sued for to raise a ground of iustification for battell they prepare on both parts The Earles of March and VVarwicke with like or greater cunning then they had desired admission to the Kings speech let cry through the field that no man should lay hand vpon the King nor common people but vpon the Lords Knights and Esquiers 79 The hoasts ioy ne No stroke they gaue but seemes to wound vs also Let vs swiftly turne our eyes from so vnnaturall slaughters The L. Grey of Ruthen began the discomfiture of the Kings side for hee let the world iudge with what commendation hauing the point did quit his place and fled to the Earles The kings armie is defeated and vtterlie broken Many were slaine and drowned Polydor and Grafton say ten thousand The chiefe of the Nobles who there lost their liues were the Duke of Buckingham Iohn Earle of Shrewsburie a most hopefull young Gentleman and in all points like his heroicke Ancestors Iohn Vicount Beaumont Thomas Lord Egremond and among sundry other prime men Sir William Lucie who making hast to the fight was vpon his first approach chopt downe with an axe The Kings Ordinance could not play there fell so great a raine 80 This wofull battell was fought vpon the ninth of Iuly The King as a man borne to all calamities and miseries though he not therefore the lesse but the more happy through that excellent fortitude of mind with which hee inuincibly sustained them comes into his enemies hands but the Queene and the Prince and the remains of their scattered fortunes flie into the North there to re-enforce their powers and to subdue as shee caused them to be proclamed the Kings Rebels and enemies The Tower of London after this misfortune renders it selfe The Lord Scales is wickedly murthered vpon the Thames by Wherrimen belonging to the Earle of Warwicke as hee intended to passe to Sanctuary at Westminster The Earles when they were possessed of the King continued their admirable hypocrisies which God will terribly plague them for thereby to leade the people on and had to him these words 81 Most noble Prince displease you not though it hath pleased God of his grace to grant vs the victorie of our mortall enemies who by their venemous malice haue vntruly stirred and moued your Highnesse to exile vs out of the land and would haue put vs to finall â—…me and confusion wee come not to vnquiet or grieue your said Highnesse but to please your noble person desiring tenderly the high welfare and prosperity thereof and of all your Realme and to be your true Liegemen while our liues shall endure Our soules are amazed at these arts and men blush to publish to the world things so vnworthy 82 The Florentine Secretary was scarse borne at this time but the Diuell was as great a Master then as afterward The King and Earles in the meane time goe to London where a Parliament was summoned in his name to be holden in October following The Duke of Yorke aduertised of his victorie speedes from Dublin the chiefe City of Ireland to bee at that Parliament where wee shall at last see the true face of his purpose his owne selfe taking away the maske which hitherto concealed it 83 Scotland by reason of late affinity with the house of Beaufort whose chiefe and toppe was the Duke of Sommerset descended from Iohn Duke of Lancaster by the Lady Katherine was a speciall backe and Second to King Henry in all his tempestuous aduersities but now that refuge was also hazarded for King Iames the second partly in fauour of King Henry and partly as making vse of the troubles in England laieth siege to Rocksbrough Bellenden the Scot calleth the same Castle Marchmont being in the custody of King Henries enemies where while himselfe whose skill and delight in shooting of Ordinance was great comming down the trenches to see the Lion a new great piece which had lately beene cast in Flanders and the other Artillery discharged one of them brake and with a shiuer therof slew the king and dangerously wounded the Earle of Angus This vnhappy accident hapned vpon a Sunday the third day of August The Queen of Scotland neuerthelesse maintaineth the siege and aswell obtaines that place as the Castle of Warke both which shee in reuenge threw to the earth Iames the third a child of seuen yeers old succeeded to his father aswell to the cherishment of the distressed English as to the Crowne 84 The Parliament being begunne about the * eight of October at Westminster in King Henries name thither comes with flying speed Richard Duke of Yorke who brake open the Kings lodging Chamber and placed himselfe therein suffering the King to prouide elsewhere Then makes hee his claime to the Crown of England and publisheth it in open Parliament together with his pedigree The whole house such among them excepted as were priuie to the Dukes intention was greatly dismayed both for that hee did set himselfe in the Kings seate and for this his vnexpected challenge But the Duke though at first hee greatly meant to haue
deposed King Henry and with speed to bee crowned himselfe at Alhallontide next yet finding such amasement and silence hee sends them his pedigree and his claime in writing that they might the better consider yeelding as it seemes to be ordered therein according to their generall agreement during the treaty whereof he would not visite King Henrie alleadging himselfe was peerelesse in England The maine points of his Title were as followeth King Edward the third had issue Edward Prince of VVales VVilliam of Hatfield Lionell Duke of Clarence Iohn of Gaunt D. of Lancaster Edmund D. of Yorke Thomas D. of Glocester and VVilliam of VVindsor Edward Prince of Wales dyed liuing his Father and left issue Richard the second King of England who died without Issue as did also William King Edwards second sonne 85 Lionel the third sonne had issue Philip his daughter and heire married to Edmund â—…ortimer Earle of March who had Issue Roger Earle of March who had Issue Edmund Earle of March Roger Anne and Eleanor which Edmund Roger and Eleanor died without Issue Anne the heire of that house marrieth Richard Earle of Cambridge the sonne of Edmund Duke of Yorke fifth sonne to King Edward the third which Earle of Cambridge had Richard commonly saith the Booke called Duke of Yorke 86 Iohn of Gaunt the fourth son and younger brother to Lionel had Issue Henry who immediately after King Richards resignation vnrighteously saith the Booke entred vpon the same for that Edmund Earle of March sonne of Roger Earle of March and of Philip daughter and heire of the before said Lionel Duke of Clarence elder brother to Iohn Duke of Lancaster was then aliue and that aswell the said Henry eldest son to Iohn Duke of Lancaster as his descendents haue hitherto holden the Crowne of England c. vniustly for that himselfe the said Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke was the lawfull heire being the sonne of Richard Plantagenet Earle of Cambridge and of Anne before said 87 This was the effect of the Duke of Yorks title which for the points of the Pedegree was very true though in barre thereof the friends of King Henry without denying any part of the premises being all of them more euident then that they could be honestly denied had not a little to say for him for they could among other things alleadge that Richard the second resigned vp his Crowne and Regality at large and that none else making claime but Henry Duke of Lancaster hee was thereunto by the consent of all the three Estates admitted that Richard Earle of Cambridge was for high Treason attainted and executed and his Issue made incapable of any inheritance that this Richard his sonne now challenging the Crowne of England being restored by the meere clemency and goodnesse of this King Henry the sixt had voluntarily acknowledged him for his lawfull Soueraigne and sworne the same and that the said Richard was finally for treason attainted and adiudged vninheritable they could hereunto haue added sundry Acts of Parliament made to establish the right of the Lancastrian line the succession of three Kings all Henries that is to say the fourth fifth and sixth the politicke addresses of the first of those Kings the noble victories of the second and the holy life of the third which three Kings liues contained of raigne about threescore yeeres in which number this was the nine and thirtiethof King Henry the sixth who was descended of the male line and the Duke of Yorke but of a female of which female line none had euer been in possession of the Crown Great and weighty points if any and the rather to bee considered for that King Henries person beeing in very truth Prisoner no act of his to establish Yorkes title could bind in law or conscience and the lesse for that hee had a wife and by her a sonne who was at liberty and ready with Armes to free his father or hazard to destroy the whole English name But they who on Yorks behalfe abstractiuelie disputed these highest questions knew a rule of law which saith Iura sanguinis nullo iure ciuili dirimi possunt ' and the Lancastrians were not without their speculatiue and remote considerations to countenance the particulars of their cause Thus we see that in Monarchies though the noblest forme of Regiment where lineall succession is the rule of inheritance there sometimes fall out as great and as indeterminable difficulties as where Election designeth the Successor whereof the French tragedies which our Nation made among them and now these in England are without all exception the most fearefull instances For France had heretofore her time of affliction but now O dearest England it was thine 88 While this weighty controuersie was debated a Crowne which hung for garnishment in the middle of the roofe where the Knights and Burgesses of the Parliament met to consult and the crown which for like cause stood vpon the highest Tower of Douer Castell fell sodainely down which were vulgarly construed to portend That the raigne of K. Henry was at an end and that the Crown should be transferred from one royall line to another But the Queene her sonne Prince Edward and her fast friends in the North the seate of their hopes being nothing discouraged at their late ill fortunes prepare all the forces they can to recouer K. Henrie and the Kingdome which thing whiles they are pursuing the conclusion of the Parliament concerning the crown was That Henry the sixth should raigne and bee King during his life the remainder to rest in Richard Duke of Yorke and the lawfull heires of his body in generall tayle King Henries heires to bee excluded The Duke in the meane time is proclaimed heire apparant and called Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall Earle of Chester and Protector of England The agreement was engrossed sealed and sworn vnto The Queene will haue nothing to doe in this bargaine being so dangerous and preiudicious to her selfe her husband and her sonne and therefore when the King at the Duke of Yorkes instigation sent for her to repaire vnto him shee relying vpon the Dukes of Sommerset and Excester and other the Kings friends vtterly refuseth Henry continueth king The Armes therefore which she taketh for his deliuerance haue the more iustice The Duke of Yorke missing the prey hee expected leaues the king with the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Warwicke at London himselfe with the Earles of Salisbury and Rutland and certaine forces setteth forward to Wakefield to pursue the Queene and her sonne sending direction to the Earle of March that hee should follow with all his power The Castell of Sandall standeth pleasantly vpon a small hill in view of the faire town of VVakefield there the Duke of Yorke comming thither vpon Christmas Eue reposeth himselfe and expecteth the encrease of his numbers The Queene aduertised thinkes it wisdome to fight before the Duke grow too strong and thereupon marcheth forward hauing
an Army of eighteene thousand men led by the Dukes of Sommerset and Excester the Earles of Deuonshire and Wiltshire the Lords Neuill Clifford Rosse and in effect all the Northerne Nobility The host or so much therof as they thought necessary to shew presents it selfe before Sandall to prouoke and dare the Duke to battell His bloud impatient of these braues ignorant perhaps that the enemy had so great a multitude will needes fight though the Earle of Salisbury and Sir Dauid Hall an ancient seruant of his and a great Souldier gaue him aduise to stay till his sonne the Earle of March approched with such Welshmen and Marchers as hee had in great numbers assembled But God would forbeare him no longer but like a seuere Master meanes to take a present account at which he found whether all the kingdomes of the earth are worth the least sinne much lesse a wilfull periurie 89 The Queene therefore addeth stratageme and wit to her force to the entent hee might not escape her hands whereupon the Earle of Wiltshire vpon one side of the hill and the Lord Clifford vpon the other lie in ambush to thrust between him and the Castell the Dukes of Sommerset and Exceter stand embattelled in the open field Their policy had the wished successe for the Duke being not fully fiue thousand strong issueth out of the Castle downe the hill The battels which stood in front ioyne furiously when sodainly the Duke of Yorke sees himselfe inclosed and although hee expressed great manhood yet within one halfe houre his whole Armie was discomfited himselfe and diuers his deare friends beaten downe and slaine There lay dead about him the Lord Harington Sir Thomas Neuill sonne to the Earle of Salisburie Sir Dauid Hal with sundry Knights and others about two thousand two hundred among which were the heires of many Southern gentlemen of great account whose bloud was shortly after reuenged Let vs not linger vpon the particular accidents of this battell but consider what it wrought for King Henries aduancement yet these few things are not to bee vnremembred The Earle of Rutland a yonger sonne to the Duke of Yorke being about twelue yeeres old was also slaine by the Lord Clifford who ouertooke him flying in part of reuenge for that the Earles father had slaine his A deed which worthily blemished the Author but who can promise any thing temperate of himselfe in the heat of martiall furie chiefly where it was resolued not to leaue anie branch of Yorke line standing for so doth one make the Lord Clifford to speake 90 That mercilesse proposition was common as the euent will shew to either faction The Duke of Yorkes head crowned with paper is presented to the Queene Cruell ioy is seldome fortunate Caesar wept ouer Pompeis head but the Queen ignorant how manifold causes of teares were reserued for her owne share makes herselfe merrie with that gastly and bloody spectacle The Earle of Salisburie after wounds receiued being in this battel taken prisoner is conueighed to Ponfract Castle from whence the common people who loued him not violently haled him and cut off his head which perhaps was not done without the good liking of others The Dukes head together with his were fixed on poles and set vpon a gate of Yorke and with them if Grafton say true the heades of all the other prisoners which had beene conducted to Pomfret 91 This battell called of Wakefield was fought vpon the last day of December of whose weathers complexion if their courages had participated mischiefe might haue made her stop here which now is in her swiftest course 92 For the Earle of March sonne and heire to this late valiant Duke of Yorke hearing of this tragicall aduenture giues not ouer but hauing gathered an armie of about twenty thousand to march against the Queene he findes emploiment neerer hand being certified that Iasper Theder Earle of Pembrooke halfe brother to King Henrie and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and Wiltshire had with them a great force of Welsh and Irish to take him The youthfull and valiant Earle of March whose amiable presence and carriage made him gratious with the people and the rather for that he had the generall good word of women meanes to try his fortune against the said Earles He sodeinely therefore turnes backe from Shrewsbury and at a place called Mortimers Crosse neere Ludlow where the enemie abode he sets vpon them It was Candlemas day in the morning at which time there appeared as some write three Sunnes which sodeinely ioined in one This luckie prognosticon and ominous Meteor exceedingly fired the Earle of March and was some say the reason why he vsed for his Badge or roiall deuise the Sunne in his full brightnesse The Battels maintaine their fight with great furie but in the end the Earle of March obtaines the victorie killing of his enemies three thousand and eight hundreth men the Earles saued themselues by flight The sonne of honour and fortune did thus begin to shine through Clouds of blood and miserie vpon Edward whome shortly we are to behold King of England There were taken Sir Owen Theder father to Iasper Earle of Pembrooke who was beheaded by Edwards commandement as also Sir Iohn Skudamor knight with his two sonnes and other 93 The Queene on the other side hauing ordered her affaires in the North setled the estate thereof and refreshed her people within a while after drawes neere with her Northern armie to S. Albans There came before them an euill fame of their behauiour to London whose wealth lookt pale knowing it selfe in danger for the Northern armie in which were Scots Welsh and Irish aswell as English made bold by the way with what they liked making small distinction of sacred or prophane after they were once past the riuer of Trent Captaine Andrew Trolop being their Coronell King Henry himselfe in person with the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke the Earles of Warwicke and Arundel the Lord Bonuile other with a great puissance encampe at S. Albans to giue the Queene battell and stop her farther passage toward London But the Lords of her faction being ready to attempt on her behalfe assaile the Kings forces within the Town and after some sharpe affronts breake through and driue their aduersaries out with much bloodshed till they fell vpon a squadron or battalion of the Kings wherein there were about foure or fiue thousand men which made good their ground for a while with great courage but in the end the Queenes side clearely wanne the day There perished in this conflict about two thousand This hapned vpon Shroue-tuesday the seuenteenth of Februarie The King Queene and Prince meet ioifully where he knights his sonne being eight yeeres old and thirtie others The Lord Bonuile and Sir Thomas Kiriel of Kenâ—… being taken in the fight were beheaded but all the other great men elcape The common people
and Sommerset and the Earle of Deuonshire with an hundred and forty moe were attainted also and disherited so fortune dallieth in setting the dice of her fauours or frownes 12 Queene Margaret stored with men but in want of money with her French powers made into Scotland whose comming was most welcome to the two Kings there and thence with great shew of enterprize hoised her sailes for England but hauing touched the â—…y of Tinmouth whether vpon better aduise or feared with their owne shadowes shee with her French put backe to the Sea where such a sore tempest tooke them as had not Queene Margaret in a small Caruell got vnto Barwicke shee had not liued to vexe the new King nor seene the vnfortunate losse of her husband her son and Realme nor the miserable calamities of her owne old age her French by Bastard Ogle were heaâ—…e into Holy Iland many slaine and foure hundred of them put to their ransomes 13 This â—…inting French enterprize though it dulled the edge of some spirits yet did it nothing daunt the courage of the Queene her better hopes being fixed vpon the Scots valour so leauing Prince Edward for safetie in Barwicks with her husband and Scots shee entred Northumberland tooke the Castle of Bamburgh and so passed forward vnto the Bishopricke their forces daily increasing through the confluence of such English 〈◊〉 fauoured King Henrie 14 King Edward hearing these stirres in the North made his preparation both by Sea and Land and with his brethren and Nobles came to Yâ—…rke from whence he sent Iohn Neuil Lord 〈◊〉 with a power of men as some what mistrusting the loialties of the Northumbrians who passing forward vpon Hâ—…gely-Moore was sodeinely encountred by the Lords Hungerfâ—…rd and Roâ—…s with whom was Sir Ralph Ferciâ—… a most valiant Knight but Montaâ—… accompanied with such as would neither looke backe nor stand gaâ—…ing on â—…hode the encounter and at the first push put back the two â—…ords and 〈◊〉 slew the said 〈◊〉 who no waieâ—… would depart out of the field but in dying said I have saued the 〈◊〉 in my â—…rest meaning this oath mâ—…e to King 〈◊〉 15 valiantly 〈◊〉 their Camp as after great slaghter saith Grafton hee fled into Scotland which is more likelie 16 Edward thus cleered of the Cloud threatning storme thought best ere others did light to prouide for himselfe and therefore he raised Bulwarks built new Fortresses in places of danger put forth his espials vpon the Marches of Scotland and commanded that none should keepe Henrie or Margaret in secret whose sight he feared would draw the affections of many which otherwise stood in case of obedience But ouer-borne Henrie whether past al feare or inforced by destinie in disguised apparell past into England where he was soone apprehended by one Caâ—…tlow but Stow saith by Thomas Talbot in Cletherwood besides Bungerley Hipping stones in Lancashire being betraied in Waddington Hall as he sate at dinner and thence brought to London with his legs bound to the stirrups arrested by Warwicke his guilt spurres taken off and committed Prisoner to the Tower of London 17 The Lyon thus pent his pawes cut or pared and Queene Margaret in France with her father Reiâ—…er King Edward now quiet set his minde vpon Gouernment for the good of his Realme In his Court of Kings Bench he vsed to sit in person certaine daies together to see how his lawes proceeded with Iustice ordained penall Statutes against excessiue pride in Apparell especialle against long picked shooes then vsually worne which grew to such an extreme that the pikes in the Toes were turned vpward and with siluer chaines or silke laces tied to the knee But among many good prouisions one proued very bad as the sequell shewes for concluding a league with King Henrie of Castile and Iohn King of Arragon he granted a licence to transport certaine numbers of Câ—…teswold Sheepe which are since growne to such an exceeding increase as the Clothes made of their woolles is a great hindrance to our Marchants which aduenture in the Leuant Seas 18 His next care was to finde a fit Queene both for the hope of issue to succeed and for alliance and power to assistâ—…ed were against Henries claime Fist therefore minding to send into Scotland to desire in marriage the Ladie Margaret sister to king Iames the third thereby to frustrate Hâ—…tes further hope was made to belieue that the said Ladie was by reason of sickenesse not capable of conception which altogether declined his affection from that way Next as some say a motion was made for Lady Elizabeth sister and heire apparant vnto Henrie king of Castile as a much most conuenient considering king Edward had thereunto a Claime whose great Grandmother was one of the heires of Castile being the daughter of Don Peter the king besides which high match and combination of Alliances â—…hope was conceiued that the Dutchies of Guien and Aquitaine might be recouered by the assistance of these Castilians without great charge or trauell to the English But the tender spring of the one and the lusty growth of the other would not be grafted into one stocke to 〈◊〉 fruitâ—… shee little aboue 〈◊〉 and he about twenty three 〈◊〉 unfit to â—…taine till shee could giue him content 19 A third Princesse 〈◊〉 against whom feared This match being most approued in counsell none was held more fit to solicite the businesse then Lord Richard Neuil the great Earle of Warwick a man esteemed for power a Demy-King and for magnificence and hospitality matchlesse in whose house at London as some haue verified sixe oxen were spent euery day and most Tauernes in the City full of his meat 20 Warwicke in great state arriued at Tours his message knowne was accordingly entertained in the French Court where he wrought the Queen her selfe to be the chiefest Agent who drew on her sister Bona with recommending the state and stile of a magnificent Queene a sound very tunable in a Ladies eare and her husband Lewis with assurance of a potent and wise Allie a pleasing theame to soft natured Princes as the French King was And indeed to all shee vndertooke all good contentments so as on that side all things were cleare and Warwicke dismissed with Courtly French complements the Earle Damp-martin was to passe into England for the finall confirmation 21 But whilest Warwicke had beene industriously wooing in France King Edwards affection in England was working another way for being on hunting in the Forrest of Wychwood beside Stony-Stratford hee there found other game that made game in his eye which was the Lady Elizabeth Gray attending the Dutchesse of Bedford her mother who then soiorned at his Mannour of Grafton whither hee repaired for his recreation She had beene attendant vpon Queene Margaret the wife of King Henry the sixt and had
were so eminent by these intestine warres that the Natiues lamented the Forrein reioiced and God they saw highly displeased whose sword thus giuen into their hands was to be feared would be the destruction of the English as Nabucaednezzars of Babell was of Iudea and indeed so effectually wrought that the Duke and Earle vpon perfect confidence came to London accompanied with a small number in respect of their great danger where falling into conference with the King he tasked them with disloialtie and they him with ingratitude so that their splenes were nothing appeased but much more increased and with high wordes departed the King vnto Canterbury and they againe to VVarwicke 39 The stout Earle whose stomacke must haue vent otherwise the Caske must needs breake caused new stirres to be raised in Lincolnshire vnder the leading of Sir Robert VVels an expert souldier and sonne of the Lord VVels who with thirtie thousand Commons disturbed the Countrey and in euerie place proclaimed King Henrie setting downe his battel not farre from Stamford meaning to abide the encounter of his opposers which when the King heard of he sent for the Lord VVels his father commanding him to write to his sonne to surcease the warres and so marching toward Stamford tooke VVels in his companie with a good hope that the sonne would not beare armes against his own father in field but howsoeuer he had writ or the King conceiued Sir Robert went on in his former designes which so sore moued Edward that he beheaded Lord VVels with Sir Thomas Dimocke that had married his daughter although he had giuen them promise of safety and life 40 Young VVels then hearing of his fathers death sought the reuenge vpon this vntrusty Prince and not staying for VVarwicke who was in preparing to come set manfully vpon the King and his power where betwixt them was performed a most bloody fight till at last Sir Robert was taken with Sir Thomas Deland and others whereat the Lincolnshire men were so terrified that casting off their Coates they all ranne away in regard whereof this battell to this day is called the battell of Loscoat field wherein were slaine ten thousand men at the least after which victory the King commanded VVels with many other of note to be put to death as the chiefe causers of these dangerous Commotions 41 This vntimely conflict and vnfortunate ouerthrow made Clarence and VVarwicke at their wits end who vnprouided to field against Edward gaue way to necessity and from Dartmouth in Deuonshire embarked themselues and wiues for France both to instigate king Lewis no friend vnto Edward and to secure themselues in Callis whereof VVarwick was captaine till fortune had changed the hand of her play These crossing the Seas cast Anchor before the Towne of Callis and gaue notice they were ready to land but the Lord Vawclere a Gascoigne whom VVarwicke had substituted his deputie discharged diuers peeces of Ordinance against them and sent word flatlie they should not come there meane while the Dutches of Clarence fell in trauell and was there on Shippe-board deliuered of a faire sonne which Child the Earles deputie would scarcely suffer to be baptized in the Towne nor without great entreaty permit two flagons of wine to be conueyd aboard to the Ladies lying in the hauen For which his good seruice King Edward by his letters Patents made Vawclere chiefe Captaine of Callis and discharged the Earle as a Traitor or Rebell against him 42 Charles Duke of Burgundie being then at S. Omers owing Earle Warwicke an old grudge for gainestanding his marriage thought now a fit time to requite the discourtesie and therefore sent many thankes vnto Vawcler with promise of a thousand Crownes pension by yeere if he stood firme for his wiues brother King Edward himselfe laying the Coast to impeach his arriuage But how Mounsieur Vawclere stood affected whatsoeuer shew he made Comines the French Kings Historian doth tell who sent Warwicke word the danger he stood in of the said Duke and of Duras the Kings Admirall so as to land would be his finall confusion His Counsell therefore was that he should make into France vnto whose King he should be most welcome and as for the town of Callis he willed him to take no thought but promised to make him a good reckoning thereof when time should best serue Whereupon the Earle waied anker for Normandy and in his way tooke many rich Ships of the Duke of Burgundies subiects which netled him not a little but yet found no docke to rub out the smart 43 King Lewis hearing of the arriuage of Warwicke and knowing his troubles to arise for his Ambassage to Bona and faith vnto France sent certaine Princes to conduct him to the Castle of Amboys where a supply was made against all necessities and himselfe and traine most honorablie intertained whereat the Duke of Burgundy sore repined and sent Lewis word that he disliked his doings with threats of reuenge if he aided him against his wiues brother This notwithstanding the French King gaue all comforts to these fugitues and prepared his assistance for their restorations and the raising againe of godly King Henrie 44 Queene Margaret hauing fled England and soiourning in France with her Father Reiner a King in name but scarcely able to beare the State of an Earle saw now the Iron hot and ready to be strucke therefore with her sonne Prince Edward Iohn Earle of Oxford and Iasper Earle of Pembrooke who latelie had escaped out of prison in England came vnto Amboyse where by meanes of the French King a combination of Alliance was confirmed betwixt the Prince of Wales young Edward and Anne the second daughter to the Earle of Warwicke then present with her mother and sister in France That King Henry should be againe restored the Duke of Clarence and the Earle tooke a solemne Oath neuer to desist whiles they had power and in the nonage of the Prince they iointly were to be deputed his Protectors and the Lands sole Gouernors 45 Edward in England hearing what Queen Margaret his brother Clarence stout Warwicke in the French Court had done was strucke into a sodaine dumpe being as doubtfull of friends as fearefull of foes and therefore such as were alied to the Lancastrians or fauourits of the down-cast K. Henrie he began somewhat roughly to deale with many therefore that were guilty daily tooke Sanctuarie or yeelded themselues to his mercie among whom Iohn Marques Montacute brother to Warwicke was one who with fairest words of promises was receiued into fauor and vpon whose example many others came in which notwithstanding meant to stand out if occasion should serue But no busier was Edward to keepe the Crowne on his head then these Lords in France were resolute to strike it off in midst of whose consultations behold how it happened 46 There came from England to Calleis
hath continued what gouernour we now haue and what ruler wee might haue for I plainely perceiue the Realme being in this case must needes decay and be brought to confusion but one hope I haue that is when I consider your noble personage your justice and indifferencie your seruent zeale and ardent loue towards your naturall Countrey and in like manner the loue of your countrey towards you the great learning pregnant wit and eloquence which so much doth abound in your person I must needs thinke this Realme fortunate which hath such a Prince in store meete and apt to bee Gouernour But on the other side when I call to memory the good qualities of the late Protector and now called King so violated by-tyranny so altered by vsurped authoritie and so clouded by blind ambition I must needs say that hee is neither meet to bee King of so noble a Realme nor so famous a Realme meet to be gouerned by such a tyrant Was not his first enterprise to obtaine the Crowne begunne by the murther of diuers personages did hee not secondarily proceed against his owne natural mother declaring her openly to be a woman giuen to carnall affection and dissolute liuing declaring furthermore his two brethren and two Nephewes to bee bastards and to bee borne in adultery yet not contented after hee had obtained the Garland he caused the two poore innocents his Nephewes committed to him to bee most shamefully murthered the blood of which little babes daily cry to God from the earth for vengeance What surety can be in this Land to any person either for life or goods vnder such a cruell Prince which regardeth not the destruction of his owne blood and much lesse the losse of others But now to conclude what I meane towards your noble person I say affirme if you loue God your linage or your natiue countrey you must your selfe take vpon you the Crowne of this Realme both for the maintenance of the honour of the same as also for the deliuerance of your naturall countreymen from the bondage of such a tyrant And if your selfe will refuse to take vpon you the Crowne of this Realme then I adiure you by the faith you owe vnto God to deuise some wayes how this Realme may bee brought to some conuenient regiment vnder some good Gouernour When the Bishop hap ended his saying the Duke sighed and spake not of a great while so that night they communed no more 26 The next day the Duke sent for the Bishop to whom hee said My Lord of Ely I must needs in heart thinke and with mouth confesse that you bee a sure friend a trustie counsellor and a very louer of your countrey And sith that at our last communication you haue disclosed the secrets of your hart touching the now vsurper of the crown also haue alittle touched the aduancement of the two noble families of Yorke and Lancaster I shall likewise declare vnto you my priuie intents and secret cogitations And to beginne when King Edward was deceased I then began to studie and with deliberation to ponder in what manner this Realme should be gouerned I perswaded with my selfe to take part with the Duke of Gloucester whom I thought to be as cleane without dissimulation as tractable without iniurie and so by my means he was made Protector both of the King and Realm which authoritie being once gotten he neuer ceased priuily to require mee and other Lords aswell spirituall as temporall that he might take vpon him the Crowne till the Prince came to the age of foure and twenty yeres and were able to gouerne the Realme as a sufficient King which thing when hee saw me somewhat sticke at hee then brought in instruments authenticke Doctors Proctors and Notaries of the Law with depositions of diuers witnesses testifying King Edwards children to bee bastards which depositions then I thought to be as true as now I know them to bee fained When the said depositions were before vs read and diligently heard he stood vp bare headed saying Well my Lords euen as I and you would that my Nephewes should haue no wrong so I pray you doe mee nothing but right for these witnesses and sayings of famous Doctors bee true For I am onely the vndubitate heire to Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke adiudged to be the very heire to the Crowne of this Realme by authoritie of Parliament Which things so by learned men for veritie to vs declared caused mee and others to take him for our lawfull and vndoubted Prince and Soueraigne Lord. So againe by my ayde hee of a Protector was made a King but when he was once crowned King and in full possession of the Realme hee cast away his old conditions For when I my selfe sued to him for my part of the Earle of Hertfords Lands which his brother Edward wrongfully deteined from me and also required to haue the office of the high Constableship of England as diuers of my noble ancestors before this time haue had and in long discent continued in this my first suite hee did not only first delay mee and afterwards deny me but gaue mee such vnkinde words as though I had neuer furthered him all which I suffered patiently But when I was informed of the death of the two young Innocents O Lord my heart inwardly grudged insomuch as I abhorred the sight of him I took my leaue of the Court and returned to Brecknocke to you but in my iourney as I came I had diuers imaginations how to depriue this vnnaturall vncle First I fantasied that if I list to take vpon me the Crowne now was the way made plaine and occasion giuen For I well saw hee was disdained of the Lords Temporall and accursed of the Lordes Spirituall After diuers cogitations of this matter as I rode betweene Worcester and Bridgenorth I encountred with the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmund now wife to the Lord Stanley who is the very daughter and sole heire to Iohn Duke of Sommerset my Grandfathers elder brother so that she her sonne Henry Earle of Richmund be both between me and the gate to enter into the Maiestie roiall getting of the Crowne and when wee had a little communed concerning her sonne and were departed I then beganne to dispute with my selfe whether I were best to take it vpon me by the election of the Nobility and Communalty or to take it by power Thus standing in a wauering ambiguity I considered first the office duety and paine of a King which surely I thinke that no mortall man can iustly and truly obserue except he be elected of God as K. Dauid was 27 But further I remembred that if I once took vpon me the Gouernance of the Realme the daughters of King Edward and their Allies being both for his sake much beloued and also for the great iniurie done to them much pittied would neuer cease to barke at
the one side of me Semblably my cosin the Earle of Richmond his aides and kinsfolkes will surely attempt either to bite or to pierce me on the other side so that my life and rule should euer hang vnquiet in doubt of death or deposition And if the said two linages of Yorke and Lancaster should ioine in one against me then were I surely matched Wherfore I haue clecrelie determined vtterly to relinquish all imaginations concerning the obtaining of the Crown For as I told you the Countesse of Richmond in my returne from the new named King meeting me in the high way praied me first for kindreds sake secondly for the loue I bare to my Grandfather Duke Humfrey who was sworne brother to her father to moue the King to be good to her sonne Henry Earle of Richmond and to licence him with his fauour to returne againe into England and if it were his pleasure so to doe shee promised that the Earle her sonne should marry one of the Kings daughters at the appointment of the King without any thing demanded for the said espousals but only the Kings fauour which request I soone ouerpassed and departed But after in my lodging I called to memory more of that matter and now am bent that the Earle of Richmond heire of the house of Lancaster shall take to wife Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Edward by the which marriage both the houses of Yorke and Lancaster may be vnited in one 28 When the Duke had said Bishop Morton who euer fauoured the house of Lancaster was wondrous ioyfull for all his imagination tended to this effect and lest the Dukes courage should asswage or his minde alter he said to the Duke My Lord of Buckingham sith by Gods prouision and your incomparable wisdome this noble coniunction is first moued it is necessary to consider what persons we shall first make priuie of this politicke conclusion By my troth quoth the Duke we will begin with my Ladie of Richmond the Earles mother which knoweth where he is in Britaine sith you will begin that way said the Bishop I haue an old friend with the Countesse called Reinald Bray for whom I shall send if it be your pleasure so the Bishop wrote for him to come to Brechnock who straite came backe with the messenger where the Duke and Bishop declared what they had deuised for the preferment of the Earle of Richmond sonne to his Lady and Mistresse willing her first to compasse how to obtaine the goodwill of Queene Elizabeth and also of her eldest daughter and after secretly to send to her sonne in Britaine to declare what high honour was prepared for him if he would sweare to marrie the Ladie Elizabeth assoone as hee was King of the Realme With which conclusion Reinold Bray with a glad heart returned to the Countesse his Lady Bray thus departed the Bishop told the Duke that if he were in his Isle of Ely he could make many friends to further their enterprise The Duke knew this to bee true but yet loth to loose the society of such a Counsellor gaue him faire words saying he should shortly depart well accompanied for feare of enemies but the Bishop ere the Dukes company were assembled secretly disguised in a night departed and came to Ely where he found money and friends and then sailed into Flaunders where he did the Earle of Ricchmond good seruice 29 When Reinold Bray had declared his message to the Countesse no meruaile if shee were glad wherefore shee deuised a means how to breake this matter to Queen Elizabeth being then in Sanctuary at Westminster and hauing in her family a certaine Welshman called Lewis learned in Phisicke now hauing oportunity to breake her minde vnto him declared that the time was come that her sonne should be ioined in marriage with Lady Elizabeth daughter and heire to King Edward and that King Richard should out of all honour and estate be deiected and required him to goe to Queene Elizabeth not as a messenger but as one that came friendlie to visite her and as time and place should serue to make her priuy of this deuise This Phisitian with good diligence repaired to the Queene and when he saw time conuenient said vnto her Madame although my imagination be very simple yet for the entire affection I beare to you and to your children I am so bolde to vtter vnto you a secret conceit which I haue compassed in my braine When I remember the great losse which you haue sustained by the death of your louing husband and the great sorrow that you haue suffered by the cruell murder of your innocent children I can no lesse doe then daily study how to bring your heart to comfort and also to reuenge the quarrell of you and your children on that cruell tyrant King Richard And first consider what battel and what mischiefe haue risen by the dissention betweene the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster which two families if they may be ioined in one I doubt not but that your line shall be again restored to your great ioy comfort you know Madam that of the house of Lancaster the Earle of Richmond is next of bloud to the house of York your daughters now are heirs If you could deuise the means how to couple your eldest daughter with the Earle of Richmund in matrimony no doubt but that the vsurper should shortly bee deposed and your heire againe to her right restored 30 When the Queene had heard this friendly Motion shee instantly besought him that as he had beene the first inuentor of so good an enterprise that now hee would not desist to follow the same requiring him further that he would resort to the Countesse of Richmund mother to the Earle Henrie and to declare to her on the Queenes behalfe that all the friends of King Edward her husband should assist and take part with the Earle of Richmund her sonne so that hee would take an oath that after the Kingdome obtained to espouse the Lady Elizabeth her daughter c. M. Lewis so sped his busines that he made a finall end of this businesse betweene the two mothers so the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmund brought to a good hope of the preferment of her son made Reinold Bray chiefe soliciter of this conspiracy giuing him in charge secretly to inueagle such persons of Nobility to ioyne with her take her part as he knew to be faithfull 31 This Reinold Bray within few dayes brought to his luer Sir Giles Daubeny Sir Iohn Cheinie Knights Richard Guilford and Thomas Ramney Esquiers and others In the meane while the Countesse of Richmund sent one Christopher Vrsewicke a Priest into Britaine to the Earle of Richmund her sonne to declare to him all the agreements between her and the Queene agreede and with all to shew him that the Duke of Buckingham was one of the first
Inuenters of this enterprise shee likewise sent Hugh Conway an Esquire into Britaine with a great summe of money giuing him in charge to declare to the Earle the great loue that the most part of the Nobility of the Realme bare towards him willing him not to neglect so good an occasion offered but with all speed to setle his mind how to return into England and therewithall aduising him to take land in Wales When the Earle had receiued this ioyfull message hee brake to the Duke of Britaine all his secrets aduertising him thathe was entred into a sure stedfast hope to obtaine the Crown of England desiring him of help towards the atchieuing of his enterprise which the Duke promised afterwards performed wherupon the Earle sent back again Hugh Conway Th. Ramney to declare his cōming shortly into Englād 32 In the meane season the chiefe of the conspiracy in England beganne many enterprises which being neuer so priuily handled yet knowledge therof came to King Richard and because hee knew the Duke of Buckingham to be the chiefe head and aide of this combination he thought it most necessarie to plucke him from that part and thereupon addressed his louing letters vnto the Duke requesting him most earnestly to come to the Court whose graue aduise for counsell hee then stood much in need of with many words of kind complements to bee vttered from the mouth of the messenger but the Duke mistrusting those sweet promises proceeded out of a bitter intent and knowing K. Richard to speak most fayrest when he meant foulest play desired the king of pardon excusing himself that he was sickly not wel able to trauel which excuse the king would not admit but sent other letters with checking wordes commanding him without delay to repaire to his presence vnto which the Duke made a determinate answere that hee would not come to his mortall enemy and immediately prepared war against him Whereupon Thomas Marquesse Dorset came out of Sanctuary and gathered a great band of men in the County of Yorke Sir Edward Courtney and Peter his brother Bishoppe of Excester raised another Armie in Deuonshire and Cornwall and in Kent Sir Richard Guilford and other Gentlemen raised a Company and all this was done euen in one moment 33 King Richard rouzed from his pleasures in progresse sent forth commission to muster his men and with a great preparation from London marched towardes Salisbury thinking it not best to disparkle his power into small parts in pursuing his enemies euery way at once and therfore omitting all others with a great puissance went to set vpon the Duke of Buckingham the head of the spring The Duke hearing of the Kings approach made out to meet him before hee came too farre accompanied with a great power of wild Welshmen whom hee had enforced to follow him more by his Lordly commandement then by liberall wages which thing indeed was the cause that they fell off and forsooke him His march was through the forrest of Deane intending for Glocester where hee meant to passe Seuerne and so haue ioined his Army with the Courtneys other Western men which had he done no doubt K. Richard had been in great ieopardie But before hee could attaine the Seuerne side by force of continuall raine the riuer rose so high that it ouerflowed all the country adioyning and was not againe bounded within his owne bankes for the space of ten dayes so that the Duke could not get ouer nor his complices any wise come vnto him during which time the Welshmen lingring idle without wages or victual sodainelie brake vp Campe and departed whereupon the Duke was wonderously perplexed not knowing how to recouer this vnfortunate chance and destitute of power to shew himselfe in field sought to secure himselfe in secret till destiny assigned him a better day 34 A seruant he had in especiall fauour trust brought vp tenderly by him and risen to great wealth and esteeme his name was Humfrey Ba◅ister and place of residence neere vnto Shrewsburie whither the distressed Duke in disguise repaired intending there to remain secret vntil he might either raise a new power or else by some meanes conuay himselfe vnto Britaine to Henry Earle of Richmund but as soone as the others which had attempted the same enterprise against the King had knowledge that Buckingham was forsaken of his Company and could not be found as men strucke in sodaine feare shifted euery one for himselfe many of them taking Sanctuary but the most of the chiefest took into Britaine among whom were Peter Courtney Bishoppe of Excester with his brother Edward Earle of Deuonshire Thomas Marquesse Dorset the Queenes sonne and his young sonne Thomas being a Childe Edward Wooduile Knight brother to the Queene Iohn Lord Wells Sir Robert Willoughby Sir Iohn Bourchier Sir Giles Daubeney Sir Thomas Arundell Sir Iohn Cheinie with his two brethren Sir William Barkley Sir Richard Edgecombe and Sir William Brandon Edward Poinings an excellent Captain and others 35 Richard thus farre proceeded and no enemy seene his hopes were encreased and feares daily lesse yet being a Prince politicke and vigilant he commanded the Ports to be securely kept knowing that Buckingham was not fled with the rest made proclamation for the apprehending of that Duke promising a thousand pound to the man that could bring him forth with pardon of his faults to enioy the Kings fauour and if hee were a bondman presently to bee made free Banister minding the present and forgetting what was past spread his lappe first to receiue this golden shower and in hope of this gaine made no conscience to betray his own Lord who had now laid his life vpon trust in his hands hee therefore repayring to the Shiriffe of Shrewsbury reuealed the Duke who disguised like a poore Countriman and digging in a groue neere vnto Banisters house was apprehended and with a great guard of men was brought vnto Salisbury where King Richard then lay and where without arraignement or iudgement vpon the second of Nouember he lost his head whose death was the lesse lamented for that himselfe had been the chiefe Instrument to set the Crowne wrongfully vpon Richards head and yet the treachery of Banister was most seuerely punished as many haue obserued not onely in the losse of his reward promised which he neuer had and infamy receiued neuer after shaken off but also in himselfe and children as are thus reported his eldest sonne and heire fell mad and dyed so distracted in a Boares Stye his second sonne became deformed in his limmes and fell lame his third sonne was drowned in a small puddle of water his eldest daughter was sodainely strucke with a foule leprosie and himselfe being of extreame age was arraigned and found guilty of murder and by his Clergy saued his life 36 An other Commotion at the same time was in Kent where George Browne
and Iohn Gilford Knights Foge Scot Clifford and Bonting with fiue thousand men attempted great matters at Grauesend but hearing of the Duke of Buckinghams surprise dispersed themselues for that time But when King Richard perceiued how hee was euery where beset he sent one Thomas Hutton vnto Francis Duke of Britaine with proffers of gold to circumuent and imprison Earle Henry who as hee feared was too well friended in those forraine parts which thing indeed this Hutton well perceiued and so to the King reported that the Duke was nothing forward to bite at this baite whereupon those that lately fled England were indited of treason and other of Henries factions beheaded whereof Sir George Browne and Sir Roger Clifford Knights with foure others were beheaded at London and at Exceter for the like cause dyed Sir Thomas Sentleger who had married Lady Anne Dutchesse of Excester King Richards own sister with others so icalous was the King of his vsurped Crowne and that nothing should be laide to vnprouident foresight the coasts hee stored with Armies of men furnished the Ports with store of Prouision and made all things ready to withstand Earle Henries arriuall Who now hauing gotten aide of fiue thousand Britaines with forty vessels wel furnished set saile from thence the twelfth of October but was taken with so terrible a tempest that his Fleet was disparkled some into Normandy and some compelled to returne into Britaine only the Earles ship with one other hept the Seas being sore tossed all night and in the morning arriued in the mouth of Poole in the County of Dorset where hee might behold the Shore full of men shining in armour to his great amasement whereupon hee sent out his shippe-boat to know whether they were friends or enemies their answere was that they were thither appointed by the Duke of Buckinghm to attend the comming of the Earle of Richmund to conduct him in safety to the Duke who lay encamped not far off that so ioyning their forces they might prosecute Richard the vsurper who being in a maner destitute of men was sore distracted and desperate in his owne designes These smooth vntruthes notwithstanding Earle Henry auoided and with a forward gale returned to Normandy whence he sent Messengers vnto young Charles King of France whose father King Lewis was lately departed this life to haue his safe conduct to returne into Britaine which easily was granted with fauourable complements returned to the Earle Lord Henry thus crossed by sea had present news of Buckinghams surprise and death with the flight of the Nobles escaped from Richard who meeting with Richmund in Britaine fell forthwith into Counsell where first it was determined that Earle Henry should take his oath to espouse the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter vnto King Edward and the immediate heire to the Crowne which hee solemnly did in the Church at Rhedon and they for their parts sware vnto him fealty doing him homage with no lesse respect then vnto their sole and crowned King 37 Of these proceedings King Richard soone heard which indeed greatly appaled his thoughâ—… and all pensiue and sad he returned out of the West towards London where to cut off the hopes of Richmunds further claime hee caused a Parliament to be assembled at Westminster and therein attainted the said Earle Henry himselfe and all such as had fled the land in his behalfe enacting them enemies to their naturall Country their goods to be confiscated and all their lands and possessions to be seised vpon to the Kings vse which was so forwarded by his lewd Counsellors and so executed by his fawning followers that some better affected set forth the present and oppressed estate in these scoffing rimes to their further disgrace diuulging their names in manner as followeth The cat the rat and Louell the dogge Rule all England vnder a hogge Alluding to the names of Ratcliffe the Kings mischieuous Minion and of Catesby his secret traducer and to the Kings cognizance which was the Boare for which William Collingborne Esquier who had been Shiriffe of Wiltshire and Dorsetshire was condemned and vpon the Tower hill executed with al extremity 38 King Richards state standing in dangers abroad and not altogether free from conspiracies at hoâ—…e hee thought it best policy to enter amitie with Scotland which hee did for the terme of three yeeres and the more firme to assure himselfe of that King hee intreated a marriage betwixt the Duke of Rothsay the kings eldest sonne and the Lady de la Pole daughter to Iohn Duke of Suffolke and to the Dutchesse Elizabeth king Richards owne sister whom hee so much fauoured as that after the death of his owne sonne he proclaimed Iohn Earle of Lincolne her sonne and his Nephew heire apparant to the Crowne of England disinheriting King Edwards daughters whose brothers hee had before murdered 39 His feares nothing lessened but rather daily increased he attempted once more to stop the Currunt which led to the spring to which end he sent his Ambassadours loaden with gold and many gay promises vnto Francis Duke of Britaine offring to giue him all Richmâ—…nds lands and yeerely reuenues if he would either send the said Earle into England or commit him there vnto prison These comming to the Dukes Court could haue no communication with him he lying extremely sicke and his wits too weake to entertaine discourse Whereupon Peter Landose his Treasurer a man pregnant in wit and of great authority tooke the motion into hand vnto whom the English Ambassadors promised all the Earles Reuenews if he could bring King Richards request to passe He greedy of gaine and being in place to doe what he would promised to effect it conditionally that King Richard would make good his offer Thus whilest messengers posted betwixt Peter and Richard Iohn Bishop of Elie being then in Flaunders was certified by Christopher Vrswicke of all the circumstances of this purpose whereupon the Bishop with all possible hast sent the same intelligence the same day and by the same man vnto Earle Henry in Britain willing him to shift himself and followers into France who forthwith sent Vrswick vnto King Charles to haue his licence that he might with his good liking come into his dominions which being obtained he caused the other Lords vnder pretence to visite the sicke Duke to escape into Aniou and two daies after changing his Apparrell with his seruant waited vpon him as vpon his Master and posted thence into France whose escape when the Treasurer heard of he sent after to apprehend him and that in such hast as at his entrance into the French dominions they were hard at his heeles 40 This suddaine flight of the Earle and of the other English Lords the Duke of Britaine being somwhat recouered of his dangerous sicknes tooke very greeuously imputing it a great dishonour vnto himselfe to suffer the least suspect of breach betwixt
yeeres were yet added to her life but whether in conceit for sorrow or of poison I cannot say she died shortlie after and was solemnely buried in the Abbey of Westminster 43 The King thus deliuered from the bands of Matrimony and now a widower at liberty to choose where he would cast glances of loue towards the Lady Elizabeth his owne brothers daughter and began to court her for his second Queene but the thing was so offensiue to the law of nature and so directly against the Law of God as all men abhorred the motion and most of all the maiden her selfe which Richard perceiuing hee forbare ouer earnest pursuite to gaine his time and all fit occasions but most especially hauing no leasure to woo his subiects on al sides daily reuolting and his Nobles more and more had in suspect among whom one was Lord Thomas Stanley Earle of Darby who had married Lady Margaret Countesse of Richâ—…nd Earle Henries owne mother him therefore hee most mistrusted and before he would admit his departure from Court he commanded him to leaue his sonne and heire George Stanley the Lord Strange for his hostage which he did though it little auailed to binde Darbies affection vnto his side 44 In this while King Richard hearing that Oxford had escaped out of the Castle of Hammes and that he with the Captaine thereof Iames Blunt were fled into France and ioined with Richmund thought it high time to quench the sparkes in those parts before they should rise to a higher flame and therefore hee appointed which was presently accomplished the Garrison at Callis to strait the said Castle with a hard siege being well assured that many welwillers to the Earles proceedings lay there harboured who vpon the least aduantage would be ready to play But Henry not vnmindfull of his distressed friends nor Oxford forgetting his kinde Hostesse Captaine Blunts wife made vnto the Peece and on the sudden put Thomas Brandon with thirty approued Souldiers into the Castle who from the walles plaied vpon the beseigers whiles Oxford annoied them vpon their backes so that presently they offered and came to a composition which was that they within should safely depart but the Castle to remaine in Subiection to the King 45 Hammes thus restored in danger to be lost and nothing had thence besides a woman and a few suspected persons King Richard thought himselfe now sure of all and fearing no inuasion at home imagined that much harme could not bee done abroad for Henry in France as he thought found very few friends and was fully perswaded that the French Kings assistance stood more of words then in deedes And indeed some occasion of such suspition was ministred for King Charles but young and the Princes at variance Earle Henry was enforced to make suite vnto them man by man Besides Thomas Marquesse Dorset sent for by his mother the Queene suddenly in the night made an escape from Paris with purpose for England which stroke great feare among Earle Henries part chiefely for that all their Counsels were knowne vnto the Marquesse which if he should reueale their designes were made desperate To preuent which hee was posted after and brought backe againe though much against his will These things considered King Richard to lessen his great charges discharged his Nauy at seas commanding the Welsh to watch the shoare Beacons to be built and armour to bee ready at euery call then giuing his affections leaue to entertaine more security saw not the sword that hung ouer his head 46 But Earle Henrie deliuered from the feare of the Marquesse thought it not best to prolong time lest others vpon like purposes should bewray his intents and thereupon obtaining a small aide of the French with a certaine summe of money for which the Lord Marquesse whom he much mistrusted and Sir Iohn Bourchier were left in pledge hee set forward to Roâ—…n and prepared his shipping in the mouth of Seyn whither tidings was brought him of Queene Annes death that King Richard purposed to marry Lady Elizabeth a feare indeed farre exceeding the former shee being the Princesse by whom hee must claime whereupon much distemperature arose euery mans braine working vpon the newes But after much consultation it was held the best to make ouer into England to interpose the proceedings ere the match was fully made whereupon Earle Richmund with two thousand men onely and a small number of ships set sayle from Harflent the fifteenth of August and the seuenth day following arriued at Milford hauen in Wales where taking land hee came vnto Dale and thence the next day marched to Hereford west ten miles into the Maine from thence he marched to Cardigan where he had newes that the Countrey was forelaid against him but finding that vntrue he made still forward beating downe such Houlds as held against him then sending secretly to Lady Margaret his mother to the Lord Stanley Talbot and others signified vnto them he meant to passe Seuerne at Shrewesbury and thence to march directly towards London In his way to Shrewesbury there mette him Sir Rice ap Thomas a man of great command in Wales with a number of men to side in his quarrell which Henry afterwards requited in making this his first aider the Gouernour of Wales 47 The Earle more boldly from Shrewsburie held on his march to the Towne of Newport whither Sir Gilbert Talbot with two thousand strong from the young Earle of Shrewsbury gaue him his aide Then passed he forward to Stafford and had conference there with Sir William Stanley and proceeding forward was honourably receiued into the City Lichfield where Thomas Earle of Darby with fiue thousand armed men had beene some few daies before but hearing of Earle Henries approach remoued to Anderson to auoide suspition of the jealous King that kept his sonne Hostage for his further truth 48 King Richard at this time helde his Court at Notingham where being informed that Earle Henrie with a small company was landed in Wales made small account of what he could doe altogether relying vpon the Lord Walter Herbert and Sir Rice ap Thomas two principall men in whom hee conceiued no little trust yet lest this new risen spring might gather in more heads he sent to Iohn Duke of Norfolk Henry Earle of Northumberland and Thomas Earle of Surrey willing them with a selected power to represse the insolency of this head-strong Earle moreouer he sent for Sir Robert Brakenburie Lieutenant of the Tower Sir Thomas Bourchier and Sir Walter Hungerford Knights all of them in great iealousie and mistrust commanding them with their forces to come and attend vpon his person which accordingly they set forward to doe meane while sending his Spials to know the way Henrie went had intelligence that hee was past Shrewsbury without any impeachment whereat storming in choller and cursing their vntruthes whom hee had
dayes lay naked and vnburied his remembrance being as odious to all as his person deformed and lothsome to be looked vpon for whose further despite the white Bore his cognizance was torne downe from euery Signe that his monument might perish as did the monies of Caligula which were all melted by the decree of the Senate Lastly his body without all funeral solemnity was buried in the Gray-Friers Church of that City But King Henry his Successor of a princely disposition caused afterward his Tombe to bee made with a picture of Alablaster representing his person and to be set vp in the same Church which at the suppression of that Monastery was pulled downe and vtterly defaced since when his graue ouergrowne with nettles and weedes is very obscure and not to be found Onely the stone chest wherin his corpes lay is now made a drinking trough for horses at a common Inne and retaineth the onely memory of this Monarches greatnesse His body also as tradition hath deliuered was borne out of the City and contemptuously bestowed vnder the end of Bow-Bridge which giueth passage ouer a branch of Stowre vpon the west side of the Towne Vpon this Bridge the like report runneth stood a stone of some height against which King Richard as hee passed toward Bosworth by chance strucke his spur and against the same stone as he was brought backe hanging by the horse side his head was dashed and broken as a wise woman forsooth had foretold who before Richards going to battell being asked of his successe said that where his spurre strucke his head should be broken but of these things as is the report so let be the credite Dead he is and with his death ended the factions a long time continued betwixt the Families of Lancaster and Yorke in whose bandings to bring set keep the Crown on their heades eight or nine bloudy set battels had beene fought and no lesse then fourescore persons of the bloud-royall slaine as Philip Câ—…ines the French Writer saith many of them being wel knowne to himselfe after which stormes and this Tirants death a blessed vnion ensued by ioining those houses in Henry of Lancaster and Elizabeth of Yorke 60 Hee was of Stature but little and of shape deformed the left shoulder bunching out like a Mole-hill on his backe his haire thinne and face short a cruell countenance in whose aspect might bee perceiued both malice and deceit When hee stood musing as hee would doe oft his vse was to bite and chaw the nether lip his hand euer on his dagger which euer hee would chop vp and down in the sheath but neuer draw it fully out Pregnant in wit hee was wily to faine apt to dissemble and haughty of Stomacke an expert Souldier and a better King then a man He founded a Colledge at Middleham beyond York and a Collegiat Chauntery in London neere vnto the Tower called Our Lady of Barking he endowed the Queenes Colledge in Cambridge with fiue hundred Marks of yeerely reuenew and disforrested the great Field of Wichwood which King Edward his brother had inclosed for his game he raigned two yeeres two moneths and one day and was buried as we haue said His Wife 61 Anne the second daughter and Coheire to Richard Neuil the stout Earle of Warwicke and Salesbury was first married to Edward Prince of Wales the sonne to King Henry the sixth and after his death was remarried to Richard Duke of Gloucester Anno 1472. afterwards by vsurpation King of England with whom in great State and solemnity shee was Crowned Queene the sixth of Iuly and yeere of Saluation 1483. She was his wife to the last yeere of his Raigne and then leauing her husband to choose another Queene was laid at rest in the Abbey of Westminster in this thing happy that she saw not the death of the Tyrant His Issue 62 Edward the sonne of King Richard and of Queene Anne his Wife and the onely childe of them both was borne in the Castle of Middleham neere Richmund in the Countie of Yorke Anno 1473. and being vnder foure yeeres of age was created Earle of Salisbury by his Vncle King Edward the fourth the seuenteenth of his Raigne but his father King Richard in the first of his vsurpation created him Prince of Wales the foure twentieth of August and yeere of Christ 1483. he then being about ten yeeres of age vnto whom also the Crowne was intailed by Parliament but this Prince dying before his father and much vpon the time of his mothers decease saw not the reuenge that followed the Tyrants Raigne whose bad life no doubt hath made doubtfull the place of this Princes buriall and other Princely offices done him in his life and at his death HENRIE THE SEVENTH KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE AND LORD OF IRELAND THE FIFTIE SEVENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER XX. HENRIE of that name the seauenth hauing by such mixt meanes of valor and practise as are alreadie described obtained the possession of Englands Crown we must now present vnto you his actions in the person and state of a King maintained by him with like mixture of courage and skill as it was atchieued to the verification of that rule That things are kept by the same Arts whereby they were gained In describing whereof wee meane nothing lesse then for humoring the vaine admirers of phrase and conceit to mount vp into Panegyricall flourishes in honor of the man though his excellent vertues would worthily beare if not duely also exact them yet may wee not omiâ—…to obserue that as in his attaining to the Crowne there was through diuine prouidence a concurring disposition of all important Circumstances without which his attempt might haue proued disasterous so hee hauing now possessed the Soueraigne power and mastered the State in the maine pointes easily made circumstances waite vpon his wisdom and to take their forme from his directions Of the first kind wherein his felicity deserues to be celebrated were these That he by the Male-line a meere stranger to both the roiall houses as descended from the Welsh and French and by the female springing out of such a family of Lancaster the Beanfords as by the same law which enabled it to inherite in ordinary estates was made incapable of succeâ—…n in the Regalitie should so safely be conuaied away into forraine parts there to continue an head of expectation and reuolt during the intestine troubles and dangers to him ineuitable here at home Secondly that the Realme of England should bee so auerted from Richard though a very honorable wise iust and necessary Prince after hee was somewhat setled as for his sake to neglect in a sort so many naturall heires of the house of Yorke some of them in right preceding Richard such were the children of Edward the fourth and George Duke of Clarence Richards elder brethren and all of
imposterous wretch and withall a Priest neither vnlearned the sacred shadow of which name the rather countenanced his practises in hope to make himselfe the principall Bishop of England plotted the aduancement of Lambert Symnell being his pupill in the Vniuersitie of Oxford to the Crown of England instigated thereto by the diuell and suborned by such as fauoured the White-rose faction vpon this occasion There went a rumour that Edward Earle of Warwicke sonne and heire to George the late vnfortunate Duke of Clarence second brother of King Edward was either already murthered or should shortly be This Architect of guile Simon hauing this Symnel in tuition the * sonne of a Baker or Shoomaker but a wel-faced and Princely-shaped youth of no * very euill nature but as it was corrupted by his Tutor meanes out of this rumors aerie substance to produce an apparition and prodigie which in Title behauiour and artificiall answers infused by his Tutors practises should resemble one of King Edwards children Here we must confesse that our authors leade vs into a perplexitie Some * affirming that this counterfet was exhibited to the world vnder the name of Edward Earle of Warwick sonne of the Duke of Clarence by the most turbulent and fatall Earle of Warwicke slaine at Barnet-field But hereunto reason seemes repugnant For what ground of claime could that Gentleman haue not onely for that his Father was attainted but much more for that the Queene of England then in being was the indubitate eldest daughter and heire of King Edward the fourth and sister and next heire to Edward the fifth Neither wants there ancienter authority then any of the others affirming that this Idoll did vsurpe the name of one of King Edwards sonnes many arguments concurring to buttresse this affirmation For if at the same time as Polydor writeth it was bruted that the sonnes of King Edward the fourth had not been murthered vnder their vsurping Vncle Richard but were escaped and liued in obscurity beyond the Sea how can that be true which Stow and the rest who follow Polydore therein affirm that Lambert was crowned King of England at Dublin in Ireland as heire to George Duke of Clarence For with what iniurie to the roiall brethren fained to be aliue was that Verily there seemes no coherence in the circumstances nor apparence of truth in the substance And how much stronger to the purpose of the Conspirators was the fiction of an Edward the Kings sonne and himselfe once proclaimed King then of an Edward who was but an Earle and a Duke of Clarences heire But you will aske what was the poore Earles part in this tragedie what other then that by rumoring his murther they might bring the person of King Henry into common detestation for his crueltie for clearing whereof the King publikelie afterward shewed the Earle to the view of all And albeit the vulgar fame is that Lambert was called Edward yet one who then liued saith directly that this Cypher was dubbed mounted from his owne meane ranke to the title of a King vnder the name of the second brother who for certaine was called Richard but what Record there is to the contrary is to vs as yet vnknowne for our vulgar Bookes extant can hardly passe with a Iury of ordinary Criticks and Censors for vnchallengeable euidence 14 This aery Typhon which grasped at the embracement of the two Kingdomes of England and Ireland thus throughly schooled and instructed is secretly conueighed by his Sinonian Tutor to Dublin the chiefe City of the Irish where he was confident of partakers as amongst the hereditary Clients and adherents of the house of Yorke which affection was first breathed into them by the cunning popularities of the Lord Richard Duke of Yorke the first of that line who publikely claimed the English Crowne His hopes deceiued him not for the Lord Chancellor of Ireland Thomas Fitz-Gerald of the noble Familie of the Geraldiâ—…s presently professed himselfe for the plot and by his authority and perswasions drew the generality of the Irish after him into it Messengers are hereupon dispatched vpon all hands both into England to such as they had hope of and into low Germany to the Lady Margaret sister of King Edward the fourth Dutchesse Dowager of Burgundy a most mortall enemy of the Lancastrian family In both places the lighted matches of sedition found powdry spirits and wonderfull correspondence There is flocking from all parts to support the quarrell and the Irish to haue the glory of giuing England a King proclaim reuerence this painted puffe flying bubble with royall Style and honors 15 Henrie seeing the fire so strangely kindled round about the wals of his best hopes strengths fals seriously to counsell at the Monastery of Carthusian Monkes neere Richmond where after exact deliberation it was decreed 1. That general pardon to stay the minds of as many as it was possible should without any exception bee proclaimed to such as from thenceforth should continue dutifull Which was principally done to temper and assure some priuate persons as Sir Thomas Broughton and others whose forces willes and wealth were held most in suspition 2. That Elizabeth late wife to Edward the fourth and mother in law to Henry now King of England should forfeit all her lands and goods for that contrary to her faith giuen to them who were in the plot for bringing in King Henry she had yeelded vp her daughters to the hands of the Tyrant Richard 3. That Edward Earle of Warwicke then Prisoner in the Tower should bee openly shewed aline in London All which was accordingly executed but without any great fruit for still â—…he plot went on 16 The condemnation of Elizabeth Queene Dowager rather moued enuy towards Henry then relieued his cause for to many the iustice of that sentence was doubtful the circumstance of a mother in law inferred a breach of pietie and the iudgement it selfe did also want example The iustice was doubtfull both in regard of the cause and of the proceeding Of the cause for how could shee haue defended her daughters by the priuiledge of sanctuary from such a Wolfe and Tyger as would haue infringed it for her sons had they not been quietly deliuered to his bloudie hands The same Tyrant doth now demand her daughters as to honour not to slaughter but if it had beene to slaughter what helpe she terrified with the motion after much deliberation yeelds them to him when shee neither could nor durst detain them But you say she violated her faith and hazarded thereby the liues and hopes of all that were in the plot for her cause A great crime certainely But Richard was in title and power a King and hung ouer her head with ineuitable terrors when Henry of Richmund was but an Earle and he farre off and in banishment and without any apparence of preuailing and her selfe a friendlesse widdow The manner
intention and escape for hee was escaped being discouered to the King all the wayes were beset and hee so close pursued that in the end betaking himselfe to a religious house of Carthusian Monkes hee declared who hee was and besought their Prior in the humblest manner he could for Gods sake to begge his life which at the Priors suite was granted but the Kings wrath being kindled or the passage of his suppressed wrath opened thereby he banisht all former respects commanding him to be settered and set for an whole day in a paire of Stockes mounted on a Scaffold before the Gate of Westminster Hall and the next day to be alike exposed in Golden Cheape to the basest of all contempt and scorne so fettered stockt Scaffolded as before to the great wonderment saith Stow of many as either insinuating that all were not perswaded of the imposture or that it seemed strange that one lately of so great Prowesse should vndergoe so despicable a punishment But for a seale and total summe of all ignominy and shame such as no face did euer beare greater he read his owne confession written with his owne hand as followeth 54 It is first to be knowne that I was borne in the Towne of Turney in Flanders and my fathers name is Iohn Osbecke which said Iohn Osbecke was controller of the said Towne of Turney and my mothers name is Katherine de Faro And one of my Grandsires vpon my fathers side was named Diricke Osbecke which died After whose death my grandmother was married vnto Peter Flamin that was receiuer of the forenamed Towne of Turney Dean of the Botemen that row vpon the water or riuer called Le Scheld And my Grandsire vpon my mothers side was Peter de Faro which had in his keeping the keyes of the gate of Saint Iohns within the same Towne of Turney Also I had an vncle called M. Iohn Stalin dwelling in the Parish of S. Pias within the same Towne which had married my fathers sister whose name was Ione or Iane with whom I dwelt a certaine season 55 And after I was led by my mother to Antwerpe for to learne Flemish in a house of a cosin of mine an officer of the said towne called Iohn Stienbecke with whom I was the space of halfe a yeere and after that I returned againe to Turney by reason of warres that were in Flanders and within a yeere following I was sent with a Merchant of the saide Towne of Turney named Berlo to the Mart of Antwerpe where I fell sicke which sicknesse continued vpon mee fiue moneths And the said Berlo set mee to boord in a Skinners house that dwelled beside the house of the English Nation And by him I was from thence carried to Barow Mart and I lodged at the figne of the old man where I abode for the space of two moneths 56 After this the said Berlo set mee with a Merchant of Middleborow to seruice for to learne the language whose name was Iohn Strew with whom I dwelt from Christmas to Easter and then I went into Portingall in company of Sir Edward Bramptons wife in a shippe was called the Queenes shippe And when I was come thither then was I put in seruice to a Knight that dwelled in Lushborne which was called Peter Vacz de Cogna with whom I dwelled an whole yeere which said Knight had but one eye And because I desired to see other countries I tooke licence of him and then I put my selfe in seruice with a Britaine called Pregent Menâ—… which brought mee with him into Ireland Now when we were there arriued in the towne of Corke they of the Towne because I was arrayed with some clothes of silke of my said Masters came vnto me and threatned vpon me that I should bee the Duke of Clarences sonne that was before time at Dublin 57 But forsomuch as I denied it there was brought vnto mee the holy Euangelists and the Crosse by the Maior of the town which was called Iohn Lewelin and there in the presence of him and others I tooke mine oath as the truth was that I was not the foresaide Dukes sonne nor none of his bloud And after this came vnto me an English-man whose name was Stephen Poitron and one Iohn Water and laid to me in swearing great oathes that they knew well that I was King Richards bastard sonne to whom I answered with like oathes that I was not Then they aduised me not to be afeard but that I should take it vpon me boldly and if I would so doe they would aide and affist me with all their power against the King of England and not onely they but they were well assured that the Earle of Desmond and Kildare should doe the same 58 For they forced not what part they tooke so that they might bee reuenged on the King of England and so against my will made mee to learne English and taught mee what I should doe and say And after this they called me Duke of Yorke second sonne to King Edward the fourth because King Richards bastard sonne was in the hands of the King of England And vpon this the said Water Stephen Poitron Iohn Tiler Hughbert Burgh with many others as the foresaid Earles entred into this false quarrell and within short time others The French King sent an Ambassador into Ireland whose name was Lâ—…t Lucas and M. Stephen Friham to aduertise me to come into France and thence I went into France and from thence into Flanders and from Flanders into Ireland and from Ireland into Scotland and so into England 59 From hauing thus beene made a publike spectacle till all eyes were wearied with the view and imaginations tired with thinking hee is conuaied to the Tower of London where it had beene happy if hee had onely wrought his owne destruction but the bloudy fate so to speake of his disasterous birth would not suffer him to perish single In the same Tower was prisoner Edward the young Earle of Warwicke hauing so beene from the first yeare of Henry to this present for no fault of his but for that as a neere Titler to the Crowne he carried in his liuing person inseparable matter of danger sedition Of his simplicity by reason of his education in prison from his in fancy there is a report that as one who liued out of the view of the world hee knew not an henne from a goose or one fowle or Creature from an other To hasten the ruine of so innocent a daunger behold there breakes foorth a counterfeit Earle of Warwicke as if all that which the world saw horrible in Perkins darings had been but a document to instruct others in the like and that nothing were to be taxed therein but want onely of successe which whosoeuer could propound to himselfe all things else were full of encouragement and reason This counterfeit was a Cordwainers son of London aged about
twenty yeeres and called Ralfe Wilford who for falsly assuming the name title of the said Earle being thereunto taught and suborned a practise which well declared that the malitious Dutchesse of Burgundie did still liue was hanged at S. Thomas Waterings by Southwarke vpon Shrouetuesday 60 This new deuise to vncrowne King Henry so wakened his owne feares and the eies of the Castilians who had secretly agreed to marry their Princesse Katherine to our Prince Arthur that there seemed no sure ground of succession if that the Earle of Warwicke were not made away A fearefull case where the false reason of State shall faine to it selfe an impossibility of well doing without shedding innocent blood and shall therefore resolue to found vpon so crying a sinne the hope of perpetuity in succession sith nothing is truer thâ—… that sinne was â—…uer an vnsure basis to settle lasâ—…ing workes vpon But ô the narrow capacities of the most seeing men the confidence whereof did vndoubtedly lead this King heerein not iustifiable howsoeuer excusable in respect of humane frailty which might propound to it selfe many feares and respects both publike and priuate to conniue at the plotted death or rather formall murder of this harmelesse Gentleman whose wrong may yet moue the hardest to compassion as it afterwarde stirred God in iustice to reuenge prospering no part of that great worke which was thereupon thus corruptly sought to be perpetuated That noble Lady Katherine herselfe was hereof so sensible that when the diuorce was afterward prosecuted against her by King Henry the eight her second husband shee is reported to haue said That it was the hand of God for that to cleere the way to her marriage that innocent Earle of Warwicke was put to vnworthy death Neither let licentious Practises vouch the singular Act of Salomon in taking away the life of his elder brother Adonias to colour this homicide for he that will argue from particular facts in Scripture shall not onely leaue no Adonias liuing but perhaps no Salomon To worke this young Warwickes ruine the mischeiuous and dismall wretch Perkin becomes an occasion if not an instrument for he by his supple insinuations and flowing promises had corrupted his keepers the seruants of Sir Iohn Digbie Knight Lieutenant of the Tower who as was affirmed meant to haue murdered their master and then to haue set Perkin and the Earle at large to which practise of escape the poore Earle is said to haue consented Perkin for this conspiracie had his triall at Westminster and hee together with one Iohn à Waters who had beene sometime Maior of Corke in Ireland were condemned and being drawne to Tiborne had the sentence of death executed vpon them Perkin at the Gallowes did reade his former confession taking on his death that the same was true and vnder-went his punishment with patience Walter Blewet and Thomas Astwood being two of the conspirators for the other two Strangewates and Long Roger being the Lieutenants men also were not executed nor for so much as wee haue read arraigned not long after receiued the reward of their offence at the same place 61 Iustice thus tooke hold at last of Perkin Warbecke on whom the Prouerbe which saith that Pride is the Vsher of shame was worthily verified Neither could the world accuse King Henrie for his death vnlesse it were for that he had not hanged him sooner but suffered him to liue till hee had drawne after him a greater ruine in Warwicks person then in all the former tragedies For this Earle being a chiefe Prince of the blood and next heire Male of his house to the Crowne of England a crime of which his birth onely made him guilty and not any fact of his being thus charged to haue giuen assent to Perkins plot of escape he was publikely arraigned before the Earle of Oxford then High Steward of England by the name of Edward Plantaginet Earle of Warwicke and indited for minding to haue escaped as they said out of the Tower and consequently according to the dreadfull licence of inferences among our English pleaders in cases of death to depriue King Henry of his royall Crowne and dignity and to vsurpe the Title and soueraigne office prosecuting their bloody Poetry with the like sanguinary syllogismes though vtterly without measure or fashion The Earle doubly betraied first by the setters of the snare and then by their silly or deceitfull perswasions who were put about him confesseth the enditement and submitteth himselfe to the Kings mercie that is offered vp his head to be a slipperie foundation of King Henries farther purposes for sentence of death was thereupon pronounced as against a Traitour This one practise seemes sufficient if not to cast vpon Henry the Title of a shrewd and perillous man yet to raise a doubt whether as one writes hee was more sincere and entire then Ferdinando King of Spaine vpon whom saith that Authour he did handsomely bestow the enuie of the death of Edward Plantagenet Earle of Warwicke The life therefore of this Prince according to rigour of lawe being thus in his power the King gently pardoned all the paines but the losse of his head which was cut off vpon a scaffold at Tower-hill and then another gratious fauour his body was not buried in the Chappel of the Tower or in any other common place but at Bisham by his Ancestors Iealous saith one the King was ouer the greatnes of his Nobilitie as remembring how himselfe was set vp and much more did this humour encrease in him after he had conflicted with such Idols and Counterfeits as Lambert Simenel and Perkin Warbeck The strangenes of which dangers made him thinke nothing safe This Earle was the last heire male of the blood and surname of Plantagenet whose race as it was a long time glorious for giuing Kings to England euen from King Henry the second so in the end chiefly for the house of Yorke it became hatefull as it seemes to God and man for the most horrible and inextinguible deadly fewdes murder periuries and other horrors committed within it selfe which as then not fully expiated lay heauily vpon the head of this Earle and finally threw open all those fences which the possession of Maiestie and numerositie of issue had for sundry ages cast about it letting in thereby the surname of Tydder being but two descents English and which now after three descents and fiue Princes is also vanished Now among those few great workes of peace which ensued their firebrands of warre we must remember the marriage of Prince Arthur with the Princesse of Spaine Lady Katherine The interim from Warwicks death till then brought forth a verie great plague whereof in London there are said to haue died about thirtie thousand The King and Queene remoue to Callais in May and returned in Iune The maine busines was to reuiew and ratifie the state of amity and negociations betweene the
Lady Margaret his eldest daughter as a pledge of indissoluble amitie The Bishoppe promised his best diligence and accordingly after his returne laboured therein with King Henry who most gladly hearkened thereunto Whereupon the Scotish King sent the Archbishoppe of Glasco the Earle of Bothwell and others to demand the Lady in marriage Their entertainement was hearty and princely But when the proposition came to scanning at the Councell table it had not currant passage at first for there were who obiected as an inconuenience That by this marriage the Crowne of England might come to the Scotish line by the issue of Lady Margaret Whereunto it is said King Henry made this answere What if it should for if any such thing should happen which Omen God forbid I see it will come to passe that our Kingdome shall leese nothing thereby because there will not bee an accession of England to Scotland but contrarily of Scotland vnto England as to that which is farre away the most noble head of the whole Iland seeing that which is lesse vseth to accrue to the ornament and honour of that which is much the greater as Normandy heretofore carue to be vnder the dominion and power of the English our forefathers When this was said the whole boord of councell receiued it as an Oracle it went cleare about That Margaret should be married to the King of Scotland With this answere and other instructions the Scottish Ambassadors were sent home who afterward returned into England with full authority satisfaction to all Henries propositions whereupon ensued the before said publishment of assurances at Paules Crosse. It was a principall Article in this agreement That no Englishman should enter Scotland nor Scot into England without commendatory letters from their Soueraigne Which Article was reputed a speciall meane to preserue the peace inuiolable 65 But ere the young Lady her selfe was conuaied into Scotland her brother Prince Arthur died and in * February next ensuing their mother also Queene Elizabeth as shee lay in Child-bed within the Tower of London The King to repaire his mind with fresh consolations in aduancing his onely remaining sonne Henry Duke of Yorke created him suddainely Prince of Wales Earle of Chester Flint within few dayes after his mothers decease Thus was Arthurs losse supplied howsoeuer Henry made Prince espoused soone after though with much reluctation the Lady Katherine his elder brothers widdow vpon the fiue and twentieth of Iune at the Bishoppe of Salisburies house in Fleetstreet And in this wise by prouiding so worthy a wife for him though to say truth her great Dowet was the chiefe motiue the king thought that the estate of England was sufficiently setled wherfore conuerting his cares to the accomplishment of affinity with Scotland hee most sūptuously furnished his deerest eldest daughter for her iourney himself in person trauelled frō Richmund as farre with her as C◅leweston beside Northampton where his mother the Countesse lay after certaine dayes spent in solace the King gaue her his blessing with fatherly counsell and exhortation and committed the guard and conduct of her person principally to the Earles of Surrey and Northumberland and to such Ladies and Gentlewomen as were appointed to that seruice a great company of Lords Knights Esquiers men of Marke attending them as farre as Berwicke At S. Lamberts Church in Lamer Moore within Scotland the King attended by the principall of his Nobles receiued her from the hands of the Earle of Northumberland and the next yeere after married her at Edenborough in the presence of all his Nobility The King gaue great entertainement to the English and shewed them iusting and other pastimes after the Scotish fashion The Scotishmen saith the Bishoppe of Rosse were not behind but farre aboue the Englishmen both in apparrell rich Iewels and massie chaines many Ladies hauing their habiliments set with Goldsmith worke garnisht with Pearle and Stone of price with gallant and wel trapped horses Diuerse Ladies also and young Gentlewomen of England attending Queene Margaret remained there and were well married to certaine Noblemen of Scotland whose progenie liues honourably there euen at these dayes The effect of this marriage is grauely described by the same Bishop in these words There was perfect peace and sincere amity betweene the two Realmes of England and Scotland a long time after And verily during the life of King Henry the seuenth no cause of breach was ministred by either of the Princes but they continued in great loue and friendshippe and mutuall societie contracting of marriages continuall enterchange of Merchandize betwixt the Subiects of both the Realmes as they had beene AL vnder the obedience of ONE PRINCE where through Iustice Policy and Riches did flourish and abound throughout the whole Isle of Albion And of this marriage is Iames the sixth descended being that ONE PRINCE vnder whose obedience AL are now gouerned as vnder the sole and lawfull lineall Monarch of great Britaine for this Iames the fourth had Issue Iames the fifth hee had Issue Queene Mary shee had issue our present Soueraigne the great grandchild of the said Queene Margaret eldest daughter of K. Henrie the seuenth 66 Which effects of peace and riches as they could not but bee comfortable to so wise a King as Henry they being the fruit as it were of his owne iust labours so let vs now obserue the last worldly cares of his raigne and vpon what obiects hee fixed his mind freede from the awe of open challenges of the Crowne and from throwes at his maine which with what art valour and felicity hee at first atchieued and with how great hazards troubles and bloudie businesses he brought it to such passe that neighbour Kinges reputed it safe to entermarry with his family wee haue already heard Two principall points tooke vp the last Scenes of his life for the rest of his time hee wholy employed either in the seruice of Almighty God wherin hee was so diligent that euery day he was present after the deuotions of those times at two or three Masses oftentimes hearing godly Sermons or in building wherewith hee kept his senses busied The one of the two chiefe points was to watch ouer the waies of his wiues kindred the remaining branches of the turbulent and vnfortunate house of Yorke whose growth and greatnesse hee supposed might at some time or other ouertoppe his owne the other was vnder opinion of iustice to encrease his treasure out of the common purses wherby he seemed onerous to many somwhat obscured the brightnes of his former glory at leastwise diminished his opinion with the generality Concerning his courses holden with his wiues kindred the laterall issues and staddles of the Plantagenets it fell out thus which by * occasion of the accidentall landing of Philip King of Spain at this time wherby the Earle of Suffolkes taking was procured we thought it best to handle here together
Edmund de la Pole Earle of Suffolke sonne to Iohn Duke of Suffolke and of Elizabeth sister to King Edward the fourth in the sixteenth yeere of King Henries raigne wilfully slew a common person in his furie Henry not sorry to haue occasion of encreasing his popularity by presenting so great a person to exemplary iustice and in the same act to blemish the honour of a man whose quality was to him suspected caused him for the same to be arraigned The fact hee was perswaded to confesse and therupon had pardon The Earle neuerthelesse as a Prince of the bloud holding himselfe disgraced by hauing been seen a Prisoner at the Kings Bench Barre fled the land discontented and went to his Aunt the Dutchesse Dowager of Burgundie but within a while after being fairely reconciled hee returned After which notwithstanding whether it were by reason of debt the certaine attendant of vaine-spirited and base-braueminded Courtiers wherinto he had deeply thrown himself for his furniture at the celebration of his cosen Prince Arthurs marriage or for that the restlesse spirit of enuie in the Dutchesse had preuailed hee taking his brother with him fledde againe the next yeere after The King who had pardoned his life seemed now to repent his clemency though it is plaine hee spared him of purpose till hee might discouer more of a conspiracy which hee knew was in hammering but his flight troubled him not a little knowing the violent humor of that Lord and remēbring to what a dangerous bloudy issue his brother the Earle of Lincolne had once already brought things at the battell of Stoke in the beginning of his raigne 67 For remedy hee betakes himselfe to his wonted arts and therefore to learne the secrets of the enemy Sir Robert Curson Knight Captaine of the Castell of Hammes by Caleis faines himselfe a friend to the Earle and flies from his charge vnto him An office vnworthy of Knighthood neither can any good spirit in the world stoope it selfe to such double faced emploiment which besides the treacherous dissimulations thereof cannot but bee accompanied with wilfull impieties For who is admitted into trust vpon a contrary side without inuocations of Gods holy name protestations adiurations oathes the vtmost assurances which man can giue to man to beget a conuenient affiance in his sincerity but by this stratagem the king ransackes the bosomes and cabinets of his aduersaries discouering their designes and hopes Whereupon William Courtney Earle of Deuonshire being most nobly descended and hauing to his wife the Lady Katherine one of the daughters of K. Edward the fourth and sister to Queene Elizabeth wife of King Henry William de la Pole brother to the said Edmund Earle of Suffolke Sir Iames Tirrel Sir Iohn Windham Knights with other were attached and committed to custodie and afterward also George Neuil Lord Abergenie and Sir Thomas Greene Knight were likewise apprehended but were soone deliuered The Earle of Deuonshire though innocent for it is the misery of such great men that their owne innocency cannot alwayes procure their owne safety but their birth-right many times and often other mens designations without their least priuity is enough to hazard them yea it is in the power of any conspirator by bare nomination to doe as much so that it concernes them to haue an eye not to their owne onely but to the behauiour also of their whole Alliances and dependancies this Earle I say though innocent remained Prisoner during this Kings life and some yeeres of his sonnes raigne who set him at liberty The other William the Earle of Suffolkes brother had not so strict an hand holden ouer him But Sir Iames Tyrrell Lieutenant of Guines Castell and Sir Iohn Wyndham Welbourn seruant to Sir Iames Tyrrel Curson a Purseuant Mathew Iones yeoman and a Shipman were condemned of treason for aiding the Earle of Suffolke The two Knights were beheaded at Tower hill The Shipman quartered at Tiburne Curson and Iones suffered death at Guines 68 This so round and quicke dealing with the Earles complices and fauourers startled his shallow and raw inuentions and made their whole bulke to swarue and splinter but the King rested not so for vpon the Sunday before the feast of SS Simon and Iude in the same yeere of the said executions there was published at Pauls Crosse by the Kings procurement from Pope Alexander the sixth a Bull of Excommunication and curse against the said Earle of Suffolke Sir Robert Curson and fiue other persons by speciall name and generally all other which aided the Earle against the King to the disturbance of the Kingdome Thus did the most prudent Henrie pursue his enemies not onely with secret countermines and open weapons of Law before they could assemble to make any shew but also with spirituall lightening which doubtlesse had they beene vpon iust cause and by lawfull authoritie fulminated ought infinitely to bee dreaded of good Christians because as Saint Paul saith they deliuer ouer to Satan Sir Robert Curson was named of purpose to make the Earle secure of him which may well be called a perillous if not a prophane deuise though his Holinesse were made the instrument thereof Neither did the King leaue heere for by his letters and messengers he so preuailed with Pope Alexander as hee decreed by his Bull That no person should afterward haue priuiledge of Sanctuary who had once taken the same and come foorth againe and that if any Sanctuarie-man should afterward commit any murther robbery sacriledge treasons c. he should by lay force bee drawne thence to suffer due punishment This was of great vse to the King and preserued many subiects from precipitation for the abuse of Sanctuaries had beene an efficient of many troubles But the same Pope hauing sent Iohn Giglis his Receiuer to gather mony in England shewed himselfe much more fauourable to such as perpetrated those said hainous offences as also Vsury simony rapines adulteries or whatsoeuer offences excepting certaine offences against the Pope and Clergy c. when he sent a * Bull of pardons for money to all such offendors in England dispensing also thereby with such as kept away or by any fraud bad gotten the goods of other men which they should now retaine still without scruple of conscience so as they paid a ratable portion thereof vnto his Holinesse Receiuers Sir Robert Curson though before accursed by the Pope returnes when he saw fit time into England and withall into wonted fauour with his Soueraigne The Earle seeing himselfe thus stript of all hope to doe much harme wandred about Germany and France to finde repose but in the end quite tyred he put himselfe into the grace and protection of Philip then in Flanders who by the death of Isabella was King of Spaine in right of Ioan his wife eldest daughter of Ferdinando and Isabella where hee remained in banishment till King Phillip was
driuen by tempest in the moneth of Ianuary into England as hee meant to haue passed through the sleeue or English Ocean into Spaine there to take possession of that Kingdome and other the appertinances 69 The chiefe Ship of the Nauie Roiall wherein the King was and two other all the rest being scattered by the fury of the weather into seueral places and other Ports of England thrust into ◅arbour at Falmouth Himselfe weary and sicke with the violent tossings of the Sea whereunto hee had neuer as it seemes beene vse◅ would needes come on shore and refresh his spirits though the principall men about him disswaded that course as foreseeing it would procure a longer stay then the nature of their occasions would perhaps well beare And so indeed it fel out for being now in another Princes though his friends dominions where he had no power ouer himself nor others the rumor of arriuall stirring the men in authority thereabout Sir Thomas Trenchard Knight with the suddē forces of the Coūtrey not knowing what the matter might bee came thither and vnderstanding the royall quality of the person inuited him with all humble humanity to his house and foorthwith dispatched postes to Court not long after Sir Iohn Car◅ Knight with a great troupe of armed men repaired also pursuing the like humble entreaties which the King fearing constraint because they were but subiects and durst not let him passe without their Lord and Masters leaue necessarilie yeelded vnto Vpon notice of this mightie Princes casuall arriual King Henry presently commanded the Earle of Arundel to entertaine him till himselfe could come who very magnificently did so with three hundred Horses by Torch-light and in the meane while King Henry himselfe prepares Philip perceiuing that whatsoeuer speed his affaires required yet now there was no remedy but to stay thought not good to expect his approach but to preuent it and came vpon the spurre to Windsore that he might be gone againe the sooner after whom Queene Ioan his wife came leasureably The rest of this entertainement because it hath matter of weight and is well set downe by Polidor Vergil it shall suffice vs to follow his footsteps At Windsore the two Kings after long and seuerall discourses beganne to conferre about renewing their league Henry required that Edmund Earle of Suffolke might be deliuered vp into his power which Philip denied to be a thing that he could doe as holding it most vnreasonable to be the author of his death whom he had taken into Protection but when at the last he found that no excuse nor reason could satisfie for that Henrie voluntarily offered to saue the Earles life he promised to doe therein what he desired and presently tooke order for his sending ouer According whereunto King Henry to draw out the time till he had the wished prey conueied King Philip to London to shew him the head City of his kingdome out of which after a little stay hee reconducted him The Earle in the meane time who conceiued horror at the first newes of King Philips landing in England as fatall to him and resolued that no hope was longer to be reposed in the faith of forraine Princes came ouer not vnwillingly presuming that after pardon of life hee might also in time regaine his liberty or if that hope failed yet should he at lestwise obtaine to die and bee buried in his Countrey But King Philip and his Queene hauing feasted with her sister the Princesse of Walles departed England The Earle was brought through Flanders to Calleis vpon the sixeteenth of March and landed at Douer vpon the foure and twentieth of the same conueighed thither by Sir Henrie Wiat and Sir Iohn Wiltshire with threescore men in armour of the Garrison of Calleis and at Douer Sir Iohn Louel and others receiuing him guarded him safe to the Tower of London King Philipp not long after his landing in Spaine deceased being not thirtie yeeres old That tempest which draue him into England was holden by the people as prodigious for it blew down the golden Eagle from the famous Spire of Pauls Steeple being of Copper richly ouerguilt of fourty pounds weight in length foure foote and in breadth three which also in the fall thereof brake and battered the signe of the Blacke Eagle in Pauls Church-yard in the place where now the Schoole-house stands This accident euen then made some coniecture that the Emperour Maximilian whose Imperiall Ensigne the Eagle is should suffer some losse accordingly saith Polydore as indeed he did by the death of King Philippe his sonne Which if any supersticiously delight in Calculations of that blind nature we may well parallell with that lightning which stroke the letter C. out of Caesar in the inscription of Caesar Augustus his statue wherupon it was gathered that Augustus should liue but one hundreth daies after and then bee called a God Aesar the remaining syllables so signifying in the old Hetruscan tongue which accordingly hapned 70 Thus was the Earle of Suffolke brought backe and the King anchored his quiet at the safe custody of his person within the Tower The other wordly point wherein he chiefely bestowed his ages care was to gather money though by courses seeming very grieuous and full of bitternesse the too griping greedinesse and too-profuse lauishnesse of money in Princes being both alike offensiue to a well setled estate Some excuse his doings herein amongst whom Polydor is chiefe as not proceeding from any deprauation or vncorrected affection of his nature but from an opinion and forecast of generall profite because a Princes humor of gathering tendeth though with distast of particular men to the good publike whereas his profusenes though with some particular mens profite endeth in the empouerishment of the whole And Henry himselfe protested saith Polydor hee did it not for loue of money but with a purpose to bridle the fierce minds of a nation bred vp among factions though they saith the same author who felt the smart and were wounded by his Instruments cried out they were not so much the darts of seuerity which did hit them as of anarice Yet Polydors Apologie may be current for it is not to bee doubted but that such vse the King might propound himselfe and yet withall we can hardly find any commendable root thereof the wayes being so importune and harsh by which hee raised money Let vs heare in this point the obseruatiue Knight Of nature saith hee Henry coueted to accumulate treasure which the people into whome there is infused for the preseruation of Monarchies a naturall desire to discharge their Princes though it bee with the vniust charge of their Counsellors and Ministers did impute vnto Cardinall Morton and Sir Rcinald Bray who as it afterward appeared as Counsellors of ancient authority with him did so sound his humor as neuerthelesse they tempered it Where it is truly said it afterward appeared for till
his Act against Andrew Barton and would abide the last drop of his bloud in the Vant-gard of the field 14 King Iames most readily accepted the offer and by his Herauld Hay sent the Earle word that if he were as then in Edenbrough yet would hee most gladly come to fulfill his desire and withall sent his letters for the iust occasions giuen him to inuade England as hee did The day approached and the Scots keeping the higher ground the Earle marched vpward along the riuer and by two Bridges passed ouer with his hoast making still forward as thogh he ment either to haue taken into Scotland or else to circumuent K. Iames his returne which hee perceiuing hasted downe the hill putting from him his horse raised his roiall Standard and as a most valiant Chiefetaine encouraged his Souldiers to the fight 15 The Scotish Ordinance discharged from aboue ouershot the English with very small dammage and the ground of no difficult ascent gaue them the easier accesse so that Sir Edmund Howard who lead a wing to the Vant-gard whereof his brother the Admirall was Captain got almost to the height against whom the Earles of Lennox and Argile with their Battels of Speares on foot so violently encountred that they beat down and brake the wing of the English wherein many were slaine and the horsemen disbanded and put to flight but presently recalled ioyned themselues againe to the great battell which by this time had attained to the toppe of the hill King Iames that saw this first brunt performed made full account that the day was his owne supposing verily the English had fled and therefore most valiantly he aduanced forward not staying for the reregard to second his battel and encountring the Earles Battalion a bloody fight was performed with the losse and life of many a man but strength neere spent and the Scotish somewhat disioyned through force of a great shore of arrowes falling among them Sir Edward Stanley hauing three bands reserued for the like purpose with a fresh onset inuaded the open sides of the enemy whose force was so violent that the Scots no longer were able to stand but tooke downe the hill vnto flight which the Earles of Lennox and Argile perceiuing did their best to stay them and fighting most valiantly themselues were slain in the same place 16 King Iames then perceiuing the wings of his Battell distressed and gone and that the enemy began to enclose him about with a stout resolution incouraged his men willing thē to regard the person of their King their own honor their valiant Ancestors and now their present imploiments that their blood might bee bought deare to the English and the Scotish valours recorded for euer in the volumes of fame for this their one daies work thereupon rushing among the thickest began a most eager bloody battel and piercing through with a strong hand went so far that he had almost ouerthrown the Earles Standard thus busied in doubtfull chance the Lord Howard and Sir Edward Stanley hauing discomfited the enemy in either wing returned in the face of the maine battell and the Lord Dacres with his Horse-men came vpon their backes so that the Stotish were forced to fight in a round compasse but being ouer-laid the Kings Standard was strucken downe and himselfe most valiantly fighting slaine in the middest of his enemies with whom died three Bishops whereof one was Alexander Archbishop of Saint Andrewes the Kings base sonne two Abbots twelue Earles and seuenteene Lords Kent vnto Black-heath neere vnto Greenewich was there mette and receiued by the Duke of Norfolke many Knights but many more Prelates where in a Tent of Cloth of Gold he shifted himselfe into his Cardinall Roabes which was edged about with most rich Ermine and thence rode to London in more pompe and estate then Christ did to Ierusalem when Hosanna was sung 32 Eight Mules hee had laden with necessaries belonging but those made no shew in proud Wolseis eies therefore twelue more hee sent him to furnish his Pageants through the streets of London these either wanton or ashamed to bee wondred at plaied the skittish Iades indeed For in Cheape-side as this Triumph foorth passed these beasts by breaking their Collers and escaping their Leaders cast their Carriages and Coffers vpon the cold ground whose lids flying open laid most of their riches to the sight of the people For from some of them fell olde Breeches Bootes and broken shooes from others torne stockings tottered ragges olde Iron and horse shooes and for fainting by the way therein was bestowed and now cast abroad broken meate mary-bones rosted egges and crusts of bread ywiffe worth the keeping this Shipwrack made vpon the Shelues of Cheape-side no need it was to bid the muliters to bestirre them who like good thrifty marriners saued from spoile as much as they could and trussing vp their trinkets laded againe these wantons with the wealth of the Cardinal who good man was iogging on afore with his Crosses Pillars Gilt-axe and Mace vnto Pauls Church where hee was mette with many mitred Bishops and attended vpon to Bath place where we will leaue him and returne to the place where wee left 33 The vnity agreed vpon betwixt England and France a meeting was motioned for the two Kings and to that ende great preparation made aswell of the one as of the other But in the heate of this businesse King Henry had word that Charles his Queenes Nephew and new made Emperour would visit him in England which accordingly hee did accompanied with the Queene of Arragon and a most Royall Traine and was as Roiallie entertained by King Henry the cause of his comming was to hinder the peace concluded with France for although this Emperour were young and but newly established yet was hee wise and well foresawe the hurt that this amity with France would bring him and therefore came in person of purpose to disswade the Kings mind and to stay his entrance with the French if he could but finding Henry so forward in those proceeds he baited his hooks with golden gifts to the Cardinall and wanne him wholly to his deuotion 34 King Henry passing the Seas vnto Callis met with King Frances at a place appointed and for that purpose newly built betwixt the Townes of Guisnes and Arde where to describe the Iusts Banquets and Maskes were to fill vp with Hall Grafton and Holinshed whole sides of excessiue great Cost At Callis also the same time the Emperor with his Aunt the Lady Margaret Dutchesse of Sauoy landed whither King Henry and his Queene repaired to the no little grudge of the French King though he kept it to himselfe and consented vnto the ancient league tripertite betwixt these three Monarches which done the Kings returned into their owne Realmes 35 Displeasures shortly arising betwixt the Emperour and the French King King Henry assaied to
and that he put to death the Kings best subiects for these the Lord Deputie was commanded into England in whose absence Osory his enemie was againe chosen Lord Deputie by the Kings Counsell but himselfe none of the wisest for polliticke Gouernment was altogether therein ruled by his wife and shee made it no courtesie to abuse her husbands honour against her natural brothers folly who now in England must answer his demeanour before the Lords of the Counsell and to their Table was hee brought where the Cardinall Lord Chauncellor made his faults nothing lesse and thus addressed himselfe against the Earle of Kildare 56 I wot well my Lord that I am not the meetest at this boord to charge you with these treasons because it hath pleased some of your Pew-fellowes to report that I am a professed enemy to all Nobilitie and namely to the Giraldines but seeing euery shrewd boy can say as much when he is controuled and these points so weighty that they should not be dissembled of vs and so apparant that they cannot be denied of you I must haue leaue notwithstanding your stale slander to be the mouth of these honourable Lords at this present and to trumpe your treasons in your way howsoeuer you take me First you remember how the lewde Earle of Desmund your kinseman who passeth not whom he serueth might he change his Master sent his Confederates with letters of credence vnto Francis the French King and hauing but cold comfort there went 〈◊〉 Charles the Emperour proffering the helpe of Mounster and Conaught towards the Conquest of Ireland if either of them would helpe to win it from our King How many letters what precepts what messages what threats haue beene sent you to apprehend him and yet not done Why so Forsooth I could not catch him Nay nay Earle forsooth you would not watch him If hee bee iustly suspected why are you partiall in so great a charge If not why are you fearefull to haue him tried Yea for it will bee sworne and deposed to your face that for feare of meeting him you haue winked wilfully shunned his sight altered your course warned your friends stopped both eares and eies against his detectors and whensoeuer you took vpon you to hunt him out then was he sure afore hand to be out of your walke Surely this iugling and false play little became either an honest man called to such houour or a Noble man put in so great trust had you lost but a Cow or a Horse of your own two hundred of your retainers would haue come at your Whistle to rescue the prey from the vttermost edge of Vlster all the Irish in Ireland must haue giuen you the way But in pursuing so needfull a matter as this was mercifull God how nice how dangerous how wayward haue you beene One while hee is from home and another while hee keepeth home sometimes fled sometimes in the Borders where you dare not venture Ywisse my Lord there bee shrewd bugges in the borders for the Earle of Kildare to feare the Earle nay the King of Kildare for when you are disposed you raigne more like then rule in the land where you are pleased the Irish foe standeth for a iust Subiect hearts and hands liues and lands are all at your courtesie who fawneth not thereon cannot rest within your smel and your smell so rancke that you tracke them out at pleasure Whilest the Cardinall was speaking the Earle chafed and changed colour at last brake out and interrupted him thus 57 My Lord Chauncellor I beseech you pardon me I am short witted and you I perceiue intend a long tale if you proceed in this order half my purgation wil be lost for lack of carriage I haue no Schoole trickes nor art of memory except you heare me while I remember your words your second processe will hammer out the former The Lords associate who for the most part tenderly loued Kildare and knew the Cardinall his manner of taunts so ready being inured there with many yeeres together humblie besought his grace to charge him directlie with particulars and to dwell in some one matter vntill it were examined throughly 58 That granted It is good reason quoth the Earle that your Grace beare the mouth of this boord but my Lord those mouthes that put these things into your mouth are very wide mouthes such indeed as haue gaped long for my wracke and now at length for want of better stuffe are faine to fill their mouthes with smoake what my Cosen Desmond hath compassed as I know not so I beshrew his naked heart for holding out so long If he can be taken by mine agents that presentlie wait for him then haue mine aduersaries bewraied their malice and this heape of heinous wordes shall resemble a scarre-Crow or a man of straw that seemeth at a blush to carry some proportion but when it is felt and peized discouereth a vanity seruing onely to feare Crowes and I verily trust your honours shall see the proofe by the thing it selfe within these few daies But goe to suppose he neuer be had What is Kildare to blame for it moâ—…e then my good brother of Osorie who notwithstanding his high promises hauing also the Kings power is yet content to bring him in at leasure Cannot the Earle of Desmond shift but I must be of Counsell Cannot he hide him except I winke If he be close am I his mate If he be friended am I a traitor This is a doubtie kind of accusation which they vrge against me wherein they are stabelled and mired at my first deniall You would not see him say they who made them so familiar with mine eie-sight Or when was the Earle within my view Or who stood by when I let him slip Or where are the tokens of my wilfull hudwinke But you sent him word to beware of you who was the messenger Where are the letters Conuince my negatiuâ—… see how loose this idle geare hangeth together Desmond is not taken well you are in fault why Because you are who proueth it No body What Coniectures So it seemeth To whom to your enemies Who told it them They will sweare it What other ground None Wil they 〈◊〉 it my Lord why then of like they know it either they haue mine hand to shew or can being forth the messenger or were present at a Conference or priuie to Desmond or some body bewraied it to them or they themselues were my Carriers or vicegerents therein which of these parts wil they choose for I know them too well To reckon my selfe conuict by their bare wordes or headlesse sayings or franticke oathes were but meere mockerie My letters were soone read were any such writing extant my seruants and friends are ready to be sifted of my Cosen of Desmond they may lie loudly since no man here can well contrary them Touching my selfe I neuer noted in them much wit or so fast faith that I would haue
King the chiefest A better of the Scots whom he euer vpheld to hold him tacke at home least otherwise he should 〈◊〉 with France for his owne right And therefore hauing ioined with the Emperour against the French sent his Herald Garter King at Armes to demand certaine couenants which if he refused 〈◊〉 proclaime defiance vnto open warres but he not suffered to doe his message to the King returâ—…ed and 〈◊〉 prepared an expedition into France wherein he imploied the Dukes of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the Earleâ—… of Aâ—… Oxfâ—…rd and Surâ—…ey the Lords Râ—…ssell Grey 〈◊〉 rers 〈◊〉 and Sainâ—…-Iohn besides many other seruiceable Knights and Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appointed high Admirall for the Seâ—… Of these some 〈◊〉 with the Emperials and shewed their value in the siege of Mattrell 127 The Duke of Suffolke in the meane while strucke downe his Standerds on the East side of Bolloigne and with many sharpe skirmishes entred the base Towne which siege King Henry himselfe in person seconded who hauing passed the Seas from England vpon the sixe twentith of Iuly encamped before Bolloigne on the East-side whence his Canons so rent the Wals and Bulwarke as their mounted tops lay vpon the Ground and his great morter peeces were discharged with so skilfull a Compasse that their bullets falling downe right beate all buildings downe vpon the Enemies heads Whereby saith Sleidane in short time he got that which neither his Father nor the Kings in former times could neuer winne For thereupon the Town was surrendred and cleared of the French souldiers women and children 128 The King like a Conquerour with his sword borne before him entred the Gate where the Duke of Suffolke presented him with the keyes of the Towne the Trumpets still sounding and nothing wanting that might applaud his fame The Towne thus wonne the English meant still to keep for the strengthening whereof the King commanded the faire Church of Saint Maries to be taken downe and in the same place a mount to be raised for the planting of Ordinance to annoy any siege But being thus busied in Bolloignes affaires the Emperour without his knowledge or consent came to a peace with the French King whereat King Henrie was sore displeased and the sooner left France leauing Sir Iohn Dudley Lord Lisle his deputy in Bolloigne and landed at Douer the first day of October to his great honor and ioy of his Subiects 129 The French King chafed with this late and great losse sought to trie fortune in further attempts and that not onely for the recouery of Bolloigne which with twenty thousand well appointed hee assaied but also in assayling the English dominions as the I le of Wight and those parts of Sussex that lay vpon the Seas though with losse of many Captaines and thousands of Souldiers that neuer returned to tell him what intertainement they had as likewise in sending aide vnto Scotland where Monsieur Mungumry of the Order of France with 5000 strong entred to maintaine the breach betwixt them and K. Henry which was so followed on both parts as the English making a Roade towards Gedworth got praise for their valour but reproch for their spoiles and the Scots renowne for killing the Lord Eure Lord Warden of the East-Marches with many other Captaines in defence of their Countrey 130 Hereupon an Army of twelue thousand strong was sent into Scotland whereof the Earle of Hertford was Generall with these he forraged the Borders before him and burnt many Townes in the Middle-Marches with Kelsey Coldingham Abbey the French not hastie to stay the incursion lay still and let them vnfought with depart for England 131 But the warres remoued againe into France the Reingrâ—…e with a great power came to victuall a Fort built neere vnto Bolloigne to impeach which the Earle of Surrey then Lieâ—…tenant of the Towne made forth but was discomfited in the enterprize and Sir Edward Poyâ—…ings Captaine of a Band slaine with fifteene other Captaines besides many Officers and Common Souldiers These Princes wars in these violent proceedings became very fearfull least they would grow to the Common hurt of Christendome and therefore many other potentates whereof the Emperour was first sollicited these Kings vnto a peace which the sooner was heard and imbraced for that they were both of them old and King Henry diseased in body Commissioners therefore appointed certaine articles were agreed vpon the first thereof was that the French King should pay vnto King Henry eight hundred thousand Crownes in eight yeeres space and then to râ—…nter vpon Bollâ—…igne but in the meane time it to remaine vnder the English to accomplish which peace Mounsieur Danebalt high Admiralâ—… of France was sent into England and Sir Thomas Cheynie Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports to be the Kings Agent at the Font for the Baptisme of the Dolphins new borne daughter 132 Notwithstanding these Complements the sight of Bolloigne was a great sore in the French mens eies insomuch that Monsieur Chatillon Captain of Mountplaisier beganne to make a new Bastilion neere vnto the Towne euen in the very mouth of the Riuer which the Lord Grey of Wilton perceiuing certified the King what inconuenience would happen if that were made strong and the same discussed at the Counsell-Table it passed with one voice that the Peace with France was not to be infringed notwithstanding this French attempt to which end a prohibition drawne whereunto King Henry also set his hand that no let should be made against Chatillon in his Fort. Howbeit the King commanded Sir Thomas Palmer imploied in this busines to bid the Lord Grey to impeach the new worke and to flat so much as was raised thereof vnto the Earth This commission read with the report of Command to the Contrary the Counsell of State thought it most meete to follow their instructions in writing least the words might either be mis-deliuered or mistaken But the Lord Grey causing the messengers words to be writ and subscribed with all their hands that were present at the report suddainely and vnlooked for came to the Fort and in foure houres space cast downe what had beene in raising three moneths before which when the King heard off he asked his Counsellors what they thought of this that Chatillâ—…-garden was cast downe amongst whom one of them answered the dâ—…er thereof was worthy to loose his head I had rather said the King loose a dozen of such heades as thine is then his that had done the deed and immediately sent the Lord Grey his pardon with many great thankes 133 But now the dâ—…te of his time almost run and he preparing towards the way of all flesh the great and faire Church of the Gray Friers London lately suppressed by himselfe he caused againe to be opened and to be made a Parish Church giuing the reuenewes thereof vnto the Citie of London towards the reliefe
08 oo o Hinchingbroke N William Conqueror in place of Eltesly by him suppressed Nunnes 0019 09 02 oo o S. Neot A Cell to Becco in Normandy P E. Aelfric first Roisia de Claraster A. D. 1113. Blacke Monkes 0256 01 03 ob o Ramsey Saint Mary S. Benedict M Earle Aylwin Anno Dom. 969. Blacke Monkes Benedictines 1983 15 03 oo q Saltry Saint Mary M Simon 2. Earle of Huntingdon Kinges of Scots and Lords of Connington in the raigne of King Stephen White Monkes Cistertians 0199 11 08 oo o Stoneley P Mandeâ—…le Earle of Essex Blacke Canons Augustines 0046 00 0b oo o S. Yuo A Cell to Ramsey P Earle Adâ—…us in the raigne of Edâ—…d Irâ—…side Blacke Monkes Benedictines      KENT Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Value     l. s. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Canterbury Christ-Church Saint Trinity P 〈◊〉 â—…ll beleeuing Romans after Etâ—…lred King of Kent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2489 04 09 oo o Iuxta Canterbury Saint Augustine M King Ethelbert and after King Edward the second Blacke Monkes 1412 04 07 ob q Iuxta Canterbury S. Gregory or S. George P Lowffran Archbishop there Blacke Canons 0166 04 05 ob o Iuxta Canterbury Saint Sepulâ—…hers N Black Nunnes 0038 19 07 ob o Canterbury F King Henry the third Grey-Friers      Canterbury H Poore Priests 0010 13 08 ob o Iuxta Canterbury Saint Laurence H 0031 07 10 o o Canterbury extra Murâ—…s Saint Iacob H 0032 11 01 ob q Ailefford F Richard Lord Grey of Codâ—…r in the time of King Henry the third Anno Dom. 1240. Carmelites or white Friers      Ashford C Sir R. Fogge Knight Priests      Beigham Saint Marie P The Ancestors of Thomas Sakâ—…ile Alij Sir Robert Thornham White Câ—…nons 0152 19 04 ob  Belsâ—…ton or Bilsington Saint Mary P Iohn Maunsell Praepositus Beâ—…lacensis for King Henry the third and Eleanor his wife Blacke Canons 0081 01 06 o o Bradgare C Robert de Bradgare T. Ioseliâ—… Clerie and Iohn at Uise      Bradesoke S. Radegundis M Hugh the first Abbct. White Canons 0142 08 09 o o Boxley Saint Marie M William de Ipres a Fleming Earle of Kent tempore Regis Stephani White Monkes 0218 19 10 o o Cobham C Iohn Baron Cobham 0128 01 09 ob o Combewell S. Mary Magd. M Blacke Canons 0080 17 5 o q Darâ—…ford N King Edward the third Annâ—… Regâ—…i Anglia 30. Francia verâ—… 17. Nunnes 0400 08 00 oo o Daunton N Blacke Nunnes      Douer Saint Marie Saint Martin P King Henry the first Blacke Monkes 0232 01 05 ob o Douer 〈◊〉 Dei. H Henricus tertius Rex Anglia Knights Templers 0159 18 06 ob q Eastbridge H King Henry the first gaue for William his Father quicquid Robertus Bruâ—… dederat Ecâ—…lesia de Esteburch fratribus ibidem Regularibus 0023 18 09 ob q Elâ—…et N Domâ—… Nunnes      Feuersham S. Sauiours M King Stephen and Maud his wife Blacke Monkes Cluniacenses 0286 12 06 ob o Folkestone S. Eanswide N Eanswide daughter to Eadbald King of Kent After Roger Segrane and Iulian his wife and Iohn Clinton Baron Blacke Nunnes 0063 00 07 o o Greenwich F King Henry the seuenth Obseruant Friers      Greenwich C William Lambard Queen Elizabeths poore people      Greenwich F Alien K. Edward the third Anno Regni 55. Iohn Norbury Frier Minors      Harballdowne H Iohn Stratford or Stafford Archbishop of Canterbury 0109 07 02 oo o Heyham N Blacke Nunnes      Horton Saint Iohn Euangelist P Blacke Monkes Cluniacenses 0111 16 07 ob o Langdon S. Thâ—… Martyr M White Canons 0056 06 09 o o Leedes Saint Nicholas P Robert Creâ—…equeur Blacke Canons Augustines 0362 07 07 o o Lesnes vpon Thames S. Augustin or S. Th. Martyr P Richard de Luciâ—… Chiefe Iustice of England Anno Dâ—… 1179. Blacke Canons 0186 09 00 o o Lewesham P Alien Iohn Norburie Blacke Monkes      Maidstone OmniuÌ„ SanctoruÌ„ C Boniface of Saâ—…y 0159 07 10 oo o Malling Saint Marie N Gundulph Bishoppe of Rochester Blacke Nunnes 0245 10 02 ob o Mottynden M 0060 13 00 ob o Newenden F Built at the charges of Sir Thomas Albuger Knight A. D. 1241. Carmelites or White Friers      Northgate Saint Iohns H 0091 16 08 ob o West Peccam Praeceptoria Iohannes Culpepper Iustic de communi Banco Anno 10. H. 4 0063 06 08 o o Reculuer M Bassa an English Saxon.      Rochester Saint Andrew M Bishop Gundulph a Norman A. D. 1080. Blacke Canons 0486 11 05 o o Rochester S Bartholmew H King Henry the third confirmed it and Edward the third discharged them of all Taxes Tallages c. Leprosi      Rumney P Aliâ—…      Sandwich F Henry Cowfeild an Almane Anno Dâ—… 1272. Carmelites or White Friers      Sandwich Saint Thomas H Thomas Ralyng Clerke William Swanne Clerke Iohn Goddard and Richard Long.      Strode or Strowde H Robert Glanuile 0052 19 10 ob o Swingfeild Praceptâ—…ria 0087 03 03 ob o Shâ—…pey S. Sexbâ—…rg N Sexburga wife of Ercâ—…bert King of Kent or East-Angles Anno Dâ—… 710. Nunnes 0129 07 10 ob o Shepey Saint Marie William de-la-Poole Marquesse of Suffolke by the name of William de-la Poole Earle of Suffolke       Tunbridge S. Mary Magd. P Richard Clare Earle of Glocester Blacke Canons 0169 10 03 o o Wingham C Founded by Archbishop Pecham Canons      Wye C Iohn Kempe Archbishoppe of Canterburie Priests 0093 02 0 ob o  Saint Mary S. Swythin Sir Iohn Segraue      LANCA SHIRE Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Value     l. s. d. ob q. Lancaster Saint Marie P Iohn Earle of Morton and confirmed by him afterward when hee was King of England Monkes      Lancaster A Cell Roger of Pâ—…ictiers Monkes Aliens      Burstough P Canons 0129 01 00 o o Calder Fundator Antecessor Domini de Copeland      Cartmele P William Marshall the elder Earle of Pembroke for King Henry the second Anno Dâ—… 1188. 0113 19 07 oo o Cokersand M Ranulph de Meschines Monks Cluniacks 0228 05 04 ob o Conyshed P Fundator Antecessor Gâ—…lielmi Pennington 0124 02 01 o o Furnes M Stephen Earle of Bullen afterward King of England Monks Cistertâ—…ans      Holland P Robert Holland and Maud his wife Alij Antecessores Comitis Derbia 0061 03 04 o o Horneby Cella Fundator Antecessor Domini Mounteagle      Ieruaux
M      Manchester C The Grelleyes Ancestors to Thomas West Lord La Ware tempore H. 5.      Penwortham M 0114 16 09 oo o Whalley M The Ancestors of the Lacyes Earles of Lincolne Anno Dâ—… 1296. White Monkes 0551 04 06 oo o LEICESTER-SHIRE Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Ualue     l. 〈◊〉 d. â—…b q. Leicester Saint Mary M Robert de Bossu Earle of Leicester Blacke Canons or Friers Preachers 1062 00 04 ob q Iuxta Leicester Castle Saint Mary C Henry Duke of Lancaster 0023 12 11 o o Bredon A Cell to S Oswald M Fundator Domini Regis Progeâ—…tor Alij Alâ—… Earle of Cornwall Blacke Canons 0025 08 01 o o Bradley P 0020 15 07 oo o Burton Mowbrayes and by a common contribution ouer all England Leprosi 0265 10 02 o q Canwell M. The Ancestors of the Lord Lizle 0025 10 03 oo o Croxton M The Lord Barkleyes Ancestors Pramonstratenses 0458 19 11 ob q Castledonington S. Iohn Baptist. H 0003 13 04 o o Cumbe Saint Mary M White Moâ—…kes      Cale P Blacke Canons      Dalby-Rothley Heyther Praceptoria 0231 07 10 oo o Garradon M Fundator Antecessor 〈◊〉 Comitissa Oxford 0186 15 02 ob o Gracedew nee re Donington N Roisia wife of Bertram de Verdon Nunnes â—…01 08 02 ob o Gerewerdon Saint Mary M White Monkes      Hinkley P Alien      Kirkby Bellers P Roger Belâ—…rs and Aâ—…yse his wife 0178 07 10 oo q Launda M Richard Basset Diâ—…c Lincoln Blacke Canons 0510 16 05 ob q Langley Fundator Antecessor Uxoris Frane Bigot Mil. 〈◊〉 Vxoris Sâ—…rum Nunnes 0034 06 02 oo o Litterworth Saint Iohnns H 0â—…26 09 5 o o Noui-Operis C 0595 7 04 o o Olneston or Oselneston M Robert Grimbald 0173 18 09 oo q Staue N Blacke Nunnes      Vlneserost P Roger Quiney Earle of Wintâ—…n 0101 03 10 ob o Werewerdon M Blacke Canons      Saint Ursula H 0008 00 00 oo o LINCOLNE SHIRE Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Value     l. s. d. ob q Lincoln EpaÌ„tus Saint Marie M Secular Canons      Lincolne F M. Odo de Kilkenny a Scotish mam A. D. 1269. Carmelites or White Friers      Lincolne Saint August F Friers Eremites      Lincolne F Iohn Pickering of Stampwike Friers Minors      Iuxta Lincolne S. Katherine P Robert de Caneto Bishop of Lincolne Gilbertines 0270 01 03 oo o Aluingham Saint Mary P Anthony de Bec Bishop of Durham and Patriarch of Ierusalem White Canons and Nuns Gilbertines 0141 15 00 oo o Balwatus Aquilae 0124 02 00 oo o Bello-vero siue Beauuoir Saint Marie Ralph de Todeney Blacke Monkes of S. Albans 0129 17 06 o o Berlingâ—…s M Radulphus de Haya 0307 16 06 oo o Bolyngton Saint Marie M White Canons and Nuns Gilbertines 0187 07 09 oo o Boston M S. Botolph in the Saxons time      Boston F Sir Orby A. D. 1300. Carmelites or white Friers      Boston luxta Mare Saint Mary P T. Morley Knight Iohn Bacon Esquier Iohn Hagon Thomas Hoke de Shynham and Iohn Hyrd of Boston      Boston Beatae Mariae C 0024 00 00 oo o Boston Corporis Christi C 0032 00 00 oo o Boston Saint Peter C 0010 13 04 o  Bradney Saint Oswald M Confirmed by William de Gannt sonne and heire of Gilbert de Gannt Anno Dom. 1115. 429 07 00 oo o Brunne Blacke Canons      Bryggerd P 0101 11 00 ob o Cateley or Catlin Saint Marie M Iohn Spaule Esquier White Canons Nuns Gilbertines 0038 13 08 o o Croyland or Crowland M Aethelbald King of the Mercians Anno Dom. 716. It was new built at the benenolence of the whole land giuen vpon pardon for their sinnes Blacke Monkes 1217 05 11 oo o Elsham P William Dyne Blacke Canons 0083 17 10 oo o Eppworth in the Isle of Axholme A Conuentual House Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham Marshall of England Carthusians 0290 14 07 ob q Fosse N Nunnes 0008 05 04 oo o Frisetun Mauritius de Creon Baron Blacke Monkes      Glamfordbridge in Parochia de Wrawby H William Tirwhit      Goykewell N Nunnes 0019 18 06 oo o Greenfeild Saint Mary N Dudon de Groâ—…esby Blacke Nunnes 0079 15 01 o o Grimmysby Saint Leonard N Robert Grosted Bishoppe of Lincolne and Thomas Hesterton Knight Blacke Nunnes 0012 03 07 o  Grimmesby S. Augustine S. Toloss Fundator Domini Regis Progenitâ—…r Blacke Canons      Hagneby M Herbert of Orbeâ—… or Orreby 0098 08 04 oo o Hauerholm Saint Mary M Alexander Bishoppe of Lincolne White Canons Nuns Gilbertines 0088 05 05 oo o Heuings N 0058 13 04 oo o Hunston or Humberston Our Lady S. Peter M Fundator Domini Regis Progenitor 0042 11 03 oo o Irford M 014 13 04 ob o Kirksted Saint Marie M Hugh Britay White Monkes 0338 13 11 ob q Kyme M Philip de Valisby 0138 04 09 oo o Letherstoke Iohn Gifford Clerke      Leyborne Our Lady M Robert Fitz Gilbert 0057 13 05 o q Louthparke Saint Mâ—…ry M White Monkes 0169 05 06 ob o Markeby P 0163 17 06 ob o Newebo M 0115 11 08 o o Newhouse S. Martiall Peter de Gaâ—…lia White Canons the first house of the Order Prmonstratenses in England      Newnersby or Nun-ormâ—…by P White Canons Nuns Gilbertines 0098 00 00 oo o Newsom M 0114 01 04 ob o Newsted neere Stansford M Gilbertines 0042 01 03 oo  Newsted neere Axholâ—…e P 0055 11 08 oo o Noton or Nâ—…cton-Parke S. Mary Magd. M Robert D'Arciâ—… Blacke Canons 0052 19 02 ob o Nun-Cotton Saint Mary P White Canons and Nunnes 0046 17 07 oo o Oxeneyes Blacke Canons      Raueston Saint Augustin C      Reuesby or Reuyswy M William Romare Nunnes 0349 04 10 oo o Sempringham Saint Gilbert M Saint Gilbert beginner of the said Order White Canons Nuns Gilbertines 0359 12 07 oo o Sixle Saint Marie Whit Canons Nuns      Spalding Saint Mary and S. Nicholas M Iuo Talbois comes Andegauensis and William de Romara and Lucy Countesse of Chester and Lincolne Audegauenses Monachi 0878 18 03 oo o Iuxta Stansford Saint Michael M Blacke Monkes 0072 18 10 ob o Stanford Saint Mary Saint Nicholas Blacke Monkes 0065 19 09 o o Stanford F King Edward the third Carmelites or White Friers      Stanford H William Browne Citizen there   Â
tumults King Stephen returnes into England Roger Houeden Math. Paris The King of Scots against King Stephen Ypodig Neustri â—…ed in Steph. Huntingdon lib. 8. The English Nobles against King Stephen Simon Dun. * Huntingdon 8. Malmes Nouel lâ—…b 2. pag. 105. Idem li. 1. pa. 102. Idem Earle Robert sends threats to King Stephen Idem Malmesb. Noâ—…el lib. 1. Geruas Dorob Wil. Malmâ—…b English Peeres fortific against the King Henry Hâ—…t lib. 8. Houeden * De Maltâ—…na King Stephens vsuall Oath Maâ—…es Nâ—…el lib. 1. Melmesb Nâ—…l libro secundâ—… Ger. Dor. An. D. 1139. The King of Scotland his attempts against Stephen Simon Dun. Houeden Wendouer Hen. Hunting This field was fought in August An. 1138. neere the mouth of Humber Mat. Paris The great valor of Prince Henry of Scotland Mah. Paris Houeden alij Polyd. Uirgil Rand. Higden Earle Robert leaues England A Peace betwixt the King of England and Scotland Math. Paris Henry Hunt Houeden Henry Hunt A. Do. 1140 King Stephen pluckes downe the Castles Malmes Nouel lib. 2. Henry Hun. Houeden A great Councel at Oxford Geruas Dorob Malmesb. loco citato The Kings vsage of his Prelats Idem * Iâ—…ford Paris Wendouer Paris Polychr lib. 7. cap. 18. Roger Houed The Empresse arriues in England Malmesb. Nouel lib. 2. Huntingdon Rog. de Wendouer * At Portsmouth saith Geruas Math Paris Earle Robert brings but 140. men to the winning of the Crowne of England * Malmesb. lib. 2. Stephen haâ—…es to the Empresse Her politike excuse Ger. Dor. Roger. Houed Henry Hunt The Empresses power increaseth Geruasius Flemings came to King Stephens aide King Stephen besieges Wallinford Castle Geru Dor. The Bishop of Winchester entraps the Nobles Math. Paris Simon Dâ—…n Roger Houed Malmsb. Nouel lib. 2. Niger Polydor. Nie. Triâ—… King Stephen and his aduersaries pitch their Battle Râ—…n Higden Ranulphs Oration before the Battle Roger Houeden Henrie Hunt Earle Roberts Oration before the Battle Roger Houeden Henry Hunt Polychron Alain Duke of Britane Robert Mellent Hugh Bi-god Earle Albemarle Earle Simon King Stephens addresse to the Battle Math. Paris Simon Dunel Henry Hunt Roger Houeden Earle Robert Earle Ranulph The Welsh The Battles ioinâ—… Henry Hunt Wil. Parâ—… Mat. Paris Polydor. Ger. Dor. Mat. Paris King Stephens great valour Huntingdon King Stephen taken prisoner Ypodig Neustr. Malmesb. Nouel lib. 2. * Alias de Kainâ—… Huntingdon An. Reg. 6. Math. Paris The Empresse absolute gouernour of the Kingdome Charta Matild Imperâ—…ricis Geruas Dorob Huntingd. l. 8. Geru Dor. The Clergie approoues the Empresses title Wil. Malms Malmesb. Nouel lib. 2. The Empresse receiued into London Normandy falleth from King Stephen Will. Paruus Ger. Dor. Stephen desires liberty and not the Crowne Ypodig Neustr. King Stephen would be a Monk or Pilgrim * Boâ—…gne and Mortaine The Empresse not facile to grant suites Her stifnesse incommodious * King Stephens wife The Nobles offended fall off from her Malmes Nouel lib. 2. The Londoners conspire against her Nic. Triuet Roger Houeden Ger. Dor. Malmesb. Nouel libro secundâ—… Henry of Winchester recalls his Excommunication * Idem loco citato The Empresse maintained at Milo his charges The Bishop of Winchester equiuocateth * Ego parabâ—… me Will Malmsb. Will. Malmes Geruas Dorob Hee fires Winchester * Alias The Couent at Hyde Malmesb. Ger. Dorob The Bishop of Winchester entrappeth the Empresse Malmsb. lib. 2. The Empresse carried as a dead Corse Wil. Walsingham Ypodigm Neustr. Malmes Ger. Dor. Earle Robert taken Malmes lib. 2. Will. Malmes Wil. Malmsb. An. D. 1142. The King and Earle Robert redeeme each other out of prison Roger Houeden * Malmesb. Math. Paris The warres renewed The Empresse besieged in Oxford Geruas Dorob Nic. Triuet Will. Neub Higden Walsingh Ypodig Ger. Dor. Math. Paris She escapes by a wile Wil. Malmsb. Simon Dun. Ypodig Neustr. Geru Dorob Prince Henrie arriueth Geruasius An. D. 1143. An. D. 1144 An. D. 1145. Math. Paris An. D. 1146. The Empresse and the Prince returne to Normandie An. D. 1147. Ger. Dorobor Kings durst not enter Lincolne before King Stephen Geruasius Earle Robert and Earle Milo die An. D. 1148. Prince Henry returneth into England An. D. 1149 Ger. Dor. Roger Houeden Ger. Dor. Prince Henry returneth into Normandy An. D. 1150 Math. Paris Henry Hunt Prince Henry marieth Eleanor diuorced by K. Iewes An. D. 1151 The Archbishop of Canterbury refuseth to consecrate Eustace King Ger. 〈◊〉 Dorob An. D. 1152. Henry Hunt Geruasius Idem K. Lewes casts the Popes Buls into fire * Fortè Newbery An. D. 1153. Henry Fitz-Empresse comes againe into England Ger. Dorob cap. 14 King Stephen and Fitz-Empresse ready to ioine battaile Henry Hunt Vnlucky presages to K. Stephen A Parley betwixt K. Stephen and Fitz-Empresse Gerâ—… Dorobor A truce concluded Math. Paris Eustace K. Stephens son likeâ—… not the truce Iohn Textor Polycbr Ger. Dorob Prince Eustace dieth Polydor. Math. Paris The King and Fitz-Empresse accorded Geruasâ—… An. D. 1154 Prince Henry in danger by treachery Prince Henry goeth into Normandy King Stephen dieth Paris Booke of S. Albanes Iohn Stow. Ger. Doâ—… * The first Canon Regular in England was of this place Ann. 〈◊〉 and the Prior thereof was Alderman of London Stowes Suruey Stowes Suruey p. 105. Monarch 43. Henry second Ad A. D. 1135. The great expectation of King Henrie Math. Paris Henry Hunt Henry Hunt His accesse and Coronation Ypodig Neustr. Mah. Paris His first actions Mat. Paras Lib. Monast. S. Albeni Polyd. Vir. lib. 13. Psâ—…do-Comites saith Mat. Paris Roger Houeden Roger. Houed Math. Paris ad A. D. 1155. Ger. Dorob Lib. Monast. S. Al. Math. Paris * Powel in hist. Camb. p. 222. mistakes a Bridge for a Castle In old Records indeede Bridge-North is called Bruge which caused that errour Powel writes that it was a Welsh man who shot the arrow at the King ibid. Roger Houed Annal. p. 2. Math. Paris ad an Dom. 1561. Polyd. Uirg in H. 2. Rog. Houed fol. 281 pag. 2. Annal. par 〈◊〉 Math. Paris Ypodig Neustri Hector Boetius lib. 13. C. 1. saith it was at London Hist. of Camb. Iohn Stow. Math. Paris * Roger Houeden Math. Paris Ypodigm Neustr. Rog. Houed Guliel Tyr. Houeden An. D. 1158. Mah. Paris ab A. D. 1158. vsque ad A. D. 1163. Rog Houed An. D. 1163. The great contention between the King and Becket Archbish. of Canterbury * Mat. Paris alis Leg end aur in vita Tho. * Polydor. l. 13. but M. Fox denies it * Gal. WigornieÌ„sis saith he was Doctor Oxoniensis Nubrigensis l 2. c. 16. vt conregnare videretur Geruasius ad An. 1154. Regis Rector quasi Magister * Fox in Acts. p 264. * Nubrig l 2. c. 16. Houcden Chron. de Passione mirac beati Th. MS. Fox p. 287. * Gal. Nubrig l. 2. c. 16. Math. Par â—…ad An. 1163. permissione Regia c. * Nubrig per operam manuÌ„que Regiam Geru Dorob The causes of the debate betwixt
1172. King Henriâ—…s doings in Ireland Girald Camb. lib. 1. Hâ—…b exp Ca. 31. 32. c. Religion established by a Synode at Cashell * Idem cap. 33 34. * Easter day after noone saith Math. Paris Ypodigm Neustr. Giral Camb. Hib. exp lib. 1. c. 38. Math. Paris Sabellicus Ennead 9. lib. 5. Mat. Westm. Nic. Triâ—…es Holinsh. pag. 83. * Math. Paris * Ypodig Neustr. * Roger Houeden * Math. Paris Ypodig Neustr. * Th. Wals. in Ypodig Neustri An. D. 1173. * Roger Houed * Math. Paris * Polyâ—… 〈◊〉 * Ypodig Neustâ—… * Houeden * Math. Pariâ—… The outragious and disloiall behauiour of the Earle of Leicester * Roger Houed Hoâ—…rsh * Ypod. Neustr. The Kings victorie in England he beeing abâ—…ent * Polyd. Uirg Henry Hunt Holinsh. â—…n H. 2. * Gallos quidam vocat * Houeden and Polyd. Virg. saâ—…h 10000. were therâ—… slaine * Math. Paris * Polyd. Virg. Lewis King of France concludes a truce * Mat. Paris * Ypod. Neust. * Math. Paris Great new dangers against the King * Rog. Hoâ—…d King Henry sailes into Normandy * Vita B. Th. l. 4. c. 5. * Epist. adâ—… Archi. Rauen. apud Houeden * Rog. Houed iâ—… H. 2 p. 308. * Mat. Paris Ann. 1174. Walsingh Nubrigensis Capgraâ—… Geruas Dorob c. * Apud Baron An. Dom. 1174. * Math. Paris Rog Houed Ypodig Neust. Hector Boetius 13. li. c. 3. saith the King was taken 13. lul Ann. Dom. 1174. * Ypod. Neust. * Rog. Houed * Mat. Paris Ypod. Neust. * Rog. Houed The great felicity of King Henry An. D. 1175. * Mat. Paris Ypodig Neust. * Rog. Houe * Math. Paris * Roger Houede An. D. 1175. The Articles of Peace * Hâ—…eden Math. Paris Nic. Triâ—…et Walsingh c. * Polyd. Uirg Hist. Angl. lib. 13. * Hect. Boe. transla lib. 13. cap. 5. The points according to the Scotish Authors Math. Paris Rog. Hâ—…ed An. D. 1175. Constitutions at London the Kings beeing present Geruasius Rog. Houed Houeden in H. 2. fol. 310. Symonie was losse of Patronage for euer The Kings at Yorke * Polyd. Virg. Parliament at Northampton An. D. 1176. The first Iustiâ—…iars Itinerants Holinsh. 〈◊〉 Hen. 2. Houeden * Math. Paris Roger Wend. Maâ—…se * Rog. Houed Polyd. Virg. * Tho. 〈◊〉 in Ypod. Neust. Polyd. Virg. in Hen. 2 callâ—… her Aâ—…ela * Rog. Houed * Rog. Wend. Math. Paris Th Wals. in Tpodig Neustr. An. D. 1183. * Rog. Houe King Henrie the sonne dies in the flower of his yâ—…uth * Rog. Wend. MS. Math Paris Them Wals. Tpodig Neust. Rog Houed An. D. 1183 An. D. 1184. * Math. Paris Roger Wend. * Rog. Houed Mat. Paris * Roger Houed fol. 358. King Henry refis seth the kingdom of Ierusalem * Rog. Houed fol. 35â—… An Inscription vpon the Temple Church * Ran. Higden Polyd. Virg. in Hen. 2. Heraclius departs An. D. 1185. Roger Houed King Henry giues Iohn his sonne Ireland * Giral Camb. lib 2. exp Hib. c. 5. Houeden Ius Belli social is that right which accrews to Princes or States who aid one another * Beda * Cam. pag. 730. * Chr. Hâ—…b apud Camb. pag. 795. * Houed fol. 359. pag. 1. 2. * Houeden fol. 359. pag. 1. An. D. 1186. * Idem pag. 360. Militari conflictâ—… saith Houeden An. D. 1188 * Roger Houed fol. 365. Math. Paris * Epist 〈◊〉 2. ad Patriar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rog. Houed pag. â—…7 An. D. 1189. An. Reg. 35. * Rog. Houed King Henries death Holinâ—… pag. 119. in 〈◊〉 2. An. D. 1189. Accidents after his death which was when he had raigned 34. yeers 7. monethes and 4. daies beeing 63. yeeres of age * Roger Houede He was buried at 〈◊〉 * Serrâ—… in Leâ—… the yâ—…ger * Paulus 〈◊〉 in Luâ—…ic 7. who callâ—… her Leoâ—…ra Rossâ—… Warâ—…ic alij Gerâ—… Dorob An. D. 1181. * M. Ferrers * Goodwin of the 〈◊〉 of Durham Iohn Stow in the life of King Iohn Monarch 44 Richard I. An. D. 1199 King Richard orders his estate * Râ—…g Hâ—…ed Mat. Paris c. Rand. Higdeâ—… in 〈◊〉 1. * Ger. 〈◊〉 Kingly power before Coronation Rog. Houed fol. 374. * Ger. Dorobor King Richards choise of friends and seruants * Radulp. de Diceto apud Too Wals. in Ypod. Neustr. Chiefe matters at the Coronation of Richard * Rog. Houed fol. 374. 〈◊〉 slaine at the Coronation * So Martiall cals the multitude Richard pâ—…rueis for the Holy Land * Gir. Caâ—…b * Rog Houed Math. Paris His proâ—…on for 〈◊〉 * Geruasius * Mat. Paris alâ—… Roger Houed * Rex Sacerdos Mat. Parâ—… * 〈◊〉 li. 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 Rog. Houed Iustice is best where it brings Honour rather then riches Rog. Houed The agreement betweene the two Kings of England and Scotland Hector 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 13. cap. 7. Hector 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…000 〈◊〉 Houeden The agreement betweene the Kings of France and England * Ger. Dor. * Hâ—… The agreement solemnely ratified on all parts * Math. Paris The Kings of France and Eng land set forward to the Holy Land * Roger Hâ—…d Matâ—… Paris The Citie of Mes sana in Sicilia the Rendeâ—…u of the Kings * Act Mâ—…n pag. 314. Roger Wend. Math. Paris Rog. Hâ—…ed King Richards Sicilian affaires Rog. Hoâ—…ed fol. 383. * Ideâ—… ibid. Act. Mâ—… in R. 〈◊〉 The accord betweene King Richard and King Tancred Arthur King Richards next heire * Râ—…g Hâ—…ed fol. 386. Threescore thou sand ounceâ—… of gold giuen to King Râ—…chard King Richards sureties or Sponsors The Pope King Richards surety * Ger. Dor. * Rog. Hou fol. 392 Act. and Mon. p. 316. * Iohn Stow. in Rich. 1. A Christian example of King Richard * Ro. Houed f. 388 Holin p. 12â—… col 2. * Ro. Hou ibid. Ro. Houed in Ric. 1 Paulus Aemilius in Philippo 2. Houed p. 388. No new opinion that the Pope is Antichrist * Houed p. 392. Psal. 82. v. 1. 6. Idem Houedens printed Copy hath 〈◊〉 as if the Pope had thrown doâ—…e the Emperour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is more probable with relation to cor nâ—… A D. 1191. The King of France le ts â—…aile for the Holy-Land * Ro. Houâ—…f 392. * Ypod. Neust. Mat. Par. ad A. D. 1191. Yood. Neust. * â—…Houed King Richards Nauie scattered * Ypod. Neust. Math. Paris * Houed Ger. Dor. Hect. Boet. l. 13. cap. 7. * Houed fol. 39â—… King Richard subdues the Isle of Cyprus Ro Houed Mat. Paris Ypodig Neust. Ger. Dor. Act. and Mon. p. 320. Holin p. * Lusignian * Rog Houed pa. 392. Act. and Mon. p. 319. * Rog Houed Mat. Paris Ypod. Neust. * Ger. Dorob Act and Mon. p. 318. Rog. Houed The City of Acon rendred Mat. Paris Ypod. Neust. * Rog. Houed fol. 395. King Richard vpon certaine conditions permits the King of France to depart Roger Houed fol. 394. p 16. Râ—… Higd. in Polyer lib 〈◊〉 cap. 27. Iuâ—… 〈◊〉 Ger. Dorob * Rog Houed Math. Paris Disorders in England Guil.
pestilent tenour of the letters * Ro. Wend. MS. Mat. Paris Alexander Bishop of Chichester cleareth himself from disloyaltie The English Bishops deale with the King about redresse of the common euils Obiections against the Bishop of Winton and the Poictouines The outrages of the Marshalline faction * Quae exlex est Math. Paris The King facileâ—… in taking and leauing fauourites Of Princes Counsellors and Fauourites The king remoues the Bishop of Winchester and others from his Councell England purged from Poictouines The Earle Marshal dieth in Ireland * Partie per pale Or vert ouer all a Lyon rampant gules The king laments the Earles death Ann. 1235. The king cals home his rebels Hubert de Burgh is reconciled Gilbert brother to the late Earle Marshal hath his brothers lands honours * Math. Paris ad An. 1239. The practise to destroy the late Earle Marshal openly read * Rog. de Wend. M. S. Math. Paris The king sits in Westminster with the Iudges on the Bench. The king himselfe giues sentence on the Bench. The Bishoppe of Winchester went to Rome for hee was in Pope Gregories Armie against the mutined Romans say both Wendouer and Paris ad An. 1â—…35 The diuine vertue of charity actually commended by God * Of Alboldesâ—… a village in Cambridgeshire A miraculous confâ—…sion of hard heartednesse toward poore Christians * Mat. 5. 7. * God hath a care of the liberall * An. 1235. An. reg 19. The Iewes conspire to crucifie a child The Emperour marrieth the kings sister The magnificence of the Nuptials * At Wormes in August * Rog. de Wend. MS. Mat. Paris Marriage consuÌ„mated by calculation of the Stars * Rog Wendouer in hist. MS. in Biblioth D. Roberti Cotton Baronetti * K. Henry 3 of * Richard king of the Romans * Ioan Queen of Scots * Isabel. * Quasi Capientes vrsi deuouring Beares quoth Paris * Mat. Parid. * Idem ad An. 1227 * Ibidem * Math Paris 〈◊〉 seth this word * Polyd. Virg. lib. 16. Armiger quidam literatus saith Parâ—… but pag 566 â—…hesame M. Paris aâ—…th his name was Clement and a Clerke * Margaret Biset The Traitor drawne in sunder with horses * Holinsh. p. 123. * Because Kings are annointed * Because in holy Scriptures they are called Gods * Mat Paris â—…d A. D. 1242. Paris Idem * In Walling ford Castle * 16 Iunij Loâ—…ini Paris * Mat. Paris Ann. 1239. Great faults in the Lords towards the King Worthy iustice done vpon a Court-Rat or Promoter Math. Paris Allegations for Antioches Primacy aboue Rome Hubert Earle of Kent tost with a new Court-storme Strabo A strange description of a king * Ypod. Neust. * Mat. Paris * Cambden Brit. in Kent this man died An. D. 1243. An. 1240. England a most Christian Country * Mundâ—…ssimam terram Paris * Paris * Imperatoris literâ—… apud Paris An. 1241. * Edmund a Saint thoughdying an Exile in detestation of the Popes oppressions An. 1242. A reg 26. The King goes to recouer Poictou * Cadum The French Kings preparations to resist * Vide sâ—…pra at his deâ—…ing from England A most Christian feare of the Christian King * Io. Tili Chron. * Math. Paris Isabel Queene Dâ—…ger forgeth writings to draw her sonne the King into France Mat. Par. p. 570 Poictou lost by the Engâ—…sh Xaincts also and Xainctoing The French Earle of March compared by the King to Iudas Hertold an example of loyalty The effect of the kings iourny into Wales * Hist. Camb. A iudgement of God on a withholder of church lands * Gyrâ—…ld Cambren * 3. Reg. cap. 1. vers 21. An. 1246. A. reg 30. * Mat. Paris The French King reiecteth the Popes motion as vnchristian Dauid Prince of Wales * Articuli super Grâ—…amin a pud Paris * See their seuerall Letters in Paris * Math. Paris * 〈◊〉 Episcoporum Mat. VVest * Paris * Iohannes Anglicus England the Popes Asse * Genes 16. 12. Ann. 1247. * Mat. VVesâ—… Math. Paris Ioh. London c. * In Crastiâ—… Purificationis * Ibidem An. 1248. A. reg 32. The seditious Nobles exposlu lâ—…te their gree â—…ances with the King in stead of granting mony The king driuen to sell his Iewels and Plate to the Londoners A. D. 1249. An. reg 33. Simon Earle of Leâ—…cester returnes with honour out of Gascoign Hampshire purged of theeues by the King himselfe sitting in iudgement A. D. 1250. A. reg 34. Walter Clifford makes an officer eat the kings writ wax and all The king lesseneth the charge of his Houshold Thirtie thousand markes wrung from one Iew in a few yeeres The king preaâ—… cheth to the Couent * Paris * The pope was now fled from Rome for feare of the Emperour * Liuie * He calles iâ—… 〈◊〉 profitable Alâ—…s deed Paris An. 1251. A strange description of the Kings parâ—…mony or pouerty * Notwithstanding any former commandement * Or former priuiledge * Mat. Paris Sir Philip Darey appeacheth Sir Henry Bath a bribing Iudge of treason The disorderly weake and violent carriage of trialâ—… The King proscribeâ—… Sir Henry Bath Sir Iohn Mansel stayes the Kings seruants from killing Bath * Two thousand Marks * Additam ad Math. Paris An. 1252. Alexander the third King of Scots espouseth the Lady Margaret Six hundreth Oxen spent at one meale * Mat. Paris The young King of Scots a suter to the King for bringing Philip Louel into fauour againe * Circumsedentium The most witry and princely inâ—…inuations of the young king to the king his father in Law Philip Louel reconciled to the king Simon Earle of Leicester rather to be called Sinon as the Gascoigns said * Per Papa auarisiaâ—… toâ—… 〈◊〉 infortunium Paris The Kings hope to recouer Normandie frustrated The common opinion of the Kings designe for the holy Land A perilous bolde Dialogue between the Countesse of Arund l and the King An. 1253. An. reg 37. The king of Spaine claunes Gaâ—…coign Simon Earle of Leicester refuseth high honour in France to auoid the suspition of disloialty to England Magna Charta confirmed helpâ—… the king to mony The kings oath to obserue that confirmation The king requesteth the king of Spaines sister to be giuen for wife to his sonne Edward The King of Spaine quitteth his claime to Gaâ—…coigne The king of Spaines aduise to the king of England His most noble protestation The king of Romans what and who The English tongue in the dayes of Mathew Para agreeable to the Dutch The huge sums of ready money which Richard King of Romans had of his owne at his Election * 6. Cal Iun. diâ—… Ascensionâ—… * Contra antiqua statutâ—… libertates Paris * Mat Paris in hist maâ—…ori The Vniuersity of Oxford the second Schoole of the Church next Paris protected by the king The King commendâ—… the cause of his sonne Edmund for the kingdome of Sicilia Note that by this it appeares Edmund was not
deformed aâ—… Henry 4. did afterward alleage A. Do. 1258 A. reg 42. The practise of Londoners to engrosse corne forbidden by the king The Barons combine * Mat. Paris pag. 940. * Pontifices ne dicam Pharisai c. Mat. West The Barons take an oath among themselues Mat. West * Primos accubitus in canis c. Mat. West Ibidem The prouisions of Oxford * Mat. West Mat. Paris The City of London â—…oines with the Barons to redâ—…sse the kingdome * Mat. Paris p. 951. The King feares the Earle of Leicester more then thunder and lightning Commissioners to certifie what oppressions in euery Countie Officers put from their places The abuses of Sheriffes noted and prouided against A. Do. 1259 A. reg 43. The King of Romans suspected of the Barons arriues in England 〈◊〉 takes an oath The King not suffered to enter his own Castles * Then the Barons too * Polyd. Vergil lib. 16. The King sailes ouer into France to demand restitution of Normandâ—…e * Guil. GemeticeÌ„s * Ypodig Neust. * Pol. Verg. l. 16. * Paul Aemil. Iohn Tilius Ypod. Neust. Mat. Paris * Polyd. Verg. saith 15 0000. Crowns in hand and 10000. Crowns yeerely in name of Tribute * Iohn Tilius A. D. 1260. A. reg 44. Ann. 1261. An. Reg. 45. * Polyd. Vergil l. 16. * Ypod. Neust. A. D. 1262. An. Reg. 46. The King seifeth the ancient stocke of the Crowne The Barons driue the King from Winchester * Addit ad Par. A. D. 1263. An. Reg. 47. Simon Montfort in apparant fault A. D. 1264. An. Reg. 48. * Additam ad Mat. Paru An intollerable villany offered by rascals to the Queene The Scots aide the King The king takes Northampton many chiefe 〈◊〉 * W. RishaÌ„ger MS. iâ—… Bibliotheca D. Rob. Cotton Baronetti * Chron. M. S. Fox in 〈◊〉 Hollinsh * Milites vexilliferos The Baronâ—… letters The kings letters The king of Almaines letter Prince Edwards The Barons send the second time Simon Earle of Leicester takes the kings of England and of Almaine in the battel at Lewis Monarch 47 Edward 1. Ann. 1273. Prince Edward at Tunis in Africa * Paul Aâ—…yl in Lud. 9. 〈◊〉 Mat. Par. * Alias Camâ—…rcijs A. D. 1278. * Lanquet in Epit. Chr ex Tho. Walsing * Hist. â—…ngl l. 17. * Fabian * Dauid Powel Pag. 334. 335. * Thom. Walsing in Edw. 1. and in Ypod. Neust. * Or in Garsuma as some vse the word * Da. Pow. p. 336 * Tho. Wals. * Fabian in Ed. 1. An. 1279. * Da. Pow. p. 336. * Tho. VVals Fabian Scottish aides protested not to bee sent of duty to K. Edward but of loue An. 1282. * Da. Pow. p. 336. * Poly. Verg. l. 17. * Tho. VValsing * Ruthlan Da. Pow pag. 337. * Arcâ—… of Cant. apud Da. Powel Pag. 339. * Tho. Walsing * Da. Pow. p. 336. * Tho. Walsing * Antiq. Brit. in vit Iob. Peckam * Polyd. Verg. l. 17 A. D. 1283. * Tho. Walsing King Edward repulsed by the Welsh * Dan. Pow. p. 374. * Tho. Walsing * Pag. 374. * Polych li. 7. Tho. Walsing Cambden in Comitat. Flint * Polych l. 7. c. 38. An. D. 1284. * Tho. Walsing ad A. D. * Raâ—…l Cestr. in Polych l. 7. A. D. 1285. A. D. 1287. A. Do. 1289. Tho. VValsing Pol. Verg. l. 17. King Edward confiscates the Iewes and fines his Iusticiars An. 1290. An honourable way to enrich a King * Tho. Walsing Iohn Stow ex Adam Merius Chron. Dunst. c. * Stow in Edwa. 〈◊〉 Scottish affaires Hect. Bo. trans lib. 13. * Hect. Bo. lib. 13. A. D. 1291. * Walsing * As Charing Crosse and at Waltham S. Albans Dunstaple c. A. D. 1292. * Heâ—… 〈◊〉 li. 14. * Marian. Scot. VVâ—… Mal. Henry Huâ—… Ro. Houed c. * Tho. VValsing in Edward 1. Tho. Walsingh Ranul Higd. Polychr lib. 7. Bellendens transl of Hect. Boe. lib. 14. * Hect. Boe. lib. 14. * So Boniface cals 〈◊〉 in his letters to king Edward * Hect. Boe. lib. 14. A. D. 1293. A famous Sea-victorie of the English against the Normans * Thom. Walsingh â—…aith 1500. Hect. Boe. lib. 14. * Edwardi 〈◊〉 ad Papâ—…m apud Tho VValsingh Iudgement gi uen by king Edward lib. 14. cap. 1. A. D. 1294. * Hect. Boet. transl lib. 14. Cap. 2. * Polychr A. D. 1295. * Ypod. Neustr. A. D. 1296. * Tho. UUals. * Hect. Boe. li. 14. * Tho. VVals * Tho. Wals. Polyd. Verg. lib. 17. saith but one hundreth A. D. 1297. * Tho. UUalsingh Berwick taken by king Edward lib. 14. * Fabian * Tho. VVals * Fab. Berwick the key of Scotland * Tho. Wals. * Tho. Walsingh Hect. Bo. l. 14. Fabian * Hect. Boet. l. 14. Polyd. Virg. lib. 17 Tho. VValsing * Bellind transl of Hect. Boe. lib. 14. Welsh aid against Scotland Irish aid against Scotland * Tho. VVals * Polyd. Ver. li. 17. * lib. 14. * Tho. VVals The Baliol resignes * Bellind transl of Hect. Boe. lib. 14. ca. 3. * Tho. Wals. * Fabian * Tho. Walsingh * Bellind trans lib. 14. cap 7. * Tho UUals. * Cambden in Scotland 〈◊〉 709. saith it was a stone inclosed within a woodden Chaire An. 1298. * Bellendens transl of Hect. Boet. l. 14. c. 4. * Tho. Wals. Polyd. Verg. lib. 17 * Tho. VVals Hect. Boet. lib. 14. Polyd. Vug. l. 17. A. D. 1299 * Tho. Wals. * Tho Walsingh The bloudy ourethrow at Pawkirke * Hect. Boet. l. 14. * Vniuers Cosin lib. 2. * Tho. VVals Ypod. Neustr. Reu. Cest. Polychr lib. 7. * Fabian Harding * Polyd. Ver. lib. 17. Hect. Boet. l. 14. * Tho. VVals A. D. 1300. * Tho. Wals. The Baliol set at liberty * Hect. Boe. lib. 14. The Pope interposeth his authority for the reliefe of Scotland * Per sanguinem Dei The constancy of the Welshmens loue to the first English Prince of Wales * Tho. UUalsingh A. D. 1302. * Polyd. Verg. lib. 17. A. D. 1303. * Hect. Boe. lib. 14. A. D. 1304. * Thom. VVals Abington Tolyd Virg lib. 17 * Thom. Walsingh * Bellind transl of Hect. Boe. lib. 14. cap. 6. * Pol. Virg. lib. 17. * Abington * Tho. VValsing * Belâ—…endens transl lib. 14. Cap. 6. * Belindens translâ—… lib. 14. cap. 6. * Hect. Boet. lib. 14. cap 〈◊〉 * Tho. VValsing * Mat. Parâ—… Monarch 48 Edward II. * Thom. de la Moor. * Tho. VValsing * Pol. Virg. lib. 18. * Hect. Boe. lib. 14 Bellind his tran lib. 14. cap 9. * Thom. Walsingh * Fabian A. R. 28. Edw. 1. * Wil. Packington apud Iohn Stow. * The Abbot of Saint Albans was compelled to pay great summes which hee ought to the Bishop and the king acquited him Lib. Monast. S Alban MS. A. D. 1309. The meeting of 5 Kings and 4 Queenes * Tho. de la More * Tho. Wals. Peirs de Gaueston described
mercifully * Holinsh. p. 523. Iohn Stow names also Sir Nicholas Lâ—…gford and cals the two Gausels not Gausels but Gentels and brothers The great destruction of Cheshire Gentlemen * August 10. The Earle of Northumberland pardoned of his life VVilford a Sea-captaine takes a thousand tunnes of good commodities A. D. 1404. The Earle of Northumberland restored The Country-men about Dartmouth kill the French General and present the King with honourable prisoners Owen Glendwr and the Welshmen waste the Marches A new false king Richard Serlo a spreader of that imposâ—…ure deliuered to the King * Parliamâ—… 〈◊〉 Tho. Wels. * Sir Iohn 〈◊〉 Ypodig Neust. pag. 563. An. 1405. Mowbray Earle Maâ—…all and Scrope Archbishop of Yâ—…ke 〈◊〉 to redâ—… 〈◊〉 and lose their heads * Sueton. lib. 3. cap. 59. The King pursues the Earle of Northumberland The first time that a gunne is vsed in England * Tho. VValsing In Hen. 4. The French with seuenscore ships arriue in 〈◊〉 to aid Owen Glendowr A. D. 1406. An. Reg. 7 A. D. 1407. King ' Richard spred to be aliue Sir Robert Knolls dieth An. D. 1409. Platina * Ypod. Neust. p. 566. * Antiq. Britan. ecclesia * Walsing Ypodig p. 569. * 〈◊〉 S. Theo. Oxonia saith Tho. Gascoigne MS. An. D. 1410 An. D. 1411. * Paul Aâ—…yl in Carol. 6. The Duke of Burgundie sends for aid to the King The Kings wise and Christian answere to the Dukes request Aides sent by the King to the Duke of Burgundie An. D. 1412 The Duke of Orleance sends to the King for succour * The words of the Dukes letter The great offers of the Orleance faction to the King Their demands The King forsakes the Duke of Burgundy and aides the Duke of Orleance * Pol. Verg. lib. 21. Iob. Tilius Chr. The English burne and spoile in Normandy till the Duke of Orleance came * homines de 〈◊〉 A. D. 1413. A. reg 14. The King dieth hauing reigned thirteene yeeres and sixe moneths wanting fiue daies â—…ith VValsing â—…ll â—…olinsh Cambd. Brit. in Glocest. Monarch 52 Henry V. Sutton in vit Tit. 1. 6. * Ti. 〈◊〉 Fâ—… Edw. Hal. Henry borne at Monmouth in Wales * Râ—…cor of Toweâ—… 4 Hen. 5. Ioh. Rosse 〈◊〉 in lib. 〈◊〉 regiâ—… Prince Henries Educatin Holinsh. Richard Grafton Edward Hal. Thom. Walsing Rich. Grafton Eccles. 2. Ioh. Rosse Sir Tho. Eliot Gouernour Rich. Grafton Tho. Otterborne Deut. 17. 12. Exod. 21. 15. Tho. Otterborn Ex Record Ioh. Stow. Rich. Grafton An. D. 1413. Tiâ—… Lâ—… Tho. Walsing Râ—…b Fabian Polycâ—…ron Vpon Trinity Sunday Nich Vigâ—…r in bist 〈◊〉 Eglise Fox in Acts and Monuments * Oper a Ioh. Hâ—…ssi To. 〈◊〉 Thom. Walsing 〈◊〉 and Monuments Ouldcastle pronounced an heretike Tho. Wals. Antiq. Britan. Ex libro Wigorn. Archbishop Arundels death * See it in Foxes Martyrologie The offers of the Lord Cobham Rob. Fabian Touching Ouldcastles innocency from Treason see Foxes defence against Cope in Martyrologie Iohn Stow Iohn Fox in Acts and Monuments * then called Thicket fields * See Fox at large Ypodig Neust. Tho Wals. Bishops of Saint Dauids Henry Chicheley made Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Walsing A complaint against the Clergies excesse Edw. Hall The Archbishop Câ—…ichleys oration Io. Serres The Law Salique touched the Germans but not the French Their claiming by the same title Numb 27. An addition 1. Chro. 2. 34. Lewis 〈◊〉 Iudg. 18. Io. Serres Io. Serres Ex Record apud Westm. P. 〈◊〉 Fr. Rosâ—…en Enguerrant de Monstrel Nich. Uegâ—… Will Parradin in Annal. de Burgoin Caâ—…ton Chron. 〈◊〉 Ex Record VVest An. D. 1414. Ypod. Neust. Ex Record Iohn Harding Roger VVals Enguerrant de Monstrâ—…l Holinsâ—… Ex Pâ—…l 1. H. 5. Alain 〈◊〉 in Aâ—…ls of Brit. An ancient Manuscript Tiâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stâ—… Holinsh. â—…o Stâ—… Annal. Liâ—… Original Harding 1500. Ioh. Stow. 1600. Holinsh. 1000. Grafton 140. Ould Manuscr 1500. Caxton 1500. Nichol. Giles Titus Liâ—…l 〈◊〉 de yllescâ—… Hist. Pâ—…tif Platina Nicol. 〈◊〉 in Theatrâ—…â—…sal de Prâ—… Sebastian Munster Francis Goodwin vpon the liues of the Bishop The French glorious in shew but the English conquerors Caxton Chron. The English discerned what was done in the French army P. Aemil. Alain Bâ—…chant â—…n les Annales de Bretagâ—…e The stratagem with stakes Guil. Parradyn Tho. Walsing The chiefe Leaders of each part of the English army The noble ablliaments of King Henry in the maine Battell Tiâ—… Liuiâ—… The admirable and glorious sight that both armies made 10. Serres King Henry seeketh to passe Callis Tho. Walsing Stowes Annal. Tho. Wal. Denis Saâ—…age in Cron. Flan. Enguerrant de Monâ—…reles The English proffer Battell Their Archers put the enemy to the greatest harme Ypodig Neust. Enguerrant The wings of the French battell discomfited Tho. Walsing The English Archers giuing back the French horsemen spill themselues vpon the sharpe pointed stakes Enguerrant de Monstrel Guil. Paradyn in les Annals de Burg. King Henry rescueth his brother the Duke of Glocester Alenzon encountring King Henrie putteth him in some danger Rich. Grafton The French maine battell put to flight Pyd Verg. Walsinghams description of the Frenches ouerthrow After some sharp execution the English shew mercy to the French Enguerrant de Monstrelet Ypod. Neust. Certaine French rob the Kings carriages They steale a Crowne and a sword and faine that King Henry is taken prisoner History of Normandy Pol. Verg. A new power of French appearing King Henrie causeth all his prisoners to bee slaine Enguerrant Tiâ—… Liâ—… 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 The Duke of Burgundy impriâ—…oneth the robbers of King Henries carriages but pardons their liues at Count Charolois request Ypodig Nest. King Henry acknowledgeth God the gâ—…uer of victory God deliuereth a nation into the hands of the destroier for their sinnes Enguer de Monstreles Nich. Gille Latiers volume de Cron. Franc. The small number of English slaine Tho. Walsing * Ex Manuscript The names of great persons either slaine or taken prisoners Enguerrant de Monstrelet Enguâ—… Iehan Tillet Bertrand de Argentre La. Mer Nichol. Giles Legend Fland. Chron. Fran. 3. vol. * Of Sâ—… The number of Dukes Earles c. slaine Denis Sâ—…g Bertrand de Argâ—…re in hist Bret. Iehan Tillet Alain Bouchart Annal. de Bret. Will. Parredin Annal. de Burgoin History of Normandy 5800. slaine French buried in one plat of ground Alain Bouchart Annal. de Bret. History of Normandy Stowes Annal. Grafton King Henry returneth into England He and his company in danger at Sâ—… Tho. Wal. The King is receiued oâ—… London with great state Caxton Chron. All sorts both Clergy and Laity shew their affection to the King and he to God Stowes Annal. The Duke of Yorke interred at Fotheringhay The Earle of Suffolke at Ewhelme Gonzales de yllesâ—… in la Hist. Pontif. May 7. The Emperour Sigismund commeth into England The sterne manner of entertaining the Emperour at his landing VVell liked of by the Emperor * Rich. Grafton * Paul Aemil. The King willinglie heareth the Emperour for
battell at S. Aâ—…bans where the Queene is victorious and recouers the King * Tirel saith Rob. Fab. The King and Queene returne into the North. Orig. 35. Hen. 6. Monarch 54 Edward IIII Edward Duke of Yorke and Rich. Earle of Warwick come vnto London The City of London doubtfâ—… vnto whether part to yeeld Priâ—… Edward 〈◊〉 his right to the Crowne King Henry depriued of his Crowne Edward Duke of Yorke proclaimed King of England March 3. * He was borne A D. 1â—…41 April 29. The feares of the Londoners Walker a Citizen beheaded for wordâ—… Dangerous to meddle with a Crowne Grost * 18000. pounds King Edwards beginnings somewhat disliked K. Edwards expedition into the North. The Lord Fitzâ—…er and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Earle Warwicks approach and speech to King Edward The L. Clifford sâ—…ine with an headlesse arrow A. D. 14â—… Difference of Authors hath here bred some confusion of yeeres * March 29. K. Edwards proclamation much forwarded his seruice The battell aâ—… Touton A politicke practise in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 K Henry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Queene Margaret passeth into France A. D. 1461. King Edward crowned King Henry and Prince Edward disherited by Parliament A. D. 1462. Queene Margaret returned into Scotland Bastard Ogle ouercommeth the French An. D. 1463. Queene Margaret entreth Northumberland in hostile manner King Edward commeth to Tâ—…rks The skirmish vpon â—…egely More The saying of Sir Ralph Percie at his death 〈◊〉 victory at 〈◊〉 May. 15. Lordâ—… 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 The disgrading of Sir Ralph 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King Henry 〈◊〉 to flight Rich. Grafton King Edwards care and prouisions King Henrie disguised commeth into England and is apprehended King Henry hardly vsed arrested and committed prisoner to the Tower King Edwards care of Iustice. The pride and abuse in shooâ—… Sheep transpore ted into Spâ—…e verie hurtfull vnto England King Edwards care for choice of his Queene His second proiect for a 〈◊〉 Rich. Grafton Cambden Rich. Grafton His third aâ—…y for a wife The allegations 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lady Bona fitte st Queene for Edward Neuil the great Earl of Warwick Rob. Fab. Warwicks wooing and entertainements in France K. Edwards last sodaine choise of his wife Ioh. Hardings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lady Elizabeth Gray a supplicator to king Edward The beauty and feature of the Lady Elizabeth Gray K. Edwards mother seeketh to 〈◊〉 his loue The counsell and conference of the old Dutchesse of Yorke with her 〈◊〉 K. Edward 〈◊〉 vnto 〈◊〉 it was exâ—… 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 to marry K. Edwards reason for his 〈◊〉 free choise His â—…thers deuise 〈◊〉 crâ—… his purâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lady 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of King Edward K. Edward married Lady Elizabeth Grey The descent and parentage of the Lady Elizabeth Grey Queene Elizabeth crowned The Queenes kindred highly preferred Earle Warwicke sore offended against K. Edward Temporizing betwixt the king and Earle of Warwicke Francis Goodwin Catal. of English Bishope Iohn Neuil created Marquesse Montacute Rich. Grafton A. D 1468. A marriage moued betwixt Earle Charles and Lady Margaret Philip. Com. l. 3. cap. 4. The mariage celebrated Earle Warwicke plotieth K. Edwards deposition Warwicke draweth Clarence into action against the King his brother Warwicke and Clarence make affinity A. D. 1469. The occasions found for a commotion Hulderne Captaine of the Commotion Two Captaines made by the rebels Sir Iohn Coniers chosen generall of the rebels The Lord Herbert Earle of Pembrooke made Lord generall Discontents betwixt Pembrooke and Warwicke The Lord Stafford repulsed K. Edward prepareth against the Earle of Warwicke Pembrooke and Stafford fall out for their Inne The valor of Pembrooke and of Sir Richard Herbert A. D. 〈◊〉 The Earle of 〈◊〉 with others beheaded Robert of Riddisdale captaine of the 〈◊〉 The Earle Riuers with his sonne Iohn surprised and beheaded Lord Stafford beheaded Io. Stâ—… Annal. King Edawrd taken at Wolney Is imprisoned in Middleham Castle King Edward escaped out of prison Warwicke sayings to make and vnmake kings Warres prepared vpon but 〈◊〉 partâ—… The miseries of ciuill warres The King and the Lords meet at London A. D. 1470 A commotion in Lincolnshire The Lord Wels and Sir Thomas Dimocke beheaded The battell at Stanford Sir Robert Wels taken Loscoat field Sir Robert Wels put to death Warwicke and Clarence flee into France Phil. Comines lib. 3. cap 4. The Dutches of Clarence deliuered of a son vpon shipboard The Duke of Burgundy bends himselfe against Earle Warwicke The double dealings of Vawcler Earle Warwicke saileth into Normandie King Lewis relieueth Warwicke Burgundy offended with Lewâ—… for relieuing his enemie Reiner of great stile and small power A marriage concluded betwixt Prince Edward and Anne daughter of Earle Warwicke King Edward driuen into his dumps Marques Montacute is taken into King Edwards fauor A maid Ambassador vnto the Duke of Clarence The conference of the damsell with the Duke of Clarence The Duke of Clarence inclineth to his brother Warwicke and Clarence returne into England Septemb. 13. A. reg 10. King Edwards security Earle Warwicke in the West proclaimeth king Henry K. Edwards opinion touching Warwickes approach Sunday after Michaelmas Stowel Annal. Doctor Godards sermon Marquesse Montacute reuolteth from K. Edward How vncertaine it is to stat on the 〈◊〉 K Edward is forced to flee England October 3. Edward in danger of taking on seas Queene Elizabeth tooke Sanctuarie in VVestminster Prince Edward boâ—…e in the Sanctuary The Kentish Commotioners doe much hurt about London Iohn Fortescue The States take K. Henry out of the Tower K. Henry againe restored goeth crowned to Pâ—… K. Edward debarred from gouernment by Parliament The Parliament Rowle Iohn Tiptoft Earle of Worcester beheaded The Crownes of England and France entailed to K. Henry George Duke of Clarence entailed to the Crowne Earles restored Earle Warwicke made gouernour of the Realme Queene Margaret hindred by tempest to come into England The Duke of Burgundy perplexed Phil. Com. lib. 3. Earl of Warwicks esteeme in Callis King Edward coueteth aide of his brother the Duke of Burgundy The Duke of Sommerset disswadeth Burgundy to aid K. Edward Burgundie temporizeth with his suites K. Edward passeth into England pretending no more then to be Duke of York A. D 1471. March 14. K. Edward straines his oath to winne the City of Yorke Earle Warwicke writes to his brother Marquesse to impeach King Edwards passage K Edwards Army encreased Iohn Stow. Warwicke taketh into the City Couentrie March 29. K. Edward challengeth Earle Warwick to fight K. Edward draweth towards London K Edward and his brother Clarence meet and are reconciled Clarence seeketh to draw Warwicke vnto K. Edward The words of Warwicke in answer to Clarence K. Edward marcheth forward London receiueth King Edward K. Henrie againe taken and sent to the Tower of London Ed. Hall Earle Warwicke commeth to S. Albans K. Edward carrieth K Henrie with him to battell Apr. 14. Barnet field fought vpon Easter day The orderings
of the battels Iâ—… Stow. A mistaking of the soulâ—…ieis which was the losse of the field Great Warwickâ—… slaine in fight Marques Montacute slaine in battell Nobles and others slaine at Barnet field Edw. Hast. Ioh. Stow. Rob. Fabian saith 1500. The Duke of Sommerset and the Faile of Oxford fled into Wales Rich. Grast Edward triumpheth and oâ—…eth his banner in S. Pauls Queene Margaret with Prince Edward landed at Weyâ—… The Lords comfort Queene Margaret Queenâ—… Margarets care for Prince Edward her sonne The opinions of the Lords King Edward prepareth against Queenâ—… Margaret King Henry committed to the Tower of London The ordering of Queene Margarets battels The ordering of K. Edwards battels The battell at Tewkesbury Edw. Hall This battell was fought vpon Saturday the 4. of May the 11. of K. Edwards raigne and yeere of Christ 1471. L. Wenlocke slain for not following Sommerset Lords slaine at Tewkesbury Prince Edward apprehended The Duke of Sommerset and others executed Prince Edward apprehended and 〈◊〉 answers Prince Edward most shamefully slaine Queene Margaret taken out of her Sanctuary The Northerne men submit vnto K. Edward Bastard Fanconbridge Captaine of the Lancastri Fauonbridge assaileth London The Citizens withstood his â—…ance Fauconbridge forced backe to his shipâ—… K. Edward with his Captiue Queene Margaret enter London King Henry â—…urthered in the Tower by Richard Duke of Glocester K. Henry carried bare-faced through the streetes of London Stowes Annals K. Henry bâ—…ied 〈◊〉 Chertsey and 〈◊〉 to Windsor The 〈◊〉 of K. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The vertues of K. Henry Holinshed Camb. Brit. in descript of Surrey Kings Colledge in Cambridge and Eaton in Barkshire found 〈◊〉 by K. Henry Queen Margaret ransoâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bastard Fauconbridge with his vnruly crew yeeld to King Edward Bastard Fauconbridge pardoned of life and rewarded with Knighthood Rob. Fabian Bastard Fauconbridge beheaded A. D. 1472. Henry of Richmond fled into Britaine The storie of Iohn Earle of Oxford Waters brake out of the Earth Iohn Stow. Annals The Earle of Oxford sent prisoner into France The hard and inhumane vsage of the Countesse of Oxford The storie of Lord Henry Holland Duke of Excester Phil. Comines lib. 3. cap. 4. Ed. Hall The vnlouing parts of an vnlouing wiâ—…e Ioh. Sâ—…w The Lord Henrie supposed to haue been drowned The Archbishop of Yorkes goods seized vpon K. Edward sends into Britaine to recouer Richmond and Pembrooke K. Edward abrogates King Henries lawes Burgundie sends for aid into England against France A. D. 1474. K. Edwards expedition into France Phil. Comines lib. 4. cap. 5. The great preparation of King Edward King Edwards 〈◊〉 Lewis his conference with the English Herald Lewis his conference with the English Herald K. Lewis moneth Gartar to be a meanes for peace Phil. Com. lib. 4. cap. 7. A counterfeit Herald sent to K. Edward The Heralds perswasions An English Herald sent to King Lewis The Duke of Burgundy commeth to the King Edw. Hall â—…ol 231. Burgundies hot speech vnto K. Edward K Edwards reply to his brother of Burgundy Burgundy departeth displeased from King Edward The conference for peace 〈◊〉 Amiens Coâ—…ioners for peace Conditions of the peace Lewis his liberality for â—…oy of the peace Ph. Com. l. 4. c. 9. The kings of England and France dâ—… to see each others 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 place of the kings A. D. 1475. Aug. 29. The 〈◊〉 of the two kings The Kings swear the league K. Lewis loth that Edward should visite Paris A. D. 1475. Sept. 2â—… Henry Earle of Richmond â—…ught after by K. Edward An intent pretended which asâ—…r came to passe Ralph Holinsh. pag. 701. Henry â—…arle of Richmond taketh Sanctuary The English Ambassador complaineth to the Duke of Britaine His Answere Sir Tho. Moore King Edward beloued of his subiects and loueth his subiects Io. Stow. K. Edward sent for the Maior and Aldermen of London to his huntings K. Edward somwhat licention slie giuen K. Edwards three Concubines Thomas Burdet accused of treason Engâ—… Register of Gray-Friers Lâ—…don The story of George Duke of Clarence Tâ—… attainder of the Duke of Clarence Iohn Stow. A. D. 1478. Rich. Graft A false prophecie of G. E. Phil. Comin lib. 4. cap. 10. The Duke of Clarence is suiter vnto Marie the daughter of Burgundie Io. Serres Clarnce imprisoned by his brother King Edward George Duke of Claâ—…ce condemned by Parliament And drowned in a But of malmesay K. Edwards â—…pentance for his brothers death The Duke of Clarence his issue Edward and Margaret the children of Clarence beheaded King Edward deceiued in King Lewis 〈◊〉 Serres Lady Elizabeth called 〈◊〉 the Daulphin A. D. 1480. Io. Lesâ—… Lady Cicely motioned in matriage vnto 〈◊〉 Prince of Scotland Lewis King of France interposeth the contract betwixt Prince Iames and Ladie Margaret Iames King of Scotland much â—…dded to his 〈◊〉 will Alexander Duke of Albanie banished Scotland Iohn Earle of Marre bled to death K. Iames threatneth warre against England Richard Duke of Glocester made the Kings Lieutenant against Scotland The Duke of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scotland 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 Holinsh. p. 707. Phil. Comines lib. 6. chap. 2. and 9. King Lewis dallâ—…th with King Edward King Edward vvould not beleeue vvhat was confidently tolde him A 〈◊〉 pretâ—… ded against France King Edward falleth â—…ke Thom. More King Edwards speeches at his death The perils of discord Tender youth is 〈◊〉 infected Great variance for small causes King Edwards good counsell What the nature of ambition is King Edwards vsuall oath King Edwards last request The raigne and death of King Edward Phil. Com. lib. 4 cap. 10. King Edward described Ph. Com. l. 6. c. 2. 〈◊〉 A. D. 1478. Stow. Edward 5. Monarch 55 King Edwards raigne vnfortunate and 〈◊〉 Aprill 19. A. D. 1483. Richard Duke of Yorke Richard Duke of Gloucester an vnnaturall vncle vnto the young King and his brother Richard Duke of Yorke was the father of Richard Duke of Glocester Women commonly maligne their husbands 〈◊〉 The description of Richard Duke of Glocester Richard Crooke-backe a good souldier He vvas the cause of Clorence his death Richard of Gloucester intended to be King eâ—…en whiles K. Edward liued The speech of Pottier at King Edwards death The vncle contriueth the destruction of his Nephewes Richards deepe pollicy King Edwards care to set peace betwixt the Queenes kindred and his The Queenes iealousie against the Lord Câ—…berlaine King Edward repaireth towards London The Queenes kindred only about the Prince The Duke seeketh to displace the Prince The crafty complaints of Richard Duke of Gloucester The effect that his pollicy took The conclusion of his designes Another crafty pollicy of Duke Richard The Queene yeldeth to the Dukes perswasion The Lords meet at Northampton The Keyes of the Inne kept by Richard Duke of Glaucester The L. Riuers much troubled at the sodaine action The L. Riuers imprisoned in Northampton The Dukes come to the King A quarrell picked in the kings presence Accusations against the Queens kindred
Duke of Orleance the Earle of Eu Guacourt and Guichard de Sisay should not be ransomed vntill yong Henry were of yeeres to gouerne 82 Thus said and drawing neere to the period of his short but glorious life he demanded of his Physitians how long in their iudgement he might liue wherunto when one of thē answered Sir thinke on your soule for your time is not aboue 2. houres he made his cōfession his Chaplains afterward kneeling in prayer when one of them out of the Psalms made mention of Ierusalem the king no sooner heard the name but with a loud voice he said Lord thou knowest that my purpose was to conquere Ierusalem from the Infidels if it had pleased thee to haue giuen me life then in a right faith assured hope perfect charity and sound memory hee rendred his soule to his Creator after hee had raigned nine yeeres fiue monethes and fourteene dayes leauing none like vnto him amongst all the Kings and Princes of Christendome for which cause his death was not onely bewailed of the English whom hee gloriously had ruled but also of the French whom hee had victoriously conquered This was the manner of this triumphant Monarchs end which moues men iustly to wonder at Hector Boetius who saith he was stricken by God for sacriledge and died miserablie Hectors friends haue occasion to wish that his Readers should not make that miserable iudgement the rule and measure of crediting or discrediting his other writings yet lamentable his end was indeed if he perished by poison wherof there was a vehement suspition as Polydor Vergill hath auerred and the carriage of the French affaires afterward makes it more then probable 83 His workes of pious affection were shewed in erecting the Monasteries of Bethlem Briget neere vnto his Manour of Richmond as also his princely gifts vnto the workes and furniture of Westminster Church besides the brotherhood of S. Giles without Creple gate London And which had surpassed all the rest hee intended such was his loue to learning and to the place where himselfe was a learner to haue founded in the great Castell at Oxford a magnificent Colledge for Diuines and Students of the seuen liberall Sciences the plot and ordinations of which foundation he had already drawne and resolued to endow it with all the lands in England belonging to Priors Aliens but his vntimely death preuented both that and many other noble workes To leaue a domesticke testimony of his affection to Armes hee first instituted Gartar principall King at Armes besides other augmentations to the Order of Saint George In a word neuer liued English King with more true glory nor euer died any in a more vnseasonable time nor more lamented for he was godly in heart sober in speech sparing of words resolute in deedes prouident in Counsell prudent in iudgement modest in countenance magnanimous in action constant in vndertaking a great Almesgiuer deuout to Godward a renowmed Souldier fortunate in field from whence hee neuer returned without victorie These with many other I might almost say all other vertues are attributed to this most renowned amongst English Kings the more to be admired in him in so short a raigne and in those yeeres hee being but of 36. yeers when he breathed forth his glorious soule 84 His bowels were interred in the Church of Saint Mauro de Fosses and his embalmed Corps was closed in Lead and attended vpon by the Lords of England France Normandy and Picardy was brought vnto Paris wherein the Church of our Lady solemne exequies were performed and thence to Rouen where it rested till all things were ready to set forward for England though the Cities of Paris and Rouen stroue and offered great summes of gold to haue Henries royall remains enterred amongst them His picture artificially was moulded of boiled hides and countenance painted according to life vpon whose head an imperiall Diademe of gold and pretious stones was set the body clothed with a purple robe furred with Ermine in his right hand it held a scepter royall and in the left a ball of gold in which manner it was carried in a Chariot of State couered with red veluet embroidered with gold and ouer it a rich Canopie born by men of great place Thus accompanied by Iames King of Scotland many Princes Lords and Knights of England and France he was conuaied from Rouen to Abbeuile to Hesdin to Menstruill Bologn Calais the Chariot al the way compassed about with men all in white garments bearing burning Torches in their hands next vnto whom followed his houshold seruants all in blacke and after them the Princes Lords and Estates in vestures of mourning adorned then two miles distant from the corps followed the stil lamenting Queene attended with princely mourners her tender and plerced heart more inly mourning then her outward sadde weedes should in any sort expresse 85 And thus by Sea and Land the dead King was brought vnto London where through the streets the Chariot was drawne with foure horses whose Caparisons were richly embroidered and embossed with the royall Armes the first with Englands Armes alone the second with the Armes of France and England in a field quartered the third bare the Armes of France alone and the fourth three crowns Or in a field Azure the ancient Armes of King Arthur now well beseeming him who had victoriously vnited three Kingdomes in one The body with all pompous celebrity was enterred in the Church at Westminster for so Henrie had by his last will commanded next beneath King Edward the Confessor vpon whose Tombe Queene Katherine caused a roiall picture to bee laid couered all ouer with siluer plate guilt but the head thereof altogether of massysiluer All which at that Abbeys suppression when the battering hammers of destruction did sound almost in euery Church were sacrilegiously broken off and by purloining transferred to farre prophaner vses where at this day the headlesse monument worthy to be restored by some more Princely and sacred hand is to be seene and with these verses written vpon his Tombe Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Hares Francorum decessit Hector eorum Here Normans Duke so stiled by Conquest iust True Heire of France Great Hector lies in dust His Wife 86 Katherine daughter to King Charles the sixt of France vpon an agreement of peace forementioned was married vnto King Henrie at Troyes in Champaine Iunij 3. A. D. 1420. and after Febr. 14. was Crowned at Westminster with all solemnities Shee was his Queene two yeeres and about three months and suruiuing him was remarried vnto Owen Theodore of Wales vnto whom shee bare three sonnes Edmund Iasper and Owen and a daughter who liued not long Owen tooke the habite of religion at Westminster the other two by King Henry the sixt their halfe brother were honorably preferred Edmund was created Earle of Richmond and marrying Margaret the sole
heire of Iohn Beaufort Duke of Sommerset was father by her vnto Henry the only heire of Lancaster afterwards King of England Iasper the second brother was created the same yeere Earle of Pembroke who required his brothers kindnes with continuall assistance against the house of 〈◊〉 and when that faction preuailed he was forced to flie into Flanders but it againe waning he was both restored and to his greater honour created Duke of Bedford dying without any issue legittimate This Queene either for deuotion or her owne safety tooke into the Monastery of Bermondsey in Southwarke where dying Ian. 2. A D. 1436. shee was buried in our Ladies Chappell within S. Peters Church at Westminster whose Corps taken vp in the raigne of King Henry the seuenth her Grand-child when he laid the foundation of that admirable structure and her Coffin placed by King Henry her husbands Tombe hath euer since so remained and neuer reburied where it standeth the Couer being loose to be seene and handled of any that will and that by her owne appointment saith Report which doth in this as in most things speake vntruth in regard of her disobedience to King Henry for being deliuered of her sonne at the place hee forbad His Sonne 87 Henry the only child of a roiall couple borne at Windsore and not nine months old at his fathers death succeeded in his dominions though not holding his Empire with the like glory Crowned he was with the Crownes of two Kingdomes but vnable by much to weild the scepter of one that of France was lost by the factions of his Nobles before it was well wonne and Englands Crowne twice pluckt from his head before his death Of whose aduentures and variable raigne the times when England lay goared in the blood of her ciuill warres we shall speake in the insuing relation of his innocent but vnfortunate life HENRIE THE SIXTH KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE LORD OF IRELAND THE THREE AND FIFTIETH MONARCH OF ENGLAND HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER XVI HAd God almighty the giuer and transferrer of Kingdomes thought good that the English should haue setled in the Continent of Europe and not haue beene shutte vp within their Ilands hee would not so soone haue depriued them of their late incomparable Captaine and Soueraigne Henry the fifth But it seemes that God hauing humbled the French Nation vnder Henries victorious hand ment now again to restore them to his wonted fauor by taking away their terrour triumpher substituting his son an Infant in his place Henrie of that name the 6. born at Windsor who was crowned about the eight month of his age The prety hands which could not feed himselfe were yet made capable to weeld a scepter and hee that was beholding to nurses for milke did neuerthelesse distribute the sustenance of law and iustice to so great and warlike Nations Counsell supplies the defect of age At his fathers death hee had vncles men of approued valour and discretion to whom the principall care of all publike affaires by the fathers last prouisions was committed Humfrey Duke of Glocester the yonger brother of two had the gouernement of England entrusted to his fidelity the regency of France was assigned for Prouince to Iohn Duke of Bedford the eldest liuing vncle of the King as to a Prince of much magnanimity prowesse and felicitie in conduct with whom was ioyned Philip Duke of Burgundie The guard and custody of the royall Infant was assigned to Thomas Duke of Excester the nurture and education to his mother the Queene Dowager vpon the two vncles as betweene the two Poles of the English Empire the whole globe of gouernment moued whatsoeuer is done by the kingly power is said to be done by the King We shall behold notwithstanding in the tragicall glasse of this Henries raigne how farre the imbecillity of the kingly person may affect the body politicke with good or euill If histories were ordayned to stirre affections not to teach and instruct neuer any Princes raigne since the Conquest did better deserue to bee described with a tragical style and words of horror sorrow although the beginning like the faire morning of a most tempestuous day promised nothing morethen a continuance of passed felicities 2 For the State of the English affaires was great and flourishing England without tumult the naturall fierce humors of her people consuming or exercising themselues in France and France her selfe for the nobler parts together with the grand City of Paris head of that Monarchie was at their deuotion There wanted nothing which might aduance the worke begunne Most noble and expert Leaders as those which had bin fashioned in the schoole of warre vnder the best martiall master of that age the late Henry arms full of veterant souldiers most of which were of skill sufficient to be commanders themselues their friends firme no defect nor breach by which dissipation might enter to the ouerthrow of the English greatnesse as yet disclosing themselues Wisdome pietie riches forwardnesse at home courage and like forwardnesse abroad It is a fruitfull speculation to consider how God carrieth his part in the workes of men alwaies iustly sometimes terribly but neuer otherwise then to bring all worldly greatnesse and glory into due contempt and loathing that the soule may bee erected to her Creator and aspire to a Crown celestiall The first disaduantage which hapned to the English cause after the late Kings decease was the death of Charles the French King who suruiued the other but fiftie and three dayes This wee may worthily call the first as it was a great aswell as the first disaduantage for the imbecilities of that Prince were a strēgth to the English On the other side God obseruing a talio and parilitie the infancy of young Henry was an aduantage to Charles the Daulphin of France now by them of his faction called King of France as the English vsed in derision to enstyle him King of Berrie because little else was left vnto him 3 In England whose condition the order of narure wils vs first to describe because there was the seat of counsell by which all the actions of the generall state were directed a Parliament was assembled to establish the Crowne vpon the Infant and to prouide for the publike vses and necessities of State Money alwayes one of them was liberally granted It was a strange sight and the first time that euer it was seene in England which in the next yeere hapned an infant sitting in the mothers lap before it could tell what English meant to exercise the place of Soueraigne direction in open Parliament Yet so it was for the Queene to illumine that publike conuention of States with her Infants presence remoued from Windsor to London through which Citie her selfe roially seated with her young sonne vpon her lappe passed in maiesticke manner to Westminster and there tooke seate among all his Lords whom by the
the spousall sheetes that ceremony seeming to amount to a Consummation Charles King of France notwithstanding these solemnities and his owne particular engagement with the Lady Margaret daughter of Maximilian whom for the purpose of marriage he had already entertained into France did so ambitiously and vehemently couet to gaine Britaine that vpon confidence of his force hee resolued to breake through all respects and not only to offend all his forreine friends but to make them his iust enemies rather then to faile in effectuation Instruments are therefore very secretly set on worke and batterie is placed with bags of gold at all the opportunities which might let in his purpose Ambassadors also the Lord Frances of Lutzenburg Charles Marinian and Robert Gagwine Generall of the Order of the holy Trinitie are dispatched to Henrie praying that with his good will he might dispose of the body of the Lady Anne in marriage according to the right which he had thereunto as the chiefe Lord of whom shee held the Dukedome Henry denied the request but yeelded notwithstanding to send Ambassadors into France there to Capitulate about a peace The French carried this affaire with notable Art for to diuert the world for looking into the depth of their drift King Charles still detained the young Lady Margaret Maximilians daughter so as at most it could be but suspected that Charles meant to match her with some of his blood and all the entercourse of Orators and Ambassadors vsed in the meane time tended but to hold the English busied vpon other obiects till they had wrought their feate in the Court of Britaine For Maximilian to let the world see what iniuries shall be offered euen to Kings that are not strong him they altogether neglected King Henry they plaied with and Ferdinando King of Castile who was ready to ioine with Maximilian and Henrie against the French they resolue to appease with rendring vp vnto him the Counties of Ruscinoon and Perpinian as accordingly they did without reembursement of one penny of those 300000. Crownes for which Iohn King of Arragon father to Ferdinando had morgaged them The young Ladies doubts rising either out of religion or point of honor his cunning Agents and Emissaries wipe away with these solutions That Maximilianâ—… daughter was not of yeeres to consent and therefore the contract betweene King Charles and her did not binde either in law or conscience That her owne contract with Maximilian was void for that it was done without the consent of her Soueraigne Lord King Charles whose ward or Client shee was The Ladie vanquished in her iudgement with these reasons attracted with the present greatnes of King Charles and loath by refusall to make her Countrey the seat of a long and miserable warre secretly yeelded to accept of another husband Thomas Goldstone Abbot of S. Augustines in Canterbury and Thomas Earle of Ormond in Ireland King Henries Ambassadors into France hauing beene dandled by the French during these illusiue practises returned without other fruite of their labors 29 What could now the most patient doe lesse then take sword in hand vpon so palpable and vnworthy illusion But Maximilians wrongs were too impudent and intollerable for Charles sent home the Lady Margaret and married the Inheretrix of Britaine annexing it to his owne Realme whereas King Henrie found himselfe rather mockt then otherwise empaired Iames Contibald hereupon comes Ambassador from Maximilian and obtained his request which was that they with ioynt forces should by a certaine day prefixed inuade the French in full reuenge of these their bold prouocations Maximilian for his part promising to support that warre with at least ten thousand men for two yeeres King Henry hauing formerly in abundant manner prouided himselfe of treasure was ready before the day with a roiall army but Maximilian whose will to worke the vttermost mischiefe to France was not doubted being sent vnto by King Henry signifying his forwardnes was found vtterly vnfurnished Causes of Maximilians weakenesse in state were the rebellions and dislikes of his Flemish Subiects cherished by the French the Iealousie of Princes neighbourhood making them vniustly glad either of others molestations For subduing whereof though King Henry had heretofore giuen him good and successefull assistance vnder the conduct of Giles Lord Dawbeney Gouernour of Callis the Lord Morley and others whereby he the rather ouercame yet was hee the feebler as then by reason of so fresh exhaustures King Henry with good cause was not a little troubled at these newes secretly signified by his trustie Almner Mr. Christopher Vrswick and Sir Richard Risley knight his Ambassadors to Maximilian For hee was very loath to vndergoe so great an Action vpon his particular strengths though he doubted not to finde a potent party among the Britaines whose affections were as yet but loosely setled toward King Charles and yet farre more loath to deceiue the expectation of his owne people who had so largely contributed Chiefly the City of London out of which euen in those daies he receiued for his furniture in that voiage almost ten thousand pounds from the Commoners and as it seemes by our Author two hundreth pounds besides from euery Alderman where the same King could not but with some difficulty leuie in the third yere of his Reigne a loane of foure thousand pounds whereof three of the best Companies are noted as for hauing done and deserued extraordinarily to haue lent aboue nine hundred And verily this wise King knowing how great a strength that rich City was vnto him humored that people with all forces of popularities for himselfe did not onely come among them and cause himselfe to be entred a brother in one of their Companies but ware the habite at a publike feast and sate as Maister as is verie credibly reported out of the Records of their Hall His wisdome therefore saw that in giuing ouer the inuasion of France he should sloathfully abandon a goodly occasion of making himselfe vniuersally acceptable to his people His resolutions therefore are by him at leastwise pretended to continue and for that cause he sufficiently encreaseth his numbers that he might seeme able to goe through with that enterprize alone and though the time of yeere were too farre spent for he landed not at Caleis till the sixth day of October yet marcheth he with his whole forces toward Boloigne being wel assured that with this trowell he should at once plaister two wals that is humor his English subiects and for a peace draw to himselfe store of Crownes from the French 30 He had with him besides the flower of his Nobility and Captaines answerable numbers of People fit for the seruice The most named persons were these Iasper Duke of Bedford Lieutenant Generall of the Army Thoâ—…as Marquesse Dorset the Earles of Arundell Oxford Suffolk Shrewsburie Derby Kent Deuonshire and Ormond sundry Barons as Dawbeney Abergenny Delaware South Hastings
Church though vnsufficient for so great a worke doe powre forth the cogitations of our heart that the Catholike faith without which no man can attaine to saluation may receiue continuall increase and that those good lawes and constitutions decreed by the wisdome and learning of such as are in authority especially the faithfull in Christ for restraining the attempts of all that labour to oppresse the same or by wicked lyes fictions seeke to peruert and obscure it may prosper with perpetuall increase doe bestow our paines and vtmost endeuour in our office and Ministery And like as the Romane Bishops our Predecessors were wont to shew especiall fauour to Catholike Princes according as the quality of matters and timesrequired especially to them that in troublesome times when the madnesse and perfidious dealing of Schismatikes and heretikes most of all abound did abide constant and vnmoueable not onely in soundnesse of faith and pure denotion to the holy Romane Church but also as the most legitimate sonnes and valiant Champions of the same opposed themselues both with mind and body against the furious madnes of Schismatikes and heretikes so likewise also doe wee desire to extoll your Maiesty with worthy and immortall praises for your high and immortall deserts and labours towards vs and this holy See wherein by Gods permission wee sit to grant vnto it those things for which it ought to watch and driue away the Wolues from the Lords flocke and to cut off with the materiall sword rotten members which infect the mysticall body of Christ and to confirme the hearts of the faithfull in soundnesse of beliefe Now where of late our beloued sonne Iohn Clarke your Maiesties Orator with vs being in our Consistory before our venerable brethren of the holy Romane Church the Cardinals and many other Prelates of the same exhibited a booke vnto vs to bee examined and allowed of vs which booke your Maiesties selfe who doth all things with diligence and nothing amisse enflamed with charity and zeale to the Catholike faith and with ardent deuotion toward vs and this holy See hath composed as a most worthy and soueraigne Antidote against the errors of diuers heretikes often condemned by this holy See and of late stirred vp and brought in by Martin Luther And your said Orator hath also largely declared vnto vs that your Maiesty is ready and purposeth like as you haue confuted the notorious errors of the said Martin by true reason and inuincible authorities of sacred Scripture and Ancient fathers so you will punish to the vttermost of your power all those of your whole Kingdome that shall presume to follow or defend them and we haue diligently and exactly perused and viewed the admirable doctrine of your said booke watered with the dew of heauenly Grace and doe heartily thanke Almighty God from whom euery good and perfect gift doth come who hath vouchsafed to inspire your Noble mind inclined to euery good thing and to endue you with so great Grace from heauen as to write those things whereby you are able to defend his holy faith against such a new Innouator of damned errors and also incite by your example all other Christian Kings and Princes to be willing to fauour and further with all their best aides the Orthodoxall faith and Euangelicall truth whensoeuer it bee brought into danger or doubt And wee thinke it also meete that they who haue vndertaken such godly labours for the defence of the faith of Christ should haue all prayse and honour of vs and wee are desirous that not onely the things themselues which your Maiesty hath written being both of most sound doctrine and no lesse eloquence should bee extolled and magnified with condigne commendations and allowed and confirmed by our authority but also that your Maiesty should bee graced with such an honour and such a Title as that both for our time and euer hereafter all men might perceiue how gratefull and acceptable this gift of your Maiesties hath been vnto vs especially offered vnto vs now at this time Wee who be the true successors of Peter whom Christ at his ascension into heauen left his Vicar on earth and to whom hee committed the care of his flocke We I say who sit in this holy seate from which all dignities and titles doe flow vpon mature deliberation had with our said brethren about these things haue by the generall agreement and consent of them decreed to bestow vpon your Maiestie this title namely THE DEFENDER OF THE FAITH And accordingly by these Presents doe instile you with such a title commaunding all faithfull Christians that they name your Maiesty with this Title and when they write to you that after the Word KING they adioine DEFENDER OF THE FAITH And truely wee diligently considering and weighing your singular merits were not able to bethinke vs of a name more worthy and conuenient for your Maiesty then the excellency and dignity of this Title which so often as you shal heare and reade so often you may call to mind this your singular vertue and great desert nor may you by this Title puffe vp your self in pride but according to your wonted prudence become more humble and bee more valiant and constant in the faith of Christ and in denotion to this holy See by which you haue beene exalted reioycing in the Lord the giuer of all good things leauing this as a perpetuall and immortal monument of your glory to your children shewing them the way vnto the like that if they shall desire to be graced 55 Whilest these things were in working at Rome arose great troubles in Ireland the Kerns casting off all obedience and killing the Kings subiects where they found them against whom Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey Lord Lieutenant of that kingdome made foorth his power and followed them himselfe with such danger of life that the visor of his Helmet was shot off as hee pursued the enemy through the desert woods but these Rebels cut off by his high valour and warres proclaimed at one time against Scotland and France the Lord Lieutenant was recalled into England and Piers Butler Earle of Osorie made Deputie of Ireland in his stead betwixt whom and Girald Fitz-Girald Earle of Kildare whose sister hee had married arose no little strife and debate which grew to that height as King Henry sent Commissioners to trie and examine the differences which was so cleered on Kildares behalfe that Osorie was discharged of his Office and the Lord Fitz-girald sworne deputy in his place whereat Cardinal Wolsey whose hand chiefly steered all states affaires a deadly enemy to the Earle of Kildare was highly offended and to vndermine the foundations of this his new Gouernment gaue eare vnto Osorie who accused the new deputie of many misdemeanors among which these were the principall that he winked at Desmonds escape whom he should haue attached by order from the King that he grew ouer familiar with the natiue Irish