nobility and birth but his forwardnes and readines to conceiue and learne whatsoeuer was taught him ercéeded the common sort of his equals but chiefly hée excelled in exercise of Armes wherein he wholly delighted and ouer went the rest of his familiars and such as were brought vp with him When he came to mans estate he betooke himselfe to marriage and by his wife who liued not long with him who also may séeme not to haue liued with him so contentedly as was to bée required hée had one onely daughter whom he loued most entirely and caused her to be brought vp in vertue and learning wherein shée prospered to the great contentment and ioy of her Father and comfort of her mother who notwithstanding shortly after died and left her sole gouernor of her Fathers house which was great consisting of many people seruingmen and houshold seruants all which shée gouerned and vnder her father ruled with such discréet and modest behauiour as was of all people wondred at in respect of her tender age and youth besides shée was of such excellent and surpassing beauty as allured the eyes of all sorts of people to gaze and wonder at it nature hauing wrought in her mind an example of all womanhood and in her body and countenance a patterne and moddell of all perfection which being knowne at the Court as also throughout the land shée was commanded to attend the Court amongst Ladies of her regard and equall estimation being at Court and daily attendant on the Queene The King himselfe I meane King Iohn still respecting and gazing at her exquisite carriage and the perfection of her bewty fell so farre from himselfe and that which became his person and estate that he bent all his endeâ—ors to sollicite her of loue which shee as fully resolute most constantly denied The repulsed King left not so his vnlawfull sute for all her deniall but practised to procure her father to be a meanes for his vnlawfull and vngodly request a matter so farre from Kingly dignity a thing so dishonorable for him to attempt or vndergoe as that for it he euer after how euer for the time he bare faire weather persecuted and hated the King most deadly and it seemed to him being a man of high courage and resolution so prophane and so hainous a request as was from his very soule to be abhorred and detested nature not brooking the father to become a Pandor to his child but such was the loue or rather lust of this lasciuious King that the poore virgine not other wise able to auoid his importunate cute besough her father that shee might be professed a Nun or votary at Dunmow whereunto her father consented trusting that her absence would alay and asswage his lust and cause him to leaue his vnhallowed sute but it preuailed not but as a Lyon bereft of his pray grew more curaged then before appointing a messenger which he procured and hired of purpose whose arrand was either to perswade her to consent to the Kings request or by poison to take away her life in the end when nothing could perswade her he according to his direction poisoned her I haue read that it was secretly done with a poatched egge the sault being poisoned which was for her sauce Others say with a cup of poison which he enforced her to drinke but howsoeuer great mischiefe befell after this lamentable Tragedy which wel neere had ouerthrowne the Kingdome and Country This was about the yeere of our Lord 1213. Of the Barrons warre and the banishment of this Robert Fitz-walter FOr this occasion and many other grieuances the Barrons together with this Robert arose and made warre against the King driuing him to such extremity that he was forced to deliuer the City to the Barons and the Towre of London to the Archbishop of Canterbury on certaine conditions whereof I haue seene the coppie of a Charter or deed remaining in the Towre of London to this purpose The agreement betweene King Iohn of the one part and Robert Fitz-walter Marshall for the armie of God and the Church of England Richard Earle of Clare Geffrey Earle of Essex and Glocester Roger Bygot Earle of Nâ—rfolke and Suffolke Saâ—r Earle of Winchester Robert Earle of Oxford Henry Earle of Hereford and the Barrons vnderwritten that is to say William Marshall the younger Eustace de vescie William de Mowbray Iohn Fitz-roberts Roger de Mountbegon William de Lannauaile and other Earles and Barrons with those aboue wrâ—tten together with the fréemen of the whole kingdome that they aforesaid shall hold the Citty of London of the Kings deliuerance sauing to the King in the meane time all farmes rents and his cléere debts vntill the ascention of the Uirgin Marie which shall be in the 17. yéere of his raigne and the Lord of Canterbury shall likewise hold of the Kings deliuerance the towre of London vnto the foresaid terme sauing to the City of London their liberties and the customes and to euery man his right in the custody or kéeping of the Towre of London and if so bée that some things named in that Graunt bee performed by the King or that they be not hindred to be by him performed within the said terme that then the said City shall be deliuered to the King within the said terme sauing the liberty and customes of the said Citty and if they be not performed but hindered by the King Then the said Barrons to hold the said Citty and the Lord Archbishop the Towre vntill they be performed And in the meane time all men on either side to receiue the Lands Castles and Townes which they had the beginning of the warre betwéene the King and the Barons c. Hereby appeareth that the people of England had great affiance in the wisdome and valour of this Robert for they chose him for their chiefe commander and Generall of their Hoste by the name of Marshall The King after this agréement found meanes to banish Robert and diuers others of the Barons whereof some fled into Scotland some into France Thither also fled Robert Fitz-walter The king considering what dammage his owne subiects and people might doe vnto him in France prepared an Army and sailed ouer and met the French king where each armie being prepared and articles of peace and truce proposed they agréed vpon a truce for fiue yéeres Whilst both the hosts lay still about this composition There was an English knight which made offer to Iust with any knight of the French host which challenge Robert Fitz-walter obtained to answere on behalfe of the French So he ferryed ouer on horsebarke to the English Host there being a small Riuer betwixt them and in fight of both kings and armies Robert ouer threw and vnhorsed the English challenger or champion whereat king Iohn was wroth and swore by Gods tooth which was his vsuall oath that he were a king indeed that had such a knight Some of Roberrs friends enformed him and said
of March the thirty one yeer of King Edward before Iohn Le-Bloud then Maior William de Leyr Thomas Romain William de Bleton Walter de Finchingfield Henry de Glocester Salamon de Coetellier Iohn de Wengraue Iohn Darments Hugh Pourt Simon de Paris the Sheriffes Aldermen of London and before six men euery ward of London Robert Fitzwalter came and acknowledged seruice and sware vpon the Euangelist to be true to the Citty and that he would vphold and maintain them to his power and that he shall keepe the counsell of the said Cittie of London The King notwithstanding these compositions and agréements with his Barons when all was thought to haue been amended did yet againe vrge his Nobles Barons to rise in Arms against him Insomuch as they sent for Lewis the French Kings sonne promising to deliuer the Crowne and Kingdome vnto him Of those which sent for him I haue read the chiefest were Robert Fitzwalter and Fulke Fitzwarrine which two men hee most had wronged and endamaged the one for his daughters death the other for taking from him his Lordship of Whittington in Shropshire and giuing it away to the Prince of Wales then called Lewis Also Roger Bigot and many others who after King Iohn his death compounded with the French Kings sonne and sent him away out of England as onè that without their aide could not haue what hee desired Of the Bacon at Dunmow Pryory RObert Fitzwalter liued long after this beloued of King Henry the sonne of King Iohn as also of all the Realme He betooke himselfe at his latter time to prayer gaue great and bountifull almes to tht poore kept great hospitallity and reedified the decayed Priory of Dunmow which one Iuga a most deuout and religious woman in her kinde being his Ancestor had builded In which Priory arose a custome began and instituted eyther by him or some of his successors which is verified by a common prouerb or saying videl That hee which repents him not of his marriage in a yeere and a day eyther sleeping or waking may lawiully goe to Dunmowe and fetch a Gammon of Bacon It is most assured that such a custome there was and that this Bacon was deliuerd with such solemnity and triumph as they or the Pryorie and the Townesmen could make I haue enquired of the manner of it and can learne no more but that it continued vntill the dissolution of the house as also all the Abbeyes That the party or Pilgrim for Bacon was to take his oath before the Prior the Couent and the whole town humbly acknowledging in the Church-yard vpon two hard pointed stones which sâ—ones som say are yet to bee seene in the Priory Church-yard His oath was ministred with such long proces and such solemne sâ—nging ouer him as doubtles must make his pilgrimage as I may terme it painfull after he was taken vp vpon mens shoulders and carried First about the Priory Church-yard and after through the towne with all the Fryers and bretheren and all the townes folke young and old following him with shouts and acclamations with his Bacon borne before him and in such manner as I haue heard he was sent home with his Bacon of which I finde some had a gammon and others had a fléeke or flych For proofe whereof I haue from out the Records of the house found the names of thrée seuerall persons that at seuerall times had it Memorandum quod quidam Stevanus Samuell de Aston parua in Com. Essex c. Which beeing in Lattin entred into the booke which belongeth to the Howse I haue thus Englished Be it remembred that one Stephen Samuell of little Asâ—on in the County of Essex husbandman came to the Priory of Dunmow on our Lady day in Lent in the seuenth yeer of King Edward the fourth and required a Gammon of Bacon and was sworne before Roger Rulcot then Pryor and the Couent of this place as also before a multitude of other neighbours And there was deliuered vnto him a Gammon of Bacon Also Be it remembred that one Richard Wright of Badeourgh neere the Cittie of Norwich in the County of Norfolke came and required of the Bacon of Dunmow namely the seuentéenth day of Aprill in the twenty thrée yéere of the raigne of Henry the siixth and according to the forme of the Charter was sworne before Iohn Cannon Pryor of this place and the eduent and many other neighbours And there was deliuered vnto the said Richard one sléech of Bacon Againe Memorandum that in the yeere of our Lord 1510. Thomas Le Fuller of Coggeshall in the County of Essex came to the Pryorie of Dunmowe and required to haue som of the Bacon of Dunmow and on the eighth day of September being Sunday in the second yeere of King Henry the eighth he was according to the forme of the Charter sworne before Iohn Taylor then Pryor of the house and the Couent as also before a multitude of neighbours and there was deliuered to the said Thomas a Gammon of Bacon Heereby appeareth that it was giuen according to a Charter or donation giuen by some conceipted Benefactor to the house and it is not to be doubted but that at such a time the bordering Townes and Uillages would resort and bee partakers of their pastime and laugh to scorne the poore mans paines The order of the Oath YOu shall sweare by custome of confession If euer you made nuptiall transgression Be you eyther married man or wife By house hould brawles or contentious strife Or otherwise in bed or at boord Offend each other in deede or word Or since the parish clarke said Amen You wisht your selues vnmarried agen Or in a tweluemoneths time and a day Repented not in thought any way But continued true and iust in desire As when you ioind hands in the holy quire If to these conditions without all feare Of your owne accord you will freely sweare A whole Gammon of Bacon you shall receiue And beare it hence with loue and good leaue For this is our custome a Dunmow well knowne Though the pleasure be ours the Bacons your own The manner of the murder of Robert Hall in the Abbey of Westminster at the High Alter THe most renowned valient and victorious King Edward the third making claime to the Kingdome and Crowne of France as his proper right and inheritance lawfully descended vnto him by right and title of the Queene his mother made such hot and sharpe wars vpon the then liuing King of France That being seconded by his thrice valient and worthy sonnes especially his eldest surnamed the blacke Prince he draue the French into such a narrow strait and exigent as that they feared the vtter conquest and ouerthrow of their Kingdome and State Neuer was King more fortunate or happy in his children nor neuer did age breede more valient captaines and chiefe commanders then this the châ—efest whereof besides the King and his valient sonnes and the Nobility were Robert Knols
Hugh Cauerley of Cheshire Croker of Oxfordshire Shandoys c. Besides Iohn Hawkewood neuer to be forgotten who after the end of these warres in France tooke with him his companies both horse and foot which were at his commaund And in Italy acted wonders was most highly esteemed and honoured of whose aduentures and worthy deedes the Histories of Italys make large report who at last there died and in Pauia as I remember hath a most worthy monument erected for him of these captaines Hawkewood amongst the Italians was called Io. Acuth These captaines as also many others according to the vse of conquerors had giuen vnto them lands offices and preferments as keeping of Eastles Cities Townes and countries which in the behalfe and right of King Edward they with great and stout resolution held and maintained in despight of all the French or any powre they could make who being wearied and outworne with the terror of these warres their estate still waxing worse and worse solicited the Pope and all the Princes of Christendome to be a meanes vnto King Edward of their peace which was at last graunted and the English forces abated and withdrawne But the chiefest could not so easily be with drawne from such places as with their swords they had conquered nor from those honors and preferments which with expence of their blood were in reward of their valour and seruice giuen vnto them vntill occasion presented a fit meanes of pollicy wherein the French excéed the English as Comineus witnesseth as in field or battaile the English excéed the French It happened at the same very time that Peter the lawfull King of Castile or Spaine was expulsed his kingdome by his bastard brother Henry and in the yéere 1380. came to Burdeaux to the blacke Prince crauing aid and succor against his vsurping brother This matter was furthered by the French who were most desirous of his absence well knowing that the English Captaines and souldiers would follow him as the Flowre of Chiualry and the honor and glory of his time The Prince accepted of Peters request and forthwith obtained licence of his Father to transport or rather lead his Army into Spaine where in a maine battaile fought at Nazers Henry the Fastard was defeated ouercome his Army dispersed and 6000 slaine and 200. taken prisoners amongst which the Earle of Deue and Bertrand Clakyn were most remarkeable and men of speciall note By this means King Peter was restored whose daughter and heire Iohn of Gaunt third son of King Edward and brother to the blacke Prince married and in her right intituled and called himselfe King of Castile Leon and Aragon which now is callâ—â— Spaine of which matter the Chronicles make large report and therefore néedlesse to be repeated and new written but to our purpose Amongst these prisonors the Earle of Dene being as I said the most remarkeable and of chiefest note albeit he was challenged by sundry men whereof some were of the Nobility yet this iust and wise Prince who neuer vsed to suffer vertue and valour vnrewarded nor would not for either fauour or feare doe a meane and priuate souldier any wrong adiudged the said Earle to be the lawfull prisoner of two valiant Esquires Souldiers and men of worth and reputation named Robert Hall and Iohn Shakerley and thereof they obtained his Charter against all others that pretended claime or interest in him The Earle not willing to go with them into England made request to be ransomed which was grauÌ„ced vnto him and the sum agréed vpon which he affirmed hee was not able presently to pay For that those warres had so impouerished both himself and his countrey and people that all their mony goods were wasted and consumed notwithstanding hée would giue vnto them his eldest sonne and heire as a pledge and hostage of the performance of such paiment as hée promised and they were contented to accept of So remained he still in Spaine and the youth who as I can gather was not then aboue 8. or nine yéeres of age came with these two Esquires into England and in short space he learned the ready pronouncing of the English tongue or language and likewise prospered in all vertue and good quallities that he was so well beloued of his said Gaurdians or masters as if he had béene their owne child Hée on the other part behaued himselfe houestly louingly and most kindly towards them with such faith and fidelity in their manifold trobles which for his cause they sustained as was most admirable and hereafter shall be declared His vnkind Father neither regard ng his promis his oath nor his bonds nor hauing any care or father-like affection to his ingaged sonne neuer sent the ran some nor any part thereof but most vnnaturally left him in their hands at the will of his two masters where I will leaue him and returne to King Edward The black Prince the comfort of his Father and ioy of England shortly after this departed this life The good King his Father not able to sustaine the burthen of so great sorrow liued not long after but left the son of Prince Edward his Nephew to succeed him in his Kingdomes and Crownes by the name of King Richard the second In which space King Peter of Spaine was also slaine by his brother and the bastard Henry again repossessed the Crown and dignity Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Earle of Darby c. after the death of King Peter called himselfe in right of Beatrix his wife King of Castile Leon Aragon and obtained licence of the King to transport an Army at his owne proper charge into Spain for the recouery of his Kingdome And for that purpose made great and long prouision And knowing well that the Earle of Dâ—ane was in the hands of Hall and Shakerley solicited them to haue him but they vtterly refused to part with him without ready payment of the money for his ransome whereupon he be sought the King to deale with them on his behalf The king pretending yâ— his purpose was to make a marriage betweene the said Earle and his sister a gallant Lady and rich widow late wife to Peter Cortney But this deuise nor nothing else prouailed to obtaine the Dukes purpose so that they were both coÌ„mitted to the Tower of London from whence I know not by what meanes they escaped and after for their further safety they betooke themselues to the Sanctuary at Westminster enrolled themselues and their goods in the protection and priuiledge of that place which was at that time so strong and so reuerend as it was not thought that any man how cruell or tirannous so euer durst once infringe violate or breake it The Duke hauing staid so long in making prouision for his iorney that diuers of his chiefest Followers grew weary of their charges and expences and knowing that the matter of this Earle bred his discontent and was a speciall let and hinderance to his further proceedings determined