committing rapin and sacrelidge to supply their necessities feed their followers And in the end the young King hauing much strugled in vaine through griefe and vexation of spirit which caused the distemprature of body fell into a burning His death feuer with a fluxe whereof within few dayes he died A Prince of excellent parts who was first cast away by his Fathers indulgence and after by his rigor not suffering him to be what himselfe had made him neither got he so much by his Coronation as to haue a name in the Catalogue of the Kings of England The sorrow of the Father although it be sayd to be great hindred not his reuenge vpon the Barons of Aquitaine whom he now most eagerly persecuted seazed on their Castles and rased to the ground that of Limoges Geffrey vpon his submission is receiued into grace and the yeare after died at Paris Earle Geffreys submission and death hauing in a conflict bene troden vnder horses feete and miserably crushed so that halfe the male issue wherein this King was vnfortunate he saw extinct before him and that by deaths as violent as were their disposition The other two who suruiued him were no lesse miserable in their ends Now the young King of France Phillip the second in whose fate it was to do more then euer his father could effect vpon the death of Henry the sonne requires the deliuery of the Countrey of Vexin which was giuen in dowre with his Sister Margaret but the King of England not apt to let go any thing of what he had in possession was 1184. Anno. Reg. 30. content to pay yearely to the Queene dowager 17050. pounds Aniouin And the more to hold faire with this young King whose spirit he saw grew great and actiue and with whom he was like to haue much to do did homage vnto him for all he held in Fraunce which he neuer did to the Father being the first discent of Maiestie he euer Henry the second doth homage to Phillip King of France made to any secular power And beside tooke his part against Phillip Earle of Flanders who opposed against him and was in those dayes a Prince of mighty power and had euer stood fast vnto King Lewes the father But now Phillip the sonne otherwise led or affectioned quarrels with him and demaunds the Countrey of Vermendois as appertaining to the Crowne of Fraunce and withall vpon allegation of consanguinity repudiates his wife Neece to this Earle of Flanders giuen vnto him by his Fathers choyce a little before his death The Earle followed by Odo Earle of Borgogne the Earles of Champague Hainalt Namur Saint Pol and others warres vpon the King of The Earle of Flanders compels the King of France to compound France and commits great spoyles within his territories so that hee was faine in the end to compound with him to his disaduantage After this the Kings of England and France meete betweene Gisors and Tri where the King of England sweares to deliuer Alise vnto Richard his sonne And the King of France her brother graunts her in dower the Countrey of Velxin which Margueret his other Sister had before But these tyes held them not long together for the yong King of France so wrought with Richard as hee drew him from his Fathers obedience and they liued together in 1185. Anno. Reg. 31. that amitie as on bed and boord is sayd to haue serued them both which so iniealosed the olde King as he called home his sonne and before his Bishops and Nobility caused him to sweare vpon the Euangelists to obserue fealty vnto him against all persons whatsoeuer which hauing done and ready to passe ouer into England hee is informed of the great preparation made by the King of France who gaue out that hee would spoyle and ransacke both Normandie and the rest of the Kings of Englands territories in France vnlesse he would presently deliuer vp his Sister Alice vnto Richard or render Gisors and the Countrey of Velxin into his hands Whereupon the King returnes backe and comes againe to a parle betweene Gisors and Try Where the Archbishop of Tyre sent from the East to call vp ayde for the Holy warre did with that powre of perswation so vrge his message as it let out all the humour of priuate rancor and contention The Kings of England and France accorded and prepare for the holy war betweene these two great Kings altred their whole Councells their pretentions their designes turned them wholly to vndertake in person this laborious action and resolue to leaue their Kingdomes their pleasures and all the things of glorie they had at home to prosecute the same through all the distempratures of climes and difficulties of passages whereunto that voyage was obnoxious so that now no other thing was thought or talked on but onely preparations and furnishments for this businesse And to distinguish their people and followers who all stroue which should bee most forward it was ordred that they who followed the King of England should weare a white Crosse France a red and Flaunders a greene And for a further ingagement in the businesse the King of England writes to the Patriarch of Antioch a most comfortable and pious letter in the end whereof he hath these words Amongst other Princes I and my Sonne reiecting the glory of this world and dispising all the pleasures thereof in proper person with all our strength will God willing visit you shortly Then to rayse money to defray this great enterprise it was ordained by the two Kings their Archbishops Bishops Earles and others in France that all whosoeuer as well Clerke as Lay sauing such as went the voyage should pay the tenth of all their reuenues of that yeare and the tenth of all their Moueables and Chattles as well in gold as filuer And many excellent orders were made for restraynt of licentiousnesse both in apparell and manners as was fitting for the vndertakers of so ciuile and deuout an action The King of England hauing layde this imposition vpon all his Dominions in France comes ouer calls a Councell of his Bishops Abbors Earles Barons both 1186. Anno. Reg. 33. of the Clergie and Layty at Gayntington and by their consents imposes the same taxation vpon his Subiects of England Sub Eleemosinae titulo vitium rapacitatis includens sayth Walsingham and presently sends foorth his Officers into euery Shire to collect the same according as it was done in France But of euery Citie in England he caused a choice to be made of the richest men as in London of two hundred in Yorke a hundred and so according to the proportion of the rest and caused all these at a certaine time and place to appeare before him of whom he tooke the tenth of all their Moueables by the estimation of credible men which knew their Estates such as refused hee imprisoned till they had payde it of which example and exaction we must
an euent For hauing taken vp by the way three Gallies to conduct him to Ragusa for three hundred Markes of Siluer disguised vnder the names of Pilgtimes hee was by his lauish expences discouered to bee the His discouery King of England which note once taken it was impossible for him to lay anie couering thereon that could euer hide him more though vpon warning thereof he presently left all his company and with one man onely takes horse and through all the daungers of a wilde desart and rocky Country trauayling day and night passes into Austrich where Fame that was a speedier post then himselfe was before him And comming to a Village nere to Viena and reposing himselfe in a poore hosterie was taken a sleepe by meanes of his companion going forth to prouide necessaries for him King Richard taken prisoner who as hee was changing money was knowne taken and brought before the Duke of Austrich and vpon examination confessed where his maister was of which prise the Duke was most ioyfull in respect of his reuenge for the disgrace hee did him at the entring of Acon and presently sends him to the Emperour Henry the sixt whom likewise he had offended for ayding Tancredi the base sonne of Roger in the vsurpation of the Crowne of Sicilia against Constantia the lawfull daughter of the same Roger whom this Emperour had married Newes hereof is presently sent by the Emperour to the King of France that he might likewise reioyce at this fortune and hee tells him That now the Enemy of his Empire and the disturber of the Kingdome of France was fast in holde and all the manner how The State of England is likewise soone certified of this heauie disaster and great meanes is made to redeeme their King out of captiuitie who is sayd to haue borne his fortune with that magnanimitie and so cleered himselfe of the scandalls layd on him for the death of Conrade the Emperours kinsman other his actions in the East in such sort as he won the affection of the Emperor so that he professed a great desire to restore him and reconcile him to the King of France But yet wee finde That King Richard deposed King Richard deposed himselfe of the kingdome of England himselfe of the Kingdome of England and deliuered the same to the Emperour as his supreame Lord and inuested him therein by the deliuering vp his hat whch the Emperour returned vnto him in the presence of the Nobility of Germany and England to hold this Kingdom from him for 50 thousand pounds sterling to be payed as an annuall tribute And yet notwithstanding all this the King of France combining with the Earle Iohn preuailed so much with the Emperour as hee held him his prisoner a whole yeare and sixe weekes through their offer of mighty summes they made vnto him For he and the Earle Iohn fully accounted that he should haue beene held a perpetuall prisoner and vpon that reckning the Earle Iohn did his homage to the King of France for the Dutchy Earle Iohn doth homage to the King of France for Normandy of Normandy and all the rest of those transmarine territories and for England as it is sayd and besides resignes vnto him Gisors with the Country of Vexin sweares to marry his sister Alice and to bee diuorsed from his other Wise the Daughter of the Earle of Glocester The King of France couenants to giue him with his sister that part of Flanders which hee had taken from that Eareldome and sweares to ayde him in the attayning both of England and whatsoeuer else the Lands of his brother Then goes the Earle Iohn ouer into England carrying many strangers with him and presently the Castles of Wallingford and Windsor are rendred vnto him then comes hee to London and requires of the Archbishop of Rouen and other the Commissioners the Kingdome of England and that fealty bee made vnto him affirming his brother was dead but they not giuing credit vnto him and denying his desire with rage and strong hand hee fortifies his Castles and in hostile manner inuades the Lands of his brother finding many partakers to ioyne with him The Queene mother the Iustices of England and all the faithfull seruants of the King guard and defend the ports against the inuasion of the French and Flemings who in great numbers seeke to ayde the Earle Iohn and also they labour the redemption of the King whose ransome the Emperour rates at 100 thousand Marks with the finding of fiftie Gallies ready furnished and two hundred souldiers to attend his seruice in the holy warres for one yeare In Normandie the Officers and Seruants of the King of England defend with no lesse faith and courage the right of their Maister against the King of France who withall his powre labours to subdue them and by his large offers to the Emperour prolongs his redemption and inhaunces his ransome This toyle and charge is the world put into through the misfortune and weakenesse of their hardy King who onely in respect of his valour being otherwise not worth so much and the Holy worke hee vndertooke whereby hee obliged the Clergie which then managed all got the opinion and loue of his subiects in such sort as they straine euen beyond their ability to recouer and preserue him and so wrought in the end that the Emperour compounds with King Richard in this manner that hee should send his Commissioners to London and receaue an hundred thousand Markes of pure siluer of Cologne The Emperors composition with King Richard waight to be sealed vp and safely conducted to the bounds of the Empire at the perile of the King of England and other fifty thousand Markes of siluer whereof twenty thousand for the Duke of Austrich and thirty thousand for the Emperour to be payd at seauen monethes after and pledges to be giuen three score to the Emperor and seauen to the Duke Besides the King of England sweares to send his Neece the sister of Arthur Earle of Brittaine to be married to the Duke of Austrich c. And the Emperour granted to the King of England by his Charter the Soueraignty of the Prouince Vienne and Viennoys Merseilles Narbona Arls Lyons and whatsoeuer hee had in Burgogne with the Homages of the King of Arragon the Earles of Dijon and Saint Giles In which countries were fiue Archbishop-ricks thirty three Bishopricks but the Emperour could neuer haue domination ouer them nor they receaue any Lord that hee presented them So that this great gift consisted but in title which yet pleased King Richard that hee might not seeme to part with all his substance for nothing And the same wind he sends to Hubert the new Archbishop of Canterbury lately made his Vicegerent in England to be blowne ouet all the Kingdome by a letter he wrote vnto him wherein he hath these words For that sure I am you much desire our deliuerance and greatly reioyce therein we will that you be
without their assistance as by Right and Custome they ought allegation examples of three Archbishops so elected The Monkes oppose this allegation offering to bring proofe that they onely by the speciall priuiledge of the Roman Bishops were accustomed to make this Election The Pope appoints a peremptorie day for deciding this Controuersie wherein the first Election for being made in the night out of due time and without solemne ceremony is oppugned by the Kings procurators the last was argued by some of the Monkes to be ill by reason there was no cassation of the first which iust or vniust ought to haue beene before any other Election could iuridically be made The Pope seeing the procurators not to agree vpon one person by the Councell of Innotent the ninth the Cardinalls adiudged both Elections voyde and presents vnto them a third man which was Stephan de Lancton a Cardinall of great spirit and an Englishman borne who had all the voyces of those Monkes which were there through the perswasion of the Pope alledging it was in their powre by his prerogatiue to make good this choyce Stephan Lancton thus elected and after consecrated at Viterbo the Pope dismisses Stephan Lancton elected Archbishop of Canterbury the Monkes and the rest of the Agents with letters to King Iohn exhorting him benignly to receiue this Archbishop Canonically elected natiue of his Kingdome learned in all the Sciences a Doctor in Theologie and which exceeded his learning of a good life and conuersation a man fit both for his bodie and his soule c. withall he writes to the Prior and Monkes of Canterbury charging them by the vertue of Holy obedience to receiue the Archbishop to their Pastor and humbly to obay him in all Spirituall and Temporall matters These letters with the notice of what was done at Rome so inraged the King as with all precipitation he sends Foulke de Cantlo and Henry de Cornhill two fierce knights with armed men to expell the Monkes of Canterbury as Traytors out of the Kingdome and to seize vpon all they had which presently was as violently executed as commanded and away packe the Prior and all the Monkes into Flanders except such as were sicke and not able to goe and all their goods confiscated Here withall he writes a sharpe letter to the Pope accusing him of the wrong hee did in King Iohn offended with this Election writes to the Pope cassing the election of Norwich whom he especiall fauoured and aduancing Stephan Lanction a man vnknowne vnto him bred euer in the Kingdome of France among his enemies and what was more to his preiudice and subuersion of the liberties appertayning to his Crowne without his consent giuen to the Monkes which should first haue beene required hee had presumed rashly to prefer him so that he much meruailed that the Pope and the vniuersall court of Rome would not call to minde how necessary his friendship had hitherto beene to that sea and consider that the Kingdome of England yeelded the same greater profit and commoditie then all the Kingdomes else on this side the Alpes Besides that he wouldstand to the liberties of his Crowne to the death constantly affirming that he could not be reuoked from the Election and preferment of the Bishop of Norwich whom he knew euery way fit for the place And in conclusion threatens that if he be not righted in the Premises hee would stop vp the passages of his people to Rome and that if necessity required he had in the Kingdome of England and other his Dominions Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of so sufficient learning as they needed not goe to begge iustice and iudgement of strangers The Pope returnes answere to the Kings letter and begins with these words when about the business of the Church of Canterbury we wrote vnto you exhorting and requesting you humbly earnestly and benignly you againe wrote backe to vs as I may say by your leaue in a fashion threatning reprouing contumacious aud stubbornely and whilstwee tooke care to giue you aboue your right you regarde not to giue vs according to our right respecting vs lesse then becomes you And if your deuotion bee most necessary for vs so is ours no lesse fit for you When wee in such a case haue honoured no Prince so much as you you sticke not to derogate from our honour more then any Prince in such a case would haue done pretending certaine friuolous occasions wherein you alledge that you cannot consent to the Election of our beloued sonne Maister Stephan Praesbiter by the title of Saint Chrysogonus Cardinall celebrated by the Monkes of Canterbury for that hee hath beene bred among your Enemies and his person is altogether vnknowne vnto you Then argues hee that it was not to bee imputed vnto him for a fault but was his glory to haue liued long at Paris where hee so profited in study as hee deserued to bee Doctor not onely in the liberall Sciences but also in Theologie and his life agreeable to his learning was thought fit to obtaine a Prebend in Paris Wherefore hee held it a maruaile if a man of so great note natiue of England could be vnknowne vnto him at least in fame since saith hee you wrote thrice vnto him after hee was by vs preferred to bee Cardinall that though you had a desire to call him to your familiar attendance yet you reioyced that hee was exalted to a higher Office c. Then excuses hee the point that the Kings consent was not required in regard that they who should haue required the same affirmed how their letters neuer came to his hands c. Although saith hee in elections celebrated at the Apostolique Sea the consent of Princes is not to bee expected Yet were two Monkes deputed to come to require your consent who were stayed at Douer so that they could not performe their message inioyned them with other allegations to this effect so that at length saith hee wee were disposed to doe what the Canonicall Sanctions ordayned to bee done without declyning either to the right hand or the left that there might bee no delay or difficultie in right intentions least the Lords flocke should bee long without pastorall cure and therefore reuoked it cannot bee In conclusion hee vseth these words As wee haue had care of your Honour beyond right endeauour to giue vs ours according vnto right that you may more plentifully deserue Gods grace and ours least if you doe otherwise you cast your selfe into those difficulties whence you cannot easily get out Since hee in the ende must ouercome to whom all knees bow in Heauen Earth and Hell whose Vicegerencie heere below though vnworthie Wee exercise Yeelde not therefore to their Councells who desire your disturbance that themselues might fish in troubled Waters but commit your selfe to our pleasure which will redound to your praise Glorie and Honour Neither is it safe for you to repugne against God and the Church for which the
of Guien who being no sooner remoued from thence but Henry of Lancaster Earle of Derby became master of the field hauing an Army consisting of twelue hundred men at armes two thousand Archers and three thousand other foot English and Gascoines takes in most of the Townes of Yaintonge and Poictou in the end besieged and sacked Poytiers and so returnes to Burdeaux with more pillage then his people could well beare Thus the French suffer euery where Their King not being able to approach to grapple with the king of England sends to solicite him to appoint some place of battaile and hee would incounter him King Edward returnes answere If hee would make his owne way to come thither vnto him there hee should finde him for from thence hee would not part hauing there layne so long to his great labour and charge and being now so neere the point of gaining the place The two Cardinals sent from the Pope labour to mediate a peace and Commissioners on either side meete to treate but nothing could bee effected So that the French King was forced to breake vp his Armie and retire to Paris leauing Callais and the defendants vnrelieued to the mercy of the Besieger which when they vnderstood they sent to desire Parle had it granted and therein receiued this finall sentence that sixe of the chiefe Burgesses should be sent to the King bare-headed bare-footed in their shirts with halters about their necks the keyes of the Towne and Castle in their hands and submit themselues to the Kings will for the residue hee was content to take to mercy This sentence intimated to the miserable townsmen Conditions for the rendering of Callis they all in lamentable manner looking each on other who should bee chosen for this sacrifice one amongst the rest stands vp and boldly spake to this effect Fellow citizens for mine owne part I that haue so often exposed my life in this long fiege for my Countrie and haue beene euery day to die am now most willing to sacrifice the same for my last oblation thereunto and will cherefully carry my head to the victory of the King of England not desiring to suruiue the perdition of my miserable Countrie Which free and resolute speech so wrought with this amazed people as now they striue who should bee one of the six and cryed Let vs goe let vs goe vnto death it is the last daty wee ought to render to our natiue soyle Six are presently chosen and sent according to the sentence presenting themselues on their knees to the King and beseeching him to shew mercy vnto them The King commands them instantly to be carryed to their execution and would not although great supplication was made for them by his Counsel be diuerted in regard as he said of his oath till the Queene great with Childe fell The Queene obtaines pardon for the Burgesses of Calais on her knees before him and with teares obtained their pardon and had them giuen vnto her which done she caused them to be clothed gaue them their dinner and sixe nobles a man appointing them to be safely conuayed out of the Armie and set at libertie An Act worthy of so great a Queene and the greater by this her deed of mercie The King though in this he were sterne yet was he more sparing of blood than his Grand-father Edward 1. and had more of Compassion as shewed an Act in this Seige When victuals within the Towne began to faile and all vnusefull persons as King Edwards Clemencie olde men women and children put out of the gates hee forced them not backe againe which hee might haue done the sonner to consume their store but suffered them to passe thorow his Armie gaue them to eate and two pence a peece to euery one And thus was that strong Towne of Callais the thirde of August 1347. gotten The Conquest of the Towne of Calais after almost an yeeres siege with infinite cost and labour all the inhabitants are turned out and sent away to seeke newe dwellings a Colonie of the English planted therein and so it remained in the possession of the Crowne of England 210. yeeres after And now this tryumphant King hauing made truce for some few moneths and taken order for the safe-keeping of his hard gotten prize returnes with his Queene the Prince and his people into England to make Holy-day and inioy the benefite King Edward returnes into England of their booties brought home out of France which are said to be so great as euery house had some part and the wiues of England now flourish with the stuffe and ornaments of those of France who in the meane time lament their losses and heere is nothing but Feasts and Tryumphes throughout the Kingdome And to adde to this glorie the Princes Electors send to signifie that they had chosen King Edward King Edward refuseth the Election of King of the Romans King of the Romans which great dignitie notwithstanding he refused being it seemed out of his way or cumbersome to deale withall But before that yeare ended this great iollitie heere in England turned to the saddest mourning that could be possible The invisible Sword of Heauen makes such a The first great Pestilence rauage vpon Mankinde as had not been knowne before A contagious Pestilence ariseth in the East and South parts of the Worlde that dispreads it selfe ouer all Christendom And in England they write that it tooke away more then the halfe of men as if the Diuine prouidence seeing them thus violently bent to destroy and massacre one another would lessen their numbers for their fieldes and take to it selfe the vengeance of blood-shed in his terrible maner Churchyards could not heere suffice to burie the dead new grounds are purchased for that purpose It is noted there dyed in London betweene the first of Ianuary and the first of Iuly 57374. persons Other Cities and Townes suffered the like according to their portions All which calamitie notwithstanding could not deterre those egar Princes frō prosecuting their quarel nor yet so vnfurnish their fieldes but that they found still fresh hands for blood-shed as shewed their many conflicts shortly after But yet it gaue some pawse till the feruour of the contagion asswaged which was also attended with a miserable famine murraine of Cattle and sterrilitie of the earth caused through the indisposition of the Heauens and want of culture The first Action after this was the Kings going ouer to Caluis vpon an information Anno Reg. 23. of a practise to surprise the Towne contriued by the French which was thus Monsieur de Charmy Gouernour of Saint Omers had dealt with Americo de Pauia whom King Edward had left Captaine of the Castle of Callais offring him 20. thousand King Edward goes ouer to Calais Crownes to be receiued into the Castle Americo accepts the offer and appoints a night for the businesse In which night by aduertisement from Americo King
A Speciall Priuiledge Licence and Authority is granted by the Kings Maiesties Letters Patents vnto the Author Samuel Daniel one of the Groomes of the Queenes Maiesties most Honourable priuy Chamber for him his Executors Administrators Assignes or Deputies to Print or cause to be Imprinted and to sell assigne and dispose to his or their benefit This Booke intituled The Collection of the History of England with an Appendix to the same hereafter to bee printed Straightly forbidding any other to imprint or cause to be imprinted to import vtter or sell or cause to be imported vttered or solde the sayd Booke or Bookes or any part thereof within any of his Maiesties Dominions vpon paine of his Maiesties high displeasure and to forfeit Fiue pounds lawfull English Monie for euery such Booke or Bookes or any part thereof printed imported vttered or solde contrary to the meaning of this Priuiledge besides the forfeiture of the sayd Booke Books c. as more at large appeareth by his Maiesties sayd Letters Patents dated at Westminster the 11. of March in the Fifteenth yeare of his Raigne of England and of Scotland the one and Fiftith THE COLLECTION of the Historie of England By S. D. LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes dwelling in Foster-lane for the Author Cum Priuilegio TO THE MAIESTY OF ANNE OF DENMARKE QVEENE OF ENGLAND Scotland France and Ireland QVeenes the Mothers of our Kings by whom is continued the blessing of succession that preserues the Kingdome hauing their parts running in the times wherein they liue are likewise interressed in the Histories thereof which containe their memories and all that is left of them when they haue left to be in this world And therefore to you great Queene of England and the greater by your loue to the nation and the blessing you haue brought forth for the continuation of the future good thereof doe I your humblest seruant addresse this peece of our History which as it is a worke of mine appertaines of right to your Maiestie being for the most parte done vnder your Roofe during my attendance vpon your sacred person and if euer it shall come to bee an intire worke and merit any acceptation in the world it must remaine among the memorials of you and your time as brought forth vnder the splendor of your goodnes Howsoeuer this which is done shall yet shew how desirous I haue beene to lay out my time and industry as farre as my ability would extend to doe your Maiestie and my Country seruice in this kinde And though at high Altares none but high Priests ought to sacrifize yet vouchsafe mighty Queene to accept this poore oblation from the hand of your Maiesties Humblest seruant Samuel Danyel Certaine Aduertisements to the Reader THis Peece of our History which here I diuulge not but impart priuately to such Worthy persons as haue fauoured my indeauors therein should long since haue beene much more and come abroade with Dedication Preface and all the Complements of a Booke had my Health and Meanes beene answerable to my desire But being otherwise I must intreate my Friends to be content to be payd by peeces as I may and accept my willingnesse to yeeld as much as mine ability can performe It is more then the worke of one man were hee of neuer so strong forces to Compose a passable contexture of the whole History of England For although the inquisition of Ancient times written by others be prepared yet the Collection and Disposition I finde most Laborious and I know quam sit magnum dare aliquid in manus hominum especially in this kinde wherein more is expected then hath beene deliuered before Curiosity will not be content with Ordinaries For mine owne part I am so greedy of doing well as nothing suffices the appetite of my care herein I had rather be Master of a small peece handsomely contriued then of vaste roomes ill proportioned and vnfurnished and I know many others are of my minde Now for what I haue done which is the greatest part of our History and wherein I dare auow is more together of the mayne then hath beene yet contracted into one peece I am to render an account whence I had my furniture which if I haue omitted to charge my Margin withall I would haue the Reader to know that in the Liues of William the First William the Second Henry the First and Stephan I haue especially followed William Malmsbury Ingulphus Roger Houueden Huntingdon with all such Collections as haue beene made out of others for those times In the Liues of Henry the Second Richard the First Iohn and Henry the Third Giraldus Cambrensis Rushanger Mat. Paris Mat. Westminst Nich. Triuet Caxton and others In the Liues of Edward the First Edward the Second and Third Froissart and Walsingham with such collections as by Pollidore Virgile Fabian Grafton Hall Holingshead Stow and Speed dilligent and famous Trauailors in the search of our History haue beene made and diuulged to the world For forrayne businesses especially with France where we had most to doe I haue for Authors Paulus AEmilius Haillan Tillet and others without whom we cannot truely vnderstand our owne affaires And where otherwise I haue had any supplyes extraordinary either out of Record or such Instruments of State as I could procure I haue giuen a true account of them in the Margin So that the Reader shall be sure to be payd with no counterfeit Coyne but such as shall haue the Stampe of Antiquitie the approbation of Testimony and the allowance of Authority so farre as I shall proceed herein And for that I would haue this Breuiarie to passe with an vn-interrupted deliuery of the especiall affaires of the Kingdome without imbroyling the memory of the Reader I haue in a body apart vnder the title of an Appendix Collected all Treaties Letters Articles Charters Ordinances Intertainments prouisions of Armies businesses of Commerce withother passages of State appertayning to our History which assoone as I haue meanes to Print shall for the better satisfying of such Worthie persons as may make vse of such Materials accompany this Collection and to this Appendix I haue made references in the Margin as occasion requires For the Worke it selfe I can chalenge nothing therein but only the sowing it together and the obseruation of those necessary circumstances and inferences which the History naturally ministers desirous to deliuer things done in as euen and quiet an order as such a heape will permit without quarrelling with the Beliefe of Antiquity deprauing the actions of other Nations to aduance our owne or keeping backe those Reasons of State they had for what they did in those times holding it fittest and best agreeing with integritie the chiefest duty of a Writer to leaue things to their owne Fame and the Censure thereof to the Reader as being his part rather then mine who am onely to recite things done not to rule them Now for the errors herein committed either by mine owne mistakings or
it halfe Denmarke and liue Knute BVT by this meanes Knute attained the absolute dominion of the whole An. 1018. Kingdome which hee gouerned with better Iustice then he got it conforming Knute the first Daâ—ique King his natiue roughnesse to a more ciuill and regular fashion of life And to haue England see that now he was hers he sends away his Nauie and stipendary souldiers home to their countries and puts himselfe wholy vpon this people taking the way of mildnesse a better meanes for his establishment then force but the Land paid for the remuneration of 83000. pounds paide to King Knute fot euacuation of Strangers his people this euacuation of Strangers 83000 pounds of sisuer which it rather consented to doe at once then to haue them a daily burthen to pester the State for euer At his first comming to the Crowne he sought to rid himselfe as well of his friends as of those might prooue his enemies Edric who came first to salute him sole King of England as if to tell that he made him so hee caused his head to be set on the highest part of the Towre of London therein performing his promise of aduancing him aboue any Lord of the Land and thereby discharged himselfe of such a debt which though he should haue paide would neuer yet bee held fully cleered giuing a generall satisfaction therby to the people that reioyced to see Treason so iustly rewarded Like compensation had shortly after the Earles Turkil Erick who being banished the Land were executed vpon their arriuall in Denmarke But the loue and high opinion of Iustice he got in these were lost againe in those actions wherein he tooke counsell onely of his feares for the extirpation of all those of the Royall bloud of England As of Edwin and Edward the sonnes of the late King Edmond to whom appertained the moietie of the Kingdome by contract and of Edwin his brother which three he sent to be murthered abroad to beguile the rumor at home But which is strange those times though rough affoorded not yet an instrument for the execution of his desire and all these Princes were preserued and conueyed out of danger by those who should haue made them away The two last were bred by Salomon King of Hungarie where Edward suruiuing his brother married Agatha sister to that Queene and daughter Edward married to Agatha the Queene of Hungaries sister to the Emperour Henry the second by whom hee had two sonnes Emond and Edgar daughters Margaret and Christina Aelfred and Edward sonnes of King Ethelred by Emme were preserued by Richard Duke of Normandie their Vnkle and so lay out of his way This priuate iniustice which often may be more in compassion then hurt to the State hee sought to recompence with all publique satisfactions repairing the naufrage of the common-wealth made by the rage of warre both in ornament and order erecting Churches and Monasteries with large patents of prouisions both for the expiation of his immanities fore-committed and to memorize the places of his victories with his thankefulnesse to God The Constitutions Ecclesiasticall and Ciuile diuulged in the language of that time testifie his tender piety and care of Iustice and are so full of religious admonitions His erection of Churches and of Church gouernment as it seemes he held the best meanes to haue lawes obserued was by hauing them first enacted in the consciences of men Amongst others hee inflicted exact punishment on all intempetances of his people and offences committed against publique manners Seuere he was but not cruell few of his lawes sanguinarie as being not the custome of the time which though rough yet found meanes to maintaine publique order without that luctuall remedie of bloud No punishments capitall vnlesse conspiracies the rest were all pecuniarie mulcts banishments bondage or imprisonment To shew his clemeucy this amongst many is one example there was a law that Whosoeuer had committed theft and the goods found in his house all his family were made bond euen to the child in the cradle This he abrogates as most vniust and ordaines That onely the malefactor and such as should aide him should endure the punishment and that the wife vnlesse the things stolne were found vnder her locke should not be guilty ef her husbands offence Thus was hee to his people with whom hee is sayd to haue so well cleered himselfe howsoeuer he did with God that he became King of their affections as well as of their Countrie And to maintaine this opinion hee did many popular acts as first all Rites of Honor and reuerence to the memorie of the late King Edmond his confederate besides the executing all such as could bee found to haue had any hand in that murther Then married he here at home Emme late wife to King Ethelred though it were more for his honour then hers to accept his bed that had beene the persecutor of her husband and children whereby hee held the Duke of Normandie from attempting any thing for his Nephewes in regard his sister might haue other by him Hauing thus established this mightie Kingdome occasion prepares him another The people of Norway contemning the debilitie of their King and conspiring to depose him grew into faction whereupon hee fastens and with the great forces hee brought out of England the might of money and high estimation of his worthinesse so preuailed as hee soone obteyned that Kingdome and was now the most renowned and potent Prince in all these parts of the world intitled King of England Denmarke Knute King of England Denmarke and Norway and Norway Herewithall grew his magnificence as wide as his power and was especially extended to the Church which hee laboured most to gratifie either for the conscience of his deedes or that his people generally addicted to deuotion might be made the more his And holding it not enough to powre out his immense bounty heere within the land seekes to make Rome also feele the fulnesse thereof whither he went in person and performed many workes of charitie and honour both there and in all his voyage Hee freed the Saxon schoole his predecessors of England had founded from all imposition as he did likewise all Streights and passages where trauailers were with rigor constrained to pay toll Of his entertainment at Rome with the Pope Conrade the Emperour and diuerse other Princes of the Christian world himselfe writes to the Bishops and Nobility of England and withall exhorts them very powerfully To haue an especiall regard to the due administration of Iustice to all his subiects alike without doing the least wrong for The effect of King Kautes Letter his gaine hauing no neede as hee sayd to aduance his reuenue by sinne And also charges them to see all Church-scot Rome-scot fully cleered before his returne The actiue vertue of this Prince being the mightiest and most absolute Monarch that euer yet appeared in this Kingdome the author
did the Dutchie of Normandie and doe him homage for the same which would adde a great glory to that Crowne Then was hee before hand with Pope Alexander to make religion giue reputation and auowment to his pretended right promising likewise to hold it of the Apostolique Sea if hee preuailed in his enterprize Whereupon the Pope sent him a Banner of the Church with an Agnus of Gold and one of the haires of Saint Peter The Emperour Henry 4. sent him a Prince of Almaine with forces but of what name or his number is not remembred so that wee see it was not Normandie alone that subdued England but a collected power out of all France and Flanders with the aydes of other Princes And by these meanes made hee good his vndertaking and within eight monethes was readie furnished with a powerfull Army at Saint Valerie in Normandie whence he transported the same into England in 896 shippes as some write And this was the man and thus made to subdue England And now hauing gotten the great and difficult battaile before remembred at 1066. Anno. Reg. 1. Hastings the foureteenth of October 1066. bee marched without any opposition to London where Edwin and Morchar Earles of Northumberland and Mercland brothers of eminent dignitie and respect in the Kingdome had laboured with all their power to stirre the hearts of the people for the conseruation of the State and establishing Edgar Atheling the next of the Royall issue in his right of the Crowne whereunto other of the Nobilitie had likewise consented had they not seene the Bishops auerse or wauering For as then to the Clergie any King so a Christian was all one they had their Prouince a part deuided from secular domination and of a Prince though a stranger who had taken vp so much of the world before hand vpon credite and fame Reason for the yeelding of the Clergie of his piety and bountie they could not but presume well for their estate and so were content to giue way to the present Fortune The Nobility considering they were so borne and must haue a King not to take him that was of power to make himselfe would shew more of passion then prouidence to be now behind hand to receiue him with more then submission was as if to withstand What moued the Nobles to yeeld which with the distrust of each others faith made them striue run headlong who should be first to pre-occupate the grace of seruitude and intrude them into forvaine subiection The Commons like a strong vessell that might haue beene for good vse was hereby left without a sterne and could not moue but irregularly So that all estates in generall either corrupted with new hopes or transported with feare forsooke themselues and their distressed Countrey Vpon his approach to London the Gates were all set open the Arch-bishop of Canterbury Stigand with other Bishops the Nobility Magistrates and People rendting themselues in all obedience vnto him and he returning plausible protestations of his future Gouernment was on Christmas day then next following Crowned King of England at Westminster by Aldred Arch-bishop of Yorke for that Stigand was not held Canonically inuested in his Sea and yet thought to haue beene a forward mouer of this alteration Heere according to the accustomed forme at his Coronation the Bishops and Barons The Coronation and oath of William 1. of the Realme tooke their oaths to be his true and loyall subiects and he reciprocally being required thereunto by the Arch-bishop of Yorke made his personall oath before the Altar of Saint Peter To defend the Holy Churches of God and the Rectors of the same To gouerne the Vniuersall people subiect vnto him iustly To establish equall Lawes and to see them duely executed Nor did he euer claime any power King Williams submission to the orders of the Kingdome of England by Conquest but as a regular Prince submitted himselfe to the orders of the Kingdome desirous rather to haue his Testamentary title howsoeuer weake to make good his successiou rather then his sword And though the Stile of Conqueror by the flattery of the time was after giuen him he shewed by all the course of his Gouernement he assumed it not introducing none of all those alterations which followed by violence but a milde gathering vpon the disposition of the State and the occasions offered and that by way of reformation And now taking Hostages for his more security and order for the defence and Gouernment of his Kingdome at the opening of the spring next he returnes into Normandy so to settle his affaires there as they might not distract him from his businesse in England that required his whole powers And to leaue here all sure behind him he commits the rule of the Kingdome to his brother the Bishop of Bayeux and to his Cosin Fitz * Or Osborne Auber whom he had made Earle of Hereford taking with him all the chiefe men of England who were likest to be heads King William returnes into Normandy with the chiefe Nobility of England to a reuolt As Edger Atheling the Arch-bishop Stigand lately discontented Edwin and Morchar with many other Bishops and Noble men Besides to vnburthen his charge and dis-impester his Court he tooke backe with him all the French aduenturers and such as were vnnecessary men rewarding them as farre as his treasure would extend and the rest he made vp in faire promises In his absence which was all that whole sommer nothing was here attempted against him but onely that Edric surnamed the Forrester in the County of Hereford called in the Kings of the Welsh to his aide and forraged onely the remote borders of that Country The rest of the Kingdome stood quiet expecting what would become of that new world wherein as yet they found no great alteration their lawes and liberties remaining the same they were before and might hope by this accession of a new Prouince the state of England would be but inlarged in dominion abroad and not impaired in profit at home by reason the Nation was but small and of a plentifull and not ouer-peopled Countrey likely to impester them Hauing disposed his affaires of Normandy he returnes towards winter into King William returnes into England England where he was to satisfie three sorts of men First such Aduenturers with whom hee had not yet cleered Secondly those of his owne people whose merites or neerenesse looked for recompence whereof the number beeing so great many must haue their expectations fed if not satisfied Thirdly the people of this Kingdome by whom he must row subsist For beeing not able with his owne Nation so to impeople the same as to hold and defend it if he should proceed to an extirpation of the naturall inhabitants he was likewise to giue them satisfaction Wherein he had more to do then in his battell at Hastings seeing all remunerations with supplies of money must be raised out of the stocke
of this Kingdome which could not but be likesome to the State in generall and all preferments and dignities conser'd on his to be either by vacancies or displacing others which must needs breed very feeling grieuances in particular And yet wee finde no great men thrust out of their roomes but such as put themselues out by reuolting after his establishment and their fealtie giuen as appeares by the controuersie betweene Warren the Norman and Sherburn of Sherburn Castle in Norfolke which castle though the King had giuen to Warren yet when Sherburn alledged How hee neuer bare Armes against him Cambden Nors that hee was his subiect as well as the other and held his Lands by that Law which he had established amongst all his subiects the King gaue iudgement against Warren and commanded that Sherburn should hold his Land in peace So that it seemes hee contented himselfe and his for the time onely with what he found here ready and with filling vp their places who were slaine in the battell or fled as many were with the sonnes of Harald out of the Kingdome Such Gentlemen as he could not presently preferre M. S. and had a purpose to aduance hee dispersed abroad into Abbeys there to liue till places fell out for them and 24 he sent to the Abby of Eley whereby he not onely lessened the multitude of attendants and suitors at Court eased that eye-sore of strangers but also had them a watch ouer the Clergie who then were of great and eminent power in the Kingdome and might preuaile with the people But the English Nobility incompatible of these new concurrents found notwithstanding 1067. Anno. Reg. 2. such a disproportion of grace and darkning of their dignities by the interposition of so many as must needs lessen their splendour that many of the chiefest doubting to be more impayred in honour and estate conspired together and fled some into Scotland and some into Denmarke to trie if by ayde from abroad they might The English Nobility forsake the kingdome recouer themselues and their lost fortunes againe at home Amongst which the chiefe was Edgar Atheling termed Englands Dearling which shewed the peoples zeale to his bloud who with his mother Agatha and his two sisters Magaret and Christin intending to retire into Hungarie their natiue Country were driuen by tempest on the coast of Scotland where they were in all Hospitable manner entertained by Malcolin the third whose former suffrings in his exile had taught him to compassionate others like distresses and whom it concerned now to looke to his owne his neighbours house being thus on fire and to foster a pattie against so daungerous an in-commer that was like to thrust them all out of doore Which induced him not onely to entertaine this Prince dispossest of his right but to enter league with him for the publique safetie And to inchaine it the stronger hee takes to wife Margaret the The King of Scots enters league with the English Nobility and marries Edgars sister sister of Edgar a Ladie indued withall blessed vertues by whom the bloud of our auncient Kings was preserued and conioyned with the Norman in Henry the second and so became English againe Vnto Edgar in Scotland repaired the Earles Edwin and Morchar Hereward Gospatric Siward with others and shortly after Stigand and Aldred Arch-bishops with diuers of the Clergie who in the third yeare of this Kings raigne raised very great commotions in the North beyond Humber and wrought most egarly 1068. Anno. Reg. 3. to recouer their lost Country but being now to late and the occasion not taken before the settling of the gouernment whilst it was new and branling they preuailed nothing but gaue aduantage to the Conquerour to make himselfe more then hee was For all conspiracies of subiects if they succeed not aduance the soueraigntie and nothing gaue roote to the Norman planting here more then the petty reuolts made by discattred troupes in seuerall parts begunne without order and followed without resolution whereas nothing could be done for a generall recouery but by a generall sulleuation of the people for which all wary preuention was vsed and they had waites enough laide on to hold them downe And though these Lords imbroiled themselues and held him doing in the North yet hee hauing all the South parts setled vnder his domination with well practized and prepared forces there could bee little hope of good whilst all their great estates furnisht the Normans both in state and meanes to ruine them The Earledome and all the Lands which Edwin held in See the Charter in the Appendix Yorkeshire were giuen to Alain Earle of Brittaine kinsman to the Conqueror The Arch-bishopricke of Canterburie confer'd on Lanfranc Abbot of Caen. That of Yorke on Thomas his Chaplaine and all the rest both of the Clergie and others which were out had their places within supplied by Normans And after King William had appeased a Commotion in the West which the sonnes of Harald with forces out of Ireland had raised also repressed the rebellions of Excester and Oxford he takes his iourney in person Northward with all expedition least the enemy there should grow to high in heart and opinion vpon the great slaughter of his people made at Yorke and the defeiture of his Brother and Leiuetenant Robert Earle of Mortaigne slaine with seuen hundreth Normans at Durham where at his first comming he so wrought that he either discomfeited or corrupted the Generals of the Danicque forces newly arriued to ayde the Lords sent by Swaine King of Denmarke vnder the conduct of his two sonnes Harald and Knute with a Nauie of three hundreth saile and after sets vpon the Army of the Lords weakened both in strength and hope by this departure of their Confederates and puts them to flight Which done he vtterly wasted and laide desolate all that goodly Countrey betweene Yorke and Durham the space of 60. miles as it might be no more a succour to the enemy And the like course he used on all the Coasts where any aptlandings lay for inuasions and so returnes to London Most of the Lords after this defeit came in vpon publique faith giuen them and were conducted to Barkehamsted by the Abbot Fredricke where vpon their submission and Oath of Allegeance re-taken they had their pardon and restitution of grace graunted by the King who it seemes was so willing to acquiet them that againe he takes his personall Oath before the Arch-bishop Lanfrancke and the Lords To obserue See the Appendix the Auntient Lawes of the Realme established by his Noble Predecessors the Kings of England and especially those of Edward the Confessor Whereupon these stormy dispositions held calme a while But long it was not ere many of these Lords whether vpon intelligence of new 1074. Anno. Reg. 8. hopes from Prince Edgar who was still in Scotland or growne desperate with new displeasures at home finding small performance of promises made rupture
of Oath and all other respects brake out againe The Earle Edwyn making towards Scotland was murthered by his owne people The Lords Morchar and Hereward betooke them to the Isle of Eley meaning to make good that place for that Winter whether also repaired the Earle Syward and the Bishop of Durham out of Scotland But the King who was no time-giuer vnto growing dangers besets all the Isle with flat boates on the East and made a bridge of two miles long on the West and safely brought in his people vpon the enemy who seeing themselues surprized yeelded all to the Kings mercy except Hereward who desperatly marched with his people through the Fennes and recouered Scotland The rest were sent to diuerse Prisons where they died or remained during the Kings life Those Lords who persisted loyall vpon this last submission were all imployed and well graced with the King as Edric the Forrester and first that rebelled in his Raigne was held in cleere trust and neere about him Gospatrice he made Earle of Northumberland and sent him against Malcolin who in this time subdues the Countries of Tisdall Cleueland and Comberland Waltheof sonne to the Earle Syward he held so worthy to be made his as he married him to his Neece Iudith though he had beene a principall actor in the Northerne commotion and in defending the Citty of Yorke against him is sayd to haue striken off the heads of diuerse Normans one by one as they entered a breach to the admiration of all about him shewing therein that true touch of the noblest nature to loue vertue euen in his enemies And now seeing Scotland to be the especiall retraite for all conspirators and discontented in his Kingdome yeelding them continuall succour and assistance and where his compecitor Edgar liued to be get and nurse perpetuall matter for their hopes and at hand for all aduantages he enters that Kingdome with a puissant Army which incountring with more necessities then forces soone grew tired and both Kings considering of what difficulties the victory would consist were willing to take the safest way to there ends and vpon faire ouertures to conclude a peace Articling for the bounds of each Kingdome with the same title of Dominion as in former tunes All delinquents and their partakers generally pardoned Heere with the vniuersoll turne of alteration thus wrought in England Scotland being Scotlād before this time gene rally spake a kind of Irish. a part of the body of this Isle is noted to haue likewise had a share and as in the Court of England the French tongue became generally spoken so in that of Scotland did the English by reason of the multitude of this Nation attending both the Qacene and her brother Edgar and daily repairing thither for their safety and combination against the common enemy of whom diuerse abandoning their natiue distressed Countrey were by the bounty of that King preferred and there planted spread their off-spring into many noble families remaining to this day The titles for distinguishing Titles of honor in Scotland degrees of honour as of Duke Earle Baron Rider or Knight were then as is thought first introduced and the nobler sort began to be called by the title of their Signories according to the French manner which before bate the name of their Father with the addition of Mac after the fashion of Ireland Other innouations no doubt entred there likewise at the opening of this wide mutation of ours fashion and imitation like weedes easily growing in euery soyle Shortly after this late made peace Prince Edgar voluntarily came in and submitted Edgar Atheling submitted him selfe to King William himselfe to the King being then in Normandy and was restored to grace and a faire maintenance which held him euer after quiet And it made well at that time for the fortune of the King howsoeuer for his owne being thought to haue ill-timed his affaires either through want of seasonable intelligence or dispaire of successe in making 1075. Anno. Reg. 9. too soone that submission which was latter or neuer to be done For in this absence of the King Roger Fits Auber the young Earle of Hereford contrary to his expresse commandement gaue his sister in marriage to Raph Waher Earle of Northfolke and Suffolke and at the great Solemnization thereof the two Earles conspired with Eustace Earle of Boloigne who secretly came ouer to this festiuall and with the Earle Waltheof and other English Lords to call in the Danes and by maine power to keepe out and dispossesse the King Who hauing thus passed ouer so many gulfes of forraine 1076. Anno. Reg. 10. dangers might little imagine of any wracke so neere home and that those whom he had most aduanced should haue the especiall hand in his destruction But no rewards are benefits that are not held so nor can euer cleere the accounts with them that ouer-value their merits And had not this conspiracy bene opportunely discouered which some say was by the Earle Waltheof moued with the vglinesse of so soule an ingratitude they had put him againe to the winning of England But now the fire bewrayed before it flamed was soone quenched by the diligence of Odon the Kings Vice-gerent the Bishop of Worcester and others who kept the Conspirators from ioyning their forces So that they neuer came to make head but were either surprized or forced to flye The Earle Roger Fitz Auber was taken and some say executed and so was shortly after the Earle Waltheof whose dissent from the act could not get him pardon for his former consent though much compassion in respect of his great worthinesse But the 1077. Anno. Reg. 11. wide distent of these tumors fed from many secret vaines seemed to be of that danger as required this extremity of cure especially in a part so apt for infection vpon any the like humours For this Conspiracy seemes to take motion from a generall league of all the neighbour Princes here about as may well be gathered by their seuerall actions First in the King of Fraunce by defending Dole in Brittaigne a Castle of Raph de Waher against the King of England and in likelihood imploying the Earle of Boloigne to wards the Conspirators In Swayne King of Denmarke by sending a Nauy of two hundreth saile vnder the conduct of his sonne Knute and others In Drone King of Ireland by furnishing the sonnes of Harald with 65. ships In Malcoline and the Kings of Wales by their readinesse to assist But the Danes being on the coast and hearing how their confederates had sped with the great preparations the King had made after some pillage taken vpon the coast of England and Flanders returned home and neuer after arriued to disturbe this land Though in Anno Reg. 19. Knute then King of Denmarke after the death of Swaine intending to repaire the dishonour of his two last aduentures past and to put for the Crowne of England his predecessors had holden prepared a Nauie
sadde people of England tender their humble petition Beseeching him in regard of his oath made at his Coronation And by the soule of Saint Edward from whom hee had the Crowne and Kingdome vnder whose Lawes they were borne and bred That he would not adde that miserie to deliuer them vp to bee iudged by a strange Law they vnderstood not And so earnestly they wrought that hee was pleased to confirme that by his Charter which hee had twice fore-promised by his oath What were the lawes of England And gaue commaundement to his Iusticiaries to see these Lawes of Saint Edward so called not that he made them but collected them out of Merchen-Law Dane-Law and Westsex-Law To be inuiolablie obserued throughout the Kingdome And yet notwithstanding this confirmation and the Charters afterward granted by Henry the first Henry the second and King Iohn to the same effect there followed a great innouation both in the Lawes and gouernment of England So that this seemes rather done to acquiet the people with a shew of the continuation of their auncient customes and liberties then that they enioyed them in effect For the little conformitie betweene them of former times and these that followed vpon this change of State shew from what head they sprang And though there might bee some veynes issuing from former originals yet the maine streame of our Common-law with the The originall of the Common Law now vsed practise thereof flowed out of Normandie notwithstanding all obiections can bee made to the contrary For before these collections of the Confessors thère was no vniuersall Law of the Kingdome but euery seuerall Prouince held their owne Customes all the inhabitants from Humber to Scotland vsed the Danique Law Merchland the middle part of the Countrie and the State of the West Saxons had their seuerall constitutions as being seuerall Dominions And though for some few yeares there seemed to bee a reduction of the Heptarchie into a Monarchie yet held it not so long together as we may see in the succession of that broken gouernment as to settle one forme of order current ouer all but that euery Prouince according to their particular founders had their customes a part and held nothing in common besides religion and the constitutions thereof but with the vniuersalitie of Meum Tuum ordered according to the rites of nations and that ius innatum the Common-law of all the world which we see to be as vniuersall as are the cohabitations and societies of men and serues the turne to hold them together in all Countries howsoeuer they may differ in their formes So that by these passages we see what way wee came where wee are and the furthest end wee can discouer of the originall of our Common-law and to striue to looke beyond this is to looke into an vncertaine vastnesse beyond our discerning Nor can it detract from the glory of good Customes if they bring but a pedigree of 600 yeares to approue their gentilitie seeing it is the equity and not the antiquity of of lawes that makes them venerable and the integritie of the professors thereof the profession honored And it were well with mankinde if dayes brought not their corruptions and good orders were continued with that prouidence as they were instituted But this alteration of the Lawes of England bred most heauie doleances not onely in this Kings time but long after For whereas before those Lawes they had The Law of England put into a forraine Language were written in their owne tongue intelligible to all now are they translated into Latine and French and practized wholly in the Norman forme and Language thereby to draw the people of this Kingdome to learne that speech for their owne need which otherwise they would not doe And seeing a difference in tongue would continue a difference in affections all meanes was wrought to reduce it to one Idiom which yet was not in the power of the Conqueror to doe without the extirpation or ouerlaying the Land-bred people who being so far in number as they were aboue the inuadors both retaine the maine of the Language and in few yeares haue those who subdued them vndistinguishably theirs For notwithstanding the former Conquest by the Danes and now this by the Norman the solid bodie of the Kingdome still consisted of the English and the accession of strange people was but as riuers to the Ocean that changed not it but were changed into it And though the King laboured what hee could to turne all to French By enioyning their children here to vse no other Language with their Grammer in schooles to haue the Lawes practized in French all petitions and businesse of Court in French No man graced but he that spake French yet soone after his dayes all returnes naturall English againe but Law and that still held forraine and became in the end wholly to be inclosed in that language nor haue we now other marke of our subiection and inuassellage from Normandie but onely that and that still speakes French to vs in England And herewithall New Termes new Constitutions new Formes of Pleas new Offices and Courts are now introduced by the Normans a people more inured to litigation and of spirits more impatient and contentious then were the English who by reason of their continuall warre wherein Law is not borne and labour to defend the publicke were more at vnitie in their priuate and that small time of peace they had Deuotion and good fellowship entertained For their Lawes and constitutions before wee see them plaine briefe and simple without perplexities hauing neither fold nor pleite commanding not disputing Their grants and transactions as briefe and simple which shewed them a cleere-meaning people retayning still the nature of that Vide Append. plaine realnesse they brought with them vncomposed of other fashion then their own and vnasfecting imitation And for their tryals in cases criminall where manifest proofes failed they continued their antient custome held from before their Christianitie vntill this great alteration which trials they called Ordeal Or signifying Right Deale Part whereof they had these The English trials in cases criminall kinds Ordeal by fire which was for the better sort and by water for the inferiour That of Fire was to goe blindfold ouer certaine plough-shares made red hote and laide an vneuen distance one from another That of Water was either of hot or cold in the one to put their armes to the elbow in the other to bee cast headlong According to their escapes or hurts they were adiudged Such as were cast into the riuers if they sancke were held guiltlesse if not culpable as eiected by that Element These trials they called the iudgements of God and they were performed with solemne Oraisons In some cases The accused was admitted to Men of ability cleered by their oathes cleere himselfe by receiuing the Eucharist or by his owne Oath or the Oathes of two or three but this
intelligence with the Archbishop of Collen As Iohn of Oxford Richard Iuechester Richard de Lucie Iosslin Balliol Alan de Neuile and with these all such as had entred vpon the goods of the Church of Canterbury which hee called the patrimony of the Crusifex and the foode of the poore and these were Ralph de Brocke Hugh Saint Clare and Thomas Fitz Barnard Thus are both sides busied in this drie warre wherein though there were no sword yet it gaue vexation ynough And yet this was not all the worke that tooke vp the Kings time for during this dissention the Welsh againe reuolt and to supresse them he spent much labour with The King represses the Welch the losse of many great men and was himselfe in that daunger as had not Hubert Saint Clere receiued a wounde for him by an Arrow aymed directly at his person hee had there finished his part In this expedition hee is sayd to haue vsed extreame crueltie After this hee passes into Normandie to bee neere his businesse which now lay all on that side And first to entertaine the opinion of Pictie though hee were falne out with the Pope hee obtaines at an Assembly of his Bishops and Barons of Normandie 1166. Anno. Reg. 13. two pence in the pound of euery mans Lands and goods to beepayde that yeare 1166. and a penny of euery pound to be payde for foure yeares following which was leuied for the reliefe of the Christians in the Holy warre and sent vnto them Then hee raises forces and takes in certaine Castles in the Countrey of Maine and Marches of Brittaine from diuers Lords and Barons that had disobayed him And whilst he was busie abroade Mathew sonne to the Earle of Flanders who had married the Lady Marie Abbesse of Ramsey daughter to King Stephen had by her the Country of Bologne attempted something on the Coast of England either to try the affections of the people or to make spoyle and booty but without any effect at all the King being to mighty for any such weake vndertaker And to distend his powre yet wider falls out this occasion Conan Earle of Britaine dies and leaues one onely daughter which hee had by his wife Constance daughter to the King of Scots to succeed him in his State The King of England being then in armes vpon the Marches of Brittaine deales with the Guardians of the young Ladie to match her to his third sonne Geffry The nobility of that Country being then of a rough and haughty disposition giuen to fewds and perpetuall quarrelling one with another were wrought vpon and a side is wonne of such as could doe most in this businesse which is effected to the great contentation of the King of England This fell out to be in the 13 yeare of his raigne wherein as some write died his Mother Maud the Empresse a Lady of an high and actiue Spirit illustrious by her birth but more by her first match and most by her sonne whom she liued to see established in all these mighty States in the glory of Greatnesse Peace Fertile in issue hauing now The death of Maude the Empresse had 4 sonnes and 3 daughters linkes of loue and strength oftentimes in priuate families though seldome in Princes and shee left him in the best time of his daies before any great tempest ouertooke him Three yeares after this hee imployes most in France about the ordering and cleering the bounds of his Dominions from vsurpation or incrochments of neighbour Lords whom his greatnesse held all in awe and they must haue no more then hee would especially hee settles and reformes the State of Brittaine which was much out of order and in muteny about the late Match which being appeased hee keepes a solemne Christmas at Nants and Royally feasts the Nobilitie of the Countrey 1169. Anno. Reg. 16. Then returnes he into England where least Peace by reason of his long and often absence might afflict and corrupt his subiects he lookes to that Diuine and Almighty worke of Kings the administration of Iustice appoynting certaine commissioners as Syndicqs to examine the abuses and excesses committed by his Officers and grieuously Extortion and Bribety punished punishes the Shriefes of the Land for extortion and bribery His Easter he keepes at Windsor whither repaires vnto him William King of Scots who lately succeeded Malcom his brother and brings with him his younger brother Dauid both to congratulate the King of Englands returne and also continue his claime to those peeces in the North which hee pretended to bee vniustly detained from that Crowne The King entertaines him as hee had done his brother with faire words and tells him How it was not in his powre to doe any thing therein without the consent of the State in Parliament which if hee would attend there should bee that course taken as hee hoped might giue him satisfaction In expectation whereof this King came often into England and once attended the King in an expedition into France as his Predecesor had done But now all this while the wrath of the Church continues and the clowde hangs still ouer him dayly threatning the great thunder-bolt Although it seemes the Pope of himselfe was not verie forward to proceede to that extremity but would gladly haue quieted the Archbishoppe otherwise Who hee sayd had taken an ill time for this businesse the King being mighty and the Church in trouble and therefore writes The Pope writes to the Bishops of England he his letters to the Bishop of London and Hereford willing them to deale effectually with the King and to admonish him to desist from intruding vpon the liberties of the Church and to restore the Archbishop to his Sea and Dignity The Bishops wisely answere the Popes Letter in substance thus Wee haue sayd they done your Holinesse message and as much as was decent for the Maiestie The Bishops answere to the Popes Letter if a King instantly vrged him to satisfie your desire made by vs and if hee had erred from the way of truth and Iustice that hee would not delay to returne thereunto that hee would not inhibit such as were desirous to visit the Church of Rome hinder Appeales oppresso Churches and Churchmen or suffer others so to doe that hee would call home our Father the Archbishoppe c. and persist in the workes of Pietie that hee by whom Kings raigne might preserue vnto him his temporall Kingdome and giue him an eternall in Heauen and that vnlesse hee would yeelde to your Holy admonitions you who had hitherto indured could in patience forbeare no longer Besides we added this of our selues how it was to bee feared if hee amended not his errours his Kingdome would not long stand nor his prosper The King receiued your admonitions with manie thankes much Temperance and Modestie and answeres to euerie point First hee protested that in no sort hee auerted his minde from your Holinesse nor euer purposed so to
instantly out of his presence and court Yet afterward to vnderstand some more particulars of the madnes of this King of England he called for Robert the Clearke and had priuat conference with him apart about many particulars which hee himselfe reuealed to many in the hearing of Mathew the monke of Saint Albons who wrot and declared these things discribing the person of this Robert to be of a low stature blacke one arme shorter then another two fingers vnnaturally growing together of visage like a Iew c. which relation we are not vtterly to contemne proceeding from an Author of that grauity and credit and liuing so neere those times though to vs that are so farre off both in fashion and faith it may seeme improbable in some part yet if we consider whereto the desperat violence of this King who had made vtter wracke of conscience and all humane respect might carry him seeing himselfe in that Estate he was we may not thinke it voyd of likelihood to haue had this dealing with an heathen king who in that time was formidable to all Christendome and had on foot the mightiest army that euer the Moores had in Spaine which might either be to hold amity with him or intertayne him otherwise for his owne ends Though for the point of offring to forgoe the Christian fayth we may in charity forbeare to make it a part of ours Although this relator giues vs a note amongst other which hee supprest that poynted at the irreligion of this King who at the opening of a fat Stag iestingly said see how prosperously this beast hath liued and yet neuer heard Masse Which skoff in regard of the zeale then professed sauored of an impiety vnsitting the mouth of a religious A note of the Kings irreligion King and gaue scandall to the hearers who tooke it according to their apprehension apt to censure whatsocuer comes from the mouth of Princes which may warne them to be wary what they vtter in publique But this Embassage either neglected by Miramumalim or disappointed by the ouer throw of his great army with the death of his Sonne which shortly after followed King Iohn sets vpon another course assayles Pope Innocentius prone to be wrought by guifts to doe any thing with great summes of money and a reassurance of his tributary subiection which shortly after he confirmes by a new oath and a new Charter before the Popes Legat the Bishop of Tusculum sent ouer for the same purpose and King Iohn bribes the Pope and renewes his oath with full autority to compose the dissentions betweene the Kingdome and Priesthood Which at many Assemblies in diuers places was after debated and in the end order was taken for a plenary satisfaction to be made for the damages done to the Church For which the King vpon account already had payd twenty seauen thousand Markes and thirteene thousand more were vndertaken by Suerties to be answered by a certaine daie And herevpon is the interdiction released hauing continued sixe yeares three moneths and fourteene dayes to the inestimable losse of the Church and Churchmen The interdiction released whereof an innumerable multitude of all orders now repayre to the Legat for satisfaction of damages receiued by the Kings ministers during this interdiction To whom 1214. Anno. Reg. 16. the Legat answeres that it was not in his commission to deale for restititution to be made vnto them all but aduises them to complaine to the Pope and craue of him plenary iustice Wherevpon they depart much discontented holding the Legats proceeding for that he pleased not them inclining onely to please the King Who now is recommended to Rome for a most tractable obedient and indulgent Sonne of the Church and the Clergy heares of blame for their obstinacy vsed towards him The King hauing referred the ending of all this controuersie to the Legat and some other of his owne ministers being assured of the Popes fauour was now gone into Poictou to assayle according to his former designe the King of France on that side whilest his forces with those of the Emperour Otho by the way of Flanders inuaded him on the other And being with his Queene landed at Rochel many principall Barons of Poictou apter to promise then performe their faith came and swore fealty vnto him With whom he marches forward into the Country recouers many Castles and peeces of importance Whereof particularly by his owne letters from Parthenai he certifies his Iustices of the Eschecquer And withall shewes them how hee had Vide Append. graunted to the Sonne of the Earle of March his daughter Ioan in mariage though said he the King of France desired her for his Sonne but fraudulently c. After this he goes into Brittaine takes in the city of Nantes prepares to incounter with Louys the French Kings Sonne who was come downe with a mighty army to oppose his proceeding But the Poictouins distrusting his power or he them hauing discouered the forces of the Enemy refused to fight Wherevpon the King of England to his extreame griefe forsooke the field and made a dishonorable truce with the King The famous battaile of Bouines of France and this was the last of his transmarine attempts His forces in Flanders had far worse successe for the King of France with all the power he could possibly make incounters them at the bridge of Bouines and ouerthrew the Emperour Otho and the whole army of the confederates wherein are reported to haue beene an hundred and fifty thousand foote besides horse and in the battaile slaine a thousand fiue hundred Knights and taken prisoners Ferrand the Earle of Flaunders the Earles of Salisbury and Bologne And as report the Annales of Flanders the Earle of Sauoy the Dukes of Brabant and Lamburg and the Earle of Luxemburg the Emperour Otho 4. hardly escaped The death of the Emp. Otho and liued not long after Vpon these misfortunes and fearing the outrage of a necessitous and distempred King the Barons of England assemble themselues at S. Edmondsbury where they confer of the late produced Charter of Henry the first and swore vpon the high Altar that if King Iohn refused to confirme and restore vnto them those liberties the rights of the Kingdome they would make war vpon him vntill he had satisfied them therein and further agreed that after Christmas next they would petition him for the same and in the meane time prouide themselues of horse and furniture to be ready if the King should start from his Oath made at Winchester at the time of his absolution for the confirmation of these liberties and compell him to satisfie their demand After Christmas K. Iohn takes vpon him the crosse to secure himselfe from the Barons they repaire in a military manner to the King lying in the new Temple vrging their desire with great vehemency the king seeing their resolution and inclination to war made answere that for the matter they required hee would
be sought his highnesse he would not vrge him therevnto disswading him from that iourny by the example of the King of France on whom he might see the punishment of God to be The speech of Isabel Countes of Arundel to the king falen for his rapine made on his peoples substance wrerewith hee had now inriched his enemies who were growne fat with the infinite treasure of the Christians transported into those parts The King seeing the resolution of this graue Bishop in great passion commanded his seruants to thrust him out of doore perceiuing by this what was to be expected of the rest and so falls to his former violent courses During this Parliament an ill time for sutors Isabel Countesse of Arundel widdow comes vnto him a bout a Ward detayned from her in regard of a smale parcell of land held in Capite which drew away all the rest the King giuing her a harsh answere and turning away she said vnto him My Lord why turne you away your face from Iustice that we can obtaine no right in your Court you are constituted in the middest betwixt God and vs but neither gourne your selfe nor vs discrectely as you ought you shamefuliy vex both the Church and Nobles of the Kingdome by all meanes you may To which speech the King disdainefully replies Lady Countesse hath the Lords made you a Charter and sent you for that you are an Eloquent speaker to be their aduocate and prolocutrix No Sir saith she they haue not made any Charter to mee But the Charter which your father and you made and sworne so often to obserue and so often extorted from your subiects their money for the same you vaworthily transgresse as a manifest breaker of your faith Where are the Liberties of England so often written so often graunted so often bought I though a woman and with mee all your naturall and faithfull people appeale against you to the tribunall of that High Iudge aboue and Heauen and Earth shal be our witnesse that you haue most vniustly delt with vs and the Lord God of reuenge auenge vs. Here with the King disturbed asked her if shee expected no grace from him being his kinswoman How shall I hope for grace said the when you deny mee right and I appeale before the face of Christ against those Councellors of yours who onely greedy of their owne gaine haue bewitched and infatuated you As boldly though in fewer words is he reproued by the Maister of the Hospitall of The King reproued by the Maister of the Hospitall of Ierusalem Ierusalem in Clerken-well who comming to complaine of an iniurie committed against their Charter the King told him The Prelats and especially the Templars and Hospitalars had so many liberties and Charters that their riches made them proud and their pride mad and that those things which were vnaduisedly granted were with discreation to be reuoked and alledges how the Pope had often recalled his owne grants with the clause non obstante and why should not he cassat those Charters inconsiderately granted by him and his Predecessors What say you Sir Said the Prior God forbid so ill a word should proceed out of your mouth So long as you obserue Iustice you may bee a King and as soone as you violate the same you shall leaue to be a King The Fryers Minors to whom he had sent a load of Frees to cloath them returned the same with this message That hee ought not to giue Almes of what hee had rent from the poore neither would they accept of that abhominable guift With these and many such like bold incounters ill becomming the obedience of Subiects is this King affronted to shew vs the ill complexion of the time and how miserable a thing it is for a Prince to loose his reputation and the loue of his people whereby they both haue their vexations And dayly more and more hardned hee is against the English whereby Strangers Strangers cōmit ryots are made so insolent as they commit many ryots and oppressions in the Kingdome William de Valence whose youth and presumption went which way his will led him goes from his Castle of Hartford to a Parke of the Bishop of Ely lying neere his manner of Hatfield where after hauing spoyled much game hee enters into the Bishops house and finding no drinke but Ale causes the Cellar doore being strongly barred to be broken open by his people who after they had drunke their fill let out the rest on the floore But a greater violence then this was offred to an Officiall of the Archbisnop of Canterbury by the commandement of the Elect of Winchester the one brother to the Queene the other to the King which troubled them both and gaue them much to doe before it was appeased Guy de Lusignan the other brother of the King comming as a guest to the Abbot of Saint Albones violates the Rights of Hospitality and many other iniuties are reported by our Authour to haue beene committed by strangers and much complaint is made of that time wherein this was sayed to bee the vsuall exclamation Our inheritance is giuen to Aliens and our houses to Strangers which notwithstanding the King seekes still to preferre A daughter of Guy de Lusignan Earle of Angolesme is married to Richard or Gilbere de Clare Earle of Glocester a man eminent and deerely loued of the Nobility Learned in the Lawes of the Land and held a great Patriot which manacle of alliance lockt not yet his hands from defending the liberties of his Country the King promises her a dower of fiue thousand Markes which hee sought to borow of diuers but could not The City of London is againe compelled to the contribution of 1000 Markes and the Gascoyns being vpon revolt vnlesse speedy remedy were taken generall musters are made and commandement giuen that whosoeuer could dispend 13 pound per annum should furnish out a horse-man This with the extreame wants of the King occasions another Parliament wherein the State began it seemes wisely to consider that all their opposition did no good the Kings turne must bee serued one way or other some must pay for it and where it lighted on particulars it was far more heauy then it could be in generall and therefore they agreed to relieue him rather by the vsuall way then force him to those extrauagant courses which he tooke But so as the reformation of the gouernment and ratification of their lawes might be once againe solemly confirmed And after fifteene daies consultation to satisfie the Kings desire for his holy expedition A Tenth and Scutage granted by Parl. a Tenth is granted by the Clergy which yet by view of the Lords should vpon his setting forth be destributed for 3. yeares and Scntage 3. Markes of euery knights Fee by the Laytie for that yeare And now againe those often confirmed Charters are ratified and that in the most solemne and ceremonicall manner as Religion and State could euer
suncke all their Ships King Edward vanquishes the French Kings great Navie slew 30 thousand men and landed with as great glory as such a victorie the greatest that ever before was gotten by the English at Sea could yeeld Most of the French rather then to endure the Arrowes and sharpe swords of the English or be taken desperately leape into the Sea Whereupon the French Kings Iester set on to giue him notice of this overthrow which being so ill newes none else willingly would impart on the suddaine said and oftentimes re-iterated the same Cowardly Englishmen Iean Tillet Dasterdly Englishmen Faint-hearted Englishmen The King at length asked him Why For that said he They durst not leap out of their ships into the Sea as our braue French-men did By which speech the King apprehended a notion of this overthrow which the French attribute to Nicholas Buchet one of their chiefe Commanders who had armed his Ships with men of base condition content with small pay and refused Gentlemen and sufficient Souldeirs in regard they required greater wages and it osten happens that the Auarice of Commanders haue beene the occasion of great defeits But this losse much abated the power of the French King who notwithstanding in these Martiall times was soone supplyed both out of his owne Dominions and those of his Confederates and makes a mighty head against this victorious powerfull and freshly furnished King of England who suddainely sets downe before Tourney with King Edward and sends hic Challenge to the French King all his owne and his adherents forces And from Chyn a place neere-by where hee lodged sends his Cartell the 17 of Iuly to Phillip de Valois lodging at S. Andrew les Aire with his puissant army Declaring how he with the power of his owne Kingdome and aide of the Flemmings was come to recever his right in the Kingdome of France uniustly detained from him contrary to the Lawes of God and Man and that seeing no other meanes would serue hee was forced in this manner to haue recourse to his sword Notwithstanding seeing the businesse was between them two hee offers for the avoiding of Christian bloud à nd devastation of the Country to try the same by combat in close Campe body to body or each of them accompaned with 100 choyce persons which if the said Phillip refused then to strike battell within ten daies after before the Cittie of Tourney Phillip de Valois returnes answer the last of Iuly in this manner Phillip by the grace of God King of France to Edward King of England Wee haue perused your letters sent to the The French Kings answer to the Challenge Court of Phillip de Valois containing certaine requests to the said Phillip and for that it appeareth hose letters and requests were not written or made vnto vs wee will in no sort answer you But seeing by those letters and otherwise wee understand how you led by Wilfulnesse without all reason haue entred our Kingdome of France with armed power and committed no small dammage in the same and on our people contrary to the duety of a Liegeman having lalely sworne homage vnto us acknowledging us as by right King of France and haue promised that obedience which is due from the Vassall to his Liege-Lord as is manifest by your letters Patents under your great Seale which we haue with us and you likewise ought to haue the same with you And therefore our intention is as becomes our Honour to chace you out of our Kingdome as we firmely hope in Christ from whom we haue our power to do For that by this your warre most wickedly begunne our Iourney undertaken for the East is hindred no small number of Christians there murthered the holy service neglected and the Church dishonoured And whereas you alledge you possesse the aide of the Flemmings wee are assuredly perswaded that they with the Communalty of their Countrie will so beare themselues towardes our Cosen their Earie and vs their superiour Lords as they will not omit to obserue their honour and fidelity whatsoeuer hath beene by some through ill counsell perpetrated for their owne priuate contrary to the common good The French write how King Phillip with this Letter sent worde to King Edward how by his Cartell hee aduentured nothing of his owne but onely exposed the dominion of another which was without all reason If hee would hazard the kingdome of England though it were lesse against the kingdome of France the said King Phillip would enter combate in close campe with him on condition the Victor should enioy both kingdomes But that they say King Edward would not doe Three moneths the siege of Turney had continued and nothing effected but the waste of the Countrie about all the eyes of Christendome bent vpon this action both kingdomes deeply ingaged expecting with anxiety the doubtfull euent thereof when Iane de Valois sister to Phillip widdow of William late Duke of Haynault and mother A mediation for peace to Phillippa wife to King Edward a Princesse of excellent vertue came from Fountenelles where shee had rendered herselfe a Nun vowed to God to mediate a peace betweene these two intaged Kings her brother and her sonne in lawe and labours to stay the sword of destruction lift vp for blood trualying from one to the other stubbornly bent to their intentions and neuer left them though often denyed till shee had with great patience and wise counsell quallified their boyling passions in such sort as she obtained day and place for both Kings to parle together A memorable worke to bee effected by a woman especially in such an age of Iron as that was This parle brought forth a truce for one yeare and both these great Armies A Truce concluded are dissolued The French King returnes home and so doth the King of England with his Queene who had remained in those parts three yeares and had there Anno Reg. 15. brought forth two sonnes Lionell afterwards Duke of Clarence and Iohn borne at Gant who first was Earle of Richmond and after Duke of Lancaster But King Edwards condiscending to this sudden truce had indeed no other motiue thē the want of his supplies of treasure which came short to his expectation notwithstanding those mighty impositions which were laid on his subiects And whereas hee had vpon his last returne into England in great displeasure remoued his Chancellor and imprisoned his Treasorer with other Officers most of them Cleargy-men and still held them in durance Iohn Stratford Archbishoppe of Canterbury on Iohn Strarford Archbishop of Canterbury his Letters to King Edward whom the King laid the blame of his wants writes him a most bolde and peremptory Letter to this effect first shewing him how it was for the safety of kings and their Kingdomes to vse graue and wise Counsailors alledging many examples out of holy Writ of the flourishing happinesse of such as tooke that course and their infelicity who followed the
though with much valour leauing behinde him but the fame of a Rebell after hee had serued the English about six yeares King Edward shortly after these supplyes sent into Brittaine goes himselfe in person with more and lying before Vannes lately recouered by the French Iohn Duke of Normandy eldest sonne to the French King sent to ayde Charles de Bloys with an Army of forty thousand came to giue him battaile and being vpon the point of incounter a mediation of truce is made by two Cardinalls sent from Pope Clement the fixt and concluded for three yeares vpon many conditions with a reference to the Pope and the Court of Rome to heare and examine the differences betwixt the two kingdoms but not to determine them without the consent of both Kings This pause againe giues them more time to worke for greater woundes and nothing is left vnpractised that might aduance the same And though the people now seemed to put off their Armour they left not off armes but had diuerse bickrings both in Brittaine and Gascony for which either side accused other King Edward returning makes an expeditiō into Scotland against K. Dauid whom he chased into the Ilands And here the Isle of Man is conquered by William Montacut Earle of Salisbury whom king Edward caused to be stiled King thereof and returning backe solemne Turneaments are held at Dunstable where hee is attended with 230. Knights For now all the pastime and exercise in England were Iustes and Turneaments held in Smithfield Winsor and other places A society of Knights of the Round table in imitation of King Arthur is designed a magnificent Chamber of 200. foot round erected for the same at Winsor and to this society many strangers of other Coūtries are allured The French K. also practises the like martial association in France Reg. 17 An. 1343. And about this time began the order of the Garter instituted at Winsor vpon a solemne feast there celebrated which held for many dayes and serued that time as an The institutio of the Order of the Garter Embleme of a tye and combinement in honour of such as were admitted thereunto which was the end of the constitution thereof Howsoeuer the Garter of the Countesse of Salisbury taken vp by the King in dancing with her was saide to haue beene the occasion But it were some derogation to that noble institution to impute the originall thereof to an act of Leuitie seeing with what a graue and religious ceremony it is performed Although we see oftentimes accidents of little consequence giue beginnings to things of great estimation which time makes venerable But besides these exercises of Armes this great and prouident King during this truce takes especiall care for the Gouernment of the Kingdome and reformation of the abuses thereof which daily grow as diseases in full bodies and must of necessity haue sometimes their cure otherwise there will be no health in a State A Parliament is called at Westminster wherein vpon the grieuons complaint exhibited by the Earles The Nobility write to the Pope concerning his collation of Benifices in England Barons Knights and Burgesses against the collation of Benifices on strangers a letter was sent to Pope Clement 6. in humble manner beseeching him to consider how inconuenient and derogatory it was to the state of the Kingdome of England that such reseruations prouisions and collations of Benifices as had beene formerly vsed should in such sort be continued For that the Churches of England had in times past bene indowed by noble and worthy persons to the end the people might be instructed by such as were of their owne language and how by the vsurpation of some of his Predicessors strangers and sometimes enemies to the Realme were preferred to many of them whereby the money and profits were transported the Cures vnfurnished almes and Hospitality vnused the edifices ruinated the charity and deuotion of the people deminished and many other grieuous inormities contrary to the will of the Founders occasioned which they could not suffer any longer and therefore besought his Holinesse wholly to reuoke such reseruations prouisions and collations that meete and natiue persons might exercise those Cures and without delay to signifie his intention therein otherwise they meant to imploy their dilligence that remedy and redresse might be had according to reason The date of these Letters was in full Parliament at Westminister the 28. of May 1343 with which were like wise sent the Kings letters to the same effect by Sir Iohn Shordich a graue person and of great vnderstanding in the Law whose message made Sir Iohn Shordich sent with these Letters him so vnwelcome to that Court as hee departed without leaue or answer which though the Pope afterward sent yet the King proceeded to the prohibition of all such prouisions collations within his Realme on paine of imprisonment or death to whom soeuer should in time to come present or admit any such person or persons who by the Pope were so preferred to the preiudice of the Kings royall prerogatiue And to this effect were Writs directed to all Arch-bishops Bishops others to whom it appertained inhibiting them in no wise to attempt any thing preiudial to this ordinance Here is the Arch-bishop Stratford with much adoe vpon his submission reconciled The Arch-bishop of Canterbury reconciled to the Kings fauour And much debating there is in this Parliament concerning Wools and the asseasement of certaine prices vpon the same more or lesse according to the seuerall parts of the Realme and concerning customes to be imposed on them as at three Markes and a halfe vpon the transportation of euery sacke but it seemes nothing was done in this businesse Ptince Edward about the age of 13 is created Prince of Wales and Commissioners Prince Edward created Prince of Wales are appointed to be sent to the Pope to treate of Peace betweene the two Kings according to the Articles concluded in the truce which were Iohn Bishop of Excester Henry de Lancaster Earle of Derby Hughle Dispensier Lord of Glamorgan Cousins to the King Rauph Lord Stafford with others The next yeare after another Parliament or the same proroged is held at London Reg. 18. An. 1344. wherin after much altercation a tenth was granted by the Clergie and a fifteenth by the Laytie for one yeate and a certaine Coyne of gold called the Floren of base alloy which had beene for the warres in Fraunce is decryed and Nobles of finer coyned to A Parliament the great liking of the subiects And for their better commodity the exchange of moneys at London Canterbury and Yorke is ordained Shortly after generall Musters are taken throughout the Kingdom and Certificate made of all sufficient and able Bowmen Generall musters and appointing of Armor and of all others fit to beare Armes Besides a Commission is sent into euery countrey to inquire of mens abilities and all of fiue pounds to teu
Court at Paris to these complaints Now had the Lords of Arminiaque D'Albert Peregort Cominges and many others Anno Reg. 43. 1369. made their protestations against the King of England for the Crowne of France which they say they were by nature to obey and not to a strange Soueraigne that it was absolutely against the Fundamentall Law of the Kingdome to disseuer them from the Crowne that the Contract was made in prison and therefore inciuile and not to be held by the right of Nations So that they were resolued to spend their liues and estates rather then bee vnder the gouernment of England By their example the Cities of the County of The Emperor Charles 4. makes a iourny into France to reconcile the two Kings Ponthieu rendered themselues to Guy Conte de Saint Poll and Guy de Chastillon The King of England complaines of this breach of accord to the Pope and the Emperour Charles 4. who made a iourney into France to reconcile the two Kings and determine the businesse Before whom our Ambassadours first declare how this Accord hauing beene more for the good of France then vs in regard we resigned thereby not The allegations of the English Ambassadours before the Emperour onely our Title to Normandie Touraine and Aniou the fairest and richest Countreys of France But also our Title to the Crowne to the end we might hold in Souraigntie the Duchy of Aquitayne the Country of Ponthieu with some other peeces which by Hereditary right appertained to the Crowne of England whereby the effusion of Christian blood was stayed France had peace and their King restored in faire manner after a faire imprisonment and vpon the most resonable Conditions could bee deuised Notwithstanding the French King who Vid. Appen himselfe with the whole Councell of France contracted the Accord and solemnly swore to obserue the same hath contrary to the Law of God and Nations after he had recouered his Hostages by fraud seazed both vpon the Duchy of Aquitayne and the Country of Ponthieu without denouncing Warre by his Heraldes c. The French Reply How we by the Accord were bound immediately to with draw our The Reply of the French Army out of France which they say wee did not during all the Reigne of their King Iohn That the Peace was thereby made more offensiue then the Warre they being constrained to purchase the departure of our Souldiers with greater charge then would haue maintained an Armie That the breach was on our side for that the Souldiers were ours That King Edward was bound to renounce his Title to the Crowne of France in open Assembly of the States of both Realmes which they say was not done And concerning the releasing of their King they say it cost France more gold then the redeeming of Saint Louys their King his brother the Peeres and the whole Armie taken by the Soldan an Infidell Thus both sides defend their cause being easie for Princes who will breake out of their Couenants to finde euasions The French King it seems though willing to get in what he could yet was very loath to renue a Warre and therefore with many Presents courts the King of England Who seeing himselfe thus deluded prepares to haue out his Sword And Anno Reg. 44. hauing borowed great Summes of the Clergie sends ouer Iohn Duke of Lancaster and Humphry Bohun Earle of Hereford with a mightie Armie to Calais to inuade France on this side whiles the Prince of Wales works to recouer the reuolted Townes on the other But little was effected The Duke shortly returnes And then Thomas Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke with fresh supplyes is sent ouer who dyes in the iourney Forces sent into France Sir Robert Knoles a man renowned in those times for valour and counsaile is made Leader of an Armie Consisting of many great Lords who disdayning to bee commanded by him whom they helde their inferiour ouer-threw themselues and the Action Thus all went backe and the French King growes both in State and Alliance Anno Reg. 45. Margueret sole daughter and Heire to Louys Earle of Flauders to whom King Edward sought to match his sonne Edmond is wonne to marrie Phillip Le Hardy Duke of Burgogne brother to the French King And this much vexes King Edward who A Subsidie granted by Parliament the maner of seyzing the same the better to furnish himselfe for reuenge calles a Parliament at Westminster wherein he resumes his claime to the Crowne of France and requires ayd of his Subjects and hath it The Clergie graunted him 50. thousand poundes to be payd the same yeere and the Laitie as much For the leuying whereof euery Parish in England was rated first to pay 23 shillings foure pence the great helping the lesse vpon supposition there had beene Parishes ynough to haue made vp that summe But by certificate vpon the Kings Writs sent out to examine what number of Parish Churches were in euery Shire they found it came short and then rated euery Parish at fiue pound sixteene shillings the greater to helpe the lesse and so of 8600. Parishes found to be in the 37. Shieres 50. thousand 181. pound 8. peence was raised But in regard of the great pouertie of Suffolk and Deuon Shire the 181. pound was abated and the King answered 50. thousand pounds for the Laytie Vpon this Supply the King grants that the great Charter and the Charter of The Duke of Lancaster sent into Aquitaine Forrests should bee obserued in all points which in most Parliaments of his is euer the first Act as may be seene in the printed Statutes And now Iohn Duke of Lancaster and Edmond Earle of Cambridge are sent with Forces into Aquitayne to ayde the Prince of Wales who after he had sacked the Citie of Limoges that was reuolted his health failing to performe any more leaues the prosecution of the Warre to his brother and with his wife and young sonne Richard borne at Burdeaux returnes The Prince of Wales returnes into England home into England and here resignes vnto his father the Duchy of Aquitayne The Duke of Lancaster after the departure of the Prince did little but being now a widdower his wife dying two yeares before in the third great Pestilence in which yeare also Phillippe wife to King Edward ended her life hee marries Constance eldest daughter to Peter King of Castile by whom hee had the empty title of King The Duke of Lancaster marries Constance daughter to the King of Castile and was after the death of his father-in-law stiled King of Castile and Leon. This Constance though shee were the daughter of a wicked father and infamous mother yet was so happy that the daughter shee had by this Duke of Lancaster named Katherine became after Queene of Castile and Leon being married to Henry 3. in possession before and in her right King of both those Realmes and left her posterity Kings of Spaine Edmond Earle of