and good will of his chiefe councellors he gaue great pensions amounting to the summe of sixteene thousand crownes a yeere that is to saie to his chancellor to the lord Hastings his chiefe chamberleine a man of no lesse wit than vertue and of great authoritie with his maister and that not without cause for he had as well in time of aduersitie as in the faire flattering world well and trulie serued him and to the lord Howard to sir Thomas Montgomerie to sir Thomas Sentleger to sir Iohn Cheinie maister of the kings horsses to the marques Dorsset sonne to the queene and diuerse other he gaue great and liberall rewards to the intent to keepe himselfe in amitie with England while he wan and obteined his purpose and desire in other places These persons had giuen to them great gifts beside yearelie pensions For Argenton his councellor affirmed of his owne knowledge that the lord Howard had in lesse than the tearme of two yeares for reward in monie and plate foure and twentie thousand crownes at the time of this méeting he gaue to the lord Hastings the kings chiefe chamberleine as the Frenchmen write an hundred markes of siluer made in plate whereof euerie marke is eight ounces sterling But the English writers affirme that he gaue the lord Hastings foure and twentie doozen bolles that is to saie twelue doozen gilt twelue doozen vngilt euerie cup weieng seuentéene nobles which gift either betokened in him a great liberall nature or else a great and especiall confidence that he had reposed in the said lord chamberleine Beside this he gaue him yearelie two thousand crownes pension the which summe he sent to him by Piers Cleret one of the maisters of his house giuing him in charge to receiue of him an acquittance for the receipt of the same pension to the intent that it should appeare in time to come that the chancelor chamberleine admerall maisters of the horsses to the king of England and manie other of his councell had bin in fée and pensionaries of the French king whose yearelie acquittances the lord Hastings onelie excepted remaine of record to be shewed in the chamber of accounts in the palace of Paris When Piers Cleret had paied the pension to the lord Hastings he gentlie demanded of him an acquittance for his discharge Which request when he denied he then onlie asked of him a bill of thrée lines to be directed to the king testifieng the receipt of the pension to the intent that the king your maister should not thinke the pension to be imbeselled The lord Hastings although he knew that Piers demanded nothing but reason answered him Sir this gift commeth onelie of the liberall pleasure of the king his maister and not of my request if it be his determinat will that I shall haue it then put you it into my sléeue and if not I praie you render to him his gift againe for neither he nor you shall haue either letter acquittance or scroll signed with my hand of the receipt of anie pension to the intent to brag another daie that the kings chamberleine of England hath béene pensionarie with the French king shew his acquittance in the chamber of accounts to his dishonor Piers left his monie behind and made relation of all things to his maister which although that he had not his will yet he much more praised the wisdome and policie of the lord Hastings than of the other pensionaries coÌ„manding him yearlie line 10 to be paied without anie discharge demanding When the king of England had receiued his monie and his nobiliâ—ie their rewards he trussed vp his tents laded his baggage and departed towards Calis But yer he came there he remembring the craftie dissimulation and the vntrue dealing of Lewes earle of saint Paule high constable of France intending to declare him to the French king in his verie true likenesse and portrature sent vnto him two letters of credence written by the said line 20 constable with the true report of all such words and messages as had béene to him sent and declared by the said constable and his ambassadours Which letters the French king gladlie receiued and thankefullie accepted as the cheefe instrument to bring the constable to his death which he escaped no long season after such is the end of dissemblers When king Edward was come to Calis and had set all things in an order he tooke ship and sailed with a prosperous wind into England and was roiallie receiued vpon line 30 Blackheath by the maior of London and the magistrates and fiue hundred commoners apparrelled in murrie the eight and twentith daie of September and so conueied through the citie of Westminster where for a while after his long labour he reposed himselfe euerie daie almost talking with the queene his wife of the marriage of his daughter whome he caused to be called Dolphinesse thinking nothing surer than that marriage to take effect according to the treatie The hope of which marriage caused him line 40 to dissemble and doo things which afterward chanced greatlie to the French kings profit smallie to his About the same season the French king to compasse his purpose for the getting of the constable into his hands tooke truce with the duke of Burgognie for nine yeares as a contractor in the league and not comprehended as an other princes alie The king of England aduertised hereof sent ouer sir Thomas Montgomerie to the French king offering line 50 to passe the seas againe the next summer in his aid to make warres on the duke Burgognie so that the French king should paie to him fiftie thousand crownes for the losse which he should susteine in his custome by reason that the woolles at Calis bicause of the warres could haue no vent and also paie halfe the charges and halfe the wages of his souldiers and men of warre The French king thanked the king of England for his gentle offer but he alledged that the truce was alreadie concluded so that he could not line 60 then attempt anie thing against the same without reproch to his honour But the truth was the French king neither loned the sight nor liked the companie of the king of England on that side the sea but when he was here at home he both loued him as his brother and tooke him as his freend Sir Thomas Montgomerie was with plate richlie rewarded and so dispatched There returned with him the lord Howard and sir Iohn Cheinie which were hostages with the French king till the English armie were returned into England King Edward hauing established all things in good order as men might iudge both within his realme and without was yet troubled in his mind for that Henrie the earle of Richmond one of the bloud of king Henrie the sixt was aliue and at libertie in Britaine therefore to attempt eftsoones the mind of Francis duke of Britaine he sent ouer vnto the said duke one
had and an honorable dowrie assigned foorth of the lands that belonged to the said Arthur for the said ladie to inioy during hir life in case she suruiued hir husband And if it so chanced that by the death of either of them the mariage could not take place then should king Richard restore the same twentie thousand ounces of gold againe But beside these twentie thousand ounces of gold thus giuen by king Tancred for the mariage of his daughter he gaue other twentie thousand ounces to king Richard for an acquitance and quite claime of all manner of duties rights and demands which either he or his sister might pretend either by reason of anie bequest dowrie or anie other manner of waie England seeketh to haue some quarell whie he may refuse to marrie with my sister For these are but forged matters and no truth resteth in them When the king of England vnderstood this maner of answer he replied in this wise That as for the French kings sister he might not marrie for as much as he was able to produce good witnesse to prooue that his father had lien with hir and got a child of hir And as for his priuie procéeding and practise with Tancred he néeded no further testimonie than line 10 his owne hand and his seale the partie himselfe being present who receiued them the messenger also being not far off that carried them betwéene both the parties When the French king was throughlie informed of the first point through counsell of the earle of Flanders and others he pacified himselfe and was contented to release the king of England of his faith giuen by oth for the contract made with his sister Alice in consideration of which releasement and deliuerance the king of England couenanted to giue line 20 yearelie to the French king two thousand marks of starling coine for the terme of fiue yeares togither and at his returne home it was agreed that he shuld also deliuer vnto the French king his sister the said ladie Alice with the towne of Gisors and all other things which the French king had granted to him with his said sister On the other part the French king granted that the dutchie of Britaine should apperteine to the dominion of the dutchie of Normandie so as the duke of Britaine should be accompted line 30 the liege man of the duke of Normandie and that the duke of Normandie should answer the French king for both the dutchies as well of Britaine as Normandie These agréements were ratified and confirmed with solemne oths receiued and charters giuen vnder their hands and seales vpon the 30. of March About this time the French king now that the season of the yeare was come set forward toward the holie land leauing king Richard behind him in line 40 Sicile and the two and twentith day after his setting foorth from Messina he arriued at the siege of Acres or Acon The same day also that the French king departed from Messina queene Elianor the mother of king Richard arriued there bringing with hir the ladie Berengaria the daughter of Sanctius the king of Nauarre and the fourth day after quéene Elianor tooke leaue of hir sonne king Richard and departed homeward towards England taking hir line 50 iournie by Rome about the businesse of Geffrey the elect of Yorke as to intreat the pope that he would confirme and consecrate him archbishop or to authorise some other to doo it in his name The ladie Berengaria remained behind with the kings sister Ioane quéene of Sicile After this in the moneth of Aprill on the wednesday in the passion weeke king Richard after he had finished and made an end of all conclusions with king Tancred did also set forward with his sister Ioane who tooke with hir the ladie Berengaria line 60 daughter to the king of Nauarre affianced to him long before as aboue is partlie mentioned His nauie consisted in thirteene mightie great ships with triple sailes an hundred carikes or rather hulkes and fiftie gallies He was no sooner abroad in the maine sea but a great tempest arose wherewith his whole nauie was sore tossed and turmoiled vp and downe the seas and at length driuen on the coast of Cypres where séeking to take harbour to come on land the Cypriots would not suffer him but shewed countenance to driue him backe and to resist his landing Also whereas six of his ships were so driuen by force of tempest from the residue that thrée of them perished and three being cast vpon the shoare of Cypres before the kings arriuall there the souldiers and other people in the same were compelled to come on land for sauing their liues where otherwise they stood in danger of drowning the people of the I le assailing them in right cruell sort slue diuerse and tooke the residue prisoners and so deteined them for a certeine season King Richard then vnderstanding this iniurie to him doone by the Cypriots perceiuing they would resist his landing prepared himselfe and his people to enter vpon them by force The king of Cypres Isakius or Cursach whome Houeden nameth emperour of Cypres had assembled the most part of all the power of men that he might make though few of them were armed or had any great skill in feats of warre and caused them to set boords logs of wood benches formes and great chests afore them as a defense and as it were in steed of a wall that by succour thereof they might the better kéepe off their enimie from landing But K. Richard so incouraged his men by his presence hartened them with such comfortable words as he vttered vnto them that rowing to the shoare with their galies and small botes hauing the archers afore them they easilie got to land droue their enimies backe and so farre pursued them being but footmen weatherbeaten wearie and weat as conuenientlie they might for the shortnes of time King Richard hauing thus got foot on land approched the towne of Limezun which he with his souldiers entred and finding it emptie of people which were fled awaie but full of riches and great plentie of victuals as corne wine oile and flesh he seized therevpon The same day also the kings sisters and the ladie Berengaria with the residue of the kings nauie entred the hauen of Limezun In the meane time the king of Cypres hauing escaped from the battell got togither his men which were fled and dispersed sundrie waies and incamped within six miles of king Richard threatning that the next day he would eftsoones giue battell which when king Richard vnderstood he caused his people to be armed the next morning long before day and so comming by guides vnto the place where the Cypriots with their king were lodged suddenlie they assailed them yer they had anie warning of his marching towards them by reason whereof they were slaine like beasts in great numbers Howbeit their king and a few other escaped and fled away
and the valiancie of himselfe and some of his retinue he got the vpper hand and put his enimies to flight taking Rusteine one of the cheefe ring-leaders whom he caused to be presented to the king At the same time had the king inuested his son Edward with the duchie of Aquitaine to the offense of the earle of Cornewall to whom by charter he had before giuen and confirmed the same In a iusts holden at Walden sir Arnold de Monteinie a right valiant knight was slaine by sir Roger de Lemborne for which mischance all the Nobles there assembled made great lamentation and namelie the said sir Roger but yet he was suspected to be in blame bicause the socket of his staffe was polished not abated Hereby it should appeare that in qualitie of weapon and not in maner of their running togither these iusts and tornies in those daies practised differed from the verie order of warre The 17 of September the cathedrall church of Elie was dedicated which the bishop of that sée named Hugh had builded of his owne proper costs and charges togither with the palace there The king and a great number of the péeres nobles of the realme both spirituall and temporall were present at this solemne feast which was kept in most plentifull manner The 13 day of October the king held a great feast at London and had called the states of the realme then and there to assemble in parlement wherein he opened to them the popes grant which he had obteined of the tenths due to the church to be receiued by him for thrée yeares towards his charges in his iournie which he meant to make into the holie land The bishops and namelie Lincolne vtterlie refused to be contributarie to his grant They alledged sundrie reasons for their excuse as the pouertie of the English church being alreadie made bare with continuall exactions and oppressions but chéeflie they excused themselues by the absence of the archbishops of Canturburie and Yorke of whom the one was beyond the sea and the other at home in the north parts All th' other English bishops were there except Hereford Chester which Chester was sicke and therefore without the consent of those that were absent and namelie their primat the archbishop of Canturburie they could not conclude vpon any generall point touching the kings demand And although the king fretted and stormed against them yet could he not bring them to his purpose so that the parlement for that time was dissolued Yet before their departure from London he communed with the bishops apart to sée if he might persuade them to giue him some portion of monie towards his charges but they had tuned their strings all after one note discording all from his tenor so that not a penie could be got of them wherefore he tooke high displeasure against them reuiling them in most reprochfull maner and amongst other he vpbraided his halfe brother the elect of Winchester of great vnthankefulnesse who also amongst the residue stood against him The king hauing this repulse at the bishops hands began to fall in talke with the lords of the temporaltie touching the troubles in Gascoigne where things were in broile by the hard dooings of the earle of Leicester against whom the Gascoignes ceassed not to make warre still and of late hauing besieged him in the castell of Mountalbon droue him to such shift that to escape the present danger he was glad to set at libertie certeine rebels which he had before taken captiues Therefore to reduce that countrie vnto quietnesse the king determined to go thither himselfe and to remooue the earle of Leicester out of his office but when he came to the pith of the matter which was to desire their aid both of men and monie the lords would not agree to grant him anie And where he sought to burthen the erle of Leicester with misgouerning things against his honour they excused the same earle and so the lords also departed in displeasure of the king as well as the bishops line 10 Howbeit the king got of the Londoners by way of princelie praier twentie thousand marks of gold at that time And to their further gréefe for better meane to be reuenged against the bishop of Elie he caused the said Londoners to kéepe saint Edwards faire for fiftéene daies togither at Westminster and in the meane time to keepe their shops shut through all the citie Which thing by reason of the foule weather chancing at that time was verie greeuous vnto them albeit there was such repaire of people thither line 20 that London had not beene fuller to the iudgement of old ancient men neuer at anie time in their daies to their remembrance This yeare died sir Nicholas Samford knight a man of great reputation and valiancie Also on the twentith day of October the countesse of Winchester daughter to the earle of Hereford departed this life at Grobie a manour place belonging to hir husband the earle of Winchester a little besides Leicester and was buried at Braklie The said earle shortlie line 30 after married an other wife in hope of issue For neither by this his last wife neither by his first that was daughter to the lord Alane de Galowaie had he any children Also the same yeare that noble ladie Margaret countesse of Lisle surnamed Riuers somtime wife to Fouks de Brent departed out of this world about the second day of October In the seauen and thirtith yeare of king Henries reigne one of the popes notaries called Albert came into England to offer vnto Richard earle of Cornewall the line 40 kings brother the kingdoms of Naples and Sicill But the earle supposing it not to stand with his honour to depriue his nephue Henrie sonne to the emperor Frederike the second by his wife the empresse Isabell that was sister to the said erle refused to take that honour vpon him About the same time that is to say on the octaues of saint Martin Boniface the archbishop of Canturburie arriued in England comming from the court of Rome where he had beene long resiant ¶ At the line 50 same time there chanced a great occasion of strife betwixt the said archbishop and the bishop of Winchester For where maister Eustace de Lin officiall to the said archbishop had first excommunicated and after for his contumacie caused to be attached a preest which by authoritie of the elect of Winchester as diocesane there was entred into possession of an hospitall in Southwarke as gouernour thereof by the name of prior without consent of the officiall who pretended title as patrone in his maisters line 60 name The said elect of Winchester caused a riotous sort of persons after the maner of warre to seeke reuenge hereof the which after manie outrages doone came to Lambeth and there by violence tooke the said Eustace out of his owne house and led him to
The Gauntiners still mainteined warre against the earle of Flanders during his life and after his deceasse against Philip duke of Burgogne by such aid and comfort as they had from time to time of the king of England till finallie this yeare about the eightenth daie of December a peace was concluded betwixt the said duke and the towne of Gaunt and sir Iohn Bourchier that had laine a long season there as capteine vnder the K. of England and Peter de Bois one of the chéefe capteins of the Gauntiners before the concluding of this peace were safelie conducted to Calis by vertue of the duke of Burgogne his safe conduct and so they came ouer into England and the king gaue vnto Peter de Bois a pension of an hundred marks sterling yearelie to be paid to him out of the staples of the woolles in London This yeare king Richard holding his Christmasse at Eltham thither came to him Leo king of Armenia whose countrie and realme being in danger to be conquered of the Turks he was come into those west parts of christendome for aid and succour at the hands of the christian princes here The king honorablie receiued him and after he had taken counsell touching his request he gaue him great summes of monie and other rich gifts with a stipend as some write of a thousand pounds yearely to be paid to him during his life After he had remained here two moneths space he tooke leaue of the king and departed The chiefest point of his errand was to haue procured a peace betwixt the two kings of England and France but destinie would not permit so good a purpose to take effect for the hatred which either nation bare to other would not suffer their loftie minds to yeeld in any one point further than seemed good in their owne opinions In this ninth yeare of king Richard though by other writers it should séeme to be rather in the yeare following the duke of Lancaster with a great power of men of warre went into Spaine year 1386 and lead with him thither his wife the ladie Constance a daughter which he had by hir named Katharine and two other daughters which he had by his former wife He had béene about the preparing of an armie and all furniture necessarie for this iournie two or thrée yéeres before and therefore hauing now seauen gallies and eightéene ships sent to him out of Portingale which arriued at Bristow he caused all such vessels as he had prouided to resort likewise thither where making his generall assemblie when all his men of warre were come togither he bestowed them aboord with all their horsses and purueiances and causing sailes to be hoissed vp set forward on his line 10 long wished iournie This was in the moneth of Maie when the seas were calme the aire swéet and the winds pleasant and agréeable to his purpose He appointed for admerall of his whole fléet sir Thomas Percie and sir Iohn Holland that was after created earle of Huntington and had married one of his daughters was ordeined constable of the hoast and sir Thomas Moreaux hauing married his bastard daughter was one of his marshals There were that attended him in this iournie manie line 20 other lords and knights of honor as the lord Lucie the lord Talbot the lord Basset the lord Willoughbie the lord Fitz Walter the lord Poinings the lord Bradston the lord of PoÌ„miers a Gascoigne the lord Yonne fitz Warren Henrie lord Beaumont William lord Beauchampe sir Richard Burlie that was another of the marshals of the armie sir Hugh Spenser sir William Windsore sir Iohn Daubreticourt sir Hugh Hastings sir William Farrington sir Thomas Tresham sir Mauburin line 30 de Liniers sir Thomas Worcester sir Iohn Sowtrie sir Robert Clinton sir Philip Tirrell sir Lewes Rochester Huguelin Caluerlie Dauid Holgraue Thomas Alerie Hobequin Beaucester and diuerse other they were in all to the number of fifteene hundred men of armes whereof a thousand at the least were knights and esquiers besides foure thousand archers and other men of warre so perfectlie appointed and arraied as could be thought méet and conuenient Of this chosen companie attendant vpon the line 40 duke of Lancaster of this his voiage into Spaine the said C. Okland speaketh no lesse trulie according to the report of our annales than honorablie Ocyus instructa pro bello classe futuro Milite stipatus generoso traijcit aequor Fluctisonum cum vxore pia natÃsque duabus c. ¶ Henrie Knighton reporteth of this voiage as followeth in somewhat a differing sort from this alreadie laid downe On Easter daie saith he Iohn the duke of Lancaster with his wife came to the king line 50 to take their leaue to the which duke the king gaue a crowne of gold and the quéene likewise gaue an other crowne of gold to the duchesse Besides this the king commanded his people that they should call him king of Spaine and doo him honour in all things He had with him a power of 20000 chosen men of which number noted in the marshals bill or scroll 2000 were men of armes and 8000 were archers As they passed by Britaine they landed at Brest the capteine whereof at that time named sir Iohn line 60 Roche finding himselfe greatlie annoied by the Frenchmen that were lodged in two bastides erected before the castell declared to the duke in what state he stood Wherevpon he caused the said bastides to be assailed which was doone by the lord Fitz Walter and others who bare themselues so manfullie that the bastides were woone broken downe and a great preie with prisoners obteined although not without losse of diuerse valiant personages Thus were they within Brest castell deliuered of their vnfreendlie neighbours by the duke of Lancaster and his people Who hauing doone their feat tooke the seas and sailed foorth till they came on the coasts of Gallis where on S. Laurence eeuen they arriued in the hauen of Groigne otherwise called Coron and there they vnshipped all their prouisions determining to inuade the countrie on that side ¶ Héere bicause it is not vnprofitable to know the absolute truth of things doone by the collection of writers I haue translated the beseeging of Brest as the same is set downe by Henrie Knighton in his annales in a larger and more ample sort with a fuller certificat of circumstances than hath hitherto béene declared At the same time saith he the duke of Britaine had laid siege both by sea and land to a certeine towne in Britaine in old time subiect to the king of England which was called Brest with a great multitude of Frenchmen and Britains Now on the twelfth of the kalends of Iulie he began to build a fort before the said towne of Brest of a woonderfull bignesse the walles thereof being ten foot thicke and seauen towres about it A thousand workemen did worke daie by daie vpon it
Bale it should appeare he became a frier Carmelit in Bristow Henrie Wichingham a Carmelit frier of Norwich a notable diuine a great preacher and wrote also sundrie treatises of diuinitie Iohn Lidgate a monke of Burie an excellent poet and chiefe in his time in that facultie of all other that practised the same within this land he trauelled thorough France and Italie to learne the languages and sciences how greatlie he profited in atteining to knowledge the workes which he wrote doo sufficientlie testifie Nicholas Hostresham an excellent physician Iohn Blackeneie a religious man of the order of the Trinitie intituled De redemptione captiuorum and prior of an house of the same order at Ingham in Norffolke he was surnamed Blackeneie of the towne where he was borne Thomas Beckington bishop of Bath wrote against the law Salique by which law the Frenchmen would seclude the princes of this realme from their title vnto the crowne of France Iohn Baringham a Carmelite frier of Gippeswich in Suffolke Dauid Bois borne in Wales and a frier Carmelit professed in Glocester a doctor of diuinitie Iohn Brome an Augustine frier Michaell Trigurie a Cornishman borne whome for his excellencie and learning king Henrie the fift appointed to be gouernour of that schoole or vniuersitie which he instituted in the citie of Caen in Normandie after he had brought it vnder his subiection Iohn Amundisham a moonke of saint Albons Oswald Anglicus a moonke of the Chartreux order Iohn Keningale a Carmelit frier of Norwich Peter De sancta line 10 fide a Carmelit also of Norwich Reginald Pecocke bishop of Chichester of whome ye haue heard before he was borne in Wales and student in Oriall college in Oxenford where he procéeded doctor of diuinitie he wrote manie treatises touching the christian religion Iohn surnamed Burie of the towne where he was borne an Augustine frier in the towne of Clare in Suffolke Robert Fleming a man perfect in the Gréeke and Latine toong among whose works some haue line 20 béene séene vnder these titles namelie Lucubrationum Tiburtinarm lib. 1. a dictionarie in Gréeke and Latine and a worke in verse of sundrie kinds this man was of most fame in the yeare of our Lord 1470 which was in the tenth yeare of Edward the fourth though he were not obscure also in the daies of this Henrie the sixt Thomas Gascoigne borne at Hunfléete in Yorkeshire of that worshipfull familie of the Gascoignes there a doctor of diuinitie and chancellor of the vniuersitie of Oxenford William Stapilhart borne in Kent but by profession a white frier line 30 in London Robert Fimingham borne in Norffolke a Franciscan frier in Norwich Nicholas Montacute an historiographer Iohn Chandler chancellor of Welles William Botoner descended of a good house a knight by degrée and borne in Bristow verie studious in antiquities and other sciences Iohn Stow a monke of Norwich but student in Oxenford where he procéeded doctor of diuinitie Thomas Langleie a monke of Hulme Nicholas Bungeie borne in a towne of Norffolke of that line 40 name wrote an historie called Adunationes chronicorum Henrie Beauford bishop of Winchester base sonne to Iohn duke of Lancaster of whome before we haue made sufficient mention made cardinall by pope Martine the fourth in the yeare 1426 Adam Homlington a Carmelit frier William Coppinger maister of the vniuersitie of Oxenford Thomas Stacie an expert mathematician and no lesse skilfull in astronomie Iohn Talaugerne a moonke of Worcester William Sutton an astrologian Robert Balsacke wrote a booke intituled De re militari that is to saie of warre or chiualrie so that as is thought he was both a good souldier and a painefull student of good letters Thomas Dando a Carmelit frier of Marleburgh he wrote the life of Alphred king of west Saxons William Graie borne of the noble house of the Graies of Codnor he went to atteine to some excellencie of learning in Italie where he heard that noble clearke Guarinus Ueronensis read in Ferrara he was preferred to the bishoprike of Elie in the yéere 1454 by pope Nicholas the fift when Thomas Bourchier was translated from thense to Canturburie Iohn Kempe archbishop of Yorke and after remooued from thense to Canturburie as before ye haue heard he was made cardinall of S. Albin by pope Eugenie the fourth Adam Molins as Bale calleth him kéeper of the kings priuie seale excellentlie learned in time of the ciuill warre betwixt king Henrie and the duke of Yorke in which he lost his head Thomas Chillenden a doctor both of the law ciuill and canon became at length a moonke in Canturburie Robert Bale surnamed the elder excellentlie learned in the lawes of the realme recorder of London gathered as it were a chronicle of the customes lawes foundations changes restoring magistrats offices orders and publike assemblies of the citie of London with other matters touching the perfect description of the same citie he wrote other works also touching the state of the same citie and the acts of king Edward the third he departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 1461 euen about the beginning of the reigne of king Edward the fourth vnto whome we will now againe returne Thus farre the tragicall historie of Henrie the sixt depriued of his roialtie Edward the fourth earle of March sonne and heire to Richard duke of Yorke AFter that this prince Edward earle of March had taken vpon him the gouernement of this realme of England as before ye haue heard the morow next insuing being the fourth of March he rode to the church of saint Paule and there offered and after Te Deum soong with great solemnitie he was conueied to Westminster and there set in the hall with the scepter roiall in his hand whereto people in great numbers assembled His claime to the crowne was declared to be by two maner of waies the first as sonne and heire to duke Richard his father right inheritor to the same the second by authoritie of parlement and forfeiture committed by king Henrie Wherevpon it was againe demanded of the commons if they would admit and take the said erle as their prince and souereigne lord which all with one voice cried Yea yea This part thus plaied he entered into Westminster church vnder a canopie with solemne procession and there as king offered and herewith taking the homages of all the nobles there present he returned by water to London and was lodged in the bishops palace and on the morrow after he was proclamed king by the name of Edward the fourth throughout the citie This was in the yeare of the world 5427 and after the birth of our Sauiour 1461 after our accompt beginning the yeare at Christmasse but after line 10 the vsuall accompt of the church of England 1460 the twentith of emperour Frederike the third the nine and thirtith and last of Charles the seuenth French king and first yeare of the reigne of Iames the third king of Scots Whilest
as this floore One streight amongst them gaue iudgement that he that had line 40 doone it was worthie to lose his head The king streight replied he had rather lose a dozen such heads as his was that so iudged than one such seruants as had doone it and herewith he commanded that the lord Greies pardon should presentlie be made the which with a letter of great thanks and promise of reward was returned by the said sir Thomas Palmer to the said lord Greie but the reward failed the king not continuing long after in life the like hap whereof had oftentimes happened vnto diuerse line 50 of his worthie ancestors vpon their due deserts to haue béene considered of and therefore the case the lesse strange This haue I set downe the more willinglie for that I haue receiued it from them which haue heard it reported not onlie by the lord Greis owne mouth but also by the relation of sir Thomas Palmer and others that were present the same not tending so much to the lord Greies owne praise as to the betokening of the kings noble courage and the great secret trust which he worthilie reposed in the said lord line 60 Greie Here is to be noted also lest any man should mistake the matter as if the king dealt indirectlie herein that his maiestie knowing how the Frenchmen in going about to build this fort did more than they might by the couenants of the peace and therefore was resolued at the first aduertisement thereof to haue it rased But yet for that it might happilie haue béene signified ouer vnto the Frenchmen before my lord Greie could haue accomplished the feat he therefore wiselie wrote one thing in his letters wherevnto manie might be priuie and â—enâ— secret knowledge by words contrarie to the contents of the same letters so as if the messenger were trustie his pleasure might not be discouered to the hinderance or dispappointing of the same But now to our purpose The French king after this bicause as yet hée would not séeme to breake the peace commanded the trenches and new fortifications made about this fortresse called Chatillons garden thus cast downe to be filled by his owne people and so it rested during the life of king Henrie but afterwards it was begun againe and finished as after ye shall heare About Michaelmas in this present yeare Thomas duke of Norffolke and Henrie earle of Surrie that was his sonne and heire vpon certeine surmises of treason were committed to the tower of London and immediatlie after Christmas the thirtéenth of Ianuarie the king then lieng in the extremities of death the said earle was arreigned in the Guildhall of London before the lord maior the lord chancellor and diuerse other lords and iudges being there in commission Where if he had tempered his answers with such modestie as he shewed token of a right perfect and readie wit his praise had béene the greater Some things he flatlie denied seeking to weaken the credit of his accusers by certeine circumstances other he excused with interpretations of his meaning to proue the same to be far otherwise than was alleged against him And one speciall matter amongest other wherewith he was charged was for bearing certeine arms that were said to belong to the king and to the prince The bearing where of he iustified and maintened that as he tooke it he might beare them as belonging to diuerse of his ancestors and withall affirmed that he had the opinion of heralds therein But yet to his indictment he pleaded not giltie and for that he was no lord of the parlement he was inforced to stand to the triall of a common inquest of his countrie which found him giltie and therevpon he had iudgement of death and shortlie after to wit the 19 of Ianuarie he was beheaded on the tower hill ¶ In this moneth of Ianuarie the church of the late graie friers in London was opened and masse â—oong there and that daie preached at Paules crosse the bishop of Rochester who declared the kings gift to the citie of London for the relieuing of the poore people which was by patent vnder his great seale Saint Bartholomews spittle the church of the graie friers and two parish churches the one of saint Nicholas in the shambles the other saint Ewine in Newgate market all to be mâ—de on parish church of the graie friers church and in lands he gaue for the maintenance of the same 500 markes by yeare for euer this church to be named Christs church founded by king Henrie the eight The duke was atteinted by parlement and the atteindor after reuersed in the first yeare of quéene Marie The euill hap as well of the father as of the sonne was greatlie lamented of manie not onelie for the good seruice which the duke had doone in his daies in defense of this realme but also for that the earle was a gentleman well learned and knowne to haue an excellent wit if he had béene thankefull to God for the same and other such good gifts as he had indued him withall The king now lieng at the point of death made his last will and testament wherein he not onelie yéelded himselfe to almightie God but also tooke order that during the minoritie of his sonne prince Edward his executors should be councellors and aiders to him in all things as well concerning priuate as publike affaires They were sixtéene in number whose names were as hereafter followeth Thomas Cranmer archbishop of Canturburie Thomas Wriothesleie lord chancellor sir William Paulet knight of the order lord Saint-Iohn great master of the houshold sir Edward Seimer knight of the order earle of Hertford and high chamberleine of England sir Iohn Russell knight of the order lord priuie seale sir Iohn Dudleie knight of the order vicount Lisle baron of Maupas high admerall of England Cutbert Tunstall bishop of Durham sir Anthonie Browne knight of the order and master of the horsse sir Edmund Montacute knight chiefe iustice of the coÌ„mon plees sir Thomas Bromleie knight one of the iustices of the kings bench sir line 10 Edward North knight chancellor of the augmentation sir William Paget knight of the order sir Anthonie Dennie knight sir William Herbert knight sir Edward Wotton knight treasuror of Calis Nicholas Wotton deane of Canturburie and Yorke So soone as the noble king had finished his last will and testament as afore is said he shortlie therevpon yeelded vp his spirit to almightie God departing this world the eight and twentith daie of Ianuarie line 20 in the eight and thirtith yeare of his reigne and in the yeare of our Lord 1546 after the accompt of the church of England but after the accompt which we follow in this booke 1547 beginning our yeare the first of Ianuarie He reigned thirtie and seuen yeares nine moneths and od daies His bodie according to his will in that behalfe was conueied to Windsor with all funerall
Lanquet wrote an epitome of chronicles and also of the winning of Bullongne Iohn Shepre Leonard line 30 Cox wrote diuerse treatises one in English rhetorike whereof Bale maketh no mention Thomas Soulmon borne in the I le of Gernseie verie studious in histories as by his writings and notes it appeareth Iohn Longland bishop of Lincolne Maurice Chancie a Charterhouse moonke Cutbert Tunstall bishop of Duresme Richard Samson Alban Hill a Welshman an excellent physician Richard Croke verie expert in the Gréeke toong Robert Whittington borne in Staffordshire néere to Lichfield line 40 wrote diuerse treatises for the instruction of Grammarians Iohn Aldrige bishop of Carleill Iohn Russell gathered a treatise intituled Super iure Caesaris Papae he wrote also commentaries in Cantica William Roie Simon Fish a Kentishman borne wrote a booke called the supplication of beggers Iohn Powell and Edward Powell Welshmen wrote against Luther Edward died in Smithfield for treason in denieng the kings supremacie in the line 50 yeare 1540 Iohn Houghton gouernour of the Charterhouse moonks in London died likewise for treason in the yeare a thousand fiue hundred thirtie and fiue Iohn Rickes being an aged man forsaking the order of a frier Minor which he had first professed imbraced the gospell George Bullen lord Rochford brother to quéene Anne wrote diuerse songs and sonets Francis Bigod knight borne in Yorkeshire wrote a booke against the cleargie intituled De impropriationibus and translated certeine bookes from Latine into English he died for rebellion in the yeare a thousand fiue hundred thirtie and seauen Richard Wise Henrie Morleie lord Morleie wrote diuerse treatises as comedies and tragedies the life of sectaries and certeine rithmes William Boteuille alià s Thin restored Chaucers workes by his learned and painfull corrections Iohn Smith sometime schoolemaister of Heiton Richard Turpine borne of a worshipfull familie in England seruing in the garrison of Calis wrote a chronicle of his time he died in the yéere a thousand fiue hundred fortie and one and was buried in saint Nicholas church in Calis Sir Thomas Wiat knight in whose praise much might be said as well for his learning as other excellent qualities meet for a man of his calling he greattlie furthered to inrich the English toong he wrote diuerse matters in English méeter and translated the seauen penitentiall psalmes and as some write the whole psalter he died of the pestilence in the west countrie being on his iourneie into Spaine whither he was sent ambassadour from the king vnto the emperour in the yeare a thousand fiue hundred fortie and one Henrie Howard earle of Surrie sonne to the duke of Norffolke delighted in the like studies with sir Thomas Wiat wrote diuerse treatises also in English méeter he suffered at Tower hill as in the historie of this king before yée haue heard Iohn Field a citizen and lawyer of London wrote sundrie treatises as his owne answers vnto certeine articles ministred to him by sir Thomas More the bishop of Rochester Rastall and others when he was in prison for religion he wrote also a treatise of mans fréewill De seruo hominis arbitrio and collections of the common lawes of the land c Tristram Reuell Henrie Brinklow a merchant of London wrote a little booke which he published vnder thâ— name of Roderike Mors and also a complaint vpon London c Robert Shingletâ—n borne of a good familie in Lancashire wrote a treatise of the seauen churches and other things as of certeine prophesies for the which as some write he suffered at London being conuict of treason in the yeare 1544 William Parreie a Welshman wrote a booke intituled Speculum iuuenum Of strangers that liued here in this kings daies and for their works which they wrote were had in estimation these we find recorded by maister Bale Barnard Andreas a Frenchman borne in Tolouse an Augustin Frier and an excellent poet Adrian de Castello an Italian of Corneto a towne in Thuscaine he was commended vnto king Henrie the seuenth by the archbishop Morton and therevpon was first made bishop of Hereford and after resigning that sée was aduanced to Bath and Welles Andreas Ammonius an Italian of the citie of Luca secretarie to the king wrote diuerse treatises Iames Calco an Italian also of Pauia in Lumbardie by profession a Carmelite frier an earnest defender of the diuorse betwixt the king and the ladie Katharine Dowager disproouing the marriage beâ—wixt them to be in anie wise lawfull Thus farre the right high and renowmed Henrie the eight sonne and successor to Henrie the seuenth Edward the sixt sonne and successor to Henrie the eight AFter it had pleased almightie God to call to his mercie that famous prince king Henrie the eight the parlement as yet continuing and now by his death dissolued the executours of the said king and other of the nobilitie assembling themselues line 10 togither did first by sound of trumpet in the palace of Westminster and so through London cause his sonne and heire prince Edward to be proclamed king of this realme by the name of Edward the sixt king of England France and Ireland defender of the faith and of the churches of England and Ireland the supreame head he being yet but nine yeares and od moneths of age he was thus proclamed the eight and twentith of Ianuarie in the yeare of the world 5513 and after the birth of our line 20 Lord 1547 year 1547 according to the accompt of them that begin the yeare at Christmasse but after the accompt of the church of England in the yeare 1546 about the nine and twentith yeare of the emperor Charles the fift the three and thirtith of Francis the first of that name king of France and in the fift yeare of the reigne of Marie quéene of Scotland Shortlie herevpon the earle of Hertford with other of the lords resorted to Hatfield where the yoong king then laie from whence they conducted him with line 30 a great and right honorable companie to the Tower of London During the time of his abode there for the good gouernement of the realme the honour and suertie of his maiesties person his vncle Edward earle of Hertford was by order of the councell and the assent of his maiestie as one most méetest to occupie that roome appointed gouernour of his roiall person and protector of his realmes dominions and subiects and so proclamed the first of Februarie by an herald at armes and sound of trumpet through line 40 the citie of London in the vsuall places thereof as it was thought expedient The sixt daie of Februarie the earle of Hertford lord protector adorned king Edward with the order of knighthood remaining then in the Tower and therewith the king standing vp called for Henrie Hubbleshorne lord maior of the citie of London who comming before his presence the king tooke the sword of the lord protector and dubbed the said Hubblethorne knight he being the first that euer he
Fitzalane earle of Arundell Warren was with others made protector of England in this sort At a parlement holden at London in the tenth yeare of Richard the second being the yeare of Christ 1386 were certeine gouernors of the kingdome elected because the treasure of the realme had beene imbesiled lewdlie wasted nothing to the profit of the king and kingdome by the couetous and euill gouernment of the deposed officers which were Michaell de la Poole earle of Suffolke lord chancellor Iohn Fortham bishop of Durham lord treasuror diuerse other persons that ruled about the king Now the gouernors elected by this parlement were in number thirtéene and by name Thomas Arundell bishop of Elie then made lord chancellor Iohn Gilbert bishop of Hereford made lord treasuror and Nicholas abbat of Waltham at that time made kéeper of the priuie seale William Courtneie archbishop of Canturburie Alexander Neuill archbishop of Yorke Edmund Langleie duke of Yorke Thomas of Woodstocke duke of Glocester William bishop of Winchester Thomas bishop of Ercester Richard Fitzalane erle of Arundell Iohn lord Deuereux and Reinold lord Cobham of Starborow These were thus by parlement chosen to haue vnder the king the whole ouersight and gouernment of the realme as by their commission in the statutes of the tenth yeare of the said Richard the second it dooth in the printed booke appeare Edmund Langleie duke of Yorke vncle vnto Richard the second was in the eighteenth yeare of the said Richard being about the yeare of our redemption 1395 ordeined lord gardian of England in the kings absence in the realme of Ireland This protector caused a parlement to be assembled at Westminster where he dealt so effectuallie notwithstanding the vntowardnesse of the burgesses that a tenth was granted by the cleargie and a fiftéenth by the temporaltie but not without protestation line 10 that those paiments were granted of a méere fréewill for the loue they bare to the king and to haue the affaires in Ireland to succéed the better After this about foure yeares king Richard the second in the two and twentith yeare of his reigne in the yeare of Christ 1399 making another viage into Ireland being the last and most vnhappie that euer was to him for before his returne he had in effect lost his realme which after his comming he lost in deed did againe in his absence substitute line 20 this Edmund duke of Yorke as cheefe gouernor of England Who in the absence of the king assembled a power of men against Henrie of Bullingbrooke now entered into the land to challenge the dukedome of Lancaster after the death of his father Iohn of Gaunt and vnder that colour to vsurpe the crowne Which Edmund passing into Wales in the thrée and twentith yeare of Richard the second was receiued into the castell of Barkleie there remained vntill the comming of Henrie line 30 of Bullingbrooke Whom when he perceiued for the power which the said duke of Lancaster had assembled from all parts of the realme that he was not of sufficiencie to resist he came foorth into the church that stood without the castell and there fell to parâ—ée with the duke of Lancaster after which he did neuer forsake the duke of Lancaster vntill he came to the crowne Who if he had faithfullie stood vnto his nephue might perhaps haue saued vnto him both his crowne and life Of this man is more said line 40 in my treatise of the dukes of England Ione de Namures sometime dutches of Britaine widow to Philip Montfort as saith Hypodigma but Walsingham in his historie casteth him Iohn duke of Britaine being also the widow of king Henrie the fourth was substitute gouernor of the realme by hir son in law king Henrie the fift king of England in the third yeare of his reigne being the yeare from the birth of the Messias 1415 when the said Henrie the fift tooke his iournie into line 50 France to conquer the same This woman in the seuenth yeare of Henrie the fift which was in the yeare of Christ 1419 being suspected as saith Iohn Stow to practise witchcraft against the king was committed to the custodie of Iohn Wellam or rather Iohn Pelham who appointed nine seruants to attend vpon hir and brought hir to Peuenseie castell to be gouerned vnder his prouidence But shortlie after cléering hir selfe she was deliuered This ladie died at Hauering at the bowre in Essex line 60 the ninth of Iulie in the seuentéenth yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt being the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred thirtie and seuen and was buried at Canturburie with hir husband king Henrie the fourth Iohn duke of Bedford son to Henrie the fourth brother to K. Henrie the fift was in the fourth yeare of the reigne of the said Henrie being the yeare of our redemption 1416 by parlement appointed regent of the realme to inioie the same office so long as the king was imploied in the French wars Which place he possessed accordinglie and in the ninth yeare of the victorious prince king Henrie the fift being gardian of England he with Henrie Beauford bishop of Winchester vncle to Henrie the fift and Iaqueline duches of Holland remaining then in England were godfathers and godmother to Henrie after king by the name of Henrie the sixt the son of Henrie the fift Henrie Chichleie archbishop of Canturburie baptising the child In the tenth and last yeare of Henrie the fift this Iohn with a strong power conueied quéene Katharine wife to Henrie the fift from Southampton into France This man being duke of Bedford earle of Richmond and of Kendall conestable of England and warden of the marches of Scotland died the fourtéenth daie of September at Rone in Normandie who hauing also béene regent of France a most valiant gentleman and one that kept the parts beyond the seas in great obedience to the crowne of England had for his yearelie pension 20000 crownes at the least After whose death all things went backeward and the English lost all that they had beyond the seas Calis those dominions onlie excepted This man I saie died in the yeare of our redemption 1435 being the thirtéenth yeare of the vnfortunat gouernment of the deposed king Henrie the sixt and was honorablie buried at Rone in our ladie church there Touching whome it shall not gréeue me to set downe the answer of a French king latelie in our age made to one of his nobilitie saieng vnto the king then being in the said ladie church of Rone and beholding the toome of this Iohn of Bedford that it were conuenient that the same toome were defaced and pulled downe since he was the onelie man that wrought the greatest damage that euer happened vnto France To whom the king said Hold thy peace foole God forbid that euer we should doo such reproch to him being dead whome the proudest of our nation durst not looke in the face when he was liuing This
see of which Baldocke thus writeth a Polychronicon of Durham Robertus de Baldocke cancellarius An. 1325 captus cum Hugonibus de despensers quia clericus fuit sacerdos in noua porta Londiniarum poni fecit Edwardus princeps Isabella mater eius vbi pro nimia miseria mortuus fuit infra breue line 20 Iohn Hotham bishop of Elie the second time was at Westminster made chancellor of England in the yeare that the word became flesh 1326 being the first yeare of the reigne of that king which first intituled himselfe king of England and France but he continued not long in the same office for he was remooued in the second yeare of the said king being the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred twentie and eight He was elected bishop in the yéere of Christ one thousand line 30 thrée hundred and sixtéene in which place he ruled twentie yeares and died in the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred and six and thirtie of the palseie at Summersham being buried in the church of Elie vnder a goodlie monument of stone with the image of a bishop carued out of alabaster vpon his toome Henrie Cliffe master of the rolles had the charge and kéeping of the great seale of England in the said yeare of Christ 1328 being the second yeare line 40 of king Edward the third and was the kings chancellor also Henrie de Burgh Burghwash or Burgesse nephue vnto sir Bartholomew Bladismere baron of Léeds in Kent hauing béene treasuror of England inioied the honor of the chancellor in the second yéere of king Edward the third being the yeare that the sonne of God tooke on him the forme of a seruant 1328 and was made chancellor at Northampton which office he did not long inioie Here bicause I line 50 haue a little mentioned sir Bartholomew Bladesmere I will saie somwhat more of him which is that being orator for the king in diuers weightie affairs he spent in those businesses 15000 pounds of the kings monie and yet produced little or nothing to effect in the kings causes except the procuring of this Henrie Burghwash to the bishoprike of Lincolne who was buried in the east end towards the north of the church of Lincolne at whose féet was also buried Robert his brother a knight of great line 60 fame in the warres in which church is also buried Bartholomew sonne to the said Robert They founded a grammar schoole and fiue priests fiue poore scholars in Lincolne Iohn Stratford bishop of Winchester and after of Canturburie and sometime treasuror of England was made chancellor of the realme in the yéere of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred and thirtie being the fourth yeare of the said king Edward the third who being sent in the sixt yeare of Edward the third in the yeare of our Lord one thousand three hundred two and thirtie ambassador beyond the seas about the affaires of the king kingdome did not like cardinall Woolseie the chancellor in the daies of K. Henrie the eight presumptuouslie carrie the great seale with him beyond the seas but left the same in his absence with others who both could and would answer the well or euill vsing thereof whilest he was in France This man continued in the office vntill the eight yeare of Edward the third Richard de Burie otherwise called Richard de Angeruile being borne in a little village bâ—side saint Edmundsburie commonlie called the Berrie abbeie was so surnamed Burie of that place had to his father sir Richard Angeruile knight This man being first kept at schoole by his vncle sir Iohn Wilobie priest was afterward treasuror of England chancellor and bishop of Durham to which place of chancellorship he was aduanced in the yeare that the second person in trinitie was brought into the world 1334 being the eight yeare of that king of England which first quartered the armes of England and France Which office he receiued by the kings gift at Westminster in which yeare he was inthronized being first consecrated bishop in the yere of Christ 1333 in the bishoprike of Durham by William Cowton prior of Durham he kept the see 11 years two moneths and 12 daies died in the yeare 1345 was buried in the south angle of the church of Durham Iohn Stratford the second time lord chancellor being now archbishop of Canturburie was installed therein at Yorke in the yeare of Christ 1335 being the ninth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third Robert de Stratford or Strafford as some haue written but as I thinke corruptlie being archdeacon of Canturburie which office was first ordeined by Anselme archbishop of the said citie of Canturburie was made chancellor of England on the foure and twentith daie of March being the éeue of the annuntiation of the virgin Marie at Westminster in the yeare that the word of the father tooke on him the forme of a seruant 1336 being the eleuenth yeare of the gouernement of king Edward the third He was after made bishop of Chichester desiring to be remooued from that office of chancellorship which was granted vnto him whervpon he surrendered vp the seale to the said king Edward the third in the twelfe yeare of his reigne being the yeare of our redemption 1338. Richard de Bintwoorth chosen bishop of London and confirmed by Iohn Stratford archbishop of Canturburie at Oteford in the tenth kalends of Iune 1338 was at Waltham aduanced to the honour of lord chancellor in the moneth of Iulie in the said yeare of Christ 1338 being the twelfe yeare of that king which first ordeined the knights of the order of the garter Iohn Stratford the third time lord chancellor of England in which office he did not now long continue Robert bishop of Chichester being the foresaid Robert Stratford was againe made lord chancellor of England in the yere of our redemption 1340 being the fourtéenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third who was put out of that office and should with the treasuror of England haue bene sent into France for a pledge for the paiment of certeine summes of monie Robert de Bourchier borne of the honourable house of the lord Bourchiers was in the towre of London made lord chancellor of England in December in the said fouretéenth yeare of king Edward the third being the yeare of our Lord 1340 though some saie he was made chancellor in the fiftéenth yeare of the said king Robert Perning Pernicke or Pernwicke also treasuror of England was made chancellor of England in the yeare that the virgine brought foorth the the Messiah 1341 being the fiftéenth yeare of king Edward the third He died in the yeare 1343 being the seuentéenth yeare of the foresaid king Edward the third This man was a sergeant in the third yeare of Edward the third when he began to plead as a sergeant in which he
said Henrie the lawfull emperor and in fight hauing lost his right hand he the said Rodulph lamented his case to certeine bishops who in the popes name had erected him vp and to them he said that the selfe same right hand which he had lost was the same hand wherewith he had before sworne obedience to his lord and maister the emperor Henrie and that in following their vngodlie counsels he had brought vpon him Gods heauie and iust iudgements And so Henrie the emperor preuailing by Gods power caused Gregorie the pope by a synod in Italie to be deposed as in like times before him his predecessor Otho the emperor had deposed one pope Iohn for manie heinous crimes so were also within a short time thrée other popes namelie Syluester Bennet and Gregorie the sixt vsed by the emperor Henrie the third about the yeare of our Lord one thousand fortie and seuen for their like presumptuous attempts in temporall actions against the said emperoâ—s Manie other examples might be shewed to the emperors maiestie and the princes of the holie empire now being after the time of Henrie the fourth as of Henrie the fift and Frederike the first and Frederike the second and then of Lewes of Bauar all emperors cruellie and tyrannouslie persecuted by the popes and by their buls cursses and by open wars and likewise to manie other the great kings and monarchs of christendome of their noble progenitors kings of their seuerall dominions Whereby they may sée how this kind of tyrannous autoritie in popes to make warres vpon emperors kings and to command them to be depriued tooke hold at the first by pope Hildebrand though the same neuer had anie lawfull example or warrant from the lawes of God of the old or new testament but yet the successes of their tyrannies were by Gods goodnesse for the most part made frustrat as by Gods goodnesse there is no doubt but the like will followe to their confusions at all times to come And therefore as there is no doubt but the like violent tyrannous procéedings by anie pope in maintenance of traitors and rebels would be withstood by euerie souereigne prince in christendome in defense of their persons and crownes and maintenance of their subiects in peace so is there at this present a like iust cause that the emperors maiestie with the princes of the holie empire and all other souereigne kings princes in christendome should iudge the same to be lawfull for hir maiestie being a quéene and holding the verie place of a king and a prince souereigne ouer diuers kingdoms and nations she being also most lawfullie inuested in hir crowne and as for good gouerning of hir people with such applause and generall allowance loued and obeied of them sauing a few ragged traitors or rebels or persons discontented whereof no other realme is frée as continuallie for these fiue twentie yeares past hath béene notablie séene and so publikelie marked euen by strangers repairing into this realme as it were no cause of disgrace to anie monarch and king in christendome to haue hir maiesties felicitie compared with anie of theirs whatsoeuer and it maie be there are manie kings and princes could be well contented with the fruition of some proportion of hir felicitie And though the popes be now suffered by the emperor in the lands of his owne peculiar patrimonie and by the two great monarchs the French king and the king of Spaine in their dominions and territories although by manie other kings not so allowed to continue his authoritie in sundrie cases and his glorious title to be the vniuersall bishop of the world which title Gregorie the great aboue nine hundred yeares past called a prophane title full of sacrilege and a preamble of antichrist yet in all their dominions kingdoms as also in the realme of England most notablie by manie ancient lawes it is well knowne how manie waies the tyrannous power of this his excessiue authoritie hath béene and still is restreined checked and limited by lawes and pragmatikes both ancient and new both in France and Spaine and other dominions a verie large field for the lawyers of those countries to walke in and discourse And howsoeuer the popes canonists being as his bombarders doo make his excommunications and cursses appeare fearefull to the multitude and simple people yet all great emperors and kings aforetime in their owne cases of their rights and roiall preeminences though the same concerned but a citie or a poore towne and sometime but the not allowance line 10 of some vnworthie person to a bishoprike or to an abbeie neuer refrained to despise all popes cursses or forces but attempted alwaies either by their swords to compell them to desist from their furious actions or without anie feare of themselues in bodie soule or conscience stoutlie to withstand their cursses and that sometime by force sometime by ordinances and lawes the ancient histories whereof are too manie to be repeated and of none more frequent and effectuall than of the kings of France line 20 And in the records of England dooth appeare how stoutlie the kings the baronadie of England from age to age by extreame penall laws haue so repelled the popes vsurpations as with the verie name of premunires his proctors haue béene terrified and his cleargie haue quaked as of late cardinall Woolseie did prooue But leauing those that are ancient we may remember how in this our owne present or late age it hath béene manifestlie seene how the armie of the line 30 late noble emperour Charles the fift father to king Philip that now reigneth was not afraid of his cursses when in the yeare of our Lord 1527 Rome it selfe was besieged and sacked year 1527 and the pope then called Clement and his cardinals to the number of about thirtie and thrée in his mount Adrian or castell S. Angelo taken prisoners and deteined seauen moneths or more and after ransomed by Don Vgo di Moncada a Spaniard and the marquesse of Guasto at aboue foure hundred thousand duckets besides the line 40 ransomes of the cardinals which was much greater hauing not long before time béene also notwithstanding his cursses besieged in the same castell by the familie of the Colonies and their fautors his next neighbours being then imperialists and forced to yeeld to all their demands year 1550 Neither did king Henrie the second of France father to Henrie now king of France about the yeare 1550 feare or regard the pope or his court of Rome when he made seuerall strict edicts against manie parts of the popes claimes in preiudice of the crowne and cleargie of line 50 France retracting the authoritie of the court of Rome greatlie to the hinderance of the popes former profits Neither was the armie of king Philip now of Spaine whereof the duke of Alua was generall striken with anie feare of curssing when it was brought afore Rome against the pope in the yeare of our
honor painefull watchfull and able to tolerate heat and cold though he were tall of stature and verie grosse of bodie Toward the end of his daies he waxed verie deuout and became desirous to aduance the state of the line 40 church insomuch that he builded thrée abbeies in three seuerall places endowing them with faire lands and large possessions one at the place where he vanquished king Harold fiue miles from Hastings which he named Battell of the field there fought the other at Celby in Yorkeshire and the third in Normandie at Caen where his wife Quéene Maud had builded a nunnerie which Maud died in the yéere 1084. before the decease of the king hir husband After his death his bodie was buried in Caen line 50 in S. Stephans church but before it could be committed to the ground the executors were consâ—reined to agree with the lord of the soile where the church stood which as he said the king in his life time had iniuriouslie taken from him and gaue him a great summe of monie to release his title ¶ By this we may consider the great miserie of mans estate in that so mightie a prince could not haue so much ground after his death as to couer his dead corâ—s without dooing iniurie to another This line 60 also may be a speciall lesson for all men and namelie for princes noblemen and gentlemen who oftentimes to enlarge their owne commodities doo not regard what wrong they offer to the inferiour â—ort The said king William had by Maud his wife the daughter of Baldwine earle of Flanders foure sonnes Robert surnamed Curthose vnto whome he bequeathed the duchie of Normandie Richard who died in his youth William surnamed Ruâ—â—s to whom he gaue by testament the realme of England and Henrie surnamed Beauclerke for his cunning knowledge and learning vnto whom he bequethed all his treasure and mooueable goods with the possessions that belonged to his mother Besides these foure sonnes he had also by his said wife fiue daughters Cecilie who became a nunne Constance who was married to Alane duke of Britaine Adela who was giuen in mariage to Stephan earle of Blois of whom that Stephan was borne which reigned after Henrie the first Adeliza who was promised in mariage to Harold king of England as before you haue heard but she died yer she was maried either to him or to any other and so likewise did the fift whose name I cannot reherse But to conclude though king William held the English so vnder foot that in his daies almost no Englishman bare any office of honor or rule in his time yet he somewhat fauoured the citie of London and at the earnest sute of William a Norman then bishop of that see he granted vnto the citizens the first charter which is written in the Saxon toong sealed with greene wax and expressed in viij or ix lines at the most exemplified according to the copie and so printed as followeth Williem king grets Williem Bisceop Godfred Porterefan ealle ya Burghwarn binnen London Frencisce Englise frendlice Ic kiden eoy yeet ic wille yeet git ben ealra weera lagayweord ye get weeran on Eadwerds daege kings And ic will yeet aelc child by his fader yrfnume aefter his faders daege And ic nelle ge wolian yeet aenig man eoy aenis wrang beode God eoy heald Wilhelmus rex salutat Wilhelmum Episcopum Goffridum Portegrefium omnem Burghware infra London Frans. Angl. amicabiliter Et vobis notum facio quòd ego volo quòd vos sitis omni lege illa digni qua fuistis Edwardi dicbus regis Et volo quòd omnis puer sit patris sui haeres post diem patris sui Et ego nolo pati quòd aliquis homo aliquam iniuriam vobis inferat Deus vos saluet But howsoeuer he vsed the rest of the English this is recorded of some writers that by his rigorous proceedings against them he brought to passe that the countrie was so rid of theeues and robbers as that at length a maid might haue passed through the land with a bag full of gold and not haue met with any misdooer to haue bereft hir of the same a thing right strange to consider sith in the beginning of his reigne there were such routs of outlawes and robbers that the peaceabler people could not be safelie possessed of their owne houses were the same neuer so well fortified and defended Among manie lawes made by the said William this one is to be remembred that such as forced any woman should lose their genitals In this kings daies also liued Osmond the second bishop of Salisburie who compiled the church seruice which in times past they commonlie called after Salisburie vse The vse of the long bowe as Iohn Rous testifieth came first into England with this king William the Conquerour for the English before that time vsed to fight with axes and such hand weapons and therefore in the oration made by the Conquerour before he gaue battell to king Harold the better to encourage his men he told them they should encounter with enimies that wanted shot In the yeare of our Lord 1542. Monsieur de Castres bishop of Baieulx and abbat of Saint Estienne in Caen caused the sepulchre of this William to be opened wherein his bodie was found whole faire and perfect of lims large and big of stature and personage longer than the ordinarie sort of men with a copper plate fairlie gilt and this epitaph therevpon ingrauen Qui rexit rigidos Normannos atque Britannos Audacter vicit fortiter obtinuit Et Coenomenses virtute contudit enses Imperijque suilegibus applicuit Rex magnus parua iacet hac Guilhelmus in vrna Sufficit magno parua domus domino Ter septem gradibus se voluerat atque duobus Virginis in gremio Phoebus hic oâ—ijt that is Who ouer Normans rough did rule and ouer Britons bold Did conquest stoutlie win and conquest woone did stronglie hold Who by his valure great the fatall vprores calmd in maine And to obeie his powers and lawes the Manceaux did constraine This mightie king within this little vault intoomed lies So great a lord sometime so small a roome dooth now suffice When three times seuen and two by iust degrees the sunne had tooke His woonted course in Virgos lap then he the world forsooke Thus far William Conquerour William Rufus or William the Red. WIlliam surnamed Rufus or William the Red second sonne to William Conqueror began his reigne ouer England the ninth of September in the yeare 1087. about the 31. yeare of the emperour Henrie the fourth and the 37. of Philip the first king of France Urbane the second then gouerning the sée of Rome and Malcolme Cammoir line 10 reigning in Scotland Immediatlie after his fathers deceasse and before the solemnitie of the funerals were executed he came ouer into
the first to estéeme greatlie of the offer made to him by the Englishmen who had thus written ouer vnto him blaming generallie all the English Nobilitie for that while he was abroad in the seruice of the christian common-wealth against the infidels they would suffer him to be in such wise defrauded of his fathers inheritance by his brother through their vntruth and negligence yet although he meant to delaie the matter and thought it rather better to dissemble with them for a time than to commit the successe of his affaires and person to their inconstancie shortlie after being set on fire and still incouraged by the persuasion of Rafe bishop of Durham who by a woonderfull wilie shiâ—t about the first of Februarie had broken out of prison with all speed possible he gathered an armie purposing out of hand to passe ouer with the same into England and to hazard his right by dent of sword which was thus by plaine iniurie most wickedlie deteined from him King Henrie in the meane time vnderstanding his meaning assembled likewise his power and rigged foorth a great number of ships appointing them to lie in a readinesse to stop his brothers comming to land if it might be He himselfe also lodged with his maine armie neere the towne of Hastings to giue him battell if he landed thereabouts Duke Robert also meaning to set foreward sent certeine of his ships before to choose some conuenient place where he might land with his armie which ships by chance fell into the danger of the kings nanie but yet absteining from battell they recouered the wind and returned backe to the duke signifieng from point to point how they had sped in this voiage The duke as he was of a bold courage and of so gentle a nature that he beleeued he should win their good wils with whom he should haue any thing to doo passed forward and approching to the kings nauie vsed such mild persuasions that a great part of the souldiours which were aboord in the kings ships submitted themselues vnto him by whose conduct he arriued in Portsmouth hauen and there landed with his host about the begining of August Now when he had rested a few daies refreshed his men he tooke the way towards Winchester a great number of people flocking vnto him by the way The king hauing knowledge as well of the arriuall of his enimies as also of the reuolting of his subiects raised his campe and came to lodge neere vnto his enimies the better to perceiue what he attempted and purposed to doo They were also in maner readie to haue ioined battell when diuers Noble men that owght good will to both the brethren and abhorred in their minds so vnnaturall discord began to entreat for peace which in the end they concluded vpon conditionallie that Henrie who was borne after his father had conquered the realme of England should now enioy the same yeelding and paieng line 10 yeerelie vnto duke Robert the summe of iij. M. marks Prouided that whose hap of the two it shuld be to suruiue or outliue he should be the others right and lawfull heire by mutuall agreement Conditionallie also that those English or Normans which had taken part either with the king or the duke should be pardoned of all offenses that could be laid vnto them for the same by either of the princes There were twelue Noble men on either part that receiued corporall othes for performance of this agréement line 20 which being concluded vpon in this sort duke Robert who in his affaires shewed himselfe more credulous than suspicious remained with his brother here in England till the feast of S. Michaell and then shewing himselfe well contented with the composition returned into Normandie In the second yeare of this kings reigne the Quéene was deliuered of hir daughter Maud or Mathild so called after hir owne name who afterward was empresse of whom yée shall heare by Gods grace anon in this historie line 30 year 1102 The king being now rid of forren trouble was shortlie after disquieted with the seditious attempts of Robert de Belesme earle of Shrewsburie sonne to Hugh before named who fortified the castell of Bridgâ—north and an other castell in Wales at a place called Caircoue and furnished the towne of Shrewsburie with the castels of Arundell Tickehill which belonged to him in most substantiall maner Moreouer he sought to win the fauour of the Welshmen by whose aid he purposed to defend himselfe line 40 against the king in such vnlawfull enterprises as he ment to take in hand But the king hauing an inkeling whereabout he went straitwaies proclaimed him a traitor wherevpon he got such Welshmen and Normans together as he could conuenientlie come by with whom and his brother Arnold he entred into Staffordshire which they forraied and wasted excéedinglie bringing from thence a great bootie of beasts and cattell with some prisoners whom they led foorthwith into Wales where they kept themselues line 50 as in a place of greatest safetie The king in the meane time with all conuenient spéed raised a power first besieging the castell of Arundell and then planting diuerse bastillions before it he departed from thence and sending the bishop of Lincolne with part of his armie to besiege Tickehill he himselfe went to Bridgenorth which he enuironed about with a mightie armie made out of all parts of his realme so that what with gifts large promises and fearefull threatnings at the last he allured line 60 to his side the fickle Welshmen and in such wise wan them that they abandoned the earle and tooke part against him Wherevpon the king within 30. daies subdued all the townes and castels which he held out of his hands and banished him the relme and shortlie after confined his brother Arnold for his traitorous demeanour vsed against him whereby their attempts were brought vnto an end After this at the feast of saint Michaell Anselme archbishop of Canturburie held a councell at Westminster whereat were present the archbishop of Yorke the bishops of London Winchester Lincolne Worcester Chester Bath Norwich Rochester and two other bishops latlie elected by the king namelie Salisburie and Hereford the bishop of Excester was absent by reason of sicknesse At this councell or synod diuers abbats and priors both French and English were depriued of their promotions and benefices by Anselme bicause they had come vnto them otherwise than he pretended to stand with the decrées of the church as the abbats of Persor Ramsey Tauestocke Peterborow Middleton Burie and Stoke the prior of Elie and others The chéefest cause of their deposing was for that they had receiued their inuestitures at the kings hands Diuers constitutions were made by authoritie of this councell but namelie this one 1 That preests should no more be suffered to haue wiues which decree as saith Henrie of Huntingdon séemed to some verie pure but
plead their causes whither he promised shortlie to send his ambassadours and so he did appointing for the purpose Herbert bishop of Norwich and Robert bishop of Lichfield being both of his priuie councell and William Warlewast of whom mention is made before who went on their waie and came to Rome according to their commission After them also folowed Anselme archbishop of Canturburie Gerard archbishop of Yorke William the elect of Winchester whom the pope receiued with a courteous kind of interteinement But Anselme was highlie honored aboue all the residue whose diligence and zeale in defense of the ordinances of the sée of Rome he well inough vnderstood The ambassadours in like maner declaring the effect of their message opened vnto the pope the ground of the controuersie begun betweene the king and Anselme with good arguments went about to prooue the kings cause to be lawfull Upon the otherside Anselme and his partakers with contrarie reasons sought to confute the same Whervpon the pope declared that sith by the lawes of the church it was decreed that the possession of any spirituall benefice obteined otherwise than by meanes of a spirituall person could not be good or allowable from thencefoorth neither the king nor any other for him should challenge any suth right to apperteine vnto them The kings ambassadours hearing this were somwhat troubled in their minds wherevpon William Warlewast burst out and said with great vehemencie euen to the popes face Whatsoeuer is or may be spoken in this maner to or fro I would all that be present should well vnderstand that the king my maister will not lose the inuestitures of churches for the losse of his whole realme Unto which words Paschall himselfe replieng said vnto him againe If as thou saiest the king thy maister will not forgo the inuestiture of churches for the losse of his realme know thou for certeine and marke my words well I speake it before God that for the ransome of his head pope Paschall will not at any time permit that he shall enioie them in quiet At length by the aduise of his councell the pope granted the king certeine priuileges and customes which his predecessours had vsed and enioied but as for the inuestitures of bishops he would not haue him in any wise to meddle withall yet did he confirme those bishops whom the king had alreadie created least the refusall should be occasion to sowe any further discord This businesse being in this maner ordered the ambassadours were licenced to depart who receiuing at the popes hands great rewards and Gerard the archbishop of Yorke his pall they shortlie after returned into England declaring vnto the king the popes decrée and sentence The king being still otherwise persuaded and looking for other newes was nothing pleased with this matter Long it was yer he would giue ouer his claime or yéeld to the popes iudgement till that in processe of time ouercome with the earnest sute of Anselme he granted to obâ—ie the popes order herein though as it should appeare right sore against his will In this meane time â—he king had seized into his hands the possessions of the archbishop of Canturburie and banished Anselme so that he staied at Lions in France for the space of one yeare and foure moneths during which time there passed manie letters and messages to and fro The pope also wrote to king line 10 Henrie in verie courteous maner exhorting him to call Anselme home againe and to release his claime to the inuestitures of bishops wherevnto he could haue no right sith it apperteined not to the office of any temporall magistrate adding furthermore if the king would giue ouer that vngodlie and vsurped custome that he would shew such fréendlie fauour in all things as by the sufferance of God in any wise he might be able to performe and further would receiue not onelie him but also his yoong sonne William line 20 whom latelie it had pleased God to send him by his vertuous wife queene Maud into his protection so that who so euer did hurt either of them should be thought to hurt the holie church of Rome In one of the letters which the said pope wrote vnto Anselme after that the king was contented to renounce the inuestitures aforesaid he willed Anselme according to the promise which he had made to assoile as well from sinne as from penance due for the same both the king and his wife queene Maud line 30 with all such persons of honour as in this behalfe had trauelled with the king to induce him to be agréeaable to his purpose year 1104 Moreouer the earle of Mellent and Richard de Riuers who had counselled the king to stand stoutlie in the matter and not to giue ouer his title of such inuesritures sith his ancestors had vsed them so long a time before his daies by reason whereof in renouncing his right to the same he should doo a thing greatlie preiudiciall to his roiall estate and princelie maiestie line 40 were now earnest labourers to agree the king and the pope in so much that in the end the king was persuaded by Anselme and them to let go his hold resigning the inuestitures with staffe and ring notwithstanding that he reserued the right of elections and such other roialties as otherwise apperteined to to his maiestie so that such bishops as had doone homage to the king were not disabled thereby but quietlie permitted to receiue their iurisdictions About this time Robert duke of Normandie came line 50 into England to see his brother who through the sugred words and sweet enterteinment of the king released the yeerelie tribute of 3000. markes which he should haue had out of the realme vpon agreement as before ye haue heard but cheefelie indéed at the request of the queene being instructed by hir husband how she should deale with him that was knowne to be frée and liberall without any great consideration what he presentlie granted Now hauing béene here a certeine time and solaced line 60 himselfe with his brother and sister he returned into Normandie where shortlie after he began to repent him of his follie in being so liberall as to release the foresaid tribute wherevpon he menaced the king and openlie in his reproch said that he was craftilie circumuented by him and flatlie couzened Diuerse in Normandie desired nothing more than to set the two brethren at square and namelie Robert de Belesme earle of Shrewsburie with William earle of Mortaigne these two were banished the realme of England The earle of Shrewesburie for his rebellious attempts as before you haue heard and the earle of Mortaigne left the land of his owne willfull and stubborne mind exiling himselfe onelie vpon hatred which he bare to the king For being not contented with the earledome of Mortaigne in Normandie and the earledome of Cornewall in England he made sute also for the earledome of Kent
brought before king Henrie as prisoners ¶ Thus did almightie God grant vnto the king a notable victorie without bloodshed for he lost not a man as for his aduersaries there died in the field not past three score persons This séemeth also to agrée with that which Wil. Malmesburie writeth for he saith that king Henrie with small adoo brought into his hands duke Robert who with a great troope of men came against him then lodging néere the said castell of Tenerchbray The earle of Mortaigne was also taken but the erle of Shrewsburie escaped by flight notwithstanding he was apprehended as he went about to practise some priuie conspiracie against the king ¶ This battell was fought as the same Wil. Malme affirmeth vpon a saturdaie being the daie of S. Michaell In gloria and as may be thought by the prouident iudgment of God to the end that Normandie should be subdued vnto England on that daie in the which 40. yeares passed king William the Conquerour first set foot on land at Hastings when he came out of Normandie to subdue England Neither dooth Simon Dunelmensis varie in any thing from Gemeticensis touching the conclusion of this businesse and the taking of duke Robert These wars being thus finished and the countrie set in quiet which through the méere folie of duke Robert was woonderfullie impouerished the king receiued the keies of all the townes and castels that belonged either to the duke or the earle of Mortaigne and furnished the same with garisons to be kept for his behoofe Hauing thus pacified the countrie of Normandie he came to Bec or Bechellouâ—n where archbishop Anselme then remained year 1107 whome by mediation of freends he receiued to fauour againe and sending him ouer into England immediatlie after followed himselfe Duke Robert being also spoiled of his dominions lands and liberties was shortlie committed to prison within the castell of Cardiff in Wales where he remained about the space of 26. yeares and then died He gouerned the duchie of Normandie 19. yeares he was a perfect and expert warrior comparable with the best capiteines that then liued had he béene somwhat more warie and circumspect in his affaires and therewithall constant in his opinion His woorthie acts valiantlie and fortunatlie atchiued against the infidels are notified to the world by manie and sundrie writers to his high commendation and long lasting praise It is said also that he was after his taking once set at libertie by king Henrie and bound to forsweare the realme of England and Normandie being appointed to auoid within the space of 40. daies and twelue houres But bicause he was perceiued to practise somewhat against the king he was eftsoones taken againe and hauing his eies put out committed to prison where finallie worne through age and gréefe of mind he ended his miserable life ¶ The forme of banishing men out of the realme was ordeined by Edward the Confessor and remained as a law in vse till these our daies for the benefit of them which fled to any church or other priuiledged place thereby to escape the punishment of death due for their offenses By a latter custome it was also deuised that they should beare a crosse in their hand as a signe that they were pardoned of life for the holie place sake where they sought for succour But duke Robert as it should appeere by that which others write found no such fauour saue onlie libertie to walke abroad in the kings forrests parks and chases néere the place where he was appointed to remaine so that vpon a daie as he was walking abroad he got a horsse and with all post hast rode his waiâ— in hope to haue escaped howbeit his kéepers being aduised thereof followed him with hue and crie and at length ouertooke him in a medow where he had laid his horsse vp to the bellie in a quauemire Then being brought backe his kéepers kept him in close prison aduertising the king of his demeanour wherevpon he commanded that the sight of his eies should be put out but so as the balles of them should remaine vnbroken for the auoiding of a noisome deformitie that otherwise would ensue if the glassie tunicles should take hurt In his returne out of the holie land he maried one Sibell the earle of Conuersans sister in Puglia hir father hight Roger or Geffrey as some bookes haue and was nephue to Robert Guyshard duke of Puglia and by hir had issue one sonne named William afterward earle of Flanders whereof God willing line 10 more shall be said hereafter Here must I leaue duke Robert and speake somwhat of Anselme the archbishop who shortlie after his returne into England receiued letters from pope Paschall wherein Anselme was authorised to dispose and order things as should séeme to him most expedient Now whereas the greater and better part of the English clergie consisted of préests sonnes he committed to his discretion the order to dispense line 20 with them namelie that such as were of commendable life and sufficient learning might be admitted to the ministerie as the necessitie of time and state of the church should require The pope also by the same letters gaue Anselme authoritie to absolue Richard the prior of Elie vpon his satisfaction pretermitted and to restore him to the gouernement of the priorie of Elie if the king thought it conuenient About the calends of August in this yeare 1107. the king held a councell of bishops year 1107 abbats and other line 30 lords of his realme in his pallace at London where in the absence of Anselme the matter touching the inuestitures of churches was argued vpon for the space of thrée daies togither and in the end bicause the pope had granted the homages of bishops and other prelats to the king which his predecessor Urban had forbidden togither with the inuestitures the king was contented to consent to the popes will in forbearing the same So that when Anselme was come the king in presence of him and a line 40 great multitude of his people granted and ordeined that from thenceforth no bishop nor abbat should be inuested within the realme of England by the hand either of the king or any laie man on the other side it was granted againe by Anselme that no person elected into the prelacie should be depriued of his consecration for dooing his homage to the king These things thus ordred the churches which through England had bin long vacant were prouided of gouernors which were placed without any inuestiture line 50 of staffe or ring About this time Anselme consecrated fiue bishops at Canturburie in one day archbishop William to the sée of Winchester Roger that was the kings chancellor to Salisburie William Warlewast to Excester Remaline the quéenes chancâ—llor to Hereford and one Urban to Glamorgan in Wales About this season a great part of Flanders being drowned by an exundation or breaking in of the sea
Anselme to doubt of the archbishop of Yorke his meaning as after it appéered For being summoned to come and receiue his consecration at Canturburie as alreadie yee haue heard through counsell of the canons of Yorke he refused so to doo bicause they informed him that if he so did it should be greatlie preiudiciall to the liberties of that sée whose archbishop was of like authoritie in all things vnto the archbishop of Canturburie so that he was bound line 60 onelie to fetch his consecration and benediction at Canturburie but in no wise to acknowledge anie subiection vnto that sée ¶ For ye must vnderstand that there was great stomaching betwixt the clergie of the two prouinces Canturburie and Yorke about the metropolitane prerogatiue and euer as occasion serued and as they thought the fauor of the prince or oportunitie of time might aduance their quarels they of Yorke sticked not to vtter their gréefes in that as they tooke it some iniurie was offered them therein The archbishop of Yorke being thus instructed by the canons of his church year 1019 signified to archbishop Anselme the cause why he came not at his summons The copie of a parcell whereof is here exemplified Causam qua differtur sacratio mea quam nemo studiosius quà m ego vellet accellerare qui protulerunt non desistunt corroborare Quamobrem quà m periculosum quà m turpe sit contra consensum ecâ—lesiae cui praefici debeo regimen ipsius inuadere vestra discretio nouerit Sed quà m sormidabile quà m sit euitandum sub specie benedictionis maledictionem induere c that is The cause why my consecration is deferred which no man liuing would wish to be doone with more speed than I my selfe those that haue prolonged it ceasse not to confirme Wherefore how dangerous and how dishonest it should be for me to inuade the gouernment of that church which I ought to rule without coÌ„sent of the same your discretion rightwell vnderstandeth Yea and how dreadfull a thing it is and how much to be auoided to receiue a cursse vnder colour of a blessing c. Anselme hauing alreadie written twice vnto the said Thomas archbishop of Yorke about this matter and now receiuing this answer could not be quiet in mind and therevpon taking aduice with certeine bishops whom he called vnto him determined to send two bishops vnto the said Thomas of Yorke and so the bishop of London as deane to the archbishop of Canturburie the bishop of Rochester as his household chapleine were sent to commune with him who met them at his manour of Southwell where they declared to him the effect of their message but he deferred his answer till a messenger which he had sent to the king as then being in Normandie was returned and so without any full answer the bishops came backe againe Howbeit shortlie after there came to Canturburie a messenger on the behalfe of the archbishop of Yorke with letters inclosed vnder the kings seale by the tenour whereof the king commanded Anselme that the consecration of the archbishop of Yorke might staie till the feast of Easter and if he might returne into England by that daie he promised by the aduice had therein of the bishops and barons of his realme that he would set a direction betwixt them in all matters whereof anie controuersie had beene moued heretofore or if he could not returne so soone he would yet take such order that brotherlie loue concord might remaine betwixt them When he that brought these letters required an answer Anselme answered that he would signifie his mind to the king and not to his maister Immediatlie therefore was the deane of Chichester sent ouer from Anselme with a moonke of Bechâ—llouin to the king to informe him of all the matter and to beséech his maiestie by his authoritie to prouide that no discord should rise to the diuiding of the present state of the church of England Furthermore whereas he had commanded him to grant vnto Thomas the archbishop of Yorke a time of respit he should take for certeine answer that he would rather suffer himselfe to be cut in peeces than to grant so much as one hours space on the said Thomas of Yorke whome he knew alreadie to haue set himselfe vniustlie against the ancient constitutions of holie fathers and against the Lord himselfe The messengers declared these things to the king and brought word backe againe at their returne that the king had heard their message with fauourable mind and promised by the power of God to declare to the world that he coueted vnitie and not any diuision in the church of England All this while Anselme was deteined with long and gréeuous sicknesse and yet not forgetfull of the obstinate dealing of Thomas of Yorke he wrote letters vnto him by vertue whereof he suspended him from exercising all pastorall function till he had reformed his errour submitted himselfe to receiue his blessing and acknowledged his subiection to the church of Canturburie as his predecessours Thomas and Gerard had doone and before them other ancients as custome had prescribed Thus he charged him vpon paine of cursing except he would renounce his archbishops dignitie for in so dooing he did grant him licence to vse the office and ministerie of a préest which before time he had taken vpon him or else not line 10 In the same letters he prohibited all the bishops within the precinct of the I le of Britaine that in no wise they should consecrate him vpon paine of curssing and if he should chance to be consecrated by any stranger that in no wise they should vnder the like paine receiue him for archbishop or communicate with him in any condition Euerie bishop also within the whole I le of Britaine had a copie of these leters directed to him from Anselme vnder his seale line 20 commanding them to behaue themselues therein according to the contents and as they were bound by the subiection which they owght to the church of Canturburie The letters were dated alike in March Notwithstanding all this vpon the 21. of Aprill insuing Anselme ended his life in the sixtéenth yéere after his first preferment to that sée being thréescore and sixtéene yeeres of age He was an Italian borne in Piemont néere to the Alpes in a citie called Aosta he was brought vp by Lanfranke and before he was made archbishop was abbat of the monasterie line 30 of Bechellouin in Normandie About the same time was the bishops sée of Elie erected by the king who appointed one Haruie to be the first bishop there who before had béene bishop of Bangor Cambridgeshire was annexed to that see which bicause it had of former time belonged to the see of Lincolne the king gaue vnto the bishop of Lincolne as it were in recompense the towne of Spalding which was his owne The prior of Elie line 40 named Richard desirous
some another Hugh Bigot erle of Norfolke a valiant chieftein entred into Norwich Baldwin Reduers tooke Excester Robert Quisquere got certeine castels also into his hands King Stephan hearing what his enimies had doone though he was somewhat mooued with this alteration of things yet as one nothing afraid of the matter he said merilie to those that stood about him We are aliue yet God be thanked and that shall be knowne to our enimies yeâ— it be long Neither doubted he any thing but some secret practise of treason and therfore vsing all diligence he made the more hast to go against his enimies whose attempts though streightwaies for the more part he repressed yet could he not recouer the places without much adoo that they had gotten as Excester and others which when he had obteined he contented himselfe for a time and followed not the victorie any further in pursuing of his enimies Wherevpon they became more bold afterward than before in somuch that soone after they practised diuerse things against him whereof God willing some in places conuenient shall appeare howbeit they permitted him to remaine in quiet for a time But whilest he studied to line 10 take order in things at home perceiuing how no small number of his subiects did dailie shew themselues to beare him no hartie good will he began by little and little to take awaie those liberties from the people which in the beginning of his reigne he had granted vnto them and to denie those promises which he had made according to the saieng That which I haue giuen I would I had not giuen and that which remaineth I will kéepe still This sudden alteration and new kind of rough dealing purchased line 20 him great enuie amongst all men in the end About the same time great commotions were raised in Normandie by meanes of the lord Geffrey earle of Aniou husband to Maud the empresse setting the whole countrie in trouble but yer any newes thereof came into England king Stephan went against Baldwin Reduers who being latelie though not without great and long siege expelled out of Excester got him into the I le of Wight and there began to deuise a new conspiracie Howbeit the king comming suddenlie into the I le tooke it at the first assault line 30 and exiled Baldwin out of the realme Hauing thus with good successe finished this enterprise and being now aduertised of the businesse in Normandie he sailed thither with a great armie and being come within two daies iournie of his enimie the earle of Aniou he sent foorth his whole power of horssemen diuided into three parts which were not gone past a daies iournie forward but they encountred the earle finding him with no great force about him Wherevpon giuing the charge vpon him line 40 they put him to flight and slue manie of his people Which enterprise in this maner valiantlie atchiued euen according to the mind of king Stephan he ioined in freendship with Lewes the seuenth king of France and hauing latelie created his sonne Eustace duke of Normandie he presentlie appointed him to doo his homage vnto the said Lewes for the same Now whereas his elder brother Theobald earle of Blois at that time in Normandie found himselfe line 50 greeued that Stephan the yoonger brother had vsurped the lands that belonged to their vncle king Henrie rather than himselfe Stephan to stop this iust complaint of his brother and to allaie his mood agréed with him couenanting to paie him yearelie two thousand marks of such currant monie as was then in vse Furthermore wheras Geffrey the earle of Aniou demanded in right of his wife the empresse the whole kingdome of England to be at an end with him king Stephan was contented to satisfie line 60 him with a yearelie pension of fiue thousand marks which composition he willinglie receiued Thus when he had prouided for the suertie of Normandie he returned againe into England where he was no sooner arriued but aduertisement was giuen him of a warre newlie begâ—n with the Scots whose king vnder a colour of obseruing the oth to the empresse made dailie insurrections and inuasions into England to the great disturbance of king Stephan and the annoiance of his people Wherwith being somewhat mooued he went streightwaies toward the north parts and determined first to besiege Bedford by the waie which apperteined to the earledome of Huntington by gift made vnto Henrie the sonne of king Dauid and therevpon at that present kept with a garison of Scotish men This place did the king besiege by the space of 30. daies togither giuing thereto euerie daie an assault or alarme in somuch that coÌ„ming thither on Christmasse daie he spared not on the morow to assaile them and so at length wan the towne from them by méere force and strength King Dauid hearing those newes and being alreadie in armour in the field entred into Northumberland and licensed his men of warre to spoile and rob the countrie thereabout at their pleasure Herevpon followed such crueltie that their rage stretched vnto old and yoong vnto preest and clearke yea women with child escaped not their hands they hanged headed and slue all that came in their waie houses were burnt cattell driuen awaie and all put to fire and sword that serued to any vse for reléefe either of man or beast ¶ Here we see what a band of calamities doo accompanie and waite vpon warre wherein also we haue to consider what a traine of felicities doo attend vpon peace by an equall comparing of which twaine togither we may easilie perceiue in how heauenlie an estate those people be that liue vnder the scepter of tranquillitie and contrariwise what a hellish course of life they lead that haue sworne their seruice to the sword We may consider also the inordinat outrages of princes their frantike fiersenes who esteeme not the losse of their subiects liues the effusion of innocent bloud the population of countries the ruinating of ample regions c so their will may be satisfied there desire serued And therefore it was aptlie spoken by a late poet not beside this purpose Reges atque duces dira impelluntur in arma Imperiúmque sibi miserorum caede lucrantur O caeci ô miseri quid bellum pace putatis Dignius aut melius nempe hoc nil turpius nil Quod magis humana procul à ratione recedat Candida pax homines trux decet ira feras But to our storie King Stephan hearing of this pitifull spoile hasted forward with great iournies to the rescue of the countrie The Scots put in feare of spéedie comming to encounter them drew backe into Scotland but he pursued them and entring into their countrie burned and destroied the south parts of that realme in most miserable maner Whilest king Stephan was thus about to beat backe the forren enimies and reuenge himselfe on them
world hath sufficientlie appeared Thus far Stephan of Bullongne Henrie the second the second sonne ofGeffrey Plantagenet HEnrie the second of that name a French man borne the second sonne of Geffrey Plantagenet earle of Aniou begotten of Maud the empresse daughter to Henrie the first began his reigne ouer England the fiue and twentith of October in the yeare after the creation of the world 5121. year 1154 and in line 10 the yeare after the incarnation of our sauiour 1154. about the beginning of the third yeare of the emperour Frederike the first the second of pope Anastasius the fourth the seuenteenth yeare of Lewes the seuenth king of France and second of Malcolme then king of Scotland Immediatlie after he was aduertised of the death of king Stephan he came ouer into England landing at Ostreham about the seuenth day of December After he had got his companies togither which by tempest were scattered in his passage he came first to Winchester where he line 20 receiued homage and fealtie of the Nobles of the realme resorting vnto him This doone he set foorth towards London where he was crowned king by Theobald archbishop of Canturburie the twentith daie of December The archbishop of Rouen with thrée of his suffragans the archbishop of Yorke and manie other bishops of England Theodorus the earle of Flanders with a great number of other earles lords and barons were present there at his coronation He line 30 was at that time about the age of three and twentie yeares and to win the peoples loue he spake manie comfortable words vnto them to put them in hope as the manner is that they should find him a louing prince He vsed the lords also verie coueteouslie And first of all after his atteining to the crowne he chose to him councellers of the grauest personages and best learned in the lawes of the realme with whose prudent aduice be perused those lawes and amended line 40 them where he thought necessarie commanding chieflie that the lawes established by his grandfather Henrie the first should be obserued and in manie things he relied vpon the aduice of Theobald archbishop of Canturburie at whose suâ—e he admitted Thomas Becket to be his chancellour which Becket the said archbishop had made archdeacon of Canturburie the yeare before Moreouer by the sentence and doome of his councellers to the intent that peace and quiet order might take place and be the better mainteined he commanded by waie of publishing a proclamation that all strangers which to get somwhat by the wars had flocked into the realme during the time of the ciuill discord betweene him and king Stephan shuld depart home without further delaie wherefore he appointed them a daie before the which they should auoid vpon perill that might insue It was a worlds woonder to sée and marke how suddenlie these aliens were quite vanished as though they had béene phantasmes Their abiding here was nothing profitable to the subiects of the realme as they that were accustomed to attempt one shrewd turne vpon an others necke and thought it lawfull for them so to doo Amongst them was a great number of Flemings whom the king hated more than the residue By vertue also of this edict William of Ypres whom king Stephan as ye haue heard had made earle of Kent was constreined with others to depart the realme king Henrie seizing all his possessions into his owne hands Diuerse castels were throwne downe and made plaine with the ground at the kings commandement which priuate men by king Stephans permission had builded or else for that they stood not in such places as was thought meet and expedient yet some he caused to be fortified and furthermore tooke into his hands againe such lands and possessions as apperteined to the crowne and were alienated vnto any manner of person of what degrée so euer he was This wounded the minds of many with an inward grudge as well enough perceâ—uing that the king would looke so néere to his owne commoditie that nothing should be left for them that might any way be recouered and gotten to his vse In this yere queene Elianor being then in the citie of London on the last of Februarie was deliuered of hir second sonne named Henrie About the same time also William Peuerell of Notingham a noble man and of great possessions was disherited by the king for sorcerie and witchcraft which he had practised to kill Ranâ—â—fe earle of Chester as it was reuealed openlie and brought to light In accomplishing of which hainous crime and detestable act many others were of counsell and found giltie with him which escaped not vnpunished On the tenth of Aprill king Henrie assembled the péeres great lords of his realme togither at Wallingford and caused them to sweare allegiance vnto his eldest sonne William prouiding that if he chanced to die then they should doo the like vnto his brother Henrie Also whereas Hugh de Mortimer had fensed his castels against king Henrie he besieged the same and taking the castell of Cleberie he destroied it Wherevpon the foresaid Hugh shortlie after was at peace with the king and surrendred to him the two castels of Wigmore and Bridgenorth line 10 which hitherto he had holden Moreouer whereas there was variance kindled betwixt the king and Roger Fitz Miles of Glocester who was earle of Hereford for the lands of Glocester that variance was also quenched for after the same Roger was dead his brother Walter succeeding him in the earldome of Hereford was constreined to depart with the citie of Glocester which the king held and reteined in his owne hands In the second yeare of his reigne king Henrie line 20 went to Yorke and in that countrie tooke into his hands diuers castels which had béene long in possession of priuate men namelie the castell of Scarborrough which William earle of Albemarle held and now was constreined to resigne it vp full sore against his will This yeare William the kings eldest sonne departed this life and was buried at Reading The realme of England was brought on all sides into verie good quiet but yer long word came to K. Henrie that his brother Geffrey had begun a line 30 rebellion on the other side of the sea For their father Geffrey when he died left thrée sonnes behind him Henrie Geffrey and William ordeining by his testament when Henrie should haue gotten possession of England and Normandie that then the countrie of Aniou should remaine vnto Geffrey and in the meane time he to haue these three townes Chinon Lodun and Mirabell to mainteine his estate and when the time came that the whole heritage should fall vnto him he â—ight by possession of these thrée line 40 haue a readier meane to come by all the rest Furthermore fearing least his eldest sonne Henrie who as then was absent would not consent to the performance of this his will
〈…〉 that they would boldlie presume 〈…〉 if after ecclesiasticall discipline no secular 〈◊〉 should follow And likâ—lie it was â—hat they would passe but little for their disgrading and loâ—â—e of their order who in contempt of their calling would not absteine from committing most mischieuous abhominations and hainous 〈◊〉 line 20 Unto these reasons thus propoâ—ed by the king to 〈◊〉 his purpose take effect the archbishop and his 〈…〉 the rest of the bishops answered verie pithilie labouring to proue that it was more against the liberties of the church than that they might with reason well allow Wherevpon the king being moued exceedinglie against them demanded whether they would obserue his roiall lawes and customes which the archbishops and bishops in the time of his grandfather did hold and obâ—ie or not Wherevnto line 30 they made answere that they would obserue them Saluâ— ordâ—â—â— suo Their order in all things saued But the king being highlie offended with such exceptions vrged the matter so that he would haue them to take their oth absolutely without all exceptions but they would none of that At length he departed from London in verie great displeasure with the bishops hauing first taken from the archbishop Thomas all the offices and dignities which he enioied since his first being created chancellor Howbeit after this manie of the bishops séeing line 40 whervnto this broile would grow began to shrinke from the archbishop and inclined to the king But the archbishop stoâ—d stiflie in his opinion and would not bend at all till at length not onelie his suffragans the bishops but also the bishop of Liseur who came ouer to doo some good in the matter and the abbat of Elemosina who was sent from the pope persuaded him to agree to the kings will in so much that being ouercome at last with the earnest suit of line 50 his freends he came first to Woodstocke and there promised the king to obserue his lawes Bona fide Faithfullie and without all collusion or deceit Shortlie after in the feast of S. Hilarie a councell was holden at Clarendon whereto the archbishop and in manner all the lords spirituall and temporall of the land made their repaire Here the archbishop would haue willinglie started from his promise if first the bishops and after the earles of Leicester and Cornewall Robert and Reignald which Reignald was vncle to the king and lastlie two knights templers line 60 had not moued him to yéeld to the kings will But among the rest these two knights namelie Richard de Hastings and Hosteâ—s de Boloigne were verie earnest with him at length preuailed though not for conscience of dutie wherewith he should haue beene touched yet with feare of danger which by refusing to satisfie the kings will he should haue brought not onelie vpon himselfe but also vpon the the other bishops there present These knights séemed to lament his case as if alreadie they had séene naked swords shaken about his eares And indeed certeine of the kings seruants that attended vpon his person after the manner of a 〈…〉 Saluo ordine meo Mine order saued which he had vsed before The like 〈◊〉 did all the bishops sake But the archbishop refused at that 〈◊〉 to seâ—le to the â—â—â—ting that conteined the articles of the oth which he should haue obserued requiring as it were 〈◊〉 to consider of them sith in so weightie a master nothing ought to be doâ—ne without good and deliberate aduice wherefore he tooke wiâ—h him a copie thereof and so did the archbishopof Yorke an other and the third remained with the king Shorâ—lie after the archbishop considering further of this oth which he had taken repenteâ— himselfe greeuouslie therof in so much that he 〈◊〉 from 〈…〉 masse till he had by confession and fruits of penance as saith Matth. Paris obteined 〈◊〉 of the pope For addressing and sending out messengers with all spéed vnto the pope with a certificat of the whole matter as it laie he required to be assâ—iled of the bond which he had vnaduisedlie entred into This suit was soone granted in so much that the pope directed his especiall letters vnto him conteining the same absolution in verie ample and large manner as Matth. Paris dooth report it And thus began a new broile The archbishop in the meane time perceiuing that the liberties of the church were now not onelie embezelled but in maner extinguâ—â—hed and being losh to make any further attempt against his former dealings would now without the kings knowledge haue departed the realme wherevpon comming to Romnie he tooke shipping to haue passed ouer into France and so to haue gone to the popes court But by a contrarie wind he was brought backe into England and thereby fell further into the kings displeasure than before in so much that whereas an action was commensed against him of late for a manor which the archbishops of Canturburie had of long time held now the matter was so vsed that the archbishop lost the manâ—r and was moreâ—uer condemned to paie the arâ—â—rages and thus his troubles increased euen through his owne malaperâ—nesse and brainesicknesse whereas all these tumults â—ight haue béene composed and laid asléepe if he had béene wise peaceable patient and obedient For Vir bâ—nus sapiens quaerit super omnia pacem Vidâ—que minâ—ra pati metuens grauiora 〈◊〉 Ne parus ex igni seelerata incendiâ— surgâ—nt In the end the archbishop was cited to appeere before the king at Northampton where the king vsed him somewhat roughlie placing his horsses at his Inne and laid disobedience to his charge for that he did not personallie appeare at a certeine place before his highnesse vpon summons giuen vnto him for the same purpose Wherevnto though the archbishop alledged that he had sent thither a sufficient deputie to make answere for him yet could he not be so excused but was found giltie and his goods coâ—fiscat to the kings pleasure Now when the archbishop heard that sentence was in such wise pronounced against him What maner of iudgement saith he is this Though I hold my peace yet the age that shall hereafter follow will not hide it in silence for sithens the world began it hath not beene heard that any archbishop of Canturburie hath béene iudged in any of the king of Englands courts for any maner of cause partlie in regard of the dignitie and authoritie of his office and partlie bicause he is spirituallie the father of the king and all his people This is therefore a new forme and order of iudgement that the archbishop should be iudged by his suffragans or the father by his sons The next daie the king required of him the repaiment of fiue hundred marks which he had lent him when he was chancellor Now although he affirmed that he receiued the same by waie of gift and not by waie of lone yet bicause he confessed the receit
side and perceiuing the citie would not be woone within any short time began to wax wearie and to repent himselfe as afore for taking in hand so chargeable and great a warre for another mans quarell Wherevpon he caused William bishop of Sens and Theobald earle of Blois to go to king Henrie and to promise vpon forbearance from warre for a time to find means to reconcile him and his sonnes betweene whome vnnaturall variance rested Whereof K. Henrie being most desirous and taking a truce appointed to come to Gisors in the feast of the natiuitie of our ladie there to meet king Lewes that they might talke of the matter and bring it to some good end The French king so soone as he knew that truce was taken raised his siege and returning home within a few daies after according to the appointment came to Gisors and there communed with king Henrie but bicause he could not make any agréement betwixt him and his sonnes at that time he appointed another time to meet about it King Henrie the father whilest the truce continued with the French king and his sonne Henrie went to Poictou where his sonne Richard whilest his father had beene occupied in other places had gotten the most part of the countrie into his possession But now hearing of his fathers comming and that a truce was taken with the French king and with his brother he considered with himselfe that without their assistance he was not able to withstand his fathers power Howbeit at length choosing rather to trie the matter with force of armes than cowardlie to yéeld he prepared for defense furnishing diuerse townes and castels with garisons of men and assembling togither all the other power that he was able to make câ—me into the field pitched his tents not far off from his father In the meane while which way soeuer his father passed the townes and castels submitted themselues vnto him so that Richard began to despaire of the matter insomuch that he durst line 10 not approch néere his father but kept aloofe doubting to be entrapped At length when he had considered his owne state and weled how vnthankefullie the French king and his brother had dealt with him in hauing no consideration of him at such time as they tooke truce he determined to alter his purpose and hauing some good hope in his fathers clemencie thought best to trie it which he found to be the best waie that he could haue taken For oftentimes it chanceth that latter line 20 thoughts are better aduised than the first as the old saieng is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herevpon Richard laieng armour aside came of his owne accord vnto his father on the 21. of September and asked pardon His father most courteously receiuing him made so much of him as though he had not offended at all Which example of courtesie preuailed much to the alluring of his other sons to come to a reconciliation For the bringing whereof line 30 to speedie effect he sent this Richard vnto king Lewes and to his other sonne Henrie to commen with them of peace at which time earle Richard did so effectuallie his message that he brought them both in good forwardnesse to agree to his fathers purpose so that there was a daie appointed for them to meet with their father betwixt Towres in Touraine and Ambois King Henrie reioising hereat kept his daie being the morrow after the feast of S. Michaell and line 40 there met him both king Lewes and his two sonnes Henrie and Geffrey where finallie the father and the sonnes were accorded he promising to receiue them into fauour vpon these conditions 1 First the prisoners to be released fréelie without ransome on both sides and their offenses which had taken either the one part or the other to be likewise pardoned 2 Out of this article were excepted all those which before the concluding of this peace had alreadie line 50 compounded for their raunsomes as the king of Scots the earles of Leicester and Chester and Rafe Fulgiers with their pledges 3 It was also agréed that all those castels which had beene builded in time of this warre should be raced and throwne downe and all such cities townes castels countries and places as had beene woone by either part during these wars should be restored vnto those persons that held the same and were in possession of them 15. daies before the departure of the line 60 sonnes from king Henrie the father 4 That king Henrie the father should assigne to his sons more large reuenues for maintenance of their estates with a caution included that they should not spend the same riotouslie in any prodigall sort or maner 5 To the king his sonne he gaue two castels in Normandie with an increase of yearelie reuenues to the summe of 15. thousand pounds Aniouin 6 To his sonne Richard he gaue two houses in Poictou with the one halfe of all the reuenues of the countie of Poictou to be receiued and taken in readie monie 7 And to his sonne Geffrey he granted in monie the moitie of that which he should haue by the mariage of earle Conans daughter and after he had maried hir by licence purchased of the pope he should enioy all the whole liuings and reuenues that descended to hir as in hir fathers writing therof more at large was conteined 8 On the other part king Henrie the son couenanted to with the king his father that he would performe and confirme all those gifts which his father should grant out of his lands also all those gifts of lands which he either had made and assured or hereafter should make and assure vnto any of his men for any of their seruices likewise those gifts which he had made vnto his sonne Iohn the brother of king Henrie the sonne namelie a thousand pounds in lands by yeare in England of his demaine and excheats with the appurtenances and the castell and countie of Notingham with the castell of Marlebrough the appurtenances Also a thousand pounds Aniouin of yearelie reuenues in Normandie and two castels there And in Aniou a thousand pounds Aniouin of such lands as belonged to the earle of Aniou with one castell in Aniou and one in Touraine and another in Maine Thus were the father and sons agréed and made freends the sonnes couenanting neuer to withdraw their seruices and bounden dueties from their father but to obeie him in all things from that day forward Herewith also the peace was renewed betwixt king Henrie and king Lewes and for the further confirmation a new aliance was accorded betwixt them which was that the ladie Adela the daughter of king Lewes should be giuen in mariage vnto earle Richard the sonne of king Henrie who bicause she was not yet of age able to marie she was conueied into England to be vnder the guiding of king Henrie till she came to lawfull
Long time after the death of this damsell in the said abbeie was shewed a cofer that sometimes was hirs of the length of two foot in the which appeared giants fighting startling of beasts swimming of fishes and flieng of foules so liuelie that a man might woonder at the fine deuise thereof Moreouer king Henrie was noted not to be so fauourable to the liberties fréedoms of the church as he might haue béene For besides the persecuting of the foresaid Thomas archbishop of Canturburie he would not suffer the legats sent from the pope to enter within the bounds of his dominion till they had sworne that they should doo nothing preiudiciall to the customs of his kingdome neither by prescribing orders nor any other maner of act or meanes He was thought to be negligent in aiding the christian common-wealth in the holie land For though he had appointed twice or thrice to go thither in person yet being letted by light occasions he staied at home and sent small reléefe thither though he was earnestlie called vpon for the same His estimation was such amongst forren princes that Philip king of France being newlie entred into the gouernement of that realme after his fathers deceasse committed line 10 himselfe and his kingdome to the disposition and order of king Henrie as if he had béene regent of his realme and gouernour of his person There liued in the daies of this king Henrie the second diuerse honourable personages and capteins of great fame for their approoued valiancie and experience in warlike enterprises as Robert earle of Leicester Hugh Bigot earle of Northfolke Reignold earle of Cornewall Robert Ferreis earle of Darbie Richard Lacie Roger Mowbray Rafe de Fulgiers Humfrey Bohun conestable of England line 20 Ranulfe Glandeuille William Uesey Bernard de Ballioll Also there flourished in his time here in this land men of singular learning in arts and sciences as Nicholas Breakespeare Serlo surnamed Grammaticus William Rheualensis Adam de Euesham Thomas of Munmouth Adelbertus Leuita Geruasius Cicestrensis Odo Cantianus Ealred Rhieuellensis Iohannes Sarisburiensis Clemens Lanthoniensis Walter Daniell Robert line 30 Knought alià s Camtus Robert Folioth William Ramsey Senatus Brauonus Robert the Scribe Odo Miremuth Hugh of Reading Richard of Douer William of Peterburough Cicerciensis Bartholomew Iscanus and Gilbert de Sempringham with others ¶ And here to make an end with this high and mightie prince Henrie the second I haue thought good to make you partaker of an epitaph which we find in Matthew Paris and others written of him as line 40 followeth Epitaphium in Henricum secundum regem mortuum hîc sepultum REx Henricus eram mihi plurima regna subegi MultiplicÃque modo dúxque comésque fui Cui satis ad votum non essent omnia terrae Climata terra modò sufficit octo pedum Qui legis haec pensa discrimina mortis indè line 50 Humanae specula conditionis habe Quod potes instanter operare bonum quia mundus Transit incautos mors inopina rapit Aliud TVmuli regis superscriptio breuis exornaâ— Sufficit hic tumulus cui non suffecerat orbis Res breuis est ampla cui fuit ampla breuis An epitaph vpon king Henrie the second dead and heere intoomed OF late king Henrie was my name which conquerd manie a land And diuerse dukedoms did possesse and earledoms held in hand And yet while all the earth could scarse my greedie mind suffice Eight foot within the ground now serues wherein my carcase lies Now thou that readest this note well my force with force of death And let that serue to shew the state of all that yeeldeth breath Doo good then here foreslowe no time cast off all worldlie cares For brittle world full soone dooth faile and death dooth strike vnwares An other SMall epitaph now serues to decke this toome of statelie king And he who whilome thought whole earth could scarse his mind content In little roome hath roome at large that serues now life is spent ¶ Here may be thought that the reigne of the Normans and French men ouer the realme of England tooke end a hundred twentie two yeares after the comming in of the Conquerour for those that reigned after this Henrie the second we may rightlie estéeme to be Englishmen bicause they were borne in England and vsed the English toong customes and maners according to the nature and qualitie of the countrie Thus farre the succession and regiment of the Frenchmen ouer this Iland namelie Stephan of Bullongne and Henrie the second Richard the first second sonne to Henrie the second RIchard the first of that name and second sonne of Henrie the second began his reigne ouer England the sixt day of Iulie in the yere of our Lord 1189. year 1189 in the seauen and thirteeth yeare of the emperour Frederike the first in the eleuenth yere of the reigne of Philip the second king of France and king William surnamed the Lion line 10 as yet liuing in the gouernement of Scotland This Richard immediatlie after the solemnities of his fathers funerals were ended made hast to Rouen where he was ioifullie receiued and proclamed duke of Normandie receiuing the inuesture according to the custome on the twentith day of Iulie Then studieng to set all things in good order on that side the sea he made search where his fathers treasure was preserued and therevpon attached Stephan de Turnham who was seneschall or gouernour as we line 20 may call him of Aniou and committing him to prison compelled him to make deliuerie of all such summes of monie as he had hid and laid vp in certeine castels by the commandement of the late king his father Whilest he was thus occupied his brother Iohn came to him to whom he ioifullie gaue the welcome and besides all other things which his father had bequeathed vnto him by his testament in England amounting to the value of foure thousand pounds of line 30 yearelie rent with the earledome of Mortaigne he procured a marriage for him being now a widower for his further aduancement with the ladie Isabell daughter to Robert earle of Glocester which earle had appointed the said Iohn to be his heire as before is mentioned although Baldwine the archbishop of Canturburie forbad the mariage bicause they were coosens in the third degree of consanguinitie To Robert earle of Leicester also he restored all his lands which had béene taken from him and such persons line 40 as his father had disherited he restored likewise to their former rights and possessions howbeit those had forsaken his father and taken part with him against his said father he séemed now so much to mislike that he remooued them vtterlie from his presence and contrariwise preferred such as had continued faithfull vnto his father in time of the troubles At length king Richard remembring himselfe of his mother quéene Elianor who had béene separated
ladie Alice sister to the French king Baldwine archbishop of Canturburie Iohn bishop of Norwich Hugh bishop of Durham Geffrey bishop of Winchester Reignold bishop of Bath William Bishop of Elie Hubert bishop line 40 of Salisburie and Hugh bishop of Chester with Geffrey the elect of Yorke and Iohn earle of Mortaigne the kings two brethren by commandement of the king passed ouer into Normandie to commen with him before hiâ— setting forward ¶ Some write that now at this present the king should ordeine or rather confirme the bishop of Elie his chancellour to be lord chéefe iustice ouer all England and the bishop of Durham to be lord iustice from Trent northwards But whensoeuer they were line 50 thuâ— aduanced to such dignities howsoeuer they came by them directlie or indirectlie trâ—â— it is that immediatlie therevpon strife and discord did arise betwixt them for 〈◊〉 proud and insolent they disdained ech other contending which of them should beare most rule and authoritie insomuch that whatsoeuer séemed good to the 〈…〉 misliked as in cases where parteners in authoritie are equall it often happeneth The like hereof is 〈◊〉 before betwéene the archbishops of Canturburie 〈◊〉 Yorke line 60 in diuerse kings reignes Foâ— the nature of ambition is to delight in singularitie to admit no peers to giue place to no superior to acknowledge no equall Hereto alludeth the poet verie neaâ—lâ—â— and exemplifieth it in the old Romans the â—rder of whose actions is continued at this day as by thâ— woâ—â—s insuing may be gathered and ordinarilie obserued booth here and elsewhere 〈…〉 pladoxe Plebeiâ—â— quoâ—ieâ— suffragi◠〈◊〉 Cerdoâ—úmque aniâ—â—â— precibus sosuilibusque Turpibus obsequijs 〈…〉 Vt proprijs rebus cur 〈…〉 publica 〈◊〉 Pérque foram medium multis comitantibus irent Inflati vâ— vento folies ac fronte superba c. Moreouer at the same time he caused his two brethren earle Iohn and Geffrey the elect archbishop of Yorke to take an oth not to returne into England during the terme of thrée yeares next insuing without his consent and licence first had This he did foreséeing what might happen prouiding as it were against such practises as his brethren might happilie attempt against him But yet his mother quéene Elianor procured him to reuoke that decree immediatlie least it might seeme to the world that hir sonnes should stand in feare one of another And so the earle of Mortaigne was licenced to returne into England at his pleasure swearing an oth at his departure to obeie the kings beheast and truelie to serue him according to the dutie of a good and loiall subiect The bishop of Elie lord chancellour and cheefe iustice of England was also sent backe hither into this realme to set forward things behoouefull for the kings iournie In like maner the king sent to Rome to obteine that the said bishop of Elie might be constituted the popes legat through both the prouinces of Canturburie and Yorke and likewise through Wales and Ireland Which was soone granted by the bulles of pope Clement the third bearing date the 5. of Iune For the which office the bishops gaue him 1500. marks to the great offense of the king as he shewed afterward to cardinall Octauian that came to visit him when he arriued in the riuer of Tiber being vpon his iourneie towards Messina as after may appeare But in the meane time calling togither the lords and peeres of those his dominions on that side the sea to wit Normandie Britaine Aniou Poitou and Guien he consulted with them what number of soldiors and how manie ships it should be conuenient for him to take with him and furnish into Alla and herewith he did command them also to obeie Robert earle of Leicester whome he appointed to remaine amongst them as his lieutenant or vicegerent of those parts during his absence ¶ But here to leaue king Richard in consultation for matters apperteining to his iournie and shew brieflie what happened by the waie to the Iewes which as then dwelt heere in England after that king Richard was passed euer into Normandie ye haue heard how after the riot against them at London when the king was crowned he tooke order that they should remaine in peace vnder his protection and commanded that no person should in anie wise molest them But now after that he was gone ouer and that the souldiers which prepared themselues to follow him began to assemble in râ—â—â—s the heads of the common people began to wax wild 〈◊〉 faine would they haue had some occasion of raising a new tumult against the Iewes whome for these vnmercifull vsurie practised to the vndooing of manie an honest man they most â—â—adlie hated wishing most earnestlie these expulsion out of England Hervpon by reason of a riot committed latelie against them at the towne of Lâ—n in Norfolke where maâ—ie of them were slaine other people in other parts of the realme taking oâ—casion hereat as if they had béene called vp by the sound of a bell or trumpet aâ—ose against them in those 〈◊〉 where they had any habit 〈…〉 them afteâ— a disordered 〈…〉 As at Stamford on the faire day in Lent at Lincolne and at Yorke in which citie after a number of them had béene besieged certeine daies within a 〈◊〉 of the kings whither they fled for succour one of them learned gouernours caused foure hundred of their companie to consent to haue their throâ—s cut one at an others hands he himself cutting his wiues throt first whose name was Anna then his childrens one after another and last of all slue himselfe onlie rather than he would fall into the hands of the christians that had thus long besieged them The rest perceiuing what their great Rabbi had doone set fire vpon all their goods and substance which they had gotten into the tower with them and so consuming the same would haue burnt also the residue of their fellowes which would not agrée to the Rabbies counsell line 10 in the cruell murthering of themselues if they had not taken a strong turret hard by within that tower and defended themselues both from the fire and crueltie of their brethren who had made awaie themselues in such manner as I haue said and that to the number of foure hundred or as some write fiue hundred at the least On the morow those that were saued called out to the people and not onelie shewed how and after what sort their fellowes were dispatched but also offered line 20 to be baptised and forsake their Iudaisme if they might haue their liues saued from the imminent present danger wherein they saw themselues to be wrapped through the furie of the people To be short this thing was granted and they came foorth howbeit they were no sooner entred into the prease but they were all slaine and not one man of them preserued After this also the people ran to the cathedrall church and broke into those places where their
ad aliquem portum in balliua tua applicuerit aut aliquis nunciâ—rum eius eum retineri faâ—ias donec mandatum nostrum indè receperis Et similiter praecipimus quòd omnes literas papae aut magni alicuius viri quae illic venerint facias retineri The English wherof is thus We command you that if the elect of Yorke shall arriue at any port or hauen within your bailiwicke or any messenger of his that you cause them to be arested and kept till you haue commandement from vs therein And we command you likewise to stay attach and keepe all letters that come from the pope or any other great man Likewise whereas Baldwine archbishop of Canturburie hauing taken his iournie into the holie land and arriuing there before the king chanced to depart this life at Tyrus the last yeere vpon the feast daie of S. Edmund the chancellour found meanes to keepe that sée also vacant that he might receiue the profits thereof during the vacation and find meanes to be prepared to it in the end But as touching the sée of Yorke although he had as before is said made his hand of the reuenues belonging to the same from time to time at his pleasure yet now after that he heard how Geffrey had receiued the pall he made hauocke wasting spoiling all that would yeeld him anie monie without respect of right or wrong Moreouer he caused the hauens to be watched with commandement giuen to the townes on the sea coast that they should not suffer the archbishop Geffrey to take land At length yet he arriued at Douer where he was by the foresaid Matthew de Clere first staied and after taken out of the abbeie by the chancellours commandement and committed to prison within the castell where a Noble man that had maried the chancellors sister was capteine The newes of whose imprisonment was anon bruted thorough the realme wherewith the Nobles fretted and the commons curssed finallie all men detested such tyrannie in the chancellour But namelie the kings brother earle Iohn stormed at the matter and with all spéed assembled an armie out of those places where he bare rule increasing the number with a power of Welshmeir There came to him the bishop of Winchester with manie earles and barons also the bishop of Bath and Chester which line 10 latelie before had béene chéefe fauourers of the chancellour in all his dooings but now that the world was changed they shewed themselues the most earnest enimies he had as well in words as déeds In an assemblie of all the bishops of England all those were excommunicate in solemne wise with candels light and other such ceremonies which had either giuen commandement or were present as partakers to pull out of the church the archbishop of Yorke or his people by violence and had imprisoned line 20 them in maner as before yée haue heard but this was after the archbishop was set at libertie as shuld appeare by Matthew Paris for the chancellour repenting himselfe though now too late of his cruell dealing against the archbishop of Yorke wherewith he had kindled such a brand against him commanded the said archbishop namelie at the instant sute of the bishop of London or rather at the commandement of earle Iohn as Houeden saith to be set at libertie But the displeasure once kindled in the hearts of the line 30 Nobles could not so easilie be quenched with his deliuerie as it was spéedilie set on fire by his imprisonment so that they being now in armour purposed to abate the pride of the chancellour and to deliuer the common-wealth of such an vglie tyrant And to begin they summoned and assigned him a peremptorie day to appeare at Reading to make answer vnto such iniuries as he had doone against the archbishop of Yorke and the bishop of Durham sithens the departure line 40 of his souereigne lord the king At which day there came to Reading earle Iohn and the archbishop of Rouen with manie other bishops earles and barons abiding there all that day to sée if the chancellour would appeare or no but he came not wherevpon they prepared to march foorth towards London and therewithall set forward in like maner He on the other side being a man of a great courage had gathered an armie of such strangers and other his fréends as he could make and therewith went foorth and encamped neere to Windsor line 50 there to abide his aduersaries and to giue them battell if they came forward and would abide it But when they approched and he perceiued also how diuerse of his freends shranke from him and went to his enimies he durst not attempt the hazard of a field but fled backe to London and there withdrew into the tower with all his host bicause he durst not commit himselfe to the doubtfull fellowship of the citizens Through his great pride and statelie port line 60 which he mainteined as partlie yée haue heard he had procured to himselfe no small hatred amongst all degrees of men and namelie such as by the kings appointment ought to haue beene parteners with him in gouernement of the realme sore repined at his presumptuous proceedings for that he disdained as it séemed to vse their aduise or to ioine them with him in the administration of things so that now in time of his trouble he wist not in whome he might put his trust After he was thus retired into the tower of London earle Iohn the archbishop of Rouen and the other bishops earles and barons associated togither against him followed him at the héeles entered the citie and besieged the tower on ech side On the morrow after being the fourth day after the octaues of saint Michaell they came togither into Paules churchyard where they publikelie declared the iniurious wrongs doone and practised by the chancellour namelie against the archbishop of Yorke and the bishop of Durham Those also that had beene appointed as associats with him accused him in that he had taken vpon him to rule and gouerne all things after his owne will not vouchsafing to haue their aduise or councell in such sort as had béene conuenient The archbishop of Rouen and William Marshall earle of Pembroke shewed there before all the people the kings letters which he had sent from Messina appointing that they should be associats with him in gouernment of the kingdome and that without the counsell and aduice of them and others assigned therto he should not meddle with the rule of the land and that if he should doo any thing to the hinderance of the common-wealth or séeke to meddle with the affaires of the realme without their good aduise that then he should be deposed Héerevpon it seemed good to earle Iohn and to all the bishops earles and barons of the realme and to the citizens of London there assembled that the said chancellour should be deposed and so they proceeded and deposed him indéed appointing the archbishop of
of the French king by couenants that should passe betwixt them he determined therefore with himselfe to commit his whole safetie to his naturall brother and to no man else perceiuing that the French king made not so great accompt of him after the losse of his castels in England as he had doone before Herevpon comming to his brother king Richard he besought him to pardon his â—â—â—ense and though he had not dealt brotherlie towards him yet that he would brotherlie forgiue him his rebellious trespasse adding furthermore that whereas he had not heretofore beene thankefull for his manifold benefits which he had receiued at his hands yet he was now most sorie therefore and was willing to make amends wherewith he acknowledged the safegard of his life to rest in him for the which he was bound to giue him thanks if he would grant thereto The king mooued with his words made this answer as it is said that he pardoned him indéed but yet wished that he might forget such iniuries as he had receiued at his hands which he doubted least he should not easilie doo Herewith erle Iohn being yet put in good hope of forgiuenesse sware to be true euer after vnto him and that he would endeuour himselfe to make amends for his misdeeds past and so was shortlie after restored vnto his former degree honour and estimation in all respects line 10 But by some writers it should appeare that earle Iohn immediatlie vpon conclusion of the first truce came from the French king and submitted himselfe to his brother and by mediation of the quéene their mother was pardoned receiued againe into fauour and serued 〈◊〉 after against the French king verie dutifullie séeking by new atchiued enterpises brought about to the contentation of his brother to make a recompense for his former misdemeanor reputing it meere madnesse to make means to further line 20 mischeefe for stultum est hostem iritare potentem Atque malum maius tumidis sibi quaerere verbis But at what time soeuer he returned thus to his brother this yeare as Roger Houeden saith he was restored to the earledoms of Mortaigne in Normandie and Glocester in England with the honour of Eie the castels onelie excepted and in recompense of the residue of the earledoms which he had before inioied togither with certeine other lands his brother line 30 king Richard gaue vnto him a yeerelie pension amounting to the summe of eight thousand pound of Aniouin monie ¶ Now here to staie a while at matters chancing here about home I will speake somewhat of the dooings of Leopold duke of Austrich who as one nothing mooued with the pestilence and famine that oppressed his countrie in this season but rather hauing his hart hardened began to threaten the English hostages that they shuld loose their liues if king Richard kept not the couenants which he had line 40 vndertaken to performe by a day appointed Wherevpon Baldwin Betun one of the hostages was sent by common agréement of the residue vnto king Richard to signifie to him their estate King Richard willing to deliuer them out of further danger sent with the same Baldwin his coosen the sister of Arthur duke of Britaine and the daughter of the emperour of Cypres to be conueied vnto the said duke of Austrich the one namelie the sister of Arthur to be ioined in marriage with the dukes sonne and the line 50 other to continue in the dukes hands to bestow at his pleasure But in the meane time on saint Stephans day duke Leopold chanced to haue a fall beside his horsse and hurt his leg in such wise that all the surgions in the countrie could not helpe him wherevpon in extreame anguish he ended his life And whereas before his death he required to be absolued of the sentence of excommunication pronounced against him by the pope for apprehending of king Richard in line 60 his returning from his iournie made into the holie land he was answered by the cleargie that except he would receiue an oth to stand to the iudgement of the church for the iniurie doone to king Richard and that vnlesse other of the Nobilitie would receiue the like oth with him if he chanced to die whereby he might not fulfill that which the church héerein should decrée that yet they should see the same performed he might not otherwise be absolued Wherefore he tooke the oth and the Nobles of his countrie with him and therewithall released the English pledges remitted the monie that yet remained behind of his portion aforesaid and immediatlie therewith died After his deceasse bicause certeine péeâ—es of the countrie withstood the performance of the premisses his bodie laie eight daies longer aboue ground than otherwise it should haue doone for till such time as all the pledges were perfectlie released it might not be buried Also Baldwin de Betun approching neere to the confines of Austrich when he heard that the duke was dead returned with the two ladies vnto his souereigne lord king Richard Thâ—s as ye haue heard for feare of the censures of the church were the pledges restored and the residue of the monie behind released ¶ All this was â—â—th pleasant and profitable for king Richards soules helth as may 〈◊〉 thought bicause he tooke occasion therof to amend hiâ— owne former 〈◊〉 by considering how much he might be repreheâ—â—eâ— for his sundrie faults committed both against God and man A maruellous matter to â—eare how much froÌ„ that time forward he reformed his former trade of liuing into a better forme order Moreouer the emperour gaue to the Ciâ—teauâ— moonks 3000 marks of siluer parcell of king Richards ransome to make siluer censers in euerie church throughout where they had any houses but the abbats of the same order refused the gift being a portion of so wrongfull and vngodlie a gaine At which thing when it came to the knowledge of K. Richard he greatlie maruelled at the first but after commended the abbats in their dooings and cheeflie for shewing that they were void of the accustomed gréedinesse of hauing which most men supposed them to be much infected withall King Richard this yeare pardoned Hugh Nouant bishop of Couentrie of all his wrath and displeasure conceiued toward him and restored to him his bishoprike for fiue thousand marks of siluer But Robert Nouant the same bishops brother died in the kings prison at Douer Also whereas the archbishop of Yorke had offended king Richard he pardoned him and receiued him againe into fauour with the kisse of peace Wherevpon the archbishop waxed so proud that vsing the king reprochfullie he lost his archbishoprike the rule of Yorkeshire which he had in gouernment as shiriffe the fauour of his souereigne and which was the greatest losse of all the loue of God For Nemo superbus amat superos nec amatur ab illis Vult humiles Deus ac mites habitátque libenter Mansuetos animos procul
I shall indeuour my selfe to cause him to restore with interest But when he saw that his enimies would still procéed and that no aid came out of England he came ouer himselfe and landed at Portesmouth on S. Nicholas day King Philip doubting by vsing the victorie with too much rigor least he should bring the Normans into a desperate boldnesse and so cause them for safegard of their liues to hazard all vpon resistance â—e staied for a time and withdrew his souldiers backe againe into France hauing not onelie furnished those places in the meane time which he had wâ—n with strong garisons of his souldiers but also appointed certeine personages to trauell with the people yet remaining line 10 in the English subiection to reuolt and turne from king Iohn to his obeisance and subiection King Iohn being returned into England accused diuerse of his Nobles for shewing themselues negligent and slouthfull in aiding him according to his commandement alledging furthermore that being destitute of their due and requisite seruice he was constreined to lose his time in Normandie as not being able for want of their aid to resist his enimies Wherefore for this and other matters laid to their line 20 charges he did put them to greeuous â—ines By meanes whereof and by leauieng a subsidie of his people he got togither an huge summe of monie This subsidie was granted him in a parlement holden at Oxenford and begun there vpon the second of Ianuarie 1204 wherein of euerie knights fée was granted the summe of two markes and an halfe year 1204 Neither were the bishops abbats nor any other ecclesiasticall persons exempted by meanes whereof he ran first into the hatred of the clergie and consequentlie line 30 of manie other of his subiects so that they failed him at his néed whereby he often susteined no small damage which he might haue preuented and withstood if he had beene so qualified with discretion as to haue séene what was conuenient and what inconuenient for his roiall estate But voluntas Improba perniciem ingentem mortalibus affert as it did to him which may be gathered by a due obseruation of the consequence ¶ This yeare the aire line 40 toward the north and east parts séemed to be on a bright fire for the space of six houres togither It began about the first watch of the night on the first of Aprill King Iohn about the beginning of this sixt yeare of his reigne sent in ambassage to the French king the archbishop of Canturburie the bishops of Norwich and Elie the earles Marshall and Leicester to treat with him of peace but he was so far off from comming néere to any reasonable motions bicause line 50 he saw the world frame as he wished that still by demanding somewhat that might not be granted he kept off and brought in such hard conditions that it was not possible to conclude anie agréement And this he did of purpose hoping within short time to conquer all that the king of England possessed as yet on that side the seas He was the more vntoward to compound for that he was informed how Arthur the duke of Britaine was dispatched of his life and therfore not doubting but to haue manie to take line 60 part with him in seeking reuenge of his death he made that his chéefe quarell swearing that he would not ceasse to pursue the warre against king Iohn till he had depriued him of his whole kingdome So the ambassadors departed without all hope to come to any agreement ¶ This yeare Easter day fell so high as it possiblie might year 1204 that is to saie on saint Marks day King Philip vnderstanding that king Iohn remained still in England rather occupied in gathering of monie amongst his subiects than in making other prouision to bring them into the field to the great offense of his said people thought now for his part to lose no time but assembling a mightie armie he came with the same into Normandie and vpon his first comming he wan the towne of Falaise and shortlie after was Dampfront deliuered vnto him by surrender This doone he marched further into the countrie and with his sudden inuasion so oppressed the people euerie where that they could haue no time to make shift by flight to get into the townes With this swiftnesse of spéed he brought also such a feare into the hearts of most men that he wan all the countrie of Normandie euen to Mount S. Michaell The inhabitants in euerie place submitted themselues as those of Baieulx Constances Liseux and other townes thereabouts Finallie he came before Rouen the principall citie of all the countrie and incamped so in sundrie places about the citie that all the issues entries and waies were closed vp by his armie being so diuided into seuerall camps that the distance was not great from one to another making a terrible shew to them within At length after he had prouided all things necessarie for his purpose and taken good aduise of his capteins how he should best imploie his force for the winning of this citie in which exploit he knew the full perfection of all his passed conquests cheefelie to consist he did manfullie assault it and they within as manfullie defended themselues so that he got little by the assaults and approches which he made Wherevpon he fell in hand to practise with the citizens to win them with méed curtesie gentle speech and great promises So that in fine they within were so mooued with such reasons as he vsed to persuade them withall that they made request for a truce to be had for certeine daies within the terme whereof if no succour came they couenanted to yeeld without any further trouble This truce being obteined ambassadours were sent from them of Rouen into England to signifie vnto king Iohn the whole state of the citie and of the truce so that if aid came not within the time appointed the citie must néeds be deliuered into the enimies hands The king hauing no armie in readinesse to send ouer nor other shift to make for the succour of the citie permitted the ambassadours to depart without comfort of any aid who herevpon returning to Rouen and reporting what they had hard séene and found brought the citie into great sorrow For whereas that citie had euer béene accustomed to glorie for the great loialtie and faithfull fidelitie which the same had euer shewed towards their liege lords and naturall princes now the citizens perceiued manifestlie that vnlesse they would cast awaie themselues and lose all they had they must of force yeeld into the hands of their enimies Wherefore to make their true allegiance more apparant to the world they staied the surrender as long as they had any store of vittels within the citie to releeue their fainting bodies withall and so in the end being vanquished with hunger they submitted themselues to the French king Their submission being once knowne caused
slat to the ground Whereof the king hauing knowledge assembled a mightie armie out of hand and line 50 comming to Notingham he hanged vp the Welsh hostages which the last yeare he had receiued to the number of eight and twentie yoong striplings And by reason he was now set in a maruellous chase he roughlie proceeded against all those whom he knew not to fauor his case some he discharged of their offices other he depriued of their capteineships and other roomes reuoked certeine priuileges immunities granted to moonks préests men of religion Furthermore hauing his armie readie to passe line 60 on into Wales he receiued letters the same time both from the king of Scots and from his daughter the wife of Leoline prince of Wales conteining in effect the aduertisement of one matter which was to let him know that if he proceeded on his iournie he should either through treason he slaine of his owne lords or else be deliuered to be destroied of his enimies The king iudging no lesse but that the tenor of the letters conteined a truth brake vp his armie and returned to London From whence he sent messengers vnto all such lords as he suspected commanding them to send vnto him hostages for more assurance of their fidelities The lords durst not disobeie his commandement but sent their sons their nephues and other their kinsmen accordinglie as he required and so his rancour was appeased for a time But Eustace de Uescie Robert Fitz Walter and Stephan Ridell being accused an◠suspected of the K. for the said treason were glad to flée the realme Uescie departing into Scotland and the other two into France The same yeare the church of S. Marie Oueries and all the buildings vpon London bridge on both sides the same were consumed with fire which was iudged to be a signification of some mishap to follow The king held his Christmasse this yeare at Westminster year 1213 with no great traine of knights about him About the same time Geffrey archbishop of Yorke departed this life after he had remained in exile about a seauen yeares But now to returne againe to the practises of the popes legats Ye shall vnderstand the French king being requested by Pandulph the popes legat to take the warre in hand against king Iohn was easilie persuaded thereto of an inward hatred that he bare vnto our king and therevpon with all diligence made his prouision of men ships munition and vittell in purpose to passe ouer into England and now was his nauie readie rigged at the mouth of Saine and he in greatest forwardnesse to take his iournie When Pandulph vpon good considerations thought first to go eftsoones or at the least wise to send into England before the French armie should land there and to assaie once againe if he might induce the king to shew himselfe reformable vnto the popes pleasure king Iohn hauing knowledge of the French kings purpose and ordinance assembled his people and lodged with them alongst by the coast towards France that he might resist his enimies and kéepe them off from landing Here writers declare that he had got togither such an armie of men out of all the parts of his realme both of lords knights gentlemen yeomen other of the commons that notwithstanding all the prouision of vittels that might possible be recouered there could not be found sufficient store to susteine the huge multitude of them that were gathered alongst the coast namelie at Douer Feuersham Gipsewich and other places Wherevpon the capteins discharged and sent home a great number of the commons reteining onelie the men of armes yeomen and fréeholders with the crossebowes and archers There came likewise to the kings aid at the same time the bishop of Norwich out of Ireland bringing with him fiue hundred men of armes a great sort of other horssemen To conclude there was estéemed of able men assembled togither in the armie on Barhamdowne what of chosen men of armes and valiant yeomen and other armed men the number of sixtie thousand so that if they had béene all of one mind and well bent towards the seruice of their king and defense of their countrie there had not béene a prince in christendome but that they might haue beene able to haue defended the realme of England against him He had also prouided a nauie of ships farre stronger than the French kings readie to fight with them by sea if the case had so required But as he lay thus readie néere to the coast to withstand and beat backe his enimies there arriued at Douer two Templers who comming before the king declared vnto him that they were sent from Pandulph the popes legat who for his profit coueted to talke with him for he had as they affirmed meanes to propone whereby he might be reconciled both to God and his church although he were adiudged in the court of Rome to haue forfeited all the right which he had to his kingdome The king vnderstanding the meaning of the messengers sent them backe againe to bring ouer the legat who incontinentlie came ouer to Douer of whose arriuall when the king was aduertised he went thither and receiued him with all due honour and reuerence Now after they had talked togither a little and courteouslie saluted each other as the course of humanitie required the legat as it is reported vttered these words following The sawcie speech of proud Pandulph the popes lewd legat to king Iohn in the presumptuous popes behalfe I Doo not thinke that you are ignorant how pope Innocent to do that which to his dutie apperteineth hath both absolued your subiects of that oth which they made vnto you at the beginning and also taken from line 20 you the gouernance of England according to your deserts and finallie giuen commandement vnto certeine princes of Christendome to expell you out of this kingdom and to place an other in your roome so worthilie to punish you for your disobedience and contempt of religion and that Philip king of France with the first being readie to accomplish the popes commandement line 30 hath an armie in a readinesse and with his nauie newlie decked rigged and furnished in all points lieth at the mouth of the riuer of Saine looking for a prosperous wind that as soone as it commeth about he may saile therewith hither into England trusting as he saith with the helpe of your owne people which neither name you nor will take you for their king line 40 to spoile you of your kingdome with small adoo and to conquer it at his pleasure for he hath as he sticketh not to protest openlie to the world a charter made by all the cheefest lords of England touching their fealtie and obedience assured to him Therfore sith God for your iust desert is wroth with you and that you are as euill spoken of by all men as they that come against line 50 you be well
to the confounding of the indirect means now vsed to aspire vnto promotions for the obteinment whereof no remedie is forborne no though the same be repugnant to reason and vtterlie against conscience and honestie But this is the temptation of auarice and ambition which poison the minds of men in such sort that rather than they will want their wished aduancement they will vse these meanes that may further them most namelie fréendship monie and mightie mens countenance which one noâ—eth verie well in a distichon of neat deuise saieng Artis honestatis recti praecepta decus vim Conculcat superant spernunt fauor aera potentes But to the purpose from whence we are digressed When the moonks came to the popes presencâ— vpon inquirie made and chéefelie by report of Simon Langton who as some thinke gaped for the dignitie he vnderstood that the said Ralfe Neuill should be a man vnlearned a courtier hastie and short of word and that which most displeased the pope it was to be feared that if he should be preferred to that roome he would go about to deliuer the realme of England from the thraldome of the pope and the court of Rome into the which being made tributorie by king Iohn it had latelie beene brought that as he should alledge it might serue God and holie church in the old accustomed libertie To bring this to passe hauing the king thereto greatlie inclined and all the realme readie to assist him in the same he would not sticke to put his life in ieopardie namelie vpon confidence of the right and appâ—alos of Stephan the late archbishop of Canturburie made in solemne wise before the altar of S. Paule in the cathedrall church of London when king Iohn resigning his crowne into the hands of the legat made that writing obligatorie most exeerable to the whole world When the pope had heard this tale told he streit disanulled the election and requesâ— of the confirmation of the said Ralfe Neuill granting libertie to the moonks to chose some other which might proue a wholsome shéepheard for the soule of man profitable to the church of England and a faithfull sonne to the sée of Rome and so the moonks returning home made relation to the couent how they had sped After this the moonks elected the prior of their house named Iohn to be their archbishop who going to Rome for his confirmation was persuaded in the end to renounce his election so that at length one Edmund that was treasurer of the colledge of Salisburie was elected confirmed and consecrated a man of great zeale being the foure fortith archbishop that had gouerned that sée This yeare the kings brother the earle of Cornewall married the countesse of Glocester widow to the late earle Gilbert and sister to William Marshall earle of Penbroke the which erle of Penbroke shortlie after the same marriage departed this life and was buried on the fifteenth day of Aprill in the new temple at London néere vnto his father Moreouer Leolin prince of Wales about this season enterprising to inuade the English confines burned and wasted the countrie in most cruell wise Whereof the king being aduertised hasted foorth by great iournies with purpose to reuenge such iniuries But the enimies hearing of his comming according to the custome of their countrie withdrew into the mounteins bogs and marishes Wherefore the king seeing that he could not haue them at his pleasure and least he should be thought to spend time in vaine came backe and left behind him a small troope of souldiers to resist their attempts if they should happen to rise vp any more The Welshmen hauing intelligence that the king was returned home brake foorth againe as before into to the English marshes and not onelie tooke preies and booties but went about to destroie with fire and sword all that stood in their way Howbe it in their returne and as they ranged abroad somewhat vnaduisedlie they were intrapped by the souldiers which the king had left there for the defense of the countrie and put to flight néere the castell of Mountgomerie with great slaughter losse of their people But Leolin nothing dismaied therwith assembled a greater power than he had before and began foorthwith to rob and line 10 spoile within the English marshes with paganish extremitie Which thing when it came to the vnderstanding of the king he was verie sore displeased that so meane a man as Leolin was should put him to so much trouble therefore he raised a farre greater armie than he had doone at anie time before and with the same came to the citie of Hereford In the meane time Leolin comming néere vnto the said castell of Mountgomerie by the practise of a traitorous moonke trained foorth the English souldiers line 20 which laie in garrison there and counterfeiting to flee till he had laid them vp in bogs and mires with their horsses so as they could not helpe themselues he fell vpon them and so slue and tooke a great number of them euen as he could haue wished The king aduertised hereof hasted the faster forward and comming into those parts as he passed by an abbeie of the Ciffeaux order of which house the moonke was that had betraied the Englishmen of Mountgomerie he burned a grange that belonged to the same line 30 abbeie and further spoiling the same abbeie it selfe he had set it on a light fire also if the abbat therof had not redéemed it with the summe of thrée hundred marks of siluer After this he caused Mawds castell to be repaired and fortified which the Welshmen in times past had ouerthrowne and when the worke was finished he left there a strong garrison of souldiers to kéepe backe the Welshmen from making their accustomed incursions Whilest the king was thus occupied in Wales line 40 there was some busines in France for in the moneth of Iune the French king with an armie came to inuade the countrie of Britaine but earle Henrie with the earle of Chester and the other English capteins found meanes to take and destroie all the cariages and wagons which came with vittels and other prouision to serue the French armie When the Frenchmen perceiued they could not haue their purpose by mediation of the archbishop of Reimes and the earle of Bollongne on the French part and by consent of line 50 the earles of Britaine and Chester on the English part a peace was concluded or rather a truce to indure for three yeares betwixt the two kings of England and France This agréement was made the fift daie of Iulie and then the earles of Britaine and Chester with Richard Marshall came ouer into England and rode to the king whom they found at Mawds castell where he remained till the workâ— was finished and then in the moneth of October returned into England line 60 In this meane time no small grudge arose among the people by reason that
crate teneri Auxerat articulos macies genuùmque tumebat Orbis immodico prodibant tubere tali c. This yeare after Easter a parlement was holden at London in the which manie weightie matters were intreated of touching the kings causes namelie about the conquest of the realme of Naples the pope hauing sent a messenger named Hurtred for the discharge of monie which the pope had receiued of merchants as it were to the kings vse and entred bonds for the paiment thereof Also whereas the king was sore disquieted for the warre which the Welshmen made against him he asked aduise of the states how he might procéed to seeke his iust reuenge of them who by reason of their good hap were become verie stout and loftie and had of late by the expiring of a truce which had beene accorded betwixt them spoiled and wasted the most part of Penbrokeshire of which iniurie the earle of Penbroke namelie William de Ualence sore complained But whereas the king knowing him to be rich willed him to lay out some great portion of monie towards the maintenance of his wars the erle tooke great displeasure therewith as though the king had made that request by the suggestion and setting on of some of the English lords in somuch that words passed in displeasant sort betwixt him and the earles of Glocester and Leicester so far foorth that the earle of Penbroke called the earle of Leicester traitor who therewith made towards him to haue reuenged the iniurie and so would haue doone indéed if the king had not beene moderator betwixt them Finallie at this parlement the lords told the king that they might not aid him with any great summes of monie except it should redound to their great impouerishment they told him also that he had not doone wiselie to enter into couenants for the purchase of the kingdome of Naples for his sonne without their consents They also declared to him what articles it should be good for him to propone vnto the pope if he would haue him to continue in bearing the charges of the wars against Manfred But when those articles were afterwards presented to the pope he allowed them not so the matter remained without any certeine assurance of the promises which had béene and still were from time to time made to set the king on dotage The archbishop of Yorke had his crosse taken from him by the popes commandement but the archbishop would not yet bow his knée vnto Baall to bestow the benefices of his church vpon aliens and such as were vnworthie persons as it had beene to cast pearles vnto swine ¶ There came from the pope as his Nuncio vnto king Henrie a frier minor named Mansuetus furnished with great power and authoritie in somuch that he tooke vpon him to absolue men for changing their vowes and to iustifie those that were excōmunicated persons false periured and such like Wherevpon manie of euill disposition presumed to offend for easinesse to purchase pardon bred boldnesse in manie howbeit the wise séemed to laugh at such dooings The parlement still continued till the sundaie after the Ascension day with hard hold betwixt the king and the lords who laid it fore to his charge that he had not performed the promises which he made touching the obseruing of the liberties conteined in the great charter They also complained greatlie of his misgouernance in that he so much aduanced the Poictouins and other strangers to the impouerishment of himselfe and the whole realme and further mainteined them so far foorth that they were readie to offer wrong vnto other vpon presumption of his fauour and bearing with them he hauing by commandement restreined that no processe should passe line 10 out of the chancerie against certeine of them that were his coosins as the earle of Penbroke and others Finallie when the lords were in doubt which way to worke for their owne safeties they caused the parlement to be proroged till the feast of saint Barnabe then to begin againe at Oxford In the meane time the lords of the realme as the earles of Glocester Leicester Hereford and Northfolke with other did confederate themselues togither bicause they stood in feare to be intrapped by the kings subtill sleights line 20 and by the craftie wiles of those strangers whom he retained against them In the same yeare by the wind which continuallie certeine months togither kept northerlie the flours with other growing things were so hindered that scarselie they appeared to anie purpose till the most part of Iune was past wherevpon the hope of receiuing the fruits of the earth was quite taken away so vpon the great dearth that happened a sore death and mortalitie followed for want of necessarie food line 30 to susteine the pining bodies of the poore people They died so thicke that there were great pits made in churchyards to laie the dead bodies in one vpon an other About the feast of the Ascension Seuall the archbishop of Yorke departed this life who constantlie had resisted the tyrannie of the court of Rome in defense of his church suffering in this world manie greeuous tribulations but now was remooued from thense vnto the kingdome of heauen to be crowned with line 40 the elect for his good deseruings as was then certenlie beleeued About this time a great number of Poictouins were come into England by reason of their aliance and coosinage to the king the which by the kings fauour being highlie aduanced began to war proud thereof and to require to be restored vnto such lands and liuings as before time they had possessed namelie the kings halfe brethren Athelmare or Odomare that was a préest with William Geffrey and Guie these were the sonnes of Hugh le Brun line 50 earle of Marsh by his wife queene Isabell the mother of king Henrie and being come into England they shewed themselues verie loftie high-minded partlie bicause of their coosinage to the king partlie by reason of his courteous interteining of them insomuch that forgetting themselues they began to despise vpon a presumptuous pride the English nobilitie looking still for preferment of honor aboue all other And suerlie Odomare obteined at the first a great peece of his purpose being made by the kings line 60 gift bishop of Winchester and by that means bare a stout port and greatlie holpe and mainteined his other brethren The English barons not well able to suffer such presumption in strangers who seemed to haue them in derision complained to the king in so much that at length as well for a reformation hereof as in other things a parlement was called as before you haue heard first at London and after reiorned to Oxenford there to be assembled about the feast of saint Barnabe in the moneth of Iune This of some writers is named Insanum parliamentum that is to say The mad parlement for at this parlement to the
desires time to consult togither what they might 〈◊〉 there 〈◊〉 â—nd finallie they declared for answer that they would gladlie so doo but yet whereas they were bound by â—aith and oth and in the summe of two millians of â—lorens in the popes chamber not to make nor mooue any warre against the king of France whosoeuer he were on paine to lose that summe and beside to run in the sentence of cursing they besought him that it might stand with his pleasure to take vpon him the title and armes of France as the same apperteined to him of right and then would they obey him as rightfull K. of France and require of him acquittances in discharge of their bonds and he to pardon them thereof as rightfull king of France The king of England though he had iust cause to claime the crowne of France in right of his mother queene Isabell yet to take vpon him the name and armes of that realme before he had made conquest of any part thereof he thought it stood not with much reason but yet after he had caused the matter to be throughlie debated amongst them of his councell as well to satisfie the Flemings as for other respects he saw it should be the best waie that might be taken to the aduancement of his purpose Then he answered the Flemings that if they would sweare and seale to this accord and promise to mainteine his warre he would be contented to fulfill their desire and also he promised to get for them againe the townes of Lisle Dowaie and Beâ—hune Herevpon was a day assigned to meet at Gant the king came thither and the most part of the said lords and all the councellors of the good townes places in Flanders were there assembled and so all the foresaid matters were rehearsed sworne and sealed and the armes of France were then quartered with those of England and from thenceforth he tooke vpon him the name of king of France in all his writings proclamations and commandements This is noted by Christopher Okland where speaking of the mingling of the French and English armes he saith amongst other things vt haereâ— Legitimus regni Celtarum insignia gentis Ille suis immiscet aâ—râ—x quòd auunculus orbus Carolus è vita ad superas migrauerat oras c. ¶ Sith then that we be come to this place it shall not be much amisse to rehearse somewhat of the right and title whereby king Edward did thus claime the crowne of France hauing of purpose omitted to speake thereof till now that he intituled himselfe with the name tooke vpon him to beare the armes also of France vpon occasion before expressed It is well knowne that Philip le Beau king of France had issue by his wife queene Ione three sons Lewes surnamed Hutine Philip le Long and Charles le Beau also two daughters the one dieng in hir infancie and the other named Isabell liued and was maried vnto Edward the second of that name king of England who begot of hir this Edward the third that made this claime The thrée sonnes of the foresaid Philip le Beau reigned ech after other as kings of France First after Philip the father succéeded his eldest sonne Lewes Hâ—tine who had issue by his first wife Margaret daughter to Robert duke of Burgogne a daughter named Ione the which was anon giuen in mariage vnto Lewes earle of Eureux but she liuing not long died without issue Hir father the said Lewes Hutine married after the deceasse of his first wife an other wife named Clemence daughter to Charles Martell the father of K. Robert of Sicill whom he left great with child when he died The child being borne proued a son was named Iohn but liued not manie daies after Then Philip the Long was admitted vnto the croâ—â—e of France though manie stood in opinion that Ione the daughter of Lewes Hutine which yet was aliue ought to haue inherited the kingdome after hir father and namelie Odo duke of Burgogne wâ—â—le to the said Ione was most earnest in that maâ—ter in fauour of his néece But might ouercame right so that he was constreined to be quiet Philip le Long after he had reigned fiue yeares died also and left no issue behind him Then lastlie Charles le Beau tooke vpon him the kingdome and the seuenth yeare after died his wife big bellied which shortlie after brought foorth a maiden named Blanch shal streightwaies hasting to follow hir father liued no while in this world By this means then the bloud roiall in the heires male of Philip le Beau was extinguished in his sonne the line 10 foresaid Charles le Beau whereof the contention tooke beginning about the right to the crowne of France betwixt the Frenchmen and Englishmen which hangeth as yet vndecided till these our daies For king Edward auerred that the kingdome of France apperteined vnto him as lawfull heire bicause that he alone was remaining of the kings stocke and touched his mothers father Philip le Beau in the next degree of consanguinitie as he that was borne of his daughter Isabell. line 20 Therefore immediatlie after the deceasse of the said Charles le Beau by ambassadours sent vnto the peeres of France he published to them his right requiring that they would admit him king according therevnto but his ambassadours could neuer be quietlie heard and therefore returned home without anie towardlie answer which mooued him in the end to attempt the recouerie of his lawfull inheritance by force sith by law he could not preuaile and now by aduise of his fréends to take vpon him both line 30 the title and armes of France to signifie to the world what right he had to the same After that this league therefore was concluded with them of Flanders and that king Edward had taken vpon him the name of king of France with the armes the duke of Gelderland and Iaques van Arteueld went vnto all the good townes and iurisdictions of Flanders to receiue their oths of fidelitie vnto king Edward persuading with the people that the supreme rule belonged vnto him sauing to the townes their ancient lawes and liberties line 40 and to their earle his right of proprietie About the latter end of this thirteenth yeare of K. Edwards reigne the mariners and sea-men of the cinque ports getting them aboord into a number of small ships and balingers well trimmed and appointed for the purpose passed ouer to Bullongne where they tooke land one day in a thicke foggie weather and setting on the Base towne they burnt nineteene gallies foure great ships and to the number of twentie smaller vessels togither with their tackle line 50 and furniture They set fire also on the houses that stood néere to the water side and namelie they burnt one great house wherein laie such a number of oares sailes armour and crossebowes as might haue sufficed to furnish so manie
front of his volume in letters of red vermilon as desiring to haue his name notoriouslie knowne to the world Autoris nomen capitales litterae pandunt He I say in that copious treatise hauing spoken as line 40 maliciouslie viperouslie as he might both of Wickliffes life which he concludeth to be lewd of his opinions which he auoucheth to be hereticall and of his fauourers and followers to whom at his pleasure he giueth vnreuerent epithets all which to prosecute at length as by him they are in ample sort laid downe would but detect the mans malignitie and procure an ouerthrow of credit to be attributed vnto his declarations he maketh vp his mouth with a tristichon of poeticall imitation to bring Wickliffe line 50 and his adherents into perpetuall obloquie and defamation saieng as followeth in verse and prose Si totum membrana solum calamus nemus omne Et Thetis encaustum scriptor omnis homo Istorum facinus scribere non poterunt Maledictus conuentus eorum quoniam pertinax propterea Deus destruat eos in finem euellat emigrare faciat de tabernaculis fidelium suorum radicem eorum de terra regni hoc videant iusti laetentur vt dicere possint Ecce populus qui se exaltauit super electos doctores Domini line 60 sperauit in multitudine vanitatis suae confundantur pereant cum doctrina eorum in aeternum c. But of Wickliffes life and doctrine to read at large I remit the reader to the acts and monuments of the church published by maister Iohn Fox and now will we returne to matters of state and policie There went foorth this yeare a verie great nauie of ships to the sea vnder the guiding of the earle of Buckingham the duke of Britaine the lord Latimer the lord Fitz Walter sir Robert Knolles and other valiant capteins meaning to haue intercepted the Spanish fléet that was gone to Sluse in Flanders but thorough rage of tempest and contrarie winds they were driuen home although twise they attempted their fortune but sir Hugh Caluerlie deputie of Calis slept not his businesse dooing still what displeasures he could to the Frenchmen Shortlie after Christmasse he spoiled the towne of Estaples the same daie the faire was kept there to which a great number of merchants of Bullougne were come to make their markets but the sellers had quicke vtterance for that that might easilie be caried awaie the Englishmen laid hands on and caused the owners to redéeme the residue with great sums of monie which they vndertooke to paie or else sir Hugh threatned to haue burnt all that was left togither with the houses Yée haue heard how at the first the duke of Lancaster was one of the chéefe about the yoong king in gouernement of his person and realme who prudentlie considering that sith there must néeds be an alteration in the state doubting least if any thing chanced otherwise than well the fault and blame might be chéefelie imputed to him and thanks howsoeuer things went he looked for none he gaue therefore the slip obteining licence of the king to depart and so got him home to his castell of Killingworth permitting other to haue the whole swaie for before his departure from the court there were with his consent ordeined such as should be attending on the kings person and haue the rule and ordering of matters perteining to the state as William Courtnie then bishop of London though shortlie after remooued to the archbishops see of Canturburie Edmund Mortimer earle of March diuerse other of whome the people had conceiued a good opinion but yet bicause the bishop of Salisburie and the lord Latimer were admitted amongst the residue the commons murmured greatlie against them The earle of Northumberland resigned his office of lord marshall in whose place succeeded sir Iohn Arundell brother vnto the earle of Arundell ¶ The duke of Lancaster although retired from the court yet desirous to haue the monie in his hands that was granted the last parlement at length obteined it vpon promise to defend the realme from inuasion of all enimies for one yeares space he therefore prouided a great nauie to go to the sea hiring nine ships of Baionne to assist his enterprise herein the which in making saile hitherwards incountred with the Spanish fléet and tooke fouretéene vessels laden with wines and other merchandize But in the meane time one Mercer a Scotishman with certeine saile of Scots Frenchmen and Spaniards came to Scarburgh and there tooke certeine ships and led them awaie to the sea as it were in reuenge of his fathers imprisonment named Iohn Mercer who before being caught by certeine ships of the north parts and deliuered to the earle of Northumberland was committed to prison within the castell of Scarburgh Iohn Philpot that worshipfull citizen of London lamenting the negligence of them that should haue prouided against such inconueniences made foorth a fléet at his owne charges stronglie furnished with men of warre and munition necessarie the men of warre méeting with the same Mercer accompanied with his owne ships and fiftéene other Spaniards that were newlie ioined with him set vpon them and so valiantlie behaued themselues that they tooke the said Mercer with all them that were then in his companie so recouering againe the ships that were taken from Scarburgh besides great riches which were found aboord as well in the fiftéene Spanish ships as the other that were of the old retinue belonging to the same Mercer Iohn Philpot was afterwards blamed of the lords for presuming thus far as to set foorth a nauie of men of warre without the aduise of the kings councell but he made his answer in such wise vnto the earle of Stafford and others that laid the fault to his charge that he was permitted to depart without further trouble for that matter Before all such prouision as the duke of Lancaster prepared for his iournie to the sea could be readie the earles of Salisburie and Arundell sailed ouer into Normandie where by such composition as was taken betwixt the king of England and the king of line 10 Nauarre who of new was become enimie to the French king the towne of Chierburg was deliuered vnto the said earles who sending knowledge thereof backe into England there were sent ouer such as should haue in charge the kéeping of that towne and so the two earles returned ¶ We find that the king of Nauarre hauing beene heere in England with the king and his councell had agréed with the king for a certeine yearelie rent to demise vnto him the said fortresse of Chierburg whereby the Englishmen line 20 might haue frée entrie into Normandie when they would as well to aid the king of Nauarre in his necessitie as to worke anie enterprise that should be thought expedient to the aduantage of the king of England as occasion serued But the obteining of possession of
haue and worship as if fitteth and séemeth so worthie a prince and princesse to be worshipped principallie before all other temporall persons of the world 2 Also we shall not distrouble diseason or let our father aforesaid but that he hold and possede as long as he liueth as he holdeth and possedeth at this time the crowne and dignitie roiall of France with rents and profits for the same of the sustenance of his estate and charges of the realme And our foresaid moother also hold as long as she liueth the state and dignitie of quéene after the manner of the same realme with conuenable conuenient part of the said rents and profits 3 Also that the foresaid ladie Katharine shall take and haue dower in our realme of England as queenes of England here tofore were woont for to take and haue that is to saie to the summe of fortie thousand scutes of the which two algate shall be a noble English 4 And that by the waies manners and meanes that we without transgression or offense of other made by vs for to speake the lawes customes vsages and rights of our said realme of England shall done our labour and pursuit that the said Katharine all so soone as it maie be doone be made sure to take and for to haue in our said realme of England from the time of our death the said dower of fortie thousand scutes yearelie of the which twaine algate be worth a noble English 5 Also if it happe the said Katharine to ouerliue vs we shall take and haue the realme of France immediatlie from the time of our death dower to the summe of twentie thousand franks yearelie of and vpon the lands places and lordships that held and had Blanch sometime wife of Philip Beasaill to our said father 6 Also that after the death of our said father aforesaid and from thence forward the crowne and the realme of France with all the rights and appurtenances shall remaine and abide to vs and béene of vs and of our heires for euermore 7 And forsomuch as our said father is withholden with diuerse sickenesse in such manner as he maie not intend in his owne person for to dispose for the néeds of the foresaid realme of France therefore during the life of our foresaid father the faculties and exercise of the gouernance and disposition of the publike common profit of the said realme of France with councell and nobles and wisemen of the same realme of France shall be and abide to vs so that from thencefoorth we maie gouerne the same realme by vs. And also to admit to our counsell and assistance of the said nobles such as we shall thinke méet The which faculties and exercise of gouernance thus being toward vs we shall labour and purpose vs spéedfullie diligentlie and trulie to that that maie be and ought for to be vnto the worship of God and our said father and moother and also to the common good of the said realme and that realme with the counsell helpe of the worthie and great nobles of the same realme for to be defended peased and gouerned after right and equitie 8 Also that we of our owne power shall doo the court of parlement in France to be kept and obserued in his authoritie and souereignetie and in all that is doone to it in all manner of places that now or in time comming is or shall be subiect to our said father 9 Also we to our power shall defend and helpe all and euerie of the péeres nobles cities townes communalties and singular persons now or in time comming subiects to our father in their rights customes priuileges freedomes and franchises longing or due to them in all manner of places now or in time comming subiect to our father 10 Also we diligentlie and truelie shall trauell to our power and doo that iustice be administred and doone in the same realme of France after the lawes customes and rights of the same realme without personall exception And that we shall kéepe and hold the subiects of the same realme in tranquillitie and peace and to our power we shall defend them against all manner of violence and oppression 11 Also we to our power shall prouide and doo to our power that able persons and profitable béene taken to the offices as well of iustices and other offices belonging to the gouernance of the demaines and of other offices of the said realme of France for the good right and peaceable iustice of the same and for the administration that shall be committed vnto line 10 them and that they be such persons that after the lawes and rights of the same realme and for the vtilitie and profit of our said father shall minister and that the foresaid realme shall be taken and departed to the same offices 12 Also that we of our power so soone as it may commodiouslie be doone shall trauell to put into the obedience of our said father all manner of cities townes and castels places countries and persons within the realme of France disobedient and rebels line 20 to our said father holding with them which beene called the Dolphin or Arminacke 13 Also that we might the more commodiouslie suerlie and fréelie doone exercise fulfill these things aforesaid it is accorded that all worthie nobles and estates of the same realme of France as well spirituals as temporals and also cities notable and communalties and citizens burgesses of townes of the realme of France that béene obeisant at this time to our said father shall make these othes that followen line 30 14 First to vs hauing the facultie exercise disposition and gouernance of the foresaid common profit to our hests and commandements these shall meekelie obedientlie obeie and intend in all manner of things concerning the exercise of gouernance of the same realme 15 Also that the worthie great and noble estates of the said realme as well spirituals as temporals and also cities and notable communalties and citizens and burgesses of the same realme in all manner line 40 of things well and trulie shall kéepe and to their power shall doo to be kept of so much as to them belongeth or to anie of them all those things that béene appointed and accorded betwéene our foresaid father and moother and vs with the counsell of them whome vs list to call to vs. 16 And that continuallie from the death and after the death of our said father Charles they shall be our true liegemen and our heires and they shall receiue and admit vs for their liege and souereigne and line 50 verie king of France and for such to obeie vs without opposition contradiction or difficultie as they béene to our foresaid father during his life neuer after this realme of France shall obey to man as king or regent of France but to vs and our heires Also they shall not be in counsell helpe or assent that we léese life or limme or be take with euill taking or that we suffer
Venturum virtutis indelebile lumen Celso animâ— prorsus leni quoque pectore ciues Nâ—n solum at iustos hostes fideÃquâ— probatae Dilexit niueo raro iraâ—undior ore Of learned men and writers these I find remembred by Bale and others to haue liued in the daies of this noble and valiant king Henrie the fift First Alaine de Lin borne in Lin and professed a Carmelite frier in that towne he at length became prior of that conuent proceeded doctor of diuinitie in Cambridge and wrote manie treatises Thomas Otterborne that wrote an historie of England is thought to liue about this season he was a Franciscan or graie frier as they called them a great student both in diuinitie and philosophie Iohn Seguard an excellent poet and a rhetorician kept a schoole and read to his scholers in Norwich as is supposed writing sundrie treatises reproouing as well the profaning of the christian religion in monks and priests as the abuse of poetrie in those that tooke vpon them to write filthie verses and rimes Robert Rose a frier of the Carmelites order in Norwich commonlie called the white friers both an excellent philosopher and diuine procéeded doctor at Oxenford promoted to be prior of his house and writing diuerse treatises amongst all the sophists of his time as saith Bale he offended none of the Wickleuists who in that season set foorth purelie the word of God as maie appeare by his workes Moreouer Iohn Lucke a doctor of diuinitie in Oxenford a sore enimie to the Wiekleuists Richard Caister borne in Norfolke vicar of saint Stephans in Norwich a man of great holinesse and puritie in life fauouring though secretlie the doctrine of the Wickleuists and reproouing in his sermons the vnchast manners and filthie example that appeared in the cleargie Of sir Iohn Oldcastell lord Cobham ye haue heard before William Walleis a blacke frier in Lin and prouinciall of his order here in England made a booke of moralizations vpon Ouids Metamorphôseis comparable to postils vpon Aesops Fables Richard Snetisham a student in Oxenford where he profited so greatlie in learning and wisedome that he was accounted the chéefest in all that vniuersitie in respect whereof he was made chancellor of the same chosen also to be one of the twelue to examine and iudge vpon Wickliffes doctrine by the archbishop of Canturburie Iohn Langdene a monke of Christes church in Canturburie an other of those twelue William Tailor a priest and a master of art in Oxenford a stedfast follower of Wickliffes doctrine burnt for the same in Smithfield at London the second day of March in the yeare of our Lord 1422 last of king Henrie the fift his reigne Furthermore Richard Grasdale student in Oxenford one of those twelue also William Lindwood a lawier excellentlie learned as well in the ciuill as canon lawes aduanced to the seruice of this king and made by him kéeper of the priuie seale sent in ambassage both to the kings of Spaine and Portingale about businesse of most weightie importance It is said that he was promoted to the bishoprike of saint Dauid Bartholomew Florarius supposed as Bale saith by Nicholas Brigham to be an Englishman wrote a treatise called Florarium whereof he tooke his surname and also an other treatise of abstinence in which he reprooueth certeine corrupt manners in the cleargie and the profession of friers mendicants Adam Hemmelington a Carmelite frier studied both in Oxenford and Paris William Batecombe is placed by Bale about the time of other learned men that liued in this kings time he was an excellent mathematician as by the the title of his works which he wrote it should appeare Titus Liuius de Foro Luuisiis liued also in these daies an Italian borne but sith he was both resiant here and wrote the life of this king I haue thought good to place him among other of our English writers One there was that translated the said historie into English adding as it were by waie of notes in manie places of that booke sundrie things for the more large vnderstanding of the historie a copie line 10 whereof I haue séene belonging to Iohn Stow citizen of London There was also about the same time an other writer who as I remember hath followed the said Liuius in the order of his booke as it were chapter for chapter onelie changing a good familiar and easie stile which the said Liuius vsed into a certeine poeticall kind of writing a copie whereof I haue séene in the life of this king partlie followed belonging to master Iohn Twine of Kent who as I was informed meant to leaue to posteritie some fruits of his labours for the due vnderstanding thereof Thus farre Henrie the fift sonne and successor to Henrie the fourth Henrie the sixt sonne and heire to Henrie the fift AFter that death had bereft the world of that noble prince king Henrie the fift his onelie sonne prince Henrie being of the age of nine moneths or thereabouts with the sound of trumpets was openlie proclamed king of England and France line 20 the thirtith daie of August by the name of Henrie the sixt in the yeare of the world fiue thousand three hundred eightie and nine after the birth of our Sauiour 1422 about the twelfe yeare of the emperour Frederike the third the fortith and two and last of Charles the sixt and the third yeare of Mordaks regiment after his father Robert gouernour of Scotland The custodie of this yoong prince was appointed to Thomas duke of Excester to Henrie Beauford bishop of Winchester The duke of Bedford was line 30 deputed regent of France and the duke of Glocester was ordeined protectour of England who taking vpon him that office called to him wise and graue councellors by whose aduise he prouided and tooke order as well for the good gouernment of the realme subiects of the same at home as also for the maintenance of the warres abroad and further conâ—uest to be made in France appointing valiant and expert capteins which should be readie when need required Besides this he gathered great summes of line 40 monie to mainteine men of warre and left nothing forgotten that might aduance the good estate of the realme While these things were a dooing in England the duke of Bedford regent of France studied most earnestlie not onelie to keepe and well order the countries by king Henrie late conquered but also determined not to leaue off warre trauell till Charles the Dolphin which was now assâ—te because king Charles his father in the moneth of October in this present yeare was departed to God should either be subdued or brought to obeisance And suerlie the death of this king Charles caused alterations in France For a great manie of the nobilitie which before either for feare of the English puissance or for the loue of this king Charles whose authoritie they followed held on the English part did now reuolt to the Dolphin with all indeuour
about the towne and destroied the suburbes in which were twelue parish churches and foure orders of friers They cut also downe all the vines trees and bushes within fiue leagues of the citie so that the Englishmen should haue neither refuge nor succour After the siege had continued full thrée weekes the line 30 bastard of Orleance issued out of the gate of the bridge and fought with the Englishmen but they receiued him with so fierce and terrible strokes that he was with all his companie compelled to retire and flee backe into the citie But the Englishmen followed so fast in killing and taking of their enimies that they entered with them ¶ The bulworke of the bridge with a great tower standing at the end of the same was taken incontinentlie by the Englishmen who behaued themselues right valiantlie vnder the line 40 conduct of their couragious capteine as at this assault so in diuerse skirmishes against the French partlie to kéepe possession of that which Henrie the fift had by his magnanimitie puissance atchiued as also to inlarge the same But all helped not For who can hold that which will awaie In so much that some cities by fraudulent practises othersome by martiall prowesse were recouered by the French to the great discouragement of the English and the appalling of their spirits whose hope was now dashed line 50 partlie by their great losses and discomfitures as after you shall heare but chéeflie by the death of the late deceassed Henrie their victorious king as Chr. Okland verie truelie and agréeable to the storie noteth Dolphinus comitésque eius fera praelia tentant Fraude domi capiâ—nt alias virtute receptae Sunt vrbes aliae quâ—dam sublapsa refertur Anglûm spes retrò languescere pectora dicas Quippe erat Henricus quintus dux strenuus olim Mortuus hinc damni grauior causa atque doloris line 60 In this conflict manie Frenchmen were taken but more were slaine and the kéeping of the tower and bulworke was committed to William Glasdale esquier By the taking of this bridge the passage was stopped that neither men nor vittels could go or come by that waie After this the earle caused certeine bulworkes to be made round about the towne casting trenches betwéene the one and the other laieng ordinance in euerie place where he saw that any batterie might be deuised When they within saw that they were enuironed with fortresses and ordinance they laid gun against gun and fortified towers against bulworkes and within cast new rampiers and fortified themselues as stronglie as might be deuised The bastard of Orleance and the Hire were appointed to see the walles and watches kept and the bishop saw that the inhabitants within the citie were put in good order and that vittels were not vainelie spent In the tower that was taken at the bridge end as before you haue heard there was an high chamber hauing a grate full of barres of iron by the which a man might looke all the length of the bridge into the citie at which graâ—e manie of the chéefe capteins stood manie times viewing the citie and deuising in what place it was best to giue the assault They within the citie well perceiued this tooting hole and laid a péece of ordinance directlie against the window It so chanced that the nine and fiftith daie after the siege was laid the earle of Salisburie sir Thomas Gargraue and William Glasdale with diuerse other went into the said tower and so into the high chamber and looked out at the grate and within a short space the sonne of the maister-gunner perceiuing men looking out at the window tooke his match as his father had taught him who was gone downe to dinner and fired the gun the shot whereof brake and shiuered the iron barres of the grate so that one of the same bars strake the earle so violentlie on the head that it stroke awaie one of his eies and the side of his chéeke Sir Thomas Gargraue was likewise striken and died within two daies The earle was conueied to Meun on Loire where after eight daies he likewise departed this world whose bodie was conueied into England with all funerall appointment and buried at Bissam by his progenitors leauing behind him an onelie daughter named Alice married to Richard Neuill sonne to Rafe earle of Westmerland of whome more shall be said héereafter The damage that the realme of England receiued by the losse of this noble man manifestlie appeared in that immediatlie after his death the prosperous good lucke which had followed the English nation began to decline and the glorie of their victories gotten in the parties beyond the sea fell in decaie Though all men were sorowfull for his death yet the duke of Bedford was most striken with heauinesse as he that had lost his onelie right hand and cheefe aid in time of necessitie But sith that dead men cannot helpe the chances of men that be liuing he like a prudent gouernour appointed the earle of Suffolke to be his lieutenant and capteine of the siege and ioined with him the lord Scales the lord Talbot sir Iohn Fastolfe and diuerse other right valiant capteins These persons caused bastilles to be made round about the citie and left nothing vnattempted that might aduance their purpose which to bring to wished effect there was not anie want as of no cautelous policie so of no valiant enterprise tending to the enimies ouerthrow In the Lent season vittels and artillerie began to waxe scant in the English campe year 1429 wherefore the earle of Suffolke appointed sir Iohn Fastolfe sir Thomas Rampston and sir Philip Hall with their retinues to ride to Paris to the lord regent to informe him of their lacke who incontinentlie vpon that information prouided vittels artillerie and munitions necessarie and loded therewith manie chariots carts and horsses and for the sure conueieng of the same he appointed sir Simon Morhier prouost of Paris with the gard of the citie and diuerse of his owne houshold-seruants to accompanie sir Iohn Fastolfe and his complices to the armie lieng at the siege of Orleance They were in all to the number of fifteene hundred men of the which there were not past fiue or six hundred Englishmen These departing in good order of battell out of Paris came to Genuille in Beausse and in a morning earlie in a great frost they departed from thence toward the siege and when they came to a towne called Rowraie in the lands of Beausse they perceiued their enimies comming towards them being to the number of nine or ten thousand of Frenchmen and Scots of whome were capteins Charles of Cleremont sonne to the duke of Bourbon then being prisoner in England sir William Steward constable of Scotland a little before deliuered out of captiuitie line 10 the earle of Perdriake the lord Iohn Uandosine the Uidame of Chartres the lord of Toures the lord of Lohar the lord of Eglere the lord of Beauiew
twentie shillings to be paid one noble to the king an other to the cordwainers of London and the third to the chamber of London and for other cities and townes the like order was taken Before this time and since the yeare of our Lord 1382 the pikes of shooes and boots were of such length that they were faine to be tied vp vnto the knees with chaines of siluer and gilt or at the least with silken laces In this yeare also the kings daughter the ladie Elizabeth after wife to king Henrie the seauenth was borne king Edward concluded an amitie and league with Henrie king of Castile and Iohn king of Aragon at the concluding whereof he granted licence for certeine Cotteshold sheepe to be transported into the countrie of Spaine as people report which haue there so multiplied and increased that it hath turned the commoditie of England much to the Spanish profit Beside this to haue an amitie with his next neighbour the king of Scots he winked at the losse of Berwike and was contented to take a truce for fiftéene yeares Thus king Edward though for refusall of the French kings sister in law he wan him enimies in France yet in other places he procured him fréends but those fréends had stood him in small steed if fortune had not holpe him to an other euen at his elbow This was Charles earle of Charolois the sonne and heire apparant vnto Philip duke of Burgognie which Charles being then a widower was counselled to be suter vnto king Edward for to haue in mariage the ladie Margaret sister to the said king a ladie of excellent beautie and indued with so manie worthie gifts of nature grace and fortune that she was thought not vnworthie to match with the greatest prince of the world The lord Anthonie bastard brother to the said earle Charolois commonlie called the bastard of Burgognie a man of great wit courage and valiantnesse was appointed by his father duke Philip to go into England in ambassage about this sute who being furnished of plate and apparell necessarie for his estate hauing in his companie gentlemen and other expert in all feats of chiualrie and martiall prowesse to the number of foure hundred horsses tooke his ship and arriued in England where he was of the king nobles honourablie receiued line 10 This message being declared ye may be sure the same was ioifullie heard of the king and his councell the which by that affinitie saw how they might be assured of a buckler against France But yet the earle of Warwike bearing his heartie fauour vnto the French king did as much as in him laie by euill reports to hinder this marriage but this notwithstanding at length the king granted to the bastards request and the said bastard openlie in the kings great chamber contracted the said ladie Margaret line 20 for and in the name of his brother the said earle of Charolois After this marriage thus concluded the bastard challenged the lord Scales brother to the queene a man both equall in hart and valiantnesse with the bastard to fight with him both on horssebacke and on foot which demand the lord Scales gladlie accepted The king causing lists to be prepared in West-smithfield for these champions and verie faire and costlie galleries for the ladies was present at this line 30 martiall enterprise himselfe The first daie they ran togither diuerse courses with sharpe speares and departed with equall honor The next day they turneied on horssebacke The lord Scales horsse had on his chafron a long sharpe pike of steele and as the two champions coped togither the same horsse whether thorough custome or by chance thrust his pike into the nosethrils of the bastards horsse so that for verie paine he mounted so high that he fell on the one side with his maister and the lord Scales rode round about line 40 him with his sword in his hand vntill the king commanded the marshall to helpe vp the bastard which openlie said I can not hold me by the clouds for though my horsse faileth me suerlie I will not faile my contercompanion The king would not suffer them to doo anie more that daie The morow after the two noblemen came into the field on foot with two polaxes and fought valiantlie but at the last the point of the polax of the lord Scales happened to enter into the sight of the line 50 bastards helme and by fine force might haue plucked him on his knees the king suddenlie cast downe his warder and then the marshals them seuered The bastard not content with this chance and trusting on the cunning which he had at the polax required the king of iustice that he might performe his enterprise The lord Scales refused it not but the king said he would aske counsell and so calling to him the constable and the marshall with the officers of armes after consultation had and the lawes of line 60 armes rehearsed it was declared for a sentence definitiue by the duke of Clarence then constable of England and the duke of Norffolke then marshall that if he would go forward with his attempted challenge he must by the law of armes be deliuered to his aduersarie in the same state and like condition as he stood when he was taken from him The bastard hearing this iudgement doubted the sequele of the matter and so relinquished his challenge Other challenges were doone and valiantlie atchiued by the Englishmen which I passe ouer Shortlie after came sorowfull tidings to the bastard that his father duke Philip was dead who therevpon taking his leaue of king Edward and of his sister the new duchesse of Burgognie liberallie rewarded with plate and iewels with all spéed returned to his brother the new duke who was not a little glad of the contract made for him with the said ladie as after well appeared In this same yeare king Edward more for the loue of the marques Montacute than for anie fauour he bare to the earle of Warwike promoted George Neuill their brother to the archbishoprike of Yorke Charles duke of Burgognie reioising that he had so well sped for conclusion of marriage with king Edwards sister was verie desirous to sée hir of whome he had heard so great praise wrote to king Edward requiring him to send his sister ouer vnto him according to the couenants passed betwixt them King Edward being not slacke in this matter appointed the dukes of Excester and Suffolke with their wiues being both sisters to the ladie Margaret to attend hir till she came to hir husband And so after that ships and all other necessarie prouisions were readie they being accompanied with a great sort of lords and ladies and others to the number of fiue hundred horsse in the beginning of Iune departed out of London to Douer and so sailed to Sluis and from thense was conueied to Bruges where the marriage was solemnized betwixt the duke and hir with
stocke but he kept all these things secret till his returne to his master When the pageant was plaied the king had the messengers of the constable to haue him commended to his brother their master and to declare to him that as newes rose grew he would therof aduertise him so gaue them licence to depart to their master who thought himselfe now to be in great suertie of his estate when in déed he was neuer so neere his fall and perdition estéeming the duke of Burgognie to be his assured fréend who hated him more than a Painime or Turke accompting also the French king to haue no ill suspicion in him who neither trusted nor yet beléeued anie word writing or message that was either written or sent from him Such end hath dissimulation such fruit springeth of double dealing and craftie conueieng For if either the constable had béene faithfull to the king his master as of bounden dutie and allegiance he ought to be or else had kept his promise made to the king of England and duke of Burgognie and not dallied and dissembled with them he had suerlie in his extremitie béene aided succoured and comforted of one of these three at the least where now he was of all three forsaken and yet not forsaken but sought for looked for and watched for not for his profit or promotion but for his vndooing and destruction whereof he was the principall procurer as manie a one besides wherto the poet had an eie when he made this outcrie of inward gréefe seasoned with sorrow and repentance Heu patior telis vulnera facta meis After the peace was concluded the Englishmen were permitted to enter into the towne of Amiens and there to buie all such necessarie things as they wanted and had plentiâ— of wine for the French king had sent into their armie a hundred carts of the best wine that could be gotten and good cheere made them of his owne costs For at the enterie of euerie gate there were two long tables set on euerie side of the street where they should passe and at euerie table fiue or six gentlemen of the best companions of all the countrie were appointed to interteine the Englishmen as they entered not onelie to sée them serued without lacking but also to drinke and make good cheere and kéepe companie with them And euer line 10 as they entered into the towne they were taken by the bridels and in maner inforced to drinke wheresoeuer they came they paied no monie but were sent scot free This chéere lasted thrée or foure daies not onelie to the French kings cost but also to his vnquietnesse at length doubting to haue béene dispossessed of his towne For on a daie there entered the number of nine thousand Englishmen well armed in sundrie companies line 20 so that no Frenchman durst once forbid them to enter But finallie order was taken by the king of England who meant no deceit that no greater number should enter than was conuenient and the other were called backe so that the French king and his councell were well quieted and rid of casting further perils than néed required After this both the kings enteruiewed togither at Picquenie on the water of Some thrée leagues aboue Amiens shewing great courtesie either to other The letters of both their agréements were opened and red then either prince line 30 laid his right hand on the missall and his left hand on the holie crosse as it was termed and tooke there a solemne oth to obserue and kéepe the treatie for nine yeares concluded betwéene them with all their confederates and alies comprised mentioned and specified in the same and further to accomplish the marriage of their children There was with either prince twelue noble men at this méeting which was vpon a bridge cast ouer the water of Some a grate being set ouerthwart the line 40 same in the midst so from side to side that the one prince could not come vnto the other but onelie to imbrace ech other in putting their armes through the holes of the grate There were foure Englishmen appointed to stand with the Frenchmen on the bridge to sée their demeanour and likewise foure Frenchmen were appointed to the Englishmen for the same purpose There were with the king of England his brother the duke of Clarence the earle of Northumberland the bishop of Elie his chancellor line 50 the lord Hastings his chamberleine and eight others They had louing and verie familiar talke togither a good space both afore their companie and secretlie alone whilest their companie of courtesie withdrew somewhat backe ¶ But it is noteworthie which I read touching both the kings méeting the manner of their attire and demeanour namelie that when the token of méeting by the shot of the artillerie was knowne the French king with twelue noble men entered the bridge and line 60 came to the â—losure with whome was Iohn duke of Burbon and the cardinall his brother a prelat more méet for a ladies carpet than for an ecclesiasticall pulpit and ten other amongst whome the lord of Argenton was in like disguised attire as the French king ware for so was his pleasure that daie to haue him adorned The king of England and foure other with him were apparelled in â—â—oth of gold frised hauing on his bonet of blacke velueâ— a flower delice of gold set with verie rich and orient stones he was a goodlie faire and beautifull prince beginning a litle to grow in flesh Now when he approched néere the grate hée tooke off his cap and made a low and solemne obâ—isance the French king made to him an humble reuerence but after his fashion somewhat homelie King Lewes imbraced king Edward through the barriers saieng Coosine you be right heartilie welcome into these parties assuring you that there is no man in the world that I haue more desired to sée and speake with than with you and now landed be almightie God we be here met togither for a good and godlie purpose whereof I doubt not but that we shall haue cause to reioise The king of England thanked him and answered to his words so soberlie so grauelie and so princelie that the Frenchmen thereat not a litle mused The chancellor of England made there a solemne oration in laud and praise of peace concluding on a prophesie which said that at Picquenie should be concluded a peace both honorable and profitable to the realmes of England and France When the oth was taken and sworne as before you haue heard the French king said merilie to king Edward Brother if you will take pains to come to Paris you shall be feasted and interteined with ladies and I shall appoint you the cardinall of Burbon for your confessor which shall gladlie absolue you of such sinnes if anie be commited The king of England tooke these words pleasantlie and thankefullie for he was informed that the cardinall was a good companion and a chapleine
number of six hundred horsses was come on his waie to London-ward after secret méeting and communication had eftsoones departed Wherevpon at Northampton the duke met with the protector himselfe with thrée hundred horsses line 20 and from thense still continued with him partner of all his deuises till that after his coronation they departed as it séemed verie great fréends at Glocester From whense as soone as the duke came home he so lightlie turned from him and so highlie conspired against him that a man would maruell whereof the change grew And suerlie the occasion of their variance is of diuerse men diuerselie reported Some haue I heard say that the duke a little before line 30 his coronation among other things required of the protector the duke of Herefords lands to the which he pretended himselfe iust inheritor And forsomuch as the title which he claimed by inheritance was somwhat interlaced with the title to the crowne by the line of king Henrie before depriued the protector conceiued such indignation that he reiected the dukes request with manie spitefull and minatorie words Which so wounded his heart with hatred and mistrust that he neuer after could indure to looke line 40 aright on king Richard but euer feared his owne life so far foorth that when the protector rode through London toward his coronation he feined himselfe sicke bicause he would not ride with him And the other also taking it in euill part sent him word to rise and come ride or he would make him be caried Wherevpon he rode on with euill will and that notwithstanding on the morow rose from the feast feining himselfe sicke and king Richard said it was doone in hatred and despite of him line 50 And they said that euer after continuallie each of them liued in such hatred and distrust of other that the duke verelie looked to haue beene murthered at Glocester from which nathelesse he in faire maner departed But suerlie some right secret at that daie denie this and manie right wise men thinke it vnlikelie the déepe dissembling nature of both those men considered and what néed in that gréene world the protector had of the duke and in what perill the duke stood if he fell once in suspicion of the tyrant line 60 that either the protector would giue the duke occasion of displeasure or the duke the protector occasion of mistrust And verelie men thinke that if king Richard had anie such opinion conceiued he would neuer haue suffered him to escape his hands Uerie truth it is the duke was an high minded man and euill could beare the glorie of another so that I haue heard of some that say they saw it that the duke at such time as the crowne was first set vpon the protectors head his eie could not abide the sight thereof but wried his head another way But men say that he was of truth not well at ease and that both to king Richard well knowne and not euill taken nor anie demand of the dukes vncourteouslie reiected but he both with great gifts and high behests in most louing and trustie maner departed at Glocester But soone after his comming home to Brecknocke hauing there in his custodie by the commandement of king Richard doctor Morton bishop of Elie who as ye before heard was taken in the councell at the Tower waxed with him familiar whose wisedome abused his pride to his owne deliuerance and the dukes destruction The bishop was a man of great naturall wit verie well learned and honorable in behauior lacking no wise waies to win fauour He had béene fast vpon the part of king Henrie while that part was in wealth and nathelesse left it not nor forsooke it in wo but fled the realme with the queene the prince while king Edward had the king in prison neuer came home but to the field After which lost and that part vtterlie subdued the other for his fast faith and wisedome not onelie was content to receiue him but also wooed him to come and had him from thencefoorth both in secret trust and verie speciall fauour which he nothing deceiued For he being as yée haue heard after king Edwards death first taken by the tyrant for his truth to the king found the meane to set this duke in his top ioined gentlemen togither in the aid of king Henrie deuising first the mariage betwéene him king Edwards daughter by which his faith he declared the good seruice to both his masters at once with infinit benefit to the realme by the coniunction of those two blouds in one whose seuerall titles had long disquieted the land he fled the realme went to Rome neuer minding more to meddle with the world till the noble prince king Henrie the seuenth gat him home againe made him archbishop of Canturburie and chancellor of England wherevnto the pope ioined the honour of cardinall Thus liuing manie daies in as much honor as one man might well wish ended them so godlie that his death with Gods mercie well changed his life This man therefore as I was about to tell you by the long often alternate proofe as well of prosperitie as aduerse fortune had gotten by great experience the verie mother and mistresse of wisedome a déepe insight in politike worldlie drifts Whereby perceiuing now this duke glad to commune with him fed him with faire words and manie pleasant praises And perceiuing by the processe of their communications the dukes pride now and then belking out a little breath of enuie toward the glorie of the king and thereby feeling him easie to fall out if the matter were well handled he craftilie sought the waies to pricke him forward taking alwaies the occasion of his comming and so kéeping himselfe so close within his bounds that he rather séemed to follow him than to lead him For when the duke first began to praise and boast the king and shew how much profit the realme should take by his reigne my lord Morton answered thus Suerlie my lord follie were it for me to lie for if I would sweare the contrarie your lordship would not I weene beléeue but that if the world would haue gone as I would haue wished king Henries sonne had had the crowne and not king Edward But after that God had ordered him to léese it and king Edward to reigne I was neuer so mad that I would with a dead man striue against the quicke So was I to king Edward a faithfull chapleine glad would haue béene that his child had succéeded him Howbeit if the secret iudgment of God haue otherwise prouided I purpose not to spurne against a pricke nor labour to set vp that God pulleth downe And as for the late protector and now king And euen there he left saieng that he had alreadie medled too much with the world and would from that daie meddle with his booke and his beads and no further Then longed the duke sore to heare what he
to him a pasport but also liberallie disbursed to him a great summe of monie for his conduct and expenses necessarie in his long iournie and passage But the earle trusting in the French kings humanitie aduentured to send his ships home into Britaine and to set forward himselfe by land on his iournie making no great hast till his messengers were returned Which being with that benefit so line 50 comforted and with hope of prosperous successe so incouraged marched towards Britaine with all diligence intending there to consult further with his louers fréends of his affaires and enterprises When he was returned againe into Britaine he was certified by credible information that the duke of Buckingham had lost his head and that the marquesse Dorset and a great number of noble men of England had a little before inquired and searched for him there and were now returned to Uannes line 60 When he had heard these newes thus reported he first sorowed and lamented his first attempt and setting forward of his fréends and in especiall of the nobilitie not to haue more fortunatelie succéeded Secondarilie he reioised on the other part that God had sent him so manie valiant and prudent capteins to be his companions in his martiall enterprises trusting suerlie and nothing doubting in his owne opinion but that all his businesse should be wiselie compassed and brought to a good conclusion Wherefore he determining with all diligence to set forward his new begun businesse departed to Rheims and sent certeine of his priuie seruitours to conduct and bring the marquesse and other noble men to his presence When they knew that he was safelie returned into Britaine Lord how they reioised for before that time they missed him and knew not in what part of the world to make inquirie or search for him For they doubted and no lesse feared least he had taken land in England fallen into the hands of king Richard in whose person they knew well was neither mercie nor compassion Wherefore in all spéedie maner they galoped toward him and him reuerentlie saluted Which meeting after great ioy and solace and no small thanks giuen and rendered on both parts they aduisedlie debated and communed of their great businesse and weightie enterprise In the which season the feast of the Natiuitie of our sauiour Christ happened on which daie all the English lords went with their solemnitie to the cheefe church of the citie and there ech gaue faith and promise to other The earle himselfe first tooke a corporall oth on his honor promising that incontinent after he shuld be possessed of the crowne and dignitie of the realme of England he would be conioined in matrimonie with the ladie Elizabeth daughter to king Edward the fourth Then all the companie sware to him fealtie and did to him homage as though he had béene that time the crowned king and annointed prince promising faithfullie and firmelie affirming that they would not onelie loose their worldlie substance but also be depriued of their liues and worldlie felicitie rather than to suffer king Richard that tyrant longer to rule and reigne ouer them Which solemne oths made and taken the earle of Richmond declared and communicated all these dooings to Francis duke of Britaine desiring most heartilie requiring him to aid him with a greater armie to conduct him into his countrie which so sore longed and looked for his returne and to the which he was by the more part of the nobilitie and communaltie called and desired Which with Gods aid and the dukes comfort he doubted not in short time to obteine requiring him further to prest to him a conuenient summe of monie affirming that all such summes of monie which he had receiued of his especiall fréends were spent and consumed in preparation of his last iourneie made toward England which summes of monie after his enterprise once atchiued he in the word of a prince faithfullie promised to repaie and restore againe The duke promised him aid and helpe Upon confidence whereof he rigged his ships and set foorth a nauie well decked with ordinance and warlikelie furnished with all things necessarie to the intent to saile forward shortlie and to loose no time In the meane season king Richard apprehended in diuerse parts of the realme certeine gentlemen of the earle of Richmonds faction confederation which either intended to saile into Britaine toward him or else at his landing to assist and aid him Amongst whome sir George Browne sir Roger Clifford and foure other were put to execution at London and sir Thomas Sentleger which had married the duchesse of Excester the kings owne sister and Thomas Rame and diuerse other were executed at Excester Beside these persons diuerse of his houshold seruants whome either he suspected or doubted were by great crueltie put to shamefull death By the obseruation of which mens names the place and the action here mentioned with the computation of time I find fit occasion to interlace a note newlie receiued from the hands of one that is able to saie much by record deliuering a summarie in more ample sort of their names whome king Richard did so tyrannicallie persecute and execute as followeth King Richard saith he came this yeare to the citie but in verie secret maner whome the maior his brethren in the best maner they could did receiue and then presented to him in a purse two hundred nobles which he thankefullie accepted And during his abode here he went about the citie viewed the seat of the same at length he came to the castell and when he vnderstood that it was called Rugemont suddenlie he fell into a dumpe and as one astonied said Well I sée my daies not long He spake this of a prophesie told him that when he came once to Richmond line 10 he should not long liue after which fell out in the end to be true not in respect of this castle but in respect of Henrie earle of Richmond who the next yeare following met him at Bosworth field where he was slaine But at his being here he did find the gentlemen of this countrie not to be best affected towards him and after his departure did also heare that the marquesse of Dorset the bishop of Excester and sundrie other gentlemen were in a confederacie against him for the assisting of the erle of Richmond line 20 Wherefore he sent downe Iohn lord Scroope with a commission to keepe a session who sat at Torington then there were indicted of high treason Thomas marquesse Dorset Peter bishop of Excester Thomas Sentleger and Thomas Fulford knights as principals and Robert Willoughbie and Thomas Arundell knights Iohn Arundell deane of Excester Dauid Hopton archdeacon of Excester Oliuer abbat of Buckland Bartholomew Sentleger William Chilson Thomas Gréenefield Richard line 30 Edgecombe Robert Burnbie Walter Courtneie Thomas Browne Edward Courtneie Hugh Lutterell Iohn Crocker Iohn Hallewell and fiue hundred others
the father to whose cursed counsels he became a wicked instrument Thus much by waie of digression of Alexander a pope as you heare well qualified and therefore forward enough to creat cardinals both in England and elsewhere of like disposition But to returne to the storie After that the king had got the vpper hand of his enimies he remooued to Lincolne and there taried thrée dais causing euerie of the same daies solemne processions to be made in rendering thanks to God for his fortunate victorie Then caused he execution to be done of such rebels traitors as were taken in the field either at the battell or in the chase And shortlie after he went into Yorkshire there coasted the countrie ouerthwart searching out such as had aided his enimies and were thought to be seditious persons whome he punished some by imprisonment some by fines and some by death according to the qualitie of their offenses and as was thought most expedient not by extremitie of rigor inclining to tyrannie but by due moderation of iustice tempering execution with clemencie according to the good rule of iustice prescribed by the wise man saieng Sobria commissum plectat clementia crimen Parua neg at poenam culpa subire grauem About the middest of August entering into the third yere of his reigne he came to Newcastell vpon Tine and from thence sent in ambassage into Scotland Richard Fox latelie before made bishop of Excester and with him Richard Edgecombe knight controller of his house to conclude some peace or truce with king Iames of Scotland The English ambassadors were honorablie receiued and louinglie interteined of the said king who gladlie would haue concluded a perpetuall peace with the king of England if he might haue bene licenced so to haue doone but his people being stedfast in their old accustomed vsage would not agrée to anie peace but yet were contented to gratifie their king that he should take truce with England for the tearme of seuen yeares which was concluded Then was secret promise made by king Iames that he would not onlie obserue peace continue in perfect amitie with the king of England during his life but also would renew againe this truce new taken for other seuen yeers before the first seuen yeers were fullie expired The king of Scots indéed was as desirous of the king of Englands friendship as the king of England was of his bicause that his subiects bare him much euill will misliking with all things that either he could doo or saie So that his regiment was no longer liked than they were in a good mood which was when they were well minded and that was neuer for that if by gentlenesse he allured them they esteemed him a flatterer if by seueritie a tyrant And therefore it stood him vpon to strengthen himselfe against such a people of whose line 10 pleasure displeasure depended his estate K. Henrie after the returne of his ambassadors out of Scotland came from Newcastell to Yorke and so toward London and in the way being at Leicester there came to him ambassadors from Charles the French king which declared both the recouerie of certeine townes out of the hands of Maximilian king of Romans which he had wrongfullie deteined from the crowne of France before that time and also that their maister king Charles had now wars line 20 in hand against Francis duke of Britaine bicause that he succoured and mainteined diuers noble men as the duke of Orleance and others that were rebels and traitors against him and the realme of France Wherefore his request was that for the old familiaritie that had bene betwixt them he would either assist and helpe him or else stand neuter betwixt them neither helping nor yet hurting the one nor the other Upon good and deliberate aduise taken in this matter bicause it was iudged weightie the king for line 30 answer told the French ambassadors that he would neither spare paine nor cost to set some reasonable staie betwixt their souereigne lord king Charles and the duke of Britaine so that a finall end and some perfect conclusion of friendship might be had betwixt them And so as soone as the French ambassadors were returned home the king sent his chapleine Christopher Urswike ouer into France to king Charles as well to shew that he was glad of the victorie which he had against Maximilian as to declare line 40 what a tempestuous storme of ciuill rebellion himselfe had escaped ouercome heere in England But the chiefest point of Urswikes errand consisted in this that he should intimate to the French king how his maister king Henrie offered himselfe as a mediator betwixt him and the duke of Britaine to make them friends and if he perceiued that the French king gaue eare herevnto then should he go into Britaine to mooue the duke there to be contented that some reasonable order might be taken for a line 50 quietnesse to be had betwixt the French king and him Whilest Urswike was trauelling in this matter according to his commission the king came backe againe to London where he was receiued of the citizens with great ioy and triumph they being heartilie glad and greatlie reioising that he with such good successe had subdued his enimies Shortlie after he deliuered the lord Thomas marques Dorset out of the Tower receiuing him againe to his former fauor and old familiaritie bicause his line 60 truth and loialtie by diuers assaies and sundrie arguments had béene throughlie tried and sufficientlie prooued In which meane time the king for the great loue that he bare to his wife quéene Elizabeth caused hir to be crowned and anointed quéene on saint Katharins day in Nouember with all solemnitie as in such cases apperteineth In the meane season Christopher Urswike according to his commission trauelled betwéene the French king and the duke of Britaine in the king of Englands name to make them friends But although the French king séemed willing enough to haue peace yet meant he nothing lesse For he had as manie subtilties in his heart as â—here be faces in the world according to the poet Pectoribus fraudes tot sunt quot in orbe figurae For whilest he went about with faire words courteous letters and swéet promises to beare the king of England in hand to labour a peace betwixt him and the Britains he inforced his whole puissance to subdue them and besieged the citie of Nants And on the other part the duke of Orleance being with drawne to the duke of Britaine and one that râ—led most about him had no liking to heare of peace but did what he could to hinder it The English ambassador Christopher Urswike hauing thus passed from the French king to the duke of Britaine and backe againe to the French king returned shortlie after into England and shewed vnto king Henrie what he had doone betwixt them Immediatlie after came to the
schoolmaister for his yearelie wages six pounds thirtéene shillings foure pence and to euerie one of the said almes folke seuen pence a weeke and fiue pounds to be bestowed yearelie amongst them in coles And ordeined that the said almes priest should on sundaies and festiuall daies be helping and assistant to the vicar or curat line 40 there in celebration of diuine seruice on the wéeke daies fréelie to applie and teach yoong children of the said parish to the number of thirtie in a schoolehouse by him there builded for that purpose Moreouer hée gaue to the parish clearke there for the time being a yearlie stipend of twentie six shillings eight pence for euer and a chamber by the said almes house to the intent he should helpe the said schoolemaister to teach the said children And hath giuen faire lands and tenements in the citie of London for the perpetuall line 50 maintenance of the premisses to Gods glorie for euer He also for the great commoditie of trauellers on foot made a continuall causie of timber ouer the marshes from Walthamstow to Locke bridge towards London In the moneth of Maie the king and the new duke of Suffolke were defenders at the tilt against all commers The king was in a scopelarie mantle an hat of cloth of siluer and like a white hermit and the duke apparelled like a blacke hermit all of blacke line 60 veluet both their berds were of damaske siluer and when they had ridden about the tilt shewed themselues to the quéene then they threw off their apparell and sent it to the ladies for a larges Then was the king in blacke and the duke in white with blacke staues on the staues was written with white letters Who can hold that will away this posie was iudged to be made for the duke of Suffolke and the duchesse of Sauoie At these iustes were the duke of Longuile the lord Cleremont and there the king duke did so valiantlie that they obteined the prise At these iustes were broken an hundred and fourteene speares in a short space The king at this season sent againe into Flanders for the performance of the mariage of the yoong prince of Castile and the faire ladie Marie his sister and shewed how he had prepared all things necessarie and conuenient for such an high estate The councell of Flanders answered that they would not receiue hir that yeare with manie subtill arguments by reason wherof the perfect loue betwene England and the low countries was much slaked On the nineteenth daie of Maie was receiued into London a cap of maintenance a sword sent from pope Iulie with a great companie of nobles and gentlemen which was presented to the king on the sundaie then next insuing with great solemnitie in the cathedrall church of saint Paule Touching this pope saith Guicciardine disappointed of so manie hopes we may laie him in comparison with that which is written by the poets of Anteus that being tamed by the forces of Hercules as often as he was throwne to the ground so often did appeare in him a greater strength and courage such wéening had the pope amidst his aduersities for when he seemed most abased and oppressed it was then that he did most lift vp him selfe with a spirit more constant and resolute promising better of his fortune than euer After he had plaied all his troublesome pageants and had got by sundrie aspiring practises I wot not what péerelesse primasie he fell sicke And happilie he was then more full of high conceipts and trauelling thoughts than at anie time before for notwithstanding he had brought his fortune to be equall with his desires obteined the thing he aspired vnto yet his deuises and plots did nothing diminish but grew increasing by the same meane which should haue satisfied them He had determined in the beginning of the spring and first opening of the yeare to send to the enterprise of Ferrara which he so much desired and his opinion was that that state was able to make no resistance both for that it was naked of all succours and bicause the Spanish armie was to ioine with his companies he had secretlie bought of Cesar for the price of thirtie thousand duckets the citie of Sienna for the behoofe of the duke of Urbin to whome except Pesera he would neuer giue anie thing of the estate ecclesiastike to the end to reserue to himselfe the whole glorie to haue simplie and onelie studied for the exaltation of the church He agreed to lend to Cesar fortie thousand duckats receiuing Modona in gage He threatned them of Lucquoie who in the heat of the affaires of the duke of Ferrara were become lords of Garsagnana making instance that they would deliuer it to him He was out of conceit with the cardinall of Medicis for that he thought him to cleaue more to the king catholike than to him And bicause he knew he was not able to dispose of the citie of Florence as he thought he studied alredie new plots and new practises to alter that estate He was ill contented with the cardinall of Sion from whome he tooke the name of legat and inioined him to come to Rome for that in the duchie of Millan he had appropriat to himselfe a yearelie rent of more than thirtie thousand duckats of the estates and goods of diuerse persons The better to assure the duke of Urbin of Sienna by intelligences of his neighbours he had of new taken into his paie Charles Baillon to chase out of Perousa Iohn Paule who by affinitie was verie neere ioined to the sonnes of Pandolffe Petruccio successours to the greatnesse of their father He would of new create duke of Genes Octauian Fregosa deposing Ianus from that dignitie an action wherevnto did consent the others of the house of Fregosa bicause for the degrée that his ancestors held in that state it séemed best to apperteine vnto him He studied continuallie either how he might worke out of Italie the Spanish armie or cut it in péeces by the aid of the Swizzers whome aboue all others he exalted and imbraced In this deuise hée had this intention that the kingdome of Naples being occupied by him Italie should remaine frée from strangers a speach that often passed out of his mouth and to that end hée had hindered that the Swizzers did not confederate with the king catholike And yet as though it had beene in his power to line 10 batter all the world at one time he continued his accustomed rigour against the French king And notwithstanding he had hard a message from the queene yet he stirred vp to make warre the king of England to whome he had transferred by publke decree of the councell of Lateran the name of Christianissimo whereof there was alreadie a bull written and in it likewise was conteined the priuation of the dignitie name of the king of France giuing his kingdome to who could occupie it
to studie and knowledge So that vnto these hopes was much helping the manner of the election being made in his person sincerelie and line 10 without simonie or suspicion of other corruption The first act of this new pope was his coronation which was represented according to the vsage of his predecessors in the church of saint Iohn de Lateran The pompe was so great both of his familie and his court and also of the prelates and multitudes that were there togither with the popular and vniuersall assemblies of people that by the opinion and iudgement of men the pride and maiestie of that action did farre surpasse all the celebrations doone in Rome line 20 since the tyrannies of the Goths and sauage nations In this same solemnitie the Gonfalon of the church was caried by Alfonso de Este who hauing obteined a suspension of his censures paines was come to Rome with great hope that by the clemencie and facilitie of the pope he should be able to compound for his affaires The Gonfalon of the religion of Rhodes was borne by Iulio de Medicis mounted vpon a statelie courser armed at all points by his nature he bare an inclination to the profession of line 30 armes but by destinie he was drawen to the life ecclesiastike in which estate he maie serue as a wonderfull example of the variation of fortune One matter that made the memorie of that daie wonderfull was this consideration that the person who then in so high rare pompe was honored with the most supreme and souereigne dignitie of the world was the yéere before and on the verie same daie miserablie made prisoner The great magnificence that appéered vpon his person and his expenses confirmed in the generalitie and multitude of men line 40 the expectation that was had of him euerie one promising that Rome should be happie vnder a pope so plentifullie indued with the vertue of liberalitie whereof that daie he had giuen an honorable experience his expenses being aboue an hundred thousand duckats But wise men desired in him a greater grauitie and moderation they iudged that neither such a maiestie of pompe was conuenient for popes neither did the condition of the present time require line 50 that he should so vnprofitablie disperse the treasures that had beene gathered by his predecessour to other vses The vessell of amitie betwéene the king of Enggland the French being first broched by this popes letters the French king by an herald at armes sent to the king of England requiring of him a safe conduct for his ambassadors which should come to intreat for a peace and attonement to be concluded betwixt them and their realmes Upon grant obteined thereof the French king sent a commission with the line 60 president of Rome and others to intreat of peace and aliance betwixt both the princes And moreouer bicause they vnderstood that the mariage was broken betwéene the prince of Castile and the ladie Marie they desired that the said ladie might be ioined in mariage with the French king offering a great dowrie and suerties for the same So much was offered that the king mooued by his councell and namelie by Woolsie the bishop of Lincolne consented vpon condition that if the French king died then â—he should if it stood with hir pleasure returne into England againe with all hir dowrie and riches After that they were accorded vpon a full peace and that the French king should marrie this yoong ladie the indentures were drawen ingrossed sealed and peace therevpon proclamed the seuenth daie of August the king in presence of the French ambassadors was sworne to kéepe the same and likewise there was an ambassage sent out of England to see the French king sweare the same The dowrie that was assigned vnto the bride to be receiued after hir husbands deceasse if she suruiued him was named to be 32000 crownes of yearelie reuenues to be receiued out of certeine lands assigned foorth therefore during all hir naturall life And moreouer it was further agreed couenanted that the French king should content and paie yearelie vnto king Henrie during the space of fiue yeares the summe of one hundred thousand crownes By conclusion of this peace was the duke of Longuile with the other prisoners deliuered paieng their ransoms and the said duke affied the ladie Marie in the name of his maister king Lewes In September following the said ladie was conueied to Douer by the king hir brother the queene and on the second daie of October she was shipped and such as were appointed to giue their attendance on hir as the duke of Norffolke the marquesse Dorset the bishop of Durham the earle of Surreie the lord de la Ware the lord Berners the lord Monteagle the foure brethren of the said marques sir Maurice Berklie sir Iohn Pechie sir William Sands sir Thomas Bulleine sir Iohn Car and manie other knights esquiers gentlemen and ladies They had not sailed past a quarter of the sea but that the wind arose and seuered the ships driuing some of them to Calis some into Flanders and hir ship with great difficultie was brought to Bullen not without great ieopardie at the entering of the hauen for the maister ran the ship hard on shore But the boats were readie and receiued the ladie out of the ship and sir Christopher Garnish stood in the water and tooke hir in his armes and so caried hir to land where the duke of Uandosme and a cardinall with manie other great estates receiued hir with great honor From Bullen with easie iournies she was conueied vnto Abuile there entered the eighth of October where she was receiued by the Dolphin with great honour she was apparelled in cloth of siluer hir horsse was trapped in goldsmiths worke verie richlie After hir followed 36 ladies all their palfries trapped with crimsin veluet embrodered After them followed one chariot of cloth of tissue the second cloth of gold the third crimsin veluet embrodered with the kings armes hirs full of roses After them followed a great number of archers and then wagons laden with their stuffe Great was the riches in plate iewels monie apparell and hangings that this ladie brought into France On the morrow following being mondaie and S. Denise day the mariage was solemnized betwixt the French king and the said ladie with all honour ioy roialtie both apparelled in goldsmiths worke Then a great banket and sumptuous feast was made where the English ladies were honorablie interteined according to the dignitie of the persons and to the contentment of them that had no dregs of malice or misliking settled in their harts For vnpossible it is that in a great multitude meeting togither though all about one matter be it of pleasure and delight there should not be one of a repugnant disposition and though not apparantlie perceiued trauelling with grudge malignant mind as we sée some apples
that in maner all good persons abhorred and disdeined it as altogither degenerating from the example of Christ his poore traine of whome in name and title they séemed to be professors but of their maners and trade of life open defiers yea in such manifest sort both in apparell and diet as also in all other respects that few there were if they perceiued anie thing by discretion but saw the euident abuses of their behauiours tending greatlie to the dishonour of the place which they possessed as also to the no small offense of the modester sort of the cleargie wherof some did so well like of this ruffling and masking presbyterie that they abhorred it as strong poison in their broth It fortuned that the archbishop of Canturburie wrote to the cardinall anon after that he had receiued his power legantine the which letter after his old familiar maner he subscribed thus Your brother William of Canturburie With which subscription bicause the archbishop wrote him brother he was so much offended as though the archbishop had doone him great iniurie that he could not temper his mood but in high displeasure said that he would so worke within a while that he should well vnderstand how he was his superiour and not his brother When the archbishop being a sober wise man heard of the line 10 messenger that bare the letter how the cardinall tooke it not well but so as it might seeme there was a great fault in the letter and reported the tale as one that misliked the cardinals presumption herein Peace said the archbishop knowest thou not how the man is become mad with too much ioy And thus the cardinall forgetting to hold the right path of true laud and praise sought to be feared rather than beloued of all good men In this meane time the French king greatlie coueting line 20 to redeeme the citie of Tornaie out of the hands of the king of England and knowing that he must make waie therevnto thorough the cardinals fréendship ceassed not with high gifts to win his good will and moreouer in often writing to him exalted him with titles of honor and so magnified him that the cardinall as one tickled with vaine-glorie more than can be imagined thought that he could not doo pleasure enough to the French king that did estéeme so much of him Herevpon the French king line 30 hoping to compasse his desire after he perceiued the cardinals good will towards him signified his meaning vnto the said cardinall who found meanes to breake thereof to the king in such wise as he was contented to heare the French kings ambassadors that should be sent hither to talke of that matter The French king then vnderstanding the king of England his pleasure sent ouer the lord Boniuet high admerall of France and the bishop of Paris as chéefe ambassadours accompanied with a great line 40 sort of lustie gentlemen of the French kings court to the number of foure score and aboue on whome attended such a companie of other of the meaner sort that the whole number amounted to twelue hundred one and other which were thought to be manie for an ambassage ¶ On mondaie the twentie seuenth daie of September the earle of Surrie high admerall of England in a coat of rich tissue cut on cloath of siluer on a great courser richlie trapped and a great whistle of gold set with stones and pearle hanging line 50 at a great and massie chaine baudricke wise accompanied with an hundred and sixtie gentlemen richlie apparelled on goodlie horsses came to Blackeheath and there amiablie receiued the ambassadours of France The yoong gallants of France had coats garded with one colour cut in ten or twelue parts verie richlie to behold and so all the Englishmen accoupled themselues with the Frenchmen louinglie togither and so road to London After the two admerals followed foure and twentie of the French line 60 kings gard accompanied with foure and twentie of the English gard And after them a great numrer of archers to the number of foure hundred And in this order they passed thorough the citie to tailors hall and there the chéefe ambassadours were lodged and the remnant in merchants houses about When these lords were in their lodgings then the French harder men opened their wares made the tailors hall like the paund of a mart At this dooing manie an Englishman grudged but it auailed not The last daie of September the French ambassadours tooke their barge and came to Greenewich The admerall was in a gowne of cloath of siluer raised furred with rich sables and all his companie almost were in a new fashioned garment called a shemew which was in effect a gowne cut in the middle The gentlemen of France were brought into the kings presence where the bishop of Paris made a solemne oration which being ended answer made thereto the king highlie interteined the admerall and his companie and so did all the English lords and gentlemen The ambassadours after this were dailie in councell till at length an agréement was concluded vnder pretense of a marriage to be had betweene the Dolphin of France and the ladie Marie daughter to the king of England in name of whose marriage monis Tornaie should be deliuered vnt◠the French king he paieng to the king of England for the castell which he had made in that citie six hundred thousand crownes to be paid in twelue yeares space that is to saie fiftie thousand euerie yeare during that terme And if the marriage chanced not to take effect then should Tornaie be againe restored to the king of England For performance of which article hostages should be deliuered that is to wit monsieur de Montmorancie monsieur de Montpesac monsieur de Moie monsieur de Morret Moreouer the French king should paie to the lord cardinall of England a thousand marks of yearelie pension in recompense of his reuenues before time receiued of the bishoprike of Tornaie and likewise to other of the kings councell he should also giue certeine summes of monie as yearelie pensions in like maner as his ancestors had doone to the councellors of the kings of England before time The French K. agreed to call backe the duke of Albanie out of Scotland that the suertie of K. Iames might the better be prouided for and lesse occasion of trouble ministred to the king of England And further the French king was contented that the said king Iames should be receiued as a confederat in this peace When all things were concluded the king and the ambassadours road to the cathedrall church of saint Paule in London from Durham place where the cardinall of England sang the masse in most pompous maner and after that masse was ended doctor Pace the kings secretarie made an eloquent oration in praise of peace and that doone the king and his nobles with the ambassadours went to the bishops palace and there dined and after dinner the king rode
On fridaie the thirteenth daie of Iulie the emperour did intend to haue departed from Calis but the counsell was such that he departed not that night On saturdaie the fouretéenth of Iulie the emperour tooke his leaue of the queene of England his aunt and departed toward Graueling being conducted on his waie by the king of England to a village towards Flanders called Waell and there line 30 they imbraced and tooke their leaue either of other in most louing maner They did not altogither spend the time thus while they were togither in vaine pleasures and sporting reuels for the charters before time concluded were read ouer and all the articles of the league tripartite agréed betwixt the emperour the king of England and the French king were at full declared to the which the French king had fullie condescended And for the more proofe thereof and exemplification of the same he sent monsieur de Roch line 40 with letters of credence to signifie to the emperour that in the word of a prince he would obserue fulfill performe and kéepe all the same articles for him his realme and subiects Shortlie after that the emperour and the king had taken leaue each of other and were departed the king shipped and with the quéene and all other the nobilitie returned safelie into England The king kept his Christmas at Greenwith this yeare with much noblenesse and open court And the tenth daie of Februarie in his owne person iusted line 50 with all commers On Twelfe daie his grace and the earle of Deuonshire with foure aids answered at the tourneie all commers which were sixtéene persons noble and rich was their apparell but in feats of armes the king excelled the rest About this time the king hauing regard to the common welth of his realme year 1521 considered how for the space of fiftie yeares past and more the nobles and gentlemen of England being giuen to grasiâ—â— of cattell and kéeping line 60 of shéepe had inuented a meane how to increase their yearelie reuenues to the great decaie and vndooing of husbandmen of the land For the said nobles and gentlemen after the maner of the Numidians more studieng how to increase their pastures than to mainteine tillage began to decaie husband tacks tenements and to conuert arable ground into pasture furnishing the same with beasts and shéepe and also deere so inclosing the field with hedges ditches and pales which they held in their owne hands ingrossing woolles and selling the same and also shéepe and beasts at their owne prices and as might stand most with their owne priuate commoditie Hereof a thréefold euill chanced to the common wealth as Polydor noteth One for that thereby the number of husbandmen was sore diminished the which the prince vseth chieflie in his seruice for the warres an other for that manie townes and villages were left desolate and became ruinous the third for that both wooll and cloth made thereof and the flesh of all maner beasts vsed to be eaten was sold at far higher prices than was accustomed These enormities at the first begining being not redressed grew in short space to such force and vigour by euill custome that afterwards they gathered to such an vnited force that hardly they could be remedied Much like a disease which in the beginning with litle paine to the patient and lesse labour to the surgeon maie be cured whereas the same by delaie and negligence being suffered to putrifie becommeth a desperate sore and then are medicines nothing auailable and not to be applied according to his opinion that said Helleborum frustra cùm iam cutis aegratumescit Poscentes videas venienti occurrite morbo The king therefore causing such good statutes as had beene deuised and established for reformation in this behalfe to be reuiued and called vpon tooke order by directing foorth his commissions vnto the iustices of peace and other such magistrats that presentment should be had and made of all such inclosures and decaie of husbandrie as had chanced within the space of fiftie yeares before that present time The iustices and other magistrates according to their commission executed the same And so commandement was giuen that the decaied houses should bée built vp againe that the husbandmen should be placed eftsoones in the same and that inclosed grounds should be laid open and sore punishment appointed against them that disobeied These so good and wholesome ordinances shortlie after were defeated by meanes of bribes giuen vnto the cardinall for when the nobles and gentlemen which had for their pleasures imparked the common fields were loth to haue the same againe disparked they redéemed their vexation with good sommes of monie and so had licence to keepe their parks and grounds inclosed as before Thus the great expectation which men had conceiued of a generall redresse prooued void howbeit some profit the husbandmen in some parts of the realme got by the moouing of this matter where inclosures were alreadie laid open yer mistresse monie could preuent them and so they inioied their commons which before had beene taken from them After that this matter for inclosures was thus dispatched the cardinall boiling in hatred against the duke of Buckingham thirsting for his bloud deuised to make Charles Kneuet that had beene the dukes surueior and put from him as ye haue heard an instrument to bring the duke to destruction This Kneuet being had in examination before the cardinall disclosed all the dukes life And first he vttered that the duke was accustomed by waie of talke to saie how he meant so to vse the matter that he would atteine to the crowne if king Henrie chanced to die without issue that he had talke and conference of that matter on a time with George Neuill lord of Aburgauennie vnto whome he had giuen his daughter in marriage and also that he threatned to punish the cardinall for his manifold misdooings being without cause his mortall enimie The cardinall hauing gotten that which he sought for incouraged comforted and procured Kneuet with manie comfortable words and great promises that he should with a bold spirit and countenance obiect and laie these things to the dukes charge with more if he knew it when time required Then Kneuet partlie prouoked with desire to be reuenged and partlie mooued with hope of reward openlie confessed that the duke had once fullie determined to deuise meanes how to make the king away being brought into a full hope that he should be king by a vaine prophesie which one Nicholas Hopkins a monke of an house of the Chartreux order beside Bristow called Henton sometime his confessor had opened vnto him The cardinall hauing thus taken the examination line 10 on of Kneuet went vnto the king and declared vnto him that his person was in danger by such traitorous purpose as the duke of Buckingham had conceiued in his heart and shewed how that now there is manifest
well of the earledome as otherwise whereby he was in time following also constable of England and as it is most probable restored to that office by Henrie the second for that he was a great enimie to king Stephan He went amongest others with Henrie Fitz Empresse to Dauid king of Scots who knighted the said Henrie in the fouretéenth yeare of king Stephan he married Cicilie the daughter of Iohn Fitz Paine and died without issue Walter second sonne to Milo after the death of his brother Roger was earle of Hereford constable of England and lord ouer Gwenthie or Wenthie he builded in the time of Henrie the first the castels of Glocester Bristow and Rochester with the Tower of London he held the land of Wenthie by long time who hauing no heire of his bodie gaue the same land to Henrie of Hereford and for saking the world tooke monasticall habit on him at Lanthonie where he was buried dieng without issue Henrie of Hereford the sonne of Milo after the enterance of Walter his brother into religion was earle of Hereford constable of England and lord of Breckenocke and Deane who was in Wenthie at a conflict slaine by his owne men and buried at Lanthonie with Walter the constable after whose death Henrie the second deputed Iago ap Seisell to the custodie of the land of Wenthie William the sonne of Milo and brother to Henrie of Hereford was constable of England after the death of his brother and died without issue Mahaell the yoongest sonne of Milo after the death of William was constable of England who died without issue whome I feare not to place as constable since all histories agrée that all the sons of Milo did successiuelie inioie that office after whome the inheritance comming to their sister whereof the eldest called Margaret or Margerie was married to Humfrie Bohuno which line of the Bohunes became afterwards constables of England by inheritance Humfrie de Bohune steward to Henrie the first the sonne of Humfrie de Bohune steward in house to William Rufus sonne to Humfrie de Bohune that came in with the Conquerour was in the right of his wife Margerie one of the daughters and heire of the foresaid Milo constable of England he had issue Humfrie de Bohune Humfrie de Bohune constable of England married Margaret sister to William king of Scots and daughter to the earle of Huntington moother to line 10 Conon earle of Britaine he had issue Henrie This Margaret died the third of king Iohn being the yeare of Christ 1201. And this Humfrie also died in the time of king Iohn as some haue or rather as others haue in the time of king Richard the first Henrie de Bohune the sonne of the said Humfrie and Margaret was the first earle of Hereford of that name of the Bohunes contrarie to that receiued error which hitherto hath made the other Bohunes earle of Hereford and contrarie to the printed pedegrée of the deceassed father of the earle of line 20 Essex now liuing For this man being the first erle of the Bohunes was made earle of Hereford in the first yeare of king Iohn as the charter dooth witnesse He was also constable of England and married Mawd the daughter and heire of Geffrie lord Ludgarsall sometime earle of Essex in whose right hir husband was intituled to that honor of the earledome of Essex by whome he had issue Humfrie his heire He died about the fourth yeare of Henrie the line 30 third being the yeare of our redemption 1220 in his iournie as he went to Ierusalem with other noblemen Humfrie de Bohune sonne of Henrie being the second of that name that was erle of Hereford was also earle of Essex and constable of England being by all men termed La bone counte de Hereford He married Mawd the daughter of the earle of Oxie in Normandie he had issue Humfrie de Bohune that was taken in the yeare of Christ 1265 being the fortie line 40 ninth of king Henrie the third at the battell of Euesham and died in the life of his father leauing behind him a sonne called Humfrie heire to him and to his father which Humfrie the father died in the yeare of our redemption 1275 being the third yeare of king Edward the first Humfrie de Bohune the third earle of Hereford of that name the sonne of Humfrie Bohune slaine at the battell of Euesham was after the death of his grandfather erle of Hereford and Essex and constable of England he married Mawd de Ferens or line 50 Frenis and had issue Humfrie this earle died in the yeare of our redemption 1298 being the twentie sixt of Edward the first was buried at Walden with his wife Mawd. Humfrie de Bohune the fourth erle of Hereford of that name was earle of Hereford Essex and constable of England he married Elizabeth the daughter to king Edward the first and widow to Iohn earle of Holland he had issue Iohn erle of Hereford Humfrie earle of Hereford and William earle of line 60 Northhampton This Humfrie taking part with Thomas earle of Lancaster was slaine at Borrobridge by a Welshman standing vnder a bridge that thrust him thorough with a speare in the fouretéenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the second being the yeare of our redemption 1321. Iohn de Bohune the eldest sonne of this Humfrie being the fiâ—t earle of Hereford was after the death of his father earle of Hereford Essex and constable of England he married the daughter of Edmund Fitz Alen earle of Arundell and died without issue in the yeare of Christ 1335 being the ninth yeare of king Edward the third He was buried in the abbeie of Stratford besides London Humfrie de Bohune sixt earle of Hereford being brother to Iohn de Bohune whome he succeeded was after the death of his brother earle of Hereford and Essex and constable of England he died without issue in the yeare of our Lord 1361 being the thirtie fift of king Edward the third and was buried at the Augustine friers in London William de Bohune seuenth erle of Hereford of that surname being the sonne of the other Humfrie and brother to the last Humfrie was at a parlement holden in the tenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third being in the yeare of our Lord 1336 created earle of Northhampton and after the death of his brother Humfrie he was earle of Hereford and Essex and constable of England He was in the eighteenth yeare of Edward the third being the yere of Christ 1344 sent into Britaine as generall ouer the English armie to restore Iohn de Montford to the dukedome of Britaine which he did putting Charles de Blois to flight He married Elizabeth some saie Eleanor one of the daughters and heires of Bartholomew Bladesmere baron of Bedes in Kent by whome he had issue Humfrie Humfrie de Bohune the eight last
vpon the table nothing but gilt plate and vpon a cupbord and in a window was set no plate but gold verie rich and in the councell chamber was all white and parcell gilt plate and vnder the table in baskets was all old broken siluer plate and bookes set by them purporting euerie kind of plate and euerie parcell with the contents of the ounces thereof Thus were all things prepared giuing charge of all the said stuffe with all other remaining in euerie office to be deliuered to the king to make answer to their charge for the order was such that euerie officer was charged with the receipt of the stuffe belonging to his office by indenture To sir William Gascoigne being his treasuror he gaue the charge of the deliuerie of the said goods and therwithall with his traine of gentlemen and yeomen he tooke his barge at the priuie staires and so went by water vnto Putneie where when he was arriued he tooke his mule euerie man tooke their horsses and rode streight to Asher where he and his familie continued the space of three or foure weekes without either beds shéets table cloths or dishes to eat their meat in or wherwith to buie anie the cardinall was forced to â—orow of the bishop of Carleill plate and dishes c. After this in the kings bench his matter for the premunire being called vpon two atturneis which he had authorised by his warrant signed with his owne hand confessed the action and so had iudgement to forfeit all his lands tenements goods and cattels and to be out of the kings protection but the king of his clemencie sent to him a sufficient protection and left to him the bishoprikes of Yorke and Winchester with plate and stuffe conuenient for his degrée The bishoprike of Duresme was giuen to doctor Tunstall bishop of London and the abbeie of saint Albons to the prior of Norwich Also the bishoprike of London being now void was bestowed on doctor Stokesleie then ambassadour to the vniuersities beyond the sea for the kings mariage The ladie Margaret duches of Sauoy aunt to the emperour and the ladie Lâ—is duchesse of Angolesme mother to the French king met at Cambreie in the beginning of the moneth of Iune to treat of a peace where were present doctor Tunstall bishop of London and sir Thomas Moore then chancellor of the duchie of Lancaster commissioners for the king of England At length through diligence of the said ladies a peace was concluded betwixt the emperour the pope and the kings of England and France All these met there in the beginning of Iulie accompanied with diuerse great princes and councellors on euerie part And after long debating on both sides there was a good conclusion taken the fift daie of August In the which was concluded that the treatie of Madrill should stand in his full strength and vertue sauing the third and fourth and the eleuenth and fourtéenth articles which touch the duchie of Burgognie and other lordships 1 Item it was agréed that the French king should haue his children againe paieng to the emperour two millians of crownes of gold whereof hée should paie at the deliuering of the children twelue hundred thousand crownes 2 Item that the French king should acquit the emperour against the king of England of fourescore and ten thousand crowns which the emperour owght line 10 to the king of England and the king of England to deliuer all such bonds and gages as he had of the emperours 3 Item as touching the remnant which was fiue hundred and ten thousand crownes the emperour should haue fiue and twentie thousand crownes rent yearelie for which he should haue the lands of the duchesse of Uandosme lieng in Flanders and Brabant bound 4 Item that Flanders and diuerse other countries line 20 should not behold in chiefe nor haue resort to the crowne of France 5 Item that the realme of Naples the duchie of Millan and the countie of Ast should for euer remaine to the emperour 6 Item that the French king should withdraw all such souldiors as he had out of Italie 7 Item that the ladie Eleanor should be brought into France with the French kings children and in time conuenient should be maried to the French line 30 king 8 Item that the French king should aid the emperour with twelue gallies to go into Italie 9 Item that all prisoners on both parties should be acquited 10 Item that the French king should not aid Robert de la March against the bishop of Luke 11 Item that all the goods mooueable and vnmoouable of Charles duke of Burbon should be restored to his heires they paieng to lord Henrie marquesse of Dapenete and earle of Nassaw lord chamberleine line 40 to the emperour ten thousand ducats which he lent to the said duke of Burbon 12 Item that Iohn earle of Panthieure should be remitted to all such goods as were earle Rene his fathers 13 Item the lord Laurence de Gorowood great master to the emperor should be restored to the lordships of Chalmont Monteualle which he bought of the duke of Burbon or to haue his monie againe 14 Item Philip de Chalon prince of Orenge and line 50 viceroy of Naples to be restored to all his lands in Burgognie 15 Item that the duches of Uandosme and Lois earle of Nauers should haue all such right and actions as they should haue had before the warre began In the emperours countries when all things were written sealed and finished there was a solemne masse soong in the cathedrall church of Cambreie the two ladies ambassadors of the king of England sitting in great estate and after masse the peace was line 60 proclamed betwéene the thrée princes and Te Deum soong and monie cast to the people and great fires made through the citie The same night the French king came into Cambreie well and noblie accompanied and saluted the ladies and to them made diuerse bankets and then all persons departed into their countrie glad of this concord This peace was called the womens peace for bicause that notwithstanding this conclusion yet neither the emperour trusted the French king nor he neither trusted nor loued him and their subiects were in the same case This proclamation was proclamed solemnelie by heralds with trumpets in the citie of London which proclamation much reioised the English merchants repairing into Flanders Brabant Zeland and other the emperors dominions For during the wars merchants were euill handled on both parties which caused them to be desirous of peace On the foure twentith of Nouember was sir Thomas Moore made lord chancellor the next day led to the Chancerie by the dukes of Norffolke and Suffolke and there sworne At the daie appointed the parlement began on which daie the king came by water to his place of Bridewell and there he and his nobles put on their robes of parlement and so came to
die for according to the law and by the law I am iudged to die and therfore I will speake nothing against it I am come hither to accuse no man nor to speake anie thing of that whereof I am accused condemned to die but I praie God saue the king and send him long to reigne ouer you for a gentler nor a more mercifull prince was there neuer and to me he was euer a good a gentle and a souereigne lord And if anie person will meddle of my cause I require them to iudge the best And thus I take my leaue of the world and of you all and I hartilie desire you all to praie for me Oh Lord haue mercie on me to God I commend my soule Iesu receiue my soule diuerse times repeting those words till that hir head was striken off with the sword Now bicause I might rather saie much than sufficientlie inough in praise of this noble quéene as well for hir singular wit and other excellent qualities of mind as also for hir fauouring of learned men zeale of religion and liberalitie in distributing almes in reliefe of the poore I will refer the reader vnto master Fox his volume of Acts and Monuments where he commendeth hir mild nature in taking admonition prooueth hir marriage lawfull defendeth hir succession ouerthroweth the sinister iudgements opinions and obiections of backebiters against that vertuous quéene sheweth hir faith and trust in Christ at hir death and finallie how the protestants of Germanie forsooke king Henrie for the death of so good a princesse ¶ Anglorum praelia saith that this good quéene was forwarned of hir death in a dreame wherein Morpheus the god of sléepe in the likenesse of hir grandfather appéered vnto hir and after a long narration of the vanities of this world how enuie reigneth in the courts of princes maligning the fortunate estate of the vertuous how king Henrie the eight and his issue should be the vtter ouerthrow and expulsion of poperie out of England and that the gouernment of quéene Elizabeth should be established in tranquillitie peace he saith vnto hir in conclusion by waie of prophesie as our poet hath recorded Forti sis animo tristis si nuncius adsum Insperata tuae velox necis aduenit hora Intra triginta spacium moriere dierum Hoc magnum mortis solamen habeto futurae Elizabetha suis praeclarè filia gestis Nomen ad astraferet patris matrÃsque suúmque Immediatlie after hir death in the wéeke before Whitsuntide the king married the ladie Iane Seimer daughter to sir Iohn Seimer knight which at Whitsuntide was openlie shewed as quéene And on the tuesdaie in Whitsunwéeke hir brother sir Edw. Seimer was created vicount Beauchampe and sir Water Hungerford lord Hungerford The eight of Iune began the parlement during the which the lord Thomas Howard without the kings assent affied the ladie Margaret Duglas daughter to the quéene of Scots and neece to the king for which act he was atteinted of treason and an act made for like offendors and so he died in the tower and she remained long there as prisoner In the time of this parlement the bishops and all the cleargie of the realme held a solemne conuocation at Paules church in London where after much disputation and debating of matters they published a booke of religion intituled Articles deuised by the kings highnesse c. In this booke is speciallie mentioned but thrée sacraments Also beside this booke certeine iniunctions were giuen foorth wherby a number of their holie daies were abrogated speciallie those that fell in haruest time ¶ The nine twentith of Iune the king held a great iusting and triumph at Westminster where were ordeined two lighters made like ships to fight vpon the water one of the which brake in the midst wherby one Gates a gentleman seruant to M. Knâ—net was drowned in his harnesse In the other a gun brake hir chamber maimed two of the mariners Thomas Cromwell secretarie vnto the king and maister of the rols was made lord kéeper of the priuie seale and the ninth of Iulie the lord Fitzwaren was created erle of Bath and the morrow after the said lord Cromwell was created lord Cromwell The eightéenth of Iulie he was made knight and vicar generall vnder the king ouer the spiritualtie and sat diuerse times in the conuocation amongst the bishops as head ouer them The two and twentith of Iulie Henrie duke of Richmont and Summerset earle of Northampton base sonne to the king begot line 10 of the ladie Tailebois then called Elizabeth Blunt departed this life at saint Iames and was buried at Thetford in Norffolke of whome you shall find more in the treatise of the dukes of this land In September Thomas Cromwell lord priuie seale and vicegerent sent abroad vnder the kings spirituall priuie seale certeine iniunctions commanding that the persons and curats should teach their parishioners the Pater noster the Aue Creed with the ten commandements and articles of the line 20 faith in English These articles and iniunctions being established by authoritie of parlement and now to the people deliuered bred a great misliking in the harts of the common people which had beene euer brought vp and trained in contrarie doctrine And herewith diuerse of the cleargie as moonks priests and others tooke occasion herby to speake euill of the late procéedings of the king touching matters of religion affirming that if spéedie remedie were not in time prouided the faith would shortlie be vtterlie line 30 destroied and all praier and diuine seruice quite abolished and taken awaie Manie sinister reports slanderous tales and feigned fables were blowne abroad and put into the peoples eares and diuerse of the nobilitie did also what they could to stir the commons to rebellion faithfullie promising both aid and succour against the king The people thus prouoked to mischiefe and deceiued through ouer light credence incontinentlie as it were to mainteine that religion which had so manie line 40 yeares continued and béene estéemed they stiffelie and stoutlie conspired togither and in a part of Lincolneshire they first assembled and shortlie after ioined into an armie being as it was supposed of men apt for the warres in number about twentie thousand Against these rebels with all the hast that might be the king in his proper person vpon intelligence therof had marched towards them being furnished with a warlike armie perfectlie appointed of all things that to such a companie should apperteine line 50 The rebels hearing that his person was present with his power to come thus against them began to feare what would follow of their dooings and such nobles and gentlemen as at the first fauoured their cause fell from them and withdrew so that they being destitute of capteines at length put certeine petitions in writing which they exhibited to the king professing that they neuer intended hurt
from Edward the third and Iohn of Gant some made verses Amongst all other maister White then bishop of Lincolne in his poeticall veine being droonken with ioie of the marriage spued out certeine verses the copie whereof we haue here inserted to impart vnto common knowlege Philippi Mariae genealogia qua ambo principes ex Iohanne de Gandauo Eduarditertij Angliae Franciaeque regis filio descendisse ostenduntur Whito Lincolniense authore Ille parens regum Gandaua ex vrbe Iohannes Somersetensem comitem profert Iohannem Somersetensis venit hoc patre dux Iohannes Qui Margaretam Richemundi habuit comitissam Haec dedit Henricum qui regni septimus huius Henrico octauo solium regale reliquit Hoc patre propitio fausto quasi sydere nata Iure tenes sacram teneásque Maria coronam Verses of maister White bishop of Lincolne concerning the marriage of Philip and Marie Nubat vt Angla Anglo regina Maria Philippo Inque suum fontem regia stirps redeat Noluit humani generis daemon vetus hostis Sed Deus Anglorum prouida spes voluit Nollet Scotus inops timidúsque ad praelia Gallus Caesar Italia Flandria tota volet Noluit Haereticus stirps Caiphae pontificum grex Pontificum sed grex Catholicus voluit Octo vxorati Patres in daemone nollent Quinque Cathenati pro pietate volent Noluit Iohannes Dudley Northumbrius vrsus Sed fidum regni Concilium voluit Noluit aetatis nostrae Catilina Viatus Sed proceres plebs pia turba volet Nollet Graius dux Cantia terra rebellans Nos quoniam Dominus sic voluit volumus Clarior effectus repetat sua limina sanguis Cùm sit Philippo iuncta Maria viro But to procéed As soone as the feasting solemnitie of the said marriage was ended the king and quéene departed from Winchester and by easie iournies came to Windsore castell where the fift of August being sundaie he was stalled according to the order of the garter and there kept S. Georges feast himselfe in his roiall estate and the earle of Sussex was also the same time stalled in the order At which time an herald tooke downe the armes of England at Windsore and in the place of them would haue set the armes of Spaine but he was commanded to set them vp againe by certeine lords The seuenth of August was made a generall hunting with a toile raised of foure or fiue miles in length so that manie a déere that day was brought to the quarrie The eleuenth of August they remooued to Richmond and from thence the 27 of the same moneth they came by water to London landing at the bishop of Winchesters house through which they passed both to Southworke parke and so to Suffolke place where they lodged that night and the next daie being saturdaie and the nineteenth of August they being accompanied with a great number of nobles and gentlemen rode from thence ouer the bridge and passed through London vnto Westminster ¶ Now as the king came to London bridge as he entred at the drawbridge was a vaine great spectacle set vp two images representing two giants one named Corineus and the other Gogmagog holding betweene them certeine Latine verses which for the vaine ostentation of flatterie I ouerpasse And as they passed ouer the bridge there was a number of ordinance shot at the tower such as by old mens report the like hath not béene heard or séene these hundred yéeres From London bridge they passed to the conduit in Gratious stréet which was finelie painted and among other things the nine worthies whereof king Henrie the eight was one He was painted in harnesse hauing in one hand a sword and in the other hand a booke wherevpon was written Verbum Dei deliuering the same booke as it were to his sonne king Edward who was painted in a corner by him But herevpon was no small matter line 10 made for the bishop of Winchester lord chancellor sent for the painter and not onelie called him knaue for painting a booke in king Henries hand and speciallie for writing therevpon Verbum Dei but also ranke traitor villen saieng to him that he should rather haue put the booke into the quéenes hand who was also painted there for that she had reformed the church and religion with other things according to the pure and sincere word of God indéed The painter answered and said that if he had knowne that that line 20 had beene the matter wherefore his lordship sent for him he could haue remedied it and not haue troubled his lordship The bishop answered and said that it was the quéenes maiesties will and commandement that he should send for him and so commanding him to wipe out the booke and Verbum Dei too he sent him home So the painter departed but fearing least he should leaue some part either of the booke or of Verbum Dei in king Henries hand he wiped awaie a péece of his line 30 fingers withall Here I passe ouer and cut off other gauds and pageants of pastime shewed vnto him in passing through London with the flattering verses set vp in Latine wherin were blazed out in one place the fiue Philips as the fiue worthies of the world Philip of Macedonia Philip the emperor Philippus Audax Philippus Bonus Philip prince of Spaine and king of England In another poetrie king Philip was resembled by an image representing Orpheus and all English people resembled to brute and line 40 sauage beasts following after Orpheus harpe and dansing after king Philips pipe Not that I reprehend the art of the Latine verses which was fine and cunning but that I passe ouer the matter hauing other grauer things in hand and therefore passe ouer also the sight at Paules church side of him that came downe vpon a rope tied to the batlements with his head before neither staieng himselfe with hand or foot which shortlie after cost him his life But one thing by the waie I cannot let passe touching line 50 the yoong florishing rood newlie set vp against this present time to welcome king Philip into Paules church The setting vp of which rood was this and may make as good a pageant as the best Anno 2. Mariae Boner in his roialtie and all his prebendaries about him in Paules quéere the rood laid along vpon the pauement and also all the doores of Paules being shut the bishop with other said and soong diuers praiers by the rood that being doone they annointed line 60 the rood with oile in diuers places and after the annointing crept vnto it and kissed it After that they tooke the said rood and weied him vp and set him in his old accustomed place and all the while they were dooing thereof the whole queere sang Te Deum and when that was ended they rang the bels not onlie for ioy but also for the notable and great
life c. As for patrimoniall goods sith he had none wherby he ought to haue had regard of his kindred therefore such goods as he had he willed to be distributed among such persons as had well deserued of him and vpon godlie vses He made one Aloisius Priolus a Uenetian his heire and executor of all his goods and chattels as well within England as without in line 30 Spaine Italie Rome Uenice or elsewhere c. And for dilapidations there is no reason saith he whie my successor in the sée of Canturburie shuld demand anie thing because I haue bestowed more than a thousand pounds within these few yéeres in reparing making better such houses as belonged to the said sée since I came to it which was no long time by our computation The ouerséers and defenders of this his last will he made Nicholas archbishop of Yorke chancellor of England Thomas bishop line 40 of Elie his cousine the lord Edward Hastings the kings chamberleine sir Iohn Boxall the queenes secretarie sir Edward Cordall master of the rolles and master Henrie Cole his vicar generall in his spiritualties All these he besought to giue quéene Marie knowledge of this his last will and with all reuerence to beséech hir that what good will and fauor she shewed him in all causes and affaires whiles he was aliue the same she would vouchsafe to exhibit and bestow vpon him being dead and gratiouslie line 50 prouide that all lets and impediments to the execution of this his last will testament might be remooued and vtterlie taken awaie and to euerie one of his ouerséers for their paines taking herein he gaue fiftie pounds a peece by will This testament was subscribed with his owne hand and signed with his owne seale in presence of a number of witnesses there vndernamed All which with the tenor of his said last will at large are remembred by Schardius in epitome rerum gestarum sub Ferdinando imperatore line 60 And thus much of cardinall Poole Upon whose discourse presentlie ended as hath beene doone in the treatise of high constables at the duke of Buckinghams beheadding and of the lord protectors at the duke of Summersets suffering in which two honorable personages those two offices had their end so here we are to infer a collection of English cardinals which order ceased when Reginald Poole died After which treatise ended according to the purposed order and a catalog of writers at the end of this quéenes reigne annexed it remaineth that quéene Elizabeth shew hir selfe in hir triumphs at hir gratious and glorious coronation The cardinals of England collected by Francis Thin in the yeare of our Lord 1585. THis cardinall Poole being the last cardidinall in England and so likelie to be as the state of our present time dooth earnestlie wish dooth here offer occasion to treat of all such Englishmen as haue possessed that honor Which I onelie doo for that I would haue all whatsoeuer monuments of antiquitie preserued least Pereat memoria eorum cum sonitu Wherefore thus I begin Adrian the fourth of that name bishop of Rome called before that time Nicholas Breakespeare being borne in England about saint Albons whome Onuphrius affirmeth to be borne in the towne of Malmesberie in the dominions of saint Albons in the dioces of Bath somewhat like a stranger mistaking the names of places and persons as he often dooth was for the pouertie of his father who after became a moonke in saint Albons not able to be mainteined here at learning Wherevpon he goeth into Prouince to the monasterie of saint Rufus whereof in time he was made a canon and after abbat of that house but in the end misliked of the couent they appealed him to Rome before Eugenius the third then pope who for that time pacifieng the matter betwéene them they did after fall at variance againe and so called him before the pope the second time Eugenius séeing these continuall bralles wearie to heare them and fauoring this Nicholas made them choose an other abbat and appointed Nicholas to the bishoprike of Alba and to the honor of a cardinall sending him legat into Denmarke and Norweie where he remained some yeares But at length returning to Rome after the death of Eugenius and his successor Anastasius this Nicholas was aduanced from a cardinall to a pope and called Adrian the fourth Who died in the fift yeare of Henrie the second king of England in the yeare of Christ 1159. Bosa an Englishman and cardinall was not that Bosa which was bishop of Yorke of whome Beda maketh mention lib. 4. cap. 13. and cap. 23. of his ecclesiasticall historie where he saith that the same Bosa was made bishop of the same see in the yeare of Christ 678. And therefore being long before this Bosa our cardinall could not be the same man as some vnconsideratlie haue stiflie mainteined For this our Bosa was a cardinall deacon and the nephue to pope Adrian the fourth before named and intituted a deacon cardinall of the title of Cosma and Damian in the yeare of Christ 1155 being after made a priest cardinall of the title of saint Prudentian by pope Alexander the third in the yeare of Christ 1163 before which he was chamberleine to the church of Rome being created to the first cardinalship and office of chamberleine by his vncle the said pope Adrian the fourth Robert Curson a man excellentlie learned both in diuine humane letters comming from Rome grew in such estimation that in the end he became a cardinall of whom we find recorded in this sort At the taking of Dameta in Egypt there was with Pelagius the popes legat maister Robert Curson an Englishman a most famous clearke borne of a noble house and cardinall of the church of Rome Stephan Langhton made priest cardinall in the yeare of Christ 1213 and the sixtéenth yeare of pope Innocent the third of the title of saint Chrysogon was archbishop of Canturburie for whose cause and contention betwéene king Iohn and him the realme of England was long interdicted the nobilitie was slaine the king deposed his kingdome made feodarie to Rome and Pandolph the cardinall sent hither to receiue the crowne of K. Iohn This Stephan departed the world in the twelfe yeare of Henrie the third and in the yeare of our redemption 1238. Robert Somercot a cardinall a man well esteemed for his vertue and learning a graue writer and well beloued of all men departed from the vanities of this life in the yeare of our saluation 1241 being line 10 the fiue and twentith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the third Anchâ—rus citizen and archdeacon of London was made priest cardinall of the title of saint Praxidis by pope Urban the second in the yéere that the world became flesh 1262 and the yeare of the long reigne of king Henrie the third the foure and fortith Robert de Kilwarbie whome Onuphrius
calleth Robert Biliberie frier preacher doctor of diuinitie was remoued from the archbishoprike of Canturburie line 20 to be bishop of Portua and afterward was made cardinall of saint Rufinian by pope Nicholas the third in the yeare of Christ as some saie 1277 and as others haue 1278 or 1273 being a-about the first yeare of Edward the first of that name king of England who died vnder the same pope Nicholas in the yeare of Christ 1280 as hath Onuphrius Barnard de Anguiscelle was remooued from the archbishoprike of Arras and made bishop of Portua line 30 and cardinall of saint Rufinian being a bishop cardinall and aduanced to that principalitie by pope Martine the fourth of that name in the yeare of our redemption 1291 being about the nintéenth yeare of the said Edward the first whome Onuphrius much mistaking himselfe maketh a Frenchman and Matthew Parker rightlie setteth him downe as an Englishman Hugh Attrat priest cardinall of the title of saint Laurence in Lucina was created cardinall by line 40 pope Martine the fourth in the yéere of our Lord 1281 he was also called Hugh of Euesham and died at Rome in the yeere of Christ 1287 whilest the sée was vacant being about the fifteenth yeere of Edward the first Berard or rather Bernard a cardinall of Prestina was aduanced to the dignitie of a cardinall by Nicholas the fourth of that name bishop of Rome in the yéere as I suppose 1298 though some saie in the yéere 1288 the error whereof I gather to be in the line 50 printer Leonard Guercine bishop cardinall of Alba was receiued to the scarlet hat and robe by pope Bonifacius the eight in the yéere of Christ 1300 being the eight and twentith of Edward the first William one of the order of the frier preachers doctor of diuinitie in Oxford priest cardinall of the title of saint Sabina to which place he was adopted by pope Benedict the eleuenth in the yéere 1303 being the one and thirtith yeere of Edward the first in line 60 which yeere he died in England Walter Winterborne that came in place of William last before named doctor of diuinitie of the order of frier preachers confessor to Edward the first and priest cardinall of the title of saint Sabina was by the said Benedict the eleuenth admitted to the college of cardinals in the yeare of Christ 1304 being the one and thirtith yeere of Edward the first which Walter small time inioied that place For going with other cardinals into France so into Italie he died at Genoa or Gene whose bodie being carried into England was buried in the church of the frier preachers in the yeere of Christ 1305 being the three and thirtith yeere of Edward the first Thomas Iorze a frier preacher doctor of diuinitie of Oxford confessor to Edward the first priest cardinall of the title of saint Sabina was created by pope Clement the fift in the yeere of Christ 1305 being the three and thirtith yéere of Edward the first or as saith Walsingham a little before Christmasse in the yéere of Christ 1306 who by him is also named Iorza This man as hath Onuphrius died in the iorneie he made as ambassador into Italie to Henrie the seuenth of that name emperour in the yéere 1311 the seuenth yeere of the popedome of Clement the fift who sent him in that ambassage his bodie was carried into England and buried at Oxford in a monasterie of the frier preachers Simon Langham abbat of Westminster treasuror of England bishop of Elie and of Canturburie and chancellor of England was elected to the honor of the purple hat and cardinall dignitie in the yéere of our redemption 1368 being the two and fortith yéere of king Edward the third And here because I would not set it downe in a distinct place as receiuing it for truth sith by search I find it not so what authoritie soeuer they that wrote the same had to lead them to it I will note an ouersight passed the fingers of Fabian Holinshed and Grafton all writers of our age who affirme that the bishop of Winchester in the fiue and fortith yéere of king Edward the third being a cardinall for so I gather by the words and circumstance of the storie with the bishop of Beauois likewise a cardinall were put in commission by pope Gregorie the eleuenth to treat betwixt the king of England and France But because I can not find in Onuphrius nor in Matthew Parker anie such cardinall set downe I doo not at this time imbrace it vntill I maie find better proofe thereof than the authoritie of Grafton Fabian and those before named especiallie sith that he which was then bishop of Winchester in the said fiue and fortith yéere of Edward the third and all they which were bishops of Winchester from the first yeare of the reigne of Edward the third vntill the yeare of Christ 1404 in which Henrie Beaufort was bishop of Winchester were neuer cardinals the said bishops in orderlie succession thus named Adam Orletie William de Edington William Wickham and then Henrie Beaufort who was a cardinall But these writers mistaking perchance the yeare of the king and the name of the bishops sée in the fiue and fortith yeare of Edward the third in which yeare Iohn Thorsbie was cardinall as after followeth haue in setting downe Winchester for Worcester committed a fault so easie it is for the printer or anie other to misplace and misname the one bishoprike for the other Iohn Thorsbie bishop of saint Dauids in Wales chancellor of England bishop of Worcester and after bishop of Yorke was made cardinall by Urban the fift then bishop of Rome as I suppose before the fiue and fortith yeare of Edward the third This man surrendred his life in the yeare of our redemption 1374 being the eight and fortith yeare of king Edward the third Adam priest cardinall of the title of saint Cicilia was inuested with the dignitie of a scarlet hat in the yeare of our redemption 1378 about the first yeare of Richard the second Holinshed mentioneth one Adam Eston to be a cardinall who considering the time when he liued must néeds be this man of whome he writeth in this sort Adam Eston well séene in all the toongs was made a cardinall by pope Gregorie the eleuenth but by pope Urban the siâ—t he was committed to prison in Genoa in the yeare of our redemption 1383 being about the seauenth yeare of Richard the second and by contemplation of the said king Richard was taken out of prison but not fullie deliuered vntill the daies of Boniface the ninth who in the yeare of our redemption 1389 about the thirteenth yeare of Richard the second restored the said Adam to his former dignitie all which Holinshed speaketh of him amongst the writers of England except the yeares of the Lord which I haue added out of Onuphrius and the yeares of the king which I haue ioined
sore shaken and the maid died two daies after The one and twentith of December began a frost which continued so extremlie that on Newyeares euen people went ouer and alongst the Thames on the I se line 60 from London bridge to Westminster Some plaied at the football as boldlie there as if it had béene on the drie land diuerse of the court being then at Westminster shot dailie at pricks set vpon the Thames and the people both men and women went on the Thames in greater numbers than in anie strèet of the citie of London On the third daie of Ianuarie at night it began to thaw and on the fift daie was no I se to be seene betwéene London bridge and Lambeth which sudden thaw caused great floods and high waters that bare downe bridges and houses and drowned manie people in England especiallie in Yorkshire Owes bridge was borne awaie with others The third daie of Februarie Henrie Stuart lord Darleie about the age of ninetéene yeares eldest sonne to Matthew earle of Lineux who went into Scotland at Whitsuntide before hauing obteined licence of the quéenes maiestie tooke his iourneie towards Scotland accompanied with fiue of his fathers men where when he came he was honorablie receiued lodged in the kings lodgings and in the summer following he maried Marie quéen of Scotland About this time for the quéenes maiestie were chosen and sent commissioners to Bruges the lord Montacute knight of the honourable order of the garter doctor Wotton one of hir maiesties honourable councell doctor Haddon one of the masters of requests to hir highnesse with others master doctor Aubreie was for the merchant aduenturers of England they came to Bruges in Lent Anno 1565 and continued there till Michaelmasse following and then was the diet prolonged till March in the yeare 1566 and the commissioners returned into England The two and twentith of Aprill year 1565 the ladie Margarite countesse of Lineux was commanded to kéepe hir chamber at the Whitehall where she remained till the two and twentith of Iune and then conueied by sir Francis Knolles and the gard to the tower of London by water On s. Peters euen at night was the like standing watch in London as had béene on the same night twelue moneths past The sixtéenth of Iulie about nine of the clocke at night began a tempest of lightning and thunder with showers of haile which continued till three of the clocke in the next morning so terriblie that at Chelmesford in Essex 500 acres of corne was destroied the glasse windowes on the east side of the towne and of the west and south sides of the church were beaten downe with the tiles of their houses also besides diuerse barnes chimneis and the battlements of the church which was ouerthrowne The like harme was doone in manie other places as at Leeds Cranebroke Douer c. Christopher prince and margraue of Baden with Cicilie his wife sister to the king of Swethland after a long and dangerous iournie wherein they had trauelled almost eleuen months sailing from Stockholme crossing the seas ouer into Lifeland from whence by land they came about by Poland Prussie Pomerland Meckelburgh Friseland and so to Antwerpe in Brabant then to Calis at the last in September landed at Douer and the eleuenth daie of the same they came to London and were lodged at the earle of Bedfords place neere to Iuie bridge where within foure daies after that is to saie the fiftéenth of September she trauelled in childbed and was deliuered of a man child which child the last of September was christened in the quéenes maiesties chappell of White hall at Westminster the quéenes maiestie in hir owne person being godmother the archbishop of Canturburie and the duke of Norffolke godfathers At the christening the quéene gaue the child to name Edwardus Fortunatus for that God had so gratiouslie assisted his mother in so long and dangerous a iournie and brought hir safe to land in that place which she most desired and that in so short time before hir deliuerance The eleuenth of Nouember the right honorable Ambrose earle of Warwike maried Anne eldest daughter to the earle of Bedford For the honor and celebration of which noble mariage a goodlie chalenge was made and obserued at Westminster at the tilt each one six courses at the tournie twelue strokes with the sword thrée pushes with the punchion staffe and twelue blowes with the sword at barriers or twentie if anie were so disposed At ten of the clocke at night the same daie a valiant seruiceable man called Robert Thomas maister gunner of England desirous also to honour the feast and mariage daie in consideration the said earle of Warwike was generall of the ordinance within hir maiesties realmes and dominions made thrée great traines of chambers which terriblie yéelded foorth the nature of their voice to the great astonishment of diuerse who at the firing of the second was vnhappilie line 10 slaine by a péece of one of the chambers to the great sorow and lamentation of manie The foure and twentith of December in the morning there rose a great storme and tempest of wind by whose rage the Thames and seas ouerwhelmed manie persons and the great gates at the west end of S. Paules church in London betwéene the which standeth the brasen piller were through the force of the wind then in the westerne part of the world blowne open In Ianuarie monsieur Rambulet a line 20 knight of the order in France was sent ouer into England year 1566 by the French king Charles the ninth of that name with the order who at Windsore was stalled in the behalfe of the said French king with the knighthood of the most honorable order of the garter And the foure and twentith of Ianuarie in the chappell of hir maiesties palace of Whitehall the said monsieur Rambulet inuested Thomas duke of Norffolke and Robert earle of Leicester with the said order of S. Michaell line 30 The marquesse of Baden and the ladie Cicilie his wife sister to the king of Swethen who came into this land in the moneth of September last past as before is declared being then by the quéenes especiall appointment at their arriuall honorablie receiued by the lord Cobham an honorable baron of this realme and the ladie his wife one of the quéenes maiesties priuie chamber now in the moneth of Aprill 1566 departed the realme againe the marquesse a few daies before his wife being both conducted by line 40 a like personage the lord of Aburgauennie to Douer Certeine houses in Cornehill being first purchased by the citizens of London were in the moneth of Februarie cried by a belman and afterward sold to such persons as should take them downe and carie them from thence which was so doone in the moneths of Aprill and Maie next following And then the ground being made plaine at the
pen thorough the malicious barking of some who suppose nothing well but what they doo themselues whereby gaine maie rise vnto their posteritie in this liberall sort to set downe the names and times of such treasurors as haue liued in England as hereafter I will doo the chancellors and that with as good authoritie as these secret backbiters can challenge anie cunning to themselues who suppose euerie blast of their mouth to come foorth of Trophonius den and that they spake from the triuet As I will not arrogate anie thing to my selfe for in truth I saie with Socrates Hoc tantùm scio quòd nihil scio or derogate from them that which their worthinesse maie merit so shall I be glad sith nothing is at the first so perfect but that somewhat maie be either augmented or amended to and in it that this maie whet those enuious persons to deliuer anie thing to the world that maie in comptrolling my labours benefit their countrie which if they will not doo let them cease their euill spéeches for Qui pergit dicere quae libet quae non vult audiet And truelie for mine owne part I will Canere palinodiam and yeeld them an honourable victorie if anie better shall be produced and be heartilie glad that truth which is all that I seeke maie be brought to perfection Now how well I haue done it my selfe must not be iudge desiring pardon of such as either with wise modestie can or ought to iudge or with rare antiquities can or will correct what I haue doone if thorough ignorance we haue committed anie escapes or imperfections further promising that if hereafter we espie any of our owne error or if anie other either friend for good will or aduersarie for desire of reprehension shall open the same vnto me I will not for defense of mine estimation or of pride or of contention by wranglings or quarrelling vpon authorities histories and records wilfullie persist in those faults but be glad to heare of them and in the whole and large discourse of the liues of the lord treasurors almost perfected corrected them For as I said it is truth of antiquities that I séeke for which being had either by good intention of my welwilling friends or by occasion and reprehension of my enuious emulators I greatlie esteeme not And so to the matter Saint Dunstane for I vse that name more for antiquities than deuoutnesse cause was treasuror to Eadred or Eldred king of England who began his reigne in the yeare that the word became flesh nine hundred fortie and six of whome thus writeth Matthew Parker in his booke of the archbishops of Canturburie in the life of Odo Seuerus the two and twentith bishop of that see Edmundo the king of England defuncto Eadredus corona regia ab Odone redimitus rem publicam administrans Dunstanum vt in eius vita pleniùs patebit tam singulari amore prosequutus est vt omnes regni thesauros illius custodiae commendaret Hugoline was treasuror and chamberleine to Edward the confessor he gaue Deane and Southâ—righ to Westminster which Edward the confessor did afterward confirme to that house Odo halfe brother to William the conqueror erle of Kent bishop of Baieux and chiefe iustice of England was treasuror in the time of the conqueror who had at his death as saith Anonymus M.S. sixtie thousand pounds Excepto auro gemmis vasis palijs Geffreie lord Clinton treasuror and chamberleine to Henrie the first he about the thirteenth yeare of Henrie the first in the yeare of our Lord one thousand one hundred and twelue did found the priorie of Kenelworth and was after accused of treason in the one and thirtith yeare of the reigne of the said Henrie the first but as it séemed restored in short time after to the kings fauour Ranulph bishop of Durham was treasuror to the king whome Florentius Wigorniensis calleth Praecipuum regis placitatorem regni exactorem whose last word Exactor some men doo English treasuror Of this man is more said in the chancellors of England Roger bishop of Sarisburie treasuror chancellor of England as appeareth by Leland writing in this sort Roger bishop of Sarum treasuror chancellor to Henrie the first made the castell of Uies such a costlie and so strong a fort as was neuer before nor since set vp by anie bishop of England The kéepe or dungeon of it set vpon a hill cast by hand is a peece of worke of incredible cost There appeare in the gate of it six or seauen places for portculices and much goodlie building was in it It is now in ruine and part of the front of the towers of the gate of the keepe and the chappell in it were carried full vnprofitablie to the building of master Beintons house at Bromhame scant thrée miles off There remaine diuerse goodlie towers yet in the vtter wall of the castell but all going to ruine The principall gate line 10 that leadeth into the towne is yet of great strength and hath places of seauen or eight portculices Thus much Leland in his commentaries of England which I haue here set downe partlie to prooue Roger bishop of Salisburie to be treasuror and partlie to commit to the world all such collections and notes as I can get of his Besides which to prooue the same Roger treasuror at the latter end of the reigne of Henrie the first togither with William de Pontlearch at the entering of king Stephan into England line 20 thus writeth one Anonymall chronicle M. S. Stephanus cùm intrauit Angliam RogeruÌ„ Seresberiensem Willielmum de Pontlearcus custodes thesaurorum ad se traduxit which William de Pontlearch was a witnesse with William Stigill to a certeine charter which Ranulph bishop of Durham made to the moonkes of Durham commonlie called S. Cutberts moonks wherin he confirmed to them Blakestone Standrop and Sandropshire with the wood of Henworth on the east part of Marneburne as farre as it goeth to the line 30 sea This Roger bishop of Salisburie died in the yeare of our redemption one thousand one hundred thirtie and nine being about the fourth yeare of king Stephan of whome mention is made in the chancellors of England Nigellus the second bishop of Elie nephue to Roger bishop of Sarum and treasuror to Henrie the first was aduanced vnto that bishoprike of Elie in the yeare of our redemption one thousand one hundred thirtie and three the fift calends of line 40 Iune being the thrée and thirtith yeare of the reigne of Henrie the first at whose going downe to be installed in the said bishoprike he was receiued with such ioie that all the whole street of Elie thorough which he should passe was hanged with curteins and carpets with seats set on ech side and the moonks canons and clerks méeting him with procession with diuers other priests standing round about them After his installation he returned to
cistis recludentes sigilla sua apponentes praeceperunt idem sepulchrum ante maius altare celeriter collocari retentis externis capitibus propter populi deuotionem apposita huiusmodi scriptura Haec sunt ossa nobilissimi regis Arthurij quae anno dominicae incarnationis 1278 decimo tertio calendas Maij per dominum Eadueardum regem Angliae illustrem hîc fuerunt sic collocata praesentibus Leonora serenissima eiusdem regis consorte filia domini Ferandi regis Hispaniae magistro William de Middleton nunc Norwicensi electo magistro Thoma de Becke archidiacono Dorsitensi praedicti regis thesaurario domino Henrico de Lasciae comite Lincolniae domino Amideo comite Subaudiae multis magnatibus Angliae Thus farre the moonke of Glastenburie Richard Warren or de Ware abbat of Westminster was made abbat about the yeare of Christ 1260 being about the foure and fortith yeare of king Henrie the third who was made treasuror as hath Iohn de Euersden in the yeare of our redemption a thousand two hundred foure score being the eight yeare of king Edward the first which yeare of Christ a thousand two hundred and foure score some doo falslie make to fall in the tenth some in the eleuenth yeare of the said Edward the first which contrarietiâ— hath onelie risen by the default of the transcriber But most certeine it is that he was treasuror in the ninth eleuenth and part of the twelfe of the said king Edward the first This man going to Rome for his consecration brought from thense certeine workemen and rich purphyrie stones whereof and by whom he made that rare pauement conteining a discourse of the whole world which is at this daie most beautifull and to be seene at Westminster before the communion table a thing of that singularitie curiousnesse and rarenesse that England hath not the like againe in which pauement are circularie written in letters of brasse these ten verses following Silector posita prudenter cuncta reuoluat line 10 Hìc finem primi mobilis inueniet Sepes trina canes equos homines superaddas Ceruos coruos aquilas immania cete Mundum quódque sequens praeeuntis triplicat annos Sphericus archetypuÌ„ globum hic monstrat microcosmum Christi milleno bis centeno duodeno Cum sexageno subductis quatuor anno Tertius Henricus rex vrbs Odoricus abbas Hos compegere purphyreos lapides The full explanation of which verses shall be at line 20 large set downe in the whole discourse of this abbats life in my large booke of the liues of the lord treasurors Which abbat with those workemen and those stones did also frame the shrine of Edward the confessor with these verses carued out of stone and also gilded set about the same shrine or monument Anno milleno Domini cum septuageno Et bis centeno cum completo quasideno Hoc opus est factum quod Petrus duxit in actum Romanus ciuis Homo causam noscere sivis line 30 Rex fuit Henricus sancti praesentis amicus This abbat died the second daie of December in the yeare of our redemption a thousand two hundred foure score and thrée being the twelfe yeare of king Edward the first after that he had gouerned the monasterie three and twentie yeares and more and was buried there at Westminster in the foresaid plaine pauement of purphyrie on the north side neere vnto the toome as is yet well to be séene of Odomer or Aimer de Ualence earle of Penbroke on which line 40 graue is ingrauen this bréefe epitaph héere insuing Abbas Richardus de Wara qui requiescit Hîc portat lapides quos hic portauit ab vrbe Walter Wenlocke abbat of Westminster whom Matthew Westminster calleth William de Wenloke was made abbat of Westminster after the death of Richard de Ware was treasuror to king Edward the first as hath the register of the liues of the abbats of Westminster and other records that I haue seene Which office it séemeth that he had meane line 50 betwéene the twelfe and the foureteenth yeare of the said king Edward the first as I suppose This man after that he had beene abbat six and twentie yeares lacking six daies died the fiue and twentith of December on the Christmas daie at night in his manour of Pireford in Glocestershire in the first yeare of Edward the sonne of Edward which was Edward the second being the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred and seuen and was buried in the church of Westminster besides the high line 60 altar then standing without the south doore of saint Edwards shrine before the presbiterie there vnder a plaine pauement and a marble stone decentlie adorned with this epitaph to his high commendation Abbas Walterus iacet hîc sub marmore tectus Non fuit austerus sed mitis famine rectus A bishop of Couentrie and Lichfield was treasuror of England in the fourteenth yéere of king Edward the first being the yeare of our redemption 1286 in whose place in the same yeare came Iohn Kirkbie Iohn Kirkbie deane of Winburne and archdeacon of Couentrie treasuror to king Edward the first was on the seuenth calends of August in the yeare of our Lord 1286 being the fouretéenth yeare of the said Edward then at Paris made bishop of Elie whome Leland the refiner of all names dooth in his coÌ„ment vpon his song of the swan in the word Winchelsega thus terme Iohannes Chercheâ—ius episcopus Anguillarinus regi à thesauris This man was tresuror in the sixtéenth seuentéenth part of the eightéenth of Edward the first in which yeare as it séemeth being part of the yeare of Christ 1290 this bishop died the seuenth calends of Aprill after that he had béene bishop three yeares some moneths and some daies and was buried by Walepoole bishop of Norwich in the church of Elie on the north part of the quéere before the altar of saint Iohn Baptist. William de Marchia or Gulielmus Martius was treasuror in Easter terme in the eightéenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the first in which office he continued about fiue yeares was remooued from that place on the 23 yeare of the said king Edward the first and Peter of Leicester baron of the excheker with the two chamberleins executed all functions of that office vntill a new treasuror was made This William de Marchia was made bishop of Bath and Welles in the yeare of Christ 1293 being the 22 yeare of king Edward the third in which sée he remained almost ten yeares and died in the yeare of our Lord 1302 being about the 32 yeare of the said king Edward the first and was buried in the church of Welles in the wall betwéene the doore of the cloister and the altar of saint Martine at whose toome in time past as the nature of that credulous age did hastilie beléeue were manie miracles doone as
the second others saie in the fourth yeare but the best authors agrée that he gaue ouer the seale in the yeare of Christ 1162 being the eight yeare of the victorious prince the said Henrie the second against the will of the prince he died in the yeare of our redemption 1170 as these verses doo prooue being such as the curiositie of that superstitious age would permit Pro Christo sponsa Christi sub tempore Christi In templo Christi verus amator obit Anno mileno centeno septuageno Anglorum primas corruit ense Thomas Quis moritur praesul cur pro grege qualiter ense Quando natali quis locus ara Dei Rafe Warneuile archdeacon of Rone and treasuror of the church of Yorke was made chancellor about the yeare that the word became flesh 1173 being about the eightéenth yeare of king Henrie the second of this man speaketh Matthew Paris and Matthew Westminster Walterus de Constantijs archdeacon of Oxford after bishop of Lincolne in the yeere of our redemption 1182 from whense he was aduanced in the yeare 1184 being the one and thirtith yéere of king Henrie the second vnto the archbishoprike of Rone of this man is more spoken in my discourse of the protectors of England pag. 1069. Geffreie the bastard sonne to king Henrie the second after that he had surrendered the bishoprike of Lincolne whereof he was neuer consecrat bishop but kept the place and receiued the reuenues was made chancellor much about the six and twentith yeare of king Henrie the second being the yeare of Christ 1180 yet be there some that saie he resigned the bishoprike in the seuen and twentith yeare of king Henrie the second in the yeare of Christ 1181. The difference whereof groweth as I suppose for that some accompt the beginning of the yeare of our Lord from the first of Ianuarie as all other nations of Europe doo some from the birth of Christ as we in England did long time since the conquest and some from the fiue and twentith of March on which it is supposed that the world began first to be created which last accompt we in England and the Scots as hath Lesleus doo kéepe togither with them of Genoa or Gene in Italie contrarie to the order of all other nations The begining of which maner of accompt amongst vs I cannot as yet certeinlie learne but I suppose it began much about the time of king Edward the third for all the former historiographers begin the yeare from the birth of Christ. William Longchampe the proud bishop of Elie legat of England for the bishop of Rome chiefe iustice of the south and west parts of England and deputie of that part of the realme when Richard the first went to the warres of the holie land was made chancellor in the said first of king Richard being the yeare of our redemption 1189 of the sumptuous feast of whose inthronization thus writeth Ferthulphus or Ferculphus by the waie of comparison Praeuisis alijs Eliensia festa videre Est quasi praeuisa nocte videre diem He died in the yéere of Christ 1197 going to Rome in the abbeie of Pimie being of the charterhouse order About which time in the sixt yeare of Richard the first there was a vicechancellor called Malus Catulus Eustachius deane of Salisburie was chancellor of England being elected bishop of Elie the third â—des of August in the yeare that the word became flesh 1196 being the ninth yeare of king Richard the first of whome thus writeth Matthew Parker in the life of Hubert archbishop of Canturburie contrarie to that which others affirme writing that Eusâ—achius succeeded William Lonchampe in the office line 10 of chancellor and in the bishoprike of Elie. The words of Matthew Parker in the life of Hubert be these Hubertus deposito magistratu ciuili ecclesiae curae totus vacabat consecrauÃtque postea Robertum de Salopesbi episcopum Banchorensem Eustachium qui in cancellarij munere ei successit Eliensem episcopum Westmonasterij debita accepta ab vtróque subiectionis professione Hubert Walter or Walter Hubert for such a transmutation of the name is vsed by authors being first bishop of Salisburie and then archbishop of line 20 Canturburie was made chancellor shortlie after the coronation of king Iohn which was in the yeare that the virgine brought foorth Christ 1199 at what time a certeine noble man said vnto him in scorne I haue often seene of a chancellor made a bishop but I neuer before saw an archbishop made a chancellor Simon or rather Hugh of which is more herafter archdeacon of Welles in the first yeare of king Iohn after as I suppose that Hubert had left the office line 30 being so disgraced abased as he thought was witnesse to a déed in which king Iohn granted to the citizens of Yorke a guildhall hanse and other liberties as I haue seene noted in the copie of the same charter for which cause I haue heere set it downe as an other man although in truth I am fullie resolued that this Simon and the Hugh following were all one person leauing it yet for euerie mans iudgement Hugh de Welles archdeacon of Welles witnesse line 40 to the déed in which king Iohn in the sixt yeare of his reigne confirmed to the monasterie of Westminster Gistslep or Islep in Oxfordshire in which house Edward the confessor was borne he was made bishop of Lincolne about the tenth yeare of king Iohns reigne in the yeare of our Lord 1209 and died in the yeare of our Lord 1235. Walter Braie chosen bishop of Chester in the yeare of our Lord 1210 was bishop of Worcester and after bishop of Yorke a man of extreame age line 50 was made chancellor in the seuenth yeare of king Iohn as one anonymall chronicle saith to hold that office during his life Others saie that he was made chancellor in the yeare of Christ 1209 being the tenth yeare of king Iohn after Hugh de Welles But I suppose he surrendred that patent to hold it during his life when he came to be bishop of Yorke Of this man is more spoken in my treatise of the protectors of England pag. 1069. Richard de Marischo whom Matthew Paris termeth Tholenarius as it were tolegatherer or treasuror if line 60 you list being archdeacon of Northumberland was chancellor in the fourth yeare of king Iohn as appeareth by a déed that I haue séene and further he was made chancellor in the 15 yeare of king Iohn in which office he coÌ„tinued to the 17 yeare of the said king and as some doo write during king Iohns life and died about the calends of Maie in the yeare of our redemption 1226 in the tenth yeare of the long reigne of king Henrie the third as some haue But the booke of Durham saith that he was made bishop of that sée by Gwado the legat and consecrated by
quod hac aetate nostra dici rectissimè posse arbitror Cùm enim omnes vndÃque terrae grauissimis bellis affligantur discordiarum iactentur fluctibus soli nos celsitudine tua clauum moderante in pacatissimo portu nauigamus ab orbe malorum disiuncti in coelum quodammodo foelicitatis sublati videmur Quod est ergô officij nostri primùm deo Opt. Max. gratias agimus line 40 cuius vnius bonitati omnem hanc quantacùnque est beatitudinem acceptam referimus precamùrque vt eam nobis propriam perpetuam esse velit deinde celsitudini tuae serenissima regina cuius opera cura solicitudine partam hanc nobis foelicitatem tot annos conseruatam agnoscimus Laetamur hoc aspectu tuo gratulamur incredibili studio quod tum ex meo ipsius sensu loquor tum omnes qui iam vndique confluxerunt line 50 Nordouicenses tui à me dici postulant Atque vtinam in haec pector a posses oculos inserere ocultos animorum nostrorum sinus perlustrare videres profectò inclusam intus quae tantis angustijs erumpere non potest infinitam molem voluntatis Fidem omnem studium obseruantiam quae tantae principi debentur vt haectenus promptissimè detulimus ita studiosissimè semper deferemus si quando casus aliquis inciderit quod Deus omen auertat line 60 sacrosanctae maiestatis tuae aut istius florentissimi regni vel salus in discrimen veniat vel dignitas periclitetur non solùm bonorum omnium ac facultatum effusionem sed laterum nostrorum oppositus corporum pollicemur Rogamus deinde obsecramus excellentiam tuam illustrissima regina vt hoc nostrum qualecunque officium à summa beneuolentia animóque quà m gratissimo profectum boni consulas de nobis Nordouicensibus sic existimes ad lautiores te fortasse subditos venisse saepe adlaetiores nunquam The oration of Stephan Limbert publike schoolemaister to the most magnificent prince Elisabeth of England France and Ireland queene c before the gates of the hospitall of Norwich IT is reported most gratious queene that Aegypt is watered with the yerelie ouerflowing of Nilus and Lidia with the golden streame of Pactolus which thing is thought to be the cause of the great frutefulnes of these countries but vpon vs and further ouer all England euen into the vttermost borders manie and maine riuers of godlinesse iustice humilitie and other innumerable good things in comparison of the which gold is vile and naught worth doo most plentifullie gush out and those not from Tmolus or other hilles I know not which but from that continuall and most aboundant welspring of your goodnesse And that of those infinit goodnesses I maie lightlie touch one for that neither place time nor my abilitie dooth permit to speake of manie with what praises shall we extoll with what magnificent words shall we expresse that notable mercie of your highnesse most renowmed queene and vncredible readinesse to relieue the need of poore men than the which of manie vertues none can be more acceptable vnto God as Homer writeth neither anie vertue in a mightie prince more woondered at amongst men This hospitall of poore men is most famous which will be a monument of princelie vertue and beneficence amongst all posteritie instituted by the most mightie king Henrie your highnesse father confirmed with the great seale by the most noble king Edward your brother but by your maiestie which deserueth no lesse praise of late notablie increased and amplified by the lands and possessions of Cringleford that you maie not now worthilie reioise so much in others ornaments as your owne vertues For you are said for your singular wisdome and learning to haue studied that diuine law of the most wise Plato which he left written in the eleuenth booke of lawes Such your great bountie therefore so exceeding and incredible mercie ô most vertuous prince in what bookes shall we comprehend With what duties or with what voice shall we testifie the good will of a thankefull mind For when we diligentlie seeke all the most exquisit and curious means of thankesgiuing we cannot so much as atteine vnto the greatnesse of this one benefit by the which we acknowledge our selues bound and streictlie holden to your most roiall maiestie We shall be ouercome euen with this one and singular benefit so much the lesse hope haue we then in anie point to counteruaile the huge sea of the rest of your benefits which ouerfloweth on euerie side as well publikelie generallie ouer all your subiects as properlie and particularlie vpon this citie We certeinlie now inhabit and lead our liues in those most happie Ilands of the which Hesiodus maketh mention which not onelie abound with all maner of graine wooll cattell and other aids of mans life but much more with the most pretious treasure of true religion and the word of God in the which onlie the minds of men haue rest and peace There be that call England another world which I thinke maie be most true in this our age For whereas all lands on euerie side of vs are afflicted with most grieuous warres and tossed with the flouds of dissention we onelie your highnesse gouerning our sterne doo saile in a most peaceable hauen and seuered from a world of mischiefs doo seeme after a sort to be taken vp into a heauen of happinesse We therefore according to our bounden dutie first giue thanks vnto God almightie vnto whose goodnesse onelie with thanks we referre all this our happinesse how great soeuer it be praie that he would vouchsafe to make the same proper and perpetuall vnto vs. And afterwards vnto your highnesse ô most gratious queene by whose studie care and diligence we confesse this blessednesse to be gotten and so manie years preserued vnto vs. We are glad in this beholding you and we reioise with desire more than maie be beleeued which as I speake of mine owne thought so also all the subiects of Norwich desire me to saie the same in their behalfe And I would to God you could pearse these our breasts with your eies and throughlie view the hidden and couered creeks of our minds Then vndoubtedlie should you behold an infinit heape of goodwill closelie shut vp within which cannot breake out of so narrow straits All the faith studie and obedience which are due to so great a prince as hitherto we haue most willinglie imploied so will we alwaies most diligentlie performe the same and if at anie time anie chance shall happen which fortune God turne from vs that â—he state of thy blessed maiestie or of this flourishing realme should come in danger or the worthinesse line 10 therof be in hazard we do not onlie protest the effusion of all our goods and substance but also the putting foorth and brunt of our strengths and bodies therein Finallie we desire and beseech
aduentured lim and life line 10 against the enimies of the English commonwelth and therefore in respect of his excellent seruices deserued no lesse remembrance than is alreadie extant of him in print whereof this following is a parcell satrapas praeclarus fortis audax Elisabetha tui speciosi corporis acer Et fidus custos discrimen adire paratus Quodlibet inuicto Mauortis pectore campo Cui virtus persaepè herbam porrexit Hibernus Quem pugnis fulgâ—ns ornat victoria parta line 20 Sanguineis sed laus huic maxima iudicis aequi Edmund Grindall doctor of diuinitie archbishop of Canturburie deceassed at Croidon in Surrie on the sixt daie of Iulie was there buried This good man in his life time was so studious that his booke was his bride and his studie his bridechamber whervpon he spent both his eiesight his strength and his health and therefore might verie well not actiuelie but passiuelie be named as he was Grindall for he groond himselfe euen to his graue by mortification line 30 Of whome much might be spoken for others imitation siâ—h the vse of the historie is to instruct succéeding ages but this shall suffice that as his learning vertue were inseparable companions so the reward of both is the good name which he hath left behind him as a monument perpetuall bicause vertue was the founder of the same according to the true saieng of the late poet importing no lesse Virtutis merces eadem labor illa tropheum est Soláque dat nigrae vincere mortis iter line 40 Nam nisi virtutis quaeratur gloria factis Omnis in extremos est abitura rogos Barnard Randolfe esquier common sargeant to the citie of London deceassed on the seauenth of August This man in his life time somewhat before his death gaue and deliuered to the companie of the Fishmongers in London the summe of nine hundred pounds of good and lawfull monie of England to be imploied towards the conducting of Thames water cesterning the same in lead and castelling line 50 with stone in the parishes of saint Marie Magdalene and saint Nicholas cold abbeie néere vnto old Fishstréet seauen hundred pounds The other two hundred pounds to paie for euer yearelie the summe of ten pounds that is towards the maintenance of a poore scholar in the vniuersitie of Oxenford yearelie foure pounds Towards the mending of the high waies in the parish of Tisehurst in the countie of Sussex where the said Barnard was borne euerie yeare foure pounds And to the poore people of the line 60 parishes of saint Nicholas Oliue in Bredstréet and saint Marie Magdalene néere to old Fishstreet fortie shillings to wit twentie shillings to either parish for euer More he willed and bequeathed by his last will and testament to be bestowed in land or annuities to the reléefe of the poore inhabiting in the wards of Quéenehiue and castell Bainard in the citie of London and in the aforesaid parish of Tisehurst in the countie of Sussex the summe of one thousand pounds This yeare in the moneth of Iune were sent to the seas a ship called the barke Talbot and a small barke both manned with a hundred men vnder the charge of William Borough esquier clerke of hir maiesties nauie for the apprehending of certeine outragious searouers who for that they were manie in number and well appointed contemning the small strength that was set out against them so boldlie behaued themselues as that shortlie after it was confidentlie bruted that they had vanquished in fight the said ship and barke But within few daies after beyond all expectation they were by the said William Borough and his companie discomfited and taken to the number of ten saile whereof three were prises some of the chiefe pirats namelie Thomas Walton alià s Purser Clinton Atkinson William Ellis William Ualentine alià s Bagh Thomas Beuen and foure more on the thirtith of August were hanged at Wapping in the ooze besides London Walton as he went to the gallowes rent his venecian breeches of crimsin taffata and distributed the same péecemeale to such his old acquaintance as stood néere about him but Atkinson had before giuen his murrie veluet dublet with great gold buttons and the like coloured veluet venecians laid with great gold lace apparell too sumptuous for sea-rouers which he had worne at the seas wherein he was brought vp prisoner from Corse castell in the I le of Porbeke to London vnto such his fréends as pleased him before he went to Wapping ¶ This Clinton Atkinson a personable fellow tall of stature and well proportioned of acceptable behauiour when he kept shop for himselfe being a free man of London and like enough to doo well if he had taken good waies had his name of the late earle of Lincolne now deceassed who christened him being an infant by whose speciall meanes being growne a proper man he was not long before saued from the like death and yet thorough want of grace making relapse fell within danger of law He descended of honest parents his father speciallie being a man of verie honest name one that loued the truth for the testimonie wherof he forsooke his owne natiue countrie leading a hard life with his familie beyond the seas in queene Maries daies returning to England at the inthronization of our gratious queene Elisabeth in the seat roiall was made minister in which vocation he died in Gods fauour and the good opinion of his neighbors leuing behind him among other sonnes this his eldest sorted as you sée to the shame which malefactors of that qualitie and so conuinced can not auoid This auoweth he that knew the man as well as the right hand from the left Where to conclude we are to marke that it is not alwaies true that good parents haue good children for here is an example of degeneration procured not by euill education for this Clinton wanted no good bringing vp but by bad companie and libertie the verie spoile of many a one that otherwise might liue thriue Wherin by the way we are to woonder at the counsels of God who suffreth children so much to varie from their parents in qualitie as if they had not receiued their birthright but were bastards changlings but to end with the prophet Dauids saieng Intima consilij non penetranda Dei On the eighteenth daie of September Iohn Lewes who named himselfe Abdoit an obstinate heretike denieng the godhead of Christ and holding diuers other detestable heresies much like to his predecessor Matthew Hamont was burned at Norwich On the two and twentith of September Albertus de Lasco palatine of Siradia in Poland before spoken of now when he had well viewed the order of our English court and nobilitie with other places of this realme especiallie the vniuersitie of Oxenford c taking leaue of hir maiestie and of the nobilitie he departed towards Poland But before we make
6646. Chronicle beginning ChronicoruÌ„ vero quae sunt imagines historiarum Chronicle of genealogies beginning Cuilibet principi congruum The chronicles of S. Swithin The commentaries of Hide The continuances of Roger Houeden beginning Excerpta ex dictis viri religiosi An other chronicle of S. Albons beginning Fecit rex Edwardus tertius comites Historia regia vel sancti Edmundi Chronicle of Elie beginning Anno ab incarnatione dominica 616. qui est annus 21 ex quo Augustinus cum socijs ad praedicandum genti Anglorum missus est Historia Anglorum beginning Considerans historiae Britonum Pictorum Scotorum Saxonum Anglorum Danorum NormannoruÌ„ prolixitatem c. Le mere des histories Les annales de France Les annales d'Acquitaine Les grand cronicqz de Britane Les petit cronicqz de Britane Les cronicqz de Normandi Le Rosarie Les genelogies des line 10 roys Cronicles de Flandres The chronicles of London The chronicle called Brute The Saxon chronicle of the church of Worcester The Saxon chronicle of the abbeie of Peterborrow The Saxon chronicle written in the yeare of Christ eight hundred foure score and fiue The chronicles of England Thus far this catalog Now peraduenture some will looke for a rehearsall omni gatherum of such as haue written in the reigne of our blessed souereigne but herein as it passeth our possibilitie to line 20 satisfie their expectation their number being infinit and manie of them vnknowne and vnworthie of remembrance so it were to be wished that some fauourer of learned mens fame would comprise their names and works in a particular volume therein imitating either the order of Bale or Gesner or else the commendable method of Iohn Iames the Frislander printed at Tigurie one thousand fiue hundred fourescore and thrée either of which courses being taken would well serue the turne line 30 Thus far blessed be Christ the extent of English chronicles a long labour of great care and expense howbeit at length conquered and ouercome by the benefit of his grace who enableth vs to go through with all things that be good his name be praised therefore Wherein if the helpe of such as are furnished with varietie of knowledge or as by gorgeous shew of words and rich pompe of phrase pretend profound skill had béene as forward to aduance line 40 this worke being of vnexpercted magnitude by means of the multitude of contents as some of low saile willing to laie out their poore talent haue affoorded what furtherance they were able somewhat to the satisfieng of those honest minded men and parteners at whose great costs and charges the same is now newlie printed though not to their full contentment who were euer desirous and diuerslie made assaies to haue it so absolute as nothing might want of due perfection if the meanes might haue béene obteined the chronicles of England both for matter maner had béene comparable to anie historie or annals in Christendome Howbeit perfected as it is though not with exquisit curiousnes to please euerie fickle fansie yet according to the proportion of skill vouchsafed of God to the dealers therein men of commendable diligence though not of déepest iudgement somewhat to satisfie the well affected and indifferent mind the same is now come abrode yéelding matter no lesse manifold than the spring dooth floures and the same maruellous frutefull if they haue their right vse and due application which indéed is the verie end of histories and chronicles And so crauing a fauorable acceptation of this tedious trauell with a toleration of all such defaults as haplie therein lie hidden and by diligent reading maie soone be spied we wish that they which best maie would once in their life grow resolute and at a point in this laudable kind of studie most necessarie next to the word of God for common knowledge little or much to exercise their head and hand Finallie beséeching God to blesse the realme of England and the pretious iewell of the same euen good queene Elisabeth to saue as the apple of his eie to protect hir with the target of his power against all the pernicious practises of satans instruments to lengthen the liues of hir highnesse honorable councellors by whose vigilant policie this whole land fareth the better in preuenting intercepting and making frustrat God directing and prospering their consultations and procéedings all the attempts of traitors to whom O Lord in vengeance giue the iudgement of Iudas as they haue beene partakers of his sinne let them be intangled and taken in the traps of their trecheries and swallowed vp in the seas of deserued confusion that they be no more a familie And we beséech God to increase the multitude of loiall subiects to make them strong in faith towards him and in loue one with another that the gospell which is the doctrine of pacification and obedience maie be glorified in the commonwealth of England a corner of the world O Lord which thou hast singled out for the magnifieng of thy maiestie and wherof we praie thee to giue vs a dailie remembrance so shall we make conscience of sin addict our selues to the exercises of righteousnesse Amen FINIS The third table for the Chronicles of England from the conquest vntill this present regiment wherin the reader is to obserue these notes for his better direction namelie to seeke for the surnames of persons as more commonlie knowne than the proper and also when the name faileth to looke for the dignitie title office and degree of such persons as Armenia Cipriots Spaine France Portingall Nauarre Denmarke if they were kings Archbishop Bishop Pope Carnall Legat if they were Clergiemen Chancellors Treasurors Lord high constables Lord wardens of the cinque ports Duke Earle Marquesse Queene Duchesse Countesse if they were great states Maior Sargents at law Officers c if they were of that degree knights and esquires excepted who as they were of renowme are accordinglie noted by their vsuall names Likewise for such as haue beene executed as notorious offendors against the prince and the state to come to the knowledge of their names looke for the qualitie of their offense as counterfeting coineclippers conspiracie and conspirators murther and murtherers rebellion and rebels treason and traitors preests seminarie c of all which this table affoordeth infinit examples Finallie wheresoeuer you find this word Note there dooth matter of consideration come to hand If the reader be not satisfied with this table let him not blame the order but his owne conceipt Gathered by Abraham Fleming A. ABbasie of Winchester obteined for monie 21 a 40 Abbat Agelnothus ¶ Sée Agelnothus Oâ— Batteâ—l in rescuing Winchelseie is put to flight 427 a 50. Egelsin ¶ Sée Egelsin Egelwine ¶ Sée Egelwine Fecknam of Westminster installed 1132 b 20. Frederike ¶ See Frederike Ioachim a man of great fame 126 a 10. Of Glastenburie an erls son 42 a 60. Losauage ¶ Sée Losauage Paule ¶ See Paule Of saint
of the mischéefe though hands were not laid vpon him nor his adherents perhaps for feare peraduenture for fauour no maruell though the lesse faultie lost their liues as most guiltie for rarus venator ad vrsos Accedit tutos conseruat sylua leones Debilibus robusta nocent grandia paruis A les fulminiger timidos infestat olores Accipiter laniat turdos millésque columbas Versicolor coluber ranas miserâ—sque lacertas Irretit muscas transmittit aranea vespas The king returning by saint Edmundsburie after he had doone his deuotions to S. Edmunds shrine line 10 began to ware somewhat crasie but after hauing a little recouered his health he called a councell there wherein he went about to haue taken order for the punishment of rebels but his sicknesse againe renewing he brake vp the assemblie and with all spéed hasted to London Prince Edward vpon his returne out of the holie land came to Chalons in Burgogne at the request of the earle he did attempt with his companie to hold a iustes and tournie against the line 20 said earle all other commers And thought through disdaine and spite there was homelie plaie shewed vpon purpose to put the Englishmen to the foile reproch yet by high valiancie prince Edward and his companie bare themselues so worthilie that in the end the aduersaries were well beaten and constreined to leaue the honor of that enterprise to the said prince Edward and his partakers After this he kept on his iornie till he came vnto Paris where he was honourablie receiued of the French king and from line 30 thence he went to Burdeaux and there remained till after his fathers death In this meane time king Henrie being returned to London from saint Edmundsburie as before yee haue heard his sicknesse so increased vpon him that finallie he departed at Westminster on the sixteenth day of Nouember in the yeare of our Sauiour 1272. after he had liued threescore and fiue yeares and reigned fiftie and six yeares and seauen and twentie daies A little before his death when he perceiued line 40 that he could no longer liue he caused the earle of Glocester to come before him and to be newlie sworne to keepe the peace of the land to the behoofe of his sonne prince Edward His bodie was buried at Westminster He had issue by his wife quéene Elianor two sonnes the foresaid Edward prince of Wales that succéeded him and Edmund earle of Lancaster by some authors surnamed Crouchbacke though as other affirme vntrulie that this Edmund was the elder brother but bicause he was a deformed line 50 person therefore his yonger brother Edward was preferred to the kingdome which was deuised of purpose to conueie a right to king Henrie the fourth which fetched the descent from the said Edmund and by force vsurped and held the crowne as after it may appeare Moreouer king Henrie had thrée daughters by the said Elianor as Margaret maried to Alexander king of Scots Beatrice whom the duke of Britaine had to wife and Catharine which died before she was mariable line 60 He was of bodie well cast and strong of a good stature in heigth well fauoured of face with the lid of one of his eies comming downe so as it almost couered the apple of the same eie Of nature he was courteous and of stomach rather noble than stout a deuout prince and liberall towards the poore and néedie Yet he wanted not dispraise in some points namelie for that in ordering of things and weightie affaires he vsed small consideration He was also noted to be a great taker of monie by leanes taxes and subsidies but there vnto he was inforced by necessitie to beare the charges of warre and other publike affaires than of any couetous mind or purpose to serue his owne turne ¶ What capteins of honour among the nobilitie liued in his time it may appeare by the course of the historie of his age Of sundrie learned men these we find mentioned in maister Bales centuries and others Walter of Couentrie an historiographer Radulphus Niger that wrote both histories and other treatises Geruasius de Melkelie Albricius of London Robert Curson a man excellentlie learned both in diuine and humaine letters so that comming to the court of Rome he there grew in such estimation that he became a cardinall of whom we find this recorded by Matthew Westminster and Matthew Paris At the taking of Damiate a citie in Aegypt there was with Pelagius the cardinall of Alba the popes legat master Robert Curson an Englishman a most famous clerke borne of a noble house and cardinall of the church of Rome These are reported to florish in the daies both of king Iohn and king Henrie his sonne In the said kings time also there liued other learned men as these Hugh Kirkestéed Richard of Elie Peter Henham Iohn Giles or de Sancto Egidio an excellent physician Caducan a Welshman borne and bishop of Bangor Alexander a singular learned man that wrote diuerse and manie treatises aswell in diuinitie as philosophie and humanitie both in verse and prose also Stephan Langton that for his singular knowledge was made high chancellor of the vniuersitie of Paris and at length was admitted archbishop of Canturburie against the will of king Iohn in which quarell so great trouble insued as before yée haue partlie heard Rafe Coggeshall also liued in king Henries daies that wrote the appendix vnto the chronicle of Ralfe Niger he was abbat of Coggeshall abbeie in Essex whereof he tooke his surname William Lanthonie Peter of S. Sauior a canon of the house called S. Sauior or of the trinitie by London Alexander Hailes a frier of the order of the minors who wrote manie treatises in diuinitie Richard surnamed Medicus a most learned physician and no lesse expert in philosophie and the mathematicals There be also remembred by maister Bale Randulfe the earle of Chester the third and last of that name who hauing great knowledge and vnderstanding in the lawes of this land compiled a booke of the same lawes as a witnesse of his great skill therein Alexander Wendocke bishop of Chester Iohn Blund Edmund Rich Robert Rich Henrie Bracton that excellent lawier who wrote the booke commonlie called Bracton after his name intituled De consuetudinibus Anglicanis Richard surnamed Theologus Walter de Euesham Ralfe Fresborne Laurence Somercote brother as it is thought to Robert Somercote at that time a cardinall of the Romane church Nicholas Fernham a physician Robert Bacon a notable diuine Simon Langton brother to the archbishop of Canturburie Stephan Langton Richard Fisaker Simon Stokes Iohn of Kent or Kantianus William Shirwood Michaell Blaunpaine Iohn Godard Uincent of Couentrie Alberike Ueer Richard Wich Iohn Basing alià s de Basingstoke Roger Walsham William Seningham Robert Grosted that learned bishop of Lincolne whose memorie amongst the learned will remaine while the world lasteth Thus farre Henrie the third Edward the first surnamed
Longshanks the eldest sonne of Henrie the third EDward the first of that name after the conquest began his reigne ouer this kingdome of England the 16 day of Nouember in the yeere of the world 5239 of our Lord 1272 of the Saxons 814 after the conquest 206 the varation of the empire after the deceasse of Frederike the second as yet induring though shortlie after in line 10 the yeare next following Radulfe of Habspurge was elected emperour in the third yeare of Philip the third then reigning in France and Alexander the third yet liuing in gouernement of the Scotish kingdome This Edward the first when his father died being about the age of 35 yeares was as then in the holie land or rather in his iournie homewards but wheresoeuer he was at that present the nobles of the land after his father was departed this life assembled line 20 at the new temple in London and causing a new seale to be made they ordeined faithfull ministers and officers which should haue the treasure in kéeping and the administration of iustice for the maintenance of peace and tranquillitie within the land and on the 22 day of Nouember he was proclaimed king Who after he had remained a time in the holie land and perceiued himselfe destitute of such aid as he looked for at the hands both of the Christians and Tartarians he left in the citie of Acon certeine line 30 stipendarie souldiers and taking the sea sailed homewards arriuing first in Sicill year 1273 where of Charles K. of that land he was honorablie receiued and conueied till he came vnto Ciuita Vecchia in Italie where pope Gregorie as then laie with his court of whome as of his old fréend that had been with him in the holie land he obteined that earle Aldebrandino Rosso and Guy of Montfort that had murthered the lord Henrie eldest sonne to Richard king of Almaine might be sent for Earle Aldebrandino purged himselfe line 40 but Guy de Montfort was excoÌ„municated as a violator of the church a murderer and a traitor so as he was disherited euen unto the fourth generation till he had reconciled himselfe to the church as he was inioined After this it is woonderfull to remember with what great honor king Edward was receiued of the cities as he passed through Tuscaine and Lumbardie At his comming ouer the mounteins at Chalon in Burgundie he was at a iusts and tornie which then was there holden by the Frenchmen against line 50 the Englishmen the honor whereof remained with the Englishmen In this tornie the fight of the footmen was great for the Englishmen being sore prouoked slue manie of the French footmen but bicause they were but rascals no great accompt was made of them for they were vnarmed gaping for the spoile of them that were ouerthrowen K. Edward passing foorth came to the French court where of his coosine germane king Philip he was ioifullie receiued Here king Edward dooing homage to the French king for the lands which he ought to hold of him in France passed into Guien A tenth was granted of the cleargie to the K. and to his brother Edmund earle of Leicester and Lancaster by the popes appointment for two yeares a chapleine of the pope a Gascoine borne named Reimond being sent into England for that purpose who gaue part vnto them and part thereof he kept to himselfe towards his charges year 1274 but the most part was reserued to the popes disposing ¶ Whilest the king remained in Gascoigne he had somwhat to do against certeine rebels as Gaston de Bierne and other that were reuolted from him The castels belonging to the said Gaston he subdued but his person he could not meet with Finallie after he had set things in order aswell in Guien as in other places in the parts of beyond the seas he hasted homewards and came to London on the second day of August where he was receiued with all ioy that might be deuised The stréets were hanged with rich cloths of silke arras and tapestrie the aldermen and burgesses of the citie threw out of their windowes handfuls of gold and siluer to signifie the great gladnesse which they had conceiued of his safe returne the conduits ran plentifullie with white wine and red that ech creature might drinke his fill Upon the 19 day of August in this second yeare of his reigne he was crowned at Westminster togither with his wife quéene Elianor by the hands of Robert Kilwarbie archbishop of Canturburie At this coronation were present Alexander king of Scots and Iohn earle of Britaine with their wiues that were sisters to K. Edward The king of Scots did homage vnto king Edward for the realme of Scotland in like maner as other the kings of Scotland before him had doone to other kings of England ancestours to this king Edward At the solemnitie of this coronation there were let go at libertie catch them that catch might fiue hundred great horsses by the king of Scots the earles of Cornewall Glocester Penbroke Warren others as they were allighted froÌ„ their backs ¶ On S. Nicholas euen there chanced such an earthquake with lightning and thunder and therewithall the appearing of the burning drake and a blasing starre called a comet that the people were brought into no small feare vpon consideration thereof But now to the point of the historie King Edward at the first like a prudent prince chose the wisest and worthiest men to be of his councell to purchase the loue of his subiects whose minds were somewhat offended towards his father by reason that he refused to kéepe promise with them touching the restitution of gentle and fauourable lawes king Edward shewed himselfe so gentle towards all degrées of men that he séemed to exceed the reasonable bounds of courteous humanitie much more than became his roiall estate After this he reformed diuerse lawes and statutes and deuised some new ordinances greatlie for the wealth of the realme He held his first parlement at Westminster where the ordinances were made called the statutes of Westminster the first To this parlement was Leolin the prince of Wales summoned to come and doo his homage hauing line 10 béene requested first to come to the kings coronation but he refused and now hauing summons to come to this parlement he excused himselfe affirming that he durst not come for feare of certeine noblemen that laie in wait for his life requiring to haue pledges deliuered for his safe comming and going the kings sonne and Gilbert earle of Glocester with Robert Burneâ—l the lord chancelor The king was greatlie offended with such a presumptuous demand but passed it ouer till after the line 20 end of the parlement then repairing to Chester he sent eftsoones messengers to the said Leolin requiring of him to come doo his homage but he still detracted time so that in the end the king raised an armie meaning to recouer
Old man capteine More line 10 of Bullognberg with certeine cariages to go vnto a wood not farre off called the North wood to fetch fagots and brush to repare and mainteine the rampires These capteins with their bands being passed forward about two miles in distance from the fort met with certeine of their scouts that were sent forth that morning who told them that they had discouered the tract of a great number of horssemen Whervpon line 20 the Englishmen now being almost come to the wood side retired with all spéed and herewith the French horssemen brake out of the wood and following them fell in skirmish with them The Englishmen casting themselues in a ring kept them off with their pikes wherewith they impailed themselues and hauing their small troope lined with shot they also galled the Frenchmen right sore therewith as they still approched them Neuerthelesse those horssemen gaue three maine onsets vpon the Englishmen with the number of a thousand horsse at two of the first line 30 onsets and the third they gaue with all their whole power being estéemed a fiftéene hundred horssemen in all But such was the valiant prowesse of the English souldiers incouraged with the comfortable presence of sir William Cobham and other their capteins that conducted them in such order as stood most for their safegard exhorting them with such effectuall words as serued best to purpose that the enimie to line 40 conclude was repelled with losse of seuentie of their great horsses that laie dead there in the field within the space of halfe a mile There were also foure thousand French footmen that came forward but could not reach and so marching about the fort returned in vaine after they once perceiued that the Englishmen were safelie retired within their fort The councell thus perceiuing the French kings purpose which he had conceiued to worke some notable damage to this realme as well in support of his friends in line 50 Scotland as in hope to recouer those peeces which the English held at Bullongne and in those marches doubted also of some inuasion meant by him to be attempted into this realme bicause of such great preparation as he had made for leuieng of his forces both by sea and land The councell therefore made likewise prouision to be readie to resist all such attempts as anie waie foorth might be made to the annoiance of the realme But as things fell out the same stood in good stead line 60 not against the forren enimie but against a number of rebellious subiects at home the which forgetting their dutie and allegiance did as much as in them laie what soeuer their pretense was to bring this noble realme and their naturall countrie vnto destruction But first for that it maie appeare that the duke of Summerset then protector and other of the councell did not without good ground and cause mainteine the warres against the Scots I haue thought good to set downe an epistle exhortatorie as we find the same in the great chronicle of Richard Grafton sent from the said protector and councell vnto the Scots to mooue them to haue consideration of themselues and of the estate of their countrie by ioining in that friendlie bond and vnitie with England as had beene of the kings part and his fathers continuallie sought for the benefit of both realmes the copie of which exhortation here insueth Edward by the grace of God duke of Summerset earle of Hertford vicount Beauchampe lord Seimer vncle to the kings highnesse of England gouernor of his most roiall person and protector of all his realmes dominions subiects lieutenant generall of all his maiesties armies both by land and sea treasuror and earle marshall of England gouernor of the Iles of Gerneseie and Ierseie and knight of the most noble order of the garter with others of the councell of the said most high and noble prince Edward by the grace of God of England France and Ireland king defender of the faith and in earth vnder Christ the supreame head of the churches of England and Ireland To the nobilitie and councellors gentlemen and commons and all other the inhabitants of the realme of Scotland greeting and peace COnsidering with our selues the present state of things and weieng more déepelie the maner and tearmes wherein you and we doo stand it maketh vs to maruell what euill fatall chance dooth so disseuer your hearts and maketh them so blind and vnmindfull of your profit and so still conciliate and heape to your selues most extreame mischiefs the which we whome ye will néeds haue your enimies go about to take awaie from you and perpetuallie to ease you therof And also by all reason order of necessitie it should be rather more conuenient for you to séeke and require moderate agréements of vs whome God hath hitherto according to our most iust true and godlie meanings and intents prospered and set forward with your affliction and miserie than that we being superiours in the field maisters of a great part of your realme should seeke vpon you Yet to the intent that our charitable minds and brotherlie loue should not cease by all meanes possible to prouoke and call you to your owne commoditie and profit euen as the father to the son or the elder brother to the yoonger and as the louing physician would doo to the mistrustfull and ignorant patient we are content to call and crie vpon you to looke on your estate to auoid the great calamitie that your countrie is in to haue vs rather brothers than enimies and rather countrimen than conquerors And if your gouernor or capteins shall reteine and kéepe from you this our exhortation as heretofore they haue doone our proclamation tending to the like effect for their owne priuat wealth commoditie not regarding though you be still in miserie so they haue profit and gouernance ouer you and shall still abuse you with feined and forged tales yet this shall be a witnesse before God and all christian people betweene you and vs that we professing the gospell of Iesus Christ according to the doctrine thereof doo not cease to call and prouoke you from the effusion of your owne bloud from the destruction of the realme of Scotland from perpetuall enimitie and hatred from the finall destruction of your nation and from seruitude to forren nations to libertie to amitie to equalitie with vs to that which your writers haue alwaies wished might once come to passe Who that hath read the stories in times past and dooth marke note the great battels past â—ought betwixt England Scotland the incursions rodes spoiles which haue béene doone on both parties the realme of Scotland fiue times woone by one king of England the Scotish kings some taken prisoners some slaine in battell some for verie sorrow and discomfort vpon losse dieng and departing the world and shall perceiue againe that all nations in the world that
nation onelie beside England speaketh the same language and as you and we be annexed and ioined in one Iland so no people are so like in maners forme language and all conditions as we are shall not he thinke it a thing verie vnméet vnnaturall and vnchristian that there should be betwixt line 10 vs so mortall war who in respect of all other nations be and should be like as two brethren of one Iland of great Britaine And though he were a stranger to both what should he thinke more meet than if it were possible one kingdome to be made in rule which is one in language and to be diuided in rulers which is all one in countrie And for so much as two successors cannot concurre and fall into one by no other maner of meanes than by marriage wherby one bloud one linage one line 20 parentage is made of two and an indefensible right giuen of both to one without the destruction and abolishing of either If God should grant that whatsoeuer you would wish other than that which now not by fortune hath chanced but by his infinit mercie and most inscrutable prouidence as carefull for you he hath giuen vnto you The which thing that you should also thinke to come of his disposition and not by blind fortune how vnlike hath it beene and how suddenlie hath it turned that the power of God might be shewed your last king being a prince of line 30 much excellencie and yoong whom you know after a promise broken contrarie to his honor misfortune by Gods iust iudgement following vpon it God either by sorrow or by some meanes otherwise at his inscrutable pleasure did take awaie from you had thrée children did not almightie God as it were to shew his will and pleasure to be that the long continued warre and enimitie of both the nations should be taken awaie and knit in perpetuall loue and amitie take the two men-children of those babes being line 40 distant the one from the other and in diuerse places both as it were at one time and within the space of foure and twentie houres leauing but one maiden-child and princesse When the most wise and victorious prince late our king and maister king Henrie the eight in other of his mariages not most fortunate had by his most lawfull and most vertuous wife quéene Iane his otther two wiues before that mariage departed line 50 this world and neuer surmise nor question made of that mariage since that time to this daie nor so much as all hir life time name or motion to or of anie other wife one prince of so high expectation of so great gifts of God the right and vndoubted heire of the realme of England and his maiestie onelie of male issue left behind him to succéed the imperiall crowne If nothing else had béene doone what can anie wise or anie christian man that thinketh the world to be gouerned by Gods prouidence line 60 and not by fortune thinke otherwise but that it was Gods pleasure it should be so that these two realmes should ioine in mariage and by a godlie sacrament make a godlie perpetuall and most friendlie vnitie concord whereby such benefits as of vnitie and concord commeth may through his infinit grace come vnto these realmes Or if anie man of you or of anie nation doubteth hereof except you looked for miracles to be doone herein and yet if ye marke all the possibilities of the natures of the two princes the children alreadie had the doubtfull chance least each of them should haue a sonne or both daughters or not of méet ages with other circumstances both of the partie of this realme of England and that of Scotland which hath not chanced in eight hundred yeares it must néeds be reckoned a great maruell and a miracle But let it be no miracle séeing that God dooth not now speake in oracles as amongest the Iewes he did and present prophesies now adaies be but either not certeine or else not plaine what more certeine can be had of Gods will in this case than the before rehearsed dooth bring But if God himselfe should speake what could he speake more than he speaketh in these Call you them prouidences or chances if you be still afflicted and punished Maie he not saie I of mine infinite mercie and loue to your nation had prouided a right heire and a prince to the one and a right heire and princesse to the other to be ioined in my holie lawes and by the lawe of nature and the world to haue made an vnitie concord and peace in the which Isle of both the realmes you refused it you loued better dissention than vnitte discord than agréement warre than peace hatred than loue and charitie If you doo then therefore smart for it whome can you blame but your owne election But because some of those who make therevnto impediments cannot but confesse that there appeareth Gods prouidence herein and oportunitie and occasion giuen to vnitie of both the realmes yet may hereafter say and heretofore haue said that the fault herein is that we séeke not equalitie nor the mariage but a conquest we would not be friends but the lords Although our proclamation at the last warres dooth inough declare the contrarie yet here we protest and declare vnto you and all christian people to be the kings maiesties mind our maisters by our aduise and counsell not to conquer but to haue in amitie not to win by force but to conciliate by loue not to spoile and kill but to saue and kéepe not to disseuer and diuorse but to ioine in mariage from high to low both the realms to make of one Isle one realme in loue amitie concord peace and charitie which if you refuse and driue vs to conquer who is guiltie of the bloudshed Who is the occasion of the warre Who maketh the battels the burning of houses and the deuastation which shall follow Can it be denied but that we haue the great seale of Scotland granted by the parlement of Scotland for the mariage which should be made with assurances and pledges vntill the performance And thus in the time that the late king of most famous memorie our souereigne lord king Henrie the eight did reigne and in the time of the same your gouernour who now is the earle of Arrane who then being a chiefe dooer and laborer therin for the high and inestimable benefit of that realme so soone as he was by the late cardinall of saint Andrews and others with certeine vaine feares and hopes gréedinesse of dignitie peruerted reuolted from his first agréement and put all the realme to the losse of such holds and fortresses as are now taken from you and to the losse of a foughten field for the which we are sorie if otherwise peace might haue bin concluded for his owne priuat lucre and retchlesnesse of that noble realme And what end can you looke for of these manner of
maried to Richard Warraine son to king Iohn as appeareth by a déed belonging to my selfe who had the rectorie of Leosnes beginning thus Rosade Douer quondam vxor venerabilis viri Richardi filij regis de Chilham Hugh Pusaz de Puteaco or Pudsie nephue to king Stephan being bishop of Durham and erle of Northumberland and William Longchampe bishop of Elie had the gouernement of the realme for Richard the first vpon his departure foorth of the realme to take his iournie into the holie land For in his absence he appointed this Hugh to haue the rule of the north parts as chiefe iustice warden of the realme from Humber to Scotland deliuering to him also the keeping of the castell of Winchester the other parts of the realme with the custodie of the tower he assigned to the gouernement of William Longchampe bishop of Elie whome he made chiefe iustice and warden of those east south and west parts making him also his chancellour who being a man of great diligence and knowledge in the administration of things was yet verie factious and desirous of rule honour and riches farre aboue all measure And with these two bishops hée linked in authoritie by commission Hugh lord Bardolph William Marshall the great earle of Chepstow Strigull or Penbroke Geffreie Fitzpeter and William Brewer barons men of great honor wisdome discretion This the king did in the yeare of Christ 1190 and the first yeare of his reigne Walter de Constantijs sometime chancellor of England bishop of Lincolne and now archbishop of Roane vpon the misdemeanor of the proud bishop of Elie William Longchampe about the yeare 1192 had the custodie and gouernement of the realme committed vnto him whilest king Richard the first remained still in the holie warres who being called from that place in the yeare of Christ 1193 with Eleanor mother to the king to come to king Richard then imprisoned in Austria the archbishop of Canturburie Hubert succeeded him in the yeare 1194 whome the said archbishop of Roane procured to be installed in the see of Canturburie which Walter de Constantijs as hath Eueresden was made bishop of Lincolne in the yeare 1183 and the next yeare after bishop of Roane Hubert Walter or Walter Hubert for such a tansmutation of the name is vsed amongst historiographers was made vpon the discharge and going of Walter archbishop of Roane beyond the seas to king Richard gouernor and protector of the realme before the returne of Richard the first into England after the said kings imprisonment by the duke of Austria and the emperour procured by Sauaricus bishop of Glastenburie and Welles kinsman to the emperor wherof our moderne printed chronicles nor our ancient writers except one make any mention This Hubert died at his manor of Tenham and was buried at Canturburie in the south wall in the yeare of our redemption 1205 the third ides of Iulie being the seuenth yeare of king Iohn Eleanor widow to Henrie the second and mother to Richard the first was made protectresse of England after the departure of hir son into France when he had beene deliuered out of prison in which office she continued during the life of hir sonne which he ended in Poitiers in those French warres by a hurt receiued from one that discharged a crossebow against him on a fridaie as he besieged Chalons Touching whose death sith I am now in hand with the same it shall not be amisse to set downe such seuerall verses composed by seuerall men in seuerall sorts as I haue read and are not yet made common to the world which verses be these concerning his death and place of buriall as hereafter followeth Pictauus exta ducis sepelit tellúsque Chalucis Corpus dat claudi sub marmore fontis Ebraudi Neustria táque tegis cor inexpugnabile regis Sic loca per trina se sparsit tanta ruina Nec fuit hoc funus cui sufficeret locus vnus Whereof also another composed these following verses somewhat eloquentlie as saith Matthew Paris and so in truth they were considering that age which mostlie vsed a riming kind of Latine verses induced into the west part of the world by the barbarous Gothes in his greater historie of the life of king Richard in manner and forme following Ad Chalus cecidit rex regni cardo Richardus His ferus his humilis his agnus his leopardus Casus erat lucis Chalus per secula nomen Non intellectum fuerat sed nominis omen Non patuit res clausa fuit sed duce cadente Prodijt in lucem pro casu lucis adeptae Besides which verses of two seuerall men it pleaseth line 10 my pen to ad also the third mans dooing aswell for that the number of thrée is the holie number as for that there is nothing so sweet but that varietie dooth refresh it yet especiallie sith it is delightfull to sée the seuerall inuentions of manie wits this third poet therefore exclaming against the daie in which the said king Richard the first receiued his deaths wound being on a fridaie dooth thus write O veneris damnosa dies ô sydus amarum line 20 Ille dies tua nox fuit Venus illa venenum Illa dedit laethum sed pessimus ille dierum Primus ab vndecimo quo vitae victricus ipsum Clausit vtraque dies homicida tyrannide mira Transigitur clausus exclusum tectus opertum Prouidus incautum miles inimicus inermem This quéene Eleanor the protectresse died in the yere of Christ 1205 being the seuenth of king Iohn Gefferie Fitzpeter lord Ludgersall who was by Richard the first made chiefe iustice of England after line 30 the remouing of Hubert the archbishop of Canturburie and was in the first yeare of king Iohn girded by him with the sword of the earldome of Essex was also protector of the realme Who being a man of great power and authoritie was by nature gentle by birth noble in the lawes cunning in reuenues great and to all a good iusticer This man was a bridle to king Iohn to restreine his insolencie since he was confederat and alied in friendship bloud with all the nobilitie of England for that line 40 cause was greatlie feared of the K. who said of him as he did before of the archbishop Hubert that he then did fullie reigne when they two were dead For turning to those which stood by him when news was brought vnto him of the death of Fitz Geffreie he sware by Gods feet that he was then king lord of England and not before Which words he would not vse when the archbishop Hubert died because this man was yet liuing whome the king as is alreadie said greatlie feared And therefore vpon the line 50 death of the archbishop he did onelie saie that he began to reigne but now vpon this mans departure out of the world he said he was become a full lord absolute king
of England This Geffreie Fitzpeter died in the yeare of our redemption 1212 being about the fourtéenth yeare of the reigne of the said miserablie afflicted king Iohn who died in the yeare of Christ 1216 whose death I haue beene the willinger here to mention because I would set downe his epitaph not else before set downe in our English line 60 chronicles as I find the same of ancient report Hoc in sarcophago sepelitur regis imago Qui moriens multum sedauit in orbe tumultum Et cui connexa dum vixit probra manebant Hunc mala post mortem timor est nefata sequantur Qui legis haec metuens dum cernis te moriturum Discito quid rerum pariat tibi meta dierum This Geffreie Fitzpeter maried Beatrice daughter and heire of William lord Saie by whom he had issue Geffreie Mandeuile earle of Essex Mawd maried to Humfreie de Bohuns by whome the Bohunes became earles of Essex William Marshall surnamed the great being erle of Penbroke was made protector of the realme person of the king after that the king being nine yeares of age was crowned in the yeare of our Lord 1216. Which office this William being also marshall of England vsed so honorablie that he recouered a great part of the nobilitie which tooke part with Lewes son of the French king against king Iohn father to this Henrie to assist the yoong king Henrie against the said Lewes who in the time of the said Iohn had obteined a great part of the kingdome of England By which meanes the said Lewes was expelled and the kingdome wholie recouered to the vse of the said yoong king Henrie the third This William Marshall maried Isabell daughter and heire to Richard Strangbow earle of Penbroke who made him a happie father in the multitude of his children For by hir he had fiue sonnes all which were in succession marshals of England and earles of Penbroke and fiue daughters The sonnes were William Richard Gilbert Walter and Anselme who all dieng without issue the inheritance was deuolued to the fiue sisters which were Mawd the eldest maried to Hugh Bigod in hir right earle marshall Ione the second maried to Waraine Monthensie in hir right also earle of Penbroke as hath Nicholas Triuet Isabell the third maried to Gilbert de Clare earle of Glocester Sibill the fourth maried to William Ferrers erle of Darbie Eue the fift daughter maried to William de Berehuse or de Brause This William the great died in the yeare of our redemption 1219 being the third as hath Nicholas Triuet or the fourth as hath Matthew Westminster yeare of the reigne of the said king Henrie the third and was buried at the new temple on Ascension daie being the seuenteenth calends of Aprill of whome was made this epitaph by Geruasius Melckeleie taking vpon him the person of the earle marshall Sum quem Saturnum sibi sentit Hibernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normannia Gallia Martem Which signifieth that he was a sharpe corrector and ruler of the Irish an honor glorie to the English a councellor and dispatcher of the affaires of Normandie a warlike knight and inuincible capteine against the Frenchmen Petrus de rupibus or Peter of the Roch being bishop of Winchester was after the death of William Marshall earle of Penbroke aduanced to the protectorship of the king because that the yoong king was almost destitute of anie of his owne kindred that might woorthilie haue the rule of his person For his mother quéene Isabell was newlie maried to Hugh Brune earle of March in France This bishop of Winchester who was both a wise and a stout prelat being now in possession of the king and mistrusting that he had entred into a more weightie office than he might well discharge if all things were not doone according to the fansie of the nobilitie procured diuerse graue and honorable men to be preferred to the kings councell and to be associats to him in the administration of the weale publike and so entred into the administration of his new atchiued honor Which yet he did not long inioie But as the bishop was at the first carefull to plant such of the nobilitie about the king for the support of the realme so yet himselfe being a Gascoine did after in the riper yeares of the king prefer to offices about the king such Gascoins as both were of his owne bloud and kindred and by their extraordinarie dealing procured the nobilitie with an hard and vndutifull course to oppose themselues against the king This Peter was aduanced to the seat of Winchester in the yeare of our redemption 1204 being about the sixt yeare of king Iohn After which he went to Rome and being a prelat more fit to fight than to preach for Mars than for the muses did returne from Rome in the yeare of Christ 1205 being about the seuenth yeare of king Iohn He remained bishop about two and thirtie yeares and died at his manour house of Fernham on the fift ides of Iune in the yeare of our Lord as haue Matthew Paris and Matthew Westminster 1238 being the two twentith yeare of Henrie the third Who somewhat before his death about the one and line 10 thirtith yeare of his bishoprike went into the holie land with the bishop of Excester He builded and indued with possessions manie religious houses amongst which he founded Tichfield in Hampshire of which Peter de la Roches or of the rocks Matthew Paris maketh a more large discourse Hubert de Burow conestable of Douer castle earle of Kent and chiefe iustice of England being of great account in the realme for his probitie and goodnesse was made protector of the king and kingdome line 20 in the yeare of our redemption 1221 being the fift yeare of king Henrie the third This man in the yeare of Christ 1221 being the same yeare in the which he was made protector maried at Yorke Margaret sister to Alexander king of Scots And here I thinke it not amisse to saie somewhat touching the issue of this Hubert of Burow who in a certeine namelesse booke caried about in the hands of all men treating of the nobilitie created since the inuasion of William Conqueror is said to die without issue which cannot possiblie be so if that be line 30 true which I haue séene which I am led by manie reasons to beléeue to be most true For I haue read of two children which this Hubert had whereof the one being a sonne was called Richard de Burow who was knighted by Henrie the third as it séemeth to me after the death of his father if this Richard be not the same Iohn of whome Matthew Paris writeth that in the yeare of Christ 1229 Rex Anglorum Henricus in die Pentecostes Iohannem filium Huberti Angliae iusticiarij cingulo militari line 40 donauit tertio nonas Iunij The other child was a daughter called Margaret maried to Richard heire to the