subiection and obedience vnto Anselme without any condition intermitted or else that onelie which he did pretend by authoritie of the pope the bishops making answer diuerslie herevnto the king appointed those to sit downe by him as faithfull subiects who acknowledged that their renuntiation was absolutelie made without intermitting of any condition as for the other who protested that they renounced their subiection and obedience vnto him onelie in that which he presumed vpon in the behalfe of the pope he commanded them to go aside and to remaine in a corner of the house to heare the sentence of their condemnation pronounced Wherefore being put in a maruellous feare they withdrew themselues aside but yet straightwaies they deuised a shift wherewith they had beene well acquainted before as followeth They presented to the king a great masse of monie to appease his wrath and so thereby were restored to his fauour Anselme notwithstanding was obstinate in his opinion so that in the end the sentence touching this controuersie betwixt him and the king was respited till the octaues of Pentecost next insuing All this was notified well inough to the pope who vsed the matter with such moderation that by secret aduertisements giuen he tooke awaie from his brethren all rigorous waies of procéedings saieng Dum furor in cursu est currenti cede furori But yet the kings enmitie towards Anselme was openlie declared and that chéefelie for the deniall of the monie which he demanded but at length he got it though not with any frée hart or goodwill of the archbishop insomuch that the king reputed him giltie of treason Within a few daies after Walter bishop of Alba bringing to him his pall verie wiselie reconciled the pope and the king Notwithstanding all this Anselme could not purchase the kings goodwill to his contentment though he wiselie dissembled for the time so that when the bishop of Alba should returne to Rome he made sute for licence to go with him Neuerthelesse the king offered him that if he would desist from his purpose and sweare vpon the euangelists neither to go to Rome nor to appeale in any cause to the popes court he might and should liue in quietnesse frée from all danger but if he would not be so contented he might and should depart at his perill without hope to returne hither againe For surelie saith he if he go I will seize the archbishoprike into mine owne hands and receiue him no more for archbishop Anselme herewith departing from the court came to Canturburie declaring openlie what had bin said vnto him and immediatlie sought to flee out of the realme in the night prouiding for himselfe a shi◠at Douer But his purpose being reuealed to the king line 10 one William Warlewast the kings seruant was sent after him and finding him readie to depart tooke from him all that he had gaue him a free pasport out of the land Anselme repairing to Rome made vnto pope Urban a greeuous information against the king declaring into what miserable state he had brought the Realme and that for want of assistance in his suffragans it laie not in him to reforme the matter Indéed we find not that any of the bishops held line 20 with Anselme in the controuersie betwixt him and the king Ranulph bishop of Chichester excepted who both blamed the king and rebuked all such bishops as had refused to stand with Anselme and fauoured the king in cases concerning the foresaid variance Moreouer the same bishop of Chichester withstood the king and his officers in taking fines of préests for the crime of fornication by reason of which presumption the king became sore offended with him found meanes to suspend many churches of his diocesse line 30 Howbeit in the end the bishop demeaned himselfe in such wise that he had his owne will and his church doores were opened againe which had béene stopped vp before with thornes Besides this the king was contented that the said bishop should haue the fines of préests in crimes of fornication within his diocesse and enioy many other priuileges in right of his church But how beneficiall so euer he was vnto the see of Chichester true it is as Polydor writeth that he let out diuers abbeies and the bishoprike of Winchester line 40 and Salisburie with the archbishoprike of Canturburie vnto certeine persons that farmed the same at his hands for great summes of monie in so much that beside the said sees of Canturburie Winchester and Salisburie which at the time of his death he kept in his hands he also receiued the profits of eleuen abbeies which he had let out or otherwise turned to his most aduantage Robert Losaunge of some called Herbert that sometime had bin abbat of Ramsey and then bishop line 50 of Thetford by gift of a thousand pounds to the king as before ye haue heard repented him for that he was inuested by the king who after he had bewailed his offense went to Rome and did penance for the same in all points as the pope enioined him Which being doone he returned into England remoouing yer long his sée from Thetford to Norwich where he founded a faire monasterie of his owne charges and not of the churches goods as some say wherein is a doubt considering he was first an abbat and after line 60 a bishop About this time by the meanes of Stephan Harding a Monke of Shireborne an Englishman the order of Cisteaux or white moonkes had his beginning within the countrie of Burgongne as witnesneth Ranulph the moonke of Chester but other writers as Iacob Philippus say that this Stephan was the second abbat of that place and that it was founded by one Robert abbat of Molmense in the yeare of Grace 1098. This order was after brought into England by one called Walter Espeke who founded the first abbeie of that religion within this relme at Riuall about the yeare of Grace 1131. But to returne againe to the king who still continued in his wilfull couetousnesse pulling from the rich and welthie to waste and spend it out in all excesse vaine riot and gifts bestowed on such as had least deserued the same And yet he was warned by manie strange woonders as the common people did descant to refraine from these euill dooings for the Thames did rise with such high springs and tides that manie townes were drowned and much hurt doone in places about London and elsewhere Diuerse rare things happened also at the same time which I passe ouer But the king hearing hereof did nothing regard those which were so bold as to tell him that they were euident significations of some vengeance to follow therevpon The king also himselfe on a night as he slept dreamed thought that the veines of his armes were broken and that the bloud issued out in great abundance Likewise he was told by Robert Fitz Hammon that a
sée which line 20 was brought to passe according to the kings desire at Westminster Afterward he was ordeined at Canturburie on saturdaie in Whitsunwéeke by Henrie bishop of Winchester although there be that write how Walter bishop of Rochester did consecrate him which consecration was in the 44. yeare of his age year 1162 and in the fift yere after his first aduancement to the office of Lord chancellor so that he was the eight and thirtith archbishop which gouerned in that see line 30 Toward the end of the same yeare Henrie the kings sonne receiued homage of the barons first in Normandie and after in England In the yeare ensuing the king his father committed him to archbishop Becket that he might sée him brought vp and trained in maners and courtlie behauiour as apperteined to his estate wherevpon the archbishop in iest called him his sonne This yeare Quéene Elianor was brought to bed at Rohan of a daughter named Elianor In like maner the kings of England and France line 40 receiued pope Alexander the third at Cocie vpon Loire with all honor and reuerence insomuch that they attended vpon his stirrup on foot like pages or lackies the one vpon his right side and the other on his left ¶ Note here the intollerable pride of this antichristian pope in assuming and the basemindednesse of these two kings in ascribing vnto that man of sinne such dignitie as is vtterlie vnfit for his indignitie line 50 But what will this monster of men this Stupor mundi this Diaboli primogenitus haeres not arrogate for his owne aduancement like yuie climing aloft choking the trée by whose helpe it créepeth vp from the root to the top But the end of this seauen horned beast so extolling and lifting it selfe vp to heauen is Erebo miserè claudetur in imo Atque illic miris cruciatibus afficietur In Ianuarie ensuing the king returned into England and the same yeare the king of Scots did line 60 homage vnto Henrie the yonger and deliuered his yonger brother Dauid to the king his father with diuerse other the sonnes of his lords and barons in pledge for assurance of a perpetuall peace to be kept betweene them with some such castels as he required In the meane time archbishop Thomas went to the councell holden by pope Alexander at Tours in the Octaues of Pentecost where he resigned his bishoprike into the popes hands as the â—ame went being troubled in conscience for that he had receiued it by the kings preferment The pope allowing his purpose committed the same pastorlike dignitie to him againe by his ecclesiasticall power whereby the archbishop was eased verie well of his greefe and shortlie after his returne from his councell seemed desirous to reduce cause to be restored such rights as he pretended to belong vnto the church of Canturburie whereby he ran into the displeasure of manie and namelie of the mightiest Moreouer he required of the king the kéeping of Rochester castell the custodie of the tower of London He alledged also that Saltwood Hith belonged peculiarlie to the seigniorie of his see He called Roger earle of Clare vnto Westminster to doo his homage vnto him for the castell of Tunbridge but the earle denied it through the setting on of the king alledging all the fee thereof to apperteine rather to the king than to the archbishop Thus was the archbishop troubled and he grew dailie more and more out of the kings fauour For yee must vnderstand that this was not the first nor the second but the eight time that the king had shewed tokens of his displeasure against him After this vpon the first day of Iulie Rice prince of Southwales with diuerse other lords and nobles of Wales did homage both to the king and to his sonne Henrie at Woodstocke Hamline the kings bastard brother married the countesse of Warren the widow of William earle of Mortaigne bastard sonne to king Stephan This countesse was the sole daughter and heire of William the third earle of Warren year 1164 which went with Lewes king of France into the holie land and there died Soone after the Welshmen rebelling with their prince Rice and his vncle Owen did many mischéefes on the marshes and by the death of Walter Gifford earle of Buckingham who deceased this yeare without heire that earledome came to the kings hands On the 20. daie of September were three circles seene to compasse the sun and so continued the space of thrée houres togither which when they vanished awaie two sunnes appeared and sprang foorth after a maruellous maner Which strange sight the common people imagined to be a signe or token of the controuersie then kindling betwixt the king and the archbishop About this time the king called a parlement at Westminster to treat of matters concerning the commonwealth wherein great discord arose betwixt the king archbishop Becket about certeine points touching the liberties of the church For the king hauing an earnest zeale vnto iustice and commanding the iudges to punish offenders without respect vnderstood by their information that manie things by them of the spiritualtie against whome their authoritie might not be extended were committed contrarie to common order as theft rapine murther and manslaughter in so much that in his presence it was made notorious that sith the beginning of his reigne aboue an hundred manslaughters had béene committed within his realme of England by préests and men of religious orders Herevpon being mooued in mind he set forth lawes against the spiritualtie wherein he shewed his zeale of iustice For as the cause procéeded from the bishops of that age so did the fault also sith contrarie to their owne canons they permitted préests to liue ouer licentiouslie without due correction studieng onelie to mainteine the liberties and immunities of the church and not to reforme the irregularitie of the regulars Of this crew was one Philip de Broc a canon of Bedford who being arreigned before the kings iusticer for a murther vttered disdainefull words against the same iâ—sticer which when he could not denie before the archbishop he was depriued of his prebend and banished the land for two yeares space These things troubled the king who therefore hauing alreadie set downâ— such 〈◊〉 as should bridle the spiritualtie from their wicked dooings thought that if he might get them confirmed in parlement by consent of the bishops and clergie 〈◊〉 the same should take place and be receiued for 〈◊〉 Wherefore he earnestlie required at this parlement â—haâ— it might be enacted against all such of the spiritâ—altie as should be taken and conuicted for 〈…〉 offense they should loose â—he priuiledge of the church and be deliuered vnto the ciuill magistrate 〈◊〉 line 10 should see them â—uffer execution for tâ—eir 〈◊〉 in like maner as he might any of the kings 〈◊〉 being laie men For otherwise the
the realme and to the moonks of Canturburie he required them line 30 to procéed to the election of an archbishop for that see and withall commended vnto them the foresaid Hubert as a man most sufficient and méet for that roome He wrote likewise to the queene to further that matter and easilie hereby obteined his desire For shortlie after the same Hubert was elected by the bishops and moonks which assembled togither for that purpose He was the 41 archbishop that gouerned that see for although Reginold bishop of Bath was elected before him yet bicause he died yer he line 40 was installed he is not put in the number The king being now put in good hope of his spéedie deliuerance sent into England willing his mother quéene Elianor the archbishop of Rouen and others to come ouer vnto him into Almaine and in the meane time he ordeined Hubert the archbishop of Canturburie to remaine at home as lord cheefe iustice After this the emperour with the aduice of the princes of the empire assigned a day to king Richard in which he should be deliuered out of captiuitie line 50 which was the mondaie next after the twentith day of Christmasse Wherevpon king Richard wrote vnto Hubert archbishop of Canturburie in forme as followeth The tenour of king Richards letters to the said archbishop RIchardus Dei gratiarex Angliae line 60 dux Normaniae Aquitaniae comes Andigauiae venerabili patri nostro in Christo amico charissimo Huberto eadem gratia Cantuariensi archiepiscopo salutem sincerae dilectionis plenitudinem Quoniam certiores sumus quod liberationem nostram plurimùm desideratis quòd liberatio nostra admodum vos laetificat scripto volumus quod laetitiae nostrae participes sitis Inde est quòd dilectioni vestrae dignum duximus significare dominum imperatorem certum diem liberationis nostrae nobis praefixisse in die lunae proxima post vicessimum diem natiuitatis Domini die dominica proxima sequenti coronabimur de regno prouinciae quod nobis dedit Vnde mittimus in Angliam literas domini imperatoris super hijs patentes vobis caeteris amicis nostris beneuolis Vos autem interim pro omni posse vestro quos scitis nos diligere consolari velitis quos scitis promotionem nostram desiderare Testemeipso apud Spiram 22. die Septembris The emperour also signified by his letters to the lords of England his resolute determination in this matter as followeth The tenour of the emperours letters to the States of England touching king Richard and the day of his deliuerance c. HEnricus Dei gratia Romanorum imperator semper Augustus dilectis suis archiep episcopis comitibus baronibus militibus vniuersis alijs fidelibus Richardi illustris regis Anglorum gratiam suam omne bonum Vniuersitati vestrae duximus intimandum quòd dilecto amico nostro Richardo illustri regi Anglorum domino vestro certum diem liberationis suae statuimus à secunda feria post diem natiuitatis domini in tres septimanas apud Spiram siue apud Berenatiam inde in septem dies posuimus ei diem coronationis suae de regno Prouinciae quod ei promisimus hoc certum habeatis indubitatum nostri siquidem propositi est voluntatis praefatum dominum vestrum specialem promouere sicut amicum nostrum magnificentiùs honorare Datum apud Theallusam vigilia beati Thomae Apostoli Before this king Richard had sent the bishop of Elie into France vnto his brother earle Iohn who preuailed so much with him that he returned into Normandie and there sware fealtie vnto his brother king Richard and so was contented to forsake the French king But whereas king Richard commanded that all such castels and honours as he had giuen to him afore time should now be restored to him againe as well those in England as the other on the further side the sea such as had the same castels in kéeping would not obeie the kings commandement herein refusing to make restitution of those places according to the tenour purport of the kings writ vnto the said earle of Mortaigne by reason of which refusall he returned againe to the French king and stucke to him Herevpon the French king gaue vnto him the castels of Dreincourt and Arques the which ought to haue béene deliuered vnto the archbishop of Reimes as in pledge who had trauelled as a meane betwixt the French king to whom he was vncle and the king of England to whom he was cousine procuring a meeting for agreement to be had betwixt them at a certeine place betwixt Uaucolour and Tulle in the borders of Lorraine But notwithstanding all that he could doo matters were so farre out of frame and such mistrust was entred into the minds of the parties that no conclusion held So that all the hope which king Richard had was by paiment of his ransome to redéeme his libertie and then to shift with things as he might And so finallie when the monie was once readie or rather a sufficient portion thereof the same was conueied ouer into Germanie and paiment made to the emperour of the more part of the kings ransome and sufficient pledges left with him for the rest year 1194 as the archbishop of Rouen the bishop of Bath Baldwin Wac and other which were of late come out of England to see and salute the king Herevpon king Richard after he had beene prisoner one yeare six weekes and thrée daies was set at libertie on Candlemasse day as most writers agrée and then with long and hastie iournies not kéeping the high waies he hasted foorth towards England It is reported that if he had lingred by the way he had béene eftsoones apprehended For the emperour being line 10 incensed against him by ambassadors that came from the French king immediatlie after he was set forward began to repent himselfe in that he had suffered him so soone to depart from him and herevpon sent men after him with all speed to bring him backe if they could by any meanes ouertake him meaning as then to haue kept him in perpetuall prison Some write that those ambassadours sent from the French king with other from earle Iohn came to the emperor before king Richard was deliuered line 20 offering in the French kings name fiftie thousand marks of siluer and in the name of earle Iohn thirtie thousand vpon condition that K. Richard might remaine still in captiuitie vntill the feast of S. Michaell next insuing or else if it might so please him he should receiue a thousand pounds of siluer for euerie moneth whilest king Richard should be deteined in his prison or otherwise fiftie thousand marks of siluer more than the first offer at one entire paiment if he would deliuer him into their hands or at the line 30 leastwise to kéepe him prisoner by the terme of one whole yeare The emperour hearing
she had issue a daughter named Deuorgoill which Deuorgoill was married to Iohn Balioll by whom she had issue Iohn Balioll that was afterward king of Scotland The second named Isabell was married to Robert le Bruis The third named Mawd died without issue And the fourth called Alda was married to Henrie Hastings But bicause the land perteining to the earledome of Chester should not go amongst rocks and distaues hauing such roiall prerogatiues belonging thereto the king seized them into his owne hands and in recompense assigned other lands to the forsaid sisters as it had beene by way of exchange Now sith the earles of Chester I meane those of the line of Hugh Lupus tooke end in this Iohn Scot I haue thought it not impertinent for the honor of so noble a linage to set downe the descent of the same earles beginning at the foresaid Hugh the first that gouerned after the conquest as I haue seen the same collected out of ancient records according line 10 to their true succession in seauen descents one after another as here followeth The true genealogie of the famous and most honourable earles of Chester HUgh Lou or Lupus first earle of Chester after the conquest nephue line 20 to William Conquerour by his sister Margaret wife to Richard Uicount of Auranches married a noble ladie named Armetruda by whom he had issue Richard that succeeded him in the earledome Robert abbat of saint Edmundsburie and Otuell He departed this life about the yeere of our Lord 1102 when he had beene earle about 40 yeeres 2 Richard Lupus eldest son to Hugh line 30 Lupus and second earle of Chester married Maud the daughter of Stephan erle of Blois Charters and Champaigne and sister to K. Stephan This Richard with his brother Otuell was drowned in the seas in the yeere of our Lord 1120 as before hath beene shewed after he had beene earle about ninteene yeares 3 Ranulfe or Randulfe the first of that line 40 name called Bohun and otherwise Mestheins the sonne of Iohn de Bohun and of Margaret sister to Hugh Lupus succeeded Richard as cousin and heire to him in the earldome of Chester and was the third earle in number after the conquest He married Maud the daughter of Auberie de Uere earle of Gisney and Oxenford by whome he had issue Ranulfe surnamed line 50 Geruous the fourth earle of Chester He died about the yere of our Lord 1130 after he had continued earle eight yeares 4 Ranulfe or Randulfe Bohun the second of that name and fourth erle in number after the conquest surnamed Geruous succeeded his father and married Alice daughter to Robert erle of Glocester base sonne to king Henrie the first by whome he line 60 had issue Hugh Keuelocke the fift earle of Chester He deceassed about the yeare of our Lord 1153 when he had beéne earle 29 yeares 5 Hugh Bohun otherwise Keuelocke the sonne of the said Ranulfe was the first earle of Chester after the conquest and second of that name He married Beatrice daughter to Richard Lucie lord cheefe iustice of England by whom he had issue Ranulfe the third of that name and foure daughters Mawd married to Dauid that was earle of Angus and Huntington and lord of Galloway Mabell maried to William Dalbegnie earle of Arundell Agnes maried to William Ferrers earle of Derbie and Hauisa ioined in marriage with Robert Quincie a baron of great honour This Hugh died about the yeare 1181 when he had beene earle eight and twentie yeares 6 Ranulfe Bohun the third of that name otherwise called Blundeuille the sonne of Hugh Keuelocke was the sixt earle of Chester after the conquest He was also earle of Lincolne as next cousine and heire to William Romare earle of Lincolne He had three wiues as before yee haue heard but yet died without issue about the yeare of our Lord 1232 after he had beene earle 51 yeares 7 Iohn Scot the sonne of Dauid earle of Angus Huntington was in the right of his mother the seuenth earle of Chester after the conquest He died without issue as before yee haue heard by reason whereof the erldome came into the kings hands in the yeare 1237. Thus much may suffice with that which is said before touching the descent of the earles of Chester And now to proceed The same yeare that Iohn Scot died cardinall Otho by some writers named Othobon about the feast of S. Peter and Paule came into England from pope Gregorie He was receiued with all honour and solemne reuerence as was decent yea and more than was decent the king meeting him at the sea side His comming was not signified afore to the nobles of the realme which caused them to mislike the matter and to grudge against the king seeing that he did all things contrarie to order breaking law faith and promise in all things He hath coupled himselfe said they in mariage with a stranger without consent of his freends and naturall subiects and now he bringeth in a legat secretlie who will take vpon him to make an alteration in the whole state of the realme But this legat shewed himselfe a verie sober and discréet person not so couetous as his predecessors in so much that he refused diuerse gifts which were offered vnto him though some he receiued and indéed commanded the other to be reserued for him He also distributed liberallie the vacant rents vnto such as he brought with him as well persons worthie as vnworthie and pacified such controuersies as were sproong betwixt the nobles and peeres of the realme so that he made them fréends ¶ An act memorable to be kept in record that the instrument and seruant of so bad a maister as he serued namelie the pope should be the procurer of so good a worke considering that from the sée of Rome full tides and violent streames of seditions haue flowed and verie sildome any occasion or means made to plant peace among men which is the daughter of loue and the worthiest thing that is as one saith verie well in these words Gignit amor pacem pax est dignissima rerum The bishop of Winchester the earle of Kent Gilbert Basset Stephen Siward others were by him accorded who had borne secret grudge ech to other a long time which hatred was at point to haue broken foorth and shewed it selfe in perilous wise at a tornie holden at Blie in the beginning of Lent where the Southernmen stroue against the Northerne men and in the end the Southerne men preuailed and tooke diuerse of their aduersaries so that it séemed not to be a triumphant iustes but rather a sharpe challenge and incounter betwixt enimies But amongst all others earle Bigot bare himselfe verie stoutlie After that the legat had thus agréed the noblemen he assembled a synod at London the morrow after the octaues of S. Martin wherein manie ordinances were newlie constituted for the state of the cleargie but not altogither verie acceptable
great feare sithens he was afraid of euerie bush least men should haue risen vpon him and murthered him Wherevpon when he came to the pope he made a greeuous complaint both against the king and others The church of saint Peter at Westminster was line 40 inlarged and newlie repared by the king speciallie all the east part of it the old wals being pulled down and builded vp in more comelie forme ¶ The generall councell according to the summons giuen was holden this yeare at Lions where it began about midsummer in which the English ambassadors being arriued presented to the pope their leters directed from the whole bodie of the realme of England requiring a redresse in such things wherewith as by the same letters it appeared the realme found it selfe sore annoied line 50 The pope promised to take aduise therein but sith the matter was weightie it required respit Finallie when they were earnest in requiring a determinate answer it was giuen them to vnderstand that they should not obteine their desires wherevpon in great displeasure they came awaie threatening and binding their words with oths that from thencefoorth they would neuer paie nor suffer to be paid anie tribute to the court of Rome nor permit the reuenues of those churches whereof they were patrones line 60 to be pulled awaie by any prouision of the same court The pope hearing of these things passed them ouer patientlie but he procured the English bishops to set their seales vnto that charter which king Iohn had made concerning the tribute against the mind of the archbishop of Canturburie Stephan Langton who at that time when king Iohn should seale it spake sore against it When king Henrie was informed hereof he was gréeuouslie offended and sware in a great chafe that although the bishops had doone otherwise than they ought yet would he stand in defense of the liberties of his realme and would not so long as he had a day to liue paie any dutie to the court of Rome vnder the name of a tribute In this meane while the king with a puissant armie inuaded the Welsh rebels to reduce them to some quiet whereas with their continuall incursions and other exploits they had sore harried vexed and wasted the lands of the kings subiects Herevpon the king being entred the countrie inuaded the same vnto the confines of Snowdon and there he began to build a strong castell at a place called Gannoke remaining there about the space often wéeks during the which the armie suffered great miserie through want of vittels and other prouisions namelie apparell and other helps to defend themselues from cold which sore afflicted the souldiers and men of warre bicause they laie in the field and winter as then began to approch Moreouer they were driuen to kéepe watch and ward verie stronglie for doubt to be surprised by sudden assaults of the enimies the which watched vpon occasion euer to doo some mischéefe The morrow after the Purification of our ladie Isabell de Boulbec countesse of Oxenford departed this life and likewise the morrow after saint Ualentines day died Baldwine de Riuers earle of Deuonshire and of the Wight Moreouer Geffrey de March a man sometime of great honour and possessions in Ireland after he had remained long in exile and suffered great miserie ended the same by naturall death Also Raimond earle of Prouance father to the quéenes of England and France deceassed this yeare for whome was kept in England a most solemne obsequie Also in the wéeke after Palme-sundaie died a right noble baron and warden of the north parts of England the lord Gilbert Humfreuile leauing behind him a yoong sonne the custodie of whome the king forthwith committed to the earle of Leicester not without the indignation of the earle of Cornewall who desired the same Finallie after that the king had lien at Gannoke about the fortifieng of the castell there the space of ten wéekes and saw the worke now fullie finished he appointed foorth such as should lie there in garison and therewith on the morrow after the feast of Simon and Iude he raised his field and returned towards England leauing the Welshmen in great miserie and like to starue for want of necessarie food For the I le of Anglesey which is as a nursse to the Welshmen those Irishmen that came to the kings aid had vtterlie wasted and destroied Againe the king of purpose had consumed all the prouision of corne and vittels which remained in the marshes so that in Cheshire and other the parts adioining there was such dearth that the people scarse could get sufficient vittels to susteine themselues withall The king also gaue foorth commandement that no prouision of corne or vittels should be conueied vnto the Welshmen out of any parts either of England or Ireland on paine of forfeiting life lands goods Moreouer he caused the brine pits in Wales to be stopped vp and destroied The king hauing thus ordered his businesse returned into England and shortlie after taking displeasure with the lord Maurice chéefe iustice of Ireland bicause he had not made such speed as had béene conuenient in bringing the Irishmen to his aid he discharged him of the office of chéefe iustice and placed in his roome Iohn Fitz Geffrey In this thirtith yeare of king Henries reigne Walter earle Marshall and of Penbroke departed this life and shortlie after to wit three daies before Christmasse his brother Anselme that succeeded him in the inheritance deceassed also without issue and so all the fine sonnes of the great earle William Marshall being departed this world without heires of their bodies begotten the whole heritage descended to the sisters and so was diuided amongst them as coparteners The king this yeare held his Christmas at London year 1246 and had there with him a great number of the nobilitie of his realme which had béene with him in Wales that they might be partakers of pastime mirth and pleasure as they had béene participants with him in suffering the diseases of heat cold and other paines abroad in the fields and high mounteines line 10 of Wales considering with himselfe as the truth is that vita est quà m proxiâ—â— letho Quà m meritò spernenda animâ—â— si nulla voluptâ—s Mulceat atque leuent solatia nulla laborem But that no plesure shuld passe without some staine of greese there was a rumor spred abroad that the pope conceiued fresh rankor in his stomach against the king and realme of England for the complaints which had béene exhibited in the councell at Lion by line 20 the English orator for the oppression doone to the church of England that therevpon minding now to be reuenged as was said he earnestlie mooued the French king to make warre against the Englishmen and to subdue them vnder his dominion which enterprise the French king vtterlie refused both for that he and the king of England were
themselues strong by gathering any new power and therfore appointed the conestable sir Rafe de Neale who had woone the citie of Burdeaux from the Englishmen line 50 latelie before to go vnto Pontesey and besiege that towne whilest he went vnto Rion which he besieged and fiercelie assaulted But the Englishmen and Gascoins did not onelie defend the towne stoutlie but also made an issue foorth vpon their enimies though as it happened the smaller number was not able to susteine the force of the greater multitude and so were the Englishmen beaten backe into the towne againe Whilest they tried their manhood thus at Rion line 60 the constable woone Pontesey or Pontsac vpon Dordone and came to ioine with the earles de Ualois at Rion and so inforced both their powers to win that towne The Englishmen and Gascoins though they were put in some feare yet they shewed their approoued valiancie in defending the towne till at length when they saw they could defend it no longer and were in no hope of succour from anie part they fled out about midnight and made toward their ships but diuerse of them were taken by the waie for the Frenchmen hauing knowledge of their intent forlaie the passages and taking some of them that first sought to escape thus by flight slue them but there was not many of those For all the residue when they perceiued that the Frenchmen had laid betwixt them and their ships making vertue of necessitie stood still in defense of the towne till the Frenchmen entred it by force of assault the friday in Easter wéeke Some write that the same night in which they so ment to flée to their ships there chanced a great tumult and mutenie betwixt the footmen and horssemen so that they fought togither or else might the whole number of them haue escaped The horssemen that got foorth left their horsses behind them readie brideled and sadled which the Frenchmen vpon entring the towne in the morning tooke after they had slaine the most part of the footmen The Frenchmen hauing got a bloudie victorie saued onelie the capteins and gentlemen and slue the other aswell Englishmen as Gascoins There was taken of knights sir Rafe Tannie sir Amis de saint Amand with his brother sir Rafe de Gorges marshall of the armie sir Roger Leiborne sir Iohn Kreting sir Iames Kreting sir Hen. Boding sir Iohn Mandeuile sir Iohn Fulborne sir Robert Goodfield sir Thomas Turberuile sir Walter with thrée thirtie esquiers which were sent all vnto Paris Sir Adam Kreting was killed a right valiant knight by reason of one sir walter Gifford a knight also which had dwelled in France manie yeares before as an outlaw On the same day was the towne of saint Seuere deliuered vnto the Englishmen the which Hugh or as Abington saith Robert Ueer brother to the earle of Oxenford tooke vpon him to keepe as capteine there with two hundred men of armes Charles de Ualois aduertised thereof departed from Rion with all spéed to besiege the foresaid towne of saint Seuere yer the Englishmen should haue time to fortifie it But the foresaid Hugh Uéer kept him out the space of thirtéene or as Abington saith nine wéekes to the great losse of the Frenchmen no small part of their people dieng in the meane time both of pestilence and famine At length when vittels began to faile within a truce was taken for fifteene daies within the which it might be lawfull for them within the towne to send vnto Baion for succour which if it came not within that tearme the towne should be yeelded vnto the Frenchmen and so it was vpon these conditions that the Englishmen and other that would depart should haue libertie to take with them their armour and goods and be safelie conueied two daies iornie on their waie from the French armie Also that those which were minded to remaine still in the towne should not susteine any losse or damage in their bodies or goods The pledges also which aforetime were taken out of that towne by the French kings seneshall should returne in safetie to the towne and haue their goods restored vnto them This doone Charles de Ualois appointed a garrison of soldiers to remaine there for the kéeping of the towne and then returned backe into France The Englishmen which escaped out of those places from the Frenchmens hands repaired vnto Baion to defend that towne with their capteins the foresaid erle earle of Richmond and the lord Iohn de S. Iohn the which of some are vntruelie said to haue béene slaine at Rion Shortlie after that Charles de Ualois was departed and gone out of the countrie the towne of saint Seuere was recouered by the Englishmen ¶ It should appeare by report of some writers that Hugh Uéer whome they wronglie name to be earle of Oxenford was sent ouer as then from king Edward to the aid of his capteins in Gascoine and at his first comming recouered the towne of saint Seuere and afterwards so valiantlie defended it against the Frenchmen that honorable mention is made of him both by Nicholas Triuet and also by some French writers for his high manhood therin shewed But whether he were brother or sonne to the earle of Oxford I can not saie howbeit about the 27 yeare of this king Edwards reigne we find one Hugh Ueer that was a baron whom I take to be this man but earle I thinke he was not For as Euersden saith one Robert Ueer that was earle of Oxford deceassed in the yeare next insuing and after him succéeded an other earle that bare the same name as by records it may appeare Polydor speaking of the line 10 siege of S. Seuere rehearseth not who was capteine as then of the towne but in the yeelding of it vnto Charles de Ualois after he had laine more than thrée moneths before it he agreeth with other writers In the same yeare Berard bishop of Alba and Simon archbishop of Bourges two cardinals of the Romane sée were sent vnto the kings of England and France to mooue them to conclude a peace They first came into France and after into England but perceiuing the minds of the kings nothing inclined line 20 to concord they returned to Rome without any conclusion of their purpose but not without monie gathered of religious men to beare out their expenses for they had authoritie by the popes grant to receiue in name of procuracies and expenses six marks of euerie cathedrall and collegiat church thorough the realme besides diuerse other rewards And where any poore chapiter of nunnes or religious persons were not able of themselues the parish churches next adioining were appointed to be contributorie with line 30 them At the same time sir Thomas Turberuile a knight and one of those as before ye haue heard which were taken at Rion to saue his life and to deliuer himselfe out of captiuitie
the zeale which he had to make an accord betwixt him and his aduersarie Philip de Ualois that named himselfe French king he could not but much commend him and for his part he had euer wished that some reasonable agreement might be had betwixt them but sith his right to the realme of France was cléere and manifest inough he purposed not to commit it by writing vnto the doubtfull iudgement or arbitrement of anie And as concerning the agréement which the emperour had made with the French king bicause as he alledged it was lawfull for him so to doo sith without the emperors knowledge he had taken truce with the same French king he said if the circumstances were well considered that matter could not minister any cause line 10 to mooue him to such agreement for if the emperour remembred he had giuen to him libertie at all times to treat of peace without making the emperour priuie thereto so that without his assent he concluded not vpon any finall peace which he protested that he neuer meant to doo till he might haue his prouident aduise counsell and assent therevnto And as concerning the reuoking of the vicarship of the empire from him he tooke it doone out of time for it was promised line 20 that no such reuocation should be made till he had obteined the whole realme of France or at the least the more part thereof ¶ These in effect were the points of the kings letters of answer vnto the emperour Dated at London the thirtenth of Iulie in the second yeare of his reigne ouer France and fiftéenth ouer England This yeare about Midsummer or somwhat before at Gant in Flanders died the lord Geffrey Scrope the kings iustice and Henrie bishop of Lincolne line 30 two cheefe councellors to the king The quéene after hir returne into England was this yeare brought to bed in the tower of London of a daughter named Blanch that died yoong and was buried at Westminster ¶ In this meane while during the warres betwixt France and England the French king in fauour of Dauid king of Scotland had sent men of warre into Scotland vnder the conduct of sir Arnold Dandreghen who was after one of the marshals of France and the lord of Garrentiers with other line 40 by whose comfort and helpe the Scots that tooke part with king Dauid did indeuor themselues to recouer out of the Englishmens hands such castels and fortresses as they held within Scotland as in the Scotish historie ye shall find mentioned and how about this time their king the foresaid Dauid returned foorth of France into Scotland by the French kings helpe who hauing long before concluded a league with him thought by his friendship to trouble the king of England so at home that he should not be at great leisure to inuade him in France line 50 But now to tell you what chanced of the méeting appointed at Arras For the cōmissioners that shuld there treat of the peace when the day assigned of their meeting was come there arriued for the king of England the bishop of Lincolne the bishop of Duresme the earle of Warwike the erle of Richmond sir Robert Dartois sir Iohn of Heinault otherwise called lord Beaumont and sir Henrie of Flanders For the French king there came the earle of Alanson the duke of Burbon the earle of Flanders the line 60 earle of Blois the archbishop of Sens the bishop of Beauuois and the bishop of Aurerre The pope sent thither two cardinals Naples and Cleremont these commissioners were in treatie fiftéene daies during the which manie matters were put forth and argued but none concluded for the Englishmen demanded largelie and the Frenchmen would depart with nothing sauing with the countie of Pontieu the which was giuen with quéene Isabell in marriage to the king of England So the treatie brake the commissioners departed and nothing doone but onelie that the truce was prolonged for two yeares further Thus were the wars partlie appeased in some part of France but yet was the truce but slenderlie kept in other parts by reason of the duke of Britaine For whereas contention arose betwixt one Charles de Blois and Iohn earle of Mountfort about the right to the duchie of Britaine as in the historie of France maie more plainelie appeare the earle of Mountfort thinking that he had wrong offered him at the French kings hands who fauoured his aduersarie Charles de Blois alied himselfe with the king of England And as some write after he had woone diuerse cities and townes within Britaine he came ouer into England and by doing homage to king Edward acknowledged to hold it of him as of the souereigne lord thereof so that he would promise to defend him and that duchie against his aduersaries which the king promised him to doo After this the French king made such warres against this earle of Mountfort that he was at length taken prisoner in the towne of Naunts and committed to safe kéeping within the castell of Loure at Paris But his wife being a stout woman and of a manlie courage stood vp in the quarrell of hir husband and presented a yoong sonne which she had by him vnto such capteins and men of warre as serued hir husband requiring them not to be dismaid with the infortunate chance of hir husbands taking but rather like men of good stomachs to stand in defense of his right sith whatsoeuer happened to him the same remained in that yoong gentleman his sonne meaning that although the enimies should deale tyrannicallie with him without regard of his noblenesse practise his ouerthrow yet there was hope in hir son as increase of yeares should minister strength and courage both to be reuenged on his fathers enimies and to ad an inlargement of glorie and renowne to his present honor by practises of his prowesse which to be singular the séemelie symmetrie or goodlie proportion of his person and his iolie countenance séemed to testifie for Fortes creantur fortibus bonis Est in iuuencis est in equis patrum Virtus nec imbellem feroces Progenerant aquilae columbam This countesse of Mountfort was sister vnto Lewes earle of Flanders and named Margaret and not Claudia as some write She was verie diligent in hir businesse and spared no trauell to aduance hir cause so that she wan not onelie the harts of the men of warre but also of the people of Britaine the which fauoured hir husband and lamented the mishap of his taking She first furnished such cities townes castels and fortresses as hir husband had in possession with men munition and vittels as Renes Dinaunt Guerand Hanibout and others This doone she sent ouer into England sir Emerie de Clisson a noble man of Britaine to require the king of England of succors with condition that if it pleased him hir sonne Iohn should marrie one of his daughters ¶ The king of England glad to haue such an entrie
Robinet of Bourneuill and his fellowes as ye haue heard before for his death was their life his life would haue béene their death After the French king had created new officers in hope to relieue the state of his realme and countrie year 1416 sore shaken by the late great ouerthrow it chanced that Thomas duke of Excester capteine of Harflue accompanied with thrée thousand Englishmen made a great rode into Normandie almost to the citie of Rone in which iournie he got great abundance both of riches and prisoners but in his returne the earle of Arminacke newlie made constable of France intending in his first enterprise to win the spurs hauing with him aboue fiue thousand horssemen incountred with the duke The fight was handled on both parts verie hotlie but bicause the Englishmen were not able to resist the force of the Frenchmen the duke was constreined to retire with losse at the least of thrée hundred of his footmen Howbeit being withdrawen into an orchard which was stronglie fensed and hedged about with thornes the Frenchmen were not able to enter vpon the Englishmen but yet they tooke from them all their horsses and spoile assaulted them till it was night and then retired backe to the towne not far distant from the place where they fought called Uallemont this was vpon the 14 day of March. In the morning vpon the breake of the daie the Englishmen issued foorth of the orchard where they had kept themselues all the night drew towards Harflue wherof the Frenchmen being aduertised followed them ouertooke them vpon the sands néere to Chiefe de Caux there set on them but in the end the Frenchmen were discomfited and a great number of them slaine by the Englishmen which afterwards returned without more adoo vnto Harflue The French writers blame the constable for this losse bicause he kept on the high ground with a number of men of war and would not come downe to aid his fellowes In this fourth yeare of king Henries reigne the emperour Sigismund coosine germane to king Henrie came into England to the intent that he might make an attonement betwéene king Henrie and the French king with whom he had beene before bringing with him the archbishop of Remes as ambassadour for the French king At Calis he was honorablie receiued by the earle of Warwike lord deputie there and diuerse other lords sent thither of purpose to attend him Moreouer the king sent thither thirtie great ships to bring him and his traine ouer At Douer the duke of Glocester and diuerse other lords were readie to receiue him who at his approching to land entered the water with their swords in their hands drawen and by the mouth of the said duke declared to him that if he intended to enter the land as the kings fréend and as a mediator to intreat for peace he should be suffered to arriue but if he would enter as an emperour into a land claimed to be vnder his empire then were they readie to resist him This was thought necessarie to be doone for sauing of the kings prerogatiue who hath full preheminence within his owne realme as an absolute emperour When the emperour herevpon answered that he was come as the kings fréend and as a mediator for peace and not with any imperiall authoritie he was of the duke and other his associats receiued with all such honor as might be deuised The king with all his nobilitie receiued him on Blackheath the seuenth day of Maie and brought him through London to Westminster with great triumph Shortlie after there came also into England Albert duke of Holland who was likewise fréendlie interteined Both these princes the emperour and the duke of Holland were conueied to Windsore to saint Georges feast and elected companions of the noble order of the garter and had the collar and habit of the same to them deliuered and sat in their sâ—als all the solemnitie of the feast Shortlie after that the feast was finished the duke of Holland returned into his countrie but the emperour tarried still and assaied all maner of meanes to persuade the king to a peace with the Frenchmen But their euill hap as they that were appointed by Gods prouidence to suffer more damage at the Englishmens hands would not permit his persuasions to take place for whereas peace was euen almost entring in at the gates the king was suddenlie stirred to displeasure vpon a new occasion for he being aduertised of the losse of his men at the late conflict in the territorie of Rone as ye haue heard refused to heare this word peace once named The emperour like a wise princâ— pâ—ssed ouer that time till another season that some fauourable aspect of the planets should séeme to fâ—rther his purpose And when he thought the same was come he brâ—â—â—ed againe the vessell of concord and amitie which he put in so faire a cup and presented it with such effectuous words line 10 that â—uerlie the king had tasted it if word had not béen brought about the same time that Harflue was besieged of the French both by water and land as it was indéed for the constable of France incouraged by his last conflict though the same was not much to his praise assembled an armie and vpon a sudden laid siege to the towne At the same instant Iohn vicount of Narbon the vice-admerall of France brought the whole nauie to the riuage and shore adioining to the towne in purpose to haue entered by line 20 the waterside but the duke of Excester defeated his intent and defended the towne verie manfullie King Henrie aduertised hereof meant at the first to haue gone with his nauie in person to the succors of his men but the emperor dissuaded him from that purpose aduising him rather to send some one of his capteins The king following his louing and reasonable aduertisement appointed his brother the duke of Bedford accompanied with the earles of March Marshall Oxford Huntington Warwike Arundell line 30 Salisburie Deuonshire and diuerse barons with two hundred saile to passe into Normandie for rescue of the towne of Harflue which vsing great diligence shipped at Rie and after some hinderance by contrarie winds at length came to the mouth of the riuer of Seine on the daie of the Assumption of our ladie When the vicount of Narbon perceiued the English nauie to approch he couragiouslie set forward and gat the possession of the mouth of the hauen The duke of Bedford séeing his enimies thus line 40 fiercelie to come forward set before certeine strong ships which at the first incounter vanquished and tooke two French ships the capteins whereof were too rash and forward The duke followed with all his puissance and set on his enimies The fight was long but not so long as perillous nor so perillous as terrible for battels on the sea are desperate till at length the victorie fell to the Englishmen so that
persons meaning to reuolt to the Dolphins side aduertised him by letters of their whole minds which letters were conueied vnto him by certeine friers The Dolphin glad of those newes appointed the lords de la Breth and Faiet marshals of France line 40 accompanied with the lords of Mount Iehan of Buâ—ll Doruall Torsie Beaumanor the Hire and his brother Guilliam with fiue hundred other valiant capteins and souldiers to the accomplishing of this enterprise who comming thither at the daie assigned in the night season approched towards the walles making a little fire on an hill in sight of the towne to signifie their comming which perceiued by the citizens that néere to the great church were watching for the same a burning cresset was shewed line 50 out of the steeple which suddenlie was put out and quenched What néedeth manie words The capteins on horssebacke came to the gate the traitors within slue the porters and watchmen and let in their fréends whereby the footmen entered first and the men of armes waited at the barriers to the intent that if néed required they might fight it out in open field Hereby manie Englishmen were slaine a great crie and garboile raised through the towne as in such surprises is woont The cause of this line 60 mischéefe was not knowen to any but onelie to the conspirators for the remnant of the citizens being no partakers imagined that the Englishmen had made hauocke in the towne and put all to the sword The Englishmen on the other side iudged that the citizens had begun some new rebellion against them or else had striuen amongst themselues The earle of Suffolke which was gouernour of the towne hauing perfect knowledge by such as scaped from the wals how the matter went withdrew without any tarriance into the castell which standeth at the gate of saint Uincent whereof was constable Thomas Gower esquier whither also fled manie Englishmen so as for vrging of the enimie prease of the number and lacke of vittels they could not haue indured long wherfore they priuilie sent a messenger to the lord Talbot which then laie at Alanson certifieng him in how hard a case they were The lord Talbot hearing these newes like a carefull capteine in all hast assembled togither about seuen hundred men in the euening departed from Alanson so as in the morning he came to a castell called Guierch two miles from Mans and there staied a while till he had sent out Matthew Gough as an espiall to vnderstand how the Frenchmen demeaned themselues Matthew Gough so well sped his businesse that priuilie in the night he came into the castell where he learned that the Frenchmen verie negligentlie vsed themselues without taking heed to their watch as though they had béene out of all danger which well vnderstood he returned againe and within a mile of the citie met the lord Talbot and the lord Scales and opened vnto them all things according to his credence The lords then to make hast in the matter bicause the daie approched with all spéed possible came to the posterne gate and alighting from their horsses about six of the clocke in the morning they issued out of the castell crieng saint George Talbot The Frenchmen being thus suddenlie taken were sore amazed in so much that some of them being not out of their beds got vp in their shirts and lept ouer the walles Other ran naked out of the gates to saue their liues leauing all their apparell horsses armour and riches behind them none was hurt but such as resisted ¶ Hard shift was made on all hands for safetie of life happie was he that could find a place of refuge where to lurke vnspide and vnhurt of the enimie who in the execution of their vengeance were so peremptorie that it was a matter of great difficultie or rather impossibilitie to escape their force To be short there were slaine and taken to the number of foure hundred gentlemen the priuat souldiers were frankelie let go After this inquisition was made of the authors of the treason and there were found condemned thirtie citizens twentie priests and fifteene friers who according to their demerits were all hanged The citie of Mans being thus recouered the lord Talbot returned to Alanson and shortlie after the earle of Warwike departed into England to be gouernour of the yoong king in steed of Thomas duke of Excester latelie departed to God and then was the lord Thomas Montacute earle of Salisburie sent into France year 1428 to supplie the roome of the said earle of Warwike who landed at Calis with fiue thousand men and so came to the duke of Bedford as then lieng in Paris where they fell in councell togither concerning the affaires of France and namelie the earle of Salisburie began maruellouslie to phantasie the gaining of the citie countrie of Orleance This earle was the man at that time by whose wit strength and policie the English name was much fearefull and terrible to the French nation which of himselfe might both appoint command and doo all things in manner at his pleasure in whose power as it appeared after his death a great part of the conquest consisted for suerlie he was a man both painefull diligent and readie to withstand all dangerous chances that were at hand prompt in counsell and of courage inuincible so that in no one man men put more trust nor any singular person wan the harts so much of all men Herevpon after this great enterprise had long béene debated in the priuie councell the earle of Salisburies deuise therein was of them all granted and allowed so that he being replenished with good hope of victorie and furnished with artillerie munition apperteining to so great an enterprise accompanied with the earle of Suffolke and the lord Talbot and with a valiant armie to the number of ten thousand men departed from Paris and passed through the countrie of Beausse There he tooke by assault the towne of Genuille and within fiue daies after had the castell deliuered vnto him by them that were fled into it for their safegard 〈◊〉 also tooke the towne of Baugencie suffering 〈◊〉 man which would become subiect to the king of England to inioie their line 10 lands and goods The townes of Meun vpon Loire and Iargeaulx hearing of these dooings presented to them the keies of their townes vpon like agréement About Maie in this 1428 the towne of Naunts and territories there with a fearefull earthquake were shaken houses castels and strong buildings in such terrour as it was thought the end of the world had béene come After this in the moneth of September the earle came before the citie of Orleance and planted his line 20 siege on the one side of the riuer of Loire but before his comming the bastard of Orleance the bishop of the citie and a great number of Scots hearing of the earles intent made diuerse fortifications
line 20 In these conceptions no lesse strange for their varietie than great for the importance they drew and perhaps in other thoughts more secret and singular for in a mind so fierce and terrible all sorts of imaginations how great and vaine so euer they be are not incredible after the continuation of his sicknesse for manie daies he declined towards death and féeling the end of his mortalitie to hasten on and the same to preuent the execution of his high thoughts he caused to call togither the consistorie line 30 which albeit he could not assist in person by reason of his disease yet by the authoritie of it he caused to be confirmed the bull which he had published before against such as by simonie would clime vp vnto the popedome He declared that the election of his successor apperteined to the college of cardinals and not to the councell and that the cardinals schismatikes could haue no presence or communitie there to whom he protested there to pardon the iniuries they had doone him and praied to God to forgiue them the line 40 wrongs they had doone to his church After this he besought the college of cardinals that in his fauor and for his sake they would grant to the duke of Urbin his nephew the citie of Pesera in patronage or vicarage alledging the consideration that by meane of the duke it had béene recouered to the church after the death of Iohn Sforce In no other matter he expressed anie priuate or particular affection Insomuch as Madame Felice his daughter ioining line 50 with hir the petitions of manie others beseeching him with great importunitie to create cardinall Guido de Montfalcon being hir brother by the mothers side he answered roundlie that he was not worthie of that degree He made not his affections conformable to their desires In that last action of life he shewed no parcialitie in worldlie causes his present debilitie could diminish nothing of his ancient resolution but expressed in all things the same constancie and seueritie togither with that iudgement and force of mind which he had before his sicknesse line 60 in which firme estate and disposition of spirit he receiued deuoutlie the offices of the church and the one and twentith daie of Februarie he ended his course of these mortall and present paines He was a prince of incredible constancie and courage but so full of furie vnrulie conceptions that the reuerence that was borne to the church the discord of princes the conditions of times did more to staie him from his ruine than either his moderation or his discretion worthie no doubt of great glorie if either he had béene a prince secular or if that care and intention which he had to raise the church into temporall greatnesse by the meane of warre had béene imploied to exalt it by the meane of peace in matters spirituall Neuerthelesse he was lamented aboue all his predecessors no lesse estéemed of those who hauing either lost the true consideration of things or at least ignorant how to distinguish and peise them rightlie iudged it an office more duelie apperteining to popes to increase the iurisdiction of the sée apostolike by armes and blood of christians than by good example of holie life and due curing and correction of corrupt maners to trauell for the sauing of those soules for whom they glorie so much that Iesus Christ hath named them his vicars in earth and therefore it is a good consequent that he is a branch or rather a brand of the diuell as one concludeth against him saieng Impius est igitur natus cacodaemone papa Turpibus genijs est homicida satus About the same time the warres yet continuing betwéene England France Prior Iehan of whom ye haue heard before in the fourth yéere of this kings reigne great capteine of the French nauie with his gallies and foists charged with great basilisks and other artillerie came on the borders of Sussex in the night season at a poore village there called Brighthelmston burnt it taking such goods as he found But when the people began to gather by firing the becons Prior Iehan sounded his trumpet to call his men aboord and by that time it was daie Then certeine archers that kept the watch folowed Prior Iehan to the sea and shot so fast that they beat the gallie men from the shore and wounded manie in the foist to the which Prior Iehan was constreined to wade and was shot in the face with an arrow so that he lost one of his eies and was like to haue died of the hurt and therefore he offered his image of wax before our ladie at Bullongne with the English arrow in the face for a miracle The lord admerall offended with this proud part of the Frenchmen in making such attempt on the English coasts sent sir Iohn Wallop to the sea with diuers ships which sailing to the coasts of Normandie landed there and burnt one and twentie villages and townes with diuerse ships in the hauen of Treaport Staples and other where Men maruelled greatlie at the manfull dooings of sir Iohn Wallop considering he had not past an eight hundred men and tooke land there so often In Iune sir Thomas Louell was sent ouer to Calis with six hundred men to strengthen that towne and other the fortresses within the English pale for doubt of anie sudden attempt to be made by the Frenchmen bicause monsieur de Pontremie with a mightie armie and great ordinance was come downe néere to Ard howbeit be taried not long but raised his campe within a while after his comming thither and returned without anie more dooing The French king perceiuing what losses he had susteined by the warres against England and doubting least one euill lucke should still follow in the necke of an other determined to make sute for peace and first agrâ—eing with pope Leo desired him to be a meane also for the procuring of some agréement betwixt him and the king of England ¶ This pope Leo of that name the tenth before his election cardinall of Medicis bare but seauen and thirtie yeeres of age which albeit was so much the more maruellous and wonderfull by how much the election was contrarie to custome yet the yong cardinals were the principall causers of it by their industrie hauing long time afore secretlie agréed amongst themselues to create the first pope of their number The most parts and nations of christendome reioised much at this election euerie one interteining an assured expectation of his vertues as well by the present and gréene memorie of the valor of his late father as for an vniuersall reputation that went of his owne inclinations and liberalities To this estimation was ioined a generall opinion of his continencie and life not atteinted togither with a gladsome hope that by the example of his father he would be a furtherer of learning and beare fauor to wits disposed
duke of Suffolke and the lord Marques Dorset that daie began the field and tooke the barriers with speares in his hand abiding all commers The Dolphin brought a man secretlie which in all the court of France was the tallest the strongest man and he was an Alman and put him in the place of an other person to haue had the duke of Suffolke rebuked The same great Alman came to the bars fiercelie with face hid bicause he would not be knowne and bare his speare to the duke of Suffolke with all his strength and the duke him receiued and for all his strength put him by strong strokes from the barriers and with the but end of the speare strake the Alman that he staggered but for all that the Alman strake stronglie and hardlie at the duke and the iudges suffered manie more strokes to be foughten than were appointed but when they saw the Alman reele and stagger then they let fall the raile betwéene them The lord marquesse Dorset at the same time euen at the same barre fought with a gentleman of France that he lost his speare and in maner withdrew When the raile was let fall these two noble men put vp their visers and tooke aire and with swords the points and edges abated they came to the barriers The Alman fought sore with the duke which imagined that he was a person set on for the nonce but the duke by pure strength tooke him about the necke and pomeled him so about the head that the bloud issued out of his nose and then they were parted and the Alman was conueied by the Dolphin least he should be knowne These two noblemen of line 10 England that daie fought valiantlie diuerse feats and the Frenchmen likewise noblie them defended But it happened the lord Marquesse on a time to put for his aid his yoongest brother called the lord Edward Greie of the age of nintéene yeare and to him was put a gentleman of France of great stature and strength to the intent to plucke him ouer the barres but yet the yoong lord was of such strength power policie that he so stroke his aduersarie that he disarmd him all the face bare Thus were these enterprises line 20 finished to the land of all parties the Englishmen receiued much honor and no spot of rebuke yet they were priuilie set at in manie ieopardies For the declaration of this triumph he that saw it can tell how goodlie the coursers trotted bounded and quicklie turned how valiantlie the men of armes behaued themselues and how the duke of Burbons band was apparrelled and bassed in tawnie veluet and cloth of siluer cloudie the band of the earle of saint Paule apparrelled and barded in purple line 30 veluet all to cut on purple sattin the infant of Arragon sonne to Frederike last king of Naples and his band all in cloth of gold and siluer paled This lord was but yoong but yet verie toward The duke of Uandosme and his band in cloth of gold and plunket veluet The Dolphin and his aids were euerie daie new apparrelled at his cost one daie in siluer and gold another in crimsin veluet and yellow veluet and another daie in white veluet and greene some daie mixed with sattin some daie embrodered some line 40 daie pounced with gold and so euerie daie in change as the woorkers fantasie could deuise but the Englishmen had euer on their apparrell red crosses to be knowne for loue of their countrie At this triumph the countie Galeas came into the place on a genet trapped in blew satten and he himselfe likewise apparrelled and ran a course with a speare which was at the head fiue inches on euerie side square that is twentie inches about and at the butt nine inches square that is six and thirtie inches line 50 this speare was massie timber and yet for all that he ran cleane with it a long course and slightlie auoided it to his great honour Also there was another gentleman called Anthonie Bounarme which came into the field all armed and on his bodie brought in sight ten speares that is to wit three speares set in euerie stirrop forward and vnder euerie thigh two speares vpward and vnder his left arme was one speare backward and the tenth in his hand and when he came before the quéene he let his horsse run and line 60 neuer stopped till he had taken euerie speare after oother and broken it on the ground and he neuer stopped his horsse till all were broken This gentleman was highlie praised and so he was worthie When all this great triumph was doone the lords of England tooke their leaue and were highlie thanked of the king queene Dolphin and all the lords and so departed and came into England before Christmas ¶ In Nouember the quéene was deliuered of a prince which liued not long after Touching the accord of peace betwéene England and France you shall heare the report of Guicciardine which to this place maketh passage to knowledge as oile giueth maintenance of light to the lampe At the first opening of this practise for peace there fell out manie difficulties for that the king of England demanded Bullongne in Picardie with a great summe of monie but at last all the differences fell vpon the towne of Tornaie the king of England striuing to reteine it and the French obiecting some difficultie in so much as the king of England dispatched in post to the French king the bishop of Tricaro whome he charged without imparting in what nature of particularitie consisted the difficultie to declare to the king from him that in regard of so great a benefit he should not stand vpon so manie subtile difficulties but to consider that in a prince reason shuld beare more imperie than passion The French king bicause he would neither doo wrong to his crowne nor ill content his people the towne of Tornaie being verie noble and loiall to the crowne of France caused the matter to be debated in full councell wherein was an assistance of the principals of his court who aduised him with one voice to imbrace peace yea vnder the condition offered And yet in that time the king catholike did what he could to breake it offering the king manie plots and deuises but speciallie to minister to him all his means and fauours to conquer the duchie of Millan But the answer being returned into England that the French king stood content with the resolution of Tornaie the peace succéeded was concluded in the beginning of August betwéene the two kings during their liues a yeare after their death In the capitulation it was expressed that Tornaie should remaine to the king of England to whom the French king should paie six hundred thousand crownes and that in such sort of distribution that the French king should make paiment of an hundred thousand franks euerie yeare vntill the full paiment was satisfied that they should be
with sir Thomas Bullen and sir Richard Weston were appointed to go vnto Coniacke to see the Dolphin where they were honorablie receiued and brought vnto the presence of the Dolphin being a goodlie yoong child whome they kissed and imbraced in most louing wise The earle of Worcester and with him sir Nicholas Uaux sir Iohn Pechie sir Edward Belknap year 1520 and diuerse others at the same time tooke leaue of the French king and rode to Tornaie to sée the citie deliuered to the Frenchmen Wherevpon the eight of Februarie the lord Chatillon came thither with one and twentie hundred men and after some controuersie mooued about the deliuerie of his commission and sealing an indenture which the earle had there readie ingrossed conteining the articles of agreement in consideration whereof it was deliuered the capteine sir Richard Ierningham was discharged and the Frenchmen suffered to enter with drumslads and minstrelsie but not with standards nor banners which the Englishmen caused them to roll vp greatlie against their wils Before they came to the gates they sealed the indenture confessing how they receiued the citie as a gift and not as a right and deliuered their commission whereby they were authorised to receiue it which at the first they refused to doo affirming that it was sufficient for them to shew it Thus was Tornaie deliuered in this tenth yeare of the kings reigne on the eight daie of Februarie the Englishmen returned into England sore displeased in their minds For thereby manie a tall yeoman lacked liuing the which would not labour after their returne but fell to robbing pilfering shifting and other extraordinarie meanes of maintenance whereas before they were staied vpon a certeintie of hope so long as they had allowance by the king So that this resignation of Tornaie though it were answerable to the desire of the French king and commodious for his people yet that benefit of theirs bred to the English soldiors detriment and losse who wished in their harts to haue left their liues behind them in defense of possession rather than it should reuert into the hands of them by whome it was surrendred giuen vp to the English power whom bicause they were not able to incounter they let in at their gates by a voluntarie motion and common consent for their better safetie as a late writer witnesseth Angligenas passis intra sua moenia portis Sponte intromittens line 10 ¶ During this time remained in the French court diuerse yoong gentlemen of England and they with the French king rode dailie disguised through Paris throwing egges stones and other foolish trifles at the people which light demeanour of a king was much discommended and ieasted at And when these yoong gentlemen came againe into England they were all French in eating drinking and apparell yea and in French vices and brags so that all the estates of England were by them laughed at the line 20 ladies and gentlewomen were dispraised so that nothing by them was praised but if it were after the French turne which after turned them to displesure as you shall heare After the kings ambassadours were returned and Tornaie deliuered to the Frenchmen vpon the conditions aforesaid the hostages that were here left for the paiment of the great summes and performance of the conditions comprised in the league of the which one was that if the marriage tooke none effect then the citie of Tornaie should be redeliuered line 30 vpon repaiment of the same summes the said hostages knew not in what case they stood but when they knew it they were verie heauie and sorowfull howbeit they dissembled the matter in the best wise they could The king vsed familiarlie these foure hostages and on the seuenth daie of Maie prepared a disguising and caused his great chamber at Gréenwich to be staged and great lights to be set on pillors that were gilt with basons gilt and the roofe was couered line 40 with blue sattin set full of presses of fine gold and flowers and vnder was written Iammes the meaning whereof was that the slower of youth could not be oppressed Into this chamber came the king and the quéene with the hostages and there was a goodlie comedie of Plautus plaied and that doone there entered into the chamber eight ladies in blacke veluet bordered about with gold with hoopes from the wast downeward and sléeues rusted and plited at the elbow and line 50 plaine in the middest full of cuts plucked out at euerie cut with fine camerike tired like the Aegyptians verie richlie And when these ladies had passed about the place in came eight noble personages in long gownes of taffata set with flowers of gold bullion and vnder that apparell cotes of blacke veluet embrodered with gold all to cut and plucked out with cuts of white sarcenet and euerie man had buskins of blacke veluet full of agglets of gold Then the eight men dansed with the eight ladies line 60 all being visarded and suddenlie the men cast off their large gownes and then their vnder apparell was séene And when all was doone euerie lord and ladie put off their visards and then it was knowne that the king the duke of Suffolke and the French quéene were there which were present at the plaie time On the eight daie of March was a solemne iustes the king himselfe and eight yoong gentlemen based and barded in blacke veluet embrodered with gold against the duke of Suffolke and eight of his band all in white satten with drops of gold And that daie they all ran excéeding well which the strangers highlie commended About the end of March the king sent for all the yeomen of the gard that were come from Tornaie and after manie good words giuen to them he granted to euerie of them foure pence the daie without attendance except they were speciallie commanded ¶ And here it seemeth requisit to adde the report of a forreine chronicler touching the league of amitie and conditions of the same knit vp in breuitie and good tearmes as followeth Now saith he the differences betwéene the French and English were also reconciled And for the more stabilitie of which agreement it was confirmed with a contract of parentage and aliance wherein the king of England promised to giue his onelie daughter to whome hauing no sons there was hope of the descending succession of the kingdome to the Dolphin the eldest sonne of the crowne of France adding for a portion foure hundred thousand duckets Both the one and the other bore yet so tender age that infinit accidents might happen before perfection of yeeres would make them able to establish matrimonie There was made betwene them a league defensiue wherin were comprehended Cesar and the king of Spaine in case they would ratifie it in a certeine time The king of England bound himselfe to restore Tornaie receiuing presentlie for defraiments expended vpon that towne two hundred and threescore thousand duckets
were persuaded than vanquished taught than ouerthrowne quietlie pacified than rigorouslie persecuted Ye require to haue the statute of six articles reuiued And know you what ye require Or know ye what ease ye haue with the losse of them They were lawes made but quicklie repented too bloudie they were to be borne of our people yet at the first in deed made of some necessitie Oh subiects how are ye trapped by euill persons We of pitie bicause they were bloudie tooke them awaie and you now of ignorance will aske them againe You know full well that they helped vs to extend rigour and gaue vs cause to draw our sword verie often And since our mercie mooued vs to write our lawes with milke and equitie how are ye blinded to aske them in bloud But leauing this maner of reasoning and resorting to the truth of our authoritie we let you wit the same hath béene adnulled by parlement with great reioise of our subiects and not now to be called in question And dareth anie of you with the name of a subiect stand against an act of parlement a law of the realme What is our power if lawes should be thus neglected Or what is your suertie if lawes be not kept Assure you most suerlie that we of no earthlie thing vnder the heauen make such reputation as we doo of this one to haue our lawes obeied this cause of God to be throughlie mainteined from the which we will neuer remoue a heares bredth nor giue place to anie creature liuing but therein will spend our whole roiall person our crowne treasure realme and all our state whereof we assure you of our high honor For herein resteth our honor herein doo all kings knowledge vs a king And shall anie one of you dare breath or thinke against our kingdome and crowne In the end of this your request as we be giuen to vnderstand ye would haue them stand in force till our full age To this we thinke that if ye knew what ye spake ye would not haue vttred the motion nor neuer giuen breath to such a thought For what thinke you of our kingdome Be we of lesse authoritie for our age Be we not your king now as we shall be Shall ye be subiects hereafter and now are ye not Haue we not the right we shall haue If ye would suspend and hang our dooings in doubt vntill our full age ye must first know as a king we haue no difference of yeares but as a naturall man and creature of God we haue youth and by his sufferance shall haue age We are your rightfull king your liege lord the souereigne prince of England not by our age but by Gods ordinance not onelie when we shall be one and twentie yeares of age but when we were of ten yéers We possesse our crowne not by yeares but by the bloud and descent from our father king Henrie the eight If it be considered they which mooue this matter if they durst vtter themselues would denie our kingdome But our good subiects know their prince and will increase not diminish his honor inlarge his power not abate it knowledge his kingdome not deferre it to certeine yeares All is one to speake against our crowne and to denie our kingdome as to require that our lawes maie be broken vnto one and twentie yeares Be we not your crowned annointed and established king Wherein be we of lesse maiestie of lesse authoritie or lesse state than our progenitors kings of this realme except your vnkindnes your vnnaturalnesse will diminish our estimation We haue hitherto since the death of our father by the good aduise and counsell of our deare and intirelie beloued vncle the duke of Summerset and gouernor and protector kept our estate mainteined our realme preserued our honour defended our people from all enimies We haue hitherto béene feared and dread of our enimies yea of princes kings and nations Yea herein we be nothing inferiour to anie our progenitors which grace we acknowledge to be giuen vs from God and how else but by good obedience line 10 good counsell of our magistrates and by the authoritie of our kingdome England hitherto hath gained honour during our reigne it hath woone of the enimie and not lost It hath béene maruelled that wée of so yoong yeares haue reigned so noblie so roiallie so quietlie And how chanceth that you our louing subiects of that our countrie of Cornewall and Deuonshire will giue occasion to slander this our realme of England to giue courage to the enimie to note our realme of line 20 the euill of rebellion to make it a preie to our old enimies to diminish our honour which God hath giuen our father left our good vncle and councell preserued vnto vs What greater euill could ye commit than euen now when our forren enimie in Scotland and vpon the sea seeketh to inuade vs to doo our realme dishonour than to arise in this maner against our law to prouoke our wrath to aske our vengeance and to giue vs an occasion to spend that force vâ—on you which we meant to bestow vpon our enimies to line 30 begin to slaie you with that sword that we drew forth against Scots and other enimies to make a conquest of our owne people which otherwise should haue beene of the whole realme of Scotland Thus farre we haue descended from our high maiestie for loue to consider you in your simple ignorance and haue béene content to send you an instruction like a father who of iustice might haue sent you your destructions like a king to rebels And now we let you know that as you sée our mercie abundantlie line 40 so if ye prouoke vs further we sweare to you by the liuing God ye shall féele the power of the same God in our sword which how mightie it is no subiect knoweth how puissant it is no priuat man can iudge how mortall no Englishman dare thinke But suerlie suerlie as your lord and prince your onlie king and maister we saie to you repent your selues and take our mercie without delaie or else we will foorthwith extend our princelie power and execute our sharpe sword against you as against infidels line 50 and Turks and rather aduenture our owne roiall person state and power than the same should not be executed And if you will proue the example of our mercie learne of certeine which latlie did arise as they perceiuing pretended some griefes and yet acknowledging their offenses haue not onelie most humblie their pardon but féele also by our order to whome onelie all publike order apperteineth present redresse of their griefes In the end we admonish you of line 60 your duties to God whome ye shall answere in the daie of the Lord of your duties toward vs whom ye shall answere by our order and take our mercie whilest God so inclineth vs least when ye shall be constreined to aske we shall be two much hardened in heart to grant it
end of the collegiat chapell to the making whereof he defaced as it is said without licence a peece of the line 10 kings lodging on the east end of the chapell The deane hath a faire lodging of timber within the castell and to it is ioined a place for the ministers of the chapell Thus much Leland for Wallingford thus much I for Edmund earle of Cornewall and lord of Wallingford Edward of Carnaruan prince of Wales sonne to Edward the first was in the yeare of our redemption 1295 being the fiue and twentith yeare of Edward the first protector of England in the absence of his father in Flanders who because he was line 20 of tender yeares had as tutors and gouernours appointed vnto him Richard bishop of Durham Eulogium hath the bishop of London William Montacute with diuerse other knights as Reignold Greie Iohn Giffard Alane Plunket being wise discreet and expert soldiers Piers or Peter de Gauestone a Gascoine borne whome king Edward the second so tenderlie loued as that he preferred him before all men was appointed gardian of the realme in the first yeare of the line 30 said king Edward the second being the yeare of our redemption 1308 when the king went into France and there aboad to marrie Isabell daughter to Philip king of France before that the said Edward was crowned king of England as hath Radulphus Higden Of this Piers I will here saie litle bicause I haue spoken more largelie of him in my pantographie of England Iohn de Drokensford bishop of Bath and Wels was in the yeare of our redemption 1313 being the line 40 sixt yeare of king Edward the second made protector of the realme in the absence of the said king Edward the second and his wife quéene Isabell who went into France to solemnize the coronation of Philip sonne to Philip king of France who was at that instant created king of Nauarre This Drokensford was the fourtéenth bishop of Bath Wels. Great contention was there betwéene him and the deane and priests of that church He succéeded in the bishoprike Walter Houelshaw This Drokensford line 50 held the bishoprike about ninetéene yeares he beautified the same with manie goodlie buildings procured manie priuileges vnto it and greatlie exalted his kindred He was buried at Welles before the high altar of saint Iohn Baptist. Henrie Lascie or Lacie earle of Lincolne and of Salisburie baron of Halton and of Pontfrait corruptlie called Pomefret and constable of Chester was made protector of the realme in the fift yeare of Edward the second being the yeare of our redemption line 60 1310 whilest the king remained in the warres of Scotland Which Henrie died shortlie after in the same yeare and was buried in the new worke of Paules who carried for his armes the purple lion cōtrarie to the cote his ancestors had borne before This man had doone great seruice in the warres in the time of Edward the first he married Margaret the daughter and heire of William Longespée earle of Salisburie and had by hir a daughter named Alice married to Thomas Plantagenet earle of Lancaster Leicester and Darbie This Henrie as I haue learned of other and read in Leland had issue a bastard sonne and hauing amongst manie other lordships the manour of Grantcester besides Cambridge he gaue the same with other lands vnto that bastard and commanded that the same Lacie so set vp in Grantcester should for himselfe and his successors euer name their sonnes and heires by the names of Henrie which hitherto hath béene religiouslie obserued amongst them And this was the originall of the houses of the Lacies in Grantcester as Leland learned of him which was then heire of those lands Gilbert de Clare the third earle of Glocester of that name after the death of Henrie Lacie was chosen gouernour of the realme the king being still in Scotland during the time that the king shuld make his abode in that countrie Of this man see before in the discourse of his father Gilbert the second earle of Glocester and Hertford and protector of the realme Edward prince of Wales and duke of Aquitane comming out of France with Isabell in the second yeare of Edward the second his father was after his landing in England and the taking of his father made gardian of England vnder his father which office he did not long continue for deposing his father from the kingdome in the yeare of Christ 1326 he assumed the crowne himselfe in his fathers life Walter Reinolds archbishop of Canturburie was with others appointed gardian of England on this sort Edward the third as before atteining to the crowne in the yeare of our redemption 1327 or as some others more trulie saie 1326 being fourteene years of age did then begin his reigne But bicause he was so yoong not being of power or policie to weld so great a charge it was decréed in this first yeare of his reigne that twelue gouernors of the greatest lords within the realme should possesse the gouernement vntill he came to riper yeares whose names were as insueth Walter archbishop of Canturburie the archbishop of Yorke the bishop of Winchester the bishop of Hereford Henrie earle of Lancaster Thomas Brotherton earle marshall Edmund of Woodstocke earle of Kent Iohn earle of Warren the lord Thomas Wake the lord Henrie Persie the lord Oliuer de Ingham and the lord Iohn Rosse who were sworne of the kings councell and charged with the gouernement of the kingdome as they would answere for the same But this ordinance continued not long for in the second yeare of this king Isabell the kings mother and the lord Roger Mortimer tooke the whole rule into their hands in such sort that the king and his councellors were in all affaires of state and otherwise onelie gouerned by their direction Of this Walter Reinolds the archbishop bicause he was sometime chancellor and sometime treasuror is more mention made in the large volume of the liues of the chancellors Iohn of Eltham earle of Cornewall sonne to Edward the second had in the fourth yeare of king Edward the third being the yeare of our redemption 1330 the gouernement of the realme committed vnto him whilest king Edward the third had passed the seas onelie fiftéene horsses in his companie apparelled in clokes like vnto merchants which office the said Iohn of Eltham executed vntill the returne of the said king and before that also when the said Edward the third in the second yeare of his reigne did before this time go into France to doo his homage He was made earle of Cornewall in the second yeare of king Edward the third being the yeare of Christ 1328 and died at Barwike others saie at S. Iohns towne in Scotland in the moneth of October 1336 being the tenth yeare of Edward the third and was honorablie buried at Westminster for the solemnization of whose buriall the king came out of Scotland
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
of honor as age hath consumed with the persons which inioied such prehemences in England I will from the first creation of anie duke since the conquest recite the creation descent and succession of all the dukes of England shewing first the time of the creation of such dukes secondlie the descent of all such dukes as are lineallie issued out of that creation which follow as they came in one line Edward the eldest sonne of king Edward the third being surnamed the blacke prince was made duke of Cornewall the eleauenth of Edward the third in the yeare of our redemption 1337 when he was yet but yoong This yoong prince was the first duke in England since the conquest and Cornewall was by that creation the first place that was erected to a dukedome Which duke being the flower of chiualrie in his time died about the fiftith yéere of king line 10 Edward the third in the yeare of Christ 1376 and was buried at Canturburie Henrie Plantagenet alià s Tort Colle bicause his head leaned somewhat to one shoulder like the great Macedone king Alexander whose valure in feats of armes this Henrie did also imitate being sonne to Henrie of Monmouth earle of Lancaster was in like sort earle of Lancaster by descent After which he was created earle of Darbie as some saie in the eleauenth yeare of Edward the third being line 20 the yeare of our Lord 1337 other saie in the fouretéenth yeare of Edward the third in the yeare of our saluation 1340. He was created duke of Lancaster as some haue in the six twentith yeare of Edward the third as other haue the seauen twentith and as the third sort haue the eight twentith yeare of Edward the third He was lord steward of England lieutenant of Guines This man was wise glorious in fortune and full of honor in feates of armes whilest he was yoong he died the fiue and thirtith yeare line 30 of Edward the third in the yeare of Christ 1361 being one of the first knights which were made at the first institution of the honorable order of the garter and the second duke that was made in England He had issue two daughters heires Mawd maried to William duke of Bauare earle of Henalt Zeland Holand which after became mad Blanch maried to Iohn of Gant fourth sonne to Edward the third Iohn Plantagenet surnamed of Gant in Flanders where he was borne the fourth sonne to king line 40 Edward the third was first by his father in the fiue and thirtith yeare of Edward the third in the yeare of Christ 1361 made duke of Lancaster so that he was duke of Lancaster earle of Lincolne Salisburie Darbie and Leicester king of Castile Lirne and steward of England He married thrée wiues the first was Blanch the daughter and heire of Henrie duke of Lancaster earle of Leicester Lincolne Sarisburie Darbie in whose right he obteined all those titles of honor whome he maried in the thirtith line 50 thrée yeare of Edward the third in the yeare of our Lord 1359 and by hir had issue Henrie Plantagenet duke of Hereford Philip married in the tenth yeare of Richard the second in the yeare of Christ 1386 as some saie or rather 1385 as others haue to the king of Portingale and Elisabeth married to Iohn Holland erle of Huntington His second wife was Constance eldest daughter to Peter king of Castile whom he maried in the six fortith yeare of Edward the third being in the yeare of Christ 1372 line 60 by whome he had issue Margaret maried to the king of Castile which Constance died in the yere of Christ 1394 as saith Ypodigma His third wife was Katharine the widow of Otho Swinford and daughter to sir Paien Ruet alià s Guien king at armes whom he maried in the nintéenth yeare of king Richard the second being the yere of Christ 1395 or as some saie 1396 by this woman he had before mariage Thomas Beaufort Iohn Beaufort Henrie Beaufort cardinall of Winchester Iane maried to Rafe Neuill earle of Westmerland all which children were in the twentith of Richard the second being in the yeare 1396 legitimated by parlement at which time the said Iohn of Gant gaue them the surname of Beaufort This Iohn of Gant was also earle of Richmond and constable of France in the time of Richard the second who made him also duke of Aquitaine in the fourtéenth yeare of his reigne being the yeare 1390 This Iohn of Gant died in the two twentith yeare of Richard the second in the yeare 1398 or as saith Ypodigma 1399 was buried in the quâ—ere of saint Paules church of London on the north side Henrie Plantagenet alià s Henrie of Bollinbroke so surnamed of the place of his birth the eldest son of the said Iohn was by inheritance duke of Lancaster earle of Leicester Salisburie Darbie and Lincolne he was created duke of Hereford by Richard the second who made him earle of Darbie in the ninth yeare of his reigne in the yeare of Christ 1386 and after made him duke of Hereford in the 21 yeare of his reigne being the yeare of Christ 1397. Which Henrie of Bollinbroke maried in the 9 yéere of the reigne of Richard the second in the yeare of Christ 1386 Marie the second daughter one of the heires of Humphrie Bohune earle of Hereford Essex and conestable of England which woman died in the yéere of Christ 1394 about the eighteenth yéere of Richard the second This Henrie was after king of England by the name of Henrie the fourth Lionell Plantagenet surnamed Lionell of Antwerpe in Brabant because he was there borne being the third son of king Edward the third was erle of Ulster in Ireland by his wife and created duke of Clarence in the 36 yéere of Edward the third in the yéere of Christ 1462 but other saie he was made duke in the 33 yeer of Edward the third He had two wiues the first Elisabeth some saie Eleanor but rightlie as I doo suppose the daughter of William Burgh earle of Ulster by whom he had issue Philip maried to Edmund earle of March the second wife was Ielant or Uielant daughter to Galeas duke of Millane to whom he was maried as saith the English chronicle in the two and fortith yéere of Edward the third in the yéere of Christ 1368 which yéere the Italians count 1367 by whom he had no issue This Lionell was somtime regent of France died 1368. Edmund of Langleie fift son to Edward the third made earle of Cambridge about the six and thirtith yéere of Edward the third being the yeere of Christ 1361 was made duke of Yorke in the eight or as some haue the ninth yéere of the said king Richard the second He in the six and fortith yéere of king Edward the third in the yéere that the word became flesh 1372 married Isabell one of the daughters of
Winchester in the yéere one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and fiue being the ninth yeere of king Edward the third in which seat he sate twelue yeares The death of which Adam who gaue Henningfield parsonage to the church of Hereford sir Thomas de la More doth most plentifullie set foorth Henrie Burwash bishop of Lincolne was lord treasuror in Easter terme in the first yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third being the yeare of our redemption one thousand three hundred twentie and seauen in which office he continued vntill the second yeere of Edward the third and was afterward remooued Thomas bishop of Hereford inioied the honorable place of the lord treasuror in the third yeare of king Edward the third being the yeere of our redemption one thousand three hundred twentie and nine but in the yéere following another came in place Robert Woodhouse possessed the roome of the high tresuror of England in the fourth yéere of the reigne of the said yoong king Edward the third being the yeere that the word became flesh one thousand thrée hundred and thirtie and was also treasuror some part of Michaelmasse terme in the fift yéere of king Eward the third who in the yéere following did giue place vnto another William archbishop of Yorke was againe treasuror of England in the fift yeere of the reigne of king Edward the third being the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and one and inioied that place some part of Michaelmasse terme in the said yeere after whome came the bishop of Norwich W. bishop of Norwich was made treasuror in Michaelmas terme in the said fift yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third in which terme there had béene thrée lord treasurors successiuelie a thing seldome or neuer heard nor I thinke likelie againe euer to be which office this bishop kept all Michaelmasse terme in the sixt yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third being the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and two and somewhat more in the end yet yéelding that honor to another Robert le Ailestone being lord treasuror in the seuenth yéere of the reigne of Edward the third being the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and thrée continued in the same office vntill the tenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third being the yeare of our saluation one thousand thrée hundred thirtie six which was about thrée yeares the same being a longer time than anie other had possessed that place since the beginning of the reigne of the said king Edward the third Henrie Burwash bishop of Lincolne was againe treasuror the tenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third being in the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and six in which yéere as hath Scala chronicorum the king holding his parlement at London was aduised by his councell to prosecute his title to the crowne of France Wherevpon king Edward sent ambassadors to the duke of Bauiere emperor which had married the other sister to the earle of Henalt as king Edward the third had maried one for suertie of aliance and to reteine noble men about him with no small charge which ambassadors were Henrie Burgwash bishop of Lincolne and the earles William Montacute of Sarum and William Clinton of Huntington who returned to the parlement at London with their answer well liked Of this man see more in the chancellors being yet after his ambassage treasuror in some part of the eleuenth yéere of Edward the third Richard de Burie bishop of Durham did inioie the honor of lord treasuror in the eleuenth yeere of the reigne of king Edward the third he was a man of great grauitie and much estéemed of the nobilitie and gentlemen of the north Of this man is more spoken in the chancellors of England William de la Zouch borne of the noble house of the lord Zouch was treasuror of England in the twelfe yéere of king Edward the third in the yéere of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred thirtie and eight he being bishop of Yorke was vicegerent to the king in the north parts in the twentith yéere of line 10 the reigne of the said Edward the third and in the yéere of our redemption one thousand three hundred fortie and six at what time he tooke Dauid Bruce king of Scots This man went to Rome and after a long contention betwéene him and William Kelsleie Kilsbie or Kelseie for all these different names are found in authors touching the archbishoprike of Yorke he was after two yeares thus spent consecrated bishop of Yorke by pope Clement the sixt After which this William in the eleuenth yeare of his bishoprike line 20 being long troubled with a greeuous disease began the worke of a chappell on the south side adioining to the church of saint Peters in Yorke where he purposed to be buried but died before it was finished and lieth interred in the said church before the altar of saint Edward the confessor Sir Richard Sadington knight was treasuror in the foureteenth yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third being the yéere of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred fortie There was one line 30 Robert Sadington liuing about this time of whom is more mention in the chancellors of England but as yet I well know not whether they were both one man or no sith authors maie misplace Robert for Richard as they haue often doone Robert Northborow being at that time as I iudge bishop of Couentrie was treasuror of England in the fouretéenth yéere of the reigne of Edward the third being the yeere of our Lord one thousand three hundred and fortie in which yeere he was line 40 remooued whom with the chancellor the king meant afterward as after shall appeare to haue sent into Flanders as pledges for monie that the king owght there After whom I suppose that Sadington came in place although I haue a little misplaced him at this time following the fansies of other men more than mine owne A bishop of Chester was lord treasuror of England in the fiftéenth yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third being about the yéere that the word line 50 became flesh one thousand thrée hundred fortie and one in which office he did not long continue Robert Perning or Pernicke was lord treasuror in the Easter terme in the yéere of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred fortie and one being the fiftéenth yéere of king Edward the third in which yéere also he was made chancellor and so continued both offices a while vntill in the sixtéenth yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third as I gather by all circumstances of times records and histories line 60 who in the seuentéenth yeere of the reigne of the said king Edward the third being the yéere of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred fortie and thrée
foure daies and died line 40 in the yeare one thousand thrée hundred and foure being about the two and thirtith yeare of king Edward the first Iohn de Chesill was the second time honoured with the place of the chancellor in the yeare that the word became flesh one thousand two hundred sixtie and eight being the thrée and fiftith yeare in which king Henrie the third of that name did hold the scepter of England Richard de Middleton so surnamed of the place line 50 where he was borne was aduanced to the office of the chancellorship in the said three and fiftith yeare of king Henrie the third in the moneth of Iulie in the yeare of our redemption one thousand two hundred sixtie and eight and was also as appeareth by a charter which I haue séene witnesse to the same déed in the foure and fiftith yeare of the said king Henrie who as farre as I can gather died in August in the yeare of Christ one thousand two hundred seuentie and one being the six and fiftith yeare of the long gouernment line 60 of king Henrie the third There was a writer of England that wrote many volums of this name liuing at this time whom I doubt not for anie thing that I can yet learne to be the same man which was chancellor Iohn de Kirbie after the death of Richard Middleton was made kéeper of the great seale in the said six and fiftith yere of king Henrie the third Whether this were the same Iohn Kirkbie which after was bishop of Elie and treasuror of England I haue not as yet to determine although I rather hold the affirmatiue than the contrarie Walter Merton the third time made chancellor of England in the yeere of our Lord one thousand two hundred seuentie and thrée being the first yeare of the reigne of that famous prince king Edward the first of that name he was bishop of Rochester and built Merton college in Oxford and died in the yeare of Christ one thousand two hundred seauentie and eight being the sixt yeare of the reigne of king Edward the first Robert Burnell the eleuenth bishop of Bath and Wels after the vniting of those two sées in one by Iohn de Toures in the yeare of Christ one thousand ninetie and two was made bishop of Bath in the yeare of our Lord as saith Euersden one thousand two hundred seuentie foure and chosen archbishop of Canturburie in the yeare one thousand two hundred seuentie and eight but reiected by the pope he was chancellor in the second yeare of the said Edward the first in which place it séemeth that he long continued of whom thus writeth an anonymall chronicle Dominus Edmundus comes Cornubiae fundauit nouum studium ordinis Cisterciensis apud Oxonias monachos de Thame primò ibidem introduxit dedit eis prima donatione manerium de Erdington fecit dedicare locum abbatiae tertij idus Decembris per dominum Robertum Burnellepiscopum Bathon Welles cancellarium regis posuit fundamentum nouae ecclesiae eodem die Northosneiae This bishop was required with the son of Edward the first and Gilbert de Clare earle of Glocester in the time of Edward the first to be deliuered for pledges for Lheweline prince of Wales for his safe returne if he came to the parlement wherevnto he was summoned by the said king Edward In the time of this chancellor the court of chancerie was kept at Bristow This man died in the yéere of Christ one thousand two hundred ninetie and thrée being the one and twentith yere of the reigne of king Edward the third Iohn de Langhton made chancellor of England in the yéere of our Lord one thousand two hundred ninetie and thrée being the one and twentith yeare of the scourger of the Scots king Edward the first in which office he remained vntill the thirtith of the said king being the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred and two He was made bishop of Chichester about the six and twentith or rather the seauen and twentith yeare of king Edward the first being the yeare of our Lord one thousand two hundred ninetie and eight or rather one thousand two hundred ninetie and nine and in the said yeare one thousand two hundred ninetie and nine he was before chosen bishop of Elie but reiected by the pope who made him archdeacon of Canturburie from which Langhton this Edward did take the great seale in the thirtith yeare before said and deliuered it to Iohn Drokensford Iohn Drokensford kéeper of the wardrobe was made keeper of the great seale in the thirtith yere as before in which office he continued from about the fiftéenth daie of August vntill Michaelmas William de Greinfield deane of Chichester and canon of Yorke was aduanced to the place of the chancellor in the yeare that God became man one thousand three hundred and two being about the thirtith yeare of the said king Edward the first which office was giuen vnto him at saint Radigunds as saith Anonymus M.S. He was after chosen bishop of Yorke in the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred and thrée who in the yeare of our Lord one thousand three hundred and eight buried the bodie of the said king Edward the first at Westminster though that king died in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand thrée hundred and seauen This bishop died about the yere of our saluation one thousand thrée hundred and fifteene being about the sixt yeare of king Edward the second at Cawood after that he had béene bishop nine yeares eleuen moneths and two daies and was buried in saint Nicholas porch of Yorke receiuing his consecration at Rome in the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred and fiue after that he had béene there two yéeres of pope Clement This Greinfield was a man verie eloquent and pithie in counsell William de Hamelton deane of Yorke was created chancellor of England in the yeare that the virgine brought foorth the sonne of God one thousand line 10 thrée hundred and fiue being the thrée and thirtith yeare of that noble prince king Edward the first This William surrendred his borrowed life in the yeare of our Lord one thousand thrée hundred and seuen being about the fiue and thirtith yeare of the said king at the abbeie of Fontnesse in Yorkshire being a man that well deserued of the common-wealth Ralfe de Baldocke chosen bishop of London in the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred and thrée was confirmed at Titneshall by Robert of line 20 Winchelseie bishop of Canturburie and consecrated at Lions by Peter of Spaine bishop of Alba the third calends of Februarie in the yere of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred and fiue He was made lord chancellor of England after the death of the said William Hamelton in the said fiue thirtith yere of king Edward
king Henrie the fourth He being kéeper of the priuie seale was made bishop of Excester the twentith of Iune in the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred ninetie fiue being the daie before king Richard the second began the one and twentith yeare of his reigne He was consecrated at Lambeth and kept the see of Excester three and twentie yeares He increased two fellowships in Stapletons inne in Oxford reformed the statutes of the house and called it Excester college he died the fourth of September in the seuenth yeare of king Henrie the fift being the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and ninetéene About the making of this Stafford chancellor as farre as my memorie serueth Ypodigma is much deceiued if I haue not for want of the booke mistaken his iudgement line 10 Henrie Beauford the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt by Katharine Swineford made bishop of Lincolne in the yeare of our Lord one thousand three hundred ninetie and eight as hath Ypodigma was aduanced to the dignitie of chancellor in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred thrée being the fourth yeare of king Henrie the fourth his elder brother by the daughter of the earle of Hereford in which office he was in the fift yeare of king Henrie the fourth line 20 and sixt of the same king as our chronicles doo remember He was made bishop of Winchester in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and foure being the fift yeare of Henrie the fourth Thomas Langleie priest and bishop of Durham was at Westminster made chancellor in the yeare of our saluation one thousand foure hundred and fiue being the sixt yeare of the reigne of the said king Henrie the fourth in which office he continued as farre as I know vntill he was made bishop line 30 of Durham which was on the seuenth of Maie being the seuenth yeare of the reigne of king Henrie last before named being the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and six He was bishop one and thirtie yeares and died in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred thirtie and seuen being the sixtéenth yeare of king Henrie the sixt Sée more following Thomas Fitzalen brother to Richard earle of Arundell being returned out of exile with Henrie line 40 of Bollingbroke duke of Hereford and Lancaster and after king of England by the name of Henrie the fourth was the third time being bishop of Canturburie made lord chancellor of England the ninth yeare of the said king Henrie the fourth and continued therein about two years being remooued from that place about September in the eleuenth yeare of the reigne of the said king being the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred and ten line 50 Thomas Beauford knight the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt son to king Edward the third brother to king Henrie the fourth was made lord chancellor in the eleuenth yere of the said king Henrie the fourth being the yeare that the sonne of God tooke on him the forme of a seruant one thousand foure hundred and ten in which office he remained not full thrée yeares but left the same office togither with his life as I suppose in the thirtéenth yeare of the same king being the yeare of our redemption one thousand line 60 foure hundred and twelue Iohn Wakering clearke maister of the rolles was made kéeper of the great seale when Thomas Beauford left the office of chancellor which seale hée kept about the space of a moneth For in Ianuarie after that he receiued the seale there was a chancellor created Thomas Fitzalen or Arundell archbishop of Canturburie was the fourth time inuested with the chancellorship in the yeare of our saluation one thousand foure hundred and twelue being the thirtéenth yeare of king Henrie the fourth in which office hée continued during the life of the said king Henrie the fourth who died in the fourtéenth yeare of his kingdome and in the yere of our Lord one thousand foure hundred and thirtéene Henrie Beauford bishop of Winchester and after cardinall in the time of Henrie the sixt being vncle to king Henrie the fift then reigning was the second time made chancellor in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and thirteene being the first yeare of the fift king Henrie in which place he remained vntill the fift yeare of the said king Henrie being the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred and seuentéene Thomas Langleie bishop of Durham was the second time made lord chancellor of England in the said yere of our redemption one thousand foure hundred and seuentéene being the fift yeare of that woorthie conqueror king Henrie the fift which office he receiued at Southwicke and continued in that honour as farre as I can learne by the space of six yeares or more whereof fiue yeares were fullie ended in the life and death of the said Henrie the fift and the sixt yeare ended in the last of the first or beginning of the second yeare of king Henrie the sixt Henrie Beauford bishop of Winchester before named was the third time made lord chancellor of England in the second yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt being about the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred twentie and thrée or one thousand foure hundred twentie and foure For the second yeare of that king fell part in the one and part in the other of the said yeares of our Lord in which office he continued about foure yeares vntill he was made cardinall in the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred twentie and six Iohn Kempe bishop of London was made lord chancellor of England in the fourth yere of that king Henrie who in his yoongest yeares was crowned first king of England and then king of France in Paris in which office he remained as I suppose about six yeares Iohn Stafford deane of S. Martine of Welles prebend of Milton in Lincolne church bishop of Bath and Welles lord chancellor and treasuror of England and bishop of Canturburie was made lord chancellor of England in the moneth of Februarie in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred thirtie one falling in the tenth yeare of king Henrie the sixt he remained in that office vntill Iohn Kempe was againe made lord chancellor which was about the eight and twentith yeare of king Henrie the sixt And here I think it not vnméet to remember that some haue noted William Wanfleet that was bishop of Winchester and chancellor of Oxford to be chancellor of England when he built Magdalen college in Oxford in the fiue and twentith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt which possiblie can not be sith this Iohn Stafford held that office from the tenth of Henrie the sixt vntill the eight twentith of the same king which was eightéene yeares during which time they place this Wanfléet to bee chancellor of
Rotheram because of the towne of Rotheram in Yorkeshire where he was borne and bred vp was bishop of Rochester and then of Linclolne where he sat nine yeares and after that was bishop of Yorke whereinto he installed first at Yorke and then at Ripon being prouost of Beuerleie he was made chancellor of England in the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred seuentie and foure being the fourtéenth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the fourth This bishop in the fifteenth yeare of the said king went ouer the sea as I haue séene noted with the said Edward the fourth when he went to haue an interuiew with the French king of which meeting monsieur de Argentine by name Philip Comineus besides our English chronicles dooth make mention as a person that bare a part in that pageant Iohn Alcot bishop of Rochester was made chancellor during the absence of king Edward as I haue found recorded Thomas Rotheram being before lord keeper of the priuie seale was after his returne out of France the second time made lord chancellor about the time in which the said king had gotten Berwike from the Scots being about the twentith yeare of the said Edward the fourth For the frée gaining of the towne was not much before his death in which office this Rotheram continued all the life of king Edward the fourth in the time of the little or no reigne at all of the guiltlesse murthered yoong prince king Edward the fift vntill it was ascribed to him for ouermuch lightnesse that he had deliuered in the beginning of the rebellious gouernement line 10 of the protectorship of the bloudie and vnnaturall Richard duke of Glocester the seale to the quéene to whome it did not apperteine and from whome he receiued it not He founded a college at Rotheram dedicated it to the name of Iesus indowed it with great possessions ornaments and annexed therto the churches of Langthton and Almanburie Iohn Russell bishop of Lincolne a graue and learned man had the seale deliuered to him by the said protector of England during the time of the line 20 short reigne of the yoong king Edward when the same seale was taken from Rotheram and so this Russell was made chancellor in the moneth of Iune in the yeare of our saluation one thousand foure hundred foure score and thrée being the first yeare of the vsurped gouernement of the bloudie tyrant the mishapen king Richard the third This Russell is buried in the church of Lincolne in a chappell cast out of the vpper wall of the south part of the church Thomas Barow maister of the rolles was made line 30 keeper of the great seale as I haue seene recorded which I suppose was in the third and last yeare of the said king Richard the third for in that yeare he was maister of the rolles Thomas Rotheram made againe lord chancellor in the first entrance of king Henrie the seuenth into the gouernement but verie shortlie after he was displaced and the bishop of Worcester placed in that roome he was archbishop of Yorke nintéene yeares ten moneths he was verie beneficiall to all his line 40 kinred and aduanced some with mariages some with possessions and some with spirituall liuings He died the nine and twentith daie of December in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred being the sixtéenth yeare of king Henrie the eight at Cawood in Yorkeshire the morrow after the Ascension being of the age of three score and sixtéene yeares or more he was buried in Yorke minster on the north-side in our ladie chappell in a toome of marble which he caused to be made whilest he was liuing line 50 Iohn Alcot bishop of Worcester made in the yeare one thousand foure hundred three score and sixteene was lord chancellor of England in the first yeare of the said K. Henrie the seuenth the Salomon of England being the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred foure score fiue shortlie after the entrance of the said Henrie into the gouernement of England For though Rotheram were chancellor when he got the victorie for that he had béene so before for that the king was neither prouided nor minded suddenlie to haue a man not line 60 méete for that place to execute the same yet this Rotheram kept not that roome manie moneths but that Alcot came in place because the king found Alcot a méeter person to execute the same office answerable to the disposition of the kings humor All which notwithstanding whether for malice of others or for his owne deserts or both or for more especiall trust that king Henrie put in Moorton bishop of Elie who had beene the meanes to bring him to the crowne this Alcot fell shortlie in the kings disgrace was displaced of his office and Moorton came in his roome So that in this first yeare of the said king Henrie the seuenth there seemed to be thrée chancellors in succession one after another if I haue not misconceiued the matter all which before Moorton in this first yeare of king Henrie the seuenth may perhaps more properlie be termed kéepers of the great seale than chancellors Iohn Moorton doctor of the ciuill law an aduocat in the ciuill of the councell to Henrie the sixt and to Edward the fourth to whome also he was maister of the rolles was made bishop of Elie in the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred thrée score and eightéene and lord chancellor of England vpon his returne from beyond the seas in the first yeare of the woorthie prince K. Henrie the seuenth being the yeare that the word became flesh one thousand foure hundred foure score and fiue after which he was aduanced to the bishoprike of Canturburie he died in the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred foure score and nintéene in the fifteenth yere of the reigne of king Henrie the seuenth as hath Matthew Parker William Warham aduocat in the arches maister of the rolles bishop of London and then bishop of Canturburie was before his aduancement to the see of Canturburie made chancellor of England in the time of Henrie the seuenth in which office he continued vntill about the latter end of the seuenth yeare of king Henrie the eight At what time surrendring the seale by reason of his age and weakenesse the same great seale was deliuered to Thomas Woolseie Thomas Woolseie somtime chapleine to Henrie Deane archbishop of Canturburie after the kings almoner and abbat of saint Austins who possessing manie other abbeies and bishopriks as in other places shall more largelie appeare was aduanced to the gouernment of the great seale about the beginning of the eight yeare of the triumphant reigne of king Henrie the eight being the yeare of our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ one thousand fiue hundred sixtéene to hold the same during his life as I gather in which office yet he continued
the prince she on the new yeares daie following made a new chancellor Nicholas Heath bishop of Rochester almoner to the king ambassador into Germanie bishop of Worcester president of Wales and archbishop of Yorke was vpon new yeares daie in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and fiue being the third yeare of the reigne of quéene Marie aduanced to the honorable dignitie of the chancellorship But quéene Marie deceasing the seauentéenth daie of Nouember in the yeare of grace one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and eight and the sixt yere of hir gouernement this Heath vpon the placing of the worthie quéene Elisabeth vpon the throne of the English gouernment was remooued from his office and maister Bacon aduanced Sir Nicholas Bacon esquier attourneie of the court of wards was made knight and lord kéeper of the great seale the two and twentith of December in the yeare of our redemption 1558 being the first yeare of the now reigning Elisabeth the Saba of England Which name of lord kéeper he still kept during his life and the time of his office In whose time there was an act of parlement established to make the power of the keeper of the great seale equall with the authoritie of the chancellor This man continued in this office and woorthilie executed the same being a man of rare wit and déepe experience during the time of his life which continued vntill the twentith of Februarie in the yeare of our saluation 1578 after the account of England being the one and twentith yeare of the rare and singular gouernement of the worlds woonder the famous quéene Elisabeth which place this man kept eightéene yéeres being as I suppose double as long time as anie other chancellor or kéeper of the great seale possessed that place except Rafe Neuill bishop of Chichester and Iohn Stafford bishop of Bath and Wels both which held it equallie eighteene yeares with him a strange thing that in the course of almost 600 yeares no such officer might possesse that place by twentie years togither Thomas Bromleie the generall solicitor of quéene Elisabeth a councellor of the law and one of the inner temple was aduanced to the dignitie of lord chancellor on the fiue and twentith day of Aprill in the yeare of our redemption 1579 being in the one twentith yeare of the reigne of the said quéene Elisabeth which office at this daie he beareth Thus although I maie be a little wetshod in passing ouer the deepe sea of this difficultie of the chancellors in which I am sure I am not ouer head and eares I haue at length brought my chancellors to end a worke of some labour and difficultie of some search and charge which I haue doone onelie of my selfe without the furtherance or help of some others who more inconsideratlie than trulie doo disorderlie report that I haue atteined vnto this in obteining line 10 those names by some sinister means from the priuat bookes of them who haue trauelled in the same matter In which as I said in the begining so I saie againe if anie imperfection for hast by reason of the printers spéedie calling on me haue now fallen out of my pen it shall hereafter God willing be corrected in the large volume of their liues Wherefore as I neither estéeme nor feare the secret reports of some others so for their countries good it shall be well that they would deliuer something to the world line 20 to bring truth to perfection if other men haue vnwillinglie set downe error and not as they doo for a litle commoditie gaine to themselues neither benefit their countrie nor speake well of such as would and doo helpe posteritie Thus this much by Francis Thin touching the chancellors of England ¶ Here though somewhat out of place for it should haue béene entered in 1578 it were better to record the receiuing of the quéenes maiestie into Suffolke line 30 Norffolke than making no commemoration therof at all to let it perish in thréehalfepenie pamphlets and so die in obliuion It maie also serue for a rest of recreation after so long an introduction of serious matters as also and that most woorthilie maie remaine in record to signifie what well affected subiects the quéens maiestie hath within hir dominions to whome goods lands friends kindred or life none of these seuerallie nor all iointlie are so pretious and deere but for hir sake they can find in their hearts to line 40 esteeme them as doong And now to the matter The truth is saith one that wrote the whole interteinment that albeit they had but small warning certeinlie to build vpon of the comming of the queenes maiestie into both those shires the gentlemen had made such readie prouision that all the veluets and silks were taken vp that might be laid hand on and bought for anie monie and soone conuerted to such garments and sutes of robes that the shew thereof might haue beautified the greatest triumph that was line 50 in England these manie yeares For as it was said there were two hundred yoong gentlemen clad all in white veluet and three hundred of the grauer sort apparelled in blacke veluet cotes and faire chaines all readie at one instant and place with fiftéene hundred seruing men more on horssebacke well and brauelie mounted in good order readie to receiue the quéenes highnesse into Suffolke which surelie was a comelie troope and a noble sight to behold and all these waited on the shiriffe sir William Spring during line 60 the quéenes maiesties abode in those parties and to the verie confines of Suffolke But before hir highnesse passed to Norffolke there was in Suffolke such sumptuous feasting and bankets as seldome in anie part of the world haue béene seene before The maister of the rolles sir William Cordall was one of the first that began this great feasting and did light such a candle to the rest of the shire that manie were glad bountifullie and frankelie to follow the same example with such charges and costs as the whole traine were in some sort pleased therewith And neere Burie sir William Drurie for his part at his house made the quéenes highnesse a costlie and delicat dinner and sir Robert Germine of Roeshbrooke feasted the French ambassadors two seuerall times with which charges and courtesie they stood maruellouslie contented The shiriffe sir William Spring sir Thomas Kidson sir Arthur Higham and diuerse others of worship kept great houses and sundrie either at the quéenes comming or returne solemnelie feasted hir highnesse yea and defraied the whole charges for a daie or twaine presented gifts made such triumphs and deuises as indéed was most noble to behold and verie thankfullie accepted The Norffolke gentlemen hearing how dutifullie their neighbors had receiued the prince prepared in like sort to shew themselues dutifull and so in most gallant maner they assembled and set forward with fiue and twentie hundred horssemen
or Egelred Howbeit this is most true that the Norman kings themselues would confesse that the lawes deuised and made by the Conqueror were not verie equall insomuch that William Rufus and Henrie the sonnes of the Conqueror would at all times when they sought to purchase the peoples fauor promise to abolish the lawes ordeined by their father establish other more equall and restore those which were vsed in S. Edwards daies The like kind of purchasing fauor was vsed by king Stéephen and other kings that followed him But now to the matter king William hauing made these ordinances to keepe the people in order set his mind to inrich his cofers and thervpon caused first a tribute to be leuied of the commons then the abbeies to be searched and all such monie as any of the Englishmen had laid vp in the same to be kept Besides all this he seized into his hands their charters of priuileges made to them by the Saxon kings of the land and spared not so much as the iewels and plate dedicated to sacred vses All this did he as some write by the counsell of the earle of Hertford Shortlie after betwixt Easter and Whitsuntid◠a great synod was holden at Winchester by the bishops and cleargie where Ermenfred the bishop of Sion or Sitten with two cardinals Iohn and Peter sent thither from pope Alexander the second did sit as chéefe commissioners In this synod was Stigand the archbishop of Canturburie depriued of his bishoprike for thrée speciall causes 1 First for that he had wrongfullie holden that bishoprike whilest the archbishop Robert was liuing 2 Secondlie for that he kept the see of Winchester in his hands after his inuestiture vnto Canturburie which he ought not to haue doone 3 Thirdlie for that he had receiued the pall at the hands of pope Benedict the tenth whom the cardinals as one not lawfullie elected had deposed Howbeit manie writers burthen king William who was present at this synod for the procuring of Stigand his depriuation to the end he might place a stranger in his roome For as he had rooted out the line 10 English Nobilitie and giuen awaie their lands liuings to his Normans so meant he to turne out the English cleargie from bearing any office of honor within the realme which meaning of his did well appeare at his councell wherin diuers bishops abbats and priors were deposed and Normans preferred to their places Stigand after his depriuation was kept in perpetuall prison at Winchester till he died and yet as some write the same Stigand was an helper vnder hand for king William to atteine the line 20 crowne In the feast of Pentecost next insuing the king being at Windsor gaue the archbishoprike of Yorke vnto one Thomas a canon of Bayeux and to Walkelme one of his chaplins he gaue the bishoprike of Winchester After this calling one Lanfranke an Italian from Caen where he was abbat he made him archbishop of Canturburie who was consecrated there in the feast of S. Iohn Baptist in the yeare folowing which was after the birth of our Sauiour 1071. The foresaid Thomas was the fiue and line 30 twentith bishop that had gouerned in that see of Yorke Lanfranke the thrée thirtith in the see of Canturburie But yer long betwixt these two archbishops there rose great contention for the primasie of their churches in so much that the archbishop of Yorke appealed to Rome where they both appeared personallie before pope Alexander in whose presence Lanfranks cause was so much fauoured that not onelie the foresaid Thomas but also Remigius the line 40 bishop of Dorchester were for reasonable causes depriued of their crosiers and rings and Lanfranke at their humble request was a meane to the pope for them in the end that they might be restored to their staues which was accordinglie obteined For when the pope heard Lanfranke declare in their fauour how necessarie their seruice might be to the king in the establishment of his new gotten kingdome he said to Lanfranke Well looke you then to the matter you are the father of that countrie and therefore line 50 consider what is expedient to be done therein their staues which they haue surrendered there they be take them and dispose them as you shall thinke most profitable for the aduancement of the christian religion in that countrie Wherevpon Lanfranke tooke the staues and deliuered them to the former possessours and so were they in the popes presence restored to their former dignities One cause why Thomas was depriued as some writers saie was for that he had holpen duke William toward his iournie line 60 into England when he came to conquer it for the which pleasure to him then shewed the duke promised him a bishoprike if euer he obteined victorie ouer the English an other cause for that he was a priests sonne Now when the pope vnderstood the full ground of their contention to be for the primasie of the two sees Canturburie and Yorke and had heard what could be alledged on both sides he remitted the determination thereof to the king and bishops of England that by the histories and records of the land the matter might be tried iudged and ordered Wherefore at their comming home and after long debating and discussing of the cause as in William Marleburgh it appeareth more at large at a synod holden at Windsor in the yeare 1072. sentence was giuen on Lanfranks side so that in all things concerning religion and the faith of holie church the archbishop of Yorke should be euer subiect to the archbishop of Canturburie and come with all the bishops of his prouince to what place soeuer the archbishop of Canturburie should summon any councell within the realme of England Moreouer when anie elected bishop of Canturburie was to be consecrated the archbishop of Yorke for the time being should come to Canturburie and consecrate him there And if the archbishop of Yorke was to be installed and consecrated then should he come to Canturburie or to what place it should please the archbishop of Canturburie to assigne and there to be confirmed of him taking an oth with profession of due obedience vnto the higher see Now as the said Thomas of Yorke did yéeld obedience to Lanfranke of Canturburie so likewise the elect bishop of Glascow in Scotland named Michaell was soone after consecrated of the foresaid Thomas archbishop of Yorke and made an oth of obedience vnto the said archbishop as to the primate of all Scotland and after him Tothade the bishop of S. Andrewes did the like by commandement of Malcolme the third of that name king of Scotland and Margaret his wife who thought good by this recognisance of obedience and dutie so to prouide against further inconuenience to come that hereafter one of the bishops of their realme should not take vpon them to consecrate an other or doo any thing contrarie to the ancient
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
some way requite the venturous courage and hartie zeale of the gentleman who with the losse of his owne life preserued the king if not from death yet from some dangerous wound that might haue put him to extreame anguish and paine This may incite men to be mindfull of benefits receiued a vertue no lesse rare than the contrarie is common and as one saith inueniuntur Quidam sed rari acceptorum qui meritorum Assiduè memores c. But to conclude with this iourneie which king Henrie made at this time against the Welshmen although by reason of the cumbersome difficulties of the places he could not enter within the countrie so farre as he wished yet he so impounded and constreined them to kéepe within the woods and mountains that they durst not come abroad insomuch that at the length they were glad to sue for peace William king of Scots successor of Malcolme who departed this life in the yeare last past after he had receiued the crowne of Scotland came about this present time into England and finding king Henrie at London did his homage to him as his predecessour Malcolme had doone before He made suit also to haue Northumberland restored vnto him which the king of Englands mother the empresse had in times past giuen vnto king Dauid But king Henrie gaue diuerse reasons to excuse himselfe whie he might not deliuer that countrie to him at that present namelie without consent of a parlement where vpon king William perceiuing how the maâ—ter went gaue ouer his suit for that present meaning line 10 when occasion serued to attempt the getting thereof by force sith that by praier and suit he sawe well inough he should not obteine it Moreouer the Scottish king being required by king Henrie to go ouer with him into Normandie granted so to doo insomuch that king Henrie hauing set all things in order within his realme of England in the Lent following passed ouer into Normandie But before he tooke his iourneie he set foorth a decree consisting of these points in effect as followeth line 20 1 That no man should bring any letters or commandement from pope Alexander or Thomas archbishop of Canturburie into England conteining an interdiction of the realme vpon perill to be apprehended and punished as a traitour to the king and an enimie to the realme 2 That no religious person or préest should be permitted to passe the seas or to come into the relme of England except he had letters of safe conduct line 30 from the iusticers for passage ouer and of the king for his returne from thence 3 That no man should appeale to the said pope or archbishop nor by their appointment hold any plée and if any person were found dooing the contrarie herevnto he should be taken and committed to prison 4 That if any maner of person either spirituall or temporall were obedient to the sentence of the interdiction the same person should be banished the line 40 realme without delaie and all his linage with him so as they should not conueie with them any of their goods the which togither with their possessions should be seized into the kings hands 5 That all spirituall persons which had any benefices within England should haue warning giuen to returne into England within foure moneths after the same summons pronounced and that if they failed hereof then should the king seize vpon their goods and possessions line 50 6 That the bishops of London and Norwich should be and by vertue hereof were summoned to appeare before the kings iusticers to make answer for that they had interdicted the lands of erle Hugh and excommunicated him 7 That the Peter pence should be gathered and kept In the octaues of Easter king Henrie came to an enterview with the French king at Gisors where they had conference togither of sundrie matters line 60 This yeare the quéene was deliuered of a sonne named Iohn who afterward was king of this realme Moreouer king Henrie calling a councell of his bishops and barons in Normandie caused and ordeined a collection by their aduise to be made through all his countries and dominions of two pence in the pound of euerie mans lands and goods iewels and apparell onelie excepted to be paid this yeare 1166. and for the space of foure yeares next ensuing one penie of euerie pound to be paid yearelie and those that were not worth twentie shillings in goods or lands being housholders notwithstanding or bare any office should paie a penie to this contribution which was onelie granted for the releefe of the christians in the east parts and those that warred against the miscreants there The paiment thereof was appointed to be made in the feast daie of saint Remigius or within fiftéene daies after It was also ordeined that all such as departed this life within the terme that this collection was in force their debts being paid should giue the tenth part of the residue of all their goods vnto this so necessarie a contribution King Henrie remaining now in Normandie and vnderstanding that diuerse lords and barons of Maine and the marshes of Britaine would not in his absence shew themselues obedient vnto his wife quéene Elianor but were about to practise a rebellion raised an armie and went against them easilie subduing them whom he found obstinate and besieging the castell of Foulgiers tooke and vtterlie destroied it Soone after the archbishop of Canturburie came from Pountney to Uizeley and there on Ascension daie when the church was most full of people got him into the pulpit and with booke bell and candell solemnelie accurssed all the obseruers defenders and mainteiners with the promoters of such customs as within the realme of England they terme the custome of their elders amongst others that were accursed was Richard de Lucie Richard the archdeacon of Poictiers Iocelin de Bailleuille Alane de Neuille and manie other But they being absent neither called nor conuinced as they alleged notwithstanding they were thus excommunicated sent their messengers vnto the archbishop and appealed from him and so feared not to enter into their churches He had before this also written certeine letters vnto his suffragans denouncing some of these and other persons by expresse name accursed not onelie for mainteining the matter against him touching the ancient custome of the realme but also for the schisme raised in Almaine by Reignald archbishop of Colein for the which he accursed one Iohn of Oxford Moreouer he accursed Ranulfe de Broc Hugh de S. Clete Thomas Fitz Bernard for violentlie seizing vpon and deteining the goods and possessions belonging to his archbishoprike without his consent or agréement therevnto The king on the other part banished out of England and all parts of his other dominions all those persons that were knowen to be of kin vnto the archbishop both yoong and old and furthermore sent aduertisement to the abbat of Pountney and to his moonks with
did happen in England whilest the king was thus occupied in Ireland and within the compasse of that yeare and first of all in the night before Christmas day last passed there chanced such a tempest of lightning and thunder that the like had not bin heard of which tempest was not onelie generallie throughout all England but also in other forreine parts néere adioining namelie in Ireland where it continued all that night and Christmas daie following year 1172 to so great terror of the people that they looked for present death The same night at Andeuer in Hamshire a préest being in his praiers before the altar was striken with the tempest so that he died yeâ— it was nine of the clocke in the morning Also a temporall man that was there the same time was burned with the lightning and whereas his brother being present ran to him to haue succoured him he likewise was caught with the fire and in like maner consumed In Ireland also euill diet in eating of fresh flesh and drinking of water contrarie to the custome of the Englishmen brought the flix and other diseases in the kings armie so that manie died thereof for Graâ—issimum est imperium consuetudinis Wherfore about the beginning of Lent the king remoued from Dublin went vnto the citie of Werford where he remained till toward Easter and then prepared to returne into England but before he tooke the sea he gaue and by his charter confirmed to Hugh Lacie all the lands of Meeth with the appurtenances to hold of him his heires in fee by knights seruice as to find him an hundred knights or men of armes as we may terme them for euermore He gaue also vnto the same Hugh the kéeping of the citie of Dublin and made him chéefe iusticer of Ireland Unto Robert Fitz Bernard he committed the cities of Waterford and Wesseford that he should kéepe the same to his vse and build in them castels for a more sure defense against the enimies Thus when the king had planted garisons of souldiers in those other places also where was thought néedfull and further had giuen order for the politike gouernement of the whole countrie so far as he had conquered he first sent ouer his houshold seruants which tooke the water on Easter daie and landed at Milleford but he himselfe and other of the Nobles staid there all that daie by reason of the high solemnitie of that feast howbeit the daie next after they tooke the sea togither and landed néere to S. Dauids in south Wales from whence without delaie he hasted foorth to Douer and hauing his sonne the yoong king with him he sailed ouer into Normandie in the crosse weeke to meet the popes legats whom he vnderstood to be alreadie come thither At his méeting with them there he gaue them verie good countenance and right honorable enterteinment omitting nothing that might doo them pleasure Here when the matter came to be discussed touching the death of archbishop Thomas bicause it could not be certeinelie tried out in whom the fault rested much reasoning to and fro passed about obiections and excuses laid as in doubtfull cases it often happeneth so that welneere the space of foure moneths was spent in debating of that matter In which meane time the king to auoid all contention and strife betwixt him and king Lewes sent his son Henrie togither with his wife ouer into England there eftsoones to receiue the crowne and with them came Rotrod the archbishop of Rouen Giles bishop of Eureux Roger bishop of Worcester and diuerse others Herevpon the yoong king being arriued in England called an assemblieof the lords spirituall and temporall at Winchester where both he and his said wife Margaret daughter to the French king was crowned with all solemnitie by the hands of the said Rotrod archbishop of Rouen vpon the twentie one of August In the meane time saith one writer his father king Henrie might haue foreséene and found means to haue auoided the discord which euen now began to spring vp betwixt him and his children causing a sore and ciuill warre if he had not beene a man that vtterlie did detest all superstitious admonitions For being told I wot not by whome that if he did not repent and take more regard to minister iustice which is a vertue that conteineth in it selfe all other vertues it would come to passe that within short time he should fall into great and manifold calamities line 10 In his returne also out of Ireland saith an other vpon the sundaie next after the feast of Easter commonlie called Lowsundaie as he should take his horsse at Cardiffe in Wales there appeared vnto him a man of pale and wanne colour barefooted and in a white kirtell who boldlie in the Dutch language spake vnto him and admonished him of amendment of life and to haue regard that the sabboth daie commonlie called the sundaie might be more duelie kept and obserued so that no markets line 20 nor bodilie workes be holden vsed or doone vpon that day within the bounds of his dominions except that which apperteineth to dressing of meats And if thou doo saith he after this commandement I assure thée that all things which thou dooest enterprise of good intent and purpose shall sort to good effect and verie luckie end But the king was not greatlie pleased with these words and in French said to the knight that held his bridle Aske of this churle whether he hath dreamed all line 30 this that he telleth or not When the knight had expounded it in English the man answered Whether I haue dreamed it in my sleepe or not take thou héed to my words marke what day this is for if thou amend not thy life and doo as I haue aduertised thée before a twelue moneth come to an end thou shalt heare such tidings as will make thee sorowfull all the daies of thy life after The man hauing thus spoken vanished awaie suddenlie and the king tooke his words but in sport howbeit he woondered that he line 40 was so suddenlie gone as he did likewise at his sudden appearing Manie other warnings the king had saith mine author but he set little thereby The second warning he receiued of an Irishman that told him of tokens verie priuie The third time a knight of Lindsey called Philip de Chesterby passing the sea came to the king into Normandie and there declared vnto him seauen articles which he should amend which if he did then he should reigne seauen yeares in great honor and subdue Gods enimies line 50 If he did not amend and redresse those points then should he come to death with dishonour in the fourth yeare 1 The first article or point was that he should séeke to mainteine holie church 2 The second that he should cause rightfull lawes to be executed 3 The third that he should condemne no man without lawfull processe 4 The fourth that he
should restore the lands line 60 goods and heritages to those rightfull owners from whome he had taken them by any wrong or vnlawfull meanes 5 The fift that he should cause euerie man to haue right without bribing and giuing of méed 6 The sixt that he should paie his debts as well due to any of his subiects for any stuffe taken vp of them to his vse as to his seruants and souldiers who bicause they could not haue their wages truelie paid them fell to robbing and spoiling of true labouring men 7 The seauenth and last article was that he should cause the Iewes to be auoided out of the land by whom the people were sore impouerished with such vnmercifull vsurie as they exercised The king notwithstanding these and other like warnings tooke no regard to the amendment of his sinfull life wherevpon as is thought the troubles which ensued did light vpon him by Gods iust appointment ¶ Howsoeuer this may séeme a fable but no written veritie therefore esteemed as the chaffe of summer flowers yet as in the tales of Aâ—sop many good morals are comprised so the scope whereto this apparition tendeth being necessarie maketh the argument it selfe of the more authoritie The end therefore being as you sée to reuoke the king from woorse to better from the swines-stie of vice to the statelie throne of vertue from the kennell of sinne to the riuers of sanctitie prooueth that euen verie fictions of poets though of light credit haue their drift manie times to honest purpose and therefore bring with them a competent weight of profit to the readers So the scope of this tale being the same that Dauid pointeth at in the second psalme when he saith At vos in populos quibus est permissa potefias Et ius ab alta sede plebi dicitis Errorum tenebras depellite discite verum c. maketh the narration it selfe though otherwise séeming méere fabulous to be somewhat authenticall But to returne to the course of our storie and now to saie somewhat of this Henrie the seconds sonne the yoong king by whom the troubles were moued note you this that after he had receiued the crowne togither with his said wife they both passed the seas incontinentlie backe againe into Normandie where on the seauen and twentith of September at a generall assemblie holden within the city of Auranches in the church of the apostle S. Andrew king Henrie the father before the cardinals the popes legats and a great number of bishops and other people made his purgation in receiuing an oth vpon the holie relikes of the saints and vpon the sacred euangelists that he neither willed nor commanded the archbishop Thomas to be murthered and that when he heard of it he was sorie for it But bicause he could not apprehend them that slue the archbishop and for that he feared in his conscience least they had executed that vnlawfull act vpon a presumptuous boldnesse bicause they had perceiued him to be offended with the archbishop he sware to make satisfaction for giuing such occasion in this maner 1 In primis that he would not depart from pope Alexander nor from his catholike successours so long as they should repute him for a catholike king 2 Item that he would neither impeach appeales nor suffer them to be impeached but that they might freelie be made within the realme vnto the pope in causes ecclesiasticall yet so that if the king haue the parties suspected they shall find him suerties that they shall not procure harme or hinderance whatsoeuer to him or to his realme 3 Item that within thrée yeares after the natiuitie of our lord next ensuing he should take vpon him the crosse and personallie passe to the holie land except pope Alexander or his successours tooke other order with him 4 Prouided that if vpon any vrgent necessitie he chanced to go into Spaine to warre against the Saracens there then so long space of time as he spent in that iournie he might deferre his going into the east parts 5 Item he bound himselfe in the meane time by his oth to emploie so much monie as the templers should thinke sufficient for the finding of two hundred knights or men of armes for one yeares terme in the defense of the holie land 6 Item he remitted his wrath conceiued against those which were in exile for the archbishop Thomas his cause so that they might returne againe into the realme 7 Item to restore all the lands and possessions which had béene taken awaie from the sée of Canturburie as they were belonging thereto in the yere before the departure of the archbishop Thomas out of England 8 Item he sware to take awaie and abolish all those customes which in his time had béene brought line 10 in against the church as preiudiciall thereto All these articles faithfullie and without maleingene to performe and fulfill in euerie degrée he receiued a solemne oth and caused his sonne the yoong king being there present to receiue the same for performance of all those articles such as touched his owne person onelie excepted And to the intent the same should remaine in the popes consistorie as matter of record he put his seale vnto the writing wherein the same articles were ingrossed togither line 20 with the seales of the aboue mentioned cardinals Shortlie after king Henrie the father suffered the yoong king his son to go in t France togither with his wife to visit his father king Lewes according as their deputies required which iournie verelie bred the cause of the dissention that followed betwixt him and his father King Lewes most louinglie receiued them as reason was and caused diuers kinds of triumphant plaies and pastimes to be shewed for the honour and delectation of his sonne in law and line 30 daughter Neuerthelesse whilest this yoong prince soiourned in France king Lewes not hartilie fauouring the king of England and therewithall perceiuing the rash and headstrong disposition of the yong king did first of all inuegle him to consider of his estate and to remember that he was now a king equall vnto his father and therefore aduised him so shortlie as he could to get the entire gouernment out of his fathers hands wherevnto he furthermore promised line 40 all the aid that laie in him to performe The yong king being readie inough not onelie to worke vnquietnesse but also to follow his father in lawes counsell as he that was apt of nature to aspire to the sole gouernement and loth to haue any partener in authoritie according to that of the tragedie-writer Nec regna socium ferre nec tedae sciunt and namelie such one as might controll him was the more encouraged thereto by a number of prodigall line 50 currie fauours who by flatterie set him aloft declaring vnto him that he was borne to rule and not to obeie and therefore it became not his highnesse to reigne by the appointment of an other but rather
fortified at Xanctes and in the same forts and church which was also fortified against him 60. knights or men of armes and 400. archbalisters that is the best of them that bare crossebowes Philip earle of Flanders in the presence of the French king and other the peeres of France laieng his hand vpon the holie relikes sware that within 15. daies next insuing the feast of S. Iohn then instant to enter England with an armie and to doo his best to subdue the same to king Henrie the son Upon trust whereof the yoong king the more presuming came downe to Whitsand the 14. daie of Iulie that he might from thence send ouer into England line 10 Rafe de la Haie with certeine bands of souldiers Before this the earle of Flanders had sent ouer 318. knights or men of armes as we may call them But after their arriuall at Orwell which chanced the 14. of Iune by reason that their associats were dispersed and for the more part subdued they tooke with them earle Hugh Bigot and marching to Norwich assaulted the citie and wan it gaining there great riches and speciallie in readie monie and led awaie a great sort of prisoners whome they line 20 ransomed at their pleasure This chanced the 18. of Iune ¶ I remember that William Paruus writeth that the citie of Norwich was taken by the Flemings that came ouer with the earle of Leicester in the yeare last past by the conduct of the said earle before he was taken and that after he had taken that citie being accompanied with earle Bigot he led those Flemings also vnto Dunwich purposing to win and sacke that towne also but the inhabitants being line 30 better prouided against the comming of their enimies than they of Norwich were shewed such countenance of defense that they preserued their towne from that danger so that the two earles with Flemings were constreined to depart without atchiuing their purpose But whether that this attempt against Dunwich was made by the earle of Leicester before his taking in companie of earle Bigot I haue not to auouch But verelie for the winning of Norwich I suppose that William Paruus mistaketh line 40 the time except we shall saie that it was twise taken as first by the earle of Leicester in the yeare 1173. For it is certeine by consent of most writers and especiallie those that haue recorded particularlie the incidents that chanced here in this land during these troubles betwixt the king and his sons that it was taken now this yeare 1174. by earle Bigot as before we haue shewed But now to procéed The lords that had the rule of the land for king Henrie the father perceiuing line 50 earle Bigots procéedings sent knowledge thereof with all expedition to the king as yet remaining in the parties beyond the seas Whilest these things were a dooing although the minds of manie of the conspirators against king Henrie the father were inclined to peace yet Roger Mowbray and Hugh Bigot by reason of this new supplie of men got out of Flanders ceassed not to attempt fresh exploits and chéeflie they solicited the matter in such wise with William king of Scotland that whilest they in line 60 other quarters of the realme plaied their parts he entred into the confines of Cumberland and first besieged the citie of Carleil but perceiuing he could not win it in any short time he left one part of his armie to keepe siege before it and with the residue marched into the countrie alongst by the riuer of Eden taking by force the castels of Bourgh and Applebie with diuerse other This doone he passed ouer the riuer and came through Northumberland wasting the countrie as he went vnto Alnewike which place he attempted to win though his labour therein proued but in vaine This enterprise which he made into Northumberland he tooke in hand chéefelie at the suit and request of Roger Mowbray from whome Geffrey who after was bishop of Lincolne K. Henries eldest base son had taken two of his castels so that he kept the third with much adoo He had giuen his eldest sonne in hostage vnto the said king of Scots for assurance of such couenants to be kept on his behalfe as were passed betwixt them In the meane time one Duncane or Rothland with an other part of the Scotish armie entered into Kendall and wasted that countrie in most cruell wise neither sparing age nor sex insomuch that he brake into the churches slue those that were fled into the same for safegard of their liues as well preests as other The English power of horssemen which passed not the number of 400. was assembled at Newcastell vnder the leading of Robert de Stouteuille Raâ—e Glanuille William Ursie Bernard Balliolle and Odonet de Umfreiuille These capteines hauing knowledge that Duncane was in one side of the countrie and king William in another determined to issue foorth and trie the chance of warre which is doubtfull and vncerteine according to the old saieng Fortuna belli semper ancipiti in loco est against the enimies sith it should be a great rebuke to them to suffer the countrie to be wasted after that sort without reuengement Herevpon riding foorth one morning there arose such a thicke fog and mist that they could not discerne any waie about them so that doubting to fall within the laps of their enimies at vnwares they staied a while to take aduise what should be best for them to doo Now when they were almost fullie resolued to haue turned backe againe by the comfortable words and bold exhortation of Bernard Balliolle they changed their purpose and rode forward till at length the northerne wind began to waken and droue awaie the mist so that the countrie was discouered vnto them and perceiuing where Alnewike stood not knowing as yet whether the Scots had woone it or not they staied their pace and riding softlie at length learning by the inhabitants of the countrie that the Scotish king despairing to win Alnewike had raised his siege from thence the same day they turned streight thither and lodging there all night in the morning got to their horsses verie earelie riding foorth towards the enimies that were spred abroad in the countrie to forrey the same They had anon espied where the king was and incontinentlie compassed him about on euerie side who perceiuing the English horssemen readie thus to assaile him with all diligence called backe his men from the spoile but the more part of them being straied far off through the swéetnes they found in getting of preies could not heare the sound of the trumpets yet notwithstanding with those his horssemen which he could get togither he encountred the English men which came vpon him verie hastilie The battell was begun verie fiercelie at the first and well fought for a time but the Scotish horssemen being toiled before in forreieng the countrie could not long continue against the
apprehended as Walter de Lacie and manie other At length comming into the countrie of Meth he besieged a castell wherein the wife of William de Breuse and hir sonne named also William were inclosed but they found means to escape before the castell was woone though afterward they were taken in the I le of Man and sent by the king into England where they were so straitlie kept within the castell of Windsor that as the fame went they were famished to death ¶ We read in an old historie of Flanders written by one whose name is not knowne but printed at Lions by Guillaume Rouille in the yeare 1562 that the said ladie wife to the lord William de Breuse presented vpon a time vnto the queene of England a gift of foure hundred kine and one bull of colour all white the eares excepted which were red Although this tale may séeme incredible yet if we shall consider that the said Breuse was a lord marcher and had goodlie possessions in Wales and on the marshes in which countries the most part of the peoples substance consisteth in cattell it may carrie with it the more likelihood of truth And suerlie the same author writeth of the iournie made this yeare into Ireland so sensiblie and namelie touching the manners of the Irish that he seemeth to haue had good informations sauing that he misseth in the names of men and places which is a fault in maner common to all forreine writers Touching the death of the said ladie he saith that within eleuen daies after she was committed to prison héere in England she was found dead sitting betwixt hir sonnes legs who likewise being dead sate directlie vp against a wall of the chamber wherein they were kept with hard pitance as writers doo report William the father escaped and got away into France Thus the more part of the Irish people being brought vnder he appointed Iohn Gray the bishop of Norwich to be his deputie there remoouing out of that office Hugh Lacie which bare great rule in that quarter before The bishop then being appointed deputie and cheefe iustice of Ireland reformed the coine there causing the same to be made of like weight and finenesse to the English coine so that the Irish monie was currant as well in England as in Ireland being of the like weight forme and finenesse to the English Moreouer those that inhabited the wood-countries and the mounteine places though they would not as then submit themselues he would not at that time further pursue bicause winter was at hand which in that countrie approcheth timelie in the yeare Hauing thus subdued the more part of all Ireland and ordred things there at his pleasure he tooke the sea againe with much triumph and landed in England about the thirtith day of August From hence he made hast to London and at his comming thither tooke counsell how to recouer the great charges and expenses that he had béene at in this iournie and by the aduise of William Brewer Robert de Turnham Reignold de Cornhill and Richard de Marish he caused all the cheefe prelats of England to assemble before him at S. Brides in London So that thither came all the abbats abbesses templers hospitallers kéepers of farmes and possessions of the order of Clugnie and other such forreners as had lands within this realme belonging to their houses All which were constreined to paie such a greeuous tax that the whole amounted to the summe of an hundred thousand pounds The moonks of the Cisteaux order otherwise called white moonks were constreined to paie 40 thousand pounds of siluer at this time all their priuileges to the contrarie notwithstanding Moreouer the abbats of that order might not get licence to go to their generall chapter that yéere which yeerelie was vsed to be holden least their complaint should mooue all the world against the king for his too too hard and seuere handling of them In the summer following about the 18 day of Iulie king Iohn with a mightie armie went into Wales and passing foorth into the inner parts of the countrie he came into Snowdon beating downe all that came in his way so that he subdued all the rulers and princes without contradiction And to be the better assured for their subiection in time following he tooke pledges of them to the number of 28 so returned to Album Monasterium on the daie of the Assumption of our ladie from whence he first set foorth into the Welsh confines In the same yeare also the pope sent two legats into England the one named Pandulph a lawier and the other Durant a templer who comming vnto king Iohn exhorted line 10 him with manie terrible words to leaue his stubborne disobedience to the church and to reforme his misdooings The king for his part quietlie heard them and bringing them to Northampton being not farre distant from the place where he met them vpon his returne foorth of Wales had much conference with them but at length when they perceiued that they could not haue their purpose neither for restitution of the goods belonging to préests which he had seized vpon neither of those that apperteined to line 20 certeine other persons which the king had gotten also into his hands by meanes of the controuersie betwixt him and the pope the legats departed leauing him accursed and the land interdicted as they found it at their comming ¶ Touching the maner of this interdiction there haue béene diuerse opinions some haue said that the land was interdicted throughlie and the churches and houses of religion closed vp that no where was anie diuine seruice vsed but it was not so streit for there line 30 were diuerse places occupied with diuine seruice all that time by certeine priuiledges purchased either then or before Children were also christened and men houseled and annoiled through all the land except such as were in the bill of excommunication by name expressed But to our purpose King Iohn after that the legats were returned toward Rome againe punished diuerse of those persons which had refused to go with him into Wales in like maner as he had doone those that refused to line 40 go with him into Scotland he tooke now of ech of them for euerie knights fée two marks of siluer as before is recited About the same time also Reginald earle of Bullongne being accursed in like maner as king Iohn was for certeine oppressions doone to poore men and namelie to certeine preests fled ouer into England bicause the French king had banished him out of France The chéefest cause of the French kings displeasure towards this earle may séeme to proceed of the line 50 amitie and league which was concluded betwixt king Iohn and the said earle in the first yeare of the said kings reigne whereby they bound themselues either to other not to make anie peace or to take anie truce
to diuerse yoong line 10 préests and scholers as some write in somuch that the legat afterwards comming to Oxford year 1238 and lodging in the abbie of Osnie it chanced as certeine scholers pressed to the gates thinking to come in and doo their dutie as they tooke the matter vnto the legat the porter kept them backe and gaue them ouerthwart words wherevpon they rushed in vpon him so began a fraie betwixt them and the legats men who would haue beaten them backe It fortuned in this hurlie burlie that a poore Irish line 20 scholer being got in néere to the kitchin dresser besought the cooke for Gods sake to giue him some reliefe but the cooke as manie of that calling are cholerike fellowes in a great furie tooke vp a ladle full of hot broath out of a kettell wherein flesh had béene sodden and threw it right vpon the Irishmans face which thing when another Welsh scholer that stood by beheld he cried out What meane we to suffer this villanie and therewithall tooke an arrow and set it in his bow which he had caught vp in his hand at the line 30 beginning of the fraie and drawing it vp to the head let flie at the cooke and so slue him there outright Herevpon againe noise and tumult rose round about the house the legat for feare got him into the belfraie of the abbeie where he kept himselfe close till the darke of the night had staied the vprore and then stale foorth and taking his horsse escaped as secretlie as he could ouer the Thames and rode with all spéed to the court which laie not far off at Abington and there made his complaint to the king in such line 40 lamentable wise that he foorthwith sent the earle Waren with a power of armed men to fetch awaie the residue of the legats seruants which remained behind in the abbeie and to apprehend the chiefe offendors The earle comming thither tooke thirtie scholers with one master Odo a lawier and brought them to Wallingford castell and there committed them to prison The legat also in reuenge of the iniurie in this wise to him doone pronounced the cursse against line 50 the misdooers and handled the matter in such wise that the regents and masters of the Uniuersitie were at length constreined to come vnto London there to go bare-footed through Cheapeside vnto the church of S. Paule in such wise to aske him forgiuenesse and so with much adoo they obteined absolution This legat among other things demanded soone after the tenth part of all spirituall mens yearelie reuenues towards the maintenance of the wars against the Saracens in Asia line 60 Moreouer the emperour of Constantinople namelie Baldwine sonne to Peter earle of Ausserre being expelled out of his empire came this yeare into England to sue for aid but at his first arriuall at Douer he was told that he had not doone well to come so presumptuouslie into the land of another prince without his safe conduct But when the said emperour séemed to be sorie for his offense and to excuse his innocencie and sincere meaning the king was pacified willed him to come to London where at his comming thither being the 22 daie of Aprill he was honorablie receiued and at his departure with rich gifts highlie honored so that he had awaie with him to the value of about seuen hundred marks as was reported About this time also Elianor the kings sister that was sometime wife vnto William Marshall earle of Penbroke was now by the kings meanes married the second time to Simon Montford a man of high parentage and noble prowesse This Simon was indowed with such vertue good counsell courteous discretion and other amiable qualities that he was highlie fauoured as was supposed both of God and man in somuch that he might right well as for birth so also for education and good demeanour be counted as he deserued a notable Noble man for he was so qualified as standeth with the nature of true nobilitie according to that of the poet non census nec clarum nomen auorum Sed probitas magnos ingeniùmque facit Notwithstanding all which noble indowments concurring in him he was banished out of France vpon displeasure which Blanch the quéene mother conceiued against him But now comming into England he was ioifullie receiued of king Henrie who not onelie gaue vnto him as aboue is mentioned his sister in mariage with the earledome of Leicester in name of a dowrie but also aduanced him vnto offices of greatest honour within the realme of England Howbeit this marriage was verie displeasant vnto Edmund the archbishop of Canturburie bicause that the foresaid Elianor after the death of hir first husband had vowed perpetuall chastitie and betaken hir as was said to the mantell and the ring As the prelat was not pleased with this match so the king was as highlie offended with the archbishop for not fauouring the cause in somuch that the archbishop went soone after to Rome where he not onelie complained of certeine iniuries receiued latelie at the kings hands but also signified the estate of this marriage to procure a diuorce In like manner Richard the kings brother found great fault with the king for the same matter but chieflie for that he stroke it vp without making him and other of the Nobles of councell therein To be short it was not long yer this grudge grew so far that ciuill war was verie likelie to haue followed therevpon But when the king saw that all the lords leaned to his brother he sought to pacifie the matter by courteous means and so by mediation of the legat the king and his brother were reconciled to the great griefe of the lords which had brought the matter now to that point that the king could not haue so resisted their force but that they were in good hope to haue deliuered the realme out of bondage from all manner of strangers as well of those Romans that were beneficed men as of anie other Simon the earle of Leicester also perceiuing how the matter went made shift another waie to get all the monie he could in prest or otherwise in somuch that he had of one burges of Leicester named Simon Curleuath fiue hundred markes and leauing his wife in the castell of Kelingworth he secretlie departed out of the realme and got him to Rome to purchase a confirmation of his marriage which he easilie obteined notwithstanding the archbishop of Canturburies former and verie vehement information against him and so hauing brought his purpose about in the latter end of this yéere he returned into England and was ioifullie receiued first of the king and after of his wife whome he found at Kelingworth néere to the time of hir trauell and shortlie after deliuered of a yoong sonne whom they called Simon after the name of his father At the same time Frederike the emperour
going into Italie had a great number of English souldiers with him which king Henrie furnished for his aid vnder the leading of a right valiant warriour named Henrie de Trubleuille with whome went also Iohn Mansell whose valiancie in that iournie well appeared and William Hardell a citizen of London was treasurer and paimaister to the souldiers Herewith the pope was sore offended and wrote his mind thereof to the king who foorthwith returned an eloquent answer requiring him to be more fauourable to the emperour considering his cause was such as could not iustlie offend his holinesse About the same time or rather as by some writers it should appeare line 10 somwhat before the kings sister Ioane quéene of Scotland comming into England to see hir brother fell into a sicknesse and died Moreouer the archbishop of Canturburie returned into England who at his comming to Rome obteined little or nothing touching the suit which he had before the pope for as some haue written the legat Otho being his heauie fréend had so stopped the popes eares from hearing any of his complaints line 20 that all his whole trauell did come to none effect In like manner Peter des Roches bishop of Winchester died this yeare in his manor at Farnham about the ninth of Iune which prelat had gouerned that see about 32 yeares He was a man of great wisedome and dexteritie in ordering of weightie affaires touching the state of temporall regiment He builded manie goodlie monasteries as the abbeies of Hales Tikborne and Seleborne with the hospitall at Portesmouth He made also a notable testament line 30 and besides his bequests which were great he left his bishoprike so stored and throughlie furnished that there was not so much diminished of that which he found at his comming in value as the cattell that serued to draw the verie ploughs About this time a learned esquire or rather a clearke of the vniuersitie of Oxenford bearing some malice toward the king fained himselfe mad and espieng thereby the secret places of his house at Woodstoke where he then laie vpon a night by a window line 40 he got into the kings bedchamber and comming to the beds side threw off the couerings and with a dagger strake diuers times into a pillow supposing that the king had beene there but as GOD would that night the king laie in another chamber with the quéene In the meane time one of the queenes chambermaids named Margaret Biset hauing espied the traitor made an outcrie so that the K. seruants which came to vnderstand what the matter meant presentlie apprehended the said clearke who being line 50 conueied to Couentrie was there arreigned and by lawfull proofe had of his malicious intent was condemned and executed as a traitor At his death he confessed that he was sent from William de Marisch the sonne of Geffrie de Marisch to murther the king by such manner of means not caring what had become of himselfe so he might haue dispatched his purpose ¶ These practises of treason In summo gradu which cannot be committed without irrecouerable detriment line 60 to the whole estate speciallie where succession is vncerteine are of an old brewing though they be neuer so newlie broched And trulie if the curssed miscreant which vndertaketh an enterprise of this qualitie had the grace to consider how manie murthers he committeth by implication in giuing the roiall person of the prince a deadlie wound I doubt not if he were a man and not a ranke diuell he would be weaned from that outragious villanie For in wounding and killing the prince he is guiltie of homicide of parricide of christicide nay of deicide And therefore a thousand woes light on his hart that shall stretch out his hand naie that shall once conceiue in thought a murther so heinous as both God and nature dooth abhorre speciallie if it be commensed against a christian prince and such a one as to whome true and vndefiled religion is no lesse pretious and déere than life it selfe Princes therefore had need to sée to the safegard of their persons sithens the safetie of manie millians dependeth therevpon For certeine it is that the state of a poore priuat man is lesse perillous by manie degrées than the state of a potentat which is ment by this true allegorie following Quatiunt altas sapèprocellae Aut euertit fortuna domos Minùs in paruis fortuna furit Raros patitur fulminis ictus Humida vallis In the thrée and twentith yeare of his reigne king Henrie held his Christmasse at Winchester where a great grudge arose betwixt him and Gilbert the earle of Penbroke by reason that the said earle with his seruants hauing tipstaues in their comming to the court were not suffred to enter within the gates but were kept backe by the porters and other Of which iniurie when he had complained the king made him such an ouerthwart answer that the earle perceiuing him not to like verie well of his seruice departed foorthwith and rode into the North countrie so that from that day foorth neither he nor his brother Walter loued the king as they ought to haue doone Soone after this departure of earle Gilbert vpon Candlemas day the king gaue the earldome of Leicester vnto Simon de Mountford and inuested him thereinto hauing first pacified earle Almerike that was elder brother to the same Simon Yet about the beginning of the next August the king was so incensed against earle Simon that both he and his wife were glad to get them ouer into France till the kings wrath were more pacified Upon the sixtéenth day of Iune the kings eldest sonne named Edward and after surnamed Longshanke by the Scots in mockage bicause he was a tall and slender man was borne at Westminster who after his fathers decease succeeded him in the kingdome ¶ Before the birth of this Edward there appeared earlie in the morning certeine daies togither before the sunne was vp a star of a large compasse the which with swift course was caried through a long circuit of the aire sometimes shewing as it had borne fire with it and sometimes leauing as it were smoke behind it so that it was after iudged that the great déeds which were to be atchiued by the same Edward were by this wonderfull constellation foreshewed and signified About the same time by reason of an accusation made by a prisoner against Ranulfe Briton sometime the kings chancellour but now leading a priuat life being a canon of the cathedrall church of saint Paule in London the same Ranulfe by commandement from the king sent to the maior of the citie William Ioiner was taken out of his house had to the tower and there imprisoned whervpon the deane of Paules maister G. Lucie in absence of the bishop accurssed all those that had presumptuouslie attempted to laie hands on the said Ranulfe and further he put his owne church of saint Paule
coosens and againe bicause the king of France had no iust title or right to make claime to England Further there was as then a truce betwixt England line 30 and France and before that England could be subdued much giltlesse bloud should be spilt Also the christians in the holie land were sore oppressed and looked dailie for the arriuall of the king of France and therefore he would be loth to attempt any new enterprise to hinder his iornie thither But about the feast of the Epiphanie other news came out of Prouance that troubled the king of England worse than the other before as thus That the countesse Beatrice his wiues mother had deliuered vp the countie of Prouance into the French kings hands togither line 40 with sixtéene castels which in right of the queene ought to haue remained vnto the king of England For the safe keeping wherof to his vse the said countesse Beatrice had receiued yeerelie for the terme of fiue yeares last past the summe of foure thousand marks of the king of England and yet now in the deliuering of them with the residue of the countrie vnto the French king she neuer made any mention of his right line 50 Shortlie after also Charles the French kings brother maried the ladie Beatrice yoongest daughter of earle Raimond and had with hir the same countie of Prouance and so was intituled earle thereof as in the French historie appeareth Moreouer the archbishop of Canturburie procured a grant from the pope to recouer for one yeare the first fruits of all cures that chanced to be void within the citie diocesse and prouance of Canturburie by and during the tearme of seauen yeares then next following till the summe line 60 of ten thousand marks were leuied towards the discharge of the said archbishops debts The collection of the which ten thousand marks was assigned by the popes bulles vnto the bishop of Hereford who should also leauie two thousand marks of the reuenues belonging to the church of Canturburie to be conuerted to the same vse The king at the first was sore offended herewith but shortlie after he was pacified and so the archbishop had his will After this about the beginning of the next spring Dauid prince of Wales departed this life after great pensifenesse of mind for the destruction and miserie into the which his countrie had béene brought through the present warres with the Englishmen After his deceasse the Welshmen elected to succeed in his place the sonne of Griffin whom king Henrie had reteined in seruice and honourablie vsed euen of a child but now that he heard that the Welshmen had elected him to their prince he stale away and fled into Wales ¶ On the day of the purification of our ladie a robberie was committed vpon certeine Iewes at Oxenford for the which fact fiue and fortie of the offendors were put in prison but at the suit of Robert bishop of Lincolne they were deliuered by the kings commandement bicause no man impeached them of anie breach of peace or other crime The citizens of London also about the beginning of the spring were compelled to paie a talage wherewith they found themselues sore aggreeued About the middest of Lent there was a parlement holden at London wherein diuerse statutes and ordinances were deuised as penalties for those that offended in other mens parks and warrens but the chéefest occasion of assembling this parlement was to take aduise in matters touching the greefes wherewith the church of England séemed to be oppressed by the pope and the court of Rome The pope indeed to quiet the English ambassadors and to put the king and realme in some good hope of reléefe and deliuerance out of such oppressions as were opened vnto him in the face of the whole councell did not onelie promise largelie but also caused diuerse priuileges to be made and deliuered vnto the said ambassadors verie fauorablie in the behalfe of their request But yet the same notwithstanding sith the breaking vp of the said generall councell and return to the ambassadors manie things were doone to the increasing and continuation of the former greefes so that they stood in doubt of further oppressions to follow rather than in hope of the promised redresse Herevpon they concluded eftsoones to write vnto the pope and to the cardinals both in name of the king of the bishops and prelats of the earles barons and other estates of the temporaltie and of the abbats and priors In the meane time the pope for a while somewhat relented in the point of bestowing benefices here in England for when any of his freends or kinsmen was to be preferred to any benefies within this realme he would sue to the king for his grant and good will that such a one might be admitted and not seeme of himselfe to grant it without the kings consent The earle of Sauoy in the presence of the archbishop of Canturburie and the bishop of Hereford and others did homage to the king of England acknowledging to hold of him certeine fées as those of Suse Auislian S. Maurice de Chablais and the castell of Bard which he might well doo not preiudicing the right of the empire sith he held nothing of the same empire except Aigues and the passages This yeare the office of the earle Marshall was giuen to Roger Bigod earle of Northfolke in right of his wife the countesse that was eldest daughter vnto the great earle William Marshall ¶ Moreouer in this yeare the king holding his Easter at London honored Harold king of Man with the order of knighthood About the same time diuerse noble men of Wales submitted themselues and were receiued vnto the kings peace ¶ On saint Markes day was a great frost and snow which nipped the leaues of trees and hearbes in such extreame wise that for the more part they withered and faded awaie Furthermore bicause the pope vnderstood that diuerse rich beneficed men were of late dead in England intestate as Robert Hailes the archdeacon of Lincolne Almerike the archdeacon of Bedford and Iohn Hotospe archdeacon of Northhampton he ordeined a decrée that all such spirituall persons as died intestate their goods should remaine to the pope The execution of which decrée he commanded to the friers preachers and minors but the king would not suffer it to take place bicause he saw that it should redound to the preiudice of him and his kingdome Wherein the popes oppression and wrong offered to the dead by whose deceasse their suruiuing fréends should be benefited and his cruell couetousnes extending to the verie senseles corpse dooth manifestlie appeare so that it is verified of him by waie line 10 of comparison Carniuorax tumidis vt gaudet hyaena sepulchris Sic instat putidis ille cadaueribus Also where the pope required a talage of the clergie the king flatlie forbad it by his letters inhibitorie In this meane while William Powis
to furnish him withall howbeit prince Edward borrowed of his vncle erle Richard foure thousand marks towards the maintenance of that war The rebellion of the Welshmen speciallie rose by the hard dealing of sir Geffrey de Langlie knight the kings collector amongst them who handled them so streightlie that in defense of their countrie lawes and liberties as they pretended they put on armour They tooke and destroied the lands and possessions which were great and large of Griffin Brunet being fled for safegard of his life vnto the king of England There were of those Welsh rebels at the point of twentie thousand men and of them ten thousand were horssemen the which perceiuing the season to make for their purpose defended themselues so manfullie that they droue backe prince Edward and his armie so continuing the wars did much 〈◊〉 to the English marishes Their power so increased that at length they diuided the same in two equall parts the better to recouer vittels and in eiâ—her armie there were estéemed thirtie thousand armed men after the maner of their countrie of the which there were fiue hundred men of armes in either host with barded horsses all couered in it on Thus being of such puissance they did much mischéefe to the Englishmen that inhabited on the marshes neither were the lords marchers able to resist them alâ—â—â—ugh the earle of Glocester aided the same lords 〈◊〉 that he might King Henrie being hereof â—â—uertised 〈…〉 all spéed Stephan Bauzan of man skilfull in 〈…〉 warie wiâ—â— a great number of soldiers into Walâ—â— against the rebels who comming into that countrie and entring into the lands of a Welsh 〈…〉 Rise Uaughan was intrapt by such ambushments as his enimies laid for him and thereby was slaine with the more part of his armie This ouerthrowe chanced by the treason of Griffin de Brunet who at that present reuolting from the English side to his countrimen instructed them in all things how they might vanquish their enimies At that time Northwales and Southwales ioined in league and fréendlie amitie togither which commonlie was not séene in those daies they being for the more part at variance line 10 the one rather séeking still how to indamage the other but now in defense of their liberties as they pretended they agreed in one The king sore mooued herewith determined to go himselfe into Wales that he might take worthie punishment of those his aduersaries that could neuer be sufficientlie chastised Wherevpon raising a great power he hasted foorth and comming into Wales put the rebels in such feare that they withdrew to their accustomed places of refuge I meane line 20 the woods and mareshes The king would faine haue had them foorth that he might haue punished them according to their deserts and therefore to bring his purpose the better to passe he sent for an armie of soldiers into Ireland and tarried for their comming at the castell of Brecknoke but the yeare was farre spent yer his people could be gathered so that by the aduise of his lords he strengthened certeine castels and so returned for that yeare into England leauing the lord Roger Mortimer his lieutenant in Wales line 30 to resist the rebels But now let vs speake of other dooings which chanced in the meane while that the warres thus continued and lasted betwixt England and Wales Yée shall vnderstand that in the Lent season the archbishop of Messina came as legat from the pope hither into England with letters of procuration to demand and receiue and also with power to punish such as should denie and séeme to resist and so being here arriued with a great traine of seruants and horses line 40 he sent foorth his commandements in writing to euerie prelat to prouide him monie by way of proxie so that of the house of S. Albons and of the celles that belonged therevnto he had one and twentie marks and when the moonks of S. Albons came to visit him in his house they could not be permitted to depart but were kept as prisoners till they had satisfied his couetous demand for whereas they alledged that they had not brought any monie with them he asked them whie they were such beggers and further line 50 said Send yée then to some merchant that will lend you monie and so it was doone for otherwise they might not haue libertie to depart This archbishop was of the order of the Friers preachers in whome saith Matthew Paris we had hoped to haue found more abundant humilitie About the same time there appeared at London a new order of Friers not knowen till those daies hauing yet the popes autentike bulles which they openlie shewed so that there séemed a confusion of manie orders as line 60 the same Matthew Paris recordeth and bicause they were apparelled in sackecloth they were called sacked Friers About the middest of Lent there was a great parlement holden to the which the maisters of the Uniuersitie of Oxford were summoned that peace might be concluded betwixt them and the bishop of Lincolne which had them in suit about their liberties There came to the same parlement the earle of Glocester and sir Iohn Mansell latelie returned out of Almaine where they had béene on ambassage from Richard the elect king of Almaine Thither came also the same elect king of Almaine and almost all the Nobilitie of the realme so that scarse might the citie of London receiue the number that repaired to that parlement The king of Almaine meant to take his leaue at that time of the lords and péeres of the realme purposing shortlie after to take his iournie towards Almaine and to ordeine the bishop of London gouernor of all his lands and possessions within England In this parlement the lord Edmund the kings yoonger sonne was shewed as king of Naples and Sicill for the obteining of the possession of which dominions and kingdoms his father king Henrie demanded no small subsidie and aid of monie both of the temporaltie and also of the spiritualtie but namlie he required to haue the tenths of spirituall mens liuings for the terme of fiue yeares according to the new taxations without any deductions to be allowed except necessarie expenses also the fruits for one yeare of benefices that chanced to fall void within the said terme of fiue yeare Moreouer sundrie other duties he required to haâ—e of the â—pirituall men sore to their gréeuance and speciallie bicause they knew that such tyrannie first tooke beginning from the pope In the end though leâ—h they were to consent yet conditionallie that the king would confirme the liberties conteiâ—ed in the great charter and obserue the same throughlie now after it had béene so manie times brought out and redéemed they offered to giue him towards his instant necessitie two and fiftie thousand marks 〈…〉 recouerable danger of impouerishing the church And yet as it is said the king refused the
except onelie two earles of Almaine which brought with them but onelie three knights and he himselfe had but eight line 40 knights his brother king Henrie was readie to receiue him and brought him from Douer vnto Canturburie for neither of them was suffered to enter into the castell of Douer the lords hauing them in a gelousie least they should be about to breake the ordinances which were concluded On the morow after the king of Almaine receiued the oth in the presence of Richard earle of Glocester and others within the chapter house of Canturburie And on the day line 50 of the Purification of our ladie the two kings with their queenes and a great number of noble personages made their entrie and passage into the citie of London In the octaues of the said Purification the parlement began at London to the which came the earle of Leicester from the parts of beyond the sea where he had for a certeine time remained There came also an ambassador from the French king one that was deane of Burges and so there was an earnest treatie line 60 had touching a peace to be concluded betwixt the two kings of England and France which on the day of saint Ualentine was accorded and put in articles with condition that the same should remaine firme and stable if the kings would assent to that which had beene talked of and agreed vpon by their speciall and solemne agents For the further perfecting of this agreement and finall peace betwixt the kings of England and France about the begining of Aprill the earls of Glocester and Leicester Iohn Mansell Peter de Sauoy and Robert Ualerane were sent ouer into France hauing also with them letters of credence to conclude in all matters as had béene talked of by their agents But when the countesse of Leicester would not consent to quite claime and release hir right in such parcels of Normandie as belonged to hir which king Henrie had couenanted with the residue to resigne vnto the French king The earle of Glocester fell at words with the earle of Leicester about the stubborne demeanor which his wife shewed in that matter and so by reason that either of them stood at defiance with the other although by meane of freends they staied from further inconuenience they returned backe without concluding any thing in that whereabout they were sent About the same time there was a certeine mansion house by waie of deuotion giuen vnto the friers that are called preachers within the towne of Dunstable so that certeine of them thrusting themselues in there began to inhabit in that place to the great annoiance of the prior and conuent of Dunstable as it were by the example of the other order called minors which in the last precéeding yeare at saint Edmundsburie in Suffolke had practised the like matter against the willes of the abbat and conuent there they began to build verie sumptuous houses so that in the eies of the beholders such chargeable workes of building so suddenlie aduanced by them that professed voluntarie pouertie caused no small woonder The said friers building them a church with all spéed and setting vp an altar immediatlie began to celebrate diuine seruice not once staieng for the purchase of anie licence And so building from day to day they obteined great aid of such as inhabited neere vnto them of whome the prior and conuent ought to haue receiued the reuenues that were now conuerted to be imploied on the said friers towards their maintenance Thus by how much more their house increased by so much more did the prior and conuent decrease in substance and possessions for the rents which they were accustomed to receiue of the messuages and houses giuen to the friers were lost and likewise the offerings which were woont to come to their hands now these friers being newlie entred by occasion of their preachings vsurped to themselues Richard Graie constable of the castell of Douer and lord warden of the cinque ports was this yeare remooued by the lord chéefe iustice Hugh Bigod who tooke into his owne hands the custodie of the said castell and ports The cause whie the said Richard Graie was discharged we find to haue fallen out by this means He suffered a frier minor called Walascho comming from the pope bicause he had the kings letters vnder the great seale to enter the land not staieng him nor warning the lords of his comming contrarie as it was interpreted vnto the articles of their prouisions enacted at Oxenford This frier indeed was sent from the pope to haue restored Athilmarus or Odomarus as some write him the kings halfe brother vnto the possessions of the bishoprike of Winchester to the which he had béene long before elected But the lords were so bent against him that vpon such suggestions as they laid foorth Walascho refrained from dooing that which he had in commandement and returned to make report what he vnderstood so that Odomarus was now as farre from his purpose as before About the feast of saint Michaell the bishop of Bangor was sent from Leolin prince of Wales vnto the king of England to make offer on the behalfe of the said Leolin and other the lords of Wales of sixtéene thousand pounds of siluer for a peace to be had betwixt the king and them and that they might come to Chester and there haue their matters heard and determined as in time past they had béene accustomed But what answer at his returne was giuen to this bishop by the king and his nobles it is vncerteine In the fortie and fourth yeare of king Henries reigne the fridaie following the feast of Simon and Iude in a parlement holden at Westminster were read in presence of all the lords and commons the acts and ordinances made in the parlement holden at Oxenford with certeine other articles by the gouernours therevnto added and annexed After the reading whereof the archbishop of Canturburie being reuested with his suffragans to the number of nine bishops besides abbats and others denounced line 10 all them accurssed that attempted in word or déed to breake the said statutes or anie of them In the same parlement was granted to the king a talke called scutagium or escuage that is to saie fortie shillings of euerie knights fée throughtout England the which extended to a great summe of monie For as diuerse writers do agree there were in England at that time in possession of the spiritualtie and temporaltie beyond fortie thousand knights fees but almost halfe of them were in spirituall mens hands line 20 Upon the sixt day of Nouember the king came vnto Paules where by his commandement was the folkemote court assembled and the king according to the former ordinances made asked licence of the communaltie of the citie to passe the sea and promised there in the presence of a great multitude of people by the mouth of
certeine ships passing by the towre with wheat and other vittels into the towre making the price thereof himselfe The matter was had before sir Philip Basset lord cheefe iustice and others who vpon the sight and hearing of all such euidences and priuiledges as could be brought foorth for the aduantage of both the parties tooke order that the constable should when he lacked prouision of graine or vittels come into the market holden within the citie and there to haue wheat two pence in a quarter within the maiors price and other vittels after the same rate Prince Edward the kings sonne returning from line 10 the parts beyond the sea went with a great power as well of Englishmen as strangers against the Welshmen towards Snowdon hils but the enimies withdrawing themselues to their strengths within the woods and mounteines he could not much indamage them wherevpon after he had fortified certeine castels in those parts with men numition and vittels he returned being sent for backe of his father The archbishop of Canturburie foreseeing the trouble that was like to insue betwixt the king and his line 20 barons got licence of the king to go vnto Rome about such businesse as he fained to haue to doo with the pope and so departed the land and kept him awaie till the trouble was appeased Upon Midlent sundaie at a folkemote holden at Paules crosse before sir Philip Basset and other of the kings councell the maior of London was sworne to be true to the king and to his heires kings of England and vpon the morrow at the Guildhall euerie alderman in presence of the maior tooke the same oth And vpon line 30 the sundaie following euerie inhabitant within the citie of the age of 12 yeares and aboue before his alderman in his ward was newlie charged with the like oth Then began the displeasure betwéene the king and his barons to appeare which had béene long kept secret diuers of whom assembling togither in the marches of Wales gathered vnto them a power of men and sent a letter vnto the king vnder the seale of sir Roger Clifford beséeching him to haue in remembrance line 40 his oth and manifold promises made for the obseruing of the statutes ordeined at Oxford But although this letter was indited and written verie effectuallie yet receiued they no answer from the king who minded in no wise to obserue the same statutes as by euident takens it was most apparant Wherevpon they determined to attempt by force to bring their purpose to passe The king and the quéene for their more safegard got them into the towre of London and prince Edward laie at Clerkenwell line 50 but in such necessitie and discredit for monie that neither had they any store to furnish their wants neither was there any man that would trust them with a groat Prince Edward not able to abide such dishonor in the feast of the apostle Peter and Paule taking with him Robert Waleran and certeine others went to the new temple and there easling for the kéeper of the treasure-house as if he meant to see his mothers iewels that were laid vp there to be safelie line 60 kept he entred into the house and breaking the coffers of certeine persons that had likewise brought their monie thither to haue it in more safetie he tooke away from thence the value of 1000 pounds ô quantum cogit egestas Magnum pauperies opprobrium iubet Quiduis facere pati Virtutisque viam deserit arduae The citizens of London were so offended herewith that they rose in armour against him and other of the kings councell in somuch that they assailed the lodging of the lord Iohn Gray without Ludgate and tooke out of his stables 32 horsses and such other things as they might laie hold vpon kéeping such stur that the lord Gray himselfe was forced to flie beyond Fleetbridge The like rule they kept at the house of Iohn de Passelew Iohn Mansell departing foorth of the towre to the Thames with the countesse de Lisle and other ladies that were strangers borne sailed into France and landed at Whitsand where the said Mansell hearing that the lord Henrie sonne to the king of Almaine that then held with the barons was in those parts he caused the lord Ingram de Fines to staie him as prisoner and so he remained till king Henrie vpon the agreement betwixt him and the barons found meanes to get him released and so then he returned into England But now touching the barons they procéeded in their businesse which they had in hand with all earnest diligence of whome these were the chéefe that vndertooke this matter yoong Humfrie de Boun the lord Henrie son to the king of Almaine Henrie Montford Hugh Spenser Baldwin Wake Gilbert Gifford Richard Gray Iohn Ros William Marmion Henrie Hastings Haimon le Strange Iohn Fitz Iohn Godfrey Lucie Nicholas Segraue Roger de Leiborne Iohn Uesie Roger de Clifford Iohn de Uaus Gilbert de Clare Gilbert de Lacie and Robert Uepont the which with one generall consent elected for their chéefe capteins and generall gouernours Simon de Mountfort earle of Leicester Gilbert of Clare earle of Glocester and Robert Ferreis earle of Darbie and Iohn earle of Warren On the kings part these persons are named to stand with him against the other First Roger Bigod erle of Norffolke and Suffolke Humfrie de Boun earle of Hereford Hugh Bigod lord cheefe iustice Philip Basset William de Ualence Geffrey de Lucignan Peter de Sauoy Robert Walrand Iohn Mansell Geffrey Langley Iohn Gray William Latimer Henrie Percie and manie other The barons notwithstanding hauing assembled their powers resolued to go through with their purpose The first enterprise they made was at Hereford where they tooke the bishop of that sée named Iohn Breton and as manie of his canons as were strangers borne After this they tooke sir Matthew de Bezilles shiriffe of Glocester a stranger borne and kéeping on their waie towards London with baners displaied so manie as came within their reach whom they knew to be against the maintenance of the statutes of Oxford they spoiled them of their houses robbed them of their goods and imprisoned their bodies hauing no regard whether they were spirituall men or temporall In diuerse of the kings castels they placed such capteins and soldiers as they thought conuenient 〈◊〉 placed others whom they either knew or suspected to be aduersaries to their purpose About Midsummer when they drew néere to London they sent a letter to the maior and aldermen vnder the seale of the earle of Leicester willing to vnderstand whether they woulâ—â—bserue the acts and statâ—tes establishâ—d at Oxford or else aid and assist such persons as meant the breath of the same And herewith they sent vnto them â— copie of those articles with a prouiso that if any of them were preiudiciall or in any wife
laie at Dunfersing the most part of the winter and whilest he laie there the queene which had lien a long time at Tinmouth came to him and when the winter was once past the king himselfe came to the siege and caused certeine engins of wood to be raised vp against the castell which shot off stones of two or thrée hundred weight but yet would not they within once talke of any surrender And where the Englishmen filled the ditches with wood and boughs of trées they set the same on fire and burnt them to ashes at length the ditches were filled with stones and earth so that then the Scots within perceiuing themselues in euident perill to loose the castell on saint Margarets daie they yéelded themselues simplie into the kings hands as the English writers affirme though the Scotish writers record the contrarie Finallie when the king had ordered all his businesse in Scotland at his pleasure he returned into England leauing in Scotland for warden the lord Iohn Segraue or as other writers haue sir Aimer de Ualence earle of Penbroke At his comming to Yorke he caused the iustices of his bench and the barons of the excheker to remoue with their courts and all their clearks and officers togither with the lord chancellor and his court to London that the termes might be kept there as in times past they had béene whereas now the same had remained at Yorke aboue the space of six yeares vpon this consideration that the king and his councell might be néere vnto Scotland to prouide for the defense thereof as occasion from time to time should require From Yorke he came to Lincolne and there remained all the winter holding a councell in the which he eftsoones confirmed the articles of Magna charta touching the liberties priuileges and immunities of his subiects the which to declare their thankfull minds towards him for the same granted to him for the space of one yéere the fifteenth part of all their reuenues Others write that the king had in this yeare of citizens and of the burgesses of good townes the sixt penie according to the valued rate of their goods About the same time Thomas Colebrugh or Corbridge archbishop of Yorke departed this life and one William Greenefield doctour of both the lawes succéeded him ¶ There died about the same time that valiant knight the lord W. Latimer ¶ Also Iohn Warren earle of Surrey and Sussex died this yéere was buried at Lewes His nephue by his son named also Iohn succéeded him obteining to wife the kings néece by his daughter Elianor that was married to the earle of Bar as before ye haue heard Likewise Robert Bruce earle of Carrike the fift of that name died this yeare who was father to that Robert Bruce that was after K. of Scots ¶ Moreouer about this season the king ordeined certeine commissioners of iusticiaries to make inquisitions through the realme by the verdict of substantiall iuries vpon all officers as maiors shiriffes bailiffes exchetors and other that had misused themselues in their offices either by extortion briberie or otherwise to the gréeuance of the people contrarie to that they rightlie might doo and iustifie by vertue of their offices by means of which inquisitions manie were accused and found culpable and therevpon put to gréeuous fines Also the iustices which were assigned to take these inquisitions extended the same according to their commission against such as had made intrusions into other mens lands and for doubt to be impleaded for the same had made alienations ouer into the hands of great men also against such barretors as vsed to take monie to beat any man and againe would not sticke to take monie of him whom they had so beaten to beat him that first hired them to beat the other The malice of such maner people was now restreined by force of these inquisitions for such as were found culpable were worthilie punished some by death and some by ransoms diuerse also for feare to come to their answers fled the realme also forfeits against the crowne were streightlie looked vnto found out and leuied by reason whereof great summes of monie came to the kings coffers which holpe well towards the maintenance and charges of his warres This kind of inquisition was named commonlie Traile baston which signifieth Traile or draw the staffe And forsomuch as the proceeding in this wise against such misdemenors as then were vsed brought so great a benefit to the realme in restreining such malefactors which greatlie as should séeme disquieted the state of the commonwealth I haue thought good to set downe the substance of the same as followeth An extract of the foresaid writ as it is registred in the booke that belonged to the abbeie of Abington line 10 REx dilectis fidelibus suis Radulfo filio Wilhelmi Iohanni de Barton de Riton salutem Quia quà m plures malefactores pacis nostrae perturbatores homicidia depraedationes incendia alia damna quà m plurima nocte diéque perpetrantes vagantur in boscis parcis alijs locis diuersis tam infra libertates quà m extra in comitatu Eboracensi line 20 ibidem receptantur in maximum periculum tam hominum per partes illas transeuntium quà m ibidem commorantium in nostri contemptum ac pacis nostrae laesionem manifestam vt accepimus per quorum incursum poterunt peiora peioribus de facili euenire nisi remedium super hoc citiùs apponatur nos eorum malitiae in hac parte obuiare huiusmodidamnis periculis praecauere volentes assignamus vos ad inquirendum per sacramentum tam militum quà m aliorum proborum legalium line 30 hominum de contemptu praedicto tam infra libertates quà m extra per quos ipsa veritas meliùs sciri poterit qui sint illi malefactores pacis nostrae perturbatores eos conduxerunt conducunt ad verberandum vulnerandum malè tractandū interficiendum plures de regno nostro in ferijs mercarijs alijs locis in dicto comitatu pro inimicitia inuidia aut malitia Et etiam pro eo quòd in assisis iuratis recognitionibus inquisitionibus line 40 factis de felonijs positifuerant veritatem dixerunt vnde per conditionem huiusmodi malefactorum iuratores assisarum iurationum recognitionum inquisitionum illarum pro timore dictorum malefactorum eorum minarum saepiùs veritatem dicere seu dictos malefactores indictare minimè ausifuerunt sunt Et ad inquirendum de illis qui huiusmodi munera dederunt dant quantum quibus qui huiusmodi munera receperunt à quibus qualiter quo modo line 50 qui huiusmodi malefactores fouent nutriunt manutenent in comitatu praedicto ad ipsos malefactores tamper vos quà m per vicecomitem nostrum comitatus praedicti arrestandos
Bruce that onelie stood in his waie it was verie likelie that he should haue found none other to haue raised banner against line 10 him about the quarrell or title to the claime of that realme For as he was a right warlike prince of him selfe so was he furnished with capteins and souldiers answerable to his desire who being able to lead and command them of himselfe had them at length obedient inough to serue him although as partlie yée haue heard some of the peeres shewed themselues at times disobedient and stubborne whom yet in the end he tamed well inough as the earles of Hereford line 20 and Northfolke the which in the thirtith yeare of his reigne resigned their castels and manours into his hands as by the records of the tower it further may appeare Now to follow as in other kings I haue doone heretofore for learned men these I find to haue flourished in this kings daies Henrie de Henna a Carmelite frier Goodwine the chantor of the church of Salisburie Adam de Marisco or Mareis borne in Summersetshire an excellent diuine as he was reputed line 30 in those daies Gregorie Huntington a monke of Ramesey verie expert in the toongs Seuall archbishop of Yorke a man singularlie learned and stout in defending the cause of his cleargie against the pope Haimo de Feuersham Peter Swanington Helias Trickingham Helias de Euesham Radulfe Bocking borne in Sussex Alphredâ— surnamed Anglicus Iames Cisterciensis William of Ware Robert Oxenford Thomas Docking Iohn surnamed Grammaticus Robert Dodeford but the more line 40 part of these are rather to be ascribed vnto the time of Henrie the third the father of this king Edward where these that follow are thought to flourish in the time of king Edwards reigne after the deceasse of his father king Henrie Thomas Spot a chronographer Peter de Ickeham a Kentishman borne as Bale thinketh Iohn Beckton a doctor of both the lawes William Hanaberge a Carmelite frier prouinciall gouernour of his order heere in England Robert Kilwarbie bishop of Canturburie and after made a cardinall and bishop of Portua Glbert surnamed Magnus a moonke of the Cisteaux order Helias Ros Walter Recluse Hugh le Euesham Iohn Euersden a writer of annales whome I haue partlie followed in this kings life William Pagham Henrie Esseborne Iohn de Haida Roger Bacon a Franciscane frier an excellent philosopher and likewise a mathematician Iohn Derlington a dominike frier Iohn Chelmeston Thomas Borstale a Northfolke man borne Gregorie Cairugent a moonke of Glocester a writer of annales Gregorie de Bredlington Thomas Bungey a frier minor borne in Northfolke an excellent mathematician prouinciall ruler of his order heere in England he flourished in the daies of king Edward the first although there were another of the same name that liued in the time of king Edward the third Hugh de Manchester a Dominike frier prouinciall gouernour of his order héere in England Richard Knapwell a Dominike frier Iohn Peckham borne in the dioces of Chichester a Franciscane frier excellentlie learned as by his workes it appeareth he was aduanced by pope Honorius the third to the archbishops sée of Canturburie Thomas de Illey a Suffolke man borne and a white or Carmelite frier in the house of Gippeswich Michaell surnamed Scot but borne in the bishoprike of Durham as Leland saith an excellent physician and likewise verie expert in the mathematicals Hugh de Newcastell a frier minor professed in the same towne Thomas Sutton a blacke frier that is of the order of S. Dominike Iohn Read an historiographer William de la Mare a frier minor Thomas Wicke a chanon of Osney in Oxenford Simon de Gaunt William Hothun prouinciall of the friers Dominiks in England Iohn de Hide a moonke of Winchester Robert Crouch a cordelier or a Franciscane frier Richard Midleton a frier minor Thomas Spirman a blacke frier William Lidlington a doctor of diuinitie and a Carmelite frier in Stanford Iohn Fiberie or Beuer a moonke of Westminster William Makelesfield borne in Cheshire in a market towne whereof he beareth the name a blacke frier by profession and an excellent philosopher Thus farre Edward the first surnamed Longshanks Edward the second the sonne of Edward the first EDward the second of that name the sonne of Edward the first borne at Carnaruan in Wales began his reigne ouer England the seauenth day of Iulie year 1307 in the yeare of our Lord 1307 of the world 5273 of the comming of the Saxons 847 after the conquest 241 about the tenth yeare of Albert emperour of Rome and the two and twentith of the fourth Philip surnamed Le Beau as line 10 then king of France and in the third yeare after that Robert le Bruce had taken vpon him the crowne and gouernement of Scotland His fathers corpse was conueied from Burgh vpon Sands vnto the abbeie of Waltham there to remaine till things were readie for the buriall which was appointed at Westminster Within three daies after when the lord treasurer Walter de Langton bishop of Couentriâ— and Lichfield thorough whose complaint Péers de Gaueston line 20 had beene banished the land was going towards Westminster to make preparation for the same buriall he was vpon commandement from the new king arrested commiâ—ted to prison and after deliuered to the hands of the said Péers being then returned againe into the realme who sent him from castell to castell as a prisoner His lands and tenements were seized to the kings vse but his mooueables were giuen to the foresaid Peers Walter Reignold line 30 that had beene the kings tutor in his childhood was then made lord treasurer and after when the fée of Worcester was void at the kings instance he was by the pope to that bishoprike preferred Also Rafe bishop of London was deposed from the office of lord Chancellour and Iohn Langton bishop of Chichester was therto restored Likewise the barons of the excheker were remooued and other put in their places And Amerie de Ualence earle of Penbroke was discharged of the wardenship of Scotland line 40 and Iohn de Britaine placed in that office whom he also made earle of Richmond But now concerning the demeanour of this new king whose disordered maners brought himselfe and manie others vnto destruction we find that in the beginning of his gouernement though he was of nature giuen to lightnesse yet being restreined with the prudent aduertisements of certeine of his councellors to the end he might shew some likelihood of good proofe be counterfeited a kind of grauitie vertue line 50 and modestie but yet he could not throughlie be so bridled but that foorthwith he began to plaie diuers wanton and light parts at the first indeed not outragiouslie but by little and little and that couertlie For hauing reuoked againe into England his old mate the said Peers de Gaueston he receiued him into most high fauour creating him earle of Cornewall and lord of Man his principall secretarie
next following the said earle went with the king to the siege of Berwike About the feast of the Natiuitie of our ladie the two cardinals which were yet remaining in England sent foorth commandements vnto all the prelats and priests within the realme that thrée times in euerie solemne line 50 masse they should denounce Robert Bruce that called himselfe king of Scotland accursed with all his councellors and fautors and on the behalfe of the pope they depriued him by denunciation of all honour and put all his lands vnder interdiction disabling all their children to the second degrée that held with him as vnworthie vnfit to receiue or take vpon them any ecclesiasticall function They denounced also all the prelats of Scotland and men of line 60 religion exempt and not exempt excommunicate and accursed The lord Roger Mortimer returned againe into England and Alexander Bicnor was made cheefe iustice of Ireland ¶ Also Edward Bruce with sir Walter and sir Hugh Laâ—ie bringing with them a great armie returned out of Scotland and arriued at Dundalke on the day of saint Calixâ— the pope But neere to the same place sir Iohn Belmingham Richard Tute and Miles of Ueâ—don with a power of 1â—24 men incountred them and slue the said Edward le Bruce and aboue the number of 8200 men or as other haue but 5800. The said sir Iohn Birmingham brought the head of Edward le Bruce ouer into England and presented it to the king Wherevpon the king in recompense of his seruice gaue vnto him the earledome of Louth to hold to him and his heires males and the baronie of Athird to him and his heires generall About this season or somewhat before about Midsummer as Southwell saith a naughtie fellow called Iohn Poidras or as some books haue Ponderham a tanners son of Excester commmig to Oxford and there thrusting himselfe into the kings hall that stood without the wals gaue foorth that he was sonne and right heire of king Edward the first and that by means of a false nursse he was stolne out of his cradle and this Edward the second being a carters son was brought in and laid in his place so that he by reason thereof was afterwards hardlie fostered and brought vp in the north part of Wales At length being laid for he fled to the church of the white friers in Oxford trusting there to be safe through the immunitie of the place bicause king Edward the first was their founder But when he could not keepe his toong but still fondlie vttered his follie and stood in his opinion so that great rumor thereof was raised he was at length taken out of that church caried to Northhampton where he was there arreigned condemned and had foorth to a place in the countrie called the copped oke where he was drawne hanged and as a traitour bowelled At the houre of his death he confessed that in his house he had a spirit in likenesse of a cat which amongst other things assured him that he should be king of England In this season to wit in the yeare 1319 a great murreine and death of cattell chanced through the whole realme spreading from place to place year 1319 but speciallie this yeare it reigned most in the north where as in the yeares before it began in the south parts The king desirous to be reuenged of the Scots made preparation to leuie a mightie armie and for want of sufficient numbers of men in other places towards the north parts the king caused much people to come vnto him out of the south and east parts of the realme amongst the which the citie of London was constreined to find at their costs and charges two hundred men sending them to Yorke where the generall assemblie of the armie was made From thence after he had receiued his men from sundrie countries and good townes of his realme he went to Berwike laid siege to the towne In which meane time the Scots being assembled came to the borders passed by the English host and entring into England came in secreet wise downe into the marâ—hes of Yorkeshire and there slue the people and robbed them in most cruell wise Wherefore the archbishop of Yorke meaning in time of such necessitie to doo his indeuour in defense of his countrie assembled such power as he could get togither of clearkes moonks canons and other spirituall men of the church with husbandmen and such other vnapt people for the warres and thus with a great number of men and see to warlike or discréet chéefeteins he togither with the bishop of Elie as then lord chancellour came foorth against the Scots and incountred with them at a place called Mitton vpon Suale the twelfth day of October Here as the Englishmen pâ—ssed ouer the 〈◊〉 of Suale the Scots set 〈◊〉 vpon â—erteine 〈◊〉 of haie the smoke whereof was 〈◊〉 that the Englishmen a might not be where the Scotslaâ—e And when the Englishmen were ouer got ouer the 〈◊〉 the Scots came vpon them with a wing in good order of battell in 〈…〉 to a shield egerlie assailing their enimies who for lacke of good gouernement were easilie beaten downe and discomfited without shewing any great resistance so that there were slaine to the number of two thousand and the residue shamefullie put to flight The archbishop the lord chancellor and the abbat of Selbie with helpe of their swift horsses escaped and diuerse other The maior of Yorke named Nicholas Fleming was slaine sir William Diremin preest taken prisoner Manie were drowned by reason that the Scots had gotten betwixt the Englishmen and the bridge so that the Englishmen fled betwixt that wing of the Scots and their maine battell line 10 which had compassed the Englishmen about on the one side as the wing did vpon the other And bicause so manie spirituall men died in this battell it was after named of manie writers The white battell The king of England informed of this ouerthrow giuen by the Scots to the Northerne men he brake vp his siege incontinentlie and returned to Yorke Thus all the kings exploits by one means or other quailed and came but to euill successe so that line 20 the English nation began to grow in contempt by the infortunate gouernment of the prince the which as one out of the right waie rashlie and with no good aduisement ordered his dooings which thing so gréeued the noblemen of the realme that they studied day and night by what means they might procure him to looke better to his office and dutie which they iudged might well be brought to passe his nature being not altogither euill if they might find shift to remooue from him the two Spensers Hugh the father line 30 and Hugh the sonne who were gotten into such fauour with him that they onelie did all things and without them nothing was doone so that they were now had in as great hatred
whereby any hurt might insue either to the king or to the realme ¶ Thus haue we thought good to shew the cause of this earles death as by some writers it hath béene registred although there be that write that the ouerthrow at Beighland chanced through his fault by misleading a great part of the kings host and that therefore the king being offended with him caused him to be put to death albeit as I thinke no such matter was alleged against him at the time of his arreignement About this season was the foundation begun of S. Michaels colledge in Cambridge by one sir Henrie Stanton knight chancellour of the excheker About the feast of the Ascension there came as commissioners from the king of England vnto Newcastell Aimerie earle of Penbroke and the lord chamberlaine Hugh Spenser the yoonger and other foure personages of good accompt And from the king of Scots there came the bishop of saint Andrews Thomas Randulfe earle of Murrey and other foure of good credit to treat of peace or at the leastwise of some long truce and through the good will and pleasure of God the author of all peace and quietnesse they concluded vpon a truce to indure for thirteene yeares and so about the feast of saint Barnabe the apostle it was proclaimed in both realmes but yet so that they might not traffike togither bicause of the excommunication wherewith the Scots were as yet intangled although as some write about the same time the interdict wherein the realme of Scotland stood bound was by pope Iohn released The French K. being latelie come to the crowne sent certeine ambassadors vnto king Edward to wit the lord Beouille and one Andreas de Florentia a notarie to giue summons vnto him from the French king to come and doo homage for the lands which he held in France as for the duchie of Aquitaine and the countie of Pontieu And though the lord chamberleine Hugh Spenser the sonne and the lord chancellour Robert Baldocke did what they could to procure these ambassadors not to declare the cause of their comming to the king yet when they should depart they admonished the king to come and doo his homage vnto the French king and vpon this admonition the said Andreas framed a publike instrument by vertue whereof the French king made processe against the king of England and â—eized into his hands diuerse townes and castels in Aquitaine alledging that he did it for the contumacie shewed by the king of England in refusing to come to doo his homage being lawfullie summoned although the king was throughlie informed that the summons was neither lawfull nor touched him anie thing at all About the same time the lord Roger Mortimer of Wigmor giuing his kéepers a drinke that brought them into a sound and heauie sléepe escaped out of the tower of London where he was prisoner This escape of the lord Mortimer greatlie troubled the king so that immediatlie vpon the first news he wrote to all the shiriffes of the realme that if he chanced to come within their roomes they should cause hue and crie to be raised so as he might be staied and arrested but he made such shift that he got ouer into France where he was receiued by a lord of Picardie named monsier Iohn de Fieules who had faire lands in England and therefore the king wrote to him reprouing him of vnthankfulnesse considering he had beene euer readie to pleasure him and to aduance his profits and commodities and yet notwithstanding he did succour the said lord Mortimer and other rebels that were fled out of his realme In Lent this yeare a parlement was holden at London in the which diuerse things were intreated amongst other the cheefest was to determine for the sending of some honorable ambassage to the French king to excuse the king for not comming to him to doo his homage according to the pretended summons line 10 ¶ In the same parlement Adam bishop of Hereford was arrested and examined vpon points of treason for aiding succouring and mainteining the Mortimers and other of the rebels This bishop was reckoned to be wise subtill and learned but otherwise wilfull presumptuous and giuen to mainteine factions At the first he disdeined to make anie answer at all and finallie when he was in manner forced thereto he flatlie told the king that he might not make any answere to such matters as he was charged with except by the licence and consent of his line 20 metropolitane the archbishop of Canturburie and other his péeres Héerevpon the said archbishop and other bishops made such sute that he was committed to the kéeping of the said archbishop with him to remaine till the king had taken order for his further answer Within few daies after when the king called him againe before his presence to make answere to the matters laid against him the archbishops of Canturburie line 30 Yorke Dublin and ten other bishops came with their crosses afore them and vnder a colour of the priuilege and liberties of the church tooke him awaie before he had made anie answere forbidding all men on paine of excommunication to laie anie hands vpon him The king greatlie offended with this bold procéeding of the prelats caused yet an inquest to be impauelled to inquire of the bishop of Herefords treasons and vpon the finding of him giltie he seized into his hands all the temporalties line 40 that belonged to his bishoprike and spoiled his manours and houses most violentlie in reuenge of his disloiall dealings Moreouer in this parlement the lands and possessions that belonged sometime to the Templers and had beene deliuered vnto the knights Hospitalers otherwise called knights of the Rodes by the king in the seauenth yeare of his reigne according to the decrée of the councell of Uienna were by authoritie of this parlement assured vnto the said knights to enioy line 50 to them and their successors for euer Also it was concluded that the earle of Kent and the archbishop of Dubline should go ouer as ambassadours into France to excuse the king for his not comming in person to the French king to doo his homage for the lands he held in France Moreouer in the same parlement the king granted that all the dead bodies of his enimies and rebels that had suffered and hanged still on the gallowes should be taken downe and buried in the churchyards next to the places where line 60 the same bodies were hanging and not elsewhere by such as would take paine to burie them as by his writs directed vnto the shiriffes of London and of the counties of Middlesex Kent Glocester Yorke and Buckingham it appeared And not onelie this libertie was granted at that time for the taking down of those bodies but as some write it was decréed by authoritie in the same parlement that the bodies of all those that from thenceforth should be hanged
sonne the lord chamberleine that neither durst go ouer themselues with the king nor abide at home in his absence gaue contrarie counsell and at length preuailed so that it was fullie determined that the kings eldest line 60 sonne Edward should go ouer which turned to their destruction as it appeared afterward Herevpon the king made a charter of grant vnto his sonne of the duchie of Guien and countie of Pontieu to haue and hold to him his heires kings of England with condition that if he chanced to depart this life whilest his father liued those lands should returne to his father againe so as the French king might not marrie the kings sonne at his pleasure nor appoint vnto him any gardians or gouernours This ordinance was made at Douer by the kings charter with consent of the prelats and other noble men of the realme there present the morrow after the Natiuitie of our ladie and on the thursdaie following the kings sonne tooke the sea and with him Walter bishop of Excester and others in competent number and about the feast of saint Matthew the apostle he did homage to his vncle the French king at Bois de Vincennes vnder certeine protestations made as well on the one part as the other The summer this yeare prooued excéeding hot and drie so that springs and riuers failed to yéeld their accustomed course of waters by reason wherof great numbers of cattell and beasts both wild and tame died through lacke of conuenient liquor to asswage their vehement thirst In the beginning of the next spring king Edward sent into France vnto his wife and sonne commanding them now that they had made an end of their businesse to returne home with all conuenient speed The queene receiuing the message from hir husband whether it was so that she was staied by hir brother vnto whome belike she had complained after what manner she was vsed at hir husbands hands being had in no regard with him or for that she had no mind to returne home bicause she was loth to see all things ordered out of frame by the counsell of the Spensers whereof to heare she was wearie or whether as the manner of women is she was long about to prepare hir selfe forward she slacked all the summer and sent letters euer to excuse hir tarriance But yet bicause she would not run in any suspicion with hir husband she sent diuerse of hir folkes before hir into England by soft iournies A lamentable case that such diuision should be betwéene a king and his quéene being lawfullie married and hauing issue of their bodies which ought to haue made that their copulation more comfortable but alas what will not a woman be drawne and allured vnto if by euill counsell she be once assaulted And what will she leaue vndoone though neuer so inconuenient to those that should be most déere vnto hir so hir owne fansie and will be satisfied And how hardlie is the reuoked from procéeding in an euill action if she haue once taken a taste of the same As verie truly is reported by the comedie-writer saieng Malè quod mulier incoepit nisi efficere id perpetrat Id illi morbo id illi senio est ea illi miserae miseria est Si bene facere incoepit eius eam cito odium percipit Nimisque paucae sunt defessae male quae facere occoeperint Nimisque paucae efficiunt si quid occoeperint benefacere Mulieri nimiò malefacere melius est onus quà m benè But to the purpose King Edward not a little offended with king Charles by whole meanes he knew that the woman thus lingered abroad he procured pope Iohn to write his letters vnto the French king admonishing him to send home his sister and hir sonne vnto hir husband But when this nothing auailed a proclamation was made in the moneth of December the nineteenth yeare of this kings reigne that if the quéene and hir sonne entred not the land by the octaues of the Epiphanie next insuing in peaceable wise they should be taken for enimies to the realme and crowne of England ¶ Here authors varie for some write that vpon knowledge had of this proclamation the queene determined to returne into England foorthwith that she might be reconciled to hir husband Others write and that more truelie how she being highlie displeased both with the Spensers and the king hir husband that suffered himselfe to be misled by their counsels did appoint indéed to returne into England not to be reconciled but to stir the people to some rebellion wherby she might reuenge hir manifold iniuries Which as the proofe of the thing shewed séemeth to be most true for she being a wise woman considering that sith the Spensers had excluded put out and remooued all good men from and besides the kings councell and placed in their roomes such of their clients seruants and freends as pleased them she might well thinke that there was small hope to be had in hir husband who heard no man but the said Spensers which she knew hated hir deadlie Wherevpon year 1326 after that the tearme prefixed in the proclamation was expired the king caused to be seized into his hands all such lands as belonged either to his sonne or to his wife About the same time one sir Robert Walkfare knight a right hardie man of his hands but craftie and subtill who being taken in the warres which the line 10 lords raised against the king had beene committed to prison in the castell of Corfe found means now to kill the constable of that castell most cruellie and escaping awaie got ouer to the quéene into France and so the number of them that ran out of the realme vnto hir dailie increased This sir Robert Walkfare was a great procurer of the discord betwixt the king and the lords and a chéefe leader or rather seducer of that noble man Humfrie de Bohune earle of Hereford and whilest other gaue themselues to line 20 seeke a reformation in the decaied state of the commonwealth he set his mind vpon murders and robberies Diuerse other about the same time fled out of the realme vnto the queene and vnto hir sonne the earle of Chester But in the meane time Walter Stapleton bishop of Excester which hitherto had remained with the queene in France stale now from hir and got ouer into England opening to the king all the counsell and whole mind of the queene which thing turned first of all vnto his owne destruction line 30 as shall after appeare About the same time one sir Oliuer de Ingham a yoong lustie and valiant knight was by the kings sonne the duke of Aquitaine not without his fathers consent established lord warden of the marches of Guien the which sir Oliuer gathering an armie of hired soldiers Spaniards Aragons and Gascoins inuaded the countrie of Agenois which the French king held yet in his hands contrarie to
couenant and recouering it from the French cleerelie reduced it to line 40 the English dominion Moreouer sir Iohn Oturum sir Nicholas Kiriell and sir Iohn Felton admerals by the kings appointment with the fléets of the east south and west parts went to the sea to apprehend such Frenchmen as they might méet withall They according to their commission bestirred themselues so that within few daies they tooke six score saile of Normans and brought them into England wherevpon the displeasure sore increased betwixt the line 50 two realmes The king of England stood not onelie in doubt of the Frenchmen but more of his owne people that remained in France least they thorough helpe of the French should inuade the land and therefore he commanded the hauens and ports to be suerlie watched lest some sudden inuasion might happilie be attempted for it was well vnderstood that the queene meant not to returne till she might bring with hir the lord Mortimer and the other banished men who in no line 60 wise could obteine anie fauour at the kings hands so long as the Spensers bare rule ¶ The pope lamenting this matter sent two bishops into England to reconcile the king and quéene and also to agree the two kings These bishops were reuerentlie receiued but more than reuerence here they obteined not and so departed as they came King Edward vnderstanding all the quéenes drift at length sought the French kings fauour and did so much by letters and promise of bribes with him and his councell that queene Isabell was destitute in manner of all helpe there so that she was glad to withdraw into Heinault by the comfort of Iohn the lord Beaumont the earle of Heinault his brother who being then in the court of France and lamenting queene Isabels case imagined with himselfe of â—ome marriage that might be had betwixt the yoong prince of Wales and some of the daughters of his brother the earle of Heinault and therevpon required hir to go into Heinault and he would be glad to attend hir She gladlie consenting hereto went thither with him where she was most ioifullie receiued with hir sonne and all other of hir traine The Spensers some write procured hir banishment out of France and that she was aduised by the earle of Arthois chéefelie to repaire into Heinault Also I find that the Spensers deliuered fiue barrels of siluer the summe amounting vnto fiue thousand marks vnto one Arnold of Spaine a broker appointing him to conueie it ouer into France to bestowe it vpon such freends as they had there of the French kings counsell by whose means the king of France did banish his sister out of his relme But this monie was met with vpon the sea by certeine Zelanders and taken togither with the said Arnold and presented to the earle of Heinault vnder whose dominion the Zelanders in those daies remained of which good hap the earle and queene Isabell greatlie reioised In the time that the quéene and hir sonne laie in the court of the earle of Heinault a marriage was concluded betwixt the prince of Wales and the ladie Philip daughter to the said earle vpon certeine conditions whereof one was that the said erle should at his proper costs set ouer into England the said prince of Wales with a crue of foure hundred men of armes But whether there was any such mariage as then concluded and that in consideration thereof the earle of Heinault aided quéene Isabell and hir sonne it may be doubted bicause other writers make no such report Neuerthelesse certeine it is that the earls brother sir Iohn de Heinault lord Beaumont was appointed with certeine bands of men of arms to the number of foure hundred or fiue hundred to passe ouer with the said quéene and hir sonne into England and so therevpon began to make his purueiance for that iournie which thing when it came to the knowledge of king Edward and the Spensers they caused musters to be taken through the realme and ordeined beacons to be set vp kept and watched as well in the vallies by the sea side as within the countries vpon hilles and high grounds that the same vpon occasion of the enimies arriuall might be set on fire to warne the countries adioining to assemble and resist them But quéene Isabell and hir sonne with such others as were with hir in Heinault staied not their iournie for doubt of all their aduersaries prouision but immediatlie after that they had once made their purueiances and were readie to depart they tooke the sea namelie the queene hir sonne Edmund of Wodstoke earle of Kent sir Iohn de Heinault aforesaid and the lord Roger Mortimer of Wigmore a man of good experience in the warres and diuerse others hauing with them a small companie of Englishmen with a crue of Heinewiers and Almains to the number of 2757 armed men the which sailing foorth towards England landed at length in Suffolke at an hauen called Orwell besides Harwich the 25 daie of September Immediatlie after that the queene and hir sonne were come to land it was woonder to sée how fast the people resorted vnto them and first of all the earle Marshall in whose lâ—nds she first came on shore repaired vnto hir so did the earle of Leicester and diuerse barons knights of those parts with all the prelats in manner of the land as the bishops of Lincolne Hereford Dubline and Elie the which being ioined with the queene made a great armie The archbishop of Canturburie and others aided hir with monie After that she had refreshed hir people a little space at saint Edmundsburie she marched foorth to seeke the aduersaries of hir and of the realme as she bruted it but they still kéeping themselues néere to the kings person that vnder the shadow of the wings of his protection they might remaine in more safegard durst not depart from his presence At the time of the queenes landing he was at London and being sore amazed with the newes he required aid of line 10 the Londoners They answered that they would doo all the honour they might vnto the king the queene and to their sonne the lawfull heire of the land but as for strangers traitors to the realme they would kéepe them out of their gates and resist them with all their forces but to go foorth of the citie further than that they might returne before sunne-setting they refused pretending certeine liberties in that behalfe to them granted in times past as they alledged The king not greatlie liking of this answer fortified line 20 the tower and leauing within it his yoonger son Iohn of Eltham and the wife of the lord chamberleine Hugh Spenser the yoonger that was his neece he departed towards the marches of Wales there to raise an armie against the queene Before his departure from London he set foorth a proclamation that euerie man vnder paine of forfeiting of life
hauing onlie regard to the releefe of his souldiers and men of warre would néeds go forward with it ¶ Indéed if he might haue brought it to passe as it was denied that euerie housholder should haue paid a franke for chimniage the summe would haue growne to twelue hundred thousand frankes by the yeare which had beene a great releefe and that made him the more earnest bicause he might haue beene able so to haue paid his debts Now when it was perceiued certeinlie that open rebellion would therof insue and that king Edward was certified of the whole state of the matter and how diuerse of the lords of Aquitaine were withdrawne vnto the court of France in manner as before yée haue heard he deuised a letter which he caused to be published through all the parts of Aquitaine the effect whereof was this That where the people of that countrie found themselues greeued for such exactions as were demanded of them he meant therefore vpon examination of their iust complaints to see their wrongs redressed And further he was contented to pardon all such as were withdrawne to the French king so that within a moneths space they would returne home requiring them that in no wise they should stirre anie seditious tumult but to remember their oths of allegiance and to continue in the same according to their bounden duties and as for him he would be readie to sée them eased that would shew by plaine proofe how they had beene otherwise gréeued than reason might beare This was his meaning and this was the aduise of all his councellours But this courteous letter little auailed for dailie the Gascoignes reuolted from the prince and turned to the French part Moreouer another occasion of grudge chanced to renew the malice betwixt the K. of England and the French king For whereas yée haue heard that the earle of Flanders had affianced his daughter and heire to the lord Edmund of Langlie earle of Cambridge a shift was made namelie by the earles mother the countesse of Arthois who was all French that notwithstanding the same affiance she was married to Philip duke of Burgognie who was surnamed the Hardie by this occasion as I. Meir saith It chanced that whilest he was prisoner in England with his father he was vpon a time appointed to wait at the table where his father and the king of England sat togither at meat And bicause a noble man of England that was appointed likewise to attend at the same table serued first the king of England before the king of France this Philip vp with his fist and tooke the English lord a blow on the eare saieng Wilt thou serue the king of England first where the French king sitteth at the same table The Englishman out with his dagger would haue striken the said Philip but the king of England streictlie charged him to the contrarie and praising the déed of the yoong stripling said vnto him Vous estes Philip le hardie Thou art said he the hardie Philip. And so from that daie he bare that name euer after There be other that saie how he tooke that surname bicause in the batell of Poictiers he abode still with his father till the end of the battell without line 10 shewing any token of feare or faintnes of courage The earles of Arminacke and Perigord with the other lords of Gascoigne that had made their appeale as ye haue heard to the chamber of the peeres of France when they vnderstood that the prince had imprisoned the messengers that brought to him the French kings letters began to make warre on the princes lands The first enterprise they made was the discomfiting of the lord Thomas Wake sâ—neshall of Rouergne as he was riding from Agen vnto line 20 the citie of Rodais with threescore spears and two hundred archers in his companie Also the French king being now prouided for the war and vnderstanding the minds of the people within certeine towns vnder the dominion of the Englishmen in his high court of parlement holden at Paris procéeded in iudgement vpon the appellation before made by the earles of Arminacke Perigord and others against prince Edward And moreouer he sent ouer into England the earle of Salisbruch and a knight called sir William Dorman to signifie to the king of England line 30 how he thought himselfe not honorablie vsed that the king of England did but slenderlie kéepe the couenants of the peace considering that he did not find meanes to reforme such of his subiects Englishmen and Gascoignes as dailie robbed and wasted the countries lands belonging to the crowne of France These ambassadors were staied for the space of two moneths still they complained of the wrongs line 40 that the Englishmen had doone contrarie to the couenants of the peace but the king made small account thereof bicause he perceiued it was a forged matter that they alledged and so in the end sent them awaie At Douer being vpon their returne there met them a Britaine that was comming with letters of defiance to the king of England from the French king and as he had in commandement he declared to them the effect of his message whervpon with all spéed they passed ouer to Bullongne and line 50 were glad they had so escaped The Britaine came to the court and deliuered the defiance to the king according to the instructions which he had receiued When the king had heard the letters read and perceiued by good view taken of the seale and signet that the same were of authoritie he licenced the messenger to depart and fell in councell with the peeres of his realme what he should doo in so weigthie a matter Wherevpon it was thought necessarie by them that he should assemble his court of parlement and line 60 so he did In the which vpon declaration made how iniuriouslie the French king after manie wrongfull dealings had now broken the peace and sent his defiance vnto the king in so despitefull wise as might be there was granted towards the maintenance of the warre thus begun thrée fifteens of the temporaltie and thrée dismes of the spiritualtie to be paied in thrée yeares At the selfe same time that the defiance was made to the king here in England the earle of S. Paule and Guie de Chatillon master of the crosbowes in France entered into the countie of Ponthieu tooke Abuile and an English knight called sir Nicholas Louaigne seneshall of that countrie vnder the king of England as then being within it They tooke also saint Ualerie Crotoie Rue Pont saint Renie and to be short reduced the whole countrie of Ponthieu vnder the French obeisance which had remained in possession of the Englishmen for the space of a hundred and twelue yeares euer since Edward the first had the same assigned to him in name of a dowrie with his wife queene Elianor sister to Alfonse K. of
Notingham and Stafford to the baron of Graistocke and to the Musgraues Lastlie they came to Carleill and boldlie assalted the citie but sir Lewes Clifford and sir Thomas Musgraue Dauie Holgraue and diuerse other worthie capteins being within it so defended the waues and gates that their enimies got small aduantage and finallie hearing that the English armie was returning homewards the Scots and Frenchmen drew backe into Scotland doubting to be inclosed by the Englishmen as they had béene in deed if the duke of Lancaster and his brethren vncles to the king might haue béene beleeued who counselled the king to pursue the enimies and stop the passages through which they must needs passe in their comming backe But the earle of Oxenford being most in fauour and credit with the king in those daies as one that ruled all things at his pleasure did aduise him to the contrarie by putting him in beléefe as was said that his vncles went about to bring him in danger to be lost and surprised of his enimies wherevpon he tooke the next way home and so brake vp his iournie When the Scots and Frenchmen were returned into Scotland the Scotish king hauing conceiued a iust displeasure towards the French admerall for that by his meanes the realme of Scotland had susteined such damage in that season caused him and his Frenchmen to be despoiled of the most part of their goods and sent them so awaie out of his countrie that the Scots might receiue some comfort by those warres In this yeare was the battell of Algeberota in Portingale where king Iohn of Portingale discomfited a great host of Spaniards and Frenchmen by the helpe and policie of certeine Englishmen which he had there with him vnder the leading of two esquiers Norberie and Hartell There were slaine diuers earls great lords of Spaniards but for that our writers do not rightlie note the Spanish names but write them corruptlie as strangers vse to doo we here omit them The king of Portingale after this victorie obteined against his enimies sent six gallies vnto the king of England to aid line 10 him against his aduersaries the which were well receiued and highlie made of by the Londoners and other so that the Portingales had no cause to repent of their comming hither The French king this yeare besieged and wan the towne of Dam after he had béene at great charges about it Whilest his nauie returned from Scluis where the same had laien at anchor a long time the ships by tempest were scattered wether-driuen so that in the feast daie of the exaltation of the crosse line 20 two of their gallies a great ship a barge and seauen balengers were cast on shore about Calis the Calisians tooke fiue hundred Frenchmen and Normans that escaped to land An other day 72 French ships as they were comming from Scluis to passe by Calis were met with by them of Calis who behaued themselues so manfullie that they tooke 18 of those French ships and a great barke in which thrée score armed men were slaine before it could be taken Within three daies after this the Calisians met 45 line 30 other French ships and after six houres fight obteined the victorie taking thrée of the most principall vessels whereof one being a hulke of Eastland was hired by the Normans to gard the residue The other two that were taken were of such mold that they could not enter into the hauen at Calis and therefore were sent to Sandwich the one of them being a new ship which the lord Clisson had bought at Scluis paieng for hir 3000 franks ¶ Henrie Knighton saith it was prised or valued at 20000 florens it line 40 was so tall big and large a vessell and therefore of great capacitie On saint Denise daie the soldiors of Calis and other English fortresses thereabouts made a secret iournie into France and got a bootie of foure thousand shéepe and three hundred head of great cattell which they droue towards their holds and as the lord de Rambures gouernour of Bullongne would haue recouered the preie he was vnhorssed with the rencounter of an English speare and being relieued by line 50 his companie and mounted againe withdrew himselfe not attempting to trie any further masteries and so the Englishmen safelie passed foorth with their bootie of cattell and aboue a hundred good prisoners which they had taken at this rode In this 9 yeare about the feast of S. Martine the king called his high court of parlement at Westminster in the which amongst other things there concluded he created two dukes a marques and fiue earles First Edmund Langlie earle of Cambridge the kings vncle was line 60 created duke of Yorke Thomas of Woodstoke his other vncle earle of Buckingham was created duke of Glocester Robert Uéere earle of Oxford was made marques of Deuelin Henrie of Bollingbrooke sonne and heire to Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster was created earle of Derbie Edward Plantagenet sonne and heire to the Duke of Yorke was made earle of Rutland Michaell lord de la Poole chancellor of England was created earle of Suffolke sir Thomas Moubraie earle of Notingham was made earle marshall Also by authoritie of this parlement Roger lord Mortimer earle of March sonne and heire of Edmund Mortimer earle of March and of the ladie Philip eldest daughter and heire vnto Lionell duke of Clarence third sonne to king Edward the third was established heire apparant to the crowne of this realme and shortlie after so proclaimed The which earle of March anon after the end of the same parlement sailed into Ireland to his lordship of Ulster whereof he was owner by right of his said mother but whilest he remained there to pacifie the rebellions of the wild Irish a great number of them togither assembled came vpon him and slue him togither with the most part of his companie This Roger earle of March had issue Edmund Roger Anne Ales Eleanor which Eleanor was made a nunne The two sonnes died without issue and Anne the eldest of the daughters was married to Richard earle of Cambridge sonne vnto Edmund of Langlie before remembred the which Richard had issue by the said Anne a son called Richard that was after duke of Yorke and father to king Edward the fourth also a daughter named Isabell afterwards married to the lord Bourcher This Richard earle of Cambridge was put to death by Henrie the fift as after ye shall heare Moreouer in this yeare Henrie of Bollingbrooke earle of Derbie married the daughter and heire of Humfrie Bohun earle of Hereford in whose right he was after made duke of Hereford and by hir he had issue Henrie that after him was king of this relme the ladie Blanch duches of Bar and the ladie Philip married to the king of Denmarke also Thomas duke of Clarence Iohn duke of Bedford and Humfrie duke of Glocester ¶
an act prouided against those that committed any wilfull murder that none should presume to sue for their pardon A duke or an archbishop that so sued should forfeit to the king an hundred pounds Likewise an earle or a bishop an hundred marks c. Moreouer in this parlement it was granted that the king should haue of euerie sacke of wooll fortie shillings of the which ten shillings should be applied presentlie to the kings vses and thirtie shillings residue of the fourtie shillings should remaine in the hands of the treasurors towards the bearing forth of the charges of wars when any chanced ¶ Also there line 10 was a subsidie granted of six pence in the pound foure pence to the vse last mentioned and two pence to be imploied at the kings pleasure In the same parlement Iohn duke of Lancaster was created duke of Aquitaine receiuing at the kings hand the rod and cap as inuestures of that dignitie Also the duke of Yorke his sonne and heire was created earle of Rutland In the fift of March a sore and terrible wind rose with the violence whereof much hurt was doone houses ouerthrowne cattell destroied and trees line 20 ouerturned After this insued great mortalitie by pestilence so that much youth died euerie where in cities and townes in passing great numbers Herewith followed a great dearth of corne so that a bushell of wheat in some places was sold at thirtéene pence which was thought to be at a great price ¶ About the feast of S. Peter ad Vincula Iohn duke of Lancaster caused a great méeting of the nobles and péeres of the realme to hunt at Leicester in the forrest and all the parkes there to him apperteining On line 30 the saturdaie the king and quéene were present the archbishop of Yorke the duke of Yorke Thomas Woodstoke duke of Glocester the earle of Arundell Iohn of Holland the earle of Huntington with other bishops lords and ladies a great manie and on thursdaie next following the king departing from thence towards Notingham soiourned with the lord of Beaumont besides Loughborrow In this thirtéenth yeare of king Richards reigne the christians tooke in hand a iournie against the Saracens line 40 of Barbarie through sute of the Genowais so that there went a great number of lords knights and gentlemen of France and England the duke of Burbon being their generall Out of England there went one Iohn de Beaufort bastard son to the duke of Lancaster as Froissard hath noted also sir Iohn Russell sir Iohn Butler and others They set forward in the latter end of this thirtéenth yeare and came to Genoa where they remained not long but that the gallies and other vessels of the Genowais were readie line 50 to passe them ouer into Barbarie And so about Midsummer in the beginning of the fourteenth yeare of this kings reigne the whole armie being imbarked sailed foorth to the coasts of Barbarie where neare to the citie of Affrike they landed at which instant the English archers as some write stood all the companie in good stead with their long bowes beating backe the enimies from the shore which came downe to resist their landing After they had got to land they inuironed the citie line 60 of Affrike called by the moores Mahemedia with a strong siege but at length constrained with the intemperancie of the scalding aire in that hot countrie bréeding in the armie sundrie diseases they fell to a composition vpon certeine articles to be performed in the behalfe of the Saracens and so 61 daies after their first arriuall there they tooke the seas againe returned home as in the histories of France and Italie is likewise expressed Where by Polydor Virgil it may séeme that the lord Henrie of Lancaster earle of Derbie should be capteine of the English men that as before ye haue heard went into Barbarie with the Frenchmen and Genowais It should otherwise appeare by other writers who affirme that the said earle made a iournie in deed the same time against the miscreants not into Barbarie but into Prutzenland where he shewed good proofe of his noble and valiant courage for ioining with the masters and knights of the Dutch order there the armie of the Lithuanians that came against the said order was vanquished and foure chiefe leaders of the Lithuanians were taken prisoners thrée other being slaine with thrée hundred of their chiefest and best approoued soldiers Through the policie also and worthie manhood of the earle of Derbie there was a certeine citie taken where the said earle and his men first entring vpon the walles did set vp his banner other being slouthfull or at the least vnskilfull how to deale in such exploits There were taken and slaine foure thousand of the common people and amongst them that were found dead the king of Polognies brother was one The castell of the same citie was besieged fiue weekes space but by reason of sickenesse and such infirmities as chanced in the armie the masters of Prutzen and Lifeland would not tarie any longer but brake vp their siege and returned The master of Lifeland led with him into his countrie thrée thousand prisoners In the meane time whilest the christians were thus occupied as well against the infidels in Barbarie as in the east parts towards Littawe a roiall iusts and martiall turnament was proclaimed to be holden within Smithfield in London to begin on sundaie next after the feast of saint Michaell And bicause this triumphant pastime was published not onelie in England but also in Scotland in Almaine in Flanders in Brabant in Heinault in France manie strangers came hither foorth of diuerse countries namelie Ualeran erle of saint Paule that had married king Richards sister the ladie Mauld de Courtnie and William the yoong erle of Osteruant sonne to Albert de Bauiere earle of Holland and Heinault At the daie appointed when all things were prepared there issued foorth of the tower about thrée of the clocke in the after noone sixtie coursers apparelled for the iustes and vpon euerie one an esquier of honor riding a soft pace Then came foorth foure and twentie ladies of honour three score saith Froissard mounted on palfries riding on the one side richlie apparelled and euerie ladie led a knight with a chaine of gold Those knights being on the kings part had their armor and apparell garnished with white hearts and crownes of gold about their necks and so they came riding through the stréets of London vnto Smithfield with a great number of trumpets and other instruments before them The king and the queene with manie other great states were readie placed in chambers richlie adorned to see the iusts and when the ladies that led the knights were come to the place they were taken downe from their palfries and went vp into chambers readie prepared for them Then alighted the esquires of honor from their coursers the knights in good
in the church betwixt the two factions of cardinals French and Romane for one of their popes could no sooner be dead but that they ordeined an other in his line 30 place In this eighteenth yeare also was a woonderfull tempest of wind in the months of Iulie and August and also most speciallie in September by violence whereof in sundrie places of this realme great and woonderfull hurt was doone both in churches and houses ¶ The ambassadors that had béene latelie in France about the treatie of the marriage as before yée haue heard went thither againe and so after that the two kings by sending to and fro were growne line 40 to certeine points and couenants of agreement the earle marshall by letters of procuration married the ladie Isabell in name of king Richard so that from thencefoorth she was called quéene of England Amongst other couenants and articles of this marriage there was a truce accorded to indure betwixt the two realms of England and France for tearme of thirtie yeares The pope wrote to king Richard beseeching him to assist the prelats against the Lollards as they tearmed them whom he pronounced to line 50 be traitors both to the church and kingdome and therefore he besought him to take order for the punishment of them whom the prelats should denounce to be heretikes At the same time he sent a bull reuocatorie concerning religious men that had either at his hands or at the hands of his legats or nuncios purchased to be his chapleins and accompting themselues thereby exempt from their order so that now they were by this reuocatorie bull appointed to returne to their line 60 order and to obserue all rules thereto belonging This liked the friers well namelie the minors that sought by all means they might deuise how to bring their brethren home againe which by such exemptions in being the popes chapleins were segregated diuided from the residue of their fraternitie or brotherhood The king in this twentith yeare of his reigne went ouer to Calis with his vncles the dukes of Yorke and Glocester and a great manie of other lords and ladies of honour and thither came to him the duke of Burgognie and so they communed of â—he peace There was no enimie to the conclusion thereof but the duke of Glocester who shewed well by his words that he wished rather war than peace in somuch as the king stood in doubt of him least he would procure some rebellion against him by his subiects whome he knew not to fauour greatlie this new aliance with France The king after the duke of Burgognie had talked with him throughlie of all things and was departed from him returned into England leauing the ladies still at Calis to open the couenants of the marriage and peace vnto his subiects and after he had finished with that businesse and vnderstood their minds he went againe to Calis and with him his two vncles of Lancaster and Glocester and diuerse prelats and lords of the realme and shortlie after came the French king to the bastide of Arde accompanied with the dukes of Burgâ—gnie Berrie Britaine and Burbon There was set vp for the king of England a right faire and rich pauilion a little beyond Guisnes within the English pale and another the like pauilion was pight vp also for the French king on this side Arde within the French dominion so that betwéene the said pauilions was the distance of thréescore ten pases and in the midwaie betwixt them both was ordeined the third pauilion at the which both kings comming from either of their tents sundrie times should méet and haue communication togither The distance betwixt the two tents was beset on either side in time of the interview with knights armed with their swords in their hands that is to say on the one side stood foure hundred French knights in armor with swords in their hands and on the other side foure hundred English knights armed with swords in their hands making as it were a lane betwixt them through the which the two kings came and met with such noble men as were appointed to attend them And a certeine distance from the two first pauilions were appointed to stand such companies of men as either of them by appointment had couenanted to bring with them The two kings before their méeting receiued a solemne oth for assurance of their faithfull and true meaning to obserue the sacred lawes of amitie one toward an other in that their interview so as no damage violence molestation arrest disturbance or other inconuenience should be practised by them or their friends and subiects and that if anie disorder rose through anie mishappe arrogancie or strife mooued by anie person the same should be reformed promising in the words of princes to assist one an other in suppressing the malice of such as should presume to doo or attempt anie thing that might sound to the breach of friendlie amitie during the time of that assemblie eight daies before and seuen daies after On the six and twentith of October the king of England remooued from Calis toward the castell of Guisnes and wiâ—h him the duke of Berrie who was sent to take his oth The morow after being the euen of Simon and Iude the kings met and the lords of France to wit the duke of Berrie Burgogne Orleans and Burbon the earle of Sauoie the vicount of Meaux and others conueied the king of England and from him were sent to conduct the French king diuerse of the English lords as the two dukes of Lancaster and Glocester foure earles to wit of Derbie Rutland Notingham and Northumberland After the two kings were come togither into the tent for that purpose prepared it was first accorded betwixt them that in the same place where they thus met should be builded of both their costs a chapell for a perpetuall memorie which should be called The chapell of our ladie of peace On saturdaie being the feast daie of the apostles Simon and Iude the kings talked togither of certeine articles touching the treatie of peace and hauing concluded vpon the same they receiued either of them an oth vpon the holie Euangelists to obserue and kéepe all the couenants accorded vpon On the mondaie the French king came to the king of England his pauillion and the same time was brought thither the yoong quéene Isabell daughter to the French king who there deliuered hir vnto king Richard who taking hir by the hand kissed hir gaue to hir father great thanks for that so honorable line 10 and gratious a gift openlie protesting that vpon the conditions concluded betwixt them he did receiue hir that by such affinitie both the realmes might continue in quietnesse and come to a good end and perfect conclusion of a perpetuall peace The quéene was committed to the duchesses of Lancaster Glocester to the countesses of Huntington and Stafford to the marchâ—onesse of
reasonable fine whereby it was euident that the king meant his vtter vndooing This hard dealing was much misliked of all the nobilitie line 40 and cried out against of the meaner sort but namelie the duke of Yorke was therewith sore mooued who before this time had borne things with so patient a mind as he could though the same touched him verie néere as the death of his brother the duke of Glocester the banishment of his nephue the said duke of Hereford and other mo iniuries in great number which for the slipperie youth of the king he passed ouer for the time and did forget aswell as he might But now perceiuing that neither law iustice line 50 nor equitie could take place where the kings wilfull will was bent vpon any wrongfull purpose he considered that the glorie of the publike wealth of his countrie must néeds decaie by reason of the king his lacke of wit and want of such as would without flatterie admonish him of his dutie and therefore he thought it the part of a wise man to get him in time to a resting place and to leaue the following of such an vnaduised capteine as with a leden sword would cut his owne throat Herevpon he with the duke of Aumarle his sonne line 60 went to his house at Langlie reioising that nothing had mishappened in the common-wealth through his deuise or consent The common brute ran that the king had set to farme the realme of England vnto sir William Scroope earle of Wiltshire and then treasuror of England to sir Iohn Bushie sir Iohn Bagot and sir Henrie Gréene knights ¶ About the same time the earle of Arundels sonne named Thomas which was kept in the duke of Exeters house escaped out of the realme by meanes of one William Scot mercer and went to his vncle Thomas Arundell late archbishop of Canturburie as then soiourning at Cullen King Richard being destitâ—â—e 〈…〉 〈…〉 when they rose in armor against him The nobles gentlemen and commons of those shires were inforced also to receiue a new oth to assure the king of their fidelitie in time to come and withall certeine prelats and other honorable personagâ—s were sent into the same shires to persuade men to this painâ—ent and to sée things ordered at the pleasure of the prince and suerlie the fines which the nobles and other the meaner estates of those shires were constreined to paie were not small but excéeding great to the offense of manie Moreouer the kings letters patents were sent into euerie shire within this land by vertue whereof an oth was demanded of all the kings liege people for a further assurance of their due obedience and they were constreined to ratifie the same in writing vnder their hands and seales Moreouer they were compelled to put their hands and seales to certeine blankes wherof ye haue heard before in the which when it pleased him he might write what he thought good There was also a new oth deuised for the shiriffes of euerie countie through the realme to receiue finallie manie of the kings liege people were through spite enuie and malice accused apprehended put in prison and after brought before the constable and marshall of England in the court of chiualrie and might not otherwise be deliuered except they could iustifie themselues by combat and fighting in lists against their accusers hand to hand although the accusers for the most part were lustie yoong and valiant where the parties accused were perchance old impotent maimed and sicklie Wherevpon not onelie the great destruction of the realme in generall but also of euerie singular person in particular was to be feared and looked for ¶ About this time the bishop of Calcedon came into England with letters apostolicall of admonition that the faithfull and loiall of the land should of their goods disbursse somewhat to the emperour of Constantinople who was extremelie vexed and troubled by the Tartars and their capteine called Morect And to the intent that the peeres of the land might be made the more willing and toward to bestow their contribution in this behalfe the pope granted vnto all benefactors trulie contrite and confessed full remission and wrapped in his bitter censures all such as hindered those that were willing to bestow their beneuolence in this case considering that although the emperour was a schismatike yet was he a christian and if by the infidels he should be oppressed all christendome was in danger of ruine hauing in his mind that saieng of the poet full fit for his purpose Tunc tuares agitur paries cùm proximus ardet ¶ In this yeare in a manner throughout all the realme of England old baie trées withered and afterwards contrarie to all mens thinking grew greene againe a strange sight and supposed to import some vnknowne euent ¶ In this meane time the king being aduertised that the wild Irish dailie wasted and destroied the townes and villages within the English pale and had slaine manie of the souldiers which laie there in garison for defense of that countrie determined to make eftsoones a voiage thither prepared all things necessarie for his passage now against the spring A little before his setting foorth he caused a iusts to be holden at Windesor of fourtie knights and fourtie esquiers against all commers they to be apparelled in gréene with a white falcon and the queene to be there well accompanied with ladies and damsels When these iusts were finished the king departed toward Bristow from thence to passe into Ireland leauing the queene with line 10 hir traine still at Windesor he appointed for his lieutenant generall in his absence his vncle the duke of Yorke and so in the moneth of Aprill as diuerse authors write he set forward from Windesor and finallie tooke shipping at Milford and from thence with two hundred ships and a puissant power of men of armes and archers he sailed into Ireland The fridaie next after his arriuall there were slaine two hundred Irishmen at Fourd in Kenlis within the countie of Kildare by that valiant gentleman line 20 Ienico Dartois and such Englishmen as he had there with him and on the morrow next insuing the citizens of Dublin inuaded the countrie of Obrin and slue thirtie and thrée Irishmen The king also after he had remained about seuen daies at Waterford marched from thence towards Kilkennie and comming thither staied thereabout fourteene daies looking for the duke of Aumarle that was appointed to haue met him but he failed and came not wherevpon the king on Midsummer euen line 30 set forward againe marching streight towards the countrie of Macmur the principall rebell in that season within Ireland who kéeping himselfe among woods with three thousand right hardie men seémed to passe little for any power that might be brought against him Yet the king approching to the skirts of the woods commanded his soldiers to fier the houses and villages
gladlie heare and either determined them himselfe or else for end committed them to others He slept verie little but that verie soundlie in so much that when his soldiers soong at nights or minstrels plaied he then slept fastest of courage inuincible of purpose vnmutable so wise-hardie alwaies as feare was banisht from him at euerie alarum he first in armor and formost in ordering In time of warre such was his prouidence bountie and hap as he had true intelligence not onelie what his enimies did but what they said and intended of his deuises and purposes few before the thing was at the point to be done should be made priuie He had such knowledge in ordering and guiding an armie with such a gift to incourage his people that the Frenchmen had constant opinion he could neuer be vanquished in battell Such wit such prudence and such policie withall that he neuer enterprised any thing before he had fullie debated and forecast all the maine chances that might happen which doone with all diligence and courage he set his purpose forward What policie he had in finding present remedies for sudden mischeeues and what engines in sauing himselfe and his people in sharpe distresses were it not that by his acts they did plainlie appeare hard were it by words to make them credible Wantonnesse of life and thirst in auarice had he quite quenched in him vertues in deed in such an estate of souereigntie youth and power as verie rare so right commendable in the highest degrée So staied of mind and countenance beside that neuer iolie or triumphant for victorie nor sad or damped for losse or misfortune For bountifulnesse and liberalitie no man more frée gentle and franke in bestowing rewards to all persons according to their deserts for his saieng was that he neuer desired monie to kéepe but to giue and spend Although that storie properlie serues not for theme of praise or dispraise yet what in breuitie may well be remembred in truth would not be forgotten by sloth were it but onlie to remaine as a spectacle for magnanimitie to haue alwaies in eie and for incouragement to nobles in honourable enterprises Knowen be it therefore of person and forme was this prince rightlie representing his heroicall affects of stature and proportion tall and manlie rather leane than grose somewhat long necked and blacke haired of countenance amiable eloquent and graue was his spéech and of great grace and power to persuade for conclusion a maiestie was he that both liued died a paterne in princehood a lode-starre in honour and mirrour of magnificence the more highlie exalted in his life the more déepelie lamented at his death and famous to the world alwaie Peter Basset a chéefe man in his chamber affirmed that he deceassed of a pleurisie though the Scots and French set it downe to be of saint Feacres disease that they saie was a palsie with a crampe which Enguerant reports to be saint Anthonies fire but neither of them trulie ¶ Anglorum praelia saith that it was a sharpe feuer which happening vnto him wearied with the broiles of warre in a verie vnseasonable time of the yeare namelie the dog daies tormented him the sorer and grew to be not onelie dangerous but also desperat for it left him not till life was extinguished the poets report is as followeth Interea fractúmque aestu nimióque labore Corripit Henricum languentem febris acuta Coeli intemperies sextili Sirius ardens Virus pestiferi fecit ingrandescere morbi His bodie imbalmed and closed in lead was laid in a chariot roiall richlie apparelled with cloth of gold Upon his coffin was laid a representation of his person adorned with robes diadem scepter ball line 10 like a king the which chariot six horsses drew richlie trapped with seuerall appointments the first with the armes of S. George the second with the armes of Normandie the third of king Arthur the fourth of saint Edward the fift of France and the sixt with the armes of England and France On this same chariot gaue attendance Iames K. of Scots the principall mourner king Henries vncle Thomas duke of Excester Richard earle of Warwike the earle of March Edmund the earle of Stafford line 20 Humfrie the earle of Mortaigne Edmund Beaufort the lord Fitz Hugh Henrie the lord Hungerford Walter sir Robert Robsert lord Bourchier sir Iohn Cornwall lord Fanhope and the lord Crumwell were the other mourners The lord Louell the lord Audeleie the lord Morleie the lord Sowch bare the baners of saints and auoouries as then they were called the baron of Dudleie bare the standard and the earle of Longuile the baner The hachments were caried onelie by capteins to the number of line 30 twelue and round about the chariot rode fiue hundred men of armes all in blacke armour their horsses barbed blacke and they with the but ends of theâ—â— speares vpwards The conduct of this dolorous funerall was committed to sir William Philip treasuror of the kings houshold and to sir William Porter his cheefe caruer and others Beside this on euerie side of the chariot went thrée hundred persons holding long torches lords bearing baners baâ—erâ—ls and penons line 40 With this funerall appointment was he conueâ—ed from Bois de Uincennes to Paris and so to Rone to Abuile to Calis to Douer from thence thorough London to Westminster where he was interted with such solemne ceremonies mourning of lords praier of priests and such lamenting of commons as neuer before then the like was seâ—ne â—n England Shortlie after this solemne buriall his sorowfull quéene returned into England and kept hir estate line 50 with the yoong king hir sonne Thus ended this puissant prince his most noble and fortunate reigne whose life saith Hall though cruell Atropos abbreuiated yet neither fiâ—e malice nor â—retting time shall appall his honour or blot out the glorie of him that in so small time had doone so manie and roiall acts In this yeare the one and twentith of October deceassed the gentle and welbeloued Charles French king the sixt of 〈◊〉 name who was buried at S. Denis ¶ So that betwéene the death line 60 of these two kings namelie the one of England the other of France there was no great space of time sith Charles departed in October and Henrie in August by the priuation of whose liues which of the two realmes susteined the greater losse it is a question not to be discussed Certeine it is that they were both souereigns tenderlie loued of their subiects as they were princes greatlie fauouring their people Finallie in memorie of this Henrie the fift a king of a roiall hart and euerie waie indued with imperiall vertues I find so fit a report coâ—spiring in truth with his properties and disposition that I thinke it verie conuenient here to be inserted in place of an epitaph Henrici illustris properans mors occupat artus Ille suae patriae decus immortale per aeuum
knowledge of his approch durst not abide to trie the matter with him by a pight field but fled before he came néere them The earle in his returne wan the castell of Montdublean by surrender where he left the valiant lord Willoughbie and then returned to Paris During which season he was ordeined by the thrée estates of the realme of England to be gouernour of the yoong king in the place of the duke of Excester deceassed howbeit he did not as yet returne into England line 60 but remained in France for a season and atchieued manie worthie enterprises Whilest the lord regent of France was thus in England meanes was made by the duke of Burgognie for the deliuerie of the duke of Alanson taken at the battell of Uernoile and now for the summe of two hundred thousand crownes he was set at libertie but he would not by anie meanes acknowlege the king of England to be his liege and souereigne lord After that the duke of Bedford had set all things in good order in England year 1427 he tooke leaue of the king and togither with his wife returned into France first landing at Calis where the bishop of Winchester that also passed the seas with him râ—ceiued the habit hat and dignitie of a cardinall with all ceremonies to it apperteining which promotion the late K. right déeplie persing into the vnrestrainable ambitious mind of the man that euen from his youth was euer to checke at the highest and also right well ascerteined with what intollerable pride his head should soone be swollen vnder such a hat did therefore all his life long kéepe this prelat backe from that presumptuous estate But now the king being yoong and the regent his fréend he obteined his purpose to his great profit and the impouerishing of the spiritualtie of this realme For by a bull legantine which he purchased from Rome he gathered so much treasure that no man in maner had monie but he so that he was called the rich cardinall of Winchester After that the lord regent was arriued in France the lord of Rustinian marshall of Britaine assembled a great companie of the British nation which fortified and repared the towne of Pontorson and after the said marshall with a thousand men entered into the countrie of Constantine and comming before the towne of Auranches was incountered by the Englishmen of that garrison after long fight his people were put to the worse chased and discomfited and he himselfe taken prisoner in the field The duke of Bedford hearing that the towne of Pontorson situate within two leagues of Mont Saint Michaell was newlie fortified and stronglie defended sent thither the earle of Warwike accompanied with the lord Scales and other valiant capteins and souldiers to the number of seauen thousand men to besiege the towne who so inuironed it on euerie side that no man could steale neither in nor out The siege thus long continuing vittels began to wax scant in the English armie wherefore the lord Scales hauing in his companie sir Iohn Harpeleie bailiffe of Constantine sir William Brearton bailiffe of Caen sir Rafe Tesson sir Iohn Carbonell and three thousand good men of warre departed from the siege to get vittels powder and other things necessarie for their purpose And as they were returning with their cariages by the sea coast néere to Saint Michaels Mount they suddenlie were incountered by their enimies whereof were chéefe the baron of Coloses the lord Dausebost capteine of the said Mount the lord Mountabon the lord Montburchier the lord of Chateaugiron the lord of Tintignat the lord of Chateaubrian with six thousand men of warre The lord Scales and his companie perceiuing themselues beset on the one side with the sea on the other with their enimies alighted from their horsses and like couragious persons there in an vnspeakeable furie set on their enimies The fight was fierce cruell The Englishmen kept themselues close togither so that their enimies could get no aduantage of them At the last the lord Scales cried S. George they flée Wherevpon the Englishmen tooke such courage and the Frenchmen that fought before were so dismaied that they began to flee in deed The Englishmen leaped on horsse-backe and followed them so that they slue and tooke aboue eleuen hundred persons among the which were taken the baron of Coloses the vicount of Rone and others The lord of Chateaugiron with a Scotish capteine diuerse other men of name were slaine After this victorie the lord Scales with his vittels prouision and prisoners returned to the siege where he was of the earle and other noble men ioiouslie receiued Whilest the siege continued thus before Pontorson Christopher Hanson and other souldiers of the garrison of Saint Susan made a rode into the countrie of Aniou and came to a castell called Ramfort which castell was so priuilie scaled that the capteine within and his companie were taken or slaine before they knew of their enimies approching When knowledge hereof was giuen vnto the Frenchmen which were assembled to the number of twentie thousand to raise the siege that laie before Pontorson they left that enterprise and went to recouer the said castell of Ramfort and so comming before it planted their siege so on ech side of it that at length by composition the Englishmen within doubting to be taken by force rendered vp the castell hauing libertie to depart line 10 with bag and baggage Shortlie after the lord of Raix calling himselfe lieutenant generall for the Dolphin entred into Maine with an armie of three thousand men and by force tooke the castell of Malicorne wherof was capteine an Englishman one Oliuer Osbatersbie In like maner they tooke the little castell of Lude and therein William Blackborne lieutenant for William Glasdale esquier After this the Frenchmen returned backe to the Dolphin and kept not on their line 20 iourneie to Pontorson for that they vnderstood by espials that the earle of Warwike and the Englishmen there determined to giue them battell if they once attempted to raise the siege They within the towne being streictlie besieged perceiuing no likelihood of succours and seeing the English armie dailie increase fell to treatie for doubt to be taken by force and so rendered the towne vpon condition that they might depart with horsse and harnesse onelie Which being granted to them the erle like a valiant line 30 capteine entered into the towne and there appointed for gouernors the lord Ros and the lord Talbot and leauing there a conuenient garrison returned to the lord regent After the taking of this towne of Pontorson there was a league and treatie concluded betwéene the regent and the duke of Britaine by the articles of which agréement the townes of Pontorson and saint Iames de Beuuron were beaten downe to the ground and raced When the lord of Raix was line 40 departed out of Maine as ye haue heard Christopher Hanson Philip
capteine thereof sir Rafe Greie defended it so manfullie for the space of twentie daies that king Iames being then aduertised that the earle of Northumberland was comming to fight with him fled with no lesse losse than dishonor and inough of both line 20 Shortlie after that the duke of Burgognie had béene before Calis at the desire of princes a truce for a time was moued to be had betwéene the king of England the said duke For which cause were sent to Grauelin for the king of England Henrie Beauford cardinall of Winchester Iohn lord Mowbraie duke of Northfolke Humfrie earle of Stafford and diuerse other well learned honorable personages And for the duke of Burgognie there appeared the duchesse his wife the bishop of Arras the lord of line 30 Croie and diuerse other At this treatie a truce was taken for a small time and for a lesse obserued which was concluded betweene the king of England and the duchesse of Burgognie interlacing the duke and his name Some thinke that the king of England would neuer enter in league with him bicause he had broken his promise oth and writing sealed to him and to his father Other imagined this to be doone of a cautell to cast a mist before the French kings eies to the line 40 intent he should beléeue that this feat was wrought by the duchesse without assent or knowledge of the duke or his councell and so he was not bound to accomplish anie act or thing doone in his wiues treatie Thus may you sée that princes sometime with such vaine glosses and scornefull expositions will hide their dooings and cloke their purposes to the intent they would not either be espied or else that they may plucke their heads out of the collar at their pleasure But as the common opinion goeth he which is line 50 a promise-breaker escapeth not alwaies with impunitie For it is well seene by dailie and vsuall euents both in princes and priuat persons that for violating their faith and breaking of promise manie discommodities arise and inconueniences not a few doo follow To the due keeping whereof the heathen bare such a religious conscience that a prophane man in respect of others preferreth it before sacrifice the sentence is of great excellencie out of a pagans mouth Non boue mactato coelestia numina gaudent line 60 Sed quae praestanda est sine teste fide About this season queene Katharine mother to the king of England departed out of this life and was buried by hir husband in the abbeie of Westminster This woman after the death of king Henrie the fift hir husband being yoong and lustie following more hir owne wanton appetite than fréendlie counsell and regarding more priuate affection than prince-like honour tooke to husband priuilie a galant gentleman and a right beautifull person indued with manie goodlie gifts both of bodie mind called Owen Teuther a man descended of the noble linage and ancient line of Cadwallader last king of the Britains By this Owen she brought foorth thrée goodlie sonnes Edmund Iasper and another that was a monke in Westminster and liued a small time also a daughter which in hir youth departed out of this transitorie life King Henrie after the death of his mother bicause they were his brethren of one wombe created Edmund earle of Richmund and Iasper earle of Penbroke which Edmund of Margaret daughter and sole heire to Iohn duke of Summerset begat Henrie who after was king of this realme called Henrie the seuenth of whome ye shall heare more in place conuenient This Owen after the death of the quéene his wife was apprehended and committed toward bicause that contrarie to the statute made in the sixt yeare of this king he presumptuouslie had maried the quéene without the kings especiall assent out of which prison he escaped and let out other with him but was againe apprehended and after escaped againe ¶ Polychronicon saith that he was a squier of low birth and like degrée the same author also reporteth that he was commanded to Newgate by the duke of Glocester then lord protector of the realme out of which prison he brake by the helpe of a preest that was his chapline Neuerthelesse he was apprehended afterwards by the lord Beaumont brought againe to Newgate whence when he had remained there a while he was deliuered and set at libertie The duchesse of Bedford also sister to Lewes erle of S. Paule more for affection than increase of honour without counsell of hir freends maried a lustie yoong knight called sir Richard Wooduile to the great displeasure of hir vncle the bishop of Terwine and the earle hir brother This sir Richard was made baron of Riuers and after earle and had by this ladie manie noble sonnes and faire daughters of the which one was the ladie Elizabeth after queene of England by reason she was married vnto Edward the fourth ¶ Whilest this marriage was a celebrating Iane late quéene of England and before duchesse of Britaine daughter to the king of Nauarre and wife to king Henrie the fourth died at the manor of Hauering and was buried by hir husband at Canturburie ¶ About the same time deceassed also the countesse of Warwike and Henrie archbishop of Yorke In this yeare also the duke of Summerset accompanied with the lords of Fauconbridge Talbot sir Francis Surien the Arrogonnois Matthew Gough Thomas Paulet Thomas Harington Walter Limbrike Iohn Gedding William Watton esquiers and Thomas Hilton bailiffe of Rone with a great companie of the English partie besieged the towne of Harflue latelie before gotten by the Frenchmen both by water and land the capteine within the towne was one sir Iohn d'Estouteuille hauing his brother Robert with him and a six hundred good fighting men The assailants cast trenches and so fortified themselues in their campe and lodgings that when the earles of Ew and Dunois the valiant bastard of Bourbon the lord Gawcourt and other famous capteins with a foure thousand men sent to the rescue of them within came bâ—fore the towne they could not succour their fréends nor annoie their enimies by anie meanes they could deuise so for feare to lose honour they returned backe againe with much trauell and little profit The capteins within the towne perceiuing they could not be aided did shortlie after render the towne to the duke of Summerset who after committed it to the kéeping of Thomas Paulet William Limbrike Christopher Barber and George saint George which manie yeares till the diuision began in England manfullie and valiantlie defended both the towne and the hauen But afterward when this duke of Summerset was regent and gouernour of Normandie he not onlie lost this towne of Harflue but also the citie of Rone and the whole duchie of Normandie whereas now being but a deputie he got it to his high praise and glorie In this yeare was Iames king of Scots murthered
manie a plage which otherwise might haue béene aucided All which battels togither with those that were tried betweene Edward the fourth after his inthronization and Henrie the sixt after his extermination as at Exham Doncaster and Teukesburie are remembred by Anglorum praelia in good order of pithie poetrie as followeth Nobilitata inter plures haec sunt loca caede Albani fanum Blorum borealis Ampton Banbrecum campis Barnettum collibus haerens Experrectorum pagus fanúmque seâ—undò Albani propior Scoticis confinibus Exam Contiguóque istis habitantes rure coloni Moerentes hodie quoties proscindit arator Arua propinqua locis dentale reuellere terra Semisepulta virûm sulcis Cerealibus ossa Moesta execrantur planctu ciuile duellum Quo periere â—ominum plus centum millia caesa Nobile Todcastrum clades accepta coegit Millibus enectis ter denis nomen habere Vltima postremae locus est Teuxburia pugnae Oppidulis his accedens certissima testis Bello intestino sluuios fluxisse cruoris But now before we procéed anie further sith the reigne of king Henrie maie séeme here to take end we will specifie some such learned men as liued in his time Iohn Leland surnamed the elder in respect of the other Iohn Leland that painefull antiquarie of our time wrote diuerse treatises for the instruction of grammarians Iohn Hainton a line 10 Carmelit or white frier as they called them of Lincolne Robert Colman a Franciscane frier of Norwich and chancellor of the vniuersitie of Oxenford William White a priest of Kent professing the doctrine of Wickliffe and forsaking the order of the Romane church married a wife but continued his office of preaching till at length in the yeare 1428 he was apprehended and by William bishop of Norwich and the doctors of the friers mendicants charged with thirtie articles which he mainteined contrarie line 20 to the doctrine of the Romane church and in September the same yeare suffered death by fire Alexander Carpentar a learned man set foorth a booke called Destructorium vitiorum wherein he inueieth against the prelats of the church of that time for their crueltie vsed in persecuting the poore and godlie christians Richard Kendall an excellent grammarian Iohn Bate warden of the white friers in Yorke but borne in the borders of Wales an excellent philosopher and a diuine he was also séene in the line 30 Gréeke toong a thing rare in those daies Peter Basset esquier of the priuie chamber to king Henrie the fift whose life he wrote Iohn Pole a priest that wrote the life of saint Walburgh daughter to one Richard a noble man of this realme of England which Walburgh as he affirmeth builded our ladie church in Antwerpe Thomas Ismaelit a monke of Sion Walter Hilton a Chartreaux monke also of Shiene either of those wrote certeine treatises full of superstition as Iohn Bale noteth line 40 Thomas Walden so called of the towne where he was borne but his fathers surname was Netter a white frier of London and the thrée and twentith prouinciall gouernour of his order a man vndoubtedlie learned and thoroughlie furnished with cunning of the schooles but a sore enimie to them that professed the doctrine of Wickliffe writing sundrie great volumes and treatises against them he died at Rone in Normandie the second of Nouember in line 50 the yeare one thousand foure hundred and thirtie Richard Ullerston borne in Lancashire wrote diuerse treatises of diuinitie Peter Clearke a student in Oxenford and a defendor of Wickliffes doctrine wherevpon when he feared persecution here in England he fled into Boheme but yet at length he was apprehended by the imperialists and died for it as some write but in what order is not expressed Robert Hounslow a religious man of an house in Hounslow beside London whereof he tooke his line 60 surname Thomas Walsingham borne in Norffolke in a towne there of the same name but professed a monke in the abbeie of saint Albons a diligent historiographer Iohn Tilneie a white frier of Yermouth but a student in Cambridge and prooued an excellent diuine Richard Fleming a doctor of diuinitie in Oxenford of whome more at large before pag. 604. Iohn Low borne in Worcestershire an Augustine frier a doctor of diuinitie and prouinciall in England of his order and by king Henrie the sixt made first bishop of saint Asaph and after remooued from thense to Rochester Thomas Ringsted the yoonger not the same that was bishop but a doctor of the law and vicar of Mildenhall in Suffolke a notable preacher and wrote diuerse treatises Iohn Felton a doctor of diuinitie of Madgdalen college in Oxenford Nicholas Botlesham a Carmelit frier borne in Cambridgeshire and student first in the vniuersitie of Cambridge and after in Paris where he proceeded doctor of diuinitie Thomas Rudburne a monke of Winchester and an historiographer Iohn Holbrooke borne in Surrie a great philosopher and well séene in the mathematiks Peter Paine an earnest professor of Wickliffes doctrine and fearing persecution here in England fled into Boheme where he remained in great estimation for his great learning no lesse wisedome Nicholas Upton a ciuilian wrote of heraldrie of colours in armorie and of the dutie of chiualrie William Beckeleie a Carmelit frier of Sandwich warden of the house there a diuine and professed degree of schoole in Cambridge Iohn Torpe a Carmelit frier of Norwich Iohn Capgraue borne in Kent and Augustine frier procéeded doctor of diuinitie in Oxenford was admitted prouinciall of his order and prooued without controuersie the best learned of anie of that order of friers here in England as Iohn Bale affirmeth he wrote manie notable volumes and finallie departed this life at Lin in Norffolke the twelfth of August in the yere 1464 which was in the fourth yeare of king Edward the fourth Humâ—rie duke of Glocester earle of Penbroke and lord chamberlaine of England also protector of the realme during the minoritie of his nephue king Henrie the sixt was both a great fauourer of learned men and also verie well learned himselfe namelie in astrologie whereof beside other things he wrote a speciall treatise intituled Tabula directionum Iohn Whethamsted otherwise called Frumentarius was abbat of saint Albons and highlie in fauor with the good duke of Glocester last remembred he wrote diuerse treatises and among others a booke as it were of the records of things chancing whilest he was abbat which booke I haue séene and partlie in some parcell of this kings time haue also followed Roger Onleie borne in the west countrie as Bale thinketh was accused of treason for practising with the ladie Eleanor Cobham by sorcerie to make the king awaie and was thereof condemned and died for it though he were innocent thereof as some haue thought he wrote a treatise intituled Contra vulgi superstitiones also another De sua innocentia Nicholas Cantlow a Welshman borne descended of an ancient familie in Southwales as by
sides but in the end king Edward so couragiouslie comforted his men that the other part was discomfited and ouercome who like men amazed fled toward Tadcaster bridge to saue themselues where in the mid waie is a little brooke called line 10 Cocke not verie broad but of a great déepenesse in which what for hast to escape and what for feare of their followers a great number was drowned there It was reported that men aliue passed the riuer vpon dead carcasses and that the great riuer of Wharfe whereinto that brooke dooth run and of all the water comming from Towton was coloured with bloud The chase continued all night and the most part of the next daie and euer the northerne men as they line 20 saw anie aduantage returned againe and fought with their enimies to the great losse of both parts For in these two daies were slaine as they that knew it wrote on both parts six and thirtie thousand seuen hundred thréescore sixteene persons all Englishmen and of one nation whereof the chiefe were the earles of Northumberland and Westmerland the lord Dacres and the lord Welles sir Iohn Neuill Andrew Trollop Robert Horne and manie other knights and esquiers and the earle of Deuonshire line 30 was taken prisoner but the dukes of Summerset and Excester fled from the field and saued themselues After this great victorie king Edward rode to Yorke where he was with all solemnitie receiued and first he caused the heads of his father the earle of Salisburie and other his freends to be taken from the gates and to be buried with their bodies and there he caused the earle of Deuonshire and thrée other to be beheaded and set their heads in the same line 40 place King Henrie after he heard of the irrecouerable losse of his armie departed incontinentlie with his wife and sonne to the towne of Berwike and leauing the duke of Summerset there went into Scotland and comming to the king of Scots required of him and his councell aid and comfort The yoong king of Scots lamenting the miserable state of king Henrie comforted him with faire words and friendlie promises and assigned to him a competent pension to liue on during his abode in line 50 Scotland King Henrie in recompense of this courtesie and friendship deliuered to the king of Scots the towne of Berwike whereof he had got possession He faithfullie supported the part of king Henrie and concluded a mariage betwixt his sister and the yoong prince of Wales but the same was neuer consummate as after ye shall heare When king Henrie was somwhat setled in the relme of Scotland he sent his wife and his sonne into France to king Reiner hir father trusting by his aid and succour to assemble line 60 an armie and once againe to recouer his right and dignitie but he in the meane time made his aboad in Scotland to see what waie his friends in England would studie for his restitution The quéene being in France did obteine of the yoong French king then Lewes the eleuenth that all hir husbands friends and those of the Lancastriall band might safelie and suerlie haue resort into anie part of the realme of France prohibiting all other of the contrarie faction anie accesse or repaire into that countrie ¶ Thus ye haue heard how king Henrie the sixt after he had reigned eight and thirtie yeares od moneths was driuen out of this realme But now leauing him with the princes of his part consulting togither in Scotland and queene Margaret his wife gathering of men in France I will returne where I left to proceed with the dooings of king Edward This yoong prince hauing with prosperous successe obteined so glorious a victorie in the mortall battell at Towton and chased all his aduersaries out of the realme or at the least waies put them to silence returned after the maner and fashion of a triumphant conquerour with great pompe vnto London where according to the old custome of the realme he called a great assemblie of persons of all degrees and the nine twentith daie of Iune was at Westminster with solemnitie crowned and annointed king ¶ In which yeare this king Edward called his high court of parlement at Westminster in the which the state of the realme was greatlie reformed and all the statutes made in Henrie the sixt his time which touched either his title or profit were reuoked In the same parlement the earle of Oxford far striken in age and his sonne and heire the lord Awbreie Uéer either through malice of their enimies or for that they had offended the king were both with diuerse of their councellors attainted and put to execution which caused Iohn earle of Oxford euer after to rebell There were also beheaded the same time sir Thomas Tudenham knight William Tirell and Iohn Montgomerie esquiers and after them diuerse others Also after this he created his two yoonger brethren dukes that is to saie lord George duke of Clarence lord Richard duke of Glocester and the lord Iohn Neuill brother to Richard earle of Warwike he first made lord Montacute and afterwards created him marques Montacute Beside this Henrie Bourchier brother to Thomas archbishop of Canturburie was created earle of Essex and William lord Fauconbridge was made earle of Kent To this Henrie lord Bourchier a man highlie renowned in martiall feats Richard duke of Yorke long before this time had giuen his sister Elizabeth in mariage of whome he begat foure sonnes William Thomas Iohn and Henrie the which William being a man of great industrie wit and prouidence in graue and weightie matters maried the ladie Anne Wooduile descended of high parentage whose mother Iaquet was daughter to Peter of Lutzenburgh earle of saint Paule by the which Anne he had lord Henrie earle of Essex one daughter named Cicile maried to Water lord Ferrers of Chartleie and an other called Isabell which died vnmaried The earle of Kent was appointed about this time to kéepe the seas year 1462 being accompanied with the lord Audeleie the lord Clinton sir Iohn Howard sir Richard Walgraue and others to the number of ten thousand who landing in Britaine wan the towne of Conquet and the Isle of Reth and after returned When all things were brought in order and framed as king Edward in maner could wish Henrie duke of Summerset sir Rafe Persie and diuerse other being in despaire of all good chance to happen vnto king Henrie came humblie submitted themselues vnto king Edward whome he gentlie receiued Which clemencie notwithstanding both the one and the other when time serued reuolted from king Edward and betooke themselues to take part with Henrie vnto whom they had béene adherents before bicause they grew in hope that in the end the confederats to whom they so closelie did cleaue both in affection and seriousnesse of labour though they pretended a temporall renunciation of all dutie and seruice for their securitie sake should haue the honor
they said afterward that that prophesie lost not his effect when after king Edward Glocester vsurped his kingdome Other alledged that the cause of his death was for that the duke being destitute of a wife by the meanes of his sister the ladie Margaret duchesse of Burgognie procured to haue the ladie Marie daughter and heire to hir husband duke Charles line 60 Which marriage king Edward enuieng the prosperitie of his brother both gaine said and disturbed and thereby old malice reuiued betwixt them which the quéene and hir bloud euer mistrusting and priuilie barking at the kings Image ceassed not to increase But sure it is that although king Edward were consenting to his death yet he much did both lament his infortunate chance repent his sudden execution insomuch that when anie person sued to him for the pardon of malefactors condemned to death he would accustomablie saie openlie speake Oh infortunate brother for whose life not one would make sute Openlie and apparantlie meaning by such words that by the meanes of some of the nobilitie he was deceiued and brought to confusion This duke left behind him two yoong infants begot of the bodie of his wife the daughter of Richard late earle of Warwike which children by destinie as it were or by their owne merits following the steps of their ancestors succéeded them in like misfortune and semblable euill chance For Edward his heire whom king Edward had created earle of Warwike was thrée and twentie yeares after in the time of Henrie the seauenth atteinted of treason and on the Tower hill lost his head Margaret his sole daughter maried to sir Richard Pole knight and by Henrie the eight restored to the name title possessions of the earledome of Salisburie was at length for treason committed against the said Henrie the eight atteinted in open parlement and sixtie two yeares after hir father had suffered death in the Tower she on the greene within the same place was beheaded In whose person died the verie surname of Plantagenet which from Geffrie Plantagenet so long in the bloud roiall of this realme had florished and continued After the death of this duke by reason of great heat and distemperance of aire happened so fierce quicke a pestilence that fiftéene yeares warre past consumed not the third part of the people that onelie foure moneths miserablie and pitifullie dispatched brought to their graues So that if the number had béene kept by multiplieng of vnities out of them to haue raised a complet number it would haue mooued matter of verie great admiration But it should séeme that they were infinit if consideration be had of the comparison inferred for the more effectuall setting foorth of that cruell and ceaselesse contagion And suerlie it soundeth to reason that the pestilence should fetchawaie so manie thousands as in iudgement by proportion of fiftéene yeares warre one maie gather and manie more too For euerie man knoweth that in warres time place persons and meanes are limited time of warre begun and ended place circumscribed persons imbattelled and weapons also whereby the fight is tried so that all these haue their limitations beyond which they haue no extent But the pestilence being a generall infection of the aire an element ordeined to mainteine life though it haue a limitation in respect of the totall compasse of the world yet whole climats maie be poisoned and it were not absurd to saie that all and euerie part of the aire maie be pestilentlie corrupted and so consequentlie not limited wherefore full well it maie be said of the pestilence procuring so great a depopulation as one saith of surfetting Ense cadunt multi perimit sed crapula plures The councellors of the yoong duchesse of Burgoggnie sent to K. Edward for aid against the French king About the same time had the queene of England sent to the ladie Margaret duchesse of Burgognie for the preferrement of hir brother Anthonie erle Riuers to the yoong damsell But the councell of Flanders considering that he was but an earle of meane estate and she the greatest inheritrice of all christendome at that time gaue but deafe eare to so vnméet a request To which desire if the Flemings had but giuen a liking eare by outward semblance and with gentle words delaied the sute she had beene both succoured and defended Whether king Edward was not contented with this refusall or that he was loth to breake with the French king he would in no wise consent to send an armie into Flanders against the French king but yet he sent ambassadours to him with louing and gentle letters requiring him to grow to some reasonable order agréement with the yoong duchesse of Burgognie or at the least to take a truce with hir at his request The ambassadours of England were highlie receiued bountifullie feasted and liberallie rewarded but answer to their desire had they none sauing that shortlie after the French king would send ambassadours hostages and pledges to the king of England their maister for the perfecting and concluding of all things depending betweene them two so that their souereigne lord they should haue cause to be contented and pleased These faire words were onelie delaies to driue time vntill he might haue space line 10 to spoile the yoong damsell of hir townes and countries And beside this to staie king Edward from taking part with hir he wrote to him that if he would ioine with him in aid he should haue and inioie to him and his heires the whole countie countrie of Flanders discharged of homage superioritie and resort to be claimed by the French king or his successors He also wrote that he should haue the whole duchie of Brabant whereof the French king offered at his line 20 owne cost and charge to conquer foure of the chiefest and strongest townes within the said duchie them in quiet possession to deliuer to the king of England granting further to paie him ten thousand angels toward his charges with munitions of warre and artillerie which he promised to lend him with men and carriage for the conueiance of the same The king of England refused to make anie warres against those countries that were thus offered to him but if the French king would make him partner line 30 of his conquests in Picardie rendering to him part of the townes alreadie gotten as Bologne Monsterell and Abuile then he would suerlie take his part and aid him with men at his owne costs and charges Thus passed faire words and golden promises betwéene these two princes and in the meane time the yoong duchesse of Burgognie was spoiled of hir townes castels territories till at length for maintenance she condescended to marrie with Maximilian line 40 sonne to the emperour Frederike that he might kéepe the woolfe from the fold King Edward in the ninetéenth yeare of his reigne began more than he was before accustomed to serch the forfeiture of penall
lawes and statutes as well of the chéefe of his nobilitie as of other gentlemen being proprietaries of great possessions or abundantlie furnished with goods likewise of merchants and other inferior persons By reason whereof it was of all men iudged that he would proue he reafter a sore and a rigorous line 50 prince among his subiects But this his new inuented practise and couetous meaning by reason of forreine affaires and abridgement of his daies in this transitorie life which were within two yeares after consumed tooke some but not great effect ¶ In this yeare was great mortalitie and death by the pestilence not onelie in London but in diuerse parts of the realme which began in the latter end of September in the yeare last before passed and continued all this yeare till the beginning of Nouember line 60 which was about fourtéene moneths in the which space died innumerable of people in the said citie else-where ¶ This yeare also the maior of London being in Paules knéeling in his deuotions at saint Erkenwalds shrine Robert Bifield one of the shiriffes vnaduisedlie kneeled downe nigh vnto the maior whereof afterward the maior charged him to haue doone more than becomed him But the shiriffe answering rudelie and stubbornlie would not acknowledge to haue committed anie offense for the which he was afterward by a court of aldermen fined at fiftie pounds to be paid toward the reparations of the conduits in London which was trulie paid ¶ This yeere Thomas Ilam one of the shirifs of London newlie builded the great conduit in Cheape of his owne charges ¶ This yeare also king Edward began his Christmasse at Waking and at fiue daies end remooued to Greenewich where he kept out the other part of his Christmasse with great roialtie Ambassadours were sent to and fro betwixt the king of England and France and still the French king fed the king of England with faire words putting him in hope to match his sonne and heire the Dolphin with the ladie Elizabeth daughter to the king of England according to the conclusions of agréement had and made at Picquenie betwixt them although in verie déed he meant nothing lesse His ambassadours euer made excuses if anie thing were amisse and he vsed to send change of ambassadours so that if those which had béene here before and were returned had said or promised anie thing though they were authorised so to doo which might turne to their masters hinderance the other that came after might excuse themselues by ignorance of that matter affirming that they wanted commission once to talke or meddle with that matter or if he perceiued that anie thing was like to be concluded contrarie to his mind for a shift he would call his ambassadours home in great hast and after send an other with new instructions nothing depending on the old Thus the French king vsed to dallie with king Edward in the case of this mariage onelie to kéepe him still in amitie And certeinelie the king of England being a man of no suspicious nature thought sooner that the sunne should haue fallen from his circle than that the French king would haue dissembled or broken promise with him But there is none so soone beguiled as he that least mistrusteth nor anie so able to deceiue as he to whome most credence is giuen But as in mistrusting nothing is great lightnesse so in too much trusting is too much follie which well appeared in this matter For the French king by cloking his inward determinate purpose with great dissimulation and large promises kept him still in fréendship with the king of England till he had wrought a great part of his will against the yoong duchesse of Burgognie Which king Edward would not haue suffered if he had put anie great doubt in the French kings faire promises considering that the crowne of France was in this meane time so much increased in dominions to the great re-enforcement of that realme ¶ On the two and twentith of Februarie were fiue notable théeues put to death for robbing the church called saint Martins le grand in London and other places thrée of them were drawne to the Tower hill hanged burnt the other two were pressed to death A sore and seuere kind of execution no doubt but yet thought by iustice meritorious in the malefactors for their offenses of sacrilege Heinous enough had it beene to spoile a priuat man of his goods and by law of nations punishable with death but much more horrible that prophane persons with polluted hands should priuilie or openlie so touch holie consecrated things as to take them out of a sacred place whereto for holy vses they were dedicated applie them to the satisfieng of the corrupt concupiscences of their owne hearts the bottomlesse gulfe whereof bicause no booties nor spoiles could satisfie it stood with the high praise of iustice that they and their ceaselesse desires were seuered by deserued death wherefore it is wiselie said by the comicall poet of such gréedie guts Quam quis auidus poscit escam auariter Decipitur in transenna perÃtque auaritia In this yeare king Edward required great sums of monie to be lent him The citizens of London granted him fiue thousand marks which were seized of the fiue and twentie wards which fiue thousand marks was trulie repaid againe in the next yeare following ¶ Also this yeare on Whitsundaie K. Edward the fourth created the lord Berkleie vicount Berkeleie at Gréenewich ¶ In this yeare also an house on London bridge called the common siege or priuie fell downe into the Thames where thorough it fiue persons were drowned ¶ This yeare the king with his quéene kept a roiall Christmas at Windsor Also this yéere was one Richard Chawrie maior of London whome king Edward so greatlie line 10 fauoured that he tooke him with certeine of his brethren the aldermen commons of the citie of London into the forrest of Waltham where was ordeined for them a pleasant lodge of gréene boughs in which lodge they dined with great chéere the king would not go to dinner vntill he saw them serued Moreouer he caused the lord chamberlaine with other lords to cheere the said maior and his companie sundrie times whilest they were at dinner After dinner they went a hunting with the king and slue manie line 20 deare as well red as fallow whereof the king gaue vnto the maior and his companie good plentie and sent vnto the ladie mairesse and hir sisters the aldermens wiues two harts sir bucks and a tun of wine to make them merrie with which was eaten in the drapers hall The cause of which bountie thus shewed by the king was as most men did take for that the maior was a merchant of woonderous aduentures into manie and sundrie countries By reason whereof the king had yearelie of him notable line 30 summes of monie for his customes beside other pleasures that
person qualities I will referre you to that which sir Thomas More hath written of him in that historie which he wrote and left vnfinished of his sonne Edward the fift and of his brother king Richard the third which we shall God line 40 willing hereafter make you partaker of as we find the same recorded among his other workes word for word when first we haue according to our begun order rehearsed such writers of our nation as liued in his daies As first Nicholas Kenton borne in Suffolke a Carmelit frier in Gippeswich prouinciall of his order through England Henrie Parker a Carmelit frier of Doncaster preached against the pride of prelats line 50 and for such doctrine as he set foorth was imprisoned with his fellow Thomas Holden and a certeine blacke frier also for the like cause Parker was forced to recant thrée speciall articles as Bale noteth out of Leland Iohn Harding an esquier borne in the north parts wrote a chronicle in English verse and among other speciall points therein touched he gathered all the submissions and homages had and made by the Scotish kings euen from the daies of king Athelstan whereby it euidentlie may line 60 appeare how the Scotish kingdome euen in manner from the first establishing thereof here in Britaine hath beene apperteining vnto the kings of England and holden of them as their chéefe superior lords William Iue a doctor of diuinitie and prebendarie of saint Paules in London Thomas Wilton a diuine and deane of the said church of Paules in London Iulian Bemes a gentlewoman indued with excellent gifts both of bodie and mind wrote certeine treatises of hawking and hunting delighting greatlie hir selfe in those exercises and pastimes she wrote also a booke of the lawes of armes and knowledge apperteining to heralds Iohn Stamberie borne in the west parts of this realme a Carmelit frier and confessor to king Henrie the sixt he was also maister of Eaton colledge and after was made bishop of Bangor and remooued from thence to the sée of Hereford Iohn Slueleie an Augustine frier prouinciall of his order Iohn Fortescue a iudge and chancellor of England wrote diuerse treatises concerning the law and politike gouernement Rochus a Chaterhouse moonke borne in London of honest parents and studied in the vniuersitie of Paris he wrote diuerse epigrams Iohn Phreas borne also in London was fellow of Balioll colledge in Oxenford and after went into Italie where he heard Guarinus that excellent philosopher read in Ferrara he prooued an excellent physician and a skilfull lawier there was not in Italie whilest he remained there that passed him in eloquence knowledge of both the toongs Gréeke and Latine Walter Hunt a Carmelit frier a great diuine and for his excellencie in learning sent from the whole bodie of this realme vnto the generall councell holden first at Ferrara and after at Florence by pope Eugenius the fourth where he disputed among other with the Gréekes in defense of the order and ceremonies of the Latine church Thomas Wighenhall a moonke of the order called Premonstratensis in the abbie of Durham in Norffolke Iohn Gunthorpe went into Italie where he heard that eloquent learned man Guarinus read in Ferrara after his comming home into England he was deane of Welles and kéeper of the priuie seale Iohn Hambois an excellent musician and for his notable cunning therein made doctor of musicke William Caxton wrote a chronicle called Fructus temporum and an appendix vnto Treuisa beside diuerse other bookes and translations Iohn Miluerton a Carmelit frier of Bristow and prouinciall of his order through England Ireland and Scotland at length bicause he defended such of his order as preached against endowments of the church with temporall possessions he was brought into trouble committed to prison in castell S. Angelo in Rome where he continued thrée yeares and at length was deliuered thorough certeine of the cardinals that were appointed his iudges Dauid Morgan a Welsh man treasuror of the church of Landaffe wrote of the antiquities of Wales a description of the countrie Iohn Tiptoff a noble man borne a great traueller excellentlie learned and wrote diuerse treatises and finallie lost his head in the yeare 1471 in time of the ciuill warre betwixt the houses of Yorke and Lancaster Iohn Shirwood bishop of Durham Thomas Kent an excellent philosopher Robert Huggon borne in Norffolke in a towne called Hardingham wrote certeine vaine prophesies Iohn Maxfield a learned physician William Gréene a Carmelit frier Thomas Norton borne in Bristow an alcumist Iohn Meare a moonke of Norwich Richard Porland borne in Norffolke a Franciscane frier and a doctor of diuinitie Thomas Milling a moonke of Westminster a doctor of diuinitie and preferred to the bishoprike of Hereford Scogan a learned gentleman and student for a time in Oxford of a plesant wit and bent to merrie deuises in respect whereof he was called into the court where giuing himselfe to his naturall inclination of mirth pleasant pastime he plaied manie sporting parts although not in such vnciuill maner as hath beene of him reported Thus farre the prosperous reigne of Edward the fourth sonne and heire to Richard duke of Yorke The historie of king Edward the fift and king Richard the third vnfinished written by maister Thomas More then one of the vnder shiriffes of London about the yeare of our Lord 1513 according to a copie of his owne hand printed among his other workes KIng Edward the fourth of that name after that he had liued fiftie three yeeres year 1483 seuen moneths and six daies and thereof reigned two and twentie yeares one moneth eight daies died at Westminster the ninth daie of Aprill the yeare of our redemption a thousand foure hundred fourescore and thrée leauing much faire issue that is to wit Edward the prince a thirtéene line 10 yeares of age Richard duke of Yorke two yeares yoonger Elizabeth whose fortune and grace was after to be quéene wife vnto king Henrie the seuenth and mother vnto the eight Cicilie not so fortunate as faire Briget which representing the vertue of hir whose name she bare professed and obserued a religious life in Dertford an house of close nunnes Anne that was after honorablie married vnto Thomas then lord Howard and after earle of Surrie and Katharine which long time tossed in either fortune sometime in wealth oft in aduersitie at the line 20 last if this be the last for yet she liueth is by the benignitie of hir nephue king Henrie the eight in verie prosperous estate and worthie hir birth and vertue This noble prince deceassed at his palace of Westminster and with great funerall honor and heauines of his people from thence conueied was interred at Windsor A king of such gouernance behauior in time of peace for in warre each part must néeds be others enimie that there was neuer anie prince of line 30 this land atteining the crowne by battell so heartilie beloued with the
and so deadlie fought as was in that kings daies that dead is God forgiue it his soule In whose time and by whose occasion what about the getting of the garland keeping it leesing and winning againe it line 20 hath cost more English bloud than hath twise the winning of France In which inward war among our selues hath beene so great effusion of the ancient noble bloud of this realme that scarselie the halfe remaineth to the great infeebling of this noble land beside manie a good towne ransacked and spoiled by them that haue beene going to the field or comming from thence line 30 And peace long after not much surer than war So that no time was therein which rich men for their monie and great men for their lands or some other for some feare or some displeasure were not out of perill For whom trusted he that mistrusted his owne brother Whome spared he that killed his owne brother Or who could perfectlie loue him if his owne brother could not line 40 What maner of folke he most fauoured we shall for his honour spare to speake of Howbeit this wote you well all that who so was best bare alwaie least rule more sute was in his daies to Shores wife a vile and an abhominable strumpet than to all the lords in England except vnto those that made hir their proctor Which simple woman was well named honest line 50 till the king for his wanton lust and sinfull affection bereft hir from hir husband a right honest substantiall yoong man among you And in that point which in good faith I am sorie to speake of sauing that it is in vaine to keepe in counsell that thing that all men know the kings greedie appetite was insatiable and euerie where ouer all the realme intollerable line 60 For no woman was there anie where yoong or old rich or poore whome he set his eie vpon in whome he anie thing liked either person or fauour speech pase or countenance but without anie feare of God or respect of his honour murmur or grudge of the world he would importunelie pursue his appetite and haue hir to the great destruction of manie a good woman and great dolor to their husbands and their other freends which being honest people of them selues so much regard the cleannesse of their house the chastitie of their wiues and their children that them were leauer to leese all that they had beside than to haue such a villanie doone them And all were it that with this and other importable dealing the realme was in euerie part annoied yet speciallie yee heere the citizens of this noble citie as well for that amongest you is most plentie of all such things as minister matter to such iniuries as for that you were neerest at hand sith that neere heere abouts was commonlie his most abiding And yet be yee the people whome he had as singular cause well and kindlie to intreat as anie part of his realme not onelie for that the prince by this noble citie as his speciall chamber the speciall well renowmed citie of this realme much honourable fame receiueth among all other nations but also for that yee not without your great cost sundrie perils ieopardies in all his warres bare euen your speciall fauor to his part Which your kind minds borne to the house of Yorke sith he hath nothing worthilie acquited there is of that house that now by Gods grace better shall which thing to shew you is the whole summe and effect of this our present errand It shall not I wot well need that I rehearse you againe that yee haue alreadie heard of him that can better tell it and of whome I am sure yee will better beleeue it And reason is that it so be I am not so proud to looke therefore that yee should reckon my words of as great authoritie as the preachers of the word of God namlie a man so cunning and so wise that no man better woteth what he should saie and thereto so good and vertuous that he would not saie the thing which he wist he should not saie in the pulpit namelie into the which no honest man commeth to lie Which honorable preacher yee well remember substantiallie declared vnto you at Paules crosse on sundaie last passed the right title that the most excellent prince Richard duke of Glocester now protector of this realme hath vnto the crowne and kingdome of the same For as the worshipfull man groundlie made open vnto you the children of king Edward the fourth were neuer lawfullie begotten forsomuch as the king leauing his verie wife dame Elizabeth Lucie was neuer lawfullie maried vnto the queene their mother whose bloud sauing that he set his voluptuous pleasure before his honor was full vnmeetlie to be matched with his and the mingling of whose blouds togither hath beene the effusion of a great part of the noble bloud of this realme Wherby it may well seeme the mariage not well made of which there is so much mischeefe growne For lacke of which lawfull coupling also of other things which the said worshipfull doctor rather signified than fullie explaned which things shall not be spoken for me as the thing wherein euerie man forbereth to say that he knoweth in auoiding displeasure of my noble lord protector bearing as nature requireth a filiall reuerence to the duchesse his mother For these causes I say before remembred that is to wit for lacke of other issue lawfullie of the late noble prince Richard duke of Yorke to whose roiall bloud the crowne of England and of France is by the high authoritie of parlement intailed the right and title of the same is by the iust course of line 10 inheritance according to the cōmon lawes of the land deuolued commen vnto the most excellent prince the lord protector as to the verie lawfullie begotten sonne of the foreremembred noble duke of Yorke Which thing well considered and the great knightlie prowesse pondered with manifold vertues which in his noble person singularlie abound the nobles and line 20 commons also of this realme and speciallie of the north part not willing anie bastard bloud to haue the rule of the land nor the abusions before in the same vsed anie longer to continue haue condescended and fullie determined to make humble petition to the most puissant prince the lord protector that it maie like his grace at our humble request to take vpon him the guiding and line 30 gouernance of this realme to the wealth and increase of the same according to his verie right and iust title Which thing I wote it well he will be loth to take vpon him as he whose wisdome well perceiueth the labor and studie both of mind and bodie that come therewith to whomsoeuer so will occupie the roome as I dare say hee will if he take it Which roome I warne you well is no childs office And that the
sent from the lord of Rauenstein They laid siege on the north side of the towne in a marish ground then being drie and so déepelie ditched and rampired their campe about on which rampire they laid their ordinance that it was in maner impossible to enter their campe or doo them anie displeasure or damage The K. of England was dailie aduertised of these dooings which nothing lesse desired than to haue the English pale inuironed with French fortresses Wherefore to preuent that mischiefe in time with all expedition he sent ouer to the lord Daubeneie then his deputie of Calis the lord Morleie with a crue of valiant archers souldiers to the number of a thousand men with priuie instructions what they should doo At their comming ouer it was bruted abroad that they were sent onelie to defend the English pale against all attempts that might vpon the sudden in anie wise be made by the Frenchmen or Flemings but their enterprise was all otherwise For on a tuesdaie at the shutting of the gates at night the lord Daubneie chiefeteine of the armie the lord Morleie sir Iames Tirrell capteine of Guisnes sir Henrie Willoughbie sir Gilbert Talbot and sir Humfreie Talbot marshall of Calis with diuerse other knights and esquiers and other of the garisons of Hammes Guisnes and Calis to the number of two thousand men or thereabouts issued priuilie out of Calis passed the water of Graueling in the morning betimes and left there for a stale and to kéepe the passage sir Humfreie Talbot with six score archers and came to Newport where they found the souereigne of Flanders with six hundred Almaines and there they staied that night On the next daie they went toward Dixmew and by the guiding of a prisoner that should haue beene hanged on the next morning they issued out of the south gate of the towne of Dixmew and were conueied by their said guide by an high banke set with willowes so that the Gantois could not well espie them and so secretlie gat to the end of their enimies campe and there paused The lord Daubeneie commanded all men to send their horsses and wagons backe but the lord Morleie said he would ride till he came to hand strokes Thus they marched foorth till they came to a low banke and no déepe ditch where the ordinance laie and there the archers shot altogither euerie man an arrow and so fell prostrate to the ground The enimies herewith discharged their ordinance and ouershot them The Almains lept ouer the ditch with their morice pikes The Englishmen in the fore-front waded the ditch and were holpen vp by the Almains and set on their enimies and tooke manie prisoners The other Englishmen hasted by the causie to enter in at the north gate of the campe where the lord Morleie being on horssebacke in a rich coate was slaine with a gun When his death was knowen euerie man killed his prisoner and slue all such as did withstand them to the number of eight thousand men in so much that of two thousand that came out of Bruges as the Flemish chronicle reporteth there came not home one hundred On the English part was slaine the lord Morleie and not an hundred more The Englishmen tooke their ordinance and sent it to Newport with all the spoile and great horsses And by the waie hearing certeine Frenchmen to be at Ostend they made thitherward but the Frenchmen fled and so they burned part of the towne and came againe to Newport where the lord Daubeneie left all the Englishmen that were hurt and returned to Calis where he buried the bodie of the lord Morleie The Englishmen got great riches at this field for they that went foorth in cloth came home in silke and those that went out on foot came home on great horsses The lord Cordes being at Ipre with twentie thousand men was sore displeased with this ouerthrow therefore thinking to be reuenged besieged the towne of Newport right stronglie and shot dailie at the wals breaking them in manie places But the Englishmen that were hurt at Dixmew field before and might either stand or draw bowe neuer came from the wals On a daie the Frenchmen gaue a great assault to a tower and perforce entered it and set vp the banner of the lord Cordes But sée the chance During the time of the assault there arriued a barke with foure score fresh English archers which came streight to the tower and did so much that line 10 what with the helpe of such as before were wounded and hurtmen and of the couragious harts of the new come archers incouraged greatlie by the women of the towne crieng Shoot Englishmen shoot the tower was regained out of the Frenchmens hands and the banner of the lord Cordes rent in péeces and in place thereof the penon of saint George set vp Then the Frenchmen supposing a great aid of Englishmen to haue béene come to the towne by sea left the assault And the night following the enuious lord Cordes line 20 which so sore longed for Calis that he would commonlie saie that he could be content to lie seuen yeares in hell so that Calis were in possession of the Frenchmen brake vp his siege and returned to Helding with shame And the Englishmen glad of this victorie returned to Calis This yeare Iames the third of that name king of Scots was slaine by his owne subiects after they had vanquished him in a pighâ— field About the same time one Adrian an Italian line 30 was sent in ambassage from pope Innocent the eight into Scotland to haue taken vp the variance betwixt the king there and his people But being arriued here in England he was informed that king Iames was slaine and therfore taried here certeine moneths And for that he was a man of excellent learning vertue and humanitie the archbishop of Canturburie Iohn Morton so commended him to the king that he made him first bishop of Hereford and line 40 shortlie after that resigned and giuen ouer he promoted him to the bishoprike of Bath and Welles And after that with these honors he was returned to Rome he was aduanced by all the degrées of spirituall dignities into the college of the cardinals And worâ—hie sure he was of great preferment for by his meanes learned men were mooued to séeke out the vse of eloquent writing and speaking in the Latine toong he being the first in the time of our fathers that taught the trade to choose and vse apt words and fit termes line 50 In the sixt yeare of king Henries reigne there came ambassadors to him from the French king the lord Francis of Lutzenburgh Charles Marignane and Robert Gaguine minister of the Bonnehommes of the trinitie The effect of their comming was to haue concluded a peace with king Henrie and that with good will the French king might dispose of the mariage of the yoong
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
séene in the said citie two elephants a nature of creatures which happilie had not béene séene in Italie since the triumphs and publike plaies of the Romans Emanuell king of Portingall sent to pope Leo the tenth a verie honorable ambassage and withall presented him with these huge and statelie elephants which his ships had brought by sea from India their entring into Rome was celebrated with a verie great concourse of people some woondering at the strange forme and stature of the beasts some maruelling to what vses their nature inclined them and some coniecturing the respects and purposes of such a present their ignorance making their woonder farre greater than their reason No lesse adoo was there at the bringing of the cardinals hat who on a sundaie in S. Peters church at Westminster receiued the same with the habit the piller and other such tokens of a cardinall And now that he was thus a perfect cardinall he looked aboue all estates which purchased him great hatred and disdaine on all sides For his ambition was no lesse discernable to the eies of the people than the sunne in the firmament in a cléere and cloudlesse summer daie which procured against him the more hatred among the noble and popular sort for that his base linage was both noted and knowne in so much that his insatiable aspiring to supereminent degrees of dignitie kindled manifest contempt and detestation among such as pretended a countenance of good will and honorable dutie vnto him though in verie deed the same parties if fréelie and without checke they might haue spoken their fansie would haue intituled him a proud popeling as led with the like spirit of swelling ambition wherwith the rable of popes haue béene bladder like puffed and blowne vp a diuelish and luciferian vice in the iudgements of men abhominable and in the sight of God most damnable as the poet in this distichon trulie witnesseth Dij superi fastum fastum mortales abhorrent Hac homini leuitas displicet atque Deo After the end of the parlement sir Edward Poinings laboured to be discharged of the kéeping of Tornaie bicause he could not haue health there and so he was discharged and sir William Blunt lord Mountioy was sent thither to haue that roome and for marshall was appointed sir Sampson Norton Immediatlie vpon their comming thither chanced a great riot raised by the souldiers so that to appease them the lord Mountioy was put in ieopardie of his life In conclusion to quiet them sir Sampson Norton was banished the towne for euer but what the matter was I haue not found rehearsed by anie writer After that the citie was appeased and euerie thing thought to be forgotten diuerse of the offendors were executed and diuerse banished the towne some fled and were confined both out of England and the towne After the parlement was ended the king kept a solemne Christmasse at his manor of Eltham and on the Twelfe night in the hall was made a goodlie castell woonderouslie set out and in it certeine ladies and knights and when the king and queene were set in came other knights and assailed the castell where manie a good stripe was giuen and at the last the assailants were beaten awaie And then issued out knights and ladies out of the castell which ladies were rich and strangelie disguised for all their apparell was in braids of gold fret with moouing spangls of siluer and gilt set on crimsin sattin loose and not fastned the mens apparell of the same sute made like Iulis of Hungarie and the ladies heads and bodies were after the fashion of Amsterdam And when the dansing was doone the banket was serued in of two hundred dishes with great plentie to euerie bodie This yéere the new league accorded betwixt king Henrie the French king was openlie proclaimed through the citie of London by a trumpet Margaret quéene of Scots eldest sister to the K. came this yere into England at Harbottell castell was deliuered of a daughter begot by hir second husband the line 10 lord Archembald Dowglasse earle of Angus This daughter was called at the fontstone after hir mother Margaret The said quéene after the death of hir late husband king Iames married the said earle of Angus without consent of hir brother king Henrie or other of hir friends chéeflie as some haue thought for hir sonnes sake doubting if she should not haue taken hir choise at home she should haue maried in some other place and so haue béene sequestred from hir sonne whose bringing vp apperteined line 20 now chéeflie vnto hir But such contention rose shootlie after in Scotland amongst the lords that both she and hir husband were glad to séeke succor in England at hir brothers hand who was contented to releeue them assigning them the said castell of Harbottell to lie in with apparell and all other necessaries till his further pleasure should be knowne The eightéenth daie of Februarie this yeere year 1518 the ladie Marie daughter to king Henrie the eight was borne at Gréenewich This was she that afterwards was line 30 quéene of this realme married the king of Spaine This yéere also died the king of Aragon father to the queene for whom was kept a solemne obsequie in the cathedrall church of Paules As ye haue heard the last yéere how the quéene of Scots with hir husband was come for succor into England and laie at Harbottell in Northumberland till the kings pleasure was to send for them so now know you that he like a naturall brother sent for hir and hir husband to come to his court for their line 40 solace for the which kindnesse the earle humblie thanked the king and promised to giue his attendance on the queene his wife to the court Wherevpon the king sent William Blacknall esquier clerke of his spicerie with siluer vessell plate and other things necessarie for the conueiance of hir and sent to hir all manner of officers for hir estate conuenient Now when she was readie to depart she asked for hir husband but he was departed into Scotland and left hir alone nothing remembring his promise line 50 Which sudden departing much made hir to muse howbeit the lords of England greatlie incouraged hir to kéepe hir promise with the king hir brother Now when she was somewhat appeased she set forward and in euerie towne she was well receiued so on the third day of Maie she made hir entrie into London riding on a white palfreie which the quéene of England had sent vnto hir behind sir Thomas Parre richlie beséene and with a great companie of lords and ladies she rode through the citie to Bainards line 60 castell and from thence she was conueied to Gréenewich and there receiued ioiouslie of the king the quéene the French quéene hir sister and highlie was she feasted And when the king heard that the earle of Angus hir husband was departed he said it was
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
king could require Wherevpon the king was not onelie contented to release them home but also highlie rewarded them with rich line 50 and costlie gifts of sundrie sorts in most bountifull wise as Anglorum praelia noteth verie well saieng Praeterea ex auro captucos corquibus ornat Et sumptum vestes argentum donat aurum The thirtith of December they departed from the court and the morrow after eight of them dined with sir Iohn Cotes then lord maior of London and the rest with the shiriffes and had verie great â—heare On Newyeares daie they departed from line 60 London homewards towards Scotland year 1543 and rode to Enfield to sée the prince and there dined that day greatlie reioising as by their words and countenance it séemed to behold so proper and towardlie an impe From thence they kept on their iournie till they came to the north parts where they found the duke of Suffolke the kings lieutenant there and with him remained till such pledges were come forth of Scotland as it was couenanted they should leaue behind them The duke then after he had receiued the hostages permitted them to depart and so they returned into Scotland where they were gladlie welcomed by their kinsmen and friends With them went also the earle of Angus who had béene banished Scotland and hauing remained here in England a long time receiued of the kings fée a thousand marks by yeare and likewise his brother sir George Dowglas who had fiue hundred markes yearelie likewise of the kings gift They were now both restored home into their countrie and that as was said by the kings last will The said earle of Angus and diuerse of the lords that had beene prisoners here in England were made of the priuie councell of the realme by the earle of Arraine that was chosen gouernour to the yoong quéene and of the realme as next heire apparent notwithstanding that the archbishop of saint Andrews and cardinall of the sée of Rome enimie mortall vnto the king of England for the popes cause and partlie set on by the French king had forged a will expressing how the king had made him gouernour associat with two earles of his affinitie as well of the queene as realme contrarie to the lawes of Scotland Wherevpon the said earle of Arraine according to his right as he pretended with the helpe of his friends tooke vpon him the authoritie of gouernor and put the said cardinall in prison and deliuered sir Robert Bowes and the other English prisoners by their bonds according to the custome of the marches All this yeare was neither perfect peace nor open warre betwixt England and France but the merchants ships were taken and robbed on both parts and at length merchants goods were seized and the ambassadors of both realms staied Howbeit shortlie after the ambassadors were deliuered but the merchants still were robbed and no warre proclamed In the end of this yeare came from the gouernor of Scotland as ambassadors sir William Hamilton and Iames Leirmouth the secretarie of Scotland whose message was so meanlie liked that they were faine to send an herald into Scotland for other ambassadors and so came hither the earle of Glencarne and sir George Dowglas but whatsoeuer their answer was sir George returned in post and within twentie daies came backe againe with an answer that was well liked of But shortlie after they brake promise and went from that which they had couenanted greatlie to their reproch Wood was sold verie deare in the winter season of this yeare and likewise vittels both flesh and fish grew to an high price towards the spring by reason as was thought of the vntemperate wet summer last past causing great death among cattell A quarter of mutton was sold for two shillings or seuen grotes a lambe at thrée shillings or thrée and foure pence which afore that time was esteemed scarse woorth sixteene pence Against Easter at a court of aldermen kept in the Guildhall the twentith of March 1542 it was enacted by the lord maior and his brethren that the maior and shiriffs should be serued at their tables but with one course at dinner and supper in their houses the maior to haue but seuen dishes at the most at one messe for his owne table and the shiriffs and euerie other alderman but six dishes vpon paine to forfeit for euerie dish fortie shillings at euerie time when they offended in this ordinance Also that the sargeants and yeomen of their houses should haue but thrée dishes at dinner or supper the swordbearers messe onlie excepted which should be allowed to haue one dish more It was also enacted that from the feast of Easter then next insuing neither the maior nor his brethren should buie anie crane swan or bustard vpon paine to forfeit for euerie foule by them so bought twentie shillings the offense to be tried by oth if it should be presented In the beginning of this yeare on Trinitie sundaie was a new league sworne betwéene the king and the emperour at Hampton court either of them to be friends to the others friends and enimies to the others enimies ¶ In this yeare also a proclamation was made whereby the people were licenced to eate whit meats in Lent but streictlie forbidden the eating of flesh Wherevpon shortlie after the earle of Surrie with diuerse lords knights and gentlemen were imprisoned for eating of flesh in the same Lent contrarie to the said proclamation The eight of Maie one Léech sometimes bailie of Louth who had killed Summerset one of our heralds line 10 of armes at Dunbar in Scotland was drawne to Tiburne and there hanged and quartered And the twelfe of Iune Edward Leech his brother and with him a priest for the same fact were likewise executed at Tiburne This yeare the first cast péeces of iron that euer were made in England were made at Buckesteed in Sussex by Rafe Hoge and Peter Bawd The third of Iune came to the court from the realme of Ireland thrée Irish lords Obrin Macke William a line 20 Burgh and Macke Gilpatrike In Iulie the said Obrin was created earle of Townon Macke William a Burgh earle of Claurickford and sir Dunon Obrin was made baron of Ebrankie and so with rewards they tooke leaue and returned The same moneth also the Scotish ambassadors returned with great rewards The twelfe of Iulie at Hampton court the king maried the ladie Katharine Par widow late wife vnto the lord Latimer deceased and then she was nominated quéene and so proclamed line 30 In the parlement holden this yeare at Westminster a subsidie was granted to the king to be paied in thrée yeares Euerie Englishman being woorth in goods twentie shillings vpward to fiue pounds paied foure pence of euerie pound From fiue pounds to ten pounds eight pence From ten pounds to twentie pounds sixtéene pence From twentie pounds and vpward of euerie pound two
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
resist such a puissant force as the French king had there with him would not yet hearken vnto anie talke nor suffer the herald to come néere for that he line 40 should not perceiue the weakenesse of the péece and so he was commanded to get him thence with spéed or else they would cause him to be packing smallie to his ease The French king sore offended herewith that his herald was so vncourteouslie vsed caused the batterie to be reinforced with great diligence which dismounting their ordinance within and beating downe their rampiers made such breaches that my lord Iohn and the capteins within perceiued they were not able by anie meanes to defend the line 50 place anie longer Herevpon they offered to render the fort to the king vpon composition which in the end fell out to be thus that the souldiers should depart with their liues saued and that their generall for honor sake should haue one horsse to ride on in his corslet without sword or dagger and likewise two other capteins with him but as for the other souldiers with the women and chidren should depart on foot in their shirts leauing all their goods and substance behind them After it was agreed that the fort should be thus surrendered there entered line 60 monsieur de Chatillon that was after admerall of France and monsieur de Desse latelie returned out of Scotland The French souldiers entring by stealth into the fort by the breaches committed foule disorders not onelie in ransacking the houses but also in spoiling the souldiers by force intreating them in most rigorous maner The French writers confesse that it was pitie to sée the poore men and women so miserablie handled and abused as they were by the outragious soldiors that thus entred the fort and sacked all that they could laie hands vpon Monsieur de Desse saued a great number of women and yoong maidens from the cruell hands of their aduersaries causing them to passe foorth by the breach and presented them to the king who appointed that they should be conueied in safetie with all that they had about them till they had gotten out of danger Monsieur de Chatillon by the kings commandement caused all the rest within the fort to come forth who passing thrée and thrée in a range came before the king who stood there to behold them with the whole armie placed so in order on either side the waie as they should come that they might passe betwixt their ranks as it were through a lane They that came foorth in this sort might be as the French writers record about seuen or eight hundred in all of men and women wherof there were manie hurt and maimed some with halfe a shirt on to couer them and diuerse starke naked The lord Iohn Greie being mounted on a curtaile passing by the French king and saluting him was courteouslie of him embraced The morrow after was the fort of Blacknesse or Blaconnesse rendered to the French king with like conditions as they of Hambleteuue had rendered theirs This was on the tuesdaie the seuen and twentith of August The nine and twentith of August sir Nicholas Arnault conueieng all the artillerie munition vittels and goods out of Bullongne berg caused fire to be set on that fort and retired with all his soldiors and other people vnto Bullongne Whervpon shortlie after the Frenchmen seized vpon the said place of Bullongne berg kept it The French king leauing monsieur de Chatillon within Hambleteuue with the old bands of the French footmen returned towards Bullongne approching within a mile and a halfe of the Old man meant to build there a fort on the sea side but what through such sharpe skirmishes as the Englishmen continuallie were redie to make with his men and what through the abundance of raine which fell in that season he was constreined to breake vp his campe and leauing strong garrisons both of horssemen and footmen in all those places which he had in that season woone out of the Englishmens hands he returned himselfe with the princes of his bloud into France In this meane time whilest the French king was thus occupied to vse the oportunitie of time in recouering of those fortresses in Bullongnois out of the Englishmens hands the kings maiestie and his councell were busie still in quieting his rebellious subiects here in England and finallie for meane of a full pacification and to set all things in good frame and quiet rest the king published his graces most generall and frée pardon to all rebelles so that they would foorthwith vpon publication of the same pardon returne euerie man to his house and countrie which they gladlie did and so these seditious and most dangerous troubles were brought to end and pacified ¶ Also in this busie time Marie Steward queene of Scots was conueied by sea out of Scotland into France and there on the ninetéenth daie of Aprill 1549 was married in our ladie church in Paris with great triumph and solemnitie to Francis the Dolphin eldest sonne vnto king Henrie the second of that name French king This conueieng of the yoong quéene is reported by one to haue béene priuilie wrought at such time as the councell of England were in some expectation and hope to obteine hir Neuerthelesse the subtill aduise of the French and the trecherous forwardnesse of the Scots vtterlie disappointed the honest and honorable purpose of the English Now when the yoong quéene and hir traine with the gard of hir person be they whome you will were vnder saile the English nauie was abroade and lieng in wait to haue intercepted hir course meant not onlie to skirmiâ—h but also to recouer the yong queene from the French in spite of their hearts had not the king of England and the most of his councell flatlie forbidden them to attempt anie warlike incounter for certeine iust and weightie causes to them knowne But the Scots smarted for this their vaine lightnesse as in former times for like practices of their vile lewdnesse as C.O. saith Sic leuiora leui pluma promissa Scotorum Infamem reddunt gentem dant sanguine pâ—nas line 10 Perfidiae quandóque suae velut antè dederunt In this troublesome yéere also Edmund Bonner bishop of London preached a sermon at Paules crosse for the which he was accusâ—â— vnto the councell by William Latimer parson of saint Laurence Pountneie and Iohn Hooper sometime a white moonke and so conuented before the archbishop of Canturburie and other commissioners at Lambeth on the twentith daie of that same moneth and sent to the Marshalsea On the first of October he was line 20 depriued of his bishoprike for disobeieng the kings order in religion Now after that these hurlie burlies were throughlie quieted manie of the lords of the realme as well councellors as other misliking the gouernment of the protector began to withdraw themselues from the court and resorting to London
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
subscription vnder the picture of hir husband Francone or Francis was in this sort FRanciscus Dei gratia comes de Osteruant erfginocht in comitatibus Hollandiae Hannoniae Zelandiae Friselandiae dominus de Boursalia de Viorne Zuylen Hochstraten Kortkene de la Veer Flishing Zandenburge terrae Brilensis Sentmartinsdike quo loco fundauit coenobium canonicorum c regi Edwardo quarto fideliter assistebat necnon equestris ordinis diui Antonij Beside which also was this written in the Dutch toong Here vranck van Boselen graue van Osteruant starfe Anno Domini 1470. Thomas Beaufort duke of Excester appointed to that office by Henrie the fift on his death-bed was with Henrie Beaufort bishop of Winchester great vncle to king Henrie the sixt in the yéere of our redemption 1422 being the first yeere of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt then but nine months old made protector and gardian of the person of the yoong king to see him tenderlie and carefullie brought vp and instructed in all such parts as were to be required in the person of a monarch Which office he left about the fourth yeere of king Henrie the sixt and died on Newyéeres daie at his manor of Gréenwich in the said fift yéere of Henrie the sixt being the yeere of our redemption 1446 he married Margaret the daughter of Thomas Neuill of Hornesbie Richard Beauchampe earle of Warwike son of the former Thomas Beauchampe being beyond the seas and there deputie for Iohn duke of Bedford being regent of France did whilest the said regent was come ouer into England obteine manie castels in his deputieship who being thus imploied in the forren warres was in his absence out of his countrie for his singular wisdome and valor ordeined by the thrée estates of the realme of England in open parlement to be gouernor of the person of the yoong king Henrie the sixt in the place of Thomas Beaufort duke of Excester latelie deceased which Richard did not yet foorthwith hasten his returne into England but remained in France for a season inlarging the fame of his martiall exploits This his election to the protectorship of the kings person was in the fift yéere of Henrie the sixt being the yéere of our redemption 1426. He died in the yeere of our Lord 1439 being the seuentéenth yéere of the deposed king Henrie the sixt at Rone in Normandie the last daie of Maie as hath Iohn Stow and the fourth of October next following his corps was honorablie conueied as well by land as by water from Rone to Warwike and there honorablie buried in line 10 the college of our ladie church founded by his noble ancestors He maried two wiues the first Elisabeth daughter and heire of Thomas lord Barkleie by whome he had thrée daughters Margaret maried to Iohn lord Talbot earle of Shrewesburie Eleanor maried to Thomas lord Rosse and Elisabeth married to Gorge Neuill lord Latimer His second wife was Isabell the daughter and heire of Richard lord Spenser by whome he had issue Henrie duke of Warwike and Anne married to Richard Neuill line 20 earle of Salisburie Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke sonne to Richard earle of Cambrige and father to Edward the fourth king of England notwithstanding that he made challenge to the crowne against Henrie the sixt then in possession thereof as heire to the house of Yorke and was to be preferred before the house of Lancaster and notwithstanding that he was by parlement appointed to weare the crowne after the death of Henrie the sixt yet after all this in the thrée line 30 and thirtith yeere of the same king being the yéere of our redemption 1455 such was the imperfection of the king to gouerne he was appointed protector of the realme ruling the same at his owne disposition Which office he did not long inioie and that most worthilie for the next yéere after being the foure and thirtith of king Henrie the sixt and the yeere of our redemption 1456 he was depriued from the same and queene Margaret wife to Henrie the sixt tooke againe the absolute regiment into hir line 40 hands which duke after in the nine and thirtith of king Henrie the sixt being the yéere of our redemption 1460 the thirtith daie of December being lord of Wakefield was there with his sonne the earle of Rutland slaine at the battell commonlie called the battell of Wakefield of which I haue read these verses in Whethamsted once abbat of saint Albons Anno milleno centum quater quoque seno Terdenóque die duodeno mense Decembre Infra Eboracensem nixta Wakefield comitatum line 50 Dux dominus villae fertur pugnans habuisse Conflictum grandem contra gentem borealem Ac proceres plures praeerant quae gentibus ipsis Quod docuit quia sors quod res fortuna secundas Vitat habere moras cecidit dux natus eius Ac comes insignis sors belli sors fuit ipsis Obuia sÃcque fatis regni fuerat breuis haeres Omen idlaetum tulerat mutamine meestum Deslendum multis ius regni ius fuit eius He maried Cicilie daughter to Rafe Neuill first line 60 earle of Westmerland by whome he had issue Edward duke of Yorke earle of March and after king of England by the name of Edward the fourth George Plantagenet duke of Clarence Richard Plantagenet duke of Glocester after king of England by the name of Richard the third thrée daughters Anne maried to Henrie Holland duke of Excester Elisabeth married to Iohn de la Poole duke of Suffolke and Margaret maried to Charles duke of Burgognie George Plantagenet duke of Clarence and conestable of England sonne of the foresaid duke of Yorke and brother to king Edward the fourth with Richard Neuill earle of Warwike who set vp and pulled downe kings at his pleasure were after the flight of Edward the fourth out of England into Burgognie to his brother in law in the tenth yeare of the reigne of the said king Edward being the yeare of our redemption 1470 when Henrie the sixt had by their means readepted the kingdome made gouernors of the land which office they inioied not long For the said Edward the fourth returning into England in the eleuenth yeare of his reigne being the yeare of our redemption 1471 reconciled to him the duke of Clarence did againe put downe king Henrie the sixt and slue the said earle of Warwike flieng awaie at Barnet field on Easter day by one of the men of his campe After this on the fiftéenth daie of Ianuarie began a parlement in the eightéenth yere of the reigne of king Edward the fourth being the yeare of our redemption 1478 where this duke of Clarence was atteinted of treason and the eleuenth of March following he ended his life in a but of malmeseie and was buried at Teukesburie beside his wife who being with child died by poison a little before him Of this man sée more in my discourse of
50 brought to London the least of them was more than anie horsse Much about this season there were thrée notable ships set foorth and furnished for the great aduenture of the vnknowne voiage into the east by the north seas The great dooer and incourager of which voiage was Sebastian Gabato an Englishman borne at Bristow but was the sonne of a Genowaie These ships at the last arriued in the countrie of Moscouia not without great losse and danger line 60 and namelie of their capteine who was a woorthie and aduenturous gentleman called sir Hugh Willoughbie knight who being tossed and driuen by tempest was at the last found in his ship frozen to death and all his people But now the said voiage and trade is greatlie aduanced and the merchants aduenturing that waie are newlie by act of parlement incorporated and indued with sundrie priuileges and liberties About the beginning of the moneth of Maie next following there were thrée notable mariages concluded shortlie after solemnized at Durham place The first was betwéene the lord Gilford Dudleie the fourth sonne of the duke of Northumberland and the ladie Iane eldest daughter to Henrie duke of Suffolke the ladie Francis his wife was the daughter of Marie second sister to king Henrie the eight first maried to Lewes the French king and after to Charles Brandon duke of Suffolke The second mariage was betwéene the lord Herbert son and heire to William earle of Penbroke and the ladie Katharine second daughter of the said ladie Francis by the said Henrie duke of Suffolke And the third was betwéene Henrie lord Hastings sonne and heire to Francis earle of Huntington and ladie Katharine yoongest daughter to the forenamed duke of Northumberland These mariages were compassed concluded chieflie vpon purpose to change alter the order of succession to the crowne made in the time of king Henrie the eight from the said kings daughters Marie and Elizabeth and to conueie the same immediatlie after the death of king Edward to the house of Suffolke in the right of the said ladie Francis wherein the said yoong king was an earnest traueller in the time of his sickenesse all for feare that if his sister Marie being next heire to the crowne should succéed that she would subuert all his lawes and statutes made concerning religion whereof he was most carefull for the continuance whereof he sought to establish a meet order of succession by the aliance of great houses by waie of marriage which neuerthelesse were of no force to serue his purpose For tending to the disheriting of the rightfull heirs they proued nothing prosperous to the parties for two of them were soone after made frustrate the one by death the other by diuorse In the meane while the king became euerie daie more sicke than other of a consumption in his lungs so as there was no hope of his recouerie Wherevpon those that then bare chiefe authoritie in councell with other prelats and nobles of the realme called to them diuerse notable persons learned as well in diuinitie as in the lawes of the land namelie bishops iudges other who fell to consultation vpon this so weightie cause and lastly concluded vpon the deuise of king Edwards will to declare the said ladie Iane eldest néece to king Henrie the eight and wife to the said lord Gilford to be rightfull heire in succession to the crowne of England without respect had to the statute made in the fiue and thirtith yeare of king Henrie the eight the true meaning of which statute they did impugne and ouerthrow by diuerse subtill sinister constructions of the same to disherit the said kings daughters to whome the succession of the crowne of England of right apperteined as well by the common lawes of this realme as also by the said statute made in the said fiue and thirtith yeare of king Henrie as aforesaid To which new order of succession all the said kings councell with manie bishops lords doctors and iudges of the realme subscribed their names without refusall of anie except sir Iames Hales knight one of the iustices of the common plées who being called to this councell would in no wise giue his assent either by word or writing as ye shall heare more in the historie of quéene Marie Now when these matters were thus concluded and after confirmed by a number of hands as aforesaid then the noble prince king Edward the sixt by long lingering sickenesse and consumption of his lungs aforesaid approched to his death and departed out of this life the sixt daie of Iulie in the seuenth yeare of his reigne and seuentéenth of his age after he had reigned and noblie gouerned this realme six yeares fiue moneths and eight daies And a little before his departing lifting vp his eies to God hee praied as followeth The praier of king Edward the sixt at his death LOrd God deliuer me out of this miserable and wretched life take me among thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be doone Lord I commit my spirit to thee oh Lord thou knowest how happie it were for mee to be with thee yet for thy chosens sake if line 10 it be thy will send me life and helth that I maie trulie serue thee Oh my Lord blesse thy people and saue thine inheritance Oh Lord God saue thy chosen people of England Oh my Lord God defend this realme from papistrie and mainteine thy true religion that I and my people maie praise thy holie name And therewithall he said I am faint Lord haue mercie vpon me and take my spirit line 20 Thus did this good yoong king yéeld vp to God his ghost the sixt daie of Iulie as before is mentioned whome if it had pleased God to haue spared with longer life not vnlike it was but he should haue so gouerned this English common-wealth that he might haue béene comparable with any of his noble progenitors so that the losse of so towardlie a yoong king greatlie discomforted the whole English nation that looked for such a reformation in the state of line 30 the common-wealth at his hands as was to be wished for of all good subiects which bred such a liking in them toward him that euen among verie traitorous rebels his name yet was had in reuerence although otherwise they neuer so much forgat their dutie both towards him and other appointed to gouerne vnder him through a malicious and most wilfull error as if his tender yeares had not sufficientlie warranted his roiall authoritie but that the same had béene vsurped by others against his will and pleasure line 40 And as he was intierlie beloued of his subiects so with the like affection of kindnes he loued them againe of nature and disposition méeke much inclined to clemencie euer hauing a regard to the sparing of life There wanted in him no promptnes of wit grauitie of sentence ripenesse of iudgement as his age might
Peterburie Bartlet in Bath Gest in Rochester Barlow in Chichester c. In like maner were diuerse deans archdeacons parsons vicars remooued from their benefices and some of them committed to prison in the Tower Fléet Marshalsea and Kings bench Moreouer about the same time were commissio-appointed to visit in euerie diocesse within the relme for the establishment of religion according to the order appointed by act and statute passed and confirmed in the last parlement For London were appointed sir Richard Sackuill knight Robert Horne doctor of diuinitie doctor Huic a ciuilian and maister Sauage who calling before them diuerse persons of euerie parish sware them to inquire and make presentment accordinglie vpon certeine iniunctions drawne and deuised for the better accomplishment and execution of that which they had in charge Furthermore about the same time by vertue of an act established in parlement all such religious houses as were againe erected and set vp were now suppressed as the abbeies of Westminster the houses of the nuns and brethren of the Sion and Shéene the blacke friers of Gréenwich c. And on the twelfe of August being saturdaie the high altar in Paules church with the rood the images of Marie and Iohn standing in the rood loft were taken downe the prebendaries and petie canons commanded to weare no more their graie amises but to vse onelie a surplice in seruice time This was doone by commandement of doctor Grindall newlie elect bishop of London doctor Maie then also newlie elected deane of Paules and other the commissioners then appointed Also on the euen of saint Bartholomew the day and morrow after were burned in Paules churchyard Cheapeside and diuerse other places of the citie of London all the roods and other images of churches and in some places the coapes vestments and altar clothes bookes banners sepulchers and rood lofts were likewise committed to the fier and so line 10 consumed to ashes ¶ The fift of September about midnight fell a great tempest at London in the end wherof a great lightning with a terrible clap of thunder strake the spire being stone of the stéeple of Alhallowes church in Bredstréet about a ten foot beneath the top out of the which fell a stone that slue a dog and ouerthrew a man plaieng with the same dog and the spire of the stéeple was so perished that not long after the same was taken downe with lesse charges to the parish line 20 than the reparing would haue cost And at the same instant by the same tempest one of the southdores of S. Dionise church in Fenchurchstréet with the dore of the reuestrie of the same church were both striken through and broken Upon Fridaie the eight of September was kept in Paules church of London a solemne obsequie for Henrie the second of that name king of France who departed this life about the tenth of Iulie last past of a wound receiued the 29 of Iune in running line 30 at tilt in a solemne iusts holden at Paris in honor of the marriage celebrated betwixt his sister the ladie Margaret of France and Philibert duke of Sauoie He was striken on the viser with a lance as he ran against the counte de Montgomerie the spilts entring by the sight of his headpéece persing through his eie into his head so perished his braine that there was no meane to saue his life The obsequie for him was kept in verie solemne wise with a rich hearse made like an imperiall line 40 crowne susteined with great pillers and couered with blacke veluet with a valence stringed with gold and richlie hanged with scutchions pennons and banners of the French kings armes without anie lights And on the beere was laid a rich pall of cloth of gold with a coat armor of the armes of France and a crest with an imperiall crowne standing vpon the béere doctor Parker archbishop of Canturburie elect doctor Barlow bishop of Chichester elect and doctor Scorie bishop of Hereford elect executing at line 50 the dirge of this euening song in English they sitting in the bishop of Londons seat in the vpper quéere in surplices with doctors hoods about their shoulders The chéefe mourner was the marquesse of Winchester lord treasuror assisted with ten other lords mourners with all the heralds in blacke and their coat armours vppermost On the morrow being saturdaie ninth of September a sermon was preached by doctor Scorie in place of doctor Grindall bishop of London who being line 60 appointed to preach that sermon was letted by sicknesse After the sermon six of the lords mourners receiued the communion with the bishops which bishops were in copes and surplices onelie at the ministration of the said communion Which being finished there was a great dinner kept in the bishop of Londons palace by Paules where the mourners apparelled them and so ended the solemnitie of the said exequies The bishops had blacke gownes giuen them and eight blacke coats a peece for their seruants at the quéenes charges ¶ About the last of September Iohn duke of Finland second sonne to Gustabus king of Swethen was sent by his father to treat a marriage for his eldest brother Ericus with the quéenes maiestie of England he arriued at Harwich in Essex and was there honorablie receiued and interteined by the erle of Oxford which said earle and the lord Robert Dudleie with a goodlie band of gentlemen and yeomen conueied him to London where he was receiued of diueâ—se knights and gentlemen of the court on the fift of October and was with his traine of about the number of fiftie persons well horssed conueied to the bishop of Winchesters place in Southworke where he was lodged during his abode here and remoued from thence two daies before Easter homewards and sped on his message as may appeare by that which followeth taken out of Iohannes Lewenclaij comment de bellis Moscorum Ericus king of Swethen sonne of Gustabus late king of the said kingdome hauing committed to prison his brother Iohn duke of Finland whom a little before he had imploied into England on an ambassage to the quéenes maiestie whom he sued to for mariage and had his sute reiected againe the second time solicited hir maiestie in the same sute notwithstanding to his great dishonor and as it fell out his iust disgrace He attempted the same matter with the yoongest daughter of Philip Lantgraue Uanhessen at whose hand hauing the second time beene reiected of hir maiestie héere the matter being knowne there he also not onelie receiued a deniall but the ladie was by hir father bestowed vpon Adolfe duke Uan Holst vncle of Frederike king of Denmarke then enimie of the said Ericus Thus farre Iohannes Lewenclaij ¶ Cuthbert Tunstall was translated from London to Durham after the death of cardinall Wolseie of whome besides that which Holinshed in this booke reporteth I will saie a little he being so
the plague himselfe and his men still bearing helping the poore creatures on shipboord A rare fact worthie reward and no doubt in remembrance with God the true recorder of mercifull deserts Thus was the towne of Newhauen reduced againe into the hands of the French more vndoubtedlie through the extreme mortalitie that so outragiouslie afflicted the soldiors and men of warre within the same than by the enimies inforcements although the same was great and aduanced to the vttermost of the aduersaries power Besides the meaner sort of those that died of the pestilence during the siege these I doo find noted as chiefe Cutbert Uaughan comptrollor of the towne Francis Summerset coosine to the earle of Worcester Auerie Darcie brother to the lord Darcie Iohn Zouch brother to the lord Zouch Edward Ormesbie Thomas Drurie alià s Poâ—gnard Richard Croker Iohn Cockson Thomas Kemish Iohn Proud William Saule Wilfreid Antwisell Besides these being capteins in chiefe dieng there in that towne or else sickening there and dieng vpon their returne into England there were diuerse other gentlemen and such as had charge which likewise ended their liues by force of that cruell and most gréeuous pestilent infection There were diuerse also that were slaine as well by canon shot as otherwise in the field in skirmish as both the Tremains brethren of one birth Nicholas and Andrew capteine Richard Sanders with master Robinson and master Bromfield of which two before ye haue heard also one Leighton a gentleman diuerse mo whose names I know not worthie neuerthelesse to be remembred placed in ranke with such worthie men as in their countries cause haue lost their liues and are therefore by writers registred to liue by fame for euer But now to passe to other matters at home As ye haue heard the plague of pestilence being in the towne of Newhauen thorough the number of souldiors that returned into England the infection therof spread into diuerse parts of this realme but especiallie the citie of London was so infected that in the same whole yeare that is to saie from the first of Ianuarie 1562 vntill the last of December in 1563 there died in the citie and liberties thereof conteining one hundred eight parishes of all diseases twentie thousand three hundred thrée score and twelue and of the plague being part of the number aforesaid seuentéene thousand foure hundred and foure persons And in the outparishes adioining to the same citie being eleuen parishes died of all diseases in the whole yeare thrée thousand two hundred foure score and eight persons and of them of the plague two thousand seuen hundred thirtie and two So that the whole number of all that died of all diseases as well within the citie and liberties as in the outparishes was twentie thrée thousand six hundred and thréescore and of them there died of the plague twentie thousand one hundred thirtie and six The eight of Iulie in the morning happned a great tempest of lightning and thunder where thorough a woman and thrée kine were slaine in the Couent garden néere to Chaxingcrosse At the same time in Essex a man was torne all to péeces as he was carieng haie his barne was borne downe and his haie burned both stones and trées were rent in manie places The councell of king Philip at Bruxels commanded proclamation to be made in Antwerpe and other places that no English ship with anie cloths should come into anie places of the low countries their colour was as they said the danger of the plague which was at that time in London other places of England Neuerthelesse line 10 they would gladlie haue gotten our woolles but the quéenes maiestie thorough sute of our merchant aduenturers caused the wooll fleet to be discharged and our cloth fléet was sent to Emden in east Friseland about Easter next following in the yeare of our Lord 1564. Forsomuch as the plague of pestilence was so hot in the citie of London there was no tearme kept at Michaelmasse To be short the poore citizens of London were this yeare plagued with a thréefold plague pestilence scarsitie of monie and line 20 dearth of vittels the miserie whereof were too long here to write no doubt the poore remember it the rich by flight into the countries made shift for themselues c. An earthquake was in the moneth of September in diuerse places of this realme speciallie in Lincolne Northamptonshires After the election of the maior of London by the councels letters the quéens maiesties pleasure was signified vnto sir Thomas Lodge then maior that forsomuch as the plague line 30 was so great in the citie the new maior elected shuld kéepe no feast at the Guildhall for doubt that thorough bringing togither such a multitude the infection might increase For that wéeke there died within the citie and out parishes more than two thousand wherefore sir Iohn Whight the new maior tooke his oth at the vttermost gate of the tower of London From the first daie of December till the twelfe was such continuall lightning and thunder especiallie the same twelfe daie at night that the line 40 like had not béene séene nor heard by anie man then liuing In the moneth of December was driuen on the shore at Grimsbie in Lincolnshire a monstruous fish in length ninetéene yards his taile fiftéene foot broad and six yards betwéene his eies twelue men stood vpright in his mouth to get the oile For that the plague was not fullie ceassed in London Hilarie tearme was kept at Hertford castell beside line 50 Ware year 1564 This yeare the thirtéenth of Aprill an honorable and ioifull peace was concluded betwixt the quéenes maiestie and the French king their realmes dominions and subiects and the same peace was proclamed with sound of trumpet before hir maiestie in hir castell of Windsor then being present the French ambassadors And shortlie after the quéenes grace sent the right honourable sir Henrie Careie lord of Hunnesdon now lord chamberleine of whose honourable and noble descent it is thus written line 60 cuius fuerat matertera pulchra Reginae genitrix Henrici nobilis vxor accompanied with the lord Strange beside diuerse knights and gentlemen vnto the French king with the noble order of the garter who finding him at the citie of Lions being in those parties in progresse he there presented vnto him the said noble order and Garter king at armes inuested him therewith obseruing the ceremonies in that behalfe due and requisit The plague thanks be to God being cleane ceassed in London both Easter and Midsummer tearmes were kept at Westminster ¶ And here by the waie to note the infection of this plague to haue béene dispersed into other countries besides England it is read in Schardius In epitome rerum gestarum sub Ferdinando primo imperatore that the pestilence did so rage in Germanie and poisoned such peopled places namelie Norimberge
where the king with his two brethren the admerall the most part of the nobles of France met them a line 20 distance from the place brought them to the house where they dined and abode till sundaie following from whence the king and his nobles with the nobles of England came to Paris The king his two brethren our ambassador riding in one coch togither and the nobles of England and France being so placed also in coches came to the said castell of Louure and there dined After dinner the king our ambassador with the nobilitie of both realmes went to a church named saint Germane where the French line 30 king his brethren and nobilitie heard euensong The noblemen of England withdrawing them into a chappell till euensong was doone were then fetched thense by the nobles of France to the king and his brethren that awaited their comming where was confirmed the league which had béene concluded at Blois the ninteenth of Aprill deputies being there for the French partie Francis Montmorencie Reinold Birago Sebastian de Laubespine and Paule de Foix and for the queene of England sir Thomas line 40 Smith and maister Walsingham ambassadors This being doone they departed without the wals of Paris to a garden of pleasure where they supped After supper the king departed to his place of Madrill and the nobles of England vnto the castell of Louure On mondaie the admerall feasted the nobles of England vpon tuesdaie the duke of Aniou the kings brother and on wednesdaie the duke of Alanson line 50 his yoonger brother and so passed in feasting and banketting with rich gifts on both parts On fridaie the nobles of England tooke leaue of the king and on sundaie came to saint Denis and after to Bullongne where they tooke ship and returned into England the fourth of Iulie The second of Iune in the morning betwéene the houres of seuen and eight Thomas Howard duke of Norffolke was beheaded on a scaffold newlie set vp on tower hill ¶ This execution in a short time was spred abroad line 60 for fame which as the poet saith in few words volat leuibus sublata per aethera pennis had sounded the same farre and néere insomuch that in tract of time as men had leasure to laie their collections togither among other things this is recorded euen of strangers For the execution of an honorable personage must néeds be so much the more notorious as his misdéed is dishonorable Touching the duke therefore this I find in Schardius howsoeuer he came to the knowledge thereof a moderne historien and doctor of the lawes in Basill The duke of Norffolke who as we haue said was condemned for treason the sixteenth daie of Ianuarie was brought out of the tower of London to a plaine hard by which they call the hill in the middest whereof a scaffold had béene builded manie yeares ago seruing for execution which being old was both rotten and ruinous For queene Elisabeth hauing with mercie gouerned hir commonwealth there was no punishment inflicted there vpon anie for the space of fourtéene yeares Wherefore a new scaffold must needs be made Which when the duke at seuen of the clocke in the morning had mounted hauing on a silken doublet a long gowne of like fine stuffe all blacke earnestlie he beheld the people round about with his cap on his head Now when he had stood still a prettie while and cast his eies vpon the scaffold he asked whereabouts he might best stand to speake vnto the people For the scaffold was foure square and the people came flocking from all places Now when he was directed to the east side thereof and the people had muttered and whispered diuerslie among themselues master Alexander Nowell deane of Paules besought them that were present to be silent and still Then began the duke to speake to the people as followeth The duke of Norffolkes vvords vttered on the scaffold at tower hill when he should be executed IT is no rare thing good people to sée a man come hither to die albeit since this quéens most blessed reigne I be the first I praie God I be the last The people said Amen It is a hard matter for a man of my calling to vse long spéech in such an audience either for that audacitie serues me not or for that comming to such an end as I doo the feare of death troubleth me and therfore I beseech you all heartilie to beare with me I will not be long I will make a short spéech and diuide my talke into three parts And first concerning my offense towards my prince wherein some thing I haue to confesse against my selfe and in some thing to cléere my selfe I come not to complaine against my peeres I doo acquit them I haue deserued to die it is not vnknowne I haue dealt with the quéene of Scots in verie great and high matters without making my prince priuie therevnto otherwise than I ought to haue doone There is one thing which greatlie grudgeth my conscience that is when I was first deliuered out of this place I made a submission promised the Q. neuer to deale further in that matter and yet contrarie to my promise I meant did otherwise I am sorie for it It was reported I made a vow and tooke a solemne oth and receiued the communion vpon it that is not true the other was too much It was reported also I went about to destroie the citie of London I take God to my witnesse I neuer meant to hurt this citie I haue dealt with suspected persons and such as haue shewed themselues enimies to the state especiallie one I will name to wit one Radulpho whome I neuer talked withall but once and then I liked not his dealing he shewed me two letters which he said came from the pope Then said one of the shiriffes of London Good my lord be short he said I will be short I haue not much to saie good gentlemen beare witnesse I come not to cléere my selfe I saw two letters the one inciphered and the other disciphered I was charged to confeder with the rebels I take God to witnesse I did neuer The secondarie interrupted him and said I praie you my lord go not about to cléere your selfe you haue béene tried as honourablie as anie noble man hath euer béene in this land I praie you make short for the houre is past it is vpon the perill of their liues meaning the shiriffes they can not suffer you Oh I praie you giue me leaue a little I doo confesse my fault This is my confession I doo confesse it notwithstanding my religion It hath been reported I haue béene a papist a confederer with papists a friend to them and a mainteiner of them and of their religion I take God to witnesse I am none nor euer was a papist since I knew what religion ment I haue had friends yea familiar friends yea
peraduenture seruants that haue béene papists with whom I haue borne but I take God to witnesse I am line 10 none I vtterlie defie the pope and his religion and I hope to be saued onlie by my faith in Iesus Christ and I vtterlie abhorre all mans traditions And if at anie time I did giue countenance to anie papist whereby anie goodman or the church was offended I aske them mercie there is no man that alloweth better of this religion than I doo Then he was desired againe to be short Now touching the goodnesse of the queenes maiestie I am much bound to hir grace I doo thanke hir humblie for that she hath line 20 forgiuen all my offenses and hath prolonged my life so long You sée how good she hath béen to me I haue béene looked for here long before this time God send hir long ouer you to reigne she hath promised me to be gratious to my poore orphan children God grant my death maie end all troubles And if anie of you haue anie one faction or two or thrée or mo let him giue ouer forsake it Manie wish and desire diuerse things but they know not what they wish They seeke their owne destruction If euerie man should line 30 haue his wish God knoweth how manie would repent whatsoeuer they are The quéene hath promised in my death to forgiue all and I praie God that she maie liue manie yeeres I remember well the words of that good father and holie martyr Latimer He told the people that for their wickednesse God would take awaie his blessing from them I praie God the contrarie that your good life maie be such that God maie turne awaie those plagues that he hath thretned He spake it in an line 40 honorable place in the pulpit before king Edward yet let not this place discredit my words I praie God preserue the quéens maiestie and that she maie liue and reigne ouer you manie yeares euen to the worlds end which I beléeue that some one aliue shall sée Then he knéeled downe and praied and master Nowell knéeled downe by him and wept with manie others His praier was vnto God for the continuance of the truth of his gospell he praied also instantlie for the quéenes most prosperous reigne and line 50 knéeling vpon his knees he said two psalms to wit Miserere and Domine ne in furore and in the first psalme he praied to build the wals of Ierusalem according to the psalme Master Nowell said That is meant of Christs church I know that well said he I meane not the church of Rome I abhorre it but the church of England and of all the world wheresoeuer it be I haue forgotten one thing I thanke thée God that hast put me in mind of it I forgiue all the world and I aske all the world forgiuenesse and I protest line 60 before God if I knew anie particular man I had offended I would namelie aske him forgiuenesse Then he read the other psalme wherein adulterie is mentioned and when he came to that point he said I would I were as cleare in euerie thing as in that sauing for thought and that is as euill Then he said a collect and in the end he said In manus tuas Domine c in Latine and English And then he desired the people to praie for him while he liued for quoth he I looke not to haue anie excuse after my death Then he imbrased sir Henrie Leie and after a few secret words betweene them Master Nowell stood vp and said to the people He dooth desire you all with one voice to saie Lord haue mercie vpon him and after to saie no more words nor to make anie shout or shritching for troubling of him in his last visitation Then the duke knéeled downe and master Nowell bowed himselfe towards him with manie imbrasings and tooke there leaue each of other Then the executioner desired him knéeling to forgiue him and he tooke him by the hand and forgaue him and then requested sight of the axe Master Nowell said The sight will trouble you He answered No let me see it but he shewed it not then he laied his necke vpon the blocke Then the executioner said My lord your head lieth not well I will make it lie well saith he therewith lifting vp his bodie he laid his necke euen vpon the blocke which doone it was cut cleane off at one stroke This was the end of the duke of Northfolke a man whose life God had limited as also the estate wherein he sometimes flourished both which as all things else in a short time vanished Let all degrées therefore learne both by precept and example to know God principallie secondlie their souereigne Gods annointed and finallie themselues to be subiects forgetting their owne honour which puffeth men vp manie times with the wind of vainglorie euen to their owne ouerthrow whilest they become insolent and dreame that the transitorie aduancements of this world will make them princes princes péeres naie O monstrous madnesse gods whereas all things are mutable and momentanie and the higher that a man dooth clime the greater is his fall as verie aptlie saith the poet in these words Hoc fragili varijs voluuntur casibus orbe Omnia celsa ruit turris grauiore ruina The discourse and catalog of all the dukes of England by creation or descent since the time of the conquest TWo sentences the one an Italian prouerbe the other an old English byword haue mooued me to make this collection at the request of an other of all the dukes of England First the Italian said that France cannot abide anie treasurors England anie dukes nor Scotland anie kings the truth wherof need no confirming examples to be set downe sith as saith the philosopher things subiect to the sense néed no further proofe Secondlie the English saieng hath been that a Nag of fiue shillings shall beare all the dukes of England Scotland being spoken in no sense of disgrace to that honorable title but onelie to shew that the time should come wherein there should be no dukes in England or Scotland How true the same is in England and likelie againe to be in Scotland being once before verified in that realme for about fiue years past there was no duke there also when the duke of Lineux was banished euerie man dooth well perceiue For the death of this Thomas duke of Northfolke being the last of that honour hath iustified the same in England And the turmoils in Scotland may perhaps shortlie verifie the same in that countrie in which there were neuer so few dukes as that they cannot make the first and smallest number for being but one in that countrie and he verie yoong which is the duke of Lineux if he should miscarie the same would againe also be as true there as it is now héere For which cause to perpetuat the memories of such antiquities and titles
Henrie the eight Anne married to sir Edmund Gorge knight Isabell married to sir Roger Mortimer of Essex Iane married to sir Iohn Timperleie and Margaret married to sir Iohn Windham his second wife was Margaret the daughter of sir Iohn Chedworth knight by whome he had Katharine married to sir Iohn Bourchier lord Barns Thomas Howard earle of Surreie sonne of the said Iohn was created duke of Norffolke in the fift yeare of king Henrie the eight being about the yéere of Christ 1514. Of him is more mention in my discourse of the lord treasurors of England Thomas Howard created earle of Surreie in the fift yeare of king Henrie the eight being high admerall and lord treasuror of England was duke of Norffolke after the death of his father which fell in the sixtéenth yeare of king Henrie the eight being the yeare of our redemption 1524. Of this man is also more intreated in my discourse of the lord treasurors Thomas Howard the third duke of the name of Thomas and the fourth of the name of Howard was son to Henrie Howard earle of Surreie sonne to the last before recited Thomas Howard duke of Norffolke This man being the last duke that liued in England occasioned me to make this discourse of the dukes was beheaded on tower hill the seauentéenth of September in the thirteenth yeere of the now reigning prince Elisabeth being the yeare of Christ 1571 and buried in the chappell of the tower He maried thrée wiues his first wife was Marie one of the daughters and heires of Henrie Fitzallen earle of Arundell by whom he had issue Philip earle of Arundell his second wife was Margaret daughter onlie heire to Thomas Audleie knight chancellor of England and lord Audleie of saffron Walden the widow of the lord Henrie Dudleie yoongest son to Iohn Sutton of Dudlie duke of Northumberland by which second wife this duke had issue Thomas William Elisabeth Margaret his third wife was Elisabeth the daughter of sir Iames Leiborne knight and widow of the lord Dacres of Gisâ—eland by whome he had no issue Henrie the second son of king Henrie the seuenth was by his father created duke of Yorke at Westminster in the eleuenth yéere of his reigne being the yeere of our redemption 1495 or therabouts This man was after king of England by the name of king Henrie the eight Iasper of Hatfield the sonne of Owen Teuther esquier by Katharine daughter to the French king and widow to king Henrie the fift was by king Henrie the sixt his brother on the mothers side created earle of Penbroke in the yeare of Christ 1452 after which in the fiue and thirtith yeere of the said king he was made earle of Cambridge and lastlie in the first yeere of the reigne of king Henrie the seauenth he was created duke of Bedford on Simon and Iudes 〈◊〉 in the yeare of our redemption 1485 but died without issue the eighteenth daie of December in the twelfe yéere of the reigne of king Henrie the seauenth in the yéere of Christ 1496 and was buried at Kensham Charles Brandon the son of sir William Brandon knight slaine on the part of king Henrie the seuenth at Bosworth field was created vicount Lisle and after on Candlemasse daie in the yéere of Christ 1413 being the fift yeare of king Henrie the eight he was created duke of Suffolke He married thrée wiues the first was Anne daughter of sir Anthonie Browne knight the second Marie second daughter of king Henrie the seauenth widow to the king of France by whom he had issue Henrie earle of Lincolne and Francis married to Henrie Greie duke of Suffolke his third wife was Katharine the daughter onlie heire of William lord Willoughbie of Ersleie by whome he had issue Henrie and Charles both dukes of Suffolke one after another who both died within one houre of the sweat at Cambridge This Charles the father died in the yéere of Christ 1545 and was buried at Windsore line 10 of the two dukes the sons thus writeth Iohn Parkhurst sometime placed in the bishops see of Norwich Fratres Amyclaei Pollux cum Castore Potuere sic cum morte depaciscier Vt cùm alter illorum esset mortuus tamén Alter superesset reuersus sortibus Vicissim vtérque vtriúsque morte viueret Cur Parca nunc crudelior est quà m olim fuit Fratres duos nuper ea quales hactenus Nec vidit vnquam nec videbit Anglia line 20 Lumina duo duóque propugnacula Fortissima virtutis reÃque publicae Crudelis ab vno perêmit funere Virtus nequaquam illam nec egregia indoles Mouit nec Edwardi regis nec optimae Matris neque totius gemitus Britanniae O dura dura mors ô saeua numina Henrie Fitz Roie the base son to king Henrie the eight begotten vpon Elisabeth Blunt the ladie Talboise was by his father first created earle of Summerset and Northampton and after duke of line 30 Richmont This duke was verie forward in the knowledge of toongs and also in knightlie actiuitie as may appéere by due consideration of the historie in place where he is mentioned He loued Iohn Leland the reuerend antiquarie who presented vnto the said duke a booke of copies whereby he might learne to write Romane letters great small as appéereth by this hexastichon which I find among the said Iohn Lelands written epigrams in this maner set downe Quo Romana modo maiuscula littera pingi line 40 Pingi quo possit littera parua modo Hic liber ecce tibi signis monstrabit apertis Princeps Aonij spes alumne gregis Qui tibi si placeat quod certè spero futurum Maxima pro paruo munere dona dabis He died without issue the two and twentith of Iulie in the eight and twentith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the eight in the yeere of our redemption 1536 and was buried at Thetford in Norffolke hauing maried Marie the daughter of Thomas Howard line 50 duke of Norffolke Edward Seimor knight the son of sir Iohn Seimor knight was created vicount Beauchampe in Maie the eight and twentith yéere of king Henrie the eight being the yéere of our redemption 1536 was after in the nine twentith yeare of the same king on the eightéenth daie of October in the yéere of Christ 1537 created earle of Hertford Then king Henrie being dead he in the first yeare of king Edward line 60 the sixt which was the yéere of our redemption 1546 was made protector of England and immediatlie therevpon created duke of Summerset being vncle by the mothers side vnto the said king Edward the sixt This man had manie honors and offices as maie appéere by his stile which he prefixed before a missiue persuasorie sent to the Scots for the marriage of their yoong quéene Marie to our yoong king Edward the sixt in this sort Edward by the grace of God
this bishoprike which sometimes was counted one of the best is now become in temporall lands one of the meanest and according to the foreprophesieng of bishop Grandesson a place scarse left for the bishop to laie and rest his head in and yet neuerthelesse he was a great fauourer of learned men and especiallie of diuines whome he preferred in his church aboue others He was verie bountions and liberall vnto all men but especiallie vnto courtiers vnto his owne kindred and countriemen Upon manie he bestowed much to the confusion of some of them and vpon the others he spent much by building of a towne called Sutton Colshull where he was borne which he procured to be incorporated and made a market towne and set vp therein making of kearsies but all which in the end came to small effect In his time after the death of king Henrie the eight there was an alteration of religion by king Edward the sixt wherof insued a rebellion commotion in this diocesse which in some part was imputed to this bishop bicause he laie farre from it and dwelled in his owne countrie Wherevpon he resigned the bishoprike into the kings hands after that he had beene bishop about thirtie yeares and liued by the rents of the temporaltie of the bishoprike which when he alienated and discontinued he did receiue vnto him for terme of his owne life 43 Miles Couerdale after the resignation of Uoiseie was by king Edward made bishop of this citie consecrated at Lambeth by Thomas Cranmer archbishop of Canturburie in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and fiftie He was borne in the north countrie and from his childhood giuen to learning wherein he profited verie much he was one of the first which professed the gospell in this land in the time of king Henrie the eight he translated the bible out of the Hebrue into English and wrote sundrie bookes vpon the scriptures Which doctrine being verie new and strange in those daies and he verie streightlie pursued by the bishops made his escape passed ouer into low Germanie where he printed the bibles of his translation and sent them ouer into England and therof made his gaine wherby he liued But the bishops namelie D. Stokesleie bishop of London when he heard hereof and minding to preuent that no such bibles should be dispersed line 10 within this realme made inquirie where they were to be sold and bought them all vp supposing that by this meanes no more bibles would be had but contrarie to his expectation it fell out otherwise For the same monie which the bishop gaue for these bookes was sent ouer by the merchant vnto this Couerdale and by that meanes he was of that wealth and abilitie that he imprinted as manie more and sent them ouer into England but he was then so narrowlie sought for that he was driuen to remooue line 20 himselfe out of Flanders into Germanie and dwelled vnder the Palsegraue of Rhene where he found much fauour First he taught yoong children and hauing learned the Dutch toong the prince Palatine gaue him a benefice named Burghsaber where he continued and liued verie well partlie by that benefice and partlie by the liberalitie of the lord Cromewell who was his good lord and reléeued him verie much At length when the religion was altered in England and the gospell had a frée passage he returned line 30 did verie much good in preaching of the same And when the commotion in Deuon was for religion he was appointed to attend the lord Russell when he came to suppresse the same and verie shortlie for his learning and godlie life was made bishop of this see who most worthilie did performe the office committed vnto him He preached continuallie vpon euerie holie daie and did read most commonlie twise in the wéeke in some one church or other within this citie He was after the rate of his liuings a great kéeper line 40 of hospitalitie verie sober in diet godlie in life friendlie to the godlie liberall to the poore and courteous to all men void of pride full of humilitie abhorring couetousnesse and an enimie to all wickednesse and wicked men whose companies he shunned and whom he would in no wise shrowd or haue in his house and companie His wife a most sober chast and godlie matrone his house and houshold another church in which was exercised all godlinesse and vertue No one person being in his house which line 50 did not from time to time giue an account of his faith and religion and also did liue accordinglie And as he had a care for the successe in religion so had he also for the direction of the gouernement in ecclesiasticall causes And bicause he was not skilfull therin neither would be hindered from his godlie studies and be incombered with such worldlie matters which neuertheles he would haue be doone in all vprightnesse iustice and equitie he sent to Oxford for a learned man to be his chancellor and by the ministerie line 60 of the writer hereof he procured and obteined one master Robert Weston doctor of the ciuill law afterwards lord chancellor of Ireland vnto whome he committed his consistorie and the whole charge of his ecclesiasticall iurisdiction allowing vnto him not onelie all the fées therevnto apperteining but also lodged and found him his wife familie horsse and man within his owne house and gaue him a yearelie pension of fortie pounds And surelie the bishop was no more godlie and carefull of his part concerning preaching but this man also was as diligent and seuere in dooing of his office without reproch of being affectionated or corrupted And notwithstanding this good man now a blamelesse bishop liued most godlie and vertuous yet the common people whose old bottels would receiue no new wine could not brooke nor digest him for no other cause but bicause he was a preacher of the gospell an enimie to papistrie a married man Manie deuises were attempted against him for his confusion sometimes by false suggestions sometimes by open railings and false libels sometimes by secret backbitings and in the end practised his death by impoisoning but by Gods prouidence the snares were broken and he deliuered After that he had béene bishop about thrée yeares king Edward died and then queene Marie hauing the crowne the religion was altered and he depriued And notwithstanding the malice of prelats and archpapists was most bitter against him and who had sworne his death yet by the goodnesse of God he was most miraculouslie preserued and deliuered from out of their hands at the sute and by the meanes of the king of Denmarke who so earnestlie sued so often wrote to the quéene for him that he was deliuered and sent vnto him with whome after that he had staied a while he went againe into Germanie to the Palsgraue who most louinglie receiued him placed him againe in his former benefice of Burghsaber where he continued vntill the death of quéene
indeuour by proffering of sundrie skirmishes to inforced him to retire to his ship but he nothing appalled with their brags kept his ground Twelue daies after his arriuall there after Thomas Candish arriued at the same place where sir Richard Gréenfield was ensconsing of himselfe to the great reioising both of themselues their companies The Spaniards finding it too hard for them notwithstanding their multitudes to remooue these few resolute Englishmen by violence came to a parlée and in the same concluded an amitie that the one nation might in safetie traffike with the other Now line 10 when sir Richard Gréenefield had taried in that Iland almost a moneth and had built his bote reuittelled himselfe and laden his ships with horsses mares kine sheep swine c to transport with him to Uirginia bicause these sorts of cattell heretofore were not to be found in that countrie he departed thense and in his waie he made discouerie of manie Ilands and hauens vpon the continent adioining and arriued safelie in the new discouered countrie where he met with the rest of his fléet that attended line 20 his comming thither about the middest of Iulie next insuing not without great danger of shipwracke For at the verie entrance into the harborough his ship strake on the ground and did beat so manie strokes vpon the sands that if God had not miraculouslie deliuered him there had beene no waie to auoid present death In this danger his ship was so brused that the saltwater came so aboundantlie into hir that the most part of his corne salt meale rice bisket other prouisions that he should line 30 haue left with them that remained behind him in the countrie was spoiled After he had remained there certeine daies according to his commission from sir Walter Raleigh he began to establish a colonie appointing maister Rafe Lane a gentleman of good account generall of those English which were to remaine there being in all to the number of an hundred and seauen persons amongst whom diuerse gentlemen remained line 40 namelie Philip Amadis Edward Stafford Meruin Kendall Prideaux Acton Heriot and others When he had taken sufficient order for the establishing of master Lane and his companie aforesaid leauing with them as much of all prouisions as his plentie would giue him leaue he weighed anchor for England But in his returne not hauing sailed manie leagues from the coast of Uirginia he descried a tall ship of foure hundred tuns or thereabouts making the same course that he did vnto whom he gaue line 50 chase and in few houres by goodnesse of saile ouertooke and by violence wan richlie laden with sugar hides spices and some quantitie of gold siluer and pearle she was the viceadmerall of the fleet of Sancto Domingo that yere for Spaine After this good fortune hauing a merie gale not manie daies after he arriued at Plimmouth in October next insuing where sir Walter Raleigh méeting with him did presentlie resolue vpon another voiage to supplie Rafe Lane and his companie that were left with line 60 him in Uirginia the next spring following which accordinglie was performed with all expedition In Aprill about the fourtéenth daie by commandement of hir maiesties most honorable priuie councell the citizens of London appointed out of the companies of the same citie to the number of foure thousand men with armour ensignes drums fifes and other furniture for the warres the greater part whereof or almost all of them were shot the other were pikes and halberds in faire corslets all those to be trained vp vnder expert capteins with sergeants of the bands wiflers and other necessarie officers mustered and skirmished dailie at the Miles end and in saint Georges field and on the eightéenth daie of Maie hauing ouernight set forward out of saint Georges field mustered in the parke at Gréenwich and skirmished before the quéenes maiestie who gaue to them great thankes for their actiuenesse and paines sith hir maiestie might perceiue the appliablenesse of those hir people euen in pastime not void of perill to delight hir eies and reioise hir hart estéeming nothing too déere to part withall so it might anie waies concerne dutie to hir highnesse In discharge whereof as she hath no forwarder subiects in hir land so to discouer inquire and persecute the disloiall none readier euen to the hazzard of their liues for the safetie of hir life which is the life of the whole land and the prop of true religion in respect whereof we saie and praie with the well wishing subiect that vpon seeing hearing of hir highnesse fell into such an admiration of hir excellencie that he left these verses among manie after his godlie death Inclyte da longum dici Deus Elisabetha Est Elisabetha tua Est relligióque tua Est Da Deus haud vnquam dici Fuit Elisabetha Elisabetha Fuit relligióque Fuit ¶ On the ninetéenth of Maie being Ascension eeue Edward Wootton esquier descended of a woorthie parentage was ambassador into Scotland to establish a league of amitie betwéene the two nations of England and Scotland whome I will now leaue in that countrie executing his commission and turne my pen to some persons of that surname who for their singularitie of wit lerning for their honour and gouernement in and of the realme about the prince and elsewhere at home and abroad deserue such commendations that they merit Niueo signari lapillo In treating of whome I will neither make mention of the antiquitie of that worshipfull familie from the first originall nor yet treat of Richard Wootton liuing in the time of Edward the first the father of Iohn Wootton coroner of Dunstable an officer of great account in those daies and father to an other Iohn Wootton c nor of Richard Wootton or Woocton an officer of the excheker in the time of Edward the second nor of sir Nicholas Wootton knight liuing about the daies of Richard the second nor of anie other Woottons wherof this Edward Wootton is descended but onelie of such Woottons his ancestors who of late time liued within the compasse of my memorie and were the sonnes of sir Robert Wootton of Bocton Malherbe in Kent knight deseruing not to be forgotten in that he was father to two such worthie sonnes as I doo not remember that euer England nourished at one time for like honour disposition of mind fauour and seruice to their countrie The sonnes of this sir Robert Wootton whereof we intend to intreat were sir Edward Wootton knight the eldest and Nicholas Wootton doctor of both lawes the yoonger sonne Whereof the first being a man of great estimation in the countrie for his orderlie and wise managing of the priuat affaires of his countrie of Kent was for his fidelitie and good carriage in small things made lord and ruler of great things For king Henrie the eight vnderstanding the grauitie of the man his
driuen to depart thense vnto the Camber at Rie which then was a notable good rode though now vtterlie decaied or into the Isle of Wight For in a sudden flaw or storme of wind at southeast there haue beene seuen or eight ships broken all to péeces in one daie vpon the said cliffes To reléeue and amend the same harborough and somewhat to mitigat the foresaid inconuenience line 10 there was a round tower builded by one Iohn Clarke préest maister of the maison de Dieu about the yeare one thousand fiue hundred at the southwest part of the said baie which serued somewhat to defend the ships from the rage of the southwest wind but especiallie to moore the ships which were tied therevnto For manie great ringles were fastened to the same tower for that purpose as it maie yet be séene sith it standeth there at this houre And hereby that part of the baie was made so pleasant as euer after line 20 that corner hath béene named and is at this daie called Little paradise Neuerthelesse this was thought verie insufficient in respect of the place for the safegard of such a multitude of ships as vsuallie laie for harbour in that rode For besides all strange botes which commonlie repaired thither it appeareth in the booke of Doomesdaie that Douer armed yearelie at his proper charges twentie vessels to the sea by the space of fiftéene daies with one and twentie able men in ech ship line 30 Now about the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and two one sir Iohn Thomson clarke parson of the parish of saint Iames in Douer being a man ingenious and séeing the conueniencie and possibilitie of a good hauen to be made in that place consulted with the cheefe and best mariners of the towne Among whome it was agréed that humble sute should be made to the kings maiestie by the state of the towne for his gratious fauour and aid toward the making of a good hauen there And it was also line 40 by them all thought meet that the said sir Iohn Thomson should exhibit their petition to his highnesse whervnto he agréed and drew a plot and prepared a supplication in the name and behalfe of the towne conteining the necessarie causes and reasons deuises and instructions for the erection and building thereof But he told them he was poore and therefore vnable of his owne proper charges to follow the sute In which respect they collected among themselues and deliuered vnto him foure pounds ten shillings which line 50 he accepted and foorthwith repaired to the court where he so demeaned himselfe as he had present accesse to the king who heard his sute with great fauor and debated with him about the contents of his plot and liked so well of his informations that he willed him to repaire home and without delaie to returne to his presence accompanied with some of the best mariners or seamen of the towne and so with commendations dismissed him for that time When the maisters of the towne vnderstood his graces pleasure they immediatlie assembled themselues line 60 and made choise of Edward Maie Robert Iustice Richard Cowchie and Iohn Steward as the fittest and skilfullest persons to vse conference and to be imploied in that cause being all mariners of good experience These foure and the said sir Iohn Thomson without further staie resorted to the court with whom when the king had communed he conceiued of the necessitie of a hauen to be there had and of the probabilitie and likelihood of good successe in the enterprise to be performed according to their suggestion And because his maiestie vnderstood the poore estate of the towne he granted his gratious aid for the supplie of their want of monie deliuering at that time out of his owne cofers vnto them the summe of fiue hundred pounds wherewith he willed them to make a beginning of the worke At which time he bestowed on the said sir Iohn Thomson the maistership of the maison de Dieu of Douer which was a hospitall valued at one hundred and twentie pounds by the yeare the custome and dutie of the which house was as the ancient townesmen informe me to interteine and reléeue souldiors and others which came from beyond the seas hurt or distressed who were allowed some reléefe there by the space of certeine daies gratis which though I find not directlie set downe in record yet doo I know assuredlie the same to haue beene put in execution wherewith the verie name of the house is agréeable and as it were a credible witnesse The king at that time also appointed the said sir Iohn to be principall surueior of the works and vnder him the other foure to be ouerseers of the same Now am I to giue you to vnderstand that the drift and deuise of the said sir Iohn Thomson was to erect a huge wall which he termed by the name of a pierre from Arcliffe chapell being the southwest part of the baie directlie towards the east into the maine sea about 131 rods in length so as by that meanes the harborough was to be garded from the rage of all weather comming from the north northeast northwest and southwest and so the entrance onelie at east southeast whereinto when the ships were once brought they might there lie safe in all weather at the one side or the other But the pierre was not finished by 350 foot so far as the foundation thereof which he called the Molehead was laid which foundation consisted of great rocks brought from a place néere hand called Hakcliffe or the castell Raie and Folkestone This pierre was begun on S. Annes daie 1533 and it was compiled of two rowes of maine posts great piles of fiue or six twentie foot long set at each side close togither which were let downe and put in certeine holes hewed in the great rocks laid for that purpose but some of those piles were shod with iron and driuen into the maine rocke of chalke with a great engine called a ram These posts and piles were combined and held togither with iron bolts and were filled with mightie stones of chalks as also with beach and other earth but the bottome consisted altogither of great rocks of stone which if they had not béene brought thither by a speciall deuise must néeds haue béene extreame chargeable for manie of them were of twentie tun a péece and few vnder The practise of this charge is now common but it was before that time rare vnknowne in England and inuented there by a poore simple man named Iohn Yoong who first with a nutshell after with an egshell lastlie with a small vessell made proofe what weight those things could raise beare in the water and hauing by that experiment made triall or at least a probable coniecture that stones of great weight might be raised and carried in the water by greater vessels he
to helpe the poore with monie or vittels needfull To make malt of oates in countries where there hath béene vse thereof No waste of bread corne superfluouslie nor anie expense thereof but for féeding of people None suffered to make starch of anie graine Able poore people to be set to worke Stocks of monie for prouision of works for poore people Clothiers to continue their worke-folks line 10 Souldiors hurt and impotent people to be relieued in their dwelling places That no millers be suffered to be common buiers of corne nor to sell meale but to attend to the true grinding of the corne brought to vse measurable tole these deare seasons Conferences to be had betwixt the iustices of peace in the shires and the principall officers of cities and townes corporat for prouisions of graine for the inhabitants in cities and corporat towns Order for places exempted from the iurisdiction line 20 of the iustices of peace in the bodies of the shires Regard to staie all transportation of graine out of the realme Certificat to be made of the execution of these orders monethlie to the shiriffe and he to certifie the same to the priuie councell within euerie fortie daies To certifie what iustices be absent from the seruice that such as without iust excuse shall not attend maie be displaced and their rooms if there be need supplied The conclusion of these orders is this Ad verbum That if anie shall offend against the true meaning line 30 of these instructions or of anie part thereof or shall vse anie sinister meane to the defrauding thereof that such be seuerelie punished according to the lawes and for such obstinat persons as shall not conforme themselues the iustices shall at their plesure bind them to appeare before the quéenes maiesties priuie councell by a daie certeine there to be further delt with by seuere punishment for the better example of all others Now as Holinshed and such as with painfull care and loue to their countrie haue thought good before me to knit vp the seuerall reigne of euerie seuerall king with a generaltie of the seuerall writers in that princes daies So haue I béene importuned by manie of my friends to knit vp the said whole historie with a particular catalog of all such as haue purposelie in seuerall histories of this realme or by the waie in the histories of other countries written of England and English matter For which cause line 50 with the title of other anonymall chronicles I haue here for that purpose by order of alphabet set downe the same Wherein although I shall not set downe euerie mans name nor of what time qualitie euerie one was for he is not liuing I suppose that can doo the same yet hauing doone my good will therein and that more than perhaps some others would haue doone I praie thée to beare with the defaults and accept that which I haue doone and could doo And although perhaps I maie set downe line 60 one man twise as first by his name and then set downe the worke without his name as another seuerall thing yet is it not of purpose doone or to the end that I would make a great shew and séeme ambitious of names or knowledge but for that I haue not as yet atteined to that perfection which hereafter I hope to doo in distinguishing of the same For Rome was not built in one daie yet if one daies foundation thereof had not beene first laid it had neuer béene after builded and so to the matter A Abbo Floriacensis liued in the time of Dunstane archbishop of Canturburie to whome he dedicated his booke Abbas Wiseburgensis Nicholaus Adams liued in the daies of king Edward the sixt Alfric Abbas Alfric that gathered the liues of the saints in Saxonie which I sometimes had it maie be that these two were all one man Alfridus Beuerlacensis thesaurarius whom Leland calleth Aluredus Fibroleganus Alanus abbat of Teukesburie one of the foure that writ the Quadrilogium of Thomas Becket in the time of king Iohn Alexander Hessebiensis he writ Epitome Britannicae historiae Alexander Somersetensis Alexander Staffordiensis Aelius Spartianus Alured or Alfred king of England in the yeare of Christ nine hundred and thrée Adam Merimuth canon of Paules in the reigne of Richard the second Anianus Marcellinus Richardus Angeruil surnamed De Berie bishop of Durham died in the yeare of our Lord one thousand thrée hundred fortie and fiue Antoninus Arnold of London in the time of king Henrie the eight Asserius Meneuensis Aurelius or Aluredus Riualensis Robert Auersberie B Sir Nicholas Bacon knight lord kéeper of the great seale vnto queene Elisabeth Benedictus Claudiocestrensis Balantine a Scot William Baldwin liued in the time of king Edward the sixt Stephan Batemaine died in the yere one thousand fiue hundred eightie and foure Beda an English Saxon died in the yere of Christ seuen hundred thirtie and two G. de Barrie archdeacon of S. Dauids writ the life of Remigius bishop of Lincolne Iohn Bale flourished in the time of Edward the sixt Barnardus Andreas writ a chronicle intituled Liber Barnardi Andreae Tolosati poetae laureati regij historiographi de vita atque gestis Henrici septimi in whose time he flourished Robert Boston in the time of Edward the second Rafe Baldocke bishop of London vnder Edward the second Peter Basset in the time of Henrie the fift whose life he did write Robert Bale recorder of London he died in the yere of our Lord one thousand foure hundred thrée score and one about the latter end of the reigne of Richard the second Edmund Bedenhame writer of the chronicles of Rochester Iohn Bramus and not Bromus as saith Bale a moonke of Tedford Iohn Bracklow a Benedictine moonke in the yeare one thousand two hundred fourtéene Iohannes Brompton historiae vetus quam contulit Iornal monasterio as hath Mathew Parker In vitis episcop Cantu Ferdinando Blake liued in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred foure score and foure Bodinus Iohn Bouchet a Frenchman of Aquitaine Nicholas Brodingham or Brodringham Iohn Bosue of Burie Blondus Foroliuiensis Henrie Bradshaw borne in Chester a blacke moonke there in the time of Henrie the eight Iohn Burgh a moonke in the daies of K. Edward the third Nicholas Bungeie borne in a towne of the same name in Northfolke in the daies of king Henrie the sixt sir Iohn Bourchier knight lord Barnes translated Froissard Bullerus Roger Bond Thomas Buckhurst lord Buckhurst now liuing Stephan Birchington George Buckhanan liued in the yere of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and foure score C Thomas Castleford sir William Cicill knight lord Burleigh lord treasuror of England now liuing William Caxton liued in the daies of king Edward the fourth Campbell Carion a Germane Caradocus Lancarnauensis liued in the daies of K. Stephan Iulius Caesar a Romane Iohn Capgraue borne in Kent an Augustine frier died in the fourth yere of king
The castle of Douer deliuered to the quéene Polydor. Thurstan archbishop of Yorke made lieutenant of the north parts The Scots eftsoones inuade Northumberland Archbishop Thurstan raiseth a power to fight with the Scots Simon Dun. Capteines of the armie Rafe bish of Durham supplieth the roome of the archbishop Matth. Paris Sim. Dun. The Englishmen set vpon the Scots The Scots of Lodian disorder the Englishmen Simon Dun. Matth. Paris The Scots put to flight Henrie earle of Huntington his valiancie Polydor. Hen. Hunt The number Simon Dun. Matth. Paris Wil. Paru Polydor. Ran. Higd. Castels recouered by king Stephan N. Triuet Simon Dun. Matth. Paris Theobald archbishop of Canturburie Anno Reg. 5. 1140 Polydor. Matth. Paris K. Stephan inuadeth Scotland A peace concluded betwéene the two kings of England and Scotland Ludlow roun Roger bishop of Salisburie Alexander B. of Lincolne Wil. Malm. Castels built by the bishop of Salisburie Simon Dun. Newarke castel built by the bishop of Lincolne The B. of Elie banished The bishop of Salisburie dieth of thought Wil. Malm. In nouella historia Fortunes inconstancie Wil. Paru M. Pal. in sâ—â— scâ—r The bishop of Salisburie made lord Chancelour K. Stephan doubts whom to trust He coÌ„tracteth affinitie with the French king Wil. Malm. Polydor. Matt. Paris Alberike de Uéer pleadeth the kings cause The empresse landed here in England What power she brought with hir Wil. Malm. Polydor. Earle Robert commeth to Glocester Matt. Paris Brian the earle of Glocesters sonne Miles earle of Hereford Polydor. The empresse besieged in Arundell castel The king raiseth his siege The empresse goeth to Bristow K. Stephan besiegeth Wallingford Anno Reg. 6. 1141 Sim. Dunel R. Houe K. Stephan winneth Lincolne Ran. Higd. Simon Dun. Polydor. N. Triuet The ordering of the kings armie readie to giue battell Simon Dun. Matt. Paris The earles of Norfolke Hampton Mellent Waren The earle of Albemarle William de Ypres The ordering of the battels on the kings aduersaries part The oration of the earle of Chester Ran. Higd. The earle of Glocesters answer to the earle of Chesters oration The necessitie to fight valiantlie Alane duke of Britaine The earle of Mellent Earle Hugh The earle of Albemarle The earle of Albermarles wife Simon earle of Hampton Like maister like seruants Earle Baldwin his oration in the behalfe of king Stephan Thrée things to be foreséene by them that shall giue battell Erle Robert The earle of Chester Continuall good successe a prouocation of boldnesse Matth. Paris Hen. Hunt W. Paru Hen. Hunt Polydor. Simon Dun. Hen. Hunt Matth. Paris W. Paru Polydor. The king led to Bristow W. Paru The king of Scots taketh Northumberland into his possession Polydor. The empresse foloweth the victorie Shée coÌ„meth to London The quéene sueth to the empresse for the deliuerie of hir husband The Londoners conspire to take the empresse Shée fled in the night time out of the citie N. Triueâ— Geffrey de Mandeuile The bishop of LondoÌ„ taken Polydor. Castels fortified by the bishop of winchester William de Ypresse Ia. Meir Wil. Malm. In nouella historia N. Triueâ— Sim. Dun. Polydor. The empresse armie put to flight Wil. Malm. Robert earle of Glocester taken prisoner Matt. Paris Wil. Paruus N. Triuet Dauid king of Scots retired home Simon Dun. R. Houe Alberike de Uéer slaine Wil. Malm. Polydor. Geruasius Dorober The king and the earle of Glocester deliuered by exchange Anno Reg. 7. 1142 Geruasius Dorobernensis A parlement called A statute established in fauour of préests Paul Lang. in Chron citizen pag. 760. Matth. Paris Earle Robert passeth ouer into Normandie Normandie woone by the earle of Aniou Wil. Malm. Earle of Glocoster returneth Ger. Dor. Wil. Malm. The I le of Portland Circester The empresse besieged in Oxford N. Triuet Simon Dun. Wil. Paru Ran. Higd. Matth. Paris The empresse escapeth out of Oxford Polydor. Wil. Malm. Simon Dun. Matth. Paris Brian sonne to the earle of Glocester Aeneas Syluius Polydor. Simon Dun. N. Triuet Anno Reg. 8. 1143 The empresse hir sonne lord Henrie The king commeth to wilton Wil. Paru Sim Dun. M. Triuet Matt. Paris Miles earle of Hereford deceased Ger. Dor. The earle of Essex taken The earle of Arundell N. Triuet Wil. Paru Anno Reg. 9. 1144 Hen. Hunt Sim. Dunel Iohn Pike Matth. West N. Triuet Wil. Malm. Wil. Paru M. Pal. in suo scor Lincolne besieged The siege raised N. Triuet A child crucified by the Iewes Matth. Paris Simon Dun. Anno. Reg. 10. 1145 A castell built at Faringdon Hen. Hunt The king winneth it by force Anno Reg. 11. 1146 Ran. Higd. Matth. Paris N. Triuet Simon Dun. Ran. Higd. The Welshmen wafte Cheshire Ger. Dor. The earle of Glocester departeth this life Anno Reg. 12. 1147 Simon Dun. K. Stephan entreth into Lincolne with his crowne on his head Simon Dun. Ger. Dor. Geruasius Anno Reg. 13. 1148 The L. Henrie returneth into England Anno Reg. 14. 1149 He is made knight R. Houed K. Stephan with an armie commeth to Yorke Matth. Paris Great raine A sore frost Anno Reg. 15. 1150 Ger. Dor. The earle of Aniou father to Henry Fitz empresse departeth this life Worcester assaulted Anno Reg. 16. 1151 Ger. Dorobeâ— A synod at London The earle of Leicester brother to the erle of Mellent Anno Reg. 17. 1152 The duke of Normandie Fitzempresse marieth the duchesse of Aquitaine The French king maketh warre against the duke of Normandie The castell of Newmarch deliuered to the French king Ueulquesine or Ueuxin The castell of Uernon Simon Dun. The pope is against it The bishops are threatned Ger. Dor. The archbishop of Canturburie flieth out of the realme Matth. Paris Ger. Dor. The battell of Monadmore Matth. Paris The second also the first bishops of Man Hen. Marle The bishop of Dublin made archbishop The castell of Newberie won Duke Henrie Fitzempresse returneth into England Ger. Dor. He besiegeth the castell of Malmesbury Matth. Paris Polydor. K. Stephan constreineth him to raise his siege Wil. Parâ— Simon Dun. Ger. Dor. A sore storme The castell of Wallingford The castell of Cranemers Matth. Paris Ger. Dor. Eustace king Stephans sonne Eustace king Stephans son and Simon earle of NorthaÌ„pton depart this life both in one wéeke The earle of Chester deceasseth Matth. Paris Rob. Mont. Stamford was taken Simon Dun. Ger. Dor. Gipswich or Ipswich besieged N. Triuet Notingham Duke Henrie raiseth his siege from Notingham Polydor. The miserie of this land in time of the ciuill warre Hor. lib. car 1. ode 35. Idem lib. car 2. ode 1. The ladie Constance wife to Eustace sent home K. Stephan began to incline his mind to peace Matth. Paris Ger. Dor. An assemblie of lords at Winchester A peace concluded betwixt the king and the duke Some writers haue recorded that duke Henrie should presentlie by this agréement enioy halfe the realme of England Matth. Paris Castels to be razed in number 1115. William sonne to king Stephan Earle Warren The castels of Bellencumber
force The lord Euers brought a power of horssemen from the borders Knights created at Lith by the earle of Hertford Lith burnt The lord Seaton Haddington burnt Dunbar burnt The end of the voiage Townes burnt in the same voiage Sée more heereof in Scotland Abr. Fl. ex I. Stow. 1029. Base monie coined Irish in warlike manner passe through the citie Procession in English An armie leuied to inuade France Thrée battels apointed with their seuerall lieutenants The duke of Norffolke the lord priuie seale The countie de Buren Monsieur de Biez The duke of Suffolke Bullongne besieged The king passeth the seas to Bullongne Bullongne assaulted Bullongne deliuered The number of them that went fort◠〈◊〉 Bullongne The king 〈◊〉 into Bulâ—ongne The king retâ—rneth into England The emperor câ—ncludeth a peace with the french king The number of the men of war in Muttrell A mount raised Sir Francis Brian Tiberio that alter serued the king of England Negligence of Englishmen for not putting their valiant dooings in writing A stratagem of the lord Mountioie A politike feat atchiued by the lord Mountioie The lord Mountioie a noble yoong gentleman The English archers gall the French horssemen Saint Requiers burnt by the Englishmen Rieu sacked The siege 〈◊〉 Muttrell broken vp The Dolphin commeth before Bullongne with his great power A camisado 〈◊〉 to base Bullongne â—n euerthrow giuen to the French 〈…〉 Bullongne Monsieur de Biez coÌ„meth before Bullongne with an armie The Frenchmen dislodge out of their 〈◊〉 The comfortable words of the English capteins The English horssemen charge the French battels The valiant order of monsieur de Biez The lord admerall his redie coÌ„ceiuing the meaning of the enimies Hardilo sands Artillerie gained Iohn Stow. Great priâ—es of French goods taken by the Westerne ships Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 1030. Sir William Roch sent to the Fléet Execution for false accusation The discomfiture gotten by the Scots at Halidon rig The valiant sir Rafe Euers slaine Read alderman of London prisoner Anno Reg. 〈◊〉 Rich. 〈◊〉 Anne Askeâ— and others arreigned and acquited Thomas Daie pewterer Martin de Bellaie The new fort before Bullogne I. S. pag. 1031. Hailestones figured like mens heads The English fléet commeth before Newhauen The French 〈◊〉 landeth in the I le of Wight The Frenchmen land in Sussex The Marie Rose drowned by negligence Frenchmen distressed in the I le of Wight The number 〈◊〉 the French 〈◊〉 The earle of Hertford foâ—raâ—â—th the middle marches of Scotland The Londoners set foorth a power into France The death of the valiant lord Poinings The death of the duke of Suffolke His iust commendation Monsieur de Lorges sent into Scotland with certeine French bands The earle of Hertford inuadeth Scotland Ouerthrowes on both sides betwixt the English and Scots Tâ—eporte oppidum Galliae maritimum à Iohanne Dudleio praefecto regiae clasâ—is diripitur flammis absumitur Martin de Bellaie seigneur Langeie in his memoâ—res Monsieur de Biez forraâ—eth the English pale about Calis Martin de Bellaie â— parlement â— sâ—bsidie 〈◊〉 The kings thanks to his commons The kings promises for the well disposing of chantries and colleges Charitie and concord in common-wealths be things most necessarie but in matters of religion charitie and concord is not enough without veritie and true worship of God The Reingraue The English men put to flight The barke Ager an English ship recouered The Stues suppressed Ab. Fl. ex I.S. William Foxleie slept more than fouretéene daies and as manie nights without waking Anno Reg. 38. Hamble Thew 〈◊〉 by the Englishmen â— French 〈◊〉 taken â— mutinie in 〈◊〉 English 〈◊〉 A great skirmish A peace concluded and proclamed I. Stow pag. 1033. Iohn Fox in Acts Monuments D. Crome râ—â—canteth at Paules crosse Abr. Fle. 〈◊〉 manuscripâ—oaâ— Henr. Tenant tradito line 60 Henrie Tenant A combat betwéene Iulian Romerou and Morow The death of sir Henrie Kneuet The lord 〈…〉 went into France to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 kings 〈◊〉 An ambassage 〈◊〉 of France The kings â—â—ips that laie the riuer betwixt Graâ—â—send Detâ—â—â—d shot off â—â—stilie likewise the French gallâ—â—s â—alsed them againe The French admerall receiued by 〈◊〉 Edward The admerall of France receiueth an oth His gifts that he had of the king others The lord Greie of Wilton Sir Thomas Palmer King Henries message to the lord Greie by sir Thomas Palmer Chattilons garden ouerthrowen and rased downe The lord Greies seruice verie honorablie accepted of the king The duke of Norffolke coÌ„â—mitted to the tower 154â— The earle of Surrie beheaded I. S. pag. 1034 king Henrie his gift to the citie of London The duke atteinted The king maâ—keth his testament His executâ—â—â— The decease of King Henrie the eight Henricus octaâ—â— post 38. 〈…〉 The description of King Henrie the eight Ad Henricum octaâ—um regem Angliae maxiâ—â—â— studiosorum â—â—â—torem Comparatio in gloriam Henricâ— octaui regis poâ—entissimi â— Edward proclamed The earle of Hertford choâ—â—â— protector Lord protecâ—â—â— made duke 〈◊〉 Summerset The king râ—deth through London to Westminster Abr. Fl. ex I.S. pag. 1036. Pauls stéeple laie at anchor K. Edward crowned The lord chancellor discharged of his roome Hâ—milies The communion in both kinds I. S pag. 1036. D. Smith recanted Rich. Crafton Chiefteines in the armie The chieâ—teins that commanded in the nauie by sea were these The lord protector causeth Aimouth riuer to be sounded Sir Rafe Sadler treasuror of the English armie A proclamation The order of the armie in marching forward The Peaths â—n English herald sent from the lord protector to sâ—mmon a castell The castell of Dunglas ouerthrowne Thornton Anderwike Thom Trotter The lord of Hambleton The pile of Anderwike woone Sir Miles Partrige Thornton yéelded The piles of Thornton and others defaced Tantallon Linton bridge Hailes castell A subtile practise of the Scots The manlie courage of the earle of Warwike Dandie Car. Henrie Uane Barteuill hurt Richard Maxwell taken Lang Nuddreie Order taken for the placing of the ships The Scotish prickers shew themselues Salt Preston The Scots â—â—ssemen discomfited and put to flight Scots slaine Prisoners taken Englishmen 〈◊〉 The lord Hume hurt with a fall in the chase A Scotish herald deliuereth a message to the duke of Summerset The lord protectors answer The earle of Warwikes request and message to the earle of Huntleie The order of war touching heralds violated The vaine doubt of the Scots Ordinance plaÌ„ted against the enimie Saturday the tenth of September the daie of the battell The Englishmen Scots march the one armie toward the other The gallie The Irish archers Consultation of the English lords on horssebacke The deuise of the lords vpon their consultation The lord Greies request to the lord protector The Scots at a staie vpoÌ„ the sudden The order of the Scots in warres both touching their furniture and disposition The incounter is verie hot betwéene both sides The face of the field at the
and also diuerse other good and wholesome ordinances concerning the state of the common-wealth were established and enacted ¶ In the moneth of Aprill there chanced great thunder tempestuous raine and flouds occasioned by the same verie sore horrible continuing for the space of fifteene daies togither line 30 The legat Othobone year 1268 after he had in the synods holden at Northampton and London deuised and made manie orders and rules for churchmen and leuied amongst them great summes of monie finallie in the moneth of Iulie he tooke leaue of the king and returned to Rome where after the deceasse of Innocent the fift about the yeare of our Lord 1276 he was chosen pope and named Adrian the fift liuing not past 50 daies after He went so néere hand to search out things at his going awaie that he had inrolled line 40 the true value of all the churches and benefices in England and tooke the note with him to Rome Prince Edward the kings sonne and diuerse other great lords of England before this legats departure out of the realme receiued the crosse at his hands in Northampton on Midsummer day meaning shortlie after according to promise there made to go into the holie land to warre against Gods enimies In this yeare fell great variance betwéene line 50 the corporations or fellowships of the goldsmiths and tailors within the citie of London wherevnto euill words flowing from the toong gaue originall for Pondus valde graue verbosum vas sine claue so that one euening there were assembled to the number of fiue hundred in the stréets in armour and running togither made a fowle fraie so that manie were wounded and some slaine But the shiriffes hearing thereof came parted them with assistance of other trades and sent diuerse of them being taken vnto prison of the which there were arreigned to the line 60 number of thirtie and thirtéene of them condemned and hanged In the fiftie third yeare of king Henries reigne there was such an excéeding great frost beginning at saint Andrewes tide and continuing till it was néere candlemasse that the Thames from the bridge vpwards was so hard frosen year 1269 that men and beasts passed ouer on féet from Lambeth to Westminster and so westward in diuerse places vp to Kingston Also merchandize was brought from Sandwich and other places vnto London by land For the ships by reason of the yce could not enter the Thames ¶ And about the feast of S. Uedast which falleth on the 6 of Februarie fell so great abundance of raine that the Thames rose so high as it had not doone at any time before to remembrance of men then liuing so that the cellars and vaults in London by the water side were drowned and much merchandize marred lost About S. Georges day there was a parlement holden at London for the appeasing of a controuersie depending betwixt prince Edward the kings son and the earle of Glocester at the which parlement were present almost all the prelats and péeres of the realme At length they put the matter in compromise into the hands of the king of Almaine vndertaking to be ordred by him high and low touching all controuersies and likewise for the iournie to be made into the holie land but the king of Almaine did little in the matter to any great effect ¶ In the beginning of Lent the king gaue to his sonne prince Edward the rule of the citie of London with all the reuenues and profits thereto belonging After which gift the said prince made sir Hugh Fitz Othon constable of the towre and custos of the citie of London ¶ Upon the ninth day of Aprill Edmund the kings sonne surnamed Crouchbacke married at Westminster Auelina the daughter of the earle of Aumarle Prince Edward commanded the citizens of London to present vnto him six citizens of the which number he might nominate two shiriffes and so appointed William de Hadstocke and Anketill de Alberne which were sworne to be accomptants as their predecessours had beene In those daies a new custome or toll was vsed to be paid which prince Edward let to farme vnto certeine strangers for the summe of twentie marks by yeare Wherefore the citizens being gréeued therewith bought it of him for two hundred marks Also this yeare there was granted to the king towards his iournie by him purposed into the holie land the twentith penie of euerie mans mooueable goods thoroughout the realme of the laie fee and of the spiritualtie was granted by the assent of pope Gregorie the tenth thrée dismes to be gathered within the terme of thrée yeares This yeare the kings sonne the lord Edward obteined a confirmation for the citie of London of the charter of the ancient liberties so that the citizens did then choose vnto them a maior and two shiriffes which shiriffes by vertue of the same charter had their office to farme in maner as before time was accustomed sauing that where they paid afore but thrée hundred and fiftie pounds they paid now foure hundred and fiftie pounds After which confirmation granted and passed vnder the kings broad seale they chose for their maior Iohn Adrian and for shiriffes Walter Potter and Iohn Tailor the which were presented the 16 day of Iulie vnto the king at Westminster by his sonne prince Edward and there admitted and sworne Then was sir Hugh Fitz Othon discharged of the rule of the citie The citizens of their owne fréewill gaue vnto the king an hundred marks and to his sonne prince Edward fiue hundred markes There was no great disorder attempted this yeare to the disquieting of the realme sauing that certeine of the disherited gentlemen that belonged to the earle of Darbie withdrew vnto the forrest of the Peake in Darbishire and there making their abode spoiled and wasted the countries next adioining In the moneth of Maie prince Edward the kings sonne set forward on his iournie towards the holie land and taking the sea at Douer passed ouer into France and came to Burdeaux where he staied a while and after went to Agues Mortes and there tooke shipping first sailing as some write vnto Thunis where the christian armie which Lewes the French king as then deceassed had brought thither was readie to depart and so prince Edward with the new French king Lewes and other princes passed ouer into Sicill where he soiourned for the winter time In this yeare the king was vexed with a greeuous sicknesse and the Irishmen in rebellion slue a â—reat sort of Englishmen as well magistrats as others in that countrie When the spring of the yeare began to approach prince Edward eftsoones tooke the sea and finallie arriued at Acres with a thousand chosen men of warre line 10 though there be writers that affirme how there arriued with him of sundrie countries fiue thousand horsmen and double the same number of footmen But amongst those that went out
of England with him these we find as principall Iohn de Britaine Iohn de Uescie Otâ—s de Grantson and Robert de Bruse besides other Of his noble chiualrie there atchiued yée shall find a bréefe note in the description of the holie land and therefore here we omit the same Howbeit this is to be remembred that whilest the lord Edward line 20 soiorned there in the citie of Acres he was in great danger to haue béene slaine by treason for a traitorous Saracen of that generation which are called Arsacidae and latelie reteined by the same lord Edward and become verie familiar with him found means one day as he sat in his chamber to giue him three wounds which suerlie had cost him his life but that one of the princes chamberleins staied the traitors hand and somewhat brake the strokes till other seruants came to the rescue and slue him there in the line 30 place ¶ There be that write how prince Edward himselfe perceiuing the traitor to strike at his bellie warded the blowe with his arme and as the Saracen offered to haue striken againe he thrust him backe to the ground with his foot and catching him by the hand wrested the knife from him and thrusting him into the bellie so killed him though in strugling with him he was hurt againe a little in the forhead and his seruants withall comming to helpe him one line 40 of them that was his musician got vp a trestill and stroke out the braines of the traitor as he laie dead on the ground and was blamed of his maister for striking him after he saw him once dead before his face as he might perceiue him to be Some write that this traitor was sent from the great admerall of Iapha on message to the prince Edward and had béene with him diuerse times before now making countenance to take forth letters got foorth his knife and attempted so to haue wrought his feat Whatsoeuer line 50 the man was the prince was in great danger by reason of the enuenimed knife wherewith he was wounded so that it was long yer he could be perfectlie whole These Saracens called Arsacidae are a wicked generation of men infected with such a superstitious opinion that they beléeue heauenlie blisse is purchased of them if they can by anie means slea one of the enimies of their religion suffer themselues for that fact the most cruell death that may be deuised ¶ Prince Edward after he was whole and recouered line 60 of his wounds perceiuing that no such aid came into those parts out of christendome as was looked for tooke a truce with the enimies of our faith and returned towards England as hereafter shall be shewed year 1272 On the fourth nones of Aprill as some saie or in the moneth of Februarie as other write in the six and fiftith yeare of K. Henries reigne at Berkhamstéed died Richard king of Almaine and earle of Cornewall and was buried in the abbeie of Hailes which he himselfe had founded he was a worthie prince and stood his brother king Henrie in great stead in handling matters both in peace and warre He left behind him issue begotten of his wife Sanctla two sonnes Edmund and Henrie This Edmund was he that brought the blood of Hails out of Germanie for as he was there vpon a time with his father it chanced that as he was beholding the relikes and other pretious monuments of the ancient emperors he espied a box of gold by the inscription whereof he perceiued as the opinion of men then gaue that therein was conteined a portion of the bloud of our sauiour He therefore being desirous to haue some part thereof so intreated him that had the kéeping of it that he obteined his desire and brought it ouer with him into England bestowing a third part thereof after his fathers deceasse in the abbeie of Hailes as it were to adorne and inrich the same bicause that therein both his father and mother were buried and the other two parts he did reserue in his owne custodie till at length mooued vpon such deuotion as was then vsed he founded an abbeie a little from his manour of Berkhamsteed which abbeie was named Ashrug in the which he placed moonks of the order of Bonhommes being the first that euer had beene seene of that order here in England And herewith he also assigned the two other parts of that bloud to the same abbeie Wherevpon followed great resort of people to those two places induced therevnto by a certeine blind deuotion Henrie the brother of this Edmund and sonne to the foresaid king of Almaine as he returned from Affrike where he had beene with prince Edward was slaine at Uiterbo in Italie whither he was come about businesse which he had to doo with the pope by the hand of Guie de Montfort the sonne of Simon de Montfort earle of Leicester in reuenge of the same Simons death This murther was committed afore the high altar as the same Henrie kneeled there to heare diuine seruice The foresaid Guie vpon that murther committed fled vnto his father in law the earle of Anguilare then gouernour of Tuskain There was at Uiterbo the same time Philip king of France returning homewards from the iournie which his father made into Affrike where he died Also Charles king of Sicill was there present whome the said Guie then serued Both those kings were put in much blame for that the murther and wilfull escape was doone and suffred in their presence and no pursuit made after the murtherer Boniface the archbishop of Canturburie when he had ruled the sea seauen and thirtie yeares departed this life and after his deceasse about two yeares or more was one Robert Kilwarbie appointed in his place by pope Gregorie which Robert was the six and fortith archbishop that had gouerned the sée of Canturburie About the moneth of Iune there fell great debate and discord betwixt the moonks of Norwich and the citizens there which increased so farre that at length the citizens with great violence assaulted the monasterie fired the gates and forced the fire so with reed and drie wood that the church with the bookes and all other ornaments of the same and all houses of office belonging to that abbeie were cleane burned wasted and destroied so that nothing was preserued except one little chapell The king hearing of this riot rode to Norwich and causing inquirie to be made thereof thirtie yoong men of the citie were condemned hanged and burnt to the great greefe of the other citizens for they thought that the priour of the place was the occasion of all that mischéefe who had got togither armed men and tooke vpon him to kéepe the belfraie and church by force of armes but the prior was well inough borne out and defended by the bishop of Norwich named Roger who as it is likelie was the maister