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
The Gauntiners still mainteined warre against the earle of Flanders during his life and after his deceasse against Philip duke of Burgogne by such aid and comfort as they had from time to time of the king of England till finallie this yeare about the eightenth daie of December a peace was concluded betwixt the said duke and the towne of Gaunt and sir Iohn Bourchier that had laine a long season there as capteine vnder the K. of England and Peter de Bois one of the chéefe capteins of the Gauntiners before the concluding of this peace were safelie conducted to Calis by vertue of the duke of Burgogne his safe conduct and so they came ouer into England and the king gaue vnto Peter de Bois a pension of an hundred marks sterling yearelie to be paid to him out of the staples of the woolles in London This yeare king Richard holding his Christmasse at Eltham thither came to him Leo king of Armenia whose countrie and realme being in danger to be conquered of the Turks he was come into those west parts of christendome for aid and succour at the hands of the christian princes here The king honorablie receiued him and after he had taken counsell touching his request he gaue him great summes of monie and other rich gifts with a stipend as some write of a thousand pounds yearely to be paid to him during his life After he had remained here two moneths space he tooke leaue of the king and departed The chiefest point of his errand was to haue procured a peace betwixt the two kings of England and France but destinie would not permit so good a purpose to take effect for the hatred which either nation bare to other would not suffer their loftie minds to yeeld in any one point further than seemed good in their owne opinions In this ninth yeare of king Richard though by other writers it should séeme to be rather in the yeare following the duke of Lancaster with a great power of men of warre went into Spaine year 1386 and lead with him thither his wife the ladie Constance a daughter which he had by hir named Katharine and two other daughters which he had by his former wife He had béene about the preparing of an armie and all furniture necessarie for this iournie two or thrée yéeres before and therefore hauing now seauen gallies and eightéene ships sent to him out of Portingale which arriued at Bristow he caused all such vessels as he had prouided to resort likewise thither where making his generall assemblie when all his men of warre were come togither he bestowed them aboord with all their horsses and purueiances and causing sailes to be hoissed vp set forward on his line 10 long wished iournie This was in the moneth of Maie when the seas were calme the aire swéet and the winds pleasant and agréeable to his purpose He appointed for admerall of his whole fléet sir Thomas Percie and sir Iohn Holland that was after created earle of Huntington and had married one of his daughters was ordeined constable of the hoast and sir Thomas Moreaux hauing married his bastard daughter was one of his marshals There were that attended him in this iournie manie line 20 other lords and knights of honor as the lord Lucie the lord Talbot the lord Basset the lord Willoughbie the lord Fitz Walter the lord Poinings the lord Bradston the lord of PoÌ„miers a Gascoigne the lord Yonne fitz Warren Henrie lord Beaumont William lord Beauchampe sir Richard Burlie that was another of the marshals of the armie sir Hugh Spenser sir William Windsore sir Iohn Daubreticourt sir Hugh Hastings sir William Farrington sir Thomas Tresham sir Mauburin line 30 de Liniers sir Thomas Worcester sir Iohn Sowtrie sir Robert Clinton sir Philip Tirrell sir Lewes Rochester Huguelin Caluerlie Dauid Holgraue Thomas Alerie Hobequin Beaucester and diuerse other they were in all to the number of fifteene hundred men of armes whereof a thousand at the least were knights and esquiers besides foure thousand archers and other men of warre so perfectlie appointed and arraied as could be thought méet and conuenient Of this chosen companie attendant vpon the line 40 duke of Lancaster of this his voiage into Spaine the said C. Okland speaketh no lesse trulie according to the report of our annales than honorablie Ocyus instructa pro bello classe futuro Milite stipatus generoso traijcit aequor Fluctisonum cum vxore pia natÃsque duabus c. ¶ Henrie Knighton reporteth of this voiage as followeth in somewhat a differing sort from this alreadie laid downe On Easter daie saith he Iohn the duke of Lancaster with his wife came to the king line 50 to take their leaue to the which duke the king gaue a crowne of gold and the quéene likewise gaue an other crowne of gold to the duchesse Besides this the king commanded his people that they should call him king of Spaine and doo him honour in all things He had with him a power of 20000 chosen men of which number noted in the marshals bill or scroll 2000 were men of armes and 8000 were archers As they passed by Britaine they landed at Brest the capteine whereof at that time named sir Iohn line 60 Roche finding himselfe greatlie annoied by the Frenchmen that were lodged in two bastides erected before the castell declared to the duke in what state he stood Wherevpon he caused the said bastides to be assailed which was doone by the lord Fitz Walter and others who bare themselues so manfullie that the bastides were woone broken downe and a great preie with prisoners obteined although not without losse of diuerse valiant personages Thus were they within Brest castell deliuered of their vnfreendlie neighbours by the duke of Lancaster and his people Who hauing doone their feat tooke the seas and sailed foorth till they came on the coasts of Gallis where on S. Laurence eeuen they arriued in the hauen of Groigne otherwise called Coron and there they vnshipped all their prouisions determining to inuade the countrie on that side ¶ Héere bicause it is not vnprofitable to know the absolute truth of things doone by the collection of writers I haue translated the beseeging of Brest as the same is set downe by Henrie Knighton in his annales in a larger and more ample sort with a fuller certificat of circumstances than hath hitherto béene declared At the same time saith he the duke of Britaine had laid siege both by sea and land to a certeine towne in Britaine in old time subiect to the king of England which was called Brest with a great multitude of Frenchmen and Britains Now on the twelfth of the kalends of Iulie he began to build a fort before the said towne of Brest of a woonderfull bignesse the walles thereof being ten foot thicke and seauen towres about it A thousand workemen did worke daie by daie vpon it
si fuerit faciendum line 40 Qui inde postea nihil facere voluerunt aut non curauerunt toto festo coronationis praedictae nec postea in congregationibus Per quod postea dominus Iohannes de Hastings fâ—cit petitiones suas domino regi concilio suo quòd feodum suum mapparum praedictarum ei deliberaretur pro vt ei de iure fuerit deliberandum Et quòd fecit seruâ—tium suum debito modo prout antecessor suus fecit longo tempore Henrici regis quando habuit feodum suum tempore quaÌ„do desponsauit Elionaram line 50 filiam comitis Prouinciae tanquam pertinens ad manerium suum de Asheley in comitatu North. pro vt patet in Memorandum ipsius regis in camero suo de scaccario diuersis locis in istis verbis * Williame de Hastinges tient demye fee de chiualer in Asheley du roy a fayre le seruice per seriante deestree panetre le roye which is found in the fourth leafe of Chester beginning Le counte Roger le Bigot in the title of â—schetes of seriantie in the countie of Northfolke line 60 Touching which it is thus further found in the same place * Henrie de Hastings tient en Asheley du roye per sâ—â—giante de la panetre fo Syesme * Henrie de Hastings tient vn seriante de la panetre le roy en Asheley vautâ— per an â— sol fol. 9. * Williame de Hastings tient vn fee de chiualer en Asheley sertante deestree despenser en le despons le roy fo 4. * Henrie de Hastings tient vn terr en la ville de Asheley per le seruice deestree le despensâ—â— Which petitions and all other petitions for his part of his land in the kings hands by the censure made in the time of Henrie the 3 the said Iohn Hastings lord of Aburgauennie did pursue from parlement to â—arlement vntill the parlement holden at Yorke aâ—ter Michaelmas where supplication was made to the king by him and others that he might remaine with the king in Gascoigne as his steward or marshall which if he would performe all his forsaid petitions and all other petitions which were reasonable should be granted vnto him By occasion whereof he granted vnto the kings and the nobles request so that the king would find him pledges due therefore and that he might obteine iustice in his inheritances and those his lawfull sutes which had beene hitherto denied vnto him which thing the king faithfullie promised in euerie respect to be performed towards him wherevpon he sailed into Gascoigne in the yeare of Christ 1302 being the 31 of Edward the firsâ— the wednesdaie after the feast of S. Lucie But for this faire shew it séemeth he sped neuer the better for which cause not being restored in the 34 yeare of Edward the first he pursued his sute afresh and had from the king at Yorke this definitiue sentence deliuered by the mouth of Walter Langhton then the kings treasuror as I find by such notes as I haue séene that he should séeke the records of the chancerie and bring them to the next parlement which the said Iohn did At what time he brought foorth the former grant of Henrie the third of the said lands giuen in recompense of his part of the earledome of Chester After which yet it was agréed by the king and his councell for diuerse considerations and mostlie as I suppose because he had refused to serue in Gascoigne and onelie went as it were inforced notwithstanding all that the said Iohn could alledge that he should take nothing for his petition but further to be in the kings mercie for his false claime the whole processe whereof I haue seene in an ancient written monument of French All which as I gather was done in the life of Edward the first notwithstanding that I haue a little vnorderlie before treated of the executing of his office of the pantrie at the coronation of Edward the second sonne to Edward the first as may be confirmed by Piers Longtoft in these verses Et pour peril escheuer toutz apres promist Ke Iean de Hastin cheualier e lit Emerie de la Bret barone ne pas petit Alanâ— in Gascoigne touz sans contredit Pour la terme attendue del trevis auant dit This Iohn married two wiues both called Isabell whereof the first was Isabell de Ualence one of the daughters and heirs of William Ualence earle of Penbroke lord of Aburgauennie but how the said Wil. Ualence came to the honor of Aburgauennie since William Cantelupe before named was once lord thereof and much about that time I can not yet certeinlie learne But yet I following good authoritie haue set downe this Ualence to be lord of Aburgauennie that he gaue the same to one Iohn Hastings which must néeds be this man marieng his daughter The other wife of this Iohn Hastings was Isabell the daughter of Hugh Spenser earle of Winchester By his first wife he had six children to wit Iohn Hastings his heire William Hastings that maried Elianor the daughter of sir William Martin which died without heires Henrie Hastings that was a clerke and Elizabeth Hastings maried to Roger Greie lord of Ruthine sonne of sir Iohn Greie of whom is descended Henrie earle of Kent now liuing Ione maried to Edmund Mortimer by whom she had no issue being after maried to William de Huntingfield by whom she had Roger de Huntingfield and Margaret Hastings maried to William the sonne of William Martin lord of Keminies ' By Isabell Spenser his second wife he had thrée children to wit Hugh Hastings lord of Folliot of whom shall be more intreated when we come to the last Iohn Hastings erle of Penbroke slaine at tilt as before Thomas Hastings and Pelagia de Huntington His first wife Isabell Ualence died 1305 being the 31 of Edward the first and was buried at the frier minors in Couentrie His second wife ouerliuing hir husband was after maried to sir Rafe Monthermer for which mariage the said Rafe was fined by Edward the second at a thousand marks as appeareth in the rols of the chancerie line 10 of 13 of Edward the second she died the 9 of Edward the third was buried in the frier minors of Salisburie This Iohn Hastings departed this life 1313 the sixt yeare of the reigne of Edward the second Iohn Hastings lord Hastings and Aburgauennie was borne in the fiftéenth yeare of Edward the first in the yeare of Christ 1287. For at the death of his father which happened as before in the sixt yeare of Edward the second he was found to be of the age of line 20 six twentie years which if it be added to the yeare of our Lord 1287 make vp the full number of 1313 in which his father died This man in the eight yeare of Edward the second at the parlement holden at London in the Carmelite friers bâ—ing about
20 kingdome at the castell of Tunbridge in Kent and Rigate in Surrie which Gilbert with the other péers of the land immediatlie after the death of king Henrie the third assembling at the new temple brake the old seale of king Henrie made a new seale in the name of king Edward and appointed faithfull officers for the sure kéeping and obseruing of the treasure the riches the peace and the lawes of the kingdoms This Gilbert had two wiues his first wife was line 30 Alice the daughter of Hugh le Brune erle of March by whom he had issue a daughter that was countesse of Fife in Scotland his second wife was Ione the daughter of king Edward the first called Ione of Acres by whome he had one sonne called Gilbert the third earle of Glocester and Hertford who married Mawd the daughter of Richard earle of Ulster in the yeare of Christ 1308 at Waltham by whome he had issue a sonne Iohn borne in the yeare of Christ 1312 being in the sixt yeare of Edward the second that died without issue after the death of which Gilbert line 40 the third his lands and earldomes of Glocester and Hertford came to the sister of the said Gilbert the third who was slaine in the battell of Striueling against the Scots in the seuenth or as others haue the eight yeare of king Edward the second whome the Scots would gladlie haue kept for ransome if they had knowne him but he had forgotten to put on his cote of armes to shew what he was after which he was brought into England and was buried line 50 at Tewkesburie vpon whose death the two earledomes of Glocester and Hertford were so dispersed that there was neuer anie to this daie that iointlie succéeded or possessed them both Thus hauing digressed from Gilbert the second in treating of his sonne Gilbert the third let vs againe returne to him He besides his sonne Gilbert the third had by his wife Ione thrée daughters Elenor first married to Hugh Spenser second sonne to Hugh Spenser earle of Glocester and after his death to William Zouch Margaret married to Piers de Gaueston earle of line 60 Cornewall and after to Hugh Audeleie and Elizabeth or Isabell married in the yeare of our Lord 1308 being the first yeare of Edward the second to Iohn the sonne of Richard earle of Ulster This Gilbert the second before the marriage of his second wife was on the fiftéenth kalends of August diuorsed from Alice his first wife in the yeare of our redemption 1271 being the six and fiftith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the third and after in Westminster church the last of Aprill married his second wife about the eightéenth yeare of Edward the first being the yeare of Christ 1290 which Gilbert the second being taken awaie by vntimelie death departed this world in the yeare of our redemption 1195 being the thrée and twentith of the reigne of the said Edward the first who was in word déed in commandement and authoritie the greatest person of the kingdome next to king Edward the first for which cause he well deserued to haue his sepulture among his worthie ancestors Edmund earle of Cornewall of whome there is somewhat spoken before being the sonne of Richard king of Almaine and earle of Cornewall brother to Henrie the third married Margaret the daughter of Richard de Clare erle of Glocester he was made protector of the Realme by Edward the first in the fouretéenth yeare as some saie or in the fifteenth as others saie for there is so much disagréement amongst authors for the accounts of yeares as it passeth anie one man to reconcile them in all points when the said king went into Aragon to reconcile the two kings of Arragon Naples He continued in this office in the yeare of Christ 1287 or 1228 as hath Treuet being the sixteenth yeare of Edward the first in which he subdued Rise ap Merdach the Welsh prince rebelling against Edward the first and ouerthrew the castell of Druffillane as hath the said Nicholas Treuet he was lord of Wallingford did much cost therevpon and died without issue as hath Matthew Westminster in the yeare of Christ 1300 but as hath Thomas Walsingham 1301 leauing the king of England his heire Yet are there some pedegrées and other authors and those not the meanest which saie that he had a daughter Isabell married to Morice Fitz Harding lord Barkleie so that these authors which saie that he died without issue are to be vnderstood of the issue male not of the heire generall for they account him to die without issue which leaueth no posteritie to continue his title of honor The which their meaning they make more plaine in that they saie that after his issulesse death the earledome came to the crowne And here bicause there is mention made of Wallingford I will set downe what Leland hath written touching the same bicause I desire to make common and to preserue all whatsoeuer monuments of Leland that come vnto my hands thus therefore he writeth of Wallingford in his commentaries of England written in the yeare of our redemption 1542 being the foure and thirtith yeare of king Henrie the eight in these words The towne of Wallingford hath béene a verie notable thing and well walled The dich of the towne and the crest wherevpon the wals stand be yet manifestlie perceiued and begin from the castell going in compasse a good mile and more and so continueth to Wallingford bridge a large thing of stone ouer the Thames There remaine yet the names of these stréets amongst others Thamesstréet Fishstréet Woodstréet Goldsmiths row And by the patents and donation of Edmund earle of Cornewall and lord of the honour of Wallingford it appeereth that there were fourtéene parish churches in Wallingford and there be men yet aliue that can shew the places and churchyards where they stood at this time there are but thrée parish churches The towne and the castell was sore defaced by the Danes warres yet they méetlie florished in the time of Richard king of the Romans earle of Cornewall and brother to Henrie the third he did much cost vpon the castell which ioineth to the north gate of the towne and hath thrée diches as vpon the crests of the same may appéere large and déepe about each of the two first diches on the crests of the ground cast out runneth an embatteled wall now sore in ruine and for the most part defaced All the goodlie buildings with the tower and dungeon be within the third dich There is also a collegiat chapell amongest the buildings within the third dich Edmund earle of Cornewall son to Richard king of Romans was the first founder and indower of this college Prince Edward the blacke as one told me augmented this college There is a deane foure priests six clerkes and foure choristers The late deane before doctor London that now is builded a faire stéeple of stone at the west
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
of Excester and Anne maried to sir Iohn Neuill knight brother of Rafe the third of that name erle of Westmerland he died the six and twentith of king Henrie the sixt on the fift of August being the yeare of Christ 1448 and was buried at S. Katharins nigh the tower of London After which his first wife he maried Anne the daughter of Iohn Montacute earle of Salisburie by whome he had no issue Henrie Holland sonne of Iohn Holland was after the death of his father duke of Excester he was disherited in the first of Edward the fourth at a parlement held then in the yeare 1461 he maried Anne daughter to Richard duke of Yorke and sister to king Edward the fourth which Anne at hir owne sute on the twelfe of Nouember in the eleuenth yeere of king Edward the fourth being the yeare of Christ 1471 was diuorced from the said duke of Excester Shortlie after which in the yeare of Christ 1413 being in the thirteenth of Edward the fourth this duke was found dead in the sea betweene Douer Calis but how he came there none could certenlie declare He died without issue leauing his sister Anne his heire maried as before to Iohn Neuill brother to Rafe earle of Westmerland Robert Uere earle of Oxford and marquesse of Dubline was in the yéere of Christ 1386 in the tenth of Richard the second created duke of Ireland he died withoutissue at Louaine in great penurie and vexation of mind as hath Ypodigma in the yeere of Christ 1392 being about the sixtéenth of king Richard the second he maried the daughter of Ingerame de Cousie earle of Bedford and after diuorced from hir he married Lancecrona one of meane parentage Margaret ladie Segraue the daughter and heire of Thomas Brotherton earle of Norffolke and marshall of England was created duchesse of Norffolke in the one and twentith yeare of king Richard the second she had two husbands whereof the first was Iohn lord Segraue by whom she had issue Elisabeth married to Iohn Mowbreie the third of that name Hir second husband was sir Walter Mannie knight of the order by whome she had a daughter married to Iohn lord Hastings erle of Penbroke This duchesse line 10 Margaret died in the yeare of Christ 1399 being about the three and twentith of Richard the second and was buried in the frier Minors of London Thomas lord Mowbreie second sonne of Elisabeth Segraue and Iohn lord Mowbreie hir husband was aduanced to the dukedome of Norffolke in the one and twentith yeare of the reigne of Richard the second Shortlie after which he was appeled by Henrie earle of Bullingbroke of treason and caried to the castell of Windsore where he was stronglie line 20 and safelie garded hauing a time of combat granted to determine the cause betwéene the two dukes the sixtéenth daie of September in the two and twentith of the said king being the yeare of our redemption 1398. But in the end the matter was so ordered that this duke of Norffolke was banished for euer whervpon taking his iourneie to Ierusalem he died at Uenice in his returne froÌ„ the said citie of Ierusalem in the first yeare of king Henrie the fourth about the yeare of our redemption 1399. He maried Elisabeth line 30 one of the daughters and heires of Richard erle of Arundell Warren and Surreie by whome he had issue Iohn duke of Norffolke and three daughters Elisabeth maried to Michaell de la Poole the yoonger earle of Suffolke Margaret maried vnto sir Robert Howard knight and Isabell maried to sir Iames Barkeleie Iohn Mowbreie earle of Notingham marshall of England and duke of Norffolke baron Segraue and Bower was buried in the Charteâ—â—ouse within the I le of Exholme he maried Katharine the daughter line 40 of Rafe the first earle of Westmerland by whom he had issue Iohn duke of Norffolke Iohn lord Mowbreie the sixt baron of the name of Mowbreie sonne to Iohn duke of Norffolke was after his father duke of Norffolke This Iohn was buried in Tetford priorie who marieng Elenor the daughter of William lord Burchier earle of Ewe had issue Iohn duke of Norffolke Iohn the last duke of Norffolke of the surnâ—me of line 50 Mowbreie the sonne of Iohn the last before mentioned was in his fathers life time created earle of Warren and Surreie by king Henrie the sixt and after the death of his father was duke of Norffolke This Iohn the last duke died in his castell of Fremingham in the yeare 1461 being the second yeare of king Edward the fourth He maried Elisabeth daughter to Iohn lord Talbot earle of Shrewesburie by whome he had issue one onelie daughter and heire maried to Richard duke of Yorke second son to Edward the fourth line 60 Thomas Plantagenet second sonne to Henrie the fourth was created duke of Clarence in the eleuenth yeare of his father being about the yeare of our redemption 1409 and was afterward in the 13 of the same king created earle of Aumerle and high steward of England he was slaine the two and twentith of March in the ninth yeare of the reigne of the victorious king Henrie the fift in the yeare of our redemption 1420 beginning the yeare of our Lord on the fiue and twentith daie of March He maried Margaret the daughter of Thomas Holland earle of Kent and died without issue legitimat hauing a base sonne called Iohn the bastard of Clarence Iohn Plantagenet third son to Henrie the fourth was by his father created duke of Bedford at the parlement of Leicester in the yeare of Christ 1414 in the second of king Henrie the fift Of this man is more large mention made in my discourse of the protectors of England Humfreie Plantagenet fourth sonne of Henrie the fourth was by his father created duke of Glocester who for the nobilitie of his mind and vertuous life was made protector of England Of whom is more spoken in my former discourse of the protectors of England Iohn Beaufort which name of Beaufort was giuen by Iohn of Gant to his children which he had by Katharine Swineford when they were made legitimate by parlement about the one and twentith yeare of king Richard the second as is before touched was created marquesse Dorset by Henrie the fourth and after aduanced to the honour of duke of Summerset in the first yeare of king Henrie the first being the yeare of our redemption 1413. He maried Margaret the daughter of sir Iohn Beauchampe lord of Powicke he had issue Margaret maried to Edmund Haddam earle of Richmond father to king Henrie the seuenth after the death of which Edmund she was maried to Thomas lord Stonleie afterward by Henrie the seuenth created earle of Darbie and after vnto Henrie sonne to Humfreie duke of Buckingham This duke of Summerset died the two and twentith yeare of king Henrie the sixt and was buried at Winborne in the yeare of Christ
Richard to marrie his daughter Alice howbeit at this entervew line 10 of the two princes by the helpe of the cardinall and other Noble men of both sides they agreed to be freends and that if they could not take order betwixt them to end all matters touching the controuersies depending betwixt them for the lands in Anuergne and Berrie and for the fée of Chateau Raoul then should the matter be put to twelue persons six on the one side and six on the other authorising them to compound and finish that controuersie and all other which might rise betwixt them For the French line 20 king these were named the bishops of Claremount Neuers and Trois and three barons erle Theobald Robert and Peter de Courtneie the kings bretheren For the king of England were named the bishops of Mauns Peregort and Naunts with three barons also Maurice de Croume William Maigot and Peter de Mountrabell At the same time also both these kings promised and vndertooke to ioine their powers togither and to go into the holie land to aid Guido king of Ierusalem whome the Saracen Saladine king of Aegypt line 30 did sore oppresse with continuall and most cruell war This doone the French king returned home and king Henrie came to Uernueil where he made this ordinance that no man should trouble the vassall or tennant as we may call them for his lords debt After this king Henrie went into Berrie and tooke Chatean Roux or Raoul and marching towards Castre the lord of that towne came and met him on the waie surrendring into his hands the line 40 daughter of Rafe de Dolis latelie before deceassed whome the king gaue vnto Baldwine de Riuers with the honour of Chateau Roux or Raoul Then went he vnto Graundemont where Audebert earle of March came vnto him and sold to him the whole countrie of March for the summe of fifteene thousand pounds Anionin twentie mules and twentie palfreis The charters of this grant and sale made and giuen vnder the seale of the said earle of March bare date in the moneth of September Anno Christi line 50 1177. Then did the king receiue the fealtie and homages of all the barons and knights of the countrie of March after he had satisfied contented and paid the monie vnto the earle according to the couenants The king this yeare held his Christmas at Angiers year 1178 and meaning shortlie after to returne into England he sent to the French king for letters of protection which were granted and sent to him in forme as followeth line 60 The tenour of the French kings letters of protection LVdouicus rex Francorum omnibus ad quos praesentes literae peruenerint salutem Nouerit vniuersitas vestra quòd nos recipimus in protectione custodia nostra totam terram Henrici regis Angliae charissimi fratris nostri in cismarinis partibus sitam si contigerit eumin Angliam transfretare vel peregrè proficisci Ita planè vt quaÌ„do balliui sui de terra transmarina nos requisierint bona fide sine malo ingenio eis consilium auxilium praestabimus ad eiusdem terrae defensionem protectionem Actum apud Nicenas The English wherof is thus Lewes king of France to all those to whom these present letters shall come greeting Know all ye that we haue receiued into our protection custodie all the lands of Henrie king of England our deare brother lieng and being in the parts of this side the sea if it chance him to passe ouer into England or to go any waie foorth from home so that when the bailiues of his lands on this hither side the sea shall require vs we shall helpe them and counsell them faithfullie and without male-engine for defense and protection of the same lands Giuen at Nicens Shortlie after king Henrie returned into England from Normandie and at Woodstocke made his sonne Geffrey knight This yeare pope Alexander sent into all parts legats to summon the bishops and prelates to a generall councell to be holden at Rome in the beginning of the Lent in the yere next following Whereabout two legats came into England the one named Albert de Suma who had in commission to summon them of England and Normandie and the other called Petro de Santa Agatha who was appointed to summon them of Scotland Ireland and the Iles about the same wherevpon obteining licence to passe through the king of Englands dominions he was constreined to sweare vpon the holie euangelists that he should not attempt any thing in his legatship that might be hurtfull to the king or his realme and that he should come and visit the king againe as he returned homewards This yeare on the sundaie before the natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist being the 18 of Iune after the setting of the sunne there appeared a maruellous sight in the aire vnto certeine persons that beheld the same For whereas the new moone shone foorth verie faire with his hornes towards the east streightwais the vpper horne was diuided into two out of the mids of which diuision a burning brand sprang vp casting from it a farre off coles and sparks as it had beene of fire The bodie of the moone in the meane time that was beneath séemed to wrest and writh in resemblance like to an adder or snake that had béene beaten and anon after it came to the old state againe This chanced aboue a dozzen tiâ—es and at length from horne to horne it became blacke In September following the moone being about 27. daies old at six of the clocke a partile eclipse of the sunne happened for the bodie thereof appeared as it were horned shooting the horns towards the west as the moone dooth being twentie daies old The residue of the compasse of it was couered with a blacke roundell which comming downe by little and little threw about the horned brightnesse that remained till both the hornes came to hang downe on either side to the earthwards and as the blacke roundell went by little little forwards the hornes at length were turned towards the west and so the blacknesse passing awaie the sunne receiued his brightnesse againe In the meane time the aire being full of clouds of diuerse colours as red yellow greene and pale holpe the peoples sight with more ease to discerne the maner of it The king this yeare held his Christmasse at Winchester at which time newes came abroad of a great wonder that had chanced at a place called Oxenhale year 1179 within the lordship of Derlington in which place a part of the earth lifted it selfe vp on high in appearance like to a mightie tower and so it remained from nine of the clocke in the morning till the euen tide and then it fell downe with an horrible noise so that as such as were thereabout were put in great feare That péece of earth with the fall was swallowed vp leauing a great déepe pit in
Richard Which thing she neither then thought I am sure as I by hir words could make coniecture nor I my selfe cast not hir desire to be so profitable to the realme as I now doo perceiue But such a Lord is God that with a little sparkle he kindleth a great fire and to the admiration of the world of impossibilities he maketh possibilities of small beginnings mightie increasings of drops great flouds And so finallie to declare to you the verie conclusion to the which I am both bent and set my mind is and my power and pursse shall helpe that the earle of Richmond verie heire of the house of Lancaster in the quarrell of the which linage both my father and grandfather lost their liues in battell shall take to wife ladie Elizabeth eldest daughter to king Edward by the which mariage both the houses of Yorke and Lancaster may be ioined and vnited in one to the cleere establishment of the title to the crowne of this noble relme To which conclusion if the mothers of both parts and especiallie the earle himselfe and the ladie will agrée I doubt not but the bragging bore which with his tuskes raseth euerie mans skin shall not onelie be brought to confusion as he hath deserued but that this empire shall euer be certeine of an vndubitate heire then shall all ciuill and intestine warre cease which so long hath continued to the paring of manie mens crownes and this realme shall be reduced againe to quietnesse renowme and glorie This inuention of the duke manie men thought after that it was more imagined for the inward hatred that he bare to king Richard than for anie fauor that he bare to the earle of Richmond But of such doubtfull matter it is not best to iudge for erring too farre from the mind and intent of the author But whatsoeuer he intended this deuise once opened to king Richard was the verie occasion that he was rounded shorter by the whole head without attaindor or iudgement When the duke had said the bishop which fauoured euer the house of Lancaster was woonderous ioifull and much reioised to heare this deuise For now came the wind about euen as he would haue it sith all his imagination tended to this effect to haue king Richard subdued and to haue the lines of king Edward and king Henrie the sixt againe raised and aduanced But lord how he reioised to thinke how that by this marriage the linages of Yorke and Lancaster should be conioined in one to the verie stedfastnesse of the publike wealth of this realme And least the dukes courage should swage or his mind should againe alter as it did often before as you may easilie perceiue by his owne tale he thought to set vp all the sailes that he had to the intent that the ship of his pretended purpose might come shortlie to some sure port and said to the duke My lord sith by Gods prouision and your incomparable wisedome and policie this noble coniunction is first mooued now is it conuenient yea and necessarie to consider what personages and what fréends we shall first make line 10 priuie of this high deuise and politike conclusion which is not rashlie without aduisement to be aduentured for therin is danger as the wiseman saith Semper habet damnum mentis temerarius ardor By my truth quoth the duke we will begin with the ladie Richmond the earles mother which knoweth where he is either in captiuitie or at large in Britaine For I heard saie that the duke of Britaine restored him to libertie immediatlie after the death of king Edward by whose means he was restreined line 20 Sith you will begin that waie said the bishop I haue an old fréend with the countesse a man sober secret and well witted called Reginald Braie whose prudent policie I haue knowne to haue compassed things of great importance for whome I shall secretlie send if it be your pleasure and I doubt not but he will gladlie come and that with a good will So with a little diligence the bishop wrote a letter to Reginald Braie requiring him to come to Brecknocke line 30 with speed for great and vrgent causes touching his mistresse and no other thing was declared in the letter So the messenger rode into Lancashire where Braie was with the countesse and lord Thomas Stanlie hir husband and deliuered the letter which when he had read he tooke it as a signe or presage of some good fortune to come Then he with the messenger came to the castell of Brecknocke where the duke and the bishop declared what thing was deuised both for to set the relme line 40 in a quiet stedfastnesse as also for the high preferment of the earle of Richmond sonne to his ladie and mistresse willing hir first to compasse how to obteine the good will of quéene Elizabeth and also of hir eldest daughter bearing the same name and after secretlie to send to hir sonne into Britaine to declare what high honor was prepared for him if he would sweare to marrie the ladie Elizabeth assoone as he was king and in roiall possession of the relme Reginald Braie with a glad heart forgetting nothing line 50 giuen to him in charge in great hast and with good spéed returned to the countesse his ladie and mistresse When Braie was departed and this great doubtfull vessell once set abroach the bishop thirsting for nothing more than for libertie when he saw the duke pleasant and well minded toward him he told the duke that if he were in his Ile of Elie he could make manie fréends to further their enterprise and if he were there and had but foure daies warning he line 60 litâ—le regarded the malice of king Richard his countrie was so strong The duke knew well all this to be true but yet loth he was that the bishop should depart for he knew well that as long as the bishop was with him he was sure of politike aduise sage counsell and circumspect procéeding And so he gaue the bishop faire words saieng that he should shortlie depart and that well accompanied for feaâ—e of enimies The Bishop being as wittie as the duke was wilie did not tarrie till the dukes companie were assembled but secretlie disguised in a night departed to the dukes great displeasure and came to his sée of Elie where he found monie and fréends and so sailed into Flanders where he did the earle of Richmond good seruice and neuer returned againe till the erle of Richmond after being king sent for him and shortlie promoted him to the see of Canturburie Thus the bishop woond himselfe from the duke when he had most néed of his aid for if he had taried still the duke had not made so manie blabs of his counsell nor put so much confidence in the Welshmen nor yet so temerariouslie set forward without knowledge of his fréends as he did which things were his sudden ouerthrowe as they that knew
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
the sixt of Henrie the fourth and the yeare of Christ 1405 againe rebelled and after fled into Scotland to Dauid lord Fleming who receiued him and in the seuenth yeare of Henrie the fourth being the yere of our redemption 1506 as saith Iohn Stow. This Dauid persuaded the erle to flie into Wales for which cause the Scots slue the said Dauid After this in the ninth yeare of Henrie the fourth he came into England raised the people and was slaine at Broomâ—ham neere to Hasewood in a conflict had with him by Thomas Rockleie shiriffe of Yorkshire He married two wiues the first was Margaret daughter to Rafe lord Neuill by whome he had issue Henrie Persie surnamed Hotspurre slaine at the battell of Shrewesburie in the fourth yeare of Henrie the fourth in his fathers life Thomas and Rafe His second wife was Mawd daughter to Thomas lord Lucie and sister and heire to Anthonie lord Lucie baron of Cockermouth being before the widow of Gilbert Humfreuill called the earle of Angus This ladie Mawd gaue to hir husband the lordship and castell of Cockermouth whereby the earles of Northumberland are bound still to beare the armes of Lucie Iohn duke of Bedford the sonne and brother of kings for so he calleth himselfe in the precept to summon Reginald lord Greie sir Edward Hastings knight to determine the controuersie for bearing of the armes of Hastings earle of Penbroke in the marshals court was earle of Richmond and Kendall and constable of England being aduanced to that office about the eight yeare of Henrie the fourth his father being the yeare of our redemption 1406 of whome there is more mention in the following discourse of the protectors of England Humfrie earle of Stafford Hereford and Northhampton lord of Breenocke Holdernesse and of Cambridge and constable of England and of Douer castell in the eight yeare of king Henrie the sixt being the yeare of Christ 1430 went into France with Henrie the sixt to attend his coronation at Paris He was created duke of Buckingham in the two and twentith yeare of Henrie the sixt being the yeare of Christ 1444. He was slaine at the battell of Northampton in the eight and thirtith yeare of king Henrie the sixt being the yeare of our Lord 1460 he maried Anne daughter to Rafe Neuil erle of Westmerland he had amongst manie other of his children Humfrie his eldest sonne earle Stafford hurt as hath Iohn Stow with an arrow in the right hand at the battell of saint Albons in the three and thirtith yeare of Henrie the sixt being the yeare of our Lord 1455 of which battell of saint Albons thus writeth Iohn Whethamsted a learned abbat of that hâ—use Dum Maius madidi flos floâ— uit imbribus austri Mollibus Zephyrus refouerat flatilus aruos Flora velut regnans herbis ditauerat hortâ—s Post glacies inopes hos fecerat locupleâ—es Sic râ—pidis stilbon praeâ—onibus vndÃque regnum Repleuerat nimis sic latè staâ—serat ipses Vt villam tandem tantus peruaserat isâ—am Illorum numerus quod vlx euaderet vnus Quin spolium lueret spoliantes vel trepidaret Aâ—cidit ex causa spoliatio tam grauis ista Mars coeli dominus fuerat tunc soror eius In terris domina belli Bellona vocata Vnde malum multis signanter partibus istis Contigit bellum fuit istic grande peractum Sanguis effusus multus dux est iugulatus Illius pugnae quae fertur causa fuisse Bello finito strepitu quóque pacificato line 10 Indultum est praedae praedones quippe fuere Victores omnes nulli quasi compatientes Tunc rex tunc proceres tunc villani quóque plures Ac alij varij fuerant rebus spoliati Attamen ecclesia simul ecclesiae bona cuncta Intra quae fuerant sub clausuráque iacebant Manserunt salua nec ei res defuit vlla Laus igitur domino laus in speciéque patrono Cuius per media stabant sua singula salua Saluis in cunctiâ— simul abbas frater omnis line 20 Spiritus ille bonus sine fallo spiritus almus Ad villam regem qui direxit venientem Illius ad medium nec tunc permiserat ipsum Ecclesiam petere conseruauit sua quaeque Sed patronus erat qui pro monachis mediarat A raptore locúmque suum seruauit omnem Ipsius ornatum fedari nec siuit ipsum Sâ—rex intrasset secúmque ducem sociasset Valuas ecclesiae paruissent cuncta rapinae Nec poterat furias quisquam compescere plebis line 30 Laus igitur domino rursus rursusque patrono Stat locusisâ—e suo saluus munimine soâ—o Saluaque supposita sua salua iocalia cuncta Iohn Tiptoth or Tiptost knight the son of Iohn lord Tiptost and of Ioice his wife second daughter to Edmund Charleton lord Powes was treasuror of the realme in Michaelmasse tearme in the tenth yere of Henrie the fourth after which he was againe admitted to that office in the one and thirtith and two and thirtith yeare of Henrie the sixt from which place line 40 being once more remooued he was the third time aduanced to the honor of lord treasuror of England in the second of Edward the fourth and continued the same in the third of the said king He was created earle of Worcester in the time of king Henrie the sixt This man in the yeare 1470 being the tenth of king Edward the fourth tooke his part against the duke of Clarence and Richard Neuill earle of Warwike at what time the said duke and earle being discomfited sled to the sea side and thence sailed line 50 to Southhampton where they thought to haue had the Trinitie a great ship of the earle of Warwikes but the lord Scales the queenes brother fought with them and inforced them to flie into France Wherevpon king Edward the fourth came to Southhampton and caused Tiptost earle of Worcester to sit in iudgement vpon certeine gentlemen as Clapham and others taken at the same skirmish of Southhampton where the earle caused the bodies of certeine condemned men after that they were hanged line 60 to be thrust thorough the fundament vp to the head with stakes for the which crueltie he and others fell into indignation of the common people Before which in the eight yeare of king Edward he was with Iohn Dudleie made constable of the Tower during their liues and the longer liuer of them two After this in the said yeare 1470 being the tenth of Edward the fourth in which Henrie the sixt readepted the crowne of England which yeare of Henrie the sixt is called in the law bookes the fourtie ninth yere of the reigne of K. Henrie the sixt This earle of Worcester was taken in the top of an high trée in the forest of Weibridge in Huntingtonshire brought to London and at a parlement arrested and condemned to death by sir Iohn Uere earle of
Oxford Whervpon he was beheded at Tower hill and buried in the blacke friers of London He had three wiues wherof the first was called Cicilie the daughter of Richard earle of Salisburie the second Elizabeth the daughter of Robert Greindoure the third was Elizabeth after married to sir William Stanleie which Iohn had by his third wife Edward lord Tiptost who died without issue so the inheritance went to the sisters of the said earle Iohn Tiptost And here I thinke it not amisse to say somewhat of the lord Beaumont who being in our chronicles named constable of England as may appeare in the fiue and twentith yeare of Henrie the sixt in which yeare he arrested Humfrie duke of Glocester that for any thing that I can yet sée or learne this Beaumont was not constable by patent during his life but for the present time to execute the princes pleasure and therefore not méet in this discourse to haue anie speciall place amongest such as were constables of England either by descent or patent Sir Richard Wooduile knight earle Riuers was high constable of England in the fourth yere of king Edward the fourth of whom is more large mention in the following discourse of the treasurors of England in the historie of the reigne of quéene Elizabeth George Plantagenet second sonne to Richard duke of Yorke was created amongst other estates duke of Clarence in the yeare of our redemption 1461 being the first yeare of king Edward the fourth immediatlie vpon his coronation and was made constable of England in the time of Edward the fourth He in the eight of Edward the fourth about the yeare of Christ 1468 maried Isabell the eldest daughter of Richard Neuill earle of Warwike and Salisburie by whom he had issue Edward earle of Warwike and Salisburie borne vpon the sea in the hauen of Calis who was in the time of Richard the third a continuall prisoner and so hauing béene a prisoner and thereto borne by a certeine fatall destinie was in the yere of our redemption 1485 being the first of king Henrie the seuenth committed to custodie in the Tower where he continued all the rest of his life was beheaded at Tower hill in the fiftéenth yeare of king Henrie the seuenth being the yeare of Christ 1499 was buried at Birsam néere to his ancestors Besides this Edward this George duke of Clarence had issue a daughter called Margaret created by king Henrie the eight countesse of Salisburie who married sir Richard Poole knight of the garter descended of the ancient familie of the Pooles in Wales Richard Plantagenet the third sonne to Richard duke of Yorke was aduanced to the title and honor of the dukedome of Glocester in the yeare of our redemption 1461 being the first yeare of king Edward the fourth soone after his coronation He was high constable of England he maried Anne second daughter to Richard Neuill earle of Warwike and Salisburie Which Richard after the death of his brother king Edward the fourth did by the murther of his nephues ascend to the highest gouernement of England and was crowned king by the name of Richard the third Henrie Stafford whome our chronicles doo in manie places corruptlie terme Edward was sonne to Humfrie earle Stafford was high constable of England and duke of Buckingham This man raising warre against Richard the third vsurping the crowne was in the first yeare of the reigne of the said Richard being the yeare of Christ 1483 betraied by his man Humfrie Banaster to whome being in distresse he fled for succour and brought to Richard the third then lieng at Salisburie where the said duke confessing all the conspiracie was beheaded without arreignement or iudgement vpon the second of Nouember in the said yere of our redemption 1483 he maried Katharine the daughter of Richard Wooduile sister to quéene Elizabeth wife to Edward the fourth had issue Edward duke of Buckingham and Henrie earle of Wilshire with two daughters which were Anne maried to George lord Hastings of whom is descended the erle of Huntington now liuing and Elizabeth married to Richard line 10 Ratcliffe lord Fitz Waters of whome is issued sir Henrie Ratcliffe knight now earle of Sussex Edward Stafford sonne to Henrie duke of Buckingham being also duke of Bukingham after the death of his father was constable of England earle of Hereford Stafford and Northhampton being in the first yeare of Henrie the seuenth in the yeare of our redemption 1485 restored to his fathers dignities and possessions He is tearmed in the books of the law in the said thirtéenth yeare of Henrie the eight line 20 where his arreignement is liberallie set downe to be the floure mirror of all courtesie This man as before is touched was by Henrie the seuenth restored to his fathers inheritance in recompense of the losse of his fathers life taken awaie as before is said by the vsurping king Richard the third He married Elianor the daughter of Henrie earle of Northumberland and had issue Henrie lord Stafford father to Henrie lord Stafford now liuing and thrée daughters Elizabeth married to Thomas Howard line 30 earle of Surrie Katharine married to Rafe Neuill earle of Westmerland and Marie married to George Neuill lord of Aburgauennie And thus much by Francis Thin touching the succession of the constables of England In this meane while were the emperour and the French king fallen at variance so that the warre was renewed betwixt them for the pacifieng wherof the cardinall of Yorke was sent ouer to Calis where line 40 the ambassadours of both those princes were appointed to come to him He arriued there the second of August There went ouer with him the erle of Worcester then lord chamberleine the lord of S. Iohns the lord Ferrers the lord Herbert the bishop of Duresme the bishop of Elie the primat of Armacane sir Thomas Bullen sir Iohn Pechie sir Iohn Hussie sir Richard Wingfield sir Henrie Guilford and manie other knights esquiers gentlemen doctors and learned men Thus honourablie accompanied he line 50 rode thorough London the twentie fift daie of Iulie and at Thomas Beckets house the maior and aldermen tooke leaue of him praieng God to send him good spéed Thus passed he to Canturburie where the archbishop of Canturburie and others receiued him in his statelinesse and brought him vnto his lodging vnder a canopie to the bishops palace On the eight daie of Iulie he came to Douer On the twentith he the other lords with their retinues tooke passage and arriued at Calis in safetie where the lord deputie line 60 and the councell receiued them with much honour and lodged the cardinall in the Staple hall Shortlie after his arriuall at Calis thither came the chancellor of France and the countie de Palice with foure hundred horses as ambassadors from the French king and likewise from the emperour came great ambassadors either partie being furnished with sufficient
yeare of Christ 1866 being the fortith yéere of the reigne of king Edward the third line 50 in which place he sat six yeares and being a verie old man and hauing béene treasuror about six yeares he died at Hatfield the seuenth ides of Iune in the yeare that God became man one thousand thrée hundred seuentie and thrée and the seuen and fortith yéere of the often named king Edward the third he was buried in the church of Elie besides the high altar on the south part I haue read and seene by manie noted that one named Richard de Chesterfield was treasuror to the line 60 king in the one and fortith yeare of king Edward the third whome they will haue lord treasuror which by no possible meanes as farre as I can yet conceiue maie be true bicause it appeareth by record that Iohn bishop of Elie which was this Barnet if you marke the time of his translating to Elie was treasuror in the same yeare but it maie be that he was treasuror of the chamber or houshold to the said king in the said one and fortith yeare of his reigne Thomas de Brantington being treasuror for the king in the parts of Guisnes marches and Calis in the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred sixtie and seuen being the one and fortith yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third was made bishop of Excester by especiall letters of the king in the yéere of our saluation one thousand thrée hundred sixtie and eight being the thrée and fortith yeare of the said Edward the third and was lord treasuror of England in the foure and fortith fiue fortith yéere of Edward the third in which fiue and fortith yeare being the yeare of our redemption one thousand three hundred seuentie and one he was in a parlement at the petition of the lords remooued at what time also there passed a law that the chancellor treasuror and clerke of the priuie seale shuld no more be spirituall men but that secular men should haue those offices Sir Richard Scroope or Scrobs knight lord of Bolton and chancellor of England was treasuror of England in the six and fortith seuen fortith eight and fortith of Edward the third and then gaue place to sir Robert Ashton knight This Richard made out of the ground the castell of Bolton consisting of foure great strong towers and of other statelie lodgings which castell was erecting eightéene yeares the charges whereof came yearelie vnto a thousand marks which was eighteene thousand markes or twelue thousand pounds the ounce of siluer being then but at twentie pence which being now treblâ— and at fiue shillings dooth at this daie amount vnto six and thirtie thousand pounds which castell he finished before Richard the second died He bought the heire generall of saint Quintine that was honor of Hornelie castell in Richmontshire which heire he was content one Coniers a seruant of his should marrie and haue the preferrement of that ward and so Hornelie castell came to the Conierses of which house the first lord was William Coniers grandfather to him that died in the time of queene Marie without heire male whereby his inheritance came to his three daughters Which William the first lord Coniers of that name did much cost vpon Hornelie castell being before but a meane thing I haue read of this lord Scroope that he had a sonne called William whereof we will speake more hereafter that was earle of Wilshire who being beheaded in his fathers life left no issue behind him After which the father suruiuing was made treasuror to the king and died in honor although he was not restored to his dignitie of chancellorship but at what time he should be the second time treasuror after the death of his sonne William in the time of Henrie the fourth I can not as yet certeinlie learne But it maie be that he was againe treasuror in the ninth yeare of Henrie the fourth for that I find not by any former search who then possessed that place It séemeth that he had two wiues the one the daughter of the lord Spenser the other the daughter of Michaell de la Poole erle of Suffolke called Blanch. He had three sons for whom he bought of the king the thrée daughters and heires of Robert lord Tiptost whereof the eldest daughter Margaret was married to Roger his second sonne the second daughter was married to William his eldest sonne the third daughter called Millescent was married to Stephan the third sonne of the said Richard Sir Robert Ashton knight constable of Douer castell was lord treasuror in the fiftith and one and fiftith of king Edward the third in Michaelmasse tearme which was the last Michaelmasse tearme wherein the king reigned being about the yeare of Christ one thousand three hundred seuentie and six of which name there was also one that was chiefe baron in the time of Edward the second as I haue read Henrie Wake or Wakefield being made bishop of Worcester in the yeare of our redâ—mption one thousand thrée hundred seueantie and fiue being the fortie and ninth yeare of the reigne of king Edward the third was made lord treasuror of England in the yeare that the word of the father tooke flesh in the wombe of the woman one thousand three hundred seuentie and six in the one and fiftith yeare of king Edward the third in which office he continued part of Easter tearme in the first yeare of king Richard the second being about the yeare of our redemption one thousâ—nd thrée hundred seauentie and eight he died in the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred ninetie and fiue as saith Walsingham Thomas Brantington bishop of Excester was made lord treasuror of England towards the latter line 10 end of Easter tearme in the first yeare of king Richard the second falling in the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred seauentie and eight as I at this time account it from which place he was shortlie remooued in the second yeare of king Richard the second Richard earle of Arundell and Surrie made lord treasuror of England in the second yeare of the reigne of king Richard the second whereof part fell in the yeare of our Lord one thousand thrée hundred line 20 seauentie and eight part in the yéere one thousand thrée hundred seauentie and nine continued about one yeare in the same and then gaue place to him which possessed the same office last before him he married Elisabeth the daughter of William de Bohune earle of Northampton Hereford by whome he had issue Thomas earle of Arundell Ione married to William Beauchampe lord Aburgauennie Elisabeth married to Thomas lord Mowbraie Margaret married to sir Rowland Lenthall and Alice married line 30 to Iohn Charleton lord Powes this Richard was beheaded in the one and twentith yeare of Richard the second Thomas Brantington bishop of Excester was the third time lord
secretarie by whome he hath alreadie a goodlie babe but a daughter This right woorthie and thrise renowmed knight sir Philip Sidneie lord gouernor of Ulissingen hauing spent some time in hir maiesties seruice in the low countries with great honor speciall credit and estimation and withall hauing obteined by his vertue valor and great policie such an entrie of entire good will trust and authoritie with the states as his counsels and persuasions could much more preuaile and worke singular effect with them than anie one mans could doo in anie cause what soeuer that happened to fall in question or debate amongst them therfore earnestlie following the course he then tooke in hand for the aduancement of that seruice and to win fame the onelie marke true nobilitie either dooth or ought to leuell at he imbarked himselfe at Ulissingen accompanied onlie with thrée thousand footmen and bending his course to Arell which lieth in the countie of Flanders vsed both such diligence and secrecie in this eâ—pedition as he surprised the towne before they could haue intelligence of his comming without losse or hurt of anie one of his companie By means whereof the forts and sconses there néere abouts adioining being striken vpon the sudden into such a feare and amazement as doubting some further perils to them intended than anie at the present well appeared voluntarilie and simplie gaue themselues and their holds into his hands yéelded to his disposition and mercie And so after he had well refreshed himselfe and his companie in this towne he had thus new taken he departed thense remained in the countrie not farre off ten or twelue daies next following till he had vittelled the same put in a garrison left monsieur Pernon there gouernor Now in the meane time of his staie attending these seruices and because he would alwaies be occupied in some honorable action he brake a sluse forced a trench and cut out a banke that made such an open passage entrance into the sea as since it hath drowned and destroied the whole countrie being well neere now worne into a chanell the same hauing béene the best and most fertill soile in those parts and far excéeding anie territorie néere thereabouts to so great a preiudice and annoiance of the enimie as by common well grounded opinion neither by sluse or lightlie anie other draine or deuise that countrie can possiblie be recouered or regained And this enterprise was atchiued without making head or other offer of offense inuasion or resistance by Mondragon who was of purpose imploied with sufficient force to defend the countrie and to haue impeached all these attempts and actions Moreouer his aduise for the seruice intended at Grauelin dissenting in opinion from others who were thought the most expert capteins and best renowmed and sorted souldiours gaue such a sufficient proofe of his excellent wit policie and ripe iudgement as his onelie act and counsell with the losse of line 10 a verie few of his companie wrought all their safeties which otherwise by treacherie had béene most likelie to haue béene intrapped And so consequentlie going forward in other seruices at an incounter with the enimie not far from Zutphen where he that daie most valiantlie serued for he bare the inuincible mind of an ancient woorthie Romane who euer where he came made account of victorie he receiued hurt by a musket shot a little aboue the left knée which so brake and rifted the bone and so entred the line 20 thigh vpward towards the bodie as the bullet could not be found before his bodie was opened Of which hurt notwithstanding he liued though in great paine and extreame torment six and twentie daies following and died the seauentéenth daie of October betweene two and thrée of the clocke in the afternoone at Arnam in Gelderland He greatlie abounded in sundrie good vertues which euer where he came procured him loue but chéefelie in iustice and liberalitie a woorthie most line 30 speciall note in a gouernour which gained him hartie loue coupled with fame and honor For the which especiallie those vnder his late charge and gouernment so greatlie loued esteemed honored in a sort adored him when he was aliue as they made earnest meanes and intreatie to haue his bodie remaine there still with them for memorie when he was dead and promised that if they might obteine it to erect for him as faire a monument as anie prince had in christendome yea though the same should cost halfe line 40 a tun of golâ— the building His bodie was most honourablie conueied from Arnam to London where it remained at the Minories certeine daies from thense brought and remooued on the sixtéenth of Februarie alongst the stréets through Cheapside with funerall pompe and solemnitie beseeming so martiall a gentleman the ensignes of warre and pikes trailed vpon the ground the drums and flutes couered with blacke and making a softlie sound with other statelie shewes of mournfull representations the earle of Leicester with other honourable line 50 and woorshipfull personages following the dead bodie which finallie was interred in Paules church of London About this time one Thomas Louelace late of Staple inne gentleman for counterfeiting of false and trecherous letters against his own kinred containing most traitorous matter against hir maiesties owne person was iudged in the Starchamber to be carried on horsse-backe about Westminster line 60 hall with his face to the horsse taile and a paper on his backe declaring his offense then to be set on the pillorie in the palace at Westminster and there to haue one of his eares cut off then to ride in like sort into London and in Cheapside to be set on the pillorie vpon a market daie after that to be conueied into Kent where standing openlie on the pillorie in the place of assise as before he should loose his other eare and lastlie be set vpon the pillorie one market daie in Canturburie and another at Rochester his offense and punishment in euerie of the said places openlie read and published which iudiciall sentence was accordinglie executed On sundaie the eight daie of Maie an ambassador named Henrie Ramelius intituled Cancellarius Germanicus arriued at the tower of London A gentleman he was of goodlie personage somewhat corpulent and of sanguine complexion verie eloquent likewise and learned not onelie in the knowledge of diuerse toongs as Latine French Italian and German but also in sundrie sciences He came in ambassage from Frederike the second of that name king of Denmarke vnto the queens maiestie of England and arriuing as you haue heard at the Tower was honorablie receiued of the lord Cobham and other great estates who conueied him from thense through Tower stréet into Bishopsgate street and so to a faire and large house called Crosbies place where he was well lodged and remained The said Ramelius during the time of his tariance had attendance doone him conuenient
Normans at Yorke he shewed proofe of his prowesse in striking off the heads of manie of them with his owne hands as they came foorth of the gates singlie one by one yet afterwards when the king had pardoned him of all former offenses and receiued him into fauour hee gaue to him in mariage his néece Iudith the daughter of Lambert earle of Lens sister to Stephenerle of Albermare and with hir he had of the kings gift all the lands and liberties belonging to the honor of Huntingdon in consideration whereof he assigned to hir in name of hir dower all the lands that he held from Trent southward Shée bare by him two daughters Maud and Alice We find that he was not onlie earle of Northumberland but also of Northampton and Huntingdon The countesse of Cambridge or Northfolke as other haue wife of earle Rafe being fled into the citie of Norwich was besieged in the same by the kings power which pressed the citie so sore as it was forced for verie famine to yéeld but yet by composition namelie that such as were besieged within should depart the realme as persons abiured and banished the land for euer This was the end of the foresaid conspiracie At this verie time the Danes being confederate with these rebels and by them solicited set forth towards England vnder the leading of Cnuto sonne to Sueno and earle Haco and vnlooked for arriue here in England with two hundred sailes But hearing that the ciuill tumult was ended and seeing no man readie either to countenance or encourage them in their enterprise they sailed first into Flanders which they spoiled and after into their owne countrie with little desire or will to come againe into England King William also vnderstanding that they were thus departed passed ouer into Britaine and there besieged the castell of Doll that belonged to Rafe earle of Cambridge or Northfolke but by the comming of Philip the French king king William being vnprouided of sufficient vittels for his armie was constreined to raise his siege although with great losse both of men and horsses On the 27. daie of March was a generall earthquake in England and in the winter following a frost that continued from the first of Nouember vntill the middle of Aprill A blasing starre appeered on palme sundaie beeing the sixteenth daie of Aprill about six of the clocke when the aire was faire and cleere About the same season pope Gregorie perceiuing that married préests did thoose rather to run into the danger of his câ—â—sse than to forsake their wiues meaning to bridle them by an other prouiso gaue commandment by his bull published abroad that none should heare the masse of a married prâ—est King William after his comming from the siege of Doll remained a certeine time in quiet during which season Lanfranke the archbishop called a synod or councell of the cleargie at London wherein amongst other things it was ordeined that certeine bishops sees should be 〈…〉 small townes to cities of more fame whereby it came to passe that Chichester Exceter Bath Salisburie Lincolne Chester were honored with new sees and palaces of bishops whereas before they kept their residence at Sellewey Kirton Welles Shireborne Dorchester and Lichfield At this synod also Woolstan bishop of Worcester was present whom Lanfranke would haue deposed for his insufficiencie of learning as he colourablie pretended but indeed to pleasure the king who faine would haue placed a Norman in his roome but as they saie by a miracle which he presentlie wrought in causing his crosier staffe to sticke fast in the toome line 10 of saint Edward to whom he protested and said he would resigne it for that he obteined the same by his gift he did put the king and the archbishop into such feare that they suffered him still to enioy his bishopprike without any further vexation These things with other touching a reformation in the church and cleargie being handled in this councell it was soone after dissolued In the yeare following king William led a mightie armie into Wales and subdued it receiuing of line 20 the rulers and princes there their homages and hostages About the same time Robert the kings eldest sonne a right worthie personage but yet as one of nature somewhat vnstable entred into Normandie as a rebell to his father and by force tooke diuers places into his hands Which he did by the practise of Philip the French king who now began to doubt of the great puissance of king William as foreseeing how much it might preiudice him and the whole line 30 realme of France in time to come Wherefore to stop the course of his prosperous successe he deuised a meane to set the sonne against the father True it is that king William had promised long afore to resigne the gouernment of Normandie vnto the said Robert his sonne Wherevpon the yoong man being of an ambitious nature and now pricked forward by the sinister counsell of his adherents seeketh to obteine that by violence which he thought would be verie long yer he should atteine by curtesie King William hereof aduertised was not a little mooued line 40 against his disobedient sonne and curssed both him and the time that euer he begat him Finallie raising an armie he marched towards him so that they met in the field Assoone as the one came in sight of the other they encountred at a place called Archenbraie and whilest the battell was at the hottest and the footmen most busied in fight Robert appointed a power of horssemen to breake in vpon the réereward of his enimies he himselfe following after line 50 with all his might chanced among other to haue a conflict with his owne father so that thrusting him through the arme with his lance he bare him beside his horsse and ouerthrew him to the ground The king being falne called to his men to remount him Robert perceiuing by his voice that it was his father whom he had vnhorssed spéedilie alighted and tooke him vp asking him forgiuenesse for that fact and setting him vp on his owne horsse brought him out of the prease and suffered him to depart in safetie line 60 King William being thus escaped out of that present danger and séeing himselfe not able to resist the puissance of his enimies left the field to his son hauing lost many of his men which were slaine in battell and chace besides a great number that were hurt and wounded among whom his second sonne William surnamed Rufus or Red was one and therefore as some write he bitterlie curssed his son Robert by whom he had susteined such iniurie losse and dishonor Howbeit other write that for the courtesie which his sonne shewed in releeuing and helping him out of danger when he was cast off his horsse he was mooued with such a fatherlie affection that presentlie after they were made friends the father pardoned his
deuise The newes whereof being spred abrode euerie good man reioised thereat Thus through the great mercie of God peace was restored vnto the decaied state of this relme of England Which things being thus accomplished with great ioy and tokens of loue king Stephan and his new adopted sonne duke Henrie tooke leaue either of other appointing shortlie after to méet againe at Oxenford there to perfect euerie article of their agréement which was thus accorded a little before Christmas ¶ But by the way for the better vnderstanding of the said agreement I haue thought good to set downe the verie tenor of the charter made by king Stephan as I haue copied it out and translated it into English out of an autentike booke conteining the old lawes of the Saxon and Danish kings in the end whereof the same charter is exemplified which booke is remaining with the right worshipfull William Fléetwood esquire now recorder of London and sargeant at law The charter of king Stephan of the pacification of the troubles betwixt him and line 10 Henrie duke of Normandie STephan king of England to all archbishops bishops abbats earles iusticers sherifes barons and all his faithfull subiects of England sendeth greeting Know yee that I king Stephan haue ordeined Henrie duke of Normandie after me by right of inheritance to be my successour and heire of line 20 the kingdome of England and so haue I giuen and granted to him and his heires the kingdome of England For the which honour gift and confirmation to him by me made he hath doone homage to me and with a corporall oth hath assured me that he shall be faithfull and loiall to me and shall to his power preserue my life and honour and I on the other side shall maineteine line 30 and preserue him as my sonne and heire in all things to my power and so far as by any waies or meanes I may And William my sonne hath doone his lawfull homage and assured his fealtie vnto the said duke of Normandie and the duke hath granted to him to hold of him all those tenements and holdings which I held before I atteined to the possession of the realme of England wheresoeuer the line 40 same be in England Normandie or elsewhere and whatsoeuer he receiued with the daughter of earle Warren either in England or Normandie likewise whatsoeuer apperteineth to those honoures And the duke shall put my sonne William and his men that are of that honour in full possession and seizine of all the lands boroughs and rents which the duke thereof line 50 now hath in his demaine and namelie of those that belong to the honour of the earle Warren and namelie of the castels of Bellencumber and Mortimer so that Reginald de Warren shall haue the keeping of the same castels of Bellencumber and of Mortimer if he will and therevpon shall giue pledges to the duke and if he will not haue the keeping of those castels line 60 then other liege men of the said erle Warren whome it shall please the duke to appoint shall by sure pledges and good suertie keepe the said castels Moreouer the duke shall deliuer vnto him according to my will and pleasure the other castels which belong vnto the earledome of Mortaigne by safe custodie and pledges so soone as he conuenientlie may so as all the pledges are to be restored vnto my sonne free so soone as the duke shall haue the realme of England in possession The augmentation also which I haue giuen vnto my sonne William he hath likewise granted the same to him to wit the castell and towne of Norwich with seauen hundred pounds in lands so as the rents of Norwich be accounted as parcell of the same seauen hundred pounds in lands and all the countie of Norfolke the profits and rents which belong to churches bishops abbats earles excepted and the third pennie whereof Hugh Bigot is earle also excepted sauing also and reseruing the kings roiall iurisdiction for administration of iustice Also the more to strengthen my fauour and loue to himwards the duke hath giuen and granted vnto my said sonne whatsoeuer Richer de Aquila hath of the honour of Peuensey And moreouer the castell and towne of Peuensey and the seruice of Faremouth beside the castell and towne of Douer and whatsoeuer apperteineth to the honour of Douer The duke hath also confirmed the church of Feuersham with the appurtenances and all other things giuen or restored by me vnto other churches he shall confirme by the counsell and aduice of holie church and of me The earles and barons that belong to the duke which were neuer my leeges for the honour which I haue doone to their maister they haue now doone homage and sworne fealtie to me the couenants betwixt me the said duke alwaies saued The other which had before doone homage to me haue sworne fealtie to me as to their souereigne lord And if the duke should breake and go from the premisses then are they altogither to ceasse from dooing him any seruice till he reforme his misdooings And my sonne also is to constreine him thereto according to the aduice of holie church if the duke shall chance to go from the couenants afore mentioned My earles and barons also haue doone their leege and homage vnto the duke sauing their faith to me so long as I liue and shall hold the kingdome with like condition that if I doo breake and go from the premitted couenants that then they may ceasse from dooing me any seruice till the time I haue reformed that which I haue doone amisse The citizens also of cities and those persons that dwell in castels which I haue in my demaine by my commandement haue doone homage and made assurance to the duke sauing the fealtie which they owe to me during my life time and so long as I shall hold the kingdome They which keep the castle of Wallingford haue doone their homage to me and haue giuen to me pledges for the obseruing of their fealtie And I haue made vnto the duke such assurance of the castels and strengths which I hold by the counsell and aduice of holie church that when I shall depart this life the duke thereby may not run into any losse or impeachment wherby to be debarred from the kingdome The tower of London and the fortresse of Windsor by the counsell and aduice of holie church are deliuered vnto the lord Richard de Lucie safelie to be kept which Richard hath taken an oth and hath deliuered his sonne in pledge to remaine in the hands and custodie of the archbishop of Canturburie that after my decease he shall deliuer the same castels vnto the duke Likewise by the counsell and aduise of holie church Roger de Bussey keepeth the castell of Oxford and Iordaine de Bussey the castell of line 10 Lincolne which Roger Iordaine haue sworne and thereof haue deliuered pledges into the
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
said archbishop that he should ceasse from building of the fore mentioned church bicause the building therof would be preiudiciall to the church of Canturburie About the same time also king Henrie gaue his coosen the ladie Ermengard who was daughter to Richard Uicount Beaumount in marriage vnto line 60 William king of Scotland causing the archbishop of Canturburie to ioine them togither in the bond of matrimonie within the chappell at Woodstocke where he kept great cheere in honour of that marriage for the space of foure daies togither And further he gaue at the same time vnto the king of Scots the castell of Edenbourgh and the king of Scots streitwaies gaue it vnto his wife the forsaid Ermingard as a portion of hir dower augmented with an hundred pounds of lands by the yeare and 40. knights fées The French king required to haue the custodie of the infant Arthur heire to Geffrey earle of Britaine but king Henrie would in no wise grant thereto Wherefore he sent Walter archbishop of Rouen William de Mandeuille earle of Albemarle and Ranulfe de Glandeuille lord cheefe iustice of England to the French court to talke with king Philip about that matter so that king Philip hauing heard them was contented to staie from attempting force till the feast of S. Hilarie But in the meane time it chanced that one sir Richard de Walles a knight of the realme of France went about to fortifie a castell in a village that belonged to him called Walles situated betwixt Trie Gisors Wherevpon Henrie Uere constable of Gisors vnder William earle of Albemarle was nothing content therwith and therefore got a companie togither went foorth to disturbe the worke Upon this occasion the seruants of the said sir Richard de Walles came foorth and encountred with him in the field in somuch that Rafe the sonne of sir Richard de Walles was slaine and the residue that were with him fled many of them being sore beaten and wounded When the French king was informed hereof he caused all the kings of England his subiects that could be found within his countries and dominion of France to be apprehended and their goods seized The stewards bailifes officers then of king Henrie did the like by the French kings subiects that chanced to be at that present within the king of Englands countries on that further side of the sea But within a little while after the French king set the English subiects at libertie and so likewise did the K. of Englands officers release the French subiects At this time king Henrie held his Christmasse at Gilford and shortlie after came one Octauianus a subdeacon cardinall and Hugh de Nouant from the court of Rome sent as legats from pope Urbane into Ireland that they might crowne earle Iohn the kings sonne king of that land But king Henrie made a delaie therein taking the legats with him into Normandie whither he sailed at the same time and landing at Wissand he went from thence into Normandie and shortlie after came to a communication with the French king at a place called Vadum Sancti Remigij where after much talke they could not agrée by reason the French king demanded things vnreasonable and so they departed without any thing concluded sauing a truce till after Whitsuntide About the same time the citie of Ierusalem was taken by Saladine the chéefe prince of the Saracens Wherevpon much conference was had among the christian princes for the succoring of those christians which as yet held and defended other péeces in the holie land so that by publishing of the popes buls manie tooke on them the crosse and amongst other Richard the sonne of king Henrie without anie licence obteined of his father receiued the same vowing to go thither out of hand and to fight against Gods enimies to the vttermost of his power In the meane time the grudge still increased betwixt king Henrie and Philip the French king partlie for one cause and partlie for an other but speciallie one cheefe occasion was for that earle Richard deferred the dooings of his homage vnto king Philip for the dutchie of Poictou which by his fathers appointment he now inioied and held The French king to preuent his enimies immediatlie vpon the expiring of the truce raised a power and entring into the dominions belonging to king Henrie wasted the countrie till he came vnto Chateu Raoul about which castell also he foorthwith planted his siege When king Henrie was aduertised hereof he raised his power also and togither with his sonne earle Richard came with all spéed to succour his people and to saue his castell from the hands of his enimies Now when he approched néere vnto the place he pitcht downe his tents ouer against the one side of the French campe and earle Richard on the other so that they were readie to assaile the French king on both sides at once but before they came to ioine battell by the mediation of a cardinall as some write or as other saie through meanes made by the earle of Flanders the matter was taken vp For earle Richard through persuasion of the said earle of Flanders came to the French king and agréed with him line 10 before that his father king Henrie was resolued of any such matter for his part so that he was now in a maruellous perplexitie almost to séeke what was best to doo as a man fearing his owne suertie by reason of mistrust which he had in his sonne Richard but yet at the length through humble suit made by his said sonne vnto the French king a truce was granted by the space of two yeares Earle Richard after the matter was thus taken vp went into France with the French king of line 20 whom he was so honoured whilest he was there that they kept one table at dinner and supper in the daie time and as was said one bed serued them both to sléepe on in the night In the meane time king Henrie hearing of all this fell into great suspicion whereto this great familiaritie betwixt the French king and his sonne would tend and doubting the likeliest sent for him to returne vnto him But earle Richard perceiuing his father to mistrust his loialtie gaue faire words line 30 and promised to returne with all conuenient spéed Howbeit he ment an other matter and so departing from the French court came to Chinon where he got into his hands a great portion of his fathers treasure that was kept there against the will of him that had the custodie of it and taking it thus awaie with him he began to fortifie his castels and townes within his countrie of Poictou and clearlie refused to come backe to his father for a time although at length forsaking the counsell of naughtie men he line 40 turned home vnto him and humblie submitted himselfe in such wise as to his dutie apperteined And for
vnder interdiction To conclude through threatning of excommunication to be pronounced against the king and other for this fact by the legat and the bishops of the realme as namelie Canturburie and London the king was compelled to release and set at libertie the foresaid Ranulfe Finallie the prisoner that had accused the said Ranulfe and other being one of the kings purseuants when for his wicked dooings he came to suffer death openlie confessed how he had accused those persons onelie in hope to deferre his owne execution being conuicted as accessarie to the treason of the clearke that suffered at Couentrie the last yeare He had accused not onelie the said Briton but diuers of the nobilitie also to be priuie and giltie of the same conspiracie ¶ This yeare for the space of foure moneths togither fell excéeding great raine yet at length it began to hold vp about Easter In this while the lords of the realme practised sundrie drifts likewise as men that would faine haue béene rid of the legats companie but the king did what he could on the otherside by sending to the pope line 10 for licence to haue him remaine still here who began now indeed to looke to his owne profit as by way of procuracies and other meanes so that he got togither great summes of monie although in the beginning he séemed to forbeare and not to séeke for anie such gaine Also he tooke vpon him to bestow benefices without consent of the patrones that were temporall men wherevpon complaint was made to the pope namelie by one sir Robert de Twing who claimed line 20 as patrone the presentation of the rectorie of Luthun in Yorkeshire and could not be permitted to inioy it by reason of the popes prohibition but vpon the hearing of his title in the popes consistorie he obteined letters â—â—om the pope to be restored and also an inhibition that from thence foorth no person should be promoted to anie spirituall benefice or church without consent of the patrone The king and the péeres of the realme vnderstanding themselues to be touched in this wrong offered to this knight had written in line 30 his fauour to the pope so that his suit had the better successe Moreouer the Iewes in this yeare for a murther which they had secretlie committed were gréeuouslie punished namelie by the pursse to buy their peace they were glad to giue the king the third part of all their goods The legat also assembled a synod of the clergie at London vpon the last of Iulie in the which he demanded procuracies but the bishops vpon deliberation had in the matter answered that the importunatnes line 40 of the Romane church had so often consumed the goods of the English church that they could no longer suffer it and therefore said they Let them giue you procuracies which vnaduisedlie haue called you into the realme if they will for of vs you shall be sure to come by none at all howbeit he got his demand of the abbats and other religious men About the feast of the assumption of our ladie Thomas earle of Flanders vncle to the quéene arriued at Douer and was receiued of the king with great line 50 ioy and gladnesse who rode thitherward to méet him and so brought him to London where the citizens came foorth also and meeting him in the waie brought him into the citie with all honour that might be deuised He did homage to the king as authors write and at his departure had in reward fiue hundred marks and a pension assured him of as much yearelie out of the escheker of the kings frée gift This earle Thomas was sonne to the earle of Sauoy and a little before his comming into England he had married line 60 Ione countesse of Flanders which had first beene coupled in marriage with Ferdinando as in the life of king Iohn may further appeare In the 24 yeare of his reigne king Henrie held his Christmasse at Winchester where he made Baldwine de Riuers knight and inuested him with the right of the earledome of the I le of Wight in the presence of the earle of Cornewall who procured him this honour bicause he had the wardship of him and married him to his daughter in law the ladie Amicia that was daughter to his wife the countesse of Glocester by hir former husband The earle of Leicester also meaning to go into the holie land returned out of France where he had remained a certeine time as an exile but was now receiued honorablie of the king and other péeres of the realme and after that he had séene the king and doone his dutie as apperteined he went to his possessions to make monie for his furniture necessarie to be had in that iournie for the which he sold at that time his woods about Leicester vnto the knights of the Hospitall and to the canons of Leicester receiuing of them for the same about the summe of a thousand pounds About the same time to wit the 14 of Aprill died Leolin prince of Wales and then followed contention betwixt his sons Griffin and Dauid for the principalitie which at length Dauid obteined through king Henries support though he were the yoonger brother bicause he was begot in lawfull bed on the sister of king Henrie The whole countrie of Wales was maruellouslie in trouble about their quarels At length a daie of méeting was appointed betwixt them to grow by waie of talke vnto some quiet end and Griffin meaning no deceit came in peaceable wise with Richard bishop of Bangor and others to the place assigned where they should haue met But Dauid by a traine tooke Griffin and committed him to prison wherevpon afterwards the yeare insuing by continuall plaint and earnest sute of the bishop of Bangor king Henrie entred Wales with an armie and constreined Dauid to submit himselfe and to deliuer the said Griffin into his hands and further also to put in suerties to appeare at London there to receiue such order in the kings courts as to him by law should be orderlie awarded Griffin ap Maddocke and diuerse other great lords of Wales ioined with the king in this iournie against Dauid as in the next yeare ye shall further heare About the same time there was great strife and contention still remaining betwixt the emperour Frederike and pope Innocent the fourth that succéeded Celestine the fourth in somuch that sore and mortall warre followed But king Henrie by the procurement of the legat Otho aided the pope with monie though he was somewhat loth to doo it bicause the said emperour had married his sister Indéed the emperour wrote to the king to staie his hand but the diligence of that legat was such in furthering his masters businesse that the monie was gone ouer yer the emperours letters came At this time also Edmund the archbishop of Canturburie greatlie disalowed the often exactions and subsidies which the legat caused
other places of the kingdome of Spaine came in and did homage vnto king Peter promising him to be true to him euer after for they saw that resistance would not auaile so long as the prince should be in the countrie After this the prince was in hand with king Peter for the souldiers wages by whose aid he was thus restored into his former estate King Peter went vnto Siuill to make shift for monie accordinglie promising to returne againe within a few weekes and to sée euerie man paid according as he had couenanted For when he was driuen out of his realme and came to Burdeaux to craue aid of the prince he promised that so soone as he should be restored to his kingdome he would see the souldiers contented of their wages and bound himselfe thereto both by his oth and writing giuen vnder his seale But when he obteined his purpose he forgat all fréendlie dutie and was so farre from performing his promise that he cloaked his ill meaning with a feigned tale and sent the prince a message spiced with hypocrisie and vnthankfulnesse two foule faults in a priuat man much more odious in a prince and great state as the poet wiselie and truelie saith in this distichon Omne animi vitium tantò conspectius in se Crimen habet quantò maior qui peccat habetur The prince tarried for the returne of king Peter both weekes and moneths but could not heare anie tidings of him He therefore sent vnto him to vnderstand the cause of the staie his answer was that he had prouided monie and sent it by certeine of his men toward the prince but the companions that serued vnder the prince had met with it by the way and taken it from them that had the conueiance of it he therefore required the prince to rid the realme of those snaphances and to leaue behind him some of his officers to whome in name of him he would make paiment of such monie as was due This answer pleased not the prince but there was no remedie for other at that present he could not haue for anie likeliehood he saw and therefore taking order with king Peter how the paiment should be made he prepared to returne into Gascoigne The order therefore taken betwixt them was this Within foure moneths next insuing king Peter should paie the one halfe of the wages due to the soldiers for this iournie vnto such as the prince should leaue behind him to receiue the same and the other halfe within one yeare The prince was compelled to breake his plate and to make monie thereof to paie his soldiers namelie the companions which he had called foorth of France so that he left himselfe bare of all riches to line 10 kéepe touch with them although king Dampeter failed in his promise each waie foorth For where the prince should haue had in recompense towards his charges the countie of Algezara and other lands by the said Dampeters assignement so that he sent one of his knights to take seizine of the same lands he was neuertheles disappointed for he could not come by any peaceable possession of those lands and so returned greatlie impouerished hauing spent in this iournie all that he could make In the meane time line 20 the bastard Henrie hauing escaped out of the field by flight got him into France and there through fauor of the duke of Aniou so purchased for himselfe that he got togither a certeine number of Britains and other soldiers comming to the frontiers of the princes land in Gascoigne got a towne in Bigore called Bannieres and made war vpon the princes subiects The prince obteining passage for himselfe and his men of the kings of Aragon and Nauarre returned line 30 to Burdeaux and then did the bastard Henrie forsake his garrison at Bannieres and went into Arragon and there got the king of Arragons assistance finallie in the yeare 1369 returning into Spaine recouered the kingdome and slue his brother king Peter as in the historie of Spaine it may appeare which for that it apperteineth not to this historie of England I doo here passe ouer This yeare in the moneth of March appeared a blasing starre betwixt the north and west whose beames stretched towards line 40 France as was then marked threatning as might be thought that within a small time after it should againe be wrapped and set on fire with new troubles of warre and euen then that countrie was not in quiet but harried in diuerse parts by such soldiers as had béene with the prince in Spaine were now out of wages The leaders of which people were for the more part Englishmen and Gascoignes as sir Robert Briquet sir Iohn Tresmelle Robert Cenie sir Gaollard Uigier the bourge of Bertueill the line 50 bourge Camois of Cominges as Denise Sauage thinketh the bourge of Lespare Nandon or Nawdon of Bargerant Bernard de la Salle Ortigo Lamut and manie other In this 42 yeare of king Edwards reigne his second son the lord Lionell duke of Clarence and earle of Ulster passed the sea with a noble companie of lords knights and gentlemen and went thorough France into Lombardie there to marrie the ladie line 60 Uiolant daughter to the duke of Millane He was honorablie receiued in all places where he came and speciallie at Paris by the dukes of Berrie and Burgognie the lord Coucie and other the which brought him to the court where he dined and supped with the king and lodged within the palace On the next day he was had to a place where the quéene lodged and dined with hir and after was conueied to the court againe and supped that night with the king and on the morrow following he tooke his leaue of the king and quéene the which gaue to him great gifts and likewise to the noble men of England that came ouer with him to the value of twentie thousand florens and aboue he was conueied from place to place with certeine of the French nobilitie till he came to the borders of the realme and then entring into Sauoy he came to Chamberie where the earle of Sauoy was readie to receiue him and there he remained foure daies being highlie feasted amongst the ladies and damosels and then he departed and the earle of Sauoy brought him to Millaâ—e to doo him the more honor for his sister was mother to the bride which the duke should marrie To speake of the honorable receiuing of him into the citie of Millane and of the great feast triumph and banketting and what an assemblie there was in Millane of high states at the solemnizing of the mariage betwixt him and the said ladie Uiolant it were too long a processe to remember The gifts that the father of the bride the lord Galeas gaue vnto such honorable personages as were there present amounted in value to an inestimable summe ¶ The writers of the Millane histories affirme
like had neuer béene séene nor heard of Some write that they of Calis standing in doubt of such purueiance great preparation deuised to annoie them procured a yoong man to kindle a fire whereby all that dreadfull prouision was consumed to ashes and so they within Calis deliuered of a great deale of care and feare which they had thereof ¶ But Tho. Walsingham maketh a full complet declaration both concerning the dukes deuise also of the Calesians deliuerance from the danger of the same which because it perfecteth the report of this present matter I haue thought good to set downe word for word as I find it in his Hypodigme About the ninth of Aprill saith he the towne of saint Audomare was burned with the abbeie wherein was hidden and laid vp the execrable prouision of the duke of Burgognie who had vowed either to destroie the towne of Calis or else to subdue it to the will and pleasure of the French There a great manie engines to this daie no where seene there an excéeding sort of vessels conteining poison in them were kept in store which he had aforehand prouided to cast out to the destruction of the said towne For he had gathered togither serpents scorpions todes and other kinds of venemous things which he had closed and shut vp in little barrels that when the flesh or substance of those noisome creatures was rotten and dissolued into filthie matter he might laie siege to Calis and cast the said barrels let out of engines into the towne which with the violence of the throw being dasht in péeces might choke them that were within poison the harnessed men touched therewith with their scattered venem infect all the stréets lanes passages of the towne In the meane time a certeine yoong man allured with couetousnesse of gold or lead with affection and loue towards the kings towne asked of the gouernours what reward he should deserue that would discharge and set frée the towne from so great a feare and would burne all the prouision which they suspected Herevpon they leuied a summe of that yellow metall namelie gold where with the yoongman contented went his waie and with fire readie made for the purpose did not onelie burne the said venemous matter and infected stuffe but also togither with the monasterie almost the whole towne Moreouer this yeare sir Robert Umfreuill viceadmerall of England annoied the countries on the sea coasts of Scotland for comming into the Forth with ten ships of warre and lieng there fourtéene daies togither he landed euerie daie on â—he oneside of the riuer or the other taking preles spoiles prisoners notwithstanding the duke of Albanie and the earle Dowglas were readie there with a great power to resist him he burnt the galliot of Scotland being a ship of great account with manie other vessels lieng the same time at the Blackenesh ouer against Lieth At his returne from thence he brought with him fourtéene good ships and manie other great prises of cloathes both woollen and linnen pitch tarre woad flower meale wheat and rie which being sold abroad the markets were well holpen thereby so that his surname of Robert Mendmarket séemed verie well to agrée with his qualities which name he got by this occasion About foure years before this he burnt the towne of Peples on the market daie causing his men to line 10 meat the cloathes which they got there with their bowes so to sell them awaie wherevpon the Scots named him Robert Mendmarket Shortlie after his returne from the sea now in this eleuenth yeare of king Henries reigne he made a road into Scotland by land hauing with him his nephue yoong Gilbert Umfreuill earle of Angus commonlie called earle of Kime being then but fourtéene yeares of age and this was the first time that the said earle spread his banner They burnt at that time Iedwoorth and the line 20 most part of Tiuidale This yeare there died of the bloudie flix in the citie of Burdeaux fourtéene thousand persons and so sore raged that disease in Gascoigne and Guien that there wanted people to dresse their vines and presse their grapes Iohn Prendergest knight William Long scowred the seas so as no pirat durst appeare but that merchants passengers might passe to fro in safetie But yet through disdaine of some that enuied line 30 their good successe the same Prendergest and Long were accused of robberies which they should practise in spoling such ships as they met with of diuerse things against the owners wils Prendergest was driuen to take sanctuarie at Westminster and could not be suffered to lodge in anie mans house for feare of the kings displeasure commanding that none should receiue him and so was constreined to set vp a tent within the porch of saint Peters church there and to haue his seruants to watch nightlie about line 40 him for doubt to be murthered of his aduersaries but his associat William Long laie still at the sea till the lord admerall hauing prepared certeine vessels went to the sea himselfe in person to fetch him but yet he could not catch him vntill he had promised him pardon and vndertaken vpon his fidelitie that he should haue no harme but notwithstanding all promises vpon his comming in he was shut vp fast in the Tower and so for a time remained in durance The archbishop of Canturburie minding in line 50 this season to visit the vniuersitie of Oxenford could not be suffered in consideration of pruileges which they pretended to haue The realme of France in this meane while was disquieted year 1412 with the two factions of Burgognie and Orleance in most miserable wise as in the French histories it maie further appeare Neither could the king being a lunatike person and féeble of braine take any full order for reforming of such mischéefs so that the whole state of the kingdome was maruellouslie line 60 brought in decaie neither tooke those troubles end by the death of the duke of Orleance murthered at length through the practise of the duke of Burgognie but rather more perilouslie increased For the yoong duke of Orleance Charles sonne to duke Lewes thus murthered alied himselfe with the dukes of Berrie and Burbon and with the earles of Alanson Arminacke whereby he was so stronglie banded against the duke of Burgognie whom he defied as his mortall fo and enimie that the duke of Burgognie fearing the sequele of the matter thought good because there was a motion of mariage betwixt the prince of Wales his daughter to require aid of king Henrie who foreséeing that this ciuill discord in France as it after hapned might turne his realme to honor and profit sent to the duke of Burgognie Thomas earle of Arundell Gilbert Umfreuill earle of Angus commonlie called the earle of Kime sir Robert Umfreuill vncle to the same Gilbert sir Iohn Didcastell lord Cobham
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
conquerour When his realme was thus brought into a good quiet estate it was thought méet by him and those of his councell that a marriage were prouided for him in some conuenient place and therefore was the earle of Warwike sent ouer into France to demand the ladie Bona daughter to Lewes duke of Sauoie and sister to the ladie Carlot then quéene of France which Bona was at that time in the French court The earle of Warwike comming to the French king then lieng at Tours was of him honourablie receiued and right courteouslie interteined His message was so well liked and his request thought so honourable for the aduancement of the ladie Bona that hir sister quéene Carlot obteined both the good will of the king hir husband and also of hir sister the foresaid ladie so that the matrimonie on that side was cleerelie assented to and the erle of Dampmartine appointed with others to saile into England for the full finishing of the same But here consider the old prouerbe to be true which saith that mariage goeth by destinie For during the time that the earle of Warwike was thus in France and according to his instructions brought the effect of his commission to passe the king being on hunting in the forrest of Wichwood besides Stonistratford came for his recreation to the manor of Grafton where the duchesse of Bedford then soiourned wife to sir Richard Wooduile lord Riuers on whome was then attendant a daughter of hirs called the ladie Elizabeth Graie widow of sir Iohn Graie knight slaine at the last battell of saint Albons as before ye haue heard This widow hauing a sute to the king for such lands as hir husband had giuen hir in iointure so line 10 kindled the kings affection towards hir that he not onelie fauoured hir sute but more hir person for she was a woman of a more formall countenance than of excellent beautie and yet both of such beautie and fauour that with hir sober demeanour sweete looks and comelie smiling neither too wanton nor too bashfull besides hir pleasant toong and trim wit she so allured and made subiect vnto hir the heart of that great prince that after she had denied him to be his paramour with so good maner and words so well set line 20 as better could not be deuised he finallie resolued with himselfe to marrie hir not asking counsell of anie man till they might perceiue it was no bootie to aduise him to the contrarie of that his concluded purpose sith he was so farre gone that he was not reuocable and therefore had fixed his heart vpon the last resolution namelie to applie an holesome honest and honourable remedie to his affections fiered with the flames of loue and not to permit his heart line 30 to the thraldome of vnlawfull lust which purpose was both princelie and profitable as the poet saith Vtile propositum est saeuas extinguere flammas Nec seruum vitijs pectus habere suum But yet the duchesse of Yorke his moother letted this match as much as in hir laie when all would not serue she caused a precontract to be alleged made by him with the ladie Elizabeth Lucie But all doubts resolued all things made cléere and all cauillations auoided priuilie in a morning he married line 40 the said ladie Elizabeth Graie at Grafton beforesaid where he first began to fansie hir And in the next yere after she was with great solemnitie crowned queene at Westminster Hir father also was created earle Riuers and made high constable of England hir brother lord Anthonie was married to the sole heire of Thomas lord Scales sir Thomas Graie sonne to sir Iohn Graie the quéenes first husband was created marques Dorset and married to Cicelie heire to the lord Bonuille The French king line 50 was not well pleased to be thus dallied with but he shortlie to appease the gréefe of his wife and hir sister the ladie Bona married the said ladie Bona to the duke of Millan Now when the earle of Warwike had knowledge by letters sent to him out of England from his trustie friends that king Edward had gotten him a new wife he was not a little troubled in his mind for that he tooke it his credence thereby was greatlie minished and his honour much stained namelie line 60 in the court of France for that it might be iudged he came rather like an espiall to mooue a thing neuer minded and to treat a marriage determined before not to take effect Suerlie he thought himselfe euill vsed that when he had brought the matter to his purposed intent and wished conclusion then to haue it quaile on his part so as all men might thinke at the least wise that his prince made small account of him to send him on such a sléeuelesse errand All men for the most part agrée that this marriage was the onlie cause why the earle of Warwike conceiued an hatred against king Edward whome he so much before fauoured Other affirme other causes and one speciallie for that king Edward did attempt a thing once in the earles house which was much against the earles honest is whether he would haue deflourâ—d his daughter or his néece the certeintie was not for both their honours openlie reuealed for suerlie such a thing was attempted by king Edward which loued well both to behold and also to féele faire damsels But whether the iniurie that the earle thought he receiued at the kings hands or the disdaine of authoritie that the earle had vnder the king was the cause of the breach of amitie betwixt them truth it is that the priuie intentions of their harts brake into so manie small peeces that England France and Flanders could neuer ioine them againe during their naturall liues But though the earle of Warwike was earnestlie inflamed against the king for that he had thus married himselfe without his knowledge hauing regard onelie to the satisfieng of his wanton appetite more than to his honour or suertie of his estate yet did he so much dissemble the matter at his returne into England as though he had not vnderstood anie thing thereof but onelie declared what he had doone with such reuerence and shew of fréendlie countenance as he had béene accustomed And when he had taried in the court a certeine space he obteined licence of the king to depart to his castell of Warwike meaning when time serued to vtter to the world that which he then kept secret that is to saie his inward grudge which he bare towards the king with desire of reuenge to the vttermost of his power Neuerthelesse at that time he departed to the outward shew so farre in the kings fauour that manie gentlemen of the court for honours sake gladlie accompanied him into his countrie ¶ This yéere it was proclamed in England that the beakes or pikes of shooes and boots should not passe two inches vpon paine of cursing by the cleargie and forfeiting
with queene Margaret wife vnto king Henrie the sixt wis maried vnto one Iohn Greie an esquier whome king Henrie made knight vpon the field that he had on Barnet heath by saint Albons against king Edward But litle while inioied he that knighthood for he was at the same field slaine After line 30 which doone and the earle of Warwike being in his ambassage about the afore remembred mariage this poore ladie made humble sute vnto the king that she might be restored vnto such small lands as hir late husband had giuen hir in iointure Whome when the king beheld and heard hir speake as she was both faire and of a goodlie fauor moderate of stature well made and verie wise he not onelie pitied hir but also wâ—xed inamoured of hir And taking hir afterward secretlie aside began to enter in talking line 40 more familiarlie Whose appetite when she perceiued she vertuouslie denied him But that did she so wiselie and with so good maner and words so well set that she rather kindled his desire than quenched it And finallie after manie a méeting much wooing and many great promises she well espieng the kings affection toward hir so greatlie increased that she durst somewhat the more boldlie saie hir mind as to him whose hart she perceiued line 50 more seruentlie set than to fall off for a word And in conclusion she shewed him plaine that as she wisâ— hir selfe too simple to be his wife so thought she hir selfe too good to be his concubine The king much maruelling at hir constancie as he that had not béen woont elsewhere to be so stiffelie said naie so much esteemed hir continencie and chastitie that he set hir vertue in the stéed of possession and riches and thus taking counsell of his desire determined in all possible hast to marie hir line 60 Now after he was thus appointed and had betwéene them twaine insured hir then asked he counsell of his other fréends and that in such maner as they might then perceiue it booted not greatlie to say naie Notwithstanding the duches of Yorke his mother was so sore mooued therewith that she dissuaded the mariage as much as she possible might alledging that it was his honour profit and suertie also to marie in a noble progenie out of his realme wherevpon depended great strength to his estate by the affinitie and great possibilitie of increase of his possession And that he could not well otherwise doo seeing that the earle of Warwike had so farre moued alreadie which were not likelie to take it well if all his voiage were in such wise frustrate and his appointment deluded And she said also that it was not princelie to marie his owne subiect no great occasion leading therevnto no possessions or other commodities depending therevpon but onlie as it were a rich man that would marie his maid onelie for a little wanton doâ—age vpon hir person In which mariage manie mo commend the maidens fortune than the maisters wisedome And yet therein she said was more honestie than honour in this mariage For somuch as there is betwéene no merchant and his owne maid so great difference as betwéene the king and this widow In whose person albeit there was nothing to be misliked yet was there she said nothing so excellent but that it might be found in diuerse other that were more meetlie quoth she for your estate and maidens also whereas the onelie widowhead of Elizabeth Greie though she were in all other things conuenient for you shuld yet suffice as me seemeth to refraine you from hir mariage sith it is an vnfitting thing and a verie blemish and high disparagement to the sacred maiestie of a prince that ought as nigh to approch priesthood in cleannesse as he dooth in dignitie to be defiled with bigamie in his first mariage The king when his mother had said made hir answer part in earnest part in plaie merilie as he that wist himselfe out of hir rule And albeit he would gladlie that she should take it well yet was at a point in his owne mind tooke she it well or otherwise Howbeit somewhat to satisfie hir he said that albeit mariage being a spirituall thing ought rather to be made for the respect of God where his grace inclineth the parties to loue togither as he trusted it was in his than for the regard of anie temporall aduanuantage yet neuerthelesse him séemed that this mariage euen worldlie considered was not vnprofitable For he reckoned the amitie of no earthlie nation so necessarie for him as the fréendship of his owne which he thought likely to beare him so much the more hartie fauour in that he disdeined not to marie with one of his owne land And yet if outward aliance were thought so requisite he would find the means to enter thereinto much better by other of his kin where all the parties could be contented than to marie himselfe whome he should happilie neuer loue and for the possibilitie of more possessions leese the fruit and pleasure of this that he had alreadie For small pleasure taketh a man of all that euer he hath beside if he be wiued against his appetite And I doubt not quoth he but there be as ye say other that be in euerie point comparable with hir And therefore I let not them that like them to wed them No more is it reason that it mislike anie man that I marrie where it liketh me And I am sure that my cousine of Warwike neither loueth me so little to grudge at that I loue nor is so vnreasonable to looke that I should in choise of a wise rather be ruled by his eie than by mine owne as though I were a ward that were bound to marie by the appointment of a gardian I would not be a king with that condition to forbeare mine owne libertie in choise of mine owne mariage As for possibilitie of more inheritance by new affinitie in strange lands is oft the occasion of more trouble than profit And we haue alreadie title by that meanes vnto so much as sufficeth to get and kéepe well in one mans daies That she is a widow and hath alreadie children by Gods blessed ladie I am a bacheler and haue some too and so ech of vs hath a proofe that neither of vs is like to be barren And therefore madame I praie you be content I trust in God she shall bring foorth a yoong prince that shall please you And as for the bigamie let the bishop hardlie laie it in my waie when I come to take orders For I vnderstand it is forbidden a préest but I neuer wist it yet that it was forbidden a prince This spake he as alluding to the libertie of princes whose lust standeth oftentimes for law and their opinion for reason according to the saieng of the poet tunc omnia iure tenebis Cùm poteris rex esse The duches with these words nothing appeased and séeing the king so set thereon
it did report and might perhaps haue béene auoided by the bishops wisdome for the dukes saftie as his owne sith Qui sapit ille potest alios sapuisse docere When Reginald Braie had declared his message and priuie instruction to the countesse of Richmond his mistresse no maruell though she were ioious and glad both of the good newes and also for the obteining of such a high fréend in hir sonnes cause as the duke was Wherefore she willing not to sléepe thi◠matter but to further it to the vttermost of hir power and abilitie deuised a means how to breake this matter to quéene Elizabeth then being in sanctuarie at Westminster And therevpon she hauing in hir familie at that time for the preseruation of hir health a certeine Welshman called Lewes learned in physicke which for his grauitie and experience was well knowne and much esteemed amongest great estates of the realme brake hir mind to him For with this Lewes she vsed sometime liberallie and familiarlie to talke and now hauing oportunitie and occasion to expresse hir hart vnto him in this weightie matter declared that the time was come that hir sonne should be ioined in marriage with ladie Elizabeth daughter and heire to king Edward and that king Richard being taken and reputed of all men for the common enimie of the relme should out of all honor estate be deiected of his crowne and kingdome be cléerelie spoiled and expelled and required him to go to quéene Elizabeth with whome in his facultie he was of counsell not as a messenger but as one that came fréendlie to visit and consolate hir and as time place should require to make hir priuie of this deuise not as a thing concluded but as a purpose by him imagined This physician did not long linger to accomplish hir desire but with good diligence repaired to the queene being still in the sanctuarie at Westminster And when he saw time propice and conuenient for his purpose he said vnto hir Madame although my imagination be verie simple and my deuise more foolish yet for the entier affection that I beare toward you and your children I am so bold to vtter vnto you a secret and priuie conceit that I haue cast and compassed in my fantasticall braine When I well remembred and no lesse considered the great losse and damage that you haue susteined by the death of your noble and louing husband and the great dolour and sorow that you haue suffered and tollerated by the cruell murther of your innocent children I can no lesse doo both of bounden duetie and christian charitie than dailie to studie and hourelie imagine not onelie how to bring your hart to comfort and gladnesse but also deuise how to reuenge the righteous quarell of you and your children on that bloudie bloudsupper and cruell tyrant king Richard And first consider what battell what manslaughter what mischéefe hath risen in this realme by the dissention betwéene the two noble houses of Yorke Lancaster Which two families as I haue contriued if they may be ioined in one I thinke yea and doubt not but your line shall be againe restored to the pristinate estate and degrée to your great ioie and comfort and to the vtter confusion of your mortall enimie the vsurper king You know verie well madame that of the house of Lancaster the earle of Richmond is next of bloud who is liuing and a lustie yoong batcheler and to the house of Yorke your daughters now are heires If you could agree and inuent the meane how to couple your eldest daughter with the yoong earle of Richmond in matrimonie no doubt but the vsurper of the realme should be shortlie deposed and your heire againe to hir right restored line 10 When the queene had heard this friendlie motion which was as farre from hir thought as the man that the rude people saie is in the moone lord how hir spirits reuiued and how hir heart leapt in hir bodie for ioie and gladnesse And first giuing laud to almightie God as the chiefe authour of hir comfort secondarilie to maister Lewes as the deuiser of these good newes tidings she instantlie besought him that as he had beene the first inuenter of so great an enterprise so now he would not relinquish nor desist line 20 to follow the same requiring him further bicause he was apperteining to the countesse of Richmond mother to the erle Henrie that he would with all diligent celeritie resort to hir then lodging in hir husbands place within the citie of London and to declare on the quéenes behalfe to the countesse that all the friends and fautors of king Edward hir husband should assist and take part with the earle of Richmond hir sonne so that he would take a corporall oth after the kingdome obteined to espouse and line 30 take to wife the ladie Elizabeth hir daughter or else ladie Cicilie if the eldest daughter were not then liuing Maister Lewes with all dexteritie so sped his businesse that he made and concluded a finall end and determination of this enterprise betwene the two mothers And bicause he was a physician and out of all suspicion and misdéeming he was the common curror and dailie messenger betweene them aiding and setting foorth the inuented conspiracie against king line 40 Richard So the ladie Margaret countesse of Richmond brought into a good hope of the preferment of hir sonne made Reginald Braie hir most faithfull seruant chiefe sollicitor and priuie procuror of this conspiracie giuing him in charge secretly to inuegle and attract such persons of nobilitie to ioine with hir and take hir part as he knew to be ingenious faithfull diligent and of actiuitie This Reginald Braie within few daies brought vnto his lure first of all taking of euerie person a solemne oth to be true and secret sir Giles Daubneie sir Iohn Cheinie knight line 50 Richard Gilford and Thomas Rame esquiers and diuers other The countesse of Richmond was not so diligent for hir part but quéene Elizabeth was as vigilant on the other side and made friends and appointed councellors to set forward and aduance hir businesse In the meane season the countesse of Richmond tooke into hir seruice Christopher Urswike an honest and wise priest and after an oth of him for to be secret line 60 taken and sworne she vttered to him all hir mind and counsell adhibiting to him the more confidence and truth that he all his life had fauoured and taken part with king Henrie the sixt and as a speciall iewell put to hir seruice by sir Lewes hir physician So the mother studious for the prosperitie of hir son appointed this Christopher Urswike to saile into Britaine to the earle of Richmond and to declare and reueale to him all pacts and agréements betwene hir the quéene agréed and concluded But suddenlie she remembring that the duke of Buckingham was one of the first inuentors and a secret founder of this enterprise
and thrée hundred thousand to bée defalked of the portion and to paie thrée hundred thousand more in the space of twelue yeares The French king also was bound that if the peace and the parentage folowed not to render vp againe into the hands of the English the towne of Tornaie Manie ambassadours were sent from both the realmes to negociat this league and to receiue the ratifications and othes by whome in the courts of both the kings the acts of the accord were dispatched with great solemnitie and ceremonie with a resolution of an interuiew of both the kings betwéene Calis and Bullongne immediatlie after the restitution of Tornaie About the same time the daughter of the French king appointed to be married to the king of Spaine being dead the former peace and capitulation was eftsoones reconfirmed betwéene them wherein was promised the marriage of the second daughter of France Both the kings celebrated this coniunction with most great demonstrations of perfect amitie for the king of Spaine hauing paied in at Lions an hundred thousand duckets ware publikelie the order of saint Michaell vpon the day of the celebration of the same and in recompense of that honour the French king vpon the daie dedicated to saint Andrew was honorablie attired in the robes and colour of the golden fléece About this time Iohn Ia. Triuulce whome neither old age reduced almost to the last time nor his vertue so oftentimes expressed in the seruice of the truce of France could anie waie aid or comfort being both ambicious and impatient and therefore enuied following the French court fell sicke at Charters where he gaue vp to the king his innocencie and complaints and made to God the last reckoning of his aged daies He was a man in the iudgement of manie and confirmed by sundrie experiences of singular valour in the discipline of warre and ran a race alwaies opposed to the inconstancie of fortune who according to hir mutabilitie made him feele the operation of both hir humors sometimes reioising in hir fauour and erst againe finding hir sowre and of a bitter tast By his commandement were written vpon his toome these words not disagreeable to the variable condition and course of his naturall life I find the rest within my graue Which in my life I could not haue In this yeare the twelfe of Februarie died the emperour Maximilian for whome the king caused a solemne obsequie to be kept in Poules church ¶ Hée died at Luiz a towne vpon the marches of Austrich where he remained for his delight and plesure in hunting the wild bore and other chases of the field He liued alwaies vnder one condition of fortune who manie times fauoured him in offering him manie faire occasions as often wrought against him in not suffering him to take the fruit and effect of line 10 them He was by nature inconstant and remooueable and had conceipts and impressions verie ill disposed and different from the iudgement of other men ioined to an excessiue prodigalitie and dissipation of monie Matters which cut off from him the effects and successe of all occasions being otherwise a prince most perfect and instructed in the ordering of warre secret to laie and dispose a plot diligent to follow it of bodie able and suffering of mind affable and easie line 20 and replenished with manie other excellent gifts and ornaments Unto some of these properties the good seruice which he did the king of England at Terwin giueth proofe at what time both he and his people marched vnder the English ensigne and receiued paie as stipendarie souldiors whose wages the king had a care to paie as maie appeare by his coining of siluer monie whereof was scarsitie in his campe in respect of gold wherewith the souldiors were well stored as one dooth verie well make report saieng line 30 Pro mercede nihil nisifuluum soluitur aurum Auri militibus radiantis copia totis Tanta fuit castris vt rex cudisse coactus Nummum exargento fuerit Assoone as the emperour was dead the French king and the king of Spaine began manifestlie to aspire to the empire the purchase whereof albeit was a matter of right great importance and no lesse the emulation running betwéene two so mightie princes yet they ordered their ambition with great modestie line 40 neither vsing words of iniurie nor threats of armes but either one labouring by his authoritie by his meanes to draw on his side the electors The French king sundrie times reasoned touching the election with great comelinesse with the Spanish ambassadours to whom he said it was a matter both agréeable and conuenient that either of them seuerallie should séeke by honest meanes to increase the honour of his house by so great a dignitie which for that in times before had bene transferred into the families of their predecessours there was now the lesse line 50 occasion to bréed betwéene them two matter of iniurie nor diminution of their amitie and good will But rather he wished that in the action of the empire they might follow the example and order of two yoong louers who albeit they follow the quest of one ladie and either one laboureth by his industrie to carie hir yet they forbere to come to contention The king of Spaine alluded with good right that the empire apperteined to him as hauing continued by a long succession of time in the house of Austrich and line 60 that it had not béene the custome of the electors to depriue the issue of the emperour without manifest cause of their disabilitie neither was there anie in Germanie of that puissance and authoritie to make him equall to stand competitor with him in that election And least of all did he hold it iust or likelie that the electors would transport to a forreine or strange prince so great a dignitie continued by so manie ages in the nation of Germanie And albeit some particular amongst them either through the insinuation of monie or other propertie of corruption might be allured to another intention yet he hoped to stop him with force prepared in time conuenient not doubting also but the other electors also would oppose against him and the princes and frée townes of Germanie would not indure so vniuersall an infamie speciallie to suffer it to be laid vpon the person of the French king which would be no other thing than to make great the puissance of a king enimie vnto their nation and from whome there was no suertie that the imperiall dignitie would euer returne into Germanie he thought it would be an action easie to obteine and reduce to perfection that which had bin solicited by his grandfather who had alreadie compounded for recompenses and donations and other diuidents for euerie of the electors On the other side the desire of the French king was as great and no lesse were his hopes which tooke their principall foundation vpon an opinion he had to corrupt
Faber a famous clearke after bishop of Uien as ambassadors from don Ferdinando brother to the emperour newlie elect king of Hungarie and Beame after the death of his brother in law king Lewes which was slaine by the Turke the last summer as you haue heard before This companie was welcomed of the high officers and after brought into the kings presence all the nobilitie being present and there after great reuerence made master Faber made a notable oration taking his ground of the gospell Exijt seminator seminare semen suum and of that he declared how Christ and his disciples went foorth to sow and how their seed was good that fell into the good ground and brought foorth good fruit which was the christian faith and then he declared how contrarie to that sowing Mahomet had sowne séed which brought foorth euill fruit He also shewed from the beginning how the Turkes haue increased in power what realmes they had conquered what people they had subdued euen to that daie He declared further what acts the great Turke then liuing had doone and in especiall he noted the getting of Belgrad and of the Rhodes and the slaieng of the king of Hungarie to the great rebuke as he said of all the kings christened He set foorth also what power the Turke had what diuersities of companies what armor what capteins he had so that he thought that without a maruellous great number of people he could not be ouerthrowne Wherefore he most humblie besought the king as S. Georges knight and defendor of the faith to assist the king his master in that godlie warre and vertuous purpose To this oration the K. by the mouth of sir Thomas Moore answered that much he lamented the losse that happened in Hungarie and if it were not for the wars which were betweene the two great princes he thought that the Turke would not haue enterprised that act Wherefore he with all his studie would take paine first to set an vnitie and peace throughout all christendome and after that both with monie and men he wold be redie to helpe toward that glorious line 10 warre as much as any other prince in christendome After this doone the ambassadours were well cherished and diuerse times resorted to the court and had great cheare and good rewards and so the third daie of Maie next insuing they tooke their leaue and departed homeward In the winter season of this yeare fell great abundance of raine and namelie in September Nouember and December And on the sixtéenth of Ianuarie it rained so abundantlie that great flouds line 20 thereby insuing destroied corne fields pastures and drowned manie sheepe and beasts Then was it drie till the twelfe of Aprill and from thence it rained euerie day or night till the third of Iune in Maie it rained thirtie hours continuallie without ceasing which caused great flouds did much harme namelie in corne so that the next yeare it failed within this realme and great dearth insued ¶ This time a bill was set vp in London much contrarie to the honour of the cardinall in the which the line 30 cardinall was warned that he should not counsell the king to marrie his daughter into France for if hée did he should shew himselfe enimie to the king and the realme with manie threatning words This bill was deliuered to the cardinall by sir Thomas Seimor maior of the citie which thanked him for the same made much search for the author of that bill but he could not be found which sore displeased the cardinall And vpon this occasion the last daie of Aprill line 40 at night he caused a great watch to be kept at Westminster and had there cart guns readie charged caused diuerse watches to be kept about London in Newington S. Iohns stréet Westminster saint Giles Islington and other places néere London which watches were kept by gentlemen their seruants with housholders and all for feare of the Londoners bicause of this bill When the citizens knew of this they said that they maruelled why the cardinall hated them so for they said that if he mistrusted them he loued them not and where loue is line 50 not there is hatred and they affirmed that they neuer intended anie harme toward him and mused of this chance For if fiue or six persons had made alarm in the citie then had entred all these watchmen with their traine which might haue spoiled the citie without cause Wherefore they much murmured against the cardinall and his vndiscréet dooings The French ambassadors at Greenwich on sunday the fift of Maie sware in the name of their maister line 60 the French king to obserue the peace and league concluded betwéene them for tearme of two princes liues These ambassadours had great cheare and iustes were enterprised for the honour and pleasure of them at the kings commandement by sir Nicholas Carew sir Robert Ierningham sir Anthonie Browne and Nicholas Haruie esquier chalengers Against whome ran the marques of Excester and thirtéen with him as defendants When these ambassadours should returne they had great rewards giuâ—n them of the king and so tooke their leaue and departed Shortlie after the king sent sir Thomas Bullen vicount Rochford and sir Anthonie Browne knight as ambassadours from him into France which came to Paris to the bishop of Bath that laie there for the king as legier Then these thrée went to the court and saw the French king in person sweare to kéepe the league amitie concluded betwéene him the king of England Also the king sent sir Francis Poins knight ambassadour from him to Charles the emperour and with him went Clarenceaur king of armes to demand the one halfe of the treasure and ordinance which was taken at Pauia forsomuch as that warre was made as well at the kings charge as at the emperours Also they were commanded to demand one of the French kings sonnes which lay in hostage with the emperour that is to wit the duke of Orleance to be deliuered to the king of England and further that he shuld call backe his armie out of Italie And if it were so that he refused these reasonable requests then should they in the kings name denounce open warre against him The English merchants liked the matter nothing at all that there should bée anie warres betwixt the emperour and the king of England And where they were desired by the cardinall to kéepe their marts at Calis they would not assent thereto ¶ In this meane time great warres were managed betwéen the pope and other princes amongest whom the duke of Burbon of whom you haue heard often mention before in sundrie actions leuieng a great power led the same towards Rome and incamped within the medow néere to the citie from whence with the insolencie of a souldier hee sent a trumpet to demand passage of the pope through the citie of Rome to go with his armie to
line 30 death his hart was buried in the friers minors of Oxford and his bodie committed to the earth in the monasterie of Hales being Charterhouse moonks which he had builded at his charge of 10000 marks which at this daie at fiue shillings the ounce of siluer amounteth to the summe of twentie thousand pounds He had two sonnes the one called Henrie by his first wife Isabell the other called Edmund de Almania by his second wife Sinthia Henrie was slaine by Simon and Guie of Montfort sonnes line 40 of the last Simon Montfort earle of Leicester in the life of his father Richard in Italie at Uiterbo in the yere of our redemption 1270. Which fact being doone in saint Syluesters church as he was at masse occasioned the townesmen to paint the maner of his death on the wall of the church and that picture being beheld by a certeine versifier he was vrged therevpon to compose these following verses Regis Theutonici Richardi clara propago line 50 Sternitur Henricus velut haec designat imago Dum redit à Tripoli regum fultus comitiua In crucis obsequio patitur sub gente nociua Irruit in templum post missam stirps Guenâ—lonis Perfodit gladius hunc Simonis atque Guidonis Disposuit Deus vt per eos vir tantus obiret Ne reuocatis his gens Anglica tota periret Anno milleno Domini cum septuageno Atque duceno Carolo sub rege sereno Vrbe Viterbina fit in eius carne ruina line 60 Coeli regina precor vt sit ei medicina His bones were brought into England and buried in the monasterie of Hales where his father was after also buried but his hart was bestowed in a guilt cup and placed beside the chaine of saint Edward the Confessor in Westminster abbeie The other sonne to this Richard earle of Cornwall was Edmund of Almaine who after the death of his father was inuested with the honor of the earledome of Cornwall being borne at Berkhamsted in the yéere of our redemption 1250 being the foure and thirtith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the third to whome his vncle Bonifaâ—ius bishop of Canturburie was godfather and called him Edmund in the honor of saint Edmund archbishop of Canturburie and Confessor This Edmund earle of Cornwall married the daughter of Richard earle of Clare of whome shall be more spoken when we come to treat of him as protector of England Boniface the archbishop of Canturburie with others which follow were protectors of the realme after this maner as I haue gathered It was ordeined in the parlement at Oxford called Parlementum insanum that the king should choose foorth twelue persons of the realme and the communaltie of the land other twelue the which hauing regall authoritie in their hands might as gardians of the kingdome take in charge vpon them the gouernment of the realme should from yeare to yeare prouide for the due election of iustices chancellors treasurors and other officers and further prouide to sée to the safe kéeping of the castels belonging to the crowne These foure and twentie persons appointed to that function began to order all things at their owne plesure in the meane time not forgetting to vse things chieflie to their owne aduantage as well in prouiding excheats and wards for their children and kinsfolks as also in bestowing of patronages of churches belonging to the kings gift vnto their owne liking So that these prouiders which shuld haue made carefull and beneficiall prouisions for the realme made spéedie and plentifull prouision for them and theirs insomuch that neither king nor Christ could get anie thing from these protectors There be that write how that there were but twelue or thirtéene chosen to be gouernors at this time which for this present I déeme to be the truer opinion whose names are as follow Boniface archbishop of Canturburie the bishop of Worcester Roger Bigod earle of Norffolke and marshall of England Simon de Montfort earle of Leicester Richard de Clare earle of Glocester Humfreie Bohune earle of Hereford Richard Fitzalane earle of Arundell sir Iohn Mansell chiefe iustice of England sir Roger lord Mortimer sir Hugh Bigod sir Peter de Sauoie sir Iames Audleie sir Peter de Montfort To these as some saie was authoritie onlie giuen to punish all such as trespassed in the breach of anie of the constitutions of the parlement of Oxford Others say that they were made rulers protectors of the realme and to dispose thereof because the king was much misseled in the gouernment of the kingdome by the peruerse councell of his flatterers Which twelue gouernors I suppose did not long continue for being euerie one priuatlie for himselfe and so not iointlie for the common-wealth they grew diuided and what the one labored to set vp the other sought to pull downe Boniface archbishop of Canturburie the second time the bishop of Worcester with sir Philip Basset or rather sir Hugh Bigod made chiefe iustice of England by the barons were appointed in the yeere of our redemption 1260 being the fortie and fourth of king Henrie the third to haue the gouernment of the realme in the absence of the king whilest he remained in France at Paris about the affaires of Normandie at what time a peace was made betwéene the kings of England and France Gilbert de Clare the second of that name that was earle of Glocester and Hertford was the sonne of Richard de Clare erle of Glocester and Hertford which died in the yeere of our redemption 1262 being the fortie sixt yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the third and was buried at Tewkesburie with a great image of siluer and gilt vpon his toome and the same sword and spurres which he did weare in his life time Of which Richard these verses were composed for his probitie and rarenesse of vertuous maners and conditions and set vpon his toome Hîc pudor Hyppoliti Paridis gena sensus Vlyssis Aeneae pietas Hectoris ira iacet This Gilbert I saie the sonne of the said Richard was after the death of Henrie the third which happened in the yeare of our Lord 1277 in the seuen fiftith yeare of the reigne of the said king Henrie in the absence of king Edward the first in the holie warres made gouernour of the realme vntill the returne of the said king Edward into England to which function he was appointed by king Henrie the line 10 third lieng on his death-bed who caused the said Gilbert to sweare to kéepe the peace of the land to the behoofe of Edward his sonne Which he did most faithfullie vntill the second daie of August in the second yeare of the said king in which the said king Edward landed in England being in the yeare of our redemption 1274 at what time the king was honorablie interteined of the said Gilbert and Iohn earle of Warraine a supporter to him in the charge of the line
of inke wrote in tearmes brode inough of the tumults line 20 and slaughters happening in hir vnhappie daies among whome I will set downe for a saie a few verses drawne out of an hundred and od presented to Henrie the French king of that name the second touching the conquest of Calis whereat for ioy the French were rauished Thus therfore he saith Regina pacem nescia perpeti I am spreta mâ—â—ret foedera iam Dei Iram pauet sibi imminentem Vindicis furiae flagellum line 30 Ciues hostes iam pariter suos Odit pauétque ciuium hostium Hirudo communis cruorem Aequè auidè sitiens vtrúnque Huic luce terror Martius assonat Diraeque caedis mens sibi conscia Vmbraeque nocturnae quietem Terrificis agitant figuris These short verses were thus subscribed La. B. Te. line 40 And thus much here as in the closing vp of this storie I thought to insinuat touching the vnluckie and rufull reigne of quéene Marie not for anie detraction to hir place and state roiall wherevnto shee was called of the Lord but to this onlie intent and effect that forsomuch as she would needs set hirselfe so confidentlie to worke and striue against the Lord and his proceedings all readers and rulers not onelie maie sée how the Lord did worke against hir therfore but also by hir maie be aduertised and learne line 50 what a perillous thing it is for men and women in authoritee vpon blind zeale and opinion to stirre vp persecution in Christs church to the effusion of christian bloud least it prooue in the end with them as it did here that while they thinke to persecute heretikes they stumble at the same stone as did the Iewes in persecuting Christ and his true members to death to their owne confusion and destruction Leauing quéene Marie being dead gone you are to vnderstand and note that the same euening or as line 60 some haue written the next daie after the said quéens death Cardinall Poole the bishop of Romes legat departed out of this life hauing béene not long afore made archbishop of Canturburie he died at his house ouer against Westminster commonlie called Lambeâ—h and was buried in Christs church at Canturburie This cardinall was descended of the noble house of Clarence that is to saie of one of the yoonger sonnes of Margaret countesse of Salisburie daughter of George duke of Clarence brother to K. Edward the fourth ¶ So that hereby you haue a proofe of the noblenesse of his birth but how barbarous he was of behauiour and how vnnaturall in the course of his life which blemished the honour of his descent it maie appeare by the order and maner of his visitation in Cambridge with the condemning taking vp and burning both the bones and bookes of Bueer and Paulus Phagius as also by the despitefull handling and madnesse of the papists towards Peter Martyrs wife at Oxford taken vp from hir graue at the commandement of the said cardinall and after buried in a dunghill so that in his actions he shewed himselfe as he is noted earnest in burning the bodies of the dead And for further testimonie of his crueltie it shall not be impertinent out of maister Fox here to adioine and set forth to the eies of the world the blind and bloudie articles set out by cardinall Poole to be inquired vpon within his dioces of Canturburie Whereby it maie the better appeare what yokes and snares of fond and fruitlesse traditions were laid vpon the poore flocke of Christ to intangle and oppresse them with losse of life and libertie By the which wise men haue to sée what godlie fruits proceeded from that catholike church and see of Rome In which albeit thou seest good reader some good articles insparsed withall let that nothing mooue thée for else how could such poison be ministred but it must haue some honie to relish the readers tast Here follow the articles set forth by cardinall Poole to be inquired in his ordinarie visitation within his dioces of Canturburie Touching the cleargie FIrst whether the diuine seruice in the church at times daies and houres be obserued and kept dulie or no. 2 Item whether the parsons vicars and curats doo comlie and decentlie in their maners and dooings behaue themselues or no. 3 Item whether they doo reuerentlie and dulie minister the sacraments or sacramentals or no. 4 Item whether anie of their parishioners doo die without ministration of the sacraments through the negligence of their curats or no. 5 Item whether the said parsons vicars or curats doo haunt tauerns or alehouses increasing thereby infamie and slander or no. 6 Item whether they be diligent in teaching the midwiues how to christen children in time of necessitie according to the canons of the church or no. 7 Item whether they see that the font be comelie kept and haue holie water alwaies readie for children to be christened 8 Item if they doo keepe a booke of all the names of them that be reconciled to the dutie of the church 9 Item whether there be anie priests that late vnlawfullie had women vnder pretensed mariage and hitherto are not reconciled and to declare their names and dwelling places 10 Item whether they doo diligentlie teach their parishioners the articles of the faith the ten commandements 11 Item whether they doo decentlie obserue those things that doo concerne the seruice of the church and all those thiâ—gs that tend to a good and christian life according to the canons of the church 12 Item whether they doo deuoutlie in their praiers praie for the prosperous estate of the king and quéens maiesties 13 Item whether the said parsons and vicars doo sufficientlie repare their chancels rectories and vicarages and doo kéepe and mainteine them sufficientlie repared and amended 14 Item whether anie of them doo preach or teach anie erronious doctrine contrarie to the catholike faith and vnitie of the church 15 Item whether anie of them doo saie the diuine seruice or doo minister the sacraments in the English â—oong contrarie to the vsuall order of the church 16 Item whether anie of them doo suspiciouslie kéepe anie women in their houses or doo keepe companie with men suspected of heresies or of euill opinions 17 Item whether anie of them that were vnder pretense of lawfull matrimonie maried and now reconciled doo priuilie resort to their pretensed wiues line 10 or that the said women doo priuilie resort vnto them 18 Item whether they go decentlie apparelled as it becommeth sad sober and discréet ministers and whether they haue their crowns and beards shauen 19 Item whether anie of them doo vse anie vnlawfull games as dice cards and other like wherby they grow to slander and euill report 20 Item whether they doo kéepe residence and hospitalitie vpon their benefices and doo make charitable contributions according to all the lawes ecclesiasticall line 20 21 Item whether they doo keepe the booke
sore shaken and the maid died two daies after The one and twentith of December began a frost which continued so extremlie that on Newyeares euen people went ouer and alongst the Thames on the I se line 60 from London bridge to Westminster Some plaied at the football as boldlie there as if it had béene on the drie land diuerse of the court being then at Westminster shot dailie at pricks set vpon the Thames and the people both men and women went on the Thames in greater numbers than in anie strèet of the citie of London On the third daie of Ianuarie at night it began to thaw and on the fift daie was no I se to be seene betwéene London bridge and Lambeth which sudden thaw caused great floods and high waters that bare downe bridges and houses and drowned manie people in England especiallie in Yorkshire Owes bridge was borne awaie with others The third daie of Februarie Henrie Stuart lord Darleie about the age of ninetéene yeares eldest sonne to Matthew earle of Lineux who went into Scotland at Whitsuntide before hauing obteined licence of the quéenes maiestie tooke his iourneie towards Scotland accompanied with fiue of his fathers men where when he came he was honorablie receiued lodged in the kings lodgings and in the summer following he maried Marie quéen of Scotland About this time for the quéenes maiestie were chosen and sent commissioners to Bruges the lord Montacute knight of the honourable order of the garter doctor Wotton one of hir maiesties honourable councell doctor Haddon one of the masters of requests to hir highnesse with others master doctor Aubreie was for the merchant aduenturers of England they came to Bruges in Lent Anno 1565 and continued there till Michaelmasse following and then was the diet prolonged till March in the yeare 1566 and the commissioners returned into England The two and twentith of Aprill year 1565 the ladie Margarite countesse of Lineux was commanded to kéepe hir chamber at the Whitehall where she remained till the two and twentith of Iune and then conueied by sir Francis Knolles and the gard to the tower of London by water On s. Peters euen at night was the like standing watch in London as had béene on the same night twelue moneths past The sixtéenth of Iulie about nine of the clocke at night began a tempest of lightning and thunder with showers of haile which continued till three of the clocke in the next morning so terriblie that at Chelmesford in Essex 500 acres of corne was destroied the glasse windowes on the east side of the towne and of the west and south sides of the church were beaten downe with the tiles of their houses also besides diuerse barnes chimneis and the battlements of the church which was ouerthrowne The like harme was doone in manie other places as at Leeds Cranebroke Douer c. Christopher prince and margraue of Baden with Cicilie his wife sister to the king of Swethland after a long and dangerous iournie wherein they had trauelled almost eleuen months sailing from Stockholme crossing the seas ouer into Lifeland from whence by land they came about by Poland Prussie Pomerland Meckelburgh Friseland and so to Antwerpe in Brabant then to Calis at the last in September landed at Douer and the eleuenth daie of the same they came to London and were lodged at the earle of Bedfords place neere to Iuie bridge where within foure daies after that is to saie the fiftéenth of September she trauelled in childbed and was deliuered of a man child which child the last of September was christened in the quéenes maiesties chappell of White hall at Westminster the quéenes maiestie in hir owne person being godmother the archbishop of Canturburie and the duke of Norffolke godfathers At the christening the quéene gaue the child to name Edwardus Fortunatus for that God had so gratiouslie assisted his mother in so long and dangerous a iournie and brought hir safe to land in that place which she most desired and that in so short time before hir deliuerance The eleuenth of Nouember the right honorable Ambrose earle of Warwike maried Anne eldest daughter to the earle of Bedford For the honor and celebration of which noble mariage a goodlie chalenge was made and obserued at Westminster at the tilt each one six courses at the tournie twelue strokes with the sword thrée pushes with the punchion staffe and twelue blowes with the sword at barriers or twentie if anie were so disposed At ten of the clocke at night the same daie a valiant seruiceable man called Robert Thomas maister gunner of England desirous also to honour the feast and mariage daie in consideration the said earle of Warwike was generall of the ordinance within hir maiesties realmes and dominions made thrée great traines of chambers which terriblie yéelded foorth the nature of their voice to the great astonishment of diuerse who at the firing of the second was vnhappilie line 10 slaine by a péece of one of the chambers to the great sorow and lamentation of manie The foure and twentith of December in the morning there rose a great storme and tempest of wind by whose rage the Thames and seas ouerwhelmed manie persons and the great gates at the west end of S. Paules church in London betwéene the which standeth the brasen piller were through the force of the wind then in the westerne part of the world blowne open In Ianuarie monsieur Rambulet a line 20 knight of the order in France was sent ouer into England year 1566 by the French king Charles the ninth of that name with the order who at Windsore was stalled in the behalfe of the said French king with the knighthood of the most honorable order of the garter And the foure and twentith of Ianuarie in the chappell of hir maiesties palace of Whitehall the said monsieur Rambulet inuested Thomas duke of Norffolke and Robert earle of Leicester with the said order of S. Michaell line 30 The marquesse of Baden and the ladie Cicilie his wife sister to the king of Swethen who came into this land in the moneth of September last past as before is declared being then by the quéenes especiall appointment at their arriuall honorablie receiued by the lord Cobham an honorable baron of this realme and the ladie his wife one of the quéenes maiesties priuie chamber now in the moneth of Aprill 1566 departed the realme againe the marquesse a few daies before his wife being both conducted by line 40 a like personage the lord of Aburgauennie to Douer Certeine houses in Cornehill being first purchased by the citizens of London were in the moneth of Februarie cried by a belman and afterward sold to such persons as should take them downe and carie them from thence which was so doone in the moneths of Aprill and Maie next following And then the ground being made plaine at the
of hope of recouering being no longer able to make resistance against his maladie exchanged his life the fiue and twentith of September leauing behind him in the castell of saint Angcomanie rich stones and iewels more than was expected of him and in the chamber of the sée apostolike infinit offices contrarie to custome and good order but in the treasurie a verie small store of monie wherin he beguiled the opinion of all men He was raised from base degrée to the place of the popedome with woonderfull felicitie but in managing the place he prooued a verie great variation of fortune wherein if both the properties of fortune be euenlie balanced the one with the other the woorser fortune without all comparison was farre more familiar with him than the better For as there could happen to him no greater infelicitie than the aduersitie of his imprisonment for that with his owne eies he beheld with so great a ruine and destruction the sacke of Rome a desolation which his fortune suffered him to bewaile with pitie and compassion but not to turne awaie or remedie the harme so also by him mooued the generall desolation of his naturall countrie to the which by how much more he was bound by perpetuall obligations by so much greater was his aduersitie to be a chiefe instrument in the ruine of the place where he had taken his first being He died hated of all the court suspected to most princes and for the discourse of his life he left behind him a renowme rather hatefull than acceptable for he was accounted couetous of little fidelitie and naturallie farre off from dooing pleasures to men And in that humor albeit during his time of pope he created one and thirtie cardinals yet vpon none of them did he impose that dignitie to content himselfe but was drawne as it were by the violent law of necessitie and to please others yea he called to that dignitie the cardinall of Medicis not of his proper and frée election but at the contemplation and persuasion of others and at that time when being oppressed with a dangerous maladie if he had died he had left his friends and kindred in the state of beggers and depriued of all aid Neuerthelesse he was in counsell verie graue and in his actions much foreséeing touching passions and affections a conqueror of himselfe and for the facultie of his mind spirit of great capacitie and power if timorousnesse had not oftentimes corrupted his iudgement Immediatlie after his death the cardinals going the same night into the conclaue elected in his place with full voice Alexander of the familie of Farnesa a Roman by nation and for his time the most ancient cardinall of the court in which election their voices seemed conformable to the iudgement and instance that Clement had made the person elected being most woorthie to be preferred before all the other to so souereigne a degrée for that he was both fuâ—nished with doctrine and good learning and fullie replenished with good apparanees and customes And for the cardinals they were so much â—â—â—more forward to passe the election in his person by how much for the greatnesse of his age being alreadie vpon the thréescore and seuenth yeare and supposed to beare a weake and vnsound complexion which opinion he nourished with art they hoped he would not â—it long in the seat whereby the dignitie of the place and primaâ—e line 10 might fall to one of them whose eies looked for the glorie which their hearts lusted being vtterlie estranged from God and godlinesse as altogither addicted to the wanton desires of temporall delites that they might passe their daies in delicacie as one noteth trulie of all that viperous generation saieng Omnibus idem animus ceâ—fâ—s â—â—ransâ—er arces Idem animuis 〈…〉 De grege quid fiat nibili genâ—impia â—â—rans Spectat magnifâ—â—â—â— ambitiofa 〈◊〉 line 20 Elysios horum nullus contendit ad agras Nil coeleste iuuat terâ—ea solâ—placenâ— About this season the craftie practises of one Elizabeth Barton named the holie man of Kent came to light and were discouered so that she and hir adherents in Nouember folowing were brought to the Starchamber there before the kings councell confessed their feined hypocrisie and dissembled holinesse traitorous purposes and intents The names of those hir adherents which were presented line 30 with hir before the lords in the Starchamber were as followeth Richard Master priest parson of Aldington in Kent Edward Bocking doctor in diuinitie a moonke of Canturburie Richard Dering moonke also of Canturburie Edward Twaites gentleman Thomas Laurence register to the archdeacon of Canturburie Henrie Gold parson of Aldermarie bachellor of diuinitie Hugh Rich frier obseruant Richard Rifbie and Thomas Gold gentleman They were adiudged vpon their confession line 40 aforesaid to stand at Pauls crosse in the sermon time where they with their owne hands should seuerallie deliuer ech of them to the preacher that should be appointed a bill declaring their subtill craftie and superstitious dooings Which thing they did the sundaie next following standing vpon a stage at the crosse erected for that purpose But for their treasons commited the order was respited till the parlement next following in the which they were attainted and suffered as after ye shall heare line 50 In this meane time the Scots were not quiet but still robbed the kings subiects both by sea and land wherevpon the king caused them to be requited not onelie by the borderers and other to them associate which entring by the marches burnt manie of their strong piles but also he set foorth certeine ships which entered into their streames and fetched out manie of those prises which they had taken out of their hauens and créekes mawger all their heads Yet was there no warre proclaimed but still commissioners line 60 sat and communed of agréement and amends to be made on either part Now in the end when the Scots had much demanded and little or nothing granted they for that time being wearie of warre desired peace which was concluded to indure both the kings liues And so the twentith daie of Maie in the yeare following it was openlie proclamed to the comfort of all them that delited in peace and godlie quietnesse At the suit of the ladie Katharine Dowager a cursse was sent from the pope which curssed both the king and the realme This cursse was set vp in the towne of Dunkirke in Flanders for the bringer thereof durst no nearer approch where it was taken 〈…〉 After Christmas the parlement began wherein the forenamed Elizabeth Barton and other hir compliâ—es were attainted of treason for sundrie practised deuises and tales by them aduanced put in vre and â—old sounding to the vtter reproch perill and destruction of the kings person his honour fame and dignitie for they had of a diuelish intent put in the heads of manie of the kings subiects that to the said Elizabeth Barton was
giuen knowledge by reuelation from God and his saints that if the king procéeded to the diuorse and maried another he should not be king of this realme one moneth after and in the reputation of God not one daie nor houre This Elizabeth first through sickenesse being oftentimes brought as it were into a transe whereby hir visage and countenance became maruellouslie altered at those times when shee was so vexed at length by the incouraging procurement and information of the forenamed Richard Master person of Aldington she learned to counterfeit such maner of transes after she came to perfect health as in hir sickenes by force of the disease she had bene acquainted with so that she pracâ—â—sed vsed and shewed vnto the people diuerse maruellous and sundre alterations of the sensible parts of hir bodie craftilie vttering in hir said feigned and false transes diuerse and manie counterfeit vertuous and holie words tending to the reâ—uke of sin and reproouing of such new opinions as then began to rise And to bring the people the more in beliefe with hir hypocriticall dooings she was counselled to saie in those hir transes that she should neuer be perfectlie whole till she had visited an image of our ladie at a place called Court at Stréet within the parish of Aldington aforesaid Thither was she brought and by the meanes of the said Richard Master and Edward Bocking that was now made of counsell in the matter there assembled about two thousand persons at the daie appointed of hir thither comming to sée the miracle At which daie being brought before all that assemblie and multitude of people shee falselie feigned and shewed vnto the people in the chappell of our ladie there in Court at Street manie alterations of hir face and other outward sensible parts of hir bodie and in those transes she vttered woonderous words as she was before subtilie and craftilie induced and taught by the said Edward Bocking and Richard Master And amongst other things she vttered that it was the pleasure of God that the said Bocking should be hir ghostlie father and that she should be a religious woman And within a while after such feigned and counterfeit transes she appeared to the people to be suddenlie relieued from hir sickenesse and afflictions by the intercession and meane of the image of our ladie being in the same chappell By reason of which hypocriticall dissimulation the said Elizabeth was brought into a maruellous same credit and good opinion of a great multitude of the people of this realme And to increase the same by counsell of the said Edward Bocking she became a nun in the prsorie of saint Sepulchres at Canturburie to whome the said Edward Bocking had commonlie his resort not without suspicion of incontinencie pretending to be hir ghostlie father by Gods appointment And by conspiracie betwene hir him she still continued in practising hir dissembled transes alledging that in the same she had reuelations from almightie God and his saints and amongst other that which as before we haue mentioned touched the kings mariage as ye haue heard line 10 This matter proceeded so farre that there was a booke written by hir complices and namelie by Thomas Laurence register to the archbishop of Canturburie of hir feigned and counterfeit miracles reuelations and hypocriticall holinesse All things were handled so craftilie that not onelie the simple but also the wise and learned sort were deceiued by the same insomuch that William Warham the late archbishop of Canturburie and Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester and diuerse line 20 others being informed thereof gaue credit thereto All which matters and manie other had bene traitorouslie practised and imagined amongest the parties manie yeres chieflie to interrupt the diuorse and to destroie the king and to depriue him from the crowne and dignitie roiall of this realme as in the act of their attaindor made more at large it maie appeare and likewise in the chronicles of maister Edward Hall Therefore to conclude with hir and hir adherents on the one and twentith of Aprill next line 30 following she with diuerse of them before condemned was drawen to Tiburne and there executed as iustlie they had deserued where and when she made this conâ—ession following euen at the present time that she suffered in the hearing of the people The words of Elizabeth Barton otherwise called the holie maid of Kent at the houre of hirdeath in maner of a confession HIther am I come to die and I line 40 haue not beene the onelie cause of mine owne death which most iustlie I haue deserued but also I am the cause of the death of all these persons which at this time here suffer and yet to say the truth I am not so much to be blamed considering that it was wel known vnto these learned men that I was a poore wench without learning and therefore line 50 they might haue easilie perceiued that the things that were doone by me could not proceed in any such sort but their capacities and learning could right well iudge from whence they proceeded and that they were altogither feined but bicause the things which I feined were profitable vnto them therefore they much praised mee and bare me in hand that it was the holie ghost and not I that did them and then I line 60 being puft vp with their praises fell into a certeine pride and foolish fantasie with my selfe and thought I might feine what I would which thing hath brought me to this case and for the which now I crie God and the kings highnes most hartilie mercie and desire all you good people to praie to God to haue mercie on me and on all them that suffer here with me In this parlement also was made the act of succession for the establishing of the crowne to the which euerie person being of lawfull age should bée sworne On mondaie the thrée twentith of March in the parlement time were solemnlie receiued into London ambassadours from Iames the fift king of Scots the bishop of Aberdine the abbat of Kinlos and Adam Otterborne the kings attourneie with diuerse gentlemen on them attendant which were brought to the tailors hall and there lodged And on the daie of the Annunciation they were brought to the kings palace at Westminster where they shewed their commission and message for the which the king appointed them daies to counsell During the parlement time euerie sundaie at Paules crosse preached a bishop declaring the pope not to be supreme head of the church The thirtith of March was the parlement proroged and there euerie lord knight and burges and all other were sworne to the act of succession and subscribed their hands to a parchment fixed to the same The parlement was proroged till the third of Nouember next After this were commissioners sent into all parts of the realme to take the oth of all men and women to the act of succession Doctor Iohn Fisher