though he was neuer proued false before promised king Philip that if he would suffer him to returne into England he would so worke with king Edward that he might be made by him admerall of the seas which thing brought to passe he would deliuer the English nauie into the hands line 40 of the said king Philip. Herevpon was he set at libertie and ouer he came into England And for as much as he had knowne to be a man of singular and approued valiancie king Edward receiued him verie courteouslie who remembring his promised practise to the French king fell in hand by procuring of fréends to be made admerall of the seas But king Edward as God would haue it denied that sute The French king in the meane time hauing prepared his nauie conteining thrée hundred saile what with the gallies and other ships for he had got diuerse line 50 both from Merselles and Genoa sent the same foorth to the seas that vpon such occasion the king of England might also send foorth his fléet But the French nauie comming neere to the coast of England and lieng at anchor certeine daies looking for sir Thomas Turberuile when he came not at the day prefixed the capteines of the French fleet appointed one of their vessels to approch néere to the shore and to set on land certeine persons that knew the line 60 countrie to vnderstand and learne the cause of such staie They being taken of the Englishmen and examined could make no direct answer in their owne excuse and so were put to death Some write that they sent fiue gallies towards the shore to suruey the coast of the which gallies one of them aduansing foorth afore hir fellowes arriued at Hide neere to Romney hauen where the Englishmen espâ—eng hir to draw the Frenchmen on land feined to flie bacâ—e into the countrie but returning suddenlie vpon the enimies they slue the whole number of them being about two hundred and fiftie persons They set fire on the gallie also and burned hir The admerall of the French fléet kindled in anger herewith sailed streight vnto Douer and there landing with his people robbed the towne and priorie The townesmen being striken with terror and feare of the sudden landing of their enimies fled into the countrie and raised people on euerie side the which being assembled togither in great numbers towards euening came to Douer and inuading such Frenchmen as were straied abroad to seeke preies slue them downe in sundrie places The French admerall which had beene busie all the day in pilfering the towne hearing the noise of those Frenchmen that came running towards the sea side streightwaies got him to his ships with such pillage as he could take with him The other Frenchmen which were gone abroad into the countrie to fetch preies and could not come to their ships in time were slaine euerie mothers sonne Some of them hid themselues in the corne fields and were after slaine of the countrie people There was little lesse than eight hundred of them thus slaine by one meane and other at that time There were not manie of the men of Douer slaine for they escaped by swift flight at the first entrie made by the Frenchmen but of women and children there died a great number for the enimies spared none There was also an old moonke slaine named Thomas a man of such vertue as the opinion went that after his deceasse manie miracles through him were shewed Sir Thomas Turberuile being troubled in his mind that he could not bring his traitorous purpose to passe began to assaie another waie which was to procure Iohn Balioll king of Scotland to ioine in league with the French king but yer any of his practises could be brought about his treason was reuealed who being thereof euidentlie conuicted was put to execution Nich. Triuet saith that he had promised the French king to cause Wales to reuolt from king Edward and that by procurement of the prouost of Paris he consented to worke such treason And as some write he did not onelie homage vnto the French king but also left two of his sonnes in pledge for assurance to worke that which he had promised His secretarie that wrote the letters vnto the French king conteining his imagined treasons with other aduertisements touching king Edwards purposes fearing least the matter by some other means might come to light as the old prouerb saith Quicquid nix celat solis calor omne reuelat as well to his destruction as his maisters for concealing it disclosed all to the king Now he hauing knowledge that he was bewraied by his seruant fled out of the court but such diligence was vsed in the pursuit of him that he was taken within two daies after and brought backe againe to London where be was conuicted of the treason so by him imagined and therefore finallie put to death ¶ This yeare the cleargie gaue to the king the tenth part of their goods the citizens a sixt part and the commons a twelfth part or rather as Euersden saith the burgesses of good townes gaue the seuenth and the commons abroad the eleuenth penie The same yeare died Gilbert de Clare earle of Glocester which left issue behind him begot of his wife the countesse Ione the kings daughter beside three daughters one yoong sonne named also Gilbert to succeed him as his heire The countesse his wife after hir husbands deceasse married a knight of meane estate borne in the bishopricke of Duresme named sir Rafe Monthermer that had serued the earle hir first husband in his life time The king at the first tooke displeasure herewith but at length through the hie valiancie of the knight oft times shewed and apparantlie approoued the matter was so well taken that he was intituled earle of Glocester and aduanced to great honor ¶ Iohn Romane archbishop of Yorke also this yeare died after whome one Henrie de Newmarke deane of the colledge there succeeded year 1296 ¶ Moreouer the same yeare William de Ualence earle of Penbroke departed this life and lieth buried at Westminster and then Aimer his sonne succeeded him Iohn king of Scotland affianced his sonne Edward Balioll with the daughter of Charles du Ualois brother to the French king and concluded with the said French king a league against the king of line 10 England Nothing mooued the Scotish king so much hereto as the affection which he bare towards his natiue countrie for he was a French man borne and lord of Harecourt in Normandie which segniorie was after made an earledome by Philip du Ualois king of France The Scotishmen had chosen 12 peeres that is to saie foure bishops foure earles and foure barons by whose aduise and counsell the king should gouerne the realme by whome he was induced also to consent vnto such accord with the line 20 French men contrarie to his promised faith giuen to king Edward when he
some other the like attempt they seâ—t thither sir William Woodâ—â—â—â— with eight hundred men to strengthen the frontiers and further set foorth a proclamation that all men which would transport anie corne chéese or other vittels thither should paie no maner of custome or tallage which 〈◊〉 caused the countrie of Aquitaine to be well furnished of all things necessarie About this season Iohn the valiant lord Talbot for his approued prowesse and wisdome aswell in England as in France both in peace warre so well tried was â—reated earle of Shâ—ewesburie and with a companie of three thousand men sent agaâ—ne into Normandie for the better defâ—nse of the same * This yéere died Lodowâ—ke 〈◊〉 â—ewes Lischburne bishop of Elie being the fiue anâ— twentith that inâ—oied that place year 1443 who came to the samâ— after this maner After the death of Philip Morgan bishop of that sée the moonks of Elie chose for their pastor Robert â—â—tz Hugh bishop of London but he dieng at saint Oâ—ees before his confirmation neuer possessed the honour thereof Wherevpon the king directed his letters to the couent of Elie to make election of Thomas Rudburne bishop of S. Dauids in Wales for their bishop But they contrarie therevnto taking it now for a custome hauing so often vsed it before as did well appeare made choise of Thomas Bourchier borne of a noble house sonne to the countesse of Stafford chancellor of Oxenford and bishop of Worcester to succeed Philip Morgan Which Bourchier the king offended with the moonkes for the little regard had to his request vtterlie refused and would not admit him vnto that place Wherevpon there were buls procured from Eugenius the fourth then bishop of Rome which were sent into England to confirme the election of the said Bourchier But he wiselie fearing to fall into the dangerous statute of Premumre durst not receiue or execute the tenor of the popes commandement By reason whereof least the see might otherwise remaine void if speedie remedie were not prouided the king did in commendam bestow the bishoprike of Elie vpon this Lodowike Lischburne archbishop of Rone by office Card. 4. Coronat Cancellar Franciae Normanniae and kinsman to the said king Which doone Eugenius when he saw no other remedie did reuoke his buls made before to Thomas Bourchier in the yeare of Christ 1437. This Lodowike remaining bishop six yeares and so manie moneths died in the yeare as before the eighteenth of September at his manor of Hatfield whose bowels were buried in the said church his hart was caried to Rone and there honourablie intoomed and his bodie was committed to the earth in the church of Elie betweene two marble pillors next to the altar of the relikes In this yeare died in Guien the countesse of Comings to whome the French king and also the earle of Arminacke pretended to be heire in so much that the earle entred into all the lands of the said ladie And bicause he knew the French king would not take the matteâ— well to haue a Rouland for an Oâ—â—uer he sent solemne ambassadours to the king of England offering him his daughter in mariage with promise to be bound beside great summes of monie which he would giue with hir to deliuer into the king of Englands hands all such castels and townes as he or his ancestors deteined from him within anie part of the duchie of Aquitaine either by conquest of his progenitors or by gift and deliuerie of anie French king and further to aid the same king with monie for the recouerie of other cities within the same duchie from the French king or from anie other person that against king Henrie vniustlie kept and wrongfullie withholden them This offer séemed so profitable and also honorable to king Henrie and the realme that the ambassadours were well heard honourable receiued and with rewards sent home into their countrie After whome were sent for the conclusion of the marriage into Guien sir Edward Hull sir Robert Ros and Iohn Gralton deane of S. Seuerines the which as all the chronographers agrée both concluded the mariage and by proxie affied the yoong ladie The French line 10 king not a little offended herewith sent his â—ldest sonne Lewes the Dolphin of Uienne into Rouergue with a puissant armie which tooke the earle and his yoongest sonne with both his daughters and by force obteined the countries of Arminacke Louuergne Rouergue and Moulessonois beside the cities Seuerac Cadâ—ac chasing the bastard of Arminacke out of his countries and so by reason hereof the concluded mariage was deferred and that so long that it neuer tooke effect as hereafter it may appeare line 20 ¶ In this yeare was an act made by authoritie of the common councell of London that vpon the sundaie no maner of thing within the franchises and liberties of the said citie should be bought or sold neither vittels nor other thing It was also enacted by the same common councell with full consent and ratified by the authoritie of the law-makers that no artificer or handicrafts man should bring his wares commodities or worke vnto anie person or persons to be worne or occupied on that daie bicause it was line 30 iudged a foule prophanation thereof And peoples minds giuen to couetousnesse make no exception of times or places in a case of aduantage and gaine In consideration whereof and for the suppressing of this abuse this law was ordeined and made the force whereof did principallie extend to tailors and shoomakers who as on that daie bring home their garments and shoos to the parties for whome they are made and likewise to all other occupations and trades But this ordinance saith mine author was line 40 too good for so bad an age and therefore died within a short time after the magistrate had giuen it life ¶ On Candlemasse éeue this yeere by lightning in a tempest that fell with claps of thunder at afternoone Paules steeple was set on fier in the middest of the speare or shaft in the verie timber worke which was quenched by the painfulnesse of diuerse persons and specialie by the diligent labour of a préest of Bow in Cheape Howbeit the same was thought vnpossible to be quenched but that the grace of God was line 50 chéefe worker in the same This stéeple hath diuerse times beene ouerthrowne and defaced partlie by winds and partlie by lightning as may be obserued in the reading of this volume yea when the same hath béene repared by the choisest workemen and of the substantiallest stuffe and all meanes that stood with the déepe deuise of man vsed to make it so sure that it might continue as a monument of perpetuitie for posteritie to woonder at and admire But to returne to the historie line 60 Whilest England was vnquieted as you haue heard and France by spoile slaughter and burning sore defaced a mischeefe in all places much lamented therefore to agrée the two puissant
offendors person the kings fauor dispensed with the rigor of iudgement so that he was beheaded onelie and his bodie not dismembred ¶ This duke had begun a great and sumptuous building at his manor of Thornburie but left the same vnfinished He made a faire parke hard by the same building for the which he tooke in much and fruitfull ground Also another parke at Eastwood one mile off he inlarged at two times to the compasse of six miles for the which déed and such like he had manie a cursse of the poore tenants At the time of his death no doubt his conscience giuing in greater euidence than 10000 witnesses told him whether he was justlie condemned or no for a mans dieng day is as a bill of information putting him in mind of his life well or ill spent as one saith Pectora terribili cùm mors ferit horrida telo Quomodo vita tibi sit priùs acta scies A conuenient collection concerning the high constables of England which office ceassed and tooke end at the duke of Buckingham aboue mentioned THe death of this duke of Buckingham being the last constable of England dooth present apt place to me wherein to insert the names of all such honorable persons as haue béene inuested with that title of the constableship of England an office of great account such as sometime was the chéefest place of a temporall subiect in the relme the high steward excepted whose power did extend to restreine some actions of the kings Wherefore being now no such office for ther◠was neuer anie aduanced therevnto since the beheading of this duke I thinke it not vuméet to make some memorie of those persons possessing so high a place least both they and their office might hereafter grow in vtter obliuion these therefore they were line 10 Alfgarus Stallere constable to Edward the Confessor of whome thus writeth the historie of Elie in the second booke written by Richard of Elie a moonke of that house in the time of Henrie the second whose words although they be somewhat long I shall not gréeue to set downe in this sort De famosa villa Estre alio nomine Plassie vocata dicendum est quà m miserè ab Elie est destracta Alfgarus quidem Stallere quod Latinè dux dicitur eam inuasit vsus estea Abbas verò Wolfricus fratres cùm sedulò frustra requirerent Edwardum Confessorem adeunt cui rex mandauit vt restitueret line 20 sed ille regijs iussis nequaquam obtemperanit Fratres autem cùm nec prece nec precio eius animum flectere potuissent anathematizant eum nec sententiam super eum vllo dic praetermittebant Quod ille diutiùs paruipendens licèt magnus potens in regno esset vti regis constabularius ab ecclesia eliminatus fidelium consortio ad correptionem vix iam cunctis detestabilis effectus compulsus peruenire tandem plurimùm obiurgatus correptus à rege reuersus est in se prece tandem nititur obtinere quod iniqua manu cunctatus non est line 30 Illi verò hoc cognoscentes illi annunt demiserúntque ei quamuis ad suum incommodum ita vt iureiurando postipsius vitam ab omni suorum inquietudine libera ad ecclesiam possessio rediret Quod quidem factum est scripto Anglici sermonis designatum Testes rex Edwardus regina c. Which man after the death of king Edward the Confessor and Harold the vsurper was when the Normans entered England as saith the said historie In ergastulo plurimis alijs ferro astrictus vsque ad mortem line 40 Walter constable of England in the time of William the Conquerour and of William Rufus succeeded Alfgarus Here before I saie anie more I thinke it not amisse to set downe somewhat touching William Fitz Osberne or Osbert earle of Hereford whome manie will haue to be constable in the time of the Conquerour which truelie I can not as yet be led to beleeue For although that this William was the onelie man who both persuaded incouraged and procured aid of others to assist William Conquerour for the obteining of England and that line 50 this man was as we commonlie saie the onelie right hand chéefe compeller and disposer of the kingdome after that William the Conquerour had obteined the same being also Tribunus militum of all the armie that William Conquerour led into England and the man that persuaded the bishop of Samborrow to compound for the title of the king of Denmarke made vnto England yet I suppose him not to be constable but onelie marshall of England or line 60 at the least if he were it could not be verie long For that this earle was extreame old departed the realme and disposed all the affaires of the Norman bastard beyond the seas and died about the yeare of our redemption 1072 being about the eight yeare of the reigne of William Conquerour Milo the sonne of the said Walter an enimie to king Stephan who yet confirmed him in his fathers inheritance was aduanced first to great honors by Henrie the first who méeting Mawd the empresse at Bristow and taking hir for lawfull quéene did continuallie follow hir faction for which she in the sixt yeare of king Stephan to honour him for his good seruice as appeareth by the charter thereof gaue him the earledome of Hereford constableship of Enggland the castell of Bironell the forrest of Deane He was lord also of Breckenocke He translated the chanons of the monasterie of saint Iohns of Lanthonie in the yeare of our redemption 1103 being the fourth yeare of king Henrie the first to a place néere Glocester then called Hide and since Lanthonie as Iohn Stow hath well noted out of other authors He married Sibilla the daughter of Bernard Newmarch a nobleman of Normandie who obteined by conquest the lordship of Breckenocke by whome he had issue fiue sonnes and thrée daughters The sonnes were Roger Walter Henrie William and Mahaell His three daughters were Margaret married to Humfreie Bohune Bertha the second was married to Philip Bruse created by king Stephan lord of Bruse Gower Bauld Brimble and in his wiues right lord of Breckenocke Lucia married to Herebert the sonne of Herebert base sonne to Henrie the first who was in hir right lord of the forrest of Deane he died in the eight or as others haue the ninth yeare of king Stephan being the yeare of our redemption 1143. William the sonne of Walter Beauchampe shiriffe of Worcester was made high constable of England by king Stephan in the fift yeare of his reigne being in the yeare of our redemption 1139 when the king was at Worcester which honour he tooke from Miles of Glocester as saith that painefull antiquarie Iohn Stow in his chronicle printed in the yeare of our Lord 1580 fol. 191. Roger the sonne of Milo succéeded his father in all his inheritance as
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
on the tenth of December in the yéere of Christ 1404 being the sixt yeere of Henrie the fourth in the which bishoprike he continued about one yere and died in the yeere 1406 being buried at saint Bartholomews priorie in Smithfield who of a poore man as saith Walsingham was made lord treasuror of England G. bishop of S. Dauids was lord treasuror of England line 30 in the two and twentith yere of Richard the second which bishop I suppose to be Guie de Mone whom the booke Ypodigma Thomas Walsingham call bishop of S. Dauids and saie that he died in the yéere of our redemption 1407 writing in this sort Eodem anno Guido de Mone Meneuensis episcopus praesentis lucis sensit eclipsim qui dum vixit magnorum malorum causa fuit William Scroope knight vicechamberleine to Richard the second was lord treasuror he bought of line 40 William Montacute earle of Salisburie the Ile of Man with the crowne thereof He was one of those to whom king Richard the second let the kingdom to farme he was lord treasuror of England in the 21 of Richard the second and was after created earle of Wilshire in the said 21 yere of the same Richard the second in the yéere of Christ 1397. He was after beheded at Bristow in the 23 and last yeere of the then deposed king Richard Of which William Scroope and others thus writeth that worthie poet sir Iohn Gower line 50 in his historie of Richard the second commonlie taken as part of his worke intituled Vox clamantis Dux probus audaci vultu cum plebe sequaci Regnum scrutatur siproditor inueniatur Sic tres exosos magis omnibus ambitiosos Regni tortores inuenerat ipse priores Ense repercussi pereunt Gren Scrop quoque Bussi Hi qui regales fuerant cum rege sodales Scrop comes miles cuius Bristolia viles Actus declarat quo mors sua fata pararat line 60 Gren quoque sorte pari statuit dux de capitari Bussi conuictus similes quoque sustinet ictus Vnanimes mente pariter mors vna repente Hos tres prostrauit gladius quos fine vorauit Sicut egerunt alijs sic hi ceciderunt Quo dux laudatur regnúmque per omne iocatur Sir Iohn Northberie made lord treasuror in the first yeare of king Henrie the fourth being the yeare that God tooke on him the forme of a seruant a thousand thrée hundred nintie and nine and continued in the same in the third yeare of Henrie the fourth in which yeare he was also keeper of the priuie garderobe in the tower Henrie Bowet made bishop of Bath about the yeare of our redemption 1401 being also about the second yeare of Henrie the fourth in which bishoprike he continued eight yeares and was after at the kings instance in the yéere of Christ a thousand foure hundred and seuen about the eight yeare of Henrie the fourth remooued to Yorke This man was lord treasuror of England in the fourth yeare of king Henrie the fourth in the yeare of our redemption 1403 in which place he continued not aboue a yéere if so long William lord Rosse the sonne of Thomas lord Rosse did possesse the honorable place of the lord treasuror of England in the fift yeare of king Henrie the fourth being about the yeare of our saluation one thousand foure hundred and foure and shortlie after gaue place to the lord Furniuall He married Margaret daughter of Fitzallen lord Matrauars he had issue Thomas lord Rosse slaine in France in the yeare one thousand foure hundred twentie and one about the ninth yeare of Henrie the sixt and manie other children Thomas lord Furniuall kept the place and office of the lord treasuror of England the sixt seuenth and some part of the eight yeare of king Henrie the fourth as in Michaelmasse tearme of the same eight yeare falling in the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred and six after which this lord Furniuall who had the custodie of the castell and honour of Wigmoore being in the kings hands by reason of the wardship and minoritie of Edmund Mortimer earle of March was as it seemeth remooued from the treasurorship in whose roome succeeded the bishop of London To these lord Furniuals did Furniuals inne of Holborne sometime apperteine as their mansion house being now an inne of chancerie for yoong students of the law and atturneies and belonging vnto Lincolns inne in Chancerie lane Nicholas Bubwith made bishop of London in the yeare of Christ one thousand foure hundred and six being the eight yéere of Henrie the fourth must be that bishop of London as farre as I can yet conceiue who was lord treasuror of England in Michaelmas tearme in the said eight yeare of Henrie the fourth which office it seemeth that he held not long for in Easter terme after in the same eight yeare the office of the tresuror remained in the kings hands and the accompts of the same terme go vnder the same title of being in the kings hands Sir Richard Scroope lord of Bolton wherof is so much spoken before was as I suppose the second time treasuror of England in this ninth yeare of Henrie the fourth wherevnto I am induced by this reason that first the king would not keepe that office so long in his hands as almost amounted vnto two yeares but that he would bestow the same vpon some other secondlie for that I read that this Richard Scroope father to William Scroope earle of Wilshire beheaded by this Henrie the fourth before he came to the crowne at Bristow in the last yeare of Richard the second and in the first of this kings reigne was after the death of the said William made treasuror of England and so died in honour thirdlie for that I cannot sée how he might be treasuror in anie yeare since the death of the said William vntill this ninth yeare of Henrie the fourth and lastlie for that I cannot in anie record or other author find anie other man mentioned to supplie that place in this yeare for which causes I haue attempted to bestow him here and that rightlie for anie thing that I can yet learne Sir Iohn Tiptost or Tibetot knight did possesse the place and office of the lord treasurorship of England in Michelmas terme in the tenth yeare of king Henrie the fourth being in the yere of our redemption one thousand foure hundred and eight Henrie lord Scroope of Masham and of Flarfleet was made lord treasuror of England in the eleuenth yere of the reigne of K. Henrie the fourth in the yeare of our redemption one thousand foure hundred and ten as hath Walsingham in which office he continued vntill the death of king Henrie the fourth which hapned in the fourtéenth yeare of the same king and in the yeare of our redemption one line 10 thousand foure hundred twelue after the account of England but one thousand foure
honor painefull watchfull and able to tolerate heat and cold though he were tall of stature and verie grosse of bodie Toward the end of his daies he waxed verie deuout and became desirous to aduance the state of the line 40 church insomuch that he builded thrée abbeies in three seuerall places endowing them with faire lands and large possessions one at the place where he vanquished king Harold fiue miles from Hastings which he named Battell of the field there fought the other at Celby in Yorkeshire and the third in Normandie at Caen where his wife Quéene Maud had builded a nunnerie which Maud died in the yéere 1084. before the decease of the king hir husband After his death his bodie was buried in Caen line 50 in S. Stephans church but before it could be committed to the ground the executors were consâ—reined to agree with the lord of the soile where the church stood which as he said the king in his life time had iniuriouslie taken from him and gaue him a great summe of monie to release his title ¶ By this we may consider the great miserie of mans estate in that so mightie a prince could not haue so much ground after his death as to couer his dead corâ—s without dooing iniurie to another This line 60 also may be a speciall lesson for all men and namelie for princes noblemen and gentlemen who oftentimes to enlarge their owne commodities doo not regard what wrong they offer to the inferiour â—ort The said king William had by Maud his wife the daughter of Baldwine earle of Flanders foure sonnes Robert surnamed Curthose vnto whome he bequeathed the duchie of Normandie Richard who died in his youth William surnamed Ruâ—â—s to whom he gaue by testament the realme of England and Henrie surnamed Beauclerke for his cunning knowledge and learning vnto whom he bequethed all his treasure and mooueable goods with the possessions that belonged to his mother Besides these foure sonnes he had also by his said wife fiue daughters Cecilie who became a nunne Constance who was married to Alane duke of Britaine Adela who was giuen in mariage to Stephan earle of Blois of whom that Stephan was borne which reigned after Henrie the first Adeliza who was promised in mariage to Harold king of England as before you haue heard but she died yer she was maried either to him or to any other and so likewise did the fift whose name I cannot reherse But to conclude though king William held the English so vnder foot that in his daies almost no Englishman bare any office of honor or rule in his time yet he somewhat fauoured the citie of London and at the earnest sute of William a Norman then bishop of that see he granted vnto the citizens the first charter which is written in the Saxon toong sealed with greene wax and expressed in viij or ix lines at the most exemplified according to the copie and so printed as followeth Williem king grets Williem Bisceop Godfred Porterefan ealle ya Burghwarn binnen London Frencisce Englise frendlice Ic kiden eoy yeet ic wille yeet git ben ealra weera lagayweord ye get weeran on Eadwerds daege kings And ic will yeet aelc child by his fader yrfnume aefter his faders daege And ic nelle ge wolian yeet aenig man eoy aenis wrang beode God eoy heald Wilhelmus rex salutat Wilhelmum Episcopum Goffridum Portegrefium omnem Burghware infra London Frans. Angl. amicabiliter Et vobis notum facio quòd ego volo quòd vos sitis omni lege illa digni qua fuistis Edwardi dicbus regis Et volo quòd omnis puer sit patris sui haeres post diem patris sui Et ego nolo pati quòd aliquis homo aliquam iniuriam vobis inferat Deus vos saluet But howsoeuer he vsed the rest of the English this is recorded of some writers that by his rigorous proceedings against them he brought to passe that the countrie was so rid of theeues and robbers as that at length a maid might haue passed through the land with a bag full of gold and not haue met with any misdooer to haue bereft hir of the same a thing right strange to consider sith in the beginning of his reigne there were such routs of outlawes and robbers that the peaceabler people could not be safelie possessed of their owne houses were the same neuer so well fortified and defended Among manie lawes made by the said William this one is to be remembred that such as forced any woman should lose their genitals In this kings daies also liued Osmond the second bishop of Salisburie who compiled the church seruice which in times past they commonlie called after Salisburie vse The vse of the long bowe as Iohn Rous testifieth came first into England with this king William the Conquerour for the English before that time vsed to fight with axes and such hand weapons and therefore in the oration made by the Conquerour before he gaue battell to king Harold the better to encourage his men he told them they should encounter with enimies that wanted shot In the yeare of our Lord 1542. Monsieur de Castres bishop of Baieulx and abbat of Saint Estienne in Caen caused the sepulchre of this William to be opened wherein his bodie was found whole faire and perfect of lims large and big of stature and personage longer than the ordinarie sort of men with a copper plate fairlie gilt and this epitaph therevpon ingrauen Qui rexit rigidos Normannos atque Britannos Audacter vicit fortiter obtinuit Et Coenomenses virtute contudit enses Imperijque suilegibus applicuit Rex magnus parua iacet hac Guilhelmus in vrna Sufficit magno parua domus domino Ter septem gradibus se voluerat atque duobus Virginis in gremio Phoebus hic oâ—ijt that is Who ouer Normans rough did rule and ouer Britons bold Did conquest stoutlie win and conquest woone did stronglie hold Who by his valure great the fatall vprores calmd in maine And to obeie his powers and lawes the Manceaux did constraine This mightie king within this little vault intoomed lies So great a lord sometime so small a roome dooth now suffice When three times seuen and two by iust degrees the sunne had tooke His woonted course in Virgos lap then he the world forsooke Thus far William Conquerour William Rufus or William the Red. WIlliam surnamed Rufus or William the Red second sonne to William Conqueror began his reigne ouer England the ninth of September in the yeare 1087. about the 31. yeare of the emperour Henrie the fourth and the 37. of Philip the first king of France Urbane the second then gouerning the sée of Rome and Malcolme Cammoir line 10 reigning in Scotland Immediatlie after his fathers deceasse and before the solemnitie of the funerals were executed he came ouer into
monastich insinuateth Fronte capillata est post est occasio calua offered to broch his conceiued purpose of rebellion which of late he had imagined and now began to put in practise vsing the opportunitie of the time and the state or qualitie of the quarell then taken for his best aduantage and meaning to make it an ingredience line 50 or entrance to the malicious conceit which he had kept secret in his hart This yeere the moonks of Canturburie by the kings assent chose for their archbishop one Richard who before was prior of Douer this man was the 39. in number that had ruled the church of Canturburie being of an euill life as he well shewed in that he wasted the goods of the church inordinatlie Roger the abbat of Bechellouin was first chosen but he refused that dignitie rather for slothfulnes and idlenes line 60 as some take it than for modestie or wisedome so hard a thing it is to please the people which measure all things to be honest or dishonest as they eb or flow in profit and gaine The said Richard after that he was elected did homage vnto king Henrie and sware fealtie vnto him Saluo semper ordine suo His order alwaies saued without making mention of the customes of the kingdome This was doone at Westminster in the chappel of S. Katharine the kings iusticer giuing his assent therevnto where a councell was held the same time and a letter of the popes read there before the bishops and barons of the realme conteining amongst other things this that followeth A breefe extract or clause of a letter which the pope sent to the clergie of England c for the making of a new holie daie WE admonish you all by the authoritie which we reteine doo streightlie charge you that you celebrat the daie of the suffering of the blessed man Thomas the glorious martyr sometime archbishop of Canturburie euerie yere in most solemne sort that with deuout praiers ye endeuour your selues to purchase forgiuenes of sins that he which for Christes sake suffered banishment in this life and martyrdome in death by constancie of vertue through continuall supplication of faithful people may make intercession for you vnto God The tenor of these letters were scarslie read but euerie man with a lowd voice began to recite this psalme or hymne Te Deum laudamus Furthermore bicause his suffragans had not exhibited due reuerence to him their father either in time of his banishment or at his returne from the same but rather persecuted him that they might openlie confesse their errour and wickednesse to all men they made this collect Be fauourable good Lord to our supplication and praier that we which acknowledge our selues guiltie of iniquitie may be deliuered by the intercession of Thomas thy blessed martyr and bishop Amen This praier was vsed by the couent of S. Albons on the daie of his martyrdome Thus caeca superstitionis Est facilÃsque via cunctis iam cognita saeclis ¶ Notwithstanding all which honour of the pope then exhibited to his saint as his canonization with other solemnities procured for the maintenance of his memoriall in all ages succeeding what remembrance is there now of Thomas Becket Where be the shrines that were erected in this church and that chappell for perpetuities of his name and fame Are they not all defaced are they not all ruinated are they not all conuerted to powder and dust And although the pope ment by causing such ikons to be erected to prefer Thomas as a perpetuall saint to all posterities and thought as he that said of his poems Exegi monumentum aere perennius RegalÃque situ pyramidum altius Quod non imber edax non aquilo impotens Possit diruere aut innumerabilis Annorum series fuga temporum Yet is he growne not into renowme but infamie and shame in England as our chronicles declare which haue published that Romish rakehels ambitious and traitorous heart to all successions Naie whereas in times past he was reckoned in the popes rubricke for a saint and a martyr now it is come to passe by the meanes belike of other saints whose merits haue surpassed Beckets that he is growne in obliuion euen at Rome and his name raced out of the popes calendar as a learned man preached in a solemne audience at a high festiuall time by whom he was so magnified In which kind of discontinuing his fauour to his sworne children he sheweth himselfe verie ingratefull and not worthie of the dutifulnesse wherewith like buzzards as they be they ouercharge their hellish holie I would saie father This yeare the sister of the said archbishop Richard was made abbesse of Berking But now touching the new elected archbishop Richard we find that comming to Canturburie on the saturdaie after his election in hope to be there consecrated he was disappointed by letters that came from king Henrie the sonne in forme as followeth A letter of yoong king Henrie touching the disappointment of archbishop Richards consecration HEnrie by the grace of God king of England duke of Normandie and earle of Aniou sonne of king Henrie line 10 to our deere and faithfull freend Odo prior of the church of Canturburie and to all the conuent there sendeth greeting By the assured report of some we vnderstand that in your church and in other churches also my father goeth about to institute certein persons not verie meet for such calling and bicause without our consent it ought not so to be doone who by reason of our kinglie annointing line 20 haue taken vpon vs the kingdome and charge of the whole realme hervpon we haue in the presence of many persons appealed to the see of Rome and haue signified our appeale in that behalfe made vnto our reuerend fathers and freends Albert and Theodorike cardinals and legats of the apostolike see by our writing and messenger who like wise and discreet personages haue assented therevnto We haue likewise signified the same our appeale to our line 30 faithfull freends the bishops of London Excester and Worcester and as we haue appealed so likewise we doo appeale vnder your testimonie After the perusall of this letter and the due consideration of the substance and summe of the same albeit no such afterclaps were suspected before the bishops were altogither driuen to their shifts line 40 some of them desiring to go forward with the consecration and some supposing it better to yéeld vnto the appeale The elect archbishop therefore first sent messengers to Rome with letters not written onelie by himselfe but also by all the bishops and conuent of Canturburie After this he followed himselfe in person and comming to the popes court found there diuers aduersaries to his cause For some were there that tooke part with the king the father and some with the king the sonne and so his businesse could line 50 haue no spéedie dispatch In the meane time the rancor
and comming to his father as an obedient sonne shewed himselfe readie to serue him at commandement with a glad and willing mind Soone after this and about the seauenth houre of the day the sunne suffered a generall eclipse so that no part of it appeared and therwith followed great thunder with lightning and sore tempest with the violence whereof both men and beasts were destroied and manie houses burned Shortlie after this the kings of England and France met and communed togither for the aiding of them in the holie land and they promised indéed to send thither both men and monie but the patriarch made small account thereof for he was much deceiued of that which he hoped to haue brought to passe which was either to haue got the king of England or one of his sonnes or some other man of great authoritie with him into the holie land but bicause that would not be he departed from the court verie sorrowfull and sore displeased so that it may be thought that then and not before his departure out of England he spake his mind so plainlie vnto the king as before yee haue heard Moreouer about this time king Henrie obteined of pope Urbane the third that he might crowne which of his sonnes it should please him king of Ireland in token of which grant and confirmation the said pope sent vnto him a crowne of peacocks feathers after a feat maner wouen in with gold This yeare the king held his Christmasse at Danfrount year 1186 and shortlie after came to a communication with the French king at the which he tooke a solemne oth that he would deliuer the ladie Alice the French kings sister whome he had as yet in his custodie vnto his sonne Richard erle of Poictou in mariage For the which mariage to be had and solemnized the French king granted to deliuer vnto the said Richard the towne of Gisors with all that which his father king Lewes promised vnto king Henrie the sonne latelie deceassed in marriage with quéene Margaret the wife of the same Henrie receiuing an oth thereto neuer to make anie claime or chalenge to the same towne and lands King Henrie after he had thus concluded and finished his affaires with the French king returned backe into England in Maie and then was Hugh prior of Witham instituted bishop of Lincolne after that the see there had béene void and without any lawfull gouernour almost the space of seauenteene yeares This Hugh was reputed a verie godlie and vertuous man Before him Walter Constance was nominated to that sée but bicause he was made archbishop of Rouen before he was inuested in the church of Lincolne he is not accounted in number of the bishops of Lincolne Moreouer king Henrie shortlie after his returne at this time into England assembled a great armie and went with the same to Caerleill in purpose to haue entred Galloway and there to haue chastised Rouland lord of that countrie who was sonne to Uthred the sonne of Fergus for the iniuries doone to his coosine germains namelie to Duncane sonne to Gilbert who was sonne to the same Fergus in spoiling him and the residue after the deceasse of the said Gilbert of their parts of inheritance vsurping the whole to himselfe But as the king was now readie to inuade his countrie Rouland came to him and vsed such meanes vnder pretense of satisfaction that he made his peace with the king who therevpon brought backe his armie and did no more at that time About the same time came newes to the king that Hugh Lacie was slaine in Ireland by an Irish gentleman that was his confederate or rather by a labourer as in the Irish historie you may read whereof the king was nothing sorie bicause the same Hugh was growne to so high degrée of puissance in that countrie that he refused to obeie the kings commandement when he sent for him ¶ It is to be noted that when king Henrie had conquered the most part of Ireland and set the countrie in some good order after his comming from thence such capteines as he left there behind him were not idle but still did what they could to inlarge the confines which were committed to their gouernance but amongst them all this Hugh Lacie was the chéefest in somuch that after the death of Richard earle of Striguile the king made him gouernour of the countrie in place of the said earle by reason whereof he so inlarged his possessions that within a while he became dreadfull not onelie to the enimies but also to his associats as to such English capteins as were abiding in Ireland vpon gard of the English line 10 frontiers For if any of them disobeied his commandement he would not sticke to chastise them at his pleasure so that by such meanes he seemed rather to conquer the countrie to his owne vse than to the kings Wherein he dealt not so directlie or discréetlie as he might for Homines volunt allici non impelli He had also ioined himselfe in mariage with a daughter of the king of Unlester not making king Henrie priuie to the same Wherevpon the king hauing sundrie informations presented to him of such line 20 his presumptuous demeanour commanded him by his letters to returne home and come before his presence which to doo as before I haue said he refused by reason whereof he confirmed the suspicion which was conceiued of him to rise vpon no vaine coniectures and therefore the euill that came to him was nothing lamented of king Henrie who with good cause was highlie offended towards him for the contempts and considerations aforesaid line 30 This yeare Geffrey the kings son who was earle of Britaine died at Paris and was buried in the same citie leauing behind him besides two daughters one onlie sonne as then in his mothers wombe of whom she was deliuered in the night of the feast of Easter next insuing hir husbands death he was named Arthur and succeeded his father in the earledome of Britaine His fathers death was occasioned as men iudge by a fall which he caught at a iournie for he was sore bruised therewith and neuer had his health but finallie fell into a flix and so died line 40 About this season pope Urbane wrote vnto Baldwin archbishop of Canturburie granting him licence to build a church at Alkinton in honour of S. Stephan and Thomas Becket now reputed a martyr and that the fourth part of the offerings which came to the box of Thomas the martyr should be assigned to the vse of the moonks an other fourth part to the buildings of that church and an other fourth part to be giuen to the poore and the other fourth part line 50 remaining he might reserue to himselfe to bestow at his pleasure But within a while after at the suit and supplication of the prior and couent of Canturburie who liked nothing of the former partition the pope sent letters of prohibition to the
place Afterward when the earle of Flanders and the earle of Blois with diuerse other earles and barons of the Realme of France laid their armor aside protesting openlie that they would not put on the same againe to make warre against any christian till they should returne from their iournie which they had vowed into the holie land the French king destitute line 30 of men to serue him made sute once againe to king Henrie that they might méet and talke of peace which was hardlie granted and so they met on the morrow after saint Faithes daie or the seauenth of October at Chatellon where they entreated of a forme of peace so that the French king should haue restored all that he had taken within the countries belonging to king Henrie and likewise Richard earle of Poictou should deliuer vp vnto the earle of saint Giles otherwise called earle of Tholouse line 40 all that he had taken from him since the breach of the last truce But when king Henrie would not deliuer the castell of Pascie in pledge to the French king they departed in sunder as before without any thing concluded The king of France after this tooke the castell of Paiuell Upon the eightéenth day of August the two kings came againe togither about a new treatie of peace betwixt Bonsemblance and Sukennie where the French king offered king Henrie to restore to him line 50 all that he had taken by his last warres if his sister Alice might be ioined in marriage with Richard erle of Poictou now eldest sonne aliue to king Henrie and that all king Henries subiects might doo homage and sweare fealtie to the same Richard But king Henrie after the old prouerbe Ictus piscator sapit hauing bought his experience with the féeling of smart bearing in memorie the iniuries done to him by his sonne Henrie after such his aduancement to kinglie degrée would not grant the French kings request line 60 herein Wherevpon a further mischeefe happened for his sonne earle Richard taking displeasure that his father should denie him that honour which made altogither for his more assurance to succeed him as king fell from his said father manifestlie and became the French kings man dooing homage to him also without consent of king Henrie for all those lands that belonged to his said father on that further side the sea The French king for his homage and fealtie gaue him Chateau Raoull and Ysoldun with all the honour thereto belonging ¶ Some write that the cheefest cause which mooued king Henrie to refuse to ioine his sonne earle Richard and the ladie Alice daughter vnto the French king in marriage togither was for that he was linked in the combersome chaine of hot burning loue with the same ladie and therefore he sought all the shifts of excuses delaies that might be imagined so that it appeared he had no mind to part with hir The truth was as writers affirme he had alreadie persuaded hir to satisfie his lust insomuch that he liked hir so well that he ment to be diuorsed from his wife quéene Elianor and to marrie this yoong ladie which if he might bring to passe and haue children by hir he purposed to disherit those which he had by Elianor and to make the other which he should haue by Adela his legitimat and lawfull heires Yet before they departed from this communication a truce was taken to endure till the feast of S. Hilarie And Henrie bishop of Alba a cardinall that was sent from the pope to end this controuersie betwixt these two mightie princes accursed Richard earle of Poictou for that by his meanes the troubles rose and were continued betwixt them The towne of Beuerley with the church of saint Iohn the archbishop was in maner wholie consumed with fire on the 20. of September Also the same yeare died William of Sempringham the author and first founder of the religious order of Sempringham Moreouer Gilbert de Ogerstan a knight templer put in trust by king Henrie with others to gather the tenths towards the reléefe of the holie land was prooued to vse falshood in the receipt and so was deliuered vnto the maister of the temple at London to be punished according to the statutes of his order Also this yere in the vigill of S. Laurence there was séene at Dunstable by diuerse persons a figure of the crosse verie long and large in the aire with the shape of a crucifix thereon and streames of bloud to their sight seemed to run out of the wounds of the feet hands and sides This strange appearance continued in sight from noone till almost night ¶ Some will déeme this a méere fable and saie it sauoureth of grosse superstition and idolatrie wherevpon they will conclude that no such fragments poudered with papistrie should be inserted into a chronicle But to auoid all suspicion of iustifieng the fansies of men note you this that in the ecclesiasticall historie no small number of things no lesse strange and true than this seemeth vaine and false are recorded yea euen touching the verie crosse But considering that this our age is verie nice and deintie in making choise of matter pleasing their owne humor we will not wade too farre in this kind of argument which we know may as soone offend as it is taken as a thorne may pricke or a netle sting when it is touched Neuerthelesse we would not wish that the forme of a thing should be quite condemned for some scandalous peoples pleasures whome nothing will please vnlesse it come out of their owne drieuat or casket of conceits King Henrie held his Christmas at Saumur in Aniou but manie of his earles and barons were gon from him and tooke part with the French king and with his sonne Richard earle of Poictou Now when the day was come in which the truce expired the Britains which had a charter of couenants of the French king and earle Richard that if they conclude◠any peace with king Henrie the Britains should be partakers in the same entred into the confines of those countries which still continued their due obedience towards king Henrie spoiling and wasting the same on each side with barbarous crueltie At which time also a legat came from the pope named Iohn de Anagnia who assaied both by courteous meanes and also by threats and menacings to reduce the parties vnto peace and concord insomuch that by his procurement they met this yeare after Easter néere vnto Fler◠Bernard twise within a few daies togither to trie if by talke they might sort to some reasonable conditions of agreement The last time of those their meetings was in the Whitsunwéeke at what time the French king required not onelie to haue his sister Alice deliuered vnto earle Richard for wife according to the former couenants but also some assurance giuen vnto the same earle Richard that he should inherit his fathers lands after his deceasse
demanded also to haue the castell of Lincolne deliuered into his hands which Gerard refused to deliuer and perceiuing that the chancellor would practise to haue it by force he fled vnto earle Iohn requiring him of competent aid and succour The chancellor on the other part perceiuing what hatred diuerse of the Nobles bare him thought good to prouide for his owne suertie the best that he could and therefore sent for a power of men from beyond the sea but bicause he thought it too long to staie till they arriued he came to Lincolne with such power as he could make and besieged the castell Erle Iohn the kings brother aduertised hereof raised such numbers of men as he might make of his freends seruants and tenants and with small a doo wan the castels of Notingham and Tickhill within two daies space This doone he sent to the lord chancellour commanding him either to breake vp his siege or else to prepare for battell The chancellour considering with himselfe that there was small trust to be put in diuerse of those lords that were with him bearing good will to earle Iohn and but hollow harts towards him raised his siege and departed with dishonour Not long after one of his hornes was broken off by the death of pope Clement whereby his power legantine ceased wherewith being somewhat abashed he came to a communication with earle Iohn and vpon certeine conditions made peace with him Shortlie after the souldiers which he had sent for arriued in England and then he began to go from the agréement made with earle Iohn affirming that he would either driue the same earle out of England or else should earle Iohn doo the like to him for it was not of sufficient largenesse to hold them both Howbeit shortlie after a peace was eftsoones concluded betwixt them with condition that if it chanced king Richard to depart this life before his returne into England not leauing any issue of his bodie begotten that then the chancellour renouncing the ordinance made by king Richard who had instituted his nephue Arthur duke of Britaine to be his heire and successour should consent to admit earle Iohn for king of England contrarie to the said ordinance But in the meane time it was agréed that earle Iohn should deliuer vp the castels of Notingham and Tickhill Notingham to the hands of William Marshall and Tickhill to the hands of William Wendenall they to kéepe the fame vnto the vse and behoofe of king Richard that vpon his returne he might doâ— with them as should please him prouided that if it so chanced that he should die before he â—oâ—ld returne from his voiage or that the chancellour went from the agréement now taken then immediatlie should the foresaâ—d castels of Notingham and line 10 Tickhill be restored vnto earle Iohn Moreouer â—he other castels of such honours as were assigned to each Iohn by the king his brother were committed vnto the custodie of certeine persons of great trust and loialtie as the castell of Wallingford to the archbishop of Rouen the castell of Bristow to the bishop of Lincâ—lne the castell of the Peake to the bishop of Couentrie the castell of Bolesofres vnto Richard de Peake or if he refused then should the bishop of Couentrie haue it in keeping line 20 the castell of Eie was committed to Walter Fitz Robert the castell of Herford to Roger Bigot and to Richard Reuell the castell of Excester and Launston These persons to whom these castels were thus committed to be kept receiued also an oth that they should faithfullie kéepe them to the kings behoofe and if he chanced to die before he should returne then the same should be deliuered vnto earle Iohns hands Also there were three castels that perteined to the crowne deliuered likewise in trust as line 30 the castell of Windsor vnto the earle of Arundell the castell of Winchester vnto Gilbert de Lacie and the castell of Northampton vnto Simon de Pateshull It was also agréed that bishops abbats earles and barons valuasors and freeholders should not be disseized of their lands goods or cattels otherwise than by order of the iustices or officers of the king so that they should be iudged in the kings courts according to the lawfull customes and ordinances of the line 40 realme and likewise that earle Iohn should cause the same orders to be obserued through all his lands Prouided that if any man attempted to doo otherwise vpon support or maintenance of earle Iohn he should stand to be reformed by the archbishop of Rouen if he chanced then to be in England and by the kings iustices and by those that had sworne to obserue this peace and also earle Iohn himselfe at their request should see such reformation to be had Moreouer it was agréed that all those castels that line 50 had bin built or begun to be builded since the kings passage ouer towards his iournie should be razed and no new made or fortified till his returne except in manours perteining to the kings demaine if need required or by his speciall commandement either by letters or sufficient messengerrs That the shiriffewike of Lincolne which the lord chancellour had assigned vnto William de Stuteuille should be restored to Gerard de Camuille who had a daie appointed him to appéere in the kings court to heare line 60 what might be laid against him and if such matter could be prooued for the which he ought to loose the said shiriffewike and the castell of Lincolne then he should depart from them by the iudgement of the court or else not Neither should earle Iohn mainteine him against the iudgement of that court nor should receiue any outlawes or such as were notoriouslie knowen for enimies to the king and so named nor should suffer them to be receiued within the precinct of his liberties To hold mainteine and obserue this peace the said earle and chancellour sware in the hand of the archbishop of Rouen with seuen barons on either part On the part of earle Iohn these were the 〈…〉 Notingham and Tickhill be restored vnto earle Iohn notwithstanding what soeuer the king should command touching the same Thus was the peace concluded eftsoones betwixt earle Iohn and the chancellour In this meane while Geâ—â—rey the elect archbishop of Yorke after long suit and manie delaies contriued speciallie by the chancellour obteined his pall being consecrated by the archbishop of Towrs by vertue of his buls obteined from pope Celestine The chancellour aduertised herof and vnderstanding that he meant to come shortlie into England to be installed was in a great chafe bicause that during the time of the vacation he had vsed the reuenues of that see at his pleasure and therefore now to forgo them he was nothing contented Herevpon he wrote his letters vnto Matthew de Clere shiriffe of Kent in this forme The lord chancellours letters to the shiriffe of Kent PRaecipimus tibi quòd si Ebâ—racen electus
by courteous meanes to persuade the king to his purpose but the king droue him off with faire words and minded nothing lesse than to alter anie one of the lawes which he knew to be profitable to himselfe and his successours after him Wherevpon diuerse misliking his dealing herein withdrew themselues secretlie some into one place and some into an other to the intent they might auoid the dailie sight of such abuses as they for the most part could not well abide to beare Whilest king Henrie thus politikelie prouided line 10 for his affaires at home Sauerie de Mauleon made prouision in Guien to withstand such perils and dangers as he saw most likelie to insue by the practises of the Frenchmen But as he was most busilie occupied about the purueiance of such things as should be verie necessarie for his dooings there sprang a great dissention betwixt him and William the earle of Salisburie who was sent ouer into that countrie with commission to surueie the state thereof and by colour of the same commission tooke vpon him line 20 to order all things at his owne pleasure Whereas the foresaid Sauerie de Mauleon being a man of high parentage in those parts where he was borne iudged it to be a matter nothing standing with his honour that another man should order things at his will and commandement within the countrie whereof he himselfe had the chiefe charge as the kings lieutenant and therefore determined not to suffer it anie longer Herevpon verelie arose the contention betwixt line 30 them which the English souldiers that were there did greatlie increase fauouring the earle as the kings vncle and contemning the lieutenant as a stranger borne by meanes whereof the foresaid Sauerie doubting least if he should fight with his enimies and through such discord as was now amongst them be put to the worse the fault should be laid wholie on his necke he secretlie departed and fled to Lewes the French king who was latelie come to the crowne of France by the death of his father line 40 king Philip as you before haue heard wherein he dealt wiselie in respect of safetie For Quid poterit iusta tutius esse fuga About the same time Fouks de Brent being a man of an vnquiet mind readie to mischiefe and loâ—h to liue in peace as some saie conspired against the king of England and aduertised the king of France that if he would boldlie begin the warres against king Henrie in France he would not faile but raise warre against him here in the middest of his realme line 50 of England hauing diuerse noble men in a readinesse that would willinglie take his part But how soeuer it fell out certeine it is that this Fouks hauing fortified his castell of Bedford attempted manie enterprises greatlie to the preiudice of the kings peace aswell in robbing and spoiling the countrie about him as otherwise And now fearing to be punished therefore by order of law he shewed his malice against such as had the execution of the same lawes chieflie in their line 60 hands Herevpon he tooke prisoner Henrie Braâ—broke one of the kings iustices of his bench and led him to his castell of Bedford and there shut him vp close 〈◊〉 his lawfull prisoner Indeed the said Henrie de Braibroke with Martine de Pateshull Thomas de Multon and other of the kings iustices were come to kéepe their circuit at Dunstable Where vpon information giuen and presented before them Fouks de Brent was condemned to the king in great 〈◊〉 of monie Wherewithall this Fouks tooke such indignation and displeasure that he commanded his men of warre which laie in the castell of Bedford to ride vnto Dunstable and there to apprehend the said iustices and to bring them vnto Bedford where as he said he meant to commen further with them But they hauing knowledge of his purpose fled quicklie out of the towne séeking to escape euerie man which waie he might best deuise Howbeit the souldiers vsed such diligence that Henrie de Braibroke fell into their hands so was brought captiue to Bedford as their maister had commanded them The king aduertised hereof by the gréeuous complaints of his subiects was as then at Northampton where he had assembled his parlement and thervpon hauing gathered speedilie a power with all expedition he hasted towards Bedford At his comming thither he besieged the castell on ech side and at length after two moneths though not without much adoo he wan it and hanged them all which were taken within being in number 80 or aboue and amongst other William de Brent the brother of the said Fouks was one There were but thrée that escaped with life who were pardoned vpon condition they should passe into the holie land there to serue among the Templers The siege began on the Ascension eeuen and continued till the 15 daie of August being the feast daie of the assumption of our ladie Fouks himselfe whilest the siege continued laie aloofe in â—â—eshire and on the borders of Wales as one watching to doo some mischiefe but after the castell was woone he got him to Couentrie and there was yer long apprehended and brought to the king of whom he obteined pardon of life but yet by the whole consent of the nobles and péeres of the realme he was exiled the land for euermore and then went to Rome where he knew to purchase his pardon easilie inough for mony of what crime soeuer he should be iudged culpable His wife bicause she neuer consented to his dooings nor yet willinglie to the marriage had betwixt hir and him was acquited of all blame and so likewise was his sonne Thomas Howbeit at length the foresaid Fouks hauing obteined his purpose at Rome by meanes of his chapleine Robert Paslew an Englishman who was his sollicitor there as he returned towards England in the yeare insuing was poisoned and died by the waie making so an end of his inconstant life which from the time that he came to yeares of discretion was neuer bent to quietnes Which may be reported of him not to his honour or renowme for alas what same is gotten by giuing occasions of euill but to his euerlasting shame and infamie for the same shall neuer die but remaine in perpetuall memorie as one saith right well Hâ—minum immortalis est infamia Etiam tunc viuit cùm essecredas mâ—rtuam But now to leaue these things and returne to the dooings in France where we left Ye shall vnderstand that after Sauerie de Mauleon was reuolted to the French king the said king with all spéed determined to make warre vpon king Henrie and to win from 〈◊〉 certeine townes and fortresses within the countrie of Poictou The French writers affirme that king Lewes to couered out of the Englishmens hands the townes of Niort S. Iohns d'Angeli Rochell before Sauerie de Mauleon reuolted from the French part In deed the chronicle of Dunstable saith that
she had issue a daughter named Deuorgoill which Deuorgoill was married to Iohn Balioll by whom she had issue Iohn Balioll that was afterward king of Scotland The second named Isabell was married to Robert le Bruis The third named Mawd died without issue And the fourth called Alda was married to Henrie Hastings But bicause the land perteining to the earledome of Chester should not go amongst rocks and distaues hauing such roiall prerogatiues belonging thereto the king seized them into his owne hands and in recompense assigned other lands to the forsaid sisters as it had beene by way of exchange Now sith the earles of Chester I meane those of the line of Hugh Lupus tooke end in this Iohn Scot I haue thought it not impertinent for the honor of so noble a linage to set downe the descent of the same earles beginning at the foresaid Hugh the first that gouerned after the conquest as I haue seen the same collected out of ancient records according line 10 to their true succession in seauen descents one after another as here followeth The true genealogie of the famous and most honourable earles of Chester HUgh Lou or Lupus first earle of Chester after the conquest nephue line 20 to William Conquerour by his sister Margaret wife to Richard Uicount of Auranches married a noble ladie named Armetruda by whom he had issue Richard that succeeded him in the earledome Robert abbat of saint Edmundsburie and Otuell He departed this life about the yeere of our Lord 1102 when he had beene earle about 40 yeeres 2 Richard Lupus eldest son to Hugh line 30 Lupus and second earle of Chester married Maud the daughter of Stephan erle of Blois Charters and Champaigne and sister to K. Stephan This Richard with his brother Otuell was drowned in the seas in the yeere of our Lord 1120 as before hath beene shewed after he had beene earle about ninteene yeares 3 Ranulfe or Randulfe the first of that line 40 name called Bohun and otherwise Mestheins the sonne of Iohn de Bohun and of Margaret sister to Hugh Lupus succeeded Richard as cousin and heire to him in the earldome of Chester and was the third earle in number after the conquest He married Maud the daughter of Auberie de Uere earle of Gisney and Oxenford by whome he had issue Ranulfe surnamed line 50 Geruous the fourth earle of Chester He died about the yere of our Lord 1130 after he had continued earle eight yeares 4 Ranulfe or Randulfe Bohun the second of that name and fourth erle in number after the conquest surnamed Geruous succeeded his father and married Alice daughter to Robert erle of Glocester base sonne to king Henrie the first by whome he line 60 had issue Hugh Keuelocke the fift earle of Chester He deceassed about the yeare of our Lord 1153 when he had beéne earle 29 yeares 5 Hugh Bohun otherwise Keuelocke the sonne of the said Ranulfe was the first earle of Chester after the conquest and second of that name He married Beatrice daughter to Richard Lucie lord cheefe iustice of England by whom he had issue Ranulfe the third of that name and foure daughters Mawd married to Dauid that was earle of Angus and Huntington and lord of Galloway Mabell maried to William Dalbegnie earle of Arundell Agnes maried to William Ferrers earle of Derbie and Hauisa ioined in marriage with Robert Quincie a baron of great honour This Hugh died about the yeare 1181 when he had beene earle eight and twentie yeares 6 Ranulfe Bohun the third of that name otherwise called Blundeuille the sonne of Hugh Keuelocke was the sixt earle of Chester after the conquest He was also earle of Lincolne as next cousine and heire to William Romare earle of Lincolne He had three wiues as before yee haue heard but yet died without issue about the yeare of our Lord 1232 after he had beene earle 51 yeares 7 Iohn Scot the sonne of Dauid earle of Angus Huntington was in the right of his mother the seuenth earle of Chester after the conquest He died without issue as before yee haue heard by reason whereof the erldome came into the kings hands in the yeare 1237. Thus much may suffice with that which is said before touching the descent of the earles of Chester And now to proceed The same yeare that Iohn Scot died cardinall Otho by some writers named Othobon about the feast of S. Peter and Paule came into England from pope Gregorie He was receiued with all honour and solemne reuerence as was decent yea and more than was decent the king meeting him at the sea side His comming was not signified afore to the nobles of the realme which caused them to mislike the matter and to grudge against the king seeing that he did all things contrarie to order breaking law faith and promise in all things He hath coupled himselfe said they in mariage with a stranger without consent of his freends and naturall subiects and now he bringeth in a legat secretlie who will take vpon him to make an alteration in the whole state of the realme But this legat shewed himselfe a verie sober and discréet person not so couetous as his predecessors in so much that he refused diuerse gifts which were offered vnto him though some he receiued and indéed commanded the other to be reserued for him He also distributed liberallie the vacant rents vnto such as he brought with him as well persons worthie as vnworthie and pacified such controuersies as were sproong betwixt the nobles and peeres of the realme so that he made them fréends ¶ An act memorable to be kept in record that the instrument and seruant of so bad a maister as he serued namelie the pope should be the procurer of so good a worke considering that from the sée of Rome full tides and violent streames of seditions haue flowed and verie sildome any occasion or means made to plant peace among men which is the daughter of loue and the worthiest thing that is as one saith verie well in these words Gignit amor pacem pax est dignissima rerum The bishop of Winchester the earle of Kent Gilbert Basset Stephen Siward others were by him accorded who had borne secret grudge ech to other a long time which hatred was at point to haue broken foorth and shewed it selfe in perilous wise at a tornie holden at Blie in the beginning of Lent where the Southernmen stroue against the Northerne men and in the end the Southerne men preuailed and tooke diuerse of their aduersaries so that it séemed not to be a triumphant iustes but rather a sharpe challenge and incounter betwixt enimies But amongst all others earle Bigot bare himselfe verie stoutlie After that the legat had thus agréed the noblemen he assembled a synod at London the morrow after the octaues of S. Martin wherein manie ordinances were newlie constituted for the state of the cleargie but not altogither verie acceptable
great feare sithens he was afraid of euerie bush least men should haue risen vpon him and murthered him Wherevpon when he came to the pope he made a greeuous complaint both against the king and others The church of saint Peter at Westminster was line 40 inlarged and newlie repared by the king speciallie all the east part of it the old wals being pulled down and builded vp in more comelie forme ¶ The generall councell according to the summons giuen was holden this yeare at Lions where it began about midsummer in which the English ambassadors being arriued presented to the pope their leters directed from the whole bodie of the realme of England requiring a redresse in such things wherewith as by the same letters it appeared the realme found it selfe sore annoied line 50 The pope promised to take aduise therein but sith the matter was weightie it required respit Finallie when they were earnest in requiring a determinate answer it was giuen them to vnderstand that they should not obteine their desires wherevpon in great displeasure they came awaie threatening and binding their words with oths that from thencefoorth they would neuer paie nor suffer to be paid anie tribute to the court of Rome nor permit the reuenues of those churches whereof they were patrones line 60 to be pulled awaie by any prouision of the same court The pope hearing of these things passed them ouer patientlie but he procured the English bishops to set their seales vnto that charter which king Iohn had made concerning the tribute against the mind of the archbishop of Canturburie Stephan Langton who at that time when king Iohn should seale it spake sore against it When king Henrie was informed hereof he was gréeuouslie offended and sware in a great chafe that although the bishops had doone otherwise than they ought yet would he stand in defense of the liberties of his realme and would not so long as he had a day to liue paie any dutie to the court of Rome vnder the name of a tribute In this meane while the king with a puissant armie inuaded the Welsh rebels to reduce them to some quiet whereas with their continuall incursions and other exploits they had sore harried vexed and wasted the lands of the kings subiects Herevpon the king being entred the countrie inuaded the same vnto the confines of Snowdon and there he began to build a strong castell at a place called Gannoke remaining there about the space often wéeks during the which the armie suffered great miserie through want of vittels and other prouisions namelie apparell and other helps to defend themselues from cold which sore afflicted the souldiers and men of warre bicause they laie in the field and winter as then began to approch Moreouer they were driuen to kéepe watch and ward verie stronglie for doubt to be surprised by sudden assaults of the enimies the which watched vpon occasion euer to doo some mischéefe The morrow after the Purification of our ladie Isabell de Boulbec countesse of Oxenford departed this life and likewise the morrow after saint Ualentines day died Baldwine de Riuers earle of Deuonshire and of the Wight Moreouer Geffrey de March a man sometime of great honour and possessions in Ireland after he had remained long in exile and suffered great miserie ended the same by naturall death Also Raimond earle of Prouance father to the quéenes of England and France deceassed this yeare for whome was kept in England a most solemne obsequie Also in the wéeke after Palme-sundaie died a right noble baron and warden of the north parts of England the lord Gilbert Humfreuile leauing behind him a yoong sonne the custodie of whome the king forthwith committed to the earle of Leicester not without the indignation of the earle of Cornewall who desired the same Finallie after that the king had lien at Gannoke about the fortifieng of the castell there the space of ten wéekes and saw the worke now fullie finished he appointed foorth such as should lie there in garison and therewith on the morrow after the feast of Simon and Iude he raised his field and returned towards England leauing the Welshmen in great miserie and like to starue for want of necessarie food For the I le of Anglesey which is as a nursse to the Welshmen those Irishmen that came to the kings aid had vtterlie wasted and destroied Againe the king of purpose had consumed all the prouision of corne and vittels which remained in the marshes so that in Cheshire and other the parts adioining there was such dearth that the people scarse could get sufficient vittels to susteine themselues withall The king also gaue foorth commandement that no prouision of corne or vittels should be conueied vnto the Welshmen out of any parts either of England or Ireland on paine of forfeiting life lands goods Moreouer he caused the brine pits in Wales to be stopped vp and destroied The king hauing thus ordered his businesse returned into England and shortlie after taking displeasure with the lord Maurice chéefe iustice of Ireland bicause he had not made such speed as had béene conuenient in bringing the Irishmen to his aid he discharged him of the office of chéefe iustice and placed in his roome Iohn Fitz Geffrey In this thirtith yeare of king Henries reigne Walter earle Marshall and of Penbroke departed this life and shortlie after to wit three daies before Christmasse his brother Anselme that succeeded him in the inheritance deceassed also without issue and so all the fine sonnes of the great earle William Marshall being departed this world without heires of their bodies begotten the whole heritage descended to the sisters and so was diuided amongst them as coparteners The king this yeare held his Christmas at London year 1246 and had there with him a great number of the nobilitie of his realme which had béene with him in Wales that they might be partakers of pastime mirth and pleasure as they had béene participants with him in suffering the diseases of heat cold and other paines abroad in the fields and high mounteines line 10 of Wales considering with himselfe as the truth is that vita est quà m proxiâ—â— letho Quà m meritò spernenda animâ—â— si nulla voluptâ—s Mulceat atque leuent solatia nulla laborem But that no plesure shuld passe without some staine of greese there was a rumor spred abroad that the pope conceiued fresh rankor in his stomach against the king and realme of England for the complaints which had béene exhibited in the councell at Lion by line 20 the English orator for the oppression doone to the church of England that therevpon minding now to be reuenged as was said he earnestlie mooued the French king to make warre against the Englishmen and to subdue them vnder his dominion which enterprise the French king vtterlie refused both for that he and the king of England were
Katherin line 40 bicause the same was borne on saint Katherins daie On S. Lucies daie there fell a great snowe and withall a winters thunder for a token of some euill to follow The king to settle the state of the countrie of Gascoigne in better order tarried there all the winter and repared certeine decaied townes and castels year 1254 The quéene kept hir Christmasse at London where she laie in child-bed and was purified on the euen of the Epiphanie making a roiall feast at the line 50 which manie great lords were present as the archbishop of Canturburie the bishop of Elie the earls of Cornewall and Glocester and manie other She sent ouer at the same time to hir husband for a new yeers gift the summe of fiue hundred marks of hir owne reuenues towards the maintenance of his warres On the euen of the Circumcision of our Lord in the night season whilest the aire was most cleare and bright with shining starres the moone being eight daies old there appeared in the element the perfect line 60 forme and likenesse of a mightie great ship which was first séene of certeine moonks of saint Albons who remaining at saint Amphibalus were got vp to behold by the starres if it were time for them to go to mattens but perceiuing that strange sight they called vp such of their acquaintance as lodged néere at hand to view the same At length it séemed as the bourds and ioints thereof had gone in sunder and so it vanished awaie There followed a maruellous sore later end of a winter through cold and ouer-sharpe weather which continued till the feast of S. Gregorie in March next insuing Also there chanced the same yeare a great murren and death of shéepe and deere so that of whole flocks and heards scarse the one halfe escaped Whilest the king remained still in Gascoigne he sent for his wife queene Elenor with his eldest sonne Edward but bicause he could not make an end of all his businesse that winter he continued there the summer also And forsomuch as he stood in néed of monie to haue some reasonable pretense to demand a subsidie in the beginning of March he sent to his brother Richard the earle of Cornewall which was come ouer before cheefelie for that purpose certeine instructions to declare how there was like to follow great warre by means of Alfonse the tenth of that name king of Castile who manaced verie shortlie to inuade the confines of Gascoigne perteining to the English dominion and therefore he required of his faithfull subiects some aid of monie wherby he might be able to resist his aduersarie the said K. of Castile Earle Richard did what he could to persuade the people to this paiment but he cast his net in vaine before the face of the feathered foule as the old prouerbe saith Apparens rete fugêre volucria quaeque For though he set forth the matter to the vttermost in the presence of the Nobles and other estates yet would they not heare of anie paiment to be made as those that smelled out the feined fetch and forged tale of the kings need For they had intelligence that there was an agreement concluded betwixt him and the king of Spaine And for the same cause the quéene and the lord Edward were gone ouer that the king of Spaine might haue a sight of him as he had required when the couenants of the marriage were accorded The states of the realme were twise assembled at London about the grant of this paiment but all in vaine so that they were constreined to passe it ouer with silence and to surceasse in the matter to their great gréefe and namelie the earle of Cornewall who had taken great paines therein Yet for that he would not returne with emptie hand he leuied by rigorous means a great summe of the Iewes of whom a maine multitude inhabited at that season in London and therewith returning to his brother king Henrie shewed him how he had sped The king was not a little offended with them that thus had denied to helpe him with monie insomuch that vpon euerie light occasion he was readie to reuenge his displeasure towards them in taking awaie such grants of priuileges and liberties as before he had made But now to auoid suspicion of his feined pretense of war betwixt him and king Alfonse he sent his sonne Edward into Castile vnto the same Alfonse vnder a color to compound with him for peace wheras the verie occasion of his going thither was to purchase him the ladie Elenor to wise that was sister to the said king Alfonse At his comming to the court of Spaine he was verie honorablie receiued of the king and in the end vpon conference had of his message obteined his suit so that king Alfonse was content to bestow vpon him his daughter in marriage with the countie of Pontieu in France which she held in right of hir mother queene Ione the second wife of Ferdinando the king of Castile father vnto this king Alfonse which Ione was the onelie daughter and heire of Simon earle of Pontieu and had issue by hir husband the said Ferdinando two sonnes Ferdinando and Lewes with one daughter to wit the foresaid Elenor the which by reason hir brethren died yoong was heire to hir mother The lord Edward hauing dispatched his businesse according to his desire returned with a ioifull hart to his father and declared to him what he had doone His father most glad thereof for an aâ—â—menâ—anon of honour created him prince of Wâ—les and earle of â—â—ester and appointed him to be his deputie and generall lieutenant both in Guien and in Ireland and gaue to him the townes of Brisâ—ow Stamford and Grantham Hereof came it that â—uer after the kings eldest sonne was made immediatâ—ie vpon his birth prince of Wales and earle of â—â—ester He creatâ—d also his other sonne named Edmund earle of Lancaster About this season were certeine ships driuen by line 10 force of wind and weather into certeine hauens on the north coasts of England towards Barwike wâ—ich ships were of a verie strange forme and fashion but mightie and strong The men that were aboord the same ships were of some farre countrie for their language was vnknowne and not vnderstandable to any man that could be brought to talke with them The fraught and balast of the ships was armour and weapon as habergeons helmets speares bowes arrowes crosbowes and darts with great line 20 store of vittels There laie also without the hauens on the coast diuerse other ships of like forme mold and fashion Those that were driuen into the hauens were staied for a time by the bailiffes of the ports But finalâ—ie when it could not be knowne what they were nor from whence they came they were licenced to depart without losse or harme in bodie or goods About Candlemasse Gaston de Bierne assembling togither a multitude of
Penbrochiae porrexit in curia quandam petitionem suam in haec verba A treshonore seigneur le duc de Lancast. senescall d' Angliter supplie Anne que fuit le femme Iohn de Hastinges nadgares countie de Penbroke qui come le mannor de Asheley in le com de Northfolke soit tenens de nostre seigneur le roy par le seruice de faire le office line 20 de napperie al coronement le roy quel mannor soel tient en dower del dowement son dit baron Ore plest luy accepter del faire son office person deputie a cestie coronement nostre seigneur le roye pernant les fees du dit office ceastascauoir les nappes quant il sont sustreytz Et quia post ostensionem verisimilium euidentiarum rationum ipsius Annae ac proclamationem in curia praedicta debitè factam in hac parte nullus huiusmodi clamor ipsius line 30 Annae contradixit consideratum fuit quòd ipsa ad officium praedictum per sufficientem deputatum suum faciendum admitteretur sic officium illud per Thomam Blunt militem quem ad hoc deputauit dicto die coronationis in omnibus perfecit peracto prandio mappas de mensis subtractis pro feodo suo recepit Thus this much touching this Iohn Hastings earle of Penbroke and dame Anne Mannie his wife line 40 Iohn hastings the sonne of Iohn Hastings last recited was earle of Penbroke lord Hastings Aburgauennie Weisford who being verie yoong at the time of his fathers death was ward first to Edward the third and then to Richard the second but neuer saw his full age of one and twentie yeares nor euer possessed the lands wherevnto he was borne for not long after that he had married Philip the second daughter of Edmund Mortimer earle of March Ulster and lord of Wigmore he was about the ninetenth line 50 yeare of his age the fiftéenth yeare of king Richard the second and the yeare of our redemption 1391 being a youthfull and lustie yoong gentleman but tender and slender in the Christmasse time when the K. held that feast at Woodstoke in Oxfordshire willing to learne to iust whervpon in the parke then incountring with a knight called Iohn saint Iohn a valiant and stout person he was slaine when they ran togither as the said knight did cast his speare line 60 from him and so the said earle receiuing this manner of death no man knew whether it happened by mishap or of purpose To which Iohn Hastings now slaine Margaret Segraue duchesse of Northfolke his grandmother by his mother the daughter of sir Walter Mannie was executrix and disposer of all his substance After his death his widow the ladie Philip was married to Richard earle of Arundell after that to Iohn lord saint Iohn being the same man as I suppose which slue hir first husband this Iohn Hastings But here before the death of this Iohn I must not forget that though he were within age at the coronation of Richard the second as not being past nine or ten yeares old he sued to execute at the said coronation the offices which his ancestors had afore performed But bicause his mother had the mannor of Ashley in dower as is before expressed he did not sue to serue in the pantrie but leauing that demandeth the carieng of the second sword and the golden spurs before the king The records of both which I haue here set downe The petition for the second sword which the earle of Arundell also claimed to beare was in this sort IOhannes de Hastings nuper comes Penbrochiae protulit quandam petitioneÌ„ in haec verba A treshonoree seigniour le duc de Lancastre seneschall d' Angleterre Iohn fitz heyre Iohn de Hastinges counte de Penbroke que coÌ„me il tient le Chastell de la ville de Tynbye le grange de Kingswood le coÌ„mote de Craytrath le mannor de Chastell Martin le mannor de Traygaire per seruice de porter le second espee deuant le roy a son coronement qui pleast a luy accepter a son dit office a faire ore a ceste coronement Et super hoc Richardus comes Arundell Surrey exhibuit in curia quandaÌ„ aliam petitioneÌ„ in haec verba A roy de Chastell de Lion duc de Lancastre senescall d'Angleterre supplie Richard counte de Arundell Surrey de luy receuer afaire son office a porter le sâ—condespee deuant le roy ore a son coronement que luy apperâ—ient de droit pur le countie de Surrey Quibus petitionibus intellectis auditis hinc inde dictorum â—omitum rationibus pro eo quod dictus Iohannes comes Penbrochiae qui infra aetaâ—eÌ„ in custodia regis existit ostendit curiae meliores verisimiliores rationes pro se quà m praedictus comes Arundell pro ipso monstrauit Dominus rex declarata coram eo materia praedicta praecepit Edmundo comiti mariscallo quòd ipse gladium praedictum ista vice in nomine iure praedicti comitis Penbrochiae deferret saluo iure alterius cuiuscunque Qui quidem mariscallus gladium illum ex hac causa die coronationis gestabat calcaribus deauratis The other bill exhibited for the golden spurs is registred in this order IOhannes filius haeres Iohannis de Hastings nuper comitis PeÌ„brochiae exhibuit in curia quandam petitionem in haec verba A treshonore seigneur le roy de Chastell c. Et seneschall d'Angâ—terre supplie Iohne fitz heyre Iohne Hastings nadgares counte de Penbroke de estre receue a son office de porter les grandes esperon d'oores deuant le roy nostre seigneur ore a son coronement en mannor coÌ„me William le marischall son ancester les porta il coronoment de roy Edw. audita intellecta billâ— praedicta pro eo quòd Iohannes est infra aetatem in custodia domini regis quanquam sufficientes ostendit curiae recorda euideÌ„tias quòd ipse seruitium praedictum de iure facere deberet consideratum extitit quòd esset ad voluntatem regis quis dictum seruitium ista vice in iure ipsius Iohannis faceret Et super hoc rex assignabat Edmundum comiteÌ„ mariscallum ad defereÌ„dum dicto die coronationis praedicta calcaria in iure ipsius haeredis Saluo iure alterius cuiuscunque sic idem comes mariscallus illa calcaria praedicta in dicto die coronationis coram ipso domino rege deferebat In this Iohn Hastings ended all the honorable titles of the Hastings bicause this man dieng without issue his inheritances were dispersed to diuerse persons for the honour of Penbroke came to Francis at court by the kings gift the baronies of Hastings and Weisford came to Reinold Greie of Ruthine the baronie of Aburgauennie was granted to William Beauchampe of Bedford for all which lands and
for the bearing of the armes of this same Iohn Hastings without difference great contention line 10 grew betwéene sir Edward Hastings knight descended of Isabell Spenser and Reinold Greie lord Greie of Ruthine sonne of Reinold Greie sonne of Roger Greie that married Elizabeth daughter of Isabell Ualence for both the said lord Greie and sir Edward Hastings were descended by two venters as partlie before and partlie hereafter shal be shewed from one man Iohn Hastings husband to both said Isabels For the explanation whereof and lineall descent to conueie the said sir Edward Hastings line 20 from the said Iohn Hastings first lord of Aburgauennie of that surname I must here repeat a little of that which I haue alreadie written which is that the said Iohn Hastings first lord of Aburgauennie hauing two wiues both Isabels by his first wife Isabell Ualence had Elizabeth maried to Roger Greie and by his second wife Isabell Spenser he had issue sir Hugh Hastings knight from whome we are to deduce the said sir Edward Hastings in this sort Hugh Hastings knight lord of Folliot in the right line 30 of his wife being sonne of the second wombe of Isabell Spenser and Iohn Hastings sonne of Henrie Hastings married Margerie the daughter and heire of sir Richard Folliot by whom he came to be lord of Folliot and alwaies bare the armes of Hastings with a difference of a second brother of a second venter This marriage was procured and made by Isabell his mother who purchased the said ward for him This Hugh died in the yeare of Christ 1347 in the one and twentith yeare of Edward the third and line 40 was buried in the church of Elsing in Elsrug in Northfolke which he builded his wife Margerie died in the yeare 1349 being the thrée and twentith yeare of Edward the third and was buried in the chappell of Fornewell This Hugh had issue by his wife Hugh Hastings his heire and a daughter married to sir Robert de la Mare Hugh Hastings knight the sonne of Hugh and Margerie Folliot did marrie the daughter of Adam de Eueringham by whom he had Hugh Hastings line 50 his sonne and heire and two daughters the one married to Winkfield and the other to a knight called Elmham This Hugh died at Calkewelhell or Gwines and was buried in the friers of Doncaster in the yeare of our Lord 1369 about the foure fortith yéere of Edward the third This man for him and his heires in difference from the other Hastings earles of Penkroke his kinsmen by the halfe blood did beare the Hastings armes with the labell quartered with the armes of Folliot Hugh Hastings line 60 knight the sonne of Hugh and Margaret Eueringham married Anne the daughter of Edward Spenser earle of Glocester by whom he had issue Hugh Hastings and Edward Hastings which contended with Reinold Greie lord of Ruthine This Hugh tooke his pilgrimage to Ierusalem died in Spaine after whose death dame Anne Spenser his wife was maried to Thomas lord Morleie Hugh Hastings eldest son of Hugh Hastings and dame Anne Spenser married the daughter of sir Wil. Blunt knight this Hugh died at Calis at the mariage of Richard the second to Isabell the daughter of the king of France about the 19 yeare of the reigne of the said Richard being the yeare of our redemption 1395 who dieng without issue all his right and title came to his brother Edward Edward Hastings knight brother of the last Hugh began the contention with Reinold Greie lord of Ruthine for the right of the lands honors and armes without difference of the last Iohn Hastings earle of Penbroke This sute began about the eight yeare of Henrie the fourth and continued at least vntill the fift yeare of Henrie the fift if not longer but in the end notwithstanding manie false pedegrees counterfeited by this Hastings and his vncle Henrie bishop of Norwich one of the house of the Spensers yet it was adiudged against the said sir Edward Hastings in the marshals court that the lands honors and armes without difference as the last Iohn Hastings earle of Penbroke did beare them with the armes of William Ualence earle of Penbroke should be onelie borne by the said lord Greie of Ruthine and his heires as being of the whole blood and next heire to the said last Iohn Hastings earle of Penbroke and that the said Edward Hastings should vtterlie be barred to beare the armes of Hastings but quartered with the armes of Folliot as onelie descending of the halfe blood to the said last earle of Penbroke of that name And that all other pedegrees what so euer except this are false and of purpose contriued as appeareth by a notable booke and monument thereof remaining in the hands of Henrie Greie now earle of Kent descended of the said Reinold Greie of Ruthine conteining all the processe examinations witnesses pedegrees iudgements thereof more plainelie maie appeare In which contention there was shewed a matter by the deposition of sir William Hoo knight not vnworthie to be remembred though it touch not the Hastings concerning armorie and bearing of differences in armes which was that the said sir William said on his oth in the tenth yeare of Henrie the fourth that before the times of Edward the third the labell of three points was the different appropriat and appurtenant for the cognizance of the next heire but the same king made his sons to beare the entire armes with labels of thrée points with certeine differences in the said labels to be knowen the one from the other except his sonne the duke of Glocester who bare a border about the armes of France and England And thus this much Francis Thin touching the name of Hastings In this yeare Thomas earle of Lancaster for the opinion which had béene conceiued of him by reason of miracles and other respects was canonized for a saint The mondaie next after the feast of saint Hilarie a parlement was begun at Westminster in which there was a bill exhibited by the commons that the lords and great men of the realme should not giue to their men badges to weare as their cognizances by reason that through the abuse thereof manie great oppressions imbraseries vnlawfull maintenances and wrongs were practised to the hinderance of all good orders lawes and iustice The lords would not consent altogither to laie downe their badges but yet they agreed that none should weare any such cognizance except their seruants of houshold and such as were in ordinarie wages by the yeare ¶ In the same parlement certeine persons that had gone about some new rebellion in Kent being apprehended were condemned and so were drawne and hanged ¶ There was also an act made against such as should passe the seas to purchase prouisions as they termed them in any church or churches And if any from thencefoorth attempted so to doo he should be reputed and taken as a rebell Also there was
his men without honour or spoile returned line 30 into France After this the admerall of Britaine highlie incouraged for that the last yeere he had taken certeine English ships laden with wines acompanied with the lord du Chastell a valiant baron of Britaine and twelue hundred men of armes sailed foorth with thirtie ships from S. Malos and came before the towne of Dartmouth and would haue landed but by the puissance of the townesmen and aid of the countrie they were repelled in the which conflict the lord du line 40 Chastell and two of his brethren with foure hundred other were slaine and aboue two hundred taken prisoners and put to their ransoms amongst whom the lord of Baqueuille the marshall of Britaine was one All this summer Owen Glendouer and his adherents robbed burned and destroied the countries adioining néere to the places where he hanted and one while by sleight guilefull policie an other while by open force he tooke and slue manie Englishmen line 50 brake downe certeine castels which he wan and some he fortified and kept for his owne defense Iohn Trenor bishop of Assaph considering with himselfe how things prospered vnder the hands of this Owen fled to him and tooke his part against the king About the same time the Britaines and the Flemings tooke certeine ships of ours laden with merchandize and slue all the marriners or else hanged them Also the old countesse of Oxford mother to Robert line 60 Ueere late duke of Ireland that died at Louaine caused certeine of hir seruants and other such as she durst trust to publish and brute abroad thorough all the parts of Essex that king Richard was aliue and that he would shortlie come to light and claime his former estate honor and dignitie She procured a great number of harts to be made of siluer and gold such as king Richard was woont to giue vnto his knights esquiers fréends to weare as cognizances to the end that in bestowing them in king Richards name she might the sooner allure men to further hir lewd practises and where the fame went abroad that king Richard was in Scotland with a great power of Frenchmen and Scots readie to come to recouer his realme manie gaue the more light credit vnto this brute thus set foorth by the said countesse The persuasions also of one Serlo that in times past was one of king Richards chamber greatlie increased this errour for the same Serlo hearing in France whither he was fled that his maister king Richard was in Scotland aliue conueied himselfe thither to vnderstand the truth of that matter and finding there one indéed that greatlie resembled him in all lineaments of bodie but yet was not the man himselfe as he well perceiued vpon malice that he bare to king Henrie aduertised by letters sent vnto diuerse of king Richards freends that he was aliue indéed and shortlie would come to shew himselfe openlie to the world when he had once made his waie readie to recouer his kingdome to the confusion of his enimies and comfort of his fréends These forged inuentions caused manie to beleeue the brute raised by the countesse of Oxford for the which they came in trouble were apprehended and committed to prison The countesse hir selfe was shut vp in close prison and all hir goods were confiscat and hir secretarie drawen and hanged that had spred abroad this fained report in going vp and downe the countrie blowing into mens eares that king Richard was aliue affirming that he had spoken with him in such a place and in such a place apparelled in this raiment and that raiment with such like circumstances About the feast of saint Iohn Baptist at the kings commandement the earle of Northumberland came to Pomfret and brought with him his nephues and his nephues sonnes whereby he cleared himselfe of a great deale of suspicion manie doubting before his comming that he had giuen euill counsell to the yoong men whereby to mooue them to rebellion and to withstand the king Sir William Clifford also came with the earle and brought the foresaid Serlo with him whom he had apprehended vpon his comming to him at Berwike in hope to haue found succour at his hands in consideration whereof the king pardoned the said sir William Clifford of his disobedience shewed in keeping the castell of Berwike against him in which dooing he had committed manifest treason This Serlo being knowen to be the man that had béene the chiefe murtherer of the duke of Glocester when he was made awaie at Calis was diligentlie examined who were helpers with him in the execution thereof and after what sort they made him awaie Serlo knowing there was no waie with him but death would not vtter any other but confessed for his owne part he was worthie for that wicked déed to die ten thousand deaths and shewed such outward appearance of repentance that manie sore lamented his case and promised to hire priests to sing masses as the maner was for his soule of their owne costs and charges He was condemned to die at Pomfret and was drawen from thence through euerie good towne through which those that had the conueiance of him passed with him till they came to London where he was executed confessing euerie thing to be true concerning his wicked pretense as before is recited and further that when he perceiued how their counterfeit practise would come to light and he openlie reuealed he meant to haue returned into France but wanting monie he thought to haue béene relieued with some portion at the hand of the said sir William Clifford and this caused him to come vnto Berwike to shew him his necessitie who to make his owne peace did apprehend him and present him to the king as before ye haue heard King Henrie wanting monie in the feast of saint Faith the virgine assembled at Couentrie his high court of parlement in the which the lord Stephan Scroope of Masham and the lord Henrie Fitz Hugh obteined first to haue places of barons Moreouer it is to be noted that this was called The laie mans parlement bicause the shiriffes were appointed to haue a speciall regard that none should be chosen knights for the counties nor burgesses for the cities and townes that had any skill in the lawes of the land This was doone and when they came togither to talke of the weightie affaires of the realme speciallie line 10 how the king might be relieued with monie to beare such charges as he was knowen to be at as well in defending the realme from the Scots and Welshmen at home as from the Britains Flemings and Frenchmen abroad it was thought most expedient that the spiritualtie should be depriued of their temporall possessions to the reliefe of the kings necessitie Herevpon rose great altercation betwixt the cleargie and the laitie the knights affirming that they had oftentimes serued the king not onelie
with the earle of Suffolke and the lord Aburgauennie which had taken as before yee haue heard the towne of Chierburgh lodged before the port of S. Hilarie néerer to their enimies by fortie rodes than any other person of the armie During this siege also there arriued at Harâ—lue the lord of Kilmaine in Ireland with a band of sixteene hundred Irishmen in maile with darts and skains after the maner of their countrie all of them being tall quicke and nimble persons which came and presented themselues before the king lieng still at the siege of whom they were not onelie gentlie receiued welcomed but also because it was thought that the French king and the duke of Burgognie would shortlie come and either attempt to raise the siege or vittell and man the towne by the north gate they were appointed to kéepe the north side of the armie and speciallie the waie that commeth from the forest of Lions Which charge the lord of Kilmaine and his companie ioifullie accepted and did so their line 10 deuoir therein that no men were more praised nor did more damage to their enimies than they did for suerlie their quickenesse swiftnesse of foot did more preiudice to their enimies than their barded horsses did hurt or damage to the nimble Irishmen Also the kings coosine germane and alie the king of Portingale sent a great nanie of well appointed ships vnto the mouth of the riuer of Seine to stop that no French vessels should enter the riuer and passe vp the same to the aid of them within Rone line 20 Thus was the faire citie of Rone compassed about with enimies both by water and land hauing neither comfort nor aid of King Dolphin or Duke And yet although the armie was strong without there lacked not within both hardie capteins and manfull souldiers And as for people they had more than inough for as it is written by some that had good cause to know the truth and no occasion to erre from the same there were in the citie at the time of the siege two hundred and ten thousand persons Dailie line 30 were issues made out of the citie at diuerse gates sometime to the losse of the one partie and sometime of the other as chances of warre in such aduentures happen The Frenchmen in déed preferring fame before worldlie riches and despising pleasure the enimie to warlike prowesse sware ech to other neuer to render or deliuer the citie while they might either hold sword in hand or speare in rest The king of England aduertised of their haultie courages determined to conquer them by famine line 40 which would not be tamed with weapon Wherefore he stopped all the passages both by water and land that no vittels could be conueied to the citie he cast trenches round about the wals and set them full of stakes and defended them with archers so that there was left neither waie for them within to issue out nor for anie that were abroad to enter in without his licence To rehearse the great paines trauell and diligence which the king tooke vpon him in his owne person at this siege a man might woonder And because line 50 diuerse of the souldiers had lodged themselues for their more ease in places so farre distant one from an other that they might easilie haue béene surprised by their enimies yer anie of their fellowes could haue come to their succors he caused proclamation to be made that no man vpon paine of death should lodge without the precinct appointed them nor go further abroad from the campe than such bounds as were assigned Now as it chanced the king in going about the campe to surueie and view the warders he espied line 60 two souldiers that were walking abroad without the limits assigned whom he caused straightwaies to be apprehended and hanged vpon a tree of great height for a terrour to others that none should be so hardie to breake such orders as he commanded them to obserue Whilest the king laie thus with his power about the mightie citie of Rone the Frenchmen sought to indamage as well those that were at that siege as other of the Englishmen that laie in garrisons within the townes that were alreadie in the king of Englands possession insomuch that as some haue written within the octaues of the Assumption three notable victories chanced to the Englishmen in thrée seuerall places First an hundred Englishmen at Kilbuef tooke three great lords of the Frenchmen besides fourescore other persons and put thrée hundred to flight Also vpon the thursdaie within the same octaues foure hundred Frenchmen that were entered within the suburbes of Eureux were repelled by eleuen Englishmen that tooke foure of those Frenchmen prisoners siue twelue of them and tooke fortie horsses On the saturdaie following the Frenchmen tooke in hand to steale vpon them that laie in garrison within Louiers in hope to surprise the towne earlie in the morning but the capteine perceiuing their purpose sallied foorth with a hundred of his men and putting the Frenchmen to flight being a thousand tooke an hundred and fourescore of them being all gentlemen But to returne to them before Rone The siege thus continuing from Lammas almost to Christmas diuerse enterprises were attempted and diuerse policies practised how euerie part might indamage his aduersaries no parte greatlie reioised of their gaine But in the meane time vittels began sore to faile them within that onelie vineger and water serued for drinke If I should rehearse according to the report of diuerse writers how déerelie dogs rats mise and cats were sold within the towne and how greedilie they were by the poore people eaten and deuoured and how the people dailie died for fault of food and yoong infants laie sucking in the stréets on their moothers breasts lieng dead starued for hunger the reader might lament their extreme miseries A great number of poore sillie creaturs were put out at the gates which were by the Englishmen that kept the trenches beaten and driuen backe againe to the same gates which they found closed and shut against them And so they laie betweene the wals of the citie and the trenches of the enimies still crieng for helpe and reléefe for lacke whereof great numbers of them dailie died Howbeit king Henrie mooued with pitie vpon Christmasse daie in the honor of Christes Natiuitie refreshed all the poore people with vittels to their great comfort and his high praise yet if the duke of Burgognies letters had not béene conueied into the citie it was thought they within would neuer haue made resistance so long time as they did for by those letters they were assured of rescue to come Diuerse lords of France hauing written to them to the like effect they were put in such comfort herewith that immediatlie to expresse their great reioising all the bels in the citie were roong foorth chéerefullie which during all the time of the siege
gladlie heare and either determined them himselfe or else for end committed them to others He slept verie little but that verie soundlie in so much that when his soldiers soong at nights or minstrels plaied he then slept fastest of courage inuincible of purpose vnmutable so wise-hardie alwaies as feare was banisht from him at euerie alarum he first in armor and formost in ordering In time of warre such was his prouidence bountie and hap as he had true intelligence not onelie what his enimies did but what they said and intended of his deuises and purposes few before the thing was at the point to be done should be made priuie He had such knowledge in ordering and guiding an armie with such a gift to incourage his people that the Frenchmen had constant opinion he could neuer be vanquished in battell Such wit such prudence and such policie withall that he neuer enterprised any thing before he had fullie debated and forecast all the maine chances that might happen which doone with all diligence and courage he set his purpose forward What policie he had in finding present remedies for sudden mischeeues and what engines in sauing himselfe and his people in sharpe distresses were it not that by his acts they did plainlie appeare hard were it by words to make them credible Wantonnesse of life and thirst in auarice had he quite quenched in him vertues in deed in such an estate of souereigntie youth and power as verie rare so right commendable in the highest degrée So staied of mind and countenance beside that neuer iolie or triumphant for victorie nor sad or damped for losse or misfortune For bountifulnesse and liberalitie no man more frée gentle and franke in bestowing rewards to all persons according to their deserts for his saieng was that he neuer desired monie to kéepe but to giue and spend Although that storie properlie serues not for theme of praise or dispraise yet what in breuitie may well be remembred in truth would not be forgotten by sloth were it but onlie to remaine as a spectacle for magnanimitie to haue alwaies in eie and for incouragement to nobles in honourable enterprises Knowen be it therefore of person and forme was this prince rightlie representing his heroicall affects of stature and proportion tall and manlie rather leane than grose somewhat long necked and blacke haired of countenance amiable eloquent and graue was his spéech and of great grace and power to persuade for conclusion a maiestie was he that both liued died a paterne in princehood a lode-starre in honour and mirrour of magnificence the more highlie exalted in his life the more déepelie lamented at his death and famous to the world alwaie Peter Basset a chéefe man in his chamber affirmed that he deceassed of a pleurisie though the Scots and French set it downe to be of saint Feacres disease that they saie was a palsie with a crampe which Enguerant reports to be saint Anthonies fire but neither of them trulie ¶ Anglorum praelia saith that it was a sharpe feuer which happening vnto him wearied with the broiles of warre in a verie vnseasonable time of the yeare namelie the dog daies tormented him the sorer and grew to be not onelie dangerous but also desperat for it left him not till life was extinguished the poets report is as followeth Interea fractúmque aestu nimióque labore Corripit Henricum languentem febris acuta Coeli intemperies sextili Sirius ardens Virus pestiferi fecit ingrandescere morbi His bodie imbalmed and closed in lead was laid in a chariot roiall richlie apparelled with cloth of gold Upon his coffin was laid a representation of his person adorned with robes diadem scepter ball line 10 like a king the which chariot six horsses drew richlie trapped with seuerall appointments the first with the armes of S. George the second with the armes of Normandie the third of king Arthur the fourth of saint Edward the fift of France and the sixt with the armes of England and France On this same chariot gaue attendance Iames K. of Scots the principall mourner king Henries vncle Thomas duke of Excester Richard earle of Warwike the earle of March Edmund the earle of Stafford line 20 Humfrie the earle of Mortaigne Edmund Beaufort the lord Fitz Hugh Henrie the lord Hungerford Walter sir Robert Robsert lord Bourchier sir Iohn Cornwall lord Fanhope and the lord Crumwell were the other mourners The lord Louell the lord Audeleie the lord Morleie the lord Sowch bare the baners of saints and auoouries as then they were called the baron of Dudleie bare the standard and the earle of Longuile the baner The hachments were caried onelie by capteins to the number of line 30 twelue and round about the chariot rode fiue hundred men of armes all in blacke armour their horsses barbed blacke and they with the but ends of theâ—â— speares vpwards The conduct of this dolorous funerall was committed to sir William Philip treasuror of the kings houshold and to sir William Porter his cheefe caruer and others Beside this on euerie side of the chariot went thrée hundred persons holding long torches lords bearing baners baâ—erâ—ls and penons line 40 With this funerall appointment was he conueâ—ed from Bois de Uincennes to Paris and so to Rone to Abuile to Calis to Douer from thence thorough London to Westminster where he was interted with such solemne ceremonies mourning of lords praier of priests and such lamenting of commons as neuer before then the like was seâ—ne â—n England Shortlie after this solemne buriall his sorowfull quéene returned into England and kept hir estate line 50 with the yoong king hir sonne Thus ended this puissant prince his most noble and fortunate reigne whose life saith Hall though cruell Atropos abbreuiated yet neither fiâ—e malice nor â—retting time shall appall his honour or blot out the glorie of him that in so small time had doone so manie and roiall acts In this yeare the one and twentith of October deceassed the gentle and welbeloued Charles French king the sixt of 〈◊〉 name who was buried at S. Denis ¶ So that betwéene the death line 60 of these two kings namelie the one of England the other of France there was no great space of time sith Charles departed in October and Henrie in August by the priuation of whose liues which of the two realmes susteined the greater losse it is a question not to be discussed Certeine it is that they were both souereigns tenderlie loued of their subiects as they were princes greatlie fauouring their people Finallie in memorie of this Henrie the fift a king of a roiall hart and euerie waie indued with imperiall vertues I find so fit a report coâ—spiring in truth with his properties and disposition that I thinke it verie conuenient here to be inserted in place of an epitaph Henrici illustris properans mors occupat artus Ille suae patriae decus immortale per aeuum
cardinall and archbishop of Yorke licenced and suffered the said duke of Orleance to intreat and common apart with the councell of your said aduersaries as well as with the duchies of Burgognie by which meane the peace and aliance was made betwéene the two dukes to the greatest fortifieng of your said capitall aduersaries that could be thought and consequentlie my deere redoubted lord to your greatest charge and hurt to both your realmes Under colour of which treatie your said aduersaries in meane time wan your citie of Meaux and the countrie thereabout and manie diuerse roades made into your duchie of Normandie to the great noisance and destruction of your people as it sheweth openlie 16 Item the said archbishop of Yorke sent with other into this your realme from the said cardinall after commmunication had with your aduerse partie at your said towne of Calis made at his comming into your notable presence at Windesor all the suasions and colour all motions in the most apparant wise that he could to induce your highnesse to your agréement to the desires of your capitall aduersaries as I saw there in your noble presence of his writing at which time as I vnderstood it was his singular opinion that is to saie that you should leaue your right your title and your honour of your crowne and nomination of you king of France during certeine yeares that you should vtterlie absteine you and be content onelie in writing with Rex Angliae c to the great note of infamie that euer fell to you or anie of your noble progenitours since the taking of them first the said title and right of your realme and crowne of France To which matter in your presence there after that it had liked your said highnesse to aske mine aduise therevpon with other of your blood and councell I answerd and said that I would neuer agrée me thereto to die therfore and of the same disposition I am yet and will be while I liue in conseruation of your honour and of your oth made vnto your said crowne in time of your coronation there 17 Item the said cardinall and archbishop of Yorke haue so laboured vnto your highnesse that you should intend to a new daie of conuention in March or Aprill next comming where it is noised to be more against your worship than with it And where it was euident to all the world that the rupture and breaking of the said peace should haue fallen heretofore of your aduerse partie because of the great vntruths Now by that meanes it is like peraduenture to be laid vnto the verie great slander of you my doubted lord like to come to none other purpose noâ— effect than other conuentions haue doone afore time and so by subtilties and counsell of your said enimies your land they in hope and trust of the said treatie 〈◊〉 mightilie nor puissantlie purueied for shall be like vnder the colour of the same treatie to be burnt vp and destroied lost and vtterlie turned from your obâ—â—sance 18 Item it is said that the deliuerance of the said line 10 duke of Orleance is vtterlie appointed by the mediation counsell and stirring of the said cardinall and archbishop of Yorke and for that cause diuerse persons beene come from your aduersaries into this your realme and the said duke also brought to your citie of London where as my lord your father whom God assoile peising so greatlie the inconueniences and harme that might fall onlie by his deliuerance concluded ordeined and determined in his last will vtterlie in his wiseâ—â—me his conquest in his realme line 20 of France And yet then it is to de doone by as great deliberation solemnitie and suertie as may be deuised or thought And séeing now the disposition of your realme of France the puissance and might of your enimies and what aid they haue gotten against you there aswell vnder the colour of the said treatie as otherwise what may or ought to be thought or said for that laboring the said duke all things considered by such particular persons the lords of your bloud line 30 not called therevnto I report me vnto your noble grace and excellencie and vnto the said wise true men of this your realme 19 Item where that euerie true councellor speciallie vnto anie king or prince ought of truth and of dutie to counsell promote increase prefer and aduance the weale and prosperitie of his lord the said cardinall being of your councell my right doubted lord hath late purchased of your highnesse certeine great lands and liuelode as the castell and lordship line 40 of Chirke in Wales and other lands in this your realme vnto which I was called suddenlie and so in eschewing the breaking and losse of your armies then againe séeing none other remedie gaue therevnto mine assent thinking that who that euer laboured moued or stirred the matter first vnto your lordship counselled you neither for your worship nor profit 20 More the said cardinall hath you bound apart to make him a sure estate of all the said lands line 50 by Easter-next comming as could be deuised by anie learned counsell or else that suertie not made the said cardinall to haue and reioy to him and his heirs for euermore the lands of the duchie of Lancaster in Norffolke to the value of seuen or eight hundred marks by yeare Which thing séemeth right strange and vnseene and vnhard waies of anie liege man to seeke vpon his souereigne lord both in his inheritance and in his iewels and goods For it is thought but if right and extreame necessitie caused it there line 60 should nor ought no such things to be doone from which necessitie God for his mercie euer preserue your noble person Wherfore my redoubted lord seeing that ye should be so counselled or stirred to leaue your crowne and inheritance in England and also by fraud and subtill meanes as is afore rehearsed so to lose your iewels in my truth and in mine acquit â—ll as me séemeth I may not nor ought not counsell so great an hurt to you and to all your land 21 Item it is not vnknowen to you my right doubted lord how oftentimes I haue offered my seruice to and for the defenâ—e of your realme of France and duchie of Normandie where I haue béene put therefro by the labour of the said cardinall in preferring other after his singular affection Which hath caused a great part of the said dâ—châ—e of Normandie aswell as of your realme of France to be lost as iâ— is well knowen And what good my right doubted lord was lost on that armie that â—as last sent thither which the earle of Mortaigne your councell of France hath well cleerelie declared to your highnesse here before 22 Item my right doubted lord it is not vnknowen that it had not beene possible to the said cardinall to haue come to his great riches but by such meanes for of his church it might not rise and inheritance he had
of triumph and victorie And to begin with the erle of Richmond capteine of this rebellion he is a Welsh milkesop a man of small courage and of lesse experience in martiall acts and feats of warre brought vp by my moothers meanes and mine like a captiue in a close cage in the court of Francis duke of Britaine and neuer saw armie nor was exercised in martiall affaires by reason wherof he neither can nor is able by his owne will or experience to guide or rule an hoast For in the wit and policie of the capteine consisteth the cheefe adeption of the victorie and ouerthrow of the enimies Secondarilie feare not but put awaie all doubts for when the traitors and runnagates of our realme shall see vs with banner displaied come against them remembring their oth promise and fidelitie made vnto vs as to their souereigne lord and annointed king they shall be so pricked and stoong in the bottome of their scrupulous consciences that they for verie remorse and dread of the diuine plague will either shamefullie flee or humblie submit themselues to our grace and mercie And as for the Frenchmen and Britans their valiantnesse is such that our noble progenitors and your valiant parts haue them oftener vanquished and ouercome in one moneth than they in the beginning imagined possiblie to compasse and finish in a whole yeare What will you make of them braggers without audacitie drunckards without discretion ribalds without reason cowards without resisting and in conclusion the most effeminate and lasciuious people that euer shewed themselues in front of battell ten times more couragious to flee escape than once to assault the breast of our strong populous armie Wherefore considering all these aduantages expell out of your thoughts all douts auoid out of your minds all feare and like valiant champions aduance foorth your standards assaie whether your enimies can decide and trie the title of battell by dint of sword Aduance I say againe forward my capteins in whome lacketh neither policie wisedome nor yet puissance Euerie one giue but one sure stripe suerlie the iournie is ours What preuaileth a handfull to a whole realme Desiring you for the loue that you beare to me and the affection that you haue to your natiue and naturall countrie and to the safegard of your prince your selues that you will this daie take to you your accustomed courage and couragious spirits for the defense and safeguard of vs all And as for me I assure you this daie I will triumph by glorious victorie or suffer death for immortall fame For they be maimed line 10 and out of the palace of fame disgraded dieng without renowme which doo not asmuch prefer and exalt the perpetuall honour of their natiue countrie as their owne mortall and transitorie life Now saint George to borow let vs set forward and remember well that I am he which shall with high aduancements reward and preferre the valiant and hardie line 20 champions and punish and torment the shamefull cowards and dreadfull dastards This exhortation incouraged all such as fauoured him but such as were present more for dread than loue kissed them openlie whome they inwardlie hated Other sware outwardlie to take part with such whose death they secretlie compassed and inwardlie imagined Other promised to inuade the kings enimies line 30 which fled and fought with fierce courage against the king Other stood still and looked on intending to take part with the victors and ouercommers So was his people to him vnsure and vnfaithfull at his end as he was to his nephues vntrue and vnnaturall in his beginning How then was it possible that this princes regiment could long stand seeing the preseruation and prorogation of his reigne consisted not in the loue of his subiects In place whereof bicause feare yea seruile and forced feare succéeded line 40 he was the sooner forsaken of his people whose harts fell from him as isicles from a penthouse in a sunnie daie and in this case the poet saith truelie and was well worthie of credit when he craued it saieng Credite quem metuit quisque perire cupit When the earle of Richmond knew by his foreriders that the king was so neere imbatelled he rode about his armie from ranke to ranke from wing to wing giuing comfortable words to all men and that finished being armed at all peeces sauing his line 50 helmet mounted on a little hill so that all his people might sée and behold him perfectlie to their great reioising For he was a man of no great stature but so formed and decorated with all gifts and lineaments of nature that he séemed more an angelicall creature than a terrestriall personage His countenance and aspect was chéerefull and couragious his haire yellow like the burnished gold his eies graie shining and quicke prompt and readie in answering but of such sobrietie that it could neuer be iudged whether line 60 he were more dull than quicke in speaking such was his temperance Now when he had ouerlooked his armie ouer euerie side he paused awhile and after with a lowd voice and bold spirit spake to his companions these or the like words following The oration of king Henrie the seauenth to his armie IF euer God gaue victorie to men fighting in a iust quarrell or if he euer aided such as made warre for the wealth tuition of their owne naturall and nutritiue countrie or if he euer succoured them which aduentured their liues for the releefe of innocents suppressing of malefactors and apparant offendors no doubt my fellowes freends but he of his bountifull goodnesse will this daie send vs triumphant victorie and a luckie iournie ouer our proud enimies and arrogant aduersaries for if you remember and consider the verie cause of our iust quarell you shall apparantlie perceiue the same to be true godlie and vertuous In the which I doubt not but God will rather aid vs yea and fight for vs than see vs vanquished and ouerthrowne by such as neither feare him nor his laws nor yet regard iustice or honestie Our cause is so iust that no enterprise can be of more vertue both by the lawes diuine ciuill For what can be a more honest goodlie or godlie quarrell than to fight against a capteine being an homicide and murtherer of his owne bloud or progenie an extreame destroier of his nobilitie and to his and our countrie and the poore subiects of the same a deadlie mallet a firie brand and a burthen intollerable Beside him consider who be of his band and companie such as by murther and vntrueth committed against their owne kin and linage yea against their prince and souereigne lord haue disherited me and you and wrongfullie deteine and vsurpe our lawfull patrimonie lineall inheritance For he that calleth himselfe king keepeth from me the crowne and regiment of this noble realme and countrie contrarie to all iustice and equitie Likewise his mates and friends
be buried with his carren corps He reigned two yeers two moneths and one daie too long by six and twentie moneths and foure and twentie houres in most mens opinions to whome his name and presence was as swéet and delectable as his dooings princelie and his person amiable As he was small and little of stature so was he of bodie greatlie deformed the one shoulder higher than the other his face was small but his countenance cruell and such that at the first aspect a man would iudge it to sauour and smell of malice fraud and deceit When he stood musing he would bite and chaw busilie his nether lip as who said that his fierce nature in his cruell bodie alwaies chafed stirred and was euer vnquiet beside that the dagger which he ware he would when he studied with his hand plucke vp downe in the sheath to the midst neuer drawing it fullie out he was of a readie pregnant and quicke wit wilie to feine and apt to dissemble he had a proud mind and an arrogant stomach the which accompanied him euen to his death rather choosing to suffer the same by dint of sword than being forsaken and left helpelesse of his vnfaithfull companions to preserue by cowardlie flight such a fraile and vncerteine life which by malice sicknesse or condigne punishment was like shortlie to come to confusion Thus ended this prince his mortall life with infamie and dishonor which neuer preferred fame or honestie before ambition tyrannie and mischiefe And if he had continued still protector and suffered his nephues to haue liued and reigned no doubt but the realme had prospered he as much praised loued as he is now had in hatred but to God which knew his inward thoughts at the houre of his death I remit the punishment of his offenses commited in his life which if the one be as manifold as the other Gods iustice were not to be charged with crueltie For by nature he is mercifull slow to anger and loth to smite line 10 but yet euerie sinne in respect of his righteousnesse being deadlie much more heinous and horrible how can he but by iustice which is an essentiall vertue in him punish it seuerelie And if he did it with ten thousand torments who shall be so hardie as to expostulate and reason why he so dooth But to leaue the tyrant as he died you shall vnderstand that K. Henrie the seuenth caused a toome to be made and set vp ouer the place where he was buried in the church of the graie friers at Leicester with a picture of alabaster representing his person dooing line 20 that honour to his enimie vpon a princelie regard and pitifull zeale which king Richard mooued of an hypocriticall shew of counterfeit pitie did to king Henrie the sixt whom he had first cruellie murthered and after in the second yeare of his vsurped reigne caused his corps to be remooued from Chertseie vnto Windsore and there solemnlie interred And now to conclude with this cruell tyrant king Richard we may consider in what sort the ambitious desire to line 30 rule and gouerne in the house of Yorke was punished by Gods iust prouidence For although that the right might seeme to remaine in the person of Richard duke of Yorke slaine at Wakefield yet maie there be a fault worthilie reputed in him so to séeke to preuent the time appointed him by authoritie of parlement to atteine to the crowne infailed to him and his issue in whome also and not onelie in himselfe that offense as maie bée thought was dulie punished For although his eldest line 40 sonne Edward the fourth beeing a prince right prouident and circumspect for the suertie of his owne estate and his children insomuch that not content to cut off all his armed and apparant enimies he also of a gealous feare made awaie his brother the duke of Clarence and so thought to make all sure yet Gods vengeance might not be disappointed for as ye haue partlie heard he did but further thereby the destruction of his issue in taking awaie him that onlie might haue staied the crueltie of his brother of line 50 Glocester who inraged for desire of the kingdome be rest his innocent nephues of their liues estates And as it thus well appeared that the house of Yorke shewed it selfe more bloudie in séeking to obteine the kingdome than that of Lancaster in vsurping it so it came to passe that the Lords vengeance appeared more heauie towards the same than towards the other not ceassing till the whole issue maâ—e of the said Richard duke of Yorke was extinguished For such is Gods iustice to leaue no vnrepentant line 60 wickednesse vnpunished as especiallie in this caitife Richard the third not deseruing so much as the name of a man much lesse of a king most manifestlie appeareth At whom we will end with a comparison of the like practise in Lodowike Storce aspiring to the dukedome of Millane the name armes and title wherof he tooke vpon him hauing secretlie protested before that he receiued them as apperteining to him by the inuestiture of the king of Romans It was published that the death of Galeas his late predecessor happened by immoderate cohabitation but the vniuersall iudgment of Italie was that he died not of infirmities naturall nor by incontinencie but by poison and violent compulsion Wherof Theodor de Pauia one of the physicians assisting when the king visited him assured the king to sée most apparant and manifest signes and if hee were dispatched by poison there was none that doubted that his vncle was innocent either directlie or indirectlie as he who not content with an absolute power to be gouernor of the state but aspiring according to the common desires of great men to make themselues glorious with titles and honors and speciallie he iudged that both for his proper suertie and the succession of his children the death of the lawfull prince was necessarie and therefore thought to establish in himselfe the power and name of duke Wherin ambition and couetousnesse preuailed aboue conscience and law of nature and the gealous desire of dominion inforced his disposition otherwise abhorring bloud to that vile action But to end with king Richard sometimes duke of Glocester a title of dignitie ioined with misfortune and vnluckinesse as is noted before So that for infelicitie it might well be compared vnto the name of Ione a name vnhappie and much accurssed for the kingdome of Naples As for king Richard better had it béene for him to haue contented his heart with the protectorship than to haue cast vp his snout or lifted vp his hornes of ambition so high and that with a setled intent as to hacke and hew downe by violent blowes all likelie impediments betwixt him and home Better I say had it béene for him to haue dwelt vpon his first honor than to haue wandered in princelinesse and better had it béene for him neuer to haue
people to impart anie portion thereof to so good a vse but rather for the supportation of him and his swarme who before they will bate an ace of their gorgeous gallantnesse the whole world shal be coâ—sened Such is the collusion of the pope such be the shamelesse shifts of him and his cleargie for the maintenance of their owne courtlie brauerie which is wicked vanitie farre passing the pompe of anie prince were the same of neuer so rare magnificence as he well noteth that said full trulie immenso princeps non visus in orbe est Cui tanti fastus tantáue pompa fuit Ingreditur quando miserae Babylonis in Vrbes Cernitur hîc plusquam regia pompa comes Huic equus est spumans ostróque insignis auro Altisono cuius sub pede terra fremit c. About this time died thrée bishops in England Iohn Morton archbishop of Canturburie Thomas Langton bishop of Winchester and Thomas Rotheram archbishop of Yorke After him succéeded Thomas Sauage bishop of London a man of great honour and worthinesse in whose place succéeded William Warham of whome before is made mention And Henrie Deane bishop of Salisburie was made archbishop of Canturburie and Richard For was remooued from Durham to the sée of Winchester Also this yeare two notable mariages were concluded but not consummate till afterwards as you shall heare in place conuenient For king Henrie granted his daughter ladie Margaret to Iames the fourth king of Scots year 1501 And Ferdinando king of Spaine gaue his daughter ladie Katharine to Arthur prince of Wales sonne and heire apparant to the king of England Among other articles of the mariage concluded with the Scotish king this was one that no English men should be receiued into Scotland without letters commendatorie of their souereigne lord or safe conduct of his warden of the marches and the same prohibition was in like maner giuen to the Scots This yeare the ladie Katharine of Spaine was sent by hir father king Ferdinando with a puissant nauie of ships into England where she arriued in the hauen of Plimmouth the second daie of October then being saturdaie Upon the twelfe of Nouember she was conueied from Lambeth through London with all triumph and honour that might be deuised to the bishops palace the stréets being hanged and pageants erected after the maner as is vsed at a coronation which solemnitie Edward Hall describeth with the sumptuous shewes then glistering in the beholders eies ¶ I passe ouer saith he the wise deuises the prudent spéeches the costlie works the cunning portratures practised and set foorth in seuen goodlie beautifull pageants erected and set vp in diuerse places of the citie I leaue also the goodlie ballades the swéet harmonie the musicall instruments which sounded with heauenlie noise on euerie side of the streets I omit further the costlie apparell both of goldsmiths worke and imbroderie the rich iewels the massie chaines the stirring horsses the beautifull bards and the glittering trappers both with belles and spangels of gold I pretermit also the rich apparell of the princesse the strange fashion of the Spanish nation the beautie of the English ladies the goodlie demeanure of the yoong damosels the amorous countenance of the lustie bachelers I passe ouer also the fine ingrained clothes the costlie furs of the citizens standing on scaffolds raised from Gracechurch to Paules What should I speake of the odoriferous scarlets the fine veluets the pleasant furres the massie chaines which the maior of London with the senat sitting on horssebacke at the little conduit in Cheape ware on their bodies and about their necks I will not speake of the rich arras the costlie tapestrie the fine clothes both of gold and siluer the curious veluets the beautifull satteâ—s nor the pleasant silkes which did hang in euerie street where she passed the wine that ran line 10 continuallie out of the conduits and the graueling of the stréets néedeth not to be remembred Whilest this ladie soiourned for hir recreation in the bishops palace of London being in the meane time visited of the king the quéene and the kings mother there was erected in the bodie of S. Paules church a long bridge made of timber extending from the west doore of the church to the step at the entring into the queere which was six foot from the ground On the said bridge or stage euen directlie before the line 20 consistorie of the church was a place raised like a mount for eight persons to stand vpon compassed round about with steps to ascend and descend which was couered with fine red worsted and in likewise were all the railes of the said stage On the north side of this mount was a place decked and trimmed for the king and quéene and such other as they appointed to haue On the south side of the same mount stood the maior and the magistrates of the citie When all things were prepared and set in order line 30 vpon the fouretéenth of Nouember then being sundaie the foresaid ladie was led to the said mount and there prince Arthur openlie espoused hir both being clad in white both lustie and amorous he of the age of fifteene and more and she of the age of eightéene or thereabouts the king and queene standing priuily on their stage After the matrimonie celebrated the prince and his wife went vp into the queere and there heard a solemne masse soong by the archbishop of Canturburie associat with ninetéene prelats line 40 mitred And after the masse finished the bride was led homewards to the bishops palace by the duke of Yorke being then a goodlie yoong prince and the legat of Spaine Next after followed the ladie Cicilie sister to the quéene supporting the traine of the spouse But to speake of all the solemne pompe noble companie of lords and ladies and what a sumptuous feast and plentifull was kept with dansing and disguisings words might sooner faile than matter worthie line 50 of rehearsall Howbeit euerie daie endeth and night insueth and so when night was come the prince and his beautifull bride were brought and ioined togither in one bed where they laie as man and wife all that night ¶ Now when the morning appéered the prince as his familiar seruitors which had then neither cause nor reward to lie or faine openlie told the tale called for drinke which he before times was not accustomed to doo At which thing one of his chamberleines maruelling asked the cause of his drouth To line 60 whome the prince answered merilie saieng I haue this night béene in the middest of Spaine which is a hot region and that iournie maketh me so drie and if thou haddest béene vnder that hot climat thou wouldest haue béene drier than I. Shortlie after the king and the quéene with the new wedded spouses went from Bainards castell by water to Westminster on whom the maior and communaltie of London in barges gorgeouslie trimmed gaue
they shewed to buckle with the Englishmen Wherevpon without delaie line 60 king Iames putting his horsse from him all other as well nobles as meane men did the like that the danger being equall as well to the greatest as to the meanest and all hope of succour taken awaie which was to be looked for by flight they might be the more willing to shew their manhood sith their safegard onelie rested in the edges and points of their weapons Then was the whole armie diuided into fiue wards or regiments to this intent that the battell wherein the king himselfe stood with his standard might be inclosed as it were with two wings on either side one In the right wing the earles of Huntleie Crawford and Montrosse were placed as cheefe leaders thereof and in the left were the earles of Lenox and Argile with the lord Hume lord chamberleine of Scotland being men of great skill in warlike affaires as was reported Moreouer in euerie band almost generallie thoroughout there was a knight appointed for capteine and guider and amongst them certeine French capteins the which king Lewes had sent ouer into Scotland latelie before to traine the Scots in the practise of warres The ordinance was lodged in places most conuenient though by reason they marched downe the hill their shot did small damage to the Englishmen comming vpwards towards them and yet they bestowed it freshlie on either side one vpon an other Héerwith sir Edmund Howard with his wing was got vp on the hill side with whome the lord Hume and the two foresaid earles of Lenox and Argile incountered with such violence that this battell of Scots with speares on foot on that part beat downe and broke that wing of the Englishmen in such wise that sir Edmund Howard was in maner left alone and felled to the earth that had not bastard Heron come to his succours at that instant he had béene slaine there without all remedie On the other part the lord Dacres watching to aid where need appeered came in on the sides of the Scots gaue a charge on them with his horssemen wherby sir Edmund Howard being somewhat relieued escaped to the English vant-gard which was led as before is mentioned by his brother lord Howard who being now also got aloft on the hill preassed still forward to renew the battell to succour those whome he saw put to the worse so that thereby they tooke new courages laid about them againe Herewith the earles of Crawford Montrosse came with their battell of speares also on foot and incountring with the said lord Howard after sore fight on both sides continued with more malicious hatred than force of the parties both the said earles were slaine besides a great number of other the whole battell which they led being put to flight and chased out of the field maimed wounded and slaine And though they did what they could to the vttermost resistance in hope to haue bathed their blades in English blood yet the contrarie came to passe as in stories is left recorded to the honour of the English namelie Sustinet inflictos duris vmbonibus ictus Imbuit gladios manante cruâ—re Britannus On the left hand at the same instant sir Edward Stanlie hauing begun to incounter with the Scots on that side forced them to come downe into a more euen ground and brought to that point with such incessant shot of arrowes as his archers bestowed amongst them that to auoid the danger of that sore and sharpe storme the Scots were constreined to breake their arraie to fight not closed togither in order of battell but insunder one separated from another so that their standards began to shrinke here and there Which thing when sir Edward Stanleie perceiued foorthwith bringing about thrée bands which he had kept in store for such like purpose he inuaded the open sides of his enimies by a fresh onset and put them in such disorder that they were not able anie longer to abide the violence of the Englishmen mightilie preassing vpon them so that taking themselues to flight and running headlong downe the stiepe descent of the mounteine they escaped to the woods and there saued themselues But the earles of Argile and Lenox dooing what they could to staie their people from running awaie were slaine in the same place In the meane time the king who a little before had ioined with the earle of Surreie perceiuing that the wings of his battell were distressed and that his enimies began to inclose him on ech side he bashed nothing at the matter but with assured countenance exhorted those that were about him to sticke to him and to remember their worthie ancestors in committing nothing that might anie waies foorth sound to their reproch And herewith rushing against his enimies a new battell more egre than the first began to arise for that battell being well appointed and armed passed litle for the Englishmens arrowes in so much that persing the earles battell they entred well néere so farre within the same that they were at point to line 10 haue ouerthrowne his standards There were on either part a number of tall men of bodie chosen foorth of purpose by the capteins for the good opinion conceiued of their hardie valiancie the battell betwixt them séemed long time doubtfull and variable now one while fauourable to the one part and an other while to the other The king himselfe on foot euen in the foremost ranke fought right valiantlie incouraging his people as well by example as exhortation to doo their deuoirs Neither line 20 did the earle of Surrie for his part faile in the dutie of a right worthie generall But while the battell was thus foughten in most earnest maner about the standards with doubtfull chance of victorie the lord Howard and sir Edward Stanleie hauing vanquished the enimies in either wing returned to the middle-ward and finding them there thus occupied they set on in two parts seuerallie with great violence At the same time the lord Dacres came with his line 30 horssemen vpon the backs of the Scots so that they being thus assailed behind and before and on either side were constreined as inuironed about to fight in a round compasse King Iames as he beheld sir Adam Forman his standard-bearer beaten downe thought suerlie then there was no waie for him but death and that euen out of hand Wherefore to deliuer himselfe from such despitefull reproch as was like to follow he rushed foorth into the thickest prease of his enimies and there fighting in most desperat wise was beaten downe and slaine And a little beside line 40 him there died with like obstinate wilfulnesse or if ye list so to terme it manhood diuerse honorable prelats as the archbishop of saint Andrewes and two other bishops besides foure abbats also of lords and knights of honor a six and thirtie The lord Hume and
march stood sideling toward the enimie who neuerthelesse were not able in all parts to stand full square in arraie by reason that at the west end of them vpon their right hand and toward the enimie there was a square plot inclosed with turffe as their maner of fensing in those parts as well as in diuerse other is one corner whereof did let the square of the same arraie The battell in good order next them but so as in continuance of arraie the former part thereof stood vpon the hils side the taile vpon the plaine and the rere-ward wholie vpon the plaine So that the placing and countenance of the English armie in this wise they shewed themselues in maner to compasse in the Scots battels that they should no waie escape them but how little able they were to doo it with power and number you may easilie coniecture Those horssemen that were so repelled and in their comming backe vnorderlie brake their arraie from the residue ran so hastilie through the ranks of the English fore-ward as it stood that it did both disorder manie feared manie and was a great incouragement to the enimie The worthie earle of Warwike line 10 who had the guiding of this fore-ward right valiantlie had conducted the same to their standing and there did verie noblie incourage and comfort them with such chéerefull words offering to liue and die among them that doubtlesse his presence demeâ—ing himselfe in such manlike sort stood the whole companie in great stead Neither wanted there the chearefull diligence of those capteines with whome his honor was furnished in that fore-ward likewise to incourage their bands nor the worthie behauiour line 20 of other in the battell and rere-ward euerie one according to his calling shewing such proofe of his dutie as the most part certeinlie deserued to haue their names registred in the kalendar of fame where no rust of cankered obliuion might fret out the remembrance of their commendable demeanours and therefore if anie among them should haue shewed anie lacke of courage their dispraise had béene the more sith by others they saw such worthie example giuen and were to stand vpon this resolution to line 30 haue harts hardened against all hazzards in a iust cause whereof they hoped almightie God had vndertaken the managing and direction vnto whome they had committed the same as the poet truelie saith Iusta Deo commissa Anglorum causa tonanti Audaces animosfecit impauidósque pericli But sith there were so manie that did well therfore deseruing a longer processe to be made of their high valiancies shewed in that dangerous seruice line 40 than this volume may permit I will procéed to the battell The Scots were somewhat disordred with their comming out about the slaughter of the Englishmen the which they did so earnestlie follow that they tooke not one to mercie The dukes grace placing himselfe as yée haue heard on the hill of Fauxside braie and therewith perceiuing the great disorder of the stragling horssemen that had in the retire broken arraie hemmed them in from further straieng whome sir Rafe Uane and others of the capteins soone after with great dexteritie brought into line 50 good order and arraie againe and with all the rest of the strengths of the whole armie by the policie of the lords and diligence of euerie capteine and officer beside were so fitlie and aptlie applied in their feat that where this repulse giuen by the enimie to the horssemen was doubted of manie to turne to the whole losse of the field the same was wrought and aduanced according as it was deuised to the great certeintie of gaine and victorie For first at this line 60 slough where most of the horssemen had stood sir Peter Mewtas capteine of all the harquebutters a foot did verie valiantlie conduct place a good number of his men in maner hard at the faces of the enimies wherevnto sir Peter Gamboa a Spaniard capteine of two hundred harquebutters Spaniards and Italians on horssebacke did readilie bring his men also who with the hot continuance of their shot in both parts did so stoutlie staie the enimies that they could not well come further forward then the archers that marched in arraie on the right hand of the footmen and next to the enimies pricked them sharpelie with arrowes as they stood Therewith the master of the ordinance to their great annoiance did gall them with haile shot and other out of the great ordinance directlie from the hill top and certeine other gunners with their peeces a flanke from the rere-ward most of the artillerie and missiue engines then wholie thus at once with great puâ—ssance and vehemencie occupied about them herewith the full sight of the Englishmen all shadowed from them before by the horssemen and dust raised whome then they were ware in such order to be so néere vpon them and to this the perfect arraie of the horssemen againe comming couragiouslie to set on them afresh miserable men perceiuing themselues then all too late how much too much they had ouershot themselues began suddenlie to shrinke Their gouernour and other the principall capteins that had brought them to the bargaine tooke their horsses and fled amaine which other perceiuing did quicklie follow and with the formost of that crue their Irishmen and therewith turned all the whole rout cast downe their weapons ran out of their wards off with their iackes and with all that euer they might betooke them to the race that their gouernour began The Englishmen at the first had found them as what could scape so manie eies and sharpelie and quicklie with an vniuersall outcrie They flie they flie pursued after in chase so egerlie and with such fiercenesse that they ouertooke manie and spared indéed but few that when they were once turned it was a woonder to see how soone and in how sundrie sorts they were scattered The place they stood on like a wood of staues strewed on the ground as rushes in a chamber vnpassable they laie so thicke for either horsse or man Here at the first had they let fall all their pikes and after that euerie where scattered swords bucklers daggers iackes and all things else that was of anie weight or might be any let to their course which course among them thrée waies speciallie they made some along the sands by the Frith towards Lith some streight towards Edenburgh whereof part through the parke there in the walles whereof though they be round about of flint stone yet were there manie holes alreadie made and part of them by the high waie that leadeth along by the abbaie of Holierood house and the residue and most part of them towards Daketh which waie by means of the marish our horssemen were worst able to follow Sundrie shifts some shrewd some sorie made they in their running diuerse of them in their courses as they were ware they were pursued but of one would
It was strange to sée the desperat boldnesse of the rebelles that when they were thrust through the bodies or line 20 thighs and some of them hough-sinewed would yet seeke reuenge in striking at their aduersaries when their hands were scarse able to hold vp their weapon thinking themselues somewhat satisfied if the humor of their enuie and deadlie spite might be fed but with a drop of their aduersaries bloud with such a malignant spirit tending wholie to vengeance these desperat rebels were possessed according to the poets spéech in the like sense and meaning Inuidiosa dabit minimus solatia sanguis line 30 But such was the valiancie of the gentlemen and soldiers which were there with the lord marquesse that in the end the enimies which were alreadie entered the citie were beaten out againe and driuen backe to their accustomed kennell holes with losse of thrée hundred of their numbers They within the towne hauing thus repelled the enimies accounting themselues in more safetie than before for the rest of the night that yet remained which was not much they gaue themselues to refresh their wearied line 40 bodies with some sléepe The next daie the lord marquesse was informed by some of the citizens that there were no small number in Kets campe that would gladlie come from him if they might be sure of their pardon and that at Pockethorpe gate there were foure or fiue thousand that wished for nothing more than for pardon and that if the same were offered them there were no doubt as they beléeued but that they would submit themselues to the kings mercie line 50 The marquesse was glad to vnderstand so much incontinentlie dispatched Norreie king at armes with a trumpetter to assure them on the kings behalfe that they should be pardoned for all offenses past and that had beene committed in time of this rebellion if they would laie armes aside Norreie and the trumpet comming to the gate found not a man there but the trumpetter sounding his trumpet there came running downe from the hill a great multitude of their people amongst other as chiefe one Flotman whome Norreie commanded to staie line 60 Wherevpon the said Flotman asked him what was the matter and wherefore he had called them togither by sound of trumpet Go thy waies said he tell thy companie from my lord marquesse of Northhampton the kings maiesties lieutenant that he commandeth them to ceasse from committing anie further outrage and if they will saith he obeie his commandement all that is past shall be forgiuen and pardoned Flotman hauing heard Norreies declaration as he was an outragious and busie fellow presumptuouslie made answer that he cared not a pins point for my lord marquesse and withall like a rebellious traitor railed vpon his lordship and mainteined that he and the rest of the rebels were earnest defendors of the kings roiall maiestie and that they had taken weapon in hand not against the king but in his defense as in time it should appeare as they that sought nothing but to mainteine his maiesties roiall estate the libertie of their countrie and the safetie of their commonwealth c. To conclude he vtterlie refused the kings pardon and told Norreie certeinelie that they would either restore the common-wealth from decaie into the which it was fallen being oppressed thorough the couetousnesse and tyrannie of the gentlemen either else would they like men die in the quarrell Scarselie had he made an end of his tale when suddenlie a fearefull alarum was raised thoroughout the citie for whilest Flotman was thus in talke with the king of armes at Pockethorpe gate the rebels in great rage entring the citie by the hospitall went about to bring all things to destruction but being incountered néere to the bishops palace by the lord marquesse his men there insued a bloudie conflict betwixt them which continued long with great fiercenesse and eger reuenge on both parts There died about seuen score of the rebels and of the soldiers that serued against them some number beside a great multitude that were hurt and wounded on both parts But the pitifull slaughter of the lord Sheffeld who hauing more regard to his honor than safetie of life desirous to shew some proofe of his noble valiancie entering amongst the enimies as he fought right hardilie though not so warilie as had béene expedient fell into a dich as he was about to turne his horsse herewith being compassed about with a number of those horrible traitors was slaine amongest them although he both declared what he was and offered largelie to the vilans if they would haue saued his life But the more noble he shewed himselfe to be the more were they kindled in outragious furie against him And as he pulled off his head péece that it might appeare what he was a butcherlie knaue named Fulks who by occupation was both a carpenter a butcher slat him in the head with a club and so most wretchedlie killed him A lamentable case that so noble a yoong gentleman indued with so manie commendable qualities as were to be wished in a man of his calling should thus miserablie end his daies by the hands of so vile a vilan Diuerse other gentlemen and woorthie soldiers came to the like end among those outragious rebels and amongst other Robert Woluaston that was appointed to kéepe the doore of Christs church was killed by the same Fulks who tooke him for sir Edmund Kneuet against whome the rebels bare great malice for that he sought to annoie them so farre as by anie meanes he might as partlie ye haue heard But the slaughter of that noble man the lord Sheffeld sore discouraged the residue of the soldiers that were come with the lord marquesse And on the other part the rebels were aduanced thereby in greater hope to preuaile against them and therevpon preassed forward with such hardinesse that they caused the lord marquesse and his people to giue place and to forsake the citie euerie man making the best shift he could to saue himselfe But yet diuerse gentlemen of good account and worship remaining behind and abiding the brunt were taken prisoners as sir Thomas Cornewallis and others whome the rebels afterwards kept in streict durance vntill the daie came of their ouerthrow by the kings power vnder the conduction of the earle of Warwike The lord marquesse and the residue that escaped made the best shift they could to get out of danger and at length he and the most part of them that went foorth with him came to London The rebels hauing thus repelled the lord marquesse his power set fire on the citie whereby manie faire buildings were consumed and burnt It happened yet well the same time that there fell great abundance of raine the which holpe in part to quench the rage of the fire Neuertheles all the houses on either side of Holmes stréet and the hospitall of the poore also
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 my selfe Which Onuphrius maketh this Adam to be bishop line 10 of London and to die in Rome the third calends of Maie in the yéere of our sauior 1397 being the one and twentith of Richard the second vnder Boniface the ninth pope of that name and was buried in the place whereof he was intituled to the honor of a cardinall Philip de Repindone bishop of Lincolne and doctor of diuinitie was by pope Gregorie the twelfe then bishop of Rome in the yeare of Christ 1408 being the tenth yeare of king Henrie the fourth line 20 created cardinall of the title of saint Nereus and Achilleus Thomas bishop of Durham was made as saith Onuphrius in the yeare of our redemption 1411 by Iohn the two and twentith commonlie called Iohn the thrée and twentith priest cardinall Touching which matter there is no mention made in the life of Thomas Langleie bishop of Durham and liuing at this time that this Langleie was a cardinall for this Thomas Langleie was made bishop of Durham line 30 in the yeare of our Lord 1406 and continued in that see one and thirtie yeares departing the world 1437 and so the creation of this Thomas bishop of Durham mentioned by Onuphrius and Matthew Parker bishop of Canturburie in the yeare of Christ 1411 must néedes fall in the life of this Thomas Langleie bishop of Durham Robert bishop of Salisburie priest cardinall although it be not shewed of what title was preferred to that place by pope Iohn the thrée and twentith in line 40 the yeare of our redemption 1411 being about the twelfe yere of the reigne of king Henrie the fourth of whom Onuphrius writeth in this sort Roberti episcopi Sarisburiensis presbyteri cardinalis Egidij de campis presbyteri cardinalis gesta exitus quòd nunquam Romanam curiam adierint incerti obscuri omninò sunt Satis tamen constat eos ante papae Martini electionem mortuos fuisse Henrie Beaufort sonne vnto Iohn of Gant and Katharine Swineford being bishop of Winchester and chancellor of England tooke the state of a cardinall line 50 of the title of saint Eusebius at Calis being absent as hath Matthew Parker in the yeare of our redemption 1426 in the fift yeare of king Henrie the sixt He was called the rich cardinall of Winchester being aduanced to that honor by Martine the third commonlie called Martine the fift then pope of Rome This Henrie died vnder pope Nicholas the fift in the yeare of Christ 1447 being about the six twentith yeare of the miserable reigne of king Henrie the sixt line 60 Iohn Stafford bishop of Bash and Welles chancellor of England after bishop of Canturburie was created priest cardinall by Eugenius then bishop of Rome in the yeare that the word became flesh 1434 being the twelfe yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt Iohn Kempe bishop of London twise lord chancellour of England bishop of Yorke and after that archbishop of Canturburie was by Eugenius the fourth then archbishop of Rome made cardinall of the title of saint Sabina as saith Holinshed otherwise by Onuphrius called Balbina contrarie to Polydor who in his thrée and twentith booke of the historie of England affirmeth him to be cardinalited by pope Nicholas the fift He died as saith Onuphrius in the yeare that the godhead was vnited to the manhood to wit one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and foure vnder pope Nicholas the first which yeare of our Lord met with the fiue and thirtith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the sixt Thomas Bourcher borne of the noble house of the earles of Essex being chancellor of England bishop of Worcester from thence remooued to Elie from that I le aduanced to the metropolitan sée of Canturburie and priest cardinall of the title of saint Siriacus in Thermis or the Baths was honored with the scarlet hat and siluer pillers by pope Paule the second of that name in the yeare that the second person in trinitie tooke vpon him the forme of a seruant one thousand foure hundred sixtie fiue being the fift yeare of the reigne of the noble prince king Edward the fourth Iohn Morton bishop of Elie chancellor of England archbishop of Canturburie being priest cardinall of the title of saint Anastasius was honored with a scarlet hat by Alexander the sixt of that name then gouernour of the seat of Peter at Rome in the yeare from the birth of Christ 1493 being the ninth yeare of the Salomon of England king Henrie the seauenth He died as saith Onuphrius in the yeare of our Lord one thousand and fiue hundred being about the eight yeare of Alexander the sixt still pope of Rome and the sixteenth yeare of the said Henrie the seauenth then king of England Christopher Bembridge a gentleman borne was archbishop of Yorke priest cardinall of the title of S. Praxidis was aduanced to that scarlet dignitie by pope Iulius the second in the yere that the virgin was deliuered of our sauiour one thousand fiue hundred eleuen being the third yeare of the triumphant reigne of king Henrie the eight He died at Rome as saith Onuphrius by poison in the yeare of Christ one thousand fiue hundred and thirtéene yeares being the eleuenth yeare when Leo the tenth did hold the sterne of the Romane bishoprike the fift yeare when the said Henrie the eight did rule the scepter of England and was buried at Rome in the church of the holie trinitie of the English nation Thomas Wolseie the kings almoner deane of Yorke abbat of saint Albons and of saint Austins bishop of Lincolne Winchester and Yorke chancellour of England all which or all saue two he held at one time in his owne hands was made priest cardinall of the title of saint Cicilie wherevnto he was promoted by pope Leo the tenth in the yeare of our redemption one thousand fiue hundred and fifteene being the seauenth yéere of the reigne of the famous king Henrie the eight of whome Onuphrius somewhat mistaking the pronuntiation of his name thus writeth Thomas Wlcer ex oppido Sufforth diocessis Norducensis c wherein like a stranger to our countrimen he mistaketh both name towne place and the prouince of Suffolke for the towne of Ipswich For this cardinall Wolseie being descended of meane parentage was borne in the towne of Gipswich now called Ipswich in the prouince or countrie of Suffolke in the diocesse of the bishoprike of Norwich Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester priest cardinall of the title of saint Uitalis was although he neuer came at Rome nor for anie thing that I can learne was euer out of England created cardinall at Rome by Paule the third of that name then wearing the triple crowned miter and being bishop of Rome But this Fisher neuer ware his scarlet hat for after this high dignitie and before he might couer his priestlie crowne with the same he lost his
Now a word or two to shew who they be that die in the Lord and then an end They principallie are said to die in the Lord which suffer death vnder the beast for confession of Christs religion for they properlie die in the Lords cause Such are the martyrs as well of the primitiue church vnder the cruell emperours as the martyrs of all ages since vnder antichrist of Rome They also die in the Lord which though they die not by the crueltie of the beast yet they die in the faith of Iesus Christ and are therefore blessed Of this number was this godlie earle as I haue before declared Wherfore I will conclude and direct my spéech for two or thrée words to this good earle O noble earle of Essex in thy time the pearle of nobilitie the mirrour of vertue and worthie qualities the child of chiualrie the beautifull floure of England the pretious iewell and comfort of Wales the trustie staie of Ireland Thy life was most honourable thy worthinesse incomparable thy death pretious in the sight of God for thou diedst in the Lord a right inheritour of the euerlasting kingdome of heauen Wherefore by authoritie of the heauenlie oracle that saint Iohn was commanded to write thou art to be pronounced blessed for euer Our sins haue shortened thy life so that we could inioie the same no longer Thou hast notwithstanding bequeathed thy bodie to be buried amongst vs here in Wales Of verie dutie therefore O noble earle thy toome shall be with vs in reuerence estimation and honor the fame and name of thy nobilitie valiantnesse vertue and woorthinesse shall neuer be forgotten but shall liue and be kept with vs in memorie from generation to geration while the world standeth Thus far the words of the bishop vttered in a sermon preached in the ears of no meane audience either for reputation or number Now then brieflie considering wherein true and perfect noblenesse consisteth that the heroicall vertues with their naturall vse were most firmelie fixed in his heart and practised by his hand there is great reason to mooue euen his enimies if it were possible for so good a gentleman to haue anie to confesse in him most absolute nobilitie and that this epitaph alluding to his right honorable ensignes is deseruedlie to be recorded being an abstract of that notable line 10 epitaph intituled Epitapium genealogicum in obitum illustrissimi Gualteri comitis Essexiae Euiae comitis marischalli regni Hiberniae vicecomitis Hereford Bourghcher domini Ferrers de Chartleie Bourgcher Louein praenobilis ordinis garterij militis qui obijt Dublinij 21. Septemb. 1576. aetatis suae 36 sepulti apud Maridunum 26. Nouemb. c. Si quisquam claret veterum splendore parentum Aut famam meritus morum probitate perennem line 20 Profiteatur in hijs nomen Essexius heros Qui praeclara virûm gestat monumenta tot vnus Quot rarò licuit multis gestaminaferre Qui intrepidè ob patriam tot mille pericula passus Quot rarò poterint vlla aulica corporaferre Aureolus partus matris patriae decus ingens Quo non exultat moderante Herefordia sola Aut Trinobantum titulo probitatis honorem Plebs referens strenuum validúmue Britannia sola Sensit in aduersos Boreales dum benegessit line 30 Tota sed heroem cognouit marte feroci Eugeniae tellus Hibernica bella probantem Regia cum proprijs expendens bella per annos Dura gerit binos multa pericula tentans Vltoniae fines vultu dextrà que quieti Perficit hinc comitis donatur nomine belli Nec tamen is potuit gladio finire labores Mors nemini parcens Dublinia funera fletu Trans mare transuexit Maridunica sydera voluens Clotho colum tenuit post septem lustra per annum line 40 Quinque die◠Lachesis post haec sua fila trahebat Térque dies septem septeno mense videns heu Atropos eximij fulgentia lumina clausit Quatuor ast pueris illustria stamina spondent In tribus regnis titulos gestabat honoris Nam comitem Euensem cognouit Gallia fortem Aureus heroem demonstrat circulus Essex Ob bello vires comes est is martis Hibernus Nobilitas innata tibi probitatis honorem Armipotens Gualtere dedit probitásque laborem line 50 Perpetuámque labor vitam sic vita salutem This epitaph with the said earles whole genealogie or pedegree comprised in heroicall verse and ioined with the funerall sermon was presented to the right honourable lord Robert now earle of Essex and Ew vicount of Hereford and Bourchier lord Ferrers of Chartleie Bourchier Louaine at such time as he was the quéenes maiesties ward with an epistle of the presenter which bicause it is a veine of godlie deuise tending to a verie honorable purpose line 60 deserueth here to be placed answering the president heretofore set out in print as followeth The epistle of E. W. prefixed before the genealogicall epitaph and funerall sermon published at the interring of the right honourable the lord Walter earle of Essex c. MY lord your absence latelie from the funerals of my lord your father was lamented by such in Wales as would gladlie haue beheld the liuelie image of him in you and if the tendernesse of your yeares vnmeet for so tedious and so vnseasonable trauell had not by necessitie disappointed their hope then should the lamentable speech of the graue and reuerend father the bishop of saint Dauies expressed with abundance of dolour tears haue left in you a déepe impression of griefe for the intollerable losse of so honourable a parent But it maie be iudged that God hath turned your absence to your more benefit sith the importunacie of such as loue honour you and who couet to haue your fathers vertues descend with his inheritance hath obteined the publishing of that learned sermon wherin you maie at good leasure view in the iust report of his life death the paterne forme of true nobilitie The heroicall description that the bishop maketh of nobilitie comparing it vnto a mounteine from which foure famous riuers must issue the mounteine true religion the riuers prudence iustice fortitude and temperance is a rule to you first to follow your father in truth of religion then to be as he was wise iust valiant and temperat The naturall and vnforced courtesie affabilitie that was in your father and that excellent mixture of disposition and aptnesse both for warre and peace dooth promise to the world a singular perfection in you hereafter For as your grandfather who died in his yoong yeares did make shew of much more honour than was in the noble vicount his father and this our earle by famous actions did altogither eclipse the vertuous hope conceiued of your grandfather so considering that God in nature continueth as it were the race by outward shew of good parts in you and that you haue
and being then abbat of Elie when Ethelred gaue foorth his commandement that the abbat of Elie should then and for euer be chancellor I doubt not to place him here amongst the chancellors the proofe of which matter I haue here Verbatim set downe out of the second booke of the historie of Elie. Statuit which was Ethelred atque concessit quatenus ecclesiam de Eli ex tunc semper in regis curia cancellarij ageret dignitatem quod etiam alijs sancti videlicet Augustini Glesconiae ecclesijs constituit vt abbates istorum coenobiorum vicissim adsignatis succedendo temporibus annum trifariè diuiderent cum sanctuarijs caeteris ornamentis ministrando c. Leofricus Bathonicus chancellor to Edward the confessor in the yeare of Christ one thousand fortie and fiue and some yeares before this man was bishop of Cridington in Cornewall which sée was after translated to Excester Wlfinus or Wulâ—inus chancellor to Edward the confessor in the latter end of the said yeare of Christ one thousand fortie and fiue being the third yeare of his reigne this man cannot be he which some would haue to be Wlfinus the abbat of Westminster For that Wulfinus died one and fortie yeares before this Wulfinus the chancellor sith that Wulfinus was made abbat of Westminster about the yeare nine hundred fiftie and eight and died in the yeare one thousand and foure being bishop of Shireburne Yet I will not at this time iudiciallie resolue although I suppose it true whether this Wlfinus the chancellor and Wulfinus the bishop of Lichfield witnesse to a déed wherein Edward the confessor granted certeine liberties to Leofwine abbat of the abbeie of Couentrie built by Leofrike erle of Mercia be all one man or no. Againe there is an other man which was abbat of saint Albons called Wulfinus which for affinitie to the name of this man I thought onelie to touch in this place Resenbaldus or Rembaldus for I take them both by manie and ancient authorities to be all one man was chancellor to Edward the confessor and seale bearer witnesse amongest others to manie déeds which I haue séene of the confessors some dated in the yeare one thousand thrée score and six and some otherwise He was buried at Cirencester or Cicester Mauricius chancellor to William the Conqueror in the yeare of our Lord one thousand thrée score line 10 and seuen being the first and part of the second yere of William the Conqueror Osmundus after bishop of Sarum chancellor to William the Conqueror in the yere one thousand three score and seauen and after in the yere one thousand thrée score and fiftéene about the ninth yeare of the kings reigne Arfastus bishop of Helmane who translated his sée from Helmane to Tetford was chancellor to William the Conqueror in the yéere of Christ one line 20 thousand thrée score and eight being in the second and third yere of the Conqueror and also in the yere one thousand seuentie and seuen being about the tenth yeare of William Conqueror Hirmanus that was first made bishop of Suring or Wilton and translated his sée from Wilton to Shirburne from thense to Sarum he is that Hirmanus which I suppose was chancellor to William the Conqueror and called Hirmannus and that wrote the life and miracles of saint Edmund line 30 king of the Eastangles William Uelson borne of a noble house chapleine and chancellor to William the Conqueror as hath Robertus Montensis succéeded Arfastus in the bishoprike of Tetford to whom by the gift of William Rufus succeeded in that sée Herbertus Losinga abbat of Ramseie which translated the bishops see to Norwich of which Losinga were as hath Matthew Westminster these verses here set downe compiled Surgit in ecclesia monstrum genitore Losinga line 40 Simonidum secta canonum virtute resecta Petre nimis tardas nam Simon ad ardua tentat Sipraesens esses non Simon ad alta volaret Proh dolor ecclesiae nummis venduntur aere Filius est praesul pater abbas Simon vterque Quid non speremus sinummos possideamus Omnia nummus habet quid vult facit addit aufert Res nimis iniusta nummus sit praesul abbas William Gifford bishop of Winchester was chancellor in the time of the Conqueror and of William line 50 Rufus of Henrie who made him bishop of Winchester in the yeare one thousand and one hundred and was consecrated in the yéere of Christ one thousand one hundred and seuen though it seemeth that Robert Bluet came in place of this William Gifford remooued about the fourth of the same Rufus from his office of chancellorship as I suppose will be well proued but after placed againe in that office Of the death of this William is much contrarietie for Matthew Westminster placed it thrée seuerall yéeres line 60 the eight and twentith and nine and twentith yeare of Henrie the first and againe in the yeare of Christ one thousand one hundred fortie and two being the seuenth yeare of king Stephan Robert Bluet Bloet or Bloscit made chancellor in the yéere of Christ one thousand and ninetie being the fourth yeare of William Rufus he was made bishop of Lincolne in the yeare of our redemption one thousand ninetie and two but as it appeereth to me by some authoritie that I haue seene he did execute that office being bishop of Lincolne he died at Woodstocke in the yeare of Christ one thousand one hundred twentie and thrée being about the thrée and twentith yere of the reigne of Henrie the first whose epitaph Henrie Huntington reciteth in this manner Pontificûm Robertus honor quem fama superiteâ— Perpetuare dabit nec obiturus obit Hic humilis diues res mira potens pius vltâ—r Compatiens mitis quùm pateretur erat Noluit esse suis dominus studuit pater esse Semper in aduersis murus arma suis In decima Iani mendacis somnia mundi Liquit euigilans vera per hennè vidit Ranulphus in the time of William Rufus which might be that man which was after chancellor in the time of Henrie the first Waldricus chancellor to Henrie the first about the yeare of our Lord one thousand one hundred and thrée being the third yeare of his reigne Herbertus chancellor in the fourth yeare of Henrie the first in the yeare of our saluation one thousand one hundred and foure as appeareth by an anonymall pamphlet in written hand of whome I am not yet resolued whether this were Herbertus Losinga bishop of Norwich or no. Roger bishop of Salisburie whome Henrie the first called a méet chapleine to serue souldiors was chancellor to king Henrie the first in the yeare of our redemption one thousand one hundred and one being the first yéere of king Henrie the first and in the yéere one thousand one hundred and seuen about the seuenth yeare of
continued vntill about the eleuenth yeare of Edward the third and was after that iustice treasuror and chancellor and did in the common place being chancellor sit and argue amongst the iustices as appeareth in the law bookes of those line 10 yeares of Edward the third of whom is last mention made in the seuentéenth yeare of Edward the third where he is named chancellor Robert de Saddington knight was inuested with the dignitie of lord chancellor after the death of Perning in the yeare of Christ 1343 and the seuenteenth yeare of the often mentioned king Edward the third There was also one sir Richard Saddington knight treasuror of England of whome I haue spoken in my discourse of the lord treasurors line 20 Iohn Offord or Ufford deane of Lincolne was made chancellor of England in the yeare of our redemption 1345 being the nineteenth yeare of king Edward the third He was elected to be bishop of Canturburie and so was installed but neuer receiued the pall He died in the moneth of Maie in the yeare of Christ 1349 being the three and twentith yeare of the reigne of that victorious king Edward which neuer receiued greater honour than that he was father vnto Edward surnamed the Blacke line 30 prince the flower of chiualrie and woorthie conquerour of the French dominions Iohn Thorsbie bishop of Worcester archbishop of Yorke and cardinall was installed in the seat of the lord chancellor in the yeare that God became man one thousand thrée hundred fortie and nine being the thrée and twentith yeare of that king Edward the third so often before recited who at his great sute was discharged of the office of chancellor by deliuerie of the great seale in Nouember in the line 40 thirtith yeare of the said king being the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred fiftie and six after that he had kept that place by the space almost of seauen yeres He in the tenth yeare of his bishoprike in the third calends of August began the frame of the quéeâ—e of S. Peters church in Yorke laid the first stone therof to which he gaue a hundred pounds He died at Thorpe and was buried at Yorke in the yere of Christ 1363 or as other haue 1373 after that he had béene archbishop one and twentie yeares and line 50 one and twentie daies William de Edington bishop of Winchester lord treasuror of England was made chancellor of this realme in Nouember in the said yeare of Christ 1356 and the thirtith yeare of the reigne of that king Edward which at Sauoie in England kept king Iohn of France his prisoner Sée more of him in the treasurors of England Simon Langham abbat of Westminster bishop line 60 of Elie archbishop of Canturburie and lord treasuror of England was made lord chancellor in Februarie in the yeare of our redemption one thousand thrée hundred sixtie and three being the seauen and thirtith yeare of the gouernment of king Edward the third and was chancellor in the fortith yere of the reigne of that king being the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred sixtie and thrée Of this Simon were these verses made when he was remoued from Elie to the bishoprike of Canturburie Exultent coeli quia Simon transit ab Eli Cuius in aduentum flent in Kent millia centum Of whome also bicause he richlie indowed the abbeie of Westminster with great gifts of singular cost value a certeine moonke compiled these verses Res es de Langham tua Simon sunt data quondam Octingentena librarum millia dena Of this man is more spoken in the former discourse or treatise of the lord treasurors of England William de Wikeham so called of the place of his birth was by surname from his parents called Perot and Long whome Lelâ—nd maketh treasuror of England which by anie possible meanes cannot be so for anie thing that I can yet learne This man being bishop of Winchester and aduanced to that place in the yeare of Christ one thousâ—nd thrée hundred sixtie and seuen in the one and fortith yeare of the reigne of Edward the third in which place he sat seauen and thirtie yeares was sometime kéeper of the priuie seale and made also chancellor of England in the yeare that the virgine brought foorth the first begotten sonne one thousand three hundred sixtie and seauen being the one and fortith yeare of the gouernement of the foresaid Edward the third in which office he remained about foure yeares and in March in the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred seauentie and one being the fiue and fortith of king Edward the third did deliuer vp the great seale to the king at Westminster He was buried in the bodie of Winchester church which he new built with the other places about it of whome were these verses composed for the building of his colleges the one at Oxenford and the other at Winchester Hunc docet esse pium fundatio collegiorum Oxoniae primum stat Wintoniaeque secundum Robert Thorpe knight being before iustice of the law in the yeare of our Lord one thousand three hundred and seauentie was after at Westminster aduanced to the chancellorship in March the fiue fortith yeare of king Edward the third being the yeare of our redemption as is before said one thousand thrée hundred seauentie and one who going home to his owne house left the great seale with foure of the gardians or maisters of the chancerie wherof the one was called Walter Powre to kéepe and vse as néed required Sir Iohn Kniuet or Kniuell as some books haue by the transcriber corrupted was made chancellor of England in Iulie in the yeare of Christ one thousand thrée hundred seauentie and two being the six and fortith yeare of king Edward the third in which office he continued as I for this time doo gather vntill the fiftith yeare of the said king Edward in which yeare as heere at hand appeareth came in place of the bishop of S. Dauids Adam de Houghton bishop of Meneuia or of Saint Dauids in Wales was aduanced to the office of lord chancellor in the yeare of our redemption 1376 being the fiftith yeare of king Edward the third who in the one and fiftith yeare of the said king was with the earle of Salisburie and the bishop of Hereford sent ambassador beyond the seas ¶ And here I thinke it not amisse to set downe the originall of the rolles in chancerie lane in this sort Henrie the third did build a house for the Iewes conuerted to the faith of Christ which house is at this daie hath béene long before this time appointed for the kéeping of the kings rolles and records being now called and knowne by the name of the rolles in chancerie lane besides Lincolns inne In which house the maister of the rolles for the time being hath a goodlie and statelie lodging In which also there is a faire chappell
this thou hast plainelie confessed and I protest before this great assemblie thou hast confessed it more plainelie in better sort than my memorie will serue me to vtter and saiest thou now that thou neuer meantest it Ah said Parrie your honors know how my confession vpon mine examination was extorted Then both the lord Hunsdon and master Uicechamberleine affirmed that there was no torture or threatning words offered him But Parrie then said that they told him that if he would not confesse willinglie he should haue torture Wherevnto their honors answered that they vsed not anie spéech or word of torture to him You said said Parrie that you would proceed with rigour against me if I would not confesse it of my selfe But their honors expreslie affirmed that they vsed no such words But I will tell thée said master Uicechamberleine what we said I spake these words If you will willinglie vtter the truth of your selfe it may doo you good and I wish you to doo so if you will not we must then procéed in ordinarie course to take your examination Whervnto you answered that you would tell the truth of your selfe Was not this true Which then he yéelded vnto And herevnto hir maiesties attournie generall put Parrie in remembrance what spéeches he vsed to the lieutenant of the Tower the queenes maiesties sergeant at law M. Gaudie and the same attournie on saturdaie the twentith of Februarie last at the Tower vpon that he was by them then examined by order from the lords which was that be acknowledged he was most mildlie and fauourablie dealt with in all his examinations which he also at the bar then acknowledged to be true Then maister vicechamberleine said that it was woonder to sée the magnanimitie of hir maiestie which after that thou haddest opened those traitorous practises in sort as thou hast laid it downe in thy confession was neuerthelesse such and so far from all feare as that she would not so much as acquaint anie one of hir highnesse priuie councell with it to his knowlege no not vntill after this thine enterprise discouered and made manifest And besides that which thou hast set downe vnder thine owne hand thou diddest confesse that thou haddest prepared two Scotish line 10 daggers fit for such a purpose and those being disposed awaie by thée thou diddest saie that an other would serue thy turne And withall Parrie diddest thou not also confesse before vs how woonderfullie thou wert appalled and perplexed vpon a sudden at the presence of hir maiestie at Hampton court this last summer saieng that thou diddest thinke thou then sawest in hir the verie likenesse and image of king Henrie the seuenth And that therewith and vpon some speaches vsed by hir maiestie thou diddest line 20 turne about and weepe bitterlie to thy selfe And yet diddest call to mind that thy vowes were in heauen thy letters and promises on earth and that therefore thou diddest saie with thy selfe that there was no remedie but to doo it Diddest thou not confesse this The which he acknowledged Then said the lord Hunsdon Saiest thou now that thou diddest neuer meane to kill the quéene Diddest thou not confesse that when thou diddest vtter this practise of trecherie to hir maiestie that thou line 30 diddest couer it with all the skill thou haddest and that it was doone by thee rather to get credit and accesse thereby than for anie regard thou haddest of hir person But in truth thou diddest it that thereby thou mightest haue better opportunitie to performe thy wicked enterprise And wouldest thou haue run into such feare as thou diddest confesse that thou wert in when thou diddest vtter it if thou haddest neuer meant it What reason canst thou shew for thy selfe With that he cried out in a furious maner I neuer meant to kill hir I will laie my line 40 bloud vpon quéene Elisabeth and you before God and the world and therevpon fell into a rage and euill words with the quéenes maiesties attourneie generall Then said the lord Hunsdon This is but thy popish pride ostentation which thou wouldest haue to be told to thy fellowes of that faction to make them beléeue that thou diest for poperie when thou diest for most horrible and dangerous treasons against hir maiestie and thy whole countrie For thy line 50 laieng of thy bloud it must lie on thine owne head as a iust reward of thy wickednesse The lawes of the realme most iustlie condemne thée to die out of thine owne mouth for conspiring the destruction both of hir maiestie and of vs all therefore thy bloud be vpon thée neither hir maiestie nor we at anie time sought it thy selfe hast spilt it Then he was asked what he could saie why iudgement of death ought not to be awarded against him Whereto he said he did sée that he must die because he was not setled What meanest thou by that said line 60 maister vicechamberleine Said he Looke into your studie and into your new bookes and you shall find what I meane I protest said his honor I know not what thou meanest thou dooest not well to vse such darke spéeches vnlesse thou wouldest plainelie vtter what thou meanest thereby But he said he cared not for death and that he would laie his bloud amongst them Then spake the lord chiefe iustice of England being required to giue iudgement according to law and said Parrie you haue beene much heard and what you meane by being setled I know not but I see you are so setled in poperie that you cannot setle your selfe to be a good subiect But touching that you should saie to state iudgement from being giuen against you your spéeches must be of one of these kinds either to proue the indictment which you haue confessed to be true to be insufficient in law or else to pleade somewhat touching hir maiesties mercie why iustice should not be doone of you All other spéeches wherein you haue vsed great libertie is more than by law you can aske These be the matters you must looke to what saie you to them Whereto he said nothing Then said the lord chiefe iustice Parrie thou hast béene before this time indicted of diuerse most horrible and hatefull treasons committed against thy most gratious souereigne and natiue countrie the matter most detestable the maner most subtill and dangerous and the occasions and meanes that lead thée therevnto most vngodlie and villanous That thou diddest intend it it is most euident by thy selfe The matter was the destruction of a most sacred and an anointed queene thy souereigne and mistresse who hath shewed thée such fauour as some thy betters haue not obteined yea the ouerthrow of thy countrie wherein thou wert borne of a most happie common-wealth whereof thou art a member and of such a quéene as hath bestowed on thée the benefit of all benefits in this world that is to saie thy life hertofore granted thée by hir