subdued 6. He plucks downe Churches Religious houses and Townes for his pleasure in hunting to make the New Forest and enacteth tyrannicall Lawes for the preseruing of his Game 5. His eldest sonne Robert Curthois rebelleth and puts him to the worst in Normandie but is reconciled 7. He warreth in France successefully 7. He falleth sick and repenteth of his crueltie to the English Nation and dyeth but his body can hardly obtayne a place to bee buried in pag. 8. King WILLIAM RVFVS HIs crueltie to the English Nation 10. Hee flattereth them in his distresse but requiteth them vnthankfully when his turne is serued 10 11. The Welshmen doe rebel 11 12. His valour 13. Hee pilleth and pooleth the Church 14 15. He yeeldeth when the Pope peremptorily commandeth 15. He is fortunate in his warres in Normandie 15. In the New-Forest which his Father had made by the ruine of many Churches Religious houses and Townes 5. Hee was slaine being mistaken for a Deere as he hunted 16. King HENRY the First HIs policies and Lawes 18. He yeeldeth to the Pope and restoreth Church liuings dignities and liberties not for conscience sake but because Robert his eldest brother troubled him for his Crowne 18. He invadeth Normandie and preuaileth and plucketh out his brothers eyes 20 21. Hee curbeth and ransacketh the Church Church-men and makes them pay for enioying of wiues whether they haue wiues or no. 20. Anselme and Thurstone appeale against him to the Pope and he yeeldeth 20 23. He is patient and very thankefull 24. He is lasciuious he surfetteth and then dyeth 24. King STEPHEN HEe vsurpeth the Right of Mawld the Empresse and breaketh his oath 27. He is very liberall 28. He refuseth and releaseth the paiment of Dane-gilt and of all other taxes he honoreth the Clergie and giues vnto them large restitution and exempteth all Clergie men from the authoritie of the Temporall Magistrate 28. Mawld the Empresse invadeth and taketh him prisoner he is enlarged for the Duke of Glocester The Empresse is besieged in Oxford and escapeth by a policie in the snow 29. He is againe inuaded by Henrie Short-Mantell the Sonne of Mawld the Empresse Prince Eustace his sonne is drowned They two compound and King Stephen dyeth 30 31. King HENRY the Second HIs great courage 34. He refineth the Lawes and deuiseth the Circuits in which Nisi prius and other law causes are decided 34. He destroyeth Castles to preuent Rebellions 35. He reseiseth things giuen by his Predecessors 35. He exerciseth his people in martiall Discipline in times of Peace 35. Hee Conquereth Ireland 36. His children are rebellious and punished by God 36. His Riches 37. His amorous affections to Rosamond 37. He is vexed by Thomas Becket who is slaine 37. He is accursed 40. He doth Penance He is whipt And dyeth 42. King RICHARD the First FOr his valour hee is termed Cuer de Lyon 44. His piety and compassion to his Mother and to distressed prisoners 44. His bountie 45. Hee warreth gloriously in the holy Land 45. He winneth Cyprus twice pag. 46 47. Iarres arise betwixt him and the French King and Leopold Archduke of Austria wherupon they depart and doe leaue him 46 47. He is stiled King of Ierusalem 47. By swimming he saueth his life but is taken Prisoner Ransometh himselfe and returneth into Normandie from the holy Land Hee warreth successefully against the French King in his owne Country and returneth into England 48. To pay his Ransome and to relieue his wants he ransacketh Religious houses and reseiseth such things as formerly he sold to get mony 49. He besiegeth the Castle of Chalons and is reuengefully wounded to death He taketh the Castle Pardons the offendor slaies all the rest and then he dyeth 49. King IOHN PHILIP the French King raiseth against him Arthur Plantagenet who demāds the crown 51 The King goeth twice into Normandie and puts the Frenchmen to flight 52 53. He looseth Normandie 53. 1202. His quarrell and vnspeakeable troubles with the Pope 53. Hee forbiddeth all appeales to Rome 54. Foure of his owne Bishops doe interdict him and he seiseth vpon their lands and goods Hee is accursed and his kingdome is by the Pope giuen to Philip the French King He taketh an Oath of Allegeance of his Subiects He inuadeth the Scots and they doe submit themselues 55 56. Philip of France prouideth to inuade him but looseth three hundred ships 56. King Iohn without the knowledge of his Nobilitie or Counsell submitteth himselfe on his knees to Pandulphus the Popes Legate and resigneth to him to the Popes vse his Kingdom and his Crown and after a few daies receiues it as a gift 56. His people doe despise and forsake him 57. Lewys the Dolphin in his Fathers Right by reason of the Popes donation inuadeth England The Pope accurseth him and his father and protecteth King Iohn and his kingdome Hee also accurseth such of the Nobilitie of England as sided with the French by reason whereof the Commons robbe rifle and forage both their goods and lands Miserie makes them to submit themselues 57. The Dolphin is expelled 58. The King hath peace and is poisoned by a Monke 59. King HENRY the third LEWYS the Dolphin disturbs him in England The French attempt to inuade but are ouerthrowne at Sea 63. They are accursed absolued and doe leaue this kingdome The king restoreth the ancient Lawes 63. He warreth in Angeou and elsewhere 63. And concludeth a Truce 64. His Barons and he doe iarre but are reconciled 64. The league with France is broken 64. King Henrie hath the worse in the new warres 65 66. Hee warreth with his Barons 66. Insanum Parliamentum 66. The commission of the twelue Peeres 66. They exercise their Authoritie 67. It is confirmed wherefore the King sayleth into France 67. * 1258. He releaseth his Title and his Right in Normandie and is confirmed Duke of Guyan 68. He procureth two Bulls from the Pope The Lord chiefe Iustice is displaced 68. He publisheth the Popes Bulls against the twelue Peeres and the Londoners take an Oath to assist him 69. The Barons raise an Armie and doe write vnto the King and he answereth them 69. The Barons Armie is ioyfully receaued into London 70. The controuersie is referred to the French King who is accused to be partiall 70 71. The Barons fight with the Prince and doe ouerthrow him 71. Richard King of the Romans being wronged is angrie 71. * 1262. The bataile of Lewis in which the Barons tooke the two Kings and Prince Edward prisoners and more then twentie thousand men were slaine 73. An agreement is made and the Prince is one of the Hostages The commission giuen to the 12. Peeres is confirmed and the Hostages are enlarged 73. A discord betwixt the Earles of Leicester and Glocester 73. Occasioned the ouerthrow of the Barons in the battaile of Euersham 74. ** 1263. The Barons are executed 74. The Commission of the twelue Peeres is by Parliament dissolued
sicke 174 His speech to the Prince his son when he seised on the Crowne 174 He dieth 175 King HENRY the Fifth THis King was vnmeasurably wilde in his fathers daies and was imprisoned and disgraced for striking the Lord Chiefe Iustice on the eare 177 But being King he enriched his loose companions but banished them perpetually from his Court 177 He chose the grauest wisest and best experienced men to be of his Counsell of Estate 177 Hee reformeth the Clergie and the Lay people and erecteth Castles to curbe the Scots 178 A motion was made in Parliament to dissolue religious houses But the Clergie reuiuing the kings title to the kingdome of France and being bountifully liberall doe turne the streame into that channell 178 The King demandeth that Crowne but is scoffed by the Dolphin whom he girdeth by a replie 179 The King leuieth an Armie The French King desireth peace The King yeeldeth on certaine conditions which are denied 180 The Queene is made Regent And as the King is ready to depart his destruction is conspired But the Treacherie was reuealed and the Traitors were put to death 180 The King landeth in Normandie and taketh Harflew His Armie being but 15000. men falleth sicke and is oppressed with many wants Yet the King resolueth to march by land vnto Calice 181 * 1414. He winneth the most famous and the most memorable Battaile of Agencourt 182 The French prisoners were vnwillingly yet miserably slaine 185 He giueth God publike thankes 186 And returneth into England with his great prisoners 186. 187 The new Constable of France is ouerthrowen 187 The French doe besiege Harflew and their Nauie of 500. ships is ouerthrowen And Iohn Duke of Bedford raiseth the siege 188 Ciuill dissention among the French Nobilitie doth further the successe of K. Henries wars 189 Great summes of money are chearfully giuen to the King to maintayne his invasion 189 Nine Carricks of Genoa and Tonque and Cane are taken by the English 191 Most Townes in Normandie doe become English 192 Roan is besieged by the king 192 A proud Roanist dareth him he replies and takes the Citie 197 The French Nobles are outwardly reconciled but not in heart 198 * 1416 Normandie is wonne by King Henrie 198 He marieth the Lady Katherine sister to the French King and is made Regent of France a 1519 is proclaymed Heire apparant to that Crowne 199 200 201 202 203 204. The Kings brother the Duke of Clarence Regent of Normandie and France b 1420 is betraied and slaine in the battaile of Blangy 205 206 The Earle of Mortaigne succeedeth in his charge 207 The King warreth againe in France 207 The Dolphin raiseth his siege from Chartiers and flyeth fearefully from place to place 208 The King falleth grieuously sick exhorteth his Nobles to vnitie and concord and to bee especially carefull to retain the friendship and loue of Philip Duke of Burgoine 209 Hee commends vnto them his yong Infant and their King Directs them for their proceedings in France and then dieth King HENRY the Sixth FRance contemneth the infancie of King Henry 211 Iohn Duke of Bedford is made Regent of France and Humfrey Duke of Glocester is made Protector of the Kings person and of the Realme of England 212 The Regent winneth Townes daily 212 The Parisians are trecherous 213 * 1424 The battaile of Vernoile 215 The Earle of Salisburies valour and name is feared 216 A strange ouerthrow of the French 216 They doe bragge and runne away 217 Townes and victories are daily wonne by the English 218 219 Orleance is besieged and offered to Philip Duke of Burgoine but the Regent will not consent thereto and for that cause the said Duke reuolteth to the French King 221 The battaile of Herings 221 The siege of Orleance is abandoned 222 The Duke of Alanson ouerthroweth the English slayeth the Earle of Salisbury and taketh prisoners the Earle of Suffolke and the Lords Talbot Scales and Hungerford and many others 222 Charles causeth himselfe to bee crowned King of France and is sommoned to a battaile by the Regent hee flyeth cowardly and is hunted from place to place but all in vaine 223 Diuers Nobles of France doe revolt from King Henrie 224. The French King assaults Paris and is well beaten 224 The Parisians doe flatter but are trecherous 225 King Henrie is crowned King of France in Paris 225 England is wondred at for her puissance 225 Treason discouered 226 A Rebellion in Normandie 226 The noble Regent dieth 228 And from the time of his death the English gaine little but doe loose much both in Normandie and in France Richard Duke of Yorke is made Regent 229 Paris is reuolteth 229 Calice is besieged by the Duke of Burgoine 229 But he flyeth in the night 230 The Earle of Warwick is made Regent 231 The French King flyeth in the night 233 Ponthois is taken by the English 234 A parley for peace 234 The Articles proposed are disliked 235 A cruell Armie and a huge on the French part 235 Much is gotten daily and much is daily lost beyond the Seas 235 A truce with France for eighteene moneths 237 An vnworthy marriage concluded for the King by the Duke of Suffolke without Commission 237 Which was the Dukes ouerthrow 246 He will haue his Acts and Counsels registred in Parliament 238 The cause of the losses of France * 1466 Normandie Aquitaine c. 238 The descriptions of the King and Queene 239 The good Duke of Glocester is remoued by the Queen from the Protectorship and is murdered 240 The French wars are neglected and the Truce is broken on both parts 240 Townes are lost Roan yeeldeth to the French King 241 The English are ouerthrowne in field 242 Cane is yeelded to the French King 243 The Duke of Suffolke is accused of treason and banished 244 But is taken at Sea and beheaded 246 The policies of the Duke of York to attaine vnto the Crowne Iack Cade the Rebell flyeth and is proscribed and slaine 247 A pacification but fained betwixt the King and the Duke of Yorke 248 The Duke is accused imprisoned for treason but is enlarged 248 Guyan and Aquitaine are yeelded to King Henrie but are regained by the French 249 The warres betwixt the King and the Yorkists 249 The King is ouerthrowne and taken prisoner in the battaile of * 1454 S. Albons and in Parliament the Duke of Yorke is made Protector 250 Marchant strangers are rifled in London 251 A policie against the Yorkists but it is discouered 252 The King labours for peace but each part dissembleth 252 New Armies are raised 254 The Lords doe flie in the night and are proclaimed traitors 255 The Kings ships twice taken out of Sandwich by Iohn Dynham and the Yorkists 256 The battaile of a 1459 Northampton in which the Queen is ouerthrown and the King is taken prisoner 257 The Duke of Yorks proceedings in Parliament against King Henrie 258 The
which ouercame the king with infinite passions of sorrow and extreame griefe But it made a quiet end of this quarrell For now the king not hauing anie sonne which might succeed him was well pleased to lend a listening eare to the faire proffer of a friendly Peace The quarrell is compâ—unded ended And thereupon hee adopted Prince Henrie for his Sonne proclaymed him to bee the Heire apparant of his Crowne gaue him manie honourable and kingly Gifts assured him of his vnchangeable loue and friendship And by these meanes all Armes were cast aside and Peace triumphed hauing gotten a certaine and a sure Victorie with few blowes And the Prince with his followers returned into Normandie where they were with much honour and incredible joy receiued And the next yeare after king Stephen died King Stephen dieth The Saxons bloud restored to the Crowne of England See the descent in the Raigne of King Henrie the first when hee had raigned almost nineteene yeares and lyeth buried in the Abbey of Feuersham in Kent which himselfe had founded And by the happie Succession of this Henrie the Saxon Bloud was againe restored vnto the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE SECOND WHEN Henrie was returned into Normandie the French King fearing least Time and his Fortunes would make him too puissant and too great for his bordering Neighbours and intending to deale roughly with him before he should be the absolute Master and Commander of his owne strength very iniuriously seized vpon diuers of his Fortresses and Castles in Normandie and elsewhere which questionlesse ought to haue beene subiect to his Gouernment But Henrie being wise Henry Short-Mantels valour and courage and full of courage and heroicall Magnimitie and foreseeing that if hee should shrinke as a coward and not make himselfe knowne by his valour to the world when the wrongs which were done vnto him were too apparant raysed a faire Armie and for the regayning of one of those his Castles he girded it round about with a strong Siege And whilest he was thus employed to winne his right He sayleth speedily into England but first winneth the Castle which he had besieged the newes of King Stephens death came freshly vnto his eares And to preuent such vsurpation as oftentimes in the absence of the lawfull Kings depriueth them of their Crownes he was by his neerest and dearest friends aduised to abandon the Siege and without tarrying to transport himselfe into England But his answere was full of discretion and true valour to this effect A resolute speech The Kingdome of England quoth hee shall henceforth be at my commaund in despight of those who dare to crosse mee most And so shall these intruding Frenchmen ere I goe hence This Resolution redoubled his honour among his friends and so it did among his enemies For when the besieged were informed what he had said and determined fearing the euent if obstinately they should detaine him there too long they surrendred the Castle and submitted themselues to his mercie who receiued it and them with a fauourable and gracious acceptance And then giuing such directions as both the time and occasions did require and being accompanied with manie Lords and Gentlemen of the best and chiefest ranke he sayled with a prosperous winde into England where not long after hee was crowned King The singular zeale and loue which he bare to the furtherance of Iustice and to the execution thereof appeared manifestly by two Actions of his The King reformeth the Lawes performed the one in the beginning and the other towards the later end of his Raigne For first hee made an especiall choise of certaine men who were verie honest vpright and best learned in the Lawes of this Realme by whose industrious labours and trauailes hee refined and reformed the common Lawes making them to be more tolerable and profitable vnto his People England diuided into Circuits into which Iudges were sent to ease the people And towards the end of his dayes hee diuided his whole Kingdome into six seuerall Circuits and for the administration of Iustice and for the tryals of Causes betwixt men and men for the better ease and comfort of his Subiects hee appointed certaine Iudges twice in euerie yeare to ride and to trauaile through those Circuits which course and order is carefully continued at this day Strangers banished and the cause why Hee also banished the greatest part of Strangers who in those dayes by multitudes flocked hither and by their extraordinarie Sparing and painefull Industrie procured to themselues much Wealth and beggered such as were Natiues borne Oath-breakers banished Hee also exiled manie of the Nobles who contrarie to their publike Oathes Duties and Consciences had more than ordinarily adhered vnto King Stephen beeing fully resolued That the Cogitations of their owne Guiltinesse in that behalfe would neuer suffer them to be heartie and faithfull vnto him Hee differed much from the opinion of his last predecessor Castles politikely razed and ouerthrowne and affirmed That strong Forts and Castles erected and maintained in the Heart or Bodie of a Kingdome did rather animate great men vpon all displeasures to reuolt than in anie sort containe them within the bounds and limits of their Obedience and of their Dutie wherefore he caused them to be rased for the greater number to the ground Hee also seized into his owne hands such Territories Manors He seizeth on Crowneâ—ands formerly giuen away Lordships and Possessions as his Predecessors had eyther giuen or sold from the Crowne holding it to be the dutie of euerie Subiect to refuse the Gift or Purchase of such things as doe so immediately concerne the Honour and Maintenance of the King Nota. And the like he did in the Northren Parts where many great Men commaunding almost as they listed had wrought themselues and their Posterities into manie Honors Castles and Manors without title which in truth and in deed appertained to the King Hee also resumed into his owne hands the Prouinces of Cumberland and of Northumberland together with the Earledome of Huntingdon which Dauid the King of Scots and Henrie his sonne had receiued as a gift from King Stephen because they should not intermeddie in the furtherance of his mother Mauld the Empresse to her Right and Crowne In the thirteenth yeare of his Raigne Geoffrey the Kings yonger sonne is Duke of Britaine he married Geoffrey being one of his younger sonnes vnto Constance the daughter and heire apparant of Conaccus Duke of Britaine who died not long after and left vnto them that Duchie He also affied his younger sonne Richard vnto Adela one of the daughters of Lewis the King of France and married his daughter Mauld vnto Henrie Duke of Saxonie Mauld the Empresse dieth And about the same time the Empresse his mother died Hee loued Peace though he were passing valiant because hee found it to be pleasing and profitable Peace
publikely denounced against all such as either by Direction or by Armes or otherwise withstood or hindered the execution of those Lawes or the Authoritie of the Twelue Peeres These new proceedings so much augmented the Kings furie and implacable discontent that euen those things The King is full of indignation which by his naturall disposition hee chiefely delighted in were by him loathed and detested most And to the end that he might procure and purchase more contentment and joy abroad than hee could finde at home hee sayled into France He sayleth into France to visite King Lewis the ninth by whome he was with all gentlenesse and courtesie receiued and lodged in his owne Palace where hee was feasted as a friend and honoured with all accomplements appertaining to a great King And at the same time hee concluded a Marriage betwixt Iohn Duke of Britaine and one of his owne Daughters Normandie surrendred to the Kings of France by King Henrie The French King also held a Grand Parliament of Estate in which he protested publikely That his conscience was much grieued for that vnjustly and without Title hee detained from King Henrie his Duchie of Normandie and such other Territories in France as in right he ought to enioy And on the other side King Henrie intending to conclude an inuiolable Peace with so deare a friend and to remoue from him all future scruples of his conscience in that behalfe frankely and freely surrendred to him the said Duchie King Henrie is made Duke of Guyan together with the Lordships of Angeou Poytiers and Mayne And in the same Parliament with great solemnitie and honour hee receiued againe to himselfe and to his heires the said three Lordships with the style of the Duke of Guyan for which he did his Homage in that Assemblie Discord betweene the Prince and the Duke of Glocester Whilest these things thus proceeded in France a publike Quarrell vpon some secret displeasure conceiued by reason of the execution of those curbing Lawes began to breake forth betwixt Edward the young Prince and the Duke of Gloucester which by the Barons was stoutly suppressed vntill the Kings returne by whome they were not long after reconciled and made friends The King procureth two Bulls from Rome The King being vexed at the heart because his Regall Authoritie was diminished by the Twelue Peeres and not finding anie redresse thereof at home endeauoured to procure some remedie thereof by his friends abroad And for that purpose with the great expence of much Coyne and with rich and costly Gifts hee secretly obtained two Bulls from Pope Alexander the third by both which the King himselfe and all others who had formerly sworne to obserue and to maintaine those new Ordinances and Lawes and to support the Proceedings and the Authoritie of the twelue Peeres were freely absolued from their Oathes Yet the twelue Peeres not hauing anie notice of those Bulls ruled all and were so busily employed about their charge that the King had little or nothing at all to doe They had but small leysure to recreate themselues with anie sports but the King had time ynough to play for hee was a King in name but not in Authoritie nor in Power The Lord chiefe Iustice displaced Among others Sir Hugh le Spencer being then Lord chiefe Iustice of England and an especiall fauourite with the King administred the Lawes of this Realme not according to Equitie and Right but after his owne fancie and will and such was his indiscreete carriage of most things which belonged vnto his Office and to his place that the Twelue Peers farre against the Kings minde remoued him and supplied his roome by Sir Philip Basset a man well learned wise vertuous and discreet They also dismissed such Sherifs and Iustices errants as the King had made and bestowed those offices vpon others Iustices errants and Sherifs displaced The Popes Bulls are published by the King so that the king being vnable any longer to endure those indignities and deepely repining to be euery houre disgraced and crossed by his owne subiects resolued presently to make vse of the Popes Bulls for which purpose he caused them with great solemnitie and reuerence to be proclaimed in sundry eminent places in England Ireland and in Wales and therewithall he commanded straighty That all such of what estate condition He countermandeth the authority of the Twelue Peers The Londoners are sworne to obey and to aide him and degree soeuer they were as did from thenceforth by word or by deede support and maintaine the said Ordinances and Lawes or the authoritie of the said Twelue Peers should be committed to strong prisons and should not be enlarged but by his especiall notice and consent He also took a solemne oath in the Citie of London of all such as were twelue yeeres old or more to be true faithfull and ayding to him and to his heires and did perswade himselfe that by this means he should from thenceforth haue his owne will But he was much deceiued therein for such was the resolution of his Barons to the contrary that they protested they would rather die then cease to vphold all those things which in so honorable an assembly they had solemnly sworn to maintaine And some of them coniecturing The resolution of the Barons and peraduenture not without good cause that the King in priuat contriued som desperat plot The Barons raise an Armie to set himselfe at libertie by their ruine repaired to the Marches of Wales where they raised a strong Armie and furnished it with all things needfull and conuenient for the warre And standing thus vpon their Guard yet resolued to abstaine from all violence Their Letter to the K. except necessitie which obeyeth no King nor laws should vrgently compell them to take a sharper course They addressed their Letters in most submissiue and humble sort and sent them to the King protesting with many oaths their dutie and their seruice to his Grace and entreating his Highnesse for the honour of Almightie God for his owne soules health and for the welfare and happinesse of his people and Kingdome vtterly to defie except his Queene and Children all such as either counsailed him The King makes them no answer or did themselues intend to suppresse the Ordinances and laws which were established at Oxford or the authoritie and the power which for the Common-weales prosperitie was graunted to the Twelue Peeres The King hauing read those Letters was much displeased and returned not any answer to the Barons The Barons march toward London wherfore they maintained a stout march towards London vnder a Banner richly and beautifully flourished with the Kings Armes And as they passed by the houses or possessions of such as fauoured the Popes Bulls they robbed spoyled wasted burnt and consumed them with fire holding them for vndoubted enemies to the King and to his Crowne And when they approached neere to the Citie
discontented King The historie of the Kings euill gouernment at home is pursued The petition of the Nobilitie The Kings fiue euill Counsellors whome his Lords with all humilitie and submissiue modestie petitioned and desired Newly to ratifie and to confirme his former promise and his Oath and to thrust from him Michael de la Pole Robert de Vere Alexander the lewd Archbishop of Yorke Robert Treselian his chiefe Iustice and Sir Nicholas Brembre of London who were generally tearmed to be the Kings wicked counsellors and to banish out of the Land all those soothing and flattering Iudges who to please the King had subscribed to the Nullitie of the said Commission and had censured all such as procured it to be traitors to the King and to his Crowne But the Kings affections were so strongly riueted and annexed vnto those fiue and so confident was he that both himselfe The King denyeth their petition and they and his said Iudges had done well in their proceedings at Nottingham and at Couentrie that in plaine tearmes hee denyed them their request And thereupon the Lords for their owne safetie and to support the peace and to preuent the ruine and the destruction of the Commonweale raysed a strong Armie of their friends and of such as vtterly disliked those disorders in the King The Nobilitie rayse an Armie and came to the Citie of London being fully resolued that they themselues would put in execution those things which the King vpon their reasonable and just request and petition had refused to yeeld vnto Wicked aduice giuen by the fiue wicked Counsellors But whe◠〈◊〉 fiue wicked Counsellors perceiued throughly what was p◠〈…〉 and meant they then endeuoured to persuade the King to â—â—â—â—ender Callice and all his other Lordships and Territories in Bâ—â—â—â—ce to the French King and confidently to relye vpon his aide â—â—assuring him That in so doing hee should obtaine two glorious and pleasing victories the one ouer all his Warres by setling of his Estate in a perfect peace and the other ouer his Noblemen who striued as lewdly they pretended to make him subject and seruile to their wils The King would not hearken to that counsell And though in all things besides their counsels were his Oracles yet the King would not at anie hand hearken to this motion and yet he was determined by one meanes or other to curbe and to abridge the strength of his Nobilitie who striued to reforme such things as were amisse And that his purpose might therein be effected especially he enquired of the Maior of London The King requireth an Armie from the Londonners How manie able armed men that Citie could conueniently set forth who certified him That fiftie thousand such might easily and in a short time be prepared and spared there Whereupon the King commaunded him with all expedition to send him such an Armie which forthwith he endeuoured to performe The graue 〈◊〉 Citizens o◠〈◊〉 London 〈◊〉 resist the 〈◊〉 vnwise Mâ—â—or But when the grauest and the wisest Citizens had maturely considered of this businesse they interrupted his proceedings and told the King That they might not be employed in warlike manner against his Lords who for his Majestie and Honor and to preserue his Kingdome from ruine and from destruction had vsed all faithfull and good meanes to remoue from his Person those his wicked Counsellors who onely for their owne commoditie and aduancement had hazarded the whole estate of his Kingdome by aduising and by counselling of him to rule and to gouerne vnaduisedly according to their pleasures and after their lewd and lawlesse wills The Kings gentle message to the Lords The King perceiuing by this Message that his inferiour subjects would in those Troubles adhere vnto the Lords seemed a little to restraine his violent affections and did informe the Lords That he would assemble his High Court of Parliament in which those fiue fauorites of his should be answerable to all Objections whatsoeuer and should if they were conuicted receiue such punishment as should by the publike censure of the House be inflicted on them This vnexpected and good Message so throughly contented the Barons The Lords doe cassâ—er their armie The King performes not his promise He licenceth the Duke of Ireland to raise 5000 men to defend himselfe The Lords do renew their armie The Duke swimmes on horsebacke ouer the Thames He is slaine by a wilde Beare How the King honored his dead corps that presently they disfurnished themselues of all their warlike Forces and were most thankfull for it to the King But as the Winde so was he suddainely changed For in stead of performing what hee had promised hee freely licenced Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland to leuie fiue thousand men for his owne particular guard and defence And the Barons perceiuing thereby that it was high time for them to looke vnto their owne safetie with incredible celeritie and expedition renewed their strength and vpon the suddaine so strongly enuironed the said Duke betwixt their armie and the Riuer of Thames that they compelled him for the preseruation of his life by swimming on horsebacke to passe ouer vnto the other side from whence he presently fled into France in which Kingdome about fiue yeares after as he hunted hee was slaine by a wilde Boare But such was the Kings affection towards him whilest he liued that he caused his dead carkasse to be embalmed and to be brought into England and to be apparrelled in princely Ornaments and Robes His necke to be compassed with a massie chayne of Gold his fingers to be couered with Rings and his Funerals to be solemnized with all magnificence and pompe Now when the said Duke of Ireland was compelled by swimming on horsebacke as you haue heard to saue himselfe and was fled into France the Barons executed some of his chiefest consorts for an example vnto others Some of the said Dukes consorts executed The Barons armie is with ioy receiued into London but suffered the multitude to disperse themselues and required them with all speed to repaire to their owne houses But the said Barons conducted their owne armie to London where they were receiued with much joy And such was the bountifull entertainment which they found there that they might thereby assure themselues of their heartie welcome The King who kept his Court in the Tower of London was well pleased to admit of a conference with the Lords In which it was concluded That a Parliament should be summoned A Parliament Which being orderly assembled the Kings wicked Counsellors and some of the aforesaid Iudges were required personally to appeare But they came not thither The fiue wicked Counsellors and the Iudges condemned as Traitors yet were they after great debating and disputing of that businesse condemned of high Treason to the King and to the Commonweale And not long after Sir Iohn Earle of Salisburie and Sir Nicholas Brembre lost their heads
father Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Vncle to the king died the descent of which Dutchie would haue made the said Duke a potent Prince But the king refreshing his humours with new practises of secret reuenge and that hee might keepe him lowe vniustly seized vpon all the Lordships The King wrongeth Henrie the new Duke of Lancaster and Possessions belonging to that Dutchie and vpon all the moueables of his said deceased Vncle and shared and distributed them among his Sycophants and wicked Counsellours Which tyrannous and wrongful dealing so much displeased his vncle the Duke of Yorke and his cousin the Duke of Aumarle Edmund of Langley and Edward his sonne More wicked Counsellors to the King Scrope Bushe Bagâ—t Greeâ—e The King farmeth his Kingâ—â—me and sayleth into Ireland The Iourney câ—st h m â—â—s Crowne and his life ANNO 23 The Duke of Lancasâ—â—r landeth in England His companies encrease to a strong Armie He is râ—ceiued iâ—to Loâ—â—â—â— He 〈◊〉 into the Wâ—â—â— King Riâ—â—â—â— returâ—â—â—â— He 〈…〉 Three of the w â—ked Counsellors wâ—re bâ—â—eaded The Kings 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 to the Dukâ— that presently they left the Kings Court and retyred themselues to their owne houses At this time King Richard was wholly mis-led and lewdly directed in all his doings and negotiations by his principall fauourites Sir William Scrope Earle of Wilshire Sir Iohn Bushe Sir Iames Bagot and Sir Henrie Greene by whose aduice without the consent of his priuie Counsellors of Estate he leuied a strong Armie farmed to them for certaine yeares his whole Kingdome and all his Reuenues belonging thereunto and sayled into Ireland where hee behaued himselfe so valiantly that hee subdued that rebelling Nation and by his seueritie he compelled them to be willing to obey But in his absence his banished cousin Henrie of Bullingbroke Duke of Hartford and of Lancaster together with his old friend and exiled companion Thomas Archbishop of Canterburie returned into England to make clayme to his Duchie of Lancaâ—ter His first landing was in the North where such was the singular loue and the great affection of the Noblemen and of the common sort of people towards him partly in regard of his noblenesse and vertues and partly in regard of the Kings disordered courses in his gouernment that they all with extraordinarie chearefulnesse and alacritie flocked vnto him well armed and in great troupes So that within few dayes his companies were encreased to a strong Armie with which hee marched peaceably and in good order vnto London and was receiued entertained and feasted there with much honour and great joy And from thence he went into the Westerne parts of this Kingdome the people in all places where hee came being heartily gladded with much contentment with his doings But in the meane time King Richard who was returned and had quickly leuied great forces which hee conducted against the Duke perceiuing that euerie day his subjects fled from him and voluntarily offered their seruice to the Duke and being certainely informed that Sir William Scrope Earle of Wilshire Sir Iohn Bushe and Sir Henrie Greene three of his wicked Counsellors and vpon whome he most of all relyed were taken and had lost their heads despairing of anie safetie to be gained by force and violence of his owne accord hee came vnto his cousin the Duke of Lancaster confessed publikely his owne insufficiencie and weakenesse to rule and to gouerne well praysed the Dukes rare and singular vertues and his absolute worthinesse to be a King and proffered to make him an absolute Surrender of his whole Kingdome if hee would accept thereof A faint refusall But the Duke though hee much affected the wearing of a Crowne yet because hee hoped that the fauour of the Nobilitie Gentrie and of the common People would freely cast that burthen and Dignitie vpon him with greater safetie and assurance of continuance refused to accept thereof and protesting with manie pleasing speeches That he onely desired to enioy his owne Patrimonie and to reforme such things as were amisse hee caused the King with verie honourable and respectiue attendance to be guarded to the Tower of London The King is sent to the Tower and then hee assembled a Parliament in which among sundrie other things were publikely proposed these ensuing Articles concerning the euill Gouernment of the King The Duke summoneth a Parliament Articles proposed in Parliament against the King 1. INprimis That hee would not permit the said Duke of Hartford who was so much wronged for his good aduice and counsell touching the Kings Gouernment to fight the Combate against the falsely accusing Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke and yet banished him vniustly for six yeares 2. Item That albeit vnder the Great Seale of his Kingdome he had licenced the said Duke of Hartford at his departure out of England to make his Atturney to proceed for him in his causes of Law yet hee being gone the King would not permit anie man to deale for him in his absence 3. Item That verie vncharitably he prohibited all his Nobilitie and all others to be sutors vnto him for the said Duke of Hartfords returne from his vniust banishment vpon the forfeiture of their liues and goods 4. Item That after the death of Iohn of Gaunt the Kings vncle father to the said Duke and Duke of Lancaster hee had wrongfully seized into his hands all his moueables whatsoeuer and had diuided and shared them among his gracelesse and wicked Counsellors and had also by like iniustice seized all the possessions of the said Duchie of Lancaster which rightfully did belong to the said Duke of Hartford into his owne hands and kept the profits thereof to his owne vse 5. Item that colourably as a good friend to Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterburie who was falsly accused of high treason to the King as he sat next to him in the higher house of Parliament hee persuaded the said Archbishop to make no answer at all in defence of the said accusation nor repaire anie more to the same house protesting that neither the said accusation nor his silence nor his absence should be hurtfull or preiudiciall vnto him and yet banished him out of the Realme not hauing examined the said surmised treason 6. Item that whereas his Chancellour had refused in an vniust matter to grant a prohibition vnder the great Seale of England the King himselfe to peruert the due course of Iustice and of right granted the said prohibition vnder his priuie seale and straitly required that it should be executed and obeyed 7. Item that most vnnaturally and cruelly hee had procured Thomas Mowbray to smother to death betwixt two fetherbeds the Kings most noble and most renowned vncle Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester when wrongfully and without anie good cause hee was a prisoner at Callice and afterwards dignified the said murderer first with the Earldome of Nottingham then with the Office of the Marshall generall of England and last of all
the Prince returned to the King The King in danger to be taken on the Thames by French Pirates The Lord of Camoys in trouble cleareth himselfe ANNO. 9. A valiant Sheriffe And now it chanced that as king Henrie passed ouer the Riuer of Thames from Kent into Essex vnder the conduct of the Lord of Camois hee was almost taken by the French Pirats for which cause the said Lord was suspected and attached as a Traitour and receiued his due triall by his Peeres but was clearely acquited of that offence and receiued into fauour In the ninth yeare of this kings Raigne the Earle of Nothumberland and the Lord Bardolfe animating the Scots to a new war entred with them into Northumberland and did much mischiefe whereupon king Henrie leuied a strong armie and by great iournies trauailed to encounter them But before his comming forth they were fought with and ouerthrowne by Sir Ralph Rokesby then Shirif of that Countie who tooke the said Lords and manie others and smote off their heads and sent them for presents to the king ANNO. 11 Thomas is made Duke of Clarence Iohn Duke of Bedford Humphrie Duke of Glocester The King prepareth to Warre in the Holy land The King falleth â—kâ— His Crowne is placed on his Pillow In the eleuenth yeare of his raigne he assembled his high Court of Parliament in which he created his three yonger sonnes Thomas Duke of Clarence Iohn Duke of Bedford and Humfrey Duke of Glocester and enacted manie Lawes which were helpefull and profitable to this Common-weale And from that time forth vntill hee died hee enioyed a happie peace and rested from all hostilitie and warres both at home and abroad And to expresse his thankfulnesse to God for all his goodnesse and great bountie towards him hee made great and costly preparations of men monie victuals and armour and shippes and all other thinges requisite and needfull and purposed to haue waged warres with the Turkes in the Holy-land But whilest he busily imploied himselfe in those affaires hee was attached by a deadly apoplexie and being neere vnto his last end hee caused his Crowne to be placed by him vpon his pillow least peraduenture in his extremitie of sicknesse it might bee deliuered to some other who had better right thereto then hee had But when his attendants verily supposed that he was dead the yong Prince of Wales seized vpon his Crowne Whereat the king started vp The Prince seized on the Crowne The Kings speech to the Prince and raysing himselfe vpon his armes he demanded who it was that had taken away his Crowne The Prince answered that it was he and then he fell backe into his bed and fetching a deepe sigh and sending forth manie pensiue groanes My sonne quoth he my sonne what right I had vnto this Crowne and how I haue enjoyed it God knoweth and the World hath seene Comfort your selfe in God good Father said the Prince The Crowne you haue and if you die The Prince has answere The King dieth I will haue it and keepe it with my sword as you haue done And within a short time after king Henrie died in the six and fortieth yeare of his age when he had raigned almost fourteene yeares And his bodie was carried to Canterburie where with all Princely and due requisites it was buried THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE FIFTH IT is well knowne That King Henrie the fifth whilest he was but a Prince associated to himselfe diuers vnthriftie and lewd companions A wilde Prince but a wise King by whose instigation among manie other vnworthie passages in his fathers dayes hee smote the Lord chiefe Iustice of England in the face for which offence he was imprisoned and dismissed of the Presidentship of the kings Councell and to his great griefe and disgrace was succeeded therein by Thomas Duke of Clarence his younger brother But when hee was crowned king hee disposed himselfe into a new course qualifying his behauiour with such heroicall vertues as might beseeme both his Person and his Honour He banisheth his loose companions and banished from his Court his loose and base consorts after he had enabled them to liue by such gifts as were proportionable to their callings He also elected for his Councell and into places of Iustice and publike Gouernment such as were wise discreet His good choice of good Gouernors He reformeth the Clergie He ruleth the Laitie learned and temperate well able to rule themselues and to command others He painefully laboured to reforme Pride Couetousnesse and such other grosse abuses as were crept into the Church among the Clergie and enjoined them strictly to frequent Praier Preaching to Hospitalitie and to the sincere seruing of Almightie GOD. And by the administration of his Lawes with moderate seueritie hee made the Laitie tractable in the performance of their duties And to settle his Estate in peace and in tranquilitie at home so that neyther the Scots nor the Welchmen should molest him when hee was busied in his Warres abroad hee erected diuers Castles He erecteth Castles in the frontiers of Scotland and of Wales Bulwarkes and other Fortifications vpon their frontiers and so disposed of them that with manie thousands of able men and skilfull Captaines to command them he was still readie and powerfull with great violence and force to suppresse and qualifie such rebellious Insurrections as they might make King Richards bodie remoued to Westminster In the first yeare of his Raigne with great pompe and solemnitie hee brought the bodie of King Richard the second from Langley vnto Westminster and buried it by Queene Anne his first wife 2. 1413. A motion in Parliament to suppresse Religious Houses In the second yeare hee held his High Court of Parliament at Leicester in which hee was importunately petitioned to suppresse the Religious Houses of this Kingdome because they being ill vsed were made the Nurseries of Idlenesse Gluttonie Lecherie and of Pride and were the Cages of vncleane birds The Reuenewes which belonged to those Houses were proportioned to yeeld vnto the Kings Cossers the annuall Rent of twentie thousand pounds and would also for the encrease of the Kings power and strength maintaine fifteene Earles fifteene hundred Knights and more than six thousand men at Armes besides a great number of Almes-houses for the poores reliefe The Clergies policie to quench this fire To diuert this streame into another Channell the fat Abbots Priors idle Monkes wanton Friers and the puling Nunnes procured Henrie Chichley then Archbishop of Canterburie in a verie learned and excellent Oration to discouer to the King his Right and his Title to the Crowne of France The Kings title to the Crowne of France set abroach to refresh him with confident hopes of good successe to direct him into a course answerable to his hopes and in the Clergies behalfe and for the furtherance of those Warres to offer vnto the King an incredible masse of money
Hastings Botreaux and Molines was by king Henrie the Eighth created Earle of Huntington H. 8. Francis Hastings his sonne succeeded in those honours Henry Hastings his sonne being Lord Hastings Hungerford Botreaux Molines and Moeles was also Earle of Huntington George Hastings his brother succeeded and died without issue Henry Hastings the sonne of Francis Hastings who was the sonne of the said George now liueth and doth enioy the said Lordships and Earledome of Huntington Kendall GAscoigne de Fois a Gascoigne borne was at Maunt in Normandie created by king Henrie the Fifth Earle of Longuile and Kendall He reuolted and became French H. 5. Iohn de Foys his sonne maried the Neece of William de la Pole Duke of Suffolke H. 6. by whose mediation he was by king Henrie the Sixth restored But he became French H. 6. Capdaw de Beuffs was by king Henry the Sixth created Earle of Kendall But he reuolted to the French King Kent WIlnotus at the Conquest being brother to King Harold was Earle of Kent But for feare he fled into Denmarke and died without issue Conq. Odo Bishop of Bayon and halfe-brother to the Conquerour was by him created Earle of Kent and he died without issue K. Steph. William de Ipre Earle of Flanders was by King Stephen created Earle of Kent and died without issue Hubert de Burgh being Lord chiefe Iustice of England was by king Henrie the Third created Earle of Kent H. 3. and died without issue male Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Edmund of Woodstocke being sonne to king Edward the First E. 2. and brother to king Edward the Second was by his brother created Earle of Kent but lost his head in the raigne of his nephew king Edward the Third R. 2. Thomas Holland halfe-brother to King Richard the Second was by him created Earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey Thomas Holland his sonne was Earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey and died without issue Edmund Holland brother to the said Thomas was Earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey and died without issue William Neuil Lord Fawconbridge a younger brother to Ralphe Neuil E. 4. the first of that Familie Earle of Westmorland was by king Edward the Fourth created Earle of Kent and died without issue male Edmund Grey Lord Grey of Ruthen was by king Edward the Fourth created Earle of Kent E. 4. Richard Grey his sonne succeeded and died without issue Reynold Grey who was descended lineally from the said Edmund Q. Eliz. was restored to the Earledome of Kent by Queene Elizabeth and died without issue Henry Grey his brother is now Earle of Kent Lancaster IOhn Plantagenet brother to king Richard the First R. 1. was by him created Earle of Lancaster Lecester and Darbie Hee was afterwards King of England Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Crowch-backe the second sonne of king Henry the Third was by his father created Earle of Lancaster H. 3. Lecester and Darbie He maried Blanch the Queene of Nauarre and had issue by her Thomas and Henry Thomas Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Lancaster Lecester Lincolne Salisburie and Dorset and died without issue Henry Plantagenet his brother was dignified with all those honours Henry Plantagenet his sonne enioying all those Earledomes together with the Earledomes of Albemarle and Holdernes was by king Edward the Third created Duke of Lancaster E. 3. His daughter and heire named Blanch maried Iohn of Gaunt the fourth sonne of king Edward the Third Iohn Plantagenet surnamed Iohn of Gaunt enioied all those Earledomes and was Duke of Lancaster Henry Plantagenet his sonne surnamed Bolingbroke held all those Earledomes and was Duke of Lancaster and Hereford and was king Henry the Fourth by deposing of king Richard the Second Lecester LEofrick was Earle of Lecester when Edward the Confessor liued Algarus his sonne succeeded in that Earledome Edwin his sonne was Earle at the Conquest Robert de Beamont was created Earle of Lecester by king Henrie the First H. 1. Robert de Beamont his sonne was Earle after him Robert his sonne surnamed Blanch-Maynes was his successor Robert his sonne was Earle and died without issue Simon de Mountfort was by king Iohn created Earle of Lecester K. Iohn and was slaine at the siege of Tholouse Simon de Mountfort was Earle of Lecester He tooke king Henrie the Third prisoner in the Barons warres But the young Prince Edward set his Father at libertie and slue this Simon with many more at the battaile of Eversham and his possessions were confiscate to the king Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Crowchback second sonne to king Henrie the Third was by his Father created Earle of Lecester Lancaster c. Thomas Plantagenet his sonne succeeded and died without issue Henrie Planagenet his brother possessed all those honors Henrie Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Lecester c. and was by King Edward the Third E. 3. created Duke of Lancaster his daughter and heire named Blanch was married to Iohn of Gaunt Iohn Plantagenet surnamed Iohn of Gaunt the fourth sonne of king Edward the Third married Blanch and was Earle of Lecester c. and Duke of Lancaster Henrie of Bullingbroke his sonne was Earle of Lecester c. and Duke of Lancaster and of Hereford and was afterwards king Henry the Fourth Robert Sutton otherwise Dudley a yonger sonne to Iohn Duke of Northumberland was by Queene Elizabeth created Earle of Lecester and dyed without any lawfull issue Lincolne MArcarus being Earle of Lincolne and Northumberland at the time of the Conquest rebelled and dyed in prison without issue Rufus William de Romara was by King William Rufus created Earle of Lincolne and died without issue Steph. Gilbert de Gaunt was in the right of Avis his wife created Earle of Lincolne and died without issue Male. Lewis Gilbert de Gaunt in the troublesome times of King Iohn was created Earle of Lincolne by the Dolphin Lewes son to the French King Ralf de Meschynes surnamed Blundevile being the sixt Earle of Chester H. 3. was by king Henrie the Third created Earle of Lincolne and of Richmond because he tooke his part against the Barons he dyed without issue Iohn Lacy Baron of Haulton was by king Henrie the Third created Earle of Lincolne Henrie Lacy the sonne of Edmund Lacy sonne to the said Iohn succeeded and was Earle of Lincolne Thomas Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund Crowchback was Earle of Lancaster Leicester Darby and Salisbury Hee married Alice the daughter and heire of Henrie Lacy and was in her right Earle of Lincolne and died without issue Iohn de la Pole the sonne of Iohn de la Pole the second of that name Duke of Suffolke was created Earle of Lincolne E. 4. by king Edward the Fourth and dyed without issue Henrie Brandon the sonne and heire apparant of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke was by his Vncle king Henrie the eighth H. 8. created Earle of Lincolne he dyed
ouerthrowne in one yeare 289 Iohn Earle of Oxford 144 Oxford Earle P PAgeants 376 Pandulphus 55. 56 Partialitie 71 Pardon craftie 153 Parents honored 43 Paris is English 204. and reuolteth 229 Parliament and the King striue 142. 143 Parliament the first 23 Parliament once a yeare 142 Parliament complaines 133 Parliament threatned 143 Parliament makes a King 160 Parliamentum insanum 60 Parliament breakes vppe suddenly 256 Parliament wronged by Bishop Fisher 382 Pawlet made Lord Saint Iohn 406 Peace 52. 64. 285. 333 336. 364. 392 Penall lawes 290. 351 Penance 42 People wasted 14 Percies 171. 362. 363 Percies will not deliuer Scottish Prisoners 67 Percies doe ransome Edmund Mortimer 169 Percie Sir Thomas 406 Periury 232 Perkin Werbeck 337. c. Peter Landoys 289. 315 Petition of the Rebelles 404 Pickering 363 Pilgrims holy 405 Piracie 96 Pitie 44 Plantagenet Geoffry 24 Plantagenet Arthur 51 53 Plimouth 136 Poydras 93 Pollicies 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 12. 18 23. 29. 35. 82. 117. 140 212. 215. 233. 246. 250 299. 331. 339. 340 408. Pollicies touching Warbeck 339. 340. 341 Pollicies touching Lambert 331 Pollicie touching Cade 247 Pollicie by fire 347 Pomfret 301 Pontlarch 241 Popham Sir Iohn 113 Pope 14. 15. 18. 53. 150 curbed 401 Popish blindnesse 57 Popish pride 54 Poynings 341. 361 Poysoned 59 Poyters 63 Practises of Richard Duke of Glocester 299. c. Premunire 380. feared by the Cleargy 388 Prerogatiue crossed 66 Presumption 140 Prey rich 395 Pride 396 Pride of Longchamp 46 47. 48 Primacie 7 Prince of Chester Prince imprisoned 86 177 Prince of Wales 114 Prince reclaimed 177 Prior Iohn 364 Prisoners Marcarus 7 Edwinus 7 Egelwinus 7 Mowbray 13 Curthose 20 Belesme 20 King Stephen 29 Queene Elianor 43 King Richard the first p. 48 Bayliol 84 The Prince 86. 177 Queene Isabel 105 King Dauid 122 King Iohn of France 127 Earle of Pembroke 132 King Richard the second pag. 156 Edmund Mortimer 166 French Pris slaine 185 Lord Talbot 222 Lord Scales 222 Lord Hongerford 222 Duke of Suffolke 222 King Henry the Sixth 257. 266. 281 King Edward the fourth 271 Duke of Burbon 277 Duke of Orleance 235 Scottish prisoners 413 Mordack Earle of Fife 167 Archibald Douglas 167 Earle Murrey 167 Priuie Seales 397. 398 Proclamations 192. 276 387 Proclaimed heire of Fra. 141. 200. 204 Proscribed 248. 319 Protector 61. 251 Protector displaced 240 Q QVartered 345 Queen Anne beheaded 403 Queene Katherine beheaded 410 R RAgman 104 Ramsey 136 King Richard the First ransomed 48 Douglas ransomelesse 171 King of Scots ransomed 214 Duke of Burbon ransomed 227 Duke of Orleance ransomed 235 Edmund Mortimer ransomed 164 Queene Margaret ransomed 283 Raine 405 Rebellions 6. 7. 10. 11. 12 13. 20. 22. In London 71. 76. Lluellen 80 Wat Tilar 137. In Kent 277. Owen Glendor 166. Percies 170 171. In Ireland 241. Iacke Cade 247. 264. 273. 328. 334 Cornishmen 345. 347. 349. In Yorkshire 269. In Lincolnshire 404. In the North 405. In Ireland 407 Rebels flie 405. quietly depart 405 Reconcilement 64. 279 Reformation 66. 69. 64 153 Regents 43. 201 Regent dieth 228 Regent drowned 358 Religious houses 178. 374 403. 403 Repayment 327 Repeales 4. 263. 328 Repentance 8. 353 Reprofe 167 Reseisure 35. 34 Resolution 15. 34. 95 Restitution 18 Returne vnlicenced 358 359 Reuenge 49 Reuolt 214. 242. 244 Renulph 81 Ribamont 124 Riceap Thomas 344 King Richard the First valiant 46 47 Rich Souldiers 191 King Henry the Second Rich 37 Richmond Earle in danger 289. 317. sweareth 320. landeth 323 and is victorious 325 Rifling 389 Roan 192. 193. 197. 241 Robberies 14. 18. 33 Robin Hood 50 Robinet of Bonuile 187 Rochford 400. 410. 411 Bolloigne Viscount Rochford 385 Rokesbie 174 Rosamond Clifford 37 Rosbrough 112. 130 Rowclif 363 Rufus staine 16 Russell Lord 406 Rutland murdered 281 Rutland Earle 400 Ryuers 256 S SAnctuarie 302. 303 304 Saluo honore Dei 41 Sands 365. 396. 397 Sarum secundum vsum 7 Sauadge 324 Scales 218. 222. 257. 258 Scot Earle of Chester 64 Scottish homage 11. 214 Scots 25000. slaine 83 Scots sweare obedience 86 Scots ouerthrowne in Ireland 97 Scots ouerthrow K. Edw. the Second 93 94 Scots inuade England 11 28. 111. 122. 167. 171. 251. 291. 361. their crueltie 343. They inuade 345. and are slaine 346. 412 Scots misuse the French 147 Scots aide Warbecke 342 345 Scottish King slaine 363 Scotland surrendred 81 82. 84 Scotland gouerned by England 84 Scotland wasted 346 Scotland inuaded 97. 103 306. 111 147. 174. 412. 415. 416. 419 Scotland disposed by King Edward the Third 106 Scotland claimed by the Pope 86 Scottish King ransomed 214 Scottish tenure released 106 Scottish chaire 86 Scottish prisoners 413 Scroope 155. 173. 180. 265 Sea victories 62. 110. 125 188. 189 Seales Priuie 394 Secrecie 107 Secundum vsum Sarum 7 Securitie 221. 271 Seisure 3. 35 Seymour Earle of Hartford 406. 415 Seymor Sir Iohn and Ladie Iane 403 Shawes Sermon 408 Shepard Iacke 137 Sherborne Sir Henrie 361 Ships 300. taken 56 500. Ships 188 1200. Ships 146 Ships in Sandwitch 256 Sheepe 268 Sheriffe of Northumberland 174 Shoreswife 309 Shrewesburie Earle 392 Shrines destroied 406 Sicknesse 181 Slaine King William Rufus 5. 16 Malcolme 11 King Edward the Second 101 King Richard the first 50 King Richard the second 160 Simon Montfort 74 Lord Beamont 113 Peter of Castile 131 Wat Tilar 140 Vere Duke of Ireland 149 Prisoners French 185 Thirtie six slaine by King Henry the Fourth 171 Edward Duke of Yorke 187 Richard Duke of Yorke 259 Duke of Suffolke 187 Iohn Earle of Shrewesburie 249 Earle of Salisburie 220 Clarence 206 Earle of Warwicke 281 Arundell 226 Marquesse Montacute 281 Courtney Earle of Deuon 283 Wooduile 333 Iames the Fourth King of Scots 362 Stafford 329 Humfrey Duke of Buckingham 257 Thomas Lo. Egremount 257 Iohn Viscount Beamont 257 Northumberland 260 Westmorland 260 Lord Dacres 260 Lord Welles 260 Lord Clifford 260 Somerset Sir Charles 360 Spencers 92. 94. 96. 99 Northumberland 334 Spencer chiefe Iustice 74. 68 Speeches 194 195. 209 Spencers executed 100 Souldiers vnlicensed returne 358. 397 Sonnes disobedient 36 Southampton Earle 406 Stafford Earle 181 Stakes 183 Stanley 341. 344 Stapleton B. of Exeter 99 Stapleton 363 Stoutnesse of K. H. 8. 404 Strangers Marchants 34 251. 138 Subiects dutie 35 SubmissioÌ„ of K. Io 56. 66 Submission of the Barons 58 Submission of King Richard the Second 155 Submission of Londoners 75 Submission of Lluellen 80 Supremacie 403 Duke of Suffolke 237. 238. 244. 392. 418 Duke of Suffolke warreth valâ—antly in France 396 Surfet 24 Surrey beheaded 420 Surprisall 173 Sussex Earle 385 Swanus 6 Swimming 48 149 Sword giuen to Exeter 349 Sydney 362 T TAle-bearers 227 Talbots name terrible 226 Talbot 106. 324 Talbot slaine 220 Talbot Gilbert 192 Talbot Lord George 360 Taxes 5. 10. 97. 109 Taxes causing rebellions 6. 7. 136. 333. 335. 343 Taxes lost Aquitaine c. 130 Taxes pleasing 12. 52. 189 Taxes released 18. 28 Taxes not demanded 37 45 Tax on Wools and Hides 83 Tempest Nicholas 406 Temporalties 20. 21 Terryll 312 Terwyn 360. 361 Thankfulnesse 24. 297 Thanksgiuing 171. 186 190. 282. 325 Theeues 50. 93 Thorp 258 Thwaits 396 Title to France 105. 107 relinquished 129 Title King of Ireland 410 Title Defensor Fidei 357. 393 Tournay taken 361. redeliuered 380 Trade restored 346 Translation 7 Transubstantiation 58 Traitor Archb. of Cant. 151 Treasons 64. 164. 180 226 Treason to speake c. 409 Treason at Oxford 164 Traitors 145. 173 Trecherie 152. 213 252 Trenchard 352 Treport 364 Tresham 283 Tresilian 147. 149 Troyl-Baston 86 Tuthar 260. 249 Tylar Wat. 137 Tylney 362 Tyron Earle 410 Tyrwyn taken and burnt 361 V VAlour 33. 46. 47. 124 Vaughan 283. 307 Vere 142. 149. 242 Vernoyle 205 Vicar generall 107 Victorie in Castile 130 King Edward the Fourth victorious 281 Victorie without blowes 168 Victorie miraculous 216 Victorie ouer the Percies 171 Victories at Sea 62. 110 125. 188. 189 Vicegerent Cromwell 406 Victuals cheape 108 Visited by three Kings 130 Vmfreuyle 192. 206 Vniuersitie opinions 386 Vnthankfulnesse 14. 44 Vnthankfull Frenchmen 414 Vsurpers Rufus 9 Henricus Primus 17 Stephanus 27 Edwardus Tertius 101 Henricus Quartus 160 Henricus Quintus 177 Henricus Sextus 211 Richardus Tertius 311 W WAights 18 Wales 86. Prince 114 Wallop 364. 396 Warres in the Holy Land 45. c. 77 Wars with Arthur Plantagenet 51 Hee is drowned 53 Wars incommodious 272 Wars with Charles the Emperour 401 Ward Sir Christopher 362 Wardships 63 Warbeck 337. c. Warlike discipline 35 Warwicke Protector 251 Warwicke slaine 281 Warrens 18 Watermen 258 Welles 260. 273 Welshmen rebell 11. 12. 13. 22. 80. 81. 83. 84. 85 166 Wenlocke 283 Wharton Lord 412 Whipped 42 Wife a good one 43 Willoughbie 363. 183. 392 Witchcraft 236 Wiues paid for 24 Wooduile 231. 333 Woods in Wales burnt 81 Woolsey 365. c. vntill pag. 388 Wounding 77 Worcester Earle 392 Wryothesley 417 Errata PAg. 305. lin 4. for daughter to the Dukes son reade son to the Dukes daughter Pag. 324. lin 3. for George Stanley reade George Talbot
kingdome and finding that manie inconueniences did daily presse him with much dishonor and disgrace because he intermedled not with the Temporalties of Bishoprickes when they were vacant nor with the inuesture of Bishops as his Ancestors had done and being informed That those things were inseparable incidents vnto his Crowne and that his neglect to vse them depriued him not of his Right vnto them resolued That he would not any longer forbeare to chalenge and to put in practise those things which so justly did belong vnto him Whereat Anselme the Archbishop of Canterburie was much displeased and did vtterly refuse to consecrate such new Bishops as had receiued their Inuestures from the king But Gerald then Archbishop of Yorke cheerefully performed that Ceremonie vpon the kings commaund This new quarrell transported Anselme the second time from England vnto Rome Anselme goeth to Rome the second time complaineth to Pope Pascal the second The Archbishop preuaileth where he complayned to Pope Paschal the second of those and of manie other wrongs all which were controuerted and debated with the strongest oppositions on either partie But two yeares after Anselme with the licence and fauour of the king returned and in a Synod of the Clergie holden by him in London by the Popes authoritie it was enacted That from thenceforth no Temporall man should giue Inuesture to any Bishop by the Crosse and Ring Within three yeares after Anselme died and the Temporalties of that Dignitie being seized into the kings hands The King entreth vpon the Temporalties of the Archbishop of Canterburie were for the space of fiue yeares taken receiued and conuerted to the kings vse And if at anie time as hee was often hee were entreated by the Bishops to conferre that See vpon some other his answere was That he onely kept it for a sufficient and a worthie man In the yeare of our Lord one thousand one hundred and eight hee erected the Bishopricke of Ely The Bishoprick of Ely founded in Anno 1108. and endowed it with large and honourable Possessions which wonne him much fauour with the Pope and procured him the loue of his owne Clergie Thus when the King for a few yeares had enjoyed the benefite of an happie Peace Normandie inuaded and held all Normandie subject to his owne commaund his tranquilitie and his pleasure were enuied by Lewis le Grosse then king of France who first of all procured Fulke Earle of Angeou vpon a weake pretence to seize vpon the Countrey of Mayne and then animated Baldwyne Earle of Flanders to declare against the king in Armes for the with-holding of a yearely pension of three hundred markes which the Conquerour gaue onely vnto Baldwyne the fifth Earle of Flanders during his life But the same had afterwards beene payd to his Sonne and Nephew by the courtesie of the succeeding kings because the Conquerour had beene well assisted in his Warres with England by the said Baldwyne the fifth All these made strong preparations to inuade the Kings Duchie of Normandie But the newes thereof rowsed the King from his bed of ease The King sayleth into Normandie preuaileth filled him full with Princely resolutions occasioned him to passe the Sea with an Armie of rough and tough Nobles Gentrie and common Souldiors And shortly after his landing loosing no time he set vpon the Earle of Angeou and his associates And after he had beaten him soundly on euerie side he enforced him to saue himselfe by a shamefull flight Another victorie And neere vnto the Towne of Nice which was surprized and holden by the King of France King Henrie encountred the other two This Battaile was made famous by the continuance of nine houres and was on all parts fought with such eager and manlike resolution that albeit the King of England wonne the Field and had the long chase of his flying enemies yet he boldly and truly would confesse that hee then fought not for victorie but for his life A peace is concluded At length when the heat of Anger was well quenched and when manie lay cold on the floore of death who in their life times had blowne the coales of contention betweene those foure Princes A Mariage they all were reconciled vnto peace and the King married to his eldest sonne William the daughter of the said Fulke But in their journey towards England the said young Princes Richard and Marie Countesse of Perch two others of the Kings children his Neece Lucie A great misfortune with her husband the Earle of Chesier and more than an hundred and fourescore others were vnfortunately drowned by the carelesse folly of the drunken Mariners Drunkennes This vnexpected newes being accompanied with manie millions of sorrowes and of dolefull passions much grieued the King but made him not heartlesse as most Princes would haue beene in the like case The Kings admirable patience For Wisdome had sufficiently instructed him with patience to sustaine and beare those burthens which could not by any meanes be shaken off And likewise the King was at that time affoorded but little leisure to fixe his cogitations on those mishaps because the obstinate Rebellion of the Welchmen drew him vnwillingly into a new Warre For when he saw and perceiued that though he were a King yet vrgent necessitie commaunded him to Armes and that Iustice did require him by the Sword to judge and to execute those lewd and gracelesse Malefactors The Welchmen rebell and are subdued hee marched with a strong Power into Wales when the Rebels trusting ouer-much to their owne valour which little or nothing at all helpeth in Treasonable Plots and Imployments resolued to abide the vtmost push of their fortune which yeelded to the King a speedie and a successefull end of those Warres For with little danger and as small a losse he gaue them the ouerthrow and permitted the wastfull deuouring swords of his associates to surfet vpon the carkasses of those Rebels whome neither gentle vsage nor former executions of that nature could persuade to performe those duties which good subjects doe owe vnto their Prince Then returned the King loaden with much honour Maulde the kings daughter married to the Emperour Henrie the fifth and was joyfully receiued by all his people especially by Mauld his daughter whome he forthwith sent to be married vnto the Emperour Henrie the fifth her affied husband with a princely portion of Siluer and of Gold which in the nature of a Taxe was leuied vpon the common people of their Land which he tooke for an ayde towards her marriage And the same custome Aid purfiâ—e marrier for the marriage of the eldest daughter of the Kings of this Realme hath beene and is continued vnto this day At the same time he deuised and ordered the manner and fashion of a Court in Parliament Anno 1114. The High Court of Parliament fâ—â—â—t established at Salisburie in April appointing it to consist of the three
the suddaine sailed into France And in the French Kings presence hee conferred with Becket oftentimes and made him this offer That if at last hee would take the said Oath againe and would subscribe the said Instrument Tripartite as himselfe and the Archbishop of Yorke had done to the other two He should then returne into England Graced with the Kings especiall fauour and that hee should enioy his place and dignitie and be in ample sort restored to all things taken from him and whereof iustly hee had beene depriued And that the like bountie should be extended to his exiled friends But he proudly answered that if the king would consent that hee might so sweare and subscribe with this exception Saluo honore Dei Salua honore Dei he then would yeeld But this exception displeased the King more then all the rest had done For then hee perceiued plainely that Becket intended thereby to expresse That those Lawes tended to the dishonour of Almightie God and that therefore hee had a purpose no longer to obey them notwithstanding he should subscribe and sweare then he should please Beckets proud resolution But Becket told him proudly and plainely That hee feared none but God and that sith those his Lawes were derogatorie to the auncient customes and priuiledges of the Church and robbed God of his honour the King in seeking to establish them should not haue his owne will whilst he liued The King failing of his purpose returned into England and not long after two Legates came to him from Rome Two Legats sent to interdict the king to interdict him from comming to the Church vntill he had in all things whatsoeuer restored Becket according to the Popes commaunds High displeasure transported the King into Normandy where he conferred againe with Becket but found him still the selfe-same man He sayleth into Normandie but finds no alteration in Becket The King is pleased that Becket shall returne into England The King would faine haue Becket dispatched And being desirous to set an end of those troubles hee gaue him way and consented to his returne and came againe into England And not long after Becket followed the King But the King muttringly repined that among all such as he had aduanced there was not one who would endeuour to rid him of so dangerous and malapert an enemie He also receiued a strange welcome of Henrie the young king who exiled him from his Court and confined him to his owne house in Canterburie because in his absence the king in his Parliament desiring that his said sonne should be crowned King the Bishop of London and three other Bishops vpon the kings commandement had performed those ceremoniall Solemnities and were suspended by Becket because they presumed so to doe without his leaue and could not be absolued by Becket although he had beene entreated therein by both those kings And within foure dayes after Becket by foure gracelesse malefactors was wickedly murdered in his owne Church Thomas Becket murdred whereof the king was accused by the Pope but he denied it vpon his oath The King accused Yet in regard of his former muttering speeches which by all conjecture hastened his end the king submitted himselfe to the Popes Censure The Kings Penance Who enjoyned him to warre three yeares in person in the Holie Land which he redeemed by erecting three Houses of Religion He was also enjoyned to goe from London to Canterburie bare-footed to visit Beckets Shryne which he did and suffered himselfe to be scourged with roddes by euerie Monke there He is whipped And thus the king had a bad end of all those Troubles THE HISTORIE OF KING RICHARD THE FIRST RICHARD the eldest sonne liuing of Henrie the second being in Normandie when his Father died succeeded in his Throne And because those Countries wanted settlement and required a longer time of his presence aboue all other things he was most carefull for the enlargement of Queene Elianor his Mother A good sonne but an euill husband who by her deceased husband was committed to strait Imprisonment because shee loathed and would not endure his lasciuious course of liuing with his wanton Rosamond but sharpely reproued him for the same And because shee was euerie way vertuous discreete and wise Queene Elianor is made Regent of England hee committed the whole Gouernment of this Realme in his absence to her care And because her owne Experience had informed her what anguish and what sorrow poore helpelesse Captiues did endure shee set at libertie all such as were imprisoned for ordinarie offences Non ignara maâ—i miseris succurâ—ete discit or for small Debts which her selfe did pay and administred the Common-weales affaires with great Moderation Integritie and Iustice vntill her sonne the king came home and was with all Solemnitie and strange Triumphs annointed and crowned king This king imitating the milde disposition of his mother and commiserating the troubles of such as were afflicted freed out of euerie Prison all such as were his Debtors A mercifull King or were enthralled for anie transgression which concerned himselfe and whome without injustice done to others he might acquite And in the whole course of his Gouernment he so prouided that Iustice with Mercie should be extended vnto all Too much honor elateth He heaped manie Honors and profitable Promotions vpon his brother Iohn whome he created Earle of Lancaster and gaue vnto him the Prouinces of Nottingham Deuonshire and Cornwall and married him to the sole and onely Daughter and Heire of the Earle of Glocester from whome he receiued the Lordship of that Countrey These great and kind fauors required that he should be thankfull But oftentimes it happeneth that as the addition of too much Oyle extinguisheth the Lampe which otherwise would burne and yeeld her light and as the ouer-abundance of too much water falling vpon a Wheele maketh it the lesse seruiceable for the vse to which it is employed So the conferring of too much Honor and of too manie Titles of Dignitie vpon such as are not capable of them all altereth and changeth their milde and gentle dispositions and maketh them altogether vnthankefull for those benefits which they haue receiued And oftentimes they are incited and prouoked thereby to affect things of higher consequence and moment than are fitting and to conjecture that the greatest fortunes are most agreeable to their Estates So that they neuer cease to attempt great things which in the end will rather be hurtfull to them than doe them anie good An vnthankfull brother This proued true betwixt the king and his brother Iohn For when the king had powred on him plentifull showers of his bountie and great abundance and had aduanced him in Honor and in Estate aboue all others his thoughts mounted aboue the Moone and made him vnnaturally and vnthankfully to affect the Crowne and to boast That his endowments were sufficient and fitting for a king And though
prisoner to Roan He is drowned This Warre ended was taken prisoner and sent to the Castle of Roan where leaping from the walls with an intent to escape he was drowned in the Ditch And thus ended his Life his Title and those Warres But the next yeare following the French King himselfe pretending Title to the said Duchie of Normandie raysed an exceeding great power and so sodainely and with such furie The French King sodenly wâ—â—â—eth all Normandie did inuade it that wanting present meanes of resistance the whole Duchie to preuent vtter desolation and ruine yeelded and subiected it selfe to the French king And now began the Kings other Enemie The quarrell bâ—twâ—xt the King and the Pope Pope Innocent the third to play his part and to vexe him more dangerously than Philip of France had done And the occasion which he entertained to effect his purpose was this Hubert the Archbishop of Canterburie died and the Monkes of Saint Augustines in that Citie without the kings Licence or knowledge and about midnight elected Raynold a brother of their owne to succeed him and tooke of him an Oath forthwith to trauaile vnto Rome and there to procure his inuesture and to receiue his Pâ—lâ— from the Pope The king being thereof informed by manifest shewes made knowne his inward dislike of those their vnaduised doings So that vpon his motion and to appease his wrath they newly elected Iohn Gray who was then Bishop of Norwich And incontinently the king vpon his owne charge sent Letters and Embassadours vnto the Pope entreating him to ratifie his last choice But in the meane time a new Schisme or Faction did appeare For the Suffragan because hee was not made acquainted nor an actor in either of the said two Elections made suit to the Pope to displace them both Popes doe seldome or neuer grant to any Kings their reasonable requests But the Pope imitating the proud example of his Predecessors who coueted to swimme against the Streame and seldome or neuer granted anie kings request least they should in some sort be thought to be yeelding neglected the kings entreatie and confirmed him that was chosen first The king stormed because he was so slenderly regarded And diuers of those Monkes to please the king refused to receiue him that was by the Pope confirmed contesting against their owne choice because it was made in the night and not in the open day But the rest affirmed That such a choice was not meerely voide and in it selfe a Nullitie but remayned good vntill by Iudiciall proceedings and by a Sentence it were pronounced to be void At length this question and this doubt was controuerted and disputed on in Rome and thereupon the Pope making a colourable shew to content the King to please the Monkes and to end this Schisme but indeede to preferre Stephen Langton the Cardinall of Chrisogone to that Dignitie aduised the said Monkes to elect the said Stephen Stephen Langton is chosen Archbishop of Canterburie on the Popes motion and against the commandement of the King The King perceiuing well what was intended and meant thereby required the said Monkes not to proceed to the said Election nor to deale anie further in that businesse But verie vndutifully they neglected to content or to obey the King and with them the Papall Commandement tooke place and Stephen Langton a man plyant to the Popes humour was elected Archbishop of Canterburie This later choice so sharpely exasperated the king that by his Letters to the Pope he protested plainely That from thenceforth he would take a strict account of all such of his subjects whatsoeuer as for anie matters concerning Right or Iustice should be gadding vnto Rome The King forbiddeth Appeales to Rome And did alledge That he had Bishops Prelates Nobles and Magistrates of his owne who could and should according to the Lawes and Customes of his Kingdome decide and determine all Controuersies and Doubts which should arise either in the Church or in the Commonweale And that he would rather expose himselfe to a thousand deaths then basely as hee was required make himselfe and his Kingdome seruile and subject to the Popes insolent and peremptorie Commands The Pope according to his custome and fashion not onely answered prowdly The Popes prowd and peremptorie answer Foure Bishops authorized to interdict the King That the Election of the Cardinall should stand but required the King to giue him the quiet possession of his See to recall such Monks from banishment as he had exild and to restore to them their goods on which hee had seized by reason of their last choice and did authorize foure Bishops within this Land to interdict and to curse the King and his Realme if hee refused to doe as by the Pope he was enioyned The King perceiuing that those foure Bishops were much elated by reason of their new authoritie and that they thought the time to be long ere the King had replied and signified his intent and resolution seized vpon their lands and goods The King seizeth on the foure Bishops lands and goods and did proclaime That he resolued to take the like course with all such as receiued any Promotions Inuestitures or Ecclesiastical degrees from the said Cardinall or went vnto Rome vpon any occasion without his license or did appeale for any cause thither or did attempt to put in execution any commaund from the Pope within his Kingdome The Pope being aduertised hereof sent into England his two Legats Pandulphus and Durant men of prowd spirits and prone to put in practise al things as they should be required These two perswaded the King to be reconciled to Stephen Langton The Popes Legats curse the King and his ayders to the foure Bishops and to the Prior and the Monks of his Couent of S. Austins and to restore to them their Places Lands and Goods that peace and amitie by meanes of his so doing might be renewed betwixt the Pope and him The King fearing to be accursed and being desirous to preuent future inconueniences yeelded and promised to perform all whatsoeuer was required except it were to allow the said Election of the said Cardinall and protested faithfully That if another might be chosen hee then would with all speed and expedition preferre him to some other Bishoprique or better place of Dignitie within his Realme But the two Legats in steed of gratifying the Kings request pronounced the Popes curse not only against him but also against all such as gaue him attendance or things necessarie or kept him company They likewise absolued all his subiects from their oathes dutie and seruice towards him and required all Christian Princes to make warre vppon him as vpon the arch and grand enemy of the Church of God This Kingdom is giuen to the French King The Pope also pronounced and published against him his sentence of depriuation and gaue his Crown and his Kingdom to Philip the French King if by any
and had found more fidelitie and seruice in strangers borne than in those his owne subjects in milde and in gentle sort accepted of their submission pardoned their transgressions and restored them to their Honors and to their Lands Peace And by these meanes this Realme was disburthened of the French Nation and a quiet peace began to salute the King and his people who now found some leysure to looke vp and to refresh themselues as Fishes doe in a faire calme after they haue beene tumbled and tossed in the Waters by an vnquiet Storme 1212. The Councell of Lateran The Pope intending to make these his proceedings with King Iohn in England a president vnto other Princes assembled a generall Councell at Lateran wherein hee published them all at large together with the said kings Grant of his Kingdome to the Pope Princes excommunicated and their Prouinces and Kingdomes interdicted and his said regrant and the Tenure thereof to be of the Church of Rome And in the same Councell Otho the Emperour Peter king of Arragon and Raymond Earle of Tholouse and diuers other Princes were excommunicated and others were interdicted together with their Kingdomes and their Prouinces for Heresie as it was pretended A Popish Policie But the certaine scope of this craftie and cunning packing tended to none other end than onely to make temporall Princes subiect to the Popes correction and consequently to enrich himselfe and his successors Auricular Confession Transubstantiation Damnation with their spoyle In the same Councell also Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation were established and decreed and therein it was enacted That such as spake euill of the Pope should be damned in Hell and that no man should be Emperour Emperour vntill he had sworne his Homage to the Pope and had receiued his Crowne from him And thus all these troubles hauing had from the fourth yeare of King Iohns Raigne as long a continuance as the Troian Warres were at last ended Peace after tenne yeares warre But the Clergie would in no sort bee heartily reconciled to the King For such was their secret grudge and spleene towards him that vnder the colour of much seruice and dutie as hee lay in the Abbey of Swansteede not farre from Lincolne hee was poysoned by a Monke of the Order of Saint Bernard who to make his match sure King Iohn is poysoned and to auoid jealousie and suspition first dranke vnto the King and poysoned himselfe for companie And thus died King Iohn when he had raigned aboue seuâ—nteene yeares and lyeth buried at Winchester In the seuenth yeare of his Raigne hee transported a puissant armie of valiant men of armes and common souldiors 1205. into Ireland Ireland and with great resolution and courage he reduced that Nation to their former obedience from which with insolent obstinacie they had reuolted And in the ninth yeare by a new Charter 1208. A Maior in London hee enabled the Citizens of London to make their annuall choice of a Maior and of two Shirifes for the better Gouernement of that Citie And the yeare following London Bridge the Bridge of Stone was there built ouer the Riuer of Thames This King was verie wise politike and wonderfull valiant 1209. not to be subdued but by Death A descriptiâ—n of King Iohn nor wearied with anie Trauaile nor would be discouraged with more than ordinarie Dangers Hee fought manie successefull Battailes both at home and abroad yet was hee not alwayes fortunate For by meanes of the Popes quarrellings Philip of France wonne from him the greatest part yea almost his whole Duchie of Normandie and vexed him exceedingly at home in his owne Kingdome Hee was liberally bountifull and benigne to all Strangers but sparing in his gifts to his owne subiects And some reason hee had to be the more close-handed towards them because the most of them better louing France than their owne Countrey and caring more for the French King than for him who was their Soueraigne Lord and Master gaue him little stomack and courage to aduance them as otherwise no doubt hee would haue longed and desired to haue done Hee left behinde him foure sonnes viz. Henrie who succeeded him Richard who was elected King of the Romans William of Valentia and Guido Disnay and three daughters viz. Isabell married to Fredericke the Emperour the second to William Marshall Earle of Worcester and the third to the Earle of Leicester THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE THIRD AFTER the death of King Iohn Henrie his sonne being of the age of nine yeares was crowned King and the Protection of him A Protector and of this Realme was committed to the Earle of Glocester who hauing married one of the Kings aunts and being well learned politicke and wise temperate and valiant administred the Lawes and Iustice vprightly to the people So deepe an impression had confidence made in the hearts of Philip of France and of Prince Lewis his eldest sonne The French King againe inuadeth England that the Kings Minoritie Traiterous friends and their owne good fortune would make them the Soueraigne Lords of this kingdome that no former Commandements or Curses from the Pope preuailed to make them vtterly to abandon and to forsake this kingdome For their Hope 's fed them with this conceit that their new repaire hither and the daily disturbance and trouble which by their meanes should vnjoynt the Peace and the good Gouernment of this Commonweale would and in the end should shake it with a continuall feauer and make it hopelesse of all recouerie or reliefe sauing onely by their meanes And vpon this Proiect they landed fresh forces within this Land But the new Protector was not idle in his charge For his Preparations were expedited with great celeritie and judgement and with such forces as he had leuied he manfully opposed himselfe against all Encounters of the French The Welchmen take part with the French and of the Welch which obstinately adhered to the French part But the best successe by Warres in a distempered and in a mutinous Estate giues little cause of boasting to eyther part For the slaughter of manie friends and kinsfolke affoording the Victorie cannot chuse but bring with it a sorrowfull remembrance of their vntimely end and beget manie wishes that their vndutifull Errors hauing beene reformed they were aliue againe The Pope curseth again Honorius the Pope being truly informed how obstinately the French and the Welch Nations being assisted with some English daily warred and spoyled within this Realme not onely confirmed the authoritie of Guallo the Legate but by him he thundred more sharpe and terrible Curses against them all than formerly hee or his predecessors had done Whereunto hee added new Excommunications Depriuations and other bitter Censures of the Church of Rome His curses are not cared for Hereupon Prince Lewis with his confederates seemed to be peacefull for a while and made an outward shâ—w
taken part against him with the Barons in their Warres Whereupon such of the Nobilitie and others as were neere in fauour and next about the person of the King besought him instantly to abstaine from so foule a deede which would not onely much weaken his Estate and Kingdome but also make him infamous through the World and vnto all succeeding Ages Their suite was earnest and their reasons to persuade were vnanswerable yet the King protested No intercession can preuaile That his determination should be vnchangeable and that his Iustice vpon such rebellious Caitiues should be a president to terrifie all peruerse and obstinate Traitors and Rebels in future times And this his resolution justly occasioned the Citizens of London to quake at the indignation of their angrie King so that they perceiuing that his rage and furie could not be mitigated caused an Instrument in writing to be made and ratified it with their common Seale The submission of the Londoners by which they confessed their Rebellion humbly craued pardon and without anie restraint or exception wholly submitted their Lands their Goods and their Liues together with the whole Citie to the kings Grace and Mercie This Instrument they sent vnto Windsour by diuers of the chiefest and richest inhabitants of the Citie The citizens committed to prison and giuen away by the King who were prepared with all humilitie to haue presented it vpon their knees But so fierce was the Kings wroth towards them and so implacable was his anger that he reputed none of those to be his friends who interposed themselues as Mediators in their behalfes Neither would hee vouchsafe to admit anie one of them to come into his presence but caused them forthwith to be cast into prison and fiue of the chiefest of them together with all their Lands and their Goods hee gaue vnto the Prince and all the others he gaue to other of his attendants who burthened them with heauie seruitude and much miserie and tooke from them what they pleased leauing to them the least part of their owne Thus when the King had a little auenged himselfe The Prince procureth the Kings pardon and fauor and time had cooled the heat of his passionate humour he hearkened to the importunate intercession of the Prince and receiued the Citie and all the inhabitants thereof into fauor and onely tooke of them a fine of one thousand marks and restored them to all their Liberties and Customes which for their transgression were seized into his hands The King also vpon the Princes entreatie The fiue Ports are pardoned pardoned the inhabitants of the fiue Ports who finding Iustice to be fast asleepe whilest the Barons warres outragiously disturbed the whole Estate and Kingdome robbed rifled and spoyled on the Seas both their owne neighbours and Countrey-men and also all Nations whom they met without any difference or respect And lest the King should be too much troubled with the frequent complaints of such as had beene wronged by them or his Courts of Iustice pestred with the multitude of such sutors the King commanded that none of the offenders should be impleaded elswhere but onely in the Courts of those Ports by meanes wherof there were but few that complained because none of them had any hope to haue recompence or redresse there And now though those intestine troubles and ciuill warres which like an outragious fire dispersed in the heart and middest of a well compacted Citie endangered the whole estate of this Kingdome and Common-weale were thus appeased The Earle of Glocester being vnrewarded thinketh on mischiefe and although Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester by his reuolt from the Barons and by his adhering to the Prince and to his complices had greatly furthered the good successe which had made the King to enioy a blessed peace yet was the said Earle so little trusted that he neither found fauour nor reward but the little respect which was had of him and his cold entertainment at the Court made him desperate of all good fortunes and inflamed his heart to work reuenge The rascality of London do flock vnto him This furie carried him headlong vnto the Citie of London where no sooner was his discontented humour made known but the rascall and the baser sort forgetting the great calamitie which that famous Citie did endure and the great fauours which so lately they had receiued from the King flocked in troupes about him They do mischiefe and boldly committed many grieuous outrages within the Citie And then they went vnto the Kings Palace at Westminster which they rifled spoiled and ransacked without meane or measure This rude beginning prognosticated the sudden accesse of another ciuill warre which might haue bred as much danger as any of the former had done The Prince procureth a large pardon but the Prince againe interposed himselfe an earnest mediator betwixt the King and all the said offenders and procured a large and a free pardon for the Earle Thus this dangerous fire was soone quenched and good preuention in due time did wisely cut off all occasions of future warre and at the same time and by the like meanes the King pardoned many decaied and out-lawed Gentlemen who in the heat of those broiles had committed many robberies and spoiles in diuers places of this kingdome The Earle of Glocesters request And not long after the Earle of Glocester despairing of all inward grace and fauour from the king and being desirous as it seemed by deedes of Chiualrie to make himselfe famous among the enemies of Christ requested that he might be sent with an Armie to make warre in the Holy-land This motion though it tended to much expence and great charge yet it pleased the King exceedingly because he knew that the Earles busie head and turbulent spirit would still be plotting and deuising of new broiles An Armie raised to be conducted into the Holy land by the Earle of Glocester and hurly-burlies at home wherfore he caused a faire Armie to be raised and furnished it with all necessaries fit and requisit for so long and for so dangerous a iourney But when all things were in a readinesse the Earle fained many excuses which tended to ouer-much delay which caused him to be lesse regarded by the King and to bee in great dislike with all others But Prince Edward being full of youth and courage The Earle is dismissed worthily from that charge and longing greedily to hoist his Sailes in the Sea of Honour and by aduentrous deeds of Knight-hood to equall his name with those who were accounted most valiant in the world by his earnest suite and trauell obtained the conducting of that Armie The Prince vndertaketh it and doth perform it Their happie successe and transported it into the Holy-land where his sword wrought wonders and his Armie bred such terror and admiration among the Turkes that they would seldome or neuer aduenture themselues against the Christians in
execrable and a vile oath hee swore that the Esquire should loose his head bâ—fore he himselfe would either eat any meat or drinke anie drinke The Major of London named Iohn Hadley who then attended on the King disdaining that a proud Traitor should so confront and braue the King drew forth his sword and strake him so sound on the head that he felled him to the ground and incontinently he was slaine Whereat some hope was sodenly conceiued that the rest of the Rebels would haue gone away But they being desperatly resolued to reuenge his death according to their litle skil cast themselues in some order so that now euery minute of time threatned the destruction and slaughter of manie men The Citizens of London being informed what had hapned and purposing with all speed to aide the King and to free themselues and the Câ—â—ie from ruine and from spoile sent an Armie of eight thousand men well armed and well appointed to the King all which were quickly marshalled and readie to giue the charge But first the King required the Rebels to submit themselues or else to deliuer vnto him such of his Banners and Free Pardons and Manumissions as they had gotten into their hands But so farre off were they from being sorrie or repentant for their Treasons that in a proud brauerie and in much scorne they redeliuered them all vnto the King Who caused them in their open view to be cancelled and to bee torne in peeces The doing whereof so sodainely daunted and quailed the heartes and courages of those insolent and gracelesse Rebels that when the King expected nothing but all violence to be executed by the sword they cowardly dispersed themselues and ranne away The Rebels flye euery man without any order or staying making all possible hast and shift to saue themselues And thus vanished this cloud which threatned an outragious storme of much danger and mischiefe to the King and Common-weale And the chiefest of those malefactors a thing which neuer faileth in such tumultuous rebellions were by their owne companions to insinuate grace and fauour with the King deliuered into the hands of Iustice who afterwardes The Captaines deliuered to the King by the Rebels themselues Fifteene hundred Rebels Executed with fifteene hundred more of the principall agents in this businesse were vpon due enquiries and iust conuictions according to the Law executed and put to sundrie tortures and deaths in diuers places of this Realme The King hauing thus pacified this Rebellion and Vproare ANNO. 5. King Richard marrieth married the Ladie Anne daughter to the deceased Emperour Charles the fourth and sister vnto Wenceslaus the Emperour who then raigned and was made happie through much prosperitie and peace vntill the ninth Yeare of his Gouernment ANNO. 9. 1385. A ParliameÌ„t Two of the Kings Vncles were created Dukes of Yorke and Glocester Henrie of Bullingbroke created Earle of Darby Other Earles created King Richards euill Counsellours And then hee summoned and held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster In which he created his fifth and sixth Vncles Edmund of Langly being then Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and Thomas of Woodstock who was then Earle of Buckingham Duke of Glocester He also created his Cousin Henrie of Bollingbrooke sonne and heire apparant to his fourth Vncle Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Earle of Darbie and his Cousin Edward Plantagenet the sonne and heire apparant of his said Vncle Edmund of Langley he created Earle of Rutland and Sir Iohn Holland brother to the Earle of Kent was made Earle of Huntingdon and Thomas Lord Mowbray was made Earle of Nottingham The King whose affections were but greene and who was easily seduced by such as hee best loued was at this time wholy directed and counselled into manie euill and vngodly courses by his vnworthie fauourites Michael De la Pole his Chauncellor whom he created Duke of Suffolck and by Robert de Vere Earle of Oxford and Marquesse of Dublyn whom hee made Duke of Ireland Affection without reason and would haue made him King of that Countrie if his Nobilitie would haue consented thereunto In the same Parliament Roger Mortymer Proclaimed heire Apparent He caused his Cousin Sir Roger Mortimer Earle of March who was the sonne and heire of Edmund Mortimer and of Philip his wife who was the Daughter and heire of the Kings third Vncle This Sir Roger Mortimer was slaine many yeares after ANNO. 10 1386. The King neglecteth his Nobilitie and their Counsell Michaell de la Poole Robert de Vere Alexander Archbishop of Yorke Robert Tresilian The King intendeth the surprisall of the Duke of Glocester and of the Earles of Warwicke and of Arundell They come well garded to the Parliament Foure Fifteenes demanded It is denied A ParliameÌ„t may be held once a yeare In what case the Knights and Burgesses may depart The Houses of ParlameÌ„ts demands Lionel Duke of Clarence to bee proclaimed heire apparant to his Crowne But hee was long afterward slaine in Ireland by such Rebels as he endeuored to suppresse It is now to bee obserued that from henceforth the King respected not the sage aduice and counsell of his grauest and most experienced Lords and that he began careleslely to neglect the Nobilitie and his great Officers of his Kingdome and that hee did all things preposterously by the lewd and vnskilfull perswasions and directions of his two newly-created Dukes of Suffolke and of Ireland and of Alexander then Archbishop of Yorke and of Robert Tresilian his Chiefe Iustice And as they all did lead him into many erros so did they especially exasperat him without iust cause against his renowned and truly noble Vncle Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester and against the two Earles of Warwick and of Arondel which three hee intended to haue surprized at a Banquet in London if Nicholas Exton then Major of that Citie would haue consented thereunto But because his helpe then failed and the King could not at that time obtaine his purpose Hee resolued to effect it at a more solemne meeting For which cause principally He summoned his High Court of Parliament but the said three Lords vpon good information being jealous of such vnkindly entertainment repaired to the said assembly being strongly garded by a multitude of valiant men at armes by meanes whereof they secured their own libertie and the vngodly project of the King and of his wicked Counsellors came to nought Now when this long Parliament produced nothing worthie to bee noted Michael de la Pole in the Kings behalfe required a Tax of foure fifteenes affirming that a lesser gift could not support his Estate and maintaine such warres as hee was likely to vndertake But the Lords and the Lower House not only refused to yeeld vnto this motion but made a solemne declaration That as the Kings of this Realme for the better ordering and preseruing of their Estate and Kingdome might once in euery yeare assemble a
Parliament so by an ancient law all the members of that great Counsell might without leaue breake vp the same assembly and depart to their owne houses If the King absented himselfe from their companie for the space of fortie dayes together and that they would not proceed in any businesse but depart except the King would bee pleased personally to come among them and to grace them with his presence and would also remoue Michael de la Pole from his Chancelorship and commit him to strait Prison because he lewdly counselled the King to attempt manie thinges which were dishonourable to himselfe and hurtfull to the Common-weale The King as a Lion being sterne and scorning to yeeld vnto anie motion although it tended to his owne safetie The King denies their suit and to the well-fare of his people required that fiftie selected men of that Assembly might be sent vnto him with whom he would conferre and agree vpon such affaires as they required to bee treated on They will not yeeld to his command But the two houses denying to make anie conclusions priuatly of such affaires and businesses as by a Parliament were to be disputed publickly and publickly to be established did send vnto him his said Vncle Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester and Thomas Arundell then Arch-bishop of Canterburie and none others And they two by expresse commandement told the King Two and no more are sent vnto the king that by his absence hee obscured the light of iustice and hindred the negotiations of the Common-weale which without his approbation and consent could not receiue anie strength or life and that if he pleaseâ— not vpon their humble intreatie to come among them for the furthering The King is told of his faults and for the finishing of such waightie affaires as thâ—n they had in hand they would depart to their owne houses because he had absented himselfe from them to their dislike and discouragement more than fortie dayes They also craued with great submission and humilitie as they were commaunded to bee informed by whom his Maiesties treasure A reckoning is demaunded of the King belonging to the common-weale was prodigally wasted and consumed and how it came to passe that his large reuenewes could not suffice to maintaine and to support his Estate and charge seeing he had no wars except his people must be taxed This message and these demands The King threatens the two Houses of his Parlament so wonderfully incensed the King against both the houses of his Parlament that in great chollar and indignation hee deeply swore that if he had foreknowne the saâ—cie boldnesse of his owne Subiects who as he supposed intended to rise in Armes against him hee would more willingly haue submitted himselfe to the King of France and haue relied vpon his protection and defence then thus be baffled and be made seruile and an vnderling to those whom his Soueraigntie ought to command The two Lords with such wonderfull grauitie and temperate mildnesse so effectually related to the King A caueat to beware of France the inueterated malice which the Kings of France had borne towards this Kingdome and the kings which ruled it and the loyall dutie and obedience which both the Lords and also all other inferiour subiects of this Realme did beare vnto him as vnto their most gracious and good Lord that thereby the greatest flame of his fire was much quenched Wise Counsell appeaseth the Kings rage The King commeth to the ParlameÌ„t Michael de la Poole accused condemned fined imprisoned depriued c and the kings passions beganne to bee more moderate and calme So that he promised within three dayes to come among them and did performe it accordingly to the great ioy and contentment of all such as meant and wished well When they were all thus met together Michael de la Pole was by the Lords accused and found guiltie of manie notable and notorious cousonages and deceats by him practised in the execution of his office and for that he had purchased with the kings monie in yearely reuenew so much land as was worth one thousand pounds and more and had purloined in bribes from the kings Subiects for expeditions and by such craftie and dishonest trickes the summe of twentie thousand markes at the least for which offences all his lands were giuen to the king together with a fine of twentie thousand Markes Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterburie is made Lord Chancellour and himselfe being depriued of his Office of Chancellorship and of his libertie was committed vnto straight Prison and Thomas Arondell then Archbishop of Canterburie who was a wise and great States-man and did employ his best endeuours for the wellfare and prosperitie of the Common-weale without anie respect to his friends or profit to himselfe was made Chancellor in his steed In the same Parliament also thirteene persons were elected Commissioners chosen in the Parliament to examine the Kings Officers The King sweareth to allow it sworne and authorised aswell by the consents of the Lords spiritual and temporal and by the Commons as also by the kings agreement thereunto published in writing vnder his great Seale to examine all or anie of his Maiesties officers touching their behauiours and their demeanors in their seuerall roomes and places and by whom and how both at home and abroad the kings treasure had beene purloined or mispent and to correct and punish all such as for iust transgressions they should censure and condemne And the king himselfe tooke a publike oath not to reuoke nor to suppresse the said Commission or their power except a Parliament should ioyne with him therein And furthermore it was then enacted for a Law that if anie man should or did attempt Disswaders to be punished directly or indirectly to perswade or to encourage the king to infringe his promise and to make breach of his said oath touching all or anie of those matters hee should for his first offence loose all his Lands and Goods and for his second offence should receiue triall iudgment execution as a Traytor to the king Halfe a fifteene conditionally granted and to his Crowne And then a Subsidie of one halfe Fifteene was granted If by the said Commissioners and vpon their view of the kings Estate it should be thought needful for him to haue the same No sooner was this Parliament ended but the king by the perswasions of his euill Counsellors and contrarie to his owne assent ANNO. 11 The King breaketh his promise and his oath Michael de la Pole is enlarged The Commissioners are pronounced Traytors Some Iudges doe ratifie the confirmation promise and oath enlarged Michael de la Pole and went with him Robert De Vere his Duke of Ireland and with Tresilian his Chiefe Iustice manie of his Iudges vnto Nottingham wher they pronounced the kings Vncle Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester and Thomas Arondel Archbishop of Canterbury
made him Duke of Norfolk he being altogether vnworthie of so great honor 8. Item that the King to further his last Expedition for Ireland without law without iustice tooke from the Clergie and many Religious houses great store of monie plate iewels and rich ornaments not hauing the owners consent so to doe 9 Item that in the same iournie without the approbation of his Counsell of Estate hee carried with him into Ireland the plate and rich iewels belonging to the Crowne which might haue tended to the great inpouerishment of this Realme 10 Item that in euerie Shire he had secret Intelligencers vpon whose bare information that ane man had repined at the Kings bad gouernement the partie so accused without examination or triall was enforced to procure his pardon by the payment of a grieuous fine 11 Item that by the lewd aduise of his wicked Counsellours hee had deuised manie subtle and craftie Oathes by meanes whereof manie of his honest Subiects had beene vndone 12 Item that by the like aduise and counsell he procured Ruffians and desperate companions to accuse rich but weake men of sundrie falsly-supposed crimes and imagined offences and by meanes thereof enforced them to redeeme the combate with much monie 13 Item that he gaue large gifts vnto wicked and lewd companions who malitiously to aduance their owne Estates animated him against diuers of his Barons who only desired a good reformation of his euill gouernment and imposed diuers Taxes vpon his people to enrich them 14 Item that hee had procured such Records to bee cancelled and imbeselled as testified his extortions and his oppressions vniustly imposed vpon his people 15 Item that he had oftentimes said that the Lawes of his Kingdome were in his owne breast and that vpon this opinion hee had put to death manie of his noble men and some of his inferiour subiects without iust cause 16 Item that most of his writings and letters vnto foraigne Princes and Estates were so craftie ambiguous doubtfull and vncertaine that they could not relie confidently vpon anie thing which he had written 17 Item that in his Parliament holden in the one and twentieth yeare of his Raigne his Cheshire Guard who onely were permitted and suffered to weare weapons committed many Robberies and Murders and yet not one of them was punished or reproued for the same 18 Item that to insinuate fauour with those loose and lewd companions the King had basely and fondly dishonoured his High Estate and Soueraigntie by entitling himselfe The Prince of Cheshire 19 Item that whereas in the same Parliament sundrie great Lords intended liberally and dutifully to haue spoken of such things as were not well ordered to the end that they might haue beene reformed the King in such sort threatned them that for feare of ensuing dangers they held themselues silent and spake not at all 20 Item that hee exacted great fines from the wealthiest of his Subiects for adhearing to the Barons notwithstanding that in full Parliament he had before granted them his free pardon 21 Item that by himselfe and his owne authoritie he had displaced diuers Burgesses of the Parliament and had placed such other in their roomes as would better fit and serue his owne turne 22 Item that contrarie to his solemne Oath and instrument in writing vnder the great Seale of his Kingdome Hee had not only disallowed the Commission granted in the same Parliament to the thirteene Lords to enquire of and to reforme the great abuses and the apparant misgouernment of the Common-Weale But also had exiled beheaded and otherwise executed diuers Noble Men and others who for the Kings honour and for the safetie and welfare of the Common-Weale had procured the said Commission or had executed the said Authoritie according to the trust and confidence in them reposed 23 Item that whereas hee had caused certaine Lawes in the same Parliament to bee made for his owne gaine and to serue his owne turne hee procured the Popes Bulles to curse such as should withstand or disobey them which thing greatly tended to the derogation of his Crowne and was done expressely against his owne law made against the Authoritie of the Pope within this Realme but seuen yeares before 24 Item that hee had displaced lawfull and good Shiriffes and had elected others whom he suffered to continue and to hold the said Office two yeares together and more because their vniust oppressions augmented and encreased his gaine King Richard confesseth all the Articles The transcript of all these Articles and Obiections were by both the Houses of Parliament authentically sent vnto the king who not only confessed them to bee true and acknowledged his owne insufficiencie to rule and to gouerne better but also by a plaine He resignes his Crowne King Richard is deposed Henrie Duke of Lancaster is made King Thomas Arundell restored to the Archbishopprick of Canterburie and exact instrument in writing vnder his hand and Seale hee resigned his Crowne and kingdome to his Cousin Henrie of Bullinbrooke Duke of Lancaster which being read publikely and beeing generally ratified approoued and confirmed by the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and by the Commons in the same Parliament assembled they deposed king Richard and made the said Duke king And his true and faithfull friend and his companion in Banishment Thomas Arundell Archbishoppe of Canterburie being then and there restored to his place and dignitie installed the said Henrie in the kingly Throne And the late King Richard was sent to Pomfret Castle there to bee safely kept and with Princely honour to bee maintained but verie shortly after by the new kings direction and commaundement who feared least his Estate might bee shaken so long as Richard liued hee was wickedly and villanously assaulted in his Lodging King Richard is cruelly murdered by Sir Pierce Exton and eight other armed men from one of which with a Princely courage hee wrested a browne-Bill and therewith slewe foure of his Mischieuous and Vngodly Assailants He was very valiant and with admirable resolution fought with all the rest vntill comming by his owne Chaire in which the base Cowardly Knight himselfe stood for his owne safetie hee was by him striken with a Polle-axe in the hinder part of his head Though hee were an euill King yet no religion warranted those vniust proceedings so that presently he fell downe and died And thus was hee wicredly and treacherously murdered and his bodie buried at Langley but was afterwardes remoued vnto Westminster where it now lieth THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE FOVRTH ALTHOVGH the Crowne of England ANNO. 1. 1399. in right if Richard the deposed king should die without issue was by succession to descend vnto Edmund Mortimer Earle of March the Son and heire of Edmund Mortimer by Philip his wife who was the daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third sonne of Edward the third Yet his Cousin Henrie of Bullinbrooke Duke of Hartford and
troubles and turmoiles at home gaue him aduise to make himselfe more strong by procuring of great friends abroad In the third yeare of his Raigne hee required Henrie Percie Earle of Worcester Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland and Henrie Hot-spurre his sonne to deliuer vnto him such Scottish Prisoners as they had taken in those last warres But they affirmed stoutly that by the Lawes of Armes and Chiualrie those Prisoners belonged vnto them and thereupon they refused to deliuer them vnto the King By meanes whereof some vnkindnesse grew betwixt the king and them which not long after was made apparant to the World For the Percies now beganne to resolue vpon the restoring of their inthralled Cousin Edmund Mortimer Earle of March both vnto his libertie and also to his Crowne and to depose King Henrie if by anie meanes and endeauours they could bring their purposes to passe Yet for a time they concealed their intent and making none other shew but of naturall kindnesse and friendship to the said Earle in regard of their affinitie and kindred earnestly praied the king to ransome him and to set him free They desire the King to Ransom him because he was vnfortunately taken in his seruice and was oppressed with much miserie But the king not hearkning to their sute nor indeed desiring that he should bee enlarged made answere and caused it to be proclaimed The King wil not but accuseth him that the said Earle had voluntarily caused himselfe to bee taken prisoner so that Rebels hauing him in their custodie and companie might pretend some colour therwith to varnish such Conspiracies and Treasons as secretly they had plotted and contriued against his Crowne and him and that therefore his owne safetie and his good discretion gaue him aduise and counsel not to hearken to their motion but to punish his offence The Percies hauing receiued this answere ANNO. 4. Sir Edmond Mortymer is Ransomed by the Percies and being much grieued with the said Proclamation and being resolued no longer to delay and to deferre the enlargement of the said Earle paid his Ransome to Owen Glendor and redeemed him at their owne cost and secretly entred into such a League of friendship and familiaritie with Owen Glendor Owen Glendor conspireth with the Percies that hee faithfully promised to sticke vnto them stoutly whensoeuer they would attempt the deposing of king Henrie And then the said Lords Percies being by reason of their Scottish prisoners assisted with a multitude of warlike Scots ioyned vnto their part the Earle of Stafford and Richard Scrope Archbishop of Yorke brother to the beheaded Earle of Salisburie and manie others who encreased their numbers with Englishmen and purposed to ioyne with Owen Glendor and his Welch Consorts in the deposing of the king against whom by way of accusation they framed certaine Articles which they published and sent them to him in writing to this effect Articles against King HENRIE 1. INprimis That when hee came into England from his Banishment he tooke an oath only to challenge and to recouer his inheritance and his wiues and not to intermedle with the King nor with the Crowne By reason of which oath diuers loyall and good Subiects to King Richard resorted vnto him not hauing anie treasonable intent But when he perceiued that his strength was so much encreased that he might doe what hee pleased hee wickedly brake his oath and without anie title or right procured himselfe to be made and to be crowned King 2 Item that not only as an Archtraitor hee had imprisoned his naturall and vndoubted Lord and Master King Richard but had caused him wickedly and traiterously to be murdered that with greater securitie hee might enioy his Crowne and his Kingdome 3 Item that euer since the death of King Richard hee had vniustly kept the Kingdome and the Crowne from his Cousin Edmund Mortimer Earle of March who was the sonne and heire of Philip the daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence elder brother to Iohn of Gaunt father to the vsurping King 4 Item that when no want or need compelled him hee had imposed diuers Subsidies and taxes vpon the people to their great griefe and discontentment of which they willingly would but dared not to complaine 5 Item that no iustice could be expected at his hand because contrarie to the oath which hee tooke when hee was crowned he had by letters written and sent into sundrie Shires procured certaine Burgeships for the Parliament all which hee bestowed vpon such as would not faile to serue his turne when opportunitie did serue 6 And lastly that whereas in honour and for affinities sake hee ought to haue ransomed and redeemed his said Cousin the Earle of March from his strait and loathsome imprisonment and the rather for that hee was earnestly solicited so to doe he not only denied the said request but falsly and vntruly published and proclaimed that the Earle himselfe was of his owne accord become a voluntarie Prisoner to the end that Traitors and Rebels ioyning with him might haue somwhat wherewith they might colour such Treasons as they would conspire against him For all which causes and manie others more The Percies doe defie the King they vtterly defied him as a Traytor and as a Vsurper and as an enemie they vowed his destruction and the restoring of the said Earle to his Right The King perceiuing that nothing but strong blowes could end this strife and being persuaded The King rayseth an Armie that if hee became victorious in this Rebellion he should bereaue all his enemies of all hope to preuaile in the like attempts had leuied a strong Armie with which hee marched couragiously against those Lords hoping to meet with them before they should joyne their forces with the Welchmen and so great was his care The battaile of Shrewsburie that he failed not therein of his purpose For both their Armies met neare vnto Shrewsburie and in their first encounter the Scots gaue a braue onset vpon the King But with such hardie violence he receiued them The Scots are ouerthrowne that almost in a moment the greatest part of them were slaine Yet notwithstanding the Lords and their Armie stoutly performed their taske and fought with such admired courage and resolution that they persuaded themselues of good successe vntill the King and the martiall Prince his sonne determining by honourable death rather to be subdued 3. 1401. The Percies are ouerthrowne than to become the laughing stocks of aduerse and froward fortune redoubled their strength and valour and by their particular examples each to the other they so renewed the fight that Sir Henrie Hotspurre and some others of the principall Leaders of those companies and manie thousands more were slaine and his vncle the Earle of Worcester was taken prisoner in the field and the rest fled And so the King with the losse of sixteene hundred of his souldiours The King himselfe slew 36. Douglas is
8 1419. Philip Duke of Burgoine the sonne and heire of the deceased Duke insomuch as that in his dumpish and melancholie passions and in the heat of his furie he once determined to seperate himselfe from the bed and companie of his guiltlesse wife onely because she was sister to the Dolphin But being more grauely aduised by his Counsellors as his sorrowes waxed faint so his affection towards her encreased strength and shee was entertained with his best loue This new Duke of Burgoine and Earle of Flanders He attempts to conclude a Peace being verie wise and politike behaued himselfe courteously and friendly to King Henrie and practised all means by which he might conclude a firme and a setled Peace betwixt the Kings of England and of France And in those his endeuours he was the more powerfull First because his wife was daughter to the said French King His means to further it Secondly because his wiues sister the Ladie Katharine who could doe all in all with Isabell the Queene her mother passionately longed to be espoused to King Henrie Thirdly for that the said Queene who by the Dolphin was depriued of all her Treasure as formerly you haue heard could not endure to heare of him nor could abide his presence Fourthly because the Dolphin was more subtile cunning craftie and reuengefull than politike wise and valiant And lastly because this late horrible and inhumane Murder made him odious and infamous yea to his owne friends This Peace being againe and againe consulted and debated on betwixt the Queene the Duke and diuers of the greatest Nobilitie in France vpon the one part and the Embassadors of King Henrie vpon the other part and being brought to some maturitie and ripenesse it was resolued That King Henrie should meete with Charles the sixt the French King Queene Isabell his wife and with the Ladie Katherine An enterview and their Nobilitie and Councell at Troys in Champaine which with all expedition hee did being accompanied with his two brothers Thomas Duke of Clarence and Humfrey Duke of Glocester and with the Earles of Warwike Salisburie Huntingdon Longeuyle Tankeruyle and Ewe and diuers other noble and great men But to preuent the worse and to foresee dangers before they happened King Henrie is guarded by his Armie A Peace is concluded The King is married and proclaymed Regent and Heire apparant of Frāce he was soundly guarded with fifteene thousand men And within few dayes after their enterview a firme Peace was proclaymed and the King with honourable solemnitie and triumphant sportings was married to the said Ladie Katherine and was published to be the onely Regent and Heire Apparant to the Crowne of France in both those Kingdomes The chiefest Articles in briefe were these The Articles on which the Peace was concluded 1. FIrst That the two Great High and Mightie Princes King Charles and Queene Isabell should be entitled the Father and the Mother of King Henrie and should be by him and by his wife honoured and respected with that reuerence which such an alliance did require 2. Item That the said King Charles during his life should hold and enioy quietly and in peace his Royall Dignitie Crowne and Reuenewes of all France And that all Writs Processes Commissions and all such like Proceedings should passe vnder his Name and Seale as King And that the said Queene Isabell if she suruiued her husband should hold and enioy during her life her Title and Estate and all such Lordships Rents and Reuenewes in France as of late were holden and enioyed by Queene Blanch sometimes the wife and Dowager of King Philip great grandfather to King Charles 3. Item That Queene Katherine should haue in England a Dower of twentie thousand markes by the yeare vnto which she should be enabled and assured with all conuenient speede 4. Item That during the life of King Charles King Henrie should not in anie wise be styled with the name and dignitie of the king of France and that the French king whilest hee liued should write him and entitle him in French thus Nostre trechier filz Henry Roy Dengleterre Heretere de France And in Latine thus praeclarissimus filius noster Henricus Rex Angliae Haeres Franciae 5. Item That after the death of King Charles the Crowne and kingdome of France should wholly and entirely come he and remaine to king Henrie and to his Heires for euer 6. Item That in regard that king Charles by reason of his manifold infirmities occasioned by much sicknesse was made vnapt and vnable to administer by his owne directions the affaires and businesses of his kingdome king Henrie should be Regent and should rule and gouerne France as he pleased for the kings honour and for the profit and commoditie of that Region and Common-weale 7. Item That the Court of Parliament of France should be kept and bee ordered in like sort and should bee supported with the same Priuiledges Customes Estate and Power as in all former times had beene vsed and accustomed 8. Item that king Henrie should carefully and faithfully doe his best endeuour to assist as well the Peeres as the people in the attayning and getting of all such things as in right and by the Lawes and Customes of that kingdome did belong vnto them and should protect and defend all the Rights Preheminencies Lawes and Possessions of the Clergie of the kingdome of France 9. Item That King Henrie should support and preserue all the subiects of France against all forraine Enemies suppresse and beat downe all intestine and in-bred Quarrels Debates Insurrections and Ciuill Warres encrease the prosperitie and peace of France and administer Iustice without partialitie vnto all sorts and degrees of people whatsoeuer 10. Item That King Henrie should place into the Roomes and Offices of Iustice and of Receits and of Gouernment such persons as shall be wise discreet faithfull and sufficient to minister and to manage those things which should be committed to their charge 11. Item That King Henrie should speedily endeuour with his best helpes to reduce the Dolphin and the Earle of Arminake late Constable of France to the obedience of King Charles and all such others as did with them rebelliously maintaine ciuill Dissentions in the Common-weale 12. Jtem That King Henrie should cause all the Peeres Nobles Gentrie Clergie Townes Cities and Burgesses of France to take a corporall Oath for their obedience to King Charles during his life And after his death to King Henrie and to his heires And to admit none other Regent or King nor to conspire any thing against his or their Persons or Estates but should reueale all mischiefes which should be contriued and practised for his or their hurt or destruction 13. Item That such Possessions as King Henrie should winne from anie person disobedient to King Charles excepting onely in Normandie should bee employed and conuerted vnto the onely vse and benefite of the French King But if the offendours doe
with his whole strength before the Towne of Vernoyle in the prouince of Perch where he falsely informed the inhabitants That at Yurye hee had fought with the Regent defeated his Armie slaine thousands Policie taken many prisoners freed that Towne and had compelled him by swift riding to prouide for the safetie of his owne life This false report soone made the Duke owner of that Towne Yury wonne and his Retreat made the Regent Lord of Yurye and as soone as sound prouisions were made to strengthen it the Regent with his whole Armie marched vnto Vernoyle where meeting with the French cowards and with diuers Scots who did assist them hee compelled them to engage their fortunes by a bloudie battaile in a pitched field The fight was cruelly maintained for the space of three houres But in the end the Englishmen The battaile of Vernoyle with the losse of one and twentie hundred of their common souldiors wonne the honour of that day and slew of their enemies fiue Earles two Vicounts one and twentie Barons and more than seuen thousand other men besides two thousand and seuen hundred Scots who were sent thither by their King But the Duke of Alanson himselfe with many Lords Knights and Gentlemen of Name The Frenchmen are ouerthrowne were taken prisoners And the Towne of Vernoyle without Assault or Batterie was surrendred into the Regents hands Vernoyle is regayned who hauing fortified it with a strong Garrison commanded by their worthie Captaine Sir Philip Hall marched to the Citie of Roan where hee was receiued with many triumphant Shewes And from thence he came to Paris where his kinde entertainment proclaymed his welcome and his honour This ouerthrow so weakened the French King that none other Prouinces or Territories but onely Burbon Aluerne Berry The English doe preuaile Poytou Towrayne part of Angeou and Languedoc could giue vnto his Royall Person anie warrant of safetie and assurance Yet least he should want the true honors belonging to a King in the Citie of Poytiers hee established his High Court of Parliament and his Chancerie The French King laboureth his owne establishment with the publike vse of his broad Scale and of all other things needfull and requisite for the due administration of his Lawes and the distribution of Iustice The Earle of Salisburie winneth many Townes The Regent taking the aduantage of his late victorie sent into the Countrey of Mayne an Armie of tenne thousand men which with great resolution were brauely conducted by the valorous and prudent Earle of Salisburie who quickly wonne the strong Citie of Mauns and the Townes of Saint Susan le Fort Saint Barnard and manie others And from thence he went into Angeou where with the Sword hee performed such and so manie wonders His name is feared that the verie Name of Salisburie became terrible in all France 1425. 4 The perfidious Earle of Richmond whome King Charles had newly made High Constable of France intending to make himselfe famous in the minoritie of his Gouernment raised an Armie of fortie thousand men which consisted of Britons French and Scots The Siege of Saint Iames. with which he besieged the strong Towne of Saint Iames in Beuyon which was defended only by six hundred Englishmen who hauing resolutely endured many sharpe assaults and hard bickerings A miraculous ouerthrow vpon a suddaine issued boldly out of the Towne and proclaymed their approach with an hideous shout of Saint George Salisburie Saint George Salisburie and fell vpon the multitude of their enemies like a storme This terrible crie and the inconsolable feare and terror which made them thinke that the Earle of Salisburie with his Armie had secretly conueyed himselfe into the Towne for their rescue so amazed and daunted the faint-hearted multitude that casting away their Armour abandoning all Order and entertaining nothing but Despaire they leapt headlong into the Riuer In which many of them were drowned more were slaine some were taken prisoners and the rest who ranne away left vnto this little handfull all their Tents foureteene Peeces of Ordnance fortie barrels of Powder three hundred Pypes of Wine two hundred Pypes of Bisket and of Flower and two hundred Peeces of Raisins and Figges fiue hundred Barrels of Herrings much Armour and manie other things A poore reuenge The New Constable intending to redeeme his honour with some better fortune recollected and furnished his Armie with which hee marched into the Countrey of Angeou where without resistance hee burnt a few of the smallest poorest and most vnworthie Villages of that Prouince This childish Seruice puft him vp with much pride and made him to imagine that he was now a warlike man though his owne Nation and all others did publikely mocke and scoffe at his grosse follie Whilest thus the Regent and his Captaines daily triumphed in France a dangerous and an vnkind jarre brake forth at home Variance betweene the Protector and his vncle the Bishop of Winchester betwixt the Protector and his vncle Henrie Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancelor of England which threatened the breach of the Peace and Tranquilitie of this Kingdome and Commonweale For the appeasing whereof the Regent hauing made the Earle of Warwike his Lieutenant Generall and hauing set his affaires and businesse in good order came into England Where in a Court of Parliament the differences betwixt them were discouered arbitrated and the quarrell ended to the great comfort and contentment of their friends In honour whereof It is appeased the King kept a solemne Feast in which the Regent dubbed the King a Knight The King is dubbed Knight The King also inuested manie of his Great subjects with the same Dignitie and created his cousin Richard sonne to Richard late Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and restored Iohn Mowbray who was Earle Marshall to his fathers Duchie of Norfolke Creation of Lords And in this meane time the Earle of Warwike approued himselfe to be a worthie Commander ouer his great charge and conquered manie things in Mayne and prepared to fight a set battaile whereunto he was challenged by the French But their threatnings were but brags and their courage fell downe into their heeles For A French bragge a little before the appointed time they basely and cowardly ranne away When all things were thus quieted at home the noble Regent being accompanied with his vncle the Bishop of Winchester returned into France And vpon the request of his brother in law 1426. 5 The Duke of Alanson is ransomed the Duke of Burgoine hee set at libertie the Duke of Alanson for the ransome of two hundred thousand crownes The most part of which money he would haue giuen backe againe A worthie Duke if the said Duke would haue sworne his homage to King Henrie which he refused to doe and did affirme That the whole world should not alienate his faith from King Charles nor his dutie from his
the Duke of Yorke what the Duke of Somerset had done whereat he was so highly displeased The Duke of Yorke maliceth the Duke of Somerset that he neuer ceased priuatly and openly to practise vntill the said Duke of Somerset deseruedly had lost his head For this insupportable and vnfortunate losse of the Dutchie of Normandie the Queene and the Duke of Suffolke were first secretly blamed by the whispering common people of this kingdome who afterwards by open slanders and with publike reprochfull speeches exclaimed and accused the said Duke of many notable trecheries and grosse treasons 1450. which chiefly consisted of these particulars Treasons obiected against the Duke of SVFFOLKE FIrst That by his wicked and vngodly meanes the Duke of Glocester was depriued both of his Protectorship and of his life 2 Item that by his appointment such Counsellors of State were placed about the King and Queene as aduised all things for their gaine and not for the profit of the Common-weale 3 Item that the Queene and the said Duke ruled the whole kingdome as they listed so that by reason thereof all things succeeded ill and hurtfull to this kingdome 4 Item that the said Duke was the meanes and occasion that the Kings right to Aquitanie and Guyan were yeelded vp which weakned and at length lost all the Duchies of Aquitanie and of Normandie 5 Item that he had maried his sonne Iohn to the Lady Margaret sole daughter and generall heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset and had reported that she was the next heire to the Crowne of England if King Henry hapned to die without issue 6 Jtem that he had perswaded the Earle of Dumoys and other great Lords and Officers of France to transport an Armie into this Realme to destroy the King and consequently to make his said sonne Iohn successor to this Crown and kingdome 7 Item that he procured the Duke of Orleance to be set at libertie for a ransome contrary to the commandement and the last Will and Testament of King Henry the fifth by whose means after wards the affaires of France were made more powerfull and fortunate then formerly they had been and King Henries forces were daily enfeebled and made more weake thereby in those Countries 8 Item that he had counselled the said Duke before his departure out of England to perswade the French King to augment and to increase his armie and to make sharper warres both in Normandie and in France against King Henry who so did by which meanes the King lost all his possessions in those Countries 9 Item that assoone as he came Ambassador into France he secretly informed King Charles of the chiefe points of his Commission and instructions by meanes whereof he grew obstinate and refused to conclude any peace 10 Item that the said Duke at his last being in France reuealed to the French king the weaknesse of King Henries prouisions to withstand him by meanes wherof the Frenchmen became more bold and hardie in those warres 11 Item that boastingly and foolishly he had reported in the presence of many noble and honourable personages that he had as high a place in the Counsell house of France as bee had in England and that by reason of his especiall interest in the French Kings loue hee could dispossesse the neerest and the greatest of the French Kings Counsellours if hee were disposed so to doe 12 Item that when men money and munitions were in a readinesse to be transported into France to aide and to assist King Henries forces there the said Duke being wickedly corrupted and being a secret friend to the kings enemies caused them to be kept at home by meanes whereof the kings armies in those Countries wanting due and necessary supplies were vanquished both in Normandie and in France 13 And lastly that by meanes of his great fauour with the Queene he had deceitfully and fraudulently enriched himselfe with the kings lands and treasures and had procured to himselfe a monopolie of all the greatest offices for his owne gaine These and many more foule and treasonable Articles were in full Parliament publikely obiected against him and laid vnto his charge all which hee faintly denied but could scarce cleare himselfe of one of them The Queens pollicie to helpe the Duke of Suffolke The Queene to preuent the Duke of Suffolkes further perill and danger because she entirely loued him caused him to be committed to the Tower where hee had libertie at his owne will and then concluding the Parliament vpon a sudden shee not onely enlarged him but restored him into high fauour with the King so that he proudly ietted and swaggered as formerly he had done The Commons are displeased A rebellion but appeased The common people repined much thereat and spake scandalously and reprochfully of the Queene and of her gouernment and some of them wickedly rebelled making a turbulent mate nick-named Blew-beard their chiefest Captaine But this insurrection was quickly nipped in the budde their ring-leaders were put to death and the rest of them receiued friendly admonition and the Kings gratious pardon The King and Queene intending to reconcile all discords and to giue some better contentment to the Commons held a Parliament at Leicester The Parliaments request But their purpose failed them for the lower house instantly importuned the King that iustice might be done vpon the Duke of Suffolke and also vpon his associating Conspirators Iames Fynes Lord Say and Lord Treasurer of England Iohn Bishop of Salisburie and vpon some others The King to pacifie this broile and to weaken their importunitie by doing of something wherewith hee thought hee should please them exiled the said Duke for fiue yeares The Duke is exiled He is taken at Sea and beheaded But as he sailed towards France he was taken by an English man of warre who landed him vpon Douer Sands and chopt off his head on a boats side And thus was the guiltlesse bloud of Humfrey the good Duke of Glocester in some measure reuenged and the rest of those delinquents were sequestred from their Offices and imprisoned by the King The Duke of Yorke intendeth to claime the Crowne His practises to further it Whilest these things were thus in handling the Duke of Yorke albeit resiant in Ireland sollicited and procured his allies friends in England by some secret plottings pretending some other ends to set on foot his claime and title to the Crowne hee being lineally descended from Philip the daughter and heire of George Duke of Clarence who was the elder brother of Iohn of Gaunt great grandfather to King Henry the sixth And first of all it was whispered priuately reported that the Kings wits were weake the Queens heart ambitious the Kings Counsellors of State not wise enough to rule and that all France Normandie and Aquitaine were lost because God blessed not the vsurped succession of King Henry Vpon these speeches too too commonly diuulged A Rebellion in Kent Iacke Cade
proceedings made him liberall offers and tenders of their seruice if he would resoluedly take vpon him the stile and title of the King which he then did He stileth himselfe King He hath a powerfull Armie And thus as a riuer by running farre is still augmented by the accesse of other brookes and streames which fall into it so King Edwards small forces still increased as he marched forwards vntill they were indeed a strong Armie The Earle of Warwicke hauing in his companie the Earle of Oxford many other Nobles and a puissant Armie came to the Citie of Warwicke and intending to giue battaile to King Edward directed and sent his letters and messengers with all speede to the Duke of Clarence certifying him of his purpose Clarence faileth Warwicke in his neede and praying him quickly to come forward with his forces and to ioine with him Yet for all this the Duke passed on with a lingring pace so that the Earle suspecting his fidelitie went with his Armie into the Citie of Couentrie and King Edward with all his Companies came before the Towne and dared the Earle into the field Warwicke keepeth close in Couentrie with all his Armie The King and his brother their Armies are made friends But because hee purposed to make some triall what the Duke of Clarence would doe he therefore kept close within the walles The King perceiuing that he would not fight bent his course towards his brother the Duke of Clarence who with his Armie did the like towards the King so that a great shew was made betwixt them that many blowes should be giuen But the Duke of Glocester being brother to them both became an earnest mediator to reconcile them each to other wherein he so well preuailed that being vnarmed they courteously met and publikely proclaimed that they and their Armies were good friends The three brothers hauing thus combined themselues Warwicke wil not be allured to loue by faire promises made triall whether they could by any faire meanes and liberall promises allure the Earle of Warwicke to their loue But he who with many curses and disgracefull speeches published the Dukes periurie in forsaking his Confederates His answere and friends returned them answere That he would rather die like himselfe then cease to make ciuill warre vntill hee had confounded them as his mortall Enemies The King who knew well enough that the Earle was as valiant as he himselfe was resolute feared not his power but wisely considered The causes why London receiued King Edward That the daily encreasing of his owne strength would be his best meanes to winne the victorie Wherefore he departed from Couentrey and marched towards London where for a time hee was kept out But when the Citizens had duly considered of the Rightfulnesse of his Title to the Crowne Of his skill and noble courage in feats of warre Of his discretion which enabled him of himselfe to rule wisely And of his puisant Armie which he then commanded And on the other side when they had meditated vpon the soft Nature of King Henrie his small reach shallow wit insufficiency to raign and of the continuall dangers which would still assault them if the Lancastrian faction were maintained They opened their gates ranne out in troupes to meet him Saluted him for their King and brought him triumphantly into the Citie Inconstant Multitude King Henrie againe is imprisoned where he seized againe vpon King Henrie and committed him to the Tower Thus may we see vpon what vnsure foundation they build who doe relie vpon the Peoples loue and that nothing is more variable and vnconstant then the Multitude who like vnto Weather-cocks are turned about with euery winde Warwicks last resolution The Earle of Warwick when hee perceiued that King Edward was gone from Couentrey followed after him with his Armie purposing to haue set vpon him before hee should haue recouered London But when hee perceiued that his intendments were preuented he resolued to set his whole fortunes vpon one Battaile For which purpose he marched fourth vntill he came to the towne of Barnet which by an equall distance of ten miles lyeth betwixt London and S. Albons there hee stayed rested and refreshed his Armie for a while The Kings resolution The King also being perswaded that nothing could better procure his future right and safetie then once more to trie his manhood in the field and taking King Henrie with him marched with his armie which by the Citie of London was frankely furnished with all things needfull vnto Barnet Barnet field and encamped him selfe neare to the Earle all that night and early in the morning the Earle of Warwick diuided his forces into three parts The right wing was commanded by his Brother the Marques Montacute whom by necessitie he was enforced to trust and by the Earle of Oxford The left wing was directed by himselfe and by the Duke of Exeter And his maine battaile was led by the Duke of Somerset and some others All these the Earle manfully encouraged The Earles encouragements to his Armie by telling them that they were to fight for their soueraigne and lawfull King for a good man and for their natiue Countrey against an Vsurper a Tyrant a mercilesse and an vngodly wretch whom neither respect of Conscience Iustice Obedience nor Honestie could reclaime and against such a one as if hee liued would be the confounder and the destroier of them all The King on his part made the Duke of Glocester chiefe leader of his Vant-guard himselfe and the Duke of Clarence ordered the Maine Battaile in which King Henry the Sixth was and the Rereward was conducted by the Lord Hastings Chamberlaine to the King What the King said by way of encouragement to his souldiers we may easily coniecture for as hee had a wit and a tongue which neuer did deceiue him so he wanted not matter nor arguments to maintaine his quarrell to be good The Fight after it was begunne was so desperately continued on either part for the space of fiue or six houres The victorie was vncertaine that no man could coniecture to whom the victorie would incline so that some of those horsemen who were lookers on and fought not gallopped amaine to the Citie of London and affirmed that King Edward was ouerthrowen But among them by and by some others posted with countermanding reports and assured the Citizens that the Earle of Warwicke had lost the Field And thus many men in few houres related what they wished for and in the meane time such as were most valiant soonest lost their liues and the best men lay breathlesse vpon the ground But when the Earle perceiued that fresh supplies continually oppressed and pressed vpon his wearied and tired friends and souldiers who would not yeeld because he could not then be safe The Earle of Warwicke is slaine So is the Mâ—rquesse his brother whâ—m King Edward loued The King hath the victorie hee
her vpon the bodie of the Ladie Katherine Aunt to the Emperour and who had sometimes beene his brother Prince Arthurs wife And from this doubt and from this scruple which before that time was not thought on infinite vexation and trouble did ensue as in this discourse it shall appeare For thereupon the Kings Confessor Doctor Longland Bishop of Lincolne and many other profound Diuines informed the King that almost twentie yeares hee had liued incestuously with the Queene and that now for his conscience sake he ought truly and heartily to repent for that great sinne and to leaue her bed The Cardinallis Ambassador for France The Cardinall who as hee thought had a long time laien lazily at home would now be gadding into France in an Ambassage to the French King the substance whereof was only knowen to the King and him And at his departure the King in the presence of all his Lords embraced him as his familiar friend He is made proud And at that time such was his great estate that passing thorow the Citie of London he was attended by twelue hundred horse And when he came to Calice hee was receiued with as much honour as by the Towne and Garrison could be presented vnto him And at Bulleine among many other deuices to magnifie his greatnesse hee was entertained with two ridiculous Pageants Two ridiculous Pageants 1. In the one of them there was a Nunne called the holy Church vnto whose person and chastitie three Spaniards and three Amaines attempted to offer violence but by a Cardinall she was rescued and deliuered from them all 2. And in the other there was represented a Pope lying on the ground and an Emperour sitting in an Imperiall Throne but a Cardinall plucked him from his seat raised the Pope and placed him therein The French king meeteth him From Bolleine as he came towards Amyens he was met vpon the way by the Prouost and the most substantiall Citizens on horsebacke and by them he was saluted and reuerenced as a King And when he came within halfe a mile of the Citie the King himselfe with his Nobles met him cheerefully embraced him and in a wonderfull and magnificent pompe conducted him to his lodging on the gates whereof was written in large and faire letters Cardinalis pacificus The peaceable Cardinall or The Cardinall of peace And at their departure the proud Cardinall would haue vouchsafed to haue brought the King to his Court but the King would not suffer him so to doe Thus Kings Nobles Times and Places conspired if it had beene possible to haue made him more proud whose heart was so haughtie that he supposed he could neuer be humbled and brought low Then daily almost for the space of three weekes together the French King his Counsell and the Cardinall with his Associates who were obscured by his greatnesse He concludes a peace as the Moone is by the direct opposition of the Sunne conferred seriously and in the end he concluded a peace betwixt the two Kings in the honour whereof and of the proud Cardinall the instrument in which the Articles of the said peace were contained was sealed with a seale purposely made of fine gold whereof he boastingly bragged the next Terme in the Starre-chamber affirming before the whole Assemblie that the peace which by him was concluded was such an absolute perfect and sound peace that it would continue in secula seculorum world without end But the people mutteringly repined thereat saying that England neuer long enioied any benefit by any peace which was concluded with the French whose propertie it was for their aduantage without cause to start aside from any thing which they had said and sworne to performe They also said that to enter into a fained league with the French King the Emperour and his friendship was abandoned and that old enemies were entertained and old friends were vnaduisedly by the Cardinals meanes cast off And therein they spake truly for by the Cardinals enticement and secret perswasions the King without good cause shewed himselfe an enemie to the Emperour and to the Flemings and vnto others of his people although the Emperour by all fitting and beseeming meanes had wooed him to obtaine and to keepe his loue By these iarres thus cunningly broached by the Cardinall in fauour of the Pope and of the French King the question touching the lawfulnesse or nullitie of the Kings mariage was smoothered for a while But not long after The mariage in question such as seemed to bee tender ouer the Kings conscience and prouident to establish the true succession of this Kingdome in a lawfull heire reuiued the scruple and therewithall so busied the Kings cogitations and thoughts that a religious sorrow began to seise vpon him And to auoid the continuance in that incestuous sinne vntill by a iudiciall sentence the doubts were cleared hee refrained from the Queenes bed And the Cardinall to make himselfe more great then he was procured a commission from the Pope to bee directed to him A power Legantine is granted and vnto his ancient brother Campeius that before them as supreme Iudges that question by legall processes and proceedings might bee heard debated on and censured according to the Lawes of God and the Lawes of man These two Legates hauing receiued this commission informed the Queene of their authoritie and power Wolsey is accused and shee in some passion accused Wolsey as the principall brocher of that doubt and the maintainer of that contention partly to bee reuenged thereby vpon her Nephew the Emperour because he would not make him Pope as secretly he had requested him and partly because often times in a most secret louing and gentle fashion shee had admonished and warned him of his couetousnesse and tyrannie of his extortions and oppressions and of his pride and lecherie But hee excused himselfe as if he had beene an honest man The Queene chooseth Counselors The King pretending nothing in this businesse but Truth sinceritie and iustice according to the Lawes of God and Man was well contented that the Queene should make choise of the greatest Clerkes and of the best learned men within his Kingdome to defend and to maintayne her cause Whereupon hee elected William Warham Archbishop of Canterburie And Nicholas West Bishop of Ely who were Doctors of the Lawes and Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Henrie Standish Bishop of Alssaph who were Doctors of Diuinitie and some others And they as occasions did require did for her asmuch therein as by wit and learning could be done Now for the prosecuting of this businesse the two Legates caused a stately Court to be erected at the Black-fryers in the great Hal In which for them were placed two Chaires and two great Cushions The King and Queene are summoned couered ouer with cloth of gold And at the appointed day the two Legates tooke their places but the Cardinal of Yorke as his custome was preferred his
their deserts The next yeare the King in Parliament was made and acknowledged to be the supreme head of the Church within all his Countries and Dominions The Supremacie of the King in all Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall things and causes and the Popes Bulles Pardons Indulgences and other Instruments of the like nature were vtterly banished frustrated made void and of none effect validitie or force concerning the King and his Subiects And likewise the First Fruits and Tenths of all Benefices and Ecclesiasticall dignities and promotions were in the same Parliament giuen and granted to the King and to his heires and successors for euer And not long after Queene Anne sometimes the Kings dearest wife was beheaded yet innocently as at her death shee religiously protested and as all men present did beleeue Queen Anne Bulleine beheaded for that it was vniustly surmised and falsly testified that she had incestuously conuersed with and prostituted her bodie to the Lord Rochford her owne brother Execution who likewise with some others receiued the like sentence and were put to death This Tragedie being thus ended The King marieth the King within twentie daies after maried a vertuous and a faire Gentlewoman whose name was Iane the daughter of Sir Iohn Seymor Knight who bare vnto him a goodly Prince named Edward who succeeded and was King But within few daies after his birth the good Queene died We haue formerly heard that Iames the Fourth King of Scots was slaine at Flodden Field And wee must now know that Queene Margaret his wife being the eldest sister of King Henry was maried afterwards vnto Archibald Douglas Earle of Angus who by her had a daughter named Margaret This Ladie the Lord Howard without the Kings notice or consent tooke to wife The Lord Th. Howard is beheaded for which vnaduised boldnesse and offence she being of the bloud royall he was condemned as a Traitor and lost his head The King who within his owne Territories and Dominions daily furthered his owne intentions to abrogate the authoritie power and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome The 32. Commissioners procured it by Parliament to be enacted that thirtie and two such persons spirituall and temporall as his Maiestie should vnder his great Seale nominate and appoint should haue authoritie and power to make and establish Lawes and Ordinances Ecclesiasticall which should binde the Subiects of this Kingdome And by the same Parliament all religious houses Petit houses of Religion suppressed whose possessions in yearly reuenue exceeded not the summe of two hundred pounds were suppressed and dissolued and all their scites and possessions whatsoeuer were giuen for euer to the King The booke of Articles The Clergie also at the same time of their owne accord and to insinuate themselues into grace and fauour with the King composed and published in printed bookes certaine Articles for the ordering and gouerning of the Church in which mention was made of three Sacraments only and the rest of them which former times superstitiously receiued and did maintaine were left out of the said bookes A rebellion in Lincolnshire These proceedings of the King and Clergie against the Pope and holy Church were so generally disliked by the rude ignorant and wilfull people that in many places their lauish tongues were witnesses of their inward griefe and discontent so that they publikely affirmed that the Kings Counsell irreligiously and absurdly aduised and directed him amisse and that the soothing smoothing and temporizing Clergie of this Land prophanely and wickedly practised by all meanes possible to extinguish all deuotion and vtterly to subuert the ancient rites ceremonies and commendable gouernment of the Church And in madde humour and franticke fashion the rude and vnrulie people in Lincolnshire to the number of 20000. assembled themselues in armes taking vpon themselues to frame and to deuise better orders for the gouerning of the Church and Common-weale The King marcheth against the Rebels The King who scorned to be thus checked by his owne Vassals and loathing to proue himselfe a coward at home seeing that forraine Nations had found him to be valiant and full of courage leuied a strong and a puissant Armie with which in his owne person he marched with princely magnanimitie against those rebellious people The Rebels petition who as he drew towards them by their petition craued a reformation of those things which lately had beene done and concluded against Religious Houses and against the former and ancient gouernment of the Church which things being consented and yeelded to they solemnly protested their humble dutie and seruice to the King The King is stout But hee who highly disdained that such plaine Swads and rusticke people should presume to giue instructions vnto him and vnto his whole Clergie and Court of Parliament in matters so farre aboue their vnderstanding and capacitie reiected their petition and resolued by an exemplarie course of iustice to be by the sword martially vsed in the open Field to punish and to correct them except one hundred of those their chiefest Conspirators might be sent and deliuered absolutely into his hands This resolution and quicke demand so appalled the fainting hearts of the rude and headlesse multitude that they suspecting each other of being to be sent vnto the King forsooke the Field The Rebels flie Captaine Cobler Execution and with all speed resorted to their owne houses But Captaine Cobler their chiefest Ring-leader being indeed Doctor Makarell with some others were shortly after apprehended and executed according to their merits and deserts The King who now supposed that all things had beene settled in a sure and in a firme peace was suddenly informed of another Insurrection in the North A rebellion in the North. and that their greeuance was grounded vpon the same points and that the number of those Rebels exceeded the number of 40000. men The holy Pilgrims who termed themselues the Holy Pilgrims who intended nothing but the establishing of true Religion and the reformation of great abuses which defaced the gouernment of the Church To encounter these men The Kings Armie and to correct their braine-sicke humour and foolish madnesse the King appointed the two Dukes of Norfolke and of Suffolke and some other Lords with a strong and well appointed Armie to march against them with all speed And the Rebels expressing much ioy because they were to fight came neere vnto the Dukes Armie and before them expressed many signes and tokens of vndaunted courage and desperate boldnesse But in the night before the two Armies intended to haue ioined together in handie strokes A strange accident a little brooke which ranne betwixt them and which with a drie foot might the day before haue beene passed ouer grew so outragiously great and violent by the fall of immoderate and continuall showres of raine that the Armies could not meet as they determined This miraculous pitie and this mercifull compassion
174 Hastings Lord. 173 Fawconbridge 173 Bardolf 174 Rich. Earle of Cambridge 180 Henry Lord Scroop 180 Sir Thomas Grey 18 Inhabitants of Cane 191 At Montz 219 Frr Periury 232 Michael de la Poole 246 Lord Scales 258 Rich. Neuil Earle of Salisbury 259 Owen Tuthar 260 Courtney Earle of Devon 260 Suffolke 244 Earle of Oxford 263 Sir Awbrey de Vere 263 Hen. D. of Somerset 265 Tayboys 265 Roos 265 Molines 265 Hungerford 265. 410 Henry Neuil 265 Wentworth 265 Tunstall 265 Sir Ralph Grey 265 Earle Riuers 271 Humfrey Lord Stafford 171 Lord Wels 273 Sir Thomas Dymock 273 Sir Robert Wells 274 Sir Henry Stafford 529 L. Hastings in the Tower 307 Earle Riuers 307 Richard Lord Grey 307 Sir Thomas Vaughan 307 Duke of Buckingham 317 393 Sir William Stanley 341 Humfrey Stafford 329 Empson 356 Dudly 356 Sir Thomas Moore 402 Fisher Bishop of Rochester 402 Queen Anne Bullen 403 and Queene Katherine Howard 410 Lord Howard for his mariage 403 Execution of Rebels 406 Marques of Exeter 406 Lord Dacres 406 Lord Hussey 406 Fryar Forest 406 Carew Sir Nich. 406 Margaret Countesse of Salisbury 407 Gerthrude Marchiones of Exeter 407 Leonard Lord Grey 410 Cromwel 410 Francis Dyrham Thomas Culpeper 410 Lady Rochford 410 Thomas Earle of Surrey 420 Exeter 349. 347 Exeter Marquesse 400 Exton Sir Nich. 142 Extortion 86 F FAlse friend 153 Famine 172. 94. 193 Fanhope 183 Fastolfe 183 Fawconbridge 165. 173 131. 164 Feast solemne 113 Ferdinando 357 Fisher wrongs the Parliament 382 Fifteenes denied 142 Fifteenes conditionall 144 Fitz-William 161. 196. 406 Fitz-Warren 192 Fitz-Water 112. 206 Flatterers 18 Flatterie 151 Flight 277 Flodden Field 161 Forgusa 206 French title 105. 178 Frenchmen in Wales 167 French faint-harted 181 French vnthankfull 414 Friar Forest 406 Funerals 178 G GArd Yeomen 327 Gascoine recouered 63 Gascoine Sir William 362 Gauelkind 3 Gaueston 86. 89. 90. 91. 92 Glendor 166. 172 Glocesters practises 299 Glocester murdred 240 Glottenry 18 Gouernment changed 290 Gough 242 Greene. 155 Grey degraded 265 Grey Sir Thomas 180 Grey Lord Richard 307 Grey Lord Leonard 407 410 Griffith 324. 362 Grobyn of Grace 118 H HAll Sir Philip 215 Hall Sir Dauid 243 Hampton Court 375 Harflew 241 Harkley 98 Harold 1. 2 Hartford Earle 406 415 Hastings 173. 307 Hastings Lord. 305 Hastings Earles of Huntington 385 Henalt reuolteth 156 Henry Hotspurre 167. 169 Henry Fitz-Roy 400 Herbert Earle of Pembroke 270 Herbert Lord. 392 Herings 221 Holland Sir Thomas 117 153. 164. 181 Holland Sir Iohn Holy Land 45. 77. 108. 174. 141. 153. 164. 189 Holy Pilgrims 405 Hongerford 222. 265 Hostages 3. 73. 130. 390 Howard Sir Edw. 358 359 Howard Sir Tho. Earle of Surrey 360. 361. 394. He dieth 400 Howard Lord executed for marying c. 403 Hunters 5. 6. 16 Hunting 5 I IAcke Cade 247 Iane Countesse of Henalt 109. 111 Iaques Dartuell 110. 114 115 Ierningham 396. 397 Ierusalem 17. 47 Iest 284 Iewels 90 Images defaced 406 Iohn of Gaunt 132. 150 Ingratitude 14. 44 Insanum Parliamentū 66 Interdiction 55. 58 Inuesture of Bishop 22. 23 Ireland conquered 36. rebelleth 407. King of Ireland 410 Iudges followed the Court. 5 Iudges and Iustices 355 Iudges banished 150 K KEntishmen 3 Holy maid of Kent 402 King Henry the Eighth stout 404 Keryell 232. 242 King Knighted 217 King Richard the Second called to a reckoning 143 King of Castile entertained 352 King of Ireland 410 Knights Fees 6 Knowles 132. 166 Knyuet Sir Thomas 358 L LAmbert 324 Landoys 289. 317 Langton 54 Lanfrank 9 Laterane 58 Lawes seuere 4 Lawes mitigated 18 Lawes restored 18. 63 Lawes against robbers 18 Lawes refined 34 Lawrence 363 League broken 64. 213 Legates 38 41. 55 Lewknor 283 Liberalitie 18. 45. 121 128. 186. 288 Little Iohn 50 Lluellen 80 Lomley 406 London against Mauld the Empresse 29 London with the Barons 70. 149 Londoners submit themselues 75 London should haue been burnt 74 A rebellion in London 71. 76 Londons liberties restored 85 London pleaseth the Rebels 138 Londons Armes 140 Constables of London 71 London receiues King Edward the Fourth 280 London 84. 140. 148. 180 Londoners graced by king Edward the Fourth 297 Londons Maior 59 London bridge 59 Longchampe 46. 47. 48 Louell Lord. 329 331 Luther 393 Lion Richard 138 M MAgistrates ouer Priests 28. 38 Magna Charta 63 Malcolme slaine 11 Manners Earle of Rutland 400 Manors 5 Manny Sir Walter 124 Marchants 353. vexed 401. 414 Marchant strangers 34 251. 389. 489 Marquesse Dorset 357 Mariages of Wards 63 Mariage of K. Henry the Seuenth 327 Mariage of K. Edward the Fourth 267 Mariage of Prince Arthur 350 King Henry the Eighth his widow 355 Mariage with Scotland 351 Mariage with Anne of Cleue 404 Mariage with Lewys the 12. of France 364 Mariage with Scotland broken off 415 Mart in Flanders 125 340. 346 Marney Sir Henrie 392 Martiall feats 103 Martin Sward 331 Mary Rose drowned 418 Mauld marieth Plantagenet 24 Mauld the Empresse 19 23. 24. 29 Measures 18 Mercie 44 Metham 362 Miracle 405 Michael de la Pole 142 144 Molynes 181. 265 Money scarce 108 Money borrowed 109 Morbeck 127 Morgan 324 Morley Lord. 392 Morleys taken and burnt 393 Morton 332. 311. 315. 317. 331 Mortimer Sir Roger. 71 103 Mortimer beheaded 105 Mortimer proclaimed 141 Mortmaine 82 Mountague or Mountacute 216. 220 216 265. 266 Mountford 72 Mountioy 398 Murders of Becket 41 Edward the second pag. 101. 105 Iaques Dartwell 114 Richard the second pag. 160 Ho. D. of Glocester 240 158 Lord Scales 258 Archbishop of Canterburie 139 Iohn Duke of Burgoine 199 Henry the sixth pag. 283 George Duke of Clarence 290. 295 Lord Wenlock 295 Prince Edward 293 Edward the fift and Richard Duke of Yorke 312 Rutland 281 Murder by the Lord Darcy 406 Murder reuenged 307 318. 328 Musgraue William 412 N NAuarre taken 357 Neck broken 8. 81 Neuill Sir Iohn 260 New Forrest 5 Nobles created 152 240. 363. 267. 327. 385 400. 406 Nobilitie despised 142 Nobilitie wasted 497 Mowbray 242 Normandy 53. 68. 117 Normandy lost 53. wonne 168. lost 238 Normauile 363 Northfolk Duke High Steward 392 Notes especiall 293 Nicenesse banished 18 O Oath to the succession and of fidelitie 24 56. 69 Oath to obserue c 24 Oath broken 27. 145. 279 34 Oath of the Scots 86 Oath touching Gaveston 89 Obstinacie 41 Odo 10 Officers examined in Parliament 144 Officers euill 133 Officers displaced 144 170 Opinion of the Vniuersities 386. 389 Ouerthrowes of Harold 2 Rebels 6. 7. 273 Scots 11. 83. 171 Welshmen 11. 12 13 Robert Mowbray 13 Barons 20. 96 Prince Edwnrd 71 King Stephen 29 Fifteene thousand Genowayes 119 French 58. 371. 120. 187 King Edward 2 pag 93 94 Percies 171 English 206. 222. 242 Miraculous 216 King H. 6. pag. 250. 257 266. 280 Duke of Yorke 259 Iames the fourth King of Scots 362 Frenchmen 418 Owen Glendor 166. famished 172 Owen Tuthar 260 Earle of Oxford 133 Duke of Burgundie thrice
and Robert Tresilian the chiefe Iustice was hanged at Tiborne and the rest of those Iudges had beene hanged in like sort Execution if vpon the importunate and vncessant request of the Queene their liues had not beene redeemed by their banishment Banishment And thus were the threatnings of ciuil wars conuerted into some assurance of prosperitie and of peace ANNO. 12 The Scots do inuade But the next yeare following the Scots inuaded this realme and did much harme against whom great preparations were made by the King who resolued to recompence his owne damage by iust and seuere reuenge A Truce betwixt England France and Scotland for seuen yeares ANNO. 13 Iohn of Gant goeth with an Armie into Spaine But the wisdome and discretion of manie great Estates were such that a Truce was concluded to endure for three yeares betwixt England France and Scotland which shortly after was enlarged for foure yeares more So that now all matters betwixt those three Kingdomes and their Kings being blessed with tranquilitie and with peace the Kings fourth Vncle Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster was suffered by the King to leuie a strong Armie which hee transported into Spaine where he demanded his right to the Kingdome of Castile in the behalfe of Constance his wife who was the eldest daughter of Peter the deposed and slaine king ANNO. 14 How his bran attempts succeeded there His two Daughters are married to the Kings of Spaine and of Portingall In those Warres the Duke and his Armie performed manie honourable seruices and with the assistance of the king of Portugale so preuailed that to conclude a sued for peace the king of Spaine married with Constance the Dukes eldest daughter by his said wife and gaue vnto him eight Waggons loaden with massie Gold and secured him and his wife of the yearely payment of ten thousand Markes during both their liues And then the Duke went into Portugale where he married Anne his yonger daughter to the king of that Countrie and then returned into England with great riches and much honour ANNO. 16 Lawes against the Popes vsurped Authoritie This time of peace betwixt England other nations bred some quarrelling betwixt the king and the Pope who vsurped too too much authoritie and iurisdiction within this Realme Wherefore to preuent such mischiefes as this intolerable sufferance mght beget in a Parliament vpon graue and great aduise it was enacted That the Popes pretended authoritie within this kingdom should cease and be determined and that no appeale for anie matter or cause whatsoeuer should from thenceforth bee made to the See of Rome vpon the penaltie of a premunire which did extend to perpetuall imprisonment and to the forfeiture of the Lands and goods of such as contrarie to that law presumed to offend ANNO. 17 In the seuenteenth yeare of king Richards Raigne his faire and vertuous Queene Anne died ANNO. 19 And about two yeares after the king married the Ladie Isabel daughter to the French king Charles the sixth By reason whereof a peace was concluded betwixt those two kings King Richard marrieth the French kings daughter A Peace for thirtie yeares Brest is yeelded vp The Duke of Glocester reprooues the King for it The death of the Duke of Glocester the Kings Vncle is plotted A Machauillian pollicie Ambition makes euill Princes confident that their Vertues doe deserue much The King intendeth the destruction of his Barrons being gulled with an vntrue report Certaine Lords surprised A ParliameÌ„t A grosse flâ—ttering Speaker The Archbishop of Canterburie is accused of Treason How the king wronged the Archbishop to endure for thirtie yeares And king Richard being too kind but too little aduised of his owne accord and free will surrendred and gaue vp to the Duke of Brittaine the strong Towne and Castle of Brest which verie much grieued and discontented his Nobilitie especially his Vncle Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester who told him plainly that it was not conuenient that without blowes with the said Duke of Brittaine hee should haue departed with that strong Towne and Castle which his ancestors had wonne with the expence of much bloud Whereat the king was so much displeased that in his heart hee causelessely vowed seuere reuenge and in this his hastie passion he was abused and furthered by such of his Fauourites as enuied the estate the vertues and honour of the Duke causing strangers to informe the king flateringly and malitiously that diuers of the Princes Electors intended to haue made him Emperor had not some others of them gainsaid it and alleadged that he was altogether vnfit to gouerne the dispersed Segniorieâ— and Dominions of the Empire who could not rule and command his owne subiects at home The greedie desire which king Richard had to bee magnified and made great by being dignified with the name and power of the Empire and his strong reliance vpon the vntrue report which was suggested vnto him by such as only endeuoured to whet his anger against his Lords armed him with subtletie and with a heartie desire to circumuent his Barons though it were done with the breach of his oath and with the shipwracke of his honour So that pretending much loue and fauour towards them but especially to the Duke of Glocester his Vncle and to the two Earles of Arondell and Warwicke hee caused them to be apprehended when as they imagined they had least cause to feare And hauing so done he assembled his High Court of Parliament In which his basest and his grossest flatterer the speaker of the Lower House named Sir Iohn Bush who was a man of a most proud insolent and aspiring spirit irreligiously profanely and dishonestly in a formall and in a tedious speech attributed vnto the King the highest titles of diuine honour and therefore condemned almost to Hell all such as traiterously had conspired against his Maiestie Among whom hee particularly impeached Thomas Lord Archbishop of Canterburie sitting next vnto the King who made no answere at all thereto because the King himselfe vnder pretence of more then ordinarie loue and fauour had priuatly enioyned him vnto silence and vnto future absence from that Assembly promising and protesting that nothing should be attempted or done against him by anie meanes Yet notwithstanding for want of his presence and of his answere to the said vntrue obiections he was with the Kings consent banished this Realme He is banished Warwicke and Arundell are condemned as Traytors Arundell is beheaded Salisburie is banished and dieth miserably The Duke of Glocester murdered at Callice by Thomas Mowbray Earle of Notingham A weake parliament to grant such an vnreasonable Commission And the two Earles of Arundell and of Warwicke were also condemned of High Treason and shortly after the former of those two lost his head And so had Thomas Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke if by his humble confession of thinges vntrue and vpon his great submission steeped in teares and much