to palliat a wrong did but the more discouer it Within 5 daies after was he crowned at West by Walter Archbishop of Canterbury at which solemnity the Q. made shew of great sorrow hevinesse but being after pacified by the inlargement of her Ioynture which tooke vp three parts of the Kings revenewes she beganne to be of better cheere Twelue especiall The Queene hath her ioynture inlarged Twelue especiall men chosen for the government men are here appointed to manage the affaires of the Kingdome till the King were of fit yeeres to governe of himselfe the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and Yorke the Bishops of Winchester Hereford and Worcester Thomas Brotherton Earle Mareschall Edmond Earle of Kent Iohn Earle Warrein Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Percie Oliver Lord Ingham and Iohn Lord Rose but the Queene and Roger Lord Mortimer vsurped this charge and tooke all tooke all wholy to themselues And to busie the present and An expedition into Scotland vphold this Change an expedition instantly is vndertaken for Scotland wherein those strangers still retained which the Queene brought over with her are imployed vnder the conduct of the Lord Iohn Beaumont brother to the Earle of Haynault and at Yorke the whole Army were to meete where the English being not all of a party quarrell with those strangers and so great a conflict arose betweene them as cost some bloud and was hardly appeased an ill presage of that iourney At Stanhop Parke the English Army incounter the Scottish and though the English were thrice greater and might easily haue vanquished them yet by the treason of some great men as it was bruited they escaped all away and nothing was done so The Scots retyre from Stanhope Parke â—â— nothing done that the yong King borne for victories was deprived the honour of his first action which yet being not conducted by his own Spirit was held more dishonorable to others then to him Vpon their returne all the Hannowayes and Stipendaries are sent home into their own Countries During this businesse the deposed King remaines prisoner at Killingworth with the allowance of 100 markes a month for his expences deprived of all those comforts the world should yeeld him His wife whom he loved though now the author of all his misery sends vnto him letters and apparell but excuses her comming as being not permitted by the State Neither was he thought safe enough where hee was nor so straitly lookt unto as they desired to haue him being in the custody of his Vnckle the Earle of Lancaster And therefore they commit him to other guardians and men of the most rough Natures could be found the Lord Matrevers and Thomas Borrney who from thence removed him to the Castle of Berckley in Glocestershire where long hee The miserable estate of the imprisoned King staid not but was conveyed to Corfe Castle and thence to other places vp and downe to beguile and disappoint his friends by the vncertainety of his being if any plot were laid which they doubted to restore him Besides to disguise him the more and that hee might not be easily knowne they shaue his Head and Beard which as a servant of his Sir Thomas de la More a Knight of Glocestershire reports who wrote his life was done in the open fields by the commandement of Gourney who most barbarously caused the miserable King to sit on a Mole-hill whilst the Barbor shaved him and to take cold water out of a ditch to wash him withall which the patient King saith this Reporter seeing told them That yet in despight of them he would haue warms water at his Barbing and therewithall shed aboundance of teares Other vile reproches this savage Iaylor put vpon his annointed Soveraigne as here-conveyed him backe to Berckley He is murthered at Berkley Castle Castle where shortly after he and Matrevers caused him to be murthered in a most hideous manner by thrusting vp a hot Iron into his bowels thorow an hollow instrument whereby no outward Note might appeare to bewray how hee came by his death For the body being after laid forth and vewed by many substantiall Citizens of Bristoll and Glocester called thither for that purpose they could finde no signe either of wound or poyson so that their Evidence confirmed the report that was given out how he died of extreme greife This was the end of Edward the 2 within eight months after his deposing The deed-doers Matrevers and Gourney though they had commission and great hopes giuen them to do as they did yet being by those who were ashamed to avow it they durst not abide the triall but as Fugitiues fled presently their Countrey Gourney three yeeres after was taken at Merseilles and murthered on the Sea before he came to England that hee might tell no tales who set him on work But this was not all the bloud this deed cost the iudgement of God fell heavily not onely vpon the great contrivers but even vpon the whole Kingdome and what the yssue of this present Prince whose throne though without his guilt was thus set vp on his fathers bloud sustained in after times the many imbrued Scaffolds the divers bloudy fields the infinite slaughters in the civill discord of their divided families which the consumed race of the most part of all this present Nobility will testifie But now for the present the authors of this change vse all meanes to increase and fortifie their owne fortunes whilst the State in generall receiues no great satisfaction thereby Mens expectations are not answered in that manner as they were conceived The Queene mother and her Minion Mortimer lately created Earle of the Marches of Wales guide all and all that is not well done or amisse in the Governement is now attributed to them and their councell So that discontentments in gender new Factions according to the Nature of turbulent times The Kings marriage with Phillippa of Haynault is solemnized and a Parlement is 1328. Anno. Reg. 2. held at Northampton where a dishonourable peace is concluded with the Scots and confirmed by a match between David Bruce Prince of Scotland sonne to Robert Bruce and Ioane sister to the King of England which match by reason of the tender age of the Prince being but seven yeare old could promise little good Besides by the secret working of the Queene Mother the Earle of March and Sir Iames Douglasse The King surrenders by his Charter his Title of Soveraignety to the Kingdome of Scotland A Parlement at North. restores divers Deeds and instruments of their former Homages and Fealties with the famous Euidence called the Ragman Roole and many ancient Iewels and Monuments among st which was the Blacke Crosse of Scotland c. Moreover any Englishman is prohibited to hold Lands in Scotland vnlesse he dwelt there In consideration whereof King Bruce was to pay 30 thousand Markes Shortly after another Parlement is held at Winchester A dishonorable peace made with Scotl. where
though with much valour leauing behinde him but the fame of a Rebell after hee had serued the English about six yeares King Edward shortly after these supplyes sent into Brittaine goes himselfe in person with more and lying before Vannes lately recouered by the French Iohn Duke of Normandy eldest sonne to the French King sent to ayde Charles de Bloys with an Army of forty thousand came to giue him battaile and being vpon the point of incounter a mediation of truce is made by two Cardinalls sent from Pope Clement the fixt and concluded for three yeares vpon many conditions with a reference to the Pope and the Court of Rome to heare and examine the differences betwixt the two kingdoms but not to determine them without the consent of both Kings This pause againe giues them more time to worke for greater woundes and nothing is left vnpractised that might aduance the same And though the people now seemed to put off their Armour they left not off armes but had diuerse bickrings both in Brittaine and Gascony for which either side accused other King Edward returning makes an expeditiō into Scotland against K. Dauid whom he chased into the Ilands And here the Isle of Man is conquered by William Montacut Earle of Salisbury whom king Edward caused to be stiled King thereof and returning backe solemne Turneaments are held at Dunstable where hee is attended with 230. Knights For now all the pastime and exercise in England were Iustes and Turneaments held in Smithfield Winsor and other places A society of Knights of the Round table in imitation of King Arthur is designed a magnificent Chamber of 200. foot round erected for the same at Winsor and to this society many strangers of other Coūtries are allured The French K. also practises the like martial association in France Reg. 17 An. 1343. And about this time began the order of the Garter instituted at Winsor vpon a solemne feast there celebrated which held for many dayes and serued that time as an The institutio of the Order of the Garter Embleme of a tye and combinement in honour of such as were admitted thereunto which was the end of the constitution thereof Howsoeuer the Garter of the Countesse of Salisbury taken vp by the King in dancing with her was saide to haue beene the occasion But it were some derogation to that noble institution to impute the originall thereof to an act of Leuitie seeing with what a graue and religious ceremony it is performed Although we see oftentimes accidents of little consequence giue beginnings to things of great estimation which time makes venerable But besides these exercises of Armes this great and prouident King during this truce takes especiall care for the Gouernment of the Kingdome and reformation of the abuses thereof which daily grow as diseases in full bodies and must of necessity haue sometimes their cure otherwise there will be no health in a State A Parliament is called at Westminster wherein vpon the grieuons complaint exhibited by the Earles The Nobility write to the Pope concerning his collation of Benifices in England Barons Knights and Burgesses against the collation of Benifices on strangers a letter was sent to Pope Clement 6. in humble manner beseeching him to consider how inconuenient and derogatory it was to the state of the Kingdome of England that such reseruations prouisions and collations of Benifices as had beene formerly vsed should in such sort be continued For that the Churches of England had in times past bene indowed by noble and worthy persons to the end the people might be instructed by such as were of their owne language and how by the vsurpation of some of his Predicessors strangers and sometimes enemies to the Realme were preferred to many of them whereby the money and profits were transported the Cures vnfurnished almes and Hospitality vnused the edifices ruinated the charity and deuotion of the people deminished and many other grieuous inormities contrary to the will of the Founders occasioned which they could not suffer any longer and therefore besought his Holinesse wholly to reuoke such reseruations prouisions and collations that meete and natiue persons might exercise those Cures and without delay to signifie his intention therein otherwise they meant to imploy their dilligence that remedy and redresse might be had according to reason The date of these Letters was in full Parliament at Westminister the 28. of May 1343 with which were like wise sent the Kings letters to the same effect by Sir Iohn Shordich a graue person and of great vnderstanding in the Law whose message made Sir Iohn Shordich sent with these Letters him so vnwelcome to that Court as hee departed without leaue or answer which though the Pope afterward sent yet the King proceeded to the prohibition of all such prouisions collations within his Realme on paine of imprisonment or death to whom soeuer should in time to come present or admit any such person or persons who by the Pope were so preferred to the preiudice of the Kings royall prerogatiue And to this effect were Writs directed to all Arch-bishops Bishops others to whom it appertained inhibiting them in no wise to attempt any thing preiudial to this ordinance Here is the Arch-bishop Stratford with much adoe vpon his submission reconciled The Arch-bishop of Canterbury reconciled to the Kings fauour And much debating there is in this Parliament concerning Wools and the asseasement of certaine prices vpon the same more or lesse according to the seuerall parts of the Realme and concerning customes to be imposed on them as at three Markes and a halfe vpon the transportation of euery sacke but it seemes nothing was done in this businesse Ptince Edward about the age of 13 is created Prince of Wales and Commissioners Prince Edward created Prince of Wales are appointed to be sent to the Pope to treate of Peace betweene the two Kings according to the Articles concluded in the truce which were Iohn Bishop of Excester Henry de Lancaster Earle of Derby Hughle Dispensier Lord of Glamorgan Cousins to the King Rauph Lord Stafford with others The next yeare after another Parliament or the same proroged is held at London Reg. 18. An. 1344. wherin after much altercation a tenth was granted by the Clergie and a fifteenth by the Laytie for one yeate and a certaine Coyne of gold called the Floren of base alloy which had beene for the warres in Fraunce is decryed and Nobles of finer coyned to A Parliament the great liking of the subiects And for their better commodity the exchange of moneys at London Canterbury and Yorke is ordained Shortly after generall Musters are taken throughout the Kingdom and Certificate made of all sufficient and able Bowmen Generall musters and appointing of Armor and of all others fit to beare Armes Besides a Commission is sent into euery countrey to inquire of mens abilities and all of fiue pounds to teu
of his mother Maude who was daughter to Waltheof Earle of Huntingdon and of Iudith Neece to William the first by whose guift hee had that Earledome and was the sonne of Syward Earle of Northumberland And for this the Prince of Scotland tooke his Oath of fealty to King Stephen which the father refused to doe as hauing first sworne to Maude the Empresse Though otherwise hee might bee indifferent in respect that Stephen had married likewise his Neece which was Maude daughter to the Earle of Bologne and of Mary Sister to this King Dauid who by this meane was Vncle both to Maude the Queene and Maude the Empresse The King returning from this voyage found some defection of his Nobilitie which presently put him into another action that intertayned him sometime After which hee falls daungerously sicke in so much as hee was noysed to bee dead by which sickenesse hee lost more then his health For his friends put in daunger thereby cast to seeke another partie to beare them vp it wakended Aniou and sets him on to surprize certaine peeces in Normandie to prepare for the recouerie of his wiues right and made all this Kingdome wauer Thus was his first yeare spent which shewed how the rest of eighteene would proue wherein wee are to haue no other representations But of reuolts beseeging of Castles surprizings recouerings loosings againe with great spoyles and destruction in briefe a most miserable face of a distracted State that can yeeld vs no other notes of instruction but such as are generall in all times of like disposition and therefore herein wee may the better forbeate the rehersall of manie particulars being all vnder one head of action and like Nature The King hauing recouered would make the world know he was aliue and presently 1137. Anno. Reg. 2. passes with forces into Normandie ouercame the Earle of Aniou in battaile after makes peace with him and vpon renouncing of the claime of Maude couenants to giue them 5000. markes per annum he intertaines amitie with King Louys the seuenth and causes his sonne Eustace to doe him homage for the Dutchy of Normandie wherein he was inuested besides to content his elder brother Theobald Earle of Blois hee giues him a pension of 2000 markes and so returnes againe into England to a warre against Scotland which in the meane time made incursions on this Kingdome where Robert Earle of Glocester the naturall sonne of Henry the first whilst he was held busie in worke Robert Earle of Glocester base sonne to Henry the first a man of high spirit great direction and indefatigable industry an especiall actor that performed the greatest part in these times for his sister Maude had surprized the Castle of Bristow and procured confederates to make good other peeces abroad in diuers parts as William Talbot the Castle of Hereford Paynel the Castle of Ludlow Louell that of Cary Moone the Castle of Dunstor Robert de Nichol that of Warham Eustace Fitz Iohn that of Walton and William Fitz Allan the Castle of Shrewsbury Stephen leaues the prosecution of the Scottish warres to Thurstan Archbishop of Yorke whom hee made his Lieutenant and furnished with many valiant leaders as Walter Earle of Albemarle William Peuerell of Nottingham Walter and Gilbert Lacies Himselfe brauely attended bends all his power to represse the conspirators which King Stephen represses the conspirators hee did in one expedition recouers all the Castles by reason of their distances not able to succour one another and draue the Earle of Glocester home to his sister into Aniou No lesse successe had his forces in the North against the Scots whom in a great battaile He defeited the Scots they discomfeited and put to flight which great fortunes meeting together in one yeare broughter foorth occasion of bad in that following for now presuming 1138. Anno. Reg. 3. more of himselfe he fell vpon those rockes that rent all his greatnesse He calls a Councell at Oxford where occasion was giuen to put him out with the Clergie that had onely set him into the State The Bishops vpon the permission of building Castles so out-went the Lords in magnificence strength and number of their erections and especially the Bishop of Salisbury that their greatnesse was much maligned by them putting the King in head that all these great Castles especially of Salisbury the Vies Shirburne Malmsbury and Newarke were onely to intertaine the partie of Maude whereupon the King whose feares were apt to take fire sends for the Bishop of Salisbury most suspected to Oxford The Bishop as if foreseeing the mischiefe comming to him would gladly haue put off this iourney and excused it by the debilitie of 1140. Anno. Reg. 5. his age but it would not serue his turne thither he comes where his seruants about the taking vp of lodgings quarrell with the seruants of the Earle of Brittaine and from words fall to blowes so that in the bickering one of them was slaine and the Nephew of the Earle dangerously wounded Whereupon the King sends for the Bishop to satisfie his Court for the breach of peace made by his seruants The satisfaction required was the yeelding vp the keyes of his Castles as pledges of his fealtie but that being stood vpon the Bishop with his Nephew Alexander Bishop of Lincolne were restrayned of their libertie and shortly after sent as prisoners to the Castle of the Deuises The King feizes vpon the Bishops Castles and Treasure whither the Bishop of Eley another of his Nephewes had retired himselfe before The King seizes into his hands his Castles of Salisbury Shyrburne Malmesbury and after three daies assault the Deuises was likewise rendred besides he tooke all his Treasure which amounted to forty thousand markes This action being of an extraordinary straine gaue much occasion of rumor some said The King had done well in seizing vpon these Castles it being vnfit and against the Cannons of the Church that they who were men of religion and peace should raise fortresses for warre and in that sort as might bee preiudiciall to the King Against this was the Bishop of The Popes Legat a Bishop takes part with Bishops against the King his brother Malmsburie Winchester the Popes Legat taking rather the part of his function then that of a brother saying That if the Bishops had transgressed it was not the King but the Cannons that must iudge it that they ought not to bee depriued of their possessions without a publique Ecclesiasticall Counsell that the King had not done it out of the zeale of iustice but for his owne benefit taking away that which had beene built vpon the Lands and by the charge of the Church to put it into the hands of Lay men little affected to religion And therefore to the end the power of the Cannons might bee examined hee appoints a Counsell to bee called at Winchester whither the King is summoned and thither repaire most of all the Bishops of the
of Power that the Kingdome may not miscarie for want of a Ruler I haue called you all hither by the power of my Legation Yesterday the cause was mooued in secret to the greatest part of the Clergie to whom the right appertaines to elect and ordaine a Prince And therefore after hauing inuoked as it is meete the Diuine aide Wee elect for Queene of England the daughter of the peacefull glorious rich good and in our time the incomparable King and to her wee promise our faith and allegiance When all who were present either modestly gaue their voyce or by their silence contradicted it the Legat addes The Londoners who are in respect of the greatnesse of their City as among the optimacie of England we haue by our messengers summoned and I trust they will not stay beyond this day tomorrow we will expect them The Londoners came were brought into the Councell shewed How they were sent from the Communaltie of London not to bring contention but prayer that the King their Lord might be freed from captiuitie and the same did all the Barons receiued within their Liberties earnestly beseech of my Lord Legate and all the Clergie there present The Legat answeres them at large and loftily according to his speech the day before and added That the Londoners who were held in that degree in England ought not to take their parts who had forsaken their Lord in the warre by whose Councell the Church had beene dishonoured and who fauoured the Londoners but for their owne gaine Then stands there vp a Chaplaine to Queene Maude wife to Stephen and deliuers a letter to the Legat which he silently read and then said allowd that it was not lawfull in the assembly of so many reuerend and religious persons the same should be publikely read containing matter retrehensible The Chapline not to faile in his message boldly reades the Letter himselfe which was to this effect That the Queene earnestly intreates all the Clergie there assembled and namely the Bishop of Winchester the brother of her Lord to restore him vnto the Kingdome whom wicked men which were also his subiects held prisoner To this the Legat answeres as to the Londoners and shortly after the Councel brake vp wherein many of the Kings part were excommunicated namely William Martell an especiall man about the King who had much displeased the Legat. Hereupon a great part of England willingly accepted of Maude in whose businesses her brother Robert imployes all his diligence and best care reforming Iustice restoring the Lawes of England promising releeuements and whatsoeuer might be to winne the people the Legat seconding all his courses But now shee being at the point of obtayning the whole Kingdome all came sodainly dasht by her ouer-hautie and proud carriage and by the practise of the Londoners who adhering to the other side began openly to inueigh against her who had displeased them and they had plotted to surprize her in their Citie whereof she hauing notice secretly withdrawes herselfe accompained with her Vncle Dauid King of Scots who was come to visit her and her brother Robert vnto Oxford a place of more The Legat leaues the Empresse securitie The Leagat himselfe takes or makes an occasion to bee slacke in her cause vpon her denying him a sute for his Nephew Eustaee the sonne of Stephen about the inheritance of his Earledome of Mortaine in Normandie Besides the Queene regnant watchfull ouer all oportunities found meanes to parle with the Legar Sets vpon him with her teares intreatie promises and assurance for the Kings reformation in so much as shee Is intreated with teares by the Queene regnant recalled him to the affections of Nature brought him about againe to absolue such of the Kings part as he had lately excommunicated The Earle of Glocester seeing this sodaine and strange relaps of their affaires striues by all meanes to hold vp Opinion and re-quicken the Legats dispofition which to keepe sound was all He brings the Empresse to Winchester setles her and her guard in the Castle where she desires to speake with the Legat who first delayes then denies The Empresse besieged at Oxford the Earle of Glocester taken prisoner to come Whereupon they call their best friends about them Queene Maude and the Lords incompasse the Towne and cut off all victuall from the Empresse so that in the end the Earle of Glocester wrought meanes to haue her conueyd from thence to the Vies but himselfe was taken and in him most of her This sets the sides both euen againe into the Lists of ther triall the two prisoners are to redeeme each other The disproportion of the quality betweene them shewed yet there was an euennesse of power and the Earle would not consent to the Kings deliuery who onely in that was to haue the precedence but vpon most secure cautions The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Legate vndertooke to yeeld themselues prisoners for him if the King released him not according to his promise But that would not serue the turne till they both had written their Briefes to the Pope to intimate the course that was taken herein and deliuered the same vnto him vnder their hands and seales So that if the King should as he might not care to hold the Bishops in prison yet the Pope if hard measure were offred might releeue them Which shewes the aduantage of credit in the businesse lay on this side and the King was to haue his fetters though at liberty The Queene and Eustace her sonne the Prince vpon the inlargement of Stephen 1142. Anno. Reg. 7. remaine pledges in the Castle of Bristow till the Earle were released which was done vpon the Kings comming to Winchester Where the Earle in familiar conference was by all art possible solicited to forsake the partie of Maude with promise of all preferments of honour and estate but nothing could mooue him being fixt to his courses and rather would hee haue beene content to remaine a perpetuall prisoner then that Stephen should haue beene released had not his sister wrought him to this conclusion The Legat after this calls a Councell at London where the Popes letters written vnto him are openly read which argue him but mildly of some neglect of his brothers Vide Append. releasing and exhort him to vse all meanes Ecclesiasticall and Secular to set him at libertie The King himselfe came into the councell complaines How his subiects to whom King Stephens complaint hee had neuer denied Iustice had taken him and reproachfully afflicted him euen to death The Legate with great eloquence labours to excuse his owne courses alledging How hee receiued not the Empresse by his will but necessitie that presently vpon the Kings ouerthrow whilest the Lords were either fled or stood in suspence attending the euent shee and her people came thundring to the walles of Winchester and that what pact soeuer hee had made with her for the right of the Church shee
before yet within their owne circle they held their owne iurisdiction and immunities and had since both by the Law ciuill warres and the occasion of forraine affaires much inlarged them So that any restriction or diminution of the powre they had could not but touch vaines that were very sensible in that part especially by reason of the vniuersall participation of the Spirit that fed them and therefore could not bee but a businesse of much trouble The King conuokes a Councell at Westminster and there first propounds to haue A Parliament at Westminster it enacted That all such of the Clergie as should bee taken and conuicted for any heinous offence should loose the priuiledge of the Church and bee deliuered to the ciuill Magestrate to be punished 1163. Anno. Reg. 9. for their offences as other the Kings subiects were For if after Spirituall punishment no secular correction should bee vsed there would bee no sufficient meanes to restraine them from doing mischiefe seeing it was not likely such men would much care for their degrading and losse of Order whom the Conscience of their calling did not hold in awe The Archbishop and his suffragans with the rest of the Bishops shewed the King how they were not to yeeld to any such Act being against the liberties of the Church which himselfe had sworne to defend and maintaine and therefore humbly besought him that hee would not vrge auything to the preiudice of their iurisdiction and such immunities as they had hitherto enioyed both vnder him and his Noble Progenitors The King not liking this aunswere demaunds Whether they would submit themselues to the Lawes and Customes which the Archbishops and Bishops in the time of his grandfather Henry the first did obserue they answered they would their Order the honour of God and holy Church in all things saued with which reseruation the King grew more displeased the Parliament brake vp and nothing effected at that time for hee saw the Bishops fast to themselues and the more by the animation of the Archbishop of Canterbury whom hee thought in regard of all those his graces bestowed on him to haue found more yeelding to his courses and therefore his indignation was most against him and because hee would make him see what the displeasure of so mightie a King was who could as well cast downe as aduance First denies him accesse then takes from him what hee could possibly countenances all such as were his opposites his businesses in any the Kings Courts goe against him the Earle of Clare is supported in a contestation hee had with him about his homage for the Castle of Tunbridge and preuailes nothing is left vndone that might bee thought to humble him And besides the King wrought so As hee vnties the knot gaines first the Archbishop of Yorke the ancient Competitor with Canterbury in dignity and after the Bishops of Lincolne Hereford and the especiall Prelates and seperates them both from the counsell and company of the Archbishop Becket Notice of this iarre being giuen abroad a Messenger is sent from the Pope and all the Cardinalls to reconcile it and to charge the Archbishop to make peace with his Lord the King and promise to obserue his Lawes without exception The Archbishop pressed with this message and the aduice of many great men repaires to the King at Woodstooke and there promises in good faith without any euell meaning to obserue the Kings Lawes so farre foorth as was required The King supposing now things better prepared for his purpose then before A Parliament at Clarendon calls a generall Assembly of the Bishops and Nobilitie at Clarendon where Iohn of Oxford the Kings Clerke was President of the Councell and a charge is 1164. Anno. Reg. 10. giuen from the King That they should call to memorie the Lawes of his Grand-father Henrie the first and to reduce them into writing which beeing done hee willed the Arch-bishoppe and Bishops to set their Seales thereunto Which when the rest were content to do The Arch-bishop Becket refused Yet at length by the perswasion of the Bishops vrging him to satisfie the Kings pleasure and appease his wrath in regard of his present danger which by the rushing vp and downe of the Kings seruants with threatning countenances they suspected themselues likely to fall The Arch-bishop Becket takes his oath to obserue the Kings lawes into He tooke his Oath to obserue the Kings Lawes without any reseruation And for the writing desired to haue a copy as if better to aduise thereof And taking it into his hand he turnes to the Clergie and sayd Brethren stand fast you see the malice of the King and of whom we are to beware So the Councell ended but not the Kings displeasure against the Arch-bishop whom onely he found durst beare vp against his power the rest all yeelding thereunto The king vseth all meanes to vex the Archbishop unto And therefore proceedes he by all meanes to vexe and disgrace him and to aduance his Concurrent the Arch-bishop of Yorke whom he solicites the Pope by his Agents Iohn of Oxford and Geffery Riddle to make his Legat of all England Which the Pope forewarned acquainted with this busines refused to do yet at the petition of those Agents granted that Legation to the King himselfe but so as he should do nothing to grieue the Archbishop which the King tooke as a great indignity and sent backe his Agents with the Popes Graunt The Arch-bishop Becket after his oath at Clarendon so repented as he suspended himselfe The Arch-bishop repents him of his oath from the seruice of the Altar and did sharpe penance till he had obtained absolution from the Pope Which vpon his information of the case was sent him After this as some write he attempts to depart out of the Kingdome contrary to a law made at Clarendon forbidding Arch-bishops Bishops and other Persons to depart out of the Realme without the Kings leaue Which although they obtained yet were notwithstanding to secure the King neither in their going returning or staying there to practise any thing preiudicious to his State or Person But being by contrary winds brought backe he more exasperates the King against him After this he is summoned to an Assembly at Northampton holden about the ratification of the Acts of Clarendon where to dispight him the more the Kings horses A Parliament at Northampton are placed in his Inne And there First had he a Case adiudged against him concerning a Mannor for which one Iohn the Kings Marshall contended with him in Law and besides the losse of the Mannor was cast in arrerages fiue hundreth Markes which the King was sayd to haue lent him but he alledged how it was giuen yet because he confessed the receit and could not prooue the gift he was condemned to pay it Then was he called to render an accompt to the King of all such receipts as in the time of his Chanceller ship he
to the siege of Ascalon writes inuectiue letters against the King of France for leauing him who likewise defames King Richard amongst his neighbours at home And it may be doubted whether the periurie of these two Kings did not adde more to their sinne then the action they vndertooke for the remission thereof could take away for that a good worke impiously managed meretts no more then an ill Ten moneths the King of England stayes behind in these parts consuming both his men and treasure without any great successe though with much noble valor and exceeding courage finding euer great peruersuesse in the Earle of Borgogne who according to his maisters instructions shewed no great desire to aduance the action where another must carry the honour but willing alwaies to returne home pretending his want drew backe when any businesse of importance was to bee done and at length falls sicke and dies at Acon Conrade who was so much fauoured by the King of France in his title for that Kingdome Conrade murthered was murthered by two Assassini whereof the King of England was but very wrongfullie taxed and the Earle of Champagne martying his Widdow Sister to Queene Sibilla was by King Richard preferred to the Crowne of Ierusalem and Guy of Lusignan the other pretender made King of Ciprus and so both contented During this businesse abroade in the East the state of England suffred much at home vnder the gouernment of Lonshamp who vsurping the whole authority to himselfe without communicating Longshamps traine and pompe any thing either with the Nobility or the rest of the Commissioners ioyned with him did what hee listed and with that insolencie carried himselfe as hee incurred the hatred of the whole Kingdome both Clergie and Lay. His traine was said to be so great and the pompe of attendants such as where hee lay in any religious house but one night 3 yeares reuenues would scarce suffice to recouer the charge Besides being a stranger himselfe and vsing only French men about him made his courses the more intollerable to the English in so much as at length the whole Clergie and Nobility oppose against his proceedings and the Earle Iohn taking aduantage vpon these discontentments to make himselfe more popular and prepare the way to his intended vsurpation ioynes with the state against this B. being the man that had euer crossed his courses hauing an especially eye vnto him as the most dangerous person of the Kingdome both in respect of the kings charge and his owne saftie And now there fell out a fit occasion to ruine the Chancellor by this meanes Geffrey 1191. Anno. Reg. 3. the Elect Archbishop of Yorke base sonne to Henry the 2. to whose preferment in Eng. King Richard was auerse therfore had confin'd him within Normandy during his absence had by great labour to Pope Celestine obtained a powre to bee inuested in that Sea whose comming into England being aduertised to the Chancellor Long shamp Geffrey the Elect of Yorke taken and imprisoned by the Chancelor he was at his landing at Doner apprehended and drawne by force out of the Church which hee had recouered and from the Altar in his Pontificall habit trailed into the Castle in most vile manner Of which violence the Earle Iohn and the Bishop taking notice they command the Chancellor not only to release him but also to answere the matter before the assembly of the Bishops and Nobilite at Pauls where they Article and vrge against him many hainous actions committed contrarie to the Comission giuen him and the Weale of the King and Kingdome The Archbishop of Roan and William Marshall Earle of Striguile shewed openly the Kings Letters pattents dated at Messena in Sicile whereby they were made Commissioners with him in the gouernment of the Kingdome which notwithstanding hee would neuer suffer them to deale in any businesse of the same but by his owne violent Longshamp the Chancellor deposed from his office and headlong will doe all himselfe wherefore in the end hee was by the Assembly deposed from his Office and the Archbishop of Rouen who would doe nothing without the Councell of the State instituted therein The Towre of London and the Castle of Windsor are taken from him and deliuered to the Archbishop And so this great Officer presuming to much in his place hauing enuie so neere him and a maister so sarre off was throwne downe from his State faine to resigne his Legantine Crosse at Canterbury and to take vp that for the Holy warre and priuily seekeing to escape ouer Sea was in the habit of a woman with a webbe of Linnin cloth vnder his arme taken vpon the shore at Douer and most opprobriouslie made a spectacle to the people and conducted with all derision to the Castle whence after He flies and is taken eight daies hee was by the Earle Iohn released and suffered to goe on his iourney wherein being the messenger of his owne misusage he had the aduantage of his aduersaries and preuailed against them with the Pope who tooke very tenderly the powre Legantine should be so vilified The Earle Iohn the Archbishop of Rouen and the other Iustices of the King grant vnto the Citie of London their Common or liberties and the Citizens Swore fealtie to King Richard and his haire and that if he died without issue they would receiue the Earle Iohn for their Lord and King and likewise swore fealty vnto him against all men reseruing their faith to King Richard In this forwardnesse was the Earle Iohn for his brothers Crowne whilst hee is beleagaring Ascalon and grapling with Saladin Sultan in the East But hauing notice of this proceeding in England and how the King of France had taken in Gisors and King Richards departure from Palestina the Country of Vexin contrarie to his Oath hee takes the oportunity of an offer made by Saladin of a truce for three yeares vpon condition that hee should restore Ascalon to the same State wherein hee found it before the siege which hee did by the Councell of the Templars and the whole Armie And presently leauing Wife Sister and people to come after him as they could prouide takes a shippe with some few followers and returnes from this action with as great precipitation as hee vndertooke it hauing consumed therein all that mightie Treasure left him by his father and all that otherwise hee could teare from his subiects and others by violent extortion or cunning practises Pardon vs Antiquitie if we miscensure your actions which are euer as those of men according to the vogue and sway of times and haue onely their vpholding by the opinion of the present wee deale with you but as posteritie will with vs which euer thinkes it selfe the wiser that will iudge likewise of our errors according to the cast of their imaginations But for a King of England to returne in this fashion cannot bee but a note of much inconsideration and had as pittifull
take consideration till after Easter next and in the meane time he tooke vpon him the crosse rather as is said through feare then deuotion supposing himselfe to bee more safe vnder that protection But the Lords continuing their resolution foreseeing nothing was to bee obtayned but by strong The resolution of the Barons assembling their army at Stamford hand assemble an Army at Stamford wherein are said to bee two thousand Knights besides Esquires with those that serued on foot and from thence marched towards Oxford where the King then expected their comming according to the appoynted time for answere to their demands And being come to Brackly with their Army the King sends the Archbishop of Canterbury and William Earle of Pembrooke Mareschall with other graue Councellors to demaund of them what were those Lawes and Liberties A Schedule of the Demands of the Lords they required to whom they shewed a schedule of them which the Commissioners deliuer to the King who hauing heard them read in great indignation asked why the Barons did not likewise demaund the Kingdome and swore that hee would neuer grant those liberties whereby himselfe should bee made a seruant So harsh a thing is it to a powre that hath once gotten out into the wide libertie of his will to heare againe of any reducing within his circle not considering how they who inheret Offices succeed in the obligation of them and that the most certaine meanes to preserue vnto a King his Kingdomes is to possesse them with the same conditions that he hath inherited them The Barons vpon this answere being as hasty as hee was auers resolue to seize on The Lords seize on the Kings Castles his Castles and presently march towards Northampton which they besiege constituting Robert Fitz Walter their General intituling him the Mareschall of the Army of God and holy Church And after they assaile the Castle of Bedford where William de Beauchamp rendring his charge receiues them and the Londoners send thither priuy message to ioyne with them and deliuer vp the Citie to be garded by their direction And thither they repaire and are ioyfully receiued vnder pact of their indemnity The Lords repaire to London where dayly increasing in number of new Confederats they make their protestation neuer to giue ouer the prosecution of their desire till they had constrayned the King whom they held periured to grant them their Rights King Iohn seeing himselfe in a manner generally forsaken hauing scarce seuen King Iohn forsaken of his people Knights faithfull vnto him counterfeits the Seales of the B B. and writes in their names to all nations that the English were all Apostats and whosoeuer would come to inuade them he by the Popes consent would confer vpon them all their Lands and possessions The Earle Mareschall other mediate a reconciliation But this deuise working no effect in regard of the little confidence they had in the King and the powre of the Kingdome a new mediation is made to the Barons by the Earle Mareschall and others and a Parle is had betweene Windsor and Stanes in a Meadow called Running-mead a place anciently vsed for such Conferences where after many meetings and much debate the King freely consented for the glory of God A Parliament for restoring the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdome and emendation of the Kingdome to confirme those Lawes and Liberties formerly restored and in part ordayned by Hen. 1. And to the end that all discord should vtterly cease hee grants for the intire and firme enioying these Lawes and Liberties Securitie in this manner That there should be fiue and twenty Barons chosen of the Kingdome such as they would who should to their vtmost power cause the same to bee held and obserued And that if either the King or his Chiefe Articles of the Agreement confirmed by King Iohn Iusticiar should transgresse in any Article of those Lawes and the offence shewed Foure Barons of the fiue and twenty should come to the King or in his absence out of the Kingdome to his Chiefe Iusticiar and declare the excesse requiring without delay redresse for the same which if not made within the space of fortie daies after such declaration those Foure Barons should referre the cause to the rest of the fiue and twenty who with the Commons of the Land might distraine and inforce him by all meanes they could viz. by seizing vpon his Castles Lands and Possessions or other goods his person excepted and that of his Queene and Children till amends should bee made according to their arbitration And that whosoeuer would should take their Oath for the execution hereof and obay the commandement of the fiue and twenty Barons herein without prohibition And if any of them dissented or could not assemble the maior part to haue the same powre of proceeding Besides for Vide Append. more caution the foure Chatelaines of the Castles of Northampton Kenelworth Notingham and Skarbrough should be sworne to obay the commandement of the Fiue and twenty Barons or the maior part of them in whatsoeuer they thought good concerning those Castles Wherein none should bee placed but such as were faithfull and would obserue their Oath c. That all strangers whereof diuers are expresly nominated should bee remoued out of the Kingdome And a generall pardon is graunted for all transgressions committed through the occasion of this discord from the beginning thereof to this present time And mutuall Oathes taken of both sides in solemne manner for the inuiolable obseruing all these Articles The King likewise sends his letters Pattents to all the Shriefes of the Kingdome to cause all men of what degree soeuer within their seuerall Shires to sweare to obserue those Lawes and Liberties thus granted by his Charter And in this manner though it were to be wished it had not beene in this manner 1215. Anno. Reg. 17. were recouered the rights of the Kingdome Whereof though they seeme to haue now the Liuerie they had not the Seisin For presently the King being loose from the doing which he pretends to be by force vnlooses the Deed and there wanted not those about him who obseruing which way his will bent to turne him more violently vpon that King Iohn by euill councell frustrates his owne Grants side not in regard of his good but their owne interests making more profit by his irregularity then otherwise they could of his orderly courses telling him he was now a King without a Kingdom a Lord without a Dominion and a subiect to his Subiects Wicked counsellors as if it were not enough to be aboue men but to bee aboue mankinde as those Princes would be that would be vnder no Law considering the preseruation of Kings and Kingdoms is to haue the ballance of satisfaction both of the one and other equall But by such Counsailors is he confirmed in his refractory humor And worthily that Prince deserues to bee deceiued in his
appertayning thereunto The King of France answeres that the Kingdome of England neuer was nor is or euer shal be the patrimonie of Saint Peter and that King Iohn was neuer lawfull King thereof and if hee were he had forfeited the same by the murther of Arthur forwhich he was condemned in his Court neither could he giue away the Kingdome without the consent of the Barons who are bound to defend the same And if the Pope would maintaine this error it would bee a pernicious example to all Kingdomes Herewith the Popes Agent departs vnsatisfied Louys hauing first dispatched Commission Quater Vigint Coggis to Rome to declare his right iustifie his vndertaking sets forth from Calice with 600 ships and 80 other vessell and Lands with his Army at Sandwich King Iohn attends him at Douer with purpose to incounter him at his landing but vpon notice Louys lands in Kent 21 of May. of his great powre and distrusting the faith of his mercinaries hauing committed the keeping of the Castle of Douer to Hubert de Burg forsakes the field and with it himselfe retyres first to Winchester after to Glocester and leaues all to the will of his enemy Louys who after he had obtayned the submission of all Kent except the Castle of Douer which he neuer could get he comes to London where he is ioyfully receiued of the Barons and vpon his Oath taken to restore their Lawes and recouer their rights hath homage and fealty done him as their Soueraigne Lord thither came likewise the Earles Warrein Arundle Salisbury William Mareschall the yonger with many other forsaking King Iohn and rendred themselues vnto him Guallo the Popes Agent notwithstanding the sword was out in all the way of his passage got to Glocester shewes King Iohn the Popes care of him and in solemne manner The little effect the Popes Exmunication wrought pronounces the sentence of Excommunication against Louys and all that tooke part with him which though it brought him some comfort for the time yet it tooke little or nothing from the enemy neither could it so confirme his mercinaries but that most of them left him and either returned home into their Countries with such spoyles as they had or betooke themselues to this new commer King Iohn was not yet so forsaken but that he had powre enough remayning to infest though not incounter his enemies and faith he found abroad amongst many of his Ministers that well defended their charge Douer Castle with a small company holds out against all the force that Louys could bring against it Windsor Castle garded but with 60 men could not be won with all the powre of the Barons some other peeces as Nottingham and Lincoln Castles made very resolute resistance But nothing is effected saue the ruine of the Country The most-yeelding and fertill parts of the Kingdome as about Glocester the marches of Wales Lincolnshire Cambridgshire Norfolke Suffolke Essex Kent and all about London are the Stages of this warre and here they act their mischiefes which continued all that Sommer And about the later end of October a burning feuer makes an end of this fiery King which tooke him vpon an extreme griefe conceiued for the losse of his carriages sunke in the Sands passing the Washes betweene Lin and Boston and was augmented by a surfeit of Peaches new Ale taken at the Abbay of Swineshead from whence in The death of King Iohn great weakenesse he is conuayed to Newarke where after he had receiued the Eucharist and taken order for the succession of his sonne Henry hee departs this life hauing raigned 18 yeares fiue monthes and foure daies The Abbot of Crockeston a man skilfull in physique and at that time the Kings Physition disbowelled his body who no doubt would haue giuen notice to the world had his Maister as it was in after ages vainely bruted beene poysoned by a Monke of Mat. Par. Swinshead Abbay but the Writers of those times report no such matter Howsoeuer his death takes not away the reproch of his life nor the infamy that followes him whereunto ill Princes are as subiect as their euill Subiects and cannot escape the brute ofa clamarous Pen. witnesse this Disticque Anglia sicut adhuc sordet foetore Iohannis Sordida foedatur foedante Iohanne Gehenna He had issue by his wife Isabel daughter to Aymer Earle of Angolesme two sonnes Henry and Richard also three daughters Ioane Eleanor and Isabel. Henry succeeded him in the Kingdome Richard was Earle of Cornewall and Crowned His issue King of the Romans and had issue Henry and Iohn that died without issue also Edmond Iohn speed Earle of Cornewall and others Ioane the eldest daughter married to Alexander the second King of Scots died without issue Elianor the second daughter married to Simon Earle of Leicester had issue Henry Symon Almaricke Guy Richard and Elianor Henry slaine without issue Simon Earle of Bigorre and Ancestor to a Famely of the Mountfords in France Almarick first a Priest after a Knight Guy Earle of Angleria in Italy and Progenitor of the Mountfords in Tuscaine and of the Earles of the Campo Bacchi in the Kingdome of Naples Richard remayning priuily in England and changing his name from Mountford to Wellesborne was Ancester of the Wellesbornes in England Elianor borne in England brought vp in France married into Wales to Prince Lewin ap Griffith Isabel their youngest daughter married to the Emperour Frederic the 2 had issue Henry appointed to be King of Sicile and Margaret wife of Albert Landgraue Thurine She died in child-bed after she had beene Empresse sixe yeares He had also two naturall sonnes Geffrey Fitz Roy that transported souldiers into France when Hubert forbad his father to goe thither Richard that married the daughter and Heire of Fulbert de Douer who built Childham Castle had issue by her of which some famelies of good esteeme are descended Likewise one naturall Daughter Ioane married to Lewin Prince of Wales The end of the Life and Raigne of King Iohn The Life and Raigne of Henry the third THE death of King Iohn though it much altered yet it ended not the miserable businesses of the Kingdome for Louys notwithstanding held 1216. Anno. Reg. 1. his hopes and his party though much shaken by the sodaine Coronation of Henry eldest sonne to King Iohn solemnized in a great Assemblie of State at Glocester the 28 of October and committed to the tutelage of the great Marshall William Earle of Pembrooke the maine Pillar of the father and now the preseruer of the Crowne to his sonne a man eminent both in courage Henry the 3 Crowned at Glocester and Councell who with Guallo the Popes Legat the Bishops of Winchester Bathe and Worcester worke all meanes to draw the Barons and as many of powre as they could to their new and naturall King from this excommunicate stranger and his adherents And bred great fluctuation in the mindes of most of
his expences and debts in France he giues fiue thousand markes as if remayning The King calls his officers to accoumpt of the summe hee had promised And for the rest of the Poictouins their preferments and rewards were to be had by the displacing and spoyles of his Officers Receiuors and others whom now hee calles to accoumpt and castes for defrauding him in their offices of whom Ralph Breton treasorer of his Chamber is first who was committed to prison and grieuoulsy fined then Hubert de Burgh his chiese lusticiar a man who 1228. Anno. Reg. 13. had long ruled all vnder him in a place euer obnoxious to detraction and enuy is called to accoumpt for such treasure as passed his office which was then for all reliefes and subsidies whatsoeuer raysed on the subiect and notwithstanding he had the kings Charter for it during life yet is he thrust out of his office and besides accused of haynous crymes of treason No sooner was this great officer and inward councellor falne into the Kings displeasure but presently a whole volly of accusations which feare in time of fauour held in were discharged vpon him and euery act of his examined and vrged according to the passion of the complainers The city of London laies to his charge the execution of their citizen Constantine in the time of a ryot committed betweene their people and those of Westminster at a wrastling in Saint lames feilds Anno. Reg. 4. as done without warrant and law and craue Iustice for his bloud Hubert to auoyd this sodaine storme comming vpon him fled to the Church of Merton for Santuary whence by armed men sent to pursue him he is drawne out by force and committed to prison Of which violence done contrary to the priuiledge of that sacred place the Bishop of London in whose dioses it was complaines and so wrought that he is brought back againe to the same chappell But yet all that could not shelter him from the Kings wrath who giues strict commandement to the Shriefes of Hartford and Sussex to set a guard about the place that no sustenance be brought him Hunger inforces him to commit himselfe to the Kings mercy and away is he sent prisoner to the Vize his money left in the custody The King remoues his officers of the templars is brought forth and seazed into the Kings hands clayming that and much more as stolne out of his exchequer Stephen de Segraue is put into his office a worse minister for the common-wealth which seldome gaynes by such shiftings and who must shortly runne the same fortune Walter Bishop of Carliel is likewise thrust out of his office of Treasorer and William Rodon Knight of his place of Marshall of the kings house and all the chiefe Councellors Bishops Earles and Barons of the Kingdome are remoued as distrusted and onely strangers preferred to their roomes Peter Bishop of Winchester lately returned from the holy warres to be the author of most vnholy discord at home is charged to be the cause hereof and with him one Peter de Riuallis now the sepeciall minion about the King These straines of so strange and insufferably violences so exasperate the Nobility as many whereof Richard now Earle Marshall vpon the death of his brother William was chiefe do combine themselues for defence of the publique and boldly do shew the King his error and ill aduised course in preferring strangers about him to the disgrace and oppression The Lords combine for the publike defence against the K. of his naturall liege people contrary to their lawes and liberties and that vnlesse he would reforme this excesse whereby his crowne and Kingdome was in eminent daunger he and the rest of the nobility would withdraw themselues from his councell whervnto the Bishop of Winchester replies that it was lawfull for the King to callwhat strangers he listed about him for defence of his crowne and Kingdome thereby to compell his proud and rebellious subiects to their due obedience With which answere the Earle and the rest depart with more indignation vowing that in this cause which concerned them ail they would spend their liues Herevpon the King sodenly sends ouer for whole legions of Poictouins and withall sommons a Parliament at Oxford whether the Lords refused to come both in regard they found themselues dispised and holding it not safe by reason of those multitudes The Lords refuse to come to Parliament vpon summons of strangers Then was it decreed by the Kings Councell that they should be the second and third time sommoned to try whether they would come or not And here from the Pulpit whence the voyce of GOD and the people is vttered the King is boldly shewed the way to redresse this mischiefe of the Kingdome by one Robert Bacon a Fryer Predicant but more comically by Roger Bacon in pleasant discourse asking the king my Lord what is most nocent to Sea-men and what feared they most the King replies Seamen know that best themselues then my Lord I will tell you Petrae et Rupes alledging to Petrus de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester After this the Lords were summoned to a Parliament at Westminster whether likewise they refused to come vnles the King would remoue the Bishop of Winchester 1232. Anno. Reg. 17. and the Poictouines from the court otherwise by the Common-councell of the Kingdome they send him expresse word they would expell him and his euill councellors out of the land and deale for the creation of a new King Vpon this threatning pledges are required of the nobility to be deliuered by a certeine day for security of their alleagiance But no act passed in this Parliament though 6. Parliament though diuers Lords came thither as the Earle of Cornewall Chester Lincoln Ferrers and others in regard the Earle Marshall the Lord Gilbert Basset and other Nobles were not present Then are Writs sent out to all who held by knights seruice to repaire to the King at Glocester by a certaine day which the Earles Mareschall and his associates refusing the King without the iudgement of his court and their Peeres cause to be proclaimed outlawes seizes vpon all their lands which he giues to his Poictouines and directs out Writs to attach their bodies wheresoeuer in the kingdome The Bishop of Winchester to weaken the party of the Mareschall wonne the Eatles of Chester and Lincoln with a thousand markes and the King had so pleased his brother the Earle of Cornewall as hee likewise left them Wherevpon they withdraw them into Wales and confederat with Lewelin and other great men in that country whither also came Hubert de Burgh escaping out of the Vize Castle and ioynes with them taking their oath intermutually that no one without other should make their accord The King goes himselfe in person with an Army against these revolted Lords into Wales Where he had the worst of the busines and much dishonour returnes to Glocester The K. with an
for that he would not haue also their repulse he sodainly goes thither himselfe in Person enters the Chapter house as a Bishop or Prior gets vp into the Presidents Chayre begins a Sermon and takes this text Iustice and Peace haue kissed each other and therevpon vses these words To mee and other Kings and to our Princes and Iusticiars who are to gouerne the people belong the rigor of Iudgement and Iustice to you who are men of quiet and religion peace and tranquillity and this day I heare you haue for your owne good beene fauorable to my request Iustice and Peace haue kissed each other Once I was offended with you for withstanding me in the election of William Rale your late Bishop a man I liked not but now I am friends with you for this and will both remember and reward your kindnesse As by a woman came distruction to the world so by a woman came the remedy I to satisfie my wife desirous to prefer her vnkle William Valentine disquieted and damnified you so now willing to aduance my brother by the Mother will reconcile my selfe vnto you c. And you are to consider how in this citty I was borne and in this Church Baptised Wherefore you are bound vnto me in a straighter bond of affection c. Then commends he the high birth and good parts of his Brother and what honor and benefit they should haue by electing him but concludes with some threatning So that the Monkes seeing him thus to require the Bishopricke held it in vaine to deny him and Athelmar is elected though with this reseruation if the Pope allowed thereof Shortly after followes the memorable cause of The cause of Sir H. Bath Sir Henry de Bath a Iusticiar of the Kingdome and an especiall Councellor to the King who by corruption had attayned to a mighty Estate and is said in one circuit to haue gotten 200. pound land per annum he is accused by Sir Phillip Darcy of falsehood in the 1251. Anno. Reg. 35. Kings Court and the King so incenced against him as in the Parliament about this time holden in London Proclamation is made that whosoeuer had any action or complaint against Henry de Bath should come and be heard one of his fellow Iusticiciats accused him of acquitting a malefactor for a bribe The King seeing the friends of the accused strong breakes out into rage protesting that whosoeuer would kill Hugh de Bath should be acquitted for the deed but afterward he comes pacified by the Earle of Cormwale and the Bishop of London who vrged the daunger of the time the discontentment 15 Parliament of the Kingdome aud how the proceeding in such a manner with one of his councell whom hee had vsed in so great businesse would discourage others to serue such a maister who vpon malicious accusations should so for sake them whose places were euer exposed to enuy and detraction And thereupon Sir Henry is released paying 2000 Markes and after restored to his former place and fauour The mariage of Margueret with Alexander K. of Scots solemnizedat at Yorke The King keeping his Christmas at Yorke the marriage is solemnised betweene Alexander King of Scots and Margaret his Daughter the ryot of which feast with the vaine expences of apparell the note of a diseased time is discribed by our author who amongst other things reports how the Archbishop gaue 60. fat Oxen which were spent at one meale besides that feast cost him 4000. Markes which shewes the pouerty of the Church was not so great as it was pretended to be seeing when they would shew their glory they could finde what they denyed at other times The Pope Sollicites the King to vndertake the Crosse and so doth Alphonsus King of Castile Offering to accompany him in Person to reskue the King of France Who The King of France prisoner with the Soldian hauing euen emptied his country both of Treasure and nobility was now taken prisoner by the Soldan and held in miserable captiuity A ransome collected for him in France with great vexation is by tempest cast away on the Sea other meanes are made for treasure which could not easely be had the captiue king offers to restore Normandy to the King of England so he would come to his rescue Which the nobility of France takes ill and disdaine the weakenesse of their King vpon the Popes sollicitation The King of England vnder takes the Crosse. the grant of a Tenth of the Clergy and Laytie for 3. yeares to come the king of England vndertakes the Grosse rather it seemes to get the money then with any purpose to persorme the iourny Which had it beene collected would saith Paris haue amounted to 600. thousand pound to the vtter impourishing of the Kingdome which was that they both sought but by seuerall waies for many now began to discouer that the Pope by this imbarking the Princes of Christendome in this remote and consuming warre to wast them their nobility and Kingdome was onely but to extend his owne power and domination The king by Proclamation calls the Londoners to Westminster and there causes 1252. Anno. Reg. 36. the Bishops of Worcester and Chichester to declare his intention and exhort the people to vndertake the crosse and attend him but few are moued by their perswation onely 3. knights and they of no great note are nominated whom the king presently in open view imbraces kisses and calls bretheren checking the Londoners as ignoble mercenaries for that few of them were forward in this action notwithstanding hee there takes his Oath for performing of the same and to set forth presently vpon Midsommer day next In taking this oath hee layes his right hand on his brest according to the manner of a Priest and after on the booke and kist it as a lay man A parliament about this tenth graunted by the Pope but not the people is called at London the Bishops are first delt withall as being a worke of piety to induce the rest they absolutely refuse the same then the Lords are set vpon they answere The Bishops and Lords deny the K. the Tenth granted by the Pope what the Bishops who were first to giue their voyce consented vnto they would allow the same this shufling put the King into so great rage as hee draue out all that were in his chamber as he had beene mad Then falls he to his former course to preswade them a parte sends first for the Bishop of Ely deales with him in all milde and kind manner recounting the many fauours he had receiued at his hands how forward hee had found him heretofore to supply his occasions and intreats him now to giue good example to others c. The Bishop replies he was glad at any time to haue done him acceptable seruice but in this for himselfe to goe from that forme the vniuersality of the state had determined he held it a dishonest act and therefore
himselfe to enter into Dover Castle At Canterbury they bring him into the Chapter house where the Earle of Glocester standing forth in the middest calls out the Earle not by the name of King but Richard Earle of Cornewall who in reverent manner comming forth takes his Oath ministred in this manner Heare all men that I Kichard Earle of Cornewall do heere sweare vpon the Holy Evangelists The Oath of the King of Romanes that I shall bee faithfull and dilligent to reforme with you the Kingdome of England hitherto by the Councell of wicked persons overmuch disorded bee an effectuall coadiutor to expell the rebels and disturbers of the same and this Oath will inviolably obserue vnder paine of loosing all the Land I haue in England so helpe mee God In this manner deale the Lords to binde this great Earle vnto them supposing his power to haue beene more then it was which at length they found to be nothing but an Ayrie Title for having consumed all that mighty substance abroad in two yeares which with great frugality had beene many in gathering he returnes in this manner home poore and forsaken by the Germans without any other meanes to trust vnto but onely what he had in England Notwithstanding vpon his returne the King takes heart and seekes all meanes to vindicate his power dispatching first messengers secretly to Rome to be absolued from 1259. Anno. Reg. 44. his inforced Oath then sends into Scotland to the King and the Queene his daughter for aydes to be ready vpon his occasions And to haue the more assurance of the King of France and be freed from forraine businesse he makes an absolute resignation of whatsoever right he had to the Duchy of Normandie and the Earledomes of Aniou King Henry resignes his right to Normandy c. Poictou Tourene and Maine in regard whereof the King of France giues him three hundred thousand pounds some say crownes of Aniouine money and grants him to enioy all Guien beyond the river Garoune all the Country of Xantonge to the river of 1261. An. Reg. 45. Charentè the Countries of Limosin and Quercy for him and his successors doing their Homage and Fealty to the Crowne of France as a Duke of Aquitayne and a Peere of that kingdome The Lords likewise on the other side seeke to strengthen their association and hold in each other to their Oathes and observation of their orders which was hard to do for consisting of manifold dispositions there was daily wauering sometimes Pikes among themselues in so much as the Earle of Leicester the chiefe man that kept the fire of that saction in told the Earle of Glocester finding him staggering that hee cared not to liue with such men whom he found so mutable and vncertaine for said he my Lord of Glocester The Lords combine against the K. as you are more eminent so are you more bound to what you haue vndertaken for the good of the kingdome And as he incensed others so had he those that animated him as Walter Bishop of Worcester and Kobert Bishop of Lincolne who inioyned him vpon remission W. Rishenger of his sinnes to prosecute the cause vnto death affirming how the peace of the Church of England could neuer be established but by the materiall sword But now many being the temptations many are drawne away from their side especially after the sentence giuen against them by the King of France made Arbitor of the quarrell who yet though hee condemned the prouisions of Oxford allowed the 1262. An. Reg. 46. confirmatiō of King Iohns Charter by which distinction he left the matter as he found it for those prouisions as the Lords pretended were grounded vpon that Charter Howsoeuer his sentence much aduantaged the King of England made many to dispence with their Oath and leaue their party Amongst whom was Henry Sonne to the Earle of Cornewall on whom the Prince had bestowed the Honour of Tyckhill who comming to the Earle of Leicester told him hee would not be against his Father the King nor his allyes but said he my Lord I will neuer beare Armes against you and 1263. Anno. Reg. 47. therefore I craue leaue to depart The Earle cheerfully replies my Lord Henry I am not sorry for your departure but for your inconstancie go returne with your armes I feare them not at all About the same time Roger de Clifford Roger de Leiborn Hamo I Strange and many other wonne with gifts depart from the Barons Shortly after Roger de Mortimer of the Kings part breakes into open act of hostility makes spoyle of the lands of the Earle of Leicester who had now combined himselfe with Llewellin Prince of Wales and had sent forces to inuade the lands of Mortimer in The beginning of the warres those parts And here the sword is first drawne in this quarrell about three yeares after the Parlement at Oxford The Prince takes part with Mortimer surprises the Castle of Brecknock with other places of strength which hee deliuers to his custodie The Earle of Leicester recouers the towne and Castle of Glocester constraines the Citizens to pay a thousand pounds for their redemption goes with an Army to Worcester possesses him of the Castle thence to Shrewsbury and so comes about to the Isle of Ely subdues the same and growes very powerfull The King doubting his approch to London being not yet ready for him workes so as a mediation of peace is made and agreed vpon these conditions That all the Castles 1264. Anno. Reg. 48. of the King should be deliuered the keeping of the Barons the Prouisions of Oxford should bee inuiolably obserued All strangers by a certaine time should auoide the Kingdome except such as by a generall consent should be held faithfull and profitable for the same Here was a little pause which seemes was but a breathing for a greater rage The Prince had fortified Windsor Castle victualled and therein placed strangers to defend it and himselfe marches to the towne of Bristow where in a contention between the Cittizens and his people being put to the worse hee seends for the Bishop of Worcester an especiall partaker of the Barons to protect conduct him back When he comes neare Windsor he gets into the Castle which the Earle of Leicester was going to besiege being about Kingston the Prince meets him to treat of peace which the Earle refuses and laies siege to the Castle which was rendred vnto him the strangers turned out sent home into France The King to get time conuokes another Parlement at London wherein hee wonne many Lords to take his part with them the Prince Richard Earle of Cornwall Henry 19 Parlement held at London his sonne William Valence with the rest of his brethren lately returned hee marches to Oxford whither diuerse Lords of Scotland repaire to him as Iohn Comin Iohn Baliol Lord of Galloway Robert Bruce and others with many Barons of the
themselues in regard of the many Leauies lately made vpon the estate Ecclesiasticall As in Anno Reg. 22. they paied the moietie of their goods of which the Abbay of Canterbury yeelded 596 pounds 7 shillings and 10 pence and besides furnished sixe horses for the Sea-coasts This Leauie as Stow notes in his collection amounted to sixe hundreth thousand pounds And in Anno Reg. 23. the King seized into his hands all the Priories Aliens and their goods Besides hee had a Loane of the Clergie which amounted to 100 thousand pounds whereof the Abbat of Bury paide 655 pounds Notwithstanding now vpon this their refusall the King puts the Clergie out of The King puts the Clergie out of his protection his protection whereby they were to haue no Iustice in any of his Courts a straine of State beyond any of his Predecessors which so amazed them being exposed to all offences and iniuries whatsoeuer and no meanes to redresse themselues as the Archbishop of Yorke with the Bishops of Duresme Ely Salisbury Lincolne yeelded to lay downe in their Churches the fifth part of all their goods towards the maintenance of the Kings warres whereby they appeazed his wrath and were receiued into grace But the Archbishop of Canterbury by whose animation the rest stood out had all his goods seized on and all the Monasteries within his Diocesse and part of Lincoln taken into the Kings hands and Wardens appointed to minister onely necessaries to the Monkes conuerting the rest to the Kings vse At length by much suite the Abbots and Priests giuing the fourth part of their goods redeeme themselues and the Kings fauour Thus will Martiall Princes haue their turnes serued by their Subiects in the times of their Necessities howsoeuer they oppose it During this contrast with the Clergie the King calls a Parliament of his Nobles at Salisbury without admission of any Church-men wherein hee requires certaine of the great Lords to goe vnto the warres of Gascoine which required a present supply vpon the death of his brother Edmond who hauing spent much treasure and time in the siege of Burdeaux without any successe retyres to Bayon then in possession of the English and there ends his life But they all making their excuses euery man for himselfe the The Lords refuse to goe into Gascoigny except the King went in person King in great anger threatned they should either goe or hee would giue their lands to others that should Whereupon Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford high Constable and Roger Bigod Earle of Norfolke Mareschall of England make their declaration that if the King went in person they would attend him otherwise not Which Answere more offends and being vrged againe the Earle Mareschall protested hee would willingly goe thither with the King and march before him in the Vantgard as by right of inheritance hee ought to doe But the King told him plainely hee should goe with any other although himselfe went not in Mat. West Person I am not so bound said the Earle neither will I take that iourney without you The King swore by God Sir Earle you shall goe or hang. And I sweare by the same oath I will neither goe nor hang said the Earle and so without taking his leaue departs Shortly after the two Earles assembled many Noblemen and others their friends to the number of thirty Bannerets so that they were fifteene hundred men at Armes well appointed and stood vpon their owne guard The King like a prudent Prince who knew his times prosecutes them not as then but lets the matter passe In regard that both his businesse in France and the pressing necessity of ayding his Confederats whereon his honour and whole estate abroad depended called him ouer into Flanders which the King of France had now inuaded pretending the same title of Soueraignty to that Prouince as King Edward did to Scotland And hauing had intelligence The French King inuites the Earle of Flanders to Paris and there imprisons him of the intended Alliance and other designes of the Earle Guy sends for him as if knowing nothing therof to come with his wife and daughter to make merry with him at Paris where in steed of feasting he makes him his prisoner and takes from him his Daughter in regard he sought being his vassall to match her to the Son of his capitall enemy The Earle excuses it the best he could and by much mediation is released and suffered to depart but without his Daughter of whose surprize and detention contrary to the Law of Nations he complaines to the Pope and other Princes who earnestly vrge the release of the young Lady but all in vaine and thereupon this Earle presuming on the ayde of his confederates takes armes and defies the King of The French King inuades Flanders France Who now comes with an Army of sixty thousand against him which caused the King of England to make what speed he could to releeue this distressed Earle and to leaue all his other businesses at home in that broken estate which hee did the Scots in reuolt and his owne people in discontent For which yet hee tooke the best order he could leauing the administration of the Kingdome during his absence to the Prince and certaine especiall Councellors as the Bishop of London the Earle of Warwicke the Lords Reginald Gray and Clifford and besides to recouer the Clegry receiued the Archbishop of Canterbnry into fauour And being ready now to take ship the Archbishops Bishops Earls Barons and the Commons send him a Roll of the generall grieuances of his Subiects Concerning his This roll of grieuances is recorded by Tho. Wal. viz. Append. Taxes Subsidies other Impositions with his seeking to force their seruices by vnlawsull courses his late impost layd of fortie shillings vpon euery sack of Wooll being before but half a marke estimating the Wooll of England to a fift part of all the substance thereof The King sends answere that he could not alter any thing without the aduice of his councell which were not Reg. 26. Anno. 1299. now about him and thereforè required them seeing they would not attend him in this iourney which they absolutely refused to doe though hee went in person vnlesse hee had gone into France or Scotland that they would yet doe nothing in his absence preiudiciall to the peace of the Kingdome And that vpon his Returne hee would set all things in good order as should bee fit And so with 500 saile eighteene thousand men at Armes he puts out for this iourney wherein Fortune shewed him how she would not be alwaies his For contrary to King Edward passes ouer into Flanders to the ayd of the Earle Guy his expectation he found the Country of Flanders distracted into popular factions a ritch proud people who though they were willing to ayde their Prince and defend their liberties which they respected more then their obedience yet would they not bee commanded otherwise then
it were denied him yet something hee had the King and hee deuiding it betwixt them The Pope graunted the King the Tenth of all the Churches of England for two yeares and the King yeelded that the Pope should haue the First fruits of those Churches And the better to effect this businesse the Pope makes an errand and sends Petrus Hispanus Cardinall a Latere to call vpon the King for consummation of the Marriage betweene Prince Edward and Isabell daughter to the King of France And this Cardinall gott something but not so much as he expected Whilest they were thus busie at Carliel about the opening of the Spring opens K. Bruce teeouers new forces himselfe the hidden King Robert Bruce and with some forces hee had gotten together soddainely assailes the Earle of Pembrooke at vn-awares and gaue him a great defeit and within Three daies after chases the Earle of Glocester into the Castle of Ayr where he besieged him till by the Kings forces hee was driuen againe to his former retire But this shewed that so long as hee was in what estate soeuer he was there would be no end of this warre Which caused King Edward to send out his strict commandement that whosoeuer ought him seruice should presently vpon the Midsommer after attend him at Carliel K. Ed. enters Scotland and dies there And withall hee sends the Prince to London about the businesse of his Marriage In Iuly although hee found himselfe not well hee enters Scotland with a fresh Army which hee led not farre for falling into a Dissenterie hee dies at Borough vpon the Reg. 35. An. 1340. sands as if to show on what foundation hee had built all his glory in this world hauing Raigned Thirtie foure yeares Seuen moneths Aged Sixty eight A Prince of a generous spirit wherein the fire held out euen to the very last borne bred for action and militarie affaires which hee mannaged with great iudgement euer wary and prouident for his owne businesse watchfull and eager to enlarge his power and was more for the greatnesse of England then the quiet thereof And this we may iustly say of him that neuer King before or since shed so much Christian blood within this Isle of Brittaine as this Christian warrior did in his time and was the cause of much more in that following He had issue by his first wife Queene Elionor Foure Sonnes whereof onely Edward His Issue suruiued him and Nine Daughters Elionor married to the Earle of Bar. Ioan to Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester Margaret to Iohn Duke of Brabant Mary liued a Nun in the Monastary of Amsberie Elizabeth married first to Iohn Earle of Holland after to Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford the rest died yong He had by his Second wife Two Sonnes Thomas Surnamed Brotherton which was Mareschall Earle of Norfolke and Edmond Earle of Kent The end of Edward the First The Life and Raigne of Edward the second EDward of Carnaruan remoued more then one Degree from the Father in heigth of Spirit and nearer the Grandfather in flexibility and Reg. 1. Anno. 1307. easinesse of Nature which made him apt to be taken began his Raigne in Iuly 1307. in the Three and twentith yeare of his Age. A Prince which shewes vs what confusion and mischiefe attends Riot Disorder Neglect of the State and aduancing vnworthie or ill-disposed Minions to the preiudice of others the griefe of his people and the deminution of the Royall Maiestie And though his youth might somewhat excuse the first sicknesse of his priuate Fauours yet those often Relapses of his shewed it was an habituall indisposition in the whole state of his Minde not to be cured Neuer was Prince receiued with greater loue and opinion of all or euer any that sooner lost it For his very first actions discouered a head-strong wilfulnesse that was K. Ed. the first imprisoned his sonne and exiled Pierce Gaueston vncouncellable Whereof the intertaining againe his olde Companion Pierce Gaueston was one whom the Father had banished the Kingdome finding him to haue corrupted the youth of his Sonne and leade him to commit many ryots amongst which was the breaking of the Parke of the Bishop of Chester for which hee both Anno. Reg. 33 imprisoned his Sonne and exiled Gaueston Besides this prouident King as if fore-seeing the mischiefe might insue at his death charged his Sonne vpon his blessing neuer to recall or entertaine Pierce Gaueston againe about him and required the Lords who were present to see his Will obserued therein which notwithstanding hee Pirce Gaueston recalled and preferd by the King brake before his Fathers Funeralls were performed and not only intertaines but inuests Gaueston in the Earledom of Cornewale and the Lordship of Man being both of the Demaines of the Crowne and makes him his chiefe Chamberlaine Then to bee reuenged on the Bishop of Chester his Fathers Treasurer who had abbridged his expences and complained of him for his ryot hee caused him to be arrested committed to prison and seises vpon all his goods which he gaue to Gaueston makes a new Treasurer of his owne remoues most of his Fathers Officers and all without the aduice or consent of his Councell which gaue them their first discontent and bewrayed his disposition Before his Coronation a Parlement was held at Northampton wherein was ordained A Parlement at Northampton held before the Coronation that the Monies of his Father notwithstanding the people held them base should bee current and a Fifteenth of the Cleargie a Twentith of the Temporalty is there granted After the Funeralls performed at Westminster hee passes ouer to Bologne where his Nuptialls with Isabel Daughter to Philip le Bel are sumptuously The marriage of K. Ed. solemnized at Belogne solemnized at which were present the King of France the King of Nauare his Sonne the King of Almaine the King of Sicile and three Queenes besides the Bride with an extraordinary concourse of other Princes At which Feast Gaueston is sayde to haue exceeded them all in brauerie daintinesse of attire wherewith afterward he infected the Court of England A mischiefe the most contagious to breed a Consumption in a State that can be introduced For the imitation thereof presently distends it selfe ouer all and passes beyond the example and at length all meanes to maintaine it And had hee done no other hurt to the Kingdome then this it had been enough to haue made him as hee was odious therunto But besides hee afterward filled the Gaveston corrups the King Court with Buffons Parasites Minstrels Players and all kinde of dissolute persons to entertaine and dissolue the King with delights and pleasures Whereby he so possest him as hee regarded no other company no other exercise but continually day and night spent his time and treasure in all Wantonnesse Ryot and disorder neglecting the affaires of the State and the company and counsell of all the rest of the Nobles
This Thomas was the Sonne of Edmond the second Sonne of Henry the third and was likewise Earle of Leicester Ferrers and Lincolne a most powerfull and popular Subiect with whom ioynes Humfrey Bohun Earle of Heresord Aymer de Valence Earle of Pembrooke Guy de Beaucham Earle of Warwicke the Earle of Arundel With many other Barons But Gilbert Earle of Glocester the Kings Nephew for that hee would neither offend him nor be wanting to his Peeres stands as Mediator for their liberties and the peace of the Kingdome The Earle Warrein remained a while doubtfull and fauouring rather the Kings part till the Archbishop of Canterbury induced him to consent with the Lords who being thus prepared send to the King in the behalfe of the whole Comunaltie beseeching him to deliuer vpp vnto them Pierce Gaueston or else to send him away with his traine out of England The King neglecting their petition they set forward in armes towards the North. The King and Gaueston withdrawe to Newcastle there beeing aduertised of the strength of the Gaueston taken and beheaded Lords they take ship leauing the Queene in much griefe behinde and land at Scarborough Castle whereinto the King puts Gaueston with the best forces hee could prouide for his defence and departs himselfe to wards Warwickeshire The Earles of Pembrooke and Warrein sent by the Earle of Lancaster lay siege to the Castle Gaueston is forced to render himselfe into their hands but intreates thus much that hee might be brought once more to speake with the King and then after they should doe with him what they pleased The Earle of Pembrooke vndertakes vppon his honour he should but as his seruants were conducting him to wards the King the Earle of Warwicke tooke him from them by force and commits him to his Castle of Warwicke where after some consultation among the Lords not withstanding the Kings earnest solicitation for his life they condemned him to the blocke and tooke off his head This was the end of Pierce Gaueston who for that hee was the first Priuado of this The description of Peirce Gaueston kinde euer noted in our History and was aboue a King in his life deserues to haue his Character among Princes being dead Natiue hee was of Gascoine and for the great seruice his father had done to this Crowne intertained and bred vp by King Edward the first in company with his sonne this Prince which was the meanes that inuested him into that high fauour of his Hee was of a goodly personage of an haughty and vndauntable spirit braue and hardy at armes as hee shewed himselfe in that Turneament which hee held at Wallingford wherein hee chalenged the best of the Nobility and is saide to haue foiled them all which inflamed the more their malice towards him In Ireland where hee was Liuetennant during the short time of his banishment hee made a Iourney into the mountaines of Dublin brak and subdued the Rebels there built Newcastle in the Kerns country repaired Castle Keuin and after passed vp into Munster and Thomond performing euery where great seruice with much valour and worthinesse Hee seemes to haue been a Courtier which could not fawne nor stoope to those hee loued not or put on any disguise vpon his Nature to temporize with his enemies But presuming vpon his fortune the misfortune of such men grew in the end to that arrogancie as was intolerable which the priuacie of a King fauour vsually begets in their Minions whose vnderstanding and iudgement The miserable ostate of Minions being dazed therewith as is their sight who stand and looke downe from off high places neuer discerne the ground from whence they ascended And this extraordinary fauour shewed to one though hee were the best of men when it arises to an excesse is like the predomination of one humour alone in the body which indangers the health of the whole and especially if it light vpon vn worthinesse or where is no desert and commonly Princes raise men rather for appetite then merit for that in the one they shew the freedome of their power in the other they may seeme but to pay their debt But this violent part of the Lords shewed the nature of a rough time and was the beginning of the Second Ciuill Warre of England For now hauing had their desire in The peremtorie proceeding of the Lords this and finding theire owne power and the weakenesse of the King they peremtorily require the confirmation and execution of all those Articles formerly granted threatning the King that vnlesse hee presently performed the same they would constraine him thereunto by strong hand Thus will Liberty neuer cease till it growe licentious and such is the misery of a State where a King hath once lost his reputation with his people and where his Nature agrees not with his Office or answers the duties thereunto belonging And with this menacing message they had their swords likewise ready drawne and with strong forces assemble about Dunstable making towards London where the King then lay The great Prelates of the Kingdome with the Earle of Glocester labour to appease The Prelates and the E. of Glocester labour to pacifie and bring in the Lords them and with two Cardinalls which at that time were sent by the Pope to reform these disorders of the Kingdome they repaire to Saint Albons and desire conference with the Lords who receiue them very peaceably but their letters which the Pope had written vnto them they refused to receiue saying they were men of the sword and cared not for the reading of letters that there were many worthie and learned men in the Kingdome whose Counsells they would vse and not strangers who kyew not the cause of their commotion absolutely concluding that they would not permit Forrainers and Aliens to intermeddle Their submission in their actions or in any businesse that concerned the Kingdome With which answere the Cardinalls returne to London But the Prelates of England so labour the businesse Reg. 5. Anno. 1313. as the Lords were content to yeeld vp to the King such Horses Treasure and Iewels as they had taken of Pierce Gaueston at Newcastle so that the King would grant their petitions And thereupon Iohn Sandall Treasurer of the Kingdome and Ingelard Warle Keeper of the Wardrobe are sent to Saint Albons to receiue those things at their hands About this time Queen Isabel is deliuered of a sonne at Winsor whom Louys her brother Queen Isabel deliuered of a sonne and other great men and Ladies of France would haue had christened by the name of her father Philip but the Nobility of England had him named Edward And here the King keeps his Christmas feasts the French with great Magnificence and is said or rather suspected to bee euill counselled by them against his Nobles betweene whome there being so ill correspondence already any imagination serues to make it worse Suspition causing all things to be taken in ill
of lay Fee were appointed to finde an Archer on horse-backe of 25 pounds a Demilance and so ratably aboue The King himselfe goes in person to confirme and make the Flemings fast vnto him and at Sluce Iaques van Arteuile with other Commissioners from their chiefe Townes repaire vnto him where a motion is made that either Louys their Earle should do homage to the King of England or else be disinherited and Edward Prince of Wales receiued for their Lord for which King Edward promises to erect their County to a Dukedome Arteuile was forward to entertaine this motion but the rest of the Commissioners require leaue to acquaint therewith the Townes that sent them which though they were all desirous to haue the Protection of the King of England yet disliked the disinheriting of their naturall Lord. Arteuile notwithstanding vndertakes to induce them vnto it and returnes to Gant garded with fiue hundreth Welsh which he desired to haue for that one Gerrard Denyse Prouost of the Weauers opposed him and sought his distruction The people whom he had so often led to muteny against others now vpon his returne rose against himselfe and a Cobler with an Axe strake out his braines And so King Edward lost his great Agent which much displeased him and disappointed his businesse in those parts Yet the Townes sent to excuse themselues of this accident laying the fault on the turbulent Gantoys and in all things vowing their faithfull seruice vnto him onely to the disinheriting of their Earle they could not consent But they hoped to perswade him to become his homager and to procure a match betweene the sonne of their Earle and his daughter And thus pacifying his present displeasure the league is renued betwixt them and King Edward returnes to prosecute his other designes But now the warres in Guien grew hot the Earle of Darby Generall of the Army assaults and takes in Ville-Franche Agenois Angolesme Rions Saint Basile with many other Cities and Castles The French King sends his eldest sonne Iohn Duke of Normandie to incounter him who recouers the Cities of Angolesme and Ville-Franche thus is the sword out before the Truce is expired the breach wherof the French King layes on the King of England and hee the same on him for entertayning King Dauid and setting the Scots vpon attempts of inuasion of his Realme So that it seemes both were prepared to breake not able to holde their hands any longer from the fatall worke of destruction It was now the twentith yeare of this mighty and actiue Kings raigne wherein Reg. 20. Anno. 1346. hee had prepared the greatest Fleet that euer yet crossed the Seas for France and ouer hee passes into Normandy in Iuly leauing for Wardens of England in his absence the Lords Percy and Neuile taking the young Prince with him about the age of fifteene yeares to learne him the way of men and what trauell greatnesse was borne The king goes with a mighty Army into Normandy to indure to attaine glory in this world His Army consisted of foure thousand men at Armes and ten thousand Archers besides Welch Irish which followed on foot hee had of Earles Hereford Northampton Arundell Huntingdon Warwicke Suffolke and Oxford of Barones Mortimer who was after Earle of Marche Iohn Louys and Roger Beauchamp Cobham Lucy Basset Barkeley and Willoughbie with diuerse other both Knights and gallant Captaines Hee had of late entertayned Godfrey de Harcourt who had beene as a minion to the French King and became another Robert de Artois vpon some discontent or doubt of some discoueries of fauouring the English party in Brittaine for which cause the French King had a little before executed Oliuer de Clisson Bacon Percy Geffrey de Malestroit men of especiall marke whom hee had there imployed And now insteed of this Harecourt had wonne from King Edward the Lord Iohn de Beaumont who had long serued him was his wiues Vncle and acquainted Iohn de Beaumont when King Edward had made him Earle of Cambridge takes the French Kings part with all his courses Such is the trust of mercinaries who sell their faith for better entertainement Neither did this Harecourt long hold out but changed colours and made his peace with the French King his naturall Lord but in the meane time did him and his countrie much mischiefe For vpon King Edwards landing with his mighty Army in the Isle of Costantine in Normandy by his conduction hee made him one of his Marshals and the Earle of Warwicke the other The Earle of Arundell is appointed Constable He diuides his people into three battailes one to march on his left hand along the Sea coast the other on the right conducted by the two Marshals and himselfe in the midst with his mayne Army The Earle of Huntingdon imployed for Admirall of his Fleete was to take all the shippes hee found on the Sea The manner of King Ed. proceeding with his Army coast The three Armies by land lodged euery night in one field And first he sackes the City of Caranton slew all hee found armed or disarmed therein burnes razes desolates the Citie saying hee sacrificed those oblations to Bacon Percy and others whose heads hee found set vpon the principall gate vniustly massacred by Phillip Thence hee marches forward and tooke Saint Lo a rich Towne of marchandise and pillaged the same Then after some bickring became Maister of Caen and put all that countrey into so great terror as Falaise Lyseaux Honfleur strong walled townes rendered themselues vnto him This done hee spread his power in the Isle of France to draw out Phillip to the combate giuing out that hee would wrastle with him in the eye of all France on the great Theater before his capitall Citie of Paris Phillip this while held not his armes in his bosome but had ramassed one of the The French K. prepares to oppose K. Ed. fairest Armies saith the French History that euer was seene in France composed of French Lorraynes Alemaines Genouoys which hee led towardes Meulan where King Edward was said to haue made a stand and attended him but vpon report of his comming on retyres it was supposed hee fled for feare but the euent shewed that the great God of Armies had destined his victory for another place King Phillip followes and ouertakes him at a Village called Arenes a name remarkeable signifying the Sand to show on what vnstable earth all the trust of humaine forces and the designes of the great are founded This mighty Army of King Phillip hauing the aduantage to be at home where all was theirs made him account the victory certaine King Edward retires to gaine the Riuer of Some at Blanquetaque but the passage was to be disputed by the sword For Phillip had before sent thither Gundemar de Fay with a thousand horse and fixe thousand foot King Edward notwithstanding resolues to K. Ed. goes ouer the riuer of Some defeites the Fren. passe
or perish and plunges formost into the Riuer crying out They who loue mee will follow mee At which voyce all thrust in without dispute striuing who should be formost and lo presently the shoare gained by the English Gondomar astonished with this vnexpected and bolde aduenture astonishes his people by his fearefull countenance So that the English incountring the French all in disorder fell vpon them and put them to flight But the retraite was neere to Abbe-ville and Saint Requier The losse was not so great as the shame but serued as a presage for a greater mischiefe to France These disrouted men all affrighted flocke into Abbe-ville Where King Phillip The French K. resolues to incounter K. Ed. inraged with this dishonour resolues to reuenge it and presently to prouoke King Edward to the combate The aduise of his Councell was otherwise to suffer his troupes to repose some few dayes recouer their spirits King Edward to coole and spend his in the meane while But hardly had this King the patience to stay in Abbe-ville one day whiles the bridge to passe ouer his Army was repayring And His impatiēce and his hopes with this precipitation and fury into the field hee marches cleuated with an assured hope of a triumphant victory King Edward better tempered manages his worke with admirable discretion and vigilancy and had now in camped in a Village called Crecy and there entrenched and fortified himselfe not onley with the trees of the Forrest about it but with deepe rampiers and other defences besides causing also a Parke to bee paled vnder the woode side behinde his hoste wherein were placed all the Carts and Carriages His Army consisted of thirty thousand men but in order and courage double the number The vauntgard hee gaue to the Prince for guides the Earle of Warwicke The ordering of K. Ed. Army Godfray de Harecourt the Lords Stafford De la ware Bourcheir Clifford Cobham Holland Sir Iohn Chandos Sir Bartholomew Burwash Sir Robert Neuile with eight hundred men at Armes and two thousand Archers besides a thousand other most of them Welch men The second battaile was committed to the Earles Arundell and Northampton the Lords Rosse Willoughby Basset Saint Albin Multon and others wherein were eight hundred men at Armes and twelue hundred Archers The third battayle the King led himselfe hauing seuen hundred men at Armes and two thousand Archers These Battayles thus ordered mounted on a white Hobby hee rode from ranke to ranke to view them the one Marshall on his right hand the other on his left incouraging euery man that day to haue regarde to his right honour The French Kings Army was greater both in lustre and aduantage composed of aboue sixty thousand combatants well armed whereof the chiefe were Charles Earle of Alanson the Kings brother Iohn de Luxembourg King of Bohemia Charles de Bloys the Kings Nephew Ralph Duke of Lorrayne the Earle of Flanders Neuers Sancerre the Dolphin de Viennois of Barons Knights and Gentlemen aboue three thousand and on the Eue of the battayle Amè Earle of Sauoy arriued with a thousand men at armes more which made the French king swell with assurance of the maisterie so that hee longed to be at the incounter The Vauntgard hee commits to his brother The ordering of the French Kings Army at the battaile of Cressy Conte d' Alanson the Reere to the Earle of Sauoy the mayne battaile he leads himselfe his heate would scarce permit time for a little counsell what was fit to be done The olde King of Bohemia aduised that the Army should first take some repast and that the Infanterie consisting of Genouese which were about fifteene thousand crosse-bowes and sure men should make the first front and the Cauallarie to follow which was agreed on After their repast the Vauntgard set on the Conte d' Alanson contrarie to this order tooke it ill that the Genouese were in the first ranke in fury caused them to change place which changed the Seat of the Armie and wrought that discontent as it irritated them more against the leader then the enemy besides there fell at the instant a piercing shower of raine which dissolued their strings made their bowes vnusesull and at the breaking vp of the shower the Sunne shone full in the face of the French dazling their sight and on the backes of the English as if all made for them King Edward who had gotten to a winde-mill hill beholding as from a Sentinell with a setled spirit the countenance of the enemy and discouering both this accident King Edward discouers the disorders of the Frdnch. and the hurlement made by the change of place slacks not to take aduantage thereof and instantly sends to charge that part without giuing them time to reaccommodate themselues insomuch as the discouraged Genouese recoyle which the Conte d' Alanson perceiuing and comming on with the horse in great rage cries out On on let vs make way vpon the bellies of these Geuouese who doe but hinder vs and instantly prickes on with a full carrier through the midst of them attended with the Earles of Lorrayne Sauoy and the Dolphin de Viennois and neuer takes breath till he came vp to the English battayle where the Prince was which they found better setled their horses flanked with troupes of Archers whose strings hauing not felt the raine rained such a shower of steele vpon them as cooled their heate and all disordered them The French king seeing his brother thus indangered makes vp to disingage him whereupon the fight grew hot and doubtfull insomuch as the Commanders about the Prince send to King Edward to come vp with his power to ayd them the King demands the messenger whether his sonne were slaine or hurt the messenger answered no but hee was like to bee ouer layd Well then saide the King returne and tell them who sent you that so long as my sonne is aliue they send no more to me what euer happen for I will that the honour of this day be his And so being left to try for themselues they wrought it out with the sword and recouered the aduantage by reason the French king hauing his horse slaine vnder him and in danger to be troden to death had hee not beene recouered by the Lord Iohn Beaumont his new Pensioner was to the great discouragement of his people withdrawn out of the field Whereof notice being once taken by the English the day was soone after theirs and King Edward obtaines the victory in this great battaile of Cressy the greatest victory they euer had yet against the French and so bloody as there is not mention made of one prisoner taken in the battaile for they being once put to rout were all whom the sword could ouertake slaughtered out right Some few troupes that held together saued themselues by retyring to places neer adioyning The French king himselfe with a small company got to Bray in
the night and in approaching the walles the Guard asked Who goes there he answered The fortune of France His voyce being knowne the gates are opened and in is hee receiued with the teares and lamentations The French King flyes of his people when yet seekes to comfort all he could The number of the slaine on the place are certified to be 30. thousand The chiefe men were Charles d' Alanson Iohn Duke of Borbone Ralfe Earle of Lorraine Louys Earle of Flanders Iaques The number of the slaine Dauphin de Viennois Son to Imbert who after gaue Dauphine to the Crowne of France the Earles of Sancerre Harcourt brother to Geoffry and many other Earles Barons and gentlemen to the number of 1500. This memorable victorie hapned vpon the Saterday after Bartholomew day being the 26. of August 1346. All the Markes of an intire ouerthrowe rested with King Edward the field of the Battaile the bodies of the slaine and their spoiles The occasion of this great defeit according to humaine coniecture the French attribute to the choller rashnes and precipitation of their King and his brother and sure temeritie and presumption haue euer been the ruyne of great Actions especially in warre King Edward managed this victorie with as great moderation as he wanne it and first hauing imbraced his Sonne commending his valour shewed that day he renders thankes to God after as he had inuoked his ayde before at the beginning of the Battayle and earely in the morning being Sunday he sent out 300. Lances and 2000. Archers to discouer what was become of the enemie who found great Troupes of such as were comming from Abbe-uille St. Requier Roan and Beauvoys ignorant of what had hapned led by the Arch-byshop of Roan and the Prior of France whom they like wise defeited and slew 7000. Our Writers report that of Straglers which were fled from the Battaile or comming on hauing lost their way by reason of a thicke mist which hapned that morning were slaine many more then in the field the day before which sheweth vs the wonderfull losse this afflicted Countrie susteined at one fatall blow But this was not all the victories that fell to King Edward that yeere there was an other of more importance gotten in England by the Queene and his people at home against the K. of Scots who being set on by the French to diuert the warre there entred King Dauid ouerthrowne and taken prisoner vpon this Kingdome with 60. thousand men as our Writers report assuring himselfe of successe in regard as he supposed the maine strength thereof was now gone into France But he found the contrary the Lords of the North as Gilbert de Humfrivile Earle of Angos Henry Percie Ralph Nivile William Dayncourt with the Arch-byshop of Yorke the Bishop of Durham and others of the Clergie gathered so great force and so well ordered them by the animation of the Queene who was there in person as they vtterly defeited this great Armie tooke Dauid their King prisoner with the Earles of Fife Menteth Murry Sutherland the Lord Douglas the Arch-byshop of Saint Andrewes and others and put to the sword 15. thousand Scots This Victorie sell likewise vpon a Saterday and sixe weekes after that of Cressie And as if all concurred to make this yeere tryumphant The aydes sent to the Countesse of Monfert in Brittaine lead by Sir Thomas Dagworth ouerthrew and tooke prisoner Charles de Blois pretender to that Duchie and with him Monsieur la Val the Lords Rochford Beaumanoyr Charles de Bloys taken prisoner Loyacque with many other Barons Knights and Esquires there were slaine in the incounter the Lord De la Val father of him which was taken Vicont Rohan Monsieur de Chasteau Brian de Malestroit de Qnintin de Direval great Lords besides many other worthy men at Armes Knights and Esquires to the number of about 700. Thus all fell before the Sword of England Now King Edward without medling with the great Cities Amiens and Abbeville which were both neere marches on directly and sets downe before Calais a Towne of more importance for England and the gate to all the rest wherein Iohn de Vienne Marshal of France and the Lord d' Andreghen a great man in his time commanded All that Winter King Edward hauing sheltred his people as in another Towne furnished with all prouisions lay without any molestation of the French King who King Edward besiegeth Calais this while was likewise besieged with the affliction of his owne state Misfortune is euer held a great fault both in mightie men and meane and opens the mouthes of those whose hearts are peruerse The people of France were in extreame pouertie yet notwithstanding the necesitie of the Kings affayres must constraine fresh supplyes The ill managing the publique treasure the falshood of the Financiers the decrying of Moneys the deminishing of trafficke augmentation of impostes Subsidies Gabels c. were the causes of this publicke murmur and put the people in dispaire seeing no end of the troubles wherein their King was dayly more and more ingaged And now was no way to helpe him but by an assembly of the States Wherein the Financiers Receiuers and managers of monies are called to render an account and the treasure committed to the disposing of the Cleargy and the Nobles to take away suspition in the people of ill dealing Foure Bishops two Abbots and foure Knights are chosen for that businesse Pierre des Essars Treasurer of France is committed to The State of France prison condemned in a great Fine to the King Other Officers and accountants restore at once what they were long in gathering The Banquiers Lombards and other vsurers are put to the presse for their vnlawfull exactions the Intrests are proued to exceed the Principall which is confiscate to the King and the Intrest giuen to the Debtors Courses wherewith indigent Kings in expensiue times vse to serue their turnes and please their oppressed people Which I haue the rather noted though it lye without our circle to shew that other Kings likewise layd hand vpon what they could fasten as well as ours haue done and made benefite of mens offences onely this of the Vsurer is new to vs but yet like to that practised heretofore vpon the Iewes and might serue a turne with as much content to the people and as faire a shew of a iust correction as theirs did the nature of the Extortors being alike Ayded with this meanes and the ready seruice of his Nobles and ablest subiects the French king in the Spring hath an Army in the field approaches Callais but findes no way open to come to relieue it The King of England was both Maister of the Hauen and possest all other wayes whatsoeuer were passable and had the Flemings his friends who with a huge Army had besieged Ayre and did much mischiefe on the confines of France To oppose them is Iohn Duke of Normandy the Prince sent for out
perticular Lords whose Homages were passed ouer to the King of England protested against it Alledging how that the King could not dispose of the Soureigntie of the Kingdome nor alien his Domaine and therefore they would not obey it The French King notwithstanding least King Edward should thinke this but a collusion betweene him and his subiects publishes his Commandement for the obseruation of the Accord and thereof certifies King Edward Besides he had vndertaken a iourney for the Holy warres and desired to settle all things in peace at home before his going And this might be the occasion of his comming and not his loue to the Conntesse of Salisburie as is reported But howsoeuer this King shewed a Strange disposition to returne to the Gaole where he had indured so much affliction and where shortly after his comming The death of King Iohn of France hee ended his life much lamented of the King of England who sole mnly attended his Corps to Douer whence it was conuayed to Saint Denys and entombed with his Ancestors An. 1364. Reg. 38. The debate for the Duchie of Britaigne is about this time determined by the death of Charles de Bloys slaine in a Battaile neere Vannes by Iohn de Monfort and the English Forces led by the Lord Latimer Sir Iohn Chandos and Sir Hugh Cauerley The businesse of Britayne accomdated for a time Iohn de Monfort marries Mary Daughter to King Edward and by his consent doth his homage for the Duchie to Charles now King of France compounding with the widdow of Charles de Bloys for a summe of money and some estate in land And heere we haue some time of rest which the Souldier whom the warre had bred could not well brooke The cast Companies in France though they had no Head yet had strong Bodies and did much mischiefe in many parts of that Kingdom till they were imployed in the Warres of Spaine which fell out shortly after A Company of them passed over into Italie vnder the conduct of Sir Iohn Haucut a great The Italians call him Iohannos de Acuto Warriour who found such entertainement with the Princes there where hee reuiued Militarie discipline that had layne long vnused among them and got such honour and estate by his valour as his fame remaines to this day and his Statue amongst their memorable Princes for action and vertue though hee went but a Taylorout of this Kingdome which in those dayes could haue furnished the whole world with Leaders and expert Militarie men And now heere haue we brought this mightie King to the Fortieth yeere of his Anno Reg. 40. Raigne which had it beene his last wee had left him the most glorious and tryumphant Prince in the world to whom Fortune neuer yet shewed her back neuer was retrograd But now these last ten yeeres present vs with a turning of the Beame a declination from that height of glory with certaine blemishes that age and frailtie brought vpon him This new King of France Charles the fift Intituled The wise recouered great aduantages vpon him hauing in the life time of his Father strugled so with affliction a better Mistresse of wisedome then prosperitie and learned so well to know a Crowne before he had it as now hee manages the same with great temperance and vigilancie and finding the preseruation of that State consisted more in counsell then force which had beene too aduenturously imployed by his Father and Grand-father he workes his fortune by lying still hauing excellent aydes and ministers to execute his designes and labour for him of whom for his warres Guesclin a Brittaine whom hee made Constable of France was of especiall note and first shewed the way how that State was to be recouered The Prince of Wales remayning in his Duchy of Aquitayne with a great Court which required great expences and many military attendants without worke is Anno Reg. 41. 1367. solicited by Peter King of Castile chased out of his kingdome by his bastard brother Henry to ayde him to recouer the same which the Prince vpon great promises of remuneration vndertakes by the consent of his father The cause was better then the person For this Peter sonne to Alphonso 11. King of Castile had cōmitted so tyrannicall outrages as were intollerable to his subiects oppressing and destroying The Prince of wales aides the King of Castile his Nobles to inrich himselfe putting away and after murthering his wife which was daughter to Peter Duke of Burbon sister to the now Queen of France by the instigation of his Concubine Maria de Padilla whom he afterwards married Whereupon the State adhering to his brother Henry who though he were a bastard by his birth was more Legittimate by his vertues then hee who was more a bastard by his vices crowned him King of Spaine at Bargos and forced Peter to fly the kingdome This Peter thus reiected the Prince of Wales with an Army of thirty thousand attended by his brother Iohn Duke of Lancaster and many Lords of England goes to re-inuest in his kingdome Henry is ayded by the French and those floting companies fore-remembred led by Guesclin Constable and Dandrehen Marshall of France hauing besides of Castilians Christians and Sarasins so many as his Army consisted of neere an hundred thousand men Vpon the borders of Castile it came to a Battayle the Prince of Wales hath the victory Henry is put to flight the French Leaders taken prisoners and Peter put into his Throne againe at Bargos The worke done reward for the same is required by the Prince which Peter could not or cared not to prouide but staruing him with delayes inforced him in the end to returne to Burdeaux without mony to pay his Army which was worse without health which he neuer after recouered This successe had this vnfortunate action vndertaken to right an vngratefull Tyrant who afterwarde notwithstanding was The Prince obtaines the victory in Spaine againe dispossessed taken and put to death by his brother Henry It is written that to strengthen himselfe hee combined with a Prince of the Sarazins married his daughter and renounced the Christian faith but it is commonly the reward of euill princes to be made worse then they are The Prince of Wales returning thus out of Spaine charged with more debts then before and destitute of meanes to content his people fals vpon another misfortune The il successe of that iourny as commonly men in these declinations seeking remedies increase maladies imposing a new taxation vpon the Gascoignes of Feuage or Chymney mony so discontented the people as they exclaime against the gouernment of the English and appeale to the King and Court of France for redresse The King of France at the instance of the great Lords and others who were turned ouer by the accord to hold of the Crowne of England sends a Gentleman to the Prince of Wales at Burdeaux with sommons to answere before him and his
know not and thither the Duke himselfe brings Prince Richard of the age of 11. yeeres places him in the Kings Seat and taught him to Iohn Sow demaund a Subsidie Which was two Tenths to be payd in one yeere Or twelue The Prince motions a Subsidie in diuers kinds pence in the pound of all Marchandizes sold for one yeere and one pound of siluer for euery Knights Fee and of euery Fire-house one penie And this Demaund the Duke earnestly vrges Saying one of them ought of necessitie to be granted in regard the Enemie proclayming Warre purposed to inuade the Realme The Knights of the Parliament whom the Duke they sayd had by practise made The Parliament diuided and put by all of the last Assembly except twelue which he could not alter require respite to answere a day is appointed The maior part make choyce of one Hungerford a Creature of the Dukes to deliuer their answere The other would haue Sir Peter Dela Mare to be inlarged and deliuer theirs and also answere to what could be obiected against him before the Lords in Parliament and thereto submit himselfe Then the Duke demaunds ayd of the Bishops They refuse to treate therein without their Brother the Bishop of Winchester prohibited from comming to the Parliament Now there fell out an Accident that besides gaue interruption to this businesse A certaine Divine named Iohn Wicliff depriued by the Arch-bishop of Canterbuie of a benefice in Oxford which hee was found vniustly to holde had heretofore being discontented the humour that commonly breeds Scisme inueighed in his Sermons A dissention about Iohn Wicliffe and other actes in the Schooles against the abuses of Church-men Monkes and other religious orders which were not then so free from scandall but might well be taxed and had by his doctrine there and in London wonne many Disciples vnto him who after were called Lollards professing pouerty going bare-footed and poorely clad in russet which made them as extreames are the more noted and get passage into the opinion of the people apt to imbrace nouelties and vsually beguiled by disguises in regarde they rather belieue then iudge Amongst other his Doctrines he taught that neither King or other Secular Lord could giue any His doctrine thing in Perpetuitie vnto Church-men and that Temporall Lords if they neede might lawfully take the goods of such religious persons to relieue them in their necessities by the example of William Rufus c. A doctrine very pleasing to great men who commonly imbrace Sects either for ambition to get or for iealousie not to lose or for hatred to reuenge This man the Duke of Lancaster and Sir Henry Percy much fauour and cherishe The Duke of Lancaster fauours Wicliffe and why extolling him both for his learning and integrity of life which made him so farre presume as hee daily in one Church or other published his opinions without feare whereupon at length hee is cited to answere before the Archbishop the Bishop of London and others in Paules At the day appointed the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Marshall goe to conduct him by the way hee is animated by his followers not to feare the Bishops and entring into Paules the presse is so great as hardly any passage could be made whereupon the Marshall vsing some violence thrust in vpon the people which Courtney Bishop of London prohibited him to doe saying The conuention of Wicliffe before the Bishops in Pauls If he had knowne he would haue behaued himselfe so in that place hee should not haue come into the Church The Duke hearing these wordes angerly replyed That the Marshall should execute his authority whether hee would or not When they were come to our Ladies Chappell the Duke and Barons with the Bishops sitting downe Iohn Wicliffe sent for in by the Lord Marshall was by him likewise willed to sit downe in regard hee sayd the man had much to answere and needed a conuenient seat The Bishop of London tolde him it was against all law and reason that hee who was there cited before his Ordinary should sit hereupon contumelious wordes arose betweene the Lord Marshall and the Bishop the Duke takes the Marshals part and sharply reprehended the Bishop the Bishop returnes the like to the Duke who in great rage seeing hee could not preuayle swore hee would pull downe the pride of him and all the Bishops of England You trust sayd hee in your Parents but they can profit you nothing I trust not in my Parents said the Bishop nor in any man liuing but in God in whom I ought to trust The Duke as if whispering in his eare tolde him hee had rather pull him out of the Church by the hayre of the head then suffer these indignities which wordes the Londoners ouer-hearing swore with a lowde voyce they would rather lose their liues then suffer their Bishop to bee thus iniuriously vsed and threatened to bee pulled out off The Citizens of London take their Bishops part his owne Church Their fury was the more incensed against the Duke for that the day before in the Parliament whereof hee was president it was required in the Kings name that from thence forth there should bee no more a Mayor of London but a Captaine appoynted for the gouernment of the City and that the Lord Marshall of England should arrest offenders within the Liberties as in other places About this businesse and this wrong offered to their Bishop the Citizens assembling The Citizens in vprore the morrow after to consult amongst themselues it happened the Lord Fitzwater and Guido Brian came into the City which the people seeing furiously ranne vpon them and were like to beate them downe for comming vnsent for at that time The Lord Fitzwater protested hee came for no other end but to offer his setuice to the City being by inheritance their Standard-bearer and was to take iniuries offered to them as to himselfe and therefore willed them to looke to their defence Whereupon they presently take Armes assayle the Marshals Inne breake open the gates brought forth a prisoner in his Gyues and let him at liberty but found not the Lord Marshall who with the Duke that day were to dine with one Iohn de Ypres Thence thus surious multitude ran to assayle the Sauoy which a Knight of the Dukes seeing hastes to the place whsre his Master dyned and acquaintes him with this vp-roare in the Citie The Duke leaps from the Table so hastily that hee hurt The Duke of Lancasier in danger slees to the Princesse both his shinnes in the Fourme and with Sir Henry Percie alone takes boar and away he gets to Kennington neere Lambeth where the Princesse with the young Prince lay to whom he complaines of this Ryot and the violence offered him In the meane time the multitude comming to the Sauoy a priest inquisitiue to know the busines was answered They went to take the Duke and the Lord Mashall and
3. His loue to his subiects was exprest in the often easing of their grieuances and his willingnesse to giue them all faire satisfaction as appeares by the continuall granting of the due obseruation of their Charters in most of his Parliaments And when Anno Reg. 14. they were iealous vpon his assuming the title of the Kingdome of France least England should thereby come to be vnder the Subiection of that Crowne as being the greater he to cleare them of that doubt passed a Statute in the firmest manner could be deuised that this Kingdome should His Proui dence remayne intyre as before without any violation of the rights it had Prouident hee was in all his actions neuer vndertaking any thing before hee had first furnished himselfe with meanes to performe it And therein his subiects allowed him more with lesse adoe then euer any of his Predecessors had and he as fairely issued what hee receiued from them hauing none other priuate vent of profusion then his enterprises for aduancing the State honour of the Kingdom True it is that most attent and carefull hee was to get monies but yet it was without the Sackage of any man such as his Grand-father made vpon the Officers of Iustice the Iewes and others For his gifts wee finde them not such as either hurt his owne fame and reputation or any way distasted the State To be short hee was a Prince who knew his worke and did it and therefore was hee better obeyed better respected and serued then any of his Predecessors His Workes of Pietie were great and many as the founding of East-minster an Abbay His workes of Pietie of the Cisteaux Order neere the Towre An Abbey for Nunnes at Detford The Kings Hall in Cambridge for poore Schollers An Hospitall for the poore at Calais The building of Saint Stephans Chappell at Westminster with the endowment of 300. pound per ann to that Church His augmenting the Chappell at Winsor and prouisions there for Church-men and 24. poore Knights c. These were his publique His Buildings Workes the best Monuments and most lasting to glorifie the memorie of Princes Besides these his priuate buildings are great and many as the Castle of Winsor which he re-edified and enlarged The Castle of Quinborow Fortifications at Calais and other places His magnificence was shewed in his Tryumphes and Feasts which were sumptuously His Magnifcence celebrated with all due Rites and Ceremonies the preseruers of Reuerence and Maiestie To conclude hee was a Prince whose nature agreed with his Office as onely made for it Those defaillances wee finde in him at last wee must not attribute to him but his age wherein we neuer yet saw Prince happie When their vigor fayles them which is commonly about 60. their Fortune doth Whilest this Prince held together he was indissolueble and as he was then we take his Figure Fortunate he was also in his Wife a Ladie of excellent vertue who though shee His Wife and yssue brought him little or none Estate she brought him much content some benefit by Alliance a faire Yssue She drew euenly with him in al the courses of Honor that appertained to her side seems a peece so iust cut for him as answer'd him rightly in euery ioynt Gracious louing she euer shewed her-selfe to this Nation did many works of Pietie amongst which Queenes Colledge in Oxford remaines especially a Monument of her Name and Renowne And it is worthy the Marke that this King and his Grand-father Edward the first the best of our Kings had the two best Wiues Which shewes that worthines is such an Elixar as by contaction if there be any disposition of goodnesse in the Metall it will render it of the same Propertie So that these Queenes could be no otherwise then they were hauing so execellent Husbands She bare vnto him 7. Sonnes whereof 5. liued to haue Yssue Edward Prince of Wales Lionel Duke of Clarence Iohn Duke of Lancaster Edmond Earle of Cambridge after Duke of Yorke and Thomas of Wood-stock which became Duke of Gloster Foure Daughters of fiue she bare liued to be marryed Isabel the eldest to Ingelxam Lord of Coucy Earle of Soissons and Bedford Ioan to Alphonso 11. King of Castile but she dyed before she lay with him Mary to Iohn Monfort Duke of Brittaigne Margaret to Iohn Hastings Earle of Pembroke and shee also dyed without Yssue Thus haue we seene the end of this great King who how he came to the Crowne we know and now how he left it we see in both are considerations of importance His stepping ouer his Fathers head to come to his throne though it were not his fault yet had it a punishment and that in a most high kinde For hauing so plentifull and so able an Yssue Male he had not yet a Sonne of his owne to sit on his Seat but left the same worse then he found it to a Childe of eleuen yeeres of age exposed to the Ambition of Vncles which ouer weighed him to a factious and discontented State at home to broken and distracted inheritances abroad himselfe hauing seene all his great gettings purchased with so much expence trauaile bloud-shed rent cleane from him and nothing remayning but onely the poore Towne of Calais To shewe that our Bounds are prescribed vs and a Pillar set by him who beares vp the Heauens which we are not to transpasse The end of the Life and Raigne of Edward the Third THus farre haue I brought this Collection of our History and am now come to the highest exaltation of this Kingdome to a State full built to a Gouernment reared vp with all those mayne Couplements of Forme and Order as haue held it together euer since notwithstanding those dilapidations made by our ciuile Discord by the Nonage or negligence of Princes by the alterations of Religion by all those corruptions which Tyme hath brought forth to fret and can ker-eate the same And here I leaue vnlesse by this which is done I finde incouragement to goe on
where as before the English liued loose in little homely cottages where they spent all their reucnewes in good fare caring for little other gaiety at all Now after the Norman manner they build them goodly Churches Malmsbury Maurici is Bishop of London An. Dom. 1087. new built the Church of S. Paule in London of stone brought out of Normandy and stately houses of stone prouide better furnishments erect Castles and Towers in other sort then before They inclose Parkes for their priuate pleasure being debard the generall liberty of hunting which heretofore they inioyed whereupon all the termes of building hunting tooles of workemen names of most handy-crafts apperteining to the defences and adornements of life came all to be in French And withall the Norman habits and fashion of liuing became generally assumed both in regard of nouelty and to take away the note of difference which could not be well lookt on in this change The Charter of William 1. graÌ„ted to this Church see the Appendix Before this time the Chur ches were most of Timber And though the body of our language remained in the Saxon yet it came so altered in the habit of the French tongue as now we hardly know it in the auntient forme it had and not so much as the Character wherein it was written but was altred to that of the Roman and French now vsed But to the end we may the better know the man and the nation that thus subdude vs we must take our course vp to the head of their originals The Normans we find to haue issued out of Norway and Denmarke and were of like maners as the rest of those Northerne countries which by reason of the apt mixture William 1. built the white Tower afterwards walled incastelled underneath by William 2. and Henry 1. of their Phlegmatique and Sanguine complexions with their promiscuous ingendring without any tye of marriage yeelded that continuall surchargement of people as they were forced to vnburthen themselues on other Countries wheresoeuer their violence could make them roome And out of this redundancy Roul or Rou a great Commander amongst them furnished a robustious power in the time of King Alfrid and first landed in England that euer lay in the Roade to all these inuadors where finding no roome empty nor any imployment was content vpon some reliefe receiued The Saxon habit and Characters first altered to vse his forces otherwhere which he did against Rambalt Duke of Frize and Reâ—gnier Duke of Chaumont and Hennalt with whom he had many violent incounters and committed great spoiles in their Countries Which done he passed along the coast The Originall of the Normans Roul or Rou the first Norman that landed in EnglaÌ„d of Fraunce entred the mouth of Seine and sackt all the Countrey vp to Roan where the people hauing beene lately before miserably afflicted by Hasting another inuador of the same Nation were so terrified by the approach of these new forces that the Archbishop of Roan by the consent of the people offered him the obedience of that Citty and the Countrey about on condition he would defend them and minister Iustice The History of Normand Roul the first Conqueror of Normandy froÌ„ the French calling it Norman according to the Lawes of CHRIST and the Customes of the Countrey For Charles the Simple then King of Fraunce yeelding no present succour being otherwise imbroiled about the right of his Crowne gaue him the opportunity to plant in that place and to grow so powerfull as shortly after he attempted the Conquest of Paris and gaue many notable defeits to the French Leaders So that in the end Charles was faine to buye his peace with the price of an alliance and the whole Countrey of Nuestria or Westrich which of the Normans was after called Normandy And thereupon Roul became a Christian and baptized had the name of Robert giuen by Robert brother to Eudes late King of Fraunce who then stood in competition for that Crowne with Charles the Simple and is sayd to haue vnder-aided Roul secretly of purpose to make him friend his deseignes though after he vrged it in an article against Charles the giuing away his Countrey and the sauouring of strangers And thus came Roul to establish a State to his posterity ordering the same with that iudgement and equity as he left his name in a perpetuall reuerence and his successors a firme foundation to plant vpon From him in a direct line descended sixe Dukes of Normandy in the space of 120. yeares William 1. Richard 1. Richard 2. who had two sonnes Richard and Robert that successiuely inherited the Dukedome Robert after he had gouerned eight yeares either meerely for deuotion which charitie ought rather deeme or expiation for some secret guilt wherewith his conscience might stand charged about his brothers death which because it was vntimely might be thought vnnaturall resolues to visite the Holy Sepulchre And acquainting his Nobility therewithall was by them much diswaded in regard he had no issue and for that already they sayd Alain Earle of Britaine and the Earle of Burgogne were in contestation who should succeed him in the Dutchie so that vpon his death and their strife the Country was like to become a prey to the souldier from which in conscience he was bound by his best meanes to secure it The Duke willed them to bee content I haue said he a little Bastard of whose worthinesse I haue great hope and I doubt not but he is of my begetting him will I inuest in the Dutchie as mine heire And from hence forth I pray you take him for your Lord. The Earle of Brittaine notwithstanding his competition to shew the affiance I haue in him I will constitute his gouernour and Seneschall of Normandie the King of France shal be his Guardian and so I will leaue him to God and your loyalties Shortly after the Bishops and Barons did their homage to this base sonne named William who was the sixt Duke of Normandie after Roule begotten on Arlette a meane woman of Falaise And Duke Robert taking his intended iourney deliuers the Child with his owne hand to Henrie the first King of France whom before hee had mainely aided in preseruing his Crowne left him by his father King Roberts Testament against his elder brother and his mother Constance which with a great side of Nobility stood for the right of Primogeniture according to the custome of France And therefore might the more presume if good turnes done to Princes could weigh so much as their selfe-respects would not turne the skale to haue had a faire discharge of his trust and him for a Protector whose power was best able to bee so And causing the Childe to doe homage for his Duchie of Normandie commits him to his Royall faith departs his Court and shortly after his life in Asia Whereupon his successor but nine yeares of age became obnoxious to all the miseries thar afflict Princes
his person to auenge his wrath Duke William likewise as it stood him most vpon shewed effects of an all-daring and magnanimous Prince And yet had not Ralfe de Tâ—sson beene false to his fellowes to recouer faith with him he had not carried as he did the victory After which diuers of the conspirators who had too great hearts to yeeld passed the mountaines into Italie to Robert Guiscard their Countryman who of a priuate Gentleman was now by his prowesse become Lord of Apulia Calabria and Sicile within the space of twelue yeares to whom they were exceeding welcome and especially Guilleson for hauing incountred with a King in the middest of his battaile which made him of wider note But the better to know what starre these Norman spirits had as borne for the reuolutions of those times it shall not lie out of our way to shew how they first came into Italie vpon this occasion There happened a debate betweene one Osmond Drengot and William Repostell Gentlemen both valiant and of great parentage in Normandie who as they hunted in the forrest of Rouuerie neere Rouan with Duke Robert Drengot slue Repostell in his presence and fearing the fury of the Duke and the friends of the slaine fled to Rome and so to Naples where hee with his small company of Normans that followed him was entertained of the Duke de Bencuento to serue him against the Sarasins and Affricans which miserably infested Apulia and Calabria at that time The bruite of which entertainement was no sooner spred in Normandy but diuers valiant Gentlemen and Souldiers allured with the hope of good fortune passed the Alpes got to their nation and so wrought as they grew formidable to these Barbarians and in the end vtterly chaced and extinguished them The Calabrians and Apulians seeing themselues ridde of their enemies would haue beene glad likewise their turne serued to bee rid of their friends and either vsing them more vnkindely then of custome or they presuming more of desert turned their swords vpon their intertayners And first got a little place which they fortified for the Rendeuous and receipt of booty And so augmenting still their winnings obteyned Territories Cities and Fortresses After the death of Drengo succeeded other gallant leaders and at length Tancred Signior de Hauteuille in Constantine with his twelue sonnes came into Apulia of whom his third sonne Robert surnamed Guiscard attained the commaund and was a man of a faire stature cleere iudgement and indefatigable courage Hee conquered all Apulia Callabria and Cicile passed the Sea into Greece releeued Michaell Diocrisius Empetour of Constantinople defeited N cephorus that vsurped the Empire and shortly after Alexius attempting the like and in one yeare vanquished two Emperours the one of Greece the other of Germanie Swayed the whole Estate of Italie and was in a faire way to haue attained the Empire of Constantinople for himselfe had hee not died in the expedition Beomond his eldest sonne by his first wife became after Prince of Antioch and is much renowned in the holy warres Roger of his second marriage with the daughter of the Prince of Salerno succeeded in the States of Italie as more theirs by birth and bloud His daughters were all highly married Thus from a priuate Gentleman came this famous Norman to leaue a succession of Kings and Princes after him and died the same yeare as did this William his concurrent in the loue and fauour of fortune And to this man fled all the discontented and desperate Normans during these ciuill warres the Duke had with so many competitors and euery ouerthrow hee gaue them augmented Guiscards forces in Italie and especially this battaile of Dunes which ended not the Dukes trauailes for Guy de Burgogne escaping the fight fortified the Castles of Briorn and Verneuille but in the end was faine to render them both and himselfe to the Dukes mercie and became his pencioner who was his competitor which act of clemency in the Duke brought in many other to submit themselues whereby they re-obteyned their segniories but had their Castles demolished Hauing ended this worke new occasion to keepe him in action was ministred by Geoffry Martle Earle of Aniou who warring vpon the Poictouins incroached also vpon his neighbours States and vsurped Alenson Dampfront and Passais members of the Dutchy of Normandie which to recouer the Duke leauies an Armie and first got Alenson where for that he was opprobriously skorned by the besieged who when they saw him would cry La Pel La Pel in reproach of the basenesse of his mother and the trade of the place of his birth hee shewed extreame cruelty Then layes he siege to Dampfront which to releeue Conte Martel comes with his greatest forces and the Duke to take notice of his strength sends out Roger de Mongomerie with two other knights to deliuer this message to the Earle That if he came to victuall Dampfronte he should finde him there the Porter to keepe him out whereto the Earle returnes this answere Tell the Duke to morrow by daie breake hee shall haue mee there on a white horse readie to giue him the Combate and I will enter Dampfront if I can And to the end hee shall know me I will weare a shield d' or without any deuise Roger replies Sir you shall not neede to take that paines for to morrow morning you shall haue the Duke in this place mounted on a bay horse And that you may know him hee shall weare on the point of his Launce a streamer of tasfata to wipe your face Herewith returning each side prepares for the morning when the Earle busie in ordering his battailes was aduertised by two horsemen that came crossing the field how Dampfronte for certaine was rendred to the Duke whereupon in great rage hee presently departs with his Army whereof a part was in passing a streight cut off by Viconte Neel who for that seruice redeemed his former offence and was restored to the Dukes fauour whom euer after hee faithfully serued Those of Dampfronte desperate of succour presently yeelde themselues to the Duke who with his ingines and forces remooues from thence to Hambrieres a frontier Towne of Conte Martels and by the way had it not beene by himselfe discouered hee had beene vtterly ouerthrowne by an ambush which gaue him much to doe and lost him verie many braue men Wherewith hee grew so inraged that hee rushed into the troupes of his enemies made at Conte Martel stracke him downe with his sworde claue his helmet and cut off an eare but yet hee escaped out of the preasse though diuers were taken and the Aniouuins vtterly defeited Whilst thus hee was trauailed with an outward enemy two more were found at home to conspire against him William Guelan Earle of Mortagne discended from Richard the second And William Earle of Eu and Montreul issuing from William the brother of the same Richard and of Esselin Countesse of Montreul the first vpon suspition the other vpon proofe
of this Kingdome which could not but be likesome to the State in generall and all preferments and dignities conser'd on his to be either by vacancies or displacing others which must needs breed very feeling grieuances in particular And yet wee finde no great men thrust out of their roomes but such as put themselues out by reuolting after his establishment and their fealtie giuen as appeares by the controuersie betweene Warren the Norman and Sherburn of Sherburn Castle in Norfolke which castle though the King had giuen to Warren yet when Sherburn alledged How hee neuer bare Armes against him Cambden Nors that hee was his subiect as well as the other and held his Lands by that Law which he had established amongst all his subiects the King gaue iudgement against Warren and commanded that Sherburn should hold his Land in peace So that it seemes hee contented himselfe and his for the time onely with what he found here ready and with filling vp their places who were slaine in the battell or fled as many were with the sonnes of Harald out of the Kingdome Such Gentlemen as he could not presently preferre M. S. and had a purpose to aduance hee dispersed abroad into Abbeys there to liue till places fell out for them and 24 he sent to the Abby of Eley whereby he not onely lessened the multitude of attendants and suitors at Court eased that eye-sore of strangers but also had them a watch ouer the Clergie who then were of great and eminent power in the Kingdome and might preuaile with the people But the English Nobility incompatible of these new concurrents found notwithstanding 1067. Anno. Reg. 2. such a disproportion of grace and darkning of their dignities by the interposition of so many as must needs lessen their splendour that many of the chiefest doubting to be more impayred in honour and estate conspired together and fled some into Scotland and some into Denmarke to trie if by ayde from abroad they might The English Nobility forsake the kingdome recouer themselues and their lost fortunes againe at home Amongst which the chiefe was Edgar Atheling termed Englands Dearling which shewed the peoples zeale to his bloud who with his mother Agatha and his two sisters Magaret and Christin intending to retire into Hungarie their natiue Country were driuen by tempest on the coast of Scotland where they were in all Hospitable manner entertained by Malcolin the third whose former suffrings in his exile had taught him to compassionate others like distresses and whom it concerned now to looke to his owne his neighbours house being thus on fire and to foster a pattie against so daungerous an in-commer that was like to thrust them all out of doore Which induced him not onely to entertaine this Prince dispossest of his right but to enter league with him for the publique safetie And to inchaine it the stronger hee takes to wife Margaret the The King of Scots enters league with the English Nobility and marries Edgars sister sister of Edgar a Ladie indued withall blessed vertues by whom the bloud of our auncient Kings was preserued and conioyned with the Norman in Henry the second and so became English againe Vnto Edgar in Scotland repaired the Earles Edwin and Morchar Hereward Gospatric Siward with others and shortly after Stigand and Aldred Arch-bishops with diuers of the Clergie who in the third yeare of this Kings raigne raised very great commotions in the North beyond Humber and wrought most egarly 1068. Anno. Reg. 3. to recouer their lost Country but being now to late and the occasion not taken before the settling of the gouernment whilst it was new and branling they preuailed nothing but gaue aduantage to the Conquerour to make himselfe more then hee was For all conspiracies of subiects if they succeed not aduance the soueraigntie and nothing gaue roote to the Norman planting here more then the petty reuolts made by discattred troupes in seuerall parts begunne without order and followed without resolution whereas nothing could be done for a generall recouery but by a generall sulleuation of the people for which all wary preuention was vsed and they had waites enough laide on to hold them downe And though these Lords imbroiled themselues and held him doing in the North yet hee hauing all the South parts setled vnder his domination with well practized and prepared forces there could bee little hope of good whilst all their great estates furnisht the Normans both in state and meanes to ruine them The Earledome and all the Lands which Edwin held in See the Charter in the Appendix Yorkeshire were giuen to Alain Earle of Brittaine kinsman to the Conqueror The Arch-bishopricke of Canterburie confer'd on Lanfranc Abbot of Caen. That of Yorke on Thomas his Chaplaine and all the rest both of the Clergie and others which were out had their places within supplied by Normans And after King William had appeased a Commotion in the West which the sonnes of Harald with forces out of Ireland had raised also repressed the rebellions of Excester and Oxford he takes his iourney in person Northward with all expedition least the enemy there should grow to high in heart and opinion vpon the great slaughter of his people made at Yorke and the defeiture of his Brother and Leiuetenant Robert Earle of Mortaigne slaine with seuen hundreth Normans at Durham where at his first comming he so wrought that he either discomfeited or corrupted the Generals of the Danicque forces newly arriued to ayde the Lords sent by Swaine King of Denmarke vnder the conduct of his two sonnes Harald and Knute with a Nauie of three hundreth saile and after sets vpon the Army of the Lords weakened both in strength and hope by this departure of their Confederates and puts them to flight Which done he vtterly wasted and laide desolate all that goodly Countrey betweene Yorke and Durham the space of 60. miles as it might be no more a succour to the enemy And the like course he used on all the Coasts where any aptlandings lay for inuasions and so returnes to London Most of the Lords after this defeit came in vpon publique faith giuen them and were conducted to Barkehamsted by the Abbot Fredricke where vpon their submission and Oath of Allegeance re-taken they had their pardon and restitution of grace graunted by the King who it seemes was so willing to acquiet them that againe he takes his personall Oath before the Arch-bishop Lanfrancke and the Lords To obserue See the Appendix the Auntient Lawes of the Realme established by his Noble Predecessors the Kings of England and especially those of Edward the Confessor Whereupon these stormy dispositions held calme a while But long it was not ere many of these Lords whether vpon intelligence of new 1074. Anno. Reg. 8. hopes from Prince Edgar who was still in Scotland or growne desperate with new displeasures at home finding small performance of promises made rupture
of Oath and all other respects brake out againe The Earle Edwyn making towards Scotland was murthered by his owne people The Lords Morchar and Hereward betooke them to the Isle of Eley meaning to make good that place for that Winter whether also repaired the Earle Syward and the Bishop of Durham out of Scotland But the King who was no time-giuer vnto growing dangers besets all the Isle with flat boates on the East and made a bridge of two miles long on the West and safely brought in his people vpon the enemy who seeing themselues surprized yeelded all to the Kings mercy except Hereward who desperatly marched with his people through the Fennes and recouered Scotland The rest were sent to diuerse Prisons where they died or remained during the Kings life Those Lords who persisted loyall vpon this last submission were all imployed and well graced with the King as Edric the Forrester and first that rebelled in his Raigne was held in cleere trust and neere about him Gospatrice he made Earle of Northumberland and sent him against Malcolin who in this time subdues the Countries of Tisdall Cleueland and Comberland Waltheof sonne to the Earle Syward he held so worthy to be made his as he married him to his Neece Iudith though he had beene a principall actor in the Northerne commotion and in defending the Citty of Yorke against him is sayd to haue striken off the heads of diuerse Normans one by one as they entered a breach to the admiration of all about him shewing therein that true touch of the noblest nature to loue vertue euen in his enemies And now seeing Scotland to be the especiall retraite for all conspirators and discontented in his Kingdome yeelding them continuall succour and assistance and where his compecitor Edgar liued to be get and nurse perpetuall matter for their hopes and at hand for all aduantages he enters that Kingdome with a puissant Army which incountring with more necessities then forces soone grew tired and both Kings considering of what difficulties the victory would consist were willing to take the safest way to there ends and vpon faire ouertures to conclude a peace Articling for the bounds of each Kingdome with the same title of Dominion as in former tunes All delinquents and their partakers generally pardoned Heere with the vniuersoll turne of alteration thus wrought in England Scotland being Scotlād before this time gene rally spake a kind of Irish. a part of the body of this Isle is noted to haue likewise had a share and as in the Court of England the French tongue became generally spoken so in that of Scotland did the English by reason of the multitude of this Nation attending both the Qacene and her brother Edgar and daily repairing thither for their safety and combination against the common enemy of whom diuerse abandoning their natiue distressed Countrey were by the bounty of that King preferred and there planted spread their off-spring into many noble families remaining to this day The titles for distinguishing Titles of honor in Scotland degrees of honour as of Duke Earle Baron Rider or Knight were then as is thought first introduced and the nobler sort began to be called by the title of their Signories according to the French manner which before bate the name of their Father with the addition of Mac after the fashion of Ireland Other innouations no doubt entred there likewise at the opening of this wide mutation of ours fashion and imitation like weedes easily growing in euery soyle Shortly after this late made peace Prince Edgar voluntarily came in and submitted Edgar Atheling submitted him selfe to King William himselfe to the King being then in Normandy and was restored to grace and a faire maintenance which held him euer after quiet And it made well at that time for the fortune of the King howsoeuer for his owne being thought to haue ill-timed his affaires either through want of seasonable intelligence or dispaire of successe in making 1075. Anno. Reg. 9. too soone that submission which was latter or neuer to be done For in this absence of the King Roger Fits Auber the young Earle of Hereford contrary to his expresse commandement gaue his sister in marriage to Raph Waher Earle of Northfolke and Suffolke and at the great Solemnization thereof the two Earles conspired with Eustace Earle of Boloigne who secretly came ouer to this festiuall and with the Earle Waltheof and other English Lords to call in the Danes and by maine power to keepe out and dispossesse the King Who hauing thus passed ouer so many gulfes of forraine 1076. Anno. Reg. 10. dangers might little imagine of any wracke so neere home and that those whom he had most aduanced should haue the especiall hand in his destruction But no rewards are benefits that are not held so nor can euer cleere the accounts with them that ouer-value their merits And had not this conspiracy bene opportunely discouered which some say was by the Earle Waltheof moued with the vglinesse of so soule an ingratitude they had put him againe to the winning of England But now the fire bewrayed before it flamed was soone quenched by the diligence of Odon the Kings Vice-gerent the Bishop of Worcester and others who kept the Conspirators from ioyning their forces So that they neuer came to make head but were either surprized or forced to flye The Earle Roger Fitz Auber was taken and some say executed and so was shortly after the Earle Waltheof whose dissent from the act could not get him pardon for his former consent though much compassion in respect of his great worthinesse But the 1077. Anno. Reg. 11. wide distent of these tumors fed from many secret vaines seemed to be of that danger as required this extremity of cure especially in a part so apt for infection vpon any the like humours For this Conspiracy seemes to take motion from a generall league of all the neighbour Princes here about as may well be gathered by their seuerall actions First in the King of Fraunce by defending Dole in Brittaigne a Castle of Raph de Waher against the King of England and in likelihood imploying the Earle of Boloigne to wards the Conspirators In Swayne King of Denmarke by sending a Nauy of two hundreth saile vnder the conduct of his sonne Knute and others In Drone King of Ireland by furnishing the sonnes of Harald with 65. ships In Malcoline and the Kings of Wales by their readinesse to assist But the Danes being on the coast and hearing how their confederates had sped with the great preparations the King had made after some pillage taken vpon the coast of England and Flanders returned home and neuer after arriued to disturbe this land Though in Anno Reg. 19. Knute then King of Denmarke after the death of Swaine intending to repaire the dishonour of his two last aduentures past and to put for the Crowne of England his predecessors had holden prepared a Nauie
was for especiall persons and such whose liuings were of a rate allowable thereunto the vsuall opinion perswading them that men of ability held a more regard of honesty With these they had the triall of Campefight or single combat which likewise the Lumbards originally of the same German Nation brought into Italy permitted by the Law in cases either of safetie and fame or of possessions All which trials shew them to be ignorant in any other forme of Law or to neglect it Nor would they bee induced to forgoe these Customes and determine their affaires by Imperiall or Pontificiall Constitutions no more then would the Lumbards forsake their duellary Lawes in Italy which their Princes against some of their wils were constrained to ratifie as Luytprandus their King thus ingeniously confesses Wee are vncertaine of the iudgement of God and wee haue heard many by fight to haue lost their cause without iust cause yet in respect of the custome of our Nation we cannot auoide an impious Law But all these formes of iudgements and trials had their seasons Those of Fire and Water in short time after the Conquest grew disused and in the end vtterly obrogated by the Pope as deriued The English trials from Paganisme That of combat continues longer-liued but of no ordinarie vse And all actions now both criminall and reall beganne to be wholly adiudged by the verdict of twelue men according to the custome of Normandy where the like forme is vsed and called by the name of Enquest with the same cautions for the Iurors as it is here continued to this day Although some hold opinion that this forme of triall was of vse in this Kingdome from all antiquitie and alledge an Ordinance of King Ethelred father to the Confessor willing in their Gemote or conuentions monethly held in euery Hundred twelue graue men of free condition should with the Greue the chiefe Officer amongst them sweare vpon the Euangelists to iudge euery mans cause aright But here wee see twelue men were to be assessors with the Greue to iudge and no Iurors according to this manner of triall now vsed Besides had there beene any such forme we should aswell haue heard thereof in their Lawes and practise as of those other kinds of Ordeal onely and vsually mentioned But whatsoeuer innouations were in all other things the gouernment for the peace The continuation of the Law for the peace and securitie of the Kingdome which most imported the King to looke vnto seemes to be contrnued as before and for that businesse he found here better Lawes established by the wary care of our former Kings then any hee could bring Amongst which especially was the Borough Law wherby euery free man of the Commons stood as surety for each The Borough Law of the Saxons others behauiour in this sort The kingdome was deuided into Shieres or Shares euery Shiere consisting of so many Hundreds and euery Hundred of a number of Boroughs Villages or Tythings contayning ten housholders whereof If any one should commit an vnlawfullact the other nine were to attach and bring him to reason If hee fled 31 dayes were enioysed him to appeare If in the meane time apprehended hee was made to restore the damage done otherwise the Free-boroughead to say the Tythingman was to take with him two of the same Village and out of three other Villages next ad oyning as many that is the Tythingman and two other of the principall Saxon Lawes men aud before the officers of that Hundred purge himselfe and the Village of the fact restoring Lambert the damage done with the goods of the malefactor which if they suffized not to satisfie the Free-borough or Tything must make vp the rest and besides take an oath to bee no way accessarie to the fact and to produce the Offendor if by any meanes they could recouer him or know where hee were Besides euery Lord and Maister stood Borough for all his familie whereof if any seruant were called in question the Maister was to see him answere it in the Hundred where hee was accused If he fled the Maister was to yeeld such goods as hee had to the King If himselfe were accused to bee aiding or priuie to his seruants slight hee was to cleere himselfe by fiue men otherwise to forfeit all his goods to the King and his man to bee outlawed These lincks thus intermutually fastened made so strong a chaine to hold the whole frame of the State together in peace and order as all the most pollitique regiments vpon earth all the interleagued societies of men cannot shew vs a streighter forme of combination This might make the Conqueror comming vpon a people thus Law-bound hand and foote to establish him so soone and easily as he did This Borough-law being as a Cittadell built to guard the Common-wealth comming to bee possest by a Conquering Maister was made to turne all this ordinance vpon the State and batter her selfe with her owne weapon and this Law may No popular insurrection before the Conquest be some cause we finde no popular insurrection before the Conquest For had not this people beene borne with these fetters and an idie peace but had liued loose and in action it is like they would haue done as noblie and giuen as many and as deepe wounds ere they lost their Country as euer the Brittaines did either against the Romans or the Saxons their predecessors or themselues had done against the Danes a people far more powerfull and numerous then these The Conqueror without this had not made it the worke of one day nor had Normandie euer beene able to haue yeelded those multitudes for supplies that many battailes must haue had But now First the strict executing this Law Secondly dis-wcop'ning the Commons Thirdly The meanes vsed by the Norman to establish his Conquest preuenting their night-meetings with a heauie penalty that euery man at the day closing should couer his fire and depart to his rest Fourthly erecting diuers Fortresses in sit parts of the Kingdome Fifthly collating all offices both of commaund and iudicature on those who were his made his domination such as he would haue it And where before the Bishop and the Alderman were the absolute Iudges to determine Alteration of the Gouernment all businesse in euery Shiere and the Bishop in many cases shared in the benifit of the Mulcts with the King now he confin'd the Clergie within the Prouince of their owne Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction to deale onely in businesse concerning rule of soules according to the Cannons and Lawes Episcopall And whereas the causes of the Kingdome were before determined in euery Shiere The order of deciding contrauerfies in the Saxons time and by a Law of King Edward Senior all matters in question should vpon especiall penaltie without further deferment bee finally decided in their Gemote or conuentions held monthly in euery hundred now he ordained That foure times in the yeare for
children of men of warre to inioy their Fiefs prouided that they followed Armes Constantine to reward his principall Captaines granted them a perpetuity in the Lands assigned them The estates which were but for life were made perpetuall in France vnder the last Kings of the race of Charlemaine Those Lords who had the great Fiefs of the King By what meanes he increased his Reuenues sub-deuided them to other persons of whom they were to haue seruice Mulctuary profits besides such as might arise by the breach of his Forest-lawes hee had few or none new vnlesse that of Murther which arose vpon this occasion In the beginning of his raigne the rankor of the English towards the new-come Normans was such as finding them single in woods or remote places they secretly murthered them and the deed doers for any the seuerest courses taken could neuer bee discouered whereupon it was ordained that the Hundred wherein a Norman was The law for Murther renued first made by King Knute vide Appon sound slaine and the murtherer not taken should bee condemned to pay to the King some 36 pounds some 28 pounds according to the quantity of the Hundred that the punishment being generally inflicted might particularly deter them hasten the discouery of the malefactor by whom so many must otherwise be interessed For his prouisionary reuenues he continued the former custome held by his predecessors which was in this manner The Kings Tenants who held their Lands of the Geruasius Tilb. Crowne paide no money at all but onely Victuals Wheate Beifes Muttons Hay Oates C And a iust note of the quality and quantity of euery mans ratement was taken throughout all the Shieres of the Kingdome and leauied euer certaine for the maintenance of the Kings house Other ordinarie in-come of ready moneys was there none but what was raised by mulcts and out of Cities and Castles where Agriculture was not vsed What the Church yeelded him was by extent of a power that neuer reached so farre before and the first hand hee layd vpon that side which weighed heanily was his seizing vpon the Plate Iewels and Treasure within all the Monasteries of King William seased vpon the Treasure commitied to Monasteries England pretending the rebels and their assistants conueyed their riches into these religious houses as into places priuiledged and free from seizure to defraud him thereof Besides this he made all Bishoprickes and Abbeys that held Barronies before that time free from all secular seruices contributary to his warres and his other occasions And this may be the cause why they who then onely held the Pen the Scepter that rules ouer the memory of Kings haue laide such an eternall imposition vpon his name of rigour oppression and euen barbarous immanity as they haue done When the nature necessary disposition of his affaires being as he was may aduocate for him in many things much excuse his courses But this name of Conquest which euer imports violence and misery is of so harsh a sound and so odious in nature as a people subdued cannot giue a Conquerour his due how euer worthy and especially to a stranger whom onely time must naturalize and incorporate by degrees into their liking and opinion And yet therein this King was greatly aduantaged by reason of his twenty yeares gouernment which had much impaired the memory of former customes in the yonger sort and well inured the elder to the present vsances and forme of State whereby the rule was made more easie to his sonnes who though they were farre inferiour to him in worth were somewhat better beloued then he and the rather for that their occasions made them somewhat to vnwrest the Soueraignty from that height whereunto he had strayned it How hee was vnderset with able ministers for the managing of these great affaires of his though time hath shut vs out from the knowledge of some of them it being in His Councellors the fortune of Kings to haue their ministers like riuers in the Ocean buried in their glory yet no doubt being of a strong constitution of iudgement hee could not but be strongly furnished in that kind for weake Kings haue euer weake sides and the most renowned Princes are alwaies best stored with able ministers The principall of highest imployment were Odon Bishop of Bayeux and Earle of Kent Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury and William Fitz Auber Earle of Hereford Odon supplied the place of Viceroy in the Kings absence and had the management of the Treasury A man of a wide and agile spirit let out into as spacious a conceipt of greatnesse as the heighth of his place could shew him And is rumor'd by the infinite accumulation of mony which his auarice length of office had made either to buy the Popedome or to purchase the people of England vpon the death of the King his brother who vnderstanding he had a purpose of going to Rome and seeing a mighty confluence of followers gathering vnto him made a close prison stay his iourney excusing it to the Church that he imprisoned The Bishop of Bayeux as an Earle of Kent committed to prison not a Bishop of Bayeux but an Earle of Kent an Officer accomptant vnto him Yet vpō his death-bed shortly following after many obsecrations that he would in respect of bloud nature be a kind mean for the future peace of his sons he released him But the Bishop failed his request therein and became the onely kindlefire to set Reserued for greater mischiefe them all into more furious combustion The motiue of his discontent the engine wherewithall Ambition euermore turnes about her intentions was the enuy he bare to Lanfranc whose councell in his greatest affaires the King especially vsed and to oppose and ouer-beare him he tooke all the contrary courses and part with Robert his Nephew whom after many fortunes hee attended to the holy warre and died in the siege of Antioche Lanfranc was a man of as vniuersall goodnesse as learning borne in Lumbardie and Lanfranc came happily a stranger in these strange times to doe good to England vpon whose obseruance though the King might in regard hee raised him lay some tye yet his affections could not but take part with his piety and place in so much as hee feared not to oppose against Odon the Kings brother seeking to gripe from the State of his Church And in all he could stood so betweene the kingdome and the Kings rigor as stayed many precipitious violencies that he whose power lay as wide as his wil might else haue fallen into For the Conqueror howsoeuer austere to others was to him alwaies milde and yeelding as if subdued with his grauity and vertue He reformed the irregularity and rudenesse of the Clergie introducing a more The Reformation of the Clergie by Lanfranc Southerne formalitie and respect according to his breeding and the Custome of his Country concurring herein likewise to be an actor of
one Noble man executed in all the time of this Kings Raigne had twice falsified his faith before And those he held prisoners in Normandy as the Earles Morchar and Siward with Wolfnoth the brother of Harald and others vpon compassion of their indurance he released a little before his death Besides he was as farre from suspition as cowardize and of that confidence an especiall note of his magnanimity as he gaue Edgar his competitor in the Crowne the liberty of his Court And vpon his suite sent him well furnisht to the holy warre where he nobly behaued himselfe and attained to great estimation with the Empetours of Greece and Almaine which might haue beene held dangerous in respect of his alliances that way being graund-child to the Emperour Henry the third But these may be as well vertues of the Time as of Men and so the age must haue part of this commendation He was a benefactor to Nine Abbeys of Monkes and one of Nunnes founded by his Predicessors in Normandy and during his owne time were founded in the same Prouince seuen Abbeys of Monkes and sixe of Nunnes with which fortresses as he His workes of piety sayd he furnisht Normandy to the end men might therein fight against the flesh and the Diuell In England he founded a goodly Abbey where he fought his first Battell whereof it had the Denomination and two Nunneries one at Hinching-Brooke in Huntingdon shire and the other at Armthewt in Cumberland besides his other publique workes Magnificent he was in his Festiuals which with great solemnity and ceremony the formall entertainers of reuerence and respect he duly obserued Keeping his Christmas at Glocester his Easter at Winchester and Penticost at Westminster whither he summoned his whole Nobility that Embassadors and Strangers might see his State and largenesse Nor euer was he more milde and in dulgent then at such times And these Ceremonies his first Successor obserued but the second omitted The end of the Life and Raigne of William the first The Life and Raigne of William the second WILLIAM second sonne to William the first not attending his Fathers funerall hasts into England to recouer the Crowne where by the especiall 1087. Anno. Reg. 1. mediation of the Arch-bishop Lanfranc his owne large bounty and wide promises he obtained it according to his Fathers will to whom by his obsequiousnesse he had much indeered himselfe especially after the abdication of his elder brother Robert He was a Prince more gallant then good and hauing beene bred with the sword alwayes in action and on the better side of fortune was of a nature rough and haughty whereunto his youth and Soueraignty added a greater widenesse Comming to succeed in a Gouernment fore-ruled by mature and graue Counsell he was so ouer-whelmed with his Fathers worth and greatnesse as made him appeare of a lesser Orbe then otherwise he would haue done And then the shortnesse of his Raigne being but of thirteene yeares allowed him not time to recouer that opinion which the errors of his first Gouernment had lost or his necessities caused him to commit For the succession in right of Primogeniture being none of his and the elder brother liuing howsoeuer his fathers will was he must now be put and hâ—â—â— in possession of the Crowne of England by the Will of the Kingdome which to purchace must be by large conditions of relieuements in generall and profuse guifts in particular Wherein he had the more to do being to deale with a State consisting of a two fold body and different temperaments where any inflammation of discontent was the more apt to take hauing a head where-to it might readily gather Which made that vnlesse he would lay more to their hopes then another he could not hope to haue them firmely his And therefore seeing the best way to winne the Normans was by money and the English with liberties he spared not at first to bestow on the one and to promise the other more then befitted his estate and dignity which when afterward failing both in supplies for great giuers must alwayes giue and also in performances got him farre more hatred then otherwise he could euet William the second resumes his owne Graunts haue had being forced to all the dishonorable shifts for raising moneys that could be deuised and euen to resume his owne former graunts And to begin at first to take the course to be euer needy presently after his Coronation he goes to Winchester where his Fathers Treasure laye and empties out all that which with great prouidence was there amassed whereby though he wonne the loue of many he lost more being not able to content all And now although his brother Robert had not this great Engine mony he had to giue hopes and there were here of the Normans as Odon his Vnkle Roger de Mongomery Earle of Shrewesbury with others who were mainly for him and worke he doth all hee can to batter his brothers fortunes vpon their first foundation And for this purpose borowes great summes of Robert of Normandy borrowes summes of his brother Henry to purchase the kingdome of England his younger brother Henry to whom the father and mother had left much Treasure and for the same ingages the Country of Constantine and leauies an Army for England But William newly inuested in the Crowne though well prepared for all assaults had rather purchase a present peace by mediation of the Nobles on both sides till time had better setled him in his gouernment then to raise spirits that could not easily bee allayed And an agreement betweene them is wrought that William should hold the Crowne of England during his life paying to Robert three thousand Markes Per annum Robert hauing closed this businesse resumes by force the Country of Constantin out of his brother Henries hands without discharge of those summes for which hee had ingaged it Whereupon King William obrayds Henry with the great gaine hee had made by his vsurie in lending money to depriue him of his Crowne And so Henry got the hatred of both his brothers and hauing no place safe from their danger where to liue surprized the Castle of Mount Saint Michel fortifies him therein gets ayde of Hugh Earle of Brittaine and for his money was serued with Brittains who committed great spoyles in the Countries of Constantin and Bessin Odon Bishop of Bayeux returning into England after his imprisonment in Normandie Odon for malice to Lanfranc seekes to distract the Kings forces and restored to his Earledome of Kent finding himselfe fo farre vnder what he had beene and Lanfranc his concurrent now the onely man in councell with the King complots with as many Norman Lords as hee found or made to affect change and a new maister and sets them on worke in diuers parts of the Realme to distract the Kings forces as first Geoffery Bishop of Constans with his nephew Robert de Mowbray Earle of Northumberland fortifie themselues in Bristow
the late Earle Baldouin slaine in a battell in Fraunce against King Henry But William as if heire also of his fathers fortunes admitted to the Earledome miscarried in the rule was deptiued and slaine in battaile and in him all of Robert Curtoys perished And now the whole care of King Henry was the setling of the succession vpon Maude of whom he liued to see two sonnes borne for which he conuokes a Parliament in England wherein an oath is ministred to the Lords of this Land to bee true to her and her heires and acknowledge them as the right inheritors of the Crowne This oath was first taken by Dauid King of Scots Vncle to Maude and by Stephen 1133. Anno. Reg. 34. Earle of Bollogne and Mortaine Nephew to the King on whom hee had bestowed great possessions in England and aduanced his brother to the Bishopricke of Winchester And to make all the more fast this oath was afterward ministred againe at Northampton in another Parliament So that now all seemes safe and quiet but his owne sleepes which are said to haue beene very tumultuous and full of affrightments wherein hee would often rise take his sword and be in act as if hee defended himselfe against assaults of his person which shewed all was not well within His gouernment in peace was such as rankes him in the list amongst our Kings of His gouernment in peace the fairest marke holding the Kingdome so well ordred as during all his raigne which was long hee had euer the least to doe at home At the first the competition with his brother after the care to establish his succession held him in to obserue all the best courses that might make for the good and quiet of the State hauing an especiall regarde to the due administration of Iustice that no corruption or oppression might disease his people whereby things were carried with that euennesse betweene the Great men and the Commons as gaue all satisfaction Hee made diuers progresses into remote parts of the Land to see how the State was ordred And for that purpose The first vse of Progresses when so euer he was in England hee kept no certaine residence but solemnized the great festiuals in seuerall and farre distant places of the Kingdome that all might pertake of him And for that he would not wrest any thing by an Imperiall power from the Kingdome which might breed vlcers of dangerous nature hee tooke a course to obtaine The beginning of Parliaments their free consents to serue his occasions in their generall Assemblies of the three Estates of the Land which hee first conuoked at Salisbury Anno Reg. 15. and which He assembles the first Parliment after the Conquest had from his time the name of Parliament according to manner of Normandie and other States where Princes keepe within their circles to the good of their people their owne glorie and securitie of their posteritie See Appen His reformations He was a Prince that liued formally himselfe and repressed those excesses in his subiects which those times entertained as the wearing of long haire wich though it were a gayetie of no charge like those sumptuous braueries that waste Kingdomes in peace yet for the vndecencie thereof hee reformed it and all other dissolutenesse His great businesses and his wants taught him frugalitie and warinesse of expence and His meanes to raise monies his warres being seldome Inuasiue and so not getting put him often to vse hard courses for his suppliments of treasure Towards the marriage of his daughter with the Emperour and the charge of his warre he obtained as it might seeme at his first Parliament at Salisbury Anno. Reg. 15. three shillings vpon euery hide-land but hee had no more in all his raigne except one supply for his warres afterward in France Hee kept Bishopricks and Abbayes voide in his hands as that of Canterbury fiue yeares together By an act of Parliament at London Anno. Reg. 30. he had permission to punish Vide Append. marriage and incontinencie of Priests who for fines notwithstanding hee suffred to enioy their wiues but hereby hee displeased the Clergie and disappointed that reformation Punishments which were mutilation of member hee made pecuniarie And by reason of his often and long being in Normandie those prouisions for his house which Tilburiensis de Scaccario were vsed to bee paide in kinde were rated to certaine prices and receiued in money by the consent of the State and to the great content of the subiect who by reason that many dwelling farre off throughout all shires of England were much molested with satisfying the same otherwise He resumed the liberties of hunting in his Forests which tooke vp much faire ground of the Kingdome and besides renuing former penalties made an Edict That if any man in his owne priuate woods killed the Kings Deere should forfeit his woods to the King But he permitted them inclosures for Parkes which vnder him seemes to haue had their originall by the example of that of his at Woodstocke the multitude whereof grew to be afterward a disease in the Kingdome His expences were chiefly in his warres and his many and great fortifications in His expences Normandy His buildings were the Abbey of Reading the Mannor of Woodstocke and the great inclosure of that Parke with a stone wall seuen miles about The most eminent men of his Councell were Roger Bishop of Sarum and the Earle His Councellors of Mellent both men of great experience in the affaires of the world Roger was euer as Viceroy had the whole management of the Kingdome in his absence which was sometimes three and foure yeares together He had managed the Kings money and other affaires of his house when he was a poore Prince and a priuate man whereby he gained an especiall trust with him euer after and discharged his part with great policy and vnderstanding had the title of Iusticiarius totius Anglioe Of whose magnificence The magnificent buildings of Roger Bishop of Sarum and spacious mind we haue more memorials left in notes of stone then of any one Man Prince or other of this Kingdome The ruines yet remaining of his stately structures especially that of the Deuises in Wiltshire shewes vs the carkasse of a most Roman-like Fabricke Besides he built the Castles of Malmsbury and Shirburne two strong and sumptuous peeces new walled and repaired the Castle of Salisbury and all these he liued to see rent from him and seased into the next Kings hands as being things done out of his part and lye now deformed heapes of rubble Besides he walled old Salisbury and repaired the Church there Robert Earle of Mellent was the son of Roger Beaumont who of all the great men which Robert Mellent an especiall Councellor to Hen. 1. followed William the first in his ciuill warres of Normandy refused to attend him in his expedition for England though with large promises inuited thereunto saying
of all the great men in the West and from other parts comming in vnto him Stephen now resolued to put it to the tryall of a day brings thither all the power hee could make and far ouer-went his enemy in number but flouds and stormes in an vnseasonable Winter kept the Armies from incountring till the Bishops doubtfull of the successe and seeing how daungerous it was for them and the whole State to haue a young Prince get the maistry by his sword mediated a peace which was after concluded in a Parliament at Winchester vpon these conditions 1 That King Stephen during his naturall life should remaine King of England and Henrie inioy the Dukedome of Normandie as discended vnto him from his mother and bee proclaymed heire apparent to the Kingdome of England as the adopted sonne of King Stephen 2 That the partizans of either should receiue no damage but inioy their Estates according to their ancient Rights and Titles 3 That the King should resume into his hands all such parcels of inheritance belonging Resumptions to the Crowne as had beene aliened by him or vsurped in his time And that all those possessions which by intrusion had beene violently taken from the owners since the dayes of King Henry should bee vestored vnto them who were rightly possessed therein when the said King raigned 4 That all such Castles as had beene built by the permission of Stephen and in his time which were found to be 1117 should be demolished c. There is a Charter of this agreement in our Annals which hath other Articles of reseruation for the Estates of particular persons And first for William the second sonne Vide Append. of Stephen to enioy all the possessions his father held before hee was King of England and many other particulars of especiall note After this pacification and all businesse here setled Duke Henry returnes into Normandy and likewise there concludes a peace with the King of France and for that hee would be sure to haue it buyes it with twenty thousand markes And now King Stephen hauing attained that hee neuer had Peace which yet it seemes he enioyed not a yeare after vses all the best meanes he could to repaire the ruines of the State makes his progresses into most parts of the Kingdome to reforme the mischiefes that had growne vp vnder the sword and after his returne cals a Parliament An. 1154. at London to consult of the best meanes for the publicke good After the Parliament He raigned 18 yeares and 10 moneths he goes to meete the Earle of Flanders at Douer who desired conference with him and hauing dispatcht him fals presently sicke dies within few dayes after and was buried in the Abbey he founded at Feuersham with the vnfortunate Princes A man so continually in motion as we cannot take his dimension but onely in passing and that but on one side which was warre on the other we neuer saw but a glaunce of him which yet for the most part was such as shewed him to bee a very worthy Prince for the Gouernment He kept his word with the State concerning the relieuement of Tributes and neuer had Subsidy that we find But which is more remarkeable hauing his sword continually out and so many defections and rebellions against him He neuer put any great man to death Besides it is noted that notwithstanding all these miseries of warre There were more Abbeys built in his Raigne then in an hundreth yeares before which shewes though the times were bad they were not impious The end of the Life and Raigne of King Stephen The Life and Raigne of Henry the Second And first of the Line of Plantagenet THAT short time of peace before the death of Stephen had so allayed 1154. Anno. Reg. 1. the spirit of contention and prepared the Kingdome wearied and defaced with warre to that disposition of quietnesse as Henry Plantagenet though a French-man borne and at that time out of the Land long detained with contrary winds yet a Prince of so great possessions abroad as might make him feared to be too mighty a maister at home or doubtfull where hee would set his seate whither carry England thither or bring those great States to this was notwithstanding generally admitted without any opposition or capitulation other then the vsuall oath to the Crowne of England which he receiued at the hands of Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury the twentieth day of December Anno 1154 about the three and twentieth yeare of his age And though he where a Prince Yong Actiue Pawerfull and had all that might make him high and presuming yet the necessity of his owne affaires were so strong raines to hold him in from all exorbitant courses as made him wary to obserue at first all meanes to get and retaine the loue and good opinion of this Kingdome by a regular and easie Gouernment being sure to haue the King of France perpetually awake for all aduantages both in regard of daily quarrels commune to mighty neighbours as also for matching with her that came out of his bed and brought away those mighty Prouinces from that Crowne whereby he comes now to ouer-match him being thus inuested in this powerfull Kingdome of England Where after hauing made a choice of graue Councellors such as best vnderstood the state thereof he began at a Councell or Parliament held at Wallingford with an Act that both serued his owne turne and much eased the stomakes of his people which was the expulsion of Strangers wherewith Expulsion of Strangers the Land was much pestered by reason of the late warres that had drawne great numbers of them and especially of Flemings and Picards whom King Stephen especially trusted in his greatest actions after he grew doubtfull of the English fidelity and had made their Leader Williamd ' Ipres Earle of Kent who likewise was turned home and his estate seized into the Kings hands Then that he might subsist by his owne meanes without pressure of his subiects Resumption of Crowne Lands whose voluntary seruices and contributions would yeeld him more in measure then if exacted He lookes to the State and ordering of his reuenues reformes the Exchequer and reuokes all such Lands belonging to the Crowne as had any way bene alienated or vsurped And though some of the great Lords stood out for the holding what they had in possession as Hugh de Mortimer for his Castles of Clebury Wigmore and Bridgenorth and Roger Fits Miles Earle of Hereford for the City and Land of Glocester Yet the King tooke them by force as appertaining to the Crowne Besides he resumed the Castle of Skarborough which William Earle of Albemarle held and diuers other Lands and Castles in Yorkeshire possessed by priuate men Hugh Bigot resigned his Castles into the Kings hands And more he tooke from William Earle of Mortaine and Warren base sonne to King Stephen the Castle of Pemsey the City of Norwitch with other Townes and Castles
it was ingaged Raymond refuses it and stands to his possession as of a thing absolutely sold or forfeited but being too weake to contend with a King of France fell to an accord and married his sister Constans widdow of Eustace sonne to King Stephen and so continues the possession Now King Henry hauing married this Elionor and with her was to haue all the Rights shee had tenders likewise as the King of France had done in the same case the summe formerly disbursed vpon the morgage of that Earledome And with all makes ready his sword to recouer it and first combines in league and amity with such whose Territories bordred vpon it as with Raymond Earle of Barcelona who had married the daughter and heire of the King of Arragon a man of great Estate in those parts intertayning him with conference of a match betweene his second sonne Richard and his daughter with couenant that Richard should haue the inheritance of the Dutchy of Aquitaine and the Earledome of Poictou Besides hee takes into his protection William Lord of Trancheuille possessing likewise many great Signories in the Countrey and one who held himselfe much wronged in his Estate by the Earle of Tholouse These ay des prepared he leauies an Army and goes in person to besiege the Citie of Tholouse and takes along with him Malcolin King of Scots who comming to his 1159. Anno. Reg. 5. Court to doe him homage for the Earledome of Huntingdon and to make claime for those other peeces taken from his Crowne was entertayned with so many faire words and promises of King Henry as drew him along to this warre The Earle of Tholouse vnderstanding the intentions of the King of England craues ayde of his brother in Law the King of France who likewise with a strong Army comes downe in person to succour Tholouse and was there before the King of England could arriue with his forces whereupon seeing himselfe preuented and in disaduantage King Henry fell to spoyling the Countrey and takes in Cahors in Quercy where he places a strong Garrison to bridle the Tholousains and so returnes into Normandy gaue the order of Knight hood to King Malcolin at Tours augments his forces and enters the Countrey of Beauuoisin where he destroyes many Castles and commits great spoyles And to adde more anoyance to the King of France he obtained of the Earle de Auranches the two strong Castles Rochfort and Monfort which furnished with Garrisons impeached the passage twixt Orleance and Paris in so much as the warre and weather grew hote betwixt these two great Princes and much effusion of bloud was like to follow but that a mediation of peace was made and in the end concluded With a match betweene the young Prince Henry not seuen yeares of age and the 1160. Anno. Reg. 6. Lady Margaret eldest daughter to the King of France scarce three weake linkes to hold in so mighty Princes The yong Lady was deliuered rather as an Ostage then a Bride to Robert de Newburge to be kept till her yeares would permit her to liue with her Husband In the meane time notwithstanding many ruptures hapned betweene the Parents The first whereof Prince Henry contracted to Margaret daughter to the King of France grew vpon the King of Englands getting into his owne hand the Castle of Gisors with two other Castles vpon the Riuer Eata in the confines of Normandy deliuered vp before the due time By three Knights Templars to whom they were committed in trust till the marriage were consummated And this cost some bloud the Knights Templars are persecuted by the King of France and the King of England receiues them But now the aduantage of power lying all on this side and the King seeing himselfe at large and how much he was abroad beganne to be more at home and to The King seekes to abate the power of the Clergy the cause therof looke to the Prerogatiues of his Crowne which as he was informed grew much infringed by the Clergy which since the time of Henry the first Were thought to haue inlarged their iurisdiction beyond their vocation and himselfe had found their power in the election of King Stephen with whom they made their owne conditions with all aduantages for themselues whereby they depriued his Mother and her issue of their succession to the Crowne And though afterwards by their mediation the peace twixt him and Stephen was concluded and his succession ratified yet for that might he thanke his Sword the Iustice of his cause and strong party in the Kingdome What they did therein shewed him rather their power then their affection and rather put him in mind of what they had done against him at first then layed any obligation on him for what they did afterward And his owne example seeing them apt to surprise all aduantages for their owne aduancement made him doubt how they might deale with his Posterity if they found occasion and therefore is he easily drawne to abate their power in what he could To this motion of the Kings dislike the Lay Nobility emulous of the others authority layed more waights alledging how the immunities of the Clergie tooke vp so much Complaints against the Clergie from the Royalty as his execution of Iustice could haue no generall passage in the Kingdome the Church held their Dominion apart and free from any other authority then their owne and being exempt from Secular punishments many enormious acts were committed by Clergie-men without any redresse to be had and it was notified to the King that since the beginning of his Raigne There had beene aboue a hundreth Man-slaughters committed within the Realme of England by Priests and men within Orders Now had the King a little before vpon the death of Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury 1161. Anno. Reg. 7. preferred Thomas Becket a creature and seruant of his owne to that Sea A man whom first from being Arch-deacon of Canterbury he made his Chancelor and finding him Diligent Trusty and Wise imployes him in all his greatest businesses of the State by which tryall of his seruice and sidelity he might expect to haue him euer the Thomas Becket preferred to the Sea of Canterbury readier to aduance his affaires vpon all occasions And besides to shew how much he respected his worth and integrity he commits vnto him the education of the Prince a charge of the greatest consequence in a Kingdome which shall be euer sure to find their Kings as they are bred At the beginning of this mans promotion this reformation of Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction is set vpon a worke in regard of that time of deuotion of great difficultie the Bishops hauing from the beginning of Christianitie first vnder the Saxon Kings principally swaded the State and though at the entrance of the Norman they were much abriged of their former liberties they held themselues if not content yet quiet For albeit they had not that power in temporall businesses as
had receiued The Arch-bishop called to account for the King of certaine Bishopricks and Abbeys during their vacancies which amounted to the summe of three thousand Markes For these accounts he alledged How the King knew well he was discharged before his election to the Sea of Canterbury and how the Prince the Barons of the Exchequer and Robert de Lucie Chiefe Iustice of England had made him his acquittance for all accounts and Secular receipts in the behalfe of the King and so free and cleered was he chosen to the administration of that Office and therefore would pleade the same no more The King notwithstanding vrging to haue iudgement passe against him both for this his late attempts and disobedience he was commanded the next day to attend his Censure The morning before he was to appeare he celebrates early with great deuotion the Masse of Saint Stephen Protomartir which hath these words Etenim sederunt Principes aduersum me loquebantur and so committing his cause to God sets forward to the Court in his Stole his blacke Canonicall hood carrying the Crosse in his right hand and guiding his horse with the left The people seeing him come in this fashion flocke all about him he entring the great Chamber sate downe amongst them the King being within in his Priuie Chamber with his Councell from whom first came forth the Bishop of London and much blames him for comming so armed to the Court and offered to pull the Crosse out of his hand but the Arch-bishop held it so fast that he could not Which the Bishop of Winchester seeing sayd to London Brother let him alone he ought well to beare the Crosse London replies You speake brother against the King and it will be ill for you After this comes forth the Arch-bishop of Yorke the heate of whose antient hatred saith Houeden would not suffer him to speake in peace and rebukes him very sharply Roger Houeden for comming in that fashion as if to a Tyrant or heathen Prince and told him that the King had a sword sharper then his Crosse and if hee would bee aduised by him hee should take it from him Canterbury replies the Kings sword wounds carnally but mine strikes Spiritually and sends the soule to Hell After much debate the Archbishoppe Becket inuayes against this violent proceeding against him How no age euer heard before that an Archbishop of Canterbury had beene adiudged in any of the Kings Courts for anie cause whatsoeuer in regard both of his Dignity and place and for that hee is the Spirituall Father of the King and all other his subiects Then to the Bishops you see the world rageth against mee the enemy riseth vp but I more lament the Sonnes of my Mother fight against mee If I should conceale it the age to come will declare how you leaue mee alone in the battaile and haue iudged against mee being your Father though neuer so much a sinner But I charge you by vertue of your obedience and perill of your Order that you bee not present in anie place of iudgement where my person or cause comes to bee adiudged And here I appeale to the Pope charging you farther by vertue of your obedience that if anie Temporall man laie handes on mee you exercise the Sentence of the Church as it becomes you for your Father the Archbishop who will not shrinke howsoeuer nor leaue the flock commitmitted vnto him Then were all these great complaints of his contempt Disobedience and Periury exhibited and aggrauated against him before the Assembly and they cried generally Complaints against the Archbishop hee was a Traytor that hauing receiued so many benefits at the Kings hands would refuse to doe him all earthly honour and obserue his Lawes as hee had sworne to doe The Bishops likewise seeing all thus bent against him renounced their Ecclesiasticall obedience vnto him cited him to Rome and condemnes him as a periured man and a Traytor Then the Earle of Lecester accompayned with Reginald Earle of Cornwall came to the Archbishop and charged him from the King to answere to what was obiected vnto him or else to heare his iudgement Nay sonne Earle sayd he first heare you It is not vnknowne to your selfe how faithfully I haue serued the King and how in regard thereof hee preferred mee to the place I haue God is my witnesse against my will For I knew mine owne infermities and was content to take it vpon mee rather for his pleasure then Gods cause therefore now doth God withdraw himselfe and the King from mee At the time of my Election hee made mee free from all Court bondage and therefore touching those things from which I am deliuered I am not bound to aunswere nor will I. How much the soule is worthier then the bodie so much are you bound to obay God and mee rather then any Earthly Creature neither will Law or Reason permit the Sonnes to condemne the Father and I refuse to stand either to the Iudgement of the King or anie other person appealing to the presence of the Pope by whom onely on Earth I ought to bee adiudged committing all I haue to Gods protection and his and vnder that authority I depart out of this place And so went hee out and tooke his Horse not without some difficultie in passing and many reproches of the Kings seruants The Archbishop disguised sled out of the Kingdome Being gotten out of the Court a great multitude of the common people reioycing to see him deliuered and diuers of the Clergie conuayed him honourably to the Abbay of Saint Andrewes whence disguised by the name of Dereman hee escaped ouer into Flanders and so into France This businesse of the Church I haue the more particularly deliuered according to the generall report of the Writers of that time in regard it laie so chayned to the Temporall affaires of the State and bewrayed so much of the face of that Age with the constitution both of the Soueraignty and the rest of the bodie as it could not well bee omitted Besides the effects it wrought in the succeeding raigne of this Prince the vexation charge and burthen it layed vpon him for manie yeares is worthie of note and shewes vs what spirit had predomination in that season of the World and what Engines were vsed in this Oppugnation Presently vpon the departure of this Great Prelate the King sends ouer to the King of France Gillebert Bishop of London and William Earle of Arundell to intreat him not onely to forbid the Archbishop his Kingdome but to bee a meanes to the Pope that his The King sends Ambassadors to the Pope cause might not bee fauoured by the Church being so contumacious a rebell as he was against his Soueraigne Lord. The King of France notwithstanding this intreaty sends Frier Francis his Amoyner vnder hand to the Pope to beseech him as he tendred the honour of holy Church and the ayde of the Kingdome of France to support
the cause of Thomas of Canterbury against the Tyrant of England King Henry sends likewise with all speed Roger Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of Winchester London Chichester and Excester Guido Rufus Richard Iuechester and Iohn of Oxford Clerkes William Earle of Arundell Hugh de Gundeuile Bernard de Saint Walleric and Henry Fitz Gerrard to informe the Pope of the whole cause and preuent the Archbishoppes complaint The multitude and greatnesse of the Commissioners shewed the importance of the Ambassage and the Kings earnest desire to haue his cause preuaile They finde the Pope at the Citie of Sens to whom they shewed how peruers and disobedient the Archbishoppe had behaued himselfe to his Soueraigne Lord the King of England how hee alone refused to obay his Lawes and Customes which hee had sworne to doe and that by his peeuish waywardnesse the Church and Kingdome were like to bee disturbed which otherwise would agree in the reformation thereof as was fit and necessary and therefore they besought him as hee tendred the peace of the Church of England and the loue of the King their Soueraigne not to giue credit or grace to a man of so turbulent and dangerous a spirit This Information notwithstanding earnestly vrged they found mooued not any disposition in the Pope to fauour the Kings cause so that in the end They besought him to send two Legats ouer into England to examine the particulars of this businesse and how it had beene carried and in the meane time to admit no other information of the cause but referre it to their relation The Pope refuses to send any Legat the commissioners depart without any satisfaction And with in foure dayes after comes the Archbishop and prostrates himselfe at the Popes seete deliuers him a coppie of those Lawes which the King called his Grandfathers Lawes which being openly read in the presence of all the Cardinals Clergie and many other people the Pope condemned them for euer and accursed those who obeyed or any way fauoured them Those Lawes among the Statutes of Clarendon which the Archbishop so much oppugned and most offended the Clergie were as by his owne letter to the Bishop of London appeares these especially That there should bee no appeale to the Apostolike Sea without the Kings leaue That no Archbishoppe or Bishoppe should goe out of the Realme but by the Kings permission That no Bishoppe excommunicate any who held of the King in Capite or interdict any officiall of his without the Kings leaue c. That Clergie men should bee drawne to secular iudgements That Lay men as the King and other should handle causes of the Church Tythes and such like And these were daungerous incrochments vpon their liberties But now the King seeing his Ambassage to take no effect and withall in a manner 1166. Anno. Reg. 12. contemned presently makes his heauie displeasure and the scorne hee tooke knowe by his seuere Edicts both against the Pope and the Archbishoppe that they might see what edge his secular powre had in this case ordayning That if anie were found carrying Letter or Mandat from the Pope or Archbishoppe contayning any The Kings Edicts against the Pope and his agents interdiction of Christianity in England should bee taken and without delay executed as a Traytor both to the King and Kingdome That whatsoeuer Bishop Priest Monke or Conuerser in anie Order Clerke or Layman should haue and retaine any such letters should forfeit all their possessions goods and chattells to the King and bee presently banished the Realme with their kinne That no Clergie men Monke or other should bee permitted to passe ouer Sea or returne out of Normandie into England without letters from the Iustices here or from the King being there vpon paine to bee taken as a Malefactor and put in hold That none should appeale to the Pope That all Clerkes which had any reuenue in England should returne into the Realme within three monethes vpon paine of forfeiting their estates to the King That Peter Pence should bee collected and sequestred till the Kings pleasure were farther knowne Besides this hee banishes all that were found to bee any way of kinne to the Archbishop without exception of condition sex or yeres And withall takes occasion vpon the Scisme which was then in the Church to renounce Pope Alexander and incline to the Emperors faction which stood thus After the death of Adrian the fourth Rouland a Geneuese and a great enemy of the The Election of two Popes Empire is by two and twenty Cardinalls elected Pope by the name of Alexander the third to which election foure Cardinals opposed and made choyce of Octauian a Citizen of Rome that would be called Victor the first The Emperor Frederic Barbarossa summons these two Popes to a Concel at Pauia to vnderstand determin their right Alexander makes the old answere that the Pope could not be iudged by any man liuing refuses to appeare before the Emperour and withdrawes into Anagnia Victor consents to appeare there or wheresoeuer the Emperour would appoint so that he was the man for that side But all the other Princes of Christendom except those of the Emperours faction acknowledge Alexander for Pope as elected by most voyces And especially by the King of France who called him thither and at Cocy vpon Loyr he and the King of England receiued him with all honour and reuerence in so much as they are sayd to haue attended vpon his Stirrop the one on the right hand the other on the left after this he calls a Councell at Tours whether the Kings of England Spaine and Hungarie send their Ambassadors and there are the constitutions of the Councell of Pauia and the Emperours confirmation of Victor nullified so that Alexander hauing his party dayly increasing in Italy was shortly after receiued into Rome Notwithstanding all this the King of England finding him so auers in this businesse Falls off from him renounces his Authority turnes to the Emperours faction seekes to strength himselfe with the Princes of Germanie consents to match his daughter Maude to the Duke of Saxony at the motion of Reginald Archbishop of Collen sent ouer by the Emperour for that purpose and intertaines a motion for another daughter to bee matched with the Emperours sonne But now by reason this contrary faction to Pope Alexander grew to bee but feeble all this working did the King no good but exasperates the Pope and sets him on the more to support the cause of the Archbishop who sollicites the Clergie of Pope Alexanders letter to the Clergie of England England threatnes intreats adiures them not to forsake their hold nor giue way to the inuador of their liberties which sought to confound the Priesthood and the Kingdome and if they opposed not mainely at the first but suffered the least breach to bee made vpon them they were vndone Then excommunicates hee all the especiall Ministers of the King that adhered to the Teutonicque faction or held
intelligence with the Archbishop of Collen As Iohn of Oxford Richard Iuechester Richard de Lucie Iosslin Balliol Alan de Neuile and with these all such as had entred vpon the goods of the Church of Canterbury which hee called the patrimony of the Crusifex and the foode of the poore and these were Ralph de Brocke Hugh Saint Clare and Thomas Fitz Barnard Thus are both sides busied in this drie warre wherein though there were no sword yet it gaue vexation ynough And yet this was not all the worke that tooke vp the Kings time for during this dissention the Welsh againe reuolt and to supresse them he spent much labour with The King represses the Welch the losse of many great men and was himselfe in that daunger as had not Hubert Saint Clere receiued a wounde for him by an Arrow aymed directly at his person hee had there finished his part In this expedition hee is sayd to haue vsed extreame crueltie After this hee passes into Normandie to bee neere his businesse which now lay all on that side And first to entertaine the opinion of Pictie though hee were falne out with the Pope hee obtaines at an Assembly of his Bishops and Barons of Normandie 1166. Anno. Reg. 13. two pence in the pound of euery mans Lands and goods to beepayde that yeare 1166. and a penny of euery pound to be payde for foure yeares following which was leuied for the reliefe of the Christians in the Holy warre and sent vnto them Then hee raises forces and takes in certaine Castles in the Countrey of Maine and Marches of Brittaine from diuers Lords and Barons that had disobayed him And whilst he was busie abroade Mathew sonne to the Earle of Flanders who had married the Lady Marie Abbesse of Ramsey daughter to King Stephen had by her the Country of Bologne attempted something on the Coast of England either to try the affections of the people or to make spoyle and booty but without any effect at all the King being to mighty for any such weake vndertaker And to distend his powre yet wider falls out this occasion Conan Earle of Britaine dies and leaues one onely daughter which hee had by his wife Constance daughter to the King of Scots to succeed him in his State The King of England being then in armes vpon the Marches of Brittaine deales with the Guardians of the young Ladie to match her to his third sonne Geffry The nobility of that Country being then of a rough and haughty disposition giuen to fewds and perpetuall quarrelling one with another were wrought vpon and a side is wonne of such as could doe most in this businesse which is effected to the great contentation of the King of England This fell out to be in the 13 yeare of his raigne wherein as some write died his Mother Maud the Empresse a Lady of an high and actiue Spirit illustrious by her birth but more by her first match and most by her sonne whom she liued to see established in all these mighty States in the glory of Greatnesse Peace Fertile in issue hauing now The death of Maude the Empresse had 4 sonnes and 3 daughters linkes of loue and strength oftentimes in priuate families though seldome in Princes and shee left him in the best time of his daies before any great tempest ouertooke him Three yeares after this hee imployes most in France about the ordering and cleering the bounds of his Dominions from vsurpation or incrochments of neighbour Lords whom his greatnesse held all in awe and they must haue no more then hee would especially hee settles and reformes the State of Brittaine which was much out of order and in muteny about the late Match which being appeased hee keepes a solemne Christmas at Nants and Royally feasts the Nobilitie of the Countrey 1169. Anno. Reg. 16. Then returnes he into England where least Peace by reason of his long and often absence might afflict and corrupt his subiects he lookes to that Diuine and Almighty worke of Kings the administration of Iustice appoynting certaine commissioners as Syndicqs to examine the abuses and excesses committed by his Officers and grieuously Extortion and Bribety punished punishes the Shriefes of the Land for extortion and bribery His Easter he keepes at Windsor whither repaires vnto him William King of Scots who lately succeeded Malcom his brother and brings with him his younger brother Dauid both to congratulate the King of Englands returne and also continue his claime to those peeces in the North which hee pretended to bee vniustly detained from that Crowne The King entertaines him as hee had done his brother with faire words and tells him How it was not in his powre to doe any thing therein without the consent of the State in Parliament which if hee would attend there should bee that course taken as hee hoped might giue him satisfaction In expectation whereof this King came often into England and once attended the King in an expedition into France as his Predecesor had done But now all this while the wrath of the Church continues and the clowde hangs still ouer him dayly threatning the great thunder-bolt Although it seemes the Pope of himselfe was not verie forward to proceede to that extremity but would gladly haue quieted the Archbishoppe otherwise Who hee sayd had taken an ill time for this businesse the King being mighty and the Church in trouble and therefore writes The Pope writes to the Bishops of England he his letters to the Bishop of London and Hereford willing them to deale effectually with the King and to admonish him to desist from intruding vpon the liberties of the Church and to restore the Archbishop to his Sea and Dignity The Bishops wisely answere the Popes Letter in substance thus Wee haue sayd they done your Holinesse message and as much as was decent for the Maiestie The Bishops answere to the Popes Letter if a King instantly vrged him to satisfie your desire made by vs and if hee had erred from the way of truth and Iustice that hee would not delay to returne thereunto that hee would not inhibit such as were desirous to visit the Church of Rome hinder Appeales oppresso Churches and Churchmen or suffer others so to doe that hee would call home our Father the Archbishoppe c. and persist in the workes of Pietie that hee by whom Kings raigne might preserue vnto him his temporall Kingdome and giue him an eternall in Heauen and that vnlesse hee would yeelde to your Holy admonitions you who had hitherto indured could in patience forbeare no longer Besides we added this of our selues how it was to bee feared if hee amended not his errours his Kingdome would not long stand nor his prosper The King receiued your admonitions with manie thankes much Temperance and Modestie and answeres to euerie point First hee protested that in no sort hee auerted his minde from your Holinesse nor euer purposed so to
doe but so long as you shewed him fatherly Grace hee would loue you as a Father reuerence and cherish the Church as his Mother And humbly obay your sacred Decrees sauing his owne Dignity and that of his Kingdome and if of late hee hath not respected you with any reuerence the cause was that hauing with all his affection and all his powre stood to you in your necessitie hee was not answered worthily to his deserts vpon his recourse to you by his Ambassadours but in euery petition had the repulse And for hindring any which are willing to visit your Holinesse hee answeres hee will not nor hath hitherto done But for Appeales by the ancient custome of the Kingdome Hee chalenges that honour and cumber to himselfe that no Clergie man for any ciuill cause shall goe out of the Land till hee hath tried whether hee may obtaine his right by his Royall Authority and Iustice at home which if hee cannot hee may without any hinderance when hee will make his Appeale Wherein if any way hee doth preiudice Your Honour hee offers by the helpe of God to correct it as it shall bee ordred by the Councell of the whole Church of his Kingdome And for the Emperour though hee knew him a Scismatique hee neuer vnderstood hee was excommunicate But if hee bee by vs informed thereof or hath entred vnlawfull league with him or any other hee promises likewise to redresse the same by the sayd Ecclesiasticall Councell of his Kingdome And for our Father the Lord of Canterbury hee sayth that hee neuer expelled him out of his Kingdome but as hee went out of his owne accord so that at his pleasure it was free for him to returne to his Church in peace prouided that his Maiestie might bee satisfied concerning those complaints of his and haue him to obserue his Royall Dignity And if it can bee proued that any Church or Churchman hath beene opprest by the King or any of his hee is ready to make full satisfaction as shall bee thought fit by the whole Councell of the Church of his Kingdome This say they wee haue receiued in answere from our Lord the King and wish wee could haue had it fully according to your desire but these things wee thought good to notifie to your Highnesse that your Discretion may perceiue what is like to bee the conclusion of this businesse The King stands vpon the iustification of his owne cause ready to obey the Councell and iudgement of the Church of England Whereupon wee thought good to beseech your Highnesse that you would moderate for a time that zeale which by the fire of the deuine Spirit is worthily inkindled to reuenge any iniury done to the Church of God and forbeare to pronounce any sentence of interdiction or that last iudgement of abscision whereby inumerable Churches may bee miserably subuerted and both the King and an infinite number of people with him irreuocably which God forbid auerted from your obedience Then they tell him That better it were to haue a member bad then cut off abscision brought desperation a skilfull Chirurgion might recouer an infected part and how it were filter to imploy meanes to heale the wound then by cutting off a most noble part of the Church of God to bring more disturbance to the same that hath to much alreadie Though the King were stiffe they ought not dispare of the grace of God that a Kings stomacke was then to bee wonne when hee had wonne and might not blush to yeelde when hee had ouercome Patience and Meekenesse must pacifie him c. And inconclusion wee speake foolishly say they but yet withall Charitie if it come to passe that the Lord of Canterbury loose both his goods and liue besides in perpetuall exile and England which God forbid fall away from your obedience were it not better to forbeare for a time then with such zeale of seuerity to foster vp a party what if persecution cannot seperate many of vs from you yet will not there want knees to bow to Baall and receiue the Pall of Canterbury at the hands of an Idoll without choyce of religion or Iustice neither will there want suppliers of our Chayres that will obey him with all deuotion and already many deuoure these hopes wishing that scandalls may come and streight waies bee made crooked Thus much out of their letters which are the best peeces of History in the world and shew vs more of the inside of affaires then any relations else And by this wee truely see what barres kept these two mighty powers back from their wills and yet how lowde they threaten and both a feard of each other But the King of England stood safe ynough and was like to haue his businesses runne in a strong and intire course when by casting to make things safer then fast he layes open a way both to disioynt his owne power and imbroyle his people with diuision which was by the association of his sonne Henry in the gouernment an act without example in this Kingdome and strange that a Parliament an assembly of the State Prince Henry crowned King conuoked for the same businesse would in so wise times consent to communicate the Crowne and make the Common-wealth a Monster with two heads But it seemes the 1170. Anno. Reg. 16. strong desire of the King was such for the loue he bare his sonne as he would not bee denied in this motion nor hold it a sufficient Security to haue twice before caused all the Kingdome to take an Oath of Fealty vnto him to haue designed vnlesse he were Crowned King as he was with all vsuall solemnities the 14 day of Iune 1170. by Roger Archbishop of Yorke and had homage done vnto him that day by the King of Scots Dauid his brother and all the Nobility of England But now with what reseruations this was done wee are not particularly informed whether there was an equall participation of rule or onely but of Title and that the Father notwithstanding this Act was to haue the especiall manage of the Gouernment and the Sonne though a King yet a Sonne with a limited powre Howsoeuer this young King shewed shortly after That a Crowne was no State to bee made ouer in trust and layd much griefe and repentance vpon his Fathers forwardnesse What mooued the King with this precipitation to be before hand with his Graue may be deemed the iealosie he had apprehended by his Mothers example who for all the Oath of Fealtie sooften taken for her succession was yet put by it through the working of the Clergie and now considering in what termes hee stood with them and that although he had wonne some few Bishops vnto him was sure they loued him not and what they might worke with the people if himselfe should faile made him ouer doe his worke The King of France vnderstanding that his daughter was not Crowned with her husband which by reason of her tender age was deferred tooke it
ill and threatnes King Henry the Father with warre if it were not presently done which causes him to make more haste backe againe into Normandy leauing the young King in England to satisfie or preuent this quarreling Prince And whilst he remained there meanes was made that the Archbishop of Canterbury who had beene now sixe yeares in exile was brought to haue conference with the King by the mediation of the King of France Theobald Earle of Bloys and diuers great Bishops which the King of England was the more willing to accept in regard hee saw this breach with the Church might much preiudice his temporall businesses whensoeuer they should breake out and how the Archbishop continually was working the Pope and all the great Prelates of the Christian world against him which How much such a party as swayed the Empire of Soules might doe in a time of zeale against a ruler of bodies was to bee considered And therefore discends he from the higth of his will to his necessity and they meete at Montmiriall before the King of France where the Archbishop kneeling at the feete of his Soueraigne Lord the King of England sayd Beckets submission to the King Hee would commit the whole cause in controuersie to his Royall Order Gods honour onely reserued The King who had beene often vsed to that reseruation grew into some choller and sayd to the King of France and the rest What soeuer displeaseth this man hee would haue to be against Gods honour and so by that shift will challeng to himselfe all that belongs to mee But because you shall not thinke mee to goe about to resist Gods honour and him in what shall bee The Kings offer to Becket fit looke what the greatest and most Holy of all his Predecessors haue done to the meanest of mine let him doe the same to mee and it shall suffice Which answere being beyond expectation so reasonable turn'd the opinion of all the company to the Kings cause in so much as the King of France sayd to the Archbishop Will you bee greater then Saints better than Saint Peter what can you stand vpon I see it is your fault if your peace bee not made The Archbishop replied to this effect That as the authority of Kings had their beginning by Beckets reply Degrees so had that of the Church which being now by the prouidence of God come to that Estate it was they were not to follow the example of any that had beene faint or yeelding in their places The Church had risen and increased out of many violent oppressions and they were now to hold what it had gotten Our Fathers sayd hee suffred all manner of afflictions because they would not forsake the name of Christ and shall I to be reconciled to any mans fauour liuing derogate any thing from his honour This hauty reply of a subiect to so yeelding an offer of his Soueraigne so much distasted the hearers as they held the maintenance of his cause rather to proceed from obstinacy then zeale and with that impression the conference for that time brake vp But after this were many other meetings and much debate about the businesse And the King of France at whose charge lay the Archbishop all this while came to another conference with them vpon the Confines of Normandie Where the King of England tooke the Archbishop apart and had long speech with him twice they alighted from their horses twice remounted and twice the King held the Archbishops bridell and so againe they part prepared for an attonement but not concluding any In the end by mediation The King and Becket accorded of the Archbishop of Rouen the matter is quietly ended before the Earle of Bloys at Amboys And thereupon Henry the father writes to Henry the sonne being then in England in this wise Know yee that Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury hath made peace with me to my will and therefore I charge you that hee and all his haue peace and that you cause to bee restored vnto him and to all such as for him went out of England all their substances in as full and honourable manner as they held it three monethes before their going c. And thus by this letter we see in which King the command lay Becket returnes into England The Archbishop returning into England not as one who had sought his peace but inforced it with larger power to his resolution then before Suspends by the Popes Bull the Archbishop of Yorke from all Episcopall Office for Crowning the young King within the Prouince of Canterbury without his leaue and against the Popes commandement and without taking according to the custome the Cautionary Oath for conseruation of the liberties of the Church Hee brought also other letters to suspend in like manner The Bishops of London Salisbury Oxford Chester Rochister Saint Asaph and Landaff for doing seruice at the Coronation and vphoulding the Kings cause against him And by these Letters were they all to remaine suspended till they had satisfied the Archbishop in so much as he thought fit Thus to returne home shewed that hee had the better of the time and came all vntied which so terrified the Bishops that presently hauing no other refuge they repaire to the King in Normandie and shew him this violent proceeding of the Archbishop How since his returne hee was growne so imperious as there was no liuing vnder him Wherewith the King was so much mooued as hee is sayd in extreame passion to haue vttered these words In what a miserable State am I that cannot bee quiet in mine owne Kingdome for one onely Priest is there no man will ridde mee of this trouble Whereupon they report foure Knights Sir Hugh Moruille Sir William Tracy Sir Richard Brittaine and Sir Raynold Fitz Vrs then attending vpon the King and gessing his desire by his words depart presently into England to bee the vnfortunate executioners of the same but by some it seemes rather these foure gentlemen were sent with Commission from the King to deale with the Archbishop in another manner And first to wish him to take his Oath of Fealty to the young King then to restore these Bishops to the execution of their function and thirdly to beare himselfe with more moderation in his place whereby the Church might haue comfort vpon his returne and the Kingdome quietnesse But they finding the Arch-bishop not answering their humor but peremtory vntractable without regarding their Masters message grew into rage first from threatning The murthering of Becket force fell to commit it and that in an execrable manner putting on their armor to make the matter more hideous they entred into the Church whither the Arch-bishop was with-drawn the Monks at Diuine Seruice and there calling him Traytor and furiously reuiling him gaue him many wounds and at length strake out his braines that with his bloud besprinkled the Altar His behauiour in this act of death his courage to
take it his passionate committing the cause of the Church with his soule to God and his Saints the place the time the manner and all aggrauates the hatred of the deed and makes compassion and opinion to be on his side The vnfortunate Gentlemen hauing effected this great seruice rifled the Arch-bishops house and after waighing the foulenesse of what they had committed and doubtfull whether the King though they had done him a great pleasure would seeme so to acknowledge it withdrew themselues into the North parts and from thence pursued The Murtherers miserable ende fled into seuerall Countreys where they all within foure yeares after as is reported died miserable Fugitiues Soone ranne the rumor of this deed with full mouth ouer all the Christian world euery pen that had passion was presently set on worke The King of France himselfe The King of Fraunce informes the Pope of Beckets murther informes the Pope of the whole manner with aggrauation of the souienesse thereof and incites him to vse the most exquesit punishment he could To vnsheath Peters sword to reuenge the death of the Martyr of Canterbury whose bloud cries out for all the Church and whose diuine glory was already reuealed in miracles Theobald Earle of Bloys a great and graue Prince elder brother to King Stephen The Earle of Bloys informes likewise sends likewise his information to the Pope and shewes him how he was at the peace-making betweene the King of England and this blessed Martyr and with what a cheerefull countenance with what willingnesse the King confirmed the agreement granting him power to vse his authority as it should please the Pope and him against those Bishops which had contrary to the right and dignity of the Church of Canterbury presumed to intrude the new King into the Royallthrone And this he would iustifie by his Oath or howsoeuer and in this peace saith he the man of God doubting nothing puts his necke vnder the sword this innocent lambe the morrow vpon Saint Innocents day suffered Martyrdome the iust bloud was shed where the shot of our saluation the bloud of Christ is offered And then how Court dogges the Kings familiars and domesticks were his ministers to execute this horrible act concluding with an exhortation likewise of reuenge But William Arch-bishop of Sens comes with a more maine outcry as if he would wake the Pope were he neuer so dead asleepe and tels him how he was appointed ouer The Arch-bishop of Sens writes to the Pope Nations and Kingdomes to bind their Kings in fetters and their Nobles with manacles of iron that all power both in Heauen and Earth was giuen to his Apostleship bids him looke how the Bore of the wood had rooted vp the Vineyard of the Lord of Saboath c. and all in that most powerfull phrase of holy writ And after hauing bitterly inueyed against the King vses these words It imports you O most milde keeper of the walles of Ierusalem to reuenge that which is past and prouide for the future What place shall be safe if the rage of tyranny shall imbrew the Sancta Sanctorum with bloud and teare in peeces the Vice-gerents of Christ the foster children of the Church without punishment Arme therefore all the Ecclesiasticall power you may c. Such and so great was the vprore of the Church raised vpon these motiues as notwithstanding The King declares his innocency by Embassage to the Pope the King of England then the greatest Prince of all the Christian world imployed the most especiall men could be chosen in all his Dominions for reputation learning and iudgement to declare his innocencie to the Pope to vowe and protest that he was so farre from willing such a deed to be done as he was from doing it himselfe and how grieuously hee Pope Cardinals denied audience refused conference tooke the matter when he heard thereof yet so deepe was the impression setled before hand and his name made so odious at Rome as not onely the Pope denied Audience to his Ambassadors but euery Cardinall and all other his Ministers refused to haue any conference with them Which with the hard passage they had in going thither by the many dangers and restraints they indured and now the contempt they found there did as they signified to the King much discourage them Yet for all this were there those braue Spirits among them as great Princes haue alwaies great Ministers that neuer gaue ouer working to cleere their maisters honour by Apologies remonstrances and all whatsoeuer wit could deuise and delt so as they kept off the great confounding blow of the highest Censure though it were euery day threatned and expected And hauing by grauely vrging the mischiefes might follow in the Church if a King of so great a State and stomacke should bee driuen to take desperate courses giuen some pawse and allay to the first heare they timed it out all that Spring and a great part of the next Sommer when although they could giue the King no great security yet they aduertise him of hope But the sending of two Cardinals a Latere Gratianus and Viuianus downe into Normandie did exceedingly vexe him For they were rough against him and would haue interdicted him and his Dominions but being forewarned of their comming and intention hee appeales to the presence of the Pope and so put off that trouble Returning out of Normandie into England hee giues strict commandement That no briefe carrier of what condition or order soeuer without giuing good security for his behauieur to the King and Kingdome bee suffred to passe the Seas Notwithstanding all the vexation the Church put this King into hee left nothing The Conquest of Ireland vndone that concerned the aduancement of his affaires but as if now the rather to shew his powre and greatnesse takes this time for an expedition into Ireland hauing commanded a Nauie of foure hundred shippes to bee ready at Milford-Hauen for the transportation of Men Victuals and Armour and sets soorth in the beginning of Nouember an vnseasonable time both for those Seas and the inuasion of a Countrey not well knowne But the businesse it seemes was well prepared for him hauing had an intention thereof euer since the second yeare of his raigne in which hee sent a solemne Ambassage to Pope Adrian the fourth to craue leaue for the subdument of that Countrey vnder pretence of reducing those rude people from their vicious fashions to the fayth and way of truth Which the Pope willingly graunted and returnes the Ambassadours with an autenticall concession thereof in writing to this effect First shewing how laudable a thing it was and how fitting the magnificence of so mighty a King to propagate his glorious name on Earth and heape vp reward of eternall felicity in Heauen by extending the bounds of the Church reducing rude and vnlettered people from their vicious manners to the veritte of the Christian faith and ciuilitie And
fell all from themselues and with the same emulation they had in libertie stroue for their seruitude who should be first to receiue a forraine maister From Waterford the King goes to Dublin where hee holds an Assembly of all these subiect Kings with the Lords Spirituall and Temporall of Ireland for the further ratification of their allegiance and the ordering and reformation of the State Which done hee causes the Bishops with the Clergie there to assemble at Cassell and appoints an especiall Chaplaine of his owne with the Archdeacon of Landaff to bee assistants and aduisors vnto them for reformation of Church-businesses which seemes to haue beene Henries reformation of Ireland as disordred as the people for though the Irish had beene long before Christians it was after a wilde and mixt fashion and therefore according to his promise made to the late Pope and to doe a worke pleasing to the present it was decreed That all Church-lands should be free from the exaction of secular men and that from thence foorth all Diuine things should bee ordered and vsed in euerie part of Ireland according to the manner of the Church of England being fit as saith the Cannon that as Ireland hath by Gods mercy obtained a Lord and King out of England so from thence they should receiue a better forme of life and manners then heretofore they vsed His Christmasse he keepes at Dublin where he royally feasts all his Kings great men of the Countrey the rest of his being there he imployes in fortifying and planting Garnisons where most need required he makes Hugh Lacy Iustice of all Ireland giues him the keeping of Dublin and besides confirmed vnto him and his heires by his Charter the Countrey of Meth to hold the same in Fee for the seruice of a hundreth Knights he bestowes on Robert Fits Bernard the keeping of the Townes of Waterford and Weisford which he tooke from Fits Stephen the first inuador with charge to build Castles in them and to humble the Earle Strongbow and leuell him with the rest of his subiects he takes from him all his dependants and makes them his So was it but his winters worke to get a Kingdome which though thus easily won it proued more difficult and costly in the keeping by reason the prosequution of a full establishment thereof was neither by him or his successors hauing other diuertments euer throughly accomplished On Easter monday he sets out for England where he makes no stay but takes the young King along in his company and passes ouer into Normandy to meete other two Legates Theodinus and Albertus who were sent from Pope Alexander but in milder fashion then the last to examine the murther of the late Arch-bishop Becket Foure moneths were spent in debating the matter and in the end the King by his Oath taken vpon the Reliques of Saints and the holy Euangelists before the two Legates in the presence of King Henry the sonne the Arch-bishop of Rouen and all the Bishops and Abbots of Normandy in the Citty of Auranches purged himselfe of either commanding or consenting to the murther Yet for that he doubted least they who committed His purgation for Beckets murther the same might be moued thereunto by seeing him disturbed and in passion he tooke the same Oath that in satisfaction thereof he would faithfully performe these Articles following First neuer to forsake Pope Alexander nor his Catholicke Successors so long as they vsed him as a Catholicke King Secondly That Appeales should freely be made to the Pope in causes Ecclesiasticall Prouided that if any were suspected to worke euill to him or his Kingdome they should then put in security before they departed Thirdly That he would from Christmas next for three yeares to come vndertake the Crosse and the sommer fol lowing in person go to Ierusalem vnlesse he were stayed by the Pope or his Successors or imploied against the Sarasins in Spaine Fourthly That in the meane time he should deliuer so much money into the Templars hands as by their opinion would entertaine two hundreth souldiers in the Holy warre for one yeare Fiftly call home all such as had endured banishment for the Arch-bishop Sixtly Restore his possessions Seuenthly and lastly abolish all such customes as in his time had beene introduced to the preiudice of the Church After himselfe had sworne he caused Both Kings sweare to these Articles King Henry his sonne to sweare to all these Articles except such as concerned his owne person And for a more Memory in the Roman Church he caused his Seale to be set vnto them with that of the two Cardinals So ended this tedious businesse that made more noyse in the world then any he had and bowed him more beeing his ill fortune to grapple with a man of that free resolution as made his sufferings his glory had his ambition beyond this world set vp his rest not to yeeld to a King was onely ingaged to his cause had opinion and beliefe to take his part Which so much preuailed as the King seeking to maister him aduanced him and now is he faine to kneele and pray to his Shrine whom he had disgraced in his person and hauing had him aboue his will whilest he liued hath him now ouer his Faith being dead And yet 48. yeares after this saith the French History it was disputed among the Doctors of Paris whether he were damned or saued And one Roger a Norman maintained he had iustly deserued death for rebelling against his Soueraigne the Minister of God To make the better way to the ending of this businesse and content the King of Henry the sonne is again crowned with Margaret his wife Fraunce Henry the sonne is againe Crowned and with him Margaret his wife with permission shortly after to goe visite Paris where this young King apt inough though not to know himselfe yet to know his State receiued those instructions as made his ambition quite turne off his obedience and conceiue How to be a King was to be a power aboue and vndeuideable And to further the birth of this apprehension fell out this occasion The Father euer awake to aduance his greatnesse takes a iourney in person into Auergnia and so to Monferrato and there purchases a match for the price of fiue thousand Markes for his yongest sonne Iohn with Alice the eldest daughter of Hubert Earle of Mauriena then as it seemes Lord of Piemont and Sauoy with condition to haue with her the inheritance of all those Countreys containing many great Signories Citties and Castles specified in Roger Houeden with all the circumstances and couenants very remarkeable Vide Append. of the contract So vnto greatnesse that easier increases then begins is added more meanes and euery way opens to this actiue and powrefull King aduantages of State 1173. Anno. Reg. 19. in so much as the King of France was euen surrownded with the powre dependances of this mightie King of Eng. whose fortunes most
of all the neighbor Princes which subsist by other then their owne powre now follow And being returned from concluding this Match in Piemont there comes vnto him lying at Limoges Raymond Earle of Saint Gyles by whom was giuen the first affront he had in France now to doe homage vnto him for the Earledome of Tholouse and there became the man of the King of England and of his sonne Richard Earle of Poictou to hold Tholouse from them by hereditary right for seruice of comming vnto them vpon their sommons and remayning The homage of Raymond Earle of Saint Gyles for the Earld of Tholouse in their seruice fortie daies at his owne charge and if they would intertaine him longer to allow him reasonable expenses Besides the Earle should pay yearely for Tholouse and the appertinances a hundred markes of siluer or ten Horses worth ten Markes a peece About the same time also came the Earle Hubert to Limoges to know what Land the King of England would assure his sonne Iohn who resolued to giue vnto him the Castles of Chinon Lodun and Mirabell Where with King Henry the sonne grew much Henry the son takes displeasure against his father displeased and here mooued his Father either to resigne vnto him the Dutchie of Normandie the Earledome of Aniou or the Kingdome of England for his maintenance in which motion hee was the more egar being incensed by the King of France and the discontented Lords both of England and Normandie who were many and falne or wrought from the Father vpon new hopes and the aduantage of a deuided Soueraignty And though there were many other occasions of this defection of the sonne from the Father yet that this for these Castles should first bee taken may seeme to bee the worke of Gods especiall iudgement being those peeces which himselfe had taken from his owne brother Geffrey contrary to his Oath made vnto his Father as is before related so as if to tell iniustice that it must bee duely repayed the same Castles are made to bring mischiefe vpon him and to giue a beginning to the fowlest discorde that could bee wherein hee had not onely the Children of his owne bodie but the Wife of his bedde to conspire and practise against him For hereupon the sonne sodainely breaking away from the Father came to Paris where the King of France who had no other meanes to preuent the ouergrowing of a neighbour but to deuide him sommons and solicites the Princes of France and all the friends he could make to ayde King Henry the sonne against the father and to take thir Oath either to disposses him of his Estate or bring him to their owne conditions The young King likewise sweares vnto them Neuer to haue peace with his father without their consents and all sweares to giue vnto Philip Earle of Flanders for his ayde a thousand pounds English by the yeare with the County of Kent Douer and Rochester Castles To Mathew Earle of Bologne brother to the sayd Earle for his seruice Kerton Soak in Lindsey the Earldome of Morton with the Honour of Heize to Theobald Earle of Bloys two hundred pounds by yeare in Aniou the Castle of Amboys with all the right hee pretended in Tureine c. and all these Donations with diuers other he confirmed by his new Seale which the King of France caused to be made Besides by the same Seale He confirmed to the King of Scots for his ayde all Northumberland vnto Tyne and gaue to the brother of the same King for his seruice the Earldomes of Huntingdon and Cambridge To the Earle Hugh Bigot the Castle of Norwich other Earles of England as Robert Earle of Leicester Hugh Earle of Chester Roger Mowbray c. had likewise their rewards and promises of the Lions Skin that was yet aliue Besides they draw into their partie Richard and Geffrey whose youths apt to bee wrought on for increase of their allowance are easily intised and with them their mother inraged with iealosie and disdaine for her husbands conceiued abuses of her bed So that this great King in the middest of his glory about the twentith yeare of his raigne comes sodainely forsaken of his owne people and is driuen through distrust to hire and intertaine strange forces procuring twenty thousand Brabansons which were certaine Mercinaries commonly called the Routs or Costerels for the recouery and holding of his Estate And some few faithfull Ministers he had notwithstanding this generall defection who tooke firmly to him as William Earle Mandeuile Hugh de Lacy Hugh de Beauchamp c. But how soeuer we haue seene the best of this Kings glorie and though he had after this good successes hee had neuer happinesse labour hee did by all meanes to haue qualified the heat of his distempered sonne by many mediations of peace offring all conuenient allowances for his Estate but all would not preuaile his sword is drawne and with him the King of France with all his forces enters vpon his territories on that side the Sea on this the King of Scots seizes vpon Northumberland and makes great spoyles The olde King complaines to the Emperour and all the neighbour Princes his friends of the vnnaturall courses of his sonne and of his owne improuident aduancing him William King of Sicile writes and condoles his misfortunes but lay too farre off to helpe him The King of France besieges Vernoul a place of great strength and importance which Hugh de Lacy and Hugh de Beauchamp valiantly defended and after a monthes siege they of the towne victualls fayling obtained truce of the King of France and permission to send vnto their Soueraigne for succour Which if it came not within three daies they would render the Cittie and in the meane time their Ostages The peremptorie day was the Eue of Saint Laurence The King of France with King Henry the sonne and with diuers great Lords and Bishops swore if they rendred the Citie at the day appointed their Ostages should bee redeiiuered and no dammage done to the Citie King Henry the Father with all the forces he could make came iust at the limitted day disposes his Army to strike battaile with his enemies but the King of France to auoyde the same sends the Archbishoppe of Sens and the Earle of Bloys to mediate a parle which was appointed the morrow this day lost lost Vernoul For to the morrow Parle the King of France neither comes nor sends but had entrance into the Towne according to couenants which contrary to his Oath hee sackes takes with him the Ostages and spoyle thereof remoues his Campe and leaues the King of England disappointed who that night after hauing persued the flying Army with some spoyle enters into Vernoul and the morrow surprises Danuile a Castle of his enemies with many prisoners Thence he goes to Rouen whence hee sent his Brabansons into Brittaine against Hugh Earle of Chester and Ralph Fulgiers who had possest themselues almost of the whole
Country but being not able to resist the Kings forces in the field they with all the great men in those parts and that side of France recouered the Castle of Dole where they fortified and kept themselues till King Henry the Father came in person besieged and tooke it and with them about foure score Lords men of name and action Whereupon all the rest of the Countrey yeelded themselues This ouerthrow being of such import so terrified the aduersaries as they negotiate a Peace and a Parle is appointed betweene Gisors and Try wherein the King of England though hee had the better of the day condiscended to make offer to his sonne of halfe the reuenues of the Crowne of England with foure conuenient Castles therein or if hee had rather remaine in Normandy halfe the reuenues thereof and all the reuenues of the Earledome of Aniou c. To his sonne Richard hee offers halfe the reuenues of Aquitaine and foure Castles in the same To Geffrey the Land that should come vnto him by the daughter of the Earle Conon Besides hee submitted himselfe to the arbitration of the Archbishop of Tarento and the Popes Legates to adde any allowance more as in their iudgements should be held fit reseruing vnto himselfe his Iustice and royall powre which yeelding grants shewed how much he desired this peace But it was not in the purpose of the King of France that the same should take effect for such peruersnesse and indignitie was offred to King Henry in this Treaty as Robert Earle of Lecester is sayd to haue reproched him to his face and offered to draw his sword vpon him so that they breake off in turbulent manner and their troupes fell presently to bickering betweene Curteles and Gisors but the French had the worse The Earle of Leicester with an Army makes ouer into England is receiued by Hugh Bygot into the Castle of Fremingham Richard de Lucy chiefe Iustice of England and Humfrey Bohun the Kings Constable being vpon the borders of Scotland hearing thereof make truce with the King of Scots And haste to Saint Edmondsburie where the Earles of Cornwall Glocester and Arundell ioyne with them they encounter the Earle of Leicester at a place called Farnham ouerthrew his Army slue tenne thousand Flemings tooke him his Wife and diuâ—â—s great prisoners which were sent vnto the king in Normandie who with his Army was not thereidle but dayly got Castles and Forts from his Enemies vntill Winter constrained both kings to take truce till Easter following and the like did the Bishop of Duresme with the king of Scots for which hee gaue him three thousand Markes of siluer to bee payed out of the Lands of the Barons of Northumberland The Spring come on and the truce expired king Henrie the Sonne and Phillippe Earle of Flaunders are readie at Graueling with a great Armie for England 1174. Anno. Reg. 20. The King of Scots is entred Norththumberland and sends his brother Dauid with a powre to succour the remnant of the forces of the Earle of Leicester which held the Towne of Leicester but without successe for Richard Lucy and the Earle of Cornwall had before rased the Citie and taken Robert Moubray comming likewise to ayde those of the Castle King Henry the Father vpon his Sonnes preparation for England drawes his forces Henry the fathers arriuall in England from his other imployments and brings them downe to Barbfleet ariues at Southampton with his prisoners Queene Elioner Margueret the wife of his sonne Henry the Earles of Leicester and Chester and from thence goes to Canterbury to visit the Sepulcher of his owne Martyre and performe his vowes for his victories And they write how comming within sight of the Church Hee alights and went three miles on his bare feere which King Henry visits Beckets Sepulcher with the hard stones were forced to yeeld bloudie tokens of his deuotion on the way And as if to recompence the merit of this worke they note How the verie daie when hee departed from Canterburie the King of Scots to bee ouerthrowne and taken at Alnwick by the forces of the Knights of Yorkeshire which are named to bee Robert de Stuteuile Odonel de Humfreuile William de Vescy Ralph de Glanuile Ralph de Tilly and Bernard Baliol. Lewis King of France hearing of King Henries passage into England and the taking of the King of Scots calls backe Henrie the sonne and the Earle of Flaunders from Grauelin where they stayed expecting the winde and besieged Roan on all sides sauing that of the Riuer The whilst King Henrie is quieting and settling the State of England where hee had first the Castle of Huntingdon rendred vnto his mercie sauing the liues and members of the defendants then the Castles of Fremingham and Bungaie which the Earle Bygot helde by force of Flemings for whom the Earles submission could hardly obtaine pardon but in the ende they were sent The King of Scots his prisoner home From thence hee goes to Northampton where hee receiues the King of Scots his prisoner and the Castles of Duresme Norham and Aluerton rendred into his hands by the Bishoppe of Duresme who for all his seruice done in the North stood not cleere in the Kings opinion There came likewise thither Roger de Mowbray yeelding vp himselfe with his Castle of Treske the Earle Ferrers his Castles of Tutsburie and Duffield Anketill Mallory and William Diue Constables of the Earle of Leicester the Castles of Leicester Montsorill and Groby so that within three weekes all England was quieted and all without drawing of sword which in those manly daies seemed only reserued for the field This done and supplied with one thousand Welshmen King Henry with his prisoners the King of Scots the Earles of Leicester and Chester passes ouer into Normandie to the releefe of Roan where those thousand Welshmen sent ouer the riuer Siene entred and made way through the Campe of the King of France slue a hundred of his men and recouered a wood without any losse of theirs After which exploit the King of England causing the gates of the Citie to be set open the Barracadoes taken away the trenches they had made betweene the French Campe and the Cittie to bee filled King Henry fauours the French army vp againe with rubbish and timber marched foorth with troupes to prouoke the enemy but without any answere at all In the end the King of France sends away the weakest of his people before and followed after with the rest vpon sufferance of the King of England by the mediation of the Archbishop of Sens and the Earle of Bloys who vndertooke that hee should the next day come to a parle of peace which hee performed not But shortly after seeing this action had so little aduantaged either him or those for whom hee pretented to haue vndertaken it hee imployes the former Agents The King and his sonner reconciled as the Charter of Peace shewes Reg. Houed againe
bribe the Popes Legates in his businesse with the King of France to haue them fauourable for his ends to send many supplies by their perswations and for his owne reputation to the Holy warre Auno 1182 saith Walsingham hee releeued the necessitie of the Ierosolomitans with 1182. Anno. Reg. 28. two and forty thousand Markes of siluer and fiue hundred Markes of gold which was in money seuen and forty thousand three hundred thirty three pounds sixe shillings eight pence And when Pope Lucius distressed by the Romans desired an ayde out of England The King sent him a mighty summe of Gold and Siluer in Vide Append. Henry 2. releeues Pope Lucius and the Ierosolomitans with great summes of gold siluer leauying whereof the Clergie here delt very circumspectly for when the Popes Nuncij came to desire the same they aduised the King that according to his will and honour hee himselfe should supplie the Popes occasion as well for himselfe as them for that it was more tollerable that their Lord and King should receiue from them the returne of that ayde then that the Popes Nuncij should which might bee taken for a custome to the detriment of the Kingdome Now about eight yeares had the peace continued betweene the two Kings Father and Sonne when againe new flames of vnnaturall discord began to breake out the occasion whereof as farre as can bee discouered in the vncertaine passages of that time we finde to be this Anno Reg. 29. After a great Christmas kept at Cane in Normandy with his sonnes 1183. Anno. Reg. 29. Henry Richard and Geffrey the Duke of Saxony with his Wife and Children besides a great Nobility of all parts The King willed King Henry his Sonne to take the Homages of his brother Richard Earle of Poictou and Greffrey Earle of Brittaine Richchard refuses to doe it but vpon perswasion being afterwards content his brother Great festiuals oftentimes breake vp with great discontentments refuses to take the same Whereupon with great indignation Richard departs from his Fathers Court into Poictou mans and furnishes his Castles there The King his brother followes by instigation of the Barons of Poictou and Aquitaine who were fallen from Richard and adhered to the young King as men that vnderstood what would become of younger brothers Estates in such Dominions where the elder brothers birth-right and powre would carry all and Greffrey Earle of Brittaine takes the King his brothers part comes with forces to aide him Richard sends for succour to his father who with a powrefull Army rather to constraine them to a peace then to make warre came downe into Poictou where againe his three sonnes after the debatement of their grieuances swore to obey and serue their Father and to hold perpetuall peace among themselues And for the farther Henry and his sonnes accorded ratification of this Concord they meete all at Mirabell where Henry the sonne desires that the Barons of Poictou and Aquitane whom he had sworne to defend against his brother Richard might be there at the concluding this peace and to be pardoned for any former act committed Which request is granted and Geffrey Earle of Brittaine sent to bring the Barons thither But the Barons holding this peace either not safe or not profitable so worke as they winne the messenger to take their part against the Father and keepe him with them Henry the sonne notwithstanding continues to mediate still for the Barons and to get his Father and brother Richard to receiue them into grace And vndertaking to bring in both them and his brother Geffrey is permitted by the Father to go treat with them at Limoges whither also by another way and with small company it was agreed the Father should come which he did but his approach was met with arrowes so dangerously shot at his person as the next man to him was slaine and himselfe with his sonne Richard forced to retire from the place And yet afterwards desirous out of a fatherly affection to haue conference with his sonnes for the quiet ending of this businesse vpon their assurance of his safety he enters into the Citty when againe from the Castle is short a barbed arrow which had tooke him directly on the brest had not his horse by the sudden lifting up his head receiued it in the forehead Which act his sonnes neuer sought to find out and punish but still vnderhand held amity with the Barons At length notwithstanding King Henry the sonne comes to the Father and protests that vnlesse the Barons would come and yeeld themselues at the Kings feete he would vtterly renounce them And after hauing againe vpon his Fathers promise of pardon and peace dealt with them and finding as he auowed their obstinacie made shew to forsake their party and returnes to his Father with great submission deliuering vp vnto him his horse and Armor in assurance thereof But many dayes he spent not with him when againe either for the intended reuenge he found his Father meant to prosecute against the Barons whose protection hauing vndertaken he held himselfe in his honour engaged to preserue or by the working of some mutinous ministers about him whose element was not peace he againe The inconstancy of King Henry the son enters Oath and League with them But therein finding his power short of his will and desperate of all successe in his courses he suddenly breakes out into an extreame passion before his Father fals prostrate at the Shrine of Saint Martiall and His vowe vowes presently to take vpon him the Crosse and to giue ouer all worldly businesse beside With which strange and sudden passion the Father much moued besought his son with teares to alter that rash resolution and to tell him truly whither indignation or religion induced him thereunto The Sonne protests that it was meerely for the remission of his sinnes committed against his person And vnlesse his Father would now giue him leaue without which he could not go he would there instantly kill himselfe His resolution in his presence The Father after hauing vsed all meanes to diswade him and finding him still obstinate sayd vnto him Sonne Gods will be done and yours for your furnishing I will take such order as shall befit your Estate The sonne whilst the Fathers passion had made him tender wrought thereupon and besought him that he would deale mercifully with those of the Castle of Limoges the Barons of Aquitaine and pardon them To which the Father in the end though vnwillingly yeelds so that they would put in their pledges for securing their fidelity His request for the Barons of Aquitaine and the peace which they seemed content to do But vpon the deliuery and receiuing of these pledges new ryots were committed by such as could not indure the peace which is neuer faithfull but where men are voluntarily pacified and these young Princes againe take part with their Confederates and are made the heads of rebellion
notice of wrong and checke the malice of an vnnaturall offender at which sight Richard surprised with horror is sayd to haue burst out into extreame lamentations He had issue by his wife Elianor foure sonnes Henry Richard Geffrey and Iohn besides two other William the eldest and Phillip the youngest but His Issue one died young Also three daughters Maude married to Henry Duke of Saxony Elianor the wife of Alfonso the eighth of that name king of Castile Ioan giuen Vide 10. Speed in marriage vnto William king of Sicile He had also two naturall sonnes by Rosamund daughter of Walter Lord Clifford William surnamed Longespee in English Long Sword and Geffrey Arch-bishop of Yorke who after fiue yeares banishment in his brother King Iohns time died Anno 1213. The first sonne William surnamed Longespee Earle of Salisbury in right of Ela his wife daughter and heire of William Earle of that County sonne of Earle Patricke had issue William Earle of Salisbury Stephen Earle of Vlster Ela Countisse of Warwick Idae Lady Beuchampe of Bedford and Isabell Lady Vescy His Sonne Earle William the second had Earle William the third Father of Margaret wife of Henry Lacie Earle of Lincolne It is said King Henry had also a third naturall Sonne called Morgan by the wife of one Rodulph Bloeth or Blewet a Knight hee liued to be Prouost of Beuerley and to be elected to the Bishopricke of Duresme and comming to Rome for a dispensation because his basiardy made him otherwise vncapeable the Pope willed him to professe him selfe Blewets lawfull sonne and not the Kings Naturall promising to consecrate him on that condition but he vsing the aduise of one William Lane his Clerke told the Pope that for no worldly promotion he would renounce his Father or deny himselfe to be of blood Royall The ende of the Life and Raigne of Henry the second The Life and raigne of Richard the first RICHARD surnamed Coeure de Lion borne at Oxford succeeding his Father He began his raigne the 6â— of Iuly aged 35. first seizes vpon his Treasure in France being in the hands of Stephan Thurnham Seneschall of Normandy whom he imprisons with fetters and manacles to extort the vttermost thereof And then repayres to Roan where by Walter the Archbishop hee is guirt with the sword 1189. Anno. Reg. 1. of the Dutchy of Normandie takes fealty both of the Clergie and Lay and then goes to Parle and compose his bufinesse with the King of France which hee did by money and obtayned restitution of all such peeces as had beene gotten from his Father in the time of the late warres Besides for his better strength hee giues in marriage Maude his Neece daughter of the Duke of Saxonie to Geffrey sonne to the Earle of Perch During this stay and setling of his affaires in France Queene Elianor his Mother freed from her imprisonment which shee had endured twelue yeares hath power to dispose of the businesse of England which especially shee imployed in preparing the The slaughter of the lewes at the Coronation affections of the people by pardons and releeuement of oppressions and then meetes her sonne at Winchester Where besides his Fathers treasure which was 900000 pounds in gold and siluer besides plate Iewels and pretious stones there fell vnto him by the death of Geffrey Ridle Bishop of Ely dying intestate 3060 Markes of Siluer and 205 of Gold which came well to defray the charge of his Coronation celebrated the third day of September 1189 at Westminster and imbrued with the miserable slaughter of the Iewes inhabiting in and about the Citie of London who comming to offer their presents as an afflicted people in a strange Country to a new King in hope to get his fauour were set vpon by the multitude and many lost both their liues and substance The example of London wrought the like mischiefe vpon the Iewes in the Townes of Norwich Saint Edmondsbury Lincoln Stamford and Linne All this great Treasure left to this King was not thought sufficient for this intended action of the Holy warre which was still on foote but that all other waies were deuised to raise more money and the King sells much Land of the Crowne both to the Clergie and others Godfrey de Lucy Bishoppe of Winchester bought two Mannors Weregraue and Menes The Abbot of Saint Edmondsbury the Mannor of Mildhall for one thousand Markes of siluer The Bishop of Duresme the Mannor of Sadborough with the dignity pallitinate of his whole Prouince which occasioned the King iestingly to say what a cunning workeman he was that could make of an olde Bishoppe a new Earle Besides hee grants to William King of Scots the Castles of Berwike and Roxborough for 10000 Markes and releaseth him of those couenants made and confirmed by his Charter vnto King Henry the second as extorted from him being then his prisoner reseruing vnto himselfe onely such rights as had beene and were to bee performed by his brother Malcolin to his Ancestors the kings of England Moreouer pretending to haue lost his Signet made a new and proclamation that whosoeuer would safely enioy what vnder the former Signet was graunted should come to haue it confirmed by the new whereby hee raised great summes of money to the griefe of his subiects Then procures he a power from the Pope that whosoeuer himselfe pleased to dismisse from the iourney and leaue at home should bee free from taking the Crosse and this likewise got him great Treasure which was leuied with much expedition by reason the king of France in Nouember after the Coronation sent the Earle of Perch with other Commissioners to signifie to king Richard how in a generall Assembly at Paris he had solemnly sworne vpon the Euangelists to bee ready at Tours with all the Princes and people of his kingdome who had vndertaken the Crosse presently vpon Easter next following thence to set forward for the Holy Land And for the assurance and testimony thereof hee sends the Charter of this Deede vnto the king of England requiring him and his Nobilitie vnder their hands to assure him in like sort to be ready at the same time and place which was in like maner concluded at a generall Councell held at London And in December hauing onely stayed but foure monthes in England after his Coronation this King departs into Normandie Vide Append. The Kings departure out of England toward the Holy warre keepes his Christmas at Rouen and presently after hath a parle with the King of France at Reimes where by Oath and writing vnder their hands and seales with the faith giuen by all their Nobility on both sides is confirmed a most strict Peace and Vnion betwixt both Kings for the preseruation of each other and their Estates with the orders concluded for their iourney Which done the King of England sends for Queene Elionor his mother his brother Iohn the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Winchester Duresme
an euent For hauing taken vp by the way three Gallies to conduct him to Ragusa for three hundred Markes of Siluer disguised vnder the names of Pilgtimes hee was by his lauish expences discouered to bee the His discouery King of England which note once taken it was impossible for him to lay anie couering thereon that could euer hide him more though vpon warning thereof he presently left all his company and with one man onely takes horse and through all the daungers of a wilde desart and rocky Country trauayling day and night passes into Austrich where Fame that was a speedier post then himselfe was before him And comming to a Village nere to Viena and reposing himselfe in a poore hosterie was taken a sleepe by meanes of his companion going forth to prouide necessaries for him King Richard taken prisoner who as hee was changing money was knowne taken and brought before the Duke of Austrich and vpon examination confessed where his maister was of which prise the Duke was most ioyfull in respect of his reuenge for the disgrace hee did him at the entring of Acon and presently sends him to the Emperour Henry the sixt whom likewise he had offended for ayding Tancredi the base sonne of Roger in the vsurpation of the Crowne of Sicilia against Constantia the lawfull daughter of the same Roger whom this Emperour had married Newes hereof is presently sent by the Emperour to the King of France that he might likewise reioyce at this fortune and hee tells him That now the Enemy of his Empire and the disturber of the Kingdome of France was fast in holde and all the manner how The State of England is likewise soone certified of this heauie disaster and great meanes is made to redeeme their King out of captiuitie who is sayd to haue borne his fortune with that magnanimitie and so cleered himselfe of the scandalls layd on him for the death of Conrade the Emperours kinsman other his actions in the East in such sort as he won the affection of the Emperor so that he professed a great desire to restore him and reconcile him to the King of France But yet wee finde That King Richard deposed King Richard deposed himselfe of the kingdome of England himselfe of the Kingdome of England and deliuered the same to the Emperour as his supreame Lord and inuested him therein by the deliuering vp his hat whch the Emperour returned vnto him in the presence of the Nobility of Germany and England to hold this Kingdom from him for 50 thousand pounds sterling to be payed as an annuall tribute And yet notwithstanding all this the King of France combining with the Earle Iohn preuailed so much with the Emperour as hee held him his prisoner a whole yeare and sixe weekes through their offer of mighty summes they made vnto him For he and the Earle Iohn fully accounted that he should haue beene held a perpetuall prisoner and vpon that reckning the Earle Iohn did his homage to the King of France for the Dutchy Earle Iohn doth homage to the King of France for Normandy of Normandy and all the rest of those transmarine territories and for England as it is sayd and besides resignes vnto him Gisors with the Country of Vexin sweares to marry his sister Alice and to bee diuorsed from his other Wise the Daughter of the Earle of Glocester The King of France couenants to giue him with his sister that part of Flanders which hee had taken from that Eareldome and sweares to ayde him in the attayning both of England and whatsoeuer else the Lands of his brother Then goes the Earle Iohn ouer into England carrying many strangers with him and presently the Castles of Wallingford and Windsor are rendred vnto him then comes hee to London and requires of the Archbishop of Rouen and other the Commissioners the Kingdome of England and that fealty bee made vnto him affirming his brother was dead but they not giuing credit vnto him and denying his desire with rage and strong hand hee fortifies his Castles and in hostile manner inuades the Lands of his brother finding many partakers to ioyne with him The Queene mother the Iustices of England and all the faithfull seruants of the King guard and defend the ports against the inuasion of the French and Flemings who in great numbers seeke to ayde the Earle Iohn and also they labour the redemption of the King whose ransome the Emperour rates at 100 thousand Marks with the finding of fiftie Gallies ready furnished and two hundred souldiers to attend his seruice in the holy warres for one yeare In Normandie the Officers and Seruants of the King of England defend with no lesse faith and courage the right of their Maister against the King of France who withall his powre labours to subdue them and by his large offers to the Emperour prolongs his redemption and inhaunces his ransome This toyle and charge is the world put into through the misfortune and weakenesse of their hardy King who onely in respect of his valour being otherwise not worth so much and the Holy worke hee vndertooke whereby hee obliged the Clergie which then managed all got the opinion and loue of his subiects in such sort as they straine euen beyond their ability to recouer and preserue him and so wrought in the end that the Emperour compounds with King Richard in this manner that hee should send his Commissioners to London and receaue an hundred thousand Markes of pure siluer of Cologne The Emperors composition with King Richard waight to be sealed vp and safely conducted to the bounds of the Empire at the perile of the King of England and other fifty thousand Markes of siluer whereof twenty thousand for the Duke of Austrich and thirty thousand for the Emperour to be payd at seauen monethes after and pledges to be giuen three score to the Emperor and seauen to the Duke Besides the King of England sweares to send his Neece the sister of Arthur Earle of Brittaine to be married to the Duke of Austrich c. And the Emperour granted to the King of England by his Charter the Soueraignty of the Prouince Vienne and Viennoys Merseilles Narbona Arls Lyons and whatsoeuer hee had in Burgogne with the Homages of the King of Arragon the Earles of Dijon and Saint Giles In which countries were fiue Archbishop-ricks thirty three Bishopricks but the Emperour could neuer haue domination ouer them nor they receaue any Lord that hee presented them So that this great gift consisted but in title which yet pleased King Richard that hee might not seeme to part with all his substance for nothing And the same wind he sends to Hubert the new Archbishop of Canterbury lately made his Vicegerent in England to be blowne ouet all the Kingdome by a letter he wrote vnto him wherein he hath these words For that sure I am you much desire our deliuerance and greatly reioyce therein we will that you be
partaker of our ioy and thought fit to signifie to your be louednesse that the Lord the Emperour hath prefixd the day thereof to be vpon Munday after the Feast of King Richards letters into England the Natiuity and the Sunday after we shall receiue theCrowne of the Kingdome of Prouince which he hath giuen vs whereof we send his Letters Patents vnto you and other our friends and well willers and doe you in the meane time as much as in you lyeth comfort those you know loue vs and desire our promotion Teste me ipso apud Spiram 22. Sep. The Emperour likewise writes to the Bishops Earles Barons and other the Subiects of England how he purposed to aduance and magnificently to honour his especiall friend their King and in this Coyne are they payd at home for what they were to lay out King Richard sends after this for his mother Queene Elionor who is still a trauailer and for the Archbishop of Rouen with many others to come vnto him about the time and businesse of his deliuerance for which There is imposed vpon euery Knights Fee twenty shillings the fourth part of all lay mens reuenues and the fourth part of all the reuenues of the Clergie with a tenth of their goods is inioyned to be payd The Chalices and treasure of all Churches are taken to make vp the summe the like is done in all his territories beyond the Seas so dearely cost the returne of this King from his Easterne voyage And this Queene Berenguela had likewise her part of affliction in this iourney for shee with her sister in law the Queene Dowager of Sicilia fearing the Emperours malice were a whole yeare in trauayling from Palestina and at length were conducted vnto Poictou The King of France hearing of this conclusion made betwixt King Richard and The King of France and Earle Iohn proffer great sums to hold King Richard prisoner the Emperour writes to the Earle Iohn how the Diuell was got loose willing him now to looke to himselfe and it vexed them exceedingly both being disappointed thus of their hopes And there vpon the Earle Iohn leauing his Castles in England well defended and incouraging his Soldiers to hold out and credit no reports departes into Normandy where he with the King of France whilest King Richard is yet in the Emperours hands solicites him with the proffer of a hundred and fifty thousand Markes or else a thousand pounds a moneth so long as he held him his prisoner But it preuayled not though it staggered the Emperour for a time who in the end shewed this letter to King Richard that he might see what care was taken for him and then deliuers him to his mother Elionor receiuing the pledges for obseruation of peace and the rest of the ransome vnpayd The Archbishop of Rouen the Bishop of Bath with the sonnes of many principall Earles and Barons And so in February King Richards returne into England one yeare and sixe weekes after his Captiuity in the fourth yeare of his raigne he returnes into England where the Bishops in whose grace especially he was had excommunicated the Earle Iohn and all his adherents and taken in his Castles of Marleborow Lancaster and a fortresse at Saint Michels mount in Cornewall defended by Henry de Pumeroy But his Castle of Nottingham though strongly assailed by Ralph Earle of Chester and the Earle Ferrers and the Castle of Tichill by the Bishop of Duresme held out for the Earle Iohn and found the King some worke to doe vpon his returne who presently without any stay otherwhere came before Nottingham Castle withall the shew of state and greatnesse he could make which yet could not so terrifie the defen dants as to make them yeeld confident either in their owne strength or in opinion that there 1193. Anno. Reg. 5. was no King euer to returne to assault them and supposiing it but a meere shew resolued to hould out for their maister which put the King to much trauayle and great expence of blood before they rendred themselues which was also vpon pardon Those of the Castell of Tichill yeelded to the Bishop of Duresme their persons and goods saued The King assembles a Parlement at Nottingham where Queene Elionor was present and sat on his right hand The first day of the Session he disserseth Girard de Canuile of A Parlament at Notingham the Castle of Lincoln and the Shriefwike of that Shire from Hugh Bardolph hee takes the Shriefwicke of Yorkshire the Castles of Yorke Scarborow and the custody of Westmerland and exposes them all to Sale The Archbishop of Yorke giues for the Shriefwicke of Yorkeshire three thousand Markes with one hundred Markes of annuall rent The second day of the Session the King requires iudgement vpon the Earle Iohn for hauing contrary to his Oath of fealty vsurped his Castles c. and contracted confederacy with the King of France against him And likewise iudgement against Hugh de Nauant Bishop of Couentry for adhering to the Earle Iohn and the Kings enemies And it was adiudged they should both appeare at a peremptory day to stand to the law Which if they did not the Earle Iohn to deserue banishment and the Bishop to vnder goe the iudgement both of the Clergie as being a Bishop and of the Layety being the Kings Shriefe But this Bishop two years after was restored to the Kings fauour and his Bishopricke for fiue thousand Markes The third day of this Session was graunted to the King of euery ploughland through out England two shillings besides the King required the third part of the seruice of euery Knights Fee for his attendance in Normandy and all the Wooll that yeare of the Monkes Cisteaux Which for that it was grieuous and insupportable vnto them they fine for money The fourth and last day was for the hearing of grieuances and accusations and so this assembly brake vp But here either to adde more Maiesty after calamity or else to nullifie his act done to the Eemperour is appointed the Kings recoronation to be solemnised Richard againe crowned at Winchester at Winchester presently vpon the Feast of Easter next following Whilest the king was in these parts William King of Scots repaires to him and required the dignities and honours his predesessors of right had in England and with all the counties of Northumberland Cumberland Westmerland and Lancaster To whom the King of England first answered that he would satisfie him by the aduice of his Councell with shortly after was assembled at Northampton where after deliberation he told him that his petition ought not in reason to be graunted at that time when almost all the Princes of France were his enemies for it would be thought rather an act of feare then any true affection and so put it off for that time with faire promises yet graunts he by the aduice and consent of the Councell vnder his Charter to William King of Scotts and his heires
ariuing at the Port of Dam where they found the French Nauie vnorderly dispersed and without defence their forces going out to inuade the Country set vpon and vtterly defeited the same and afterward ioyning their powre with that of Ferrand draue the King of France home with great dishonour and exceeding losse King Iohn raised with this victorie and his peace with the Church sets vpon great designes taking oportunitie of this disaster of the King of France whom in reuenge of his iniurie and hope of recouering his transmarine Dominions he plots to assaile on all sides stirring vp his Nephew Otho to ayde the Earle of Flanders for an Inuasion on the East part whilst himselfe withall his powre should enter vpon the West For execution whereof first hee sends supplies of treasure to his Chieftaines in Flaunders then assembles a great Army at Portsmouth wherewith hee resolues to passe the Seas But his designe contrarie to his desire and haste came to be delayed by the withdrawing The Nobility refuse to ayde King Iohn of his Nobilitie who refused to ayde or attend him vntill hee were absolued and had confirmed vnto them their liberties wherewith much inraged seeing no other remedie he speedily sends for the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other Bishops which were yet in France promising them present restitution and satisfaction vnder the hands and seales of foure and twenty Earles and Barons vndertaking for the performance thereof according to the forme of his Charter graunted in this behalfe Pandolphus with the Bishop and the rest of the exiled Clergie forth-with come ouer and finde the King at Winchester where hee goeth forth to meere them and on his knees with teares receiues them beseeching them to haue compassion on him and the Kingdome of England Absolued he is with great penitence and compassion exprest with teares of all the beholders and sweares vpon the Euangelists to loue defend and maintaine Holy Church and the Ministers thereof against all their aduersaries to the vttermost of his powre That hee would reuoke the good Lawes of his Predecessors and especially those of King Edward abrogating such as were uniust Iudge all his subiects according to the iust iudgement of his Court That presently vpon Easter next following hee would make plenarie satisfaction of whatsoeuer had beene taken from the Church Which done he returnes to Portsmouth with intention to passe ouer into France 1214. Anno. Reg. 16. committing the gouernment of the Kingdome to Geffrey Fitz Peter and the Bishop of Winchester with charge that they should order all businesses together with the Councell of the Archbishop of Canterbury And here a numerous company of souldiers repayring to him complayned that by The Archbishop threatens to excommunicate the King their long attendance their mony was spent so that they could not follow him vnlesse they might be supplied out of his Eschequer which the king refusing to doe in a great rage with his priuate family takes ship and puts forth to the Isle of Iersey but seeing none of his Nobles or other to follow him was forced hauing lost the oportunity of the season to returne into England where he gathers an Army with intention to chastise the Lords who had thus forsaken him But the Archbishop of Canterbury followes him to Northampton Vrging that it was against his Oath taken at his absolution to proceed in that maner against any man without the iudgement of his Court. To whom the King in great passion replyed That hee would not deferre the businesse of the Kingdome for his pleasure seeing Lay iudgements appertained not vnto him and so in fury marches to Notingham The Archbishop followes him and plainely told him that vnlesse hee would desist from this businesse hee would excommunicate all such as should take armes against any before the releasing of the interdiction and would not leaue him vntill hee had obtayned a conuenient day for the Lords to come to his Court which shortly after they did and a Parliament is assembled in Pauls wherein the Archbishop of Canterbury produces a Charter of King Henry the first whereby hee graunted the ancient liberties of the Kingdome of England which had by his Predecessors beene opprest with vniust This Charter is recorded in Mat. Par. with restes of the Subscribers exactions according to the Lawes of king Edward with those emendations which his father by the Councell of his Barons did ratefie And this Charter being read before the Barons they much reioyced and swore in the presence of the Archbishop that Lagam regis Edwardi vobis reddo cum illis emcndationibus quibus pater mcus eam amendauit for these liberties they would if neede required spend their bloud And there withall concluding a confederation with the Archbishop the Parlament brake vp Shortly after dies Geffery Fitz Peter Iusticiar of England a man of a generous spirit learned in the lawes and skilfull in gouernment Who in that broken time onely held vncrased performing the part of an euen Consellour and officer betweene the King and Kingdome whom though the King most vsed he most feared and least loued as ill Princes doe their worthiest ministers whose grauity and iudgment may seeme to Vide Append. keepe them in awe And hearing of his death reioycing said now when he comes into hell let him salute the Archoishop Hubert whom assuredly he shall finde there And turning to those about him swore by the feet of God that now at length he was King and Lord of England hauing a freer power to vnty himselfe from those knots which his oath had made to this great man against his will and to break all the bands of the late concluded peace vnto which he repented to haue euer condiscended And to shew the desperate malice of this king who rather then not to haue an absolute domination ouer his people to doe what he listed would be any thing himselfe vnder any other that would but support him in his violences there is recorded an Ambassage the most base impious that euer yet was sent by any free and Christian Prince vnto Miramumalim the Moore intitled the great King of Affrica Morocco and Spaine wherein he offred to render vnto him his kingdom and to hold the same by tribute from him as his Souraigne Lord To forgoe the Christian faith which he held vayne and receiue that of Mahomet In which negotiation the Commissioners are named to be Thomas Hardington Raph Fitz Mat. Par. Nichols knights and Robert of London Clearke the manner of their accesse to this great King is related with the deliuery of their message and King Iohns Charter to that effect and how Miramumalim hauing heard at large their message and the discription both of the King and Kingdome with the nature and disposition of the people so much Miramumalim scornes the Message of K. Iohn disdayned the basenesse and impiety of the offerer as with skorne hee commanded his ministers to depart
so was it in this and therefore the lesse worthy of thankes The Legat was well payed for his paynes and notwithstanding the great distresse of the Kingdome carries away twelue thousand Markes with him to Rome But thus the long afflicted state began to haue some peace and yet with many distemp ratures at the first ere those virulent humors which the warre had bred were otherwise diuerted For many of the Nobles who had taken part with the King either vnsatisfied in their expectations or knowing not how to maintaine themselues and theirs but by rapine fall to mutinie surprizing of Castles and making spoyles in the Country as the Earle of Albemarle Robert de Veypont Foulke de Brent Brian de Liste Hugh de Bailioll with many other but at length they are likewise appeased And seeing the warre must nurse whom it had bred an Action is vndertaken for the Holy Land whither Ralph Earle of Chester Saer de Quincy Earle of Winchester William de Albeny Earle of Arundle Robert Fitz Walter William de Harcort with many other are sent with great forces Besides to vnburthen the Kingdome all strangers vnlesse such as came with Merchandize are commanded to auoyde the Land and all meanes vsed for the regayning the ability it had lost And no sooner had this prouident Protector the Earle of Pembrooke setled the The death of the Protector Earle Marshall Kings affaires but he dies to the great regrate of the Kingdome leauing behinde him a most Noble memorie of his actiue worth and is to bee numbred amongst the examples of the best of men to shew how much the Wisdome and Valour of a potent Subiect may steed a distracted State in times of danger The Bishop of Winchester imparting the charge with many other great Councellors is made Protector of the young King who in An. Reg. 4. is againe Crowned and the next yeare after hath by Parliament graunted for Elcuage two Markes of Siluer of euery Knights fee for the affaires of the Kingdome and recouery of his transmarine The King againe crowned 1. Parliament Dominions which now is designed and Malleon de Sauerie the Poictouine with William Long sword Earle of Salsburie sent ouer into Guien to try the affections of that people whom they finde for the most part inclinable to the obedience of this Crowne The King of France is required to make restitution of what hee had vsurped but returnes answere that what hee had gotten both by forfeiture and Law of Armes hee would holde To retayne amitie with Scotland and peace at home Ioan the Kings Sister is giuen 1220. Anno. Reg. 5. in marriage to Alexander King of Scots and Margueret sister to the same King to Hubert de Burgh now made Iusticiar of England and the especiall man who guided the greatest affaires of the Kingdome Wales reuolting vnder their Prince Lewelin gaue occasion of great charge and trouble to this State in the beginning of this Kings raigne and long after till it was wholy subdued And a commotion in Ireland made by Hugh Lacy is appeased by William Earle of Pembrooke sonne to the late great Marshall 1221. Anno. Reg. 6. and some few yeares after hath the Kingdome a kinde of quietnesse sauing that Falcasius or Foulke de Brent with certaine Chatelaynes the dregs of war fortifying the Castle of Belford with some other peeces of strength and committing many outrages gaue occasion of businesse till they were gotten by hard assault But now the King being come to some yeares of vnderstanding was in a Parliament holden at London put in minde by the Archbishop of Canterbury in behalfe of the State of his Oath made and taken by others for him vpon the peace with Louys for confirmation of the liberties of the Kingdome for which the warre began with his father and being the mainebase wheron his owne good and that of his people must subsist without which the whole State would againe fall a sunder they would haue him to know it betime to auoyde those miserable inconueniences which the disvnion of 1222. Anno. Reg. 7. Rule and Obedience might bring vpon them all which though it were impiously there oppugned as Princes shall euer finde mouthes to expresse their pleasures in what course soeuer they take by some ministers of his amongst whom one William Brewer a Councellor is named who vrged it to haue beene an act of constraint and therefore 2. Parliament not to be performed was notwithstanding promised at that time by the King to bee ratifyed and twelue knights or other Legall men of euery shire by writs charged to examen what were the Lawes and Liberties which the Kingdome enioyed vnder his Grandfather and returne the same by a certaine day and so by that vsuall shift of Prolongation the businesse was put off for that time to the greater vexation of that following For during all his raigne of sixe and fifty yeares the Longest of any King of England this put him to the greatest imbroylement made him ill beloued of his paople euer crost in his intendements and farre a lesse King onely by striuing to be more then he was the iust reward of violations And euen this first pause vpon the lawfull requisition thereof turnd the bloud shew'd how sensible the state was in the least stoppage of that tender vaine For presently the Earles of Chester Albimarle with many other great men assemble at Lecester with intent to remoue from the K. Hugh de Burgh chiefe Iusticiar and other officers supposed to hinder this motion But the Archbishop of Canterbury by his spirituall power and the rest of the nobility more carefull to preserue the peace of the Kingdome stood to the King and would not suffer any proceeding in this kind so as the Lords effected nothing at that time but were constrained to come in and submit Resumptions themselues And here the king by parliament resumes such alienations as had bin made by his Ancesters of what had apertayned to the Crowne whereby he might haue the 1223. Anno. Reg. 8. more meanes of his owne without pressing his subiect but this serued not his turne The next yeare after another Parliament is held at Westminster wherein is required the fiftieth part of all moueables both of the Clergy and Layetie for the recouery of those parts in France withheld from this crowne by Louys now King contrary to his 3 Parliament oath and promise made here in England at his departure Which motion though it concerned the honour and dignity of this Kingdome being the inheritance of the King and the Estates of most of the Nobility and other the subiects who had lands and possessions in those parts which no doubt they desired to recouer with their vtmost means yet would they not yeeld to the graunt of this subsidy but vpon confirmation of their liberties which in the end they obtayned in the same words and forme as King Iohn had graunted them in the
two Charters before And twelue Knights or Legall men are chosen in euery shire vpon their Oath to disparte the old forests from the new and all such as were found to haue Disforrestations beene inforested since the first coronation of Henry the second to be disafforested and disposed at their pleasure who were to posses them wherevpon they were layd open plowed and improued to the exceeding comfort and benefit of the subiect whereby men in steed of wild beasts were sustayned and more roome made for them to vse their industry Two yeares with great quietnesse and generall content the blessing of a state 1225. Anno. Reg. 10. these liberties were inioyed when the King at a Parliament at Oxford declaring himselfe to be oflawfull age and free from custody to dispose of the affayres of the Kingdome cancells and anulles the Charter of Forests as graunted in his Nonage hauing no power of himselfe or of his Seale and therefore of no validitie and causes Proclamation to be made that both the Clergy and all others if they would inioy those liberties 4. Parliament should renew their Charters and haue them confirmed vnder his new Seale for which they were constrayned to pay not according to their ability but the will of the chiefe Iusticiar Hugh de Burgh to whome is layd the blame of this mischiefe which procured him the generall hatred of the Kingdome and bread a new insurrection of The reuoking the Charters of Forrests which bred a new insurrection the nobility who taking aduantage vpon a breach lately falen our betweene the king and his brother Richard Earle of Cornwell about the Castle of Barkhamsted appertayning to that Earledome which the king had committed to the keeping of on Walleran a Dutchman ioyne with the Earle and put themselues in armes For the king mayntayning the cause of Walleran commands his brother to render the Castle which he had taken from him or else to depart the kingdome The Earle answeres that he would neither doe the one or the other without the iudgment of his Peeres and so departes to his lodging leauing the king much displeased with this answere The chiefe Iusticiar fearing the disturbance of the peace aduises the king sodainly to apprehend the Earle and commit him to close custodie but the Earle either through notice or doubt therof flies presently to Marleborough where he findes William Earle Mareshall his friend and consedrate by Oath with whom hee hastes to Stamford and there meets with the Earles of Chester Gloster Waren Hereford Ferrers Warwicke with diuers Barons and men at armes from whence they send to the King aduising him to right the iniurie done to his brother The cause whereof they impute to Hugh de Burgh and not to himself besides they require restitution to be made without delay of the liberties of the Forrests lately cancelled at Oxford otherwise they 1226. Anno. Reg. 11. would compell him therevnto by the sword The King to anoyd this daunger appoints them day to come to an assembly at Northampton where a concord is concluded and to satisfie his brother besides the rendring vnto him his Castle he grauntes him all that his mother had in dowre and s. Parliament whatsoeuer lands the Earle of Brittaine held in England with those of the Earle of Bologn lately deceased and so the Parliament brake vp After this the generall motion 1227. Anno. Reg. 12. for the holy warres intertaines some time Which so strongly wrought in that credelous world as sixty thousand sufficient men are reported to haue vndertaken that voyage of whom Peter Bishop of Winchester and William Bishop of Excester are the leaders The King is sollicited by Hugh le Brun Earle of March who had marryed his Mother and by other great men of Normandy to come ouer into France to recouer his right vpon the great alterations happening in those parts by this occassion Louys the eight who succeeded Phillip the second being lately dead after his great siege of Auignon and his warres made against the Heretickes Albegeois in Prouince leaues the Kingdome to his Sonne Louys of the age of twelue yeares in whose minority his Mother Blanch taking vpon her the regency so discontented the Princes of the French Hist. bloud as they oppose themselues against her holding it both dishonorable and daungerous that a woman and a stranger by the Councell of Spaniards whom she aduanced aboue the Naturalls of the Kingdome should gouerne all according to her pleasure and therefore enter league against her The chiefe of whom were Phillip Earle of Bologne vncle by the Father to the King Robert Earle of Champaigne Peter de Dreux Duke of Britagne and Robert Earle of Dreux his brother and with these Hugh the Earle of March takes part in regard the Queen Regent had erected the Country of Poictou to a Conty and made Earle there of Alphonso her Sonne brother to the young king whereby finding himselfe inclosed within that County he refuses to acknowledge Alphonso for Lord instigated therevnto by his wife a Queene Dowager of England who could not comport a superior so neere her doore in so much as they likewise draw in the Earle of Lusignan brother to the Earle of March who also presuming vpon the greatnesse of his house discended of kings was apt to take their part and these with the Earle of Britagne call in the King of England Who after he hed exacted great sums of the Clergy of the Citie of London for redemption of their liberties and taken the third part of al the goods of the Iewes passes ouer with an Army lands at Saint Mallos is met by many Nobles of Poictou who with the Earle of Britagne doe homage vnto him and great preparations are made to recouer such peeces as had beene obtayned by the late King of France The Queene Regent sets out a powerfull army to stop the proceeding of the King of England and much mischiefe is wrought on both sides in Pocitou Xaintonges Angoumois where their friends and enemies suffer all a like At length seeing no great good to arise by their trauaile both weary of the busines either a peace or truce is concluded The King of England besides an infinite expence of treasure hauing lost diuers of his Nobles and other valiant men in the iourny without any glory returnes home bringging with him the Earle of Britagne and many Poictouins to receiue their promised rewards which notwithstanding all the former expence must be wrung out of the substance of the poore subiect of England Vpon his returne hee intertaines a purpose of Marriage with a sister of the King of Scots against which the Earles and Barons of England generally oppose alledging it to be vnfit that he should haue the younger Sister when Hubert his chiefe Iusticiar had maryed the eldest and the Earle of Britagne by whose Councell he was now much directed disswades him likewise from it To this Earle after supplies obtained towards
army against the Lords imployes new forces of strangers but all without successe Wherevpon a Fryer of the Order of Minors is imployed to confer with the Earle Mareschall and to perswade him to come in and submit himselfe to the kings mercy whom he had heard to say that notwithstanding his great offences he would pardon and restore to his estate vpon submission and besides giues him so much of Herefordshire as should conueniently mayntaine him Besides the Fryer told him what he heard of other Councellors about the King concerning the wishing of his submission and in what forme they desired Vide Appond it should be imparted in priuat And then as of himselfe he vses all inducements possible to draw him therevnto shewing how it was his duty his profit and safty so to doe Wherewithall the Earle nothing moued told the Fryer what iniuries hee had receiued and that hee could not trust the King so long as hee had such Councellors about him who onely sought the distruction of him and his associats who euer had beene his loyall subiects And after many obiections made by the Fryer with vrging the Kings power his owne weaknes and the danger hee was in the Earle concludes that he feared no danger that he would neuer yeeld to the Kings Will that was guided by no reason that he should giue an ill Example to relinquish the iustice of his cause to obay that Will which wrought all iniustice whereby it might appeare they loued wordly possessions more then right and honor c. So nothing was done the war continues with much effusion of bloud all the borders of Wales vnto Shrowesbury are miserable wasted and made desolate At length meanes is vsed to draw the Earle Mareschall ouer into Ireland to defend his estate there which was likewise seized vpon by authority giuen vnder the Kings hand and Seale and all those great possessions discended vnto him from his Ancestor the Earle Strongbow the first conquerors of that country spoyled and taken from him And here seeking to recouer his liuelihood hee lost his life circumuented by treachery his death gaue occasion of griefe both to his friends and enemies The king disauowes the sending 1234. Anno. Reg. 19. of this commission into Ireland protesting hee neuer knew thereof and discharges himselfe vpon his councellor A poore shift of weake Princes After two yeares his affliction a Parliament is assembled at Westminster wherein the Bishops grauely admonish the King by his Fathers example and his owne experiene 7 Parliament of the mischiefe of dissention betweene him and his Kingdome occasioned through the ill councell of his ministers to be at vnion with his people to remoue from him strangers and others by whose instigation for their owne ends these disturbances are fostered and his naturall Subiects estranged from him to the great alienation of their affections which was of dangerous consequence Wherefore after recitall of the Greeuances of the State and the abuses of his Ministers which were such as all corrupted times produce they humbly besought him to gouerne his according to the example of other Kingdomes by the natiues of the same and their Lawes otherwise they would proceed by Ecclesiasticall censure both against his Councellors and himselfe The King seeing no way to subsist and get to his ends but by temporizing consents to call home these Lords out of Wales restores them to their places and possessions amoues those strangers from about him and calls his new Officers to accompt The Bishop of Winchesler Peter de Riuallis and Stephan Segraue thereupon take Sanctuarie but afterward vpon mediation they obtayned with great fines their Liberty dearely paying for their two yeares eminency and grace Things thus appeased the King giues his sister Isabel in marriage to the Emperour Frederic the second successor to Otho and grand-child to Frederic Barbarossa the Archbishop of Cologne and the Duke of Louaine were sent for her Shee is conducted Isabel the Kings Sister married to the Emperor by the King her brother to Sandwich with three thousand horse The marriage is solemnised at Wormes She was the third wife of this Emperour an alliance that yeelded neither strength or benefit though that were both their ends to either Prince The continuall broyle which this Emperour held with all the Popes of his time Innocent the third Honorius Innocent the fourth Gregorie the ninth was such and so great as all hee could doe was not enough for himselfe For not to let goe that hold of the Empire he had in Italie with his hereditarie Kingdomes of Naples and Sicil which the Popes wrought to draw to the Church he was put to be perpetually in conflict neuer free from vexations thrust from his owne courses enioyned to vndertake the Holy warres to waste him abroade weakened at home by excommunications and fines for absolutions for which at one time hee payde eleuen thousand markes of Gold And in the end the Popes so preuayled that in the Graue of this Frederic was buried the Imperiall Authority in Italy after hee had thus raigned foure and thirty yeares leauing his sonne Conrad successour rather of his miseries then his inheritance Hee had a sonne by Isabel named Henrie to whom hee bequeathed the Kingdome of Sicile and a hundred thousand ounces of Gold but hee liued not to enioy it To the marriage of this Sister the King qiues thirty thousand markes besides an Imperiall Crowne and other ornaments of great value towards which is raysed two 1236. Anno. Reg. 20. Markes vpon euery Hide Land And the next yeare after himselfe marries Elianor daughter to Raymond Earle of Prouince a match in regard of the distance of the place with the meanes and degree of Estate little aduantagious either to him or his Kingdom but the circumstance of alliance drew it on with some other promises which were not obserued So that hee is neither greater nor richer by these alliances but rather lessened in his meanes hauing no dowre with his wife full of poore kindred that must draw meanes from this Kingdome After the solemnization of this marriage which was extraordinarily sumptuous a Parliament is assembled at London which the King would haue held in the Towre whither the Lords refusing to come another place of more freedome is appoynted where after many things propounded for the good of the Kingdome order is taken that all Shriefes are remooued from their Offices vpon complaint of corruption and Shriefes remoued for corruption others of more integritie and abler meanes to auoyde briberie put in their roomes taking their Oathes to receiue no guifts but in victualls and those without excesse Here the King displaces his Steward and some other Councellors and offers to take from the Bishop of Chichester then Chancellor the great Seale but the Bishop refuses to deliuer it alledging how hee had it by the common Councell of the kingdome and without assent of the same would not resigne it and hauing carried himselfe
irreprehensible in his Office is much fauoured by the people Peter de Riuallis and Stephan Segraus are againe receiued into grace an argument of the kings leuitie and irresolution moued it seemes with any Engine to doe and vndoe and all out of time and order wherein he euer looses ground And now faine would he haue reuoked by the Popes Authority some grants of his made heretofore as being don beyond his powre without the cōsent of the Church which harsh intention addes more to the already conceiued displeasure of the people Anno Reg. 21. another Parliament or the same adiourned is held at London where in regard of the great expence for his Sisters marriage and his owne hee requires the 9 Parliament thirtith part of all moueables as well of the Clergie as Layetie Whereunto great 1237. Anno. Reg. 21. opposition is made and recitall of the many Leuies had beene exacted of the Kingdome now of the twentith now of the thirtith and fortith parts and that it was a thing vnworthy and iniurious to permit a King who was so lightly seduceble and neuer did good to the Kingdome either in expelling or repressing enemy or amplyfing the bounds thereof but rather lessening and subiugating the same to Strangers that he should extort by so many pretences so great summes from his naturall people as from slaues of the basest condition to their detriment and benefit of Aliens Which when the King heard desirous to stop this generall murmur promised by Oath that he would neuer more iniurie the Nobles of the Kingdome so that they would benignly releeue him at that present with this supply in regard he had exhausted his treasure in the mariage of his Sister and his owne whereunto they plainely answere that the same was done without their Councell neither ought they to be partakers of the punishment who were free from the fault After 4 daies consultation the King promising to vse only the Councell of his naturall Subiects disauowing and protesting against the reuocation lately propounded and freely granting the inuiolable obseruation of the Liberties vnder paine of excommunication hath yeelded vnto him the thirtith part of all moueables reseruing yet to euery man his ready coyne horse and armour to be imployed for the Common-wealth For the collection of this subsidy it was ordayned that 4 Knights of euery Foure knights of euery shire ordained to take charge of the subsidy Shire and one Clerke of the Kings should vpon their Oath receiue and deliuer the same either vnto some Abbay or Castle to be reserued there that if the King fayle in performance of his Grants it might be restored to the Country whence it was collected with this condition often annexed that the King should leaue the Councell of Aliens and onely vse that of his naturall Subiects Wherein to make shew of his part he sodainly causes the Earles Warren and Ferrers with Iohn Fitz Geffrey to be sworne his Councellors And so the Parliament ended but not the businesse for which it was called the King not giuing that satisfaction to his subiects as he had promised concerning Strangers and besides that order concluded in Parliament was not obserued in the leauying and disposing of the susidie but stricter courses taken in the valewing of mens Estates then was held conuenient Moreouer William Valentine Vncle to the young Queene is growne the onely inward man with the King and possesses him so as nothing is done without his Councell the Earle of Prouince the father a poore Prince is inuited to come ouer to participat of this Treasure which seemes was disposed before The comming of Simon Monford into into England it came in Simon de Monford a French man borne banished out of France by Queene Blanch is intertayned in England and preferred secretly in marriage to Elianor the Kings Sister widow of William Earle of Pembroke Great Mareschall and made Earle of Leicester by right of his mother Amice daughter to Blanchman Earle of Leicester Which courses with other so incense the Nobility and generally all the Subiects as put them out into a new commotion and Richard the Kings brother whose youth and ambition apt to be wrought vpon is made the head thereof who being as yet Heire apparant of the Kingdome the Queen being yong and child-lesse the preseruation of the good thereof is argued to concerne him and hee is the man imployed The Greeuances of the Kingdome to the King to impart the publike greeuances and to reprehend first the profusion of his Treasure gotten by exaction from the subiect and cast away vpon Strangers who onely guide him then the infinite summes hee had raised in his time How there was no Archbishopricke or Bishopricke except Yorke Lincolne Bathe but he had made benefit by their Vacancies besides what fell by Abbayes Earldomes Baronies Wardships and other Escheates and yet his treasure which should be the strength of the State was nothing increased Moreouer how hee as if both dispising his and the Councell of his naturall Subiects was so obsequious to the will of the Romans and especially of the Legat whom he had inconsiderately called in as hee seemed to adore his footsteps and would doe nothing either in publique or priuate 1238. Anno. Reg. 22. but by his consent so that he seemed absolutely the Popes Feudarie which wounded the hearts of his people The King vpon this harsh remonstrance of his brother and the feare of a present commotion after he had sounded the affections of the Londoners whom he found resolued to take part against him hee againe by the aduice of the Legat who had earnestly delt with the Earle of Cornwall to reconcile himselfe to his brother but without effect calls a Parliament at London Whither the Lords came armed 10 Parliament both for their owne saftie and to constraine the King if he refused to the obseruation of the premices and reformation of his courses Here after many debatements the King taking his Oath to referre the businesse to the order of certaine graue men of the Kingdome Articles are drawne sealed and publikely set vp to the view of all with the seales of the Legat and diuers great men But before it came to effect Simon Monford working his peace with the Earle of Cornwall and the Earle of Lincolne likewise with whom he and the State were displeased the Earle growes cold in the businesse The Lords perceiuing the staffe of their strength to faile them failed themselues so that nothing is effected and the miseries of the Kingdome continue as they did Shortly after the King takes displeasure against Gilbert Earle of Pembrooke the third sonne of William the great Mareschall and caused his gates to bee shut against 1239. Anno. Reg. 23. him at Winchester whereupon the Earle retyres into the North. And to shew how inconstant this King was in his fauours Simon Norman intituled Maister of the Kings Seale and not onely so but said
to be Maister of the Kingdome yea of the King the Rector and Disposer of Court is throwne out with disgrace the Seale taken from him and giuen to the Abbot of Euesham In like sort his brother Geffrey a Knight Templar is put out of the Councell both of them much maligned by the Nobilitie who had often before laboured their amouement as held to be corrupt Councellors and wrongers of the State and now are they falne off themselues But the cause of this their deiection may shew that oftentimes Officers vnder weake Princes are not so much faulty as the World holds them to be for not yeelding to passe a Grant from the King made vnto Thomas Earle of Flaunders the Queenes Thomas of Sauoy marrieth the inheretrix of the Earledome of Flanders which he held but during her life Vncle of 4 pence vpon euery sacke of Wooll an enormious act then accompted they both lost their places though not their reputations in this their fall discouering what the Enuie that attended their fortune hindred men to see To this Earle of Flanders the next yeare after the King grants notwithstanding 300 Markes to bee payd out of his Eschequer annually for his homage Now besides the great exactions of the King and his wastes The Sea of Rome extorts huge summes as if one Gulph sufficed not to swallow vp the substance of the Kingdome which opened the mouthes of our Clergie so wide as they let out many exclamations against the auarice of the Popes of that time and the Roman Factors who by permission of the King or by his negligence presumed so farre vpon the easi-yeeldingnesse of the State as they wrung out what they listed In so much as besides the fleece they would now haue the bodies of their possessions And the Pope sends his Mandat to haue three hundred Romans preferred to the benefices which should bee first vacant in England which so amazed the Clergie and especially Edmond Archbishop of Canterburie as hee seeing no end of these concussions of the State and Liberties of the Church and himselfe on whom the Scandall of all must light vnable by reason of the Kings remissnesse to withstand it tyred with the vanity of worldly actions giues ouer all and betakes himselfe to a voluntarie exile in the Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury giues ouer his Sea Abbay of Pontiniac in France and there applies him to the contemplation of a better life But before his departure he yeelds as a ransom for his Church 800 Markes to the Pope The Clergie although thus left by their head generally oppose what they could against the Popes rapine who to get money for his wars with the Emperor vsed dayly Pope Gregory the 9. new and insolent pressures vpon them in so much as they repaire to the King declare how preiudiciall and detogatory it was to his royaltie and the liberty of the Kingdom to suffer this proceeding which none of his Predecessors heretofore euct did and of how dangerous consequence it was to his successors The King either not apprehensiue of the mischiefe or content to ioyne with the Pope to punish and awe the Kingdome not onely refers them to the Legat but offers to deliuer the chiefe opposers vp vnto him Whereupon they seeing themselues forsaken and no powre to succor them but their owne did what they could to withstand the Legats proceeding who now by the Kings animation presumes more peremptorily to vrge them to supply the Popes present occasion and holds a Conuocation at London for effecting the same Wherein the Clergie declare how this contribution now required by the Pope for the destruction of the Emperor and effusion of Christian bloud was vnlawfull hee being not an Heretike nor condemned by the iudgement of the Church although excommunicated That it was against the Liberties of the Church of England being required vnder paine of Ecclesiasticall censure as a thing of seruitude and compulsion That they had heretofore giuen a Tenth to the Pope on condition that neuer any such exaction should againe be made least it might be drawne to a Custome for as much as binus Cod. de Episcopal L. Nemo actus inducat consuetudinem That for their businesse in the Court of Rome they were to passe through the Emperours Countries and the daunger they might haue thereby That it was not safe for the Kingdome to impouerish the King who had many enemies against whom hee must haue to sustaine warre And besides how for the furnishing of diuers Noble men vndertaking of late the businesse of the Crosse great contributions had beene made That the Church of England was poore and hardly able to sustaine it selfe That a generall contribution was to bee made by a generall Councell c. Notwithstanding these reasons though at first they staggered the Legat yet such course was taken by winning some of them vpon hope of preferment as the rest could not without the note of contumacie but yeeld perforce so by this treason of deuision the body of the Councell is entred into and the Pope preuailes in this businesse The King hath now a sonne lately borne and Richard his brother Earle of Cornwall Edward eldest sonne to King Hen. hauing likewise issue by permission of the State which heretofore hee could not obtaine vndertakes the Crosse and with him his Vncle William Longsword Earle of Salibury and many other Noblemen These departing out of England Peter of Sauoy another Richard Earle of Cornwall vndertakes the Crosse. Vncle to the Queene comes in and hath the Earledom of Richmond bestowed on him with many other gifts he is knighted and feasted suptuously for which the poore Iewes by way of redemption pay 20 thousand Markes at two tearmes of that yeare Boniface the sonne of Peter of Sauoy Nephew to the Queen is preferred to the Archbishoprick of Canterbury After this the King makes an expedition into Wales which had often put him to great charge and trouble hauing beene very vnfortunate in his many attempts 1241. Anno. Reg. 25. against Lewellin intituled Prince or King of North-Wales who being lately dead had left his two sonnes Dauid and Griffin by deuision of State to bee at discord betweene themselues whereby hee came to make an easier end of that businesse and now onely but with the shew of his powre got that which heretofore hee could not with much bloud hath submission and fealty rendred vnto him by Dauid withall his charges for that iourney but now this ended another attempt of greater expence but lesse benefit is in hand The Earle of March with his wife the Queene Mother and many other Great Lords of Poictou so worke by their earnest solieitation with assurance of successe as the King is induced to vndertake another expedition into France The 11 Parliament matter is mooued in Parliament generall opposition made against it the great expence and the ill it last brought to the Kingdome vehemently vrged How it was vnlawfull to
breake the truce made with the King of France who was now too strong for them to doe any good c. Notwithstanding many of the greatest Peeres drawne by faire promises and their owne hopes for recouerie of their Estates so preuaile as the action is resolued on and an Ayde demaunded for the same The very motion for money was so distastefull as presently all the Kings supplies made from the beginning of his raigne are particulerly againe opprobriously rehersed as the 13. 15. 16 and 40 part of all mens moueables besides Carucage Hydage Escuage Escheates Amercements and such like A repetitiō of the Kings supplies formerly made which could not but fill his Coffers Then the Popes continuall exactions with the infinite charge for those who vndertooke the Holy warre are likewise repeated Besides they declare how the 30 leuied about foure yeares past in regard it was to bee layde vp in certaine Castles and not to bee issued but by the allowance of foure of the Peeres was as they held it yet vnspent the King to their knowledge hauing had no necessarie occasion to imploy the same for the vse of the Common-wealth for which it was graunted and therefore resolutely they denyed to yeeld him any more Whereupon the King comes himselfe to the Parliament and in most submissiue manner craues their ayde at this time vrging the Popes letter which hee had procured to sollicite and perswade them thereunto But all preuailed not their vow made to each other not to disseuer their voyces or to be drawne to a disvnion held them fast together In so much as the King is driuen to get what hee could of particular men either by guift or loane and vses such meanes as notwithstanding The King carries ouer 30 Barrells of siluer into France he carries ouer with him thirty Barrells of sterling coyne and taking with him his Queene leaues the gouernment of the Kingdome to the Archbishop of Yorke hauing first for his better quiet at home contracted a match betweene his daughter Margueret yet an infant and Alexander eldest sonne to Alexander 3 King of Scots to whom he commits the gouernment of the Marches This second expedition into France had no better successe then the first For therein The Kings second expedition into France he likewise consumed his treasure vpon strangers discontented the English Nobility was deceiued in his trust by the Poictouines who failed him with his money and after more then a whole yeares stay the Lords of England leauing him was driuen to make a dishonorable truce with the King of France And after hauing beene releeued with much prouision out of England and another imposition of Escuage hee returnes puts the Iewes to another redemption exacts of the Londoners is visited by his An imposition of Escuage with another redemption of the Iewes wiues mother the Countesse of Prouince who bringing with her Zanchia her daughter is to adde to his other expencesses sumptuously feasted a marriage solemnized betweene the young Lady and Richard Earle of Cornewall whose wife was late dead and he returned from the Holy warres The olde Countesse at her returne is presented with many rich guifts hauing besides The Countesse of Prouince mother to the Queen comes ouer into England to the great charge of the Kingdome receiued an annuall pension of 4000 Markes out of England for fiue yeares passed in consideration of a pact made that King Henry should after her discease haue the Earledome of Prouince But shortly after her returne home she disappoints him of that hope and bestowes the same with her youngest daughter Beautrix on Charles the French Kings brother who was after King of Naples and Sicile So that she liued to see all her foure daughters Queenes Richard Earle of Cornwall comming afterward to be elected King of the Romans Meanes now vpon these profusions to haue fresh supplie of Treasure was 1244. Anno. Reg. 28. onely by way of Parliament which is againe in Anno Reg. 28. assembled at Westminster and therein the Kings wants and the present occasions vrged for the necessarie defence of the Kingdome hauing now to doe with Wales and Scotland whose Princes lately reuolting ioyne together to annoy the same but nothing could bee effected 12 Parliament without the assurance of reformation and the due execution of the Lawes notwithstanding the King comes againe himselfe in person as before and pleades his owne necessities Here they desire to haue ordayned that foure of the most graue and discreet Peeres should be chosen as Conseruators of the Kingdome and sworne of the Kings Councell both to see Iustice obserued and the Treasure issued and these should euer attend about the King or at least 3 or 2 of them Besides that the Lord Chiefe Iusticiar and the Lord Chancellor should bee chosen by the generall voyces of the States assembled or else bee one of the number of those foure Besides they propound that there might bee two Iustices of the Benches two Barons of the Eschequer and one Iustice for the Iewes and those likewise to bee chosen by Parliament That as their function was publike so should also be their Election But whilst these things were in debating the enemy of mankind and disturber of Peace the Deuill saith Mat. Paris hindred the proceeding by the comming of Martin a new Legat sent from the Pope with a larger powre then euer any before to exact vpon the State which hee supposed now to haue beene so wrought and ready as the Kings turne being seru'd his likewise should bee presently supplied But making too much haste before the first had passage hee frustrates his owne desire and receiues a most peremptory repulse of the whole Kingdome in so much as his Agent was disgracefully returned home with this displeasing message That the Kingdome was poore had great warres the Church in debt not able to yeeld any more Besides this course was of daungerous consequence to this State which alone seemed exposed to the Popes will and therefore seeing a generall Councell was shortly to bee held at Lyons if the Church would bee relieued it were fit the same should bee done by a generall consent in that Councell Besides at this time the Emperour Frederic by his Letters which were openly read Vide Append. The Empetor Fredericks letters to the King in this Assembly first intreates as before he had oftentimes done that the Pope might haue no supplies out of England which he sayd were only required to ruine him whom contrarie to all Pietie and Iustice hee had oppressed by seizing vpon his Cities and Castles appertayning to the Empire And for many yeares notwithstanding his often submission and desire of Peace proceeded in all foule and Hostile manner against him both by the sword and vniust excommunications And seeing hee could obtaine no due hearing hee had referred his cause to bee arbitrated by the Kings of France and England and the Baronage of both Kingdomes And therefore
circuit vnder pretext of Iustice to fleece the people That Robert de Passeleue had wrung from the borderers of Forests for incroachments or assarts great summes of money and therefore they wonder hee should now demaund reliefe from the impouerished commons and aduised him since his needlesse expences posquam Regni caepit esse dilapidator amounted to bee aboue 800 thousand pounds that he should pull from his fauourites inriched with this treasure of the Kingdome and reuoke the old Lands of the Crowne Then they reproue him for keeping vacant in his hands Bishoprickes and Abbayes contrarie to the liberties of the Church and his Oath made at his Coronation Lastly they all generally complaine for that the Chiefe Iusticiar Chancellor and Treasorer were not made by the Common Councell of the Kingdome according as they were in the time of his Magnificent Predecessors and as it was fit and expedient but such aduanced as followed his will in whatsoeuer tended to his gaine and sought not promotion for the good of the Kingdome but their owne The King patiently indures this reprehension in hope to obtaine his desire and giues them promises of redresse but nothing is effected after many meetings and much debate the Parliament is proroged till Midsommet following during which time they would with Patience expect how the King would beare himselfe towards them that accordingly they might obay and satisfie his desire But this delay wrought no good the King through ill Councell growes more obdurate and harsh to his people in so much as at the next Session he makes this speech Would you curbe the King your Lord at your vnciuile pleasure and impose a seruile condition The Kings speech in Parliament vpon him will you deny vnto him what euery one of you as you list may doe It is lawfull for euery one of you to vse what counsell hee will and euery maister of a famely to preferre to any office in his house whom he pleases and displace againe when he list and will you rashly deny your Lord and King to doe the like Whereas seruants ought not to iudge their Maister nor Subiects their Prince or hold them to their conditions For the seruant is not aboue his Lord nor the Disciple aboue his Maister Neither should hee bee your King but as your seruant who should so incline to your pleasures wherefore hee will neither remooue his Chiefe Iusticiar Chancellor nor Treasorer according to their motion In like manner findes hee answeres to the rest of their Articles and for the ayde he required it concern'd hee said their Right as well as his And so the Parliament brake vp in discontent The King is aduised to furnish his wants with the sale of his Plate and Iewells of the Calus An. 48. 49. Hen. 3. Beginneth first with sale of Land then of Iewels pawneth Gascoyne and after his crowne when hauing neither credit nor pawnes of his owne he layeth the ornaments and lewels of Saint Edwards Shrine giues ouer house-keeping Crowne being told that as all riuers haue reflux to the sea so all these things though sold and disperced would reuert againe vnto him and therfore it should not moue him and hauing with great losse receiued money for this ware hee inquires who had bought it answere was made the Citie of London that City said he is an vnexhaustible Gulph if Octauius treasure were to be sold they would surely buy it and therewithall inueighes against the City which had so oftne serued his turne and deuises all meanes to vexe the same causing shortly after a new faire to be kept at Westminister forbidding vnder great penaltie all exercise of Merchandize within London for 15 dayes and all other Faires in England and namely that of Ely This noueltie came to nothing the inconuenience of the place as it was then and the foulenesse of the weather brought more affliction then benefit to the Traders That Christmas also without respect of Royall Magnificence hee requires new yeares guifts of the Londoners and shortly after writes vnto them his letters imperiously deprecatorie to ayde him with money which with much grudging they doe to the summe of 20000 pounds for which the next yeare after he craues pardon of the City sending for them to Westminster Hall And not with standing his continuall taking vp of all prouisions for his house he so much lessens his hospitallity introducing 1249 Anno. Reg. 33. say they the Roman Custome of diet as was held very dishonourable and vnvsuall to the English Magnificence of Court Then whereas he could obtaine nothing of the States together he calls vnto him or writes to euery Noble man a part declaring his pouertie and how hee was bound The King requires New-yeares guifts by Charter in a debt of 30 thousand pounds to those of Burdeaux and the Gascogines who otherwise would not suffer him to depart home at his last being in France notwithstanding he required nothing but of fauour which where he found hee would returne with the like And fayling likewise herein hee addresses his letters to the Prelates where he findes as little reliefe By much importunitie and his owne presence he got of the Abbot of Ramsey 100 pounds but the Abbot of Borough had a face to refuse him the like sum Though the King told him it was more almes to giue vnto him then to a beggar that went from doore to doore the Abbot of Saint Albones yet was more kinde and gaue him 60 Markes To this lownesse did the necessity of this indigent King through his profusion decline him The Iewes euer exposed to his will feele the weight of these his wants and their Estates are continually ransackt One Abraham found a delinquent redeemes himselfe for 700 Markes Aron another Iew protests the King had since his last being in France taken from him by times 30 thousand Markes of Siluar besides hee had giuen 200 Markes in Gold to the Queene The Lords assemble againe at London and presse him with his promise made vnto 1250. Anno. Reg. 34. them that the Chiefe Iusticiar Chancellor and Treasorer might bee constituted by the generall Councell of the Kingdome but by reason of the absence of Richard Earle of Cornewall which was thought to bee of purpose they returne frustrate of their desire So that discontentment still gos on and neither side get any thing but by hard wrestings which became them both ill and shew vs the miseries of a disioynted time The King labors the Couent of Duresme to prefer his brother Athelmar to the Bishoprick the Couent refuses him in regard of his youth and insufficiency the King answeres that then he would keepe the Bishopricke 8. or 9. yeares more in his hand till his brother were of more maturity Shortly after the Bishopricke of Winchester falles voyd and thither hee sends presently his solicitors to prepare the Monkes of the Cathedrall The Kings speach to the Chapter at Winchester Church to elect his brother and
be sought his highnesse he would not vrge him therevnto disswading him from that iourny by the example of the King of France on whom he might see the punishment of God to be The speech of Isabel Countes of Arundel to the king falen for his rapine made on his peoples substance wrerewith hee had now inriched his enemies who were growne fat with the infinite treasure of the Christians transported into those parts The King seeing the resolution of this graue Bishop in great passion commanded his seruants to thrust him out of doore perceiuing by this what was to be expected of the rest and so falls to his former violent courses During this Parliament an ill time for sutors Isabel Countesse of Arundel widdow comes vnto him a bout a Ward detayned from her in regard of a smale parcell of land held in Capite which drew away all the rest the King giuing her a harsh answere and turning away she said vnto him My Lord why turne you away your face from Iustice that we can obtaine no right in your Court you are constituted in the middest betwixt God and vs but neither gourne your selfe nor vs discrectely as you ought you shamefuliy vex both the Church and Nobles of the Kingdome by all meanes you may To which speech the King disdainefully replies Lady Countesse hath the Lords made you a Charter and sent you for that you are an Eloquent speaker to be their aduocate and prolocutrix No Sir saith she they haue not made any Charter to mee But the Charter which your father and you made and sworne so often to obserue and so often extorted from your subiects their money for the same you vaworthily transgresse as a manifest breaker of your faith Where are the Liberties of England so often written so often graunted so often bought I though a woman and with mee all your naturall and faithfull people appeale against you to the tribunall of that High Iudge aboue and Heauen and Earth shal be our witnesse that you haue most vniustly delt with vs and the Lord God of reuenge auenge vs. Here with the King disturbed asked her if shee expected no grace from him being his kinswoman How shall I hope for grace said the when you deny mee right and I appeale before the face of Christ against those Councellors of yours who onely greedy of their owne gaine haue bewitched and infatuated you As boldly though in fewer words is he reproued by the Maister of the Hospitall of The King reproued by the Maister of the Hospitall of Ierusalem Ierusalem in Clerken-well who comming to complaine of an iniurie committed against their Charter the King told him The Prelats and especially the Templars and Hospitalars had so many liberties and Charters that their riches made them proud and their pride mad and that those things which were vnaduisedly granted were with discreation to be reuoked and alledges how the Pope had often recalled his owne grants with the clause non obstante and why should not he cassat those Charters inconsiderately granted by him and his Predecessors What say you Sir Said the Prior God forbid so ill a word should proceed out of your mouth So long as you obserue Iustice you may bee a King and as soone as you violate the same you shall leaue to be a King The Fryers Minors to whom he had sent a load of Frees to cloath them returned the same with this message That hee ought not to giue Almes of what hee had rent from the poore neither would they accept of that abhominable guift With these and many such like bold incounters ill becomming the obedience of Subiects is this King affronted to shew vs the ill complexion of the time and how miserable a thing it is for a Prince to loose his reputation and the loue of his people whereby they both haue their vexations And dayly more and more hardned hee is against the English whereby Strangers Strangers cōmit ryots are made so insolent as they commit many ryots and oppressions in the Kingdome William de Valence whose youth and presumption went which way his will led him goes from his Castle of Hartford to a Parke of the Bishop of Ely lying neere his manner of Hatfield where after hauing spoyled much game hee enters into the Bishops house and finding no drinke but Ale causes the Cellar doore being strongly barred to be broken open by his people who after they had drunke their fill let out the rest on the floore But a greater violence then this was offred to an Officiall of the Archbisnop of Canterbury by the commandement of the Elect of Winchester the one brother to the Queene the other to the King which troubled them both and gaue them much to doe before it was appeased Guy de Lusignan the other brother of the King comming as a guest to the Abbot of Saint Albones violates the Rights of Hospitality and many other iniuties are reported by our Authour to haue beene committed by strangers and much complaint is made of that time wherein this was sayed to bee the vsuall exclamation Our inheritance is giuen to Aliens and our houses to Strangers which notwithstanding the King seekes still to preferre A daughter of Guy de Lusignan Earle of Angolesme is married to Richard or Gilbere de Clare Earle of Glocester a man eminent and deerely loued of the Nobility Learned in the Lawes of the Land and held a great Patriot which manacle of alliance lockt not yet his hands from defending the liberties of his Country the King promises her a dower of fiue thousand Markes which hee sought to borow of diuers but could not The City of London is againe compelled to the contribution of 1000 Markes and the Gascoyns being vpon revolt vnlesse speedy remedy were taken generall musters are made and commandement giuen that whosoeuer could dispend 13 pound per annum should furnish out a horse-man This with the extreame wants of the King occasions another Parliament wherein the State began it seemes wisely to consider that all their opposition did no good the Kings turne must bee serued one way or other some must pay for it and where it lighted on particulars it was far more heauy then it could be in generall and therefore they agreed to relieue him rather by the vsuall way then force him to those extrauagant courses which he tooke But so as the reformation of the gouernment and ratification of their lawes might be once againe solemly confirmed And after fifteene daies consultation to satisfie the Kings desire for his holy expedition A Tenth and Scutage granted by Parl. a Tenth is granted by the Clergy which yet by view of the Lords should vpon his setting forth be destributed for 3. yeares and Scntage 3. Markes of euery knights Fee by the Laytie for that yeare And now againe those often confirmed Charters are ratified and that in the most solemne and ceremonicall manner as Religion and State could euer
deuise to doe The King with all the great Nobility of England all the Bishops and chiefe Prelates 1253. Anno. Reg. 37. in their reuerent Ornaments with burning candles in their hands assemble to heare the terrible sentence of Excommunications against the infringers of the same And at the lighting of those Candles the King hauing receiued one in his hand giues it to a Prelate that stood by saying it becomes not me being no Priest to hold this candle my heart shal be a greater testimony and withall layd his hand spread on his brest the whole time the sentence was read which was thus pronounced Autoritate dei omnipotratis c. which done he caused the Charter of K. Iohn his Father granted by his free consent to be Vide Append. likewise openly red In the end hauing throwne away their candles which lay smoaking on the ground they cryed out So let them who incurre this Sentence be extinct and stincke in hell And the King with a loud voyce said As God me helpe I will as I am a Man a Christian a Knight a King crowned and anoynted inuiolably obserue all these things And therewithall the Bells rung out and all the people shouted with ioy Neuer were lawes amongst men except those holy commandements from the mount established with more maiesty of Ceremony to make them reuerend and respected then were these they wanted but thunder and lightning from heauen which if prayers could haue procured they would likewise haue had to make the sentence gastly and hydeous to the infringers thereof The greatest security that could begiuen was an oath the onely chaine on earth besides loue to tye the conscience of man and humaine society together which should it not hold vs all the frame of gouernment and order must needs fall quite a sunder Now the busines of Gascoigne that required present care is in hand which the The K. resumes Gasoigny from his brother Richard giues it to his sonne Prince Edward better to know we must returne to the head whence it sprung 27. yeares past the King by the councell of his Lords freely granted to his brother Richard all that Prouince who is there receiued as their Lord with their oathes of Fealty made vnto him and so continues vntill the King hauing issue of his owne by motion of the Queene reuokes his guift confers it vpon his eldest sonne Edward Richard though he were depriued of the possession would not yeeld to forgoe his right and at the Kings last being in Gascoigny many of them stand doubtfull whom to attend the King in great displeasure commanded his brother to resigne his Charter and renounce his right which hee refusing to doe the King commands those of Burdeax to take and imprison him but they in regard of his high bloud the homage they had made him and the kings mutability who might resent his owne commandement would not aduenture there on Then he assayles them with mony which effected more then his commandement the Earle is indaunger to be surprised escapes out of Bnrdeaux and comes ouer into England The King assembles the nobility of Gasconie at Burdeaux invaighs against his brother a man hee saide was couetous and a great oppressor a large promiser but a spare payer and that hee would prouide them of a better gouernour with all promises them thirty thousand Markes as a price of their obedience and so nullifies the Charter of his former donation with their homage and takes their oath of Fealty to himselfe Which yet they would not make vnto him till hee had inwrapt himselfe Simon Monford Earle of Leicester sent into Gascony both by his Charter and Oath for this promised summe wherevnto they so held him as thereby afterward they lost his loue And to be reuenged on them he sends Simon Monford Earle of Leceister a rough and Martiall man to Maister their pride makes him a Charter for 6. yeares to come and furnishes him with 10000. markes the better to effect his command Monfort by his sterne gouernment so discontents the Gascoins as after three yeares suffring they send the Archbishop of Burdeaux with other great men to complaine of his hard dealing and accuse him of haynous crimes their greeuences are heard before the King and his councell Monfort is sent for ouer to answere for himselfe the Earle of Cornwall for his receiued wrong in those parts and the Lords of England for their loue to him take Monforts part and that so egarly as the King comes about to fauour and countenance the Gascons against Monfort not for his loue to them but to awe and abate the other Wherevpon Montfort enters into vndutifull contestation with the King vpraydes him with his expencefull seruice wherein he saies he had vtterly consumed his Estate and how the King had broken his word with him and requires him either to make it good according to his Charter or render him his expences The King in great rage told him no promise was to be Monforts contestation with the K. obserued with an vnworthy traytor Wherewith Monfort ryses vp protesting that he lyed in that word and were he not protected by his royall dignity hee would make him repent it The King commands his seruants to lay hold on him which the Lords would not permit Monfort therevpon grew more audacious saying who will beleiue you are a Christian were you euer confessed if you were it was without repentance and satissaction The King told him he neuer repented him of any thing so much as to haue permitted him to enter into this Kingdome and to haue honored and it stated him as he had done The Gascoignes after this are priuatly sent for by the king who giues them all comfort and incourages them against Monfort whom yet he would againe send ouer to his charge but with clipt winges whereby both himselfe and they might the better be reuenged on him and withall confirmes the state of Gascoigne to his sonne Edward whom he promised them shortly to send ouer wherwith they are much pleased and after they had done their homage to the Prince depart The effect of this confused and ill-packt Monfort returned to his charge businesse was such as all indirect courses produce Monfort returnes in flames to plague the Gascoignes and they in like manner him but he by his great alliance in France drawes together such a power as beyond expectation hee ouer matches the Gascoigne whose Estates he exposes to spoyle and therewithall intertaines his great collected army They againe send ouer their complaints and vnlesse they were speedely relieued they of force must put their country into some other hand that would protect them And in this state stood Gascoigne now at the time of this last Parliament whither the King vpon this late supply granted omitting his Easterne enterprise goes with The K. goes ouer into Gasc with 300. great ships 300. Sayle of great ships and lands at Burdeux in August
is reported able to dispend 100 Markes a day for tenne yeares besides his reuenues in England The French and especially the King of Spaine are much displeased with this aduancement complayning to the Pope and the King of England of the supplantation of the Earle of Cornewal Spaine pretending to haue beene first elected but being it seemes a Philosopher and studious in the Mathematikes which he first reuiude in Europe he was drawing Lines when he should haue drawne out his purse and so came preuented of his hopes About the time of the departure of Earle Richard in the iollity of the Kingdome 1257. Anno. Reg. 41. vpon this new promotion to set forward another the King calls a Parliament wherin bringing forth his sonne Edmond clad in an Apulian habit he vses these words Behold my good Subiects here my sonne Edmond whom God of his grace hath called to the dignitie of regall excellencie how fitting and worthy is he the fauour of you all and how inhumane and 15. Parliament tyranous were he who in so important a necessity would deny him Councell and ayde And then shewes them how by the aduice and benignity of the Pope the Church of England he had for attayning the Kingdom of Sicile bound himselfe vnder Couenant of loosing his Kingdom of England in the sum of 140 thousand Markes Moreouer how he had obtayned the Tenth of the Clergy for 3 yeares to come of all their benefices to be estimated according to the new rate without deduction of expences vnlesse very necessarie besides their first fruits likewise for 3 yeares Which declaration how pleasing it 52 thousand Markes vpon conditions promised by the Clergie was to the Clergie may be iudged by their former grudgings Notwithstanding after they had made their pittifull excuses in regard of their pouerty they promised vpon the vsuall condition of Magna Charta c. so often sworne bought and redeemed to giue him 52 thousand Markes but this satisfied him not The next yeare after is another Parliament at London wherin vpon the Kings pressing 1258. Anno. Reg. 42. them again for means to pay his debts to the Pope the Lords tell him plainly they will not yeeld to pay him any thing And if vnaduisedly he without their consents and councell bought the Kingdome of Sicile and had been deceiued he should impute it to his owne imbecillity been instructed by the example of his prouidēt brother who when the same Kingdom was offred vnto him by Albert the Popes Agent absolutely refused it in regard it lay so farre off So many Nations betweene the cauills of the Popes the infidelitie of the people and the powre of the pretender c. Then repeate they their owne greeuances the breach of his promises contemning both the keyes of the Church and the Charter he had solemnly sworne to obserue the insolence of his brethren and other Strangers against whom by his order no Writ was to passe out of the Chancerie for any cause what soeuer How their pride was intolleable especially that of William de Valence who most reproachfully had giuen the lie to the Earle of Leicester for which he could not be righted vpon his complaint How they abounded all in riches and himselfe was so poore as hee could not represse the small forces of the Welsh that wasted his Country but going the last yeare against them and effecting nothing returned with dishonour The King hearing this as he was apt vpon rebukes soundly vrged to be sensible and his owne necessities constrayning him thereunto humbles himselfe and tells them how he had often by ill councell beene seduced and promises by his oath which he takes on the tombe of Saint Edward to reforme all these errors But the Lords not knowing how to hold their euer-changing Proteus saith Paris in regard the businesse was difficult get the Parliament to be adiourned till Saint Barnabas day and then to assemble at Oxford In the meane time the Earles Glocester Leicester Hereford the Earle Mareschall Bigod Spencer and other great men confederate and prouide by strength to effect their desires Whilst the King put to his shifts to obtaine money gets the Abbot of Westminster vpon promise of high preferment to put his Seale and that of his Couent to a deed obligatorie as a surety sor three hundred Markes that by his example hee might draw on others to doe the like Sending his trustie Counsaylors and Clerke Simon Passeleue abroade with his Letters and this Deede vnto other Monasteries But Passeleue notwithstanding all the dilligence and skill hee could vse by threates or otherwise telling them how all they had came from the benignitie of Kings and how their Soueraigne was Lord of all they had they flatly refuse to yeelde to any such Deede Saying they acknowledged the King to bee Lord of all they had but so as to defend not to distroy the same And thus he comes likewise disappoynted in this proiect The Prince who likewise must participate in the wants of his father was driuien Prince Edward morgages Stamford and other townes to William de Valence to morgage the Towne of Stamford Braham and many other things to William de Valence who out of his store supplied him with money which after turned to the good of neither for it layde a recentement on the necessity of the one which made him breake through his bands and Enuie on the other whose superfluitie made him odious But now comes assembled the Parliament at Oxford and in a hot season the worst time for consultation and here burst out that great impostume of discontent so long in gathering The trayne which the Lords brought with them was pretended to bee for some exploit against the Welsh vpon the end of the Parliament and their securing the ports to preuent forrainers but the taking order for keeping of the Gates of London and their Oathes and Hands giuen to each other shewed that they were prepared to make the day theirs Here they beginne with the expostulation of the former Liberties and require the obseruation thereof according vnto the Oathes The Barons expostulate for their former Liberties and Orders formerly made The Chiefe Iusticiar Chancellor and Treasorer to be ordayned by publike choice The 24 Conseruators of the Kingdome to bee confirmed 12 by the Election of the Lords and 12 by the King with whatsoeuer else made for their owne imagined security The King seeing their strength and in what manner they required these things sweares againe solemnly to the confirmation of them and causes the Prince to take the same Oath But the Lords left not here the Kings brethren the Poictouines and other Strangers must be presently removed and the Kingdome cleered of them and this they would haue all the Peeres of the Land sworne to see done Heere they found some opposition in the Prince the Earle Warrein and Henry eldest sonne to Richard now King of Romanes the last refusing to take his
Oath without leaue of his father they plainely Cron. Lichfield Henry eldest sonne to the King of Romans refuseth to take his Oath told him that if his father would not consent with the Baronage in this case hee should not bold a Furrow of Land in England In the end the Kings brethren and their followers are dispoyled of all their fortunes and exiled by proscription vnder the Kings owne hand directed to the Earles of Hereford and Surrey with charge not to passe either their Money Armes or Ornaments but in such sort as the Lords appointed and after their departure Claus 49. hee enioyneth the Citie of Bristow and other ports not to permit any strangers or Hen. 3. kinsmen of his to ariue vnlesse they did so behaue themselues as both hee and the Lords should like The Poictouines retyring to Bolongne in France send to King Louys to craue safe passage Mat. Par. through his Countrie into Poictou which in regard the Queene of France had been informed how they had defamed her Sister of England was by her meanes denyed at that time and Henry sonne to the Earle of Leicester whose estimation was great in France followes them with all eagernesse thither to incense the French against them And as they whom Enuie tumbles downe from high places shall be sure euer to haue all the thrusts possible to set them headlong into disgrace with the world so now the death and sicknesse of diuerse great men and others happening in England soone after this fatall Parlement is imputed to poysons supposed to haue been prepared by those Gentlemen The Earle of Glocester in a sicknesse sodainely lost his haire his teeth his nailes And his brother hardly escaped death which made many to suspect their nearest seruants and their Cookes Walter Scotny the Earles Steward being one is strictly examined committed to prison and after without confession executed vpon presumptions at Winchester Elias a conuerted Iew is said to haue confessed that in his house the poyson was confected but it was when he was a Diuell not a Christian Any thing in the prosecution of malice serues the turne Euery man that had receiued any wrong by those great men now put vp their complaints and are heard to the agrauation of their insolence and iniustice Guido de Rochfort a Poictouin to whom the King had giuen the Castle of Rochester is banished and all his goods confiscat William Bussey Steward to William de Valence is committed to the Towre of London most reprochfully vsed as an especiall minister of his Maisters insolencies Richard Gray whom the Lords had made Captain of the Castle of Douer is set to intercept whatsoeuer the Poictouines conuayed that way out of England and much treasure of theirs and the elect of Winchester is by him there taken besides great sums committed to the new Temple are found out and seised into the kings hands And as vsually in such heates much wrong is committed in these prosecutions of wrongs But now as an amuzatory to make the ill gouerned people thinke they are not forgotten the new chiefe Iusticiar Hugh Bigod brother to the Earle Mareschall chosen this last Parlement by publique voyce procures that foure Knights in euery shire should enquire of the oppressions of the poore done by great men vnder their hands and seales certifie the same by a certaine day to the Baronage that redresse might be made Moreouer order was taken that from thence forth no man should giue any thing besides prouisions for iustice or to hinder the same and both the corrupter and corrupted to bee grieuously punished Notwithstanding this pretended care of the publike it is noted by the writers and records of that time how the Lords inforced the seruices of the Kings tenants which dwelt neare them and were totidem tyranni how they furnished the especiall fortresses of the kingdom with Regist. in Scace William Rishangar Guardians of their owne sworne to the Common state and tooke the like assurance of all Shirifs Baylifes Coroners other publike ministers searching the behauiour of many by strict commission vpon oath And to make their cause the more popular it was rumored that the Kings necessitie must be repayred out of the Estates of his people and how he must not want whilst they had it whereupon the King sends forth proclamation How certain malicious persons had falsly and seditionsly reported that he ment vnlawfully to charge his Subiects and subuert the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdom and by these subtile suggestions altogether false auerted the hearts of his people from him and therefore desires them not to giue credit to such perturbers for that hee was ready to defend all Rights an Customes due vnto them and that they might rest of this secured he caused of his freewill his letters to be made Patents But now Monfort Glocester and Spencer who had by the late institution of the 24 Conservators drawne the intire managing of the Kingdome into their hands inforce 1258. Anno. Reg. 42. the King to call the Parliament at London where the Authority of the 24 is delivered vnto themselues and order taken that three at the least should attend in the Court to dispose of the custodie of Castles and other businesses of the Kingdome of the 18. Parlement at London Ordinat inter Record Civil Lond. Chancellor Chiefe Iusticiar and Treasorer and of all Officers great and small And heere they binde the King to loose to them their Legall obedience whensoever he infringed his Charter In this State stood the Kingdome when intelligence was given to the Lords that Liceat omnibus de Regno nostro contra nos insurgere ad gravamen nostrum open operam dare ac si nobis in nullo tenerentur Chart. Orig. sub Sigillo Richard King of Romans had a purpose to come ouer into England which made them greatly to suspect being ignorant of the occasion least he were sent for by the King to come with power to subvert them by the example of King Iohn Whereupon they send to know the cause of his comming and to require of him an Oath before hee should land not to preiudice the now established orders of the Kingdome which he sternely refuses to do saying Hee had no Peere in England being the sonne and brother of a King and was aboue their power and if they would haue reformed the Kingdom they ought first to haue sent for him and not so presumptuously attempted a businesse of so high a Nature The Lords vpon returne of this answere sends presently to guard the Ports and come strongly to the Coast prepared to incounter him if occasion were offered But finding The Lords require an oath of him his traine small accompanyed onely with his Queene two German Earles and eight Knights they vpon his promise to take their propounded oath receiue him to land but would neither permit the King who came thither likewise to meete him nor
North Clifford Percy Scottish Lords come to aide the King of England Basset c. From Oxford withall his forces he marches to Northampton where he took prisoners Simon Monfort the younger with 14. other principall men thence to Nottingham making spoyle of such possessions as appertained to the Barons in those parts The Earle of Leicester in the meane time drawes towards London to recouer and make good that part as of chiefest importance and seekes to secure Kent with the Ports Which hastes the King to stop his proceeding succour the Castle of Rochester besieged Successe and authority now growes strong on this side in so much as the Earles of Leicester and Glocester in behalfe of themselues and their party write to the King humbly protesting their loyalty and how they opposed onely against such as were enemies to him and the Kingdome and had belyed them The King returnes answere how themselues were the perturbers of him and his siate enemies to his person and sought his and the Kingdomes destruction and therefore defies them The Prince and the Earle of Cornewall send like wise The Barons mediate a peace their letters of defiance vnto them The Barons notwithstanding doubtfull of their strength or vnwilling to put it to the hazard of a Battaile mediate a peace send the Bishops of London and Worcester with an offer of 30 thousand Markes to the King for damages done in these warres So that the statutes of Oxford might bee obserued which yeeldingnes the other side supposing to argue their debility made them the more neglectiue and securer of their power which commonly brings the weaker side more watchfull of aduantages to haue the better The Earle seeing no other meanes but to put it to a day being a man skilfull in his worke takes his time to be earlier ready then was expected and supplies his want of hands with his wit placing on the side of a hill nere Lewys where this battaile was The battaile of Lewys fought certaine ensignes without men in such sort as they might seeme a farre of to be squadrons of succors to second those he brought to the incounter whom he caused all to weare white-crosses both for their owne notice and the signification of his cause which he would haue to be for Iustice. Here the fortune of the day was his the King the Prince the Earle of Cornewall and his sonne Henry the Earles of Arundell Hereford and all the Scottish Lords are his prisoners The Earle Warrein William de Valence Guy The K. Prince and others taken prisoners de Lusignian the Kings brethren with Hugh Bigod Earle Mareschall saue themselues by flight Fiue thousand are slaine in this defeit which yet was not all the blood and destruction this businesse cost All this yeare and halfe of the other is Simon Monfort in possession of his prisoners the King he carries about with him to countenance his actions till he had gotten in all 1265. An. Reg. 46. the strongest Castles of the Kingdome And now as it vsually falls out in considerations where all must be pleased or else the knot will dissolue debate arises betweene the Earles of Leicester Glocester about their diuidend according to their agreement Leicester as fortune makes men to forget themselues is taxed to doe more for his owne particular then the common good to take to himselfe the benifit and disposition of the Kings Monsort taxed of wrong Castles to vsurpe the redemption of prisoners at his pleasure to prolong the businesse and not to vse the meanes of a parlement to end it His Sonnes also presuming vpon his greatnesse The Earle of Glocester leaues him grow insolent which made Glocester to forsake that side betake him to the Prince who lately escaping out of the Castle of Hereford had gotten a power about him of such as attended the opportunity of a turning fortune and to reuenge the dishonour of one Battaile by another The reuolt of this Earle brought many hands to the Prince whereby many peeces of strength are regained both in England and Wales The Earle of Leicester to stop the proceeding of this mighty growing Prince being now with his Army about Worcester imbattailes in a plaine neere Euesham to encounter him and noting the manner of the approch of his Army said to those about him these men come brauely on they learnt it not of themselues but of me And seeing himselfe likely to be beset and ouer-laid with numbers aduised his friends Hugh Spencer Ralph Basser and others to shift for themselues which when he saw they refused to doe then said he let vs commit our soules to God for our bodies The Earle Monsort slaine are theirs and so vndertaking the mayne waight of the Battaile perished vnder it And with him are slaine his Sonne Henry eleuen other Barons with many thousands of common souldiers At the instant of his death there hapned so terrible a thunder lightning and darknesse as it gaue them as much horror as their hideous work And so ends Monfort this great Earle of Leicester too great for a subiect which had hee not beene he might haue beene numbred amongst the worthiest of his time Howsoeuer the people which honored and followed him in his life would vpon the fame of his miracles haue worshipped him for a Saint after his death but it would not be permitted by Kings And here this Battaile deliuers the Captiue King but yet with the losse of some of his owne as well as his subiects bloud by a wound casually receiued therein and rid him of his Iaylor Monfort whom he hated had long feared more then any man liuing as himselfe confessed vpon this accident passing one day shortly after the Parliament at Oxford vpon Thames there hapned a sodaine clap of thunder wherewith the King was much affrighted and willed presently to be set on shore at the next landing 1266. Anno. Reg. 50. which was at Duresme house where Monfort then lay who seeing the King ariuing hastes downe to meete him and perceiuing him to be troubled at the storme said that hee needed not now to feare the daunger was past No Monfort said the King I feare thee more then I doe all the Thunder and tempest of the World And now the King with the victorious Prince the redeemer of him and the Kingdome repaires to Winchester 18 Parliament held at Winchester where a Parliament is conuoked and all who adhered to Simon Monfort are disinherited and their estates conferred on others at the Kings pleasure The Londoners haue their liberties taken from them Simon and Guy de Monfort Sonnes of the Earle of Leicester with the disinherited Barons and others who escaped the Battaile of Euesham All who tooke part with Monfort disinherited take and defend the Isle of Ely The Castle of Killing worth defended by the seruants of the late Earle although it were in the heart of the Kingdome endured the Seige of
halfe a yeare against the King and his Army in the end their victualls fayling they yeeld vpon condition to depart their liues members and goods saued And it is worthy the note that we find no exccution of bloud except in open Battaile in all these combustions or any noble man to dye on a Skaffold either in this Kings raigne or any other since William the first which is now almost 300 yeares Onely in Anno 26. of this King William Marisc the Sonne of Geffrey Marsc a Nobleman of Ireland being condcmned of Piracie and treason was hanged beheaded and quartered and is the first example of that kind of punishment we finde in our Histories After the Parliament at Winchester the King goes with an army against the disinherited Barons and their partakers which were many resolute and desperate persons strongly fastned together And being at Northampton Simon and Guy de Monfort by mediation of friends and promises of fauor came in and submitted themselues to the King who at the earnest suite of the Earle of Cornwall their Vnkle and the Lord Phillip Basset had restored them to their Estates but for Glocester and others who doubting their spirits wrought to hold them downe where their fortune had layd them In so much as they were faine in the end to flye the Kingdome and worke their fortunes other where which they did the younger in Italy the Elder in France where they were propagators of two great Famelies Their mother was banished shortly after the battaile of Euesham A Lady of eminent note the daughter and sister to a King nocent onely by her fortune who from the Coronet of miserable glory betooke her to the vaile of quiet piety and dyed a Nun at Montarges in France Three yeares after this the disinherited Barons held out in those fastnesses of the Kingdom where they could best defend themselues made many excursions and spoyles Motions of peace made to the disinherited Lords to the great charge and vexation of the King at length motions and conditions of render are proposed wherein the Councell are deuided Mortimer now an eminent man in grace with others stated in the possessions of the disinhereted are auers to any restoration alledging it a great act of iniustice for them to be forced to forgoe what the King 1267. Anno. Reg. 51. had for their paines and fidelity bestowed on them and the others iustly forfeited and therefore would hold what they had Glocester with the 12. ordayned to deale for the peace of the state and other his friends whch were many stand mainely for restoration This caused new pikes of displeasure in so much as Glocester who conceiuing his turning not so to serue his turne as he expected taking his time againe changed foote retires from the Court refuses to come to the Kings Fcast on Saint Edwards day sends messengers The Earle of Glocest. revoltâ— to warne the King to remoue strangers from his Councell and obserue the prouisions of Oxford according to his last promise made at Euesham otherwise that he should not meruaile if himselfe did what he thought fit Thus had victory no peace the distemprature of the time was such as no sword could cure it recourse is had to Parliament the best way if any would serue for remedy and at Bury is the state conuoked where likewise all who 19 Parliament held by Kinghts seruice are sommoned to assemble with sufficient horse and armor for the vanquishing of those disherited persons which contrary to the peace of the Kingdome held the Isle of Ely Iohn de Warreine Earle of Surrey and William de Valentia are sent to perswade the Earle of Glocester who had now leuied an army vpon the borders of Wales to come in faire manner to this Parliament which he refuses to do but yet thus much the Earles had of him vnder his hand and seale neuer to beare armes against the King or his Sonne Edward but to defend himselfe and pursue Roger Mortimer and other his enemies for which he pretended to haue taken armes The first demand in the Parliament was made by the King and the Legat for a graunt of a Tenth of the Clergie for three yeares to come and for the yeare past so much as they gaue to the Barons for defending the Coasts against the landing of strangers Whereto they answere that the warre was begun by vniust desires which yet continues and necessary it were to let passe so euill demands and to treat of the peace of the Kingdome to conuert the Parliament to the benefit thereof and not to extort mony considering the land had beene so much distroyed by this warre as it could hardly be euer recouered 2. Then was it required that the Clergie might be taxed by lay men according to the iust valew of what appertayned vnto them They answere it was no reason but against all Iustice that Lay men should inter meddle in collecting Tenths which they would neuer consent vnto but would haue the ancient taxation to stand 3. Then was it required they should giue the Tenth of their Baronies and Lay Fee according to the vtmost valew They answere themselues were impourished by attending the King in his expeditions and their lands lay vntilld by reason of the warres 4. Then it was required that the Clergie should in lieu of a Tenth giue amongst them 30. thousand Markes to discharge the Kings debts contracted for Sicilia Calabria and Apulia They answere they would giue nothing in regard all those taxations and extorsions formerly made by the King were neuer conuerted to his owne or the benefit of the Kingdome 5. All this being denied demand is made that all Clergie men that held Baronies or other Lay Fee should personally serue in the Kings warres They answere they were not to fight with the materiall but the spirituall sword c. that their Baronies were giuen of meere almes c. 6. Then was it required the whole Clergie should discharge the 9000. pounds which the Bishops of Rochester Bath and the Abbot of westminster stood bound to the Popes Merchants for the Kings seruice at their being at the Court of Rome They answere they neuer consented to any such lone and therefore were not bound to discharge it 7. Then the Legat from the part of the Pope required that without delay predication should be made throughout the kingdome to incite men to take the Crosse for the Holy warre wherevnto answere was made that the greatest part of the people of the Land were already consumed by the sword and that if they should vndertake this action few or none would be leaft to defend the Kingdome and that the Legat hereby shewed a desire to extirpat the natiues thereof and introduce strangers 8. Lastly it was vrged that the Prelates were bound to yeeld to all the Kings demands by their oath at Coventrie where they swore to ayd him by all meanes possible they could They answere that when they tooke that oath
they vnderstood no other ayd then spirituall and holesome councell So nothing was obtained but denyalls in this Parliament The Legat likewise imploies sollicitors to perswade the disherited LL. which held the Isle of Ely to returne to the faith and vnity of the Church the peace of the King according to the forme prouided at Couentry for redeeming their inheritances from such as held them by guift from the King for 7. yeares profits and to leaue of their robberies The disherited returne answer to the Legat. First that they held the faith they receiued from their Catholicke Fathers and their obedience to the Roman Church as the head of all Christianity but not to the auarice and willfull exaction of those who ought to gouerne the same And how their Predicessors whose heyres they were hauing conquered this land by the sword they held themselues vniustly disherited that it was against the Popes Mandat they should be so delt withall That they had formerly taken their Oath to defend the Kingdome and Holy Church all the Prelats thundring the sentence of excommunication against such as withstood the same and according to that Oath they were prepared to spend their liues And seeing they warred for the benefit of the Kingdome and Holy Church they were to sustaine their liues by the goods of their Enemies who detained their Lands which the Legat ought to cause to bee restored vnto them that they might not be driuen to make depradation in that manner which yet was not so great as was reported for that many of the Kings and Princes followers made rodes and committed great robberies which to make them odious were imputed and giuen out to bee done by them wherefore they wish the Legat to giue no credit to such reports for if they should finde any such amongst them they would themselues doe Iustice vpon them without delay Besides they declare to the Legat that hee had irreuerently eiected out of the Kingdome the Bishops of Winchester London and Chichester men circumspect and of deepe iudgement whereby the Councell of the Kingdom was in great part weakned to the daunger therof and therefore willed him to looke to the reformation of the same and that they might bee restored to their Lands without redemption That the proutsions of Oxford might bee obserued That they might haue Ostages deliuered them into the Island to hold the same peaceably for fiue yeares to come untill they might perceiue how the King would performe his promises Thus they treat not like men whom their fortunes had layde on the ground but as they had beene still standing so much wrought either the opinion of their cause or the hope of their party But this stubbornesse so exasperates the King as the next yeare following hee prepares a mighty Army besets the Isle so that he shuts them vp and Prince Edward with bridges made on Boates enters the same in diuers places and constraines them to yeeld In the meane time the Earle of Glocester with his army collected on the borders of Wales to ayde them marched to London where by the Citizens he was receiued but the Legat who kept his residence in the Towre so preuayled The Earle of Glocester reconciled with him as he againe renders himselfe to the King to whom hee was afterward reconciled by the mediation of the King of Romans and the Lord Philip Basset vpon forfeiture of twelue thousand Markes if euer after he should raise any commotion This effected the King goes with an Army into Wales against Lewellin for ayding Simon Monfort and the Earle of Glocester in their late attempts against him but his wrath being by the guift of 32 thousand pounds sterling appeased peace is concluded betwixt them and foure Cantreds which had by right of war been taken from him restored And here was an end of the first Barons Warres of England wherein wee see what effects it wrought how no side got but misery and vexation whilst the one struggled to doe more then it should and the other to doe lesse then it ought they both had the worst according to the usuall euents of such imbroylements The next yeare after this appeasement the Legat Ottobon signes with the 1269. Anno. Reg. 53. Croissado both the Kings sonnes Edward and Edmond the Earle of Glocester and diuers Noblemen induced to vndertake the Holy Warre by the sollicitation of him and the King of France who notwithstanding his former calamities indured in that action would againe aduenture therein So much either the desire of reuenge with the Prince Edw. his brother and others vndertake the Holy Warre recouery of his fame and honour or the hope of enioying another World prouoked him to forgo this and haste to his finall distruction And for that Prince Edward wanted meanes for his present furnishment this King of France lent him 30 thousand Markes for which hee morgaged vnto him Gascoigny An act which subtler times would interpret to be rather of Policie then Piety in this King to ingage in such manner and vpon so especiall a caution a young stirring Prince likely in his absence to imbroyle his Estate at home and to draw him along in the same aduenture with himselfe without any desire otherwise either of his company or ayde considering the inconueniences that stung these seuerall Nations heretofore by their incompetability in the same action but here it were sinne to thinke they disguised their ends or had other couerings for their designes then those through which they were seene their spirits seeme to haue beene warmed with a Nobler flame And now whilst this preparation is in hand King Henry labours to establish the Peace of the Kingdome and reforme those excesses the warre had bred causing by 21 Parliament at Marleborough proclamation stealth of Cattle to bee made a cryme Capitall and the first that suffred for the same was one of Dunstable who had stolne twelue Oxen from the inhabitants of Colne and being persued to Redburne was by the Bayliffe of Saint Albones according to the Kings Proclamation condemned and beheaded And the same yeare the King assembles his last Parliament at Marleborugh where the Statutes of that Title were inacted Nere two yeares it seemes to haue beene after the vndertaking the Crosse before 1271. Anno. Reg. 55. Prince Edward set forth a time long ynough if those resolutions would haue beene shaken to haue bred an alteration of desire but so strong was the current of this humour as no worldly respects could giue any the least stoppage thereunto Otherwise a Prince so well acquainted with action so well vnderstanding the world so forward in yeares being then 32 so neere the possession of a Kingdome would not haue leaft it and an aged father broken with daies and trauaile to haue betaken himselfe with his deare and tender consort Elionor and as it seemes then young with childe to a voyage that could promise nothing but daunger toyle miserie and affliction So powrefull are
of the same In the Second Statute of Weminster he defalked the Iurisdiction of Ecclesiasticall Iudges Hee left not here but afterward growing more vpon them he required the Moietie of all their goods as well Temporall as Spirituall for one yeare which though it put them into extreame perplexitie and griefe they yet were faine to yeeld to his demaund And at the first propounding thereof one Sir Iohn Hauering Knight stands vp amongst them as they were assembled in the Refectorie of the Monkes at Westminster and said Reuerend Fathers if any heere will contradict Mat. West the Kings demaunde in this businesse let him stand out in the middest of the Assemblie that his person may bee knowne and seene as one guilty of the Kings peace At which speech they all sate mute So much were the times altered since the late reigne of the father wherein such a businesse could not haue so passed But now this Actiue King being come home and hauing composed his affaires abroad must needes bee working both to satisfie his owne desire in amplyfying his powre and intertayning his people in those times incompatible of rest and therefore some action must bee taken in hand Wales that lay neerest the daunger of a superiour Prince and had euer strugled for An occasion taken for subduing of Wales libertie and the rule of a Natiue Gouernor had alwaies beene the Receptacle and ayde of the Rebellious of England had euer combined with Scotland to disturbe the peace and gouernment thereof hauing neuer her borders without bloud and mischiefe was an apt subiect to bee wrought vpon in this time And occasions are easily taken where there is a purpose to quarrell especiallie with an Inferiour Leoline now Prince of that Prouince who had so long held in the fire of the late ciuile warres of England and deerely paide for it hauing refused vpon summons to come to the Kings Coronation and after to his first Parliament alledging hee well remembred how his father Griffin burst his necke out of the Tower of London for which he brooked not that place and therefore returned answere That in any other vpon Hostages giuen him or Comissioners sent to take his Fealtie hee would as it should please the King bee ready to render it This gaue occasion that King Edward the next yeare after goes with a powerfull Armie enters his Country with Fire and Sword Reg. 4. An. 1276. in so fierce manner as Leoline vnable to resist sues for Peace and obtaines it but vpon those conditions as made his Principallitie little different from the tenure of a subiect And besides hee was fined in fifty thousand pounds sterling and to pay 1000 pounds per annum for what hee held which was but for his owne life But yet the King to gratifie him in some thing that might be a tye to this Peace restored vnto him Elionor daughter to Simon Montfort late Earle of Leicester who with her brother Almericke had beene lately taken prisoners by certaine shippes of Bristoll as shee was passing out of France into Wales to bee made the miserable wife of this vnfortunate Prince Whose restraint and affliction might perhaps bee a motiue the rather to incline him to this lownesse of submission and accord which as it was made by force an vnsure contractor of Couenants so was it by disdaine as ill an obseruer soone broken And either the ill administration of Iustice vpon the Marches the perpetuall Fire-matches of bordring Princes or the euer-working passion of desire of Libertie in the Welsh threw open againe within three yeares this ill infensed closure And out is Leoline in armes surprises the Castles of Flint and Ruthland with the person of the Lord Clifford sent Iusticiar into those parts and commits all Reg. 6. Anno. 1278. acts of Hostilitie With him ioynes his brother Dauid on whom King Edward to make him his finding him of a more stirring spirit had bestowed after the last accord the honour of Knight-hood matched him to the daughter of the Earle of Derbie a ritch Widdow and giuen him in steed of his other lands the Castle of Denbigh with 1000 pounds per annum All which graces could not yet hold him backe from those powrefull inclynations os Nature The ayding his Country the partaking with his Brother and the attempting of Libertie King Edward aduertised of this Reuolt being at the Vize in Wiltshire prepares an Armie to represse it But before his setting foorth hee priuately goes to visit his Mother Queene Elionor liuing in the Nunnery at Amsbury with whom whilst he conferred there was brought into the Chamber one who faigned himselfe being blinde to haue receiued his sight at the Tombe of Henry 3. As soone as the King saw the man he formerly knew him to be a most notorious lying Villaine And wished his Mother in no case to beleeue him His Mother who much reioyced to heare of this Miracle for the glory of her husband grew sodainely into rage and willed the King to auoyd her Chamber The King obayes and going foorth meets with a Clergie man to whom he tells the storie of this Imposter and merrily said He knew the Iustice of his father to be such that he would rather pull out the eies being whole of such a wicked wretch then restore them to their sight The Archbishop of Canterbury to whom the Welsh had before sent a Roll of their grieuances and the causes that draue them to reuolt of himselfe goes and labours Reg. 11. Anno. 1283. to bring in Leoline and his brother to a resubmission and stay the ruine which hee fore-saw would light vpon the Nation But nothing could hee effect certaine pettie defeites Leoline had giuen to the English the instigation of his people the conceit of a Prophecie of Merlin that Ginne of Error how hee should bee shortly crowned with the Diademe of Brute so ouerweighed this poore Prince as hee had no eare for Peace The death of Leoline the last of the Welsh Princes and shortly after no head the same being cut off after hee was slaine in battaile by a common souldier and sent to King Edward Who as if his death were not sufficient without his reproach caused the same to bee crowned with Iuie and set vpon the Towre of London This was the end of Leoline the last of the Welsh Princes betrayed as they write by the men of Buelth Shortly after to finish this worke of bloud is Dauid his brother taken in Wales and iudged in England to an ignominious death First drawne at a horse taile about The execution of Dauid his brother at Shrewsburie the first in that kinde the City of Shrewsbury then beheaded the Trunck of his Bodie deuided his Heart and Bowells burnt his Head sent to accompany that of his brother on the Towre of London his foure quarters to foure Cities Bristoll Northampton Yorke and Winchester a manifold execution and the first shewed in that kinde to this Kingdome in
both In the Fift a Twentieth of their goods His many supplies means for Money towards the Welsh Warres In the seauenth the Old Money was called in and New coyned in regard it had beene much defaced by the Iewes for which 297. were at one time executed at London and this brought him in a great benefit In Anno Reg. 8. seeking to examine Mens Titles to their Lands by a Writt of Quo Warranto which opposed by the Earle Warreine who drew out his Sword vpon the Writt saying How by the same hee held his Land and thereby would make good his Tenure the King desists obtaines a Fifteenth of the Clergie In the Eleauenth he had a Thirtieth of the Temporaltie a Twentieth of the Clergie for the Welsh Warres In the Thirteenth Escuage forty shillings for euery Knights fee for the same purpose In the Fourteenth he had a Thousand Marks of certaine Marchants fined for false Weights In the Seauenteenth those fines fore-declared of the Iudges In the Eighteenth this Confiscation of Iewes a Fifteenth of the English After this Anno Reg Nineteenth pretending a Voyage to the Holy-Land the Clergie grants him an Eleauenth part of all their Moueables and shortly after the Pope procures him a Tenth for Six yeeres to bee collected in England Scotland and Ireland and laid vp in Monasteries vntill hee were entred into Mare Maggior But hee made the Collectors pay him the money gathered for Three yeeres without going so farre hauing occasion to vse it at home about the purchase of a new Kingdome For the crowne of Scotland vpon the death of King Alexander of the Daughter of Reg. 17. Anno. 1290. his daughter Margaret who was to inherit was now in controuersie Six Competitors pretend title thereunto all discending from Dauid earle of Huntingdon younger brother to William King of Scots and great Vncle to this late King Alexander This title King Edward takes vpon him to decide pretending a right of Superioritie from his Ancestors The occasion of his Warres with Scotland ouer that Kingdome The Scotts which swayed the Interregnum are constrayned for auoyding further inconueniences to make him Arbiter thereof and the Six Competitors bound to stand to his Award Two are especially found betweene whome the Right lay Iohn Baliol Lord of Galloway and Robert Bruce the one descending King Edward chosen by the Scots to arbitrate the right of the pretenders to that Crowne from an elder Daughter the other from a Sonne of a younger Daughter of Alan who had Married the Eldest Daughter of this Dauid Brother to King William The Controuersie held long Twelue of eyther Kingdome learned in the Laws are elected to debate the same at Berwick All the best Ciuilians in the Vniuersities of France are sollicited to giue their oppinions the differences and perplexednes whereof made the decission more difficult According to the Nature of Littigation that euer begetts rather Doubts then Resolutions and neuer knows well how to make Reg. 18. Anno 1291. an End King Edward the better to sway this businesse by his presence takes his Iourney Northward and whilst hee sought to compasse greater felicitie hee lost the better part of what hee had in this world his deere consort Elionor who had euer attended Queene Elionor dies Her Prayse him in all his Fortunes the Paragon of Queenes and the honor of Woman-hood who is said to haue sucked the Poyson out of the Wound giuen him by the Assasin in the East when no other meanes could preserue his Life dies by the way in Lincolnshire With whose Corps in extreame griefe hee returnes back to Westminster causing at all especiall places where it rested by the Way goodly engrauen Crosses with her Statue to bee erected As at Stamford Waltham West-Cheape Charing and others Gratefull Monuments of his Affection and her renowned Faithfulnes Her Funeralls performed back hee returnes to his Scottish businesse And now Six yeeres it was since the Death of King Alexander and much time hauing beene Scottish Hist. spent and nothing concluded in this controuersie King Edward that would be sure whosoeuer preuailed to haue the hand that should make him deales priuately with Bruce who had the weaker Title but the more friends and promises him if he would yeeld Fealtie and Homage to the Crowne of England he would inuest him in that of Scotland Bruce answeres Hee was not so desirous of Rule as thereby to infringe the Liberties of his Countrie Then with the like offer hee sets vpon Baliol who hauing better right but lesse loue of the people and more greedy of a Kingdome then honour Bal ol made King of Scotland yeelds thereunto is Crowned King at Scone hath Fealty done him of all the chiefe Nobility except Bruce comes to New-castle vpon Tyne where King Edward then lay and there with many of his Nobles sweares Fealtie and did Homage vnto him as his Soueraigne Lord. Which Act as hee thought done to secure him ouer-threw Reg. 21. Anno. 1294. him For being little beloued before hereby hee became lesse such as stood for Bruce and others of the Nobility more tender of the preseruation of their Countries libertie grew into Stomack against him as hauing not onely discontented them in this Act but shortly after in his Iustice in the case of the Earle of Fife one of the sixe Gouernours in the time of the Anarchie who had beene slaine by the Famelie of Aberneth And the brother of this Earle now prosecuted in Law before King Balioll in his high Court of Parliament where hauing no right done him King Baliol giuing Iudgement on the side of the Aberneths the wronged Gentleman appeales to the Court of the King of England King Baliol is thither summoned appeares sits with King Edward in his Parliament till his cause was to be tried and then is hee cited by an Officer to arise and stand at the place appointed for pleading He craues to answere by a Procurator it is denied then himselfe arises and discends to the ordinary place and defends his cause With which Indignity as hee tooke it hee returnes home with a brest full Baliol discontented returnes into Scotland charged with indignation Meditates reuenge renewes the ancient League with France Confirmes it with the marriage of his sonne Edward with a daughter of Charles brother to King Philip glad in regard of late offences taken against the Reg. 23. An. 1296. King of England to imbrace the same Which done Baliol defies King Edward renounces his Allegiance as vnlawfully done being not in his powre without the consent of the State to doe any such act Hereupon brake out that mortall dissention betweene the two Nations which during the raigne of the three last Scottish Kings had held faire correspōdence together that consumed more Christian bloud wrought more spoyle and distruction and continued longer then euer quarrell wee read of did betweene any two people of the World For hee
that began it could not end it That Rancor which the Sword had bred and the perpetually-working desire of Reuenge of wrongs that euer beget wrongs lasted almost three hundred yeares And all the Successors of this King euen to the last before this blessed Vnion haue had The occasion of the warres betweene England and Scotland their shares more or lesse in this miserable affliction both to their great exspence of treasure extreame hindrance in all other their designes Although the intention of this Great and Marshall King for reducing this whole Isle vnder one gouernment was Noble and according to the Nature of powre and greatnesse that euer seekes to extend it selfe as farre as it can yet as all such Actions hath much of iniquity so had this and we see it was not force or the Sword could effect it God had fore-decreed to make it his owne worke by a cleaner way and ordained it for an vnstained hand to set it together in peace that it might take the more sure and lasting hold which otherwise it could neuer haue done Violence may ioyne Territories but neuer affections together which onely must grow voluntarily and bee the worke of it selfe And yet no doubt it was in the designe of this King to haue obtained it in the fairest manner he could As first shewes his seeking to match his sonne Edward with Margaret daughter to the King of Norway grand-child and heire to the last King Alexander who dying an Infant soone after her grandfather disapointed his hopes that way and draue him to haue recourse to his Soueraignty which being opposed he was forced to take the way of Violence both to maintaine his owne honor and to effect what hee had begunne Whereof the miserable euents were such as now we may well spare their memorie and be content those bloudy Relations should bee razed out of all Record but that they serue to shew vs the wofull calamities of our seperation and the comfortable blessings wee inioy by this our happy Vnion Neither doth it now concerne vs to stand vpon any points of Honor whether of the Nations did the brauest Exploites in those times seeing who had the better was beaten neither did the ouercommer conquere when hee had done what he could That little which was gained cost so much more then it was worth as it had beene better not to haue beene had at all And if any side had the Honor it was the inuaded Nation which beeing the Weaker and Smaller seemes neuer to haue beene subdued though often ouercome Continuing notwithstanding all their miseries resolute to preserue their Liberties which neuer People of the World more Noblie defended against so Potent ritch a Kingdome as this by the which without an admirable hardinesse and Constancie it had beene impossible but they must haue beene brought to an vtter consternation For all what the Powre of this Kingdome could doe which then put all the strength to doe what it could was shewed in this Kings time Who now vpon this defection of King Baliol and his League made with France Counter-leagues with all the King Edward combines with other Princes Princes he could draw in eyther by gifts or Allyance to strengthen his partie abroad As first with Guy Earle of Flanders with whose Daughter hee seekes to match his Sonne Edward Then with Adolph de Nassaw the Emperor to whome he sends Fifteene thousand pounds Sterling to recouer certaine Lands of the Empire which Adolph claymed in France He had likewise married one of his daughters to the Duke of Barr who pretends Title to Champaign another to Iohn Duke of Brabant All which with many other confining Princes hee sets vpon the King of France who had for Certaine spoiles committed on the Coast of Normandy by the English and no redresse obtayned summoned King Edward as owing Homage to that Crowne to appeare and answere it in his Court which hee refusing to doe is by an Arrest condemned to forfeyt all his Territories in France And an Armie is presently sent forth to seize vppon An Army sent into France the same led by Charles de Valois and Arnold de Neele Constable of France Burdeaux with diuers other Peeces of importance are taken and fortified For the recouerie whereof the King of England sends ouer his Brother Edmond Earle of Lancaster Another into Scotland the Earles of Lincolne and Richmond with eight and twentie Bannerets Seauen hundred men at Armes and a Nauie of three hundred and Sixtie Sayle And notwithstanding all this mighty chargde and Forces imployed in those parts King Edward sets vppon King Baliol refusing vppon Summons to appeare at his Court at Newcastle standing vpon his owne Defence and enters Scotland with an Armie sufficient to Reg. 24. Anno. 1297. Conquer a farre mightier Kingdome consisting of Foure Thousand men at Armes on Horse and Thirtie Thousand Foote besides 500. Horse and one Thousand foote of the Bishop of Duresme intending here to make speedy worke that hee might afterward passe ouer Sea to ayde his Confederats and bee reuenged on the King of France Berwick is first wonne with the Death of Fifteene Thousand Scotts our writers report more but nothing is more vncertaine then the number of the slaine in Battaile and after that the Castles of Dunbarre Roxborough Edenborough Sterling and Saint Iohns Towne were wonne or yeelded vnto him King Baliol sues for peace Submits King Edwards victories in Scotland himselfe takes againe his Oath of Fealtie to King Edward as his Soueraigne Lord. Which done a Parliament for Scotland was held at Berwick wherein the Nobilitie did likewise Homage vnto him confirming the same by their Charter vnder their hands and Seales Onely William Dowglasse refuses content rather to endure the misery of a Prison then yeelde to the subiection of England King Baliol Notwithstanding his submission is sent Prisoner into England after his Foure yeeres dignitie I cannot say Raigne For it seemes hee had but little Powre and King Edward returnes from this expedition leauing Iohn Warrein Earle of Surrey and Sussex Warden of all Scotland Hugh Cressingham Treasorer and Ormesley Cheife Iustice with Commission to take in his Name the Homages and Fealties of all such as held Lands of that Crowne And heere this Conquest might seeme to haue beene effected which yet was not Reg. 25. Anno. 1298. It must cost infinite more Blood Trauaile and Treasure and all to as little effect And now the French businesses that require speedy helpe are wholly intended For which King Edward calls a Parliament at Saint Edmonds Bury wherein the Citizens and Burgesses of good Townes graunted the eighth part of their goods and other of the people a twelfth part But the Clergie vpon a prohibition from Pope Boniface that no Tallage or Imposition layde by any lay Prince vpon whatsoeuer appertained to the Church should bee paide absolutely refuse to giue any thing Which Prohibition may seeme to haue beene procured by
Kingdome might seeme as if quite ouercome Most of the estates of the Earles and Barons of Scotland with their titles that had stood out were bestowed on the English Nobility to make them the more egar to maintaine A Parliament at St. Andrewes prosecute this Conquest And a Parliament is called at Saint Andrewes where all the great men of that Kingdome except onely Wallice againe sweare Fealtie to the King of England The Scottish writers here set a wide marke of Tyrannie vpon King Edward in this The Scotish writers inueigh against the tyranny of K. Ed. expedition as not content to carry away captiue all such as might seeme to haue any the least ability to stirre but also endeauours to extinguish if it were possible the very memory of the Nation abolishing all their ancient lawes traducing their Ecclesiasticall rights to the custome of England dispoiling them of their Histories their instruments of State their Antique Monuments left either by the Romanes or erected by themselues transporting all their Bookes and Bookemen into England Sending to London the Marble stone wherein as the Vulgar were perswaded the Fate of the Kingdome consisted and left them nothing that might either encite them to remember their former fortune or instruct generous spirits in the way of Vertue and worthinesse So that he bereaued them not onely of their strength but of their mindes supposing thereby to est ablish a perpetuali Domination ouer that Kingdome This iourney ended a Parliament is called at Westminster wherein the promised confirmation A Parliament at Weatminster of the Two Charters and the allowance of what disforrestation had heretofore beene made was earnestly vrged and in the end with much a doe granted with omission of the Clause Saluo Iure Coronae nostrae which the King laboured to haue inserted but the people would not indure the same the perambulation of the Forrests of England is committed to Thre Bishops Three Earles Three Barons In this little pause of Peace at home a Concord is by the mediation of Pope Boniface Reg. 28. Anno. 1301. concluded with the King of France whose sister Margeret the King of England takes to wife in the Sixty two yeare of his age somthing too late for so young a Match and the Daughter of the same King is likewise affianced to the Prince And thereupon restitution made of what had been vsurped by the French King in Gasconie Burdeaux returnes to the obedience of the King of England to the Merchants of which Citie he paid 150 Thousand poÌ„uds for his brother Edmonds expences in the late wars all is well on that side Besides the same Pope obtained permission for Iohn Baliol the captiue King of Scots to depart and liue in France vpon certaine lands he had there and vndertooke for his obseruation of the Peace and his confinement who shortly after dies hauing had little ioy of a Crowne or scarce leasure to know hee was a King The Decrying and calling in of certaine base Coine named Crocard and Pollard with the new stamping them againe yeelded something to the Kings Coffets which must be emptied in Scotland whither againe hauing beene scarce Eighteene moneths at home he makes his Third expedit but did little besides the regaining of Sterling Castle which held out Three moneths siege against all his power and Ingines reared with insinite charge and labour And in the end not wonne but yelded vp by the Defendant William Oliuer vpon promise which was not kept with him The rest of the Scots made no head but kept in the Mountaines and Fastnesses of their Country whereby the Kings Armie hauing more to doe with barrennesse then men suffered much affliction and many Horses were starued Now vpon this Peace with France the Scots being excluded and hauing none to relieue them send their lamentable complaints to Pope Boniface shewing him the afflicted state of their Countrie the vsurpation of the King of England vpon them and his most tyrannicall proceeding with them contrarie to all right and equity Protesting they neuer knew of any Soueraigntie he had ouer them but that they were a free kingdome of themselues and so at first hee dealt with them vpon the death of their last King Alexander both in the treaty of the mariage for his sonne Edward with Margaret the beire of Scotland and also after her death for the decision of the Title wherein he sought by their consents to be made Arbitror as hee was Howsoeuer afterward they were constrained to giue way to his will yet what they euer yeelded vnto was by reason they were otherwise vnable to resist c. Vpon this remonstrance of the Scots the Pope writes his powerfull letters to the King of England to forbeare any further proceeding against them Claiming withall the Soueraintgie of that Kingdome as belonging to the Church The King answeres the Popes Letters at large Alledging from all Antiquity how the direct and superiour Dominion of Scotland had euer appertained to this Crowne euen from Brute to his owne time And withall the whole Nobilitie write to the Pope auowing the same right And absolutely conclude that the King their Lord should in no sort vndergoe his Holinesse iudgement therein Neither send his Procurators as was required about that businesse whereby it might seeme that doubt were made of their Kings Title to the preiudice of the Crowne the Royall Dignity the Liberties Customes and Lawes of England which by their oath and dutie they were bound to obserue and would defend with their liues Neither would they permit nor could any such vn-usuall vn-lawfull and detrimentall proceeding Nor suffer their King if hee would to doe or any way to attempt the same And therefore besought his Holinesse to intermeddle no more in this matter These Letters subscribed with all their Vid. Apend names were dated at Lincolne where then was held the Parliament Anno Domini 1301. The Pope vpon this answere or rather hauing his hands full of other businesse stirs no more in this The King of France whom hee had excomunicated and giuen away his Kingdome to the Emperour Albert of Austrich shortly after so wrought as his Spiritualty was surprized at Anagne a City of Abruzzo whither he was retyred from the troubles of Rome and so violently treated by Sciarra Colonesse a Banditto of Rome and Nogâ—ret an Albigioye whom he had both persecuted as in extreame rage and anguish within few daies after he ends his turbulenr life And the King of England hauing been supplied with a Fifteenth vpon Confirmation Reg. 32. Anno. 1305. of the Charters againe at the Parliament at Lincolne hee makes his Fourth expedition into Scotland and as it were the Fourth Conquest thereof hauing had Foure times Homage and Fealtie sworne vnto him Which might seeme sufficient to confirme his Soueraingtie whereof now he rests secure and home returnes in triumphant manner Remoues his Eschequer from Yorke Feasts his Nobilitty at Lincolne with all
murthers him in the Church Which Foundation laid on blood the Place the Person and the manner making it more odious much stained his beginning and effected not that security for which he did it but raised a mighty partie in Scotland against him King Edward though so late acquainted herewith as hee could not bee before hand with him yet would hee not bee long behind to ouertake him sends Amyer de Valence Earle of Pembrooke the Lords Clifford and Percy with a strong power to releeue his Wardens of King Ed. sends and prepates for Scotland Scotland who vpon this Revolt were all retyred to Berwicke whilst himselfe prepares an Army to follow Wherein to be the more free and Nobly attended Proclamation is made that whosoever ought by their paternall succession or otherwise had meanes of their owne for service should repaire to Westminster at the Feast of Penticost to receiue the order of Knighthood and a Military ornament out of the Kings Wardrobe Three hundred yong Gentlemen all the sonnes of Earles Barons and Knights assemble at the appointed day receiue Purples Silks Sindons Scarffs wrought with gold or Silver according to every mans estate For which traine the Kings house being too little by reason a great part thereof was burnt vpon his comming out of Flanders roome is made and the Apple Trees cut downe at the New Temple for their Tents where they attire themselues and keep their Vigil The Prince whom the King then likewise Knighted and guirt with a Militarie Belt as an ornament of that honour and withall gaue him the Duchy of Acquitaine kept his Vigile with his traine at Westminster and the next day guirds these Three Hundred Knights with the Militarie The Prince giues the honor of Knighthood to 300 Gentlemen Belt in that manner as himselfe received it At which ceremonie the presse was so great as the Prince was faine to stand vpon the high Altar a place for a more divine honour to performe this Which being solemnized with all the State and Magnificence could be devised the King before them all makes his vow that aliue or dead he would revenge the death of Iohn Cumyn vpon Bruce and the periured Scots Adiuring his sonne and all the Nobles about him vpon their Fealty that if he dyed in this Iourney they should carry his corps with them about Scotland and not suffer it to be interred till they had vanquished the Vsurper and absolutely subdued the Country A desire more Martiall then Christian shewing a minde so bent to the world as he would not make an end when he had done with it but designes his travaile beyond his life The Prince and all his Nobles promise vpon their faith to imploy their vtmost Reg. 34. An. 1307. power to performe his Vow and so vpon grant of the Thirtieth peny of the Clergie and the Laity and the Twentieth of all Marchants hee sets forth with a potent Army presently vpon Whitsontide and makes his last expedition into Scotland Anno Reg. 34. The Earle of Pembrooke with that power sent before and the aide of the Scottish partie which was now greater by the partakers of the Family of Cumyn being many mighty egar to revenge his death had before the King arrived in Scotland defeited in a battell neere S. Iohns towne the whole Army of the new King and narrowly missed the taking of his person Who escaping in disguise recovered an obscure shelter and was reserved for more and greater battailes His brother Nigell Bruce and shortly after Thomas and Alexander a Priest were taken and executed after the manner of Traytors at Berwicke so that K. Edward at his comming had not so much to do as he expected But yet he passed ouer the Country to shew them his power and to terrifie his enemies causing strict in quisition to be made for all who had been aiding to the murther of Cumyn and the advancement of Bruce Many and great Personages are A great execution made of the Scots found out being impossible amongst a broken people for any to remaine vndiscovered and were all executed in cruell manner to the terrour of the rest The Age of the King of England his Cholar Wrath desire of revenge made him now inexorable to spare none of what degree soever they were The Earle of Athol though of the Royall bloud and allyed vnto him was sent to London and preferd to a higher Gallowes then any of the rest The wife of Robert Bruce taken by the Lord Rosse is sent prisoner to London and his daughter to a Monastery in Lindsey The Countesse of Boughan that was aiding at the Coronation of Bruce is put into a woodden Cage and hung out vpon the walles of Berwicke for people to gaze on c. Which rigorous proceeding rather exasperates the Enemy and addes to the party of Bruce then any way quailed it desperation beeing of a sharper edge then hope And though Bruce now appeared not but shifted priuily from place to place in a distressed manner attended onely with two noble Gentlemen who neuer forsooke him in his fortunes the Earle of Lenox and Gilbert Hay yet still expectation loue and the well-wishing of his friends went with him and so long as hee was aliue they held him not lost this affliction did but harden him for future labours which his enemies who now neglected to looke after him as either holding him dead or so downe as neuer to rise againe found afterwards to their cost For this man from being thus laide on the ground within few yeares after gets vp to giue the greatest ouerthrowe to the greatest Armie that euer the English brought into the Field and to repay the measure of blood in as full manner as it was giuen All this Sommer the King spends in Scotland and winters in Carleil to bee ready A Parlement at Carliel the next Spring if any fire should breake out to quench it For resolued hee is not to depart till hee had set such an end to this worke as it should need no more And here hee holdes his last Parlement wherein the State mindefull of the Popes late action gott many Ordinances to passe for reformation of the abuses of his Ministers and his owne former exactions who being but poore sought to get where it was to bee had Wringing from the elect Archbishop of Yorke in one yeare Nine thousand fiue hundred Marks and besides Anthony Bishop of Duresme to be made Patriark of Ierasalem gaue him and his Cardinals mighty summes This Bishop Anthony is said to haue had in purchases and inheritances 5000 Marks per annum besides what belonged to his Myter which shewed the Pope the riches of this Kingdome The King and Pope deuide the benefite of the Cleargie and moued him to require the fruits of one yeares reuenue of euery Benefice that should fall voide in England Scotland Wales and Ireland and the like of Abbayes Priories and Monasteries which though
who assembling together at the instant when he was to be Crowned with his Queen at Westminster Anno Reg. 2. require him that Gaueston might bee remoued from The Lords displeased with Gauest. out the Court and Kingdome otherwise they purposed to hinder his Coronation at that time Whereupon the King to auoide so great a disgrace promises on his faith to yeeld to what they desired in the next Parlement and so the Solemnitie with much festination and little reuerence is performed Wherein Gaueston for carrying Saint Edwards Crowne before the King aggrauates the hatred of the Cleargie and Nobility against him Shortly after his Coronation all the Knights Templats throughout England are at once arrested and committed to prison They were an order of Knights iustituted by Balduin the Fourth King of Ierusalem about 200 yearts past first appointed for The Knights Templers arrested committed to prison the defence of that Citie and the safe conuaying of all such as trauailed thither afterwards they were dispersed through all the Kingdoms of Christendom by the pious bounty of Princes others inriched with infinite possessions which made them to degenerate frō their first institution become execrably vitious So that all the Kings Their dissolution of Christendom at one instant combining together caused them to be apprehended within their Dominions and put out of their order and estates The King of France began hauing a purpose to make one of his Sonns King of Ierusalem possesse him of their reuenues Their accusation followes their apprehension and condemned they are rather by fame then proofe in the generall Councell at Vienna as apeares by the condemnatory Bull of Pope Clement the Third Wherein he hath this clause Quanquam de iure non possumus tamen ad plenitudinem potestatis dictum ordinem reprobamus Their estates are after giuen to the Hospitaliers These businesses passed ouer the Lords prosecute their purpose against Gaueston The Lords prosecure Gaueston whose insolencie and presumption vpon the Kings fauour made him so farre to forget himselfe as hee scorned the best of them all as much as they hated him Tearming Thomas Earle of Lancaster the Stage player Aymer de Valence Earle of Pembrooke Ioseph the Iew and Guy Earle of Warwicke the blacke dogge of Ardern Which scoffes leauing behinde them the sting of reuenge especially where they touche drew such a partie vpon him as in the next Parlement the whole Assemblie humbly besought the Reg. 3. Anno. 1310. King to aduise and treat with his Nobles concerning the State of the Kingdome for the auoiding of eminent mischiefe likely to insue through neglect of the Gouernment and so farre vrges the matter as the King consents thereunto and not onely grants them libertie to draw into Articles what was requisite for the Kingdome but takes his oath to ratisie A Parlement The king takeshis oath to rate fie whatsoeuer Articles the Lords would conclude in Parlement whatsoeuer they should conclude Whereupon they elect certaine choyce men both of the Cleargie Nobility and Commons to compose those Articles Which done the Archbishop of Canterbury lately recalled from exile with the rest of his Suffragans solemnly pronounce the sentence of excommunication against al such who should contradict those Articles which are there publiquely read before the Barons and Commons of the Realme in the presence of the King Amongst which the obseruation and execution of Magna Charta is required with all other ordinances necessary for the Church and Kingdome And that as the late King had done all Strangers should bee banished the Court and Kingdome all ill Councellors remoued That the businesse of the State should be treated on by the Councell of the Cleargie and the Nobles That the King should not begin any war or goe any where out of the Kingdom without the common Councell of the same Which Articles though they seemed harsh to the King yet to auoide further trouble Gaueston banished into Ireland hee yeelds vnto them but especially to the banishment of his Minion as if that would excuse him for all the rest and away is hee sent into Ireland where hee liued a while not as a man exiled but as the Lieutenant of the Countrie The King not enduring to be without his company neuer ceased working till hee had recalled him backe againe which within a few moneths after hee did And to make him as hee thought to stand the faster on his feete hee marries him to his Neece the Daughter of Ioan de Acres Sister to Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester a man beloued and highly esteemed of all the Nobility for whose sake hee hoped Gaueston should finde the Gaueston recalled more fauour amongst them but all this could not shelter him Either his behauiour or their malice was such as they could not endure to haue him about the King who by making him so great lessened him and the more hee was enriched the worse was his estate The Subiects spectators of their Kings immoderate gifts held it to bee taken out of the bowels of the Common-wealth as it were of their substance that was so wasted For it is reported the King gaue him the Iewels of the Crowne which hee sould to Marchant strangers and conuayed much treasure out of the Kingdome whereby the King sustained great wants and the Queene is abridged of her allowance whereof she complaines to the King of France her Father These stingues put the Barons on to send plaine word to the King that vnlesse hee The Lords threaten the King put from him Pierce Gaueston and obserue the late Articles they would all with one consent rise in armes against him as a periured Prince The King whom they found was apt to be terrified yeelds againe vpon this message to the banishment of his Minion whose fortune beeing to haue a weake maister was driuen to these sodaine extreamities Gaueston again banished mities and disgracefull expulsions at their will who were his enuiers and who now obtaine this Clause that if hereafter hee were found againe within the Kingdome he should be condemned to death as an enemy of the State Ireland was now no more to protect him France most vnsafe for him wait being their laid to apprehend him in Flanders he luiks a while but in great danger and finding no where any securitie back againe hee aduentures vpon England and into the Kings bosome the sanctuary he thought would Gaueston returnes not be violated hee puts himselfe and there is hee receiued with as great ioy as euer man could bee And to be as farre out of the way and eye of enuy as might be the King carries him into the North parts where notwithstanding the Lords shortly after found him out For no sooner had they heard of his returne and receiuing into grace but they presently combine and take armes electing Thomas Earle of Lancaster The Lords take armes for their Leader
part Shortly after a Parlement is called at London wherein the King complaines of the great contempt was had of him by the Barons their rising in Armes their taking and murthering A Parlement Pierce Gaueston c. Whereunto with one accord they answer how they had not offended therein but rather mereted his lous and fauour hauing taken armes not for any contempt of his Royall person but to destroy the publique enemy of the Kingdome banished before by the consent of two Kings a man by whom his fame and honour was most highly disparaged his substance and that of the Kingdome wasted and a most dangerous dissention betweene him and his subiects raised Whereof otherwise with all their labour and trauaile they conld neuer haue had an end Besides they tell him plainely they would now no longer attend vaine promises nor be deluded with delaies as they had hitherto been concerning their required Articles Which stout resolution of theirs the Queene with the Prelates and the Earle of Glocester seeing they seeke by all perswasions to quallifie their heate and at length so farre preuailed with them as to appease the Kings wrath they brought them and their confederates in open Parlement to humble themselues to the King and to craue pardon for what they had done which they obtained and the King receiues The Lords are pardoned A Fifteenth granted them into grace as his loyall subiects grants them their Articles and particular pardons by his Charter for their indemnity concerning the death of Gaueston And for this the State vpon his great wants granted him a Fifteenth Guy de Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke is here appointed to bee one of the Kings Councell who Reg. 6. Anno. 1314. beeing a man much enuied by such as possest the King shortly after dies not without suspition of poyson Whilst the State of England stood thus diseased at home through the infirmity of a weake Head that of Scotland grew strong by the prouidence of a vigilant King who had not only ouercome the Scottish faction and recouered the most of his owne K. Bruce grows strong in Scotland Countrey but also made spoiles on this wasting all Northumberland in such sort as King Edward wakened with the out-cries of his people and the great dishonor of the K. Ed. goes with a mighty Army into Scotland kingdome is drawne to take armes for redresse thereof and enters Scotland with the greatest Armie that euer yet went thither consisting as the Scottish writers report of 100 Thousand men whereof were great numbers of Flemings Gascoines Welsh and Irish who in imagination had deuoured the Countrey before they came thither and thought not of Battailes but of deuiding the prey Besides the King had with him most of the Nobility and especiall men of England except Thomas Earle of Lancaster the Earles of Warwicke Warrein and Arundell who refused to goe for that the King protracted the execution of the foresaid Articles The Castle of Sterling is the peece that is to bee relieued which chiefly now held out defended by Philip Moubray a valiant Knight who seeing the daily successe of Bruce had manned and victualed the same for many moneths Neare to this place vpon the Riuer Bannocke is incountred this great Armie of England by Bruce with 30 Thousand Scots a small number say their writers in respect of their enemies but as men hardened with daily vse of warre and domesticall euills fierce and resolute carrying all their hopes in their hands of life estate and whatsoeuer was deare vnto them The aduantage of the ground was theirs hauing behinde vnaccessable Rocks to defend them before a Moorish vncertaine ground wherein they digged trenches The battail of Bannocks borough which they pitched full of sharpe stakes and couered them ouer with hurdles so that tht footmen might passe ouer safely without impediment but it so confounded the Horse as it gaue the Scots the day and the greatest ouerthrow to England that euer it receiued There perished in this Battaile called of Bannocks Bourough Gilbert The defeit of the English the last Clare Earle of Glocester a maine Arch of the State of England and Robert Lord Clifford the Noblest of our Barons with the Lord Tiptoft the Lord Mareschall the Lord Giles de Argenton the Lord Edmond de Maule 700 Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of sort of common souldiers theirs say Fifty thousand ours Ten taken prisoners Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford Ralph de Morthelmere who married Ioan de Acres Countesse dowager of Glocester with many others the King and those who were preserued escaped by flight This defeit put Scotland both into Armes and Wealth so that they held their owne the better for a long time after and discouraged so much this kingdome for many yeares as it wrought not though it often attempted any great reuenge King Eddward vpon his comming backe to Yorke shewed a great desire to repaire this dishonour but nothing was done his people grew colde home they returne and sitte downe by their losse The poore Borderers haue the worst of it and become so deiected as 100 of them would flie from three Scots saith Walsingham To such a sodain faintnesse are the inferiours brought when the nobler parts of a State which should giue them spirit are ill affected This disaster as mischiefe neuer comes alone was attended with inundations which brought forth Dearth Dearth Famine Famine Pestilence all which exceeded any that euer before had been knowne A Parlement is called at London vpon A Parlement at London the beginning of this Dearth to abate the prices of victualls which sodainely grewto be excessiue And therefore it was ordained that an Oxe fatted with grasse Reg. 8. An. 1315. should be sould for sixteene shillngs fatted with corne for twentie shillings the best Cow for twelue shillings a fat Hogge of two yeares old three shillings foure pence a fatte Sheepe shorne fourteene pence with the fleece twenty pence a fatte Goose for two pence halfe penny a fatte Capon two pence a fat Hen a penny foure Pigeons Rates for victualls a penny whosoeuer sould aboue should forfeit their ware to the King Heere seemes then to haue been no Calues Lambes Goslings Chickins young Pigges to be sould those dainties were not yet in vse After these rates imposed all kinde of victualls grew more scarce then before and such a Murrein followed of all kinde of Cattell with a generall failing of all fruits of A Dearth which lasted 3. yeares the earth by the excessiue raines and vnseasonable weather as prouision could not be had for the Kings house nor meanes for other great men to maintaine their Tables such a iust punishment had Excesse and Ryot inflicted thereon in those daies in so Reg. 10. An. 1317. much as men put away their seruants in great numbers who hauing beene daintily bred and now not able to worke scorning to begge fell to Robberie and spoyle which addes more miserie
The Lords oppose the Spencers suffering nothing to be obtained but by their meanes Which the State accounted a mischiefe most intollerable and grievous vnto them seeing all graces and dispatches were to passe out but at one dore whereby the Kings benignity and power is diminished the Kingdome dishonoured all corruptions introduced to the overthrow of Iustice and good order And vnder this pretence they take Armes wherein themselues proceed not in that And take Armes even way of right as they made shew but follow the fury of their wils being once out and astray they seize vpon and make spoile of the lands and goods of those persons they prosecuted and all such as had friendship and affinity with them killing their servants and disposing their Castles at their pleasure And comming armed thus to S. Albons they send to the King residing then at London the Bishops of London Salisbury Hereford and Chichester who were there assembled to consult for peace requiring him as he tendred the quiet of the Realme to rid his Court of those Traitors the Spencers condemned in many Articles of high Treason by the Communalty of the Land and withall to grant his Letters Patents of Pardon and Indemnity both to them and all such as took part with them and that for no offences past or present they should hereafter be punished The King returnes answer That Hugh Spencer the father was beyond the Seas imployed in his businesse The King excuses the Spencers and the sonne was guarding the Cinque-Portes according to his office and that it was against Law and Custome they should bee banished without being heard Moreover that Denies the Lords their demands their request was voide of Iustice and Reason for that the said Spencers were ever ready to answer to all complaints made against them according to the forme of Law and if the LL. could proue they had offended the Statutes of the Realme they were willing to submit themselues to the triall thereof And besides swore he would never violate the oath made at his Coronation by granting letters of Pardon to such notorious offenders who contemned his person disturbed the Kingdom and violated the Royall Maiestie Which answer so exasperated the Lords as presently they approach to London and lodged in the Suburbes till they obtained The Lords come armed to London leaue of the King to enter into the Citie Where they peremptorily vrge their demands which at length by mediation of the Queene and the chiefe Prelates the King The King yeelds unto them The Earle of Hereford publishes the Kings Edict in Westminister Hall is wrought to condiscend vnto and by his Edict published in Westminster Hall by the Earle of Hereford are the Spencers banished the Kingdom Hugh the father keeps beyond the Seas but the sonne secretly hides himselfe in England expecting the turne of a better season The Lords having thus obtained their desire with the Kings Letters of impunity depart home but yet not with such security as they gaue over the provision for their own defence Shortly after there fell out an vnexpected accident that suddainely wrought their confusion The Queene who had ever beene the nurse of peace and laboured to accord The occasion of the Queens displeasure with the Lords the King and his Barons making her progresse towards Canterbury was disposed to lodge in the Castle of Leeds appertaining to the Lord Badlesmere who had beene long the Kings Steward but lately tooke part with the Barons and sending her Mareschall to make ready for her and her traine they who kept the Castle told him plainely that neither the Queene or any else should enter there without letters from their Lord. The Queen her selfe goes to the Castle and receiues the like answer whereupon Shee is denied lodging in the Castle of Leeds she is driven to take such lodging other where as could be provided Of which indignity she complaines to the King who tooke it so to heart as presently with a power of armed men out of London he layes siege to the Castle takes it hangs the The King takes the Castle of Leeds Growes strong keeper Thomas Culpeper sends the wife and children of the Lord Badlesmere to the Tower and seises vpon all his goods and treasure And having this power about him and warmed with successe and the instigation of the Queene sodainely directs his course to Cicister where he kept his Christmas and there provides for an army against the Barons whereof many seeing the Kings power increasing left their associates and yeeld themselues to his mercy amongst whom were the two Rogers Mortimers men of great might and meanes the Lord Hugh Audeley the Lord Maurice Barkley and others who notwithstanding contrary to their expectation were sent to divers prisons The Earles of Laucaster and Hereford seeing this sodaine change withdrew themselues and their companies from about Glocester towards the North-parts The Lords withdraw into the North parts and are ouerthrowne The King followes them with his Army wherein were the Earles of Aihol and Angus and at Burton vpon Trent where they had made head discomfited their forces and put them all to flight Whereupon seeking to escape they retire further North and at Burrough Briggs are encountred by Sir Simon Ward Shriefe of Yorke and Sir Andrew Harckley Constable of Carleil who after the Earle of Hereford was slaine in striuing to passe the Bridge tooke the Earle of Lancaster with diuerse other Lords and brought them to Pomfret where the third day after the King sitting himselfe in iudgement with Edmond Earle of Kent his brother the Earle of Pembrooke the Earle Warren Hugh Spencer lately created Earle of Winchester and others Sentence of death is giuen against Thomas Earle of Lancaster by drawing hanging and beheading as a traytour The two first punishments are pardoned in regard he was of the The executiō of the E. of Lancaster with diuers other Losds in diuerse places royall blood and only beheaded hee was the same day without the towne of Pomfret before his owne Castle And by the like iudgement were condemned the Lord Roger Clifford the Lord Warrein Lisle the Lord William Tuchet Thomas Maudit Henry Bradburne William Fiztwilliams William Lord Cheyny Thomas Lord Mowbray Ioseline Lord Danyll all which were executed at Yorke Shortly after the Lord Henry Teyes is taken drawne hangd and quartered at London the Lord Aldenham at Windsor the Lords Badlesmere and Ashbiunham at Canterbury the Lord Gifford at Glocester principall men in principall places to spread the more terrour ouer the kingdome All their estates and inheritances are confiscated and many new men aduanced by the same And this is the first blood of Nobility that euer was shed in this manner in England since William the first which beeing such and so much as The first of any Earle or Baron of England that euer was executed upon Scaffold or otherwise since the time of William the first
Hugh Spencer the father hanged at Bristol gallowes in his Coat armour cut vp before hee was dead headed and quartered This done shee passes to Hereford and the King beeing not to bee found Proclamation is made that if hee would returne and conforme himselfe to rule the State as hee ought to doe hee should come and receiue the gouernment thereof by the generall consent of his people But hee either not daring as destitute both of courage and counsell to trust to this offer or not well informed thereof keepes himselfe still concealed Whereupon as may seeme was intended aduantage is taken to dispose of the gouernment and the Prince who is now vnder their guard is made Guardian of the Kingdom hath Fealtie sworne vnto him and a new Chancelor and Treasurer are appointed Long it was not ere the King came to be discouered as a person too great for any couer and was by Henry Earle of Lancaster brother to the late Thomas William The King taken prisoner Lord Zouch and Ries ap Howell taken and conuayed to the Castle of Kenelworth The younger Spencer with Baldocke the Chancelor and Simon Reading apprehended with him are sent to the Queene to Hereford Spencer who was now Earle of Glocester is drawne and hangd on a gallowes Fifty foote high wherein hee was exalted aboue his father otherwise had the like execution and likewise in his Coat armor whereon was written Quid gloriaris in malitia psal 52. Simon Reading was hanged Ten foote lower then hee But Baldocke in regarde hee was a Priest had the fauour to bee pined to death in Newgate And here likewise a little before was the Earle of Arundell with two Barons Iohn Danyll and Thomas Micheldeuer executed as Traytors by the procurement of Roger Mortimer for adhering to the Kings part To accompanie these mischiefes of the Countrey the Commons of London made insurrection and force their Maior who held for the King to take their part let out all prisoners possesses them of the Tower put to death the Constable thereof Sir Iohn Weston murther the Bishop of Excester to whom they bare an especiall hatred for that being the Kings Treasurer hee caused the Iustices Itenerants to sit in London A Parlement at London where the Prince is elected King by whom they were grieuously fyned and thus all is let out to libertie and confusion After a moneths stay at Hereford the Queene with her sonne returning kept Christmas at Wallingford their Candlemas at London where the Parlement being Reg. 20. Anno. 1327. assembled agreed to depose the King as vnfit to gouerne obiecting many Articles against him and to elect his eldest sonne Edward which they did in the great Hall at Westminster with the vniuersall consent of the people there present and the Archbishop of Canterbury makes a Sermon vpon this text Vox populi vox Dei exhorting the people to inuoke the King of kings for him they had there chosen The Queene either out of the consideration of the difference of a husband and a sonne whom now shee was not like long to guide or through remorse of conscience looking backe vpon what shee had done takes this election grieuously to heart insomuch as her sonne to recomfort her swore hee would neuer accept of the Crowne without the consent of his father whereupon by a common decree three Bishops two Earles two Abbots foure Barons three Knights of euery Shire with a certaine number of Burgesses of euery Citie and Borough and especially of the Cinque-Ports are sent to the imprisoned King at Kenelworth to declare vnto him the election of his sonne and to require the renuntiation of his Crowne and royall dignity whereunto if hee would not consent the State was resolued to proceed as it thought good The King beeing first priuately made acquainted with the Message The King is brought to resigne his Crowne the most harsh to Nature that could bee imparted and by two whom hee especially hated for hauing especially offended them the Bishoppes of Hereford and Lincolne was brought forth before the assembly to whom as soone as his passion wherewith hee was ouercharged would giue him leaue hee confessed how he had beene misguided the common excuse of a poore spirit and done many things whereof now hee repented which if hee were to gouerne againe hee would become a new man and was most sorrowfull to haue so much offended the State as it should thus vtterly reiect him but yet gaue them thankes that they were so gracious vnto him as to elect his eldest sonne for King Hauing spoken to this purpose they proceed to the Ceremony of his resignation which chiefly consisted in the surrender of his Crowne for the forme whereof beeing the first that euer was seene in England they could followe no precedent but must make one and William Trussell a Iudge put it into the Stile of Lawe to render it the more authenticall and pronounced the same in this manner I William Trussell in the name of all men of the Land of England and of all the Parlement The forme of his resignatiō Procurator resigne to thee Edward the Homage that was made to thee sometime and from this time forwards now following I defie thee and priue thee of all royall power and I shall neuer be tendant on thee as King after this time This was the last act and the first example of a deposed King no lesse dishonorable to the State then to him He was a Prince more weake then euill and those exorbitances of his met with as great or greater in his people who as wee see delt ouer roughly and vnciuilly with him Hee is reported by some to haue been learned which perhaps might make him the softer to haue written verses when hee was in prison to haue founded Oriall Colledge and Saint Mary Hall in Oxford He had by his wife Isabell two sonnes Edward borne at Windsor who succeeded Misissue him and Iohn Surnamed of Eltham who was created Earle of Cornewall An. 1315. and died in the Flower of his youth in Scotland And also two daughters Ioan married to Dauid Prince of Scotland and Elionor to the Duke of Gelders The end of Edward the second The Life and Raigne of Edward the third VPpon the resignation of Edward the second Edward his sonne of the 1327. An. Reg. 1. age of fourteene yeares beganne his Raigne the twentith of Ianuary 1327 and sends forth Proclamations of his peace into all Shires in this form Edward by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitaine to N. N. our Shirife of S. greeting Whereas the Lord Edward late King of England our father by the common councell and assent of the Prelates Earles Barons and other chiefe men with the whole Communaltie of this Realme did voluntarily amoue himselfe from the gouernement thereof willing granting that we as his eldest son and heire should assume the same c. which proclamation made
hands together betweene the hands of the King of France pronounced the words of the Homage which were these You become Liegeman to the King my maister here present as Duke The forme of the Homage of Guyene and Peere of France and you promise to beare saith and loyalty vnto him Say yea and King Edward said yea and kisses the King of France as the Lord of the Fee in the mouth the like Homage hee then did for the Earle do me of Ponthieu This act of submission performed in the person of a King young actiue hauty and powerfull who held himselfe wronged in doing it to whom hee did bred that rancour in his heart as it had beene better for all Christendome that Ceremony had beene spared at this time and not so punctually beene exacted by King Phillip whom their owne Historians blame for standing so much vpon his Regality with one as mighty as himselfe and more able and likely to shake his new gotten Throne then any other whatsoeuer to whose passion considering the fiery heat of his youth hee should rather haue ministered Oyle then Vinegar and more hospitably intertertained him in his Court comming with that State and Magnificence as hee did attended with the best of all the kingdome of England to shew what he was and to beget a respect of his high estate But these are the errours of improuident Princes who carried with the sway of their owne will imbroyle themselues and their subiects that euer suffer the worst and are sure to pay dearely for others faults And now thus wounded in reputation with a minde swolne for reuenge the King K. Ed. returns out of France intertaines the Scottish businesse of England returnes to settle his affaires at home where Scottish businesses fall out to intertaine him The late peace concluded with them is held so dishonourable as it must not holde and to breake the same followed an occasion begunne vppon their owne quarells The tender age of their King the affliction of kingdomes with the emulation and factions in great men put Edward Balliol sonne to Iohn Balliol sometime King of Scotland thirtie two yeares after his fathers deposition to attempt Ed. Balliol comes out of France defeited his opposers is crowned King of Scotland the recouery of that Crowne and out of France where hee had all that while remained hee comes by the solicitation of his friends into England where hee was permitted vnderhand to get ayde and had all such Scots and English who were of the faction against Bruce to take his part and with them hee sodainely assailes those who had the gouernment of that kingdome during the nonage of the young King Dauid beeing at that time with the King of France and ouercame them in a battayle with the slaughter of many Noble men and Thousands of the common people and thereuppon was immediately crowned King of Scotland at Scone But his party being not so potent as they could maintaine and defend his quarrell against all those which opposed it hee was forced notwithstanding this great defeit to retire him into England to get more ayde of King Edward who now shewes himselfe in the action Berwick recouered ioynes with Baliol against his brother in law king Dauid goes in person with a strong Army to recouer Berwicke which after three moneths siege being valiantly defended The bataile of Halidown hil by the Lord Seton was againe taken in and the Army of the Scots which came to the rescue thereof at Halidowne hill vtterly defeited where were slaine seuen Earles 900 Knights and Baronets foure hundred Esquires and about two and thirty thousand common souldiers as our writers report theirs fourteene thousand And with this effusion of blood is Baliol returned to his miserable kingdome In this oppugnation of Berwicke though my haste bee great I must not so much A memorable act in the oppugnation of Berwicke trespasse vertue as to ouerpasse one memorable perticular recorded by the Scottish writers which is how the Lord Seton seeing all reliefe failing and the assaults so violent as hee could not long holde out conditions with king Edward if rescue came not at such a day to render him vp the towne and for assurance deliuers him two of his sonnes Shortly after king Edward hauing notice of the Scottish Army approaching with greater power and speed then hee expected and likely to bee there before the day sommons the Lord Seton to render the towne presently otherwise he should see his two sonnes executed before his face and withall a Gallowes is made ready within sight of the towne the young Gentlemen brought forth and vnder the hand of the Executioner wherewith the distressed Lord rent betweene those powerfull passions of Nature and Honour standing doubtfull what to doe his wife the mother of those sonnes a Lady more then a woman comes vnto him exhorts him to remember his Fealty sworne to the King his Charity to his Countrie the dignity of his noble Familie that they had other children left though these were destroyed and besides themselues were not so olde but that they might haue more How those if they should bee preserued from death at this time might otherwise shortly perish by some worse occasion And what a staine he should lay on the name of Seton and their posteritie for ever by a base act of yeelding and betraying the place committed vnto him whereby also hee was not certaine whether he should preserue his children or no for how could hee hope that this King who had violated his first promise with him would performe the last And therefore besought him that hee would not prefer an vncertaine and momentany benefite before a certaine and perpetuall ignominy And so recovering her Lords resolution for holding out withdrew him from the walles into some other parts aside that he might not be Spectator of the execution of his innocent children The next yeare after this defeit at Hallidown Hill Edward Baliol King of Seots at 1333. An. Reg. 7. Newcastle doth Homage to the King of England as his superiour Lord and takes his oath of Fealty Binding himselfe and his heires to hold that Kingdome of him and his successors for ever with the inheritance of fiue Countries next adioyning to the Borders So large a part yeelds hee to forgoe rather then to be in danger to loose the whole which Edward Baliol doth Homage for the Kingdome of Scotl. yet could not secure his estate but rather imbroyled it the more by reason of the discontent which most part of the Nobles of Scotland conceived vpon this act of Alienation and subiection of their Country Insomuch as it gaue both Kings continuall occasion of trouble for a long time after with the expence of infinite treasure A Parlement holden at London There was granted to the King of England for these warres a Fifteenth of the Temporalty a Twelfe of Cities and Boroughes and a Tenth of the Clergie in
suncke all their Ships King Edward vanquishes the French Kings great Navie slew 30 thousand men and landed with as great glory as such a victorie the greatest that ever before was gotten by the English at Sea could yeeld Most of the French rather then to endure the Arrowes and sharpe swords of the English or be taken desperately leape into the Sea Whereupon the French Kings Iester set on to giue him notice of this overthrow which being so ill newes none else willingly would impart on the suddaine said and oftentimes re-iterated the same Cowardly Englishmen Iean Tillet Dasterdly Englishmen Faint-hearted Englishmen The King at length asked him Why For that said he They durst not leap out of their ships into the Sea as our braue French-men did By which speech the King apprehended a notion of this overthrow which the French attribute to Nicholas Buchet one of their chiefe Commanders who had armed his Ships with men of base condition content with small pay and refused Gentlemen and sufficient Souldeirs in regard they required greater wages and it osten happens that the Auarice of Commanders haue beene the occasion of great defeits But this losse much abated the power of the French King who notwithstanding in these Martiall times was soone supplyed both out of his owne Dominions and those of his Confederates and makes a mighty head against this victorious powerfull and freshly furnished King of England who suddainely sets downe before Tourney with King Edward and sends hic Challenge to the French King all his owne and his adherents forces And from Chyn a place neere-by where hee lodged sends his Cartell the 17 of Iuly to Phillip de Valois lodging at S. Andrew les Aire with his puissant army Declaring how he with the power of his owne Kingdome and aide of the Flemmings was come to recever his right in the Kingdome of France uniustly detained from him contrary to the Lawes of God and Man and that seeing no other meanes would serue hee was forced in this manner to haue recourse to his sword Notwithstanding seeing the businesse was between them two hee offers for the avoiding of Christian bloud à nd devastation of the Country to try the same by combat in close Campe body to body or each of them accompaned with 100 choyce persons which if the said Phillip refused then to strike battell within ten daies after before the Cittie of Tourney Phillip de Valois returnes answer the last of Iuly in this manner Phillip by the grace of God King of France to Edward King of England Wee haue perused your letters sent to the The French Kings answer to the Challenge Court of Phillip de Valois containing certaine requests to the said Phillip and for that it appeareth hose letters and requests were not written or made vnto vs wee will in no sort answer you But seeing by those letters and otherwise wee understand how you led by Wilfulnesse without all reason haue entred our Kingdome of France with armed power and committed no small dammage in the same and on our people contrary to the duety of a Liegeman having lalely sworne homage vnto us acknowledging us as by right King of France and haue promised that obedience which is due from the Vassall to his Liege-Lord as is manifest by your letters Patents under your great Seale which we haue with us and you likewise ought to haue the same with you And therefore our intention is as becomes our Honour to chace you out of our Kingdome as we firmely hope in Christ from whom we haue our power to do For that by this your warre most wickedly begunne our Iourney undertaken for the East is hindred no small number of Christians there murthered the holy service neglected and the Church dishonoured And whereas you alledge you possesse the aide of the Flemmings wee are assuredly perswaded that they with the Communalty of their Countrie will so beare themselues towardes our Cosen their Earie and vs their superiour Lords as they will not omit to obserue their honour and fidelity whatsoeuer hath beene by some through ill counsell perpetrated for their owne priuate contrary to the common good The French write how King Phillip with this Letter sent worde to King Edward how by his Cartell hee aduentured nothing of his owne but onely exposed the dominion of another which was without all reason If hee would hazard the kingdome of England though it were lesse against the kingdome of France the said King Phillip would enter combate in close campe with him on condition the Victor should enioy both kingdomes But that they say King Edward would not doe Three moneths the siege of Turney had continued and nothing effected but the waste of the Countrie about all the eyes of Christendome bent vpon this action both kingdomes deeply ingaged expecting with anxiety the doubtfull euent thereof when Iane de Valois sister to Phillip widdow of William late Duke of Haynault and mother A mediation for peace to Phillippa wife to King Edward a Princesse of excellent vertue came from Fountenelles where shee had rendered herselfe a Nun vowed to God to mediate a peace betweene these two intaged Kings her brother and her sonne in lawe and labours to stay the sword of destruction lift vp for blood trualying from one to the other stubbornly bent to their intentions and neuer left them though often denyed till shee had with great patience and wise counsell quallified their boyling passions in such sort as she obtained day and place for both Kings to parle together A memorable worke to bee effected by a woman especially in such an age of Iron as that was This parle brought forth a truce for one yeare and both these great Armies A Truce concluded are dissolued The French King returnes home and so doth the King of England with his Queene who had remained in those parts three yeares and had there Anno Reg. 15. brought forth two sonnes Lionell afterwards Duke of Clarence and Iohn borne at Gant who first was Earle of Richmond and after Duke of Lancaster But King Edwards condiscending to this sudden truce had indeed no other motiue thē the want of his supplies of treasure which came short to his expectation notwithstanding those mighty impositions which were laid on his subiects And whereas hee had vpon his last returne into England in great displeasure remoued his Chancellor and imprisoned his Treasorer with other Officers most of them Cleargy-men and still held them in durance Iohn Stratford Archbishoppe of Canterbury on Iohn Strarford Archbishop of Canterbury his Letters to King Edward whom the King laid the blame of his wants writes him a most bolde and peremptory Letter to this effect first shewing him how it was for the safety of kings and their Kingdomes to vse graue and wise Counsailors alledging many examples out of holy Writ of the flourishing happinesse of such as tooke that course and their infelicity who followed the
contrary Then wills him to remember how his father led by euill counsell vexed the kingdome putting to death contrary to the lawe of the Land diuerse of the Nobility and wished him to consider what happened thereby vnto him Also to call to minde how himselfe at first through euill counsell about him had almost lost the hearts of his people But afterwards by the great circumspection and care of his Prelates and Nobles his affaires were reduced into so good order as hee recouered them and now possessed them in such sort as they all both Cleargy and Lay haue yeelded their helping hands more to him then to any of his Progenitors whereby hee had gloriously triumphed ouer his enemies the French and Scots and is reputed the noblest Prince of Christendome But now at this present through the wicked counsell of such as affect their owne profit more then his honour or the welfare of his people hee had caused Cleargie men and others to bee arrested and held in prison by undue proceeding contrary to the lawes of England which hee was bound by his oath at his Coronation to obserue and against Magna Charta which whosoeuer shall presume to infringe are to bee by the Prelates according to the Bull of Pope Innocent the fourth Excommunicate So that hereby hee incurred no small danger to his soule and detriment to his State and honour Then hee telleth him how hee doubted that if the King proceeded in this manner he should lose both the hearts of his people and their helpe in such sort as hee should not be able to prosecute his warre in hand and thereby giue his enemies heart and occasion to rise against him to the hazard of his honour and the kingdome And therefore aduises him to assemble the Nobles and prudent men of the Land and to consult with them without whose ayde and counsell hee could not gouerne his kingdome or performe his enterprises concerning what was a misse And whereas said hee certaine neere about you by their adulation and soothing falsly betray and deceiue you wee here denounce them Excommunicate and beseech you as your spirituall Father that you holde them so Besides hee vrges him that whereas through the negligence of some Ministers of his the Citie of Turney was not gotten the matter might bee examined in Parlement and inquiry made to whose hands from the beginning of the warre the Wooles and Monies were committed to bee bestowed and by whose default the Citie of Turney was not subdued but left in such manner as it was and that as an equall and wise Lord hee would chastise such as were culpable and not condemne or misdeeme his subiects without sufficient tryall c. This Letter bare date the 1. of Ianuary Then writes hee also to Robert Bouser Chancelor of England shewing him what contributions the Cleargie had yeelded to the King by their free consents that none other were to be exacted of them Requiring him to doe nothing preiudiciall to the Law of Magna Charta and that if any Writ Commission or Precept had gone out of the Chancerie contrary thereunto or the priuiledges and liberties of the Church or Kingdome hee should within ten dayes after the receipt of these his Letters as hee said the Chancelor was bound to doe reuoke and anull the same This bare date the 28. of Ianuary Another Letter hee likewise sends to the King and his whole Councell declaring that whereas contrarie to the priuiledges and liberties of the Church and Kingdome contained in Magna Chatta Iohn de Saint Paul Michael de Wath Robert Chickwill Iohn Thorpe and Henry Stratford were arrested committed to prison and there detayned without being indited or conuicted of any notorious crime and that whosoeuer were ayding or councelling to this proseeding had incurred the sentence of the Canon which he had caused to be published both in his owne Dioces and in all other of his suffragans And therefore besought the King and his whole Councell without delay to deliuer the saide prisoners otherwise hee Quatenus de iure poterunt excusari plainely writes that according to his Pastrall charge hee must proceed to the execution of the sentence Concluding how notwithstanding it was not his intention to include therin the King Queene or their children so farre as they might by law be excused To this purpose hee likewise sends to the Bishop of London and other his Suffragan Bishops whom after hauing complained of the great exactions and wrongs done to the Church by lay men hee charged him not onely to denounce and publish in their Church but fixe vp in all eminent places the sentence of Excommunication against all offenders in those articles of Magna Charta which are at large added to his Vid. Append. Letter to the end as he sayd that euery man might know the danger and none pretend to be ignorant thereof The King wakened with this clamour of the Archbishop is faine to apologize for himselfe by his Letters written to the Bishop of London wherein after hauing declared King Edward accuses the Archbishop of false dealing how much hee had euer honoured and trusted the Archbishop he accuses him of manifest wrong for that relying vpon his counsayle he was put at first vpon this action against the French King and by him assured hee should not want treasure and meanes for the performance thereof and that hee needed not to care but onely to prouide men to execute the worke And how notwithstanding through the negligence or malice of the saide Archbishop and his Officialls those prouisions granted him by his subiects in Parlement were in so slender proportion leuied and with such delayes sent ouer as hee was prest of necessity to his great griefe and shame to condiscend to the late Truce and through extreame wants charged with mighty debts forced to throwe himselfe into the gulph of the usurers in such sort as hauing iust cause hee began to lookeinto the dealings of his Officers some of whom upon apparant notice of their ill administration of Iustice their corruptions and oppression of his subiects he remoued from their places and some of inferiour degree culpable of the same offences hee committed to prison and there detained them to the ende hee might finde out by their examinations the truth of their proceedings whereof none could so well informe him as the Archbishop to whom of long time hee had committed the whole administration of the kingdome And therefore desirous to conferre with him at London hee had of late sent an especiall messenger his trusty seruant Nicholas de Cantelupe that hee should repaire thither which the Archbishop refuse to doe alledging how hee stood in feare of some about the King and therefore would not endanger himselfe nor depart from his Church Then the King sent Ralph Scafford the Steward of his house with safe conduct vnder his great Seale for the Archbishops security Notwithstanding he refused to come returning worde how hee would
haue no conference with the King but in open Parlement which at that time said the King was not for especiall reasons conuenient to be called Then aggrauates hee the vndutifull contempt of the Archbishop and his hypocriticall dealing with him avowing that although by hereditary right and the diuine grace hee was aduanced to that sublimitie of regall power hee held it alwaies to haue beene a detestable thing to abuse the greatnesse thereof and how he affected nothing more in the world then to gouerne his subiects with mildnesse clemency and moderation of Iustice that hee might with peace enioy their loue And how notwithstanding the Archbishoppe had most iniuriously by his Letters published in diuerse parts torne his innocency and slandered the faithfull seruice of his Counsailors and Officers who executed his regall Iustice exclayming how the people were opprest the Cleargy confounded the kingdome agrieued with taxations and all kinde of exactions Which the King argues was to no other end but to raise sedition amongst his people and to withdrawe their loue and obedience from him Lastly to giue notice of the Archbishoppes corruption he declares how himselfe beeing vnder age had through his counsell made so many prodigall donations prohibited alienations and excessiue gifts as thereby hâ—s treasurie was vtterly exhausted and his reuenewes diminished and how the Archbishop corrupted with bribes remitted without reasonable cause great summes which were due vnto him applying to his proper vse or to persons ill-deseruing many commodities and reuenewes which should haue beene preserued for his necessary prouisions And therefore concluded vnlesse hee desisted from this his rebellious obstinacie hee intended in due time and place more openly to proceede against him inioying them to publish all and singular these his malignities and to cause others to doe the like for the manifestation of his owne pious and Princely intention in relieuing his owne and his subiects wrongs This Letter was sayd to haue been penned by Adam Bishoppe of Winchester and bare date the 12. of February An. Reg. 15. Thus the King and his Officers whose proceedings must not receiue a check are cleared and the imputation rests vpon the Archbishop who is charged with great accouÌ„ts pressed by such as lent the King mony to render the same But shortly after the King found much to doe in the Parlement held at London being earnestly petitioned by the whole Assembly of the three Estates that the great Charter of Liberties and the Charter of Forrests might be duly obserued and that whosoeuer of the Kings Officers infringed the same should lose their place that the high Officers of the kingdome should as in former times be elected by Parlement The King stood stiffe vpon his owne election and prerogatiue but yet yeelded in regard to haue his present Vid. Stat. 15. Edward 3. turne serued as himselfe after confessed these Officers should receiue an oath in Parlement to doe iustice vnto all men in their offices and thereupon a Statute was made confirmed with the Kings Seale both for that and many other grants of his to the subiects which notwithstaÌ„ding were for the most part presently after reuoked The truce agreed on before Turney for one yeare was by the Commissioners of both The Articles Vid. Appen Kings and two Cardinalls from the Pope concluded at Arras which yeelded some cessation of Armes but not of plotting more mischiefe Louys of Bauier intituled Emperour is wonne to the party of the French King becomes his sworne confederate The Emperor reuokes the Vicariate the reason why Vid. Append. and reuokes the Vicarshippe of the Empire formerly confirmed on the K. of England pretending the cause to be for concluding the late truce without him as appeares by his Letters to King Edward which are againe by him fully and discreetly answered But in steed of this remote and vnconstant confederate whose power lay without the limits of France Fortune brought in another more neere and of readier The controuersie for the Duchy of Brittaine meanes to offend within the bodie of that kingdome The inheritance of the Duchy of Brittaine is in controuersie betweene Charles de Blois Nephew to King Phillip and Iohn de Monfort vpon this title Arthur Duke of Brittaine had by Beatrix his first wife two sonnes Iohn and Guy by Yoland Countesse of Monfort his second wife Iohn de Monfort Iohn the eldest sonne of Arthur hauing no issue ordayned Iane his Neece daughter to his brother Guy who died before him to succeed him in the Duchy This Iane Charles de Blois marries on condition his issue by her should inherite the same wherein after consummation of the Marriage hee is inuested and had homage done vnto him during the life of Iohn their Vncle. But after his death Iohn de Monfort doth homage for the Duke of Brittaine to King Edward Monfort claymes the Duchy comes to Paris to do homage for the same to the French King Charles de Blois in the right of his wife opposes him the controuersie is referred to the Parlement Sentence passes on the side of Charles Monfort inraged repaires to the King of England doth his homage vnto him for the Duchy is receiued with great applause and his title howsoeuer held bad at home is heere made to bee good Returning back into Brittaine both with comfort meanes after some encouÌ„ters Monfort taken prisoner His wife prosecutes her husbands quarrell with his enemie hee is taken and committed prisoner to the Louure in Paris His wife the Countesse of Monfort sister to Louys Earle of Flanders a Lady who seemed to haue more of the man then her brother prosecutes her husbands quarrell puts on Armour leads and incourages her people surprises and defends many strong peeces of Brittaine but in the end like to be ouerlaide by the power of Charles de Blois she craues ayde of the King of England and hath it sent vnder the conduct of the Lord Walter de Manny which relieued her for the present but the future required more whereof King Edward was not sparing in regard of his owne designes for aydes are seldome sent to forrainers but for the Senders benefit The Lady her selfe comes ouer into England to treate both for supplyes and alliance tendring a match betweene her sonne and a daughter of King Edward The Earles Salisbury Pembrooke and Suffolke Forces sent ouer into Brittaine the Lords Stafford Spencer and Bourchier with Robert de Artois Earle of Richmond are sent with great forces backe with the Lady Many were the incounters surprises and recouerings of Fortes betweene the English and the French and in this action The death of Robert de Artois Robert de Artois receiued his last wound at the siege of Vannes but yet was brought to die in England it being not in his Fate that his countrie which by his meanes had suffered so much affliction should haue his bones though it had his blood which he lost with little honour
Edward arriues with 300. men at Armes and 600. Archers Monsieur Charmy sets out The French circumuented in their practise likewise the same night from Saint Omers with his Forces and sent 100. armed men before with the Crowns to Americo and to possesse the Castle The men are let in at a Posterne Gate the Crownes receiued and themselues layd in hold Which done the gates of the Towne are opened and out marches the King before day to encounter Monsieur de Charny comming on with his forces who perceiuing himselfe betrayed put his people to the best defence hee could and the king of England to a hard bickring who for that hee would not bee knowne there in person put himselfe and the Prince vnder the colours of the Lord Walter Manny and was twice beaten downe on his knees by Monsieur de Riboumont a hardy Knight with whom hee fought hand to hand and yet recouered and in the end tooke Riboumont prisoner Charny was likewise taken and all his forces defeited King Edward the night after which was the first of the new yeare feasted with the prisoners and gaue Riboumont in honour of his valour wherein he honoured his owne a rich chaplet of Pearle which himselfe wore on his head for a New-yeares-gift forgaue him his ransome and set him at liberty The rest pay dearely for what they got not and were well warned how to trafficke in that kinde Yet the English not long after in the like practise had better successe and got the Castle of Guisnes a peace of great importance neere Calais for a summe of mony giuen to one Beauconroy a French man Of which Castle when the French King demanded restitution in regard of the Truce King Edward returnes answer That for things bought and sold betweene their people therein was no exception and so held it Shortly after the French king not borne to liue to see any better fortune dyes leauing that distressed kingdome to his sonne Iohn who found farre worse For An. 1305. Reg. 24. these fore noted wounds were but as scratches to that State compared with those horrible maimes it indured in his and after in the Raignes of Charles 6. and 7. till the sword of England was turned home vpon it selfe to let out the blood of reuenge The French King dies with as tragicall mischiefes on the fuccessours of these great actors who now thus wrought others ruines aboade King Edward the next yeare after is againe in person with a Fleet on the Sea to incounter certaine Spanish shippes passing from Flanders loaden with cloth and other King Edward in action at sea against the Spaniards commodities whom after a great fight and much blood shed on either side hee tooke with all their substance for that the Spaniards the yeare before entered the Riuer Garonne and tooke away certaine English ships loaden with wines and slew all the English His forces in Guien were not idle this while but many conflicts passed betweene the French and them notwithstanding the Truce which was renewed The warres in Brittaine likewise continue and are hotly maintained betweene the two Ladies the widdow of Monfort and the wife of Charles de Bloys whose husband remaynes prisoner in England eager defenders of eithers pretended right Diuerse ouertures of peace had beene made by Legates sent from the Pope and Commissioners often met to the great expence of both Kings but nothing could be cōcluded the winner the loser seldom agreeing vpon cōditions in regard the one wil haue more then the other is willing to yeeld vnto so temporary Truces which Alterations of moneys were but slenderly obserued are onely taken to winne time These actions not only consumed our men but the treasure of the kingdome The warre though inuasiue could not maintayne it selfe The monyes here are altred and abated in weight and yet made to passe according to the former value Before this time there were none other peeces but Nobles and halfe Nobles with the small peeces of siluer called sterlings but now grotes of foure-pence and halfe grotes of two pence equiuolent to the sterling money are coined which inhansed the prices of things that rise or fall according to the plenty or scarcity of Coine Which made seruants labourers to A Parlement raise their wages accordingly Whereupon a Satute was made in the Parliament Anno Reg. 27. now held at Westminster to reduce the same to the accustomed rate which was giuen before the late great Mortality This caused much murmuring amongst them imputing the cause thereof to William Edington Bishop of Winchester the Kings Treasurer whom they held to be the Author of the abatement of the Coyne The King conceiuing displeasure against the Flemmings for being disappointed of the Match betweene a Daughter of his and their yong Earle Louys who was escaped into France and bestowed on a daughter of the Duke of Brabant with-drawes the Mart or Staple of Woolls from their Townes greatly inriched thereby and can The Staple established in England sed the same to be kept at Westminster Chichester Canterbury Lincolne Warwick Yorke New-castle Excester Carmarden Bristoll and Hull Holding it fitter to aduance his owne Townes then Strangers by the commodities of the Kingdome And here are prouident Ordinances enacted for the gouerning and ordering this Staple An Act is also made in this Parliament that all Weares Milles and other stoppages Walsinham of Riuers hindring the passages of Boates Lighters and other Vessels should be remooued An Act most commodious to the Kingdom but it tooke little effect saith my Authour by reason of bribing and corrupting Lords and great men who regarded more their owne then the publike benefite A mischiefe fatall to all good Ordinances and yet is it an honor to that time that so behoufull an Act was ordained For this eafie conuaying and passing of Commodities from place to place to impart the same more generally would no doubt be an infinite benefit to this State And seeing God hath made vs Riuers proper for the same it is our negligence or sloth if we marre them or make them not vsefull in that kinde as other Nations doe with farre lesser Streames There is mentioned also an Act to bee made at the instance of the Londoners that Stow. no common Whore should weare any Hood except rayed or striped with diuers colours nor Furres but garments reuersed the wrong side outward wherein they did well to set a deformed marke vpon foulenesse to make it appeare the more odious After this Parliament Henry Earle of Derby is created Duke of Lancaster and The Earle of Derby created Duke of Lancaster Ralfe Lord Stafford Earle of Stafford and heere Charles de Bloys a long Prisoner in England agreed for his Ransom which was 40. thousand Florins and was permitted to returne into Britagne to prouide the same Great mediation is made by the Pope to accord the two Kings and Commissioners meet on both
sides to treate and conclude a Peace The chiefe Article in deliberation was That the King of England should enioy all the Lands of his Duchy of Aquitaine without holding the same by resort or Treatie of Peace homage of the Crowne of France and in consideration thereof should resigne all his Clayme and Title to that Kingdom And this was in a manner then fully agreed on yet in the end broken off by the French Alledging they could not alienate any thing from the Bodie of that Crowne to their farther confusion and mischiefe hauing beene better to haue spared a formall Ceremonie appertaining to a part then to haue had the whole so miserably rent and torne in pieces as it was And yet in the end were they faine to make their agreement vpon the same very Article at the Treatie of Britigny But now the Commissioners returning without effecting any thing the King of Anno Reg. 27. England grew so displeased as hee would not hearken to any further prorogation of Truce though it were instantly vrg'd by two Cardinals sent from Auignion by Pope Clement the 6. who being a French-man borne laboured much for the peace of his Countrey and preparation is made for fresh wars The Prince of Wales now grown a man is appointed by Parliament to goe into Gascoigne with 1000. men at Armes 2000. Archers and a great number of Welshmen and in Iune following sets foorth with 300. Sayle attended with the Earles of Warwick Suffolk Salisburie and Oxford the Lord Chandos the Lord Iames Audley Sir Robert Knoles Sir Franke de Hall with many others About Michelmas following the King himselfe passes ouer to Calais with another King Edward passes with an Armie into France Armie taking with him two of his Sonnes Lionel of Antwarpe now Earle of Vlster by the right of his wife Elizabeth Daughter and Heire to William Brugh And Iohn of Gant and Earle of Richmont There met him at Calais of Mercinaries out of Germanie Flanders and Brabant a thousand men at Armes So that his Armie consisted of three thousand men of Armes and two thousand Archers on horse-backe besides Archers on foot The Citie of London sent 300. men at Armes and 500. Archers all in one Liuerie at their owne charge But all this great Powre effected nothing at that Returnes with out doing any thing time the French king would not be drawne to any incounter both in regard of the potency of his enemy and some turbulencies happening amongst his owne people but he so disfurnishes the countrie where the English were to passe of all prouisios to sustaine them as the King of England was forced to returne The distemperatures of France that this time diseased it grew from the violent humors of Charles King of Nauarre who had married Iane the French kings daughter a Prince of a stirring spirit subtile haughty and presuming vpon his great Estate and high blood being the sonne of Louys Conte d' Eureux and Iane daughter to king Louys Huttin which Iane was put by the inheritance of the Crowne of France by Phillip le Long her Vncle in regarde of their Salicque Law and by him preferred to be Queene of Nauarre in whose right this Charles her sonne bare both the title and state of that kingdome with many other great inheritances all which The King of Nauarre disturbes the French King could not yet content him but holding himselfe wronged that hee had not also the Counties of Champagne and Bry which appertained to his mother by the same right as did the kingdome of Nauarre enters into violent courses And daring not to complaine directly of the King hee falles vpon the Constable of France as chiefe of his Councell and one of whom hee was iealous in regarde of the Kings perticular fauour vnto him and in the end caused him to be murdered in his bed at L' Aigle in Normandy rushing himselfe vp into his Chamber accompanied with his brother Phillip of Nauarre two of the Harecourts and diuerse other of his owne retinue After the deed done hee retyres to his owne Citie of Eureux and iustifies the act to be lawfull The French King though extreamely stung herewith yet was faine to temporise and promises the king of Nauarre if hee would come and craue pardon he should haue it Whereupom hee appeares at Paris before the Councell to render reason for his act is condemned as guilty of treason notwithstanding the Kings promise committed prisoner Three Queenes are earnest sutors for him his mother the old Queene of Nauarre his sister the widdow of the late King Phillip de Valois and his owne wife daughter to the French King His release is obtayned and away hee goes with the rancour of this wound which had beene better not giuen vnlesse it had beene home offers his seruice to the King of England who knew well how to make vse of such a powerfull member and withall surprises certaine peeces in Normandy practising all hee could to withdraw the peoples affections and aydes from their King when hee had most need of them These insolencies notwithstanding the French king is faine to endure and dissemble vntill hee might againe take him vpon some aduantage to vse force hee saw was dangerous both in regarde of his party and the time An occasion at length fell out whereon he seazes Charles his eldest sonne being lately inuested in the Duchy of Normandy is visited by all the great men in the Countrey amongst whom as chiefe comes the King of Nauarre and The French King commits the King of Nauarre prisoner is royally feasted at Roan Whereof the French king hauing notice sets out of Paris sodenly takes him at dinner with his sonne and without farther processe causes foure of the principall which massacred the Constable to bee presently executed of which two were the Harecourts brethren and withall sends away Nauarre vnder sure guard to Arras and his chiefest seruants to diuerse prisons The Duke of Lancaster sent into Normandy to ayde the King of Nauarres brother and others This sudden execution though it gaue a present amazement yet it wakened the partisans of Nauarre and especially Phillip his brother who with Geoffrey Harecourt Vncle to the two brethren post ouer into England exclayming against this violent murther inuoking King Edward in a case of so notorious iniustice to ayde them offering their harts their goods their townes and hauens to let him into Normandy The occasion is intertayned the Duke of Lancaster is sent ouer with Anno D. 1335. Reg. 29. foure thousand men at Armes and by the assistance of this great party winnes many strong Townes King Edward to be furnished for so great actions hath by Parliament granted vnto him fifty shillings vpon euery sacke of wooll for sixe yeares next ensuing by Fifty shillings granted by Parliament of euery sacke of wooll for sixe yeares which imposition it was thought say our Histories the King might dispend a thousand
for the reformation of the State Besides they compose a Councell of themselues whereof the Bishop of Laon the Primier President the Prouost with some of the Vniuersity were chiefe assuming a Soueraigne power to order all affaires of the State as a Common-wealth So that wee see in what a miserable confusion that kingdome stood being without a head and how apt it was then to shake off all authority and dissolue the gouernement into parts shewing vs that it was no new proiect amongst them to Cantonize as the great Townes and the Princes of late practised to doe in their leagues during their ciuile combustions The Dauphin thus disgraced with much a doe gets out of this tumultious City and retyres into Champagne and at Vertus assembles the States of the Countrie whom hee found loyall and ready to yeeld him all succour The rest of the great Townes refusing with much disdaine to ioyne with the City of Paris offer him likewise their ayde So that hee was put into some heart and likly to effect his desires in short time had not the King of Nauarre who sought his destruction still raysed new broyles in the State and taken Armes against him Now besides these confusions greater mischiefes arose in that miserable kingdome the poore Paysants that had beene eaten out by the Souldiers and troden vnder foote by their Lords colleague and arme themselues in the Country of Beauuoysis France spoyled by the souldiers and others on all sides and turne head vpon the Gentry and such as had done them wrong spoyling sacking burning their houses killing their wiues and children in most outragious manner This was not all troupes of souldiers which had no work or meanes to liue ioyne together in mighty Companies ouer-runne and rauage other parts of the kingdome The forces in Brittaine vnder the conduct of Sir Robert Knoles breake out vpon the confining Countries and returne loaden with inestimable booties of wealth All which miserable calamities enough to haue vtterly dissolued a State prolong the imprisonment of their King in England so that nothing could bee effected for his ransome which King Edward thinkes long till he haue in his Treasury and vrges likewise for his part very hard conditions requiring say they besides infinite summes that King Iohn should doe homage and holde the kingdome of France of the Crowne of England which hee with great disdayne refuses as being not in his power to alien what was vnalienable vowing that no misery of his should constrayne him to doe any thing preiudiciall to his successors to whom hee would leaue the State as hee receiued it But yet at length offers other and more large conditions then the French were willing to yeeld vnto which being long in debating and nothing concluded after foure yeares expectation King Edward in great displeasure resolues to make an end of this worke with the sword and to take possession King Edward goes to take possession of the kingdome of France of the kingdome of France And ouer hee passes to Calais with a Fleete of eleuen hundred Sayle His Army hee diuides into three battailes one hee commits to the Prince of Wales another to the Duke of Lancaster and the third hee leades himselfe And first hee marches to the City of Aras which hee takes within three dayes Thence into Champagne where the Cities of Sens and Neuers are rendered Anno Reg. 34. vnto him The Duchy of Burgogne terrified with these examples redeemes it selfe from spoyle vpon paying two hundred thousand Florins of gold Furnished with which treasure and booties by the way vp King Edward marches to Paris where the Dauphin who had now the title of Regent hauing lately ouercome the faction and executed the principall of the Mutiners was with great forces which in the common danger flocked together to defend their Countrie and would not by the example of his father and Grand-father be drawne out to hazard vpon any attempt but stood onely vpon his defences which the King of England seeing after many prouocations raysed his siege and returnes into Brittaine to refresh his Army In the meane time the Regent layes in mighty store of victualls prouides that the Souldiers should haue enough without pressing the inhabitants and with extreame dilligence so fortifies the City as King Edward returning with all his refreshed power was vtterly disappoynted of his hopes to doe any good there Thus that great Citty which was like to haue endangered the whole kingdome of France was the onely meanes to preserue it From hence King Edward takes his way towards Chartres with purpose to besiege that City but being by an horrible tempest of haile thunder and lightning that fell vpon his Army so terrified as hee vowed to make peace with the French King vpon any reasonable conditions as he shortly after did at the treaty of Britigny The Treatie of Accord concluded at Britigny neere Chartres vpon these Articles That the country of Poicton the Fiefs of Thouars and Belleuille the Countrie of Gascoigne Agenois Perigort Limosin Cahors Torbe Bigorre Rouergne Angoulmois in soueraigntie with the Homages of the Lords within those Territories Monstruel on the Sea Ponthieu Calais Guines La Merk Sangote Boulogne Hames Vales and Onis should bee to the King of England who besides was to haue three Millions of Scutes of gold whereof sixe hundred thousand presently in hand foure hundred thousand the yeere following and the Surplus in two yeeres after insuing vpon reasonable payment And for this the King of England and his Sonne the Prince of Wales as well for them as their Successors for euer should renounce all their right pretended to the Vid. Append. Crowne of France the Duchy of Normandie the Countryes of Touraine Aniou Maine the Soueraigntie and Homage of the Dutchy of Britagne and the Earldome of Flanders and within three weekes King Iohn to bee rendred at Callais at the charge of the King of England except the expences of his House For assurance of which Accord should be giuen into his hand Hostages Louys Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry King Iohns sonnes Phillip Duke of Orleance his brother Iohn Duke of Burgogne the Conts of Bloys Alenson Saint Pol Harcourt Poncian Valentinois Grand Pre de Brenne des Forrests the Lords Vaudemont Couscy Piennez de Saint Venant de Preaux de Momerancy de Garanciecis La Roche guion Estou-teuille Le Dauphind ' Auergne d' Andrigil de Craon sufficient cautions for the sayd Summes and conditions The Scots not to be ayded by the French King nor the Flemmings by the English Charles King of Nauarre and his brother Phillip are comprehended likewise in these Articles c. This Treatie of good accord and finall Peace signified by both Kings was ratified King Iohn deliuered by their two eldest Sonnes Edward and Charles and sworne vnto by the Nobilitie of both Kingdomes The Hostages are deliuered vnto King Edward who departing from Honfleur brought them into England leauing the
Court at Paris to these complaints Now had the Lords of Arminiaque D'Albert Peregort Cominges and many others Anno Reg. 43. 1369. made their protestations against the King of England for the Crowne of France which they say they were by nature to obey and not to a strange Soueraigne that it was absolutely against the Fundamentall Law of the Kingdome to disseuer them from the Crowne that the Contract was made in prison and therefore inciuile and not to be held by the right of Nations So that they were resolued to spend their liues and estates rather then bee vnder the gouernment of England By their example the Cities of the County of The Emperor Charles 4. makes a iourny into France to reconcile the two Kings Ponthieu rendered themselues to Guy Conte de Saint Poll and Guy de Chastillon The King of England complaines of this breach of accord to the Pope and the Emperour Charles 4. who made a iourney into France to reconcile the two Kings and determine the businesse Before whom our Ambassadours first declare how this Accord hauing beene more for the good of France then vs in regard we resigned thereby not The allegations of the English Ambassadours before the Emperour onely our Title to Normandie Touraine and Aniou the fairest and richest Countreys of France But also our Title to the Crowne to the end we might hold in Souraigntie the Duchy of Aquitayne the Country of Ponthieu with some other peeces which by Hereditary right appertained to the Crowne of England whereby the effusion of Christian blood was stayed France had peace and their King restored in faire manner after a faire imprisonment and vpon the most resonable Conditions could bee deuised Notwithstanding the French King who Vid. Appen himselfe with the whole Councell of France contracted the Accord and solemnly swore to obserue the same hath contrary to the Law of God and Nations after he had recouered his Hostages by fraud seazed both vpon the Duchy of Aquitayne and the Country of Ponthieu without denouncing Warre by his Heraldes c. The French Reply How we by the Accord were bound immediately to with draw our The Reply of the French Army out of France which they say wee did not during all the Reigne of their King Iohn That the Peace was thereby made more offensiue then the Warre they being constrained to purchase the departure of our Souldiers with greater charge then would haue maintained an Armie That the breach was on our side for that the Souldiers were ours That King Edward was bound to renounce his Title to the Crowne of France in open Assembly of the States of both Realmes which they say was not done And concerning the releasing of their King they say it cost France more gold then the redeeming of Saint Louys their King his brother the Peeres and the whole Armie taken by the Soldan an Infidell Thus both sides defend their cause being easie for Princes who will breake out of their Couenants to finde euasions The French King it seems though willing to get in what he could yet was very loath to renue a Warre and therefore with many Presents courts the King of England Who seeing himselfe thus deluded prepares to haue out his Sword And Anno Reg. 44. hauing borowed great Summes of the Clergie sends ouer Iohn Duke of Lancaster and Humphry Bohun Earle of Hereford with a mightie Armie to Calais to inuade France on this side whiles the Prince of Wales works to recouer the reuolted Townes on the other But little was effected The Duke shortly returnes And then Thomas Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke with fresh supplyes is sent ouer who dyes in the iourney Forces sent into France Sir Robert Knoles a man renowned in those times for valour and counsaile is made Leader of an Armie Consisting of many great Lords who disdayning to bee commanded by him whom they helde their inferiour ouer-threw themselues and the Action Thus all went backe and the French King growes both in State and Alliance Anno Reg. 45. Margueret sole daughter and Heire to Louys Earle of Flauders to whom King Edward sought to match his sonne Edmond is wonne to marrie Phillip Le Hardy Duke of Burgogne brother to the French King And this much vexes King Edward who A Subsidie granted by Parliament the maner of seyzing the same the better to furnish himselfe for reuenge calles a Parliament at Westminster wherein he resumes his claime to the Crowne of France and requires ayd of his Subjects and hath it The Clergie graunted him 50. thousand poundes to be payd the same yeere and the Laitie as much For the leuying whereof euery Parish in England was rated first to pay 23 shillings foure pence the great helping the lesse vpon supposition there had beene Parishes ynough to haue made vp that summe But by certificate vpon the Kings Writs sent out to examine what number of Parish Churches were in euery Shire they found it came short and then rated euery Parish at fiue pound sixteene shillings the greater to helpe the lesse and so of 8600. Parishes found to be in the 37. Shieres 50. thousand 181. pound 8. peence was raised But in regard of the great pouertie of Suffolk and Deuon Shire the 181. pound was abated and the King answered 50. thousand pounds for the Laytie Vpon this Supply the King grants that the great Charter and the Charter of The Duke of Lancaster sent into Aquitaine Forrests should bee obserued in all points which in most Parliaments of his is euer the first Act as may be seene in the printed Statutes And now Iohn Duke of Lancaster and Edmond Earle of Cambridge are sent with Forces into Aquitayne to ayde the Prince of Wales who after he had sacked the Citie of Limoges that was reuolted his health failing to performe any more leaues the prosecution of the Warre to his brother and with his wife and young sonne Richard borne at Burdeaux returnes The Prince of Wales returnes into England home into England and here resignes vnto his father the Duchy of Aquitayne The Duke of Lancaster after the departure of the Prince did little but being now a widdower his wife dying two yeares before in the third great Pestilence in which yeare also Phillippe wife to King Edward ended her life hee marries Constance eldest daughter to Peter King of Castile by whom hee had the empty title of King The Duke of Lancaster marries Constance daughter to the King of Castile and was after the death of his father-in-law stiled King of Castile and Leon. This Constance though shee were the daughter of a wicked father and infamous mother yet was so happy that the daughter shee had by this Duke of Lancaster named Katherine became after Queene of Castile and Leon being married to Henry 3. in possession before and in her right King of both those Realmes and left her posterity Kings of Spaine Edmond Earle of
Cambridge married also at the same time Isabell Anno Reg. 46. 1372. the youngest daughter of King Peter and both shortly after returned into England though without victory yet with wiues Lionell Duke of Clarence a little before marries Violanta the Duke of Millaines daughter in Italy where they feasted him so as shortly after he died The City of Rochell that yet held out for the English had indured a long siege both by Sea and land to relieue which important peece the Earle of Pembroke is sent with forty shippes well manned and victualled and besides furnished with twenty The Earle of Pembrooke taken prisoner by the Spaniards thousand markes to defrey the voyage who incountring the Spanish Armado sent to ayde the French in this siege by Henry now King of Castile after a long and cruell conflict is taken prisoner and his Nauy vtterly destroyed King Edward himselfe though now aged sets forth with a mighty Army to recouer these losses but thereby Anno Reg. 47. D. 1373. lost more the windes with his fortune beeing against him beat him backe hauing spent in this preparation Nine hundred thousand markes Shortly after Iohn Duke of Lancaster passes ouer againe to Calais with another Army which hee leads through France by the way of Auergne where amongst the mountaines he lost many of his people for want of victuals and almost all his horse so that hee came to Burdeaux with a starued and distressed company which after some time hee relieues and made certaine attempts vpon the enemy but effected nothing the date of victories was out all went ill with the English The Duke returnes the next yeare and all Gascoigne reuolts except Burdeaux and Bayon King Edward hath another supply by Parliament a Tenth of the Cleargy and a Fifteenth of the Laytie towardes these warres which now are sought to be ended Another Subsidie granted by Parliamēt by treaty an vnlikely way to doe any good Two yeares are spent therein at Burges and other places with great charge of Commissioners and much debate The French hauing now the aduantage of the time would make their owne conditions they require the Towne of Calais from whence King Edward had now remoued his Staple in regard of the danger of Marchants goods and restitution of great summes of money which were not to bee yeelded So that nothing but temporary Truces were to be gotten to serue present shifts wherein the English and their party had euer the worse And here at home besides the sicknesse of the Prince which grew desperate the State is diseased the Kings age is misled his treasure exhausted and his affaires Anno Reg. 50. 1376. ill managed A Parliament to cure these euils is called at Westminster the Kings wants are opened and supplyes required the whole body of the Assembly weary to beare these continuall burthens in steed of Contributions exhibit Complaints charging the Kings Officers with fraude and humbly craue that the Duke of Lancaster A Parliament at Westminster which was called the good Parliament The Duke of Lancaster with others banished the Court. the Lord Latimer then Lord Chamberlayne Dame Alice Peirce the Kings Concubine and one Sir Richard Sturry might be amoued from Court Their Complaints and desires are so vehemently vrged by their Speaker Sir Peter de La Mare as the King rather then not to be supplyed gaue way vnto them and all these persons are presently put from Court The Prince was held to fauour their proceeding for there seemes to bee no good correspondence betweene him and his brother the Duke of Lancaster who now managed all vnder his aged father and whose ambition might bee dangerous to his young Sonne Richard whom he was like to leaue to his mercie The King in this Parliament being the Fiftieth yeere of his raigne to gratifie his Subiects grants another generall Pardon as another Iubile wherein onely William Another Iubile Wicham Bishop of Winchester is excepted being lately by the procurement of the Duke of Lancaster fallen into the Kings displeasure and forbidden to come to the Parliament But this Iubile was soone turned to sorrow by the death of the Prince The death of the Prince of Wales of Wales which happened in this Parliament time A heauy losse to the State being a Prince of whom we neuer heard any ill neuer receiued other note then of goodnes and the noblest performances that Magnanimitie and Wisedome could euer shew inso much as what praise can bee giuen to Vertue is due vnto him His death changed the face of affayres The late excluded parties returne to Court and their former places This Parliament called the good Parliament now wrought ill effects The Duke of Lancaster returnes with the rest to the Court. S r Peter de la Mare at the suite of Allce Peirce an impudent woman working vpon the Kings impotencies is committed to perpetuall imprisonment at Nottingham An acte without example of former times and did no good in this especially being wrought by such a Subiect This woman presuming vpon the Kings fauour whom The reuenge and behauiour of Alice Pierce she had subdued grew so insolent the common euill of such fortunes that she intermedled with Courtes of Iustice and other Offices where she her selfe would sit to effect her desires which though in all who are so exalted are euer excessiue yet in a woman most immoderate as hauing lesse of discretion and more of greedinesse The Duke of Lancaster is come now to haue the Regencie and to manage all the The Duke of Lancaster gouerns all affayres of the Kingdom and might thereby presume farther But King Edward to preuent the mischiefes which by disordering the succession might grow in the Kingdome prouidently setled the same in this Parliament vpon Richard of Burdeaux Richard of Burdoaux created Prince of Wales creating him first Earle of Chester and Corne-wall and then Prince of Wales which made much for his present safetie least Iohn of Lancaster should supplant him as Earle Iohn did his Nephew Arthur in the like case For sure it seemes the Duke had his designe that way bent but this confirmation by the Parliament which hee had offended and shortly after a breach with the Citizens of London put him so by as he durst not now attempt that which his Sonne after effected But yet he behaues himselfe very imperiously in this state he had And first shews his authoritie on the Earle The Earle of March resigns his Office of Marshall which is giuen to Sir Henry Percie of March commanding him ouer to the guarding of Calais and the parts there about Which the Earle refuses and rather yeelds vp his Rodde with the Office of Marshall then obey his commandement therein The Duke takes the Rodde and giues it with the Office to Sir Henry Percie a man most inward with him Shortly after the Parliament is assembled againe at Westminster whether a new or the last prorogued I
compell them to deliuer Sir Peter de la Mare vniustly detained in Prison The Priest replyed That Sir Peter was a Traitour to the King and worthy to be hanged At which words they all cryed out This is Percie this is the Traytour of England his speach bewrayes him though his Apparell be disguised and presently they ran vpon him and wounded him to death The Bishop of London hearing of this Out-rage leaues his dinner hastes to the The Bishop of London appeases the tumult Sauoy admonishes them to be mindefull of the Holy time being Lent and for the loue of Christ to desist from such seditious acts assuring them all thing should be fairely ended for the good of the Citie Whereupon they were something pacified and forbare to assault the Dukes house whose person if they could haue found they had no doubt made an end of him and the Lord Marshall in this their surie at that time but missing him they yet hung vp his Armes reuersed in signe of Treason in all the principall streetes of the Citie The Princesse from Kenington sent Albert de Vere Louys Clifford and Simon Burleygh to the Citizens perswading them to make their peace with the Duke They returned this answere That for her Honour they would doe whatsoeuer shee commanded but yet inioyned the Kinghts to will the Duke to permit the Bishop of Winchester and Peter de la Mare to come to their Answere according to the custome of the Lawes of England The Citizens send to the King They sent likewise of the chiefe Citiznes to the sicke King to excuse them of this Tumult protesting themselues not to be priuy thereunto but sought all meanes to suppresse the same which they could not doe the whole Communaltie being in Commotion vpon an Information that their Liberties should be taken away from them by Parliament The King tolde them It neuer was in his thought to infringe their Liberties but he rather desired to enlarge them And therefore willed them not to feare but returne to appease the Citizens and keepe them in peace and order which they did and were well pleased with this answere But yet they could not stop the passage of Rimes and Libels those secret stings that wound vnseene but that they were dayly spread in the Citie to the defamation of the Duke and to make his name odious to the people For which he procured the Bishops to excommunicate the Authors of all such Rimes and Libels Notwithstanding this harsh proceeding of the Duke with the State and in a time so vnseasonable both for his owne Ends and the Publique businesse he vndertooke The Commons in Parliament desirous to ayd their King granted a Subsidie on this condition that being leauied it should be committed to certaine Earles and A Subsidie granted in this Parliament Barons to see it yssued according to the occasions of the Kingdom But this Subsidie was of a new nature neither in any of those kindes propounded Euery person man woman within the Kingdome aboue the Age of 14. yeeres were to pay 4. pence those who liued by Almes onely excepted The Clergie likewise grants 12. pence of euery Parson Beneficed and of all other Religious persons 4. pence of the head A mighty and vnknown Ayd such as neuer was granted to any King of England before and became a Precedent for the next Reigne wherein it caused the first and grearest popular Insurrection that euer was seene in this Kingdom So tender a thing is it to taxe the people by the Poule And now here-upon the Parliament ended but not the Dukes displeasure against the Citie The Maior and Aldermen are brought before the King to Shene and aduised to submit themselues to the Duke and craue pardon for their grieuous offences They protest as before they could not stay the rage of the multitude who committed those insolencies beseeching the King not to punish such as were innocent and ignorant of the fact promising the Duke they would indeauour by all meanes to bring in the malefactors and compell them to make satisfaction to the honor of the Duke and more sayde they wee cannot doe Whereupon they were dismissed the Court and shortly after from their places by the power of the Duke of Lancaster Sir Nicholas Brember was elected Mayor in steed of Adam Staple and other Aldermen appointed in their places who were put out The King was desirous to haue reconciled them to his Sonne but sicknesse hauing now vanquished him hee is forced to giue ouer the world as the same did him before his breath left him And first his Concubine packing away what shee could snatch euen to the rings of his fingers left him then his other attendants by her example seasing on what they could fasten shift away and all his Councellors and others forsooke him in his last agony when most hee needed them leauing his Chamber quite empty which a poore Priest in the house seeing by chance as he passed approaches to the Kings beds side and finding him yet breathing cals The death of King Edward and the maner thereof vpon him to remember his Sauiour and to aske mercy for his offences which none before about him would doe but euery one putting him still in hope of life though they knew death was vpon him a misery fatall to Princes and great persons whom flattery will neuer suffer to know themselues nor their owne state either in health or sicknesse made him neglectiue of those spirituall cogitations fit for a dying Christian But now stirred vp by the voyce of this Priest hee shewes all signes of contrition and his last breath expresses the name of Iesu. Thus dyed this mighty and victorious King at his Mannor of Sheene now Richmond the 21. day of Iune Anno Dom. 1377. in the 64. yeare of his Age hauing raigned fifty yeares foure moneths and odde dayes His Character wee finde best exprest in his actions yet thus briefly Hee was a Prince the soonest a man and the longest that held so of any wee reade He was of His Character Personage comely of an euen stature gracefull respectiuely affable and well expressing himselfe A Prince who loued 1. Iustice 2. Order 3. and his People the Supreme vertues of a Soueraigne 1. His loue of Iustice was seene by the many Statutes he made His Iustice. for the due Execution thereof the most Straight-binding Oath he ordayned to be ministred vnto his Iudges Iusticiars the punishment inflicted on them for corruption in their Offices causing some to be thrust out and others grieuously fined as Sir Henry Greene and Sir William Skipwith Anno Reg. 39. He bettered also that forme of publique Iustice which his Grand-father first began and which remaines to this day making also excellent lawes for the same 2. His regard to the obseruation of Order amongst his people witnesse so many Lawes as were made to restrayne them from His loue to his people Excesses in all kindes