fayre promises perceyued the same to tende only to this ende that the league betwixt the French men and Scottes might be once clearly broken and then to vse the matter as occasion shoulde serue their turne This matter therefore being proponed before the Counsell it was concluded that in no wyse the sayde league betwixt the Frenche men and Scottes should be dissolued and so therevpon the English Ambassadors were dispatched without more talke concerning that matter In the same yeare that is to wit .1433 1433 George Erle of March arested and put in warde the king caused George Dunbar Earle of March sonne to that Erle which rebelled agaynst his father King Robert the thirde to be arested and put in safe keeping within the Castell of Edenbourgh He sent also the Earle of Angus with his Chauncellor William Creichtoun and Adam Hepborne of Hales to the Castell of Dunbar deliuering them letters signed with his hande and directed to the keepers of the sayde Castell that they should deliuer vp the house immediatly vpoÌ„ sight of those his letters vnto the bringers of the same The keepers durst not disobey his commaundement but suffered them to enter according to theyr commission A Parliament at Perth Within a tweluemonth after a Parliament was holden at Perth where the foresayd George Earle of March was disinherited of al his landes and liuings for his fathers offence committed agaynst king Robert the thirde The Erle of March disinherited Thus the house of the Dunbars lost the Erledome of March wherein the same had flourished so many yeares togither to the great defence and safegarde of the realme of Scotland on that side against both ciuill and forraine enimies The Erledome of Buchquhan giuen to George Dunbar The king yet moued with some pitie toward so noble a linage within short time after gaue the Erledome of Buchquban to the said George and after the Kings deceasse the Lordes of the Councell thinking the same to little assigned forth to him and to his sonne Patrike the summe of foure hundred markes yearely to be receyued out of a parcell of his owne auncient inheritance of the Erledome of March to enioy the same till Iames the second came to full age 1435 The death of Alexander Stewarde Earle of Mar. In the yeare .1435 Alexander Steward Erle of Mar departed out of this life This Alexander was a Bastard sonne of the Erle of Buchquhan that was one of the sonnes of king Robert the seconde He was a man of right singular prowes and in his youth following the warres was with Philip Duke of Burgoigne at the siege of Liege or Luik Leodiuâ—â— where he bare himselfe so manfully that few wanne the like honor at that iourney Not long after to his high aduauncement he got in mariage the Ladie Iacoba Countes of Hollande Notwithstanding he continued but a while with hir being enforced to forgo hir companie eyther for that she had an other husband either for that the inhabitants woulde not suffer a straunger to raigne ouer them After his returne into Scotlande he sent messengers into Hollande Warres betwixt the Erle of Mar and the Hollanders requyring to haue the issues and profites of such lands as were due vnto him in right of the sayde Countesse his wife but receyuing nought but a frowarde answere hee prouided him of shippes and made sore warres on the Hollanders by sea first being put to the worse but at length he tooke a nuÌ„ber of their ships laden with Marchandize as they were returning homewardes from Dantzicke Truce betwixt the Scots and Hollanders for terme of one hundred yere The Mariners were drowned and the ships burnt Through which losse the Hollanders being sore abashed fell to a composition wyth him and tooke truce with the Scottes for an hundred yeares This Earle of Mar so long as he lyued had the gouernaunce of the North partes of Scotlande vnder king Iames the first for he was a right prudent person aswell in warlike enterprises as in ciuill administration Stood Mares brought out of Hungarie into Scotlande for breede He brought forth of Hungarie sundrie great Horses and Mares for generation that by suche meanes the countrey might be prouided of great horses of their own race where til that time there was none bred within Scotland but smal nags more meet to serue for iourneying hackneis than for any seruice in the warres Not long before this time Ambassadors out of Denmarke there came an Ambassade from the King of Denmarke vnto king Iames requiring him to make payment of such yearely tribute as was due to the sayde king of Denmark being also king of Norway Their request for the westerne Iles according to the promise and agreement made by Alexander sometime king of Scotland the thirde of that name vnto his predecessor Magnus at that time king of Norway The Ambassadours that came with this message were honourably receyued and in like sort enterteyned by king Iames who at their departure gaue to theÌ„ sundry rich gifts and appointed sir William Creichtoun to goe with them into Denmarke Sir William Creighton sent into Denmark Ambassadour from him to the king there who vsed himselfe so sagely in this businesse which he thus went about that renuing the olde league betwixt the two Realmes of Denmarke and Scotlande Peace and amitie betwixt Scotland and Denmarke stedfast peace and assured amitie without any more ado thereof ensued Much what about the same time there came Ambassadors from the French king Charles the vij Ambassadours â—â—th of France not onely desiring to haue the olde league betwixt France and Scotland to be ratified at that present by a new confirmation The old league â—…erâ—…ed betwixt France and Scotland but also to confyrme the same with better assurance Margaret eldest daughter to King Iames at request of the sayde King Charles The Dolphin marieth Margaret daughter to K Iames. was giuen in mariage vnto Lewes the Dolphin and eldest sonne to the sayde king Charles Many great Lordes of Scotlande were appoynted to haue the conueyaunce of hir into Fraunce and great prouision of shippes made for that voyage English men â—… in awayte for the Scottish fleete bycause the king was aduertised that the English men had a fleete abrode on the seas to take hir if they might meete with hir by the way But as the hap fel it chaunced the same time as the Scottish shippes shoulde passe there appeared on the coast of England a great fleete of Spaniardes The English men encounter a fleet of Spaniardes which the English men supposing to be the Scots they came vpon them with lxxx vessels of one and other thinking verely to haue had theyr wished pray euen according to theyr expectation but beeing receyued with as hote a storme as they brought they quickly vnderstoode how they were in a wrong boxe and so shrewdly amazed as Hector Boetius hath they susteyned
equity doth require whiche wee much lament and be sory for and vse nowe our force and puissance against him not for reuēgement of our priuate displeasure beyng so often deliuered as wee haue bene but for recouery of our right the preseruation of our subiectes from iniuries and the obseruation of suche leagues as haue passed betweene vs firmely trusting that almighty God vnder whome we raygne will assist and ayde our iust proceedings herein to the furtheraunce and aduancement of the right whiche wee doubte not shall euer preuayle against wrong falshood deceyte and dissimulation Hitherto it appeareth howe this present warre hath not proceeded of any demaūd of our right of superiority whiche the Kings of Scots haue alwayes knowledged by homage fealty to our progenitors euē from the beginning but this warre hath bene prouoked occasioned vpō present matter of displeasure present iniury present wrong ministred by the Nephewe to the Vncle most vnnaturally supported contrary to the desertes of our benefits most vnkindly if we had minded the possession of Scotland and by the motion of warre to attayne the same there was neuer King of this realme had more opportunitie in the minority of our Nephew ne in any other realme a Prince that hath more iust title more euident title more certaine title to any realme that he can clayme than we haue to Scotland not deuised by pretēce of mariage nor imagined by couenant nor contriued by inuention of argument but lineally descended from the beginnyng of that estate established by our progenitors and recognised successiuely of the Kings of Scotlād by deedes wordes actes and writings continually almost without interruption or at the least intermission till the raigne of our progenitor King Henry the sixte in whose time the Scots abused the ciuil warre of this realme to their licence and boldnesse in omitting of their duetie whiche for the proximity of bloud betweene vs we haue bene slacke to require of them beyng also of our selfe inclined to peace as we haue euer ben alwayes glad rather without preiudice to omitte to demaund our right if it might conserue peare than by demaunding thereof to be seene to mooue warre specially agaynst our neyghbour agaynst our Nephew against him whom we haue preserued from daunger and in such a time as it were expedient for al Christendome to be in vnitie and peace wherby to be more able to resist the common enimy the Turke But for what considerations we haue omitted to speake hitherto of the matter it is neuerthelesse true that the kings of Scottes haue alwayes knowledged the Kings of England superior Lordes of the realme of Scotlande and haue done homage fealty for the same This appeareth first by History written by suche as for confirmation of the truthe in memory haue truly noted and signified the same Secondly it appeereth by instruments of homage made by the Kings of Scottes and diuers notable personages of Scotlande at diuers sundry tymes sealed with their seales and remayning in our Treasory Thirdly it appeereth by Registers and Recordes iudicially autentiquely made yet preserued for confirmation of the same So as the mater of title being moste playne is furnished also with all manner of euidences for declaration thereof First as concernyng Histories which be called witnesses of times the light of truth and the lyfe of memory and finally the conuenient way and meane whereby the thinges of antiquity may be brought to mens knowledge they shewe as playnly this matter as could bee wyshed or requyred with suche a consent of wryters as coulde not so agree vpon an vntruth contayning a declaration of suche matter as hath moste euident probability and apparance For as it is probable and likely that for the better administration of Iustice amongst rude people twoo or moe of one estate might be rulers in one countrey vnited as this Isle is so it is probable and likely that in the beginnyng it was so ordered for auoyding dissention that there shoulde be one Superiour in right of whome the sayd estates should depend According wherevnto we reade how Brute of whome the Realme then called Brytayne tooke first that name beyng before that tyme inhabited with Gyaunts people without order or ciuility had three Sonnes Locrine Albanact and Camber and determining to haue the whole Isle within the Ocean sea to bee after gouerned by them three appoynted Albanact to rule that now is called Scotlande Camber the parties of Wales and Locrine that now is called England vnto whome as beyng the eldest Sonne the other twoo bretherne should do homage recognysing and knowledging him as their superior Nowe consider if Brutus conquered all this Iland as the History sayth he did and then in his owne tyme made this order of superiority as afore howe can there be a title deuised of a more plaine beginning a more iust beginning a more conuenient beginnyng for the order of this Iland at that time specially when the people were rude whiche cannot without continuall stryfe and variaunce contayne twoo or three rulers in all poyntes equall without any manner of superiority the inwarde conscience and remorse of whiche superiority shoulde in some parte dull and diminishe the peruerse courage of resistence and rebellion The first diuisiō of this I le wee finde written after this sorte without cause of suspition why they shoulde write amisse And according herevnto wee finde also in History set foorth by diuers how for transgression against this superiority our predecessours haue chastised the kings of Scottes and some deposed put other in their places we will here omitte to speake of the rudenesse of the antiquity in particularity whiche they cared not distinctly to committe to writing but some authors as Anthonius Sabellicus amongs other diligently ensearchyng what he might truly wryte of all Europe and the Ilandes adioyning ouer and besides that whiche he wryteth of the natures maners and condicions of the Scottes whiche who so liste to reade shall finde to haue bene the very same in times paste that wee finde them nowe at this present he calleth Scotland parte of England whiche is agreeable to the diuision aforesayde being in deede as in the lande continuall without separation of the Sea so also by homage and fealty vnited vnto the same as by particular declarations shall most manifestly appeere by the testimony of suche as haue lefte wryting for proofe and confirmation thereof In whiche matter passing the death of king Humber the actes of Dunwald King of this realme the diuision of Belyn and Brenne the victories of king Arthur we shall beginne at the yeare of our Lorde D.CCCC. whiche is a D. Cxlij yeares paste a time of sufficient auncienty from which we shal make speciall declaration euident proofe of the execution of our right and title of superiority euermore continued and preserued hitherto Edwarde the firste before the conquest Sonne to Alured King of England had vnder his dominion and obedience the king of Scots And
Stewarde kyng of Scottes in the yeere of our Lord .1423 made homage to Henry the sixte at Windsore whiche homage was distaunt froÌ„ the time of the other homage made by Dauid Bruse .lx. yeares and more but farre within the freshe memory of man All whiche homages and fealties as they appeare by story to haue bene made and done at times and seasons as afore so do there remayne instruments made therevpoÌ„ and sealed with the seales of the kings of Scotlande testifying the same And yet doth it appeare by story how the Scottes practised to steale out of our treasury diuers of these instrumentes whiche neuerthelesse were afterwarde recouered againe And too the intent yee may knowe of what fourme and tenour the sayd instrumeÌ„ts be here is insented the effect in woord and sentence as they be made whiche we do to meete with the cauillation and contriued euasion of the Scots alleging the homage to haue bene made for the Erledome of Huntington whiche is as true as the allegation of him that is burnt in the hand to say he was cut with a sickle And therefore the tenour of the homage is this I Iohn N. king of Scottes shal be true and faythfull vnto you Lord Edwarde by the grace of God king of Englande the noble and superiour Lorde of the kingdome of Scotlande as vnto you I make my fidelity of the same kingdome of Scotlande the whiche I holde and clayme to hold of you and I shall beare to you my fayth and fidelity of life and limme and worldly honour agaynst all men and faythfully I shall knowledge and shall do to you seruice due vnto you of the kingdome of Scotland aforesayde as God so helpe and these holy Euangelies Now for the thirde part touching Recordes and Registers we haue them so formall so autentiquall so seriously handled and with suche circumstaunces declaryng the matters as they be and ought to be a great corroboration of that hath bene in Stories written and reported in this matter For amongs other things we haue the solempne acte and iudiciall processe of our progenitour Edwarde the first in discussion of of the Title of Scotland when the same was chalenged by twelue competitours that is to say Florentius comes Holandiae Patricius de Dunbar comes de Merchia Willielmus de Vesci Willielmus de Ros. Robertus de Pinkeni Nicholaâ—… de Soules Patricius Galigholy Rogerus de Mundeuile Ioannes de Comyn D. Ioannes de Hastings Ioannes de Balliolo Robertus de Bruse Ericiâ—â—â—â—â—â—…orwegiae And finally after a great consultation and mature deliberation with discussion of the allegations proponed on all parties sentence was giuen for the Title of Balliol according whervnto he enioyed the realme but for confirmation of the dutie of the homage before that time obserued by the Kings of Scottes it appeareth in those Recordes howe when those competitours of the realme of Scotlande repayred to our sayde progenitour as to the chiefe Lorde for discussion of the same in as much as the auctoritie of the iudgement to be giuen depended thervpon it was then ordered that the whole Parliament of Scotlande spirituall temporall and of all degrees assembled for that purpose and consideryng vpon what grounde and fundation the Kings of Scotland had in times past made the sayde homages and recognition of superiority the said Parliament findyng the same good and true shoulde if they so deemed it yeelde and gyue place and by expresse consent recognise the same At whiche Parliament was alleged vnto them as appeareth in the same Recordes not onely these Actes of the Princes before those dayes and before rehearsed but also besides the testimony of stories the wrytings and letters of forrayne Princes at that tyme recityng and rehearsing the same wherevpon the sayd Parliament dyd there agree to this our superiority and ensuyng their determination did particularly and seuerally make homage and fealty with proclamation that who soeuer withdrew himselfe from doing his dutie therein shoulde be reputed as a rebell And so all made homage and fealty to our progenitour Edwarde the firste And the realme of Scotlande was in the time of the discussion of the Title ruled by GardiaÌ„s deputed by him all Castels and holdes were surrendred to him as to the superiour Lorde in the time of vacation benefices offices fees promotions passed in that tyme from the meere gifte of our sayde progenitour as in the right of this crowne of Englande Shyriffes named and appoynted writtes and precepts made obeyed and executed and finally all that we do now in the Duchie of Lancaster the same did our progenitour for the tyme of the contention for that Title in the realme of Scotlande by the consent of an agreement of all estates of the realme assembled and consulted with for that purpose At whiche tyme the Bishops of S. Andrewes and Glasquo were not as they now be Archbishops but recognised the Archbyshop of Yorke whiche extended ouer all that country Now if the Scottes will take exception to the homage of their Princes as made in warre and by force whiche is not true what will they say or can they for shame alledge agaynst their owne Parliament not of some but of all confirmed and testified by theyr writings seales wherevnto nothing enforced them but righte and reason beyng passed in peace quiet without armour or compulsion If they say they did it not they speake lyke theÌ„selues if they say they did it then do they now lyke themselfe to withdrawe their duetie not so much to be blamed as to be amended Thus appeareth vnto you the beginnyng of the right of superiority with a perpetuall coÌ„tinuance without intermission within memory certayne omissions and forbearyngs vpoÌ„ the groundes and occasions before specified we denie not whereby they haue many tymes sought and taken their oportunities to withdrawe the doing of their duety in knowledge of our superiority ouer them whiche to auoyde they haue not cared what they sayde or alledged though it were neuer so vntrue lying alwayes in a wayte when they might annoy this realme not without theyr owne greate daunger and perill also extreeme detriment But as they detracted the doing of their duety so God grauÌ„ted vnto this realme force to compell them thervnto within memory and notwithstandyng any their interruption by resistaunce whiche vnto the tyme of our progenitour Henry the sixte neuer endured so long as it made intermission within tyme of minde whereby the possession might seeme to be empayred from the time of Henry the sixte vnto the seuenth yeare of our raygne our realme hath bene for a season lacerate and torne by diuersitie of Titles till our tyme and sithence by warre outwardly vexed and troubled the story is so lamentable for some part thereof as were too tedious to rehearse Sithence the death of our progenitour Henry the sixte our Graundfather Edwarde the fourth raygned who after greate trauayles to attayne quietnesse in his realme finally in the tyme of preparation of warre
against certayne of them that were his roâ—… sins as the Earle of Pembroke and others Finally when the Lordes were in doubte which way to worke for their owne safeties they caused the Parliament to be proroged The 〈…〉 till y e 〈◊〉 of Saint Barnabe then to begin againe at Oxforde In the meane time the Lords of the Realme as the Earles of Gloucester Leicester Hereforde and Northfolke with other did confederate theÌ„selues togither bycause they stoode in feare to bee entrapped by the Kings subtile sleightes and by the craftie wiles of those straungers which he reteyned against them The same yere by y e wind which continually certayne monethes togyther kept Northerly the floures with other growing things were so hindered that vnneth they appeared to any purpose A 〈◊〉 till y e most parte of Iune was past wherevpon the hope of receyuing the frutes of the earth was quite taken away A deâ—… accoâ—… with 〈◊〉 and so vppon the great dearth that happened a sore deathe and mortalitie followed for want of necessary foode to susteyne the languishing bodyes of the poore people They dyed so thicke that there were greate pittes made in Churchyardes to lay the dead bodies in one vpon an other About the feast of the Ascention Seâ—…l 〈◊〉 of Yâ—… pâ—…lâ—…e Seuall the Archbyshop of Yorke departed this life the which constantly had resisted the tyrannie of the Court of Rome in defence of his Churche suffering in this world many greeuous tribulatioÌ„s but now was remoued from thence vnto the Kingdome of Heauen Mat. 〈◊〉 to be Crowned with the elect for hys good deseruings as was then certainely belieued About this time also a great number of Poictouins were come into Englande by reason of their aliance and cosynage to the King the whiche by the Kings fauour being highly aduaunced began to waxe proude thereof and to require to be restored vnto such lands and liuings as beforetime they had possessed The Kâ—… halfe 〈◊〉 Namely the Kyngs halfe breethren Athelmare or Odomare that was a Priest with William Geffrey and Guy these were the sonnes of Hugh le Brun Earle of Marche by his wife Queene Isabell the mother of Kyng Henry and being come into England shewed themselues very loftie and high minded partly bycause of the Cousinage to the Kyng and partly by reason of his courteous entertaining of them in so muche that they forgetting themselues began to despise vpon a presumptuous pride the English Nobilitie looking still for prefermente of honor aboue all other And surely Odomare obteyned at the firste a great peece of his purpose beeyng made by the Kyngs gifte Byshoppe of Winchester and by that meanes bare a stout porte and greately holpe his other brethren The English Barons not well able to suffer such presumption in straungers who seemed to haue them in derision compleyned to the Kyng in so much that at length as well for a reformation heereof as in other things a Parliamente was called as before yee haue hearde fyrste at London and after reiorned â–ª to Oxeforde there to be assembled about the feast of Saint Barnabie in the moneth of Iune This of some writers is named Insanum Parliamentum â—…sanum â—…rliamentuÌ„ that is to say the madde Parliamente for at this Parliamente to the whiche the Lords came with great retinues of armed men for the better safegarde of their persons manye things in the same were enacted contrary to the Kings pleasure and his royall prerogatiue For the Lords at the firste determined to demaunde the confirmation of the auntient charter of liberties which his father Kyng Iohn had graunted and hee himselfe had so often promised to obserue and maynteyne signifying playnely that they meant to pursue their purpose and intent herein not sparing eyther for losse of life â—…e demaund the Lordes lands or goods according to that they had mutually giuen theyr faythes by ioyning of handes as the manner in such cases is accustomed Besides the graunt of the greate charter they required other things necessary for the state of the common wealthe to bee established and enacted â—…dinances â—…de It was therefore fyrste enacted that all the Poictouins should auoide the land togither with other straungers and that neyther the King nor his sonne Prince Edwarde shoulde in anye secrete manner ayde them agaynste the people â—…oth exacâ—… of the K. Moreouer that the Kyng and hys sonne should receyue an othe to stande vnto the decrees and ordinances of that Parliament and withall speede to restore the auntient lawes and institutions of ther Realme whyche they both did rather constreyned therevnto by feare than of any good will â—…nd so not only the Kyng himselfe but also his sonne Prince Edwarde râ—…d an oth to obserue the ordinances of that ParliameÌ„t But Iohn Earle Warren â–ª and the Kyngs halfe breethren namely the Earle of Pembroke refused that othe and likewise the Lord Henry sonne to the Kyng of Almayne excused himselfe by his fathers absence without whose consent he would not receyue it vnto whome thys aunswere was made that if his father would not consente to the agreemente of the Baronage hee shoulde not possesse one fourrough of lande within thys Realme Also whereas the Earle of Leicester resigned the Casâ—…s of Kenelworth and Odiham into the Kyngs handes the which he had lately receiued by his gifte and newly repaired them the Earle of Pembroke and his other brethreÌ„ sware deepely that they woulde for no mans pleasure giue ouer suche Castels rentes and Wardships of theirs as they had of the Kyngs gift The Earle of Leicester threatneth the Earle of Pembroke but the Earle of Leicester tolde the Earle of Pembroke flatly and playnely that he shoulde eyther render them vp or else he shoulde be sure to lose his head â–ª and thys saying was confyrmed by the generall voyces of all other the Barons bycause it was a speciall article concluded amongst other in that Parliament The Kings halfe breethren The Kings halfe brethren shift away perceyuing which way the worlde wente stoode in doubt of themselues and secretely therevpon departed froÌ„ Oxforde and firste withdrewe vnto Winchester â–ª where Odomare one of the same breethren was Bishop through whose support and by reason of the strength of such Castels as he held they trusted to be in more safetie but finally perceyuing themselues not to be so out of daunger sith the Barons minded to pursue them about the eightenth day of Iuly They departe the Realme they departed the Realme with a greate number of other of their countreymen and amoÌ„gst those William de Saint Heeman the Kyngs karuer was one Richard Gray Captayne of Douer Castell and Lorde warden of the portes In the meane while one Richard Gray Chateillayne of Douer Castell a right valiant man and a faithfull suffred no man to passe that ways vnsearched according to that which he hadde in commaundement wherevppon he tooke and seased into his
the realme to rebellion and further hadde soughte the destruction and losse of his lyfe that was his soueraigne Lorde and lawfull kyng Contrarily the Dukes affirmed that their brother was wrongfully put to death The Kyng and the Dukes recoÌ„ciled hauing done nothing worthy of death At length by the intercession and meanes of those noble menne that went to and fro betwixt them they were accorded and the kyng promysed from thenceforth to doe nothyng but by the assent of the dukes but he kept small promise in this behalf as after wel appeared Caxton When the tyme came that the Parliamente should be holden at Westminster according to the tâ—…nour of the summonance the Lordes repaired thither furnished with great retinues both of armed men and archers as the Erle of Darbie the Erle Marshall the Erle of Rutland the Lorde Spenser the Erle of Northumberlande with his sonne the Lorde Henry Percie and the Lord Thomas Priâ—…ie the sayde Erles brother also the Lord Scrope Tâ—…asourer of Englande and dyuers other All the whiche Earles and Lordes brought with them a great and strong power euery of them in their best aray as it wer to strengthen the king against his enimies The dukes of Lancaster and Yorke were likewyse there giuing their attendance on the king with lyke furniture of men of armes archers There was not half lodging sufficient within the Citie and suburbes of London for suche companies of men The greate Parliament as the Lordes brought wyth them to this ParliameÌ„t called the great Parliament insomuche that they were constrayned to lye in villages abrode .x. or .xij. myles on ech side the Citie The Kinges greâ—…aâ—…ces opened in this Parliament In the beginning of this Parliament the K. greatly complayned of the mysdemeanour of the peeres and lordes of his realme as 〈…〉 â—…ges done against his will and pleasâ—… 〈…〉 was yong as for the â—…ruite dealyng 〈…〉 had shewed towards the Queene who was 〈◊〉 houres at one time on her knees before 〈◊〉 Arundell for one of hiâ—… esquires named Ioâ—… 〈◊〉 who neuerthelesse had his head smile 〈◊〉 his sâ—…oulders al the answere that she could gâ—… was this Madame pray for your selfe and yâ—… husbande for that is beste and lette this â—…ite alone Those that set foorth the kings greâ—… â–ª as prolocutors in this Parliamente were these Thom. VVâ—… Iohn Bâ—…e VVâ—…am â—…got Tâ—… Greeâ—…e Iohn Bushy WilliaÌ„ Bagot Thoâ—… 〈◊〉 The king had caused a large house of 〈◊〉 to be made within the Palaice at Westminstre A nevve â—…e made vvith the Pallace of VVestminstres for the â—…ment of the Lordes 〈◊〉 whiche was called an Hall couered aboue heade with tyles and was open at the endes that all men myght see thorough it This house was of so great a compasse that vnâ—…th it mighte 〈◊〉 within the roomth of the palaice In this 〈◊〉 was made an high throne for the Kyng and a large place for all estates besides to 〈◊〉 in There were places also made for the appellanteâ—… to stande on the one syde and the defendants on the other and a lyke roomth was 〈◊〉 behynde for the knights and burgesses of the Parliament Additions to Policrâ—… There was a place deuised for the speaker named Sir Iohn Bushy a knight of Lincolneshire Sir Ioh. Bushy speaker accompted to be an exceeding euill man ambicious and couetous beyond measure â–ª Immediatly after eche man being placed in his roomth the cause of assembling that parliamente was shewed as that the kyng had called it for reformation of diuers transgressions and oppressions committed against the peace of hys lande by the Duke of Gloucester the Earles of Arundell Warwicke and others Then sir Io. Bushy stepte foorth and made request on the behalfe of the communaltie that it myghte pleasâ—… the kings highnesse for their heinous acts attempted against his lawes and royal maiestie to appoint them punishment according to their deseruings and specially to the Archb. of Canterbury The archebishop of Canterburie sitting in parliament is accused of treason by the speaker who then sat nexte the K. whom he accused of high treson for that he had euil couÌ„selled his maiesty inducing him to grauÌ„t his letters of pardon to his brother the Erle of Arundel being a ranke traytor When the Archbishop began to answer in his own defence the K. willed him to sit downe again and to hold his peace for al shuld be well Herewith sir Io. Bushy besought the Kyng that the Archebishoppe shoulde not bee admitted to make his answer which if he did by reason of his great wit good vtteraÌ„ce he feared least he shuld lead men away to beleue him so y e Archb. might be heard no further Sir Iohn Bushy in all his talke when hee proponed any matter vnto the King did not attribute to him titles of honour due and accustomed but inuented vnvsed toâ—…nâ—…s and such strange names as were rather agreable to the diuine maiestie of God Impudent flatâ—…e than to any â—…ly potentate The Prince being desirous â—…ough of all honour and more ambitious that was â—…quisite seemed to like wel of his speech and gaue good care to his talke Thus when the Archbish was constrained to kepe silence sir Iohn Bushy procured in his purpose requiring on the behalf of the coÌ„mons that the Charters of pardons graunted vnto the traitors to witte the Duke of Gloucester and the Earles of Arundel and Warwike should be reuoked by consent of all the estates nowe in parliament assembled The King also for his parte protested that those pardons were not voluntarily grauÌ„ted by him but rather extorted by compulsion and therfore he besought them that euery man wold shew foorth their opinions what they thought thereof There were two other persons of greate credite with the King besides sir Iohn Bushy Tho. VVals that were as before yon haue heard very earnest to haue those Charters of pardon reuoked and made voyde to witte sir William Bagot and sir Thomas Greene. But bicause this matter semed to require good deliberation it was first put to the Bishops who with small adoe gaue sentence that the sayde Charters were reuocable and might wel inough be called in yet the Archbishop of Canterburye in his answere herevnto sayde that the K. from whome those pardons came was so hygh an estate that he durst not say that any suche charters by him granted might be reuoked notwithstanding his brethren the bishops thought otherwyse not considering sayth Thomas Wals that such reuoking of the kings Charters of pardon shoulde sound highly to the kings dishonor â–ª forsomuche as mercie and pardoning transgressions is accompted to bee the confirmation and establishing of the kings seate and royall estate The temporal lords perceiuing what the Bishops had done did likewise giue their consents to reuoke the same pardons but the iudges with those that were toward the law were not of this opinion but finally the Bishops pretendyng a
An. reg 22. slaughter and brenning sore defaced all Christendome lamented the continuall destruction of so noble a realme and the effusion of so muche christen bloud wherfore to agree the two puissant Kings all the Princes of Christendome trauayled so effectuously by their oratours and Ambassadors The dyet at To◅ or a peace to bee ◅d betvvene Englande and Fraunce that a dyet was appoynted to be kept at the citie of Tours in Tourayne where for the king of Englande appeared William de la Poole Earle of Suffolke doctour Adam Molyns keeper of the Kings priuie seale also Sir Robert Ros and diuers other And for the French king were appointed Charles duke of Orleans Lewes de Bourbon earle of Vandosme greate Maister of the Frenche Kynges householde Piers de Bresse Stewarde of Poyctowe and Bertram Beaunau Lorde of Precigny There were also sente thyther Ambassadours from the Empire from Spayne from Denmarke and from Hungarie to bee mediatours betwixte the two Princes The assemble was greate but the coste was muche greater insomuche that euerye parte for the honour of theyr Prince and prayse of theyr countrey sette foorth themselues as well in fare as apparell to the vttermoste Many meetings were had and many things moued to come to a fynall peace but in conclusion by reason of many doubtes whyche rose on both parties no finall concorde coulde be agreed vppon but in hope to come to a peace a certayn truce as well by sea as by lande A truce for .18 moneths was concluded by the Commissioners for eyghteen Moneths 1444 whyche afterwarde agayne was prolonged to the yeare of our Lord .1449 if in the mean time it had not bene broken In the treatyng of this truce the Earle of Suffolke extending his commission to the vttermost without the assent of his associates imagined in his fantasie that the next way to come to a perfecte peace was to moue some marriage betwene the Frenche Kinges kinsewoman the Ladye Margarete daughter to Reynet Duke of Aniou and hys Soueraygne Lorde Kyng Henrye This Reyner duke of Aniou named himselfe king of Sicile Naples and Ierusalem hauing only the name and stile of those realmes without any penie profite or foote of possession This mariage was made straunge to the erle at the first and one thyng seemed to bee a greate hinderaunce to it whiche was bicause the kyng of Englande occupyed a greate parte of the Duchye of Aniowe and the whole Countie of Mayne apperteyning as was alledged to king Reyner The Earle of Suffolke I can not saye eyther corrupted with brides or too muche affectioned to thys vnprofytable mariage condescended and agreed that the Duchie of Aniowe and the Countie of Mayne should be deliuered to the King the brydes father demaunding for hir marriage neyther pennye nor farthyng as who woulde say that this newe affinitie passed all riches and excelled bothe golde and precious stone And to the intent that of this truce might ensue a finall concorde a daye of enterview was appointed betwene the two kings in a place conuenient betwene Chartres and Roan When these thyngs were concluded the earle of Suffolke wyth his companie retourned into Englande where he forgat not to declare what an honourable truce he hadde taken out of the whyche there was a greate hope that a fynall peace myght growe the sooner for that honourable marryage whyche hee hadde concluded emittyng nothyng that myght extoll and ◅te foorth the personage of the Ladye or the nobilitie of her kinne But although this mariage pleased the kyng and dyuers of hys Counsell yet Humfrey duke of Gloucester protector of the realme was much agaynste it alledging that it should be both contrarie to the lawes of God and dishonorable to the Prince if he shoulde breake that promise and contract of mariage made by ambassadors sufficiētly therto instructed with the daughter of the Erle of Arminack vpon conditions both to him and his realme as much profitable as honorable But the Dukes wordes coulde not be heard for the Earles doings were only liked and allowed So that for performance of the conclusions the Frenche king sent the Erle of Vandosme great maister of his house and the Archebishop of Remes fyrst peere of Fraunce and diuers other into Englande where they were honorably receyued and after that the instrumentes were once sealed and deliuered on both partes the sayd ambassadors retourned into their countreys with greate giftes and rewardes When these things were done the king both for honour of his Realme Creations of estates and to assure to himselfe mo frends he created Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington Duke of Excester as his father was and Humfrey Erle of Stafford was made duke of Buckingham Henry erle of Warwike was erected to the title of duke of Warwike to whom the K. also gaue the castell of Bristowe with y e Isle of Iernesey and Garnesey Also the erle of Suffolk was made Marques of Suffolk which Marques with his wife and many honorable personages of men and women richely adorned both with apparell iewels hauing with them many costly chariots gorgeous horslitters sailed into France for the conueyance of the nominated Queene into the realm of England For king Reigner hir father for all his long stile had too short a purse to send his daughter honorably to the King hir spowse This noble copany came to the citie of Tours in Tourayne An. reg 23. 1445 where they were honorably receiued both of the French K. and of the K ▪ of Sieil The Marques of Suffolke as procurator to K. Henry espoused the sayd Lady in the churche of S. Martins At the whiche mariage were presente the father and mother of the bryde the Frenche Kyng himself which was vncle to the husband and the French Queene also whiche was Aunt to the wyfe There were also the Dukes of Orleans of Calabre of Alanson and of Britayne vij Erles .xij. barons xx Bishops beside knightes and Gentlemen When the feast triumph bankets and iustes were ended the Lady was deliuered to the Marques which in great estate he conueyed through Normandie vnto Diepe and so trāsported hir into Englande where shee landed at Portesmouth in the moneth of Aprill This woman excelled al other aswel in beautie and fauor as in wit and policie and was of stomacke and courage more lyke to a man than a woman And furthermore the Earle of Arminacke tooke suche displeasure with the Kyng of Englande for thys marryage that hee became vtter enemye to the Crowne of Englande and was the chiefe cause that the Englyshemen were expulsed oute of the whole Duchie of Aquitayne But moste of all it shoulde seeme that God was displeased wyth this marriage For after the confirmation thereof the Kings friends fell from hym bothe in Englande and in Fraunce the Lordes of his Realme fell at diuision and the commons rebelled in suche sorte that fynally after many fieldes foughten and many thousands of men slayn the
far of froÌ„ crediting the same that he would not beleue it vntil he saw the coffin open wherein the bones of the aforesaid prince did rest To be short therefore he caused his souldiers to cast downe the hil made somtime ouer the tombe and finding the bodie in the bottome after the measure thereof taken he sawe it manifestly to be 60. cubits in length which were ten more then the people made accompt of Philostrate in Heroices sayth Philostrate how he sawe the body of a Gyant 30. cubits in length also the carkasse of another of 22. and the thirde of 12. Plinie telleth of an Earthquake at Creta Lib. 7. which discouered the body of a Gyant which was 46. cubits in length after the Romaine standerde and by dyuers supposed to be the bodye of Orion or Aetion Trallianus writeth howe the Athenienses digging on a time in the grounde to laye the foundatioÌ„ of their new walles in the dayes of an Emperour Trallianus did finde the bones of Macrosyris in a coffin of harde stone of 10. cubites in length after the accompt of the Romaine cubite which was then a foote and an halfe not much diffrence from halfe a yarde of our measure nowe in Englande In the time of Hadriane themperour the body of a Gyaunt was take vp at Messana conteining 20. foote in length hauing a double row of téeth yet standing whole in his chaps In Dalmatia manye graues were shaken open with an earthquake in one of which aboue the rest a carcasse was found whose ribbe conteined 16. elles after the Romaine measure whereby y e whole body was iudged to be 64. sith y e loÌ„gest rib is coÌ„monly about y e fourth part of a man as some SimmetricieÌ„s affirme Arrhianê° saith that in the time of Alexander the bodies of y e Asianes were generally of huge stature and commonly of 5. cubits such was the height of Porus of Inde whome Alexander vanquished and ouerthrew in battaile Sudas speaketh in like maner of Ganges killed likewise by the sayd prince who farre excéeded Porus for he was 10. cubits loÌ„g But of al these this one example shall passe which I doe reade also in Trallianus he setteth downe in forme and manner following I mouth of 16. foote wide In the daies of Tiberius themperor saith he a corps was left bare or layde open after an erthquake of which eche tooth coÌ„teined 12. ynches ouer at y e lest now forasmuch as in such as bée full mouthed eche chap hath 16. teeth at the least which is 32. in y e whole néedes must the wydenesse of this mannes chappes be sixetéene foote and the opening of his lippes 10. A large mouth in mine opinion and not to féede with Ladies of my time besides that if occasion serued it was able to receiue the whole bodye of a man I meane of such as flourish in our daies WheÌ„ this careasse was thus founde euery man marueyled at it and good cause why a messenger also was sente vnto Tiberius themperour to know his pleasure A couÌ„terfeete made of a monstrous carcasse by one tooth taken out of y e head whether he wold haue the same brought euer vnto Rome or not but he forbade them willing his Legate not to remooue the deade out of his resting place but rather to sende him a tooth out of his head which being done he gaue the same to a cunning workeman commanding him to shape a carcasse of light matter after the proporcion of the tooth that at the least by such meanes he might satisfie his curious minde and the fantasies of such as are delited with newes This man was more fauorable to this moÌ„ster then our papists were to the bodies of the dead who tare them in péeces to make money of theÌ„ To be short wheÌ„ the ymage was once made and set vp an end it appeared rather an huge collossy then the true representation of the carcasse of a man and when it had stande in Rome vntill the people were wearye of it and thorowly satisfied with the sight thereof he caused it to bée broken all to péeces and the tooth sent againe to the carcasse from whence it came willing them moreouer to couer it diligently in any wise not to dismeÌ„ber the corps nor from thencefoorth to bée so hardie as to open the sepulchre any more I could rehearse many mo examples of the bodies of such men out of Solinus Sabellicus Cooper and other but these here shall suffise to prooue my purpose with all I might tell you in like sorts of the stone which Turnus threwe at Aeneas which was such as that 12. chosen and picked men Qualia nunc hominum producit corpora tellus Vis vnitâ—… fortior est eadem diâ—…persa were not able to sturre and remooue out of the place but I passe it ouer diuers of the like concluding that these huge blockes were ordeined and created by God first for a testimonie vnto vs of his power and myght secondly for a confirmation that hugenesse of bodye is not to be accompted of as a part of our felicitie sith they which possessed y e same were not onely tyrauntes doltysh and euyll men but also oftentimes ouercome euen by the weake and féeble Finally they were such in déede as in whome the Lorde delited not according to the saying of the Prophet Baruch Ibi fuerunt gigantes nominati illi qui ab initio fuerunt statura magna scientes bellum Cap. 3. â—… hos non elegit dominus neque illis viam disciplinae dedit propterea perierunt quoniam noÌ„ habuerunt sapientiam interierunt propter suam insipientiam c. There were the Gyants famous from the beginning that were of so great stature so expert in warre Those did not the Lorde choose neither gaue he the way of knowledge vnto them But they were destroied because they had no wisedome and perished through their owne foolishnesse Of the generall Language vsed from time to time in Britaine Chap. 5. WHat language came first wyth Samothes afterwarde with Albion Bryttish the Gyants of his coÌ„panie Small difference betwene brittish Celtike languagâ—… it is hearde for me to determine sith nothing of sound credit remayneth in writing which maye resolus vs in the truth hereof yet of so much are we certeine that the speach of y e auncient Britons and of the Celtes had great affinitie one with another so that they were either all one or at the leastwyse such as eyther nation wyth smal helpe of interpreters might vnderstand other and readily discerne what the speaker did meane The Brittish tongue doth yet remayne in that part of the Islande Brittish corrupted by the Latine and Saxon speaches which is nowe called Wales whether the Britons were driueÌ„ after the Saxons had made a full conquest of the other which we nowe call Englande although the pristinate integritie therof be not
King Williams raigne two Monkes of the Trinitie order were sent into Scotlande by Pope Innocent vnto whome King William gaue his Palace royall in Abirdene to conuert the same into an Abbay for them to inhabite and was in minde to haue gyuen them many other bountifull giftes if he had liued any longer time The King himselfe and all his seruants also were clothed in mourning weed A Parliament at Edenburgh during the space of one whole yeare The first Parliament which he called was holden at Edenbourgh in the whiche he confyrmed all the actes and ordinaunces deuised by his father Confirmation of Officers and further appoynted that all suche as had borne offices vnder him should still enioy the same Namely he commaunded that William Wood Bishop of Dunblayne shoulde still continue Lord Chancellour The office of the Constable and Alane of Galloway high Constable which is an office of most honor and reputation next to the king as hee that hath power of life and death if any man drawe bloud of an other by violence within two myles of the Court. When this Parliament was ended bycause the olde Queene his mother determined to remayne during the residue of hir life in the place where that holye woman Queene Margaret sometyme led hir lyfe he gaue vnto hir towards the maintenaunce of hir estate The landes of Forfair giuen to the olde Queene the Castelles and townes of Forfair with the landes and possessions to the same belonging He also appoynted certaine sage and moste graue personages to be chosen forth as Iudges A princely appointment which should be resident in euerie Citie and good towne of his realme for the hearing and due determining of all quarels and matters in controuersie betwixt partie and partie Dissention betwixt K. Iohn his nobles In this meane time great dissention rose betwixt Iohn king of Englande his barons by reasō wherof great warres ensued as in the english hystorie doth appeare The Barons made sute both to the french king to y e king of Scots for ayd so that at length Lewes the french kings sonne came ouer to support them whereof when king Alexander was aduertised K. Alexander passeth to London he likewise came with an army through England vnto London causing his soldiers by the way to abstaine from doing any kinde of domage to the people By his comming things were partly quieted for a time and shortly after that he had cōmuned with Lewes touching sundrie affayres perteyning to both the realmes they passed the Seas with ten vessels ouer into France leauing theyr powers behind them to assist the English lords The Frenche king aduertised thereof came down to Bulleigne where finding his sonne and king Alexander he renued the auncient bonde of amitie betwixt France and Scotlande The league betwixt Fraunce and Scotlande renued with the same Alexander according to the couenantes of the olde league with this addition that neyther Prince shoulde receyue the enimies of the others realme nor to marry with any stranger the one not making the other priuie thereto The best approued wryters affyrme that Lewes wēt not ouer into France til after the death of king Iohn These things being ratified king Alexander and Lewes returned into Englande shortly wherevpon king Iohn died more through anguish of minde and melancholy that by force of any other naturall disease His sonne Henrie the thirde of that name succeeded him and in the meane time had the Pope accursed both Lewes Lewes king Alexander cursed king Alexander with all those that fauored their cause against king Iohn which curse was pronounced in a generall counsell which was holden at Rome by Pope Innocent A counsell at Rome there being present foure hundred and .xij Bishops and .viij. C. Abbots King Alexander after the decease of king Iohn returning homewardes with his armie thought he might haue passed quietly without any annoiance by the way King Alexander returneth into his countrey through meanes whereof hee lost a certaine number of his men being sodenly inuaded by such English men as watched theyr time to take the Scottes at some aduauntage in straying abrode out of order with which iniurie king Alexander was so moued that hee spoyled and harried all the Countreyes by the which hee passed till he was entred within the confines of his owne dominion Shortly after Cardinall Guale came into England furnished with the Popes authoritie to denounce the excōmunication aboue remembred against Lewes Alexander with all their fautors wherevpon he accursed not only the foresaid persons Cardinall Gualo but also interdited all the places where they came insomuch that in the end Lewes was constrayned to buy an absolution with no small summes of money of that anaricious Cardinall Gualo and after vpō agreement also made with king Henrie he returned into France Lewes returneth into France Not long after came king Henrie with an army into Scotland sore endomaging the coūtry King Henrie inuadeth Scotlande but so soone as he was aduertised that king Alexander had assembled all the power of his realme to giue him battaile he retyred with al speed into England Ex codice antiquo S. Albani written by Mathew Paris as I take it The king of Englande had in his army at the same time 1200. men of armes right perfitly appointed and furnished with armor and weapon as was requisite and the king of Scots but only .v. C. But of footemen there were in the Scottish army 60000. able personages well appoynted with Ares Speares and Bowes readie to die and liue with their Prince constantly beleeuing that to lose this present life here in his defence was an assured way to be saued in an other worlde After that King Henrie was gone backe into Englande K. Alexander in Northumberland King Alexander followed after him into Northumberland where he ouerthrew and beate downe many Castels and strengthes which the English men helde Then marching through the countrey vnto Carleil he wan that Citie Carleil wonne by the Scots and garnished it with his people After this laying siege vnto Norham castel when hee had continued at the same a certaine time and perceiued how he lost but his trauail he left it returned home with great honor and triumph for his other atchieued enterprises in that iourney King Henrie being once aduertised that king Alexander had broken vp his campe incontinently got eftsoones his people togither Barwike won by K. Henrie comming to Barwike wanne both the towne and Castel After entring into Scotland he burned and spoyled the coūtrey alongst by the sea coasts till he came as far as Hadington Haddington putting al such to the sword as were found in the way women priestes and children onely excepted He assayed to haue wonne the Castel of Dunbar but missing his purpose there he returned into Englande In the meane time the auaritious Prelate Gualo vppon
pretended as though he were more carefull for the placing of a worthie man than of the gaine that folowed during the time of the vacation 1115 An. reg 15. Howbeit ere long after he translated one Richarde bishop of London to that Archebishoprike who lyuyng but a little while therin he gaue the same to one Raulfe as then Bishop of Rochester and made him Archbishop of Canterbury Eadmerus being the .25 in order that ruled y e sea He was elected at Windsor the .26 of April and on the .16 day of May he was installed at Canterbury great preparation being made for the feaste whiche was holden at the same Soone after likewyse hee sente for his Palle to Rome whiche was brought from Pascall by one Anselme nephewe to the late Archbishop Anselme About whiche tyme also The Popes authoritie not regarded in Englande the Pope found him selfe gr◅ued for that his authoritie was no more esteemed in Englande for that no persons were permitted to appeale to Rome for any maner of causes in controuersie and for that withoute seeking to obtayne his licence and consent they didde keepe their Synodes and their Councelles touchyng the order of Ecclesiasticall busynesse neyther woulde they obeye suche Legates as he did sende nor come to the Conuocations which they helde In somuche that one Cono the Popes Legate in Fraunce hadde excommunicated all the Priestes of Normandye bycause they would not come to a counsell or Synode which they had called Whervpon the king being somewhat troubled herewith by aduice of his counsell The bishop of Excester sente to Rome sente vnto Rome the Bishop of Excester though he were then blynde to talke wyth the Pope concerning that matter Not long after this also dyed Thomas the Archebishoppe of Yorke After whome succeeded Thrustaine Thrustayne archb of York a man of a loftie stomacke but yet of notable learning who euen at the verye firste began to contende with Raufe the Archbishoppe of Canterbury aboute the title and righte of the primacie and though the Kyng aduised him to stande to the order whiche the late Archbishops of Yorke had obserued he wold not stay the matter sith he perceyued that the Archbishop Raulfe beyng diseased with sicknesse coulde not attende to preuente hys doyngs Thrustayne therfore consecrated certayne Bishops of Scotlande Gilles Aldane bishop of saint Ninian and first of all Gilles Aldane the elect Bishop of Sainct Nynian who promised and toke his othe as the manner is to obeye hym in all thyngs as his primate The Souldiours in like maner for their parts needed no exhortation for remembryng the losses susteyned afore tyme at the Welchmennes handes they shewed well by theyr freshe pursuite howe muche they desyred to bee reuenged of them so that the Welchemen were slayne on eche hande and that in greate numbers tyll the Kyng perceyuyng the huge slaughter and that the Welchemenne hauyng throwne awaye theyr armour and weapons soughte to saue themselues by flyghte commaunded the Souldiours to ceasse from kylling and to take the residue that were left prysoners if they wold yelde themselues which they didde and besought the kyng of his mercie and grace to pardon and forgiue them The first vse of Parliamēts in England Here is to be noted that before this tyme the Kings of Englande vsed but seldome to call togither the estates of the Realm after any certaine manner or generall kind of processe to haue theyr consents in matters to be decreed but as y e Lords of the priuie counsel in our time do sitte only whē necessitie requireth so did they whensoeuer it pl◅sed the K. to haue any conference with them so that from this Henry it may be thought the firste vse of the Parliament to haue proceeded whyche sith that time hath remayned in force and is frequented vnto our times in so much that whatsoeuer is to be decreed apperteyning to the state of y e common wealth and conseruatiō thereof is now referred to that Counsell and furthermore if any thing be appointed by the King or any other person to be vsed for the welth of the Realme it shal not yet bee receiued as lawe till by authoritie of this assembly it bee established and bycause the house shoulde not be troubled with the multitude of vnlearned Comoners whose propertie is to vnderstand little reason and yet to conceiue well of their owne doings There was a certayne order taken what maner of Ecclesiasticall persons and what number and sorte of temporall menne shuld be called vnto the same and how they shuld be chosen by voyces of free holders that being as atturneys for their Countreys that whiche they confessed or denyed should bind the residue of the Realme to receiue it as a law This Counsell is called a Parliament by a French word for so the Frenchmen call their publique assemblies The manner of the Parliamēt in Englād The manner of their consulting here in England in their sayd assemblies of Parliament is on this wise Wheras they haue to entreate of matters touching the commoditie both of the Prince and of the people that euery man may haue free libertie to vtter what he thinketh they are apointed to sit in seuerall chambers the King the Bishops and Lords of the Realme sit in one chamber to conferre togither by themselues and the comoners called Knightes for the Shires Citizens of Cities and burgesses of good townes in an other These choose some wise and eloquente learned man to be their prolocutor or speaker as they tearme him who propoundeth those thyngs vnto them that are to be talked of and asketh euery man his opinion concerning the conclusion thereof In like sort when any thing is agreed vppon and decreed by them in this place whiche they call the lower house in respect of their estate he declareth it againe to the Lordes that sitte in the other chamber called the higher house demanding likewise their iudgements touching y e same for nothing is ratified there except it be agreede vpon by the consent of the more part of both those houses and when they haue sayd theyr myndes thereof and yeelded their confirmation therevnto the finall ratification of all is referred to the Prince so that if he thinke good that it shall passe for a law he confirmeth also by the mouth of the Lord Chauncellor of the Realme who is prolocutor to the Lordes alwayes by the custome of that house The same order is vsed also by y e Bishops and spiritualtie in their conuocation houses for the Bishops sit in one place by themselues as in the higher house and the Deanes Archdeacons and other procurators of the spiritualtie in an other as in the lower house whose prolocutor declareth to the Bishops what is agreed by them And then the Archbishop by the consent of y e more part of them that are assembled in both those cōuocation houses ratifieth and pronounceth their decrees for lawes remitting notwitstanding the finall
counsel as he that was apt of nature to aspire to the sole gouernement and loth to haue anye partener in authoritie and namely such one as mighte controll him was the more encouraged thereto by a number of prodigall curry fauours who by flatterie set him aloft declaring vnto him that hee was borne to rule and not to obey and therefore it became not his highnesse to reigne by the appointmeÌ„t of other but rather to haue y e gouernement freely in his owne handes Whereupon the youthfull courage of the yong King being tickled herewith began to waxe of a contrary minde to his father howbeit beeing called home out of France he returned vnto him with all speede hys father indeede suspecting y t which chanced which was least hys sonnes yong yeares not able yet to discerne good and wholesome councell from euil might easily bee infected there with some sinister practise thought it not good to suffer hym to be long absente from him and therefore sente for him who taking leaue of his father in law Kyng Lewis in courteous maner returned and came to his father K. Henry into Normandy â—â—og Hou An. Reg. 19. 1173 who when y e feast of Christmas drew nere repaired towards Aniou where in the Towne of Chinon he soleÌ„nized that feast hauing left his son the yong K. and his wife al that while in NormaÌ„dy but sending for him after the feast was ended they went both into Auvergne where being at Mount Ferrat Hubert Earle Morienne there came vnto them Hubert Erle of Morienne bringing with him his eldest daughter Alice whom K. Henry y e father bought of him for the summe of fiue M. markes that he mighte bestow hir in marriage vpon his yongest son Iohn with the heritage of the countie of Morienne if hir father died without other issue A marriage contracted or at the least wise y e said Hubert chanced to haue any son lawfully begotteÌ„ y t then shuld he leaue vnto them and to their heires the Countie of Russellon Comitatus bellensis y e Countie of Belle as he theÌ„ held the same Pierre Castel with the appurtenances y e Valley of Noualleyse also Chambry with the appurtenaunces Aiz Aspermont Rochet Mont Magor Chambres w t Burg al which lying on this side y e Mountaines with their appurtenances y e said Hubert granted to them immediatly for euer And beyoÌ„d y e MouÌ„taines he couenanted to giue vnto them Tunne with y e appurtenances the Colledge of Gauoreth with y e appurtenaÌ„ces al y e fees which the Erles of Canaues helde of him togither with y e fealties seruices And also the fees fealties and seruices which belong to him in y e Countie of Amunde in the valley called Vale Dosta And in like maner the Towne of Castellone and al these aforenamed places the foresaide Erle I say gaue and granted to y e sayd Iohn son to the K. of EnglaÌ„d for euermore with his daughter so freely wholly quietly in men Cities Castels fortresses or other places of defence in medowes leassewes milnes woddes plaines waters valleys MouÌ„taines in customes all other things as euer hee or his father hadde held or enioyed the same And furthermore the saide Erle would that immediately wheÌ„ it pleased the K. of England his people shuld do homage fealtie to y e K. of EnglaÌ„ds son sauing y e fealtie due to him so loÌ„g as he liued The Countie of Granople Moreouer the said Earle Hubert granted to the said Iohn and his wife all the right that he had in the Countie of Granople and what soeuer might be got euicted in the same Countie It was also couenanted that if y e elder daughter died then should the said Iohn marry the yonger daughter with al the like portions parties of inheritance as he should haue enioyed with the first and that these couenantes graunts agreements shuld be performed on y e part behalf of the said Erle Hubert both he the said Erle the Erle of Geneua in manner al the great Lords BaroÌ„s of those countreys receiued an oth and vndertoke to come and offer theÌ„selues as hostages to remaine with y e K. of Englande in case the saide Earle Huberte failed in performance of any of the aforesaide Articles til he framed himself to satisfie y e kings plesure in such behalfe And furthermore Peter the reuerend Archbishop of Tarensasia Ardune the B. of Geneua also William the B. of MorieÌ„ne with y e Abbot of S. Mighell promised vppon their oth to be ready at the appointmeÌ„t of y e K. of England to put vnder the censures of the Church the sayde Earle and hys landes refusing to performe the foresayde couenauntes and so to keepe him and the same lands bound till he hadde satisfied the K. of Englande therein William Earle of Mandeuill The Earles of Mandeuille and Arundell and William Earle of Arundell sware on the parte of K. Henry that hee should performe the Articles couenaunts and agreements on his part as first to make payment immediatly vnto y e said Hubert of one thousande marks assoone as he should receyue his daughter he shuld pay to him an other thousand marks at the least and the residue then remaining behind of the said summe of fiue M. marks shuld be paid when y e marriage was coÌ„summate It was prouided also y t the said Earle Hubert might marry his yonger daughter where he woulde withoute any great deminishing of the Earledome after y t the first marriage were consummate with y e K. of Englands son y e Lord Iohn and that if either y e said Lord Iohn or his affianced wife chaÌ„ced to die before y e consummation of the marriage then should the money whiche the Erle had receyued be repayed to the K. againe or disposed so as the K. shuld appoint Shortly after y t the parties wer agreed vpon these couenaunts agreemeÌ„ts afore recited the Marques of Montferrate one Geffrey de Plozac with his son Miles other noble meÌ„ came to the K. as Ambassadors from y e Erle of MorieÌ„ne receiued an oth that they shuld see procure y e said Erle to performe the couenaunts agreemeÌ„ts concluded betwixt the K. and hym And thus after y t these things were ordred as seemed good to both parties for the establishment of y e foresaid marriage the K. the father and the K. the sonne remoued to Limoges whether came to them y e Erle of S. Giles The Earle of Saint Giles and was there accorded w t K. Henry his son Richard Duke of Guyen concerning y e controuersie y t had bin moued for y e Countie of Tholouze doing his homage as well vnto y e father Nic. Triuet as to the son for the same Countie further couenanted to serue them with an hundred Knightes or men of armes as we may call theÌ„ for the tearme
first A firebâ—… disâ—â— There was brought forth and also read an ancient Charter made somtime by Henry the first which Charter StepheÌ„ the Archbishop of Canterburie had deliuered vnto them before in the Citie of London conteyning the grant of certain liberties according to the lawes of king Edwarde the Confessor profitable to the Church and Barons of the Realme which they purposed to haue vniuersallye executed ouer all the lande And therefore beeyng thus assembled in the Queere of the Church of Saint Edmond The Baâ—… receiue 〈◊〉 to mainâ—… their quaâ—… they receyue a solemne othe vpon the Aulter there that if the king would not grant to the same liberties with others which he of his own accord had promised to confirme vnto them they would from thenceforth make warre vpon him till they had obteyned theyr purpose and enforced him to graunt not onely to al these their petitions but also yeeld to the confirmation of them vnder his seale for euer to remaine most stedfast and inuiolate â—…ewell The chiefe cause that moued the Lordes to this conspiracie rose by reason the king demaunded Escuagâ—… of them that refused to go with him into Poictou and they on the other part mainteyned that they were not bounde to pay it for any warres whiche the king made in the parties of beyonde the Seas But hee to proue that hee ought to haue it declared howe in his fathers and brothers tyme it was payed and therefore hee ought to haue it Much adoe there was aboute this matter at the first broching thereof and more adoe there had beene if the Legates presence had not somewhat stayed the parties But after they had gotten the charter of K. Henrie the first at the handes of the brew bate the Archb. of Cant. they made such an interpretation thereof that supposing it to serue their turnes they proceeded in their wilfull opinions as aboue is mentioned And finally it was determined amongst them that shortly after Christmasse they shoulde go to the king and require of him that they might haue those lawes restored which hee had promised to them as is aforesayde But forasmuch as they knew well that their request would not be thankfully accepted in the meane time they prouided themselues of horse armour and other furniture for the warre thereby to be in the better readinesse and safegarde if in exhibiting their request the matter did grow to any such enforcement They appoynted also diuerse of the most auncient lords to moue the sayde matter to the king in all their names who was as then at Worcester and being aduertised of this conspiracie as soone as the feast of Christmasse was past he went streight to London 1215 â—…at Par. â—…lidore thither came the Lordes also wyth like speede leauing their men in the townes and villages abrode to be readie vpon any sodaine warning to come vnto them if neede shoulde so require Being come into his presence they require of him that it might please him â—…e Lordes â—…sent their â—…uest to the â—…g first to appoynt the exercise and vse of those auncient lawes vnto them by the which the kings of EnglaÌ„d in times past ruled their subiects secondly that according to his promise he woulde abrogate those newer lawes which euerie man might with good cause name mere wrongs rather than lawes and thirdly they require of him the performance of al other things whiche hee had most faythfully of late vndertaken to obserue The king though somwhat contrarie to his nature hauing heard their request gaue them a very gentle answere For perceyuing them ready with force to constrayne him if by gentlenesse they might not preuayle he thought it should be more safe and easie for him to turne their vnquiet mindes with soft remedies than to goe about to breake them of their willes by strong hand which is a thing verie daungerous especially where both parties are of like force The king promiseth to consider of their requests Therefore he promised them within a few dayes to haue consideration of their request And to the intent they might giue the more credite to his wordes he caused the Archbishop of Canterburie and the Bishop of Eke with William Marshall Earle of Pembrooke vnto whom he had giuen his daughter Elenor in maryage to vndertake for him and as it were to become his sureties which willingly they did Herewith the myndes of the nobilitie being somewhat pacified they returned home to theyr houses The king soone after also Math. Paris to assure hymselfe the more effectually of the allegeance of his people in tyme to come The king demaundeth a new othe of allegeance of his subiects caused euery man to renne his homage and to take a newe othe to be faythfull to him agaynst all other persons And to prouide the more surely for himself on Candlemasse day next ensuing he tooke vpon him the Crosse to goe into the holye lande The king taketh on him the crosse whiche I thinke he did rather for feare than any deuotion as was also thought by other to the ende that he might vnder the protection thereof remaine the more out of daunger of such as were his foes Some say that a great part of this variance that chaunced betwene king Iohn and his Barons The causes of the discorde betwixt the king and his Barons Fabian Caxton The Earle of Chester was bycause the king would without skilfull doome haue exiled the Earle of Chester and for none other occasion than for that he had often tymes aduised him to leaue his cruel dealing and also his accustomed adulterie with his brothers wife and others Other write that the same dissention rose by reason of the great crueltie Hec. Boetius The kings couetousnesse and vnreasonable auarice which the king vsed towardes all the estates and degrees of his subiects as wel towards them of the spiritualtie as of the temporaltie The Prelates therefore of the realme sore repining at his doings The repining of the Cleargy agaynst the king for that they could not paciently suffer such exaction to be leuied of their liuings contrarie as they tooke it to the libertie of the Church founde meanes through practise to perswade both the kings of Scotland Fraunce to ayde and support them against him by linking themselues togither with sundrie Noble men of England But these seeme to bee coniectures of such wryters as were euill affected towardes the kings cause Nowe therefore to the sequele of the matter Polidor The king hauing sent away the Barons with a gentle answere though he minded nothing lesse than to satisfie them in that they did demaunde bycause it made much agaynst his royall prerogatiue and therewith forseeing that the matter woulde be like to growe at length to bee tried by force he beganne to doubt his owne estate and therefore he prepared an army and fortefied dyuerse Castelles and places with men munition and vitayles into the which he myght
honorably enterteined vvith the french king and him honorably interteined in so much that he had by fauor obteyned in mariage the only daughter of y e duke of Berry vncle to the frenche K. if King Richard had not bin a let in that matter who being thereof certified sent the earle of Salisbury with all speede into France Froissart both to surmise by vntrue suggestion hainous offences against him and also to require the frenche King that in no wise hee woulde suffer his cousin to bee matched in mariage with him that was so manifest an offendor On Neweyeares day this yeare 1399 the riuer that passeth betwixte Suelleston or Snelston and Harewood twoo villages not farre from Bedforde sodeinly ceassed hir course so as the chanell remained drie by the space of three miles that any man might enter into and passe the same drie foote at his plesure This deuision whiche the water made in that place the one part seeming as it were not to come nere to the other was iudged to signifie the reuolting of the subiectes of this land from their naturall Prince althoughe it may be that the water of that riuer sanke into the ground and by some secrete passage or chanell tooke course till it came to the place where it might rise again as in other places is likewise seene Ye haue heard before howe the Archebishop of Canterbury Thomas Arundel was banished the Realme Fabian Roger Walden was made Archbishop of that see who was a greate fauourer of the citie of London the which was eftsoones about this season falne into the kings displeasure but by the diligente labour of this Archebishop and of Roberte Braybrooke then bishop of London vpon the humble supplication of the citizens the kings wrathe was pacified Blanke charters But yet to content the kings mind many blanke charters were deuised and brought into the citie which many of the substanciall welthie citizens were fayne to seale to their greate chardge as in the ende appeared And the like charters were sent abroad into al shires within the realme wherby greate grudge and murmuring arose among the people for when they were so sealed the kings officers wrote in the same what liked them as well for charging the parties with payment of money as otherwise The deathe of â—…e duke of Lancaster In this meane time the duke of Lancaster departed out of this life at the bishop of Elies place in Holborne and lieth buryed in the cathedrall churche of S. Paule in London on the North side of the highe Aulter by the Lady Blaunche his firste wife The death of this duke gaue occasion of encreasing more hatred in the people of this realm towarde the king for he seased into his handes all the goods that belonged to hym and also receyued all the rents and reuenues of his landes whiche ought to haue discended vnto the duke of Hereforde by lawfull inheritaunce in reuoking his letters patents which he had graunted to him before Thom VVal. by vertue wherof he might make his attorneis generall to sue liuery for hym of any maner of inheritaunces or possessions that myghte from thenceforthe fall vnto hym and that hys homage myghte bee respited wyth making reasonable fine wherby it was euident that the king ment his vtter vnâ—… 〈◊〉 Thys hards dealing was muche myâ—… of all the nobilitie and cried out against of the meaner sorte But namely the Duke of Yorke was therewyth sore amoued who before this time had borne things with so pacient a 〈◊〉 as he could though the same touched him 〈◊〉 neare as the death of his brother the Duke of Gloucester the banishment of hys nephâ—… the said duke of Hereford and other mo iniuries 〈◊〉 greate number which for the slippery youth of the king hee passed ouer for the tyme and did forget aswell as he might But now perceiuing that neither law 〈◊〉 nor equitie could take place where the kinges wilful wil was bent vpon any wrongfull purpose he considered that the glorie of the 〈◊〉 wealthe of his countrey must needes decay by reason o the king his lacke of witte and want of suche as would without flattery admonish hym of hys duty and therefore hee thought it the parte of a wise man to get hym in time to a resting place and to leaue the followyng of suche an vnaduised capitaine as wyth a leaders sworde would cut his owne throate Herevpon he wyth the duke of Aumarle his sonne went to his house at Langley The duke of York mistaketh the court and goeth 〈◊〉 reioicing that nothing had mishappened in the common wealthe throughe his deuise or consent The realme let to ferme by the Kyng The common brute â—…anne that the kyng had sette to ferme the realme of England vnto sir Wylliam Scrope Earle of Wiltshire and then treasourer of Englande to sir Iohn Bushy Syr Iohn Bagot and sir Henry Greene Knights Aboute the same time the Earle of Arundels sonne named Thomas whiche was kept in the duke of Exeters house escaped out of the realme by meanes of one Willyam Scot meecer and went to his vncle Thomas Arundell late Archbishop of Canterbury as then soiorning at Coleyn King Richarde beeing destitute of treasure to furnishe suche a Princely porte as he mainteined Tho. VVals borrowed greate summes of money of many of the greate Lordes and Peeres of hys realme both spiritual and temporall and likewise of other meane persones promysing them in good earnest by deliuering to them his letters patentes for assuraunce that hee woulde repay the money so borrowed at a day appointed which notwithstanding he neuer payd Moreoreouer Nevve â—…actionâ—… this yere he caused .xvij. shires of the realme by way of putting theÌ„ to their fines to pay no smal suÌ„mes of money for redeeming their offeÌ„ces that they had aided y e duke of Gloucester the erles of Arudel Warwik wheÌ„ theâ—… rose in armor against him The nobles gentlemeÌ„ and commons of those shires were enforced also to receiue a newe othe to assure the king of their fidelitie in time to come The 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 vvas 〈◊〉 plâ—…ce 〈◊〉 vvere to 〈◊〉 the King vvithall but the same displeâ—… many that vvas that conâ—…d to pay against their vvâ—…es and withall certaine prelates and other honorable persoâ—…ges were sent into the same shites to persuade men to this payment and to see thinges ordered at the pleasure of the Prince and surely the â—…nes whiche the nobles and other the meaner estates of those shires were constrayned to pay were not small but exceeding greate to the offence of many Moreouer the kings letters pâ—…coâ—…tes were sent into euery shire within this land by vertue whereof The people coÌ„â—… their othe 〈◊〉 alegeaâ—…nce by vvriting â—…ed an othe was demaunded of all the kings liege people for a further assuraunce of their due obedience and they were consterined to ratifie the same in writing vnder their handes and seales Moreouer they
Chandew of Britain his especial frend he made erle of Bath Sir Giles Daubency was made lord Daubeney sir Robert Willoughby was made L. Brooke And Edward Stafforde eldest sonne to Henrye late Duke of Buckingham he restored to his name dignitie and possessions which by king Richard were confiscate and attainted Beside this in this parliament was this notable acte assented to and concluded as followeth To the pleasure of Almightye God wealth prosperitie and suretie of this Realme of England and to the singular comfort of all the kinges subiectes of the same in auoyding all ambiguitie and questions An acte for the establishing of the Crovvne Be it ordeined established and enacted by this present parliament that the inheritance of the crowne of this realme of England and also of Fraunce with all the preeminēce and dignitie royal to the same apertaining and all other seigniories to the king belongyng beyond the sea w t the appurtenāces therto in any wise due or apertaining shal rest remain abide in the most royal person of our nowe soueraigne lord K. Henry the seuēth and in the heires of his body laufully coming perpetually with y e grace of god so to endure in none other And beside this act al atteynders of this K. enacted by king Edward and Kyng Richard were adnichilate and the recorde of the same adiudged to be defaced and all persones attented for his cause and occasion were restored to their goods landes and possessions Diuers acts also made in this time of king Edward and king Richard were reuoked and other adiudged more expedient for the cōmon wealthe were put in their places and concluded After the dissolution of this parliament the king remembring his frends left in hostage beyonde the seas that is to wit the Marques Dorset and sir Io. Bourchier he with all conueniēt spede redemed them sente also into Flanders for Iohn Morton Bishop of Ely These actes performed he chose to bee of his counsayle a conuenient number of right graue and wyse counsellours Although by this meanes al things seemed to be brought in good and perfect order yet ther lacked a wrest to the harpe to set all the strings in a monacorde and perfecte tune which was the matrimonie to be finished betwene the king and the Lady Elizabeth daughter to king Edward which like a good Prince according to his othe promise King Henrye the seuenthe taketh to vvife Elizabeth eldeste daughter of Edvvard the fourthe 1486 did both solemnise cosummate shortely after that is to saye on the .xviij. day of Ianuarie by reason of whych mariage peace was thought to descende out of heauen into Englād considering that the lynes of Lancaster Yorke were now brought into one knot and connexed togither of whose two bodies one heire myghte succeede to rule and enioye the whole monarchie and realme of Englande Shortly after for the better preseruation of his royall person he constituted and ordeyned a certaine number as well of good Archers as of dyuers other persons hardie strong and actiue to giue dayly attendance on his persone whome he named yeomen of his garde Yeomen of the garde firste brought in which president men thought that he lerned of the French king when he was in France For it is not remembred that any Kyng of Englande before that daye vsed any such furniture of dayly souldiours In the same yeare a newe kynde of sicknesse inuaded sodeynly the people of this lande Another parliament the same yeare passing thorough the same from the one ende to the other It began about the .xxj. of September and continued till the latter end of October beyng so sharpe and deadly that the lyke was neuer hearde of to any mannes remembrance before that tyme. For sodeynely a deadely burnyng sweate so assayled theyr bodies The svveating sickenesse and distempered their bloud wyth a moste ardent heat that scarse one amongst an hundred that sickned did escape with life for all in maner as soone as the sweat tooke them or within a short tyme after yelded vp the ghost besyde the great number which deceassed within the citie of London two Mayres successiuely died within viij days .vj. Aldermē At length by the diligent obseruatiō of those that escaped whiche marking what things had done thē good holpen to their deliuerance vsed the lyke agayne when they fell into the same disease A remedye for ◅e svveating ◅sse the second or thirde tyme as to dyuers it chaunced a remedie was founde for that mortall maladie which was this If a man on the daye tyme were taken with the sweate then should he streight lye downe withal his clothes and garments and continue in hys sweat .xxiiij. houres after so moderate a sort as might bee If in the nyghte hee chaunced to be taken then shoulde he not ryse out of his bedde for the space of .xxiiij. houres so castyng the cloathes that he myght in no wyse prouoke the sweate but so lye temperately that the water mighte distyll out softly of the owne accord and to abstein from all meat if he might so long suffer hunger to take no more drinke neyther hot nor colde thā wold moderatly quench assuage his thirstie appetite And thus with lukewarme drinke temperate heate and measurable clothes manye escaped fewe whiche vsed this order after it was founde out dyed of that sweat Mary one point diligētly aboue all other in this cure is to be obserued that he neuer put out his hande or feete out of the bed to refreshe or coole himself which to do is no lesse ieopardie than short and present death Thus this disease comming in the first yeare of king Henries reigne was iudged of some to be a token and signe of a troublous reigne of the same king as the profe partly afterwardes shewed it selfe The king standing in neede of money to discharge suche debtes and to maynteyn such port as was behouefull sente the Lorde Treasourer with Maister Reignold Bray and others vnto the Lord Mayre of London requiryng of the Citie a prest of sixe thousand markes Whervpon the sayd Lord Mayre and his brethren with the Commons of the Citie graunted a preast of two thousande poundes whiche was leuyed of the companies and not of the wardes and in the yeare next ensuyng it was well and truly agayne repayde euery penny to the good contentation and satisfying of them that disbursed it The king considering that the suretie of his royall estate and defence of the realme consisted chiefly in good lawes and ordinaunces to bee hadde and obserued among his people summoned eftsoones his highe courte of Parliamente therein to deuise and establishe some profitable actes and statutes for the wealth and commoditie of his people and then after hauyng sette thinges in quiet about London hee tooke his iorney into the North partes there to purge all the dregges of malicious treason that myghte rest in the heartes of vnquiet persons and namely
The names of the captaines â—â— the rebels gouernour of the Mount Iames Rosogan Iohn Rosogan Iohn Payne Thomas Vnderhill Iohn Soleman and William Segar Moreouer of Priestes whiche were principall stirets and some of them chiefe gouernours of the Campes and after executed there were to the number of eyght whose names we finde to be as follow Robert Bocham Iohn Thompson Roger Barret Iohn Wolcock Willyam Alsa Iames Mourton Iohn Barrowe Richarde Benet besides a multitude of other Priestes whiche ioyned with them The number â—â—he rebels â—… Deuonshire The whole companies of these rebels mounted little lesse than to the number of tenne thousand stoute and valiant personages able in dede if their cause had bene good and fauoured of the Lorde and giuer of victories to haue wrought great feates But being as they were ranke and malicious traytours the almightie God confounded their deuises and brought them to their deserued confusion A straunge case that those mischieuous and wicked traytours coulde not be warned by the euill successe of their diuelish attempted outrage in the yeare last past at what time certaine sedicious persons in Cornewale fell vpon one of the K. commissioners named maister Body sent thither with others for the reformation of matters in religion in like maner as other were sent the same tyme into other shires of the Realme for the which murther a Priest being apprehended arreygned and condemned was drawne into Smithfielde and there hanged and quartered the vij day of Iuly in the sayd last yeare before mencioned to wit .1548 Other of his coÌ„plires and associates were executed and put to death in diuerse other parts of the Realme Finally nothing was left vndone whiche the enimie coulde imagine to serue his purpose for the winning of that Citie And albeit there wanted not lustie stomacks among the Citizens to withstande this outwarde force of the enimie yet in processe of time such scarcitie of breade and vittayles increased that the people waxed weary and loâ—…he to abyde such extremitie of famine Howbeit the Magistrates though it grieued them to see the multitude of the Citizens in such distresse yet hauing a speciall regarde of their dutie towarde the Prince The great loialtie of the citizens of Exceter and loue to the common wealth left no wayes vnsought to quiet the people and stay them in their dutifull obedience to resiste the enimies so that comforting the people with fayre promises and relieuing their necessities verye liberally so farre as their power might extende did in such sorte vse the matter that euery of them within resolued with one generall consent to abide the ende in hope of some speedie reliefe And in the meane while when their corne and meale was consumed the Gouernors of the citie caused branne and meale to be moulded vp in cloth for otherwise it wold not sticke togither Also they caused some excursions to be made out of the Citie to take and fetche into the Citie suche cattayle as were founde pasturing abroade neare to the walles which being brought in were distributed among the poore To conclude into suche extremitie were the miserable Citizens brought that albeit maâ—…es nature can scarcely abide to feede vpon any vnaccustomed foode yet these siely men were glad to eate horse fleshe and to holde themselues well content therewith Whylest the siege thus remained before Exceter the Rebels spoyled and robbed the countrie abroade and laying their trayterous heads togither they consulted vpon certaine articles to be sent vp to the King M. Foxe but herein such diuersitie of heades and wits was among them that for euery kinde of braine there was one maner of article so that neither appeared any consent in their diuersitie nor yet any constancie in their agreement Some seemed more tollerable other altogither vnreasonable Some woulde haue no Iustices Some no state of Gentlemenne The Priestes euer harped on one string to ring the Bishop of Rome into Englande againe and to hallowe home Cardinall Poole their countrieman After much a doe at length a fewe articles were agreed vppon to bee directed vnto the King with the names of certayne of their heades sette therevnto the copie whereof here ensueth The articles of the Commons of Deuonshere and Cornewall sent to the King with aunsweres afterwarde following vnto the same FIrst Sacrament of Baptisme forasmuch as man except he be borne of water and the holy ghost cannot enter into the kingdome of God and forasmuche as the gates of heauen â—…e not open without this blessed sacrament of Baptisme therefore we will that our Curates shall minister this sacrament at all times of neede as well on the weeke dayes as on the holy dayes 2 Item Confirmation we will haue our children confirmed of the Bishop whensoeuer we shall within the Dioces resort vnto him 3 Item Consecrating of the Lordes bodie forasmuch as we constantly beleeue that after the Priest hath spoken the wordes of consecration being at Masse there celebrating and consecrating the same there is verye really the bodye and bloude of our Sauiour Iesu Christ God and manne and that no substaunce of breade and wine remayneth after but the verye selfe same bodie that was borne of the Virgin Marie and was giuen vpon the Crosse for our redemption therefore wee wyll haue Masse celebrated as it hath bene in times past without any man communicating with the Priestes for as muche as many rudely presuming vnworthily to receyue the same put no difference betweene the Lordes bodie and other kinde of meate some saying that it is breade before and after some saying that it is profitable to no man except he receyue it with many other abused termes 4 Item we will haue in our Churches Reseruation of the Lordes bodie consecrated reseruation 5 Item we will haue holye breade and holy water in the remembrance of Christes precious bodie and bloude Holy breade and holy water 6 Item wee will that oure Priestes shall sing or saye with an audible voyce Gods Seruice in the Quiere of the Parishe Churches and not Gods seruice to be set forth like a Christmas play 7 Item The single life of Priests forasmuche as Priestes be meane dedicated to God for ministring and celebrating the blessed sacraments and preaching of Gods worde we will that they shall lyue chaste without mariage as Saint Paule did being the elect and chosen vessell of God saying vnto all honest Priestes bee you followers of me The sixe articles to be reâ—…d Item we will that the vj. Articles whiche our Souereigne Lorde King Henrie the eyght sette forth in his latter dayes shall be vsed and to taken as they were at that time Item we pray God saue King Edwarde for we be his both bodie and goodes For the pacifying of these Rebelles were appoynted by the King and his Counsaile The captaines appointed to go against the Deuonshire rebels sir Iohn Russell knight Lorde priuie seale the L. Grey of Wilton Sir
Kyng at length was deposed and his sonne slayn and his Queene sent home agayne with as muche myserie and sorrowe as she was receyued with pompe and triumph such is the instabilitie of worldly felicitie and so wauering is false flattering fortune This yere after the deceasse of Henry Chicheley Archbishop of Canterbury succeeded Iohn Stafford in gouernment of that sea being translated from Bathe and Welles He was the .lxj. Archbishop as Polydore noteth During the tyme of the truce Richard duke of Yorke and dyuers other capitaines repaired into Englande both to visite their wyues children and frendes and also to consult what shuld be done if the truce ended For the whiche cause a Parliament was called An. reg 24. in the which it was especially cōcluded that by good foresight Normandie mighte be so furnished for defence before the ende of the Truce 1446 that the Frenche king should take no aduantage through wante of tymely prouision for it was knowne that if a peace were not concluded the Frenche kyng did prepare to imploye his whole puissance to make open warre Herevppon money was graunted The Duke of Somerset made Regent of Normadie an armye leuyed and the Duke of Somerset appoynted to be Regent of Normandie and the Duke of Yorke therof discharged I haue seene in a Register booke belongyng somtime to the Abbey of S. Albons that the D. of Yorke was established Regent of France after the decease of the duke of Bedford to continue in that office for the terme of .v. yeres which being expired he returned home and was ioyfully receiued of the king with thanks for his good seruice as he had full well deserued in tyme of that his gouernement and further that now when a newe Regent was to be chosen sent ouer to abide vpon safegard of the countreys beyond the seas as yet subiect to the English dominion the said duke of Yorke was estsoones as a man most mete to supplie that roomth appointed to go ouer again as Regent of Fraunce with all his former allowances But the Duke of Somersette still maligning the Duke of Yorkes aduauncement as hee had soughte to hinder his dispatche at the firste when he was sent ouer to be regent as before ye haue heard he likewyse nowe wrought so that the king reuoked his graunt made to the duke of Yorke for enioying of that office the terme of other fiue yeares and with helpe of Williā Marques of Suffolke obteyned that graunt for him selfe Whiche malicious dealing the Duke of Yorke mighte so euill heare that in the ende the heate of displeasure burst out into suche a flame as consumed at length not only bothe those two noble personages but also many thousandes of others though in dyuers tymes seasons as in places hereafter as occasion serueth it shal more euidently appeare But nowe to returne to the Parliament The Marques of Suffolke supposing that all men had as well lyked his doinges duryng the tyme of hys Legation in Fraunce as the same pleased himselfe The Marques of Suffolkes requestes the seconde daye of Iune in the fyrst Session of this Parliamente before all the Lordes bothe Spirituall and Temporall in the hygher house assembled openly eloquently and boldly declared his payne trauaile and diligence susteyned in his sayde Legation as well for the takyng and concluding an abstinence of warre as in the making of the marriage opening also to them that the sayd truce expired the firste of Aprill next comming except a small peace or a farther truce were concluded in the meane season and therfore he aduised them to prouide and forsee things necessarie for the warre as though no concorde shoulde succede least happly the Frenchemen perceyuing them vnprouided wold take theyr aduantage and agree neyther to peace nor amitie saying vnto them that syth hee hadde admonyshed the Kyng and them accordyng to hys duetie if anye thyng happened otherwyse than well hee was therof innocente and guyltlesse and hadde acquyted hymselfe like a true and louyng subiecte and a faythfull counsayloure praying the Lordes to haue it in remembraunce Lykewyse on the morrowe after he descended into the common house accompanyed with certain Lordes and there declared the same matter to the Knyghtes Citizens and Burgeses praying the Commons for hys discharge that as well all hys dooyngs and proceedyngs in the Kyngs affaires beyonde the sea as also his aduertisemente and counsell opened to the Lords and Commons nowe together assembled might bee by the Kyng and them enacted and enrolled in the Recordes of the Parliament Wherevppon the morrow after the Speaker William Burleye and the company of the lower house repayred vnto the Kyngs presence then syttyng amongst the Lordes of the vpper house and there humblye required that the request of the Marques myght be graunted and so likewise the Lords made the like petition kneling on their knees in so muche that the Kyng condescended to their desires and so the labors demeanors diligences and declarations of the sayde Marques together wyth the desyres not only of the Lordes but also of the commons as wel for the honor of him and his posteritie as for his acquitall discharge were enacted enrolled in the records of the Parliament By y e Quenes meanes shortly after also was the said Marques aduaunced so in authoritie that hee ruled the Kyng at his pleasure and to his hyghe preferment obteyned the wardships both of the bodye and landes of the Countesse of Warwike and of the Ladie Margaret sole heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset whiche Ladie was after mother to King Henry the seuenth and beside that caused the kyng to create Iohn de Foys sonne to Gaston de Foys Earle of Longvile and the Captaw de Bueff Earle of Kendall whiche Iohn had maryed his neece and by his procurement the king elected to the order of the garter the sayde Gaston and Iohn his sonne giuyng to the sonne towards the mayntenaunce of hys degree landes and castelles amounting to the summe of one thousande poundes whiche landes name and style the issue and lyne of the sayde Earle of Kendale at this daye haue and enioye These things being thus in doing the French king seeyng that the Towne of Mans was not deliuered accordyng to the appoyntement taken by force of the mariage raysed an armie for to recouer the same Wherof the king of England beeing aduertised least the breache of the truce should come by him caused the towne to be deliuered without any force A commotion in Norvviche This yeare was a great commotion in Norwiche agaynst the Prior of the place At length the Citizens opened the gates to the Duke of Norffolke whiche came thyther to appease the matter though at the fyrst they woulde not suffer hym to enter The chiefe offenders were accordyng to their demerites The liberties of Norvviche seased into the kings handes greuously punished and executed and the Mayre was discharged of hys office Sir Iohn Clyfton