intelligence with the Archbishop of Collen As Iohn of Oxford Richard Iuechester Richard de Lucie Iosslin Balliol Alan de Neuile and with these all such as had entred vpon the goods of the Church of Canterbury which hee called the patrimony of the Crusifex and the foode of the poore and these were Ralph de Brocke Hugh Saint Clare and Thomas Fitz Barnard Thus are both sides busied in this drie warre wherein though there were no sword yet it gaue vexation ynough And yet this was not all the worke that tooke vp the Kings time for during this dissention the Welsh againe reuolt and to supresse them he spent much labour with The King represses the Welch the losse of many great men and was himselfe in that daunger as had not Hubert Saint Clere receiued a wounde for him by an Arrow aymed directly at his person hee had there finished his part In this expedition hee is sayd to haue vsed extreame crueltie After this hee passes into Normandie to bee neere his businesse which now lay all on that side And first to entertaine the opinion of Pictie though hee were falne out with the Pope hee obtaines at an Assembly of his Bishops and Barons of Normandie 1166. Anno. Reg. 13. two pence in the pound of euery mans Lands and goods to beepayde that yeare 1166. and a penny of euery pound to be payde for foure yeares following which was leuied for the reliefe of the Christians in the Holy warre and sent vnto them Then hee raises forces and takes in certaine Castles in the Countrey of Maine and Marches of Brittaine from diuers Lords and Barons that had disobayed him And whilst he was busie abroade Mathew sonne to the Earle of Flanders who had married the Lady Marie Abbesse of Ramsey daughter to King Stephen had by her the Country of Bologne attempted something on the Coast of England either to try the affections of the people or to make spoyle and booty but without any effect at all the King being to mighty for any such weake vndertaker And to distend his powre yet wider falls out this occasion Conan Earle of Britaine dies and leaues one onely daughter which hee had by his wife Constance daughter to the King of Scots to succeed him in his State The King of England being then in armes vpon the Marches of Brittaine deales with the Guardians of the young Ladie to match her to his third sonne Geffry The nobility of that Country being then of a rough and haughty disposition giuen to fewds and perpetuall quarrelling one with another were wrought vpon and a side is wonne of such as could doe most in this businesse which is effected to the great contentation of the King of England This fell out to be in the 13 yeare of his raigne wherein as some write died his Mother Maud the Empresse a Lady of an high and actiue Spirit illustrious by her birth but more by her first match and most by her sonne whom she liued to see established in all these mighty States in the glory of Greatnesse Peace Fertile in issue hauing now The death of Maude the Empresse had 4 sonnes and 3 daughters linkes of loue and strength oftentimes in priuate families though seldome in Princes and shee left him in the best time of his daies before any great tempest ouertooke him Three yeares after this hee imployes most in France about the ordering and cleering the bounds of his Dominions from vsurpation or incrochments of neighbour Lords whom his greatnesse held all in awe and they must haue no more then hee would especially hee settles and reformes the State of Brittaine which was much out of order and in muteny about the late Match which being appeased hee keepes a solemne Christmas at Nants and Royally feasts the Nobilitie of the Countrey 1169. Anno. Reg. 16. Then returnes he into England where least Peace by reason of his long and often absence might afflict and corrupt his subiects he lookes to that Diuine and Almighty worke of Kings the administration of Iustice appoynting certaine commissioners as Syndicqs to examine the abuses and excesses committed by his Officers and grieuously Extortion and Bribety punished punishes the Shriefes of the Land for extortion and bribery His Easter he keepes at Windsor whither repaires vnto him William King of Scots who lately succeeded Malcom his brother and brings with him his younger brother Dauid both to congratulate the King of Englands returne and also continue his claime to those peeces in the North which hee pretended to bee vniustly detained from that Crowne The King entertaines him as hee had done his brother with faire words and tells him How it was not in his powre to doe any thing therein without the consent of the State in Parliament which if hee would attend there should bee that course taken as hee hoped might giue him satisfaction In expectation whereof this King came often into England and once attended the King in an expedition into France as his Predecesor had done But now all this while the wrath of the Church continues and the clowde hangs still ouer him dayly threatning the great thunder-bolt Although it seemes the Pope of himselfe was not verie forward to proceede to that extremity but would gladly haue quieted the Archbishoppe otherwise Who hee sayd had taken an ill time for this businesse the King being mighty and the Church in trouble and therefore writes The Pope writes to the Bishops of England he his letters to the Bishop of London and Hereford willing them to deale effectually with the King and to admonish him to desist from intruding vpon the liberties of the Church and to restore the Archbishop to his Sea and Dignity The Bishops wisely answere the Popes Letter in substance thus Wee haue sayd they done your Holinesse message and as much as was decent for the Maiestie The Bishops answere to the Popes Letter if a King instantly vrged him to satisfie your desire made by vs and if hee had erred from the way of truth and Iustice that hee would not delay to returne thereunto that hee would not inhibit such as were desirous to visit the Church of Rome hinder Appeales oppresso Churches and Churchmen or suffer others so to doe that hee would call home our Father the Archbishoppe c. and persist in the workes of Pietie that hee by whom Kings raigne might preserue vnto him his temporall Kingdome and giue him an eternall in Heauen and that vnlesse hee would yeelde to your Holy admonitions you who had hitherto indured could in patience forbeare no longer Besides we added this of our selues how it was to bee feared if hee amended not his errours his Kingdome would not long stand nor his prosper The King receiued your admonitions with manie thankes much Temperance and Modestie and answeres to euerie point First hee protested that in no sort hee auerted his minde from your Holinesse nor euer purposed so to
notice of wrong and checke the malice of an vnnaturall offender at which sight Richard surprised with horror is sayd to haue burst out into extreame lamentations He had issue by his wife Elianor foure sonnes Henry Richard Geffrey and Iohn besides two other William the eldest and Phillip the youngest but His Issue one died young Also three daughters Maude married to Henry Duke of Saxony Elianor the wife of Alfonso the eighth of that name king of Castile Ioan giuen Vide 10. Speed in marriage vnto William king of Sicile He had also two naturall sonnes by Rosamund daughter of Walter Lord Clifford William surnamed Longespee in English Long Sword and Geffrey Arch-bishop of Yorke who after fiue yeares banishment in his brother King Iohns time died Anno 1213. The first sonne William surnamed Longespee Earle of Salisbury in right of Ela his wife daughter and heire of William Earle of that County sonne of Earle Patricke had issue William Earle of Salisbury Stephen Earle of Vlster Ela Countisse of Warwick Idae Lady Beuchampe of Bedford and Isabell Lady Vescy His Sonne Earle William the second had Earle William the third Father of Margaret wife of Henry Lacie Earle of Lincolne It is said King Henry had also a third naturall Sonne called Morgan by the wife of one Rodulph Bloeth or Blewet a Knight hee liued to be Prouost of Beuerley and to be elected to the Bishopricke of Duresme and comming to Rome for a dispensation because his basiardy made him otherwise vncapeable the Pope willed him to professe him selfe Blewets lawfull sonne and not the Kings Naturall promising to consecrate him on that condition but he vsing the aduise of one William Lane his Clerke told the Pope that for no worldly promotion he would renounce his Father or deny himselfe to be of blood Royall The ende of the Life and Raigne of Henry the second The Life and raigne of Richard the first RICHARD surnamed Coeure de Lion borne at Oxford succeeding his Father He began his raigne the 6â— of Iuly aged 35. first seizes vpon his Treasure in France being in the hands of Stephan Thurnham Seneschall of Normandy whom he imprisons with fetters and manacles to extort the vttermost thereof And then repayres to Roan where by Walter the Archbishop hee is guirt with the sword 1189. Anno. Reg. 1. of the Dutchy of Normandie takes fealty both of the Clergie and Lay and then goes to Parle and compose his bufinesse with the King of France which hee did by money and obtayned restitution of all such peeces as had beene gotten from his Father in the time of the late warres Besides for his better strength hee giues in marriage Maude his Neece daughter of the Duke of Saxonie to Geffrey sonne to the Earle of Perch During this stay and setling of his affaires in France Queene Elianor his Mother freed from her imprisonment which shee had endured twelue yeares hath power to dispose of the businesse of England which especially shee imployed in preparing the The slaughter of the lewes at the Coronation affections of the people by pardons and releeuement of oppressions and then meetes her sonne at Winchester Where besides his Fathers treasure which was 900000 pounds in gold and siluer besides plate Iewels and pretious stones there fell vnto him by the death of Geffrey Ridle Bishop of Ely dying intestate 3060 Markes of Siluer and 205 of Gold which came well to defray the charge of his Coronation celebrated the third day of September 1189 at Westminster and imbrued with the miserable slaughter of the Iewes inhabiting in and about the Citie of London who comming to offer their presents as an afflicted people in a strange Country to a new King in hope to get his fauour were set vpon by the multitude and many lost both their liues and substance The example of London wrought the like mischiefe vpon the Iewes in the Townes of Norwich Saint Edmondsbury Lincoln Stamford and Linne All this great Treasure left to this King was not thought sufficient for this intended action of the Holy warre which was still on foote but that all other waies were deuised to raise more money and the King sells much Land of the Crowne both to the Clergie and others Godfrey de Lucy Bishoppe of Winchester bought two Mannors Weregraue and Menes The Abbot of Saint Edmondsbury the Mannor of Mildhall for one thousand Markes of siluer The Bishop of Duresme the Mannor of Sadborough with the dignity pallitinate of his whole Prouince which occasioned the King iestingly to say what a cunning workeman he was that could make of an olde Bishoppe a new Earle Besides hee grants to William King of Scots the Castles of Berwike and Roxborough for 10000 Markes and releaseth him of those couenants made and confirmed by his Charter vnto King Henry the second as extorted from him being then his prisoner reseruing vnto himselfe onely such rights as had beene and were to bee performed by his brother Malcolin to his Ancestors the kings of England Moreouer pretending to haue lost his Signet made a new and proclamation that whosoeuer would safely enioy what vnder the former Signet was graunted should come to haue it confirmed by the new whereby hee raised great summes of money to the griefe of his subiects Then procures he a power from the Pope that whosoeuer himselfe pleased to dismisse from the iourney and leaue at home should bee free from taking the Crosse and this likewise got him great Treasure which was leuied with much expedition by reason the king of France in Nouember after the Coronation sent the Earle of Perch with other Commissioners to signifie to king Richard how in a generall Assembly at Paris he had solemnly sworne vpon the Euangelists to bee ready at Tours with all the Princes and people of his kingdome who had vndertaken the Crosse presently vpon Easter next following thence to set forward for the Holy Land And for the assurance and testimony thereof hee sends the Charter of this Deede vnto the king of England requiring him and his Nobilitie vnder their hands to assure him in like sort to be ready at the same time and place which was in like maner concluded at a generall Councell held at London And in December hauing onely stayed but foure monthes in England after his Coronation this King departs into Normandie Vide Append. The Kings departure out of England toward the Holy warre keepes his Christmas at Rouen and presently after hath a parle with the King of France at Reimes where by Oath and writing vnder their hands and seales with the faith giuen by all their Nobility on both sides is confirmed a most strict Peace and Vnion betwixt both Kings for the preseruation of each other and their Estates with the orders concluded for their iourney Which done the King of England sends for Queene Elionor his mother his brother Iohn the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Winchester Duresme
both In the Fift a Twentieth of their goods His many supplies means for Money towards the Welsh Warres In the seauenth the Old Money was called in and New coyned in regard it had beene much defaced by the Iewes for which 297. were at one time executed at London and this brought him in a great benefit In Anno Reg. 8. seeking to examine Mens Titles to their Lands by a Writt of Quo Warranto which opposed by the Earle Warreine who drew out his Sword vpon the Writt saying How by the same hee held his Land and thereby would make good his Tenure the King desists obtaines a Fifteenth of the Clergie In the Eleauenth he had a Thirtieth of the Temporaltie a Twentieth of the Clergie for the Welsh Warres In the Thirteenth Escuage forty shillings for euery Knights fee for the same purpose In the Fourteenth he had a Thousand Marks of certaine Marchants fined for false Weights In the Seauenteenth those fines fore-declared of the Iudges In the Eighteenth this Confiscation of Iewes a Fifteenth of the English After this Anno Reg Nineteenth pretending a Voyage to the Holy-Land the Clergie grants him an Eleauenth part of all their Moueables and shortly after the Pope procures him a Tenth for Six yeeres to bee collected in England Scotland and Ireland and laid vp in Monasteries vntill hee were entred into Mare Maggior But hee made the Collectors pay him the money gathered for Three yeeres without going so farre hauing occasion to vse it at home about the purchase of a new Kingdome For the crowne of Scotland vpon the death of King Alexander of the Daughter of Reg. 17. Anno. 1290. his daughter Margaret who was to inherit was now in controuersie Six Competitors pretend title thereunto all discending from Dauid earle of Huntingdon younger brother to William King of Scots and great Vncle to this late King Alexander This title King Edward takes vpon him to decide pretending a right of Superioritie from his Ancestors The occasion of his Warres with Scotland ouer that Kingdome The Scotts which swayed the Interregnum are constrayned for auoyding further inconueniences to make him Arbiter thereof and the Six Competitors bound to stand to his Award Two are especially found betweene whome the Right lay Iohn Baliol Lord of Galloway and Robert Bruce the one descending King Edward chosen by the Scots to arbitrate the right of the pretenders to that Crowne from an elder Daughter the other from a Sonne of a younger Daughter of Alan who had Married the Eldest Daughter of this Dauid Brother to King William The Controuersie held long Twelue of eyther Kingdome learned in the Laws are elected to debate the same at Berwick All the best Ciuilians in the Vniuersities of France are sollicited to giue their oppinions the differences and perplexednes whereof made the decission more difficult According to the Nature of Littigation that euer begetts rather Doubts then Resolutions and neuer knows well how to make Reg. 18. Anno 1291. an End King Edward the better to sway this businesse by his presence takes his Iourney Northward and whilst hee sought to compasse greater felicitie hee lost the better part of what hee had in this world his deere consort Elionor who had euer attended Queene Elionor dies Her Prayse him in all his Fortunes the Paragon of Queenes and the honor of Woman-hood who is said to haue sucked the Poyson out of the Wound giuen him by the Assasin in the East when no other meanes could preserue his Life dies by the way in Lincolnshire With whose Corps in extreame griefe hee returnes back to Westminster causing at all especiall places where it rested by the Way goodly engrauen Crosses with her Statue to bee erected As at Stamford Waltham West-Cheape Charing and others Gratefull Monuments of his Affection and her renowned Faithfulnes Her Funeralls performed back hee returnes to his Scottish businesse And now Six yeeres it was since the Death of King Alexander and much time hauing beene Scottish Hist. spent and nothing concluded in this controuersie King Edward that would be sure whosoeuer preuailed to haue the hand that should make him deales priuately with Bruce who had the weaker Title but the more friends and promises him if he would yeeld Fealtie and Homage to the Crowne of England he would inuest him in that of Scotland Bruce answeres Hee was not so desirous of Rule as thereby to infringe the Liberties of his Countrie Then with the like offer hee sets vpon Baliol who hauing better right but lesse loue of the people and more greedy of a Kingdome then honour Bal ol made King of Scotland yeelds thereunto is Crowned King at Scone hath Fealty done him of all the chiefe Nobility except Bruce comes to New-castle vpon Tyne where King Edward then lay and there with many of his Nobles sweares Fealtie and did Homage vnto him as his Soueraigne Lord. Which Act as hee thought done to secure him ouer-threw Reg. 21. Anno. 1294. him For being little beloued before hereby hee became lesse such as stood for Bruce and others of the Nobility more tender of the preseruation of their Countries libertie grew into Stomack against him as hauing not onely discontented them in this Act but shortly after in his Iustice in the case of the Earle of Fife one of the sixe Gouernours in the time of the Anarchie who had beene slaine by the Famelie of Aberneth And the brother of this Earle now prosecuted in Law before King Balioll in his high Court of Parliament where hauing no right done him King Baliol giuing Iudgement on the side of the Aberneths the wronged Gentleman appeales to the Court of the King of England King Baliol is thither summoned appeares sits with King Edward in his Parliament till his cause was to be tried and then is hee cited by an Officer to arise and stand at the place appointed for pleading He craues to answere by a Procurator it is denied then himselfe arises and discends to the ordinary place and defends his cause With which Indignity as hee tooke it hee returnes home with a brest full Baliol discontented returnes into Scotland charged with indignation Meditates reuenge renewes the ancient League with France Confirmes it with the marriage of his sonne Edward with a daughter of Charles brother to King Philip glad in regard of late offences taken against the Reg. 23. An. 1296. King of England to imbrace the same Which done Baliol defies King Edward renounces his Allegiance as vnlawfully done being not in his powre without the consent of the State to doe any such act Hereupon brake out that mortall dissention betweene the two Nations which during the raigne of the three last Scottish Kings had held faire correspōdence together that consumed more Christian bloud wrought more spoyle and distruction and continued longer then euer quarrell wee read of did betweene any two people of the World For hee
3. His loue to his subiects was exprest in the often easing of their grieuances and his willingnesse to giue them all faire satisfaction as appeares by the continuall granting of the due obseruation of their Charters in most of his Parliaments And when Anno Reg. 14. they were iealous vpon his assuming the title of the Kingdome of France least England should thereby come to be vnder the Subiection of that Crowne as being the greater he to cleare them of that doubt passed a Statute in the firmest manner could be deuised that this Kingdome should His Proui dence remayne intyre as before without any violation of the rights it had Prouident hee was in all his actions neuer vndertaking any thing before hee had first furnished himselfe with meanes to performe it And therein his subiects allowed him more with lesse adoe then euer any of his Predecessors had and he as fairely issued what hee receiued from them hauing none other priuate vent of profusion then his enterprises for aduancing the State honour of the Kingdom True it is that most attent and carefull hee was to get monies but yet it was without the Sackage of any man such as his Grand-father made vpon the Officers of Iustice the Iewes and others For his gifts wee finde them not such as either hurt his owne fame and reputation or any way distasted the State To be short hee was a Prince who knew his worke and did it and therefore was hee better obeyed better respected and serued then any of his Predecessors His Workes of Pietie were great and many as the founding of East-minster an Abbay His workes of Pietie of the Cisteaux Order neere the Towre An Abbey for Nunnes at Detford The Kings Hall in Cambridge for poore Schollers An Hospitall for the poore at Calais The building of Saint Stephans Chappell at Westminster with the endowment of 300. pound per ann to that Church His augmenting the Chappell at Winsor and prouisions there for Church-men and 24. poore Knights c. These were his publique His Buildings Workes the best Monuments and most lasting to glorifie the memorie of Princes Besides these his priuate buildings are great and many as the Castle of Winsor which he re-edified and enlarged The Castle of Quinborow Fortifications at Calais and other places His magnificence was shewed in his Tryumphes and Feasts which were sumptuously His Magnifcence celebrated with all due Rites and Ceremonies the preseruers of Reuerence and Maiestie To conclude hee was a Prince whose nature agreed with his Office as onely made for it Those defaillances wee finde in him at last wee must not attribute to him but his age wherein we neuer yet saw Prince happie When their vigor fayles them which is commonly about 60. their Fortune doth Whilest this Prince held together he was indissolueble and as he was then we take his Figure Fortunate he was also in his Wife a Ladie of excellent vertue who though shee His Wife and yssue brought him little or none Estate she brought him much content some benefit by Alliance a faire Yssue She drew euenly with him in al the courses of Honor that appertained to her side seems a peece so iust cut for him as answer'd him rightly in euery ioynt Gracious louing she euer shewed her-selfe to this Nation did many works of Pietie amongst which Queenes Colledge in Oxford remaines especially a Monument of her Name and Renowne And it is worthy the Marke that this King and his Grand-father Edward the first the best of our Kings had the two best Wiues Which shewes that worthines is such an Elixar as by contaction if there be any disposition of goodnesse in the Metall it will render it of the same Propertie So that these Queenes could be no otherwise then they were hauing so execellent Husbands She bare vnto him 7. Sonnes whereof 5. liued to haue Yssue Edward Prince of Wales Lionel Duke of Clarence Iohn Duke of Lancaster Edmond Earle of Cambridge after Duke of Yorke and Thomas of Wood-stock which became Duke of Gloster Foure Daughters of fiue she bare liued to be marryed Isabel the eldest to Ingelxam Lord of Coucy Earle of Soissons and Bedford Ioan to Alphonso 11. King of Castile but she dyed before she lay with him Mary to Iohn Monfort Duke of Brittaigne Margaret to Iohn Hastings Earle of Pembroke and shee also dyed without Yssue Thus haue we seene the end of this great King who how he came to the Crowne we know and now how he left it we see in both are considerations of importance His stepping ouer his Fathers head to come to his throne though it were not his fault yet had it a punishment and that in a most high kinde For hauing so plentifull and so able an Yssue Male he had not yet a Sonne of his owne to sit on his Seat but left the same worse then he found it to a Childe of eleuen yeeres of age exposed to the Ambition of Vncles which ouer weighed him to a factious and discontented State at home to broken and distracted inheritances abroad himselfe hauing seene all his great gettings purchased with so much expence trauaile bloud-shed rent cleane from him and nothing remayning but onely the poore Towne of Calais To shewe that our Bounds are prescribed vs and a Pillar set by him who beares vp the Heauens which we are not to transpasse The end of the Life and Raigne of Edward the Third THus farre haue I brought this Collection of our History and am now come to the highest exaltation of this Kingdome to a State full built to a Gouernment reared vp with all those mayne Couplements of Forme and Order as haue held it together euer since notwithstanding those dilapidations made by our ciuile Discord by the Nonage or negligence of Princes by the alterations of Religion by all those corruptions which Tyme hath brought forth to fret and can ker-eate the same And here I leaue vnlesse by this which is done I finde incouragement to goe on
Supplications nor any band of aliance were auaileable to saue them from slaughter Wherein to incense the more their king Gunild his sister a woman of masculine courage who had a little before receiued Christendome a mediator and pledge of the peace hauing first her husband and sonne slaine in her sight rather Cunild slaine with a threatning then appaled countenance met her death making imprecation for reuenge and foretelling her bloud would as it did cost England deere Soone was the notice of this enormious act giuen to Swaine and as soone armed with rage and power re-entred hee the kingdome hauing now a fayrer shew to doe fowly then euer wrong had made him a right who had none before and the people of the Land not so forward to maintayne their act as to commit it rather were content to giue him the possession of their country then that hee should win it the greatest Swain wins England part of the Kingdome submitting themselues vnto him onely the Citie of London which Ethelred held fortified made Noble resistance till hee left them and conueyed himselfe first into the Isle of Wight and after into Normandie whither he had sent Emma Etheldred flies into Normandie his Queene with their two sonnes Aelfrid and Edward before from the rage of this tempest But within two moneths he was recalled home by the people of England vpon the death of Swaine who at the point to haue beene crowned King and had generally Swaines death taken ostages and oathes of fealty died suddenly leauing his sonne Knute to succeed his fortunes and accomplish what he intended Ethelred returning was soone furnisht with an Army sets vpon Knute in Lindsey Etheldred returnes where he lay with his fathers shipping and Hostages and draue him to take the seas where with inraged making about to Sandwich hee miserably mangled and dismembred those hostages and so sent them home himselfe with the spoiles his father and he had gotten returned to his Country to make greater preparations for the prosecution of his purpose Ethelred in the meane time to increase the summe of reuengement with more wrath at a generall assembly at Oxford caused many of the Danique Nobility to be murthered Among which were Sigifrith and Morchar Earles of Northumberland whom the false Edric who had a hand on each side for mischiefe inuiting to his lodging vnder pretence of feasting barbarously caused to be slaine their followers after they had so long as they could desperately defended themselues and their maisters fled into a Church where they were with the same burnt Knute armed with Knute returnes the greatest of his owne and neighbours powers made his confederates landed againe within the yeare at Sandwich and without resistance had all the West parts rendred vnto him with pledges for their obedience and furnishment with horse and armor Here the false Edric leaues his liege-Liege-lord and yeelds vp forty ships and his periur'd faith to Knute Ethelred languishing in minde and body Edmond his sonne surnamed Ironside Etheldreds death to oppose youth to youth was imployed against this rabious inuador A Prince worthy of a better time and had he found faith had made it so and deliuered his Country at that turne from the worst of miseries the conquest by strangers Knute Edmond Ironside BVT now vpon the death of Ethelred whose 37 yeares raigne shewes that infelicity shall haue time too much and happinesse too little Knute was by most of the Clergie and Nobility chosen king onely the Citie of London with some of the Nobility there about made election of Edmond Edmond Ironside sonne to Ethelred by his first wife Ethelgina and furnished him with that power as thereby with the couragious ardour of his youth which commonly is most in the first attempts hee had the better in three imminent battels within three moneths and had likewise obtained the fourth at Essendon likely to haue beene the last with the An. 1016. Danes but that the disloyall Edric late renouncing his new Lord seeing Edmonds part in possibilitie to preuaile againe betraied his trust and withdrew himselfe and the charge he had to the enemy This satal battell lost England here perished the best flower of honour it then had Here amongst the rest was slaine Vlkill an Earle of Essex of euer memorable worth who had long stood vp for the Kingdome and in the time of Swaine was the first that shewed there was hope and possibility to quaile the enemy had there beene an vnion in loyaltie From this bloudy worke Edmond escapes to Glocester to recollect new sorces nor was hee so forsaken with this fortune but that hee soone recouered another armie to re-assaile the enemie that might be idle vpon this victorie But Knute as prouident Edmonds single combate with Knute in the prosecution of his businesse as fortunate therein makes after Here when both Armies were at the point to incounter a motion of peace was propounded Some say the two Kings by single combat consented to decide their fortunes and the ouer-commer to take all and that in an Isle of the riuer Seuern their Armies on either shore spectators of the act they tried the maistery for the prize of a Kingdome Peace concluded After long and equall fight finding each others worth they cast away their weapons imbraced and concluded the peace But howsoeuer it seemes both sides tyred with the miserie of a consuming warre neuer like to be ended but by the vtter extirpation of the one and considering the danger of either and incertaintie of the future were easily perswaded to imbrace a present agreement which was made by parting England England deuided between them betwixt them two and confirm'd by Oath and Sacrament putting on each others Apparell and Armes as a ceremonie to expresse the attonement of their mindes as if they made transaction of their persons each to other Knute became Edmond and Edmond Knute A fatall exchange for so free and magnanimous a Prince as Edmond who indeed was now no more himselfe and being but halfe a King was in so few dayes after none as makes this peace shew fouler then warre for that armed him for life this exposed him naked to death which was shortly after treacherously giuen him The death of King Edmond Ironside at Oxford at Oxford some say by the sonne of Edric as if to shew he would bee the heire of his father also in Treason whereby both the hope and the other halfe of England were vtterly lost as determinable with his raigne which with all we haue else of his magnanimous actions tooke vp scarce the circuit of one whole yeare And yet had that been space enough for glorie whose measure is to be taken rather by the profundity then the length which seldome holds long and euen could he haue had that cleere And better for his renowne to haue died at the battaile of Essendon with England then discended to haue made
in their pupillage besides the reproach of his birth which though his honour and vertue might get ouer yet lay it euer a barre in his way and hindred his standing cleere stood he neuer so high The Nobles of Normandie soone after his fathers death by much intreaty got him out of the French Kings hands thinking the hauing him amongst them would adde more to his Counsellors and such as were in office and the State of of a Court awe his State the better But soone they found the hauing his person without his power was but to put them out into more discord and faction For presently followed the murthering and poysoning of Gouernors displacing Officers intrusion supplantation surprizings and recouerings of his person by a Nobilitie stubborne haughtie and incompatible of each others precedencie or neerenesse But this was the least as being done all for his person Now followed more daungerous practises against him His right was quarrelled by competitors cleere in bloud and great in meanes Whereof the first though farthest off in discent was Roger de Tresny bringing a faire line from Roule and much proofe of his owne worth by hauing gotten great experience in the Sarazine warre in Spaine whereby vpon his returne entertayning and feasting the great and especiall men of worth hee was growen powerfull well followed and beloued of many in so much that at length measuring his owne heigth hee vrges What wrong it was that a Bastard and a Childe should bee preferred before him in the succession of the Dutchie his Auncestors had noblie gotten and what a shame the Normans a people of that worth would indure to bee so gouerned seeing they had others of the renowned race of Roule William and Richard Dukes of Normandie of a lawfull and direct line if they held him vnworthie to inherite the State And being impatient as is ambition that euer rides without raines of any long delay brings his claime to a strong battaile in the field which by the valiancie of Roger de Beaumount was vtterly defeited and himselfe with his two brethren slaine Whereby all feare that way was extinquished and the reputation of the Duke and his so much aduanced as the King of France notwithstanding his tutelarie charge tooke from him the Castle of Thuilliers and demolisht it pretending the insolencies committed there by the Garrisons vpon his subiects and makes shew as yet onely to keepe things euen But long it was not ere hee plainely bewrayed his minde aiding in person William Earle of Arques brother to Duke Robert and sonne to Richard the Second making his claime to the Dutchie brings a mightie army to succour Arques assieged by Conte Guiffard the Dukes Generall who by a stratagem so trayned the French into an ambush as hee ouerthrew their whole power and returnes the King to Paris with great losse and dishonor leauing Arques the first Arch of triumph to this Conquerour not yet ariued to seuenteene yeares of age and the discomfeited competitor to seeke his fortunes with Eustace Earle of Bologne finding vpon his returne little grace in Court where fortune euer alters credite and few regard men ouerthrowne This storme ouerpast another succeeds more dangerous there liued with Duke William a young Lord of like yeares named Guy sonne to Regnalt Earle of Borgogne and Alix daughter to Richard the second who comming to bee sensible of his interest was aduised by some stirring spirits to attempt for the Duchie which they said appertained to him in right and was wrongfully vsurped by the Bastard And to aduance his purpose there happens deadly hostility betweene two of the greatest Lords of Normandie Viconte Neele and the Earle of Bessin whose debate Duke William did not or could not pacifie This Guy lately made Earle of Bryorn and Vernon interposed himselfe to compose this discord and by the aduice of Grimoult de Plessis a principall mouer in this worke so wrought that either of these Lords turned the point of their malice vpon him who in their quarrell fauouring neither made both to hate him and easily conspire with Guy to murther him at vnawares which they had done had not a certaine Foole whom for being held a naturall they suspected not noting their preparations got away in the dead of the night to Valogne knocking and crying at the gate till hee was admitted to the Dukes presence whom he willed in hast to flie or he would bee murthered The Duke seeing the Foole in this affright thought dangers were not to be weighed by the A Conspiracie discouered strangely worth of the reporter but by their likelyhood and knowing his fortune was liable vnto all suddaine assasinations instantly takes horse and all alone postes to Fallaise his especiall place of strength on the way his horse being tyred about breake of daie he comes to a little village called Rye where by good fortune the gentleman of the place was standing at his doore readie to goe abrode of whom the Duke enquires the next way to Fallaise The Gentleman perceiuing who hee was though as then very vnwilling to be knowne humblie craues the cause of his so strange and vntimely riding alone The Duke seeing himselfe discouered tels the occasion the gentleman whose name was Robert de Rye furnishes him with a fresh horse and sends two of his sonnes to conduct him the neerest way to Fallaise No sooner was he gone out of sight but after post the conspirators enquiring of the same Gentleman whether hee saw the Duke who answered that hee was gone a little before such a way shewing them a diuers path and rode on with them offering his seruice to Conte Bessin where they made themselues so powerfull as the Duke withdrew him to Roan and from thence to the King of France to craue his aide putting him in minde of the faithfull seruice his father had done him how he was his homager vnder his tutelarie charge and had no other sanctuary of succour to flie vnto in this case of his mutinous and turbulent Nobilitie the effect whereof was of dangerous consequence to that Crowne And so farre vrged the importancie of reliefe as the King at length who seemes was yet content to haue him bee though not too strong and peraduenture rather him then his competitor Guy de Burgogne aided him in person with a puissant Army against these competitors whom they found in the vale of Dunes with as great power and resolution to bid them battaile as they to assaile them Here one Guilleson Vncle to Viconte Neel by the mother forced his horse into the battailion of the French and made at the King and strake him downe with his Launce which Conte Saint Paule perceiuing hastes to incounter him with that violence as both fell to the earth but Guilleson soone gets vp and though his horse was slaine vnder him by Chastillon hee escapes out of the presse and after fled into Apulia with others The King recouered and more inkindled with this affront spared not
of this Kingdome which could not but be likesome to the State in generall and all preferments and dignities conser'd on his to be either by vacancies or displacing others which must needs breed very feeling grieuances in particular And yet wee finde no great men thrust out of their roomes but such as put themselues out by reuolting after his establishment and their fealtie giuen as appeares by the controuersie betweene Warren the Norman and Sherburn of Sherburn Castle in Norfolke which castle though the King had giuen to Warren yet when Sherburn alledged How hee neuer bare Armes against him Cambden Nors that hee was his subiect as well as the other and held his Lands by that Law which he had established amongst all his subiects the King gaue iudgement against Warren and commanded that Sherburn should hold his Land in peace So that it seemes hee contented himselfe and his for the time onely with what he found here ready and with filling vp their places who were slaine in the battell or fled as many were with the sonnes of Harald out of the Kingdome Such Gentlemen as he could not presently preferre M. S. and had a purpose to aduance hee dispersed abroad into Abbeys there to liue till places fell out for them and 24 he sent to the Abby of Eley whereby he not onely lessened the multitude of attendants and suitors at Court eased that eye-sore of strangers but also had them a watch ouer the Clergie who then were of great and eminent power in the Kingdome and might preuaile with the people But the English Nobility incompatible of these new concurrents found notwithstanding 1067. Anno. Reg. 2. such a disproportion of grace and darkning of their dignities by the interposition of so many as must needs lessen their splendour that many of the chiefest doubting to be more impayred in honour and estate conspired together and fled some into Scotland and some into Denmarke to trie if by ayde from abroad they might The English Nobility forsake the kingdome recouer themselues and their lost fortunes againe at home Amongst which the chiefe was Edgar Atheling termed Englands Dearling which shewed the peoples zeale to his bloud who with his mother Agatha and his two sisters Magaret and Christin intending to retire into Hungarie their natiue Country were driuen by tempest on the coast of Scotland where they were in all Hospitable manner entertained by Malcolin the third whose former suffrings in his exile had taught him to compassionate others like distresses and whom it concerned now to looke to his owne his neighbours house being thus on fire and to foster a pattie against so daungerous an in-commer that was like to thrust them all out of doore Which induced him not onely to entertaine this Prince dispossest of his right but to enter league with him for the publique safetie And to inchaine it the stronger hee takes to wife Margaret the The King of Scots enters league with the English Nobility and marries Edgars sister sister of Edgar a Ladie indued withall blessed vertues by whom the bloud of our auncient Kings was preserued and conioyned with the Norman in Henry the second and so became English againe Vnto Edgar in Scotland repaired the Earles Edwin and Morchar Hereward Gospatric Siward with others and shortly after Stigand and Aldred Arch-bishops with diuers of the Clergie who in the third yeare of this Kings raigne raised very great commotions in the North beyond Humber and wrought most egarly 1068. Anno. Reg. 3. to recouer their lost Country but being now to late and the occasion not taken before the settling of the gouernment whilst it was new and branling they preuailed nothing but gaue aduantage to the Conquerour to make himselfe more then hee was For all conspiracies of subiects if they succeed not aduance the soueraigntie and nothing gaue roote to the Norman planting here more then the petty reuolts made by discattred troupes in seuerall parts begunne without order and followed without resolution whereas nothing could be done for a generall recouery but by a generall sulleuation of the people for which all wary preuention was vsed and they had waites enough laide on to hold them downe And though these Lords imbroiled themselues and held him doing in the North yet hee hauing all the South parts setled vnder his domination with well practized and prepared forces there could bee little hope of good whilst all their great estates furnisht the Normans both in state and meanes to ruine them The Earledome and all the Lands which Edwin held in See the Charter in the Appendix Yorkeshire were giuen to Alain Earle of Brittaine kinsman to the Conqueror The Arch-bishopricke of Canterburie confer'd on Lanfranc Abbot of Caen. That of Yorke on Thomas his Chaplaine and all the rest both of the Clergie and others which were out had their places within supplied by Normans And after King William had appeased a Commotion in the West which the sonnes of Harald with forces out of Ireland had raised also repressed the rebellions of Excester and Oxford he takes his iourney in person Northward with all expedition least the enemy there should grow to high in heart and opinion vpon the great slaughter of his people made at Yorke and the defeiture of his Brother and Leiuetenant Robert Earle of Mortaigne slaine with seuen hundreth Normans at Durham where at his first comming he so wrought that he either discomfeited or corrupted the Generals of the Danicque forces newly arriued to ayde the Lords sent by Swaine King of Denmarke vnder the conduct of his two sonnes Harald and Knute with a Nauie of three hundreth saile and after sets vpon the Army of the Lords weakened both in strength and hope by this departure of their Confederates and puts them to flight Which done he vtterly wasted and laide desolate all that goodly Countrey betweene Yorke and Durham the space of 60. miles as it might be no more a succour to the enemy And the like course he used on all the Coasts where any aptlandings lay for inuasions and so returnes to London Most of the Lords after this defeit came in vpon publique faith giuen them and were conducted to Barkehamsted by the Abbot Fredricke where vpon their submission and Oath of Allegeance re-taken they had their pardon and restitution of grace graunted by the King who it seemes was so willing to acquiet them that againe he takes his personall Oath before the Arch-bishop Lanfrancke and the Lords To obserue See the Appendix the Auntient Lawes of the Realme established by his Noble Predecessors the Kings of England and especially those of Edward the Confessor Whereupon these stormy dispositions held calme a while But long it was not ere many of these Lords whether vpon intelligence of new 1074. Anno. Reg. 8. hopes from Prince Edgar who was still in Scotland or growne desperate with new displeasures at home finding small performance of promises made rupture
it was ingaged Raymond refuses it and stands to his possession as of a thing absolutely sold or forfeited but being too weake to contend with a King of France fell to an accord and married his sister Constans widdow of Eustace sonne to King Stephen and so continues the possession Now King Henry hauing married this Elionor and with her was to haue all the Rights shee had tenders likewise as the King of France had done in the same case the summe formerly disbursed vpon the morgage of that Earledome And with all makes ready his sword to recouer it and first combines in league and amity with such whose Territories bordred vpon it as with Raymond Earle of Barcelona who had married the daughter and heire of the King of Arragon a man of great Estate in those parts intertayning him with conference of a match betweene his second sonne Richard and his daughter with couenant that Richard should haue the inheritance of the Dutchy of Aquitaine and the Earledome of Poictou Besides hee takes into his protection William Lord of Trancheuille possessing likewise many great Signories in the Countrey and one who held himselfe much wronged in his Estate by the Earle of Tholouse These ay des prepared he leauies an Army and goes in person to besiege the Citie of Tholouse and takes along with him Malcolin King of Scots who comming to his 1159. Anno. Reg. 5. Court to doe him homage for the Earledome of Huntingdon and to make claime for those other peeces taken from his Crowne was entertayned with so many faire words and promises of King Henry as drew him along to this warre The Earle of Tholouse vnderstanding the intentions of the King of England craues ayde of his brother in Law the King of France who likewise with a strong Army comes downe in person to succour Tholouse and was there before the King of England could arriue with his forces whereupon seeing himselfe preuented and in disaduantage King Henry fell to spoyling the Countrey and takes in Cahors in Quercy where he places a strong Garrison to bridle the Tholousains and so returnes into Normandy gaue the order of Knight hood to King Malcolin at Tours augments his forces and enters the Countrey of Beauuoisin where he destroyes many Castles and commits great spoyles And to adde more anoyance to the King of France he obtained of the Earle de Auranches the two strong Castles Rochfort and Monfort which furnished with Garrisons impeached the passage twixt Orleance and Paris in so much as the warre and weather grew hote betwixt these two great Princes and much effusion of bloud was like to follow but that a mediation of peace was made and in the end concluded With a match betweene the young Prince Henry not seuen yeares of age and the 1160. Anno. Reg. 6. Lady Margaret eldest daughter to the King of France scarce three weake linkes to hold in so mighty Princes The yong Lady was deliuered rather as an Ostage then a Bride to Robert de Newburge to be kept till her yeares would permit her to liue with her Husband In the meane time notwithstanding many ruptures hapned betweene the Parents The first whereof Prince Henry contracted to Margaret daughter to the King of France grew vpon the King of Englands getting into his owne hand the Castle of Gisors with two other Castles vpon the Riuer Eata in the confines of Normandy deliuered vp before the due time By three Knights Templars to whom they were committed in trust till the marriage were consummated And this cost some bloud the Knights Templars are persecuted by the King of France and the King of England receiues them But now the aduantage of power lying all on this side and the King seeing himselfe at large and how much he was abroad beganne to be more at home and to The King seekes to abate the power of the Clergy the cause therof looke to the Prerogatiues of his Crowne which as he was informed grew much infringed by the Clergy which since the time of Henry the first Were thought to haue inlarged their iurisdiction beyond their vocation and himselfe had found their power in the election of King Stephen with whom they made their owne conditions with all aduantages for themselues whereby they depriued his Mother and her issue of their succession to the Crowne And though afterwards by their mediation the peace twixt him and Stephen was concluded and his succession ratified yet for that might he thanke his Sword the Iustice of his cause and strong party in the Kingdome What they did therein shewed him rather their power then their affection and rather put him in mind of what they had done against him at first then layed any obligation on him for what they did afterward And his owne example seeing them apt to surprise all aduantages for their owne aduancement made him doubt how they might deale with his Posterity if they found occasion and therefore is he easily drawne to abate their power in what he could To this motion of the Kings dislike the Lay Nobility emulous of the others authority layed more waights alledging how the immunities of the Clergie tooke vp so much Complaints against the Clergie from the Royalty as his execution of Iustice could haue no generall passage in the Kingdome the Church held their Dominion apart and free from any other authority then their owne and being exempt from Secular punishments many enormious acts were committed by Clergie-men without any redresse to be had and it was notified to the King that since the beginning of his Raigne There had beene aboue a hundreth Man-slaughters committed within the Realme of England by Priests and men within Orders Now had the King a little before vpon the death of Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury 1161. Anno. Reg. 7. preferred Thomas Becket a creature and seruant of his owne to that Sea A man whom first from being Arch-deacon of Canterbury he made his Chancelor and finding him Diligent Trusty and Wise imployes him in all his greatest businesses of the State by which tryall of his seruice and sidelity he might expect to haue him euer the Thomas Becket preferred to the Sea of Canterbury readier to aduance his affaires vpon all occasions And besides to shew how much he respected his worth and integrity he commits vnto him the education of the Prince a charge of the greatest consequence in a Kingdome which shall be euer sure to find their Kings as they are bred At the beginning of this mans promotion this reformation of Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction is set vpon a worke in regard of that time of deuotion of great difficultie the Bishops hauing from the beginning of Christianitie first vnder the Saxon Kings principally swaded the State and though at the entrance of the Norman they were much abriged of their former liberties they held themselues if not content yet quiet For albeit they had not that power in temporall businesses as
fell all from themselues and with the same emulation they had in libertie stroue for their seruitude who should be first to receiue a forraine maister From Waterford the King goes to Dublin where hee holds an Assembly of all these subiect Kings with the Lords Spirituall and Temporall of Ireland for the further ratification of their allegiance and the ordering and reformation of the State Which done hee causes the Bishops with the Clergie there to assemble at Cassell and appoints an especiall Chaplaine of his owne with the Archdeacon of Landaff to bee assistants and aduisors vnto them for reformation of Church-businesses which seemes to haue beene Henries reformation of Ireland as disordred as the people for though the Irish had beene long before Christians it was after a wilde and mixt fashion and therefore according to his promise made to the late Pope and to doe a worke pleasing to the present it was decreed That all Church-lands should be free from the exaction of secular men and that from thence foorth all Diuine things should bee ordered and vsed in euerie part of Ireland according to the manner of the Church of England being fit as saith the Cannon that as Ireland hath by Gods mercy obtained a Lord and King out of England so from thence they should receiue a better forme of life and manners then heretofore they vsed His Christmasse he keepes at Dublin where he royally feasts all his Kings great men of the Countrey the rest of his being there he imployes in fortifying and planting Garnisons where most need required he makes Hugh Lacy Iustice of all Ireland giues him the keeping of Dublin and besides confirmed vnto him and his heires by his Charter the Countrey of Meth to hold the same in Fee for the seruice of a hundreth Knights he bestowes on Robert Fits Bernard the keeping of the Townes of Waterford and Weisford which he tooke from Fits Stephen the first inuador with charge to build Castles in them and to humble the Earle Strongbow and leuell him with the rest of his subiects he takes from him all his dependants and makes them his So was it but his winters worke to get a Kingdome which though thus easily won it proued more difficult and costly in the keeping by reason the prosequution of a full establishment thereof was neither by him or his successors hauing other diuertments euer throughly accomplished On Easter monday he sets out for England where he makes no stay but takes the young King along in his company and passes ouer into Normandy to meete other two Legates Theodinus and Albertus who were sent from Pope Alexander but in milder fashion then the last to examine the murther of the late Arch-bishop Becket Foure moneths were spent in debating the matter and in the end the King by his Oath taken vpon the Reliques of Saints and the holy Euangelists before the two Legates in the presence of King Henry the sonne the Arch-bishop of Rouen and all the Bishops and Abbots of Normandy in the Citty of Auranches purged himselfe of either commanding or consenting to the murther Yet for that he doubted least they who committed His purgation for Beckets murther the same might be moued thereunto by seeing him disturbed and in passion he tooke the same Oath that in satisfaction thereof he would faithfully performe these Articles following First neuer to forsake Pope Alexander nor his Catholicke Successors so long as they vsed him as a Catholicke King Secondly That Appeales should freely be made to the Pope in causes Ecclesiasticall Prouided that if any were suspected to worke euill to him or his Kingdome they should then put in security before they departed Thirdly That he would from Christmas next for three yeares to come vndertake the Crosse and the sommer fol lowing in person go to Ierusalem vnlesse he were stayed by the Pope or his Successors or imploied against the Sarasins in Spaine Fourthly That in the meane time he should deliuer so much money into the Templars hands as by their opinion would entertaine two hundreth souldiers in the Holy warre for one yeare Fiftly call home all such as had endured banishment for the Arch-bishop Sixtly Restore his possessions Seuenthly and lastly abolish all such customes as in his time had beene introduced to the preiudice of the Church After himselfe had sworne he caused Both Kings sweare to these Articles King Henry his sonne to sweare to all these Articles except such as concerned his owne person And for a more Memory in the Roman Church he caused his Seale to be set vnto them with that of the two Cardinals So ended this tedious businesse that made more noyse in the world then any he had and bowed him more beeing his ill fortune to grapple with a man of that free resolution as made his sufferings his glory had his ambition beyond this world set vp his rest not to yeeld to a King was onely ingaged to his cause had opinion and beliefe to take his part Which so much preuailed as the King seeking to maister him aduanced him and now is he faine to kneele and pray to his Shrine whom he had disgraced in his person and hauing had him aboue his will whilest he liued hath him now ouer his Faith being dead And yet 48. yeares after this saith the French History it was disputed among the Doctors of Paris whether he were damned or saued And one Roger a Norman maintained he had iustly deserued death for rebelling against his Soueraigne the Minister of God To make the better way to the ending of this businesse and content the King of Henry the sonne is again crowned with Margaret his wife Fraunce Henry the sonne is againe Crowned and with him Margaret his wife with permission shortly after to goe visite Paris where this young King apt inough though not to know himselfe yet to know his State receiued those instructions as made his ambition quite turne off his obedience and conceiue How to be a King was to be a power aboue and vndeuideable And to further the birth of this apprehension fell out this occasion The Father euer awake to aduance his greatnesse takes a iourney in person into Auergnia and so to Monferrato and there purchases a match for the price of fiue thousand Markes for his yongest sonne Iohn with Alice the eldest daughter of Hubert Earle of Mauriena then as it seemes Lord of Piemont and Sauoy with condition to haue with her the inheritance of all those Countreys containing many great Signories Citties and Castles specified in Roger Houeden with all the circumstances and couenants very remarkeable Vide Append. of the contract So vnto greatnesse that easier increases then begins is added more meanes and euery way opens to this actiue and powrefull King aduantages of State 1173. Anno. Reg. 19. in so much as the King of France was euen surrownded with the powre dependances of this mightie King of Eng. whose fortunes most
of all the neighbor Princes which subsist by other then their owne powre now follow And being returned from concluding this Match in Piemont there comes vnto him lying at Limoges Raymond Earle of Saint Gyles by whom was giuen the first affront he had in France now to doe homage vnto him for the Earledome of Tholouse and there became the man of the King of England and of his sonne Richard Earle of Poictou to hold Tholouse from them by hereditary right for seruice of comming vnto them vpon their sommons and remayning The homage of Raymond Earle of Saint Gyles for the Earld of Tholouse in their seruice fortie daies at his owne charge and if they would intertaine him longer to allow him reasonable expenses Besides the Earle should pay yearely for Tholouse and the appertinances a hundred markes of siluer or ten Horses worth ten Markes a peece About the same time also came the Earle Hubert to Limoges to know what Land the King of England would assure his sonne Iohn who resolued to giue vnto him the Castles of Chinon Lodun and Mirabell Where with King Henry the sonne grew much Henry the son takes displeasure against his father displeased and here mooued his Father either to resigne vnto him the Dutchie of Normandie the Earledome of Aniou or the Kingdome of England for his maintenance in which motion hee was the more egar being incensed by the King of France and the discontented Lords both of England and Normandie who were many and falne or wrought from the Father vpon new hopes and the aduantage of a deuided Soueraignty And though there were many other occasions of this defection of the sonne from the Father yet that this for these Castles should first bee taken may seeme to bee the worke of Gods especiall iudgement being those peeces which himselfe had taken from his owne brother Geffrey contrary to his Oath made vnto his Father as is before related so as if to tell iniustice that it must bee duely repayed the same Castles are made to bring mischiefe vpon him and to giue a beginning to the fowlest discorde that could bee wherein hee had not onely the Children of his owne bodie but the Wife of his bedde to conspire and practise against him For hereupon the sonne sodainely breaking away from the Father came to Paris where the King of France who had no other meanes to preuent the ouergrowing of a neighbour but to deuide him sommons and solicites the Princes of France and all the friends he could make to ayde King Henry the sonne against the father and to take thir Oath either to disposses him of his Estate or bring him to their owne conditions The young King likewise sweares vnto them Neuer to haue peace with his father without their consents and all sweares to giue vnto Philip Earle of Flanders for his ayde a thousand pounds English by the yeare with the County of Kent Douer and Rochester Castles To Mathew Earle of Bologne brother to the sayd Earle for his seruice Kerton Soak in Lindsey the Earldome of Morton with the Honour of Heize to Theobald Earle of Bloys two hundred pounds by yeare in Aniou the Castle of Amboys with all the right hee pretended in Tureine c. and all these Donations with diuers other he confirmed by his new Seale which the King of France caused to be made Besides by the same Seale He confirmed to the King of Scots for his ayde all Northumberland vnto Tyne and gaue to the brother of the same King for his seruice the Earldomes of Huntingdon and Cambridge To the Earle Hugh Bigot the Castle of Norwich other Earles of England as Robert Earle of Leicester Hugh Earle of Chester Roger Mowbray c. had likewise their rewards and promises of the Lions Skin that was yet aliue Besides they draw into their partie Richard and Geffrey whose youths apt to bee wrought on for increase of their allowance are easily intised and with them their mother inraged with iealosie and disdaine for her husbands conceiued abuses of her bed So that this great King in the middest of his glory about the twentith yeare of his raigne comes sodainely forsaken of his owne people and is driuen through distrust to hire and intertaine strange forces procuring twenty thousand Brabansons which were certaine Mercinaries commonly called the Routs or Costerels for the recouery and holding of his Estate And some few faithfull Ministers he had notwithstanding this generall defection who tooke firmly to him as William Earle Mandeuile Hugh de Lacy Hugh de Beauchamp c. But how soeuer we haue seene the best of this Kings glorie and though he had after this good successes hee had neuer happinesse labour hee did by all meanes to haue qualified the heat of his distempered sonne by many mediations of peace offring all conuenient allowances for his Estate but all would not preuaile his sword is drawne and with him the King of France with all his forces enters vpon his territories on that side the Sea on this the King of Scots seizes vpon Northumberland and makes great spoyles The olde King complaines to the Emperour and all the neighbour Princes his friends of the vnnaturall courses of his sonne and of his owne improuident aduancing him William King of Sicile writes and condoles his misfortunes but lay too farre off to helpe him The King of France besieges Vernoul a place of great strength and importance which Hugh de Lacy and Hugh de Beauchamp valiantly defended and after a monthes siege they of the towne victualls fayling obtained truce of the King of France and permission to send vnto their Soueraigne for succour Which if it came not within three daies they would render the Cittie and in the meane time their Ostages The peremptorie day was the Eue of Saint Laurence The King of France with King Henry the sonne and with diuers great Lords and Bishops swore if they rendred the Citie at the day appointed their Ostages should bee redeiiuered and no dammage done to the Citie King Henry the Father with all the forces he could make came iust at the limitted day disposes his Army to strike battaile with his enemies but the King of France to auoyde the same sends the Archbishoppe of Sens and the Earle of Bloys to mediate a parle which was appointed the morrow this day lost lost Vernoul For to the morrow Parle the King of France neither comes nor sends but had entrance into the Towne according to couenants which contrary to his Oath hee sackes takes with him the Ostages and spoyle thereof remoues his Campe and leaues the King of England disappointed who that night after hauing persued the flying Army with some spoyle enters into Vernoul and the morrow surprises Danuile a Castle of his enemies with many prisoners Thence he goes to Rouen whence hee sent his Brabansons into Brittaine against Hugh Earle of Chester and Ralph Fulgiers who had possest themselues almost of the whole
bribe the Popes Legates in his businesse with the King of France to haue them fauourable for his ends to send many supplies by their perswations and for his owne reputation to the Holy warre Auno 1182 saith Walsingham hee releeued the necessitie of the Ierosolomitans with 1182. Anno. Reg. 28. two and forty thousand Markes of siluer and fiue hundred Markes of gold which was in money seuen and forty thousand three hundred thirty three pounds sixe shillings eight pence And when Pope Lucius distressed by the Romans desired an ayde out of England The King sent him a mighty summe of Gold and Siluer in Vide Append. Henry 2. releeues Pope Lucius and the Ierosolomitans with great summes of gold siluer leauying whereof the Clergie here delt very circumspectly for when the Popes Nuncij came to desire the same they aduised the King that according to his will and honour hee himselfe should supplie the Popes occasion as well for himselfe as them for that it was more tollerable that their Lord and King should receiue from them the returne of that ayde then that the Popes Nuncij should which might bee taken for a custome to the detriment of the Kingdome Now about eight yeares had the peace continued betweene the two Kings Father and Sonne when againe new flames of vnnaturall discord began to breake out the occasion whereof as farre as can bee discouered in the vncertaine passages of that time we finde to be this Anno Reg. 29. After a great Christmas kept at Cane in Normandy with his sonnes 1183. Anno. Reg. 29. Henry Richard and Geffrey the Duke of Saxony with his Wife and Children besides a great Nobility of all parts The King willed King Henry his Sonne to take the Homages of his brother Richard Earle of Poictou and Greffrey Earle of Brittaine Richchard refuses to doe it but vpon perswasion being afterwards content his brother Great festiuals oftentimes breake vp with great discontentments refuses to take the same Whereupon with great indignation Richard departs from his Fathers Court into Poictou mans and furnishes his Castles there The King his brother followes by instigation of the Barons of Poictou and Aquitaine who were fallen from Richard and adhered to the young King as men that vnderstood what would become of younger brothers Estates in such Dominions where the elder brothers birth-right and powre would carry all and Greffrey Earle of Brittaine takes the King his brothers part comes with forces to aide him Richard sends for succour to his father who with a powrefull Army rather to constraine them to a peace then to make warre came downe into Poictou where againe his three sonnes after the debatement of their grieuances swore to obey and serue their Father and to hold perpetuall peace among themselues And for the farther Henry and his sonnes accorded ratification of this Concord they meete all at Mirabell where Henry the sonne desires that the Barons of Poictou and Aquitane whom he had sworne to defend against his brother Richard might be there at the concluding this peace and to be pardoned for any former act committed Which request is granted and Geffrey Earle of Brittaine sent to bring the Barons thither But the Barons holding this peace either not safe or not profitable so worke as they winne the messenger to take their part against the Father and keepe him with them Henry the sonne notwithstanding continues to mediate still for the Barons and to get his Father and brother Richard to receiue them into grace And vndertaking to bring in both them and his brother Geffrey is permitted by the Father to go treat with them at Limoges whither also by another way and with small company it was agreed the Father should come which he did but his approach was met with arrowes so dangerously shot at his person as the next man to him was slaine and himselfe with his sonne Richard forced to retire from the place And yet afterwards desirous out of a fatherly affection to haue conference with his sonnes for the quiet ending of this businesse vpon their assurance of his safety he enters into the Citty when againe from the Castle is short a barbed arrow which had tooke him directly on the brest had not his horse by the sudden lifting up his head receiued it in the forehead Which act his sonnes neuer sought to find out and punish but still vnderhand held amity with the Barons At length notwithstanding King Henry the sonne comes to the Father and protests that vnlesse the Barons would come and yeeld themselues at the Kings feete he would vtterly renounce them And after hauing againe vpon his Fathers promise of pardon and peace dealt with them and finding as he auowed their obstinacie made shew to forsake their party and returnes to his Father with great submission deliuering vp vnto him his horse and Armor in assurance thereof But many dayes he spent not with him when againe either for the intended reuenge he found his Father meant to prosecute against the Barons whose protection hauing vndertaken he held himselfe in his honour engaged to preserue or by the working of some mutinous ministers about him whose element was not peace he againe The inconstancy of King Henry the son enters Oath and League with them But therein finding his power short of his will and desperate of all successe in his courses he suddenly breakes out into an extreame passion before his Father fals prostrate at the Shrine of Saint Martiall and His vowe vowes presently to take vpon him the Crosse and to giue ouer all worldly businesse beside With which strange and sudden passion the Father much moued besought his son with teares to alter that rash resolution and to tell him truly whither indignation or religion induced him thereunto The Sonne protests that it was meerely for the remission of his sinnes committed against his person And vnlesse his Father would now giue him leaue without which he could not go he would there instantly kill himselfe His resolution in his presence The Father after hauing vsed all meanes to diswade him and finding him still obstinate sayd vnto him Sonne Gods will be done and yours for your furnishing I will take such order as shall befit your Estate The sonne whilst the Fathers passion had made him tender wrought thereupon and besought him that he would deale mercifully with those of the Castle of Limoges the Barons of Aquitaine and pardon them To which the Father in the end though vnwillingly yeelds so that they would put in their pledges for securing their fidelity His request for the Barons of Aquitaine and the peace which they seemed content to do But vpon the deliuery and receiuing of these pledges new ryots were committed by such as could not indure the peace which is neuer faithfull but where men are voluntarily pacified and these young Princes againe take part with their Confederates and are made the heads of rebellion
them doubtfull what to resolue vpon in regard of the tender youth of Henry and their Oath made to Louys But such was the insolence of the French making spoyle and prey of whatsoeuer they could fasten on and now inuested by Louys contrarie to his Oath in all those places of importance they had recouered as made many of the English to relinquish The confession of the Viscont Melun at his death their sworne fidelitie and forsake his part Which more of them would haue done but for the shame of inconstancie and the daunger of their pledges remayning in France which were great tyes vpon them Besides the popular bruit generally divulged concerning the confession of the Viscont Melun a Frenchman who lying at the point of death toucht with compunction is said to reueale the intention vow of Louys which was vtterly to extinguish the English nation whom he held vile neuer to be trusted hauing forsaken their own Soueraign Lord wrought a great auersion in the hearts of the English which whither it were indeed vttered or giuen out of purpose it was so to be expected according to the precedents of all in-brought farreiners vpon the deuisions of a distracted people And first William Earle of Salisbury mooued in bloud to succour his Nephew tooke Diuers Lords reuolt from Louys away a maine peece from the side of Louys and with him the Earles of Arundle Warren William sonne and heire to the great Marshall returne to the fidelity of Henry after 6 months they had reuolted to the seruice of Louys which now may be thought was don but to temporise and try the hazard of a doubtfull game otherwise a brother would not haue forsaken a brother nor so Noble a father and sonne haue deuided their starres Notwithstanding Louys found hands enow to hold London withall the Countries about it a whole yeare after so that the young King was constrained to remaine about Glocester Worcester and Bristow where his wakefull Ministers faile not to imploy all means to gather vpon whatsoeuer aduantages could be espied at length so wrought as they draw the enemy from the head of the kingdome downe into the body first into Leceister-shire to releeue the Castle of Montsorell a peece apertayning to Saer de Quincy Earle of Winchester a great partisan of Louys and after by degrees to Lincoln where a Noble Lady called Phillippa but of what famely time hath iniuriously bereft vs the knowledge had more then with feminine courage defended the Castle the space of a whole yere against Gilbert de Gant the French forces which were possest of the town The Earle Marshall Protector of the King and kingdom with his sonne William the Bishops of Winchester Salisbury and Chester the Earles of Salisbury Ferrers and Albemarle William de Albinet Iohn Marshall William de Cantelupe Falcasius Thomas Basset Robert Veypont Brent de Lisle Geffrey Lucy Philip de Albinet and many other Barons and marshall men being with all the powre of the young king whose forces as he marched grew dayly greater come to a place called Stow within 8 miles of Lincoln the Legat Guallo to adde courage resolution to the army caused vpon confession of their sinnes the Eucharist to be ministred and giues them a plenary absolution solemnly The forces of Louys ouerthrowne accursing Louys with all his adherents as seperated from the vnity of the Church which done they set forth and with such violence assaile the City on all sides as the defendants after the Earle of Perch valiantly fighting was slaine were soone defeited and all the principall men taken prisoners whereof these are nominated Saer Earle of Winchester Henry de Bohun Earle of Hereford Gilbert de Gant lately made Earle of Lincoln by Louys Robert Fitz Walter Richard Monfichet William Moubray William Beauchamp william Maudit Oliuer Harcort Roger de Cressy William de Coleuile William de Ros Robert de Ropsley Ralph Chandnit Barons besides foure hundred Knights or men at Armes with their seruants horse and foot The number and quality of the persons taken shew the importance of the place and the greatnesse of the victorie which gaue Louys his maine blow and was the last of his battailes in England The spoyles were very great being of a City at that time rich in Marchandize The spoyle of Lincolne whereupon the winners in derision tearmed it Louys his Faire Many of those who escaped and fled from this ouerthrow were slaine by the Country people in their disorderly passing towards London vnto Louys who vpon notice of this great defeat sends presently ouer for succours into France and drawes all the powre he had in England to the Citie of London whether the Earle Marshall with the young King bend their course with purpose either to assaile Louys vpon this fresh dismay of his losse and the distraction of his partakers or induce him by agreement to relinquish the Kingdome The first being found difficult the last is propounded whereunto Louys would not The Peace was concluded the 11 of Sep. be brought to yeeld vntill hearing how his succors comming out of France were by Phillip de Albenie and Hubert de Burgh with the forces of the Cinke-ports all vanquished at sea he then hoplesse of any longer subsisting with safty condiscendes to an accord takes fifteene thousand markes for his voyage abiures his claime to the Kingdome promises by Oath to worke his father as farre as in him lay for the restitution 1218. Anno. Reg. 3. of such Prouinces in France as appertayned to this Crowne and that when himselfe should be King to resigne them in peaceable manner On the other part King Henry takes his Oath and for him the Legat and the Protector to restore vnto the Barons of this Realme and other his Subiects all their rights and heritages with those liberties for which the discorde beganne betweene the late King and his people Generall pardon is granted and all prisoners freed on both fides Louys is honorably attended to Douer and departs out of England about Michelmas aboue two yeares after his first atiuall hauing beene here in the greatest part a receiued King and was more likely to haue established himselfe and made a Conquest of this Kingdome being thus pulled in by others armes then the Norman that made way with his owne had not the All-disposer otherwise diuerted it Such effects wrought the violence of an vnruly King and the desperation of an oppressed people which now notwithstanding the fathers iniquitie most willingly imbrace the sonne as naturally inclyned to loue and obey their Princes And in this recouery the industrie of Guallo the Legate wrought much though what he did therein was for his owne ends the pretended interest of the Pope whose ambition 1219. Anno. Reg. 4. had beene first an especiall cause of this great combustion in the Kingdom but as they who worke the greatest mischiefes are oftentimes the men that can best repaire them
irreprehensible in his Office is much fauoured by the people Peter de Riuallis and Stephan Segraus are againe receiued into grace an argument of the kings leuitie and irresolution moued it seemes with any Engine to doe and vndoe and all out of time and order wherein he euer looses ground And now faine would he haue reuoked by the Popes Authority some grants of his made heretofore as being don beyond his powre without the cōsent of the Church which harsh intention addes more to the already conceiued displeasure of the people Anno Reg. 21. another Parliament or the same adiourned is held at London where in regard of the great expence for his Sisters marriage and his owne hee requires the 9 Parliament thirtith part of all moueables as well of the Clergie as Layetie Whereunto great 1237. Anno. Reg. 21. opposition is made and recitall of the many Leuies had beene exacted of the Kingdome now of the twentith now of the thirtith and fortith parts and that it was a thing vnworthy and iniurious to permit a King who was so lightly seduceble and neuer did good to the Kingdome either in expelling or repressing enemy or amplyfing the bounds thereof but rather lessening and subiugating the same to Strangers that he should extort by so many pretences so great summes from his naturall people as from slaues of the basest condition to their detriment and benefit of Aliens Which when the King heard desirous to stop this generall murmur promised by Oath that he would neuer more iniurie the Nobles of the Kingdome so that they would benignly releeue him at that present with this supply in regard he had exhausted his treasure in the mariage of his Sister and his owne whereunto they plainely answere that the same was done without their Councell neither ought they to be partakers of the punishment who were free from the fault After 4 daies consultation the King promising to vse only the Councell of his naturall Subiects disauowing and protesting against the reuocation lately propounded and freely granting the inuiolable obseruation of the Liberties vnder paine of excommunication hath yeelded vnto him the thirtith part of all moueables reseruing yet to euery man his ready coyne horse and armour to be imployed for the Common-wealth For the collection of this subsidy it was ordayned that 4 Knights of euery Foure knights of euery shire ordained to take charge of the subsidy Shire and one Clerke of the Kings should vpon their Oath receiue and deliuer the same either vnto some Abbay or Castle to be reserued there that if the King fayle in performance of his Grants it might be restored to the Country whence it was collected with this condition often annexed that the King should leaue the Councell of Aliens and onely vse that of his naturall Subiects Wherein to make shew of his part he sodainly causes the Earles Warren and Ferrers with Iohn Fitz Geffrey to be sworne his Councellors And so the Parliament ended but not the businesse for which it was called the King not giuing that satisfaction to his subiects as he had promised concerning Strangers and besides that order concluded in Parliament was not obserued in the leauying and disposing of the susidie but stricter courses taken in the valewing of mens Estates then was held conuenient Moreouer William Valentine Vncle to the young Queene is growne the onely inward man with the King and possesses him so as nothing is done without his Councell the Earle of Prouince the father a poore Prince is inuited to come ouer to participat of this Treasure which seemes was disposed before The comming of Simon Monford into into England it came in Simon de Monford a French man borne banished out of France by Queene Blanch is intertayned in England and preferred secretly in marriage to Elianor the Kings Sister widow of William Earle of Pembroke Great Mareschall and made Earle of Leicester by right of his mother Amice daughter to Blanchman Earle of Leicester Which courses with other so incense the Nobility and generally all the Subiects as put them out into a new commotion and Richard the Kings brother whose youth and ambition apt to be wrought vpon is made the head thereof who being as yet Heire apparant of the Kingdome the Queen being yong and child-lesse the preseruation of the good thereof is argued to concerne him and hee is the man imployed The Greeuances of the Kingdome to the King to impart the publike greeuances and to reprehend first the profusion of his Treasure gotten by exaction from the subiect and cast away vpon Strangers who onely guide him then the infinite summes hee had raised in his time How there was no Archbishopricke or Bishopricke except Yorke Lincolne Bathe but he had made benefit by their Vacancies besides what fell by Abbayes Earldomes Baronies Wardships and other Escheates and yet his treasure which should be the strength of the State was nothing increased Moreouer how hee as if both dispising his and the Councell of his naturall Subiects was so obsequious to the will of the Romans and especially of the Legat whom he had inconsiderately called in as hee seemed to adore his footsteps and would doe nothing either in publique or priuate 1238. Anno. Reg. 22. but by his consent so that he seemed absolutely the Popes Feudarie which wounded the hearts of his people The King vpon this harsh remonstrance of his brother and the feare of a present commotion after he had sounded the affections of the Londoners whom he found resolued to take part against him hee againe by the aduice of the Legat who had earnestly delt with the Earle of Cornwall to reconcile himselfe to his brother but without effect calls a Parliament at London Whither the Lords came armed 10 Parliament both for their owne saftie and to constraine the King if he refused to the obseruation of the premices and reformation of his courses Here after many debatements the King taking his Oath to referre the businesse to the order of certaine graue men of the Kingdome Articles are drawne sealed and publikely set vp to the view of all with the seales of the Legat and diuers great men But before it came to effect Simon Monford working his peace with the Earle of Cornwall and the Earle of Lincolne likewise with whom he and the State were displeased the Earle growes cold in the businesse The Lords perceiuing the staffe of their strength to faile them failed themselues so that nothing is effected and the miseries of the Kingdome continue as they did Shortly after the King takes displeasure against Gilbert Earle of Pembrooke the third sonne of William the great Mareschall and caused his gates to bee shut against 1239. Anno. Reg. 23. him at Winchester whereupon the Earle retyres into the North. And to shew how inconstant this King was in his fauours Simon Norman intituled Maister of the Kings Seale and not onely so but said
deuise to doe The King with all the great Nobility of England all the Bishops and chiefe Prelates 1253. Anno. Reg. 37. in their reuerent Ornaments with burning candles in their hands assemble to heare the terrible sentence of Excommunications against the infringers of the same And at the lighting of those Candles the King hauing receiued one in his hand giues it to a Prelate that stood by saying it becomes not me being no Priest to hold this candle my heart shal be a greater testimony and withall layd his hand spread on his brest the whole time the sentence was read which was thus pronounced Autoritate dei omnipotratis c. which done he caused the Charter of K. Iohn his Father granted by his free consent to be Vide Append. likewise openly red In the end hauing throwne away their candles which lay smoaking on the ground they cryed out So let them who incurre this Sentence be extinct and stincke in hell And the King with a loud voyce said As God me helpe I will as I am a Man a Christian a Knight a King crowned and anoynted inuiolably obserue all these things And therewithall the Bells rung out and all the people shouted with ioy Neuer were lawes amongst men except those holy commandements from the mount established with more maiesty of Ceremony to make them reuerend and respected then were these they wanted but thunder and lightning from heauen which if prayers could haue procured they would likewise haue had to make the sentence gastly and hydeous to the infringers thereof The greatest security that could begiuen was an oath the onely chaine on earth besides loue to tye the conscience of man and humaine society together which should it not hold vs all the frame of gouernment and order must needs fall quite a sunder Now the busines of Gascoigne that required present care is in hand which the The K. resumes Gasoigny from his brother Richard giues it to his sonne Prince Edward better to know we must returne to the head whence it sprung 27. yeares past the King by the councell of his Lords freely granted to his brother Richard all that Prouince who is there receiued as their Lord with their oathes of Fealty made vnto him and so continues vntill the King hauing issue of his owne by motion of the Queene reuokes his guift confers it vpon his eldest sonne Edward Richard though he were depriued of the possession would not yeeld to forgoe his right and at the Kings last being in Gascoigny many of them stand doubtfull whom to attend the King in great displeasure commanded his brother to resigne his Charter and renounce his right which hee refusing to doe the King commands those of Burdeax to take and imprison him but they in regard of his high bloud the homage they had made him and the kings mutability who might resent his owne commandement would not aduenture there on Then he assayles them with mony which effected more then his commandement the Earle is indaunger to be surprised escapes out of Bnrdeaux and comes ouer into England The King assembles the nobility of Gasconie at Burdeaux invaighs against his brother a man hee saide was couetous and a great oppressor a large promiser but a spare payer and that hee would prouide them of a better gouernour with all promises them thirty thousand Markes as a price of their obedience and so nullifies the Charter of his former donation with their homage and takes their oath of Fealty to himselfe Which yet they would not make vnto him till hee had inwrapt himselfe Simon Monford Earle of Leicester sent into Gascony both by his Charter and Oath for this promised summe wherevnto they so held him as thereby afterward they lost his loue And to be reuenged on them he sends Simon Monford Earle of Leceister a rough and Martiall man to Maister their pride makes him a Charter for 6. yeares to come and furnishes him with 10000. markes the better to effect his command Monfort by his sterne gouernment so discontents the Gascoins as after three yeares suffring they send the Archbishop of Burdeaux with other great men to complaine of his hard dealing and accuse him of haynous crimes their greeuences are heard before the King and his councell Monfort is sent for ouer to answere for himselfe the Earle of Cornwall for his receiued wrong in those parts and the Lords of England for their loue to him take Monforts part and that so egarly as the King comes about to fauour and countenance the Gascons against Monfort not for his loue to them but to awe and abate the other Wherevpon Montfort enters into vndutifull contestation with the King vpraydes him with his expencefull seruice wherein he saies he had vtterly consumed his Estate and how the King had broken his word with him and requires him either to make it good according to his Charter or render him his expences The King in great rage told him no promise was to be Monforts contestation with the K. obserued with an vnworthy traytor Wherewith Monfort ryses vp protesting that he lyed in that word and were he not protected by his royall dignity hee would make him repent it The King commands his seruants to lay hold on him which the Lords would not permit Monfort therevpon grew more audacious saying who will beleiue you are a Christian were you euer confessed if you were it was without repentance and satissaction The King told him he neuer repented him of any thing so much as to haue permitted him to enter into this Kingdome and to haue honored and it stated him as he had done The Gascoignes after this are priuatly sent for by the king who giues them all comfort and incourages them against Monfort whom yet he would againe send ouer to his charge but with clipt winges whereby both himselfe and they might the better be reuenged on him and withall confirmes the state of Gascoigne to his sonne Edward whom he promised them shortly to send ouer wherwith they are much pleased and after they had done their homage to the Prince depart The effect of this confused and ill-packt Monfort returned to his charge businesse was such as all indirect courses produce Monfort returnes in flames to plague the Gascoignes and they in like manner him but he by his great alliance in France drawes together such a power as beyond expectation hee ouer matches the Gascoigne whose Estates he exposes to spoyle and therewithall intertaines his great collected army They againe send ouer their complaints and vnlesse they were speedely relieued they of force must put their country into some other hand that would protect them And in this state stood Gascoigne now at the time of this last Parliament whither the King vpon this late supply granted omitting his Easterne enterprise goes with The K. goes ouer into Gasc with 300. great ships 300. Sayle of great ships and lands at Burdeux in August
is reported able to dispend 100 Markes a day for tenne yeares besides his reuenues in England The French and especially the King of Spaine are much displeased with this aduancement complayning to the Pope and the King of England of the supplantation of the Earle of Cornewal Spaine pretending to haue beene first elected but being it seemes a Philosopher and studious in the Mathematikes which he first reuiude in Europe he was drawing Lines when he should haue drawne out his purse and so came preuented of his hopes About the time of the departure of Earle Richard in the iollity of the Kingdome 1257. Anno. Reg. 41. vpon this new promotion to set forward another the King calls a Parliament wherin bringing forth his sonne Edmond clad in an Apulian habit he vses these words Behold my good Subiects here my sonne Edmond whom God of his grace hath called to the dignitie of regall excellencie how fitting and worthy is he the fauour of you all and how inhumane and 15. Parliament tyranous were he who in so important a necessity would deny him Councell and ayde And then shewes them how by the aduice and benignity of the Pope the Church of England he had for attayning the Kingdom of Sicile bound himselfe vnder Couenant of loosing his Kingdom of England in the sum of 140 thousand Markes Moreouer how he had obtayned the Tenth of the Clergy for 3 yeares to come of all their benefices to be estimated according to the new rate without deduction of expences vnlesse very necessarie besides their first fruits likewise for 3 yeares Which declaration how pleasing it 52 thousand Markes vpon conditions promised by the Clergie was to the Clergie may be iudged by their former grudgings Notwithstanding after they had made their pittifull excuses in regard of their pouerty they promised vpon the vsuall condition of Magna Charta c. so often sworne bought and redeemed to giue him 52 thousand Markes but this satisfied him not The next yeare after is another Parliament at London wherin vpon the Kings pressing 1258. Anno. Reg. 42. them again for means to pay his debts to the Pope the Lords tell him plainly they will not yeeld to pay him any thing And if vnaduisedly he without their consents and councell bought the Kingdome of Sicile and had been deceiued he should impute it to his owne imbecillity been instructed by the example of his prouidēt brother who when the same Kingdom was offred vnto him by Albert the Popes Agent absolutely refused it in regard it lay so farre off So many Nations betweene the cauills of the Popes the infidelitie of the people and the powre of the pretender c. Then repeate they their owne greeuances the breach of his promises contemning both the keyes of the Church and the Charter he had solemnly sworne to obserue the insolence of his brethren and other Strangers against whom by his order no Writ was to passe out of the Chancerie for any cause what soeuer How their pride was intolleable especially that of William de Valence who most reproachfully had giuen the lie to the Earle of Leicester for which he could not be righted vpon his complaint How they abounded all in riches and himselfe was so poore as hee could not represse the small forces of the Welsh that wasted his Country but going the last yeare against them and effecting nothing returned with dishonour The King hearing this as he was apt vpon rebukes soundly vrged to be sensible and his owne necessities constrayning him thereunto humbles himselfe and tells them how he had often by ill councell beene seduced and promises by his oath which he takes on the tombe of Saint Edward to reforme all these errors But the Lords not knowing how to hold their euer-changing Proteus saith Paris in regard the businesse was difficult get the Parliament to be adiourned till Saint Barnabas day and then to assemble at Oxford In the meane time the Earles Glocester Leicester Hereford the Earle Mareschall Bigod Spencer and other great men confederate and prouide by strength to effect their desires Whilst the King put to his shifts to obtaine money gets the Abbot of Westminster vpon promise of high preferment to put his Seale and that of his Couent to a deed obligatorie as a surety sor three hundred Markes that by his example hee might draw on others to doe the like Sending his trustie Counsaylors and Clerke Simon Passeleue abroade with his Letters and this Deede vnto other Monasteries But Passeleue notwithstanding all the dilligence and skill hee could vse by threates or otherwise telling them how all they had came from the benignitie of Kings and how their Soueraigne was Lord of all they had they flatly refuse to yeelde to any such Deede Saying they acknowledged the King to bee Lord of all they had but so as to defend not to distroy the same And thus he comes likewise disappoynted in this proiect The Prince who likewise must participate in the wants of his father was driuien Prince Edward morgages Stamford and other townes to William de Valence to morgage the Towne of Stamford Braham and many other things to William de Valence who out of his store supplied him with money which after turned to the good of neither for it layde a recentement on the necessity of the one which made him breake through his bands and Enuie on the other whose superfluitie made him odious But now comes assembled the Parliament at Oxford and in a hot season the worst time for consultation and here burst out that great impostume of discontent so long in gathering The trayne which the Lords brought with them was pretended to bee for some exploit against the Welsh vpon the end of the Parliament and their securing the ports to preuent forrainers but the taking order for keeping of the Gates of London and their Oathes and Hands giuen to each other shewed that they were prepared to make the day theirs Here they beginne with the expostulation of the former Liberties and require the obseruation thereof according vnto the Oathes The Barons expostulate for their former Liberties and Orders formerly made The Chiefe Iusticiar Chancellor and Treasorer to be ordayned by publike choice The 24 Conseruators of the Kingdome to bee confirmed 12 by the Election of the Lords and 12 by the King with whatsoeuer else made for their owne imagined security The King seeing their strength and in what manner they required these things sweares againe solemnly to the confirmation of them and causes the Prince to take the same Oath But the Lords left not here the Kings brethren the Poictouines and other Strangers must be presently removed and the Kingdome cleered of them and this they would haue all the Peeres of the Land sworne to see done Heere they found some opposition in the Prince the Earle Warrein and Henry eldest sonne to Richard now King of Romanes the last refusing to take his
himselfe to enter into Dover Castle At Canterbury they bring him into the Chapter house where the Earle of Glocester standing forth in the middest calls out the Earle not by the name of King but Richard Earle of Cornewall who in reverent manner comming forth takes his Oath ministred in this manner Heare all men that I Kichard Earle of Cornewall do heere sweare vpon the Holy Evangelists The Oath of the King of Romanes that I shall bee faithfull and dilligent to reforme with you the Kingdome of England hitherto by the Councell of wicked persons overmuch disorded bee an effectuall coadiutor to expell the rebels and disturbers of the same and this Oath will inviolably obserue vnder paine of loosing all the Land I haue in England so helpe mee God In this manner deale the Lords to binde this great Earle vnto them supposing his power to haue beene more then it was which at length they found to be nothing but an Ayrie Title for having consumed all that mighty substance abroad in two yeares which with great frugality had beene many in gathering he returnes in this manner home poore and forsaken by the Germans without any other meanes to trust vnto but onely what he had in England Notwithstanding vpon his returne the King takes heart and seekes all meanes to vindicate his power dispatching first messengers secretly to Rome to be absolued from 1259. Anno. Reg. 44. his inforced Oath then sends into Scotland to the King and the Queene his daughter for aydes to be ready vpon his occasions And to haue the more assurance of the King of France and be freed from forraine businesse he makes an absolute resignation of whatsoever right he had to the Duchy of Normandie and the Earledomes of Aniou King Henry resignes his right to Normandy c. Poictou Tourene and Maine in regard whereof the King of France giues him three hundred thousand pounds some say crownes of Aniouine money and grants him to enioy all Guien beyond the river Garoune all the Country of Xantonge to the river of 1261. An. Reg. 45. Charentè the Countries of Limosin and Quercy for him and his successors doing their Homage and Fealty to the Crowne of France as a Duke of Aquitayne and a Peere of that kingdome The Lords likewise on the other side seeke to strengthen their association and hold in each other to their Oathes and observation of their orders which was hard to do for consisting of manifold dispositions there was daily wauering sometimes Pikes among themselues in so much as the Earle of Leicester the chiefe man that kept the fire of that saction in told the Earle of Glocester finding him staggering that hee cared not to liue with such men whom he found so mutable and vncertaine for said he my Lord of Glocester The Lords combine against the K. as you are more eminent so are you more bound to what you haue vndertaken for the good of the kingdome And as he incensed others so had he those that animated him as Walter Bishop of Worcester and Kobert Bishop of Lincolne who inioyned him vpon remission W. Rishenger of his sinnes to prosecute the cause vnto death affirming how the peace of the Church of England could neuer be established but by the materiall sword But now many being the temptations many are drawne away from their side especially after the sentence giuen against them by the King of France made Arbitor of the quarrell who yet though hee condemned the prouisions of Oxford allowed the 1262. An. Reg. 46. confirmatiō of King Iohns Charter by which distinction he left the matter as he found it for those prouisions as the Lords pretended were grounded vpon that Charter Howsoeuer his sentence much aduantaged the King of England made many to dispence with their Oath and leaue their party Amongst whom was Henry Sonne to the Earle of Cornewall on whom the Prince had bestowed the Honour of Tyckhill who comming to the Earle of Leicester told him hee would not be against his Father the King nor his allyes but said he my Lord I will neuer beare Armes against you and 1263. Anno. Reg. 47. therefore I craue leaue to depart The Earle cheerfully replies my Lord Henry I am not sorry for your departure but for your inconstancie go returne with your armes I feare them not at all About the same time Roger de Clifford Roger de Leiborn Hamo I Strange and many other wonne with gifts depart from the Barons Shortly after Roger de Mortimer of the Kings part breakes into open act of hostility makes spoyle of the lands of the Earle of Leicester who had now combined himselfe with Llewellin Prince of Wales and had sent forces to inuade the lands of Mortimer in The beginning of the warres those parts And here the sword is first drawne in this quarrell about three yeares after the Parlement at Oxford The Prince takes part with Mortimer surprises the Castle of Brecknock with other places of strength which hee deliuers to his custodie The Earle of Leicester recouers the towne and Castle of Glocester constraines the Citizens to pay a thousand pounds for their redemption goes with an Army to Worcester possesses him of the Castle thence to Shrewsbury and so comes about to the Isle of Ely subdues the same and growes very powerfull The King doubting his approch to London being not yet ready for him workes so as a mediation of peace is made and agreed vpon these conditions That all the Castles 1264. Anno. Reg. 48. of the King should be deliuered the keeping of the Barons the Prouisions of Oxford should bee inuiolably obserued All strangers by a certaine time should auoide the Kingdome except such as by a generall consent should be held faithfull and profitable for the same Here was a little pause which seemes was but a breathing for a greater rage The Prince had fortified Windsor Castle victualled and therein placed strangers to defend it and himselfe marches to the towne of Bristow where in a contention between the Cittizens and his people being put to the worse hee seends for the Bishop of Worcester an especiall partaker of the Barons to protect conduct him back When he comes neare Windsor he gets into the Castle which the Earle of Leicester was going to besiege being about Kingston the Prince meets him to treat of peace which the Earle refuses and laies siege to the Castle which was rendred vnto him the strangers turned out sent home into France The King to get time conuokes another Parlement at London wherein hee wonne many Lords to take his part with them the Prince Richard Earle of Cornwall Henry 19 Parlement held at London his sonne William Valence with the rest of his brethren lately returned hee marches to Oxford whither diuerse Lords of Scotland repaire to him as Iohn Comin Iohn Baliol Lord of Galloway Robert Bruce and others with many Barons of the
themselues pleased And now the King of France dayly getting vpon them hauing wonne Lisle Doway Courtray Bruges and Dam and the Emperour Adolph fayling of his ayde and personall assistance as vn-interessed confederates often doe especially hauing receiued their gage before hand as had this Emperour to the summe of 100 thousand Markes draue the King of England into great perplexitie and held him with long delayes to his extreame trauaile and expences which forced him to send ouer for more supply of Treasure and giue order for a Parliament to be held at Yorke by the Prince and such as had the manage of the State in his absence Wherein for that he would not bee disapointed he condiscends to all such Articles as were demaunded concerning the great Charter promising from thenceforth neuer to charge his subiects otherwise then by their consents in Parliament and to pardon such as had denied to attend him in this iourney For which the A Parliament held at Yorke in the absence of the King Commons of the Realme granted him the ninth penny of their goods the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Clergie of his Prouince the Tenth penny Yorke and his Prouince the Fifth so the Kings instant wants are relieued and the Kingdome satisfied for a present shift But it is not well with a State where the Prince and people seeke but to obtaine their seuerall ends and worke vpon the aduantages of each others necessities for as it is vn-sincere so it is often vn-successull and the good so done hurts more then it pleasures The King thus supplied staies all this Winter in Gaunt where his people committing The Gantois take armes against the English many outrages so exasperats the Gantois as they tooke armes made head against them slue many and put the Kings person in great daunger so that doe what the Earle Guy and himselfe could to appease them in satisfying such as had receiued wrong and giuing the rest faire words he hardly could escape safe out of the Country King Edward in danger which rather desired to haue the English commodities then their companies This was the successe of his iourney into Flanders which he leaues at the Spring of the yeare hauing concluded a truce with the King of France for two yeares And Hee returnes into England the poore Earle Gay left to himselfe is shortly after made the prey of his enemy and his Prisoner in Paris where he his daughter both died of griefe And Flanders is reduced to a possession though not to the subiection of the King of France For after they had receiued him for their Lord his exactions oppressions vpon them contrary to their ancient Liberties so armed the whole people being rich and mighty as they gaue France the greatest wound that euer before it receiued at one blow which was at the famous battell of Courtray wherein the Earle of Artoise Generall of the Army Arnold de Neel Constable of France and all the Leaders with Twelue thousand Gentlemen were slaine And to show what this King of France got by seeking to attaine The History of France this Soueraigntie of Flanders as well as we shall heare of the King of Englands getting vpon Scotland for the same title It is recorded in their Histories that in the space of Eleuen yeares this quarell cost the liues of 100 Thousand French men Besides it draue the King likewise to consume the substances of his people as wel as their blood and to loade them with new impositions as that of Malletoste and the Tenth Denier vpon the liure of all Merchandises which in the Collection bred great outcries and dangerous seditions among his Subiects And these were the fruits of these great attempters Now for King Edward of England he presently after his returne falles a new vpon Reg. 27. Anno. 1300. Scotland which in his absence had beaten his officers and people almost out of the Countrie slaine Sir Hugh Cressingham with 6000 English recouered many Castles and regaind the Towne of Berwick And all by the annimation and conduct of William Wallice a poore priuate Gentleman though nobly discended who seeing his K. Ed. prosecutes his Scottish businesse Will. Wallice animates the Scots against the subiection of England Countrie without a Head and thereby without a Heart all the great men either in Captiuity or subiection assembles certaine of as poore and desperate estate as himselfe and leades them to attempt vpon whatsoeuer aduantages they could discouer to annoy the English And hauing therein good successe it so increased both his Courage and Company as hee afterwards comes to be the generall Gardian of the whole Kingdome leads their Armies effects those great Defeits vpon the Enemy and was in possibility to haue absolutely redeemed his Countrie from the subiection of England had not some priuate Emulation amongst themselues the speedy cōming of King Edward with all his power preuented him So much could the spirit of one braue man worke to sett vp a whole Nation vpon their feet that lay vtterly cast downe And as well might hee at that time haue gotten the Dominion for himselfe as the place he had but that he held it more glory to preserue his Countrie than to get a Crowne For which he hath his immortall honour and whatsoeuer praise can bee giuen to meere Vertue must be euer due vnto him And now King Edward to bring his worke neere together remoues his Eschequer K. Ed. remoues his Escheker and Courts of Iustice to York and Courts of Iustice to Yorke where the continued aboue Six yeares And thither calles hee a Parliament requiring all his Subiects that held of him by Knights setuice to be ready at Roxborough by a peremptorie day where are assembled Three thousand men at Armes on barded Horses and Foure thousand other aimed men on Horse without bards with an Army on foot answerable consisting most of Welsh and Irish besides Fiue hundred men at armes out of Gasconie and with this power makes he his second expedition into Scotland The Earles of Hereford and Norfolke notwithstanding their former contempts attend him And although he were thus guirt with all this strength and in the midst of his mightinesse they vrge the ratifications of the Two Charters and their Pardons which they held not sufficient to secure them in regarde the King was out of the Realme at the late granting thereof The Bishop of Duresme the Earles of Surrey The famouse Battell of Fonkirk Warwicke and Glocester vndertooke for the King that after hee had subdued his Enemies and was returned hee should satisfie them therein And so these two Earles with the Earle of Lincolne Led his Vauntguard at the famous Battell of Foukirke The Scots ouerthrowne which the King of England gat wherein are reported to be slaine 200 Knights and Forty thousand foot of the Scots But William Wallice with some few escaped to make more worke And here againe that
Hugh Spencer the father hanged at Bristol gallowes in his Coat armour cut vp before hee was dead headed and quartered This done shee passes to Hereford and the King beeing not to bee found Proclamation is made that if hee would returne and conforme himselfe to rule the State as hee ought to doe hee should come and receiue the gouernment thereof by the generall consent of his people But hee either not daring as destitute both of courage and counsell to trust to this offer or not well informed thereof keepes himselfe still concealed Whereupon as may seeme was intended aduantage is taken to dispose of the gouernment and the Prince who is now vnder their guard is made Guardian of the Kingdom hath Fealtie sworne vnto him and a new Chancelor and Treasurer are appointed Long it was not ere the King came to be discouered as a person too great for any couer and was by Henry Earle of Lancaster brother to the late Thomas William The King taken prisoner Lord Zouch and Ries ap Howell taken and conuayed to the Castle of Kenelworth The younger Spencer with Baldocke the Chancelor and Simon Reading apprehended with him are sent to the Queene to Hereford Spencer who was now Earle of Glocester is drawne and hangd on a gallowes Fifty foote high wherein hee was exalted aboue his father otherwise had the like execution and likewise in his Coat armor whereon was written Quid gloriaris in malitia psal 52. Simon Reading was hanged Ten foote lower then hee But Baldocke in regarde hee was a Priest had the fauour to bee pined to death in Newgate And here likewise a little before was the Earle of Arundell with two Barons Iohn Danyll and Thomas Micheldeuer executed as Traytors by the procurement of Roger Mortimer for adhering to the Kings part To accompanie these mischiefes of the Countrey the Commons of London made insurrection and force their Maior who held for the King to take their part let out all prisoners possesses them of the Tower put to death the Constable thereof Sir Iohn Weston murther the Bishop of Excester to whom they bare an especiall hatred for that being the Kings Treasurer hee caused the Iustices Itenerants to sit in London A Parlement at London where the Prince is elected King by whom they were grieuously fyned and thus all is let out to libertie and confusion After a moneths stay at Hereford the Queene with her sonne returning kept Christmas at Wallingford their Candlemas at London where the Parlement being Reg. 20. Anno. 1327. assembled agreed to depose the King as vnfit to gouerne obiecting many Articles against him and to elect his eldest sonne Edward which they did in the great Hall at Westminster with the vniuersall consent of the people there present and the Archbishop of Canterbury makes a Sermon vpon this text Vox populi vox Dei exhorting the people to inuoke the King of kings for him they had there chosen The Queene either out of the consideration of the difference of a husband and a sonne whom now shee was not like long to guide or through remorse of conscience looking backe vpon what shee had done takes this election grieuously to heart insomuch as her sonne to recomfort her swore hee would neuer accept of the Crowne without the consent of his father whereupon by a common decree three Bishops two Earles two Abbots foure Barons three Knights of euery Shire with a certaine number of Burgesses of euery Citie and Borough and especially of the Cinque-Ports are sent to the imprisoned King at Kenelworth to declare vnto him the election of his sonne and to require the renuntiation of his Crowne and royall dignity whereunto if hee would not consent the State was resolued to proceed as it thought good The King beeing first priuately made acquainted with the Message The King is brought to resigne his Crowne the most harsh to Nature that could bee imparted and by two whom hee especially hated for hauing especially offended them the Bishoppes of Hereford and Lincolne was brought forth before the assembly to whom as soone as his passion wherewith hee was ouercharged would giue him leaue hee confessed how he had beene misguided the common excuse of a poore spirit and done many things whereof now hee repented which if hee were to gouerne againe hee would become a new man and was most sorrowfull to haue so much offended the State as it should thus vtterly reiect him but yet gaue them thankes that they were so gracious vnto him as to elect his eldest sonne for King Hauing spoken to this purpose they proceed to the Ceremony of his resignation which chiefly consisted in the surrender of his Crowne for the forme whereof beeing the first that euer was seene in England they could followe no precedent but must make one and William Trussell a Iudge put it into the Stile of Lawe to render it the more authenticall and pronounced the same in this manner I William Trussell in the name of all men of the Land of England and of all the Parlement The forme of his resignatiō Procurator resigne to thee Edward the Homage that was made to thee sometime and from this time forwards now following I defie thee and priue thee of all royall power and I shall neuer be tendant on thee as King after this time This was the last act and the first example of a deposed King no lesse dishonorable to the State then to him He was a Prince more weake then euill and those exorbitances of his met with as great or greater in his people who as wee see delt ouer roughly and vnciuilly with him Hee is reported by some to haue been learned which perhaps might make him the softer to haue written verses when hee was in prison to haue founded Oriall Colledge and Saint Mary Hall in Oxford He had by his wife Isabell two sonnes Edward borne at Windsor who succeeded Misissue him and Iohn Surnamed of Eltham who was created Earle of Cornewall An. 1315. and died in the Flower of his youth in Scotland And also two daughters Ioan married to Dauid Prince of Scotland and Elionor to the Duke of Gelders The end of Edward the second The Life and Raigne of Edward the third VPpon the resignation of Edward the second Edward his sonne of the 1327. An. Reg. 1. age of fourteene yeares beganne his Raigne the twentith of Ianuary 1327 and sends forth Proclamations of his peace into all Shires in this form Edward by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitaine to N. N. our Shirife of S. greeting Whereas the Lord Edward late King of England our father by the common councell and assent of the Prelates Earles Barons and other chiefe men with the whole Communaltie of this Realme did voluntarily amoue himselfe from the gouernement thereof willing granting that we as his eldest son and heire should assume the same c. which proclamation made
hands together betweene the hands of the King of France pronounced the words of the Homage which were these You become Liegeman to the King my maister here present as Duke The forme of the Homage of Guyene and Peere of France and you promise to beare saith and loyalty vnto him Say yea and King Edward said yea and kisses the King of France as the Lord of the Fee in the mouth the like Homage hee then did for the Earle do me of Ponthieu This act of submission performed in the person of a King young actiue hauty and powerfull who held himselfe wronged in doing it to whom hee did bred that rancour in his heart as it had beene better for all Christendome that Ceremony had beene spared at this time and not so punctually beene exacted by King Phillip whom their owne Historians blame for standing so much vpon his Regality with one as mighty as himselfe and more able and likely to shake his new gotten Throne then any other whatsoeuer to whose passion considering the fiery heat of his youth hee should rather haue ministered Oyle then Vinegar and more hospitably intertertained him in his Court comming with that State and Magnificence as hee did attended with the best of all the kingdome of England to shew what he was and to beget a respect of his high estate But these are the errours of improuident Princes who carried with the sway of their owne will imbroyle themselues and their subiects that euer suffer the worst and are sure to pay dearely for others faults And now thus wounded in reputation with a minde swolne for reuenge the King K. Ed. returns out of France intertaines the Scottish businesse of England returnes to settle his affaires at home where Scottish businesses fall out to intertaine him The late peace concluded with them is held so dishonourable as it must not holde and to breake the same followed an occasion begunne vppon their owne quarells The tender age of their King the affliction of kingdomes with the emulation and factions in great men put Edward Balliol sonne to Iohn Balliol sometime King of Scotland thirtie two yeares after his fathers deposition to attempt Ed. Balliol comes out of France defeited his opposers is crowned King of Scotland the recouery of that Crowne and out of France where hee had all that while remained hee comes by the solicitation of his friends into England where hee was permitted vnderhand to get ayde and had all such Scots and English who were of the faction against Bruce to take his part and with them hee sodainely assailes those who had the gouernment of that kingdome during the nonage of the young King Dauid beeing at that time with the King of France and ouercame them in a battayle with the slaughter of many Noble men and Thousands of the common people and thereuppon was immediately crowned King of Scotland at Scone But his party being not so potent as they could maintaine and defend his quarrell against all those which opposed it hee was forced notwithstanding this great defeit to retire him into England to get more ayde of King Edward who now shewes himselfe in the action Berwick recouered ioynes with Baliol against his brother in law king Dauid goes in person with a strong Army to recouer Berwicke which after three moneths siege being valiantly defended The bataile of Halidown hil by the Lord Seton was againe taken in and the Army of the Scots which came to the rescue thereof at Halidowne hill vtterly defeited where were slaine seuen Earles 900 Knights and Baronets foure hundred Esquires and about two and thirty thousand common souldiers as our writers report theirs fourteene thousand And with this effusion of blood is Baliol returned to his miserable kingdome In this oppugnation of Berwicke though my haste bee great I must not so much A memorable act in the oppugnation of Berwicke trespasse vertue as to ouerpasse one memorable perticular recorded by the Scottish writers which is how the Lord Seton seeing all reliefe failing and the assaults so violent as hee could not long holde out conditions with king Edward if rescue came not at such a day to render him vp the towne and for assurance deliuers him two of his sonnes Shortly after king Edward hauing notice of the Scottish Army approaching with greater power and speed then hee expected and likely to bee there before the day sommons the Lord Seton to render the towne presently otherwise he should see his two sonnes executed before his face and withall a Gallowes is made ready within sight of the towne the young Gentlemen brought forth and vnder the hand of the Executioner wherewith the distressed Lord rent betweene those powerfull passions of Nature and Honour standing doubtfull what to doe his wife the mother of those sonnes a Lady more then a woman comes vnto him exhorts him to remember his Fealty sworne to the King his Charity to his Countrie the dignity of his noble Familie that they had other children left though these were destroyed and besides themselues were not so olde but that they might haue more How those if they should bee preserued from death at this time might otherwise shortly perish by some worse occasion And what a staine he should lay on the name of Seton and their posteritie for ever by a base act of yeelding and betraying the place committed vnto him whereby also hee was not certaine whether he should preserue his children or no for how could hee hope that this King who had violated his first promise with him would performe the last And therefore besought him that hee would not prefer an vncertaine and momentany benefite before a certaine and perpetuall ignominy And so recovering her Lords resolution for holding out withdrew him from the walles into some other parts aside that he might not be Spectator of the execution of his innocent children The next yeare after this defeit at Hallidown Hill Edward Baliol King of Seots at 1333. An. Reg. 7. Newcastle doth Homage to the King of England as his superiour Lord and takes his oath of Fealty Binding himselfe and his heires to hold that Kingdome of him and his successors for ever with the inheritance of fiue Countries next adioyning to the Borders So large a part yeelds hee to forgoe rather then to be in danger to loose the whole which Edward Baliol doth Homage for the Kingdome of Scotl. yet could not secure his estate but rather imbroyled it the more by reason of the discontent which most part of the Nobles of Scotland conceived vpon this act of Alienation and subiection of their Country Insomuch as it gaue both Kings continuall occasion of trouble for a long time after with the expence of infinite treasure A Parlement holden at London There was granted to the King of England for these warres a Fifteenth of the Temporalty a Twelfe of Cities and Boroughes and a Tenth of the Clergie in
haue no conference with the King but in open Parlement which at that time said the King was not for especiall reasons conuenient to be called Then aggrauates hee the vndutifull contempt of the Archbishop and his hypocriticall dealing with him avowing that although by hereditary right and the diuine grace hee was aduanced to that sublimitie of regall power hee held it alwaies to haue beene a detestable thing to abuse the greatnesse thereof and how he affected nothing more in the world then to gouerne his subiects with mildnesse clemency and moderation of Iustice that hee might with peace enioy their loue And how notwithstanding the Archbishoppe had most iniuriously by his Letters published in diuerse parts torne his innocency and slandered the faithfull seruice of his Counsailors and Officers who executed his regall Iustice exclayming how the people were opprest the Cleargy confounded the kingdome agrieued with taxations and all kinde of exactions Which the King argues was to no other end but to raise sedition amongst his people and to withdrawe their loue and obedience from him Lastly to giue notice of the Archbishoppes corruption he declares how himselfe beeing vnder age had through his counsell made so many prodigall donations prohibited alienations and excessiue gifts as thereby hâ—s treasurie was vtterly exhausted and his reuenewes diminished and how the Archbishop corrupted with bribes remitted without reasonable cause great summes which were due vnto him applying to his proper vse or to persons ill-deseruing many commodities and reuenewes which should haue beene preserued for his necessary prouisions And therefore concluded vnlesse hee desisted from this his rebellious obstinacie hee intended in due time and place more openly to proceede against him inioying them to publish all and singular these his malignities and to cause others to doe the like for the manifestation of his owne pious and Princely intention in relieuing his owne and his subiects wrongs This Letter was sayd to haue been penned by Adam Bishoppe of Winchester and bare date the 12. of February An. Reg. 15. Thus the King and his Officers whose proceedings must not receiue a check are cleared and the imputation rests vpon the Archbishop who is charged with great accouÌ„ts pressed by such as lent the King mony to render the same But shortly after the King found much to doe in the Parlement held at London being earnestly petitioned by the whole Assembly of the three Estates that the great Charter of Liberties and the Charter of Forrests might be duly obserued and that whosoeuer of the Kings Officers infringed the same should lose their place that the high Officers of the kingdome should as in former times be elected by Parlement The King stood stiffe vpon his owne election and prerogatiue but yet yeelded in regard to haue his present Vid. Stat. 15. Edward 3. turne serued as himselfe after confessed these Officers should receiue an oath in Parlement to doe iustice vnto all men in their offices and thereupon a Statute was made confirmed with the Kings Seale both for that and many other grants of his to the subiects which notwithstaÌ„ding were for the most part presently after reuoked The truce agreed on before Turney for one yeare was by the Commissioners of both The Articles Vid. Appen Kings and two Cardinalls from the Pope concluded at Arras which yeelded some cessation of Armes but not of plotting more mischiefe Louys of Bauier intituled Emperour is wonne to the party of the French King becomes his sworne confederate The Emperor reuokes the Vicariate the reason why Vid. Append. and reuokes the Vicarshippe of the Empire formerly confirmed on the K. of England pretending the cause to be for concluding the late truce without him as appeares by his Letters to King Edward which are againe by him fully and discreetly answered But in steed of this remote and vnconstant confederate whose power lay without the limits of France Fortune brought in another more neere and of readier The controuersie for the Duchy of Brittaine meanes to offend within the bodie of that kingdome The inheritance of the Duchy of Brittaine is in controuersie betweene Charles de Blois Nephew to King Phillip and Iohn de Monfort vpon this title Arthur Duke of Brittaine had by Beatrix his first wife two sonnes Iohn and Guy by Yoland Countesse of Monfort his second wife Iohn de Monfort Iohn the eldest sonne of Arthur hauing no issue ordayned Iane his Neece daughter to his brother Guy who died before him to succeed him in the Duchy This Iane Charles de Blois marries on condition his issue by her should inherite the same wherein after consummation of the Marriage hee is inuested and had homage done vnto him during the life of Iohn their Vncle. But after his death Iohn de Monfort doth homage for the Duke of Brittaine to King Edward Monfort claymes the Duchy comes to Paris to do homage for the same to the French King Charles de Blois in the right of his wife opposes him the controuersie is referred to the Parlement Sentence passes on the side of Charles Monfort inraged repaires to the King of England doth his homage vnto him for the Duchy is receiued with great applause and his title howsoeuer held bad at home is heere made to bee good Returning back into Brittaine both with comfort meanes after some encouÌ„ters Monfort taken prisoner His wife prosecutes her husbands quarrell with his enemie hee is taken and committed prisoner to the Louure in Paris His wife the Countesse of Monfort sister to Louys Earle of Flanders a Lady who seemed to haue more of the man then her brother prosecutes her husbands quarrell puts on Armour leads and incourages her people surprises and defends many strong peeces of Brittaine but in the end like to be ouerlaide by the power of Charles de Blois she craues ayde of the King of England and hath it sent vnder the conduct of the Lord Walter de Manny which relieued her for the present but the future required more whereof King Edward was not sparing in regard of his owne designes for aydes are seldome sent to forrainers but for the Senders benefit The Lady her selfe comes ouer into England to treate both for supplyes and alliance tendring a match betweene her sonne and a daughter of King Edward The Earles Salisbury Pembrooke and Suffolke Forces sent ouer into Brittaine the Lords Stafford Spencer and Bourchier with Robert de Artois Earle of Richmond are sent with great forces backe with the Lady Many were the incounters surprises and recouerings of Fortes betweene the English and the French and in this action The death of Robert de Artois Robert de Artois receiued his last wound at the siege of Vannes but yet was brought to die in England it being not in his Fate that his countrie which by his meanes had suffered so much affliction should haue his bones though it had his blood which he lost with little honour
sides to treate and conclude a Peace The chiefe Article in deliberation was That the King of England should enioy all the Lands of his Duchy of Aquitaine without holding the same by resort or Treatie of Peace homage of the Crowne of France and in consideration thereof should resigne all his Clayme and Title to that Kingdom And this was in a manner then fully agreed on yet in the end broken off by the French Alledging they could not alienate any thing from the Bodie of that Crowne to their farther confusion and mischiefe hauing beene better to haue spared a formall Ceremonie appertaining to a part then to haue had the whole so miserably rent and torne in pieces as it was And yet in the end were they faine to make their agreement vpon the same very Article at the Treatie of Britigny But now the Commissioners returning without effecting any thing the King of Anno Reg. 27. England grew so displeased as hee would not hearken to any further prorogation of Truce though it were instantly vrg'd by two Cardinals sent from Auignion by Pope Clement the 6. who being a French-man borne laboured much for the peace of his Countrey and preparation is made for fresh wars The Prince of Wales now grown a man is appointed by Parliament to goe into Gascoigne with 1000. men at Armes 2000. Archers and a great number of Welshmen and in Iune following sets foorth with 300. Sayle attended with the Earles of Warwick Suffolk Salisburie and Oxford the Lord Chandos the Lord Iames Audley Sir Robert Knoles Sir Franke de Hall with many others About Michelmas following the King himselfe passes ouer to Calais with another King Edward passes with an Armie into France Armie taking with him two of his Sonnes Lionel of Antwarpe now Earle of Vlster by the right of his wife Elizabeth Daughter and Heire to William Brugh And Iohn of Gant and Earle of Richmont There met him at Calais of Mercinaries out of Germanie Flanders and Brabant a thousand men at Armes So that his Armie consisted of three thousand men of Armes and two thousand Archers on horse-backe besides Archers on foot The Citie of London sent 300. men at Armes and 500. Archers all in one Liuerie at their owne charge But all this great Powre effected nothing at that Returnes with out doing any thing time the French king would not be drawne to any incounter both in regard of the potency of his enemy and some turbulencies happening amongst his owne people but he so disfurnishes the countrie where the English were to passe of all prouisios to sustaine them as the King of England was forced to returne The distemperatures of France that this time diseased it grew from the violent humors of Charles King of Nauarre who had married Iane the French kings daughter a Prince of a stirring spirit subtile haughty and presuming vpon his great Estate and high blood being the sonne of Louys Conte d' Eureux and Iane daughter to king Louys Huttin which Iane was put by the inheritance of the Crowne of France by Phillip le Long her Vncle in regarde of their Salicque Law and by him preferred to be Queene of Nauarre in whose right this Charles her sonne bare both the title and state of that kingdome with many other great inheritances all which The King of Nauarre disturbes the French King could not yet content him but holding himselfe wronged that hee had not also the Counties of Champagne and Bry which appertained to his mother by the same right as did the kingdome of Nauarre enters into violent courses And daring not to complaine directly of the King hee falles vpon the Constable of France as chiefe of his Councell and one of whom hee was iealous in regarde of the Kings perticular fauour vnto him and in the end caused him to be murdered in his bed at L' Aigle in Normandy rushing himselfe vp into his Chamber accompanied with his brother Phillip of Nauarre two of the Harecourts and diuerse other of his owne retinue After the deed done hee retyres to his owne Citie of Eureux and iustifies the act to be lawfull The French King though extreamely stung herewith yet was faine to temporise and promises the king of Nauarre if hee would come and craue pardon he should haue it Whereupom hee appeares at Paris before the Councell to render reason for his act is condemned as guilty of treason notwithstanding the Kings promise committed prisoner Three Queenes are earnest sutors for him his mother the old Queene of Nauarre his sister the widdow of the late King Phillip de Valois and his owne wife daughter to the French King His release is obtayned and away hee goes with the rancour of this wound which had beene better not giuen vnlesse it had beene home offers his seruice to the King of England who knew well how to make vse of such a powerfull member and withall surprises certaine peeces in Normandy practising all hee could to withdraw the peoples affections and aydes from their King when hee had most need of them These insolencies notwithstanding the French king is faine to endure and dissemble vntill hee might againe take him vpon some aduantage to vse force hee saw was dangerous both in regarde of his party and the time An occasion at length fell out whereon he seazes Charles his eldest sonne being lately inuested in the Duchy of Normandy is visited by all the great men in the Countrey amongst whom as chiefe comes the King of Nauarre and The French King commits the King of Nauarre prisoner is royally feasted at Roan Whereof the French king hauing notice sets out of Paris sodenly takes him at dinner with his sonne and without farther processe causes foure of the principall which massacred the Constable to bee presently executed of which two were the Harecourts brethren and withall sends away Nauarre vnder sure guard to Arras and his chiefest seruants to diuerse prisons The Duke of Lancaster sent into Normandy to ayde the King of Nauarres brother and others This sudden execution though it gaue a present amazement yet it wakened the partisans of Nauarre and especially Phillip his brother who with Geoffrey Harecourt Vncle to the two brethren post ouer into England exclayming against this violent murther inuoking King Edward in a case of so notorious iniustice to ayde them offering their harts their goods their townes and hauens to let him into Normandy The occasion is intertayned the Duke of Lancaster is sent ouer with Anno D. 1335. Reg. 29. foure thousand men at Armes and by the assistance of this great party winnes many strong Townes King Edward to be furnished for so great actions hath by Parliament granted vnto him fifty shillings vpon euery sacke of wooll for sixe yeares next ensuing by Fifty shillings granted by Parliament of euery sacke of wooll for sixe yeares which imposition it was thought say our Histories the King might dispend a thousand
who assembling together at the instant when he was to be Crowned with his Queen at Westminster Anno Reg. 2. require him that Gaueston might bee remoued from The Lords displeased with Gauest. out the Court and Kingdome otherwise they purposed to hinder his Coronation at that time Whereupon the King to auoide so great a disgrace promises on his faith to yeeld to what they desired in the next Parlement and so the Solemnitie with much festination and little reuerence is performed Wherein Gaueston for carrying Saint Edwards Crowne before the King aggrauates the hatred of the Cleargie and Nobility against him Shortly after his Coronation all the Knights Templats throughout England are at once arrested and committed to prison They were an order of Knights iustituted by Balduin the Fourth King of Ierusalem about 200 yearts past first appointed for The Knights Templers arrested committed to prison the defence of that Citie and the safe conuaying of all such as trauailed thither afterwards they were dispersed through all the Kingdoms of Christendom by the pious bounty of Princes others inriched with infinite possessions which made them to degenerate frō their first institution become execrably vitious So that all the Kings Their dissolution of Christendom at one instant combining together caused them to be apprehended within their Dominions and put out of their order and estates The King of France began hauing a purpose to make one of his Sonns King of Ierusalem possesse him of their reuenues Their accusation followes their apprehension and condemned they are rather by fame then proofe in the generall Councell at Vienna as apeares by the condemnatory Bull of Pope Clement the Third Wherein he hath this clause Quanquam de iure non possumus tamen ad plenitudinem potestatis dictum ordinem reprobamus Their estates are after giuen to the Hospitaliers These businesses passed ouer the Lords prosecute their purpose against Gaueston The Lords prosecure Gaueston whose insolencie and presumption vpon the Kings fauour made him so farre to forget himselfe as hee scorned the best of them all as much as they hated him Tearming Thomas Earle of Lancaster the Stage player Aymer de Valence Earle of Pembrooke Ioseph the Iew and Guy Earle of Warwicke the blacke dogge of Ardern Which scoffes leauing behinde them the sting of reuenge especially where they touche drew such a partie vpon him as in the next Parlement the whole Assemblie humbly besought the Reg. 3. Anno. 1310. King to aduise and treat with his Nobles concerning the State of the Kingdome for the auoiding of eminent mischiefe likely to insue through neglect of the Gouernment and so farre vrges the matter as the King consents thereunto and not onely grants them libertie to draw into Articles what was requisite for the Kingdome but takes his oath to ratisie A Parlement The king takeshis oath to rate fie whatsoeuer Articles the Lords would conclude in Parlement whatsoeuer they should conclude Whereupon they elect certaine choyce men both of the Cleargie Nobility and Commons to compose those Articles Which done the Archbishop of Canterbury lately recalled from exile with the rest of his Suffragans solemnly pronounce the sentence of excommunication against al such who should contradict those Articles which are there publiquely read before the Barons and Commons of the Realme in the presence of the King Amongst which the obseruation and execution of Magna Charta is required with all other ordinances necessary for the Church and Kingdome And that as the late King had done all Strangers should bee banished the Court and Kingdome all ill Councellors remoued That the businesse of the State should be treated on by the Councell of the Cleargie and the Nobles That the King should not begin any war or goe any where out of the Kingdom without the common Councell of the same Which Articles though they seemed harsh to the King yet to auoide further trouble Gaueston banished into Ireland hee yeelds vnto them but especially to the banishment of his Minion as if that would excuse him for all the rest and away is hee sent into Ireland where hee liued a while not as a man exiled but as the Lieutenant of the Countrie The King not enduring to be without his company neuer ceased working till hee had recalled him backe againe which within a few moneths after hee did And to make him as hee thought to stand the faster on his feete hee marries him to his Neece the Daughter of Ioan de Acres Sister to Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester a man beloued and highly esteemed of all the Nobility for whose sake hee hoped Gaueston should finde the Gaueston recalled more fauour amongst them but all this could not shelter him Either his behauiour or their malice was such as they could not endure to haue him about the King who by making him so great lessened him and the more hee was enriched the worse was his estate The Subiects spectators of their Kings immoderate gifts held it to bee taken out of the bowels of the Common-wealth as it were of their substance that was so wasted For it is reported the King gaue him the Iewels of the Crowne which hee sould to Marchant strangers and conuayed much treasure out of the Kingdome whereby the King sustained great wants and the Queene is abridged of her allowance whereof she complaines to the King of France her Father These stingues put the Barons on to send plaine word to the King that vnlesse hee The Lords threaten the King put from him Pierce Gaueston and obserue the late Articles they would all with one consent rise in armes against him as a periured Prince The King whom they found was apt to be terrified yeelds againe vpon this message to the banishment of his Minion whose fortune beeing to haue a weake maister was driuen to these sodaine extreamities Gaueston again banished mities and disgracefull expulsions at their will who were his enuiers and who now obtaine this Clause that if hereafter hee were found againe within the Kingdome he should be condemned to death as an enemy of the State Ireland was now no more to protect him France most vnsafe for him wait being their laid to apprehend him in Flanders he luiks a while but in great danger and finding no where any securitie back againe hee aduentures vpon England and into the Kings bosome the sanctuary he thought would Gaueston returnes not be violated hee puts himselfe and there is hee receiued with as great ioy as euer man could bee And to be as farre out of the way and eye of enuy as might be the King carries him into the North parts where notwithstanding the Lords shortly after found him out For no sooner had they heard of his returne and receiuing into grace but they presently combine and take armes electing Thomas Earle of Lancaster The Lords take armes for their Leader
This Thomas was the Sonne of Edmond the second Sonne of Henry the third and was likewise Earle of Leicester Ferrers and Lincolne a most powerfull and popular Subiect with whom ioynes Humfrey Bohun Earle of Heresord Aymer de Valence Earle of Pembrooke Guy de Beaucham Earle of Warwicke the Earle of Arundel With many other Barons But Gilbert Earle of Glocester the Kings Nephew for that hee would neither offend him nor be wanting to his Peeres stands as Mediator for their liberties and the peace of the Kingdome The Earle Warrein remained a while doubtfull and fauouring rather the Kings part till the Archbishop of Canterbury induced him to consent with the Lords who being thus prepared send to the King in the behalfe of the whole Comunaltie beseeching him to deliuer vpp vnto them Pierce Gaueston or else to send him away with his traine out of England The King neglecting their petition they set forward in armes towards the North. The King and Gaueston withdrawe to Newcastle there beeing aduertised of the strength of the Gaueston taken and beheaded Lords they take ship leauing the Queene in much griefe behinde and land at Scarborough Castle whereinto the King puts Gaueston with the best forces hee could prouide for his defence and departs himselfe to wards Warwickeshire The Earles of Pembrooke and Warrein sent by the Earle of Lancaster lay siege to the Castle Gaueston is forced to render himselfe into their hands but intreates thus much that hee might be brought once more to speake with the King and then after they should doe with him what they pleased The Earle of Pembrooke vndertakes vppon his honour he should but as his seruants were conducting him to wards the King the Earle of Warwicke tooke him from them by force and commits him to his Castle of Warwicke where after some consultation among the Lords not withstanding the Kings earnest solicitation for his life they condemned him to the blocke and tooke off his head This was the end of Pierce Gaueston who for that hee was the first Priuado of this The description of Peirce Gaueston kinde euer noted in our History and was aboue a King in his life deserues to haue his Character among Princes being dead Natiue hee was of Gascoine and for the great seruice his father had done to this Crowne intertained and bred vp by King Edward the first in company with his sonne this Prince which was the meanes that inuested him into that high fauour of his Hee was of a goodly personage of an haughty and vndauntable spirit braue and hardy at armes as hee shewed himselfe in that Turneament which hee held at Wallingford wherein hee chalenged the best of the Nobility and is saide to haue foiled them all which inflamed the more their malice towards him In Ireland where hee was Liuetennant during the short time of his banishment hee made a Iourney into the mountaines of Dublin brak and subdued the Rebels there built Newcastle in the Kerns country repaired Castle Keuin and after passed vp into Munster and Thomond performing euery where great seruice with much valour and worthinesse Hee seemes to haue been a Courtier which could not fawne nor stoope to those hee loued not or put on any disguise vpon his Nature to temporize with his enemies But presuming vpon his fortune the misfortune of such men grew in the end to that arrogancie as was intolerable which the priuacie of a King fauour vsually begets in their Minions whose vnderstanding and iudgement The miserable ostate of Minions being dazed therewith as is their sight who stand and looke downe from off high places neuer discerne the ground from whence they ascended And this extraordinary fauour shewed to one though hee were the best of men when it arises to an excesse is like the predomination of one humour alone in the body which indangers the health of the whole and especially if it light vpon vn worthinesse or where is no desert and commonly Princes raise men rather for appetite then merit for that in the one they shew the freedome of their power in the other they may seeme but to pay their debt But this violent part of the Lords shewed the nature of a rough time and was the beginning of the Second Ciuill Warre of England For now hauing had their desire in The peremtorie proceeding of the Lords this and finding theire owne power and the weakenesse of the King they peremtorily require the confirmation and execution of all those Articles formerly granted threatning the King that vnlesse hee presently performed the same they would constraine him thereunto by strong hand Thus will Liberty neuer cease till it growe licentious and such is the misery of a State where a King hath once lost his reputation with his people and where his Nature agrees not with his Office or answers the duties thereunto belonging And with this menacing message they had their swords likewise ready drawne and with strong forces assemble about Dunstable making towards London where the King then lay The great Prelates of the Kingdome with the Earle of Glocester labour to appease The Prelates and the E. of Glocester labour to pacifie and bring in the Lords them and with two Cardinalls which at that time were sent by the Pope to reform these disorders of the Kingdome they repaire to Saint Albons and desire conference with the Lords who receiue them very peaceably but their letters which the Pope had written vnto them they refused to receiue saying they were men of the sword and cared not for the reading of letters that there were many worthie and learned men in the Kingdome whose Counsells they would vse and not strangers who kyew not the cause of their commotion absolutely concluding that they would not permit Forrainers and Aliens to intermeddle Their submission in their actions or in any businesse that concerned the Kingdome With which answere the Cardinalls returne to London But the Prelates of England so labour the businesse Reg. 5. Anno. 1313. as the Lords were content to yeeld vp to the King such Horses Treasure and Iewels as they had taken of Pierce Gaueston at Newcastle so that the King would grant their petitions And thereupon Iohn Sandall Treasurer of the Kingdome and Ingelard Warle Keeper of the Wardrobe are sent to Saint Albons to receiue those things at their hands About this time Queen Isabel is deliuered of a sonne at Winsor whom Louys her brother Queen Isabel deliuered of a sonne and other great men and Ladies of France would haue had christened by the name of her father Philip but the Nobility of England had him named Edward And here the King keeps his Christmas feasts the French with great Magnificence and is said or rather suspected to bee euill counselled by them against his Nobles betweene whome there being so ill correspondence already any imagination serues to make it worse Suspition causing all things to be taken in ill