Court at Paris to these complaints Now had the Lords of Arminiaque D'Albert Peregort Cominges and many others Anno Reg. 43. 1369. made their protestations against the King of England for the Crowne of France which they say they were by nature to obey and not to a strange Soueraigne that it was absolutely against the Fundamentall Law of the Kingdome to disseuer them from the Crowne that the Contract was made in prison and therefore inciuile and not to be held by the right of Nations So that they were resolued to spend their liues and estates rather then bee vnder the gouernment of England By their example the Cities of the County of The Emperor Charles 4. makes a iourny into France to reconcile the two Kings Ponthieu rendered themselues to Guy Conte de Saint Poll and Guy de Chastillon The King of England complaines of this breach of accord to the Pope and the Emperour Charles 4. who made a iourney into France to reconcile the two Kings and determine the businesse Before whom our Ambassadours first declare how this Accord hauing beene more for the good of France then vs in regard we resigned thereby not The allegations of the English Ambassadours before the Emperour onely our Title to Normandie Touraine and Aniou the fairest and richest Countreys of France But also our Title to the Crowne to the end we might hold in Souraigntie the Duchy of Aquitayne the Country of Ponthieu with some other peeces which by Hereditary right appertained to the Crowne of England whereby the effusion of Christian blood was stayed France had peace and their King restored in faire manner after a faire imprisonment and vpon the most resonable Conditions could bee deuised Notwithstanding the French King who Vid. Appen himselfe with the whole Councell of France contracted the Accord and solemnly swore to obserue the same hath contrary to the Law of God and Nations after he had recouered his Hostages by fraud seazed both vpon the Duchy of Aquitayne and the Country of Ponthieu without denouncing Warre by his Heraldes c. The French Reply How we by the Accord were bound immediately to with draw our The Reply of the French Army out of France which they say wee did not during all the Reigne of their King Iohn That the Peace was thereby made more offensiue then the Warre they being constrained to purchase the departure of our Souldiers with greater charge then would haue maintained an Armie That the breach was on our side for that the Souldiers were ours That King Edward was bound to renounce his Title to the Crowne of France in open Assembly of the States of both Realmes which they say was not done And concerning the releasing of their King they say it cost France more gold then the redeeming of Saint Louys their King his brother the Peeres and the whole Armie taken by the Soldan an Infidell Thus both sides defend their cause being easie for Princes who will breake out of their Couenants to finde euasions The French King it seems though willing to get in what he could yet was very loath to renue a Warre and therefore with many Presents courts the King of England Who seeing himselfe thus deluded prepares to haue out his Sword And Anno Reg. 44. hauing borowed great Summes of the Clergie sends ouer Iohn Duke of Lancaster and Humphry Bohun Earle of Hereford with a mightie Armie to Calais to inuade France on this side whiles the Prince of Wales works to recouer the reuolted Townes on the other But little was effected The Duke shortly returnes And then Thomas Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke with fresh supplyes is sent ouer who dyes in the iourney Forces sent into France Sir Robert Knoles a man renowned in those times for valour and counsaile is made Leader of an Armie Consisting of many great Lords who disdayning to bee commanded by him whom they helde their inferiour ouer-threw themselues and the Action Thus all went backe and the French King growes both in State and Alliance Anno Reg. 45. Margueret sole daughter and Heire to Louys Earle of Flauders to whom King Edward sought to match his sonne Edmond is wonne to marrie Phillip Le Hardy Duke of Burgogne brother to the French King And this much vexes King Edward who A Subsidie granted by Parliament the maner of seyzing the same the better to furnish himselfe for reuenge calles a Parliament at Westminster wherein he resumes his claime to the Crowne of France and requires ayd of his Subjects and hath it The Clergie graunted him 50. thousand poundes to be payd the same yeere and the Laitie as much For the leuying whereof euery Parish in England was rated first to pay 23 shillings foure pence the great helping the lesse vpon supposition there had beene Parishes ynough to haue made vp that summe But by certificate vpon the Kings Writs sent out to examine what number of Parish Churches were in euery Shire they found it came short and then rated euery Parish at fiue pound sixteene shillings the greater to helpe the lesse and so of 8600. Parishes found to be in the 37. Shieres 50. thousand 181. pound 8. peence was raised But in regard of the great pouertie of Suffolk and Deuon Shire the 181. pound was abated and the King answered 50. thousand pounds for the Laytie Vpon this Supply the King grants that the great Charter and the Charter of The Duke of Lancaster sent into Aquitaine Forrests should bee obserued in all points which in most Parliaments of his is euer the first Act as may be seene in the printed Statutes And now Iohn Duke of Lancaster and Edmond Earle of Cambridge are sent with Forces into Aquitayne to ayde the Prince of Wales who after he had sacked the Citie of Limoges that was reuolted his health failing to performe any more leaues the prosecution of the Warre to his brother and with his wife and young sonne Richard borne at Burdeaux returnes The Prince of Wales returnes into England home into England and here resignes vnto his father the Duchy of Aquitayne The Duke of Lancaster after the departure of the Prince did little but being now a widdower his wife dying two yeares before in the third great Pestilence in which yeare also Phillippe wife to King Edward ended her life hee marries Constance eldest daughter to Peter King of Castile by whom hee had the empty title of King The Duke of Lancaster marries Constance daughter to the King of Castile and was after the death of his father-in-law stiled King of Castile and Leon. This Constance though shee were the daughter of a wicked father and infamous mother yet was so happy that the daughter shee had by this Duke of Lancaster named Katherine became after Queene of Castile and Leon being married to Henry 3. in possession before and in her right King of both those Realmes and left her posterity Kings of Spaine Edmond Earle of
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
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
two Charters before And twelue Knights or Legall men are chosen in euery shire vpon their Oath to disparte the old forests from the new and all such as were found to haue Disforrestations beene inforested since the first coronation of Henry the second to be disafforested and disposed at their pleasure who were to posses them wherevpon they were layd open plowed and improued to the exceeding comfort and benefit of the subiect whereby men in steed of wild beasts were sustayned and more roome made for them to vse their industry Two yeares with great quietnesse and generall content the blessing of a state 1225. Anno. Reg. 10. these liberties were inioyed when the King at a Parliament at Oxford declaring himselfe to be oflawfull age and free from custody to dispose of the affayres of the Kingdome cancells and anulles the Charter of Forests as graunted in his Nonage hauing no power of himselfe or of his Seale and therefore of no validitie and causes Proclamation to be made that both the Clergy and all others if they would inioy those liberties 4. Parliament should renew their Charters and haue them confirmed vnder his new Seale for which they were constrayned to pay not according to their ability but the will of the chiefe Iusticiar Hugh de Burgh to whome is layd the blame of this mischiefe which procured him the generall hatred of the Kingdome and bread a new insurrection of The reuoking the Charters of Forrests which bred a new insurrection the nobility who taking aduantage vpon a breach lately falen our betweene the king and his brother Richard Earle of Cornwell about the Castle of Barkhamsted appertayning to that Earledome which the king had committed to the keeping of on Walleran a Dutchman ioyne with the Earle and put themselues in armes For the king mayntayning the cause of Walleran commands his brother to render the Castle which he had taken from him or else to depart the kingdome The Earle answeres that he would neither doe the one or the other without the iudgment of his Peeres and so departes to his lodging leauing the king much displeased with this answere The chiefe Iusticiar fearing the disturbance of the peace aduises the king sodainly to apprehend the Earle and commit him to close custodie but the Earle either through notice or doubt therof flies presently to Marleborough where he findes William Earle Mareshall his friend and consedrate by Oath with whom hee hastes to Stamford and there meets with the Earles of Chester Gloster Waren Hereford Ferrers Warwicke with diuers Barons and men at armes from whence they send to the King aduising him to right the iniurie done to his brother The cause whereof they impute to Hugh de Burgh and not to himself besides they require restitution to be made without delay of the liberties of the Forrests lately cancelled at Oxford otherwise they 1226. Anno. Reg. 11. would compell him therevnto by the sword The King to anoyd this daunger appoints them day to come to an assembly at Northampton where a concord is concluded and to satisfie his brother besides the rendring vnto him his Castle he grauntes him all that his mother had in dowre and s. Parliament whatsoeuer lands the Earle of Brittaine held in England with those of the Earle of Bologn lately deceased and so the Parliament brake vp After this the generall motion 1227. Anno. Reg. 12. for the holy warres intertaines some time Which so strongly wrought in that credelous world as sixty thousand sufficient men are reported to haue vndertaken that voyage of whom Peter Bishop of Winchester and William Bishop of Excester are the leaders The King is sollicited by Hugh le Brun Earle of March who had marryed his Mother and by other great men of Normandy to come ouer into France to recouer his right vpon the great alterations happening in those parts by this occassion Louys the eight who succeeded Phillip the second being lately dead after his great siege of Auignon and his warres made against the Heretickes Albegeois in Prouince leaues the Kingdome to his Sonne Louys of the age of twelue yeares in whose minority his Mother Blanch taking vpon her the regency so discontented the Princes of the French Hist. bloud as they oppose themselues against her holding it both dishonorable and daungerous that a woman and a stranger by the Councell of Spaniards whom she aduanced aboue the Naturalls of the Kingdome should gouerne all according to her pleasure and therefore enter league against her The chiefe of whom were Phillip Earle of Bologne vncle by the Father to the King Robert Earle of Champaigne Peter de Dreux Duke of Britagne and Robert Earle of Dreux his brother and with these Hugh the Earle of March takes part in regard the Queen Regent had erected the Country of Poictou to a Conty and made Earle there of Alphonso her Sonne brother to the young king whereby finding himselfe inclosed within that County he refuses to acknowledge Alphonso for Lord instigated therevnto by his wife a Queene Dowager of England who could not comport a superior so neere her doore in so much as they likewise draw in the Earle of Lusignan brother to the Earle of March who also presuming vpon the greatnesse of his house discended of kings was apt to take their part and these with the Earle of Britagne call in the King of England Who after he hed exacted great sums of the Clergy of the Citie of London for redemption of their liberties and taken the third part of al the goods of the Iewes passes ouer with an Army lands at Saint Mallos is met by many Nobles of Poictou who with the Earle of Britagne doe homage vnto him and great preparations are made to recouer such peeces as had beene obtayned by the late King of France The Queene Regent sets out a powerfull army to stop the proceeding of the King of England and much mischiefe is wrought on both sides in Pocitou Xaintonges Angoumois where their friends and enemies suffer all a like At length seeing no great good to arise by their trauaile both weary of the busines either a peace or truce is concluded The King of England besides an infinite expence of treasure hauing lost diuers of his Nobles and other valiant men in the iourny without any glory returnes home bringging with him the Earle of Britagne and many Poictouins to receiue their promised rewards which notwithstanding all the former expence must be wrung out of the substance of the poore subiect of England Vpon his returne hee intertaines a purpose of Marriage with a sister of the King of Scots against which the Earles and Barons of England generally oppose alledging it to be vnfit that he should haue the younger Sister when Hubert his chiefe Iusticiar had maryed the eldest and the Earle of Britagne by whose Councell he was now much directed disswades him likewise from it To this Earle after supplies obtained towards
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
The Lords oppose the Spencers suffering nothing to be obtained but by their meanes Which the State accounted a mischiefe most intollerable and grievous vnto them seeing all graces and dispatches were to passe out but at one dore whereby the Kings benignity and power is diminished the Kingdome dishonoured all corruptions introduced to the overthrow of Iustice and good order And vnder this pretence they take Armes wherein themselues proceed not in that And take Armes even way of right as they made shew but follow the fury of their wils being once out and astray they seize vpon and make spoile of the lands and goods of those persons they prosecuted and all such as had friendship and affinity with them killing their servants and disposing their Castles at their pleasure And comming armed thus to S. Albons they send to the King residing then at London the Bishops of London Salisbury Hereford and Chichester who were there assembled to consult for peace requiring him as he tendred the quiet of the Realme to rid his Court of those Traitors the Spencers condemned in many Articles of high Treason by the Communalty of the Land and withall to grant his Letters Patents of Pardon and Indemnity both to them and all such as took part with them and that for no offences past or present they should hereafter be punished The King returnes answer That Hugh Spencer the father was beyond the Seas imployed in his businesse The King excuses the Spencers and the sonne was guarding the Cinque-Portes according to his office and that it was against Law and Custome they should bee banished without being heard Moreover that Denies the Lords their demands their request was voide of Iustice and Reason for that the said Spencers were ever ready to answer to all complaints made against them according to the forme of Law and if the LL. could proue they had offended the Statutes of the Realme they were willing to submit themselues to the triall thereof And besides swore he would never violate the oath made at his Coronation by granting letters of Pardon to such notorious offenders who contemned his person disturbed the Kingdom and violated the Royall Maiestie Which answer so exasperated the Lords as presently they approach to London and lodged in the Suburbes till they obtained The Lords come armed to London leaue of the King to enter into the Citie Where they peremptorily vrge their demands which at length by mediation of the Queene and the chiefe Prelates the King The King yeelds unto them The Earle of Hereford publishes the Kings Edict in Westminister Hall is wrought to condiscend vnto and by his Edict published in Westminster Hall by the Earle of Hereford are the Spencers banished the Kingdom Hugh the father keeps beyond the Seas but the sonne secretly hides himselfe in England expecting the turne of a better season The Lords having thus obtained their desire with the Kings Letters of impunity depart home but yet not with such security as they gaue over the provision for their own defence Shortly after there fell out an vnexpected accident that suddainely wrought their confusion The Queene who had ever beene the nurse of peace and laboured to accord The occasion of the Queens displeasure with the Lords the King and his Barons making her progresse towards Canterbury was disposed to lodge in the Castle of Leeds appertaining to the Lord Badlesmere who had beene long the Kings Steward but lately tooke part with the Barons and sending her Mareschall to make ready for her and her traine they who kept the Castle told him plainely that neither the Queene or any else should enter there without letters from their Lord. The Queen her selfe goes to the Castle and receiues the like answer whereupon Shee is denied lodging in the Castle of Leeds she is driven to take such lodging other where as could be provided Of which indignity she complaines to the King who tooke it so to heart as presently with a power of armed men out of London he layes siege to the Castle takes it hangs the The King takes the Castle of Leeds Growes strong keeper Thomas Culpeper sends the wife and children of the Lord Badlesmere to the Tower and seises vpon all his goods and treasure And having this power about him and warmed with successe and the instigation of the Queene sodainely directs his course to Cicister where he kept his Christmas and there provides for an army against the Barons whereof many seeing the Kings power increasing left their associates and yeeld themselues to his mercy amongst whom were the two Rogers Mortimers men of great might and meanes the Lord Hugh Audeley the Lord Maurice Barkley and others who notwithstanding contrary to their expectation were sent to divers prisons The Earles of Laucaster and Hereford seeing this sodaine change withdrew themselues and their companies from about Glocester towards the North-parts The Lords withdraw into the North parts and are ouerthrowne The King followes them with his Army wherein were the Earles of Aihol and Angus and at Burton vpon Trent where they had made head discomfited their forces and put them all to flight Whereupon seeking to escape they retire further North and at Burrough Briggs are encountred by Sir Simon Ward Shriefe of Yorke and Sir Andrew Harckley Constable of Carleil who after the Earle of Hereford was slaine in striuing to passe the Bridge tooke the Earle of Lancaster with diuerse other Lords and brought them to Pomfret where the third day after the King sitting himselfe in iudgement with Edmond Earle of Kent his brother the Earle of Pembrooke the Earle Warren Hugh Spencer lately created Earle of Winchester and others Sentence of death is giuen against Thomas Earle of Lancaster by drawing hanging and beheading as a traytour The two first punishments are pardoned in regard he was of the The executiō of the E. of Lancaster with diuers other Losds in diuerse places royall blood and only beheaded hee was the same day without the towne of Pomfret before his owne Castle And by the like iudgement were condemned the Lord Roger Clifford the Lord Warrein Lisle the Lord William Tuchet Thomas Maudit Henry Bradburne William Fiztwilliams William Lord Cheyny Thomas Lord Mowbray Ioseline Lord Danyll all which were executed at Yorke Shortly after the Lord Henry Teyes is taken drawne hangd and quartered at London the Lord Aldenham at Windsor the Lords Badlesmere and Ashbiunham at Canterbury the Lord Gifford at Glocester principall men in principall places to spread the more terrour ouer the kingdome All their estates and inheritances are confiscated and many new men aduanced by the same And this is the first blood of Nobility that euer was shed in this manner in England since William the first which beeing such and so much as The first of any Earle or Baron of England that euer was executed upon Scaffold or otherwise since the time of William the first
Edward arriues with 300. men at Armes and 600. Archers Monsieur Charmy sets out The French circumuented in their practise likewise the same night from Saint Omers with his Forces and sent 100. armed men before with the Crowns to Americo and to possesse the Castle The men are let in at a Posterne Gate the Crownes receiued and themselues layd in hold Which done the gates of the Towne are opened and out marches the King before day to encounter Monsieur de Charny comming on with his forces who perceiuing himselfe betrayed put his people to the best defence hee could and the king of England to a hard bickring who for that hee would not bee knowne there in person put himselfe and the Prince vnder the colours of the Lord Walter Manny and was twice beaten downe on his knees by Monsieur de Riboumont a hardy Knight with whom hee fought hand to hand and yet recouered and in the end tooke Riboumont prisoner Charny was likewise taken and all his forces defeited King Edward the night after which was the first of the new yeare feasted with the prisoners and gaue Riboumont in honour of his valour wherein he honoured his owne a rich chaplet of Pearle which himselfe wore on his head for a New-yeares-gift forgaue him his ransome and set him at liberty The rest pay dearely for what they got not and were well warned how to trafficke in that kinde Yet the English not long after in the like practise had better successe and got the Castle of Guisnes a peace of great importance neere Calais for a summe of mony giuen to one Beauconroy a French man Of which Castle when the French King demanded restitution in regard of the Truce King Edward returnes answer That for things bought and sold betweene their people therein was no exception and so held it Shortly after the French king not borne to liue to see any better fortune dyes leauing that distressed kingdome to his sonne Iohn who found farre worse For An. 1305. Reg. 24. these fore noted wounds were but as scratches to that State compared with those horrible maimes it indured in his and after in the Raignes of Charles 6. and 7. till the sword of England was turned home vpon it selfe to let out the blood of reuenge The French King dies with as tragicall mischiefes on the fuccessours of these great actors who now thus wrought others ruines aboade King Edward the next yeare after is againe in person with a Fleet on the Sea to incounter certaine Spanish shippes passing from Flanders loaden with cloth and other King Edward in action at sea against the Spaniards commodities whom after a great fight and much blood shed on either side hee tooke with all their substance for that the Spaniards the yeare before entered the Riuer Garonne and tooke away certaine English ships loaden with wines and slew all the English His forces in Guien were not idle this while but many conflicts passed betweene the French and them notwithstanding the Truce which was renewed The warres in Brittaine likewise continue and are hotly maintained betweene the two Ladies the widdow of Monfort and the wife of Charles de Bloys whose husband remaynes prisoner in England eager defenders of eithers pretended right Diuerse ouertures of peace had beene made by Legates sent from the Pope and Commissioners often met to the great expence of both Kings but nothing could be cōcluded the winner the loser seldom agreeing vpon cōditions in regard the one wil haue more then the other is willing to yeeld vnto so temporary Truces which Alterations of moneys were but slenderly obserued are onely taken to winne time These actions not only consumed our men but the treasure of the kingdome The warre though inuasiue could not maintayne it selfe The monyes here are altred and abated in weight and yet made to passe according to the former value Before this time there were none other peeces but Nobles and halfe Nobles with the small peeces of siluer called sterlings but now grotes of foure-pence and halfe grotes of two pence equiuolent to the sterling money are coined which inhansed the prices of things that rise or fall according to the plenty or scarcity of Coine Which made seruants labourers to A Parlement raise their wages accordingly Whereupon a Satute was made in the Parliament Anno Reg. 27. now held at Westminster to reduce the same to the accustomed rate which was giuen before the late great Mortality This caused much murmuring amongst them imputing the cause thereof to William Edington Bishop of Winchester the Kings Treasurer whom they held to be the Author of the abatement of the Coyne The King conceiuing displeasure against the Flemmings for being disappointed of the Match betweene a Daughter of his and their yong Earle Louys who was escaped into France and bestowed on a daughter of the Duke of Brabant with-drawes the Mart or Staple of Woolls from their Townes greatly inriched thereby and can The Staple established in England sed the same to be kept at Westminster Chichester Canterbury Lincolne Warwick Yorke New-castle Excester Carmarden Bristoll and Hull Holding it fitter to aduance his owne Townes then Strangers by the commodities of the Kingdome And here are prouident Ordinances enacted for the gouerning and ordering this Staple An Act is also made in this Parliament that all Weares Milles and other stoppages Walsinham of Riuers hindring the passages of Boates Lighters and other Vessels should be remooued An Act most commodious to the Kingdom but it tooke little effect saith my Authour by reason of bribing and corrupting Lords and great men who regarded more their owne then the publike benefite A mischiefe fatall to all good Ordinances and yet is it an honor to that time that so behoufull an Act was ordained For this eafie conuaying and passing of Commodities from place to place to impart the same more generally would no doubt be an infinite benefit to this State And seeing God hath made vs Riuers proper for the same it is our negligence or sloth if we marre them or make them not vsefull in that kinde as other Nations doe with farre lesser Streames There is mentioned also an Act to bee made at the instance of the Londoners that Stow. no common Whore should weare any Hood except rayed or striped with diuers colours nor Furres but garments reuersed the wrong side outward wherein they did well to set a deformed marke vpon foulenesse to make it appeare the more odious After this Parliament Henry Earle of Derby is created Duke of Lancaster and The Earle of Derby created Duke of Lancaster Ralfe Lord Stafford Earle of Stafford and heere Charles de Bloys a long Prisoner in England agreed for his Ransom which was 40. thousand Florins and was permitted to returne into Britagne to prouide the same Great mediation is made by the Pope to accord the two Kings and Commissioners meet on both
where as before the English liued loose in little homely cottages where they spent all their reucnewes in good fare caring for little other gaiety at all Now after the Norman manner they build them goodly Churches Malmsbury Maurici is Bishop of London An. Dom. 1087. new built the Church of S. Paule in London of stone brought out of Normandy and stately houses of stone prouide better furnishments erect Castles and Towers in other sort then before They inclose Parkes for their priuate pleasure being debard the generall liberty of hunting which heretofore they inioyed whereupon all the termes of building hunting tooles of workemen names of most handy-crafts apperteining to the defences and adornements of life came all to be in French And withall the Norman habits and fashion of liuing became generally assumed both in regard of nouelty and to take away the note of difference which could not be well lookt on in this change The Charter of William 1. graÌ„ted to this Church see the Appendix Before this time the Chur ches were most of Timber And though the body of our language remained in the Saxon yet it came so altered in the habit of the French tongue as now we hardly know it in the auntient forme it had and not so much as the Character wherein it was written but was altred to that of the Roman and French now vsed But to the end we may the better know the man and the nation that thus subdude vs we must take our course vp to the head of their originals The Normans we find to haue issued out of Norway and Denmarke and were of like maners as the rest of those Northerne countries which by reason of the apt mixture William 1. built the white Tower afterwards walled incastelled underneath by William 2. and Henry 1. of their Phlegmatique and Sanguine complexions with their promiscuous ingendring without any tye of marriage yeelded that continuall surchargement of people as they were forced to vnburthen themselues on other Countries wheresoeuer their violence could make them roome And out of this redundancy Roul or Rou a great Commander amongst them furnished a robustious power in the time of King Alfrid and first landed in England that euer lay in the Roade to all these inuadors where finding no roome empty nor any imployment was content vpon some reliefe receiued The Saxon habit and Characters first altered to vse his forces otherwhere which he did against Rambalt Duke of Frize and Reâ—gnier Duke of Chaumont and Hennalt with whom he had many violent incounters and committed great spoiles in their Countries Which done he passed along the coast The Originall of the Normans Roul or Rou the first Norman that landed in EnglaÌ„d of Fraunce entred the mouth of Seine and sackt all the Countrey vp to Roan where the people hauing beene lately before miserably afflicted by Hasting another inuador of the same Nation were so terrified by the approach of these new forces that the Archbishop of Roan by the consent of the people offered him the obedience of that Citty and the Countrey about on condition he would defend them and minister Iustice The History of Normand Roul the first Conqueror of Normandy froÌ„ the French calling it Norman according to the Lawes of CHRIST and the Customes of the Countrey For Charles the Simple then King of Fraunce yeelding no present succour being otherwise imbroiled about the right of his Crowne gaue him the opportunity to plant in that place and to grow so powerfull as shortly after he attempted the Conquest of Paris and gaue many notable defeits to the French Leaders So that in the end Charles was faine to buye his peace with the price of an alliance and the whole Countrey of Nuestria or Westrich which of the Normans was after called Normandy And thereupon Roul became a Christian and baptized had the name of Robert giuen by Robert brother to Eudes late King of Fraunce who then stood in competition for that Crowne with Charles the Simple and is sayd to haue vnder-aided Roul secretly of purpose to make him friend his deseignes though after he vrged it in an article against Charles the giuing away his Countrey and the sauouring of strangers And thus came Roul to establish a State to his posterity ordering the same with that iudgement and equity as he left his name in a perpetuall reuerence and his successors a firme foundation to plant vpon From him in a direct line descended sixe Dukes of Normandy in the space of 120. yeares William 1. Richard 1. Richard 2. who had two sonnes Richard and Robert that successiuely inherited the Dukedome Robert after he had gouerned eight yeares either meerely for deuotion which charitie ought rather deeme or expiation for some secret guilt wherewith his conscience might stand charged about his brothers death which because it was vntimely might be thought vnnaturall resolues to visite the Holy Sepulchre And acquainting his Nobility therewithall was by them much diswaded in regard he had no issue and for that already they sayd Alain Earle of Britaine and the Earle of Burgogne were in contestation who should succeed him in the Dutchie so that vpon his death and their strife the Country was like to become a prey to the souldier from which in conscience he was bound by his best meanes to secure it The Duke willed them to bee content I haue said he a little Bastard of whose worthinesse I haue great hope and I doubt not but he is of my begetting him will I inuest in the Dutchie as mine heire And from hence forth I pray you take him for your Lord. The Earle of Brittaine notwithstanding his competition to shew the affiance I haue in him I will constitute his gouernour and Seneschall of Normandie the King of France shal be his Guardian and so I will leaue him to God and your loyalties Shortly after the Bishops and Barons did their homage to this base sonne named William who was the sixt Duke of Normandie after Roule begotten on Arlette a meane woman of Falaise And Duke Robert taking his intended iourney deliuers the Child with his owne hand to Henrie the first King of France whom before hee had mainely aided in preseruing his Crowne left him by his father King Roberts Testament against his elder brother and his mother Constance which with a great side of Nobility stood for the right of Primogeniture according to the custome of France And therefore might the more presume if good turnes done to Princes could weigh so much as their selfe-respects would not turne the skale to haue had a faire discharge of his trust and him for a Protector whose power was best able to bee so And causing the Childe to doe homage for his Duchie of Normandie commits him to his Royall faith departs his Court and shortly after his life in Asia Whereupon his successor but nine yeares of age became obnoxious to all the miseries thar afflict Princes
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
ariuing at the Port of Dam where they found the French Nauie vnorderly dispersed and without defence their forces going out to inuade the Country set vpon and vtterly defeited the same and afterward ioyning their powre with that of Ferrand draue the King of France home with great dishonour and exceeding losse King Iohn raised with this victorie and his peace with the Church sets vpon great designes taking oportunitie of this disaster of the King of France whom in reuenge of his iniurie and hope of recouering his transmarine Dominions he plots to assaile on all sides stirring vp his Nephew Otho to ayde the Earle of Flanders for an Inuasion on the East part whilst himselfe withall his powre should enter vpon the West For execution whereof first hee sends supplies of treasure to his Chieftaines in Flaunders then assembles a great Army at Portsmouth wherewith hee resolues to passe the Seas But his designe contrarie to his desire and haste came to be delayed by the withdrawing The Nobility refuse to ayde King Iohn of his Nobilitie who refused to ayde or attend him vntill hee were absolued and had confirmed vnto them their liberties wherewith much inraged seeing no other remedie he speedily sends for the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other Bishops which were yet in France promising them present restitution and satisfaction vnder the hands and seales of foure and twenty Earles and Barons vndertaking for the performance thereof according to the forme of his Charter graunted in this behalfe Pandolphus with the Bishop and the rest of the exiled Clergie forth-with come ouer and finde the King at Winchester where hee goeth forth to meere them and on his knees with teares receiues them beseeching them to haue compassion on him and the Kingdome of England Absolued he is with great penitence and compassion exprest with teares of all the beholders and sweares vpon the Euangelists to loue defend and maintaine Holy Church and the Ministers thereof against all their aduersaries to the vttermost of his powre That hee would reuoke the good Lawes of his Predecessors and especially those of King Edward abrogating such as were uniust Iudge all his subiects according to the iust iudgement of his Court That presently vpon Easter next following hee would make plenarie satisfaction of whatsoeuer had beene taken from the Church Which done he returnes to Portsmouth with intention to passe ouer into France 1214. Anno. Reg. 16. committing the gouernment of the Kingdome to Geffrey Fitz Peter and the Bishop of Winchester with charge that they should order all businesses together with the Councell of the Archbishop of Canterbury And here a numerous company of souldiers repayring to him complayned that by The Archbishop threatens to excommunicate the King their long attendance their mony was spent so that they could not follow him vnlesse they might be supplied out of his Eschequer which the king refusing to doe in a great rage with his priuate family takes ship and puts forth to the Isle of Iersey but seeing none of his Nobles or other to follow him was forced hauing lost the oportunity of the season to returne into England where he gathers an Army with intention to chastise the Lords who had thus forsaken him But the Archbishop of Canterbury followes him to Northampton Vrging that it was against his Oath taken at his absolution to proceed in that maner against any man without the iudgement of his Court. To whom the King in great passion replyed That hee would not deferre the businesse of the Kingdome for his pleasure seeing Lay iudgements appertained not vnto him and so in fury marches to Notingham The Archbishop followes him and plainely told him that vnlesse hee would desist from this businesse hee would excommunicate all such as should take armes against any before the releasing of the interdiction and would not leaue him vntill hee had obtayned a conuenient day for the Lords to come to his Court which shortly after they did and a Parliament is assembled in Pauls wherein the Archbishop of Canterbury produces a Charter of King Henry the first whereby hee graunted the ancient liberties of the Kingdome of England which had by his Predecessors beene opprest with vniust This Charter is recorded in Mat. Par. with restes of the Subscribers exactions according to the Lawes of king Edward with those emendations which his father by the Councell of his Barons did ratefie And this Charter being read before the Barons they much reioyced and swore in the presence of the Archbishop that Lagam regis Edwardi vobis reddo cum illis emcndationibus quibus pater mcus eam amendauit for these liberties they would if neede required spend their bloud And there withall concluding a confederation with the Archbishop the Parlament brake vp Shortly after dies Geffery Fitz Peter Iusticiar of England a man of a generous spirit learned in the lawes and skilfull in gouernment Who in that broken time onely held vncrased performing the part of an euen Consellour and officer betweene the King and Kingdome whom though the King most vsed he most feared and least loued as ill Princes doe their worthiest ministers whose grauity and iudgment may seeme to Vide Append. keepe them in awe And hearing of his death reioycing said now when he comes into hell let him salute the Archoishop Hubert whom assuredly he shall finde there And turning to those about him swore by the feet of God that now at length he was King and Lord of England hauing a freer power to vnty himselfe from those knots which his oath had made to this great man against his will and to break all the bands of the late concluded peace vnto which he repented to haue euer condiscended And to shew the desperate malice of this king who rather then not to haue an absolute domination ouer his people to doe what he listed would be any thing himselfe vnder any other that would but support him in his violences there is recorded an Ambassage the most base impious that euer yet was sent by any free and Christian Prince vnto Miramumalim the Moore intitled the great King of Affrica Morocco and Spaine wherein he offred to render vnto him his kingdom and to hold the same by tribute from him as his Souraigne Lord To forgoe the Christian faith which he held vayne and receiue that of Mahomet In which negotiation the Commissioners are named to be Thomas Hardington Raph Fitz Mat. Par. Nichols knights and Robert of London Clearke the manner of their accesse to this great King is related with the deliuery of their message and King Iohns Charter to that effect and how Miramumalim hauing heard at large their message and the discription both of the King and Kingdome with the nature and disposition of the people so much Miramumalim scornes the Message of K. Iohn disdayned the basenesse and impiety of the offerer as with skorne hee commanded his ministers to depart
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
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
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
to palliat a wrong did but the more discouer it Within 5 daies after was he crowned at West by Walter Archbishop of Canterbury at which solemnity the Q. made shew of great sorrow hevinesse but being after pacified by the inlargement of her Ioynture which tooke vp three parts of the Kings revenewes she beganne to be of better cheere Twelue especiall The Queene hath her ioynture inlarged Twelue especiall men chosen for the government men are here appointed to manage the affaires of the Kingdome till the King were of fit yeeres to governe of himselfe the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and Yorke the Bishops of Winchester Hereford and Worcester Thomas Brotherton Earle Mareschall Edmond Earle of Kent Iohn Earle Warrein Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Percie Oliver Lord Ingham and Iohn Lord Rose but the Queene and Roger Lord Mortimer vsurped this charge and tooke all tooke all wholy to themselues And to busie the present and An expedition into Scotland vphold this Change an expedition instantly is vndertaken for Scotland wherein those strangers still retained which the Queene brought over with her are imployed vnder the conduct of the Lord Iohn Beaumont brother to the Earle of Haynault and at Yorke the whole Army were to meete where the English being not all of a party quarrell with those strangers and so great a conflict arose betweene them as cost some bloud and was hardly appeased an ill presage of that iourney At Stanhop Parke the English Army incounter the Scottish and though the English were thrice greater and might easily haue vanquished them yet by the treason of some great men as it was bruited they escaped all away and nothing was done so The Scots retyre from Stanhope Parke â—â— nothing done that the yong King borne for victories was deprived the honour of his first action which yet being not conducted by his own Spirit was held more dishonorable to others then to him Vpon their returne all the Hannowayes and Stipendaries are sent home into their own Countries During this businesse the deposed King remaines prisoner at Killingworth with the allowance of 100 markes a month for his expences deprived of all those comforts the world should yeeld him His wife whom he loved though now the author of all his misery sends vnto him letters and apparell but excuses her comming as being not permitted by the State Neither was he thought safe enough where hee was nor so straitly lookt unto as they desired to haue him being in the custody of his Vnckle the Earle of Lancaster And therefore they commit him to other guardians and men of the most rough Natures could be found the Lord Matrevers and Thomas Borrney who from thence removed him to the Castle of Berckley in Glocestershire where long hee The miserable estate of the imprisoned King staid not but was conveyed to Corfe Castle and thence to other places vp and downe to beguile and disappoint his friends by the vncertainety of his being if any plot were laid which they doubted to restore him Besides to disguise him the more and that hee might not be easily knowne they shaue his Head and Beard which as a servant of his Sir Thomas de la More a Knight of Glocestershire reports who wrote his life was done in the open fields by the commandement of Gourney who most barbarously caused the miserable King to sit on a Mole-hill whilst the Barbor shaved him and to take cold water out of a ditch to wash him withall which the patient King saith this Reporter seeing told them That yet in despight of them he would haue warms water at his Barbing and therewithall shed aboundance of teares Other vile reproches this savage Iaylor put vpon his annointed Soveraigne as here-conveyed him backe to Berckley He is murthered at Berkley Castle Castle where shortly after he and Matrevers caused him to be murthered in a most hideous manner by thrusting vp a hot Iron into his bowels thorow an hollow instrument whereby no outward Note might appeare to bewray how hee came by his death For the body being after laid forth and vewed by many substantiall Citizens of Bristoll and Glocester called thither for that purpose they could finde no signe either of wound or poyson so that their Evidence confirmed the report that was given out how he died of extreme greife This was the end of Edward the 2 within eight months after his deposing The deed-doers Matrevers and Gourney though they had commission and great hopes giuen them to do as they did yet being by those who were ashamed to avow it they durst not abide the triall but as Fugitiues fled presently their Countrey Gourney three yeeres after was taken at Merseilles and murthered on the Sea before he came to England that hee might tell no tales who set him on work But this was not all the bloud this deed cost the iudgement of God fell heavily not onely vpon the great contrivers but even vpon the whole Kingdome and what the yssue of this present Prince whose throne though without his guilt was thus set vp on his fathers bloud sustained in after times the many imbrued Scaffolds the divers bloudy fields the infinite slaughters in the civill discord of their divided families which the consumed race of the most part of all this present Nobility will testifie But now for the present the authors of this change vse all meanes to increase and fortifie their owne fortunes whilst the State in generall receiues no great satisfaction thereby Mens expectations are not answered in that manner as they were conceived The Queene mother and her Minion Mortimer lately created Earle of the Marches of Wales guide all and all that is not well done or amisse in the Governement is now attributed to them and their councell So that discontentments in gender new Factions according to the Nature of turbulent times The Kings marriage with Phillippa of Haynault is solemnized and a Parlement is 1328. Anno. Reg. 2. held at Northampton where a dishonourable peace is concluded with the Scots and confirmed by a match between David Bruce Prince of Scotland sonne to Robert Bruce and Ioane sister to the King of England which match by reason of the tender age of the Prince being but seven yeare old could promise little good Besides by the secret working of the Queene Mother the Earle of March and Sir Iames Douglasse The King surrenders by his Charter his Title of Soveraignety to the Kingdome of Scotland A Parlement at North. restores divers Deeds and instruments of their former Homages and Fealties with the famous Euidence called the Ragman Roole and many ancient Iewels and Monuments among st which was the Blacke Crosse of Scotland c. Moreover any Englishman is prohibited to hold Lands in Scotland vnlesse he dwelt there In consideration whereof King Bruce was to pay 30 thousand Markes Shortly after another Parlement is held at Winchester A dishonorable peace made with Scotl. where
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
for the reformation of the State Besides they compose a Councell of themselues whereof the Bishop of Laon the Primier President the Prouost with some of the Vniuersity were chiefe assuming a Soueraigne power to order all affaires of the State as a Common-wealth So that wee see in what a miserable confusion that kingdome stood being without a head and how apt it was then to shake off all authority and dissolue the gouernement into parts shewing vs that it was no new proiect amongst them to Cantonize as the great Townes and the Princes of late practised to doe in their leagues during their ciuile combustions The Dauphin thus disgraced with much a doe gets out of this tumultious City and retyres into Champagne and at Vertus assembles the States of the Countrie whom hee found loyall and ready to yeeld him all succour The rest of the great Townes refusing with much disdaine to ioyne with the City of Paris offer him likewise their ayde So that hee was put into some heart and likly to effect his desires in short time had not the King of Nauarre who sought his destruction still raysed new broyles in the State and taken Armes against him Now besides these confusions greater mischiefes arose in that miserable kingdome the poore Paysants that had beene eaten out by the Souldiers and troden vnder foote by their Lords colleague and arme themselues in the Country of Beauuoysis France spoyled by the souldiers and others on all sides and turne head vpon the Gentry and such as had done them wrong spoyling sacking burning their houses killing their wiues and children in most outragious manner This was not all troupes of souldiers which had no work or meanes to liue ioyne together in mighty Companies ouer-runne and rauage other parts of the kingdome The forces in Brittaine vnder the conduct of Sir Robert Knoles breake out vpon the confining Countries and returne loaden with inestimable booties of wealth All which miserable calamities enough to haue vtterly dissolued a State prolong the imprisonment of their King in England so that nothing could bee effected for his ransome which King Edward thinkes long till he haue in his Treasury and vrges likewise for his part very hard conditions requiring say they besides infinite summes that King Iohn should doe homage and holde the kingdome of France of the Crowne of England which hee with great disdayne refuses as being not in his power to alien what was vnalienable vowing that no misery of his should constrayne him to doe any thing preiudiciall to his successors to whom hee would leaue the State as hee receiued it But yet at length offers other and more large conditions then the French were willing to yeeld vnto which being long in debating and nothing concluded after foure yeares expectation King Edward in great displeasure resolues to make an end of this worke with the sword and to take possession King Edward goes to take possession of the kingdome of France of the kingdome of France And ouer hee passes to Calais with a Fleete of eleuen hundred Sayle His Army hee diuides into three battailes one hee commits to the Prince of Wales another to the Duke of Lancaster and the third hee leades himselfe And first hee marches to the City of Aras which hee takes within three dayes Thence into Champagne where the Cities of Sens and Neuers are rendered Anno Reg. 34. vnto him The Duchy of Burgogne terrified with these examples redeemes it selfe from spoyle vpon paying two hundred thousand Florins of gold Furnished with which treasure and booties by the way vp King Edward marches to Paris where the Dauphin who had now the title of Regent hauing lately ouercome the faction and executed the principall of the Mutiners was with great forces which in the common danger flocked together to defend their Countrie and would not by the example of his father and Grand-father be drawne out to hazard vpon any attempt but stood onely vpon his defences which the King of England seeing after many prouocations raysed his siege and returnes into Brittaine to refresh his Army In the meane time the Regent layes in mighty store of victualls prouides that the Souldiers should haue enough without pressing the inhabitants and with extreame dilligence so fortifies the City as King Edward returning with all his refreshed power was vtterly disappoynted of his hopes to doe any good there Thus that great Citty which was like to haue endangered the whole kingdome of France was the onely meanes to preserue it From hence King Edward takes his way towards Chartres with purpose to besiege that City but being by an horrible tempest of haile thunder and lightning that fell vpon his Army so terrified as hee vowed to make peace with the French King vpon any reasonable conditions as he shortly after did at the treaty of Britigny The Treatie of Accord concluded at Britigny neere Chartres vpon these Articles That the country of Poicton the Fiefs of Thouars and Belleuille the Countrie of Gascoigne Agenois Perigort Limosin Cahors Torbe Bigorre Rouergne Angoulmois in soueraigntie with the Homages of the Lords within those Territories Monstruel on the Sea Ponthieu Calais Guines La Merk Sangote Boulogne Hames Vales and Onis should bee to the King of England who besides was to haue three Millions of Scutes of gold whereof sixe hundred thousand presently in hand foure hundred thousand the yeere following and the Surplus in two yeeres after insuing vpon reasonable payment And for this the King of England and his Sonne the Prince of Wales as well for them as their Successors for euer should renounce all their right pretended to the Vid. Append. Crowne of France the Duchy of Normandie the Countryes of Touraine Aniou Maine the Soueraigntie and Homage of the Dutchy of Britagne and the Earldome of Flanders and within three weekes King Iohn to bee rendred at Callais at the charge of the King of England except the expences of his House For assurance of which Accord should be giuen into his hand Hostages Louys Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry King Iohns sonnes Phillip Duke of Orleance his brother Iohn Duke of Burgogne the Conts of Bloys Alenson Saint Pol Harcourt Poncian Valentinois Grand Pre de Brenne des Forrests the Lords Vaudemont Couscy Piennez de Saint Venant de Preaux de Momerancy de Garanciecis La Roche guion Estou-teuille Le Dauphind ' Auergne d' Andrigil de Craon sufficient cautions for the sayd Summes and conditions The Scots not to be ayded by the French King nor the Flemmings by the English Charles King of Nauarre and his brother Phillip are comprehended likewise in these Articles c. This Treatie of good accord and finall Peace signified by both Kings was ratified King Iohn deliuered by their two eldest Sonnes Edward and Charles and sworne vnto by the Nobilitie of both Kingdomes The Hostages are deliuered vnto King Edward who departing from Honfleur brought them into England leauing the
perticular Lords whose Homages were passed ouer to the King of England protested against it Alledging how that the King could not dispose of the Soureigntie of the Kingdome nor alien his Domaine and therefore they would not obey it The French King notwithstanding least King Edward should thinke this but a collusion betweene him and his subiects publishes his Commandement for the obseruation of the Accord and thereof certifies King Edward Besides he had vndertaken a iourney for the Holy warres and desired to settle all things in peace at home before his going And this might be the occasion of his comming and not his loue to the Conntesse of Salisburie as is reported But howsoeuer this King shewed a Strange disposition to returne to the Gaole where he had indured so much affliction and where shortly after his comming The death of King Iohn of France hee ended his life much lamented of the King of England who sole mnly attended his Corps to Douer whence it was conuayed to Saint Denys and entombed with his Ancestors An. 1364. Reg. 38. The debate for the Duchie of Britaigne is about this time determined by the death of Charles de Bloys slaine in a Battaile neere Vannes by Iohn de Monfort and the English Forces led by the Lord Latimer Sir Iohn Chandos and Sir Hugh Cauerley The businesse of Britayne accomdated for a time Iohn de Monfort marries Mary Daughter to King Edward and by his consent doth his homage for the Duchie to Charles now King of France compounding with the widdow of Charles de Bloys for a summe of money and some estate in land And heere we haue some time of rest which the Souldier whom the warre had bred could not well brooke The cast Companies in France though they had no Head yet had strong Bodies and did much mischiefe in many parts of that Kingdom till they were imployed in the Warres of Spaine which fell out shortly after A Company of them passed over into Italie vnder the conduct of Sir Iohn Haucut a great The Italians call him Iohannos de Acuto Warriour who found such entertainement with the Princes there where hee reuiued Militarie discipline that had layne long vnused among them and got such honour and estate by his valour as his fame remaines to this day and his Statue amongst their memorable Princes for action and vertue though hee went but a Taylorout of this Kingdome which in those dayes could haue furnished the whole world with Leaders and expert Militarie men And now heere haue we brought this mightie King to the Fortieth yeere of his Anno Reg. 40. Raigne which had it beene his last wee had left him the most glorious and tryumphant Prince in the world to whom Fortune neuer yet shewed her back neuer was retrograd But now these last ten yeeres present vs with a turning of the Beame a declination from that height of glory with certaine blemishes that age and frailtie brought vpon him This new King of France Charles the fift Intituled The wise recouered great aduantages vpon him hauing in the life time of his Father strugled so with affliction a better Mistresse of wisedome then prosperitie and learned so well to know a Crowne before he had it as now hee manages the same with great temperance and vigilancie and finding the preseruation of that State consisted more in counsell then force which had beene too aduenturously imployed by his Father and Grand-father he workes his fortune by lying still hauing excellent aydes and ministers to execute his designes and labour for him of whom for his warres Guesclin a Brittaine whom hee made Constable of France was of especiall note and first shewed the way how that State was to be recouered The Prince of Wales remayning in his Duchy of Aquitayne with a great Court which required great expences and many military attendants without worke is Anno Reg. 41. 1367. solicited by Peter King of Castile chased out of his kingdome by his bastard brother Henry to ayde him to recouer the same which the Prince vpon great promises of remuneration vndertakes by the consent of his father The cause was better then the person For this Peter sonne to Alphonso 11. King of Castile had cōmitted so tyrannicall outrages as were intollerable to his subiects oppressing and destroying The Prince of wales aides the King of Castile his Nobles to inrich himselfe putting away and after murthering his wife which was daughter to Peter Duke of Burbon sister to the now Queen of France by the instigation of his Concubine Maria de Padilla whom he afterwards married Whereupon the State adhering to his brother Henry who though he were a bastard by his birth was more Legittimate by his vertues then hee who was more a bastard by his vices crowned him King of Spaine at Bargos and forced Peter to fly the kingdome This Peter thus reiected the Prince of Wales with an Army of thirty thousand attended by his brother Iohn Duke of Lancaster and many Lords of England goes to re-inuest in his kingdome Henry is ayded by the French and those floting companies fore-remembred led by Guesclin Constable and Dandrehen Marshall of France hauing besides of Castilians Christians and Sarasins so many as his Army consisted of neere an hundred thousand men Vpon the borders of Castile it came to a Battayle the Prince of Wales hath the victory Henry is put to flight the French Leaders taken prisoners and Peter put into his Throne againe at Bargos The worke done reward for the same is required by the Prince which Peter could not or cared not to prouide but staruing him with delayes inforced him in the end to returne to Burdeaux without mony to pay his Army which was worse without health which he neuer after recouered This successe had this vnfortunate action vndertaken to right an vngratefull Tyrant who afterwarde notwithstanding was The Prince obtaines the victory in Spaine againe dispossessed taken and put to death by his brother Henry It is written that to strengthen himselfe hee combined with a Prince of the Sarazins married his daughter and renounced the Christian faith but it is commonly the reward of euill princes to be made worse then they are The Prince of Wales returning thus out of Spaine charged with more debts then before and destitute of meanes to content his people fals vpon another misfortune The il successe of that iourny as commonly men in these declinations seeking remedies increase maladies imposing a new taxation vpon the Gascoignes of Feuage or Chymney mony so discontented the people as they exclaime against the gouernment of the English and appeale to the King and Court of France for redresse The King of France at the instance of the great Lords and others who were turned ouer by the accord to hold of the Crowne of England sends a Gentleman to the Prince of Wales at Burdeaux with sommons to answere before him and his
Cambridge married also at the same time Isabell Anno Reg. 46. 1372. the youngest daughter of King Peter and both shortly after returned into England though without victory yet with wiues Lionell Duke of Clarence a little before marries Violanta the Duke of Millaines daughter in Italy where they feasted him so as shortly after he died The City of Rochell that yet held out for the English had indured a long siege both by Sea and land to relieue which important peece the Earle of Pembroke is sent with forty shippes well manned and victualled and besides furnished with twenty The Earle of Pembrooke taken prisoner by the Spaniards thousand markes to defrey the voyage who incountring the Spanish Armado sent to ayde the French in this siege by Henry now King of Castile after a long and cruell conflict is taken prisoner and his Nauy vtterly destroyed King Edward himselfe though now aged sets forth with a mighty Army to recouer these losses but thereby Anno Reg. 47. D. 1373. lost more the windes with his fortune beeing against him beat him backe hauing spent in this preparation Nine hundred thousand markes Shortly after Iohn Duke of Lancaster passes ouer againe to Calais with another Army which hee leads through France by the way of Auergne where amongst the mountaines he lost many of his people for want of victuals and almost all his horse so that hee came to Burdeaux with a starued and distressed company which after some time hee relieues and made certaine attempts vpon the enemy but effected nothing the date of victories was out all went ill with the English The Duke returnes the next yeare and all Gascoigne reuolts except Burdeaux and Bayon King Edward hath another supply by Parliament a Tenth of the Cleargy and a Fifteenth of the Laytie towardes these warres which now are sought to be ended Another Subsidie granted by Parliamēt by treaty an vnlikely way to doe any good Two yeares are spent therein at Burges and other places with great charge of Commissioners and much debate The French hauing now the aduantage of the time would make their owne conditions they require the Towne of Calais from whence King Edward had now remoued his Staple in regard of the danger of Marchants goods and restitution of great summes of money which were not to bee yeelded So that nothing but temporary Truces were to be gotten to serue present shifts wherein the English and their party had euer the worse And here at home besides the sicknesse of the Prince which grew desperate the State is diseased the Kings age is misled his treasure exhausted and his affaires Anno Reg. 50. 1376. ill managed A Parliament to cure these euils is called at Westminster the Kings wants are opened and supplyes required the whole body of the Assembly weary to beare these continuall burthens in steed of Contributions exhibit Complaints charging the Kings Officers with fraude and humbly craue that the Duke of Lancaster A Parliament at Westminster which was called the good Parliament The Duke of Lancaster with others banished the Court. the Lord Latimer then Lord Chamberlayne Dame Alice Peirce the Kings Concubine and one Sir Richard Sturry might be amoued from Court Their Complaints and desires are so vehemently vrged by their Speaker Sir Peter de La Mare as the King rather then not to be supplyed gaue way vnto them and all these persons are presently put from Court The Prince was held to fauour their proceeding for there seemes to bee no good correspondence betweene him and his brother the Duke of Lancaster who now managed all vnder his aged father and whose ambition might bee dangerous to his young Sonne Richard whom he was like to leaue to his mercie The King in this Parliament being the Fiftieth yeere of his raigne to gratifie his Subiects grants another generall Pardon as another Iubile wherein onely William Another Iubile Wicham Bishop of Winchester is excepted being lately by the procurement of the Duke of Lancaster fallen into the Kings displeasure and forbidden to come to the Parliament But this Iubile was soone turned to sorrow by the death of the Prince The death of the Prince of Wales of Wales which happened in this Parliament time A heauy losse to the State being a Prince of whom we neuer heard any ill neuer receiued other note then of goodnes and the noblest performances that Magnanimitie and Wisedome could euer shew inso much as what praise can bee giuen to Vertue is due vnto him His death changed the face of affayres The late excluded parties returne to Court and their former places This Parliament called the good Parliament now wrought ill effects The Duke of Lancaster returnes with the rest to the Court. S r Peter de la Mare at the suite of Allce Peirce an impudent woman working vpon the Kings impotencies is committed to perpetuall imprisonment at Nottingham An acte without example of former times and did no good in this especially being wrought by such a Subiect This woman presuming vpon the Kings fauour whom The reuenge and behauiour of Alice Pierce she had subdued grew so insolent the common euill of such fortunes that she intermedled with Courtes of Iustice and other Offices where she her selfe would sit to effect her desires which though in all who are so exalted are euer excessiue yet in a woman most immoderate as hauing lesse of discretion and more of greedinesse The Duke of Lancaster is come now to haue the Regencie and to manage all the The Duke of Lancaster gouerns all affayres of the Kingdom and might thereby presume farther But King Edward to preuent the mischiefes which by disordering the succession might grow in the Kingdome prouidently setled the same in this Parliament vpon Richard of Burdeaux Richard of Burdoaux created Prince of Wales creating him first Earle of Chester and Corne-wall and then Prince of Wales which made much for his present safetie least Iohn of Lancaster should supplant him as Earle Iohn did his Nephew Arthur in the like case For sure it seemes the Duke had his designe that way bent but this confirmation by the Parliament which hee had offended and shortly after a breach with the Citizens of London put him so by as he durst not now attempt that which his Sonne after effected But yet he behaues himselfe very imperiously in this state he had And first shews his authoritie on the Earle The Earle of March resigns his Office of Marshall which is giuen to Sir Henry Percie of March commanding him ouer to the guarding of Calais and the parts there about Which the Earle refuses and rather yeelds vp his Rodde with the Office of Marshall then obey his commandement therein The Duke takes the Rodde and giues it with the Office to Sir Henry Percie a man most inward with him Shortly after the Parliament is assembled againe at Westminster whether a new or the last prorogued I
know not and thither the Duke himselfe brings Prince Richard of the age of 11. yeeres places him in the Kings Seat and taught him to Iohn Sow demaund a Subsidie Which was two Tenths to be payd in one yeere Or twelue The Prince motions a Subsidie in diuers kinds pence in the pound of all Marchandizes sold for one yeere and one pound of siluer for euery Knights Fee and of euery Fire-house one penie And this Demaund the Duke earnestly vrges Saying one of them ought of necessitie to be granted in regard the Enemie proclayming Warre purposed to inuade the Realme The Knights of the Parliament whom the Duke they sayd had by practise made The Parliament diuided and put by all of the last Assembly except twelue which he could not alter require respite to answere a day is appointed The maior part make choyce of one Hungerford a Creature of the Dukes to deliuer their answere The other would haue Sir Peter Dela Mare to be inlarged and deliuer theirs and also answere to what could be obiected against him before the Lords in Parliament and thereto submit himselfe Then the Duke demaunds ayd of the Bishops They refuse to treate therein without their Brother the Bishop of Winchester prohibited from comming to the Parliament Now there fell out an Accident that besides gaue interruption to this businesse A certaine Divine named Iohn Wicliff depriued by the Arch-bishop of Canterbuie of a benefice in Oxford which hee was found vniustly to holde had heretofore being discontented the humour that commonly breeds Scisme inueighed in his Sermons A dissention about Iohn Wicliffe and other actes in the Schooles against the abuses of Church-men Monkes and other religious orders which were not then so free from scandall but might well be taxed and had by his doctrine there and in London wonne many Disciples vnto him who after were called Lollards professing pouerty going bare-footed and poorely clad in russet which made them as extreames are the more noted and get passage into the opinion of the people apt to imbrace nouelties and vsually beguiled by disguises in regarde they rather belieue then iudge Amongst other his Doctrines he taught that neither King or other Secular Lord could giue any His doctrine thing in Perpetuitie vnto Church-men and that Temporall Lords if they neede might lawfully take the goods of such religious persons to relieue them in their necessities by the example of William Rufus c. A doctrine very pleasing to great men who commonly imbrace Sects either for ambition to get or for iealousie not to lose or for hatred to reuenge This man the Duke of Lancaster and Sir Henry Percy much fauour and cherishe The Duke of Lancaster fauours Wicliffe and why extolling him both for his learning and integrity of life which made him so farre presume as hee daily in one Church or other published his opinions without feare whereupon at length hee is cited to answere before the Archbishop the Bishop of London and others in Paules At the day appointed the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Marshall goe to conduct him by the way hee is animated by his followers not to feare the Bishops and entring into Paules the presse is so great as hardly any passage could be made whereupon the Marshall vsing some violence thrust in vpon the people which Courtney Bishop of London prohibited him to doe saying The conuention of Wicliffe before the Bishops in Pauls If he had knowne he would haue behaued himselfe so in that place hee should not haue come into the Church The Duke hearing these wordes angerly replyed That the Marshall should execute his authority whether hee would or not When they were come to our Ladies Chappell the Duke and Barons with the Bishops sitting downe Iohn Wicliffe sent for in by the Lord Marshall was by him likewise willed to sit downe in regard hee sayd the man had much to answere and needed a conuenient seat The Bishop of London tolde him it was against all law and reason that hee who was there cited before his Ordinary should sit hereupon contumelious wordes arose betweene the Lord Marshall and the Bishop the Duke takes the Marshals part and sharply reprehended the Bishop the Bishop returnes the like to the Duke who in great rage seeing hee could not preuayle swore hee would pull downe the pride of him and all the Bishops of England You trust sayd hee in your Parents but they can profit you nothing I trust not in my Parents said the Bishop nor in any man liuing but in God in whom I ought to trust The Duke as if whispering in his eare tolde him hee had rather pull him out of the Church by the hayre of the head then suffer these indignities which wordes the Londoners ouer-hearing swore with a lowde voyce they would rather lose their liues then suffer their Bishop to bee thus iniuriously vsed and threatened to bee pulled out off The Citizens of London take their Bishops part his owne Church Their fury was the more incensed against the Duke for that the day before in the Parliament whereof hee was president it was required in the Kings name that from thence forth there should bee no more a Mayor of London but a Captaine appoynted for the gouernment of the City and that the Lord Marshall of England should arrest offenders within the Liberties as in other places About this businesse and this wrong offered to their Bishop the Citizens assembling The Citizens in vprore the morrow after to consult amongst themselues it happened the Lord Fitzwater and Guido Brian came into the City which the people seeing furiously ranne vpon them and were like to beate them downe for comming vnsent for at that time The Lord Fitzwater protested hee came for no other end but to offer his setuice to the City being by inheritance their Standard-bearer and was to take iniuries offered to them as to himselfe and therefore willed them to looke to their defence Whereupon they presently take Armes assayle the Marshals Inne breake open the gates brought forth a prisoner in his Gyues and let him at liberty but found not the Lord Marshall who with the Duke that day were to dine with one Iohn de Ypres Thence thus surious multitude ran to assayle the Sauoy which a Knight of the Dukes seeing hastes to the place whsre his Master dyned and acquaintes him with this vp-roare in the Citie The Duke leaps from the Table so hastily that hee hurt The Duke of Lancasier in danger slees to the Princesse both his shinnes in the Fourme and with Sir Henry Percie alone takes boar and away he gets to Kennington neere Lambeth where the Princesse with the young Prince lay to whom he complaines of this Ryot and the violence offered him In the meane time the multitude comming to the Sauoy a priest inquisitiue to know the busines was answered They went to take the Duke and the Lord Mashall and
compell them to deliuer Sir Peter de la Mare vniustly detained in Prison The Priest replyed That Sir Peter was a Traitour to the King and worthy to be hanged At which words they all cryed out This is Percie this is the Traytour of England his speach bewrayes him though his Apparell be disguised and presently they ran vpon him and wounded him to death The Bishop of London hearing of this Out-rage leaues his dinner hastes to the The Bishop of London appeases the tumult Sauoy admonishes them to be mindefull of the Holy time being Lent and for the loue of Christ to desist from such seditious acts assuring them all thing should be fairely ended for the good of the Citie Whereupon they were something pacified and forbare to assault the Dukes house whose person if they could haue found they had no doubt made an end of him and the Lord Marshall in this their surie at that time but missing him they yet hung vp his Armes reuersed in signe of Treason in all the principall streetes of the Citie The Princesse from Kenington sent Albert de Vere Louys Clifford and Simon Burleygh to the Citizens perswading them to make their peace with the Duke They returned this answere That for her Honour they would doe whatsoeuer shee commanded but yet inioyned the Kinghts to will the Duke to permit the Bishop of Winchester and Peter de la Mare to come to their Answere according to the custome of the Lawes of England The Citizens send to the King They sent likewise of the chiefe Citiznes to the sicke King to excuse them of this Tumult protesting themselues not to be priuy thereunto but sought all meanes to suppresse the same which they could not doe the whole Communaltie being in Commotion vpon an Information that their Liberties should be taken away from them by Parliament The King tolde them It neuer was in his thought to infringe their Liberties but he rather desired to enlarge them And therefore willed them not to feare but returne to appease the Citizens and keepe them in peace and order which they did and were well pleased with this answere But yet they could not stop the passage of Rimes and Libels those secret stings that wound vnseene but that they were dayly spread in the Citie to the defamation of the Duke and to make his name odious to the people For which he procured the Bishops to excommunicate the Authors of all such Rimes and Libels Notwithstanding this harsh proceeding of the Duke with the State and in a time so vnseasonable both for his owne Ends and the Publique businesse he vndertooke The Commons in Parliament desirous to ayd their King granted a Subsidie on this condition that being leauied it should be committed to certaine Earles and A Subsidie granted in this Parliament Barons to see it yssued according to the occasions of the Kingdom But this Subsidie was of a new nature neither in any of those kindes propounded Euery person man woman within the Kingdome aboue the Age of 14. yeeres were to pay 4. pence those who liued by Almes onely excepted The Clergie likewise grants 12. pence of euery Parson Beneficed and of all other Religious persons 4. pence of the head A mighty and vnknown Ayd such as neuer was granted to any King of England before and became a Precedent for the next Reigne wherein it caused the first and grearest popular Insurrection that euer was seene in this Kingdom So tender a thing is it to taxe the people by the Poule And now here-upon the Parliament ended but not the Dukes displeasure against the Citie The Maior and Aldermen are brought before the King to Shene and aduised to submit themselues to the Duke and craue pardon for their grieuous offences They protest as before they could not stay the rage of the multitude who committed those insolencies beseeching the King not to punish such as were innocent and ignorant of the fact promising the Duke they would indeauour by all meanes to bring in the malefactors and compell them to make satisfaction to the honor of the Duke and more sayde they wee cannot doe Whereupon they were dismissed the Court and shortly after from their places by the power of the Duke of Lancaster Sir Nicholas Brember was elected Mayor in steed of Adam Staple and other Aldermen appointed in their places who were put out The King was desirous to haue reconciled them to his Sonne but sicknesse hauing now vanquished him hee is forced to giue ouer the world as the same did him before his breath left him And first his Concubine packing away what shee could snatch euen to the rings of his fingers left him then his other attendants by her example seasing on what they could fasten shift away and all his Councellors and others forsooke him in his last agony when most hee needed them leauing his Chamber quite empty which a poore Priest in the house seeing by chance as he passed approaches to the Kings beds side and finding him yet breathing cals The death of King Edward and the maner thereof vpon him to remember his Sauiour and to aske mercy for his offences which none before about him would doe but euery one putting him still in hope of life though they knew death was vpon him a misery fatall to Princes and great persons whom flattery will neuer suffer to know themselues nor their owne state either in health or sicknesse made him neglectiue of those spirituall cogitations fit for a dying Christian But now stirred vp by the voyce of this Priest hee shewes all signes of contrition and his last breath expresses the name of Iesu. Thus dyed this mighty and victorious King at his Mannor of Sheene now Richmond the 21. day of Iune Anno Dom. 1377. in the 64. yeare of his Age hauing raigned fifty yeares foure moneths and odde dayes His Character wee finde best exprest in his actions yet thus briefly Hee was a Prince the soonest a man and the longest that held so of any wee reade He was of His Character Personage comely of an euen stature gracefull respectiuely affable and well expressing himselfe A Prince who loued 1. Iustice 2. Order 3. and his People the Supreme vertues of a Soueraigne 1. His loue of Iustice was seene by the many Statutes he made His Iustice. for the due Execution thereof the most Straight-binding Oath he ordayned to be ministred vnto his Iudges Iusticiars the punishment inflicted on them for corruption in their Offices causing some to be thrust out and others grieuously fined as Sir Henry Greene and Sir William Skipwith Anno Reg. 39. He bettered also that forme of publique Iustice which his Grand-father first began and which remaines to this day making also excellent lawes for the same 2. His regard to the obseruation of Order amongst his people witnesse so many Lawes as were made to restrayne them from His loue to his people Excesses in all kindes
had receiued The Arch-bishop called to account for the King of certaine Bishopricks and Abbeys during their vacancies which amounted to the summe of three thousand Markes For these accounts he alledged How the King knew well he was discharged before his election to the Sea of Canterbury and how the Prince the Barons of the Exchequer and Robert de Lucie Chiefe Iustice of England had made him his acquittance for all accounts and Secular receipts in the behalfe of the King and so free and cleered was he chosen to the administration of that Office and therefore would pleade the same no more The King notwithstanding vrging to haue iudgement passe against him both for this his late attempts and disobedience he was commanded the next day to attend his Censure The morning before he was to appeare he celebrates early with great deuotion the Masse of Saint Stephen Protomartir which hath these words Etenim sederunt Principes aduersum me loquebantur and so committing his cause to God sets forward to the Court in his Stole his blacke Canonicall hood carrying the Crosse in his right hand and guiding his horse with the left The people seeing him come in this fashion flocke all about him he entring the great Chamber sate downe amongst them the King being within in his Priuie Chamber with his Councell from whom first came forth the Bishop of London and much blames him for comming so armed to the Court and offered to pull the Crosse out of his hand but the Arch-bishop held it so fast that he could not Which the Bishop of Winchester seeing sayd to London Brother let him alone he ought well to beare the Crosse London replies You speake brother against the King and it will be ill for you After this comes forth the Arch-bishop of Yorke the heate of whose antient hatred saith Houeden would not suffer him to speake in peace and rebukes him very sharply Roger Houeden for comming in that fashion as if to a Tyrant or heathen Prince and told him that the King had a sword sharper then his Crosse and if hee would bee aduised by him hee should take it from him Canterbury replies the Kings sword wounds carnally but mine strikes Spiritually and sends the soule to Hell After much debate the Archbishoppe Becket inuayes against this violent proceeding against him How no age euer heard before that an Archbishop of Canterbury had beene adiudged in any of the Kings Courts for anie cause whatsoeuer in regard both of his Dignity and place and for that hee is the Spirituall Father of the King and all other his subiects Then to the Bishops you see the world rageth against mee the enemy riseth vp but I more lament the Sonnes of my Mother fight against mee If I should conceale it the age to come will declare how you leaue mee alone in the battaile and haue iudged against mee being your Father though neuer so much a sinner But I charge you by vertue of your obedience and perill of your Order that you bee not present in anie place of iudgement where my person or cause comes to bee adiudged And here I appeale to the Pope charging you farther by vertue of your obedience that if anie Temporall man laie handes on mee you exercise the Sentence of the Church as it becomes you for your Father the Archbishop who will not shrinke howsoeuer nor leaue the flock commitmitted vnto him Then were all these great complaints of his contempt Disobedience and Periury exhibited and aggrauated against him before the Assembly and they cried generally Complaints against the Archbishop hee was a Traytor that hauing receiued so many benefits at the Kings hands would refuse to doe him all earthly honour and obserue his Lawes as hee had sworne to doe The Bishops likewise seeing all thus bent against him renounced their Ecclesiasticall obedience vnto him cited him to Rome and condemnes him as a periured man and a Traytor Then the Earle of Lecester accompayned with Reginald Earle of Cornwall came to the Archbishop and charged him from the King to answere to what was obiected vnto him or else to heare his iudgement Nay sonne Earle sayd he first heare you It is not vnknowne to your selfe how faithfully I haue serued the King and how in regard thereof hee preferred mee to the place I haue God is my witnesse against my will For I knew mine owne infermities and was content to take it vpon mee rather for his pleasure then Gods cause therefore now doth God withdraw himselfe and the King from mee At the time of my Election hee made mee free from all Court bondage and therefore touching those things from which I am deliuered I am not bound to aunswere nor will I. How much the soule is worthier then the bodie so much are you bound to obay God and mee rather then any Earthly Creature neither will Law or Reason permit the Sonnes to condemne the Father and I refuse to stand either to the Iudgement of the King or anie other person appealing to the presence of the Pope by whom onely on Earth I ought to bee adiudged committing all I haue to Gods protection and his and vnder that authority I depart out of this place And so went hee out and tooke his Horse not without some difficultie in passing and many reproches of the Kings seruants The Archbishop disguised sled out of the Kingdome Being gotten out of the Court a great multitude of the common people reioycing to see him deliuered and diuers of the Clergie conuayed him honourably to the Abbay of Saint Andrewes whence disguised by the name of Dereman hee escaped ouer into Flanders and so into France This businesse of the Church I haue the more particularly deliuered according to the generall report of the Writers of that time in regard it laie so chayned to the Temporall affaires of the State and bewrayed so much of the face of that Age with the constitution both of the Soueraignty and the rest of the bodie as it could not well bee omitted Besides the effects it wrought in the succeeding raigne of this Prince the vexation charge and burthen it layed vpon him for manie yeares is worthie of note and shewes vs what spirit had predomination in that season of the World and what Engines were vsed in this Oppugnation Presently vpon the departure of this Great Prelate the King sends ouer to the King of France Gillebert Bishop of London and William Earle of Arundell to intreat him not onely to forbid the Archbishop his Kingdome but to bee a meanes to the Pope that his The King sends Ambassadors to the Pope cause might not bee fauoured by the Church being so contumacious a rebell as he was against his Soueraigne Lord. The King of France notwithstanding this intreaty sends Frier Francis his Amoyner vnder hand to the Pope to beseech him as he tendred the honour of holy Church and the ayde of the Kingdome of France to support
the cause of Thomas of Canterbury against the Tyrant of England King Henry sends likewise with all speed Roger Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of Winchester London Chichester and Excester Guido Rufus Richard Iuechester and Iohn of Oxford Clerkes William Earle of Arundell Hugh de Gundeuile Bernard de Saint Walleric and Henry Fitz Gerrard to informe the Pope of the whole cause and preuent the Archbishoppes complaint The multitude and greatnesse of the Commissioners shewed the importance of the Ambassage and the Kings earnest desire to haue his cause preuaile They finde the Pope at the Citie of Sens to whom they shewed how peruers and disobedient the Archbishoppe had behaued himselfe to his Soueraigne Lord the King of England how hee alone refused to obay his Lawes and Customes which hee had sworne to doe and that by his peeuish waywardnesse the Church and Kingdome were like to bee disturbed which otherwise would agree in the reformation thereof as was fit and necessary and therefore they besought him as hee tendred the peace of the Church of England and the loue of the King their Soueraigne not to giue credit or grace to a man of so turbulent and dangerous a spirit This Information notwithstanding earnestly vrged they found mooued not any disposition in the Pope to fauour the Kings cause so that in the end They besought him to send two Legats ouer into England to examine the particulars of this businesse and how it had beene carried and in the meane time to admit no other information of the cause but referre it to their relation The Pope refuses to send any Legat the commissioners depart without any satisfaction And with in foure dayes after comes the Archbishop and prostrates himselfe at the Popes seete deliuers him a coppie of those Lawes which the King called his Grandfathers Lawes which being openly read in the presence of all the Cardinals Clergie and many other people the Pope condemned them for euer and accursed those who obeyed or any way fauoured them Those Lawes among the Statutes of Clarendon which the Archbishop so much oppugned and most offended the Clergie were as by his owne letter to the Bishop of London appeares these especially That there should bee no appeale to the Apostolike Sea without the Kings leaue That no Archbishoppe or Bishoppe should goe out of the Realme but by the Kings permission That no Bishoppe excommunicate any who held of the King in Capite or interdict any officiall of his without the Kings leaue c. That Clergie men should bee drawne to secular iudgements That Lay men as the King and other should handle causes of the Church Tythes and such like And these were daungerous incrochments vpon their liberties But now the King seeing his Ambassage to take no effect and withall in a manner 1166. Anno. Reg. 12. contemned presently makes his heauie displeasure and the scorne hee tooke knowe by his seuere Edicts both against the Pope and the Archbishoppe that they might see what edge his secular powre had in this case ordayning That if anie were found carrying Letter or Mandat from the Pope or Archbishoppe contayning any The Kings Edicts against the Pope and his agents interdiction of Christianity in England should bee taken and without delay executed as a Traytor both to the King and Kingdome That whatsoeuer Bishop Priest Monke or Conuerser in anie Order Clerke or Layman should haue and retaine any such letters should forfeit all their possessions goods and chattells to the King and bee presently banished the Realme with their kinne That no Clergie men Monke or other should bee permitted to passe ouer Sea or returne out of Normandie into England without letters from the Iustices here or from the King being there vpon paine to bee taken as a Malefactor and put in hold That none should appeale to the Pope That all Clerkes which had any reuenue in England should returne into the Realme within three monethes vpon paine of forfeiting their estates to the King That Peter Pence should bee collected and sequestred till the Kings pleasure were farther knowne Besides this hee banishes all that were found to bee any way of kinne to the Archbishop without exception of condition sex or yeres And withall takes occasion vpon the Scisme which was then in the Church to renounce Pope Alexander and incline to the Emperors faction which stood thus After the death of Adrian the fourth Rouland a Geneuese and a great enemy of the The Election of two Popes Empire is by two and twenty Cardinalls elected Pope by the name of Alexander the third to which election foure Cardinals opposed and made choyce of Octauian a Citizen of Rome that would be called Victor the first The Emperor Frederic Barbarossa summons these two Popes to a Concel at Pauia to vnderstand determin their right Alexander makes the old answere that the Pope could not be iudged by any man liuing refuses to appeare before the Emperour and withdrawes into Anagnia Victor consents to appeare there or wheresoeuer the Emperour would appoint so that he was the man for that side But all the other Princes of Christendom except those of the Emperours faction acknowledge Alexander for Pope as elected by most voyces And especially by the King of France who called him thither and at Cocy vpon Loyr he and the King of England receiued him with all honour and reuerence in so much as they are sayd to haue attended vpon his Stirrop the one on the right hand the other on the left after this he calls a Councell at Tours whether the Kings of England Spaine and Hungarie send their Ambassadors and there are the constitutions of the Councell of Pauia and the Emperours confirmation of Victor nullified so that Alexander hauing his party dayly increasing in Italy was shortly after receiued into Rome Notwithstanding all this the King of England finding him so auers in this businesse Falls off from him renounces his Authority turnes to the Emperours faction seekes to strength himselfe with the Princes of Germanie consents to match his daughter Maude to the Duke of Saxony at the motion of Reginald Archbishop of Collen sent ouer by the Emperour for that purpose and intertaines a motion for another daughter to bee matched with the Emperours sonne But now by reason this contrary faction to Pope Alexander grew to bee but feeble all this working did the King no good but exasperates the Pope and sets him on the more to support the cause of the Archbishop who sollicites the Clergie of Pope Alexanders letter to the Clergie of England England threatnes intreats adiures them not to forsake their hold nor giue way to the inuador of their liberties which sought to confound the Priesthood and the Kingdome and if they opposed not mainely at the first but suffered the least breach to bee made vpon them they were vndone Then excommunicates hee all the especiall Ministers of the King that adhered to the Teutonicque faction or held