their bad desires Honores quos quieta Reipublica desperant perturbata consequi se posse arbitrantur Thus Counsell heard approved and put in practice the corrupt and ambitious Bishop is easily insnared to their part by money and opinion or increase of power Articles are in all hast forged and urged against the Earle as sale of Crowne land wast of the Kings Treasure and lastly that which these doubtfull times held capitall his giving allowance to any thing that might breed a rupture betweene the Soveraigne and the Subjects as hee had done in making way with the King to annihilate all Patents granted in his nonage and enforced the Subject to pay as the record saith Non juxta singulorum facultatâ—m sed quicquid Iustitiarius aestimabat Well hee cleared himselfe of all but the last and did worthily perish by it for acts that fill Princes Coffers are ever the ruines of their first Inventers bad times corrupt good Councels and make the best Ministers yeeld to the lust of Princes therefore this King cannot passe blamelesse that would so easily blemish all former merits of so good a servant for that wherein himselfe was chiefe in fault But Princes natures are more variable and sooner cloid then others more transitory their favours and as their minds are large so they easily over-looke their first election tying their affections no further then their owne satisfactions The Bishop now alone manageth the State chooseth his chiefe instrument Peter de Rivallis a man like himselfe displaceth his natives and draweth Poictions and Brittons into Offices of best trust and benefit and the King into an evill opinion of his people For nothing is more against the nature of the English then to have Strangers rule over them of this mans time Wendover an Authour then living saith Iuditia commutuntur injustis Leges ex legibus Pax discordantibus justitia injuriosis Thus the plot of the tumultuous Barons went cleare and had not the discreeter Bishop calmed all by dutifull perswasions and informing the King that the support of this bold mans power whose carriage before had lost his Father Normandy the love of his people and in that his Crowne would by teaching the sonne to reject in passion the just petitions of his loyall Subjects as of late the Earle of Pembrooke his Earle Marshall of England the due of his Office drive all the State into discontent by his bad advise and corrupt manners doubtlesse the rebellious Lords had ended this distemper as their designe was in a civill Warre Denials from Princes must bee supplied with gracious usage that though they cure not the sore yet they may abate the sence of it but best it is that all favours come directly from themselves denials and things of bitternesse from their Ministers Thus are the Strangers all displaced and banished Rivallis extortions ransackt by many strict Commissions of enquiry the Bishop sent away disgraced finds now that Nulla quae sita scelere potentia diuturna and that in Princes favours there is no subsistance betweene the highest of all and precipitation The Lords still frustrate of their malicious ends beganne to sow of these late grounds of the peoples discontent Querelas ambiguos de Principe sermones quoque alia turbamenta vulgi and tooke it up a fashion to endeare and glorifie themselves with the sencelesse multitude by depraving the Kings discretion and Governement whose nature too gentle for such insolent Spirits was forced as Trevet saith to seeke as hee presently did advise and love amongst strangers seeing no desert could purchase it at home all bore themselves like Tutors and Controllers few like Subjects and Councellours God wee see holdeth the hearts of Princes and sendeth them such Councellours as the quality of the Subject meriteth For Mountford a Frenchman became the next Object of the Kings delight a Gentleman of choyce blood education and feature on this mans content the heady affection of the Soveraigne did so much Doate that at his first entrance of Grace in envy of the Nobility hee made him Earle of Leycester and in no lesse offence of the Clergy by violating the rites of the holy Church gave him his vowed vailed sister to wife More of Art then usually some have deemed this act of the Kings making the tye of his dependancy the strength of his assurance so both at his will Mountford made wanton thus with dalliance of his Master forgetteth moderation for seldome discretion in youth attendeth great and suddaine fortunes hee draweth all publike affaires into his owne hands all favours must passe from him all preferments by him all suites addressed to him the King but as a cipher set to adde to this figure the more of number Great is the Soveraignes errour when the hope of Subjects must recognize it selfe beholden to the servant which ought immediately to bee acknowledged from the goodnesse and good election of himselfe Though Princes may take above others some reposefull friend with whom they may participate their neerest passions yet ought they so to temper the affaires of their favour that they corrupt not the effects of their principalities At this the great and gravest men began to grieve knowing the unworthy without honour or merit thus to deale alone in that which should passe through their hands and to leape over all their heads to the greatest Honour and Offices and therefore runne along with the then rising grace of the Kings halfe brethren though strangers hoping thereby to devide that power which otherwise they saw impossible to breake Leycester confident of his Masters love and impatient to beare either rivall in favour or partner in rule opposeth them all but findeth in his ebbe of favour the Fortune of others and that this King could ever as easily transferre his fancy as hee had setled his affection Great wee see must bee the art and cunning of that man that keepes himselfe a sloate in the streame of Soveraignes favour since the change of Princes wils which for the most part are full of fancy and soone satiate are hardly arrested Who so would effect this must onely attend the honour and service of his Master and dispoiled of all other respects transforme himselfe into his inward inclination and worke into necessity of imployment by undergoing the Offices of most secrecy either of publick service or Princes pleasures hee must also beate downe Competitours of worth by the hands of others conceale his owne greatnesse in publick with a fained humility and what impotency or Government hee affecteth let it rather seeme the worke of others out of conveniency then any appetite of his owne Now were the raines of rule by this advantage taken by the rebellious Lords and put alone into the hands of the Kings halfe brethren Adam Guido Godfray and William himselfe as before Et magna Fortuâ—a licentiam tantum usurpans For to act his owne part hee was ever wier-drawne when he
them off their minds are suspicious their power dangerous and therefore the oportunity must bee prevented The Kings owne weakenesse made him apprehensive and framed his mind to a vaine and needlesse feare but chiefly hee was moved at the removing of his Chancellour and Treasurer out of their offices and of the Duke of Ireland out of the Realme supposing it a restraint to his Princely power that hee might not absolutely and in things give or forgive as his pleasure served When these privy incensers perceived the Kings humour once sharpned they so plied him with plausible perswasions that although hee was naturally of no cruell disposition as wanting courage yet they drew him to many violent and indirect courses partly upon negligence to search out the truth partly upon delight to bee flattered and smoothly used neither did they long deferre their devises and first it was appointed that the Duke of Glocester and certaine others of that part should bee invited to a supper within London and there suddainly surprised and made away Sir Nicholas Brambre who the yeare before had beene Major of London and in whom aboundance of wealth supplied the want of honest qualities was a busie agent in this butcherly businesse but Richard Extone the Major of the City that yeare discovered the practise by whom the Duke was warned both to avoid the present perill and afterwards to bee wary of the like The yeare next following Richard Earle of Arundel and Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham had the conduct of a Navy committed to their charge in this voyage they tooke above a hundred saile of the enemies ships fraughted with wines and well appointed for fight they also relieved and fortified Brest and tooke two forces which the French-men had raised against it The Earles so behaved themselves in this service that they grew to a very great estimation both for courtesie among their Souldiers and for courage against their enemies and their actions were the more famous by reason of the infortunate sufficiency of other Commanders by whose either rashnesse or cowardise many good Souldiers were dayly defeated and every yeare made notorious by one losse or other Yet notwithstanding all their good labour and luck they were at their returne entertained by the King with great strangenes both of countenance and speech Who was so unable to dissemble his dispight that hee could hardly deferre it untill the heat of the honour and love which they had wonne were somewhat abated So much are men more inclinable to revenge displeasure then reward desert for it is troublesome to bee gratefull and many times chargeable but revenge is pleasant and preferred before gaine About the same time Robert Duke of Ireland forsooke the company of his lawfull wife whose Mother Lady Isabel was Daughter to King Edward the third and insteed of her hee tooke unto him a base Bohemian a Taverners Daughter The King little regarded this indignity done unto his Cosin and in so great confusion of the state let it passe unreproved as overshadowed with greater vices but the Duke of Glocester her Vncle tooke it in high disdaine as injurious to the Royall bloud and did attend upon occasion to worke revenge this was not secret from the Duke of Ireland who likewise bent all his devises to bring the Duke of Glocester to his overthrow The Duke of Glocester did prosecute his enmity openly and manlike the Duke of Ireland closely and therefore the more dangerously The Duke of Glocester was greater in bloud the Duke of Ireland in favour hee being Vncle to the King this bearing himselfe as the Kings fellow The Duke of Glocester pretended for the State the Duke of Ireland for the King and much private malice did passe under these publike shewes but in opposition of such equall powers there is many times small difference in harme And now was Easter past the Tearme assigned to Duke Robert Vicere for his departure into Ireland and least his stay might breed some stirre within the Realme hee still busied himselfe in preparation for his journey and at last although it were long made a solemne shew of setting forth The King went in great state to accompany him to his shipping and the Earle of Suffolke with Iustice Trisilian and the residue of that faction either for favour followed for or feare durst not stay behind So they passed together into Wales and whether upon levity the Kings mind changed or whether it was so contrived at the first to draw themselves more separate from the Lords there the Dukes journey was at an end Then they entred into Counsell which way the Lords might best bee suppressed many devises were deeply debated all pleased without respect either of danger or disgrace but few stood with likelihood of event to their desires and therefore none was finally concluded After long time thus frivolously spent they left Wales and came to the Castle of Nottingham where the King caused the high Sheriffes of all the Shires in the Realme to bee called before him and demanded of them what strength they could make on his part against the Lords if need should require their answer was that the Common people did so favour the Lords and were so well resolved of their love and loyalty towards the King that it was not in their power to raise any great power against them Then they were commanded that no Knights nor Burgesses should afterwards bee chosen to any Parliament but those whom it pleased the King to appoint whereto they said that it was a hard matter in those times of jealousie and suspition to bereave the people of their ancient liberty in chosing Knights and Burgesses for the Parliament some few other matters being either unreasonably required or obtained to small end the Sheriffes were licensed to depart Then were assembled Robert Trisilian chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench Robert Belknape chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas Iohn Holte Roger Stilthrope William Burgh Knights and Iustices also of the Common Pleas men learned in one rule chiefly without difference of truth or falsehood to please those in highest places intituling that wisedome which indeed was but basenesse and feeblenesse of mind these were charged by the King upon their faith and legeance to make true and full answers to those questions following 1 First Whether the Statute Ordinances and Commission made and set forth the last Parliament whereby was meant the commission against Michael De-la-poole Duke of Suffolke did derogate from the Royall prerogative of the King 2 Item They who procured the said Statute c. to bee made and set forth how are they to bee punished 3 Item How are they to bee punished who provoked the King to consent to the premises 4 Item What punishment have they deserved who compelled the King to consent to the said statute c. 5 Item How are they to be punished who resisted or letted the King in exercising his Royall power by remitting any penalties or debts whatsoever 6
now got a fall where he thought to take his rest repented his enterprise and utterly condemned his light conceit of the Kings lightnesse and so with extreame griefe and anguish of mind hee departed out of the Realme into Almaine and from thence travelled to Venice where through violence of thought and discontentment in short time he ended his dâ—yes This sentence of banishment was given against him the same day of the yeare wherein the Duke of Glocester by his wicked meanes was strangled to death at Calice The Duke of Hereford tooke his leave of the King at Elâ—ham who there stroke away foure yeares of his banishment and even offered himselfe to be fawned upon and thanked for so odious a benefit And this infortunate adventure hee neither bare out vain gloriously nor yet tooke impatiently but in the midst of his misery retained still his reputation and honour shewing no signe of sorrow or submisnesse in his countenance nor letting fall any intemperate and unseemly word The people as he departed by heaps flocked about him some to see and some to salute him lamenting his departure in such sort as though their only light and delight did then forsake them not sparing to exclaime that it was against the Law of Armes against the custome of the Realme and against all right whatsoever that he should be exiled who had done his honourable endeavour for the maintenance of his appeale This affection was the more excessive for that the Duke was driven into exile by occasion of his liberall speeches against the most hatefull persons in all the Realme and being the only noble man then alive of the popular faction the love was wholly accumulated upon him which was before divided among the rest And thus the Duke leaving England tooke shipping and passed the Seas to Calice and from thence went into France where he was honourably entertained by Charles the French King and found such favour that hee should have taken to wife the onely daughter of Iohn Duke Berrie Vncle to the King of France but King Richard fearing the sequel if the favour which was borne to the Duke of Hereford within the Realme should be strengthned with so great affinity in France cast such stops in the way that the marriage did not proceed This yeare the Lawrell trees withered almost throughout the Realme afterwards against all expectation recovered life and flourished againe The same yeare in Christmasse holydayes a deepe River which runneth betweene Snedlistorie Hareswood neare to Bedford suddenly stayed the streame so that for three miles in length the channell was left dry and no course of water did hinder passage on foot This was afterwards interpreted to presage the revolt of the people and the division which happened the yeare following to these wee may adde certaine other prodegies either forged in that fabulous age or happening commonly and of course are then onely noted when any notable accident doth ensue When K. Richard brought his first wife out of Beamâ— she had no sooner set foot within this Land but such a tempest did forthwith arise as had not beene seene many yeares before whereby divers ships within the haven were quashed to peices but especially and first of all the ship wherein the Queene was carried this was the rather observed because such stiffe stormes were likewise stirring when the King brought his second wife out of France wherein many ships perished and a great part of the Kings fardage was lost At New-castle upon Tine as two shipwrights were squaring a piece of Timber wheresoever they hewed blood issued forth in great abundance At one of the Kings palaces flyes swarmed so thicke that they obscured the ayre these fought together most fiercely so that sackfuls lay dead upon the ground and this continued so long that scarce the third part of them as it was thought remained alive many like accidents are recorded of that time but I will mainetaine neither the truth of them nor what they did pretend being a matter wherein most men are rather superstitious then not credulous and doe oftentimes repute common occurrences to be ominous when any strange event doth ensue Yet as I am loath to avouch any vaine and trifling matter so dare I not detract all truth from things anciently reported although done in an age wherein was some delight in lying many doe suppose that those things which are fatally allotted though they never be avoyded yet sometimes are foreshewen not so much that we may prevent them as that wee should prepare our selves against them In the two and twenty yeare of the raigne of K. Richard Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster dyed and was buried on the north-side of the high altar of the Cathedrall Church of S. Paul in London he was a man advised and wary in his passages of life liking better safe courses with reason then happy by chance of his owne glory hee was neither negligent nor ambitiously carefull towards the King hee carried himselfe in termes honourable enough for a moderate Prince and yet not so plausible as a vaine man would desire whereby there never happened to him any extraordinary matter either in prejudice or preferment After his death the Duchie of Lancaster did in right devolue to the Duke of Hereford his eldest sonne but the King as the nature of man is inclinable to hate those whom he hath harmed seazed all the Lands and goods which appertained to the Duke of Lancaster into his owne hands and determined to perpetuate the banishment of Duke Henry his sonne revoking the Letters Patents which were graunted to him at his departure whereby his generall Atturnies were enabled to prosecute his causes and sue Liverie of any inheritance which during his exile might fall unto him his homage being respited for a reasonable fine The King supposed his estate more safe by the weaknesse and want of the Duke whom he had now in some jealousie and doubt but these violent dealings were meanes rather to provoke his mischiefes then to prevent them for by injurious suppressing of the Dukes greatness he greatly augmented the same Edmund Duke of Yorke the Kings only Vncle which remained alive had hitherto enforced his patience to endure many things against his liking but now either in disdaine of this indignity or in distrust both of his own safety and of the common tranquillity of the Realme he retyred himselfe with the Duke of Aumerle his sonne to his house at Langley supposing privatenesse to be the best defence both from danger and blame wher neither the king had judgement to discerne nor any about him had either heart or honesty to admonish him what was done amisse where an honourable fame was held suspected and a good life more in hazard then a bad protesting that none of these practises were either devised by his counsaile or done by his consent At this time the whole frame of the state was much shaken and matters of great weight and moment did hang
or hazard the other but the word of a Prince was of great weight and therefore sith hee had granted a safe conduct to the â—arle of March and his company it were an impeachment to his honour without just cause to violate the same Vpon this answer the King of Scots did presently proclaime open warre against the King of England with bloud fire and sword King Henry thought it policy rather to beginne the warre in his enemies Countrey then to expect it in their owne because the Land which is the seat of the warre doth commonly furnish both sides with necessary supply the friend by contribution and the enemy by spoile Therefore sending certaine Troopes of horsemen before him both to espy and to induce an uncertaine terrour upon the enemy hee entred into Scotland with a puissant army wherewith hee burnt many Villages and Townes cast downe diverse Castles and ruined a great part of the Townes of Edenborough and Lith sparing nothing but Churches religious houses so that in all places as hee passed the spectacle was ougly and grisly which he left behind him bodies torne in pieces mangled and putrified limmes the aire infected with stinck the ground imbrued with corruption and bloud the Countrey wasted the Grasse and Corne troden downe and spoiled insomuch as a man would have said that warre is an exercise not of manhood but of inhumanity They that fled before the army filled all places with feare and terrour extolling above truth the English forces to diminish thereby their shame in running from shame In the end of September the King besieged the Castle of Maydens in Edenborough wherein were David Duke of Rothsay Prince of the Realme and Archibald Earle Dowglasse the inconstancy of the one and ambition of the other were principall causes of all this warre During this siege Robert Duke of Albony who was appointed Governour of the Realme because the King was sick and unable to rule sent an Herauld unto Henry assuring him upon his honour that if hee would abide but six dayes at the most hee would give him battaile and either remove the siege or looâ—e his life The King was well pleased with these tidings and rewarded the Herauld with a gowne of silke and a chaine of gould and promised him in the word of a Prince to abide there and expect the Governour during the time by him prefixed The six dayes passed almost six times over and no more newes was heard of the Governour either by presence or by messenger Winter came on and victuaile failed the Countrey was cold and fruitlesse and it rained every day in great aboundance so that partly by hunger partly by distemperature of the weather the Souldiers beâ—anne to dye of the Flixe it is very like that these accidents stayed the Governour from performing his promise for policy was against it to hazard his men in the field when Winter and want two forceable foes had given the charge upon his enemies certaine it is that they moved the King to remove his siege and to depart out of Scotland without any battaile or skirmish offered Both the Wardens of the Marches were all this time in Scotland with the King upon which advantage the Scots did breake into Northumberland and burnt certaine Townes in Bamborough Shire The English-men were speedily up in armes but the Scots more speedily made their returne or else no doubt they had beene mette with and encountered Againe when King Henry had discharged his army the Scots being desirous not so much of life as of revenge made a sudaine road into England under the conduct of Sir Thomas Halibarton of Dirleton and Sir Patrick Hebburne of Hales but all the harme which they wrought did rather waken then weaken the English-men and they themselves were somewhat encouraged but nothing enriched by that which they got Not long after Sir Patrick Hebburne being lifted up in desire and hope resolved to undertake a greater enterprize the people which are easily led by prosperous successe in great Companies resorted to him but hee was loath to have more fellowes in the spoile then hee thought should need in the danger therefore with a competent army of the men of Loughdeane hee invaded Northumberland where hee made great spoile and loaded his Souldiers with prisoners and prey There was no question made what perill might bee in the returne Therefore they marched loosely and licentiously as in a place of great security not keeping themselves to their ensignes and order but the Earle of Northumberlands Vice-warden and other Gentlemen of the borders in good array set upon them at a Towne in Northumberland called Nesbit The Scots rallied as well as the suddainnesse did serve and valiantly received the charge so that the battaile was sharp and cruell and continued a good time with great mortality In the end the enemies rankes grew thinne as being rather confusedly shuffled together then orderly and firmely compacted and when the Vice-warden felt them weake in the shock and yeelding under his hand with a company which hee purposely retained about him for suddaine dispatches and chances of warre hee fiercely charged and disordered them Sir Patrick Hebburne being cleane destitute both of Counsaile and courage ranne up and downe from one place to another commanding many things and presently forbidding them againe and the lesse of force his directions were the oftner did hee change them anon as it happeneth in lost and desperate cases every man became a Commander and none a putter in execution so the rankes loosed and brake and could not bee reunited the victour hotly pursuing the advantage Then might you have seene a grievous spectacle pursuing killing wounding and taking and killing those that were taken when better were offered every where weapons and dead bodies and mangled limmes lay scattered and sometimes in those that were slaine appeared at their death both anger and valour Sir Patrick Hebburne thought of nothing lesse then either fleeing or yeelding but thrusting among the thickest of his enemies honourably ended his life Many other of his lineage and the flower of all Loughdeane were likewise slaine There were also taken Sir Iohn and William Cockburne Sir Wilâ—iam Basse Iohn and Thomas Habâ—incton Esquires and a great multitude of common souldiers On the English side no great number was slaine and those of no great service and degree And with these troubles the life and raigne of King Henry the fourth ended FINIS Hist. Minor Maâ— Paris Matth. Paris Hist. Major Hist. S. Albani Chron. de Dunest â—oan de Wallingford Chron. dâ— Litchfield Guaâ— de Coven Mat. Paris Hist. Minor Chron. â—â—â—tri Pectaâ—vien Mat. Paris Cicero in Cattal sive Orat. prima Lib. Bermonsey vitâ— Ahhatis Albani Regis Roffen Annalis de â—ly Claus. anno 37. H. 3. M. 26. Chron. Hall Chron. Litchf Mat. Paris Roger Wendâ—ver Chron. Ioan. Sulgrave Chron. Reâ—ding H. Knighton Moh Leycest Wil. de Risharger Lib. Monastery Ramsâ—y Claus. anno 42. Hen. 3. Chro. London Wil. de Risharger Mat. Paris Wil. de Risharger Barth Coron Chron. Norwic. Chron. Worc. M. Paris Wendover Wallingford Paris Wil de Risharger Chron. S. Albani Gual de Covenary Wil de Risharger Chron. Litchf Hist. Minor Wil. de Risharger Epist. Robert Lincolne Matth. Paris Regis Roffen Iohan. de Wallingford Chron. de Litchf Claus anno 46. 47. Hen. 3. Claus anno 37. Hen. 3. Wil. de Rishanger Claus. anno 9. â—ib 3. Parl. Oxâ—on Matth. Paris Chron. Worc. Chron. Litâ—hf Claus. aâ—â—no 49. Hen. 3. Chron. S. Albani Regis Roffen Rot. in Scrio Wil. de Rishanger Scacar Rot. â—egiâ— in Scâ—â—a 56. H. 3. Wallingford Wil. de Rishaâ—ger Chron. de Dunst. Ordâ—â—at inter Rec. Lond. Chron. Origin sub â—â—gillo Chron. Luchf Wil. dâ— Rishaâ—geâ— Chr. Britanniae Chron. Dunst. Wil. de Risharger Rot. part 53. H. 3. M. 51. Rishanger Io. Tuxeter Mon. Bury Rot. Cart. 51.52 Hen. 3. Claus. 52. H. 3. M. 29. Chron. Dunst. Ordinat author Reg. aulae Glaus 53. Hen. 3. Rishanger Pat. 53. 54. Hen. 3. Comment de Trail bâ—ston Barth Coâ—on Chron. Norwic. Crostino Purificationis 1388. 1389. 1390. 1392. 1393. 1397. 1398. Tranquil in Caligula Tacitus in Proaemio Ier. 25 9. Ezech. 29 18. Ier. 29 7. Bacuch 1.11 * * So did Domitian put to death Epaphroditus Neroes libertine because he helped Nero although in love to kill himselfe So did Severus kill all the killers of Pertinax his Predecessour and likewise Vitellius did put to death all the murtherers of Galba Theophilus Emperour of Grecia caused all those to bee slaine who had made his Father Emperour by killing Leo Arâ—â—nius And Alexander the great put to cruell execution those that had slaine Darius his mighty and mortall enemy Deut. 17.12 Psal. 105. Exod. 22.28 Act. 23.5 Rom. 13.1.13 Tit. 3.1 1 Pet. 2.13 14 17. 2 Tim 2.2 Rom. 13.2 Iohn 19.11 Cap. 45.1 2 Chron. 36.22 2 Chron. 19.6 Psal. 28. Sap. 6. Quintil. in declam Cic. offic lib. 1. Nehem 9.37 Alphons a casâ— in lâ—b de baerâ—s in verb. Tiran Dom Sot lib. 5. de just jur q. 1 artic 3.