vp an high waie that directed towards the market towne of Cerne and yet notwithstanding the hedges wherewith it was inclosed inuiron it still and the trées stand thereon bolt vpright sauing one oke trée that is well nigh twentie goads remooued the place whereas the ground had his being at the first is left like vnto a great hollow pit The same thirteenth daie of Ianuarie being sundaie about line 30 foure of the clocke in the afternoone the old and vnderpropped scaffolds round about the beare garden commonlie called Paris garden on the southside the Thames ouer against the citie of London ouercharged with people fell suddenlie downe whereby to the number of eight persons men and women were slaine and manie other sore hurt and brused A fréendlie warning to all such as more delight themselues in the crueltie of beasts to sée them rent one an other line 40 than in the works of mercie which are the fruits of a true professed faith and ought to be the sabboth daies exercise and not onelie a warning to works of mercie but a watchword to put vs in mind how we violate the sabboth daie the Lords owne daie which he sanctified himselfe that we by his example might sanctifie the same and not prophane it with such gentilisme as we doo as though God would not call vs to a râ—ckoning for abusing his holie ordinances and falsifieng the glorious title of christians in line 50 our odious actions for the which God will seuerelie expostulat with vs and with indignation demand of vs why we take his lawes in our mouths renounce them in our minds why we let them swim in our lips and slip from our liues as the vaine Iewes did vnto whome God said in displeasure as followeth Quid de lege mea declamas ore profano Non hoc officij debuit esse tui Cùm tamen mores leges oderis aequas Et verbi officium negligis omne mei line 60 On the third of Februarie being sundaie William Bruistar habardasher a man of more than threescore yeares old being lodged ouer the southwest porch of saint Brides church in Fleetstréet with a woman named Marie Breame whome the same Bruistar had bailed out of Bridewell were both found smothered to death in maner following On the same sundaie in the morning a marriage being solemnized in that church a strong fauour was felt which was thought to haue béene the burning of old shooes or such like in some gentlemans chamber there about thereby to suppresse the infection of the plague But in the afternoone before euening praier the parishioners espied a smoke to issue out of Bruistars chamber and therevpon made hast to the dore which they found fast locked and were forced to breake it open but could not enter till they had ripped vp the lead and roofe of the chamber to let out the smothering stench which being doone they found Bruistar dead sitting on a settle by his beds side in his apparell and close trussed his right thigh right arme vp to the elbow burnt or scorched with the fire of a small pan of coales that stood before him but now being cleane quenched with the dampe or lacke of aire The woman also laie dead ouer the pan so that hir armes were likewise burnt with the nether part of hir bodie before to hir brest and behind to the shoulders and nothing else in the chamber burnt but the bottome of the settle wheron Bruistar sat Of this lamentable accident people talked diuerslie and pamphlets were published to make the same more knowne howbeit to leaue the certeine meanes of the euent to his knowledge that vnderstandeth and séeth all things let it be a warning to all ages so to liue as that an honest report may attend their death shame flie from them as a cloud before the wind Sic sapient sic non insipientes erunt On the sixteenth of Aprill about six of the clocke in the morning Thomas Worth Alice Shepheard year 1583 were hanged on a gibbet at Shoolane end in Fléetstreet for killing of a prentice in the same Shoolane Also on the same daie about eight of the clocke in the morning a gunpowder house called the signe of the gun in Fetterlane néere vnto Fléetstréet and diuerse other houses néere adioining were blowne vp with the spoire of fiftie hundred weight of powder two men and one woman were slaine diuerse other persons as well men as women and children were sore hurt some blasted with the flame some brused with the fall of timber vpon them c. Albertus Alasco frée baron of Lasco Uaiuode or palatine of Siradia in Poland arriued at Harwich in Essex and on the last of Aprill came by water to Winchester house in Southworke where he remained for the most part of his abode heere of whome more hereafter at his returne into his owne countrie Elias Thackar tailor was hanged at saint Edmunds burie in Suffolke on the fourth of Iune and Iohn Coping shoomaker on the sixt of the same moneth for spreading and mainteining certeine bookes seditiouslie penned by one Robert Browne against the receiued booke of English common praier established by the lawes of this realme their bookes so manie as could be found were burned before them This yeare on the ninth of Iune deceased Thomas Ratclife earle of Sussex lord chamberleine to hir maiestie and knight of the garter at Barmundseie in the borough of Southworke besides London and was on the eight of Iulie next following conueied through the same citie of London toward Newhall in Essex there to be buried in forme folowing First went on foot before him fortie and fiue poore men in blacke gownes then on horssebacke one hundred and twentie seruingmen in blacke coats then ninetie and fiue gentlemen in blacke gownes or clokes besides the heralds at armes and other which bare his helme creast sword coat of armes and banners of armes c. Then the deceased earle couered with a pall of blacke veluet in a chariot likewise couered with blacke veluet drawne with foure goodlie geldings next after was led the earles stéed couered with blacke veluet then sir Henrie Ratclife the succéeding erle chiefe mourner and eight other lords all in blacke then the lord maior and his brethren the aldermen of London riding in murraie gownes then on foot the gentlemen of Greis in and last of all the worshipfull companie of the merchant tailors of London in their liueries for that the said earle was a brother of their companie as manie noble men and famous princes kings of this realme before him had béene as more at large is declared in the summarie of the chronicles of England in the eightéenth yeare of king Henrie the seuenth The maior and aldermen the gentlemen of Greis in and the merchant tailors accompanied the corps to the barres without Aldgate and returned This was the end of that nobleman who whiles he liued
We neuer heard of any king that would not gladlie indeuor to withdraw his necke from bondage captiuitie but ours of his owne accord voluntarilie submitteth himselfe to become vassall to euerie stranger And thus the lords lamenting the case left the king and returned to London as before yee haue heard But the king disquieted not a little for that he was thus driuen to yéeld so farre vnto the barons notwithstanding as much as was possible he kept his purpose secret deuised by what means he might disappoint all that had beene doone and promised on his part at this assemblie betwixt him and the lords a pacification as yée haue heard Wherefore the next day verie late in the euening he secretlie departed to Southampton and so ouer into the I le of Wight where he tooke aduice with his councell what remedie he might find to quiet the minds of his lords and barons and to bring them vnto his purpose At length after much debating of the matter it was concluded by the aduise of the greater part that the king should require the popes aid therein And so Walter the bishop of Worcester Iohn the bishop of Norwich with one Richard Marish his chancellor with all speed were sent as ambassadors from the king vnto pope Innocent to instruct him of the rebellion of the English Nobilitie and that he constreined by force had granted them certeine lawes and priuileges hurtfull to his realme and preiudiciall to his crowne Moreouer sith that all this was doone by the authoritie of the pope the king besought him to make the same void and to command the barons to obeie him being their king as reason required they should There were also sent by him other messengers as Hugh de Boues and others into diuerse parts beyond the sea to bring from thence great numbers of men of war and souldiers appointing them to meet him at Douer at the feast of saint Michaell next insuing He sent likewise vnto all his chateleins and constables of castels within the realme requiring line 10 them to prouide themselues of all things necessarie for defense of the holds committed to their charge if they should chance to be besieged though it were on the next morrow His ambassadours and other messengers being thus dispatched and hauing but few persons left about him or in maner none except such of the bishop of Norwich his seruants as he had borowed of him he fell to take prises as any ships came by suspected not to be his fréends so séeking to win the fauour of line 20 the mariners that belonged to the cinke ports and so lay close in the I le of Wight and there about the sea-coasts for the space of thrée moneths togither In which meane time manie things were reported of him some calling him a fisher some a merchant and some a pirat and rouer And manie for that no certeine newes could be heard of him iudged that he was either drowned or dead by some other means But he still looking for some power to come ouer to his aid kept himselfe out of the way till the line 30 same should be arriued and dissembled the conceit of his reuenge and hart-grudge till opportunitie serued him with conuenient securitie to put the same in execution Wherein he shewed himselfe discréet and prouident and did as in such a case one wiseman dooth counsell another saieng sapiens irámque coërcet Saepè etiam vtiliter cedit placidÃsque furentem Demulcet dictis dulcibus allicit hostem Blanditijs donec deceptum in retia mittat The lords all this while lay at London and began line 40 to doubt the matter bicause they could heare no certeine newes where the king was become for doubting as I said the suertie of his person he conueied himselfe secretlie from one place to another lodging and taking his diet oftentimes more meanlie than was decent for his estate and still he longed to heare how his ambassadours sped with the pope who in the meane time comming vnto Rome and declaring their message at full tooke it vpon their solemne oth line 50 that the right was on the kings side and that the fault rested onelie on the lords touching the whole controuersie betweene them and him who sought with great rigour and against reason to bridle him at their pleasures They shewed also a note of certeine articles conteined in the charter which seemed to make most for the kings purpose and withall declared that the king in open assemblie where he and the barons met to talke of such matters had protested that the kingdome line 60 of England speciallie apperteined as touching the souereingtie vnto the church of Rome whervpon he neither could nor ought without knowledge of the pope to ordeine anie thing anew or change ought within that kingdome in preiudice thereof Wherefore whereas he put himselfe and all the rights of his kingdome by way of appealing vnder the protection of the apostolike sée the barons yet without regard had to the same appeale did seize into their possession the citie of London and getting them to armour inforced the king to confirme such vnreasonable articles as there appeared for him to consider The pope hauing heard their tale and considered of the articles with bending browes in witnesse of his indignation made foorthwith this short answer And is it so that the barons of England doo go about to expell their king which hath taken vpon him the crosse and is remaining vnder the protection of the apostolike sée And doo they meane indéed to translate the dominion that belongeth to the church of Rome vnto another By S. Peter we cannot suffer this iniurie to passe vnpunished Herevpon crediting the ambassadours words by the aduice of his cardinals he decréed that all those priuiledges which the king had granted vnto the lords and barons of this realme as inforced thereto by their rebellious attempt should be accounted void and of none effect Also he wrote vnto the lords admonishing them by his letters that they should obeie their king vpon paine of his cursse if they should attempt anie thing that sounded to the contrarie ¶ At the same time there was in the court of Rome as Hector Boetius saith a cardinall named Gualo or Wallo a verie couetous person and such a one as in that place some are neuer wanting which for monie passed not what he did further anie mans suit without regard either to right or wrong by whose chiefe trauell and means the pope was greatlie induced to fauour king Iohns cause and to iudge with him in preiudice of the lords purposes as before is expressed But to proceed The ambassadours being dispatched and hauing the popes prescript and such other his letters with them as they had obteined of him returned with all spéed into England vnto the king who was come a litle before vnto Windsore castell and there declared vnto him how they sped
feare anie such thing and this accordinglie was doone they hauing the keies of the gates and of all the strong chambers turrets and places within the Tower sent vnto them On the fridaie the duke of Glocester the earls of Derbie and Notingham came to the king where he was set in a pauillion richlie arraied and after their humble salutations done and some talke had betwixt them they went at the kings request with him into his chamber where they recited vnto him the conspiracie of their aduersaries through which they had béen indicted They also shewed forth the letters which he had sent to the duke of Ireland to leauie an armie vnto their destruction Likewise the letters which the French king had written to him conteining a safe conduct for him to come into France there to confirme things to the diminishing of his honor to the decaie of his power losse of his fame ¶ During the time of this communication also the earle of Derbie desired the king to behold the people that were assembled in sight before the Tower for the preseruation of him and his realme which he did and maruelling to sée such a goodlie armie and strength as he declared to them no lesse the duke of Glocester said vnto him Sir this is not the tenth part of your willing subiects that haue risen to destroie those false traitors that haue misled you with their wicked and naughtie counsell The king being brought to his wits end aswell with those things which the lords had charged him with as otherwise with the sight of that great multitude of people seemed greatlie amazed Wherevpon the lords vnder condition that the next daie he should come to Westminster to heare more of their minds and to conclude further for the behoofe of the common-wealth of the realme began to take leaue of him meaning so to depart but the king desired them to tarrie all night with him and the quéene The duke thinking to make all sure made excuse that he durst not be absent from all those folks which they had brought with them for feare that some disorder line 10 might arise either in the armie or in the citie yet at the kings instance the earles of Notingham and Derbie taried there all night The king before his going to bed was quite turned concerning his determination and promise made to go the next daie to Westminster through such whispering tales as was put into his eares by some that were about him telling him that it stood neither with his safetie nor honour so lightlie to agree to depart from the tower vnto such place as the lords had thus appointed him line 20 to serue more for their purpose than for suertie of his person When the lords therefore vnderstood that he would not keepe promise with them they were greatlie offended insomuch as they sent him flat word that if he would not come according to promise they would suerlie choose another king that would and ought to obeie the faithfull counsell of his lords The king with this message being touched to the quicke to satisfie their minds and to auoid further perill remooued the line 30 next morning vnto Westminster where the lords comming before his presence after a little other talke they declared vnto him that aswell in respect of his owne honour as the commoditie wealth of his kingdome it was behouefull that such traitors and most wicked slanderous persons as were nothing profitable but hurtfull to him and his louing subiects should be remooued out of his court and that other that both could and would serue him more honorablie and faithfullie were placed in their roomes line 40 The king although sore against his mind when he saw how the lords were bent and that he wanted power to withstand their pleasures condescended to doo what they would haue him So when he had granted thereto they iudged that Alexander Neuill archbishop of Yorke Iohn Fourdham bishop of Durham lord tresuror Thomas Rushoke a frier of the order of the preachers bishop of Chichester and confessor to the king were worthie to be auoided the court But the archbishop of Yorke line 50 and the bishop of Chichester would abide no reckonings but got them out of the waie and fled it was not knowne whither The lords did expell out of the court the lord Zouâ—h of Haringworth the lord Burnell the lord Beaumont Albrey de Uéer Baldwin de Bereford Richard Aderburie Iohn Worth Thomas Clifford and Iohn Louell knights These were dismissed out of the court and remooued from the king but not discharged for they were constreined to put in suerties to appeare at the next parlement line 60 There were also certeine ladies expelled the court as those that were thought to doo much harme about the K. to wit the ladie Poinings wife to Iohn Worth of Mowen and the ladie Moulinge with others which also found suerties to answer at the next parlement to all such things as might be obiected against them Moreouer there were arrested and committed to seuerall prisons sir Simon Burlie William Elmham Iohn Beauchampe of Holt steward of the kings house sir Iohn Salisburie sir Thomas Triuet sir Iames Barneis sir Nicholas Dagworth and sir Nicholas Brambre knights Also Richard Clifford Iohn Lincolne Richard Mitford the kings chapleins and Nicholas Sclake deane of the kings chappell whose word might doo much in the court There was also apprehended Iohn Blake an apprentise of the law all which persons were kept in streict ward till the next parlement in which they were appointed to stand vnto their triall and answers Shortlie after to wit the morrow after the Purification of our ladie the parlement began the which was named the parlement that wrought woonders The king would gladlie haue proroged the time of this parlement if by anie meanes he might The lords came to the same parlement with a sufficient armie for their owne safeties On the first day of this parlement were arrested as they sat in their places all the iustices except sir William Skipworth as sir Roger Fulthrop sir Robert Belknap sir Iohn Carie sir Iohn Holt sir William Brooke and Iohn Alocton the kings sergeant at law all which were sent to the tower and there kept in seuerall places The cause whie they were thus apprehended was for that where in the last parlement diuerse lords were made gouernours of the realme both by the assent of the same parlement and also by the aduise and counsell of all the iustices then being and indentures tripartite thereof made of the which one part remained with the king an other with the lords so chosen to gouerne the realme and the third part with the iustices and yet notwithstanding the said iustices at a councell holden at Notingham as yee haue heard before did go contrarie to that agreement Wherevpon it was now determined that they should make answer to their dooings Moreouer
with his great ordinance to ouerthrow the wals And one day amongst other he determined to giue the assault and so did the which continued a long space verie hot and earnest The Britons Britonants were come downe into a low bottome where there was a little pond or fish-poole and they must néeds passe by a streict waie to come to the walles in great danger On that side of the towne was a little bulworke which sir Nicholas Burdet kept hauing with him a fortie or eightie fighting men and ouer against the same bulworke there was a gate well furnished also with English souldiers so that the Britons which came downe into the ditches in great number to giue the assault heard on either side them the Englishmen within the said bulworke and gate make a great noise in crieng Salisburie and Suffolke with the which crie the Britons being maruelouslie astonied began to recoile in great disorder And therewith the said sir Nicholas Burdet issued foorth vpon them and pursuing them right valiantlie sâ—ue them downe so that there died of them what by the sword and what by drowning in the said poole about seauen thousand or eight hundred and to the number of fiftie were taken prisoners And beside this those Englishmen gained eightéene standards and one baner Incontinentlie the newes hereof were reported to the constable of France who was busie at the assault on the other side of the towne whereof he was sore displeased and no lesse amazed so that he caused the retreit to be sounded for all the siege on that side toward the poole was alreadie raised After this vpon counsell taken amongst the Frenchmen it was determined that they should dislodge and so about the middest of the next night the constable and all the residue of his people departed toward Fougiers leauing behind them great plentie of artillerie both great and small with victuals and all their other prouisions as fourteene great guns and fortie barrels of powder thrée hundred pipes of wine two hundred pipes of bisket and flower two hundred frailes of figs and reisins and fiue hundred barrels of herrings Somewhat before this season fell a great diuision in the realme of England which of a sparkle was like to haue grown to a great flame For whether the bishop of Winchester called Henrie Beaufort sonne to Iohn duke of Lancaster by his third wife enuied the authoritie of Humfreie duke of Glocester protectour of the realme or whether the duke disdained at the riches and pompous estate of the bishop sure it is that the whole realme was troubled with them and their partakers so that the citizens of London were faine to kéepe dailie and nightlie watches and to shut vp their shops for feare of that which was doubted to haue insued of their assembling of people about them The archbishop of Canturburie and the duke of Quimbre called the prince of Portingale rode eight times in one daie betwéene the two parties and so the matter was staied for a time But the bishop of Winchester to cléere himselfe of blame so farre as he might and to charge his nephue the lord protectour with all the fault wrote a letter to the regent of France the tenor whereof insueth The bishop of Winchesters letter excusatorie line 10 RIght high and mightie prince and my right noble and after one lieuest lord I recommend me vnto you with all my hart And as you desire the welfare of the king our souereigne lord and of his realmes of England and France your owne health and ours also so hast you hither For by my truth if you tarie we shall put this land in line 20 aduenture with a field such a brother you haue here God make him a good man For your wisedome knoweth that the profit of France standeth in the welfare of England c. Written in great hast on Allhallowen euen By your true seruant to my liues end Henrie Winchester The duke of Bedford being sore greeued and disquieted with these newes constituted the earle of line 30 Warwike which was latelie come into France with six thousand men his lieutenant in the French dominions and in the duchie of Normandie and so with a small companie he with the duchesse his wife returned againe ouer the seas into England and the tenth daie of Ianuarie he was with all solemnitie receiued into London to whome the citizens gaue a paire of basins of siluer and gilt and a thousand markes in monie Then from London he rode to Westminster and was lodged in the kings palace line 40 The fiue and twentith daie of March after his comming to London a parlement began at the towne of Leicester where the duke of Bedford openlie rebuked the lords in generall bicause that they in the time of warre thorough their priuie malice and inward grudge had almost mooued the people to warre and commotion in which time all men ought or should be of one mind hart and consent requiring them to defend serue dread their souereigne lord king Henrie in performing his conquest in line 50 France which was in manner brought to conclusion In this parlement the duke of Glocester laid certeine articles to the bishop of Winchester his charge the which with the answers hereafter doo insue as followeth The articles of accusation and accord betweene the lord of Glocester and the lord of Winchester line 60 HEre insueth the articles as the kings councell hath conceiued the which the high and mightie prince my lord of Glocester hath surmised vpon my lord of Winchester chancellor of England with the answer to the same 1 First whereas he being protectour and defendour of this land desired the Tower to be opened to him and to lodge him therein Richard Wooduile esquier hauing at that time the charge of the keeping of the Tower refused his desire and kept the same Tower against him vndulie and against reason by â—he commandement of my said lord of Winchester and afterward in approouing of the said refusall he receiued the said Wooduile and cherished him against the state and worship of the king and of my said lord of Glocester 2 Item my said lord of Winchester without the aduise and assent of my said lord of Glocester or of the kings councell purposed and disposed him to set hand on the kings person and to haue remooued him from Eltham the place that he was in to Windsor to the intent to put him in gouernance as him list 3 Item that where my said lord of Glocester to whome of all persons that should be in the land by the waie of nature and birth it belongeth to see the gouernance of the kings person informed of the said vndue purpose of my said lord of Winchester declared in the article next abouesaid and in letting thereof determining to haue gone to Eltham vnto the king to haue prouided as the cause required my said lord of Winchester vntrulie and against the kings peace to the
London towards Rome as ambassadors sent from the king and quéene to confirme this new reconciliation to the pope A yoong stripling whose name was William Fetherstone a millers sonne about the age of eightéene yeares named and bruted himselfe to be king Edward the sixt whereof when the quéene and the councell heard they caused with all diligence inquirie to be made for him so that he was apprehended in Southworke or as other haue at Eltham in Kent the tenth of Maie line 50 and brought before the councell at Hampton court and there examined And it was demanded of him why he so named himselfe To which he counterfetting a maner of simplicitie or rather frensie would make no direct answer but praid pardon for he wist not what he said affirming further that he was counselled so to saie and to take vpon him the name whereof he accused certeine persons but his talke was not found true wherefore he was committed to the Marshalseie as a lunatike foole line 60 On the eight and twentith daie of Maie next following the aforesaid counterfet prince was brought in a cart from the Marshalseie thorough the citie of London with a paper ouer his head wherein was written that he named himselfe king Edward And from thense was conueied to Westminster being led round about the hall and shewed to all the people there and afterward he was taken out of the cart and stripped and then whipped round about the palace at the same carts taile and then thorough Westminster into Smithfield and then banished into the north in which countrie he was borne and had béene sometime lackie to sir Peter Mewtas and without more punishment was discharged and set at libertie But the next yeare following for that he had spred abroad that king Edward was aliue and that he had spoken with him he was againe apprehended and arreigned of high treason whereof being condemned he shortlie after was drawne vnto Tiburne and there hanged and quartered the thirtéenth of March ¶ Here as in a fit and conuenient place the obseruation of the daie and moneth offering no lesse it is not amisse to set downe the speech of quéene Marie vttered to sundrie of hir lords touching a motion which no doubt certeine popish prelats had put into hir mind the effect whereof followeth as I find it in master Fox Before I passe this moneth of March saith he I cannot but leaue a little memorandum of the words or consultation of quéene Marie vsed to certeine of the councell the eight twentith daie of the said moneth of March touching the restoring againe of the abbeie lands Who after she had called vnto hir presence foure of hir priuie councell the daie and moneth aforesaid the names of which councellors were these William lord marquesse of Winchester high treasuror of England sir Robert Rochester knight the queenes comptrollor sir William Peter knight secretarie sir Francis Inglefield knight master of wards the said queene Marie inferred these words the principall effect summe whereof here followeth You are here of our councell and we haue willed you to be called to vs to the intent yee might heare of me my conscience and the resolution of my mind concerning the lands and possessions as well of monasteries as other churches whatsoeuer being now presentlie in my possession First I doo consider that the said lands were taken awaie from the churches aforesaid in time of schisme and that by vnlawfull means such as are contrarie both to the law of God and of the church For the which cause my conscience dooth not suffer me to deteine them and therefore I here expresselie refuse either to claime or to reteine the said lands for mine but with all my heart fréelie and willinglie without all paction or condition here and before God I doo surrender and relinquish the said lands and possessions or inheritances whatsoeuer doo renounce the same with this mind and purpose that order and disposition thereof may be taken as shall séeme best liking to our most holie lord the pope or else his legat the lord cardinall to the honour of God and wealth of this our realme And albeit you may obiect to me againe that considering the state of my kingdome the dignitie thereof and my crowne imperiall cannot be honorablie mainteined and furnished without the possessions aforesaid yet notwithstanding I set more by the saluation of my soule than by ten kingdoms and therefore the said possessions I vtterlie refuse here to hold after that sort and title and giue most hartie thanks to almightie God which hath giuen me an husband likewise minded with no lesse good affection in this behalfe than I am my selfe Wherefore I charge and command that my chancellor with whom I haue conferred my mind in this matter before and you foure to morrow together doo resort to the most reuerend lord legat and doo signifie to him the premisses in my name giue your attendance vpon him for the more full declaration of the state of my kingdome and of the foresaid possessions accordinglie as you your selues doo vnderstand the matter and can informe him in the same This charge as the sequele gaue proofe was followed with no lesse diligence of the lords than it was imposed with willingnes vpon them by the quéene insomuch that shortlie after as anon you shall heare the performed hir promise to â—he pith But to leâ— this matter passe till due time place require a declaration of the conclusion thereof I am héere saith master Fox as occasion serueth to intreat of pope Iulius death for so much as he made his end about the latter end of this foresaid moneth of March. Concerning the déeds and acts of which pope to make a full declaration it were not so much tedious to the reader as horrible to all good eares Under this Iulius florished the archbishop of Beneuentanus a Florentine named Iohannes a Casa deane of the popes chamber and chéefe legat to the line 10 Uenetians who well declaring the fruit of that filthie see so farre forgat both honestie and nature that he shamed not onelie to plaie the filthie Sodomite himselfe and to boast openlie of the same but also tooke vpon him most impudentlie in Italian metre to all mens eares to set foorth the praise and commendation of that beastlie iniquitie saieng that he himselfe neuer vsed other and this booke was printed at Uenice by one Troianus Nauus And yet the pope could suffer this so great iniquitie and shamelesse line 20 beastlinesse euen vnder his nose in his owne chamber which could not abide the true doctrine of Christ in christian bookes Amongst other pranks and déeds of this foresaid pope in his Iubilée and in the synod of Trent and in confirming of the idoll of Lauretane this is also reported of him in his life that he delighted greatlie in porke flesh and peacocks Upon a time when he
that no bodie should pretend line 30 ignorance we command expreslie to make knowne these ordinances to proclame and publish them whereas men are accustomed to proclame all publications procéeding and commanding to procéed with rigor against all disdainors and neglectors of the same according to the order of punishment before mentioned without anie fauour or dissimulation to the contrarie because we haue thought the same to be expedient for the preseruation of the countrie Giuen in our congregation assemblie line 40 in the Hage the sixt daie of Februarie 1586 by ordinance of the foresaid generall states This placard thus passed the lord lieutenant bending his mind to his charge vndertaken did ordeine certeine speciall men natiues borne of the councell to the intent that such affaires as chanced to occur might by them be conuenientlie managed And as he tooke order for matters of policie so was he studious in preferring martiall affaires prouiding line 50 by good lawes and ordinances not onelie concerning common souldiours but capteins in like sort that a conuenient course and well beseeming the excellencie of his place might be obserued in all militarie businesses for proofe whereof these lawes touching capteins as a note of the rest may serue First no capteine officer or other person shall receiue or interteine anie other mans souldiour or seruant without consent of his former capteine or line 60 master neither shall intise anie other mans souldior from him vpon paine of losse of a moneths wages and to restore the partie to his former capteine or master Secondlie no capteine shall send foorth anie men to doo anie enterprise without knowledge of the generall or chéefe officer appointed therevnto vpon paine of losse of his place Thirdlie all priuat capteins being no head officers shall watch and ward with their ensignes vnlesse it be by speciall leaue vpon paine of the losse of a moneths paie for the second time lose his place Fourthlie no capteine shall sell or ransome his prisoner without licence of the generall and shall not suffer them to depart without making the high marshall priuie to the same vpon paine to lose his prisoner and imprisonment Fiftlie anie capteine finding anie souldiour of what band or companie so euer which hath transgressed anie of these lawes ordinances may take him bring him vnto the marshall to be punished Sixtlie that no capteine shall receiue or inroll anie person into his paie vnder him but that he cause the said souldior to receiue the oth vpon paine to the capteine for not obseruing the same or losse of a moneths paie Seauenthlie no inferiour capteine shall for corruption or anie other cause licence anie of his souldiors to depart the campe or garrison without speciall licence of the generall or head officer vpon paine of losse of his moneths paie and expulsion out of his office Eightlie if anie capteine heereafter receiuing his souldiors paie doo not paie the same vnto them within eight daies after and being demanded then vpon complaint made and the capteine thereof indicted he shall lose his moneths paie and be depriued of his office banished the campe and disabled from thensefoorth to serue in the armie Ninthlie capteins officers shall resort to their souldiors lodgings to sée in what state their armor and munition be in and to giue great charge that their furniture be alwaies in a readinesse their corslets with all péeces belonging to the same and their caléeuers to be made cleane oiled to haue match and powder drie and strings for their bowes their bils and holberds to be kept cleane and sharpe vpon paine and punishment arbitrarie according to the qualitie of their negligence Tenthlie that euerie capteine or officer shall cause these said statutes to be read euerie twentith daie to them of their charge as well horssemen as footmen to follow the same so néere as they may Now when the state of the countrie was prouided for in such sort as before ye haue heard the lord lieutenant procéeded to other actions insomuch that on the first of March he came from Hage to Leidon and the third of March from Leidon to Harlem where being honorablie interteined according to the maner in other places before named with sundrie representations on the tenth daie of March he came from Harlem to Amsterdam a towne counted inexpugnable being there receiued in most sumptuous sort with diuersitie of shewes ceremonies The like also were exhibited vnto him comming to Utricht the people of which towne shewed themselues greatlie to fauour our Englishmen for there came to the towne from the Leger three hundred or foure hundred souldiors so sicke and poore that it was woonder to sée their miserie and the townesmen not onelie receiued them but also releeued them with meat drinke and cloths giuing them for the most part new shirts and other necessarie apparell looking so vnto them for their health that whereas for the most part they were in great danger of death few or none of them at that time perished The thrée and twentith of Aprill the earle of Leicester being lieutenant and gouernour generall of hir maiesties forces in the low countries of the vnited prouinces as is aforesaid and making his residence at that time in Utricht a great and goodlie towne vpon the frontiers of Holland kept most honourablie the feast of S. George therein the procéedings whereof being so princelie performed to the honor of our nation in the view of so manie thousand strangers I could not choose hauing gotten the true and faithfull description by one William Sâ—â—ger alià s Portcullis an officer at armes in that seruice to make some breefe remembrance of the maner thereof in this booke to wit The streets of Utricht being large and faire were rankt and set with eight ensignes of burgers richlie appointed wearing scarffes knit like roses white and red vpon their armes betwéene whome from the court of my lord vnto the cathedrall church called the Dome the procéeding was on horssebacke First rid the trumpettors apparelled in scarlet laid with siluer lace sounding their trumpets most roiallie their bannerols being line 10 displaied and richlie limmed with my lords armes Then followed the gentlemen capteins coronels and hir maiesties sworne men to the number of a fortie horsse richlie adorned in cloth of gold siluer and silks of all colours After came six knights foure barons with the councell of estates the right honourable earle of Essex accompanied the bishop of Cullen prince elector and the prince of Portingall rid by himselfe next procéeded the capteine of line 20 the gard the treasuror and controllor of the houshold bearing their white slaues after whom followed two gentlemen vshers and Portcullis herald in a rich cote of armes of England Then came my lord most princelike inuested in his robes of the order garded by the principall burgers of the towne which offered themselues to that seruice besides his owne gard
commons latelie assembled in parlement and hir maiesties answeres therevnto by hir selfe deliuered though not expressed by the reporter with such grace and life as the same were vttered by hir maiestie To the right honorable the earle of Leicester c. ALbeit with earnest desire of my heart right honorable my verie good lord I haue alwaies indeuored to doo your lordship some acceptable seruice for the honour you first vouchsafed me from beyond my cradle and after confirmed with the fauorable opinion line 40 wherewith you haue alwaies countenanced me euer since euen thus far onward on my daies which also togither with my yeares hath increased faster than mine abilitie to performe being crossed in nothing more deepelie than when I was letted by the ouermuch tendering of me by my parents to attend your lordship in your late voiage and honorable expedition into the low countries yet haue I béene euer since most studious to obserue and apprehend some good occasion or fit opportunitie to testifie line 50 the dutifull reuerence I beare to your lordship wherein if hitherto I haue béene slacke in performance during your absence it hath procéeded of the care I had not to interteine your lordship with matter either friuolous or vulgar though things of that nature might best become my condition and well agrée with my vnderstanding In which cogitation it came to my mind that the report of the spéeches deliuered by the queens most excellent maiestie in a late and weightie cause line 60 dealt in this parlement in answer to the petitions presented to hir maiestie the twelfe and foure and twentith daie of Nouember at Richmond by the lord chancellor and speaker respectiuelie in the name and behalfe of both estates accompanied with diuerse of either sort would doubtlesse be a thing to your lordship most gratefull as one euer pleased iustlie to admire the rare perfections of hir mind and approoued iudgement wherewith according to your estate and place deseruedlie your lordship hath béene vsuallie acquainted as also worthie of eternall monument and euerlasting memorie for as much as on the sudden they were deliuered by hir selfe for answer of a matter propounded debated resolued and digested with great labor and premeditation of the greatest grauest wisest and most choise persons of the whole realme whereof although I haue but slenderlie purtraied the lineaments without expressing to life the externall ornaments of hir roiall speach accompanied with all princelie and gracefull accomplements yet doubt I not but your lordship will easilie find hir inward vertues whereof it is impossible for me to make the least adumbration And because in the dailie expectation of your lordships returne I rested vncerteine how these might come safelie to your lordships hands I did therefore aduise to haue this my letter with the included copies to be readie to attend your first arriuall in gratulation of the safetie thereof which hath beene long desired Wherein as I striue to performe a particular dutie to your lordship so trust I you will haue that honorable consideration that in the communication thereof with others there grow not anie preiudice to me for my presumption in aduenturing to be a reporter of that which in the deliuerie wrought so great astonishment to all the hearers as it exceeded the fulnesse of euerie mans expectation and therefore without some fauorable construction of mine attempt I might incurre great blame by my slender maner of report so to haue blemished the excellencie of hir maiesties spéeches whereof I humblie beséech your lordship to haue fauorable regard Thus referring them to your lordships disposition and my selfe to your fauorable protection I humblie take my leaue 25. Nouember 1586. Your lordships most humblie in all dutie to command R. C. The briefe of the lord chancellors first speach at the time when he deliuered hir most excellent maiestie a petition in writing for and in the name of the lords and commons which speaches were of more length than here are by me collected but sure I am the substance thereof is here trulie expressed THat the lords and commons hauing of long time to their intolerable greefe found by how manie practises the Scotish quéene had compassed the destruction of hir highnesse most roiall person in whose safetie next vnder God they acknowledged their chiefe felicitie to consist thereby not onelie to bereaue them of the sincere and true religion in this realme professed and established but to bring backe againe this noble realme into the thraldome of Romish tyrannie and to ouerthrow the happie estate thereof wherein although hir highnesse of hir abundant gratious naturall clemencie and princelie magnanimitie hath either lightlie passed them ouer or with no small indulgence tolerated notwithstanding the often and earnest instances of hir nobilitie and commons in sundrie parlements heretofore and further hath protected hir from the violent pursute of hir owne people she yet as a person obdurat in malice as it appeareth continued hir former practises as had béene latelie manifested by certeine wicked conspiracies plotted by one Anthonie Babington and diuerse desperat persons that had combined and confederated themselues by vow and oth in a most horrible enterprise by murther to take awaie the life of hir maiestie wherein the Scotish quéene did not onelie aduise them but also direct comfort and abbet them with persuasion counsell promise of reward and earnest obtestation Wherevpon hir maiestie at the earnest request of such as tendered the safetie of hir roiall person and the quiet of the realme did direct commission vnder the great seale to sundrie lords and others of hir maiesties priuie councell a great number of lords of parlement of the greatest and most ancient degrée assisted with some of the principall iudges of the realme to heare examine and determine the same according to a statute in that behalfe made in the seuen and twentith yeare of hir reigne Who to the number of thirtie and six hauing attended line 10 the execution of the said commission and diuerse daies and times heard the allegations against the said Scotish quéene in hir owne presence and hearing she being permitted to saie what she would in hir owne excuse did with one assent find hir calpable both in priuitie consent to the said crimes obiected and also in compassing the quéens maiesties death Which sentence by hir owne directions vpon the hearing of the proofes and processe in parlement line 20 was iudged to haue béene most honorable and iust And therevpon they all beséech hir maiestie that forasmuch as the said quéene of Scots was the verie ground and onelie subiect wherevpon such dangerous practises and complots had béene founded against hir maiesties most roiall person and the estate of this realme for these manie yeares to the ouerthrow of sundrie of the nobilitie of the land and danger of christian religion and that they could sée line 30 no hope of hir desisting and hir adherents but that still hir maiesties safetie must be
or Egelred Howbeit this is most true that the Norman kings themselues would confesse that the lawes deuised and made by the Conqueror were not verie equall insomuch that William Rufus and Henrie the sonnes of the Conqueror would at all times when they sought to purchase the peoples fauor promise to abolish the lawes ordeined by their father establish other more equall and restore those which were vsed in S. Edwards daies The like kind of purchasing fauor was vsed by king Stéephen and other kings that followed him But now to the matter king William hauing made these ordinances to keepe the people in order set his mind to inrich his cofers and thervpon caused first a tribute to be leuied of the commons then the abbeies to be searched and all such monie as any of the Englishmen had laid vp in the same to be kept Besides all this he seized into his hands their charters of priuileges made to them by the Saxon kings of the land and spared not so much as the iewels and plate dedicated to sacred vses All this did he as some write by the counsell of the earle of Hertford Shortlie after betwixt Easter and Whitsuntid◠a great synod was holden at Winchester by the bishops and cleargie where Ermenfred the bishop of Sion or Sitten with two cardinals Iohn and Peter sent thither from pope Alexander the second did sit as chéefe commissioners In this synod was Stigand the archbishop of Canturburie depriued of his bishoprike for thrée speciall causes 1 First for that he had wrongfullie holden that bishoprike whilest the archbishop Robert was liuing 2 Secondlie for that he kept the see of Winchester in his hands after his inuestiture vnto Canturburie which he ought not to haue doone 3 Thirdlie for that he had receiued the pall at the hands of pope Benedict the tenth whom the cardinals as one not lawfullie elected had deposed Howbeit manie writers burthen king William who was present at this synod for the procuring of Stigand his depriuation to the end he might place a stranger in his roome For as he had rooted out the line 10 English Nobilitie and giuen awaie their lands liuings to his Normans so meant he to turne out the English cleargie from bearing any office of honor within the realme which meaning of his did well appeare at his councell wherin diuers bishops abbats and priors were deposed and Normans preferred to their places Stigand after his depriuation was kept in perpetuall prison at Winchester till he died and yet as some write the same Stigand was an helper vnder hand for king William to atteine the line 20 crowne In the feast of Pentecost next insuing the king being at Windsor gaue the archbishoprike of Yorke vnto one Thomas a canon of Bayeux and to Walkelme one of his chaplins he gaue the bishoprike of Winchester After this calling one Lanfranke an Italian from Caen where he was abbat he made him archbishop of Canturburie who was consecrated there in the feast of S. Iohn Baptist in the yeare folowing which was after the birth of our Sauiour 1071. The foresaid Thomas was the fiue and line 30 twentith bishop that had gouerned in that see of Yorke Lanfranke the thrée thirtith in the see of Canturburie But yer long betwixt these two archbishops there rose great contention for the primasie of their churches in so much that the archbishop of Yorke appealed to Rome where they both appeared personallie before pope Alexander in whose presence Lanfranks cause was so much fauoured that not onelie the foresaid Thomas but also Remigius the line 40 bishop of Dorchester were for reasonable causes depriued of their crosiers and rings and Lanfranke at their humble request was a meane to the pope for them in the end that they might be restored to their staues which was accordinglie obteined For when the pope heard Lanfranke declare in their fauour how necessarie their seruice might be to the king in the establishment of his new gotten kingdome he said to Lanfranke Well looke you then to the matter you are the father of that countrie and therefore line 50 consider what is expedient to be done therein their staues which they haue surrendered there they be take them and dispose them as you shall thinke most profitable for the aduancement of the christian religion in that countrie Wherevpon Lanfranke tooke the staues and deliuered them to the former possessours and so were they in the popes presence restored to their former dignities One cause why Thomas was depriued as some writers saie was for that he had holpen duke William toward his iournie line 60 into England when he came to conquer it for the which pleasure to him then shewed the duke promised him a bishoprike if euer he obteined victorie ouer the English an other cause for that he was a priests sonne Now when the pope vnderstood the full ground of their contention to be for the primasie of the two sees Canturburie and Yorke and had heard what could be alledged on both sides he remitted the determination thereof to the king and bishops of England that by the histories and records of the land the matter might be tried iudged and ordered Wherefore at their comming home and after long debating and discussing of the cause as in William Marleburgh it appeareth more at large at a synod holden at Windsor in the yeare 1072. sentence was giuen on Lanfranks side so that in all things concerning religion and the faith of holie church the archbishop of Yorke should be euer subiect to the archbishop of Canturburie and come with all the bishops of his prouince to what place soeuer the archbishop of Canturburie should summon any councell within the realme of England Moreouer when anie elected bishop of Canturburie was to be consecrated the archbishop of Yorke for the time being should come to Canturburie and consecrate him there And if the archbishop of Yorke was to be installed and consecrated then should he come to Canturburie or to what place it should please the archbishop of Canturburie to assigne and there to be confirmed of him taking an oth with profession of due obedience vnto the higher see Now as the said Thomas of Yorke did yéeld obedience to Lanfranke of Canturburie so likewise the elect bishop of Glascow in Scotland named Michaell was soone after consecrated of the foresaid Thomas archbishop of Yorke and made an oth of obedience vnto the said archbishop as to the primate of all Scotland and after him Tothade the bishop of S. Andrewes did the like by commandement of Malcolme the third of that name king of Scotland and Margaret his wife who thought good by this recognisance of obedience and dutie so to prouide against further inconuenience to come that hereafter one of the bishops of their realme should not take vpon them to consecrate an other or doo any thing contrarie to the ancient
brought before king Henrie as prisoners ¶ Thus did almightie God grant vnto the king a notable victorie without bloodshed for he lost not a man as for his aduersaries there died in the field not past three score persons This séemeth also to agrée with that which Wil. Malmesburie writeth for he saith that king Henrie with small adoo brought into his hands duke Robert who with a great troope of men came against him then lodging néere the said castell of Tenerchbray The earle of Mortaigne was also taken but the erle of Shrewsburie escaped by flight notwithstanding he was apprehended as he went about to practise some priuie conspiracie against the king ¶ This battell was fought as the same Wil. Malme affirmeth vpon a saturdaie being the daie of S. Michaell In gloria and as may be thought by the prouident iudgment of God to the end that Normandie should be subdued vnto England on that daie in the which 40. yeares passed king William the Conquerour first set foot on land at Hastings when he came out of Normandie to subdue England Neither dooth Simon Dunelmensis varie in any thing from Gemeticensis touching the conclusion of this businesse and the taking of duke Robert These wars being thus finished and the countrie set in quiet which through the méere folie of duke Robert was woonderfullie impouerished the king receiued the keies of all the townes and castels that belonged either to the duke or the earle of Mortaigne and furnished the same with garisons to be kept for his behoofe Hauing thus pacified the countrie of Normandie he came to Bec or Bechellouâ—n where archbishop Anselme then remained year 1107 whome by mediation of freends he receiued to fauour againe and sending him ouer into England immediatlie after followed himselfe Duke Robert being also spoiled of his dominions lands and liberties was shortlie committed to prison within the castell of Cardiff in Wales where he remained about the space of 26. yeares and then died He gouerned the duchie of Normandie 19. yeares he was a perfect and expert warrior comparable with the best capiteines that then liued had he béene somwhat more warie and circumspect in his affaires and therewithall constant in his opinion His woorthie acts valiantlie and fortunatlie atchiued against the infidels are notified to the world by manie and sundrie writers to his high commendation and long lasting praise It is said also that he was after his taking once set at libertie by king Henrie and bound to forsweare the realme of England and Normandie being appointed to auoid within the space of 40. daies and twelue houres But bicause he was perceiued to practise somewhat against the king he was eftsoones taken againe and hauing his eies put out committed to prison where finallie worne through age and gréefe of mind he ended his miserable life ¶ The forme of banishing men out of the realme was ordeined by Edward the Confessor and remained as a law in vse till these our daies for the benefit of them which fled to any church or other priuiledged place thereby to escape the punishment of death due for their offenses By a latter custome it was also deuised that they should beare a crosse in their hand as a signe that they were pardoned of life for the holie place sake where they sought for succour But duke Robert as it should appeere by that which others write found no such fauour saue onlie libertie to walke abroad in the kings forrests parks and chases néere the place where he was appointed to remaine so that vpon a daie as he was walking abroad he got a horsse and with all post hast rode his waiâ— in hope to haue escaped howbeit his kéepers being aduised thereof followed him with hue and crie and at length ouertooke him in a medow where he had laid his horsse vp to the bellie in a quauemire Then being brought backe his kéepers kept him in close prison aduertising the king of his demeanour wherevpon he commanded that the sight of his eies should be put out but so as the balles of them should remaine vnbroken for the auoiding of a noisome deformitie that otherwise would ensue if the glassie tunicles should take hurt In his returne out of the holie land he maried one Sibell the earle of Conuersans sister in Puglia hir father hight Roger or Geffrey as some bookes haue and was nephue to Robert Guyshard duke of Puglia and by hir had issue one sonne named William afterward earle of Flanders whereof God willing line 10 more shall be said hereafter Here must I leaue duke Robert and speake somwhat of Anselme the archbishop who shortlie after his returne into England receiued letters from pope Paschall wherein Anselme was authorised to dispose and order things as should séeme to him most expedient Now whereas the greater and better part of the English clergie consisted of préests sonnes he committed to his discretion the order to dispense line 20 with them namelie that such as were of commendable life and sufficient learning might be admitted to the ministerie as the necessitie of time and state of the church should require The pope also by the same letters gaue Anselme authoritie to absolue Richard the prior of Elie vpon his satisfaction pretermitted and to restore him to the gouernement of the priorie of Elie if the king thought it conuenient About the calends of August in this yeare 1107. the king held a councell of bishops year 1107 abbats and other line 30 lords of his realme in his pallace at London where in the absence of Anselme the matter touching the inuestitures of churches was argued vpon for the space of thrée daies togither and in the end bicause the pope had granted the homages of bishops and other prelats to the king which his predecessor Urban had forbidden togither with the inuestitures the king was contented to consent to the popes will in forbearing the same So that when Anselme was come the king in presence of him and a line 40 great multitude of his people granted and ordeined that from thenceforth no bishop nor abbat should be inuested within the realme of England by the hand either of the king or any laie man on the other side it was granted againe by Anselme that no person elected into the prelacie should be depriued of his consecration for dooing his homage to the king These things thus ordred the churches which through England had bin long vacant were prouided of gouernors which were placed without any inuestiture line 50 of staffe or ring About this time Anselme consecrated fiue bishops at Canturburie in one day archbishop William to the sée of Winchester Roger that was the kings chancellor to Salisburie William Warlewast to Excester Remaline the quéenes chancâ—llor to Hereford and one Urban to Glamorgan in Wales About this season a great part of Flanders being drowned by an exundation or breaking in of the sea
where the sée of S. Andrews was void the same king did instantlie require him to send ouer Eadmer a moonke of Canturburie of whome he had heard great commendation for his sufficiencie of vertue and learning to be seated there ¶ This Eadmer is the same which wrote the historie intituled Historia nouorum in Anglia out of which as may appeare we haue line 20 gathered the most part of our matters concerning Anselme and Rafe archbishops of Canturburie in whose daies he liued and was Anselmes disciple Archbishop Rafe was contented to satisfie the request of king Alexander in that behalfe and obteining the consent of king Henrie he sent the said Eadmer into Scotland with letters of commendation vnto the said king Alexander who receiued him right ioiullie and vpon the third daie after his comming thither being the feast of the apostles Peter Paule he was elected archbishop of S. Andrews line 30 by the clergie and people of the land to the great reioicing of Alexander and the rest of the Nobilitie The next daie after the king talked with him secretlie of his consecration and vttered to him how he had no mind to haue him consecrated at the hands of Thurstan archbishop of Yorke In which case when he was informed by the said Eadmer that no such thing needed to trouble his mind since the archbishop 〈◊〉 Canturburie being primate of all Britaine might consecrate him as reason was the king line 40 could not away with that answer bicause he would not heare that the church of Canturburie should be preferred before the church of S. Andrews Herevpon he departed from Eadmer in displeasure and calling one William sometime moonke of S. Edmundsbury vnto him a man also that had gouerned or rather spoiled the church of S. Andrews in the vacation this William was commanded to take vpon him the charge thereof againe at the kings line 50 pleasure whose meaning was vtterlie to remooue Eadmer as not worthie of that roome Howbeit within a moneth after to satisfie the minds of his Nobles he called for the said Eadmer and with much adoo got him to receiue the staffe of that bishoprike taking it from an altar whereon it laie as if he shuld haue that dignitie at the Lords hands whereby he was inuested went streight to S. Andrews church where he was receiued by the quier the schollers and all the people for true and lawfull bishop line 60 In this meane while Thurstan nothing slacking his sute in the popes court obteined such fauour wherein the king of England also was greatlie laboured vnto that he wrote letters thrice vnto the king of Scotland and once vnto the archbishop of Canturburie that neither the king should permit Eadmer to be consecrated nor the archbishop of Canturburie in any wise consecrate him if he were therevnto required Herevpon it came to passe that finally Eadmer after he had remained in Scotland twelue moneths or thereabouts and perceiued that things went not as he would haue wished for that he could not get the kings consent that he shuld be consecrated of the archbishop of Canturburie as it was first meant both by the archbishop and Eadmer he departed out of Scotland and returned againe to Canturburie there to take further aduice in all things as cause should mooue him In like maner king Henrie hauing quieted his businesse in France returned into England where he was receiued and welcomed home with great ioy and triumph but such publike reioising lasted not long with him For indéed this pleasantnesse and mâ—rth was changed into mourning by aduertisement giuen of the death of the kings sons William duke of Normandie and Richard his brother who togither with their sister the ladie Marie countesse of Perch Richard earle of Chester with his brother Oâ—well gouernour to duke William and the said earle of Chester his wife the kings neece the archdeacon of Hereford Geffrey Riddle Robert Manduit William Bigot and diuerse other to the number of an hundreth and fourtie persons besides fiftie mariners tooke ship at Harflew thinking to follow the king and sailing foorth with a south wind their ship thorough negligence of the mariners who had drunke out their wits reason were throwne vpon a rocke and vtterlie perished on the coast of England vpon the 25. of Nouember so that of all the companie none escaped but one butcher who catching hold of the mast was driuen with the same to the shore which was at hand and so saued from that dangerous shipwracke Duke William might also haue escaped verie well if pitie had not mooued him more than the regard of his owne preseruation For being gotten into the shipboat and lanching toward the land he heard the skréeking of his sister in dredfull danger of drowning and crieng out for succour wherevpon he commanded them that rowed the boat to turne backe to the ship and to take hir in But such was the prease of the companie that stroue to leape in with hir that it streightwaies sanke so that all those which were alreadie in the boat were cast awaie ¶ Here by the way would be noted the vnaâ—â—ised speech of William Rufus to the shipmaister whome he emboldened with a vaine and desperat persuasion in tempestuous weather and high seas to hoise vp sailes adding for further encouragement that he neuer heard of any king that was drowned In which words no doubt he sinned presumptuouslie against God who in due time punished that offense of his in his posâ—eritie and kinred euen by the same element whose fearsenes he himselfe séemed so little to regard as if he would haue commanded the stormes to cease as we read Christ did in the gospell by the vertue and power of his word Here is also to be noted the variablenes of fortune as we commonlie call it or rather the vncerteine and changeable euent of things which oftentimes dooth raise vp euen in the minds of princes troblesome thoughts and gréeuous passions to the great empairing of their quietnesse as here we sée exemplified in king Henrie whose mirth was turned into mone and his pleasures rellished with pangs of pensifenes contrarie to his expectation when he was in the midst of his triumph at his returne out of France into England So that we see the old adage verified Miscentur tristia Laetis and that saieng of an old poet iustified Saeua nouerca dies nunc est nunc maâ—er amica But to returne to the historie King Henrie being thus depriued of issue to succeed him did not a little lament that infortunate chance but yet to restore that losse shortlie after euen the 10. of Aprill next ensuing he maried his second wife named Adelicia a ladie of excellent beautie and noble conditions daughter to the duke of Louaine and descended of the noble dukes of Loraine howbeit he could neuer haue any issue by hir The archbishop Thurstan after the manner of obteining
some another Hugh Bigot erle of Norfolke a valiant chieftein entred into Norwich Baldwin Reduers tooke Excester Robert Quisquere got certeine castels also into his hands King Stephan hearing what his enimies had doone though he was somewhat mooued with this alteration of things yet as one nothing afraid of the matter he said merilie to those that stood about him We are aliue yet God be thanked and that shall be knowne to our enimies yeâ— it be long Neither doubted he any thing but some secret practise of treason and therfore vsing all diligence he made the more hast to go against his enimies whose attempts though streightwaies for the more part he repressed yet could he not recouer the places without much adoo that they had gotten as Excester and others which when he had obteined he contented himselfe for a time and followed not the victorie any further in pursuing of his enimies Wherevpon they became more bold afterward than before in somuch that soone after they practised diuerse things against him whereof God willing some in places conuenient shall appeare howbeit they permitted him to remaine in quiet for a time But whilest he studied to line 10 take order in things at home perceiuing how no small number of his subiects did dailie shew themselues to beare him no hartie good will he began by little and little to take awaie those liberties from the people which in the beginning of his reigne he had granted vnto them and to denie those promises which he had made according to the saieng That which I haue giuen I would I had not giuen and that which remaineth I will kéepe still This sudden alteration and new kind of rough dealing purchased line 20 him great enuie amongst all men in the end About the same time great commotions were raised in Normandie by meanes of the lord Geffrey earle of Aniou husband to Maud the empresse setting the whole countrie in trouble but yer any newes thereof came into England king Stephan went against Baldwin Reduers who being latelie though not without great and long siege expelled out of Excester got him into the I le of Wight and there began to deuise a new conspiracie Howbeit the king comming suddenlie into the I le tooke it at the first assault line 30 and exiled Baldwin out of the realme Hauing thus with good successe finished this enterprise and being now aduertised of the businesse in Normandie he sailed thither with a great armie and being come within two daies iournie of his enimie the earle of Aniou he sent foorth his whole power of horssemen diuided into three parts which were not gone past a daies iournie forward but they encountred the earle finding him with no great force about him Wherevpon giuing the charge vpon him line 40 they put him to flight and slue manie of his people Which enterprise in this maner valiantlie atchiued euen according to the mind of king Stephan he ioined in freendship with Lewes the seuenth king of France and hauing latelie created his sonne Eustace duke of Normandie he presentlie appointed him to doo his homage vnto the said Lewes for the same Now whereas his elder brother Theobald earle of Blois at that time in Normandie found himselfe line 50 greeued that Stephan the yoonger brother had vsurped the lands that belonged to their vncle king Henrie rather than himselfe Stephan to stop this iust complaint of his brother and to allaie his mood agréed with him couenanting to paie him yearelie two thousand marks of such currant monie as was then in vse Furthermore wheras Geffrey the earle of Aniou demanded in right of his wife the empresse the whole kingdome of England to be at an end with him king Stephan was contented to satisfie line 60 him with a yearelie pension of fiue thousand marks which composition he willinglie receiued Thus when he had prouided for the suertie of Normandie he returned againe into England where he was no sooner arriued but aduertisement was giuen him of a warre newlie begâ—n with the Scots whose king vnder a colour of obseruing the oth to the empresse made dailie insurrections and inuasions into England to the great disturbance of king Stephan and the annoiance of his people Wherwith being somewhat mooued he went streightwaies toward the north parts and determined first to besiege Bedford by the waie which apperteined to the earledome of Huntington by gift made vnto Henrie the sonne of king Dauid and therevpon at that present kept with a garison of Scotish men This place did the king besiege by the space of 30. daies togither giuing thereto euerie daie an assault or alarme in somuch that coÌ„ming thither on Christmasse daie he spared not on the morow to assaile them and so at length wan the towne from them by méere force and strength King Dauid hearing those newes and being alreadie in armour in the field entred into Northumberland and licensed his men of warre to spoile and rob the countrie thereabout at their pleasure Herevpon followed such crueltie that their rage stretched vnto old and yoong vnto preest and clearke yea women with child escaped not their hands they hanged headed and slue all that came in their waie houses were burnt cattell driuen awaie and all put to fire and sword that serued to any vse for reléefe either of man or beast ¶ Here we see what a band of calamities doo accompanie and waite vpon warre wherein also we haue to consider what a traine of felicities doo attend vpon peace by an equall comparing of which twaine togither we may easilie perceiue in how heauenlie an estate those people be that liue vnder the scepter of tranquillitie and contrariwise what a hellish course of life they lead that haue sworne their seruice to the sword We may consider also the inordinat outrages of princes their frantike fiersenes who esteeme not the losse of their subiects liues the effusion of innocent bloud the population of countries the ruinating of ample regions c so their will may be satisfied there desire serued And therefore it was aptlie spoken by a late poet not beside this purpose Reges atque duces dira impelluntur in arma Imperiúmque sibi miserorum caede lucrantur O caeci ô miseri quid bellum pace putatis Dignius aut melius nempe hoc nil turpius nil Quod magis humana procul à ratione recedat Candida pax homines trux decet ira feras But to our storie King Stephan hearing of this pitifull spoile hasted forward with great iournies to the rescue of the countrie The Scots put in feare of spéedie comming to encounter them drew backe into Scotland but he pursued them and entring into their countrie burned and destroied the south parts of that realme in most miserable maner Whilest king Stephan was thus about to beat backe the forren enimies and reuenge himselfe on them
of manie of his men and the citizens hauing got the vpper hand reioised not a little for the victorie But here to stay a litle with temporall affaires it shall not be amisse to rehearse the effect of a contention which fell about this time betwéene that king and the archbishop of Canturburie For so it happened as Geruasius Dorobernensis writeth that pope Eugenius came this yeare into France about the middest of Lent and afterward held a synod or councell at Rhemes wherevnto Theobald archbishop of line 30 Canturburie with others of the English bishops were summoned The archbishop therevpon asking licence of the king not obteining it found meanes to steale awaie in a small bote not without danger of his person Now therefore the case of this Theobald stood verie hard for Henrie bishop of Winchester the kings brother through enuie had so wrought that if the archbishop passed ouer without licence he should be confined of the king Againe he was sure if he came line 40 not to the councell that he should be suspended by the pope Herevpon the archbishop meaning rather to offend the king than the pope got ouer as it were swimming rather than sailing the vessell wherein he passed ouer being starke naught for all the ports were kept by the kings seruants so that he was glad to take such a bote as came next to hand In consideration whereof he was highlie commended by the pope line 50 In this councell the prebendaries of Yorke togither with Henrie Mordach then abbat of Fountney presented themselues exhibiting their complaint against William archbishop of Yorke for that as they alledged he was neither canonicallie chosen nor lawfullie consecrated but intruded by the kings authoritie At length archbishop William was conuicted and deposed Albert bishop of Hostia pronouncing sentence in this wise We doo decrée by the apostolike authoritie that William archbishop line 60 of Yorke is to be deposed from his sée bicause Stephan king of England before any canonicall election named him Then for that pope Eugenius had thus deposed archbishop William although not with the consent of the more part of the cardinals the chapiter of the church of Yorke by his commandement comming togither part of them chose Hilarie bishop of Chichester and the other part elected Henrie Mordach abbat of Fountney Now pope Eugenius when both elections were shewed him at Auxerre confirmed the election of Henrie Mordach and disanulled the other and then consecrated the foresaid Henrie with his owne hands The late nominated archbishop William being thus deposed returned into England and remained at Winchester with king Henrie till the death of pope Eugenius following the counsell of the same bishop in all things Now when the councell at Rhemes was ended archbishop Theobald returned into England and comming to Canturburie was receiued with great hoâ—or of the couent and citizens there But the king remaining then at London when he heard of it was sore displeased and came with great spéed vnto Canturburie where much conference being had betwixt him and the archbishop although to small purpose for the bringing of them to an agréement at length the king compelled the archbishop to depart the realme Wherevpon after a few daies respit he went to Douer where he tooke ship and sailed into France But within a while he was called backe by the quéene and William of Ypres vnto S. Omers that they might the sooner aduertise him of the kings mind and pleasure Here he consecrated Gilbert the elect bishop of Hereford the fift daie of September Theodoric bishop of Amiens and Nicholas bishop of Cambre assisting him After this when by sending of messengers to and fro aswell bishops abbats and other both spirituall persons and temporall there could no agréement be made he directed his letter to certeine churches here in England pronouncing by a certeine day namelie the twelfe day of September a sentence of interdiction to be obserued through the relme The monks of Canturburie sore offended herewith before the prefixed day of this sentence to be put in vre sent two moonkes of their owne house Nigell and Absolon vnto the pope whose errand when the pope had vnderstood he commanded them to returne home and to obeie their archbishops sentence in all things In the meane time the archbishops men and tenants were sore oppressed and his rents and reuenues seized to the kings vse yea euen before the daies of paiment Which maner of proceeding sore gréeued the archbishop in so much that departing from S. Omers he came to Graueling and there taking the sea crossed ouer to a towne called Goseford that belonged vnto Hugh Bigot erle of Northfolke which earle receiued him with great honour and sent him all necessarie prouision so long as he remained in his countrie At the terme appointed he interdicted all the kings dominions and would not reuoke the sentence till Robert bishop of London Hilarie bishop of Chichester and William bishop of Norwich with manie other Noblemen came to him vnto Framelingham in Northfolke a castell apperteining to the said earle where at length an attonment was concluded betwixt him and the king wherevpon he was brought home vnto Canturburie with great ioy and honor He accused the moonks of Canturburie for disobeieng the interdiction trusting that the pope would not heare those two moonkes whom they had sent as he did not indéed He excommunicated also all those that had receiued the sacraments amongst them during the time of the interdiction Now these moonkes being at their wits end dispatched with all speed other two moonkes to the pope to obteine an absolution before the archbishop should vnderstand it but they were sent backe againe with checks and commanded to obeie their archbishop in all things as the other were which had béene there with him before The moonks of Canturburie that were sent to Rome returning came from thence to Bullongne where they found those that were first sent thither and so they all foure came to Canturburie The pope also had sent a priuie commandement to the archbishop that he should duelie punish as well them as the other Wherevpon the archbishop taking counsell with his fréends deposed Syluester the prior and suspended William the secretarie of the house from entring the quéere It was decreed also that the residue should cease so long a time from saieng seruice as they had said it before vnlawfullie against the archbishops commandement For it was thought reason that whilest other sang and were merrie they should keepe silence which wilfullie tooke vpon them to sing line 10 whilest other held their peace and were still They began therefore to cease from saieng diuine seruice and from ringing their bels in the second wéeke of Lent so kept silence from the twelfe day of March vntill the first day of August The quéene wife to king Stephan in this meane while lay much at S. Augustines in Canturburie bicause of hastening forward the building of
blow at his head chanced to light vpon the arme of a clerke named Edward of Cambridge who cast vp his arme to saue the archbishop but when he was not able to beare the weight of the blow he plucked his arme backe and so the stroke staied vpon the archbishops head in such wise that the bloud ran downe by his face Then they stroke at him one after an other and though he fell to the ground at the second blow yet they left him not till they had cut and pashed out his braines and dashed them about vpon the church pauement All this being doone they rifled his house spoiled his goods and tooke them to their owne vses supposing it lawfull for them being the kings seruants so to doo But doubting how the matter would be taken after they had wrought their feat they got them into the bishoprike of Duresme there to remaine till they might heare how the king would take this their vnlawfull enterprise though as they alledged they had lustilie defended his cause and reuenged his quarell as faithfull seruants ought to doo Howbeit it chanced otherwise than they looked it should haue doone for king Henrie gaue them so litle thankes for their presumptuous act sounding to the euill example of other in breach of his lawes that they despairing vtterlie of pardon fled one into one place and another into another so that within foure yeares they all died an euill death as it hath béene reported Some write that they went to Rome by the kings commandement and there presented themselues before the pope to receiue such penance for their wicked act as he should enioine them Herevpon the pope appointed them to go vnto Ierusalem there to doo their penance where they remained certeine yeares applieng themselues verie diligentlie to performe the satisfaction of their offense according to the maner prescribed to them by the pope and so at length died This was the end of Thomas Becket archbishop of Canturburie which was after he had entred into that see eight yeares and six moneths year 1171 in the yeare after the birth of our Lord 1171. On Christmas day before his death which fell that yeare on the fridaie he preached a sermon to the people and when he had made an end thereof he accurssed Nigell de Sackeuille the violent incumbent of the church of Berges and Robert de Broc both which had vpon spite curtailed the horsse of the said archbishop and as the same day whilest he was at the altar according to his custome altogither in teares and lamenâ—ation so at dinner he shewed himselfe verie pleasant merrie insomuch that when those that were at the table séemed somewhat doubtfull to eat of the flesh that was set before them bicause it was friday Why doo ye abhorre saith he to eat flesh This day flesh hath a great priuilege for this same day the word was made flesh and came into light and appeared vnto vs. These his words greatlie contented all the companie ¶ Thus you haue heard the tragicall discourse of ambitious Becket a man of meane parentage and yet through the princes fauour verie fortunate if he had not abused the beneuolence of so gratious a souereigne line 10 by his insolencie and presumption Wherein we haue to note how vnseemelie a thing it was for him being called to so sacred a function to lead so secular and prophane a life as if he had professed open hostilitie to the vocation which he pretended to honour and reuerence We are also taught that promotions atchiued by ambition are not permanent and are so farre from procuring fame and renowne to the obteiners that they turne them in the end to shame infamie and reproch after losse of life and effusion line 20 of bloud The issue of all which tragedie is to be imputed to the prouidence and counsell of almightie God as one writeth verie agréeablie to this purpose saieng Nam facile extolliâ— facilè elatúmque refraenat Et clarum obscurans obscuri nomen adauget Erigit miserum facilè extinguitque superbum Iuppiter altifremus cui celsum regia coelum But to let this matter passe King Henrie doubtlesse was right pensiue for his death bicause he wist line 30 well inough that it would be iudged that he himselfe was priuie to the thing and euen so came it to passe for immediatlie vpon notice giuen into France of the archbishops death king Lewes and Theobald the earle of Blois as they that loued him most deerelie were most sorowfull for it and iudging straightwaie that king Henrie was the procurer they wrote their letters vnto pope Alexander giuing him to vnderstand both of the slaughter and how king Henrie had caused it to be put in execution requiring most instantlie line 40 that such an iniurie doone to the Christian religion might spéedilie be punished The pope was much offended and determined to haue the matter throughlie considered and ordered so as might stand with his dignitie and accordinglie as the hainous state of the case required King Henrie whilest these things were a dooing lay certein daies at Argenton so much displeased in his mind that he would suffer no man once to speake to him about any maner of businesse line 50 At length he sent his ambassadors to Rome partlie to purge himselfe of the archbishops death partlie to excuse his fault for that in his furie he had vttered words against the archbishop which had giuen occasion to naughtie men to contriue his death partlie to require the pope to send his legats into England to make inquirie both for the death of the archbishop and also of the state of the clergie The kings ambassadors found the pope at Tiuoli and there were heard to declare their message but little credit line 60 was giuen to their words in so much that the pope plainelie told them that he vnderstood the matter to be much otherwise than they had declared Yet according to the kings request he sent two of his cardinals into England which vpon due examination might vnderstand the truth of the matter thoroughlie as apperteined There be that write that the king sent ambassadours twice vnto the pope for the first that went could not come to his presence nor be suffered to declare their message those that were sent the second time were receiued of some of the cardinals but yet onelie with words without anie other way of freendlie interteinement At length when the feast of Easter drew néere on the which either absolution or excommunication was to be denounced against euerie man there were certeine of the cardinals which gaue intelligence to the English ambassadours that the pope by aduice of the colledge meant on the thursdaie before Easter daie to declare the sentence of interdiction against the king of England and against all his dominions and to confirme that which had beene alreadie pronounced against Richard the archbishop of Yorke and the
other bishops his complices The ambassadours being brought to a streict issue herewith by helpe of some of the cardinals found meanes to haue it put into the popes head how the English ambassadours had commission to vndertake that the king of England should obeie in all things what order soeuer it pleased the pope and his court to award him Herevpon they tooke their oth that it should so be and by that meanes they auoided the interdiction The messengers of the archbishop of Yorke the other bishops vsed the like shift but yet the same daie the pope did excommunicate the knights that had murthered the archbishop Thomas and all those that had procured aided succoured or abetted them therein Some write that those ambassadours which the king sent to the court of Rome could not be suffered to come to the popes presence till according to the fashion they had giuen 500. marks in reward and so at length were admitted to his presence Howsoeuer that matter passed the king stood in great feare least his land should be interdicted in so much that he commanded the wardens of the ports both on this side the sea and beyond to take good héed least any coÌ„ming with letters of interdiction should passe into England but if any such came that the bringer should be arrested and committed to prison Also he commanded that no clearke were suffered to come ouer into England except he first tooke an oth that he came about no businesse that might turne to the preiudice of the king or his realme This commandement he set forth at what time he transported ouer into England himselfe where he landed this yeare at Portesmouth the third daie of August About which time it came into the kings mind to make a conquest of Ireland vpon this occasion It chanced whereas diuerse rulers or as we may call them petie kings reigned the same seson in that Iland which was diuided into seuerall estaâ—es or kingdomes that continuall strife and dissention remained amongst them so that oftentimes they made sore war after the manner of their countrie one against an other for Nulla fides regnisocijs omnisque potestas Impatiens consortis erit Herevpon it fortuned that one of those kings or rulers about the 14. yeare of this kings reigne was sore afflicted and oppressed by his neighbours wherevpon taking aduice what he might best doo for remedie in that case at length he sent his son into England to reteine souldiours and men of warre and to bring them ouer vnto his aid in hope of gaine such commodities as he assured them of Now it came to passe that by the assistance of such Englishmen as then came ouer the foresaid Irish king began to recouer his losses and in the end waxed so strong that he subdued all his enimies When he had thus obteined the victorie he did not onelie not send backe his aiders but so liberallie reteined them still with him that they had no hast to returne home but setled themselues in that countrie where they liued a pleasant and verie licentious life For this cause also the stoutest lords and rulers of and Irish nation began sore to stomach the matter against him that had thus brought the English nation into their countrie in so much that the Englishmen perceiuing their malice and therewithall hauing some feare of themselues bicause of their small number they sent ouer into England for such as wanted liuing and were willing to seeke for it in other countries of which sort great numbers went ouer thither within a short space whereby the multitude of the English greatlie increased but for as line 10 much as they had no ruler to gouerne them they procured Richard Strangbow earle of Struguille alià s Chepstow in Wales to come ouer thither and to receiue the souereigne gouernement with such honorable prouision for maintenance of his estate as should séeme requisit ¶ Some write that this earle Richard being also earle Marshall of England for a rebellion moued against king Henrie had before this time forfeited all his lands but others affirme that through riot and line 20 more sumptuous port than his abilitie might beare he had made awaie and consumed the most part of his liuing and was run so far in debt that he knew not how to satisfie his creditors and therefore was he the readier to incline to their request which made labour vnto him to come ouer into Ireland to haue the gouernance of such English people as had alreadie planted themselues there to inhabit remaine Herevpon he prepared a nauie and assembled togither a great number of such as lacked liuing and shortlie determined to passe ouer into Ireland But line 30 euen as he was readie to set forward there came vnto him messengers from king Henrie commanding him to staie and not to take that iournie in hand Howbeit the earle hauing nothing in England whereof to make anie great accompt notwithstanding the kings commandement tooke the sea and passed ouer into that countrie where he greatlie delited such Englishmen as dailie had looked for his repaire and comming thither line 40 Shortlie after ioining those which he brought ouer with him with the other that were there before his comming he thought to worke some feat whereby he might make his name famous cause the Irishmen to haue him in feare Wherevpon he first assailed the citie of Dublin and by force wan it He likewise wan Waterford diuerse other townes neere vnto the sea side Also to haue some freendship amongst those barbarous people he maried the daughter of the confederate king and so grew into verie line 50 great estimation in that countrie and region Howbeit with these and the like dooings of the earle king Henrie tooke such displeasure but chéeflie for disobeieng his commandement that he confined him the realme seized his lands as forfeited and by proclamation restreined all his subiects from passing into Ireland with any kind of merchandize prouision of vittels or other commodities whatsoeuer By reason whereof earle Strangbow partlie by constreint and partlie in hope to returne into fauour line 60 with king Henrie and for other respects as may be coniectured aduertised him of the whole state of the countrie of Ireland promising him that if it would please his grace to come ouer thither he would so worke that he should be admitted souereigne lord of all the land Heerevpon king Henrie pardoned him of all former trespasses and restored vnto him all his lands and inheritances within England and Normandie and further confirmed to him such liuings abroad in Ireland out of the walled townes as he held alreadie in right of his wife and furthermore ordeined that he should be high steward of Ireland vnder him King Henrie then returning out of Normandie into England about the sixt day of August as is aforesaid caused a nauie of 400. ships to be made readie and
the place that he might haue them which were within the same at his commandement To be short it was not long yer he had his desire for being such a multitude that they were not able long to continue within so streict a roome for want of vittell they fell to a composition yeelding the castell line 20 vnto the king their bodies liues and lims saued on the 25. day of August There were taken within this castell 80. knights besides yeomen and other common souldiers In like maner and with the semblable good fortune about the same time his capteins in England ouercame his enimies for whereas Robert earle of Leicester that tooke part with king Henrie the sonne had assembled at the towne of Leicester a great host of men in purpose to set vpon Reignold earle of Cornewall and Richard Lucie capteines on the side of king Henrie the father they line 30 vnderstanding his meaning marched streight towards Leicester and by the way met with their enimie earle Robert whome they so fiercelie assailed that they put him to flight and after approching the towne had it surrendered vnto them permitting the inhabitants to depart with bag and baggage and then burned the towne but the castell which in those daies was of great strength by reason of the situation they could not win line 40 Howbeit some write that by vndermining the walles of the towne were subuerted and throwne downe so that the towne was entred by force although they within withdrew themselues into the castell and other strong houses which they defended for a time till at length they surrendered all one parcell of the castell excepted for the which by composition they paied by way of a fine the sum of thrée hundred pounds to the vse of K. Henrie the father The siege began the seauenth day of Iulie and on the 28. line 50 day of the same moneth the armie departed from thence a truce being granted to those that still defended a certeine tower of the castell into the which they were withdrawne William also the Scotish king with an armie of Scots and Gallowaimen inuaded Northumberland and passing by the confines of the bishoprike of Durham did much hurt by slaughter burning and spoiling the countrie Neuerthelesse hearing of a power raised by the English lords in those parts line 60 to resist him he withdrew into his countrie The English armie folowing him wasted the countrie of Louthian till at length by mediation of certeine religious men a truce was granted to the Scots to indure till the feast of S. Hilarie For the which truce happilie some rewards went betwixt and so the English lords with spoiles and gaines returned homewards A few daies after these luckie chances thus happening to king Henrie king Lewes perceiuing fortune to be on that side determined to assaie whether he could obteine his purpose by some means of treatie or at the least put king Henrie in hope of a peace for a time knowing that he would rather suffer all discommodities whatsoeuer than once to trie the matter by battell with his sonnes wherefore he offered to come to a communication with him betwixt Gisors and Trie shewing bread in the one hand as they say and hiding a stone in the other King Henrie was easilie intreated to heare of anie talke for peace and therefore comming to the place on tuesdaie the fiftéenth daie of September made so large offers that he had almost conuerted the yoong mens minds vnto concord First he offered to his sonne Henrie the yoong king the moitie or one halfe of all the reuenues belonging to the demaines of the crowne within England and foure conuenient castels within the same Or if his sonne had rather remaine in Normandie he offered the halfe of all the reuenues of that dutchie with all the rents and profits that were his fathers perteining to the earledome of Aniou with certeine castels in Normandie one castell in Aniou one in Maine and one in Towraine To his sonne Richard he offered halfe the reuenues of Guien and foure conuenient castels in the same And to his sonne Geffrey he offered all those lands that belonged by right of inheritance vnto the daughter of Conan erle of Britaine if he might by the popes good licence marrie hir And further king Henrie the father yéelded himselfe to stand to the order of the archbishop of Tharent and other the popes legats not refusing to giue his sonnes what rents and reuenues soeuer they should say were reasonable reseruing onelie to himselfe the administration of iustice and the power roiall These séemed to be large offers but yet they could not be accepted For certeine sonnes of Beliall set vpon nothing but mischéefe troublers of common peace and quietnesse wrought so with them that no conditions of peace were the same neuer so reasonable could content them so that without effect this communication brake vp but not without contumelious words passed betwixt the parties insomuch that the earle of Leicester who being put from all his aid in England was come ouer to the French king to purchase aid at his hands could not restraine but giuing credit to the old adage Homo extra corpus suum est cùm irascitur after many opprobrious words vttered against king Henrie the father laid hand on his sword to haue striken him but the standers by would not suffer him and so they departed which rash attempt or rather disloiall enterprise Non sani esse hominis non sanus iuret Orestes On the morrow after the French and English skirmished togither betwixt Curseils and Gisors in which conflict Enguerane Chastillone de Trie was taken prisoner by earle William de Mandeuille who presented him to the king of England King Lewes though he iudged it his part to preserue his sonne in law from danger yet he ment nothing lesse than to ioine battell with the English at that present But within a few daies after he sent Robert earle of Leicester into England with an armie of Flemings and others there to ioine with Hugh Bigot that both of them might as well by force as faire promises and gentle persuasions bring the whole realme vnto the obedience of king Henrie the sonne The earle of Leicester therefore landing at Walton the 21. of September passed through the countrie vnto Fremingham where he was receiued of Hugh Bigot earle of Northfolke and after that an other fléet of Flemings were arriued for their aid they went vnto Gipswich where when they had remained a few daies and augmented their forces by certeine bands of men of warre that belonged vnto earle Bigot they went to the castell of Haghenet that belonged vnto Ranulph Broc which they tooke spoiled burned then returned to Fremingham After this hearing that the countesse of Leicester wâ—s arriued at Orreford with an other power of Flemings they went to méet hir and so the earle of Leicester hauing now a strong
the lords and barons of the realme and promised with all spéed to haue consideration of things that apperteined as well to religion as to the due execution of laws whereby euerie man might come to inioie that which was his owne by right and due course of iustice We find that there were present at this solemnitie and coronation of king Iohn which was celebrated on the Ascension day the 27 of Maie archbishops and bishops to the number of seauentéene as Hubert archbishop of Canturburie Iohn archbishop of Dubline also the archbishop of Raguse William bishop of London Gilbert bishop of Rochester Iohn bishop of Norwich Hugh bishop of Lincolne Eustace bishop of Elie Godfrey bishop of Winchester Henrie bishop of Exeter Sefride bishop of Chichester Godfrey bishop of Couentrie Sauarie bishop of Bath Herbert bishop of Salisburie Philip bishop of Duresme Roger bishop of saint Andrew in Scotland and Henrie bishop of Landaffe in Wales The bishop of Duresme found himselfe somewhat gréeued in the matter making obiections that the coronation ought not to be celebrated without the presence of Geffrey archbishop of Yorke but it preuailed not Besides these bishops there were of the temporall lords and earles Robert of Leicester Richard of Clare William of Tutburie Hamlin of Warren William of Salisburie William of Chepstow otherwise called Striguille Walran of Warwike Roger Bigot William of Arundell and Ranulfe of Chester with manie other barons lords knights and no small multitudes of gentlemen and other common people The same daie of his coronation also he inuested William Marshall with the sword of the earledome of Striguille and Geffrey Fitz Peter with the sword of the earledome of Essex For although they were called earles and exercised the administration of their earledoms yet were they not till that daie girded with the sword of those earledoms and so that day they serued at the table with their swords girded vnto them In like maner Hubert the archbishop of Canturburie was made lord chancellour of England who as he vttered some words vnaduisedlie that shewed how he inwardlie reioised at the kings fauour toward him in the gift of this office and so gloried in the honour whereto he was preferred which he would neuer haue doone if he had weied of worldlie pompe as by his profession he ought and as one asketh the question in the same case dic mihi nunquid Corporibus prosunt certè nil dic animisue Tantundem c. the lord Hugh Bardolfe said vnto him yet not so softlie in his eare but that some ouer-heard it My lord to speake and not offend you suerlie if you would well consider the dignitie and honor of your calling you would not willinglie yéeld to suffer this yoke of bondage to be laid vpon your shoulders for we haue oftentimes heard of a chancellour made an archbishop but neuer an archbishop made a chancellour till now The coronation being thus ended it was not long yer there came ambassadors from the Scotish king namelie William the prior of May William the prior of saint Colmes Ins and one William Hay the which on the behalfe of the said Scotish king required restitution of Northumberland and Cumberland with the appurtenances promising that if the same were restored to him he would serue the king of England with all his power against all men then aliue otherwise that is if he could not haue those countries which of right to him apperteined by law as he pretended he would doo the best he could to recouer them by force King Iohn made answer héerevnto that if his coosen the king of Scots would come vnto him he should be assured to receiue at his hands all that was reason as well in those demands as in all other things He also sent to him the bishop of Duresme to require him to come vnto Notingham where he would meet with him Howbeit king William refused to come himselfe as then but sent the bishop of saint Andrew and Hugh Malebisse to follow his suit with promise to absteine from any forceable inuasion of England by the space of fortie daies so that he might within that terme haue some resolute answer from king Iohn wherevnto he might stand either on the one side or the other Whilest these things were a dooing in England Philip K. of France hauing leuied an armie brake into Normandie and tooke the citie of Eureux the towne of Arques and diuerse other places from the English And passing from thence into Maine he recouered that countrie latelie before through feare line 10 alienated In an other part an armie of Britains with great diligence wan the townes of Gorney Buteuant and Gensolin and following the victorie tooke the citie of Angiers which king Iohn had woon from duke Arthur in the last yeare passed These things being signified to king Iohn he thought to make prouision for the recouerie of his losses there with all speed possible And therevpon perceiuing that the Scotish king meant not to meet with him at line 20 Notingham whither he was come and where he kept the feast of Whitsuntide he determined to passe the seas ouer into Normandie but first he tooke order for the gouernement and defense of the realme in his absence Wherevpon he deliuered the charge of the counties of Northumberland and Cumberland vnto the lord William de Stuteuille with all the castels and other the appurtenances which the lord Hugh Bardolfe before held and had in kéeping He also deliuered line 30 vnto Roger de Lacie conestable of Chester the castell of Pomfret hauing first the sonne and heire of the same Lacie deliuered vnto him as an hostage for his loialtie and faithfull obedience This doone he hasted vnto the sea side and sailed ouer into Normandie landing first at Diep and from thence went to Rouen whither he came vpon the sundaie before Midsummer day which was the 26 of Iune as W. Harison hath noted Immediatlie vpon his arriuall in those parts line 40 there resorted vnto him a great number of souldiers both horssemen and footmen hoping to be interteined but by reason of ambassadours riding to and fro betwixt the two kings they came to a communication and tooke truce for fiftie daies The earle of Flanders being certified thereof was sorie in his hart and loth that the French king should come to any accord with the king of England and therefore to turne the mind of king Iohn from the purpose of peace he came to visit him at Rouen where they renewed line 50 the league betwixt England Flanders to be the better able to defend themselues from the French power and withall determined fullie that immediatlie vpon the expiring of this last truce they would make the French king warre to reuenge their late receiued iniuries The French king aduertised by espials of their determination prepared also for the warres In this meane time it chanced that Henrie earle
king Iohn also came the 15 daie of Iune and shewed such friendlie countenance towards euerie one of them that they were put in good hope he meant no deceipt Being thus met they fell in consultation about an agréement to be had On the kings part as it were sate the archbishops of Canturburie and Dublin the bishops of London Winchester Lincolne Bath Worcester Couentrie Rochester and Pandulph the popes Nuncio with Almerike master of the knights templers the earles of Penbroke Salisburie Warren Arundell Alane de Galoway William Fitz Gerald Peter Fitz Herbert Alane Basset Hugh de Neuill Hubert de Burgh seneschall of Poictou Robert de Ropley Iohn Marshall and Philip de Albenie On the barons part there were innumerable for all the nobilitie of England was in a maner assembled there togither Finallie when the king measuring his owne strength with the barons perceiued that he was not able to resist them he consented to subscribe and seale to such articles concerning the liberties demâ—nded in forme for the most part as is conteined in the two charters Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta beginning Iohannes Deigratia c. And he did not onlie grant vnto them their petitions touching the forsaid liberties but also to win him further credit was contented that they should choose out certeine graue and honourable personages which should haue authoritie and power to sée those things performed which he then granted vnto them There were twentie fiue of those that were so elected namelie these The earles of Clare Albemarle Glocester Winchester and Hereford also earle Roger earle Robert earle Marshall the yoonger line 10 Robert Fitz Walter the yoonger Gilbert de Clare Eustace de Uescie Hugh Bigot William de Mowbray the maior of London Gilbert de la Uale Robert de Roos Iohn constable of Chester Richard de Percie Iohn Fitz Robert William Mallet Geffrey de Saie Roger de Mowbray William de Huntingfield Richard de Mountfichet and William de Albenie These fiue and twentie were sworne to sée the liberties granted and confirmed by the king to be in euerie point obserued but if he went against line 20 the same then they should haue authoritie to compell him to the obseruing of euerie of them Moreouer there were other that were sworne to be obedient and as it were assistant vnto these fiue and twentie péeres in such things as they should appoint which were these The earle of Arundell the earle Warren by his attornie Henrie Doilie Hubert de Burgh Matthew Fitz Herbert Robert de Pinknie Roger Huscarle Robert de Newburgh Henrie de Pont Audoin Rafe de la Hay Henrie line 30 de Brentfield Warren Fitz Gerald Thomas Basset William de Buckland William de saint Iohn Alane Basset Richard de Riuers Hugh de Boneuale Iordain de Sackuille Ralfe Musgraue Richard Siflewast Robert de Ropeley Andrew de Beauchampe Walter de Dunstable Walter Folioth Foukes de Brent Iohn Marshall Philip Daubnie William de Perca Ralfe de Normandie William de Percie William Agoilum Engerand line 40 de Pratellis William de Cirenton Roger de Zuche Roger Fitz Barnard and Godfrie de Grancombe It was further ordered that the chatelains or constables as I may call them of the foure castels of Northampton Killingworth Notingham and Scarborow should be sworne to the fiue and twentie péeres to gouerne those castels in such wise as they should haue in commandement from the said fiue and twentie péeres or from the greater part of them and that such should be placed as chatelains in the same as were thought to be most true and line 50 faithfull vnto the barons and the realme ¶ It was also decreed that certeine strangers as Flemings and other should be banished out of England The king herevpon sent his letters patents vnto the shiriffes of all the counties of this realme commanding them to see the ordinances and liberties which he granted and confirmed to be diligentlie obserued And for the more strengthening of this his grant he had gotten the pope to confirme a like charter line 60 granted the yeare before For the pope sith king Iohn was become his obedient vassall and the apostolike king easilie granted to gratifie both him and his lords herein and so was the grant of the liberties corroborated made good with a double confirmation and so sealed that it was impossible for them to be separated in sunder the kings grant being annexed to the popes bull Immediatlie also vpon the confirmation now made by the king diuerse lords came to him and required restitution of such possessions lands and houses as he had in his hands the right whereof as they alledged apperteined to them but he excused the matter and shifted them off till by inquest taken it might appeare what right euerie man had to those things which they then claimed and furthermore assigned them a daie to be holden at Westminster which was the sixtéenth day of Iulie But yer he restored at that time the castell of Rochester vnto the archbishop of Canturburie the barons hauing obteined a great peece of their purpose as they thought returned to London with their charter sealed the date whereof was this Giuen by our owne hand in the medow called Kuningsmede or Rimemede betwixt Stanes and Windsore the fifteenth of Iune in the eighteenth yeare of our reigne Great reioising was made for this conclusion of peace betwixt the king and his barons the people iudging that God had touched the kings heart and mollified it whereby happie daies were come for the realme of England as though it had béene deliuered out of the bondage of Aegypt but they were much deceiued for the king hauing condescended to make such grant of liberties farre contrarie to his mind was right sorowfull in his heart curssed his mother that bare him the houre that he was borne and the paps that gaue him sucke wishing that he had receiued death by violence of sword or knife in stéed of naturall norishment he whetted his teeth he did bite now on one staffe and now on an other as he walked and oft brake the same in péeces when he had doone and with such disordered behauiour and furious gestures he vttered his gréefe in such sort that the Noble men verie well perceiued the inclination of his inward affection concerning these things before the breaking vp of the councell and therefore sore lamented the state of the realme gessing what would follow of his impatiencie and displesant taking of the matter Herevpon they said among themselues Wo be to vs yea rather to the whole realme that wanteth a sufficient king and is gouerned by a tyrant that séeketh the subuersion therof Now hath our souereigne lord made vs subiect to Rome and to the Romish court so that we must henceâ—oorth obteine our protection from thence It is verie much to be feared least we doo féele hereafter some further peece of mischéefe to light vpon vs suddenlie
church the morrow after S. Michaell and drew them out by force spoiled the house and getting a great bootie and prey of cattell and other line 40 riches he with his people conueied the same awaie at his departing after he had ransacked euerie corner of the church and other the houses and places belonging to that abbeie Thus the countrie being wasted on each hand the king hasted forward till he came to Wellestreme sands where passing the washes he lost a great part of his armie with horsses and carriages so that it was iudged to be a punishment appointed by God that the spoile which had béene gotten and taken out line 50 of churches abbeies and other religious houses should perish and be lost by such means togither with the spoilers Yet the king himselfe and a few other escaped the violence of the waters by following a good guide But as some haue written he tooke such greefe for the losse susteined at this passage that immediatlie therevpon he fell into an ague the force and heat whereof togither with his immoderate feeding on rawe peaches and drinking of new sider so increased his sicknesse that he was not able to line 60 ride but was faine to be carried in a litter presentlie made of twigs with a couch of strawe vnder him without any bed or pillow thinking to haue gone to Lincolne but the disease still so raged and grew vpon him that he was inforced to staie one night at the castell of Laford and on the next day with great paine caused himselfe to be caried vnto Newarke where in the castell through anguish of mind rather than through force of sicknesse he departed this life the night before the ninetéenth day of October in the yeare of his age fiftie and one and after he had reigned seauenteene yeares six moneths and seauen and twentie daies ¶ There be which haue written that after he had lost his armie he came to the abbeie of Swineshead in Lincolneshire and there vnderstanding the cheapenesse and plentie of corne shewed himselfe greatlie displeased therewith as he that for the hatred which he bare to the English people that had so traitorouslie reuolted from him vnto his aduersarie Lewes wished all miserie to light vpon them and therevpon said in his anger that he would cause all kind of graine to be at a farre higher price yer manie daies should passe Where vpon a moonke that heard him speake such words being mooued with zeale for the oppression of his countrie gaue the king poison in a cup of ale wherof he first tooke the aâ—â—aie to cause the king not to suspect the master and so they both died in manner at one time There are that write how one of his owne seruants did conspire with a conuert of that abbeie and that they prepared a dish of peares which they poisoned three of the whole number excepted which dish the said conuert presented vnto him And when the king suspected them to be poisoned indéed by reason that such pretious stones as he had about him cast foorth a certeine sweat as it were bewraieng the poison he compelled the said conuert to tast and eat some of them who knowing the thrée peares which were not poisoned tooke and eat those three which when the king had séene he could not longer absteine but fell to and eating gréedilie of the rest died the same night no hurt happening to the conuert who thorough helpe of such as bare no good will to the K. found shift to escape and conueied himselfe awaie from danger of receiuing due punishment for so wicked a deed Beside these reports which yee haue heard there are other that write how he died of surfeting in the night as Rafe Niger some of a bloudie flix as one said that writeth an addition vnto Roger Houeden And Rafe Cogheshall saith that comming to Lin where he appointed Sauerie de Mauleon to be capteine and to take order for the fortifieng of that towne he took a surfet there of immoderat diet and withall fell into a laske and after his laske had left him at his comming to Laford in Lindsey he was let bloud furthermore to increase his other greefes and sorrowes for the losse of his carriage iewels and men in passing ouer the washes which troubled him sore there came vnto him messengers from Hubert de Burgh and Gerard de Sotegam capteins of Douer castell aduertising him that they were not aable to resist the forceable assalts and engins of the enimies if spéedie succour came not to them in due time Whereat his gréefe of mind being doubled so as he might séeme euen oppressed with sorrow the same increased his disease so vehementlie that within a small time it made an end of his life as before yée haue heard The men of warre that serued vnder his ensignes being for the more part hired souldiers and strangers came togither and marching foorth with his bodie each man with his armour on his backe in warlike order conueied it vnto Worcester where he was pompouslie buried in the cathedrall church before the high altar not for that he had so appointed as some write but bicause it was thought to be a place of most suertie for the lords and other of his fréends there to assemble and to take order in their businesse now after his deceasse And bicause he was somewhat fat and corpulent his bowels were taken out of his bodie and buried at Croxton abbeie a house of moonks of the order called Praemonstratenses in Staffordshire the abbat of which house was his physician ¶ How soeuer or where soeuer or when soeuer he died it is not a matter of such moment that it should impeach the credit of the storie but certeine it is that he came to his end let it be by a surfet or by other meanes ordeined for the shortening of his life The manner is not so materiall as the truth is certeine And suerlie he might be thought to haue procured against himselfe manie molestations manie anguishes vexations which nipt his hart gnawd his very bowels with manie a sore symptome or passion all which he might haue withstood if fortune had beene so fauourable that the loialtie of his subiects line 10 had remained towards him inuiolable that his Nobles with multitudes of adherents had not with such shamefull apostasie withstood him in open fight that forren force had not weakened his dominion or rather robbed him of a maine branch of his regiment that he himselfe had not sought with the spoile of his owne people to please the imaginations of his ill affected mind that courtiers commoners had with one assent performed in dutie no lesse than they pretended in veritie to the preseruation of the state and line 20 the securitie of their souereigne all which presupposed plagues concurring what happinesse could the king arrogate to himselfe by his imperiall title which was through his owne
much hurt in the countrie and namelie one day they spoiled the towne of Dam and slue two hundred worthie personages who had yéelded themselues to the king at his first comming into the countrie And although the king caused certeine of those that had doone this outrage to be hanged yet the Flemings bare this other iniuries in their minds meant to be reuenged thereof before the Englishmen departed out of their countrie and therefore there drew out of sundrie parts into the citie of Gant by small companies to the number of foure thousand men of armes besides a great multitude of footmen and when they perceiued themselues strong inough as they tooke the matter at the day amongst them appointed and considered in their minds that vnita potentior est vis Quaelibet at partes in plures secta peribit they clustred togither and vnder the leading of the earles sonnes William and Robert they did first set vpon the Englishmen that were in their lodgings of whom they slue diuerse and after comming foorth into the streets they ment to haue made slaughter of all the residue but by the noise that was raised the king had warning in what state the matter stood and therewith getting him to armour came foorth of his lodging and streightwaies his people flocked about him And furthermore the footmen which were lodged in the suburbes hearing of this tumult got them to armour approching the gates found them shut but with fire which they kindled with straw wood butter and tallow and other such things they burnt vp the same gates and so got in losing not past six persons that were slaine at the first entring Herewith the earle of Flanders came to the king and besought him to staie his people from committing further outrage but the king as he had reason so to doo blamed him for the outragious attempt of his people and bad him go to appease them or he would take paine with them himselfe to his owne suertie though not greatlie to their ease The earle went and preuailed so much that at length he quieted them and then was order giuen for restitution of such things as had béen taken from any man wrongfullie according to the order and direction prescribed by certeine discréet persons appointed as commissioners in that behalfe The king perceiuing himselfe in some danger and that without the fauour of the Flemings he might hardlie escape out of their countrie bare manie things and spake courteouslie making partlie amends for the harms doone by his people as well abroad in the countries as in the towns And finallie about Midlent he returned into England as after ye shall heare In this meane time by the kings appointment the earle of Surrey lord warden of Scotland with other earles and noble men to him associat about the feast of saint Hilarie had assembled an armie at Yorke hauing first summoned the lords of Scotland to appeare there at the same day who yet came not but contrarilie had besieged the castell of Rockesborough Wherevpon the earle of Surrey hasted thitherwards so that William Waleis and other of the Scotishmen which laie there at siege raised the same and departed from thence The earle of Surrey comming to Rockesborough and relieuing them that kept it with such things as they wanted passed foorth to Kelsow and came afterwards to the towne of Berwike which the Scotishmen had left void Here came letters vnto them from king Edward signifieng that he had taken truce with the French king and that he meant shortlie to returne into England and therefore commanded them not to make any further enterprise than the defending of the frontiers and the recouerie of Berwike till his comming ouer Herevpon was a great part of the armie discharged and such onelie remained in Berwike as might suffice for defense thereof King Edward hauing made an end of his businesse in Flanders as before ye haue heard returned now towards England and came to a towne called Ardenburge where the most part of such Scotishmen as he had brought with him into Flanders slipped from him and went vnto Paris The king being returned into England remooued the barons of the excheker and the iustices of the bench vnto Yorke calling a parlement thither and gaue summons vnto the lords of Scotland to come to the same but making default in their appearance he sent foorth his commission and letters to warne his subiects to be line 10 readie with horsse and harnesse at Rockesborough in the feast of the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist next insuing They obeieng his commandement assembled there at the day appointed There were in this armie now assembled at Rockesborough togither with those of the bishoprike about three thousand men of armes mounted on barded horsses besides foure thousand other armed men on horssebacke without bards There were also a great number of footmen and yet none but such as line 20 came vpon their owne good willes the which were almost all Welshmen or Irishmen There came also afterwards fiue hundred men of armes well apparelled furnished and mounted out of Gascoine of the which a certeine number were sent to Berwike by the king where after the battell fought with the Scots they remained in garison The earle of Hereford and the earle Marshall were present with their retinues amongst other in this armie here assembled at Rockesborough the which vpon suspicion conceiued of that they had heard thought it not sufficient line 30 to haue the kings letters patents touching the confirmation of the two charters and other the articles aboue mentioned signed by him whilest he was out of the realme and therefore required that he would now within his owne land confirme the same againe Here the bishop of Durham Iohn earle of Surrie William earle of Warwike and Rafe erle of Glocester vndertooke for the king that after he had subdued his enimies and should be againe returned into the realme he should satisfie them in that line 40 behalfe and confirme the same articles This doone the king marching foorth with his armie came to Temple Histon and sent foorth the bishop of Durham to take certeine castels therabouts as Orinton or as some copies haue Drilton and other two which enterprise the bishop spéedilie accomplished The English fléet that should haue come from Berwike and kept alongst the coast to haue furnished the armie with victuals was staied and holden backe with contrarie winds so that the armie line 50 began to be in great necessitie of victuals The Scotishmen were aduertised hereof and supposing that the Englishmen by reason of such want of victuals had not béene able through féeblenesse to make anie great resistance assembled their powers togither and came towards the place where the king with his armie was lodged At the same time two of the English ships arriued there with victuals the which being bestowed amongst line 60 the souldiors
chancellor of Burgognie Iaques de Uienne and other lords of the countrie being sent from their duke to agrée with the king for the sparing of the lands and seigniories apperteining to the duchie of Burgognie The chancellor and the other Burgognian lords found the king so agréeable to their request that a composition was made betwixt him and the countrie of Burgognie so that he should make to them an line 50 assurance for him and all his people not to ouerrun or indamage that countrie during the space of thrée yeares and he to haue in readie monie the summe of two hundred thousand florens of gold which of sterling monie amounted to the summe of fiue and thirtie thousand pounds When this agreement was ingrossed vp in writing and sealed the king dislodged and all his host taking the right waie to Paris and passing the riuer of Yonne entered into Gastinois line 60 and at length by easie iournies vpon a tuesdaie being the last of March in the wéeke before Easter he came and lodged betwéene Mont le Herie and Chartres with his people in the countrie there abouts Here the duke of Normandie made meanes for a treatie of peace which was laboured by a frier called Simon de Langres prouinciall of the friers Iacobins and the popes legat he did so much that a treatie was appointed to be holden on good fridaie in the Malederie of Longegimew where appeared for the king of England the duke of Lancaster the erls of Warwike and Northampton with sir Iohn Chandois sir Walter de Mannie and sir William Cheinie knights and for the French king thither came the earle of Eu constable of France and the marshall Bouciquant with other but their treatie came to none effect wherfore the king vpon the tuesdaie in the Easter wéeke remooued neerer vnto Paris and vpon the fridaie following being the tenth of Aprill by procurement of the abbat of Clugnie newlie come from pope Innocent the sixt the foresaid commissioners eftsoones did meet to treat of an agréement but nothing they could conclude the parties in their offers and demands were so farre at ods Upon the sundaie next following a part of the kings hoste came before the citie of Paris and imbattelled themselues in a field fast by saint Marcilles abiding there frō morning till three of the clocke in the after noone to sée if the Frenchmen would come foorth to giue battell but the French would not taste of that vessell For the duke of Normandie well considering what losse had insued within few yeares past vnto the realme of France by giuing battell to the Englishmen and taught by late triall and féeling of smart to dread imminent danger for Vulneribus didicit miles habere metum would not suffer anie of his people to issue foorth of the gates but commanded them to be readie onelie to defend the walles and gates although he had a great power of men of warre within the citie beside the huge multitude of the inhabitants The Englishmen to prouoke their enimies the sooner to saile forth burnt diuerse parts of the suburbs and rode euen to the gates of the citie When they perceiued that the Frenchmen would not come foorth about three of the clocke in the afternoone they departed out of the field and withdrew to their campe and then the king and all the English host remooued towards Chartres and was lodged at a place called Dones Thither came to him the bishop of Beauuois then chancellor of Normandie with other and so handled the matter with him that a new daie of treatie was appointed to be holden at Bretignie which is little more than a mile distant from Chartres vpon the first day of Maie next insuing In which daie and place appointed the foresaid duke of Lancaster and the said earles and other commissioners met with the said bishop and other French lords and spirituall men to him associate on the behalfe of the duke of Normandie then regent of France to renew the former communication of peace in full hope to bring it to a good conclusion bicause king Edward began to frame his imagination more to accord with his aduersaries than he had doone of late chéefelie for that the duke of Lancaster with courteous words and sage persuasions aduised him not to forsake such reasonable conditions as the Frenchmen were contented now to agrée vnto sith that by making such manner of warre as he had attempted his souldiers onelie gained and he himselfe lost but time and consumed his treasure◠and further he might warre in this sort all the daies of his life before he could atteine to his intent and loose perhaps in one daie more than he had gained in twentie yeares Such words spoken for the wealth of the king and his subiects conuerted the kings mind to fansie peace namelie by the grace of the Holie-ghost chéefe worker in this case For it chanced on a daie as he was marching not farre from Chartres there came such a storme and tempest of thunder lightening haile and raine as the like had neuer béene séene by anie of the English people This storme fell so hideous in the kings host that it seemed the world should haue ended for such vnreasonable great stones of haile fell from the skie that men and horsses were slaine therewith so that the most hardie were abashed There perished thousands thereby as some haue written Then the king remembring what reasonable offers of agréement he had refused vpon remorse of conscience as by some writers should appeare asked forgiuenesse of the damage doone by sword and fire in those parts and fullie determined to grant vnto indifferent articles of peace for reléefe of the christian inhabitants of that land and so shortlie after by the good diligence of the commissioners on both line 10 parts an vnitie and finall peace was accorded the conditions whereof were comprised in fortie and one articles the chiefe whereof in effect were these 1 First that the king of England should haue and enioy ouer and beside that which he held alreadie in Gascoigne and Guien the castell citie and countie of Poictiers and all the lands and countrie of Poicton with the fée of Touars and the lands of Belleuille the citie and castell of Xainctes and all the lands and countrie of Xaonctonge on both sides the riuer of line 20 Charent with the towne and fortresse of Rochell with their appurtenances the citie and castell of Agent and the countrie of Agenois the citie and castell of Piergort and all the land and countrie of Perigueux the citie and castell of Limoges and all the lands and countrie of Limosin the citie and castell of Cahors and the lordship of Cahorsin the castell and countrie of Tarbe the lands countrie and countie of Bigorre the countie countrie and lands of Gaure the citie and castell of Angolesme and the countie line 30 land and countrie of Angolesmois the
citie towne and castell of Rodaix and all the countie and countrie of Rouergne and if there were in the duâ—â—ie of Guien any lords as the earles of Foiz Arminacke Lisle and Perigueux the vicounts of Carmain and Limoges or other holding any lands within the foresaid bounds it was accorded that they should doo homage and other customarie seruices due for the same vnto the king of England 2 It was also agreed that Calis and Guines with line 40 the appurtenances the lands of Montreuill on the sea with the countie of Ponthieu wholie and entirelie should remaine vnto the king of England All the which countries cities townes and castels with the other lands and seigniories the same king should haue and hold to him and his heires for euer euen as they were in demaine or fee immediatlie of God and frée without recognizing any maner souereingtie to any earthlie man In consideration whereof king Edward renounced all such claimes titles and interest line 50 as he pretended vnto any part of France other than such as were comprised within the charter of couenants of this peace first agréed vpon at Bretignie aforesaid and after confirmed at Calis as appeareth by the same charter dated there the foure twentith daie of October in the yeare of our Lord 1360. 3 It was also couenanted that the French king should paie vnto the king of England thirtie hundred thousanâ— crownes in name of his ransome for assurance of which paiment performance of all the line 60 couenants afore mentioned and other agreed vpon by this peace the dukes of Orleance Aniou Berrie and Burbon with diuerse other honorable personages as earles lords and burgesses of euerie good towne some were appointed to be sent ouer hither into England to remaine as hostages 4 It was further agréed that neither the French king nor his successors should aid the Scots against the king of England or his successors nor that king Edward nor his heirs kings of England should aid the Flemings against the crowne of France 5 And as for the title or right of the duchie of Britaine which was in question betweene the earles of Blois and Mountfort it was accorded that both kings being at Calis the parties should be called before them and if the two kings could not make them fréends then should they assigne certeine indifferent persons to agree them and they to haue halfe a yeeres respit to end the matter and if within that terme those that should be so appointed to agrée them could not take vp the matter betwixt the said earles then either of them might make the best purchase for himselfe that he could by helpe of freends or otherwise but alwaies prouided that neither of the kings nor their sonnes should so aid the said earles whereby the peace accorded betwixt England and France might by any meanes be broken or infringed Also to whether of the said earles the duchie of Britaine in the end chanced to fall by sentence of iudges or otherwise the homage should be doone for the same vnto the French king All these ordinances articles and agréements with manie mo which here would be too long to rehearse were accorded and ratified by the instruments and seales of the prince of Wales on the one part and of the duke of Normandie regent of France on the other part as by their letters patents then sealed further appeared bearing date the one at Loures in Normandie the sixteenth daie of Maie in the yeare of Grace 1360 and the other at Paris the tenth day of the same moneth and in the yeare aforesaid Ouer beside this both the said princes tooke on them a solemne oth to see all the same articles and couenants of agreement throughlie kept mainteined and performed This doone king Edward imbarked himselfe with his foure sonnes and the most part of his nobles at Hunfleu the twentith daie of Maie and so sailed into England leauing hehind him the earle of Warwike to haue the gouernement of all the men of warre which he left behind him either in Gaien or in any other place on that side the sea There died in this iournie diuerse noble men of this land as the earles of March and Oxford the lord Iohn Graie then steward of England and the lord Geffrie de Saie with diuerse other The eight of Iulie next insuing the French king hauing licence to depart landed at Calis and was lodged in the castell there abiding till the king of England came thither which was not till the ninth day of October next after On the foure and twentith daie of October both the kings being in two trauerses and one chappell at Calis a masse was said before them and when they should haue kissed the pax either of them in signe of greater fréendship kissed the other there they were solemnelie sworne to mainteine the articles of the same peace and for more assurance thereof manie lords of both parts were likewise sworne to mainteine the same articles to the vttermost of their powers Whilest these kings laie thus at Calis there was great banketting and chéere made betwixt them Also the duke of Normandie came from Bullongne to Calis to visit his father and to sée the king of England in which meane time two of king Edwards sonnes were at Bullongne Finallie when these two kings had finished all matters in so good order and forme that the same could not be amended nor corrected and that the French king had deliuered his hostages to the king of England that is to saie six dukes beside earles lords and other honorable personages in all to the number of eight and thirtie on the morrow after the taking of their oths that is to saie on the fiue and twentith daie of October being sundaie the French king was freelie deliuered and the same daie before noone he departed from Calis and rode to Bullongne The king of England brought him a mile foreward on his waie and then tooke leaue of him in most louing maner The prince attended him to Bullongne where both he and the duke of Normandie with other were eftsoons sworne to hold and mainteine the foresaid peace without all fraud or colourable deceit and this doone the prince returned to Calis Thus was the French king set at libertie after he had beene prisoner here in England the space of foure yeares and as much as from the nineteenth daie of September vnto the fiue and twentith of October When the king of England had finished his businesse at Calis according to his mind he returned into England and came to London line 10 the ninth daie of Nouember ¶ Thus haue yée hard the originall begining the processe and issue of sundrie conflicts and battels and speciallie of two one of Iohn the French king vnluckilie attempted against England the other of Dauid the Scotish king as vnfortunatlie ended For both kings were subdued in fight vanquished
prouision of vittels should be admitted maior of the citie and so by this shift they sought to cut off all meanes from the fishmongers to recouer againe their old former degrée And bicause it was knowne well inough of what authoritie sir Iohn Philpot knight was within the citie and that he fauoured those whome the lord maior the said Iohn de Northampton fauoured not he was put off from the bench and might not sit with them that were of the secret councell in the cities affaires line 60 whereas neuerthelesse he had trauelled more for the preseruation of the cities liberties than all the residue Sir Henrie Spenser bishop of Norwich receiued buls a little before this present from pope Urbane to signe all such with the crosse that would take vpon them to go ouer the seas with him to warre against those that held with the antipape Clement that tooke himselfe for pope and to such as would receiue the crosse in that quarrell such like beneficiall pardons were granted by pope Urbane as were accustomablie granted vnto such as went to fight against the Infidels Turkes and Saracens to wit free remission of sinnes and manie other graces The bishop of Norwich that had the disposing of the benefits granted by those buls to all such as either would go themselues in person or else giue anie thing toward the furtherance of that voiage maintenance of them that went in the same shewed those buls in open parlement caused copies to be written forth sent into euerie quarter that his authoritie power legantine might be notified to all men for the better bringing to passe of that he had in charge And truelie it should appeare there wanted no diligence in the man to accomplish the popes purpose and on the other part yée must note that the priuileges which he had from the pope were passing large so that as the matter was handled there were diuerse lords knights esquires and other men of warre in good numbers that offered themselues to go in that voiage and to follow the standards of the church with the bishop and no small summes of monie were leuied and gathered amongst the people for the furnishing foorth of that armie as after yée shall heare In this meane time the earle of Cambridge returned home from Portingale whither as yee haue heard he was sent the last yeare and promise made that the duke of Lancaster should haue followed him but by reason of the late rebellion and also for other considerations as the warres in Flanders betwixt the erle and them of Gaunt it was not thought conuenient that anie men of warre should go foorth of the realme and so the king of Portingale not able of himselfe to go through with his enterprise against the king of Spaine after some small exploits atchiued by the Englishmen and other of the earle of Cambridge his companie as the winning of certeine fortresses belonging to the king of Castile and that the two kings had laine in field the one against the other by the space of fifteene daies without battell the matter was taken vp and a peace concluded betwixt them sore against the mind of the earle of Cambridge who did what in him laie to haue brought them to a set field but when there was no remedie he bare it so patientlie as he might and returned home with his people sore offended though he said little against the king of Portingale for that he dealt otherwise in this matter than was looked for He had affianced his sonne which he had by the daughter of Peter sometime king of Castile vnto the king of Portingales daughter now in the time of his being there but although he was earnestlie requested of the said king he would not leaue his sonne behind him but brought him backe with him againe into England togither with his mother doubting the slipperie faith of those people In the Lent season of this sixt yeare of king Richards reigne year 1383 an other parlement was called at London in the which there was hard hold about the buls sent to the bishop of Norwich from pope Urbane concerning his iournie that he should take in hand against the Clementines as we may call them for that they held with pope Clement whome the Urbanists that is such as held with pope Urbane tooke for schismatikes Diuerse there were that thought it not good that such summes of monie shuld be leuied of the kings subiects and the same togither with an armie of men to be committed vnto the guiding of a prelat vnskilfull in warlike affaires Other there were that would needs haue him to go that the enimies of the church as they tooke them might be subdued And although the more part of the lords of the vpper house and likewise the knights and burgesses of the lower house were earnestlie bent against this iournie yet at length those that were of the contrarie mind preuailed so it was decreed that it should forward and that the said bishop of Norwich should haue the fiftéenth granted to the king in the last parlement to paie the wages of such men of warre as should go ouer with him for soldiers without monie passed not much of pardons no not in those daies except at the verie point of death if they were not assured how to be answered of their wages or of some other consideration wherby they might gaine ¶ The tenth that was granted afore by the bishops at Oxford was now in this same parlement appointed to remaine to the king for the kéeping of the seas whilest the bishop should be foorth of the realme in following line 10 those wars These things being thus appointed the bishop sent foorth his letters firmed with his seale into euerie prouince and countrie of this land giuing to all parsons vicars and curats through this realme power and authoritie to heare the confessions of their parishioners and to grant vnto those that would bestow any parcell of their goods which God had lent them towards the aduancing of the iournie to be made by the crossed souldiers against pope Urbans enimies line 20 the absolution and remission of all their sinnes by the popes authoritie according to the forme of the bull before mentioned The people vnderstanding of so great and gratious a benefit as they tooke it thus offered to the English nation at home in their owne houses were desirous to be partakers thereof and those that were warlike men prepared themselues to go foorth in that iournie with all spéed possible The residue that were not fit to be warriors according to that they were exhorted by their confessors bestowed line 30 liberallie of their goods to the furtherance of those that went and so few there were within the whole kingdome but that either they went or gaue somewhat to the aduancing foorth of the bishop of Norwich his voiage This bishop chose diuerse to be associat with him as capteins that were expert
order mounted vpon them And so when their helmets were set on their heads and that they were redie in all points after proclamations made by the heraults the iusts began and manie commendable courses were run to the great pleasure comfort and recreation of the king the queene and all other the beholders The prise that daie on the answerers part was giuen to the earle of saint Paule and on the chalengers side to the earle of Huntington On the mondaie â—he king himselfe with dukes earls lords and knights came to the iusts he being cheefe of the inner part That daie the prise was giuen to the erle of Osteruant for the best dooer of the vtter part and of the inner part to a knight of England called sir Hugh Spenser On the tuesdaie all manner of esquiers iusted and likewise on the wednesday all maner of knights and esquires that would on which daie was a sore and rude iusts enduring till night And so manie a noble course and other martiall feats were atchiued in those foure daies to the great contentation and pleasure of manie a yoong batchelâ—r desirous to win fame also highlie to the kings honour who by all that season held his court in the bishops palace by Paules church kéeping open houshold for all honest persons that thither resorted especiallie euerie night after the iusts were ended a line 10 right sumptuous and princelie supper was prepared for the strangers and other and after supper the time was spent in dansing and reuelling after the most courtlike maner On the thursdaie the king made a supper to all the lords knights and gentlemen strangers and the quéene to all the ladies and gentlewomen On the fridaie the duke of Lancaster feasted at dinner all the said lords knights and gentlemen strangers in most sumptuous and plentifull maner On the saturdaie the king and all the whole companie line 20 departed from London vnto Windsore where new feasting began and speciallie the king did all the honour that might be deuised vnto the earls of saint Paule and Osteruant The earle of Osteruant at the earnest request of the king receiued of him the order of the Garter for the which he was euill thought of afterwards by his freends namelie the French king and others Finallie after the king had thus feasted the strangers and others at Windsore line 30 each man tooke leaue of the king the queene and the kings vncles and other lords and ladies and so departed the strangers into their owne countries and other home to their houses or whither they thought bâ—st ¶ This solemne iusts or tornement being touched or rather in ample maner described by Ch. Okland is reported of him to haue béene kept for actiuitie sake and to set the youth lustie blouds of the court on worke who otherwise bicause the king was yong line 40 and loued to liue in peace and ease feats of armes and warlike prowesse both abroad and at home languished and laie as it were a fainting through idlenesse and want of exercise degenerating and growing out of kind from their woonted warlike valiantnesse should giue themselues to filthie lecherie riot sléepe loitering pastimes and slouthfulnesse all which doo greatlie impaire prowesie Wherevpon saith he Rege priùs de re consulto ludicra diri Martis opus simulatum inter se bella mouebant line 50 Atque dies totos viginti quattuor hastis Assumptis studio statuunt decurrere fixo Deinde idem numerus procerum parâ— primalacessens Mittit ad externas gentes qui talia pandant Iudus ab Angligenis mense exercebitur vno Hasticus Vrbi haerens fabrorum dictus agellus Extra Londini muros spatiosus amplus Est locus hìc stadium cursuris certáque meta Ponitur huc veniant quacunque ex gente creati Sanguine magnorum heroum Certamine victor line 60 Qui fuerit terris prosternens corpora pâ—â—ra Aut plures hastaâ— frangens donabitur 〈◊〉 Multa vi capiet quà m plurima ditia dona Praemia virtutis Richardo haec dantel â—â—baea c. Hauing thus described the place where the iusts should be kept with the rewards and other circumstances he toucheth the countries from whence the forren nobilitie came that should vndertake triall of chiualrie with these foure and twentie challengers who at the daie appointed saith he came pransing out of the Towre vpon their great bâ—rded horsses through the broad stréets and their ladies of honor with them gorgiouslie decked with bracelets owches cheines iewels spangles and verie sumptuous attire a goodlie sight for the people to behold At last when they were come to Smithfield and althings readie the trumpets sounded to the exercise and both parties as well the English as the outlandish cheualiers ran togither and tried their strengths till they did sweat and were tired their horsses panting and braieng with the violence of their bodilie motion their staues being crasht in sunder flue vp into the aire and the broken stocke or stumpe hitting the aduersarie ouerthrew him to the ground the beholders with ioy of heart gaue a shout thereat as greatlie delighted with the sight Then came the night and brake off the first daies tornement On the next daie when they should renew and fall afresh vnto it againe they shewed themselues in courage equall to their ancestors and handled their matters so well that they got them great renowme The third daie came and the multitude of people still gathered togither woondered at the right valiant deeds of the valorous horssemen how they did tosse hoisse vp and wind their speares and with what force they vsed their armes what courage appeared in their statelie horsses and how the verie heauens rang with the ratling of their armor and the strokes giuen to and fro Euerie daie brought with it his portion of pleasure both to the contenders and to the beholders When the time was expired of this tried chiualrie necessarie occasion mooued the king of England to set his mind on other matters so that commending the prowesse of the outlandish lords he bestowed vpon them massie cheines of gold loding them with other gifts of great valure dismissed them into their countries But the English challengers required nothing but renowme for their reward being allured onelie with the loue of praise and thus when these pastimes of chiualrie were quite ended euerie man got him home to his owne house Thus farre Christopher Okland touching the description of this Hippomachia ludicra inter concertatores Anglos externos Ambassadors were sent from the French king vnto the king of England year 1391 to make an ouerture of peace to be had and to indure for euer betwixt the two realmes of England and France sith that by warre it was apparant inough that neither realme could greatlie benefit it selfe but rather sore indamage either other as afore time it had come apparantlie to passe Therefore the matter being well considered both parts séemed
and lord treasuror of England departed this life and by king Richard his appointment had the honor to haue his bodie interred at Westminster amongst the kings After line 40 this decease Roger Walden that before was secretarie to the king and treasuror of Calis was now made lord treasuror Yée haue heard that in the yeare 1392 Robert Uéer duke of Ireland departed this life in Louaine in Brabant King Richard therefore this yeare in Nouember caused his corps being imbalmed to be conueied into England and so to the priorie of Colnie in Essex appointing him to be laid in a coffine of cypresse and to be adorned with princelie garments line 50 hauing a chaine of gold about his necke and rich rings on his fingers And to shew what loue and affection he bare vnto him in his life time the king caused the coffine to be opened that he might behold his face bared and touch him with his hands he honored his funerall exequies with his presence accompanied with the countesse of Oxenford mother to the said duke the archbishop of Canturburie and manie other bishops abbats and priors but of noble line 60 men there were verie few for they had not yet digested the enuie and hatred which they had conceiued against him In this meane while the duke of Lancaster was in Gascoigne treating with the lords of the countrie and the inhabitants of the good townes which vtterlie refused to receiue him otherwise than as a lieutenant or substitute to the king of England and in the end addressed messengers into England to signifie to the king that they had beene accustomed to be gouerned by kings and meant not now to become subiects to anie other contrarie to all reason sith the king could not sauing his oth alien them from the crowne The duke of Lancaster vsed all waies he might deuise how to win their good wils and had sent also certeine of his trustie councellors ouer hither into England as sir William Perreer sir Peter Clifton and two clearkes learned in the lawe the one called maister Iohn Huech and the other maister Iohn Richards a canon of Leicester to plead and sollicit his cause But to be breefe such reasons were shewed and such matter vnfolded by the Gascoignes whie they ought not be separated from the crowne of England that finallie notwithstanding the duke of Glocester and certeine other were against them it was decréed that the countrie and duchie of Aquitaine should remaine still in demesne of the crowne of England least that by this transporting thereof it might fortune in time that the heritage thereof should fall into the hands of some stranger and enimie to the English nation so that then the homage and souereigntie might perhaps be lost for euer Indeed the duke of Glocester being a prince of an high mind loth to haue the duke of Lancaster at home being so highlie in the kings fauor could haue béene well pleased that he should haue enioied his gift for that he thought thereby to haue borne all the rule about the king for the duke of Yorke was a man rather coueting to liue in pleasure than to deale with much businesse and the weightie affaires of the realme About the same time or somewhat before the king sent an ambassage to the French king the archbishop of Dublin the earle of Rutland the earle Marshall the lord Beaumont the lord Spenser the lord Clifford named Lewes and twentie knights with fortie esquiers The cause of their going ouer was to intreat of a marriage to be had betwixt him and the ladie Isabell daughter to the French king she being as then not past eight yeares of age which before had beene promised vnto the duke of Britaines sonne but in consideration of the great benefit that was likelie to insue by this communication and aliance with England there was a meane found to vndoo that knot though not presentlie These English lords at their comming to Paris were ioifullie receiued and so courteouslie interteined banketted feasted and cherished and that in most honorable sort as nothing could be more all their charges and expenses were borne by the French king and when they should depart they receiued for answer of their message verie comfortable words and so with hope to haue their matter sped they returned But now when the duke of Lancaster had by laieng foorth an inestimable masse of treasure purchased in a manner the good wils of them of Aquitaine and compassed his whole desire he was suddenlie countermanded home by the king and so to satisfie the kings pleasure he returned into England and comming to the king at Langleie where he held his Christmasse was receiued with more honor than loue as was thought wherevpon he rode in all hast that might be to Lincolne where Katharine Swinford as then laie whom shortlie after the Epiphanie year 1396 he tooke to wife This woman was borne in Heinault daughter to a knight of that countrie called sir Paou de Ruet she was brought vp in hir youth in the duke of Lancasters house and attended on his first wife the duchesse Blanch of Lancaster and in the daies of his second wife the duchesse Constance he kept the foresaid Katharine as his concubine who afterwards was married to a knight of England named Swinford that was now deceassed Before she was married the duke had by hir three children two sonnes and a daughter one of the sons was named Thomas de Beaufort the other Henrie who was brought vp at Aken in Almaine prooued a good lawyer and was after bishop of Winchester For the loue that the duke had to these his children he married their mother the said Katharine Swinford being now a widow whereof men maruelled much considering hir meane estate was farre vnmeet to match with his highnesse and nothing comparable in honor to his other two former wiues And indeed the great ladies of England as the duches of Glocester the countesses of Derbie Arundell and others descended of the blood roiall greatlie disdeined line 10 that she should be matched with the duke of of Lancaster and by that means be accompted second person in the realme and preferred in roome before them and therefore they said that they would not come in anie place where she should be present for it should be a shame to them that a woman of so base birth and concubine to the duke in his other wiues daies should go and haue place before them The duke of Glocester also being a man of an high mind and stout stomach misliked his brothers line 20 matching so meanlie but the duke of Yorke bare it well inough and verelie the ladie hir selfe was a woman of such bringing vp and honorable demeanor that enuie could not in the end but giue place to well deseruing About this season the doctrine of of Iohn Wickliffe still mightilie spred abroad héere in England ¶ The schisme also still continued
the winds blew so contrarie for anie passage to come ouer foorth of England to the king remaining still in Ireland that for the space of six wéeks he receiued no aduertisements line 20 from thence yet at length when the seas became calme and the wind once turned anie thing fauourable there came ouer a ship whereby the king vnderstood the manner of the dukes arriuall and all his procéedings till that daie in which the ship departed from the coast of England wherevpon he meant foorthwith to haue returned ouer into England to make resistance against the duke but through persuasion of the duke of Aumarle as was thought he staied till he might haue all his ships and other prouision line 30 fullie readie for his passage In the meane time he sent the earle of Salisburie ouer into England to gather a power togither by helpe of the kings freends in Wales and Cheshire with all spéed possible that they might be readie to assist him against the duke vpon his arriuall for he meant himselfe to follow the earle within six daies after The earle passing ouer into Wales landed at Conwaie and sent foorth letters to the kings freends both in Wales and Cheshire to leauie their people line 40 to come with all spéed to assist the K. whose request with great desire very willing minds they fulfilled â—â—â—ing to haue found the king himselfe at Conwaie insomuch that within foure daies space there were to the number of fortie thousand men assembled readie to march with the king against his enimies if he had béene there himselfe in person But when they missed the king there was a brute spred amongst them that the king was suerlie dead which wrought such an impression and euill disposition line 50 in the minds of the Welshmen and others that for anie persuasion which the earle of Salisburie might vse they would not go foorth with him till they saw the king onelie they were contented to staie fouretéene daies to sée if he should come or not but when he came not within that tearme they would no longer abide but scaled departed awaie wheras if the king had come before their breaking vp no doubt but they would haue put the duke of Hereford in aduenture of a field so that the kings lingering line 60 of time before his comming ouer gaue opportunitie to the duke to bring things to passe as he could haue wished and tooke from the king all occasion to recouer afterwards anie forces sufficient to resist him At length about eighteene daies after that the king had sent from him the earle of Salisburie he tooke the sea togither with the dukes of Aumarle Excester Surrie and diuerse others of the nobilitie with the bishops of London Lincolne and Carleill They landed néere the castell of Barclowlie in Wales about the feast of saint Iames the apostle and staied a while in the same castell being aduertised of the great forces which the duke of Lancaster had got togither against him wherewith he was maruellouslie amazed knowing certeinelie that those which were thus in armes with the duke of Lancaster against him would rather die than giue place as well for the hatred as feare which they had conceiued at him Neuerthelesse he departing from Barclowlie hasted with all speed towards Conwaie where he vnderstood the earle of Salisburie to be still remaining He therefore taking with him such Cheshire men as he had with him at that present in whom all his trust was reposed he doubted not to reuenge himselfe of his aduersaries so at the first he passed with a good courage but when he vnderstood as he went thus forward that all the castels euen from the borders of Scotland vnto Bristow were deliuered vnto the duke of Lancaster and that likewise the nobles and commons as well of the south parts as the north were fullie bent to take part with the same duke against him and further hearing how his trustie councellors had lost their heads at Bristow he became so greatlie discomforted that sorowfullie lamenting his miserable state he vtterlie despaired of his owne safetie and calling his armie togither which was not small licenced euerie man to depart to his home The souldiers being well bent to fight in his defense besought him to be of good chéere promising with an oth to stand with him against the duke and all his partakers vnto death but his could not incourage him at all so that in the night next insuing he stole from his armie and with the dukes of Excester and Surrie the bishop of Carleill and sir Stephan Scroope and about halfe a score others he got him to the castell of Conwaie where he found the earle of Salisburie determining there to hold himselfe till he might sée the world at some better staie for what counsell to take to remedie the mischéefe thus pressing vpon him he wist not On the one part he knew his title iust true and infallible and his conscience cleane pure and without spot of enuie or malice he had also no small affiance in the Welshmen and Cheshire men On the other side he saw the puissance of his aduersaries the sudden departing of them whom he most trusted and all things turned vpside downe he euidentlie saw and manifestlie perceiued that he was forsaken of them by whom in time he might haue béene aided and relieued where now it was too late and too farre ouerpassed ¶ This suerlie is a verie notable example and not vnwoorthie of all princes to be well weied and diligentlie marked that this Henrie duke of Lancaster should be thus called to the kingdome and haue the helpe and assistance almost of all the whole realme which perchance neuer thereof thought or yet dreamed and that king Richard should thus be left desolate void and in despaire of all hope and comfort in whom if there were anie offense it ought rather to be imputed to the frailtie of wanton youth than to the malice of his hart but such is the deceiuable iudgement of man which not regarding things present with due consideration thinketh euer that things to come shall haue good successe with a pleasant delitefull end But in this deiecting of the one aduancing of the other the prouidence of God is to be respected his secret will to be woondered at For as in his hands standeth the donation of kingdoms so likewise the disposing of them consisteth in his pleasure which the verie pagans vnderstood right well otherwise one of them would neuer haue said Regum timendorum in proprios greges Reges in ipsos imperium est Iouis Cuncta supercilio mouentis Sir Thomas Persie earle of Worcester lord steward of the kings house either being so commanded by the king or else vpon displeasure as some write for that the king had proclaimed his brother the earle of Northumberland traitor brake his white staffe which is the representing signe and token of
once breake out of their arraie of battell Yet sundrie of the Frenchmen stronglie withstood the fiercenesse of the English when they came to handie strokes so that the fight sometime was doubtfull and perillous Yet as part of the French horssemen set their course to haue entred vpon the kings battell with the stakes ouerthrowne they were either taken or slaine Thus this battell continued thrée long houres The king that daie shewed himselfe a valiant knight albeit almost felled by the duke of Alanson yet with plaine strength he slue two of the dukes companie and felled the duke himselfe whome when he would haue yelded the kings gard contrarie to his mind slue out of hand In conclusion the king minding to make an end of that daies iornie caused his horssemen to fetch a compasse about and to ioine with him against the rereward of the Frenchmen in the which was the greatest number of people When the Frenchmen perceiued his intent they were suddenlie amazed and ran awaie like sheepe without order or arraie Which when the king perceiued he incouraged his men and followed so quickelie vpon the enimies that they ran hither and thither casting awaie their armour manie on their knees desired to haue their liues saued In the meane season while the battell thus continued and that the Englishmen had taken a great number of prisoners certeine Frenchmen on horssebacke whereof were capteins Robinet of Borneuill Rifflart of Clamas Isambert of Agincourt and other men of armes to the number of six hundred horssemen which were the first that fled hearing that the English tents pauilions were a good waie distant from the armie without anie sufficient gard to defend the same either vpon a couetous meaning to gaine by the spoile or vpon a desire to bâ— reuenged entred vpon the kings campe and there spoiled the hails robbed the tents brake vp chests and caried awaie â—askets and slue such seruants as they found to make anie resistance For which treason and haskardie in thus leauing their campe at the verie point of fight for winning of spoile where none to defend it verie manie were after committed to prison and had lost their liues if the Dolphin had longer liued But when the outcrie of the lackies and boies which ran awaie for feare of the Frenchmen thus spoiling the campe came to the kings eares he doubting least his enimies should gather togither againe and begin a new field and mistrusting further that the prisoners would be an aid to his enimies or the verie enimies to their takers in déed if they were suffered to liue contrarie to his accustomed gentlenes commanded by sound of trumpet that euerie man vpon paine of death should incontinentlie slaie his prisoner When this dolorous decree and pitifull proclamation was pronounced pitie it was to sée how some Frenchmen were suddenlie sticked with daggers some were brained with pollaxes some slaine with malls other had their throats cut and some their bellies panched so that in effect hauing respect to the great number few prisoners were saued When this lamentable slaughter was ended the Englishmen disposed themselues in order of battell readie to abide a new field and also to inuade and newlie set on their enimies with great force they assailed the earles of Marle and Fauconbridge and the lords of Louraie and of Thine with six hundred men of armes who had all that daie kept togither but now slaine and beaten downe out of hand ¶ Some write that the king perceiuing his enimies in one part to assemble togither as though they meant to giue a new battell for preseruation of the prisoners sent to them an herald commanding them either to line 10 depart out of his sight or else to come forward at once and giue battell promising herewith that if they did offer to fight againe not onelie those prisoners which his people alreadie had taken but also so manie of them as in this new conflict which they thus attempted should fall into his hands should die the death without redemption The Frenchmen fearing the sentence of so terrible a decrée without further delaie parted out of the field And so about foure of the clocke in the after noone the line 20 king when he saw no apperance of enimies caused the retreit to be blowen and gathering his armie togither gaue thanks to almightie God for so happie a victorie causing his prelats and chapleins to sing this psalme In exitu Israel de Aegypto and commanded euerie man to knéele downe on the ground at this verse Non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam Which doone he caused Te Deum with certeine anthems to be soong giuing land and praise line 30 to God without boasting of his owne force or anie humane power That night he and his people tooke rest and refreshed themselues with such victuals as they found in the French campe but lodged in the same village where he laie the night before In the morning Montioie king at armes and foure other French heralds came to the K. to know the number of prisoners and to desire buriall for the dead Before he made them answer to vnderstand what they would saie he demanded of them whie they line 40 made to him that request considering that he knew not whether the victorie was his or theirs When Montioie by true and iust confession had cléered that doubt to the high praise of the king he desired of Montioie to vnderstand the name of the castell néere adioining when they had told him that it was called Agincourt he said Then shall this conflict be called the battell of Agincourt He feasted the French officers of armes that daie and granted them their request which busilie sought through the field for such line 50 as were slaine But the Englishmen suffered them not to go alone for they searched with them found manie hurt but not in ieopardie of their liues whom they tooke prisoners and brought them to their tents When the king of England had well refreshed himselfe and his souldiers that had taken the spoile of such as were slaine he with his prisoners in good order returned to his towne of Calis When tidings of this great victorie was blowne into England solemne processions and other praisings line 60 to almightie God with boune-fires and ioifull triumphes were ordeined in euerie towne citie and burrow and the maior citizens of London went the morow after the daie of saint Simon and Iude from the church of saint Paule to the church of saint Peter at Westminster in deuout maner rendring to God hartie thanks for such fortunate lucke sent to the king and his armie The same sundaie that the king remooued from the campe at Agincourt towards Calis diuerse Frenchmen came to the field to view againe the dead bodies and the pezants of the countrie spoiled the carcasses of all such apparell and other things as the
some other the like attempt they seâ—t thither sir William Woodâ—â—â—â— with eight hundred men to strengthen the frontiers and further set foorth a proclamation that all men which would transport anie corne chéese or other vittels thither should paie no maner of custome or tallage which 〈◊〉 caused the countrie of Aquitaine to be well furnished of all things necessarie About this season Iohn the valiant lord Talbot for his approued prowesse and wisdome aswell in England as in France both in peace warre so well tried was â—reated earle of Shâ—ewesburie and with a companie of three thousand men sent agaâ—ne into Normandie for the better defâ—nse of the same * This yéere died Lodowâ—ke 〈◊〉 â—ewes Lischburne bishop of Elie being the fiue anâ— twentith that inâ—oied that place year 1443 who came to the samâ— after this maner After the death of Philip Morgan bishop of that sée the moonks of Elie chose for their pastor Robert â—â—tz Hugh bishop of London but he dieng at saint Oâ—ees before his confirmation neuer possessed the honour thereof Wherevpon the king directed his letters to the couent of Elie to make election of Thomas Rudburne bishop of S. Dauids in Wales for their bishop But they contrarie therevnto taking it now for a custome hauing so often vsed it before as did well appeare made choise of Thomas Bourchier borne of a noble house sonne to the countesse of Stafford chancellor of Oxenford and bishop of Worcester to succeed Philip Morgan Which Bourchier the king offended with the moonkes for the little regard had to his request vtterlie refused and would not admit him vnto that place Wherevpon there were buls procured from Eugenius the fourth then bishop of Rome which were sent into England to confirme the election of the said Bourchier But he wiselie fearing to fall into the dangerous statute of Premumre durst not receiue or execute the tenor of the popes commandement By reason whereof least the see might otherwise remaine void if speedie remedie were not prouided the king did in commendam bestow the bishoprike of Elie vpon this Lodowike Lischburne archbishop of Rone by office Card. 4. Coronat Cancellar Franciae Normanniae and kinsman to the said king Which doone Eugenius when he saw no other remedie did reuoke his buls made before to Thomas Bourchier in the yeare of Christ 1437. This Lodowike remaining bishop six yeares and so manie moneths died in the yeare as before the eighteenth of September at his manor of Hatfield whose bowels were buried in the said church his hart was caried to Rone and there honourablie intoomed and his bodie was committed to the earth in the church of Elie betweene two marble pillors next to the altar of the relikes In this yeare died in Guien the countesse of Comings to whome the French king and also the earle of Arminacke pretended to be heire in so much that the earle entred into all the lands of the said ladie And bicause he knew the French king would not take the matteâ— well to haue a Rouland for an Oâ—â—uer he sent solemne ambassadours to the king of England offering him his daughter in mariage with promise to be bound beside great summes of monie which he would giue with hir to deliuer into the king of Englands hands all such castels and townes as he or his ancestors deteined from him within anie part of the duchie of Aquitaine either by conquest of his progenitors or by gift and deliuerie of anie French king and further to aid the same king with monie for the recouerie of other cities within the same duchie from the French king or from anie other person that against king Henrie vniustlie kept and wrongfullie withholden them This offer séemed so profitable and also honorable to king Henrie and the realme that the ambassadours were well heard honourable receiued and with rewards sent home into their countrie After whome were sent for the conclusion of the marriage into Guien sir Edward Hull sir Robert Ros and Iohn Gralton deane of S. Seuerines the which as all the chronographers agrée both concluded the mariage and by proxie affied the yoong ladie The French line 10 king not a little offended herewith sent his â—ldest sonne Lewes the Dolphin of Uienne into Rouergue with a puissant armie which tooke the earle and his yoongest sonne with both his daughters and by force obteined the countries of Arminacke Louuergne Rouergue and Moulessonois beside the cities Seuerac Cadâ—ac chasing the bastard of Arminacke out of his countries and so by reason hereof the concluded mariage was deferred and that so long that it neuer tooke effect as hereafter it may appeare line 20 ¶ In this yeare was an act made by authoritie of the common councell of London that vpon the sundaie no maner of thing within the franchises and liberties of the said citie should be bought or sold neither vittels nor other thing It was also enacted by the same common councell with full consent and ratified by the authoritie of the law-makers that no artificer or handicrafts man should bring his wares commodities or worke vnto anie person or persons to be worne or occupied on that daie bicause it was line 30 iudged a foule prophanation thereof And peoples minds giuen to couetousnesse make no exception of times or places in a case of aduantage and gaine In consideration whereof and for the suppressing of this abuse this law was ordeined and made the force whereof did principallie extend to tailors and shoomakers who as on that daie bring home their garments and shoos to the parties for whome they are made and likewise to all other occupations and trades But this ordinance saith mine author was line 40 too good for so bad an age and therefore died within a short time after the magistrate had giuen it life ¶ On Candlemasse éeue this yeere by lightning in a tempest that fell with claps of thunder at afternoone Paules steeple was set on fier in the middest of the speare or shaft in the verie timber worke which was quenched by the painfulnesse of diuerse persons and specialie by the diligent labour of a préest of Bow in Cheape Howbeit the same was thought vnpossible to be quenched but that the grace of God was line 50 chéefe worker in the same This stéeple hath diuerse times beene ouerthrowne and defaced partlie by winds and partlie by lightning as may be obserued in the reading of this volume yea when the same hath béene repared by the choisest workemen and of the substantiallest stuffe and all meanes that stood with the déepe deuise of man vsed to make it so sure that it might continue as a monument of perpetuitie for posteritie to woonder at and admire But to returne to the historie line 60 Whilest England was vnquieted as you haue heard and France by spoile slaughter and burning sore defaced a mischeefe in all places much lamented therefore to agrée the two puissant
was giuen vp vnder the kings great scale at the kings palace of Westminster the foure and twentith daie of March line 60 in the six and thirtith yeare of his reigne For the open publishing of this ioifull agréement there was vpon our ladie daie in March a solemne procession celebrated within the cathedrall church of saint Paule in London year 1459 at the which the king was present in habit roiall with his crowne on his head Before him went hand in hand the duke of Summerset the earle of Salisburie the duke of Excester and the earle of Warwike and so one of the one faction and another of the other and behind the king the duke of Yorke and the quéene with great familiaritie in appeerance leading hand in hand But what shall be said As goodlie apples corrupted at core how faire coated so euer they seeme can neuer be made to become sound againe nor rotten walles new plastered without can euer the more staie their mooldering inward till the putrified matter fret through the crust laie all in the mire so fared it on all parts in this dissembled and counterfet concord For after this apparant peace but inward discord diuerse of the nobles smallie regarding their honors forgot their oth and brake their promise boldlie Not long after this of pretensed purpose as it was thought a fraie was made vpon a yeoman of the earle of Warwiks by one of the kings seruants in the which the assailant was sore hurt but the earles man fled Héerevpon the kings meniall seruants séeing their fellow hurt and the offendor escaped assembled togither and watched the earle when he returned from the councell chamber toward his barge and suddenlie set on him the yeomen with swords the blacke gard with spits and fier-forks After long fight and manie of the earls men maimed and hurt by helpe of his fréends he gat a wherrie and so escaped to London The quéene aduertised héerof incontinentlie commanded that he should be apprehended and committed to the tower where if he had béene taken he had shortlie ended his daies By this vnhappie fraie there arose anon after such trouble and terrible warre that the whole realme was thereby disquieted For after this displeasure doone to the earle and the quéens good mind towards him by his secret fréends reuealed he wish all diligence tooke his iournie to Warwike and after into Yorkeshire where he found the duke of Yorke and the earle of Salisburie declaring vnto them the assault made vpon him by the kings seruants and the pretensed euill purpose of the quéene After which complaint made he fearing to be dispossessed of his roome at Calis with great spéed imbarked himselfe and sailed thither He was not onelie deputie or lieutenant of Calis but also high admerall of the seas which office was to him confirmed for the space of fiue yeares Wherevpon whether before his arriuall now at Calis or shortlie after I cannot say but this yeare about the middest of summer the said earle hauing with him a fouretéene well appointed ships sailed abroad to scowre the seas and by chance met with fiue great ships whereof thrée were caraks of Genoa and the other two were of Spaine bigger in heigth and length than the caraks The earle though he was scarse able to deale against them yet he valiantlie incountred them There was a verie sore and long continued battell fought betwixt them for it lasted almost the space of two daies Yet in the end the victorie fell to the English so that two of those ships being forced to saue themseluesby flight the other thrée were taken which the earle brought vnto Calis with all the merchandize aboord the same the value whereof in wine oile wax iron cloth of gold and other riches was estéemed to the summe of ten thousand pounds aboue By reason whereof that was sold now for twelue pense which would not haue béene bought before for two shillings There were taken a great number of prisoners beside a thousand of the enimies slaine in fight Of the earles part there were fiftie slaine The earles fame héereby increased not a little and manie a blessing he had for this peece of seruice ¶ The noble science of Printing was about this time found in Germanie at Magunce by one Iohn Cuthembergus a knight one Conradus an Almaine brought it into Rome William Caxton of London mercer brought it into England about the yeare 1471 and first practised the same in the abbie of saint Peter at Westminster after which time it was likewise practised in the abbies of S. Augustine at Canturburie saint Albons and other monasteries of England In a little towne in Bedfordshire there fell a bloudie raine whereof the red drops appeered in shéets the which a woman had hanged out for to drie But now to the former purpose After that the earle was gone ouer to Calis the duke of Yorke and the earle of Salisburie falling in consultation togither it was at length agréed betwixt them with aduise of their freends that the said earle of Salisburie line 10 with a warlike companie should march toward the king and signifie to him by waie of complaint both the manifest iniurie doone to his sonne and also the vncourteous breach of the sworne amitie and late agréement In which sute if he preuailed he should not then let passe the occasion giuen for reuenge of displeasures to him doone both by the quéene and hir sinister councellors After conclusion of this deuise the earle of Salisburie remooued from Middleham castell accompanied with foure or fiue thousand men line 20 and tooke his waie through Lancashire to passe that waie towards London In the meane season the quéene assisted and ruled by the dukes of Summerset and Buckingham hauing a vigilant eie to all hir businesse imagined that the earle of Warwike had kindled this fier to the intent to set the crowne on the duke of Yorks head Wherefore she appointed Iames Twichet lord Audelie bicause his power laie in those parties by the which the earle of Salisburie must passe to raise line 30 an hoast of men with all speed and to giue battell to the same earle if he saw cause and place conuenient She had deuised a cognisance of the white swan which she willed all such as she knew to beare fauor vnto hir sonne to weare for a signification of their good minds and hartie loue towards him which cognisance she had giuen to manie gentlemen of Chesshire and other countries thereabout The quéene hir selfe laie the same time at Ecclesale in Staffordshire but the K. remained at Colleshill line 40 in Warwikeshire whither the earle of Salisburie meant to come in pretense to haue communed with him for a reformation of matters depending in controuersie betwixt himselfe the duke of Yorke and others But the queene construing that they ment no good neither to hir nor hir husband requested the lord Audelie
our onelie means called king Edward the fourth Beside all this the earle of Warwike being a far casting prince perceiued somewhat in the duke of Clarence whereby he iudged that he bare no great good will towards the king his brother and therevpon feeling his mind by such talke as he of purpose ministred vnderstood how he was bent and so wan him to his purpose and for better assurance of his faithfull friendship he offered him his eldest daughter in mariage with the whole halfe deale of his wiues inheritance And herevpon after consultation had of their weightie businesse and dangerous affaires they failed ouer to Calis of the which towne the earle was capteine where his wife two daughters then soiourned whome the duke being in loue with hir person had great desire to visit But the earle hauing in continuall remembrance his purposed enterprise appointed his brethren the archbishop and the marquesse that they should by some meanes in his absence stir vp some new rebellion in the countie of Yorke and other places adioining so that this ciuill warre should séeme to all men to haue béene begun without his assent or knowlege being on the further side of the seas The duke of Clarence being come to Calis with the earle of Warwike after he had sworne on the sacrament to kéepe his promise and pact made with the said earle whole and inuiolate he married the ladie Isabell eldest daughter to the earle in our ladies church there Shortlie after according as had béene aforehand deuised a commotion was begun in Yorkeshire to the great disquieting of that countrie The same chanced by this means There was in the citie of Yorke an old and rich hospitall dedicated to saint Leonard for the harbourough and reléeuing of poore people Certeine euill disposed persons of the earle of Warwikes faction intending to set a broile in the countrie persuaded line 10 the husbandmen to refuse to giue anie thing to the said hospitall affirming that the corne giuen to that good intent came not to the vse of the poore but was conuerted to the behoofe of the maister of the hospitall and the preests whereby they grew to be rich and the poore people wanted their due succour and reléefe And not content with these saiengs they fell to dooings for when the proctors of the hospitall according to their vsage went about the countrie to gather the accustomed corne they were sore beaten wounded line 20 and euill intreated Shortlie after the conspiracie of the euill disposed people grew to an open rebellion so that there assembled to the number of fifteene thousand men euen readie bent to set on the citie of Yorke But the lord marquesse Montacute gouernour and president of that countrie for the king taking spéedie counsell in the matter with a small number of men but well chosen incountred the rebels before the gates of Yorke where after a long conflict he tooke Robert line 30 Huldorne their capteine and before them commanded his head to be striken off and then bicause it was a darke euening he caused his souldiers to enter into Yorke and there to refresh them Héere manie men haue maruelled whie the marquesse thus put to death the capteine of those people which had procured this their rebellious enterprise Some saie he did it to the intent to séeme innocent and faultlesse of his brothers dooings But other iudge that he did it for that contrarie to his promise line 40 made to his brother he was determined to take part with king Edward with whome as it shall after appeare he in small space entered into grace and fauour The rebels being nothing dismaied with the death of their capteine but rather the more bent on mischéefe by faire meanes and craftie persuasions got to them Henrie sonne to the lord Fitz Hugh and sir Henrie Neuill sonne and heire to the lord Latimer the one being nephue and the other cousine germane to the erle of Warwike Although these yoong line 50 gentlemen bare the names of capteins yet they had a gouernour that was sir Iohn Coniers a man of such courage valiantnesse as few were to be found in his daies within the north parts After they saw that they could not get Yorke bicause they wanted ordinance they determined with all speed to march toward London intending to raise such a toie in the peoples minds that they should thinke king Edward neither to be a lawfull prince nor yet profitable to the common-wealth King Edward line 60 hauing perfect knowledge of all the dooings of the earle of Warwike and of his brother the duke of Clarence was by diuerse letters certified of the great armie of the northerne men with all spéed comming toward London and therefore in great hast he sent to William lord Herbert whom as yée haue heard he had created earle of Penbroke requiring him without delaie to raise his power and incounter with the northerne men The earle of Penbroke commnolie called the lord Herbert both readie to obeie the kings commandement according to his dutie and also desirous to reuenge the malice which he bare to the earle of Warwike for that he knew how he had béene the onelie let whie he obteined not the wardship of the lord Bonneuilles daughter and heire for his eldest sonne accompanied with his brother sir Richard Herbert a valiant knight and aboue six or seauen thousand Welshmen well furnished marched forward to incounter with the northerne men And to assist him with archers was appointed Humfrie lord Stafford of Southwike named but not created earle of Deuonshire by the king in hope that he would serue valiantlie in that iournie he had with him eight hundred archers When these two lords were met at Cotteshold they heard how the northerne men were going toward Northampton wherevpon the lord Stafford and sir Richard Herbert with two thousand well horsed Welshmen rode foorth afore the maine armie to sée the demeanour of the northerne men and at length vnder a woods side they couertlie espied them passing forward and suddenlie set on the rere-ward but the northerne men with such nimblenesse turned about that in a moment the Welshmen were discomfited and manie taken the remnant returned to the armie with small gaine The northerne men well cooled with this small victorie went no further southwards but tooke their waie toward Warwike looking for aid of the earle which was latelie come from Calis with his sonne in law the duke of Clarence and was raising men to aid his freends and kinsfolke The king likewise assembled people to aid the erle of Penbroke but before either part receiued succour from his fréend or partaker both the armies met by chance in a faire plaine néere to a towne called Hedgecote foure miles distant from Banberie where there are thrée hilles not in equall quantitie but lieng in maner although not fullie triangle The Welshmen got first the west hill hoping to haue recouered
doctor Stillington and two other his ambassadors laden with no small summe of gold These ambassadors declaring their message affirmed that the king their maister willed to haue the earle of Richmond onelie for this purpose to ioine with him in aliance by marriage and so to plucke vp all the leauings of discord betwéene him and the contrarie faction The duke gentlie heard the orators And though at the first he by excuses denied their request yet at the length beléeuing that king Edward would giue to the earle his eldest daughter the ladie Elizabeth in marriage he consented to deliuer him and receiued of the English orators a great summe of monie But yer they were imbarked with their preie the duke being aduertised that the earle of Richmond was not so earnestlie sought for to be coupled in mariage with king Edwards daughter but rather that his head might be chopped off with an hatchet caused his treasuror Peter Landoise to conueie the said earle of Richmond into a sanctuarie at S. Malo where the English ambassadors then laie onelie staieng for a conuenient wind who complained that they were euill vsed to be spoiled both of their monie and merchandize Yet bicause the matter was so handled that it séemed the earle escaped into the sanctuarie through their owne negligence after they had receiued him into their hands they were soone answered but yet promise was made that the earle should be safelie kept either in the sanctuarie or else as prisoner in the dukes house that they should not néed to feare him more than his shadow And thus the king of England purchased for his monie the kéeping of his enimie the space onelie of three daies and no more King Edward was somewhat displeased with this chance but yet trusting that the duke of Britaine would according to promise see the earle of Richmond safelie kept from dooing anie gréeuance to him or his subiects put all doubts therof out of his mind and began to studie how to kéepe a liberall princelie house and therevpon storing his chests with monie he imploied no small portion in good housekéeping ¶ But hauing spoken thus much of the earle of Richmond whome Edward Hall compareth to a shéepe betraied into the téeth and clawes of the woolfe you shall vnderstand that at such time as his troubles were set fresh abroach and he knowing that he was going towards his death for verie pensifenesse and inward thought fell into a feruent and sore ague In which verie season one Iohn Cheulet so estéemed among the princes of Britaine as few were in all the countrie and in much credit and well accepted with the duke was when these things were thus concluded for his solace in the countrie Who being hereof certified was chafed with the abhomination of the fact resorted to the court and familiarlie came to the dukes presence where he stood so sadlie and so palie without anie word speaking that the duke was much abashed and suddenlie maruelled at his sad and frowning countenance and demanded of him what should signifie that dumpishnesse of mind and inward sighing the which by his countenance manifestlie appeared and was euident He modestlie answered Most noble and redoubted lord this palenesse of visage and deadlie looke dooth prognosticate the time of my death to approach and be at hand which if it had chanced to me before this daie I assure you it had much lesse hurt me For then had I not beene reserued to féele the dolorous pangs and sorowfull sighings which a fact by you doone that I thougâ—â— impossible to be obteined hath printed in my stomach and in my heart deeplie grauen so that I well perceiue that either I shall lose my life or else liue in perpetuall distresse and continuall miserie For you my singular good lord by your vertuous acts and noble feats haue gotten to you in manner an immortall fame which in euerie mans mouth is extolled aduanced aboue the high clouds But alas me séemeth I praie you pardon me my rudenesse that now that you haue obteined so high praise line 10 and glorie you nothing lesse regard than to kéepe and preserue the same inuiolate considering that you forgetting your faith and faithfull promise made to Henrie earle of Richmond haue deliuered the most innocent yoong gentleman to the cruell tormentors to be afflicted rent in péeces and slaine Wherefore all such as loue you of the which number I am one cannot choose but lament be sorie when they sée openlie the fame and glorie of your most renowmed name by such a disloialtie and vntruth against line 20 promise to be both blotted and stained with a perpetuall note of slander and infamie Peace mine owne good Iohn quoth the duke I praie thée beléeue me there is no such thing like to happen to the earle of Richmond for king Edward hath sent for him to make of him being his suspected enimie his good and faire sonne in law Well well quoth Iohn my redoubted lord giue credence vnto me the earle Henrie is at the verie brinke to perish whome if you permit once to set line 30 but one foot out of your power and dominion there is no mortall creature able héereafter to deliuer him from death The duke being mooued with the persuasions of Iohn Cheulet which either little beleeued or smallie suspected king Edward to desire the earle for anie fraud or deceipt or else seduced by blind auarice and loue of monie more than honestie fidelitie or wisedome would require did not consider what he vnaduisedlie did or what he aduisedlie should haue doone Wherefore with all diligence he sent foorth Peter line 40 Landoise his cheefe treasuror commanding him to intercept and staie the earle of Richmond in all hast possible as before you haue heard ¶ In this yeare deceassed sir Iohn Crosbie knight not long before this maior of London and was buried in the parish church of saint Helen in Bishops gate stréet vnto the reparing of which parish church he gaue fiue hundred marks and thirtie pounds to be distributed to poore housholders in the ward of Bishops gate to the reparing of the parish church at line 50 Heneworth in Middlesex fortie pounds to the repairing of London wall one hundred pounds toward the making of a new tower of stone at the south-end of London bridge if the same were begun by the maior and communaltie within ten yeares next after his deceasse one hundred pounds to the reparations of Rochester bridge ten pounds to euerie the prisons in and about London liberallie Also he gaue to the wardens and communaltie of the grocers in London two large pots of siluer chased halfe line 60 guilt weieng thirtéene pounds and fiue ounces of Treie weight to be occupied in their common hall and elsewhere at their discretions In this yeare were inhanced to the honour of knighthood after the custome of England in the time of peace the kings eldest son Edward prince of Wales duke of
should take anie aduantage of them that laie on that side of the castell Thomas Brandon with thirtie approoued men of war by a marish which laie on the other side entered into the castell The souldiers within greatlie incouraged much comforted by this new succour and aid grieued the enimies by shooting from the walles more than they were accustomed to doo Then they of the castell vexed their enimies on the fore part and the earle of Oxford no lesse molested vnquieted them on the other part Which was the occasion that king Richards men offered of their owne méere motion licence to all being within the castell to depart in safetie with bag and baggage nothing excepted Which condition the earle of Oxford comming onelie for that purpose to deliuer his louing fréends out of all perill and danger and chieflie of all his old hostesse Iane Blunt wife to Iames Blunt the capteine would in no wise forsake or refuse and so leauing the castell bare and vngarnished both of vittels and artillerie came safelie to the earle of Richmond soiourning in Paris During this time king Richard was crediblie informed of his inquisitors and espials that the earle of Richmond was with long sute in the court of France sore wearied and desiring great aid could obteine small reliefe in somuch that all things went so farre backwards that such things as were with great diligence and no lesse deliberation purposed and determined to be set forward were now dashed and ouerthrowne to the ground King Richard either being too light of credence or seduced and deluded by his craftie taletellers greatlie reioised as though he had obteined the ouer hand of his enimies with triumphant victorie and thought himselfe neuer so suerlie deliuered of all feare and dreadfull imaginations so that he néeded now no more once for that cause either to wake or to breake his golden sleepe Wherefore he called home againe line 10 his ships of warre which he had appointed to kéepe the narrow seas and dispatched all such souldiers as he had deputed to kéepe certeine garrisons and to stop certeine passages as you haue heard before Yet least he might for lacke of prouision be suddenlie trapped he streightlie charged and gaue in commandement to all noblemen and especiallie such as inhabited néere the sea coast and on the frontiers of Wales that according to the vsage of the countrie they should kéepe diligent watch and strong ward to line 20 the intent that his aduersaries in no wise should haue anie place opportune easilie to take land without defense or rebutting backe For the custome of the countries adioining néere to the sea is especiallie in the time of warre on euerie hill or high place to erect a beacon with a great lanterne in the top which may be séene and discerned a great space off And when the noise is once bruted that the enimies approch neere the land they suddenlie put fire in the lanternes and make shouts and line 30 outcries from towne to towne and from village to village Some run in post from place to place admonishing the people to be readie to resist the ieopardie and defend the perill And by this policie the fame is soone blowne to euerie citie and towne in somuch that aswell the citizens as the rurall people be in short space assembled and armed to repell and put backe the new arriued enimies Whereas if the necessarie vse of this visible warning were neglected the policie of the enimie might priuilie so preuaile line 40 as that the people should sooner fall into perill irrecouerable than they could thinke on much lesse prouide meanes to auoid it But now to returne to our purpose King Richard thus somewhat eased of his accustomed pensiuenesse began to be a little more merrie tooke lesse thought and care for outward enimies than he was woont to doo as who say that he with politike prouision should withstand the destinie which hoong ouer his head and was ordeined in briefe time suddenlie to fall Such line 50 is the force and puissance of diuine iustice that euerie man shall lesse regard lesse prouide lesse be in doubt of all things when he is most néerest punishment and next to his mischance for his offenses crimes For though God did forbeare him a while yet was that forbearance no acquittance but rather a time of preparing making vp that which wanted of the plagues that God had purposed in iustice to powre vpon and ouerwhelme him for his fowle offenses which could not scape heauie iudgment vengeance line 60 Nam scelus admissum poena seuera premit About this season while the earle of Richmond was desiring aid of the French king certeine noble men were appointed to rule the realme of France during the minoritie of king Charles which amongst themselues were not of one opinion Of which dissention Lewes duke of Orleance was the chiefe stirrer who bicause he had maried ladie Ioane sister to the French king tooke vpon him aboue other the rule and administration of the whole realme By reason of which controuersie no one man was suffered to rule all Wherefore the earle of Richmond was compelled to make sute to euerie one of the councell seuerallie one after another requiring and desiring them of aid and reliefe in his weightie businesse and so his cause was prolonged and deferred During which time Thomas marquesse Dorset which was as you haue heard intised by his mother to returne againe into England partlie despairing in the good successe of the earle of Richmond and partlie ouercome and vanquished with the faire glosing promises of king Richard secretlie in the night season stale out of Paris and with all diligent expedition tooke his iournie toward Flanders When relation of his departure was made to the earle of Richmond and the other noble men no maruell though they were astonied and greatlie amazed Yet that notwithstanding they required of the French king that it might be lawfull for them in his name and by his commandement to take and staie their companion confederate and partaker of all their counsell in what place within his realme and territorie so euer they could find him Which petition once obteined they sent out currors into euerie part amongst whom Humfreie Cheinie plaieng the part of a good bloudhound followed the tract of the flier so euen by the sent that he ouertooke and apprehended him not far from Campeigne and so what with reason and what with faire promises being persuaded he returned againe to his companions The earle of Richmond vnburdened of this misaduenture least by lingering of daies and prolonging of time he might loose the great opportunitie of things to him offered and ministred also least he should further wound and molest the minds of his faithfull and assured fréends which dailie did expect and tarie for his comming determined no longer to protract and deferre the time but with all diligence and celeritie attempted his begun
losse and punishment Howbeit this iudgement was altogither affectionate and parciall in hir behalfe besides that it was reasonable in great measure all circumstances considered for she was not lightlie induced to doo as she did neither stood it with the frailtie of a woman to withstand the temptations of a mightie man or rather a reaching tyrant But such was hir chance by hir lightnesse and inconstancie that she wan the displeasure of manie men and for that cause liued after in the abbeie of Bermondseie beside Southwarke a wretched and a miserable life where not manie yeares after she deceassed and is buried with hir husband at Windsore Though fortune thus ruleth manie things at hir plesure yet one worke that this quéene accomplished cannot be forgotten for in the life time of hir husband king Edward the fourth she founded and erected a notable colledge in the vniuersitie of Cambridge for the finding of scholers and students of the same vniuersitie and endowed it with sufficient possessions for the long maintenance of the same which at this daie is called the Quéenes colledge When all things in this counsell were sagelie concluded and agréed to the kings mind he returned to London giuing in commandement that the next sundaie insuing Edward the yoong earle of Warwike should be brought from the Tower through the most publike streets in all London to the cathedrall church of saint Paule where he went openlie in procession that euerie man might sée him hauing communication with manie noble men and with them especiallie that were suspected to be partakers of the late begun conspiracie that they might perceiue how the Irishmen vpon a vaine shadowe mooued warre against the king and his realme But this medicine little auailed euill disposed persons For the line 10 earle of Lincolne sonne to Iohn de la Poole duke of Suffolke and Elizabeth sister to king Edward the fourth thought it not méet to neglect and omit so readie an occasion of new trouble Wherefore they determined to vphold the enterprise of the Irishmen and other complices of this conspiracie so that consulting with sir Thomas Broughton and certeine other of his most trustie freends he purposed to saile into Flanders to his aunt the ladie Margaret duchesse of Burgognie line 20 trusting by hir helpe to make a puissant armie and to ioine with the companions of the new raised sedition Therefore after the dissolution of the parlement which then was holden he fled secretlie into Flanders vnto the said ladie Margaret where Francis lord Louell landed certeine daies before Héere after long consultation had how to proceed in their businesse it was agreed that the earle of Lincolne and the lord Louell should go into Ireland and there to attend vpon the duchesse hir counterfeit nephue and line 30 to honor him as a king and with the power of the Irishmen to bring him into England Now they concluded that if their dooings had successe then the foresaid Lambert misnamed the earle of Warwike should by consent of the councell be deposed and Edward the true earle of Warwike deliuered out of prison and annointed king King Henrie supposing that no man would haue béene so mad as to haue attempted anie further enterprise in the name of that new found counterfeit earle he line 40 onelie studied how to subdue the seditious conspiracie of the Irishmen But hearing that the earle of Lincolne was fled into Flanders he was somwhat mooued therewith and caused soldiors to be put in a readinesse out of euerie part of his realme and to bring them into one place assigned that when his aduersaries should appeare he might suddenlie set vpon them vanquish and ouercome them Thus disposing things for his suertie he went towards S. Edmunds burie and being certified that line 50 the marquesse Dorset was comming towards his maiestie to excuse himselfe of things that he was suspected to haue doone when he was in France he sent the earle of Oxford to arrest the said marquesse by the waie and to conueie him to the Tower of London there to remaine till his truth might be tried year 1487 From thence the K. went foorth to Norwich and tarrieng there Christmasse daie he departed after to Walsingham where he offered to the image of our ladie and then by Cambridge he shortlie returned line 60 to London In which meane time the earle of Lincolne had gotten togither by the aid of the ladie Margaret about two thousand Almains with one Martine Sward a valiant and noble capteine to lead them With this power the earle of Lincolne sailed into Ireland and at the citie of Diuelin caused yoong Lambert to be proclaimed and named king of England after the most solemne fashion as though he were the verie heire of the bloud roiall lineallie borne and descended And so with a great multitude of beggerlie Irishmen almost all naked and vnarmed sauing skains and mantels of whome the lord Thomas Gerardine was capteine and conductor they sailed into England with this new found king and landed for a purpose at the pile of Fowdreie within a little of Lancaster trusting there to find aid by the means of sir Thomas Broughton one of the chéefe companions of the conspiracie The king had knowledge of the enimies intent before their arriuall and therefore hauing assembled a great armie ouer the which the duke of Bedford and the earle of Oxenford were chéefe capteins he went to Couentrie where he was aduertised that the earle of Lincolne was landed at Lancaster with his new king Héere he tooke aduise of his councellors what was best to be doone whether to set on the enimies without further delaie or to protract time a while But at length it was thought best to delaie no time but to giue them battell before they should increase their power and therevpon he remooued to Notingham there by a little wood called Bowres he pitched his field Shortlie after this came to him the lord George Talbot earle of Shrewesburie the lord Strange sir Iohn Cheinie right valiant capteins with manie other noble and expert men of warre namelie of the countries neere adioining so that the kings armie was woonderfullie increased In this space the earle of Lincolne being entered into Yorkeshire passed softlie on his iournie without spoiling or hurting of anie man trusting thereby to haue some companie of people resort vnto him But after he perceiued few or none to follow him and that it was too late now to returne backe he determined to trie the matter by dint of sword and herevpon directed his waie from Yorke to Newarke vpon Trent But before he came there king Henrie knowing all his enimies purposes came the night before the daie of the battell to Newarke and tarrieng there a little went thrée miles further and pitching his field lodged there that night The earle of Lincolne certified of his comming was nothing abashed but kept still on his iournie and at a
knights readie armed their bases and bards of their horsse gréene sattin embrodered with fresh deuises of bramble branches of fine gold curiouslie wrought powdered all ouer And after them a great number of hornes blowne by men apparrelled in gréene cloth with caps and hosen of like sute as foresters or kéepers a pagent made like a parke paled with pales of white and gréene wherein were certeine fallow deare and in the same parke curious trees made by craâ—â— with bushes fernes and line 60 other things in likewise wrought goodlie to behold The which parke or deuise being brought before the quéene had certeine gates thereof opened the deare ran out therof into the palace the greiehounds were let slip and killed the deare the which deare so killed were presented to the quéene and the ladies by the foresaid knights Crocheman which the daie before brought in the speare of gold there declared that the same knights were seruants to Diana and being in their pastime of hunting newes were brought vnto them that dame Pallas knights were come into those parts to doo déeds of armes wherefore they had left their hunting and chase and repaired also thither to encounter with the knights of Pallas and so to fight with them for the loue of ladies to the vtterance saieng that if Pallas knights vanquished the other or made them to leaue the field then they to haue the deare killed and the greiehounds that slue them And in case Dianas knights ouercame the other they to haue their swords and none other thing more Wherevpon the queene and ladies sent to the king to haue his aduise and pleasure in this behalfe His grace conceiuing that there was some grudge and displeasure betwéene them thinking if such request were to them granted some inconuenience might insue would not therevnto agrée so that for the appeasing thereof it was awarded that both parties should tourneie togither giuing but some certeine strokes which doone they departed and so these iusts brake vp and the prises giuen to euerie man after his deserts The king pardoned the lord Henrie brother to the duke of Buckingham committed to the Tower as yee haue heard vpon suspicion of treason but when nothing could be prooued against him he was set at libertie and at the parlement after created earle of Wilshire Also this yeare the king ordeined fiftie gentlemen to be speares euerie of them to haue an archer a demilance and a custrell and euerie speare to haue thrée great horsses to be attendant on his person of the which band the earle of Essex was lieutenant and sir Iohn Pechie capteine This ordinance continued but a while the charges was so great for there were none of them but they and their horsses were apparrelled and trapped in cloth of gold siluer goldsmithes worke This yeare also was a great pestilence in the towne of Calis so that the king sent one sir Iohn Pechie with thrée hundred men to tarrie there vpon the defense of that towne till the sicknesse was ceassed Furthermore this yeare the king summoned his parlement in the moneth of Nouember to begin in the moneth of Ianuarie next ensuing whereof sir Thomas Inglefield was chosâ—â— speaker At this parlement sir Richard Empson knight and Edmund Dudleie esquier late councellors vnto king Henrie the seauenth were atteinted of high treason They were charged with manie offenses committed in the late kings daies as partlie before yée haue heard who being brought before the councell as they were graue and wise personages and both of them learned and skilfull in the lawes of the realme so had they vtterance verie readie whereby to deliuer the conceipts of their minds with singular dexteritie speciallie in a case of importance in so much that when the said parties were conuented before the assemblie of the lords they alleged for themselues right constantlie in their owne defenses much good and sufficient matter of whome Empson being the elder in yeares had these words A speech vttered by Empson to the lords of the councell to find fauour I Know right honorable that it is not vnknowne to you how profitable and necessarie lawes are for the good preseruation of mans life without the which neither house towne nor citie can long continue or stand in safetie Which lawes heere in England thorough negligence of magistrates were partlie decaied and partlie quite forgotten and worne out of vse the mischeefe whereof dailie increasing Henrie the seauenth a most graue and prudent prince wished to suppresse and therefore appointed vs to see that such lawes as were yet in vse might continue in their full force and such as were out of vse might againe be reuiued and restored to their former state that also those persons which transgressed the same might be punished according to their demerits Wherein we line 10 discharged our dueties in most faithfull wise and best maner we could to the great aduantage commoditie no doubt of the whole commonwealth Wherfore we most humblie beseech you in respect of your honours courtesie goodnesse humanitie and iustice not to decree any greeuous sentence against vs as though we were worthie of punishment but rather to appoint how line 20 with thankfull recompense our paines trauell may be worthilie considered Manie of the councell thought that he had spoken well and so as stood with great reason but yet the greater number supposing that the reuiuing of those lawes had procéeded rather of a couetous meaning in the king and them than of anie zeale of iustice and hauing also themselues felt the smart latelie before for their owne offenses and transgressions had line 30 conceiued such malice towards the men that they thought it reason that such as had béene dealers therein were worthie to lose their heads in like sort as they had caused others to lose their monie Héerevpon their accusors were mainteined and manie od matters narrowlie sought out against them as by two seuerall indictments framed against sir Richard Empson the copies whereof I haue séene it may well appeare line 40 In the one he is charged that to win the fauour and credit of the late king not weieng his honor nor the prosperitie of him or wealth of his realme hee had in subuersion of the lawes of the land procured diuerse persons to be indicted of diuerse crimes and offenses surmised against them and therevâ—on to be committed to prison without due proces of law who not suffered to come to their answers were kept in durance till they had compounded for their fines to their great importable losses and vtter impouerishment Also diuerse vntrue offices of intrusions and line 50 alienations made by sundrie the late kings liege people into manors lands and tenements were found it being vntrulie alleged that they held the same of the king In capite And when such persons as were thus vexed offered to trauerse those offices they could not be admitted thereto in
with sir Thomas Bullen and sir Richard Weston were appointed to go vnto Coniacke to see the Dolphin where they were honorablie receiued and brought vnto the presence of the Dolphin being a goodlie yoong child whome they kissed and imbraced in most louing wise The earle of Worcester and with him sir Nicholas Uaux sir Iohn Pechie sir Edward Belknap year 1520 and diuerse others at the same time tooke leaue of the French king and rode to Tornaie to sée the citie deliuered to the Frenchmen Wherevpon the eight of Februarie the lord Chatillon came thither with one and twentie hundred men and after some controuersie mooued about the deliuerie of his commission and sealing an indenture which the earle had there readie ingrossed conteining the articles of agreement in consideration whereof it was deliuered the capteine sir Richard Ierningham was discharged and the Frenchmen suffered to enter with drumslads and minstrelsie but not with standards nor banners which the Englishmen caused them to roll vp greatlie against their wils Before they came to the gates they sealed the indenture confessing how they receiued the citie as a gift and not as a right and deliuered their commission whereby they were authorised to receiue it which at the first they refused to doo affirming that it was sufficient for them to shew it Thus was Tornaie deliuered in this tenth yeare of the kings reigne on the eight daie of Februarie the Englishmen returned into England sore displeased in their minds For thereby manie a tall yeoman lacked liuing the which would not labour after their returne but fell to robbing pilfering shifting and other extraordinarie meanes of maintenance whereas before they were staied vpon a certeintie of hope so long as they had allowance by the king So that this resignation of Tornaie though it were answerable to the desire of the French king and commodious for his people yet that benefit of theirs bred to the English soldiors detriment and losse who wished in their harts to haue left their liues behind them in defense of possession rather than it should reuert into the hands of them by whome it was surrendred giuen vp to the English power whom bicause they were not able to incounter they let in at their gates by a voluntarie motion and common consent for their better safetie as a late writer witnesseth Angligenas passis intra sua moenia portis Sponte intromittens line 10 ¶ During this time remained in the French court diuerse yoong gentlemen of England and they with the French king rode dailie disguised through Paris throwing egges stones and other foolish trifles at the people which light demeanour of a king was much discommended and ieasted at And when these yoong gentlemen came againe into England they were all French in eating drinking and apparell yea and in French vices and brags so that all the estates of England were by them laughed at the line 20 ladies and gentlewomen were dispraised so that nothing by them was praised but if it were after the French turne which after turned them to displesure as you shall heare After the kings ambassadours were returned and Tornaie deliuered to the Frenchmen vpon the conditions aforesaid the hostages that were here left for the paiment of the great summes and performance of the conditions comprised in the league of the which one was that if the marriage tooke none effect then the citie of Tornaie should be redeliuered line 30 vpon repaiment of the same summes the said hostages knew not in what case they stood but when they knew it they were verie heauie and sorowfull howbeit they dissembled the matter in the best wise they could The king vsed familiarlie these foure hostages and on the seuenth daie of Maie prepared a disguising and caused his great chamber at Gréenwich to be staged and great lights to be set on pillors that were gilt with basons gilt and the roofe was couered line 40 with blue sattin set full of presses of fine gold and flowers and vnder was written Iammes the meaning whereof was that the slower of youth could not be oppressed Into this chamber came the king and the quéene with the hostages and there was a goodlie comedie of Plautus plaied and that doone there entered into the chamber eight ladies in blacke veluet bordered about with gold with hoopes from the wast downeward and sléeues rusted and plited at the elbow and line 50 plaine in the middest full of cuts plucked out at euerie cut with fine camerike tired like the Aegyptians verie richlie And when these ladies had passed about the place in came eight noble personages in long gownes of taffata set with flowers of gold bullion and vnder that apparell cotes of blacke veluet embrodered with gold all to cut and plucked out with cuts of white sarcenet and euerie man had buskins of blacke veluet full of agglets of gold Then the eight men dansed with the eight ladies line 60 all being visarded and suddenlie the men cast off their large gownes and then their vnder apparell was séene And when all was doone euerie lord and ladie put off their visards and then it was knowne that the king the duke of Suffolke and the French quéene were there which were present at the plaie time On the eight daie of March was a solemne iustes the king himselfe and eight yoong gentlemen based and barded in blacke veluet embrodered with gold against the duke of Suffolke and eight of his band all in white satten with drops of gold And that daie they all ran excéeding well which the strangers highlie commended About the end of March the king sent for all the yeomen of the gard that were come from Tornaie and after manie good words giuen to them he granted to euerie of them foure pence the daie without attendance except they were speciallie commanded ¶ And here it seemeth requisit to adde the report of a forreine chronicler touching the league of amitie and conditions of the same knit vp in breuitie and good tearmes as followeth Now saith he the differences betwéene the French and English were also reconciled And for the more stabilitie of which agreement it was confirmed with a contract of parentage and aliance wherein the king of England promised to giue his onelie daughter to whome hauing no sons there was hope of the descending succession of the kingdome to the Dolphin the eldest sonne of the crowne of France adding for a portion foure hundred thousand duckets Both the one and the other bore yet so tender age that infinit accidents might happen before perfection of yeeres would make them able to establish matrimonie There was made betwene them a league defensiue wherin were comprehended Cesar and the king of Spaine in case they would ratifie it in a certeine time The king of England bound himselfe to restore Tornaie receiuing presentlie for defraiments expended vpon that towne two hundred and threescore thousand duckets
offendors person the kings fauor dispensed with the rigor of iudgement so that he was beheaded onelie and his bodie not dismembred ¶ This duke had begun a great and sumptuous building at his manor of Thornburie but left the same vnfinished He made a faire parke hard by the same building for the which he tooke in much and fruitfull ground Also another parke at Eastwood one mile off he inlarged at two times to the compasse of six miles for the which déed and such like he had manie a cursse of the poore tenants At the time of his death no doubt his conscience giuing in greater euidence than 10000 witnesses told him whether he was justlie condemned or no for a mans dieng day is as a bill of information putting him in mind of his life well or ill spent as one saith Pectora terribili cùm mors ferit horrida telo Quomodo vita tibi sit priùs acta scies A conuenient collection concerning the high constables of England which office ceassed and tooke end at the duke of Buckingham aboue mentioned THe death of this duke of Buckingham being the last constable of England dooth present apt place to me wherein to insert the names of all such honorable persons as haue béene inuested with that title of the constableship of England an office of great account such as sometime was the chéefest place of a temporall subiect in the relme the high steward excepted whose power did extend to restreine some actions of the kings Wherefore being now no such office for ther◠was neuer anie aduanced therevnto since the beheading of this duke I thinke it not vuméet to make some memorie of those persons possessing so high a place least both they and their office might hereafter grow in vtter obliuion these therefore they were line 10 Alfgarus Stallere constable to Edward the Confessor of whome thus writeth the historie of Elie in the second booke written by Richard of Elie a moonke of that house in the time of Henrie the second whose words although they be somewhat long I shall not gréeue to set downe in this sort De famosa villa Estre alio nomine Plassie vocata dicendum est quà m miserè ab Elie est destracta Alfgarus quidem Stallere quod Latinè dux dicitur eam inuasit vsus estea Abbas verò Wolfricus fratres cùm sedulò frustra requirerent Edwardum Confessorem adeunt cui rex mandauit vt restitueret line 20 sed ille regijs iussis nequaquam obtemperanit Fratres autem cùm nec prece nec precio eius animum flectere potuissent anathematizant eum nec sententiam super eum vllo dic praetermittebant Quod ille diutiùs paruipendens licèt magnus potens in regno esset vti regis constabularius ab ecclesia eliminatus fidelium consortio ad correptionem vix iam cunctis detestabilis effectus compulsus peruenire tandem plurimùm obiurgatus correptus à rege reuersus est in se prece tandem nititur obtinere quod iniqua manu cunctatus non est line 30 Illi verò hoc cognoscentes illi annunt demiserúntque ei quamuis ad suum incommodum ita vt iureiurando postipsius vitam ab omni suorum inquietudine libera ad ecclesiam possessio rediret Quod quidem factum est scripto Anglici sermonis designatum Testes rex Edwardus regina c. Which man after the death of king Edward the Confessor and Harold the vsurper was when the Normans entered England as saith the said historie In ergastulo plurimis alijs ferro astrictus vsque ad mortem line 40 Walter constable of England in the time of William the Conquerour and of William Rufus succeeded Alfgarus Here before I saie anie more I thinke it not amisse to set downe somewhat touching William Fitz Osberne or Osbert earle of Hereford whome manie will haue to be constable in the time of the Conquerour which truelie I can not as yet be led to beleeue For although that this William was the onelie man who both persuaded incouraged and procured aid of others to assist William Conquerour for the obteining of England and that line 50 this man was as we commonlie saie the onelie right hand chéefe compeller and disposer of the kingdome after that William the Conquerour had obteined the same being also Tribunus militum of all the armie that William Conquerour led into England and the man that persuaded the bishop of Samborrow to compound for the title of the king of Denmarke made vnto England yet I suppose him not to be constable but onelie marshall of England or line 60 at the least if he were it could not be verie long For that this earle was extreame old departed the realme and disposed all the affaires of the Norman bastard beyond the seas and died about the yeare of our redemption 1072 being about the eight yeare of the reigne of William Conquerour Milo the sonne of the said Walter an enimie to king Stephan who yet confirmed him in his fathers inheritance was aduanced first to great honors by Henrie the first who méeting Mawd the empresse at Bristow and taking hir for lawfull quéene did continuallie follow hir faction for which she in the sixt yeare of king Stephan to honour him for his good seruice as appeareth by the charter thereof gaue him the earledome of Hereford constableship of Enggland the castell of Bironell the forrest of Deane He was lord also of Breckenocke He translated the chanons of the monasterie of saint Iohns of Lanthonie in the yeare of our redemption 1103 being the fourth yeare of king Henrie the first to a place néere Glocester then called Hide and since Lanthonie as Iohn Stow hath well noted out of other authors He married Sibilla the daughter of Bernard Newmarch a nobleman of Normandie who obteined by conquest the lordship of Breckenocke by whome he had issue fiue sonnes and thrée daughters The sonnes were Roger Walter Henrie William and Mahaell His three daughters were Margaret married to Humfreie Bohune Bertha the second was married to Philip Bruse created by king Stephan lord of Bruse Gower Bauld Brimble and in his wiues right lord of Breckenocke Lucia married to Herebert the sonne of Herebert base sonne to Henrie the first who was in hir right lord of the forrest of Deane he died in the eight or as others haue the ninth yeare of king Stephan being the yeare of our redemption 1143. William the sonne of Walter Beauchampe shiriffe of Worcester was made high constable of England by king Stephan in the fift yeare of his reigne being in the yeare of our redemption 1139 when the king was at Worcester which honour he tooke from Miles of Glocester as saith that painefull antiquarie Iohn Stow in his chronicle printed in the yeare of our Lord 1580 fol. 191. Roger the sonne of Milo succéeded his father in all his inheritance as
shillings Strangers as well denizens as other being line 40 inhabitants doubled this summe and euerie stranger not bring an inhabitant that was sixteene yéeres of age and vpwards paid foure pence for euerie poll And for lands fées and annuities euerie one borne within the kings dominions paid eight pence of the pound from twentie shillings to fiue pounds And from fiue pounds to ten pounds sixtéene pence From ten pounds to twentie pounds two shillings And from twentie pounds and vpwards thrée shillings line 50 strangers still doubling this summe The cleargie granted a subsidie of six shillings the pound to be paied of their benefices in perpetuities in three yeares insuing and euerie priest hauing no perpetuitie but an annuall stipend paid yearelie during the said thrée yeares six shillings and eight pence About the same time the king and the emperour sent Garter and Toison Dor kings at armes to demand the performance of certeine articles of the line 60 French king which if he denied they were commanded then to defie him but he would not suffer them to come within his land so they returned Whervpon the king caused the said demands to be declared to the French ambassador at Westminster And in Iulie the king sent ouer six thousand men vnder the leading of sir Iohn Wallop appointed to haue the generall conduction of them accompanied with diuerse other knights esquiers and gentlemen right hardie and valiant Sir Thomas Seimer was marshall of that armie sir Robert Bowes treasuror sir Richard Cromwell capteine of the horssemen and sir George Carew his lieutenant There were likewise sir Thomas Palmer sir Iohn Reinsforth sir Iohn saint Iohn and sir Iohn Gascoigne knights that were capteines of the footmen They were appointed to ioine with the emperours power and so to make warre into France They departed from Calis the two and twentith of Iulie The third of August open warre was proclamed in London betwixt the emperour and the king of England on the one part and the French king on the other as enimie mortall to them both and to all other christian princes beside as he that had confederated himselfe with the Turke The armie that was sent ouer vnder the leading of sir Iohn Wallop passed foorth from the marches of Calis and keeping alongst betwixt the borders of the French and Burgonion pales and confines and ioining with the emperors forces Spaniards Wallons and Dutch came at length before Landerseie a towne latelie fortified by the French within the borders of the emperors dominions to the which they laid a strong siege At length the emperour hauing dispatched his wars against the duke of Cleue who had submitted himselfe vnto him came now to the siege of Landerseie with a mightie power of sundrie nations so that the towne was sore constreined and in danger to haue béene lost if at that present the French king had not likewise with an huge armie of Frenchmen Switzers Lantsquenets Italians and others come to the rescue pitching downe his campe making countenance as if he ment presentlie to giue battell and verelie it was thought that two such powers as were there at that time so néere togither should neuer haue departed without battell The emperor thinking suerlie to fight raised his siege and drew his people into the field The Frenchmen thereby espieng their aduantage put as well fresh men as vittels and all kind of munition necessarie into the towne and in the meane while kept the emperours people occupied with hot skirmishes But now after the towne was thus reléeued which thing the French king onelie wished to accomplish the next daie when the emperor was readie with his armie ranged in battell to haue fought with his aduersaries the French king put his armie also in order but hauing no mind to come forward he trifled foorth that daie and in the night following secretlie departed with as much haste as was possible When the next morning had discouered the Frenchmens flight for manie so termed this their sudden retire it was no néed to bid diuerse troops of the emperours armie to hie after them but some made too much haste For the French king suspecting what would insue appointed his eldest sonne Henrie the Dolphin to remaine behind with the rereward accompanied with diuerse noble capteins which ordered their people in their retire with such warinesse and héedfull skill as the reason of warre required that such of the emperours campe as aduentured ouer rashlie and shewed themselues more forward than wise fell within danger of such ambushments as were by the waie couertlie laid in places of aduantage and so diuerse were taken as sir George Carew sir Thomas Palmer knight porter of Calis Edward Bellingham and others But neuerthelesse a great number of such Frenchmen as could not make waie and kéepe pase with their maine troops were snapped vp slaine and taken in no small numbers by their enimies who followed them as egre as tigers and as the describer of that pursute saith Imbuit gladios manante cruore Britannus This was after Alhalowentide so that now by reason the winter was farre entred and the weather waxing extreame foule and contrarie to an armie that should lie in the fields the emperour brake vp his campe and licenced the most part of his people to depart home into their countries for all hope to win Landerseie at that time was cleane cut off sith it was vittelled and newlie furnished with fresh men and munition After that the warres were once open betwixt England and France sundrie enterprises were attempted by the parties on either side in the marches of Calis and Bullognois in which for the most part the Englishmen got the vpper hand of their enimies line 10 At one time the Frenchmen to the number of eight hundred comming in the night season to enter into the English pale by the turne pike at Hammes in purpose to make some spoile in the countrie there were assailed vpon the sudden by sir George Summerset and sir William Walgraue latelie before come ouer with two hundred men out of Suffolke to strengthen the English pale against the enimies and at this time did behaue themselues so valiantlie that they disappointed the enimies of their purpose line 20 For whereas they were entered into a lane inclosed with hedges on either side sixtéene archers getting into the grounds on the backe side of the hedges lieng alongst the lane through which the Frenchmen were marching placed themselues as they saw their aduantage and so bestowed their shot that they galled the Frenchmen in such wise that they were forced to recule in so great disorder that other of the Englishmen comming vpon them easilie slue and tooke of them no small number line 30 Beside this at sundrie times the Englishmen inuading the countrie of Bullognois wasted the townes and villages brought awaie great booties of goods and cattell to the great impouerishing of the countrie They burnt at one
with a great number of horssemen and footmen estéemed to be about twentie thousand as the Frenchmen themselues affirme thought not best to attempt anie assault against the towne of Brest or to make longer abode there But yet in hope to doo some further exploit elsewhere they laie there houering on the coast a while to vnderstand the demeanour of the Britains but by this time there was such numbers of people raised in all those parts for defense of the same coasts that the admerals afterward line 40 attempting in diuers places to land their men and finding ech where more appearance of losse than of gaine returned home without atchiuing anie further enterprise In this meane time while king Philip and the French king with two most puissant armies affronted ech other néere vnto the water of Some either of them was obstinatelie bent to driue the other out of the field for which cause they intrenched their campes During which time there was nothing doone betweene line 50 them woorthie memorie more than dailie skirmishes of no great account Neuerthelesse the countrie of France could not but susteine extreame damage so long susteining such a maine multitude speciallie of men of warre which those two mightie kings had assembled And daie by daie came fresh companies to either partie so as it was thought a thing impossible that such two princes being so néere could depart without some cruell bloudie battell to determine their quarrels But God in whose hands line 60 are the hearts of kings when least hope was conuerted their obstinate minds from warre to peace which came chieflie to passe by the mediation of the duchesse of Lorraine who had béene a long and earnest traueller to that end and neuer ceassed vntill by hir intercession both the said kings appointed speciall commissioners to treat vpon peace So that after diuerse conferences they at last concluded vpon all controuersies except the matter of Calis wherof queene Marie by hir ambassadours required restitution but the French partie would in no wise heare thereof By reason of which difficultie this treatie could not come to anie good conclusion King Philip thinking himselfe bound in honour to stand in that case with the quéene his wife who for his sake had entered into a néedlesse warre against France and thereby lost hir said towne with all the countrie adioining as you haue heard before did therefore staie a long time before he concluded peace with the French king Quéene Marie séeing no likelihood nor hauing anie hope of the restitution of Calis and considering also that most of hir affaires had but hard successe conceiued an inward sorrow of mind by reason whereof about September next she fell sicke of a hot burning feauer which sicknesse was common that yeare through all the realme and consumed a maruellous number as well noblemen as bishops iudges knights gentlemen and rich farmers but most of the cleargie and other ancient and graue persons In which while the quéene laie languishing of a long sicknesse and so continued vntill the seuentéenth of Nouember next betwéene the houres of fiue or six in the morning and then ended hir life in this world at hir house of saint Iames besides Westminster when she had reigned fiue years foure moneths and eleuen daies and in the three and fortith yeare of hir bodilie age The death of this said queene made a maruellous alteration in this realme namelie in the case of religion which like as by the death of king Edward the sixt it suffered a change from the establishment of his time so by the death of this quéene it returned into the former estate againe So that we sée the vncerteintie of the world and what changes doo come in times by their reuolutions and that euerie thing is subiect to vnconstancie and nothing frée from variablenesse as the poet saith nihil vsquam Perpetuum solet in terris fixúmque manere Humanis quà m nulla subest constantia rebus And heere bicause we are come to the knitting vp of quéene Maries reigne I cannot ouersâ—â—p with silence that notable and néedfull discourse of master Fox concerning our blessed souereigne quéen Elizabeth whose maiestie the Lord of his mercie inuiron with fréends as in number manie so in seruice trustie and whose enimies the same Lord in iustice root out from the land of the liuing heaping vpon them plague after plague to their vtter confusion bicause they haue reiected the gratious means of their conuersion Thus therefore writeth master Fox concerning the mischéefous persecution and miraculous preseruation of ladie Elizabeth now quéene of England from extreame calamitie and danger of life in the time of queene Marie hir sister But saith master Fox when all hath béene said and told whatsoeuer can be recited touching the admirable working of Gods present hand in defending and deliuering anie one person out of thraldome neuer was there since the memorie of our fathers anie example to be shewed wherin the Lords mightie power hath more admirablie and blessedlie shewed it selfe to the glorie of his owne name to the comfort of all good hearts and to the publike felicitie of this whole realme than in the miraculous custodie and outscape of this our souereigne ladie now quéene then ladie Elizabeth in the strict time of queene Marie hir sister In which storie first we haue to consider in what extreame miserie sicknesse feare and perill hir highnesse was into what care what trouble of mind and what danger of death she was brought First with great routs and bands of armed men and happie was he that might haue the carrieng of hir being fetched vp as the greatest traitour in the world clapped in the tower and againe tossed from thence from house to house from prison to prison from post to piller at length also prisoner in hir owne house and garded with a sort of cut-throats which euer gaped for the spoile whereby they might be fingering of somewhat Secondlie we haue againe to consider all this notwithstanding how strangelie or rather miraculouslie from danger she was deliuered what fauour and grace she found with the almightie who when all helpe of man and hope of recouerie was past stretched out his mightie protection and preserued hir highnesse and placed hir in this princelie seat of rest and quietnesse wherin now she sitteth and long maie she sit the lord of his glorious mercie grant we beséech line 10 him In which storie if I should set foorth at large and at full all the particulars and circumstanstances therevnto belonging and as iust occasion of the historie requireth besides the importunate length of the storie discoursed peraduenture it might mooue offense to some being yet aliue and truth might get me hatred Yet notwithstanding I intend by the grace of Christ therein to vse such breuitie and moderation as both may be to the glorie of God the discharge of the storie the profit of the reader hurt line 20
libertie out of danger to peace and quietnesse from dread to dignitie from miserie to maiestie from mourning to ruling brieflie of a prisonner made a princesse and placed in hir throne roiall proclamed now quéene with as manie glad hearts line 50 of hir subiects as euer was anie king or queene in this realme before hir or euer shall be I dare saie hereafter Touching whose florishing state hir princelie reigne and peaceable gouernement with other things diuerse and sundrie incident to the same and especiallie touching the great stirres and alterations which haue happened in other forren nations and also partlie among our selues here at home forsomuch as the tractation hereof requireth an huge volume by it selfe I shall therefore deferre the reader to the line 60 next booke or section insuing wherein if the Lord so please to susteine me with leaue and life I maie haue to discourse of all and singular such matters doone and atchiued in these our latter daies and memorie more at large Now then after these so great afflictions falling vpon this realme from the first beginning of quéene Maries reigne wherein so manie men women and children were burned manie imprisoned and in prisons starued diuerse exiled some spoiled of goods and possessions a great number driuen from house to home so manie wéeping eies so manie sobbing harts so manie children made fatherlesse so manie fathers bereft of their wiues and children so manie vexed in conscience and diuerse against conscience constrained to recant and in conclusion neuer a good man almost in all the realme but suffered something during all the time of this bloudie persecution after all this I saie now we are come at length the Lord be praised to the seuentéenth of Nouember which daie as it brought to the persecuted members of Christ rest from their carefull mourning so it easeth me somewhat likewise of my laborious writing by the death I meane of quéene Marie who being long sicke before vpon the said seuentéenth daie of Nouember in the yeare aboue said about thrée or foure of the clocke in the morning yéelded hir life to nature and hir kingdome to quéene Elisabeth hir sister As touching the maner of whose death some saie that she died of a timpanie some by hir much sighing before hir death supposed she died of thought and sorrow Wherevpon hir councell seeing hir sighing and desirous to know the cause to the end they might minister the more readie consolation vnto hir feared as they said that she tooke some thought for the kings maiestie hir husband which was gone from hir To whome she answering againe In deed said she that may be one cause but that is not the greatest wound that pearseth mine oppressed mind but what that was she would not expresse to them Albeit afterward she opened the matter more plainlie to mistresse Rise and mistresse Clarentius if it be true that they told me which heard it of mistresse Rise himselfe who then being most familiar with hir and most bold about hir told hir that they feared she tooke thought for king Philips departing from hir Not that onelie said she but when I am dead and opened you shall find Calis lieng in my hart c. Which one supposing to be true hath left this report Hispani oppidulo amisso contabuit vxor Quam cruciatu aegro confecerat anxia cura And here an end of quéene Marie and of hir persecution during the time of hir misgouernment Of which quéene this trulie may be affirmed and left in storie for a perpetuall memoriall or epitaph for all kings and quéenes that shall succéed hir to be noted that before hir neuer was read in storie of anie king or quéene of England since the time of king Lucius vnder whom in time of peace by hanging heading burning and prisoning so much christian bloud so manie Englishmens liues were spilled within this realme as vnder the said quéene Marie for the space of foure yeares was to be séene and I beseech the Lord neuer may be séene hereafter Now for so much as quéene Marie during all the time of hir reigne was such a vehement aduersarie and persecutor against the sincere professors of Christ Iesus and his gospell for the which there be manie which doo highlie magnifie and approue hir dooings therein reputing hir religion to be sound and catholike and hir procéedings to be most acceptable and blessed of almightie God to the intent therfore that all men may vnderstand how the blessing of the Lord God did not onelie not procéed with hir proceedings but contrarie rather how his manifest displeasure euer wrought against hir in plaging both hir and hir realme and in subuerting all hir counsels and attempts what soeuer she tooke in hand we will bestow a litle time therein to perpend and surueie the whole course of hir dooings and cheuances and consider what successe she had in the same Which being well considered we shall find neuer no reigne of anie prince in this land or anie other which had euer to shew in it for the proportion of time so manie arguments of Gods great wrath and displeasure as was to be séene in the reigne of this queene Marie whether we behold the shortnesse of hir time or the vnfortunate euent of all hir purposes Who séemed neuer to purpose anie thing that came luckilie to passe neither did anie thing frame to hir purpose what soeuer she tooke in hand touching hir owne priuat affaires Of good kings we read in the scripture in shewing moreie and pitie in seeking Gods will in his word and subuerting the monuments of idolatrie how God blessed their waies increased their honors and mightilie prospered all their procéedings as we line 10 sée in king Dauid Salomon Iosias Iosaphat Ezechias with such others Manasses made the stréets of Hierusalem to swim with the bloud of his subiects but what came of it the text dooth testifie Of quéene Elisabeth which now reigneth among vs this we must néeds saie which we sée that she in sparing the bloud not onelie of Gods seruants but also of Gods enimies hath doubled now the reigne of quéene Marie hir sister with such aboundance of line 20 peace and prosperitie that it is hard to saie whether the realme of England felt more of Gods wrath in queene Maries time or of Gods fauour and mercie in these so blessed and peaceable daies of queene Elisabeth Gamaliell speaking his mind in the councell of the Phariseis concerning Christes religion gaue this reason that if it were of God it should continue who soeuer said naie if it were not it could not stand So may it be said of quéene Marie and hir Romish line 30 religion that if it were so perfect and catholike as they pretend and the contrarie faith of the gospellers were so detestable and hereticall as they make it how commeth it then that this so catholike a quéene such a necessarie piller
repaire to them in warlike maner for the defense and suertie of hir maiesties person sometimes affirming their dooings to be with the aduise and consent of the nobilitie of this realme who in deed were wholie bent as manifestlie line 30 appeared to spend their liues in dutifull obedience against them and all other traitors sometimes pretending for conscience sake to séeke to reforme religion sometimes declaring that they were driuen to take this matter in hand least otherwise forren princes might take it vpon them to the great perill of this realme Upon mondaie the thirteenth of Nouember they went to Durham with their banners displaied And to get the more credit among the fauorers of the old line 40 Romish religion they had a crosse with a banner of the fiue wounds borne before them sometime by old Norton sometime by others As soone as they entred Durham they went to the minster where they tare the bible communion bookes other such as were there The same night they went againe to Branspith The fourteenth daie of the same moneth they went to Darington and there had masse which the earles and the rest heard with such lewd deuotion as they had Then they sent their horssemen to gather togither such numbers of men as they could line 50 The fifteenth daie the earles parted he of Northumbeland to Richmond then to Northallerton so to Borowbridge he of Westmerland to Ripon after to Borowbridge where they both met againe On the eighteenth daie they went to Wetherbie and there taried three or foure daies and vpon Clifford moore nigh vnto Bramham moore they mistrusted themselues at which time they were about two thousand horssemen and fiue thousand footmen which was the greatest number that euer they were line 60 From which they intended to haue marched toward Yorke but their minds being suddenlie altered they returned The thrée and twentith of Nouember they besieged Bernards castell which castell was valiantlie defended by sir George Bowes and Robert Bowes his brother the space of eleuen daies and then deliuered with composition to depart with armor munition bag and baggage In which time the quéens maiestie caused the said earles of Northumberland Westmerland to be proclamed traitors with all their adherents and fauourers the foure and twentith of Nouember The lord Scroope warden of the west marches calling vnto him the earle of Cumberland and other gentlemen of the countrie kept the citie of Carleill The earle of Sussex the quéens lieutenant generall in the north published there the like proclamations in effect as had beene published by hir maiestie against the said rebels and also sent out to all such gentlemen as he knew to be hir maiestes louing subiects vnder his rule who came vnto him with such numbers of their friends as he was able in fiue daies to make aboue fiue thousand horssemen and footmen And so being accompanied with the erle of Rutland his lieutenant the lord Hunsdon generall of the horssemen sir Rafe Sadler treasuror the lord William Euers that was after appointed to lead the reareward and diuerse other that with their tenants and seruants were come to him remaining as then within the citie of Yorke he set forward from thense the fift of December being sundaie and marched with his power which he had thus got togither towards the enimies Sir George Bowes hauing surrendred Bernards castell as before ye haue heard met the earle of Sussex thus marching forward with his armie at Sisaie from whence they kept forward to Northallerton and resting two nights there they marched on to Croftbridge then to Akle and so to Durham and after to Newcastell And the twentith of December they came to Heram from whence the rebels were gone the night before to Naworth where they counselled with Edward Dacres concerning their owne weakenesse also how they were not onlie pursued by the earle of Sussex others with him hauing a power with them of seuen thousand men being almost at their héeles but also by the earle of Warwike and the lord Clinton high admerall of England with a far greater armie of twelue thousand men raised by the queens maiesties commissioners out of the south and middle parts of the relme In which armie beside the earle of Warwike the lord admerall chéefe gouernors in the same there was also Walter Deuereux vicount Hereford high marshall of the field with the lord Willoughbie of Perham maister Charles Howard now lord Howard of Effingham generall of the horssemen vnder the earle of Warwike yoong Henrie Knols eldest sonne to sir Francis Knols his lieutenant Edward Horseie capteine of the I le of Wight with fiue hundred harquebusiers out of the same I le and capteine Leighton with other fiue hundred harquebusiers Londoners and manie other worthie gentlemen and valiant capteins The comming forward of these forces caused the rebels so much to quaile in courage that they durst not abide to trie the matter with dint of sword For whereas the earle of Warwike and the lord admerall being aduanced forward to Darington ment the next daie to haue sent Robert Glouer then Portculeis and now Summerset herald who in his iourneie attended on the lord admerall as Norreie king of armes did vpon the earle of Warwike vnto the rebels vpon such message as for the time and state of things was thought conuenient the same night aduertisements came from the earle of Sussex vnto the earle of Warwike and to the lord admerall that the two earles of Northumberland and Westmerland were fled as the truth was they were indéed first from Durham whither the said Glouer should haue béene sent vnto them and now vpon the earle of Sussex his comming vnto Exham they shranke quite awaie and fled into Scotland without bidding their companie farewell The earle of Warwike and his power marched on to Durham But the earle of Sussex pursuing those other rebels that had not meane to flée out of the realme apprehended no small number of them at his pleasure without finding anie resistance among them at all The fourth and fift of Ianuarie did suffer at Durham to the number of thrée score and six year 1570 conestables and others amongst whome the alderman of the towne and a priest called parson Plomtrée were the most notable Then sir george Bowes being made marshall finding manie to be fautors in the foresaid rebellion did sée them executed in diuerse line 10 places of the countrie The one and twentith of Ianuarie a prentise of London was hanged on a gibet at the north end of Finch lane in London to the example of others for that he the thirteenth of December had striken his maister with a knife whereof he died About the later end of Ianuarie Leonard Dacres of Harleseie began to rebell and procured the people of the north parts to assist him so that he raised to the number of thrée thousand men Of
end should not be had of that ciuill dissention which hath so long continued betwixt the king of Spaine and his subiects in those countries not onelie to the hinderance of themselues but also of others that haue to trade among them speciallie for traffike line 20 sake and intercourse of merchandize But at length they haue compounded their controuersies and are growen to a full agréement and perfect conclusion of peace which God grant may take place so effectuallie as may turne to the quietnesse and publike commoditie not onlie of those countries but of their neighbors whereby merchants and passengers may in suertie passe to and fro without disturbance so as no occasion be giuen of breach of leagues and amities betwixt princes and countries but that the same line 30 may be mainteined to Gods glorie and the suertie of the christian commonwealth In this yeare the right honorable Walter Deuereux earle of Essex and Eu earle marshall of Ireland vicount Hereford and Bourcher lord Ferrers of Chartlie Bourcher Louaine knight of the most noble order of the garter fell sicke of a loosenesse of his bodie the one and twentith of August being fridaie and for the space of two and twentie daies togither he was so grieuouslie tormented therwith that line 40 finallie on saturdaie the two twentith of September he departed out of this transitorie life passing from hence to the ioies of heauen as by his godlie end all that were about him gaue testimonie The losse of this noble man was greatlie béemoned aswell by the English as Irish for the noble courage vertuous qâ—â—lities and tender zeale to the aduancement of thâ— commonwealth which appéered in him ¶ So that it were a fowle fault in the highest degree line 50 not to laie vp some commemoration of so worthie and well deseruing a gentleman both of prince and people in perpetuall records which I will doo by Gods grace none otherwise than I am lead by such matter yea memorable matter as I find in a funerall sermon made by the reuerend father in God Richard bishop of saint Dauis at the buriall of this right honorable earle of Essex in the parish church of Caermerthin in Wales where the said bishop taking for his text these words of S. Iohn in the 14 of line 60 the reuelation Audiui vocem de coelo dicentem Beati mortui c. I heard a voice from heauen saieng Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord c. After he had discoursed vpon the text as the spirit of God gaue him vtterance he descended at last to a particular treatise tending wholie to the praise of this right noble man saieng in sort as followeth Behold the heauie hand of God for our sins vpon all the whole countrie in the death of this noble man which is not onelie a messenger of Gods wrath towards this towne and countrie wherein he was borne but also in verie déed a great losse to the whole realme And although this countrie who shall misse so noble and so worthie a ruler and magistrate that bore them so great affection so readie to benefit all and hurt none and for the high calling he was of so able to pleasure and to doo good although I saie this countrie by the death of this noble earle is most earnestlie eâ—â—ectuallie cited to appéere before the Lord and to fall to a reckoning yet doo I beléeue that the queenes maiestie hir highnesse councell and all the nobilitie of the realme may hereby receiue admonition and cause of further circumspection and aduigilancie For such valiant and couragious noble men are the bulworks and walles of defense of the whole realme They saie the realme is walled about bicause it is inuironed with the sea but I hold rather with their iudgements that make the fidelitie and true harts of the subiects and especiallie of such of the nobilitie that haue made themselues by Gods especiall grace expert to gouerne and rule vnder hir maiestie aswell in warre as peace the strong towers of defense both of hir maiestie and hir highnesse realme This noble earle was one of these number for I beléeue there is no prince in the world that had a more faithfull noble subiect than hir maiestie had of him in his time And for the notable valiantnesse experience and vertues that were in him I am persuaded that hir maiestie if he had liued might haue vsed his seruice to be a terrour to all enimies forren or domesticall And now that I may speake somewhat of his great nobilitie his excellent vertuous and worthie qualities first I thinke I may saie thus much in a generalitie that it was easie for a man of any iudgement that should behold his countenance and behauiour to find in him nobilitie maiestie and honor planted by the especiall gift of God euen from his mothers wombe When I consider the nature of nobilitie with the causes efficient and finall it séemeth vnto me that nobilitie may be compared vnto a riuer or a floud which in the originall issueth out of foure principall wels and all the foure rise out from the compasse of one hill The welles of nobilitie are prudence fortitude iustice and temperance the hill whence they spring is the feare of God or true religion Although this worthie earle by progenie was of noble bloud whose ancestors were of great honour which of it selfe if a man degenerat not too far from his forefathers deserueth honorable acceptation in this world yet was he not therewith satisfied as it may appéere by his studie and trauell in his life time for he séemed to be of that iudgement that Alphonsus king of Aragon of whome we read in stories was of When a certeine man tooke in hand to set out the land and praise of his nobilitie he stood much in recitall that he was a king a kings sonne a kings nephue a kings brother and such like titles The king interrupting his tale answered that he neuer estéemed much of that kind of glorie and that it was the praise and commendation of his ancestors who by vertue and worthie qualities had deserued such high callings and honour and not of him and that his praise stood not in that which might fall vnto him by testament but in the imitation and performing of the noble acts prowesse and valiantnesse of his forefathers This noble earle likewise not answered to his expectation in that he was a noble man by bloud and inheritance gaue himselfe wholie all the daies of his life to purchase and win the nobilitie that springeth immediatlie from the verie originall founteins of the same as parâ—lie I will put you in remembrance of We will begin with prudence which may be thus defined Prudence is a power or facultie of the mind giuen of God whereby man is made wise prouident and circumspect and whereby man atteineth knowledge cunning and expertnesse in all matters that the children
hir neere of all hir glittering tire Lo Cambridge schooles by mine assignement founded first By thee my Cambridge schooles are famous through the world I thirtie wandring ships of banisht men relieued The throngs of banisht soules that in this citie dwell Do weepe for ioy and praie for thee with teares vntold In all these things thou noble queene doost far excell But lo to thee I yeeld as dutie dooth me bind In open field my selfe my citie castle keie Most happie fathers kings in such a daughter queene Most happie England were if thou shouldst neuer die Go on most noble prince for I must hast awaie My citie gates doo long their souereigne to receaue More true thou neuer couldst nor loiall subiects find Whose harts full fast with perfect loue to thee doo cleaue Then hir maiestie drew néere the gates of the citie called saint Stephans gates which with the wals there were both gallantlie and stronglie repared The gate it selfe was thus inriched and beautified First the portcullice was new made both timber iron Then the outward side of the gate was thus beautified The quéenes armes were most richlie and beautifullie set forth in the chiefe front of the gate On the one side thereof but somewhat lower was placed the scutchion of saint George his crosse on the other side the armes of the citie and directlie vnder the queenes maiesties armes was placed the falcon hir highnesse badge in due forme and vnder the same were written these words God and the queene we serue The inner side of the gate was thus beautified On the right side was gorgeouslie set foorth the red rose signifieng the house of Yorke on the left side the white rose representing the house of Lancaster in the midst was the white and red rose vnited expressing the vnion vnder the which was placed by descent the armes of the quéene and vnder that were written these verses following Diuision kindled strife Blist vnion quencht the flame Thense sprang our noble Phenix deare The pearelesse prince of fame And besides that at this gate the waits of the citie were placed with lowd musicke who cheerefullie melodiouslie welcomed hir maiestie into the citie this song being soong by the best voices in the same The deaw of heauen drops this daie on drie and barren ground Wherefore let fruitfull hearts I saie at drum and trumpets sound Yeeld that is due shew that is meet to make our ioy the more In our good hope and hir great praise we neuer saw before The sun dooth shine where shade hath beene long darkenesse brought vs daie The star of comfort now come in and here a while will staie Ring out the bels plucke vp your spreets and dresse your houses gaie Run in for floures to strew the streets and make what ioy you maie The deaw of heauen c. Full manie a winter haue we seene and manie stormes withall Since here we saw a king or queene in pompe and princelie pall Wherefore make feast and banket still and now to triumph fall With dutie let vs shew good will to glad both great and small The deaw of heauen c. The realme throughout will ring of this and sundrie regions mo Will say full great our fortune is when our good hap they kno O Norwich heere the welspring runs whose vertue still dooth flo And lo this day dooth shine two suns within thy wals also The deaw of heauen c. This song ended hir highnesse passed towards hir lodging by the waie in a church-yard ouer against maister Pecks doore a woorthie alderman was a scaffold set vp brauelie trimmed On this scaffold was placed an excellent boy well and gallantlie decked in a long white robe of taffata a crimsin scarffe wrought with gold folded on the Turkish fashion about his browes and a gaie garland of white flowers on his head which boie was not séene till the quéene had a good season marked the musicke which was maruellous swéet and good albeit the rudenesse of some ringers of bels did somewhat hinder the noise and harmonie and as soone as the musike ended the boy stepped reuerendlie before the queene and spake these woords that follow in comelie order Great things were meant to welcome thee O queene If want of time had not cut off the same Great was our wish but â—mall is that was seene For vs to shew before so great a dame Great hope we haue it pleasd our princes eie Great were the harmes that else our paines should reape Our grace or foile dooth in your iudgement liâ— If you mislike our griefs doo grow on heape If for small things we doo great fauour find Great is the ioy that Norwich feeles this daie If well we waid the greatnesse of your mind Few words would serue we had but small to saie But knowing that your goodnesse takes things well That well are meant we boldlie did proceed And so good queene both welcome and farewell Thine owne we are in heart in word and deed The boy there vpon flang vp his garland and the quéenes highnes said This deuise is fine Then the noise of musike began againe to heare the which the quéene staid a good while and after departed to the cathedrall church which was not far from thense Then line 10 passed she forwards through saint Stephans stréet where the first pageant was placed in forme following It was builded somewhat in maner like a stage of 40 foot long in breadth eight foot From the standing place vpward was a bank framed in maner of a frée stone wall in the height therof were written sentences that is to saie The causes of this common wealth are God trulie preached Iustice dulie executed The people obedient Idlenesse expelled Labour cherished Uniuersall concord preserued line 20 From the standing place downewards it was beautified with painters worke artificiallie expressing to sight the portraiture of these seuerall loomes and the weauers in them as it were working and ouer euerie loome the name thereof that is to saie Ouer the first loome was written the weauing of worsted ouer the second the weauing of russels ouer the third the weauing of darnix ouer the fourth the weauing of iust mockado the fift the weauing of lace the sixt the weauing of caffa the seuenth the line 30 weauing of fringe And then was there the portraiture of a matrone and two or three children and ouer hir head was written these words Good nurture changeth qualities Upon the stage there stood at the one end eight small women children spining worsted yarne and at the other end as manie knitting of worsted yarne hose and in the middest of the said stage stood a pretie boy richlie apparelled which represented the common wealth of the citie And all the rest of the stage was furnished with men which line 40 made the said seuerall works and before euerie man the worke in déed Euerie thing thus readie and hir maiestie come
as he might and yet by helpe of freends and hap verie well to venture the hazard of a shew and to be full in the waie where hir highnesse shuld passe towards hir dinner In which determination manie doubts were to be cast and manie persuaded him to tarrie a better time But considering how time rolled on and daies and houres did wast without dooing anie thing promised and not performed he hastilie prepared his boies and men with all their furnitures and so set forward with two coches handsomlie trimmed The common people beholding the maner thereof and gréedie to gaze on that should be doone followed as their fansies did lead them so that when the deuisor and his retinue came into the open field there was as great a traine and prease about the shew as came with the court at that instant which graced much the matter and gaue it some expected hope of good successe First there was a fained deuise that Uenus and Cupid were thrust out of heauen and walking on the earth met a philosopher who demanded from whense they came They told the philosopher what they were and he replied and began with truth tants to tickle them so néere that Uenus fell in a great anger and Cupid ran awaie and left his mother and the philosopher disputing togither But Cupid bicause he would be nourished somewhere ran to the court and there sought for succor incountring the quéene began to complaine his state and his mothers and told how the philosopher had handled them both But finding neither answer nor aid he returned againe but not to his mother for she was fallen mad vpon a conceipt that she was not made of And Cupid wandering in the world met with dame Chastitie hir maids called Modestie Temperance Good exercise and Shame fastnes and she with hir foure maids incountring Cupid in a goodlie coch and without anie honest gard waiting on him set vpon him threw him out of his golden seat trod on his pompe spoiled him of his counterfeit godhead and cloke tooke awaie his bow and quiuer of arrows the one headed with lead and the other with gold and so sent him like a fugitiue awaie and mounted vp into the coch hir selfe and hir maids and so came to the queene and rehersed what had hapned Although this was done in hir view bicause said Chastitie that the quéene had chosen the best life she gaue the quéene Cupids bow to learne to shoot at whom she pleased sith none could wound hir highnesse heart it was méet said Chastitie that she should doo with Cupids bow arrows what she pleased and so did Chastitie depart as she said to the powers diuine Cupid in the meane while wandering in the world had found out Wantonnesse and Riot who soone fell into beggerie and ruine a spectacle to be looked into and felt such dailie miserie with Wantonnesse and Riot that Cupid was forced to fling awaie once againe and hazard himselfe to fall into the hands of naughtie people or where fortune assigned and comming abrode happened vpon the philosopher who talked with him againe told him his errors and other points of pride and presumption declaring it was a great blasphemie abuse to report beleeue that in heauen were anie other gods but one who had the onelie rule of all that made all of naught In which reasoning discourse Cupid waxed warme yet in his greatest heat knew not how nor where to coole himselfe at which time came Wantonnesse Riot persuaded Cupid to plaie no longer the foole in striuing with philosophers and go awaie with them So Cupid departed went awaie with Wantonnesse and Riot the philosopher remained declared that all abuses follies shuld come to no better end than presentlie was expressed by the miserie of Wantonnesse Riot and Cupid Then Modestie and hir fellows leauing their mistresse dame Chastitie with the powers diuine came soft and faire in their mistresse coch singing a song of chaste life as heere vnder followeth CHast life liues long and lookes on world and wicked waies Chast life for losse of pleasures short dooth win immortall praise Chast life hath merrie moods and soundlie taketh test Chast life is pure as babe new borne that hugs in moâ—hers brest Lewd life cuts off his daies and soone runs out his date Confounds good wits breeds naughtie bloud and weakens mans estate Lewd life the Lord doth loth the law and land mislikes The wise will shun fond fooles doo seeke and God sore plages and strikes Chast life may dwell alone and find few fellowes now And sit in regall throne and search lewd manners throw Chast life feares no mishap line 10 the whole account is made When soule from worldlie cares is crept and sits in sacred shade Lewd life is laught to scorne and put to great disgrace In hollow caues it hides the head and walks with muffled face Found out and pointed at a monster of the mind A â—ankred worme that conscience eates and strikes cleere senses blind Chast life a pretious pearle dooth shine as bright as sun The faire houre glasse of daies and yeeres line 20 that neuer out will run The beautie of the soule the bodies blisse and ease A thing that least is lookt vnto yet most the mind shall please And when the song was ended modestie sent as she said she was from hir maistresse spake to the quéene a good season and so the matter ended For this shew the deuiser had gratious words of the quéene openlie and often pronounced by hir highnesse On the same daie the minister of the Dutch church pronouncing to hir maiestie at hir being abrode line 30 the oration following presented the cup therein mentioned which was esteemed to be worth fiftie pounds verie curiouslie and artificiallie wrought Oratio ad serenissimam Angliae reginam habita 19. Augusti 1578 à ministro ecclesiae Belgogermanicae Nordouici in loco publico MAgna oratoribus qui percelebratorum aetate vixerunt line 40 fuit laus serenissima regina quòd iudicum animos partim suauiloquentia partim posita rei personaeque ante ipsorum oculos calamitate in quemcunque vellent animi habitum transformarent Prius membrum non vulgarem nobis ob oculos ponit hominum facilitatem quòd adeò sequaces dictóque audientes fuerint vt se linguis duci paterentur Posterius magnam vbique apud gentes quarum respublica optabili ordine fuit constituta obtinuit gratiam longè autem maiorem apud eos qui Christo nomen dederunt omnium verò maximam apud te ô serenissima regina line 50 ecclesiae Christi nutrix cuius animum verbo Dei obsequentem instruxit non fucatus hic sermo sed Christi spiritus pietatÃsque Zelus Ipsissima piorum calamitas afflictorúmque lachrymae lachrymae inquam Christi fidelium te commouerunt misera dispersáque Christi membra quibusuis iniurijs
As heauen and earth haue vowed to be thine So Neptunes seas haue sworne to drench thy foes As I am god and all the waters mine Still shalt thou get but neuer shalt thou lose And sith on earth my wealth is nought at all Accept good will the gift is verie small Who euer found on earth a constant friend That may compare with this my virgin queene Who euer found a bodie and a mind So free from staine so perfect to be seene Oh heauenlie hew that aptest is to soile And yet doost liue from blot of anie foile Rare is thy gift and giuen to few or none Malist therefore of some that dare not say More shines thy light for that I know but one That anie such shew to follow on their waie Thou thou art shee take thou the onelie praise For chastest dame in these our happie daies Accept my bowe sith best thou doâ—st deserue Though well I kâ—ow â—hy mind can thee preserue Ah ha I see my mother out of sight Then let the boy now plaie the wag a while I seeme but weake yet weake is not my might My boiesh wit can oldest folke beguile Who so dooth thinke I speake this but in iest Let me but shoot and I shall quench his rest Marke here my shafts this all is made of wood Which is but soft and breeds but soft good will Now this is gilt yet seemes it gold full good And dooth deceiue blind louing people still But here is one is seldome felt or seene This is of gold meet for the noblest queene line 10 Wherefore dame faire take thou this gift of me Though some deserue yet none deserue like you Shoot but this shaft at king or Cesar he And he is thine and if thou wilt allow It is a gift that manie here doo craue Yet none but thou this golden shaft maie haue There was written vpon the shaft My colour ioy my substance pure My vertue such as shall indure Hir maiestie receiued these gifts verie thankefullie the gods and goddesses with the rest of the maske marched about the chamber againe and then departed in like maner as they came in Then the queene line 20 called vnto hir master Robert Wood the maior of Norwich whom first she heartilie thanked and tooke by the hand and vsed secret conference but what I know not And thus this delightfull night passed to the ioy of all that saw hir grace in so pleasant plight On thursdaie in the morning my lord chamberlaine gaue the deuisor warning the quéene would ride abrode in the after noone and he commanded him to be readie dutifullie to present hir with some shew Then knowing which waie the queene would line 30 ride by coniecture and instructions giuen the deuisor caused a place to be made and digged for the nymphes of the water the maner and proportion whereof was in this forme and fashion First there was measure taken for threescore foot of ground euerie waie the hole to be made déepe and foure square which ground was all couered with canuas painted greene like the grasse and at euerie side on the canuas ran a string through curteine rings which string might easilie be drawne anie kind of waie by reason line 40 of two great poales that laie along in the ground and answered the curteine or canuas on each side so that drawing a small cord in the middle of the canuas the earth would séeme to open so shut againe as the other end of the cord was drawne backward And in the same caue was a noble noise of musike of all kind of instruments seuerallie to be sounded and plaied vpon and at one time they should be sounded all togither that might serue for a consort of broken musike And in the same caue also was placed line 50 twelue water nymphes disguised or dressed most strangelie ech of them had either vpon white silke or fine linnen gréene sedges stitched cunninglie on a long garment so well wrought and also set on as scarse anie whit might be perceiued And euerie nymph had in hir hand a great bundle of bulrushes and had on hir head a garland of iuie vnder the which iuie was a coife of mosse and vnder the mosse was there long goodlie heare like golden tresses that couered line 60 hir shoulders and in a maner raught downe vnto hir middle Now touching the beautie of the nymphes they séemed to be the chosen children of the world and became their attire so well that their beautie might haue abused a right good iudgement For diuerse of those that knew them before albeit they were bare faced could scarse know them in their garments and sundrie tooke them to be yoong girles and wenches prepared for the nonce to procure a laughter These nymphs thus apparelled and all things in good plight and readinesse there was deuised that at the quéenes comming néere the water side as this caue stood at the brim of the riuer one nymph should pop vp out of the caue first and salute the queene with a speach and then another and so till foure of them had finished their speaches there they should remaine and when they retired into their caue the musike should begin which sure had beene a noble hearing and the more melodious for the varietie thereof and bicause it should come secretlie and strangelie out of the earth And when the musike was doone then should all the twelue nymphs haue issued togither dansed a danse with timbrels that were trimmed with belles and other iangling things which timbrels were as brode as a siue hauing bottoms of fine parchment and being sounded made such a confused noise and pastime that it was to be woondered at besides the strangenesse of the timbrels yet knowne to our forefathers was a matter of admiration vnto such as were ignorant of that new found toy gathered and borrowed from our elders So in order and readinesse stood that shew for the time And to kéepe that shew companie but yet farre off stood the shew of Manhood and Desert as first to be presented and that shew was as well furnished as the other men all saue one boy called Beautie for the which Manhood Fauour and Desert did striue or should haue contended but good Fortune as victor of all conquests was to come in and ouerthrow Manhood Fauour Desert all their powers and onelie by fine force vpon a watchword spoken should laie hand on Beautie and carrie or lead hir away The other sutors troubled with this kind of dealing should talke togither and sweare to be in one mind for an open reuenge and vpon that Fortune should crie Arme arme The other side called for their friends at the which stirre should appeare both their strengthes but good Fortune should farre in power exceed his enimies And yet to shew that Destinie and who best can conquer shall gouerne all Fortune should make an offer that six to six with sword and target
vnto his praiers the preachers desired him to praie in English with them and to saie a praier after them wherein if he could find anie fault he should be resolued thereof O quoth he againe you and I were not one in faith therefore I thinke I should offend God if I should praie with you at which words the people began to crie Awaie with him so he saieng his Pater noster in Latine ended his life Then was Laurence Richardson brought vp into the cart to him Thomas Coteham to be executed togither But Coteham séemed to vtter such words as though there had béene hope he would haue forsaken his wickednesse so that the halter was vntied and he brought downe out of the cart againâ— In which time Laurence Richardson prepared him to death confessing himselfe a catholike and that he would beléeue in all things as the catholike church of Rome did vnto the pope he allowed the onelie supremasie In which traitorous opinion after certeine Latine praiers he was committed to God Then was Coteham brought vp to the cart againe the good opinion had of him before changed into that obstinat nature that was in them all saieng to master shiriffe that before he came into England he was armed for India and thither if he might be suffered he would passe with as much conuenient spéed as might be Then looking to the bodie of Laurence Richardson whereon the executioner was vsing his office he lifted vp his hands and said O blessed Laurence praie for me thy blessed soule Laurence praie for me for which words both tâ—e preachers and the people rebuked him telling him that he ought to praie to none but to God onelie all helpe of man was but in vaine Whereto he answered he was assured that he could praie for him In bréefe his treasons being mooued to him he denied all albeit his owne handwriting was there to affirme it He praied for hir maiestie and said his Pater noster Aue Maria and as the cart was drawing away he said In marius tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum and then he died Thus did the broome of iustice swéepe awaie these noisome cobwebs noisome both to church and commonwealth as being of the diuels hâ—tching but nurssed and fostered of poperie to insnare and trap seelie soules as the spider dooth the flie from whome the Lord God deliuer euerie member of his church On the second daie of Iune Philip Prise was hanged in Fléetstréet for killing one of the shiriffes sergeants that had arrested him This man at his death as inwardlie touched with sorrow for the offense which he had committed and died gaue such apparant tokens and notes of a repentant mind line 10 that partlie with his spéeches which were patheticall and partlie with his teares which were plentifull as also with his vehement sighs and greeuous grones ioined with diuerse other gestures great signes of inward grace he so mooued the beholders that manie which beheld him pitied his wofull end most yea in maner all whereof some were such as a man would haue thought had neuer a teare to shed at such a sight hauing viewed diuerse the like and more lamentable spectacles with wet eies beheld line 20 him and yet in heart reioised that he died reconciled to God On the eight and twentith of Iune Peregrine Bartie lord Willoughbie of Grobie appointed ambassador to Frederike the second king of Denmarke with the garter wherevnto he had béene elected chosen a long time before tooke his leaue of the quéenes maiestie at Gréenewich with whome sir Gilbert Dethicke alià s Garter principall king of armes was ioined in commission for the inuesting of the said king into the order and Robert Glouer line 30 alià s Summerset herald was also present and gaue his attendance in the same voiage as likewise did a competent number of gentlemen and yeomen in all to the number of six and fiftie persons besides mariners c. The said lord ambassador prepared himselfe towards Kingstone vpon Hull where he imbarked with his whole traine on the fourtéenth daie of Iulie and prosperouslie arriued at Elsemore in Denmarke on the one and twentith daie of the same moneth where he was honorablie interteined line 40 On the thirtéenth daie of August he presented himselfe before the king in his castell of Croneborough and made his first spéech vnto him in Latine which spéech being ended the lord Willoughbie deliuered vnto the king hir maiesties letters and withall the commission for the kings inuesture into that honorable order of the garter Which letters the king opened and deliuered them to Henrie Ramelis his chancellor for Germanie to read whom he commanded line 50 to answer my lords former oration From the king my lord was conueied to the quéenes presence vnto whome also he deliuered hir maiesties letters with salutations The next daie being thursdaie the fouretéenth of August the king roiallie prepared receiued the robes of the order with his owne hands and with great contentment accepted and ware the garter the collar and the George when as my lord concluded the whole dedication with sundrie wel-wishings In the end whereof he put the king in mind line 60 of the oth and thankefull acceptation of the order to be testified by a publike instrument as was before promised where vnto the king answered by his chancellor Nicholas Kaas with manie effectuall words and immediatlie in signe of ioie a great volee was discharged of all the great shot in his castell and the lord ambassador with all his traine was roiallie feasted rewarded On thursdaie the sixtéenth daie of August the king tooke my lord ambassador foorth on hunting two leagues from Elsemore and there in the dinner time vttered manie louing spéeches And after to wit on the one and twentith of September the lord ambassador with all his traine imbarked at Emden and arriued at Bromeholme in Norffolke on thursdaie the seauen and twentith daie of September On the nineteenth daie of Iulie certeine ferkins of gunpowder to the number of seauen and as manie or more ferkins of sturgeon laden in a car vpon Galleie keie néere vnto the Tower of London some small portion of the same powder being shed on the ground the horsse in the said carre stroke fire with his foot and fired all togither where-through the sturgeon was blowen awaie some into the Thames some elsewhere one ferkin was driuen through a lome wall that was boorded ouer but all was spoiled and lost the craâ—e on the wharffe with the houses neere adioining shattered manie men and horsses sore blasted the thrée men and seauen horsses died thereof On the twelfe daie of August there arose a great tempest of lightening thunder whirlewind and raine with hailestones fashioned like to the rowels of spurs two or thrée inches about in the countie of Norffolke betweene the market townes of north Walsham and Worsted the towne wherein the making of
world which dooth threten continuall ouerflowes of waters and particular deluges in some countries finallie which menaceth much mischiefe The publication off reading and talking of this coniunction with the remembrance of the instant wherin it should be made manie when the daie foretold was come to looke for some strange apparition or vision in the aire and withall put them in mind of an old and common prophesie touching the yeare 1588 which is now so riâ—e in euerie mans mouth That yeare was manie hundred yeares ago foretold and much spoken of amongst astrologers who haue as it were Vnanimi consensu prognosticated that either a maruellous fearfull horrible alteration of empires kingdoms segniories and estates togither likewise with other most woonderfull and verie extraordinarie accidents as extreame hunger and pestilence desperat treasons and commotions shall then fall out to the miserable affliction and oppression of huge multitudes or else that an vtter and finall ouerthrowe and destruction of the whole world shall insue which prophesie is conteined in these verses following Post mille expletos à partu Virginis annos Et post quingentos rursus ab orbe datos Octogesimus octauus mirabilis annus Ingruet is secum tristia fata feret Si non hoc anno totus malus occidet orbis line 10 Si non in nihilum terra fretúmque ruet Cuncta tamen mundi sursum ibunt atque retrorsum Imperia luctus vndique grandis erit So that by this prophesie either a finall dissolution or a woonderfull horrible alteration of the world is then to be expected All these considerations laid togither as well the prediction of the coniunction in expectation as also the dreadfull euents which were to insue therevpon and vpon the necke of these the line 20 great yeare of 1588 in euerie mans mouth the more frequent and common by occasion of a booke extant vnder the title of the end of the world and the second comming of Christ made diuerse diuerslie affected insomuch that some conuersing and conferring looked for no lesse than was prophesied and talking verie religiouslie séemed as though they would become sanctified people howbeit the day of the coniunction being past with a certeine counterchecke against the said astrologicall discourse in line 30 some points defectiue and no such euents palpablie perceiued as were prognosticated people fell to their former securitie and condemned the discourser of extreame madnesse and follie whereof no more but this Scientia nullum habet sibi inimicum praeter ignorantem year 1584 On the tenth of Ianuarie in the yeare 1584 at a sessions holden in the iustice hall in the old bailie of London for goale deliuerie of Newgate William Cartar of the citie of London was there indicted arreigned line 40 and condemned of high treason for printing a seditious and traitorous booke in English intituled A treatise of schisme and was for the same according to sentence pronounced against him on the next morrow which was the eleuenth of Ianuarie drawne from Newgate to Tiborne and there hanged bowelled and quartered And foorthwith against slanderous reports spread abroad in seditious books letters and libels thereby to inflame the hearts of our countriemen and hir maiesties subiects a booke line 50 was published intituled A declaration of the fauorable dealing of hir maiesties commissioners c. Which booke I haue thought good in this place to set downe for the better instruction of the reader euen as the same was printed and published and thus it followeth A declaration of the fauourable dealing of hir maiesties commissioners appointed for the examination of certeine traitors and of tortures vniustlie reported to be done vpon them line 60 for matters of religion GOod reader although hir maiesties most mild and gratious gouernement be sufficient to defend it selfe against those most slanderous reports of heathenish and vnnaturall tyrannie and cruell tortures pretended to haue béene executed vpon certeine traitors who latelie suffered for their treason and others aswell spread abroad by rungates Iesuits and seminarie men in their seditious bookes letters and libels in forren countries and princes courts as also insinuated into the hearts of some of our owne countriemen and hir maiesties subiects yet for thy better satisfaction I haue conferred with a verie honest gentleman whom I knew to haue good and sufficient meanes to deliuer the truth against such forgers of lies and shamelesse slanders in that behalfe which he and other that doo know and haue affirmed the same will at all times iustifie And for thy further assurance and satisfaction herein he hath set downe to the vew of all men these necessarie notes following Touching the racke and torments vsed to such traitors as pretended themselues to be catholikes vpon whom the same haue beene exercised it is affirmed for truth and is offered vpon due examination so to be prooued to be as followeth First that the formes of torture in their seueritie or rigour of execution haue not beene such and in such maner performed as the slanderers and seditious libellers haue slanderouslie maliciouslie published And that euen the principall offendor Campion himselfe who was sent came from Rome and continued here in sundrie corners of the realme hauing secretlie wandered in the greatest part of the shires of England in a disguised sort to the intent to make speciall preparation of treasons and to that end and for furtherance of those his labours sent ouer for more helpe and assistance and cunninglie and traitorouslie at Rome before he came from thense procured toleration for such prepared rebels to kéepe themselues couert vnder pretense of temporarie and permissiue obedience to hir maiestie the state standing as it doth but so soone as there were sufficient force whereby the bull of hir maiesties depriuation might be publikelie executed they should then ioine all togither with that force vpon paine of cursse and damnation that verie Campion I saie before the conference had with him by learned men in the Tower wherin he was charitablie vsed was neuer so racked but that he was presentlie able to walke and to write and did presentlie write and subscribe all his confessions as by the originals thereof may euidentlie appeare A horrible matter is also made of the staruing of one Alexander Briant how he should eat claie out of the wals gathered water to drinke from the droppings of houses with such other false ostentations of immanitie where the truth is this that what soeuer Briant suffered in want of food he suffered the same wilfullie of extreame impudent obstinacie against the mind and liking of those that dealt with him For certeine traitorous writings being found about him it was thought conuenient by conference of hands to vnderstand whose writing they were and thervpon he being in hir maiesties name commanded to write which he could verie well doo and being permitted to him to write what he would himselfe in these termes
and such like but yet so warilie they crept into the land as none brought the markes of their priesthood with them But in diuers corners of hir maiesties dominions these seminaries or séedmen and Iesuits bringing with them certeine Romish trash as of their hallowed war their Agnus Dei their graines and manie kind of beads and such like haue as tillagemen laboured secretlie to persuade the people to allow of the popes foresaid buls and warrants of his absolute authoritie ouer all princes and countries and striking manie with pricks of conscience to obeie the same whereby in processe of small time if this wicked and dangerous traitorous craftie course had not béene by Gods goodnesse espied and stated there had followed imminent danger of horrible vprores in the realmes and a manifest bloudie destruction of great multitudes of christians For it can not be denied but that so manie as should haue béene induced thoroughlie persuaded to haue obeied that wicked warrant of the popes and the contents thereof should haue béene forthwith in their harts and consciences secret traitors and for to be in déed errant and open traitors there should haue wanted nothing but opportunitie to féele their strength to assemble themselues in such numbers with armour and weapons as they might haue presumed to haue beene the greater part and so by open ciuill warre to haue come to their wicked purposes But Gods goodnesse by whome kings doo rule and by whose blast traitors are commonlie wasted and confounded hath otherwise giuen to hir maiestie as to his handmaid and deare seruant ruling vnder him the spirit of wisedome and power whereby she hath caused some of these seditious séedmen and sowers of rebellion to be discouered for all their secret lurkings and to be taken and charged with these former points of high treason not being dealt withall vpon questions of religion but iustlie by order of lawes openlie condemned as traitors At which times notwithstanding all maner gentle waies of persuasions vsed to mooue them to desist from such manifest traitorous courses and opinions with offer of mercie yet was the canker of their rebellious humors so déepelie entered and grauen into line 10 the harts of manie of them as they would not be remooued from their traitorous determinations And therefore as manifest traitors in mainteining and adhering to the capitall enimie of hir maiestie hir crowne who hath not onelie béene the cause of two rebellions alreadie passed in England and Ireland but in that of Ireland did manifestlie wage and mainteine his owne people capteins and souldiers vnder the banner of Rome against hir maiestie line 20 so as no enimie could doo more these I saie haue iustlie suffered death not by force or forme of anie new lawes established either for religion or against the popes supremasie as the slanderous libellers would haue it séeme to be but by the ancient temporall lawes of the realme and namelie by the laws of parlement made in king Edward the third his time about the yeare of our Lord 1330 which is aboue two hundred yeares and more past when the bishops of Rome and popes were suffered to haue line 30 their authoritie ecclesiasticall in this realme as they had in manie other countries But yet of this kind of offendors as manie of them as after their condemnations were contented to renounce their former traitorous assertions so manie were spared from execution doo liue still at this daie such was the vnwillingnes in hir maiestie to haue anie bloud spilt without this verie vrgent iust and necessarie cause procéeding from themselues And yet neuerthelesse such of the rest of the traitors as remaine in forren parts continuing still line 40 their rebellious minds and craftilie kéeping themselues aloofe off from dangers ceasse not to prouoke sundrie other inferiour seditious persons newlie to steale secretlie into the realme to reuiue the former seditious practises to the execution of the popes foresaid bull against hir maiestie and the realme pretending when they are apprehended that they came onelie into the realme by the commandement of their superiors the heads of the Iesuits to whome they are bound as they saie by oth against either king line 50 or countrie and here to informe or reforme mens consciences from errors in some points of religion as they thinke meet But yet in verie truth the whole scope of their secret labours is manifestlie prooued to be secretlie to win all people with whom they dare deale so to allow of the popes said buls and of his authoritie without exception as in obeieng thereof they take themselues fullie discharged of their allegiance and obedience to their lawfull prince and countrie yea and to be well warranted line 60 to take armes to rebell against hir maiestie when they shall be therevnto called and to be readie secretlie to ioine with any forren force that can be procured to inuade the realme whereof also they haue a long time giuen and yet doo for their aduantage no small comfort of successe And so consequentlie the effect of their labours is to bring the realme not onelie into a dangerous warre against the forces of strangers from which it hath béene frée aboue three and twentie or foure and twentie yeares a case verie memorable and hard to be matched with an example of the like but into a warre domesticall and ciuill wherein no bloud is vsuallie spared nor mercie yéelded and wherein neither the vanquishor nor the vanquished can haue iust cause of triumph And forsomuch as these are the most euident perils that necessarilie should follow if these kind of vermine were suffered to créepe by stealth into the realme and to spred their poison within the same howsoeuer when they are taken like hypocrits they colour and counterfeit the same with profession of deuotion in religion it is of all persons to be yéelded in reason that hir maiestie and all hir gouernours and magistrats of iustice hauing care to mainteine the peace of the realme which God hath giuen in hir time to continue longer than euer in anie time of hir progenitors ought of dutie to almightie God the author of peace and according to the naturall loue and charge due to their countrie and for auoiding of the flouds of bloud which in ciuill warres are séene to run and flow by all lawfull meanes possible as well by the sword as by law in their seuerall seasons to impeach and repell these so manifest and dangerous colourable practises and works of sedition and rebellion And though there are manie subiects knowne in the realme that differ in some opinions of religion from the church of England and that doo also not forbeare to professe the same yet in that they doo also professe loialtie and obedience to hir maiestie and offer readilie to hir maiesties defense to impugne resist anie forreine force though it should come or be procured from the pope himselfe none of
in contracts bargainings and intercourse of traffike line 60 and merchandize the one partie should submit himselfe to that kalendar wherevnto the pope hath yoked his popelings and persuaded manie more to doo the same c. Although these and the like interrogatories may be made against the papists yet bicause to giue an instance is not to answer a doubt it is to be wished that this kalendar were throughlie siâ—ted by some sound and sober mathematician and the three heads whereof this new reformed kalendar of Gregorie dooth consist disprooued which thrée heads repeated by Gregorie in his bull before the said kalendar are these 1 The restoring and coupling of the equinoctiall in the spring to the one and twentith daie of March with such a caueat giuen that from thense as from the proper and fixed seat it may not possiblie hereafter at anie time remooue 2 The correction of the golden number by the cyrcle of epacts in such sort that the numbers of epacts may shew not onelie the daie of the new moone in euerie moneth of all years but also and that principallie the terme of Easter that is the certeine iust daie of the verie next full moone following after the equinoctiall of the spring and that euerie yeare without error or deceipt 3 The verie iust and certeine sundaie of Easter that ought to be celebrated and kept on the verie next sundaie after the full moone which first dooth follow after the iust equinoctiall of the spring These thrée heads being so anatomized and opened by mathematicians as were méet it should be found in the end that this new kalendar in all and euerie part thereof euen wherin it is best reformed or so thought to be is manie waies faultie erronious in the verie grounds in which qualitie leauing it as not to be put to the touch in a publike chronicle but otherwise to be had in triall Gregorie the preferrer thereof is now to be handled by description which is no fiction or imagined bable but deriued out of an oration or funerall sermon at Rome at the buriall of his holinesse conteining his maners life deeds and last words at his death togither with the lamentations of the cardinals and whole Romish clergie Otherwise to be intituled as followeth A sermon full of papisticall adulation and matter sufficient to procure the wise and vertuous minded to contemne such grosse and palpable blindnesse and all persons to laugh at the Romanists absurd and erronious follies THere is nothing so certeine as death either vncerteine as the moment thereof Wherefore the holie doctor saith Kéepe thy selfe continuallie in that estate wherin thou desirest to die And the prouerbe goeth that manie a one thinketh himselfe in perfect helth when he beareth death in his bosome To saie the truth we doo continuallie carrie death about with vs it is in vs immediatlie after we take life and moouing in our mothers wombe and wheresoeuer we walke it is still at our héeles if we take horsse it is with vs if we be on the water it is the guide of our ship so as we can neuer saie death to be absent from vs for our selues are verie death and no part of our bodie immortall Wherefore those that suppose themselues to liue in this world are far deceiued in their owne opinions and the pilgrimage of man in this world is but a shadow of life which vnto vs seemeth life but in déed is none The better therefore to describe the said shadow I will make an abstraction of the dead time of mans age from the full and greatest age that a creature can liue in the world First the longest age that man can liue is but sixtie years From sixtie years we must deduct the nights for man when he sleepeth liueth not Besides that sleep is termed the image of death so that deducting the nights which comprehend one halfe of the time man liueth but thrée score yeares in the world Whiles man liueth these sixtie yeares he liueth but the one halfe of them for if he haue one daie of mirth and quiet he hath another of sorrow and care bicause griefe dooth still secretlie créepe into mirth And anie person troubled with cares and vexed in mind dooth rather die than liue We must therfore take from the sixtie yeares aforesaid the one halfe and so there remaine but thirtie Now let vs sée whether in the space of six score yeares a man may not passe awaie ten at the least in sickenesse mischances or other infirmities I may tell you there is no man that liueth six score yeares in the world but at seuerall times and during the said age he hath aboue ten yeares infirmitie and therefore we must take from the thirtie yeares which are the remainder of mans life yet ten yeares then there are but twentie left which are now the twentie yeares of his life We must take them at his infancie in his oldest age that is ten line 10 yeares from his verie chlidhood the other ten from his extreame old age But sith aswell in infancie as in extremitie of age there is no life but rather a liuing death I conclude that man hath not one onelie houre of life in this world also that whosoeuer séeketh life in this world dooth much deceiue himselfe In heauen therefore it is that we must assure our selues to liue and seeke for life but not vpon earth where death dooth continuallie haunt vs. For we ought to die to the world to the end to be borne in Iesus line 20 Christ according to the souereigne sentence and decrée O ye inhabitants of Rome we sée your great bishop and mine is dead behold our crowne is fallen our lodestar vanished awaie and our light extinguished And for mine owne part O miserable man who am depriued of him of two things I wish for one that is either neuer to remember the good that we haue lost either else calling the same to mind to find some one that were able to giue me comfort correspondent line 30 to the greatnesse of the heauinesse wherinto I am fallen And indéed my selfe doo now come into the pulpit vpon two seuerall occasions méere contrarie ech to other to wit to reherse the gretnes of the good that is taken from vs to comfort those that susteine the losse naie rather to doo two things which séeme to repugne ech other For if it be true that nothing dooth more aggrauate the griefe of the losse than the remembrance of the value of the thing lost then dooth nothing séeme more contrarie to the comfort of the liuing than the praises of him that is line 40 dead as in this case wherein so far doo the merits of the deceased exceed that the arrowes which pearse his hart that is depriued of him are the more sharpe and grieuous Howbeit some man would answer that contrariwise by the commendations of him that is departed we doo declare
deliuered in the Star-chamber and after published in a booke intituled A true and summarie report of the declaration of some part of the earle of Northumberlands treasons deliuered publikelie in the court at the Starchamber by the lord Chancellor and others of hir maiesties most honorable priuie councell councell learned by hir maiesties speciall commandement togither with the examinations depositions of sundrie persons touching the maner of his most wicked and violent murther committed vpon himselfe with his owne hand in the Tower of London the 20 daie of Iune 1585. MAlice among other essentiall properties perteining to hir ouglie nature hath this one not inferior to the rest and the woorst incredulitie wherewith the commonlie possesseth the minds and affections of all those that are infected with hir so blinding the eies iudgement of the best and clearest sighted that they cannot see or perceiue the bright beames of the truth although the same be deliuered with neuer so great puritie proofe circumstance and probabilitie It is said that no truth passeth abroad vnaccompanied with hir contrarie and as they go truth is euer constreined to yeeld the precedence and preheminence to hir yokefellow falshood whose lodging is alwaies first made and prepared without a harbenger in the corrupt nature of mankind by whome she is first receiued interteined and harbored at all times wherof in our dailie experience there happen manie and dangerous demonstrations especiallie in matters of the highest moment tending to excuse or accuse the actions of the greatest personages There was of late deliuered in publike by persons of honour credit and reputation a large declaration of certeine treasons practised by the late earle of Northumberland of the maner of his vntimelie death being with his owne hand murthered in the Tower and of the causes that wrought him therevnto The particularities whereof are such and so manie as for the helpe of my memorie comming then to the Starchamber by occasion and not looking for anie such presence of the nobilitie and priuie councell as I found there at that time and not looking for anie such cause of that nature to haue béene handled there that daie I tooke notes of the seuerall matters declared by the lord chancellor maister attourneie and solicitor generall the lord chiefe baron and maister vicechamberlaine for as I remember they spake in order as they are here marshalled and therefore I place them in this sort and not according to their precedence in dignitie Upon the hearing of the treasons with their proofs and circumstances and the desperat maner of the earles destruction deliuered in that place and by persons of that qualitie I supposed no man to line 10 haue beene so void of iudgement or the vse of common reason that would haue doubted of anie one point or particle thereof vntill it was my chance falling in companie with diuerse persons at sundrie times as well about the citie of London as abroad to heare manie men report variablie and corruptlie of the maner and matter of this publike declaration possessing the minds and opinions of the people with manifest vntruths as that the earle had béene vniustlie deteined in prison without proofe or line 20 iust cause of suspicion of treason and that he had beene murthered by deuise and practise of some great enimies and not destroied by himselfe These slanderous reports haue ministred vnto me this occasion to set forth vnto thy view and consideration gentle reader this short collection of the said treasons and murther as neere vnto the truth as my notes taken may lead and permit me with the view of some of the examinations them selues concerning this cause for my better satisfaction since obteined Which I line 30 haue vndertaken for two respects the one to conuince the false and malicious impressions and constructions receiued and made of these actions by such as are in heart enimies to the happie estate of hir maiesties present gouernement the other because it may be thought necessarie for the preuenting of a further contagion like to grow by this créeping infection in the minds of such as are apt though otherwise indifferent in these and the like rumors to receiue the bad as the good and they the most in number Wherein if I haue séemed more bold than line 40 wise or intermedled my selfe in matters aboue my reach and not apperteining vnto me I craue pardon where it is to be asked and commit my selfe to thy friendlie interpretation to be made of my simple trauell and dutifull meaning herein Upon the three and twentith daie of Iune last assembled in the court of Starchamber sir Thomas Bromleie knight lord chancellor of England William lord Burleigh lord treasuror of England line 50 George earle of Shrewsburie lord marshall of England Henrie earle of Derbie Robert earle of Leicester Charles lord Howard of Effingham lord chamberlaine Henrie lord Hunsdon lord gouernor of Berwike sir Francis Knollis knight treasuror sir Iames Croft knight comptrollor of hir maiesties houshold sir Christopher Hatton knight vice-chamberlaine to the quéenes maiestie the lord chiefe iustice of hir maiesties bench the maister of the rolles and the lord chiefe baron of the excheker line 60 and others The audience verie great of knights esquiers and men of other qualitie the lord chancellor began briefelie and summarilie to declare that whereas Henrie late earle of Northumberland for diuerse notable treasons and practises by him taken in hand to the danger not onelie of hir maiesties roiall person but to the perill of the whole realme had béene long deteined in prison and looking into the guilt of his owne conscience and perceiuing by such meanes of intelligence as he by corrupting of his keepers and other like deuises had obteined that his treasons were by sundrie examinations and confessions discouered grew thereby into such a desperat estate as that therevpon he had most wickedlie destroied murthered himselfe Which being made knowen to the lords of hir maiestees priuie councell order was therevpon taken and direction giuen to the lord chiefe iustice of England the maister of the rolles and the lord chiefe baron of the eâ—cheker to examine the maner and circumstances of his death which they with all good indeuor and diligence had accordinglie performed And least through the sinister meanes of such persons as be euill affected to the present estate of hir maiesties gouernement some bad and vntrue conceipts might be had as well of the cause of the earles deteinement as of the maner of his death it was therefore thought necessarie to haue the truth thereof made knowen in that presence and then he required hir maiesties learned councell there present to deliuer at large the particularities both of the treasons and in what sort the earle had murthered himselfe Then began Iohn Popham esquier hir maiesties attourneie generall as followeth The earle of Northumberland about the time of the last rebellion in the north in
precise in the obseruation of good order For he would seldome breake it in anie respect but vpon euident knowne and most iust cause or when he was ouerruled as sometimes he was by such as had souereigne power to direct and command him Extraordinarie courses he alwaies vtterlie misliked especiallie when order was peruerted or iustice hindered whereby the common societie of mans life is onelie preserued and mainteined which two things speciallie purchased him such vniuersall goodwill euerie where and namelie amongst the officers of hir maiesties most honorable houshold with whome he would manie times be familiarlie conuersant as they haue often wished he might haue beene honored with a white staffe to haue borne office with authoritie amongst them His nature was so tempered with modestie pietie and patience as he seldome shewed heat or choler how greeuous so euer the offense was which was giuen him He was a fast friend where he professed friendship and no reuengefull so when he was offended hardlie would he be remooued in friendship from his friend or follower but vpon most iust certeine and knowne cause which he could not smulther and would not hide from the partie I haue manie times heard him saie and by occasion haue séene the same written in his owne letters that he was dubbed knight by that noble and vertuous prince king Edward the selfe same daie sir William Cecill then principall secretarie now lord treasuror of England was by meanes wherof and that sir William Cecill was yea euen in those daies estéemed a most rare man both for sundrie and singular gifts of nature learning wisedome and integritie and partlie by the friendlie good offices of that true paterne of humanitie and courtesie sir Iohn Chéeke then schoolemaster to the king a choise deare friend to them both that there began such an entrie of acquaintance knowledge loue mutuall goodwill and intire friendship betwixt them as continued alwais 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 after till his dieng daie A matter of proâ—â—ritie it were and intollerable â—ediousnesse to parâ—â—culaâ— in ampâ—e maner the raâ—e qualities of his bodie and mind wherefore we wâ—ll 〈◊〉 run them ouer as loth to abridge his deserued 〈◊〉 too liberallie This noble man was fortunat in war and no lesse happie in peace passing well beloued of his soldiers vpright in iustice yet withall inclined to mercie â—e reuerenced all mâ—n of science for he would manie times saie Science was to be honored wheresoeuer it was to be found line 10 〈…〉 He omitted not moâ—ning euening praier he was liberall and honorable in hospitalitie his skill far eâ—ceâ—ded other mens in knowledge and secrets of Ireland yea of that countrie birth The loue and affection the Irishrie bare him 〈◊〉 manie of them to ciuilitie he was little giuen to sléepe and ease in the night for he â—â—eldome kept his bed aboue six houres if he were in heâ—â—th neither after â—e arose would he take in the daie time anie line 20 kind of repose He would in his iournies wearie and laie vp most of his companie nothing offended him more than ingratitude in his dealings his word was his worst sociable he was with his assistants he had an intention to haue erected certeine nurseries of learning his seruice was subiect to the eare and not to the eie whereby his vertues manie times were suppressed he was deputie of Ireland and president of Wales both at one time This noble knight graue councellor complet gentleman and most woorthie and rarâ— subiect departed line 30 this life at the bishops palace at Worcester the fift daie of Maie in the yeare of our Lord 1586 being fiftie and seauen yeares old complet wanting onelie one moneth and fiftéene daies about foure of the clocke in the morning after he had continued seuen daies sicke of a kind of cold palseie as the physicians decréed of the disease which happened vnto him as it was of mâ—nie said and of mo thought by reason of an eâ—treâ—e cold he tooke vpon the water in his passage line 40 and remooue by barge betwéene Bewdlie and Worcester not long after he had béene purged and his bodâ—e not fullie setled but his pores remaining still â—â—en as it is most like by reasâ—n of an extraordinarie loosenes which consequentlie followed the taking of his physicke and could not be stopped hauâ—ng then beene lord president of hir maiesties councell established in the dominion and principalitie of Wales six and twentie years complet without anie change or alteration or absolute transferring the line 50 roome or authoritie to anie other in the meane time for whose death there was great mone and lamentation As for his bodie by easie iourneies and short remooues it was conueied from Worcester to his house at Penshurst in Kent verie honourablie and well attended with great traine ceremonie and all other things apperteining to funerall order honor and solemnitie where he was honorablie interred the one and twentith daie of Iune following He was before imbowelled his intrals buried in the deans line 60 chapell in the cathedrall church at Worcester his heart brought to Ludlow buried in the toome with his deere beloued daughter Ambrosia in the little oratorie he made in the semicollegiat parish church there wherein he erected this monument The ninth daie of August next following died the most noble worthie beneficent and bountious ladie the ladie Marie Sidneie his onelie spouse and most déere wife who was eldest daughter vnto that renowmed duke Iohn late of Northumberland and sister to the right honorable and most worthie the erls of Warwike and Leicester most zealouslie godlie and penitentlie as by the testimonie of some honorable and other graue personages is well auouched and was intoâ—â—ed at Penshurst in the sâ—me toome with hir dâ—â—re and honorable husband During the whole course of hir sicknesse and speciallie a little before it pleased almigâ—tie God to call hir â—ense to his mercie she vsed such godlie 〈◊〉 earnest and effectuall persuasions to all those about hir and vnto such others as came of freendlie courtesie to visit â—ir to exhort them to repentance and amendment of life and dehort them from all sinne and lewdnesse as wounded the consciences and inwardlie pearsed the hearts of manie that heard hir They left behind them yet liuing most déere pledges noble and woâ—thie resemblances descended of them thâ—ee sonnes all forward martiall and valoâ—ous gentlemen and one onelie daughter matched in mariage vnto the right honorable Henrie earle of Penbroke whome God hath alreadie blessed with goodlie rare and towardlie issue sir Philip Sidneie his sonne heire Ad 〈◊〉 â—ereditas glori◠〈◊〉 imâ—tatiâ— pertâ—â—et a gentleman of great hope and excéeding eâ—pectation indowed with manie rare gifts singular vertues and other ornaments both of mind and bodie one generallie belooued and estéemed of all men who matched in mariage with the daughter and heire of sir Francis Walsingham knight hir maiesties principall
secretarie by whome he hath alreadie a goodlie babe but a daughter This right woorthie and thrise renowmed knight sir Philip Sidneie lord gouernor of Ulissingen hauing spent some time in hir maiesties seruice in the low countries with great honor speciall credit and estimation and withall hauing obteined by his vertue valor and great policie such an entrie of entire good will trust and authoritie with the states as his counsels and persuasions could much more preuaile and worke singular effect with them than anie one mans could doo in anie cause what soeuer that happened to fall in question or debate amongst them therfore earnestlie following the course he then tooke in hand for the aduancement of that seruice and to win fame the onelie marke true nobilitie either dooth or ought to leuell at he imbarked himselfe at Ulissingen accompanied onlie with thrée thousand footmen and bending his course to Arell which lieth in the countie of Flanders vsed both such diligence and secrecie in this eâ—pedition as he surprised the towne before they could haue intelligence of his comming without losse or hurt of anie one of his companie By means whereof the forts and sconses there néere abouts adioining being striken vpon the sudden into such a feare and amazement as doubting some further perils to them intended than anie at the present well appeared voluntarilie and simplie gaue themselues and their holds into his hands yéelded to his disposition and mercie And so after he had well refreshed himselfe and his companie in this towne he had thus new taken he departed thense remained in the countrie not farre off ten or twelue daies next following till he had vittelled the same put in a garrison left monsieur Pernon there gouernor Now in the meane time of his staie attending these seruices and because he would alwaies be occupied in some honorable action he brake a sluse forced a trench and cut out a banke that made such an open passage entrance into the sea as since it hath drowned and destroied the whole countrie being well neere now worne into a chanell the same hauing béene the best and most fertill soile in those parts and far excéeding anie territorie néere thereabouts to so great a preiudice and annoiance of the enimie as by common well grounded opinion neither by sluse or lightlie anie other draine or deuise that countrie can possiblie be recouered or regained And this enterprise was atchiued without making head or other offer of offense inuasion or resistance by Mondragon who was of purpose imploied with sufficient force to defend the countrie and to haue impeached all these attempts and actions Moreouer his aduise for the seruice intended at Grauelin dissenting in opinion from others who were thought the most expert capteins and best renowmed and sorted souldiours gaue such a sufficient proofe of his excellent wit policie and ripe iudgement as his onelie act and counsell with the losse of line 10 a verie few of his companie wrought all their safeties which otherwise by treacherie had béene most likelie to haue béene intrapped And so consequentlie going forward in other seruices at an incounter with the enimie not far from Zutphen where he that daie most valiantlie serued for he bare the inuincible mind of an ancient woorthie Romane who euer where he came made account of victorie he receiued hurt by a musket shot a little aboue the left knée which so brake and rifted the bone and so entred the line 20 thigh vpward towards the bodie as the bullet could not be found before his bodie was opened Of which hurt notwithstanding he liued though in great paine and extreame torment six and twentie daies following and died the seauentéenth daie of October betweene two and thrée of the clocke in the afternoone at Arnam in Gelderland He greatlie abounded in sundrie good vertues which euer where he came procured him loue but chéefelie in iustice and liberalitie a woorthie most line 30 speciall note in a gouernour which gained him hartie loue coupled with fame and honor For the which especiallie those vnder his late charge and gouernment so greatlie loued esteemed honored in a sort adored him when he was aliue as they made earnest meanes and intreatie to haue his bodie remaine there still with them for memorie when he was dead and promised that if they might obteine it to erect for him as faire a monument as anie prince had in christendome yea though the same should cost halfe line 40 a tun of golâ— the building His bodie was most honourablie conueied from Arnam to London where it remained at the Minories certeine daies from thense brought and remooued on the sixtéenth of Februarie alongst the stréets through Cheapside with funerall pompe and solemnitie beseeming so martiall a gentleman the ensignes of warre and pikes trailed vpon the ground the drums and flutes couered with blacke and making a softlie sound with other statelie shewes of mournfull representations the earle of Leicester with other honourable line 50 and woorshipfull personages following the dead bodie which finallie was interred in Paules church of London About this time one Thomas Louelace late of Staple inne gentleman for counterfeiting of false and trecherous letters against his own kinred containing most traitorous matter against hir maiesties owne person was iudged in the Starchamber to be carried on horsse-backe about Westminster line 60 hall with his face to the horsse taile and a paper on his backe declaring his offense then to be set on the pillorie in the palace at Westminster and there to haue one of his eares cut off then to ride in like sort into London and in Cheapside to be set on the pillorie vpon a market daie after that to be conueied into Kent where standing openlie on the pillorie in the place of assise as before he should loose his other eare and lastlie be set vpon the pillorie one market daie in Canturburie and another at Rochester his offense and punishment in euerie of the said places openlie read and published which iudiciall sentence was accordinglie executed On sundaie the eight daie of Maie an ambassador named Henrie Ramelius intituled Cancellarius Germanicus arriued at the tower of London A gentleman he was of goodlie personage somewhat corpulent and of sanguine complexion verie eloquent likewise and learned not onelie in the knowledge of diuerse toongs as Latine French Italian and German but also in sundrie sciences He came in ambassage from Frederike the second of that name king of Denmarke vnto the queens maiestie of England and arriuing as you haue heard at the Tower was honorablie receiued of the lord Cobham and other great estates who conueied him from thense through Tower stréet into Bishopsgate street and so to a faire and large house called Crosbies place where he was well lodged and remained The said Ramelius during the time of his tariance had attendance doone him conuenient
time 1186 b 40 c. 1187 1188. 1189. The French men driuen into it 1188 b 10. A fire in it and augmented with shot of ordinance and windie wether 1190 a 50. Maipoles set vp therein on Maie daie b 10. Whie the describing of the siege thereof is so largelie set downe 1193 a 20. Peace concluded thereabouts a 40 c. Burned to the ground 963 a 20 Leofwins malicious mind against Liuifus note 12 b 30 Leolin prince of Wales summoned to come and doo his homage 278 a 10. And the Welsh rebels accurssed 281 a 20. His wife taken from him he beginneth to make wars maketh sure for peace 278 a 50 60. Restored to hir husband 279 b 10. He sueth for peace 278 b 10. Beginneth new warres 279 b 60. Inuadeth Edward the firsts fréends 281 b 10. Discomfited 205 a 30. Inuadeth the English borders 213 b 60. His courage 214 a 10. Spoileth the marches of England 217 a 20. Made cuckold and how he reuenged it 211 b 60. Wasteth and spoileth all the marches betwixt Wales and Shrewesburie 218 a 30. Deceaseth 224. Slaine his head presented to Edward the first 281 b 40 60 Leopald ¶ Sée duke of Austrich Lerning in the earle of Mellents sonnes note 44 a 60 Letter of king Iohn to his nobles of England touching his victories and taking of duke Arthur prisoner 165 â— 10. Of the proud bishop of Elie to the shiriffe of Kent 130 b 30. Of the pope to the cleargie of England for the celebrating of a holie daie 85 b 10. Of king Richard the first to the states of England for the deposing the bishop of Elie 132 a 30. Of the emperor to the states of England touching his deliuerance 140 b 20. Of Richard the first to the archbishop of Canturburie touching his deliuerance out of prison 140 a 50. To the duke of Austrich cléering Richard the first of the death of the marquesse of Montferrat 136 a 50. Of Henrie the fourth to pope Gregorie and the cardinals 535 a 40 c. Of William Northbourgh the kings confessor describing the kings voiage into France 373 b 50 c. Seditious of a préest 437 b 30. Of E. W concerning the earle of Essex Walter Deuereux 1266 a 60 b 10 c. Of cardinall Como to Parrie for resolution to kill quéen Elisabeth 1388 b 10. Of Creitchton to sir Francis Walsingham touching Parries intended murthering of the quéene 1388 a 10. Of Boner vnâ—o cardinall Poole concerning persecution 1164 a 10. Of the councell to Edmund Boner as touching quéene Marie conceiued with child 1123 b 60. Of the ladie Marie touching hir chalenge vnto the crowne 1084 b 50. With an answer of the lords 1085 a 40. Of the king to the lord Cheinie at his going into France note 1123. Right excellent of the duke of Summerset to the Scotish nobilitie touching the marriage betwéene Edward the sixt and the quéene of Scots 998 b 10 c. 999 1000 1001 a 10. Of defiance from the Scotish K. to Henrie the eight 820. Of the French king prisoner to his mother the regent of France 884 b 50 60. Of Gefferie the kings base sonne to Richard archbishop of Canturburie 104 b 10. Of Gardiner to Boner touching the celâ—brating of pope Iuâ—ies funerals 1128 a 60 b 10. Of yoong king Henrie touching the disappointment of archbishop Richards consecration 86 a 10. Of Henrie the second touching the pacification betweene him and Thomas Becket 78 a 20. Of the popes ¶ See Pope Letters of the duke of Summerset and the lord Russell 1057 a 60 b 20. Of Henrie the sixt to the duke of Yorke 638 a 60. Of the duke of Yorke to Henrie the sixt 637 b 60 638 a 10 c. Of the duke of Gâ—lderland to Richard the second note 475 b 60 c. 476 a 10 c. Concerning prince Edwards dooings and proceedings beyond sâ—a 384 a 10 c. Of Parrie to quéene Elisabeth lords of the councell after his voluntarie confession note 1387 a 20 b 10. Of submission and sute of one Francis Throckmorton traitor against quéene Eâ—isabeth and the realme 1373 a 60 b 60 1374. He is executed 1375 b 30. Missiue taken from the quéenes ambassadors seruants 1195 b 20. Seditious of a bishop sent into a forren realme note 17 a 10. Treasonable 428 a 60. Of protection from the French king to the king of England 102 a 60 Letters intercepted 329 b 10. Letters patents reuoked 526 b 50 Lewin a Welshman hanged note his treacherie 299 b 60 300 a 10 c Lewis the French king inclineth to peace with Henrie the third 201 b 10. Deceaseth 208 b 60 209 a 10. His sons intituled to the kingdome of England 201 b 20. Sendeth to his father for aid 200 b 60. An armie prepard in France to succour him 201 a 10 His faire 200 b 10. Mainteineth his title pretended to the crowne of England 191 a 50 ¶ Sée French king Lewis le grosse 34 b 60 Lewis ¶ Sée Physician Libell against cardinall Woolseie 895 a 30. Seditious against Henrie the seuenth and the libellors executed 778 a 60. Causing losse of life 746 b 10 Set on the duke of Northfolks gate forewarning him of trecherie against Richard the third and of his owne safetie 759 b 10. Against the quéene and realme are false 1363 a 40. Published in Italian against quéene Elisabeth and the same answered 1418 a 40. Printed against quéene Elisabeth 1370 b 60. Against the cleargie 558 b 20. ¶ Sée Bookes seditious Liberalitie of Richard the first woonderfull 126 b 30. Of the earle of Arundell noâ—e 454 b 50. Of Edward the first to his nobles 308 a 40. Of sir Thomas Sackuill to the French 1224 b 60 1225 a 10. Of William Rufus 27 a 20. Repented note 20 b 10. In a prince commended 16 b 10 Libertie preferred before a kingdome 726 b 60. Obteined by gentle language 673 a 60 b 10. Bought with monie 140 a 20 b 60. ¶ See Ransome Obteined by great words and proud brags 23 b 60 24 a 10. Desired aboue all things note 1046 a 30 60 Liberties ¶ Sée Lawes Londoners Priuileges and Southworke Licence to build castels 47 a 30 Of king Richard the first to gather riches 120 a 60. For the English iusts and turme note 145 b 60. Asked of Henrie the third of the commonaltie to passe ouer sea 262 a 30. To burie the bodies of the rebels 335 a 60. And that without it none should depart the realme 20 b 40. To depart the realme sought and obteined 14 b 10 Liâ— how dangerous to credit note 587 a 50 Life to saue what shifts noblemen can be content to make 460 b 30 Lightening ¶ Sée Thâ—nder Limerike a kingdome 101 b 10 Limoges besieged taken by force 406 a 10 40. Rendered to king Henrie the second 107 b 20 Lincolne besieged 56 b 10. Taken 272 a 10. Wooâ—e oâ— the French 192 b 60 Lincolne castell 6 a 40 Lincolne Iohn the author