he had brought his souldiers onely to shew them the Country and returne as they came adding withall that to make it appeâ—â—e he was able without helpe of the English to subsist of himselfeâ— he utterly disclâ—â—med any benefit by that Truce untill three months after the English were reâ—â—â—ned to their own Country and so in a great snuffe returned home For the better Confirmation of what waâ— agreed upon between the two kings an 〈◊〉 is desired but before the same is eâ—â—ectuaâ—ed the French king sends to the Engâ—â—sh army an hundred Tonne of Gascoigne wine to be drunke out amongst the privâ—â—e â—ouldiers and therewithall free licence for Commanders and Gentlemen to recreate themselves in Amyeâ—s where they were lovingly entertained by the Burgers of the Town by the kings expresse command The place of enterview of these two 〈◊〉 is agreed on to be at Picquency a Town three miles distant from Amâ—eâ—s seated in â—â—ottome through which the river of Some runneth over which a strong bridge was buâ—â—t and in the midst thereof a graâ—e made overthwart with â—artes no wider 〈◊〉 than a man might well thrust in his arme covered with boardes overheadâ— to avoid the rainâ—foure of the Bed-chamber on both sides are appointed to search the roomâ— to prevent traps of instrumenâ—â— of treachery and being by them certified that â—ll as was cleere the kings advance themselves King Edward being come in sight of the place made a stand being told that the circumstance of comming fâ—râ—t to thâ— place was a matter of great disparagement in point of State but the French king â—oâ—e regarding substâ—nce then circumstance gave the king of England the advanâ—â—â—â— to come at hiâ— pleasure and went first to the barre appointed for conference 〈◊〉 theâ—e did attend king Edwards leasure He had in his Company Iohn Duke of 〈◊〉 with his brother the Cardinall and eight hundred mâ—n at Arms. King Edâ—â—â—â— hâ—d with him his brother the Duke of Clarence the Earle of Northumberland â—he Lords Chamberlaine and Chancellour and at his backe his whole Army in bâ—tâ—eâ—â— The kings lovingly salute each other and complements of courtesie reâ—ipro 〈…〉 which finished They with their Noblemen there present take all â—heir 〈◊〉 upon the holy Evangelists in all to their â—ower to observe the Articles o◠〈◊〉 agreâ—d on After which In private the French king imporâ—uâ—es king Edâ—â—â—â— that the Duke of Brittaine might be left out of these Articles but after much 〈◊〉 to that purpose king Edward gave his resolute answerâ— that if king Lewis 〈◊〉 the frendship of Englâ—nd he should not molest the Duke of Brittaineâ— for â—hat he was resolved at any time to come in person to relieve himâ— if he were distuâ—â—ed King Edward pretended the many kindnesse he had formeâ—ly recâ—ived of the Duke of Brittaine but it was conceived that the desire of compassing the Eaâ—les o◠〈◊〉 and Pembrooke now in the Duke of Brittaines Country were the greatest 〈◊〉 of his standing â—o â—irmely for him The money to be payd to king Edâ—â—rd 〈◊〉 the Articles is accordingly payd and thereupon the French Hostages are delivered and the Englisâ— Army reâ—â—res to Callice and from thencâ— is transported into 〈◊〉 and then the English Hostages are likewise delivered This Peace was 〈◊〉 â—o be made only by the holy Ghost because on the day of meeâ—ing a white Dove came and sate upon the king of Englands Tent though the Dukes of Glocester and Burgoigâ—e thought it was made by no good spirit King Edward being returned into England had his minde running still upon the dangeâ— that might grow from the Earle of Richmond he therefore dispatched D. Stillington and two other his Ambassadors to the Duke of Briâ—aine to send him over to him under this subtle pretence that he meant to match him in mariage with the Lady Cicillâ— his younger daughter and withall sent also no small store of Angels to speake for him which so prevailed with the Duke that he delivered the Earle oâ— Richmond to the Ambassadors who conducted him thence to Saint Maloâ— where whil'st they stayed for a winde the young Earle by the cunning plotting of Peter Landoiâ— the Dukes Treasurer more out of scorne that he was not gratified by the English Ambassadour to the proportion of his place than for any love to the Earle escapes into Sanctuary from whence neither prayers nor promises could get him cut Neverthelesse upon Peter Landois his promise he should be safely kept there the Ambassadors departed and returned home acquainted K. Edward with the Duke of Bâ—â—goigâ—â—s courtesie in delivering him and their own negligence in suffering him to escape onely making amends with the promise of Peter Landois which might be to K. Edward some contentment but was no satisfaction At Christmas following being the sixteenth yeere of his Reigne he created his eldest sonne Edward Prince of Wales Duke of Corâ—wall and Earle of Chester his second sonne he made Duke of Yorke giving the order of knighthood to the sonne and heire of the Earle of Liâ—colâ—e and many others He created also foure and twenty knights of the Bath whereof Brian Chiefe Justice and Littleton a Judge of the Common Pleas were two About this time there were two examples of severity seene not unworthy the relating if but onely to make us see how dangerous a thing it is Ludere cum sanctiâ— to speake words that may be taken as reflecting upon the king The first was of one Walter Walker a wealthy Citizen dwelling at the signe of the Crown in Cheapside This man one day when his childe cryed bid him be quiet and he would make him heire of the Crowne which words being subject to interpretation he was called in question about them arraigned condemned and put to death The other was of Thomas Burdet of Arrow in Warwickeshire Esquire It happened that K. Edward hunted in his Parke he being from home and there killed a white Buck whereof Mr. Burdeâ— made speciall account so as comming home and finding that Buck killed he wished it hornes and all in his belly that had counselled the king to kill it and because none counselled the King to kill it but himselfe it was thought those words were not spoken without a malignant reflecting upon the King and thereupon Burdet was arraigned and condemned drawne to Tiburne and there beheaded though Mâ—rkhâ—â— then Chiefe Justice chose rather to lose his place than assent to the Judgement And now began ambition to boyle in Richard Duke of Glocester whereof the first heate fell upon his brother the Duke of Clarence how to rid him out of the way to which end he seeks to raise Jealousies in King Edwards head against him telling him that some of Clareâ—ce his followers were Sorcereâ—s and Necromancers and had given forth speeches that one whose name begun with G. should disinherit his Children and get the Crown and for a colour of this suggestion one of the Duke of Clarâ—â—ce his servants who came with him out of
persons but afterward all sorts of men without any difference were admitted that it came almost to bee doubted whether the Dignity of the Order did more grace the persons or the meanesse of the persons disgrace the Order and indeed when the Lawes of an Institution are not in some measure observed it seemes to make a kind of nullity in the collation About this time on Sunday the â—4 of October an exemplar pennance was imposed upon Sir Peckâ—all Brâ—â—kas Knight which was to stand at Pauls Crosse in a white sheet holding a stick in his hand having been formerly convicted before the high Commissioners for many notorious Adulteries with divers women This yeare 1614. in the month of Iuly Christianus King of Denmark out of his love to his sister and King Iames came the second time into England but as being now secure of himselfe privately and with a small company so as he came to the Queen at Somerset house unexpected and before any knowledge was had of his comming but K. Iames being then in progresse in Bedford-shire and hearing of it came presently back and after he had entertained him here with Hunting Hawking running at Ring Bear-baiting Plays Fire-worksâ— and Fencing on the first of August Prince Charles brought him aboard his Ship who then took his leave and returned home In Octob. this yeare was a call of Sarjeants at Law being 11. in number namely George Wild Wil Towes Richâ— Bawtrie Henry Finch Thâ—â— Chamberlain Francis Moâ—râ— Thomas Attow Iohn Moâ—re Francis Harvie Charles Chibbourn and Tho. Richardson and in Trenity Terme before there had two other been called namely Sir Randal Creâ— of Lincolâ—s Inne and Sir Robert Hitcham of Grayes Inne Knights About this time an Embassador came from the young Emperour of Russia to King Iames desiring his continuall love and amity and to be a means of making attonemeâ—â— between him and the K. of Swethland and withall presented him with a rich present of Furs which was no smal honour to the K. of great Britain to have so great a Potentate as the Emperor of Russia a solicit him to be his mediator Though King Iames out of all naturall goodnesse was addicted to peace yet out of providence he neglected not to be prepared for war and thereupon in the yeare 1610. had granted priviledges to a society called of the Millitarie Garden and this year 1614 caused a Muster of men to be presented before him which was performed to his great liking and to the great commendation of the City About this time a memorable Act was performed by M. Hug. Middleton Citizen and Gold-smith of London and borne in Denâ—igh-shire who having an Act of Parliament for his Warrant with infinite cost and indefatigable labour brought water to the City of London from the two great springs of Chadwell and Amwell in Hartfort-shire having cut a Channell from thence to a place neere Islington whither he conveyed it to a large Pan and from thence in pipes of young Elmes to all places of the City for as the Poeth saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nothing is so commodious for the life of man as water Another memorable Act was about this time done on the North side on Lon. called Moore-fields which being before invironed with deep stinking ditches and noysome common showers was now not only made faire sweet but so levelled into walkes and let with trees that it is the pleasantest place of all the City The next yeare being 1615 another memorable Act for the benefit and beauty of the City of London was performed for Smith-field which was before a rude dirty place was now paved all over and strong railes sequestring the middle part of it were set up to make it a faire walking place and fit for Market or any other use The Lady Arbella a neare kinsewoman of the Kings had sometime before without the Kings privity secretly married Master William Seymour younger son of the Earle of Hartford now Earle of Hartford himselfe for which they were both committed to the Tower and now this yeare on the seven and twentieth day of Sep. she ended her lif there and was buried in the Chappell Royall at Westminster This yeare also in Iuly were Enstalled Knights of the Garter Francis Earle of Rutland Sir George Villers Master of the Horse and Sir Robert Sidney Viscount Lisâ—â— and in another kind of Honour the Earle of Arundell the Lord Carews and Doctor Andrews Bishop of Ely were sworne Privie Counsellours Wales by the death of Prince Henry had been a good while without a Prince and now to supply that place Prince Charles is Created Prince of Wales In Ioy whereof the Town of Ludlow in Shropshire and the City of London performed great Triumphs and the more to honour his Creation There were made five and twenty Knights of the Bathe all them Lords or Barons sons and yet more to honour it there were forty selected Gentlemen of the Innes of Court that performed a solemne Iusts at Barries with great magnificence This yeare was a Censure of divers great Delinquents for first Sir Edward Cookâ— was upon displeasure discharged from being Lord Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench and two dayes after his discharge Sir Henry Montagâ—e the Kings Sergeant at Law was placed in his room Next to him the Lord Egerton whyther disabled by sicknesse or age to exercise the place or upon displeasure also had the Sele taken from him which was delivered to Sir Francis Bacon the King's Attourney he made first Lord Keeper and the Lord Egerton dying soon after Lord Chancellour Not long after him Sir Henry Yelverton the Kings Attourney for adding new priviledges to the Londoâ—ers Charter without the Kings privity was in displeasure put from his place and in his room was placed Sir Thomas Coventry the Kings Sollicitor But awhile after Sir Henry â—elverton was made a puny Iudge of the Common Pleas having indeed the reputation of an excellent Lawyer And yet this work of Censuring stayed not here for much about this time Thomas Earle of Suffolk Lord Treasurer of England had the staffe of his Office taken from him which was soon after delivered to Sir Henry Montagâ—â— Lord Chiefe Iustice of the Kings Beâ—ch If Sir Iohn Benet Iudge of the Prerogative Court had made a little more haste he mihght have made one in this number of Delinquents but he came short three or foure yeares and then being charged by his own servant with brybery he was put from his place and censured in the Starre-Chamber to pay twenty thousand pounds and in his roome was placed Sir William Byrde a man of more integrity Though King Iames upon the death of Queene Elizabeth came to reside in England yet â—e forgot not that Scotland was his native Countrey and therefore after he had spent some yeares in England to acquaint himselfe with the State of the Kingdome In March this yeare one thousand six hundred and sixteentâ— he made a Iourney into Scotland for though
brought to King Edward and for the love of her Prince Leolyn was content to submit himselfe to any conditions which besides subjection of his State was to pay fifty thousand pounds Sterling and a thousand pounds per annum during his life and upon these conditions the marriage with his beloved Lady was granted him and was solemnized here in England whereat the King and Queene were themselves present Three yeares Leolyn continued loyall and within bounds of obedience in which time David one of his Brothers staying here in England and found by the King to be of a stirring Spirit was much honoured by him Knighted and matched to a rich Widow Daughter of the Earle of Darby and had given him by the King besides the Castle of Denbigh with a thousand pounds per annum though as it was afterwards found he lived here but in the nature of a spy For when Prince Leolyns Lady was afterward dead and that he contrary to his Conditions formerly made brake out into rebellion then goes his Brother David to him notwithstanding all these Favours of the King and they together enter the English Borders Surprise the Castles of Flynt and Rutland with the person of the Lord Clifford sent Justiciar into those parts and in a great Battaile overthrew the Earles of Northumberland and Surrey with the slaughter of Sir William Lyndsey Sir Richard Tanny and many others King Edward advertised of this Revolt and overthrow being then at the Vyzes in Wiltshire prepares an Army to represse it but before his setting forth goes privately to his Mother Queene Eleanor lying at the Nunnery of Aimesbury with whom whilest he conferred there was one brought into the Chamber who faigned himselfe being blinde to have received his sight at the Tombe of King Henry the third Aâ—soone as the King saw the man he remembred he had seene him before and knew him to be a most notorious lying Villaine and wished his Mother in no case to beleeve him but his mother who much rejoyced to heare of this Miracle for the glory of her husband finding her sonne unwilling that his Father should be a Saint grew suddenly into such a rage against him that she commanded him to avoid her Chamber which the King obeyes and going forth meetes with a Clergy man to whom he tels the story of this Impostour and merrily said He knew the justice of his Father to be such that he would rather pull out the eyes being whole of such a wicked wretch then restore them to their sight In this meane time the Arch-bishop of Canterbury had gone of himselfe to Prince Leolin and had laboured to bring him and his brother David to a re-submission but could effect nothing for besides other reasons that swayed Prince Leolin the conceit of a Prophesie of Merlin that he should shortly be Crowned with the Diadem of Brute so overweighed him that he had no care for peace and shortly after no head for after the Earle of Pembroke had taken Bere Castle which was the seat of Prince Leolin he was himself slain in battell and his head cut off by a common Souldier was sent to King Edw. who caused the same to be Crowned with Ivie and to be set upon the Tower of London And this was the end of Leolin the last of the Welsh Princes betraied as some write by the men of Buelth Not long after his brother David also is taken in Wales and judged in England to an ignominious death First drawn at a horse taile about the City of Shrewsbury then beheaded the trunke of his body divided his heart and bowels burnt his head sent to accompany his brothers on the Tower of London his foure quarters to foure Cities Bristow Northâ—â—pton York and Winchester A manifold execution and the first shewed in that kind to this kingdome in the person of the son of a Prince or any other Noble man that we reade of in our History It is perhaps something which some here observe that at the sealing of this conquest King Edward lost his eldest son Alphonsus of the age of twelve years a Prince of great hope and had onely left to succeed him his sonne Edward lately borne at Carnarvan and the first of the English intituled Prince of Wales but no Prince worthy of either Wales or England And thus came Wales to be united to the Crowne of England in the eleventh yeare of this King Edwards Raigne who thereupon established the government thereof according to the Lawes of England as may be seene by the Statute of Rutland in the twelfth yeare of his Raigne The worke of Wales being setled King Edward passeth over into France upon notice of the death of Philip the Hardy to renew and confirme such conditions as his state in those parts required with the new King Philip the fourth intituled the Faire to whom he doth homage for Aquitaine having before quitted his claime to Normandy for ever After three yeares and a halfe being away in France he returns into England and now in the next place comes the businesse with Scotland and will hold him woâ—ke at times as long as he lives and his sonne after him Alexander the third King of Scots as he was running his horse fell horse and man to the ground and brake his necke and died immediatelyâ— by reason whereof he leaving no issue but onely a daughter of his daughter Margaret who died also soone after there fell out presently great contention about succession Ten Competitors pretend title namely Erick King of Norway Florence Earle of Holland Robert Bruce Earle of Anandale Iohn de Baylioll Lord of Galloway Iohn de Hastings Lord of Abergeveny Iohn Cummin Lord of Badenaw Patrick de Dunbarre Earle of March Iohn de Vescie Nicholas de Sulâ—s William de Rosse all or most of them deâ—cending from David Earle of Huntington younger brother to William King of Scots and great Unkle to the late King Alexander This title King Edward takes upon him to decide pretending a Right of Superiority from his Ancestours over that kingdome and proving it by authority of old Chronicles as Marianus Scotus William of Malmsbury Roger de Hoveden Henry of Huntington Ralph de Luceto and others which though the Scottish Lords who swaied the Interregnum opposed yet are they constrained for avoyding of further inconveniences to make him Arbiter thereof and the tenne Competitours bound to stand to his award Two are especially found betweene whom the â—ight lay Iohn de Baylioll Lord of Galloway and Robert Brâ—ce the one descending from an elder daughter the other from a sonne of a younger daughter of Alan who had married the eldest daughter of this David brother to King William The controversie held long twelve of either kingdome learned in the Lawes are elected to debate the same at Berwick all the best Civilians in the Universities of France are solicited to give their opinions all which brought forth rather doubts then resolutions whereupon King Edward the better to
of Aâ—mesbury in Wiltshire at the instance of Queene Eleanor her Grandmother who lived there Elizabeth their seventh daughter was first married to Iohn Earle of Holland Zeland and Lord of Freezeland he dying within two yeares she was afterward married to Humphrey Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex Lord of Breknok and High Constable of England by whom she had issue sonnes and daughters Beatrice and Blanch their eighth and ninth daughters died young and unmarried King Edwards second Wife was Margaret eldest daughter of Philip King of France called the Hardy and sister to Philip called the Faire at eighteene yeares old she was married to King Edward being above threescore yet at the unequall yeares she had issue by him two sonnes and a daughter their eldest sonne was borne at a little Village in Yorkshire called Brotherton and was thereof called Thomas of Brotherton he was created Earle of Norfolke and Earle Marshall of England after Roger Bigod who died without issue Their second sonne Edmund was borne at Woodstocke in Oxfordshire and of the place was so called he was created Earle of Kent and married Margaret daughter of Iohn and sister of sole Heire of Thomas Lord Wakes of Lydell in the County of Northampton by whom he had issue two sonnes and one daughter his sonnes Edmund and Iohn died without issue his daughter Ioane for her beauty called the Faire maid of Kent was married first to William Montacute Earle of Salisbury and from him divorced was re-married to Sir Thomas Holland in her Right Earle of Kent and by her Father of Thomas and Iohn Holland Duke of Surrey and Earle of Huntington and lastly she was the Wife of Edward of Woodstocke the blacke Prince of Wales and by him Mother of King Richard the second This Earle Edmund was beheaded at Winchester in the fourth yeare of King Edward his Nephew Eleanor the daughter of King Edward by his second Wife Margaret died in her childhood Of his personage and conditions HE was tall of stature higher then ordinary men by head and shoulders and thereof called Longshanke of a swarthy complection strong of body but leane of a comely favour his eyes in his anger sparkling like fire the haire of his head black and curled Concerning his conditions as he was in warre peacefull so in Peace he was warlike delighting specially in that kinde of hunting which is to kill Stagges or other wilde beasts with Speares In continencie of life he was equall to his Father in acts of valour farre beyond him He had in him the two wisdomes not often found in any single both together seldome or never An ability of judgement in himselfe and a readinesse to heare the judgement of others He seemed to be a great observer of opportunity a great point of wisdome in any in Princes greatest and that he could beare an injury long without seeking to revenge it as appeared by his carriage towards the Earle Roger Bigod whom when he saw his time he called to account for an affront he had offered him diâ—ers yeares before He was not easily provoked into passion but once in passion not easily appeased as was seene by his dealing with the Scots towards whom he shewed at first patience and at last severity If he be censured for his many Taxations he may be justified by his well bestowing them for never Prince laid out his money to more honour of himselfe or good of his kingdome His greatest unfortunatenesse was in his greatest blessing for of foure sonnes which he had by his Wife Queen Eleanor three of them died in his owne life time who were worthy to have out-lived him and the fourth out-lived him who was worthy never to have beene borne Of his death and buriall IN his last expedition into Scotland being at Carlile he fell sicke and lying in his death-bed he sent for his sonne Edward to whom besides many admonitions to Piety he commanded three things specially that he should carry his bones about with him through Scotland till he had subdued it that he should send his heart into the Holy Land with sevenscore knights to that warre and the two and thirty thousand pounds he had provided for that purpose and that he should never recall Gaveston from banishment and soon after of a dysentery or Bloudy-Flix he died at Borough upon the Sands the seventh of Iuly in the yeare 1307. when he had Raigned foure and thirty yeares and seven moneths lived threescore and eight yeares Being dead his Corps was brought to Waltham Abbey and there kept the space of sixteene weekes and after on Simon and Iudes day buried at Westminster Men of Note in his time OF Martiall men there were many these specially Iohn Earle of Warren who opposed the Kings Inquisition by Quo Warranto and Roger Bigod who gave the King an affront to his face Of learned men also many specially these Iohn Breton bishop of Hereford who compiled a book of the Lawes of England called lâ— Breton Thomas Spot a Chronographer Iohn Eversden a writer of Annals and of this Kings Raigne Gregory Cairugent a Monke of Glocester and a writer also of Annals Iohn Peckham a Franciscan Frier made Arch-bishop of Canterbury who writ many excellent workes Iohn Read an Historiographer Thomas Bungey a Frier Minor an excellent Mathematician Roger Bacon a Franciscan Frier an excellent Philosopher and Mathematician Robert Kilwarby Arch-bishop of Canterbury and after made a Cardinall also Ralph Baldock Bishop of London who writ a Chronicle of England in the Latine tongue but above them all though of another Countrey Thomas Aquinas borne of a Noble Family whose workes are too famous to be spoken of who going to the Councell holden at Lyons by Pope Gregory the tenth died by the way THE LIFE and RAIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE SECOND Of his Acts before and at his Coronation EDward of Carnarvan eldest Sonne of King Edward the first succeeded him in the kingdome and never did Prince come to a Crowne with more applause of Nobility and People and there was good cause for it For he had beene trained up in all good courses for Piety and Learning he had seene the Government of his Father from whose Example he could not but have learned many good Lessons he had been initiated in the wayes of State having beene left Governour of the Realme and presiding in Parliament in his Fathers absence and he was now three and twenty yeares old a fit age for bearing the weight of a Scepter and yet for all these advantages there wanted not feares of him in the mindes of many who could not but remember what prankes he had played not long before how he had broken the Bishop of Chesters Parke and in most disorderly manner had killed his Deere for which both himselfe had beene committed to Prison and his Friend Pierce Gaveston banished the Realme and if he did such things being but Prince what might not be feared of him comming to be King For seldome doth
was the marke now aimed at having taken away his kingdome openly how they might take away his life secretly be the Authours of it and not be seene in it but this must be the Contents of a Chapter hereafter Of his Taxations BY this King it appeares there is something else besides the grievance of Taxations that alienates the mindes of English Subjects from their King for never were fewer Taxations then in this Kings time yet never were the Subjects minds more alienated from their King then they were from him Before his Coronation in a Parliament holdeâ— at Westminster â—â—ere was granted him a fifteenth of the Clergy and a twentieth of the Temporalty In his fifth yeare in a Parliament at Lâ—â—don was granted him a fifteenth of the Temporalty In his fifteenth yeare was granted the sixth penâ—y of temporall mens Goods through England Ireland and Wales towards his Warreâ— with Scotland And more then these we reade not of but then at the defeate of the Earle of Lancaster there were Confiscations that supplyed the place of Taxations by which as one saith he became the richest King that had beene since the Conquest Of his Lawes and Ordinances HE Ordained that the moneyes of his Father though counted base by the People should be currant In the eight yeare of his Raigne by reason of a dearâ—h which raised the price of all Victuals it was Ordained by Parliament that an Oxe fatted with grasse should be sold for fifteene shillings fatted with Corne for twenty the best Cow for twelve shillings a fat Hogge of two yeares old three shâ—llings foure pence a fat Sheepe shorne foureteene pence with the Fleece twenty pence a fat Goose for two pence halfe-penny a fat Capon two pence a fat Hen a penny foure Pigeons a penny whosoever sold for more should forfait their Ware to the King But after these Rates imposed all kinde of Victuals grew so scarce that provision could hardly be made for the Kings house whereupon shortly after the Order was revoked and Market Folkes permitted to make the best of their Wares In this Kings time an Ordinance was made against knights Templars accused of Heresie and other crimes and they were all apprehended and committed to divers Prisons The like was done by all the Kings of Christendome at one instant being condemned in a Generall Counsell at Vienna In the 14. yeare of his Raigne on the 15. of October the Clerkes of the Exchequer went towards Yorke with the Booke called Domus Dei and other Records and Provision that laded one and twenty Carts but within halfe a yeare they were brought backe againe Affaires of the Church in his time IN the 17. yeare of his Raign the Bishop of Hereford was arrestedâ— accused of High Treason for aiding the Kings enemies in their late rebellion but he refuâ—ed to answer being a consecrated Bishop without leave of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury whose Suffragan he was and who he said was his direct Judge next the Pope or without the consent of his fellow Bishops who then all arose and humbly craved the Kings Clemency in his behalfe but finding the King implacable they tooke him away from the Barre and delivered him to the custody oâ— the Arch-bishop of Canterbury shortly after he was againe taken and convented as before which the Clergy understanding the Arch-bishops Canterbury Yorke and Dublin with tenne other Bishops all with their Crosses erected went to the place of Judgement and againe tooke him away with them charging all men upon paine of Excommunication to forbeare to lay violent hands upon him with which audacious Act the King was so much displeased that he presently commanded inquiry to be made ex Officio Iudicis concerning those Objections against the Bishop wherein he was found guilty though absent and had all his Goods and Possessions seised into the Kings hands In this Kings time the Crowchet Fryers came first into England In his time Pope Iohn the two and twentieth first Instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi begunne before by Urban the fourth Workes of piety done by him or by others in his time THis King founded Oriall Colledge and Saint Mary Hall in Oxford He builded â— Church of Fryers at his Manour of Langley where the soule of Gaveston should bâ— prayed for In this Kings twentieth yeare Richard Rothing Sheriffe of London bâ—â—lded the Parish Church of Garlickhithe in London Ralph Baldocke Bishop of London gave two thousand Markes to the building of the new Worke of the Chappell on the South side of Pauls Church And left much more by his Testament Casualties IN the eighth yeare of this Kings Raigne was so great a dearâ—h that Horses and Dogges were eaten and Theeves in prison pluckt in peeces those that were newly brought in amongst them and eate them halfe alive which continuing three yeares brought in the end such a pestilence that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead In the fourth yeare of his Raigne the Church of Middleton in Dorsetshire with all the Monuments was consumed with Lightning the Monkes being at Mattins In this Kings time digging the Foundation of a worke about Pauls were found more then a hundred heads of Oxen and kine which confirmed the opinion that of old time it had beene the Temple of Iupiter and that there was the Sacrifice of Beasts Of his Wife and Children HE marryed Isabel Daughter of Philip the Faire King of France she being but twelve yeares of age who lived his Wife twenty yeares his Widdow thirty and dying at threescore and three yeares old at Rysings neare London was buried in the midst of the Gray Fryers Quire in London By her he had issue two Sons and two Daughters his eldest Sonne named Edward of Windsor because borne there succeeded him in the kingdome His second Sonne named Iohn of Eltham because borne there was at twelve yeares old created Earle of Cornwall he dyed in Scotland in the flowre of his Youth unmarryed His eldest Daughter Ioane being a childe was marryed in the fourth yeare of King Edward her Brother to Dâ—vid Prince of Scotland Sonne to King Robert Bruce at seven yeares old who comming afterward into England to visit her Brother dyed here and was buryed at the Gray Fryers in London His second Daughter Eleanor was marryed to Reginold the second Earle of Gelder with a portion of fifteene thousand pounds and had issue by him two Sonnes who were Earles successively Of his Personage and Conditions HE was faire of body and of great strength but given much to drinke which made him oftentimes bewray his owne Secrets For his other conditions his greatest fault was that he loved but one for if his love had beene divided it could not have beene so violent He was extreame in nothing but in loving and though love moderated be the best of affections yet the extremity of it is the worst of passions He was rather unfortunate then unhappy seeing unfortunatenesse is in the Event unhappinesse in the Cause and
to Berwicke with a purpose to doe great matters but nothing was done for a new Truce was againe concluded for two yeares By this time Robert d' Arthois had made ready his Army and taking with him the Countesse of Montford the Earles of Pembroke Salisbury and Suffolke and many other Barons after great tempests and encounters at Sea lands safely at last neare to Vannes which was held by the French and laying â—â—ege to the City with the assistance of Walter de Manny who came unto him after many assaults at last he tooke it to the great joy of the Countesse of Montford though she held it not long for certaine resolute French knights assaulted it soone after and recovered it from the English In which action many Lords were slaine or wounded and particularly Robert de Arâ—hois himselfe who passing over into England for the better curing of his wounds soone after died and was buried in Pauls Church in Lâ—ndon And now King Edward himselfe with a strong Army passeth over into Britaine and plants his Campe before the City of Vannes where was like to have beene a cruell battell but in the instant there came from Pope Clâ—ment the sixth two Cardinals the Bishops of Preneste and Thusculum who upon certaine conditions concluded a Peace amongst other conditions this was one that the City of Vannes should be delivered to â—ing Philip and thereupon Iohn Earle of Montford should be set at liberty but yet with this charge not to goe into Britaine which promise notwithstanding he kept not but went presently and besieged a Towâ—e in Britaine though he were forced to retire and died shortly after But the Truce cracked â—hus as it were by Montford was afterward absolutely broken by King Edward though he charged the breach of it upon K. Philip and King Philip upon him But howsoever broken it was and Henry of Lancaster Earle of Derby with divers other Earles and Barons is sent into France who won many Townes in Gascoyneâ— and in the Counties of Perigort and Tholoâ—se and then went to winter at Burdeaux And afterward in May following pursuing his victories he wonne many morâ— Townes and amongst others the great Towne of Reoll After this againe he tooke Montpesat Maurore Villefranche and many other Townes and at last the great City of Angoâ—lesme and then came to winter againe at Burdeaux Of his Acts together with the Prince KING Philip informed of so many great losses assembles a mighty Army no lesse then a hundred thousand men with which he recovers Miremont and Villefranche and then proceeded to besiege Angoulesme whom the Earle of Derby having not forces sufficient to encounter King Edward leaving for Wardens of England in his absence the Lords Percie and Nevill goeth himselfe in person with an Army as Froyssard saith of fourescore thousand men at Armes and ten thousand Archers besides those out of Wales and Ireland taking with him his sonne the Prince of Wales and Duke of Guyenne being then but of the age of fifteene yeares It may be thought preposterous in King Edward to put his sonne to be a Souldier before he was come to be a man but it seemes he had a longing to try his sonnes valour in the bud and perhaps was loath to omit any thing that might give any countenance to this battell in which the two kingdomes were laid as it were at stake but howsoever taking him along with him and almost all the Lords of his kingdome he takes Shipping and lands at Normandy where at the first setting his foote on ground he tooke such a fall that the bloud gushed out at his nose which the Barons tooke for an ill signe but the King tooke it for a good saying it was a signe that the Land desired to have him and in deede he presently tooke the Townes of Harsteur Moulbourg Carenton and Saint Lo and afterward the City of Caâ—n it selfe and from thence passed to the County of Eureux saccaged and pillaged it as also the City of Gisors Vernon Meulan and Boulebourse to the City of Poyssy King Philip all this while staied about Paris as looking for King Edward to give him battell there and for that purpose had planted his Campe neare to Saint Germans but King Edward deceived him for going from Poyssy he passed into Picardie and Ponthieâ— where he tooke and burned many Townes and Castles and then passed the River of 〈◊〉 though not without danger for King Philip had sent thither Gundemar de Fay with a thousand horse and sixe thousand foote to stop his passage King Edward notwithstanding resolves to passe or perish and plungeth foremâ—â—â— into the River crying out They who love me will follow me at which voyce 〈◊〉 man strove who should be foremost and so the shoare was presently gained by the English Gunâ—emar astonished with this bold adventure astonisheth his peoâ—â—â— with his fearfull countenance so that the English encountring the French all in 〈◊〉 put them to flight King Philip enraged with this dishonour resolves to 〈◊〉 it and presently provokes King Edward to a battell King Edward had 〈◊〉 â—â—camped in a Village called Cressy his Army consisted of thirty thousand 〈◊〉 â—hich he divided into three battalions the first was led by the young Prince 〈…〉 with whom were joyned the Earle of Warwicke Geoffrey of Harecourt 〈◊〉 Hollaâ—d Ricâ—ard Stafford Iohn Chandoes Robert Nevile and many other 〈◊〉 and Gentlemen to the number of eight hundred men at Armes two thou 〈…〉 and a thousand Welsh In the second were the Earles of Northamâ—â—â—â—â—nd â—nd of 〈◊〉 the Lords Rosse Basset and others to the number of eight hun 〈…〉 Armes and twelve hundred Archers In the third the King was himâ—â—â—â—â— hâ—ving about him seven hundred men at Armes and three thousand Archers 〈◊〉 battels thus ordered mounted on a white Hobby he rode from ranke to ranke 〈◊〉 â—â—em encouraging every man that day to have regard to his right and ho 〈…〉 The French Kings Army was farre greater consisting of above sixty thou 〈…〉 well armed whereof the chiefe were Charles Duke of Alanson 〈…〉 Iohn of Luxembourg King of Bohemia Charles de Blois the Kings 〈…〉 Duke of Lorraine the Earles of Flanders Nevers Sancerre of Ba 〈…〉 and Gentlemen about three thousand The Vauntguard he commits to his â—rother the Count de Alanson the Reere to the Earle of Savoy the maine battell â—e leadâ— himselfe his heate out of confidence of victory was so great that 〈…〉 permitted time for a little counsell what was fit to be done The old King 〈…〉 advised that the Army should take some repast and that the Infantry câ—â—â—isting of Geâ—oueses which were above fifteene thousand Crossebowes and 〈◊〉 menâ— should make the first Front and the Cavallery to follow which was agreed on But the Count of Alanson contrary to this order tooke it ill that the 〈◊〉 were in the first ranke and in fury caused them to change place which 〈…〉 discontentment that it irritated them more against the
there 〈…〉 Eâ—ward and his Queene with their Daughter Isâ—â—â—ll come over to 〈…〉 there the young Earle is affâ—anâ—ed to her but returning afterâ—â—rds 〈…〉 as â—e found opportunity he went to King Philip and â—eft 〈…〉 and marryed afterwards a Daughter of the 〈…〉 this whiâ—â—â—he siege of Callice was continued and King Philip 〈…〉 come to relieve it sollicits King Edward to appoint someâ— place 〈…〉 would meeâ—e him But King Edward returnes answer that if he 〈…〉 owne way to come thither to him there he should finde him but 〈…〉 be would not paâ—â—â— having laine there so long to his great lâ—â—our and 〈…〉 bâ—ing now so neare the point of gaining the placeâ— Twoâ—â—aâ—â—â—nals 〈…〉 the Pope to mediate a Peace but could effect nothing so as the 〈…〉 wâ—s forced to breake up his Army and retire to Paris leaving Câ—llice 〈…〉 the Besieger which when the Towne understood they sent to de 〈…〉 granted and therein received this finall answer that â—ixe of the chiefe Burgesses should be sent to the King bare-headed bare-footed in their shirts 〈…〉 their neckesâ— the keyes of the Towne and Castle in their hands 〈…〉 thâ—â—â—elves to the Kings will the rest he was content to take to mercy 〈…〉 condition and much difficulty who should be those sixe but 〈◊〉 up and out of love to his Country offering himselfe to be one the sixe 〈…〉 made â—p for now by his example every one strove to be of the 〈◊〉 who presenting themselves before the King he commanded them instantly 〈…〉 to death Great supplication was made by his Lords for their lives but 〈…〉 would not be drawne to alter his sentence till the Queene great with 〈…〉 on her knees and with teares obtained pardon for them which done 〈…〉 them to be cloathed and besides a good repast gives to every one of them 〈◊〉 Nobles a pâ—ece But though the King in this sentence shewed severity 〈…〉 Act before he had shewed mercy For when Victuals began to faile in 〈…〉 and all unusefull persons as old men women and children were put 〈…〉 Gates he forced them not backe againe as he might have done thereâ—◠〈◊〉 sooner to consume their store but suffered them to passe through his Arâ—y◠〈◊〉 them to eate and two pence a piece to all of them And thus was that strong 〈◊〉 of Callice gotten the third day of August in the yeare 1347. after eleven 〈…〉 siege and continued afterward in possession of the English two hundred 〈…〉 All the Inhabitants are turned out but onely one Priest and two 〈…〉 to informe of the Orders of the Towne and a Colony of English amoâ—gst which seven and thirty good Families out of London is sent to inhabit it◠〈…〉 and Queene enter the Towne triumphantly and make their abode there 〈◊〉 Queene was brought a bed of her Daughter Margaret The King made 〈◊〉 of the Town Aymeâ—y of Pavia a Lombard whom he had brought up from 〈…〉 and then with his Queene returnes into England at which time the 〈◊〉 Electours send to signifieâ— that they had chosen him King of the Romans but 〈…〉 refuseth to accept it as being an honour out of his way and scarce com 〈…〉 his State at home â—fter this Trâ—â—â—s were made by mediation from one time to another for the 〈…〉 â—wo yeares in which time Geoffrey de Charmy Captaine of Saint Omer 〈…〉 Aymery of Pâ—via whom King Edward had left Governour of Callice to 〈…〉 for twenty thousand Crownes which King Edward hearing of sent to Aâ—mery and charged him with this perfidiousnesse wheâ—â—â—pon Ayâ—â—â—y comes to the King and humbly desiring pardon promiseth to hâ—ndlâ— the 〈◊〉 so as shall be â—o the Kings advantage and thereupon iâ— senâ— backe to Callice The King the â—ight before the time of agreementâ— arrives with three â—undâ—ed men at 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 hundred Archers 〈◊〉 de Charmy 〈…〉 likewise the 〈◊〉 â—â—ght from Saint Omers with his Forces and sent a hundred mâ—n before with the Crownes to 〈◊〉 the men are let in at a Posterne Gateâ— the crownes received â—nd assured to be all weight which done the Gates of the Towne are opened and out marches the King before day to encounter 〈◊〉 de Charmy who perceiving himselfe betrayed defended â—imselfeâ— the best he could and put King Edward to a hard bickering who for that â—e would not b◠〈…〉 person put hiâ—selfâ— and the Prince under the Colours of the Lord 〈…〉 beaâ—en â—â—wne on â—is knees by 〈…〉 â—hom he fought hand to hand and yeâ— recoveâ—â—d and 〈…〉 prisoner Charmy was likewise taken and all his Foâ—â—â—â— defeated Kiâ—g â—dward the night after which was the first of the New-yeare feasted with the Prisoners and gave â—iboâ—â—â—nt in honour of his valou◠〈…〉 Chaplet of Pearle which himselfe wore on his head for a New-yeares gift forgave him his ransome and set him at liberty But the English not long after in the like practise had better successe and got the Castle of Guysnes a piece of great importance neâ—râ— Callice for a summe of money given to one Beaconrâ—y a French â—â—n Of which Câ—sâ—le when the French King demanded restitution in regard of the Trucâ— King Edwarâ— returnes answer that for things bought and sold betweene their people there was no exception and so held it About this time Philip King of France dyed leaving his Sonne Iohn to succeed him in the beginning of whose Raigne Humberâ— Pâ—ince of Dâ—â—lphin dying without issue made him his Heire and therâ—upon Charles King Iohâ—â— Sonne was created the first Daulphin of France from whence it grew to be a Custome that the King of France his Heire should alwayes be called Daulphin of France About this time also the Duke of Lancaster was to perfoâ—me a combat upon a challenge with a Prince of Bâ—hâ—mia but when they were entred the Lists and had taken their Oathes King Iohn interposed and made them Friends And now when after many meanes of mediation no Peace could be concluded betweene the two Kings the Prince of Wales being now growne a man is appointed by Parliament to goe into Gascoyne with a thousand men at Armes two thousand Archers and a great number of Welshmen and in Iune following he sets forth with three hundred Saile attended with the Earles of Warwickâ— Suffolke Salisbury and Oxford the Lord Chandâ—s the Lord Iames Aâ—deley Sir â—obert Knolles Sir Francis Hall with many others About Michaelmaâ— followingâ— the King himselfe passeth over to Callice with another Army taking with him two of his Sonnes Liâ—nâ—ll of Antwerpe now Earle of Ulster iâ— Right of his Wife and Iohn of Gant Earle of Richmond There met him at Callice of mercenaries out of Germany Flanders and Brabant a thousand men at Armes so that his Army consisted of three thousand men at Armes and two thousand Archers on horse-backe besides Archers on foot The City of London sent three hundred men at Armes and five hundred Archers all in one livery at their owne charge but all this great Army effected nothing at that
himselfeâ— and first marching through 〈◊〉 where he takes in many Townes he plants his siâ—ge afterward before 〈◊〉 but having spent there sixe or seven weekes without effecting any thing he â—asseth thence and takes in the Cities of Sens Nevers the Dutchy of Bâ—rgoyne redeemes it self from spoil with paying two hundred thousand Floâ—ens of gold then he marcheth up to â—aris and plants his Camp within two small Leagues of the Towâ—â— where â—e honoured 400. Esquires and Gentlemen with the Order of knighthood but when Sir Walter de Manny had made a Bravado before the Gates of the City and the King saw that the Daulphin would by no provocations be drawne out to battell he raiseth his siege and returnes into Briâ—aine to refresh his Army from thence he marcheth towards Charâ—res with a purpose to besiege that City and though great offers were made him by the French and Commissioners from the Pope solicited him with all earnestnesse to accept them yet neither they nor the Duke of Lancasters perswasions could prevaile with him till a terrible â—torme of haile with thunder and lightning fell upon his Army which so terrified him being a warning as it were from Heauen that he presently vowed to make Peace with the French King upon any reasonable conditions as shortly after he did at a Treaty of Britigny neare to Chartres upon these Articles that the Fiefs of Thouars and Belleville the Dutchy of Guyenne comprising Gascoyne Poictou Sanâ—ogne Limoâ—sin Perigort Quercie Rhodes Angoulesme and Rochell together with the Counties of Guysnes and Callice and some other places with the Homages of the Lords within those Territories should be to the King of England who besides was to have three Millions of crownes of goldâ— whereof sixe hundred thousand in hand foure hundred thousand the yeaâ—e following and the rest in two yeares after and for this the King of England and his sonne the Prince of Wales for them and their successours for ever should renounce all their right pretended to the Câ—owne of France the Dutchy of Normandy the Countries of Touraine Anjou Mayne the Homage and Soveraignty of Britaine and the Earledome of Flanders and within three weekes King Iohn to be rendred at Callice at the charge of the King of England except the expenses of his house For assurance of which accord should be given into his hand five and twenty of the greatest Dukes and Lords of France for Hostages The Scots not to be aided by the French King nor the Flemmings by the English This accord and finall Peace signed by both Kings was ratified by their two eldest sonnes Edward and Charles and sworne unto by the Nobility of both kingdomes The Hostages are delivered to King Edward who brought them into England and thereupon King Iohn is honourably conducted to Callice after he had remained prisoner in England neare about five yeares but being come to Callice he was detained there above three moneths till the money which he was to pay in hand could be provided and for providing the rest he was put to hard shifts being faine to give the Iewes leave to dwell in France for twenty yeares paying twelve Florins a man at the entry and sixe every yeare after At this time the Prince by dispensation marries the Countesse of Kent daughter to Edmund brother to Edward the second and his Father investing him with the Dutchy of Aquitaine he was now Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitaine Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester and Kent and not long after with the Princesse his wife he passeth over into France and keepes his Court at Burdeaux This was now the yeare 1362. and the fiftieth yeare of King Edwards age wherein for a Iubilee he shewes himselfe extraordinarily gracious to his peoplâ— freely pardoning many offences relesing prisoners revoking exiles with many other expressions of his love and bounty The yeare following was famous for three Kings comming into England Iohn King of France Peter King of Cyprus and Dâ—vid King of Scots The King of Cyprus came to solicite King Edward to joyne with other Princes in the Holy Warre but receives onely royall entertainment and excuses The King of Scots came for businesse and visitation but why the King of France came is not so certaine whether it were about taking order for his Hostages or to satisfie King Edward for breach of some Articles or else for love to the Countesse of Salisbury or perhaps out of a desire to let England see his Majesty being at liberty which had beene darkened before by the cloud of captivity but whatsoever the cause of his comming was the cause of his staying at least of longer staying then he meant was a mortall sicknesse whereof having lien all the Winter at the Savoy in March or Aprill following he died and his body convaied over into France was buried at Saint Donis with his Ancestours The Prince of Wales was now growne famous all the Christian world over and the man to whom all wronged Princes seemed to appeale and to flie for succour for which end there came at this time to his Court Iames King of Majorque and happened to come at a time when the Princesse lay in and thereupon he and Richard King of Navarre were taken to be Godfathers to his sonne Richard For the like assistance also there came at the same time to him Peter King of Castile driven out of his kingdome by the French in favour to Peter King of Aragon and Prince Edward partly out of charity to succour a distressed Prince and partly out of policy to keepe his Souldiers in exercise undertakes the enterprise and was so prosperous in it that with one battell having but thirty thousand against a hundred thousand hee put King Peter in possession of his kingdome though he was ill rewarded for his labour for the ungratefull King would not so much as pay his Souldiers An unfortunate journey for the Prince for though he came back with victory yet he brought backe with him such an indisposition of body that he was never throughly well after not perhaps by poyson nor given him by his brother the Duke of Lancaster though both were suspected but there were causes of distempering him enough besides the Countrey the season the action it selfe and it may be more marvelled that his Souldiers came home so well then that he came so ill but howsoever being now returned there was presently to his indisposition of body added discontentment of minde for not having meanes to pay his Souldiers which forced him to winke at that which he could not chuse but see and seeing grieve at how they preyed upon the Countrey and thereupon how the Countrey murmured against him and now to stop this murmuring his Chancellour the Bishop of Rhodes devised a new Imposition of leavying a Frank for every Chimney and this to continue for five yeares to pay the Princes debts but this Imposition made the murmuring the more for though some part of his Dominions
as the Poictâ—â—ins Xaingtonois and Lymoâ—sins in a sort consented to it yet the Count of Armigniâ—ck the Count of Comminges the Viscount of Carmayn and many others so much distasted it that they complained thereof to the King of France as to their Supreme Lord who upon examination finding their complaint to be just he thereupon by advise of his Councell Summons Prince Edward to appeare in person to answer the complaint whereunto Prince Edw. made answere that if he must needs appeare he would bring threescore thousand men in Armes to appeare with him and had certainely brought his Army that Summer against Paris if he had not fallen into Symptomes of a Dropsie which Walsingham saith was wrought by Enchantments But upon this answer of the Prince King Charles sends defiance to King Edward who thereupon prepares Armes both by Sea and Land to oppose him The French enter upon the Territoriâ—s of the Prince and defeate divers of his Troopes in revenge whereof Iohn Chandos the Princes Lieutenant assaults Terrieres in the Province of Tholouse and takes it The Count of Perigourd aâ—saults Royanville in Querâ—y and puts all the English to the sword in revenge whereof Iames Audeley Seneâ—chall of Poicton assaults the City of Brosse and takes it In the meane time Robert Knols by some called Robin and by others Arnould or Reynold Knoll had drawne Perducas de Albert to the party of the English and thereupon wenâ— and encamped before the Fort of Darcâ—ell in Quercy which Iohn Chandos understanding went also and joyned with him in the Siege but finding they could doe no good there they removed and Besieged the City of Damme and when they could doe no good there neither they marched forward tooke the Fort of Froyus Rochevaudour and Villefranche and that done returned to the Prince at Angoulesme At the same time the Earles of Cambridge and Pembroke having spent nine weekes at the Siege of Bordeille at last tooke it but other Captaines of the English did yet more for they scaled Belleperche in the Province of Bourbon where the Mother of the Duke of Bourbon and of the Queene of France was and take her prisoner About this time Philippa Queene of England King Edwards Wife died and was buried at Westminster but this hindred not the proceeding of the English in France the Earle of Pembroke enters Anjou where he takes many Townes the Duke of Lancaster doth the like about Callice and marching forward plants his Campe before Harfleur with a purpose to burne the King of France his Navy but being watched by the Count Saint Poll was forced to forbeare that designe and so passing other wayes and spoyling all the places where he passed he returned to Callice Winter now was drawing on and Iohn Chandos desiring to recover the Abby of Saint Silvin in Poictou which not long before had beene betraied to the French was in the enterprise discovered and being assaulted by greater forces was slaine in the place to the great griefe of the Prince of Wales and of the English Lords but dying without issue his estate which amounted to foure hundred thousand Franks came to the Prince At this time the Dukes of Anjou and Berry with two great Armies enter upon the Territories of the Prince of Wales whereof the Prince advertised assembles Forces to oppose them but when the newes was brought him of the taking of Limouges he was so much troubled at it by reason of the Bishop of that place was his Gossip and one in whom he specially had affiance that he resolved to recover it at any price and not to spare a man that had any hand in the rendring it up and thereupon taking it by force he commanded to sacke and pillage it and would not be staied by the cries of the people casting themselves downe at his feete till passing through the Towne he perceived three French Captaines who themselves alone had withstood the assault of his victorious Army and moved with the consideration of their valour he then abated his anger and for their sakes granted mercy to all the Inhabitants So much is vertue even in an enemy respected by generous minds In the meane time David King of Scots died without issue and Robert Stuart his Nephew succeeded him in the kingdome and was Crowned at Scone At this time Robert Knolls with a great Army is sent into France where making many attempts with valour enough but with little successe he was comming home though with no gaine yet with no losse till Bertrand de Gueschlyn assaulting him slew the most part of his men and so this great Army on a sudden came to nothing It seemes Knolls his action was the lesse succesfully by reason some young Lords that wenâ— with him scoâ—ning to â—e 〈◊〉 his command as being but a new man and risen froâ— a low estate were refractory to hiâ— directions And indeed what can a Generall do if he have not as well reputation of person as of place And now the Prince of Wales his eldest sonne Edward dying 〈◊〉 Buâ—deâ—â—â— the 〈◊〉 with his wife and his other sonne Richard come over into England at whiâ—â— time the vallant knight Walter de Mâ—â—ny died at Londâ—n and was buried in the Monastery of the Chartreux which he had builded leaving one onely daughter married to Iohn Earle of Pembroke This Earle of Pembroke was soone after sent Goâ—ernour into Aquitaâ—ne but set upon by the way by Spaniards in favour of the Frâ—â—ch was by them taken prisoner and carried with other into Spainâ—â— who being chained together as the manner is one Evans a Welsh Fugitiveâ— who gave â—â—â—selfe out for the right Heire of Wales camâ— unto him foolishly playing upon him with scornfull language as though to insult over another mans misery could sâ—â—le for a coâ—diall to mitigate his owne And now upon the taking of this Earle the Princes Dominions in France are either taken away or â—all away faster then they â—ere gotten Gueschlyâ— enters Poictou and takes Montmâ—rillon Chauvigny Lussâ—â— and Moâ—tâ—ontiâ—r straight after followes the Countrey of Aulnys of Xaintoigne and the rest of Poicâ—ou then Saint Maxenâ— Neele Aulnâ—y then Benaon Marant Surgâ—rs 〈◊〉 and at last they came to Thouars where the most part of the Lords of Poicâ—oâ— that held with the Prince were assembled at which time King Edward with the Prâ—â—ce the Duke of Lancaster and all the great Lords of England set forward to their succour but being driven backâ— by tempest never came to give them assistance so as Thouars yeelded upon composition Yet did this preparation of the King stand him in nine thousand Markes that it may be truly said it cost him more now to lose Townes then it had cost him before to win them so great oddes there is betweene the Spring and Fall of Fortune After this the Duke of Lancaster is sent over with another great Army who passed up into many parts of the Country but King Charles resolved to hazard no
his foure and thirtieth yeare of the King of France three millions of crownes of Gold In his twelveth yeare he had taken from the Priors Aliens their houses lands and tenements for the maintenance of his French warres which he kept twenty yeares in his 〈◊〉 and then restored them againe In his six and thirtieth year was greater twenty sixe shillings eight pence for transportation of every sacke of Wooll for three yeareâ— In the five and fortieth yeare of his Raigne in a Parliament at Westminster the â—lergy granted him fifty thousand pounds to be paid the same yeare and the Laiâ—y as much which was levâ—ed by setting a certaine rate of five pounds fifteene shillings upon every Parish which were found in the 37â— Shires to be eight thousand and sixe hundred and so came in the whole to fifty thousand one hundred eighty one pounds and eight pence but the 181. li. was abated to the Shires of Suffolkâ— and Devonshire in regard of their poverty In his eight and fortieth yeare in a Parliament is granted him a tenth of the Clergy a fifteenth of the Laity In his fiftiâ—h year a Subsidy of a new nature was demanded by the young Prince Richard whom being buâ— eleven years of age the Duke of Lancaster had brought into the Parliament of purpose to make the demand to have two tenths to be paid in one yeare or twelve pence in the pound of all Merchandises sold for one yeare and one pound of silver for every knights Fee and of every Fire-house one penny but instead of this Subsidy after much altercation there was granted another of as new a nature as this that every person man and woman within the kingdome above the age of foureteene yeares should pay foure pence those who lived of Almes onely excepted the Clergy to pay twelve pence of every Parson Beneficed and of all other religious persons foure pence a mighty aide and such as was never granted to any King of England before Of his Lawes and Ordinances HE instituted the Order of the Garter upon what cause is not certaine the common opinion is that a Garter of his owne queene or as some say of the Lady Ioane Countesse of Salisbury slipping off in a Dance King Edward stooped and tooke it up whereat some of his Lords that were present smiling as at an amorous action he seriously said it should not be long ere Soveraigne honour should be done to that Garter whereupon he afterward added the French Morto Honi soit qui maly pense therein checking his Lords sinister suspition Some conjecture that he instituted the Order of the Garter for that in a battell wherein he was victorious he had given the word Garter for the word or signe and some againe are of opinion that the institution of this Order is more ancient and begunne by King Richard the first but that this King Edward adorned it and brought it into splendour The number of the knights of this Order is twenty sixe whereof the King himselfe is alwayes one and president and their Feast yearely celebrated at Windsor on Saint Georges day the Tutelar Saint of that Order The lawes of the Order are many whereof there is a booke of purpose In the five and thirtieth yeare of his Raigne he was earnestly Petitioned by a Parliament then holen that the great Charter of Liberties and the Charter of Forests might be duly observed and that the great Officers of the kingdome should as in former times be elected by Parliament to which Petition though the King at first stood stiffe upon his owne Election and Prerogative yet at last in regard to have his present turne served as himselfe after confessed he yeelded that such Officers should receive an Oath in Parliament to doe justice to all men in their Offices and thereupon a Statute was made and confirmed with the Kings Seale both for that and many other Grants of his to his Subjectsâ— which notwithstanding were for the most part shortly after revoked This King also causeth all Pleas 〈◊〉 were before in Frenâ—h to be made in English that the Subject might understand the course of the Law Also in his time an Act was passed for Purveyours that nothing should be taken up but for ready money upon strict punishment In the next Parliâ—ment holden the seven and thirtieth yeare of his Raigne certaine Sâ—mpâ—uary Lawes were ordained both for apparell and diet appointing every degree of men the stuffe and habits they should weare prohibiting the weaâ—ing of gold and silver silkes and rich furres to all buâ— eminent persons The labâ—â—rer and husbandman 〈◊〉 â—ppointed but one 〈◊〉 dayâ— and what meates he should 〈◊〉 Also in his time at the instance of the Loâ—â—onersâ— an Act was made that no common Whore should weaâ—e any Hood except striped with divers colours nor Furres but Garments reversed the wrong side outward This King also was the first that created Dukesâ— of whom Henry of Bâ—llingbrâ—oke 〈◊〉 of Lancaster created Duke of Lancaster in the seven and twentieth yeare of his Raigneâ— was the first But afterward he erected Cornwall also into a Dutchy and conferred it upon the Prince after which time the Kings eldest sonne used alwayes to be Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester This King altered monies and abated them in weight yet made them to passe according to the former value Before his time there were no other peeces but Nobles and halfe Nobles with the small peeces of Silver called Sterlings but â—â—w Groats of foure pence and halfe Groats of two pence equivalent to the Sterling money are coyned which inhaunsed the prises of things that rise or fâ—ll according to the plenty or scarcity of coyne which made Servants and Labourers to râ—ise their wages accordingly Whereupon a Statute was made in the Parliament now held at Westminster to reduce the same to the former rate Also an Act was made in this Kings time that all Weares Mils and other stoppages of Rivers hindering the passage of Boats Lighters and other Vessels should be removed which though it were most commodious to the kingdome yet it tooke little effect by reason of bribing and corrupting Lords and great men who regarded more their owne private then the publike benefit In a Parliament holden the tenth yeare of his Raigne it was enacted that no Wooll growing within the Realme should be transported but that it should be made in Cloath in Peter-pence are forbidden by the King to be paid any more to Rome The câ—stome of washing poore mens feete on Maundy-Thursday thought to have beene first brought in by this King Affaires of the Church in his time KING Edward upon some displeasure had imprisoned divers Clergy men whereupon Iohn Stratford Arch-bishop of Canterbury writes him a Letter charging him with violation of the Rights of the Church and with the breach of Magna Charta and after much good counsell given him threatens that if he amend not these disorders he must and
the moneth of Aprill In the fourth yeare of his Raigne a solemne Justing or Turnament was holden at London in Châ—â—pside beâ—wixt the great Crosse and the great Conduit 〈◊〉 Sâ—per-laâ—â—â— which lasted three dayes where the Queen Philippa with many Ladies fell from a Stage set up for them to behold the Justing and though they were not hurt at all yet the King threaâ—â—ed to pâ—nish the Carpenters for their negligence till the Queâ—ne inâ—â—â—ated pardon for them upon her knees as indeed she was alwayes ready to doe all good offices of mercie to all people In the eleventh yeare of his Raigne was so great plenty that a quarter of Wheate was sold at London for two shillings a fat Oxe for a Noble a fat Sheepe for sixe pence and sixe Pigeons for a penny a faâ— Goose for two pence and a Pigge for a penny and other things after that rate Of his Wife and Children HE married Philippa the daughter of William Earle of Haynault at Yorke a match made up in haste by Queene Isabell his mother for her owne ends although a better could never have beene made upon deliberation for King Edwards ends for though her Parentage were not great and her portion lessâ— yet she made amends for both in vertue for never King had a better Wife By her King Edward had seven sonnes and five daughters his eldest sonne Edward Prince of Wales and commonly called the Blacke Prince but why so called uncertaine for to say of his dreadfull acts as Speâ—de saith hath little probability was borne at Woodstocke in the third yeare of his Fathers Raigne he married Ioane the daughter of Edmund Earle of Kent brother by the Fathers side to King Edward the second She had beene twice married before first to the valiant Earle of Salisbury from whom she was divorced next to the Lord Thomas Holland after whose decease this Prince passionatly loving her married her by her he had issue two sonnes Edward the eldest borne at Angoulesme who died at seven yeaâ—es of age and Richard borne at Burdeaux who after his Father was Prince of Wales and after his Grandfather King of England This Prince had also naturall issue Sir Iohn Sounder and Roger Clarendon Knights the latter being attainted in the Raignâ— of King Henry the fourth is thought to have â—eene Ancestour to the house of Smiths in Essex He died at Canterbury in the sixe and fortieth yeare of his age and of his Fatheâ—â— Raigne the nine and fortieth and was buried at Christs Church there His second sonne William was borne at Hatfield in Hertfordshire who deceased in his childhood and was buried at Yorke His third sonne Lyonell was borne at Antwerpe in the twelveth yeare of his Fathers Raigne he married first Elizabeth the daughter and Heire of William Burgh Earle of Ulster in Ireland in whoâ—e Right he was first created Earle of Ulster and because he had with her the honour of Clare in the County of Toâ—mond he was in a Parliament created Duke of Clarence as it were of the Countrey about the Towne and Honour of Clare from which Dutchy the name of Clarentieux being the title of the King of Armes for the South parts of England is derived This Duke had issue by her one onely daughter named Philippa afterward wife of Edmund Mortimer Earle of March mother of Earle Roger Father of Anne Countesse of Cambridge the mother of Richard Duke of Yorke Father of King Edward the fourth The second marriage of this Duke was at Millaine in Lombardy with the Lady Viâ—lanta daughter of Gâ—leacâ—â— the second Duke thereof but through intemperance he lived not long â—fter King Edwards fourth sonne named Iohn was borne at Gaâ—â—t in the foureteenth yeare of his Fathers Raigne he had three wives the first was â—lâ—nch daughter and Coheire and in the end the sole Heire of Henry Duke of Lancaster sonne of Edmund sirnamed Crouch back by whom he had issue Henry of Bullingbrooke Earle of Derby after Duke of Hereford and lastly King of England named Henry the fourth who first placed the Crowne in the house of Lancaster By her also Iohn of Gaunt had two daughters Philip wife of Iohn the first King of Portugall and Elizabeth married first to Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington and after him to Sir Iohn Cornwall Baron of Fanhope Iohn of Gaunts second wife was Constance the eldest daughter of Peter King of Castile and Leon in whose Right for the time he intitled himselfe King of both those Realmes by her he had issue one onely daughter named Katherine married to Henry the third sonne of King Iohn in possession before and in her Right after King of both the said Realmes Iohn of Gaunts third wife was Katherine the Widow of Sir Hugh Swinford a knight of Lincolnshire eldest daughter and Coheire of Payn Roet a Gascoyne called Gâ—â—en King of Armes for that Countrey his younger daughter being married to Sir Geoffrey Chawcer our Laureat Poet. By her he had issue born before matrimony and made legitimate afterward by Parliament in the twentieth yeare of King Richard the second Iohn Earle of Somerset Thomas Duke of Exeter Henry Bishop of Winchester and Cardinall and Ioane who was first married to Robert Ferrers Baron of Wemme and Ouâ—sley in the Counties of Salop and Warwicke and secondly to Ralph Nevill the first Earle of Westmerland She and all her brethren were sirnamed Beaufort of a Castle which the Duke had in France where they were all borne and in regard thereof bare the Portcullis of a Castle for the Cognisance of their Family This Duke in the thirteenth yeare of his Nephew King Richard was created Duke of Aquitaine but in his sixteenth yeare he was called home and this title re-called and the third yeare after in the sixtieth of his age he died at Ely house in Holbourne and lieth honourably Entombed in the Quire of Saint Paul King Edwards fifth sonne Edmund sirnamed of Langley was first in the yeare 1362. created Earle of Cambridge and afterward in the yeare 1386. made Duke of Yorke he married Isabell daughter and Coheire to Peter King of Castile and Leon his sonne Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke tooke to wife Anne Mortimer Heire of the foresaid Lyonell elder brother to Edmund of Langley King Edwards sixth sonne William sirnamed of Windsor where he was borne died young and is buried at Westminster King Edwards youngest sonne Thomas sirnamed of Woodstocke where he was borne was first Earle of Buckingham and after made Duke of Glocester by his Nephew King Richard the second He was a man of valour and wisdome but the King surmizing him to be a too severe observer of his doings consulted with Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke how to make him away whom Mowbray unawares surprising convaied secretly to Callice where he was strangled the twentieth yeare of King Richards Raigne He had issue one sonne Humphrey Earle of Buckingham who died at Chester of the Pestilence in the yeare 1400. and two daughters
King himselfe sitteth and ministreth the Law because he considered that it is the chiefest duty of a King to administer the Laws And here to get the love of the people by a feigned clemency he sent for one Fogge out of Sanctuary who for feare of his displeasure was fled thither and there in the fight of all the people caused him to kisse his hand After his return home he tooke to wife the Lady Anne youngest daughter of the great Warwicke and the relict of Prince Edward sonne of Henry the sixth though â—hee could not be ignorant that he had been the Author both of her husbands and 〈◊〉 death But womens affections are Eccentrick to common apprehension whereof the two Poles are Passion and Inconstancy Against his Coronation he had sent for five thousand men out of the North and these being come under the leading of Robin of Riddesdale upon the fourth of Iulyâ— together with his new bride he went from Baynards Castle to the Tower by waâ—â—â— where he created Edward his Sonne a childe of ten yeers old Prince of Wales◠〈◊〉 Lord Howard Duke of Norfolke his Sonne Sir Thomas Howard Earle of Surry◠〈◊〉 Lord Berckley Earle of Nottingham Francis Lord Lovell Viscount Lovell 〈…〉 Chamberlane and the Lord Stanley who had been committed priâ—oner to the â—ower in regard his Sonne the Lord Strange was reported to have levied forces 〈…〉 not only that day was released out of prison but was made Lord 〈◊〉 of his Househould The Archbishop of Yorke was likewise then delivered but Morton Bâ—shop of Ely as one that could not be drawne to the disinheriting of 〈◊〉 Edwards children was committed to the Duke of Buckingham who sent him to his Castle of Brecknock in Wales there to be in custody The same night were made seventeen knights of the Bath Edmund the Duke of Suffolkes sonne George Gray the Earle of Kents sonne Williaâ— the Lord Zouches sonne Henry Aburgaâ—â—â—â— Christopher Willoughby Henry Babington Thomas Arundell Thomas Boleigne Gervâ—â— Clifton William â—ay Edmund Bedingfield William Enderly Thomas Lewkuâ—â— Thâ—mâ—â— of Vrmond Iohn Bromne and William Berckley The next day being the fifth oâ— Iuly the King rode through the City of London to VVestminster being accompanied with the Dukes of Norfolk Buckingham and Suffolk the Earles of Northuâ—bâ—rland Arundell Kent Surrey VVilâ—shire Huntington Nottinghâ—m Warwick and Lincolâ—â— the Viscounts Liste and Lovell the Lords Stanley Aâ—dely Dâ—cres Peâ—â—ers of Chartley Powis Scroope of â—psale Scroope of Bolton Gray of Codner Grey of Wilton Sturton Cobham Morley Burgeveny Zouch Ferrers of Croby Wells Lumley Matrâ—vers Herbert and Beckham and fourescore Knights On the morrow being the sixth of Iuly the King with Queene Anâ—e his wife came downe out of the White-Hall into the Great Hall at Westminster and went directly to the Kings Bench and from thence going upon Ray-cloath bare-footed went unto St. Edwards shrine all his Nobility going with him every Lord in his degree The Bishop of Rochester bore the Crosse before the Cardinall Then followed the Earle of Huntington beâ—ng a paire of gilt-spurres signifying Knighthood Then followed the Earle of â—â—â—ford bearing St. Edwards staâ—fe for a Relique After him came the Earle of â—â—â—thumberland bare-headed with the pointlâ—sse sword naked in his hand signifying Mercy The Lord Stanley bare the Mace of the Constableship The Earle of Kenâ— bare the second sword on the right hand of the King naked with a point which signifyed Justice to the Temporalty The Lord Lovell bore the third sword on the Kings left hand with a point which signifyed Justice to the Clergie The Duke of Suffolk followed with the Scepter in his hand which signified Peace The Earle of Lincolne bore the Ball and Crosse which signified Monarchy The Earle of Sâ—rry bore the fourth sword before the King in a rich scabbard which is called the swâ—â—d of Estate Then went three together in the midst went Gartar king of Armes in his rich Coat and on his right hand went the Major of London â—earing a Mace and on his left hand went the Gentleman-Usher of the Privy Chamber Then followed the Duke of Norfolk bearing the kings Crown between his hands Then followed king Richard in his roabes of Purple-velvet and over his head a Canopy borâ—e by foure Barons of the Cinque-Ports and on each side of the king went a Bishopâ— on one side the Bishop of Bath on the other of Durham Then followed the Duke of Buckingham bearing the kings traine with a white staffe in his hand signifying the office of High Steward of England Then followed the Queenes traine before whom was borne the Scepter the Ivory rod with the Dove signifying innocency and the Crown herselfe apparelled in roabes like the kings under a rich Canopy at every corner thereof a bell of gold On her head she wore a circlet set full of precious stones the Countesse of Richmond bearing her traine the Dutchesses of Norfolk and Suffolk in their Coronets attending with twenty Ladies of Estate most richly attired In this order they passed the Palace into the Abbey and going up to the High Altar there shifted their roabes and having other roabes open in divers places from the middle upward were both of them Anoynted and Crowned and then after the Sacrament received having the host divided betwixt them they both offered at St. Edwards shrine where the king left St. Edwards Crowne wherewith he had been Crowned and put on his owne and this done in the same order and state as they came they returned to Westminster-hall and there held a most Princely feast at the second course whereof there came into the Hall Sir Robert Dymock the kings Champion making Proclamation that whosoever would say thâ—â— king Richard was not lawfull king of England he was there ready to prove it against him and thereupon threw down his Gantlet and then all the Hall cryed king Richard king Richard And thus with some other Ceremonies the Coronation ended and the king and Queen returned to their lodgings Presently after this king Richard sent a solemne Ambassage to Lewis king of France to conclude a Leagâ—e and Amity with him but the French king so abhorred him and his cruelty that hee would not so much as see or heare his â—â—bâ—ssadors but sent them away with shame in disgrace of their Master At this tâ—me with his Queen he made a Progresse of Glocester under colour to 〈…〉 of his old Honour but indeed to be out of the way having a speciall 〈…〉 to be acted for though he had satisfied his Ambition by depriving his 〈◊〉 Nephews of their livelihoods yet it satisfied not his Feare if he deprived 〈…〉 also of their lives For effecting whereof his old friend the Duke of Buckâ—â—â—â—â—â— was no fit instrument it must be one of a baser metall and to finde out 〈…〉 henceded not goe farre For upon inquiry he was told of two that lay 〈…〉 it Chamber to him Sir Thomas and Sir Tyrrellâ— two brothers like 〈…〉 not more
King according to an ancient custome had ayde of His Subjects thorough England for making his eldest sonne Prince Henry Knight which yet was Levied with great moderation and the Prince to shew himselfe worthy of it performed His first Feates of Armes at Barriers with wonderfull skill and courage being not yet full sixteene yeares of Age. It was now the eight yeere of King Iames His Reigne being the yeare 1610 when Prince Henry being come to the age of seventeen yeares It was thought fit He should be Initiated into Royalty and thereupon the thirtieth of May this yeare He was Created Prince of Wales in most solemne manner which was this Garter King at Armes bore the Letters Patents the Earle of Sussex the Robes of Purple Velvet the Earle of Huntington the Traine the Earle of Cumberland the Sword the Earle of Rutland the Ring the Earle of Darby the Rod the Earle of Shrewsbury the Cape and Coronet the Earle of Nottingham and North-Hampton supported the Prince being in His Surcoate only and bare-headed and in this manner being conducted to the King attended on by the Knights of the Bathe five and twenty in number all great men and great mens sons The Earle of Salisbury principall Secretary read the Letters Pattents the Prince kneeling all the while before the King and at the words accustomed the King put on him the Robe the Sword the Cape and the Coronet the Rod and the Ring and then kissed him on the cheeke and so the solemnity ended After this it was thought fit he should keep his Court by himselfe and thereupon Sir Thomas Chaloner a learned Gentleman who had before been his Governour was now made his Lord Chamberlaine Sir Edw. Philips his Chancellor and all other officers assigned him belonging to a Princes Court wherein he shewed himselfe so early ripe for Majesty that he seemed to be a King while he was yet but Prince And all mens eyes began to fix upon him King Iames had long since shut up the Gates of Ianus and was in Peace with all Princes abroad his only care now was how to keep Peace at home and to this end the three first dayes of Iune in his own person he heard the differences between the Ecclesiasticall and the Temporall Iudges argued touching Protections out of the Kingsâ—Bench and Common-Pleas to this end the eight ninth tenth of Iune he heard the manifold complaints of the abuses of the Victualers other Officers of his Navy Royall to this end the 4 of Iune 1610 he once again by Proclamation commanded all Roman Priests Seminaries and Iesuits as being the chiefe Incendiaries of troubles to depart this Kingdome by the 5 of Iuly next and not to returne upon pain of severity of the Law also all Recusants to returne home to their Dwellings and â—ot to ramaine in London â—oâ— to come within ten miles of the Court without speciall Licence aâ—â—â—r which Proclamation the Oâ—th of Allegeance was presently ministred to all sorts of people and their names certified to the Lords of the Counsell that refâ—â—ed to take it and this Hee the rather did out of consideration of the bloudy fact committed lately by one Revillâ—ck upon the person of the renowned K. of France Henry the fourth whereas Queen Elizabeth in her 43 years had granted her Letters Pattents to continue for 15 years to the East India Merchants now upon their humble petition the King was pleased to enlarge their Pateâ—â—s giving them a charter to continue for ever enabling them thereby to be a body Corporate and Politick which so encouraged the Merchants that they built a ship of twelve hundred â—un the greatest that was ever made in this Kingdome by Merchants which the King and Prince honored with going to Deptford to see it and then named it The Trades encrease and at this time gave to Sir Thomas Smith Governour of that Company a faire chaine of Gold with a Iewell wherein was his Picture But this great Ship having been in the Read Sea and returning to Banthem was there lost and most of her men cast away But then the King himselfe builded the goodliest Ship of War that was ever built in England being of the burthen of 1400 tun and carrying threescore and foure pieces of great Ordnance which he gave to his son Prince Henry who named it after his own dignity The Prince And now whereas a Parliament had been holden this year and was Prorogued to a certain day the King perhaps not finding it to comply with his designes or for some other cause known to himself on the last day of December under the grâ—â—t Sâ—ale of England dissolved it Before this time one Sir Robert Câ—rre a Gentleman of Scotland or of the bordâ—â—â— being a hunting with the King chanced with a fall off his horse to breake his leg upon which mischance he was forced for some days to keep his bed in which time the King was sometimes pleased to come and visit him and then it was first perceived that the King had begun to cast an eye of favour upon him and indeed â—roâ— that time forward as he was a very fine Gentleman and very wise many great favours were heaped upon him So as on Easter Munday in the yeare 1611 he was Created Viscount Rochester On the two and twentieth of Aprill 1612 was swoâ—ne a privy Counsellor On the fourth of November 1613 was Created Earle of Soâ—erset and the tenth of Iuly following made Lord Chamberlaine Bâ—â— this Sun-shine of Fortune lasted not long yet not by any inconstancy in the King but by the Earles own undeserving which thus fell out The Right Honourable Robert Earle of Essex had before this time married the beautifull Lady Francis Howard daughter of Thomas Earle of Suffolk who upon caâ—ses â—udicially heard were afterward Divorced and left free to marry any other Afteâ— which Divoâ—ce this great favorite the Earle of Somerset takes her for wife thâ— King gâ—acing their marriage with all demonstrations of love and favour and the Lords gracing it with a stately Masque that night and a few dayes after the Bride and Bridegroom accompanied with most of the Nobility of the Kingdome were â—easted at Merchant Taylors Hall by the Lord Major and Aldermen But see how soon this faire weâ—â—her was overcast For it hapned that one Sir Thâ—mas â—â—erbâ—ry a very ingenious Gentleman and the Earles speciall fâ—â—â—â—d who had written a witty Treâ—tise of a Wife and it seemes not thinking thâ— Lady in all points answerable to his description had been an earnest disswaâ—â—â— of the Mâ—â—â—â— and to â—â—rengthen his diâ—â—wasion layd perhaps some unjust 〈◊〉 upâ—â— the Ladyes 〈◊〉 which so incensed them both against him that 〈…〉 could not give them satiâ—â—â—ction than to take away his life So 〈…〉 saying Improbe 〈…〉 r quid non mortalia pectora cogis 〈◊〉 this they finde pretences to have the said Sir Thomas committed to the â—â—wer and there by their Instruments effect their revenge some
Iames His Raigne there were so many made that it may not be unfit to set them down in a Cathalogue together In His first yeare were made foure Earles and nine Barons namely Henry Howard yonger brother of the last Duke of Norfolk was made Earle of Northampton Thomas Sackvile Lord Buckhurst was made Earle of Dorset and shortly after Charles Blount Lord Montjoy was made Earle of Devonshire and Thomas Howard Baron of Walden was made Earle of Suffolk Henry Grey was made Lord Grey of Groby afterward by King Charles made E. of Stamford Henry Danvers was made Baron of Dansley afterwards by K. Charles made Earle of Danby Sir Iohn Peter of Essex was made B. of Writtle Sir W. Russell was made Baron of Thornaugh Sir Thomas Gerard was made Baron of Gerards Bromly in Stafford-shire Sir Robert Spencer was made B. of Wormelayton in the County of Warwick Sir Thomas Egerton was made B. of Elesmore and Sir Robert Cecill was created B. of Henden in Rutlandshire and Sir Iohn Harington was made Baron of Exâ—on In His second yeare on the 20 of May were made foure Barons and one Viscount Sir Robert Sidney was made Baron of Penshurst Sir William Knowles Baron of Grayes Sir Edw. Wotton Baron of Marley and Mildmay Fanc Lord de Spencer and in August the same yeare Sir Robert Cecill Baron of Essenden was created Viscount Cranbourne In His third yeare of the 4 of May were created three Earles and one Viscount and foure Barons namely Sir Robert Cecill Viscount Cranbourne was created E. of Salisburyâ— Sir Thomas Cecill his elder brother L. Burghley was created E. of Exeter and Sir Philip Herbert younger brother to the E. of Pembrok was created E. of Montgomery Robert Sidney Baron of Penshurst was created Viscount of Lisle Sir Iohn Stanhope was made Baron of Harington Sir George Carew Baron of Clopton Mr Thomas Arundell of Devonshireâ— Baron of Warder and Master William Cavendysh Baron of Hardrickâ— In his fourth yeare on the fourth of Iuly Sir Thomas Kneveâ—t was called by writ to the Parliament by the name of Bâ—ron of Estrickâ— and was thereby Baron of that Title and on the seventh of September Sir Iervys Clifton was likewise called by writ to the Parliament by the name of Baron of Layton Bromsensold and was thereby Baron of that Title In his ninth yeare upon Easter-munday Sir Robert Carre was created Viscount Rochester and In his tenth yeare an the fourth of November was created Earle of Somersett In his eleventh yeare Lewis Steward Duke of Lenox was made Earle of Richmond and after Duke of Richmond In his thirteenth yeare on the 29. of Iuâ—e Sir Iames Hâ—y of Scotland was created Baron of Sawley and about three yeares after was made Viscount Doncaster and Sir â—obert Dorâ—er was created Baâ—on of Wyng afterward by K. Charles made Earle of Carâ—arvan In his fourteenth yeare on the 9. of Iuly Sir Iohn Hollis was created Baron of Haughton and Sir Iohn Roper of Kenâ—â— was made Baron of Tenham and on the 17. of August Sir George Villiers was created Baron of Whadden and Viscount Villiers and on the 7. of November Thomas Egerton L. Elsemore was created Viscount Brackley and he dying soon after his sonne Iohn was created Earle of Bridgewater William L. Knowles was created Viscount Wallingford and Sir Philip Stanhope was created Baron of Shelford On the 5 of Ianuary the Viscount Villiers was created Earle of Buckingham and on the third of March Sir Edward Noell of Rutland-shire was made Baron of Rydlington In his fifteenth yeare on New-yeares day Sir George Villiers Earle of Buckingham was created Marquis of Buckingham and on the 12 of Iuly Sir Francis Bacon Lord Chancellour of England was created Baron of Verulam and not long after Viscount Saint Albans Also in the Summer of this year the King created foure Earles and one Countesse namely the Viscount Lisle was made Earle of Leycester the Lord Compton was made Earle of Northampton the Lord Rich was made Earle of Warwick the Lord Cavendish was made Earle of Devonshire and the lady Compton wife to Sir Thomas Compton and mother of the Marquis of Buckingham was created Countesse of Buckingham In his sixteenth yeare on the 25 of November Sir Iohn Digby Vice chamberlaine to the King was created Baron of Shirbourne by Patent to him and his heires Males In his seventeenth yeare in the moneth of Iune Esme steward Lord d' Aubigny younger brother Duke of Lenox was created Earle of March Iames Marquis Hammilton was created Earle of Cambridge and Sir Iohn Villiers brother to the Marquis of Buckingham was Baron of Stâ—k and Viscount Purbeck In his eighteenth yeare William Câ—vendish was created Viscount Mansfield afterward by King Châ—rlâ—s mâ—de Earle of Neâ—castle and on Munday the fourth of Decâ—mber Sir Henry Mâ—â—tague being first made Lord Treasurer was created Baron of Kimbolton and Viscount Mâ—â—devile and not long after Earle of Manchester and Sir Iohn Ramsey Viscount Haddington of Scotland was created Earle of Holdernesse and William Fielding was created Baron of Newhenâ—â—â— and Viscount Fielding In his ninteenth yeare Henry Cary was made Lord Cary of Lâ—ppington afterward by King Charles made Earle of Manmouth Sir Edward Mountague elder Brother to the Viscount Mâ—â—devile was made Baron of Boulton the Lord Darciâ— of Essex was created Viscount Colchester afterward by King Charles made Earle Râ—vers the Lord Huâ—sdoâ— was created Viscount Rochford afterward by King Charles made Earle of Dâ—ver Sir Lyonell Cranfield Master of the Wardes was created Baron of Cranfield in Bedford-shire and Sir Howardâ— second sonne to Thomas Earle of Suffolkeâ— was created Baron Chorleton and Viscount Andover afterward by King Charles made Earle of Barke-shire In his twentyth yeare in the moneth of September the Viscount Doncaster was created Earle of Carlile the Viscount Fielding was created Earle of Denhigh the Lord Digby was made Earle of Bristow the Lord Cranfield was created Earle of Middlesex and Sir Henry Rich was made Baron of Kensington In his one and twentyth yeare the Marquis of Buckingham being then in Spaine with Prince Charles had his Patent sent him to be Duke of Buckingham William Grey was created Baron of Warke Elizabeth the widdow of Sir Moyle Fynch of Kent was created Viscountesse Maidestone afterward by K. Charles made Countesse of Winchelsly â—his two and twentieth year the Earle of Clanricard of Ireland was created Viscount Tunbridge in Kent afterward by King Charles made Earle of Saint Albans Sir Iohn Hollis Baron of Haughton was created Earle of Clare Sir 〈…〉 Riâ—h Baron of Kensington was created Earle of Holland the Lord 〈…〉 Baron of Say and Seale was made Viscount Say and Seale Sir 〈…〉 â—ane was created Earle of Westmerland Oliver Lord St. Iohn of Bletâ—â—◠〈◊〉 made Earle of Bullinbrook Sir Christopher Villers brother to the Duke of Bâ—ckingham was made Earle of Anglesey and Sir Iames Ley was made 〈…〉 afterward by King Charles made Earle of Marlborough Also this yearâ—â— Sir Francis Leak was made Baron of Deincourt and Sir Richard Roberts was made Lord Roberts of Truro in Cornwall And this was the number of all the Earles and Barons made by King Iamesâ— but in his time also began another sort of Nobility to bee made in England which had none of the Priviledges of English Barons but had onely Title to bee called Lords of some place either in Scotland or Ireland although they possessed not a foot of Land in either Of which â—oâ—t the number being great I forbeare to rehearse them lest I should be tedious or otherwise bee thought to encroach too much upon the Heralds office It is sufficient to have shewed that King Iames advanced so many in honour that in a kind it might be said of him as was said of Augustus Caesar That he left Rome of Marble which hee found built of Brick The beginning of THE RAIGNE OF KING Charles KING Iames being deceased on the 27 day of March in the forenoon the same day in the afternoone Charles Prince of Wales His only son then living was Proclaimed King of Great-Brittain France and Ireland with the Generall acclamation of all sorts of People as being a Prince of admirable endowments both of mind and body He was now about the age of 25 yeares whereof the most part of one he had spent in Spaine where although he was frustrated of the end for which he went yet it gave him a tincture of Travaile and Expeâ—ience more worth perhaps then the end he went for For by this meanes he attainâ—â— to a greater degree of that which made Ulysses so famous Quod mores hominum multorum vidit urbes The first thing he did after his Coronation was to proceed in the marriage agreed upon in His Fathers time with the beautiful vertuous Lady Henrieta Maria yonger daughter of the Great Henry the 4â— K. of France after which marriage we have only to say that he was happy in the Wife of His bosome Happy in His hopefull Issue Happy in the love of His people Happy in the Peace and tranquility of his Kingdomesâ— and Happy in the continuâ—nce of all these Happinesses for 15 years together and might have so continued still if it had not been for Discordia Demens Viperiuâ—s crinem vittiâ— innexa cruentis But of that which happened afterward I dare not take upon me to be a Register Neither is it indeed safe to begin a Narration which I must be faine to breake off in amazâ—ment as having nothing left me to say but Omnia in maluâ—â—â—ere and so far from any apparance of humane remedy that our only Anchor must be this supersuntâ— Yet our hope is It will be but a fit and the storme once past faire weather again and fairer perhaps than it was before and then with Ioy we shall resume our stile Laetumque choro Poeana canemus In the meane time comforting our selves with the words of the Prophet David Many are the troubles of the Righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all Carolus en Rex magnus in armis major in ermis Quid mirum Imperio magnus amore magis FINIS
VERA EFFIGIES EXCELLENTISSIMI PRINCIPIS CAROLI MAG BRITAN FRAN. HIBERNIAE HAEREDIS Viuat ô Viuat Princeps CAROLINUS et Orbi Imperet inÌ„umeris decorans sua sêcla Triumphis Flourish braue Prince out shine thy Glorious Name Triumphant Laurels ever Crowne thy Fame CAROLUS inter Reges ut Lilium inter Flores VEROLAM LINCOâ—â—â— LONDON YORK A ROMAN A SAXON A DANE A NOâ—â—â—â— CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND From the Time of the ROMANS Goverment unto the Raigne of our Soveraigne LORD KING CHARLES Containing all Passages of State Church With all other Observations proper for a CHRONICLE Faithfully Collected out of Authours Ancient and Moderne digested into a new Method By Sr R. Baker Knight LONDON Printed for Daniel Frere and are to be sold at his Shop at the Red Bull in Little Brittaine 1643. To the High and Mighty Prince CHARLES Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornewall Eldest Sonne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES King of Great Britaine France and IRELAND SIR THE Dedication of Chronicles hath in all times been thought worthy of the greatest Princes Gulielmus Gemiticensis writ a Chronicle of the Dukes of Normandy and Dedicated it to William the Conquerour Thomas Walsingham writ a Chronicle of the Kings of England and Dedicated it to King Henry the sixth And of late time Sir Francis Bacon Viscount Saint Albans and Lord Chancellour of England writ a History of the Reigne of King Henry the seventh and Dedicated it to Your Royall Grand-Father of blessed memory King Iames For indeed as nothing makes Princes more Illustrious then Learning So no Learning makes them more Judicious then History Other Learning may fill their mindes with knowledge This onely with Judgement And seeing it is Judgement that must sit as President over all their Actions it is fit that History should sit as President over all their Studies History gives an Antedate to Time and brings Experience without gray haires Other Knowledges make You but see Quod antepedes est History is the true perspective Glasse that will make You see things afarre off And though it make not men to become Prophets yet it makes their conjectures to be little lesse then Oraclesâ— But most Illustrious Prince there accrues to your Highnesse by this Chronicle a greater benefit then all this For if it were an Excitation of great force to vertue to have it said Et Pater Aeneas Avunculus excitet Hector of how great Force must it needes be when You shall reade the Noble Acts of so many your worthy Progenitors Some Eternized for their valourous Atchievements in Warre Some for their prudent government in Peace Some Renowned for Mercy some for Justice And although the Example of your Royall Father be not amongst them yet it may be sufficient that while you have the Acts of others upon Record you have his under View by which he seemes to say unto you Disce Puer virtutem exme verumque laborem Fortunam ex aliis And if in any of your Progenitors there appeare as it were Maculae in Orbe Lunae will it not invite you to a higher Orbe that Your Actions may shine with the clearer Beames and then how happy will the eyes be that shall see you sitting in your Throne For my selfe I should account it happinesse enough that I have lived to see the dayes of your Illustrious Father if it were not a great unhappines to see them overcast with clouds yet when these clouds shal be dispel'd will it not make him shine with the greater Splendor And this as old as I am I doubt not to live my selfe to see and having once seene it shal then willingly say my Nunc Dimittis and lâ—ave the joy of your glorious times for another Age In the meane time prostrating my self humbly at your feet and wishing to your Highnesse as Dâ—iphobus did to Aeneas I Decus I Nostrum Melioribus utere Fatis Your most humble and most devoted Servant RICHARD BAKER An Epistle to the READER THis Booke I suppose will no sooner come abroad but the question will be asked why any man would take so superfluous a Labour to write that which hath been written by so many by some so copiously by some so elegantly that nothing can be added To which Objection I confesse my selfe unable to make a better Answer then by President For when many excellent men had written the Story of the Roman Emperours both accurately and eloquently yet Suetonius Tranquillus comming after them wanted not his part of Commendation For though he added nothing in the matter or substance yet be altered much in the forme and disposition distinguishing that into Classes and Chapters which the former had delivered in one continued Narration as being both lesse tedious to the Reader like a way marked out by Miles and more plainly Informing where Distinction tooke away confusion Besides many have Written the Reignes of our English Kings copiously indeed but so superfluously that much may justly be pared away Some againe Elegantly indeed but so succinctly that much as justly may be added And this if I have endevoured to doe I cannot be blamed If done it I deserve acceptance Againe where many have written the Reignes of some of our Kings excellently as in the way of History yet I may say they have not done it so well in the way of Chronicle For whilst they insist wholly upon matters of State they wholly omit meaner Accidents which yet are Materials as proper for a Chronicle as the other For my selfe if in some places I be found to set downe whole passages as they are already set downe by others and may seeme rather to transcribe then to write yet this I suppose may be excused as being all of one common stocke and no matter from whence the water comes so it come cleane to the Readers use Lastly for the Worke it selfe I dare be bold to say that it hath beene Collected out of Authours both Ancient and Moderne with so great care and diligence that if all other Chronicles should be lost yet this onely would be sufficient to informe Posterity of all passages memorable or worthy to be knowne which of any other generall Chronicle cannot perhaps be said RICHARD BAKER A CATALOGVE OF VVRITERS BOTH ANCIENT AND MODERNE Out of whom this CHRONICLE hath beene Collected 1 GIldas Britannicus surnamed the Wise was the first writer of our English Nation who amongst other his Workes writ a Treatise De Excidio Britanniae He was borne in the year 493. and dyed in the yeare 580. 2 Nennius a Monke of Bangor writ the Story of Britaine and lived about the yeare 620. 3 Venerable Bede a Saxon and a Priest writ the Ecclesiasticall Story of the English Nation from the comming in of Julius Caesar to the yeare 733. about which time he dyed 4 Ethelwardus a writer next to Bede the most ancient writ a generall Chronicle from the Creation to the end of King Edgar 5 Radulphus de Diceto
After the death of Athelstan his brother Edmund the fifth sonne of his Father succeeded and was Crowned at Kingstone upon Thames but no sooner was the Crowne set upon his head but the Danes were upon his backe and in Northumberland made Insurrections whom yet he not onely repressed in that part but tooke from them the Townes of Lincolne Leycester Darby Stafford and Nottingham compelling them withall to receive Baptisme and to become his Subjects so as the Country was wholly his as farre as Humber Cumberland also which had beene an entire Kingdome of it selfe and was now ayded by Leolyn King of South-wales he utterly wasted and gave it to Malcolme King of Scots to hold of him by Fealty After his returning home he â—et himselfe to ordaine Lawes for the good of his People which Master Lambert hath since translaâ—ed into Latine But after all his noble Acts both in Warre and Peace he came at last to a lamentable end for at his Manour of Pucklekerks in the County of Glocester interposing himselfe to part a fray betweene two of his servants he was thrust through the body and so wounded that he dyed and was buryed at Glastenbury after he had Raigned five yeares and seven moneths leaving behinde him two young Sonnes Edwyn and Edgar King Edmund dying his brother Edred in the minority of his Nephewes was Crowned at Kingstone upon Thames by Otho Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the yeare 946. Not as Protector It seemes that kinde of Authority was not yet come in use but as King himselfe though with purpose to resigne when the right Heire should come of age which at this time needed not for while the right Heire was scarce yet fourteene yeares old he resigned to him the Kingdome by resigning his life to Nature after he had twice repressed the rebelling Northumbrians and twice forgiven their rebelling which yet was not a simple Rebellion for they had sent for Anlafe the Dane out of Ireland and made him their King which place for foure yeares he held and then weary of his government they thrust him out and take one Hericus to be their King whom not long after they put downe also and then partly allured by the lenity of King Edred and partly forced by his Armes they submit themselves to him and aske forgivenesse to whom he as a mercifull Prince giants an Act of Oblivion and received them againe into protection This Prince was so devout and humble that he submitted his body to be chastised at the will of Dunstan Abbot of Glastenbury and committed all his Treasure and Jewels to his custody The stately Abbey of Mich at Abington neare Oxford built by King Inas but destroyed by the Danes he newly re-edified endowing it with revenues and Lands the Charters whereof he confirmed with seales of Gold He ordained Saint Germans in Cornwall to be a Bishops See which there continued till by Canutus it was annexed to the Episcopall See of Kyrton in Devonshire Both which Sees were afterward by King Edward the Confessor translated to the City of Exceter He left behinde him two Sonnes Elfred and Bertfred and was buryed in the old Minster without the City of Winchester whose bones with other Kings are to this day preserved in a gilt Coffer fixed upon the wall in the South side of the Quire After Edred not any of his sonnes but his Nephew Edwyn the eldest sonne of King Edmund succeeded and was annoynted and Crowned at Kingston upon Thames by Otho Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the yeare 955. This Prince though scarce fourteene yeares old and in age but a childe yet was able to commit sinne as a man For upon the very day of his Coronation and in sight of his Lords as they sate in Counsell he shamefully abused a Lady of great Estate and his neare kinswoman and to mend the matter shortly after slew her Husband the more freely to injoy his incestuous pleasure And whether for this infamous fact or for thrusting the Monkes out of the Monasteries of Mamesbury and Glastenbury and placing marryed Priests in their roomes as also for banishing Dunstan the holy Abbot of Glastenbury out of the Realme a great part of his Subjects hearts was so turned against him that the Mercians and Northumbrians revolted and swore Fealty to his younger brother Edgar with griefe whereof after foure yeares Raigne he ended his life and was buryed in the Church of the New Abbey of Hyde at Winchester After Edwyn succeeded his younger brother Edgar at the age of sixteene yeares but his Coronation when and where and by whom so uncertaine that some say he was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames by Otho Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the first yeare of his Raigne others say not till the twelfth and William of Mamesbery not till the thirtyeth Another Chronicle saith in his eleventh yeare and that in the City of Bathe by the hands of Dunstan Arch-bishop of Canterbury This King by reason of the tranquillity of his Raigne was surnamed the Peaceable for as he was something inclined to the Danes so the Danes never offered to stirre in all his time and as for the Saxons they acknowledged him their sole Soveraigne without division of Provinces or Titles His Acts were some Vertuous some Politick some Just some Pious and yet all these not without some mixture of vice To represse dunkennesse which the Danes had brought in he maâ—e a Law Ordaining a size by certaine pinnes in the pot with penalty to any that should presume to drinke deeper then the marke It was a Politicke device which he used for the destruction of Wolves that in his dayes did great annoyance to the Land For the tribute imposed on the Princes of Wales by King Athelstan he wholly remitted appointing in lieu thereof a certaine number of Wolves yearely to be paid whereof the Prince of north-North-wales for his part was to pay three hundred which continued for three yeares space and in the fourth yeare there was not a Wolfe to be found and so the tribute ceased He had in his Navy Royall three thousand and sixe hundred ships which he divided into three parts appointing every one of them to a severall Quarter to scowre the Seas and to secure the Coasts from Pirats and left his Officers might be carelesse or corrupted he would himselfe in person saile about all the Coasts of his Kingdome every Summer It was a notable Act of Justice that in his Circuits and Progresses through the Country he would take speciall account of the demeanour of his Lords and specially for his Judges whom he severely punished if he fonnd them Delinquents Warres he had none in all his Raigne onely towards his end the Welshmen moved some rebellion against whom he went with a mighty Army and chastised the Authours but when his Souldiers had gotten great spoyles and made prey upon the innocent Countrey people he commanded them to restore it all backe againe which if it made some few English angry it
Christian Faith Though some there be that â—ay All theâ—e were but false Criminations charged upon him by Monkes that did not love him But though we believe not these things of him yet to suffer his kingdome to stand Interdicted so many yeares together upon so small occasion as he did was certainely no good signe of Religion in him Yet one Act he did wherein he shewed a respect to Religion by the honour he did to a Religious man For Hugh Bishop of Lincolne lying very sicke he not onely went to visit him but being dead was one of the three Kings the other two were William King of Scotlandâ— and the King of Southwales that carryed his Herse upon their shoulders till they delivered it to the Peeres and the Peeres afterward to the Arch-bishops and Bishops to carry it inâ—o the Quire Workes of piety done by him or by others in his time YEt did this King leave more Workes of Piety behinde him then all his Subjects that were in his time For he Founded the Abbey of Bowley in the New Forest in Hampshire also an Abbey of blacke Monkes in the City of Winchester and the Monastery of Farendâ—n and the Monastery of Hales Owen in Shropshire he reedified â—odstoâ— and Wrâ—xell and enlarged the Chappell of Knarisborough Now for his Subjects onely Richard Prior of Berâ—monâ—sey builded an House against the wall of the said house of Berâ—onâ—sey called the Almary or Hospitall of Converts and Children in honour of Saint Thomas In this Kings time Saint Mary Overeyes in Southwâ—â—ke was begun to be builded and the Stone Bridge over the Thames was by the Merchants of London finished Also Hubert Arch-bishop of Canterbury Founded a Monastery at West Derham in Norfolke which upon the dissolution came to the family of the Derhams who hold it to this day Of his Lawes and Ordinances IN this Kings time five and thirty of the most substantiall Citizens of London were chosen out and called the Counsell of the City and the King gave the City liberty to alter their Major and Sheriffes every yeare which before continued during life He caused the Lawes of England to be executed in Ireland and money to be Coyned there according to the weight of English money Of his Wives and Children KING Iohn lived to have three Wives His first was Alice Daughter of Hubert Earle of Morton who left him a Widower without issue His second was Isabell Daughter and Heire of Robert Earle of Glâ—câ—ster by whom no issue neither divorced from her by reason of Consanguiniâ—y in the third degree His third Wife was Isabel Daughter and Heire of Aymer Earle of Angoulesâ—e Affianced before to Hugh le Brun Earle of March By this Wife he had two Sonnes Henry and Richard and three Daughters Ioane Eleanor and Isabell Henry succeeded him in the kingdome Richard was Earle of Cornwall and Crowned King of the Romans and had issue Henry and Iohn that dyed without issue also Edward Earle of Cornwall and others Ioane his eldest Daughter marryed to Alexander the second King of Scots dyed without issue Eleanor the second Daughter marryed to Simon Earle of Leycester had issue Henry Simon Almaricke Guy Richard and Eleanor Henry slaine without issue Simon Earle of Bigorre and ancestour to a Family of the Mountfords in France Almaricke first a Priest after a knight Guy Earle of Angleria in Italy and Progenitour of the Mountfords in Thuscany and of the Earles of the Campo Bacchi in the kingdome of Richardâ— remaining privily in England and changing his name from Mountford to Wellesborne was ancestour of the Wellesburnes in England Eleanor borne in England brought up in France marryed into Wales to Prince Lewin aâ— Griffith Isabel his youngest Daughter marryed to the Emperour Fredericke the second had issue Henry appointed to be King of Sicilie and Margaret Wife of Albret Lantgrave of Thurine She dyed in Childbed after she had beene Empresse sixe yeares He had also two naturall Sonnes Geoffrey Fits Roy and Richard that marryed the Daughter and Heire of Fulbert de Dover who built Childham Castle had issue by her of whom some Families of good account are descended Also one base Daughter named Ioane marryed to Lewin Prince of Wales Of his Personage and Conditions HE was of Stature indifferent tall and something fat of a sowre and angry countenance and concerning his conditions it may be said that his Nature and his Fortune did not well agree For naturally hâ— loved his eâ—se yet his Fortune was to be ever in Action He won more of his Enemies by surprises then by Battels which shewes he had more of Lightning in him then of Thunder He was never so true of his word as when he threatned because he meant alwayes as cruelly as he spake not alwayes as gratiously and he that would have knowne what it was he never meant to performe must have looked upon his promises He was neither fit for Prosperity nor Adversity For Prosperity made him insolent and Adversity dejected a meane Fortune would have suited best with him He was all that he was by Fits Sometimes doing nothing without deliberationâ— and sometimes doing all upon a sudden Sometimes very Religious and sometimes scarce a Christian. His insatiablenesse of money was not so much as that no man knew what he did with it gotten with much noyse but spent in silence He was but intemperate in his best temper but when distempered with sicknesse most of all as appeared at his last when being in a Feaver he would needs be eating of raw Peaches and drinking of sweete Ale If we looke upon his workes we must needes thinke him a worthy Prince but if upon his Actions nothing lesse For his Workes of Piety were very many as hath beene shewed before but as for his Actions he neither came to the Crowne by Justice nor held it with Honour nor left it in Peace Yet having had many good parts in him and especially having his Royall posterity continued to this day we can doe no lesse then honour his memory Casualties that happened in his time ONe Casualty we might count dysastrous if it had not had relation to our selves for Hugh de Bones comming to aide King Iohn with threescore thousand out of Britany and Flanders by misfortune at Sea were all Drowned to whom the King had granted Norfolk and Suffolk for the people he brought with him to Inhabit In this Kings time were great thunders and lightnings and showers with hailstones as big as Goose-Egges Fishes of strange shape were taken in England armed with helmets and shields and were like unto armed knights saving that they were farre greater in proportion About Maidestone in Kent a certaine Monster was found strucken with the Lightning which Monster had a head like an Asse a belly like a man and all other parts farre differing from any other Creature Of his death and buriall VVHen Prince Lewis of France was come into England and was received by the Lords and by
a number of poore kindred who to his great cost lay hanging upon him yet was the marriage solemnised with as great charge as if he had beene to have Mountaines with her and this was another grievance And now is the score of these grievances called upon to be paid for the Lords could no longer endure so many indignities to see themselves fleighted and onely strangers advanced as Brentâ— who held the Earledomes of Nottingham Oxford Bedford and Bâ—ckingham and others the like and to see their persons exposed to danger and their estates to ruine for which no remedy could be but onely the Kings confirming their Charter of Liberties wherein it is strange to observe upon what different grounds the King and the Lords went It seemes the King thought that to confirme that Charter were to make himselfe to be lesse then a King and the Lords thought that as long as it was denied they were no better then slavesâ— and as the King could endure no diminution so the Lords could endure no slavery but the King might keep his owne with sitting still the Lords could not recover their owne but by motion and seeing their strength must be in their number by commotion hereupon they confederate together and of this confedencie Richard now Earle Marshall upon the death of his brother William is chiefe who repaire to the King and boldly shew him his errour and requires satisfaction Hereupon the King sends presently over for whole Legions of Poictâ—uins and withall summons a Parliament at Oxford whither the Lords refuse to come after this a Parliament is called at Westminster whither likewise they refuse to come unlesse the King would remove the Bishop of Winchâ—ster and the Poictouins from the Court and more then this they send him word that unlesse he did this they would expell both himselfe and his evill Counsellours out of the Land create a new King Upon this threatning Pledges are required of the Nobility for securing of their Allegeance and Writs a reâ—ent out to all who hold by knights service to repaire to the King at Glocester by a certaine day which the Earle Marshall and his associates refusing the King without the â—udgement of hiâ— Court and their Pâ—â—rs causeth them to be Proclaimed Out-lawes seiseth upon all their Lands which he gives to his Poictouins and directs out Writs to attach their bodies wheresoever in the kingdome But now of these confederate Lords the Bishop of Winchester wonne the Earles of Chester and Lincolne with a thousand Markes and the King had so pleased his brother the Earle of Cornwall that he likewise left them whereupon they withdrew them into Wales and confederate with Lâ—â—ilin Prince of Walesâ— whither also came Hubert de Burgh escaped out of prison and joynes with them taking intermutuall Oaths that no one without other should make their accord Hereupon the King goeth himselfe in person into Wales where not prevailing he returnes to Glocester imployes new forces of strangers but all without successe At last a Frier is imployed to perswade the Earle Marshall to submit himselfe to the King but all in vaine till at length a traine is laid to draw him over into Ireland to defend his state there being seised upon by the King where by treachery circumvented he lost his life Yet the King disavowes the sending of any such Commission into Ireland protesting he never knew thereof and laies the fault upon his Officers an easie way for Princes never to be found in any fault After two yeares affliction a Parliament is assembled at VVestminster wherein the Bishops admonish the King by his Fathers example to be at unity with his people and to remove from him strangers and to governe the kingdome by Natives of the Realme and by the Lawes otherwise they would proceed by Ecclesiasticall censure both against his Counsellours and himselfe The King seeing no way to subsist but by temporising consents to call home those Lords out of VVales restores them to their places and possessions removes all strangers from about him and cals his new officers to account Hereupon the Bishop of VVinchester Peter de Rivalis and Stephen Seagrave take sanctuary but afterward by mediation they obtained with great Fines their Liberty dearly paying for their two years greatnes After this a Parliament is againe called which the King would have to be kept in the Tower whither the Lords refusing to come another place of more freedome is appointed in which Parliament order is taken for removing all Sheriffes from their places upon complaint of corruption and here the King displaceth his Steward and offers to take from the Bishop of Chichester then Chancellour the great Seale which he refuseth to deliver as having received it by the common councell of the kingdome and now Peâ—â—r de Rivaliâ— aâ—d Stâ—phen Seagrave are received againe into grace by which may appeare the viciâ—â—itude of fortune in Princes favours After this in the one and twâ—ntieth yearâ— of â—is Raigne another Parliament is held at London where the King requires the thirteenth part of all the moveables as well of the Clergy as Laity which being directly opposed the King promiseth by oath never more to injure the Nobility so they would but relieve him at that present After foure dayes consultation â—he King pâ—omising to use onely the counsell of his naturall Subjects and protesting against the Revocation lately propoundedâ— and freely granting the inviolable obseâ—vation of their Liberties under paine of Excommunication a Subsidy is granted him buâ— so that foure knights be appointed in every Shiâ—e to receive and deliver the same 〈◊〉 to some Abbey or Castle where it may be safâ—ly kepâ— that if the King â—aile in pâ—rformance of his Grants it may be restored to the Counâ—rey from whence it was collected And now the King to make a shew of true reconciliation for his part suddenly causeth the Earles VVarren and 〈◊〉 with Iohn Pits Geoffrey to be swâ—rn his Counsellours yet was neither of the points either for removing of strangers or for disposing the money observed afterward by the Kingâ— for the money he made bold to take at his pleasure and for strangers they were so farre from removing that they were drawne nearer to him for now VVilliam Valentine Unkle to the Queen is growne the most inward man with him and nothing done but by his counsell also the Earle of Province the young Queenes Father a poore Prince hath a good share of the money that was collected and Simon de Montford a French man borne is entertained by the King and preferred sâ—cretly in marriage to Eleanor the Kings sister Widow of VVilliam Earle of Pembroke the great Marshall and is made Earle of Leycester by right of his Mother Avice daughter of Blanchman Earle of Leycester which courses so incense the Nobility that it put them out into a new commotion and Richard the Kings brother becomes one of the party whom the other Lords make their spokesman to the King to
differences in the Country But now the King of Spaine pretends a title to Aquitaine and to take him off King Henry sends to treate of a marriage betweene Prince Edward and his Sister Eleanor which being accepted by the King of Spaine the Marriage is solemnized at Burgos where the King of Spaine knights the Prince and quits his claime to Aquitaine for him and his Successours for ever and King Henry invests the Prince and his Wife in it and gives unto him besides Ireland Wales Bristow Stamford and Grantham and from hence it came that ever after this the Kings eldest Sonne was immediately upon his Birth Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester After this King Henry prepares to returne home and well he might having spent in this and his former Journeyes into those parts the summe of seven and twenty hundred thousand pounds More then all the Lands if they had beene sold were worth which when the King was told he desired there might be no words made of it for his credite And now being to returne he is desirous with the King of Frances leave to passe thorow France and comming to Paris with a thousand Horse where he stayed eight dayes is there most Royally Feasted by the King of France and he as royally Feasts the King of France againe But it is the Londoners and the Iewes that are like to pay for all For comming home about Christmas when the Londoners presented him with a hundred pounds in money and afterwards with two hundred pounds in Plate it was so sleighted and so ill taken that a hole was presently found in their coate for an escape of a Prisoner which cost them three thousand Markes Yet was not this enough but he takes good Fleeces from the Iews and then lets them out to Farme to his Brother Richard for a great summe of money and he to make what more of them he could Yet after all this he complaines of his Debts which he saith are at least three hundred thousand Markes which must needes be the heavyer to him because he had diminished his ownâ— meanes by the allowance of fifteene thousand Markes per annum to his Sonne the Prince The onely hope is in the Parliament but a Parliament being called they fall presently upon their old Grievances complaining upon the King for breach of Charters and renuing their Claime to have the Chiefe Justiciar the Chancellour and Treasurer to be chosen by themselves so nothing was done for the King at this time and the Parliament being prorogued till Michaelmas after as little then by reason many of the Peeres came not as not being summoned according to the tenour of Magna Charta And now while the King was using meanes to winde himselfe out of Debt there happened occasions to put him further in For now Thomas Earle of Savoy the Queenes Brother being at warre with the City of Thuryn must be supplyed with money towards it by the King of England Now the Elect Bishop of Toledo the King of Spaines Brother comes into England and must be sumptuously Feasted and have great gifts presented him Now Eleanor the Princes Wife arrives with a multitude of Spaniards and must all be entertained at the Kings charge and have no small presents given them at their departure Now comes Rustandus from the Pope with power to Collect the Tenth of the Clergy for the Popes use and the Kings and to absolve him from his Oath of the Holy warre so he would come to destroy Manfred Sonne to the Emperour Fredericke now in possession of the kingdome of Sicilie and Apulia And this man likewise hath great gifts bestowed upon him besides a rich Prebend in Yorke But the Pope by too much seeking his profit loseth credit and all for the Clergy sleights him and will give him nothing and when he would have borrowed of the Earle of Cornwall five hundred Markes the Earle answered he liked not to lend his money to one upon whom he could not Distraine But King Henries greatest charge was his purchasing a kingdome for his Sonne Edmund for now comes the Bishop of Bâ—nonia from the Pope with a Ring of Investiture to Prince Edmund in the kingdome of Sicilie which he pretends to be at his disposing and King Henry takes it in so good earnest that after this he cals his Sonne Edmund by no other name then King of Sicilie But all this was done by the Pope but to angle away King Henries money as indeed upon this hope he had drawne the King into the engagement of a hundred and fifty thousand Markes for to draw the King on it was given out that the Pope had deleâ—ted all Manfreds Forces and was thereby in possession of the kingdome when the truth was that Manfred had defeated the Popes Forces and was thereby himselfe established in the kingdome The yeare 1275. the King keepes his Christmas at Winchester where new Grievances arise The Merchants of Gascogny having their Wines taken from them by the Kings Officers without satisfaction complaine to their Lord the Prince he to his Father and his Father having beene informed before-hand by his Officers that their clamour was unjust as relying upon the Princes favour he falls into a great rage with the Prince and breakes out into these words See! now my Blood and my owne Bowels impugne me but afterwards pacified he gives order the injuries should be redressed And now the Princes Followers themselves come to be a Grievance who relying upon their Master commit many outrages and spoyle and wrong men at their pleasure and the Prince himselfe is not altogether free of whom it is said that meeting a young man travailing by the way he caused one of his eares to be cut off and one of his eyes to be put out and many such prankes plaid by him and his Followers in Wales made the Welsh breake out into open Rebellion which the Prince would faine have suppressed but there was no money to be had towards the doing it And now the King fals to shifts he comes into the Chequer himselfe and there layes penalties upon Sheriffes that returne not their moneys in due time then he fals upon measures of Wine and Ale upon Bushels and Weights and something he gets but London is his best Cheqâ—er and every yeare commonly he hath one quarrell or other to the Londoners and they are sure to pay And now fals out an accident seeming of great honour but certainely of no profit to the kingdome Richard Earle of Cornwall the Kings Brother is Elected King of the Romans for although Alphonsus King of Spaine the great Mathematician were his Competitour yet Earle Richards money wrought more then his Learning and the Arch-bishop of Câ—llen comes over to fetch him and Crowned he is at Aquisgrane This Earle of Cornwall is reported able to dispend a hundred Markes a day â—or ten yeares besides his Revenues in England But now as a man that payes deare for an Office lookes that his
at Armes he is challenged at a Turneament with a pretence to solemnize his presence but with a purpose indeed to disgrace his person and though Prince Edward in many respects might justly have refused it yet the noblenesse of his mind would not suffer him to passe by any occasion of shewing his valour and in this 〈…〉 as he made it appeare that â—ame had beene no 〈…〉 the report it maâ—e of hiâ— And here a great part of his English Nobility met 〈◊〉 from whence he passeth into France where the King Philip his â—eare Couâ—â— as being Sister Sonnes entertaines him with great solemnity and graceth his solemnity with so much courtesie that it wonne Prince Edward volâ—ntarily to do him homage for the Territories he held in France this voluntarines in Prince Edward won the King of France againe to grant quietly unto him all the Lands in France that belonged to him and so these two great Kings by reciprocall courtesie effected that which theiâ— Predecessours by force could never effect From her 〈◊〉 passeth through Aâ—uitaine and having there taken homage of his Subjects and set all things in order he set Saile and arrived in England above a yeare after the death of his Father a long time for plotting of mischiefe and a strong temptation to plotters of mischiefe if all the causes of quietnesse had not concurred but such was the worthinesse of Prince Edwards person and such the undoubtednesse of his Title that as there could be no Competitour so there would be no Oppugnerâ— And indeed the Divine Providence had shewed a speciall care over him from his Child-hood whereof one or two Examples will not be unfit to be related One was this that being yet but young and playing one time at Chesse with a Friend in the midst of his game without any apparent occasion he removed himselfe from the place where he sate when suddenly there fell from the roofe of the house a great stone which if he had stayed in the place but never so little had beaten out his braines Another Example of the Divine Providence over him though it happened afterwards was this Having prepared a great Fleete of Ships for a journey into Flanders and being at Winchelsey where the Ships were to meete it happened that riding about the Harbour his Horse frighted with the noyse of a Windmill which the wind drove violently about skrambled up and leapt over the Mudâ—wall of the Towne so as neither the King nor the Horse was to be seene but every one judged the King could not chuse but be throwne and killed yet such was the Divine Providence over him that the Horse lighted upon his feet and the King keeping the Saddle returned safe And under the wing of this Divine Providence he had now passed all the dangers of his tedious Journey and being safely come to London was on the fifteenth day of August in the yeare 1274. Crowned at Westminster together with his Wife Queene Eleanor by Robert Kilwarby Arch-bishop of Canterbury where five hundred great Horses were let loose for any that could take them and yet the outward solemnity was not more great then the inward joy was universall every man rejoycing not onely at a change which of it selfe is pleasing but at a change so much for the better as this was like to be Of his Acts done after he was Crowned THe Acts of this King after he was Crowned may not unfitly be divided into five parts His Acts with his Temporall Lords His Acts with his Clergy Then with Wales Then his Acts with Scotland And lastly with France And first concerning his Lords he gave them good contentment in the beginning of his Raigne by enlarging their liberties and granting them easier Lawes for which purpose he called a Parliament wherein were made the Statutes called of Westminster the first so as he had no difference with them till toward the end of his Raigne as shall be shewed hereafter In the next place concerning his Acts with his Clergy he began with them betimes for having lived to be of good age three or foure and thirty yeares old in his Fathers Raigne he observed in that time that their power was too predominant and therefore thought fit to clip their wings at least to keepe them from farther growing which he did by these meanes First in the sixth yeare of his Raigne he deprived many chiefe Monasteries of their Liberties and tooke from the Abbot and Covent of Westminster the Returne of Writs granted them by the Charter of his Father King Henry the third The next yeare after he got to be enacted the Statute of Mortmaine to hinder the encrease of their Temporall Possessions In the second Statute of Westminster he defalked the Jurisdiction of Ecclesiasticall Judges and growing more upon them he required the moity of all their Goods as well Temporall as Spirituall for one yeare Then cals he a Parliament of his Nobles at Salisbury without admission of any Church-men in it And it is worth the noting that Marchian his Treasurer acquainting him that in Churches and Religious houses there was much treasure to be had if it might be taken he made no scruple of it but caused it to be taken and brought into his Exchequer But finding his Prelates not well contented with it to please them againe he bids them aske something of him wherein they should see how much he favoured them And they asking of him to repeale the Statute of Mortmaine that had beene made so much to their hinderance He answered that this was a Statute made by the whole body of the Realme and therefore was not in his power who was but one Member of that Body to undoe that which all the Members together had done and perhaps whatsoever they should have asked else he would have had an answer to redeeme his Offer And thus much concerning his Clergy In the next place are the Welsh who had themselves begun with the King For their Prince Leolyn being summoned to attend at his Coronation refused to come and afterward at more leisure being required to come and doe his Homage he stood upon termes of safe conduct pretending doubt to be used as his Father Gryffin had beene who upon hard usage in the Tower seeking to make escape fell from the Walls and brake his necke But indeed it was alwayes a Custome with this Nation at every change of Princes in England to try conclusions hoping at one time or other to have a day of it and to change their yoke of bondage into liberty for which they were never better Provided then now especially which is the greatest matter in Warre having a Valiant Prince to be their Leader But there happened an accident which tooke off their edge at this time For the Lady Eleanor a Daughter of the late Earle Simon Montford whom Prince Leolyn extreamely loved being passing out of France into Wales was by the way upon the Sea taken by English ships and
time by reason the King of France would not be drawne to any Encounter and had so disfurnished the Country of all provisions that the King of England was forced to returne King Edward solicited by the King of Navarre to aide him against the King of France sends over the Duâ—e of Lancaster with foure thousand men at Armes who winnes many Townesâ— and the Prince enters Gâ—yenne passeth over Langnâ—dâ—c to Tholouse Narbonne Burges without any Encounter sackes spoyles and destroyes where he goes and loaden with booties returnes to Burdeaux The French King thus assaulted on all â—ides gathers all the power he possibly could and first makes against his Eâ—emies in Nâ—â—â—â—â—dy recovers many of his lost Townes and was likely to have there prevaileâ— but that he was drawne of force to oppose 〈◊〉 fresh Invader the Prince of Wales who was come up into Tourayne against 〈◊〉 he brings his whole Army consisting of above threescore thousand whereâ—â—â—â— the Prince whose Forces were not likely to be able to encounter him being 〈◊〉 for one was advised to retire againe to Burdeaux But the French King to preveâ—â— this course followes and within two leagues of Poyctiers hath him at a 〈◊〉 advantage at which instant two Cardinals came from the Pope to mediate â— Peâ—ce But the French King supposing he had his enemy now in his mercy would accept of no other conditions but that the Prince should deliver him foure Hostageâ— â—nd â—s vanquished render himselfe and his Army to his discretion The Prince waâ— content to restore unto him what he had gained upon him but without prâ—juâ—â—â—â— of his honour wherein he said he stood accomptable to his Father and to his Câ—uâ—trâ—y But the French King would abate nothing of his demands as making himsâ—lfâ— sure of victory and thereupon was instantly ready to set upon the Princ◠〈◊〉 seeing himselfe reduced to this straight takes what advantage he could of th◠〈◊〉 and providently got the benefit of Vines Shrubs and Bushes on that part 〈…〉 like to be assailed to impester and intangle the French horse which he saw 〈◊〉 â—ome furiously upon him The successe answered his expectation for the 〈◊〉 of his enemies upon their first assault were so wrapt and encombred 〈◊〉 â—he Vines that his Archers galled and annoyed them at their pleasure For 〈◊〉 Freâ—â—h King to give the honour of the day to his Cavallery imployed them onely without his Infantery so as they being disordered and put to rout his wholâ— Army came utterly to be defeated In this battell were taken prisoners King Iohn himselfe with his yoâ—ngest sonne Philip by Dennis de Morbecque a knight of Arâ—hâ—is Iaques de Bourbon Conte de Ponthieu the Arch-bishop of Sens Iohn de Arthâ—is Conte de En Charles de Arthois his brother Count de Longueville Iohn de 〈◊〉 Count de Tankarvile the Counts of Vendosme Vaâ—demont Estampes Salbourg 〈◊〉 and La Roche also Iohn de Ceintre accounted as Froissard saith the 〈◊〉 â—night of France with many other Lords besides two thousand Knights and Genâ—lemen in so much as the Conquerours holding it not safe to retaine so many leâ—â—â—ny of them goe The French who can give best account of their owne losses â—â—porâ— there died in the battell a thousand seven hundred Gentlemen amongst which were fifty two Bannerets the most eminent Peter de Bourbon the Duke of Athâ—â—s Constable of France Iehan de Clermont Marshall Geoffrey de Charmy High Chamberlainâ— the Bishop of Chalons the Lords of Landas of Pons and of Chamâ—â—y There escaped from this battell three of the French Kings sons for he brought them all thither Charles Prince Daulphin Louys after Duke of Anjou and Iohn Duke of Bâ—â—ryâ— all great actours in the time following The special great men of the English iâ— thâ—â— fight were the Earles of Warwicke Suffolke Salisbury Oxford Stafford the Lordâ—â— Cobham Spenser Barkeley Basset of Gascoynes Le Capital de Beuff the Lords Pumyer Chaumont and others The Lord Iames Andeley wonne honour both by his valour and his bounty for having vowed to be foremost in this fight he peâ—formed his word and sealed it with many wounds for which the Prince having rewarded him with the gift of five hundred Markes Fee-simple in England he pâ—esently gave it to foure of his Esquires whereupon the Prince demanding whether he accepted not his gift he answered that these men had deserved the same as well â—s himselfe and had more neede of it with which reply the Prince was so well pleased that he gave him five hundred Markes more in the same kinde A rare example where desert in the Subject and reward in the Prince strive which should be the greater And now though King Iohn had the misfortune to fall into the hands of his enemy yet he had the happinesse to fall into the hands of a Noble enemy for Prince Edw. used him with such respect and observance that he could not find much dâ—â—ference betweene his captivity and liberty After the battell which was fought the â—inâ—â—â—enth day of September in the yeare 1357. Prince Edward leads King Iohn and the captive Lords to Burdeâ—ux where he retaines them till the spring following but 〈◊〉 present newes of his victory to his Father who thereupon causeth a generall Thanksgiving all England over eight dayes together and in May following King Iohn rather comming over with the Prince then brought over by him is lodged at the Savoâ— a Palace belonging to Henry Duke of Lancaster and the fairest at that time about London And King Edward as though he thought it honour enough to have one King his prisoner at once at the suite of his sister Queene Iâ—ane he sets her Husband David King of Scots at liberty after he had beene prisoner in England eleven yeares but not without paying a Ransome which was a hun-thousand Markes to be paid in ten yeares After this by mediation of Cardinals sent by the Pope a Truce for two yeares is concluded betweene the two kingdomes of France and England and in the time of this Truce Articles of Peace betweene the two Kings are propoundedâ— King Edward requires the Dutchies of Normâ—â—â—â— and Gâ—yennâ— the Counties of Poictoâ— Tâ—uraine Mayne and Anjoâ—â— with all their â—ppurâ—eâ—ances as large as King Richard the first held them and many other Provinces besides and to hold them all without Homage or any other service to which Articles King Iohn weary of imprisonment assents and seales but the 〈◊〉 â—nd Councell of France utterly reject it whereupon King Edward in great displeâ—sure resolves to make an end of this worke with the sword and to take possession of the kingdome of France and leaving his younger sonne Thomas Goveâ—â—our of his kingdome at home with a Fleet of â—leven hundred saile and taking all the great Lords of the Realme with him he passeth over to Callice dividing his Army into three battels whereof one he commits to the Prince of Wales another to the Duke of Lancaster and the â—hird he leads
battell saying They were but clouds and would soone passe away yet so watched him that what with light skirmishes and what with skarcity of victuals his forces were so diminished that of thirty thousand which went out of Callice there scarce retunred six thousand home which made King Edward say of this King Charles that he did him more mischiefe sitting still then his Predecessours had done with all their stirring And now by this time all Poictou is lost and all Aquitaine also but onely Burdeaux and Bayon when the Arch-bishop of Roan and others are sent from Pope Gregory the eleventh to mediate a Peace betweene the two Kings but each of them standing upon high termes of conditions nothing could be effected but Truce upon Truce for two or three yeares together In which time Edward Prince of Wales died and with him we may say the Fortune of England being a Prince so full of vertues that he left no place for any vice and if he had lived in the Heroicke times might well have beene numbâ—ed amongst the nine Worthies His body was buried at Canterbury where his Monument standeth King Edward in his seven and fortieth yeare calleth a Parliament at Wâ—stminster which lasted but eight dayes and to which were Summoned by Writ of Clergy men onely foure Bishops and five Abbots Of King Edwards Acts after the death of the Prince IN the time of the Princes sicknesse King Edwâ—rd cals a Parliament at Westminster in which when demands were made for supply of the King demands were presently made for redresse of grievances for the subjects It was required that the Duke of Lancaster the Lord Latymer then Lord Chamberlaine Dame Alice Pierce the Kings Concubine and one Sir Richard Sturry might be removed from Court And this was so vehemently urged by their Speaker Sir Peter la Moore that the King rather then not to be supplied gave way unto it and thereupon all these persons are presently put from Court but the Prince soone after dying they are all recalled to Court againe and restored to their former places About this time exâ—mplary justice was done upon Sir Iohn Minsterworth knight who was drawne hanged and quartered at Tiburne for Treason by him committed in defrauding Souldiers of their wages Thiâ— was now the fâ—ftieth yeare of King Edwâ—â—ds Raigne and he for another Iubilee graâ—â—s another generall pardon to his subjectsâ— onely William Wicâ—ham Bishop of Winchester is excepted being lately by procurement of the Duke of Lancaster fallen into the Kings displeasureâ— and forbiddâ—â— to come to the Parliament This Parliament was called the good Parliamentâ—â—â—ough it wrought ill effects for Sir Peter de la Mare at the suite of Alice Pierce is committed to perpetuall imprisonment at Notâ—ingham though within two years after by importunate suite of friends he regained his liberty This Alice Pierce presuming upon the Kings favour grew so insolent that she entermedled with Courts of Justice and other Offices where â—he herselfe would fit to countenance her Causes And now the Duke of Lancastâ—â— is come to have the Regencie and to manage all the affaires of the kingdome but King Edward to prevent the mischiefes when by disordering the succession might grow in the kingdome providently settled the same in Parliament upon Richard of Burdeaux â—reating him first Earle of Chester and Cornwall and then Prince of Wales and caused all the Lords of the Realme to talâ—e an Oath to accept him for their King as his lawfull Heire when himselfe should be dead In this meane time a Treaty was had about a marriage betweene this Prince Richard and Mâ—ry a daughter of Charles King of France and an offer was made to King Edward to leave him foureteene hundred Townes and three thousand fortresses in Aqâ—itaine upon condition he would render Callice and all that he held in Picardy but before any thing could be concluded King Edward died Of his Taxations IN the eighth yeare of his Raigne in a Parliament holden at London there was granted him a fifteenth of the Temporalty a twentieth of the Cities and Boroughs and a tenth of the Clergy In his tenth yeare in a Parliament at Northampton is granted a tenth penny of Cities and Boroughs a fifteenth of others and a tenth of the Clergy Also all such treasure as was committed to Churches through England for the Holy Warre is taken out for the Kings use towards his warres with France The next yeare after all the goods of three orders of Monks Lomâ—ards Cluniakes and Cistercians are likewise seised into the Kings hands and the like Subsidy as before granted at Nottingham In his twelfth yeare and as some write in absence of the King in a Parliament at Northampton is granted by the Laity one halfe of their Wooll but of the Clergy the whole The next yeare after a fifteenth was likewise paid in Wooll by the Commonalty In his foureteenth yeare in a Parliament at London is granted him for Customâ— of every sacke of Wooll forty shillings for every three hundred Wooll Fells forty shilâ— for every Last of Leather forty shillings and of other Merchandises according to the rate the same to endure from that Easter to the Whitsontide twelve moneth after Besides there was granted of Citizens and Burgesses a ninth part of goods of forraine Merchants and others a fifteenth of Husbandmen the ninth Sheafe the ninth Fleece the ninth Lamb for two years also another tenth of the Clergy and for his present supply he had Loanes of divers persons and the City of London lent twâ—nty thousand Markes For the grant of which mighty Subsidy the King besides his Pardon to divers kinds of offendours remits all Amerciaments for transgressions in his Forests Reliefs and Scurage to the first time of his going into Flanders besides all aides for the marriage of his sonnes and daughters during his Raigne pardoning and remitting all ancient debts and â—rrâ—rages both of his Fermors and others till the tenth yeare of his Raigne and likewise confirmes the great Charter of Magna Chartae In his eighteenth yeare in a Parliament at London a tenth was granted by the Clergy and a fifteenth by the Laityâ— Besides a Commission is sent into every Shire to inquire of mens abilities and all of five pounds to tenne of Lay Fee were appointed to finde an Archer on horsebacke of twenty five a Demilaunce and so ratably above There had formerly been made a certaine coyne of Gold called the Floren of base alloy for the Kings benefit towards his warres in France but this was now called inâ— and Nobles of finer metall coyned to the great contentment of the people In his nine and twentieth yeare he hath by Parliament granted unto him fifty shillings upon every sack of Wooll for six years next ensuing by which Imposition it was thought the King might dispend a thousâ—â—d Markes Sterling a day the vent of Wooll was so great in that time But that which exceeded all his Taxations was the Ransome he had in
Lords and having heard their opinions he â—urned to the Commons asking them if they would joyne with the Lords in choosing Henry of Lancaster for their King who all with one voyce cryed Yea Yea whereupon going to the Duke he bowed his knee and taking him by the hand led him to the Royall seat and then began a Sermon taking for his Text out of the first Booke of the Kings cap. 9. Vir dominabitur in populo wherein he declared what a happinesse it is to a Nation to have a King of wisedome and valour and shewed the Duke of Laâ—caster to be such a one and as much the defects in both of the late king Richard The Sermon ended the king thanked them all for his Elâ—ction and testified unto them that he meant not to take advantage against any mans estate aâ— comming in by Conquest but that every one should freely enjoy his own as in times of lawfull succession And now a time was appointed for his Coronation and accordingly upon the 13th day of October following the very day wherein the yeere before he had been banished he was Crowned at Westminster by the Archbishop of Canterbury with all Rites and Ceremonies accustâ—med At his Coronation he was anoynted with an Oyle which a Religious man had given to Henry the first Duke of Lancaster together with this Prophâ—re That the kings anoynted with this oyle should be the Champions of the Church This oyle comming to the hands of king Richard as he was looking amongst his Jewels going then into Ireland he was desirous to be anoynted with it but that the Archbishop of Canterbury told him it was not lawfull to be anoynted twice whereupon putting it up againe at his comming afterwards to Fliâ—t the Archbishop got it of him and kept it till â—he Coronation of king Henry who was the first king of the Realme that was anoynted with it The day before the Coronation the king in the Tower made one and â—orty some say but twelve knights of the Bathe whereof foure were his owne sonnes Henryâ— Thomas Iohâ— and Humfry all then alive and with thâ—m â—hree Earles aâ—d five â—â—rons Upon the Feast-day many claimed Offices as belonging to their Tenures â—o which upon shewing their Right they were admitted And now the King â—ade divers new Officers The Earle of Northumberland he made Constable of Engâ—â—nd the Earle of Westmerland was made Lord Marshall Sir Iohn Serle Chancellor â—ohn Newbery Esquire Treasurer and Sir Richâ—rd Clifford was made Lord Keeper of â—he Privy Seale The Lord Henry his eldest sonne being then about thirteen yeers â—f age was created Prince of Walâ—s Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester and â—oone after also Duke of Aquitaine and the Crowne was by Parliament Eâ—â—ailed â—o King Henry and the heires of his body lawfully begotten After this a Parliament was holden in which the Acts made in the Eleventh yeere of King Richard were revived and the Acts made in his one and twentieth yeere were wholly repealed and they who by that Parliament were attainted were reâ—tored to their Lands and Honours whereupon Richard Earle of Warwick was deâ—ivered out of Prison and the Earle of Arundells sonne recovered his Inheritance â—nd many other also that were banished or imprisoned by King Richard were then â—ully restored to their liberty and estates Also the King gave to the Earle of Westâ—erland the County of Richmond and to the Earle of Northumberland the Isle of Mâ—n to be holden of him by bearing the sword wherewith he entred into England And now was the time for shewing of Spleens Sir Iohn Bagot then Prisoner in the Tower accused the Earle of Aâ—merle for speaking words against the Duke of Lancâ—ster now King also the Lord Fitzwater accused him for the death of the Duke of Glocester the Lord Mâ—rley appealed the Earle of Salisbury of Treason and one Hall accused the Duke of Exceter for conspiring the death of Iohn of Gaunt the Kings father But King Henry having entred the Throne in a storme was willing now to have a Calme and therefore laying aside the ones Accusations he accepted of the others Excuses and received the Duke of Aâ—merle and the Duke of Exceter into as much favour as if they had never been accused And to qualifie the hard opinion which forraigne Princes might conceive of King Richards Deposing He sent Ambassadours into divers Countries to make it knowne by what Title and by what favour of the People he came to the Kingdome To the Court of Rome he sent Iohn Trenevant Bishop of Hereford Sir Iohn Cheyny Knight and Iohn Cheyny Esquire Into France he sent Walter Sherlow Bishop of Durham and Thomas Percy Earle of Worcester Into Spaine he sent Iohn Trevor Bishop of Assaph and Sir William Parre and into Germany he sent the Bishop of Bangor and certaine others Most of these Princes seemed either not to regard what was done or were easily perswaded that all was done well onely Charles King of France was so distemper'd with this indignity offered to his sonne in Law K. Richard that by violence of his Passion he fell into his old pangues of Frensie but somewhat recovered he resolved to revenge it wherein many Lords of France shewed themselves forward but specially the Earle of S. Paul who had maried K. Richards halfe-sister yet having prepared an Army in readinesse when afterward they heard of King Richards death they dissolved it againe as considering the time was then past The Aquitaines also and specially the Citizens of Burdeaux as being the place where K. Richard was born were mightily incensed but Sir Robert Knolls Lieutenant of Guyen and afterwards Thomas Percy Earle of Worcester being sent to them by the King so perswaded them that with much adoe they continued in obedience It was about this time moved in Parliament what should be done with King Richard for he was not as yet murthered Whereupon the Bishop of Carlile â— learned man and wise and who had never given allowance to the Deposing of King Richard now that he was in a place of freedome of speech he rose up and said My Lords The matter now propounded is of marvellous weight and consequence wherein there are two points chiefly to be considered the first Whether King Richard be sufficiently put out of his Throne the second Whether the Duke of Lancaster be lawfully taken in For the first how can that be sufficiently done when there is no Power sufficient to doe it The Parliament cannot for of the Parliament the King is the Head and can the Body put down the Heâ—â— You will say But the Head may bow it selfe downe and so may the King â—esignâ— It is true but what force is in that which is done by force and who knowes 〈◊〉 that King Richards Resignation was no other But suppose he be sufficiently ouâ— yet how comes the Duke of Lancaster to be lawfully in If you say by Conâ—uest you speak Treason for what Conquest without Arms aâ—d can a subjâ—ct
among them In this meane time king Henry not acquainted with this Conspiracy caused a Proclamation to bee made intimating that the Earle of March had voluntarily caused himself to bee taken prisoner to the end the Rebels having him in their custody might pretend some colour for their Conspiracy and therefore hee had small reason to take care for his deliverance Hereupon the Percies assisted with a company of Scots and drawing to their party the Earle of Stafford and Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke and many other purposed to joyne with the Captain of the Welch but first they framed certaine Articles against the king and sent them to him in writing That hee had falsified his Oath given at his landing swearing that he came but only to recover his Inheritance and would not meddle with the King or with the Crowne That most trayterously hee had taken Armes against his Soveraigne Lord Imprisoned him and then most barbarouusly caused him to be murthered That ever since the death of king â—ichard he had unjustly kept the Crown from his kinsman Edmund Mâ—rtimer Earl of March to whom of right it belonged That upon no occasion hee had imposed divers Taxes upon the people That by his Letters hee procured Burgesses and Knights of the Parliament to bee chosen for which causes and many other they defyed him and vowed his destruction and the restoring of the Earle of March to his right King Henry could not but know that all these Articles against him were true yet seeing the knowing it hindred him not from seeking to get the Crowne when hee had it not it could lesse hinder him from seeking to keep it now that he had it and if he were able being a private man to get it from a King he was likely to bee more able being now a king to keepe it from privatâ— men and as for any objections that Conscience could make he had enough to answere them all For if his Title were good against king Richard by his Resignation it was as good against Mortimer by his swearing Allegiance and upon these grounds with a minde as confident as if all cyrcumstances were of his side he raysed an Army and marched towards the Lords taking care they might by no meanes joyne with the Welch and about Shrewsbury on Saturday S. Mary Magdalens Eve hee encountred them in which fight though the Scots and Henry Hotspur shewed much valour yet the victory rested on the kings side Hotspur himselfe was slayne the Earle of Worcester was taken prisoner together with Sir Richard Vernon Sir Theobald Trussel the Baron of Kinderton and the rest fled On the kings part besides the Earle of Stafford who had that morning revolted from the Conspirators were slaine Sir Hugh Sherley Sir Cliftonâ— Sir Iohn Cockayn Sir Nicholas Gausell Sir Walter Blunt Sir Iohn Calverley Sir Iohn Massie of Puddingtrâ— Sir Hugh Mortimer and Sir Robert Gausell all which had beene but that morning dubbed knights with Sir Thomas Wendsley who died afterwards of his wounds of common Souldiers about sixteene hundred but of the Conspirators above six thousand whereof 36 the king slew with his own hand but was once unhorsed by Dowglasse who in his presence slew Sir Walter Blunt with divers others that day in all things attired like to the king for which exployt Dowglasse being after by the fall of his horse taken prisoner was by the kings command carefully attended and without Ransom set at liberty In this batttell the young Prince Henry though wounded in the face with an Arrow yet was not wounded in his courage but continued fighting still After this victory the king caused publique thanks to bee given to God and then caused the Earle of Worcester to bee beheaded and many others of that Rebellion to bee drawne hanged and quartered and their heads placed on London Bridge And then the king sent his sonne Henry Prince of Wales with his whole Army into that Country but before his comming Owen Glendour was abandoned by all his Company and lurking in the woods was there famished many of his associats were taken and put to death Whilest the Prince was in Wales Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland of his own accord came and submitted himselfe to the king protesting his innocency aâ— not being once acquainted with any intent of Treason and Rebellion whose excuse the king received for the present with gentle language the rather for that hee had the possession of Barwick Castle and other places of strength in his power but yet he wiped not off the score of his misdemeanors out of his minde And now with the fourth yeere of his Reigne ended all the great Troubles of this k. Henry the fourth those that follow are but such accidents as are frequent in all times both abroad and at home The Britans under the leading of the Lord of Castiles spoyled the Towne of Plimouth In revenge whereof the Western-men under the command of William Wilford set forth â— Fleete which arriving in Britaine tooke forty ships laden with Oyle and Wines and burnt forty more Againe the French landed a thousand men in the Wightâ— where they got together a great booty of Cattell but the Islanders comming upon them tooke away their booty and made many of them leave their Carkases for a booty to the â—sland Yet the French would not leave so but a while after as having gotten new spirits they cast Anchor before the Isle of Wight and require no lesse then to have the Island into their possession but a resolute answere of the Islanders frighted them away and made them glad they were gone Soone after this the Duke of Orleance brother to the French king in a vaunting stile sent a challenge to king Henry to meete him in the field each of them to have a hundred in his Company to which the king answered That for his own valour it had sufficiently been tryed and for this challenge of the Dukes neither the Person nor the Cause were worthy of his undertaking Upon this refusall of the kings divers taunts and jeeres were bandied beâ—weene them till at last the Duke in great passion falls upon Vergie a Towne in Guyen but after three moneths assaulting it being valiantly defended by Sir Robert Anâ—field and three hundred Englishmen he was glad to give over with losse and returne into France Presently upon this the Admirall of Britaine accompanied with the Lord du Castile and thirty saile of ships attempted to land at Dertmouth in Devonshire but were repelled and the Lord du Castile and two of his brothers and foure hundred of his men were slaine besides two hundred taken Prisoners of whom the Lord Baquevile Marshall of Britaine was one After this five hundred men of armes five hundred Crosse-bowes and a thousand Flemmings under the conduct of the Earle of S. Paul laid siege to the Castle of Marâ—k three leagues frâ—m Câ—llice but first by Sir Philip Hall Captaine of Callice and after by Sir Richard Aston
was begun to be built Also in his time Sir Robert Knolls made the Stone bridge of Rochester in Kent and founded in the Town of Pomfret a Colledge and an Hospitall he also re-edified the body of the White-Friers Church in Fleetstreet where he was afterward buried Which Church was first founded by the Ancestours of the Lord Grey of Codnor In the eighth yeare of his Reigne Richard Whittington Major of London erected a house or Church in London to be a house of Prayer and named it after his own name Whittington Colledge with lodgings and weekly allowance for divers poore people He also builded the Gate of London called Newgate in the yeare 1420 which was before a most loathsome prison He builded also more than halfe of St. Bartholmews Hospitall in West-Smithfield and the beautifull Library in the Gray Friars in Londonâ— now called Christs Hospitall He also builded a great part of the east end of Guildhall and a Chappell adjoyning to it with a Library of stone for the custodie of the Records of the Citie But he that exceeded all at this time in works of Piety was William Wickham Bishop of Winchester his first worke was the building of a Chappell at Tychfield where his Father Mother and Sister Perrâ—t was buried Next he founded at Southwick in Hampshire neere the Towne of Wickham the place of his birth as a supplement to the Priorie of Soutâ—wicke a Chauntry with allowance for five Priests for ever He bestowed twenty thousand marks in repairing the houses belonging to the Bishopricke he discharged out â—f Prison in all places of his Diocesse all such poore prisoners as lay in execution for debt under twenty pounds he amended all the high-wayes from Winchester to London on both sides the River After all this on â—he fifth of March 1379 he began to lay the foundation of that magnificent Structure in Oxford called New-Colledge and in person layd the first stone thereof in which place before there stood Naetius-Colledge built by Alver at Nâ—tius intreaty and for the affinity of the name came to be called New-Colledge In the yeare 1387 on the 26 of March he likewise in person layd the first stone of the like foundation in Winchester and dedicaâ—â—â— the same as that other in Oxford to the memory of the Virgin Mary The Grocerâ— in London purchased their Hall in Cuâ—â—yhope Lane for 320 marks and then layd thâ— foundation thereof on the tenth of May. King Henry founded the Colledge of Fâ—â—ringhey in Northamptoâ—shire to which King Heâ—ry the fifth gave land of the Priories of Monkes Aliens by him suppressed Iohn Gower the famous Poet new builded a great part of St. Mary Overyes Church in Southâ—â—rke where he lyes buried In the second yeare of this king a new market in the Poultry called the Stocks was builded for the free sale of Forreign Fishmongers and Butchers In his twelveth yeare the Guildhall of London was begun to be new Edified and of a little Cottage made a goodly house as now it is Casualties happening in his time IN his third yeare in the Moneth of March appeared a Blazing-starre first betwixt the East and the North and then sending forth fiery beams towards the North foreshewing perhaps the effusion of bloud that followed after in Wales and Northumberland In the same yeare at Danbury in Essex the Devill appeared in likenesse of a Gray-Frier who entring the Church put the people in great fear and the same houre with a tempest of Whirlewinde and Thunder the top of the steeple was broken down and halfe the Chancell scattered abroad In his seventh yeâ—re such abundance of water brake suddenly over the Banks in Kent that it drowned Cattell without number Also this yeare the Town of Reystone in Hartfordshire was burnt In his ninth yeare was so sharpe a winter and such abundancâ— of snow continuing December Ianuary February and March that almost all small Birds died through hunger Of his Wives and Children HE had two Wives the first was Mary one of the Daughters and heirs of Hâ—mphrey de Boâ—un Earle of Hereford Essex and Northampton she died before he câ—me to the Crowne in the yeare 1394. His second Wife was Ioane Daughter to Charles the first king of Navarre she being the widdow of Iohn de Montford surnamed Streaâ—y or the Conquerour Duke of Brittaine who dyed without any issue by king Henry at Havering in Essex the yeare 1437 in the fifteenth yeare of king Henry the sixth and lyeth buried by her husband at Canterbury He had foure Sons and two Daughters Of his Sons Henry his eldest was Prince of Wales and after his Father king of England His second Son was Thomas Duke of Clarence and Steward of England who was slaine at Beaufort in Anjoâ— and dyed without issue His third Son was Iohn Duke of Bedford he married first with Anne Daughter to Iohn Duke of Burgundie and secondly with Iacoba Daughter of Peter of Luxenbourgh Earle of St. Paul but dyed also without issue His fourth Son was Humphry by his brother king Henry the fifth created Duke of Gloucester and was generally called the good Duke he had two Wives but dyed without issue in the yeare 1446 and was buried at St. Albans though the vulgar opinion be that he lyes buried in St. Pauls Church Of king Henry the fourths Daughters Blanch the elder was married to Lewis Barbatus Palatine of the Rhene and Prince Elector Philippe his younger Daughter was married to Iohn king of Denmarke and Norway Of his Personage and Conditions COncerning his Body he was of a middle stature slender limbes but well proportioned Concerning his Minde of a serious and solid disposition and one that stood more upon his own legges than any of his Predecessors had done in cases of difficulty not refusing but not needing the advice of others which might confirme but not better his own He was neither merry nor sad but both best pleas'd when he was opposed because this was like to doe him good by sharpening his invention most angry when he was flattered because this was sure to doe him hurt by dulling his judgement No man ever more loved nor lesse doted upon a wife than he a good husband but not uxorious that if there be reines to that Passion we may know he had them It may be thought he affected the Crown not so much out of Ambition as out of Compassion because the oppreâ—sions of his Country he could not so well helpe being a Subject as a King for otherwise we may truly say he was a loser by the Crowne being not so great for a King as he was before for a Subject The Crowne rather was a gainer by him which hath ever since been the richer for his wearing it We may thinke he was either weary of his life or longing for death for why else would he take upon him the Crusado having been told by a skilfuâ—l Southsayer that he should dye in Ierusalem but it seemes he did not believe
him Of his Death and Buriall IN the fortysixth yeare of his Age having Peace both at home and abroad and being of too active a spirit to be idle he tooke upon him the Crusado and great provision was made for his journey to Ierusalem but alas his journey to Ierusalem required no such provision for being at his prayers at S. Edwards shrine he was suddenly taken with an Apoplexie and thereupon removed to the Abbot of Westminsters house where recovering his senses and finding himselfe in a strange place he asked what place it was and being told that he was in the Abbots house in a Chamber called Ierusalem Well then said he Lord have mercy upon me for this is the Ierusalem where a Southsayer told me I should dye And here he dyed indeed on the 20. day of March in the yeare 1413. when he had lived sixe and forty yeares Reigned thirteen and a halfe It is worth remembring that all the time of his sicknesse his will was to have his Crowne set upon his bolster by him and one of his fits being so strong upon him that all men thought him directly dead the Prince comming in tooke away the Crowne when suddenly the king recovering his senses missed his Crown and asking for it was told the Prince had taken it whereupon the Prince being called came back with the Crown and kneeling down said Sir to all our judgements and to all our griefes you seemed directly dead and therefore I tooke the Crown as being my Right but seeing to all our comforts you live I here deliver it much more joyfully than I tooke it and pray God you may long live to weare it your selfe Well saith the king sighing what right I had to it God knowes But saith the Prince if you dye king my sword shall maiâ—teine it to be my Right against all Opposers Well saith the king I referre all to God but I charge thee on my Blessing that thou administer the Lawes indifferently avoyd Flatterers deferre not to do Justice nor be sparing of Mercy And then turning about said God blesse thee and have mercy on me and with those words gave up the Ghost His body with all Funerall pomp was conveyed to Canterbury and there solemnly buried Of men of Note in his time OF men of Valour in his time of whom there was great store I shall need to say no more than what hath already been said in the body of the story onely I cannot but remember Sir Robert Kâ—olls who borne of meane parentage made himselfe famous over all Christendome and dying at a Manour of his in Norfolk was brought to London and buried in the Church of the White Fâ—ieâ—s in London which himselfe had re-edified But for men of learning I must set in the first place William Wickham a man of no learning yet well worâ—hy tâ— hold the place In relating of whose life I must have leave to expatiate a little His fathers name was Iohn Long or as some say Perot but as Campian proveth Wickham and not from the place of his dwelling though he was Parish-Clerke of Wickham in Hampshire where he taught children to write in which quality his sonne William proved so excellent that Nicolas Wooddall Constable of Winchester Castle tooke him from his faâ—her â—nd kept him at Schoole first at Winchester afterward at Oxford till himselfe being made Surveyor-generall of the Kings works he sent for this William to serve him as his Clerke who in short time grew so expert in that imployment that Adam Torletoâ— Bâ—shop of Wincheâ—ter commended him to the King who imployed him presently in surveying his Fortifications at Dover and Quinborough Castles and afterward made him Surveyor of his Buildings at Windsor Castle and his houses of Henley and East-Hamstead And here first Envy rose up against him for having caused to be engraven on the stone of a wall in Windsor Castle these words This made William VViâ—kham some that envyed his rising complained to the King of this insolencie as arrogating to himselfe that excellent piece of Building to de done at his charge but VVickham called before the King about it made answer that his meaning waâ— not neither by any indâ—fferent construction could it import that VVickham made that buiâ—ding but that the same building made VViâ—kham as being a meanes of the Kings great favour towards him This answer pacified the King who tooke him daily more and more into his favour and being now entred into the Ministery was first made Parson of S. Martins in the Fields then Minister of S. Martins le Grand â—fâ—erwards Archdeacon of Lincolne Provost of VVells and Rector of Manyhens in Devoâ—shire so as at one time he had in his hands so many Ecclesiasticall livings that the value of them in the Kings bookes amounted to eight hundred seventy sixe pounds thirteen shillings besides which he was honored with many Temporall places of great profit and respect as to be his principall Secretary Keeper of the Privy Seale Master of the Wards and Liveries Treasurer of the Kings Revenues in France and some other Offices After which the Bishoprick of VVinchester falling voyd meanes was made to the King to bestow that place upon him And here the â—â—cond time did Envy rise up against him informing the King that he was a man of little or no learning and no way sit for such a dignity whereupon the King made stay of granting it but when VVickham came before the King and â—old him that what he wanted in personall learning he would supply with being a Founder of learning This so satisfied the King that he bestowed the place upon him After this he was made Lord Treasurer of England and here the third time did Envy rise up against him for the King requiring of his subjects a supply of money It was answered that he needed no other supply than to call his Treasurer to accompt This blow struck deepe upon the Bishop for he was presently charged to give accompt for eleven hundred ninety six thousand pounds and whilst he was busie in preparing his account all his Temporalties upon importunity of Iohn of Gaunt were seized into the Kings hands and given to the Prince of VVales and himselfâ— upon paine of the Kings displeasure commanded not to come within twenty miles of the Court. In this case he dismisseth his traine and sendeth copies abroad of his accompt if it might be received but was hindred by the working of Iohn of Gaunt against him Upon this ground as was thought Queen Philip wife to K. Edward the Third upon her death-bed by way of Confession told VViâ—kham that Iohn of Gaunt was not the lawfull issue of king Edward but a supposititious Son for when she was brought to bed at Gauâ—t of a Daughter knowing how desirous the King was to have a Son she exchanged that daughter with a Dutch woman for a Boyâ— whereof she had been delivered about the same time with the Queen Thus much she confessed and
of himselfe oftentimes of others He had made the White Rose to flourish as long as Henry the Fourth made the Red if he had not made it change colour with too much blood He had been fortunate in his children if he had not been unfortunate in a brother but he was well enough served that would thinke a Wolfe could ever be a good Shepheard He had an excellent art in improving his favours for he could doe as much with a small courtesie as other men with a great benefit And that which was more he could make advantage of disadvantages for he got the love of the Londoners by owing them money and the good will of the Citizens by lying with their wives Of his Death and Buriall WHether it began from his minde being extreamely troubled with the injurious dealing of â—he King of France or from his body by intemperance of dyet to which he was much given he fell into a sicknesse some say a Catarche some a Feaver but into a sicknesse whereof he dyed In the time of which sicknesse at the very point of his death Sir Thomas Moore makes him to make a speech to his Lords which I might thinke to be the speech of a sick man if it were not so sound and of a weake man if it were not so long but it seemes Sir Thomas Moore delivers rather what was fit for him to say than what he sayd the Contents being onely to exhort his Lords whom he knew to be at variance to be in love and concord amongst themselves for that the welfare of his children whom he must now leave to their care could not otherwise be preserved but by their agreement And having spoken to this purpose as much as his weaknes would suffer him he found himselfe sleepy and turning on one side he fell into his long sleep the ninth of April in the yeere 1483. when he had lived one and forty yeeres Reigned two and twenty and one moâ—eth and was buried at Windsor in the new Chappell whose foundation himselfe had laid Of men of Note in his time MEN of valour in his time were many but himselfe the chiefest the rest may be observed in reading his story For men of letters we may have leave at this time to speake of some strangers having been men of extraordinary fame as IohaÌ„nes de Monte Regiâ— Purbachiuâ— and Blâ—â—chinuâ— all great Astronomers Ludovicus Pontanus Paulus Castrensis and Aâ—thonius Rossellanus all great Lawyers Servisanus Savaâ—arola and Barzizius all great Phisitians Bessarion and Cusanus both great Cardinalls Argyrâ—pole Philelphus Datus Leonardus Aretinus and Poggius all great men in humane litâ—rature And of our own Countrimen Iohn Harding an Eâ—quire borne in the North parts who wrote a Chronicle in English verse and among oâ—her speciall points therein touched hath gathered all the Submissions and Homages made by the Scottish kings even from the dayes of King Athelstan whereby it may evideâ—â—â—y appeare how the Scottish kingdome even in manner from the first Establishâ—ng thereof here in Britaine hath been appertaining unto the kings of England and holden of them as their chiefe and superiour Lords Iulian Bemes a Gentlewoman of excellent gifts who wrote certaine Treatises of Hawking and Hunting also a book of the Lâ—wes of Armes and knowledge pertaining to Heraâ—lds Iohn Forâ—â—scue a Judge and Chancellour of England who wrote divers Treatises concerning the Law and Politick Government Rochus a Charterhouse-Monk born in London who wrote divers Epigrams Walter Hâ—nt a Carmelite Fryer who for his excellent learning was sent from the whole body of the Realme to the Generall Counsell hâ—ldâ—â— firâ—â— at Ferrâ—ra and after at Florence by Pope Eâ—genius the fourth where â—e amâ—ngsâ— others disâ—uted with the Greekes iâ— defence of the Order and Ceremoâ—â—es oâ— the Latine Church William Caxton who wrote a Chronicle called Fructuâ— Temporum and an Appendix unto Trevisa besides divers other bookes and translations Iohn Milverton a Carmelitâ— Frier of Bristow and provinciall of his Order who because he defended such of his Order as preached against endowments of the Church with Temporall possessions was committed to prison in the Castle of Saint Angelâ— in Rome where he continued three yeers David Morgan a Welshman who wrote of the Antiquities of Wales and a description of the Country Iohn Tiptoft a nobleman born who wrote divers Treatises but lost of his head in the yeer 1471. Robert Huggon born in Norfolk who wrote certaine vaine Prophesies Thomas Nortoâ— born in Bristow an Alchymistâ— Scogaâ—â— a learned Gentleman and a Student for a time in Oxford who for his plesant wit and merry conceits was called to Court But most worthy of all to be remembred Thomas Littleton a reverend Judge of the Common Pleâ—s who brought a great part of the Law into a Method whicâ— lay before confusedly dispersed and his book called Littletons Tenures THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE FIFTH KING Edward the Fourth being dead his eldest Sonne Edwâ—â—â— scarce yet eleven yeeâ—â— old succeeded in the kingdome but not in the Crown for he was Proclaimed king but never Crowned and indeed it may not so properly be called the Reigne of Eâ—â—â—â—dâ—he â—he fifth as the Tyranny of Richard the Third for from the time of king Edwardâ— death though not in Name yet in effectâ— he not onely ruled as king but raged as a Tyrant Prince Edwaâ—â— when his Father dyed was at Ludlow in Wales where he had lived some time before the better by his presence to keep the Welsh in awe He had about him of his Mothers kindred many but Sir Anthony Woodvile the Earle Rivers his Uncle was appointed his chiefe Counsellour and directour The Duke of Glocester was at this time in the North but had word presently sent him from the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlaine of his brother king Edwards death who acquainted him withall that by his Will he had committed the young king his Queen and other children to his care and government and thereupon putting him in minde 〈◊〉 necessary it was for him speedâ—ly to repâ—irâ— to London But the Duke of Gloceâ—â—er needed no spurre to set him forward who was already in a full cariere for he had long before projected in his minde how he might come to attaine the Crown and now hee thought the way was made him For as it is said the very night in which king Edward dyed one Misselbrooke long ere morning came in great haste to the house of one Potter dwelling in Red-crosse-streete without Cripplegate where he shewed unto Potter that king Edward was departed to whom Potter answered By my troth man then will my Master the Duke of Glocester be king what cause he had so to thinke is hard to say but surely it is not likely he spake it of nought And now the young king was comming up to London with a strong guard partly to make a first expression of his greatnesse and partly to oppose any disorders that might be offered But the Duke
Stanley to come presently to his presence which if he refused to doe he swore by Christs Passion that he would strike off his sonnes head before he dined whereto the Lord Stanley answered That if he did so he had more sonnes alive and he might doe his pleasure but to come to him he was not then determined Which answer when king Richard heard he commanded the Lord Strange immediately to be beheaded but being at the very time when both Armies were in sight of each other his Lords perswaded him it was now time to fight and not to put to Execution and so the Lord Strangâ— escaped Of his Taxations WEE must not looke for Taxations in kinde in this kings reigne for he drew from his Subjects not money so much as blood and the money he drew was most by blood which drew on confiscation whereof let never any Prince make a president for where Taxations properly doe but Tondere theâ—e did Degluâ—ere Yet in his second yeere he called a Parliament wherein besides the great confiscations of those that were then attainted he imposed upon the people a great Tax which what it was is not Recorded Of his Lawes and Ordinances HAving gotten the Crowne by Pestilent courses he sought to Establish iâ— by wholsome Laws for in no Kings reigne were better Laws made then in the reign of this man Amongst other of his Laws It was enacted that from thence forth the Commonalty of the Realme should in no wise be charged by any imposition called a Benevolence nor any such like charge and that such exactions called a Benevolence before this time taken shall be taken for no example to make any such like charge hereafter but shall be damned and annulled for ever Many other good Laws were by him made that we may say he took the wayes of being a good King if he had come to be King by wayes that had been good Affaires of the Church in his time IN his time the troubles of the Temporalty kept the Clergie at quiet and though there were complayning in the streets there was none in the Church Only â—hores wife might complaine why shee should doe Penance for offending lightly against onely the seventh Commandement and king Richard doe none for offending heavily against all the ten but that perhaps he had gotten some good fellow to be his Confessour Workes of Piety done by him AS bad as this King was yet some good workes he did he founded a Colledge at Middleham beyond Yorke and a Collegiate Chauntry in London neere unto the Tower called our Lady of Barking He endowed the Queens Colledge in Camâ—â—â—â—ge with five hundred Marks of yeerly revenue and disforested the great field of Whitchwood which king Edward his brother had inclosed for Deere Of Casualties happening in his time IN his second year at the time when the Duke of Buckingham meant to passe with his Army over Severn so great an inundation was of waâ—er that men were drowned in their beds houses were overturned children were carried about the fields swimming in Cradles beasts were drowned on hills which rage of water contiâ—â—ed ten dayes and is to this day in the Countries thereabout called the great water or the Duke of Buckinghamâ— water Of his wife and issue HEE marryed Anne the second Daughter of Richard Nevill the great Earle of Warwicke being the widdow of Edward Prince of Wales the Sonne of king Heâ—â—y the sixth she lived his Wife to the last yeer of his reigne and then to make way for another was brought to her end and layd aâ— rest in the Abbey of Westminster by her he had onely one Sonne born at Middleham neer Richmond in the County of Yorke at foure yeers old created Earle of Salisbury by his Uncle king Edward the fourth at ten yeers old created Prince of Wales by his Father king Richard but dyed soon after Of his Personage and Conditions THere never was in any man a greater uniformity of Body and Minde then was in him both of them equally deformed Of Body he was but low crooke-backt hook-shouldred splay-footed and goggle-eyed his face little and round his complexion swarsie his left arm from his birth dry and withered born a monster in nature with all his teeth with haire on his head and nailes on his fingers and toes And just such were the quaâ—â—ties of his minde One quality he had in ordinary which was to look fawâ—â—ngly when he plotted sternly when he executed Those vices which in other men are Passions in him were Habits and his cruelty was not upon occasion but naturall If at any time he shewed any virtue it was but pretence the truth of his minde was onely lying and falsehood He was full of courage and yet not valiant valour consisting not only in doing but as well in suffering which he could not abide He was politick and yet not wise Policie looking but to the middle wisdome to the end which he did and did not And it was not so much ambition that made him desire the Crown as cruelty that it might be in his power to kill at his pleasure and to say the truth he was scarce of the number of men who consist of flesh and blood being nothing but blood One Miracle wee may say hee did which was that he made the truth of History to exceed the fiction of Poetry being a greater Harpy than those that were feigned He would faine have been accounted a good King but for his life he could not be a good Man and it is an impossible thing to be one without the other He left no isâ—ue behinde him and it had been pitty he should at least in his own Image One such Monster was enough for many Ages Of his Death and Buriall BEing slaine in the Battell at Bosworth as before is related his body was left naked and desâ—oyled to the very skin not so much as a câ—out left about him to cover his privy parts and taken up was trussed behinde a Pursuivant at Armes one Blaâ—ch Senglyer or White-boare his head and armes hanging on one side of the horse and his leggs on the other and all besprinkled with mire and dirt he was brought to the Gray-Friers Church within the Towne of Leicester and there for some time lay a miserable spectacle and afterward with small Funerall-pompe was there interred But after this King Heâ—ry the Seventh caused a Tombe to be made and set up over the place where he was buried with a picture of Alablaster representing his person which at the suppression of that Monastery was utterly defaced Since when his Grave overgrowne with nettles and weeds is not to be found onely the Stone-chest wherein his Corps lay is now made a drinking-trough for horses at a common Inne in Leicester and reteineth the onely memory of this Monarchs greatnes But his body as is reported was caried out of the City and contemptuously bestowed under the end of Bow-bridge which giveth passage over a branch of
between the Lady Margaret the 〈◊〉 eldest daughter and him where the Earle by Proxie in the name of king Iames 〈◊〉 Masâ—er affied and contracted the said Ladie which Contract was published at 〈◊〉 Crosseâ— the day of the Conversion of Saint Paul for joy whereof Te Deum 〈…〉 and great fires were made through the City of London and if such joy weâ—e made when the match was made what joy should be made now at the issue of the match when by the Union of those persons is made an Union of these kingdomes and England and Scotland are but one great Britaine The Ladies portion was ten thousand pounds her joynture two thousand pounds a yeer after king Iames his death and in present one thousand When this match was first propounded at the Connsell Table some Lords opposed it objecting that by this means the Crown of England might happen to come to the Scottish Nation To which King Heâ—ry answered what if it should It would not be an accession of England to Scoâ—laâ—d but of Scotland to England and this answer of the kings passed for an Oracle â—nd so the match proceeded and in August following was Consummate at Ediâ—bâ—rgh conducted thither in great State by the Earle of Northumberland Prince Arthur after his marriage was sent againe into Wales to keep that Countâ—y in good order to whom were appointed for Counsellours Sir Richard Poole hiâ—â—insman and chiefe Chamberlaine Sir Henry Vernon Sir Richard Crofâ—s Sir David 〈◊〉 Sir William Vdall Sir Thomas Englefield Sir Peter Newton Iohn Walleston 〈◊〉 Marton and Doctor William Smith President of his Counsell but within five moneths after his marriage at his Castle of Ludlow he deceased and with great soleâ—â—ity was buried in the Cathedrall Church at Worcester His Brother Henry Duâ—e of Yorke was stayed from the title of Prince of Wales the space of halfe a yeer till to women it might appeare whether the Lady Katherine the Relict of Prince Arâ—â—â—â— were with childe or no. The towardlines in learning of this Prince Arthur is veâ—y memorable who dying before the age of sixteen yeers was said to have read over alâ— or most of the Latine Authours besides many other And now Prince Arthur being dead and the Lady Katherine of Spaine left a young widdow King Henry loath to part with her dowry but chiefely being desirous 〈◊〉 continue the Alliance with Spaine prevailed with his other Sonne Prince Henry though with some reluctation such as could be in those years for he was scarce â—welvâ— years of age to be contracted with the Princesse Katherine his broâ—hâ—rs widdow for which marriage a dispensation by advice of the most learned men at that 〈◊〉 in Christendome was by Pope Iulius the second granted and on the five and twentieth day of Iune in the Bishop of Salisburyâ—s house in Fleet-street thâ— marriage was solemnized A little before this time 〈…〉 Earle of Sâ—ffolke Son to Iohn Duke of Suffolke and Lady Elizâ—bâ—tâ— Sister â—o king Edward the â—ourth had in his fury kill'd a mean personâ— and was thereupon Iâ—dighted of Murther for which although he had the kings Pardon yet because he was brought to thâ— Kings-bench-bâ—rrâ— and there arraigned he took it for so great 〈…〉 his honour that in great rage he fled into Flanders to his Aunâ— the Ladâ— Mâ—â—garet where having stayed a while when his pâ—ssion was over he returnâ—d againe â—ut after the marriage between Prince Arthur and the Lady 〈◊〉 wâ—â—ther it were that in that solemnity he had run himselfe in debt or 〈◊〉 he were â—rawn to doe so by the Lady Margareâ— he passed over the second time with his bâ—other Richard into Flâ—nderâ— This put the king into some doubt of his intentionâ— whereupon he hath recourse to his usuall course in such cases and Sir 〈…〉 Captaine of Hammeâ— Castle to feigne himselfe one of that Conspiracy theâ—â—by to learn the depth of their intentions And to take away all suspâ—â—ion of his imployment â—he first Sunday of November he caused the said Earle and Sir Robert Câ—rson with five others to be accursed openly at Pauls Crosse as Enemies to him and his Realme In conclusion Sir Robert Curson acquainted the king with divers of that faction amongst whom Williaâ— Lord Courtâ—ey and Williaâ— de la Poole brother to the foresaid Earle of Suffolke who were taken but upon suspition yet held long in prison but Sir Iames Tyrrell the same that had murthered the two young Princes in the Tower and Sir Ioâ—â— Windham who were proved to be Traytorâ— were accordingly attainted and on the sixth day of May at the Tower-hill beheaded Whereof when the Earle heard despairing now of any good successe he wandred about all Germany and Frâ—â—câ— where finding no succour he submitted himselfe at last to Philip Duke of Austria by whom afterward he was delivered to king Henry by this occasion Ferdiâ—aâ—d king of Aragon by his Wife Isabella Queen of Câ—stile had onely two Daughters the eldest whereof named Ioaâ—e was married to this Philip Duke of Austria the younger named Katherine to Arthur Prince of England and now Queen Isabella being lately dead by whose death the kingdome of Castile descended in Right of his Wife to this Duke Philip they were sayling out of Germany into Spâ—ine to take possession of the kingdome but by tempest and contrary windes were driven upon the coast of England and landed at VVeymouth in Dorsetshire where desiring to refresh themselves a little on shore they were invited by Sir Thomas Treâ—chaâ—d a principall knight of that Country to his house who presently sent word to the king of their arrivall King Henry glad to have his Court honoured by so great a Prince and perhaps upon hope of a courtesie from him which afterward he obtained â—ent presently the Earle of Arundell to waite upon him till himselfe might follow and the Earle went to him in great magnificence with a gallant troope of three hundred Horse and for more State came to him by Torch-light Upon whose Meâ—â—â—ge though king Philip had many reâ—sons of haste on his journey yet not to give king Heâ—ry distaste and withall to give his Queen the comfort of seeing the Lady Katherine her Sister he went upon speed to the king at VVindsor while his Queen followed by easie journeys After great magnificence of entertainment king Henâ—y taking a fit opportunity and drawing the king of Castile into a roome where they two onely were private and laying his hand civilly upon his arme said unto him Sir you have been saved upon my Coast I hope you will not suffer me to wrack upon yours The king of Castile asking him what he meant by that speech I mean it saith the king by that haire-brain'd fellow the Earle of Suffolke who being my subject is protected in your Country and begins to play the foole when all others are weary of it The king of Casâ—ile answered I had thought Sir your felicity had been above those thoughts but if it trouble you I will
but neither yet was there an end of Commotions for in the latter end of this eight and twentieth yeer the Lord Darcy the Lord Hussey Sir Robert Constable Sir Iohn Bulmer and his wife Sir Thomas Percy brother to the Earl of Northumberland Sir Stephen Hamilton Nicholas Tempest Esquire and others began to conspire although each of them before had been pardoned by the King but this as being but the fagge end of Commotion was soon suppressed the Lord Darcy was beheaded on the Tower-hill the Lord Hussey at Lincolâ—e Sir Robert Câ—nstable was hanged in cheins at Hull Sir Iohn Balmers Paramout was burnt in Smithfield and most of the other were executed at Tyburne Tantae molis erat so great a matter it wasâ— to make the Realme be quiet in so great innovations of Religion This yeer on Saint Georges-feast the Lord Cromwell was made Knight of the Garter and on the twelfth of October which is Saint Edwards-eveâ— at Haâ—ton-Court the Queen was delivered of a sonne but with so hard a labour that she was faine to be ript the child was named Edward whose Godfathers at the Christning were the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duke of Norfolke his Godmother was his sister the Lady Mary at his Bishoping his Godfather was the Duke of Suffolk on the eighteenth of October he was made Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester but the birth of his sonne brought not so much joy to the King as the death of his Queene brought him sorrow for within two dayes after she died and was buried at Winsor and â—o much was the Kings grief for her death that he continued a widdawer two yeeres after It is not unworthy the relating what a miserable dissolation befell the family of the Geraldynes or Fitz-Garrets Earle of Kildare in Ireland about this time for Gerald Fitz-Garret who had been ten yeers Deputy in Ireland upon complaint of some fault was sent for over into England where not making a satisfying answer he was committed to the Tower but before his commiâ—g over had with the Kings leave left Deputy there his own sonne a Young-man of not above twenty yeers of age but yet ripe of understanding and fit for the plaâ—e this young Lord hearing that his father was committed prisoner to the Tower and soon after as the rumour encreased that he was put to death in rage to be revenged rose up in Armes and having five Unckles in the Couâ—try men of great estimatioâ— drew them though some of them unwillingly to take his part amongst other outrages he committed the Archbishop of Dublin was slaine in his presenceâ— the Father in the Tower hearing hereof with very griefe died the Sonne and his Uncles upon the Kings sending aâ— Army were all either taken or submitted and being sent for over into England those of his Unckles that against their wils had been drawn into the Action had good hope of their lives till entring the ship of passage which was called the Cow they then presently dispaired because of a Prophesie that five sonnes of a certaine Earl should be carried into England in the belly of a Cowe and never after return and indeed it fell out true for through the malice of their adversaries exasperating the King against them and saying there would never be quietnes in Ireland as long as any of the Geraldines were left alive they were all put to death one onely sonne of the family remained a youth of thirteene yeers of age who though at that time sick of the smal-pox yet made shift to save himselfe by flight fled first into France and frighted from thence afterwards into Flanders and driven from thence at last into Italy where prâ—oected by Reginâ—ld Poole ar that time made Cardinall by Pope Iulie the third he was afterward by this meaneâ— restored to his dignity and his patrimony This yeere Edward Seymour Viscount Beauchamp the Queens brother was created Earl of Hartford and Sir VVilliam Fitz-VVilliams Lord Admirall was created Earl of Southamton Master Paulet was made Vice Treasurer Sir Iohn Russell was made Controller of the Kings House and diverse Gentlemen were made Knights In February diverse Roodes were taken downe by the Kings commandement as the Roode of Boxeley called the Rood of grace which was made with vices to move the eyes and lips also the Rood called Saint Saviour at Bermondsey Abbey in Southwarke aâ—d diverse others in May a Frier Observant called Frier Forrest who had taken the oath of Supremacy himselfe yet privately perswaded others that the King was not supreme head of the Church was thereupon examined and for his defence said that he took the oath with his outward man but his inward man never consented to it but this answer served not his turn from being condemned and on a paire of Gallowes prepared for him in Smithâ—â—eld he was hanged by the middle and arme-holes all quick and under the Gallowes was made a fire wherewith he was consumed a little before his executioâ— a huge great Image was brought to the Gallowes fetched out of Wales which the Welch-men had in great reverence called Darvell Gatheren of which there went a Prophesie that thiâ— Image should set a whole Forrest on fire which was thought to take effect in â—erring this Frier Forrest on fire and consuming him to nothing In September by the speciall motion of the Lord Cromwell all the notable Images unto which were made any speciall Pilgrimages and offerings were taken downe and burnt as the Images of Walsingham Ipswicâ— VVorcester the Lady of VVilsdon with many other and forthwith by meanes of the said Cromwell all the orders of Friers and Nunnes with theirs Cloysters and Houses were suppressed and put downe also the shrines of counterfeit Saints amongst others the shrine of Thomas Becket in the Priory of Christ-church was taken to the Kings use and his bones scull and all which was there found with a peece â—roken out by the wound of his death were all burnt in the same Church by command of the Lord Cromwell and the one and twentieth of October the Church of Thomas Becket in London called the Hospitall of Saint Thomas of Acres was suppressed the sixteenth of November the Black-friers in London was suppressed the next day the VVhite-friers the Gray-friers and the Monkes of the Charter-house and so all the other immediately after 〈◊〉 three Abbots resisted the Abbot of Colechester the Abboâ— of Reding and the Abbot of Glastenbury who therefore were all taken and executed The foure and twentieth of November the Bishop of Rochester Preached at Pauls-crosse and there shewed the blood of Hales affirming it to be no blood but honey clarified and coloured with saâ—â—ron as it had been evidently proved before the King and Councell The number of Monasteries suppressed were six hundred forty five besides fourescore and ten Colledges one hundred and ten Hospitals and of Chantries and free Chappels two thousand three hundred seventy foure But now to make amends
of Scotland sent for aid to the Queen of England But this was matter for consultation It seemed a bad Example for a Prince to give aid to the rebellious Subjects of another Prince On the other side it seemed no lesse then impiety not to give Ayd to the Protestants of the same Religion but most of all it seemed plain madnesse to suffer adversaries to be so neer neighbours and to let the French nestle in Scotland who pretend Title to England upon such like considerations it was resolved to send them Ayd and thereupon an Army of six thousand Foot and twelve hundred Horse was sent under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk the Lord Grey of Wilton his Lievtenant Generall Sir Iames a Crofts Assistant to him the Lord Scroop L. Marshall Sir George Howard Generall of the men at Arms Sir Henry Percy Generall of the Light-horse Thomas Huggens Provost Marshall Thomas Gower Master of the Ordnance Master William Pelham Captain of the Pyoners and Master Edward Randoll Serjeant Major and divers others These coming into Scotland joyned with the Scotish Lords and set down before Leith where passed many small skirmishes many Batteries and sometimes Assaults to whom after some time a new supply came of above two thousand Foot whereof were Captains Sir Andrew Corbet Sir Rowland Stanley Sir Thomas Hesbith Sir Arthur Manwaring Sir Lawrence Smith and others yet with this new supply there was little more done then before many light skirmishes many Batteries and sometimes Assaults so long till at last the young French King finding these broyls of Scotland to be too furious for him to appease he sent to the Queen of England desiring that Commissioners might be sent to reconcile these differences whereupon were dispatched into Scotland Sir William Cecill her principall Secretary with Doctor Wotton Dean of Canterbury who concluded a Peace between England and France upon these Conditions That neither the King of France nor the Queen of Scotland should thenceforth use the Arms or Titles of England or Ireland And that both the English and the French should depart out of Scotland And a generall pardon should be enacted by Parliament for all such as had been actors in those stirs This Peace was scarce concluded when Francis the young King of France died leaving the Crown to his younger brother Charles who was guided altogether by the Queen-Mother and molested with the Civill dissentions between the Princes of Guise and Conde for whose reconcilement the Queen sent Sir Henry Sidney Lord President of VVales and shortly after an Army under the leading of the Lord Ambrose Dudley Earl of VVarwick who arriving at Newhaven was received into the Town which having kept eleven months he was then constrayned by reason of a Pestilence to surrender again upon Composition and so returned About this time when the Parliament was upon dissolving it was agreed upon by the House of Commons to move the Queen to marry that she might have Issue to succeed her to which purpose Thomas Gargrave Speaker of the House with some few other chosen men had accesse to the Queen who humbly made the motion to her as a thing which the Kingdom infinitely desired seeing they could never hope to have a better Prince then out of her loyns Whereunto the Queen answered in effect thus That she was already marryed namely To the Kingdom of England and behold saith she the Pledge of the Covenant with my husband and therewith she held out her finger and shewed the Ring wherewith at the time of her Coronation she gave her self in Wedlock to the Kingdom and if saith she I keep my self to this husband and take no other yet I doubt not but God will send you as good Kings as if they were born of me forasmuch as we see by dayly experience That the Issue of the best Princes do often degenerate And for my self it shall be sufficient that a Marble stone declare That a Queen having Raigned such a time lived and dyed a Virgin Indeed before this time many Matches had been offered her First King Philip and when he was out of hope of matching with her himself he then dealt with the Emperor Ferdinand his Unkle to commend his younger Son Charles Duke of Austria to her for a husband And when this succeeded not then Iohn Duke of Finland second Son to Gustavus King of Sweden was sent by his father to solicite for his eldest Brother Erricusâ— who was honourably received but the Match rejected Then Adolphus Duke of Holst Unkle to Frederick King of Denmark came into England upon a great hope of speeding but the Queen bestowed upon him the Honour of the Garter and a yeerly Pension but not her self Then Iames Earl of Arran was commended to her by the Protestants of Scotland but neither the man nor the motion was accepted Of meaner Fortunes there were some at home that pleased themselves with hope of her Marriage First Sir William Pickering a Gentleman of a good House and a good Estate but that which most commended him was his studiousnesse of good letters and sweet demeanour Then Henry Earl of Arundel exceeding rich but now in his declining age Then Robert Dudley youngest son of the Duke of Northumberland of an excellent feature of face and now in the flower of his age but these might please themselves with their own conceit but were not considerable in her apprehension they might receive from her good Testimonies of her Princely favour but never Pledges of Nuptiall love About this time the Earl of Feria who had married the daughter of Sir William Dormer being denyed leave of the Queen for some of his wives friends to live out of England grew so incensed that he made means to Pius the fourth then Pope to have her excommunicate as an Heretick and Usurper but the Pope inclining rather to save then to destroy and knowing that gentle courses prevail more with generous mindes then roughnesse and violence in most loving manner wrote unto her exhorting her to return to the Unity of the Catholike Church and as it is said made her great offers if she would hearken to his counsell Particularly That he would recall the Sentence pronounced against her mothers Marriage confirm the Book of Common Prayer in English and permit to her people the use of the Sacrament in both Kindes But Queen Elizabeth neither terrified with the Earl of Feria's practises nor allured with the Popes great offers according to her Motto Semper Eadem persisted constant in her resolution To maintain that Religion which in her conscience she was perswaded to be most agreeable to the Word of God and most consonant to the Primitive Church Whilst these grounds of Troubles are sowing in England France and Scotland it is not likely that Ireland will lie fallow though indeed it be a Countrey that will bring forth Troubles of it self without sowing but howsoever to make the more plentifull Harvest of troubles at this time Iohn Oneal
man to be King of Bohemia and accordingly was elected by the States of that Kingdome but he was no sooner invested in the Crowne but the Emperour with great Forces assaulted him in Prague and not only drove him with his wife and children from thence but tooke from him also his owne Patrimony the Palatinate so as though now a King he was fayne to flye to the States of the Low Countries for a place of residence King Iames though he had never given his consent to the Palsegraâ—es taking upon him that Kingdome as foreseeing in his great judgement what the event will bee yet in this distresse he could noâ— forbeare to take care of his daughter and thereupon sent Sir Richard Wesâ—on the same that was after Lord Treasurer in Embassage to the Emperour to sollicite the restoring of the Palatinate to the Palsegrave but he returning without successe the King had then conference with Count Gundâ—mar the King of Spaines Ligier in England what course might bee taken to procure the restoring it who made him answere there could be no better course than to make a marriage betweene his sonne the Prince of Wales and the Infant of Spaine which he said would easily be effected if the Prince might have leave to make a Iourny into Spaine King Iames though he considered the inveterate grudges betweene Spaine and England and as dangerous it might beâ— to put the heire of the Kingdom into the Spaniards hands yet grounding himself upon the saying Fide lem si putaveris facies and drawne on by the insinuating speeches of Count Gundomar not perhaps without some Indinction in the Marquis of Buckingham was contented at last the Prince should goe And so Prince Charles sending his ships about and taking along with him only the Marquis of Buckingham who in the time of his being in Spaine was created Duke of Buckingham Endymion Porter and Mr. Francis Cottington two that were well acquainted with the Language and affaires of Spaine he tooke his Iourney by the way of France went to Paris and secretly in disguise to the Court there where he had the sight of that Lady that might well have stayed him from going further but yet on he went In the meane time Gundomar a cunning man and one that besides his Masters had ends of his owne and could play his Game no lesse for his owne profit than his Masters Honour as he had perswaded the King of the facility of the Match with Spayne so he perswaded a certainty of it especially amongst Catholick Ladies by which meanes he brought no small store of Grists to his owne Mill receiving from one Lady three hundred pounds to bee made Groome of the Stoole when the Spanish Princesse should come of another a good round summe to be made Mother of the Maydes and of diverse other the like for other places But the Prince being arrived in Spayne was received indeed with all the demonstrations of love and kindnesse that could be devised so as the charge of his entertainment was said to stand the King of Spayne in nine and forty thousand Duckats but yet his acquaintance with the Lady was much restrained for in all the time of his staying in Spayne which was no lesse than eight moneths being from February to October he saw her but very seldome and that at good distances never spake with her but twice and that before company besides that his speeches were limited how much and what he should say farre from any meanes of tying the knot betweene them which was pretended what the cause should bee was much in obscurity some thought that a difference betweene the Duke of Buckingham and the Count Olivares the King of Spayne's great Favorite was a great hinderance of the proceeding but other and more likely that the Spanyard indeed never really intended the Match at all but had drawne the Prince into Spayne for other Ends but what those ends were was no lesse uncertaine one thought it was done to hold the Prince in a treaty of marriage with a Daughter of Spayne till the Daughters of France should bee bestowed thereby to keepe him from that allyance but others and more likely that the King of Spayne entertayned this Treaty with the King of great Brittayne meaning to spinne it out till he had compassed some designes in the Low-Countries and the Palatinate at least to make King Iames most vigilant for those paâ—ts But when much time had beene spent in protracting upon pretence of difficultities in obtaining the Popes dispensation King Iames partly wearied with delay but chiefely angred with delusion sent to the Prince with all speed to returne into England which the Prince presently signified to the King of Spaine and had his leave to depart but upon promise to continue the treaty of the marriage still Though it was said the Prince was gone but a few dayes on his journey when a Post was sent to have stayed him if he had been overtaken But whether it was so or no it was Gods providence that he came safely to his ships and in them safely into England arriving at Portsmouth where he was beheld of the people with no lesse gladnesse than the Sunne after a long Eclipse and now his safe returning did both justifie King Iames his judgement in suffering him to goe and the King of Spaines justice in suffering him to come back and was cause that the people began to have a better opinion of the Spanish faith than they had before But now it presently brake out that this match with Spaine could never take effect for King Iames having received Declarations of the Articles touching the marriage found many very strict and large for exercise of the Catholike Religion but none at all for restitution of the Palatinate which made him so much discontented that he presently brake off all treaty of the marriage and signified as much not onely to the King of Spaine but to divers other Princes of Christendome Vpon which breach two great Points were presently had in consultation One for preparing forces for recovering the Palatinate by way of Armes which could not be done by a way of friendship and for this purpose a Councell of warre was called and a proposition resolved on both of men and money for undertaking the enterprise as also a great contribution by way of benevolence was collected towards which the compiler of this worke gave himselfe fifty pounds as many other farre greater summes though the collection went not thorow the whole Landâ— by reason there was hope given of a peaceable reconcilement so as many that were not over-hasty in their payments escaped without contributing at all The other point was for providing a fit wife for the Prince in some other place It was said the States of Holland offered a very great portion in marriage to the Prince if hee would match with some Lady of that Countrie but matches are made in heaven and there was a young Lady of France