in a plaine meadow In these and thereabouts by digging haue beene found peeces of ancient fashioned armour with the bones of men whose bodies were thus couered with earth that was brought thither by their wel-willers and friends euen in their head-peeces a token of loue that then was vsed as some imagine This Trophey Aurelius Ambrosius in memoriall of the Britaines massacre erected and is worthily accounted for one of the Wonders of this Iland and 〈◊〉 in the verses of Alexander 〈◊〉 called The Giants Daâ—…nce wherein this Ambrosius was interred after hâ—…e had raigned thirtie two yeeres and wherof the towne Ambresbury beares the name Others report that the Britaine 's erected this most stately Sepulcher â—…uer the body of Ambrosius there slaine by the sword of his enemies that his Countries loue in such a costly peece of worke might remaine vnto posterities in this the Altar of his vertue and manhood for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith that this man in succouring his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tooke vpon him the Imperiall Robe and aganist the 〈◊〉 rage of those German enemies oft times ouer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 puissant armies but was lastly slaine by them vpon the plaines of Salesburie I cannot with silence let passe the ridiculous reports of the bringing of the Stones out of Africke into Ireland and from thence vnder the conduct of Vter the brother of Ambrosius vnto this Plain by the industrious meanes of Merlin surnamed Ambrose borne in the ancient City Merdâ—…n and as Humfrey Lhâ—…d saith of a noble virgin whose father for his skill in the Mathematicks and wonderfull knowledge in all other kinde of learning was by the rude common people reputed to be the sonne of an Incubus or a male Diuell which in the similitude and likenesse of men doe vse carnally to companie with women But how this may agree with his diuine mouth that telles vs the Spirits haue neither flesh nor bones and the whole Scriptures that man is carnally begotten conceiued and born I leaue for others further to dispute Only I know that such begettings as Merlines is reported to bee without father and Simon Magus also that before him would needs be the sonne of a Virgin doe not a little contradict our Christian Profession who acknowledge onely the conception of Christ to be conceiued without the seed of man or of sinne But to our purpose Ambrosius Aurelius by Panuinius accounted the last Emperour of the British bloud is said to raigne in Britaine thirty two yeeres and to die in that of Christs Incarnaâ—…on foure hundred ninety seuen VTERPENDRAGON 4. VTer surnaâ—… 〈◊〉 the brother of Ambrosius succeeded him both in valour and in the Gouernment of Britaine His entrance was with troubles against the Saxons who vnder the leading of Eske and Oâ—…a the sonnes of King Hengist had passed with spoile to the Citie Yorke whither this new-made Generall presently repâ—…d and giuing them battell with the discomâ—… of the whole Army tooke both the 〈◊〉 priâ—…ers and committed them to safe cuâ—…odie But the Britaâ—…es saith 〈◊〉 becomming disloiall to their Prince seldome assisted him with preuenting counsell and the Princâ—… enamored vpon the Duke of Cornwals Wife consulted more with Merliâ—… to transforme himselfe from himselfe then to giue direction against the common enemie For comming to Tindagell Castle in Cornwall possessed by Gorlois Duke of that Prouince beheld in his eye the Paragon of Nature which was Lady Igren his Dutches and wife Vter whose thoughts till then had bin free and from his childhood had euer followed Mars in the field was now surprised so far with her loue that his Shield and Armes were both neglected and vnworne and all his thoughts set on worke to purchase his most wisâ—…ed desire which lastly by Merline and Magick was effected and that after this manner if we will beleeue him of Monmouth who is the reporter His suites and hopes failing saith he to win her vnto dishonor Merline altogether new-moulded the shape of King Vter and printed in his face the feature of Gorlois her owne Lord by which meanes and without suspect the King dishonourably violated this Ladies chastitie in which Bed of deceit the famous Arthur was begot The captiue Captaines Eske and Octa in these loose times of his loue gat loose from their Keepers and with their ratling armour roused Vter from this wanton Lullaby who with troopes of strength and trumpets of defiance met these Saxons face to face in the field where betwixt them was fought a most bloudy battell and that euen almost to the last stroke and wherein if fatall destinie had withdrawne her hand the Iland had been rid of these Intruders for euer For therein say our Authours the Saxons perished by the Britaines swords vpon whose points also Eske and Octa paid their escapes with the losse of their liues This field was at Verolam whither Vter sicke and in his Horse-litter was borne among his Army and after long and sore siege wonne from them that Citie Finally when this King had raigned the space of eighteene yeeres he died by poison put into a well whereof vsually he dranke and was buried at Stonhenge with his brother Ambrosius Of his surname Pendragon these supposals are made At his natiuitie say some appeared a fierie Comet in some part resembling a Dragons Head whereupon that great reputed Prophet Merline attributed this heauenly Meteor vnto this Princely new-borne Babe and gaue him the name of Vter-Pendragon Others for his serpentine wisdome deriue the surname of this Serpents Head who like vnto that of Dan bit the Horse heeles so that the riders fell backward For in all his warres against the Saxons hee was most fortunate and victorious with their great ouerthrowes But others will haue him so named from his Royall Banner borne euer before him wherein was portraied a Dragon with a Golden Head of which Standerd since neighbour Nations haue had good experience and in far Country it hath been displaied in the cause of Christianitie to the terror of the Pagans as in Syria by that inuincible English King Richard the first surnamed Cur-de-lion in Scotland and Wales by that conquering Prince Edward the first and the same as yet is in field borne for an Imperiall Standard in our English Campes KING ARTHVR 5. ARthur the sonne of Vter begotten as is said of Ladie Igren Dutchesse of Cornwall was crowned King at fifteene yeeres of age about the yeere of Christ fiue hundred and sixteene or as Matthew of Westminster hath it fiue hundred and eighteene His prosperous entrance was enuied at by Lotho King of the Picts and by Couran King of the Scots who had married his owne Aunts Anna and Alda the two sisters of Ambrose and Vter each of them expecting the Crowne before him through the opinion and repute of his bastardie especially Lotho who had issue by Anna Mordrad and Gawan the latter of which spent his
the which the late honours of her house conspicuous in three Princes which altogether made not twenty and fiue yeeres of raigne did so perpetually houer as her soule could neuer take contentment but in the hope that the house of Yorke should againe be the dwelling place of Maiesty 33 Her offence against Henry wanted not many seeming reasons but none so great as that hee had slaine her own brother King Richard who albeit he was there reputed murtherer of her Nephewes yet were they a degree more remoued from her and so lesse deere in likelihood then a brother and howsoeuer shee might secretly detest or belieue the commitmēt of that parricide yet could she neuer brooke seeing they were gone that the reward of her brothers death and that euen to him who slew him should bee the Crowne of England whereby not onely her brother but the whole male-line of her family was for euer to bee excluded much lesse could shee a Plantagenet abide that Henry who brought to the Crowne the surname of a newly raised Familie These and other considerations in the breast of a Lady bred vp in a dominating Family her selfe a Dowager in such a fortune as in which shee was Paramount for the time and absolute without controlment being carelesse withall of sauing for posterity because shee was without a child and in that regard the more abundantly stored with treasure all which made her spirits ouer-boile with impatience and virulency so farre forth that hauing infused al her principles into Peter her creature vnder the Title of Richard Plantagenet second son of King Edward the fourth she most couertly sends him into Portugall from thence to take his Icarean flight as elsewhere is related Neuerthelesse there will not perhaps want some who in defence of the Dutchesse had rather referre it to Magnanimity and Noblenesse of Spirit in seeking the honour of her house which if it might passe for such among the heathen yet can it not among Christians much the lesse for that her duty to England the royall flourishing estate of her own Neece the right heire exacted at her hands a greater tendernesse 34 That Peter Warbecke should bee inflamed by her fauours and encouragements to dare in earnest the personation of a Kings sonne seemes not a thing to bee admired for there is in humane nature which ties not her self to Pedigrees nor Parentages a kind of light matter which will easily kindle being toucht with the blazing hopes of ambitious propositions He therefore vpon the first disclose of himselfe did put on so excellent a seeming as might iustly moue King Henry to bee iealous whereunto the pernitious practise might come at last for there wanted nothing in the whole forme of the young vpstart but onely the conscience of a truth and truth it selfe which makes me call to mind what one hath written of a goodly white Saphyr in Venice made by art so neerely to resemble a true Diamond that with much difficulty and but by one onely lapidary it was discouered which if it had beene graced with some great Princes wearing what could want to haue made it passable for a very Diamond of greatest value Perkin came such from out of the Burgundian forge and if his parentage bee respected assumed the image and resemblance of a king being otherwise not so much as a meane Gentleman Neither can it be maruelled at if such a Phantasme as this did abuse and trouble the common people of that time for euen to such as do write thereof it begets a kind of doubt which without some little collection of their spirits doth not easily vanish it seeming almost incredible that such a bloudy play should meerly be disguised and fained the discouery therefore was worthy such a wit as King Henries and the push it gaue to his soueraignty did throughly try his sitting being of force enough to haue cast an ordinarie rider out of sadle 35 Therfore it was the Dutchesses misfortune that her inuentions if they were hers had to encounter so politicke and constant a man as King Henry whose prudence searcht into the abstrusest secrets and whose diligence ouercame all difficulties Yet the Lady Margarets course to vent her Creature at the first was exquisite for she as in a Magicke practise hauing kept him secret till shee saw her time causeth him to bee closely conuayed into Portugall from whence attended with fitte associates and Priuadoes hee sailes into Ireland the Foster-place and nursery of immortall good will to the house of Yorke where notwithstanding their late calamities he so strongly enchanted that rude people with the charmes of false hopes and mists of seemings as he was sure of partakers in great plenty Charles the eight King of France hearing and perhaps beleeuing that the Duke of Yorke was aliue and glad to haue so probable an occasion of doing mischiefe to Henry of England in regard of these flagrāt enmities which as then remained vnquencht betweene them inuites Duke Richard most officiously to Paris and besides all other honours assigned him at his comming a guard for his person whereof the Lord Congreshall was Captaine Afterward there repaired to this new Duke Sir George Neuill Knight a bastard of the noble house of the Neuils Sir Iohn Taylor Rowland Robinson and about an hundreth English to whom as a principal wee may adde Stephen Frion French Secretary to King Henry himselfe all which together with the whole Strategeme was smoakt out of France with the first graine of incense sacrificed vpon the Altars of Peace at Boloign after the same was once made and ratified as you haue heard between the French and vs. The Dutchesse then seeing her artificiall creature thus turned againe vpon her hands pretends an extreame ignorance that euer shee had seene him before that present and an excessiue ioy for his miraculous escape and preseruation which seemed such to her as shee pretended as if hee had beene reuiued from death to life and that the fable might want no quickning which her personall countenancing or her Court could afford shee openly salutes him by the delicate Title of the White Rose of England and questions him of the manner of his escape with such like to beget a firme beliefe in the hearers that she neuer had seene him before that time and that he was indeed her Nephew Richard Duke of Yorke The Nobility of Flanders accordingly doe vnto him all honour and shee enuirons his person with a guard of thirty men in murrey and blew Neither was hee in any point wanting to his part but fitted such likely answeres to all questions and such princely behauiours to all occasions as made fame bold to publish him with the fullest blast of her Trumpet for no other then a true Richard Plantagenet and as it is so obserued of some that by long vsing to report an vntruth at last forgetting themselues to bee the Authors thereof beleeue it
hundred fiftie eight hauing had neithe Wife nor Children OFFA THE ELEVENTH KING OF THE MERCIANS AND THE SIXTEENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS ACTS RAIGNE WIFE AND ISSVE CHAPTER XXVIII OFfa the cosen of King Ethelbald after some time of Inter-regnum succeeded him in his dominions of Mercia a man of so high stomacke and stoutnes of mind that he thought nothing vnpossible for him to attaine and for vertue and vice so equally composed that hardly could bee iudged to whither of them the scale of his carriage most inclined although the Monke of S. Albans and writer of his life doth blanch out his graces with superlatiue praises 2 His Parents hee nameth Twin◅reth and Mercella and himselfe hee saith to haue been first named Pinered borne both lame deafe and blinde wherein he so continued vnto his mans estate The rage of Bernred saith the same Author had forced all three into a solitary place where suddenly by miracle Pinered was restored and for that cause called another Offa who presently assailed and in a great battel manfully fought slew the vsurping Bernred The Nobles of Mercia being rid of that Tyrant by the valour of Offa gladly imbraced receiued him for their King who began his raigne with greater shew of glory then any Mercian before him had done being in number the eleuenth that had raigned in that Prouince and is accounted the sixteenth Monarch of the Englishmen 3 His neighbour Kings foreseeing whereat his eye glanced sollicited by Letters Charles the Great then King of France against him who wrote vnto Offa in their behalfe and in threatning wise commanded him to desist But he was so farre from fearing of his threats that to his contempt he was the more eager 4 The first that felt his fury were the Kentishmen vnder Alrik their King whose ouerthrow was the lesse dishonourable saith Malmesbury for that they were vanquished by so great a Monarch The place was Otteford vnfortunate to them where their King was slaine by the hand of Offa himselfe their forces quite discomfited by the losse of this field and their Country trodden downe vnder the feet of the Mercians 5 From South to North King Offa then marched and beyond Humber made hauocke of all that stood against him whence returning triumphant he set vpon the West-Saxons that had formerly ioined with his enemies the place was Bensinton which Castell King Offa tooke with the discomfiture of King Kenwolfe and all his West-Saxons who sought their reuenge by the aides of the Britaine 's in Wales Their King saith mine Author was then Marmodius betwixt whom some intercourse by letters passed great presents to King Offa sent onely to protract time and to worke vpon aduantage 6 In this Interim of complements for a further security Offa caused a great ditch to be drawn betwixt his and the Britaines borders which worke began at Basingwark in Flint-shire and North-wales not farre from the mouth of Dee and ranne along the mountaines into the South ended neer Bristow at the fall of Wye the tract whereof in many places is yet seene and is called to this day Clawdh Offa or Offaes ditch Marmodius who openly bare saile to this wind and seemed to winke at Offaes intent secretly called a Counsell of State wherein he declared how the Act thus in working would soone proue the bane of liberty vnto their country and the marke of dishonor to thēselues posterity for euer therefore his aduice was that by some stratagem it might be staid by time 7 To this his Britaines consented the truce yet lasting and the feast of Christs Natiuity euen then at hand in the celebration wherof was held the greatest aduantage with least suspect to put themselues in action against it and secretly working the assistance of their allies the Saxons both of the South the West and the North vpon Saint Stephens day at night suddainely brake downe the banke of this fortification filling vp againe a great part of the Ditch and in the morning most furiously rushed into Offa his Court putting a great number to the sword who were more intentiue and regard full to the Feast then to any defence from their cruell and mercilesse swords 8 These wrongs King Offa delaied not to requite first making their hostages his vassals and slaues and then with a great army entring Wales in a bloody and sore-fought battaile hee ouercame Marmodius and all his associates in the field Thus then as a Conquerour ouer all his enemies triumphantly after ten yeares wars abroad returned he to his owne Kingdome neither puffed with pride nor suffring his title to be enlarged according to his conquests yet he was not neglectiue of regall state by the report of the Ligger booke of S. Albans which saith that in regard of his great prerogatiue and not of any pride he first instituted and commanded that euen in times of peace also himselfe and his Successors in the Crowne should as he passed through any Cities haue Trumpetters going and sounding before them to shew that the person of the King should breed both feare and honor in all which either see him or heare him 9 Vnto King Charles of France he wrote in excuse of his warres and desire of his amity whom Charles againe congratulated with letters of gladnes both for his victories and the Christian piety in his land embraced desiring of Offa safe conduct for such his subiects as came to his country in deuotion to God and withall sent to him for a present a Booke of the Decrees of the second Councell of Nice Which Synodall Booke to vse Roger Houedens owne words was sent vnto King Charles from Constantinople wherin alas for pity by the vnanimous assertion of three hundred Bishops or more congregated in that Councell were decreed many things inconuenient yea and quite contrary to the true faith as is most especially the worshipping of Images which the Church of God doth vtterly detest Against which Booke Albinus wrote an Epistle admirably strengthned by the authority of the holy Scriptures which together with the foresaid Booke himselfe presented in the name of the Princes Bishops of this land vnto the foresaid Charles King of France Such intercourse both for State and Church had this great Offa with that great Charles 10 His last warres according to mine Author were against the Danes whom he forced to their ships with the losse as well of their booties as of many of their liues and then saith he with the spirit of humility both to recall himselfe from the trace of blood and to the better establishment of his kingdomes peace he ioined in affinity with his neighbour Princes vpon whō he bestowed his daughters in mariage 11 And making Egfrid his sonne a King with himselfe in great deuotion went to Rome where with the like zeale and example of Inas the
to those Lay-Peeres Conditionals his Clergy-Sophismes and second Seede-plot of Treasons perswading them by a cunning but disloyall speech which yet some by transforming haue more deformed that the English Crowne was meerely Arbitrary and Electiue at the peoples deuotion That they all in discretion were to know how that no man hath Right or any other fore-Title to succeed another in a Kingdom vnlesse first with innocation for Grace and Guidance of Gods Holy Spirite hee be by the Body of the Kingdome thereunto chosen and be indeed some choice man picked out for eminencie of his vertues by the President of Saul the first Annointed King whom God made Ruler ouer his owne people though neither the Sonne of a King nor yet of any Regall descent So after him likewise Dauid the Sonne of Ishai the one for being valourous and a Personage fitting royall dignity the other for being Holy and Humble minded To shew that so he whosoeuer in a Kingdome excelleth all in Valour and Vertue ought to surmount all in Rule and Authority yet so as that if any of the Ofspring of a deceased King surpasseth others it is fitte iointly to consent in election of such a one Thus hee spake as hee professed in fauour of Iohn who then was present whose most illustrious Brother King Richard dying without any Heire from him descending Him they had all first imploring the Holy Ghosts assistance as being a Prouident Valiant and vndoubtedly-Noble Prince vnanimiously Elected as wel in regard of his Merites as of his Royall Bloud So vniust a speech from so great a Person could not but moue both Offence and Wonder to many euen to Iohn himselfe who doubtlesse meant to stand to his right of proximity by bloude but they durst not then and there moue Questions thereof as afterward some did to whom he gaue a reason of it as strange as the speech it selfe saying that he was assured by some diuining foresight that King Iohn would work the ruine of the Kingdome and that therefore to bridle him from so doing hee had affirmed his Admission was to be by Choice and not Hereditary Succession implying that as by Election he got the Crowne so by Eiection on demerite hee might as iustly loose it But for that present the Ceremonies all pompouslie accomplished where three Oaths were ministred to him To loue Holy Church and preserue it from all oppressors To gouerne the State in Iustice and abolish bad Lawes Not to assume this Royall honour but with full purpose to performe that he had sworne the first act and bounty of his kingly Power was to reward those whose hands had lifted him to it making William Marshall and Fitz-Peter Earles of Pembrooke and Essex and the Archbishoppe Lord high Chancellour who seeming to glory in that addition of honour was told by the Lord Bardolf that the height of Archiepiscopall dignity was such as it was euer reputed a great aduancement for a Chancelor to be made Archbishoppe but none for an Archbishop to be made a Chancellour 6 The Kings Enemies who kept their heads in whiles hee was there in Armes founde opportunities to impeach him while hee was here setling his Peace the French King in Normandy surpriseth the City Eureux recouers the County of Main the Britaines regaine the City Angiers with other strong holds the newes whereof caused King Iohn with all speed to passe the Seas to giue stoppage to that current where on his arriuall his Army of Friends and Voluntaries was so encreased that King Philip was soone content to take truce for fiftie dayes on expiration whereof an Enteruiew was agreed on to establish a lasting Peace But Philip a long time noted of dubling ill beseeming any but chiefly a Prince the very day before the two Kings should meet giuing Duke Arthur the Belt of Knighthood and taking of him Homage for the Signiories of Aniou Poytou Turaine Mayne Britanny and Normandy hee made him faithful vow to yeeld him powerfull helpes for acquiring those possessions Neither was King Iohn behind him in that kind of preuention when Philip Earle of Flanders the French Philips professed Enemie comming to Roan and disswading King Iohn from trusting anie French friendship did there sweare vnto him both faithfull Helpe and Homage Yet the two Kings keeping touch for the day though not for the purpose of amitie and yet making faire shew of that too held Parley betwixt Butauant and Guletun two dayes by Commissioners inter-current the third by presence and priuatie that not one of their Nobles or Attendants who on each side lay farre aloofe for the space of an howre vnderstood any passages betwixt them This much yet came to notice by after relation that King Philip then required for Himselfe the large Country of Veulguessine pretending that Geffry Earle of Aniou graunted it to Lews le Grosse for aiding his Sonne King Henrie the second against King Stephen and for Arthur all Poictou Aniou Maine and Turayne both which immoderate demaunds with others King Iohn conceiuing with Salomon Why doth he not also aske for Adoniah the Kingdome neither would nor ought to graunt vnto him whereby their amities intended ended in more hostile defiances But Philips capitulating then for Arthur was onely perfunctorie and complementall as his owne words and afterward his actions bewraied when being questioned by his Fauourites of his implacable hatred against King Iohn who had neuer harmed him professed it was onely for that hee had not defeated Arthur but possessed himselfe of Normandie and the other Demaines without asking him leaue or offering him Homage 7 The flames thus on all sides breaking forth the stronger by how much the more they had been for a time kept in many Earles and Barons of France who formerly adhered to King Richard became Homagers to King Iohn they swearing neuer without his assent to reuert to Philip and hee neuer to make Peace with Philip but they therein to bee concluded In the heate of which sidings if not before a chiefe adherent of the foresaid Earle of Flanders now col-leagued with King Iohn being the Bishop Elect of Cambray fell into the hands of the French at which time also Philip Bishop of Beauois a great French Peer was held in prison by King Iohn and neither of them willing to forgoe their mitred Champions Petrus de Capua the Legat interdicted France for the one and Normandy for the other till they as persons sacred inuiolable should bee dismissed yet King Iohn whose Person and Title the Pope and Papals as yet much tendred had the fauour to wring out of his prize sixe thousand Markes for his release and an Oth neuer whiles he breathed to beare Armes against any Christian. This Legat in King Richards time had made agreement with
with honor out of Gascoigne had seized into his hands a certaine Manour then in the tenure of one Waleran a Dutch-Gentleman to whom King Iohn for his good seruices had formerly giuen it which hee alleaged was parcell of his Earledome of Cornwall The King hereupon directs his letters to his brother commanding him to come immediately and shew a reason of his fact He doth so and without any pleaders helpe defended as iust the seisure which he had made concluding among other words that hee was ready to stand to the iudgement of the Kings Court and Peeres of the Realm When the King and the Chiefe Iustitiar heard him name the Peeres of the Realme they suspecting his bent that way were exceedingly offended and said the King eyther restore the Manour to Waleran or thou shalt depart out of the Kingdome neuer to returne at which peremptory sentence the Earle boldly but too rashly answered that hee neither would giue his right to Waleran nor without the iudgement of the Peeres depart the Realme The Earle in this heate returnes to his lodging thence vpon surmise that Hubert had perswaded the King to lay hold on him he posts to Marlebourgh where finding William Marshal the young Earle of Pembroke hee enters into a fast confederacy ratified by oath and Ranulf Earle of Chester is easily drawn to make another Letters thence flying about to all their friends at Stanford there assembled vnto them the Earles of Gloucester of Warrenn of Hereford of Warwicke Earle Ferrars many Barons and an huge multitude of armed men Their strengthes being in likelyhood able to beare out their darings they addresse a bold message to the King by which they require him in lofty Phrase to make presēt amends to his Brother for the wrong hee had done the fault whereof they imputed not to him but to the chiefe Iustitiar and that if he did not without delay restore the Charters of Liberties which hee had cancelled at Oxford they would driue him by dint of sword to giue them therein competent satisfaction The King seeing it no safe time to deny their requests appoints to meet at Northampton in August next where the Earle of Cornwall vpon his Associates resolute demaund of the King had large amends of any iniury sustained his Patrimony being augmented with large accessions The moderation and equanimity of the King terrified by his Fathers example peaceably finished this contention the matter of the Charters being for the time husht as seemeth which might otherwise haue cost many thousand liues and haue hazarded the ruine both of King and kingdome 25 That daunger was not a little augmented by the insurrections of the Welsh The King had giuen the Castle of Mountgomery to his most trusty Counsellor Hubert de Burgh the Garrison of which place issuing out meant to stocke vp the Trees and shrubbes which grew neere vpon an high-way leading through a great wood of fiue leagues long that trauailers ordinarily there spoiled might passe more safely The Welsh not suffering that waste violently assayled the Workemen and not without slaughter on both sides draue them into the Castle which drew the King who euen in litle matters vsed to make one to come thither in person who with a competent strength giues not ouer till hee had with fire and other force consumed the whole Forrest From whence hee peirceth farther into Wales and consumes with fire a place called Cridia where whiles the King is building a Castle to bridle them Lewelin drew thither his forces where many were slaine on both sides and a man of speciall worth William de Brausia or de Bruse by the Welsh intercepted as he went to forrage in the Country many great persons there in the Kings Armie being secretly confederated with Lewelin By which trecherous practise victualles grew so scarce that the king was compelled to yeeld to a very dishonourable peace the conditions wherof were that the King should raze to the ground the new Fort now almost finished that William de Bruce should still remaine Prisoner till the Welsh thought good that Lewelin should giue the King toward his expenses three thousand Markes 26 These home-bredde garboyles thus appeased whereas Ambassadors had formerly repayred to the king out of Gascoigne Poictou and Normandie to offer him their seruices for recouery of those his inheritances if himself would com in person with a royall Armie hee about Michaelmas is now ready at Portsmouth for the exploit whither all his Nobles were come with so great a multitude not onely out of England but out of Ireland Wales and Galloway as none of his ancestors euer had Many were the motiues which encouraged the king to this attempt but none greater then the busie workings of Queen Dowager his mother Lewis king of France had created his brother Alfonse Duke of Poictou commaunding the Lords of that Country to doe their homages to him one of these was Hugh Earle of March now husband to Queene Isabel who because shee had once beene the Wife of a King and now the Mother disdained that euen her present husband though but an Earle should doe homage to a Subiect and thereby her selfe bearing the stile of a Queene seeme inferiour to the Lady Ioan wife of Duke Alfonse The Earle was hereupon drawne to a refusall of homage and the like spirit shee had breathed into the hearts of the princely family of Lusinian whose Ancestors had been Kings of Ierusalem and Cyprus Nor thus contented to haue plotted a party for her Sonne among the French she is charged to haue sought by poyson to make riddance of Lewis himselfe and that her Agents for that purpose were discouered and executed But Aemylius shall pardon vs if we herein credit not his iudgement as also in thinking her the Author of suborning Assasines to murther the King for that wee find him singular therein the receiued opinion being that they were sent vnder-hand by the Sarazens out of Asia to take away the daunger which they foresaw was comming in regard King Lewis was so deuoutly addicted to Christian piety and the hatred of Mahomets Infidelity There were also at the same time great Diuisions among the French Nobility but the English saith Aemylius himselfe wrought not by treachery but after the manner of faire warre which they first by defiance denounced and then did openly prosecute with sword in hand 27 The King of England being thus prouided of men munition and other necessaries fitt for the field and now ready to embarke there was not shipping sufficient to transport halfe the Company Which enraged the King so farre that turning himselfe to Earle Hubert vpon whom hee charged the blame he called him ranke old Traitor affirming that hee had of purpose beene slacke herein as in other things in regard of fiue thousand Marks with which the Queene Dowager of France had as he said embribed him and withall ranne at
said he hath made it meere wrong which with better regard of the Sex alloweth the woman to inherite her fathers possession as we see in the practise of that state whereof Christ himselfe is called king where the fiue daughters of Zelophehad for want of heires males were admitted to succeed in their fathers inheritance allotted them in the Tribe of Manasses and a law made by the Lord himselfe that if a man died and had no sonnes then his inheritance should be transferred vpon his daughters Neither is it to be doubted but that the daughter of Shesham was the sole heire vnto her fathers patrimony he dying without issue male though shee married an Egyptian whose posterity had their possessions among the Tribe of Iudah euen to the Captiuity of Babilon so that if such a law were as in truth there was no such better were the breach by the warrant of diuine direction then the continuance by colour of such prescription seeing God hath ordained aswell for the daughter as for the sonne 20 The Archbishops vnexpected but not vnpremeditated Oration thus ended so stirred the blood of the young Couragious King that his heart was all on a flame and so tickled the eares of his Auditory as they presently conceiued that France was their owne the Title whereof descending from Isabell the mother of the famous third Edward and shee the daughter and suruiuing heire vnto Philip the faire his right was lineally deriued thence as followeth first Philip by Ioane his first wife intituled Queene of Nauarre had three sonnes and one daughter namely Lewis Philip and Charles all three successiuely Kings and this Lady Isabell by whom the English claime his second wife was Constance the daughter of the King of Sicil who bare him a sonne after his owne decease which liued not many daies after his father Lewis his eldest sonne and tenth of that name succeeded Philip in the Kingdome of France and by Margaret his wife the daughter of Burgundy had his daughter Iane intituled Queene of Nauarre who made claime also vnto the French Crowne but neuer attained it so that her Title fell with her death Lewis by his second wife Clemence of Sicil had a sonne named Iohn borne vnto him but presently both father and sonne departing this life left the Scepter to his second brother who by the name of Philip the fift a while wore the Emperiall Crowne of France his wife was Iane the daughter of Burgoine who bare vnto him only foure daughters 21 Vnto King Philip succeeded his brother Charles the faire the fourth of that name whose first wife was Blanch detected of incontinency and brought him no fruite his second wife was Marie daughter to Henry Luxenbourg the Emperour who bare him a sonne that dyed soone after birth and the mother likewise shortly came to her graue Margaret the daughter to the Earle of Eureux was his third and last wife who at his death hee left with Child and thus the three sonnes of Philip were branched raigned and died whom Queene Isabell their sister suruiued and in that right her sonne King Edward the third by his royall consanguinity whilst the Crowne stood thus at suspence till a Prince should be borne claimed to be Regent in the Interregnum and in the nonage of the looked for issue against which Philip de Valois sonne of Charles the hardy who was brother to Philip the faire being a second branch from Hugh Capet and first Prince of the blood of France maintained that the Regency of the male if so he were borne as also of the Realme if a daughter or the sonne dyed belonged onely vnto him as the next in blood The state thus standing and a daughter borne Philip was saluted and proclaimed King no other right alleaged then this foisted and falsely termed fundamentall law Salique for no otherwise doth Ottoman the French famous Lawyer esteeme of that vngodly and vniust Ordinance if any such had beene ordained 22 The Kings right thus apparant and sufficient possessions to be had in France the Bill of complaint against the Clergies excesse was quite dasht and all mindes addicted for the affaires that way thinking it vnreasonable to pull the Prouisions from their natiues and brethren when as the Circuit of their inheritanee extended more large in compasse and therefore with the Danites they determined no longer to sit so pent with increase seeing God had giuen them another Kingdome but would free their own straitnesse by dint of sword and spread their Tents wider in the Continent of France Neither was there any motiue more forceable in conference then was the successe of those intruding Princes who assaied the Crowne by that vniust claime of law Salique 23 For did not the sword of God rather then man in the hand of King Edward the claimer cut downe the flower of France in the Battell of Crecie with the slaughter of Lewis King of Bohemia of Charles the French Kings brother of Iames Dolphin of Viennois the Dukes of Lorrayne and Burbon the Earles of Aumarle Sauoy Montbilliard Flanders Niuers and Harecourt the Grand Priour of France the Archbishop and Zanxinus and Noyone of Lords Barons and Gentlemen to the number of 1500 with 30. thousand of the French Souldiers and Philip not able of himselfe to defend himselfe inciting Dauid of Scotland to inuade and weaken England therein did but only vexe his owne spirit for in that attempt the Scottish King was taken prisoner and brought so to London leauing Philip to struggle with his hard fortunes in France which with bad successe hee did to the day of his death 24 Iohn his sonne by the same title and claime felt the same stroake of iustice from the hand of that thunderbolt in warre Edward surnamed the blacke Prince the sonne of Englands Mars who farre inferiour to the French in number farre exceeded them in marshall power when at the battell of Poitiers the French royall Standard was stroke downe an hundred Ensignes wonne by the English the Constable Marshall and great Chamberlaine of France with fifty two Lords and seuenteen hundred Gentlemen slaine in the field King Iohn himselfe his sonne Philip two Bishops thirteene Earles and one and thirty Lords taken prisoners by the Prince to his great praise and confirmation of his iust cause 25 Nor was the punishment of the father any whit lessened in King Charles the sonne then raigning who besides the intestine warres in his own dominions was by Gods iust iudgement strucke into a Lunacy being vnable to gouerne himselfe much lesse his Kingdome vpon which aduantage as the French would haue it King Henry now plaied though it be most certaine he sought his right farre otherwise for so it standeth vpon record dated the ninth of February and first of Henry the fift his raigne that he sent his Ambassadors vnto the French King who could not bee admitted to his presence and him whom they imployed to procure
hand whereunto shee answered I am not ignorant who they are and thereupon commanded to apprehend those her keepers her libertie thus got shee became wholy for Burgogne and by his meanes was made the Regent of France and her picture stamped vpon the Seale of that State 42 By birth shee was a Germane and daughter to Stephen Duke of Bauier of an imperious spirit and vnreconcileable enuie not ouermuch beloued of her husband and as the nature of most women are not ouermuch fauouring his fauorites whose femall authority and hatred against her owne sonne Daulphin Charles sore bruised the Crowne which her weake husband ware his foregone infirmities and her new sprung Regency were now as two fludgates set open to let in the deluge of France hers is to be spoken of in the intercourse of the English his manie times hath beene but not made knowne how it came therefore a while in that subiect before we passe forward in this place let vs reade what others haue writ 43 This Charles the sixt and sicke-braind King of France was the sonne of King Charles surnamed the wise who with Salomon his wiser might haue demanded this question who can tell whether his sonne shal be a wiseman or a foole for the flower of his youth and commendable dispositions of his middle age promised great hopes of a valiant moderate and most happie Prince only inclined to choller and reuenge as by the occasion of his lunacy is easilie seene which chanced on this manner 44 Peter Craon a Courtier his minion and an inward fauorite of the Duke of Orleance the Kings brother blabbed out some secrecy of the said Dukes amorous passions vpon a wanton Lady vnto his Dutchesse Valentine who but lately married and so soon deceiued of bed took the wrong no lesse then it was nor letted shee as who can let a woman to speake to tell him his faults on both sides of his head the Duke could not hide what shee too well knew and therefore sought to satisfie her with complements of kind words but the Curtaine-sermons nightly enlarged vpon the same text made him many times to lie awake with little deuotion God wot to heare and often to rise when hee would faine haue slept which caused him lastly to complaine to the King that Craon had and would betray their ouermuch trust The cause no more but yet too much against a Prince Craon with all disgrace was discharged the Court who not able to brooke such an open indignity assaulted Cliston the Constable in a murthering manner as the only man as he thought that wrought his disgrace and escaping Paris fled into Britaigne whose Duke was his kinseman and an enemy to the Constable 45 King Charles transported with choller of this double offence mindes to draw Craon by force out of Britaine to iustifie himselfe whom the Councell had declared guilty of high Treason and enemie to the Crowne of France and resolues in person to enterinto Britaine forthwith the expedition for men and manner of proceeding made Charles to loose both meate and sleepe so as the vexation of minde and distemperature of body carried apparant shewes in his face in so much that the Dukes of Berry and Burgogne mistrusting the worst counselled that his iourney might be staid his Physitians disswade him in regard of his health the summer extreme hot and his blood as then ouer subiect to dangerous feuers New deuises were wrought to stay him at home giuing it forth that Craon was fled Britaigne and in Arragon was imprisoned by the Queene All this notwithstanding needes would he forward so forward is man when his fate will so haue it 46 He departed Meaux in Iulie the yere very hot his head couered with a great Cap of scarlet his body wrapped in a thicke veluet Ierkin warme enough for winter his mind distempered with choller griefe and despite and his body wearied with watching distasture and want of rest Thus entring the forrest of Meaux about noone-tide a man bare-headed and bare legged attired in a Coat of white rugge stepped sodainely forth from betwixt two trees and caught hold of his bridle staid his horse saying King ride no further but returne backe for thou art betraied Charles whose spirits were otherwise dulled and his blood greatly distempered was amazed at the voice which seene his seruants ranne to this man and with blowes forced him to leaue the reines of the horse and so without any further search the man vanished away 47 The troopes of his nobles diuided because of the dust King Charles was followed by the Pages of his Chamber who ouercharged with heat and distemperature tooke no great paines to guide their horse so that thronging together he which bore the Kings Lance let it fal vpon him who had on his head the Kings helmet and in the falling made a clattering noise The King much musing vpon the words spoken and now withall hearing this vnexpected noise was from a pensiue melancholy suddainely strucke into a raging Lunacy supposing himselfe to be betraied indeed and transported with this frensie he drawes his sword and made towards his Pages with a maine crie his brother Orleance not knowing the cause hasted among them whom Charles likewise pursued and with the like rage ranne at his vncle of Burgogne thus spending himselfe and his horse out of breath all incompassed the still raging man tooke from him his sword disrobed him for heate and cheered him with flatterings and faire spoken words his brother and vncles saluted him but hee knowes them not sits mute sighing and panting and with troubled amazement moues both body and head so that all signes of Phrensie appeared in this poore Prince and the eminent misery that was to fall vpon France very apparant to the inseeing Statists but now to proceed 48 Iohn Duke of Burgogne ill disgesting the threats that King Henry had giuen and ioined in league with the Daulphin as we haue said was notwithstanding suspected to be a great enemy to the State and as the Giants are faine to heape mountaine vpon mountaine for steps of assent to pull Iupiter out of his throne so by sinister Counsellors Burgogne was accused of some intended stratageme as meaning to mount the Chaire where the Daulphin should sit Charles therefore from Monstrean-Surfault yonne a Towne in Brie sent for the Duke vnto Troyes in Champagne to conferre further vpon the effecting of their affected accord as also to imploy their vnited forces vpon the common enemie the English a third cause likewise was alleaged and that was to haue him his meanes for a reconciliation to his mother the Regent whose wrath besides him no man could pacifie 49 The Duke mistrusting no snake in the grasse thought all things as sure as they were faire in shew and accompanied with many noble-men fiue hundred horse and two hundred Archers he repaired to Monstreau at whose Gate the Daulphin
had built 2. Barricadoes himselfe in armes stood there to receiue the Duke Burgogne approached kneeled downe vpon one knee and with an honourable reuerence saluted him most humbly the Daulphin neglecting all courtesies to him-ward chargeâ—… him with breach of promise for that the ciuill warres and his garrisons were not surceast and withdrawne the Dukes sword hanging too farre backe and somewhat troubling his kneeling he put his hand vpon the hilt to put it more forward whereat Robert de Loire standing by sayd doe you draw your sword against the Lord Daulphin at which words Tanneguy de Chastell with a battle-axe stroke him on the face and cut off his Chin and others with other wounds made an end of his life before he could arise from his knee or get out his sword 50 Queene Isabell another cruell Medea and vnnaturall mother hauing a double offence done her redoubled her wrath and continued her tragick passions against her sonne the young Daulphin who not only incites Philip now the new Duke of Burgogne to reuenge his murdered fathers death but torments her poore husbands spirits in perswading him to disherite Charles their sonne and to giue in marriage Lady Katherine vnto King Henry who now had set his foote farre into France Duke Philip for his part ready for reuenge sent the Bishop of Arras with other his Ambassadors vnto Rouen to King Henry to entreat a peace and againe not many daies after their returne sent backe the said Bishop whose message was so pleasing that Henry sent the Bishop of Rochester the Earle of Warwicke and Guien vnto Arras who were as welcome vnto Duke Philip so that betwixt Rouen and Arras messengers continually passed till a peace was concluded which was proclaimed to continue from that day then about the feast of the Epiphany vnto mid-March ensuing betwixt King Henrie King Charles and Philip Duke of Burgogne 51 King Henry thus farre gone in his affaires for that Crowne sent his Ambassadors vnto the new made Pope Martin the first such was the fate of Romes Apostolicall fathers in those faire Sun-shine and Golden daies that the greatest Monarch was but a vassal to attend vpon their stirrop their Crownes subiect to be spurned off with their feete Henrie therefore minding to stop the violence of these narrow Seas and to make the streame milde betwixt his two Realmes had now none to let but only him that was all in all and bare an Oare in euery mans boat and therefore from King Charles Burgogne and himselfe his Ambassadors sollicited his fatherlie consent to admit him his most Christian sonne of France and to giue his holy blessing for the confirmation of the marriage and peace concluded betwixt those two famous Princes King Henries right to the French Crowne they plainely laid forth what calamities France had felt in their resistance Agincourt Normandy and Aquitaine as they shewed him were most lamentable witnesses and the holde that the Lyon had got at that day of the Flower de Luce was not to be wrested out of his fast grasped pawes But his dull eare was deafe herevnto answering that this peace was preiudiciall to the right of Charles the Daulphin and therefore hee denied to confirme it 52 But with what quill these wines were vented from the setled Lees for the Daulphin vnlesse it was the golden vice a powerfull key indeed to vnlocke the Popes silent lips I know not most true it is the conditions went forward and the place for the confirmation of couenants was Troyes in Champagne where King Charles and his Queene then lay and whither Burgogne Guien the Lord Rosse and others attended with fiue hundred horse were sent Ambassadors from Henry In their way they besieged and after fifteene daies wan the Towne of Crespie that held for the Daulphin demolished the Castell razed the wals and departed vpon composition These comming to Troyes were honorably receiued and louingly concluded on a finall peace where Lady Katherine was attended as the Englsh Queene and some left to guard her by King Henries command His Ambassadors returned and affection enflamed himselfe attended with the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester his brethren the Duke of Excester the Earles of Warwicke Huntingdon Salisbury Guienne and many other nobles his guard consisting of sixteene hundred Launces and Archers departed from Rouen to Ponthois to S. Denis and from thence into Prouins where he was met neere vnto Troyes by the Duke of Burgundy and many other French Lords and with all Princesse attendance was conducted into the Towne The ioy was great with which he was receiued especially of the King the Queene and Lady Katherine whom he found in S. â—…eters Church expepecting his comming where forthwith he and the Lady was affianced and falling effsoones into conference of the conditions of amity these were consented vnto by the French and King Henry 1. That K. Henry should take Lady Katherine to wife 2. That Charles Isabel should retaine the name of King and Queene and should hold all their dignities rents and possessions belonging to the Crowne of France during their naturall liues 3. That the Lady Katherine should haue her Dowry in England as Queens heretofore were wont to haue that is to say the summe of forty thousand sceutes that is two to a noble 4. That the same summe of forty thousand sceutes yeerely shall bee confirmed vnto Queene Katherine by our lawes according to our vsuall rights at the time of our death 5. That the said Lady Katherine so ouerliuing vs from the time of our death shall haue for her Dowry in the Kingdome of France the summe of twenty thousand francks yeerly out of the lands places and Lordships that Blanch sometime wife to Philip Beauisall held and enioied 6. That after the death of Charles our said father the Crown and Realme of France shall with all rights and appurtenances remaine vnto vs to our heires for euermore 7. And for as much as our said father is infirme by reason of sicknesse and may not entend in his owne person to dispose of the affaires of the Realme therefore during the life of our said father the faculties and exercise of the gouernment and disposition of the publike vtilitie of the Realme of France shall be and abide to vs so that thence forth wee may gouerne the Realme and admit to our Councell and assistance to the Councell of France such of the English Nobility as we shal thinke meete 8. That also we of our owne power shall cause the Court of France to be kept and obserued in as full authority and in all manner of places that now or in time comming is or shall be subiect to our said father 9. Also that we to our powers shall defend and helpe all and euery of the Peeres Nobles Cities Townes Cominalties and singular persons now or in time to come subiects